"We surveyed this area last year as part of our effort to designate more historic districts," Kate Daly, the organization's executive director, told attendees. "This is the first step -- the information-sharing stage," she explained.The meeting was occasioned by requests from the Douglaston and Little Neck Historical Society and state Sen. Frank Padavan's (R-Bellerose) office, who were both eager to see the 19th and early 20th century buildings preserved. Among them are 17 homes, PS 98 and the Douglaston Community Church.Douglaston is already home to the Douglaston Historic District, which encompasses Douglas Manor and was established on June 24, 1997. The buildings now under consideration abut Douglaston Parkway in the vicinity of 39th Avenue.William Siewers, vice president of the historical society, said he was glad many meeting participants pointed to the dangers of Douglaston becoming overrun by McMansions. "What I am able to do now is tell people they'd be living in a completely different area" without landmarking protection, he said. "It was tough going because people had heard stories and exaggerations" about problems with making home modifications under LPC regulations for landmarked districts before the meeting, he said. Sarah Carroll, the LPC's director of preservation, sought to allay those fears at the meeting. She explained that once an area is landmarked, homeowners are not required to make any changes, and that 90 to 95 percent of applications to make home modifications are approved by the agency."We are also very accessible by phone or e-mail," she said. "It's not sort of a mystery like other larger agencies can be."Still, two or three area residents questioned the LPC's motives, asking whether the agency favored certain developers or even whether its staff cared about the homeowners. Several shouts of "Why not?" went up when Daly said there was no voting process for homeowners at the meeting.But tempers returned to room temperature when she further explained that the agency was sought out to make a presentation by community members and that changes could be requested at an official LPC meeting if and when the landmarking proposal was calendared.Others in the audience also delivered stern reminders about the importance of protecting Douglaston's character, pointing to development in Bayside and the rest of Queens."You're living in a community where a lot of people want to be a part of an historic area," one elderly man said. "This area is 'overpriced' precisely because it is unique. If you strip that away, your property values will plummet," he said to sustained applause.Reach reporter M. Junaid Alam by e-mail at malam@time
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In severe cases, it can block light, stunt growth, and cause yellowing of foliage. Since there are not many natural predators indoors to keep pests in check, populations can grow rapidly and cause significant damage. It’s a good idea to hand pollinate your plants. While pruning is not necessary for healthy growth and fruit production, it is useful to keep indoor trees compact and mobile. Are you using a self-watering system or some other automation system? Citrus need a bright sunny position. Citrus grow best when temperatures are 75-90 degrees Fahrenheit. As a result, they make the tree less vigorous. Enrich the soil with. In the later afternoon, I supplement with a grow light and run it for several hours each day. The affordable ones will even list out the min and max for both the temperature and relative humidity over the last 24 hours. Try keeping your more cold tolerant citrus close to the outside walls in this order kumquats, satsumas, mandarins, oranges, limes, and then lemons. Factor in how much the tree’s canopy goes beyond the radius of the tray. I figure that these are some of the last best days of the year for my citrus outdoors. Choose a product labeled for use on citrus plants, such as the one pictured above. If done in batches over multiple weeks, there probably should be a pecking order. Excessive nitrogen can cause the plant to put more energy into leaf growth, and impede flowering and fruiting. Look for yellowing or curled leaves, which could be a sign of over watering. Always water in well after planting to settle the soil around the roots and keep the soil moist for several weeks while the new plant establishes. The best, most technologically advanced lighting system can’t beat the sun and it doesn’t seem like that will change anytime soon. Even here, in my USDA Hardiness Zone 4 climate, where snow coats the ground for practically half the year. The duration of day (daylight) is different from the hours of sunlight. Next, plan out a schedule for when to turn and off your lights. Keep in mind this not direct sunlight, but potential sunlight that trees can use. Many residents in Minnesota use a humidifier in their home to keep their skin from drying. The larvae of these small, white, winged insects feed on the undersides of leaves, causing foliage to turn yellow and drop. My main citrus growing room has 2 grow lights. Of course, starting with a bigger tree means you’ll be that much closer to a fruitful harvest, right from the beginning. Trees can be pruned at any time during the year except when blooming and developing fruit, as this diverts energy away from fruit production and into new foliar growth. During winter, when we heat our houses, the loss of humidity is tremendous. Depending on the orientation of your house, the number of windows, and size of windows, we could be talking about a lot less sunlight. These pesky little insects can range in color from green to yellow or black. Wind also facilitates in distributing moisture so that your trees are surrounded with adequate humidity. Position in hole and backfill with potting mix, gently firming down. Growing citrus indoors is a hobby that requires a certain amount of care, and some may not find it fulfilling or worthwhile. Now, artificial light is coming from both sides. A plant stand or cart with wheels can also make a nice addition, for ease of movement. This gives me optimal flexibility and saves me some on my electricity bill. Size of fan does not necessarily mean increased air circulation. Since regular watering can leach nutrients, it is important to provide a source of fertilizer for indoor plants. At this point, trees are focusing their energy on developing strong roots and branches, creating a healthy foundation that will lead to larger harvests later on. Most likely, northern growers will need to purchase potted plants from local nurseries. Then move the hand truck or dolly indoors and use to move them to their trays. Indoor sunlight requirements must be satisfied by either natural or artificial sunlight or both. Make sure not to place the light too close to the plant or it may burn the foliage. A 5-gallon pot is ideal. An … In the winter when plant growth slows, water only enough to maintain soil moisture. Taste testing is the best way to gauge ripeness, as the rind color doesn’t always indicate how ripe a fruit is. Your home’s temperature is higher indoors than outdoors. Remember to be patient. She is also a fanatical gardener, and enjoys spending as much time covered in dirt as possible! This is the most cold hardy of limes. While this can be true. During the spring and summer when growth picks up, trees may need daily watering. If any young green shoots are present below this graft area, prune them off, as they will use up valuable nutrients to grow but will not produce fruit. Like aphids and mealybugs, whitefly larvae also excrete honeydew that can cause sooty mold. It’s best to apply fertilizer before the tree has begun to flower, and again after it has finished fruiting. I also have an evaporative humidifier in the space that’ll I’ll turn on once humidity levels start declining. When planting in a pot, choose a dwarf grapefruit variety, like Dwarf Rio Red or Dwarf Honneffs Surprise. Simultaneously, I’m supplementing with a full spectrum of fluorescent lights on the opposite western side of the room. No doubt overwintering trees can be stressful. If your citrus trees do bloom indoors, you may need to pollinate them yourself with a cotton swab. As the tree matures, move it up to a container that is 18-24 inches deep. Water in well. Re: Problems with growing citrus trees indoors under LED grow lights « Reply #14 on: April 13, 2019, 02:56:52 PM » My trees are different in age, start out with a Page mandarin 10 years, Cara Cara , Xie Shan,, Dream Naval 5 years, the newer ones 2017 and 2018 about 22 of them, these are grafted during the 2017 and 2018 winters. Move trees back indoors before nighttime temperatures drop into the 40s. You can purchase plants in one-gallon pots from Burpee. During the first few years of fruiting, harvests will tend to be small and inconsistent. You can purchase citrus-specific fertilizers from Nature Hills Nursery. You may want to consider starting the plant in a smaller pot, and moving up to a larger size as it grows so that the ratio of plant to potting mix isn’t too broad. You can expect them to start producing fruit in about three years or less. I am running a fan next to them on the low setting to produce a nice breeze. Though they can still survive in lower light conditions, they will be unlikely to flower or produce fruit. Bring them outside once the air temperatures are consistently above 50°F, transitioning them to their new conditions over a period of a couple of weeks.
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October 25, 2016
Download the PlayWind app today
Buffet Crampon launches PlayWind and becomes the first wind instrument manufacturer to partner with educators through a digital music education app for clarinet and saxophone.
October 7, 2016
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Discover all events occurring in November 2016 regarding Julius Keilwerth Saxophones.
October 4, 2016
Music China 2016
Come and meet us to discover and try a wide range of our soprano saxophones, alto saxophones, tenor saxophones, baritone saxophones and bass saxophones at the Shanghai New International Expo Centre, from October 26th to October 29th.
June 27, 2016
Woodstock der Blasmusik
Buffet Crampon is the official partner of Woodstock der Blasmusik. Come and meet us from June 30th to July 3rd to enjoy concerts, discover our music app Urban Play and try J.Keilwerth instruments!
June 23, 2016
Are you the next Saxophone Idol?
The time has come: the 2016 Saxophone Idol deadline entry is coming up fast! September 30, 2016 will be the last day to submit entries for the 2016 Saxophone Idol contest, sponsored by Buffet Crampon and Keilwerth saxophones.
June 23, 2016
Pop Up the Jam
Pop Up the Jam by Buffet Crampon is the new rendezvous around jazz music and artists. Every two months in Paris, come and enjoy concert and jam session for free!
May 31, 2016
Join us at the Woodstock of Wind Music !
Julius Keilwerth is the official sponsor of the 'Woodstock der Blastmusik' festival that will take place from June 30 to July 3 at the Arco-Area in Innkreis, Austria. This one of a kind festival has made a name of itself as the biggest wind music festival in Europe with more than 25,000 visitors expected to join and share their passion for wind music.
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Solar leasing vs. buying
I was walking through Denver, Colorado’s Park Hill neighborhood yesterday afternoon when I saw an REC Solar truck on the side of the road.
Sure enough, it was parked in front of the house that I’d noticed a couple of days earlier had what had seemed, back then, like a rather strange sign given that the home had no solar panels: “This home powered by REC Solar.”
REC Solar installed the 5.59 kW home solar system on our Aurora, Colo., home’s rooftop two years ago that has now produced nearly 2 megawatts of solar electricity, or nearly twice as much as we’ve actually used (this because we haven’t been able to get the electric car we thought we’d have by now).
Since REC Solar had installed our system, I decided to chat it up with the REC crew. I asked about Tim and Dustin, who were part of the crew that installed our system. They’re still at REC Solar, though they’ve moved up the ranks.
- Solar leasing available in 11 states + D.C. by Feb.
- Solar leasing spurs national growth for Calif. firm
- Hawaii says Aloha to solar with no money down
- SunRun brings solar leasing to Pennsylvania
- Unique solar program helps non-profits go solar
- Geoscape Solar grows leasing and solar in N.J.
- Solar leasing now available in North Texas
- Questioning the buying-is-better-than-leasing view
- A solar expert compares leasing to buying
- Waiting for a solar (lease) revolution
- Solar competition heats up in Colorado
- Residential solar leasing lands in Colorado

domain: news


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Beloved Film Composer and Singer/Songwriter Randy Newman Live at Davies Symphony Hall
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The last date listed for Randy Newman was Friday April 22, 2011 / 8:00pm.
Currently at Davies Symphony Hall
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"Ferociously intense" (The Guardian) violinist Leila Josefowicz performs the piece John Adams… More
Quotes & Highlights
Learn more about Randy Newman at his website.
Occupying a singular niche in American music, Randy Newman combines Brill Building pop craftsmanship with rock ‘n’ roll irony in songs that have been lovingly covered by a breathtaking array of artists, from Ray Charles, Etta James and Peggy Lee to Dusty Springfield, Aaron Neville and Joe Cocker. He’s probably best known as a prolific Oscar-winning Hollywood tunesmith who’s contributed signature songs and scores to more than a dozen hit films including The Natural, Monsters, Inc., and the Toy Story series. In 2011, his music for Toy Story 3 netted him an Academy Award for Best Original Song and a Grammy Award for Best Score Soundtrack Album. With deep family ties to New Orleans, Newman has often drawn deeply on the city’s deep rhythmic traditions. It’s no coincidence that his song “Louisiana, 1927” from his landmark 1974 album Good Old Boys became a Crescent City anthem in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. Drawing on his gem-laden repertoire for this rare solo concert, Randy Newman brings his vast menagerie of sharply drawn characters to life. A major event, as always.

domain: artistic


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One of the greatest challenges facing the baking industry is the lack of skilled workforce to fill available positions, especially in the age of COVID-19. With that in mind, Puratos USA is providing educational opportunities to today’s youth and creating interest among those who could be the bakers of tomorrow.
The virtual Quest for Sourdough Workshop hosted by Puratos USA this summer was just one of these programs. Inspired by #SourdoughDifference and the Quest for Sourdough, the company invited students nationwide ages 14 and up to learn the science of sourdough, discover the various flavor profiles, bake with a sourdough starter and explore the Puratos’ Sourdough Library in St. Vith, Belgium through a virtual experience.
Additionally, registered students received a Sourdough Starter Kit to create their own sourdough and begin the Quest themselves.
To read the rest of the story, please go to: Puratos Taste Tomorrow

domain: library


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Japan's maiden names are for maidens only
Hiroko Mizushima has been married several times to the same man.
But theirs is no soap-opera saga: Dr. Mizushima once divorced her husband to get a passport so the name would match her other documents. She remarried him to have their baby, and then filed for divorce again to continue publishing under the byline with which she's built her career as a child psychiatrist.
"We've been married for nine years and never had any real intentions to get divorced," Mizushima says. "But I write in international journals and have patients who know my name, so how can I change it?"
The couple is legally married again, but Mizushima insists on going by her original family name, which is technically illegal.
Mizushima is supposed to make laws, not break them. As a freshman politician who was elected to the lower house of parliament this summer, she is leading a drive to change the timeworn laws that require members of a family to have one last name.
After Japan's Diet goes back into session Jan. 9, Mizushima plans to introduce legislation to change the law governing the koseki, roughly translated as a household registry. The koseki, with its roots weaving back to the 6th century, dictates that one spouse must join the other's ie, something akin to "house of," and often like an extended clan.
These days, a groom can also join his bride's koseki, but most women are expected to take their husband's family name.
And, in a country where most people refer to each other by their last names even in casual settings, some here argue that the koseki policy has not kept up with the times.
"Many politicians think if we change the law, family unity will be destroyed," says Mizushima, a waifish 30-something with a choppy cropped haircut and no-nonsense pantsuit. "This is symbolic of everything in Japanese society: Politics don't work as normal Japanese people wish they would."
Mizushima's victory last June was one of many signs that women in Japan are emerging as a more significant force in politics and in the workforce. The last parliament had 25 women in the lower house, while the June election raised the total to 35. The upper house, elected in 1998, has 43 women, a gain of six over 37 who won in the 1995 elections.
Now, Mizushima and other newcomers to this male-dominated world are cutting their legislative teeth on social problems, which party veterans have tended to ignore - ranging from domestic violence to the lack of child-care facilities to rights for part-time workers, many of them women.
Tinkering with the koseki, however, promises to be about as politically palatable as changing the US Constitution. Mizushima says Japanese began using family names - thus insisting on one per couple - only about 200 years ago, but conservatives in the ruling Liberal Democratic Party view the system as an integral part of the Japanese heritage. A spokesman for the right-leaning LDP says the party is against Mizushima's proposal and has "no plans to discuss the issue."
Keiko Higuchi, a professor of gender studies at Tokyo Kasei University, says that traditionalists are likely to remain protective of something they see as a symbol of family harmony at a time when newspapers are full of stories about social ills like rising violence among Japanese youth. "There might be mixed opinions within the party, but conservatives in Japan will be against it," she says. "They think that the concept of the household as one will collapse."
Good riddance, says Marumi Takeda, one of the leaders of a group trying to abolish the koseki system altogether. Ms. Takeda and her husband of 18 years, Tsunenobu Kawada, aren't legally married because they never went through the nuptial registration process.
"Because we have an ie, a household system, that becomes more important than the individual," says Takeda, a freelance editor. "People think it's natural for a man to head the household, and women are seen as a means of giving birth to babies."
While some choose to keep their maiden names, mostly for professional reasons, for many the decision is more ideological. Takeda says that after finding the man she wanted to marry, "As an individual, I wanted to keep my name. If we had registered as married, then I'm just 'Marumi,' and there is no surname for me in the household registry other than his. If my husband dies, I'm just Kawada-san's widow."
Living together without any formal recognition as husband and wife, however, also takes its toll. Takeda has to pay higher taxes, and can't get health benefits through her husband's employer. But the one who may suffer most is their 15-year-old son. Among other forms of social discrimination he may face, he is legally entitled to just half of his inheritance.
In fact, some couples have switched to the wife's koseki to capture inheritance rights from her side of the family, which she must forfeit when she joins her husband's family. And, it is not unheard of for a man to drop his last name and adopt his wife's.
Kazu Hirano, for example, a news reporter in Tokyo, took his wife's name 11 years ago because his then-fiancee had "a little conflict with my mother" and didn't want to adopt his name. But, he hastens to add, it wasn't for inheritance rights - they opened up a brand new koseki together.
"I think that if they change the law and say that you can have two names," says Mr. Hirano, "I'll take my original family name back."
(c) Copyright 2001. The Christian Science Publishing Society

domain: sociology


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This disc is a bit unusual in a few ways. Vibraphonist Dave Pike sticks here exclusively to the marimba, while pianist Herbie Hancock is heard throughout on organ, an instrument he rarely played again. The band also includes two trumpeters (most notably Clark Terry who has a few short solos) and a rhythm section with guitarist Billy Butler. Most of the music consists of obscurities and is open to the influences of the boogaloo and pop rhythms of the era; highlights include Hancock's "Blind Man, Blind Man," "Sunny" and "Devilette." An interesting effort.
Mirroring his onetime boss and mentor Miles Davis' own protean output, Herbie Hancock has explored hard bop, soul-jazz, fusion, funk-rock, soundtracks, hip-hop-inflected pop ("Rockit"), and many permutations in between. His early work for Blue Note, though, offers the best entrée for newcomers. Compiled from five of his albums for the label and covering a period from 1962-1968, this fine sampler includes highlights from his debut, Takin' Off ("Watermelon Man"), the classic Maiden Voyage (the title track and "Dolphin Dance"), and the early electric album Speak Like a Child (the title track and "Riot"). Add to this more indelible cuts like "Cantaloupe Island" and "One Finger Snap," not to mention the presence of numerous '60s jazz luminaries (Dexter Gordon, Freddie Hubbard, Thad Jones, Hank Mobley, Billy Higgins, et al.), and you have perfect way to get a taste of some of the best modern jazz committed to wax.

domain: entertainment


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Authored by Harry LeGrand
It is with great sorrow that I report the news that John Finnegan, a long-time birder/biologist based in Raleigh, passed away November 10th after a 7-8-month bout of cancer. I had lunch with John only 8 days earlier, and though weak (after much chemo and pills) and in an easy chair at home, he was quite responsive and talking freely with several of us. Thus, even though he was expected to live only a handful of weeks or a month or two longer, the news of his passing so quickly came as a shock to his friends.
John and his wife Stephanie Horton did a considerable amount of birding and herping in the state, especially in Wake County and in the Sandhills. His good friend Jeff Beane was with him on many of these trips, including several decades of participation on the Ocracoke and Portsmouth Islands Christmas Bird Counts. He participated in the Wake County bird counts for several decades and was a very active member of the Wake Audubon Society as well as the NC Herpetological Society. He conducted two Breeding Bird Survey routes in the Sandhills for a number of years. He, Jeff, Stephanie, and one or two others conducted a Wildathon Big Day each May to record the number of species of vertebrates in a single day, with contributions based on number of species going to NC Audubon for conservation purposes.
He observed and identified the first inland Gray Kingbird that was confirmed by photographs (later in the day by another birder), just south of Raleigh. He also identified the first inland spring Arctic Tern in NC, at Lake Waccamaw, confirmed by photos from Jeff Beane.
He was the Data Manager for the NC Natural Heritage Program for around 25 years, where he worked several rooms or cubicles from me during that time; I was the Terrestrial Zoologist. Though his job was not one that got him in the field often, he and Stephanie were afield on most weekends.
He will be sorely missed on several Christmas Bird Counts, on many birding and herping outings,and at Audubon and Herp Society meetings. His departure leaves a great hole not only for the Natural Heritage Program to fill, but to his numerous friends and fellow biologists.
On Saturday, August 27th, Wake Audubon and the Museum of Natural Sciences co-sponsored a workshop to learn some of the finer points of bird identifications for a variety of challenging species. Twelve folks ventured out and into the murky world of “little brown jobs” which actually included some big brown “jobs” and a few other types added for good measure.
Three of most active Young Naturalists provided tremendous support (one is a former Museum Junior Curator who has been affiliated with the YNC program the past 2 years). These 3 helped to pull ~75 bird specimens from the Museum’s ornithology collections, to represent some of the more challenging plumages of species found in North Carolina, and often in Wake County. These included various species of warblers (fall, immature plumages), sparrows, raptors (“all immature raptors seem to be brown on the back and streaked underneath”….), and some of the finch/bunting types. There were others and as the saying goes, you just had to be there.
Specimens were arranged on tabletops in their respective groups, and John Gerwin and the 3 assistants held court at the resulting tables, where they could go over each specimen/species and compare and contrast with others that look so much alike.
Olivia and Vanessa Merritt, and Edward Landi, have assisted John with numerous bird banding events over the past 3 years, which includes 4 projects. They have spent many hours handling live sparrows, buntings and warblers in the Fall at both Prairie Ridge and a grassland/shrub site in the Uwharries, as part of ongoing bird banding studies at each site. They also assist with tasks in the Museum’s ornithology collections. So these three have gained quite a bit of experience with these more challenging species (some of our other Young Naturalists have been participating as well but were unavailable to help on Saturday).
In addition to the specimens, John showed a few dozen images of the species of interest, during which time we were able to discuss the field marks, and see how things might look through optics (versus a specimen in your hand!). This gave folks a chance to guess at identifications, which is always a combination of fun and internal strife!
By the end, we were all sufficiently overwhelmed by the many shades of browns, grays, olive greens, but we agreed that in spite of their more “quiet” look, they are really quite lovely once you see them up close the way we did.
Attached are a few of the species we covered – click on the image to enlarge it. See which ones you can ID (then look at the end of the blog for the answers).
John Gerwin, Treasurer, Wake Audubon and Research Curator, Ornithology, North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences
Upper left: Palm, western subspecies
Upper right: Cape May, female
Lower left: Blackpoll
Lower middle: “Yellow”, or Eastern Palm
Lower right: Prairie
Lower left: Cooper’s, immature female
Upper middle: Sharp-shinned, adult
Upper right, Sharp-shinned, immature
Lower right: Cooper’s, adult on Starling
Right: White-crowned, immature
Ammodramus: this slide shows the underside of the two species of what were once considered one: Sharp-tailed Sparrow. Now known as: Nelson’s, and Saltmarsh, sparrow. The specimen labels reflect this current taxonomy.
Authored by John Gerwin
I went outside this week, on a couple afternoons, to check out the butterflies. A number of butterfly-attracting plants are now blooming nicely (New York Ironweed, Cup Plant, Smooth Oxeye, Green-headed Sneezeweed/Coneflower, Summer Phlox). And, as I’d expected/hoped, a number of Skipper butterflies have now appeared to feed at these flowers (I saw 4 Skipper species that day, in an hour of looking around).
The Skipper group of butterflies is a large, worldwide group. The common name derives from the flight of many of them, a flight during which they “skip” through the air. Species in this group have some of the strongest flight muscles and are some of the fastest flying Lepidoptera – they bounce erratically through the air, and are often tough to visually follow. Indeed, they appear to come and go in a flash. And some are territorial, so they attack anything that walks or flies by – anything.
In addition, as a group, Skippers are known as dull, drab, difficult to identify butterflies. Even when graced with some spots/blotches, there can be several species whose spots are so similar that they are still tough to ID. Many show sexual dimorphism (males and females look different) – so different you’d think they are two species. And to make matters more fun, the sex of one might look like one of the others. They are, in essence, the “sparrows, or gulls, of the butterfly world”. Few people subject themselves to what can be a torturous experience – identifying a Skipper.
But, there are in fact a number of species who are quite wonderfully marked, and/or show some fine coloration. So, to those trying to learn some new species out there, I say take a look for, and at, these more elaborately colored species. As always, I encourage anyone to go along with a simple point and shoot camera and take plenty of shots. You can then go home and put a name to your butterflies later (or you can ask some of us on this list).
For now, let me show case a few that I see in the yard, or nearby in some neighbor’s yard.
Zabulon, Clouded, Fiery Skippers
One of the brightest skippers I see out in the yard is the male Zabulon Skipper. But, in a slightly more subdued way, the female is no snoozer either. So the Zabulon show sexual dimorphism and “interestingly” enough, the Clouded Skipper (either sex as they are nearly identical) looks much like the female Zabulon. And as you’ll see from the pics, the two sexes of Zabulon are wildly different-looking. If you find one that looks like a female Zabulon, a great way to tell which species it is, is if you see the fine white line on the upper (leading) edge of the hindwing. You may think “I’ll never see that tiny bit of white! Gerwin’s crazy!” But in fact, it is pretty noticeable (notwithstanding that Gerwin can still be crazy).
I find the chestnut coloration of the female Zabulon quite beautiful – in this species, this color shows best when fresh and when the light hits it just right. I also appreciate the “dusty” or “frosted” appearance of the Clouded Skipper, which is on the underside of this species. I might have named this one “Foggy” Skipper, as that is how that marking appears to me, when I see it. Although grayish-white may not seem like an appealing coloration, it looks quite lovely to me, set against the dark background.
The Fiery Skipper is also fairly bright, as you can see. And it is a dimorphic species. The male is a brighter yellow-orange with small spots, whereas the female is a quieter yellow-orange, with larger brownish spots. Unfortunately, I somehow managed to photograph the undersides of only male Fiery’s. I will be on the lookout now! The Fiery Skipper is one of the most abundant skippers I see out there, and it is particularly fond of Lantana. I know Lantana is not native to these parts, but it produces some good nectar and I confess, I grow some in a pot or two around here, and many many butterflies are attracted to it. The butterflies have spoken.
Many Skipper larvae feed on a variety of grasses. Two of the kinds that the Zabulon will feed on are Poa and Eragrostis species. I am particularly fond of Eragrostis, one of which is the Purple Love Grass (I love purple so this circle is complete). I have planted some (Purple Love Grass) in the front yard. Poa’s are common everywhere and Poa annua is considered a real pest, and many folks spray a lot of herbicide to try and control it. Poa glauca is an ornamental Bluestem that is commonly planted.
Clouded and Fiery Skipper larvae feed on St. Augustine Grass, another common ornamental, and Fiery’s will also feed on Bermuda Grass, yet another non-native.
Take a walk around the neighborhood this month and enjoy the challenge of identifying some of these butterflies sipping and skipping into autumn.
First published on the Wild West blog site: wildwestavent.wordpress.com
A poem by Jill Walsh ~ August 9, 2016
A little bird came hopping by, foraging for seeds
Enchanted I sat witness to, his dance amid the trees
A tail of white-tipped feathers splayed, head bobbing up and down
The subtle sound of shuffling feet, as he scratched the fertile ground
He waltzed through dappled waves of light, with wings of brilliant hue
While rays of glistening sun unveiled, opalescent shades of blue
A triumphant chirp did soon resound, when grasped within his beak
The treasured prize uncovered, beneath the fallen leaves
Authored by Bob Oberfelder
In early May 2016, the fields next to Mid Pines Road were alive with a huge flock of Bobolinks. There were at least 150 Bobolinks in total with the flock breaking up into two or more flocks periodically and then joining together to form one really large flock. This Bobolink flock was the largest flock I have ever seen at one time in one place, and it doubled the number of Bobolinks I have ever seen. The first photo shows a very small part of the flock in flight. According to Harry Legrand, it is not unusual to see even larger flocks migrating along the coast. Since we only see these birds as spring migrants, a sighting in any given year in the area around Mid Pines Road is a hit or miss proposition. In breeding plumage, the males are quite showy as seen in the second photo. In contrast to the showy breeding plumage males, the females resemble an Eastern Meadowlark without a bib or some strange sparrow. The final photo shows one of the female Bobolinks. The contrast between males and female is quite striking. This flock attracted lots of attention from the local birding community and cooperated by staying in the area for at least 2-3 weeks. Although frequent rain showers accompanied the flock during the first week it was present, the latter part of their stay permitted better pictures.
Authored by Erik Thomas.
Two members of the Wake Audubon Society board, Colleen Bockhahn and Erik Thomas, conducted bird counts in the Lumber River Important Bird Area (IBA) on May 1 and 2. IBA’s are areas that provide especially extensive areas of prime bird habitat and may harbor uncommon or rare species. Audubon North Carolina has entrusted the Wake Audubon Society with monitoring the Lumber River IBA, which covers much of the eastern half of Robeson County. Designated points are established at which the counts take place. Counting follows a protocol in which counters record the numbers of each species they see or hear within a ten-minute period and approximately how far away each bird was from the point. WAS members have been monitoring the Lumber River IBA for the past nine years.
The primary goal of this trip was to find migrants. We found a few transient species during the trip: two Black-throated Blue Warblers, an American Redstart, several Black-and-white Warblers, and one Spotted Sandpiper. For the most part, however, we found local breeding species, in which the Lumber River IBA is notably rich. The bottomland forest warbler triumvirate of Prothonotary Warbler, Northern Parula, and Yellow-throated Warbler
was ubiquitous. Yellow-billed Cuckoos, Acadian and Great Crested Flycatchers, Pileated Woodpeckers, Barred Owls, Red-shouldered Hawks, and three species of vireos were frequent. We heard Swainson’s Warblers at three different count points. Even a few Wild Turkeys materialized. Perhaps our biggest surprise was a Wood Stork that was soaring overhead at one count point. One species that we did not find was the Red-headed Woodpecker, a bird that has appeared on many of our previous trips to the Lumber River IBA. Our total for the IBA on this trip was 73 species.
The records for all of the point counts are entered into a website that Audubon North Carolina keeps. Although this website is not publicly accessible, we also entered all the counts on eBird, so if you’re curious about what species we found at each site, just go to the eBird website (http://ebird.org/content/ebird/), click on “Explore Data,” and click on “Species Maps” to see any species or “Explore Hotspots” to see any of the individual points, which are designated as “Lumber River IBA D-01,” “Lumber River IBA D-02,” etc.
Many of us in Wake Audubon submitted comments on the proposals for the Bonner Bridge replacement and associated up-grades to the existing highway 12 route along the outer banks, several years ago. Our interests stemmed from the fact that highway 12 runs along the coast, and through a National Wildlife Refuge, and was constantly washing out. This has resulted in a lot of DOT funds spent over the years to repair the road, and thus, a lot of impact on the refuge and on local traffic.
This project affects the southern portion of the Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge and the Rodanthe area. An Environmental Assessment was done in 2012 or so, and the first EA report released in December 2013. More comments were received and this month, a new report was released, indicating a new “preferred” alternative.
The original report recommended replacing the original bridge pretty much in the same place, but many of us and many folks in the Rodanthe area disagreed. The new recommendation is to build a new bridge in Pamlico Sound, to the west of the current Highway 12.
This new bridge location would minimize impacts to the wildlife refuge, the ocean/shore beach, the Rodanthe community and submerged aquatic vegetation in the sound. This new preferred alternative has the support of federal and state environmental and regulatory agencies and the residents of Rodanthe.
As proposed in this new plan, the part of Highway 12 within the current refuge would be removed, and that land returned to the Refuge management. Some of the original road would remain to allow access by local Rodanthe residents.
If you would like to read more, or see maps, about this project, please visit the following website:
During our last field trip to the outer banks we saw many birds. Here are photos by Bob Oberfelder.
Authored by Jeff Beane
Date: 10-11 May 2016
Team: Jeff Beane, Ed Corey, Bob Davis, John Finnegan, Stephanie Horton (“24-Hour Dream Team”) [Also, Nathan Shepard set minnow traps for us in the Sandhills on Tuesday, resulting in three species we did not encounter otherwise.] Species counted: Vertebrates
Time spent: 24 hrs. We officially began our count at 8:11 a.m. on 10 May and ended at 8:11 a.m. on 11 May. Beane, Corey, and Davis participated for the entire 24 hours; Finnegan and Horton participated for about the first 8-9 hours and rejoined us for about the last 2 hours.
Area covered: Our search included portions of Bladen, Brunswick, Columbus, Hoke, Moore, New Hanover, Pender, Richmond, Robeson, and Scotland counties, NC. We began at 1208 Canal Drive (ca. 1.0 airmi. NNE Carolina Beach) in New Hanover County and ended on the Sandhills Game Lands (ca. 5.2 airmi. NW of Marston) in Richmond County.
Weather: Mostly sunny to partly cloudy with a high temperature around 90F and lows in the low 60sF. Techniques: Most species were observed via visual and auditory searches, while walking and driving. Binoculars and a spotting scope were used to assist in viewing many species. Several species were taken in dipnets, a 12-ft. seine, and minnow traps; and several were found by turning natural and artificial surface cover. Several species were observed only as road-kills or otherwise dead specimens; these are noted by an asterisk (*).
Lepisosteus osseus Longnose Gar
Amia calva Bowfin
Brevoortia tyrannus Atlantic Menhaden *
Umbra pygmaea Eastern Mudminnow
Esox americanus Redfin Pickerel
Esox niger Chain Pickerel
Notropis maculatus Tailllight Shiner
Notropis petersoni Coastal Shiner
Cyprinodon variegatus Sheepshead Minnow
Fundulus heteroclitus Mummichog
Fundulus lineolatus Lined Topminnow
Fundulus majalis Striped Killifish
Lucania parva Rainwater Killifish
Gambusia holbrooki Eastern Mosquitofish
Heterandria formosa Least Killifish
Poecilia latipinna Sailfin Molly
Aphredoderus sayanus Pirate Perch
Chologaster cornuta Swampfish
Pomatomus saltatrix Bluefish *
Opsanus tau Oyster Toadfish *
Labidesthes [sicculus] vanhyningi Southern Brook Silverside
Chaenobryttus gulosus Warmouth
Enneacanthus chaetodon Black-banded Sunfish
Enneacanthus gloriosus Blue-spotted Sunfish
Enneacanthus obesus Banded Sunfish
Lepomis macrochirus Bluegill
Lepomis marginatus Dollar Sunfish
Lepomis microlophus Redear Sunfish
Micropterus salmoides Largemouth Bass
Elassoma boehlkei Carolina Pygmy Sunfish
Elassoma evergladei Everglades Pygmy Sunfish
Etheostoma olmstedi Tessellated Darter
Perca flavescens Yellow Perch
Lagodon rhomboides Pinfish
Leiostomus xanthurus Spot
Menticirrhus americanus Southern Kingfish *
Micropogonias undulatus Atlantic Croaker
Mugil curema White Mullet
Eleotris pisonis Spinycheek Sleeper
Scomberomorus cavalla King Mackerel *
Scomberomorus maculatus Spanish Mackerel
Necturus punctatus Dwarf Waterdog
Amphiuma means Two-toed Amphiuma
Notophthalmus viridescens Eastern Newt
Eurycea n. sp. “Sandhills Eurycea”
Bufo [Anaxyrus] terrestris Southern Toad
Acris gryllus Southern Cricket Frog
Hyla chrysoscelis Cope’s Gray Treefrog
Hyla cinerea Green Treefrog
Hyla femoralis Pine Woods Treefrog
Hyla gratiosa Barking Treefrog
Hyla squirella Squirrel Treefrog
Pseudacris crucifer Spring Peeper
Pseudacris ocularis Little Grass Frog
Gastrophryne carolinensis Eastern Narrow-mouthed Toad
Rana catesbeiana [Lithobates catesbeianus] American Bullfrog
Rana [Lithobates] clamitans Green Frog
Rana sphenocephala [Lithobates sphenocephalus] Southern Leopard Frog
Rana [Lithobates] virgatipes Carpenter Frog
Reptiles (including crocodilians and chelonians)
Alligator mississippiensis American Alligator
Chelydra serpentina Common Snapping Turtle *
Kinosternon baurii Striped Mud Turtle
Sternotherus odoratus Eastern Musk Turtle
Deirochelys reticularia Eastern Chicken Turtle
Pseudemys concinna River Cooter
Trachemys scripta Yellow-bellied Slider
Dermochelys coriacea Leatherback
Anolis carolinensis Green Anole
Sceloporus undulatus Fence Lizard
Cnemidophorus sexlineatus [Aspidoscelis sexlineata] Six-lined Racerunner
Eumeces [Plestiodon] inexpectatus Southeastern Five-lined Skink Eumeces [Plestiodon] laticeps Broadhead Skink
Scincella lateralis Ground Skink
Ophisaurus ventralis Eastern Glass Lizard
Coluber constrictor Black Racer
Diadophis punctatus Ring-necked Snake
Elaphe guttata [=Pantherophis guttatus] Corn Snake *
Elaphe obsoleta [=Pantherophis obsoletus, etc.] Rat Snake *
Farancia abacura Mud Snake
Nerodia fasciata Banded Water Snake *
Nerodia taxispilota Brown Water Snake
Storeria occipitomaculata Red-bellied Snake
Tantilla coronata Southeastern Crowned Snake
Agkistrodon contortrix Copperhead *
Aix sponsa Wood Duck
Anas platyrhynchos Mallard
Branta canadensis Canada Goose
Colinus virginianus Northern Bobwhite *
Meleagris gallopavo Wild Turkey
Gavia immer Common Loon
Morus bassanus Northern Gannet
Phalacrocorax auritus Double-crested Cormorant
Anhinga anhinga Anhinga
Pelecanus occidentalis Brown Pelican
Ardea alba Great Egret
Ardea herodias Great Blue Heron
Butorides virescens Green Heron
Egretta caerulea Little Blue Heron
Egretta thula Snowy Egret
Egretta tricolor Tricolored Heron
Nyctanassa violacea Yellow-crowned Night Heron
Eudocimus albus White Ibis
Plegadis falcinellus Glossy Ibis
Cathartes aura Turkey Vulture
Pandion haliaetus Osprey
Buteo lineatus Red-shouldered Hawk
Circus cyaneus Northern Harrier
Haliaeetus leucocephalus Bald Eagle
Rallus elgans King Rail
Rallus longirostris Clapper Rail
Charadrius semipalmatus Semipalmated Plover
Charadrius vociferus Killdeer
Charadrius wilsonia Wilson’s Plover
Pluvialis squatarola Black-bellied Plover
Haematopus palliatus American Oystercatcher
Arenaria interpres Ruddy Turnstone
Actitis macularia Spotted Sandpiper
Calidris alba Sanderling
Calidris alpina Dunlin
Calidris mauri Western Sandpiper
Calidris minutilla Least Sandpiper
Calidris pusilla Semipalmated Sandpiper
Limnodromus griseus Short-billed Dowitcher
Numenius phaeopus Whimbrel
Tringa melanoleuca Greater Yellowlegs
Tringa semipalmata Willet
Tringa solitaria Solitary Sandpiper
Larus argentatus Herring Gull
Larus delawarensis Ring-billed Gull
Larus marinus Great Black-backed Gull
Leucophaeus [Larus] atricilla Laughing Gull
Gelochelidon [Sterna] nilotica Gull-billed Tern
Rhynchops niger Black Skimmer
Sterna forsteri Forster’s Tern
Sternula antillarum Least Tern
Thalasseus maximus [Sterna maxima] Royal Tern
Thalasseus [Sterna] sandvicensis Sandwich Tern
Columba livia Rock Pigeon
Streptopelia decaocto Eurasian Collared-Dove
Zenaida macroura Mourning Dove
Coccyzus americanus Yellow-billed Cuckoo
Strix varia Barred Owl
Caprimulgus carolinensis Chuck-Will’s-Widow
Caprimulgus vociferus Whip-Poor-Will
Chordeiles minor Common Nighthawk
Chaetura pelagica Chimney Swift
Archilochus colubris Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Megaceryle alcyon Belted Kingfisher
Colaptes auratus Northern Flicker
Dryocopus pileatus Pileated Woodpecker
Melanerpes carolinus Red-bellied Woodpecker
Melanerpes erythrocephalus Red-headed Woodpecker
Picoides borealis Red-cockaded Woopecker
Picoides pubescens Downy Woodpecker
Picoides villosus Hairy Woodpecker
Contopus virens Eastern Wood-Pewee
Empidonax virescens Acadian Flycatcher
Myiarchus crinitus Great Crested Flycatcher
Sayornis phoebe Eastern Phoebe
Tyrannus tyrannus Eastern Kingbird
Lanius ludovicianus Loggerhead Shrike
Vireo flavifrons Yellow-throated Vireo
Vireo griseus White-eyed Vireo
Vireo olivaceus Red-eyed Vireo
Corvus brachyrhynchos American Crow
Corvus ossifragus Fish Crow
Cyanocitta cristata Blue Jay
Hirundo rustica Barn Swallow
Progne subis Purple Martin
Stelgidopteryx serripennis Northern Rough-winged Swallow
Tachycineta bicolor Tree Swallow
Baeolophus bicolor Tufted Titmouse
Poecile carolinensis Carolina Chickadee
Sitta pusilla Brown-headed Nuthatch
Cistothorus palustris Marsh Wren
Thryothorus ludovicianus Carolina Wren
Polioptila caerulea Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
Catharus ustulatus Swainson’s Thrush
Hylocichla mustelina Wood Thrush
Sialia sialis Eastern Bluebird
Turdus migratorius American Robin
Dumetella carolinensis Gray Catbird
Mimus polyglottos Northern Mockingbird
Toxostoma rufum Brown Thrasher
Sturnus vulgaris European Starling
Bombycilla cedrorum Cedar Waxwing
Cardellina canadensis Canada Warbler
Geothlypis formosa KentuckyWarbler
Geothlypis trichas Common Yellowthroat
Icteria virens Yellow-breasted Chat
Limnothlypis swainsonii Swainson’s Warbler
Mniotilta varia Black-and-White Warbler
Parkesia motacilla Louisiana Waterthrush
Protonotaria citrea Prothonotary Warbler
Seiurus aurocapillus Ovenbird
Setophaga americana Northern Parula
Setophaga citrina Hooded Warbler
Setophaga discolor Prairie Warbler
Setophaga dominica Yellow-throated Warbler
Setophaga palmarum Palm Warbler
Setophaga petechia Yellow Warbler
Setophaga pinus Pine Warbler
Setophaga ruticilla American Redstart
Setophaga striata Blackpoll Warbler
Piranga olivacea Scarlet Tanager
Piranga rubra Summer Tanager
Aimophila aestivalis Bachman’s Sparrow
Pipilo erythrophthalmus Eastern Towhee
Spizella passerina Chipping Sparrow
Spizella pusilla Field Sparrow
Cardinalis cardinalis Northern Cardinal
Passerina caerulea Blue Grosbeak
Passerina ciris Painted Bunting
Passerina cyanea Indigo Bunting
Agelaius phoeniceus Red-winged Blackbird
Icterus spurius Orchard Oriole
Molothrus ater Brown-headed Cowbird
Quiscalus major Boat-tailed Grackle
Quiscalus quiscula Common Grackle
Carpodacus mexicanus House Finch
pinus [Carduelis] tristis American Goldfinch
Passer domesticus House Sparrow
Total Vertebrate Species: 231
Tuesday, 1:57 p.m. By far the highlight of this year’s Wildathon was the sighting of several Leatherbacks—one from the Kure Beach pier and
several off the beach at Ft. Fisher. A very unique species, the Leatherback is the most massive reptile in the world, occasionally weighing over a ton. Many of them were passing through the area to feed on cannonball jellyfish. This spectacular sea turtle was a lifer for everyone on the team.
Tuesday, 2:10 p.m. Gull-billed Terns at Ft. Fisher. Not always an easy species to see in NC.
We counted only those species which we could positively identify to the agreement of our team. We recorded several species not found on any of our previous Wildathons. Leatherback and Spinycheek Sleeper were lifer species for everyone on the team. We omitted from the list a few species that we were uncertain of.
Our total species count was the fourth-highest of the 24-hour Dream Team’s 17 Wildathons to date (our record was 248, in 2014). Our bird list was our second-best ever. For the 10th straight year, it was a pleasure to begin the event with two Ophisaurus ventralis at Carolina Beach in New Hanover County, in the backyard of the former home of the late Ms. Myrtle Curry, mother of team member Bob Davis. The last species recorded was Sceloporus undulatus, on Sandhills Game Lands in Richmond County with less than 30 seconds remaining. Two road-killed snakes were salvaged, and one fish was collected, for the collections of the North Carolina State Museum of Natural Sciences, and swabs were taken from a few amphibians and reptiles for a study on four emerging pathogens in amphibians and reptiles. Many observational records for various species were added to the Museum’s files and the NC Natural Heritage Program’s database.
We dedicate this Wildathon to our teammate John Finnegan, who is battling cancer; to the late Dave Lenat, who recently lost his fight with it; and to all wild, free things everywhere.
We wish to thank everyone who pledged our team this year. At this point, our pledged sponsors include Sunny and Lee Allen, Rudy Arndt, Jeff Beane, Erla Beegle, Ann Bilobrowka, Colleen Bockhahn, Hal Broadfoot, Alan Cameron, Sue Cameron, Angelo Capparella, Ed Corey, Bob Davis and Judy Morgan-Davis, Kelly Davis, Angie and Bill DeLozier, Janet Edgerton, John Finnegan and Stephanie Horton, Lena Gallitano, Jim Green, Luke and Shannon Groff, Jeff Hall, Diane Hardy, Andy Harrison, Julie Horvath, Ted Kahn, Matina Kalcounis-Rueppell, Roland Kays, Susan Kelemen, Sam Kennedy, Jane and Craig Lawrence, Tony Leiro, Greg Lewbart and Diane Deresienski, Lloyd Lewis, Gerry Luginbuhl, Jeff Marcus, Bob Oberfelder, Justin Oguni, Linda Rudd, Annie Runyon, Melody Scott, Megan Serr, Olivia and Jill Slack, Kim Smart, Dorothy Stowe, Leslie and John Watschke, Jan Weems, Kari Wouk, Steve Zimmerman, and almost certainly some others we may have inadvertently left out. Special thanks to Nate Shepard for help with trapping, to Ed Corey for the use of his vehicle, and to Jeff Beane and Bob Davis for providing their houses as bases of operation and lodging for the very tired. All monies raised will be used to support the same projects as previous years (Audubon’s Coastal Island Sanctuaries, local Wake Audubon projects, Project Bog Turtle, and Project Simus). Your generous support is greatly appreciated! You are the reason we keep doing it every year.
It’s not too late to make a donation! If you haven’t already done so, please send your pledges to the address below (or give them to any of our team members or to Wake Audubon Treasurer John Gerwin) as soon as possible. Make checks payable to “Wake Audubon” (or “NC Herpetological Society” if you want to donate only to those projects). You can also use the PayPal option on Wake Audubon’s website (under “donate” on the home page), but please indicate that your donation is for the Wildathon, and let us know that you’ve paid via that option. Please contact one of us if you have any other questions.
We thoroughly enjoyed the event, and we are already looking forward to participating again next year. Sincere thanks from all of us!
￼￼Tuesday, 7:42 p.m. A Little Blue Heron rookery at Lake Waccamaw.
Tuesday, 8:55 p.m. A Mud Snake near Lake Waccamaw kicks off the long night. After finding three of these beautiful semiaquatic serpents road-killed, we were pleased to see one alive.
Wednesday, 4:08 a.m. Minnow traps yielded a Two-toed Amphiuma. This unique, eel-like salamander is North America’s longest amphibian and supposedly has the largest red blood cells of any animal.
Wednesday, 7:29 a.m. We saw many Killdeer during this year’s Wildathon. We could only hope our resolve during the final hour was as strong as that of this tenacious female protecting her eggs.
￼￼Wednesday, 3:02 a.m. Sneaking up on nightjars is a fun way to stay awake in the wee hours. Much more often heard than seen, Chuck-Will’s-Widows have shown up on all of our Wildathons to date.
￼￼Wednesday, 7:20 a.m. Less than an hour remaining; exhaustedly scrambling for a few more species. Luckily, we knew where to find Tree Swallows.
Authored by John Gerwin
“Can you tell me what kind of bird nest this is?” Brian and I get that question a fair amount as part of our jobs as bird researchers and educators at the NC Museum of Natural Sciences. The question usually comes with a photo. Recently, I received an email and photo of a nest in one of those typical “corner of the carport roof areas”. The homeowners could not get a look at the birds. But the nest was made with a lot of sticks, along with some colorful pieces of plastic. In our urban areas, birds have adapted well, or taken a real liking to, plastic of any sort, but the colored pieces stand out and always make me smile.
About a week ago, a neighbor flagged me down, and had the same question.
There are really four “usual suspects” that build a nest on our houses (the more rude ones just barge right in). These are: Carolina Wren, House Finch, American Robin, and Eastern Phoebe. On occasion, I hear of Mourning Doves building their clumsy stick nests on a window ledge (often with poor results).
In those housing developments, somewhere between urban and rural, we find yet another porch possibility – the Barn Swallow, which makes a nest mostly of mud. No sooner had I typed this, when I received an email from a homeowner in a new subdivision in Wake Forest, asking for advice on “controlling” a pair of Barn Swallows nesting on the small ledge overhanging their front door (advice: they need their own “mud room”).
The photo that started this note, of the nest of sticks and plastic, looked like a House Finch to me and when the homeowner was finally able to get some photos of the birds, my assessment proved to be correct (see photo).
Wren nests are bulky things of mostly dead leaves (pine or hard wood) lined with dead grasses. One image of a wren nest is included. There are variations! Robin nests are mud, wrapped in dried grasses.
Recently, a co-worker brought a nest to my office that was nothing but pink threads! An entrepreneurial bird had found a young girls’ sweater on a clothesline somewhere and figured a way to unravel quite a bit of it and make a nest. It had the size and shape of a chickadee nest. And chickadees are very fond of something soft and fuzzy – their nests are made mostly of moss. I had to attach an image.
I know a few other birds that use moss. One, the Northern Parula (warbler) will build its nest inside Spanish moss – wait, that’s a trick statement. Spanish moss is not a moss but a flowering plant in these parts (a bromeliad, actually). Parulas to the west of where Spanish moss occurs (e.g. in the Uwharries) will weave a moss look-alike – Long-beard Lichen – into the outer walls of the nest. This warbler is a forest bird and where water is present, it will often be found alongside it (and a couple folks reported some migrants this spring and I’ve had one in the garden out back in the fall).
Another urban bird that uses true moss, like the chickadee, is the Eastern Phoebe. This is a member of the flycatcher family, which is a mostly tropical group of birds. The name derives from its call, which to many sounds like “fee bee”, and to others, (like me), “Free beer”. Of course, accents vary across the range of any singing/calling bird. The Phoebe call is rather “gruff” or raspy sounding, whereas the Chickadee, which also makes a “fee bee” song in the spring, does so in a pure, clear tone.
And now let’s help my neighbor. I did not even have to look on her porch (but I did anyway of course). I had been scoping out her porch for the past few days as I mowed her lawn, because I had seen a Phoebe go back and forth from the bridge over our stream on Ravenwood, to her house. In the really old days, phoebes nested on rock ledges. In due time, they adopted bridges and these days pretty much any bridge over water, troubled or not, will host a phoebe nest. And today, many a kiosk and front porch are also host to a pair of nesting phoebes. To be honest, I had assumed the bird was nesting under the bridge but I was perplexed by its constant returns to the bannister of her porch.
But there it was, in the porch corner (see photos). On April 29, the nest seemed nearly complete. On May 1, it was still empty and if it were complete, that’d be no surprise. Often a female bird will finish building a nest, and then spend several days fattening up in order to have all the nutrition she’ll need to lay 3-5 eggs– imagine! (Fattening up that is, on purpose).
The Phoebe is both dull and adorable, which I guess, makes it Adullable. I really can’t stress enough how “quiet” the plumage is. I have attached some pictures for you to see for yourself (both an adult, and a young one just a few weeks old, and some nestlings about to take their first flight). It is similar in shape/size/appearance to another (dull) flycatcher called the Eastern Wood Pewee (which also gets its name from its call). I have also attached two pics of that species. The Pewee is a forest bird, either pine, hardwood, or mixed, but you need a good-sized patch to find one during the breeding season (like Umstead Park).
The Phoebe is a short-distance migrant, if one migrates at all. If the water in its feeding area does not freeze, many of them will hang around all winter. During hard freezes, they seem to have the ability to move to open water areas, and survive. We do not understand how this occurs (Robins do the same thing). What is interesting is that many flycatchers, including phoebes, become frugivorous (fruit-eating) in the fall and winter. But because they still seem to like to have some open water around, they must be eating some bugs as well. Each fall we find one helping itself to some of the Beautyberries in our front yard over here.
An interesting tidbit is that the phoebe was the first “banded” bird. John James Audubon tied some silvered thread to several birds on his property in Pennsylvania in 1804 and the next year, one returned.
Pewees are a long-distance migrant. They head to South America for the most part. And they remain insectivorous.
If you are interested in hosting a “ledge”-nesting bird, you can try building a nest shelf, with the plans I have included. There are numerous websites devoted to attracting and identifying birds these days, but one very useful one is www.allaboutbirds.org .
Finally, one other urban, and house-inhabiting flycatcher is the Great Crested Flycatcher. This is one of the “rude” ones. If you have an exhaust pipe for say, your dryer, and you don’t use the dryer much in late April/May when these birds return, one might build a nest in it. But this and other species that may nest within our homes, are fodder for another article.
Authored by John Connors
The Raleigh Christmas Bird Count was held on December 19, 2015. It was clear and chilly…a marked change from what had been an extended mild autumn season. Sixty-seven participants were distributed in twenty teams scattered across the top birding spots in southern Wake County. Our Raleigh Christmas Bird Count has taken place in this same 15-mile diameter circle since 1937. The Count Circle center is at the Farmer’s Market along Lake Wheeler Road.
This year we had groups owling at Schenck Forest, Mid-Pines and Lake Raleigh; and one pair of intrepid birders took a pre-dawn paddle into the upper reaches of Lake Benson. Most groups assembled around 7 am and birded through the morning. For those who could make it, we got together for our mid-day Countdown at Yates Mill Pond County Park.
All told we tallied 99 species of birds for the Raleigh Christmas Bird Count- a pretty good count for our area these days. Years ago the Raleigh CBC would regularly top 110 species, but nowadays we hope for 100.
Highlights for this year’s Raleigh Count include:
1 Red-necked Grebe seen by boat at Lake Benson, 3 Redhead Ducks at Lake Wheeler, 1 Northern Harrier at Schenck Forest, 1 Horned Lark and 40 American Pipit along Mid-Pines Road, 2 Common Raven at Umstead State Park, 1 Blue-headed Vireo at Walnut Creek Wetland Center, and 1 Orange-crowned Warbler at Lake Raleigh. The American Bittern made an appearance at Prairie Ridge Eco-station, and an incredible 11 Bald Eagles were seen at various locations across the Count Circle. Other notable species which may have lingered in our area during the warm fall weather include: 2 House Wren, 1 Gray Catbird, 2 Palm Warbler, and 1 Common Yellowthroat. A total of 11 Fox Sparrow (mostly at Schenck), 3 White-crowned Sparrow, and 13 Rusty Blackbird were also seen. In addition, 12 Baltimore Oriole, most at Lena Gallitano’s feeders, were tallied. Winter finches were noticeably absent- only 3 Purple Finches were seen.
More worrisome were the low numbers for Loggerhead Shrike (1), and Eastern Meadowlark (7). Bobwhite Quail may have disappeared from the count circle entirely. Perhaps the oddest miss was for the Fish Crow- the first time in many years where none was reported. Of course years ago the species was very rare here. Not to worry, they are now a common breeding bird and as I finish writing this post I can hear some outside my office window.
Thanks to all those who participated and particularly to those who worked as site leaders. John Connors
All Christmas Bird Count data can be viewed at:


Providing relief to thousands of commuters, The Noida Authority is all set to open an underpass on the busy NH24, next month. Commuting between Noida, Delhi and Ghaziabad will now be easy.
- The Rs. 112 Crore underpass is located in the Sector 62 area, which cuts NH-24 perpendicularly near Model Town crossing.
- The underpass will be opened on 15th August 2016. According to officials, nearly 90% work has been completed.
- Pushback technology has been used for digging the soil & to complete the project without delay.
- It also limits inconvenience and disruption of traffic.
- The authority has constructed four cloverleaf – two on either side of the national highway – to reduce jams on NH24.
- Vehicles coming from Delhi will enter Noida through a loop road without adding to the burden. Also, once the underpass is opened, vehicles going towards Indirapuram and Vasundhara don’t have to use the highway. The plan is to build cloverleaf loops on all sides leading to and from the NH24.
- The underpass, once complete, will benefit over 1 lakh commuters who use the stretch daily. It will help commuters to directly access the NH-24 without any stops.


text: To continue my playoff rant (can you tell I love football?), I introduce to you the playoff powered Zazzle galleries! We’ve got galleries from all your favorite pros in the playoffs RIGHT NOW! Get football t-shirts, football hats, and more from Baltimore LB Bart Scott, Tennessee WR Brandon Jones, San Diego DE Luis Castillo and LB Shaun Phillips, Philadelphia DT Mike Patterson and WR Greg Lewis, Carolina S Chris Harris, and New York CB Corey Webster to show off your pride for your favorite playoff team and player (I recommend putting these designs on sweatshirts, cold-weather tailgating in a t-shirt can get difficult…). On top of this, Corey Webster and Chris Harris are donating partial proceeds of their Cardiac Cats t-shirts and G-Men at Work t-shirts to local community charities. So get a t-shirt, it’s good for the fans and good for the country! Check out all the playoff powered t-shirts below.


text:
Ad market to improve in 2003 - New York Times
New York, - The New York Times Co. said Tuesday that earnings for 2002 should fall within the range of its previous forecasts, and predicted that better economic trends would help improve profitability next year.
``In October we reiterated our expectation that full-year earnings for 2002 would be within the range of $1.90 to $2,'' Leonard Forman, chief financial officer, said in a news release. ``At this point we are comfortable in saying that our earnings will be in the middle of that range.''
For 2003, he said modest growth in the economy should help the advertising market. That, along with cost-cutting, should put the company's earnings-per-share growth rate in the mid-single digits to low-double digits.
``Continued improvement in the ad market would push us toward the upper end of that range and perhaps even beyond, while a deterioration would have the opposite effect,'' he said.
Also on Tuesday, the company said its advertising revenue increased 6.7 per cent in November from the same time a year ago. The gains reflected an upturn in technology, entertainment, transportation and other advertising.
The New York Times Co. publishes the New York Times, the Boston Globe and 16 other newspapers. It also owns TV stations, radio stations and more than 40 Web sites.
In trading Tuesday on the New York Stock Exchange, shares of The New York Times Co. rose 63 cents to $46.33 US.
Back to headlines
Copyright © 2003 Business Information Group
All rights reserved.


text:
In order to prevent the degradation of polymers during processing or use, polymer stabilizers are employed in accordance with the degradation mechanism of the relevant polymer. Due to the large differences in degradation mechanisms of polymers containing chlorine(stabilizers for polyvinyl chlorides), and those without chlorine, stabilizers that are suitable for each type of polymer should be chosen.
In general, the same polymer stabilizers are used in most plastics, such as polypropylene, polyethylene, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), and engineering plastics. The key to preventing the oxidative degradation of plastics is to terminate the radical reaction in the early stage of degradation, thereby terminating autoxidation. To achieve this, at least one, and preferably several, of the factors associated with the degradation scheme need to be eliminated.
Many stabilizers prevent one of the elementary degradation reactions of plastics, thereby contributing to their stabilization. Stabilizers are categorized into a radical chain initiation inhibitor, a radical scavenger, and a peroxide decomposer, depending on the autoxidation stage at which the radical chain is inhibited.
On the other hand, for this reason, the PVC stabilizers are designed to scavenge the chlorine atoms and hydrogen chloride formed in the degradation process.
Designing Polymer Stabilizer Formulations
Since the degradation reaction is complex, eliminating only one of the factors responsible for degradation is not sufficient to stabilize the polymer. Stated alternatively, simultaneously eliminating multiple degradation factors produces a large stabilizing effect.
For example, in the case of polypropylene products for outdoor use, a phenolic antioxidant (radical scavenger) and phosphorus antioxidant (peroxide decomposer) are blended in to act as thermal stabilizers during processes such as molding, and an ultraviolet absorber and HALS are also blended in to provide improved weatherability during use.
As described above, for plastics, several types of stabilizers are often used in combination. The effects vary greatly depending on the combination of stabilizers. For this reason, the technique of blending appropriate stabilizers is crucial to practical plastics applications.

domain: chemistry


text:
Abuelo’s Tortillas and Tortillas Chips Now Available Across Vancouver Island!
“There is only one way to make the perfect tortilla … by hand!”
Authentically Mexican and locally-produced right here on Vancouver Island from organic, non-GMO corn!
Abuelo’s Corn Tortillas are produced with pride in the Comox Valley from carefully selected, organic, non-GMO corn flour and tested well water, in a 100% gluten-free facility. Hand-cut and flavored with real beets, garlic and / or habenaro chilies for a taste experience like no other.
Find Abuelo’s year round at the Comox Valley Farmer’s Market and at Abuelo’s Factory Outlet in Courtenay where you can purchase specialty flavors (cinnamon) or salsa verdes so fresh – and without preservatives – that no retailer can stock them! Tune into their tastings here.
Abuelo’s Foods are available at the following Island retailers:
COMOX VALLEY, CAMPBELL RIVER, AND SURROUNDING ISLANDS.
* Edible Island (Courtenay)
* Atlas Cafe (Courtenay)
* Avenue Bistro (Comox)
* Union St. Grill & Grotto (Courtenay)
* Hen & Hog (Courtenay)
* Seeds Natural Food Market (Cumberland)
* Waverley Hotel (Cumberland)
* Biblio Taco (Cumberland)
* Roy’s Towne Pub ( Royston)
* Riptide Pub (Campbell River)
* Healthyway Natural Foods (Campbell River)
* Discovery Foods (Black creek & Willow Point)
* Yellow Dog Trading (Quadra)
* Cortes Natural Food Co-Op (Cortes)
* Cortes Market (Cortes)
* Hornby Island Co-Op (Hornby)
* Denman Island General Store (Denman)
* Sointula Co-Op (Sointula)
* Coho Joe (Sointula)
* Chopping Block (Powell River)
QUALICUM TO VICTORIA.
* Weinberg’s Good Food (Buckley Bay)
* Heaven on Earth (Qualicum)
* Trail’s End (Errington)
* Springford Farm Market (Nanoose Bay)
* Pomme Natural Market (Nanaimo)
* Chemainus Health Food Store (Chemainus)
* Wild Poppy Bistro (Ladysmith)
* Old Town Bakery (Ladysmith)
* Community Farm Store (Duncan)
* Nature Spirit Earth Market (Gabriola)
* Fairway Market (Nanaimo)
* Niagara Market (Victoria)
* Red Barn Market (All locations in Victoria)
* Market on Millstream (Victoria)
* Market on Yates (Victoria)
* Lifestyle Market (Victoria)
* Local General Store (Victoria)
* SPUD.ca (Victoria)
* Fairway Market (All locations in Victoria)

domain: food


text:
The stigma surrounding mental health and substance abuse has prevented many people from getting the help they need. When family, friends, or society have negative perceptions about mental health or drug use, their beliefs are often based on preconceptions, generalizations, or assumptions. These preconceived, often unfounded, perceptions are hard to change.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO),
“Stigma is a set of negative beliefs that a group or society holds about a topic or group of people.”
“Stigma is a major cause of discrimination and exclusion and it contributes to the abuse of human rights.”
Perceived stigma can result in avoidance, rejection, prejudice, or discrimination against a person. As a result, it can harm a person’s self-esteem and prevent them from seeking treatment.
How Stigma Impedes Addiction Treatment
Substance abuse and addiction are often underdiagnosed and under-treated because of stigma. Unfortunately, many people who use drugs or have mental health issues are often flagged as “drug-seekers” when they seek medical help. As a result, they avoid emergency rooms or clinics. Therefore, they don’t get a proper medical assessment or referral for the treatment that they need. In many instances, fatal overdose is the outcome.
Public stigma and personal shame are formidable obstacles to addiction treatment. Here are a few ways stigma interferes with a person’s ability to get the treatment they desperately need:
- Think they must hit “rock-bottom” before they need treatment.
- Fear losing their job if they enter a treatment program.
- Afraid of being seen as “weak” if they enter rehab.
- Unsure of being able to rejoin society after treatment.
Someone with co-occurring mental health issues and substance abuse often feels rejected by society. So, they isolate themselves and try to hide their drug use to avoid stigma and shaming. Over time, their substance use and mental health disorders get worse.
If we, as a society, can accept and treat these disorders as valid medical conditions, many lives can be saved.
Importance of Dual-Diagnosis Treatment
It’s difficult to determine which came first, the mental illness or the substance abuse issue. In most cases, a person struggles with both disorders concurrently. Someone with mental health problems often uses drugs as a form of self-medication and may develop an addiction to the substance. On the other hand, a person with a prolonged substance abuse history may have mental or emotional problems due to the drug in their system.
When someone struggles with these co-occurring disorders, the best treatment option is a dual-diagnosis program. These programs are equipped to address both the physical and mental factors to ensure the most favorable outcome.
Cycles of Change Recovery offers a unique approach to treating co-occurring disorders. For instance, Biosound Therapy helps patients who have mental health and substance use issues. This therapy uses vibrational patterns that relax the nervous system to relieve symptoms of stress, anger, racing thoughts, fearfulness, and more. We also offer 12-step programs, meditation and yoga, family therapy, and psychodrama therapy as part of our comprehensive dual-diagnosis treatment.
Words Matter: Destigmatizing Substance Abuse and Mental Health Disorders
Words are powerful tools. They can evoke many feelings, beliefs, emotions, and fears. As such, researchers believe the stigma surrounding substance abuse or mental health disorders can be minimized or eliminated by using different terms. For instance, when referring to addiction or mental health the following guidelines are suggested:
|Stigmatizing Language||Recommended Language|
|Addict||A person with substance use disorder|
|Addicted to X||Has an X use disorder|
|Addiction||Substance use disorder (SUD)|
|Alcoholic||A person suffering from alcohol addiction|
|Drug abuser||A person who uses drugs|
|Reformed addict||A person in recovery|
|Recreational drug user||Someone who uses drugs for non-medical reasons|
|Mentally ill, psycho, insane||Has a mental health challenge|
|Mental health patient||Is receiving mental health services|
|Committed suicide||Died by suicide|
The recommended language acknowledges the person before the condition. It reduces the negative connotations evoked by stigmatizing language.
Public perceptions are often swayed by words or images. With this in mind, correcting stereotypes and misconceptions is a big step toward helping people get effective treatment.
Other ways to contribute to reducing stigma include:
- showing respect to people who are affected by substance abuse and mental health
- learning more about addiction and mental health
- supporting resources for those who struggle with these disorders.
Rediscover the Joy of Being You with Cycles of Change Recovery
At Cycles of Change Recovery, we realize the complexities of addiction. We know that addiction involves a combination of factors such as depression, PTSD, low self-esteem, anxiety, environmental influences, and more. During your time in our facility, we will first address the physical aspect of addiction with our onsite detox program. Then, you’ll receive the highest level of therapy to address the emotional or mental aspects.
Contact us today at our Palmdale, California facility if you’re ready to rediscover the joy of healthy, drug-free living.

domain: psychology


text:
Ever wonder how life’s like for a young gay Filipino?
Follow the footsteps of David, a young, introverted gay man whose attempt at a one-night stand leads him to a night full of surprises in the new web series, ‘Hanging Out,’
Produced by TEAM, a media company for gay Filipino men, alongside award-winning filmmaker Petersen Vargas, the show is known to be the first gay web series coming from the Philippines.
Shot and produced in Manila, the series is seen as especially significant, with the LGBT rights movement gaining more and more traction in the region.
Last year, Geraldine Roman became the first transgender woman to win a seat in congress.
‘I’ve always made it a point to make films about gay people the way I know how being gay is like,’ said director Petersen Vargas. ‘In a country where the LGBTs lack the representation that’s needed to really empower the community, a small step like having a web series focused entirely on the “gay life” is something that I feel is essential for growth.’
‘We know it’s still definitely a long way to go before we get to where we want,’ Vargas added. ‘But we’re willing to take the baby steps to wherever this will take us, to make each step really count.’
Wanggo Gallaga, one of Hanging Out’s writers, commented that ‘there is a real need for Filipino queer stories to be told now.’
He explained, ‘You can see it in social media: a new generation of young gay and trans men and women who wants to hear their stories told. That’s what we aimed to do with this web series. We wanted the series to be as true and as honest as it can be.’
Catch the first episode of the series here:


text:
Introduction: Caddy for Wine Bottle Tiki Torches
I needed to replace old rusted tiki torches and so went to eBay and got some beautiful cobalt blue 750 ml wine bottles. I bought 12 for 37.50. On Amazon, I got wicks with ceramic stoppers (2/$6.72). These burned well and the bottle, with the light shining thru was really beautiful.
I wanted to make a carrier so that I was not carrying them in a cardboard box. This is what I came up with.
It's really just a simple box, much like an old toolbox. It's made of 1/2 inch oak and oak plywood with a dowel on the top tied to the top using some paracord. The joinery is simple butt joints. There is a 2 inch hole in each side for decoration.
Step 1: Measuring the Dimensions of the Base
I place the bottles on top of a piece of plywood to get the needed dimensions and added 1/4 inch all around.
Step 2: Cutting and Adding the Sides
The sides were made of oak plywood scraps. I joined them to the base with glue and brads. I made top spacers while the glue was drying so that the sides would stay perpendicular to the base. Finally I cut a 1/16" veneer from oak for the top of the plywood so that it would look like solid oak.
Step 3: Cutting, Drilling and Mounting the Sides
The sides were made from a piece of solid oak scrap. I drilled a 2 inch hole for decoration and then drilled a 1/2 inch hole that I was originally going to put the rod through. However, the rod was about 1/2 inch too low and it made access to the bottles too difficult so I cut slots in the top of the carrier and then lashed the top rod to the carrier using the original hole and some paracord.
Step 4: Finished Project
Here are some more pictures of the finished project with another picture of a lit torch. It's sturdy and I really enjoy the ease of transporting the bottle torches in it.
Thanks for looking!

domain: design


BOSTON- Despite a goal from Katy Knoll just 56 seconds into the game, the No. 3 Northeastern women's hockey team fell, 2-1, to the Providence Friars in overtime on Friday night in Matthews Arena.
Knoll blasted out of the gate for the Huskies with her eighth goal of the season under a minute into the game, continuing the Northeastern (25-4-2, 21-3-0 HEAW) trend of scoring in the first period. Matti Hartman and Mia Brown each had assists on Knoll's goal.
The Friars (16-11-4, 13-9-2 HEAW) notched two power-play goals off the stick of Lauren DeBlois to claim the come-from-behind victory in overtime against the Huskies.
Goaltender Aerin Frankel finished with 37 saves and Providence's Sandra Abstreiter finished with 31.
The Huskies will close out the series against the Friars tomorrow, Feb. 15 at 3 p.m. in Schneider Arena.


text:
Why Music Education is a Sound Investment in Your Child’s Future?
In a world where academic success and professional achievements often take center stage, it’s easy to overlook the profound impact that music education can have on a child’s development. Beyond the ability to sing or play an instrument, music education nurtures a wide range of skills that are invaluable in today’s society. From cognitive and emotional growth to social and creative development, investing in your child’s musical journey is an investment that will yield lifelong benefits. Let’s explore with The Mystic Keys, why music education is a sound investment in your child’s future.
1. Enhances Cognitive Abilities: Research consistently shows that music education positively influences cognitive abilities. Learning to read sheet music and play an instrument stimulates various areas of the brain, improving memory, attention, and problem-solving skills. Moreover, studies have demonstrated a correlation between musical training and enhanced mathematical and linguistic abilities. By engaging in music education, your child develops a strong foundation for academic success in multiple disciplines.
2. Fosters Emotional Intelligence: Music has a unique ability to tap into and express emotions. Through music education, children learn to understand and channel their feelings in a healthy and constructive manner. Whether it’s playing a sad melody or composing an uplifting tune, music becomes an emotional outlet for self-expression. This nurtures emotional intelligence, empathy, and resilience, equipping children with vital skills for navigating complex dynamic landscapes throughout their lives.
3. Cultivates Discipline and Perseverance: Mastering an instrument or excelling in vocal techniques requires discipline and perseverance. Regular practice, setting goals, and working towards improvement instill these essential qualities in children. Music education teaches them the value of consistent effort, patience, and the rewards that come with dedication. These attributes extend beyond music itself and contribute to their academic pursuits, extracurricular activities, and future careers.
4. Enhances Social Skills and Collaboration: Music education often takes place in group settings such as choirs, bands, or orchestras, fostering collaboration and teamwork. By playing in an ensemble or singing in a choir, children learn to listen, cooperate, and synchronize with others. They develop the ability to communicate non-verbally, follow a conductor’s cues, and respond to their peers’ musical expressions. These social skills are crucial in various domains of life, from school group projects to professional collaborations.
5. Nurtures Creativity and Innovative Thinking: Music education nurtures creativity by encouraging children to explore their imagination, compose original music, and interpret pieces with their unique artistic flair. It inspires innovative thinking as they experiment with different musical techniques, harmonies, and rhythms. These creative skills transcend the realm of music and become valuable assets in problem-solving, critical thinking, and adaptability, preparing children to excel in a rapidly changing world.
Investing in your child’s music education is an investment in their future that extends far beyond musical proficiency. The cognitive, emotional, social, and creative skills fostered through music education are transferable to countless aspects of life. By supporting your child’s musical journey, you provide them with a well-rounded education that prepares them for academic success, personal growth, and professional excellence. Let music be the soundtrack to their development and watch as they flourish into confident, expressive, and innovative individuals ready to conquer the world.


text:
By Ruth Davenport - Metro Halifax
HALIFAX - One year after launching a new safety strategy for the downtown core, Halifax Regional Police say the crime stats are looking pretty good.
© Metro Halifax file photo
Customers enjoy the sunshine on a bar patio on Argyle Street last year.
The Downtown Safety Strategy, launched June 1, 2012, was designed to improve public safety downtown by reducing public intoxication and the number of assaults. Beat officers wearing traffic vests patrol the streets, talking to patrons, checking for signs of excessive drinking, and also stroll through bars and restaurants to curb incidents that can spill out onto the street.
‚ÄúThe bulk of the comments we‚Äôve had are that the strategy‚Äôs been very effective, the police seem to have a good presence,‚ÄĚ said Paul MacKinnon, executive director of the Downtown Business Commission. ‚ÄúIt‚Äôs about feet on the street, that‚Äôs what the business community consistently says they want to see.‚ÄĚ
Serious assaults fell in the downtown core from a five-year average of 68 incidents to 32 incidents last year, a drop of 52 per cent. Total assaults, including common and serious assaults, dropped by 17 per cent from 196 to 161.
MacKinnon said the next step in reducing violent crime will come from getting more cabs and buses running to get people out of the downtown core after the bars close.
‚ÄúThat seems to be when violent incidents happen, it‚Äôs when people are milling around, they‚Äôre waiting for cabs or whatever,‚ÄĚ he said.
Regional council is expecting a review this month on the implementation of recommendations from the 2008 Mayor‚Äôs Roundtable on Violence report and what the impact of the recommendations has been.


text:
fish aquarium Azithromycin are Manufactured by krafts drug , is the best alternative of Thomas labs fish antibiotics , used to treat bacterial infections in fish and it doesn't require any kind of prescription, besides all our antibiotics are manufactured in the USA with USA-sourced ingredients and it's all USP grade . Lastly our products have high potency and contain pharmaceutical grade quality ingredients .
fish aquarium Azithromycin is a semisynthetic broad spectrum antibiotic For treatment against many gram-positive and gram-negative microorganisms
We have a diverse range of Aquarium amoxicillin to keep your fish friends swimmingly happy such as :
Other Collections by Aquarium antibiotics :


1st Class Green Week
We did lots of activities during Green schools week. We went to Sandymount strand to help clean up all the rubbish and litter. 1st and 6th Class worked so hard together and filled so many bags!
1st Class also designed ‘Saving the Marine environment’ posters during Green schools week. We used A3 card, pencils, markers and real-life shells and seaweed that we picked up from the beach. We also created our own slogans with the theme ‘Marine Environment’ and they were super creative! ‘Help our seas because our fish aren’t pleased!’ was one of our creative slogans.


This article develops a new carbon exchange diagnostic model [i.e. Southampton CARbon Flux (SCARF) model] for estimating daily gross primary productivity (GPP). The model exploits the maximum quantum yields of two key photosynthetic pathways (i.e. C and C) to estimate the conversion of absorbed photosynthetically active radiation into GPP. Furthermore, this is the first model to use only the fraction of photosynthetically active radiation absorbed by photosynthetic elements of the canopy (i.e. FAPAR) rather than total canopy, to predict GPP. The GPP predicted by the SCARF model was comparable to in situ GPP measurements (R > 0.7) in most of the evaluated biomes. Overall, the SCARF model predicted high GPP in regions dominated by forests and croplands, and low GPP in shrublands and dry-grasslands across USA and Europe. The spatial distribution of GPP from the SCARF model over Europe and conterminous USA was comparable to those from the MOD17 GPP product except in regions dominated by croplands. The SCARF model GPP predictions were positively correlated (R > 0.5) to climatic and biophysical input variables indicating its sensitivity to factors controlling vegetation productivity. The new model has three advantages, first, it prescribes only two quantum yield terms rather than species specific light use efficiency terms; second, it uses only the fraction of PAR absorbed by photosynthetic elements of the canopy (FAPAR) hence capturing the actual PAR used in photosynthesis; and third, it does not need a detailed land cover map that is a major source of uncertainty in most remote sensing based GPP models. The Sentinel satellites planned for launch in 2014 by the European Space Agency have adequate spectral channels to derive FAPAR at relatively high spatial resolution (20 m). This provides a unique opportunity to produce global GPP operationally using the Southampton CARbon Flux (SCARF) model at high spatial resolution.


1/8 Inch Automatic Air Vent Valve, Female NPT Connections
Model Number: 0590715
Menards® SKU: 6809936
Everyday Low Price: $9.99
11% Mail-In Rebate: $1.10
Your Final Price: $8.89
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After Mail-In Rebate
*The displayed final price is your price today after mail-in rebate and is subject to
the terms and time frame of the rebate. Rebate is in the form of a merchandise credit
check which may only be redeemed in store.
Description & Documents
This 1/8 inch automatic air vent valve is used in commercial and residential hydronic heating applications to provide automatic air venting for hot or cold water distribution systems. It consists of a brass body construction with female NPT connection, brass cover, air vent with silicone rubber seal, polyethylene float with valve plug, and automatic vent. It has a high temperature rating and is ideal for use with glycol systems or for use as an anti-vacuum device. It can also be installed to permit the separation and dispersal of air while fluid is circulating in the system. It can be disassembled for inspection and cleaning. The maximum pressure is 150 PSI (10 BAR).
- Brass construction
- Air vent with silicon rubber seal
- Float is high temperature resistant polyethylene
- Suitable for use with glycol systems
Brand Name: Watts
To read PDF files, you need the Adobe Acrobat Reader 6.0 or higher. If you don't have it, click here and download it for free from Adobe's site.
|Connection Type: Female Threaded
||Maximum Operating Temperature: 240 degrees Fahrenheit
|Maximum Operating Pressure: 150 PSI
||For Use With: Hydronic Heating Systems
|Includes: Check Valve & Air Vent
Please Note: Prices, promotions, styles and availability may vary by store and online. While we do our best to provide accurate item availability information, we cannot guarantee in-stock status and availability as inventory is sold and received continuously throughout the day. Inventory last updated 2/6/2016 at 5:00am EST. Online orders and products purchased in-store qualify for rebate redemption. Rebates are provided in the form of a merchandise credit check which can only be used in a Menards® store.


text:
Canada's provinces should each get leeway on the way they sell, tax and control marijuana once the drug is legalized by the federal government, according to a new report by the C.D. Howe Institute.
The framework suggested by economist Anindya Sen would create a patchwork of rules across Canada, with different laws governing everything from the stores that can carry the drug to the penalties for selling to underage users.
In this "joint venture," the federal government would monitor the safe production of marijuana for recreational use, while the provinces would oversee distribution, with an eye to meeting public-health goals.
The report is being released on the same day as a new poll by the Angus Reid Institute that shows support for legalizing marijuana is growing across the country. The poll found that 68 per cent of Canadians agree on the need to "make it legal," a nine-point increase in only two years. April 20 is known as "420" among marijuana enthusiasts, who have waged a long campaign to legalize a drug that has been prohibited in Canada since 1923.
Even though the drug is currently illegal, the Toronto-based Centre for Addiction and Mental Health found that 40 per cent of Canadians say they have used cannabis in their lifetime, including 10 per cent who have done so in the past year.
The federal Liberal government has promised to legalize marijuana, while vowing to take the time to "get it right" as it enacts the major societal change. Key issues to be determined by a coming federal-provincial task force include who will be allowed to produce recreational marijuana, who will get to sell the drug and what kind of controls are needed to try to keep the product out of the hands of children.
A professor of economics at the University of Waterloo, Mr. Sen is urging Ottawa and the provinces to put public-health issues ahead of generating tax revenue as they open the market for recreational marijuana. Both levels of government would tax the product, with Ottawa hitting the manufacturers and the provinces imposing a sales tax on consumers. "The challenge for policy makers is to set tax rates that do not foster an illicit market alongside legal sales," the report said.
In terms of ensuring that new rules are respected, the report added: "As with tobacco, the federal government should establish penalties for illegal trafficking and production, while provinces should have discretion over setting penalties for the purchase and sale of marijuana to minors."
There will be billions of dollars at stake once the drug is legalized, with pharmacies mounting a push to have a right to sell the drug and the Ontario government pushing for the product to be sold at its LCBO liquor stores.
The C.D. Howe report said consumers should be allowed to purchase and carry up to 30 grams of dried marijuana at once, while calling on the government to delay the legalization of edible marijuana products for further study.
Mr. Sen favours "stand-alone privately owned stores" as the prime location to sell marijuana, arguing that independent retailers are capable of conducting age checks if adequately supervised by provincial authorities. He adds that the provinces may not be willing to make "the necessary infrastructure and staff investments that would be required to sell marijuana at provincial liquor stores."
Angus Reid found the most popular places to sell marijuana are licensed dispensaries that carry only cannabis products (with 69-per-cent support), followed by provincial stores (with 67-per-cent support).
Only 23 per cent of respondents supported the right of citizens to grow and sell their own marijuana, and only 6 per cent said Canadians should be able to grow an unlimited amount of plants for personal use and/or sale.
"There seems to be broad consensus that if people are going to be growing it at home, Canadians don't want them selling it," Angus Reid said.
The Angus Reid poll of 1,522 Canadian adults was conducted online between April 13 and 17. A probability sample of this size would carry a margin of error of 2.5 percentage points, 19 times out of 20.

domain: politics