Wednesday, September 30, 2009

“The Almanac - Sept. 30 - Post Chronicle” plus 4 more

“The Almanac - Sept. 30 - Post Chronicle” plus 4 more

The Almanac - Sept. 30 - Post Chronicle

Posted: 30 Sep 2009 04:49 AM PDT

Today is Wednesday, Sept. 30, the 273rd day of 2009 with 92 to follow.

The moon is waxing. The morning stars are Mercury, Saturn, Mars and Venus. The evening stars are Neptune, Jupiter and Uranus.

Those born on this date are under the sign of Libra. They include German physicist Hans Geiger, co-inventor of the Geiger counter, in 1882; film director Lewis Milestone ("All Quiet on the Western Front") in 1895; singer Kenny Baker in 1912; drummer Buddy Rich in 1917; novelist Truman Capote in 1924; actresses Deborah Kerr in 1921 and Angie Dickinson in 1931 (age 78); singers Johnny Mathis in 1935 (age 74) and Marilyn McCoo in 1943 (age 66); singer Frankie Lymon in 1942; actress Victoria Tennant in 1950 (age 59); actor Eric Stoltz and actress/singer Crystal Bernard, both in 1961 (age 48); and actresses Fran Drescher ("The Nanny") in 1957 (age 52) and Jenna Elfman ("Dharma and Greg") in 1971 (age 38), and tennis star Martina Hingis in 1980 (age 29).

On this date in history:

In 1452, the first section of the Guttenberg Bible, the first book printed from movable type, was published in Germany.

In 1630, John Billington, one of the first pilgrims to land in America was hanged for murder -- becoming the first European criminal executed in the American colonies.

In 1846, a dentist in Charleston, Mass., extracted a tooth with the aid of an anesthetic -- ether. It was the first time an anesthetic had been used.

In 1938, Germany, France, Britain and Italy met in Munich, Germany, for a conference after which British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain predicted "peace for our time." But, World War II began less than one year later.

In 1946, the verdicts were handed down in the Nuremberg war crimes trial. Twelve Nazi leaders were sentenced to death by hanging.

In 1954, the USS Nautilus, the world's first nuclear submarine, was commissioned by the U.S. Navy.

In 1955, movie idol James Dean died in a car crash at age 24.

In 1962, James H. Meredith, an African-American, was escorted onto the University of Mississippi campus by U.S. marshals, setting off a riot in which two men died before violence was quelled by more than 3,000 soldiers. Meredith enrolled the next day.

In 1991, Haitian President Jean-Bertrand Aristide was overthrown in a military coup.

In 1992, the United States returned most of the Subic Bay Naval Base to the Philippine government after more than a century of use.

In 1999, an accident at a nuclear power plant 70 miles northeast of Tokyo released high levels of radiation in Japan's worst nuclear accident.

Also in 1999, Russia sent troops into the breakaway republic of Chechnya.

In 2003, three people working at the U.S. Guantanamo Bay prison camp in Cuba, including a Muslim chaplain, were arrested on espionage charges.

In 2004, more than 40 people were killed, including about 35 children, when three bombs exploded in Iraq as U.S. soldiers were handing out candy.

Also in 2004, Merck & Co. announced a voluntary worldwide withdrawal of the arthritis and pain medication drug Vioxx. Clinical trials showed an increased risk of heart attack and strokes.

In 2005, amid joy, sadness and speculation about the future, thousands of New Orleans residents returned home to a hobbled city, one month after Hurricane Katrina dealt them a devastating blow.

In 2006, Brazilian authorities said they found the wreckage of a missing airliner in the dense rain forest. Searchers said it was unlikely anyone had survived the crash.

Also in 2006, Congress ordered construction of a 700-mile, $1.2 billion fence along the U.S.-Mexican border in a move to control immigration. Mexico said the barrier would hurt relations between the two countries.

In 2007, roadside bombs killed or wounded 21,200 U.S. soldiers since the war in Iraq began in March 2003, The Washington Post reported. The Pentagon called the improvised explosives "the most effective weapon" against U.S. troops.

In 2008, a crowd of about 25,000 worshippers making its way through a narrow passage to a Hindu temple in India for a religious festival broke into a stampede when a wall collapsed. Police put the death toll at 224 with more than 100 injured.

Also in 2008, U.S. President George Bush signed legislation providing about $630 billion to keep the government operating. It included $25 billion in loan guarantees to help U.S. auto makers develop more fuel-efficient vehicles.

A thought for the day: Spanish nun, mystic and reformer St. Teresa said, "Whenever conscience commands anything, there is only one thing to fear, and that is fear." (c) UPI

Making some noise about trumpet vine's lack of flowers - Gloucester Daily Times

Posted: 30 Sep 2009 02:54 AM PDT

Q: I have a trumpet vine that I have had for three years. Every year, it turns green and grows beautifully, but it has yet to flower. What do we need to do to make it bloom?

A: You're too anxious! A trumpet vine (campsis) can take seven to 10 years to bloom after planting from seed, but then it will take off and you won't be able to catch it! Grow it in full sun and don't pamper the vine.

It will seldom, if ever, need to be watered after established.

Don't fertilize. Be careful not to let any of the high-nitrogen fertilizers (which are traditionally used on lawns in the spring) seep over within reach of the trumpet vine. These fertilizers produce beautiful heavy foliage growth but no flowers.

If you want to see a beautiful trumpet vine in full bloom next summer, drive by the wall on Route 127 on the Endicott College campus next year in August.

Q: I have loads of great-looking green tomatoes. Is it safe to leave them out on the vines still? If so, when should I bring them in to make piccalilli?

A: You can start making green tomato piccalilli any time. Just pick the tomatoes before frost gets to them. It's a perfect way to use those green tomatoes that will never ripen.

Q: I have a small hydrangea that I would like to move to another location. Is spring the best time to do that?

A: The best time to move the hydrangea is during dormancy, after leaves have died in the fall, or move them in the early spring when growth is just beginning. Make sure that if you do it in the fall, water the plant until the ground freezes and mulch well.

If you do it in the spring, do it as early as possible, water and remember that moving the plant may throw the blooming schedule off for as long as a year or two.

Hydrangea roots are fragile and near the surface, so dig as large a root ball as you can manage and plant immediately.

Q: I have a beautiful Queen Anne Lily of the Nile (agapanthus) that I purchased this summer. I assume I will need to bring it inside for the winter. Should I cut off the remains of the blossoms of the Lily?

A: Yes, it should come in for the winter. Unless you are going to plant the seeds, cut them off. The plant doesn't need to use the energy to produce seed. Cut them off at soil level, but you don't have to throw them away. They are pretty when used in dry arrangements this fall.

Q: All summer, my rhody was fine; it bloomed and everything. I noticed a few weeks ago that the leaves are turning yellow. Was there too much water?

A: You don't mention any bug damage. Rhodys do shed lower leaves, and it's quite normal. Overwatering or underwatering could both be a reason.

Is your rhody getting enough sun? They need a half-day, and sometimes, as time goes by, nearby shrubs and trees grow and shade nearby plants.

Is the soil acidic enough? You might want to do a simple soil test, then use an acid-type fertilizer such as MirAcid. Are you using an acid mulch to retain moisture? Shredded pine bark mulch or pine needles, if you can get them, are both good.

Q: Some of the mums I've bought in previous years come back, and the others just seem to disappear. What's the difference between the two?

A: Potted hardy mums are a real bargain in the fall! You'll soon see acres of them at nurseries and at roadside stands. Be sure that if you plan to plant them outside, what you are buying are hardy mums, not the more expensive florist's mums, which are greenhouse-grown and may not be suitable for planting outside in our climate. Ask!

Hardy mums are comparatively less expensive than other potted blooming plants at this time of year. You can use them to decorate your front steps, or use them as centerpieces for a party, and when you're through, if the ground isn't frozen, you can put them in the garden. Give the roots time to grow by planting and allowing five to six weeks of fall growing time before a hard freeze. Water and mulch well, and next year they'll be blooming for you by midsummer.

Although fall is when we see the most mums for sale, it's even better to plant them in the spring, when they have months to establish themselves. Next year in about April, order mum plants by mail and see the difference spring planting will make.

This week's dirt

Did you know? October has an average of 19 clear days in the month.

And not far behind, here comes winter!

Nature gives us signs for a severe winter, but the almanac says the coming winter will be about average in precipitation and temperatures, with a major storm in mid-February.

Are they correct? Watch for these signs a severe winter may be in the forecast:

Woodpeckers sharing a tree.

Early arrival of crickets on the hearth.

Spiders spinning larger-than-usual webs.

Lots of acorns.

A small rust/orange band on a woolly bear caterpillar.

Trees laden with green leaves late in the fall.

Hickory nuts having heavy shells.

Tree bark heaviest on the north side of the tree.

Crickets in the chimney.

Hoot owls calling late into the fall.

Raccoons with thick tails and bright bands.

Squirrels gathering nuts early in the year.

Pigs gathering sticks.

Frequent halos/rings around the sun or moon.

Heavy and numerous fogs in August.

We'll have to wait and see!

¢¢¢

North Shore Gardener by Barbara Barger of Beverly is a regular feature of Wednesday's Living section. Reach Barbara by e-mail at nsgardener@comcast.net or write to her c/o Gloucester Daily Times, 36 Whittmore St., Gloucester, MA 01930.

Standoff in Mt. Lebanon ends tragically - Pennsylvania Almanac

Posted: 30 Sep 2009 03:44 AM PDT


Standoff in Mt. Lebanon ends tragically

By Terri T. Johnson Almanac staff writer tjohnson@thealmanac.net

 A more than four-hour standoff in the Sunset Hills section of Mt. Lebanon on Sept. 23 ended tragically when a 51-year-old man died of a self-inflicted gunshot, said Mt. Lebanon police Lt. Aaron Lauth.

Ronald Giron's estranged wife, whose name police did not release, obtained a protection-from-abuse order and delivered a copy to Mt. Lebanon police. Officers went to the house in the 400 block of Old Farm Road to serve Giron with the court order.

While in the Giron house at about 2 p.m., Lauth said Giron produced a weapon. "(The officers) drew their weapons for their own safety and moved back quickly," Lauth said.

Officers arrived from neighboring Castle Shannon, Baldwin, and Dormont, with additional officers from Mt. Lebanon.

Lauth said the street is adjacent to Castle Shannon and Baldwin Borough.

Also responding was the South Hills Area Council of Governments' Critical Incident Response Team and members of its negotiating team.

Lauth said the negotiators spoke with Giron throughout the afternoon.

Residents near the house were contacted and evacuated. Others were asked to remain in their residences.

Those who were not at home were not permitted back until the standoff ended, Lauth said.

Several nearby schools in the Mt. Lebanon, Baldwin-Whitehall and Keystone Oaks districts were asked to delay dismissal until police notified the districts that Giron was not outside or in the neighborhood with a gun, Lauth said.

Parents of students living near Giron's neighborhood were notified and asked to pick up their children. Dismissal for the schools was only delayed briefly.

Negotiations continued until about 6 p.m. when Giron broke off the conversations.

Following futile attempts by telephone and loud speakers to reconnect with Giron, Lauth said officers entered the house and found Giron dead of a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

No one else was injured. Giron was alone in the house, Lauth said.

The police investigation will remain open until an official report is issued by the Allegheny County Medical Examiner's office.

Related articles:

Medical examiner IDs man in standoff suicide


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Construction trailer, lights worry residents - Pennsylvania Almanac

Posted: 30 Sep 2009 03:44 AM PDT


Construction trailer, lights worry residents

By Carla Valentine Myers For The Almanac writer@thealmanac.net

 A neighbor of Fort Couch Middle School complained at a Sept. 22 community meeting concerning construction at the school about the placement of a construction trailer that recently appeared directly across the street from her home.

"Why do I have to look at it?" asked Phyllis Prokopovich of Miranda Drive in Upper St. Clair. She said the white trailer is what she now sees when she looks out her bedroom window.

She also expressed concern about the fact that the trailer appeared without notice.

"It would have been nice to have been notified," she said after the meeting. "It was not fair."

John Bornyas, director of operations, community relations and special projects for Upper St. Clair School District, told Prokopovich that they had hoped to have the meeting before the trailer was placed and work started at the site. He said they tried to schedule the meeting for an earlier date, but very few people responded that they would come on that date, so Sept. 22 was selected instead.

Prokopovich said she was also concerned about the new lighting planned around the school.

David McLean, from the architect firm Graves & McLean, said they had to demonstrate that illumination from the new lights doesn't leave the school property.

Bornyas said "You'll have to tell me if the light comes into your bedroom."

Bornyas said the site for the trailer was selected by the construction manager so that it was more accessible to citizens wanting to speak to the project managers about any concerns. He said if the trailer were placed farther into the site, residents would have to navigate through the mud and construction to see a manager.

Russell Del Re, the superintendent of the project for P.J. Dick Corp., said there would be additional trailers placed on the site, but they will be on the football field behind the school, which will serve as a staging area for materials as well as parking for construction workers.

He said the workers will access the parking using a temporary gravel road off Miranda Drive that will be constructed along the right field fence of the baseball field and the western edge of the football field.

"We have the potential of 100 people working on the project," Del Re said.

Residents at the Sept. 22 community meeting also asked what hours construction would take place at the school.

Del Re, who is also a township commissioner, said that the township has approved 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. work hours for the project.

"There are going to be times that you're going to hear something before 7 a.m.," he said.

"We just ask your cooperation and your patience," Del Re said. "If it becomes an issue, let us know."

Bornyas said that up to half of the former bus garage at the southern end of the school has already been torn down, and the neighbors might have noticed that the materials are being segregated as part of the effort to earn LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Silver certification of the project.

McLean said the project is expected to take two years, with completion anticipated in Aug. 2011.

He said the first phase of the construction will be to add a new academic wing where the former bus garage is being torn down. That is expected to be completed in August 2010, when students will be able to occupy the new classrooms.

The second phase will involve the other end of the building, where a new gymnasium will be constructed.

Bornyas told residents that the current gym will serve as the new cafeteria for the school.

A resident asked how much their taxes were going to go up to pay for the construction.

Amy Billerbeck, president of the Upper St. Clair School Board, said they had originally thought that taxes would have to be raised 2.12 mills over a four-year period to pay for the bond issue for the project. But she said they got such a favorable interest rate on the $60 million that the district borrowed, they are now thinking that taxes will have to be raised only 1.61 mills over four years.

Construction at the district's two middle schools is expected to cost more than $20 million per site.

Another resident asked why the middle school had to be expanded.

Bornyas said they ran out of space for the expanded programming at the school for programs like Special Education and English as a Second Language. Billerbeck said small group areas are necessary for the services the school must provide.

She said classrooms are divided by temporary walls, with no heat on one side so that the walls cannot be closed entirely.


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Chowderfest will bowl you over - Asbury Park Press

Posted: 30 Sep 2009 01:14 AM PDT

With the busy summer months behind him and three of his four restaurants preparing to shutter for the winter later this month, you would think Long Beach Island restaurateur Stephen DiPietro would be able to relax.

But, like the owners of 16 other local eateries, DiPietro and his staff are ramping up for the Island's largest culinary celebration the 21st annual ChowderFest.

"It's a massive undertaking," DiPietro said last Thursday in the kitchen at Stefano's, his upscale Italian seafood restaurant in the North Beach Haven section of Long Beach Township.

DiPietro heads into the big day with a lot of expectations. As if producing enough chowder for thousands wasn't a tough enough task, both Stefano's and California Grill and Pizza won grand champion in red and white, respectively.

"It's a matter of that many people getting a consistent taste of your soup and remembering it when they go to vote," DiPietro said. "It's how well your chowder tastes to 15,000 people in a 2-ounce cup."

On Sunday, crews at both restaurants began preparing 250 gallons of chowder each. DiPietro has ordered 700 pounds of carrots, celery, onions and potatoes.

"It's made ahead of time and it has a chance for the flavors to come together," he explained.

To ensure the chowder's quality throughout, the gargantuan quantities are cooked in small batches.

"It's the consistency that really makes a difference," DiPietro said. "Very few times do I get any complaints that there's something different in the chowder."

Across Barnegat Bay, Chef Mike Sparaco of Dock Road Crab House, in Stafford, prepared to enter the ode to chowder for the first time with 180 gallons of Manhattan red.

"We're adding a lot of different ingredients," Sparaco said. "It's not just going to be your traditional chowder."

The seafood restauarant, on Route 9 in the Cedar Run section of the township, opened its doors earlier this summer. Sparaco said his chowder's chances of placing are "pretty good."

"We've gotten pretty good reviews on all our food," he said.
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