QUINN MINUTE: Anyplace, Anytime

/0 Comments/in /by

Forward or backward?

by Rix Quinn

As the room darkened, I grasped the signet ring, named my office address, then added “9 AM, May 28,”…three days ago. The lights brightened, and I stood in our office kitchen at the refrigerator.

I opened the door, and found the sack lunch with my name on it. Inside was a meat loaf sandwich, the remains of a big dinner from last weekend. I clearly remembered that meal was long gone. So…for sure I was living in the past right now.

Ernie came in laughing about a joke, and he started to repeat it. Since I’d heard him the first time, I knew the punch line. Wow.

I walked back to my office, closed the door, and again clasped the ring. Instantly, I returned to Thursday, in my bathroom.

The signet ring that old man gave me is real. It transported me to the past. How long was I there? I had walked into my bathroom when the wall clock said 5:05. It was now 5:06.

The old man promised “forward or backward in time.” I quivered with anticipation. I squeezed the ring and whispered “Texas, anytime, 2075.”

My wish should have been more specific. The next scene terrified me.

This episode presented by: https://amzn.to/4kWXs2n.

THE BEST VIEW: “This & That”

/0 Comments/in /by
by Norma Best Boucher

“Where is it?” I say to myself, checking out the beef department cooler at the large grocery store.

I’m making spaghetti tonight for supper. I make pretty good spaghetti, but I am sick of making spaghetti and even sicker of eating spaghetti. Just how many times HAVE I made spaghetti in the last 56 years I’ve been married? I don’t want to think about it.

In the early years of my cooking, I had a backyard garden and grew my own vegetables. Spaghetti sauces were absolutely delicious cooked with my own home grown tomatoes. Since then, I have made do with pre-made sauces. For my mediocre spaghetti I have no one else to blame but myself and maybe Chef Boyardee.

I grab a 1.07 pound package of ground chuck, put it into my hand basket, and head towards the check out.

I find an aisle with only one shopper and saunter down.

“Are you having a good day today?” a woman of about age 40 asks me.

Slightly taken aback, I tell her, “I’m having a wonderful day. I only have one item to buy, so I am taking my time.”

“I know what you mean,” she says. “Grocery shopping is the only time I get to go out without my kids, so I am taking my time, too.”

I realize that I must have had a bad expression on my face when I walked by her. She is trying to do a good deed by asking me about my day.

“I am not completely happy, though,” I add, “because I have to make spaghetti tonight for supper. After 56 years I am tired of making spaghetti.”

“I love to cook,’ the woman adds.

I smile at her. I want to say, “Meet me here in 56 years and tell me you feel the same way,” but she is too nice for me to be rude.

She realizes that I really am having a good day, so we say our good byes and a “Have a nice day.”

I used to be a very good cook years ago when I followed recipes and before my cooking show addiction. I even adopted their mantra: “Just add this and that to make your masterpiece. YOU can do it!”

Since adopting this strategy I have had to come up with a new filing system for my recipes. Instead of words like “Chicken Casserole” and “Frittata,” I have subcategories with recipe names like Beef – Make again only if you’re starving, Chicken – What was I thinking? and Healthy – Code word for add more wine.

Something has to change.

When I was a little girl, I used to go to the hairdressers with my mother. She and all of the other ladies dressed to the nines to have their hair done. I asked my mother once why she dressed up so much just to have her hair fixed.

“It’s like this, Norma. I may go into the beautician’s looking ordinary, but when I leave that salon, I feel beautiful. I have to dress the part.”

Although she was always beautiful to me, I have remembered her words.

Armed with my mother’s wisdom, I decide to take a different attitude about shopping. If cooking isn’t inspiring, at least I can make the grocery shopping a more positive experience.

Once a month I travel to another city to shop at a national franchised organic food store. Usually, when I grocery shop, I wear clothes that announce, “This is just another day to complete my weekly boring grocery-buying chores.”

I HAVE noticed, though, during my past trips to that store that the customers are happy and well-dressed. Either they are happy from eating all of that organic food or they consider shopping at this store a very positive experience. The answer is probably both, but I am taking the second reason to heart for my purposes.

Sale day is here. I am prepared to follow my mother’s “positive attitude” and the Food Channel’s “YOU can do it!” advice. I dress in my best pink outfit. I am so pink – top, pants, even shoes – that, as I walk into the store and stride through the floral department, I am one with the flowers.

A non-floral aroma accosts my nostrils. COFFEE! I turn to my left and nonchalantly head towards the free coffee table. I read over the names of the exotic blends: Chocolate Hazelnut, Brazilian, and Deep Roasted House Blend.

I decide that I am going to go full force into this experience. I choose Deep Roasted House Blend and stir in as much sugar as I think will actually dissolve in that very small sample cup. I take two sips of the hot, caffeinated coffee.

“Whoa!” Immediately inspiration hits me. “CHINESE!”

I decide that this must be inspirational because I have never cooked anything Chinese in my life and truly I have hardly ever eaten Chinese food.

I immediately go to the vegetable aisle. Broccoli, carrots and green beans are on sale. Then I buy the pork, the only meat NOT on sale today. One cannot skimp on a masterpiece. I browse attentively through every aisle. Angel Hair, the only pasta I do not have in my pantry, will be my noodles, and where is that secret ingredient? There it is – Teriyaki.

There is only one more experience left to enjoy – Wine tasting.

I get in line with the other retirees, who like me are on medication that doesn’t allow the consumption of alcohol. We are all of the same mind, though—surely a couple of sips of wine will not kill us. I copy the others. I sniff the sweet wine sample, swirl it gently in the tiny paper cup, drink and say, “Ahhh…”

We do the same with the sample of dry wine. Our palates sated, we thank the sales lady and leave en masse without purchasing.

At home I don an apron to protect my pink ensemble and cook madly before the “success” mood wanes.

Never one to limit my creativity, I use a different pan for everything: sauté pork in a frying pan, roast broccoli and carrots on an oven sheet pan, steam the remaining green beans in a steamer pan, and add angel hair noodles to the last pan.

Then I put everything together in the frying pan and add Teriyaki. “Voila” – my masterpiece.”

Our condo has a living room/ kitchen open floor plan, so while watching television, my husband can also see me cooking. Since he can’t cook, he eats whatever I make with no complaints. We usually both agree when one of my creations should not be repeated.

“What’s for supper?” he asks from his comfortable recliner in the adjoining room.

I look down at my latest foodie concoction. Not Chinese, definitely NOT Chinese. It’s…I don’t know…American. That’s what it is, but American what? I ask myself.

“What’s for supper?” my husband asks again thinking that I didn’t hear him the first time.

Well,” I answer. “There’s pork.”

“Okay.” He sounds interested.

“There are your favorite vegetables.” I add.

“Good,” he says seemingly encouraged.

“There’s angel hair pasta,” I am quick to add.

“That all sounds good, but what is it?” he asks with a little wonder.

“I don’t know,” I answer.

“You have spent the last hour in the kitchen chopping, cooking, mixing everything together, and now actually tasting,” he points out. With heightened curiosity he asks, “What do you mean you don’t know what’s for supper?”

Looking down one more time at my latest “This and That” creation, I try to summon up some explanation for my stupor.

“I just don’t know,” I finally answer—”I haven’t named it yet.”

MAINE-LY GARDENING: What’s in the garden? Tomatoes

/0 Comments/in /by

Tomatoes

by Jude Hsiang

Six months ago, when gardeners began to dream of summer and pour over seed catalogs, tomatoes were at the top of many wish lists. Now those gardeners are tending their plants and watching as the little yellow flowers begin to develop into what the botanists call berries, but most of us think of as vegetables. Salads, soups, pastas, pizzas…what other plant offers so many delicious possibilities?

Tomatoes have such a prominent place on our tables and in our pantries that we sometimes forget that these plants originated in South America. When tomatoes were first brought back to Europe by early explorers, many people were skeptical of stories that people actually ate them. After all, the flowers revealed that tomatoes are part of the nightshade family, so it’s not surprising that they were first grown as ornamental plants in Europe. Other members of the nightshade family include potatoes, peppers, eggplant, even petunias and tobacco. When tomatoes were first introduced to China, people called them “foreign eggplants” as they also recognized that the flowers looked like those of that familiar native plant.

As agriculture became big business over the last hundred years and improved transportation meant tomatoes could be shipped over thousands of miles in days or hours. The focus was on quantity, uniformity, and ease of shipping that sometimes outweighed taste.

More recently, gardeners have sought out “heirloom” varieties of tomatoes, as well as other foods, which were developed in small farms and backyard gardens. These types might have special qualities of taste or uses that make them more desirable than the “one-size-fits-all” tomatoes that were trucked to our supermarkets from far away farms. Heirloom tomatoes like Brandywine, a favorite for its sweetness, have the advantage that their seeds can be saved for the following year’s crop, unlike hybrid tomatoes that don’t reliably produce the same characteristics. And heirloom tomato varieties can be interesting colors when ripe, including orange, green, and purple.

Modern tomatoes come in a wide variety of shapes, sizes, colors, and uses. Some gardeners grow one type, perhaps the large juicy “beefsteaks” that provide nice big slices for BLTs. Other folks, with larger gardens and appetites, grow several kinds, and enjoy experimenting with different varieties each year.

What sort of tomatoes to grow? There are the typical red, round, “globes” for all around goodness – smaller than the big beefsteaks. Paste, or Roma tomatoes are great for sauces and canning. Smaller cherry, grape, or pear tomatoes are especially nice in salads, and some varieties are orange or yellow instead of the familiar bright red. These are especially fun for kids to grow and eat.

Tomato plants are perennials in their original tropical homelands, and it can be fun to grow long vines over years in a heated greenhouse. For most gardeners, the choice may be between smaller “determinate” plant types which are smaller, bushier, and produce a lot of fruits over a shorter time. Or they may want an “indeterminate” vining type that takes more room but continues to produce until frost. The University of Maine Cooperative Extension suggests tomatoes of the various kinds that do best in our climate. Whichever kind you may be growing or buying this season, try a few others from a farm stand, farmers market, or a friend’s garden. You may discover a variety or two that you’ll want to grow next year.

© Judith Chute Hsiang
Jude Hsiang Is a retired Extension Master Gardener instructor and member of the China Community Garden.

VETERANS CORNER: Special monthly compensation

/0 Comments/in /by
by Gary Kennedy

Before I give you the negative residuals of last week’s messages let me say I hope you enjoyed a wonderful July 4.

The big issue I wanted to touch on was those asking about Special Monthly Compensation (S.M.C.). It is a specific VA benefit. It was designed to give extra financial support to veterans who require daily Aid & Attendance but don’t necessarily need professional medical home care.

These benefits were given after WWI and WWII. The need became obvious when our men and women came home after giving important years of their lives defending the USA and keeping us safe so that the rest of us could maintain the way of life that we, to this very day love and cherish. Millions gave their lives defending the worth of our country. Other millions shed tears for the loss of those they loved, who made it happen, but didn’t make it home.

You hear veterans and others speak of PTSD that many of our soldiers carry with them daily, as the, memory of war. I on the other hand think about the survivors and their families as victims of PTSD as well. I think you would be hard put to eliminate the loss of a loved one from your mind. I say “that is Post Traumatic Stress Disorder as well”, so did others; so family benefits came to exist and grow. The G.I. Bill gave us some which has evolved to this very day.

A veteran can be and is a cook in the mess hall as well as a sniper in concealment in the field. You can’t have one without the other. The men and women who serve the greatest nation on earth are equally needed and worthy of as normal a life as humanly possible. We can’t give back what was taken away, youth, love and the joy of those formative years which was never allowed for them. However, there are some things we can do. War can and does take away opportunity. If you don’t understand just take a drive to a VA facility and find a place to park with a good vantage point. Roll your windows down and view your surroundings. Most people you will encounter are limping, using crutches; wheelchairs, scooters and you will observe the occasional ambulance. You will see many with missing limbs or need the use of robotics or motorized vehicles of some sort. You will undoubtedly see the occasional deformed veteran from injuries, such as burns. I would add here some of the greatest, most inventive materials were created because of war and were created here in the USA such as the burn creams invented at Fort Sam Houston’s Medical Research Center. These were great things invented to save lives as a result of war. People who once died from 40% body burns now have a chance at an almost normal life.

Of course, we still have PTSD to deal with which can be a very powerful life altering event. For me this can be the most debilitating affliction of them all as it affect you day and/or night as well as others around you. When you are down you tend to take others with you. Fortunately, Togus VA has a good support group who are always there to help. Don’t go it alone.

You, who are observing, think about what you are witnessing and what that veteran probably went through to become what you see. Even the homeless are lonely, hungry and dream of things that might have been as they sleep under the bridge with a cardboard box for a bed. For me the most important question in all of this is, “what if”? Those that the observer spent hours witnessing needs to interject this question; what if I/He hadn’t gone and done this? What would/could our life be like? I never had the chance to find out. My question just turned into a dream which can be viewed on my favorite television station, P.T.S.D.. Isn’t that pain and suffering worth something? Monetarily speaking, we could be talking about a lot of money. Emotionally we could be talking about success, family, home and just plain old fashion happiness.

I have had some veterans who have gone 60 years because they were denied once upon a time by a poorly trained staff person. Now those veterans are 100 percent because they asked again and got the right answer; a little late but still a win.

There are still women out there having problems with D.I.C.. For me that is the saddest violation of them all. Yes, some widow pensions are a little more difficult than others but there needs to be truthful answers. We have communities that are upset with some answers they are being given. Next week I will try to get the correct answers and share my result with you. Also, we will try and cover some of the ambiguities of the rating system. In closing let me add when your love one passes away your 1st most important conversation, maybe with a medical examiner or coroner. It is important that he knows he is dealing with a disabled service connected veteran when he writes the cause of death. His/her writing may require detail to negate ambiguity as the spouse and/or siblings might be relying on his report for their continued support.

Until next time, God bless and let the truth be your guide.

SCORES & OUTDOORS: Is it a bad year for Japanese beetles?

/0 Comments/in /by

Japanese beetle

Roland D. Halleeby Roland D. Hallee

A reader recently asked about the Japanese beetle, and the lack of them so far this year. She said they usually devour her roses, but has not seen one this year.

So far, It’s difficult to say definitively if it will be a bad year for Japanese beetles, but there are indications that it could be, particularly in certain regions. Cooler spring weather has delayed their emergence, and fluctuating weather patterns may have impacted their populations. However, their numbers can vary greatly by location, and it’s still early in the season to assess the full extent of the impact.

The Japanese beetle is a species of scarab beetle. Due to the presence of natural predators, the Japanese beetle is not considered a pest in its native Japan, but in North America and some regions of Europe, it is a noted pest to roughly 300 species of plants. Some of these plants include rose bushes, grapes, hops, canna, crape myrtles, birch trees, linden trees, and others.

The adult beetles damage plants by “skeletonizing” the foliage (i.e., consuming only the material between a leaf’s veins) as well as, at times, feeding on a plant’s fruit. The subterranean larvae feed on the roots of grasses.

The beetle is native to Japan, but is an invasive species in North America and Europe.

While the larvae of Japanese beetles feed on the roots of many genera of grasses, the adults consume the leaves of a much wider range of hosts, including these common crops: beans, cannabis, strawberry, tomato, pepper, grape, hop, rose, cherry, plum, pear, peach, raspberry, blackberry, corn, pea, okra, and blueberry.

Japanese beetles are primarily attracted to the scent of certain flowers, fruits, and plants, as well as the pheromones released by other Japanese beetles. They are especially drawn to bright and vibrant colors like white, yellow, and pink, and they prefer plants with soft, tender leaves, especially roses, grapes, and fruit trees.

The first written evidence of the insect appearing within the United States was in 1916 in a nursery near Riverton, New Jersey The beetle larvae are thought to have entered the United States in a shipment of iris bulbs prior to 1912, when inspections of commodities entering the country began. As of 2015, just nine western states of the United States were considered free of Japanese beetles. These beetles have been detected in airports on the west coast of the United States since the 1940s. Only three were found in Washington State in 2020, but from late June to September 3, 2021, there were over 20,000 found in Grandview alone.

The first Japanese beetle found in Canada was inadvertently brought by tourists to Yarmouth, Nova Scotia, by ferry from Maine in 1939. During the same year, three additional adults were captured at Yarmouth and three at Lacolle in southern Québec.

Eggs are laid individually or in small clusters near the soil surface. Within approximately two weeks, the ova hatch, then the larvae feed on fine roots and other organic material. As the larvae mature, they become c-shaped grubs, which consume progressively coarser roots and may do economic damage to pasture and turf at this time.

Larvae hibernate in small cells in the soil, emerging in the spring when soil temperatures rise again. Within four to six weeks of breaking hibernation, the larvae will pupate. Most of the beetle’s life is spent as a larva, with only 30 – 45 days spent as an imago. Adults feed on leaf material above ground, using pheromones to attract other beetles and overwhelm plants, skeletonizing leaves from the top of the plant downward. The aggregation of beetles will alternate daily between mating, feeding, and ovipositing. An adult female may lay as many as 40 – 60 ova in her lifetime.

Throughout the majority of the Japanese beetle’s range, its life cycle takes one full year.

Owing to their destructive nature, traps have been invented specifically to target Japanese beetles. These comprise a pair of crossed walls with a bag or plastic container underneath and are baited with floral scent, pheromone, or both. However, studies conducted at the University of Kentucky and Eastern Illinois University suggest beetles attracted to traps frequently do not end up in the traps; instead, they land on plants in the vicinity and cause more damage along the flight path and near the trap than may have occurred if the trap were not present.

I have battled with Japanese beetles in my garden before, but now that she mentioned it, I haven’t seen one in quite a while. I thought I had conquered them.

Roland’s trivia question of the week:

In 1975, which Boston Red Sox player became the only major leaguer to be named both Rookie of the Year and Most Valuable Player, in the same year.

Answer
Fred Lynn.

THE BEST VIEW: “What do I miss?”

/0 Comments/in /by
by Norma Best Boucher

I locked up my car and walked to the sidewalk leading to the thrift shop. When I looked up, the child’s eyes met mine. We both smiled.

“What a beautiful baby,” I told the young mother.

Inches away from them, looking straight at the face of the roughly six-month-old child, I said, “I should say what a handsome little boy.”

The boy smiled again and reached out his arms to me.

Surprised but pleased, I asked, “Do you mind if I hold your baby?”

“No, go right ahead,” she answered reaching towards me so that I could take the child into my arms.

I held on tightly, and he held tightly onto me. He put his little arms around my neck and hugged me with his soft cheek against mine.

After a sweet hug he adjusted his body on my hip so that he was again looking at me and smiling.

“I haven’t held a baby in 30 years,” I told her. “Thank you for sharing your baby with me.”

“You’re welcome,” she answered. “He really likes you.”

Warm from the hug and still smiling, I said, “I’m glad… because I really like him.”

* * * * * *

“What do you miss?” the young man asks the old woman.

Ah, now, let me think.

I miss not the washing of the second floor windows but the climbing of the ladder.

I miss not the city of my youth but the bicycling through the beautiful streets.

I miss not the birthdays and the holidays but the people who were there and are here no more.

I miss not the daily visits but the cat Olivia and the dog Scooter, whom I loved and who loved me.

I miss not the ice and the snow but the ice skating, the sledding, and the after sitting by the warm stove sipping my mother’s hot chocolate.

I miss not the dream house of a young mother but the toddler son running through the home laughing and playing.

“So, you do miss?” asks the young man of the old woman.

“Oh, yes,” answers the old woman. “I miss.”

MAINE-LY GARDENING: What’s in the garden? Beans

/0 Comments/in /by
by Jude Hsiang

Beans are so easy to grow. The littlest gardeners can plant them and see them come up quickly. There are so many varieties and ways to serve them that it’s no wonder that lots of gardeners grow several types: for eating freshly picked through the season; freezing or canning for winter; or storing as dry beans for soups and other favorite meals.

Beans can be planted as soon as danger of frost is over, or you can also start them inside to get a little jump on the season. It’s not too late to plant some now as beans only take two months or a bit more to mature. Planting a row every two to three weeks will ensure plenty for summer meals without overwhelming the gardener. When the production of the earliest plants begins to slow down, you can pull them out and replace them with other crops that will mature quickly, like radishes, lettuces, and greens.

Both bush or pole types have their merits. If you are short on space, pole beans will grow vertically on a trellis – you can rig one with sticks and string – and produce for a longer time. Bush beans take more space but tend to produce over a shorter time span.

Whether yellow or green, beans grown to be harvested fresh are sometimes called string beans or sometimes snap beans because when ripe they snap when bent. If they get away from you and begin to show bulging beans in the pods, you may not find them tasty, but you can let them dry on the plant and save them for soup in the future.

Reliable information on safely freezing or canning beans – and other garden produce – can be found through the University of Maine Cooperative Extension. Recipes, too.

There are so many varieties of beans that it can be hard to decide which to choose. The Extension makes suggestions for Maine gardens, and family members and friends may have favorites. In addition to your favorite ways of preparing beans, you may want to learn which varieties are particularly good for saving as seeds for the following year. Seed swaps and seed libraries are great ways to share extras and try new types at no cost.

You may want to add beans that are decorative as well as good tasting. Scarlet Runner beans with their bold red flowers are fun to grow on a trellis at the back of the garden or planted among flowering vines. Cherokee Trail of Tears beans – descended from beans saved by the Cherokee people who were forced off their land in 1838 – have lavender flowers and purplish pods. Like many purple vegetables, the pods will turn green when cooked, but they are still pretty plants. I grow them every year because I love the shiny black dried beans and save some seeds for next year.

Not as widely grown here as string beans are fava or broad beans. They can be planted much earlier than snap beans – as soon as the soil can be worked, like peas – and their sturdy stems produce side shoots that can be harvested for dinner while you wait for their pretty white flowers with black spots to produce big, thick pods. All parts of the plant make good eating, even the flowers.

The nutritional value of beans is well established. Our ancestors didn’t know that eating a meal that combines beans with rice, pasta, potatoes or other carbohydrates in combination gives us the proteins found in meats, but they knew the results were satisfying. Saturday night baked beans or festival bean hole beans are part of New England cultural tradition. Let’s grow beans!

© Judith Chute Hsiang
Jude Hsiang is a retired Extension Master Gardener instructor and member of the China Community Garden Committee.

SCORES & OUTDOORS: Many questions about poison ivy

/0 Comments/in /by

poison ivy leaves

Roland D. Halleeby Roland D. Hallee

For some reason, this year, I am getting more and more questions about poison ivy. Where is it? What does it look like? What do you do about it and how do you treat it?

All very legitimate questions.

As we all know, poison ivy and other members of its family can cause a lot of misery to humans should they make contact with the toxic plant.

Poison ivy, Toxicodendron radicans, is a member of the cashew family. It usually grows as a vine twining on tree trunks or crawls along the ground. It is generally found in all states in the United States east of the Rocky Mountains and southern Canada, specifically Québec, Ontario and Manitoba.

It may grow as a forest understory plant, although it is only somewhat shade tolerant. The plant is extremely common in suburban areas of New England. It can grow in many types of soil, and is not sensitive to soil moisture, although it does not grow in arid conditions.

The leaves of the poison ivy are red in the spring, turning to a shiny green later. Come fall, they turn yellow, red or orange. Each leaf is made up of three leaflets more or less notched at the edges. However, don’t let that be the determining factor. Some leaves have smooth edges. Two of the leaves appear opposite each other on the stem while the third one stands alone at the tip. Later in the season, clusters of poisonous, whitish, waxy looking berries will form.

Many people have difficulty identifying the plants because it can look like other plants, while, sometimes, other plants are mistaken as poison ivy.

Obviously, contact with the plant should be avoided. You can become infected simply by walking through the bush, taking off your shoes, and making contact with your skin.

poison ivy leaves

Poison ivy in the U.S. is more common now than when Europeans first arrived in North America. The development of real estate adjacent to wild, undeveloped land caused the plant to spread into vast, lush colonies in these areas. Also, birds will eat the berries and transplant them on new areas along with their droppings. It’s also spread by other animals as the seeds remain viable after passing through the digestive system.

A study by researchers at the University of Georgia found that poison ivy is particularly sensitive to carbon dioxide levels, increasing in numbers due to a higher concentration in the atmosphere. Poison ivy’s growth has doubled since the 1960s, and could possibly double again as the carbon dioxide levels continue to rise.

What do you do once you’ve made contact and develop a skin rash. There is some hope. Efforts to destroy these plants by uprooting or by spraying chemicals have been somewhat ineffective. Caution: whatever you do, do not burn the plant. Its toxins will filter into the air, and if breathed, can cause irritation in the lungs. Not a very pleasant experience.

The oil on the leaves is known as urushiol. The urushiol compound in poison ivy is not meant as a defensive measure, but rather helps the plant retain water. It is frequently eaten by animals such as deer and bears. Statistically, about 15 percent to 30 percent of people have no allergic reaction to the urushiol. Fortunately, I fall in that category.

Once contact has been made, it takes some time for it to penetrate the skin and do damage. Before this happens, it is wise to wash the skin completely several times with plenty of soap and water. Some experts say that washing within the first hour may help limit the rash. Care should be taken not to touch any other parts of the body, for even tiny amounts of the oil will cause irritation. Also, wash the clothing immediately. If poisoning develops, the blisters and red, itching skin may be treated with dressings of calamine lotion, Epsom salts, or bicarbonate of soda. Dermatologists recommend a simple oatmeal bath and baking soda as a possible remedy. Scientists have developed a vaccine that can be injected or swallowed. But this is effective only if taken before exposure.

So, now we know a little more about poison ivy. But, always remember this: “Leaves of three, let it be.”

Roland’s trivia question of the week:

Have the Boston Red Sox and Chicago Cubs ever met in a World Series?

Answer
Yes. (1918).

QUINN MINUTE: Anytime, Anyplace, chapter 1

/0 Comments/in /by
by Rix Quinn

I left my office job early last Thursday to beat the freeway rush. As I walked to my parking garage, an old man staggered into me.

Old is an understatement. This guy’s face looked grayer than a storm cloud, and he smelled like Essence of Vomit. I said, “Excuse me,” and tried to walk away, but he blocked my path.

“I’ve seen you before,” he said. “You gave me five bucks last week.” I did remember, because he asked me to buy him a burger from a food truck.

“Son,” he said, “I pay my debts. You saved my life that day, and now I am going to save yours.” With that, he placed a silver signet ring in my hand. The image on its face looked like a ghost.

“Any time you want to time-travel, get into a small space alone. Put the ring on, close your eyes, and name the place and time. This is real.”

I am a skeptic, but I couldn’t wait to get home. I went into our bathroom, and put the ring on.

What will happen? Join us again next week.

Were you born between 1946-1964…a Baby Boomer? You can order Rix’s book on that generation. Just go to this link.

COMMUNITY COMMENTARY: A swift and thoughtful decision

/0 Comments/in , /by

A Step Forward for Fairness and Growth in China

by Tory Stark
China

In a swift and thoughtful decision, the Town of China’s Select Board voted to sign a quitclaim deed resolving a decades-old land title issue involving The Landing. This action formally concludes a 30-year saga tied to the old Route 202 right-of-way — a long-standing confusion that had cast uncertainty over local land records and stalled potential investment.

With this matter now resolved, the Town has not only corrected the public record but also sent a clear message: that local leaders are willing to take meaningful, timely action to support small businesses, strengthen property rights, and foster responsible growth. This decision allows The Landing to move forward with critical infrastructure improvements and future planning that will benefit our fellow residents and visitors.

We are grateful to the Town’s leadership for recognizing the importance of resolving this issue quickly and transparently. Their decision supports continued reinvestment in our community and reinforces the principle that good governance and local business can work hand in hand to create a stronger future for China.

I’m especially grateful to the Select Board members who spoke with me directly, helping me better understand the Town’s perspective and the steps needed to reach this resolution. Their willingness to engage in open, respectful dialogue made all the difference.”

(See also: COMMUNITY COMMENTARY: A matter of fairness and responsibility)