Prince William County cafeterias are not selling milk this week, after workers reported some spoiled containers of milk.

School officials notified Newport News-based Marva Maid Dairy about the spoiled half-pint containers of milk on May 23, according to a letter sent home to families on Monday. They initially thought it was an isolated incident but later learned about problems in Henrico County with the same supplier.

In Henrico, some students reported experiencing nausea-like symptoms after drinking milk that was later determined to be spoiled.

Amber Sheridan, a spokeswoman for Marva Maid, said the dairy is working with the state health department to figure out if there is a reason to explain the spoilage.

She said the company issued a voluntary recall for any half-pint containers that have a printed expiration date between May 30 and June 2.

In Prince William, students are being served juice instead of milk this week, as school nutrition and county health officials work together to investigate the issue.

We will continue this practice until we can be assured of the safety of the products delivered or, if necessary, until alternate supplies can be obtained, Serena Suthers, director of School Food and Nutrition Services, said in the letter.

Suthers said parents should feel free to pack milk for their children to drink at lunch.

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Spoiled containers of milk being investigated in Prince William school cafeterias

The garden of Margaret and R. Peter Sullivan is one of the homes featured on the Parrish Art Museums Landscape Pleasures garden tour this Sunday, June 8. Photo by Doug Young.

By Tessa Raebeck

Like a piece of artwork or a writers manuscript, a garden is never truly finished. As with all art, gardens can always evolve, changing with the seasons and naturally growing out of plans and designs, developing over time in a never-ending evolution.

Gardening is the art of the Earth, providing the willing and creative with another means of finding beauty in the mundane.

All I know is, I dont paint with a trowel or garden with a brush, the late Robert Dash said in a video by P. Allen Smith Classics filmed in 2011, two years before his death, when asked about the connection between gardening and painting.

They inform one another in ways that are very mysterious. Its how the trowel is wielded or how the brush is wielded that informs the canvas or the Earth and there are no rules. And the only way you know how to do something in either of those arts is by doing it, he added.

Mr. Dash, an artist, writer and gardener who died in September at age 82, believed very much in gardens taking their time and developing over a period of time, said Jack deLashmet, co-chair of Landscape Pleasures, which will honor Mr. Dash this year.

Hosted by the Parrish Art Museum, Landscape Pleasures includes three lectures by gardening and landscape design experts on Saturday, June 7, followed by a day of tours of some of Southamptons most historic and remarkable gardens on Sunday, June 8.

The 2-acre Sagaponack garden of Mr. Dash, the Madoo Conservancy, which is open to the public, is included among the private estates on Sundays tour.

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Landscape Pleasures Offers an Insiders Look at Southamptons Ever-Changing Gardens

SALT LAKE CITY A Bureau of Land Management Utah employee has received a national BLM award.

Rob Sweeten, landscape architect with the BLM-Utah State Office in Salt Lake City, was selected to receive the national BLM employee Making a Difference Award.

The award is presented annually by the BLM to recognize bureau volunteers, whose efforts include trail repair, visitor services, habitat restoration, and many other duties.

Since 2009, Sweeten has mentored six student interns, most of whom began as BLM volunteers. He worked to convert the students to Student Temporary Employment Program status or to a conservation corps intern with the American Conservation Experience youth organization.

The students worked exclusively with Sweeten by assisting with visual inventory work for the Kanab, Monticello, Richfield, and Cedar City field offices and the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. By using student volunteers to enter field data into a national database and other projects rather than paying a contractor, the BLM saved $100,000, the bureau said.

Sweeten also speaks at Utah State University and meets with professors to explain the BLM's mission and role, as well as the opportunities available to students.

"Rob embodies the best qualities of a volunteer supervisor, mentor, coach and leader," said state BLM director Juan Palma. "He truly continues to make a difference and is well-deserving of recognition for his ongoing efforts within BLM Utah."

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BLM-Utah employee receives national award

Chantilly, VA (PRWEB) June 03, 2014

In May 2014, Saunders Landscape Supply saw high demand for their gravel and services, largely due to the wettest April on record. "The brutal winter we experienced in 2014 has created the need for rehabilitation of residential driveways," explains Don Saunders, owner of Saunders Landscape Supply. The increased precipitation earlier this spring led to deterioration and damage to driveways and home landscaping throughout the Virginia and Maryland area.

"The amount of snow and moisture deteriorated the driveways, and washed a lot of gravel away in many cases making it uneven," says Saunders. "People are applying a recoating of their gravel driveway after the damage this winter has caused."

The benefit of laying down new gravel goes beyond just the texture of the driveway. Gravel can also help to improve a yard's appearance. Homeowners often prefer gravel driveways because they are less expensive than asphalt and concrete, as well.

Driveways usually receive 57 bluestone, which is comprised of 3/14 inch pieces, or 21A, which is a mixture of stone dust and 57 bluestone. 57 bluestone is popular because the size of the stones allows for highly effective drainage. 21A, on the other hand, allows for greater compaction. When the driveway is more compacted and dense, it's less likely to shift and require maintenance.

Saunders Landscape Supply provides a variety of landscape services, and gravel has been a part of these offerings for the past 20 years. In addition to driveway gravel, they also sell river rock gravel, river wash gravel, and pea gravel, which can be used throughout the yard as a visually appealing part of garden landscaping. "A lot of people are spending time outdoors in the summer. The decorative gravel will improve the look of the yard, and provide a much better atmosphere," adds Saunders.

Saunders Landscape Supply has served residents of Virginia and Maryland since it was founded in 1994, and provides the materials that homeowners need for any lawn renovation or maintenance plan. The business is located at 14016 Sullyfield Circle in Chantilly, VA. For more information, call 703-764-4831, email marketing (at) saundersls (dot) com or visit saundersls.com.

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Saunders Landscape Supply Provides Relief to Homeowners With Damaged Driveways

Toronto, Canada (PRWEB) June 03, 2014

Landscape Structures (http://www.LandscapeStructures.ca), the Greater Toronto Areas leading custom design, build, and landscape maintenance provider, is weighing in on the growing popularity of outdoor living spaces as warmer spring weather finally hits the GTA.

Torontonians love the outdoors and want to enjoy it for as long as possible. To take advantage of the spring, summer, and autumn months, more and more homeowners are extending their indoor living space outdoors, says Sue Shorey, Operations Manager. On top of that, homeowners know that a professionally designed outdoor living space can add value to not just their lives, but also their property values.

Shorey explains that an increasing number of property owners in the GTA are discovering the joys of eating, relaxing, and entertaining in backyard spaces designed specifically for their purposes. Some of the outdoor living space features that are most in demand from Landscape Structures include patios, custom barbecue islands, outdoor kitchens, bars, fireplaces, fire pits, and installed seating areas (e.g. benches, seat walls, ledges, steps, boulders).

Unfortunately, says Shorey, building a backyard oasis, whether its a patio or fireplace, is a lot of work and can require moving lots of dirt, which takes heavy equipment, such as a backhoe or truck. Depending on the design, property owners may also need gravel, sand, and other materials.

When it comes to extending ones indoor living space outdoors, it really is best to hire a professional contractor. Some projects may look easy, but there are a number of logistics that can make it quite complex; especially if it involves water, electricity, carpentry, or masonry. On top of that, certain custom structures, like arbours, studios, custom pool cabanas, pergolas, and outdoor bars and kitchens, may require a building permit, Shorey adds.

Custom outdoor projects, including kitchens, barbecue islands, fireplaces, seating areas, and cabanas, are a great way to extend a homes living space. With a warm fireplace, a homeowner can extend the amount of time they spend enjoying their backyard; sitting on the patio from early spring into late fall.

There are many different ways to maximize the enjoyment and comfort of a backyard. One of the best ways is to bring the convenience of the indoors outdoors. And, like any addition, the homeowner needs to make sure the design, materials, and finished project of their outdoor living space fits in seamlessly with the rest of their home. The homeowner also needs to hire a team of professionals with a proven track record of creating outdoor living spaces that match not just their budget, but also their vision, Shorey concludes.

As the top landscape contractor & designer in the GTA, Landscape Structures has over 20+ years of experience designing innovative, enjoyable landscapes that work harmoniously with the natural environment. As one of Ontarios premier full-service design, build, and maintenance landscaping firms, Landscape Structures offers a wide range of services designed to exceed their clients needs using the most efficient and cost-effective methods. Fully licensed, bonded, and insured, the Landscape Structures award-winning landscape design/service teams range of services includes landscape design, native plantings, sod, tree and shrub landscape construction, decks, fences, pergolas, tree houses, lawn care, horticultural assessment, stone walkway paving, stone garden bed retainers, waterfall landscaping, storm water ponds, seasonal clean-up, and snow and ice removal.

To learn more about Landscape Structures, visit the companys web site at http://www.LandscapeStructures.ca. Contact Landscape Structures by e-mail at info(at)landscapestructures(dot)ca or call 1-416-854-2124.

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Landscape Structures, the GTAs Award-Winning Custom Landscape Design Company, Weighs in on Growing Popularity of ...

3 June 2014 | Politics | By: Kate O'Sullivan

While UKIP has been busy racking up national column inches, the Green Party has been rather quietly blooming in London. In last months local elections, they claimed 6.9% of the London-wide vote an increased vote share of 50% up from 2010s 4.6%.

The four council seats in London that the Green Party won (St Leonards, Lambeth; Brockley, Lewisham; Highgate, Camden; Highbury East, Islington) may be a mere third of UKIPs 12 seats, yet the Islington and Lambeth seats mean it has doubled its numbers and probably calls for some recycled partypopper action. The gains also deserve some serious debate and analysis from Londons political folk.

In the European elections, Green Party MEP Jean Lambert was re-elected for her fourth term in the European parliament, costing UKIP a second seat while the Liberal Democrats lost their sole London MEP. Overall, the Green Party won 9% of the London-wide vote share putting them in fourth place behind UKIP but ahead of the Lib Dems adding some leafy green to a bittersweet Farage-Clegg-sandwich.

Look at the London vote share in further detail and the Green Party came in second place behind Labour in Islington (19%) and Lambeth (16%), making them the sole opposition in both, and in Lewisham (16%) and Hackney (21%). Although the party did not win a seat in Hackney (where it has held a council seat in the past) the Greens came second in the boroughs Mayoral elections (17%).

While we see enough of Farages face to keep fish and chip shops across the capital in environmentally-friendly wrappings until next years general election, Green Party leader Natalie Bennetts face (and voice) has been notably absent from the post-election punditry. Why arent the Greens shouting about their successes?

It is true that the Green Partys London election results do not make for fairytale figures it succeeded in retaining its London MEP and gaining seats, but the partys overall vote share was down by 2% in the European elections. Despite local election successes the Greens four seats still sit a good bit behind UKIPs 12. Although the Greens argue that under a pure Proportional Representation (PR) voting system they would have gained 125 seats across London, that is perhaps a debate for another day.

But perhaps its just that the Green Partys voice isnt being heard. With all the allure of UKIPs scandalous policies and the okekoke-style EU referendum debates (are we in? Out? Should we shake it all about?), Green is far from this seasons must-have colour where the press is concerned. Are we witnessing the real potential threats to democracy from extremist parties that the British media are hopelessly seduced by them?

Should the political press be reigning it in a bit and ensuring that vital pre- and post-election coverage is extended to smaller parties like the Greens and independents, rather than focusing on those who make the most obvious headlines? The organisers of thispetition, which accuses the BBC of a media blackout of the green party, certainly think so, and so do the more than 45,000 people who signed it; not to mention thealmost 1,200 complaints also received by the BBC.

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Is The Green Party Missing From The Post-Election Landscape?

A boundary exists between man and nature, and sometimes the boundaries cross over. Usually, it's man crossing over into nature. When man does this, nature is permanently altered.

Michelle Podgorski likes to inspect the intersections of man and nature and turn them into artworks. An exhibit of 11 of her large-scale watercolors are on exhibit now at Green Street Arts Center in Middletown.

It's the subtle interactions that interest her the most. "I live near the Katawba River, which is polluted," said Podgorski, who now lives in Lowell, N.C., but is a native of Rocky Hill and a graduate of Hartford Art School. "When the river floods, water goes into the holes in the trees, and the chemicals in the river eat the trees from the inside out."

Two of the artworks feature deteriorating trees. In addition to watercolor, they are enhanced by thin slivers of bark. Podgorski finds bits of bark fallen from trees and slices them with a razor until they are almost as thin as a layer of paint. "Bark grows in really thin cellular layers, and I try to replicate that in the way I paint," she said.

Podgorski also is interested in how nature affects itself, and uses negative space creatively to show thow the death of one organism often gives life to another. Fungus climbs up a tree that isn't there. Moss covers an invisible tree stump.

"People destroy nature and nature destroys itself," she said. "It's a constant cycle."

FRAGMENTED LANDSCAPE will be at Green Street Arts Center of Wesleyan University, 51 Green St. in Middletown, until June 26. An opening reception will be held Thursday, June 5, from 5 to 8 p.m. Podgorski will present a talk on Friday, June 6, at 12:15 p.m. Information: 860-685-7860.

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'Fragmented Landscape' At Green Street Arts Center

Landscape makeover

We love to hear about examples of collaboration between the business community and nonprofit organizations in our community.

The Ygnacio Valley Library in Walnut Creek will receive a "landscape makeover" this summer, funded entirely by private and local business and community donations, and made possible by grants from the William A. Kerr Foundation and the Walnut Creek Library Foundation.

The library, also known as the Thurman G. Casey Library, will debut the results this fall, coinciding with Walnut Creek's centennial celebration. Landscape architect Michael D. Fotheringham volunteered the landscape plans, creating two paved outdoor patio spaces, relocating existing bicycle racks, planting more attractive, drought-resistant plants, and installing a water-efficient irrigation system.

Volunteers from Mormon Helping Hands, under the auspices of the local arm of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, is providing much of the labor. And lending a hand with operating earthmoving equipment is contractor Cliff Beck, with Republic Services stepping in with donations of Dumpster and hauling services.

The library, which was funded in part by the Walnut Creek Library Foundation and was a first in public/private partnerships for a Contra Costa County library, enjoys more than 95,000 visits annually and circulates more than 300,000 items.

Relay for Life

Relay for Life, a program of the American Cancer Society, raises funds for cancer research. The relay is not a race or run. Teams form in advance to raise money and educate visitors on cancer awareness, and must keep at least one member on the track for 24 hours to signify that cancer never sleeps, and neither does the fight against cancer.

There is no registration fee for cancer survivors, and they do not need to raise funds to participate in the survivor ceremonies at the relay, to be held at 9 a.m. Saturday and Sunday, June 7-8, at Pleasant Hill Middle School, 1 Santa Barbara Road in Pleasant Hill.

Prior to the kickoff, a hearty breakfast will be served by the Pleasant Hill Lions Club, with cancer survivors as the special guests. The food is free, but donations to the relay will be welcomed.

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Good Neighbors by Faith Barnidge: YV Library landscape makeover, Lindsay Museum appreciates vets, Women Bridge to ...

Well-known biologist Bill Montevecchi will speak at a council meeting in Portugal Cove-St. Philip's this evening to make an appeal for discussion on what he calls sensible development in the region. Montevecchi and others are upset after a company, currently developing new housing in the area which was approved years ago, came upon a granite hill once the land was cleared. Montevecchi says over the last week or so, efforts have been underway to blast the hill away using dynamite. He says it's unfortunate that other alternatives couldn't be found. He calls it an 'assault on the landscape' due to an 'inconvenience.'

He says people live in the town because of its rural aspect and he's upset that an entire hill would be removed because it's considered to be an inconvenience to one developer.

He says while many council members are similarly concerned, the permits were already issued and they're unable to put a halt to the work for fear of litigation. Montevecchi calls that a cop-out and says common sense has to prevail when it comes to development in the region. He's urging others to come out to tonight's council meeting to have their voices heard.

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Biologist says Granite Blasting an 'Assault on the Landscape'

Interior Design - How to Decorate a Home and Hotel S-2, E-15
Interior Design, Interior Decorating, Interior Design ideas. Interior Designer Rebecca Robeson and team continue to work on all the Home Decor projects currently on their schedule. Resort in...

By: Robeson Design

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Interior Design - How to Decorate a Home and Hotel S-2, E-15 - Video