RACINE Six months after an ordinance change giving the city permission to take down any privately owned tree infested with emerald ash borer or oak wilt, the city forester has began marking such trees for removal.

Oak wilt has not turned up in the city yet. But EAB, which was first spotted in the city last summer, has been slowly winding its way though the citys ash tree population.

On Friday, City Forester Matt Koepnick said he had just marked about 25-30 infested trees on the grounds of Regency Mall, and even a few others on both public and private property.

I just saw emerald ash borer five minutes ago, actually, at Memorial and Washington Avenue, where the bridge is, Koepnick said.

The ordinance approved by the City Council in mid-April allows the city to order a private property owner to remove a tree that is infected with EAB or oak wilt.

Prior to the passage of the EAB ordinance, the city could only require the removal of private trees infested with Dutch elm disease, a fungus that kills elm trees.

The EAB ordinance is needed, Koepnick has said, to help the city keep the disease-spreading insects at bay, and to better protect both public and private trees in the city from becoming future hosts and victims.

Although he has marked several trees already, he has yet to mark any on private residential properties.

When forestry crews spot a tree with EAB they will follow through to make sure the tree is actually infested with one of the insects. If it is infected, a notice will be sent to the property owner, giving them 30 days to have the tree removed. If the property owner does not remove the tree, the city can hire a contractor to the work, and bill the property owner.

Koepnick said there are options available to private property owners looking to protect their trees from possible EAB infestation, including products available at hardware stores and greenhouses, and treatments available from tree care professionals.

Original post:
City begins marking private trees with emerald ash borer

ELM SPRINGS (KFSM) The Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality is investigating whether the town of Elm Springs is properly maintaining an evaporation field where liquid waste is disposed of, officials say.

State investigators traveled to Elm Springs on Thursday (Oct. 16) to examine the field and are putting together a written report on whether the field has been maintained properly as spelled out in the towns state permit, according to officials. Another name for the 6.2-acre piece of land under investigation is surface-pipe disposal field.

A complaint was filed with the state on Oct. 13 by Harold Douthit, a member of the Elm Springs City Council, officials said.

Douthit is vying to unseat Elm Springs Mayor Ben Wall in the Nov. 4 election.

The town uses the evaporation field to dispose of liquid waste after it has been processedthrough the sewer-and-water treatment plant,according to Kevin Caudle, an Elm Springs Sewer Committee member. After it is drained into the field, it evaporates, Caudle said.

Thecomplaint filed with ADEQ states that the guidelines for the surface-pipe disposal field outlined in the towns permit are not being upheld.

At issue is the disposal of grass clippings when the field gets mowed, according to Caudle. He said although the field is being mowed on a weekly basis, the grass clippings are not being gathered and disposed of. They are being left in the field, according to Caudle.

Wall told 5NEWS the clippings are not a major problem.

The mayor also said that once the clippings were bagged, there was the problem of what to do with them, and there was no good way to dispose of them.

If the state finds a problem with the upkeep of the land, the town could risk losing its permit for the field, Caudle said.

Link:
State Investigates Elm Springs Disposal Field

Flooring is a foundational facet of any home project. But when the room youre upgrading is prone to spills and splashes and the chance of leaks or flooding, carpet isnt an ideal choice.

Here are some options for moisture-prone areas, from flooring pros whove earned top ratings from Angies List members:

TILE: This is a durable option, with material choices ranging from ceramic to natural stone. However, some tiles must be sealed to prevent water penetration, so some types may not work well in moisture-prone area.

If you choose tile flooring, keep grout lines tight, especially in a bathroom. Grout, even when sealed, will eventually let moisture through. Look for grouts that contain additives to reduce moisture intrusion.

Some specific tile materials:

VINYL: If youre looking for an easy-care and affordable option, consider vinyl. Sheet vinyl has the benefit of few, if any, seams that can let moisture through. Vinyl also has its high-end side, which can make it a practical alternative to hardwood or stone in high-traffic rooms. Vinyl planks and whats called luxury vinyl tile can be made to mimic the look of wood or stone.

High-quality vinyl brands can feature mold and mildew inhibitors and waterproof guarantees rather than water-resistant claims.

CONCRETE: A staple for basements and garages, concrete is worth considering for a bathroom or kitchen. Concrete staining, stamping and other decorative techniques allow this sturdy material to stand alone decoratively.

WOOD: Wood can work in a kitchen, especially if its engineered hardwood flooring (sometimes called laminate hardwood flooring), which has a sturdier, more water-resistant plywood base, a hardwood veneer and usually costs more than laminate.

LAMINATE: Laminate is a layered flooring type featuring wood fiber. Its relatively easy to install and is affordable, compared to hardwood or engineered wood. However, its not recommended for full bathrooms or a basement that may experience flooding. If water penetrates, laminate can swell.

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Choose the right flooring for rooms that get wet

DeMar DeRozan can recall the training camps when there were nine or 10 new Toronto Raptors to meet, and much of the familiarity built the previous season had been washed away.

He counts his blessings for the way it is today.

For most of DeRozans early years in Toronto, each fall brought the daunting challenge of learning the tendencies of new teammates and creating new chemistry. The Raptors selected him ninth overall in the 2009 NBA draft, a 19-year-old swingman who had played just a single college season at USC. He opted to leave school early largely for what an NBA contract could do to ease the pain his mother suffered daily with lupus. The Raptors general manager at the time, Bryan Colangelo, compared his athleticism to that of renowned Raptor Vince Carter.

Hes got a chance to be special, Colangelo had said in DeRozans introductory press conference. But lets let him do it on his own time.

DeRozan watched dozens come and go during his first five years in Toronto, names such as Andrea Bargnani, Chris Bosh, Hedo Turkoglu, Jose Calderon, and Rudy Gay. One constant remained with DeRozan Amir Johnson, from Los Angeles just like him.

Together, they navigated the Raptors painstaking process of building a roster and eventually, a winning culture.Oh man, we had so many teammates over the years, I couldnt even count them, Johnson said. Yeah, weve become close; DeMar and I have definitely bonded. Were happy to see the growth of this team.

DeRozans first four years in Toronto were all losing seasons, but his average points a game swelled with each year, his game improved and his value deepened. Last season, he ranked 10th in the NBA with a career-best 22.7 points a game, helping lead the Raptors to a franchise-high 48-win season and their first playoff appearance since 2008. From there, the 6-foot-6 workhorse threw himself into the off-season, hiring a ball-handling specialist, pushing his conditioning to the limits back in California and doing everyday things with his left hand in the hopes it could strengthen his off-hand play on the court. Any little thing to help sustain the magic the Raptors created last season, a playoff magnetism that had sold-out crowds stoked and rollicking in the Air Canada Centre and another 10,000 watching outside, just to be near it.

Now, entering his sixth NBA season, 25-year-old DeRozan has arrived. If it wasnt obvious before, reminders came in last years all-star nod; via his 23.9 points a game in the playoffs; from how he combined with Kyle Lowry to create one the most electric backcourts in the NBA; or through DeRozans selection to Team USA this summer for the FIBA World Cup. Lowry re-signed in Toronto to keep the duo together; the other three starters remain, too; and sixth man Greivis Vasquez declared his undying love for the city and its franchise to remain a part of it.

I was here for the tough times and I think that put more hunger in me, DeRozan said, chatting this week in a corner of the Raptors practice facility. Thats what its always been for me. I was never in a perfect situation where everything was peaches and cream. I like to work from the dirt and make something out of it.

When Dwane Casey became head coach of the Raptors in 2011, he was inheriting a team that had gone 22-60 the year before, but he felt he had a special piece of the puzzle in DeRozan.

The rest is here:
DeRozan sheds losing seasons, shows an underdogs hunger

RICHMOND, Va. The Scotts Addition Pumpkin Festival returns this year after a smashing success in 2013.

There will again be goodies prepared by local restaurants, craft beer, music, and lots of kids activities.

Last year over 10,000 attended the festival, which was the first in decades to close down the popular thoroughfare of the Boulevard.

This year we have expanded the area a little bit, weve added a VIP zone, said Brook Stone, the event chairman for the Scotts Addition Business Association.Weve added a larger kids zone, with more kids activities and a larger space.

Movin Mania, which is Bon Secours childhood obesity program, is a key sponsor of the event.

We feel the pumpkin festival is a family-friendly event, said Tunstall Bagley-Willis, the Movin Mania Coordinator for Bon Secours.

Tunstan Bagley-Willis, Broc (short for Broccoli) and Brook Stone talk about the upcoming Pumpkin Festival.

For kids, expect crafts, music, interactive opportunities and the mobile Class A Room will be on site providing healthy treats and fun snacks.

Weve also added our biggest feature, which is our Family Movie Night, at the Bon Secours Washington Redskins Training Center immediately following the event, said Stone.

The festival runs from noon to 6 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 25, and immediately following the event families can head over for movie night. A double-feature will air starting with Its The Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown, followed by Monsters, Inc.

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Get the details on the 2014 Scotts Addition Pumpkin Festival

Screened Porches Conroe Style! Stunning Possibilities with Sunspace Texas
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A large cockroach walks across molding in this file photo.

CHICAGO A cockroach embarrassed a Chicago official in charge of pest control when it took a stroll near him in full view of some aldermen, and its stunt just might have cost it and its buddies their lives.

After Thursday's hearing in the City Council chambers, Fleet and Facilities Management Commissioner David Reynolds had his office call a private contractor to come down to City Hall and do some exterminating.

The cockroach couldn't have picked a worse time to show its antenna on the wall of the City Council chambers: just as Reynolds was testifying during a budget hearing. Alderman Brendan Reilly wondered aloud how much money in Reynolds' department budget was devoted to pest control.

"I was mortified," Reynolds told reporters after the laughter died down.

The Chicago Sun-Times reported that Reynolds said he's proud of the condition of the city's facilities, before adding that there is no way a 103-year-old building with lots of places for bugs to hide is ever going to be pest free.

It doesn't help that City Hall attracts scores of visitors every day. Many workers bring lunches that they eat at their desks or in the hallways. The cockroaches are more than happy to dine on whatever people leave behind or drop on the floor.

"We often just end up chasing them around," Reynolds said.

about Associated Press...

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Cockroach disrupts pest control chief's testimony in Chicago

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