The Gardens, at one point a 3,966-home and apartment development planned for the two sides of John Anderson Highway in Flagler County, is again seeking regulatory approval from county planners Wednesday, but as a development a fraction of its former size: 453 homes, or within the limit the county had approved for that land, when it was owned by a different developer, in 2005.

The latest plan also calls for 231,000 square feet of commercial and retail space, and multi-family, or apartment, use, and 1,200 acres for public services and preservation, with the very first phase of the development consisting of 350 single family homes.

The remaining areas in the Residential/Golf area is noted as future development which could include the golf course and other amenities, the 100,000 square feet of private commercial, the remaining residential homes, or some combination of all, Michael Chiumento, the developers attorney, wrote the county attorney on June 5. His memo also noted that a traffic study concludes that there are no traffic issues associated with this first phase of development.

The Gardens representatives and county officials have been working for months and through various delays, the latest caused by the coronavirus emergency, to arrive at a so-called Planned Unit Development proposal that could win the countys approval at the first official regulatory stepthe Technical Review Committeeand move on to the planning board, then to the county commission.

The TRC meets at 9 Wednesday. After previous rejections of The Gardens plans, the TRC this time is expected to approve the PUD (if not the developments preliminary plat for 350 units), clearing the way for the application to go before the planning board in August and the county commission in early SEptember, and leaving room for another appearance before the TRC in July, if necessary. Thats a possibility, if The Gardens representatives decide on Wednesday to split their application over two meetings, with the PUD part getting heard Wednesday and the preliminary plat application getting heard next month.

Either way, the prospects for the development this time appear brighter than they have in the past, but with one key question unresolved: will Flagler Breach provide utilities to the development? They are attempting to clarify their role, Adam Mengle, the countys planning director, said of Flagler Beach. Under contingency rules, the city must provide utilities to the development if the county is ultimately to approve it. Otherwise, approval will be withheld.

A letter to The Gardens from the Flagler Beach administrator had previously suggested, in language just short of explicit, that the city would provide utilities on an as-available basis. The city has since been prevaricating over that letter, while the city commission has faced repeated opposition to The Gardens from residents, who fear that extending utilities to John Anderson Highway would be tantamount to inheriting a new neighborhood, changing the complexion of the city and affecting utility costs for years to come.

Gardens officials, for their part, have been arguing that in exchange for utilities, the development would pay for some of the citys critically needed upgrades and would help the city meet a 2030 deadline, by which time it will be barred from dumping millions of gallons of treated effluent into the Intracoastal, as it now dows. The Gardens, in other words, is positioning itself as a bridge to a more environmentally responsible city. (Ken Belshe, the lead applicant for The Gardens, is a director with SunBelt Land Management, which developed Palm Coast Plantation along Colbert Lane.)

We know a new plan will require great attention to detail and planning and we intend to develop it slowly, over 25 to 30 years, Belshe had written in these pages exactly a year ago, when the proposal was still for nearly 4,000 units, in other words, over a generation or more with input from our local governments and others and in accordance with multiple regulatory agencies at the state and federal levels whose jobs are to regulate land development and protect endangered species and wetlands. No developer in todays regulatory environment can develop any property without strict oversight by these agencies, with severe penalties for violations.

Scaling back the project has not necessarily satisfied the opposition, which centers around a group called Preserve Flagler Beach and Bulow Creek. Its members include former County Commissioner Barbara Revels and current Flagler Beach City Commission member Ken Bryan. (who faces a defamation lawsuit from SunBelt over statements B ryan made at a community meeting on the development.)

The developer insists the new plans for the 825 acres are consistent with what was approved in 2005 for the previous owner and all the entitlements belong with the land, the opposition group said in a June 3 statement. The activists support the county attorneys opinion that the spirit of the 2005 plan has not been kept and a new approval process needs to be filed. It added: Another Master Plan issue is the placement of 353 residential homes on the east side of John Anderson Highway and 118 homes on the west side for a total of 453 homes on 211.7 acres rather than the approved lower density of 453 homes placed on 1,305 acres of the original plan. See the groups complete comments on the proposal here.

Nevertheless, the tone and substance of the groups opposition is not as adamant as it was when the project was flirting with 4,000 units.

The Technical Review Committee Meeting will be streamed via ZOOM: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89798424272

Or iPhone one-tap : US: +13126266799, 89798424272# or +19292056099, 89798424272#

Or Telephone: Dial (for higher quality, dial a number based on your current location): US: +1 312 626 6799 or +1 929 205 6099 or +1 301 715 8592 or +1 346 248 7799 or +1 669 900 6833 or +1 253 215 8782

Comments may be submitted prior to the meeting by email to: [emailprotected]

While the Technical Review Committee is open to the public, it is not a public hearing: public comment will not be heard.

Read the original post:
Scaled Back Gardens Development, at 453 Homes, Expected to Clear Regulatory Hurdle - FlaglerLive.com

People are being urged to report fly-tipping after two shocking incidents enraged Auchterhouse residents at the weekend.

Dumped commercial waste completely blocked a quiet road between Auchterhouse and Newtyle yesterday just a day after rubbish from a picnic and a gazebo was found dumped in nearby Dronley Woods.

Councillor Beth Whiteside, who represents the Monifieth and Sidlaw area on Angus Council, said some of the sources of the waste can be identified in among the rubbish, and she hopes that means someone can be prosecuted.

She told the Tele: It is shocking. This is clearly not someone getting rid of just a few bits and pieces this is business waste that has been transported and dumped, which is really worrying.

Someone has taken the trouble to come from Dundee out to a quiet road like this and thinks it is acceptable to discard a whole load of waste, even though recycling centres have reopened.

It is obviously someone wanting to avoid the costs associated with dumping it properly and that is unfair on local residents.

Ms Whiteside added: I have contacted the council to have it uplifted. Some of the sources of the rubbish are identifiable, so hopefully whoever has dumped it can be pursued and prosecuted because this is unacceptable.

This happens here quite a lot and on this occasion the council will clear it up because it is on a road but it often happens on farmers private land and they are left to clear it up themselves.

Ms Whiteside urged residents to report all incidents of fly-tipping even on private land so authorities have a clear picture of how big the problem is in the area.

Her call comes after Dronley Woods which is owned by a community group was littered with rubbish and a gazebo at the weekend.

Ms Whiteside said: Why would people do this? It is ridiculous.

Again, the council has been informed and is dealing with it but people need to realise this is not acceptable.

A number of local residents took to social media to express their anger and said the area has been blighted by fly-tipping previously.

Steve Scott said: Rubble was dumped on Lundie Road and there was also another incident of dumping at the old railway car park and an illegal party in Dronley Woods last night.

The amount of rubbish and human faeces left was horrendous.

Helen Gewar said: The fines need to be a lot bigger.

Councils should also weigh up the cost of clearing illegally dumped waste against the income they get from charging to drop waste at recycling centres.

It might help to stop this by lifting charges at centres and might help to save our countryside.

Follow this link:
Residents urged to report fly-tipping after two 'shocking' incidents in Angus in one weekend - Evening Telegraph

Around 600 goats in two separate herds are currently grazing their way through parts of the Palos Verdes Peninsula in an effort to reduce fire risk and remove non-native plants.

About 300 goats are hard at work in Lunada Canyon, part of the 1,600 acres the Palos Verdes Peninsula Land Conservancy has preserved. And another 300 are in a canyon near Grandview Park, in Rancho Palos Verdes.

Goats, officials with the conservancy said, efficiently get rid of weeds while being friendly to the environment as opposed to using machines.

Goats are a really phenomenal way to get into steep areas that often (are) very dangerous for humans to go with machinery, said Adrienne Mohan, the conservancys executive director.

The goats will eat up multiple types of greenery, including the mustard plant and acacia weeds, both of which are not native to the area and are highly invasive. Once a year, the mustard plant flowers and its seeds go wild, said Cris Sarabia, PVPLCs conservation director. The seeds dry up and become a fire risk. So the conservancy tries to remove the mustard plant, as well as other non-native plants, before its seeds are dropped.

The goats will eat up multiple types of greenery, including the mustard plant and acacia weeds, both of which are not native to the area and are highly invasive. Once a year, the mustard plant flowers and its seeds go wild, said Cris Sarabia, PVPLCs conservation director. The seeds dry up and become a fire risk. So the conservancy tries to remove the mustard plant, as well as other non-native plants, before its seeds are dropped.

The conservancy contracts with Fire Grazers Inc. to be the goatherd.

That company also has a contract with Rancho Palos Verdes to provide another 300 goats, which are grazing at a canyon near Grandview Park.

When you got a dense forest of bush or mustard and you cant even begin to walk through it, you say, All right, lets throw 300 goats at it. said Fire Grazers CEO Michael Choi. So you throw the 300 and they clear it out to a point where you can go in and really assess what your plans are going to be moving forward in the future. Its a great first attack against wild brush.

While the goats work at Lunada Canyon focuses on reducing fire hazards and removing non-native species, the conservancy is also preparing for habitat restoration for various at-risk species, including the El Segundo blue butterfly, the Palos Verdes blue butterfly, and several bird species, such as the coastal California gnatcatcher, Sarabia said.

As opposed to just clearing for fuel modification or fire clearance, Sarabia said, we double up on that and make sure that were actually working towards creating more habitat.

Community contributions and individual donors, Mohan said, have helped keep the goats grazing year after year.

We are so thankful for community support and for donors who can enable us to do this habitat restoration work, Mohan said, for not only post-fire fuel abatement, but for the benefit of some endangered species were working to protect.

Choi, for his part, said the goats work is never done. The goats started on the Peninsula the second week of April, Choi said, adding that he expects the work to continue until September. There is also upcoming work in Torrance and Rolling Hills.

Were working all year around, Choi said, because goats never stop eating.

Read the rest here:
Goats play important role in fire prevention on the Palos Verdes Peninsula - Palos Verdes Peninsula News

Is this the best we can do?

Colin Smith, Mount Waverley

Mike Foley's excellent article makes it clear that the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act is good legislation and that what is needed is the political will to use the legislation.

Instead what we seem to have is the political will to water it down.

Ray Peck, Hawthorn

The Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act failed to prevent the loss of over one-third of threatened species and ecosystems. The main causes included a lack of political will, land clearing and exemptions and neither consideration nor prevention of climate change. We now await Graeme Samuel's imminent review of the act, and Environment Minister Sussan Ley's response ("Running out of time", The Sunday Age, 14/6).

Obviously we must do better. We must accept that the natural environment is the fundamental basis of all life. We ignore or over-exploit it at our peril. Hence, ideally now, we should start again and urgently create a new, compulsory national environment act, a national environment commission, and an Environment Protection Authority as a watchdog with very big teeth.

Barbara Fraser, Burwood

Despite being a wealthy, developed nation, Australia's environmental track record is among the world's worst. We lead the world in mammal extinctions, have the highest rate of biodiversity loss bar Indonesia, and we are the WWF's only "developed" land-clearing and deforestation official "hot spot".

Nevertheless, in The Sunday Age we read that Sussan Ley's main issue with the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act is "unnecessary delays" in approvals.

Is it a coincidence that the readers of our nation have put Nineteen Eighty-Four, the 70-year-old dystopian novel that introduced the idea of "doublethink", (holding "simultaneously two opinions which cancel out, knowing them to be contradictory and believing in both of them"), back in the M's bestseller lists?

Lesley Walker, Northcote

Shane Wright's article "Billions wiped off Boomers' nest eggs" (The Sunday Age, 14/6) contained a few surprises.

There is no doubt that many self- and part-funded retirees are finding things a bit tough. But surely asking the government for significant relief will be against many of their principles.

Many of these people have their assets courtesy of being born at the right time and have become asset rich because of rising wages, inflation and asset values over the past 30 or so years. Many were the same ones who campaigned so vigorously against the proposal to stop franking credits being returned as cash (ie because they actually paid no tax).

While the government should assist in a few ways (the deeming rate adjustment, for example), asset-rich retirees should be down the pecking order for assistance. Many people are struggling to keep a roof over their head or to get the next meal on the table.

Australia will have a significant debt once we come out the other side and it will have to be repaid by the younger generations. These retirees should be prepared to pay their share and complain a little less.

Shaun Quinn, Yarrawonga

Jacqueline Maley ("The PM's blind spot", The Sunday Age, 14/6) is succinct as ever. But why would we be surprised at the hypocrisy of Scott Morrison.

Let us consider for example, the incarcerating of people rightly seeking asylum, yet Morrison and others in the government brandish their Christian values.

It is not hard to be cynical when it comes to Morrison's outrage at racism targeting Chinese people, it is an economic response, not a moral response. It seems that many present and past members (Alexander Downer, for example) of the government need to go back to school ... Captain Cook did not discover Australia.

Education Minister Dan Tehan's talk to the National Press Club motivating our young to study STEM subjects was revealing. While criticism would follow is it an acknowledgment by government at last that science is important?

Will we now get action on climate change? Science has been at the core of our success in combating COVID-19 and climate science will ensure survival of the planet. Here's hoping.

Howard Brownscombe, Brighton

I have earned a bachelor's degree in mathematics and statistics, a bachelor's degree in business and accounting, a master's degree in finance and a doctoral degree blending accounting and organisational learning.

In all of that study, the subject that most educated me, as opposed to trained me, was first year English literature in my maths degree. I learnt from the ancient Greeks, Scottish poets, Shakespeare, Russian masters and 20th century authors. I learnt about human behaviour and frailty. About the best of humans and the worst of humans.

The study of humanities is essential to our society, not something to be discouraged.

Louise Kloot, Doncaster

Michelle de Kretser and Richard Flanagan are right to condemn proposed changes to funding of the humanities at Australian universities. ("'Aren't we supposed to be the clever country?"', 20/6).

If we are to avoid becoming a nation of barbarians, we must acknowledge the importance ofstudying in depth the great movements of history, which are the foundation of our modern civilisation.

If arts degrees are to continue to "be the 'bedrock' of culture and democracy" then they must be recognised for what they are and not have the almighty dollar sign attached to them.

Helen Scheller, Benalla

Yet again we are seeing politicians misusing public money. Pauline Hanson, Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack, Chris Bowen and three cabinet ministers are reported to have lodged a string of questionable travel claims further confirming our lack of trust in politicians.

The Museum of Australian Democracy says if current trends continue, fewer than 10 per cent of Australians will trust their politicians by 2025 resulting in ineffective and illegitimate government and declining social and economic wellbeing. Perversely, the most trusted organisation in Australia, the ABC, is the very one that the current government is emasculating.

Australia desperately needs a genuine bipartisan corruption watchdog as in other democracies around the world. When we see the unrelenting hypocrisy of our politicians it breeds cynicism, which eats away at the very core of community.

Surveys show that increasing numbers of Australians are seeing politics as irrelevant, and a look around the world where authoritarian-populist forms of government are gaining momentum should awaken Australia to that which ultimately threaten the institution of democracy itself. The stakes could not be higher.

Bryan Long, Balwyn

The Australian Home Heating Association is quoted in The Sunday Age ("GPs support removal of home wood heaters", 14/6) as estimating the nationwide industry to be worth well over $400 million and a significant provider of jobs. Once again we have the jobs argument used to attempt to justify pollution and environmentally destructive activities.

The $400 million claim must be viewed alongside the $8 billion the Victorian Environment Protection Authority claims air pollution will cost the state by 2027.

Municipal councils do not enforce their nuisance laws against wood heater pollution and the best the EPA can do is say that they preferred people not to use wood heating and issue a suggestion for owners to clean their flues.

As these instrumentalities are useless in enforcing existing laws there is no sensible alternative to banning wood heaters in residential areas.

Robin Stewart, Romsey

I recall there was a sustained and robust battle over the volume of water that needed to be returned to the Murray-Darling to keep it healthy and viable. Finally a figure of 3200 gigalitres was settled on, much lower than what many experts were aiming for.

Now Victoria and NSW, four years out from the agreed deadline of 2024, are saying they cannot meet the deadline (The Age, 20/6), meaning that something less than 3200 gigalitres is their target.

We've all seen the photos; Our politicians and bureaucrats and authorities have a lot to answer for. They are not standing guard over our critical resource as they are supposed to.

Brendan O'Farrell, Brunswick

In 1933, Nazi Germany outlawed the Jewish practice of kosher animal slaughter. Kosher was deliberately misrepresented. The propaganda claimed Jews partook of perverse ritual killings of humans for their blood as well as animals.

The notion that Halal food is somehow cruel and "foreign" has become very popular within the right-wing anti-Muslim narrative in Australia and around the world.

As was kosher, as is halal, Chinese wet markets are now in a fuzzy cultural focus. The Western hysteria about wet markets runs concurrently and as subtext to the cultural contestation.

Criticism of Chinese cultural food practice has a long history. Historically the threat of Chinese political culture and people brought with it the threat of rice and noodle domination. From the Victorian gold rush to COVID-19, attitudes to China have been carefully curated.

The dissemination of information is now as it's never been before. New platforms for news broadcasting, new technology, new viruses bring new narratives rich in perspective but ridden with echo chambers.

Food narrative and culture are inseparable. A good diet should be balanced.

Political polemic on food is more than just a culinary perspective.

Denzil Hunter, East Melbourne

Your editorial ("Scandal shows need for watchdogs with teeth", 17/6) rightly queries the Morrison government using the COVID-19 crisis as an excuse fornot releasing its exposure draft on its proposed integrity commission.

What's more disturbing is that a National Integrity Commission Bill approved by the Senate last September has been languishing in the lower house since then because the Morrison government has gagged a vote on it.

Prime Minister, what is so hard or time consuming about putting this bill on the agenda for a vote. We need an effective integrity commission now. You say you are on our side; it's time to walk the talk.

Carlo Ursida, Kensington

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Link:
Australia needs to have a minister with commitment - The Age

Dr Steve Thomas.

IN the era of COVID-19 and the need to get the economy back on track, the focus has to be on jobs.

There has been a massive hit to employment, especially in areas such as tourism and hospitality and the construction industry is standing on the edge of an employment cliff.

Now that the health issues are largely contained, at least for the time being and as long as we maintain our standards, what is important?

The economy, stupid!

The focus right now has to be jobs, jobs, jobs.

And there is a role for the WA Parliament in making sure we keep that focus while not sacrificing our standards or protections.

The government has presented Upper House MPs with an opportunity to make real and significant change to the way environmental protection operates in Western Australia and it has never been more important to get this right.

It has introduced a wide ranging rewrite of the Environmental Protection Act (EPA), presenting us with an opportunity to make improvements and streamline the environmental approvals process.

The government's agenda is modest but positive.

Their changes will, for example, allow the State to enter into bilateral environmental agreements with the Commonwealth government, a much welcome move supported by the Opposition.

They are also proposing to introduce Environmental Protection Covenants - agreements between the State and landowners on the long-term preservation of natural assets on their land.

Of particular value will be allowing the EPA to measure and assess the cumulative environmental impacts of multiple actions on an ecosystem, as will be the capacity for the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation (DWER) chief executive officer to pre-assess whether a clearing application needs to be made in some circumstances.

These and other measures are welcome changes that the Opposition will support.

However, to only support the government's modest agenda without greater action would be a wasted opportunity to achieve far more ambitious and beneficial gains.

We have a real opportunity to make the system work better for all.

To that end I have proposed additional amendments that I think will make the system of environmental management in this State more streamlined and effective.

They would also deliver a fairer system, supporting landowners who too frequently face an extremely unfair battle with bureaucracy.

DWER, in particular, is empowered by the current system to a point that treats landholders as second class citizens and this is a great opportunity to rebalance that power.

The amendments that I have proposed are focused on small but critical areas.

In particular, they would:

- Introduce statutory time limits in the process of gaining environmental approvals;

- Require the government to register environmentally sensitive areas on the land title of impacted landowners;

- Require the government to register environment protection covenants on land titles;

- Ask the Environmental Protection Authority to specify timelines for environmental regulation under Part V of the Act; and

- Remove the need for a landowner to seek approval to clear vegetation within 25 metres of their home for the purpose of creating an adequate firebreak.

Having stricter timelines for assessments, approvals or rejection and the announcement by government of the environmental assessment of proposals is critical to the future management of our State.

This is equally important to both those who propose development and those who are opposed to it.

The system too often sees the clock stop on assessments with no set timeframe for it to restart.

I am proposing to limit the government's capacity to do this, by applying set timeframes for the period that government departments can sit on proposals.

The thorny issue of environmentally sensitive areas also needs to be better addressed.

The current system allows DWER to arbitrarily blight land with this label without any consideration of the landowner who manages it.

The impacts on those landholders can be horrendous, yet the government can ignore them.

The measure is not even recorded on the land title, meaning the blighting of land is invisible to the wider community.

I intend to change that.

The government must have some problem with the operation of the EPA, otherwise it would not be proposing to throw it out the window in its proposed changes to the Planning Act that it says are in response to the COVID-19 economic crisis.

Environment Minister Stephen Dawson is in the unenviable role of having to carry a Bill that throws environmental assessments out the window.

In doing so he will be the first environment minister to tell the Parliament and the community that the environment actually doesn't matter.

My plan is not to toss the EPA aside, but instead to make it better.

Better for the environment but also more workable for industry and landowners.

Continued here:
Reforms are needed to make the EPA better - Farm Weekly

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Phurpa Lhamo | Gasa

Work on the new Gasa town at Kolikha would begin in the 2020-2021 financial year.

Construction of stormwater drainage, an internal urban road, and electricity connection are the three projects that would start in the later half of this year.

Gasa dzongkhag Municipal Engineer, Kinley Dorji, said that for the stormwater drainage system, the dzongkhag had proposed Nu 21.14 million (M). The system will include service ducts, and ensure that the drains are underground with pedestrian paths on top.

While Nu 12M was proposed for the internal urban route connection, another Nu 2.3M was proposed to bring electricity connectivity.

The projects are funded through the Small Development Project grant and will be executed within two years.

Apart from the three projects, a preliminary study has also been conducted to bring water from the new source Zamjina located around 4km from the new town area.

Road formation cutting to the new town is underway

Today, water is brought from Shingtachu, located around 6km away from the old Gasa town.

Kinley Dorji said that the old water source was not enough. The new source would be enough for the whole Gasa settlement, he said.

Gasa dzongkhag has today spent Nu 2M to clear the site for construction at the new town area, formation cutting, and soiling of the road leading to the area.

Talks to shift the town to Kolikha began in 2015. The Gasa dzongkhag administration is today in process of clearing the 74 acres land. Kolikha is located around 1km from Gasa dzong.

The Gasa town shifting process will be executed in two phases.

In the first phase, the 48 identified plots, as the commercial central zone will be allotted to the shopkeepers. Today, 29 shopkeepers based at the old town have been allocated 5-decimal land each.

The remaining plot will be assigned as people apply, Kinley Dorji said.

In the second phase, 18 plots identified as residential and resort area will be allotted after the first phase of the project is complete.

The new town will also have a bus terminal and taxi parking.

Today, the old town located near the Gasa hospital accommodates around 29 shopkeepers and institutional buildings.

Gasa Dzongdag Rinzin Penjore said that the current location didnt have any place for expansion and moreover, most of the shops in the old town are on state land.

There is no space to expand in the current area. At the new town, the infrastructure and facilities could be improved.

After the town is shifted, the old area is expected to accommodate institutional structures including the offices of Bhutan Power Corporation Ltd and the National Housing Development Corporation Limited, among others.

A shop owner at the old town said that because she didnt own the land her shop stood on, she was glad to move to the new town where His Majesty The King had granted them land.

The 15-year project will complete in 2030.

Read the rest here:
Work on new Gasa town to begin soon KuenselOnline - Kuensel, Buhutan's National Newspaper

The remains of the old smokehouse sit just beyond our kitchen porch The Kitchen Porch Cafe at Delialand it has been dubbed. The smokehouse was one of the victims of Hurricane Katrina when she unleashed her wrath on this area. The storm took out most of the trees around our house and laid part of a huge pecan on top of Smokey. Now 15 years later, after some land clearing and further decay, weve decided to take the old building all the way down.

Its a shame.

For years my entire childhood in fact there was no porch outside the kitchen door. Just a solid wood door and a screen door with about a three foot drop to the ground.

My Granny and plenty of folks before her would open the door in winter and summer to let the heat of the kitchen out and after dinner was over and the dishes were done the dishpan of dirty water would be tossed out that door as well.

In the late 90s we built the first ever little porch out there with steps down to the ground. It was more for the purpose of walking outside than sitting outside for a dozen or so years, and then a couple of years back wife Danny and I built a larger porch as an outdoor kitchen of sorts. Hence The Kitchen Porch Cafe name.

But back to the smokehouse.

Although it was orignally built as a place to cure meat and cure meat it did it has served a variety of different purposes over the years.

Back in the day...

The days when we raised and butchered hogs the saltbox inside the smokehouse created the best country cured ham around and casings of smoked sausage and shoulders kept us all full and happy through the winters.

The lid of the saltbox now serves as a table top on our back porch Herbies Hideaway named for my grandfather. I hope to be able to salvage the remainder of the box very soon. Itll be a tricky endeavor. To get the lid I had to slither in on my belly like the resident king snake. To get the box, I hope to remove what is left of the wall in the back corner where it lies. There is some salvageable, very old, very pretty, wood I hope to do something with as well.

Last week I pulled a big old pressure cooker lid out of there and plan to invert it on top of a cedar post saved from one of the downed trees, and make a bird feeder for the red birds that call our place home.

When it comes to calling a place home, the smokehouse has been just that to all sorts of critters large and small. Currently an armadillo hangs out in there when its not rooting up the yard something that is about to come to an end one way or another if you know what I mean.

Stray cats like to check the place out on occasion and for years it served as a buzzard roost and we watched as a pair of the big birds raised many a family. They always lay only two eggs and nurture to adulthood two of the ugliest and meanest chicks ever seen.

The buzzards finally tired of the smokehouse likely because it is now down to pretty much the roof and the back corner where that box is and they moved their nursery to the a horse stall in the big barn. The majority of that barn, by the way, succumbed to high winds several yeas ago and about all that is left of it is the back corner where those buzzards hang out.

One of the last years that my grandmother was alive we held a family reunion in the side yard of Delialand the name Danny and I gave our place in honor of my grandmother, Delia Mae Lang Hudson, when we took up residence there. My uncle, Jimmy, served as MC, I suppose you could say, and the smokehouse served as the stage as he read the family history he had compiled.

For as long as I can remember there was a basketball goal, minus the net, above the door of Smokey and in the sultry summers there is no telling how many games of H-O-R-S-E and Around the World were battled there by a host of cousins.

In more recent years even with the tree on it the smokehouse served as a storage room for all sorts of things and all sorts of things are currently crushed beneath its timbers. I know there is a croquet set in there and I can see the old basketball in a big aluminum pan between some of the rotted boards of a wall.

I forget what all else might be buried there but well find out before long. Before long old Smokey will be gone, but the memories, ahh the fond memories, those will carry on.

Visit link:
The old smokehouse - Scott County Times

WHEN trees were being felled at a parcel of land earmarked for development in Bukit Cerakah, Shah Alam, residents nearby began to worry.

I was in the living room when I heard trees falling and it did not sound like branches falling off during a thunderstorm.

Land clearing started in March, a few days before the movement control order (MCO) was in place. It then stopped and resumed later, said Perdana Heights resident S. Yuga.

Yuga, who lives right behind the said parcel of land, is concerned over some aspects of the land clearing.

I am not sure if the developer is aware there is a river behind my house which leads to a lake, like a water catchment area, she said, adding that rainwater flows from the river into the lake, preventing flooding in the neighbourhood.

With land clearing works going on, soil and dirt end up in the river and residents worry it may obstruct the flow of rainwater into the lake.

Apart from this, they are also concerned about the wildlife in the Bukit Cerakah forest reserve.

I see tapirs in the neighbourhood. The animal is an endangered species and have nowhere to go, she said.

There are also wild boars and other wildlife which residents see occasionally around the area.

Yuga said residents were unaware of the type of development taking place there as no signboards were put up by the developer.

Pertubuhan Perlindungan Khazanah Alam Malaysia (Peka) Selangor chairman Damien Thanam said approval for land clearing and development should have only been given after engaging with residents in the area.

There are very few forests left in Selangor and they must be preserved for our next generation.

With this development, wildlife in the area will migrate due to the presence of humans, machinery and pollution, he said, adding that this would force animals to move closer to housing areas, thereby creating human-wildlife conflict.

He also raised concerns that workers at the development site might catch these animals illegally either for consumption or wildlife trade.

When contacted, YCH Develop-ment Sdn Bhd project manager, who only wanted to be known as Chai, said the residents concerns would be addressed soon.

We have planned a meeting with residents and will also invite relevant government departments such as Drainage and Irrigation as well as Shah Alam City Council (MBSA), he said.

Chai said work at the site had commenced after obtaining all necessary approvals from the various authorities. However, the MCO kicked in two days later forcing the developer to stop work.

The company, he added, obtained approval to restart work after applying to MBSA and the International Trade and Industry Ministry last month.

Due to the MCO, we could not get our signboards done, which is why there is no signboard providing information at the site, he said, adding the 20.2ha development consisted of residential landed properties and there was no project name given to-date.

As for wild animals sighted in the neighbourhood, Chai urged residents to contact the Wildlife and National Parks Department (Perhilitan).

He assured residents that contractors would take proper measures to prevent soil or other debris from flowing into the river and lake throughout the construction.

We will filter the soil and other debris before water is channelled into the river, he said.

In previous reports, there were claims that the area in question had been gazetted as a forest reserve.

Asked about this, Chai said the area had been degazetted many years ago.

When we took over the land in 2011, it had already been degazetted for several years.

The Forestry Department came to the site a few times to ensure that we did not encroach into forest reserve, he said, adding that the boundary was more than 400m away.

Kota Anggerik assemblyman Najwan Halimi said the developer had obtained all the necessary approvals from the state, MBSA and other relevant authorities.

The developer must adhere to the rules set by the government and ensure that the issue of river pollution is addressed properly, he said when contacted.

The ongoing land clearing is not illegal. However, the developer must monitor its contractors closely to ensure work is done properly, he said.

MBSA corporate communications head Shahrin Ahmad said, The developer has obtained the green light from the city council, Forestry Department, land office, Selangor department of environment and other relevant authorities.

Developers have to adhere to the rules and contractors must follow the standard operating procedure given, he added.

Read the rest here:
Land clearing near Bukit Cerakah raises concerns - The Star Online

Throughout the course of its meeting held on May 19, the Rochester Conservation Commission moved to address a number of Notices of Intent filed by applicants seeking approval by the commission in order to go forward with project planning.

Up second were Paul Shamoian of Civil & Environmental Consultants and Dan Peters of SEMASS Partnership, who came before the commission in order to represent a Notice of Intent meant to act as retroactive approval for emergency tree trimming and tree removal that took place in March.

The tree trimming took place in order to protect overhead wires and fiberoptic cables that connect the SEMASS and Eversource switchyards. Shamoian explained that the majority of the lines run through the 25-foot no touch wetlands buffer zone. With that, he explained that the trimming and removal of trees had to take place in order to prevent catastrophe. A damaged line would put the plant down for weeks, Shamoian explained.

Commission member Christopher Gerrior expressed confusion as to why no one anticipated that trees intentionally added to the area might interfere with the power lines.

The trees were initially installed as a decorative enhancement, but they have grown to be a substantial problem, said Peters. Since we were requesting emergency work, we could not work beyond trimming to eliminate the hazard.

Vice Chairman Daniel Gagne mirrored the concerns put forth by Gerrior and questioned why the powerlines were not moved to a less hazardous location. Gagnes primary concern was that if more significant action is not taken, then this will be a recurring problem. Eversource should plan to move these lines, so that this does not come before us again in a couple years, Gagne told Peters.

After discussion with Peters and Shamoian, Chairman Michael Conway agreed that a plan was necessary to permanently resolve the issue. He suggested the addition of maintenance plan for the overhead wires to the NOI.

I believe, as a condition for Notice of Intent, SEMASS should issue an operating plan talking about how it is going to inspect these trees on a semiannual basis. Then they can provide that inspection to the conservation agent. We should get this over and done with once and for all, Conway said to the commission members.

The commission voted in favor of a motion of continuance on the issue to June 16 to allow time for such a plan to be prepared by the applicants.

Norene Hartley, who was heard first, met with the commission to determine if a proposed repair to a subsurface, sewage-disposal system would require the submission of a Notice of Intent. The repair to the system would require work to be done within the 100-foot buffer zone of a vegetated wetland.

Brad Bertolo of JC Engineering, representing Hartley, explained that this is only a project requiring an upgrade to an already existing system. Though the system is in close proximity to a wetland area, the new leeching facility will be introduced in the gravel driveway on Hartleys property and will not impact the wetlands.

After clarifying that the project was strictly a repair to existing systems, Rochester Conservation Agent Laurell Farinon recommended that the commission put forth a motion of a negative determination of applicability, meaning that no NOI would be required for the project.

The commission passed the motion, allowing the project to go forward without any further input from the commission members.

Rick Charon of Charon Associates, representing David and Janet Kielty, expanded on a NOI filed to request installation of an in-ground pool on 30 Bates Road, Rochester. Charon noted that the house in question is within the Sippican River-front area. Charon submitted an alternative analysis that provided the reasoning for how the current construction plan was adopted.

We get no closer than any existing structures would be, said Charon. Priority habitats are to the south of the developed area of the lot so it leaves the area that we are dealing with outside of that priority zone.

Farinon displayed images of the property to better explain how the potential plan would affect the property and the surrounding areas.

I see no reason why this project cant be done without adverse impact, Farinon explained to the commission members. My recommendation is to issue a positive order of conditions with the stipulation that a preconstruction meeting be held.

Satisfied with the plan, the commission voted unanimously in favor of a positive order of conditions.

In other business, Brian Wallaceof JC Engineering, representinga project at the Village at Plumb Corner, requested a determination of non-significance for a proposed plan to construct a gas line.The gas-line work would not require any additional land clearing to be completed.

Wallace described how the planned gas line would run alongside the roadway and that previous plans did not accurately demonstrate how the gas line would feed into each unit. The determination by the commission was necessary for Wallace to proceed with his application for construction with Eversource.

I think Mr. Wallace summarized this well. The limit of work for installation of the gas line is nothing beyond what the commission has already approved. It is my opinion that this is a minor change, said Farinon.

The commission determined that the changes were insignificant and allowed the plans to go forward.

The final Notice of Intent to be addressed at the meeting dealt with the construction of new canals and a solar system at the Eldredge Bogs. Sarah Stearns of Beals and Thomas, Inc. represented the NOI filed by Hank Ouimet of Renewable Energy Development Partners.

Stearns outlined that the building of a new canal is an exempt activity under current Wetlands Protection Act laws. The goal of the project is to build canals to improve the cranberry bogs operations, said Stearns.

According to Stearns, the intention of the NOI is to install a new form of solar array canopy above the canal. The solar canopy does not impede on farm operations and provides a renewable energy source to the bog. The proposed solar canopy is advantageous, because it requires no tree removal or the occupation of land that could be used for agricultural use. The idea is to not constrain farming operation by the addition of the solar project, Stearns added.

Gerrior questioned the impact that these canopies would have on the local wildlife that occupy the areas surrounding the canals. He hoped to determine positive and negative outcomes for wildlife and vegetation in these areas.

Research says that the height (of the canopies) allows for indirect and direct solar radiation to support vegetative growth, and the shading effect decreases water temperature which is an agricultural benefit, Ouimet explained to Gerrior. With that, Ouimet admitted that the novelty of the technology meant that he could provide no empirical evidence to support those theories.

The commission voted to request continuance of the issue to June 16. This came after the decision that the commission would conduct an on-site visit to the bog in order to better understand plans for construction.

The next Rochester Conservation Commission Meeting is scheduled to take place on remotely on Tuesday, June 2, at 7:00 pm.

Rochester Conservation Commission

By Matthew Donato

Go here to see the original:
Tree-Trimming Project Refocuses on Wires - Wanderer

Hokies land another Stroman

Another member of the Stroman family is going to be a Hokie.

Jalen Stroman, the younger brother of Washington Redskins cornerback and former Virginia Tech standout Greg Stroman, announced Friday on Twitter that he has committed to play football for the Hokies.

The 6-foot-1, 190-pound Stroman is a rising senior free safety and receiver at Patriot High School in Nokesville. He made the All-Region 6B first team at defensive back as a junior last season. He made the All-Cedar Run District first team at defensive back and made the second team as a receiver.

Stroman told Techlunchpail.com last month that his top three schools were Virginia Tech, Virginia and Duke. Hes rated the No. 49 safety in the high school class of 2021 by the 247 Sports composite rankings.

Greg Stroman made the All-ACC first team as a Tech cornerback in 2017. He was chosen by Washington in the seventh round of the 2018 NFL draft.

Jets bring in Flacco to back up Darnold

The New York Jets and quarterback Joe Flacco, the 2013 Super Bowl MVP with Baltimore, agreed to terms on a one-year deal.

The move to bring in Flacco gives third-year starter Sam Darnold a veteran backup, but one who is also coming off a herniated disk that cut short his only season in Denver and required surgery to repair.

Financial terms were not immediately disclosed, but ESPN reported the deal is worth $1.5 million and could reach $4.5 million with incentives.

Flacco, 35, spent his first 11 NFL seasons in Baltimore. He helped lead Baltimore to a Super Bowl victory over San Francisco to cap the 2012 season. Flacco was rewarded by the Ravens by becoming the highest-paid quarterback in NFL history at the time with a six-year contract worth $120.6 million.

Last winter, Flaccos time in Baltimore came to an end officially clearing the way for Lamar Jackson when the Ravens traded him to Denver for a fourth-round draft pick. Flacco started the first eight games for the Broncos, but injured his neck against Indianapolis in Week 8 and missed the rest of the season. He was waived in March.

Seahawks agree to terms with RB Hyde

The Seattle Seahawks pursuit of a veteran running back to add depth at a position that last year was decimated by injuries ended as the team agreed to a one-year deal with free agent Carlos Hyde, who gained 1,070 yards during a resurgent 2019 season with Houston.

The NFL Network reported that the 6-foot, 229-pound Hyde will get a a one-year contract worth up to $4 million, though likely also including some significant playing time incentives to get the entire amount.

Last season, Hyde made $2.8 million with Houston, playing in all 16 games as well as two playoff games, after spending the 2018 season with Cleveland and Jacksonville.

Hyde, who played for San Francisco from 2014 to 2017, gained just 571 yards on 172 carries in 2018 for a 3.3-yard per carry average before looking like his old self again last season after joining the Texans and averaging 4.4 per carry the same as Chris Carson did for the Seahawks.

The Seahawks have been searching since early in free agency for a veteran to reinforce their backfield with Carson and 2018 first-round pick Rashaad Penny coming off season-ending injuries.

Four-time Grand Slam winner Cooper dies

Ashley Cooper, who won four Grand Slam singles titles, including the Australian, Wimbledon and U.S. championships in 1958, died at 83.

A right-handed serve-and-volley player, Mr. Cooper added four Grand Slam doubles titles in the amateur era. In 1958, his only loss in the Grand Slams came in the semifinals at the French championships.

Osaka tops female earnings list

Naomi Osaka has been a Grand Slam champion and No. 1 in the WTA rankings and now shes No. 1 on another list: top-earning female athlete.

According to Forbes.com, the 22-year-old earned $37.4 million over the past 12 months from endorsements and prize money, eclipsing Serena Williams in that span.

Forbes said Osakas total is a one-year record for a female athlete, topping the previous mark of 29.7 million set by Maria Sharapova in 2015.

Osaka is No. 29 overall, with Williams at No. 33, on Forbes annual list of the 100 top-earning athletes.

Top recruit charged with attempted murder

A star high school football player is accused of trying to kill his ex-girlfriends boyfriend.

Luke Hill, 18, faces charges including attempted first-degree murder after allegedly firing gunshots that struck a home in Accokeek, Md., on Monday night, according to documents obtained by The Washington Post.

Hill, a defensive back who graduated from St. Frances Academy in Baltimore, had committed to play at Oregon, but Ducks coach Mario Cristobal told The Oregonian that he was cut from their program this spring.

ESPN reported Hills alleged target was Ishmael Leggett, a former classmate of Hills. Leggett is a 6-foot-4 guard who has committed to Rhode Island.

From staff and wire reports

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