Julian Lopez | photo from Cook County Sheriff's office

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Updated: April 11, 2014 10:16PM

Four people have been charged with beating and robbing an Oak Lawn man last Sunday in an unincorporated area of Palos Township, according to Cook County sheriffs police.

The 19-year-old victim met a woman and was led to a garage in the 12900 block of 83rd Court, where at least three men beat him with a metal object, kicked him and stole cash from him, police said.

They said the attackers left, and the man went to a hospital for treatment of his injuries where police were called.

An investigation of the incident led to charges of robbery and aggravated battery against Julian Lopez, 23, and Alex Ryan, 22, both of Worth; Manuel Juarez, 24, of Burbank; and Nicoletta Tzinares, 18, of Palos Park, sheriffs police said.

Bail was set at $250,000 for Lopez; $300,000 for Ryan and $100,000 for Tzinares, who was released after posting a 10 percent bond. Juarez, who is also being held on a previous drug-related case, was ordered held without bail, police said.

Sun-Times Media Wire

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Four charged with beating, robbing Oak Lawn man

It seems people are getting a bit impatient for spring to arrive. Reports from the WSU Spokane County Master Gardener Clinic say folks are wondering why lawns havent greened up yet, when to uncover hibernating plants and why many ponderosa pines in the area are turningbrown.

To the first one. The early grasses are starting to green up. Unfortunately, most of them are the very cold tolerant bulbous and annual bluegrass and cheat grass at this point. These grasses will sprout and set seed before the middle of May and then go dormant. Lawn grasses like Kentucky bluegrass

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PAT MUNTS photo

Several fungi are infecting the regions ponderosa pines and causing older needles to turn brown this spring. The trees will shed the needles so there shouldnt be any long termdamage. (Full-size photo)

It seems people are getting a bit impatient for spring to arrive. Reports from the WSU Spokane County Master Gardener Clinic say folks are wondering why lawns havent greened up yet, when to uncover hibernating plants and why many ponderosa pines in the area are turningbrown.

To the first one. The early grasses are starting to green up. Unfortunately, most of them are the very cold tolerant bulbous and annual bluegrass and cheat grass at this point. These grasses will sprout and set seed before the middle of May and then go dormant. Lawn grasses like Kentucky bluegrass and the fescues generally dont start growing until the soil temperature reaches about 45 degrees. We are getting close to that; I measured 45 degrees in my raised beds last weekend. As we wait, now is a good time to apply an organic, slow release fertilizer to the lawn so it has some nutrients to get started. It is also a good time to aerate the lawn to allow that fertilize deep into thesoil.

Its probably safe to remove mulches from roses and perennials. Remove mulch carefully from the plants so you dont damage new shoots. Spread the mulch around the garden bed to reduce weeds. Lightly fertilize the perennials with a balanced all-purpose fertilizer. Trim back rose canes to green wood and remove thin and closely spaced canes so you have about four to six well-spaced canes in a fan shape. Remove any new growth below the graft point. This growth is from the root stock which characteristically produces rank growth and ugly flowers. Apply a good rose food and work it in gently to the surface of the soil so you dont disturb surfaceroots.

Many ponderosa pines in the region have developed brown needles over the winter. Take heart, they arent dying. According to local forestry experts, they have been infected with a series of fungi that are turning the older needles on a branch brown. If you look closely, you will see tiny black dots on the needles. This is a reaction to last springs cold, wet weather. Trees often take several months, even years to show a reaction to severe weather conditions. The trees will eventually shed the brown needles and continue growing so there is no need for a treatment of any kind other than a healthy dose ofpatience.

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Its time to green up those thumbs - Sat, 12 Apr 2014 PST

Dont look now, American Canyon homeowner, but your lawn is out to get you. In fact, both lawns, front and back, are conspiring to do you in even as you read this. Your plots are plotting.

Right now those innocent looking green expanses are arguing over the method of homicide and which of them gets to bury the body.

Currently, the consensus is for stabbing: After all, lawns have plenty of blades. But poisoning is also an option. Over the years, your lawn has collected lethal quantities of pesticides and weed-killer.

But, you protest, what have I ever done to my lawn to deserve such malevolence? I love my lawn. Dont I feed it, water it, trim it, and remove unsightly weeds?

Its not what youve done, grasshopper, its what youre going to do.

The lawns motivation for this murderous plan is the same as that of megalomaniacal supercomputer Hal 9000 in 2001: A Space Odyssey: self-preservation.

Grass isnt as green as it looks. The old sod knows about your plan to let it die of thirst this summer. The lawn is planning to strike first, before it gets too withered.

Dont deny it, you know its true. The drought is going to force you to choose between you taking a shower or letting your lawn have it. I dont know about you, but I view a shower as a daily necessity, especially in warm weather. And while its a matter of comfort for you (and those around you), to the lawn its a case of survival.

And as much as you might try to share a cup for you, a thimbleful for the lawn at some point you will realize you are only prolonging the agony. You know how it is with grass: Give it an inch, it takes a yard.

And as the summer wears on, the choices are likely to get even more difficult.

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A murderous plot, or revenge of the lawn

Lawn Care Question and Answer with The Lawn Care Nut
This is a live hangout we did with two of my friends and took live questions from the audience. We talked everything from spring lawn care to lawn care busin...

By: The Lawn Care Nut

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Lawn Care Question and Answer with The Lawn Care Nut - Video

Gardening Tools Maintenance and Restoration (2) by Jim McColl, MBE
In Part 2 of "Gardening Tools", Jim McColl, MBE, talks about lawns and associated gardening tools, and advises on lawn treatment in the Spring. This was filmed at the 8th Annual Trellis Conference...

By: IvyCottageIndustries

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Gardening Tools Maintenance and Restoration (2) by Jim McColl, MBE - Video

After Oak Lawn Township supervisors stated they were opting out of paying for a street project on the jurisdictional line with Brainerd, city council members were considering their options.

Pastors at Faith Baptist Church, which is in Oak Lawn Township, also wondered how they would be affected if the township does opt out. The question is who is going to pay and how that is going to be divided up, said Council President Dale Parks.

The state statute that addresses such streets with shared jurisdiction noted either party can petition the county board for dispute resolution.

The council voted 4-2 to have the city attorney start the process on the dispute resolution and to find out if the city can go ahead with half the property in Oak Lawn Township. Council members Gary Scheeler and Chip Borkenhagen were opposed. Council member Dave Pritschet was absent.

Waiting to fix the road comes with its own expenses in trying to maintain it, said City Engineer Jeff Hulsether.

At issue is 28th Street, between Oak Street and Highway 25. The total project cost is estimated to be $419,000 with $147,000 assessed to property owners in Brainerd and $42,750 charged to Oak Lawn Township.

Council member Kelly Bevans asked if the township opts out if the city is left picking up those costs. Bevans also questioned if the city could pave the street without Oak Lawn Townships consent. Bevans said he was reluctant to go forward without having those questions answered.

Council member Mary Koep said she thought Oak Lawn Township was in favor, at least for the street, but didnt understand why they were opting out now.

I dont think Ive heard anybody say that road doesnt need to be done, Koep said. ... Im really puzzled tonight.

Koep said she couldnt vote for it and lay the assessment on the people of Brainerd. We cant assess the church because they are in Oak Lawn.

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Shared street project hits dispute as township wants to opt out

Cambridge News Follow us on

Tuesday 8 Apr 2014 9:11 AM

Written byADAM WOOLCOTT AND JONATHAN SMITH

Violas flowering their socks off

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We absolutely love spring! Its a truly amazing time of year; our gardens are bursting forth with new life and new promises of beautiful blooms and bountiful harvests. The soil is warming up, there are new leaves on the trees and the sun is less of a stranger and what makes this particular spring so special is that it follows one of the wettest winters on record.

Everywhere there are signs of life, the daffodils still look spectacular and the forsythia is in full bloom bringing back much needed colour into our gardens. If you can dodge the showers and brave the wind, now is the time to get back out into the garden and re-discover the joy of gardening. Hooray!

First of all give your lawns a much needed treat. Already they are starting to throw off their winter yellows as the grass starts to grow but give them a boost with a lawn feed and weed treatment. You can get these from any DIY store or garden centre. Just remember not to cut your grass 3 days before the treatment and not to cut if for a least 3 days after and if doesnt rain it will need watering in. This gives the treatment time to work and reduces any possibility of scorching. After a fortnight any moss will go black and start to die so rake it out, re-seed any bare patches and the remaining grass will turn green again. If you dont want to use chemicals on your lawn, just rake the moss out but leave some of it in piles for the birds to use for lining their nests.

You can probably mow the grass every 10 days or so now and reduce to weekly cuts as the month goes on.

While we are talking about the grass, we always think its a good idea to get the edging sheers out or a sharp spade and re-edge the grass as this keeps the edges nice and neat and shows off the flower beds to better effect.

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Full of the joys of spring

After Your Treatment
Here are some tips to help with side effects and a smooth recovery.

By: Centracare

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After Your Treatment - Video

What Lawn Treatment Best Suits Your Needs? PRO Member - TruGreen Offers Answers!
Lawn Treatments - so many to select from...PRO Member TruGreen, America #39;s Lawn Care Experts, where Your Lawn Means More - has been the leader in lawn care fo...

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What Lawn Treatment Best Suits Your Needs? PRO Member - TruGreen Offers Answers! - Video

Guest columnist Mark Bennett writes in favor of conventional lawn care methods. He is executive director of the Ohio Lawn Care Association.

The Ohio Lawn Care Association is a collective group of hundreds of professional lawn care operators from across the state. Every day, OLCAs members treat turfgrass in a number of settings including golf courses, parks, commercial and residential lawns. Strong, healthy turfgrass is a critical piece in helping our environment.

The Ohio State University Department of Horticulture and Crop Science has found that turfgrasses play an important role in preventing soil erosion, controlling dust and improving water runoff by holding the soil in place. Healthy turf has the ability to absorb and conserve water, filter water and prevent run-off, which is why turf is often used on slopes, roadsides and around parking lots.

Since turf is a perennial and stable ground cover, it slows storm water runoff reducing soil erosion potential and also improves the likelihood of the water infiltrating down through the soil, which improves groundwater recharge. Run-off and erosion of soil is considered to be one of the primary causes of nutrient contamination in our water systems.

How much extra energy would be used to cool a home if it werent for turfgrass? Again, the OSU Department of Horticulture and Crop Science has found that lawns are, on average, 30 degrees cooler than asphalt and 20 degrees cooler than bare soil in summer. Turfs cooling effects are also easy to feel. The EPA states the annual mean air temperature of a city with more than 1 million people can be 1.8 to 5.4 degrees warmer than its surroundings, and in the evening the difference can be as high as 22 degrees. This phenomenon, also known as the heat island effect, can increase summertime peak energy.

Dr. Marty Petrovic, of the Department of Horticulture at Cornell University, has stated that judicious use of pesticides and fertilizers are needed for more than a cosmetic reason to keep a lawn dense and healthy. Products that enhance turfgrass health, including fertilizers and materials that control lawn pests are safe and effective when applied according to the material label directions. The application safety of lawn care materials is further enhanced when applied by lawn care professionals that follow application best practices, including:

Maintaining a 3-foot buffer strip of untreated turfgrass that abuts streams, ponds, or lakes.

Applying the right material, at the right rate, at the right time, for the right purpose.

The primary material applied to residential and commercial lawns is fertilizer, most of which is now phosphorous-free. Newer lawn care materials are becoming more readily available that have extremely low use rates and/or have extremely low toxicity rendering them nearly non-toxic.

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Chemical treatment of lawns is beneficial if used properly: Ohio Lawn Care executive