Home Builder Developer - Interior Renovation and Design

A $3 million bid package was awarded Wednesday for interior work in the ongoing $38 million renovation of La Salle-Peru Township High School.

The L-P board approved the contract for Phase 2 interior renovations. The bid package includes carpentry, $1,151,000, Vissering Construction Co., Streator; heating, ventilation and air conditioning, $799,800, A&R Mechanical Contractors Inc., Urbana; electrical, $774,643, JB Contracting Corp., La Salle; demolition, $130,225, Johler Demolition Inc., Lincolnshire; flooring, $129,934, TSI Commercial Floor Covering, Champaign; and painting, $68,929, Oosterbaan & Sons Co., Posen.

The board also approved change orders, $4,000, $48,000 and $3,500 for asbestos abatement; $35,000 for roof replacement; and a $3,500 credit for lockers.

Board member Alan Cherpeske asked if many local companies are bidding.

Were not getting a great showing from local companies. Were getting a lot of thank-yous but no thank yous, said Josh Warriner, senior project manager for Pepper Construction, Barrington, the projects construction manager.

Summertime bidding is competing against companies hectic work schedule, Warriner said. Much of the labor, however, is local, he said.

Work has begun on asbestos abatement and tuck-pointing. This summer includes window and roof replacement and interior renovation. Mobile classrooms are in the East Gym parking lot to handle classes displaced by interior renovation. The project also includes upgrading heating, ventilation and air conditioning, and mechanical systems. The $38 million project is expected to be completed in fall 2018.

Voters approved the renovation in a November referendum, 6,620 to 6,426, or 51 percent to 49 percent.

Jeff Dankert can be reached at (815) 220-6977 or lasallereporter@newstrib.com. Follow him on Twitter @NT_LaSalle.

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Bid for interior work approved at LP - LaSalle News Tribune

Steps Part 1 Getting the Right Materials

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Spread a layer of thin-set on the sub-floor with the notched trowel. Spread the mortar quickly, but also evenly. Use firm sweeping motions with the trowel.

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Wait until the next day to begin laying tile. In the meantime, you can prepare the reference lines to make sure the tile will be laid evenly.

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Cut tiles with a tile cutter or wet saw, if necessary, to fit along the wall. As you work toward the walls, you may not be able to use a perfect number of tiles. You may also need to make cuts for tiles that sit around toilets and other rounded objects in the floor.

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Allow the thin-set to dry for at least a day. Follow the instructions recommended by the manufacturer before grouting.

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Do I have to remove the vanity and toilet first?

wikiHow Contributor

It is best to remove both before laying the floor. The weight of either can make the floor unlevel, and it is easier for them to just be out of the way.

Do I need to take up the old floor of stick down tiles beforehand?

wikiHow Contributor

Yes. You need to remove the old tiles before putting in the new ones.

How long should I wait to tile after laying the concrete floor for tiling in the bathroom?

wikiHow Contributor

On average you should wait about a week, but it depends on the humidity level, thickness of the floor, etc.

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How to Tile a Bathroom Floor (with Pictures) - wikiHow

Beneath the grass of St. Bede Academy grounds lies a series of tubes no one ever mapped.

Work to reroute water and sewer lines during this summers phase of St. Bedes ongoing renovation and expansion project unearthed old pipes that were unaccounted for in any records.

Back in the day, when the monks wanted to do something, they grabbed a shovel and did it, said superintendent Ted Struck. Were coming across all kinds of buried stuff thats not on anyones paper. A one-week effort is probably going to take three.

Workers remove debris from a window on the third floor of St. Bede Academy. Construction is progressing on a new science wing on the north side of the building. The 16,000-square-foot addition is expected to be finished in 2018.

Mark Ward, an operator for Vissering Construction Co., said most of the pipes are old field tile.

It pretty much runs every which direction, Ward said. Most of them are running south down the hill. Where theyre starting from I have no idea. They could be coming all the way from Route 6. When you have low ground like this, you get tile coming in from everywhere.

Struck said some of the old pipes uncovered by Legacy Project work led to buildings that no longer exist, some still contained water and others were made from an unidentified, non-metallic substance.

The multi-million-dollar Legacy Project is a multi-phase renovation and construction effort. Preparation work is under way on a new science center and student commons that is expected to be finished in spring 2018.

Meanwhile, Greg Wiesbrock, project manager for Vissering, said its tough to tell the age of whats been buried.

God only knows when they were put there literally, Wiesbrock said.

The old pipes with no purpose are being capped, Struck said, and new teal pipes sit in front of the school and in the parking lot waiting to be buried.

The unexpected, undocumented obstacles will affect parking and pickup for various St. Bede camps in the coming weeks, including the STEM, math and football camps.

Alternative parking sites have not yet been chosen, Struck said, but signs will be present to direct parents and students.

The unexpected, old pipes wont have a big impact on other areas of the Legacy Project even this years other non-pipe-related work.

Delay caused by the pipes wont cause the rest of the project to drag because they are located outside of the main construction zone.

Doing the storm drainage and water pipes doesnt affect the people working inside the fence, Struck said.

Completion for this stage of the project, which includes construction of a STEM center and commons area, is still on target for completion in April 2018, Struck said.

The pipes also wont affect the completion of the other phases of the project, which will occur over the next few years and include the construction of a field house and further renovations to floors of the main school building.

By next week, all of the work to be done inside of the school building during this phase of the Legacy Project will be completed, and visible work on the stair tower will begin.

That work, Struck said, includes a safety egress and new restroom spaces on every floor.

Then, it will be time for foundation pouring and site work for the 16,000-square-foot science addition.

Those who attend Mass at St. Bede may have noticed its circle drive is smaller than usual.

The fence that designates the construction zone passes through the center of the drive, which visitors use during Mass, and in order to keep the drive usable, a change was made to the size of the circle.

We bisected the circle and made the circle smaller, Struck said.

There is a sign directing cars toward parking for Mass, and the new, smaller circumference will remain until spring, when work is expected to be finished.

The circle drive will be the way it is until completion, Struck said.

Ben Hohenstatt can be reached at (815) 220-6932 or perureporter@newstrib.com. Follow him on Twitter @NT_Peru.

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Undocumented plumbing does not mean delays as work moves forward at St. Bede - LaSalle News Tribune

WASHINGTON Major track work disruptions hit the Blue, Orange and Silver lines this weekend.

On Saturday and Sunday, there will be no trains between Foggy Bottom and Federal Triangle due to ceiling tile and other work.

Both the Farragut West and McPherson Square stations will be closed, and there will be no trains on the lower level at Metro Center.

Riders might also consider walking to open stations, because the total closure area is about 1.5 miles long.

The Silver Line is only scheduled to run between Wiehle-Reston East and Ballston-MU this weekend, so riders will need to transfer to and from Orange Line trains at Ballston-MU or East Falls Church.

Separate track work reduces Red Line service to every 20 minutes this weekend, but Red Line trains will serve Metro Center.

As a reminder, Metro now closes at 1 a.m. Friday and Saturday nights, but is only open from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Sundays. (Monday through Thursday, the system now closes at 11:30 p.m.)

Due to the track work, however, the last Orange Line and Blue Line trains will leave Virginia stations about 30 minutes earlier than the new schedule would typically call for.

The last Orange Line train from Vienna will depart at 11:49 p.m. Saturday and at 9:52 p.m. on Sunday. The last Orange Line train from New Carrollton will leave about 15 minutes earlier than usually scheduled, at 12:20 a.m. Saturday night and 10:20 p.m. on Sunday.

The last Blue Line train from Franconia-Springfield will leave at 11:55 p.m. Saturday and 9:55 p.m. Sunday. The last Blue Line train from Largo Town Center will leave more than an hour earlier than usual Saturday night, at 11:26 p.m., and 18 minutes earlier than usual on Sunday night, at 10:10 p.m.

Metros major shutdown is scheduled to be on the Red Line next weekend.

It is the first of four consecutive weekend shutdowns between Grosvenor-Strathmore and Friendship Heightsto test a new tunnel sealant.

Metro plans to continue significant track work on weekendsfor the foreseeable future.

The next 24/7 work zone that impacts rush-hour service is scheduled to shut down the southern end of the Green Line early next month.

Like WTOP on Facebook and follow @WTOP on Twitter to engage in conversation about this article and others.

2017 WTOP. All Rights Reserved.

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Weekend track work will affect Blue, Orange and Silver lines downtown - WTOP

Be cautious in hiring a contractor, but don't put the job off once it's necessary.

Roof replacement carries a significant cost, and it can't be put off once it becomes necessary. But the urgency of needing a new roof doesn't mean you should blindly hire the first contractor you interview.

HOW ROOFERS CHARGE

While you can replace your own roof, it's rarely a good idea. Without the right tools and experience, you'll likely make a mistake, which could reduce the lifespan of your roof and endanger the integrity of your home.

A standard 2,200- to 3,400-square-foot roof replacement with asphalt shingles will cost DIY homeowners between $2,000 and $6,000; professionals will charge $5,000 to $12,000 or more for architectural asphalt shingles. Roofers charge for their work by "squares." One 10-by-10-foot patch of roof makes a square. The average residential roof needs between 22 and 34 squares to be replaced.

Roofers charge labor for removing your old roof. A one-story roof with a single shingle layer costs between $100 and $150 per square to remove; a double layer, $115 to $165; and triple layer, $125 to $175. If you have a particularly high roof or one that's extremely steep, you will pay more.

ROOF INSTALLATION COSTS

Asphalt shingles, the most common roofing material, cost between $120 and $400 per square. You'll also pay for flashing, trim, vent covers and gutters. You can keep costs down by shingling over an existing roof, rather than replacing it. Roofers say that often lowers the lifespan of a new roof because they can't repair any damaged roof deck or apply newer synthetic membranes that offer superior protection against water and ice damage.

The cost of a metal roof ranges between $500 a square for lower-end materials to $1,800 for high-end copper. Homeowners usually select corrosion-resistant metal priced between $700 and $1,000 per square.

A natural slate tile roof can cost between $800 and $1,600 per square. But pros say the final tab for a slate roof can exceed $4,000 per square if the slate is high end and the installation pattern is intricate.

While the cost of a clay tile roof often ranges between $600 and $800 a square for an average sized home, the price can exceed $4,000 a square for premium grade, custom-made tiles.

HIRING A PROFESSIONAL ROOFER

Not all roofers deliver reliable performance. Finding a solid contractor means considering several factors.

First, a true roofing pro should be familiar with local building codes. They should know whether the jurisdiction or shingle manufacturer allows more than one layer of shingles and any rules governing underlay or shingle type.

Contractors should look for any existing damage to your home's structure, either from fire or water. If this isn't dealt with before a new roof is installed, it can necessitate frequent repairs, cause premature failure or void the shingle manufacturer's warranty.

Reliable roofers offer substantive guarantees for their work _ between five and 10 years on workmanship, which includes free repair of any defects due to improper installation. These typically cover leakage or total failure, but won't cover normal wear and tear, general maintenance, damage from weather such as hail or storms or bacterial and insect infestations. Some will offer 40-year or more warranties, but these usually apply to specific high-end roof products and require specific installation procedures.

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How much does a new roof cost? - GoErie.com

St. Lawrence County residents can apply for apprenticeships for sheet metal workers; painter, decorator and paperhanger; and linoleum, resilient tile and carpet layer.

Sheet Metal Worker

The Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee for Sheet Metal Workers, Local Union #58, will conduct a recruitment from Aug. 7, 2017 through July 02, 2018 for five sheet metal worker apprentices.

The five openings listed for sheet metal worker apprentices represent the total number for four recruitment regions, including the North Country.

Applications can be obtained from Local Union #58, 301 Pulaski Street, Syracuse, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the first Monday of each month, excluding legal holidays, during the recruitment period. If the first Monday of the month falls on a holiday, applications will be available on the second Monday of the month from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The committee requires that applicants:

Must be at least 18 years old.

Must have a high school diploma or a high school equivalency diploma (such as TASC or GED), including at least one year of algebra, Math I, or high school Regents Math.

Must provide DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, if applicable, after selection and prior to indenture.

Must attest in writing that they are physically able to perform the work of the trade, which may include:

Working from ladders at extreme heights.

Lifting heavy materials (up to 75 pounds).

Standing for long periods of time.

Working in confined spaces.

Working outdoors in all kinds of weather conditions.

Possible exposure to loud noises.

Wearing respirators, hard hats, and safety glasses, as required.

For further information, applicants should contact their nearest New York State Department of Labor office or Local Union #58 at (315) 472-4411.

Painter, Decorator and Paperhanger

The Finishing Trades Institute of Western and Central New York (Oswego) are conducting a recruitment from through March 2, 2018 for five painter, decorator and paperhanger apprentices.

The openings listed for apprentices represent the total number for both the Central and North Country regions.

Applications can be obtained on the Finishing Trades website, http://www.dc4.org, and mailed to: FTI of W & CNY, 585 Aero Drive, Cheektowaga, NY 14225. Applicants will be contacted to schedule an interview. Applications must be received no later than March 2, 2018.

The committee requires that applicants:

Must be at least 17 years old.

Must attest in writing that they are physically capable of performing the work of the trade, which may include:

Climbing and working from ladders, scaffolds, poles, and towers.

Crawling and working in confined spaces.

Lifting and carrying 50 to 100 pounds.

Walking fast on level surfaces.

May be required to pass a physical exam, including drug screening, at the expense of the sponsor, after selection and prior to indenture.

Must be legally able to work in the United States.

Must possess a valid NYS drivers license. Apprentices may be required to operate company vehicles.

Must have access to reliable transportation to and from various job sites and related instruction. Job sites are throughout western New York. Related instruction will be in Geneva, New York, at one-week intervals, four times each year.

Must provide military transfer card or discharge form DD-214, if applicable, after selection and prior to indenture.

For further information, applicants should contact their nearest New York State Department of Labor office or The Finishing Trades Institute of Western and Central NY at (716) 565-0112.

Linoleum, Resilient Tile and Carpet Layer

The Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee for Northeast Carpenters are conducting a recruitment through June 5, 2018 for five linoleum, resilient tile and carpet layer apprentices.

Applications can be obtained at the following locations and times:

Watertown - New York State Dept. of Labor Career Center, 1000 Coffeen Street, Watertown, NY, on the first Thursday of every month from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

This schedule is in effect throughout the recruitment period, excluding legal holidays. Applicants should be prepared to take a math and measurement computation test at the time of application.

The committee requires that applicants:

Must be at least 18 years old. A signed statement must be submitted at the time of application. Proof will be required after selection and prior to indenture.

Must have a high school diploma or a high school equivalency diploma (such as GED or TASC). A signed statement must be submitted at the time of application. Proof will be required after selection and prior to indenture.

Must sign a statement indicating that they are physically able to perform the work of a linoleum, resilient tile, and carpet layer, which includes:

Performing constant repetitive motions.

Standing, stooping, and kneeling for prolonged periods of time.

Working in all types of weather conditions, including extreme heat and cold.

Lifting and carrying objects over 50 lbs.

Must have reliable transportation to and from work and related instruction. A signed statement attesting to this must be submitted at the time of application.

Must live within the geographical jurisdiction of the Northeast Carpenters Apprenticeship Committee, which includes all counties in New York State except Nassau, Suffolk, Bronx, Kings, New York, Queens, Richmond, and parts of Rockland and Westchester.

Must provide military transfer card or discharge form DD-214, if applicable, after selection and prior to indenture.

Must pass a drug test, at the expense of the sponsor, after selection and prior to indenture.

Must participate in an interview, if selected.

Must be willing and able to attend related instruction at a Northeast Carpenters Training Center for four one-week periods, during each of the four years of apprenticeship.

For further information, applicants should contact their nearest New York State Department of Labor office or Northeast Carpenters Apprenticeship Committee at (585) 436-1110.

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St. Lawrence County residents able to apply for apprenticeships in sheet metal; painting, decorating, paperhanging ... - North Country Now

WHITESBURG, Ky. (WYMT) - Nearly six months ago, a water leak flooded portions of the Letcher County Courthouse.

The Circuit Court Clerk's office was so damaged they almost lost hundreds of case files being used in active court cases.

"We open our door to the office and it looks like Niagara Falls running down the side of the elevators", said Courtney Baker, Sanitation Billing Clerk.

Portions of the Letcher County Courthouse were flooded after a sprinkler line in the ceiling burst.

"So many thousands of gallons were just pouring from third floor, to second floor, and even eventually went into the jail", said Courtney Baker.

The office with the most damage was the circuit clerk's office.

"It did a lot of damage real quickly before we could figure out what was wrong and shut it off", said Larry Adams, Letcher County Circuit Court Clerk.

The damage from the flooding was so extensive, Adams said almost 300 court files were nearly destroyed.

"When I saw we had that many wet, to go back and reproduce from the beginning, and some of our files are thick in major cases, would be a nightmare", said Larry Adams.

Adams said all of the files were salvaged, however the office is still being repaired. Despite advice to shut the office down for a few weeks, he said he wanted it to remain open.

"I've figured out a way to reroute our computers and I've taken them over to driver's license. I will have extra personnel there so that I can stay open", said Larry Adams.

He said patience from the public is important while they work to restore the office to it's original state.

Several repairs are still being done in the office. Carpet is being replaced with tile in case the courthouse were to flood again.

Adams said all renovations to the circuit clerk's office should be completed by Wednesday.

Courthouse officials said that repairs to the rest of the building to protect it from mold will take place over the next month.

Read more:
Work continues at courthouse following flood - WYMT News (press release)

Posted: 9:54 a.m. Friday, July 07, 2017

JetSurf Academy ATX sells, rents and trains people to ride the boards, which are powered by a tiny engine.

The boards are independent; riders arent towed by a boat.

For those who want to surf but cant find a wave to catch comes a new option motorized surfboards.

Sound weird? Well, were Austin, landlocked surf capital of the universe.

Weve already got NLand Surf Park, and head to the lake any hot summer weekend and youll find people surfing the wakes behind motorboats. Now, thanks to JetSurf Academy ATX, you can hop on a surfboard with a tiny gas-powered engine tucked inside it and zoom around the lake like someone from a water-themed episode of the Jetsons.

Think personal watercraft crossed with a wakeboard, add a hint of dirt-slinging, engine-buzzing motorbike, and youve got the idea. JetSurf boards which look more like wakeboards than surfboards can attain top speeds of 35 miles per hour.

Wakeboarders and water-skiers have to hold onto a tow rope attached to a boat. Wake surfers can let go of that rope, but they still have to stick close by because they catch the wave it kicks up. Jet surfers, though, are independent. They can go wherever they want, no boat needed.

If you like water sports, its a combo of wakeboarding, wakesurfing, regular surfing and snowboarding and throw in motocross because you have an engine with power, says Kyle Ray, who recently opened JetSurf Academy ATX, where you can rent, buy and learn how to ride one.

I recently donned my bikini and life jacket and drove to Lake Travis so I could check out this latest alternative to driving to the Gulf Coast with a surfboard strapped to the roof of my car.

Ray, who operates a residential power washing business in Houston called Geek Home Services, moved to Austin two years ago. He heard about jet surfing, flew to Miami to visit the only JetSurf factory shop in the United States, tested one out, loved it, bought five and opened a business here in December. Now hes out at Lake Travis every Thursday through Sunday showing people how to ride them.

Its just exhilarating, he says. You control how fast you go and where you want to go.

JetSurf boards, which contain a hide-away removable gas tank and high-performance miniature engine, were developed in the Czech Republic in 2010. Four models are available, and theyre not cheap. Prices start at about $10,000, and racing versions will set you back more than $15,000.

A regular, non-motorized surfboard, on the other hand, can be had for $1,000 easy. (Of course, then you have to get the ocean and the waves, which might up your travel costs.)

The boards weigh about 30 pounds and are considered personal watercraft. That means you must be 18 or older to ride one.

When Jamie Naugle, a lead instructor for the academy, showed me how to fire up a motorized surfboard, it made me a little nervous. What if it got away from me? What if I face-planted? Could it run me over? Were there spinning blades ready to turn my shins into mincemeat?

Naugle jumped into the water while I stood on the dock. She inserted a magnetic key attached to a leash around her wrist into a hand-held throttle. After a five-second lag, the engine, which is encased inside the board and therefore cant cut you, buzzed to life. She scooched belly-first onto it, stood up quickly, placing first her back foot, then her front foot, into the foot cups.

Voila smooth, graceful and lickety-split, like a penguin popping out of the ocean and onto an iceberg. She zoomed around a cove near Anderson Mill Marina, cutting smooth arcs in the glassy water. Then she returned to the dock and stepped off into the water.

My turn.

Speed is your friend, Ray told me. The faster you go, the more it will plane out.

Ive tried surfing in an ocean exactly once, while on vacation in Hawaii. Ive also surfed the manufactured pond at NLand Surf Park east of Austin twice. I love watersports, though, and water-ski, scuba dive and swim regularly.

RELATED: Whats Pam LeBlancs perfect day of fitness?

I inserted the key, revved the throttle and suddenly it stopped. Id accidentally flooded the engine. Ray plopped a different board in front of me. I revved the engine and the board dragged me down the lake a little ways, like a dog with an old towel. I managed to lug myself onto the board, wobbling a lot. Still, I stayed on it for at least 10 seconds, until the board bucked me off like a horse with a burr under its blanket.

Naugle, following alongside on a Jet Ski, glided up to make sure I was OK. I was. After that, I had no trouble getting on the board and buzzing slowly around the cove. After 20 or 30 minutes, I could manage wide left-side turns. Right-side turns took more practice.

After a while Ray climbed on one of the boards and we whizzed around the cove together. He leaped over waves and kicked up a spray as he cut sharp turns. He and Naugle both want to go pro and compete in the MotoSurf World Cup, where racers are timed as they weave through a buoy-marked course.

My verdict? Fun stuff. No men in gray suits (sharks), no stinging jellyfish. But no wide open ocean, no waves and no luscious salt spray, either.

Just dont think of it as surfing, and it makes a little more sense.

IF YOU GO

For more information about JetSurf Academy ATX or to make reservations, go to jetsurfatx.com. Cost is $125 for first-time riders and $85 for repeat riders and includes onshore education and training for new riders, one hour of ride time and support from a supervised trainer on a Jet Ski ($60 for a 30-minute discovery session). Sessions are available starting at 9 a.m. Thursday through Sunday.

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Next wave of watersport adventure? Jet surfing! - MyStatesman.com

LAMBERT, Mont. In the days before European settlers, the prairie turnip dotted the landscape, a tumbleweed jewel planted by the harvesting activities of Plains tribes, whose mothers taught their children that the five-fingered leaves would point the way to another plant.

On the surface, that seems like its just a nice little story told to occupy children, but over time and observation Kelly Kindscher, with the University of Kansas, came to realize that the advice holds true. The leaves do tend to line up with the prevailing winds, and since the plant becomes a tumbleweed, its future offspring are bound to follow a trail of wind to new homes.

Kindscher led an ethno-botany seminar as part of the Montana Native Plant Societys annual meeting held this year in Lambert, talking about how native plants were used by the Plains tribes both for food and medicine, and sharing folklore he has spent a lifetime collecting. He has written two books about the topic, one on edible prairie plants and the other on medicinal prairie plants.

The prairie turnip was among the stars of edible plants on the prairie, but today its numbers have dramatically declined. Thats not just because of shrinking habitat, though. Kindscher believes that the harvesting process of the Plains tribes actually helped the plant reproduce.

When Plains tribes took the roots, they would set the flowers with seeds back into the hole theyd dug. The following year that pre-dug site would yield new prairie turnips in greater abundance than if theyd not been harvested.

These roots were such an important food source that buffalo hunts were planned around where the women would be able to gather the plants.

Today they are hardly known other than in dry history texts, but they are perhaps worthy of more notice and use. Being a member of the bean family, they can fix nitrogen, and could serve as a valuable companion in the garden. They have been observed to manage growth even in rugged, rocky soil that is difficult to dig with a pickaxe, and so might be useful in cover crop mixes to help lighten soils while at the same time adding nitrogen. The roots can be eaten, so they are a fun lesson for children, too.

To dig these roots, Native Americans used sharpened sticks with points hardened by fire or augmented with deer or elk tines. While it was generally the women who did this, it was obviously not an easy job.

Native American names for the prairie turnip ranged from the Osage dogoe, which means potato, to the Blackfoot name mas or elk food, and the Dakota tipsinna, derived from their name for wild rice, which was a staple in their diet until the prairie turnip replaced it.

The plant is perennial, with a deep tap root that likes undisturbed prairies, hay meadows and well-managed pastures, but it can grow in even dry and rocky, often limestone, soils yet still provide an edible root, if harvested in the right time frame.

The roots should be harvested in late May to July, just after the flowers blossom. But dont wait too long after that. The leaves and stem soon become dry and brittle, breaking off into a tumbleweed that carries the seeds away from the root, thus hiding it.

The prairie turnip was described in the Lewis and Clark journals as being esteemed in all seasons, and gathered for winter storage. Its roots were peeled and cut into shreds to dry in the sun. Braids of prairie turnips were valuable. They could be traded by the Dakota for shelled corn. About four braids to a burden basket of shelled corn, which meanwhile was itself worth a handsome Buffalo robe.

Another particularly important plant of the time was the chokecherry, often a principal ingredient of pemmican, and today North Dakotas state fruit. The latter is all thanks to a group of Williston students, who put together research on the importance of this fruit to both the Plains Indians and settlers, and convinced the Legislature to adopt it as the official fruit.

Williston, meanwhile, is gearing up for the annual Chokecherry Festival that celebrates not just the ingenuity and creativity of present-day children, but of the ingenuity of yesteryear as well, which found a way to use this bitter fruit in important and palatable ways.

This fruit was so valued that the Dakota named the month of July, in which the cherries ripen, Chanpa-sapa-wi, which translates to black cherry moon.

To make pemmican, they took the whole berries, seeds and all, and crushed them on a stone, then dried them in the sun. The heat treatment helped to rid the crushed berries of traces of cyanide that came from the seeds.

Choice cuts of buffalo meanwhile were dried and then heat-treated over a fire to make them soft and oily. This was then pounded on a stone until fine.

Marrow was added to the pounded, dried meat along with the crushed chokecherries, a food that even Europeans highly valued. Given that it was dried meat and fruit coated with lard to keep out air, it was a food that would last years without spoiling.

Sometimes, leaves from wild mints were added to flavor the pemmican mixture, or other berries like serviceberry could be used, but chokecherry was most common, and did not taste astringent once processed in this manner.

Another important and highly distinctive berry of the plains was the buffaloberry, which with the help of prairie turnips could be made into a pleasing pudding. This is a small tree with bluish leaves and grey limbs bearing bright orange fruits and be careful sharp stickers.

George Catlin, who painted many scenes of the region during the early settler days, mentions this shrubby tree favorably in letters he wrote, suggesting the berries would be good for making wine, and extolling their appearance in a landscape.

This shrub, which may be said to be the most beautiful ornament that decks out the wild prairies, forms a striking contrast to the rest of the foliage, from the blue appearance of its leaves, by which it can be distinguished for miles in the distance, he wrote. The fruit which it produces in such incredible profusion, hanging in clusters to every limb and to every twig is about the size of ordinary currants and not unlike the in colour and even in flavor; being exceedingly acid, and almost unpalatable until they are bitten by the frost of Autumn, when they are sweetened, and their flavour delicious.

To gather these berries, hides were placed on the ground under the tree and it was beaten with sticks after the first frost a perfect way to avoid the stickers. The berries could be placed in water to separate them from brush and leaves.

Read more:
Plants of the past: Native species topic of seminar - Williston Daily Herald

Attic Insulation, Garage Door & Closet Organizer Systems and More in Nashville, Louisville, Houston & Throughout the Southeast

When homeowners in the southeastern United States need a new garage door, closet organizer system, fireplace, shower door, or any other type of home improvement product, they turn to the experts at 31-W Insulation. Since 1972, weve provided residents of Tennessee, Kentucky, Texas, and surrounding states with the first-rate home improvements they need and the fast, friendly service they deserve. While we initially focused solely on meeting our customers insulation needs, we now provide products for your entire home, from new doors and faux rocks to seamless gutters and bath accessories. Rather than having to turn to a different contractor for each project, you can count on the experts at 31-W Insulation for all of your home improvement needs.

Our team of more than 600 talented professionals is highly trained to ensure your garage door, attic insulation, fireplace, or any other home improvement product is impeccably installed. Plus, we have the expertise to help you select the items that meet your practical needs and suit your aesthetic preferences. Because we install all of our products and never utilize the work of any subcontractors, you can trust that youll always receive the service and attention to detail were well known for in San Antonio, Greensboro, Columbus, Tampa, Atlanta, and surrounding areas.

At 31-W Insulation, our goal is to provide our customers with superior products and exceptional services without sacrificing quality. We apply this philosophy to each and every one of our projects, whether the customer is having a whole-home remodel performed and needs everything from attic insulation to closet organizers and fireplaces, or the customer is simply in the market for a new garage door. Along the same line, we are committed to only installing products that have been manufactured by leading brands, such as Amarr, Owens Corning, CertainTeed, Moen, Linear, and others. This gives our customers the peace of mind that their investment will prove worthwhile for years to come.

Were proud to offer complimentary in-home estimates for homeowners in Knoxville, San Antonio, Greensboro, Cincinnati, and throughout the southeast. To begin the exciting process of making your home improvement dreams become a reality, contact us today to schedule an appointment for your estimate.

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Closet Organizers & Remodeling - Attic Insulation, Garage ...