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An annual explosion of toxic algae threatens to aggravate the Ohio communities along Lake Erie again this summer.

Keeping Western New York from suffering the same fate brought Sen. Charles E. Schumer and local environmental leaders to the Erie Basin Marina today as they called on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Department of Agriculture to intervene and regulate the suspected causes of the toxic blooms.

The harmful algal blooms cyanobacteria that harm the skin, liver and nervous system in humans have inundated western Ohio and southern Ontario in recent years, closing beaches, shuttering water treatment plants and harming pets and wildlife.

Lake Erie is one of Western New Yorks greatest resources for tourism, recreation and for healthy drinking water, Schumer said. But toxic algae blooms threaten to greatly undercut the value of this resource.

The senator called on the EPA to regulate cyanotoxins and provide help and guidance to local water treatment plants in testing and filtering the toxin from drinking water. Thats something both Canada and the European union have already done.

Schumer also urged the Department of Agriculture to designate the Great Lakes as a Critical Conservation Area, a new designation in the 2014 Farm Bill. That would provide farms federal funding and assistance to help them prevent runoff from their farms that scientists cite as the top contributor of phosphorous and, with it, algal blooms to Lake Erie.

If we do these two things, we can get a handle on this problem before it becomes a nightmare, Schumer said.

Jill Jedlicka, executive director of the Buffalo Niagara Riverkeeper, said, We dont want whats happing in Ohio and Michigan to happen in New York State.

The toxic pea-green substance, which has largely been a problem in the lakes shallow western basin from Toledo to the Lake Erie islands in Ohio, hasnt landed on New York shores yet. But it cropped up for the first time last year in Presque Isle Bay in Erie, Pa.

Although its too early in the season to gauge how bad the algal blooms could be this summer, scientists say historical data shows that when precipitation is high during the spring months, it usually leads to more algae in the lake later in the year. The chief culprit, scientists say, is agricultural runoff from the 4 million acres of the Maumee River watershed straddling Indiana, Ohio and Michigan.

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Politicians, environmentalists warn of Lake Erie algal blooms

An annual explosion of toxic algae threatens to aggravate the Ohio communities along Lake Erie again this summer.

Keeping Western New York from suffering the same fate brought Sen. Charles E. Schumer and local environmental leaders to the Erie Basin Marina today as they called on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Department of Agriculture to intervene and regulate the suspected causes of the toxic blooms.

The harmful algal blooms cyanobacteria that harm the skin, liver and nervous system in humans have inundated western Ohio and southern Ontario in recent years, closing beaches, shuttering water treatment plants and harming pets and wildlife.

Lake Erie is one of Western New Yorks greatest resources for tourism, recreation and for healthy drinking water, Schumer said. But toxic algae blooms threaten to greatly undercut the value of this resource.

The senator called on the EPA to regulate cyanotoxins and provide help and guidance to local water treatment plants in testing and filtering the toxin from drinking water. Thats something both Canada and the European union have already done.

Schumer also urged the Department of Agriculture to designate the Great Lakes as a Critical Conservation Area, a new designation in the 2014 Farm Bill. That would provide farms federal funding and assistance to help them prevent runoff from their farms that scientists cite as the top contributor of phosphorous and, with it, algal blooms to Lake Erie.

If we do these two things, we can get a handle on this problem before it becomes a nightmare, Schumer said.

Jill Jedlicka, executive director of the Buffalo Niagara Riverkeeper, said, We dont want whats happing in Ohio and Michigan to happen in New York State.

The toxic pea-green substance, which has largely been a problem in the lakes shallow western basin from Toledo to the Lake Erie islands in Ohio, hasnt landed on New York shores yet. But it cropped up for the first time last year in Presque Isle Bay in Erie, Pa.

Although its too early in the season to gauge how bad the algal blooms could be this summer, scientists say historical data shows that when precipitation is high during the spring months, it usually leads to more algae in the lake later in the year. The chief culprit, scientists say, is agricultural runoff from the 4 million acres of the Maumee River watershed straddling Indiana, Ohio and Michigan.

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Politicans and environmentalists warn of Lake Erie algal blooms

Philadelphia, PA (PRWEB) May 05, 2014

Lawn envy season is upon us and many Philadelphia homeowners are wondering why the neighbors lawn is a green carpet while their lawn is a weedy mess. The answer may be as simple as better growing conditions or more likely that the neighbor is taking the right actions to build and maintain lawn health. From proper mowing and watering to advice on treating problem areas, Giroud Tree and Lawn provides the Top 10 Lawn Service Tips to help homeowners get a lawn that is the envy of the neighborhood.

Every lawn is unique, says Mike Taraborrelli, Lawn Care Manager with Giroud Tree and Lawn and PA Certified Lawn Applicator. Soil and other growing conditions can vary radically between neighbors or even different areas of the same lawn. As a result, lawn care protocols need to be customized to fit the specific requirements of each lawn.

Giroud Tree and Lawn recommends taking the following actions: 1.Lawn Inspection: Get a full evaluation by a lawn service with PA Certified Lawn Applicators. The inspection should include testing soil conditions, evaluating lawn problem areas and determining the best course of action. 2.Fertilize at the Proper Time: Since every lawn is different, treatment must be customized to fit each lawns specific needs and growing conditions. 3.Control Weeds and Crabgrass: Having a thick, healthy lawn is the best control since weeds tend to thrive in thin or bare areas. Control crabgrass and weeds with a selective herbicide that will not harm turf grass. 4.Insect and Disease Problems: Outbreaks should only be treated if the problem actually exists. If confirmed, proper timing of treatments is critical. 5.Planting for Sun vs. Shade: Dont fight Mother Nature, work with it.

About Giroud Tree and Lawn Giroud Tree and Lawn specializes in tree service, tree removal and lawn care programs that make customers love doing business with the company since 1974. Serving Bucks, Montgomery and Philadelphia Counties, the company offers professional tree and lawn evaluation, tree pruning, tree removal, insect and disease control, fertilizing, stump removal and traditional and 100% organic lawn programs to keep lawns healthy and green . Giroud Arborists are certified by the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) and have the knowledge and experience required to properly diagnose, treat and maintain trees and lawn health. The company is Accredited by the Better Business Bureau and has been awarded the Angie's List Super Service Award every year since 2005. The Giroud Treework for Charity program donates free tree care services to parks, historical sites and other non-profit organizations located in the Companys service area. For more information, visit the company website at http://www.giroudtree.com or call 215-682-7704.

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Having the Best Lawn in the Neighborhood Takes More Than Just Mowing, Watering and Fertilizing According to the Top 10 ...

By TOM ODULA and ELIAS MESERET Associated Press

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia (AP) - Government troops captured a rebel stronghold and took back control of another town, sending rebels fleeing toward the Ethiopian border, a South Sudanese military spokesman said Monday. Fighting around the important oil town, however, was still being reported.

The government offensive comes just days after South Sudanese President Salva Kiir told U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry that he was ready to hold peace talks with the rebel leader, former Vice President Riek Machar. But a spokesman for Machar's negotiating team in Ethiopia told The Associated Press on Monday that Machar first wants a "program" that includes a timeline for the formation of a transitional government as well as its composition and structure.

"The Americans are pushing us to go to Juba and form an interim government. We cannot go there without an agreement on a program first. We need to know who will be in that transitional government, in what capacity, for how long and issues like that," said the spokesman, Yohanis Musa Pouk.

Government troops have taken over the rebel base of Nasir, in the Upper Nile state and re-captured the capital of the oil-producing Unity state, Bentiu, from rebel control, Col. Philip Aguer said.

Bentiu was taken after a day-long exchange of fire Sunday with an unknown number of casualties, Aguer said. However, a security official in South Sudan who insisted on anonymity said reports indicated fighting around Bentiu is still ongoing.

Nasir was the rebel headquarters from where the rebels were mobilizing to attack the town of Malakal, Aguer said. He said Machar and his troops are now somewhere near the Ethiopian border. Pouk said that Machar is still inside South Sudan but he added that Machar will meet with Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn "very soon."

Kerry met with Kiir on Friday in South Sudan's capital Juba and afterward announced during a press briefing that Kiir had expressed willingness to meet with Machar. Kiir then flew to the Kenyan capital of Nairobi where he met with Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta and Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni and announced that he is willing to hold the talks with Machar to discuss how to end the conflict in South Sudan.

South Sudan has been rocked by violence since December, when Kiir accused Machar of staging a coup. Thousands of people are believed to have been killed and 1 million people have fled their homes due to the conflict. A peace deal signed in January has failed. With few residents tending crops, U.N. officials say the country faces a severe risk of famine in the months ahead.

The violence is increasingly taking on an ethnic dimension between Kiir's Dinka community and Machar's Nuer community.

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S. Sudan govt: Troops capture 2 towns from rebels

The reason for hill landscaping may vary from aesthetic to utilitarian, this may certainly add visual interest to your garden if you differ contours and levels or make risky steep hill easy to navigate by altering the grade.

Make hill's improvement is a fairly simple job on a site that is pretty much flat but the slope of a hill may be severely slopped and this may make special problems for the landscaper. The most significant of them is that the slope may carry water where you wouldn't prefer it to go and could produce swampy areas in the yard, typically at the base of the hill's slope.

Landscaping A Slope Ideas:

Moderate Slope. Slopes from 1-foot vertical to 4 feet horizontal (25%) to 1 foot vertical on 3 feet horizontal (33%). Gradients of that type generate banks where only hand movers are handy. Plant grass where reachable. Keep away from single specimens of trees and shrubs on these grades in grass due to the problems of mowing around them - utilize only in groups or bed plantings. Try showing bed line or mowing limits.

Steep Hill. Slopes from 1 foot vertical to 3 feet horizontal (33%) to 1 foot vertical on 2 feet horizontal (50%). Gradients of that kind form banks where only hand movers are not easily manageable. While dealing with a severely sloped site keep in mind to consider where you want excess water to flow. It may not matter on a large lot, because there is plenty of space for it to move through but if it's a small lot - be wary of adjacent properties, vegetation and existing catch bases.

If the area you are landscaping in has a steep slope, build terraces or steps made of logs or old railroad ties across the slope to divert water away from slopes and prevent soil erosion. Between the steps, spread a thick layer of wood chips to protect the soil. If the slope is gentle, seeding grass may be enough. Use splash guards on gutter outlets to help reduce erosion at the foundation of your home.

Severe hill landscaping. Slopes 1 foot vertical to 2 feet horizontal (50%) and steeper. Vegetation and plants, including grass and groundcovers, are difficult to establish and demand frequent and skilled maintenance to prevent erosion and unsightliness.

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Hill Landscaping From Easy To Severe Slopes

HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) Dorry Clay, a small business owner unable to save for retirement, is counting on the Connecticut legislature to establish a state-run retirement savings account accessible to millions of workers.

Lawmakers in Connecticut and other states are responding to a widespread loss of private-sector pensions, a lack of access to employer-sponsored retirement accounts in smaller businesses and stagnant incomes that make it hard for workers to contribute to their own retirement plan or company account.

The measures vary in their details, but the general aim is to establish a retirement fund in a state agency that would collect employee contributions, invest the money and pay out benefits when employees retire.

Financial services businesses are fiercely lobbying to defeat the proposals, calling the proposed state-run enterprises unnecessary and a threat to private business. Opponents already have claimed one victory this year, knocking off a public retirement system proposed in the West Virginia Legislature.

Clay, 54, says her savings ran out after she lost a job and was diagnosed with cancer. Now, as a business owner, she says she has "no feasible way" to save for retirement and worries she'll have to work into her 70s.

"You can do everything right, go to school, be talented, work and things happen," she said.

Catherine Ernsky, president of the Connecticut financial planning firm Ernsky Group, said financial planning services can tailor retirement plans without the state's help.

Business lobbyists also are fighting the proposal, with the Connecticut Business and Industry Association putting the legislation at the top of its list of legislative targets. Lou Tashash, owner and president of R-D Manufacturing Inc., a precision sheet manufacturer employing 14 workers in East Lyme, sees it as a burdensome mandate.

"We already have a system in place that Connecticut is proposing. It's called Social Security," he said. "Why does the state feel it has to do something that's already on the federal level?"

Details still are being worked out before Connecticut's legislative session ends at midnight Wednesday. Gov. Dannel P. Malloy supports the ideals behind the bill, a spokesman says, but his administration is negotiating with legislative leaders "on the best way forward."

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States seek a spot in retirement plan landscape

Photo by HANDOUT

The Upper Garden at George Washington's historic home of Mount Vernon is shown in full bloom. (Mount Vernon/Newport News Daily Press/MCT)

Photo by HANDOUT

Mount Vernon's gardeners used this heavy stone roller to firm and flatten the soil of the bowling green, making the grass easier to cut. They also rolled the gravel in the serpentine paths, crushing and killing any weeds that might have popped up and maintaining a uniform surface. (Mount Vernon/Newport News Daily Press/MCT)

Photo by HANDOUT

The lower garden at George Washington's historic home of Mount Vernon provided produce that was frequently used to feed the Washington household. (Mount Vernon/Newport News Daily Press/MCT)

Photo by HANDOUT

George Washington drew up these notes and plans for a Ha-Ha Wall at his Mount Vernon estate in 1798. (Mount Vernon/Newport News Daily Press/MCT)

As a young surveyor and before serving as our country's first president, George Washington developed the ability to measure up a landscape and to take advantage of its natural features. He also had an eye for spatial awareness, and learned by observation, by reading, and by the study of new styles of landscape design.

Later, he put those skills to use creating a landscape plant for his now-historic home, Mount Vernon in Fairfax, Va., along the banks of the Potomac River, according to Mount Vernon curators.

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Diggin' In: Landscaping at Mount Vernon

A train trip from Sydney to Perth aboard the Indian Pacific is poetry in motion.

Those familiar with Dorothea Mackellar's My Country will feel it come to life, almost line by line, during the four day, three night journey.

In the harbour city, a whisker before 3pm on a Wednesday afternoon, the adventure begins.

From the bar carriage with a G&T in hand (yes open bar) watch Sydney whip by before the train climbs through the majestic Blue Mountains.

Some parts were bushfire ravaged in October, but already the trees are sprouting new shoots.

Kangaroos bound along side the train as the landscape changes to rolling grazier fields.

The train passes herds of what crew members dub summer cows - "some are black, some are red, some are white and some are brown."

As the sun sets, and the train nears Parkes, bound for Broken Hill, it's dinner time in the grand dining cart - the Queen Adelaide restaurant.

It's a delightful opportunity to get to know your fellow traveller.

The gentle jingle of cutlery punctuates the excited chatter.

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All aboard for a train adventure

Exhibition in London will focus on the trials and tribulations of Lakeland hill farmers

11:00am Sunday 4th May 2014 in News By Allan Tunningley

THE real life trials and tribulations of hill farmers in Cumbria will be revealed in a major London exhibition this year.

Billed as one of the most far-reaching explorations of upland life, the Land Keepers project will be shown at the Royal Geographical Society in November.

It marks the culmination of three years research by writer Harriet Fraser and her photographer husband Rob.

The aim was to look beyond Lakelands chocolate box image to discover the reality of life for those mostly closely connected to the world-renowned landscape.

Backed by funding from the Lake District National Park Authority (LDNPA), DEFRA and the European Union, the pair have been chronicling the reality of upland farming in the early part of the 21st Century.

Harriet said it had been a compelling and valuable exercise, throwing up information which could influence and help policy makers in the future.

Not only have we learned a huge amount about hill farming practices and culture, we have seen a wide variety of demands on the uplands and the challenges many in the farming community are facing, she said.

Weve heard widespread concern for a sustainable future for the industry and practical ways to ensure rich biodiversity in the national park.

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Exhibition in London will focus on the trials and tribulations of Lakeland hill farmers

Brisbane QLD Tree lopper and Land Clearing Services
Brisbane QLD Tree lopper and Land Clearing Services - Call Performance Arboriculture Today on 1300 885 755 Visit us online at: http://www.treelopper.com.au S...

By: Performance Arboriculture

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Brisbane QLD Tree lopper and Land Clearing Services - Video