A16 Wednesday, March 25, 2020 HOOD RIVER NEWS | Hood River, Ore. hoodrivernews.com LEVY: Despite pandemic, commissioners agree that levy question can’t wait continued from A1 answered: One, is this the right measure and two, can it possibly wait.” Hood River County has enough reserve funding to maintain existing service lev- els through the end of the fiscal year, June 2020; but if the county has not secured additional funding by then, they will have make service reductions, primarily within public safety. Benton explained that, due to the county’s financial sit- uation and the necessity of keeping enough staff to man- age an emergency response, he felt the answer to both of those questions was “no.” The other commissioners said that they agreed. “Come July, we’ll have to make cuts,” said Commis- sioner Les Perkins, “So if we don’t pass funding now, our credible services that we pro- vide to the county are going to be cut to a point where we just can’t function the way that we need to.” Said Commissioner Karen Joplin, “I think the county may be called upon to assist in ways that we don’t yet know, and I feel compelled that we have to put the mea- sure on the ballot and try.” “The way I see it, it doesn’t matter if we pull this now or it fails, the result of that is going to be devastating for our county,” said Commissioner Rich McBride, “The only way forward that can save us from these cuts, which will have impacts years into the future … is to run this as well as we can.” More information on the measure is available on the county’s website, www.co. hood-river.or.us. Photo by Emily Fitzgerald CHAIRS set up 3-feet apart in a county conference room to promote social distancing during the special meeting. TRASH TALK Q. Where do I dispose of sharps QA Photo by Shari Bosler P LANT S ALE C ANCELED The Central Gorge and Wasco County Master Gardener As- sociations have decided to cancel their Annual Plant Sales that were scheduled to take place on May 9. Pictured is last year’s sale at the Central Gorge Master Gardener green- house in Hood River. Each Master Gardener Association came to this decision to protect Master Gardener volunteers and community members during the COVID-19 pandemic. “The Central Gorge and Wasco County Master Gardner As- sociations thank you for your past patronage of our Annual Spring Plant Sales and hope to be able to provide you with high quality, locally grown plants again in future years,” said a press release. Information about virtual plant clinics will be available soon. containers? Riane, Hood River A. Riane, used sharps pose a potential health danger. So we really appreciate that folks properly dispose of them. There are several free drop sites for sharps in our area. Sharps must be in an approved red sharps container. The three drop sites are: Hood River Transfer Station, The Dalles Disposal, and the Moro Medical Clinic. questions to: (541)-506-2636 www.tricountyrecycle.com The Four Cs © 2020 by Vicki Whiting, Editor Jeff Schinkel, Graphics Vol. 36, No. 16 You know you have a birthDAY. Did you know you also have a birthSTONE? A special gem stone has been selected to be the birthstone for each month of the year. Topaz Pearl Aquamarine Sapphire Amethyst Diamond Emerald 1. Find the month you were born in the box below. They are valued by their cut, color, carat and clarity. 2. Next to your birthday month, there are two symbols. The first symbol shows you which horizontal line to follow on the Intergalactic Gem Stone Locator Grid. The second symbol tells you which vertical line to follow. Cut 3. The gem at the point where the two lines meet is your personal birthstone! Garnet Ruby Standards Link: Math: Measure time using calendars. Reading Comprehension: Follow simple written directions. Opal Peridot Diamonds are the hardest natural materials known and they are the most popular of all the gemstones for jewelry because of their brilliance. They can only be scratched by another diamond. Turquoise Standards Link: Research: Locate information through interview and investigation. The most common cut is known as the “brilliant.” This has 58 facets or surfaces and the light reflected in the surfaces splits into the colors of the rainbow. Color AQUAMARINE GARNET AMETHYST B I R G A R N E T S A P E R I D O T U D DIAMOND M T R H S E T O R I EMERALD E N I R A M A U Q A PEARL T Y H N L E E Z U M RUBY H B P E A R L A O O PERIDOT Y U P S P A Q P I N SAPPHIRE S R A U O L I O S D OPAL T M S N O D A T E T TOPAZ TURQUOISE Standards Link: Letter sequencing. Recongized identical Most diamonds contain some color and the most common are shades of yellow or blue. A colorless diamond is both rare and expensive. Carat A carat is a measurement of weight. 142 carats make one ounce. A diamond that weighs a full carat is worth more than one that weighs slightly less. Clarity A completely clear diamond is said to be flawless but that is rare and most diamonds have spots or bubbles. words. Skim and scan reading. Recall spelling patterns. Ruby – red Peridot – light green Sapphire – blue Opal – blue and green and white Topaz – orangish yellow Turquoise – light blue Each birthstone has a special meaning. To find out, do each math problem, put your answer on the line next to each gem and then find the answer in the list on the right. 13 7 4 4 15 16 - - + + - - 9 2 3 4 6 5 = = = = = = Garnet Amethyst Aquamarine Diamond Emerald Pearl 18 9 11 2 8 16 - 16 = - 6 = - 10 = + 4 = + 2 = - 4 = Help the spaceship reach the planet. Ruby Peridot Sapphire Opal Topaz Turquoise 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. Fact and Opinion Good thinking Contentment Married happiness Dependability Sincerity Hope Courage Innocence Love Loyalty Health Success A newspaper publishes both facts and opinions. Look through the newspaper for three examples of each. Discuss with a parent how you can tell the difference. Standards Link: Reading Comprehension: Distinguish between fact and opinion. Look through the newspaper for words that attract you to read more. The words could be used to attract you to an ad or a story. Can you find five? Use these words to write a story. Standards Link: Vocabulary Development: Recognize words and phrases that show rather than tell events. Diamonds and Gems I am brilliant because … Finish this story. Standards Link: Visual Discrimination: Identify similarities and differences in common objects. ANSWER: B & C. Garnet – purplish red Amethyst – purple Aquamarine – greenish blue Diamond – white Emerald – green Pearl – white