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About Polk County itemizer observer. (Dallas, Or) 1992-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 30, 2015)
Polk County Itemizer-Observer • September 30, 2015 11A Polk County Living Spiders earn keep as pest control In corners and along baseboards, on ceilings and spun between shrubs, spi- ders crawl through our lives this time of year. “Spiders are on the move right now because they’re looking for a mate,” accord- ing to Gail Langellotto, an entomologist with Oregon State University’s Extension Service. “The domestic house spi- der is one that regularly makes its way into houses in fall and if you haven’t seen one in the past, it can be a startling sight,” she said. “If you include their legs, they’re about as big as a sil- ver dollar.” OSU Extension Master Gardeners have been getting questions about whether there are more spiders this year and if they’re bigger, Langellotto said. “There aren’t more spi- ders than usual and they aren’t larger,” she said. “Most likely, you’re just seeing a species you haven’t seen in the past.” Langellotto recognizes the fear some people have toward spiders but points out they have attributes, in- cluding their fascinating process of spinning beauti- ful webs and their predatory nature, which are important tools in the garden. “Plus, they’re just cool and awesome,” she said. “They don’t feed on plants; they catch and kill things. They are natural pest con- trols. I hope people will learn you don’t have to be afraid of them. If you have room in your heart and gar- den, don’t try to kill them with pesticides.” Even if you can’t bring yourself to like spiders, keep in mind they aren’t easily killed by pesticides. The amount and concentration K YM P OKORNY Your Garden needed is often higher than what’s necessary to kill in- sects, which poses greater risk to humans, Langellotto said. If they’re inside, sweep them up and escort them outside. In the garden, just leave them be and they’ll eventually make supper of each other or get eaten by reptiles and birds. For people who want to encourage spiders — and Langellotto acknowledges that doesn’t apply to every- one — she recommends adding more trees, shrubs and perennials to provide anchor points for web- building spiders to spin their webs. Spiders spin different types of webs, she said. Some build funnel webs, while others make sheet webs. Some have combs on their hind legs that they use to “back comb” silk and make a messy-looking tan- gle web. But it’s the classic orb weavers that people associ- ate with spiders. They dis- pense strands of silk, which fly through the air, hit some- thing and stick. Then the spider starts to fill in the middle, creating the intri- cate, lacelike webs that trap prey so efficiently. Although the silk is stronger than steel in terms of mass, and more flexible than a rubber band, it’s not difficult to swipe webs away as you walk through the garden. Of the 700 to 800 species of spiders in Oregon, only the black widow has the po- tential to cause serious a glossy black body with a distinctive red hourglass on the bot- tom of their rotund ab- domens. Male widows are more drab, slender and smaller. If you’re interested in having a spider identi- fied, bring it into your local OSU Extension of- fice. Make sure the spi- der is dead; kill them by placing in a container and putting it in the freezer. “Sp i d e r s a re n o t going to seek you out to OSU EXTENSION/for the Itemizer-Observer bite you,” Langellotto The garden spider is a common said. “They tend to be sight in the outdoors. shy and not aggressive. If you don’t bother harm to humans. This spi- them, they won’t bother der is found in the drier you.” areas of southern Oregon If you want to avoid both- and east of the Cascades ering them, here are Langel- more commonly than in the lotto’s recommendations for Willamette Valley. Hobo spi- keeping spiders at bay: ders, research shows, are not Wear gloves, pants and a poisonous to humans, but long-sleeved shirt when their bite may cause pain, handling firewood or stored redness and itching. Poison- boxes where spiders may ous brown recluse spiders have built funnel-shaped do not live in Oregon, ac- nests. cording to Langellotto. Seal holes around doors, Hobo spiders and house windows and outlets for spiders (both in the genus plumbing and wiring where Eratigena) look so similar spiders can find entry into that experts need a micro- the house. scope to tell them apart. Sweep webs from corners, Both are medium brown rock walls and under eaves. with a lighter chevron on Repeat as necessary. their upper abdomens. They Keep porch lights are usually found in dimly lit switched off as much as areas like boxes, closets, possible to keep from at- storage areas and wood- tracting flying insects that piles. make good prey for spiders. Another common spider, Or switch to yellow bulbs, the yellow and black garden which attract fewer night- spider (Argiope aurantia) flying insects. can be seen outside where it Place simple cardboard often sits conspicuously in sticky traps (without the use its orb web in open spaces of insecticide spray) along waiting for prey. baseboards and bed frames In contrast to the garden where wandering spiders spider, black widows (La- tend to move. trodectus spp.) build messy, Keep vegetation near mesh-type webs in out-of- house mowed or trimmed. the-way spots. Females have BIRTHS Gonzalez Cristian Lucas Gonzalez was born to Eduardo Gonzalez and Irene Rodriguez, of Monmouth, at 7:53 a.m. on Sept. 10 at Salem Hospital Family Birth Center. He weighed 7 pounds, 9 ounces, and was 19 inches long. Cristian joins Sophia, 8, Eduardo, 5, and Abraham, 3. Grandparents are Felipe and Norma Rodriguez, of In- dependence; and Sabas Arenas-Gonzalez and Leticia Rios, of Independence. Great-grandfather is Joseph Delgado, of Monmouth. Loewen Tucker William Loewen was born to Michael and Elise Loewen, of Dallas, at 4:42 a.m. on Sept. 19 at Salem Hos- pital Family Birth Center. He weighed 7 pounds, and was 20 inches long. Tucker joins Cooper, 3. Grandparents are Denny and Leslie Hogstrom, of Salem; Keith and Colleen Houghton, of Puyallup, Wash.; and David and Sandy Loewen, of Dallas. SUNDAY, OCT. 4 TH HOURS: 9-3 EARLY ADMISSION SUNDAY 6AM-9AM $5 REGULAR ADMISSION $1 ★ FREE PARKING ESPRESSO BAR PROVIDED BY JOIN US AT THE POLK COUNTY FAIRGROUNDS. WWW.POLKFLEAMARKET.COM POLKPRODUCTION@MINETFIBER.COM Matinees are all shows before 6pm. New pricing for matinees are: Adult $7.25 Children $6.75 • Senior $7.00 Pricing does not reflect 3D showings. Friday - Saturday October 2 - 3 MI TOWN With a simple turn of the calendar page tomorrow, it’s a new month and — let’s face it — a new season. No matter how much we want to cling to summer’s last remnants, Miss Autumn is here in all her glory, and we’ll have to depend upon the photographs, memories and souvenirs to remind us of those endless days of warmth and sunshine as we welcome cool mornings and crisp evenings to MI Town. — Our gardens are in need of clearing and cleaning up at this time of year, and it’s with mixed emotions that we dug out the squash plants the other day and added them to the compost area. There are only so many ways to cook zucchini, and I’m sure they were all tried P ATTY T AYLOR D UTCHER Columnist during the last several weeks. The tomatoes are still looking good, though, and if Jack Frost will stay away for a little while, we can enjoy them fresh from the vine. I’ve found that putting green tomatoes in sunny win- dowsills helps them ripen, and with any luck we’ll enjoy them for some time to come. — Thanks to Jolene Guz- man’s article on preparing for emergency conditions — specifically the 9.0 Cascadia subduction earthquake that is inevitable — it gives us all a kick-start reminder to get back to preparing supplies, foods, clothing and all those necessary items to keep our households going when all the city, county and state services won’t be available. It’s pretty easy to put togeth- er a container of Band-Aids, a wind-up radio and a cou- ple jugs of water and call it “good,” but we need to be ready for more than a cou- ple bumps and bruises, or water to drink for a day or two. — When we’re clearing out an area for our emergency supplies, it gives us the op- portunity and perhaps the incentive to pack up all those items that we are never going to use again and donate them to organiza- tions that can give them to people in need. You’ll get a tax donation, and it will feel good to discover and use that extra space in your garage or storage area. — Mark your calendars for this Saturday for the month- ly community breakfast from 8:30 until 10:30 a.m. at the Monmouth Senior Cen- ter. Friendly faces and happy cooks will serve a hearty breakfast consisting of sausage, eggs, pancakes, biscuits and gravy on the first Saturday of every month. The price is right: $6 for adults and children older than 12, $3 for children younger than 12. It’s a great way to begin a Saturday for busy people of all ages and a chance to visit with old and new acquaintances. PEDEE NEWS Marge Robertson’s grand- son, Josh Robertson, of Pedee, recently got engaged to Sarah Fast, of Dallas. Josh works for the city of Corval- lis, and Sarah teaches ce- ramics at Dallas High School. They plan to get married on Dec. 19 in Dallas and then live there. — Dorothy McBeth cele- brated her 94th birthday on Sept. 20 with a birthday party at the clubhouse. The place was full as friends and relatives came from near and far to wish her a happy birthday. Some people she hadn’t seen in years, so it was a happy event for her. This was her second birth- day party last week. — Since the weather for the second weekend in Septem- ber looked pretty good, June A RLENE K OVASH Columnist Clark took off on her motor- cycle-sidecar rig to pick up motorcycle club check- points. Down to Toledo for checkpoint, Newport for fabric, Yachats for check- point, Florence for fabric, Coos Bay for the evening and breakfast at her favorite place. Then off for the last checkpoint at a meat mar- ket and cafe in Cave Junc- tion and a quick return up Interstate 5. Can you tell she’s a quilter as well as a motorcyclist? — Judy Guida and a friend took an Alaskan cruise from Sept. 12 to 19. The weather was beautiful up there, too, so they were able to take side trips to see glaciers and other unique Alaskan sights. They went to a salmon bar- becue one day, and as they were eating (inside), a good- sized bear was cleaning the grill, and not with a wire brush, either. — Juandeane and Skid Skid- more’s daughter Teresa Fu- rutani came up from Los Angeles to spend four days with them. Among other things, Jeandeane and Tere- sa tried out a new recipe for truffles, which will possibly be included in the Pedee Women’s Club candy inven- tory for their Holiday Fair the second Saturday in No- vember. Club members started making their candy this week for the event. — This Saturday, Pedee Church is sponsoring a com- munity cider-making party at the church at 2 p.m. Bring clean apples (if you’ve got them), minus the worms, and some containers for cider. We’ll have a potluck meal to share and press ap- ples until we run out. — Norm and Donna Bald- win’s missionary daughter, Suzy Balwin-Noutehou, and her husband, Fidel, have been home on furlough since May and returned to Benin, Africa, last week. This was Fidel’s first trip to the U.S., and he got the grand tour since they spoke at churches in several states. They are missionar- ies to the Pendjari region of Benin. MAZE RUNNER SCORCH TRIALS (Digital) (PG13) EVEREST (Digital 2D) (PG13) EVEREST (NEC Dolby 3D) (PG13) HOTEL TRANSYLVANIA (Digital 2D) (PG) HOTEL TRANSYLVANIA (NEC Dolby 3D) (PG) THE MARTIAN (Digital 2D) (PG13) THE MARTIAN (Digital 2D) (PG13) THE MARTIAN (NEC Dolby 3D) (PG13) SICARIO (Digital) (R) WAR ROOM (Digital) (PG) BLACK MASS (Digital) (R) THE INTERN (Digital) (PG13) (12:50 3:50) (1:35 4:20) (12:20 4:50) (2:35) (12:20 3:25) (12:00 3:05) (1:30 4:15) (1:15) (4:00) (1:45 4:30) 6:50 7:05 7:05 6:30 6:10 7:20 6:45 7:20 9:40 9:35 9:05 9:50 9:30 9:55 9:15 9:55 Sunday October 4 MAZE RUNNER SCORCH TRIALS (Digital) (PG13) EVEREST (Digital 2D) (PG13) HOTEL TRANSYLVANIA (Digital 2D) (PG) HOTEL TRANSYLVANIA (NEC Dolby 3D) (PG) THE MARTIAN (Digital 2D) (PG13) THE MARTIAN (Digital 2D) (PG13) THE MARTIAN (NEC Dolby 3D) (PG13) SICARIO (Digital) (R) WAR ROOM (Digital) (PG) BLACK MASS (Digital) (R) THE INTERN (Digital) (PG13) (12:50 3:50) (1:35 4:20) (12:20 4:50) (2:35) (12:20 3:25) (12:00 3:05) (1:30 4:15) (1:15) (4:00) (1:45 4:30) 6:50 7:05 7:05 6:30 6:10 7:20 6:45 7:20 Monday - Thursday October 5 - 8 MAZE RUNNER SCORCH TRIALS (Digital) (PG13) EVEREST (Digital 2D) (PG13) HOTEL TRANSYLVANIA (Digital 2D) (PG) HOTEL TRANSYLVANIA (NEC Dolby 3D) (PG) THE MARTIAN (Digital 2D) (PG13) THE MARTIAN (Digital 2D) (PG13) THE MARTIAN (NEC Dolby 3D) (PG13) SICARIO (Digital) (R) WAR ROOM (Digital) (PG) BLACK MASS (Digital) (R) THE INTERN (Digital) (PG13) (3:50) (1:35 4:20) (4:50) (2:35) (3:25) (3:05) (1:30 4:15) (1:15) (4:00) (1:45 4:30) 6:50 7:05 7:05 6:30 6:10 7:20 6:45 7:20 Come to the FREE HOUSEHOLD HAZARDOUS WASTE COLLECTION EVENT! LUCKIAMUTE DOMESTIC WATER COOPERATIVE BOARD MEETING Monday 7:00 p.m. October 12th 503-838-2075 Location: Business Office 8585 Suver Rd. • Monmouth DATE: Saturday, October 10th, 2015 TIME: From 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. LOCATION: Independence Riverview Park (100 Main Street)__ SPONSORED BY: Polk County, The Cities of Dallas,_______ Independence, Monmouth and Salem