Polk County Living
Polk County Itemizer-Observer • May 18, 2016 9A
Gardening problem? Call master gardener
When you’ve got a gar-
dening question, try tapping
out a local phone number
for a customized answer in-
stead of delving into the im-
personal Internet.
The one-to-one contact
could mean the difference
between success and failure.
At the other end of the
phone line in 28 counties sit
Oregon State University Ex-
tension Service Master Gar-
deners poised to solve your
gardening problems — or
help keep them from hap-
pening in the first place.
More than 3,000 volun-
teers have graduated from
66 hours of intensive train-
ing in topics from insect
identification to vegetable
gardening. They pick up
phones prepared to listen,
investigate and furnish in-
formation that’s been scien-
tifically vetted, according to
Gail Langellotto, statewide
master gardener coordina-
tor.
“Our tagline is ‘reliable,
reachable, relevant,’” she
said. “We get to know your
gardening situation and
provide customized advice
based on your location, your
preferences and your goals.”
Going to the Internet to
identify a plant or insect can
be problematic, Langellotto
noted. A gardener may no-
tice an insect that’s red and
black, search those parame-
ters and come up with a dif-
ferent insect.
“You may not be able to
distinguish differences in
the shape of the wing or
type of antenna,” she said.
“If the insect is misidenti-
fied, it could lead to apply-
ing a pesticide on some-
thing that’s not a pest. Or
you may kill something ben-
MILITARY
McCammon
K YM
P OKORNY
Matt McCammon graduated from the United States
Coast Guard Academy OCS program on May 4, receiving
his commission as ensign.
He will be assigned to San Juan Puerto Rico as a deck
watch officer on the U.S. Coast Guard fast response cutter
Joseph Tezanos.
McCammon graduated from Dallas High School in
2010, and from Humboldt State University in 2015. He is
the son of Bill and Diane McCammon.
Your
Garden
eficial for the garden. You
need the correct ID to solve
your problem.”
Wading through plant de-
scriptions online can be
onerous, too, said Brooke
Edmunds, an Extension hor-
ticulturist. Websites some-
times contradict each other,
and some offer only the
most basic or vague infor-
mation. Growing a plant
correctly depends on know-
ing its needs.
Does it do best in sun or
shade, moist soil or dry?
How much fertilizer does it
n e e d ? How a n d w h e n
should you prune it? Will it
grow too big for the planned
space or send out roots to
disturb the sidewalk? What
about cold and heat hardi-
ness? There are so many
questions.
By calling Extension mas-
ter gardeners and horticul-
turists like Edmunds, you’ll
get personalized informa-
tion based on your particu-
lar problems and needs, all
answered with a one-on-
one phone call instead of
time-consuming visits to
multiple websites.
“In my mind, that’s a real-
ly important place master
gardeners come into play,”
she said. “They stop and re-
ally figure out the situation.”
Edmunds pointed out
that the research-based in-
formation is appropriate for
all gardeners’ viewpoints,
whether they want to follow
organic tenants, prefer to
BIRTHS
Muranaka
PHOTO By LyNN KETCHuM
Calling an OSU Extension Master Gardener like Judi
Sanders will give you personalized answers to your gar-
dening questions.
use synthetic products or
fall somewhere in between.
“All options are present-
ed,” she said. “We’re show-
ing everything that works.
People can choose what fits
best into how they like to
garden.”
That those options are
based on science means
you’ll get data specific to
Oregon, Edmunds stressed.
The problems that arise and
plants that grow here can
differ widely from other
states, even from one part of
the state to another. Local
master gardeners are famil-
iar with regional gardening,
answer thousands of ques-
tions each year and quickly
get timely, accurate answers
to your questions.
“A lot of times people call
wanting verification of
something they’ve looked
up on the Internet,” Langel-
lotto said. “We use that as a
jumping off point for a con-
versation. We make sure a
person knows the questions
to ask to get the answers
they need.”
Master gardeners also
work directly with the public
at farmer’s markets, plant
sales, garden shows, county
fairs, demonstration gar-
dens, schools and correc-
tional facilities. Most coun-
ties offer a seasonal slate of
classes, too.
“There’s nothing like a
hands-on class,” Edmunds
said. “Say you’re new to
composting. You can read a
lot about it and find a lot of
advice online, but it’s differ-
ent than going to a class and
seeing what ‘wet but not
dripping’ compost looks like
and feels like and take that
information away.”
Check with your county
Extension office or call your
local Master Gardener hot-
line for information on
classes in your area.
Mak James Muranaka was born on May 7 to Kaitlin and
Maxwell Muranaka, of Salem, at the Salem Family Birth
Center.
Mak weighed 8 pounds, 4 ounces.
Grandparents are James and Kristin Gwyn, of Salem,
and James Muranaka, of Kahului, Hawaii, and Donna
Kaltenbach, of Salem.
Holzman
Cassius Corbett Riordan Holzman was born on April 27
to Lisa Riordan Holzman and Sam Holzman, of Mil-
waukie, at Providence St. Vincent Hospital, in Beaverton.
He weighed 6 pounds, 11 ounces and was 20 inches
long.
Grandparents are Wade and Carol Riordan, of Mon-
mouth, and James and the late Linda Holzman, of Beaver-
ton.
Anastasio
Kasey Clayton Anastasio was born on May 4 to Ashley
and Mathew Anastasio, of Salem, at Salem Family Birth
Center.
He weighed 7 pounds, 12 ounces.
Grandparents are Debbie Copas and Steve Lox, both of
Reno, Nev., and Patrick and Linda Anastasio, of Escalon,
Calif.
Rosales
Angelina Kira Rosales was born on May 6 to Ines A.
Medina and Angel D. Rosales, both of Independence, at
the Salem Family Birth Center.
She weighed 6 pounds, 2 ounces.
COMMUNITY CALENDAR
Continued from page 8A
MI TOWN
We’ve all survived yet an-
other Friday the 13th, full
moon and a primary election
that happened during the
past few days, so now it’s
time to move on to all the
other items on the various
lists around our houses
and/or work places. The an-
nual spring fever epidemic
has gotten to us all, with vi-
sions of the end of the school
year, summer music con-
certs in the park or at the
river, proms and graduations
and these wonderful long
spring and summer evenings
are so close.
—
MI Town’s state Rep. Paul
Evans will be sharing coffee
and conversations on Thurs-
day mornings at 7:00 a.m. On
the first Thursday of every
month, you can visit with
Paul at Rick’s Coffee House
P ATTY
T AYLOR
D UTCHER
Columnist
on Main Street in Monmouth
(next visit: June 2), and on
the third Thursday (next visit:
May 19) at Oven Bird Bakery
in Independence (Main
Street). These monthly visits
give us all opportunities to
share concerns and make
suggestions about legislative
issues, and to learn more
about the workings of our
state legislature. It also is a
good reason to enjoy great
coffee and goodies at two of
our very best local business-
es and a great way to begin a
busy day.
—
The good news is that
more local businesses are
hiring new employees, so
there are more jobs available
than in the past. With college
and high school graduations
just around the corner, many
students are looking for good
jobs in our area. The not-so-
good news is that many peo-
ple — and potential employ-
ers — have still not recuper-
ated from the recession that
caused financial ruin for so
many. Saying that good news
is just around the corner
doesn’t make it easier on
families who are facing fore-
closure, rent increases, and a
lack of a good job to provide
life’s necessities.
—
Last week’s Itemizer-Ob-
server featured a food bank
with nearly empty shelves.
Many folks are living as lean
as possible, and don’t have
very much to share with oth-
ers, but whatever is possible
to contribute would certainly
be appreciated by any local
organization that is helping
care for folks in our area. If
you have friend or neighbor
who needs a helping hand,
by all means do what you
can to help make things bet-
ter. Sometimes a hot cup of
coffee or a warm smile, a
bouquet of flowers from your
yard or a plate of fresh-baked
cookies can brighten the
darkest of days for others.
—
Looking ahead to sum-
mertime — the schedules for
the Rivers Edge (Indepen-
dence) and Music in the Park
(Monmouth) concert series
are coming soon.
PEDEE NEWS
The nice thing about
Mother’s Day is that every-
one does what they want —
no turkey or ham to cook,
no real expectations. Pete
and LaVerne Bennett and
family had a picnic at Fort
Hoskins. Marguerite and
Mel Nice went clam digging
at Seaside with friends from
Amity. Bill and Judy Dixon
went to the coast with their
family: daughter Rhonda
King, her son Cody, and his
son, 18-month-old Parker,
all from Salem. That’s four
generations!
—
Darrel and Shirley Mc-
Beth had a potluck at Dar-
rel’s mother Dorothy’s house
with the whole family. Gary,
Sandy, and Kimber were
there from Dallas, as well as
A RLENE
K OVASH
Columnist
Connie Ames and daughter
Renee and Connie’s son
Denny and Laurel McBeth.
And son Sam and Terry
Proctor came from down the
road. On Saturday, the day
before, Darrel and Shirley
and her sister Kathy Ronco
and husband Brad took her
mother, Elizabeth Stout
from Falls City, to Chen’s in
Dallas for their grand open-
ing. Said it was good.
—
Bill and Linda Chertudi’s
two grandsons Nick and
Ethan Unger helped Linda
with yard work the day be-
fore Mother’s Day, then that
night most the family was
there for a barbecue, includ-
i n g t h e b oy s’ p a re n t s
Michelle and Aaron Unger,
their daughter Emma, and
Bill and Linda’s daughter
and son-in-law Lisa and
Delmer Sisson from Salem.
—
Shawn and Trina Brother-
ton invited the Russells over
after church for a hike and
wiener roast. The kids, Kalina
and Kendan Brotherton, and
Allana, Alex, Abigail, Ahiyeh,
Winnie (Arwynne), and
Amaya Russell loved it all.
—
We got together with
daughter and son-in-law
Suzanne and Dave Burbank
for our usual dinner and
pinochle game. And for the
easiest of all, June Clark
brought KFC home because
her mother, 103-year-old
Betty Forry wasn’t feeling all
that well and chicken goes
down easy.
—
If you have activities that
will be fun (or not) to read
about, please email me at
kovasha@gmail.com. People
really want to know.
—
Don’t forget that the
Bethel Mountain Bluegrass
Band will be in concert at
the Pedee Church on Sun-
day, at 6 p.m. We’ll serve pie
and ice cream afterward.
They’re good, and so is the
pie, so don’t miss it.
2016 Summer
Celebration Programs
4TH OF JULY CELEBRATIONS
Publishes: June 29
SUMMERFEST Publishes: July 27
POLK CO. FAIR Publishes: August 10
BACK TO SCHOOL
TUESDAY, MAY 24
• Take Off Pounds Sensibly (TOPS) Club — 6 to 7 p.m.
weigh-in, 7 to 8 p.m. meeting, First Christian Church basement,
1079 SE Jefferson St., Dallas. Meetings offer programs and activ-
ities aimed at losing weight. Open to anyone. First meeting is
free.
• Overeaters Anonymous — Noon to 1 p.m., Salem Health
West Valley, 525 SE Washington St., Dallas. Support group meets
in the conference room immediately inside the front doors.
—
WEDNESDAY, MAY 25
• Helping Hands Emergency Food Bank — 10 a.m. to noon,
Monmouth Christian Church, 959 Church St. W., Monmouth.
For eligible community members; available every Wednesday.
541-404-6517.
• Gentle Tai Chi Stand or Sit — 11 a.m. to noon, Dallas
Aquatic Center, 1005 SE Lacreole Drive, Dallas. Free. Slow body
movements for improved balance, agility, flexibility and medi-
tation. 503-623-9715.
• Willamette Valley Food Assistance Program Food Bank
— 1:30 to 6:30 p.m., 888 Monmouth Cutoff road, Building E,
Dallas. Weekly distribution for eligible community members.
503-831-5634.
• Painting, Canvas and Cocktails — 7 p.m., The Boondocks,
318 N. Main St. Fall City. All supplies, paint, canvas and instruc-
tion provided. No experience necessary. $30, snack and cocktail
included. 503-787-2700.
• Brew and BS: The Old Testament — 7 p.m., St. Thomas
Episcopal Church, 1486 SW Levens St., Dallas. A lecture series
on the Old Testament. Bring brew of choice — coffee, tea, chai,
beer, wine, cider. 435-503-4304.
• American Red Cross Blood Drive — 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.,
Werner university Center, 345 N. Monmouth Ave., Monmouth.
www.redcrossblood.org.
You are cordially invited to the
Polk County Historical Society’s
May Tea
on Saturday, May 21st, 2016,
at 1:30 p.m.
We hope you will be able to join us.
Admission: $7.50 each
pchsoregon@gmail.com
polkcountyhistoricalsociety.org
503-623-6251
Monmouth~Independence Rotary Club
STRAWBERRY SALE
From the same club that has been doing this for over 25 years.
30 lb. Container of Fresh
Oregon-Grown Strawberries
$ 50
Yummy, stemmed,washed, sliced,
ready to eat, freeze or cook.
DEADLINE TO ORDER JUNE 1
PICKUP: INDEPENDENCE, DALLAS, or CORVALLIS
To place your order email:
Publishes: August 17
strawberry@mirotaryclub.org
HOP & HERITAGE FESTIVAL
or call: 503-838-6687
Publishes: Sept. 14
www.mirotaryclub.org
Please leave your phone or email.
We will notify you when they’re ready.
TO BENEFIT ROTARY YOUTH PROGRAMS
Call Heidi, Rachel or Karen to reserve your space now! 503-623-2373