Polk County Living
8A Polk County Itemizer-Observer • April 19, 2017
Mind your moss with prevention
Join us for Monica’s
50 & Fabulous Birthday Celebration,
Saturday, April 22, 2 to 4 p.m.
Murphy’s Grill 288 E. Ellendale Ave.
Dallas, Oregon
I.G.R.
(503) 351-0300
Insulated Glass Replacement
Are failed or foggy windows making
your house look shabby?
Give us a call for a FREE estimate.
www.IGRontheweb.com
Mobile Service Only • Free On-site Estimate
Charles DeKruyf, Owner
Licensed/Bonded/Insured
ORCCB #220588
West Valley Housing Authority will hold their
Work Session Meeting on Wednesday, April 26,
2017 beginning at 11:30 a.m. at 204 SW Walnut
in Dallas, Oregon. The Regular Meeting will be
held on Wednesday, April 26, 2017 at 1:00 p.m.
at 204 SW Walnut in Dallas, Oregon. An
Executive Session pursuant to ORS 192.660 will
be held immediately following the Regular
Meeting, if required.
Agenda for the meeting is posted on the Housing
Authority website at www.wvpha.org. The location
for the meeting is handicapped accessible. Please
advise the West Valley Housing Authority if you need
any special accommodations to attend the meeting.
For information, please call 503-623-8387, TDD
1-800-735-2900.
The Doctor is
The snow is melting and
summer vacation is just
around the corner.
Is your car ready for the challenge? Call
us today and we will perform a trip
check to make sure you get to your desti-
nation.
During a rainier-than-
usual winter and spring,
moss eagerly invaded lawns
and made itself at home.
The plush, low-lying
plant doesn’t get many neu-
tral reactions. People either
love it or hate it. Probably
more fall on the hate-it side
of the fence when it lands
in their lawns. That’s why
Alec Kowalewski, turfgrass
expert for Oregon State
University Extension Serv-
ice, gets so many questions
about how to get rid of the
flowerless plant that dates
to ancient times.
Before he gets into the
answers, Kowalewski breaks
some hearts.
“People have the idea
that if they put product
down to control it then
that’s the end of the story,”
he said. “There’s a miscon-
ception that once moss is
killed, it won’t come back.
But it will if you don’t
change the environment.”
Moss thrives in moist,
shady situations on com-
pacted soil, common con-
ditions in the western areas
of Oregon. When lawn isn’t
maintained properly, moss
moves in.
Keeping a nice, dense
stand of grass will keep
moss at bay. To do that two
things must change: soil
drainage and too much
shade. Grass doesn’t grow
K YM
P OKORNY
Your
Garden
well when the soil is com-
pacted and air and water
can’t get to the roots. And
no matter how many differ-
ent types of grasses you try,
they won’t succeed in shady
areas.
“Trees and grass don’t do
well together,” Kowalewski
said. “By changing the envi-
ronment, you can establish
a healthy lawn.”
The only solution is to
thin or take out trees. Once
that’s done, concentrate on
the soil. First get the moss
out. The easiest way to do
that is by renting a de-
thatcher and running it
over the lawn. Then rake up
the moss down to bare soil.
Moss roots are very shallow
so it doesn’t take much ef-
fort. If you don’t want to
rent a dethatcher, try using
just the rake.
If the soil is compacted,
use an aerator — also avail-
able at rental shops — to
open it up. Usually that isn’t
necessary except in high
traffic areas, Kowalewski
said. In fact, he’s never aer-
ated his perennial ryegrass
lawn, which is what most
https://flic.kr/p/itjn57
Moss will continue to invade lawn unless preventative
measures are taken.
people have in their yards.
“After removing the moss,
you want to make sure you
replace the area with sod or
grass seed if you want to
turn it back into lawn,” he
said. “Spring until Memori-
al Day is a great time to do
this as we enter into the
sunnier, warmer time of
year and moss growth slows
down.”
A fertilizing regiment
should start now, too. Using
an all-purpose lawn fertiliz-
er rather than just nitrogen
is the easiest way to go.
Though it may seem
counterintuitive, irrigation
is essential for controlling
moss. Why? Because you
can’t have a lush lawn with-
out it. And vigorous grass
will outcompete moss. Rec-
ommendations for watering
have changed, Kowalewski
said. Research now shows
that instead of 1 inch of
water once a week, lawns
should be irrigated several
times a week for a total of 1
inch. Apply about 1/4 to 1/3
inch three to four times a
week. During intense heat,
water even more often – up
to five times a week — but
not any more than 1/4 inch
in one application. Measure
with a rain gauge, plastic
cup or tuna can.
MI TOWN
Poets and song writers
have extolled the wonders of
Paris in the springtime for
generations now, and sip-
ping champagne from a café
located within the Eiffel
Tower is something never to
be forgotten. In these days of
overcrowded security lines,
airport delays and flight can-
cellations — not to mention
maxing out the credit cards
or saving for a trip that could
possibly turn quickly from
dream to nightmare — it’s
good to know that we can
make some perfectly won-
derful memories right here
in MI Town. We can savor a
delicious and downright
decadent brunch or take a
delightful picnic basket to
several of the local wineries
within our area, then share a
delightful morning or after-
noon with friends and fami-
ly. It doesn’t get any better
than this.
P ATTY
T AYLOR
D UTCHER
Columnist
—
We’ve survived another
Tax Day and can put memo-
ries of receipts, various
schedules and the rest of the
mound of paperwork away
for another year. It’s no fun
to pay the piper, and even
for those who are anticipat-
ing refunds, it seems like
there is so much money
g o i n g f o r g ov e r n m e n t
spending. When we take
into consideration the serv-
ices provided to all of us
with tax revenues, it makes
the whole thing a bit less
painful.
—
One amazing organiza-
tion worthy of support is
Polk County CASA, which
was featured in last week’s I-
O. I’m a member of one of
the Citizen Review Boards
that reviews cases of chil-
dren in foster care on a
monthly basis and can attest
to the dedication and care
that is given by CASA mem-
bers to children and their
families, that makes every
day better for all.
—
“Pride, Commitment and
Service to Others” is the
motto of our Polk County
Sheriff’s Department, and
the recent drug arrests re-
mind us that there is an al-
most overwhelming need for
support of law enforcement
in the ongoing battle against
drug abuse. We all can be the
eyes and ears in MI Town to
help children and families
who are affected by these in-
sidious crimes and offer as-
sistance to those who are in
need of treatment programs,
and can assist the police
whenever possible.
—
Who doesn’t enjoy a walk
down memory lane now and
then? Christine Lamb White
will speak at 7 p.m. next
Monday about “Gramma
Edie’s home that keeps call-
ing me home.” Ms. White is
the granddaughter of the
lady who lived in the house
on Third Street in Independ-
ence. You can learn more
about Independence history
at the Heritage Museum
presentation (entrance on
the river side) at the Inde-
pendence Civic Center.
—
Rain or shine — be sure to
stop by the farmers’ markets
in Independence this Satur-
day and see what’s available
this week.
PEDEE NEWS
- The Car Doctor
Celebrating 10 years of service!
The Car Doctor
Full Service Auto Repair 503-623-8570
760 Monmouth Cutoff Rd, Dallas • thecardoctor.vp.com
Recycle for a better future
Steve and Audrey
Cameron visited son James’
house in Milwaukie and at-
tended granddaughter
Eliana’s school program.
Then, last Sunday, James
and Eliana paid a visit to the
farm in Pedee, stopping by
to see Aunt Stephanie’s new-
born lambs on the way.
After dinner, Grandma and
Eliana had fun making East-
er cookies. The Camerons
appreciate daughter
Stephanie’s help in disman-
tling their old house. She
was on the roof last week
tearing down the old brick
chimney while her dad
shouted instructions from
down below.
A RLENE
K OVASH
Columnist
—
I just learned that at the
Kings Valley Charter School
science fair in March ,sev-
enth-grader Kyron Amerling
won the Director’s Award. A
year ago, Kyron had an acci-
dent in which he lost his vi-
sion in one eye, and so
based his project on how his
vision had changed after the
accident. He had his class-
Matinees are all shows
before 6pm. New pricing for
matinees are: Adult $8.00
Children $7.00 • Senior $7.25
Pricing does not reflect
3D showings.
Friday - Sunday • April 21 - 23
THE PROMISE (Digital) (PG13)
GIFTED (Digital) (PG13)
BEAUTY & THE BEAST (Digital) (PG)
UNFORGETTABLE (Digital) (R)
(12:35 3:35) 6:35 9:35*
(12:25 2:45 5:05) 7:25 9:50*
(12:45 3:50) 6:45 9:40*
(11:50 2:15 4:40) 7:05 9:40*
THE FATE OF THE FURIOUS (Digital) (PG13) (1:00 4:00) 7:00 10:00*
BOSS BABY (Digital) (PG)
(12:10 2:30 4:50) 7:10 9:30*
GOING IN STYLE (PG13)
(12:25 2:45 5:05) 7:25 9:45*
PHOENIX FORGOTTEN (Digital) (PG13) (12:40 2:50 5:00) 7:15 9:25*
*Not showing Sunday, April 23.
Monday - Thursday • April 24 - 27
THE PROMISE (Digital) (PG13)
GIFTED (Digital) (PG13)
BEAUTY & THE BEAST (Digital) (PG)
UNFORGETTABLE (Digital) (R)
second grade classes then
took a field trip to the Linn
Benton Food Share Ware-
house, where they sorted
the food that the school had
collected.
—
Diane Telfer and I each
entered quilts in the Mid-
Valley Quilt Guild quilt
show, which is Friday and
Saturday at the Polk County
Fairgrounds. There will be
around 200 quilts, plus a
vendor’s mall, so should be
fun to see. On Friday at
11:30 a.m., I will be giving a
demonstration on a fast way
to make nine-patch blocks,
in case it was always some-
thing you wanted to know.
COMMUNITY CALENDAR
Continued from page 9A
—
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 26
• Respite care — 1 to 3 p.m., 182 SW Academy St., Suite
216, Dallas. Free child care for parents who need time to run
errands, pay bills, etc. Free. Open for children ages 6 weeks
to 5 years. 503-877-8473 to reserve space. Diapers are pro-
vided.
• 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 communi-
ty members. 503-831-5634.
• Painting, Canvas and Cocktails — 7 p.m., The Boon-
docks, 318 N. Main St. Falls City. All supplies, paint, canvas
and instruction provided. No experience necessary. $30,
snack and cocktail included. 503-787-2700.
(3:35) 6:35
(2:45 5:05) 7:25
(3:50) 6:45
(2:15 4:40) 7:05
THE FATE OF THE FURIOUS (Digital) (PG13) (1:00 4:00) 7:00
BOSS BABY (Digital) (PG)
mates close one eye and
then the other, then keep
both open and then had
them bring pencils out arm
length to the side and then
bring them in and see how
far the pencils were from
each other. It gave everyone
a good idea on how he can
see. It was very intriguing
that Kyron had used some-
thing that happened to him.
—
Students at KVCS are col-
lecting good condition and
new socks for Union Gospel
Mission to give to the home-
less. They’ve also concluded
their food drive, and collect-
ed 600 pounds of food. The
kindergarten and the first-
(2:30 4:50) 7:10
GOING IN STYLE (PG13)
(2:45 5:05) 7:25
PHOENIX FORGOTTEN (Digital) (PG13)
(2:50 5:00) 7:15
E
RVIC
E
S
I
TAX
• 24 Hour Service
• Pick up Drop Off Get home safe, call your D.D.
Merlin D. Berkey
971-240-1208