Polk County Living
Polk County Itemizer-Observer • June 28, 2017 7A
Consider the options when buying a lawn mower
Considering the 80 mil-
lion home lawns in the
country, there are a lot of
people buying lawn mow-
ers.
How you choose between
rotary, reel and electric
models has to do with your
situation and preferences,
said Alec Kowalewski, Ore-
gon State University Exten-
sion turfgrass specialist. All
three have their pros and
cons.
Rotary and electric mow-
ers, which have one blade,
cut like weed wackers with
the blade spinning in a cir-
cle. Reel (push) mowers, on
the other hand, are de-
signed with two blades that
slide across each other and
cut like scissors. Both do a
good job, Kowalewski said.
“The reel mower is going
to be a cleaner cut,” he said.
“But that doesn’t have that
big of an effect on grass. It
takes a really dull rotary
mower to make much of a
difference. A sharp rotary
mower will produce just as
good of grass as a reel
mower.”
The lesson is to keep
mower blades sharp, no
matter the type. Rotary
blades are easier to main-
tain because the blades de-
tach. Reel mowers, on the
other hand, don’t have re-
movable blades so they
have to be taken to a profes-
sional for sharpening.
Mulching mowers, which
tend to be more expensive
than others, are also on the
market. They cut grass into
smaller pieces than other
mowers, which makes leav-
ing clippings behind an
easy task. But any mower
will do the same if the lawn
is cut often and left tall.
“Instead of bagging up
clippings, consider leaving
them where they fall,
Kowalewski said. “They
break down quickly and re-
supply much-needed nitro-
gen. The more often you
mow, the easier this is to do.
Kibbey — 25th
K YM
P OKORNY
Your
Garden
Don’t, however, leave
clumps of clippings sitting
on the lawn.”
When you buy a mower,
he recommends doing
some research and buying
the best you can afford.
Check to see if the brand
you’re considering has a
commercial version. That
quality translates to the
homeowner models. There
are many on the market,
but a few recommended
brands are Toro and Honda
and Jacobsen.
https://flic.kr/p/nJvGbG
There are pros and cons to each type of mower so choose
the one best for you.
For more information
about caring for lawns, refer
to Extension’s publications
Practical Lawn Care for
Western Oregon, Fertilizing
Lawns and Practical Lawn
Establishment and Renova-
tion. There’s also a video on
Integrated Pest Manage-
ment for Turfgrass
It’s clear there are a lot of choices when it comes to lawn mowers.
Kowalewski breaks down some of the pros and cons of each type.
ROTARY MOWER
Pros:
• Sturdy machines that last a long time.
• Goes right over the top of leaves and small twigs.
• Can mow quickly, especially the self-propelled models.
• Easier to use in large areas.
Cons:
• Noisy
• Produces some amount of carbon dioxide.
• Can’t get down to a low mowing height. However, Kowalewski notes that perennial rye-
grass and fescue, the two most common grasses in western Oregon, should not be cut low.
Keeping them 2 to 3 inches tall is optimum for healthy growth, which means fewer weeds.
Older lawns that have transitioned to colonial or creeping bentgrass can be mowed lower, so
a reel mower would be good for those types of grasses.
REEL MOWER
Pros:
• Quiet
• If you’re concerned about carbon emissions, reel mowers are the way to go. However,
Kowalewski cited recent studies that show grass has the potential to sequester up to four
times the amount of carbon dioxide that is produced by mowing. All plants remove carbon
dioxide from the air and use it for new growth, including roots that decompose into organic
matter and fix carbon in the soil.
Cons:
• Harder to push, though newer models are much lighter and easier to handle than older
ones.
• Doesn’t go over twigs and leaves very well.
• Not good for uneven terrain.
• Best for small lawns.
ELECTRIC MOWER
Pros:
• Moderately quiet
• No need to deal with gas and oil.
Cons:
• Only operates so long before battery dies on battery-operated models.
• Must deal with cords on plug-in models, though Kowalewski points out, “My grandfather
had an electric mower for years and years and years and he never ran over a cord.”
MI TOWN
Summertime, and the liv-
ing is busy. The days and
nights are flying by more
quickly than we wish, now
that blue skies and puffy
clouds are happening on an
almost daily basis. We’re
ready to bid a fond farewell
to June and to welcome July
with concerts in the park
and fireworks and good pic-
nic food and to share our en-
thusiasm and good times
with friends and family from
near and far. All of us in MI
Town look forward to show-
ing off our communities
during Independence Day
celebrations when we can
celebrate America’s birthday
with good and special times.
—
This week’s Itemizer-Ob-
server lists all the local cele-
brations – and it’s good to
have a plan so we try to at-
tend as many as we possibly
can. We’ll open our homes
and our hearts to family and
friends visiting from far-
P ATTY
T AYLOR
D UTCHER
Columnist
away places or from down
the street.
—
Let’s begin our July 4 cel-
ebration at the Polk County
Fire District No. 1 Station
90, where firefighters, vol-
unteers and local Scouts
will serve up the best break-
fast in MI Town. The line
forms at 6:30 a.m., and
you’ll get an opportunity to
see friends and neighbors
share in food and conversa-
tion. The cost is $5 per per-
son, and free for children
younger than 6. While
you’re there, pick up a
bracelet to get into see the
fireworks at Riverveiw Park.
Entry is $2 this year, but if
There will be a book
available soon for Oregon
Vietnam veterans, and it is
available free of charge.
Please visit the website,
www.Vietnam50gift.com, to
complete the form.
—
The Monmouth Senior
Center has been designated
a local cooling center on
days when the temperature
is over 90 degrees. Bring a
book to read, visit with
friends, play games or
watch TV in a cool, comfort-
able and welcoming envi-
ronment.
—
The first Music in the
Park program for the sum-
mer will feature the Shinkle
Family Band on July 5 at the
Main Street Park Amphithe-
ater in Monmouth. Enjoy
folk and country music,
bring a picnic supper, or
purchase food and drink
from local vendors. See you
there.
you buy it at the breakfast,
during the parade, or at Les
Schwab, they’re still $1.
—
On Tuesday, the fun be-
gins in Monmouth with the
fun run at 11:30 a.m., Chil-
dren’s Parade at 11:45 and
the big parade at noon.
We’ll be in our usual place
to enjoy watching kids on
bikes, in wagons, walking
with parents and grandpar-
ents, and having a wonder-
ful time. Please be sure to
bring your enthusiasm,
community spirit and lots
of sunscreen.
—
If you haven’t had the op-
portunity to visit the Mon-
mouth Senior Center since
the new addition has been
completed, you’re invited to
the open house on Tuesday
from 2 until 4 p.m. Compli-
mentary cold drinks and hot
dogs will be available for
everyone.
—
PEDEE NEWS
The Pedee Women’s
Club members were
pleased when neighbor Jon
Bansen invited them over
to see the work on the old
Skidmore barn he is remod-
eling for his son Ross’s wed-
ding later this summer.
What a change. Inviting ex-
terior, roomy interior and a
beautiful view out the back.
Juandeane Skidmore was
particularly excited to see
the improvements. Of
course, it will never be seen
inside by the cows again.
The Bansens bought the old
Skidmore place several
years ago, but live on Elkins
Road, where they have an
organic dairy farm.
A RLENE
K OVASH
Columnist
—
The Women’s Club has
completed its patriotic quilt
to raffle off to benefit its sol-
diers’ fund, and the quilt is
beautiful. The first tickets
will be sold at the Independ-
ence Western Days festival
over the weekend of the
Fourth of July. LaVerne Ben-
nett coordinated the making
of the quilt, which was quilt-
“On June 3, 2017, at the
Dallas Park, the Celebration
of Life for Shirley Reynolds,
was a complete success.
Attended by her closest and most
loving family and friends.
Thank you all for attending, and thank you
Shirley, we miss and love you.
Submitted by her children, Debra Salzman,
Jerry Reynolds and Cindy Lazarre
ANNIVERSARIES
ed by Pat Yancey, and Pam
Burkhalter coordinates tick-
et sales. The soldiers’ fund
pays for postage for the sev-
eral packages the women
send to active duty service-
men and women each
month, which they have
been doing since World War
II. If you have the address of
a soldier (of any branch of
the service) who would ap-
preciate a package, contact
the club.
—
Pedee Church has a vol-
unteer event coordinator
this summer, Kim Brooks, of
Philomath. She is planning
several community concerts,
the first being on July 7, an
evening of fun at the church.
At 5 p.m. that night, kids will
make tie-dye shirts and grill
hotdogs, led by Heather
Traglia, then at 7 p.m. every-
one is invited to the am-
phitheater to hear Zoe Em-
porium in concert. Zoe Em-
porium is an alternative rock
band started by Matt and
Nichole Roby’s four
teens, Jed, Aleithia, Corbin,
and Cosimo. They will be
playing music from their
first album, “Good Life,” that
they recorded earlier this
year. They’ve been playing
at other venues, but this will
be their first full outdoor
concert. Bring a chair when
you come.
Furniture Upholstery
ENGAGEMENTS
Schmitt - Kuenzi
Michael Schmitt
and Janeen Kuenzi
were engaged on
May 27th, 2017 at
Michael’s family
blueberry farm on
James Howe Road.
Michael’s par-
ents are John and
Joy Schmitt. Ja-
neen’s parents are
Jack and Janet
Kuenzi.
Both Michael
and Janeen gradu-
ated from OSU
with degrees in
Microbiology,
2014 (Michael)
and Public Health 2013 (Janeen). Michael and Janeen met
while attending Oregon Institute of Technology. They
both graduated with degrees in medical technology in
2016. They both work as medical technologists for Legacy
Laboratory Services in Portland.
The wedding location is at Bridal Veil Lakes in Corbett
and is scheduled for May 26, 2018. Bridal party members
are family and friends.
The couple is thinking about honeymooning in the
Cook Islands. They plan on residing in the Portland area
but still visit home regularly. Wedding colors are grey,
green, gold, and dark blue.
Janeen loves flowers and will be arranging all of the
flowers for the wedding.
BIRTHS
Snedden
Dylan Lucas Snedden was born on June 5 at 5:36 p.m.
to Trevor and Andrea (Younger) Snedden, at Bremerton
Naval Hospital, Bremerton, Wash.
He weighed 8 pounds. 10 ounces and was 21 3/4 inch-
es long.
He is the couple’s first child.
Grandparents are Daniel and Ester Salinas, of Inde-
pendence, and James Snedden, of Arizona, and Erin
Cooper, of Louisiana.
Great grandparents are James and Beth Snedden of Ari-
zona and Ron and Linda Simi of California.
Call us.
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Call us at 503-623-2373 and
make an appointment with our
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Heidi, Rachel or Karen.
ADVERTISING THAT WORKS.
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503-838-4999 or 503-375-9266
Emmy
Michael and
Colleen Kibbey
have been mar-
ried for 25 years,
from June 20,1992
to June 20, 2017.
The couple was
married at First
Christian Church
in Dallas by Pastor
Gary Ivey. They’ve
lived in Dallas
ever since and
have a son, Josh
Kibbey, who lives
in Dallas and
Newberg.
Michael Kibbey
works for the city
of Dallas and in
his spare time en-
joys coaching youth baseball, big game hunting and
camping. Colleen (Veeder) Kibbey is a daycare provider
and enjoys sewing, gardening and being a mom and
aunt.
Michael and Colleen will celebrate their anniversary at
a later date.
Joseph
440 E. St • Independence, OR 97351
www.winterssewing.com
Serving Polk County 16yrs
Please call Dawn today!
503-623-2373
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