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About Polk County itemizer observer. (Dallas, Or) 1992-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 23, 2017)
Polk County Living Polk County Itemizer-Observer • August 23, 2017 9A Give bees a chance by knowing needs Andony Melathopoulos is out to bust some myths about the 500 species of bees living in Oregon, most notably that most don’t sting. “I’ve been covered in 30,000 honey bees and did- n’t get stung and I’m no- body special,” said Melathopoulos, a bee ex- pert with Oregon State Uni- versity Extension Service. “The key message is that most bees don’t sting.” Honey bees do, but only if their hive is disturbed or they’re approached aggres- sively. Of course, people with allergies should rightly be concerned and stay away from hives. Wasps and yellow jackets, which sting without provo- cation, can be controlled with a variety of traps avail- able at garden centers and home supply stores. The most effective traps use a synthetic attractant to lure yellow jackets into a trap. Fruit juice or meat can be used as attractants as well. But there are hundreds of native bees that live in the ground and aren’t even rec- ognized as bees. These soli- tary insects come out to pollinate and return to their nests so quickly most peo- ple never see them. “There are a lot of bees in K YM P OKORNY Your Garden the city that are solitary,” Melathopoulos said. “They have radically different lifestyles than honey bees. I’m struck by people who want to save the bees who don’t know this. They’ll see an insect that looks like a fly and not realize it needs your help, too.” Melathopoulos calls out bumble bees – one of the largest-sized bees in the country – as a group to be concerned about. Not as much research has been done compared to honey bees, but there is evidence of decline of some species, and one bumblebee in the Midwest has been relegated to the endangered list. “We have about 500 species of bees in Oregon and we know that, of 30 or so bumble bee species, a handful are experiencing declines,” he said. “But that may just be the tip of the iceberg since we have even poorer information on the remaining 470 or so species.” There’s good news, though. Home gardeners, whether they know it or not, provide pollen and nectar for pollinators simply by planting a mixture of flow- ering plants. In fact, it’s been shown that cities pro- vide better forage than bor- dering agricultural land that tends to be planted in large, one-crop fields that may at- tract only one or a few types of bees. “If you have diversity as in many cities,” Melathopoulos said, “there’s an opportunity to feed many mouths. You lay out a smorgasboard for everyone. So, the more things you plant, the bet- ter.” There are three general principals to attracting bees to the garden. Choose plants attractive to bees. Walk through the neighborhood to see what they’re visiting. Many nurs- eries have areas where they display pollinator-friendly plants. Check the many lists available, including this one by OSU Extension, and this one by the Xerces Society, as well as in newspaper and magazine articles. Keep in mind, not all flowers pro- vide food for bees. Some plants have been bred that don’t provide nectar or pollen. The rule of thumb is that natives tend to be bet- ter sources, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t exotic plants that offer food, also. Rosemary or cherry laurel, both bee magnets, are good examples. Plant in swaths. Planting something is better than nothing, but you’ll notice that a single plant rarely has pollinators visiting. “Bees are economical,” Melathopoulos said. “They want to go to a big box store. No mom-and-pop stores for them.” Have plants that bloom at different times of year. In spring in the Willamette Valley, there’s a big burst of cherries, maples, Oregon grape and then ceanothus and lupine come on, but after that there are gaps. Pay attention and fill in those lulls with flowers. Even if all you do is plant a patch of pollinator plants, you’re giving a hand to the honey bees and native bees living in your neighbor- hood. And, as Melathopou- los points out: “A lot of peo- ple want a different aesthet- ic,” he said. “There’s noth- ing wrong with planting plants that don’t attract bees if you have a good per- centage of bee-attractive plants in among them. That can be a stunning success.” MI TOWN Our football tickets ar- rived in the mail this week — and we’re anticipating the Western Oregon Univer- sity Wolves’ first home game against Humboldt State at McArthur Stadium on Sept. 23. There are four home games this year, and we’re looking forward to every single one of them. It’s so much fun to walk the few blocks from home, join- ing students and neighbors along the way, to share an afternoon of football right here in MI Town. Tickets are available and prices are reasonable. It’s a great way for a family to support our university without driving out of town, fighting traffic and searching for a parking place. — Summertime and salsa just seem to go together well, and this evening’s P ATTY T AYLOR D UTCHER Columnist Music in the Park Series fea- tures Dina y los Rumberos — a Cuban Salsa group. Bring your family and friends, a picnic blanket or chairs and enjoy a great evening from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. There’s good food and drink available for purchase from various local vendors. This is the next-to-last pro- gram in the summer series, and it’s free. — Western Oregon Univer- sity Emeritus Society sounds quite lofty and intel- lectual to the ear, but the group is certainly anything but stuffy and boring. Mem- bership is open to all mem- bers of our communities, and you don’t have to be a former student or graduate to join. The fee is reason- able — $30 per year, which goes to student scholar- ships. This past year, $1,000 was awarded to three WOU students. The group meets the first Monday of every month at 1:30 p.m. through the academic year. Rex Fuller, WOU president will speak at the September meeting, which will be on Sept. 5 at 11:30 a.m., at Gen- tle House on the campus. This is a potluck gathering to celebrate the new school year. If you’d like more in- formation about how to join and become involved with activities, field trips and meet new friends, please call Joan Scherf at 503-623- 3761. — World War II seems a mil- lion years ago for many people — but an interesting and thought provoking dis- play currently at the Inde- pendence Civic Center will bring some of that history to life. Many younger people aren’t familiar with the in- ternment of Oregon resi- dents of Japanese descent, who were placed in deten- tion camps, simply because of their race and fears they might be spies who would harm our country following the bombing of Pearl Har- bor in 1941. There is no charge to visit this exhibit, which is open through Sept. 6. Visiting this display is an opportunity to talk with your family and friends about discrimination and share ideas — pro and con — regarding immigration and discrimination. PEDEE NEWS Albany has been working for several years to create a hand carved carousel on the order of the one in Salem, and as the Albany Historic Carousel and Museum, had their grand opening on Aug. 15. Of note to us, Pedee resident Jack Giles is the lead carver for the project, work- ing with experienced and beginning carvers alike, who learned the craft working with him. There are 52 ani- mals on the carousel, plus they are working on five sea- sonal animals. This stunning carousel is worth a trip to Al- bany for. Congratulate Jack on his beautiful work while you’re there, too, as his wife Portia is very proud of him! A RLENE K OVASH Columnist — Pedee showed up in force at the Polk County Fair, with many receiving special awards. LaVerne Bennett showed five quilts and re- ceived three “Outstanding Exhibit” awards. Shirley Mc- Beth got five Outstanding Exhibit awards for her pro- duce, pickled beets, apple pie, beaded jewelry, and a beautiful wallinging she made in a class at the Women’s Club. In all, she re- ceived 18 first place ribbons, 11 second place ribbons, and 1 third place ribbon. Diane Telfer entered four quilts and two Christmas stockings and received first place in all, plus an Out- standing Exhibit award. I en- tered five large and small quilts and my red appliquéd quilt won the Judge’s Choice award. — The kids did well, too. Steve and Audrey’s grand- daughter, Ana Barth, per- formed five dances with the France School of Dance class, where she has been taking lessons for several years, plus she got blue rib- bons on her sheep, rabbits, chickens, sewing, canned cherries, and art. She was also the champion 4-H sheep herdsman, as she was diligent in keeping her ani- mals neat and clean. She also got an Outstanding Ex- hibit award on a photo in the 13-17 age group in open class, so will be entered in the State Fair. Cliff and Anne Bault’s son, Dawntae, en- tered his horse in the 4-H di- vision and got a blue ribbon in ground training. He spent the week before the fair at Big Lake Youth Camp near Sisters, so didn’t get his usual cooking done for the fair. — Kalina Brotherton is in the Small Animal Express club. She got blues on all three of her chickens and a champi- on ribbon for her picture of frozen leaves. That picture and another qualified for state fair. She also got cham- pion and reserve champion on her quail. Leo Mellein was the champion 4-H archer in his division, and was only beaten by senior Charley Gilson overall. Allana Russell raised a market hog for 4-H and got a red ribbon on her hog and a blue in showman- ship and did very well in the youth auction with it. All the kids had a great time at the fair and plan to be there next year. — It was fun to see Linda Chertudi at the fair with her sisters, Pam Dalton and Teresa Jahn Gitomer, who was here from Charlotte, NC, for her class reunion and the Eclipse. Also, our granddaughter Christina Odell was working at the fair, so we saw her around, too. ANNIVERSARY Gray - 65 years Weston and Jeanne Gray were married Aug. 23, 1952, in Des Plaines, Illinois. Weston served as a Presbyterian minister in Minnesota, Arizona, New Zealand, Califor- nia, and Idaho until he retired in 1994. Jeanne was a chemist and home maker. They chose to retire in Dallas, and have lived here 23 years. They quickly became active in volun- teer activities both in their church, First Presbyterian, and the community. Weston volunteered in the Boy Scouts, Kiwanis Club, Lion’s Club, Meals on Wheels, and the American Red Cross. They both helped out at Dallas Food Bank, as reading buddies, and in the their church in many different capacities. They were honored as the Volunteer Couple of the Year in Dallas. They enjoy bird watching, camping, travelling and the beach. Weston was an avid fisherman, and Jeanne enjoyed knitting, sewing and cooking. They have three children. John and his wife, LaRae, live in McGrath, Alaska. Their daughter Kathy and Dave Dohner live in Fairbanks, Alas- ka. Their son, Larry and his wife, Vonnie, live in Beatty, Nevada. They also have four grandchildren in Alaska and Ne- vada. They live at Dallas Retirement Village — Weston in Assisted Living and Jeanne in Memory Care. They celebrated 65 years together on Aug. 13, 2017, with an after-church party with out-of-town relatives (Weston’s sister, Janice McKee from Texas, her son, wife and their daughter from Illinois, and Weston’s brother Bill and his wife from Chiloquin, as well as their daughter from Alaska) and their church family. VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES These Polk County groups would welcome individuals who have time or expertise to volunteer. Organizations that would like to be added to this list should call 503-623- 2373 or email IOnews@polkio.com. • AARP Foundation Tax-Aide – 503-930-7636 • After DARC — 503-623-9501 • American Cancer Society Road to Recovery — 1-800-227-2345 • Arc of Polk County — 541-223-3261 • Ash Creek Arts Center – 971-599-3301 • Court-Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of Polk County Inc. — 503-623-8473 • Central School District — 503-838-0030 • City of Dallas — 503-831-3502 • City of Independence — 503-838-1212 • City of Monmouth — 503-751-0145 • Crime Victims Assistance Program — 503-623-9268 • Dallas Area Chamber of Commerce — 503-623-2564 • Dallas Fire Department — 503-831-3532 • Dallas Food Bank — 503-623-3578 • Dallas Kids, Inc. — 503-623-6419 • Dallas Police Department — 503-831-3582 • Dallas Public Library — 503-623-2633 • Dallas Retirement Village — 503-623-5581 • Dallas School District — 503-623-5594 • Delbert Hunter Arboretum — 503-623-7359 • Ella Curran Food Bank — 503-838-1276 • Falls City Arts Center — 503-559-6291 • Falls City School District — 503-787-3531 • Family Building Blocks – 503-566-2132, ext. 308. • Friends of the Dallas Library — 503-559-3830 • Gentle House Gardens, Monmouth — 503-838-2995 • Girl Scouts of Southwest Washington and Oregon — 1-800-338-5248 • H-2-O — 503-831-4736 HART (Horses Adaptive Riding and Therapy) — 971-301-4278 • HandsOn Mid-Willamette Valley — 503-363-1651 • Heron Pointe Assisted Living — 503-838-6850 • Independence Health and Rehabilitation — 503-838-0001 • Independence Public Library — 503-838-1811 • Kings Valley Charter School — 541-929-2134 • Luckiamute Watershed Council — 503-837-0237 • Luckiamute Valley Charter School — 503-623-4837 • Meals on Wheels — 503-838-2084 • Monmouth-Independence Chamber of Commerce — 503-838-4268 • Monmouth-Independence YMCA — 503-838-4042 • Monmouth Public Library — 503-838-1932 • Northwest Human Services — 503-588-5828 • Oregon Child Development Coalition — 503-838-2745 • OSU Extension Service - Polk County — 503-623-8395 • Perrydale School District — 503-623-2040 • Polk Community Development Corporation — 503-831-3173 • Polk County Community Emergency Response Team — 503-623-9396 • Polk County Museum — 503-623-6251 • Polk County Public Health — 503-623-8175 • Polk County Resource Center — 503-623-8429 • Polk Soil and Water Conservation District — 503-623-9680 • Relief Nursery Classroom — 503-566-2132 • SABLE House — 503-623-6703 • SALT (Sheriff’s Auxiliary & Law Enforcement Together) — 503-851-9366 • Salvation Army — 503-798-4783 • SMART (Start Making A Reader Today) — 503-391-8423 • Salem Health West Valley Hospital — 503-623-8301 • Victim Assistance Program-Polk Co. District Attorney’s Office — 503-623-9268 x1444 • Willamette Valley Hospice — 503-588-3600 • WIMPEG Community Access Television — 503-837-0163 Visit our website, www.polkio.com ...for local news, sports and community events. Follow us on