THE BULLETIN • WEDNESDAY, MARCH 17, 2021 A7
GARDENING CORNER
DEAR ABBY
Spring brings the promise of ...
Write to Dear Abby online at dearabby.com
or by mail at P.O. Box 69440, Los Angeles, CA 90069
Dear Abby: I have seen
letters in your column from
people upset that their guests
don’t help them after dinner.
I am the opposite. I held onto
a poem you printed years ago
and had it perma-plaqued
and posted on a kitchen cab-
inet.
For more than 20 years,
my husband and I hosted
a dinner every Sunday af-
ter church. I set the table for
10, but we often had more.
When guests offered to help,
I handed them a copy of that
poem. Could you print it
again for your readers?
— Faithful Follower in Massachusetts
Dear Follower: Gladly. That
poem has been requested
many times over the years. It
resonates with hosts who are
territorial about their space
when entertaining. It is in-
cluded in my booklet “Keep-
ers,” which is a collection
of poems, essays and letters
readers have told me they
clipped and saved to reread
until they were yellowed with
age and fell apart. You were
clever to perma-plaque yours.
“Keepers” is both witty and
philosophical. It covers many
subjects including children,
parenting, animals, aging,
death, forgiveness and more.
It can be ordered by sending
your name and address, plus
check or money order for $8
(U.S. funds) to Dear Abby
Keepers Booklet, P.O. Box
447, Mount Morris, IL 61054-
0447. Shipping and handling
are included in the price.
It’s a quick and easy read as
well as an inexpensive gift for
newlyweds, pet lovers, new
parents and anyone grieving
or recovering from an illness.
Stay Out of My Kitchen by
Susan Sawyer
Please stay away from my
kitchen
From my dishwashing,
cooking and such;
You were kind to have of-
fered to pitch in
But thanks, no, thank you
so much!
Please don’t think me un-
gracious
When I ask that you leave
me alone;
For my kitchen’s not any
too spacious
And my routine is strictly
my own.
Tell you what: You stay out
of my kitchen
With its sodden, hot, lack-
luster lures —
When you’re here, stay out
of my kitchen
And I promise to stay out
of yours!
Dear Abby: I had weight-
loss surgery six months ago.
I haven’t had the dramatic
transformation that some
people experience. I’ve only
lost about 50 pounds.
My problem is, friends
who know I had the
operation keep asking me
how much weight I lost. I
think it’s a rude question
and none of their business.
I understand people are
curious, especially since
they haven’t seen me in
person because of COVID
restrictions. How do I answer
without saying, “None of
your business”?
— Losing in New Jersey
Dear Losing: Your friends
may just be curious and
want to congratulate you on
a big loss, and 50 pounds
is one. That said, you do
not have to answer ev-
ery question that is asked.
All you need to say is, “I’ll
let you guess once you see
me again.” If they ask for a
hint, stick to your guns and
change the subject. Then
consider this: They may be
gauging the success of your
surgery for themselves.
YOUR HOROSCOPE
õ õ õ õ õ DYNAMIC | õ õ õ õ POSITIVE | õ õ õ AVERAGE | õ õ SO-SO | õ DIFFICULT
HAPPY BIRTHDAY FOR WEDNESDAY, MARCH 17, 2021:
Gentle, sensitive and imaginative, you will benefit by interacting with people
from different backgrounds and varying viewpoints. This year, you have an
opportunity to upgrade your skills and work with a successful team. Rewards
may include salary increase, job promotion and greater self-confidence. If
single, the right person might be someone you already know. If attached, be
honest with your partner and your commitment will deepen. LEO eases your
insecurities.
ARIES (March 21-April 19) 2
õõõõõ You may be presented with a problem that takes patience to fix.
Don9t get overwhelmed. Just rise to the occasion. Your finances may take a
slight dip due to an item you couldn9t resist. Be practical and thrifty. Tonight:
Bubble bath.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20)
õõõ After a hard day at work, reward yourself with retail therapy. Buy a new
outfit that emphasizes your attributes and makes you look attractive and
sexy. You may even hit pay dirt with a bargain or two. Tonight: Count your
pennies.
GEMINI (May 21-June 20)
õõõõ Take advantage of no deadlines or obligations. Put off an invitation
and enjoy your alone time. Put on your artistic hat. Paint, draw, play an instru-
ment, write a song. Do whatever makes you feel creative. Tonight: Show off
your talent.
CANCER (June 21-July 22)
õõõ Ask a friend to act as a sounding board as you work out a dilemma.
You may discover who has your back and who does not. Work with a team
instead of going solo. Tonight: Online gathering for likeminded people.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22)
õõõõõ Your confidence is at a high point. Think about taking on a leadership
role. Hone your speaking skills and clarify your point of view. You may be asked
to make a presentation to convey your position. Tonight: Try a new recipe.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22)
õõõõ Revisit a subject you once attempted. Set aside time to pick up
where you left off. Choose between in-person and online classes. Research
destinations for a trip this summer. It will be here sooner than you think.
Tonight: Dream big.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22)
õõõõ Discuss a promising venture with a friend. This may or may not be a
pipe dream, but it is always good to get feedback. Start small by selling items
online or to a group with whom you meet. Tonight: Puzzle solving.
SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21)
õõõõ Hearing from someone special will make your day. You may have to
make the first move, but they will be glad you did. Plan a vacation with your
significant other or close friends. Tonight: Look forward to attending a zoom
meeting.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21)
õõõõõ An appointment may be changed unexpectedly beyond your con-
trol. Use your free time to your advantage. Take a walk, go the gym or meet a
friend. This may turn out to be a great day after all. Tonight: Listen to music.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19)
õõõ Take a yoga or dance class at a studio or online. Go with a friend to a ka-
raoke bar or watch a romantic film. You might shed a tear even with a happy
ending. Tonight: Think about your first love.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18)
õõõõ Plan a trip to see out-of-town relatives. This is the perfect opportu-
nity to introduce the next generations to each other. Questions about your
genealogical roots may be answered, but mostly you will revitalize old rela-
tionships. Tonight: Home-cooked family dinner.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20)
õõõõ Reevaluate goals that you set for yourself. Practical matters that
need your attention may delay but not obliterate them. New friends will
enter your life, so welcome them into your circle. Tonight: You feel energized
and excited for the future.
e
Studies are showing that
globally exposure to
pollens is starting earlier
and lasting longer.
Romolo Tavani
BY LIZ DOUVILLE
For The Bulletin
W
e celebrate the arrival of
spring in three days. Trees
and shrubs are coming
to life, crocus and early
spring bulbs are showing
color. We are filled with ambitious ideas
for our gardens. Everyone is excited except
those who suffer the miseries of the allergy
season. It’s not just the sneezing and wa-
tery eyes, but the migraine headaches and
the feeling of fatigue.
If you think allergy season seems to be
longer each year, you aren’t wrong. Studies
are showing that globally exposure to pol-
lens is starting earlier and lasting longer.
Lewis Ziska, Associate Professor of En-
vironmental Health Sciences at Columbia
University states several reasons that relate
to the extended season.
As the climate changes, spring changes
are starting earlier. Second, the overall pol-
len season is primarily driven by tree pol-
lens in the spring, weeds and grasses in the
summer and the ragweeds in the fall. The
studies show that the allergy season is 20
days longer in North America now than
it was in 1990. As you move towards the
poles, where temperatures are rising faster,
the studies found that the season is be-
coming even more pronounced.
I think many of us who have lived in
Central Oregon for an extended time,
given a moment to reflect, can agree that
we seem to have warmer temperatures
these past few years. Remember the snows
on 4th of July or the one day of the year the
temperature hit 90 degrees?
A friend recently shared she was suffer-
ing the miseries of a migraine headache
and lamenting it was a reminder that al-
lergy season is just around the corner.
That is when I decided it was time to
pull “The Allergy-Fighting Garden” by
Thomas Leo Ogren from the bookshelf.
Ogren is a horticulturist and allergy re-
searcher, a former landscape gardening in-
structor and a nursery owner.
As gardeners who suffer from pollen al-
lergies, we often look to landscape choices
that are low-maintenance and litter-free
when in reality we are actually planting the
worst selections. The book offers explana-
tions to better understand plant sex that
will enable us to make better decisions in
creating an allergy-free landscape.
The book is a guide providing an allergy
rating scale for over 3,000 plants. The rating
scale developed by Ogren is OPALS, an ac-
ronym for Ogren Plant Allergy Scale. The
ratings are numbered 1-10, with 1 being the
least allergenic and a ranking of 10 being
the most allergenic. More than 130 possible
factors are used to develop the ranking sys-
tem, both positive and negative.
How can we use the information be-
yond our own backyard? According to
the American Lung Association there has
been an increase in juvenile asthma. Ogren
writes of his visits to several elementary
school sites in different states at the request
of parents to evaluate playgrounds.
At one school he found twenty-one out
of twenty-six trees were highly allergenic.
At another school he found fifteen out
of seventeen trees were highly allergenic.
With new schools being planned in central
Oregon, perhaps attention should be paid
to the landscape plans to avoid creating or
exacerbating existing health issues.
I found the entry on Pinus, (pines) in
general to being very helpful. “Pines shed
enormous quantities of pollen, but because
the pollen grains are waxy and not highly
irritating to mucous membranes, their po-
tential for allergy is rather low and when it
occurs, not usually severe. Allergic reactions
to the scent of cut pine are reported but are
also rare. There is one exception and that is
P. contorta, the lodgepole pine is known to
cause asthma and has an OPALS rating of 8.”
The book combines the best of Ogren’s
previous books—Allergy-Free Gardening
and Safe Sex in the Garden.
Special news department. The Central
Oregon Master Gardeners Spring
Gardening Seminar has a new twist
this year. The 5 classes will be virtual
classes offered between April 3 and April
24. Information on classes and dates is
available at gocomga.com.
By Madalyn Aslan
Stars show the kind of day you’ll have
e
ALLERGIES
Looking for local events or want to add your own? Go to bendbulletin.com/events
Questions? Call 541-383-0304 or email go@bendbulletin.com.
Motor sports
Continued from A5
This was a historic moment
for NASCAR, which since its
1948 founding has struggled
to add diversity. NASCAR
was born from a need to or-
ganize the auto racing boon
fermented by bootleggers and
World War II mechanics who
returned home with the skills
to build race cars.
NASCAR participation was
almost unanimously white
men and outsiders were rare.
Elias Bowie in 1955 was the
first of just eight Black drivers
to race at NASCAR’s top level;
Sara Christian ran in the 1949
Cup debut and remains one of
only 16 women to compete at
NASCAR’s top level.
An official diversity and
development program didn’t
launch until 2004 and its suc-
cess is sporadic. Only four
top names have made it to the
Cup Series: Aric Almirola is
American-born but of Cuban
descent, Kyle Larson is Japa-
nese-American, Wallace is the
only Black driver racing full-
time in NASCAR and Suarez
is the only Hispanic national
champion in NASCAR history.
Suarez has had a weird ride.
He was groomed in Toyo-
ta’s development system and
was carving out a career at Joe
Gibbs Racing, where he won
the Xfinity Series champion-
ship in 2016.
He’s now with his fourth
team in four years and that
rocky road makes Suarez
something of an afterthought.
Wallace this past year be-
came both a prominent figure
in the nation’s racial reckoning
and the face of NASCAR’s ef-
forts at diversity. Suarez cham-
pions the NASCAR system
that got him to the Cup Series
but isn’t often showcased as a
diversity program success.
And yet the driver who
barely spoke English when he
moved to Charlotte in 2012
nine years later was at Phoenix
Raceway as part of a national
broadcast in the language he
learned partly from watching
action films. Fox Sports had
planned to use Suarez for the
first time last season in its pop-
ular “Driver-Only” annual pro-
duction but it was canceled in
the pandemic.
Fox Sports via AP
In this still image from video, NASCAR drivers Joey Logano, left, and Daniel Suarez pose at Phoenix Raceway
in Avondale, Arizona, where they were the Fox Sports co-analysts for the Xfinity Series race on March 13.
Suarez is expected to be part of the 2021 driver-only
team but Fox Sports accelerated his network debut last
weekend by giving him a coveted slot in the booth.
His time with the microphone came as Suarez attempts
a major reset on his career. JGR and Stewart-Haas
Racing both pushed him out of the seat for other drivers
and Suarez spent last year driving for a back-marker
start-up team that failed to qualify for the Daytona 500.
Suarez is expected to be part
of the 2021 driver-only team
but Fox Sports accelerated his
network debut last weekend by
giving him a coveted slot in the
booth.
His time with the micro-
phone came as Suarez attempts
a major reset on his career. JGR
and Stewart-Haas Racing both
pushed him out of the seat for
other drivers and Suarez spent
last year driving for a back-
marker start-up team that
failed to qualify for the Day-
tona 500.
This year brought a fresh op-
portunity with Justin Marks,
a former driver who has tran-
sitioned into a team owner.
Trackhouse Racing aims to
make “a positive impact on and
off the track” while “solving the
most important equation —
turning negative to positive.”
Marks brought on enter-
tainer Pitbull as part owner,
which makes Suarez and Pit-
bull the only Hispanic driv-
er-owner combination in
NASCAR. This year Michael
Jordan joined 23XI Racing to
combo with Wallace in the
only Black driver-owner pair-
ing.
Pitbull uses the NASCAR
platform to promote his “One
race, one race only, the human
race” platform and partnering
with Suarez broadens the reach
to a demographic NASCAR
covets. There are not reliable
current statistics showing what
percentage of NASCAR fans
are Hispanic, but NASCAR
has tried to expand into Latin
America and Suarez graduated
from those efforts.
He remains to this day com-
mitted to the journey he began
in 2012 when he recognized,
“I’m the only Mexican, the only
Latino in NASCAR, the only
guy that can speak Spanish. If
I don’t try to do something to
bring Latinos to the racetrack,
who is going to do it?”
He’s established a fan club
called “Daniel’s Amigos” for
his Hispanic fans to unite and
understands that on-track per-
formance is critical to his mis-
sion. The team has had a rough
start through its first five races
— Suarez was one of 16 cars
crashed out of the Daytona
500 on the 13th lap — and his
highest finish so far was 15th at
Las Vegas.
Trackhouse has an alliance
with Richard Childress Racing,
which gives Suarez the best
cars and support he’s had since
2019 in his one season with
SHR. This year is an opportu-
nity he won’t let slip away, and
proved his commitment in the
second race of the season on
the road course at Daytona.
Suarez said he has a delicate
stomach and began feeling ill
from his pre-race lunch. He felt
dizzy driving the car and vom-
ited into his helmet; it was on
his visor and down his firesuit.
He didn’t say a word about
it over the radio, continued the
race and finished 16th.
“If I give up on my team,
I’m giving them an opportu-
nity to give up in the future,
and I don’t want that,” Suarez
said. “I was feeling very bad,
but I never even thought about
stopping the car. It was not an
option.”