Page 22
The INDEPENDENT, July 16, 2009
Can You Dig It?
Salem Scene
From Page 6
(partially completed) plan is to dig out all the overgrowth, edge the
rose closer to the center of the bed and turn the top of that last
garden bed (rich with composted manure) over into this poor, de-
pleted, old perennial flower bed, leaving a nice, clean garden bed
for fall/winter crops.
I’ve fallen in love with perlite. According to perlite.com, perlite
is “a naturally occurring siliceous rock. The distinguishing feature
which sets perlite apart from other volcanic glasses is that when
heated to a suitable point in its softening range, it expands from
four to twenty times its original volume.” It is chemically inert and
has a pH of 7. Since volcanic ash is a normal part of soil, this ap-
pears to be the perfect amendment to lighten my very thick soil,
which currently seems to have an overabundance of decomposed
organics. The perlite is working wonderfully mixed into veggie
beds, used as mulch on top of pots and beds, and as a rooting
medium for cuttings. The best part is that it is sooo light that even
I can hoist the whole giant bag of it onto a shoulder and carry it
across the yard. Truly impressive!
Just a smidgen of ‘science’: I’ve noticed several plants around
the yard that show significant yellowing (chlorosis) of their leaves.
I know that we have not spread any lime in the yard for at least a
couple of years, though there is sporadic application of wood ash-
es. My theory: Heavy leaching from rain has resulted in a lower
than normal pH thus decreasing the availability of calcium, mag-
nesium and molybdenum. Deficiency in any of these elements will
cause chlorosis. Availability of these nutrients decreases signifi-
cantly between 7.0 (neutral) and 6.0, and it’s more than possible
that I have areas in my yard that have a pH of 6.0 or less. Calci-
um carbonate (CaCO3), a compound found in limestone, ashes,
bones, and shells, and the primary component of lime, should be
added in the fall as it takes time to become effective. Sulphur is a
common ingredient in fertilizer but can be leached from soil and a
deficiency of sulfur also causes chlorosis. A light application of
Calcium sulphate (CaS04) now and a through dusting of dolomitic
lime should correct the chlorosis.
Now all I have to do is finish the last few flower pots and water
every day. Summer bliss in the garden. Enjoy!
From page 3
small percentage of those eli-
gible.
• HB 2189 Requires loan
originators to be licensed with
the Oregon Department of
Consumer and Business Ser-
vices. This brings Oregon into
compliance with federal licens-
ing requirements and helps en-
sure the future integrity of lend-
ing practices in the state.
• HB 3004 Prevents lenders
or their affiliates from pursuing
further action against a second
mortgage once the home has
already been foreclosed and
sold. This applies only to
lenders that hold both the 1st
and 2nd mortgages. The bill
was supported by local
bankers and credit unions.
• SB 880 Establishes a per-
sonal, corporate and inheri-
tance tax amnesty to run from
October 1 through November
19, 2009. The Legislative Rev-
enue Office estimates that the
state will net $16.2 million for
2009-11 biennium.
• HB 2386 Creates a system
of online voter registration that
is expected to improve voter
participation, especially among
voters that are traditionally diffi-
cult to reach. Joining three oth-
er states, Oregon’s system is
slated to be up and running on
March 1, 2010.
• HB 2867 Requires a con-
tracting agency to demonstrate
that contracting out for goods
and services will be less ex-
pensive than completing the
work in-house. Requires agen-
cies to establish measurable
standards to assess the quality
of a contractor’s performance
and establish clear conse-
quences for failing to meet
those standards.
• HB 2626 I co-sponsored
this bill which will provide low
interest, long term loans to
homeowners to upgrade es-
sential energy efficiency com-
ponents in their homes or busi-
nesses, including windows, ap-
pliances, heating and cooling
systems, insulation and re-
newable energy systems.
Finally, Jim Tierney of the
Columbia County Community
Action Team has informed my
office that the Oregon Eco-
nomic and Community Devel-
opment Department (OECDD)
has issued contracts to assist
flood victims in Columbia
County and the City of Vernon-
ia. The contracts each repre-
sent $500,000. These long-
awaited grant awards will be
used to match FEMA funds set
aside to purchase flooded
homes in Vernonia and Colum-
bia County. Homes will be pur-
chased at their pre-flood value
as of December 1, 2007. We
are thankful that these funds
are finally available so that
these patient homeowners can
continue to rebuild their homes
and their lives.
Undoubtedly, this will be my
last regular newsletter because
we will probably adjourn early
next week. However I will con-
tinue to keep you informed of
important events, both in the
Capitol and in the District, as
they occur. I want to thank
everyone who wrote or called
during the session. Your input
was enormously important to
me and helped inform my deci-
sions. I look forward to seeing
you during the summer as I
take part in the many events
occurring in the district.
died July 12, 2009. A celebration of
life service will be held Friday, July
17, at 11:00 a.m. at the First Chris-
tian Church in Forest Grove, fol-
lowed by interment in Union Point
Cemetery in Banks.
Mr. Kelly was born March 11,
1919, on the Kelly home place in
Banks, to William Edgar and Grace
May (Mead) Kelly. He was raised in
Banks, graduating from Banks
High School in 1937. He worked
for the O-A Lumber Company in
Keasey, in 1937, where he fired a
steam donkey. He served in the
U.S. Army Air Corps during World
War II.
In 1945, he married Wanda A.
Brink. They made their home in
Banks until moving to Gaston in
1996. He worked as a Reforesta-
tion Technician for the Oregon
State Forestry Department until he
retired in 1978.
He was preceded in death by
his four brothers, Ellsworth, Lewis,
Raymond and Ellis; and his two
sisters, Evelyn Racine and Agnes
French.
Survivors include his wife; three
sons, Jerry G. of Wolf Creek, Jim-
mie R. of Gaston, and Philip of Bat-
tle Ground, Washington; one
daughter, Veronica Kelly of Bend;
seven grandchildren; 15 great-
grandchildren;
nieces
and
nephews.
Remembrances are suggested
to the Gaston Fire Fighters Associ-
ation or to the Gales Creek Camp
for Children with Diabetes.
Fuiten, Rose & Hoyt Funeral
Home in Forest Grove was in
charge of arrangements.
Letters
From page 20
I would be interested to
know the cost of the arrest op-
erations and whether or not
those costs could be recov-
ered.
Michael James Scarpitti
(alias Tre Arrow), Angela Marie
Cesario and Jeremy David
Rosenbloom all did time for ar-
son and related crimes. The
FBI investigated and closed
more than a dozen eco-terror-
ism crimes dating back a
decade including bombings, at-
tacks on research labs, de-
struction of logging equipment
and attacks on federal facili-
ties. Many of those convicted
are still serving time.
The ball is in your court!
Ted Ferrioli
State Senator, District 30
Obituary
ROBERT “BOB” JOSEPH CONE
Robert “Bob” Joseph Cone, 65,
West Linn, died June 25, 2009. A
celebration of life service was held
July 11 in West Linn.
Mr. Cone was born July 8,
1943, in Santa Ana, California.
When he was a child, his family
moved to Vernonia where he grad-
uated from Vernonia High School.
He attended Oregon State Univer-
sity and studied Civil Engineering.
He worked in the kitchen cabinet
industry starting in 1964.
In 1965, he married Margaret A.
Mott. They moved to Hawaii in
1973, then to Tigard, where he
started his own business, Total
Building Products in1979. In 2004,
he sold his company and they re-
tired to West Linn.
Survivors include his wife; two
daughters, Mary Cone of West
Linn and Jill Cone of Clackamas;
his mother, Peggy Cone of Vernon-
ia; and his sister, Patty Cone of
Vernonia.
Remembrances are suggested
to Oregon State Beaver Athletic
Student Fund.
Crown Memorial Center in Tu-
alatin was in charge of arrange-
ments.
BILL MEAD KELLY
Bill Mead Kelly, 90, Gaston,
Direct Cremation
650
$
Direct Burial
850
$
Plus Cemetery Costs
Tualatin Valley
Funeral Alternatives
~ There are Options ~
www.tualatinvalleyfa.com
237 West Main St., Hillsboro
503-693-7965