Madison Messenger - May 2nd, 2021

More documents

Recommendations

Info

PAGE 4 - MADISON MESSENGER - May 2, 2021 opinions/columns www.madisonmessengernews.com Placing lower priority on perfect lawn makes sense I was recently going through a box of old photos and came upon one that brought a special chuckle. There I was, standing on my grandmother’s front lawn, trying to look proud and cool as my dad snapped the photo, my hands clenched on the lawn mower handles. I’m guessing I’d just entered my teens. It was the first I was allowed to mow, and I thought I was a hotshot. Looking back, I’m not so sure my father didn’t pull a sneaky Tom Sawyer on me. (Mark Twain’s iconic character gets other kids to paint a fence for him by making it sound like fun.) I was clueless as to the miles of lawn that awaited me in my lifetime. I quickly figured out it wasn’t supposed to be fun. To satisfy my junk food habit, I had to secure my weekly allowance. That meant mowing the lawn... with a reel mower. I’m sure the neighborhood could hear me pleading, “Alright, I promise. No more Ding Dongs, no Ho Hos, no Ring Dings, just Twinkies from now on. OK, those, too. Just stop it, no more, please, no more, I can’t take anymore.” I’ve come a long way since then. In the 60 years that have passed, I figure I’ve mowed the equivalent of circling the globe at least two times with another round soon approaching. I still push a primitive, tiny mower, but now it’s gas-powered and emits fumes that send me into la-la-land. My new chant is, “I think I can, I think I can, cough, cough.” I wonder what the fumes are doing to the atmosphere. If you surf the web for “lawn mower hydrocarbon pollution,” you find articles detailing how destructive they are. Must be a powerful industry lobby as we rarely hear a peep from environmentalists unless it’s an abnormally hot summer day when an air quality alert is issued. Even then, it’s only a recommendation not to mow—and you can still hear mowers rumbling everywhere. My attitude has completely changed over the years. I once took pride in having one of the nicest lawns in the neighborhood. Now, I still try to keep it mowed, but I don’t mow it every other day as I Letters to the Editor Policy The Madison Messenger welcomes letters to the editor. Letters can be of any topic, as long as they are not libelous or slanderous. Letters that do not have a signature, address and telephone number, or that are signed with a pseudonym, will be rejected. The Madison Messenger reserves the right to edit or refuse publication of any letter for any reason. Send letters to: 78 S. Main St., London OH 43140 or madison@columbusmessenger.com. madison Messenger Published every Sunday Distribution: 13,500 Philip F. Daubel ................................................................Publisher Jim Durban ............................................................Office Manager Grant Zerkle ...................................................Advertising Manager Kristy Zurbrick ........................................................Madison Editor Becky Barker..........................................................Office Assistant Brittany Zerkle .....................................................Graphic Designer 78 S. Main St., London, Ohio 43140 (740) 852-0809 • madison@columbusmessenger.com www.madisonmessengernews.com Columbus Messenger Co. reserves the right to edit, reject or cancel any advertisement or editorial copy at any time. The company is not responsible for checking accuracy of items submitted for publication. Errors in advertising copy must be called to the attention of the company after first insertion and prior to a second insertion of the same advertising copy. once did. I don’t pace back and glove from touching the treated grounds. forth looking out the window It’s easy to find dead grass, weeds and erosion caused as it rains, knowing the fertilizer is making it grow an inch water and your nose run. We’re told the chemicals are by chemicals, or to inhale fumes that make your eyes an hour safe, so long as users abide by the warnings and directions. Some folks don’t read the directions. I know of one These days, I’m mowing mostly weeds. Yes, it’s embarrassing, but I can live with entire lawn had to be regrown. It may sound funny, but case in which someone grabbed the wrong container; an that. I no longer use chemicals honest mistakes happen and, with chemicals, that can to make it grow or keep away be serious. weeds and insects. Times I encourage you to read the book, “Exposure,” by change and so do perspectives Robert Bilott. It will make you think twice about chugging a glass of water. The web is full of concerns raised and priorities. To some, as it once was for me, their grass is by unbiased, objective and independently run studies a high priority, and I respect and lawsuits over some of the chemicals landing on and that. Prior to my hip replacement surgery, I trudged in sources. It will have you questioning where the controls under our landscape and ending up in our water pain, which gave me time to and oversight have been. reflect and, as a result, make Our frowning neighbors can attest to the lower priority we now put on our lawn. Ours fits the image of a the lawn a lesser priority. We’ve become a country obsessed with grass. It’s become a keeping-up-with-the- green. We’ve lost too many dogs far too early to cancer, county fair demolition derby field, not a golf course Joneses competition. People want their lawns to look and I no longer want to take risks. Perfect grass isn’t like the putting greens at The Masters in Augusta. A worth it. With the changes we’ve made, we’ve seen a dandelion to some is a declaration of war on their lawn. huge increase in Monarch butterflies, hummingbirds, Our neighborhoods and ball fields have become Carolina wrens, hummingbird moths, honey bees and chemistry labs. Flags placed on lawns signal the use of bumble bees in our yard. chemicals for fertilizers, herbicides and insecticides. Somehow, you’re supposed to walk the sidewalks and Dave Burton is a guest columnist for the Columbus Messenger Newspapers. He lives in Grove City. keep your dog’s nose out of it or a kid’s softball bat or Mt. Sterling needs grocery store guest column Dave Burton I would like to ask this question for Mount Sterling: Are there plans to get any type of grocery store in the near future? When I grew up there, they had two grocery stores— Tommy’s and IGA—with less people living in the village. Now the village has more people and zero grocery Fred’s favorites T Y K L O N D I K E S B Z E S R A M S R E P P E P L S T D R U F T A U M E X U U N A N Q K G X Z F P G G S E E L O K S B O V B E R L A B E O M T L J I Y C A Z A N E R C L Z C A E M S S E P A R G O A S P M O M M U R F N R O H C E P N P K S G A D A I E C S C U I S N A E B G B E E F K I O X N Y A S G I R S O U P U C L O A R R L N K I R H G J Q J I I C U D R A N letter E R A I S I N S H H P Y R R D N R O C P O P L X C C V K O S stores. Does anyone else in Mount Sterling agree, or is gas station food good enough for around 2,000-plus people? L M O S E N I R E G N A T K V R.J. Timmons Mount Sterling Messenger Word Search ALMONDS APPLES ASPARAGUS BANANAS BEANS BEEF BLUEBERRIES BROCCOLI CHICKEN CHILI CHOCOLATE CORN GRAPES GREENS JAM JUICE Solution on page 6 Created by Fred Bender KALE KLONDIKES MAPLE MELON ONIONS ORANGES PEARS PEAS PEPPERS RAISINS SALAD SOUP SPINACH SYRUP TANGERINES YOGURT
www.madisonmessengernews.com opinions/columns May 2, 2021 - MADISON MESSENGER - Page 5 Watching ‘Mortal Kombat’ is like punch to gut I’ve never thought of myself as violent, ing place in 17th century Japan where There is a lot of exposition in these scenes, a but I began to question my preferred method skilled assassin Bi-Han (Joe Taslim) has the reel deal lot of Cole (and Sonya, to a degree) wondering who they are and where they fit in this of confrontation—passive-aggressiveness and found the guarded woodland home of rival snark—after watching “Mortal Kombat.” Hanzo Hasashi (Hiroyuki Sanada). After Dedra Cordle world, and not enough combat. After I watched the live-action adaptation in 1995, I became obsessed with the killing his wife and child, the two warriors face off in the film’s most exquisitely choreographed While out for There is little Mortal Kombat in “Mortal Kombat.” There are mortals in this film, characters’ skills and powers. I wished that one day I, too, would be able to wield harpoon-like spears like Scorpion or snap necks fight scene, blending moves only found in the video games and martial arts movies of yore. When this sequence is over, dinner one night, Cole and his wife and daughter are and there is combat, but there is no true Mortal Kombat in “Mortal Kombat.” Without the tournament, this film can with my knees while in a handstand like so too is most of the film’s promise. attacked by a only be described as a prequel, a way to introduce Sonya Blade. The film then jumps forward to the Outworld specter with the the audience to this weird world. It In the years that followed, I did not rack up a body count or learn how to do a handstand, but I did realize what I was feeling when I thought of “Mortal Kombat” was nostalgia. Like a fist or foot or ice spike, nostalgia can be powerful. It burrows into you, making you feel vaguely irritated when someone makes fun of what you like, and it evokes protectiveness when someone tries to remake something you love. When I heard that Warner Bros. decided to reboot this franchise, I felt that inkling of irritation. I gave it a chance, though, because it’s “Mortal Kombat.” It’s supposed to be stupid fun, and that is something we can all use. But this latest version leans more toward stupid than fun. While it’s not awful enough to make you want to inflict Sub-Zero levels of violence, it is bad enough to make you want to give its creators the stink-eye. where sorcerer Shang Tsung (Chin Han) is planning Earthrealm’s destruction. Knowing they only need one more win at the Mortal Kombat competition to take over this “pathetic” realm, Shang Tsung sends his greatest assassins to eliminate their warriors before the competition takes place. At first, not much urgency is given to this mission, but then a prophecy foretells their defeat should the Hasashi line unite the champions. This news is a surprise to all the baddies; they thought Bi-Han and the Lin Kuei assassins killed them all centuries ago. That whoopsie turns out to be Cole Young (Lewis Tan), a character created specifically for this movie universe. Born with a dragon tattoo (seriously), he is a down-on-his-luck MMA fighter who knows nothing of his lineage, Mortal Kombat, or the hell about to be unleashed upon him and ability to generate and control ice. No match for this Cryomancer, they accept the help of stranger, Jax Briggs (Mehcad Brooks) who tells them to find Sonya Blade. When Cole finds her, Sonya (Jessica Mc- Namee) explains to him what Mortal Kombat is, who the people are who share in his dragon tattoo, and when this fight to the death might take place. She encourages him to follow her on a quest to find the location of Lord Raiden (Tadanobu Asano) who could help train and guide them as they prepare for this world’s greatest death match. When they reach Raiden’s lair, the film slows to a crawl as the fighters try to unlock their “arcana,” or special powers that could keep them from having their spines ripped out or being smashed to a bloody pulp by Prince Goro, the Outworld’s last champion, teases with one-on-one fights in the end (Max Huang as the razor-hat wearing Kung Lao definitely has the best fatality of the film), but it is a set up for potential sequels. Another big issue: the film takes itself too seriously. While it tries to say it’s the opposite with high levels of gore or over-thetop fatalities, its dialogue and plotting say something else altogether, and usually in a monotone voice. Should potential sequels go forward, I have hope things can be salvaged with better pacing, a better script and maybe some acting lessons for its core actors. Until then, this version is not a flawless victory for the franchise, but it’s also not a fatality either. Grade: C Dedra Cordle is a Messenger staff writer It begins with an effective prologue tak- his family. a multi-limbed half-human/half-dragon. and columnist. How to keep Mother’s Day basket going all summer Ask a Master Gardener Jane Kutzley Question: Every year for Mother’s Day, I receive a gorgeous hanging basket of flowering plants, and every year it is dead by the Fourth of July. Help, please! Goodness, I feel your pain! This is not all your fault. Generally, when you purchase a flowering basket, it is big and lush and full of gorgeous blooms. That means that the plant(s) are fully mature and growing at their most vigorous rate. It has also been growing in ideal conditions in a greenhouse with constant care and attention. It has been stimulated with fertilizers and other chemicals so that would come into bloom at the exact right time for a holiday. Now, it has been taken from that environment, shoved into a plastic sleeve, trucked to a store and finally brought to your home. Needless to say, the poor thing is in a bit of shock, and you are now committed to daily care for a very needy plant. Bring it home and water it well, making sure the water drains out the bottom of the pot. Put it in a protected area with some nice light but no direct sun for a few days, continuing to water it daily. After it has had a bit of rest, you can decide what your next step will be. Without a doubt, the next best step would be to remove the plants from their basket, tease them apart gently, and resettle them with fresh new potting soil into a pot or basket that is two or three inches bigger in diameter. You will almost hear those roots breathe a sigh of relief. Water it well every single day and, over the next several days, move it gradually into the spot you have planned for it. Be certain that the plants are appropriate for the spot. Put fullsun plants in a full-sun location, part-sun plants in a morning-sun location, etc. Shade-loving plants in a full-sun location will burn up and die, no matter how well you care for them. Sun-loving plants in a shade location will struggle and decline despite excellent care. If you cannot or choose not to repot your basket, there are still ways to keep it going for the season. It is safe to assume that the plant is root-bound, so all the food or water it needs will have to come from you. It also means that it will dry out very quickly. Daily watering is imperative. When the summer really heats up, the basket may need an afternoon drink, as well. Fertilizer is also absolutely necessary as the nutrients in the soil have been rapidly depleted by the rapid growth in the greenhouse. Choose a fertilizer that is specifically intended for flowering plants, and read and follow label directions if those directions are written for potted plants. If you are in doubt, mix the fertilizer at 25 percent of the recommended rate and use it once per week. Granular slow-release fertilizers that are just sprinkled on the soil are another option, as are fertilizer spikes. Whatever you choose, go easy, keeping in mind the small container you are working with. Too much fertilizer will burn the plant and kill it even faster than the slow death of poor nutrition. Every day when you water it, pick off spent blooms. After a week or two, if your plant is starting to look “leggy” or straggly, use sharp scissors to trim the longest stems back to one or two set of leaves. Do about one-third of the plant. In a couple more weeks, do the next third, and then do the remainder a week or two after. Repeat as necessary throughout the season. If your plant is a “spiller,” like a petunia or calibrachoa, prune more gently and only a few stems at a time. You’ll be able to discern which ones need a clip. Most importantly, keep up the watering every single day, excepting those few rainy days when nature takes care of it. If you need to be gone, make arrangements for someone else to do the watering. Be certain the water still drains from the bottom as roots may try to plug up the drain holes. The plant will drown if water sits in the pot for very long. With all this attention, your basket should be beautiful all summer and into autumn. It truly is a labor of love. If, after all this, your basket still does not thrive, then it is time to reconsider the type of plants you are growing. Fuchsias are gorgeous, and many people grow them with ease. I find them frustrating and difficult. The one year I did have a really nice one, a wren chose to build her house in the pot and I gave up so as not to disturb her. Wave petunias and calibrachoa are beautiful but they love water and are heavy feeders, so no skimping there. Lantana, my personal favorite, is cheerful and colorful, tough as nails and has the added benefit of attracting bees and butterflies. It can take the full afternoon sun in stride. Daily watering and regular feeding are still the rules though, and it loves a good trim occasionally. Jane Kutzley is a member of the Madison County Master Gardeners. Watch for upcoming details about the program’s new Ask A Master Gardener Help Line, coming soon.
Page 1 and 2: madison JESSE BOBO 614-561-9914 614
Page 3: www.madisonmessengernews.com May 2,
Page 7 and 8: www.madisonmessengernews.com May 2,
Page 9 and 10: www.madisonmessengernews.com South
Page 11 and 12: R REALTOR www.madisonmessengernews.
Page 13 and 14: www.madisonmessengernews.com Adopta

Madison Messenger - May 2nd, 2021

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?