| THE GARDENER WITHIN: There's a lot to recommend raised beds
I'm often asked about gardening in raised beds. Here's my answer: It's one of the best ways to grow productive and healthy plants and, given the option, I'd choose raised beds every time. I attribute much of the success experienced on the set of my TV program, "Fresh from the Garden," to growing just about everything in raised beds. They allow for better control of drainage, the opportunity to create custom soil, a defined planting area and a more user-friendly work area, just to name a few of the benefits. Although raised beds can be as simple as mounding up soil into a deep wide planting area, I'll address those with physical borders for this discussion. Here are some things to consider when building your own: Materials: Anything to retain the soil works, from scrap concrete to lumber to railroad ties, etc.
Montgomery Academy, LAMP both playoff bound
The Montgomery Academy baseball team got off to a slow start Wednesday afternoon at Paterson Field, but it didn't take long for the second-ranked Eagles to get rolling. MA scored five runs in the third inning to spark a 10-5 win over LAMP in the first game of a doubleheader. LAMP rallied to win the nightcap 9-8 in eight innings. The win in Game 1 clinched the Class 3A, Area 4 championship for the Eagles (22-9, 6-0 Area 4). MA will host in the first round of the playoffs on Tuesday. "We wanted to be playing at home Tuesday," MA head coach Russ Brooks said. "Both teams knew they were in, we were just playing to see who would be at home. This was a big win going into the playoffs." Despite finishing as the state runner-up the past two seasons, the area championship is the first for MA since 2004.
Excellent businesses rewarded
Fifty-eight businesses of all types are vying for seven different honours Saturday night at the 10th Annual Port Hope and District Chamber of Commerce Business Excellence Awards.
The event honours local businesses and Chamber of Commerce members for achievements and positive impact on the community and business economy.
This year's theme is Evening in the Park. The coordinated effort of caterer Lolly Prinzen, The Palm restaurant, The Wedge Bistro and Franz's Catering will provide an Euro-style sit-down dinner featuring items such as appetizers from Greece and southern Italy, an authentic Austrian entre and continental desserts. .
Ministry of Local Government promises to clear streetlight arrears
The Ministry of Local Government has promised to clear its debt to the Jamaica Public Service Company (JPS) for street lights in St. Elizabeth by the end of this month.
In a letter to the St. Elizabeth Parish Council dated April 12, the Local Government Ministry stated that all arrears will be cleared.The letter also stated that the Ministry of Finance has made funds available.The ministry says once the funds are received by the JPS, the utility company will resume installation of the lights and carry out any outstanding repairs.At the April meeting of the parish council, the JPS revealed that it was owed over $8 million for street lights in St. Elizabeth.As a result the utility company suspended repairs and installation.Meanwhile, Secretary Manager of the council, Opal Beharrie, says the council is still awaiting a response from the Ministries of Local Government and Finance about a proposal submitted some time ago.
The Kitty Carlisle Hart I knew
We met by accident at a newspaper editor's convention in St. Paul, Minn., in 1989. She was to be one side in a debate over federal funding for the arts. She was for it. Her opponent was against it. Except, her debating partner's plane was delayed, and so the host editor called me.
"You've got to help me by stepping in," said Ronald Clark, who, at the time, was the editorial page editor for the St. Paul newspaper. "Are you nuts?" I said. "I'm not prepared and I certainly am not going to debate an old lady, especially one with her standing." He persevered and I relented.
I was somewhere else in town and had to come back to the convention site. By the time I arrived, she had begun her presentation. It was worse than I had anticipated -- not her presentation, but the obstacles I faced.
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