| Folks take a fancy to Grancy Graybeard, and rightly so
It's hard to believe that a native, spring-blooming tree can be so passionately loved from the Gulf Coast all the way to Pennsylvania and New York, but that is how people feel about the Grancy Graybeard. It is known as Old Man's Beard or white fringe tree in some areas. They are in glorious bloom now in the lower south and as spring arrives farther north, they will bring joy throughout the rest of the states. Botanically speaking, Grancy Graybeard is Chionanthus virginicus. The name Chionanthus comes from the Greek words meaning "snow flower." It is considered a large shrub or small tree, reaching about 20 feet tall. It often develops a multitrunk that makes it among the more picturesque trees in the spring landscape. Its stature allows it to be a stand-alone specimen or an accent, but to combine it in a bed with other spring bloomers is like creating a fine piece of artwork.
A BRITISH VERSION OF `NAKED GUN' GENRE Police parody is surely ...
Rating: R (for brief nudity, strong language, violence and alcohol abuse) Running time: 1:45. The stars: Simon Pegg, Nick Frost, Billie Whitelaw. Theater: Patton Creek, Summit. LISA ROSE Clocking in at just more than two hours, "Hot Fuzz" runs a bit long for a cop spoof, but it is also one of the funniest law enforcement comedies this side of "The Naked Gun." The film is a follow-up to the imaginative zombie saga "Shaun of the Dead," reuniting director Edgar Wright with stars Simon Pegg and Nick Frost. Their ambitions yield mixed results this time around. The picture plays more like a collection of sketches than a linear crime story. The fish-out-of-water tale follows a tough, tactical London constable (Pegg) who is reassigned to a rural village, where he's teamed with a slacker officer (Frost).
City's new economic ‘garden’ helps companies sprout
City officials last week planted seeds for a new Economic Gardening Pilot Program that will nurture businesses and help them flourish. The City Council earmarked $95,750 to pay for the data tools, computer equipment, staff training and BETA testing needed to get the program off the ground in the coming months. "I think this is a step in the right direction," said Mayor Rob Drake. The new economic development strategy is expected to provide Beaverton businesses with tools and information that would give them a competitive edge, boosting the local economy in the process. "Without a supply of industrial and commercial land – those of us that are engaged in this process must focus on retention and expansion," said Lorraine Clarno, president of the Beaverton Area Chamber of Commerce.
New lawn mowers easier on older generation
We Americans have a love affair with our lawns. Our desire to have at least some portion of our yards devoted to that lush green carpet of grass apparently still justifies the sacrifices we are willing to take to make it so. For starters, lawns require a great deal of water, chemicals and, especially, time to keep them looking their best. And the physical act of mowing commands much of that. Yet in spite of technological, time-saving improvements, a small group of ambitious souls still choose to cut their lawns using an updated version of the old motor-less, push reel mower. In fact, they are even making a comeback in some market segments. Although certainly not time-saving, they are a great way to combine the benefit of physical exercise while minimizing the environmental impact of noise and air pollution for which gas powered mowers are known.
|
