Mindy Leary, Gilpin County. On Thursday, April 23, 2020, the Gilpin County Board of County Commissioners met for their regular meeting online at 9 a.m. Commissioners Gail Watson, Linda Isenhart and Ron Engels were in attendance, as were County Manager Abel Montoya and County Attorney Bradford Benning. Highlights included a Covid-19 update, the Church Ditch Water Lease and the upcoming Community Workshop.

Emergency Manager Nate Whittington and Public Health Coordinator Bonnie Albrecht gave the Covid-19 update. The Emergency Operations Center or EOC has been looking at wildfire prevention preparation with social distancing with fire season approaching. Stage 1 Fire Restrictions are still in place.

Albrecht reported that Gilpins single case of Covid-19 has moved out of ICU. Watson asked how Gilpin Countys implementation of contact tracing went and Albrecht replied that it was fairly easy and that their few contacts have quarantined. Contact tracing is a core disease control measure where public health staff help a patient recall everyone with whom theyve had close contact. Public health staff then inform the contacts of their exposure and encourage them to stay home for at least 14 days.

The Church Ditch Water Lease 2020 was presented by Benning. The Church Ditch is located in Golden and is an old irrigation ditch, said Benning. Gilpin leases it every year to irrigators and it helps the county maintain its water rights. The lease was approved unanimously.

Community Development Director Stephen Strohminger presented the Comprehensive Plan and Community Workshop which is scheduled for May 5. Strohminger overviewed the upcoming meeting which will be chock full of useful information ranging from land use to essential services. The Comprehensive Plan has four parts that are being submitted for review to the board.

The Legal Status Report included an FAA update about the standing statement that will be filed jointly with Greenwood Village. Other statements include who the petition is against, namely the FAA.

The County Manager Status Report included a report on the slash site which will open to residents only on May 6 and will use current county employees.

Human Services Director Laura Solomon explained that the countys allocation for childcare has been overspent as it was last year as well. Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is also overspent but Solomon is asking the board for about $9,700 to get $65,000 worth of grant money that she has applied for. The state is applying for a grant at fifty cents on the dollar from the federal government. If no grant is received, then the county would owe dollar for dollar.

Montoya explained that the state is being very frugal with their funding right now. About fifty percent of counties are overspent but the state may only backfill their own budget shortfalls.

The board passed the motion to approve the $9,750 expenditure of childcare assistance program funds to pay for $65,000 worth of services.

The board has decided to have their public meetings only on Tuesdays with the work sessions scheduled for Thursdays. The minutes from April 21 had one edit and were approved.

On Tuesday, April 28, 2020, the Gilpin County Board of County Commissioners met for a special meeting online at 9 a.m. Commissioners Gail Watson, Linda Isenhart and Ron Engels were in attendance, as were County Manager Abel Montoya and County Attorney Bradford Benning. Highlights included a Covid-19 update, impact fees discussion, senior services funding and an explanation of the large aircraft sited over Gilpin County on Monday, April 27.

Emergency Manager Nate Whittington has been researching recovery funds, decontamination of N95 masks through Adams County and preparation for a second wave of Covid-19 this fall. The Emergency Operations Center (EOC) is continuing to work with Clear Creek and Boulder County on wildfire sheltering and evacuation through the 119 corridor. Whittington has secured 75 rapid blood draw test kits intended for patrol with more being held up in customs that might become available to the community.

Public Health Coordinator Bonnie Albrecht said the one case in Gilpin County was discharged to a rehab facility and is no longer in the county database. She is preparing the Public Health Advisory Board to familiarize themselves with the countys contact tracing process.

Chief Paul Ondr discussed impact fees to be collected by Timberline Fire Protection starting June 1 for new building developments, not current or existing development. Watson asked about sprinkler system requirements and Ondr responded that it depends on the use of the building. Because theres so little commercially zoned properties, the impact fees are higher than other districts.

Clerk and Recorder Sahari McCormick informed the board of a grant application to the State Electronic Recording Technology Board. Gilpin hopes to receive this grant to digitize county records and get them online.

Area Agency on Aging representative Jayla Sanchez-Warren was invited by the board to present possible relief funding for Gilpin Countys senior needs that include supplies, transportation and Meals on Wheels. Market Meals are free to older Americans though a donation and must be requested and Sanchez-Warren will be seeking more resources for seniors in the area.

Scott Haas, Clear Creek District Ranger, met with the board and discussed the current situation including limited staffing and Stage 1 Fire Restrictions which will extend to the end of May. Watson mentioned a sighting of a low-flying aircraft yesterday. Haas responded that it was a C-130 operated by the Army National Guard out of Cheyenne that has been retrofitted with a fire-retardant system and will be seen for the next week or so running test drills.

Montoya presented the County Manager Status Report seeking formal approval of the policy for all county employees to get sick leave due to Covid-19. The motion to approve was unanimous. Emergency closure pay would terminate on May 2 meaning that regular pay would resume instead of closure pay. This motion was also approved unanimously.

Meeting minutes for April 23 were approved with one small edit.

(Originally published in the April 30, 2020, print edition of The Mountain-Ear.)

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Commissioners talk about budgets and future meetings - The Mountain -Ear

ST. PETERSBURG A motel in the Feather Sound area was evacuated Friday afternoon and more than 50 firefighters responded to a fire that was likely started by a discarded cigarette, fire officials said.

A call came in about 1:15 p.m. of a fire at the Extended Stay America at 2311 Ulmerton Road, said St. Petersburg Fire Rescue Lt. Steve Lawrence, spokesman.

It took a little over an hour for the 40 units who responded to the scene to put out the flames, Lawrence said. He did not know how many people were staying at the hotel at the time, but he said all were safely evacuated.

The fire, which started on the outside of the building and then made its way inside and into the attic, was likely caused by discarded smoking material.

In these dry conditions, we get it quite often, Lawrence said. People discard it out the window or outside on their property, it gets into some dry material and ignites.

Lawrence reminded people to make sure they fully extinguish their cigarettes or use a butt can or an ashtray.

Dont just discard it into a mulch pile or dead grass and leaves, Lawrence said.

Two people were treated for possible injuries at the scene, and one of them was taken to a hospital.

The motel has a fire sprinkler system but it didnt activate because of the location of the fire, which started outside and then got into the board space on the first floor and progressed into the attic, Lawrence said.

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Feather Sound motel evacuated when fire breaks out; no one injured - Tampa Bay Times

Published by twalro@presspub... on Mon, 05/11/2020 - 5:28am

As businesses begin to reopen, water systems that have not been in use could be at increased risk for Legionella and other bacteria that cause illness, the Wood County Health Department warns. Stagnant water can cause conditions that increase the risk for growth and spread of Legionella and other bacteria. When water is stagnant, hot water temperatures can decrease to a range that allows Legionella and other bacteria to grow. It can also lead to low or undetectable levels of disinfectant, such as chlorine. Run faucets, fixtures and water lines until the maximum water temperature has been reached. Guidelines and resources to minimize the risk of water-associated illnesses are available from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention at http://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/php/building-water-system.html. Additional guidance for specific facilities follows. Establishments with a food service license must: Flush the building water lines for 5 minutes and clean faucet screens. Flush and sanitize all taps, fixtures and appliances that use water, including but not limited to ice machines, coffee units that are hard plumbed, beverage dispensers, hot water heaters, reverse osmosis units. Include all fixtures, sinks and equipment connected to water lines. Remove and replace water cartridges or filters according to manufacturing specifications and flush units before new filters or cartridges are in place. Establishments that have fire sprinkler systems, eye wash stations, safety showers, water softeners or drinking fountains must: Flush, clean and disinfect these features and equipment according to manufacturer specifications. Run water softeners through a regeneration cycle. Flush drinking fountains continuously for 5 minutes and replace filters if necessary. Establishments with pools and/or hot tubs and saunas must: Inspect all filtration and recirculation systems to ensure proper function. Maintain chlorine. Maintain pH of 7.2-7.8 Scrub surfaces of hot tubs and spas to remove any buildup. Completely drain water from hot tubs and spas at least monthly. Keep good records. Follow local and state protocol as to when public swimming pools, hot tubs and spas may operate. Establishments that have water features, including but not limited to koi ponds and decorative fountains must: Clean and disinfect per manufacturer specifications, ensuring no visible slime or biofilm. Facilities with questions may contact the Environmental Health Division at 419-354-2702 or Environmental@co.wood.oh.us. Find more COVID-19 information at Coronavirus.WoodCountyHealth.org, coronavirus.Ohio.gov or Coronavirus.gov.

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Closed businesses advised to flush water systems before reopening - Press Publications Inc.

THE WOODLANDS, TEXAS (May 8, 2020) The Woodlands Township Environmental Services Department recently named the winners of the 2019-2020 Water-Wise Village Challenge: first place, College Park; second place, Creekside Park; third place, Sterling Ridge. Congratulations to the winners who will receive donations to their village scholarship funds courtesy of The Woodlands G.R.E.E.N.

More than 500 households participated in the village challenge and pledged to turn off their sprinklers from October 15, 2019, through April 15, 2020. Lawn watering accounts for more than 50 percent of the water usage by The Woodlands residents. Turf grass naturally goes dormant in the winter and requires much less water, so turning off your sprinkler system during the winter not only saves water but also to encourages a healthier lawn in the spring. To learn more about water conservation methods, please visit The Woodlands Township Environmental Services page atwww.thewoodlandstownship-tx.gov/environmentand select Visit Our Blog.

Save the date for the next Water-Wise Village Challenge! Submit pledges online beginning in August 2020. Each household pledge earns one point for the village, and pledges must be renewed annually each fall atwww.thewoodlandstownship-tx.gov/environment.

For more information about the Water-Wise Village Challenge or how you can participate in ongoing water conservation efforts, please emailenviro@thewoodlandstownship-tx.govor contact the Township Environmental Services Department at 281-210-3800.

For more information on The Woodlands Township, please call 281-210-3800, or visitwww.thewoodlandstownship-tx.gov.

Photo: The Woodlands Township Environmental Services Department recently named the winners of the 2019-2020 Water-Wise Village Challenge: first place, College Park; second place, Creekside Park; third place, Sterling Ridge.

The Paper's Corporate Sponsors for 2020 are: Entergy and Methodist Hospital The Woodlands

Advertise 30 days in The Paper For only $50 Reserve your space by calling 832-296-6887

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Township awards winners of Water-Wise Village Challenge | The Paper Magazine -Covering The Woodlands, Spring, Conroe & North Houston Areas - The...

A bypass road is in the process of being constructed near Brodin Comfort Systems in Thief River Falls. The temporary road will enable motorists to bypass construction work for the future roundabout at that intersection.

by April ScheinohaReporter

The crystal ball has been activated, and Pennington County Engineer Mike Flaagan shared his plans regarding future construction projects with the Pennington County Board on Tuesday, April 28.

The board approved the Five-Year Road and Bridge Plan at its meeting that evening. If all of the projects were to come to fruition, they would cost more than $25.3 million.

Every year, things move up and down in the five-year program, Flaagan said at a public hearing for the plan.

After the public hearing, commissioners met as the County Board and approved the plan.

This years projects include: The County State Aid 8/Mark Boulevard reconstruction, roundabouts and bridge. The project will span from Highway 32 to CSAH17. Two roundabouts will be constructed, including one roundabout at the intersection with Highway 32 (north of Sanford Health) and another at the intersection with Pennington Avenue (near Challenger Elementary School). Two-foot shoulder paving and safety enhancements on CSAH 8 from CSAH17 to Highway 59 The installation of rumble strips on CSAH16 from Highways 32 to 59The installation of a box culvert at the intersection of CSAH 7 and Highway 32 as part of the Westside Flood Damage Reduction ProjectThe installation of a box culvert at the intersection of County Road 61 and CSAH 16 as part of the Westside Flood Damage Reduction ProjectThe installation of culverts at the intersection of County Road 62 and CSAH 16 as part of the Westside Flood Damage Reduction ProjectOther proposed projects include: In 2021 Lighting at the intersection of CSAH 7 and Highway 32In 2022 A mill and overlay of CSAH 6 from CSAH 22 to CSAH 24, and the reconstruction of CSAH 30 from Highway 59 to Barzen Avenue In 2023 The replacement of the Kratka bridge, and the mill and overlay of CSAH 10 (from the south county line to CSAH 3) and CSAH1 (from Polk County to CSAH 10). Flaagan said the bridge replacement project may be completed a different year depending upon its condition.In 2024 Seven projects are planned. I just listed several projects that are on the radar, said Flaagan, who added that some of the below projects will likely be moved to another year.Those projects include: The installation of curbing at the following Highway 1 intersections CSAHs 27 and 28. Flaagan noted this project would be made to encourage truck traffic to use the latter two roadways, as opposed to Highway 89, when traveling to the Roseau area from the Twin Cities.The mill and overlay of CSAH 25 (from Red Lake County to CSAH 3) and CSAH 22 (from CSAH 3 to Highway 1)The mill and overlay or reclamation of CSAH 7 from CSAH 17 to Highway 59 Regrading CSAH 21 from Highway 1 to Marshall County, CSAH 2 from CSAH 17 to CR 80, and CSAH 15 from CSAHs 3 to 7 Reconstructing CSAH17 from CRs 57 and 59. Flaagan noted this project would be dependent on whether the Thief River Falls Regional Airport Authority extends the runway at the airport.

Flaagan also included countywide crack sealing, shouldering and striping as part of the projects for each year described above.

County Board accepted a grant from the Minnesota State Transportation Fund. Funded through the state bonding bill proceeds, the $167,521.90 grant will be used for the installation of the CR 61 box culvert listed above. Flaagan noted that the county is required to pay more than $5,000 for the project.

Commissioners approved the wetland delineation report for a Farmers Co-op Grain and Seed project. The application noted one natural wetland and two manmade ditches would be impacted. The project would require the filing of 0.3754 acres of regulated wetland and 0.4114 acres of manmade linear ditch wetlands. It plans to use 0.7508 in wetland bank credits from Beltrami County for the project.

Farmers Co-op Grain and Seed plans to construct railroad siding east of its existing three rail lines. In July 2019, County Board approved a wetland delineation for its initial project, which involved 4,800 feet of railroad siding. Now, it has determined that it needs an additional 1,500 feet in railroad siding to allow for the loading of a 134-car train. This report covers the latter, and the new railroad will span from north of the golf course road south to the elevator in Thief River Falls.

No work has been done on this project yet, but they hope to start this this summer,said Bryan Malone, manager of the Pennington Soil and Water Conservation District.

In separate motions, commissioners approved four personnel actions for the Pennington County Jail.County Board approved hiring Ginger Alby as a full-time dispatcher/jailer, accepted the resignation of Jail Sergeant Gregory Martinez, and approved internally posting for Martinezs position.

Commissioners also approved allowing Sheriff Ray Kuznia to advertise for two part-time corrections positions. Kuznia believed a part-time employee may be hired for Martinezs position, and he noted there is another vacancy among part-time staff.

County Board accepted a petition to clean about one-and-a-half miles of County Ditch 41 and approved scheduling that work to be completed.

Chairperson Darryl Tveitbakk signed a proclamation declaring May as Bike Month in Pennington County. The proclamation noted that BikeMn, Bike Thief River Falls and the League of American Bicyclists will promote bicycling during the month. It further indicated that they are promoting greater public awareness of bicycle operation and safety education in an effort to reduce collisions, injuries and fatalities, and improve health and safety for everyone on the road.

The next County Board meeting is scheduled Tuesday, May 12 at 10 a.m. at the Justice Center.

Our subscribers make this coverage possible. Subscribe today at subscribe@trftimes.com and support local journalism.

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Road and Bridge Plan approved - Thief River Falls Northern Watch

Moments after signing a proclamation honoring National Nurses Day on Wednesday, and in the middle of a pandemic that has already claimed tens of thousands of American lives, President Donald Trump reaffirmed his support for throwing out the Affordable Care Act.

While speaking with reporters in the Oval Office Wednesday, Trump was asked about a federal lawsuit, Texas v. California, which was brought by a coalition of Republican state attorneys general and seeks to have the landmark health care law thrown out entirely.

Obamacare is a disaster, but weve made it barely acceptable, Trump said.

Wednesday was the deadline for the Department of Justice to file a brief in the case, which will be heard by the US Supreme Court this October. DOJs brief agrees with the litigants and asks the Court to rule the entire law unconstitutional instead of a more narrow request that the Court throw out only the laws preexisting conditions as the Trump administration had asked for at one point in 2018. US Attorney General William Barr had lobbied the president to revert to that previous position in the middle of the coronavirus pandemic, according to a Politico report.

While Voxs Ian Millhiser notes that its unlikely SCOTUS will overturn the law, the outcome is not certain. And doing so without an adequate replacement would kick millions of Americans off their insurance. The Urban Institute reviewed the likely consequences of tossing out the law:

The number of uninsured people would increase by approximately 20 million, or 65 percent nationally, [and] the increases in uninsurance would be most heavily concentrated among people with the lowest incomes (below 200 percent of the federal poverty level), young adults, families with at least one full-time worker, and residents of the South and West. These subpopulations of the United States have experienced the largest gains in insurance coverage under the ACA and consequently would be hit the hardest if the law were repealed.

It would also have consequences for the countrys future potentially devastating ones regarding the countrys ability to combat the coronavirus pandemic, and interesting ones in this falls general election.

This is not the first time Trump has gone against the advice of his highest-level advisers on the lawsuit. When originally argued in district court in northern Texas, the DOJ argued not for the ACA to be thrown out, but instead to scrap smaller portions of the law, like protections for patients with preexisting conditions.

But after federal Judge Reed OConnor ruled that the whole law should be thrown out, the administration changed its position on the suit. In a terse two-sentence note submitted to the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, which by that point had taken up the case, the administration came out in support of OConnors position.

The Department of Justice has determined that the district courts judgment should be affirmed, wrote three Justice Department lawyers. [T]he United States is not urging that any portion of the district courts judgment be reversed.

The administrations decision was reportedly driven by then-domestic policy chief Joe Grogan and acting director of the Office of Management and Budget Russ Vought, both close allies of then-acting White House Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney, according to a Politico report last March. Mulvaney was a founding member of the House Freedom Caucus when he was a Congress member from South Carolina.

According to the Politico report, Barr and Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar opposed changing the DOJ position in the suit, putting Barr in the awkward position of running the department responsible for arguing the case. Supporting throwing out the law without a viable Republican plan to replace it, they argued, would play badly electorally.

At the time, HHS spokesperson Caitlin Oakley denied that Azar opposed the administrations new position in the case to Politico. Any insinuation that Secretary Azar has butted heads with Mulvaney on this issue is false, she said in a statement.

The timing of the case means that a SCOTUS decision will likely come after this falls general election. That wont stop Democrats from hammering Republicans on the issue throughout the campaign season.

Former Vice President Joe Biden, the presumptive Democratic nominee, released a statement Wednesday denouncing Trumps decision to follow through his support for the suit. By siding with the Republican Attorneys-General who are seeking to invalidate the ACA in the U.S. Supreme Court, Trump has made clear where his priorities lie, he wrote, saying that Trump doesnt side with people with preexisting conditions or those who may develop preexisting conditions due to Covid-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus.

Trump has decided hed rather destroy President Obamas legacy than protect the health care of millions upon millions of Americans. Hed rather look after the profits of the insurance industry than make sure people can access healthcare in their hour of need. Its despicable, Biden said.

Support Voxs explanatory journalism

Every day at Vox, we aim to answer your most important questions and provide you, and our audience around the world, with information that has the power to save lives. Our mission has never been more vital than it is in this moment: to empower you through understanding. Voxs work is reaching more people than ever, but our distinctive brand of explanatory journalism takes resources particularly during a pandemic and an economic downturn. Your financial contribution will not constitute a donation, but it will enable our staff to continue to offer free articles, videos, and podcasts at the quality and volume that this moment requires. Please consider making a contribution to Vox today.

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Trump moves to get rid of the Affordable Care Act amid coronavirus - Vox.com

A woman and an infant were killed in a south Tulsa collision Monday after a reported beer theft.

Police Lt. Kurt Dodd said a car, driven by a man and carrying the woman and infant, was speeding west on 51st Street and ran at least one red light at Hudson Avenue before it crashed into a pickup exiting Interstate 44 about 4:30 p.m.

Dodd said the car appeared to be fleeing from the 7600 block of East 61st Street, where the beer theft was reported, but he said detectives will investigate further.

The woman died at the scene, and firefighters extricated the man and infant before they were rushed to a hospital in critical condition. The baby later died.

The pickup driver was hospitalized with injuries that did not appear to be life-threatening, Dodd said.

He called the collision horrible and grappled with the contrasting consequences of what would have been a basic misdemeanor crime but turned into a matter of life and death.

This is tragic on so many levels, Dodd said.

Officers closed 51st Street from Harvard Avenue east to Marion Avenue, as well as the adjacent I-44 entrance and exit ramps, while they processed the scene.

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One killed in crash at 51st and Harvard - Tulsa World

Ashamedly, I closed my eyes

To keep out the darkening sky

Shadows have stolen my sight

And my dreams vanished in the night

As I knelt to open the crack

I saw a messiah in black

He said Let there be light

The World is not your fight

The power of the sun breathes

Upon our life giving trees

Let the doves deliver your message

Your words of love, beyond the wreckage

Ivor Steven (c) May 2020

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G'day, and welcome to my blog site. My name is Ivor Steven, I live in Geelong, Australia. I'm an ex-industrial chemist, and a retired plumber, and a former Carer of my wife(Carole), for 30 years, who suffered from severe MS. I Write poetry about those personal thoughts, throughout and beyond my life as a Carer. I've been blogging for over 2 years, and writing poems for 19 years. Of course a lot of my poems are about my favourite subject Carole, but since I've been blogging my writings have become quite varied, humourous, mystical, observational, and even a few monster/horror poems.View all posts by ivor20

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Beyond The Wreckage - stopthefud

PAXINOS LTS Plumbing & Heating Inc. has been providing great service at affordable prices for 30 years.

Located at 5231 Route 61, Paxinos, the business is owned and operated by Leon Supsic, who serves as president of the corporation.

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LTS Plumbing & Heating providing great services at affordable prices for 30 years - News Item

Photo: ASLA

With April dedicated to World Landscape Architecture Month (WLAM), landscape architects across the globe took to the internet to share their stories and photos of their favorite green spaces.

Students of landscape architecture also took this time to show their support for the industry, as well as showcase why they love being part of this field. While interest in this field has grown over the years, its true that many middle, high school and undergraduate students are still unaware that this career option is even available by the time they get to college.

Its such a small profession, and it doesnt get a lot of notoriety, says MichaelRadner,ASLA, principal at Radner Design Associates, Inc. in Framingham, Massachusetts. But I have seen that change over the course of my career, so I think weve done a pretty good job as a profession with getting the message out.

Maria Bellalta, ASLA, dean of the school of landscape architecture for the Boston Architectural College (BAC), chairs the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) education committee and has wondered time and time again how they can better spread the word about landscape architecture.

One of the most notable discoveries Bellalta says ASLA has made is that the best time to introduce landscape architecture to students is while they are in middle school.

I would say for many years we have also been subsumed by the architecture industry or architecture and engineering, says Bellalta. Thats something were trying to grow out of, and were also trying desperately to advocate for landscape architecture to become a STEM discipline.

Most landscape architects say they didnt learn about this field of study until well into their college years or even after graduating, and this is a problem Radner, Bellalta and Andrew Wickham, ASLA, project designer at LPA, Inc. in Sacramento, California, desperately want to fix.

From her time in the academic world, Bellalta notes that many students who are introduced to this field young come from families of landscape architects or landscape architect educators, as opposed to learning about it in school.

Bellalta says ASLA is continually working to visit more schools and career fairs to really expose students to this industry as early and as often as possible. This outreach, ASLA says, is going to be a critical component in growing the field.

Photo: ASLA Instagram

The BAC is a design only institution with approximately 700 students. Bellalta says design thinking is at the core of the college, and training designers on how to understand and actually build is paramount.

Due to COVID-19, the school has transitioned to online learning for the foreseeable future.

My programs are fairly young, but were doing great work and Im very excited about it, says Bellalta. My students are really diversifying the profession because I get students from all walks of life, not just diversity of ethnicity or culture but also of economic diversity. That means that its no longer a white mans profession; its many thinkers putting their heads together and addressing real issues that affect communities worldwide.

Bellalta notes that half of her students are female, which is a notable spike compared to previous years, and 22 percent are international students from Latin America, the Middle East and China.Twenty-five percent of Bellaltas students are undergraduates and 75 percent are graduates.

Since starting at the BAC, Bellalta says she has seen a shift in the age range of the graduate students. For instance, she notes that graduate students used to be older or second career changers. Now, she says more are either coming directly from the undergraduate track or are taking a gap year before pursuing the graduate program.

Graduate students now range in age from mid-20s to mid-30s, as opposed to mid-40s, as it has been in the past. This, Bellalta says, proves that awareness is getting out.

Landscape architecture can be a part of the solution for social justice inequities, environmental justice, economic issues, climate change, resilience, fires and more, says Wickham. Landscape architects are dealing with these on a daily basis and their projects are helping to alleviate or provide solutions for those problems.

Photo: ASLA

When trying to recruit to your career field, its imperative that you fully understand why the path is worth traveling.

When I first started, I knew that it was construction-related industry, and my attitude was always that I was in it for the environment and the people, says Radner. I would rather be working on the inside of a profession in an industry that if were going to build something, lets build the best thing that we can that can help heal the earth.

Radner says hes been in this industry for 30 years and has never been bored a single day. Every day and every hour, he says theres something new, and no two projects are ever the same. He adds that he is constantly learning something new in this field, and he enjoys the teammates he gets to work with.

Its a constant evolution for me as a professional, says Radner. Whether youre working with a team that youve worked with 20 times before or you meet somebody new, a new energy comes from that. I find that very gratifying.

For Wickham, landscape architecture spoke to him because it is all about the end-user. Working with LPA, Wickham says hes gotten to see true sustainability in practice, as the firm works to be as sustainable as possible with all of their projects.

Wickham says a large part of his work is K-12 education design, and he loves seeing the impact outdoor learning spaces have on both the teachers and students.

Its just so rewarding to see how they light up, how excited they get and how passionate they are to learn about that connection they get with nature, says Wickham. Knowing that Im a part of that, that I am making the world a better place is incredibly rewarding as well. For me, I know that Im doing all that I can to make the world a better place every day.

When the landscape architect comes to the table, we bring the green and were able to talk on both the artistic side of it and the engineering side of it, says Radner. I think that gives us more authority. When we come to a meeting with a client, were seen as good guys, and if theres going to be an impact on the community, we can help mitigate those impacts or make a project better.

Photo: ASLA

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