Sometimes I cant believe it how time flies. May 25, 2010 happened already ten years ago. That was the day when I got up in Stuttgart, Germany, around 3 a.m. to pack some odds and ends into my suitcase, tossed the keys to my apartment into my own mailbox, and took a cab to Stuttgart Airport. Some fourteen hours later I would land half a world away in Washington State, where my husband had been waiting for me for a year.

It is interesting how this one day is standing out with so many details. Sure, it was a life changer. And that is probably why a lot of not so life-changing days meld into a colorful muddle. Colorful, yes but still a muddle.

I remember that 2010 had a really cold late spring. My, I was freezing constantly. And I was sick a lot that very first year in my new chosen home. Recently I heard from other immigrants that they experienced the same in their first year in a new home country. Its probably all the changes in climate, circumstances, and lifestyle that rattle a body if not the mind.

It is also interesting that immigration means a second life experience into which you can take all your former experiences to build on. I have definitely learned to listen to my gut feeling in my first life, but I use it to a bigger extent in my second life. And having a far more outdoorsy lifestyle now, adds to the city mouse experience of former times.

What is the best thing? The bliss I experience in almost each and every day in my new life. Of course, there are days when I feel daunted, too. Or sad. Or stressed out. And Im not a fake goody two shoes either. But bliss and gratefulness are indeed the first and foremost emotions I come up with when asked how Im feeling. And that has to do with the people who have crossed my path, offered me opportunities, and taken me in since then.

It started with the kind and warm welcome I was given a walk down the hill from home at the Steilacoom Pub and Grill on my first Saturday night there. It continued with a door hanger from the Steilacoom Historical Museum Association and the 2010 Salmon Bake at which I signed up our family as members. The people I have met there, the opportunity I have been given there on the Education Committee, as an office manager, ice cream social chair, docent, trustee even; the friendships that were forged through this institution are priceless. The people from the McChord 62nd Airlift Wing soon also became family, as I was offered and held the position as a lead key spouse, i.e. the liaison between the commander and military families for several years. I went to classes there that taught me helpful wisdom for life.

I dont believe in coincidences. As a docent on my very first Sunday in 2010, I met who has been my friend for almost ten years now, renowned bestselling author Anjali Banerjee aka A.J. Banner. We were talking shop, I, the German journalist with two small books of poetry and short stories under her belt, she the already established writer of wonderful fiction for children and adults. That encounter and the numerous requests for my services as a writer back in Europe made it clear to me that writing would be it for me again but under my own flag.

Ever since, I have encountered so many more wonderful people authors, painters, photographers, film makers, musicians, entertainers, chefs, artisans, teachers, historians, you name it. I have met a lot of them in person, a lot of them via social media. I have been given the opportunity to speak to military newcomers on Joint Base Lewis McChord and to the Lakewood Rotarians; to read from my books at the Sock Peddlers in Lakewood, the Topside Coffee Cabin in Steilacoom, and at the Lakewood Library; to have book signings at the Steilacoom Historical Museum; to help launch and participate in the Lakewood Book Fest; to participate in book events in Kitsap County, including a Christmas TV show; to talk on radio podcasts by legendary multitalent Dorothy Wilhelm and by Pamela Sommer from the German Radio in San Francisco; to be featured by Karen Lodder Carlson with her marvelous blog German Girl in America; to write a column with my friend, Lakewood icon Joe Boyle, whose sense of humor challenges me to explore the depths of my own; and to be published with my own columns by my highly appreciated friend, the Suburban Times publisher, Ben Sclair.

This upcoming Memorial Day will be the tenth anniversary of my coming to the United States for good. A solemn occasion as to the commemoration. But as to the date itself in my private life, a blissful occasion. A lot of you have accompanied me these past years. It takes a village to raise a child, they say. Maybe, it takes similar to create a home for an immigrant. You know how far I have come. I have not mentioned everybody in the above paragraphs who have helped me in this. You know who you are. Let me just say: Thank you all and God bless!

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Across the Fence: A Decade in the USA - The Suburban Times

Health Law

By Emilie Le Beau Lucchesi

May 21, 2020, 8:00 am CDT

In the autumn of 2014, Brittany Maynard was dying from brain cancer at age 28. Her final weeks were filled with pain, the inability to sleep and frequent seizures, says her husband, Dan Diaz.

Maynards final weeks also included the discussion as to when she would take a lethal prescription that would push her into a deep sleepand then end her life. Maynard had received the prescription legally in Oregon, which allows terminal patients to seek a life-ending prescription from a medical doctor, Diaz says.

About 21% of Americans now live in a state that allows medical aid in dying. Eight states and the District of Columbia have death with dignity laws, also called medical aid in dying laws. These states include California, Colorado, Hawaii, Maine, New Jersey, Oregon, Vermont and Washington, according to Compassion & Choices, an advocacy group.

Although these states allow medical aid in dying, the state laws have specific restrictions about when and how a patient can take the prescription. Advocates for medical aid in dying laws are pushing to ease criteria, so that more patients have access and more providers can offer support.

There are barriers to access, such as a waiting period between formal requests. In some states, patients must wait 15 days between each request and repeat the process with multiple physicians. Advocates argue that not all terminal patients can survive the waiting period.

Another access issue relates to how the medication must be consumed. All states that permit medical aid in dying require the patient to self-ingest the medication and be mentally competent at the time the prescription is taken. That means patients have to make decisions as to when they will take the prescription, so they can remain within the perimeters of the law.

For example, a patient with Lou Gehrigs disease, or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, could eventually lose the ability to swallow. The patient would have to discuss their progression with their physician or hospice nurse. But, some religious organizations forbid their employees from having end-of-life discussions or from being present when the prescription is consumed.

For Maynard, she worried an incapacitating stroke would render her unable to self-ingest the medication. In her final weeks, Maynard experienced violent seizures on a daily basis, Diaz says.

It comes to the point, are you living in those days? Or only suffering through them? Diaz asks.

That was when Brittany said, This is my time. Ive lived a good life. Her fear was that what would come next for her was a stroke. She could lose her ability to communicate altogether. Lose her ability to swallow. She said, There is no way I will die like that, trapped in my own body.

When Maynard was first diagnosed, she was living in California. The state had not yet passed the End of Life Option Act, and Maynard wanted the option.

We had to pack up half our house in a U-Haul, say goodbye to family and friends and drive up to Oregon, Diaz says.

In Oregon, Maynard and Diaz rented a house and found a medical care team associated with a university hospital. Maynard obtained residency and entered clinical trials.As her disease progressed, Maynard also obtained the lethal prescription and planned to take it before she lost her ability to swallow or communicate.

Currently, state laws require patients to be sound of mind both when the prescription is requested and taken. Physicians are tasked with ensuring patients meet all the criteria at the time the prescription is written.

Those roles are spelled specifically. [Physicians] must assess the prognosis, diagnosis, patients state of mind, mental capacity, they must advise the patient of all options of end-of-life care, says Barbara Coombs Lee, an attorney and former nurse in Portland who helped draft the Oregon law.

Euthanasia, which is illegal in the United States, involves when someone other than the patient administers medication in any form with the intention of hastening the patients death, according to the American Nursing Association. For example, Vermonts Patient Choice at the End of Life Act states that the law shall not be construed for any purpose to constitute suicide, assisted suicide, mercy killing, or homicide.

The state laws additionally require the patient to receive the prescription from a medical doctor who is licensed to diagnose and treat the underlying condition. The doctor must be the same physician overseeing the patients care.

You cant go to ophthalmologist or dermatologist for your lung cancer, Lee says.

Once the prescription is obtained, the patient stores it at home and may choose when to take it. Diaz says his wife was prescribed secobarbital.The powder comes in about 100 capsules that the patient must open and mix into water.He says the process takes about 40 minutes.

Some laws permit others to help the patient open and mix the powder. In Vermont, for example, the law permits assistance with preparation if the patient is not considered exposed to grave harm, which means that witnesses to the death have no liability.

Advocates argue the laws protect the professionals right of refusal, but not their right to support. Lee says that when she and others wrote the Oregon bill, they intentionally protected medical care providers right of refusal.

At the time, she says, they did not realize that religious-based hospitals and hospices would forbid employees from having end-of-life discussions, writing the prescription or supporting the patient in their final moments. Most patients who use medical aid in dying are in at-home hospice care, and many have the same nurse who visits each day. Hospices can block nurses from being with their patient when the prescription is ingested, which can be upsetting for the patient, their families and the nurses.

We never intended that an institution could hold patients hostage to its doctrinal rules and beliefs, Lee says. Doctors should be allowed to serve their patients requests off premises and off the clock of a refusing facility.

The American Medical Association officially opposes medical aid in dying. But in 2019, the American Nurses Association changed its position statement to address growing conflicts between nurses and their employers. Whereas the 2013 statement had prohibited nurses from participating in medical aid in dying, the new statement called for nurses to be knowledgeable and objective, and for hospices and hospitals to clarify how a nurse can proceed if asked to support a patient.

The change in the position statement happened because we were receiving inquiries from nurses, hospital leaders, and wondered, what does it mean to participate? One of the main issues is, can the nurse even be in the room? says Liz Stokes, the director of the AmericanNurses Association Center for Ethics and Human Rights.

Religious organizations typically forbid nurses from being in the patients home when the prescription is taken. Other organizations have vague rules that imply the nurse should step away from the room while the patient swallows the prescription but can return to support the family. Stokes says the ANA wants greater clarification so that nurses who want to support their patients understand their employers perimeters.

The presence of a nurse during the process can be both comforting and helpful to the patient and their families. Stokes says that patients often experience nausea, and a nurse is permitted to administer anti-nausea medications. Nurses can also help explain the process as the patient drifts into a sleep, and then slowly stops breathing.

For Maynard, her palliative care team was not with her when she took her prescription. Diaz says one of their friends who was present was a physician, which was a great source of comfort.

Although nurses and physicians have legal protections to refuse discussing or participating in medical aid in dying, some opponents want to go a step further and seek to overturn state laws. In New Jersey, physician Yosef Glassman sued the states attorney general to stop a new law, which he described as a violation of his religious tenets.

As a geriatrician, Glassman is a general practitioner for the older population. Not a specialist, he is not legally allowed to write a lethal prescription. If one of his patients, however, is dying from a terminal illness such as cancer, the oncologist might ask Glassman to transfer the patients file.

It is the act of sharing the file that Glassman opposes. Glassman sued the state to prevent even the possibility of his secondary involvement in medical Aid in dying in advance of the law going into effect.

In the filed complaint, his attorney, E. David Smith, argued the responsibility of sharing a file goes against Glassmans First Amendment right to practice his religion, Orthodox Judaism, that holds all human life is sacred and must not be taken.

My client feels very strongly that no doctor has a right to determine that is a life no longer [worth] living, says Smith.

Glassman initially succeeded in stopping the state law before it took effect. In August 2019, a judge issued a temporary restraining order that halted medical aid in dying in New Jersey. Within two weeks, however, an appellate court reversed the decision and stated Glassmans suit did not meet required standards. Glassman plans to appeal until all options are exhausted.

Although opponents to medical aid in dying have tried to end the laws, legal scholar Thaddeus Mason Pope expects legal access to expand in the coming years. He says he anticipates 15 additional states will pass medical aid in dying laws in the next five years.

Youll see it become the norm, not the exception, says Pope, who is a professor of law at the Mitchell Hamline School of Law in Saint Paul and the Director of the Health Law Institute.

Barriers to accesssuch as the waiting period between requestsare likely to be relaxed, Pope says. States are also likely to increase the life expectancy minimum from six to 12 months.

Advocates such as Diaz are eager to see the expansion. He feels his wife passed peacefully and was spared from an imminent and painful death.

She saved herself from an enormous amount of tragic suffering in front of her, Diaz says.

Emilie Le Beau Lucchesi is the author of Ugly Prey: An Innocent Woman and the Death Sentence that Scandalized Jazz Age Chicago and This Is Really War: The Incredible True Story of a Navy Nurse POW in the Occupied Philippines. She has a PhD in communication from the University of Illinois at Chicago and studies health communication, medical history and stigma communication.

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Why states are on the fence about a patient's right to die - ABA Journal

Ethan Lienwand , a gifted blues pianist, will perform a free livestream concert for Common Fence Music on Sunday, June 7, at 7 pm.

The concert can be accessed by a link provided atcommonfencemusic.org. on the day of the show.

Ethan Lienwand is a St. Louis-based barrelhouse blues piano player and preservationist. A student of the musics rich history and varied regional styles, Ethan presents personal interpretations of many of the great (and forgotten) old-time masters. He specializes in St. Louis pre-war piano blues, Texas barrelhouse, Deep South barrelhouse, early Chicago boogie-woogie, and good-time hokum stride. His influences include: Little Brother Montgomery, Black Bob, Jimmy Yancey, Henry Brown, Peetie Wheatstraw, and Hersal Thomas.

Sponsored in part by a generous grant from the Rhode Island State Council for the Arts.

Common Fence Music is a non-profit with a mission to promote culturally relevant but underexposed folk, roots and world music through concerts and educational activities.

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Common Fence Music to host free live-stream concert feateruing Ethan Lienwand - What'sUpNewp

Fencing in a yard seems like a simple project, right? Just hammer in a few posts, attach yourfencing, and there you go. Well, thats one way of doing it ... but its not the smartest.

Careful planning will save you tons of time, money and hassle once you actually install your fence. I talked with Joe Raboine, Director ofBelgard Residential Hardscapes, about what you must research before fencing in your yard, and a few things to watch out for.Bottom line, warns Joe, is to "make sure you dont do anything that will cost money later ... or have to be replaced!"

Laws and regulationsEnsure your plans comply with local regulations. Your homeowners association is the place to start; most require an architectural review before approving new fence plans. Interestingly, Joe points out, "The city will usually defer to the HOA."

If a permit is necessary for fence installation in your town, have that in hand before work begins. And find out whether underground utility pipes or cables run where you plan to dig.

Property lineDetermine your exact property line so you dont accidentally install the fence on your next door neighbors turf. Refer to theplat map(if its less than 5 years old) or hire a surveyor. Local law might specify an additional setback of several inches to one foot.

Ground conditionJoe comments, "Soil can play a big part in your fence planning. With new construction, you want to make sure the soil has settled. Otherwise, it should be thoroughly compacted.

"Beyond that, depending on the region of the country, you may need to reinforce the fenceposts. If the soil is very solid, like a heavy clay, often you can just pack itaround the posts. But when its really sandy, you may have to useSonotubes filled with concrete to keep the sand from collapsing while youprepare to set the posts.

"In some areas, youll run into bedrock or boulders, which may require drilling or bringing in special equipment. When youget fencing quotes, discuss how thats going to be handled."

MaterialsModern fencing options include natural wood, composite, vinyl, aluminum, steel, chain link, wrought iron and bamboo. (Read more aboutfence materials here.)

Four essential factors will help narrow your choice:1. Purpose: privacy, secure children's play area, keeping animals in (or out), etc.2. Budget3. Taste and style4. Amount of maintenance youre willing to put into the finished product: eg.painting a wood fence

To illustrate: Thoughchain linkis a cheap way of fencing in a yard, it may clash with the style of your home ... and doesnt quite cut it as privacy fencing or a noise barrier.

LandscapingPlan a fence that will work with your landscape and hardscape (existing or future). Consider whether youd like to bring in heavy equipment, perhaps to pour aconcrete patio. That should obviously be done before you have the fence installed.

Talk with your lawn sprinkler company to decide whether equipment will have to be repositioned. You do not want your new fence to be in the path of the lawn sprinkler spray.

OpeningsHow many gates will you need? Count on installing two minimum or possibly more - for example, if your driveway will pass through the fence. At least one opening should be wide enough for outdoor necessities like garbage cans or snow blowers.

Special featuresFence columns are trendy these days, according to Raboine, for decorative purposes and to hold lighting. Joe advises you to plan the lighting design out carefully with your fencing company for the best-looking results.

Also popular are trellises or vertical gardens incorporated into the fence. This not only softens your fences appearance, but also supplies you with freshvegetablesor flowers. Especially suitable for new houses with smaller lots.

Fencing in a yard - must-know numbers- Cost of fencing in a yard:$1-45 per linear foot depending on type of material (not including labor).- Cheapest fence material:barbed wire and electric (invisible) fencing both start at $1 per linear foot.- Priciest fence material:composite such asTrex ; upscale styles cost as much as $45 a linear foot.- Average cost offencing permit:$40.- Average cost of land survey:$500.- Fence height:generally 3-foot limit for front yard; 6 feet elsewhere on your property (pool fenceshave special regulations). Sometimes theres a 30-inchminimumheight. Confirm with your local building authority.- Fencepost spacing:maximum 8 feet apart.- Posthole depth:at least 3 feet in cold climates (6 inches below frostline).- Gate width:36 inches for a person walking and/or using a mobility device. 48+ inches for lawn equipment.- One-call numberto phone before digging:811.

Laura Firszt writes fornetworx.com.

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What you need to know before fencing in a yard - Gadsden Times

A string of artful flags, created by the children at the Riley School and representing positive messages of hope and love, is currently on display at the top of the Harbor Park in Rockland.

Last week students at the Rockport independent school, ages 2-15, and their families, worked from home with guidance from Riley Art Facilitator Alix Martin.

A prearranged scheduled day was arranged to pick-up art materials at the Riley campus. A day off from Zoom classes was planned to create the art at home with family.

On Friday, May 8, the flags were taken back to school and shared with others in a car parade with children displaying their flags, around the loop of Riley School driveway. Teachers and staff, dressed in festive clothes and face coverings, stood along the edge at a safe distance cheering them all.

Traditionally, the school celebrates a week dedicated to the arts during the month of May, with workshops and studio visits, culminating in a performance style finale.

The arts are an important part of the curriculum at Riley and some children may have up to four art classes a week. Classes are mainly driven by students interests and with the encouragement and guidance of Alix Martin.

Children often work with clay, build outdoor sculptural pieces, set up an area for figure drawing, hand sew clothing and work in individual notebooks. Often large collaborative projects are created. And there is an increasing element of art and poetry.

Martin envisaged this project as a, band of signal flags in this storm, creating sparks of light amidst these shadowy days.

Head of Riley School Becky Clappthanked the city of Rockland, especially David Gogel, who is director of Rockland Maine Street, and Riley parent for cooperation in finding a place for displaying the flags for the community to see.

In addition to designing a flag, the children were asked what they were grateful for and how art can make the world a better place.

ART MAKES THE WORLD A BETTER PLACE BECAUSE

It brings joy. It makes me feel peaceful. Elyse Coleman, age 9, Owls Head

It makes me feel like I can do something and its calming and its peaceful. Julia Staples,age 9, Appleton

You can make whatever you want. Ramona Simons, age 5, Rockland

It is so cool and you can do it in so many ways. BC, age 6, Tenants Harbor

I like art because I can express my feelings better...I think you can do a lot of stuff with art...without art I couldnt build all the things I build. Maddox, age 9, Rockland

There are lots of things...I have so much things I am grateful for. I am grateful for all the people in my whole entire family. Ossian, age 5, Rockland

I am grateful for art. Ian MacDonald, age 6, Rockland

Art makes the world a better place because it takes your mind off things. It is relaxing and enjoyable. You can put your thoughts and creative thinking on paper or other things. Rosalie Murphy, age 11, Camden

The Riley School guides children to become independent, lifelong learners and innovative thinkers. Founded as a progressive, ungraded elementary school in 1972, Riley recognizes each childs unique learning style. The individualized curriculum challenges children to express themselves and develop their own intellectual and creative capabilities through experimentation, discovery, and vigorous engagement.

Accredited by the New England Association of School and Colleges and the Maine State Department of Education, Riley School enrolls children K - 9thgrade, and 24 yrs for the Wade Acres pre-school program. Applications are currently being accepted for the 2020-21 school year. For more information visit http://www.rileyschool.org and call the office 207-596-6405 to schedule a visit.

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'Band of signal flags in this storm' decorate downtown Rockland fence - PenBayPilot.com

Keep your family and pets safe with a fence from Coastal Fence and Railing. We are a family-owned business with over 20 years of fencing experience within the Cape May County area. It is important to secure and protect your two-legged and four-legged family members.

Our professionals at Coastal Fence and Railing can help you choose what type of fence you will need depending on who you are trying to keep in or out of your fence. For example, we can offer a lower picket fence to protect smaller children and dogs or a privacy fence may be a better option for those older children and bigger dogs. We also offer safety hardware that is more difficult for children and dogs to open themselves. We have many different styles and options to fit residential and commercial requirements. We can offer your family a beautiful vinyl, wood, or metal fence. At Coastal Fence and Railing we also can keep your deck safe with our options of vinyl, glass, and metal railings.

At Coastal Fence and Railing, we have fencing and railing to keep everyone in your family safe especially your kids and dogs. Come visit us at Coastal Fence and Railing, located at 7 Bayshore Road in Green Creek. For more information, call 609-741-4264 or visit http://www.coastalfenceandrailing.com

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Building a Fence with Coastal Fence and Railing Is a True Investment For Your Family's Safety - Cape May County Herald

MONTCLAIR, NJ -The Montclair Planning Board had a very light agenda at its virtual meeting on May 18, devoting the bulk of the time to continuing and concluding the application for a wall and a fence along the edges of the green space behind the Fullerton condominium apartment building.

The Fullerton Condominium Association, which owns the green space, had originally envisioned a fence around the property and a retaining wall along Seymour Street, with the fence running along the top of the wall, but suggestions and skepticism from board members at the Planning Boards April 20 meeting led landscape architect Barry Yacker to come up with a different proposal a fence along the edge of the property adjacent to the Plymouth parking lot and a retaining wall along the edge of the property adjacent to Seymour Street, with thick ground cover behind the wall instead of a fence on top of it.

The Fullerton, which faces Roosevelt Place and sits along the corner of Roosevelt Place and Seymour Street, is built into a hill with two stories below the ground floor on its eastern end, a basement and a mezzanine. The topography of the green space on its northern side has a slope where pedestrians trespass to get between the Plymouth parking lot and Seymour Street. Sometimes trespassers have been known to urinate on the property. This project is an effort to correct that situation.

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Patricia Davis, the president of the Fullerton Condominium Association, said that previous efforts to curb trespassers taking shortcuts between the parking lot and Seymour Street, such as plantings and signs, had been destroyed, and she added that the property was becoming hazardous for the condominium association to maintain. She said that the revised plan will have the fence along the parking lot, as well as new landscaping on the green space and a four-foot retaining wall. (The original proposal had called for a three-foot wall.) The wall would prevent rainwater running off onto the sidewalk along Seymour Street and the pedestrian walkway to the Fullerton buildings rear elevation.

Board member Carmel Loughman said she wanted to make sure that the revised plan addressed the condominium associations issues. Davis replied that it did, and she added that the association was prepared to come back at a later date in the event that the plan turned out to be ineffective. The plan as revised eliminates the need for variances.

Yacker then testified and filled in the details of the plan. He explained that a six-foot fence would be installed along the perimeter of the parking lot, set back one foot from the Belgian-block curb on the lots edge. He said that the one-foot distance would help prevent motorists from driving into the fence. The fence, which runs to the propertys northeastern corner, is to be made of aluminum, and its western end would tie in with an existing six-foot wooden fence behind the Fullerton near its northwestern corner. The retaining wall, meanwhile, would run along Seymour Street and turn toward the northeastern corner of the building along the pedestrian walkway that leads to the back of the building. Two gates would be installed one at the northeastern end of the building where the new retaining wall along the walkway would join with an existing wall and another at an entrance to the rear of the property closer to the western end of the building, where the aluminum fence would tie in with the wooden fence.

To ensure that no one can sit on the top of the retaining wall, Yacker has proposed pyracantha, or fire thorn, bushes just behind the walls edge. The pyracantha bushes would discourage trespassers with its prickly thorns, and its white blossoms in the spring would provide aesthetic relief, as would the orange berries the plant generates from summer through the fall and into early winter. Right in front of the wall, Yacker plans to plant a mix of japonica and a variety of hastas to discourage people from climbing into the property. According to the plan submitted to the board, the japonica stays green throughout the winter to make the bed of plants look interesting all year. Boxwoods and day lilies would also be added, along with pachysandra to stabilize the ground, and there will be a mulch path between the plantings and the fence to allow residents to plant flowers of their own.

Were trying to do what the board is recommending as well as follow the guidelines of the town, Yacker said, and do whats right for the homeowners.

Loughman wondered about the wall tying in with the chain-link fence along the property line between the Fullerton and an apartment building at 11 Seymour Street. She asked how the wall would be worked into the chain-link fence and the smaller wall along the adjacent property to look aesthetically pleasing. Yacker said the post at the end of the existing chain link fence would likely have to be reset, but he hasnt talked to anyone in the residents of the neighboring building.

We havent approached our neighbors about it yet, Davis interjected. We plan to share with them the plans that we have and see if they would be willing to help us with the improvement of that corner of the property.

Board Vice Chair Keith Brodock known to be particular about keeping plantings to native plants only asked if native plants that could provide the same functions as the pyracantha bushes could be used instead. Yacker said that he thought the pyracantha would be fuller and thicker, and Loughman concurred that it was a good choice despite Vice Chair Brodocks possible objections, but the vice chair in fact had no such problem with Yackers choice of plantings.

Board member Anthony Ianuale asked if the green space would be flat when the area behind the retaining wall would be filled in. Yacker said it would be flatter, but there would still be a slight slope toward the retaining wall. Ianuale also pointed out that pachysandra might not make the green space usable for the residents and suggested that the area could be made more open for possible residential uses.

They havent decided yet what they want to do with the area use-wise, Yacker explained. If they want to put a garden in or have a little seating area, they could do that. It would just mean rearranging the pachysandra.

Board Chairman John Wynn said the new plan was a good revision that enhanced the neighborhood. He proposed that the plan be approved subject to conditions with the condominium associations next-door neighbors at 11 Seymour Street. The condominium association would have to report back to the board based on dialogue with their neighbors if there is a problem, but he didnt see a problem arising. Robert Griffin, the condominium associations attorney, asked if it were possible to avoid another full board hearing if there were any objections from the neighbors; Chairman Wynn said that the revisions committee could work it out, and Griffin promised to keep in contact with Planning Board attorney Arthur Neiss. The board approved the application unanimously.

The meeting ended with Planning Director Janice Talley reporting that she had correspondence with the master plan subcommittee about making changes to the master plan in order to integrate proposed pedestrian-safety recommendations into the Complete Streets implementation plan. While that committee is looking into that issue, no action has yet been taken.

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Montclair Planning Board Approves Wall and Fence for Fullerton Condo - TAPinto.net

Sanding with a 60- or 80-grit abrasive in a 6" random orbit sander is a necessary preparation step before finishing outdoor wood. Steve Maxwell

If your home has a wooden deck, a fence or both, and you intend to refinish them this season, you need to be aware of what I call the fence-and-deck nightmare. This happens when you become dissatisfied with the stain or sealer you applied, try something new, then find that it went wrong or doesnt last. Finish it again are just three short words, but they sure can do a number on your leisure time and mood. You can almost eliminate the risk of fence-and-deck finishing nightmares by following three key steps.

Step 1: Know Your Finish

Finishing outdoor wood so it looks good and lasts long is more difficult than it seems, in part because so many outdoor wood finishing products fail too soon. Sometimes even reliable outdoor wood finishes still fail prematurely if the surface prep isnt done right or if application conditions are wrong. Thats why you should never let hope get the better of you and try some new-to-you finish without testing. Just because you feel good about it or your brother-in-law used it, or its on special, is not sufficient. Aim to find a finishing regime you can trust, then stick to it. If you insist on using something untested on your deck, consider yourself forewarned.

After I explain the maintenance responsibilities that go with various fence and deck stains, many homeowners are happy to opt for something as simple and informal as possible. If that sounds good to you, Ecowood Treatment is something you should know about. Its my favourite low-key outdoor wood finish because its so efficient. Mix up the Ecowood powder with water in a pump-up weed sprayer, then spray the solution onto new, uncoated outdoor wood, once and only once. Beginning in a few minutes and continuing for months, Ecowood gives the surface an even, grey weathered appearance. Better than natural weathering that can be ratty and uneven, you can cover a lot of wood in a short time with no chance ever of peeling or finish failure.

Visit baileylineroad.com/36956 for a time-lapse view of Eco Wood Treatment darkening happening on a project of mine. (Link for an online version of the story: https://baileylineroad.com/eco-wood-treatment-video/ Anchor text: Eco Wood Treatment)

Translucent film-forming deck finishes like this Sikkens DEK look fabulous for two to four years. Stripping back to bare wood after this is usually necessary to renew finishes like this. Steve Maxwell

Step 2: Get Realistic

Even the best outdoor wood finishes involve compromises of some sort. Theyre far from perfect and you need to understand the compromises. Transparent film-forming deck finishes make your wood look as nice as furniture, but sooner or later theyll all peel, requiring complete stripping and sanding before recoating. Wood-darkening chemical treatments, by contrast, wont ever peel, but they also dont stop surface cracks from forming on your wood. If youre a deck first-timer and have no experience maintaining a deck, be sure to make up samples of your outdoor finishing repertoire so you know what they look like before you apply anything to your final project.

Step 3: Prepare for prep

There is almost no outdoor wood finish on the planet that performs optimally without at least some surface preparation. Even new wood needs to have mill glaze removed to prevent or delay finish peeling. Assuming your wood has a moisture content less than 16 per cent (gotta have this for most finishes so check it with a moisture meter on a fresh-cut board), then pressure wash followed by sanding with a 60- or 80-grit abrasive does the most to optimize the absorption of finish into the wood. And the better the absorption, the longer the finish will last, all else being equal. The problem with prep is that it takes time. You can easily spend more time preparing outdoor wood than actually applying a stain.

Fences, decks, gazebos and other outdoor wood projects are popular with us Canadians because they help make the most of our short summer season. Learning to finish these efficiently is a big part of getting down to backyard summer fun, nightmare-free.

Steve Maxwell has been finishing outdoor wood since 1980. Visit baileylineroad.com/deck-stain for some of the most detailed and complete deck finishing information online anywhere.

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Maxwell: How to avoid the fence-and-deck nightmare - The Sudbury Star

April 17, 2020 10:39 AM

David Mann

Posted: April 17, 2020 10:39 AM

Updated: April 17, 2020 10:43 AM

FINLEY, Wash. Deputies say a teen driver crashed through a fence in Finley and ditched her car last night, allowing several cows to escape their enclosure.

A couple deputies said they came across numerous cows walking on Perkins Road near Dague Road, according to the Benton County Sheriffs Office.

Though roaming cows are not uncommon in rural Benton County, deputies said these particular cows didnt escape on their own.

Further investigation led the deputies to find an unoccupied Ford Mustang that had taken out part of a pasture fence.

The driver was later identified as 19-year-old Dacia Roberts. She was arrested on suspicion of minor in possession or consumption of alcohol, negligent driving and hit and run.

The owner of the cows put them back in the pasture for the night and made temporary repairs to the fence.

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Teen crashes through fence in Finley and ditches car, allowing cows to escape - YakTriNews KAPP-KVEW

Relax with Sheep is actually a single, shorter documentary that loops around six times. The original video was shot in March and edited by Tim Kennedy, a filmmaker who is often commissioned by Napa Valley wineries, breweries and restaurants. Mr. Kennedy handed in his edit at a relatively taut one hour and change. Turning that into an epic longer than Matthew Barneys River of Fundament was the idea of Douglas Shafer, the vineyards proprietor. Mr. Shafer said the goal was to create something like those never-ending yule-log videos, but with sheep.

When the longer version was complete, he asked Andy Demsky, who handles public relations for the winery, to put it on YouTube to share the pastoral beauty with viewers during the upheaval and uncertainty in the world right now, as the introductory text puts it. Uploading the file took three days.

Credit for wrangling the hundred or so sheep goes to a local firm called Wooly Weeders, which drove them to the 50-acre hillside property, packed inside a multilevel trailer, then set them loose to control the unwanted vegetation that grows in early spring, before the dry season sets in and Napas hills turn brown.

Youd usually go in with tractors and mow, Mr. Shafer said. With the sheep we have to do that a lot less, so its less gas. On the hillsides weve got these terraces thats always a challenge. You have to use a machete or that type of thing, its tough. But the sheep can stand on any incline at all and munch away.

Its true. Nothing gets between the sheep and their grass. Ive never given much thought to the mental capacity of sheep. I suppose if I had, I would have said they were not among the leading intellectual lights of the animal kingdom.

After watching Relax with Sheep, though, I am in awe of their attention spans. In awe, and a little jealous. The truth is I havent made any headway on Fassbinder or Proust or any of the other stuff because I cant seem to concentrate lately. I spend my days talking to restaurant people who dont have restaurants to go to. Its been a month since theyve seen a paycheck.

At night, when I could be reading a fat novel, I have the attention span of one of the bumblebees that you can hear on the soundtrack of Relax with Sheep, the pitch of their buzz Doppler-shifting down the way the ambulance sirens outside my windows do every few minutes.

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Dont Fence Me In: The Comforts of a Sheep Video - The New York Times