by Carlton D. White cwhite@mdjonline.com The Marietta Daily Journal

Valdosta States Bryson Brindle, a former Allatoona High School standout, puts the pressure on Winston-Salem State quarterback DMetrius Smith (14) during the Division II powers game Saturday at McEachern. Staff photo by Jeff Stanton

The game, a rematch of the 2012 NCAA Division II national championship won by Valdosta State, started slowly after neither team scored in the first quarter.

That changed 3 seconds into the second period when Valdosta State quarterback Jake Medlock capped an eight-play, 61-yard with a 1-yard touchdown run, and Kenny Murphys 2-point conversion gave the Blazers an 8-0 lead.

Winston-Salem State answered when Terry Ross 52-yard interception return trimmed the deficit to 8-7.

Cedric ONeals 3-yard run capped a 10-play, 70-yard Blazers drive and Valdosta State took a 15-7 lead into halftime.

Winston-Salem State responded after the break behind Alejandro Suarezs 21-yard field goal, for a 15-10 Valdosta State lead.

The Blazers added to their margin just over 4 minutes later when ONeal, who had 11 carries for 26 yards, scored his second touchdown from 5 yards out for a 22-10 advantage.

Quarterback Phil Sims kept the Rams close by directing a 14-play, 99-yard drive, resulting in a 15-yard touchdown catch for Marcel Caver to pull Winston-Salem State within 22-17 with 13:52 left in the game.

The Rams final possession nearly led to the game-winning score as Winston-Salem State recovered a fumbled punt return and drove to the Blazers 2, where they had first-and-goal. Rudy Johnson ran in for a 2-yard touchdown, but the play was called back for a holding penalty.

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Brindle helps Blazers blaze a path to win at McEachern

Highland, UT (PRWEB) September 12, 2014

Skydrop, LLC (http://www.skydrop.com) announced today that it is shipping the skydrop smart sprinkler controller to customers throughout the United States.

The skydrop smart sprinkler controller was created to conserve water and promote a healthy, beautiful landscape while freeing households and professional landscape operators from the frustration and guesswork of trying to adapt outdated, simplistic sprinkler timers to constantly shifting weather conditions.

The skydrop sprinkler controller is different. Wi-Fi connectivity means perpetual access to weather intelligence so localized, its tailored to your location. Sophisticated processing allows the skydrop smart sprinkler controller to continuously adjust your watering strategy and ensure your yard stays optimally hydrated, while using only the amount of water needed to keep your landscape healthy. Instant control via the web, smartphone app, or the built-in interface offers powerful configurability that is easy to set-up and use. Skydrops proprietary technology is embodied in modern, elegant hardware that dramatically redefines the look and feel of a sprinkler controller.

Bret Cloward, Chief Executive Officer and Co-founder of skydrop said: "Fresh water is an increasingly scarce and expensive resource. With drought conditions striking large parts of the world, water conservation is an imperative. The skydrop smart sprinkler controller represents a fundamental change in the way people water their landscapes. Not only does the skydrop smart sprinkler controller enable water conservation, it does so in a manner that is seamless and innovative and sets the path for a dramatic reduction in the consumption of water across a broad range of applications."

Skydrop is shipping now, and will announce key distribution partners shortly. Order here: http://www.skydrop.com/b/product/skydrop-sprinkler-controller

About Skydrop, LLC Skydrop, LLC was founded by a group of passionate and innovative technologists who knew the world needed something better than the status quo of archaic, inflexible sprinkler timers. The skydrop smart sprinkler controller is the recipient of the 2014 Utah Innovations Award in the Outdoor and Consumer Products category. For more information visit skydrop.com.

Follow skydrop on Facebook, Twitter and Youtube Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aGtC_dytVXg Facebook: Facebook.com/skydropcontroller Twitter: @skydrop411

Click to tweet Skydrop is shipping. Be the first in your neighborhood to get the smart sprinkler controller. #smarthome

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Skydrop Sprinkler Controller Now Shipping

on September 12, 2014 - 12:01 AM

The word garden evokes many images. Almost universally the word produces positive responses, causing smiles or warm thoughts. But exactly what does the hearer envision as a garden? The answers may be as varied as gardeners themselves, with even broader definitions based on historical, cultural and national contexts.

I first became aware of two clearly different British and American meanings of the garden when I was reading my daughter a storybook written by a British author. In it, the childs beloved stuffed bunny was left out in the rain in the garden. What garden? our 5- and 45-year-old brains wondered. The illustration showed a yard with a swing set, bench and some landscaping but no garden. Bunny was on the grass!

Soon I had my own British friend who talked about his garden, and I knew: They mean the yard! Their garden is everything out there! But when an American says she has several gardens, she means she has some vegetable or flower beds in her yard.

In American usage today we may see the definition of gardens getting even blurrier: A Garden Walk Buffalo person with a densely packed yard, brimming with flowers, shrubs, garden art, koi pond and furnishings may well call the whole thing the garden British style merged with American urban.

On the other hand, an Orchard Park homeowner with a 2-acre lot may still call it his yard, refer to his landscape as the shrubs against the house and mention a garden out there. No wonder, when Im asked about my own garden Im linguistically flummoxed: I have some country acres kept as woods and fields and a big yard with some flower and shrub beds ... Its the best I can do.

Estate gardens

Captains of industry, land barons and wealthy families in America, Europe and beyond have chosen many kinds of gardens around their homes. In the 19th and early 20th centuries, formal estate gardens often reflected the cultures that most impressed those traveling Americans. Today we can tour those preserved or restored Italianate-, English- and French-style gardens, often overlaid with furnishings or design elements from Chinese or Japanese influences.

Wethersfield, in Amenia, N.Y., is described in a brochure as a 10-acre formal garden ... arranged in the classical style, like the Italian villas of the 17th century. One surprise for some of us visiting the Vanderbilt Mansion in Hyde Park, N.Y., was the distance from the mansion to what many considered the real garden, a formal terraced garden with symmetrically spaced beds of roses, traditional perennials and bedding plants (annuals). The family referred to the grounds as a strolling garden, so the long paths and vistas en route to a gazebo or terrace for sitting were part of the point. The other motive: In an elegant lifestyle one did not wish to see the labor behind the scenes, whether laundry, cooking or gardening.

After the Civil War, rising fortunes (as in the Rockefeller, Vanderbilt and Astor families) permitted millionaires to build country places with formal gardens, typically laid out in symmetrical patterns. Old Westbury Gardens on Long Island is a frequently visited example. From 1880 to about 1940, such gardens emerged in Newport, the Hudson River Valley, the Brandywine Valley near Philadelphia, in Southern states or wherever the wealthy chose to relax, play and celebrate their bounty.

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Great Gardening by Sally Cunningham

Maryland Dove (1978) is a re-creation of The Dove (1634) that ventured from England to Maryland with The Ark to start the colony of Maryland. Her main mast towers 64 feet. She has been in feature films and adds color and history to many St. Marys festivals and events.

Tall ships ruled the sea during the age of exploration. Tall ships discovered America, brought colonists to Virginia, Maryland and Delaware and brought the British to wage a couple of wars. In 1812, the new United States Navy was short on tall ships. British naval strength towered over ours, bringing big guns to the fight. Our Navy used flotillas of small, everyday boats to run up the rivers in defense. The small ships took advantage of the Bays landscape while the tall ships of the British could only stay in the deepest waters. This weekend, ships made in the image of tall ships of yore invade Solomons, then sail up the Patuxent River to Jefferson Patterson Park to anchor offshore as a backdrop to the reenactment of the Battle of St. Leonard Creek. See them throughout Solomons with free tours on all four ships Saturday from 9 to 11am. Have your sea legs? Sail on Kalmar Nyckel, Pride of Baltimore II or Sultana June 18 to 22. Full details and sign-ups for the sails at http://www.choosecalvert.com/1812.

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Tall Ships by the Yard

As Californians struggle with one of the worst droughts in their history, the landscape of the state is changing. Increasinly, in laws and backyards, homeowners are choosing a new look. Green is out. Brown is in.

Los Angeles landscape designer Francesa Corra says California's historic dryspell is actually good for business.

"I get phone calls almost every day from people wanting to take out their lawns," she said, explaining how the lawn industry might adapt. "The industry and professionals at all levels: gardeners, homeowners, nursery people."

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Using an elaborate filtration system, the $1 billion plant will turn 100 million gallons of salty Pacific Ocean water into 50 million gallons of ...

Corra herself has traded thirsty plants for drought tolerant ones in her own yard. She says she's saved nearly half on her water bill by having a garden with no grass.

"If you have a spray irrigation in your front yard, that spray head puts out about the same amount of water as a shower head in your bathroom," she said. "So, when you turn on your sprinklers, you have a basketball team showering on your front lawn."

Homeowner Paul Moser once had the biggest lawn on the block. No more; he's getting ready for a yard filled with cactus and other drought-resistant vegetation.

"California just can't pour water on giant lawns anymore," he said. "It's not responsible."

He says having the lushest lawn on the street is a thing of the past.

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Californians becoming creative as drought dries out their lawns

LEWISTON Theres one more chance to shop for summer bargains and view the best vegetables, flowers and crafts at the annual Lewiston Country Fair and Community Yard Sale, sponsored by the Village of Lewiston Recreation Department with assistance from the Lewiston Garden Club.

It will be held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at the Village of Lewiston/Red Brick School grounds, 145 N. Fourth St.

One mans trash is another mans treasure and the Community Yard Sale is true recycling time. Members of the community are invited to rent a space to sell their trash and treasures in the annual event. Spaces are $12 for a 10- by 10-foot space, or $15 after Monday. Reserve spaces by calling 754-1990.

The Country Fair also invites amateur gardeners, farmers, bakers, photographers and both creative children and adults to sign up for competitions. Registration for events begins at 8:45 a.m. and ends at 10 a.m. on the day of the fair. Registration forms for all events can be obtained in advance at the Village of Lewiston office or village recreation office, both at 145 N. Fourth St.

As in all country fairs, there will be vegetable and flower judging in a number of categories. Large pumpkins are always welcomed. Flowers will be based on those blooming in September, as well as dried arrangements and house plants. All of the entries must have been grown by the entrant.

Other Country Fair competitions include:

Amateur bakers. There will be cake, pie, cookie and miscellaneous competitions. All ingredients must be from scratch and must be listed. Instant pudding and cake mixes cannot be used. There will be prizes in each division as well as a Best of Show.

Relish and jam competition. This will include pickles, salsa and relishes, jams and preserves. Ingredients must be listed and must be made from scratch.

Scarecrows will be judged in the Avenue of Scarecrows. Families and individuals are invited to submit an entry. Ribbons will be given in various divisions and a best of show ribbon will be awarded to the best scarecrow. Each entrant must supply their own scarecrow.

Photography. Amateur photographers may submit entries in one of four categories nature, people, landscape and photos of Lewiston. A special prize will be awarded in the Lewiston category. Photos may be in color or black and white. All photos must be at least 5 by 7 inches and must be matted or framed. Only two entries can be submitted per category.

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Yard sale among highlights of Lewiston Country Fair

Hours of steady rain was a blessing to the parched West Texas landscape, however it did prove to be quite a hindrance Friday night for the Hale Center Owls who slipped and dropped a victory to the Sudan Hornets by a final score of 21-12.

In the majority of the first half, both teams struggled to capitalize on opportunities as both offenses found it difficult to find significant yards in the mud. It wouldnt be until late in the second quarter when Sudan quarterback Stephen Schovasja would scramble down the right sideline for a 15-yard touchdown with 35 seconds left in the half. A two-point conversion run by Barry Johnson put the Hornets up 8-0. Johnson found his stride in the second half as he used short gains up the middle of the field to rack up two touchdowns and a total of 163 rushing yards in the entire game.

However, Hale Center gained its footing in the second half as the Owls battled into scoring position after a 20-yard punt return by Dalton Needham. Hale Centers running back Max Lucero then found an opening, making his way down to the 18-yard line. Ten yards later, Lucero finished the job with an 8-yard touchdown run. Lucero contributed to Hale Centers 214 total rushing yards. A two-point conversion would fail, keeping Hale Center down 8-6.

Johnson quickly answered for Sudan as a march down the field ended in a 3-yard touchdown run by the running back. A failed two-point conversion lit up the scoreboard at 14-6.

In the fourth quarter, Johnson scored again after a 25-yard touchdown run, to put Sudan up 21-6.

With just more than two minutes left in the game, a second fumble recovery by Needham set the Owls up deep in Hornet territory.

With a run up the center of the field, Lucero picked up the second touchdown for Hale Center, making the score 21-12 after a field two-point conversion.

But time would run out for the Owls, which posted their second loss of the season. Hale Center will take on Farwell next Friday as they head to the home of the Steers.

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Rains dampen Hale Centers hunt for win

Photo by: The News-Gazette

Champaign will take yard waste collection in-house for a trial period.

CHAMPAIGN City officials hope bringing yard waste pickup in-house will help them to provide better customer service to residents who use the program.

And if their cost estimates are right, they could save a bit of money by picking up residents' yard waste themselves, too. The service until now has been contracted out to private haulers.

City council members this week signed off on the one-year trial that will require the city to hire two temporary employees and rent a garbage truck. Beginning in October, they'll start making their rounds to pick up residents' leaves, branches and other fall yard waste.

It's a service that a lot of Champaign residents use, city officials said as they were considering the changes this summer. It started with a leaf collection and Christmas tree pickup in 1986 and evolved over time into today's program, for which the city has paid haulers to bring yard waste from residents' curbs to the landscape recycling center in Urbana.

"It is a program that they're very attuned to, and I think at this point have become very dependent on it," said public works operations manager Ernesto Salinas.

Except for one year when Illini Recycling won the bid, the contract has gone to what is now Republic Services for the past 13 years, according to city documents. Last year, the deal cost the city $166,900 for 14 weeks' worth of work in the spring and fall.

There have been service issues, though. City officials say complaints can get caught in an infinite loop between the contractor and the public works department and are not efficiently addressed. And the contract itself does not provide for much flexibility when bags are missed or the weather does not cooperate.

"It's always been difficult to predict the weather in the late fall and when the leaves will fall and when people will have a clear day to rake their yards," council member Tom Bruno said on Tuesday. "And it's caused disruption, and we've gotten less than great service from the private contractors to whom we have let out bids in the past."

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Champaign tries taking yard-waste collection in-house

(PRWEB) September 02, 2014

Intensive code schools are gaining notoriety among people interested launching programming careers as well as the tech companies who are hungry to hire talent. The Iron Yard, a nationally-renowned code school, is opening the first coding bootcamp in Orlando. On September 22nd, they will welcome their first round of students, many of whom have already applied and been accepted (though there are still spots available).

What type of student fits the mold at an immersive programming school? The Iron Yard aims to change the landscape of education in technology, beginning by opening their courses to candidates from all walks of life. From mid-career IT professionals to creative-types and stay-at-home parents, the common vein that runs true at The Iron Yard is a passion for learning and a propensity for problem solving.

With no coding experience required, how far could a three-month course take students? Far enough to launch a career, get a job, or start a company. Students spend the final two weeks of their project-based curriculum building a robust application for over 80 hours each week, tackling everything from concept to deployment. That capstone project serves as proof that they are ready to work as a professional and solve programming problems for companies and clients.

"Computer coding is the new language of commerce and life," says Rafael Gerena, a former Wall Street Journal economics reporter who enrolled at The Iron Yard's Orlando campus. "People who learn to speak this language will have the literacy to pursue next-generation opportunities. These skills will help Iron Yard students become vibrant players in Orlando's digital economy."

Students arent the only Orlando area residents excited about the launch of the school. The Iron Yard has already begun to build an advisory board of companies and officials who are excited about hiring graduates and bolstering an already-robust tech economy by creating (and attracting) high-paying development jobs into the area. Local leaders like Gregg Pollack, Founder of Code School and Envy School, Ted Murphy CEO of Izea, Todd Sampson CEO of Cloudspace, and several more have all joined the board. One of the first board members, Orrett Davis, Executive Director of Orlando Tech Association, sees the impact The Iron Yard will bring to Central Florida,

The Iron Yard is going to have a profound impact on the Orlando tech community. Theres a tremendous demand for technical talent here. The most frequent ask that my organization gets from our members is for connections to high quality developers. The Iron Yard is going to grow local talent and help our local economy retain the companies that have chosen to call Central Florida home.

The Iron Yards campus will be inside the Church Street Exchange Building, the heart of Downtown Orlandos fast-growing tech hub. Doors will open in early September. Video and interview opportunities are available, call to schedule.

Classes start on September 22nd and applications are still open for the Front End Engineering course.

Interested in learning to code or hiring development talent? Check out theironyard.com to find out more.

Read more here:
The Iron Yard's Coding Bootcamp Launches in Orlando's Tech Hub

St. Petersburg, FL (PRWEB) September 02, 2014

Intensive code schools are gaining notoriety among people interested in launching programming careers as well as the tech companies who are hungry to hire talent. The Iron Yard, a nationally-renowned code school, has planted roots in St. Petersburg. On September 22nd, they will welcome their first round of students, many of whom have already applied and been accepted (though there are still spots available).

What type of student fits the mold at an immersive programming school? The Iron Yard aims to change the landscape of education in technology, beginning by opening their courses to candidates from all walks of life. From mid-career IT professionals to creative-types and stay-at-home parents, the common vein that runs true at The Iron Yard is a passion for learning and a propensity for problem solving. With no coding experience required, how far could a three-month course take students? Far enough to launch a career, get a job, or start a company. Students spend the final two weeks of their project-based curriculum building a robust application for over 80 hours each week, tackling everything from concept to deployment. That capstone project serves as proof that they are ready to work as a professional and solve programming problems for companies and clients.

Alyssa, who is enrolled in one of The Iron Yards upcoming courses, has a background in sales and marketing. Shes been looking for a career change and classes on nights and weekends werent cutting it. Of The Iron Yard, she says:

I chose The Iron Yard because it is offering something that no other school has yet: education on up-to-date material that meets current job market demands, an expedited course time, and an environment of people with the desire to learn. Since the course is taught by someone who is active in the field theres no worries about learning something thats already obsolete, which gives a greater chance of getting ahead of the curve.

Students arent the only Tampa Bay residents excited about the launch of the school. The Iron Yard has already begun to build an advisory board of companies and officials who are excited about hiring graduates and bolstering an already-robust tech economy by creating (and attracting) high-paying development jobs into the area. Local leaders like Gavin Stark of Real Digital Media, Sean Kennedy of Manager of The Greenhouse Economic Development Coordinator at St. Petersburg Chamber of Commerce, Dan Denny, creator of the Front End Design Conference and several more have all joined the board. One of the first board members, Sylvia Martinez of Collaborative Technologies, sees the impact The Iron Yard will bring to the Bay area:

This determination and passion to make Tampa Bay an incredible place to work, live, and play is apparent just about everywhere I go. People are collaborating more than ever before because it's common knowledge that we all share the same goal. That collaboration and willingness to help one anotheralong with important economy-building efforts like The Iron Yardwill no doubt take Tampa Bay to that next level of success"

The Iron Yards offices will be in downtown St. Petersburg, where theyve partnered with a local developer to turn what once was a hotel into an ecosystem of tech companies, code education and coworking space. Doors will open in early September.

Classes start on September 22nd and applications are still open for both the Front End Engineering and Ruby on Rails Engineering courses.

Interested in learning to code or hiring development talent? Check out theironyard.com to find out more.

The rest is here:
The Iron Yard Launches Tampa Bay Code School