Brothers, Calen Finch, 10, and Kieram Finch, 6, from left, hold up signs Sunday at the Hamilton County Courthouse to advocate getting funds from the county commission for a new building for the Chattanooga School for the Liberal Arts.

Dana Cleckler, Evelyn Cleckler, 10, Emory Brandon, 4, and Elizabeth Cleckler, 7, from left, make signs on the lawn of the Hamilton County Courthouse to protest the lack of funding CSLA has received from the county.

Poll

Is this CSLA's year? Should it get money for a new building?

Distraught supporters of Chattanooga School for the Liberal Arts who feel they have no representatives on the county commission have set up camp to advocate on their own behalf.

Literally.

As the sun set on downtown Chattanooga Sunday, dozens of CSLA parents, students and supporters established headquarters on the front lawn of the county courthouse to protest Hamilton County Mayor Jim Coppinger's school building proposal that, if approved Wednesday, will omit the $40 million needed to construct a new building for CSLA.

"We don't have a voice inside that courthouse," said Dana Cleckler, who has three children at CSLA. "We're not a big enough entity in any one district to make noise and threaten a candidacy."

The parents acknowledged commissioner Tim Boyd as an ally, but they're at a loss for how to persuade other officials on the immediate needs at their National Blue Ribbon School at 6579 East Brainerd Road.

Children held signs supporting CSLA and shouted and waved to cars as they passed by.

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CSLA supporters mass at the Hamilton County Courthouse with a message: 'It's our turn'

A robbery gone bad is how Cheltenham Lt. John Frye described the events that unfolded March 24 in Cheltenham Township and left two men hospitalized.

Cheltenham police responded to the area of Cottman and Central avenues at approximately 4:30 p.m. for the report of a male running down the street with a handgun, Frye said at a press briefing.

At the scene, police observed a man lying on the lawn in front of 22 Central Ave. with a head injury, he said.

This male jumped out of a second-floor window of the house and suffered the injury as a result of the fall, Frye said.

Inside the residence, police located a second male with a gunshot wound to the knee, he said.

The men were transported to Abington Memorial Hospital for treatment, he said. The man with the gunshot wound to the knee is believed to be OK.

He walked out of the house on his own, Frye said.

The condition of the man with the head injury is unknown, he said.

Police believe only one shot was fired, Frye said.

It turns out this was some kind of robbery, but were still investigating to determine exactly what happened, Frye said. We are still in the early stages. Continued...

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VIDEO: 'Robbery gone bad' in Cheltenham sends two to hospital

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PUBLIC RELEASE DATE:

21-Mar-2014

Contact: Monika Landgraf presse@kit.edu 49-721-608-47414 Karlsruher Institut fr Technologie (KIT)

This news release is available in German.

Scientists of the KIT and the University of Kiev have produced an antibiotic, whose biological activity can be controlled with light. Thanks to the robust diarylethene photoswitch, the antimicrobial effect of the peptide mimetic can be applied in a spatially and temporally specific manner. This might open up new options for the treatment of local infections, as side effects are reduced. The researchers present their photoactivable antibiotic with the new photomodule in a "Very Important Paper" of the journal "Angewandte Chemie".

Photoswitchable molecules modify their structure and properties when exposed to light of an adequate wavelength. Among the photoswitches known are diarylethenes. By reversible photoisomerization, i.e. a reversible light-induced internal relocation of the molecule, the open form is turned into a closed form. Such photoswitch-able molecules are applied in molecular electronics and many other areas. Particularly interesting opportunities result from the insertion of photoswitches into biomolecules to control their activity by light. Interest focuses on so-called peptide mimetics, compounds whose major structural elements emulate a peptide, i.e. a small protein.

For the first time now, a group of researchers headed by Professor Anne S. Ulrich, Director of the Institute for Biological Interfaces 2 (IBG2) and holder of the Chair for Biochemistry at the Institute of Organic Chemistry (IOC) of KIT, has produced a photoswitchable peptide mimetic based on a diarylethene scaffold that can be photoisomerized reversibly. The scientists modified this building block into an amino acid analog and incorporated it directly into the backbone of the annular peptide antibiotic Gramicidin S. Biological activity of the resulting peptide mimetic can be controlled spatially and temporally with the help of UV and visible light. To demonstrate this, the scientists treated a bacterial film with the inactivated antibiotic and exposed it to light via a mask. As a result, the photoswitchable diarylethene was converted from a closed into an open form. Due to the structural modification induced, the entire substance molecule had a much higher antimicrobial effect. "In the future, such photoactivable antibiotics might be used as smart therapeutic agents against local bacterial infections," Professor Anne S. Ulrich explains. "Usual side effects can also be minimized by switching." Based on this strategy, new peptide-based agents against cancer might be feasible, as the newly developed photoactivable building block can also be applied in other peptide sequences.

The editors of the journal "Angewandte Chemie", in which the researchers of KIT and the University of Kiev present their photo-activable antibiotic and their photoswitch, have rated this publication a "VIP Very Important Paper".

###

Oleg Babii, Sergii Afonin, Marina Berditsch, Sabine Reier, Pavel K. Mykhailiuk, Vladimir S. Kubyshkin, Thomas Steinbrecher, Anne S. Ulrich, and Igor V. Komarov: Controlling Biological Activity with Light: Diarylethene-Containing Cyclic Peptidomimetics. Angewandte Chemie (2014). DOI: 10.1002/ange.201310019

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Switching an antibiotic on and off with light

A rain garden can capture rain that would otherwise flow down your lawn and driveway into streets and storm sewers, and use it to make your property more beautiful. It does this if it is located where rain can be directed into it, built so that it can temporarily hold the water (a rain garden is not a pond), and planted with appropriate plants to add beauty and attract birds, bees and butterflies. While a handy homeowner can create a nice rain garden, assistance of a landscape professional with experience in rain gardens can be very helpful.

As in real estate, the first three things are location, location and location. The rain garden should be at least 10 feet from buildings. If one of your downspouts drains into your lawn, perhaps you already know where your rain garden should go. If it instead drains onto the driveway, could it be redirected toward a section of the yard?

Does the soil in that section drain readily? Dig a wide hole 6 inches deep and fill it with water. Wait 24 hours. If the water disappears within that time, the location is suitable for a rain garden.

Can you carve out a large enough space to handle the amount of rain you will get during downpours? Rain gardens range from 100-300 square feet and can usually handle rain from hard surfaces (roof, driveway) three times their size. More than one rain garden may be needed to handle rain from larger areas. Use a hose or rope to outline a curved shape for the proposed garden and move it around until you are satisfied with its placement. Unless it is located in a depression, you will have to excavate between 4-10 inches to form the level bowl of the rain garden. If the site is not level, use some of the excavated soil to make a berm on the downslope side to further prevent overflow. You may also wish to add a border.

Next comes the fun part planting. Rain gardens can be located in sun or part shade. They have distinct planting areas: the bowl and the upper part and a transition zone between them. The bowl area will need plants such as spiderwort and blue flag that can handle wet feet. Plants for the entire rain garden should also handle dry conditions. Native plants are often preferred for that reason. You can use perennials, shrubs or even small trees in a rain garden. Dont forget mulch. Choose wood chips made from hardwoods that will not float away. River rock can be used for the inlet.

Mulch will help keep down weeds but you will have to weed, especially the first season. You will have to water your rain garden in dry seasons. The final result is a beautiful garden that captures rain that would otherwise overburden storm sewers and water treatment plants. Step-by-step instructions are at: http://learningstore.uwex.edu/assets/pdfs/GWQ037.pdf

The Anoka County Master Gardeners invite you to visit our web page http://anokamastergardeners.org/. Click on hot topics for information about the Home Landscaping and Garden Fair, April 12, 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at Bunker Hills Activities Center, 550 Bunker Lake Blvd. NW, Andover. There also is information on our plant sale (hundreds of plants at reasonable prices) and the plant diagnostic clinic, which offers expert help with your landscape and garden problems.

Lynda Ellis is an Anoka County Master Gardener.

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Garden Views: Tips on adding a rain garden to your property

Spring is here, and for Storey Slone that means it's time to mix compost tea.

Slone works in organic lawn care for Dave Leonard Tree Specialists. Compost tea is a lawn application that contains plant growth compounds and beneficial microorganisms that condition soil without the use of man-made chemicals.

Leonard, a well-known Lexington arborist, said he was drawn to lawn care after seeing a cluster of red oaks with leaves curled up "just like a fist."

The culprit was the toxic turf chemicals being used in the area, he said.

"I asked, 'Which would you rather have, dandelions or red oaks?'" Leonard said.

Organic lawn care can be a little more expensive than the standard fertilizer with a sock of chemical weed and pest control, but it also has a different focus, Leonard said. A base price for the Leonard program is about $65 per thousand square feet per treatment, plus $55 for soil amendments (first year cost only). The number of visits varies according to the program selected.

While some Lexington-area lawn care companies offer an organic program as an option with or without add-in chemical weed control, at the Leonard company which offers two all-organic lawn care plans organic lawn care is the preferred route.

Organic lawns can take several years to fully establish, but the goal is to feed the soil for the long term, with probiotics that help aerate the lawn and reduce compacted soil. Nourishing the soil helps the lawn squeeze out pesky intruders such as nutsedge, the wide-bladed weed that seems to tower over grass immediately after mowing. Also, it helps give grass deeper roots so that it can withstand weather stresses, Leonard said.

Nutsedge thrives in poorly drained, compacted soils, Slone said.

"A lot of these yards are just sterile," Leonard said. "We know for longevity you want an organic lawn. ... If you improve the soil you get a better lawn. Spraying it with a quick-release fertilizer does not improve the soil."

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Compost tea can quench your lawn's thirst this spring

LIHUE At first sight, the group gathered under a monkeypod tree on the lawn of the Historic County Building on Wednesday appeared to be preparing for an appearance before the Kauai County Council.

Instead, the group centered around Frederick and Blanche Acoba, volunteers with the Mana Ohana Sober Support Services, who were processing paperwork for free bus passes.

We have been volunteering with Mana Ohana for about a couple of months, now, Frederick said. During that time, weve given out more than 300 free bus passes to people.

Kem French said Mana Ohana Sober Support Services has a contract with the state of Hawaii under the Federal Access to Recovery grant.

If an individual has experienced substance abuse, or alcoholism, the government has assistance to aid in recovery, said French, an assessor with Mana Ohana.

Mana Ohana is designed to provide clients with substance abuse clinical treatment and recovery support service providers, and increase the capacity of the recovery-oriented system of care.

The monthly bus passes are within the scope of the program it currently provides, French said.

Frederick Acoba said they picked the site of the lawn of the Historic County Building because he saw how many people had gathered there during the Bill 2491 hearing.

Weve also gone to bus stops, the beaches and other places where we see people who might need our help, Frederick said.

Junior Pardua of Lihue was one of the recipients, returning Wednesday before his current pass expires at the end of the month.

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Crowd gathers for free rides

Published:Wednesday, March 19, 2014

Updated:Wednesday, March 19, 2014 01:03

The lawn next to Cooper Hall may be an odd place for a farmhouse. But since Monday, students have taken a tour of one there.

Once inside, students are presented with pictures of abused animals and toy mockups of de-feathered chickens crammed into a small cage. A documentary narrated by former Beatle and PETA-Pal Paul McCartney depicting animal mistreatment is projected on the back wall.

The large tent resembling a red barn was set up by PETA2, the youth division of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), to inform college students about the bloodstained meat industry.

Sacha Sweet, a tour administrator for the organization, said the exhibit is called The Glass Walls Exhibit.

Were trying to lift the curtain on the plight of animals in heavily industrialized animal agriculture in the United States, Sweet said. Were trying to bring light to how there are 10 billion land-based animals slaughtered every year for human consumption in the United States.

Americans are often given a fairy tale image of how most animals on a farm live, he said.

People imagine chickens roaming fields and family farmers milking cows, while in actuality it is often stuffed cages and cold machines.

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PETA displays reality of meat industry

There might be a new solution to keep your landscape alive during this difficult dry spell. The new product, Hydretain, was used on a residential lawn for the first time in Wichita Falls on Thursday morning.

Hydretain is being sold at the Smith Gardentown in Wichita Falls. We spoke with the co-owner of the store and he explained how the product works.

"It actually pulls moisture and humidity out of the air and transfers it into the soil so it becomes more available to the roots of your trees, shrubs, and grass," Steve Smith, Co-owner of Smith Gardentown said.

With stage four water restrictions in place and stage five looming over us, watering our lawns is not an option. Research of the product showed that it can reduce the amount of water moisture needed for your lawn by 50-percent.

Smith said, "Well, obviously since we are not able to water now, we need to give out landscape plants all the help we can possibly can and this product will help and has been proven by several universities."

Smith explained Purdue and the University of Florida have tested the product and it showed that it pulls the moisture out of the air and transfers it into the soil so your plants can utilize it.

There are different options you can choose from if you are interested in treating your lawn. Smith Gardentown can come out to your property and do the treatment, the cost will depend on the size of the yard. The water they use to treat your landscape is from reclaimed water that goes to their pond at the nursery.

"We come out and we put the granular down around the trees and then we come back with the liquid version and water it in," Smith said.

However, you can also do it yourself, as long as you have your own water source available. It comes in the ready to use sprayer that has an attachment on the bottle. A granular solution is also available at the store.

If you are not able to do that, then you can get the granular and out it down and wait for the rain to water it," Smith explained.

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Wet Without Water

(PRWEB) March 13, 2014

The snow is finally melting in Philadelphia and homeowners are seeing lawns for the first time in months. Unfortunately, many are finding significant damage including strange runways chiseled through lawns, ugly pink tinged spots and tree and shrub roots that appear to be gnawed. Giroud Tree and Lawn explains the problems and the lawn and tree service actions homeowners can take to repair the damage and get ready for Spring.

Heavy snow created the perfect environment for lawn damage from voles and fungus, explains Mike Taraborrelli, Lawn Service Manager at Giroud Tree and Lawn. While voles were able feed and dig undisturbed for months, snow mold fungus also erupted on many lawns.

Strange, meandering cracks or runways in the lawn are the first sign of vole activity and damage. Voles dig runways under the snow to venture out from burrows located in well hidden spots like mulch, tall grass, wood piles and rocks. Searching for food is the primary mission of this foray. Besides chewing blades of grass down to ground level, voles may also do considerable tree and shrub damage.

Most lawns will recover from vole damage without help. Lawns with extensive damage may require homeowner or lawn service intervention. Actions can include raking away the debris and excrement in the runways, additional topsoil, a light application of fertilizer and overseeding areas that do not recover with a compatible mix of grasses. Overseeding should be done before pre-emergent crabgrass controls are applied.

Vole damage to trees and shrubs can be life threatening. Single stemmed trees like dogwood and crabapple will likely die if voles have girdled the tree by eating the bark completely around the trunk. Multi-stemmed shrubs like Juniper, Rhododendron, Viburnum, Euonymous (Burning Bush) and Azalea can survive. Professional pruning and/or fertilization may help with recovery.

A second common problem caused by the heavy snow cover is snow mold. Characterized by circular patches of matted grass with a pinkish tinge, snow mold is a fungus that erupts in cold, wet conditions. For extensive damage, fungicide treatment, lawn aeration to open up the matted areas and slit seeding are recommended.

To ensure the lawn, trees and shrubs are ready for spring, homeowners should contact a lawn service professional to inspect lawn condition and health. Trees and shrubs damaged by voles, winter storms or other problems should be evaluated by an ISA Certified Arborist for safety and health to determine if removal is required or if the plants can be saved.

About Giroud Tree and Lawn Giroud Tree and Lawn specializes in tree service, tree removal and lawn care programs that make customers love doing business with the company since 1974. Serving Bucks, Montgomery and Philadelphia Counties, the company offers professional tree and lawn evaluation, tree pruning, tree removal, insect and disease control, fertilizing, stump removal and traditional and 100% organic lawn programs to keep lawns healthy and green . Giroud Arborists are certified by the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) and have the knowledge and experience required to properly diagnose, treat and maintain trees and lawn health. The company has been awarded the Angie's List Super Service Award every year since 2005. The Giroud Treework for Charity program donates free tree care services to parks, historical sites and other non-profit organizations located in the Companys service area. For more information, visit the company website at http://www.giroudtree.com or call 215-682-7704.

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Lawn and Tree Problems are Visible as the Snow Melts in Philadelphia and Giroud Tree and Lawn Explains Tree and Lawn ...