Home Run:Hedge fund manager Steven Cohenclincheda $2.5 billion deal to buy the New York Mets, pending a vote of Major League Baseball owners.

Buyout:French billionaire Patrick Drahihas offered2.5 billion to take full control of the Altice Europe telecoms company.

Counter Offer:Disgraced former Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-NY) isnow the CEOof Brooklyn-based countertop company IceStone.

Speaking Out:Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Vindman, the retired National Security Council aide fired for testifying in the House impeachment hearings,discussedhis views on the current state of U.S.-Russia relations in an interview withThe Atlantics Jeffrey Goldberg.

Jewish Vote:Anew online pollshows Trump gaining support among Jewish voters over his 2016 showing, receiving a slight boost from the Israel-UAE accord. The Republican Jewish Coalitiontook outa full-page ad in todaysNew York Timespraising Trump as a peacemaker.

Viral Hate:A number of WhatsApp groups targeting Latino voters in Floridaare spreadingantisemitic statements about Biden and promoting QAnon conpiracy theories.

Media Watch:The Miami Heraldcut tieswith a Spanish-language weekly ad supplement, LIBRE, after discovering multiple instances of antisemitic and racist commentary.

Early Departure:U.S. Ambassador to China Terry Branstadannouncedhe is stepping down from his post after three years and will return to Iowa.

Friendly Reminder:Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez ObradorwarnedIsrael not to protect former Mexican official Tomas Zeron, who is suspected of hiding out there to avoid arrest on charges of torture.

Justice Served:An Israeli courtsentencedAmiram Ben-Uliel to three life sentences for firebombing the Dawabsheh family home in the West Bank in 2015, killing three.

No Entry:Hundreds of Hasidic Jewsblockedtraffic and a border crossing between Belarus and Ukraine last night after being denied entry to Ukraine to visit Uman for Rosh Hashanah.

Sent Home:The JCC of Greater Rochester islaying off296 of its staffers due to New Yorks coronavirus-imposed restrictions on its fitness center.

Across the Pond:The Liberal DemocratssuspendedLondon mayoral candidate Geeta Sidhu-Robb after a 1997 clip of her antisemitic comments reemerged.

VIP Club:Prince Charleshas been nameda patron of Jewish youth group the Jewish Lads and Girls Brigade (JLGB) as it celebrates its 125th anniversary.

Under Threat:Polands former presidential candidatecomparedhis countrys treatment of the LGBTQ community to the way Jews were dehumanized before the Holocaust.

Record Deal:A 12-year-old viral rapper from Gazalandedan offer from record label EMPIRE.

Sneak Peek:Israels Yes Studiosunveileda preview yesterday of the third season of Shtisel.

Silver Screen:An upcoming animated documentary, The Klarsfelds,tellsthe story of real-life Nazi hunters Beate and Serge Klarsfeld.

Remembering:Italian physician Amos Luzzatto, who also served as a leader of the Jewish community in Italy,diedat 92. Oscar-winning songwriter Al Kashadiedat 85. Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court Chief Justice Ralph Gantsdiedat age 66.

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Daily Kickoff: Big day & crowd on the South Lawn + How the satirist Andy Borowitz is prepping for November - Jewish Insider

A suspected drunken driver shot and killed last month after causing a crash on Viking Way then trying to force his way into a nearby house had been warned minutes before in a separate confrontation that his aggressive behavior was going to get him shot.

Witnesses said Eric William Rose, 28, climbed out of the window of his totaled 2008 Jeep Patriot on Aug.2 and ran away from the multi-vehicle crash he had just caused near the 18100 block of the roadway. He apparently wanted to hide in ahouse, wherea woman and a nearly 2-year-old girl were hiding from him, according to statements gathered by Kitsap County Sheriffs Office detectives.

While in the yard, Rose charged toward the womans husband, Joshua Ray Johnson, 27, after Johnson repeatedly warned Rose, according to Johnson and another witness at the scene.

Eric Rose(Photo: contributed)

Johnson shot Rose three times with a .45-caliber pistol from a distance of 3 or 4feet, according to Johnson.

I pretty much on repeat just kept saying, I dont want to shoot you, over and over and over and over, Johnson told detectives in a voluntary recorded statement. I dont know how many times I said it. I felt like I said it about a million times just over and over to him.

Johnson added: It was not something that I wanted to do at all.

In a statement issued Thursday through his attorney, Johnson said he could not express his sadness from the shooting and could not imagine the pain felt by Roses loved ones.

Details of the crash and shooting and the 45 minutes or so that led up to the final confrontation were pieced together from the investigation by the sheriff's office obtained by the Kitsap Sun through the state Public Records Act.

Roses parents believe their son had relapsed after about three months of sobriety. Following the high-speed crash no serious injuries were reported they believe he panicked knowing he would be sent to jail, something he feared.

They told the Kitsap Sun they had never seen Rose highly intoxicated or act aggressively.

Rose was part Native American and his parents needed special permission to adopt him as a newborn. They described him as a loving son and brother, a talented musician and chef who had struggled with alcoholism and feelings of alienation. Plus, he had trouble finding work after the coronavirus pandemic shuttered restaurants.

During the confrontation, Johnson described Roses behavior as bizarre and frightening, with him laughing at one moment, cursing at Johnson the next and then growing increasingly aggressive once he learned Johnson had a pistol.

A witness, who happened upon the shooting scene after the wreck and did not know Johnson, said he heard Johnson say I dont want to shoot you three times before Rose charged him.

The witness said Rose wasnt running at Johnson, But he was coming at him fast, flailing his arms, in a threatening manner with his chest puffed up, according to reports.

No arrests have been made. Kitsap County Prosecutor Chad Enright is reviewing the case for possible charges.

"It may take me several weeks to review the case in its entirety," Enright said.

Rose had been living with his parents since being arrested in April near Issaquah for drunken driving when he drove into a ditch. Court documents say he had a blood-alcohol content of .23, nearly three times the legal limit, and a deputy called to the scene described Roses demeanor as extremely belligerent.

Following the arrest, Rose entered treatment and was fitted with an alcohol-monitoring bracelet to ensure he did not drink. A King County District Court judge agreed to remove the bracelet on July 29, four days before his death on Aug.2.

On Aug.1, Roses parents left him alone at their house to attend a family camping trip to the Olympic Peninsula. The family had been staying together during the COVID-19 quarantine and said Rose had shown improvement with his treatment and was in good spirits when they left.

An estimated 30 to 45 minutes before the shooting, a witness driving by reported seeing Roses Jeep speed out of a driveway near the 16300 block of Scandia Way his parents house seemingly without looking for other cars. Rose lived about a mile-and-a-half from the Johnsons.

The Jeep then drove away so recklessly the witness wondered if the driver had just burglarized the house.

Rose ended up at the Red Apple grocery store on Viking Way in Poulsbo, and while trying to buy a bottle of liquor, got into an argument with clerks when they refused to sell to him, generating a 911 call.

While at the store, a man there said Rose put his hands on the shoulders of a woman in line she was standing with a child and whispered something in her ear. The man said it appeared this frightened the woman so he told Rose to keep his hands to himself.

The two men then got into a heated argument in the parking lot, which the man said Rose initiated.

The man said Rose kept coming at him like he had no fear whatsoever. The man described himself as 6 feet tall, 225 pounds and has never had anyone come up on him like that.

As Rose approached, the man told Rose to stay back four to five times before the two bumped bellies, according to documents.

He told (Rose) he was going to get shot, noting he was carrying a concealed pistol, a detective wrote. Rose just stood there and the man went back inside the Red Apple he said an employee asked him to stick around until Rose was gone.

Based on 911 call logs, about 24 minutes after the confrontation in the Red Apple parking lot where he was warned he was going to get shot because of his aggressive behavior Rose was shot dead by Johnson.

Eric Rose(Photo: contributed)

Before driving south on Viking Way toward his parents house, Roses Jeep was seen by an off-duty Bainbridge police officer speeding into a nearby cul-de-sac where the officer lived and doing donuts. The driver appeared to be trying to grab a flag from a child at play figure on the street, meant to warn drivers that children could be in the roadway.

The officer memorized the license plate and went to his patrol car to find out the owners name. While running the plate number through the computer system he heard the rest of the event play out over the radio, ending with a shots fired call.

The officer, Corporal Bill Shields, wrote that he then ran into his house to get his duty belt and vest and hurried to the scene, hoping to render aid, but arrived after deputies.

After leaving the cul-de-sac and speeding back onto Viking Way, Rose then drove to the nearby McDonalds where he was seen hitting a fence and driving over a sidewalk before speeding away, generating another 911 call.

Moments later, while driving south at extreme speeds on Viking Way, Rose struck one vehicle from behind, swerved into the oncoming lane and struck another vehicle almost head-on, according to a statement from the sheriffs office.

A preliminary analysis of computer data recovered from Roses Jeep showed he was traveling at 103 mph five seconds before the airbags deployed. He was traveling at 65 mph when the airbags deployed. The speed limit on the road is 40 mph.

A witness who called 911 was astonished at the speed the Jeep was traveling. Incredible speed, he told a dispatcher.

After the wreck reported at 4:33 p.m. witnesses said Rose climbed out of the window of the Jeep and ran away.

Inside the Jeep which had a Dont tread on me sticker on the back investigators would find empty alcohol containers, a crossbow and ammunition to two different types of handguns, but no guns were found. No witnesses reported seeing Rose with a firearm.

Johnson, a former Marine sergeant, told detectives he always carries a gun and just before the shooting had been intending to take a trip to the hardware store. Johnson kept the gun concealed in a holster in his waistband.

After realizing there had been a crash on the road in front of his house he said he went outside to help while his wife called 911 to report the crash. He then encountered Rose in his yard and asked if he was OK.

It appeared Rose was trying to hide behind a tree he told Johnson to be quiet and said Shhhhh.

Johnson heard people from the crash yelling that Rose was involved and to not let him get away. Rose then asked Johnson to let him inside his house, even offering to pay him up to $1,000.

He was uncomfortable cause he knew people were telling me not to let him get away, Johnson said, according to a transcript of the interview. He started asking me if he could get inside my house and ... I said no, you cant.

Johnson said Rose ran past him through the yard but he didnt chase after him.

I didnt want to pursue him, it wasnt like I was trying to be a hero, said Johnson, who said he hoped Rose would continue running, but instead Rose started trying to get inside his house.

At this point, Johnson said he went back inside and told his wife to lock the doors. He then went back outside. He said he never pursued Rose, but as Rosetried to enter his house and then his garage, Johnson told him to stop, to calm down and that Johnsons wife and child were inside.

Rose moved through the yard and threw a pallet and then, finding a long wooden stick used to measure heating oil, threw it at Johnson like a spear but missed.

It appeared to Johnson that Rose was becoming increasingly agitated, and again, Rose turned his attention back toward breaking into the house.

I feel like enough is enough, I might as well escalate to the next level here cause I dont know what hes gonna do, Johnson said. He removed his pistol to chamber a round preparing it to fire but reholstered it.

Johnson said Rose did not see him prepare the gun to fire. Further, Johnson said he had not indicated to Rose that he was armed.

However, as Rose seemed to become more agitated and focused on Johnson, and then the house, Johnson said he put his hand on the pistol and told Rose to stop and stay where he was.

It appeared to Johnson that once Rose realized he had a gunRose became more agitated.

When he noticed that I had something on me, he immediately got aggressive, Johnson told detectives. Rose began cursing at him and telling me I wouldnt shoot him and then he started walking towards me.

Johnson said he assumed Rose was scared that he may have killed somebody in the wreck.

He was scared and that scared transformed into anger and then he got he was just frustrated and angry and aggressive, Johnson told detectives.

Johnson said Rose who was physically larger than Johnson frightened him. Rose was 5-feet-11-inches tall and 160 pounds, according to court documents; Johnson was described by his wife as 5-feet-9-inches tall.

I was really scared, Johnson said, fearful that Rose would overpower him and enter his house. I didnt know what the next step was there and what he would do if he got in ... with my daughter and my wife so I wasnt gonna let him do it.

Johnson said despite repeated warnings Rose kept advancing. Johnson pulled out the pistol and shot Rose three times. He told detectives he did not draw the gun until he fired.

I never drew it until it was I actually was firing, Johnson said.

He then unloaded the gun and kneeled on the lawn to wait for police.

Another bystander with medic training tried to administer first aid. Rose was declared dead at the scene.

Investigators established a timeline of the crash and shooting from a neighboring business's security camera, which showed Rose was in Johnsons yard for about five minutes before Johnson shot him.

One-and-a-half minutes after the shooting, a sheriff's deputy sergeant arrived.

Johnson released to the Kitsap Sun the following statement through his attorney, Tim Kelly:

There are no words to express my sadness following the events of August 2, 2020. Loss of life, however it occurs, is always tragic. While my life has changed forever, I cannot imagine the pain felt by Mr. Roses family and friends. This is a heartbreaking situation for everyone involved.

Read or Share this story: https://www.kitsapsun.com/story/news/2020/09/18/shooter-poulsbo-crash-it-not-something-wanted-do-all/3487325001/

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Shooter at Poulsbo crash: 'It was not something that I wanted to do at all' - Kitsap Sun

The Syracuse-based Plowz and Mowz lawn mowing company is offering a discount code as a thank you to health care professionals and front line workers for their hard work during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to an article by WICZ News.

CEO and co-founder of the company, Wills Mahoney, says this campaign means a lot to him, as his own twin sister is a first responder.

Plowz and Mowz is an on-demand lawn mowing company, servicing 55 markets nationwide. Since the beginning of their campaign, the company has already more than 5,000 lawns for health care workers.

Our missions always been to help people, and you know we were seeing nurses and healthcare workers working around the clock, 12-plus hours, and we said the last thing they probably want to do is mow their lawn when they get home. So we set out to offer free lawn mows, Mahoney says in the article.

For the frontline workers in need of an extra hand in their outdoor chores, all they need to do is visit the companys website and use the discount code HERO to save up to $60 on their services.

The discount campaign will continue for at least another week, but customers can schedule their lawn care services for a later date if needed.

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Plowz and Mowz offering free lawn services to health care workers - Irrigation & Green Industry magazine

LifestyleHomes and GardensCutting the grass may sound like a simple task.

Monday, 18th May 2020, 9:49 am

With the lawn looking a little unkempt, simply give it the once over with the lawnmower. Sorted.

Thats one way of doing it, but there are so many more things you could be bearing in mind.

There are ways of doing things that will keep your grass in better nick in the long run, and as everybodys got a little more time on their hands these days, now is the perfect opportunity to try them out.

Here are seven top tips for a happier lawn:

Service your lawn mower regularly

The first step to having a healthy lawn, is to have a healthy lawnmower.

Keeping its innards clean and free from the build up of any clippings is an easy way to keep your machine ticking over nicely.

But once a year, its worth getting your mower serviced regularly, looking for chips on the blades, and checking whether theyre still sharp.

Blunt blades can actually damage your grass, bruising it instead of giving it a nice, clean cut.

Adjust the regularity of cuts during the year

Grass grows at different rates throughout the year, so it stands to reason that the regularity of your trims should vary too.

Grass needs cutting less frequently in early spring, but you may need to mow twice weekly when growth rates peak in late spring.

Cut your grass to the right height

Unlike an efficient haircut, you dont actually want to get your moneys worth (or mowney's worth) and take your grass as short as possible with each cut.

The ideal height for lawn grass is are 2.5cm 4cm tall, though if you have the patience, different lengths should be utilised in different areas of your garden.

Patches that get more wear and tear should be left longer at around 4cm 5cm, while shaded section should be longer still, at 7cm 8cm.

Set your blades to the right height

To get that perfect grass blade height, youll want to adjust the cutting height of your mower.

People can often neglect to do this, but if you want to be proud of your lawns luscious leaves, its a must!

Who hasnt exuberantly taken on a lawn cut, only to find their mower quickly clogging up with damp cuttings.

Your first mistake? Giving the lawn a trim while its not dry.

Not only could the mower jam, but it will also smear and rut the soil, with wet grass clippings clumping and smothering the lawn.

Aim to only mow when both the grass and soil are dry.

Put the clippings to good use

You can compost your grass clippings of course (though youll want to mix them with carbon-rich brown material to avoid slimy compost, but in the summer, you should leave the clippings on the lawn to retain moisture.

Mowing the lawn neednt be the arduous chore youve treated it as all these years.

Experiment while youre out there with heights, stripes and all sorts of finishes.

You could even leave areas to grow free if you want to encourage wildlife into a secluded corner! Have fun with it.

Link:
How to cut the grass: 7 top tips for lawn care - and when you should mow it - The Scotsman

Buy Photo

Bartender Carrie Boyle wipes down the bar at A.J. O'Brady's Irish Pub & Grill in Menomonee Falls on Thursday. Patrons were spaced 6 feet apart at the bar and surfaces were cleaned after every patron. In addition, the bar is taking reservations for a limited number of tables available.(Photo: Rick Wood / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)

Milwaukee and other area municipalities announced a flurry of openings Friday, just asMemorial Day weekend arrived.

Among the announcements Friday was everything from Milwaukee churches reopening to state parks resuming normal business hours. Here's a list of everything open during the long weekend:

Live Updates: The latest on coronavirus in Wisconsin

Daily Digest: What you need to know about coronavirus in Wisconsin

Share Your Story:We want to talk to doctors, nurses and others affected by coronavirus

According to the public health order issued in Milwaukee, all public and privategatherings are limited to a maximum of 10 people, andbusinesses are also expected to have customers maintain social distancing. Businesses allowed to open include:

A public health order for suburban Milwaukee County businesses expired Thursday, allowing bars and restaurants to offer indoor seating and dine-in services.

Here's a list of how some prominent businesses plan to welcome guests and customers this weekend.

Beginning Saturday, Wisconsin state park properties will return to regular operating hours of 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. seven days a week, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources announced Friday.

All restrooms will remain closed through June 2 and all group campsites and shelter reservations will remain closed and canceled at leastthrough June 7, according to a news release.

Temporary capacity restrictions will still be used as needed to prevent overcrowding at properties, the release said. Updates on capacity restrictions can be found here.

Rock Island State Park, however, will remain close to all use until July 1 due to high lake levels interfering with ferry service.

The DNR also said four other properties will remain closed for the health safety of the public:Dells of The Wisconsin RiverStateNatural Area, Gibraltar RockStateNatural Area, Parfrey's Glen StateNatural Area andPewits Nest StateNatural Area.

All facilities such astowers, shelters, playgrounds, nature centers, headquarters, entrance stations and concession buildings remain closed to the public.

Contact Elliot Hughes at elliot.hughes@jrn.com or 414-704-8958. Follow him on Twitter@elliothughes12.

Read or Share this story: https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/2020/05/22/list-everything-open-and-around-milwaukee-weekend/5245082002/

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Here's a list of everything in and around Milwaukee that's open for Memorial Day weekend, including beaches and libraries - Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Nothing in this world is certain, except death and taxes, according to Benjamin Franklin. Thats not entirely true. He left out weeds.

Anyone with a yard or garden knows that weeds are a near certainty. Plant it, and they will come; weeds, that is.

Weeds can take the fun out of gardening, if we let them get the upper hand in our vegetable gardens, landscapes and flower beds.

Weeds are a major challenge in lawns, landscapes and gardens. Michael Vosburg / Forum Photo Editor

But we can win the war on weeds, and the following tips can help.

Hoeing weeds when small is a key to control. Michael Vosburg / Forum Photo Editor

ARCHIVE: Read more of Don Kinzler's Growing Together columns

Don Kinzler, a lifelong gardener, is the horticulturist with North Dakota State University Extension for Cass County. Readers can reach him at kinzlerd@casscountynd.gov or call 701-241-5707.

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Conquering weeds in the yard and garden | INFORUM - INFORUM

I recently saw a social media post showing an image of an emerging pin cushion. Its a two of a kind working on a full house scenario. So barely a pin cushion on the old Jeff-Luc-ometer. Of course, everyone has their own opinion based on a single photograph as to which pin is better. The debate and camaraderie were thought-provoking, so I broke editorial code and chipped in my two cents. The underlying question is what binds us to calling any particular object evidence? I like to think I rely on evidence that will lead to facts supporting the original grant. Thus, I need an authoritative basis for accepting evidence. All of you old dogs know this. Im willing to assume that you understand because you were mentored. Our profession is working if our folks can say they earned this wisdom through mentoring rather than hard knocks. The mentoring process is designed to pass second-hand knowledge so that we dont have to reinvent the wheel or take any lumps to the forehead. The artful craft of sorting evidence is learned through experience. Retracing and substantiating the authoritative grant should keep us from stabbing that pincushion like a worn-out voodoo doll and lead us to the real egg in the basket. There may be a path to cleaning up the other fiddle sticks but were gonna have put on the mommy/daddy pants and be willing to communicate with the owners and lawn archers. Can we measure, document and remove foul markers under the authority a boundary agreement? If you think so, then would you be willing to yank your foul corners under the terms of a boundary agreement? Sounds counterintuitive to remove marks but the end result is a single point of notice under a documented agreement. Id need to see some really strong before, during, and after documentation of this rigid and abrupt event. There could very well be some conveyancing involved too. At some point we have to fess up to the cause and relieve our profession of this nuisance. How about implementing a standard of care that requires any newly set monument to be accompanied by a certified mailing of notice to all impacted parties? If you fear it will jack up the price of your survey, then use whats already there and save your client a few bucks. If you fear that youll lose billable time from not replacing corners, then youre probably not charging enough in the first place. I have come to believe that the reason we see these shenanigans is two-fold. Number one were not digging around enough and number two the offensive surveyor is not required to face the folks were impacting. Theres no such thing as a secret survey so why dont we feel the need to engage the common owners when the lawn darts start piling up? I boil it down to this. Laying out a new subdivision is a mechanical exercise done under a single authority. Johnny Ironpusher can play all the games he wants out in the barren plains of a brand-new subdivision. The developer hired his outfit by the hour to mark it as they see it. Heck, the courts even give them a free pass if they mess up on that first shot. On the other hand, the courts have set a higher bar for the retracement surveyor. This function constructs authoritative evidence of multiple grants independently marked in time. So, back to my questions. Can we offer a legally sound process to pull the lawn darts? Do you possess the professional skills to engage the people you are impacting?

About the Author

Jason Foose

Jason Foose is a Professional Surveyor licensed in multiple jurisdictions.

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From the Editor: Pin Cushion Corners - Amerisurv

In March, seeds were carefully planted, watered, fertilized and cared for.

In April, we watched as those plants grew beautiful and green with fruit that made us hopeful. Then May arrived with the arrival of insects that dashed our dreams and stung us while we tried to care for our precious gardens. Some plants not only produce flowers and/or food, but they also repel insects.

Many plants can help repel mosquitoes. The citronella geranium can be planted in containers around the porch. There is even a citronella grass that can be planted.

Citronella oil is found in lemongrass and is commonly used in candles and sprays to repel mosquitoes.

Cats are smart to love catnip. It is a very effective mosquito repellant. It works best if the plant is crushed and rubbed on the skin (if you are not allergic) or if the essential oils are used in a spray.

Rosemary and sage both repel mosquitoes when burned, so they can be used in the barbecue pit or campfire to lessen the population of biting insects.

The smell of basil naturally deters mosquitoes. It is also toxic to mosquito larvae, so it can be planted close to areas where you dont want mosquitoes to lay eggs.

Peppermint oil is great for repelling mosquitoes and easing the sting of mosquito bites. Bee balm attracts bees, butterflies and hummingbirds. If you crush the leaves, the scent will repel mosquitoes.

Plants can also repel other garden pests. Marigolds repel many different insects, so many people plant them in the garden to keep bugs off their vegetables. They repel aphids, mosquitoes, nematodes and whiteflies. Petunias repel aphids, asparagus beetles, tomato hornworms, leafhoppers and squash bugs. Thyme repels whiteflies, cabbage loopers, cabbage maggots, whiteflies, tomato hornworms, and corn earworms. Lavender is also a great insect repellent, but it does not like our humid environment, so it does not grow well here.

These plants will not keep all insects away from the garden, but they will beautify the garden while decreasing the number of pests and helping you enjoy the fruits of your labor.

Reach Jefferson County Master Gardener, Melissa Starr, at melynstarr@hotmail.com or call the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension at 409-835-8461.

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OUT IN THE YARD Plants that repel bugs and protect our hard work - Port Arthur News - The Port Arthur News

Rodney Smith Jr. is making a difference across communities one lawn at a time. He is the founder of Raising Men Lawn Care Service, a nonprofit organization that provides free lawn care to the elderly, those who are disabled, single parents, and veterans.

Hes not just maintaining lawns, hes shaping the youth of the future as well, helping girls and boys understand their value in society.

I wanted to use this as an outlet, so kids could put down the video games and get out there in the community and give back because I believe its important for kids to learn how to give back before they receive things, Rodney Smith Jr told Cheddar Wednesday.

He's challenging kids to cut 50 lawns for free for those who need it most. For every 10 lawns cut, they get a new Raising Men or Raising Women shirt in different colors. Once they get to 50 lawns, they get a new color shirt along with a brand new lawnmower, weed eater, and blower that Smith said he would personally deliver to anywhere in the country.

The organizer said about 50 kids have completed this challenge and 750 are currently taking it on.

They are becoming active in their community and that's a beautiful thing to see, Smith said.

Smith also added that amid the coronavirus pandemic he started what he called a "mow and drop" service that includes grocery drop-offs along with lawn care for those stuck inside.

Originally posted here:
Lawn Care Nonprofit Challenges Young People to Be Active in Their Community - Cheddar

ROCHESTER, Minn. (KTTC) -- When Minnesota Governor Tim Walz extended his 'stay at home' executive order Wednesday, he also modified the order to include more businesses as essential allowing them back to work.

That list now includes lawn care and landscaping businesses, including American Turf Technician and Creative Curb Appeal in Rochester.

"I got the article right to my phone and when I read that and saw that we are apart of critical sector I got happy and excited," Mandy Wiley said, American Turf Technician and Creative Curb Appeal Manager. She added, "With the pandemic and everything that has happened we have seen a cut in revenue."

One thing that surprised Wiley is the number of people wanting lawn care during the shut down.

"I was actually really surprised with the amount of phone calls that we were getting from customers," Wiley stated. "We do cater to the older demographic of people so they can't really get at and mow their own yards."

In order to keep the employees and community safe the company is taking extra precaution to sanitize the equipment.

Although business is now back to usual, Mother Nature might be putting a pause on lawn care once again.

"We want to get out and get started right away, but the snow is going to put a hold on that," Mandy said. "My greatest hope is that we can return to some kind of normalcy."

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ESSENTIAL BUSINESSES: Lawn care services added to the list - KTTC