washingtontimes--2020-05-23--Florida shortens stone crab season over industry objections

GAINESVILLE , Fla. ( AP ) - Florida ’ s $ 30 million stone crab industry is snapping mad over the state ’ s decision to reduce by five weeks the seven-month harvest season for what is widely considered a classic but expensive delicacy in the Sunshine State .
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission said the shortened season and other new limits are necessary to sustain Florida stone crabs , whose large , meaty claws are removed and served boiled with melted butter or mustard sauce .
The agency said the shorter season was expected to reduce the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at least 10 % .
The agency ’ s scientists said many crabs don ’ t survive their claws being removed , and crabs have been overharvested since the late 1990s .
Its data , challenged as inaccurate by the industry , showed the fewest pounds of stone crab claws harvested since 1986 during the season that ended last year .
Commercial crabbers across Florida are pushing back , worried that new limits will cut their profit margins or even force them out of business .
It ’ s unclear how the new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ table prices .
A dinner portion of jumbo-size claws can run more than $ 100 at fine restaurants .
The meat is mild and slightly sweet with a texture similar to lobster .
The new changes come as restaurants and their suppliers across Florida suffered losses from mandatory closures during the pandemic .
Wholesale claw prices in some areas have tanked from low demand , as diners avoid restaurants and consumers reduce spending amid concerns about the economy .
The commission said Gov .
Ron DeSantis may reduce the amount of money crabbers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trap certificates as part of a crab-industry bailout related to the virus .
“ The fishermen started all taking out their traps , ” said the operations manager of the Lobster Walk fish market in Islamorada , Angel Borden .
“ They ’ re like , ‘ We can ’ t afford to keep fishing.
’ ” The season previously ran from mid-October to mid-May .
Crabbers are especially incensed that the new rules end the stone crab season April 9 , affecting sales for Easter and Mother ’ s Day .
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ market and restaurant , business picks up when stone crab season starts and tapers off a few days after the end of the season , said chief operating officer Taylor Mullins-Flores .
He said there is a boom for Mother ’ s Day .
Especially for crabbers in northern Florida , claws harvested toward the last few weeks of the season are more valued because the meat is easier to extract in warmer temperatures .
“ I ’ m in fear of my livelihood , ” said Kelly Kirk , whose fifth-generation fishing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Goodland in southwest Florida .
She said she worries the commission won ’ t consider her complaints to amend the new restrictions at its next meeting in July .
“ They really don ’ t listen to us.
” The government considered but rejected other options that also drew industry complaints , including a ban on taking both claws of each crab , an increase of the minimum claw size and a later start to the season .
The commission approved the stone crab changes last week during a meeting conducted online due @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the shorter season , Florida increased the minimum claw size by one-eighth inch ; mandated use of escape rings by 2023 to avoid smaller crabs and bycatch ; and limited the number of “ checker boxes ” to two per boat .
Checker boxes are receptacles where crabbers can place whole crabs temporarily to break off claws later .
“ No single one of them is enough to put the final nail in the coffin , but each one of them chips away at the viability , especially of fish houses like mine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ owns Stock Island Lobster Co. in Key West .
Marathon ’ s Keys Fisheries Inc. , one of the main suppliers of Miami Beach ’ s famous Joe ’ s Stone Crab restaurant , reels in about 3,000 to 5,000 pounds of claws a day , said manager Gary Graves , a commercial fishing veteran of 53 years .
“ Let ’ s not kill people and go down to a six-month season , ” Graves said .
The commission said in a statement that it recognized the economic impact of the new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ needed for this fishery to be sustainable in the future , ” spokeswoman Amanda Nalley said .
Requiring escape rings on new traps and installing them on old ones could be costly and time consuming , said Bill Kelly , executive director of the Florida Keys Commercial Fishing Industry .
He estimated the new rings cost about $ 4 each including labor , meaning a total cost to the industry of $ 3.6 million .
Some crabbers , such as Daniel Doxsee of Marco Island , said the rings will help prevent illegal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all care about conservation , ” said Doxsee , a third-generation stone crabber who runs Doxsee Seafood Inc. , a supplier for Kirk Fish Company .
He said half the commercial anglers in the Marco Island area have gone out of business in his lifetime .
Kelly Kofmehl of Crystal River , whose family has been stone-crabbing for more than 50 years , said commercial crabbers are devoted to the long-term health of the industry .
He said the commission wasn ’ t doing enough to compromise , and he proposed ending the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ You give an edge , and they want to take a mile , ” he said .
The industry challenged the commission ’ s data showing historically low catches last year , even as the data showed the value of the crab claws market soared to $ 30 million .
Commercial crabbers said the catch figures don ’ t include recreational catches or illegal harvests .
The commission did not respond to questions about its data at last week ’ s meeting .
Bacle in Key West was born to a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the water .
Soon , business operations were passed down to Bacle , who runs his lobster company with his son and two daughters .
He said the future is uncertain .
“ We ’ d like to keep the business going , ” he said , “ but we just don ’ t know.
” This story was produced by Fresh Take Florida , a news service of the University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications .
The reporters can be reached at [ email protected ] and [ email @ @

MARLOWE STARLING and SAMANTHA CHERY of Fresh Take Florida news service

GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) - Florida’s $30 million stone crab industry is snapping mad over the state’s decision to reduce by five weeks the seven-month harvest season for what is widely considered a classic but expensive delicacy in the Sunshine State.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission said the shortened season and other new limits are necessary to sustain Florida stone crabs, whose large, meaty claws are removed and served boiled with melted butter or mustard sauce. The agency said the shorter season was expected to reduce the amount of claws harvested each year by at least 10%.
The agency’s scientists said many crabs don’t survive their claws being removed, and crabs have been overharvested since the late 1990s. Its data, challenged as inaccurate by the industry, showed the fewest pounds of stone crab claws harvested since 1986 during the season that ended last year.
Commercial crabbers across Florida are pushing back, worried that new limits will cut their profit margins or even force them out of business. It’s unclear how the new restrictions might affect next year’s table prices. A dinner portion of jumbo-size claws can run more than $100 at fine restaurants. The meat is mild and slightly sweet with a texture similar to lobster.
The new changes come as restaurants and their suppliers across Florida suffered losses from mandatory closures during the pandemic. Wholesale claw prices in some areas have tanked from low demand, as diners avoid restaurants and consumers reduce spending amid concerns about the economy. The commission said Gov. Ron DeSantis may reduce the amount of money crabbers must pay for next season’s trap certificates as part of a crab-industry bailout related to the virus.
“The fishermen started all taking out their traps,” said the operations manager of the Lobster Walk fish market in Islamorada, Angel Borden. “They’re like, ‘We can’t afford to keep fishing.’”
The season previously ran from mid-October to mid-May. Crabbers are especially incensed that the new rules end the stone crab season April 9, affecting sales for Easter and Mother’s Day.
In Miami, at the Golden Rule Seafood market and restaurant, business picks up when stone crab season starts and tapers off a few days after the end of the season, said chief operating officer Taylor Mullins-Flores. He said there is a boom for Mother’s Day.
Especially for crabbers in northern Florida, claws harvested toward the last few weeks of the season are more valued because the meat is easier to extract in warmer temperatures.
“I’m in fear of my livelihood,” said Kelly Kirk, whose fifth-generation fishing family operates Kirk Fish Company out of Goodland in southwest Florida. She said she worries the commission won’t consider her complaints to amend the new restrictions at its next meeting in July. “They really don’t listen to us.”
The government considered but rejected other options that also drew industry complaints, including a ban on taking both claws of each crab, an increase of the minimum claw size and a later start to the season.
The commission approved the stone crab changes last week during a meeting conducted online due to the pandemic. In addition to the shorter season, Florida increased the minimum claw size by one-eighth inch; mandated use of escape rings by 2023 to avoid smaller crabs and bycatch; and limited the number of “checker boxes” to two per boat. Checker boxes are receptacles where crabbers can place whole crabs temporarily to break off claws later.
“No single one of them is enough to put the final nail in the coffin, but each one of them chips away at the viability, especially of fish houses like mine,” said Peter Bacle, who owns Stock Island Lobster Co. in Key West.
Marathon’s Keys Fisheries Inc., one of the main suppliers of Miami Beach’s famous Joe’s Stone Crab restaurant, reels in about 3,000 to 5,000 pounds of claws a day, said manager Gary Graves, a commercial fishing veteran of 53 years.
“Let’s not kill people and go down to a six-month season,” Graves said.
The commission said in a statement that it recognized the economic impact of the new rules. “But changes are also needed for this fishery to be sustainable in the future,” spokeswoman Amanda Nalley said.
Requiring escape rings on new traps and installing them on old ones could be costly and time consuming, said Bill Kelly, executive director of the Florida Keys Commercial Fishing Industry. He estimated the new rings cost about $4 each including labor, meaning a total cost to the industry of $3.6 million.
Some crabbers, such as Daniel Doxsee of Marco Island, said the rings will help prevent illegal harvests of small crabs. “We all care about conservation,” said Doxsee, a third-generation stone crabber who runs Doxsee Seafood Inc., a supplier for Kirk Fish Company. He said half the commercial anglers in the Marco Island area have gone out of business in his lifetime.
Kelly Kofmehl of Crystal River, whose family has been stone-crabbing for more than 50 years, said commercial crabbers are devoted to the long-term health of the industry. He said the commission wasn’t doing enough to compromise, and he proposed ending the season May 1, not April 9.
“You give an edge, and they want to take a mile,” he said.
The industry challenged the commission’s data showing historically low catches last year, even as the data showed the value of the crab claws market soared to $30 million. Commercial crabbers said the catch figures don’t include recreational catches or illegal harvests.
The commission did not respond to questions about its data at last week’s meeting.
Bacle in Key West was born to a fisherman-father who preferred to spend his days on the water. Soon, business operations were passed down to Bacle, who runs his lobster company with his son and two daughters. He said the future is uncertain.
“We’d like to keep the business going,” he said, “but we just don’t know.”
___
This story was produced by Fresh Take Florida, a news service of the University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications. The reporters can be reached at mstarling@freshtakeflorida.com and schery@freshtakeflorida.com.


washingtontimes--2020-05-23--Nature preserve will honor Quinney family farm

DELAVAN , Wis. ( AP ) - Richard Quinney is determined not to let the story of his family farm disappear .
Sometime this summer , he will make sure a sign goes up off Quinney Road , noting the spot in Walworth County where his great-grandparents settled in 1868 .
Three years ago , Richard sold most of the 160-acre family farm in the town of Sugar Creek to a neighbor .
But he could not imagine losing all the fields , woods and pond he explored as a child .
He needed a firm connection to the farm @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all of his 86 years .
So Richard secured a 5-acre portion , which includes land homesteaded by John and Bridget Quinney , who fled Ireland during the potato famine .
“ It was necessary for me spiritually , ” Richard explained to The Janesville Gazette , “ to keep a part of the farm - that I have always called The Old Place - close to me in my daily life.
” Today , Richard of Madison is creating a nature preserve on the private site .
In addition to placing a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , remove invasive species and landscape around three large stones moved there to provide seating for people seeking solitude .
Someday he hopes to share the preserve with the public and make it a place where children can explore and learn .
But now , the preserve is a way of keeping his family ’ s story alive .
If you talk to Richard , he will tell you that growing up on the farm with loving parents and a brother has been “ the primal center of my life.
” Even when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Richard was never destined to be a farmer .
Nor was his brother , Ralph .
Early in life , Richard knew he wanted to see the world beyond the country life he experienced as a child of the late 1930s and 1940s .
Once , during a weekend home from college , Richard ’ s car got stuck in the driveway during a snowstorm .
When his father , Floyd , maneuvered the tractor in place to pull him out , Richard shouted into the crisp winter air : “ I ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I ’ m never coming back.
” Richard spent his career as a sociologist and taught at universities in the East .
In 1983 , he accepted a professorship at Northern Illinois University and moved back to the Midwest to be near the farm and his mother , Alice .
He retired as professor emeritus in 1998 .
His father died in 1969 .
When his mother died in 1999 , he and Ralph inherited the farm .
For a time , he and Ralph improved the land through organic farming .
They @ @ @ @ @ @ @ farm , even though both had long since moved away .
But after Ralph died , Richard was the last one remaining of the four generations to live on the farm .
He was forced to ask the question : “ What is a family farm if there is no family on the land to farm it ?
” Richard decided to sell the family home and most of the farmland in 2017 .
A prolific author , he wrote eight books about the farm over the years to share his moving memories @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a Far Place , ” “ For the Time Being , ” “ Where Yet the Sweet Birds Sing , ” “ Of Time and Place ” and “ A Lifetime Burning.
” “ I became the one who would be like the ancient mariner , the teller of tales to anyone who would listen , ” Richard wrote in “ Of Time and Place.
” After years of publishing with commercial publishers , he founded Borderland Books in 2005 as an independent publisher of quality books .
Today , Richard travels weekly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Old Place .
On a recent weekend , he listened and watched intently from a well-positioned bench as migrating palm warblers flooded the pond and grove of trees at the bottom of the hill where his great-grandparents settled .
As summer comes , white wild indigo , prairie dock and sky blue aster will hug the landscape .
Richard hopes family descendants will know this place as their source of beginning in the new world .
He also hopes the few remaining acres will offer refuge and happiness for those who seek @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Loss of the family farm after generations of the family on the farm brings heartache and sorrow , ” Richard said .
“ But loss is the price for holding dearly to that which you love .
”

DELAVAN, Wis. (AP) - Richard Quinney is determined not to let the story of his family farm disappear.
Sometime this summer, he will make sure a sign goes up off Quinney Road, noting the spot in Walworth County where his great-grandparents settled in 1868.
Three years ago, Richard sold most of the 160-acre family farm in the town of Sugar Creek to a neighbor.
But he could not imagine losing all the fields, woods and pond he explored as a child. He needed a firm connection to the farm that has nourished and grounded him for all of his 86 years.
So Richard secured a 5-acre portion, which includes land homesteaded by John and Bridget Quinney, who fled Ireland during the potato famine.
“It was necessary for me spiritually,” Richard explained to The Janesville Gazette, “to keep a part of the farm - that I have always called The Old Place - close to me in my daily life.”
Today, Richard of Madison is creating a nature preserve on the private site.
In addition to placing a historical marker, he will construct paths, remove invasive species and landscape around three large stones moved there to provide seating for people seeking solitude.
Someday he hopes to share the preserve with the public and make it a place where children can explore and learn. But now, the preserve is a way of keeping his family’s story alive.
Witness to the end
If you talk to Richard, he will tell you that growing up on the farm with loving parents and a brother has been “the primal center of my life.” Even when he lived far from it.
But Richard was never destined to be a farmer. Nor was his brother, Ralph.
Early in life, Richard knew he wanted to see the world beyond the country life he experienced as a child of the late 1930s and 1940s.
Once, during a weekend home from college, Richard’s car got stuck in the driveway during a snowstorm. When his father, Floyd, maneuvered the tractor in place to pull him out, Richard shouted into the crisp winter air: “I’m leaving this God-forsaken place, and I’m never coming back.”
Richard spent his career as a sociologist and taught at universities in the East.
In 1983, he accepted a professorship at Northern Illinois University and moved back to the Midwest to be near the farm and his mother, Alice. He retired as professor emeritus in 1998.
His father died in 1969. When his mother died in 1999, he and Ralph inherited the farm.
For a time, he and Ralph improved the land through organic farming. They tried to keep it as a working farm, even though both had long since moved away.
But after Ralph died, Richard was the last one remaining of the four generations to live on the farm. He was forced to ask the question: “What is a family farm if there is no family on the land to farm it?”
Richard decided to sell the family home and most of the farmland in 2017.
A prolific author, he wrote eight books about the farm over the years to share his moving memories. Among them are “Journey to a Far Place,” “For the Time Being,” “Where Yet the Sweet Birds Sing,” “Of Time and Place” and “A Lifetime Burning.”
“I became the one who would be like the ancient mariner, the teller of tales to anyone who would listen,” Richard wrote in “Of Time and Place.”
After years of publishing with commercial publishers, he founded Borderland Books in 2005 as an independent publisher of quality books.
A place of refuge
Today, Richard travels weekly with his wife, Solveig, to The Old Place.
On a recent weekend, he listened and watched intently from a well-positioned bench as migrating palm warblers flooded the pond and grove of trees at the bottom of the hill where his great-grandparents settled.
As summer comes, white wild indigo, prairie dock and sky blue aster will hug the landscape.
Richard hopes family descendants will know this place as their source of beginning in the new world.
He also hopes the few remaining acres will offer refuge and happiness for those who seek reflection and renewal, including himself.
“Loss of the family farm after generations of the family on the farm brings heartache and sorrow,” Richard said.
“But loss is the price for holding dearly to that which you love.”


washingtontimes--2020-05-23--Retired postal carrier picks up St. Paul neighborhood trash

ST. PAUL , Minn. ( AP ) - The gardens and architecture of St. Paul ’ s Hamline-Midway neighborhood barely get a glance during Steve Dalbec ’ s daily walks .
Instead , Dalbec scans the gutters , the sidewalks and the street .
When he spots a cigarette butt , he leans over to pick it up .
He does the same for a piece of broken Styrofoam , a bright-red Airheads Raspberry Lemonade candy wrapper and a takeout bag from McDonald ’ s .
He deposits them all in his makeshift trash can - a black Iron-Hold trash @ @ @ @ @ @ @ attached to his black leather belt - and heads on down the street .
“ I ’ d rather do this than just walking because you get some exercise , ” said Dalbec , who used to walk for miles daily when he delivered mail for the Postal Service .
Now retired , he walks to keep in shape , and keep his neighborhood clean .
And he catalogs what he finds .
“ I ’ ve been to gyms and stuff , and that didn ’ t work .
It just didn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ re not accomplishing anything .
This is way better exercise .
You ’ re bending , and you ’ re carrying weight because this will get real heavy sometimes , ” he told the St. Paul Pioneer Press .
KEEPING A RECORD OF WHAT HE FINDS Dalbec keeps detailed tallies of his finds in a computer spreadsheet .
So far this year , he ’ s picked up 5,368 cigarette butts and found $ 3.37 in 38 outings , or an average of 141 butts and 9 cents a day , he said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ these , ” he said , bending over to pick up a dirty Q-tip .
“ But you know what the worst things are ?
Those plastic flossing things for teeth .
With the handles ?
I wish they wouldn ’ t make those.
” Cigarette butts and cigarette packs are the bane of his existence ; he once picked up 634 cigarette butts in one day .
“ They ’ re smoking more now , I think , because of their nerves , ” he said .
“ People don ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and throw them away.
” Members of a church in the neighborhood used to drop their cigarette butts on the ground until one of the elders saw Dalbec picking them up .
“ I picked up 400 that day , and most were at that church , ” Dalbec said .
“ He stopped to thank me , and he must have said something … because all of a sudden , the numbers dropped way , way , way , way down .
I may pick up 10 in the whole street now.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ early March 2019 , and began recording the number of coins he found on June 1 , 2019 .
“ I told my wife I was finding a lot of money , so I wanted to keep track , ” he said .
“ I found $ 1.75 that first day and $ 10 the next day.
” The most he ’ s found in one day ?
$ 31 on Nov. 5 , 2019 .
He found $ 120.05 in 2019 , “ or an average of $ 1.11 a day during @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” he said .
“ I like numbers.
” The return on investment hasn ’ t been nearly so good this year .
“ Last year , I found money almost every day , ” he said .
“ This year , hardly any , and only a quarter today .
It ’ s amazing .
I think with all the people out walking now , they ’ re finding it.
” Another COVID-19 phenomenon : The number of rubber gloves thrown on the ground has exploded .
He collected about 25 in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ three or four a day , he said .
When he finds a rubber glove or a mask on the ground , he uses a plastic newspaper bag to collect it , ties it up and places it in his trash can .
Dalbec won ’ t pick up big items like TVs or tires - or broken glass or metal hangers .
“ I don ’ t pick up wires because I lost too many bags that way , ” he said .
He hates plastic ballpoint pens “ because they get @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” he said .
“ There used to be a lot more pens when school was in session.
” He has collected whole bottles of whiskey and beer , but has never picked up any drugs , he said .
“ I figure people don ’ t lose their dope.
” When Dalbec goes on his walks , he wears brown work gloves and carries a wooden stick with a sharp metal point as he traverses the blocks between Hamline Avenue , Lexington Parkway , Minnehaha Avenue and Charles Avenue .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he repairs the fingertips with blue painter ’ s tape .
Dalbec uses his trash stick , which an anonymous neighbor left outside his house one day last year , to sift through dead leaves and to dig items out of the dirt .
On a recent Wednesday , he used it to dislodge a green plastic cigarette lighter out of a yard on Edmund Avenue .
After about an hour of picking up trash , Dalbec leaned over to pick up a cigarette butt , and a Target receipt fell out of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the sign that the bag is full , so now I ’ ll go home , and I ’ ll dump this , ” he said .
His trash pickup route , which encompasses about 230 acres , is designed for efficiency - he needs to make regular stops at home to unload the garbage he ’ s collected .
If his garbage can gets too full , he said he has permission to put bags in his neighbor ’ s bin .
His favorite items to collect ?
Plastics and foam packaging @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the best because they would otherwise get into the waterways , ” he said .
Nails and screws come in a close second .
“ I like getting those out of the street , so people won ’ t get a flat tire , ” he said .
When he ’ s finished collecting trash , he hangs his hat , jacket and gloves out on the clothesline in the back yard to expose them to ultraviolet light .
Neighbors nod and greet him as he walks past .
Arielle Johnson , who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ recently to find out that Dalbec is her neighborhood ’ s “ mystery good Samaritan.
” “ Now I know who to thank , ” she said .
“ I ’ ve seen you around and have thought , ‘ Wow , that is the kindest thing.
’ Thank you so much .
It makes such a difference .
I pick up trash in our yard , and it ’ s , like , where does this come from ?
I don ’ t understand how it piles up so quickly and how @ @ @ @ @ @ @ garbage .
It ’ s such a gift to our community , and we so appreciate it.
” Dalbec , 67 , moved to the Hamline-Midway neighborhood when he was 8 years old .
He graduated from Central High School in 1970 and served in the U.S. Army .
He delivered mail for the U.S .
Postal Service along University Avenue and other routes for 28 years , retiring in 2014 .
He and his wife , Rita , live on LaFond Avenue .
She ’ s the one who patches his jeans @ @ @ @ @ @ @ material ; she said she “ cannibalizes ” other jeans and pads the area where the trash can rests .
The couple got married in 1987 and have two grown sons : Paul , 30 , and Andy , 27 .
Between walking to work , delivering mail and walking his dogs three times a day , Dalbec estimates he used to walk 20 miles a day while he was working .
“ I liked being a mailman , ” he said .
“ It was great exercise.
” He said an older @ @ @ @ @ @ @ inspiration .
“ I ’ d see him picking up trash near Raymond and University avenues , ” he said .
“ He ’ d walk by me two or three times a week , picking up trash .
He never talked ; he just picked up garbage all the time .
I said , ‘ Maybe , someday , I ’ ll do that.
’ ” He picks up trash from early March to late November .
He generally goes out three or four times a week ; he does not go @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ If you pick up boxes , they ’ re soaked , ” he said .
“ All the trash gets really heavy when it ’ s wet.
” OTHERS JOIN THE CAUSE Dalbec isn ’ t the only trash picker-upper in the neighborhood .
Ioana Stoian ’ s 3-year-old son , George , started picking up trash as soon as he could walk , she said .
He pushes a makeshift garbage cart in front of him and has his own trash pickup tool .
“ He ’ s learned a lot @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the water goes , ” Stoian said .
“ We think that people could be a little more responsible .
The only way to make change is to be the change .
We try to help the environment.
” Dalbec is their hero , she said .
“ We are in complete admiration , ” she said .
“ We pick up a lot of trash , but Steve does it every single day .
We ’ re not as efficient as he is .
He really does so much for the environment.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ something up , ” Stoian said .
“ I obviously would prefer it if there wasn ’ t so much trash , but what use is it to sit around and complain about it ?
There is obviously a disconnect between the people who think that it is fine to just dump whatever anywhere and people who are raised to respect the environment .
I don ’ t think George is going to go around neighborhoods littering stuff.
” Dalbec ’ s and George ’ s paths crossed on that Wednesday morning on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cart with a paper Target bag in it , stuck to the sidewalk ; Dalbec took the gutter and the street .
“ I would be happy if people staying home and walking everywhere now would start to pick up trash , ” he said .
But what if there weren ’ t any left for him to pick up ?
“ That would be fine , ” he said .
“ That would be just fine with me .
”

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) - The gardens and architecture of St. Paul’s Hamline-Midway neighborhood barely get a glance during Steve Dalbec’s daily walks.
Instead, Dalbec scans the gutters, the sidewalks and the street.
When he spots a cigarette butt, he leans over to pick it up. He does the same for a piece of broken Styrofoam, a bright-red Airheads Raspberry Lemonade candy wrapper and a takeout bag from McDonald’s.
He deposits them all in his makeshift trash can - a black Iron-Hold trash bag in an upside-down metal lampshade frame attached to his black leather belt - and heads on down the street.
“I’d rather do this than just walking because you get some exercise,” said Dalbec, who used to walk for miles daily when he delivered mail for the Postal Service. Now retired, he walks to keep in shape, and keep his neighborhood clean. And he catalogs what he finds.
“I’ve been to gyms and stuff, and that didn’t work. It just didn’t feel right - you’re not accomplishing anything. This is way better exercise. You’re bending, and you’re carrying weight because this will get real heavy sometimes,” he told the St. Paul Pioneer Press.
KEEPING A RECORD OF WHAT HE FINDS
Dalbec keeps detailed tallies of his finds in a computer spreadsheet. So far this year, he’s picked up 5,368 cigarette butts and found $3.37 in 38 outings, or an average of 141 butts and 9 cents a day, he said.
“I get a lot of these,” he said, bending over to pick up a dirty Q-tip. “But you know what the worst things are? Those plastic flossing things for teeth. With the handles? I wish they wouldn’t make those.”
Cigarette butts and cigarette packs are the bane of his existence; he once picked up 634 cigarette butts in one day. “They’re smoking more now, I think, because of their nerves,” he said. “People don’t want to bring them in the house and throw them away.”
Members of a church in the neighborhood used to drop their cigarette butts on the ground until one of the elders saw Dalbec picking them up. “I picked up 400 that day, and most were at that church,” Dalbec said. “He stopped to thank me, and he must have said something … because all of a sudden, the numbers dropped way, way, way, way down. I may pick up 10 in the whole street now.”
Dalbec started picking up trash in early March 2019, and began recording the number of coins he found on June 1, 2019. “I told my wife I was finding a lot of money, so I wanted to keep track,” he said. “I found $1.75 that first day and $10 the next day.” The most he’s found in one day? $31 on Nov. 5, 2019.
He found $120.05 in 2019, “or an average of $1.11 a day during 108 times of picking up trash,” he said. “I like numbers.”
The return on investment hasn’t been nearly so good this year. “Last year, I found money almost every day,” he said. “This year, hardly any, and only a quarter today. It’s amazing. I think with all the people out walking now, they’re finding it.”
Another COVID-19 phenomenon: The number of rubber gloves thrown on the ground has exploded. He collected about 25 in total last year; he now finds three or four a day, he said. When he finds a rubber glove or a mask on the ground, he uses a plastic newspaper bag to collect it, ties it up and places it in his trash can.
Dalbec won’t pick up big items like TVs or tires - or broken glass or metal hangers. “I don’t pick up wires because I lost too many bags that way,” he said.
He hates plastic ballpoint pens “because they get run over and break into 200 pieces,” he said. “There used to be a lot more pens when school was in session.”
He has collected whole bottles of whiskey and beer, but has never picked up any drugs, he said. “I figure people don’t lose their dope.”
TAKE A WALK WITH DALBEC
When Dalbec goes on his walks, he wears brown work gloves and carries a wooden stick with a sharp metal point as he traverses the blocks between Hamline Avenue, Lexington Parkway, Minnehaha Avenue and Charles Avenue.
The cloth work gloves are from Menards and he repairs the fingertips with blue painter’s tape.
Dalbec uses his trash stick, which an anonymous neighbor left outside his house one day last year, to sift through dead leaves and to dig items out of the dirt. On a recent Wednesday, he used it to dislodge a green plastic cigarette lighter out of a yard on Edmund Avenue.
After about an hour of picking up trash, Dalbec leaned over to pick up a cigarette butt, and a Target receipt fell out of his bin. “That’s the sign that the bag is full, so now I’ll go home, and I’ll dump this,” he said.
His trash pickup route, which encompasses about 230 acres, is designed for efficiency - he needs to make regular stops at home to unload the garbage he’s collected. If his garbage can gets too full, he said he has permission to put bags in his neighbor’s bin.
His favorite items to collect? Plastics and foam packaging. “I like picking them up the best because they would otherwise get into the waterways,” he said. Nails and screws come in a close second. “I like getting those out of the street, so people won’t get a flat tire,” he said.
When he’s finished collecting trash, he hangs his hat, jacket and gloves out on the clothesline in the back yard to expose them to ultraviolet light.
A FIXTURE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD
Neighbors nod and greet him as he walks past.
Arielle Johnson, who lives on Thomas Avenue, was thrilled recently to find out that Dalbec is her neighborhood’s “mystery good Samaritan.”
“Now I know who to thank,” she said. “I’ve seen you around and have thought, ‘Wow, that is the kindest thing.’ Thank you so much. It makes such a difference. I pick up trash in our yard, and it’s, like, where does this come from? I don’t understand how it piles up so quickly and how little regard people have for their own garbage. It’s such a gift to our community, and we so appreciate it.”
Dalbec, 67, moved to the Hamline-Midway neighborhood when he was 8 years old. He graduated from Central High School in 1970 and served in the U.S. Army. He delivered mail for the U.S. Postal Service along University Avenue and other routes for 28 years, retiring in 2014.
He and his wife, Rita, live on LaFond Avenue. She’s the one who patches his jeans when the trash can rubs through the material; she said she “cannibalizes” other jeans and pads the area where the trash can rests. The couple got married in 1987 and have two grown sons: Paul, 30, and Andy, 27.
Between walking to work, delivering mail and walking his dogs three times a day, Dalbec estimates he used to walk 20 miles a day while he was working. “I liked being a mailman,” he said. “It was great exercise.” He said an older man along his mail route was his inspiration. “I’d see him picking up trash near Raymond and University avenues,” he said. “He’d walk by me two or three times a week, picking up trash. He never talked; he just picked up garbage all the time. I said, ‘Maybe, someday, I’ll do that.’ ”
He picks up trash from early March to late November. He generally goes out three or four times a week; he does not go out if it’s raining. “If you pick up boxes, they’re soaked,” he said. “All the trash gets really heavy when it’s wet.”
OTHERS JOIN THE CAUSE
Dalbec isn’t the only trash picker-upper in the neighborhood. Ioana Stoian’s 3-year-old son, George, started picking up trash as soon as he could walk, she said. He pushes a makeshift garbage cart in front of him and has his own trash pickup tool.
“He’s learned a lot about stormwater and the fish and where the water goes,” Stoian said. “We think that people could be a little more responsible. The only way to make change is to be the change. We try to help the environment.”
Dalbec is their hero, she said.
“We are in complete admiration,” she said. “We pick up a lot of trash, but Steve does it every single day. We’re not as efficient as he is. He really does so much for the environment.”
Everyone out walking should “pick something up,” Stoian said. “I obviously would prefer it if there wasn’t so much trash, but what use is it to sit around and complain about it? There is obviously a disconnect between the people who think that it is fine to just dump whatever anywhere and people who are raised to respect the environment. I don’t think George is going to go around neighborhoods littering stuff.”
Dalbec’s and George’s paths crossed on that Wednesday morning on Charles Avenue. George, pushing his cart with a paper Target bag in it, stuck to the sidewalk; Dalbec took the gutter and the street.
“I would be happy if people staying home and walking everywhere now would start to pick up trash,” he said.
But what if there weren’t any left for him to pick up?
“That would be fine,” he said. “That would be just fine with me.”


washingtontimes--2020-05-23--Family recalls man’s struggles before his COVID-19 death

RAPID CITY , S.D .
( AP ) - One of the last things Rosemarie Massey told her son before he died was to not be afraid .
“ At the end , it was about … ( midnight ) and they told me that he was going , ” she recently told the Rapid City Journal .
“ I got up and I talked to him , I prayed with him and I said don ’ t be afraid.
” At 12:52 a.m. Sunday , May 17 , Rapid City resident William Prince , 31 , Massey ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an 18-day battle with COVID-19 .
Massey and her husband , Michael , said Prince was admitted to Monument Health at the end of April .
Michael said Prince ’ s girlfriend took him to the emergency room because he was throwing up uncontrollably .
He later went into cardiac arrest and was dead for 11 minutes , The medical staff was able to resuscitate Prince , but his almost three weeks in the hospital were touch-and-go .
“ There were a few times where he came out of it , and we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” Massey said .
“ The doctors would tell us he ’ s progressing really ( well ) and then all of a sudden he would just go back down .
Then they ’ d bring him back up again and he ’ d fight.
” Michael said Prince was always a fighter - he competed in the Golden Gloves national competition when he was 18 or 19 years old .
“ He didn ’ t just accept stuff , ” Michael said .
“ I think that ’ s what he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was fighting .
… His heart just gave out , he couldn ’ t fight anymore.
” Prince also was a father to three girls , a seasonal roofer , a big kid at heart and someone who always had a smile on his face , his family said .
A week before he was admitted to the hospital , Massey said Prince came to the house to pick up some mail .
She said he told her when he was working on someone ’ s roof , there was a man “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mask .
Massey said her son told her he constantly washed his hands and wore a mask and thought COVID-19 was scary .
“ A week later he was in ( the hospital ) , ” she said .
Michael said the doctors told them they thought the virus had run its course , but Prince was fighting the secondary damage it had done .
He said Prince was having issues with his liver and kidneys , and his heart was operating at about 10 % .
A week before Prince died , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t make it through the night .
If he had another cardiac arrest and the doctors attempted to resuscitate him , there was danger of Prince infecting the staff and causing more damage to his body .
Michael said they told the doctor they were going to leave it in the Lord ’ s hands .
The Masseys asked friends and family to pray for Prince , and they were sent .
It wasn ’ t just from the local community , though , it was from Canada , the United Kingdom @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ It ’ s been amazing the support that we ’ ve gotten from other people and people we don ’ t even know , ” Michael said .
After Prince died , Massey began a GoFundMe page to raise money for his funeral with a goal of $ 15,000 .
She said they ’ ve received donations from people they don ’ t know .
Any money leftover from the fund will go toward Prince ’ s medical bills the Masseys will have to pay .
Michael said they haven ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that it ’ s a daunting thought since Prince spent all his time at Monument Health in the Intensive Care Unit with almost around-the-clock care .
Massey said if she needs to , she ’ ll pull from her 401 ( K ) , which she already used to pay her own medical bills when she was diagnosed with a couple different forms of cancers a few years ago .
Although they weren ’ t able to spend the last moments of Prince ’ s life with him in the hospital , they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the phone , something that had been constantly available to them .
Massey said she wants to thank the hospital staff for keeping an iPad in the room to make FaceTime available , as well as spending Prince ’ s last moments by his side .
“ That to me is so selfless … they don ’ t even know him yet they care for him , and that really meant a lot to me , ” she said .
Michael and Massey both said they don ’ t think everything should open @ @ @ @ @ @ @ popping up across Pennington County .
They also said it ’ s not a big inconvenience for people to wear a mask or wash their hands , and it ’ s not just to protect the person wearing them , it ’ s to protect everyone .
“ My greatest wish is that if people would just stop and really seriously think about this , really seriously think about it and just really take it seriously , ” Massey said .
“ What I ’ d really like to see is some of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but respecting those around them .
Respecting their kids , respecting their parents , their elders , the elderly people that come around to go shopping .
They need to take into consideration the lives of others .
”

RAPID CITY, S.D. (AP) - One of the last things Rosemarie Massey told her son before he died was to not be afraid.
“At the end, it was about … (midnight) and they told me that he was going,” she recently told the Rapid City Journal. “I got up and I talked to him, I prayed with him and I said don’t be afraid.”
At 12:52 a.m. Sunday, May 17, Rapid City resident William Prince, 31, Massey’s son, died from heart failure after an 18-day battle with COVID-19.
Massey and her husband, Michael, said Prince was admitted to Monument Health at the end of April.
Michael said Prince’s girlfriend took him to the emergency room because he was throwing up uncontrollably. He later went into cardiac arrest and was dead for 11 minutes, The medical staff was able to resuscitate Prince, but his almost three weeks in the hospital were touch-and-go.
“There were a few times where he came out of it, and we thought he was going to get better,” Massey said. “The doctors would tell us he’s progressing really (well) and then all of a sudden he would just go back down. Then they’d bring him back up again and he’d fight.”
Michael said Prince was always a fighter - he competed in the Golden Gloves national competition when he was 18 or 19 years old.
“He didn’t just accept stuff,” Michael said. “I think that’s what he was doing in the hospital, he was fighting. … His heart just gave out, he couldn’t fight anymore.”
Prince also was a father to three girls, a seasonal roofer, a big kid at heart and someone who always had a smile on his face, his family said.
A week before he was admitted to the hospital, Massey said Prince came to the house to pick up some mail. She said he told her when he was working on someone’s roof, there was a man “coughing away like crazy” without a mask.
Massey said her son told her he constantly washed his hands and wore a mask and thought COVID-19 was scary.
“A week later he was in (the hospital),” she said.
Michael said the doctors told them they thought the virus had run its course, but Prince was fighting the secondary damage it had done. He said Prince was having issues with his liver and kidneys, and his heart was operating at about 10%.
A week before Prince died, the Masseys were told he probably wouldn’t make it through the night. If he had another cardiac arrest and the doctors attempted to resuscitate him, there was danger of Prince infecting the staff and causing more damage to his body.
Michael said they told the doctor they were going to leave it in the Lord’s hands.
The Masseys asked friends and family to pray for Prince, and they were sent. It wasn’t just from the local community, though, it was from Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, Pakistan and other countries.
“It’s been amazing the support that we’ve gotten from other people and people we don’t even know,” Michael said.
After Prince died, Massey began a GoFundMe page to raise money for his funeral with a goal of $15,000. She said they’ve received donations from people they don’t know.
Any money leftover from the fund will go toward Prince’s medical bills the Masseys will have to pay. Michael said they haven’t received any bills yet, but that it’s a daunting thought since Prince spent all his time at Monument Health in the Intensive Care Unit with almost around-the-clock care.
Massey said if she needs to, she’ll pull from her 401(K), which she already used to pay her own medical bills when she was diagnosed with a couple different forms of cancers a few years ago.
Although they weren’t able to spend the last moments of Prince’s life with him in the hospital, they were able to speak with him on the phone, something that had been constantly available to them.
Massey said she wants to thank the hospital staff for keeping an iPad in the room to make FaceTime available, as well as spending Prince’s last moments by his side.
“That to me is so selfless … they don’t even know him yet they care for him, and that really meant a lot to me,” she said.
Michael and Massey both said they don’t think everything should open back up, especially with more cases popping up across Pennington County.
They also said it’s not a big inconvenience for people to wear a mask or wash their hands, and it’s not just to protect the person wearing them, it’s to protect everyone.
“My greatest wish is that if people would just stop and really seriously think about this, really seriously think about it and just really take it seriously,” Massey said. “What I’d really like to see is some of these people, not just respecting themselves but respecting those around them. Respecting their kids, respecting their parents, their elders, the elderly people that come around to go shopping. They need to take into consideration the lives of others.”


washingtontimes--2020-05-23--Dry, cool spring leaves Wisconsin town desperate for morels

MUSCODA , Wis. ( AP ) - The rectangular wooden block is a little bit bigger than a deck of cards .
The idea is to blow through the hole at one end to make a sound that is inaudible to the human ear but wakes a slumbering morel mushroom .
Use it in the right spot , and the tasty and much-sought-after fungus will begin emerging from the forest floor .
“ We ’ ve sold quite a few of these over the years , ” Ron Machotka said of his homemade magical contraption .
“ Of course it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ terrible .
Just don ’ t blow it in your car because then they ’ ll start growing underneath your seat and you won ’ t find them right away.
” Of course , Machotka ’ s mushroom call is a gimmick and is ignored by the secretive spores , although he ’ s sold quite a few of the $ 3 calls over the past 10 years as a novelty item during the annual Muscoda Morel Mushroom Festival .
But these are desperate times for Machotka and his buddies at the Leslie @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The festival , which should have been wrapping up May 17 , has been canceled due to COVID-19 .
An usually dry and cool spring has kept much of this year ’ s morel crop in hiding .
And that ’ s bad news for the Legion , which buys and sells mushrooms at this time of the year as part of its fundraising efforts that support the local baseball team and Badger Boys State and are used to buy the American flags that line the village ’ s main drag that stretches @ @ @ @ @ @ @ northeastern corner of Grant County .
When we arrived at the Legion ’ s stand , set up on a former used car lot on a recent Thursday morning , the organization had taken in only 20 pounds of morels from local pickers for the entire season .
Normally , by this time of the year the Legion would have taken in between 800 and 900 pounds of morels .
Rain and moist conditions late the previous week will help the harvest , but this could go down as one of the worst @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Wisconsin State Journal reported .
“ I can ’ t say I ’ ve ever had a year like this in the 12 years I ’ ve been doing it , ” said Tom Nondorf , who organizes the annual fundraiser .
“ I could easily move 1,100 pounds right now because the phone is ringing nonstop with people wanting to buy .
But my customers that bring them in , the ones that bring in 20 to 30 pounds at a time , ain ’ t showing up.
” The calls @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and throughout Wisconsin .
But Nondorf ’ s biggest buy this season from one picker has been just over two pounds , and it hasn ’ t even paid to fire up the portable beer cooler trailer that is normally used for temporary storage .
When Nondorf opened the stand on that Thursday morning , three people were waiting to buy morels .
He quickly sold out of the two pounds he had on hand from the previous day .
The mushrooms that Machotka fried up in butter with eggs that day were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ frozen in sealed plastic bags for the past year .
Despite their age , the morels still had a fantastic smell and taste .
“ I didn ’ t put any salt and pepper on these , ” Machotka said as he handed over a paper plate with steaming eggs and morels .
“ You have to do that yourself.
” The spring fundraiser is a big deal for the Legion and is a $ 30,000 endeavor .
The Legion buys mushrooms for $ 20 a pound and sells them for $ 35 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that means buying and selling around 1,200 pounds of mushrooms , which nets about a $ 5,000 to $ 6,000 profit .
Besides the wholesale operation , the Legion has also sold during the festival pudding cup-size servings of sauteed mushrooms for $ 8 a cup .
The delicacy draws hundreds of morel-hankering eaters and adds to the Legion ’ s bottom line as the crew fries up 300 to 400 pounds .
“ They ’ ll be lined up down the street , ” Nondorf said .
“ It ’ s unbelievable @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cup.
” Morel mushrooms are one of Wisconsin ’ s quintessential foods .
But unlike the proliferation of cranberries , bratwurst , cheese curds and deep-fried bluegill that are all easily attainable , morels are available only for a few weeks of the year .
It ’ s kind of like rhubarb , only no one has figured out yet how to grow a morel in their backyard year after year .
And nobody is buying rhubarb at a farmers market for $ 40 to $ 60 a pound .
That ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this time of the year and keep their heads down hoping for a big score .
Morchella esculenta has been found in all 50 states , but the Midwest is a prime location for the spongelike mushroom .
Many people hunt on their own land , but the mushrooms can also be found on public lands such as state parks , where it ’ s legal to also harvest edible fruits and nuts , wild asparagus and watercress for personal consumption , according to the state Department of Natural Resources .
Only the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s why the posts on the Wisconsin Morel Mushroom Hunters Facebook page are purposefully vague .
Michele Brown Schultz recently posted eight photos of morels she found in Crawford County after four hours of searching .
“ Well , not getting skunked but still slim pickins , ” she wrote .
Other posts came in from Dane , Polk , Shawano , Outagamie and Waukesha counties .
“ Slim pickings and too dang dry in Pierce County , ” Faun Carel Stanton wrote .
For the Muscoda Legion , the morel fundraiser @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sourced with beef .
On the last Wednesday of each month from May through October , the Legion sets up a hamburger stand in a downtown park that at one time was home to a train depot .
The sales are impressive for a community of just 1,300 people .
Over the course of the six months in 2019 , the Legion sold nearly 5,000 hamburgers .
The beef is purchased in bulk locally from Bender ’ s Foods and the meat formed into patties by the hands of the Legion Auxiliary in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the park later that day by a team of volunteers from the Legion .
More than 500 hamburgers were sold at each event last year , including a season high 654 on Oct. 23 despite rain and a temperature of 46 degrees , according to the data written on a dry erase board on the inside door of the hamburger trailer .
But for Nondorf , who spent 25 years in the U.S. Army Reserves and helped build housing in Iraq , the stand may stay up for another week .
He @ @ @ @ @ @ @ year from his job at Cardinal Glass in Spring Green to run the morel stand , but may extend the stand ’ s hours into this week if he can find help .
Morels don ’ t follow a calendar .
Instead , it ’ s all about the weather .
“ It ’ s a seasonal thing and has the taste that people have got ta have , ” Nondorf said .
“ It ’ s just a bad year all around .
”

MUSCODA, Wis. (AP) - The rectangular wooden block is a little bit bigger than a deck of cards.
The idea is to blow through the hole at one end to make a sound that is inaudible to the human ear but wakes a slumbering morel mushroom.
Use it in the right spot, and the tasty and much-sought-after fungus will begin emerging from the forest floor.
“We’ve sold quite a few of these over the years,” Ron Machotka said of his homemade magical contraption. “Of course it works. They just pop up something terrible. Just don’t blow it in your car because then they’ll start growing underneath your seat and you won’t find them right away.”
Of course, Machotka’s mushroom call is a gimmick and is ignored by the secretive spores, although he’s sold quite a few of the $3 calls over the past 10 years as a novelty item during the annual Muscoda Morel Mushroom Festival. But these are desperate times for Machotka and his buddies at the Leslie J. Lee American Legion Post 85.
The festival, which should have been wrapping up May 17, has been canceled due to COVID-19. An usually dry and cool spring has kept much of this year’s morel crop in hiding. And that’s bad news for the Legion, which buys and sells mushrooms at this time of the year as part of its fundraising efforts that support the local baseball team and Badger Boys State and are used to buy the American flags that line the village’s main drag that stretches south from the Wisconsin River in this northeastern corner of Grant County.
When we arrived at the Legion’s stand, set up on a former used car lot on a recent Thursday morning, the organization had taken in only 20 pounds of morels from local pickers for the entire season. Normally, by this time of the year the Legion would have taken in between 800 and 900 pounds of morels. Rain and moist conditions late the previous week will help the harvest, but this could go down as one of the worst years for morels in recent memory, the Wisconsin State Journal reported.
“I can’t say I’ve ever had a year like this in the 12 years I’ve been doing it,” said Tom Nondorf, who organizes the annual fundraiser. “I could easily move 1,100 pounds right now because the phone is ringing nonstop with people wanting to buy. But my customers that bring them in, the ones that bring in 20 to 30 pounds at a time, ain’t showing up.”
The calls come from Iowa, Indiana, Illinois and throughout Wisconsin.
But Nondorf’s biggest buy this season from one picker has been just over two pounds, and it hasn’t even paid to fire up the portable beer cooler trailer that is normally used for temporary storage. When Nondorf opened the stand on that Thursday morning, three people were waiting to buy morels. He quickly sold out of the two pounds he had on hand from the previous day. The mushrooms that Machotka fried up in butter with eggs that day were from the previous season and had been frozen in sealed plastic bags for the past year.
Despite their age, the morels still had a fantastic smell and taste.
“I didn’t put any salt and pepper on these,” Machotka said as he handed over a paper plate with steaming eggs and morels. “You have to do that yourself.”
The spring fundraiser is a big deal for the Legion and is a $30,000 endeavor. The Legion buys mushrooms for $20 a pound and sells them for $35 a pound. In most years, that means buying and selling around 1,200 pounds of mushrooms, which nets about a $5,000 to $6,000 profit. Besides the wholesale operation, the Legion has also sold during the festival pudding cup-size servings of sauteed mushrooms for $8 a cup. The delicacy draws hundreds of morel-hankering eaters and adds to the Legion’s bottom line as the crew fries up 300 to 400 pounds.
“They’ll be lined up down the street,” Nondorf said. “It’s unbelievable. But it’s a full cup.”
State delicacy
Morel mushrooms are one of Wisconsin’s quintessential foods. But unlike the proliferation of cranberries, bratwurst, cheese curds and deep-fried bluegill that are all easily attainable, morels are available only for a few weeks of the year. It’s kind of like rhubarb, only no one has figured out yet how to grow a morel in their backyard year after year. And nobody is buying rhubarb at a farmers market for $40 to $60 a pound.
That’s why people flock to east-facing hillsides at this time of the year and keep their heads down hoping for a big score.
Morchella esculenta has been found in all 50 states, but the Midwest is a prime location for the spongelike mushroom. Many people hunt on their own land, but the mushrooms can also be found on public lands such as state parks, where it’s legal to also harvest edible fruits and nuts, wild asparagus and watercress for personal consumption, according to the state Department of Natural Resources.
Only the mad disclose their favorite spots. That’s why the posts on the Wisconsin Morel Mushroom Hunters Facebook page are purposefully vague. Michele Brown Schultz recently posted eight photos of morels she found in Crawford County after four hours of searching.
“Well, not getting skunked but still slim pickins,” she wrote.
Other posts came in from Dane, Polk, Shawano, Outagamie and Waukesha counties.
“Slim pickings and too dang dry in Pierce County,” Faun Carel Stanton wrote.
For the Muscoda Legion, the morel fundraiser is actually a multi-month process that is sourced with beef.
On the last Wednesday of each month from May through October, the Legion sets up a hamburger stand in a downtown park that at one time was home to a train depot. The sales are impressive for a community of just 1,300 people. Over the course of the six months in 2019, the Legion sold nearly 5,000 hamburgers. The beef is purchased in bulk locally from Bender’s Foods and the meat formed into patties by the hands of the Legion Auxiliary in the morning and grilled at three stations in the park later that day by a team of volunteers from the Legion. More than 500 hamburgers were sold at each event last year, including a season high 654 on Oct. 23 despite rain and a temperature of 46 degrees, according to the data written on a dry erase board on the inside door of the hamburger trailer.
But for Nondorf, who spent 25 years in the U.S. Army Reserves and helped build housing in Iraq, the stand may stay up for another week. He normally takes a week of vacation each year from his job at Cardinal Glass in Spring Green to run the morel stand, but may extend the stand’s hours into this week if he can find help. Morels don’t follow a calendar. Instead, it’s all about the weather.
“It’s a seasonal thing and has the taste that people have gotta have,” Nondorf said. “It’s just a bad year all around.”


washingtontimes--2020-05-23--Sheltering-in-place prompts sales growth at garden centers

GODFREY , Ill. ( AP ) - Local garden centers are seeing more sales than ever this spring compared to years prior , as many residents are taking the opportunity while sheltering-in-place to spruce up their outdoor spaces .
“ It ’ s been absolutely crazy , ” said assistant manager Pam Kasten , at Market Basket in Godfrey .
“ It just hasn ’ t stopped .
“ People who normally don ’ t garden , are gardening and everybody is trying to do something in their yards now , so the business has been continual , ” she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mother ’ s Day times a thousand , ’ and it ’ s been like that since about four weeks ago.
” The Plant Stand ’ s Susan Bell expressed a similar experience at its location .
“ This has been nuts , ” she said .
“ It really has been .
Last week , we had to open two registers and I think he ( owner Dave Galbreath ) is thinking to open a third one for Mother ’ s Day weekend just because the lines get so long and people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their second year at the current location , The Plant Stand has already grown its selection to meet the demand and intends to keep stocking as needed and the supply allows .
“ I ’ ve sold a lot of okra this year , peppers , tomatoes , herbs , ” said The Plant Stand ’ s owner Dave Galbreath .
“ Availability is still good now , but it ’ s going to have a bearing on late June , what ’ s still left to sell.
” The Plant Stand is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ independent garden centers that received clearance to open , Galbreath said , mainly due to selling vegetables .
Open since approximately April 20 , the all-outdoor market also has a bit of an advantage in that customers never have to crowd inside an indoor store and are able to come and go in a comfortable manner , even amid concerns over the coronavirus .
“ They ’ ve determined that we ’ re essential , which is great , ” Galbreath said .
“ It was really just a matter of the state @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which included independent garden centers .
It was a little confusing.
” Although Galbreath ’ s market doesn ’ t sell hard goods , like , mulch and rock , he said customers are buying flats of flowers and some of everything .
“ They ’ re doing more in their yards than they probably ever have , all at once , ” he said .
Bell noted that the different colors are what seem to be attracting a lot of people .
“ People are looking for color , not so much @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she said .
“ Everybody just seems to really want a lot of color.
” On the other hand , at Market Basket , Kasten said she ’ s noticed a higher demand for mulch and rock .
“ The topsoil and mulches , I ’ m having a hard time keeping in stock , and everybody wants to do rock , ” she said .
“ My deliveries , which I ’ m normally only a week out , I ’ m now more like three weeks out .
It ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the increase in overall business and stress that some people may be experiencing with business closures , both Bell and Galbreath said that customers have been especially nice , friendly and patient at their location “ Everybody has been extra kind out here , ” Galbreath said .
“ I haven ’ t had any real frustration .
Everybody ’ s just been glad to be outside .
”

GODFREY, Ill. (AP) - Local garden centers are seeing more sales than ever this spring compared to years prior, as many residents are taking the opportunity while sheltering-in-place to spruce up their outdoor spaces.
“It’s been absolutely crazy,” said assistant manager Pam Kasten, at Market Basket in Godfrey. “It just hasn’t stopped.
“People who normally don’t garden, are gardening and everybody is trying to do something in their yards now, so the business has been continual,” she said. “I call it ‘Mother’s Day times a thousand,’ and it’s been like that since about four weeks ago.”
The Plant Stand’s Susan Bell expressed a similar experience at its location.
“This has been nuts,” she said. “It really has been. Last week, we had to open two registers and I think he (owner Dave Galbreath) is thinking to open a third one for Mother’s Day weekend just because the lines get so long and people can’t shop.”
Being just their second year at the current location, The Plant Stand has already grown its selection to meet the demand and intends to keep stocking as needed and the supply allows.
“I’ve sold a lot of okra this year, peppers, tomatoes, herbs,” said The Plant Stand’s owner Dave Galbreath.
“Availability is still good now, but it’s going to have a bearing on late June, what’s still left to sell.”
The Plant Stand is “one of the lucky few” independent garden centers that received clearance to open, Galbreath said, mainly due to selling vegetables. Open since approximately April 20, the all-outdoor market also has a bit of an advantage in that customers never have to crowd inside an indoor store and are able to come and go in a comfortable manner, even amid concerns over the coronavirus.
“They’ve determined that we’re essential, which is great,” Galbreath said. “It was really just a matter of the state clarifying some mandates that went out, which included independent garden centers. It was a little confusing.”
Although Galbreath’s market doesn’t sell hard goods, like, mulch and rock, he said customers are buying flats of flowers and some of everything.
“They’re doing more in their yards than they probably ever have, all at once,” he said.
Bell noted that the different colors are what seem to be attracting a lot of people.
“People are looking for color, not so much bushes, yet,” ,” she said. “Everybody just seems to really want a lot of color.”
On the other hand, at Market Basket, Kasten said she’s noticed a higher demand for mulch and rock.
“The topsoil and mulches, I’m having a hard time keeping in stock, and everybody wants to do rock,” she said.
“My deliveries, which I’m normally only a week out, I’m now more like three weeks out. It’s just incredible, absolutely incredible.”
Despite the increase in overall business and stress that some people may be experiencing with business closures, both Bell and Galbreath said that customers have been especially nice, friendly and patient at their location
“Everybody has been extra kind out here,” Galbreath said. “I haven’t had any real frustration. Everybody’s just been glad to be outside.”
___
Source: The (Alton) Telegraph, https://bit.ly/2SYCN3H


washingtontimes--2020-05-23--Iowa dentists face costly new rules before they can reopen

CEDAR RAPIDS , Iowa ( AP ) - As Iowa ’ s dental offices began resuming elective procedures this week , dentists and their staff must meet a specific set of guidelines before they can see more patients .
But achieving these new protocols , as well as the additional steps practitioners are taking to stop the spread of the novel coronavirus , will take a large financial investment from dental offices - an amount posing an additional expense to those already grappling with the loss of patients because of the pandemic .
The Iowa Dental Board issued requirements for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as of May 8 under a recent proclamation from Gov .
Kim Reynolds to reopen parts of the state ’ s economy , that included personal protective equipment , or PPE , during all clinical visits and patient screening , among others .
The Iowa Dental Association estimates the majority of the state ’ s dentists have not ramped up patient visits , but instead spent the past week training staff on new protocols , building up their supply of necessary PPE and purchasing additional infection-control supplies and equipment .
In particular , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ - including the face shields , gowns and gloves required by state officials - has been a challenge for dentists to meet , given the ongoing pandemic .
Dr. Sara Stuefen , who owns a dental practice in Vinton , told the Cedar Rapids Gazette that N95 masks especially are expensive and “ almost impossible to find ” because of the strained supply chain across the country .
If the supply chain doesn ’ t ease , Stuefen fears her office may have to halt patient visits .
“ I ’ ve definitely @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” she said .
“ Anxiety is pretty high worrying about PPE inventory , which is pretty strange because it ’ s something we ’ ve never had to worry about before.
” Local dentists say Iowans ’ next stop for a cleaning or a cavity fill will look much different from how it did before the pandemic .
Not only will patients be required to wear masks and be screened twice before their appointment , but many offices also are asking patients to wait in their cars until they can go @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Dental Board also stated in its guidelines for dentists transitioning back to practice that it requires offices to clean thoroughly between patients and for staff to practice frequent hand washing .
Because of this , there will be a slower tempo between patient visits to his Iowa City-based practice , said Dr. Bren O ’ Connor , who plans to resume normal operations by Tuesday .
“ We ’ re staggering patients , so there ’ s not a lot of them in the waiting room , ” he said .
Reopening their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ turning on the lights , said Laurie Traetow , executive director of the Iowa Dental Association .
Many dental offices are taking the extra step of adding new air-filtering machines and other engineering controls to help reduce the number of aerosols in the air .
COVID-19 is spread through aerosols as fine liquid droplets in the air that are generated through dental procedures - meaning dental professionals in particular are at high risk for becoming infected by the virus .
These engineering controls cost somewhere between $ 20,000 to $ 30,000 to install @ @ @ @ @ @ @ PPE costs approximately $ 24 for each patient visit .
And that ’ s on top of the fact that nearly 92 percent of dentists in Iowa were at less than 5 percent of their total patient volume on May 4 compared to a year ago , Iowa Dental Association data showed .
“ You ’ re talking about shutting down the business altogether , ” Traetow said .
Between additional staffing , PPE and installing air purifiers , “ it cost an excess of $ 30,000 ” for Dr. Ryan Stuntz , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , to reopen his dental office in Farley , a town in Dubuque County .
He intends to reopen Monday .
“ These are things you can do to take a step further to improve your infection control , so most dentists are following this , ” he said .
“ With so much of this being unknown , they want to err on the side of caution.
” As a result , Stuntz warned Iowans may see an increase in the cost of their dental care .
“ The reality , as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s something the patients should be aware of , ” he said .
Unlike hospitals and many physicians ’ clinics , most dental offices are independently owned by the dentists working in them , so they also handle the business side of the practice , including hiring staff and purchasing equipment .
Dealing with the additional expense COVID-19 mitigation efforts pose may be particularly hard on new dentists , some officials say .
Stuefen , who serves on the American Dental Association ’ s New Dentists Committee , said it ’ s uncommon @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of graduation to own their practice .
However , she said many young dentists worry about the effect the pandemic may have on their career and their ability to pay back student loans .
On average , dentists graduate from dental school with around $ 280,000 in debt , Stuefen said .
In some cases , she ’ s heard of as much as $ 500,000 in student loan debt .
“ And for dental students about to graduate , they worry about whether they ’ re going to be able to get @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Since mid-March , dental offices have been limited to performing dental services only in cases of emergency , which could include pain and facial swelling .
As a result , dentists have had only a few cases a week since pandemic mitigation policies went into effect .
As practices began increasing their caseload this week , many dentists said they prioritized patients based on the urgency of their case .
“ We ’ re at a point where we ’ re seeing more and more emergencies that could have been handled sooner and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ couldn ’ t have done before , ” Stuntz said .
“ Before , the patient needed to be experiencing pain … .
Our goal is to get to that before that happens.
” Even a simple cavity , if left unattended too long , worsens until the patient needs a crown or even a root canal , Stuntz said .
In a worst-case scenario , it could develop into a tooth abscess , caused by a bacterial infection , for something “ that could have been solved with a $ 150 filling.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ that to be a model for how people get treated , ” Stuntz said .

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) - As Iowa’s dental offices began resuming elective procedures this week, dentists and their staff must meet a specific set of guidelines before they can see more patients.
But achieving these new protocols, as well as the additional steps practitioners are taking to stop the spread of the novel coronavirus, will take a large financial investment from dental offices - an amount posing an additional expense to those already grappling with the loss of patients because of the pandemic.
The Iowa Dental Board issued requirements for dentists to see nonemergent patients, allowed as of May 8 under a recent proclamation from Gov. Kim Reynolds to reopen parts of the state’s economy, that included personal protective equipment, or PPE, during all clinical visits and patient screening, among others.
The Iowa Dental Association estimates the majority of the state’s dentists have not ramped up patient visits, but instead spent the past week training staff on new protocols, building up their supply of necessary PPE and purchasing additional infection-control supplies and equipment.
In particular, finding additional PPE for all dental staff - including the face shields, gowns and gloves required by state officials - has been a challenge for dentists to meet, given the ongoing pandemic.
Dr. Sara Stuefen, who owns a dental practice in Vinton, told the Cedar Rapids Gazette that N95 masks especially are expensive and “almost impossible to find” because of the strained supply chain across the country.
If the supply chain doesn’t ease, Stuefen fears her office may have to halt patient visits.
“I’ve definitely had some sleepless nights worrying about that,” she said. “Anxiety is pretty high worrying about PPE inventory, which is pretty strange because it’s something we’ve never had to worry about before.”
Local dentists say Iowans’ next stop for a cleaning or a cavity fill will look much different from how it did before the pandemic.
Not only will patients be required to wear masks and be screened twice before their appointment, but many offices also are asking patients to wait in their cars until they can go into the exam room.
The Iowa Dental Board also stated in its guidelines for dentists transitioning back to practice that it requires offices to clean thoroughly between patients and for staff to practice frequent hand washing.
Because of this, there will be a slower tempo between patient visits to his Iowa City-based practice, said Dr. Bren O’Connor, who plans to resume normal operations by Tuesday.
“We’re staggering patients, so there’s not a lot of them in the waiting room,” he said.
Reopening their offices isn’t as easy as turning on the lights, said Laurie Traetow, executive director of the Iowa Dental Association.
Many dental offices are taking the extra step of adding new air-filtering machines and other engineering controls to help reduce the number of aerosols in the air. COVID-19 is spread through aerosols as fine liquid droplets in the air that are generated through dental procedures - meaning dental professionals in particular are at high risk for becoming infected by the virus.
These engineering controls cost somewhere between $20,000 to $30,000 to install, Traetow said. In addition, PPE costs approximately $24 for each patient visit.
And that’s on top of the fact that nearly 92 percent of dentists in Iowa were at less than 5 percent of their total patient volume on May 4 compared to a year ago, Iowa Dental Association data showed.
“You’re talking about shutting down the business altogether,” Traetow said.
Between additional staffing, PPE and installing air purifiers, “it cost an excess of $30,000” for Dr. Ryan Stuntz, the president of the Iowa Dental Association, to reopen his dental office in Farley, a town in Dubuque County. He intends to reopen Monday.
“These are things you can do to take a step further to improve your infection control, so most dentists are following this,” he said. “With so much of this being unknown, they want to err on the side of caution.”
As a result, Stuntz warned Iowans may see an increase in the cost of their dental care.
“The reality, as the costs go up, that’s something the patients should be aware of,” he said.
Unlike hospitals and many physicians’ clinics, most dental offices are independently owned by the dentists working in them, so they also handle the business side of the practice, including hiring staff and purchasing equipment.
Dealing with the additional expense COVID-19 mitigation efforts pose may be particularly hard on new dentists, some officials say. Stuefen, who serves on the American Dental Association’s New Dentists Committee, said it’s uncommon for dentists who are within 10 years of graduation to own their practice. However, she said many young dentists worry about the effect the pandemic may have on their career and their ability to pay back student loans.
On average, dentists graduate from dental school with around $280,000 in debt, Stuefen said. In some cases, she’s heard of as much as $500,000 in student loan debt.
“And for dental students about to graduate, they worry about whether they’re going to be able to get a job,” she said.
Since mid-March, dental offices have been limited to performing dental services only in cases of emergency, which could include pain and facial swelling. As a result, dentists have had only a few cases a week since pandemic mitigation policies went into effect.
As practices began increasing their caseload this week, many dentists said they prioritized patients based on the urgency of their case.
“We’re at a point where we’re seeing more and more emergencies that could have been handled sooner and could have been prevented, which we couldn’t have done before,” Stuntz said.
“Before, the patient needed to be experiencing pain … . Our goal is to get to that before that happens.”
Even a simple cavity, if left unattended too long, worsens until the patient needs a crown or even a root canal, Stuntz said. In a worst-case scenario, it could develop into a tooth abscess, caused by a bacterial infection, for something “that could have been solved with a $150 filling.”
“We don’t want that to be a model for how people get treated,” Stuntz said.


washingtontimes--2020-05-23--Interpreters launch videos to teach sign language basics

BISMARCK , N.D. ( AP ) - The interpreters who stand adjacent to Gov .
Doug Burgum at his coronavirus press briefings are launching a series of videos to teach people the basics of American Sign Language .
The first video , posted May 18 to the North Dakota Department of Public Instruction ’ s Facebook page , instructs viewers on how to sign the alphabet .
“ The best way to start is to be able to finger spell a little bit , ” said Lindsey Solberg Herbel , adding that beginners can also learn some basic signs for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ governor ’ s press conferences will recognize Solberg Herbel , who is on-screen , teaching , in the first few videos .
She ’ s an outreach interpreter based in the Bismarck office of the North Dakota School for the Deaf and has spent numerous afternoons the past two months at the state Capitol , translating the governor ’ s words , those of his guests and questions from reporters .
“ I was getting a lot of attention because of it , and I really didn ’ t want the attention for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tribune .
“ I thought , what would be a good way to use this attention to promote inclusion in our classrooms and in our communities ?
” She hopes the videos can serve as useful activities for children stuck at home .
They could also be used in schools when in-person classes resume .
Adults , especially those who know or work with a deaf person , can learn from them too , she said .
Future topics include numbers , colors and simple phrases such as , “ Hi .
How @ @ @ @ @ @ @ filmed five videos so far with the help of fellow outreach interpreter Renae Bitner , who has worked at several of the governor ’ s press briefings as well .
Those videos will be released in the coming weeks , and they plan to work on more down the road .
“ Going forward , we want to include members of the deaf community to showcase their skills because they are the true masters of ASL , ” Solberg Herbel said , using the acronym for American Sign Language .
A recent statewide @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Dakota use ASL as their first language , Bitner said .
To practice , the interpreters recommend that people visit the website asl.ms .
The tool gives the viewer an opportunity to watch words spelled out in ASL while controlling the speed of the on-screen hand that ’ s signing .
Around the state , some colleges offer sign language classes , including for members of the public who are not students .
The School for the Deaf delivers instruction to some K-12 schools via video .
The interpreters are working on putting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ resources for those interested .
The grammar structure for ASL differs from spoken English .
It ’ s closer to French , a product of the founder of the first school for the deaf in the United States having visited a similar school in France in the early 19th century , Bitner said .
By the time Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet founded the school in Connecticut , a number of people in nearby Martha ’ s Vineyard in Massachusetts had already adopted their own form of sign language because the area had a large @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sign language that they brought over , but they also eventually incorporated the signs that were already existing here in America , ” Bitner said of the school in Connecticut .
“ That ’ s what became American Sign Language.
” The language is always evolving as new words are added .
Lately , for example , the deaf community and interpreters have had to come up with signs for words like “ coronavirus ” and “ contact tracing ” as the pandemic adds a slew of public health terms to Americans ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ very tight-knit , ” Bitner said .
“ When there is something that everybody is talking about , they are pretty quick to come up with signs.
” Technology helps to spread signs for new words , as people film themselves and post videos to apps such as Facebook .
In one popular Facebook group , “ ASL THAT !
” people ask questions and carry on discussions about new signs , including for coronavirus-related words .
Some of those words are used all the time by Solberg Herbel and Bitner at Burgum @ @ @ @ @ @ @ goes for interpreters doing similar work in other states , whose visibility has been elevated as residents tune in to the governors ’ frequent updates on the virus .
“ It ’ s really drawn attention to the fact that deaf people are in every part of our community , ” Bitner said .
“ They need to know what ’ s going on just as much as hearing people do.
” To view the first of the interpreters ’ videos , visit www.facebook.com/NDDPI .

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) - The interpreters who stand adjacent to Gov. Doug Burgum at his coronavirus press briefings are launching a series of videos to teach people the basics of American Sign Language.
The first video, posted May 18 to the North Dakota Department of Public Instruction’s Facebook page, instructs viewers on how to sign the alphabet.
“The best way to start is to be able to finger spell a little bit,” said Lindsey Solberg Herbel, adding that beginners can also learn some basic signs for individual words.
Many viewers of the governor’s press conferences will recognize Solberg Herbel, who is on-screen, teaching, in the first few videos. She’s an outreach interpreter based in the Bismarck office of the North Dakota School for the Deaf and has spent numerous afternoons the past two months at the state Capitol, translating the governor’s words, those of his guests and questions from reporters.
“I was getting a lot of attention because of it, and I really didn’t want the attention for myself,” she told The Bismarck Tribune. “I thought, what would be a good way to use this attention to promote inclusion in our classrooms and in our communities?”
She hopes the videos can serve as useful activities for children stuck at home. They could also be used in schools when in-person classes resume. Adults, especially those who know or work with a deaf person, can learn from them too, she said.
Future topics include numbers, colors and simple phrases such as, “Hi. How are you?”
Solberg Herbel has filmed five videos so far with the help of fellow outreach interpreter Renae Bitner, who has worked at several of the governor’s press briefings as well. Those videos will be released in the coming weeks, and they plan to work on more down the road.
“Going forward, we want to include members of the deaf community to showcase their skills because they are the true masters of ASL,” Solberg Herbel said, using the acronym for American Sign Language.
A recent statewide count estimates that 120 people across North Dakota use ASL as their first language, Bitner said.
To practice, the interpreters recommend that people visit the website asl.ms. The tool gives the viewer an opportunity to watch words spelled out in ASL while controlling the speed of the on-screen hand that’s signing.
Around the state, some colleges offer sign language classes, including for members of the public who are not students. The School for the Deaf delivers instruction to some K-12 schools via video. The interpreters are working on putting together a list of more sign language resources for those interested.
The grammar structure for ASL differs from spoken English. It’s closer to French, a product of the founder of the first school for the deaf in the United States having visited a similar school in France in the early 19th century, Bitner said.
By the time Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet founded the school in Connecticut, a number of people in nearby Martha’s Vineyard in Massachusetts had already adopted their own form of sign language because the area had a large deaf community.
“They used French sign language that they brought over, but they also eventually incorporated the signs that were already existing here in America,” Bitner said of the school in Connecticut. “That’s what became American Sign Language.”
The language is always evolving as new words are added. Lately, for example, the deaf community and interpreters have had to come up with signs for words like “coronavirus” and “contact tracing” as the pandemic adds a slew of public health terms to Americans’ vocabulary.
“The deaf community is very tight-knit,” Bitner said. “When there is something that everybody is talking about, they are pretty quick to come up with signs.”
Technology helps to spread signs for new words, as people film themselves and post videos to apps such as Facebook. In one popular Facebook group, “ASL THAT!” people ask questions and carry on discussions about new signs, including for coronavirus-related words.
Some of those words are used all the time by Solberg Herbel and Bitner at Burgum’s press conferences. The same goes for interpreters doing similar work in other states, whose visibility has been elevated as residents tune in to the governors’ frequent updates on the virus.
“It’s really drawn attention to the fact that deaf people are in every part of our community,” Bitner said. “They need to know what’s going on just as much as hearing people do.”
To view the first of the interpreters’ videos, visit www.facebook.com/NDDPI.


washingtontimes--2020-05-23--Photographer focuses lens on promoting small businesses

SPRINGFIELD , Ill. ( AP ) - In the early days of the state ’ s stay-at-home order , photographer Kristi Mitchell ’ s initial inclination was to capture the strange moment in time through her lens .
“ I had come down to my studio , which is on the corner of Fifth and Monroe , ” Mitchell recalls .
“ And it just seemed so different .
The parking lots were empty , Long Nine Junction , which is one of my favorite lunch places , closed .
It caught my eye and it was very eerie to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and look how different it looked.
” Though her initial focus was on the empty stores and empty parking lots , it would soon morph into something bigger - an effort to promote local small businesses amid the COVID-19 pandemic .
Mitchell said the idea was prompted by the fact that she did not know that one of her favorite downtown breweries , Buzz Bomb Brewing Co. , was doing delivery and carryout service during the shutdown .
“ I didn ’ t realize that they were delivering and I was like , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ realize that they were delivering , maybe nobody did , ” she said .
“ So then I started getting that idea like , well , maybe I ’ ll start highlighting them and doing the porch picture from the business sense.
” Mitchell brought the idea to Downtown Springfield , Inc. executive director Lisa Clemmons Stott , who reached out to downtown small businesses .
Stott said “ everybody kind of raised their hand and said , ‘ yes , I ’ d love to be a part of it.
’ ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ This is Springfield ” portrait series was born .
Nearly every day since April 10 , the series has highlighted a small business in Springfield .
Typically , the posts - featured on the social media accounts of Mitchell and DSI - include a portrait of a person in front of their business , details about that business and how they are making it through these challenging times .
Mitchell then gives each small business owner access to the pictures from their shoot , pro bono , suggesting that they can be used @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It ’ s basically to help all these businesses , ” Mitchell said .
“ I don ’ t want to ever come back after this stay-at-home order and not have these stores , not have these restaurants that I can walk to or be a part of .
This is an amazing community.
” Last Thursday , Mitchell was behind the camera shooting her 21st portrait , which featured Wild Rose owner Monica Zanetti , her husband Jeremy Reed and their two children .
Even as she remained upbeat and posed playfully @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it ’ s a tough time for small businesses .
“ Right now , we ’ re just squeaking by , like we ’ re not making any profit , ” she said .
“ I ’ m giving everything back to our artists .
I told my artists as long as you stay with me , I will switch it up.
” Part of switching it up includes creating a website for the artisan boutique , allowing them to sell products online and making those products available for pickup or delivery even @ @ @ @ @ @ @ customers .
All the information about the website was included in Mitchell ’ s post on the boutique , which dropped Friday afternoon .
“ Even if someone ’ s been buying just one item , I go deliver it the next day if it ’ s local , ” Zanetti said .
“ So it ’ s really been helping keep us afloat.
” Many business owners portrayed similarly plugged their websites and deals they ’ re offering now .
Some spoke of the renovations they ’ ve taken the opportunity to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ important in “ making sure that people don ’ t forget that there ’ s a face behind the business and there ’ s a person behind the business , ” hoping that it encourages people to continue to buy local as government assistance alone will not be enough .
“ So each time somebody buys a gift certificate or buys a meal from a downtown business , it ( not ) just helps them from a financial perspective , but from a morale perspective , too , as they look forward to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out how they can stay in business.
” Mitchell said the project has taken her mind off the uncertainty created by the pandemic .
Her eponymous photography business , which specializes in weddings , families , engagements and seniors , “ definitely took a huge hit and it got very scary ” in March , she said .
“ That was another thing with this project : it got me behind my camera again , ” Mitchell said .
“ I think for a few weeks ( COVID-19 ) made me nervous and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ camera that this got me still working and staying positive .
I mean , me sitting at home worrying about it wasn ’ t doing anything , so I needed to do something.
” Mitchell said she will likely continue the series through the remainder of the pandemic .

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) - In the early days of the state’s stay-at-home order, photographer Kristi Mitchell’s initial inclination was to capture the strange moment in time through her lens.
“I had come down to my studio, which is on the corner of Fifth and Monroe,” Mitchell recalls. “And it just seemed so different. The parking lots were empty, Long Nine Junction, which is one of my favorite lunch places, closed. It caught my eye and it was very eerie to me – this was my city, and look how different it looked.”
Though her initial focus was on the empty stores and empty parking lots, it would soon morph into something bigger - an effort to promote local small businesses amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Mitchell said the idea was prompted by the fact that she did not know that one of her favorite downtown breweries, Buzz Bomb Brewing Co., was doing delivery and carryout service during the shutdown.
“I didn’t realize that they were delivering and I was like, well, if I didn’t realize that they were delivering, maybe nobody did,” she said. “So then I started getting that idea like, well, maybe I’ll start highlighting them and doing the porch picture from the business sense.”
Mitchell brought the idea to Downtown Springfield, Inc. executive director Lisa Clemmons Stott, who reached out to downtown small businesses. Stott said “everybody kind of raised their hand and said, ‘yes, I’d love to be a part of it.’”
With that, Mitchell’s “This is Springfield” portrait series was born.
Nearly every day since April 10, the series has highlighted a small business in Springfield.
Typically, the posts - featured on the social media accounts of Mitchell and DSI - include a portrait of a person in front of their business, details about that business and how they are making it through these challenging times.
Mitchell then gives each small business owner access to the pictures from their shoot, pro bono, suggesting that they can be used for headshots or their websites.
“It’s basically to help all these businesses,” Mitchell said. “I don’t want to ever come back after this stay-at-home order and not have these stores, not have these restaurants that I can walk to or be a part of. This is an amazing community.”
Last Thursday, Mitchell was behind the camera shooting her 21st portrait, which featured Wild Rose owner Monica Zanetti, her husband Jeremy Reed and their two children.
Even as she remained upbeat and posed playfully for the camera, Zanetti acknowledged that it’s a tough time for small businesses.
“Right now, we’re just squeaking by, like we’re not making any profit,” she said. “I’m giving everything back to our artists. I told my artists as long as you stay with me, I will switch it up.”
Part of switching it up includes creating a website for the artisan boutique, allowing them to sell products online and making those products available for pickup or delivery even as the shop remains closed to walk-in customers.
All the information about the website was included in Mitchell’s post on the boutique, which dropped Friday afternoon.
“Even if someone’s been buying just one item, I go deliver it the next day if it’s local,” Zanetti said. “So it’s really been helping keep us afloat.”
Many business owners portrayed similarly plugged their websites and deals they’re offering now. Some spoke of the renovations they’ve taken the opportunity to make.
Stott said the series is important in “making sure that people don’t forget that there’s a face behind the business and there’s a person behind the business,” hoping that it encourages people to continue to buy local as government assistance alone will not be enough.
“So each time somebody buys a gift certificate or buys a meal from a downtown business, it (not) just helps them from a financial perspective, but from a morale perspective, too, as they look forward to the coming months to try to figure out how they can stay in business.”
Mitchell said the project has taken her mind off the uncertainty created by the pandemic. Her eponymous photography business, which specializes in weddings, families, engagements and seniors, “definitely took a huge hit and it got very scary” in March, she said.
“That was another thing with this project: it got me behind my camera again,” Mitchell said. “I think for a few weeks (COVID-19) made me nervous and I just feel so comfortable behind my camera that this got me still working and staying positive. I mean, me sitting at home worrying about it wasn’t doing anything, so I needed to do something.”
Mitchell said she will likely continue the series through the remainder of the pandemic.
___
Source: The (Springfield) State Journal-Register, https://bit.ly/2Ac0n6i