Dear “Earth Talk”: What kind of environmentally friendly pet-care products are available for controlling ticks and fleas and washing dogs and cats? — Jeannette Peclet, Norwalk, Conn. According to Australian veterinarian Lilian Lee, pets metabolize most of the insecticide contained in mass-marketed flea collars such that the concentration is so weak that it has hardly […]
Community & Lifestyle
Posted inArts & Culture
gardening 6-30-05
Does anyone remember what rain looks like? According to the U.S. drought monitor (drought.unl.edu/dm/monitor.html), central Illinois is experiencing a moderate-to-severe drought. Some areas of central Illinois have received a little more of the liquid stuff than others have, but “little” is the operative word. In Buffalo, for example, we received one rainfall totaling just an […]
Posted inArts & Culture
history talk 6-30-05
Last year, Dan Hillis — a local attorney who is originally from Binghamton, N.Y. — purchased a home on South Douglas Avenue that he is now in the process of renovating. A curious metal plaque, prominently affixed to the house with screws, greets visitors with a whimsical, if false, statement: “On This Site in 1897, […]
Posted inArts & Culture
earth talk 6-30-05
Dear “Earth Talk”: Aside from wind power, which seems to be gaining in acceptance, what are some other promising sources of nonpolluting renewable energy? — Bianca Hoffman, Bridgeport, Conn. Wind power certainly has been in the news lately, with wind farms sprouting up across America from California to the Atlantic seaboard. By the end of […]
Posted inArts & Culture
gardening 6-30-05
If you’re like most gardeners, you’ve been toiling away in the yard for a few months now and are seeing the results of your hard work. You’re also ready for a well-deserved break. The University of Illinois Extension Sangamon-Menard Unit Master Gardeners have the perfect answer: a summer garden walk. Join us on Sunday, July […]
Posted inArts & Culture
earth talk 6-23-05
Dear “Earth Talk”: What exactly constitutes “ecotravel” or “ecotourism”? — Jeannette Peclet, Norwalk, Conn. Although tour operators and travel agents around the world may tout their trips as “ecotours,” environmentally conscious travelers take a variety of considerations into account when determining whether any given excursion qualifies as such. The International Ecotourism Society defines ecotourism as […]
Posted inArts & Culture
gardening 6-23-05
You’re sure to walk away with ideas on sprucing up your garden after attending one of the many upcoming area garden walks. • Enjoy “Town and Country Gardens,” 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, June 25, hosted by the University of Illinois Extension Master Gardeners of Champaign County. Featured gardens include some in the Champaign-Urbana area and […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Northern exposure
When the family and friends of Olga McAnarney gathered during Christmas week last year to mourn her death, the traditional repast after the burial was an occasion that reunited many current and former residents of the old North 22nd Street neighborhood near St. Aloysius Church on Springfield’s North End. The mourners, many of them now […]
Posted inArts & Culture
history talk 6-9-05
In the hot summer of 1904, Springfield photographer Guy Mathis sallied forth from his downtown offices above Coe’s Book Store at Fifth and Monroe streets in his brand-new Cadillac to photograph the officers and men of the 7th Regiment of the Illinois National Guard. These guardsmen, known as the “Irish Brigade” of Chicago, were at […]
Posted inArts & Culture
earth talk 6-2-05
Dear “Earth Talk”: Many hotels now ask guests to reuse towels and not request new sheets every day as a way to save water and energy. What other eco-friendly trends, if any, are taking place in the hospitality industry? —Jenny Baker, Bozeman, Mont. Asking guests to reuse towels and keep sheets for more than one […]
Posted inArts & Culture
gardening 6-2-05
This week, while visiting my grandmother, I made the mistake of standing near a hummingbird feeder. Ruby-throated hummingbirds buzzed around my head on their way to the feeder. My initial reaction was to run for cover, but once I realized that they weren’t after me, I was able to enjoy these amazing birds. The smallest […]
Posted inArts & Culture
earth talk 5-26-05
Dear “Earth Talk”: What are the implications for Montana’s Glacier National Park if the glaciers there keep melting? — Oliver Ryan, New York City The glaciers for which Glacier National Park is named are melting away as a result of increasing global temperatures in recent decades, attributable most likely to global warming. A century ago, […]
