December 2022

As the freeze and thaw season has made its way into our lives again, treacherous walking and driving becomes a routine ordeal. Properly maintaining walkways, roads and parking areas by clearing the snow in a timely fashion is the best way to help prevent accidents, but we often use deicing salts to maintain these areas too. They work to decrease the freezing point of water, preventing ice from forming in temperatures from 20 to -30F depending on the formulation. Deicing salts certainly have their benefits, but they can also cause unnecessary issues for plants, ground water and aquatic life. Sodium chloride is the most commonly used formulation, but there are many others. Some even include things like beet juice, or cheese brine to help slow corrosion and improve application. Using deicing salts properly is key to best performance and reducing the negative impacts on the environment, so be sure to apply them at the proper temperatures, only in critical areas, and sparingly. There are formulations specific to temperature such as calcium chloride which are more appropriate for negative temperatures, but again be sure to read the application directions. Avoid leaving piles of the deicer, and try to remove all snow rather than applying on snow. If there is dry salts leftover that can be swept up, it can be reused when stored properly. This is a great way to help prevent excess from entering our groundwater and waterways.

While I am quite fond of the Vince Guaraldi, the solo artist and his Trio, there are limits to my affection. I happen to dislike Christmas songs.

Representation Matters continued. I would like to share more of the books that represent people with disabilities available at the Two Harbors Public Library thanks to the support from the Coop Light and Power Round Up grant.

Amy Jordahl and her State Farm crew kept their Thanksgiving tradition alive this year by delivering scrumptious Thanksgiving dinners from Louise's Place to community members. Beginning in 2019 Jordahl is supplied a list by Community Partners of folks in our community who might not otherwise have a fancy meal on the holiday.

Every month I am reminded that there are bills to be paid. And every month they seem to come quicker and quicker. Now I have not gotten in the habit of paying bills on line or using a debit card, and so it was off to the post office where I always try to get the latest releases of stamps. Now it is not that I am unpatriotic but to me the flag stamps are getting a bit tiring. So, as I was looking over the many choices, my eyes went to a stamp with an African-American woman. Her name was Maya Angelou. I had heard the name but nothing special registered at the time. But I asked for a sheet of her stamps, paid the clerk, left the post office and went home.