Red-winged blackbirds are a very common bird in the lower48 states, but the northwestern extent of their range is about southeastern Alaska, so there
are very uncommon in interior Alaska. However, a few red-winged blackbirds have nested at George Lake for many years and visitors to the lake can hear their distinctive kon-ka-ree call. This male was photographed at George Lake in early June.
Photo Courtesy Steve DuBois

Happy Birthday July 22 - July 29 

Happy Birthday Duane Petty July 22

Happy Birthday July 22 - Miki Adams

Happy Birthday July 22 - Jamie Glover

Happy Birthday July 23 - Charlie Herman

Happy Birthday July 23 - Coleen White Fett

Happy Birthday July 24 - Gina McShane

Happy Birthday July 24 - Carmen Carpenter

Happy Birthday July 24 - Eden Rose Mock

Happy Birthday July 24 - Derek Kohler

Happy Birthday July 24 - Sandy Hill

Happy Birthday July 24 - Christie Mason

Happy Birthday July 25 - Bill Smith

Happy Birthday July 26 - Kelly Dighton

Happy Birthday July 26 - Lowen Ewing

Happy Birthday July 26 - Jerry VanderZwaag

Happy Birthday July 26 - Bob Geise

Happy Birthday July 27 - Walter Marchuk

Happy Birthday July 28 -  Debbie Harker

Happy Birthday July 28 - Gayle Larson

Happy Birthday July 28 - Travis McNeil

Happy Birthday July 29 - Ted Echo-Hawk

Happy Birthday July 30 – Arlou Smith

Happy Anniversary July 22 - July 29

Happy Anniversary July 25 - Robbie & Sarah Bevard

Happy Anniversary July 25 - Harley & Lynn Olberg

Happy Anniversary July 27 - Don & Jeanne Bunselmeier

Happy Anniversary July 29 - Scott & Ruby Hollembaek

Photos of Amanita Muscaria which are very
poisonous -- and there are a lot of them out right now. Mushroom  pickers need to be very cautious about what they pick and eat -- and  this is not the one you want. There were so many of these Amanitas  around that I thought the area should be called "Amanita-ville" Photo Courtesy Ann Geise

LETTUCE

With the lettuce coming on strong now is the time to enjoy the “fruits” of your labor!

Nutrition and Health…
Lettuce provides Vitamins A and C, iron, folic acid, and calcium. A whole head of Iceberg lettuce has only about 70 calories.

Selection…
Select lettuce with fresh green outer leaves. Watch for crisp leaves. Avoid yellow, brown, wilted, or torn leaves.

Storage…
Lettuce should always be covered and refrigerated. However, care should be taken to avoid "russet spotting." This brown discoloration occurs when lettuce is kept at high temperatures. Keep in the coolest part of the refrigerator. Some fruits (melons, apples, and pears) also cause lettuce to spot because they give off ethylene gas as they ripen. So, don't store it near these fruits.

Preparation…
Preparation of lettuce is simple. Tear into bite-sized pieces. Cut out core and shred, if desired. Rinse with cold water and serve. Most lettuce is consumed fresh in salads or on sandwiches. It makes a good garnish or a suitable vessel for cottage cheese, tuna, or any pasta salad.
If you want to try something a little different, try cooking it. Steam shredded lettuce for 2 to 3 minutes and top with a little butter. It makes very good soup when combined with broth and spices. Or try braising it with onions, meats and other vegetables.

Recipes

Lettuce and Rice Dish
2 tbsp butter or margarine
1⁄2 cup finely chopped
3 cups finely shredded lettuce
green pepper
1⁄2 cup finely chopped onion
1 cup cooked rice
2 cups tomato pulp or thick stewed tomatoes

Melt butter and stir in vegetables, cover and cook gently for about 10 minutes, stirring frequently. Stir in rice and tomatoes and heat through. Salt and pepper to taste. Serves 4.

Overnight Vegetable Salad
4 cups torn lettuce
3⁄4 cup shredded Swiss, American or Cheddar cheese
1 cup sliced fresh mushrooms or broccoli florets or frozen peas
1 cup shredded carrots
2 green onions, sliced
2 hard cooked eggs, diced
3⁄4 cup mayonnaise or salad dressing
6 slices bacon, crisp cooked, drained, and crumbled
11⁄2 tsp lemon juice

Place lettuce in bottom of bowl, about 8 inches in diameter. Layer mushrooms, broccoli, or peas on top. Then layer carrots. Arrange eggs and bacon over top of vegetables. Top with 1⁄2 cup cheese and the green onions. For dressing, combine mayonnaise and lemon juice. Spread dressing over top of salad, sealing to edge of bowl. Sprinkle with remaining cheese. Cover and chill from 2 to 24 hours. Serves 4.

July 21, 2005 - From the University of Alaska Fairbanks Cooperative Extension Service
Roxie Rodgers Dinstel Home Economist

Marlin Dunklebarger running the canyon rapids on a recent canoe trip on the Gulkana River with Jason and Bill Pugh.  Photo Courtesy Marlin Dunklebarger

Aphids in our environment

There are several types of Alaska native aphids in our ecosystem, including spruce needle aphids, gall and wooly aphids, and birch aphids. Unfortunately, some of them make their way into our gardens, greenhouses, and landscape trees and shrubs.

Aphids are small, green, pear-shaped, soft-bodied insects, although they may appear as yellow, pink, black, or purplish-brown. Adults may be winged or wingless. Aphids overwinter in the egg stage on nearby plants. They pass through one or two generations before the winged adults move into your host crops. Aphids produce live young continuously throughout the season without mating, and in fall they produce overwintering eggs. They suck the sap from the plants’ leaf tissue, causing reduced growth and vigor. Aphids secrete honeydew, a sticky substance of excess plant juices, water and sugars. This honeydew attracts ants and other insects, transmits diseases, and sooty mold thrives on the honeydew. Fortunately, it is easily washed away.

To combat aphids in your cultivated gardens, hand-pick them off the plants, or use a high-pressure spray of water regularly to shoo them off. You can use a swab dipped in alcohol and rub it on the pests if they are stationary. Using beneficial biological control insects, such as ladybugs, will take care of the problem quite effectively. Sticky traps work well, and they are especially useful in recognizing how the aphids are getting into your greenhouse. Aphids often enter greenhouses by the door, or on your clothes. If you have a lot of birch trees in your yard, and annual infestations of large aphid populations, a screen door on your greenhouse may prove its worth. Raspberry bushes are often severely infested with aphids, so change clothes after berry picking before entering your greenhouse.

A good homemade recipe with common ingredients that you may already have in your kitchen is known to be effective on aphids, as well as some other damaging insects. In a blender, combine a few cloves of garlic, a dash of cayenne, ½ cup of lemon or grapefruit juice, 1 tablespoon of baby shampoo or dish soap, and 2 cups of water. Strain the solution and put into a spray bottle, and voila! If you are short on ingredients, just some dish soap and water in a spray bottle will do the trick for a mild or early-stage infestation. Water the foliage of your plants before spraying your aphid antidote to ensure good coverage and to maximize the effectiveness.
For more information, or for questions about horticulture and insects, contact the Cooperative Extension Service in the Jarvis Office Center, or call 895-4215. Happy growing!

July 19, 2005 -- By Sara Engebretson
IPM Technician, UAF-Cooperative Extension Service

Happy Birthday July 15 - July 21

Happy Belated Birthday July 12 – Cassy Muth

Happy Birthday July 15 - George Sandlin

Happy Birthday July 15 - Russ Sandlin

Happy Belated Birthday July 16 - Jessica Smith

Happy Birthday July 16 - Jim Mayo

Happy Birthday July 16 - Rick Johnson

Happy Birthday July 17 - Jesse D Cummings

Happy Birthday July 17 - Howie Echo-Hawk

Happy Birthday July 17 - James Rogers

Happy Birthday July 19 – Nancy Ellis

Happy Birthday July 21 - Jane Storey

Happy Anniversary July 15 - July 21

Happy Anniversary July 19 - Jon & Kim Brewis

Happy Anniversary July 20 - David & Karen Sutherland
 

 Photo was taken mid June while visiting Anchorage. This is the spot for bush-plane spotters; Lake Hood is the world's busiest floatplane base (and ski-plane base in the winter). Just about every type of small plane imaginable can be seen jetting onto and off of the lake's surface. 
Photo Courtesy Reginald Salinas

Success with Tomatoes and Cucumbers in your Greenhouse

You know it’s really summer when those little tomato and cucumber plants have taken over your greenhouse and the blooms are ready to start producing fruit for your palate and pantry.  Since these plants can be a little testy with the weather fluctuations that we have been having, there are some key ideas to keep in mind to maximize greenhouse production.

The most important factors to productive growth in tomatoes and cucumbers are proper nutrition, regular watering cycles, humidity control, and pollination.  First of all, these plants need plenty of nitrogen to do their work and make their way to the top of your trellis.  All plants will show a nitrogen deficiency by yellowing lower leaves.  Tomatoes will tell you that they have had too much nitrogen when their upper leaves curl upward.  This is called “nitrogen curl”. 

Tomatoes and cucumbers like temperatures of about 70-80 degrees, and temperatures above 85 degrees are not beneficial.  Cool air temperatures will delay ripening and mellow out the flavor of tomatoes.  To avoid this, be sure to close up your greenhouse early enough in the evening to trap some heat for the cooler nights.  Relative humidity of 70% is optimum for pollination, fruit set and development.

Regular watering intervals play a huge role in setting and ripening healthy fruit in tomatoes.  Both plants like 1-1 ½ inches of water each week.  Be sure to water the roots, and not the plants, to avoid degrading the blossoms before they are pollinated.  When blossoms decay, they fall off before fruit production begins, and you will have to wait until more flowers are produced for your next fresh tomato or cucumber.  Even when great care has been taken to provide proper nutrition for tomato plants, fluctuations in watering cycles and environment can cause blossom end rot.  A long period of drought followed by adequate watering will result in blossom end rot.  Brown, rotten circles that come from condensation at the base of the tomato easily identify blossom end rot. 

To ensure a good, productive harvest of cucumbers and tomatoes, some care must be taken to aid in pollination.  Methods vary, but you can start with a simple small paintbrush and just tickle each flower.  Since each flower includes both male and female parts, this method is usually sufficient.  Gently vibrating the stems of flower clusters, letting insects fly around your greenhouse, and gentle breezes also can do the trick.

For more specific information about growing cucumbers and tomatoes, non-toxic ways to combat aphids, or other insect and horticulture questions, contact the Cooperative Extension Service in the Jarvis Office Center at 895-4215.

By Sara Engebretson - IPM Technician, UAF – Cooperative Extension Service - July 12, 2005

Sierra Luke (Daughter of Jonathan Gibbs & Julie Luke) and Colton Bobo (Son of Mike & Les (Hollembaek) Bobo) enjoying an eventful soccer
tournament in Anchorage where Sierra's team the Eclipse 93' went undefeated with five shutouts to take first place in the Ina K. Tournament!!!!!!
Sierra Luke (Daughter of Jonathan Gibbs and Julie Luke) graduating from 6th grade at Hunter Elementary...Look out middle school. Wow, where has the time gone? Photos Courtesy Julie Luke

Baby Owls photographed along the Nistler Road.  Photo Courtesy Melissa Walters

Happy Birthday July 8 - July 14

Happy 3rd Birthday Cassidy Faith Reynolds - July 8
Happy Birthday July 8 - Kevin Ewing

Happy Birthday July 8 - Julia L. Lee

Happy Birthday Emma Austin, July 9

Happy Birthday July 9 - Louie Scott

Happy Birthday July 10 - Kim Brewis

I'd like to wish my sons Jimmy n Pepe a Very Happy Birthday on July 11th.  Love, Mom

Happy Birthday July 11 - Pepe Velasco

Happy Birthday July 11 - Jimmy Morden

Happy Birthday July 13 - Mary St Peter

Happy Birthday July 13 - Mary Hayes

Happy Birthday July 13 - Bill Helkenn

Happy Birthday July 14 - Sunnie Crowson

Happy Anniversary July 8 - July 14

Happy Anniversary Derek and Sheryl Mills July 9th, love Donna and Travis

Happy Anniversary to Lou & Sherry Heinbockel - July 11 Love, Debbie & Brett

Happy Anniversary to Derek & Sheryl Mills - July 9.  Love, Debbie & Brett

Happy Anniversary July 11 - Lou & Sherry Heinbockel

Happy Anniversary to Joe and Carol Crandall from your lower 48 family: Mom, Dad, Bill, Brenda, Ann, John, The Whitbys, We Love you: July 14, 2005

14 July.. Carol, four years and growing. Love Always and Happy Anniversary Joe

Happy Anniversary July 14 - Joe & Carol Crandall

Erica Alexis (5 3/4) and Carter Edward Douglas (3 1/2) Christopherson sittin' on the curb watching the 4th of July parade in Anchorage. Photo taken by father Mikel Christopherson (DHS Class of 1986).
Still living in Anchorage, the kids are expecting a new sister Saturday, July 9. Mommy, Nikki says she is doing fine and looking forward to Sunday the 10th. Also on the 9th, Grandma Peggy Christopherson will be arriving for a 3 week visit. She is coming from her home in Lebanon, Oregon to help with the new baby. But most of all Grandma is coming to play with her grandchildren. And to say "Hi" to any old Deltoid friends who happen to be in the Anchorage area. Give her a call at 907-245-0714 or on her cell at 541-409-0740.

Fort Greely Post Chapel Vacation Bible School

VBS Program takes kids on the journey of a lifetime to discover Jesus' awesome love and power while visiting everywhere from the Antarctic to the Egyptian desert!

Children of all faiths, kindergarten through 5th grade, are welcome at Vacation Bible School. VBS will be 9 am to 1 pm at the Fort Greely Post Chapel, July 11 - 15, 2005. This will be an open post event.

For more information or to register please call Lisa Lewis at 873-2476 or email lisa.lewis@greely.army.mil.

Off-post attendees will check in at the main gate. Please bring a valid ID or Driver's License, Automobile Registration, and Proof of Insurance.

July 5, 2005

Birch Leaf Rollers

Birch leaf rollers have been really making a mark on our trees this summer. They are native to Alaska, and are common in the Interior, the Anchorage region, and the northern Kenai Peninsula. Leaf rollers are found every year in low to moderate numbers; however, every few years, favorable climatic conditions facilitate large populations. The caterpillar, Epinotia solandriana L, does the majority of leaf rolling in Alaska.

Fortunately, the birch leaf roller has a one-year life cycle. It overwinters as an egg about the size of a pinhead on roughened bud stalks of birch trees, and hatches in May. The young caterpillar is whitish-yellow, and the older caterpillars are bluish-gray. The older caterpillars do the most damage rolling and feeding on the leaves. By the end of June, the adult caterpillars drop to the soil from their homes in the rolled leaves and develop into a pupa. The pupa is the stage in the birch leaf roller’s life cycle where they change into a moth over 3 to 4 weeks. It resembles a small, brown cocoon that burrows into the ground. Small, gray-brown adult moths emerge from the soil in August and deposit eggs on birch twigs to hatch in the springtime.

Healthy, vigorous birch trees can usually sustain 2 or 3 years of moderate to heavy leaf rolling and insect feeding. Growth is usually reduced and, occasionally, branch dieback occurs. Due to the inevitable rise and fall of insect populations, conditions usually change within a few years, and only rarely do trees die from infestation. A good way to minimize long-term damage to your beloved birch trees is to keep them watered and fertilized to reduce stress. If a sapling is affected, a high-pressure spray from a watering hose may knock back insect populations. In addition, you can promote healthy, vigorous tree growth by avoiding practices such as damaging the trunk, injuring the roots, altering drainage patterns, or compacting the soil.

For more information about how to fertilize your trees, or for any other questions about horticulture and insects, contact the Cooperative Extension Office at 895-4215, or stop by our office located in the Jarvis Office Center. Happy growing!
 

July 5, 2005 By Sara Engebretson - IPM Technician, UAF-Cooperative Extension Service

Brightly colored Livingston Daisies.
Photo Courtesy Gary Cooper

July 4th. Click on photos for an enlargement. Photos Courtesy Carol J Watkins

Creig Sharp caught this yellow eye rockfish while fishing out of Valdez over the weekend. He also enjoyed catching sea bass, limiting out on halibut, and sharing jokes and fish stories with good friends who made the trip with us.
Photo Courtesy Kathy Sharp

Rhandie Zollman is Doing Well

Rhandie Zollman has been at Providence Children's Hospital since Saturday morning after being critically injured in an ATV accident. She is now resting at the Providence House with her parents awaiting surgery for an eye injury on Thursday.

Although her injuries were severe initially, everyone at every step performed incredibly and Rhandie has responded well to the care given her here at Providence. Rhandie is expected to make a full recovery and will be home Friday evening.

We would like to take this opportunity to thank the Scott Miller family, especially Kari, Kendall Knight, and the EMT's and ESPECIALLY PA Jeff at the Family Medical Clinic for all they did for Rhandie that night, and to all the wonderful people in our town who have called, prayed, and wished her well. Thanks to the Dighton's for taking care of our animals. We'll be home soon. Love, the Zollmans

June 29, 2005 -- Jody Zollman

America We Salute You

According to the American Legion, the nation's largest distributor of American flags, sales went up by 50% in 2002, the year following 911.

The only US flag that flies all day and has never been saluted or flown at half mast is the one Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin planted on the moon in 1969.

Land of the Free Trivia

1. Benjamin Franklin thought this tasty bird would make a better national symbol than the bald eagle.
2. British troops used this patriotic song to ridicule the colonists during the Revolutionary War.
3. This symbol of American freedom hasn't chimed since 1835.
4. Some argue that this song should be the nation's anthem instead of "The Star Spangled Banner."

Land of the Free Trivia Answers
1. Turkey
2. "Yankee Doodle Dandy"
3. Liberty Bell
4. "America the Beautiful"

Red Turnip Beetles

The red turnip beetle adult, Chrysomedilae Entomoscelis Americana, is a red beetle about ½ inch long with three black strips down the back and a black patch behind the head. The red turnip beetle feeds on plants of the cabbage family, with an affinity for turnips. Other host plants include canola, rape, flixweed, shepard’s purse, tansy mustard, and other members of the mustard family.

 They have wings and travel great distances, but are not known to fly. They have been observed traveling as a concentrated moving front only a few meters wide. The red turnip beetle occurs in Alaska from the Matanuska Valley to Rampart on the Yukon River. The worst infestations have affected the Copper River Valley and the Kenny Lake region. It is also a pest in western Canada and in the Peace River Valley.

Fortunately, there is one generation of red turnip beetles per year. The most damage to gardens by the red turnip beetle happens in June and early July, when they first pupate into adults and are feeding. After several weeks of feeding, they retreat several inches down into the soil for summer hibernation. A few weeks later, the beetles reappear quite hungry, and are observed feeding on plants again until late August, when mating and egg-laying happens before the killing frosts. Loose clusters of eggs are laid in the soil and are protected by debris and soil lumps. The eggs resemble those of the root maggot, which are both brown with dimensions of 1/8 by 1/16 inches. The eggs hatch in early May, and the larvae feed on mustard weeds until they tunnel into the soil to pupate into adult beetles.

Eliminating common garden weeds is an excellent way to reduce reoccurring red turnip beetle infestations in your soil. Cultivating and tilling your garden soil in spring and fall, and practicing good garden cleanup methods, will break up soil clods containing eggs and reduce upcoming spring populations. Hand-picking the pests is the best defense against the pests. If chemical control is necessary, choose a pesticide specifically labeled for the crop and insect.

For more information, or for any other information about horticulture and insects, contact the Cooperative Extension Service at 895-4215, located in the Jarvis Office Center. Happy Growing!

June 29, 2005 Sara Engebretson/IPM Technician, UAF-Cooperative Extension Service

Cassidy Faith Reynolds, born 8 July 2002. She has been a blessing from the day she was born. Birthday wishes from your loving and proud parents, Paul and Kimberly Reynolds of Delta Junction.  Happy Birthday! 

GINA supplies image to help map Sheenjek River Fire   

The Geographic Information Network of Alaska (GINA) at the University of Alaska Fairbanks has supplied the summer's first Landsat 5 image to the Alaska Fire Service for mapping of the Sheenjek River Fire. The image was captured June 21, 2005, and portrays active burning as bright orange spots in the scene. Armed with this satellite image, fire personnel can better map the Sheenjek River Fire and formulate the proper response to fight the blaze northeast of Fairbanks.

The Landsat 5 image of the Sheenjek River Fire was received at the NOAA/NESDIS Fairbanks Command & Data Acquisition Station at Gilmore Creek, Alaska. GINA shipped the data over high-speed networks to Sioux Falls, South Dakota, where it was processed and archived at the USGS National Center for Earth Resources Observation Systems. GINA ordered the processed Landsat 5 image and was then able to deliver it to mappers with the Alaska Fire Service within 24 hours.

According to the Alaska Fire Service Situation Report on June 23, the Sheenjek River Fire has burned more than 65,000 acres near Fort Yukon. Currently, 283 fire personnel are fighting the fire.

GINA, a facility at the Geophysical Institute, was established in 2001 as the University of Alaska's mechanism for organizing and sharing diverse geospatial data and technological capabilities.

For more information: http://www.gina.alaska.edu

Landsat 5 image of the Sheenjek River fire is available upon request.  Contact:
Buck Sharpton, UA President's Professor of Remote Sensing and GINA Director: (907) 474-6663.
Tom Heinrichs, GINA Technical Services Manager:(907) 474-6897.
Amy Hartley, Geophysical Institute Information Officer: (907) 474-5823.

June 28, 2005

Bike Decorating Contest & Parade

Hey Kids! Get ready for the Delta Chamber of Commerce "Bike Decorating Contest and Parade" to be held Saturday, July 2nd at 12pm during the Old Fashioned 4th of July Celebration at the Deltana Fairgrounds. Kids 12 and under are invited to participate.

Register for the event at 11:30am, July 2nd at the Delta Chamber Booth at the Fairgrounds. Judging will be based on the use of Old Fashioned 4th of July theme, creativity, originality and effort. Prizes will be paid in chamber vouchers that can be used in many businesses around town.
 
1st Place - $100.00, 2nd Place $50.00 and 3rd Place $25.00. Get started decorating now and come on out July 2nd for lots of "Old Fashioned Fun" at the Deltana Fairgrounds. Martha Bryant, Events Coordinator  -  895-5068.

June 20, 2005

All American Apple Pie Contest

What could be more “All-American” than home baked apple Pie? Cook up your favorite apple pie recipe and enter this year’s All American Apple Pie Contest. Winners will be announced at 11:30 am on July 2nd on the Alascom stage at the Deltana Fairgrounds (register for the contest on the day of the event at 10:30 am at the Delta Chamber Booth). Pies will be judged on appearance, ease of serving, texture of crust and taste. First Prize, $100.00, Second Prize, $50.00, Third Prize $25.00. Prizes will be paid in Chamber Vouchers. Vouchers can be redeemed at many local businesses.

Winning pies will be sold with proceeds benefiting “Team Alaska Cross Country Group”. Team Alaska has agreed to help out the day of the event. Come support this great team Saturday, July 2nd at the Delta Chamber of Commerce Old Time 4th of July Celebration. Call Martha at 895-5068 for more information.

June 22, 2005

All Area Teen Dance  

Teens are invited to a night of fun and music at the community center  This Friday (July 1st) from 7-11pm. Music will be provided by DJ Jack Carlson. There will be door prizes throughout the night.

This is a free event sponsored by Delta Youth Court and the Delta Chamber of Commerce. For more information call the Delta Chamber of Commerce at 895-5068

June 27, 2005