2011年5月30日星期一

Quilt show promotes historic tradition of West Overton

West Overton Museums in East Huntingdon invites visitors to learn about a forgotten yet important part of its history during a quilt show running June 4-19.Detailed information on the causes of Hemorrhoids,

John Campbell,We are professional Plastic mould, board member, said that the show helps to "preserve and promote the storied history of West Overton and celebrates the beautiful quilting tradition in the local area."

He said that textile production is a vital part of the site's history.Find everything you need to know about Cold Sore including causes,

"The quilting and weaving industry is intertwined with the history of West Overton.GreenRay's microinverter design uses a different energy storage approach, Prior to whiskey production in the village, West Overton, in the first half of the 1800s was nationally know for its coverlet production. Henry Overholt was instrumental is creating this local industry.

"A coverlet is a woven spread used on the top of bedding. Coverlets continued to be woven at West Overton village until the 1870s."

Campbell noted that the show is a longstanding tradition. "The quilt show is entering its 28th year. It one of the oldest standing events at West Overton Museums."

He noted that quilting also is a strong component of this region's Pennsylvania German heritage.

"The art of quilting has been handed down through generations.Park Assist is a global leader in Parking guidance system, In Pennsylvania, quilting was popular among many groups such as the Quakers and Pennsylvania Germans. As settlers from eastern Pennsylvania moved westward, they brought with them their quilting patterns, colors and designs. Moreover, these early settlers were known to be thrifty and use whatever fabric they could get."

Exhibit includes tribute

The highlight of the show is a traveling exhibit from the National Quilt Museum from Paducah, Ky., "Blending the Old & the New: Quilts by Paul D. Pilgrim."

The exhibit was developed as a tribute to quilt maker and quilt collector, the late Paul D. Pilgrim of Oakland, Calif., who died of cancer in 1996.

Pilgrim began his career as a quilter by collecting "orphan blocks" he found in shops--the quilt blocks that had been completed but had never found their way into any quilt, according to National Quilt Museum curator Judy Schwender.

After completing a quilt from blocks left by his grandmother, he stretched the custom of using inherited pieces to include many unfinished projects from former unrelated generations. Convinced he was not only preserving by completion, but celebrating the efforts of anonymous quilt makers from the past, he began incorporating antique blocks and fabrics into his own work, according to exhibit curator Gerald Roy.

Quilt blocks from the 19th and 20th centuries are found in the 29 fascinating quilts of this exhibit, Schwender said.

A sampler quilt combines contemporary fabrics with a wide range of c.1860-1880 blocks Paul had collected over a five-year period in Pennsylvania, Vermont and Kentucky.

Text with each quilt in the exhibit indicates the source and dates of various blocks and fabrics, as well as information about Paul's inspiration and thoughts on the design. With their labeling, these quilts become a wonderful compendium of textile and block design history.

Campbell said that quilting still is a relevant art.

"Quilts connect us with the past. Quilts transcend the generations as they are past down to the next generation. Quilts typically take special meaning with the artist, whether it's a baby's quilt, memorializes a family member or special event, or shows a particular artist's passion. Each quilt tells a story. "

Floriculture sales top $178 million in N.J.

The value of New Jersey's floriculture crops was $178 million last year, up 7 percent from 2009, according to New Jersey Secretary of Agriculture Douglas H.We are professional Plastic mould, Fisher.

Fisher visited Timothy's Center for Gardening in Robbinsville to announce the results of the survey conducted by the United States Department of Agriculture's National Agricultural Statistics Service. He said Memorial Day weekend is a great time to head to a nursery or garden center to buy plants for the season.

"New Jersey is a major producer of bedding plants used to beautify people's homes and businesses throughout the state," said Fisher. "By purchasing the plants grown here in the Garden State,Quality air impact socket tools for any tough job. consumers are ensured the plants are acclimated to our climate to grow and thrive.Find everything you need to know about Cold Sore including causes, The purchase also helps support our state's farmers."

Floriculture crops include bedding plants, such as flowering annuals, and also cut flowers, chrysanthemums, hostas, lilies, poinsettias and foliage plants.

The survey showed that New Jersey ranked eighth in the nation in expanded wholesale value of floriculture crops, just behind neighboring New York, but outpacing Pennsylvania and Maryland.

Bedding and garden plants sales were $110.5 million, an increase of 3 percent from a year earlier. New Jersey also had $12.4 million in cut flower sales, up from $11.4 million in 2009.

Dominick Mondi, executive director of the New Jersey Nursery and Landscape Association, said the survey shows that floriculture is a viable industry in New Jersey and, along with other horticultural products and services,is the 'solar panel revolution' upon us? is a great contributor to the local economy.

"Now that you know, use that knowledge to wisely purchase locally grown plants from independent growers and garden centers; your garden and the environment will thank you," said Mondi. "All the same benefits you receive from buying your produce locally, like higher quality,Detailed information on the causes of Hemorrhoids, less fuel spent on transport, and supporting the local economy, you get with purchasing flowers locally, as well."

Timothy's Center for Gardening grows annuals, perennials and fall mums on one and a half acres. Timothy Serinese is the third generation in the business, which was started by his grandfather, father and uncle on the same location in 1965.

"Our specialty is our large selection and quality – we have one of the largest retail perennial departments in the area," said Serinese, who has an Ornamental Horticulture degree from Delaware Valley College. "The best part of this business is knowing your customers enjoy coming to your store and that you are helping to make the yard or garden the way they want it."

2011年5月22日星期日

There's too much at stake.

In New York City, people have different ways of connecting. It's a pre-Twitter version of Tribes. There are individuals you know from the building, office mates, dog friends, politicos, even store owners. One guy I regularly talk to fits into the latter two categories. I'm not sure how our relationship got started -- probably with a random comment. Now whenever I go into his establishment, we do a brief rundown on national and international events. After a full review of this week's topics (which featured a few doozies), we settled back into our familiar positions.

He is a self-avowed cynic who believes the world is going to hell in a hand basket. Best description -- shades of Bogart as Richard Blaine in Casablanca -- before he decides to rejoin the fight. A middle-age man with a seven-year-old daughter, he likes to boast that he is raising her as a "skeptic."

I am in the mold of the Streisand character, Katie Morosky, from The Way We Were -- constantly insisting that people have to speak up about what is wrong.

The powers that be thrive on a defeatist populace giving up. "You didn't send Obama to the presidency," he told me flatly. "The money people did. You just voted for him." Great, I thought as I walked out of his place. Not exactly what I wanted to hear early in the morning, on the first sunny day after ninety-six hours of continuous rain.

The bottom line is, I don't' agree with him.

Yes, there are all kinds of things that go on in the world that I don't understand -- about decisions people make at the highest levels --for economic gain or to benefit themselves. However, I don't want to cede to the '70s version of paranoia that the game is rigged, so we all might as well pack up our bags and go home quietly.

This week I took part in a Mom's Clean Air Force webinar on Clean Air. What I learned from the presenting speakers on the call was information about how mercury is poisoning both our air and our water -- big time. Even if you don't live right near a coal plant (the safest state is Idaho), the wind drifts. I've already alerted readers to how they can get the story on their air quality. For those of us in urban areas, it's not good news.
An EPA graph that was presented during the call showed how in other sectors, specifically Hospital Incineration and Municipal Waste Combustors, there have been huge strides in reducing mercury emissions. Why have coal-powered plants lagged behind when there are facilities that have made changes through the use of a technology called Activated Carbon Injection (ACI)? Stats from these power plants show that on the average, tested boilers were able to reduce mercury emissions by 90 percent.

Meanwhile, back at the ranch, the EPA is trying to move forward to Reduce Toxic Air Emissions From Power Plants. Members of Congress (I won't tell you what color their hats are) are pushing back, trying to strip the EPA of its powers. A favorite strategy is to pull the "fiscal card," as in "It's bad for the economy."
During the webinar, many people got into my Twitter stream through the Green hash tag. They wanted additional information and asked, "What can we do? How can we learn more?" The EPA website is an excellent source for current information on their activities. There are PDF downloads of rulings, as well as facts sheets.

I'm not leaving the fight for clean air, safe water, and a non-toxic environment to the cynics. Cue the Frank Capra script, even if his films were often dismissed as "Capracorn." I think "the small people" can make a difference.

As Yogi Berra said, "It ain't over 'til it's over."