Articles by All

The Bathroom Reader

Poopendous! author Artie Bennett turns bodily functions into kid-appropriate art

“Matt said the F-word!” tattled five-year old Maya as my sweet little kindergartners did their morning color, cut and paste. I was shocked, but not so much when I learned that the F-word in question ended in -art. Children are intrigued by smells, noises and products of the bathroom. This month the Key School welcomes a writer who turns references to bodily functions into kid-friendly and kid-appropriate art. Take the little ones to the school...

Article - Books; by Marilyn Lee Recknor; 4/4/13

G.I. Joe: Retaliation

The Joes’ greatest mission will be finding a decent screenwriter

Special Forces team the G.I. Joes are tasked with keeping America safe. Leader Duke (Channing Tatum: Side Effects) and his best bud Roadblock (Dwayne Johnson: Snitch) recover nukes, blow up baddies and look darn good doing it. They are the go-to team whenever anyone threatens truth, justice and the American way. While the Joes are out running missions, terrorist group Cobra devises a brilliant plan for world domination. Cobra agent Zartan infiltrates the government and uses...

Article - Movie Reviews 4/4/13

Insect Survivors Are Waking

Spray horticultural oil now to control them

The mild winter is likely to be followed by early invasions of scale insects, spider mites and other bugs that over-winter in the cracks and crevices on the bark of trees and shrubs. Roses, Alberta spruce, blue spruce and roses are the most susceptible species for spider mites. Scale insects will attack euonymus, crab apple, cherries including cherry laurel, oak and pine. Wax scale insects especially like hollies. A thorough spraying now with a four percent concentration of...

Article - The Bay Gardener by Dr. Francis Gouin; by Dr. Francis Gouin; 4/4/13

Less of Our Light for More Star Light

Help Globe at Night shine a spotlight on light pollution

With the moon waning through early morning skies, this weekend is a great opportunity to participate in the latest round of the Globe at Night program, which goes on through Tuesday, April 9. Relying on the observations of volunteers from all around the world, Globe at Night is gathering the most comprehensive data on light pollution. Citizen scientists including children and families, schools and civic groups participate by observing the faintest stars they can see within the constellation Leo...

Article - Sky Watch by J. Alex Knoll; by J. Alex Knoll; 4/4/13

Twin Beach Players’ Rumors

You’ll laugh until you ache, then laugh some more

Four affluent couples gathered in a posh suburban residence for a dinner party to honor friends’ 10th anniversary celebration find mischief surrounding the event. There are no servants: How can the party continue? The hostess is missing. So is the host — the deputy mayor of New York City — who has reportedly shot himself through the earlobe. Couples arrive in succession. The first to arrive discover Charlie Brock’s injury and put...

Article - Theatre Reviews; by Michelle Steel; 4/4/13

Pitching to Perch and Pickerel

The river gave up gold

It had turned into a beautiful day despite a forecast of high winds and rain. Trees were whipping overhead, but down the well-worn path we followed on the forest floor, it was sheltered and calm. When we broke out of the tree-cast shadow line, the bright sun warmed us so that we had to open our jackets and slow our pace. When we arrived at our destination on the Tuckahoe, we had the place to ourselves. Separating, Frank went upstream, and I went down. Rigging my four-pound...

Article - Sporting Life by Dennis Doyle; by Dennis Doyle; 4/4/13

Spring Home & Garden Strategies

    Come spring, it’s time to escape the cave. Throw off the blankets, open the drapes and let the sun shine in. But even the tidiest home looks a little dingy after a winter of hard living.
   It’s time to clean, paint or wallpaper, wash the windows, replace the drapes, rearrange the furniture, bring out the wicker, throw on new pillows, lighten the art and service the air-conditioning. Outdoors, there’s even more to be done to home and garden. Painting, planting and planning for outdoor living are have big plans for your spare time.
   Have we got the guide for you!
   In Bay Weekly’s annual Spring Home and Garden Guide, you’ll find inspiration and tips from the pros. And they’re ready to help with the big jobs so you can spend your time enjoying this paradise we call Chesapeake Country.

A Good Coat of Paint Is Your Home’s Best Protection We recommend that a house with wood siding or trim should be painted every five years. Even if you don’t notice peeling paint, the paint film has degraded and is letting moisture penetrate. Obvious signs are mildew and algae growth. Even though most paints contain some form of mildew-cide, they typically remain active for only two to three years. When the paint film allows moisture to penetrate, there is greater...

Article - Home and Garden Guide 3/28/13

How Dreams Come True

Spring Home and Garden Strategies could change our lives

I welcome the annual return of Bay Weekly’s Spring Home and Garden Strategies. In this guide, home and garden professionals give us just the sort of expert advice we do-it-yourselfers don’t know — and don’t even know we need to know. We’ve designed it in a handy pull-out-and-keep format so you can use if for months to come. I’m the guide’s first audience, and as I prepare the tips for publication, I keep thinking...

Article - Letter from the Editor; by Sandra Olivetti Martin; 3/28/13

The Scoop on Solar Roof Shingles

Dear EarthTalk: I’m getting my roof redone and have heard about solar shingles. Are they available — and are they practical for the Northeast? –John Denson, Glastonbury, CT Solar shingles are photovoltaic cells designed to look like and integrate with conventional asphalt roof shingles. First commercially available in 2005, solar shingles were much more costly than traditional bolt-on photovoltaic panels, and thus were used mainly by those wanting to go...

Article - Green Living; by EarthTalk®; 3/28/13

Who’s the Easter Bunny?

Mythical egg deliverer is maybe a hare — or a rabbit

Is the Easter Bunny a cottontail or a snowshoe hare? Both are native to North America, unlike domesticated rabbits, which are elaborately bred descendents of European wild rabbits. Hares are larger than rabbits, with bigger ears and feet. They’re born fully furred and ready to run. Their longer back legs and toes are adaptations that provide additional surface area and support for walking on snow. Hence the name snowshoe hare. They also use their...

Article - Creature Feature; by Michelle Steel; 3/28/13