July 2010 Newsletter
There are places you can hike with your dog off leash?
The Aspen Ranger District of the White River National Forest allows dogs to be off leash while hiking with their owners on the following trails:
| Sunnyside Trail | Hunter Valley (Once on NF land)* |
| Government Trail* | Buttermilk Ski Area |
| Snowmass Ski Area | Arbaney-Kittle Trail |
| Hay Park (Capitol Lake side) |
Anderson/Petroleum Lakes |
| Perham Creek Trail | Ruedi Overlook Trail |
| Basalt Mountain | Braderich Creek Trail |
| Hannon Creek Trail | Castle Creek Valley Ranch |
* dogs must be under voice control
Wilderness areas require that dogs remain leashed at all times. This is to ensure the safety of other hikers and wildlife. Failure to keep a dog leashed in a wilderness area may result in a fine of $125.
Please note that Pitkin County does enforce a leash law on all county trails. On National Forest Lands in the valley, dogs must be on leash in developed sites such as Day Use Sites, Campgrounds, Maroon Lake Scenic Area, and all Wilderness Trails.
Absinth Wormwood (Artemisia absinthium L.)
Absinth wormwood is a member of the Sunflower family. It is a robust perennial that grows 16-48 inches tall with large light-gray leaves which are oblong in shape. Stems arise from a taproot and branch from the base. Stems are ½ inch or greater in diameter, and reddish in color. Flowering occurs in late summer. It is frequently found near streams, lakes, or irrigation ditches.
Additional information on Absinth Wormwood can be found at http://www.aspenpitkin.com/Portals/0/docs/county/PublicWorks/land-management/Scans/Absinth%20Brochure.pdf
For additional information, contact Pitkin County Land Management at 920-5214 or the City of Aspen Parks Department at 429-2026.
On July 17, 2010 residents of our valleys gathered at the Benedictine Monastery for the first annual volunteer noxious weed eradication effort co-sponsored by the SnoCap Caucus and Pitkin County. The targets of the operation were Canadian thistle and houndstongue. Spray was employed by those engaged in ridding the area of the thistle since Canadian thistle multiplies if cut or dug. Machetes and shovels were the tools of choice for the attack on the houndstongue. Cookies were provided by the monks at the end of a rewarding morning. With noxious weeds abounding in our valleys, a coordinated effort is required by us all if we are to preserve our natural landscape.
To learn more about what you can do to help, please visit the Bulletin Board on our web site, or contact Crystal Yates-White, Pitkin County Land Manager at 920-5214.
Saturday, 24 July 2010 04:02
The electronic devices that make our lives easier also produce some unwanted side effects on the environment. Fortunately, many consumer electronics manufacturers are now making products that keep us productive and lessen our device's energy demands.
Trendnet's GREENnet Technology
Trendnet (www.trendnet.com), a popular manufacturer of networking equipment, announced its newest line of GREENnet products, which can reduce the power consumption for your networking hardware by as much as 70%. GREENnet routers and switches will reduce power to an Ethernet port if they detect it isn't in use. The devices can also detect cable length and adjust power accordingly. Finally, all GREENnet devices offer a standby mode that cuts down the energy necessary to operate when not in use.
Biodegradable iPhone Cases
Designed for iPhone 3G and 3GS models, Innovez's ecovez cases ($29.95; www.innovezcases.com) are made with EcoPure, which is a transparent plastic that is 100% organic, and will only break down once it is placed in a highly microbial environment, such as a landfill.
The plastic will then turn into soil, unlike traditional fossil fuel plastics. Compared to bio-plastics made of renewable raw materials, such as corn or sugar cane, Innovez's cases offer an infinite shelf life that can maintain the high-strength plastic form. The case's design gives you access to all iPhone buttons and ships in eco-friendly biodegradable packaging.
Remedy for Roses with Mildew
An effective homemade remedy for powdery mildew uses baking soda as the main ingredient. At the first sign of the disease or as a preventative, you can apply this homemade remedy. Mix 1 tablespoon of baking soda to a gallon of water, add a squirt of lemon scented liquid dishwashing soap (Avoid detergents that may contain additives phototoxic to plant foliage). Mix thoroughly. Pour into a spray bottle. Apply to the uninfected foliage and stems. This spray can be applied every three to five days. Repeat after a heavy rain or overhead irrigation. This is especially effective where shady conditions favor mildew.
Thursday, 01 July 2010 07:05
"For Sale" signs do not require a sign permit from Pitkin County, provided such signs comply with the design standards in section 7-60 of the 2006 Pitkin County Land Use Code. That section states:SETBACKS: No signs shall be erected in the road right-of-way. Signs shall be located no less than twenty feet from any right-of-way, and no less than ten feet from any property boundary.
SIZE: For Sale signs shall not exceed six square feet in total size. Sign area is the smallest rectangle which encompasses the facing of a sign and sign structure, provided that cutout letter signs are considered wall signs and their aggregate area shall be credited toward allowable sign area at one and one-half measured area. In the case of business premises occupied by more than one business entity, the sign area allowed is as if the building were occupied by a single business entity. If a sign has two or more faces, the area of all faces shall be totaled to determine sign area.
DESIGN: Lettering including cutout letter signs, shall not exceed twelve inches in height, except for the initial letter of each word which may be eighteen inches in height. All metallic surfaces shall be treated in order to reduce the effects of sunlight reflection on nearby residential properties and/or the vision of passing motorists. Moving, flashing, portable, unsafe, noise emitting, and billboard signs are prohibited. Illumination of signs must comply with lighting regulations, section 7-20-140 of the Pitkin County Land Use Code.
Thursday, 01 July 2010 06:49
Dalmatian Toadflax (Linaria dalmatica)
Dalmatian toadflax is a member of the Figwort family. It was introduced as an ornamental from Europe, and is now rapidly invading dry rangeland from 5,000 to 8,000 feet. Dalmatian toadflax is still quite rare in Pitkin County, but it is very common in Glenwood Springs. It has been found along the Capitol Creek and Snowmass Creek drainages. It is a creeping perennial that closely resembles yellow toadflax. However, unlike yellow toadflax, Dalmatian toadflax has waxy, heart-shaped leaves that clasp the stem. The stems grow to 2-4 feet in height. The flowers are snapdragon-shaped, bright yellow, with orange centers. Dalmatian toadflax is especially well-adapted to arid sites and can spread rapidly once established. Because of its deep extensive root system, waxy leaves, and heavy seed production, this plant is difficult to manage.
To learn more about managing Dalmatian Toadflax, visit the Pitkin County Noxious Weed Management Plan posted online at http://www.aspenpitkin.com/weeds or contact Crystal Yates-White, Pitkin County Land Manager at 920-5214.
For additional information, contact Pitkin County Land Management at 920-5214 or the City of Aspen Parks Department at 429-2026.
Thursday, 01 July 2010 05:08
We all know how important it is to back up our data on a regular basis. Yet many people put off backing up their data because there's always something more pressing to accomplish. If this describes you, it's time to sit down and get serious about backups. This month we will start with the types of backups. Next month we will look at backup and recovery processes. Hard drive based systems are now the norm for most businesses (they previously used tape-based systems). Individuals mostly use optical discs.BACKUP TYPES
- Full. A full backup is a copy of all the target files stored on your computer. Target files can be all the information on your computer or just a subset you select, such as all your documents.
- Incremental. An incremental backup works in combination with a full backup. Incremental backups only copy data that has changed since the last full or incremental backup
- Continuous. Primarily used in businesses, a continuous backup copies every change made to the file system. One advantage of this is that there's no schedule. The backup is done in real time while your computers are in use.
STORAGE TYPES
- Tape. Long considered the standard backup media for businesses, tape is often used for full plus incremental, and standalone full backups for archiving. Tape doesn't lend itself to any type of real-time backups.
- Hard Drive. Hard drives are used for all type of backups except archiving, because the long term durability of a hard drive as an archival media isn't well known. Hard drives excel at just about all other type of backups, however.
- Optical Discs. CDs DVDs, and Blu ray discs that use a write once system can be used for archival purposes. The write-once capability ensures that the data can't be altered after it's written. The longevity of the media is determined by the quality of the dyes and the manufacturing process. If long-term storage is the goal, be sure to use only high-quality (or archival) optical media.
- Remote/Online. Remote storage can consist of a device in another physical location and is used mostly by businesses. Online storage is similar to remote storage except that a third-party provider offers the service. As stated previously this type of storage brings concerns about trusting your data to a third party. It is a good idea to ensure that all data in an online system is sent and stored in an encrypted format.
Thursday, 01 July 2010 04:07
If you haven't started a garden journal, now is the time. Record dates of perennial bloom, how long the flowers last, special cultural requirements, pest and disease problems, and other features. A perennial garden has a relatively short bloom period, though the plants will display foliage for much of the growing season. This is one reason to choose varieties that have attractive foliage to add interest and texture to the garden. By keeping a record of your plant selections, if you can determine if you have the right mix of spring-blooming, summer-blooming, and fall-blooming perennials for an all season display.June 2010 Newsletter
Tuesday, 01 June 2010 09:32
(This article is in response to a request for additional identity theft information following last month's article on the subject.)The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) states that the identities of approximately 9 million Americans are stolen each year. The crime involves the theft of certain personally identifiable items, such as a name, bank statement, credit card, or Social Security number, and using them to carry out fraudulent acts. Taking preventive measures and staying informed are steps that can help ensure that you don't become a victim of identity theft. In order to be vigilant as a consumer and avoid this threat, you must learn to deter, detect, and defend using the steps below.
* PREVENT VICTIMIZATION: The Department of Justice recommends that consumers operate on a "need to know" basis. This means that you should avoid making obvious mistakes, such as supplying your bank account number to a caller claiming to represent your bank.
* INACCURATE CREDIT REPORT: New accounts opened by a thief are likely to show up on your credit report. Review your credit report for accuracy at least once a year. You're entitled to a free annual credit report from each of the three major credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, and Trans Union) through Annual Credit-Report (annualcreditreport.com).
Tuesday, 01 June 2010 08:27
Poison Hemlock (Conium maculatum)
Poison hemlock is a member of the Parsnip family, introduced from Europe. It is a biennial that reproduces solely from seed. During the first year of growth a large rosette of leaves is produced; during the second year the plants bolt to produce 4 to 12 foot stems with white flowers that grow in small, erect clusters. The stem is mottled with purple spots. All parts of the plant are poisonous to humans as well as to wild and domestic animals. The poisonous principle (the alkaloid coniine) causes paralysis, convulsions, and eventual death. Poison hemlock was used in ancient Greek executions, including that of the philosopher Socrates.
To learn more about managing thistles visit the Pitkin County Noxious Weed Management Plan posted online at http://www.aspenpitkin.com/weeds or contact Crystal Yates-White, Pitkin County Land Manager at 920-5214.
For additional information, contact Pitkin County Land Management at 920-5214 or the City of Aspen Parks Department at 429-2026.
Tuesday, 01 June 2010 07:59
On May 8th determined residents gathered at RMI to participate in the road clean-up day sponsored by the Snowmass/Capitol Creek Caucus. Fanning out over the two valleys with their orange bags, they gathered objects ranging from small to very large. Upon return to RMI where lunch was served, prizes were awarded for the largest (a truck top pulled from a ditch by members of the Monastery), the most toxic (oil debris from someone changing their oil on the road), and the most interesting (a 1946 illustrated dictionary). Prizes were provided by Bristlecone, Smoke and The Riverside Grill. Not only did everyone have a good time, but our roads are pristine.Tuesday, 01 June 2010 06:40
Social networking is here to stay. Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and others are commonly used on a daily basis. Their proliferation has benefits, but also has concerns centered around issue of privacy, safety, and ethics.When discussing security and privacy in regard to social networking, the two have separate definitions but are usually linked in real-world situations. Security is generally defined by how well a site or company can thwart hackers and stymie malware attacks on their firewalls; privacy has more to do with how much information a social networking service collects and how it shares that data.
Privacy is a tricky issue, because users have the ability to control what information they place on a site and can generally use site-provided settings to control how much of their information can be seen and by whom. However, privacy settings can be confusing to some users, especially when a site changes its privacy policies too frequently.
Hackers are obvious threats to security, but perhaps nothing is as dangerous as a con artist in the digital age. The difference between a hacker and a con artist is that the former breaks in, whereas the latter simply persuades you to let him in by subterfuge.
Con artists have a number of well-known methods for bilking people out of passwords, personal information, and more. Social engineering tactics, where a cyber criminal tries to trick you into giving up sensitive information by posing as a legitimate entity or by gaining your trust, are some of the most common.
Tuesday, 01 June 2010 05:31
As summer approaches, many of the summer flowering bulbs are forming flower buds and getting ready to put on their show. Consider disbudding some that produce lots of buds, such as dahlias. This will make the main flower grow larger.Keep notes on which plants are performing best and note where they are planted. Knowing where the bulbs are planted will keep you from digging or cultivating too deeply when you set new plants around the ripened foliage. Consider marking the designated areas with plant stakes to list the variety and color. You can safely plant companion perennials and ground covers in bulb beds to keep the beds looking good year round.
Take photographs of your bulb beds before they are all finished. This will help you plan future beds and know which plants may need replacing. Consider experimenting with different colors.
Tuesday, 01 June 2010 04:34
Last month's newsletter introduced The Cooperative Weed Management Area Cookbook that describes how a local organization can integrate all noxious weed management resources in order to benefit entire communities. Years of proliferation of noxious weeds in our valleys have blighted our land and choked our native plants. To gain a perspective on how quickly these intruders can take over an area, please view the pictures and descriptions included in the following piece. If we work together we can make the caucus area noxious weed free one weed by one weed. We are looking for additional volunteers to be part of the committee. To join in the effort either contact Crystal Yates-White (970) 920-5214 or use the Contact tab on the Caucus web site.
Noxious Weeds:
The Who, Why Bother, and What Now
Invasive weeds:The Who, Why Bother, and What Now
Aggressive non-native plants which spread into native plant communities, displacing desirable species, often forming dense monotypic stands
May 2010 Newsletter
Saturday, 01 May 2010 07:00
that our caucus has an opportunity to make a major impact on weed control through the County? Crystal Yates-White is spearheading an effort to begin a proven program in our valleys. The link following the article provides the road map to eradication of weeds in our area. Please click on it to see how we can achieve this. Crystal will be organizing interested residents to help her in this pursuit.
We all know that noxious weeds do not obey property boundaries. In order to make significant headway in cleaning up noxious weed infestations, neighbors must control weeds on their own property in concert. Otherwise, one thistle farm will continue to re-infest all of its surrounding and down-wind neighbors. Thus, it is important to look at infestations from a birds-eye perspective – across property lines and jurisdictions – and find ways to partner as neighbors.
A Cooperative Weed Management Area (CWMA) is a specific geographic area defined by neighbors and stakeholders. Within this area, partners commit to specific noxious weed management goals and share resources to meet them. Goals may include such things as eradicating a certain weed, cleaning up a certain property, or developing outreach programs. One of the biggest benefits of forming such a partnership is MONEY. Grant-making entities prefer to fund projects that include a variety of partners. By forming a CWMA, partners have a good chance of securing significant grant funding for their weed management projects. With this increase in funding – and by working together as a unit to human and financial resources – A CWMA can make significant gains in weed management that might otherwise be unattainable by an individual landowner.
Click here to view the CWMA Cookbook (PDF, 1.7 MB)
Saturday, 01 May 2010 06:00
Many thistles in the western United States are native species that generally go unnoticed as weeds. However, thistle species introduced from Europe, Africa, and Asia can be very aggressive opportunists. They often invade overused or otherwise disturbed land. The plants spread rapidly, out-compete established and introduced plant species for nutrients, and can render pastures, rangeland, and forests nearly unusable. Thistles are especially troublesome following cool wet summers and falls, when seed production and seedling establishment are high. An integrated weed control program that combines chemical, cultural (such as grass competition), mechanical and biological methods is most likely to be successful. There are two main types of thistles: Biennial (live 2 seasons) and Perennial (live several seasons).
More Articles...
- Wildernes Ethics and Rules:
- Technology - Identity Theft Prevention
- Gardening: Planting Bulbs
- April 2010 Newsletter
- Did You Know?
- Weed of the Month - White Top
- Old Snowmass Neighborhood Rallies
- Technology: Green Tech
- Gardening: Using Colors
- Health - Prostate Cancer
- March 2010 Newsletter
- Did You Know?
- Technology - Wireless Terminology
- Tips on Going Green in Your Barn
- Did You Know?
- Periodontal Disease and Your Overall Health
- Your Caucus At Work
- Technology
- January 2010 Newsletter
- Did You Know?
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