Letters: Leaving the leaves; Finding hope after election
Leaving the leaves
What makes trees sick? Everyone knows that in order to maintain human health, you must have a good diet. If you plant a garden or a flower bed, you know that certain plants require particular types and amounts of plant food. Trees, just like humans and any other plant, need food as well. But, what if we are starving our trees? Authorities agree that trees get almost all of their nutrition from their own leaves, providing almost 100% of nutritional needs. Fallen leaves can account for up to 80% of the nutrients used by trees. If the fallen leaves can decompose under the tree, the leaves return their nutrients back into the soil. By blowing the leaves away from our trees and asking the city to haul them off, we are starving our trees. No wonder so many look stressed and sick. Agricultural extensions recommend a mulch bed under trees, if possible, out to the drip line. I personally mulch my leaves with my mower and collect them in the mower bag. I then put them under my trees and water each load to keep the wind from blowing them away. Once all the leaves have dropped, I cover the mulched leaves with a thin layer of bark mulch for cosmetics, and the bed shrinks as the leaves decompose. In this way I am feeding my trees, and protecting the roots from lawn mower damage, Remember, leaves are tree food, not litter to be tossed out.
James Serene, State College
Finding hope after election
When I learned the results of the election I wanted nothing more than to shut myself in a dark room, and I surely would have if not for my day job. As the fog of despair and misdirected rage began to clear, I realized I was only doing what fascism wants us to do. Fascism wants us to despair. Fascism wants us to concede to the illusion of its inevitability.
There is hope. I say that not as a platitude but as the knowledge of someone who has spent years in the nuts and bolts of political work. I have met so many candidates and volunteers, people of courage and intelligence and determination. They are all still here. They know there is hope, and that means there is work to do.
Speak out. Organize. Give your time and money to the causes that matter to you most. People have fought far greater odds with far less success in their lifetimes. It is painful, unglamorous work, but that is how the world improves. One act of courage at a time.
Casey Truax, State College
Big games do matter
Another year, another heartbreaker loss to Ohio State. At home no less. The monkey on James Franklin’s back has grown to gorilla size. So what does it take? Some mental mistakes (penalties) aside, the talent and dedication by players is there. But for an inventive offense to suddenly go blank and try the same thing three times hoping for a different result fits Einstein’s definition of insanity. Allen and Singleton have had success going wide. Warren is a big bodied bruiser. Even a “tush push” with the also large Allar might have had better luck. He does a number of good things, but annually Franklin displays some poor decision making as well. Elite? Not hardly. Not yet. And at some point desirable recruits are going to forgo the attraction of playing in our amazing venue against big time Big Ten competition and instead opt to join the teams that really do win the ranked challenges. A statement needs to be made. Maybe that can come by going deep into the CFP playoffs. Big games do matter, and as was once said “there is no substitute for victory.”
David Labovitz, Marblehead, Massachusetts
Why did PSU wrestlers join Trump?
I’m not sure whose idea it was to put the Penn State wrestling team on stage with Trump. I found it beyond belief. As a graduate of Penn State they do not speak for me and they certainly should not speak for Penn State University.
Lisa Rapsey, Eugene, Oregon
‘Bottomless pit’ of PSU issues
Penn State has received a great deal of unfavorable press, both published, the subject of court proceedings, and general public inquiry. PSU trustees were “spanked” by court recently vis a vis Fenchak matter. PSU seems to have a bottomless pit being tapped in court settlements, fines for oversights in administrative and governmental requirements and general sloppiness. Is the PSU legal team “asleep”on the job? Increased fees, tuition, costs being borne by students, and so forth are impacted. Thank goodness for PSU football or PSU’s endowment would be at risk. Hooray for Messrs. Fenchak and Lubrano.
Piet H. van Ogtrop, State College
What will happen to Rock Spring?
A lot of questions came to my mind today as I rode my bicycle past Rock Spring on PA-45. I wondered how the problems in providing water to something like 1,000 people served by the local water company are going to be solved? Will the people react as responsible and honorable Americans, grab their bootstraps and checkbooks and pay $13,000 each for the system repairs that are needed after years of neglect? Will they dig their own wells? Will the owner make money by selling to a capable operator? Should the owner pay every cent he has now and in the future until the $13 million loss caused by his company is paid? Will customers of a new owner be funding all of the needed repairs? Assuming this letter posts after the election, how will the residents of Rock Spring feel about the result? Will some of them be happy to be free to conduct business with less regulation, making lots of money, paying less in taxes (if they’re rich enough), and requiring everyone to follow “traditional” values? Will some be happy to see growth that also addresses environmental issues, legal protections for both citizens and immigrants, freedom to be whoever you are, freedom to make your own health care decisions, etc.? Will anyone figure out that some businesses should not be operated for profit but instead on a not-for-profit basis in the interest of the public? I hope it works out for Rock Spring.
Michael Biek, State College
