The idea for an immigrant farmworker-owned farm stand blossomed into reality in Riverhead on Sunday with the grand opening of the Long Island Farmworker Cooperative.
Ten Latino cooperative members, with the help of statewide advocacy group Rural Migrant Ministries Inc., launched their first Sunday flower sale in hopes of continuing the weekly market through the season.
"All dreams start with a seed," said Suffolk County Director of Human Services Olga El Sehamy who delivered a proclamation to the group on behalf of Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone.
A collective will allow its owners to reap the economic benefits of their own labor as well as set an example for other immigrant communities in the country, members said.
"I am doing this for my children and the future," member Catalino Cruz, who is from Mexico and now lives in Riverhead, said through a translator. "I want them to be able to own their own thing and not work for somebody else."
The stock, which on Sunday included petunias, geraniums, marigolds, vegetables and more, is currently purchased from other immigrant-owned nurseries. The goal, however, is to raise enough capital to purchase land and build a greenhouse to grow their own crops within the next two years.
The market will be open on Sundays outside Rural Migrant Ministries office at 573 Roanoke Avenue.
One of the reasons the members are hopeful the venture will be successful is because they have seen the model work before.
Miguel Flores of East Quogue said his father was an owner in a coffee collective back in El Salvador which sold their product directly to large companies. Flores previously worked for a local tree farm for more than a decade, but hopes the cooperative can become his full-time job.
"This is really beneficial for me," said Flores who has lived in America for 20 years. "It will benefit my family that’s here in the United States, as well."
Angel Reyes Rivas, Rural Ministries’ Long Island coordinator, said the organization provided the space as well as business training and helped plan the governance of the cooperative. It does not derive a profit from the operation, Reyes Rivas said.
The idea coalesced about 10 months ago after some of the members in the country illegally realized they would not receive government assistance if they were sick or out of work during the worst of the pandemic. Owning their own business would have given them greater financial security, Reyes Rivas said.
"The workers here, they've experienced a lot, they put a lot of effort into this," he said. "And many of these workers, they have gone through COVID, their families have gone through COVID. And for them to just fight against all of that and make this happen, for me, it's really emotional."
Vera Chinese joined Newsday in 2017 and covers the towns of Southampton, East Hampton and Shelter Island. A Long Island native, she has reported on East End issues for 10 years.
Oscars 2021 best-dressed stars: Regina King and Zendaya stole the show
See which celebrities stunned with their styles on the 2021 Oscars red carpet.
Staff Video, USA TODAY
PAWHUSKA — On a recent sunny spring Saturday, people stroll the sidewalks of downtown Pawhuska, swinging shopping bags from the popular Pioneer Woman Mercantile, taking snapshots of the quaint brick buildings and wandering in and out of stores with their doors open to the customers and the breeze.
Inside the boutique The Honey Pot, mother-and-daughter co-owners Penney Johnson and Amber Hurd last weekend gazed out at the familiar sight, which they won't be seeing for the next two and a half months.
"This is going to be a jewelry store in the movie. They're going to cover the road in dirt — complete dirt — all the way from my corner all the way up to the hill," Hurd said. "They're going to take all my windows out, they're going to take my awnings off, and they're going to make it look like the 1920s."
Excitement has been building in Osage County since filming began April 19 on director Martin Scorsese's eagerly anticipated adaptation of "Killers of the Flower Moon." Over the past week, crew members have been busily building facades on Kihekah Avenue, while residents and business owners have been settling into a proverbial front-row seat with the production moving into the heart of Pawhuska.
"All you need is popcorn and Milk Duds," Kelly Bland, executive director of Osage County Tourism, said with a laugh Friday afternoon.
"There's an anticipation," Bland said. "There's something exciting on the horizon that's coming and about to happen."
"We are thrilled to finally start production on 'Killers of the Flower Moon' in Oklahoma,” Scorsese said in an April statement. "To be able to tell this story on the land where these events took place is incredibly important and critical to allowing us to portray an accurate depiction of the time and people."
Calling it "a time in American history that should not be forgotten," Scorsese is adapting David Grann's 2018 best-seller “Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI." His film will chronicle the slayings of Osage Nation citizens in 1920s Oklahoma, after the oil boom made them wealthy. The killings became known as the "Reign of Terror" and led to an investigation by the then-fledgling FBI.
"In Osage County, we believe in happy endings, and I know that this story is not one of the sort of happy-ending stories. ... But from a tourism standpoint, I feel like if anyone benefits from this movie, I want it to be the Osage Nation, because it was them who've suffered. ... They're getting to tell their story, and they're working directly with the movie company to make sure it's done in a way that needs to be done," Bland said, noting that the production was delayed a year due to the pandemic.
"I think it's in the hands of people who seem to really care about getting it right, about being sensitive and being authentic," Grann said.
Garrett Hartness, a docent and director at the Osage County Historical Museum, said the Pawhuska attraction already has seen an uptick in visitors over the past few years due to the popularity of Grann's book. If Scorsese's film version proves to be a blockbuster, he said the effects could be profound on the community.
"It has gotten now to where it's probably about 50% people come to our museum because of the Pioneer Woman and probably 50% come because of the movie or the book," Hartness said, telling of a pre-pandemic visitor who traveled there from Norway because of Grann's best-seller.
Pawhuska already has changed dramatically in the past four and a half years with the opening of local Food Network star Ree Drummond's Pioneer Woman Mercantile. The booming tourist attraction is south on Kihekah Avenue from where filming ramps up this week, Bland said.
"From Sixth Street going north ... that's going to be the movie set. It's going to be downtown Fairfax is what it's supposed to be, but in Pawhuska," Bland said, adding that she doesn't anticipate The Merc, as Drummond's hot spot is known, will close for the moviemaking.
Over the past few weeks, film crews have been constructing a facade on a church in Fairfax that recreates an early 20th-century Catholic church in the area, along with building a wooden shell around a brick structure, the remains of a freight building, on the Midland Valley Railroad depot site. The latter will serve as a 1920s train station for the movie.
Now, the cinematic action also is chugging into Pawhuska's downtown business district, and between The Merc and the movie, Cathi Ball, co-owner of Mariposa boutique, said it's an exciting time there.
"I just saw a lady on the street, and they're from Mississippi. She said they came here because they heard they were filming a movie, and she didn't know the name of it," said Ball, whose store is on Kihekah Avenue.
"Leonardo DiCaprio was out here shooting a selfie with the Triangle Building in the background. … They had some neat old cars in town … and then there was a truckload that had Rolls Royces on it one day. So, it's very interesting."
After watching crews working on pre-production for the past six months around the area, the mother-and-daughter co-owners at The Honey Pot said they're eager to see what happens next.
"I think it's awesome. Look at the old buildings, they're getting fresh paint. It's just revitalized the downtown," Johnson said, adding that they're being compensated by the production for temporarily shuttering their shop.
"The buildings that are empty, they've already been in those doing things. … They're painting (around) the windows right across the street," Hurd added, pointing to the historic Kennedy Building across Sixth Street.
On Friday, Hurd and Johnson finished moving out all their merchandise and closed down their shop for filming. They anticipate being closed through July 15.
On May 17, Hurd is due to give birth to her third son.
"We're loving it because we get a little paid vacation. … And I won't have to bring a fresh, new baby here to work, so that's nice."
Contributing: Pawhuska Journal-Capital's Robert Smith.
COMING SOON
In next Sunday's The Oklahoman, members of the Osage Nation discuss the making of Martin Scorsese's fact-based film "Killers of the Flower Moon."
May 02, 2021 at 06:18PM
https://www.oklahoman.com/story/entertainment/2021/05/02/martin-scorsese-killers-flower-moon-film-transforms-pawhuska-oklahoma/7373115002/
Pawhuska gets a vintage look as Martin Scorsese films 'Killers of the Flower Moon' in Oklahoma - Oklahoman.com
Perhaps the only thing lovelier than a floral bouquet on your coffee table or nightstand is a neverending supply of them, made possible by flower subscription services that will do all the work for you. Shopping for flowers is an idyllic and indulgent experience, but it’s not always an option for time-crunched individuals or those who don’t have a great florist nearby. And those same flower delivery services you rely upon for Mother’s Day and your Anniversary (UrbanStems, Bouqs, Flowerbx, Farmgirl Flowers, and The Sill) have all set up subscription programs to keep help you keep your space flower-filled.
Do you love tulips? If so, consider Flowerbx, a florist renowned for its elegantly pared-back single-flower arrangements. Shopping for a thoughtful gift for your environmentally-conscious friend? Consider Farmgirl Flowers for them—a steady stream of flowers will arrive in biodegradable burlap pouches. All these details, plus all each company’s pricing structures, below.
Photo: Courtesy of Urban Stems
For this well-known flower delivery service’s subscription model, there are three tiers: Classic, Seasonal, and Luxe. Each varies by cost per bouquet with adjustable frequencies (weekly, biweekly, or monthly) and durations (3, 6, 9, or 12 deliveries). All tiers offer slightly discounted offerings—the Classic plan gets you a $55-$72 bouquet for 50; the Seasonal plan offers $85-$120 for $75 and the Luxe plan is $120-$190 for $100. The first two plans offer a vase only with your first delivery while Luxe bouquets come with a unique vase each time. You won’t know exactly what floral varieties will arrive but it’s all part of the fun. Urbanstems will pick the most in-season bouquet to send to you each time.
Think of Flowerbx as a flower purist. The florist offers single-flower bouquets—bunches of tulips, clusters of lilacs—for arrangements that will give your guests the impression that you might have your very own cutting garden. This is a service best for those who want to behold the beauty of their favorite bloom. Flowerbx offers three tiers of subscriptions: Tulip (starting at $70 per delivery); Classic, which offers roses, peonies (at $90 per delivery); and Premium which offers cut orchids, delphiniums, and Cala lilies (at $145). Options range from a weekly, fortnightly, or monthly subscription and all three tiers provide you with a vase with the first delivery.
The best thing about Bouqs’s flower subscription service is undoubtedly the flexibility. This service allows you to rotate delivery addresses and recipients so, should you like, you can apply a “one for them, one for me” strategy. And just as appealing is the pricing structure. Bouqs bouquets are priced per stem count and there are three tiers of the subscription program. The Original plan gets you 10-16 stems for $30; the Deluxe plan gets you 20-32 for $48, and the Grand plan is 30-45 for $60. Each can be sent weekly, biweekly, monthly, or bimonthly.
Bouqs Original plan
Bouqs Deluxe plan
Bouqs Grand plan
Farmgirl Flowers sets itself apart by offering most of its bouquets in biodegradable upcycled burlap coffee sacks and sourcing a selection of its blooms from domestic flower farms. Their subscription model allows you to pick from six different arrangements-varieties and choose a frequency of once a week, every other week, or once a month. Pricing-wise, this starts at Farmgirl’s favorite Fun Size Burlap Wrapped Bouquet—15 stems at $59. You won’t know exactly which flowers you’ll get but that’s half the fun. And for the flower enthusiast who prefers to arrange their own blooms, Farmgirl has what they call The Market Haul, which includes 35 stems of three to four varieties of flowers for you to arrange into one big beautiful bouquet or sprinkle across your home.
Should you prefer greenery to red roses, plant-shop The Sill offers a monthly subscription service. There are two options to choose from: one catered to pet owners with a series of non-toxic plants ($65) and a standard plan which offers easy to grow and care for plants. Both options allow you to choose between black or white ceramic planters. It’s the ideal subscription service for plant parents good or bad—should you fail your little guy, a new one is just around the corner!
Every Pokemon is interesting and worth talking about. I don’t play a ton of Pokemon, but I do enjoy the universe and I love learning more about the creatures in it. So, Here’s Another Pokemon! It’s Floette!
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Floette Details
Type: Fairy
Average Height: 0' 08"
Average Weight: 2.00 lbs.
First Added In Generation VI
Do you remember that wonderful Vine of the kid running around a pool with a knife? It shows a kid, happily running around a pool while his mom films him. Then she asks about the object in his hand. He replies, with a ton of enthusiasm “A knifeee!” Understandably the mom is shocked and because it was Vine, that’s all we got. A small glimpse into a moment that I’ll never forget.
Here, check it out.
Oh wow, remember how great Vine was? Anyway, that kid doesn’t really understand what he’s holding. Maybe he gets that it is sharp and a no-no object, but a knife is a weapon. It can be used to do incredibly cool, dangerous, and deadly things. Men and women have spent decades of their lives training with that object. And he’s just running around a pool with this potentially deadly and powerful weapon. Similarly, flower Pokemon Floette has a super-powerful flower that it just waves around like an idiot.
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This information comes from various Pokedex entries found on Bulbapedia. According to the experts who write these entries in-game, the flower you see Floette holding is filled with “terrifying power” AND “terrifying energy.” Yet Floette doesn’t care or possibly doesn’t even know about this power. I imagine that if this flower hits something hard enough or comes into contact with some specific chemical it’s like a nuclear bomb going off.
And a bunch of kids catch these things for fun. What a world!
Random Facts
I’ve quoted that knife vine more times than I’ll ever admit.
If you step on a bed of flowers, Floette will never forget that. And considering it has a powerful weaponized flower, that’s not an enemy you want.
And now a fact for you Pokemon nerds out there! Floette is the only Pokémon with a base stat total of 371. (I love you Pokemon nerds.)
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“Trash wins because no matter how much of it you clean up there will always be more.”
Flowers improve emotional health by bringing happiness, according to research conducted by Rutgers University.
My mother knows this benefit of flowers. Her kitchen table always has a fresh-cut arrangement on the table from her garden and landscape. Even Dad will cut flowers for the vase if she is too busy.
Some annual flowers are easy to grow from seed in the garden. By selecting different types of annuals, flowers become available throughout the growing season to create easy, beautiful arrangements.
Zinnias (Zinnia elegans) provide many round flower heads which range in size from 1.5 to 6 inches across, depending on the cultivar. “Cut and Come Again” and “Oklahoma” have small flowers which are great to use as fillers. “State Fair” and “Giant Cactus” have large flowers which serve as focal points in an arrangement. The flower colors range from tints and tones of red, scarlet, pink, yellow, chartreuse, coral, salmon, and orange. White zinnias will blend well with other flowers. Bicolor flowers are also available. “Peppermint Stick” has red streaks on the petals. Even the petal shape may be different. For example, the cactus flowered varieties have quilled petals.
Zinnias grow best in full sun. To have them throughout the season, stagger several plantings. Remove the plants after they begin looking old and tired. New flowers will be blooming on the next planting.
Sunflowers (Helianthus annuus) always bring a smile. Colors include yellow, golden yellow, light yellow, red, and bronze. Flower size of 4 to 8 inches across can be found, depending on the cultivar. Well-branched plants help supply flowers for several weeks. Sunflowers grow best in full sun and well-drained soil. Depending on the cultivar, plant height ranges from 4 to 8 feet.
Pollenless sunflowers are not as messy. “Double Dandy,” with its double red flowers, and “Teddy Bear,” with fully double yellow flowers, are pollen-free. “Sunbright” has a golden yellow, 4-inch, pollenless flower.
The upright, spike-shaped flowers of the plume or feathery celosia (Celosia argentea plumosa) add height and shape to an arrangement. Flower colors include cream, orange, red, and yellow. The plumes can reach up to 13 inches long. “Celosia Fresh Look” is available with red or yellow flowers. “Asian Garden” celosia”s bright pink spikes add height to an arrangement and works as a filler. Celosia prefers full sun and well-drained soil. It is easy to grow from seed with little care.
Globe amaranth (Gomphrena) has a spectacular flower that can be used fresh or dried. The 1- to 1.5-inch, globe-shaped flowers are nice accents and fillers in an arrangement. The plant forms many branches, so the flowers may be arranged in groups. The flower colors include purple, pink, white, red and white, and rose bicolor.
The plant height of globe amaranth varies from 18- to 32-inches, depending on the cultivar. The plants will bloom in the heat and through drought conditions. Full sun and well-drained soil are important for this plant.
Lace cosmos (Cosmos bipinnatus) are simple and pretty. The blossoms are 2 to 3 inches wide. Flower color varies with the cultivar but may include white, pink, carmine, and rose-red. Some cultivars are bicolor with magenta and white. All of them have yellow centers. Cultivars are also available with many rows of petals called double and semi-double blossoms.
The lace cosmos has very fine narrow leaves. The plants may reach 18-inches to 3-feet tall. This species produces long stems which make the flower easier to use in arrangements. The cosmos plant will bloom all season. Full sun is required for best performance.
Snapdragon (Antirrhinum majus) has a tall spike filled with little 1- to 2-inch flowers that children like holding on the sides and squeezing together to make them snap or open and close. The flower colors include red, pink, rose, scarlet, yellow, orange, violet, purple, orchid, and white.
Plant height of snapdragon ranges from 8- to 30-inches tall including the flower spike. The taller cultivars will need staking to hold the flower spikes up. Snapdragon is a cool season flower, so look for heat-tolerant cultivars. Otherwise, grow them in early spring or start in August for fall flowering.
Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) is an annual for full sun with 2- to 4-inch wide flowers. The center is usually brown or black, except for cultivars like “Prairie Sun” and “Irish Spring,” which have a green center. Petal colors range from yellow or gold to orange, and may also be bi-colored with mahogany. “Indian Summer” has beautiful 6-inch wide flowers, and plants reach 24 to 36 inches tall.
Basil (Ocimum basilicum), used as a filler, adds color if using a cultivar like “Purple Ruffles,” with dark purple leaves. The flowers, which are pink, can be used, but the foliage is the main reason to use this basil. The plant reaches 18 to 24 inches tall. It grows in full sun and requires well-drained soil. Green basil can also be used as a filler.
For more information about growing cut flowers, contact the Daviess County Cooperative Extension Service at (270) 685-8480 or annette.heisdorffer@uky.edu.
Annette”s Tip
When arranging cut flowers, remove excess foliage that may be submerged in water within the vase since it will begin to decay and start microbial growth. It is best to use a flower preservative in the water. This material provides food for the flowers and preservatives that inhibit bacteria and fungi. Change the water frequently. Aspirin or copper pennies placed in the vase water do not extend the life of the flowers.
Annette Meyer Heisdorffer, PhD, is the horticulture extension agent with the Daviess County Extension Office. She can be reached by calling 270-685-8480.
May 02, 2021 at 12:00PM
https://www.messenger-inquirer.com/features/lifestyle/fresh-flowers-from-the-garden-to-the-table/article_55724847-598b-58a0-8ef5-459e6f1461c0.html
Fresh flowers from the garden to the table | Lifestyle | messenger-inquirer.com - messenger-inquirer
Flower Mound Town Hall, photo courtesy of the town of Flower Mound
The Flower Mound mayoral race is headed to a runoff, Northlake adopted a Home Rule Charter, Highland Village stuck with its incumbents and several other local races were decided Saturday.
No one in the five-way Flower Mound mayoral race received more than half the vote, triggering a runoff between the top two vote-getters, Derek France, who got more than 40.7% of the vote, and Itamar Gelbman, who received 24.1% of the vote.
“I’m really proud about the amount of residents who turned out to vote,” France said Saturday night. “I think connecting with the community, with block-walking and being at the polls, really had an effect. I look forward to the opportunity to continue that and to remain positive and focus on future Flower Mound.
Derek France
“I would like to thank my family, friends and supporters who came out today and during early voting, and I hope to continue this path next month and to remain true, vigilant and strong to bring Flower Mound together in a prosperous future.”
Gelbman could not be reached for comment.
The runoff election will be held June 5, with early voting between May 24 – June 1.
In Lewisville ISD, Allison Lassahn has narrowly secured reelection to Place 2 over Sheila Taylor, and Buddy Bonner defeated Paige Dixon for Place 1.
In Denton ISD, Barbara Burns easily held on to her Place 1 seat, while Sheryl English won Place 2 with just under half the vote.
Sheryl English
“This campaign has been an amazing experience of collaboration,” English said. “Between the outpouring of support from parents, teachers and volunteers I look forward to working to make a difference for our students. The future is bright and I’m so happy to represent all families in our community.”
In Highland Village, voters overwhelmingly supported the incumbents seeking reelection to City Council. Mike Lombardo, Tom Heslep and Dan Jaworski will each serve another two-year term.
Northlake overwhelmingly approved its new Home Rule Charter and added a sixth council member.
In three Copper Canyon races, two incumbent council members lost their reelection bids while Mayor Ron Robertson won his (all three winners received right around 60% of the vote).
The following vote counts are unofficial results provided by the Denton County Elections Office. All races have 100% of precincts reporting.
Bartonville
Town Council Place 1
Jim Roberts: 134 votes, 64.57%
Jeff Traylor (i): 107 votes, 35.43%
Town Council Place 3
Clay Sams (i): 100%
Town Council Place 5
Justin Northeim: 72 votes. 23.61%
Josh Phillips (i): 233 votes, 76.39%
Copper Canyon
Mayor
Greg Porter: 203 votes, 39.04%
Ron Robertson (i): 317 votes, 60.96%
Town Council Place 2
Larry Johnson: 313 votes, 60.42%
Ted Stranczek (i): 205 votes, 39.58%
Town Council Place 4
Dale Andrews: 311 votes. 59.92%
Robin Douglas-Davis (i): 208 votes, 40.08%
Double Oak
Mayor
Von Beougher: 100%
Town Council (2 seats)
Patrick Johnson: 135 votes
Casey Parsons: 171 votes
Scott Whisenhunt (i): 209 votes
Flower Mound
Mayor
Stephanie Bell: 934 votes, 13.34%
Derek France: 2,851 votes, 40.71%
Itamar Gelbman: 1,689 votes, 24.11%
Cheryl Moore: 1,220 votes, 17.42%
Jehangir Raja: 310 votes, 4.43%
Town Council Place 4
Jim Engel (i): 100%
Highland Village
City Council Place 3
Andrew Crawford: 227 votes, 17.72%
Mike Lombardo (i): 1,054 votes, 82.28%
City Council Place 5
Jason Bates: 298 votes, 23.54%
Tom Heslep (i): 968 votes, 76.46%
City Council Place 7
Dan Jaworski (i): 100%
Northlake
Mayor
David Rettig (i): 100%
Town Council Place 4
Roger Sessions (i): 100%
Town Council Place 5
Bill Moore: 100%
Town Council Place 6
Wes Boyer: 391 votes, 57.16%
Jeff Nichols: 293 votes, 42.84%
Proposition A (Adopt Home Rule)
For: 652 votes, 84.02%
Against: 124 votes, 15.98%
Argyle ISD
Board of Trustees Place 4
Phyllis Clark: 257 votes, 35.25%
Ritchie Deffenbaugh (i): 472 votes, 64.75%
Board of Trustees Place 5
Leona McDade (i): 100%
Denton ISD
Board of Trustees Place 1
Barbara Burns (i): 6,045 votes, 72.53%
Kathy Tillman: 2,290 votes, 27.47%
Board of Trustees Place 2
Amy Bundgus: 3,364 votes, 39.96%
Sheryl English: 4,111 votes, 48.83%
Mark Osborne (withdrew after deadline): 944 votes, 11.21%
Lewisville ISD
Board of Trustees Place 1
Buddy Bonner: 9,165 votes, 56.51%
Paige Dixon: 7,069 votes, 43.49%
Board of Trustees Place 2
Allison Lassahn (i): 8,092 votes, 51.65%
Sheila Taylor: 7,575 votes, 48.35%
Northwest ISD
Note: Northwest ISD sprawls across three counties, and Wise County does not release early voting numbers, so check back later for the final results on the following Northwest ISD races and propositions.
Board of Trustees Place 1
DeAnne Hatfield (i): 100%
Board of Trustees Place 2
Kevin Lebanik
Mark Schluter (i)
Proposition A ($712.4M for facilities and capital improvements)
For
Against
Proposition B ($8.2M for stadium renovations)
For
Against
Proposition C ($5.7M for middle school recreational facilities)
The Link Lonk
The Link Lonk
