Column

Richard Rodgers was, indisputably, the leading and most prolific famous composer of American musicals and musical comedy ever to grace the Broadway stage.

Rodgers was born in 1902 in Long Island, New York to Dr. William Rodgers and his wife, Mamie. Both parents were music lovers and often went to musical comedies and operettas. There was always music in the home with mama playing the piano and Will singing. It wasn’t long before Richard started banging away on the piano and soon new tunes began to emerge – this began his lifelong career with music.
Young Rodgers took piano lessons when he was six-years-old but he was basically self-taught. Rodgers actually published his first song at 15! He began writing songs with lyricist Lorenz Hart at age 16.

His formal training started at Columbia University and he also studied at Julliard School of Music and the Institute of Musical Arts. Rodgers did not earn any degrees but later in life he was bestowed with seven honorary doctoral degrees.

As a young adult he collaborated with Hart on a series of popular shows including “The Girlfriend,” “Babes in Arms” and “Pal Joey.” Rodgers and Hart wrote 28 stage musicals and eight film scores. Unfortunately, Hart was irresponsible and an alcoholic; he died in 1943. After Hart’s death Rodgers needed a new lyricist and was fortunate to partner with Oscar Hammerstein II. He came with previous credits as a lyricist for numerous musical shows. Together, they produced nine Broadway shows including “Oklahoma” in 1943. It won a Pulitzer Prize during its record-setting run over five years and 2,212 performances.

Rodgers and Hammerstein produced “Carousel,” “ Flower Drum Song,” “ The King and I,” “ South Pacific,” “The Sound of Music,” the film, “State Fair” and the television musical, “Cinderella.”

“Rodgers, with Hammerstein, inaugurated a whole series of show classics that will probably go down in history as paralleling the earlier Gilbert and Sullivan operettas, in significance,” wrote McKinney and Anderson in their book, “Discovering Music.”

The American musical scene reached its zenith of popularity and success of Broadway musical shows in the mid-20th century. As gratifying and successful as Rodgers musicals brought him fame and fortune, he longed for an extended huge work on a more serious theme. He thought this type of composition would solidify his reputation as an important composer, that not only the public would acknowledge but music critics as well.

Victory at Sea: This wish was accomplished when NBC-TV commissioned Rodgers to write the score for this extended production commemorating the great naval sea battles of World War II. This herculean effort of 13 hours of music, depicted the restlessness, power, and mystery of the sea itself. The New Yorker magazine described the music as “A seemingly endless creation, now martial, now tremendously moving,” Victory at Sea was 26 half-hour episodes produced in 1952 -1953. It was budgeted at $500,000, a vast amount of money in the early 50s, (several million in today’s money.) The production won several awards including the U.S. Navy Distinguished Public Service Award and a 1953 Emmy Award.The entire series was the longest instrumental television score ever written; noted in the Guinness Book of World Records.

This monumental score would not have been possible without the recognized, skilled master of music arranging, Robert Russell Bennett. He collaborated with Rodgers on many of his Broadway shows using Rodgers melodies and sketches for the score and brilliantly arranging them for orchestra. It is said that of the 13 hours of music, Bennett was responsible for arranging 12 hours of them.

Part of the score was a section called, Beneath the Southern Cross. This tango, Rodgers wrote and Hammerstein gave words to, became the song, No Other Love. This song was in the musical, Me and Juliet. Perry Como recorded it and it became the number one hit on the pop charts.

Bennett must not be overlooked as he was a star in his own right. He was as much responsible for the success of many Broadway shows as the composers, as he arranged over 200 shows. Bennett, and others he influenced, are largely credited with the so-called ‘Broadway Sound’ that is so typical of the music produced for the American stage, arranged primarily by Bennett.
Rodgers fame was not limited to Broadway shows. Individually he wrote over 800 songs, over 100 became hits and many are considered classics. Cole Porter once said “Rodgers best songs have a kind of holiness about them.” Dorothy Rodgers, his wife, chose, You’ll Never Walk Alone, Hello Young Lovers, Little Girl Blue and Dear, Dear, as her favorites.

According to Associated Press Correspondent, Hugh Milligan, “Rodgers was one of a few nice guys ever to finish first in this town, (Manhattan.)”

America owes so much to the brilliance of Richard Rodgers for providing us with such a rich wealth of outstanding musical productions that will never go out of style. What a heritage he left for us to enjoy.

Please submit your questions and comments to banddirector01@comcast.net
Visit our website at www.danvilleband.org for up-to-date information about the Danville
Community Band.

 

Redemption. This word brings a lot of things to mind. You can redeem airline miles and take a vacation. You can redeem yourself by trying a little harder at a hard task. I Can Only Imagine, the movie, is about the most precious kind of redemption.

Bart Millard was a good kid with a secret to hide—a secret that ate him on the inside. I Can Only Imagine is Bart’s story, a true story he waited decades to share. In 1985 Bart’s life in Greenville, Texas, was good—or so it seemed. Bart’s mom loves her son and his happy, creative nature. She loves that he’s a dreamer. His father, Arthur, not so much.

One day Adele, Bart’s mom, drops him off at church camp. He reconnects with a young girl named Shannon who he’d seen around school. She is quite taken with young Bart and they start a lifelong friendship. When Bart returns home after a spiritual transformation at camp, his mother is gone. All that is left of his home life is a broken-down house and an abusive father. His father’s explanation? Mom left, just you and me now…

Arthur’s (Dennis Quaid) dreams of being a professional football player had been dashed on the rocks of pain and disappointment when he was injured. His dreams were dead and so was his hope for a future that held more than the rolling Texas Hills and a job as a mechanic. Bart the dreamer, was doomed to living his life with the dreamless.

Somehow Bart (J. Michael Finley) still wanted to make his father proud so he played football until one game he was tackled and left with two broken legs. Game ended. After his injury, Bart finds himself rolling around school in a wheelchair and assigned a new class, Choir! He agrees to take on the media since he believes he can’t sing. While “rockin out” at the media table one day when he thinks he’s alone, his teacher, Mrs. Fincher (Priscilla Shirer), hears him singing and casts him as the lead in the next show. And as they say, the rest is history.

In case you don’t know, Bart Millard ends up starting the Christian band, Mercy Me. It wasn’t an easy road, nor a short one. They struggled even after they were taken on by Nashville insider and Band Manager Scott Brickell (Trace Adkins), but they’ve been at the top of the charts for a couple of decades now and are still thriving.

I Can Only Imagine is a powerful movie named after a powerful song…the number-one selling Christian song of all time—Triple Platinum!

I don’t usually review movies that aren’t on DVD yet but here I am breaking my rule. If this movie is still in the theaters when you read this, GO. If not, jot the title down and remember to see it when it comes out on video. The cast is amazing! I Can Only Imagine is not “preachy” and can definitely be appreciated by even those who don’t go to church. There are powerful lessons to be learned and, you might find “joy in the morning”! Redemption is Real.

As always, let me know what you think at carolyn@carolynhastings.com.

After much talk, last year Hyundai separated its upscale Genesis models into their own independent brand. Its sophomore year brings a new Sport trim packaged with a twin-turbocharged 3.3-liter V-6 tag-teamed with an 8-speed automatic transmission.

It may seem difficult to imagine a luxury Korean vehicle, but the Genesis is all-that and much more and probably why you have never seen the Hyundai name or logo on any Genesis vehicles. All Genesis models G70, G80 and G90 are loaded with high-tech and lavish features but priced to meet the pocket-books of folks not in the “1%” salary category.

Personally, I have been very impressed by all of the Genesis models I have driven in the past couple of years. The ride, style, features, performance, quality, and technology rival the more expensive German brands. Like it or not top dogs, you have a new contender!

Pricing and Trims
For 2018 Genesis G80 is available in the following three trim levels: 3.8 RWD & AWD($41,750, $44,250), 3.3T Sport RWD & AWD ($55,250, $57,750) and 5.0 RWD & AWD ($57,000, $59,500).

What’s new for 2018?
For 2018, Genesis adds a new Sport trim that features a 3.3-liter twin-turbocharged V-6 engine, sport tuned 8-speed automatic transmission and an adaptive sport suspension. Plus, all G80 trims received revised styling inside and out along with a new analog fuel gauge and standard safety features including Driver Attention Alert and Pedestrian Detection.

Interior Highpoints
The interior is fully dressed to impress with its aggressively-bolstered perforated leather seats, real carbon-fiber trim, suede headliner, and sport alloy pedals. The front seats offer heat and cooling and the rear seats are heated also. The amount of rear legroom was remarkable and extremely comfortable. Both rear doors had manual sunscreens and the rear-window, power sunscreen could be operated from the rear seats. A relatively new feature is the wireless phone charging station, eliminating once-necessary wiring. A feature I have always appreciated is the reverse-mode camera 360-degree view, also called birds-eye view, which projects on the large center screen an aerial view of the vehicle and surroundings. You can also select to see from just the front or side cameras.

Exterior Highlights
The styling resembles a 5-series BMW with an almost Bentley front end. New for 2018: new front and rear fascia’s and modified headlights. The overall design is masculine and strong. The new G80 Sport adds copper accents to the LED projectors in the new headlights. You will also find copper in the grille surround, throughout the cabin, and in the center caps of the 19-inch wheels.

Performance Specs
Genesis carried over both the base 3.8-liter V-6 and the optional 5.0-liter V-8 heavy weight motors. The power generated from the 3.8 is 311-horsepower with 293 lb.-feet of torque and the 5.0 mashes out 420 horses and 383 lb.-ft. The new 3.3-liter twin-turbo V-6 feeds 365 hp and 376 lb.-ft of torque to the rear wheels. All three engines are mated to a new 8-speed automatic transmission. Even though we are talking heavy vehicles, the horses easily propel the G80 without hesitation down any road.

Cool Features:
· A Lexicon audio system comes with a 9.2-inch touchscreen
and 17 speakers
· Wireless phone charging station

Safety Integrity
The 2018 Genesis G80 comes with nearly every modern safety system available. All G80s come standard with nine standard airbags including a driver’s knee bag, forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking, active lane control, blind-spot monitors with rear cross-traffic alert, active head restraints, and adaptive cruise control. New for 2018, is the pedestrian detection system that watches people outside of the car, while a driver-awareness system monitors the person behind the wheel. The Genesis G80 earns the top-safety pick from the IIHS and NHTSA with a five-star rating across the board.

In Summary                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 The 2018 Genesis G80 completes the check-off list for all performance luxury buyers without breaking the bank. The G80 is stylish and comfortable, loaded with cool tech features and tons of safety elements; and enjoys both the performance and heart of a sports sedan. When you open the front doors at night the Genesis logo illuminates on the ground like a reverse batman signal. Bottom line: the Genesis G80 is made to impress and it does from every angle!

Specifications: 2018 Genesis G80 RWD 3.3T Sport

Base price: $55,250 as driven: $56,225 (including destination & optional features)
Engine: 3.3-liter twin-turbo V-6
Horsepower: 365hp
Torque: 376 lb.-ft.
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Drive: Rear-Wheel Drive
Seating: 5-passenger
Cargo space: 15.3 cubic feet
Curb weight: 4,519pounds
EPA mileage: City 17/Hwy 25/Comb 20 MPG
Fuel Capacity: 20.3 gallons
Turning Circle: 36.2 ft.
Wheel Base: 118.5inches
Warranty: 5 years/60,000-miles
Also consider: Audi A6, BMW 5-Series, Cadillac CT6, Lexus GS, Infiniti Q70, Mercedes-Benz E-Class, Volvo S90

 

 

 

There is now an anti-smoking ad that is trying to appeal to smokers’ love for their cats. Cats that live in the homes of smokers are more likely to die of cancer and other diseases. If it’s not a powerful enough reason to quit for your own health or for the sake of your human family, then by all means, quit for your cat. Allow me to give you some specific and concrete information about why smoking is bad for you and your cat.

I speak to people everyday about how their smoking addiction is hurting their health. For the most part, people understand that smoking is “bad” and that they are at an increased risk of cancer. It seems though, that their belief is that the harmful effects of smoking are far off into the future and something to worry about “later.” This couldn’t be further from the truth, because the harmful effects of smoking are affecting organ function now on a day to day basis. Far before causing cancer, smoking causes COPD, Cataracts, Crohn’s disease, Rheumatoid arthritis, Infertility, Impotence, Psoriasis, Reynaud’s phenomenon and many other illnesses. Smokers have a general life expectancy of ten years less than non-smokers.

There are many toxic elements in tobacco, even smokeless tobacco, that cause disease and illness. Tobacco smoke contains over 4,000 chemical compounds including carbon monoxide, arsenic, cyanide and formaldehyde. E-cigarettes aren’t currently monitored or controlled by the FDA, so there are large discrepancies in content from manufacturer to manufacturer, but formaldehyde and other cancer causing compounds have also been found in the solution that is then mixed with nicotine in the cartridges. Even the “nicotine-free” cartridges have been found to have traceable amounts of nicotine.

Obviously, inhaling the poisons in cigarettes is harmful, but nicotine itself is a poison in the body beyond its addictive properties. Nicotine causes vasoconstriction or tightening of the arteries of the body so that blood doesn’t flow as quickly and easily to the places that it needs to go. Blood carries nutrients and oxygen to skin, muscles, nerves, bone and soft tissues. Some tissues don’t have blood flowing to them directly and they have to rely on nearby blood vessels to leak nutrients and oxygen by diffusion to get what they need. A person who smokes is automatically making their heart work harder by having to push blood into the body against the resistance of the narrowed arteries. This causes high blood pressure. The body works harder to get blood flowing therefore it has to decide which organs need the blood and oxygen the most. The brain, heart, liver, lungs and kidneys are the “vessel rich” organs that need it the most. The skin, nerves, bones, discs of the spine, ligaments and other areas get less. Skin is the largest organ of the body and its appearance is a tell tale sign of what’s happening on the inside of the body. Smokers look older than they are because their skin isn’t getting enough blood flow and oxygen causing early wrinkles, sagging and a dull, dry, off color look.

More and more studies on the effects of tobacco use are showing that chronic pain, especially neck and low back, is directly related to smoking. The discs of the spine only get oxygen and nutrients through passive diffusion of blood flow from nearby spinal arteries. Discs that don’t get proper blood flow and nutrients are more likely to have early degeneration and lose their cushion effect on the spine which can cause nerve pain and damage. Slower tissue growth and healing is a major problem for all smokers whether they are healing from a relatively minor injury or surgery. Any type of chronic pain is made worse by smoking tobacco or e-cigarettes because those toxic elements accumulate in the tissues and prevent the body from healing itself. Unfortunately chronic pain isn’t always preventable or treatable but the decision to smoke can be changed and the harmful effects of smoking can be reversed if done early enough.

Vodka is the backbone of the spirits industry and is easily the most popular spirit in the world. But what is this colorless, flavorless, distilled “firewater?” Where did it come from and why is it so popular?

Vodka originated in Eastern Europe in the 13th century. The word for water in Russian is “voda.” “Vodka” translates roughly from the original Russian to “beloved little water.” Throughout much of Russian history, vodka was tossed back as easily as water, to both warm the body against the brutally cold winters and to soften the hardships of life under the iron fist of the Czar and later of the Soviet government. As an antidote to the daily grind, is there any wonder vodka was, and still is, adored by the Russian people? And now it is loved by the rest of the world as well.

Vodka can be distilled from almost any base material—barley, rye, wheat, corn, potatoes, grapes, and even beets. There are slight variations in flavor, of course. Rye vodka has a slight spiciness to it. Potato vodka can have a lovely creamy quality. Grape based vodka often has a hint of sweetness. All are intended to be colorless and basically flavorless, but quality base materials shine through in the best vodkas and give them character.

The second most important ingredient in vodka is water. Some producers use pure natural water from their springs or rivers. Others use water from melted snow, glaciers, or underground streams. Many companies now use water softeners and filtration methods in their quest for purity.

To create vodka, the base material is mixed with water and fermented to form a sort of beer. This beer is distilled and vodka is the result. Today vodka is produced all over the world including the USA, Russia, Poland, France, Sweden, The Netherlands and many other countries. Vodka can be made simple and pure, as it has been for centuries, or it can be made with a rainbow of spices, fruits, or essences added. Flavored vodkas are here to stay and are favorites of mixologists in creating new and exciting drinks.

The most popular “flavored vodka” is actually what we know as gin. Gin is simply vodka infused with botanicals such as juniper berries and licorice. Other preferred flavored vodkas include lemon, vanilla, chocolate, raspberry, and jalapeno. The highest quality flavored vodkas are made with fresh fruits and spices macerated into the liquor to produce a true essence of the fruit or spice. These are delicious sipped alone or on the rocks. Cheaper flavored vodkas often have an unpleasant “candied” quality and are best blended into cocktails.

The newest vodka on the market is a super-premium vodka out of Asia called Han. Named for the last emperor of the Han Dynasty who supposedly held the secret recipe for this spirit, Han is vodka produced from barley and infused with a polished rice spirit before being filtered through a high-tech micro-quartz freeze filtration system. Han producers claim that Han is will not cause a hangover because all of the impurities have been filtered out. It has a bright clean flavor with hints of sake on the palate. Created in very small batches, Han is marketed as the smoothest vodka in the world.

Whether the vodka you love is super-premium or super cheap, the popularity of vodka continues to surge. If you generally stick to the same brand, branch out a little this year. Set up a vodka tasting with friends to sample different brands that use different base materials at different price points. You’ll be surprised at how diverse the same spirit can taste and might even find a new favorite. As the Russians say, “Na zdorovye!” or “To health!”

Cheers!

Lance Corporal, United States Marine Corps
2014 Medal of Honor awardee

In 2010, U.S. Marine Cpl Kyle Carpenter was severely wounded in the Helmand province of Afghanistan when he threw himself upon a live grenade to shield his friend and fellow soldier during a rooftop attack. Both were severely wounded but survived due to Kyle’s bravery.

Kyle spent nearly two years recovering at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. He endured more than thirty surgeries to repair his teeth, jaw and arm and learned to adapt to the loss of his right eye, but he keeps his personal experience in perspective. ”I’m still here and kicking, and I have all my limbs, so you’ll never hear me complain!”

Sentinels of Freedom’s journey with Kyle began before his discharge from Walter Reed. Mike Conklin, Sentinels of Freedom Chairman and CEO, met Kyle and started to formulate a plan for his life after the military. Mike helped him navigate through some early decisions concerning college majors, and career choices. “I knew when I met him that he would be the perfect fit for our program: motivated, driven, and focused.”

In 2013, Sentinels of Freedom awarded Kyle a four year scholarship for undergraduate studies at the University of South Carolina. This scholarship helped alleviate the everyday stresses of life in the form of rent payments, mentorships, budgeting assistance and personal support. “SOF has truly been a blessing in my life and has helped comfort me… they have put me in a better position to be successful in life and for my next endeavor and future mission whatever that may be.”

In June 2014, Kyle received the Medal of Honor for his heroic actions, only the third Marine to receive the Medal of Honor from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Mike, again, was there to witness the amazing occasion. The Medal of Honor is the country’s highest award for valor; fewer than twenty have been awarded across all services for recent combat in these regions.

In December of 2017, Kyle graduated with a bachelor’s degree in International Studies. Mike was so proud to attend Kyle’s graduation as he completed his first stage in his post-military life. SOF continues to stand by Kyle’s side as he ventures into the professional world. The mentorship, and professional introductions will help change Kyle’s future forever.

“SOF truly gives back and says thanks to those that sacrifice so much. When I get phone calls from SOF, it is not just about business and school… it’s about “how’s Kyle doing? It’s about me, it’s personal; they truly do care.”
Sentinel Kyle Carpenter – United States Marine Corps

We look forward to seeing Kyle at our Annual Gala on April 14, at the Blackhawk Museum. For more information about Sentinels of Freedom, or to attend the Gala, please visit sentinelsoffreedom.org.

I love the song, I Hope You Dance, by Lee Ann Womack. It speaks to me of living in the way I think God intends for us. It is a hopeful song that touches upon how life is all about choice, and how the questions we ask and answers we accept shape our destiny.

Human beings are seekers; designed in such a way that we hunger for answers—especially when things go wrong or strike us as unjust. We want to know the why and how, and “demand” justice from whatever authority we believe has the power to deliver it.

And so, here we are once again in the aftermath of yet another tragedy—the mass shooting in Parkland, Florida. Every sane person with a beating heart grieves for the victims and the loved-ones left behind. And predictably, also once again, a desperate cry for answers echoes across our land along with vague demands for “change,” albeit no one seeming to agree as to what that change should be.

This time, there is a groundswell of young people, encouraged by many in power and much of the media, confident that the answer is all about guns, proclaiming: “If only the tools used for such evil acts be banned, then we shall all be safe in our classrooms.” And their grief turns to anger as blame is assigned; “It is the NRA. It is the Republicans. The President is to blame!”

Some try to move beyond visceral, emotional, reactive answers and approach the matter with reason and logic, considering laws and rights and the state of the individual who committed the act. We debate and wrestle with each theory and proposed solution, but the gaps between our answers only widen. And the door for further evil remains open, as hope returns to fear—the fear that it will all happen again.

Sadly, good intentions have always and will always continue to fail, so long as we continue to look in the wrong direction for answers. The late Reverend Billy Graham spoke of this—indeed, it was his mission in life to reveal the answer and the solution. To paraphrase, he said “The human soul has a disease called ‘sin,’” as he then went on to offer the cure for our disease.

Even if you do not subscribe to the particular ideas promoted by Billy Graham, in the spirit of seeking answers and healing, I would recommend to you a wonderful book entitled, The Divine Dance, by Richard Rohr. In it, the author attempts to explain our relationship to God and how the notion of “sin” affects our lives, as he explains:

God is essentially saying, ‘It is you who cannot afford to be unloving; you just can’t. It’s going to stop the intrinsic flow, and you’ll be outside the mystery; you’ll be outside the flow of grace that is inherent to every event—yes, even sin.’ We are not punished for our sins—we are punished by our sins! This is why Jesus commanded us to love. You must love. You must, or you won’t know the basics. You won’t know God, you won’t know yourself, and you won’t know the divine dance. And some kind of suffering is always the price and proof of love.

If we will see it, all of human history points to the answer. Centuries of failure and misery has proven beyond doubt: When we rely solely on ourselves, guided only by a diseased soul, we step out of the Divine Dance, where we cannot help but fall, harming ourselves and often harming others.

Partake of the Dance and invite others to join you. That is the answer.

With the Ides of April looming overhead you may feel a little strapped for cash, but there’s plenty of green at the farmers’ market.
Spring crops like squeaky-fresh artichokes, elegant asparagus, crunchy celery, and sweet English peas abound. To cast a rosy glow on the month, look for plump little cherries, field-grown rhubarb, velvety raspberries, and early strawberries from local farms.

The following salad celebrates the season in style. It makes a stunning all-in-one side dish, combining creamy new potatoes with plenty of young veggies. It’s also perfectly suited for the main event on Meatless Mondays, perhaps paired with a warm loaf of artisan whole-grain bread.

As you peruse the April farmers’ market, feel free to add other spring favorites to your salad: a handful or two of watercress, dandelion, or other tender greens; fava beans; green onions; thinly sliced fennel; or crisp strips of jicama. To up the protein content, consider topping each serving with a poached or fried egg.

Herbed Spring Salad with Goat Cheese

1 1/2 pounds farm-fresh asparagus
1 1/2 tablespoons plus 1/3 cup California olive oil
Fine sea salt
1 pound “creamers” or red or white tiny new potatoes (about 12)
2 pounds fresh peas-in-the-pod, shelled (about 2 cups)
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
2 teaspoons coarse-grain mustard
Freshly ground black pepper
4 to 6 radishes, sliced
2 tablespoons chopped fresh mint or chives
Crumbled soft California goat cheese

1. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees. Cut off and discard the tough ends from the asparagus spears; then cut diagonally into 2-inch pieces. On a large baking sheet, combine the asparagus and the 1 1/2 tablespoons of olive oil. Toss to coat with oil and spread in an even layer. Season lightly with salt. Bake until the asparagus is barely tender when pierced with the tip of a sharp knife, 5 to 10 minutes, depending upon thickness. Set aside to cool.

2. Place potatoes in a large saucepan with 2 teaspoons of the salt. Add enough cold water to cover by 2 inches and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Cook until the potatoes are tender when pierced with the tip of a sharp knife, 20 to 25 minutes. Remove the potatoes with a slotted spoon and place in a large colander to drain. Let cool, then cut each potato in half.

3. Return the saucepan of water to a boil over high heat. Have ready a bowl of ice water. Add the peas to the boiling water and cook just until bright green, about 1 minute. Use the slotted spoon to immediately plunge the peas into the ice water. When cool, transfer peas to the colander with the potatoes.

4. Make the vinaigrette: In a large bowl, whisk together the lemon juice, mustard, 1/4 teaspoon salt, and a few grindings of pepper. Whisk in the remaining 1/3 cup olive oil. Add the asparagus, potatoes, peas, radishes, and mint. Toss gently to coat with vinaigrette. Turn the salad onto a large rimmed platter and scatter cheese over the top.
Serves 4 to 6.

Minding Your Peas and Q’s

–Like corn, the sugars contained within peas convert to starch shortly after harvesting, so it’s best to buy them fresh from the farmers’ market and eat them as soon as possible. Store them in an open plastic bag in the crisper drawer of the refrigerator.

— Regardless of which variety of peas you buy, always inspect the “packaging”: look for plump, glossy green pea pods, crisp and free of blemishes.

–Easy does it! An over-cooked pea is a sorry thing. Strictly speaking, no peas require cooking—though giving common “English” peas and snow peas a quick sauté or blanch in boiling water will intensify their color and mellow their flavor ever so slightly.

–Although “string-less” sugar snap peas are increasingly popular, more classic varieties have a tough string running along the length of the pod. If they are not labeled “string-less” at the farmers’ market, just ask the grower. Removing the string is incredibly easy: Just snap off the leaf end and pull down on the string. (This is a mindless chore best done while watching television.)
Sugar snap peas are so easily over-cooked, I always use them raw. One of my favorite snap pea salads comes from Ina Garten: Drizzle the snap peas lightly with Asian sesame oil and toss gently until well coated and glossy. Sprinkle black or white sesame seeds over the top and serve. Delish!

The Danville Certified Farmers’ Market, located at Railroad & Prospect, is open every Saturday, rain or shine, from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. For specific crop information call the Pacific Coast Farmers’ Market Association at 1-800-949-FARM, or visit their web site at www.pcfma.org. This market is made possible through the generous support of the Town of Danville. Please show your appreciation by patronizing the many fine shops and restaurants located in downtown Danville. Buy fresh. Buy local. Live well!

Patients with parasomnias complain of unusual behaviors during sleep.
The most commonly seen parasomnia is sleep walking. In addition, parasomnias can also include: sleep related eating disorder, nightmares, sexsomnia—sometimes referred to as sleepsex—and confusional arousals. Confusional arousals include symptoms such as moving around in bed, crying during sleep, sleep moaning, or sleep talking.

Each parasomnia can last from one minute to hours. Everyone in the family is affected by these behaviors. Therefore, identifying and treating the parasomnias become vital.

What causes a parasomnia?
Parasomnias often run in families. They can also be triggered by other sleep disorders such as obstructive sleep apnea and can be brought on by various medications.

Prevalence?
Parasomnias affect about 10% of the American population. All age groups are affected, but are more common in children.
One should not attempt to wake up a patient in a parasomnia event by shaking or shouting. Commonly patients can get irritable and aggressive during the response. It is best to redirect the person back to bed gently.

If you or someone you love can identify with the above symptoms, it is important that the affected person be evaluated so that they can be helped in ways in order to get better.

Please contact me if you or someone in your family is dealing with any form of parasomnia.

Q. Last year, I discovered a bee hive in a juniper bush. In January, I hosed it down with a high-pressure nozzle. I think I destroyed the hive or maybe it got too cold as I see no evidence of any activity. What can I do to make sure they don’t return and reestablish the hive?

A. Honey and Bumble Bees along with Wasps are inactive during cool, wet weather but if disturbed, they will fly around and sting. On the other hand, a Yellow Jacket hive is empty or abandoned. In late November, the worker and male Yellow Jackets after mating with the queen(s) die. Shortly after that the queen(s), abandons the old hive and hibernates in the bark of trees and or logs. So, I believe you had a Yellow Jacket hive. It may be a bit early, but the Queens should emerge from hibernation and start looking to establish new nesting areas within the next three weeks. Also, there is almost no chance of a queen reoccupying an old site. Yellow Jackets establish hives under the ground in abandon gopher or other rodent holes. The above ground nests are close to structures like under the eves of a house or in ornamental bushes like junipers. The hives start slowly, reaching their peak in September/October. Yellow Jackets rarely are a problem at Memorial Day, more problematical by the 4th of July and a huge nuisance by Labor Day. In the fall they’re easily agitated as mating season approaches. The hives remain active until November when the process begins or ends again depending on how you look at it. Your best defense against a Yellow Jacket establishing a hive in your yard is to trap the queens early on. I’d reuse my Yellow Jacket Traps from previous years. But first washed them out with warm soapy water before adding any new attractant. Because of the very wet January and February, I expect the Yellow Jacket population to be smaller than previous years as a significant number of queens did not survive.

Q. Three years ago, we planted several English Lavender plants. They are full and bushy, but they get no water except when we periodically drag a hose to them. Right now, they get a lot of wear and tear from neglect. Should the flowers be trimmed off after blooming and when is the best time to shape these plants?

A. The old spent Lavender flowers should be removed along with the stems after blooming. The plant then could be lightly trimmed with a pair of hedge shears but don’t prune them back to bare stems. In most gardens, Lavender plants have a short life span of no more than five years. In our clay soil, the primary problem is the companion plants mixed with the Lavenders. These plants require much more water and fertilizer while lavender plants thrive on neglect. So, I wouldn’t change a thing you are currently doing or suggest anything different.

Q. I have a very old Clematis plant with three-inch fragrant white flowers that always start blooming in mid-February on the new growth. The leaves are six to seven inches long and are a dark green color, so I’m confused when I read that the spring blooming varieties bloom only on the old wood. What type of Clematis do I have?

A. I believe you have Clematis Armandii. It’s an evergreen variety and one of the earliest varieties to bloom each year in February or March. But I’ll have to disagree with you about the type of wood it’s blooming on. February or early March is too early for the new growth on Clematis to be appearing. Temperatures are just starting to warm up from the winter months; therefore, the flowers are on the old wood as the flush of new growth has yet to occur. You’d pruned this variety after the blooming period.

Q. I’d like to get rid of the ants in my lemon tree; however, it is near a fish pond, so, I have to be careful about what I use. Is there something that I can use other than tearing up my whole yard trying to locate the nest?

A. Ants are a nuisance pest in Bay Area gardens. Ants will not cause plants or leaves to turn brown, yellow or any other color nor will they put holes in the leaves or cause them to curl up. At this time of the year, ants are after the sugary substance or nectar in the citrus flowers. They also feed on a clear, sticky substance produced by sucking insects like Aphids, Scale, and Mealybugs. If the lemon is in bloom, I would do nothing as spraying will interfere with the fruit set. After the flower petals have dropped off, I’d make two applications of Horticultural Oil a week apart and cover the fish pond with a sheet of plastic. With the food supply gone, the ants will move on. In addition, place a two-inch band of Pest Barrier or Tanglefoot on the trunk. Pest Barrier is a clear, sticky resin that traps the ants. It’s applied with a popsicle stick. It doesn’t kill the ants, but it does prevent them from climbing into the canopy.