Column

Don’t kid yourself. Old guys like me know what love is. I have three generations of people to love. That is a wife, three beautiful daughters and seven adorable grandchildren. No great grandkids yet, but there is still time, I think. In honor of Valentine’s Day, let’s talk about love, hearts and Valentines.

1. She has been on the music scene for a few decades and was the wife of Kurt Cobain. Who is she?

2. He was the right fielder with the great arm in the same outfield with Andre Dawson. Who was he?

3. Who was the female star of the 1955 movie “Love is a Many Splendored Thing?”

4. He was the front runner for the 1988 Democratic presidential nomination until word of his affair with Donna Rice aboard his boat Monkey Business. Cannot make this stuff up! Who was he?

5. Fred Astaire played Robert Wagner’s father on this TV spy thriller of the 70s. They were reformed thieves. What was the name of the show?

6. The Giants had a third baseman from 1963 to 1973 with a potent bat and some difficulty in controlling throws to first. His name included three names. Who was he?

Q. My roses haven’t been pruned in several years and are now seven feet plus. When will it be too late to prune as the new growth is starting to emerge? If not, how far back can I prune them? I’ve heard that roses will go into shock if you remove more than half the growth.

A. The winter pruning season can extend into late March. The appearance of the new growth does not signal the end of the pruning season, as roses are pruned year-round. Most gardeners don’t think of it as pruning, but deadheading the spent flowers during the summer and fall months as a form of pruning. Late season pruning, let’s say mid-March on, will only delay when the first flush of flowers are in bloom. In addition, it’s just a ‘gardening myth’ that the bushes will go into shock from pruning. The more I think about it, it just doesn’t make any sense. You haven’t disturbed any of the roots, just reduced the length of the canes. Roses are very resilient plants. They can take a lot of abuse from a pair of hand pruners or neglect. They respond nicely with improved cultural practices. Different pruning techniques are used with the different seasons. The cool winter months allow you to cut the bushes back, exposing the bare canes. If we were to do this in August, the green canes would turn black and die from sunburn. At that time of the year, you would have to cover the plants with shade cloth until the new leaves develop. The leaves shade the canes from the harsh sun. During the growing season, your goals are to remove the spent flowers, reduce the height and bring in the sides. I’d have no problem cutting the bushes down to three to four feet looking for an outside bud. An outside bud or shoot is one that is growing away from the center of the plant. If you don’t find one, wait a couple of weeks and then finish the job. You may have to alter this because of a pathway, or a barrier like a fence of the side of the garage. In addition, remove any dead wood and eliminate the rubbing and crossing branches along with those canes that are growing close to one another. The remaining canes at the base should be spaced about the width of your pruning shears. There is no reason to shy away from pruning today.

Q. We had a problem with fruit tree borers. They’ve killed a cherry and a nectarine tree. What can I do to prevent the borers from returning as we’re thinking about planting new ones?

A. Borers on deciduous fruit trees such as plums, cherries, apricots, peaches, and nectarines occur when they come under stress. Healthy trees will successfully fight them off. The key to preventing borers is good cultural practices that minimize tree stress. The stress is caused by drought, excessive summer watering in clay soil and trees that are planted too deep. Signs of the problem are excessive amounts of sap on the trunk and major branches, dieback in the canopy, and a decreasing amount of new growth each spring. When planting bare root fruit trees, the final soil line should be at the top of the first root. So, here is how you’ll get it right every time. Once the hole is dug, center a 3/4″by 3/4″by 4′ stake in the hole. Lay the handle of your shovel across the hole and make a mark with a Sharpie on the stake. This is the grade level. The tree is attached to the stake so the top of the first root is at the mark and then fill in the hole with the amended backfill. Next year, remove the stake as it has done its job. The new root ball is sufficient to prevent the tree from sinking and being buried too deep. For those trees in containers, the top of the root ball should be a half-inch above the grade to allow for sinkage. You could add a stake to anchor the tree. Mulching later will cover any exposed roots along with the canopy of the tree itself. Plums, Cherries, Apricots, Peaches or Nectarines should never be planted in turf areas. The constant summer water necessary for grass are very problematical. They should be planted in open areas with nothing growing under their canopies. For the first growing season, fruit trees should be watered weekly when the temperatures are above eighty degrees. During the second growing season twice a month and monthly from the third season on. Large watering basins should be constructed so a sufficient amount of water is applied to each tree every time you water. Except for those trees with late-ripening crop, you stop watering deciduous fruit trees at the end of September.

Q. My Fountain Grass has turned brown. How far back can I prune it? Also when will be nice and full again?

A. Fountain grass is pruned down to the ground. The new growth will appear at the base of the clump, as the days get longer and warmer. After Memorial Day, the growth rate will accelerate and the plant should reach full size by mid-July. Now, this all depend on the weather. You can encourage the new growth with a hand full or two of a balanced fertilizer around the drip line in March.

Buzz Bertolero is an Advanced California Certified Nursery Professional and the Senior Gardening Professional at Sloat Garden Centers. The Dirt Gardener’s website is www.dirtgardener.com and questions can be sent by email to buzz@dirtgadener.com

If you are suffering with neck pain from a pinched nerve or herniated disc, you know how debilitating it is and how the pain slowly leaks the vitality from your life. At Align Healing Center we specialize in treating pain naturally. It is our mission to help relieve pain without the use of drugs, invasive procedures and without inducing more pain. If you or someone you care about suffers from pinched nerves or disc related pain, it is worthwhile to explore the natural therapies that are available today.

What is cervical disc herniation?

The bones (vertebrae) that form the spine in your back are cushioned by round, flat discs. When these discs are healthy, they act as shock absorbers for the spine and keep the spine flexible. If they become damaged, they may bulge abnormally or break open (rupture), in what is called a herniated or slipped disc. Herniated discs can occur in any part of the spine, but they are most common in the neck (cervical) and lower back (lumbar) spine.

A herniated disc usually is caused by wear and tear of the disc. As we age, our discs lose some of the fluid that helps them maintain flexibility. A herniated disc also may result from injuries to the spine, which may cause tiny tears or cracks in the outer layer of the disc. The jellylike material (nucleus) inside the disc may be forced out through the tears or cracks in the capsule, which causes the disc to bulge, break open (rupture), or break into fragments.

What are the symptoms of a herniated disc in the neck?

Herniated discs in the neck (cervical spine) can cause pain, numbness, or weakness in the neck, shoulders, chest, arms, and hands. In some cases a very large herniated disc in the neck may cause weakness or unusual tingling affecting other parts of the body, including the legs.
Arm pain from a cervical herniated disc is one of the more common cervical spine conditions. Arm pain from a cervical herniated disc results because the herniated disc material “pinches” or presses on a nerve in the neck, causing pain to radiate along the nerve pathway down the arm. Along with the arm pain, numbness and tingling can be present down the arm and into the fingertips. Muscle weakness may also be present due to a cervical herniated disc.

How can I heal my pain without drugs or surgery?

1. Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression Therapy
Non-surgical spinal decompression is a state of the art treatment that has been helping thousands of patients with chronic neck or low back pain, sciatica, and herniated, bulging or degenerated discs. This is an entirely different treatment from traditional chiropractic adjustments. Many of the patients who are candidates for this procedure have already tried chiropractic, physical therapy, injections, and/or were told they would need surgery.

This breakthrough treatment works by gently separating the vertebra which decompresses the disc, thus causing the bulging material to be drawn back into the disc. Non-surgical spinal decompression is very effective, has a high success rate, and can be utilized for both cervical and lumbar disc injuries.

2. Class IV Laser Therapy
Laser treatments at Align Healing Center are done with the K-laser Cube Class IV Laser. Class IV Laser therapy gets to the root of the injury and treats it at the cellular level, providing energy to the cells so they can heal. This laser does not cut or burn but is gently absorbed by the tissue. During each painless treatment, laser energy increases circulation, drawing water, oxygen and nutrients to the damaged area. This creates an optimal healing environment that reduces inflammation, swelling, muscle spasms, stiffness and pain. As the injured area returns to normal, function is restored and pain is relieved.

There is hope!

We have found that a combination of Class IV laser therapy and spinal decompression offers outstanding results in healing stubborn neck pain due to a pinched nerve, bulging discs or spinal degeneration.

This unique combination of non-invasive therapy offers a chance for realizing a permanent cure for neck or back pain. This eliminates the long-term care commitment forced upon patients by other symptomatic low-back pain treatments, such as drugs, injections or surgery. With proper care and rehabilitation of your spine you can be back to your healthy self quickly!

For more information about Dr. Niele Maimone, DC or to set up a complimentary consult call 925.362.8283 or visit www.alignhealingcenter.com.

We all crave change. We love the thought of starting something new, but it is so hard to take those first few steps, which is why The Rouge Cosmetics offers Mini Make-0vers. You can try something new as part of a self-love enhancement while following some simple changes in cosmetic colors that are uplifting, updated, and fun.

I realize that when it comes to cosmetics and suggestions on how to improve one’s self, our troublesome tendencies or habits can get in the way of our progress. It can seem like just one more rock to push up the hill, which is why we try to keep the make “over” part to a minimum while pushing the make “better” with the hope that you’ll take it in the spirit intended.

With this being the beginning of Spring and time to reinvent ourselves, think about how good the change is; it is positive and it’s time to refresh our psyche. That said, get ready for a Mini Make-Over, designed to renovate your look into a modern, updated version of a more youthful, beautiful you.

Spring Looks 2018

Spring Eyes

Think cool, fresh, pale-nude colors because that’s what you will be seeing a lot of this season. Put aside the bold eyeliner and indulge in some beautiful, modern colors. Try a soft gray crease color rather than a brown. Own your style by using a soft, pale, peachy-nude eye shadow on the eyelid rather than a cream colored one. Invite a new color in your wardrobe until you get used to the idea. That mysterious hipness just might delight your shift in attitude.

Spring Cheek Colors

Now we’re talking super-sheer fusion blush colors for cheeks—and in a big way. Beeline to your nearest cosmetic boutique to try on a cool pink shimmer blusher, while staying true to your urban coolness. Without uttering a word and spiking up your fashionista per se, you will add some spice to your trend-watching swagger. It’s nice to be in the know, and to wear it well you need to add just a hint of this enduring color to the cheeks to pull off this elite fashion re-shift with confidence.

Spring Lips

With all the new modern colors swirling around this season, lips take on a whole new natural wave with baby palette essentials. Think cool light pink nudes, soft peach nectars, and flawless angelic plums. Dabble in a world of beautifully-crafted change without sacrificing all the home-grown principles you still identify with. Instead of using just a clear gloss, use a lip shine with a hint of peach. Or check out a nude pink lipstick rather than a gloss. The possibilities are endless and so much fun.
Spring Forward this season and let yourself in on something fun! You never know until you try it and you may be delighted you tried something new!

The Rouge Cosmetics will be offering Mini Make-Overs for Spring starting February 12th through March 31, 2018. Come in to discover a newer and brighter fun you, while experimenting with all the new and exciting colors for Spring!

In late January, the Attorney General of the United States, Jeff Sessions, and his Department of Justice, filed a Statement of Interest into the Berkeley College Republicans lawsuit against the University of California. “To attend to the interests of the United States in a suit pending in a court of the United States,” the DOJ may, from time to time issue Statements of Interest. The DOJ argues the “Plaintiffs’ amended complaint adequately pleads that the University’s speech restrictions,” as outlined in the Major Event and High-Profile Speaker Policies, “violate the First Amendment, and therefore, at least to that extent, the Court should deny Defendants’ motion to dismiss.”

First, I strongly encourage the DOJ to shed light onto issues of campus free speech nationwide because my generation has a tendency to pervert reality, which leads to more self-reassuring professors and teaching practices within higher education. The result will be poorly educated, or a generally misinformed public that believes they are highly educated (we could even call them ‘woke’), and can lead to the further degradation of higher education. What’s more dangerous: the ideas propagated by an educated elite that is pacifist with regards to the ideals of justifiable political violence in the name of tolerance, perpetrated by ANTIFA, BAMN, and other violent, anarcho-communist groups. In the long run, this could lead to the breakdown of civility in our Republic.

In this Statement of Interest, the DOJ claims, “The United States has a significant interest in the vigilant protection of constitutional freedoms in institutions of higher learning. As the Supreme Court has noted, ‘[t]eachers and students must always remain free to inquire, to study and to evaluate, to gain new maturity and understanding; otherwise our civilization will stagnate and die.’ Sweezy v. New Hampshire, 354 U.S. 234, 250 (1957). In recent years, however, many institutions of higher education have failed to answer this call, and free speech has come under attack on campuses across the country. Such failure is of grave concern because freedom of expression is ‘vital’ on campuses. Shelton v. Tucker, 364 U.S. 479, 487 (1960). Indeed, ‘our history says that it is this sort of hazardous freedom—this kind of openness—that is the basis of our national strength and of the independence and vigor of Americans who grow up and live in this relatively permissive, often disputatious, society.’ Tinker v. Des Moines Indep. Cmty. Sch. Dist., 393 U.S. 503, 508–509 (1969).”

The DOJ rightly claims “it is in the interest of the United States to ensure that State-run colleges and universities do not trample on individuals’ First Amendment rights” because this could undermine the Department of Education’s mission “to ensure that ‘institution[s] of higher education . . . facilitate the free and open exchange of ideas.’”
“Under the facts as alleged, it appears that the University repeatedly moved the goal posts for BCR, making it all but impossible for the event to take place,” due to discriminatory time, place, and manner restrictions.
“Plaintiffs contend that they are designated public fora, but the University claims that they are limited public fora. While this is a question properly left for later stages of the litigation, one thing is clear: the University’s High-Profile Speaker Policy and Major Events Policy would be unconstitutional in either type of forum,” the DOJ says, “if a regulation of speech discriminates on the basis of viewpoint or creates a high risk of viewpoint discrimination, it is immaterial whether the forum is a designated or limited public forum; under longstanding precedent, the regulation is unconstitutional… both Policies suffer from the same constitutional defect: they grant University administrators unbridled discretion to decide when, how, and against whom to apply the Policies. As the Interim Vice Chancellor admitted, the Policy applied only to ‘high-profile events featuring potentially controversial speakers.’”
Upon reading the Statement of Interest, Harmeet Dillon, lawyer of BCR and YAF, said, “Having pursued these core speech rights on behalf of our clients for nearly nine months against the University’s shifting positions and excuses, it is gratifying to see both the Department of Justice and General Counsel of the Department of Education agree with our position in court that strict scrutiny must apply to the University’s speech codes, which in turn constitute a prior restraint on fundamental rights guaranteed by the First Amendment.”

As I said to YAF.org on hearing the news, “The Berkeley College Republicans are grateful to the DOJ for filing a Statement of Interest into the lawsuit of discriminatory practices in stifling the guaranteed constitutional right of free speech brought against UC Berkeley. We are also grateful AG Sessions has called the success of the Ben Shapiro event hosted by YAF and BCR a ‘victory for free speech.’ We thank Harmeet Dillon and Dillon Law Group for their hard work on our case.”

YAF Spokesman Spencer Brown shared similar sentiments. “It’s incredible to see the United States government reinforcing in its SOI what YAF has said for months: Berkeley’s high-profile speaker policy and major events policy are ‘prior restraints on protected speech that invite viewpoint discrimination.’”