Special to The Laker/Lutz News

By Randall Grantham

Community Columnist

I read the other day that exposure to pesticides by children can cause some pretty serious health problems. I took note of this because I, as a child, living in a rural agricultural area, had a pretty sustained and intensive exposure to chemicals used in the groves, farms and cow pastures around our home.

Plus, I can remember, during the rainy season, Mosquito Control Trucks driving through our neighborhood, spewing and belching a noxious cloud of god-knows-what fog to kill the mosquito larvae in the swamps, ditches and ponds in the vicinity. All the kids around viewed this as a great event and we would all come out of our houses and run behind the trucks, inhaling the god-knows-what that encompassed the area.

Also, in something that may have been confined to the more urban neighborhoods, some of my city friends recall being out on the school yard playground as planes flew over dropping tiny pellets of fire ant poison. They, like my friends and I, thought it was great fun to run through the artificial clouds of chemicals and we surely ingested more than our share of the stuff.

So, when I read about these studies showing deleterious effects on youths exposed to similar compounds, I followed up to see what kind of serious diseases I might expect to see as I age. Would it be cancer? Or some sort of dementia onset at a sooner than expected point? Maybe even Reggaemylitis?

No, it is a more abstract affliction. Not the pharmaceutical-company-invented disease of restless leg syndrome or even antique brick OCD that I’ve admitted to having, but the much ballyhooed ADD/ADHD disorder. I think that it is also known by some as the ability to multi-task.

Seriously though, ADHD (Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder) is recognized as a medical disorder characterized by struggles to pay attention and impulsive behavior. Yeah, I had that.

These days, it is treated with a number of prescription drugs. Back in the day, my mother treated it with a swat upside the head. Bam! I was cured.

Now, this neurobehavioral disorder is sweeping the country. According to one article I read, the CDC says that 4.5 million kids have been diagnosed with it as of 2006. New Jersey alone claims to have 7.2 million of those afflicted.

I know. The math doesn’t add up. Maybe it’s because their exposure to the dozens of Superfund sites in that state has affected their ability to do higher computations.

As a side note, I found that I come by my brick fetish quite honestly. Not only does my cousin in San Francisco have it and hoarded bricks salvaged from their 1906 earthquake, but our grandfather was the man to see for bricks at Edward’s Sash, Door and Lumber of Tampa in the early to mid 1900’s. He sold USF the yellow bricks used to build their first three or four buildings in the 50’s.

Whether these “disorders” are nature or nurture, a good swat upside the head can seemingly work wonders, either way.

By Diane Kortus

Publisher

This is an emotional week for me that many of you have already walked, or soon will. My youngest, Rachel, graduated Sunday from the International Baccalaureate program at CDS Prep in Carrollwood and my oldest, Andy, graduates Friday with an engineering degree from the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis.

I’m not sure who will be going through bigger rites of passage this summer — my kids or me. They are off to unknown adventures  — Rachel to Stetson University in Deland and Andy to the Marine Corps Officer Candidates School at Quantico in Virginia.

Me? By day I’ll be here in Land O’ Lakes working with my staff to produce The Laker and Lutz News for you every week. By night I will go home to just dogs for the first time in 22 years. I will still be a mom, but suddenly a mom with no child living at home.

Much has been written about the coming of age. Much less has been said about the crossing between being with your kids every day to just once a week, then once a month and before long once every few months.

For 22 years my children have been my first thoughts as I wake and my last thoughts as I go to bed. Andy and Rachel have been that constant source of purpose, love and meaning that have held me together through life’s unexpected challenges. They have shown me beauty I never could have imagined if they had not graced my life.

When Rachel was born four years after Andy I never dreamed of such a week in the future when both kids would be graduating within five days of each other — one from high school and the other from college.

I imagine all parents of graduates have trouble finding the right words to describe how they feel. Proud is too obvious. Sad and torn too dramatic. Perhaps there is no better word than a simple one — happy. For myself, my children, their friends and their extended family who share my love and pride for all they have achieved in just 18 and 21 years.

I know I am in for one long summer as I begin the transition of living by myself.  It will feel very odd to pass Rachel’s bedroom and not stop to hear her breathing as I have since her birth. It is unsettling to think of my son as a Marine, away from the safe enclave of Annapolis, as he learns how to lead men and woman into battle.

It’s not that I worry about being alone. I look forward to having time to focus on my own interests without compromising them for the demands of a child. I have been making lists for years of things I want to do when I finally have more time — join a book club, become a birder, read Anna Karenina, train my Airedale so that I walk him instead of him walking me.

And soon that time will be here. Not only to do new things, but also to reflect on how being a mother has been the most joyous experience of my life. The unconditional love a mother and child share is an incredible source of power. It is the engine that has guided me to always be true to my heart and to make decisions that were best for Andy, Rachel and ultimately myself.

As I finish this column I must say it went in a direction I did not expect when I began to write. I assumed it would be one of accolades to my kids and all graduating seniors, not gushy stuff about the wonders of motherhood.

It’s funny where a column can take you. It has lead me to think that perhaps the best accolades we can give our graduating seniors is to tell them how much they have enriched our lives and how proud we are to call them our son or daughter.

And then we should thank them for taking off on their new journey, which opens the door for their parents to get started on a new journey of their own.

Establishing Florida lawns, water wisely and hold the fertilizer

By B.J. Jarvis

Director and Horticulture Agent, Pasco Extension

Floridians are replacing their turf in record numbers after this winter’s brutal weather. St. Augustine grasses in particular experienced problems, so it is no surprise that residents are replacing.

Replacing all or part of a lawn can be an expensive undertaking, so it is important to take steps to properly establish the sod. Unfortunately, well-meaning but ill-informed contractors have given out some questionable instructions.

The most misunderstood concept in establishing turf is when and how much to water. For example, one resident asked if they should water twice per day for one hour each time for a 60-day establishment period. Wow that is far too much! Over-watering does not help new sod. It wastes time, money and our precious water resources.

In new sod, there aren’t any deep roots yet, so limit water application to wetting just a bit below the root zone. When freshly laid and roots are no more than 2 inches, light watering is all that is needed. Extra water will be wasted running off or leaching into the ground, saving money and time.

As roots expand into the soil, decrease frequency and increase watering depth. Follow the rule of three’s. For the first 10 days, water every night or early morning.  During the second 10-day period, water every other night. Then in the third 10-day period, water every third night. This will allow the plants to establish deep roots while adapting to the once-per-week watering restrictions.

Turf should be established in about 30 days at this time of year. If decent sod was installed, which is a topic for a different discussion, then the turf should have developed a solid root system and be able to survive within the watering restrictions.

Once established, irrigation systems should be set to apply ½ to ¾-inch application. This wets soil between nine and 12 inches deep.

The second most common question about new sod is about fertilizing when sod is freshly laid. A recent University of Florida study showed fertilizing newly installed sod did little to help the grass. In fact, an adverse consequence is nutrients are much more likely to pass through the soil potentially entering and fouling our water bodies and the aquifer.

During the first 30 days on the ground, sod has limited ability to absorb nutrients. In addition, commercial sod growers typically produce well-fed sod at the farm.

Finally, applying fertilizer before laying sod is also not a good idea for the same reasons. Adding compost or other organic material to sandy soil is one step that can be helpful to improve the soil structure. New sod failures are not expected from nutritional deficiencies.

To ensure good plant health, water new turf sod properly and hold off on the fertilizer. You’ll save money, water, and time! More information about establishing a new lawn can be found at http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/LH01300.

-B.J. Jarvis is Horticulture Agent and Director of Pasco Cooperative Extension Service, a part of the University of Florida and Pasco County government. She can be reached at .

By Randall Grantham

Community Columnist

While I’ve been working out and getting my upper torso in shape with the Brickmaster 2000 (also known as cleaning 2000 plus bricks), I wanted to let you in on another great new exercise routine for the bottom half of the body that I recently discovered while boating in Homosassa.

Every year we meet my father-in-law and his wife at our doublewide on stilts in Citrus County to celebrate his birthday.  We always rent a pontoon boat from our friend John at the Riverside Resort (by Monkey Island) and make full use of the shade from the Bimini Top as we cruise the waters and backwaters of the Homosassa.

This year, his 84th, was no different.  We reserved our boat a month or so in advance and stocked up on oysters and beer.  The big day arrived and we piled onto the party barge, fishing poles and coolers at the ready.  After signing the boilerplate forms agreeing that I would not leave the Homosassa River proper, nor venture past Marker 26, we proceeded to do just that.

Those rules are made to keep newbies from crashing the boats or getting out of their return range.  So I, as a local, didn’t need to worry about them, I told myself.  For the most part, I was right. We cut over at Marker 69 and headed out Mason Creek to my secret grouper hole.  Did all right, too.  Caught fish and had a grand time.  It was just on the return trip, that we encountered a few…snags, shall we say.

I had noticed during the day that the steering would click every now and then.  Nothing I could do anything about and it didn’t seem to affect the boat, until we got about half way back up Mason Creek.  That’s when the click was followed by the complete loss of all steering.

“The helm’s not responding, Captain.”

I immediately came to a full stop and ordered the anchor-girl to drop anchor.  The tide was rushing in and there were at least two treacherous cuts that we needed to maneuver to get in to Petty Creek and back to the Homosassa River and thence home.  Without steering we would be sent onto the shoals.  In other words, the Minnow would be lost.

To the delight of the women on board, we co-opted the help of two youngish, shirtless fishermen who agreed to tow us through the cuts, but then what?  We couldn’t call the marina for help.  We were outside of our designated area.  They might come get us, but at what cost?  It was at that point that a solution came to mind.

While being towed, I found that turning the motor one way or the other helped our vessel follow the track of the smaller towing boat.  So I sat on the motor and used my butt to turn it with my legs pushing on the transom. After they had pulled us as far as they were going, we decided to continue butt-steering the boat under it’s own power.

I sat on the motor, while my father-in-law was at the power (and tilt, as he reminded me on several occasions). At just over idle speed, we were able to safely drive the boat around the rest of the hazards I knew lay waiting until we were safely on the main river and could call for help. It was a great workout.

Of course, the sight of us cruising up the river in that manner was fodder for jokes.  “Does that boat have in-butt or out-butt drive?”  “What happened? You crack the butt-head?”

In any event, we got in safely and even got a discount on the rental because of the break down.  So, if you ‘re planning on renting a boat from Riverside, ask for number two.

Seriously. It has a brand new steering cable.

–Randall C. Grantham is a lifelong resident of Lutz who practices law from his offices on Dale Mabry Highway. He can be reached at . Copyright 2010 RCG