Q&A Master Gardeners with the

Why would my garden always look so far behind my neighbors’ gardens? What might I be doing differently/ wrong?

It is always encouraged for questions like this for you to consider reaching out to your local County’s Cornell Cooperative Extension as most have agents or Master Gardeners that would be happy to do site visits to help you assess your garden and further your gardening knowledge.

Itpotentiallycouldbethesoilandhow yourneighborisamendingit.Itcould be potentially plant selection. Or it could be planting timing or planting skills. There are so many variables that could affect your garden versus your neighbors.’ One thing that is pretty universal is that gardeners on average are pretty open to talking about gardening, especially their successes. There are vast amounts of research and studies regarding how gardening particularly community gardens build social communities. So, take a deep breath and ask your neighbor their thoughts. I’m sure they would be happy to share. Also,

Livingston County

if you are looking for educational opportunities to broaden your knowledge, reach out to your local CCE; they may have a program like Seed to Supper that might give you the tools and knowledge to be the best gardener you can be. CCEs are great resources for all kinds of information, so take advantage of them as each county has one.

PS. While gardening on many levels is experiential learning, “Learning by Doing,” you rarely are doing somethingwrong…it’sjustaprocess of learning what may work better for you and your specific garden!

- Ken Estes, Jr, Cornell Cooperative Extension,Livingston County

Penny Saver

DID

YOU KNOW?

The pinnacle of birthday celebrations, if there’s no piñata to break open, is when the birthday cake comes out and party attendees serenade the guest of honor. The song everyone harmonizes to is among the most widely recognized and well-loved tunes in the world. The “birthday song,” also known as “Happy Birthday to You,” is in the public domain in the United States and the European Union. The song originally was penned as a classroom greeting song titled “Good Morning to All,” written by sisters Mildred J. Hill and Patty Smith Hill. Both were educators and developed unique teaching strategies to assist students. The song was composed by Mildred and the lyrics were written by Patty to be used in kindergarten classrooms.

It is unclear who changed the lyrics and turned the song into a birthday ditty, as none of the earliest references to the song included credits or copyright notices. Two tales circulate regarding the eventual copyright of the song. One has The Summy Company registering a copyright in 1935, crediting authors Preston Ware Orem and Mrs. R. R. Forman. The other says Jessica Hill, sister to Mildred and Patty, who was working with publisher Clayton F. Summy Company, copyrighted and published “Happy Birthday to You” in 1935. Eventually Warner Chappell bought the company that was originally The Summy Company, and argued the birthday song was under copyright until 2030, making performances of the song illegal without paying royalties. However, a federal judge ruled in 2015 that Warner Chappell’s claim to a copyright on the song was not valid. The judge ruled its registration only covered a specific piano version, not the melody and lyrics. Therefore, “Happy Birthday to You” can be sung both privately and publicly without being subject to royalties or other restrictions.

York Central School Job Opportunity

Secretarial (Clerk Typist) Positions

Full-Time 12-month Positions; including bene ts package (Civil Service)

Job Duties: Clerical and other duties as assigned

All interviews begin upon receipt of application

Application and information available: www.yorkcsd.org

Send cover letter, resume, and application to: York Central School

Att: Heidi Newcomb, District O ce P.O. Box 102 2578 Genesee Street Retsof, NY 14539

Boost Energy At The Office

Squeeze in a midday workout. Numerous studies have shown the many benefits to daily exercise, but professionals may not know that exercise can help improve their productivity at the office. A 2005 study from researchers at the then-named Leeds Metropolitan University in England asked 200 workers to answer questions regarding their productivity on days when they exercised at lunchtime and days when they did not exercise. Sixty percent said their job performance, including their ability to meet deadlines and manage their time, improved by a considerable amount on the days when they exercised.