Q&A Master Gardeners with

What is the process and ideal time of year to starting apple, pear, and peach trees from seed? What if you want to plant apple, pear, and peaches starting as small trees?

Many people mistakenly believe that fruit trees grow true to name from seeds. In reality, if you collect seed from a fruit grown on a plant, the seeds will produce plants that will be a hybrid of two plants. The new plant will be the same kind of plant, but its fruit and vegetative portions may not look the same as the parent because the plant is “heterozygous.” Therefore, all fruit trees must be vegetatively propagated by either

from Cornell Cooperative Extension, Livingston County

grafting or budding methods. Grafting and budding require a compatible rootstock or stock plant onto which you attach your desired variety of fruit plant. An inexpensive way to obtain a seedling rootstock is tocollectseedsfromthetypeof plant you are propagating. The seeds of all common tree fruits (apple, pear, peach, and cherry) require a chilling period before they will germinate and form new plants. Grafting and budding are relatively easy for apple trees, though for us that are more interested in having a fruit tree to plant purchasing a bar root tree is a preferredmethod.

Time of planting: We have routinely advised growers to plant bare rooted trees mid- to late March, April, or May. Several research studies have demonstrated the advantages of planting as soon in the spring as the soil conditions will allow. Trees planted in April have a decided advantage over those planted even one month later. As temperaturesincreaseinlatespring, trees planted late will break bud sooner and struggle initially without a regenerated new root system developed. Avoid planting trees in frozenorwater-saturatedsoils.

AT-HOME NUTRITION AND COOKING WITH KIDS

RECIPES FOR FUN: If you’re preparing a meal, it could be a good time to teach children of reading age how to review a recipe. Evaluating ingredients to learn how food transforms from raw to cooked or how a dish is created can help kids learn kitchen skills.

FOOD GROUPS FOCUS: Get kids involved in making dinner by setting a rule that each food group must be represented. Give them a warmup activity by asking which food groups are found in family favorites like chicken soup, lasagna or meatloaf. Asking kids to guess which ingredients are used in these dishes and identifying which food group each ingredient belongs to can help them understand dietary balance.

Texas Pete Brown Sugar Glazed Bacon (Family Features)

1/3 cup Texas Pete original hot sauce

1 pound thick-cut bacon

1/2 cup plus 1 tablespoon brown sugar (for finishing)

Preheat oven to 350∞F. Lay bacon in even layer on parchment lined sheet tray. Mix 1/2 cup brown sugar & hot sauce together. Using pastry brush, brush thin even layer of mixture over top of bacon & bake 10 minutes. Remove tray from oven & brush bacon w/glaze; flip bacon over & brush w/glaze. Return tray to oven for another 10 minutes.

Repeat every 10 minutes for one hour, pouring off excess bacon fat as needed. Sprinkle top of bacon w/1 tablespoon of brown sugar before last 10 min. of baking. Watch bacon carefully near the end of bake time as it will begin to brown quickly. Remove from oven; let cool for 5 minutes. Serve immediately.

How To Be More Courteous While Dining Out

Ifsomethingisnotrightwiththemeal,mentionitearlysoitcanberemedied. Do not eat an entire meal before filing a complaint with the server.

DEAR READERS AND ADVERTISERS:

75 years is a long time, especially for a print publication these days. Here at the Genesee Valley Penny Saver, we’re pleased to have reached this milestone! There’s a saying that “a rising tide lifts all boats” and our ‘tide’ has been your faithful readership and advertising, and of course the boat is this publication. There are some other, very important tidewaters that have been such a help through the years – our dedicated team of Ad Consultants, Graphic Artists, Production Crew, Office Staff, Delivery Personnel - who have been so instrumental in our growth and success.

Most recently, we’ve won the grand prize of “Best of Show” from our National Media organization, Association of Community Publishers (ACP). Over 1,500 entries were submitted, and your Genesee Valley Publication came away with 14 awards ranging from Best Promotions, Featured Article, Creative Headline, Ad Series, Use of Digital, the Andrew Shapiro Award for Cancer Awareness, Contests for Our Readers, Classified Layout and our Featured Media video.

What makes me so proud of our team is that there is such a wide variety of marketing touches that we have put forth on behalf of not only our advertisers, but our readers as well. There is a lot to love about our paper as we continue to hear constantly, “read it cover to cover.”

So, it is with great pride and humble thanks that we look forward to continuing to serve you - whether in your home, or at your place of business, for many years to come!

Steve Harrison President Genesee Valley Penny Saver

DID YOU KNOW?

(NAPSI)—Toreduceindoorpollution,get yourHVACairductscleanedbyaNADCA professional. NADCA members have certified specialists on staff and comply with a Code of Ethics. Learn more and find NADCA members at www.nadca. com. For a free Homeowner’s Guide, visit https://nadca.com/sites/default/ files/docs/2017/nadca_homeowners_ guide_print_version.pdf.

According to the National Marine Manufacturers Association, about one in 10 U.S. households owns a boat. If yours is among them, change the oil regularly, advise the experts at Honda Marine. Learn more at https://marine.honda.com.

You may be able to sell your life insurance policy to get money for your retirement years. To learn more about life settlements and whether you could be eligible for a free review of your life insurance policy,visit www.LISA.org.

With the right technology, people can work together better and make their companies more competitive, says Lieven Bertier, who’s responsible for strategic marketing at Barco, Inc., a technology leader that develops networked visualization solutions. He advocates design and usability in product development. Learn more at www.barco.com.

A new generation of pesticidefree products has been designed with formulas that kill lice and eggs. Vamousse Lice Treatment is a convenient, clinging mousse that makes application easier, so you can better target the scalp and roots where lice live. Learn more at www. vamousselice.com/tips-choosing-licetreatment.

Your car’s VIN is a unique code. Before you buy a used car, do a VIN lookup to get the vehicle history report and find records of its previous owners, accidents, and repairs advise the experts at https://driving-tests.org.

3M is leading the way with roofing technology solutions for improving environmental impacts on human healthandwelfare.Tolearnmoreabout 3M’s commitment to using science for the greater good, visit www.3m.com/ sustainability.

Atlas roof shingles with Scotchgard Protection provide a long-term solution to help prevent algae growth from taking hold—protecting your home and helping to keep it looking good for years to come. To learn more, visit 3M at www.3M.com/resistblackstreaks.

585.519.7385

• Lakefront Erosion Control

• Retaining Walls and Breakwalls

• Walkways & Patios

• Steps

• Driveways

• Monolithic Slabs

MASONRY

• Chimney Installation & Repair

• Repair Cracked & Bowed Foundation Walls

• Retaining Walls & Architectural Block Walls

• Pavers of Any Kind

EXCAVATION

• Water & Electric Lines

• Lakeside Creative Parking Solutions

• Foundation/Basement Drainage

JACKING & LEVELING

• Cottages, Houses, Garages

STEEL ROOFS

METAL ROOFING

STEEL SIDING

PORCH REPAIR

DID YOU KNOW? According to the Environmental Protection Agency, air currents can carry pesticides that were applied to nearby properties.That means even people who do not apply pesticides in their lawns and gardens can still be at risk of exposure to these potentially harmful chemicals.People concerned by the prospect of being exposed to the pesticides being applied by their neighbors can stay indoors with their children and pets while the substances are being applied. Those who live near fields and parks where pesticides are routinely applied can plant hardy,thick-branched trees to reduce their risk of airborne exposure.The EPA notes that such plants and shrubs can serve as buffers against airborne pesticides,essentially acting as walls around a property that prevent gusty winds from blowing pesticides into yards and gardens.

LAWN

ITEMS TO IMPROVE OUTDOOR LIVING SPACES

Features that can keep homeowners and their guests warm after the sun sets include outdoor fireplaces and firepits. A 2016 survey conducted by the American Society of Landscape Architects found that fireplaces and firepits were the most popular outdoor design element in 2016. Such features can provide a focal point in the backyard while also extending the outdoor living season into autumn and even early winter.

How To

And Prepare Outdoor

For The Season

Outdoor fabrics are derived from different materials. However, this general-purpose recipe, courtesy of the DIY Network, may help clean many outdoor fabrics. Mix 1 teaspoon dishwashing detergent, 1 quart warm water and 1 tablespoon borax together. Saturate a sponge and use it to wash the cushions. Let it sit for 15 minutes and then spray it off with a high-force hose. Stand the on their edges to dry outdoors. increased hours of sunlight, warm temperatures and, oftentimes, an increased reliance on water to feed recreational pursuits and lawn and garden needs.

The Water Information Program states that 3.9 trillion gallons of water are consumed in the United States each month and the average person uses 176 gallons of water per day. Water conservation may be essential when the risk for weather-related drought looms. Practicing year-round conservation efforts can help ensure smart usage of local watersheds, lakes and reservoirs and help maintain these water sources for years to come. It also helps the average person reduce his or her carbon footprint while saving people a little money along the way.

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JJMROOFING@aol.com

SCHOOLS,

(NAPSI) — K–12 education has gone through a seismic shift in the wake of COVID-19. Parents are finding themselves thrust into homeschooling,and educators,into virtual schooling. EdChoice, a national nonprofit, nonpartisan organization, teamed up with Morning Consult to release results of a recent poll to find out how it has affected families and teachers.

They found that parents are clearly anxious about sending their kids back to school; 66 percent said they were concerned their children will be exposed to the virus in school. The majority (68%) are also concerned their child is missing important instruction time.

The silver lining to so many states having closed down brick and mortar schools: A solid majority of parents said they felt at least somewhat prepared for the transition to e-learning and distance learning. Parents are slightly more likely to say they felt very or somewhat prepared (70%) than were teachers (67 percent).

There is only one type of school choice program that allows families to receive funds into a flexible spending account to customize an education for their child. They are called education savings accounts, or ESAs. And according to EdChoice’s Public Opinion Tracker,67 percent of Americans support them.

These results are part of a new, larger polling project, the EdChoice Public Opinion Tracker.is new dashboard updates every month with results of public survey questions not only on COVID-19 but also on K–12 education topics such as schooling, testing, spending and school choice.

Learn More: For more findings from EdChoice’s Public Opinion Tracker visit www.edchoice.org.

Updating Your Home’s Electrical System

When it comes time to update the electrical system, it is always best to work with licensed and bonded electricians who have the expertise to work with electrical wiring without getting injured. This is not a do-it-yourself type of job since it requires specialized training.

Electricians likely will recommend upgrading the electrical panel to bring more power from the utility poles into the home. This can include replacing the existing meter and circuit breaker box to allow it to handle more power or replacing items that are obsolete or dangerous.

Many older homes are only capable of handling a minimum number of amps, utilizing just a few circuits. But nowadays, when homeowners have far more electronics in their homes than they once did, increased demand on electricity can overload a circuit. Tripping a circuit breaker is a safety measure to prevent the wire from becoming overheated and causing a fire. However, in some old systems, the circuit breaker will not trip, and this can be problematic.

Rewiring a home is another step. Wire insulation can deteriorate over time, and new wires may be needed. This can be messy and time-consuming, but it’s a small price to pay for safety. When rewiring an electrician also may suggest new outlets. Many home building codes now require outlets with ground fault interruptors, or GFIs, in kitchens, bathrooms and other rooms exposed to moisture. Some older homes may not even have three-pronged outlets, so this will necessitate an update as well.

CAREGIVERS, TAKE CARE: HOW TO KEEP YOUR CAREGIVING DUTIES FROM OVERWHELMING YOU

(NAPSI)—Caregiving for a loved one can be a fulfilling, yet overwhelming experience. Forty million Americans provide care for their aging loved one each year, and spend an average of 24.4 hours per week doing so. Try as one may to create a balanced lifestyle, it’s a role that easily crowds out other important areas of life, including personal and professional relationships, and generates high levels of stress that could lead to serious health problems long-term if not managed.

Caregivers should feel empowered to adopt the following tactics to lighten the burden, and achieve a renewed sense of control:

Remember your own health: It’s important to not lose sight of your physical and mental health during particularly stressful times. Improve your energy level with smart eating choices: plan easy, healthy recipes that take less than 30 minutes, schedule grocery deliveries, or subscribe to meal kits. And, committing to just 10 minutes a day of moving your body will help you feel energized, while boosting your mental health. Exercise is also a good way to engage with your loved one—join them for a walk or even a water aerobics class.

Be transparent with your employer about your role as a caregiver: Burning the midnight oil to meet your caregiver and professional responsibilities doesn’t do you, your loved one, or your career any favors. Speaking candidly about the pressures you face as a caregiver with your employer can help relieve stress in the long run. Discuss options such as flexible work hours or working remotely, and set realistic expectations for yourself.

Leverage technology: Utilize tools that offer you visibility into your loved one’s health status and simplify the complexities of coordinating care. These solutions allow you to refocus yourattentiononthekeymomentsthat mattermostwithyourlovedones,while offering the peace of mind of knowing your loved one will have 24/7 access to help. For example, Philips Cares is a mobile application that enables you to easily form and activate a care circle of trusted family and friends, access meaningful insights into your loved one’s wellbeing, and manage your Philips Lifeline personal alert service. It helps you and your care circle be there for your aging loved ones, easing and enriching their aging journey.

To learn more about the latest technology helping to ease caregivers’ burdens, visit https://philips. to/2MGDqLm or call (855) 223-7395

DAYS 243-1201

NIGHTS 455-0013