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Tuesday, May 25, 2010
1C
VNA growing with demand of services Page 2C
Warm weather keeps local lawn care companies busy Page 6C
Midwest Dermatology warns about sun exposure TIM JOHNSON Staff Writer tjohnson@nonpareilonline.com (712) 325-5750
“The key to surviving skin cancer is to find it as early as possible,” Midwest Dermatology Clinic’s Web site states. “Self-exams of all areas of the skin, especially those exposed to sunlight, and professional examinations by your physician are most effective.” May is National Skin Cancer Awareness Month and comes during the season when most people start spending a lot of time in the sun. “We treat thousands of skin cancers each year in our practice,” said John R. Luckasen, M.D., of Midwest Dermatology. “The incidence of skin cancer is on the rise, as people are spending more time in the sun – both recreationally and professionally. The sun is the cause of most skin cancers, which means that people can take preventative steps to avoid developing it. It is often the cumulative effect of many years of sun exposure, although severe sunburns can lead to the development of deadly malignant melanoma. But most people simply don’t take the proper steps for prevention because it is not immediately apparent that they are causing changes in their skin that will lead to cancer.” “While the main demographic of patients with skin cancer would be middle aged and older, skin cancer can and does develop on younger adults,” he said. “People should start by knowing the warning signs of skin cancer and examining their own skin on a monthly basis.” Warning signs ■ A growth that is new or increases in size. ■ A spot that itches, crusts, scabs or bleeds. ■ An open sore or wound that does not heal ■ A mole or growth that is waxy, black, multicolored, has irregular borders or
grows in an asymmetrical pattern. When a person sees any of the above warning signs, an appointment should be made to see a dermatologist, Luckasen said. It is important to seek immediate treatment: The earlier a skin cancer is caught, the easier it is to treat and better the results will be. When caught early, skin cancer is very treatable and usually easy for the patient. If a person has a history of skin cancer, or has a family member who has had skin cancer, or if your dermatologist tells you that there are certain risk factors present for developing skin cancer, it is a good idea to see your dermatologist yearly. Nonmelanoma skin cancers – basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma – are the most common forms of skin cancer we diagnose. There are more than 1 million new cases of basal cell carciSubmitted photo Clockwise from top left, noma diagnosed each year Bert C. Frichot III, M.D., in the United States. The Jason S. Papenfuss, M.D. key cause for both basal cell and John R. Luckasen, and squamous cell carcinoM.D. are on staff at Mid- mas is ultraviolet light, west Dermatology. specifically, light from the sun. “Our primary method of treating basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma is to use a technique known as Mohs Microscopic Skin Cancer surgery,” Luckasen said. “Mohs surgery involves both the surgical
excision of the skin cancer and a microscopic exam of the surgical margins to ensure that all skin cancer cells have been removed. “While we do not see as many cases of malignant melanoma, it is by far the most serious form of skin cancer,” he said. “Left untreated for very long, this cancer can spread through the body, affecting other key organs and may threaten the life of the patient. Fortunately, diligent self-examination can reveal the early warning signs of malignant melanoma, when the cancer is contained in just the skin, allowing for surgical removal and a full recovery. Patients with moles that are changing in size, color, shape, have uneven borders or color, or are asymmetrical should seek the consultation of a dermatologist immediately.” The incidence of malignant melanoma is increasing at about 5 percent around the world,” he said. “About 60,000 new cases are diagnosed each year; and while it is a much less common form of skin cancer than nonmelanoma cancers, it accounts for more than 75 percent of skin cancerrelated death. “When we see malignant melanoma patients, they come to our office in various staging,” Luckasen said. “The important fact is that patients should know the warning signs of melanoma and not be afraid to seek immediate treatment if they are suspicious of a mole or growth that has changed. “Usually, a wide excision around the visual part of the tumor and the tissue is sent away for pathology. In addition, we may send them to a cancer doctor. The cancer is staged via pathology and consultation with the cancer doctor.” Prevention ■ Liberally apply sunscreen with an SPF (sun protection factor) of at least 30 to exposed skin before going out in the sun. Reapply frequently. ■ Avoid excess sun exposure between the hours of 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., when the ultraviolet light from the sun is at it’s strongest. ■ Wear protective clothing including long sleeved shirts and a wide brimmed hat whenever out in the sun ■ Avoid tanning beds - there is no such thing as a safe tan. Instead, choose a spray-on tan for a bronzed look without the danger of ultraviolet light. ■ Examine your skin regularly for warning signs of skin cancer. See a physician for any suspicions. If you have a history of skin cancer, schedule regular check-ups. “It is important to understand that the sun is still dangerous on cloudy or cooler days,” Luckasen said. “Just because you can’t feel your skin frying in the sun does not mean that it will not do any damage. Ultraviolet light can penetrate clouds. It is stronger at higher altitudes and around water. So prevention any time you are outside is essential.” Midwest Dermatology has three locations in Omaha, one in Bellevue, Neb., and one each in Norfolk and Grand Island.
2C Tuesday, May 25, 2010
PERSPECTIVES OF SERVICE
The Daily Nonpareil
VNA growing with demand for services TIM JOHNSON Staff Writer tjohnson@nonpareilonline.com (712) 325-5750
The Visiting Nurse Association is expanding its Operation Frontline program to help lower-income families make nutritious meals, Michael Elias, stewardship director, said recently. Program staff members, including a certified dietitian from ConAgra, teach parents and single mothers how to make healthy, low-cost meals, he said. “It’s hard for a family that has a limited budget to buy healthy food,” he said. “Certainly, the need for that type of thing is great.” The VNA holds weekly classes for a period of six weeks in various locations to reach the people who need them, said Katee Upton, registered dietitian, licensed medical nutrition therapist and coordinator of Operation Frontline. “We do churches, we do schools, we do community centers, we have one that’s in a house; so we go all over,” she said. Classes range from four to 15 students, she said. The VNA’s Art & Soup fundraiser this spring was very successful, Elias said. “We raised nearly $110,000 for the shelter program,” he said. VNA nurses go to many homeless shelters in Council Bluffs and Omaha to provide basic medical care to shelter residents. “We have been expanding because of the need,” Elias said of the shelter program. “We redesigned and added to our demographics there about 16 months ago. “The demographics of these people in our shelters is changing and have changed in the last year,” he said. Now, there are more families – especially single-parent families – and more children, he
said. The average age of the VNA shelter patients is 10 to 12 years old. There is an influx of people looking for work in the metro area, Elias said. “We have a pretty low unemployment rate, so it’s become kind of a Mecca for people looking for work,” he said. Economic improvements that have begun to take place haven’t turned the trend around at shelters yet, he said. “Last time I was at MOHM’s Place, I met a gentleman who had literally walked to Council Bluffs from Mississippi,” Elias said. “He had a job but just hadn’t put away enough money to get a home for himself.” A single mother was working part-time and living at the shelter with her daughter. Cooking with the VNA raised almost $17,000, he said.
VNA FACTS AT A GLANCE Background: Founded: 1896 Employees: 340 Volunteers: 197 give more than 7,600 hours of time a year 2008 Annual Budget: $22,529,722 People Served in 2007: 4,616 Home Health Care Patients 487 Hospice Patients 4,669 Maternal/Child Patients 180 HomeAide Clients (private duty non-medical home care services) 4,243 Children and Adults through our Shelter Nursing program 14,868 Students through our School Health program 16,000 Flu Shots Administered through our Flu Prevention Clinics Patient/Family Satisfaction: 98 percent of our patients and families would use VNA services again. 98 percent of our patients and families would recommend VNA services to others. Technology: Thanks to the use of cutting-edge technology, those VNA patients monitored by
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the HomMed daily in-home health monitor experienced 18.4 percent fewer emergent care events and 8.6 percent fewer hospitalizations than national benchmarks. VNA offers Lifeline, an medical alert service. VNA offers MD2, a medication administration system.
Proceeds will benefit the VNA Shelter Nursing Program, which last year served 1,014 children, 1,247 women and 1,780 men, totaling 4,041 (unduplicated) individuals. The VNA began serving women and children in shelters in 1987. The emphasis is on early and regular prenatal care, normal child growth and development, adult and well-child care and immunizations and positive parenting and childcare. In 1996, the VNA expanded its services to include men living in shelters. Services for men focus on assessment of health needs, first aid and injury care, monitoring chronic health conditions and referring those who needed more help to health care providers and community agencies. In 2003, the VNA added
shelters that specifically care for homeless children. These children are in shelters because of abuse and neglect, abandonment, running away or experiencing a family crisis. The VNA provides services at Siena Francis House, Open Door Mission/Lydia House, Cass Street, The Shelter for Abused Women, Youth Emergency Service, Heartland Family Service shelters and Stephen Center. In 2007, the program was expanded to reach families at MOHM’s Place, MICAH House and Phoenix House in Council Bluffs. In 2008, services were expanded again with the addition of new facilities. In 2009, there was a 5 percent increase in family homelessness, and more people new to the area were homeless for the first time.
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At, left, a VNA nurse weighs an infant during a well baby exam at the MICAH House Emergency Family Shelter. Above, a nurse redresses a wound at a local shelter as part of the organization’s Shelter Nursing Program.
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Tri-Center Community Schools “Home of the Trojans” ADVERTORIAL
“Committed to Maximizing Student Potential” Serving the families of Beebeetown, Minden, Neola, Persia and the Surrounding Area Since 1962
WEBSITE: www.tri-center.k12.ia.us Tri-Center Community Schools has the reputation for being one of the finest schools in Southwest Iowa. Tri-Center offers quality educational programs PK through 12, top-notch facilities, campus-wide state of the art technology, outstanding activities programs and a caring, certified faculty, staff and administration. Tri-Center serves over 800 students each year. Here are just a few of the characteristics/opportunities extended to our students/families: • All buildings/facilities located on one 40-acre campus near I-80 and I-680 interchange • Elementary remodeled in 2007; Middle School constructed in 1996 • Newly renovated High School and New High School addition completed in Aug. 2010 • 15 daily bus routes to accommodate the transportation needs of students/families • All classrooms air conditioned • Entire campus networked electronically • Five 24-station computer labs on campus • Nine wireless mobile PC laptop labs (20 per cart) • Pre-School programs half day and full day • All day every day kindergarten • 3 sections per grade level for grades K-6 (small class sizes) • K-12 drug education, social skills and character education programs • Accelerated Reader/Accelerated Math for grades K-12 • Advanced Placement and college credit courses at the High School level • A greenhouse for Vocational Agriculture and Horticulture • Comprehensive academic, activity and athletic programs – Rigorous academic requirements with traditionally high achievement testing scores • Excellent, comprehensive fine arts programs • Athletic complex – features a football/soccer stadium and practice fields, softball complex, baseball complex and an eight lane all-weather track • 3 gyms, a multi-purpose building for wrestling/baseball/softball/auxiliary groups and a large weight training/fitness facility • 98% average daily attendance and 99% graduation rate
First Day of School for 2010-2011 is Thursday, August 26th Registration will be held on Thursday, August 12th from 1:00pm to 7:00pm Parents/students are welcome to come to any of the building offices prior to or after August 12th. Tours of the buildings/facilities are always available upon request or simply by stopping in at one of the building offices.
High School 712-485-2257, Middle School 712-485-2211, Elementary 712-485-2271
The Council Bluffs Goodwill store, 1850 Madison Ave., is providing more services for the unemployed and underemployed. “We are expanding our current space at our Council Bluffs store by adding a Projects With Industry program,” said Linda Kizzier, vice president of employment and training for the local Goodwill area. It’s just one of many grantfunded programs to help people enrich their employment opportunities, Kizzier said. “Some programs are for training, some work with people to find jobs.” The Projects With Industry program will help disabled workers seek employment, Kizzier said. It will require the addition of a new staff member at the Madison Avenue site, she said. “They should be in that space by June 1.” But, there are more programs available to help people in the metro area, Kizzier was quick to point out. For example, there is the YouthBuild Omaha program for those ages 16 to 24. “Goodwill has operated a YouthBuild program in some form for five years,” she said.
In this program, the participants spend part of the time in the classroom working on their GEDs, but also on a worksite for on-the-job training. “They build an actual Habitat for Humanity house.” The agencies newest training program focuses on the customer service industry, according to Kizzier. “Customer Connect is a new program that trains people to work as customer service representatives in banks and insurance companies,” she said. Participates will attend classes at Fort Omaha for 15 weeks. “At the end of the training, we will work with them to get jobs. Classes will start June 7. This is a three-year grant and classes will be ongoing for the next two-and-a-half years.” What’s more, there are no age or income, or documented disability requirements, she said. “This program is for everyone. You just need to make a commitment to attend classes.” To learn more about Goodwill’s programs and services, call (402) 341-4609 or go to www.goodwillomaha.org. Photo credit: Ervin Photography
PERSPECTIVES OF SERVICE
The Daily Nonpareil
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
3C
Merry Maids take care of others’ messes CHAD NATION Staff Writer cnation@nonpareilonline.com (712) 325-5738
Nobody likes to clean the house. The stove is a mess, the windows need washed after a long winter and the bathtub hasn’t been scrubbed since Thanksgiving. But the weather has turned and spending time cleaning isn’t as high on the priority list as getting out and soaking up some sun. Why not do both? Merry Maids does the spring-cleaning while their clients enjoy the spring weather. Barb Sequenzia, owner of Merry Maids in Council Bluffs, said the business has remained busy, even while the economy has been sluggish. “We try to provide the service that customers will forgo going out to dinner once a week for,” Sequenzia said. “We want our work to be so high quality that they will trade that night out for our service.”
Staff photo/Cindy Christensen
Barb Sequenzia is the owner of the Council Bluffs sector of Merry Maids located at 38 Benton St.
‘While we are doing our standard cleaning, there are also cleanings for graduation parties; and June is popular time for cleaning for weddings.’ – Barb Sequenzia, owner of Merry Maids in Council Bluffs
Merry Maids pride themselves on cleaning services that are thorough, consistent and customized. If they are to skip a certain room, they do. If a customer needs a special service all they have to do is ask. If the schedule of a cleaning routine needs changed, the company will be more than happy to accommodate. Sequenzia said spring is the business’s busiest time of the year. “While we are doing our standard cleaning, there are also cleanings for graduation parties; and June is popular time for cleaning for weddings,” she said. “Plus, in the spring we do provide a more in-depth cleaning.” On every visit, the Merry Maids team dusts, vacuums, washes and sanitizes each room. Using their equipment and specially formulated products, they clean from left to right, top to bottom, so no detail is overlooked. Each time Merry Maids cleans a home, they take care of a few extra tasks in each room to make sure that your home is well maintained. There are also special house-cleaning services that are available, including oven cleaning, refrigerator cleaning, window washing, wall washing and cabinet cleaning. Sequenzia said her 11 employees continue to impress customers, and the numbers prove it. “The corporate office has recognized us for having some of the highest retention numbers in the company, nationwide,” she said. So go enjoy the mild weather and let Merry Maids handle the rest. For more information contact Merry Maids at (712) 322-1010.
ADVERTORIAL
MERRY MAIDS QUICK FACTS A typical Merry Maids visit includes these services: ■ The dusting of picture frames, knickknacks, ceiling fans, lamps, furniture, woodwork, shelves and baseboards in all rooms. ■ Removal of any cobwebs. ■ Vacuuming of the carpets. ■ Washing of all floors and dry wood floors. ■ Vacuum furniture, including under any cushions. ■ Empty and clean ashtrays and wastebaskets.
In the kitchen:
■ Clean appliances, counters, cabinets,
Andrew Stanislav DPM, FACFAS**
table and chairs. ■ Clean, scrub and sanitize sinks. ■ Clean and sanitize countertops and backsplashes. ■ Clean the range top and refrigerator top and exterior. ■ Clean microwave oven inside and out and wash the floor.
In the bathroom:
■ Clean, scrub and sanitize showers, bath-
tubs and sinks. ■ Clean and sanitize vanities, backsplashes and toilets. ■ Clean mirrors and polish chrome. ■ Wash floors and tile walls and deodorize.
Jeffrey Kiley DPM, FACFAS**
1-800-334-5516 Council Bluffs • 322-5800
Glenwood • 800-334-5516
Shenandoah • 246-5866 *No Referral Necessary **Board Certified in Foot Surgery
Southwest Iowa is fortunate to have branch offices of one of the biggest and best cardiology practices in the state. The Iowa Heart Center has offices at both Council Bluffs hospitals: 800 Mercy Drive, Suite 120, and 1 Edmundson Place. Physicians Robert W. Armbruster, M.D.; Joseph T. Ayoub, M.D.; Matthew A. Flemming, M.D.; Aaron J. Ford, M.D.; and Terrence T. Slattery, M.D., serve both offices. Council Bluffs doctors also travel to Audubon, Manning, Atlantic and Carroll to see patients. The practice also operates full-time clinics in Des Moines, West Des Moines, Ames, Carroll, Marshalltown, Ottumwa and Fort Dodge and visits 30 additional Iowa and Missouri communities on an outreach basis. Iowa Heart offers centers of excellence for vascular disease and electrophysiology, as well as a vein center, lipid clinic and CT screenings for coronary artery disease and lung cancer. Since its founding as a onephysician practice in 1970, Iowa
Heart Center’s focus has remained the same: to provide quality, leading-edge and compassionate care to patients and their families. That dedication to being the best has helped Iowa Heart Center grow to one of the nation’s premier cardiovascular medicine practices, offering a full range of cuttingedge treatment options, complemented with clinical research and prevention services. Today, Iowa Heart has grown to nearly 60 cardiologists and surgeons who specialize in the care of the heart. Iowa Heart Center physicians perform more procedures annually than any other group in the state and are respected for their aggressive treatment and prevention of
cardiovascular disease. Iowa Heart Center offers a complete range of cardiac testing services. Tests include ultrasound/echocardiography, nuclear imaging studies, transesophageal echo, stress testing, CT angiography and chest CT. The center also offers diagnostic testing and screening for vascular disease, including ultrasound examinations of the abdomen and neck. Iowa Heart’s Congestive Heart Failure Clinic helps patients manage their disease to improve quality of life and keep them out of the hospital. Iowa Heart is a leader in making cutting-edge therapies available to its patients. At its Iowa Vein Center, board-certified vascular surgeons provide expert care for patients with vascular diseases. Iowa Heart offers vascular screening exams of the legs, abdomen and neck. Its vein center offers laser therapy, phlebectomies and sclerotherapy. For more information, call (712) 396-7787 or (712) 3882633.
PERSPECTIVES OF SERVICE
4C Tuesday, May 25, 2010
The Daily Nonpareil
DIFFERENT ‘BRUSH’ STROKES C.T. Hansen and Sons Painting serving C.B. for more than 70 years CHAD NATION Staff Writer cnation@nonpareilonline.com (712) 325-5738
T
here have been a lot of changes in the painting business over the last several years, but after more than 70 years in the business, C.T. Hansen and Sons Painting has found a way to roll with the punches. Founded by C.T. Hansen in Council Bluffs in 1939, the business is still family owned and operated. Chuck Hansen, C.T. Hansen’s son and co-owner of the business with his nephew, Steve, said business is starting to pick up after a long, cold winter. But as business picks up, the company must deal with new lead removal regulations. A new regulation by the Environmental Protection Agency regarding the renovation of child-occupied buildings built before 1978 became effective April 22. Under the rule, contractors performing renovation, repair and painting projects that disturb lead-based paint in homes, child care facilities, and schools built before 1978 must be certified and must follow specific work practices to prevent lead contamination. The new rule impacts many construction trades, including general contractors and special trade contractors, painters, plumbers, carpenters and electricians. Activities performed by all of these trades can disturb lead-based paint and have the potential to create hazardous lead dust. Hansen said the new regulations affect the painting business quite a bit. “It costs more money to paint now,” he said. “And that can put a crunch on homeowners with older houses.” If paint in homes built before 1978 is disturbed, the employees must be certified and must follow specific work practices to prevent lead contamination. Hansen said some of the rules include encapsulating the room, setting up tents and not allowing anyone to enter the room. When working on the exterior, plastic must go down on the ground and all windows and doors must be shut to the structure and neighboring structures. “It’s quite a change,” Hansen said. Other recent government regulations on volatile organic compounds in paint have changed the materials painters are working with today. Some paint that worked well in the past doesn’t anymore, while others that were inferior are better now, Hansen said. “Some of the products aren’t as good as they used to be,” he said. “They have taken out certain elements and added others in. We keep experimenting to see what is working best and lasting the longest.” On the positive side, the quality of exterior paints has improved over the years. Hansen said exterior paint is now made that actually dries quicker in wet weather. “There is paint now that if it rains within an hour of being applied, it actually helps it dry,” he said. “In the past, the paint would wash off.” Trends in painting continue to be cyclical, Hansen said. While wall coverings have waned, faux finishes are still popular for interior rooms. But Hansen said don’t count wallpaper out for long. “We have probably cut back about 50 percent of the wall coverings that we used to do,” he said. “But they will come back. Now, they make covering you can design yourself, have it printed and then put up. That is probably how wall covering will come back.” Currently popular interior colors include light pinks, lavenders and burgundy, Hansen said. On the exterior of a house, neutral colors still rule. Hansen said more and more homeowners are going away from a unified trim and house color to a different color on the trim compared to the body of the house. Hansen said if a homeowner gets five years out of exterior paint, they are doing well. But some new exterior paints offer a lifetime warranty if painted on new construction. “It can be expensive, but if it’s a few hundred dollars more for the lifetime of the house, that’s not too bad,” he said.
Staff photo/Chad Nation
Above right, Oscar Mancilla of C.T. Hansen and Sons Painting paints a windowsill on the campus of Iowa School for the Deaf. Chuck Hansen, who operates the business with his nephew, Steve, said business has picked up in recent weeks.
PAINTING QUICK FACTS There are several different types of house paint, and it is important to have the right type for a particular project. Some of the various types of paint are:
Acrylic Paints
Also known as water-base paints, acrylic paints are commonly used for both the interior and exterior of homes. Latex is another name for this common type of paint. Dry time is approximately one to six hours.
Alklyd
Alkyd paint is oil-based paint. Because of the agents in alkyd paint, the odor is much stronger than latex paints. Turpentine, paint thinner or other solvents must be used for cleaning up tools and brushes. The dry time is approximately 24 hours.
Interior Paint
Interior paint can be latex or oil based for walls, ceiling
and trim. Additives can be added to interior paint if they are in areas where there is increased moisture.
Exterior Paints
Exterior paints have additional agents to withstand factors such as weather, mildew and fungi. Exterior paints have a higher volatile organic compound, or v.o.c.
Bath and Kitchen Paints
Paints are made for high humidity and damp areas. They are labeled as bath and kitchen paints. These have agents to fight mildew, and many times are washable and scrubable.
Fire Retardant
When painting around a fireplace or near a heat source, fire retardant paints are beneficial. Areas covered with fire-retardant paint will not ignite and further spread flames. – Source: www.ehow.com
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6C Tuesday, May 25, 2010
PERSPECTIVES OF SERVICE
The Daily Nonpareil
Warm weather keeps local lawn care companies busy TIM ROHWER Staff Writer timothy.rohwer@nonpareilonline.com (712) 325-5752
According to a local lawn care expert, a lady one time sprayed weed killer on her lawn. “It killed all the grass,” said Mike Brooks, owner of Lady Bug of Council Bluffs. “When it comes to chemicals, you should leave that to the professionals.” Doug Struyk, a co-owner of Struyk Turf Management, added, “There’s more science to it than just going to the store and buying stuff.” It’s not that homeowners can’t keep their lawns healthy and green, they said, but there are advantages, including safety issues, for professionals to be considered. For example, Struyk and two of his workers, actually have four-year degrees in lawn care management and know what to look for concerning problems and how to deal with chemicals. “Many homeowners lack the detailed knowledge of what to look for in the lawn and on the shelf,” he said. “This is especially true when there is a problem in the lawn.” For example, there are products termed pre-emergent and post-emergent. Many may not understand their specific uses, Struyk said. “A pre-emergent will do nothing with something that’s already emerged.” According to Struyk, to use a professional lawn care company like his, the homeowner doesn’t have to figure out how much to buy or how to calibrate equipment. The homeowner doesn’t end up with extra product in an open bag to store or feel the need to just apply all that they bought. “The homeowner does not have to mix pesticides or store them in the home or garage, and doesn’t have to store, han-
dle or dispose of products,” he said. Chemicals, if left open or not properly stored, could create a potentially dangerous situation if children get into it, he added. “The applicators are trained, experienced and licensed by the state,” Struyk said. “The application equipment is designed to be accurate and uniform, and the products are professional quality and selected for our area.” The applications are made at the proper time at the proper rate for the plants, and there’s usually a satisfaction guarantee when professionals are hired, he said. There are advantages for professionals performing even simple procedures, such as cutting the grass, Brooks said. “Grass has to be mowed on a regular basis,” he said, which is
about an inch or slightly higher than new growth. Many homeowners, especially in the spring, may put off mowing the grass for whatever reason – a ball game on television or having to go somewhere at the last minute. And, if it rains, delaying the process, the grass could end up being six or seven inches tall before they know it, Brooks said. “When it’s six or seven inches tall, you can’t mulch,” he said, not to mention the lawn could look messy afterwards. “A good lawn service should cut it every five days.” Professionals also know to look for tiny little creatures like moles that could be unwelcome guests in the lawn, according to Brooks. “Moles can be devastating to a yard. Most homeowners don’t know where to look for moles.”
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Helping meet the needs of families. • Youth Programs • Women’s Programs • Emergency Assistance • Headstart • Disaster Services • Vacation Bible School • Summer Camps for Kids The Salvation Army is now parterning with Southwest 8 Senior Services to become a new host site for seniors at the Charles Lakin Campus to provide meals and special activities. We are also a host site for Headstart in partnership with West Central Community Action.
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FINISH Auto LINEService PERFORMANCE Center 524 23rd Ave Council Bluffs, IA 51501 (712) 256-6707
Kim Elder
Auto/Marine Auto/Marine Audio Audio & & Video Video Custom Custom Fabrication Fabrication Mobile Mobile Service Service 2110 2110 23rd 23rd Ave., Ave., Ste.B Ste.B Council Council Bluffs, Bluffs, IA IA 51501 51501 Phone Phone 712.256.3454 712.256.3454
James Stites Owner
Brian Schroeder