Opinion

 About two weeks ago, with Father's Day just around the corner, I found myself on a plane traveling across country to pay tribute to a man I used to call father-in-law, but who always remained family.

Andy died in a motorcycle accident just a couple hours after my 10-year-old son, Taylor, thanked him by phone for the birthday present and photos he sent of himself on that very motorcycle. He was only 59, with so much life left to live.

Growing up near Long Island, New York in my teens much of my fishing was done on the many beaches brunting on the Atlantic Ocean. Most of our catch would be kingfish (southern whiting), weakfish (southern trout), striped bass and that nasty, ferocious bluefish. Intermixed were skates and my unforgettable sting ray. An occasional catch was the comical blowfish (southern puffer).

While attending high school graduation for my daughter recently a parent asked me what the secret is to raising children who are successful in school. I was caught a bit off guard. I was emotional as I always am when seeing developing minds recognized for their achievements. I didn’t have an answer ready.

Of all the things that I could have mentioned, the first thing out of my mouth was to encourage a household culture of reading.

I didn’t have time to explain what I meant.

Composting for home gardening is a rapidly growing practice. And well it should be. Putting back into the soil all that we take out, minus what we use, is elementary logic.

When we start to compost we must first select an ideal location and choose among a variety of composting container(s). Knowing how much you intend to compost, how quickly you need it, and how much time you have for the project will help you choose wisely.

The Deverin’s report to Conservation Corner:

By now, most folks know why we should recycle: good stewardship, finite resources, reduced energy use, less dependence on petroleum products, all the environmental issues, etc. Those are all good reasons to recycle, BUT recycling comes down to a personal decision, a household decision, a business decision to make a concerted effort to recycle.

GOOD NEWS FROM CEDAR KEY’S ENERGY ADVISORY PANEL

I am writing this column to let everyone in Cedar Key know the success of the various efforts that have made up our energy conservation initiative so far.

It was a calm, typically gorgeous Cedar Key day and my buddy Fred and I were fishing off Atsena Otie. We’d boated a few non-descript fish when my line telegraphed a somewhat different pull - nothing aggressive or nibbling, just a steady pulling which resulted in a small two-foot-long ray coming aboard.

Originating from the North, where skates and stingrays also abound, I immediately ID’d this catch as a harmless “skate” and therefore clamped this nuisance between the inside of my upper thighs to keep it immobile while I unhooked it.

Premise – If you, I, lots of people use recycled paper it will save trees that would have been cut and processed for “virgin” paper.

So, lets say that we successfully “save” one-fourth of the trees that would have been cut… what happens? Let’s see. First timber growers find way more supply than demand.

Second, lowered demand reduces prices/profit. Third, excess inventory i.e. land is converted to higher profit pursuits like housing, mining etcetera. Finally, trees all cut to make room for progress! NO… replanting.

Dear Editor,

As much as I dislike pointing out the obvious, there is such an inappropriate comparison given by Bruce Wilson in his column about recycling(I think that is what it was about) that I had to comment. Trees and hayfields? Apples and oranges.