Jake Gerhard, 4, of Medina, gets a sled ride in his Concord Drive backyard on Sunday following Saturday’s snow storm. Weekend weather photos for consideration on our Web site may be e-mailed to managed@ohio.net. Include the photo as an attachment in jpeg format and the caption, including where the photo was taken, in […]

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By LORRAINE BARNETT
Common Sense Kitchen
Special to The Gazette
Welcome to the Common Sense Kitchen. It’s time to reach for your coffee mug, pencil and notepad. Today, we’re getting the morning off to a good start with an unusual breakfast — salad. This recipe is a “composed” salad; each ingredient is viewed as special, then placed onto […]

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By MARY OLSON
Medina County District Library
Special to The Gazette
March is the month when most of us have raging cabin fever and are anxiously awaiting the first signs of spring. When Easter comes early, as it does this year, we’re treated to flowers, pastel eggs and daffodils right when we’ve reached the end of our rope. […]

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By LORRAINE BARNETT
Special to The Gazette
Books
o “Burpee Seed Starter: A Guide to Growing Flower, Vegetable and Herb Seeds Indoors and Outdoors,” by Maureen Heffernan.
o “Gardening with Heirloom Seeds” by Lynn Coulter.
o “The New Seed Starters Handbook,” by Nancy Bubel (preview online at books.google.com).
o “Grow Organic,” by Doug Oster and Jessica Walliser.
Seed Catalogs
o Stokes Seeds, […]

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By LORRAINE BARNETT
Special to The Gazette
o Begin with good-quality seeds from a reliable source. Don’t forget to test old seeds for viability. Share or store excess seeds in a cool, dry spot.
o Old seeds may still germinate. To test, dampen a paper towel. Press 10 seeds into the towel, fold over and keep in a […]

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By LORRAINE BARNETT
Special to The Gazette
Seed: A coated, self-contained ovule that is ripe and fertile and contains an embryonic plant and food.
Egg pick: A kitchen tool that places very tiny holes in raw eggs before boiling so eggs do not crack.
Stratification: Cold treatment. Exposing seeds to cold temperatures, such as the refrigerator, for […]

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By LORRAINE BARNETT
Special to The Gazette
In my first experiences as a gardener, I remember the anticipation of growing vegetables and flowers alike. I had moved into a new home with six acres of lovely spaces complete with mature shade trees, airy grassy areas and two partly tilled vegetable plots. It was October, and I had […]

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By JOSEPH PAUKOVICH
Social Security
Q.: I just turned 60, and I’m thinking about an early retirement offer from my company. I have a Social Security statement showing what I could expect if I stopped work at 62, but I need to know how much I would receive if I stop work now. Is there an easy […]

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By ANGELA HUSTON
Special to The Gazette
Whatever! What a convenient word to use when I cannot or do not want to give a decisive answer at any given moment. It has become a staple in my vocabulary. Each generation introduces phrases and words into our language, some clearly better, more appealing and/or versatile than others. “Whatever” […]

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By NANCY LIKENS
Director Wadsworth Center for Older Adults
o The Art Deco group meets at 1 p.m. every Monday. Work on greeting cards every first Monday, Giving Dolls the second Monday and independent projects the third Monday. Senior Independence will sponsor a special project March 24. Reservations are required for all Art Deco programs.
o Volunteer […]

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