Spray Refuser Alleges Strong-Arming
Gypsy moth spraying brings fears of intimidating tactics
By Daryl Kelley
A Mira Monte woman who refused to allow gypsy moth spraying on her property has complained to authorities about what she considers “strong-arm tactics” by a Ventura County biologist who urged her to reconsider that decision.
Despite official assurances that homeowners would not be forced to participate in the eradication program, Vivian Jakab said Monday that she was shaken and intimidated by county supervising biologist David Van Epp when he came to her door last Thursday.
“He was telling me the state can come onto my property,” said Jakab. “He said they could come back later and there could be fines and a state attorney could come out to see me. It’s just strong-arm tactics.”
Jakab said Van Epp pressed the issue for about 15 to 20 minutes. Authorities have also tried to persuade two of her neighbors to allow spraying, she said.
Van Epp, who works in the county agricultural commissioner’s office, declined to discuss the situation or the law as it pertains to 577 homeowners who live within a designated spray zone in Mira Monte and Meiners Oaks.
“I don’t really have any comment,” he said in a brief telephone interview. “I was polite and not rude and I threatened no one. I don’t have anything to say about this.”
Van Epp’s supervisor, County Agricultural Commissioner Henry Gonzales said county officials are working hard to gain full compliance with the spraying. Gonzales said that he, personally, spent Saturday knocking on doors. “We’re trying to get everyone to join us,” he said. “We have a small window of opportunity here and we need to work together to keep this from spreading.” County and state are still reviewing options if a resident refuses to allow spraying.
But state spokesman Steve Lyle said in an e-mail Tuesday that “we have had outstanding cooperation from people in the area who understand the threat to their community.” The State Department of Food and Agriculture is running the $800,000 program.
Twenty-four property owners have expressed concern about the spraying, and state and local agricultural officials are working with them, he said.
“(We) are hopeful that the people who have expressed concerns will eventually support the treatment program once they come to understand the importance of treating each and every designated property, and the low risk of … … Btk (spray), an organic material that targets caterpillars.”
Lyle did not respond directly to questions about whether the state has the right to spray a property without permission or whether the owner could face fines or legal action for refusing to cooperate.
“We’re reviewing our options,” he said.
Jakab’s complaint was lodged amid controversy over whether pesticide spraying is the safest way to end the infestation, which authorities say could threaten woodlands throughout California if allowed to spread.
Local anti-pesticide activists protested two weeks ago as the two-month spraying program began. Indeed, on the first day of spraying, four of 62 homeowners refused to allow it because of concern about potential health hazards or lack of information.
But agricultural officials said that Btk, the organic pesticide being sprayed here, had been used safely and effectively on 30 infestations of the gypsy moth in California in the past 30 years. It is also commonly used to kill mosquitoes and is certified for use in organic gardens.
“Our own experience, plus sound science, tells us it works,” Lyle said.
The gypsy moth infestation of Mira Monte and Meiners Oaks, discovered last year, is the only one currently in California, although gypsy moths have ravaged forests in the northeastern United States and around the Great Lakes.
Before this treatment regimen is complete, trees and shrubs at the target residences are scheduled to be sprayed three times and homeowners will be notified before each visit, officials said.
Although officials insist the spraying is safe, veterinarians have recommended that pets be kept away from it for at least four hours.
And representatives of Pesticide Free Ojai Valley have called for a halt in the program, favoring an attack on the gypsy moths manually, crushing the females, which can’t fly, and scraping egg masses off of trees.
Others have advocated attacking the pests with hot water or planting “beneficial insects” that would eat the moth’s larvae.
But agricultural officials said the time to act is now, and that they must use an eradication method that has been proven effective because a spread of the leaf-eating gypsy moths could be devastating.
Application of Btk is timed to destroy moth larvae before they hatch this spring.
“If a larger infestation were to develop in Ojai,” Lyle said Tuesday, “the gypsy moth caterpillars would threaten oaks in the region as well as other hardwoods, evergreens, manzanita, cottonwood, willow and others. It is also a threat to forests and agricultural crops, such as fruit trees.”
Jakab said she never uses pesticides on her yard and didn’t want to use them this time.
“So I called them on March 3 and told them I didn’t want it,” she said. “Within hours I had a person come to my door. But I had worked in agriculture for a seed company lab, and things we were told were safe, they’d later have us wear gloves to touch.
“I’m old enough to remember the guy who drank DDT on TV to show everyone how safe it was,” she said.
Then Van Epp showed up on Thursday.
“I gave my concerns,” she said. “I said I have a few health issues. I said people are complaining about running noses from the spraying, and he said it was from the oak trees (blooming). I thought, ‘Now he’s a doctor too.’ It was just poor communication.”
But finally, on Monday, Jakab, who retired a year ago, said she was so frustrated with her failure to reach Van Epp or Gonzales in follow-up calls that she left the agricultural commissioner a message that the state could spray at her home.
“I thought about it all weekend, and I was very upset,” she said. “Finally, I just called and said, ‘You guys have won: I’m going to let you spray.’ I didn’t want to get into litigation somewhere down the road with them.”
Spraying at Jakab’s home is set for today, as part of the second phase of applications, which began on Monday.
“I didn’t want them to come out later and say there’s still moths here and it’s my fault,” she said.
Officials said they’ve been careful to try to avoid confusing residents about the spraying.
They said they’ve distributed fliers to each affected property prior to the spraying and held an informational meeting in mid-February after notifying residents of the state’s intentions. Fliers were also distributed last fall when a quarantine area was established in a much larger area, restricting the movement of outdoor objects such as recreational vehicles, trailers and even stacked wood without prior inspection by the county.
As the spraying continues, it will cover trees and plants within a 400-meter radius of two sites where gypsy moth egg clusters were found last fall. It will also cover areas where seven adult gypsy moths were found in traps last summer.
Gypsy moths were discovered in the same area in 2007 and two were killed in Meiners Oaks in 2000.
Discovery of a new “breeding population” of gypsy moths prompted the quarantine of most of Mira Monte and Meiners Oaks and a western slice of Ojai last fall.
Two clusters of up to 100 orange-colored moth eggs were found in Mira Monte.
A single gypsy moth caterpillar can eat 1 square foot of leaves every day, experts say. Once a tree is repeatedly defoliated, it is susceptible to disease, and often dies.
This is exactly why we need spraying! Let’s face it, this lady should be sprayed and that to James Hatch, would be mission accomplished!
I challenge anyone to remove these gyspy moths other than with this harmless bug spray.
James Hatch
24 Mar 09 at 4:14 pm
“I’m old enough to remember the guy who drank DDT on TV to show everyone how safe it was,” she said.”
Nobody ever drank DDT on TV. The publicly consumed pesticide was Malathion, and the person who drank it was named B.T. Collins. Read more here:
http://rtrider.blogspot.com/2008/07/outrageous-hero-on-bus.html
Anonymous
24 Mar 09 at 9:22 pm
If we introduce a ‘beneficial’ bug to naturally resolve this threat, How do you regulate the spread of another foreign species from propagating into a more severe disaster. Our oaks are already under a barrage of attack from SODS(sudden oak death syndrome)and an exotic beetle with no known combatant. And a major drought to complicate their duress. I’d love to watch this “Band of Gypsies” caravan through our streets with fire hoola-hoops and flutes eradicating all our problems with a happy sanguine song.
Maury Gould
25 Mar 09 at 10:49 am
Based upon what I read whenever I go online, I’m beginning to believe that a good percentage of people aren’t actually interested in solving any of the myriad problems that we face and will always face; they’re merely interested in pointing a finger at someone else and talking about how wrong that other person is.
Bloggers and commenters don’t seem to be doers; they merely confuse themselves with doers. Go away. Do something. Come back and talk about that. Perhaps it will (finally) be interesting. Everything else that goes on here (and on every other blog) has simply become a lot of insubstantial talk.
Anonymous
25 Mar 09 at 3:00 pm
exactly what I’ve been saying – thank you 3/25 3:00 (BTW, you need a better name)
be part of the solution
25 Mar 09 at 4:23 pm
I told you so. And it’s only gonna get worse, unless we organise. A couple they can keep going, but if 7/10 refuse…that will at least be in the paper again so we can keep commenting.
Tree Finger Joe "Jim" Wilson
25 Mar 09 at 4:35 pm
As a former Ojai resident who now lives in Pennsylvania, I’ve witnessed first-hand the incredible destruction of trees–entire state forests, mind you–that the gypsy moth can deliver. Think of it as a living fire, only the chaparral doesn’t recover from the gypsy moth the way it does from fire. I’m curious if they also eat citrus and avocado trees. If so, I’m sure there will also be an outcry and economic loss when growers start losing entire orchards to these invasive pests.
Sandy Miller
25 Mar 09 at 5:30 pm
I used to believe that it was only conservatives (and everyone else to the right of center) who were engaged in the search for a superior moral justification for complete selfishness.
Well, it’s not just them. It’s damned near everyone.
Anonymous
25 Mar 09 at 6:19 pm
Just let them spray the d**n bugs and get it over with already.
Anonymous
25 Mar 09 at 6:49 pm
most of you pro sprayers are missing the point. They are spraying everyone’s property weather or not the moth or caterpillar is on that persons property. I see you point that you are worried about the oaks dying and agree if the insects are present on the tree than yes spraying would be permitted but to spray just for the sake that is might be on the plants is another story. And I for one do not want my yard sprayed if I do not have an infestation and that should be my right as a sovereign being living in what is supposed to be a “free country” But that being an illusion that many do not even know.
Stop the intimidation of the people
25 Mar 09 at 7:06 pm
anon,
If your opinion is so ‘substantial’, identify yourself. I got one for you “anomaly”. Your diatribe makes you more of a kvetcher than anyone. Your concerned about someones feelings amidst a serious potential threat. These moths destroy citrus, and gardens, as well as the oaks. If any one person stymies the county\state in eradicating this pest, a fine is the least they deserve. So why dont you go do something “anomaly” and dont tell anyone …just suffer in silence.
Maury Gould
25 Mar 09 at 7:10 pm
Maury why do you try to bully your idea of the perfect way? Where do you get your info on the moths destroying, citrus? Read this and tell me where the orange trees are? Gypsy moths have a wide host-range, which includes oak (Quercus sp.), crabapple (Malus sp.), linden (Tilia sp.), poplar (Populus sp.), beech (Fagus sp.), willow (Salix sp.), birch (Betula sp.), sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua), serviceberry (Amelanchier sp.), and hawthorn (Crataegus sp.). Trees less susceptible to attack by Gypsy moth are ash (Fraxinus sp.), sycamore (Platanus sp.), Indian bean (Catalpa sp.), honeylocust (Gleditsia sp.), dogwood (Cornus sp.), junipers (Juniperus sp.), yew (Taxus sp.), lilac (Syringa sp.), arborvitae (Thuja sp.), arrowwood (Viburnum sp.), and tulip tree (Liriodendron tulipifera). Perhaps we could fine you for your disinformation tactics.
Stop the intimidation of the people
25 Mar 09 at 8:55 pm
No insecticide is 100% safe. That being said, the health and environmental impacts from insecticides used in the Virginia gypsy moth suppression program (Btk, Dimilin, and Gypcheck) are minor. Toxicity to vertebrates, including pets and humans, is negligible for these compounds, but there are some non-target effects for Btk, which can kill other moth and butterfly species, and for Dimilin, which can be toxic to invertebrates possessing an external skeleton. Gypcheck is specific to gypsy moth and has no negative environmental or health effects. One must also keep in mind that the gypsy moth itself has negative impacts on the environment and human health, and these must be balanced against any undesired effects of insecticidal treatment. For detailed information on these issues see the documents below:
http://fubyss.ento.vt.edu/vagm/documents/Btk_health_risk.pdf
Stop the intimidation of the people
25 Mar 09 at 9:05 pm
James Hatch prides himself on identifying problems and creating solutions. James Hatch is the originator of problem solving. I have any idea for “Stop” and “Solution”, give us a solution to prevent the death of oaks in Meiners Oaks rather than your feeble minded banter.
When you have a realistic alternative, it can be entertained. Wheat you offer now, though, is mere garbage spewed from your well of ideology.
James Hatch
26 Mar 09 at 8:33 am
Has anyone seen the destruction that beetle has done to the pines in Colorado? Forest land even around Breckenridge looks like a bunch of dried up old Christmas trees . I highly doubt that anything lives in that dead forest area.
I will be pi–ed off if all the Oaks in the Valley get this funk all because of the hard core Joni Mitchell wanna-bees refuse to have their trees sprayed just once, just this year.
Anonymous
26 Mar 09 at 11:00 am
S.I.P.-
Informative website. But lets not gild the lily. This research is exclusive to the east coast. The moth thrives essentially from deciduous trees, (but not limited to)apple trees, juniper, sycamore, etc.. depending on level of infestation and competition for food. So our orchards, and chaparral are as susceptible as our east coast equivalent; thus the coinage “gypsy”moth-its ability to roam,adapt,survive. Our unique situation is inconclusive because this is a work in progress.
From said website, under 3.4.3 Serious Adverse Effects,(of B.T.K. spraying) ” These effects are not severe enough to compel the general public to seek medical attention or to cause individuals involved in the application of the B.t.K to lose time from work.” So from sifting through this jargon how’s this for an alternate compromise:
1- To deter an infestation allow the government goons to blanket spray.
2- Follow up known infected areas with individual/group monitoring using tree bands, and moth traps, and other proven techniques.
3- Purpose your vigilance in the right direction. No one can stop Big Brother from whispering in your ear and sticking his hand in your back pocket. It’s our job to keep him from doing a reach around.
Maury Gould
26 Mar 09 at 11:14 am
On an issue such as this I would usually say don’t spray, but this is a unique situation. Oaks are the backbone of the beauty of the Ojai Valley without them may as well live in Needles so I say spray. As for the Anonymous that wrote on 3/25
“Based upon what I read whenever I go online, I’m beginning to believe that a good percentage of people aren’t actually interested in solving any of the myriad problems that we face and will always face; they’re merely interested in pointing a finger at someone else and talking about how wrong that other person is.”
I point my finger at you sir as being a coward. Blogs are the great debating platforms of the 21st century. Not a place where we all hold hands and agree. BTW Did anyone notice that the species name for the beech tree is FAGUS.
Mark Nash
26 Mar 09 at 1:55 pm
Why do you call Anonymous at 3/25 a coward Mark Nash? Because he or she dosen’t use a phony name instead?
I say ~Spray the moths and ask for forgiveness from the butterflys~ just this once ~
~ I would sacrifice a small number of butterflys and even a small number of birds (God forgive me) to save the Oaks that harbor much more life.
Joni Mitchell
26 Mar 09 at 2:55 pm
I point my finger at you sir as being a coward.
Since I’m pretty sure I know where you usually keep that finger, “Mark”, I give neither it nor you much credence.
Anonymous
26 Mar 09 at 3:10 pm
Anon.,
Nobody cares what you think. I am surprised you haven’t figured it out by now. Let’s face it, you hide behind a curtain and spout out nonsense. Maury has it right when he calls you an anomoly. When are you going to offer a solution. You are the biggest baby I have seen on the blog. Being that you are a baby, I am sure that Mark will let you suck on his thumb.
James Hatch
26 Mar 09 at 4:13 pm
what would octo-mom do??!!
barefoot contessa
26 Mar 09 at 4:49 pm
Joni Mitchell,
Obviously you were too high from doing the pot that you missed out the context of my blog. I was not saying that Anonymous was a coward for not using his or her real name. Anonymous is a coward because he or she is afraid to debate this issue and can’t argue from both sides. So put the bong down and think.
Mark Nash
26 Mar 09 at 5:23 pm
Isn’t it nice that the sock puppets named Mark and James are here, instead of out in the real world where they might actually do some harm?
Anonymous
26 Mar 09 at 5:40 pm
LOL @ Anonymous 3:10 Despite what James Hatch/Mark Nash says about you Anon, I DO care what you think. I might disagree with you but I am interested in what you have to say about the Gypsy moth. I value your opinion. Thats what these discussion boards are about.
Joni Mitchell
26 Mar 09 at 6:05 pm
Joni Mitchell and Anonymous get a room!!!
Mark Nash
26 Mar 09 at 6:32 pm
Joni:
My opinion is this: the Gypsy Moth problem will ultimately be dealt with, with or without the cooperation of the locals. The people who have been complaining don’t understand that they’ve actually been getting the Beverly Hills/Bel Air/Brentwood treatment with regard to the spraying. When the Medfly was a problem in L.A. County, those areas got individualized treatment. Pest control workers went to every individual property and sprayed all fruit trees by hand. Elsewhere in the county, helicopters sprayed at night for six weeks. The malathion/corn-syrup mixture covered everything. The only helpful tips that were given to the people were “keep your windows and doors closed”, “keep your pets inside”, and “cover your vehicles”, the last tip given because the pesticide ate paint. Extra police patrols worked the streets in the City of L.A. on the nights when the helicopters were spraying, and extra Sheriff’s patrols worked the County areas. No interference was tolerated.
If there is a better way to handle this problem, I’m all for it. Know this, however: it will be handled, one way or another. Too many billions of dollars stand to be lost otherwise. That’s the bottom line.
Anonymous
26 Mar 09 at 6:41 pm
I agree with all of that~ Only I am glad we are getting the better treatment. Nighttime spraying sounds hideous.
Joni Mitchell
26 Mar 09 at 7:37 pm
Anon.,
You’ve been using the term sock puppet now for years. My only point is that you haven’t gone anywhere. If you ask nice enough, maybe Nash will take the sock off when you ask for his thumb. But then again, you’ve been living off the teat for a long time, haven’t you.
I guess I shouldn’t expect a return comment until tomorrow since the library is closed.
Let’s face it, James Hatch offers solutions. I am still waiting to hear from anyone that will address the gypsy moth other than by the spray. Since I haven’t had a response, it’s pretty clear to James Hatch who is a doer and who is a lazy welfare slob. Get a job. Pay taxes. Live in reality.
James Hatch
26 Mar 09 at 9:51 pm
James Hatch offers solutions.
Mostly a solution of urea and water, as far as I can tell.
Anonymous
27 Mar 09 at 8:03 am
Your talking about what runs through J. Hatch’s veins right?
Maury Gould
27 Mar 09 at 9:13 am
Are you being provocative, Maury?
Nate Silver
27 Mar 09 at 9:38 am
No it’s just omissive flattery. Unless your implying we hook an I.V. to Hatch’s arm and use his ‘solution’ to spray the moths.
Maury Gould
27 Mar 09 at 10:50 am
There are no “Gypsy Moths.” Who among us has actually seen ONE in Ojai? Who has seen egg sacs? None of us. Youre taking “their” word for it and its sad.
Tree Finger Joe "Jim" Wilson
27 Mar 09 at 11:14 am
BRILLIANT idea Maury!
Anon 5
27 Mar 09 at 5:17 pm
Ol’ Tree Finger is right, the ‘gypsy moths’ are a falsehood designed to con us. I cut trees and I’ve never seen nor heard any gyspy moth flutter past. And what happens to the other butteranimals that inhabit our yards? Or the birds that then eat the dead insects the poison kills. It is important to realize that there are resistant strains of insects to our pesticides and that using a more holisitic approach will solve the supposed problem, if it does exist, and will satisfy the government spooks poisoning us. Stand up for freedom! Stand up for the people of MO! Down with the strong-arm tactics of the appointed overlords.
Ripley Big Boots
28 Mar 09 at 1:56 am
Do birds eat DEAD insects? I don’t think so. They like fresh meat.
Anon 5
28 Mar 09 at 8:06 am
Who has seen egg sacs?
We’ve never seen your sac, either, but you sure like to go online and pretend that you have one.
Nate Silver
28 Mar 09 at 8:18 am
Anon 5-
What about the insects that don’t die. This spray is going to be changing the biology of the tress! Every future thing associated with the trees will have a little bit of poison and it will pass on up the food chain. Anyone remember the island foxes and eagles with DDT?
Nate Silver-
Well informed sensical comeback, chode.
Tree Finger Joe "Jim" Wilson
28 Mar 09 at 10:56 am
1.I have seen a gypsy moth in MO (We had them back east, so it was easy to recognize). Where there is one gypsy moth, there is apt to be many 2. Keep in mind that the gypsy moths are invasive – their presence is damaging to the ecosystem 3. Island foxes were not killed by the bioaccumulation in their tissues. They were eaten by golden eagles, who displaced the fish-eating bald eagles, who WERE poisoned by DDT. The golden eagles likely would not have found the islands so appealing, were it not for the feral piglets that people had left behind (and that other people thought should be left on the islands) 4. Is it safe to assume that the people who are up in arms over the Bt are living in entirely natural homes (i.e. caves, etc, and feed themselves through sustainable gathering of native food plants, walk wherever they go, and do not make use of cell phones and computers? Otherwise there appears to be a bit of hypocrisy here.
Planet Earth
28 Mar 09 at 1:39 pm
I live in meiners oaks and have over five oaks on my property. I have seen literally hundreds of these maths and what’s worse is that I have never seen so many leaves fall.
Tree finger, keep your mouth shut if you a. Don’t live in mo or b. Don’t know what the hell you are talking about
You’re a loud mouth fool. I for one don’t think you have a sack.
anon
28 Mar 09 at 2:04 pm
Well informed sensical comeback, chode.
Oh, please don’t dislike me. I don’t know how I could sleep tonight if I thought that you didn’t like me.
Nate Silver
28 Mar 09 at 3:59 pm
where to start
demand civility and respect
28 Mar 09 at 4:50 pm
You can start by staying off this blog you whiny jerk.
anon
28 Mar 09 at 7:36 pm
You can start by leaving.
James Hatch
28 Mar 09 at 8:32 pm
“I live in meiners oaks and have over five oaks on my property. I have seen literally hundreds of these maths and what’s worse is that I have never seen so many leaves fall. ”
I don’t mean to burst your bubble and theory here but the leave are falling because it is the time of year the trees actually shed their leaves. Another interesting point is if the caterpillars were in your trees and some might be they would be eating the leaves. Lets think about this one. If the caterpillars are eating the leaves why would there be leaves all over the ground? Wait you said you saw hundreds of moths. I am not sure but wanted to clarify it for you the moths are not eating the leaves. It is when they lay eggs and the eggs turn into caterpillars. They the caterpillars climb up the trees and eat the leaves. You know if you are so concerned I highly suggest you put the sticky tape around the base of your trees to catch the caterpillars as they are climbing up to the foliage of the trees. The spraying is not going to stop all of them as there will be many areas the spray does not cover. That would require Areal spraying.
Stop with your disinformation
29 Mar 09 at 8:02 am
EDITOR: is there no comment policy here? is this just a free for all where anons can call each other names without want or need for meaningful civil discourse? too bad.
demand civility and respect
29 Mar 09 at 8:04 am
The primary comment policy is to try to prevent foul language. We believe in free speech, but will not intentionally publish language we determine to be foul, intimidating, offensive, libelous or threatening in comments posted on our blogs.
admin
29 Mar 09 at 8:11 am
That would require Areal spraying.
Areal or aerial, however you want to spell it; if that’s what it takes, then that’s what will happen.
The County and the State are not going to allow a major population of Gypsy Moths start up anywhere in Ventura County, and the Feds aren’t going to allow one to start up anywhere in the U.S, regardless of who’s in the White House. The best you can hope for if this really messes with you is to be reimbursed for motel money if you feel like getting away while it’s all going on.
When I was a kid, they used to come to our school and literally drench the Chinese evergreen elms that were planted everywhere with God knows what kind of pesticide every single year. Why? Gypsy moths. We were in the middle of a huge city, with no agriculture anywhere nearby. Men in jumpsuits would stand underneath the trees and spray up into the foliage until the trees were dripping and the dirt and asphalt underneath the trees glistened with liquid. They continued spraying during recess and lunch, and the kids stood around and watched the men work. And here we are still, for better or for worse.
You are exposed to more potential harm from the volatile solvents released during road paving, and for months afterwards as the newly paved road baked in the hot sun, than you are from Btk. A good Santa Ana wind or strong northern wind exposes you to the risk of Valley Fever, as does any earthquake of note. Your toothpaste will kill you if you swallow enough of it. Your new carpet and cabinets expose you to carcinogenic formaldehyde for years. Btk is biscuits and gravy compared to some of the other dangers you are exposed to every single day of your life.
Anonymous
29 Mar 09 at 10:28 am
I think there is a book here…Nate? James? Maybe a damned Hollywood movie……….
Lil' Rebel
29 Mar 09 at 11:59 am
To bring the comments back to the article at hand; the government perverts were at our place yesterday with their penile sprayers spewing the stuff. Yes, we were mildly threatened. NO they didn’t come on the day they TOLD us they would come on; the day we evacuated our animals on, NO, they came on the day they chose…
the day my little dog was here by himself, the day we weren’t prepared.
Thanks a lot, perverts.
Hope you get your little worms.
Lil' Rebel
29 Mar 09 at 12:02 pm
Nate Silver, wasn’t that a horse in an old cowboy movie?
Tram Poline
29 Mar 09 at 2:19 pm
I can’t believe they sprayed on a different day then they said they would. I hope your little dog is ok. That said, I still believe in the spraying, however showing up with the poison spray not on the day they said they would is a crime. You could have been laying down in your back yard quietly …
Annonymous
29 Mar 09 at 5:51 pm
THE OAK
STANDING TALL AND PROUD
THE OAKS SHELTER A GYPSY MOTH-
WHERE ARE ALL OUR TREES?
SPRING
SING BLOSSOMS OF SPRING!
STRANGE CATERPILLAR YEARNS TO FLY-
BIRDS AND BEES DIE SILENT
ROCK
WAR IN THE TREETOPS
POISON CHOKES MY TRANQUILITY-
THE ROCK IS UNCHANGED
Maury Gould
30 Mar 09 at 10:03 am
For my stand, of attempting to protect my health and that of my community’s, I am reviled,receiving anonymous phone calls impugning my motives, and losing my full-time job because of what seem to be pesticide related illnesses: all this so the state and county can wage an ongoing war with bugs; rather than look at the gypsy moths as a symptom that needs to be addressed at the level of cause, we throw the money at chemical companies where it stays out of the local community, and makes people sick in the process. This massive spraying is a failure in creativity, and the consequences for some of us have been devastating. When will we stop this bug/moth war and look at imaginative and local ways to address these problems? Widespread spraying has never solved our bug problems that I know of, and results in dislocation and destruction of the web that connects us all. The strong arm tactics of the state (2 policemen and police cars, four spray trucks with sprayers showing up at my house without informing me or/and the manager of the mobile home park where I live) and liberally dousing my food garden (which is now inedible and has to be dug up) and making my home unliveable with the spray throughout the yard and house, is but one more example of the fascism (the working together of government and corporations without benefit to the individual citizen) that is increasingly on the rise. The state has funds to kill bugs and sicken its citizens, but not for libraries, after school programs, and smaller classrooms; what is wrong with this picture? I am having to sell my house and leave the area; as a chemically sensitive person, the canary in the coal mine as it were, I can not afford to have my health further compromised. Sunshine A.
Sunshine A, RN,CMT
31 Mar 09 at 11:23 pm
I keep reading comments using the term “chemical,” but they are spraying an organic compound.
Chemical or Organic
1 Apr 09 at 8:28 am
Sunshine, you tuffy!!
barefoot contessa
1 Apr 09 at 12:23 pm
Sunshine,
Selling the trailer and leaving town? Sounds like you’ll have plenty of baloney to eat for the trip.
Anonymous
1 Apr 09 at 5:03 pm
I hate baloney. It should be a feloney to eat baloney.
Concerned Doug
29 Jun 09 at 9:53 pm