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Storm
Mountain News
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Local News
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Saturday
June 30th - Full
Strawberry Moon...
Because the
relatively short season for harvesting
strawberries comes each year during the month of
June, the Full Moon this month is often referred
to as the Full Strawberry Moon. This name was
universal to every Algonquin tribe. However, in
Europe they called it the Rose Moon.
In addition to the
Full Moon, skywatchers will be treated this
weekend to a very close conjunction of the planets
Venus and Saturn in the western sky after sunset.
On Saturday, June
30th, they will be only 2/3o apart,
which means you can hide them both behind the tip
of your index finger held at arm's length. If you
have a backyard telescope, set it up. Even small
scopes reveal the rings of Saturn and the
surprising crescent shape of Venus. (sky
map)
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Thursday
June 28th - West
Nile Appears In Larimer County...
Mosquitoes trapped in Fort Collins and in Loveland tested positive for West Nile Virus
on Tuesday, according to officials at the Larimer County Department of Health and Environment. The mosquitoes were collected on June 19th and are the first to test positive in Colorado this year.
“These tests show that West Nile virus is circulating in Larimer County right now and mosquito numbers are on the rise,” said Dr. Adrienne LeBailly, director of the Larimer County Department of Health and Environment. “Unfortunately, in the week since the positive mosquitoes were trapped, the overall number of Culex mosquitoes has doubled.
It’s time to wear repellent when outdoors, wherever and whenever mosquitoes are
active", she said.
West Nile virus is a disease transmitted to humans through the bite of an infected mosquito. It can lead to very serious illness and in some cases, to chronic disability and death. Complications of West Nile Virus increase with a person’s age, and people who had a solid organ transplant or who have weakened immune systems are at high risk for serious illness if infected with the virus.
LeBailly pointed out that the weather this week has been ideal for Culex mosquitoes, which are the main transmitters of West Nile virus. “The recent high temperatures can lead to explosive growth in their numbers,” she said.
Approximately eighty mosquito traps are placed each week across the county. The trapped mosquitoes are separated by species and then
are tested for West Nile virus.
“It’s likely that there are more West Nile virus-positive mosquitoes circulating this week than last week,” LeBailly said. “The positive results are showing up earlier than in 2003—the worst year so far for West Nile virus infection in Larimer County.”
Dead birds, especially corvids (crows, ravens, magpies and jays) could also be a warning of increased West Nile activity. So far no dead birds have tested positive for West Nile virus in Larimer County this year.
LeBailly said that there have been no confirmed reports of West Nile virus in humans in Colorado yet, but that could change very quickly.
With the confirmation that West Nile virus is circulating in mosquitoes, the
health department stresses that now is the time to stock up on repellent and begin using it regularly when going outside at peak mosquito times, between dusk and dawn.
“It’s always a good practice to apply an effective repellent before gathering for barbecues, firework shows, camping and other outdoor activities,” said LeBailly. The peak season for infection with West Nile Virus is from July through August.
Preventive actions include using an effective mosquito repellent when outside during peak mosquito hours, dressing to limit exposed skin, and eliminating mosquito breeding areas around your home such as containers of standing water.
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Wednesday
June 27th - WWII
Bombers At FNL Open House...
In conjunction
with a 5-day visit by a trio of World War II
bombers, the Fort Collins/Loveland Municipal
Airport (FNL) will hold an open house 9am-4pm on July
4th. Admission and parking are
free.
An
on-the-ground static display of a B-17, B-24 and
B-25 bombers plus other specially-invited aircraft
will be available for viewing on the tarmac.
A WWII T-6 Texan, a StaggerWing biplane plus
general aviation and home-built planes are also
likely to be present for viewing.
There will not
be an air show associated with the open house.
The airport will remain open for normal operations
throughout the day.
The open house
will provide an opportunity for the public to
visit the airport and learn more about its
businesses and the local aviation community.
Airport tenants, businesses and other FNL-related
organizations will staff booths and offer
information to the public. Refreshments will
be available for purchase.
The WWII
bombers will be present at the airport beginning
about midday July 2nd through July 6th.
Tours
inside and flights aboard the warbirds will be
available for purchase. Cost will be $10 adults,
$5 children 12 and under, to walk through all
three planes. Cameras are very welcome.
Flights of
approximately 30 minutes cost $425 per person
aboard the B-17 or B-24 and $325-$400 per person
on the B-25, based on seat location.
Flight reservations may be made by
contacting the Collings Foundation at (800)
568-8924.
The bombers
are from the Collings Foundation of
Massachusetts
, founded to preserve historic aircraft and
automobiles. All fees paid for the tours and
flights help support the foundation.
The open house
will also provide an opportunity for visitors to
expand their appreciation and understanding of the
economic benefits the airport provides to local
communities, such as employment, transportation,
business opportunities, and recreation and sport
flying. Other important uses of the facility
include fighting forest fires, transportation of
organs and tissue, patient transportation and
cargo transport.
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Tuesday,
June 26th - Qwest
Brings DSL Service To Mountain...
Residents in the Cedar Park and
Cedar Springs subdivisions on Storm Mountain may
soon have DSL service through a project currently
underway by Qwest. During
a telephone conversation on Monday with a Qwest
representative, it was confirmed that Qwest is
currently in the process of bringing high speed
internet service to the Storm Mountain area.
The installation project is
currently scheduled for completion by late
September, 2007, after which Qwest will begin
notifying area residents of the availability of
the new DSL service.
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Sunday,
June 24th - Photo Of The Week...
Taken last Wednesday, this week's photo features one of the more colorful wildflowers currently blooming in the foothills of our area, Indian
Blanket.
Indian Blanket (Gaillardia pulchella), also called
Firewheel, Blanketflower, or Sundance, is a short-lived annual flowering plant native to the central United States.
The branching stem of this plant is hairy and upright, growing to 2 ft tall. The leaves are alternate, mostly basal, 4-8 cm long, with edges smooth to coarsely toothed or lobed. The pinwheel, daisy-like inflorescences are 4-6 cm diameter, vividly colored with red, orange and yellow. The central disc florets of the flowerhead tend to be more red-violet, with the outer ray florets being yellow. In one variety, almost the entire flower is red, with only the barest tips of the pedals touched with yellow. It blooms practically year-round in some areas, but more typically in summer to early fall.
It is a hardy plant, not picky about soil, though sandy and well-drained are best. It has a high drought tolerance and does best with a dry, hot climate in full sun. It's vibrant colored flowers can be seen carpeting fields and the sides of highways for miles in the summer to late fall. In the garden, the flowers can be removed/deadheaded to promote further blooming.
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