Atka at work at Orangetown Middle School

He’s back…

Atka, the 9 year old Arctic gray wolf, returns to Mamaroneck on Sunday, February 26th at 2 p.m. in the Emelin Theatre.

The Wolf Conservation Center of South Salem, NY will hold the free event and  is open to the public.  The program includes an audio-visual presentation, a question & answer session, followed by an appearance of this important but often misunderstood predator. The audience will learn about the history of wolves in the United States, the importance of wolves in a healthy ecosystem, and the efforts to save these magnificent creatures for future generations.

Founded in 1999 the Wolf Conservation Center (WCC) in South Salem, NY promotes wolf conservation by teaching about wolves, their relationship to the environment and the human role in protecting their future. The WCC accomplishes this mission through educational programs which emphasize wolf biology, the ecological benefits of wolves and other large predators, and the current status of wolf recovery in the United States. For more information about the WCC visit the website  or call (914) 763-2373.

For further information about becoming a member of the Friends of the Mamaroneck Library or future library programs, please contact the Mamaroneck Public Library by visiting their website  or call (914) 698-1250.

photo: Wolf Conservation Center

Cold turkey commute. Don’t even think about lighting up while waiting for your Metro-North train. Doing so could get you kicked off the platform, up to $50 in fines or a trip to jail.

The MTA‘s new ban on outdoor smoking starts today, following a months-long grace period the agency gave smokers to get used to the idea. The ban, which had a soft launch in November, prohibits smoking on Metro-North and Long Island Railroad outdoor platforms, as well as ticketing and boarding areas.

The ban does not apply to Metro-North stations in Connecticut.

Violators have gotten away with just warnings since November. But after several months of  leafleting, signs, announcements and electronic alerts, the MTA now expects passengers to play by the rules.

Shopping carts are rolling away. Cars are shaking. Hold onto your hats — and just about everything else.  The strong winds that blew into Westchester this morning, prompting a National Weather Service Wind Advisory, are expected to stick around at least through midnight.

The gusts could reach up to 50 miles per hour, according to the Weather Service, meaning travel could be hazardous.

Flight delays at area airports were already growing long by early afternoon.  Flights at La Guardia, for example, were running an hour and 40 minutes behind schedule at 1 p.m. The speed limit on area bridges, including the Tappan Zee, had reportedly been reduced.

Although the winds are expected to die down overnight, forecasters are calling for a weekend that feels like winter. The Weather Service forecast calls for sunny skies with a high of 37 on Saturday and just 29 on Sunday. Temperatures are expected to bounce back a bit on Monday, the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday, to a high of 39.

No dogs allowed at the Mamaroneck Public Library. But a wolf? No problem.

The Wolf Conservation Center of South Salem and its 9-year old Arctic gray wolf, Atka, are coming to town on Sunday December 4th. The program, from 2-4 pm in the Community Room will include “an awe-inspiring, up-close encounter with this important but misunderstood predator.”

You’ll learn about the history of wolves in the United States, the importance of wolves in a healthy ecosystem, and “the efforts to save these magnificent creatures for future generations.”

photo: Alison Nicholls

There is a wonderful resource in South Salem for those interested in wildlife conservation, the Wolf Conservation Center. This event takes place tonight:

Dr. Gregory Rasmussen of the Painted Dog Conservation project (PDC) in Zimbabwe will speak about Painted Dogs (African wild dogs) at the Wolf Conservation Center (WCC) in South Salem, New York. Although the prime focus of the WCC is wolves, they encourage the conservation of all wild species and as a result often host speakers on topics other than wolves.

Dr Rasmussen will speak about painted dogs, his life with this fascinating species and the role PDC plays in Zimbabwean communities: educating people about the importance of healthy painted dog populations and employing conservation methods to improve the outlook for this beautiful predator. PDC faces many challenges similar to those faced by wolf recovery programs here in the US so the discussion should be both interesting and informative. After the lecture, guests will visit Ambassador wolves Atka, Alawa, and Zephyr as well as the WCC’s critically endangered red wolves and Mexican gray wolves.

50% of the program’s proceeds will be donated to PDC.
Pre-registration is required and the fee is $15 per person.

photo: Alison Nicholls

For those of us who can’t wait for Spring (uh…everyone…?), we’ve compiled a garden checklist to help combat winter blues, indoors and out.

Plan ahead
Now’s a great time to assess your garden. Perhaps you want to add some plantings or move things around. Some people keep a notebook or take photos during the growing season. These are really helpful when staring out at your snowy white canvas.

• Order seed starting kits, vegetable and flower seeds from catalogs, if you like starting from scratch.
• Start growing seeds. Some helpful tips here.
• Peruse magazines for gardens that you like, See how you can incorporate some of the ideas into your own property.

Heavy snow can break the branches of evergreens. Give plants a dusting off after a heavy snowfall.

Maintenance
You may be tiring of the snow cover that’s been hanging around since Christmas, but the snow is actually a protective, frosty blanket, insulating the plants below. During winter’s home stretch, we may get days that swing between warm(ish) and arctic. That will be the time to check on your newer plantings, making sure the warming and re-freezing has not heaved them above the soil line. If you see that’s starting to happen, try to push them back in and cover root zone with extra mulch.

• Prune away storm-damaged branches, which can tear the bark off shrubs and trees.
• After a heavy snow, take a broom and brush off the shrubs and tree branches that are bent under the snow’s weight.
• Take cuttings of forsythia, pussy willows, cherries for forcing indoors. Late February, early March is the time to prune most shrubs and trees, before they start to leaf out.

Indoors
Sun-loving houseplants are probably looking a little sad right now. Shorter days=sadder plants (and people!). Make sure they are in a southern-facing window.

• Houseplants grow more slowly during winter, so increase the time between waterings. The single biggest killer of houseplants is overwatering.
• Clean the large, smooth-leaved houseplants with a damp, soft cloth. Or give them a shower. They are probably a bit dusty by now, which interferes with photosynthesis.
• Inspect for insect pests. Browning leaves are a good indication you have spider mites. Look for fine spider webbing between the leaves or between the stem and leaves. The mites are easily killed by spraying them with a homemade soap solution. Simply add a teaspoon of dish liquid detergent to a 12 or 16 ounce spray bottle filled with water. Shake, then spray. The soap smothers their soft bodies. You may have to apply two or three times, whenever you see the webbing again.
• It’s a good time to repot plants, especially if it’s been more than a few years since the last transplating.  Plants do best in terra-cotta pots because the clay is porous, which allows for water and air exchange. If your old clay pots have a white, powdery mineral deposit on the outside, you can clean them by soaking the pots overnight in a solution of 1 gallon of water, 1 cup vinegar and 1 cup bleach. Or, remove as much as you can with a wire brush and then apply linseed oil. This will make the mineral deposits invisible.
• Go over your gardening contracts carefully. Many companies apply pesticides and herbicides. They are required to supply you with a materials data safety sheet for each product they apply. One note from this organic gardener: data sheets only cover the labeled, “active” ingredients. Ninety percent of most products are “inert” ingredients. The composition of inert ingredients are considered “proprietary information” and do not have to be disclosed. Many of these “inerts” are more dangerous than the labeled ingredients. Of course, you can always hire a landscape company that practices organic controls. Keeping your property in a natural balance is the best way to ensure a healthy environment.

Catherine Wachs is a Larchmont-based landscape designer. Her company, The Lazy Gardener, creates low-maintenance, high-style designs for residential and commercial properties.