Lilac Care in New Jersey

Local.com
August 1, 2011

Lilacs are a gardener’s dream: low maintenance and reliable. These fragrant shrubs bloom like clockwork in the spring. When their blossoms drop, the lush greenery remains to round out a fall garden. New Jersey has the ideal climate for growing lilacs, making their care even easier. Lilacs are known to outlive their owners, even those without green thumbs. These perennials truly thrive in the Garden State.

Caring for Lilacs

Mature lilacs are relatively self-sufficient, but they may need watering during hot or dry spells. If the leaves wilt or fold, the lilac needs water, but be aware that lilacs can drown. They need just enough water to moisten the soil. Unattended, lilacs will overgrow a lawn, and they will rarely falter. Lilacs bloom in May, and the best time for pruning is when their blossoms fade in early fall. Pruning maintains the shrub’s shape and optimizes blooming for the following year. Remove dead and diseased branches and cut some of the largest and oldest branches back to ground level. Thin out the younger shoots so only 10 to 15 remain. Finally, fertilize the lilacs under the bark mulch each spring and again after blooming season ends to ensure a healthy blossom the following year.

Where Lilacs Thrive

The U.S. Department of Agriculture divides the United States into hardiness zones by climate. Various plant species thrive in different hardiness zones. Lilacs experience optimal growth in the Northeast and Midwest in hardiness zones four through seven. New Jersey encompasses zones six and seven, making it the perfect climate for growing lilacs. The best time for planting lilacs is spring or fall when the weather is mild. Lilacs are best grown in large, sprawling gardens in direct sun and well-drained soil. Mature lilacs can prove too challenging to maintain in small gardens and yards, but several varieties of dwarf cultivars are also available.

Selecting a Lilac Shrub

There are more than 20 species of lilac in the genus Syringa. The small, fragrant flowers grow purple, pink or white on lush, green shrubs. Consider your space when choosing a lilac. Common lilacs can grow to 12 feet tall and eight feet wide, and Japanese tree lilacs can reach 25 feet. Dwarf cultivars are typically half the size of common lilacs. Lilacs should be planted with plenty of room to sprawl. Crowded plantings can develop a powdery white mildew that stunts growth and blossoming capability.

Threats to Lilacs

Lilacs are moderately susceptible to deer damage. Chinese, Late and Persian varieties are occasionally severely damaged. Common and Japanese Tree lilacs are more resistant, and they are rarely severely damaged. Lilacs can suffer from bacterial and fungal blight, as well as root rot. Lilacs’ most common pest enemies are oystershell scale and lilac borer, but these tenacious plants are most threatened by wayward lawnmowers.

Resources and References

Garden Ideas: Lilac Time 

Fox Hill Lilac Nursery: Care 

National Gardening Association: USDA Hardiness Zone Finder 

Rutgers New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station: Landscape Plants by Deer Resistance 

“Lilacs: A Gardener’s Encyclopedia”; John L. Fiala; 2008

How to Start a Texas State Political Action Committee

eHow
July 27, 2011

A political action committee (PAC) is a private group that raises money for electioneering activities. A PAC can be affiliated with an organization or special interest, or operate specifically to elect or defeat a particular candidate. Federal PACs are regulated by the Federal Election Committee while state PACs operate under the state’s own elections guidelines. A PAC for a Texas state election must file with the Texas Ethics Commission. Starting your own PAC gives you a stake in a campaign and a place at the political table while bringing attention to an issue or candidate you feel strongly about.

Texas Ethics Commission Requirements

Step 1

Define the type of PAC you are forming. Texas differentiates general-purpose and specific-purpose PACS. General-purpose PACS support or oppose two or more unidentified candidates or officeholders (members of a party or proponents of an issue, for example) or one or more unidentified measures. Specific-purpose PACS support or oppose identified candidates seeking known office, identified officeholders, identified measures or a single unidentified candidate. Texas also recognizes judicial-specific PACS.

Step 2

Appoint a campaign treasurer and file with the Texas Ethics Commission. A PAC must file a treasurer before accepting contributions or making expenditures exceeding $500. General-purpose PACs must file a Form GTA and specific-purpose PACs file Form STA.

Step 3

Begin raising money. The campaign treasurer must file contribution and expenditure reports with the Texas Ethics Commission according to the filing schedule.

Logistics of Starting a PAC

Step 1

Identify the need and support for a PAC. Organizations should consult the board of directors and association members. Nonaffiliated groups should confirm that general support exists for a fruitful PAC.

Step 2

Establish an implementation timeline. Ideally, a PAC is established well before the election year to raise funds and interest. Starting a PAC before a potential candidate announces his candidacy might encourage him to run. Starting a PAC in support or opposition of an issue will garner attention for that cause.

Step 3

Create bylaws and establish leadership in the PAC. A PAC runs like a business. Establish a system of oversight to protect the PAC’s interests and create clear guidelines for the PAC’s activities.

Step 4

Solicit money. The American College of Radiology Association PAC suggests using enrollment cards or dues, developing online payment options, creating incentives, having a recognition and reward system for contributors, and training peer solicitors for internal fundraising. A non-affiliated PAC will have to solicit outside funds through phone solicitations, events, and personal and professional networking.

Resources and References

Texas Ethics Commission: Campaign Finance Guide for Political Committees 

Texas Ethics Commission: Political Committee Forms & Instructions  

Texas Ethics Commission: Political Committee Filing Schedules 

American College of Radiology Association: State PAC Resource 

Local Victory: Political Fundraising Networks; Joe Garecht

Local Victory: Pros and Cons of Starting Your Own Political Action Committee; Joe Garecht 

American Speech-Language-Hearing Association PAC: Legislative Capital

How to Create a Bar Chart from Likert Scale Results

eHow.com
July 27, 2011

Presenting survey results accurately and clearly is just as important as how you conduct the survey. Presented well, the results of a survey are informative and enlightening. But poor presentation can confound the study and threaten your credibility as a researcher. Bar charts are easy-to-interpret representations of survey data. A bar chart can compare frequency of responses to Likert items, which measure respondents’ levels of agreement or disagreement with an issue. A typical Likert scale includes the responses, “strongly agree,” “agree,” “neither agree nor disagree,” “disagree” and “strongly disagree.”

Step 1

Gather your data. Bar charts represent discrete values, not percentages. Use the raw sums of responses to each item for your bar chart.

Step 2

Create a bar chart for each individual item. Each survey question should be represented in its own chart. One bar corresponds to each possible response: “strongly agree,” “agree,” “neither agree nor disagree,” “disagree” and “strongly disagree.

Step 3

Make a frequency scale on one axis. Always include zero and label periodic intervals.

Step 4

List the possible responses on the other axis. This is where the bars will begin. Bar charts can be situated horizontally or vertically, so the axes are interchangeable.

Step 5

Create a bar for each response that represents the frequency of that response.

Step 6

Label each bar chart with the substance of the Likert item measured. The exact wording of the question is preferable.

Step 7

Repeat this process for each Likert item. If possible, maintain the same frequency scale for each chart so that, when viewed side-by-side, the charts measure responses equally.

Resources and References

 Stat Trek: AP Statistics Tutorial: Bar Charts and Histograms

 University of Connecticut: Likert Scale

 Harvard University; “Do People Mean What They Say?...”; Marianne Bertrand, et al.

How to Fold and Wear a Scarf French-Style

eHow.com
July 27

Scarves make a statement in any season. Silky and gauzy in the summer, woolen and lush in winter, scarves aren’t just for warming your neck. There are endless ways to tie and wear a scarf for fashion, and anyone can pull off this jaunty look. Some looks are boho and haphazard, but the French style is more clean and elegant. A scarf in any color or pattern can be worn in the French style, though silk and other lightweight fabrics tend to work best.

Step 1
 Lay the scarf out on a flat surface with the pattern or side you want to show facing down.

Step 2
 Fold two opposite corners in so they form two triangles that meet at the center.

Step 3
 Fold each triangle in half toward the center, and then in half once more. At this point, the scarf should be about 1/8 of its original width. This is called a bias band fold.

Step 4
 Hold the folded scarf centered in front of your neck and wrap it around, crossing the ends in the back, then pulling them forward back to where you started.

Step 5
 Tie a knot loosely underneath your chin.

Step 6
 Turn the scarf so it is off center, and reinforce the knot by tying it once more -- the result being a big double knot. Let the ends hang loosely.

Tips
Try wearing a bias band fold as a head scarf or a belt as well to get more use out of the accessory.  There is no wrong way to wear a scarf. If the French style does not flatter you, try something else. Keep it simple and wear it with confidence.

Resources and References
  Texere Silk: Bias Band Fold
 “Pittsburgh Tribune-Review”; French-Style Scarf Folding 101; Associated Press; October 8, 2007
 Texere Silk: French Twist

How to Fight a Bill in the Legislature

eHow.com
July 26

The United States is a representative democracy, and citizens’ interests are represented by elected officials who create laws. Although citizens cannot vote directly on bills before the legislature, they do have influence over their representatives’ actions. The right to petition the government for redress of grievances is guaranteed by the First Amendment, and there are several ways to exercise that right. Whether you meet face-to-face or write a letter to legislators, there are several guidelines for making your message as effective as possible.

Step 1
Choose your method of protest. Private citizens are invited on occasion to testify before Congress and state legislatures during committee hearings. During these hearings, experts or citizens with some vested interest in the substance of a bill are asked to speak before committee members. These hearings are not accessible to the general public, however. A more pragmatic approach is to petition or write a letter to your representatives, or become a citizen lobbyist.

Step 2
Lobby members of Congress and state legislators as a private citizen. Lobbyists often represent corporations and special interest groups, but citizens can lobby for a cause as well. The greatest hurdle is gaining access. Letters, phone calls and emails are traditional methods of contact, but you may want a more direct approach. Staging a peaceful rally, holding a press conference or arranging a personal meeting garner attention and an audience.

Step 3
Write a petition. Most legislators are invested in their constituents’ interests. Demonstrate your position on a bill with a petition showing how many people feel the same way. With online petition sites, distribution has never been easier. Write a concise, factual, reasonable statement and obtain as much support as possible.

Step 4
Write a letter. A letter from a constituent can have real sway. It must be well-constructed and well-reasoned. Stick to the facts and avoid a partisan slant. Explain how the bill will affect the local constituency. Most importantly, know exactly whom you are addressing. Research the representative’s past voting record, and indicate that you are familiar with the substance of the bill and the legislator's position on similar measures. Once the letter has been sent, try to have it printed in a local newspaper so others can follow suit.

Step 5
Build a grassroots movement that supports your stance. The more pressure you can put on your representatives, the more likely they are to vote your way. Supporters can help stage a rally, participate in petition distribution, give validity to a lobbying cause and write their own letters.

Step 6
Use social networking to start building a movement. Explain clearly and convincingly why others should fight the bill and give explicit instructions to act. For example, write, “Email Senator Adams at adams@senate.gov, and tell him that passing bill XYZ will put too many of his voting constituents out of work.”

Resources and References
 The American Interest; Power Made Easy: How to Testify Before Congress; Patricia Murphy
 Wellstone Action!: Being a Successful Citizen Lobbyist
 Change.org: How to Write a Petition
 Project Vote Smart: Biographical Information

How to Elope and Still Have a Second Ceremony

eHow.com
July 22

Weddings have become such monstrous spectacles that many couples choose to bypass the whole affair and simply elope. Elopement is as valid as any wedding, but friends and family will want to revel with you in your new marriage to “make it official.” Moreover, many family members and friends will feel left out if they cannot participate in a ceremony. To avoid hurt feelings, eloping couples can hold a second, traditional ceremony followed by a reception.

Step 1
Plan the elopement. Part of what makes an elopement special is the spontaneity, but romance can turn into a headache if the legal details are left to chance. You must obtain a marriage license, and you may have to fulfill other legal obligations like blood tests. This process can take several days, so confirm the details with the proper office.

Step 2
Spread the news. Just before or immediately after the elopement, inform close friends and family members in person or over the phone. This is not an instance for mass emails or social networking updates. The sooner you tell your loved ones the happy news, the better you can mitigate hurt feelings.

Step 3
Arrange the ceremony. Try to plan this within weeks of the elopement. The sooner, the better to avoid the appearance of a gift-grab. This will technically be a vow renewal, not a marriage ceremony. Arrange with a clergy member or justice of the peace to have a ceremony that reflects your situation.

Step 4
Send the invitations. The wording should not deceive your guests, but the message that the marriage has already occurred can be subtle. Something along the lines of, “The honor of your presence is requested at a wedding celebration for James and Sarah Green,” followed by the date, time and location is appropriate.

Step 5
Register for gifts. Just because your road to marriage was not the most traditional doesn’t mean you won’t be showered with gifts. Remember, registry information should never be listed on an invitation, nor should any mention of gifts.

Step 6
Celebrate with a reception. Etiquette dictates that a traditional wedding reception following an elopement is appropriate.

References and Resources
Wedding Channel: The Eloping Trend
The Knot; Wedding Etiquette; Wedding After Eloping?

How to Describe the Methods of an Experiment

eHow.com
July 21

Writing an accurate and complete methods report is imperative to research. An experimenter’s study methods play a large part in establishing her credibility, and a study’s merit is often based on its replicability. A study cannot be deemed valid if it cannot be repeated by another researcher, so explicit methods are necessary to the peer review process and the expansion of scientific knowledge. To write a comprehensive methods report, take notes throughout the experiment. Detail procedures and measurements so you have a record to reference later.

Step 1
Describe the participants or subjects of the study. When working with human participants, list relevant demographics -- including age, race and sex. Any characteristic that has an impact on the study should be included, and selection criteria is a helpful addition as well. If the experiment studied nonhuman specimens, describe those thoroughly.

Step 2
List the instruments and materials used in the experiment. Any equipment or software used to conduct the experiment or surveys and tests conducted should be described in depth.

Step 3
Describe the procedure step-by-step and in chronological order so the experiment can be replicated precisely. This includes a description of the experimental design and assignment of participants to conditions. Also, identify the variables tested -- including independent, dependent and control variables.

Step 4
In a formal report, the methods section is followed by the results and an analysis of the data. In the analysis, list any problems that occurred in the experiment and how these can be handled by future researchers.

Resources and References
Purdue Online Writing Lab; Writing the Experimental Report: Methods, Results and Discussion; Dana Lynn Driscoll
Writing @ CSU: Methods -- Five Steps