Can You Bear the Smokey?
“Only You Can Prevent a Forest Fire?”
Hardly.
Breath deeply . . . or don’t.
Have you noticed the climate change in Geauga County?
Here are some anecdotal facts that indicate the corporate and individual pollution is impacting our Raccoon County and the Earth.
- Smoke pollution from Canada . . . not “haze” or “fog” is here. The smoke also contains fire-fighting chemical residue. Move over L.A.
- Garden catalogs and local growers are selling plants in this area from zone “6a” now and not only from zones “5a” and”5b” because zone “6” indicates a warmer climate. Columbus is a “6.”
- The infestation of “stinkbugs” a few years ago, typically warmer climate insect, originally from Asia (immigrated in the 1990’s) and our Mid-Atlantic states. No political comments about China needed here. Or did China send them mover in balloons?
- Infestations of unlady-like “ladybugs.”
- Increase in the migration of “skinks” (iridescent lizards) to this area. Check under your mulch.
- Crazy, unpredictable seasons for Geauga’s citizens and growers: the dog days of August start in June; the area is warmer in the winter with less snow; Geauga County is wetter and cooler in the spring.
Addressing the negative impact of climate change is a pressing issue that all citizens must join together to solve.
We do not have time to take a break and breathe in this fact.
We do not have time to breathe.
Sheldon Firem
Hambden Township
Open Burning is Harmful
If any of you folks have gone by the Parkman Community building on U.S. 422 you likely would have noticed the new electronic display sign by the road in front of the building.
A while back, the sign stated, “Open burning in effect from a certain time until a certain time.” You might have thought that open burning was OK as long as you did not open burn trash between the two stated times.
Recently, the sign notice on open burning was changed to “Burn ban in effect. No open burning.” Again, you might have thought that open burning was only temporarily prohibited , maybe because of the drought and would be permitted soon.
However, such is not the case in both instances. As per the Ohio Fire Code and EPA regulations, open burning is prohibited at all times for most situations. Perhaps the Parkman Trustees should state that clearly on the sign . . . this is not rocket science.
Open burning is hazardous to people’s health. One of the most potent cancer causing agents —dioxin — is produced when one open burns trash. The major source of dioxin in the environment is open burning.
In addition, smoke produced by open burning is very harmful to people with various health problems such as asthma and heart conditions. A relative of an Amish neighbor died not long ago from an asthma attack that may well have been brought on by pollutants in the air.
Time to “get with it” and stop deceiving folks about the legality of open burning. Time to get serious about enforcing open burning regulations. Time for all to realize that open burning harms people’s health. Enough said?
John G. Augustine
Parkman Township
