Out and About

ACL; do those three letters ring a bell?  

If we look back at the historical and scientific study of the human body, it isn’t normal for 10- to 13-year-olds to suffer an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) strain or tear.

However, the reality is this type of injury is becoming more common for today’s young athletes.

Research shows that a few possible causes could be compensation of over-tightened and imbalanced muscles and various other altered functional movement patterns.

Although the phenomenon of leaves changing color is still not completely understood, we know that it is primarily influenced by three things.

The least variable of these factors is the increasing length of night.

As nights grow longer and cooler, biochemical processes are triggered in leaves.
The second contributor is the pigmentation present. Chlorophyll is the dominant pigment that makes leaves green.

It absorbs sunlight to produce sugars for food.

The Lancaster 4-H Horse Club is collecting non-perishable foods for HOPE in Lancaster, Inc., through Dec. 21.

Just one or two items can go a long way in helping families in need.

While all non-perishable foods will be appreciated, HOPE has the following needs at this time: self rising flour, cornmeal, sugar, grits, canned evaporated milk, jelly, peanut butter, juice, canned beans (except green beans), canned squash, canned sweet potatoes and canned tomatoes.

“The scarlet of maples can shake me like a cry of bugles going by.”
– William Carman

I  have loved maple trees since I was a little girl living on a street named Maple Lane.

I remember playing in our schoolyard and watching the double-winged fruit of old maples spiral slowly to the ground.

We children called them “helicopters.”

One of the first things I did when I came to our farm in 1982 was plant two maple trees near the house.