Latest news with #DavidSteele
CBC
18 hours ago
- General
- CBC
Invasive plants are growing in a Wolfville park. This group is cutting the problem at its root
While out for a run in Wolfville's Reservoir Park this past spring, Jenna Anderson came across a pile of brush on the side of the trail. Having studied environmental science, she looked a little closer and recognized the shiny oval-shaped leaves within the debris. It was glossy buckthorn, an invasive species introduced to Canada from Eurasia almost a century ago. A singular plant can look unassuming, but buckthorns tend to grow in dense thickets, creating walls of vegetation that outcompete native plant species. That's when Anderson realized how much of the park was overrun by the plants. Everywhere she looked, she saw them creeping up on the trails. But she also saw David Steele, who was responsible for the pile of leaves and branches on the trail. He was getting his hands dirty and pulling the invasive plants up at the roots. In that first meeting, Anderson learned Steele had been coming to the park three or four times a week to clear out invasive plants that threaten the local ecosystem. He had also enlisted the help of some volunteers. "I said [to him], 'Hey, how do I get in on this? Let me be a part of this,'" she said. "So yeah, he put me in the schedule." Steele first noticed Wolfville's invasive plant problem when Multiflora roses appeared in his backyard. As a retired man with time on his hands, he said he began researching and soon saw invasive plants everywhere — including the park. "I live just a few minutes from the park and it is one of my favourite areas for walks and just hiking … and I began to notice the uniformity of the vegetation along a lot of the trail sides," said Steele. He started a removal group in the spring, which can clear thousands of plants in a day. Still, the Blomidon Naturalist Society, a local organization, says there are up to 80 invasive plants within one square-metre of the park. Steele said they've encountered several invasive plants so far, including buckthorn, Multiflora roses and the Norway maple. The group uses their bare hands, and tools like chainsaws and a root-pulling device called the extractigator, to remove the invasive plants. Steele said invasive plants disrupt the local ecosystem by outcompeting native species' for shade, space and food. For example, native chokecherry leaves often show insect bites, while invasive buckthorn leaves do not because they have no natural predators. This imbalance lets invasive species' replace native plants, harming the entire ecosystem. "The invasive plants provide no food at all for the native insects that are the meat and potatoes of the food webs," said Steele. As insect numbers drop, so will bird populations, triggering a ripple effect in the food chain, he said. While it's for a good cause, Anderson said the group is also a great opportunity for anyone who wants to spend some time outside this summer and meet others in their community. "David's obviously like a wealth of knowledge, so it's really cool to chat with him while we're working," she said. "I've learned a lot." In a statement to CBC News, Wolfville Mayor Jodi Mackay said the Reservoir Park is one of the town's "natural treasures, and it's up to all of us to help protect it." Steele said the group's next step is to plant some more native species in the park.
CBC
28-06-2025
- General
- CBC
Increase in dog bite incidents prompts Wolfville park to limit off-leash hours
Social Sharing After an unspecified number of incidents involving off-leash dogs at Reservoir Park, the Town of Wolfville, N.S., is running a pilot project until January that will limit the hours dogs can be off-leash. The changes mean dogs must stay on leash between 10 a.m. AT and 7 p.m. each day. Previously, there weren't any restrictions. Wolfville Mayor Jodi MacKay said when she received a call from an emergency room doctor telling her she was seeing more cases of dog bites coming from the park, MacKay said she knew something had to be done. MacKay said the town gathered feedback from community members for a couple of months. "We heard a lot of just negative interactions [with off-leash dogs]," she said. MacKay said she does not know how many incidents there have been and how severe they were. People who don't comply with the new rules can be fined between $100 and $1,000. MacKay, who owns a five-year-old schnauzer named Mac, said people who want to share feedback about the pilot project can do so by scanning QR codes located throughout Reservoir Park. David Steele is a member of a naturalist group and often walks at the park. "I've had excited dogs come racing at me and jump on me," said Steele. "I'm a fairly sturdy fellow, but not everybody who walks here is, so I can understand why that could be quite threatening and even dangerous for some of the people who use the park." Off-leash debate divides Wolfville dog owners 11 hours ago Duration 1:42 A park in Wolfville is changing the rules around taking dogs off-leash. It comes after reports of an increase in dog bites. As Giuliana Grillo reports, dog owners are on different sides of the fence on the issue. Steele said it isn't just dogs that can be found at the park. He said most of his interactions with pets there have been positive, but the few that aren't can be especially dangerous for children and elderly people. Doug Watling of Kentville, N.S., is not pleased with the change. He frequently drives to Reservoir Park to let his dog, 13-year-old Hannah, off-leash. "One of the things that made the park charming is the fact that dogs were off-leash and got to engage and interact with people," he said. "We'll be coming here far less often, trust me."
Yahoo
03-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Roundabout chosen for intersection in Jamestown
Jun. 3—JAMESTOWN — The North Dakota Department of Transportation has selected the roundabout option for the U.S. Highway 52 and 10th Street Southeast intersection, according to Jamestown City Councilman David Steele. Steele informed the City Council during committee reports on Monday, June 2, that the North Dakota Department of Transportation has also selected a five-lane road with a two-way left-turn for Business Loop West, which is similar to the existing road. The project would reconstruct the U.S. Highway 52 and 10th Street Southeast intersection and Business Loop West from 4th Avenue Southwest to 10th Street Southeast. The two bridges on Business Loop West will also be replaced. The project includes restriping 1st Avenue South from 7th to 10th Street Southeast to help match the configuration of the Road Diet project further north in the downtown area. The other three alternatives for the U.S. Highway 52 and 10th Street intersection were a radial T, double crossover and displaced left turns. The other three alternatives for the reconstruction of Business Loop West were four lanes with full intersection access at all streets with raised medians, four lanes with three-fourths intersection access with a raised median, and four-lane right-in and right-out intersection access with a raised median. The estimated cost is nearly $9.2 million for the roundabout and about $6.5 million for the five-lane road with a two-way left-turn lane, The Jamestown Sun reported in February. The purpose of the project is to address bridge and pavement condition, vehicular traffic operations and sidewalks for bicyclists or individuals who walk along and adjacent to the U.S. Highway 52 corridor in Jamestown from 7th Street to 4th Avenue Southwest, the Sun reported in February. The city of Jamestown's Land Use and Transportation Plan identifies the need to improve traffic operations and pedestrian comfort at the intersection of 1st Avenue South and 10th Street Southeast, The Sun reported. The Land Use and Transportation Plan also identifies the need to address gaps in the sidewalk and trail system in the general area. Construction on the project is scheduled for summer 2027. The Jamestown City Council unanimously approved listing city-owned properties for sale in southeast Jamestown. The city-owned properties are located at 301 and 401 11th Ave. SE and 1104 and 1220 Railroad Drive SE. The properties at 301 and 401 11th Ave. SE are in the Harold P. Bensch Addition. The properties at 1104 and 1220 Railroad Drive SE are in the Kourajian Second Addition. The request for proposals for the four properties will be advertised on June 7 with applications due on Aug. 15. The selection date and notice will be on Sept. 2-3, respectively, or as determined by the City Council. The minimum price acceptable for each of the properties is $2 per square foot at 401 11th Ave. SE and $2.50 per square foot at 301 11th Ave. SE, according to the city of Jamestown's request for proposals. The minimum price is $2 per square foot for the property at 1104 Railroad Drive SE. Mayor Dwaine Heinrich said the price of the property at 1220 Railroad Drive SE, which includes a building, is $151,600. "One of the other conditions on the sale of that one with the building on it is that ... the exterior has to be refurbished because it doesn't look very good right now," Heinrich said. The purchaser must agree to sell the property back to the city at the original purchase price if development does not occur within 30 months of the purchase in accordance with the development plan submitted as part of the original purchase proposal. The City Council unanimously approved the annexation of property adjacent to 25th Street and 11th Avenue Southwest. The property is about 7 acres and is located west of Walmart. The property will be used for the construction of a housing complex, Heinrich said at the Jamestown Finance and Legal Committee meeting on May 20. The annexation request was made by Beyond Shelter Inc. and Jtown Land LLC. In other business, the City Council held the first reading of an ordinance to amend and reenact section 8, article 1 of the city of Jamestown's municipal code related to keeping fowl. The ordinance would loosen restrictions on keeping fowl within city limits by eliminating a setback requirement from the applicant's residence. The current ordinance for keeping fowl in an enclosure has a setback requirement of 100 feet at its nearest point from any residence. "Fowl shall be kept in an enclosure not less than 60 feet at its nearest point from any other residence, including any attached structures, and must be constructed as to prevent such fowl from wandering or flying from the enclosure," the new ordinance says. "Any enclosure for the Fowl shall be not less than 30 feet from the permittee's residence and any attached structures." The proposed number of chickens allowed is up to eight. Heinrich said the topic will be on the agenda for the Finance and Legal Committee meeting on June 24. "We do have some proposed changes, and I have visited with our city attorney and we know there's some other changes, but we're confident that we're not ready to go forward with that," he said before the first reading of the ordinance. Lisa Kainz, a Jamestown resident, said the setback distance of 100 feet from a neighbor's residence is "not the best thing." "I know my neighbors personally and they're 150 feet from me because where I live, but I also believe that if you are a minority and you don't have what I have and you receive permission from your neighbors and the majority of the people around you would like you to be able to have chickens because they would enjoy them also, they should have that right," she said.
USA Today
02-03-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Best Sculpture Park (2025) - USA TODAY 10Best Readers' Choice Awards
Photo courtesy of Storm King Art Center No. 10: Storm King Art Center - New Windsor, New York The Storm King Art Center occupies 500 acres of rolling hills in the lower Hudson Valley. This scenic setting holds a collection of more than 100 contemporary sculptures by some of the world's top artists. Photo courtesy of Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board No. 9: Minneapolis Sculpture Garden - Minneapolis, Minnesota This free sculpture garden near the Walker Art Center exhibits modern and contemporary works from the museum's collection. Visitors can see more than 60 pieces displayed within the 11 landscaped acres, including the iconic "Spoonbridge and Cherry." Photo courtesy of FatCamera / E+ No. 8: Griffis Sculpture Park - East Otto, New York Located in the Enchanted Mountains of Western New York, Griffis Sculpture Park offers a wonderful fusion of art and nature across 450 acres of meadow and forest. The outdoor gallery features over 250 large-scale sculptures that spring organically from the landscape. One of the largest and oldest sculpture parks in the U.S., the space awaits exploration featuring hiking trails that lead past towering metal figures, whimsical creatures, and abstract forms that change character with the seasons. The park has two sections that are 2 miles apart: the Mill Valley Road section and the Rohr Hill Road section. Photo courtesy of Elizabeth Gadbois No. 7: San Juan Islands Sculpture Park - Friday Harbor, Washington Located on the northern tip of San Juan Island, this 20-acre sculpture park melds Pacific Northwest wilderness with the inventive vision of both well-known and emerging artists. The park showcases over 150 diverse sculptures along marked trails — you might spot a colorful Native American totem pole near an abstract piece cut from a single stone. Between resident wandering deer and bald eagles soaring overhead, the wildlife is part of the experience. Photo courtesy of Laumeier Sculpture Park No. 6: Laumeier Sculpture Park - St. Louis, Missouri Laumeier Sculpture Park in St. Louis was founded in 1976 as one of the first dedicated sculpture parks in the United States. The space features more than 70 large-scale works of outdoor sculpture scattered amid the 105-acre area. Entrance to the park is free. Photo courtesy of David Steele No. 5: Grounds For Sculpture - Hamilton, New Jersey Located in Hamilton, New Jersey, Grounds For Sculpture is an arboretum, sculpture garden, and museum focusing on the intersection of art and nature in a playful, jovial way. Spanning 42 beautifully designed acres, the art sanctuary has nearly 300 contemporary sculptures on display. Photo courtesy of Heather Hillhouse / iStock Via Getty Images Plus No. 4: Pyramid Hill Sculpture Park - Hamilton, Ohio On 470 rolling, pastoral acres of southwestern Ohio, Pyramid Hill Sculpture Park offers a playful way to experience sculpture. The park has a strong focus on contemporary abstract art and showcases more than 70 outdoor pieces spread across meadows, hiking trails, woods, and lakes. You'll see enormous steel sculptures peeking out from native wildflower meadows and carved stone perched on hillsides. Visitors can explore on foot or rent an Art Cart, a souped-up golf cart. Photo courtesy of Brookgreen Gardens No. 3: Brookgreen Gardens - Murrells Inlet, South Carolina Founded in 1931, the 9,127-acre Brookgreen Gardens in Murrells Inlet, South Carolina, is a sculpture garden and wildlife sanctuary containing over 2,000 works by 430 artists. This National Historic Landmark hosts one of the best American figurative sculpture collections in the world. Photo courtesy of Duffy Healy No. 2: Vollis Simpson Whirligig Park - Wilson, North Carolina This whimsical park in Historic Downtown Wilson, North Carolina, showcases the imagination of farm machinery repairman and self-taught artist, Vollis Simpson. The artist's massive kinetic sculptures are akin to towering windmills, but they're made from salvaged industrial parts like old bicycles and road signs, which gives them a whimsical character. The collection features 30 of Simpson's largest sculptures, some reaching 50 feet high. The surrounding green is perfect for plopping on a picnic blanket and watching the whirligigs spin against the Carolina sky.
