Whole Foods will stop using plastic bags

January 22, 2008

This is a great move. They'll still have paper bags. For some things they charge enough that they should be delivering it to your door and cooking it for you, but it's still great that they are doing it.

Elaine

The Associated Press January 22, 2008, 10:50AM ET text size: TT

Whole Foods to stop using plastic bags

from BusinessWeek

AUSTIN

Natural and organic grocer Whole Foods Market announced Tuesday it will stop using disposable plastic grocery bags at supermarket checkouts and encourage reusable bags instead.

The decision affects all of the company's 270 stores in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom. Whole Foods said its goal is to be plastic bag-free by Earth Day on April 22.

Cities and countries are increasingly restricting single-use plastic shopping bags because they don't break down in landfills and can clog waterways, endanger wildlife and litter roadsides.

A.C. Gallo, co-president and chief operating officer for Whole Foods Market, estimated that the move by Whole Foods will keep 100 million new plastic grocery bags out of the environment between Earth Day and the end of this year alone.

Before taking the step, Whole Foods tested doing away with disposable plastic bags in San Francisco, Toronto and Austin and saw positive customer response, Gallo said.

The grocery company will continue to offer 100-percent recycled paper grocery bags.

Each store will immediately start working on depleting stocks of disposable plastic grocery bags at checkout stands and will increase the selection of reusable bags for purchase, Whole Foods said in a prepared statement.

January 22, 2008

I like the way Sam's just uses boxes - and it burns more calories going back and forth from the car to the house unloading....When I lived at the beach plastic bags were the #1 killer of Ridley sea turtles, who look at it floating and think it's a jelly fish - their favorite food. When they gulp down the plastic bag it gets stuck in their digestive track, killing them. I saw a lot of dead turtles on the beach...dead from either shrimper's not using the escape hatch, or plastic bags...poor babies. (yes, many shrimpers don't use their escape hatch while dragging their nets because they lose shrimp too along with the turtles...but if they see a Coast Guard boat on the horizon...they open the hatch.) BethElaine wrote: This is a great move. They'll still have paper bags. For some things they charge enough that they should be delivering it to your door and cooking it for you, but it's still great that they are doing it. Elaine The Associated Press January 22, 2008, 10:50AM ET text size: TT Whole Foods to stop using plastic bags from BusinessWeek AUSTIN Natural and organic grocer Whole Foods Market announced

Tuesday it will stop using disposable plastic grocery bags at supermarket checkouts and encourage reusable bags instead. The decision affects all of the company's 270 stores in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom. Whole Foods said its goal is to be plastic bag-free by Earth Day on April 22. Cities and countries are increasingly restricting single-use plastic shopping bags because they don't break down in landfills and can clog waterways, endanger wildlife and litter roadsides. A.C. Gallo, co-president and chief operating officer for Whole Foods Market, estimated that the move by Whole Foods will keep 100 million new plastic grocery bags out of the environment between Earth Day and the end of this year alone. Before taking the step, Whole Foods tested doing away with disposable plastic bags in San Francisco, Toronto and Austin and saw positive customer response, Gallo said. The grocery company will continue to offer 100-percent recycled paper grocery bags. Each store will immediately start working on depleting stocks of disposable plastic grocery bags at checkout stands and will increase the selection of reusable bags for purchase, Whole Foods said in a prepared statement.

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January 22, 2008

I wish there was a Whole Foods near me. My veterinarian friend drives to New Orleans to shop at one (80 miles) but I can't quite work up that much desire. I think to myself, "If it is that much more expensive, maybe I would eat less." A lot of our former supermarkets have not come back, so little chance Whole Foods will consider building one here any time soon.

.

Whole Foods will stop using plastic bags

This is a great move. They'll still have paper bags. For some things they charge enough that they should be delivering it to your door and cooking it for you, but it's still great that they are doing it.

Elaine

The Associated Press January 22, 2008, 10:50AM ET text size: TT

Whole Foods to stop using plastic bags

from BusinessWeek

AUSTIN

Natural and organic grocer Whole Foods Market announced Tuesday it will stop using disposable plastic grocery bags at supermarket checkouts and encourage reusable bags instead.

The decision affects all of the company's 270 stores in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom. Whole Foods said its goal is to be plastic bag-free by Earth Day on April 22.

Cities and countries are increasingly restricting single-use plastic shopping bags because they don't break down in landfills and can clog waterways, endanger wildlife and litter roadsides.

A.C. Gallo, co-president and chief operating officer for Whole Foods Market, estimated that the move by Whole Foods will keep 100 million new plastic grocery bags out of the environment between Earth Day and the end of this year alone.

Before taking the step, Whole Foods tested doing away with disposable plastic bags in San Francisco, Toronto and Austin and saw positive customer response, Gallo said.

The grocery company will continue to offer 100-percent recycled paper grocery bags.

Each store will immediately start working on depleting stocks of disposable plastic grocery bags at checkout stands and will increase the selection of reusable bags for purchase, Whole Foods said in a prepared statement.

January 22, 2008

I live in an area where there's lots of money and things are more expensive. Yet Whole Foods can still astonish people here. Cherries (in season) $10 a pound. Wild salmon $19 a pound.

One thing that I really dislike are people who shop where they think it's " cool " . They don't care what kind of money they drop. I feel each time this is done, they are letting the company know it's okay to charge those ridiculous prices. I really saw that during the dot com era. People talked about buying vacuums for $2000 because they come in cherry red and $10,000 for a mattress that lasted three years (they thought that was okay). After the bust, the prices didn't drop.

I wish there was a Whole Foods near me. My veterinarian friend drives to New Orleans to shop at one (80 miles) but I can't quite work up that much desire. I think to myself, " If it is that much more expensive, maybe I would eat less. " A lot of our former supermarkets have not come back, so little chance Whole Foods will consider building one here any time soon.

.

Whole Foods will stop using plastic bags

This is a great move. They'll still have paper bags. For some things they charge enough that they should be delivering it to your door and cooking it for you, but it's still great that they are doing it.

Elaine

The Associated Press January 22, 2008, 10:50AM ET text size: TT

Whole Foods to stop using plastic bags

from BusinessWeek

AUSTIN

Natural and organic grocer Whole Foods Market announced Tuesday it will stop using disposable plastic grocery bags at supermarket checkouts and encourage reusable bags instead.

The decision affects all of the company's 270 stores in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom. Whole Foods said its goal is to be plastic bag-free by Earth Day on April 22.

Cities and countries are increasingly restricting single-use plastic shopping bags because they don't break down in landfills and can clog waterways, endanger wildlife and litter roadsides.

A.C. Gallo, co-president and chief operating officer for Whole Foods Market, estimated that the move by Whole Foods will keep 100 million new plastic grocery bags out of the environment between Earth Day and the end of this year alone.

Before taking the step, Whole Foods tested doing away with disposable plastic bags in San Francisco, Toronto and Austin and saw positive customer response, Gallo said.

The grocery company will continue to offer 100-percent recycled paper grocery bags.

Each store will immediately start working on depleting stocks of disposable plastic grocery bags at checkout stands and will increase the selection of reusable bags for purchase, Whole Foods said in a prepared statement.

January 22, 2008

,

With respect to stores in general there are quit a few here in New Orleans that have not yet rebuilt.

A major local chain grocery store due to Katrina, the land owner and insurance companies has not yet rebuilt in the Faubourg Marigny near where I live.

One of the Katrina rebuilding headaches.

Gerard

--------- Whole Foods will stop using plastic bags

This is a great move. They'll still have paper bags. For some things they charge enough that they should be delivering it to your door and cooking it for you, but it's still great that they are doing it.

Elaine

The Associated Press January 22, 2008, 10:50AM ET text size: TT

Whole Foods to stop using plastic bags

from BusinessWeek

AUSTIN

Natural and organic grocer Whole Foods Market announced Tuesday it will stop using disposable plastic grocery bags at supermarket checkouts and encourage reusable bags instead.

The decision affects all of the company's 270 stores in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom. Whole Foods said its goal is to be plastic bag-free by Earth Day on April 22.

Cities and countries are increasingly restricting single-use plastic shopping bags because they don't break down in landfills and can clog waterways, endanger wildlife and litter roadsides.

A.C. Gallo, co-president and chief operating officer for Whole Foods Market, estimated that the move by Whole Foods will keep 100 million new plastic grocery bags out of the environment between Earth Day and the end of this year alone.

Before taking the step, Whole Foods tested doing away with disposable plastic bags in San Francisco, Toronto and Austin and saw positive customer response, Gallo said.

The grocery company will continue to offer 100-percent recycled paper grocery bags.

Each store will immediately start working on depleting stocks of disposable plastic grocery bags at checkout stands and will increase the selection of reusable bags for purchase, Whole Foods said in a prepared statement.

January 22, 2008

*chuckle*

Elaine, this might well be my favorite quote of the year yet.

laurie

>

> This is a great move. They'll still have paper bags. For some

things they

> charge enough that they should be delivering it to your door and

cooking it

> for you,

>

> Elaine

>

January 22, 2008

i know what you're saying about the prices, it's really annoying when

poeple let themselves be taken advantage of and raise the prices for

us all.

there was an article on the news yesterday or the day before about how

the market has dropped out of some of those ridiculously overpriced

luxury goods. gee how long did they really think average americans

could afford to put all this stuff on credit cards and for how did

they think the ultra rich would be into the craze as well? only as

long as the hot market lasted. i feel it's like hitching your wagon

to a star to expect these things to last.

laurie

> >

> > I wish there was a Whole Foods near me. My veterinarian friend

drives

> > to New Orleans to shop at one (80 miles) but I can't quite work up

that much

> > desire. I think to myself, " If it is that much more expensive,

maybe I

> > would eat less. " A lot of our former supermarkets have not come

back, so

> > little chance Whole Foods will consider building one here any

time soon.

> > .

> >

> > * Whole Foods will stop using

plastic

> > bags

> >

> > This is a great move. They'll still have paper bags. For some

things

> > they charge enough that they should be delivering it to your door and

> > cooking it for you, but it's still great that they are doing it.

> >

> > Elaine

> >

> > The Associated Press January 22, 2008, 10:50AM ET text size: TT

> >

> > Whole Foods to stop using plastic bags

> >

> > from BusinessWeek

> >

> > AUSTIN

> >

> > Natural and organic grocer Whole Foods Market announced Tuesday it

will

> > stop using disposable plastic grocery bags at supermarket

checkouts and

> > encourage reusable bags instead.

> >

> > The decision affects all of the company's 270 stores in the United

States,

> > Canada and the United Kingdom. Whole Foods said its goal is to be

plastic

> > bag-free by Earth Day on April 22.

> >

> > Cities and countries are increasingly restricting single-use plastic

> > shopping bags because they don't break down in landfills and can clog

> > waterways, endanger wildlife and litter roadsides.

> >

> > A.C. Gallo, co-president and chief operating officer for Whole Foods

> > Market, estimated that the move by Whole Foods will keep 100

million new

> > plastic grocery bags out of the environment between Earth Day and

the end of

> > this year alone.

> >

> > Before taking the step, Whole Foods tested doing away with disposable

> > plastic bags in San Francisco, Toronto and Austin and saw positive

customer

> > response, Gallo said.

> >

> > The grocery company will continue to offer 100-percent recycled paper

> > grocery bags.

> >

> > Each store will immediately start working on depleting stocks of

> > disposable plastic grocery bags at checkout stands and will

increase the

> > selection of reusable bags for purchase, Whole Foods said in a

prepared

> > statement.

> >

>

January 22, 2008

i didnt know about the poor turtles, i thought the hatches had really

helped, sad to hear that some fisherman cant be bothered unless it's

likely they'll be caught.

i purchased some reusable bags, but they are black and i have a

terrible time keeping track of them. another store came out with

bright green ones so I bought those and i'm doing a better job of

keeping track of them and using them.

i saw a great thing online where people in another country were

crocheting the plastic bags into the traditional ladies bag that women

there have always carried. the women pay the children to go collect

stray bags so they can crochet them.

laurie

This is a great move.

They'll still have paper bags. For some things they charge enough

that they should be delivering it to your door and cooking it for you,

but it's still great that they are doing it.

>

> Elaine

>

> The Associated Press January 22, 2008, 10:50AM ET text size: TT

> Whole Foods to stop using plastic bags

>

> from BusinessWeek

> AUSTIN

>

> Natural and organic grocer Whole Foods Market announced Tuesday it

will stop using disposable plastic grocery bags at supermarket

checkouts and encourage reusable bags instead.

>

> The decision affects all of the company's 270 stores in the United

States, Canada and the United Kingdom. Whole Foods said its goal is to

be plastic bag-free by Earth Day on April 22.

>

> Cities and countries are increasingly restricting single-use

plastic shopping bags because they don't break down in landfills and

can clog waterways, endanger wildlife and litter roadsides.

>

> A.C. Gallo, co-president and chief operating officer for Whole

Foods Market, estimated that the move by Whole Foods will keep 100

million new plastic grocery bags out of the environment between Earth

Day and the end of this year alone.

>

> Before taking the step, Whole Foods tested doing away with

disposable plastic bags in San Francisco, Toronto and Austin and saw

positive customer response, Gallo said.

>

> The grocery company will continue to offer 100-percent recycled

paper grocery bags.

>

> Each store will immediately start working on depleting stocks of

disposable plastic grocery bags at checkout stands and will increase

the selection of reusable bags for purchase, Whole Foods said in a

prepared statement.

>

> ---------------------------------

> Never miss a thing. Make Yahoo your homepage.

>

January 22, 2008

I worked with someone who had a bag crocheted from the plastic bags and it looked surprisingly classy and roomy and strong as anything. I got the directions and was going to make some, but it required a very large crochet hook which I somehow never got. It has been several years and in the interim, I have lost the directions, but it seems to me that it looked to be very simple to do with just basic crochet skills. If anyone is interested, one could probably Google for the instructions.

W

Re: Whole Foods will stop using plastic bags

i didnt know about the poor turtles, i thought the hatches had reallyhelped, sad to hear that some fisherman cant be bothered unless it'slikely they'll be caught. i purchased some reusable bags, but they are black and i have aterrible time keeping track of them. another store came out withbright green ones so I bought those and i'm doing a better job ofkeeping track of them and using them. i saw a great thing online where people in another country werecrocheting the plastic bags into the traditional ladies bag that womenthere have always carried. the women pay the children to go collectstray bags so they can crochet them.laurie This is a great move. They'll still have paper bags. For some things they charge enoughthat they should be delivering it to your door and cooking it for you,but it's still great that they are doing it. > > Elaine> > The Associated Press January 22, 2008, 10:50AM ET text size: TT> Whole Foods to stop using plastic bags> > from BusinessWeek> AUSTIN > > Natural and organic grocer Whole Foods Market announced Tuesday itwill stop using disposable plastic grocery bags at supermarketcheckouts and encourage reusable bags instead. > > The decision affects all of the company's 270 stores in the UnitedStates, Canada and the United Kingdom. Whole Foods said its goal is tobe plastic bag-free by Earth Day on April 22. > > Cities and countries are increasingly restricting single-useplastic shopping bags because they don't break down in landfills andcan clog waterways, endanger wildlife and litter roadsides. > > A.C. Gallo, co-president and chief operating officer for WholeFoods Market, estimated that the move by Whole Foods will keep 100million new plastic grocery bags out of the environment between EarthDay and the end of this year alone. > > Before taking the step, Whole Foods tested doing away withdisposable plastic bags in San Francisco, Toronto and Austin and sawpositive customer response, Gallo said.> > The grocery company will continue to offer 100-percent recycledpaper grocery bags.> > Each store will immediately start working on depleting stocks ofdisposable plastic grocery bags at checkout stands and will increasethe selection of reusable bags for purchase, Whole Foods said in aprepared statement. > > > > > > > > > > > ---------------------------------> Never miss a thing. Make Yahoo your homepage.>

January 22, 2008

I have seen firsthand all the sea creatures (baby fish, squid, turtles,etc. that are caught in shrimpers nets. The shrimp make up the minority of the catch and the rest often dies before it can be thrown back in. Knowing this I am strongly in favor of farmed shrimp. The shrimpers make a big hue and cry about needing their livelihood as if they were bred to catch shrimp and that only, sort of like a retriever is bred to fetch birds or a border collie is bred to herd sheep. I have pretty much given up eating shrimp until I find a source that I know is farmed.

Beth, we have the broken pine trees here, too, but one has to wonder how they can add up to a number that would offset what living trees all over the country or even in the area can produce in oxygen. He may be right and I could be wrong, but it will take more convincing for me.

On the subject of dead trees, in the median of US highway 90 which runs along the coast, someone has taken the trunks of the dead trees and carved them into sculptures, some birds, others dolphins and other sea creatures, sort of totem style. They are all up and down the coast from Biloxi to Pass Christian. They seem to have been coated with a clear lacquer so, hopefully will last a number of years. Very beautiful and a marvelous example of making lemonade from life's lemons. Re: Whole Foods will stop using plastic bags

I like the way Sam's just uses boxes - and it burns more calories going back and forth from the car to the house unloading....When I lived at the beach plastic bags were the #1 killer of Ridley sea turtles, who look at it floating and think it's a jelly fish - their favorite food. When they gulp down the plastic bag it gets stuck in their digestive track, killing them. I saw a lot of dead turtles on the beach...dead from either shrimper's not using the escape hatch, or plastic bags...poor babies. (yes, many shrimpers don't use their escape hatch while dragging their nets because they lose shrimp too along with the turtles...but if they see a Coast Guard boat on the horizon...they open the hatch.) BethElaine <elrolegmail> wrote:

This is a great move. They'll still have paper bags. For some things they charge enough that they should be delivering it to your door and cooking it for you, but it's still great that they are doing it.

Elaine

The Associated Press January 22, 2008, 10:50AM ET text size: TT

Whole Foods to stop using plastic bags

from BusinessWeek

AUSTIN

Natural and organic grocer Whole Foods Market announced Tuesday it will stop using disposable plastic grocery bags at supermarket checkouts and encourage reusable bags instead.

The decision affects all of the company's 270 stores in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom. Whole Foods said its goal is to be plastic bag-free by Earth Day on April 22.

Cities and countries are increasingly restricting single-use plastic shopping bags because they don't break down in landfills and can clog waterways, endanger wildlife and litter roadsides.

A.C. Gallo, co-president and chief operating officer for Whole Foods Market, estimated that the move by Whole Foods will keep 100 million new plastic grocery bags out of the environment between Earth Day and the end of this year alone.

Before taking the step, Whole Foods tested doing away with disposable plastic bags in San Francisco, Toronto and Austin and saw positive customer response, Gallo said.

The grocery company will continue to offer 100-percent recycled paper grocery bags.

Each store will immediately start working on depleting stocks of disposable plastic grocery bags at checkout stands and will increase the selection of reusable bags for purchase, Whole Foods said in a prepared statement.

Never miss a thing. Make Yahoo your homepage.

January 22, 2008

someone told me you could follow the directions for twine or sisal?

bags and that it would be nearly the same. one trick i saw them do on

the program is to 'twist' the plastic on your finger as you crochet it

so it will have a tight twist and more strength. I'm terrible at

knitting and crocheting, but i love the thought of it. (hand

coordination issues)

i was going to help a friend find some instructions and now i forget

who it was.

laurie

This is a great move.

> They'll still have paper bags. For some things they charge enough

> that they should be delivering it to your door and cooking it for you,

> but it's still great that they are doing it.

> >

> > Elaine

> >

> > The Associated Press January 22, 2008, 10:50AM ET text size: TT

> > Whole Foods to stop using plastic bags

> >

> > from BusinessWeek

> > AUSTIN

> >

> > Natural and organic grocer Whole Foods Market announced Tuesday it

> will stop using disposable plastic grocery bags at supermarket

> checkouts and encourage reusable bags instead.

> >

> > The decision affects all of the company's 270 stores in the United

> States, Canada and the United Kingdom. Whole Foods said its goal is to

> be plastic bag-free by Earth Day on April 22.

> >

> > Cities and countries are increasingly restricting single-use

> plastic shopping bags because they don't break down in landfills and

> can clog waterways, endanger wildlife and litter roadsides.

> >

> > A.C. Gallo, co-president and chief operating officer for Whole

> Foods Market, estimated that the move by Whole Foods will keep 100

> million new plastic grocery bags out of the environment between Earth

> Day and the end of this year alone.

> >

> > Before taking the step, Whole Foods tested doing away with

> disposable plastic bags in San Francisco, Toronto and Austin and saw

> positive customer response, Gallo said.

> >

> > The grocery company will continue to offer 100-percent recycled

> paper grocery bags.

> >

> > Each store will immediately start working on depleting stocks of

> disposable plastic grocery bags at checkout stands and will increase

> the selection of reusable bags for purchase, Whole Foods said in a

> prepared statement.

> >

> > ---------------------------------

> > Never miss a thing. Make Yahoo your homepage.

> >

>

January 22, 2008

oh how lovely that would be to see! what a neat idea.

i'm being kept awake by gail force winds tonight. and now i'm

worrying about the dang douglas fir in the apartment complex next door

as i forgot to send them a letter this summer about it being diseased.

i dont think it liked having all of it's roots chopped off when the

apartment was built and then having the roots encroached upon by the

house next door. it doesnt have many live branches left and i'm

worried it will come down on the house. thank goodness the neighbors

didn't cut down the buffer trees like they had planned.

laurie

>

> On the subject of dead trees, in the median of US highway 90 which

runs along the coast, someone has taken the trunks of the dead trees

and carved them into sculptures, some birds, others dolphins and other

sea creatures, sort of totem style. They are all up and down the

coast from Biloxi to Pass Christian. They seem to have been coated

with a clear lacquer so, hopefully will last a number of years. Very

beautiful and a marvelous example of making lemonade from life's lemons.

January 23, 2008

Thanks for telling us about this, . I looked it up so that I may see the carvings and found the following info:

I was only able to find a couple pictures of the trees on Hwy 90 but the samples on the artist's site are lovely..

Elaine

Biloxi to embark on tree-trunk project on Beach Boulevard

Mississippi Department of Transportation crews are scheduled to begin removing standing dead trees from the medians of U.S. 90 in Biloxi in the next couple of weeks, and Mayor A.J. Holloway has coordinated a plan in which the remaining trunks will be transformed into sculpted works of art.

Dozens of live oaks have died in the center medians of the scenic highway in the 16 months since Hurricane Katrina, and, under Holloway's plan, MDOT crews will leave as much as 20 feet of the tree trunks in place, where international award-winning "chainsaw artist" Dayton Scoggins of Mississippi will sculpt a variety of marine-related objects.

"We've had more than 300 trees of different varieties planted in Biloxi on public property alone since Hurricane Katrina," Holloway said, "and in this particular project, we're giving a second life to something Mother Nature attempted to destroy. We were dealt lemons and now we're going to make lemonade."

Holloway approached Southern District Transportation Commissioner Wayne Brown and on County Parkway Commission Director Bobby Weaver about the project on Dec. 7. Gulfport Public Works Director Kris Riemann, who had artist Scoggins sculpt a tree in Gulfport, originally suggested the idea to Biloxi.

The mayor envisions a tree-sculpture garden where a collection of dead oak trees now stands a couple blocks west of the Biloxi Lighthouse, with several other sculptures created in the median further west toward Rodenberg Avenue. Biloxi will pay $4,000 for the initial sculpting, while MDOT will fund the preliminary " topping " of the trees.

"We're happy to be a part of this cooperative project," Commissioner Brown said. "This is, after all, a scenic highway, and I certainly hope that people realize that it involves only those trees that have been deemed as dead, by both MDOT and the city's arborist. The last thing we want to do – and we will not do – is to take down a live oak."

Scoggins, who was born in Greene County and lives in ville, Miss., has successfully represented the United States in international woodcarving competitions and has also won numerous awards in competitions throughout the country. To see samples of his stump carvings, http://www.thechainsawartist.com/stump.html

on County crews will continue to be responsible for the maintaining the medians around the sculptures, which Scoggins will treat with an environmentally friendly preservative.

Should the artwork ever be deemed a distraction to passing motorists, Holloway and Brown said, the trunks could be relocated to nearby city parks.

I have seen firsthand all the sea creatures (baby fish, squid, turtles,etc. that are caught in shrimpers nets. The shrimp make up the minority of the catch and the rest often dies before it can be thrown back in. Knowing this I am strongly in favor of farmed shrimp. The shrimpers make a big hue and cry about needing their livelihood as if they were bred to catch shrimp and that only, sort of like a retriever is bred to fetch birds or a border collie is bred to herd sheep. I have pretty much given up eating shrimp until I find a source that I know is farmed.

Beth, we have the broken pine trees here, too, but one has to wonder how they can add up to a number that would offset what living trees all over the country or even in the area can produce in oxygen. He may be right and I could be wrong, but it will take more convincing for me.

On the subject of dead trees, in the median of US highway 90 which runs along the coast, someone has taken the trunks of the dead trees and carved them into sculptures, some birds, others dolphins and other sea creatures, sort of totem style. They are all up and down the coast from Biloxi to Pass Christian. They seem to have been coated with a clear lacquer so, hopefully will last a number of years. Very beautiful and a marvelous example of making lemonade from life's lemons.

----- Original Message -----

..

January 23, 2008

Thanks for finding this, Elaine. I did not know the particulars about the artist except that he worked with a chain saw. I noticed that he is from Greene county, a very rural and very poor part of southern Mississippi, known as the "piney woods". My husband is from there, and there is no town of any size, and the soil is poor compared to much of Mississippi. The unemployment rate is very high and their biggest product for forever has been their young people. My husband's parents farmed and raised six children. One son became an engineer and the other a geologist, and three of the four girls became registered nurses. All moved away from there, and all of the girls moved out of state. It is a typical story for the inhabitants of that county. I know a very accomplished potter from the county who does incredible wood kiln fired ceramics.

We still have acreage there which has grown up with pines. It was the old family farmstead, but no one has lived on the place since the 1940's. It abuts a state forest, and would make a great retirement or vacation place for someone who wanted to get back to nature. Maybe I could get one of those Katrina Houses and put it there and go there with my dogs and horses. Re: Whole Foods will stop using plastic bags

Thanks for telling us about this, . I looked it up so that I may see the carvings and found the following info:

I was only able to find a couple pictures of the trees on Hwy 90 but the samples on the artist's site are lovely..

Elaine

Biloxi to embark on tree-trunk project on Beach Boulevard

Mississippi Department of Transportation crews are scheduled to begin removing standing dead trees from the medians of U.S. 90 in Biloxi in the next couple of weeks, and Mayor A.J. Holloway has coordinated a plan in which the remaining trunks will be transformed into sculpted works of art.

Dozens of live oaks have died in the center medians of the scenic highway in the 16 months since Hurricane Katrina, and, under Holloway's plan, MDOT crews will leave as much as 20 feet of the tree trunks in place, where international award-winning "chainsaw artist" Dayton Scoggins of Mississippi will sculpt a variety of marine-related objects.

"We've had more than 300 trees of different varieties planted in Biloxi on public property alone since Hurricane Katrina," Holloway said, "and in this particular project, we're giving a second life to something Mother Nature attempted to destroy. We were dealt lemons and now we're going to make lemonade."

Holloway approached Southern District Transportation Commissioner Wayne Brown and on County Parkway Commission Director Bobby Weaver about the project on Dec. 7. Gulfport Public Works Director Kris Riemann, who had artist Scoggins sculpt a tree in Gulfport, originally suggested the idea to Biloxi.

The mayor envisions a tree-sculpture garden where a collection of dead oak trees now stands a couple blocks west of the Biloxi Lighthouse, with several other sculptures created in the median further west toward Rodenberg Avenue. Biloxi will pay $4,000 for the initial sculpting, while MDOT will fund the preliminary "topping" of the trees.

"We're happy to be a part of this cooperative project," Commissioner Brown said. "This is, after all, a scenic highway, and I certainly hope that people realize that it involves only those trees that have been deemed as dead, by both MDOT and the city's arborist. The last thing we want to do – and we will not do – is to take down a live oak."

Scoggins, who was born in Greene County and lives in ville, Miss., has successfully represented the United States in international woodcarving competitions and has also won numerous awards in competitions throughout the country. To see samples of his stump carvings, http://www.thechainsawartist.com/stump.html

on County crews will continue to be responsible for the maintaining the medians around the sculptures, which Scoggins will treat with an environmentally friendly preservative.

Should the artwork ever be deemed a distraction to passing motorists, Holloway and Brown said, the trunks could be relocated to nearby city parks.

On 1/22/08, labtrek1941 <labtrek1941bellsouth (DOT) net> wrote:

I have seen firsthand all the sea creatures (baby fish, squid, turtles,etc. that are caught in shrimpers nets. The shrimp make up the minority of the catch and the rest often dies before it can be thrown back in. Knowing this I am strongly in favor of farmed shrimp. The shrimpers make a big hue and cry about needing their livelihood as if they were bred to catch shrimp and that only, sort of like a retriever is bred to fetch birds or a border collie is bred to herd sheep. I have pretty much given up eating shrimp until I find a source that I know is farmed.

Beth, we have the broken pine trees here, too, but one has to wonder how they can add up to a number that would offset what living trees all over the country or even in the area can produce in oxygen. He may be right and I could be wrong, but it will take more convincing for me.

On the subject of dead trees, in the median of US highway 90 which runs along the coast, someone has taken the trunks of the dead trees and carved them into sculptures, some birds, others dolphins and other sea creatures, sort of totem style. They are all up and down the coast from Biloxi to Pass Christian. They seem to have been coated with a clear lacquer so, hopefully will last a number of years. Very beautiful and a marvelous example of making lemonade from life's lemons. ----- Original Message -----

..

January 23, 2008

so now i had to go find photos....

http://www.gulf-coast.com/News/DaytonScoggins-chain-saw-biloxi.html

http://darkblueworld.smugmug.com/gallery/2618222#138144415

> >

> > I have seen firsthand all the sea creatures (baby fish, squid,

> > turtles,etc. that are caught in shrimpers nets. The shrimp make

up the

> > minority of the catch and the rest often dies before it can be

thrown back

> > in. Knowing this I am strongly in favor of farmed shrimp. The

shrimpers

> > make a big hue and cry about needing their livelihood as if they

were bred

> > to catch shrimp and that only, sort of like a retriever is bred to

fetch

> > birds or a border collie is bred to herd sheep. I have pretty

much given up

> > eating shrimp until I find a source that I know is farmed.

> > Beth, we have the broken pine trees here, too, but one has to

wonder how

> > they can add up to a number that would offset what living trees

all over the

> > country or even in the area can produce in oxygen. He may be

right and I

> > could be wrong, but it will take more convincing for me.

> > On the subject of dead trees, in the median of US highway 90

which runs

> > along the coast, someone has taken the trunks of the dead trees

and carved

> > them into sculptures, some birds, others dolphins and other sea

creatures,

> > sort of totem style. They are all up and down the coast from

Biloxi to Pass

> > Christian. They seem to have been coated with a clear lacquer so,

hopefully

> > will last a number of years. Very beautiful and a marvelous

example of

> > making lemonade from life's lemons.----- Original Message -----

> >

> > <thefatmanwalking_group-unsubscribe ?subject=>

> >

> > .

> >

>

January 24, 2008

Thanks Laurie and Elaine for finding the information about the carvings - they are so beautiful...the beach seems so close in the pictures I'm surprised the trunks were left standing. What forsight from that mayor. Bethspamthekat wrote: so now i had to go find photos....http://www.gulf-coast.com/News/DaytonScoggins-chain-saw-biloxi.htmlhttp://darkblueworld.smugmug.com/gallery/2618222#138144415--- In thefatmanwalking_group , Elaine wrote:>> Thanks for telling us about this, . I looked it up so that Imay see> the carvings and found the following info:> > I was only able to find a couple pictures of the trees on Hwy 90 but the> samples on the artist's site are lovely..> > Elaine> *Biloxi to embark on tree-trunk project on Beach Boulevard*> > Mississippi Department of Transportation crews are scheduled to begin> removing standing dead trees from the medians of U.S. 90 in Biloxiin the> next couple of weeks, and Mayor A.J. Holloway has coordinated a plan in> which the remaining trunks will be

transformed into sculpted worksof art.> > Dozens of live oaks have died in the center medians of the scenichighway in> the 16 months since Hurricane Katrina, and, under Holloway's plan, MDOT> crews will leave as much as 20 feet of the tree trunks in place, where> international award-winning "chainsaw artist" Dayton Scoggins ofMississippi> will sculpt a variety of marine-related objects.> > "We've had more than 300 trees of different varieties planted inBiloxi on> public property alone since Hurricane Katrina," Holloway said, "andin this> particular project, we're giving a second life to something MotherNature> attempted to destroy. We were dealt lemons and now we're going to make> lemonade."> > Holloway approached Southern District Transportation Commissioner Wayne> Brown and on County Parkway Commission Director Bobby Weaverabout

the> project on Dec. 7. Gulfport Public Works Director Kris Riemann, who had> artist Scoggins sculpt a tree in Gulfport, originally suggested theidea to> Biloxi.> > The mayor envisions a tree-sculpture garden where a collection ofdead oak> trees now stands a couple blocks west of the Biloxi Lighthouse, withseveral> other sculptures created in the median further west toward RodenbergAvenue.> > Biloxi will pay $4,000 for the initial sculpting, while MDOT willfund the> preliminary "topping" of the trees.> > "We're happy to be a part of this cooperative project," CommissionerBrown> said. "This is, after all, a scenic highway, and I certainly hope that> people realize that it involves only those trees that have beendeemed as> dead, by both MDOT and the city's arborist. The last thing we wantto do –> and we will not do – is to take down

a live oak."> > Scoggins, who was born in Greene County and lives in ville,Miss.,> has successfully represented the United States in internationalwoodcarving> competitions and has also won numerous awards in competitionsthroughout the> country. To see samples of his stump carvings,> http://www.thechainsawartist.com/stump.html> > on County crews will continue to be responsible for themaintaining> the medians around the sculptures, which Scoggins will treat with an> environmentally friendly preservative.> > Should the artwork ever be deemed a distraction to passing motorists,> Holloway and Brown said, the trunks could be relocated to nearbycity parks.> > > > > > >> > I

have seen firsthand all the sea creatures (baby fish, squid,> > turtles,etc. that are caught in shrimpers nets. The shrimp makeup the> > minority of the catch and the rest often dies before it can bethrown back> > in. Knowing this I am strongly in favor of farmed shrimp. Theshrimpers> > make a big hue and cry about needing their livelihood as if theywere bred> > to catch shrimp and that only, sort of like a retriever is bred tofetch> > birds or a border collie is bred to herd sheep. I have prettymuch given up> > eating shrimp until I find a source that I know is farmed.> > Beth, we have the broken pine trees here, too, but one has towonder how> > they can add up to a number that would offset what living treesall over the> > country or even in the area can produce in oxygen. He may beright and I> > could be wrong, but it will take

more convincing for me.> > On the subject of dead trees, in the median of US highway 90which runs> > along the coast, someone has taken the trunks of the dead treesand carved> > them into sculptures, some birds, others dolphins and other seacreatures,> > sort of totem style. They are all up and down the coast fromBiloxi to Pass> > Christian. They seem to have been coated with a clear lacquer so,hopefully> > will last a number of years. Very beautiful and a marvelousexample of> > making lemonade from life's lemons.----- Original Message -----> >> > <thefatmanwalking_group-unsubscribe ?subject=>> >> > .> >> > > >>

Never miss a thing. Make Yahoo your homepage.

January 24, 2008

My favorite is the pelican with the fish in his beak. I have seen a couple with pelicans, but not that one. I will have to go and look for it. Anyone who wants to come to see them is welcome to stay with us while you are here. We can go sculpture hunting together. They have done a massive replanting to replace the killed trees in the median. Some of the planting was not very wisely done, i.e. in places where the trees had little chance of surviving, and the different municipalities have cared for the young plantings with different levels of commitment. On the up side, there have been so many planted, a large percentage can fail, and we will still have more trees than before. As I have mentioned before, live oaks can grow really fast with good conditions. They have also planted a lot of palms, which, unless global warming is for real and comes quickly, will probably die the first hard winter, and cypress trees which like best to have wet feet which they will not have where they have been put. One of the best things is that they have planted the native palmetto which grows in scrubby places in the wild here, so should live and provide interesting understory and, to some extent, hold the blowing sand in place, an ongoing problem which we had just begun to adress here before Katrina.

How great that you and Elaine have researched this. Thanks, and please come see them up close. Great bargain flights into New Orleans and I can pick you up. You too, Beth. Also an airport in Gulfport. Those into the art scene should check out the Walter Museum in Ocean Springs, and the Shearwater Pottery, also in Ocean Springs. In Biloxi there is the Ohr/O'Keefe Museum dedicated to Ohr, the "mad potter" of Biloxi. All interesting and out of the ordinary local artists who attained a national reputation, and all have websites. I love Walter 's work.

W

Re: Whole Foods will stop using plastic bags

so now i had to go find photos....http://www.gulf-coast.com/News/DaytonScoggins-chain-saw-biloxi.htmlhttp://darkblueworld.smugmug.com/gallery/2618222#138144415--- In thefatmanwalking_group , Elaine wrote:>> Thanks for telling us about this, . I looked it up so that Imay see> the carvings and found the following info:> > I was only able to find a couple pictures of the trees on Hwy 90 but the> samples on the artist's site are lovely..> > Elaine> *Biloxi to embark on tree-trunk project on Beach Boulevard*> > Mississippi Department of Transportation crews are scheduled to begin> removing standing dead trees from the medians of U.S. 90 in Biloxiin the> next couple of weeks, and Mayor A.J. Holloway has coordinated a plan in> which the remaining trunks will be transformed into sculpted worksof art.> > Dozens of live oaks have died in the center medians of the scenichighway in> the 16 months since Hurricane Katrina, and, under Holloway's plan, MDOT> crews will leave as much as 20 feet of the tree trunks in place, where> international award-winning "chainsaw artist" Dayton Scoggins ofMississippi> will sculpt a variety of marine-related objects.> > "We've had more than 300 trees of different varieties planted inBiloxi on> public property alone since Hurricane Katrina," Holloway said, "andin this> particular project, we're giving a second life to something MotherNature> attempted to destroy. We were dealt lemons and now we're going to make> lemonade."> > Holloway approached Southern District Transportation Commissioner Wayne> Brown and on County Parkway Commission Director Bobby Weaverabout the> project on Dec. 7. Gulfport Public Works Director Kris Riemann, who had> artist Scoggins sculpt a tree in Gulfport, originally suggested theidea to> Biloxi.> > The mayor envisions a tree-sculpture garden where a collection ofdead oak> trees now stands a couple blocks west of the Biloxi Lighthouse, withseveral> other sculptures created in the median further west toward RodenbergAvenue.> > Biloxi will pay $4,000 for the initial sculpting, while MDOT willfund the> preliminary "topping" of the trees.> > "We're happy to be a part of this cooperative project," CommissionerBrown> said. "This is, after all, a scenic highway, and I certainly hope that> people realize that it involves only those trees that have beendeemed as> dead, by both MDOT and the city's arborist. The last thing we wantto do –> and we will not do – is to take down a live oak."> > Scoggins, who was born in Greene County and lives in ville,Miss.,> has successfully represented the United States in internationalwoodcarving> competitions and has also won numerous awards in competitionsthroughout the> country. To see samples of his stump carvings,> http://www.thechainsawartist.com/stump.html> > on County crews will continue to be responsible for themaintaining> the medians around the sculptures, which Scoggins will treat with an> environmentally friendly preservative.> > Should the artwork ever be deemed a distraction to passing motorists,> Holloway and Brown said, the trunks could be relocated to nearbycity parks.> > > > > > >> > I have seen firsthand all the sea creatures (baby fish, squid,> > turtles,etc. that are caught in shrimpers nets. The shrimp makeup the> > minority of the catch and the rest often dies before it can bethrown back> > in. Knowing this I am strongly in favor of farmed shrimp. Theshrimpers> > make a big hue and cry about needing their livelihood as if theywere bred> > to catch shrimp and that only, sort of like a retriever is bred tofetch> > birds or a border collie is bred to herd sheep. I have prettymuch given up> > eating shrimp until I find a source that I know is farmed.> > Beth, we have the broken pine trees here, too, but one has towonder how> > they can add up to a number that would offset what living treesall over the> > country or even in the area can produce in oxygen. He may beright and I> > could be wrong, but it will take more convincing for me.> > On the subject of dead trees, in the median of US highway 90which runs> > along the coast, someone has taken the trunks of the dead treesand carved> > them into sculptures, some birds, others dolphins and other seacreatures,> > sort of totem style. They are all up and down the coast fromBiloxi to Pass> > Christian. They seem to have been coated with a clear lacquer so,hopefully> > will last a number of years. Very beautiful and a marvelousexample of> > making lemonade from life's lemons.----- Original Message -----> >> > <thefatmanwalking_group-unsubscribe ?subject=>> >> > .> >> > > >>

January 25, 2008

What a wonderful invitation, , and so generous of you. I so wish I could do it. I have the time but not the money. But one day I will come. I'm sure of it.

Elaine

My favorite is the pelican with the fish in his beak. I have seen a couple with pelicans, but not that one. I will have to go and look for it. Anyone who wants to come to see them is welcome to stay with us while you are here. We can go sculpture hunting together. They have done a massive replanting to replace the killed trees in the median. Some of the planting was not very wisely done, i.e. in places where the trees had little chance of surviving, and the different municipalities have cared for the young plantings with different levels of commitment. On the up side, there have been so many planted, a large percentage can fail, and we will still have more trees than before. As I have mentioned before, live oaks can grow really fast with good conditions. They have also planted a lot of palms, which, unless global warming is for real and comes quickly, will probably die the first hard winter, and cypress trees which like best to have wet feet which they will not have where they have been put. One of the best things is that they have planted the native palmetto which grows in scrubby places in the wild here, so should live and provide interesting understory and, to some extent, hold the blowing sand in place, an ongoing problem which we had just begun to adress here before Katrina.

How great that you and Elaine have researched this. Thanks, and please come see them up close. Great bargain flights into New Orleans and I can pick you up. You too, Beth. Also an airport in Gulfport. Those into the art scene should check out the Walter Museum in Ocean Springs, and the Shearwater Pottery, also in Ocean Springs. In Biloxi there is the Ohr/O'Keefe Museum dedicated to Ohr, the " mad potter " of Biloxi. All interesting and out of the ordinary local artists who attained a national reputation, and all have websites. I love Walter 's work.

W

Re: Whole Foods will stop using plastic bags

so now i had to go find photos....http://www.gulf-coast.com/News/DaytonScoggins-chain-saw-biloxi.html

http://darkblueworld.smugmug.com/gallery/2618222#138144415--- In thefatmanwalking_group , Elaine wrote:

>> Thanks for telling us about this, . I looked it up so that Imay see> the carvings and found the following info:> > I was only able to find a couple pictures of the trees on Hwy 90 but the

> samples on the artist's site are lovely..> > Elaine> *Biloxi to embark on tree-trunk project on Beach Boulevard*> > Mississippi Department of Transportation crews are scheduled to begin

> removing standing dead trees from the medians of U.S. 90 in Biloxiin the> next couple of weeks, and Mayor A.J. Holloway has coordinated a plan in> which the remaining trunks will be transformed into sculpted works

of art.> > Dozens of live oaks have died in the center medians of the scenichighway in> the 16 months since Hurricane Katrina, and, under Holloway's plan, MDOT> crews will leave as much as 20 feet of the tree trunks in place, where

> international award-winning " chainsaw artist " Dayton Scoggins ofMississippi> will sculpt a variety of marine-related objects.> > " We've had more than 300 trees of different varieties planted in

Biloxi on> public property alone since Hurricane Katrina, " Holloway said, " andin this> particular project, we're giving a second life to something MotherNature> attempted to destroy. We were dealt lemons and now we're going to make

> lemonade. " > > Holloway approached Southern District Transportation Commissioner Wayne> Brown and on County Parkway Commission Director Bobby Weaverabout the> project on Dec. 7. Gulfport Public Works Director Kris Riemann, who had

> artist Scoggins sculpt a tree in Gulfport, originally suggested theidea to> Biloxi.> > The mayor envisions a tree-sculpture garden where a collection ofdead oak> trees now stands a couple blocks west of the Biloxi Lighthouse, with

several> other sculptures created in the median further west toward RodenbergAvenue.> > Biloxi will pay $4,000 for the initial sculpting, while MDOT willfund the> preliminary " topping " of the trees.

> > " We're happy to be a part of this cooperative project, " CommissionerBrown> said. " This is, after all, a scenic highway, and I certainly hope that> people realize that it involves only those trees that have been

deemed as> dead, by both MDOT and the city's arborist. The last thing we wantto do –> and we will not do – is to take down a live oak. " > > Scoggins, who was born in Greene County and lives in ville,

Miss.,> has successfully represented the United States in internationalwoodcarving> competitions and has also won numerous awards in competitionsthroughout the> country. To see samples of his stump carvings,

> http://www.thechainsawartist.com/stump.html> > on County crews will continue to be responsible for the

maintaining> the medians around the sculptures, which Scoggins will treat with an> environmentally friendly preservative.> > Should the artwork ever be deemed a distraction to passing motorists,

> Holloway and Brown said, the trunks could be relocated to nearbycity parks.> > > > > > >> > I have seen firsthand all the sea creatures (baby fish, squid,

> > turtles,etc. that are caught in shrimpers nets. The shrimp makeup the> > minority of the catch and the rest often dies before it can bethrown back> > in. Knowing this I am strongly in favor of farmed shrimp. The

shrimpers> > make a big hue and cry about needing their livelihood as if theywere bred> > to catch shrimp and that only, sort of like a retriever is bred tofetch> > birds or a border collie is bred to herd sheep. I have pretty

much given up> > eating shrimp until I find a source that I know is farmed.> > Beth, we have the broken pine trees here, too, but one has towonder how> > they can add up to a number that would offset what living trees

all over the> > country or even in the area can produce in oxygen. He may beright and I> > could be wrong, but it will take more convincing for me.> > On the subject of dead trees, in the median of US highway 90

which runs> > along the coast, someone has taken the trunks of the dead treesand carved> > them into sculptures, some birds, others dolphins and other seacreatures,> > sort of totem style. They are all up and down the coast from

Biloxi to Pass> > Christian. They seem to have been coated with a clear lacquer so,hopefully> > will last a number of years. Very beautiful and a marvelousexample of> > making lemonade from life's lemons.----- Original Message -----

> >> > <thefatmanwalking_group-unsubscribe ?subject=>

> >> > .> >> > > >>

January 25, 2008

I'm so glad you found them, Laurie. I had looked but only found one that appeared on several different pages. The artist also has some samples of his work on his site, along with the sound of a chain saw!

Elaine

so now i had to go find photos....http://www.gulf-coast.com/News/DaytonScoggins-chain-saw-biloxi.html

http://darkblueworld.smugmug.com/gallery/2618222#138144415 > >> > I have seen firsthand all the sea creatures (baby fish, squid,> > turtles,etc. that are caught in shrimpers nets. The shrimp make

up the> > minority of the catch and the rest often dies before it can bethrown back> > in. Knowing this I am strongly in favor of farmed shrimp. Theshrimpers> > make a big hue and cry about needing their livelihood as if they

were bred> > to catch shrimp and that only, sort of like a retriever is bred tofetch> > birds or a border collie is bred to herd sheep. I have prettymuch given up> > eating shrimp until I find a source that I know is farmed.

> > Beth, we have the broken pine trees here, too, but one has towonder how> > they can add up to a number that would offset what living treesall over the> > country or even in the area can produce in oxygen. He may be

right and I> > could be wrong, but it will take more convincing for me.> > On the subject of dead trees, in the median of US highway 90which runs> > along the coast, someone has taken the trunks of the dead trees

and carved> > them into sculptures, some birds, others dolphins and other seacreatures,> > sort of totem style. They are all up and down the coast fromBiloxi to Pass> > Christian. They seem to have been coated with a clear lacquer so,

hopefully> > will last a number of years. Very beautiful and a marvelousexample of> > making lemonade from life's lemons.----- Original Message -----> >> > <thefatmanwalking_group-unsubscribe ?subject=>

> >> > .> >> > > >>

January 25, 2008

This is interesting, . It's good to have an occupation like artist so that one may work anywhere, almost.

What is a " Katrina House " ? Are they portable?

Elaine

Thanks for finding this, Elaine. I did not know the particulars about the artist except that he worked with a chain saw. I noticed that he is from Greene county, a very rural and very poor part of southern Mississippi, known as the " piney woods " . My husband is from there, and there is no town of any size, and the soil is poor compared to much of Mississippi. The unemployment rate is very high and their biggest product for forever has been their young people. My husband's parents farmed and raised six children. One son became an engineer and the other a geologist, and three of the four girls became registered nurses. All moved away from there, and all of the girls moved out of state. It is a typical story for the inhabitants of that county. I know a very accomplished potter from the county who does incredible wood kiln fired ceramics.

We still have acreage there which has grown up with pines. It was the old family farmstead, but no one has lived on the place since the 1940's. It abuts a state forest, and would make a great retirement or vacation place for someone who wanted to get back to nature. Maybe I could get one of those Katrina Houses and put it there and go there with my dogs and horses. Re: Whole Foods will stop using plastic bags

Thanks for telling us about this, . I looked it up so that I may see the carvings and found the following info:

I was only able to find a couple pictures of the trees on Hwy 90 but the samples on the artist's site are lovely..

Elaine

Biloxi to embark on tree-trunk project on Beach Boulevard

Mississippi Department of Transportation crews are scheduled to begin removing standing dead trees from the medians of U.S. 90 in Biloxi in the next couple of weeks, and Mayor A.J. Holloway has coordinated a plan in which the remaining trunks will be transformed into sculpted works of art.

Dozens of live oaks have died in the center medians of the scenic highway in the 16 months since Hurricane Katrina, and, under Holloway's plan, MDOT crews will leave as much as 20 feet of the tree trunks in place, where international award-winning " chainsaw artist " Dayton Scoggins of Mississippi will sculpt a variety of marine-related objects.

" We've had more than 300 trees of different varieties planted in Biloxi on public property alone since Hurricane Katrina, " Holloway said, " and in this particular project, we're giving a second life to something Mother Nature attempted to destroy. We were dealt lemons and now we're going to make lemonade. "

Holloway approached Southern District Transportation Commissioner Wayne Brown and on County Parkway Commission Director Bobby Weaver about the project on Dec. 7. Gulfport Public Works Director Kris Riemann, who had artist Scoggins sculpt a tree in Gulfport, originally suggested the idea to Biloxi.

The mayor envisions a tree-sculpture garden where a collection of dead oak trees now stands a couple blocks west of the Biloxi Lighthouse, with several other sculptures created in the median further west toward Rodenberg Avenue.

Biloxi will pay $4,000 for the initial sculpting, while MDOT will fund the preliminary " topping " of the trees.

" We're happy to be a part of this cooperative project, " Commissioner Brown said. " This is, after all, a scenic highway, and I certainly hope that people realize that it involves only those trees that have been deemed as dead, by both MDOT and the city's arborist. The last thing we want to do – and we will not do – is to take down a live oak. "

Scoggins, who was born in Greene County and lives in ville, Miss., has successfully represented the United States in international woodcarving competitions and has also won numerous awards in competitions throughout the country. To see samples of his stump carvings, http://www.thechainsawartist.com/stump.html

on County crews will continue to be responsible for the maintaining the medians around the sculptures, which Scoggins will treat with an environmentally friendly preservative.

Should the artwork ever be deemed a distraction to passing motorists, Holloway and Brown said, the trunks could be relocated to nearby city parks.

I have seen firsthand all the sea creatures (baby fish, squid, turtles,etc. that are caught in shrimpers nets. The shrimp make up the minority of the catch and the rest often dies before it can be thrown back in. Knowing this I am strongly in favor of farmed shrimp. The shrimpers make a big hue and cry about needing their livelihood as if they were bred to catch shrimp and that only, sort of like a retriever is bred to fetch birds or a border collie is bred to herd sheep. I have pretty much given up eating shrimp until I find a source that I know is farmed.

Beth, we have the broken pine trees here, too, but one has to wonder how they can add up to a number that would offset what living trees all over the country or even in the area can produce in oxygen. He may be right and I could be wrong, but it will take more convincing for me.

On the subject of dead trees, in the median of US highway 90 which runs along the coast, someone has taken the trunks of the dead trees and carved them into sculptures, some birds, others dolphins and other sea creatures, sort of totem style. They are all up and down the coast from Biloxi to Pass Christian. They seem to have been coated with a clear lacquer so, hopefully will last a number of years. Very beautiful and a marvelous example of making lemonade from life's lemons. ----- Original Message -----

..

January 25, 2008

They are little tiny houses which look much like the turn-of-the-century shotgum houses complete with gingerbread trim. They are manufactured elsewhere and brought in by truck like a mobile home. They all look exactly alike, and are meant to be affordable housing for those displaced by Katrina. Miles better than the FEMA trailers which, not surprisingly, are emitting formaldehyde fumes and other horrible problems. I have a weakness for tiny houses of any type, and these little houses touch something inside me. Actually living in one might be another matter.