Here’s a message from Admiral Mike Gilday, Chief of Naval Operations

1. Shipmates, this year we are celebrating the Navy’s 246th Birthday.

2. The theme of this year’s Birthday celebration is “Resilient and Ready,” which speaks to the service, dedication and strength of both our Sailors and their families.

3. America’s need for a strong Navy is rooted in our past and has never been more important. Indeed, providing a safe, secure, and stable maritime system is an essential part of what our Navy does every day. We are not simply the “keeper of the seas” but the “keeper of the global way of life” as well. WE are the primary guarantors of peace, prosperity, and maintain the open flow of goods on the oceans.

4. Through every deployment and PCS move, spouses often endure separations, as well as shoulder the day-to-day responsibilities of managing and running a household – along with their own careers.

5. While our ships and submarines are made of steel, our Sailors and their families are the lifeblood of our force, and at the heart of our birthday celebration.

6. So today, for the seen and unseen responsibilities you ALL carry, and for the daily sacrifices you ALL make. Thank you.

7. Happy 246th Birthday, Shipmates. See you in the Fleet.

8. Released by Admiral Mike Gilday, Chief of Naval Operations.//

SEE VIDEO BELOW and then

CARRY ON...!

Greetings Ciscoe,

Wondering if you could advise if these are ready to harvest and if so, how long should they rest for? Cure? We were thinking about cooking them up as a supplement for greyhounds.

We are enjoying our Brussels sprouts, and looking forward to a late harvest of broccoli and cabbage!   Jim

The United States Navy traces its origins to the Continental Navy, which the Continental Congress established on October 13, 1775, by authorizing the procurement, fitting out, manning and dispatch of two armed vessels to cruise in search of munitions ships supplying the British Army in America. The legislation also established a Naval Committee to supervise the work. All together, the Continental Navy numbered some fifty ships over the course of the war, with approximately twenty warships active at its maximum strength. 

After the American War for Independence, Congress sold the surviving ships of the Continental Navy and released the seamen and officers. 

The Constitution of the United States ratified in 1789, empowered Congress "to provide and maintain a navy." Acting on this authority, Congress ordered the construction and manning of six frigates in 1794, and the War Department administered naval affairs from that year until Congress established the Department of the Navy in 1798.

Today, The U.S. Navy is by far the largest, most powerful navy in the world and has the world's largest aircraft carrier fleet, with eleven in service, two in the reserve fleet, and two new class carriers under construction. The service has a combined strength of over 438,000 personnel on active duty and in the Navy Reserve. It has 290 deploy-able combat vessels and more than 3,700 aircraft in active service.

The Navy Motto:  "Not for self, but country". 

 The founder of KSQM:  Dennis "Rick" Perry,CMDR, USN (ret,). 

He saw the need for an emergency broadcaster in our area, damned the torpedoes...and went full speed ahead to build and provide the very best radio service in the world!

See below:  

Scores of wheelchair riders, bicyclists, skateboarders and others participated in the third annual Sea to Sound multi-modal trek covering portions of 74-miles of the Olympic Discovery Trail.  Also known as Ian’s Ride, organizer and founder of the event Ian Mackay says the idea was created to raise awareness and appreciation of the great outdoors regardless of ability.  

MACKAY:  “We really try to cater to the wheelchair crowd. It’s so infrequent that you can find an event that is for particularly folks with disabilities. And I can find my solace out on the Olympic Discovery Trail. And putting on this event every year is a way I can kind of share that with my other friends and fans.”

Ian has been paralyzed from the neck down following a bicycle accident in 2008.  He says you cannot help but feel elated when you’re out there with nature.  The trek started  west of Lake Crescent and ended on the Larry Scott Trail in Port Townsend.

Hi Ciscoe,

I am not sure if this is even a yucca plant so maybe you can enlighten me as to what it actually is. Whatever it is I am not sure how to care for it, I just cut a lot of dead leafs out so just now has new green ones but hoping for any advice and tips on how to properly care for this gorgeous plant. If you needed to know we are in the Tacoma area. Thank you, Roger

Ciscoe:  These bugs are attacking all the new growth on my rose bush. I have tried diatomaceous earth and Neem oil spray and neither has worked. Any advice would be much appreciated. Thank You, Tennelle

HELP... look what the heat did to my rhodies. Do you have any

suggestions?- Barb

Hi Ciscoe, Would you mind taking a look at this photo. This tree is currently in front of our facility and this facility is going to be closing and maybe building torn down. This tree is so unique on how its branches knot back on itself and it grows in an umbrella shape. I have done lots of checking but I do not seem to be able to come up with a name for it. Am I able to start a growth from this tree. I would appreciate any information you might have. –Shirley

Dear Ciscoe, What is this? Growing in my backyard. Thanks, Mary Beth

Ben sez:

“Either write something worth reading or do something worth writing.”

Which one did you pick?

(You know, you can do both!)