Piñon Hills kindergartners say 'hello' to first grade

The kindergartners have graduated. What a wonderful celebration there was at Piñon Hills Elementary School.

The children sang, "There's a sadness in the air, it's over, it's done, but wasn't kindergarten fun. First grade, first grade. Start spreading the news, we aren't going to stay. We want to be a part of it, first grade, first grade. Bye, bye kindergarten, bye, bye. Hello first grade, hello."

A wonderful slide show was put together by Karen Sullivan. And wow, what a turn out. Big thanks to all of you who brought such wonderful finger foods.

I was very curious to hear what the kindergartners wanted to be when they grow up. I plan to ask again in 12 years when they are graduating from Douglas High. Won't that be interesting? Kelsey Carlson says she would like to be a veterinarian. Nate Wright says he's going to be a soldier. Taylor Sullivan said she'd like to be a baby-sitter. Elisha Romero wants to be Spiderman. Donovan Hunton says he's going to be a professional dirt bike rider. Angelina Gavin wants to be a nurse. Sophia Batino wants to be a firefighter, go girl! And Amanda Williams wants to be a dog groomer at Petco.

The next day the kindergartners got to have lunch in the cafeteria. That sure was fun. They are grown up now.

n The "official" start of the gardening season has arrived with the Carson Valley Days parade. We should be freeze-free for 90 days. Anyway, that's what I have been told. If my memory is right, last year it froze on June 6. (I lost all my peppers.) Then it froze again on Sept. 6.

n How about raising some worms while you're out in the dirt? Jerry Romero, a Johnson Lane resident, does just that.

"You gather hay bails, two bails tall. Form a square or rectangle. Apply some leaves, grass clippings, saw dust, straw and manure," Romero said.

He ordered 2,000 red wigglers over the Internet. He'll make a hole in the soil and fill it with wet peat moss - they'll love it. Keep the compost moist and the worms will double in quantity every three months. The compost also attracts bugs that will feed on the top like roly polies, earwigs, black beetles and they'll help to break it down. In the winter Jerry recommends you put a thick layer of straw on top and cover with plastic. The bails of straw and mulch layer will help to keep the worms warm way down deep in the soil so they'll be ready to produce more castings in the spring. Worm casting fertilizer sells for as much as $5 per gallon and you can make your own. This is a good way to produce healthy soil. Call Romero for more information at 267-9393.

n Don't forget: 8 a.m. to noon this Sunday, June 19, is the Johnson Lane Volunteer Fire Department pancake breakfast. The cost is $5 for adults, $3 for children younger than 12.

n Lisa Welch is a Johnson Lane resident and can be reached at 267-9350.