| AC on cold morning leads to Estates grow-house bust
An air conditioner that was in use on an unusually cold morning helped lead investigators to a suspected marijuana grow house operation in Golden Gate Estates. Delfin H. Puentes, 39, of Fort Myers, was arrested Thursday and charged with marijuana trafficking -- more than 25 pounds -- and possession of narcotic paraphernalia. Reports say Puentes operated a marijuana grow house at 1781 8th Ave. N.E. Earlier this month a deputy on patrol noticed that an air conditioning unit was in use at the house on a cold morning. As the deputy approached the residence, he could smell the odor of growing marijuana. The house appeared to be vacant at the time. Around 10 a.m. Thursday, a blue Nissan Pathfinder driven by Puentes left the house, traveling 51 mph on Eighth Avenue Northeast, where the posted speed is 35 mph.
Homes blend eco-friendliness, unique design
Theres been quite a buzz around town lately about energy and water conservation practices, and for years so-called green building has been a hit.
However a few homes in Truckee were built eco-friendly, not just to save heat and money, but because theyre just plain interesting.
One with the Earth
Sue and Jeff Cauhape have been living in their Tahoe Donner, earth berm home for 12 years. The couple maintains that, despite being for-the-most-part covered in dirt, their home is very bright and inviting.
Its not dark inside at all; we were surprised by how much light there was, Sue Cauhape said. We tried to sell it for two years, but I dont think a lot of people get the concept. Its odd, but weve been very comfortable here.
Comfort inside the home can be attributed to its thermal mass the walls absorb and retain heat, so the house requires neither heater nor air conditioner.
Settings, speakers could improve DVDs' sound
Q: The sound on rented VCR tapes and DVDs is usually so poor, I can barely hear the dialogue, even with my TV sound turned up to the maximum. Sometimes it is impossible to hear across the room, even when the air conditioner is off. Sometimes the background music overpowers the dialogue. This happens with rented DVDs and videos, but never with programs I tape from broadcasts via basic cable (no converter box). Broadcast sound is always adequate. What might cause this? Is this because of the size of my TV (13 inches)? Would a larger TV solve the problem? How can I improve the movie sound without spending big bucks?--Alice Bratter A: Hi-fi videotapes and DVDs are recorded at sound levels meant for the home theater experience. This means they have wide dynamic range, meaning soft sounds are soft and loud sounds can get very loud.
Garden Calendar
FEB 16/17 Wight's Home and Garden: 5026 196th St. S.W. Lynnwood. 425-775-3636; wights.com. Feb. 16, 10:30 a.m., Feb. 17, 11 a.m. -- Plants with Winter Interest: Learn how to add color and fragrance to your winter garden through plants with colored bark, variegated foliage and evergreen perennials. Free. SAT Windmill Gardens: 5823 160th Ave. E., Sumner. Register: 253-863-5843; windmillgarden.com. 10 a.m. -- Basic Landscaping Part 1: Miki Wade, landscape designer from Olympic Landscape, teaches how to choose plants well adapted to each garden situation, to save time and money, reduce maintenance and help prevent pests and diseases. Free. 11 a.m. -- Kids Thyme, Plant an Ivy Heart Topiary in a Red Bucket: Plant an Heart Shaped Ivy Topiary for someone special for Valentine's Day.
Key West: The southernmost slump
The weather has been cold and snowy in parts of the North and Midwest,'' she said. ``We're hoping they are getting tired of it by now and will come visit.'' Some already have, like Tina and David Cosworth of Wisconsin, who said they decided just last month to come to Key West because ``it looked warm on the map.'' ''Tourism is our lifeblood,'' Panico said. ``This should make us appreciate our visitors, and be kinder to them.'' .
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