Barbara Kirkpatrick

1. Aunt Marilyn’s Banana Bread                                                                         Judy Josephson ⅓ C. Margarine, melted 1 ½ C. Flour 1 C. Sugar 1 Tsp. Baking Soda 1 Egg 3 Mashed Bananas, ripe 1 Tsp. Vanilla ½ C. Nuts, optional Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Mix butter & sugar. Add egg & vanilla. Stir in, alternating flour/baking soda & bananas. Add nuts, if desired. Pour batter into a greased loaf pan. Bake for approximately 1 hour. Turn out & cool. Wrap in foil.

We were aware of a number of small recreational lakes in Michigan, New York, Ohio, and other states that historically experienced microcystin-producing algal blooms in late summer, and we corresponded with colleagues conducting routine monitoring of these lakes.

This week marks the sixth anniversary of the capping of the Deepwater Horizon rig following a deadly explosion and the largest oil spill in U.S. history. This past April, a U.S. District Court approved the final financial settlement — a $20 billion civil penalty — that is designed to help restore the Gulf of Mexico as well as provide for ongoing environmental monitoring and an improved understanding of the Gulf’s waters.