NATURE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD: A knotty problem
Toni Bandrowicz
In 1930, it was Al Capone. In 1934, John Dillinger. After Dillinger was killed, it was Pretty Boy Floyd and, after him, Baby Face Nelson. They were all listed by the FBI as “Public Enemy No. 1.” The term “Public Enemy” was first used in the 1930s to describe dangerous criminals whose activities were extremely damaging to society.
Today we have a dangerous killer in our midst but it’s not a gangster, it’s a plant: Japanese knotweed (Fallopia japonica).
Introduced to the U.S. from eastern Asia in the late-1800s, Japanese Knotweed creates tall dense thickets that shade out all other plant life. It’s literally killing off our native shrubs, trees, and flowers. Loss of native species impacts the insects, birds, and mammals that depend on those plants for food. And that, in turn, ultimately affects us.
Swampscott news in brief for the week of Monday, April 19 wickedlocal.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from wickedlocal.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Swampscott news in brief for the week of Monday, April 12
Wicked Local
The Swampscott Reporter s news in brief, published online every Monday, is a compilation of need-to-know, general and short news items from various sources around town. Swampscott community members and organizations can email 150 to 200-word news items for inclusion in the weekly list to wdowd@gannett.com with news in brief in the subject line.
Holiday closures
On Monday, May 31, Swampscott municipal offices are closed in observance of Memorial Day.
Vaccination update
Starting Friday, March 12, the state will launch a new vaccination pre-registration site for its seven mass vaccination sites. Learn more at swampscottma.gov.
Swampscott news in brief for the week of Monday, April 5 wickedlocal.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from wickedlocal.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.