THE BEE HERDER A publication of the Medina Co. Beekeeper’s Assn. February 2006

Next Meeting Monday  New members of the club were introduced, and th the minutes embraced by all in attendance - February 20 , 2006 except for the secretary who was really late. 7:00 PM Speaker: Dr. Larry Connor  Mike, the new treasurer, brought down the Topic: Queen Management house with a fantastic presentation of the club’s fiscal health, and sadly reports that we are very ill indeed. Apparently, the $650 we collect in The next meeting of the Medina Co. Beekeeper’s dues each year just covers the cost of the th Assn. will be held on Monday, February 20 , 2006 newsletter so Mike’s advice is go email at 7:00 pm in our meeting room at the A. I. Root everybody! Of course newsletters will still be Co., 623 W. Liberty Street, Medina, Ohio (at the available vie regular mail service if you don’t end of the West Liberty Commons Building). have a computer. Mike also reports that we can Refreshments will be served. do a service for the club by using our tax exempt status when buying things for the club. Our February speaker will be Dr. Larry Connor, a So lets comp fewer brewskys everybody. popular and regular Bee Culture columnist, book We all accepted Mike’s report that the treasury author and publisher, honey bee researcher and has $1,322.74. National speaker. He will be speaking on Queen Management…everything from installation to  Fair Book Changes evaluation to requeening, even to simple ways to In fair news, the fair book honey classes this raise your own queens, just everything about year will combine the medium and dark as one queens! This most important topic will be covered category of honey, and amber and dark amber as in detail by Dr. Connor. Plan to attend this special another category. White and light amber honey meeting of the Medina Beekeepers so you can learn will also be a category. Also, the bee pack will even more about your queens, and how to manage not be permitted as an entry in the fair. Only the them, and ultimately your colonies, better. Ross rounds and cut comb with an 8 ounce Kim minimum will be allowed. So don’t even try it.

 Kelly Kall over at the 4H news desk reports that Medina County we need a final list for individuals interested in Beekeepers Association mentoring. The club’s bee yard will be used for Meeting Minutes January 16th , 2006 mentoring activities because we have insurance, By: Gwen Rosenberg or if you prefer, you can show off at your own bee yard. This is a great way to really lower the median age of beekeepers and keep those 4-H  The secretary, on the heels of a landslide whippersnappers off the streets. unopposed victory at the polls last month,

arrived late at the meeting tonight having exchanged her political capital for some beer  There’s a beginners bee class Feb. 11th and 18th and a bag of cheesy popcorn. from 9 to 3 at A. I. Root. The cost is $45 for individuals and $50 for families. There is no cost if you have already taken the course and Note: The Member dues paid line includes those want to have another go at it. Hecklers will be dues pre-paid in 2005 and newsletter expenses required to assemble frames after school. includes the membership drive.

 Bee Yard Tony is doing a great job in the bee yard and Important Newsletter happily reports that there are sounds of life (hopefully more than a mouse family) in three Information: of three hives. Due to rising costs of postage and ordinary photocopy expenses, we  Ed Schmitz donated an entire hive to be raffled would appreciate it if you receive off at the meeting. Despite all my attempts at your newsletter via e-mail to help corrupting the contest, Adam won fair and the association conserve it’s square--- or so he wants you to think. precious Treasury. For your convenience, it will be sent out as a  More chemicals For those of you that treat chemically for varroa Microsoft Word attachment which (and I know not all of you do) there is a new can be downloaded and printed to product on the market called something like look exactly like the hard copies pure timal (Tylan) in a jar or some such thing sent out in the U.S. Mail. If you and by all accounts it works. Now for those of have a computer and can help us you interested in non-chemical pest out on this, please e-mail your management allow me to introduce the bee- current e-mail address to rosary. A genuine nondenominational rosary in [email protected] to start with which each prayer for health and safety is said your March newsletter. Annual on a little plastic bee. Don’t leave the big man dues are now due. According to our guessing as to what your praying for---let him Constitution, Article II Section 4. know with your own bee-rosary. Early orders now being accepted. Membership fee shall be payable January 1 st to the Secretary. Treasurer’s Report Membership may begin any month. By: Mike Rossander Fees paid during the interim carry Welcome to 8 new regular members and to 9 new to December 31 st . The March members who are taking the Beginner Beekeeping newsletter will be the last one sent class. As of 11 Feb 2006, our account balance is to any unpaid members. Thank you $1,556.17 Our year-to-date financial transactions for your understanding in this include: Income matter. Keep up with the latest in 2006 Member dues paid beekeeping and keep your $340.00 membership active!! Education Fees (Beginner Beekeeper class) 425.00 T-shirt sales 20.00 Bee Tales from the Bee Expenses Yard Education (texts for Beginner class) By: Tony Armeni $180.00 Newsletter Last visit to the M.C.B.A. Bee yard was: 161.17 Feb 10, 2006 at 2:00pm Speaker Honorarium 50.00 Weather outside: Snow ******* Temp 31 degrees F Net contribution to Reserves Feels like 23 degrees F $393.83 67% relative Humidity Pressure 30.05in. and falling Medina County Beekeepers Dew point 23 degrees F December 28, 2005 Visibility 1 Mile By: Gwen Rosenberg It appears the ladies have cheated death once again. All three hives have activity.  The executives officer types from the bee club Sad news is the groundhog saw his including: Kim, Matt, Judy, Aaron, Yours shadow, so I guess we have six more Truly, Mike, Peggy, Terry, Stuart, Buzz, Nancy weeks of winter, lets all hope for six of the and Tony all got together to eat holiday cookie earlier weeks say 60-65degrees F. leftovers and complain about lame Christmas gifts. In addition, with the remaining time the Tony members did discuss some pressing club news.

Tri County Meeting  The beginners class will be Feb. 11th and 18th The Ohio State University Extension Services and from 9-3 P.M. with a working lunch (bring your Tri-County Beekeepers' Association of Northeastern Ohio will hold their 28th Annual own you cheapskates). The cost this year will be Beekeeping Workshop on Saturday, March 4, $45 for an individual and $50 for a household. 2006, at The Ohio State University, Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center  In 4-H news Jeanne has graciously offered to (OARDC). assist in this noble cause. A letter will be sent OARDC is located on State Route 83 south of US out to all the 4-Hers explaining the new 30 in Wooster, Ohio. This is the largest one-day beekeeping program and an announcement will workshop in the United States. be made at the next meeting looking for mentors to let the kids poke around the hive a bit. Mr. Tony Jadczak, Maine Department of Agriculture is the Keynote Speaker, his topic:  We all yakked for a while about speakers we’d "Beekeeping in Maine - Ohio Lessons." In like to see, not see, and those we’d like to never addition, smaller group sessions will be held: come back. Tony has his work cut out for him 1) Cooking with Honey, and he’s doing a great job lining up speakers 2)Backyard Queen Rearing, and topics. 3) Small Hive Beetles & Diseases, 4) Good Habits/Bad Habits,  I got a canary for my birthday. His name is Otto 5) Bears & Pests, and Peggy and I talked about him quite a bit. 6) Mead Making, 7) Bee Gardening,  In fair news, Stuart and club officers squared off 8) Modern Beekeeping, and other topics. over money. Stuart’s life has been made difficult by the fair board who is looking for Along with a great program are the Baking extra cash to help make ends meet at the fair. Contest, Door Prizes, and many Vendor Displays. Stuart then approached the club with several Registration starts at 8:00 a.m. with the program ideas including paying for our own honey judge, starting at 9:00 a.m. until 4:45 p.m. The a donation, a pledge of future donations etc, to registration keep the fair folks off his back. We generally fee for the day is $30.00 per person with hot resisted and debated, grandstanded, filibustered, turkey lunch being offered for $9.25 each or argued, whined, nitpicked and squabbled for boxed lunch (pre-registration only) for $5.50. For some time after that and had so much fun we more information contact: Sherry Ferrell at agreed to talk about it some more later. (330) 263-3684, e-mail: [email protected]  Additional fair discussion involved Jeanne’s proposal to pull sample bottles belonging to Executive Meeting Minutes workers during their shift to ensure a fair playing field for club members selling honey at the fair. After some discussion, it was decided that such a move is not be necessary. Bees for Sale

2006 Meeting Dates Queen Right Colonies Ltd. & Agendas will have available for Spring: 3lb.packages. Due to arrive at the Farm April 18-22. Feb 20th Speaker: Larry Connor Topic: spring management and These packages are coming in from Northern swarm control. California. Refreshment theme: Valentines Day Races available while quantities last: Golden Italian, Minnesota Hygienic and New World Carniolan. Refreshments: John Sente $65.00 per package (plus a $4 deposit on your Sharon Hasek cages). March 20th Speaker: John Grafton Topic: Killer Bees, Bears & New Drugs We will have New World Carniolan, Russian and (and what to expect for 2006) Golden Italian queens. Call and reserve your Refreshments: Gwen Rosenberg packages and queens TODAY! Ph.(440) 647-2602 Cool Refreshments Column FAX (440) 647-0922 [email protected] The refreshment theme for this month is Valentine's Day. So of course there will be pink, red and chocolate. If anyone wants to bring something, call Peggy at 330- Bees for Sale 723-6265 or leave a message. All baked contributions are always welcome. Package Italian Bees $65 for 3 lb. package with queen Thanks, Peggy Russian queen is $3 more per package February: “Valentines Day Theme” Queens John Sente & Sharon Hasek Italians $12 ea Russians $15 ea March: Gwen Rosenberg April: your name here Discounts: May: Nancy Riopelle $3 off per package if ordered and paid in February June: Kathy Summers $1.50 off per package through March 20th July: Pizza & pop (Fair Booth Cleanup) August: Picnic Mid-April Pickup at: September: Tim & Ruth Casada Tom Jefferies October: your name here 24564 Squire Rd. November: your name here Columbia Station, OH 44028 December: Holiday gathering 440-236-5994 [email protected] Congratulations to our Life Members!

Congratulations go out to Christina Hoffman, 2006 OFFICERS and OTHER VIP’S: Tom Jefferies, and Gretchen Wagar for being unanimously voted in as “Honorary Pres: Kim Flottum 330-722-2021 [email protected] V-P: Tony Armeni 330-723-2887 [email protected] Members” at last month’s meeting. Their Secy: Gwen Rosenberg [email protected] contributions to the association over the last Treas: Mike Rossander 440-899-0367 several decades have been greatly [email protected] appreciated. They have brought many years Newsletter Editor Nancy Riopelle 330-483-3360 [email protected] of beekeeping knowledge and expertise to Medina Co. Bee Yard our club and have contributed in so many Tony Armeni 330-723-2887 [email protected] ways over the years that we cannot mention Bruce Schneider 330-278-2260 [email protected] them all here. Thanks a million ! DIRECTORS: 1st yr: Judy Fox 330-239-4358 [email protected] 2nd yr: Peggy Garnes 330-723-6265 [email protected] 3rd yr: Terry Bradley 440-926-2345 Regional Inspector: JOHN GRAFTON 740-543-3067 7698 State Hwy 646 Bloomingdale, OH 43910 State Apiary Inspection Supervisor: Tim Miklasiewicz, Ph.D 614-728-6373 Dept of Agriculture 800-282-1955 option 5 ext. 5 2995 E. Main Street 614-728-6453 (fax) THE BEE HERDER Reynoldsburg, OH 43068 [email protected] c/o 701 W. River Rd. www.ohioagriculture.gov Valley City, OH 44280 Ohio State Extension Specialist DR. JAMES TEW 330-263-3684 OARDC. Dept of Ent. 330-262-2720 (fax) 1680 Madison Ave. Wooster, OH 44691 Medina Co. Bee Inspectors DAVE HEILMAN 330-263-4712 444 Spink St. Wooster, OH 44691 [email protected]

APPLICATION MEDINA CO. BEEKEEPER'S ASSN. Name ______Address Other Bee Meetings you are ______invited to attend: City ______Zip______Summit County Beekeeper’s Association Number of Colonies February 16th, 7:00 PM ______April 20th 7:00 PM Phone Number Location: The Boston Heights Village Hall, ______E-mail 45 E. Boston Mills Rd. address______If you like to plan ahead, we are planning to Do you wish to receive your newsletter via e-mail only? hold meetings this year on the third Thursday Yes or No______of the months that we meet. (Feb.16 speaker Denzil St. Clair), (April 20 speaker Roy $10 for individual or family. Make checks Hendrickson). During the June or August payable to Medina Co. Beekeeper's Assn. and meetings we are planning a field day and send to: Mike Rossander, 1871 Settlers Reserve speaker which would be held the third Way, Westlake, OH 44145 Saturday. Thursday, October 19 and Thursday, December 7, a get together to tied us over until February 2007. We are lining up some interesting speakers and are looking forward to seeing all of you at the meetings. Janet Stone, Secretary [email protected]

by Dr. James Tew

Tape #11 OSU#1 History & Development of Beekeeping OSU #2 The Beekeeper's Equipment OSU #3 Opening/Manipulating Hive the Right Way Tape #12 OSU#4 A. How to get into the Beekeeping Business B. The U.S. Beekeeping Industry OSU#5 A. Honey Bee Biology B. The Honey Bee Swarm/What to Do With It OSU#6 Pollination & the Honey Bee A Good Arrangement for Everyone Tape #13 OSU#7 A Honey, One of the World's Best Fads OSU#8 Pollen, Beeswax, Propolis, Venom OSU#9 The Honey Bee - Inside & Out Tape #14 OSU#10 A The Honey Bee Sting-A Lasting Experience B Insects that Sting OSU#11The Bee Hive's Monarch - The Queen OSU#12 Maladies of Honey Bees Tape #15 OSU#13`A. Honey Bees in the Summer B Honey Bees in the Winter OSU#14 The Africanized Honey Bee OSU#15Being a Food Beekeeping Ambassador

VIDEO TAPE LIBRARY Tape #16 The Monk & the Honeybee-The Story of Brother Adam The following is a list of the VHS tapes owned by Tape #17 our club and is free to use by any current dues Two for One Splits & Divides, Medications and Pesticides paying member. All we ask is that you sign the Tape #18 tapes out and return them at the next meeting. An Introduction to Beekeeping These are purchased with our fundraising efforts Tape #19 Queen Rearing Video and are for your education and enjoyment. Tape #20 Beekeeping in Northern Climates Tape #1 Varroa Mite Brushy Mountain Bee Farm - 1991 Tape #2 A Look at Queen & Package Bee Production -Brush Mountain - 1991 Honey Trivia Tape #3`Keeping Bees & Producing Honey Brushy Mountain Bee Farm - 1991 How many flowers must honey bees tap to make Tape #4 An Introduction to Beekeeping one pound of honey? Two Million Ed Weiss - 1985 Tape #5 The Honey Harvest How far does a hive of bees fly to bring you one Spectral Films - 1987 Tape #6 Dr. James Tew - 5 Bee Programs: pound of honey? Over 55,000 miles #1 African Bees-Learning to Live with Them #2 African Bees-Destroying Hives How much honey does the average worker honey #3 How to Get Started-Bees from a Building bee make in her lifetime? 1/12 teaspoon #4 Ground nesting yellow jackets #5 The hornets high rise hive Tape #7 Requeening & Colony Division Made How fast does a honey bee fly? About 15 mph Easy - Brush Mountain - 1991 Tape #8 The Mysterious Bee & A Bee's Life How much honey would it take to fuel a bee’s Discovery Channel flight around the world? About one ounce Tape #9 Tracheal Mite/Detection/Cure/Prevention Tape #10 Weekend Beekeeper Parts 1-8 How long have bees been producing honey from Ohio State University Tapes flowering plants? 10-20 million years What is the US per capita consumption of honey? 1.1 pound

What state is known as the beehive state? Utah

How many wings does a honey bee have? Four

How many beekeepers are there in the U.S.? Estimated 211,600

How many flowers does a honey bee visit during one collection trip? 50 – 100

How do honey bees communicate with one another? “Dancing”. Honey bees do a dance which alerts other bees where nectar and pollen was located. The dance explains direction and distance. Bees also communicate with pheromones.

(Honey Trivia taken from National Honey Board info.)