Invention Convention

Patents recently granted to Medina County residents. Only county residents are included, although there may be additional people listed as patent grantees.

Patent for: Methods and Apparatus to Assist Listeners in Distinguishing Between Electronically Generated Binaural Sound and Physical Environment Sound

To: Philip Scott Lyren

City of Residence: Wadsworth

Patent for: Alcohol Containing NonAntimicrobial Cleansing Composition

To: Amanda Jo Copeland

City of Residence: Seville

Patent for: Sharing Locations Where Binaural Sound Externally Localizes

To: Philip Scott Lyren

City of Residence: Wadsworth

Patent for: Package for Irregular Shaped Objects

To: Andrew Douglas Gordon

City of Residence: Medina

Patent for: LED Marker With Vertical Mount

To: Michael Miller City of Residence: Brunswick

Patent for: Tire

To: John Stephan Guilford City of Residence: Spencer

Patent for: Faux Distributor Cable Holder

To: Elio Martin City of Residence: Litchfield

Patent for: Connection Interface for Reaction Plate in Torque Converter

To: Kyle Nelson and Kyle Royer

City of Residence: Wadsworth

Patent for: Handheld Shower Assembly

To: Viorel Berlovan, Jr. City of Residence: Medina

Patent for: Ice Detector Apparatus, System, and Method (for an aircraft)

To: James A. Mullen

City of Residence: Wadsworth

Patent for: Binaural Sound in Visual Entertainment Media

To: Philip Scott Lyren

City of Residence: Wadsworth

Patent for: Playing Binaural Sound Clips During an Electronic Communication

To: Philip Scott Lyren

City of Residence: Wadsworth

Patent for: Metal Recovery System and Method

To: Timothy F. Conway

City of Residence: Hinckley

by Michelle Riley

Potatoes are easy to grow and a great choice for the beginning gardener.

Packed full of nutrition, a potato is a versatile vegetable that can be used with many meals.

It is important to choose the right site to get the potato patch off to a good start.

Potatoes do not like wet “feet” and prefer well-draining soil. They enjoy a sunny location with loose loamy soil free of stones and debris. A spot with at least six hours of sunlight is ideal.

Plant the potatoes 4 to 6 inches deep adding compost, manure or other clean organic material to enrich the soil around them.

While seed potatoes are often used for planting, regular potatoes with sprouted eyes also can be used. A golf ball is the measure used to describe the size of the potato to be planted.

If the potato is larger, it should be cut into smaller pieces making sure to maintain at least one or two eyes per piece.

Plant the potatoes 8 to 12 inches apart with the eyes facing up. Cover them with 4 to 6 inches of soil.

Watering them in well, making sure not to keep them soggy or they will rot.

As the stem starts to grow, continue to add soil around the base of the plant, covering the stems and creating a mound.

The developing potato tubers need to be buried well to protect them from the sunlight, which can turn them green and render them useless.

Smaller varieties of potatoes are usually ready to harvest in 10 weeks where the larger varieties take 80 to 100 days.

When the stems die back, the potatoes are ready to harvest.

Carefully dig them up, then dry them out in a cool, dry place before storing them.

If you do not have a plot of land to grow them on, they also can be grown in a bag or a container if the bag or container drains well and the spot receives adequate sunlight.

Potatoes are a cool season crop, meaning they thrive between temperatures 45 to 75 degrees. Plant potatoes March through June for a great fall crop. They also can be grown year-round.

Michelle Riley is a local horticulturist, landscape designer, and consultant. She is the founder of the gardening subscription service, https://theplantmall.com; https:// michellerileyhorticulturist.com; and https://neohiogarden. com. She also is the president of All About You Signature Landscape Design, Inc. Learn more about Riley at https://bit.ly/3BavKLk Riley can be contacted at Info@ MichelleRileyHorticulturist.com or by calling 234-678-8266.

by Chris Pickens

French fries, who does not love them?

Based on the name, one would think that these kitchen delectables originated in France, but they actually made their beginning in Belgium.

Fries are oftentimes known as a side dish, but Americans have turned them into a main dish.

The number one condiment added to these are ketchup, but it is not uncommon to make them one’s own by loading them with cheese and bacon bits (all vegan, of course). The options are endless!

• 6 to 8 potatoes

• 2 or more tablespoons olive oil, add more if needed

• parsley flakes

• garlic powder

• salt

Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Pierce potatoes with knife or fork.

Microwave 3 to 5 minutes, until tender. Brush cookie sheet with olive oil. Slice potatoes length wise. Brush potatoes lightly with olive oil. Sprinkle with parsley flakes, garlic powder and salt, using as much as you prefer. Bake in oven 20 minutes or until golden brown. Enjoy!

Chris Pickens, a vegan since 2016, is a certified holistic nutrition coach, a health and wellness coach, a holistic health practitioner, and a holistic health coach. To learn more about Pickens, go to https://bit.ly/3FqhEId Email her at momof4chris@gmail.com, with “The Joy of Medina Attn: Chris” in the subject line.