Readers Write (Oct. 8): Twin Cities Marathon, same-sex marriage, airport solar project, Minnesota vs. Wisconsin, buckthorn management

Last weekend, I participated in the Twin Cities Marathon, my first. I'm writing to express my sincerest gratitude and praise to the entire community for an amazing experience. I don't know that I would've finished the race without the motivation and dedication shown by the tens of thousands of folks who lined the course for hours in the cold to offer up music and snacks and shouts of encouragement. The signs were particularly great — 26.2 miles doesn't seem nearly so long when you're chuckling the whole time. And I know there's no way I would've finished the race without the assistance of the thousands of volunteers who kept us runners safe and well and well-hydrated. Training for and completing a marathon requires significant dedication and effort, but preparing for and putting on a successful marathon obviously does, too, and I just wanted to take the opportunity to thank everyone who came out to make the experience first-rate.

The opponents of same-sex marriage just look like sore losers after the Supreme Court brought marriage equality to 11 more states by allowing lower court rulings to stand. Officials in two of the affected states, Kansas and South Carolina, refused to comply and vowed to fight on. The spokeswoman for the Minnesota Family Council was reported to have said that gay marriage opponents are not ready to surrender ("Landmark victory for gay marriage," Oct. 7).

Enough already. Surely opponents know that same-sex marriage will be the law of the land in short order. The cynical side of me believes they want to perpetuate the battle because if they accept defeat, politicians will lose an issue with which to rally voters, and members of groups like the Minnesota Family Council will be unemployed.

• • •

Thank you, Supreme Court! Now my husband and I can drive to Chicago while remaining married the whole way.

When will America have the fortitude to talk openly and honestly about world situations and the need (or want) to be involved? Vice President Joe Biden recently spoke truth about U.S. allies' roles in the Middle East ("White House mops up after Biden," Oct. 7); I welcome this and yearn for it regarding the why/when/where/what of our "missions" on the world stage. Truth is long overdue. Go Joe.

News of the Metropolitan Airports Commission's decision to put solar panels atop airport parking ramps ("MSP has big plans to go solar," Oct. 3) bears repeating. The decision: Invest $25.4 million into a project promising a $10 million payback (cumulatively, of course, over 30 years). Let the people of Minnesota step back and marvel at the wisdom displayed by public officials!

• • •

Last time I looked at a map, Minnesota appeared to border Lake Superior — doesn't that qualify it as part of the Great Lakes region? Duluth is a port city — isn't it? It would seem to make a Minnesota-Wisconsin comparison reasonable.

Bye the bye, how are the GOP revolutions in Michigan and Ohio doing? As for North Dakota, it's amazing how the emergence of oil transforms a state or a region. It even made the Odessa-Midland area of Texas viable.

I'd like to help with the discussion about buckthorn management ("Cities wage a thorny battle," Sept. 28, and "Why not just turn to a tough pesticide," Readers Write, Oct. 6). Buckthorn cut-stump treatment works as follows: After a buckthorn plant is cut, herbicide is immediately applied to the conductive tissue that lies just under the thin layer of bark. The chemical moves through this tissue to the root, where it can kill the plant. Buckthorn cut without using herbicide will resprout, forming a hedge over time. Treating works best in the fall, when the plant moves nutrients to the root to prepare for winter. Buckthorn seeds remain viable in the soil for many years. It is important to follow up and manage seedlings after removal of mature shrubs. If these are not nipped in the bud, they will grow to produce berries with seeds of their own; continuing the cycle.

The letter writer mentions one company's brand of triclopyr herbicide. Triclopyr is one chemical that may be used for buckthorn. It is not the only brand or active ingredient available. Many herbicides are sold with a wide range of active ingredient concentration. Using a product with a low concentration will kill some species of plants, but not others. The percentage of active ingredient is found in the fine print on the front label in the lower right corner. It is important to read the label. Herbicide labels spell out how that particular herbicide can be used under the law.