New York Mets Honor Former Star Player

With a bachelor’s degree in environmental, organism, and population biology from the University of Colorado Boulder, Steven Armus is an experienced environmental biologist and the owner of Native Prairie Restoration in Franksville, Wisconsin. In his free time, Steven Armus enjoys watching baseball and is a supporter of the New York Mets.

In news that shocked many fans, former Mets player Rusty Staub passed after a long battle with kidney failure. His death came three days before his 74th birthday.

Tributes and memorials have poured in ever since, with fans honoring both his illustrious baseball career and his charitable work. The Mets, for their part, chose to honor Staub with a black patch that featured his signature in orange - a nod to his nickname, “La Grande Orange.”

Staub is remembered as a six-time All-Star and a philanthropist who headed the Rusty Staub Foundation, which has fed hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers.

Obtaining a Certificate from the National Board of Medical Examiners

A community volunteer and environmentalist, Steven Armus also provides dermatology services at his medical practice, Dermatology Consultants of Wisconsin. Over his career, Steve Armus has maintained professional memberships and credentials that include status as a fellow at the American Board of Dermatology and a diplomate of the National Board of Medical Examiners.

A nonprofit organization, the National Board of Medical Examiners fosters excellence in the medical community by conducting assessments of health care professionals. Assessments, which include the United States Medical Licensing Examination, the Post-Licensure Assessment System, and other customized programs, help ensure a common standard is used among medical professionals. 

Doctors fully certified by the board are considered diplomates of organization. To become certified, an individual must receive an MD from an accredited school and complete parts I, II, and III of the United States Medical Licensing Examination. In addition, candidates must complete one year of graduate medical education at a program accredited by the Accreditation Council on Graduate Medical Education. For additional information on the credential, visit www.nbme.org.

Spa Trends Informed by Technology and the Natural World

Based in Wisconsin, Dr. Steven Armus guides Native Prairie Restoration as founder and owner and has assisted local property owners in creating thriving landscapes that feature native vegetation. Formerly in the dermatology business, Dr. Steven Armus enjoys exploring new trends in spas when he travels to scenic destinations ranging from Mexico to Hawaii. 

Spa trends begin with a growing focus on “wellness architecture” that incorporates functional and sustainable materials, while combining natural elements, such as plants and flowers, as part of the overall design. 

Hand-in-hand with this organic component comes an increased use of technologies in enhancing traditional spa offerings. These include instruments capable of measuring diverse aspects of body composition, from skin pH to the microbiome, when tailoring services to specific goals, such as anti-aging. Treatments such as non-surgical facelifts and collagen facials are then tailored to individual needs and preferences. 

In addition, DNA analysis has come to the forefront as a way of delving deep into the role of genes within health and physiological tendencies. This analysis can inform the treatment program best suited for the individual in ways that generate optimal results.

Mustafa Johnson Headlines Early 2018 CU Football Recruits

The recipient of a doctor of medicine from the University of Wisconsin, Dr. Steven Armus is a board-certified dermatologist with over 15 years’ experience. Prior to earning his MD, Steven Armus completed a bachelor's in environmental population and organism biology from the University of Colorado Boulder. He remains a fan of the school's football team. 

The Colorado Buffaloes finished the 2017 football season with a win-loss record of 5-7, and preparation is already well underway for an improved season in 2018. The early signing period has begun, and the Buffaloes recently received positive news from high-profile defensive tackle Mustafa Johnson, who announced he was committing to Colorado for the upcoming season.

Johnson previously spent time in Colorado before moving to California to play for Turlock High School. He spent last year with California's Modesto Junior College and was a first-team All-Conference captain. He is listed at six-foot-two and 285 pounds, but is agile and quick for his size. 

The Buffaloes have also received a commitment from defensive tackle Israel Antwine.

Growing Orchids in the Home

A physician and business owner based in Franksville, Wisconsin, Dr. Steven Armus oversees a dermatology practice in addition to operating Native Prairie Restoration, a company that helps residential and commercial clients restore ponds and prairies to their native state. In his free time, Dr. Steven Armus applies his love of the natural world to pursuits such as gardening and orchid growing. 

Admired for their exotic beauty and abundant varieties, orchids are the world’s largest family of flowering plants. According to the American Orchid Society, at least 20,000 orchid species and approximately 100,000 orchid hybrids exist. In nature, the flowers can be found throughout the world, but they are especially abundant in the tropics. 

Although they have a reputation for being difficult to grow, many orchid varieties are adaptable and relatively easy to cultivate in the home. Unlike other houseplants, however, the majority of orchids do not live in soil, so finding the right growing medium is essential. The specific growing medium should be based on the orchid type, but in general, they can do well in pots filled with moss, stones, lava rocks, or bark. 

Along with finding the right growing material, cultivating orchids that thrive and flower requires the correct balance of light, temperature, and moisture. They typically do best in bright and humid areas with mild average temperatures of between 55 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Orchids also require regular watering, but growers should allow their growing medium to dry out somewhat in between waterings.

Tips for Making Great Mashed Potatoes

A graduate of the University of Colorado and the University of Wisconsin-Madison Medical School, Dr. Steven Armus has practiced medicine for more than two decades, most recently serving as the owner of Dermatology Consultants of Wisconsin. Also an active gardener and environmentalist, Dr. Steven Armus owns and operates Native Prairie Restoration. In his free time, Dr. Armus enjoys the challenges of cooking seafood and Italian dishes, but feels he has mastered the art of making mashed potatoes.

When making mashed potatoes, the most important consideration is choosing the proper type of potato. A variety of potato that is high in starch, such as a Russet or Yukon gold, should be used over low starch varieties such as red potatoes. The high starch results in light rather than gummy mashed potatoes.

Once the correct potato is selected and peeled, the cooking process can begin. Salt should be added to the water before boiling, since the starches in potatoes absorb water (and salt along with it) during the cooking process. This results in well seasoned potatoes. To ensure they're cooked evenly, potatoes should be started in cold water. Once boiled, the potatoes should be drained completely and mashed gently. Avoid overworking them to ensure they are light and fluffy. Lastly, avoid making them ahead of time. Mashed potatoes are best when served within minutes of being prepared.

FDA-Approved Ways of Selecting and Storing Seafood

Steven Armus is the owner of both Dermatology Consultants of Wisconsin and Native Prairie Restoration, where he serves as an environmental biologist and a prairie technician. A lover of great food, Steven Armus enjoys cooking seafood.

Fish and shellfish are rich in omega-3 fatty acids, compounds known to reduce the risk for cardiac disease. In fact, the US Department of Agriculture recommends that adults eat at least two servings of seafood per week.

In order to gain the full health benefits of eating seafood, however, there are several steps that the US Food and Drug Administration recommends consumers take when choosing and storing seafood:

- When buying, ensure that seafood is fresh. The smell of fresh seafood is usually characterized as mild, not sour and fishy. Avoid anything that smells like ammonia.

- Avoid frozen seafood that has been opened or that shows signs of frozen crystals.

- If you will eat the seafood within two days, it can be stored in the refrigerator. If you intend to keep it for longer than that, pack it tightly in plastic and store it in the freezer.

Importance of Controlled Burning for Prairie Restoration

A graduate of the environmental, population, and organism biology program at the University of Colorado - Boulder, Steven Armus has over 15 years of experience in reviving natural areas through a variety of measures. In his role as a prairie restoration consultant, Steven Armus partners with the Department of Natural Resources to eradicate invasive species. One of the most efficient ways in doing so is through controlled fires.

Despite being a major concern in uncontrolled instances, the use of fire in a controlled setting can actually benefit plant and animal diversity. Various ecosystems require periodic controlled burns to eliminate invasive plant species and weeds that might be out-competing native flowers and grasses, in turn reducing plant diversity. It's the job of prairie restoration professionals to inspect sites, acquire the appropriate permits, and implement a fiscally responsive burn plan.

Not only does prescribed burning allow natural plant species to thrive, but it also can reduce the risk for wildfires. Burns can be prescribed at any point from mid-October until mid-April, although it's recommended to complete woodland and wetland burns by April 1. Ideal conditions for a prescribed burn include a temperature between 28 degrees Fahrenheit and 70 degrees Fahrenheit, a humidity between 30 percent and 65 percent, and a wind speed between 5 miles and 20 miles per hour. Other factors such as chance of precipitation, site fuel composition, and air quality index are also considered.

American Landscapes - Prairies

A physician and entrepreneur, Dr. Steven Armus owns and operates Native Prairie Restoration, a company dedicated to restoring natural prairie environments on behalf of its clients. In fact, as an undergraduate at the University of Colorado Boulder, Dr. Steven Armus studied biology with an emphasis on native habitat preservation.

Emily Dickinson once wrote:

“To make a prairie it takes a clover and one bee,
One clover, and a bee.
And revery.”

This is not far from the truth, as prairie ecosystems are sustained in part by the interaction between native prairie flowers and grasses and important pollinators, like bees and birds. Prairies are characterized by vast planes of grassland dotted by the occasional tree. They’re also defined by climate features such as moderate rainfall and temperatures.

Unfortunately, America’s prairie landscapes are threatened. Once, central North America was dominated by prairies, but today only 5 percent of the continent’s original prairies survive. Prairie loss is largely a result of habitat destruction, competition from invasive species, and climate change.

There are myriad ways Americans can get involved in saving what remains of the country’s prairies. For instance, they can support efforts to prevent soil erosion and endorse measures to restore wetlands, which contribute beneficially to grassland ecologies.

The Counseling Clinic at Guest House of Milwaukee

An experienced medical professional, Dr. Steven Armus serves as the owner of Dermatology Consultants of Wisconsin LLC in Franksville, where he treats patients with various skin conditions. Additionally, he uses his skills as an environmental biologist to help restore prairie areas with Native Prairie Restoration. Outside of his career, Dr. Steven Armus supports his community through local charities, such as the Guest House of Milwaukee. 

The Guest House of Milwaukee provides shelter and meal services to those without permanent homes, which is what one might expect. The shelter, however, offers a number of other programs which are aimed at treating the whole person and providing them with a level of care beyond a warm bed at a hot meal. One of these services is counseling through a clinic that provides mental health care and addiction recovery assistance. 

A Wisconsin-certified mental health center, the Guest House’s counseling clinic works with clients to help them deal with drug and alcohol abuse issues, as well as learn how to cope with any mental illnesses they may have. The clinic also points them in the direction of other community resources that will help them along their recovery journey.

Five Important Aspects of Prairies and Why to Protect Them

In addition to his role as physician and owner of Dermatology Consultants of Wisconsin, Dr. Steven Armus serves as prairie technician and environmental biologist for Native Prairie Restoration. Dr. Steven Armus possesses more than a decade of prairie restoration experience and provides consultation on how to restore original prairie states. The following list covers the importance of prairies and their continued protection:

1. Provides habitats to native species – Prairies provide habitats for wide variety of native species, including birds, reptiles, insects, butterflies, mammals. Protecting and restoring prairies ensures the continued survival of these animals and helps prevent the decline of creatures that depend on grasslands and prairies to maintain healthy population numbers.

2. Delivers soil enrichment – The diverse range of plants and wildlife that inhabit prairies enabled these lands to undergo thorough decomposition cycles for thousands of years that contributed to the formation of rich soil. The process leads prairies to offer some of the richest soils in the world.

3. Promotes healthy crops – The rich soil found in prairies provides an abundance of nutrients to planted crops and promotes the growth of healthy, high-yielding crops and produce. States with tallgrass prairies like Iowa produce some of the top quality agricultural products in the country.

4. Improves water quality – Native prairies and grasslands protect watersheds and improve water quality by providing natural sediment control that prevents erosion. The density of plants above the soil and their complex root systems prevent wind and water erosion, respectively. Plants also hold topsoil in place to reduce the amount of soil washed into rivers and streams, while serving as filtration systems. 

5. Conserves natural heritage – The protection and restoration of prairies helps converse the cultural and natural heritage of states where prairies and grasslands once flourished. Prairies are among North America’s most endangered large ecosystems due to rapid population growth and the subsequent conversion of prairies to urban areas and pastures.

The Guest House of Milwaukee’s Cream City Gardens

A trained physician and entrepreneur who has enjoyed success in areas as diverse as practice management and pond remediation, Dr. Steven Armus is the owner of Native Prairie Restoration, located in Franksville, Wisconsin. A keen gardener, Steven Armus lends his talents to The Guest House of Milwaukee by volunteering in the nonprofit’s community gardens.

The organization operates the Cream City Gardens, which provide produce to the Guest House, in addition to members of the community and the food pantries overseen by the Friedens Community Ministries. The gardens have a transformative effect, allowing the group to create an active and healthy urban farm that serves those in need while also offering opportunities to the people the guest house actively shelters and provides for. 

The Urban Agriculture Training Program, for instance, is used to teach some of the basic skills of gardening, agriculture, and the basic tenets of urban agriculture in particular. Many who graduate from the program go on to find work in farmer’s markets, supermarket produce departments, and other urban projects.