December Extension Connection Magazine 2020

USPS-525-100

Extension Connection Sullivan County

YOUR LINK K TO TO L LOCAL, OCAL, RESEA RESEARCH-BASED SOLUTIONS TO BETTER YOUR LIFE

VOLUME XCI NO. 12

DECEMBER 2020

Jeff Bank in Bethel receives a Ninja Professional Blender 1000 and a farmers’ market cookbook for being a successful CCE Creating Healthy Communities worksite.

Upcoming U pcoming Events Events & Programs Programs Tai Chi for Arthritis for Fall Prevention (virtual) Tiny Barn/Stall Doors Take & Make Projects Healthy Living for Your Brain & Body (virtual) AKC Home Manners Program (virtual)

Issue Isssue sue Highlights Higghhligghhts Dairy Margin Coverage A Dog’s Nose Knows How to Help Fight Invasives Energy Tips for Winter December is National Pear Month

Family Caregiver Support Group (virtual)

Relationships, Routines, Resilience: The New 3 R’s

Alzheimer’s Support Groups (virtual)

DHI Report: October

Happy Hanukkah, Merry Christmas, Joyous Kwanzaa, & Happy New Year!

Falling Leaves Raise Efforts of Fall Prevention

See more events and opportunities on sullivancce.org/events.

Check out page 10 for fast facts and healthy tips of the month!

CCE Spotlights: Energy Navigator Volunteers and Abyssinia Pla El

Welcome W elcome to to the the Issue!

Issue!

Page 3 Message from the Executive Director Page 4 Dairy Margin Coverage Program Page 5 A Dog’s Nose Knows How to Help Fight Invasives Page 6 Energy Tips for Winter Page 7 December is National Pear Month

Table Table of of Contents Contents Page 8 CCE Spotlights Page 9 Enrollment Cards 2021 Page 10 Fast Facts, Cool Tools, & News to Use! Page 11 Healthy Tips of the Month Page 12 Falling Leaves Raise Efforts of Fall Prevention Page 13 Relationships,

Routines, Resilience: The New 3R’s Page 14 Thank You, Sponsors!

Page 15 DHI Report: October Page 16 Give the Gift that Keeps on Giving this Holiday!

Subscribe Your Friends and Family to the Extension Connection Sullivan County.

Th E t i C ti (USPS 525 100) is i published bli h d monthly thl for f $25.00 $25 00 enrollment ll t by b Cornell C ll Cooperative C ti Extension E t i S lli The Extension Connection (USPS-525-100) Sullivan County, located at 64 Ferndale-Loomis Road, Suite 1, Liberty, NY 12754-2903. Entered at Liberty, New York, as a periodical class matter.

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Produced by: Cornell Cooperative Extension Sullivan County Edited by: Nicole Slevin & Colleen Monaghan Cornell Cooperative Extension Sullivan County is an employer and educator recognized for valuing AA/EEO, Protected Veterans, and Individuals with DisAbilities and provides equal program and employment opportunities.

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2020 BOARD OF DIRECTORS Robert Kaplan.............................President Amy Erlwein........................Vice President Klu Padu......................................Secretary John Kiefer...................................Treasurer Nadia Rajsz........................Legislative Rep. Todd Brown Jenny Chamberlain Marcie Ehrman Denise Frangipane John “JP” Lang Amanda Langseder Klu Padu Luisa Parker Dara Smith George Stang Robert Wong, Deceased

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STAFF MEMBERS Colleen Monaghan..............................................................................Executive Director Thomas Bosket............................................................................SALT Program Manager SueAnn Boyd.........................................................Healthy Schools Program Coordinator Elizabeth Clancy-DiBartolo.......................................Farmers’ Market & ASP Coordinator Martin Colavito.................................................................Community Program Manager Kaitlyn Conklin............................................................................................4-H Educator Wanda V. Cruz..............................................Healthy Communities Program Coordinator Marylin Jones...........................................................................4-H Program Coordinator Bonnie Lewis...........................................................................Dependent Care Educator Erica Lynch..........................................................Catskills Kitchen Program Coordinator Melinda Meddaugh.......................................................Ag & Food Systems Issue Leader Brenda Miller..................................Environment & Natural Resources Program Manager Barbara Moran................................................4-H Animal Science Program Coordinator Bee Moser........................................................................SNAP-Ed New York Nutritionist Vanessa Petrossian................................................................................Ag Market Manager Abyssinia Pla El...........................................................Association Operations Coordinator Michelle Proscia..............................................................................Agriculture Educator Nicole A. Slevin Nikolados............................................Administrator & Diversity Officer Ashley Tully...............................................................................Ag Program Coordinator Tara VanHorn........................................................................................Finance Manager Brian Vantassell............................................................Temporary Program Coordinator Sean Welsh.............................................................................Energy Resource Educator John Wilcox..........................................................................................Facilities Manager Judy Arpadi, Cherene Audain, John Mastrangelo, Randy Rupert, Loretta Streichert......Ag Market Coordinators

Extension Connection

December 2020

Season’s greetings, Extension family!

If you weren’t able to join us for our 106th Annual Meeting, please take an hour and check it out at http://sullivancce. org/about-us/board-governance.

Despite the challenges we have faced together this past year, CCE staff, volunteers, 4-H’ers, and community members came together to ensure full bellies and physically distanced social and educational opportunities.

Together, we have tapped into our Resilience systems, and will continue to do so as we move into 2021.

I want to take a moment to thank our friends in Sullivan County Government. From the Legislature, County Manager’s office, Division of Planning, Community Development, & Real Property, Department of Public Health Services, Office for the Aging, Youth Bureau, and all our fellow public servants in county government. We are so proud to have spent this past year in the trenches with you. On behalf of myself, our Board of Directors, and the CCE staff team, we see you, and we thank you for putting yourselves out there every day for the benefit of our Sullivan County constituency.

Further, the support we have received from Assemblywoman Aileen Gunther, Senator Jen Metzger, and Congressman Antonio Delgado in ensuring access to capital improvement funds to expand our ability to address food systems and food security issues with our most vulnerable friends and neighbors, has been invaluable. The pandemic shined a light on invisible populations from all walks of life, who are now engaged in neighborhood based community development and outreach. This multiplies, exponentially, the foundation of our community, and helps us to cultivate a protective environment that makes raising a family in Sullivan County safer and healthier over time.

And finally, to our donors, a huge applause!! Much of the transition the CCE staff team made was un-funded by our current grants and contracts. There is just no way we would have been able to pivot the majority of our team if the Sullivan County community hadn’t stepped up with more than $150,000 in product and cash donations. It made the difference between layoffs and being able to adjust our program focus. Donations ranged from $5 to $5,000! The work is not finished, and we aren’t able to sustain these food systems efforts indefinitely, but each and every one of you should feel proud that you helped serve more than 125,000 meals, and facilitated more than $100,000 in sales for local and regional farm and food producers over the last nine months.

Every year I am truly amazed at the good will in Sullivan County, and how fast and strong this community comes together. This year is no different. Please, stay vigilant in your commitment to staying healthy through the winter, so that when spring and summer roll around again, you are all here to celebrate getting through this past year together.

My very best,

Colleen Monaghan Executive Director, cm638@cornell.edu

Extension Connection

December 2020

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DAIRY MARGIN COVERAGE PROGRAM Submitted by Ashley Tully, Ag Program Coordinator The 2018 Farm Bill authorized the new Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC) program, which is a voluntary risk management program for dairy producers. DMC replaces the Margin Protection Program for Dairy (MPPDairy). Much like the MPP-Dairy program, the DMC program is a voluntary program that provides dairy operations with risk management coverage that will pay producers when the difference (the margin) between the national price of milk and the average cost of feed falls below a certain level selected by the program participants.

determined for a dairy operation participating in the DMC program may only be adjusted once to reflect any increase in the national average milk production.

The DMC program offers: • Catastrophic coverage at no cost, other than an annual $100 administrative fee.

• Greater coverage, at various levels, for a premium in addition to a $100 administrative fee.

The schedule of premiums is provided in the following table.

premium. That premium will be based on the portion of the calendar year for which the dairy purchases the coverage.

A dairy operation that makes a one-time election of coverage level and coverage percentage that are applicable to each of calendar years 2019 through 2023 will receive a 25 percent discount on premium rates.

Enrollment for the 2021 DMC program year starts Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2020 and runs through Dec. 11.

2020 For more information about FSA programs, visit fsa.usda.gov or contact your local FSA office. To find your local FSA office, visit farmers.gov.

Who is Eligible?

All dairy operations in the United States are eligible for the DMC program. An operation can be run either by a single producer or multiple producers who commercially produce and market cows’ milk. Each producer on the operation must share in the risk of producing milk and make contributions (including land, labor, management, equipment, or capital) to the operation of the dairy that are at least equal to the individual or entity’s share of the proceeds of the operation.

How it works.

For most operations, production history is based on the highest milk production in 2011, 2012, and 2013.

Newer dairy operations have other options for determining production history. The production history Page 4

dairy Ad i operation ti that th t selects l t dairy margin coverage above the catastrophic level coverage is required to pay, in addition to the annual administrative fee, if applicable, an annual premium based on the coverage level and percentage of production history. A second election on production above 5 million pounds in Tier II (between $4 and $8) may be chosen if $8.50 or above is elected in Tier I. New dairy operations that first register for the DMC program for a calendar year after the start of a calendar year can lock-in coverage for the premium discount by paying a pro-rated

Extension Connection

December 2020

Sources: United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA). “Dairy Margin Coverage Program.”

Programs and Services. Retrieved from https://www.fsa.usda.gov/programs-andservices/dairy-margin-coverage-program/ index

A DOG’S NOSE KNOWS HOW TO HELP FIGHT INVASIVES Submitted by Brenda Miller, Environment & Natural Resources Program Manager; Written by Paula Piatt

and finding the invasives hiding under the rails, so you have to teach the dogs to run their noses all the way along the rail.”

I’m sure I haven’t made a sound. The cheese stick is out of the wrapper.

From three rooms away, Finn appears.

Sound familiar? We’ve been putting those amazing noses to good use sniffing out illegal drugs, explosives, missing people, and cancer. Now, it’s for conservation.

Invasive species continue marching across our landscapes. Unwanted hitchhikers come in shipping crates, ships’ ballast water, and even the shoes of visitors. As conservationists know, they stink! Dia thinks so, too. The 2 ½ year-old Labrador retriever is the newest line of defense in the New York-New Jersey Trail Conference’s fight against invasive species. The nonprofit is the host organization for the Lower Hudson PRISM (Partnerships for Regional Invasive Species Management).

“We know that the sooner you detect and deal with invasives, the more likely you are to be successful,” said Linda Rohleder, director of land stewardship for the conference and coordinator for the Lower Hudson PRISM. “The dogs help us find things earlier and be more thorough with our removals.”

Dia and handler Joshua Beese now patrol 52,000 acres and over 200 miles of trails in the Lower Hudson region.

Human work crews search and remove invasives first. Then Dia sniffs out what they’ve missed. “We go through, thinking an area is clear and she’ll find something that is smaller than what we can see or it’s hiding under a bush”, says Beese.

Her impact was evident with her first search—34 sites in a 31-acre area. It had already been scoured by the team.

Dia turned up more than 1,200 missed plants. One was slender false brome, a grass that outcompetes existing vegetation and prevents tree seedling establishment. Chosen because it is so hard to find, in a 12-acre site, Dia turned up almost 1,000 plants including a small clump 300 feet off the trail.

What is it about these dogs? How do they go from being simple companions to super sniffers? As extraordinary as this skill seems, the training is actually simple. Samples of the plant are placed in small boxes and the dog is rewarded when it sniffs out the correct scent. With a nose that is reportedly 100,000 times more acute than ours, it’s really not about the smells. “Dogs can learn about three scents a year, but it’s more about teaching all of those scenarios that go around the scents,” said Beese.

Case in point is another invasive in Dia’s repertoire—the Spotted Lanternfly. An invasive from Asia first detected in Pennsylvania in 2014, it primarily feeds on the Tree of Heaven, but has moved on to grapes, hops, maple, and fruit trees. It can hide anywhere. “Now, instead of searching the ground, I had to teach the dogs to extend their body up the trunk of a tree. We also were searching train cars

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December 2020

The team now participates in roadside vehicle inspections with DEC, New York Agriculture and Markets, and the Department of Transportation. Beese added his Belgian Malinois, Fagen, to the team. Trained for search-and-rescue in an urban environment, it was just a matter of tweaking his training.

The introduction of Dia and Fagen promises to be a game changer in the PRISM’s invasives stewardship progam established in 2011. “This is going to increase our effectiveness and efficiency,” she said. Both dogs are now training on oak wilt, a deadly fungus that attacks all oak trees.

The Conservation Dogs program is also improving education and outreach. Rohleder says, “The dogs allow us to engage new audiences and introduce the concept of invasive species in a memorable way.” Because who doesn’t like dogs?

Source: Piatt, Paula. “A Dog’s Nose Knows How to Help Fight Invasives.” New York State Conservationist, August/September 2020, 6-9. https://www.dec.ny.gov/docs/ administration_pdf/0820dogs.pdf Photo: Included in the article and cited as: ‘Courtesy of the NYNJ Trail Conference’

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ENERGY TIPS FOR WINTER Submitted by Sean Welsh, Energy Resource Educator December 21st marks the first day of winter. Even though it is the shortest day of the year, it can be an ideal personal deadline to install some energy efficient measures to help save some dollars and energy around the holidays.

Scheduling a day to “walk through” your home or apartment can help put a focus on do-it-yourself energy efficiency.

The focus of this walk-through is to note any materials and products you may need to purchase at home improvement stores at low costs to improve energy conservation in your home.

Keep the following tips in mind: • Notice any obstructions blocking heating registers, remove them so the heat can get into rooms.

• Lights can be upgraded to LED Energy Star labeled lights, to save money and energy.

• Windows should be locked and secured, any air sealing around window sashes and panes can be done with energy efficient products found at home improvement stores, renters can do the same but should look for products that will not chip or peal paint.

Rope caulk is an excellent air sealing tool for renters.

• For extremely leaky windows or single pane windows, window insulation kits found at home improvement stores, can be installed on either or both of the exterior/ interior of the window.

• Doors can be improved by weatherstripping products and door sweeps, a good way to check if you could weather strip a door is to unlock it on a sunny day and look to see if you can see light around the perimeter of the door, if so weather stripping may be needed.

• Upgrading to a programmable or smart thermostat can save money and help the occupants of the home utilize the most heat when they are home and awake. Utilities offer thermostats at better rates in online marketplaces, or through promotions.

floor, can be air sealed to stop air flow, typical places to fine these holes are in the basement around plumping and electric lines, or from floor to floor in a home.

Different foam products and insulation materials can be used to seal these gaps /cracks to the outside or from one floor to the next.

• If you have a fireplace, close the damper unless it is in use.

Different products on the marketplace can also Sean Welsh, Community Energy Advisor help with a fireplace that is not used on a regular sw288@cornell.edu | 845-292-6180 ext. 127 basis. Items such as chimney balloons (these are more expensive than other measures Community Energy Advisor Sean Welsh mentioned) can stop drafts, but must be can be reached at 845-292-6180 ext. removed prior to the fireplace will be 127, sw288@cornell.edu, or visit www. used.

• Open your shades in the winter on sunny days to take advantage of heat from the sun.

• To ensure your equipment is operating as best it ca, have your heating system serviced annually.

• If in the market for new holiday lights, consider Energy Star LED lights that are cool to the touch when on and use less wattage than compact fluorescent lights (CFLs) • If your hot water heater is warm to the touch, it can be wrapped in an insulating blanket designed to insulate uninsulated water tanks. Look up the manufacturing recommendations for your water heater.

Adding insulation and weatherizing by professionals can significantly reduce the loss of heat from your home; consider touching base with a community energy advisor to discuss options for a free home energy assessment and look into what programs you may be eligible for to help with a drafty home.

• Penetrations to the outside or floor to Page 6

midhudsonenergychoices.org and fill out the intake sheet on the website to discuss your options!

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December 2020

Source:s “Energy Saver.” Energy.gov.

Accessed October 14, 2020. https://www. energy.gov/energysaver/energy-saver.

“Winter - Simple Energy Saving Tips.” Extension. June 23, 2015.

Accessed October 14, 2020. https:// extension.colostate.edu/topic-areas/ winter-simple-energy-saving-tips/.

DECEMBER IS NATIONAL PEAR MONTH Submitted by SueAnn Boyd, Healthy Schools Coordinator As one of the most favored fruits, the pear offers many nutritional benefits and is easy to use and transport.

Apple cider, caramel apples and bobbing for apples all conjure up the visions of fall. This is the season of the apple. It is also the season of the pear, a fruit often overlooked in the shadow of the apple. Pears deserve bragging rights as well. They are sodium free, cholesterol free and fat free. They are one of the top 20 most popular fruits, according to the FDA. They are an excellent source of fiber (24 percent of recommended daily value), only 100 calories and don’t require any prep to enjoy. Not only are pears easily digestible and a great pre-workout snack, they are delicious and provide your body with a good amount of Vitamin C and moderate amount of fiber. With over 3,000 varieties grown around the world, December has been declared national pear month. Pears provide nutrients that can assist with preventing cardiovascular disease and various cancers. They are a natural source of antioxidants which are important for bone and tissue health and in lowering the risk for infection. Pears also contain flavonoids that have been associated with a decreased risk of Type 2 diabetes in both women and men.

When you are selecting a pear, choose one that is firm and without blemishes. Wash the fruit before eating. If you are cutting the pear ahead of serving, be mindful that the pears oxidize quickly and will turn a brownish color. You can prevent this by applying several drops of orange, lemon or lime juice to the fruit immediately after cutting. The USDA ChooseMyPlate campaign encourages us to make sure that

half of our plates are made up of fruits and vegetables. Tips on how to consume more fruit can be found at this MyPlate’s 10 tips to help you eat more fruits.

There are many varieties of pears.

I have listed just a few below. Each pear type has a unique taste and texture and will taste even better and cost less if purchased when they are in season. Just like apples, certain pear varieties are better for baking such as the Bosc while some are better paired with wine and cheese, such as the Comice.

Red Bartlett

Pears can be incorporated into a variety of dishes, is a healthy snack and is a food tolerated by sometimes fussy stomachs. For a variety of recipes that incorporate pears, visit MyPlate Pear-fect Idea to Fill MyPlate. The USDA Recipe Finder is another source for which individual ingredients can be searched to locate recipes that incorporate that specific ingredient.

Unique ways to serve pears might be to top your salad with a pear, pair a pear with wine and cheese, make a pear and grilled cheese sandwich, or switch up your fav apple crisp recipe and use pears instead.

Aug – Jan Red, soft, juicy, sweet, skin (thick, bitter) Bartlett Sept - Feb Pale golden green, soft, juicy, sweet, skin (thick, bitter) Concorde Sept – Feb Long, yellow-green (often confused with Bartlett), crisp, dense Comice Sept – Mar Small, fat, red & blue hues, sweet in flavor Bosc

Sources: Henne, Becky. “December is national pear month.” MSU Extension.

December 3, 2012. Accessed October 12, 2020. https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/ december_is_national_pear_month St. Germain, Alison. “December Is National Pear Month.” December Is National Pear Month. December 12, 2018. Accessed October 12, 2020. https://www.eatrightiowa.org/post/ december-is-national-pear-month

Sept – April Brown-gold tough skin, crunchy with strong pear flavor Green Anjou Sept – May Plump, spherical, soft, sweet, lemony Red Anjou Oct – May Red, spicy, soft

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December 2020

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CCE Sullivan Spotlights

Volunteer Spotlight VOLUNTEER ENERGY NAVIGATORS The Cornell Cooperative Extension Dutchess County and Sullivan County Mid-Hudson Community Energy Engagement Program (CEEP), supported by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority, will train volunteers as Energy Navigators on energy topics, programs and resources that can help consumers save money and move toward a more renewable energy future.

The comprehensive, virtual 10-week training of Energy Navigators is now underway in the Mid-Hudson Valley and followed the hiring of a program coordinator and recruitment of volunteers across all seven counties in the regionThe focus of this effort is to assist residents, both homeowners and renters, so they can save energy and lower their energy bill while making informed energy choices.

Staff Spotlight ABYSSINIA PLA EL In her first year as Cornell Cooperative Extension Sullivan County’s operations coordinator, Abyssinia has taken on many complex responsibilities and projects for the organization, including (but not limited to) IT contact, communications, web management, strategic social media marketing, copy editing, and accounts payable.

Through every new task, Abyssinia shines and meets each challenge with grace and unparalleled professionalism.

“I feel grateful to work with such a gifted and responsible professional.

I look forward to many more adventures together!” said Abyssinia’s supervisor Nicole Slevin Nikolados.

Last month, Abyssinia earned the honor of The Sullivan County Democrat’s 2020 Business & Professional Women of the Year!

For more information on this program or to hear about your options for a more energy efficient home, business, or organization, contact Sean Welsh at 845 292-6180 ext 127.

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December 2020

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December Focus: Fast Facts, Cool Tools, & News to Use! Use!

nal io t a N is r e b m Dece onth

Plan M s s e in s u B a e it r W

It takes one hive of bees 55,000 miles of flight to produce one pound of honey.

“It is not the strongest species that survive, nor the most intelligent, but the ones most responsive to change.�

-Charles Darwin

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Agriculture is the single largest emplo y e r in the world.

Americans away an e throw 25% of t stimated they bringhe food every mon home 10% of di th. Of the income Am sposable spend on fericans year, 46%ood each food eate is for and 54% n at home eaten awais for food y from home.

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December b 2020

December Focus: Healthy Tips of the Month!

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December 2020

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FALLING LEAVES RAISE EFFORTS OF FALL PREVENTION Submitted by Bonnie Lewis, RN Dependent Care Educator September 22 was the first day of autumn, kicking off the annual fall prevention efforts by the NYS Office for the Aging. The Caregiver Resource Center has free materials for caregivers and seniors upon request to prevent falls and continues to offer Tai Chi for Arthritis and for Fall Prevention. The next eight week series, held virtually using zoom, starts on October 13, Tuesdays and Thursdays for one hour, 3:304:30pm. The classes are free and you can register on our website: http:// sullivancce.org/events.

Why does the caregiver program continue to focus on falls and offer tai chi? Each year, 1 out of every 3 people over the age of 65 has a fall.

Falls are the leading cause of death from injury for people 65 years or older and the most common form of injury from a fall is a hip fracture.

Emotionally, falls can be devastating.

The fear of falling again can cause a person to restrict their activities, resulting in feelings of loss, loneliness, and helplessness.

Avoiding activity because of fear and anxiety can increase the risk of falling again!

The primary goal of fall prevention is to maintain and encourage independence using regular exercise and participating in enjoyable activities. Falls and the problems that lead to falls are NOT a natural, unavoidable part of the aging process! Medical conditions, medications, deteriorating vision and hearing, and the home environment can contribute to falls and should be treated or attended to.

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Fall Prevention Suggestions: Carrying and lifting • Never carry objects that are too heavy or large, making balance difficult: make several, smaller trips.

• Never block your vision as you carry any object.

Shoes: • Low heels with a good tread, avoiding smooth leather soles, securely tied or firmly fastened with Velcro.

• Stocking feet are very slippery and should be avoided (as well as slippers that do not have rubber soles).

Home fall-proofing • Eliminate area rugs or runners (or only use those with rubberized non-slip backing).

• Electric cords should never be on or over any walkways; if needed, place them along a wall (do not place them under a rug either; uneven surfaces can also create a trip hazard).

• Keep floors and stairs clear of clutter.

• Rubber, non-slip rubber adhesive under furniture legs to help it from sliding.

Bedroom • Bed height should be at a comfortable height, stable and firm enough to get in and out easily.

• The phone, lamp and emergency flashlight are easily within reach.

• Electric blanket or heating pad cords are out of the way, so they do not become tripping hazards.

Bathroom • Bathmats need to be rubberized slip-resistant inside and outside of the shower or tub.

• Grab bars both in and outside of the shower or tub and next to the toilet need to be installed.

• Individuals over the age of 60 and residents of Sullivan County can contact the Office for the Aging (845-807-0241) for help with home modifications and safety questions. https://sullivanny.us/departments/ aging

Extension Connection

December 2020

• Shower benches or chairs allows a person to sit safety inside the tub. Back supports and rubber-tipped feet keep both the person and chair from sliding.

• A raised toilet seat helps when strength or balance are a problem; some have arms that also help with stability.

Outdoors • Falls frequently occur on curbs or on steps. Traction tape on stair treads will minimize the chance of falls when stairs are wet.

• Uneven door thresholds can increase the risk of a fall. Using contrasting color adhesive strips on the edges of a threshold make it more visible.

Medications • Side effects, such as drowsiness or dizziness, contributes to falls.

• Review all medications periodically with your physician or pharmacist.

• Examples of drugs that can contribute to falls are diuretics, blood pressure medications and psychotropics.

Emergency Alarm Systems • PERS ~ Personal Emergency Response Systems can be arranged for any senior in Sullivan County through the Office for the Aging. These devises provide emergency help at the press of the button, 24 hours a day. It can be worn as a necklace, bracelet or on a belt. It really helps to alleviate the fear of being alone, especially during an emergency such as a fall.

• Note: they are not appropriate for individuals dealing with a dementia or Alzheimer’s disease as they may be confused and forget how and when to use the alarm.

Source: Source: Karpinski, Marion. “Fall Prevention.” In Quick Tips for Caregivers.

Healing Arts Communications, 2000.

RELATIONSHIPS, ROUTINES, RESILIENCE: THE NEW 3 R S Submitted by Marylin Jones, 4-H Program Coordinator Pamela Cantor, M.D. of the Turnaround for Children Organization writes about the COVID-19 paradox: to stay safe and keep others safe we must practice physical distancing, but the very thing that keeps us from catching COVID threatens the connections that help us feel safe, manage stress, and grow and learn.

We are now experiencing disruptions to some of the most important communities and relationships in our lives: our friends, classrooms, teachers, teams, coaches, churches, and extended families, the very people we trust and count on to get us through crisis and for whatever changes the future holds.

So what can we do about this? Dr. Cantor and Kate Felsen write in Turnaround for Children’s 180 Blog that we must focus on the “Three Rs”: relationships, routines, and resilience to make our homes and eventually our schools the places that “inoculate us and our children against the stress” of what is scary or uncertain.

For years, Dr. Cantor worked with educators to teach about the developing brain and how children and adolescents grow and learn and thrive. Cantor notes how nurture drives nature, and how context - the environments, experiences, and relationships in our lives - drives the development of who we become.

She cites learning from medical school that adversity doesn’t just happen to children, it happens inside their brains and bodies through the biologic mechanisms of stress.

When humans experience stress, the hormone cortisol is released producing feelings of fight, flight, or freeze. Such feelings are intense when they happen, but Cantor notes, “if the stress is mild or tolerable,

it’s adaptive.” The limbic system in the brain: attention, concentration, focus, memory, preparation, all work in concert to make us alert and able to prepare for events like tests or performances.

However, when children have persistently high levels of stress, which is not buffered by the presence of a trusted and calm adult, children can get locked into that fight or flight feeling which Cantor identifies as toxic stress. This explains why some students may have difficulty paying attention, remembering things, or are easily triggered by emotions.

Emotions drive cognitive and learning skills and this can engage us or shut us down.

The good news is that there is an additional hormone called oxytocin that affects the same brain structures as cortisol, and Cantor explains is more powerful because it can protect children at the cellular level.

Relationships that are strong and powerful cause oxytocin’s release, producing feelings of trust, love, attachment and safety. This not only helps children manage stress, but also offsets the damaging effects of cortisol and produces resilience to future stress.

Because the human brain is malleable well into adulthood, there are opportunities right now for keeping children on a path of learning and thriving through the new Three Rs: Relationships, Routines, and Resilience.

Relationships: strengthening and maintaining relationships at home. The active ingredient in any environment, relationships boost oxytocin, the love/trust hormone that activates learning centers of the brain. Trust is the antidote to stress and relationships are the medium through which we experience trust.

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Routines: something we have some control over in uncertain times, routines can make home environments feel safer and calmer.

Brains are “prediction machines” that like order and knowing what is coming next. When environments are orderly the brain is calmer and able to learn.

Resilience: building resilience is the most important task for ourselves and our kids. Like muscle, resilience can be developed starting with recognizing the strengths we already have from our life experiences and bolstering the skills and mindsets we possess to regulate our emotions, actions and behavior. This can be achieved through co-regulation in activities with others, such as soothing an anxious child, walking or running side-by-side, or coaching a teen to prepare for a test.

We may not know how long the disruptions of COVID-19 will persist so Cantor/Felsen emphasize that “learning has to move with the learner, wherever that may be,” and it is crucial that adults learn how to design and foster calm, safe, and supportive environments for children.

Sources: Cantor, Pamela, M.D., and Kate Felsen. “The New Three Rs: Helping Children Thrive During the Pandemic and Beyond.” Turnaroundusa.org. May 15, 2020. Accessed October 12, 2020. https://turnaroundusa.org/the-three-rsrelationships-routines-resilience/.

Cantor, Pamela, M.D. “The Stress of This Moment Might Be Hurting Kids’ Development, But Relationships, Routines and Resilience Can Help.” Educationnext. org. Fall 2020. Accessed October 12, 2020. https://www.educationnext.org/stressof-coronavirus-might-be-hurting-kidsdevelopment-but-relationships-routinesresilience-can-help/.

December 2020

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December 2020

DHI Report:

October

SAMPLE NO. BREED COWS TYPE

Herdcode HERDOWNER

MILK FAT PROTEIN

21470096 BRANDON PETERS DAIRY DHI-AP

H

97.2 22646 788

703

21470146 THONY'S DAIRY

DHI-AP

H

55.0 17643 686

547

21470021 GLASSEL, ROBERT

DHI-AP

H

47.0 15994 560

476

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December 2020

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