December Extension Connection Magazine 2022

Sullivan BOCES students campaigning at CCE for the Great American SmokeOUT event and CCE’s new smoke/vape-free property!

The Extension Connection (USPS-525-100) is published monthly for $25.00 enrollment by Cornell Cooperative Extension Sullivan County, located at 64 Ferndale-Loomis Road, Suite 1, Liberty, NY 12754-2903. Entered at Liberty, New York, as a periodical class matter. Acceptance for mailing at special rate of postage provided for in section 412, Act of February 24, 1925. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Extension Connection, 64 Ferndale-Loomis Road, Suite 1, Liberty, NY 12754-2903.

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Seasons greetings, Extension friends!

Aside from the chill, this is one of my favorite times of the year. A time for celebration and family; joyful giving, gratitude, and hope.

Last month, we thanked our outgoing executive committee board members John Kiefer and John “JP” Lang. I thank them for their steadfast leadership and am pleased as well to welcome returning board member Amanda Langseder, and new board members, Alex Alorro, Heather Berg, Lee Karasik, Denise Luckman, and Dawn Parsons. With a variety of skill sets from finance, organizational development, and agriculture, to diversity and inclusion, I’m looking forward to working with the latest iteration of leadership at CCE Sullivan.

As we approach year end, please consider a financial contribution to CCE Sullivan. This year’s year end appeal donations will be designated to our food security efforts, helping to ensure all our friends and neighbors have access to wholesome meals this holiday season. You can call 845-292-6180, visit www. sullivancce.org/donate or Venmo us at the QR code below.

As the temps cool, I do hope you’ll take some time to spend with your closest friends and family over some hot chocolate or tea, being grateful and surrounded by love.

These are my holiday wishes for you and yours.

Sincerely,

Colleen Monaghan

Executive Director, cm638@cornell.edu

Scan to donate!

Visit sullivancce.org/donate or contact the of ce at sullivan@cornell.edu @

FALL 2022 UPDATE ON THE BIRD FLU: HIGHLY PATHOGENIC AVIAN INFLUENZA (HPAI) IS STILL A PRESENT THREAT TO NYS COMMERCIAL AND BACKYARD POULTRY PRODUCERS AS CASES ACROSS THE NORTHEAST INCREASE.

By Amy Barkley, Livestock and Beginning Farm Specialist, SWNY Dairy, Livestock, and Field Crops Program

Submitted by Michelle Proscia

SOUTHWEST, NEW YORK (October 26, 2022) As we move into the heart of the fall migration season, cases of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) are on the rise. The cooler, wetter weather and decreasing sunlight are resulting in an ideal environment for the virus to stick around. We urge poultry owners to continue take precautions to keep their birds safe. So far in 2022, there have been 568 confirmed cases of HPAI in domestic birds in 43 states. All states in the Northeast, including New York, have been affected. In the past month, outbreaks in the neighboring states of Connecticut, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Rhode Island have been detected. While the last

case in New York was identified on April 6th, the virus is still circulating in our wild bird populations, with 164 positives in wild birds identified to date. Within the past month, wild bird cases have been identified in Albany, Chemung, Clinton, Cortland, Dutchess, Madison, Nassau, Orange, Sullivan, Tomkins, Westchester, Wyoming, and Yates counties. Between positive domestic flocks in neighboring states and wild bird positives, our state’s poultry are still under threat. This disease is not showing a preference for flock types; both commercial and backyard flocks have been affected. Commercial flocks have made up 43% of those affected, with the remaining 57% of affected flocks are classified as backyard. In wild birds, waterfowl and raptors have been most impacted, as well as waterassociated birds such as pelicans, storks, gulls, terns,

dunlins, and turnstones. Game birds including pheasants and turkeys and perching birds including grackles, juncos, crows, and ravens can also catch the virus.

Because of how quickly and aggressively HPAI spreads in birds, it’s important that we take measures to protect them. These include:

• Creating a barrier between wild birds and domestic birds by keeping domestic birds inside, in a run with a solid roof, and/or out of areas that wild birds frequent.

• Limiting the number of people who have direct access to your poultry.

• Wearing footwear designated to be only worn in poultry pens. We urge producers to keep an eye out for suddenly high rates of death in your flock and be prepared to report any suspicious whole

flock illness. Reports can be sent to New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets at 518-457-3502 or the USDA (United States Department of Agriculture), 866-536-7593.

If you are a flock owner or community member with questions, please reach out to your local Cornell Cooperative Extension office for assistance. Media inquiries can be directed to Cornell Cooperative Extension Communications at cce-communications@ cornell.edu.

Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) within a multi-species flock has been detected in Sullivan County as of 11/7/22. This was laboratory-confirmed to be of the H5N1 influenza strain.We are asking our poultry producers to keep an eye out for suddenly high mortality and to be prepared to report any suspicious whole flock illness. Avian Influenza is a highly contagious poultry virus that has the potential to cause large financial losses to the U.S. poultry industry.Waterfowl, both wild and domestic, act as carriers. For more information, visit the CCE Sullivan website at www. sullivancce.org

act as carriers. For more at g

HEAVY SNOW LOADS

By Curt A. Gooch Senior Extension Associate Cornell University, Cornell Pro-Dairy

Submitted by Michelle Proscia, Agriculture Production Program Manager

The recent accumulation of snow in many areas throughout New York state has caused some agricultural buildings to fail. Failure can be the result of several items linked to the snow load present on the building. These items include but are not limited to:

• Improper building design

• Improper building construction

• Actual snow load exceeds design snow load

• Imbalance of snow load on roof

• Failure of one key member causing others to fail as a result of load transfer (domino effect)

Pre-engineered post frame agricultural buildings are designed to withstand a certain level of wind and snow loading and should

withstand any snow loads that are below the “design value”. For example, if the given snow load is 30 lbs. per square foot acting on the building and it was designed for a design load of 40 lbs. per square foot, then there should be no load carrying problem. Unfortunately, there are agricultural buildings out there that have not been designed for any particular loading at all. These building have a much higher probability of failing as a result of the current snow accumulations we are seeing.

So, how do we know if a building is going to fail? For a pre-engineered building, we can check the actual snow load on the building against the design snow load. If the actual load is less then the design load, then failure is not eminent. Table 1 can be used as a guide to estimate the snow load on a barn. Compare the table value against the design value to see where you stand. The table cannot be used for a non-engineered structure. Wood structures will show stress before they fail unlike metal structures that usually will not. For a

wood structure, the following audible and or visual signs may be noticed prior to failure:

• Creaking or moaning in the building

• Bowing of truss bottom chords or web members

• Bowing of rafters or purlins

• Bowing of headers or columns

If these signs are present, consideration may be given to evacuating animals from the barn and it is certainly recommended to evacuate all humans from the structure. One option commonly considered to relieve loading from the barn is to shovel the roof. Experienced individuals who are properly trained and protected should only do this. Attempting to save a barn is not worth risking lives over. Shoveling the roof without the proper approach may actually cause more damage than good by creating an unbalanced load on the roof.

Source: Gooch, Curt.“Heavy Snow Loads.” Cornell University. Accessed November 17, 2022. https://nydairyadmin.cce.cornell.edu/ uploads/doc_512.pdf.

WINTER CARE OF HOUSEPLANTS

Submitted by Katie Gasior, 4-H Horticulture Program Coordinator

If you “grow your own fresh air” (houseplants), you appreciate the liveliness this brings to the indoors during the long winter months. On days when I’m feeling blue, nothing lifts my spirits like taking care of my houseplants.

Light

Unless you have a greenhouse or grow lights, keeping houseplants at their finest during the winter months can be a challenge. With sunlight intensity and duration at a low point, even the best window in the house can keep plant growth to a minimum. Give plants a quarter turn each time you water to keep plants from leaning and getting top heavy. Pinch off stems that have gotten leggy to keep plants looking good and place the cuttings in water for rooting.

Fertilization

For houseplants in the window, fertilization should take place March through October, when sunlight intensity and duration promotes plant growth and vigor. The need for nutrition & plant growth drops during winter months.

Watering

The best way to water houseplants is from the top down, allowing excess water to drain into the catch dish below, and empty

dish after one hour. Water temperature plays a huge role in root activity, so make sure water is brought to room temperature before it is used. Never place ice cubes on the soil surface to water plants. Ice water is just above freezing and extremely injurious to plant roots.

Humidity

A great technique to create humidity around plants is to set up a pebble tray. A shallow tray, wider than the plant’s foliage, is filled with pebbles and enough water to just cover the pebbles. Pots are placed on the pebble layer, not directly in the water. As water evaporates, voila, humidity for plants!

Pest Management

Aphids, spider mites, scale, mealybugs, and whiteflies are major pests of houseplants, but they are tiny, sometimes requiring a hand lens to see them. These pests can take an otherwise healthy plant close to death in just a few months, especially when there are no insect predators to feed on them. An insecticidal soap kills most of these pests. Spray plants on a weekly basis until no more insects are seen. With scale and mealybugs, ridding plants of these species is timeconsuming and has little success in long term results. Discard plants that are heavily infested. For plants with sentimental value, do a twice-weekly clean up

using cotton swabs dipped in rubbing alcohol. Always keep new plants isolated from your other houseplants for a few weeks to make sure nothing is inadvertently spread to healthy plants.

Setting Houseplants Outside

In spring, when nighttime and daytime temperatures have reached 55° F and higher, houseplants can be moved outside to take advantage of the weather. Because they are weak from their protected time indoors, plants should be acclimated first. Start by putting them beneath the shade of a tree or a porch, out of any direct sun, wind, or precipitation. Every few days, move plants to a more exposed place, eventually moving them to a full sun location. Once plants are hardened off, they can be placed in their permanent summer location. When you grow houseplants, you’re benefitting you and your family’s physical and psychological health. So… grow your own fresh air!

Source:

Cue, Kathleen.“Winter Care of Houseplants | Nebraska Extension.” Nebraska Extension | Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources, https://extension.unl.edu/statewide/dodge/ winter-care-of-houseplants/. Accessed 14 Nov. 2022.

Community Spotlight

ASHLEY NELSON

Ashley Nelson grew up in the Catskills region. She is a Prevention Specialist at the Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Council and a celebrated leader in her community. She was drawn to prevention work through her own recovery. “You can’t prepare for the battle in the battle and you have to continue to use prevention skills so you don’t go back.”

When I asked for advice on starting a youth coalition she offered, “A lot of youth may not believe that they are leaders but they are. If we are able to turn their negative behaviors into positive behaviors then they could lead people in amazing directions.”

Staff Spotlight

ANN-MARIE SIDTIS

Ann-Marie Sidtis was born and raised in Queens, New York. She has dedicated herself to serving her community, previously as Paramedic Lieutenant with the Fire Department of New York City and now as an assistant through the Drug Free Communities grant. She earned her BFA from the school of Visual Arts and is a painter and woodworker. She enjoys art, music, and walking around in the woods with her husband and son.

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

December is the peak of the Holiday Season!

St. Lucias Day is a festival of lights celebrated in Sweden, Norway, and the Swedishspeaking areas of Finland on December 13 in honour of St. Lucia (St. Lucy). One of the earliest Christian martyrs, St. Lucia was killed by the Romans in 304 CE because of her religious beliefs. St. Lucias Day is observed on Tuesday, December 13, 2022. In Scandinavian countries each town elects its own St. Lucia.

The festival marks the beginning of the Christmas season in Scandinavia, and it is meant to bring hope and light during the darkest time of the year.

The ringing of the temple bell 108 times is known as Joyanokane in Japanese. It’s said that there are 108 worldly desires and that ringing the bell 108 times removes them and purifies the soul to welcome the new year.

Boxing Day is celebrated in Great Britain and some Commonwealth countries, particularly Australia, Canada, and New Zealand, holiday (December 26) on which servants, tradespeople, and the poor traditionally were presented with gifts. By the 21st century it had become a day associated with shopping and sporting events.

In preparation for the feast day, many individuals in the community erect altars in their home. In many cases they are made of a painting of Our Lady of Guadalupe that is surrounded by candles and flowers.

Kwanzaa is an annual holiday affirming African family and social values that is celebrated primarily in the United States from December 26 to January 1. Both the name and the celebration were devised in 1966 by Maulana Karenga, a professor of Africana studies at California State University in Long Beach and an important figure in Afrocentrism.

Sources:

Britannica, T. Editors of Encyclopedia. “Kwanzaa.” Encyclopedia Britannica, October 26, 2022. https://www.britannica.com/topic/ Kwanzaa.

Britannica, T. Editors of Encyclopaedia.“St. Lucia’s Day.” Encyclopedia Britannica, October 13, 2022. https://www.britannica.com/topic/ St-Lucias-Day.

Explanations for the origin of the name Boxing Day have varied, with some believing that it derived from the opening of alms boxes that had been placed in churches for the collection of donations to aid the poor.

Each December 12th, the Mexican Catholic community of Scott County celebrates the Feast Day of Our Lady of Guadalupe. This celebration commemorates the appearance of Mary to the Mexican peasant Juan Diego in 1531. The feast day is an important holiday in Mexico. It has also become an important day for Mexican Americans to celebrate their religious and cultural identity.

Karenga borrowed the word

at an early celebration.

Jikei COM Group.“Annual Events in Japan.” Jikei COM International Center, Accessed November 16, 2022. https://www.jikei. asia/com/en/schoollife/event_oomisoka. html#:~:text=December%2031st%2C%20 the%20final%20day,began%20in%20the%20 Heian%20period.

“Our Lady of Guadalupe Feast Day Celebration.” Mississippi Arts Commission, Accessed November 16, 2022. https://arts.ms.gov/folklife/ artist.php?dirname=guadalupe_ ourlady#:~:text=Each%20December%20 12th%2C%20the%20Mexican,an%20 important%20holiday%20in%20Mexico.

kwanza, meaning “ rst,” from the Swahili phrase matunda ya kwanza, adding the seventh letter, an extra a, to make the word long enough to accommodate one letter for each of the seven children present

HOW TO CREATE AN INCLUSIVE WORKPLACE

Submitted by Malinda Ware, Program Director & DEI Committee Chair

Part II: NonInclusive Workplace Characteristics

Having an inclusive workplace is important, but it’s not something that everyone gets the chance to experience. Many people are employed in non-inclusive workplaces but don’t realize it. They might just recognize that something is off or not how it should be. How can you tell which category your workplace falls into? You can look for non-inclusive workplace practices. Examples of exclusion in the workplace could include:

• Avoiding hard conversations: Workplaces that don’t value inclusion may be more likely to avoid the tough conversations. When an employee expresses their dissatisfaction with something, such as feeling like they don’t belong, their concerns are often brushed under the rug. Managers and other leaders take no real action to alleviate their concerns.

• Harassment: A key

sign of a non-inclusive workplace is any type of harassment. This could be verbal, psychological, or physical, among others. Employees may face discrimination or harassment because of their race, age, gender, sexual orientation, or other identity markers. This is illegal and should always be reported. Inclusive employers take these reports seriously and do everything they can to prevent these situations from happening.

• Speaking over others: Employees in noninclusive workplaces may not feel like they have a voice or that their opinion doesn’t matter. They might be interrupted in meetings, ignored, or spoken over. None of these are inclusive practices.

• Micromanaging: Micromanaging refers to a boss or manager who attempts to control every little aspect of their employee’s work. It is a non-inclusive practice because it doesn’t allow a person autonomy over their own decisions, timeline, or workload. It assumes that managers know best and relies on complete authority rather than collaboration.

• Withholding information: Withholding information,

whether about an important work meeting or an upcoming event, can be an intentionally exclusive behavior. Of course, it’s always wise to be sure these actions were intentional and not an accident.

• Inappropriate events: Inclusive workplaces consider the needs of every employee. A workplace that hosts a hiking trip for their employees even though one is wheelchair-bound would not be considered inclusive. There are always alternative options so that everyone can feel included.

• Lack of diversity: If you look around and everyone seems the same, it may be a sign you’ve wandered into a workplace that isn’t committed to diversity or inclusivity. Non-inclusive workplaces usually won’t mind that their values or policies are exclusive, whereas inclusive workplaces will at least be taking steps to create change because they care.

If you think that you’re a part of a non-inclusive workplace, you may feel disheartened. However, before you try to move to a new job, it could be helpful to voice your concerns to your employer and see how they respond. Sometimes

employers aren’t aware of the culture they’ve created or have never been challenged before. Those who genuinely care for their employees will take these concerns to heart and try to make the environment more inclusive for everyone.

The Impact of NonInclusive Workplaces

Non-inclusive workplaces can have negative physical and mental health effects, not to mention the cost to the employer. Below are some examples of these effects:

• Mental health challenges: Feeling excluded at work can contribute to mental health conditions like anxiety and depression. Employees may feel lonely or isolated, especially if they don’t have anyone to turn to. When mental health challenges are rampant at work, employees can’t concentrate as easily, tend to be less creative, and may display reduced productivity.

• Less cooperation: It can be a combination of sadness, anger, or other emotions that cause an employee to withdraw or react. It’s important that each individual feels the freedom to be themselves despite differences.

• Decreased productivity: The more diverse an organization is, the more productive it is and the greater profitability it is able to achieve. Diversity promotes innovation, a bigger pool of talent, and better performance from employees. It brings new perspectives to the table and allows problems to be solved with greater speed. When diversity isn’t valued, everyone is negatively impacted as a result— even the company.

• Stunted growth: Since inclusive workplaces encourage innovation, non-inclusive workplaces tend to stunt a company’s growth. Not only that, but employees may fail to grow as well. When people are surrounded by the same perspectives and ideas day after day, they don’t have the opportunity to be challenged. The workplace and the employees can easily become stagnant.

• Less trust: Employees that feel judged, excluded, or left out are less likely to trust their colleagues and upper management. They may not voice how they really feel and choose to remain quiet instead. The result is that the employer loses out on the employee’s unique

perspective, insight, and ideas. The employer may not experience as much growth as they had envisioned, stunting productivity and ultimately the bottom line.

Some non-inclusive workplaces can be hard to spot until you take a closer look. The surest way to know that an employer values inclusion is to look at their values and mission statement and the people they employ. If there isn’t anything about diversity or inclusion, or all their employees seem all too similar to one another, it may be a sign of a noninclusive workplace. Luckily, you have the opportunity to search for an employer that appreciates diversity and seeks to make everyone feel included.

To be continued in Part III: Non-Inclusive Workplaces and Mental Health

Source: Wiederhold, Sydney. “How to Create An Inclusive Workplace.” betterhelp. September 30, 2022. https://www.betterhelp.com/ advice/inclusive-mental-health/ how-to-create-an-inclusive-workplace/.

HEAP SEASON IS OPEN

Submitted by Sean Welsh, Energy Resource Educator

For those in need of assistance and who meet the income thresholds of the Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP), seasonal help can be provided to qualified New Yorkers to heat and cool their homes.

The program benefits for those income eligible include one regular HEAP benefit per program year. This comes in the form of a direct voucher to fuel providers to help cover an amount of a delivery. Consumers may also be eligible for the emergency HEAP benefit, for those in danger of running out of fuel or having the utility service shut off.

HEAP also provides a couple other benefits including the Cooling Benefit, which can provide a window air conditioner for the warmer seasons. Another benefit called the Clean and Tune Benefit can clean and tune a heating system, this benefit can be provided if households meet program criteria. In addition to these there is also the Heating Equipment Repair and Replacement (HERR) benefit within HEAP which if eligible can provide assistance in repairing or replacing a

heating system to keep the system working.

Applications can be completed online, in person or via mail. In Sullivan County, residents who may be eligible can connect with the Sullivan County Department of Social Services, at (845) 807-0142. Seniors can reach out to the Sullivan County Office of the Aging, at 845-794-3000. Other agencies that can help with HEAP in Sullivan County are; Action Towards Independence, at (845) 794-4228, and Independent Living, at (845) 794-3322.

The Sullivan County Sheriff’s office is available for those encountering an after-hours emergency related to HEAP, at (845) 794-7100.

For those who qualify for HEAP, there can be other programs to help save money and get a home energy audit/ assessment. This assessment would not involve a cost for those who

qualify for HEAP and can result in in free air sealing, insulation, and electric reduction work. To connect on programs in Sullivan County call Community Energy Advisor Sean Welsh at (845) 292-6180, ext. 127.

Source: “Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP)” | OTDA (ny.gov), accessed on 11.18.2022. https://otda.ny.gov/prog/heap.

ENERGY EFFICIENCY TIPS

FOR YOUR HOME

Regardless of the temperature or the price of fuel, the less energy you use to heat your home, the more you will save. Whether you own a home or rent an apartment, there are simple affordable steps you can take to reduce yourenergy consumption and lower your utility bills.

Weatherize and insulate your home.

A well-insulated attic has the best potential to save energy.

Insulate and seal heating and cooling ducts. Poorly sealed ducts can waste 10-30% of your total energy costs.

Seal cracks around windows and doors.

Insulate outside walls, as well as floors over unheated basements and crawl spaces.

Lower your thermostat when you are not at home and at night.

Install a programmable thermostat that will automatically lower and raise the temperature.

Set your thermostat at 65 degrees or lower at night and 55 degrees when you are away.

You can save 20% or more on your heating cost by lowering your thermostat 10 degrees for two-hour periods during the day.

For each degree you lower the setting on your thermostat, you can save about 3% on your heating bill.

Have your heating system checked and change your furnace filter. Have your heating system checked before each heating season.

Clean or replace your filter once a month or as needed. A dirty filter will slow air flow and require the furnace to run longer to heat a home.

Seal heating ductwork. Air leakage from areas such as joints, elbows and connections can be substantial.

Shut heat off to any unused storage areas and close vents to any unused bedroom (they can be reopened when a guest visits).

Improve the efficiency of your water heater.

Lower your water temperature to 120 degrees or 140 degrees if you use a dishwasher.

Wrap your water heater. Heating water accounts for about 14% of your energy bill.

Insulate hot water pipes, especially in circulating systems, with foil-faced, fiberglass insulation or foam insulation sleeves.

Install aerators on faucets and use low-flow showerheads.

Use cold or warm water for laundry when possible.

Use appliances wisely and shop for Energy Star appliances.

Look for appliances with the EnergyStar label because they can save you 30% on your electric and/or gas bills.

Set your refrigerator temperature at 38 to 40 degrees and your freezer at 0 to 5 degrees.

Don’t pre-heat your own longer than necessary.

Load your dishwasher and washing machine to capacity –but don’t overload when possible.

The Community Preventive Services Task Force Recommendation for Combined Built Environment Approaches to Increase Physical Activity

For more information about the Community Preve www.thecommunityguide.org/findings/physi and www.cdc.gov/physicalactivity/communit

4-H Wishes You Happy Holidays

Submitted by Barbara Moran, 4-H Youth Development Program

National m onth outdoor activities focus on Animal Science ,

y y g Happy Holidays