Extension Connection
USPS-525-100
Sullivan County
YOUR LINK TO LOCAL, RESEARCH-BASED SOLUTIONS TO BETTER YOUR LIFE
VOLUME LXXXXIX NO. 6
JUNE 2018
The Master Gardener Volunteer Plant Sale brought in over $4,000 to support the MGV and Community Horticulture programs at Cornell Cooperative Extension.
Upcoming U pcoming Events Events & Programs Programs
Issue Isssue sue Highlights Higghhligghhts
Multi-Species Showmanship Clinic
Tips for Farming through Tough Times
Understanding & Responding to Dementia
Time to Prune Spring Flowering Plants
Second Saturdays Makers Series
Healthy Worksites: A Smart Business Move
Beginning Farmer Tailgate Talks Annual Caregiver Wellness Retreat Catskills Kitchen OPEN HOUSE Upper Delaware BioBlitz Family Day Medication Management Master Food Preserver 3-Day Training Sullivan County Youth Fair
Long Winters: Perfect Time for Weatherization Educational Opportunities Abound with Cornell Lab of Ornithology 3 Ways to Prevent Caregiver Stress & Burnout Community Guest Editorial: Upper Delaware BioBlitz Steering Committee See page 14 for fast facts and more!
See page 12 for more events!
Welcome W elcome to to the the Issue! Issue!
Table Table of of Contents Contents
Page 3 Message from the Executive Director
Page 10 Long Winters: Perfect Time for Weatherization
Page 18 Community Guest Editorial of the Month
Page 4 Tips for Farming through Tough Times
Page 10 Catskills Kitchen Open House Flyer
Page 20 CCESC Spotlights
Page 5 On-Farm Safety Flyer
Page 11 Legal & Financial Planning for Alzheimer’s Flyer
Page 24 Sponsorships
Page 6 Beginning Farmer Tailgate Talks Flyer
Page 12 Upcoming Programs
Page 7 Time to Prune Spring Flowering Plants
Page 13 Harness Racing Youth Day Flyer
Page 7 Monthly DHI Report
Page 14 Fast Facts, Cool Tools, & News to Use
Page 8 Healthy Worksites: A Smart Business Move
Page 16 In Case You Missed It
Page 22 Opportunities for You Page 26 Educational Opportunities Abound with Cornell Lab of Ornithology Page 27 Three Ways to Prevent Caregiver Stress & Burnout Page 28 Senior & Caregiver Class and Support Group Schedule
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.
REGULAR OFFICE HOURS
EXTENSION CONNECTION
8:30 am to 4:30 pm Monday-Friday Phone: 845-292-6180 Fax: 845-292-4946 Website: www.sullivancce.org E-mail: sullivan@cornell.edu Twitter.com/ccesullivan Facebook.com/ccesullivan Instagram.com/cce_sullivan_county YouTube: bitly.com/ccesullivan
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2018 BOARD OF DIRECTORS Robert Kaplan..............................President Amy Erlwein........................Vice President Dawn Boyes.................................Treasurer John Kiefer...................................Secretary Todd Brown Jenny Chamberlain Marcie Ehrman Denise Frangipane Sonja Hedlund John “JP” Lang Erin Mason Klu Padu Luisa Parker Nadia Rajsz........................Legislative Rep. Robert Wong
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Edited by: Nicole Slevin & Colleen Monaghan
Produced by: Cornell Cooperative Extension Sullivan County 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. NOTICE: Official endorsement of advertisers and their products is not intended by the acceptance of their advertisements for the Extension Connection.
STAFF MEMBERS Colleen Monaghan............................................................................Executive Director SueAnn Boyd.......................................................Healthy Schools Program Coordinator Wanda V. Cruz.............................................Healthy Communities Program Coordinator Dayna Gaeta...........................................Community Horticulture Program Coordinator Jessica Glassel.....................................................................................Finance Assistant Beth Johnston-Groth...............................................................Administrative Assistant II Marylin Jones..........................................................................4-H Program Coordinator Bonnie Lewis.............................................................Dependent Care Subject Educator Michelle Lipari..................................................................Agriculture Subject Educator Erica Lynch........................................................Catskills Kitchen Program Coordinator Melinda Meddaugh.....................................................Ag & Food Systems Team Leader Barbara Moran...............................................4-H Animal Science Program Coordinator Bee Moser................................................................................Eat Smart NY Nutritionist Nicole Slevin.......................................................Communications & Diversity Manager Kaitlyn Smith................................................................................4-H Program Educator Nat Tompkins...............................................Agriculture Business Program Coordinator Tara VanHorn.......................................................................................Finance Manager Malinda Ware......................................Health & Community Development Issue Leader Sean Welsh...........................................................................Energy Resource Educator John Wilcox........................................................................................Facilities Manager
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Greetings, friends! And just like that, it’s June! We haven’t had many dry days but about 200 Sullivan County gardeners came out to the May 20th Annual Master Gardener Volunteer Plant Sale. This year, community horticulture staff and Master Gardener Volunteers DOUBLED and MET their annual plant sale fundraising goal! Cheers to our staff and volunteers for cultivating and selling more than $6,000 of greenery, netting just over $4,000 in just a few hours! And thank you to all our Sullivan County friends and neighbors for coming out to support the sale! Some more good news, CCE Sullivan has been awarded about $500,000 to work with Sullivan County and New York State farm and food businesses to open a Hudson Valley Welcome Center and Taste NY store at the Woodbury Commons Premium Outlets in Central Valley, New York. With our CCE partners across the region and state and at this venue, which sees upwards of 13 million visitors each year, opening this market site may be an opportunity of epic proportions for Sullivan County, regional, and state agricultural product sales. We’re working closely with Extension administration at the NYS level and with our CCE partners in Orange, Ulster, Dutchess, Putnam, Rockland, Westchester, Nassau, and Broome Counties, to identify market ready products and ensure a smooth onboarding process for potential vendors. More news to come in future months as we work towards a September opening date! In addition to the Taste NY news, we learned our request to the NYS Department of Health for funds to develop and pilot a mobile farmers’ market in 2018-2019 was approved! For the past two years, CCE has worked with the Sullivan County Division of Planning and Community Development to increase the capacity of the seven county markets. That work saw a marked increase in sales for Sullivan County farm market vendors. The mobile market is a new venture designed to continue that sales growth, and to get more fresh produce into the kitchens of some of the county’s most hard to reach and vulnerable residents by bringing the food right to them! Since last month’s note, CCE Sullivan staff has submitted more than $280,000 in grant applications to the United States Department of Agriculture, NYS Ag & Markets, and Sullivan County to support infrastructure projects at the Extension Education Center. Sometimes we don’t hear back on these applications for months, but we continue to reach out to diverse government and private sources of funding to ensure the Education Center continues to be a viable and living resource for the county’s farmers, families, and young people. In May, CCE Sullivan facilities and community energy staff worked with NYSEG to replace almost 300 interior and exterior lighting fixtures with the latest LED technology. Sharing half the cost over two years, this partnership is expected to save Extension as much as 40% in lighting costs annually, in addition to continuing to minimize our carbon footprint! Last, but of course not least, planning for the 2018 Sullivan County Youth Fair is underway. Our youth development staff has been working hand in hand with Sullivan County’s young animal science enthusiasts on preparing animals for the annual Livestock Auction, entering still exhibits in hopes of qualifying for exhibition at the New York State Fair, and ensuring a positive, hands-on learning experience for Sullivan County kids at the Grahamsville Fairgrounds. Please mark your calendars for the third weekend in August, and join us at the fair! Until next month, happy gardening and see you in the field!
Warm Regards,
Colleen Monaghan, Executive Director cm638@cornell.edu
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TIPS FOR FARMING THROUGH TOUGH TIMES Submitted by Nat Tompkins, Ag Business Program Coordinator Things aren’t looking too good for commodity prices this year. Believe it or not, 2017 was actually the peak in the business cycle for a lot of commodity groups. 2018 is projected to be a year where prices take a slide. As times get tighter around the farm it’s important to maintain a level head, and start planning ahead on how you’re going to weather the storm. Here are some tips to help you farm through tough times. 1. Create and continually revise partial budgets and cash flow analyses. Cash flow is the key to surviving difficult price times while farming. If you are able to continually have more cash coming in than going out at the end of each month, then you are more likely to make it through tough times. Create a partial farm budget of expenses that can be cut immediately to help your farm stay afloat. Keep revising the budget every month, and note how potential changes to it will affect your operation and its profitability. 2. Cut down on your inventory. When times are tough financially it’s better to keep your inventory lower than usual. If you have less stuff that means less money was spent. Only buy something when absolutely necessary, and even then, only buy the exact amount you need. Volume discounts are great, but those very same discounts may sink the farm if its cash flow gets disrupted. If you own a dairy farm, it’s time to consider culling the less profitable cows in the herd. Make sure you consult with your tax preparer when selling animals. Page 4
3. Forward contracts for inputs. Work with your input suppliers to see if you can use a forward contract to buy what you need. Locking in prices for something you will be getting in the future can be a financially savvy and profitable move to make, especially with inputs like feed and fuel. The prices for those inputs may fluctuate between the time you sign the forward contract, and when you receive the product. Do your research before approaching this option. If the price goes down after you agree to the terms, you lose out on any savings. 4. Treat diseases before they get worse. Diseases that affect your plants and animals can be costly to deal with, but not nearly as costly as the potential lost production value from not treating them. Mastitis in dairy cows is a good example. When a cow gets mastitis they immediately start producing less milk. When commodity prices are low getting the most out of your cows is vital to survival. Treating an outbreak early will help that cow get healthy quickly, and stop illness from spreading to others. This idea also carries over to plants you grow. Whether you are growing corn or forages to feed animals, or growing fruits and vegetables, it is important to stay on top of the diseases, weeds, and pests they may encounter, and then deal with them properly and promptly. Remember, it’s always easier to get rid of a problem when it’s small and cheap than to wait around for it to get bigger and more expensive. 5. Create a profit management super team for help. Getting input and expertise from
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the people you trust, those you do business with, and professionals within the agriculture industry is a great way to help your farm. Definitely consider creating this type of team if your farm hits a rough patch and needs some help to turn a profit. Some people to consider having on the team are: • Your veterinarian • Your accountant • Your loan officer • A farming mentor • A nutritionist • An Extension professional • Any crop consultants you may use • Other folks you trust
Try to meet with your team every one to three months. At these meetings your team can identify issues that may be plaguing the farm, get general advice about your operation, and plan out future farm business strategies. Being able to sit down with the entire team will save you and them huge amounts of time, while also providing an opportunity to use this brain trust for the best possible solutions to farm issues. Sources: Knoblauch, Wayne A. Fireside Chat: Managing During a Milk Price Fall. February 2, 2009. Informational PDF from Cornell University for Dairy Farmers, Dyson School of Applied Economic and Management Cornell University, Ithaca, NY.
Knoblauch, Wayne A. Do’s and Don’ts for Dairy Farmers Facing Financial Difficulty. February 2, 2009. Informational PDF from Cornell University for dairy farmers, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Cornell University, Ithaca, NY.
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TIME TO PRUNE SPRING FLOWERING SHRUBS Submitted by Dayna Gaeta, Community Hort. Coordinator Written by Sandra Mason, State Master Gardener Coordinator, University of Illinois Extension As you stare forlornly at your six-foot tall shrub, you reminisce about the plant label that said, “Grows to three feet”. In our rich soils plants may exceed their usual height. Regular pruning can correct many problems. Pruning can promote new plant growth, maintain plant size, encourage flowering, remove diseased or dead limbs, and help control insect and disease problems. However, timing is important, especially when pruning spring blooming shrubs. Early blooming shrubs develop their flower buds during the summer and fall of the previous year. This is often called “blooming on old wood”. Therefore as a general rule, shrubs that flower before June 15 should be pruned soon after flowering. Pruning these shrubs in late summer, fall, or early spring will remove the flower buds and therefore the flowers. Spring flowering shrubs are generally pruned by the renewal method. Each spring after flowering, prune out the largest stems to the ground to stimulate new growth from the crown and remaining stems. Remaining stems can then be shortened to shape.
June 15 can be pruned in early spring. Summer and fall flowering shrubs bloom on new wood or stems that were produced in the same season as flowering. Many of these shrubs can be pruned by the scary rejuvenation method. Rejuvenation is the complete cutting of all stems down to 4 to 6 inch stubs generally done in February and March. Rejuvenation is used when multistemmed plants become too large with too many stems to justify saving any one to two year old growth. In other words, the shrub is a tangled mess of stems. However, don’t wait too late in the year for rejuvenation pruning. To be cautious, large old shrubs should not be rejuvenated in late spring or summer. The following respond well to rejuvenation pruning: Anthony Waterer spirea, abelia, honeysuckle, beautybush, snowberry, slender deutzia, and privet. Potentilla is another common summer blooming shrub. However, it should be pruned by the renewal method (selectively removing some of the older growth) in early spring just as the green buds appear. Pruning at other times can cause dieback and sunscald, which could kill plants.
of pruning shears or loppers not hedge shears. At each cut of hedge shears, many new growing points are produced, making the shrub very dense at the top. The dense growth causes the leaves in the interior of the plants to die. Hedge shears should only be used on formal hedges. However, formal hedges must be pruned in the correct shape or the shrubs will lose their leaves at the base. Hedges should be pruned so the width at the top is less than the width at the bottom. This allows light to penetrate to the lower leaves. For more info on pruning, contact your local Cornell Cooperative Extension Master Gardener Volunteers. In Sullivan County they can be reached at 845-292-6180 X123 or scmghelpline@cornell.edu. Source: Mason, Sandra. The Homeowners Column. University of Illinois Extension. http://web.extension.illinois.edu/cfiv/ homeowners/030524.html
Shrub pruning requires a good set
DHI Report: APRIL
Shrubs that should be pruned this spring soon after flowering include lilac, deutzia, kerria, mockorange, weigela, forsythia, viburnum, St. Johns wort, and redtwig and yellowtwig dogwood. Shrubs that bloom after
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LONG WINTERS: THE PERFECT TIME FOR WEATHERIZATION Submitted by Sean Welsh, Energy Resource Educator What a winter! It seemed to last a little longer this year and really had me noticing the drafts in my house as the cold pushed from March, through April, and then into May! Taking some time to tour your living spaces during cold months provides an opportunity to do some extra weatherization around the home when the weather breaks. Long Northeastern winters are tough on homes, and as the frost comes and goes it leaves behind new gaps and cracks in home exteriors that may allow more cold air flow inside, or warm air in the summer when staying cool is the goal. Sullivan County residents who would like to apply for the Weatherization Assistance Program are encouraged to call Delaware Opportunities, Inc. at 607-746-1690. You can find more information on their website at LINK: http://delawareopportunities.org/. The Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) assists incomeeligible families and individuals by reducing their heating and cooling costs and addressing health and safety issues in their homes through energy-efficiency measures.
Weatherization services reduce the amount of energy required to heat and cool homes and provide hot water, thus reducing energy consumption and minimizing the impact of higher fuel costs on low income families. Household energy reductions and energy cost savings are significant, with an average annual savings in excess of 20%. WAP providers conduct an assessment, or “energy audit”, of the residence to identify specific measures to increase energy efficiency. Based on the results of the energy audit, services may include, but are not limited to, sealing cracks and holes to reduce air infiltration; insulation of attics and walls; heating system repairs or replacement; hot water tank and pipe insulation; installation of energy efficient lighting and refrigerators; window and outside door repair or replacement; minor repairs to ensure installed weatherization materials perform correctly; and mitigation of energy related health and safety issues, including indoor air quality improvements, correction of ventilation problems that can lead to mold growth, and identification of lead paint hazards.
60% of the state median income are eligible for assistance. Income limit information is available at: LINK: http://www.nyshcr.org/ Programs/WeatherizationAssistance/ forms/WAP_Income_Eligibility.pdf Program services are available to both homeowners, renters, and rental property owners, with a priority given to senior citizens, families with children, and persons with disabilities. If a household contains a member who receives Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) benefits or certain other forms of public assistance, the household is automatically eligible for WAP services. Both single family and multifamily buildings are assisted. Source: “Homes and Community Renewal.” Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP). Accessed May 03, 2018. http://www.nyshcr. org/Programs/WeatherizationAssistance/ “Welcome to Delaware Opportunities.” Delaware Opportunities Inc. Accessed May 03, 2018. http://delawareopportunities. org/.
Households with incomes at or below
Catskills Kitchen OPEN HOUSE Wednesday June 27 5:30 - 7:00 pm
Extension Education Center 64 Ferndale-Loomis Rd Liberty Page 10
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FREE! Learn More: 845-292-6180
catskillskitchen@ cornell.edu
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June Focus: Fast Facts, Cool Tools, & News to Use! To save energy, consider a laptop computer over a desktop and reduce the brightness of the screen. The US federal Administration for Community Living estimated that in 2016, 1.5 million cases of elder abuse were reported to adult protective agencies around the country, with about half of those deemed worthy of further investigation. Wool can absorb moisture up to 30% of its weight and st ill feel dry!
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99% of all U.S. farms are owned by individuals, family partnerships, or family corporations.
Rethink Drink: Your
The nutr ition lab el of drink bo ttles will tell you the sugar co ntents in grams . Divide that by 4 to c overt gr ams of sugar in to teasp oons of sugar. Vo ila! Now you can actu ally visu alize how muc h sugar you put into your bod y. Don’t po ur on the pounds!
June 2018
June Focus: Fast Facts, Cool Tools, & News to Use!
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TAI CHI VOLUNTEERS
HOME FIREARM SAFETY
HORSE TASK FORCE
May 1
May 6
May 9
CCESC welcomed volunteer instructor Rich Sheldon for another booked Home Firearm Safety class. The workshop hosts 15 individuals and fulfills the educational requirement for pistol permit applications.
The Sullivan County 4-H Horse Task Force met to plan this year’s NYS Qualifying Horse Show and a Fun Show for the 2018 Sullivan County Youth Fair. With almost 30 youth riding this year, the program has grown more than two-fold in the last two years. Kudos to animal science staff and volunteer 4-H leaders for their hard work and commitment to Sullivan County kids!
The CCESC Caregiver Resource Center welcomed four new volunteers to the Tai Chi for Fall Prevention program training in Cooperstown. These community minded individuals will help expand this popular program across the county!
ONLINE FAIR ENTRY May 2, 12, 16, 17+ CCESC’s 4-H Youth Development staff hosted several youth online FairEntry training sessions and office hours. Youth Fair participants now enter their animal fair entries in one online program, ensuring all entries are complete!
SMARTER LUNCHROOMS May 3 CCESC Healthy Schools staff worked with White Sulphur Springs BOCES and Fallsburg Schools on Smarter Lunchroom Assessments. Proper product placement makes the healthy choice the easy choice for kids in school cafeterias. Kudos to Sullivan County schools for participating!
PRE-FAIR VET UPDATE May 3 4-H staff hosted NYS Ag & Markets for the PreFair Veterinary Update. This annual visit ensures that animal entries to the Sullivan County Youth Fair and the Grahamsville Little World’s Fair are in tip top shape upon entry to the fairgrounds, ensuring biosecurity and good management practices for Sullivan County farms.
SHOOTING SPORTS SAFETY May 4 The 4-H Shooting Sports & Environmental Education Program hosted its annual Safety Night. More than 30 youth and volunteers kicked off the program season. The program meets every Friday through the fall.
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FARM VISITS May 7, 18, 21, 23 Despite the cold and rain, the CCE ag team visited five farms to get a peek into spring operations. We’re looking forward to more farm visits as we move into peak production seasons.
PHEASANT CHICKS ARRIVE May 8 More than 600 day-old pheasant chicks arrived at the Extension Education Center, through a NYS DEC program. Ready for pick up, youth volunteers raise these babies and when ready, set them free on public land to ensure the population.
CATSKILLS KITCHEN TOURS May 8, 9, 29 The CCESC Catskills Kitchen Food Business Incubator hosted three tours this month for aspiring and new small food business entrepreneurs. The kitchen provides a space and technical assistance for folks interested in breaking into the food business.
CAREGIVER SUPPORT May 8, 17 The Caregiver Resource Center held its monthly Support Groups in Callicoon, Grahamsville, Monticello, Liberty, and by phone.
COOKING WITH CORNELL May 8, 15, 22, 29 CCESC Healthy Schools staff hosted weekly Tuesday Cooking with Cornell afterschool classes at Fallsburg Schools. This partnership shows teens how to make healthful, budgetfriendly recipes they can take home to their families.
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DIVERSITY & INCLUSION May 10 CCESC’s Diversity and Inclusion Committee’s monthly meeting explored new standards for web accessibility, training opportunities, outreach, and the importance of this work in keeping the staff educated, relevant, and prepared in a diverse, changing county. The term of the month is Ally, meaning someone who is willing to take action in support of another person, in order to remove external barriers that impede that person from contributing their skills and talents in the workplace or community. Responses from the Inclusion Survey released last month were covered. The survey is still active and available on the web.
LIVING HEALTHY, LIVING WELL May 10, 17, 31 The Caregiver Resource Center kicked off the third Living Healthy, Living Well series, this time at the Extension Education Center. A group of 18 participants will meet six times and be empowered to manage their own wellness.
YOUTH FOR THE QUALITY CARE OF ANIMALS May 10 Six 4-H animal science youth attended the Youth for the Quality Care of Animals (YQCA) workshop. This training is required in order to enter animals into the annual Youth Livestock Auction at the Sullivan County Youth Fair.
Four new
Tai Chi volunteers join CCE
Master Gardener
Plant Sale raised over
$4,000!
Youth trout
conservation program releases 20 fish,
the most in NYS!
TROUT RELEASE
KNIT/CROCHET GROUP MEETS
PLANT SALE RAISES $4K
May 4, 11, 18
May 18
May 20
4-H youth finished their Friday evenings of caring for baby trout fry as part of a NYS DEC Trout in the Classroom program at the Extension Education Center. The fish were finally released into the wild in the Neversink Reservoir. Sullivan released 20 fry, the most in NYS!
The Intergenerational Textile Group met for their monthly meeting of knitting and crocheting their way to learn new skills, work on individual projects, and collaborate on projects for donation to Sullivan County friends and neighbors in need. The group is free and open to new volunteers!
The Annual Master Gardener Plant Sale doubled in size, raising more than $4,000 in just a few hours. Cheers to community horticulture staff and Master Gardener Volunteers for one of the best plant sales to date!
LOVE TO WEATHER STORMS May 15 CCESC staff managed to clean seven of eight teaching gardens before sheltering in place on the afternoon of the storms. While taking shelter, we enjoyed cake in celebration of 4-H Program Educator Kaitlyn Smith’s wedding. Congrats, Kaitlyn and John!
4-H GROWS TRUE LEADERS May 20, 21, 22 CCESC 4-H staff and youth 4-H members traveled to Albany for the annual 4-H Capital Days. This is our annual opportunity to let the NYS Legislature know how supporting 4-H cultivates leaders and ensures a strong future for NYS.
SBN MEETS AT SULLIVAN
SOCIAL MEDIA MARKETING May 22, 29 The CCESC Ag Business Retention & Expansion program hosted the Beginner and Advanced Social Media Marketing classes. These workshops help ag and other businesses up their marketing game using new media platforms!
HOLISTIC COOKING May 30
May 16
The Catskills Kitchen and Master Gardener Volunteers partnered to offer a Holistic Cooking class preparing paella with OrganicsWorld. US. Look out for more garden-based cooking classes in the coming months!
CCE Sullivan hosted CCE Shared Business Network partners from Orange, Ulster, Westchester, Rockland, Putnam, and Dutchess. The group brainstormed strategies for regional administrative partnership and program opportunities.
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UPPER DELAWARE BIOBLITZ TO CONNECT YOUTH & SCIENCE Submitted by Upper Delaware BioBlitz Steering Committee A BioBlitz is an event where teams of scientists gather on a demarcated property for 24 hours to collect, identify, and catalog a single specimen of every single species they can find. The latter part of the event is open to the public for youth and their families to meet the scientists, see what they have collected, and learn more about biology in the context of the site. Families, camps, and youth groups can take advantage of a free handson, educational opportunity on Saturday, June 30, for all ages to experience the diversity of life on a unique piece of property in Starlight, Wayne County, PA. On Saturday, June 30, the public is invited to the Upper Delaware BioBlitz from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm at the Gales Property owned by the Norcross Wildlife Foundation located on PA Rt. 191 at the junction of PA Rt. 370 about 1 mile south of Hancock NY, and in the far northeastern corner of Wayne County at the confluence of the east and west branches of the Delaware River, just downstream of the Shehawken access in PA. For free, families can view the specimens, meet scientists of various disciplines, and enjoy tours of the site to learn how different species live and thrive in the context of the overall property. Nine teams and sponsoring organizations will provide information and offer educational programs on their particular areas of expertise. Participants should wear comfortable hiking attire.
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and amphibians; and terrestrial bugs. The scientists are asked to identify what they find down to the species level, if possible, using specialized methods. Some of this will be done in the field either by photos or visual identification. Other items will be brought back to the collection tables for further identification through careful analysis using microscopes and reference material on site. Activities will include: • View the collected specimens and talk to the experts • Learn to take nature photos from a professional photographer • Take walks with scientists to learn about native plants, bugs, and mushrooms • Learn how to draw nature • Enjoy an original performance of “Trees” by NACL Theater • PLUS Special Friday night program at 8 pm bat acoustic ID and bug light tent demos
For more information, including directions and a map, the public can visit www.upperdelawarebioblitz. com, www.facebook.com/ UpperDelawareBioBlitz, or email info@upperdelawarebioblitz.com. Teams of scientists and amateur naturalists will converge on the site on Friday to begin their 24 hour survey. The Gales Property was also the site of the 2013 Upper Delaware BioBlitz, the first BioBlitz in the region and this will be the 4th event hosted by the Upper Delaware BioBlitz Steering Committee overall. In 2013 the 9 teams of researchers collected 1,022 distinct species in 24 hours! Teams of researchers will focus on specific categories of life, including aquatic insects; birds; fish; mammals; mosses and lichens; mushrooms; plants, grasses, and trees; reptiles
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All of the data will be compiled into an inventory of species collected during the event and will be publicly available to help future scientists understand what was living on the site at this particular time, including rare or endangered species. Experts will travel from far distances to study this unique area of Pennsylvania. Upper Delaware BioBlitz participating organizations and sponsors include Academy of Natural Sciences at Drexel University, Cornell Cooperative Extension Sullivan County, Delaware Highlands Conservancy, Delaware Highlands Mushroom Society, Delaware Riverkeeper Network, Friends of the Upper Delaware River, John & Helen Villaume Foundation, National Park Service, National Parks Conservation Association, Natural Environmental Education Foundation, Northeast Pennsylvania Audubon Society, Norcross Wildlife Foundation, Pennsylvania Native Plant Society, Sierra Club Pennsylvania Chapter, Sullivan County Audubon Society, Upper Delaware Council, US Forest Service, Wayne County Community Foundation, and Wayne County Conservation District. Delaware Highlands Conservancy is the fiscal sponsor for the event, and all contributions to the event through the Conservancy are tax-deductible.
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CCE Sullivan Spotlights
Farm Spotlight WILD RUSSET FARM Ryan Watson created Wild Russet Farm in 2016, named after a combination of the New York seedling apple, the Golden Russet, and the wild apples he uses to make hard cider. Ryan first started farming by creating an urban farm in an old Domino Sugar Factory. He enjoys being able to work outside with his hands to create food for people. Wishing to move beyond urban farming, Ryan moved to Sullivan County in 2013, where he started working for Aaron Burr Cidery. Eventually, Ryan bought the former Silver Heights Nursery in Jeffersonville, NY. He produces about an acre of mixed vegetables, over 600 dozen eggs, and now they are venturing into cider production with a tasting room opening in 2019. You can find Ryan’s eggs at the Red Rose Tavern in Roscoe, and for brunch at Annicka in Brooklyn. Next season you can also join his CSA, or visit him at various Sullivan Catskills farmers’ markets. To learn more, visit LINK: www.wildrussetfarm.com, and keep your eyes peeled for their cider coming soon.
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Partner Spotlight SUNSHINE ADULT DAYCARE Sunshine Adult Daycare in Monticello makes guests and visitors feel welcome and at home. Music is always playing and staff and seniors are singing, even ushering in some dance moves. A pool table and computers are available for everyone and people are busy doing arts and crafts or chatting. They offer many classes for their seniors, including hosting CCE’s Eat Smart New York (ESNY) Hudson Valley program to give a series of nutrition classes. ESNY started in February and met once a week. Everyone showed great interest, asked many questions and tried new recipes. The group talked about healthy eating, how to reduce sodium intake, limit fat and sugar, all while still enjoying tasty meals. The group loved to play chair activity bingo so much that ESNY gifted them one at the end of the workshops! Everyone received a certificate of completion. Nutrition and physical activities are an important part at every life stage and Sunshine Adult Daycare is executing exactly that. CCE is thrilled to offer Sunshine healthy eating series!
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Donor Spotlight SULLIVAN COUNTY CORRECTIONAL FACILITY The Sullivan Correctional Facility presented a donation of $200 to the Cornell Cooperative Extension Sullivan County 4-H Youth Development program for its Trout in the Classroom project. The Make a Difference Committee at Sullivan Correctional Facility said in their donation letter: “We admire your continued dedication and the work that you do to provide educational opportunities for children in the Sullivan County community. The staff at Sullivan Correctional Facility support your mission and want this donation to assist with making a difference in childrens’ lives. The hard work and service of your agency is greatly appreciated, and does not go unnoticed.” Donations, like that of Sullivan Correctional Facility, are instrumental in keeping educational programs accessible and sustainable to youth in our county. Thank you!
CCE Sullivan Spotlights
4-H Spotlight SMALL TOWN COUNTRY 4-H CLUB Small Town Country 4-H members James M., Jake N., Colin P., and Matthew R. got an early start on warm weather “buzz” haircuts this spring when they raised $5,262 for the annual St. Baldrick’s Fundraising event for childhood cancer research. This has become an annual event for the boys, with Matthew involved the longest at 4 years, Jake and James involved the last two years, and Colin joining for the first time this year. In support of the St. Baldrick’s fundraising effort, Will C. of the Diehl Us In Club joined the Small Town Country 4-H boys, and the Kenoza Lake Hummingbirds club ran a bake sale, and helped set up, clean up, and rode the St. Baldrick’s float.
Nominate a Star Know someone who des deserves eserves spotlight? the shine of the spotlig ght? Email Nicole Slevin: nas96@cornell.edu
Did you know?
Youth 5-18 living in Sullivan County can apply to join 4-H for FREE! 4-H is open to everyone. Adults can start a club anywhere in Sullivan County. Learn more: Call Marylin at 845-292-6180, ext. 111 or email mlr34@cornell.edu
Congratulations 4-H’ers on an outstanding effort in civic engagement!
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SCHOLARSHIPS FOR EVERYBODY CCESC Association Scholarship For General Public | Amount Varies
Deadline to Apply: Rolling
To stimulate interest in educational programs offered by Cornell Cooperative Extension Sullivan County. In the event of financial limitations that prevent a Sullivan County resident from receiving educational services, program fees may be partially covered by this scholarship. Sponsored by Cornell Cooperative Extension Sullivan County, and Sullivan Renaissance. Inquire with CCESC.
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Download a FREE copy
>>>>>>>>>>>>> of the Ultimate Guide Book for Farmers in the Catskills, an agricultural resource manual that CCE created in partnership with Sullivan County Government.
Download it online:
sullivancce.org/agriculture Page 22
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EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES ABOUND WITH CORNELL LAB OF O Submitted by Marylin Jones, 4-H Program Coordinator Renowned for its roles in research and academics, Cornell’s School of Ornithology extends beyond the boundaries of its university walls to offer a wealth of educational programs and public engagement. Learning opportunities abound for individuals and families, 4-H clubs and school groups, and anyone with an interest in learning about birds and their world. A wonderful introduction to a lifelong pursuit of bird study might start with a visit to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Nestled in Sapsucker Woods just outside Ithaca, NY, the Visitor Center in the Imogene Powers Johnson Center for Birds and Biodiversity offers a variety of programs open to the public. In addition to trail walks and workshops, a longstanding program is the popular Monday Night Seminar Series featuring presentations such as the recent “Bird Sounds Decoded” offered by Nathan Pipelow, a recording of which can be accessed anytime in the lab’s video archive of livestreamed seminars at LINK: https://www.allaboutbirds. org/our-free-viewable-archive-oflivestreamed-seminars/. Mr. Pipelow is the author of the Peterson Field Guide to Bird Sounds. Cornell Lab Tours are available year round, currently occurring Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday each week from 11:00 am to noon. Learn about the history and work of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology as you are guided behind the scenes for an inside look at this 100-year-old institution. Join one of the free Guided Bird Walks available each Saturday and Sunday morning starting at 8:30 Page 26
am. Guided by members of the Cayuga Bird Club, these beginner bird walks follow easy Sapsucker Woods Sanctuary trails, lasting about 1.5 hours. For the walk schedule and information visit LINK: www. cayugabirdclub.org/. For those able to stop by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology Visitor Center on a Friday or Saturday morning between 10:00 am and noon, a visit to Exploration Station is in order. Each week features a different topic in bird biology, conservation or research with topics ranging from bird ID, feathers, feeding adaptations, and bird diversity. Visitors can enjoy hands-on activities, as well as locate resources and ideas for bird-related things one can do at home and it is all free! One need not make the roughly 2-1/2 hour drive from Sullivan County to Ithaca however, to enjoy the resources of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Finding an answer can be as easy as turning on your phone and asking the question, “what is that bird?” The Merlin Bird App is designed to be a birding coach for beginning and intermediate bird watchers. Merlin asks you the same questions an expert birder would ask to help solve a mystery bird sighting. Notice that date and location are Merlin’s first and most important questions. It takes years of experience in the field to know what species are expected at a given location and date. Merlin shares this knowledge with you based on more than 200 million sightings submitted to the eBird program from birders across the United States and Canada. Merlin prompts you to describe the color, size, and behavior of the bird you saw. Because no two people describe birds exactly the same way,
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Merlin presents a shortlist of possible species based on descriptions from Cornell Lab experts and thousands of bird enthusiasts who helped “teach” Merlin by participating in online activities. More than 3 million descriptors were contributed to help Merlin match your input with the most likely birds. When you identify a species and click “This is My Bird,” Merlin also saves your record to help improve its future performance. Launched in 2014 with the goal of adding more species and more features in time, you can find more information about the Merlin app at LINK: http://merlin.allaboutbirds. org/photo-id/. CU Lab of Ornithology Resources: • “All About Birds” - https://www. allaboutbirds.org, a library of information including both sound and visual references. • “Bird Sleuth” - http://www.birdsleuth. org/, a K-12 education program providing innovative K-12 resources to build science skills and connect young people to local habitats. • Bird Cast - http://birdcast.info lets you track bird migration forecasts in real time. “Citizen Science” activities: • “Project Feeder Watch” - https:// feederwatch.org/, a winter-long survey of birds at backyards, nature centers, community areas and other locales in North America. • “Nest Watch” - https://nestwatch.org/, a nationwide monitoring program designed to track status and trends in the reproductive biology of birds, including when nesting occurs, number of eggs laid, how many eggs hatch, and how many hatchlings survive. • “The Great Backyard Bird Count” http://gbbc.birdcount.org/, an online project occurring each February over a five-day span to collect data on wild birds and to display results in real-time. Source: http://www.birds.cornell.edu.
3 WAYS TO PREVENT CAREGIVER STRESS & BURNOUT Submitted by Bonnie Lewis, RN, Dependent Care Educator Stress comes with the territory when you’re a caregiver. It’s not possible to completely eliminate caregiver stress, but there are many ways to give yourself a break and reduce the negative effects on your body and mind. Of course, we’re all trying to reduce stress, but sometimes, we could be multiplying its effects without even realizing it. Here is a story from the website DailyCaring about how stress can grow, unnoticed over time: A psychologist walked around a room while teaching stress management to an audience. As she raised a glass of water, everyone expected they’d be asked the “half empty or half full” question. Instead, with a smile on her face, she asked: “How heavy is this glass of water?” Answers called out ranged from 8 oz. to 20 oz. She replied, “The absolute weight doesn’t matter. It depends on how long I hold it. If I hold it for a minute, it’s not a problem. If I hold it for an hour, I’ll have an ache in my arm. If I hold it for a day, my arm will feel numb and paralyzed. In each case, the weight of the glass doesn’t change, but the longer I hold it, the heavier it becomes.” She continued, “The stresses and worries in life are like that glass of water. Think about them for a while and nothing happens. Think about them a bit longer and they begin to hurt. And if you think about them all day long, you will feel paralyzed – incapable of doing anything.” The point of the story: do your best to let go of the things that are stressing you out. Whenever possible, put down those worries. Putting that
glass down means minimizing the weight of the stress you experience over time while caring for your older adult. 3 ways to prevent caregiver stress and burnout: It is one thing to say you should let go of stress and not dwell on things, but it’s another matter to put that into practice. Caregiving never ends and the worries are always right there in front of you. 1. Have realistic expectations! It’s impossible to eliminate all stress, but you can minimize the effect it has on you. Don’t let the fact that you’re feeling some stress cause you to have even more stress! The only well-rested, relaxed, on-top-of-everything caregiver in existence will be found sitting between a unicorn and the abominable snowman. 2. Take micro breaks. Anytime you can put that load of stress down will help, even if it’s only for 5 minutes. If that means taking 2 extra minutes in the bathroom to visualize yourself on a beautiful beach or to do some deep breathing, then do it. Micro break examples: • Add a few moments of gratitude into your day. • Use one of the growing number of mobile stress reducing apps • Close your eyes, slow your breathing, and count slowly to 10 and then back down to 1. Repeat. • Drink a glass of water. Dehydration makes you tired, headachy, and cranky.
Just start writing stuff down on paper and don’t stop until your brain is clear. • Do some exercise such as jogging in place, jumping jacks, or lunges. Repeat until your body feels energized. • Start planning a fun activity for yourself like getting a massage, taking a long walk, having a nice meal out, or seeing a friend you’ve been meaning to catch up with. • Watch a comedy or a fun video!
3. Get support. You need and deserve real breaks on a regular basis. It might sound impossible to get help with caregiving, but it’s possible to put together a team based on the resources available to you. Realistic ways to get regular breaks from caregiving: • Gather and lean on your caregiving team (friends, family, neighbors, faithbased community, etc.). • Hire a few hours of in-home help each week. • Tap into local organizations and volunteer resources. • Find local respite care services.
Contact the CCE Sullivan Caregiver Resource Center for a list of privateduty home health aides and agencies that provide Person Care Assistants, created by the Office for the Aging and Public Health Services. Source: dailycaring.com/3-ways-tomanage-caregiver-stress-and-preventburnout/ and http://dailycaring. com/10-ways-caregivers-can-take-aquick-break-right-now/
• Listen to some upbeat music. • Take a 5 minute walk outside (or just step outside the door to breathe some fresh air. • Journal. Get all your thoughts out on paper. Don’t worry about being organized, neat, or even making sense.
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