November Extension Connection Magazine 2022

All the staff at the 108th Annual Meeting at Seminary Hill Cidery in Callicoon.

Welcome

Page 3 Message from the Executive Director

Page 4 September DHI Report

Page 5 Sullivan County Designated as a Contiguous Natural Disaster Area Due to Summer

Page 6 Disaster Assistance: USDA Disaster Assistance Programs at a Glance

Page 9 How to Create an Inclusive Workplace

Page 11 CCE Spotlights!

Page 12 Cooking for Groups

Page 14 Highlights from 108th Annual Meeting

Page 16 Fast Facts!

Page 18 Fall Garden Clean Up

Page 19 Calling all Couch Potatoes!

Table

WelcometotheIssue!TableofContents

Page 20 Appliances and Electronics Savings Can Add Up!

Page 21 Community Service Opportunities in 4-H

Page 22 Caregiving Just Happens

Page 24 988 FAQ

The Extension Connection (USPS525100)is published monthlyf or $2500 enrollment by CornellCooperative Extension Sullivan

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.

OFFICE HOURS

Hours: Mon - Fri | 8:30 am to 4:30 pm

Phone: 845-292-6180

E-mail: sullivan@cornell.edu

Website: www.sullivancce.org

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BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Dara

John

John

Nadia

Adam

Heather

Marcie

Freda

Amanda

Dawn Parsons

Juanita

Gary

Gary

PROGRAM COMMITTEE

Alex Alorro

Heather Brown

Roberta

Samara Ferris

Robert Kaplan

DeeDee Malloy

Desmond Oxford McDaniel

Danielle Sykes

Eugene Thalmann

Deborah Worden

EXTENSION CONNECTION

Produced by: Cornell Cooperative Extension Sullivan County Edited by: Nicole Slevin Nikolados, Erin Denman & 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.

NOTICE: Official endorsement of advertisers and their products is not intended by the acceptance of their sponsorships for the Extension Connection.

STAFF MEMBERS

Colleen Monaghan..............................................................................Executive Director

Patricia Bennett.........................................................Healthy Families Program Manager

Thomas Bosket....................................................................SALT/DFC Program Manager

SueAnn Boyd.........................................................Healthy Schools Program Coordinator

Fabio Campanati............................Sullivan Fresh & Shop Taste NY Program Coordinator

Lynn Colavito..............................................Community Cupboard Program Coordinator

Martin Colavito...........................................Community Cupboard Program Coordinator

Wanda V. Cruz...............................................Healthy Communities Program Coordinator

Erin Denman...............................................................................Operations Coordinator

Kathlene Gasior...........................................................Horticulture Program Coordinator

Katie Rose Lugauer...................................................................4-H Program Coordinator

Erica Lynch..........................................................Catskills Kitchen Program Coordinator

John Mastrangelo............................................................................Assistant Ag Market Manager

Melinda Meddaugh.......................................................Ag & Food Systems Issue Leader

Vivian Monsanto...............................................................................Finance Coordinator

Barbara Moran................................................4-H Youth Development Program Manager

Bee Moser.........................................................................SNAP-Ed New York Nutritionist

Nicole A. Slevin Nikolados...............................................Administrator & Director of DEI

Clarisse Owens..........................................Food Systems Program Manager, Local Foods

Kendra Payne.............................................................................Digital Marketing Manager

Vanessa Petrossian..................................Director of State & Regional Ag Market Initiatives

Abyssinia Pla El...................................................................................Finance Coordinator

Michelle Proscia..............................................Agriculture Production Program Manager

Ann-Marie Sidtis............................................Drug Free Communities Program Assistant

Ashley Tully...............................................Food Systems Program Manager, Ag Business

Tara VanHorn.........................................................................................Finance Manager

Malinda Ware........................................................................................Program Director

Sean Welsh..............................................................................Energy Resource Educator

John Wilcox..........................................................................................Facilities Manager

Judy Arpadi, Cherene Audain, Christopher Jones.................................Ag Market Coordinators

John Mastrangelo, Kayla Evans...............................................................Ag Market Coordinators

Hello friends of Extension!

Thank you to the 100 supporters who joined us at Seminary Hill Cidery last month for CCE Sullivan’s 108th Annual Meeting. It was so nice to enjoy our family style meal together, learn a bit, and to celebrate exceptional CCE staff and Friends of Extension.

A big shoutout to our 2022 Extension Professionals of the Year Judy Arpadi with the Taste NY team, and Melinda Meddaugh, ag and food systems issue leader! We’re so lucky to work with such dedicated professionals! And special thanks to our Annual Friend of Extension awardees!

This year we recognized Business Friend Dave Mistretta of the Woodbury Common Premium Outlets, Community-based Friend the Sullivan County Child Care Council, Municipal Friend the Town of Mamakating, Volunteer Friends Barbara Urie and Megan Diehl Blumenthal, and Farm Friend Rianne Erlwein of Myers Century Farm. With friends like these, Extension in Sullivan County is sure to thrive for another century!

I’d be remiss if I didn’t extend our most sincere thanks during this season of gratitude to some of our longest term 4-H youth development program volunteers. Anniversaries this year include:

Leah Waldron (51 years), Bob and Linda Kays (46 years), Mary Nosek (41 years), Beverly Hesse (33 years), Susan Peters (31 years), Amy Sykes (28 years), Jean Smith (24 years), and Karen Coombe (15 years). These folks have been dedicating themselves to Sullivan County kids for decades, and it shines in their club kids’ work every year at the Sullivan County Youth Fair. We thank them for their ongoing commitment to young people in our local communities. November and December mark a period of reflection and planning for CCE Sullivan staff and programs. All of our federal reporting is due over the next two months and we begin to pull together our Annual Report to the Community. We’re also recruiting for volunteer board of directors and program advisory committee members. If you or someone you know is interested, please contact me at 845798-1258 or cm638@cornell.edu and we can chat about the experience. Until next month, get that firewood stacked, put the soup on the stove, and take some time to reconnect with loved ones during the Thanksgiving season. Thank you so much for being a part of the Extension family!

My very best,very best, Colleen Monaghan Executive Director, cm638@cornell.edu

DHI Report: September

HerdCode HERDOWNER

SAMPLE TYPE BREED NO. COWS MILK FAT PROTEIN 21470096 BRANDON PETERS DAIRY DHI-AP HO 99 21556 804 673 21470146 THONY'S DAIRY DHI-AP HO 54 17455 675 538 21470021 GLASSEL, ROBERT DHI-AP HO 45 15993 576 482

SULLIVAN COUNTY DESIGNATED AS A CONTIGUOUS NATURAL DISASTER AREA DUE TO SUMMER DROUGHT

Submitted by Michelle Proscia, Agriculture Production Program Manager, USDA Press Release

According to the USDA Secretary Thomas Vislack, four New York counties have been designated as primary natural disaster areas and six New York counties have been designated as contiguous counties due to the recent drought. Sullivan County is designated as a contiguous county.

According to the U.S. Drought Monitor (see http://droughtmonitor. unl.edu/ ), these counties suffered from a drought intensity value during the growing season of 1) D2 DroughtSevere for 8 or more consecutive weeks or 2) D3 Drought-Extreme or D4 Drought-Exceptional.

In accordance with section 321(a) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act, additional areas of NYS state and adjacent states are named as contiguous disaster counties. Other counties in New York may have already been designated as natural disaster counties if they

had previously met the requirements found under 7 CFR 759.5(a) for the current crop year. Below is a list of the Disaster Designation Areas for New York.

Primary Counties: Dutchess, Orange, Putnam and Westchester

Contiguous Counties: Bronx, Columbia, Nassau, Rockland, Sullivan and Ulster

A Secretarial disaster designation makes farm operators in primary counties and those counties contiguous to such primary counties eligible to be considered for certain assistance from the Farm Service Agency (FSA), provided eligibility requirements are met. This assistance includes FSA emergency loans. Farmers in eligible counties have 8 months from the date of a Secretarial disaster declaration to apply for emergency loans. FSA considers each emergency loan application on its own merits, taking into account the extent of production losses on the farm and the

security and repayment ability of the operator.

Local FSA offices can provide affected farmers with further information. Below is the contact information for the FSA office for Sullivan County farms.

DELAWARE COUNTY FARM SERVICE AGENCY 44 WEST ST WALTON, NY 13856-1041 (607) 865-4005

DISASTER ASSISTANCE

Disaster Programs AgencyBlizzardFireHurricane/ Typhoon Excessive Moisture/ Flood

Excessive Winds/ Tornado

DroughtHailVolcanic Eruption/ Emissions

FreezeEarthquake

Disaster Programs

AgencyBlizzardFireHurricane/ Typhoon Excessive Moisture/ Flood

Excessive Winds/ Tornado

DroughtHailVolcanic Eruption/ Emissions

FreezeEarthquake

8

USDA Disaster Assistance Programs At a Glance

Other natural disasters that may apply to some of these programs (not all perils are eligible loss conditions for all programs) include: Explosion; High water; Landslide; Mudslide; Severe snowstorm; Storm, including ice storms;

Some man-made conditions qualify for disaster assistance, as follows:

Disaster Programs

Dairy Indemnity Payment Program (DIPP) – provides compensation to dairy producers when a public regulatory agency directs them to remove their raw milk from the commercial market because it has been contaminated by pesticides, nuclear radiation or fallout, or toxic substances and chemical residues other than pesticides.

FSA

Tidal wave; Wind-driven water; Insect infestation; Plant disease; Lightning; and Other natural phenomena.

More Information

This fact sheet is for informational purposes only; other restrictions may apply.

For more information about USDA disaster programs, visit farmers.gov/recover or contact your local USDA Service Center. farmers.gov/service-locator

To locate an approved insurance provider, visit the Agent Locator on rma.usda.gov

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.

Disaster Programs

AgencyBlizzardFireHurricane/ Typhoon Excessive Moisture/ Flood

Excessive Winds/ Tornado

DroughtHailVolcanic Eruption/ Emissions

FreezeEarthquake

Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP)FSA 8 8 Tree Assistance Program (TAP) FSA 8

AgencyPesticide Contamination Nuclear Radiation/ Fallout Toxic Substances Other Than Pesticides

Chemical Residue Other Than Pesticides

Disaster Assistance Programs at a Glance

HOW TO CREATE AN INCLUSIVE WORKPLACE

Submitted by Malinda Ware, Program Director & Chair of DEI Sullivan

Now more than ever, employees are looking for workplaces that make them feel accepted, welcome, and safe. Diversity and inclusion are important values many businesses are getting more serious about, and employees are specifically trying to work at the businesses putting these values at the forefront.

Creating an inclusive work environment doesn’t happen overnight. Rather, it is something you must be intentional and actionable about. When it feels like the work is done, there’s always more to be doing. If an inclusive workplace culture is your goal, keep reading to gain insight on how to make it a reality. Looking into online therapy services might be beneficial if you aren’t experiencing inclusion in the workplace.

What is Inclusivity?

Inclusivity can be thought of as a way of life, a mindset, and a process. Inclusivity, therefore, is about leveling the playing field for everyone and ensuring all people feel valued.

Why is Inclusivity Important?

Inclusion is important because it creates a sense of belonging and fuels acceptance. Humans are unique individuals. We all have different needs, interests, personalities, and identities. While everyone should ideally be accepted exactly as they are, this isn’t always the case. People can be put at a disadvantage because of their differences. When people are scared of differences, whether they be racial, ethnic, socioeconomic, or otherwise, they might exclude others from that place of fear. Inclusion, on the other hand, allows tolerance to grow so that people can be accepting of each other despite how different they might be from one another. When people are included, they are empowered to be themselves, which benefits everyone.

What Settings Does Inclusion Apply To?

Each and every day, there are an endless number of opportunities to include or exclude someone. Creating a society that is more diverse and accepting often begins in the home and then stretches out from there. However, inclusion applies in the workplace, at school, in public, and anywhere else you can think of. Of course, inclusivity will

look different in each of these settings, but the core values will remain the same.

Part I: The Characteristics of an Inclusive Workplace

Most people want to show up to work and feel comfortable enough to be themselves. Although a workplace can choose to strip people of their individuality sometimes (such as by requiring a uniform or natural hair colors), in general, there are still plenty of ways to show employees that they are accepted as they are. The characteristics of a diverse and inclusive workplace will vary, meaning there is a lot of freedom when deciding what your workplace will look and feel like. Some common characteristics of an inclusive workplace can include:

• Openness to change: When a workplace realizes that the environment they’ve created isn’t as diverse or accepting as they’d like, they must be open to making changes to improve the situation. When workplaces are closed off to change or fearful of it, it’s hard to create more positive outcomes.

• Diversity: Although the people at a company may all be very different from one another, this should be something that brings them together

rather than pushing them apart. Workplace diversity can increase innovation, creativity, flexibility, productivity, and collaboration. Work environments that value diversity will usually have employees with a wide range of talents, thought processes, personalities, and skills. There should be diversity at every level within the company, including different cultures, beliefs, and lifestyles, among other identities. Together, they will work toward a common goal while retaining their individuality.

• Resources: Employees need to know that their company’s leaders care about their well-being, beyond just being productive workers. Inclusive workplaces attempt to provide as many resources as they can to their employees, whether educational or otherwise. Some workplaces even have diversity and inclusion groups as a resource for their employees to confide in when they have a concern.

• Respect: When employees know they’re respected at their place of work, they feel valued and important. This can increase their productivity and create a more cooperative environment. Inclusive workplaces focus on respect by hearing the different perspectives

of their employees and taking the time to understand where they’re coming from. They realize that differences are to be embraced, accepted, and celebrated.

• Sense of belonging: Employees who feel included at work will naturally feel a sense of belonging. They may not think or act like the colleagues next to them, but at least they know they are accepted as they are.

• Fairness: Everyone deserves to be treated equally at work no matter what their title is. When employees are recognized because of what they’ve accomplished and not because of their position, they’re more likely to feel pride in their work. As a result, they’re able to be more productive and believe that the work they do matters.

• Curiosity: Asking questions is paramount to learning more so that improvements can be made. Respectful curiosity can help a company’s leaders discover problem areas and things that may need to be changed. Assuming everything is fine as is leads to stagnation, which decreases productivity. Employers should always be focused on being better than they were the day before.

• Cooperation and teamwork: Inclusive

workplaces focus on teamwork and healthy cooperation, even when there are disagreements. They recognize that seeing things differently is a chance for growth and not a setback.

• Ability to voice

concerns: Every employee should feel that they have a voice at work. They should know their opinion matters despite their title or how long they’ve been at the company. Inclusive workplaces take these concerns to heart and, rather than simply expressing their apologies, they work to create change through tangible action. There are many more examples of inclusion in the workplace but looking for these can be a great place to start. Belonging to an inclusive workplace can make you feel like you’re on top of the world. It is something every employer should strive to have, as well as each employee. Building a diverse and inclusive work environment does take time, effort, and learning, but it’s always worth the positive outcomes you’re sure to see.

To be continued in Part II: Non-Inclusive Workplace Characteristics

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/.

CCE Sullivan Spotlights Partner Spotlight

OFFICE OF ADDICTION SERVICES & SUPPORTS (OASAS)

Sullivan Allies Leading Together (SALT) has partnered with CCE to deliver harm reduction and Naloxone/ “Narcan” overdose intervention kits and fentanyl test strips across Sullivan County. Over 300 kits and 1,000 test strips have been distributed in Monticello, Liberty, and Woodridge. NARCAN (naloxone HCI) Nasal Spray is a potentially lifesaving medication designed to help reverse the effects of an opioid overdose in minutes. Fentanyl is often mixed with opioids to increase potency and can result in higher overdoses due to its respiratory depressant effects.

If you or someone you know wants a rescue kit or fentanyl test strips, contact Martin Colavito on the SALT line at 845-397-7258 or email salt@saltcares.com.

Thank you OASAS for providing these life-saving Naloxone kits to SALT’s Committee for Equity and Justice(CEJ)! Another huge THANKS to Dayna Halprin of SALT’s CEJ for their continued efforts concerning the acquisition of these kits as well!

Program Spotlight

DRUG FREE COMMUNITIES

This October, Drug Free Communities (DFC) teamed up with Catholic Charities and members of the National Guard in collaboration for their first assembly. The team was invited to Fallsburg Highschool and spoke to over 700 students in grades seven through twelve, giving presentations in both English and Spanish.

The assembly focused on positive solutions to stress and providing accurate information to students without judgment. Dynamic learning and thinking exercises explored how stress affects students, what role drugs play in their lives, as well as calling on students to support their peers. Guided conversation focused on why youth can be attracted to substances and alternative ways to cope with stress and peer pressure. We look forward to more opportunities to expand these conversations in the coming months across Sullivan County.

Highlights from 108th Annual Meeting

What A Night!

Cornell Cooperative Extension Sullivan County’s 108th Annual Meeting took place at the gorgeous Seminary Hill Cidery in Callicoon, NY. Over 100 guests enjoyed a locally sourced dinner, silent auction, and keynote presentation on invasive species by Dr. Alejandro Calixto of Cornell University

locall y sourced dinner, silent auction, and key note p resentation on invasive s p ecies D r.

I ntegrate d Pest M anagement. Extension

D ave Woodbury Commo n

CCE celebrated 2022 Friends of Extension Dave Mistretta of Woodbury Common Premium Outlets, Sullivan County Childcare Council, Town of Mamakating, Sullivan Fresh Community Cupboard volunteer Barbara Urie, 4-H Youth Development Volunteer Megan Diehl Blumenthal, and Rianne Erlwein of Myers

Communit y Cu p board volunteer Barbara Urie, 4-H Youth Develo p ment Volunteer Me g an D iehl Blumenthal, Century Farm. were

J udy the Hudso n Center and

i ncluded Alex Alorro, Heather Lee

Extension Professionals of the Year were Ag & Food Systems Issue Leader Melinda Meddaugh and Judy Arpadi of the Hudson Valley Catskills Welcome Center and Shop Taste NY. Nominees elected to the CCE Board included Alex Alorro, Heather Berg, Lee Karasik, Amanda Langseder, Denise Luckman, Erika Malmgreen, and Dawn Parsons.

Congratulations to all the awardees and thank you all for a wonderful gathering!

Con g ratulations to all the awardees and thank

“This is the p ower of g atherin g : it inspires us – delightfully – to be morehopeful, more joyful, more thoughtful:pgy i n a word, more a li ve.” - Ali ce Wa t er s p,jy,g

to Use

November is National Caregiver Month!

The value of the services family caregivers provide for“free,”when caring for older adults, is estimated to be $375 billion a year. That is almost twice as much as is actually spent on homecare and nursing home services combined ($158 billion).

During the 2009 economic downturn,1 in 5 family caregivers had to moveinto the same home with their lovedones to cut expenses.

Approximately 85% ofpeople with dementia andchronic illness are cared for exclusively in their ownhomes. On average, theirloved ones provide 12 hoursof assistance a day.

... and Native American Heritage Month!

The median age on reservations is 29, while the median age for the total U.S. population is 38. American Indians and Alaska Natives are more likely to experience violent crimes at a rate of two and a half times higher than the national average, and in comparison to all other racial/ethnic groups, they are two times more likely to experience sexual assault crimes.

Sources: “Caregiver Statistics: Statistics on Family Caregivers and Family Caregiving.” Caregiver Action Network. Accessed October 24, 2022. https://www.caregiveraction.org/ resources/caregiver-statistics.

Birt, Chad.“State of the Caregiver 2022.” Carewell.com. February 2, 2022. Accessed

American Indian and Alaska Natives operated approximately60,083 farms, comprising over 58.7 million acres of land, and conducted $3.33 billion in total sales, with $1.43 billion from crops and $2.11 billion from livestock and poultry.

There are 305 forested Indian reservations which encompass 18 million acres of forestland, with 6 million commercial timberlands, 4 million commercial woodlands, and 8 million noncommercial timberlands and woodlands.

October 24, 2022. https://www.carewell.com/ resources/blog/state-of-the-caregiver-2022/.

Simon, Judy.“Caring for YOUR Nutrition.” ACL. gov. Administration for Community Living. Accessed October 24, 2022. https://acl. gov/sites/default/files/news%202020-10/ Caring%20for%20YOUR%20Nutrition.pdf.

“Indian Country Demographics.” National Congress of American Indians. Accessed October 12, 2022. https://www.ncai.org/ about-tribes/demographics.

About 59 percent of tribes have a tribal judicial system.

FALL GARDEN CLEAN-UP

Submitted by Katie Gasior, 4-H Horticulture Program Coordinator

Now that autumn is upon us, I’d like to share some best practices in preparing your garden and landscape for the end of the season. It is not necessary to clearcut the perennial garden after the first freeze of the season. Leaving the leaves, stems, dried flowers, and seed heads of many perennials provides more interest through the winter months. Leaving the plant materials also provides an extra layer of protection for the crown and root system of the perennial. Plus, the dead stems and leaves collect fallen leaves, adding even more protection.

Leaving the plant material in place and removing it in early spring instead of fall also helps provide food and protection to native pollinators, beneficial insects, and wildlife, such as birds.

those perennials that tend to be weedy or spread aggressively by seed benefit from late-season deadheading and clean-up to prevent them from being too weedy.

As for the vegetable garden, good fall clean-up is necessary, removing all leaves, stems, fruit, and other plant parts after the first frost. Most edible plants grown in home vegetable gardens have serious disease and/ or pest issues that can overwinter on plant debris, increasing its impact on crops in subsequent years. Removal and destruction of the diseased plant debris reduces the severity of many diseases in the next growing season. Removal of the plant debris also eliminates overwintering sites for some insects and helps reduce insect populations.

vegetables belonging to the same plant family in the same location for a minimum of three years. Selecting vegetable varieties that are resistant to specific diseases can also be helpful.

Gardeners can also manage leaves on the lawn by mowing. Chopping the leaves up with a mulching mower can help return organic matter to the soil, benefitting the lawn, and for most people, it is easier than raking and removing. The leaves must be chopped into pieces small enough to fall down between the blades of grass. When finished, very little leaf debris should be visible. Mowing is best done when the layer of leaves is thin and dry, so mow often throughout the fall. If the leaf layer is thick, mow over an area more than once.

While it is largely beneficial to leave the foliage in place through winter, removing plant material in the fall after it has naturally died back should be done for any perennials with disease or insect pest issues during the summer. Additionally,

Another way to prevent plant diseases next year is to take good notes now of where in the garden each type of plant grew this year. Disease problems often increase when the same crop or crop in the same family is planted in the same area in successive years. For crop rotation to be effective, gardeners should not plant

Source: Steil, A., 2022. Fall Garden Clean-up. [online] Hortnews.extension.iastate.edu. Available at: <https://hortnews.extension.iastate.edu/fallgarden-clean> [Accessed 13 October 2022].

APPLIANCES AND ELECTRONICS SAVINGS CAN ADD UP!

Submitted by Sean Welsh, Energy Resource Educator

Reducing energy use reduces operational costs for a home over a long period of time. For consumers who are looking to install technologies like a solar electric system, reducing the electricity load is an important step to bringing down the load of the home.

Reduced energy use requires a smaller and less expensive solar system.

Looking at utility bills nationally, the average across the nation is close to 1000 kwh per month. Consistently, energy professionals will recommend a home energy assessment, which will provide recommendations about ways to seal and weatherize the home. To find out how renters or owners can obtain a home energy audit, reach out to Sean Welsh at 845-292-6180 ext. 127 or sw288@cornell. edu. Beyond that, there are several other ways to save on electric costs.

When it comes to appliances and electronics, look for energy efficient products sporting the blue Energy Star label. The label ensures comprehensive yearly operating costs are shown and that the product meets

energy efficient standards to garner the Energy Star label.

Energy efficient lights also have the Energy Star label on some brands. LED lights can replace CFL and incandescent lights for more savings around the home.

In addition, advanced power strips are a common product now that can be used in areas of the home that have several electronics, like the living room, where items can be plugged in on the strip, which is off when not in use, avoiding “vampire loads”. Vampire load is the electricity consumed by a device while it is turned off or in stand by mode.

Smart meters are also now available through electric utilities. These can help building owners look at appliances that appear “always on”. Looking at your smart meter during day-time use and then again when your electric utility offers night rates can help you identify vampire loads to reduce use even further. Running high energy using appliances like dishwashers and dryers on the night rate can promotes savings as well.

When it comes time to replace things like windows, doors, HVAC and water heating systems,

there are energy efficient technologies that can replace fossil fuel using equipment with more energy efficient systems like heat pumps and heat pump water heaters.

Renters or homeowners can reach out to discuss ways to bring down their home’s costs or other energy questions.

Source:

“Reducing Electricity Use and Costs.” Energy. gov. Accessed October 13, 2022. https://www. energy.gov/energysaver/reducing-electricityuse-and-costs.

COMMUNITY SERVICE OPPORTUNITIES IN 4-H

Submitted by Katie Lugauer, 4-H Program Coordinator

The 4-H pledge is as follows, “ I pledge My Head to clearer thinking, My Heart to greater loyalty, My Hands to larger service and My Health to better living for my club, my community, my country, and my world.” As 4-H’ers, we put a lot of value in helping and serving our communities. This is important all year long, but especially during the holiday season. A 4-H member’s involvement in service activities offers an excellent way for youth to practice and enhance their leadership and social skills by working for the common good of their community. Members’ participation also helps to build discipline, provide self-satisfaction, foster respect for others, and promote civic responsibility. Community service can also give the youth real world experience in a variety of career fields. During the holiday season youth can serve their community through food drives, collecting coats, scarves, and socks, as well as donating gifts for underprivileged children.

CAREGIVING JUST HAPPENS

Submitted by Bonnie Lewis, Interim CRC Coordinator

Hello friends! I’m pleased to be able to facilitate the support groups again for the next few months.

November is a very special month for me, including that it’s National Family Caregivers month. I share my birthday month with little granddaughter Catherine (she’s turning 5 already) and I eagerly look forward to the holiday season (and grandson Evan’s first birthday).

This year’s celebration of caregivers seems a bit more significant for me. Having recently retired I wish I could hug the caregivers in my life who gave me the skills to be a caregiver. Caregivers provide help with medical, emotional, financial, and legal needs as well as being head cook and bottle washer at various times. I was blessed to have talented grandmothers and a wonderful mom who were strong but compassionate, patient, creative, resilient, and empathetic. Mom, the marvelous matriarch who soothes frazzled nerves, still shows me how to be a better caregiver even as she graciously becomes the care receiver. Caregiving is my personal and professional chosen path; for many it just happens - with no forewarning. The Caregiver Action Network/CAN (caregiveraction.org) has selected #CaregivingHappens for 2022 as the theme to reflect the reality that caregiving

just happens, sometimes at inconvenient times, often unplanned and unexpected. It also is meant to help explain why caregivers run late (because they’re picking up a loved one from chemo), that they’re not avoiding friends as they care for a mom with Alzheimer’s, or why meetings are missed at their job.

Here are tips from CAN to help maintain a stable relationship as caregiving happens.

1. Keep on talking, keep on communicating

2. Find creative ways to maintain normalcy

3. Take care of yourself

4. Keep your sense of humor

5. Make conscious decisions about the things you can change and let go of the things over which you have no control

6. Put your loved one’s illness or disability in its place and keep it from becoming the sole focus of your life

7. Avoid pity. Hold your ill or disabled family member accountable and responsible for their actions to the fullest extent possible

8. Be patient

9. Maintain your individuality, and don’t own a disease or disability that isn’t yours

10. Realize that relationships are always in flux, and every problem you encounter is not caused by the disease or disability

11. Use a support group as a social outlet and network, not just as a place to talk

about your problems

12. Find something outside yourself to believe in

13. Treat your loved one with respect and expect respect in return

14.Begin to dream again Caregiving is stressful and you are not alone in this experience. The Office for the Aging Sullivan County (sullivanny.us/Departments/ Aging or 845-794-3000) and Sullivan NY Connects (sullivanny.us/Departments/ Aging/SullivanNYconnects or 845-807-0257) are the first places to begin any local search for assistance. There are online and in-person support groups and other resources that can be accessed on the Caregiver Action Network’s website (www. caregiveraction.org/resources/ agencies-and-organizations) that provide support for new and experienced caregivers. There is also a Caregiver Help Desk on that website (or call 855-227-3640) that offers free support to family caregivers nationwide. The CRC continues to provide a weekly Wednesday support group at 6:30 p.m. via ZOOM.

Life’s circles evolve and intertwine. I consider each day a gift to be there for my care receiver (love you Mom!), to do tag team caregiving with the help of great sister Patti and my new daughters and hope I can show how to do caregiving with the same unwavering panache and grace of my ancestors.

Notify

988 FAQ

What is 988?

988 is the new three-digit number that connects people to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. This service is for anyone who is:

•suicidal

•experiencing a mental health or substance use-related crisis

•experiencing any kind of emotional distress

988 is more than just a number. It is a direct connection to compassionate and accessible care. When you call, text, or chat 988 you are connected to trained counselors that are part of the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline network. Moving to 988 does not mean the 1-800-273-8255 number goes away. Using either number will get people to the same services.

Why do we need 988?

Mental health is just as important as physical health. Now there is a three-digit number for mental health emergencies that’s easy to remember! 988 helps New York:

•Connect with people who are struggling with behavioral health (mental health and/or substance use) concerns as soon as possible, 24/7.

•Reduce unnecessary use of law enforcement and other safety resources in crisis responses.

•Meet the growing need for crisis intervention where it’s needed most.

•Shift the mindset about people who struggle with their mental health.

•Reduce healthcare spending with more costeffective early intervention.

Will services be offered in other languages?

The Lifeline currently provides live crisis center phone services in English and Spanish and uses Language Line Solutions to provide translation services in over 150 additional languages.

Does it cost money to use 988?

Contacting 988 is a free service.

Who can contact 988?

988 is for everyone and it’s more than a ‘suicide’ line. Contact 988 if you are:

•suicidal

•experiencing a mental health or substance userelated crisis

•experiencing any kind of emotional distress •worried about someone in distress.

988 is for people of all ages, genders, sexes, ethnicities, races, religions, sexual orientations, and socioeconomic statuses. If you are a Veteran or Spanish speaker, 988 has dedicated lines for you.

What happens when I contact 988?

When contacting 988, you will first be routed to a local Lifeline crisis center based on your area code. A trained crisis counselor will answer and listen to how your problem is affecting you. They then provide support and share resources if needed. If a local crisis center is unable to take the call, you will be automatically routed to a national backup crisis center. All contact with 988 is voluntary.

What is the difference between 988 and 911?

988 provides easy access to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline network and related crisis resources. This is different from 911, where the focus is on dispatching Emergency Medical Services, fire, and police as needed. The goal of 988 is to meet the growing suicide and mental healthrelated crisis care needs.

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