2019 August Warren County Connection

Warren County Connection A Publication of Cornell Cooperative Extension of Warren County

August 2019

Is Kombucha Really Good For You? If you haven’t tried it, you’ve at least heard of it. Kombucha – a beverage made of sweet tea fermented with yeast and bacteria – is the latest drink touted to improve your health.

In this issue: Chipmunks In The Garden

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Sales of the tart, effervescent drink have risen by double digits over the past several years. Popular media have touted its wide range of benefits including improving digestive health, reducing your risk of developing cancer and infections, reducing liver toxins and even improving your mental health.

Overwintering Plants In Containers

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Carpenter Bees

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Lumps and Bumps On My Pet

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How To Save Money As A Pet Owner

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You May Not Need A Vitamin D Supplement

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Those are a lot of amazing claims, but what does the evidence say?

It turns out that most of the studies on kombucha have been conducted in petri dishes or with laboratory animals. These types of studies offer researchers some idea about potential benefits in humans, but do not provide definitive evidence.

Ten Tips For Back-ToSchool Success

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Back To School Lunches

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10th Annual CCE Golf Tournament

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mine the effectiveness of an intervention or treatment.

They did identify one study conducted by researchers in India that looked at the effects of kombucha on blood sugar levels. Although they found that consuming kombucha did help to staResearchers from the University of bilize blood sugar levels in diabetic Missouri published a systematic participants who were not dependent review last fall that looked at the on insulin to control their diabetes, health benefits of kombucha in actu- they did not include a control group. al human subjects. They found no randomized, controlled trials exam- The review also includes anecdotal ining the health benefits of reports of people who experienced kombucha. (A randomized, conhealth problems that appear linked trolled trial randomly assigns partici- to kombucha, including a 47-year-old pants into an experimental group woman who was hospitalized due to and a control group that does not liver inflammation after drinking receive the intervention. It is considered one of the best ways to deter(Continued on page 10)

Special points of interest: 

Calendar of Events

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Cornell University Cooperative Extension of Warren County 377 Schroon River Road Warrensburg, NY 12885

Warren County Connection

CALENDAR Please visit our website for more events www.cce.cornell.edu/warren

Phone: (518) 623-3291 or (518) 668-4881 Fax: (518) 668-4912 Visit Our Web Site: www.cce.cornell.edu/warren

Who We Are Nation-wide, thousands of people in each state tap into their state’s land-grant university research and know-how to make sound confident decisions concerning family, home, business, finances, and the future. In New York State, the land-grant university is Cornell University.

The Cornell Cooperative Extension network brings you the expertise of Cornell University, other land-grant universities across the country and locally-based Extension Educators, volunteers, and other experts through such programs as: horticulture, youth and families, leadership, environment, food, nutrition & health, home environment, and financial management.

Staff Dr. James Seeley, Executive Director John Bowe, 4-H Team Coordinator Dan Carusone, 4-H Community Educator Marybeth Mitcham, Nutrition, Food Safety, and Healthy Living Educator Roxanne Westcott, Parent Educator/Energy Educator Anne Mills, Farm to School Coordinator Jessica Holmes, Master Gardener Coordinator Sharon Bellamy, Finance Manager Amy Sabattis, Public Relations/Publications Manager Michele Baker, Administrative Assistant Chris Dittus, Administrative Assistant Rand Fosdick, Maintenance

Board of Directors William Mason - President Laura Conway- Vice President Julie Pearl - Secretary William Hamelin - Treasurer Aimee Azaert Daniel Bruno Peter Benoit Ed Griesmer Jim Kneeshaw David Strainer Michael White

Extension Service Committee Chair - Andrea Hogan Douglas Beaty Jack Diamond Ben Driscoll If you have special needs as addressed by the Cynthia Hyde Americans With Disabilities Act and need William Loeb assistance with attending these workshops, Brad Magowan please make your needs known by the regisEugene Merlino tration deadline. Reasonable efforts will be Michael Wild made for accommodations.

4-H Wants You! Young people need 4-H leaders * Flexible hours. * Training provided. * No experience required. *Volunteers with a sincere interest in young people.

You can make a difference!

Call Cornell Cooperative Extension today!

Cornell Cooperative Extension 377 Schroon River Road Warrensburg, NY 12885

Phone: 518-623-3291 or 518-668-4881 Fax: 518-668-4912 Email: warren@cornell.edu Office Hours Monday - Friday

8:30 am to 4:30 pm

Warren County Connection

Chipmunks In The Garden

By Dr. Leonard Perry, Horticulture Professor Emeritus University of Vermont

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sunny days. In addition to their damage in gardens, chipmunks can cause structural damage from burrowing under stairs, retention walls, or foundations. They may kill flowers from burrowing under them.

Exclusion can be used to keep chipmunks from buildings and some flower beds. Fill openings at building foundations, fill and caulk openings, or use one-quarter inch mesh hardware cloth. Cover annual flower beds with this hardware cloth, at least a foot past the edges. You can cover the wire lightly with soil to hide it.

One form of wildlife some like to watch outdoors, but many would rather not have in our gardens, are chipmunks. Knowing a few facts about chipmunks may help prevent them from eating bulbs, damaging young plants, or causing more serious structural damage.

A wildlife publication from Penn State University provides a concise summary of chipmunk biology, as well as control methods. From this I was interested to learn that chipmunk burrows may extend 20 to 30 feet. There is no soil around the openings because chipmunks carry it away from the burrows in their cheek pouches and scatter it away from the openings. The burrows are complex, usually with chambers for nesting, food storage, side pockets and escape tunnels.

Usually there are two generations of chipmunks borne a year, with two to five in early spring and again in late summer. So if your landscape seems to have many, this is why. They may range over about a half-acre, but only defend about 50 feet around their burrow opening.

Chipmunks gather and store food, often seeds, throughout the year. If you have seen clumps of sunflowers coming up in flower pots or the lawn, or small bulbs blooming far away from where you planted them, you can thank a chipmunk! This is one of their purposes in natural woodlands -- to sow seeds for forest regeneration. Although chipmunks mainly eat seeds, berries, nuts, insects and mushrooms on the ground, they also can climb trees to gather these or to prey on young birds and bird eggs.

Chipmunks do not hibernate during fall and winter as woodchucks do, but remain rather inactive, subsisting on their stored food. You may see them active on warm,

Where bulbs may be damaged, if planting a whole bed, first dig out all the soil. Then line the bed with similar hardware cloth before refilling and planting. Cover the top with the mesh cloth until spring when the bulbs emerge. If planting bulbs in individual holes, place some sharply crushed stones or shells in each hole before refilling. This will help deter their digging. Such products often can be found, just for this purpose, at feed and garden stores.

Habitat modification may lessen chipmunk damage. Try not to continuously connect, through vegetation and plantings, wooded areas with garden beds and homes.

Such areas, wood piles, and debris provide protection for them, plus their openings are hard to find under such cover.

Spilled bird seed from feeders is a common attractant for chipmunks, as around my own home. Place bird feeders 15 to 30 feet from buildings or gardens. Keeping grass cut short around such areas will provide little cover for them and encourage them to burrow elsewhere.

Taste repellents, such as those for squirrels, can be used for chipmunks too and may be a good first line of defense. These can be used on bulbs, seeds, and foliage not meant for human consumption. These need to be reapplied, can be expensive over time, and generally don’t provide complete control.

Trapping is an effective means of control around homes and gardens. Common rat snap-traps are used by some. If using these, place boards or a box over, with small opening for the chipmunk, to prevent children, pets, birds or other non-target wildlife from getting caught.

Many prefer to use a live-catch wire mesh trap, then transport them several miles away so they don’t return.

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While relocating chipmunks is not illegal in Vermont (as is the relocation of most larger wildlife), it is in New York and some other states. This generally is not recommended, though, as they may not adapt well or even survive in a new site. Another alternative for live-trapped chipmunks is to humanely euthanize them. If relocating to a property other than your own, make sure you have the landowner’s permission.

If using traps, a variety of baits can be used including peanut butter, seeds, raisins, or breakfast grains. Place traps in areas, and along routes, where the chipmunks are seen. You may want to fix the traps open a couple days to condition the chipmunks to them, before setting. Check traps often to remove captured chipmunks and to release non-target animals such as birds from live traps.

Warren County Connection

Overwintering Plants in Containers

By Barb Ryan, Master Gardener, Lehigh/Northampton Counties, PennState Extension Many perennial and evergreen plants in containers can survive the winter, if you take precautions to protect them.

Annuals grown in containers are discarded at the end of the season, but many potted perennials, shrubs and small trees can be maintained over the winter if steps are taken to protect the plants and their containers.

The more cold-hardy the plants, the more likely you are to succeed in keeping them alive. The USDA zone hardiness of a plant is based on the plant in the ground. Roots of aboveground container plants can be the same temperature as the winter air. To be safe, go two zones colder with containerized plants, use larger pots (more insulation) and provide some protection. Water the plant well before the soil freezes. Evergreen plants will benefit from an antidesiccant spray or a screen to block the wind.

Very large wooden or concrete planters can usually be left in place. It’s best not to leave clay, ceramic or glazed pottery pots exposed to the elements since they may crack. If you must leave them out, wrap the pots in bubble wrap or some insulating material covered with plastic to help protect them.

Laughter is therapy for physical pain, emotional pain, and the everyday pain of life. ~Terri Guillemets Laughter gives us distance. It allows us to step back from an event, deal with it and then move on. ~Bob Newhart

There are several methods you can use to protect smaller containers. First, you can bury the entire pot in the ground and cover it with soil or mulch. The surrounding soil acts as insulation.

A second method is to move the pots to an unheated garage, shed, cold frame, or basement. Check the soil moisture periodically, but don’t overwater or you may get root rot.

A third method is to group the pots close together in a protected location, water them and cover them with straw, compost, shredded leaves, bark mulch, evergreen boughs, or a thermal blanket. Similarly, one or a few pots can be placed inside a box, larger pot, or wire enclosure around which you have added some sort of insulating material such as bark mulch, straw, packing peanuts, or even bubble wrap. Again, check the soil moisture since dry soil freezes faster than moist soil.

In the spring, remove the protective covers gradually to give the plants time to re-acclimate.

Warren County Connection

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Carpenter Bees Injury Carpenter bees bore into wood to make a home for Photo: MSU Diagnostic Services the young. In preferred sites, bees can drill a large number of holes. A common species in the Northeast, Xylocopa virginica, drills holes 1/2 inch in diameter. Often the same nesting sites are used year after year, and the same tunnels are reused.

The damage is primarily to fascia boards. Nail holes, exposed saw cuts, and unpainted wood are attractive nesting sites to these insects. Porches, garages, shed ceilings and trim, railings, roof overhangs and outdoor wooden furniture, are all common nesting sites. Continued borings may weaken some wooden structures, and the yellow "sawdust and pollen" waste materials may stain cars, clothing, or furniture.

Behavior The males are territorial, and in the spring they often guard the potential nest sites. They discourage intruders by hovering or darting at any moving thing that ventures into the nesting area. This can create a "human annoyance" factor, and it is one that often startles and concerns the homeowner. However, male carpenter bees do not sting. The female carpenter bee, like many other bees, can sting -- but it is uncommon for her to do so.

Description Carpenter bees of the genus Xylocopa are large black and yellow insects about one inch long that closely resemble bumblebees. The thorax is covered with yellowish hairs.

The abdomen is mostly a shiny black, with few hairs (in contrast, bumblebees often have a band of yellow or orange hairs on the abdomen). Carpenter bee species of a different kind, in the genus Ceratina, are much smaller (about 1/4 inch long), and dark bluish green in color.

Those carpenter bees makes tunnels within the pith of plant stems, rather than in solid wood.

Life History Xylocopa carpenter bees nest in dry wood. They overwinter as juvenile adults in the tunnels from the previous year. Those that survive the winter mate in the spring (April to June) and then begin nesting activities. They often refurbish old tunnels in preference to boring new ones. The tunnel constructed by the bee may be a foot or more in length. The eggs are placed in cells within the tunnel. In each cell the female places nectar and pollen she has gathered from flowers as provisions for the young. The larvae hatch and feed on the pollen and nec-

Wood damage: tunnel (with cells for larvae). Photo from www.forestryimages.org USDA Forest Service, Wood Products Insect Lab Archives, USDA Forest Station.

tar and then pass through the pupa stage. New adults emerge before cold weather sets in during the early fall.

Management Carpenter bees are pollinators of flowers, and therefore are considered beneficial. If they are not in a place where they are bothering anyone, they can be left alone. The majority of the tunneling damage is just to fascia boards.

Some people remove the boards with the bees in them, placing them out of the way, and replace with new boards. New boards should be painted or finished promptly to discourage carpenter bees taking up residence.

Well-painted finished structures are a deterrent to carpenter bees. Sometimes, however, the bees persist and it is necessary to treat. Treatment with an insecticide and sealing of the tunnel is recommended. Treatment is usually best done before nesting activity gets underway nesting and the rearing of young occurs in the late spring or early summer in most years. Treat when the bees are seen early in the spring. Some commercial wasp and hornet sprays list carpenter bees on the label, and are effective and easy to use. The material should be applied after dark on a cool evening (when the bees are less active) to the tunnel entrances and along exposed surfaces.

Whatever the treatment that you choose, after activity is no longer observed, repairs should be made to the wood.

A few days after application, if no activity is observed, the holes should be plugged deeply with putty, caulking compound, or stainless steelwool. If the tunnels are plugged without first killing the insects, carpenter bees trapped inside will bore new openings.

Prepared 1972 by Carolyn Klass & Prof. Edgar M. Raffensperger, Dept. of Entomology, Cornell University Updated 2012

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Warren County Connection

Lumps and Bumps on My Pet

“The pet’s age may provide an indication of what the lump is,” Dr. Connell says. For example, a young animal is more likely to have an abscess, cyst, or trauma manifest as a lump. A veterinarian will take into account how old the patient is and how long the mass has been there.

“Usually the first step for a diagnosis is to perform a fineneedle aspirate,” explains Dr. Connell. During this procedure, a thin needle is inserted into the mass to collect cells. The cells are then placed on a slide and examined under a microscope. Some mass types, such round cell tumors and carcinomas, are easily identifiable with a fine -needle aspirate.

Imagine petting your dog or cat and finding a lump, something you hadn’t noticed there before. Feeling alarmed, you turn to an online search engine, which yields lots of scary diagnoses: cancer, tumor, cyst, fatty mass.

What does this all mean? And which condition does your pet actually have?

According to Dr. Dana Connell, a third-year veterinary oncology resident at the University of Illinois Veterinary Teaching Hospital in Urbana, the best action for pet owners to take in this common scenario is seeking veterinary advice.

Found It! “Lumps can be found anywhere on a pet’s body,” Dr. Connell says, “though they are typically found on the top of the head or chin, in areas where the animal is frequently touched.” Lumps, or masses, also appear on the legs and underside of the body, but are less likely to be discovered there by the owner.

The size of a mass varies, depending on what it is made of and how long it has been on the pet. Masses are seen commonly in both dogs and cats, but the tendency in practice is to see more dogs. Any breed of dog or cat may develop a mass.

What Is It? It is important to determine what the lump is so that it can be treated appropriately.

Different types of masses will have different consistencies. Those that are fatty in nature will be underneath the skin, soft, and freely movable. Other masses can be hard and immovable.

If this procedure does not yield a diagnosis, then a biopsy is often the next step. During a biopsy, a small section of the mass is removed for testing. A biopsy can be done under local anesthesia or full general anesthesia, depending on the animal’s temperament and what the veterinarian determines to be the safest method.

“If neither of these procedures provides a conclusive diagnosis, your veterinarian may recommend a CT scan,” Dr. Connell says. CT stands for “computed tomography,” an imaging method uses a computer to generate a threedimensional representation of the body from a series of X-rays. This imaging option provides a clearer picture of more invasive lumps and is especially useful for surgical planning and staging. This can be used in addition to the biopsy.

Treatment Options “After we determine what the mass is, we can discuss treatment options with the owner,” Dr. Connell says, “A lot of times owners are afraid to come to the veterinarian after they’ve found a lump because they fear it is cancer and a death sentence for the pet.”

The truth is, having the pet examined as soon as the lump is found will give the pet the best chance at a healthy life.

A tumor can either be benign or malignant. If benign, the veterinarian will likely advise the owners to monitor the lump to check for any changes or growth. If the animal becomes bothered by the lump, then it could be removed. A malignant tumor will require more aggressive treatment tailored to the individual animal. For some masses, the tumor can be removed with surgery, which may be followed with chemotherapy or radiation therapy.

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Warren County Connection

“In June the Veterinary Teaching Hospital began offering radiation therapy with a state-of-the-art linear accelerator that delivers a high degree of precision. That means it targets tumors and spares nearby healthy tissue,” explains Dr. Connell. “We now have the most advanced technology for veterinary radiation cancer treatment in the Midwest.”

Dr. Connell’s main advice for owners is to seek expert opinions from a veterinary professional as soon as possible. “Accurate information is empowering, whereas the volume of information and potential diagnoses found online can be overwhelming.”

will offer discounts on certain procedures, if you ask.

Also, if your pet is prescribed a medication, ask your vet about using the generic rather than brand name version to save money. 

Spay or neuter your pet. If you haven’t already, consider having your pet spayed or neutered. These procedures cut back on the risk for uterine, ovarian, and testicular cancers in animals. Many local shelters will provide these procedures at reduced or no cost.

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Consider pet health insurance. It may sound like a luxury but if you own a breed of pet that is known to have certain health issues, buying insurance when your pet is healthy can save you a lot of money later on. Pet health insurance is particularly useful in the event of an emergency vet visit or serious illness.

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Feed your pet the right amount. You may be surprised to learn that you are over-feeding your pet. Talk to your vet about the appropriate amount and type of food for your pet. Be careful about the amount of treats that you are feeding your pet throughout the day as well.

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Be your pet’s groomer. Grooming your pet at home can save you a significant amount of money. Set aside time to regularly bathe and brush your pet. You may spend a little bit of money upfront on grooming supplies but you will save money in the long run. Also, be sure that you are brushing your pet’s teeth. Dental hygiene issues can result in costly and sometimes serious heart and kidney problems.

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Boarding. Pet spas and hotels have become very popular over the past few years. Keep in mind that the two most important things to consider when boarding your pet are that the facility is comfortable and sanitary. While pet massages and aromatherapy may sound nice, they are by no means necessary and will only cost you more money. You may wish to consider hiring a pet sitter.

There are a number of websites designed to match you and your pet with a local dog sitter who will either come to your home or watch your pet in their home.

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Toys. Before buying your pet another toy, ask yourself if they really need another toy. Pets are often entertained by a small number of toys. Also, when you buy a toy, be sure that you are buying a quality toy that will last you longer.

If you have questions regarding a lump or bump on your pet, contact your local veterinarian.

Source: College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Illinois at UrbanaChampaign

How To Save Money As A Pet Owner Being a pet owner can be costly. In recent years, pet care costs have slowly risen. Pet food, veterinary bills, grooming, boarding, and toys can quickly add up. It is estimated that 15% of pet owners spend $100 or more each month on their pets.

Here are some simple ways that you can save money as a pet owner: 

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Visit your vet. Visiting your vet will keep your pet healthy! Be sure to schedule regular check- ups, stay up to date on vaccines, and be sure that your pets are taking preventative flea and worm medication.

Be sure to ask your vet about which vaccines are necessary for your pet – some animals, such as indoor cats, do not require the same vaccinations as others like outdoor cats. Staying on top of your pet’s health care needs can save you from costly emergency vet visits and expensive procedures.

Take the first available appointment of the day. If your pet is sick, try to schedule the first available appointment of the day with your vet. That way, if your pet needs to have a procedure done that will take some time, you may be able to avoid keeping your pet at the vet overnight.

Be on the lookout for discounts. Many vet offices

Source: Kristyn Jackson, LMFT, Ph.D. Candidate, Department of Family Sciences, University of Kentucky & Jennifer Hunter, Ph.D., Associate Extension Professor Family Financial Management, University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service

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You May Not Need a Vitamin D Supplement

More than half of adults in the U.S. take some type of vitamin each day – a number that has grown steadily over the past 20 years, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control.

One of the most popular is vitamin D. Over the past 10 years, doctors have worried that people living in cold climates don’t absorb enough sunlight to prompt their bodies to manufacture its own vitamin D. Across the medical establishment, there was a push to screen patients for vitamin D deficiencies.

But the evidence is mounting that vitamin D supplements are not as helpful as we once believed. A new, large systematic review published this month found that vitamin D does not prevent bone fractures or falls.

To come to this conclusion, researchers analyzed data from 81 randomized controlled trials involving more than 53,000 participants. The analysis found that vitamin D does not have any meaningful effect on bone mineral density. And these data were so strong that the authors concluded there is no need for future studies on this topic.

This latest review builds on recommendations published in 2013 by the U.S. Preventative Services Task Force that healthy, postmenopausal women should not take Vitamin D and calcium supplements to prevent fractures.

The task force is made up of an independent panel of medical experts, who reviewed more than 100 studies before making their recommendation. The experts found insufficient evidence that taking vitamin D and calcium helps prevents fractures, and found a small risk of increased kidney stones for people who did take the supplements.

Warren County Connection

The task force’s recommendation does not apply to people suffering from osteoporosis or vitamin D deficiencies, or those living in skilled nursing facilities. There is also clear evidence that vitamin D is helpful for some people: For example, growing babies need vitamin D to prevent a condition called rickets.

Cornell nutritionist Patsy Brannon has weighed in on the national debate over vitamin D supplements: “The evidence available is inconsistent, with some studies demonstrating this association while others show no association, and still others show evidence of adverse effects with high blood levels of vitamin D,” Brannon told the Cornell Chronicle. “Although we can’t conclude whether low vitamin D is associated with chronic disease, the evidence is clear that these vitamin supplements do not prevent fractures.”

The take-home message: Vitamin D supplements do not help to prevent bone fractures or falls.

Source: Cornell University Evidence Based Living - http:// evidencebasedliving.human.cornell.edu/page/3/ (Continued from page 10)

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dried sausages, such as salami, pepperoni, and jerky canned foods (until opened)

These potentially unsafe foods are perishable and must be handled properly to keep bacteria from growing:  meat, fish, and poultry  sandwiches and salads which contain meat, fish, or poultry  cooked vegetables  cooked cereals and legumes, such as rice and beans  custards and puddings  milk and milk products  dressings and gravies  processed meats (bologna, hot dogs, etc.)

To keep your packed lunches cold, use an insulated, softsided lunch box or bag. Pack the lunch with at least two sources of ice like ice packs or even ice cubes in a plastic bag. Also be sure to pack just the amount of perishable food that can be eaten at lunchtime so there won’t be a problem about storing leftovers safely. If packing hot lunches, be sure to keep them hot by using insulated containers.

Before filling the containers, fill them with boiling water, let stand for a few minutes, empty, then put in the piping hot food. Keep the containers closed until lunchtime to keep the food hot. It should remain at 140 degrees F or higher in order to stay out of the temperature danger zone.

And, have a great school year!

Warren County Connection

Ten Tips for Back-To-School Success By: Carrie Shrier, 4-H Academic Success and Social and Emotional Well-Being Educator Michigan State University Extension

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dren going into the same grade or in the same class. Having a few familiar faces that first day can help your child feel much more confident and comfortable.

4. Be prepared Include your child in back-to-school shopping. Even kindergarteners have strong opinions about what they would like on their backpacks or what they want to wear to school the first day. If the teacher has provided a supply list, take your child shopping to help select those special items.

5. Adjust the schedule As the final days of summer

It’s back-to-school time! As the summer draws to a close, take some time to plan ahead and help your children be ready to succeed this school year.

“Back-to-school time is an exciting time for most children – it’s a time to make new friends, reconnect with old friends and meet new teachers,” said Carrie Shrier, MSU Extension children and youth educator. “As exciting as school can be, however, it often is a source of anxiety for children. As the summer winds down, take time to plan ahead for the start of school to avoid complications and reduce anxiety.”

Ten tips to help your child be ready for the school year: 1. Visit school Most school buildings open a few weeks before the first day. Take your children to school for a tour. Where is the lunchroom? The playground? Where do they hang their coats? Where are their classrooms?

How do they get from the front door to the classroom?

Many schools offer a special open house or picnic, a time to meet up with old friends and make new ones. Be sure to take advantage of this opportunity.

2. Meet the teacher Once the coveted teacher assignment arrives in the mail, plan a meet-the-teacher visit.

Call ahead to see if you can make an appointment to stop in and say “hello.” Help your child find his/her coat hook, locker, desk, etc. Talk with the teacher about any concerns you may have and any special needs, allergies or other issues that may arise.

3. Make new friends If your child is new to the building, see if you can arrange for a play date with other chil-

draw to a close, start moving your child onto the school schedule. Those late bedtimes have been fun all summer but not so much when kids have to get up and moving early. Begin by moving up bedtime 10 to 20 minutes a day until you have adjusted children to their normal school-day bedtime and wake-up time. Remember, elementary-school-aged children should be getting 10 to 11 hours of sleep a night.

6. Practice the routine In the last few days before school starts, take time to run through a typical school morning. Get your child up and dressed as if he/she were headed to school. After a healthy breakfast, head out to the bus stop or the car on time. Look for potential glitches in your routine and plan ahead to avoid “morning madness.”

7. Think safety As you plan for your child’s day, be sure to think about safety coming and going from school.

Walking, carpooling and riding the bus present different potential safety risks. Be sure to talk to your children about their specific situation and make sure they know how to cross streets safely, are using an appropriate booster seat in a car, if needed, or that they understand bus rules. More back-to-school safety information can be found at SafeKids.org.

8. Immunizations and physicals Check with your child’s pediatrician to be sure immunizations are up to date.

Back-to-school time is a good time to schedule annual well-child exams. An exam may be required if your child is planning to participate in a sport.

9. Plan for healthy meals Research has shown that kids who eat a healthy breakfast and lunch get better grades and are more attentive at school. Talk with your children about what they would like to eat and help them choose a well-balanced selection of “brain foods.”

More information on children’s nutrition can be found at (Continued on page 10)

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Warren County Connection

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kombucha daily for two years. The researchers caution that these reports are single cases and not part of a larger study, but they do raise the question of whether kombucha is safe for everyone.

If kombucha does offer health benefits, it is most likely related to fermentation, which preserves foods by using microorganisms to convert carbohydrates to acids or alcohol. Some medical researchers hypothesize that these microorganisms are missing from the diets of most Americans and provide health benefits beyond what we currently understand.

Back to School Lunches

By Nicole McGeehan, Penn State Extension Food Safety Educator School is back in session, so many parents are packing school lunches. When packing school lunches it is important to keep health and safety in mind. Below are some tips for making lunches healthy, safe and enjoyable for your child. 

While that may be the case, there is not a solid body of evidence that demonstrates fermented foods provide specific health benefits. (There are some data that show fermented dairy products such as yogurts and cheeses can help reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease.)

So, what’s the take-home message? It’s unlikely that drinking kombucha is unhealthy, but there is not clear evidence that it will improve your health either. Overall, consuming fermented foods may provide protection against developing some diseases, but the evidence is not conclusive.

Visit Cornell University’s Bronfenbrenner Center for Translational Research’s website for more information on our work solving human problems.

Source: Cornell University Evidence Based Living - http://evidencebasedliving. human.cornell.edu/page/3/

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Obtain input from your child regarding lunch preferences. Ask for their help to make a grocery list and to help with the shopping. Do they prefer a peanut butter and apple sandwich, fruit and cheese wrap or leftover pizza? Use this opportunity to teach them how to select a balanced lunch from food items you purchased or prepared together.

Vary the menu and choose foods from all of the food groups. Consider using whole wheat bread, pita or bagels for sandwiches, pack fresh fruit and vegetables in season, and include low-fat dairy products like milk, yogurt or pudding.

Consider supplementing food from home with foods and beverages such as milk purchased at school.

Involve your child in preparing their lunch. The night before they can help make a sandwich or wash a piece of fruit. This provides a great opportunity to talk about eating healthy foods and basic food safety principles such as washing hands before preparing and eating food and keeping cold foods cold and hot foods hot.

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the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s MyPlate website.

10. Assistance is available Your family may qualify for nutrition assistance through the National School Lunch Program. This federal program provides for free or reduced-price school lunches and in some cases breakfast as well. Contact your school’s nutrition program for an application. Some districts make this application available online. Many community agencies also offer additional back-to-school support, such as free backpack events and discounted or free school supplies and clothes. If you are in need of support to help get your children ready for school, be sure to contact your local community service agencies for more information on events in your area.

“Taking time to plan ahead for the new school year is well worth the effort,” Shrier said. “Confident, calm, well -rested children are more likely to have an excellent first day and a fabulous year ahead!”

It is also very important to keep food safety in mind when packing school lunches. Perishable foods must be kept cold or hot until lunchtime because bacteria can multiply rapidly when food is within the temperature danger zone of 40 and 140 degrees F. If the lunch cannot be kept cold or hot, choose foods that can be kept safely at room temperature.

Bacteria do not grow in foods that are high in acid or low in moisture. Foods that can safely be left at room temperature for 4-6 hours include:  nuts and peanut butter  bread, cookies, crackers, and cake  jam or honey  dry cereal  fresh, cooked, or dry fruit  raw vegetables  pickles, relishes, mustard, and ketchup  dry or hard cheeses (such as parmesan) (Continued on page 8)

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4 Person Scramble Individual players are welcome and will be placed within a team.

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