Warren County Connection - September 2019

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

September 2019

Fall Asters, Nature’s Bounty

By Lyn Chimera & Carol Ann Harlos, Cornell Cooperative Extension Erie County

fields from late August through fall.

They do best in full to partial sun and prefer moist soil. New England Asters can grow anywhere from 3 to 5 feet tall. Lyn cuts her asters back 1/3 in early June (the Chelsea cut) to keep the mature height at 3 to 4 feet. This also causes branching and an increase in bloom. Each flower is rather daisy shaped only smaller, about 1 inch wide. The yellow pollen laden centers are pollinator and butterfly magnets.

Color is such a joy in the autumn!

Many trees put on a show. Field asters and goldenrods burst with color.

This is nature's last hurrah before winter. Pollinators and butterflies that migrate need extra nourishment prior to travel. Honeybees need nectar and pollen to prepare for the long winter. Aster leaves are also a good food source for the larva of such species as pearl crescents butterflies, silvery checkerspots butterflies, brown-hooded owlet moths, camouflaged loopers moths, and striped garden moths.

New York Aster (Aster novi-belgii) is not quite as tall, only 12 to 36 inches This article concentrates on asters and blooms with the same colors as because they are also easy to grow in the New England aster with the addithe home garden in borders, in rock tion of white. These also prefer full gardens, or in a wildflower or native to part sun and moist soil. On cloudy species garden. There are 54 species days or at night the flowers close but of wild asters in the northeastern US. open up again when the sun comes Lyn has several native asters in her out and continues throughout the small village garden. They are always fall. The NY aster tends to be more a buzz with activity from pollinators floriferous than the New England to butterflies. They bring bursts of variety. color in the fall when many perennials are waning. Gardeners often com- White Wood Aster (Aster divaricaplain about a lack of color after mid- tus) is one of the few asters that will August. Asters are part of the solugrow in the shade, preferring open tion! They are just getting started! woods. They are perfect in woodland gardens. They start blooming in New England Aster (Aster novaeearly August and don’t quit till frost. angliae) is the tall violet to purple or This aster is not as tall growing only rose flowers that are common in (Continued on page 3)

In this issue: Growing Garlic Is Easy

4

Harvesting, Drying and Storing Herbs

5

The Tell-Tale Murmur: Heart Problems in Puppies

7

Vaping & Juuling: What Parents Should Know

8

Want a Better Workout?

Add Music!

9

The Growing Problem of Weight Discrimination

10

Special points of interest: 

Calendar of Events



Please support our advertisers

Warren County Connection

Page 2

Cornell University Cooperative Extension of Warren County 377 Schroon River Road Warrensburg, NY 12885 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 Cynthia Hyde William Loeb Brad Magowan Eugene Merlino Michael Wild

Warren County Connection

CALENDAR Please visit our website for more events www.cce.cornell.edu/warren 9/13/2019 1:00 PM - 2:30 PM Apples! - Fall is apple season, so come and join us as we discuss the nutritional benefits of apples, discuss some delicious and healthy apple recipes, and possibly even sample some of those recipes! For more information contact Marybeth Mitcham 518-623-3291.

Location: Greater Glens Falls Senior Center, 380 Glen Street, Glens Falls, NY 12801 9/15/2019 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM Outdoor Education - Outdoor education workshops will be offered during this free event.

Come and enjoy learning about outdoor cooking, map and compass use, knife and axe throwing, and more! For more information contact Marybeth Mitcham 518-623-3291. Location: Cornell Cooperative Extension Warren County, 377 Schroon River Road, Warrensburg, NY 12885 9/21/2019 ADK Guides Testing Weekend - During this annual camping trip, the 4-H Adirondack Guides will be tested on their knowledge of wildlife and outdoor skills. For more information contact Marybeth Mitcham 518-623-3291. TBA

VITA Volunteers Needed The Tri-County United Way VITA Coalition in Washington, Warren and Northern Saratoga Counties is seeking volunteers for the 2020 tax filing season. No experience is required; all volunteers will receive free instruction along with training and certification materials necessary to prepare basic tax returns. VITA volunteers are trained to assist moderate-low income individuals and families to electronically file their personal tax returns.

Do you like to help people? Are you looking for something to do during the winter months? You can make a difference for 40 families by volunteering 4 hours a week for 10 weeks. You can volunteer during day and/or evening hours in your local community. We have tax sites throughout the region. Training sessions begin in November and include the use of electronic filing software supplied by the IRS. For more information about the local VITA program call Cornell Cooperative Extension of Warren County at 518-623-3291 and ask for Amy Sabattis. You can also sign up through the TriCounty United Way at 518-793-3136 or via Get Connected at www.tcuwny.org.

If you have special needs as addressed by the Americans With Disabilities Act and need assistance with attending these workshops, please make your needs known by the registration deadline. Reasonable efforts will be made for accommodations.

Page 3

Warren County Connection

1½ to 2 feet high. The leaves are rather heart shaped and quite attractive. The white flowers initially have a yellow center but fades to purple/brown which gives a longer interest.

The white wood aster tends to grow in loose colonies rather than in clumps like some of the other asters.

Blue Wood Aster (Aster cordifolius) has a wide variety of growing conditions from sun to shade and in difficult or disturbed soil. It has heart shaped leaves that form an attractive ground cover before the plant blooms in the fall. The flowers are blue with yellow centers and attractive to bees, skippers and butterflies. The blue wood aster also has a very long bloom and forms a lovely blue blanket of flowers in a shady or sunny area. All the above mentioned asters are easily started from seed. Originally, Lyn collected seed in the fall and spread it where she wanted the asters to grow in the spring. Once you get a few started they will spread naturally and will form nice mature patches in a few years. The seeds will naturally travel in the wind so you may find asters popping up where you don’t want them. Seedlings can easily be pulled in the spring.

To avoid this simply cut off the spent flowers before they drop seed. However, Lyn always leaves the seed heads as some smaller winter birds use them as a food source.

Carol Ann likes to propagate asters. Aster propagation is relatively simple. To root cuttings, cut 2 to 3 inches of stem from new growth in late spring or early summer, removing all but a few leaves near the top. Stick the base of the cutting in a mix of sand (or vermiculite) and perlite. Cover it with a plastic bag, and place it in a well lit area, avoiding direct sun. Keep the cutting moist while new roots are forming. To divide asters, either lift the entire plant and divide sections or divide off the outer sections of existing plants. Make sure to get plenty of roots and several shoots for each division. Dividing should be done in spring to give plants a full season to overcome shock and to regrow.

Many of the native asters have been hybridized as cultivars for color, size or other growing characteristics. While

these may be beautiful plants, they may not be as good a food source for our native pollinators and butterflies. It is always best to buy the native species. Admittedly the true natives are more difficult to find as most nurseries carry cultivars but if enough people request the true natives, the nurseries will respond. Specific varieties can also be purchased online. To add splashes of color to your fall garden and provide much needed food for pollinators and butterflies try some asters!

Photo Credits:New England Aster -Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources - Forestry, Bugwood.org; White Wood Aster—https:// en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eurybia_divaricata; Blue Wood Aster—https:// en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Symphyotrichum_cordifolium

(Continued from page 9)

During high-intensity exercise sessions such as sprint intervals or weightlifting, music improved participants’ stamina and again reduced their levels of perceived exertion.

The review included a few caveats. Listening to music yielded the greatest benefits when participants choose the music themselves or believed that the music was selected to accommodate their personal tastes. The music was also more effective when the participant was working at his or her own pace. And music yielded larger gains for recreational athletes compared to athletes who were highly-trained or participating in serious competitive sports.

The take-home message: Listening to music – especially motivational music that you choose yourself – is a reliable way to help increase the intensity and quality of your workouts.

Source: http://evidencebasedliving.human.cornell.edu/2019/07/30/want-abetter-workout-add-music/

Page 4

Warren County Connection

Growing Garlic Is Easy Dr. Leonard Perry, Horticulture Professor Emeritus University of Vermont

Most commonly seen are the softneck varieties, named from their stems or "necks" staying soft when harvested. These are the ones you'll see braided, and may be called Italian or common garlic. They include the artichoke types you find in supermarkets, and the silverskins with their very white outer skins and strong flavor.

There are dozens of varieties among these three main garlic types. Buying locally adapted varieties, either from a local source or based on reliable local recommendations, is the first key to success. Garlic traditionally has been grown in hot climates, and you'll need varieties bred for and adapted to cold climates for northern gardens. Bulbs from grocery stores shouldn't be used as they may not be the right varieties, and may have been treated to prevent sprouting.

Garlic is more than just a flavoring for foods, having many health benefits. Studies have shown that garlic has antioxidant properties, promoting the health of the heart and immune systems. “Allicin�-- the chemical produced when garlic is chopped, chewed, or bruised-- is a powerful antibiotic. Garlic even has been shown to reduce cholesterol. Successful growing of garlic starts with choosing the right "seeds", and giving the correct growing conditions and culture.

Garlic is related to onion, leeks and shallot, only it has a "bulb" composed of individual wedges called "cloves". It is one of these cloves that you plant in the fall, soon after the first frost (32 degrees F) but ideally before the first hard frost (28 degrees F or below). This will give time for roots to form before the ground gets too cold. Cloves are planted in the fall, as it is the winter cold that is needed to form the side buds the following year that will grow to make the new cloves that you'll harvest next summer. Plant cloves about four inches apart and two inches deep, the pointed side up.

There are three types of garlic varieties. The elephant or great-headed garlic is related closely to leeks, a mild flavor between garlic and onions. It has a large bulb and few cloves. More common are the stiffneck or hardneck varieties, with cloves surrounding a thick central stem that curls as it grows. These have a mild flavor, are the most cold hardy, but don't store as well as the more common varieties. Varieties include Rocambole, purplestriped, and porcelain types. Rocambole types are popular as they adapt to changing weather, and are easy to peel.

Plant in well-drained weed-free soil, such as in low raised beds. Slightly dry soils are best, with a pH of 6 to 7. Incorporate plenty of compost in the fall, and you may not need to fertilize in spring. Or, you may apply a general garden fertilizer along rows as shoots emerge in spring, then again 3 weeks later. Don't fertilize after early May to avoid delaying bulb formation.

Water deeply as needed, especially on sandy soils. Stop watering a couple weeks before harvest. Garlic roots are near the surface so, if cultivating for weeds, hoe shallowly and use care. Be careful to avoid injuring plants.

To avoid potential diseases, don't plant where other onion crops have been grown during the past 2 or 3 years. Proper soil, mulching, and crop rotation will lessen the chance of any diseases. Garlic has few, if any, insect problems.

Large cloves produce the largest bulbs next year. Separate the cloves from bulbs, keeping the papery husks on, and plant with tips pointing up. Plant 2 inches deep, 4 to 6 inches apart in rows, with rows a foot apart. You can plant small cloves closer, or in patches to harvest the tops as garlic greens. Figure that a pound of cloves that you plant this fall may yield 7 to 10 pounds of bulbs next summer.

Although you won't see growth until spring, roots will begin growing. Mulch heavily to at least 6 inches deep, such as with weed-free straw, to keep the soil warmer in fall and winter. Remove mulch in spring, leaving some for weed suppression. Planting soon enough in fall, and (Continued on page 5)

Warren County Connection

mulching deeply, will help prevent the cloves being heaved out of the ground with spring frost.

Page 5

Harvesting, Drying and Storing Herbs

Garlic is harvested in mid-summer, early to mid July in the north, but stage of growth not the calendar is the indicator of when to harvest. You should start checking the bulbs when the foliage begins to die off. You need to check the bulbs, not just use the tops dying, as yearly climate conditions can affect the tops and not the bulbs.

The bulbs are of course not solid like a flower bulb, but rather have the cloves encased in several papery layers called "sheaths". Harvest too soon, and the cloves won't be segmented yet. Harvest too late and the sheaths will have come off, leaving just the cloves that are hard to get out of the ground or they may even begin growing. Ideal harvest is when there are 2 to 4 sheath layers present, which occurs over about a 2-week period.

Once harvested, wash the bulbs and allow them to dry for a week or so, out of direct sun. Then trim off the roots, remove the outer dried sheath layers, and then braid if you wish for storage. Cool (50 to 65 degrees F), dry, and well-ventilated are ideal conditions for storage. Check monthly to discard any soft bulbs that may be rotting internally. Set aside the largest cloves for planting again in fall.

One of the advantages of growing your own herbs is being able to harvest fresh herbs when you need them for cooking. Also, herb gardens allow you to grow specialty herbs that may not always be available at local markets. Preserving herbs for future use allows herbs to be available throughout the year. There are several ways to preserve herbs. Some methods may be preferable over others depending on what type of herb you are growing.

Harvesting Herbs Herbs should be harvested when the oils responsible for their flavor and aroma are at their highest. Proper timing depends on the plant part you are harvesting and how you plan to use it. Herbs can be harvested when the plant has enough foliage to maintain growth. With annual herbs, they can be cut back 50-75 percent and still recover. With perennial herbs, remove about one-third of the growth at any one time. Use a sharp knife or pruners to make clean cuts.

Try to harvest early in the day after plants dry off and before it gets hot. Herbs are best harvested before they start to flower otherwise leaf production declines. Deadheading or removal of flowers as they appear will result in the continued production of new leaves suitable for harvest.

When harvesting foliage from herbs, be certain that the plants have not been sprayed with pesticides. There are a variety of products to control insects and diseases but many of them are not cleared for use on herbs harvested for foliage to be eaten.

Drying Herbs The traditional way to preserve herbs is by air drying or using low heat. Drying concentrates the flavor of herbs so you may need to only use one-third to one-fourth the (Continued on page 6)

Page 6

amount of fresh herbs in recipes.

After harvesting, gently wash the herbs and dry them thoroughly on paper towels. Remove any dead or damaged material. Tie the herbs in loose bunches that allow for good air circulation around each bunch. The bunches could be put into small paper bags with the stem ends sticking out of the top of the bag. Punch holes in the bag to allow for ventilation. The bags help protect the herbs from dust and other contamination while drying. Hang the herb bunches in a warm, dry, well-ventilated area out of the sun. A garage, shed, barn or well ventilated attic work well. It may take up to a month for herbs to dry completely.

Tray drying is another method that works well with short stemmed herbs or for individual leaves. A simple frame that has screen wire fastened to the bottom works well. Put herbs in a single layer across the bottom and place the trays in a warm, well-ventilated area out of the sun. Leaves may need to be turned to insure even drying.

Drying with heat can involve the use of conventional ovens, micro-wave ovens or dehydrating ovens.

Home food dehydrators do an excellent job of drying herbs. Refer to the owner’s manual for specifics and settings.

Oven drying works well if the temperatures can be closely monitored. Oftentimes, oven temperatures cannot be set low enough and the result is loss of flavor and color. However, if oven temperatures can be held between 90 and 110 degrees that would be the ideal oven drying temperature. Setting your oven at the lowest temperature and leaving the oven door slightly open often results in temperatures that can be maintained at that level. Check the progress of drying often and turn the herbs if necessary. It may take 3-4 hours to dry herbs using this method.

Microwave ovens can also be used to dry small quantities of herbs quickly. Always observe safety precautions when drying herbs in a microwave and check manufacture's recommendations for using their product when drying herbs as the risk of scorching herbs and the possibility of starting fires exists.

Prepare herbs by washing and drying very thoroughly. Any excess moisture on herbs leads to them cooking and not drying. Place herbs between two pieces of paper towel and microwave on high for 1-3 minutes. Check the

Warren County Connection

progress every 30 seconds and turn the herbs to insure even drying. After removing from the microwave place herbs on a rack and allow them to cool before storing.

After herbs are dry remove the leaves from the stems and package in sealed containers in a cool location, out of sunlight. To preserve the full flavor of herbs try to avoid crushing the leaves when packaging. Ideally herbs should be crushed just prior to adding them to recipes.

With proper storage, most herbs retain their flavor for about a year.

To dry herb seeds, cut stems with seed heads just as the heads begin to turn brown. Gather them into small bunches and hang the bunches upside down in paper bags that have ventilation holes punched in the sides of the bags. Hang the bags in a warm, well-ventilated area out of the sun to dry. Once dry, the seeds can be shaken from the seed heads. Carefully rub the seeds to separate seed from the capsules. Laying the seeds on a clean flat surface and gently blowing across the seeds will help remove any debris and chaff. Collect the seeds and store in sealed containers. Seeds may take longer to dry than leaves. Make sure the seeds are thoroughly dry before storing to avoid the possibility of the seeds becoming moldy.

Freezing While freezing herbs is perhaps the easiest method, herbs handled this way are most useful used in the cooking process, as frozen herbs are not suitable for garnish. Freezing will alter the appearance quality but not the flavor quality.

After herbs are washed, they can be coarsely chopped and generous pinches of herbs can be placed in water filled ice cube trays and frozen. The cubes can then be transferred to plastic bags and placed in the freezer. Individual cubes can be taken out as needed.

Herb leaves can also be blanched in boiling water for about one minute and then quickly cooled by plunging them into ice water. The leaves can then be put into tightly sealed plastic bags and frozen.

Source: University of Illinois Extension

Warren County Connection

The Tell-Tale Murmur: Heart Problems in Puppies Heart Murmurs Often Go Away By Six Months of Age Although the occurrence is rare, some puppies are born with heart conditions that should be detected and treated as soon as possible to ensure that they lead a healthy life. Dr. Jordan Vitt, a veterinary cardiologist at the University of Illinois Veterinary Teaching Hospital in Urbana, says the three types of congenital heart defects seen most often are patent ductus arteriosus, pulmonic stenosis, and subaortic stenosis.

These conditions are called “congenital” because puppies are born with these developmental defects.

“Either something didn’t form correctly in the heart or something didn’t regress appropriately in the heart of the unborn puppy,” Dr. Vitt explains. “This can cause blood to flow in abnormal pathways, resulting in heart murmurs.”

All three conditions result in heart murmurs, meaning the puppy’s heart sounds are not normal. However, each of these heart problems has its own cause and treatment.

Patent Ductus Arteriosus Patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) is a condition in which a blood vessel that should close at birth fails to close. This problem can occur in any breed of dog.

“When puppies are developing in the womb, the lungs are not needed to oxygenate blood,” says Dr. Vitt. “The ductus arteriosus allows the blood to bypass the lungs, moving directly from the pulmonary artery to the aorta – which supplies oxygenated blood to the body. When puppies are born, this ductus should close and all blood flow through the ductus should stop.”

However, in patients with a PDA, the ductus remains open, or “patent.” According to Dr. Vitt, when this happens, blood that should flow to the body goes back into the lungs through the PDA. This can result in heart enlargement, leading to congestive heart failure if the problem is not detected and addressed.

Page 7

To prevent this abnormal blood flow, the PDA should be closed. This can be performed by a surgeon by tying off the PDA through a surgical incision in the chest or minimally invasively by a cardiologist, like Dr. Vitt. The minimally invasive technique is performed by placing a heart catheter through the femoral artery to place a device that will occlude, or close, the ductus.

“A dog with a PDA will always have a more positive outcome if the ductus is closed,” says Dr. Vitt.

Stenoses The other two types of congenital heart defects are characterized by valve “stenosis” or abnormal narrowing. This narrowing of normal passages makes it harder for the blood to move from the heart to the lungs or from the heart to the body. Stenoses may affect the pulmonic valve or the aortic valve.

“Large-breed dogs, such as golden retrievers, Rottweilers, and Newfoundlands, are more prone to subaortic stenosis, whereas small-breed dogs and bulldogs are more prone to pulmonic stenosis,” Dr. Vitt says.

These congenital heart defects may first be noticed by their owners when, after intense activity, the dog becomes weak or collapses, known as “syncope.” Weakness or collapse occurs after activity because exercise puts demands on the heart to send more oxygenated blood to the body. The narrowed or “stenotic” valves prevent appropriate blood flow for oxygenation of the brain, leading to a loss of consciousness, or “fainting.”

A minimally invasive procedure called a balloon valvuloplasty can resolve these stenoses. This procedure involves using a heart catheter to place a balloon at the stenotic valve. The balloon is then inflated to widen the valve opening and improve the flow of blood. The balloon is removed after the procedure.

“These patients do much better after the narrowed valve is open,” says Dr. Vitt.

In the case of subaortic stenosis, the problem is often caused by scar tissue located below the level of the valve, or “subvalvular” region. A newer technique for repairing subaortic stenosis begins with threading a smaller balloon, which when inflated exposes small surgical blades, to incise or cut the scar tissue before using a larger balloon to open up the narrowed valve region.

(Continued on page 8)

Page 8

“These blades on the smaller balloon cut the scar tissue, which help to guide how the narrowed area in the heart will expand when the larger, high-pressure balloon is inflated,” explains Dr. Vitt.

Warren County Connection

Vaping & Juuling: What Parents Should Know

All of these minimally invasive techniques are performed by the cardiology service at the University of Illinois Veterinary Teaching Hospital.

Early Detection Because congenital heart defects are something puppies are born with, there is no way to prevent this disease.

However, early detection and treatment improve the prognosis for the patient.

Dr. Vitt urges, “Please don’t immediately freak out if your puppy has a murmur. Most puppies have soft murmurs at a young age, and most murmurs go away on their own by the time the puppy is four to six months old.”

Heart murmurs are evaluated on a 6-point scale. A murmur that is characterized as a grade 2 or less is very likely to resolve; on the other hand, Dr. Vitt advises that a heart murmur at grade 3 or higher should be evaluated by a veterinary cardiologist as soon as possible. Any murmur that is still present at six months or that is getting worse should also be evaluated. The earlier the detection, the sooner the problem can be evaluated and potentially fixed for the best long-term outcome.

To encourage early detection of potential congenital heart defects, the cardiology service at the University of Illinois Veterinary Teaching Hospital offers a discounted price to “auscult” or listen to litters of puppies. If a problem is detected in any of the puppies, the owner may opt to have an echocardiogram or ultrasound of the heart as well.

In addition, the cardiology service will soon offer breedspecific screening days. On these days, dog breeds predisposed to certain heart diseases will be evaluated at a discounted price to encourage early detection and potential treatment.

“We always want to help animals in any way that we can, and it’s also a great excuse to have more puppy snuggle time,” says Dr. Vitt.

If you are concerned about your pet’s heart health, see your local veterinarian. To find out more about breedspecific screening days, contact the cardiology service at the University of Illinois Veterinary Teaching Hospital.

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

The latest drug epidemic our youth are experiencing, vaping harmful chemicals and high levels of nicotine So what is vaping, and why is it something parents should know about?

Vaping refers to inhaling and exhaling vapor, typically from an e-cigarette or similar device. It is definitely something parents should educate themselves on because unlike some other concerning habits teens may pick up, vaping has only become popular recently. This means parents are not likely to know about the types of vaping and what the signs are that their teen is doing it. Parents may not even know what a vape looks like or what the effects of vaping are. And how about Juuling, is that the same thing, or something different?

Juuling is a type of vaping but in a lot of ways it is much more concerning. Juul pods, the liquid that is used in Juuls always has nicotine. Even though it says this on the packaging not all teens read/know that. Another main concern is that Juul pods are not FDA approved which means they could have a variety or harmful chemicals including carcinogens. Juuling hasn’t been around long enough to know all of the possible long term health affects it could have as well.

How much of a problem do you think vaping/juuling is among high school students?

From my personal experience I have friends and classmates from all different backgrounds and socioeconomic standards and more of them than not Juul frequently or have as least tried it. Based on that and also statistics like ⅓ of teens have tried it, I would definitely say it is a big problem, or epidemic as the FDA calls it.

What do you feel parents should and can do?...to prevent, to educate, to intervene/get help.

(Continued on page 9)

Warren County Connection

Parents should definitely have a conversation with their teen asking what their teen knows about vaping and juuling and the dangers of nicotine addictions. I think it is important that parents are open to listening to their teen and they don’t come off as judgmental or intimidating.

Parents should keep in mind that they can’t necessarily relate to what their teen is dealing with considering that vaping is such a recent concern. Parents also could try to provide other ways for teens to deal with stress considering that many of the teens I know say they juul most when they are stressed or anxious. Some things that help me and other teens I know deal with stress are exercising, cuddling with a pet, journaling and listening to music.

Maybe ask your teen what positive things help them when they are stressed and see if that is something that you can help provide or encourage. This is something that parents of young children can do as well because helping your child find healthy coping mechanisms for stress will help them at any age. Also parents developing a solid relationship with their children will definitely make conversations easier when they are older.

For more information on drug abuse & misuse prevention, and how to talk with your kids about vaping, see Partnership for Drug-Free Kids: https://drugfree.org/

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

Page 9

Want a Better Workout? Add Music!

Research clearly establishes that regular exercise is one of the best things you can do to avoid serious illness and lengthen your life. But for many people, the question is how to get started and stick with an exercise routine?

There are all sorts of habits and tricks that are proven to help people establish consistent exercise routines. For starters, we know that a strong social support network helps people to sustain their fitness practice. Another body of evidence shows that being able to make individual choices about physical fitness and feeling selfmotivated lead people to start and maintain exercise programs. And there’s another line of research that shows music leads to higher-quality workouts.

A systematic review including 32 studies and published in the International Review of Sport and Exercise Psychology demonstrates that listening to music before and during exercise yields significant benefits.

Researchers found that listening to music before exercise helps people get pumped up to do their best, visualize what they want to accomplish and can help improve motor skills. And listening to music during exercise offered even greater benefits.

During endurance activities, such as running or cycling, listening to music helped to improve participants’ moods and efficiency, increase their stamina and led participants to put in harder efforts. People who listened to music during endurance activities reported lower levels of perceived exertion – meaning they didn’t realize they were working as hard as they were – even though their effort levels remained consistent or even increased.

(Continued on page 3)

Page 10

The Growing Problem of Weight Discrimination

Warren County Connection

Gender and race played a role too. Women were significantly more likely to report discrimination due to their weight compared to men. Researchers across the studies speculate this is related to Western society’s emphasis on thinness as a quality that makes women attractive.

And Caucasian-American men and women were also significantly more likely to report discrimination compared to African-American individuals, most likely because of different physical ideals in African-American culture.

The studies found discrimination occurred across a range of settings including the workplace, healthcare, stores, on public transportation and in the criminal justice system. Women were more likely to report work and healthcare-related discrimination than men.

More than 93 million Americans are obese. That’s nearly 40 percent of the U.S. population. Researchers and healthcare providers have invested time and money in studies to explain why so many Americans are so overweight and what our society can do about it.

In addition, there is a growing body of evidence about the social and emotional effects of obesity in our society. A systematic review published in the journal Obesity Reviews takes a broad look at discrimination against people who are obese.

After a comprehensive review of studies, researchers identified nine articles that answered the question, “Are people who are overweight or obese discriminated against at higher levels compared to people who weigh less?”

The studies generally define discrimination as negative attitudes and beliefs that result in unequal treatment, stereotypes, rejection or prejudice towards people because they are overweight or obese. Eight of the studies were conducted in the United States and one in Sweden.

Not surprisingly, the meta-analysis found that people who are overweight or obese do indeed experience greater discrimination compared to people who weigh less. And the perceived discrimination increased at higher weights.

Combining data from all of the studies, the reviewers found that 5.7 percent of individuals at normal weight felt they experienced discrimination in contrast to 19.2 percent for people considered overweight and 41.8 percent for those considered obese.

What’s more, there is compelling evidence that weight discrimination has detrimental effects on health. One article published in BMC Medicine makes the case that the stigma associated with being overweight leads obese patients to receive poorer healthcare and experience poorer health outcomes.

And a review article published in the journal Current Obesity Reports found that the stigma associated with being overweight or obese leads to behaviors and physiological stress responses that contribute to even more weight gain including binge eating, increased food consumption and lower levels of physical activity.

How do we, as a society, solve this problem? The answers seem to be in training healthcare providers to deliver better care and ultimately lessen the negative effects of weight stigma, incorporating anti-stigma messages in obesity prevention campaigns, with the primary focus being on health and not weight and legislation to prevent weight-based discrimination.

Source: http://evidencebasedliving.human.cornell.edu/2019/07/16/thegrowing-problem-of-weight-discrimination/

“There are no secrets to success. It is the result of preparation, hard work and learning from failure.” ~Colin Powell The greatest pleasure in life is doing what people say you cannot do. ~Walter Bagehot The ultimate measure of man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy. ~Dr. Martin Luther King Jr

Warren County Connection Warren County Connection

Page 11

Cornell Cooperative Extension 377 Schroon River Road Warrensburg, NY 12885 RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED

IF THERE IS A CHECK IN THIS BOX , THIS IS THE LAST ISSUE OF THE WARREN COUNTY CONNECTION YOU WILL BE RECEIVING. To renew your subscription clip the form below and send to Cornell Cooperative Extension of Warren County.

Warren County Connection

THANK YOU INTERNATIONAL PAPER!!

"Paper for this newsletter was donated by International Paper, proudly produced at the Ticonderoga, New York Mill from trees harvested in working Adirondack forests that are managed responsibly in accordance with the principles of the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) and the Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI)." “International Paper is proud to join almost 60 manufacturers and importers supporting the Paper & Packaging – How Life Unfolds™ campaign.”

“Cornell University Cooperative Extension of Warren County provides equal program and employment opportunities.”

“The information given herein is supplied with the understanding that no discrimination is intended and no endorsement by Cornell Cooperative Extension is implied.”

The Cornell Cooperative Extension educational system enables people to improve their lives and communities through partnerships that put experience and research knowledge to work.

"Cornell Cooperative Extension actively supports equal educational and employment opportunities. No person shall be denied admission to any educational program or activity, or be denied employment on the basis of any legally prohibited discrimination involving, but not limited to, such factors as race, color, religion, political beliefs, national or ethnic origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital or family status, veteran status, or disability. Cornell Cooperative Extension is committed to the maintenance of affirmative action programs that will assure the continuation of such equality of opportunity."

Just $5.00 per year will give you one full-year subscription to the “Warren County Connection,” mail this coupon to : Cornell Cooperative Extension ☺ Be sure to include your fee of $5.00 to cover the cost of mailing.

Name______________________ Address____________________ __________________________ Zip Code___________________ OR To get this publication FREE email als77@cornell.edu and you will be added to our E-Edition

We’re on the Web! http://counties.cce.cornell.edu/warren/ & Facebook - Look for CCE Warren