Warren County Connection - July 2020

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

July 2020

Creating A Long-Blooming Perennial Garden

By Carol Mastromarchi, Cornell Cooperative Extension Rensselaer County, Master Gardener As I write this, it is April. Snow is falling outside my window. My Lenten Rose (Helleborus), colts-foot, spring flowering bulbs, and bird songs announce the arrival of spring. Perennials provide a changing scene from March through October. It’s fascinating to watch flora and fauna in the garden change as perennial flowers come into bloom according to Mother Nature’s plan. Perennial plants have their own time of bloom.

The challenge is to pick different perennials to achieve a long season of interest. This doesn’t have to cost a fortune. You don’t need a green thumb, a computer design program, or a degree in landscaping. If you want a plan, you need a pencil, a notebook, the ability to draw circles, squares, and letters, and a camera (a picture paints more than a thousand words). You can make a rough layout on paper. A simple key of circles, squares, and letters represents plants. If you don’t want to rough sketch something, we can just use the plants while they are in their pots. That works perfectly for impulse buys at the garden center. Set the pots out in the garden before you plant them. Step back and take a look. You need a good spade and shovel. Buy good, quality tools! Your hands and your back will thank you!

The thought of selecting plants for a

In this issue: Gardening Questions You May Ask In July

3

Viburnums, Once Again?

4

Chives (Allium schoenoprasum)

5

Preventing Heat Stroke 6 in Pets Economic Impact Payment

8

How to Get Out of Debt 9 and Repair Your Credit Steakhouse Burgers

Photo by Jamie Sabattis, CCE Warren County 4-Her

long blooming perennial garden is a little daunting. We can simplify it!

We can start with just 6 plants that flower at different times. You can add more according to your budget.

Start with 2 for spring (maybe one early, one late), 2 for summer, 1 for late summer, and 1 for fall. You can add in shrubs to give it some bones and winter interest or plant with existing landscaping. Ornamental grasses are great fillers and add winter interest. This fall, let’s remember to plant those spring flowering bulbs!

Stretch those garden dollars by purchasing some plants with differ(Continued on page 6)

Special points of interest: 

Calendar of Events

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Warren County Connection

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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, Associate Team Leader Dan Carusone, 4-H Natural Resources Coordinator Marybeth Mitcham, Nutrition, Food Safety, and Healthy Living Educator Roxanne Westcott, 4-H Family Living 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 Samantha Sprague, 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 Daniel Bruno John Diamond Ben Driscoll Susan Shepler Matthew Simpson Michael Wild

Warren County Connection

CALENDAR Please visit our website for more events www.cce.cornell.edu/warren 7/2/2020 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM - Wild Edibles - Session III - Have you wanted to learn which wild-growing plants can be safely eaten? Come and join us for a series of three free webinars that will teach you not only to be able to confidently identify wild edibles, but also learn what parts of the plants are safely edible, when they should be harvested, and also how they can be prepared. The webinars, offered by Cornell Cooperative Extension, and instructed by educators Pat Banker, John Bowe, and MB (Marybeth) Mitcham, will be held on three consecutive Thursdays: June 18th, June 25th, and July 2nd.

Pre-registration is required, and there is no cost for the webinars. For further information about wild edibles classes, or to sign up for this specific class, please contact Cornell Cooperative Extension of Warren County at 518-623-3291, or for more information about the webinars, email MB at mem467@ cornell.edu. Online Training Via Zoom.

7/16/2020 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM - Fish are Food, Not Friends! Although you can purchase fresh fish at local grocery stores, why not try to learn how to catch your own fish to eat? In this webinar, we will cover what types of water sources will support healthy populations of different types of fish, the basic categories of food-friendly fish, and different methods of cooking fish. This webinar will also have a question and answer session, and participants will have the opportunity to receive free fish recipes. This webinar will be hosted by CCE Warren educators Dan Carusone and MB (Marybeth) Mitcham. To sign up for this specific class, please register at: https://cornell.zoom.us/meeting/register/ tJcodu6trD8tH9WEQ_ofFcX2_0f5ZuxPVjO9. For questions about this webinar, you can contact Cornell Cooperative Extension of Warren County at 518-623-3291, or email MB at mem467@cornell.edu.

7/30/2020 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM - What to do With all of That Produce? What can you do with all of the vegetables and herbs from your garden? What about your CSA shares, misfit produce boxes, or the plant-based gifts from green-thumbed neighbors? In this webinar, we will cover some practical tips for using and storing fresh produce, discuss recipe ideas, and also discuss the nutritional benefits of fresh, local produce.

This free webinar will include a question and answer session, and participants will have the opportunity to receive a .pdf version of farmers' market recipes. To sign up for this specific class, please register at: https://cornell.zoom.us/meeting/ register tJwsdOigrjIoHtNPdUsIk7JEfbjMYujKElwn.For questions about this webinar, you can contact Cornell Cooperative Extension of Warren County at 518-623-3291, or email MB at: mem467@cornell.edu.

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.

Warren County Connection

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Gardening Questions You May Ask In July

Hampshire Cooperative Extension, says that this is blossom-end rot, a common disorder of tomatoes.

By Dr. Leonard Perry, Extension Professor University of Vermont

This problem is caused by a lack of calcium in the developing fruits. Its occurrence depends on conditions that affect the uptake of water and of calcium in developing fruits. Roots failing to get enough water and calcium for the fruits often causes this problem.

Blossom-end rot may occur when rapidly growing plants are suddenly exposed to drought. Or if roots are damaged, from disease or too close cultivation, the problem can occur. Cold, heavy soils that result in poor root systems also cause this problem. Prevent any of these situations, and you'll hopefully prevent this disease.

Three questions many ask us in Extension this month include how to keep deer out of gardens and landscapes, what is wrong with your tomatoes, and is it too late to start annuals to fill in gaps in the garden?

If there aren't many deer, or they aren't very hungry (other sources of food nearby such as in woodlands), repellents may work. Try hanging human hair or strongsmelling soap in bags around the garden as odor repellents. Pepper sprays are a popular taste repellent if only a few desirable plants need treating.

Motion security lights (I have a solar powered one mounted on a portable stand) and radios can also keep deer away. Just make sure you move them around every few days. Deer are smart, and once they learn these are fixed and not of harm, these devices are no longer effective.

Planting types of plants deer don't like to eat may also work, but if they are really hungry, they may eat most any plants. Excluding deer with fences is more costly, but more effective. Either use high fences (eight feet or more), or electric fencing. Some people use one strand of low-voltage electric wire, baited with peanut butter.

One taste tends to discourage deer from returning.

Gardeners have designed other creative arrangements of low-voltage electric wire; check gardening books and Web sites for ideas.

Another question we often get is, what are the large, dry, dark brown sunken areas at the blossom end (bottom) of the fruit? Margaret Hagen, from the University of New

It may be too late to start annual flowers, says Dr. Lois Berg Stack from the University of Maine Cooperative Extension. This is mainly because flower seeds may be hard to come by, unless you have some left. Fortunately, many complete garden stores now offer high-quality annuals through most of the summer, and most are in larger pots for a more instant effect.

If you do have seeds, sow those that develop quickly right into the garden. These include such as pot marigold, zinnia, and moss rose. Other annuals tolerate light frosts, so bloom well in early fall if sown now. These include such as sweet alyssum, cornflower, and Shirley poppy. Some vegetables also grow well into fall, and are quite attractive in gardens as well as for eating. These include colored lettuces, flower kale, flowering cabbage, and chard.

Deny yourself the connection to the wild places that your soul craves and the fire inside you will slowly turn to ash. ~Creek Stewart, 2017

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Warren County Connection

Viburnums, Once Again?

By David Chinery, Horticulture Turf Management Sr. Resource Educator, Cornell Cooperative Extension Rensselaer County Staying in one spot lets you see how the world changes around you, and there are often surprises. Twelve years ago, my beautiful Cranberry bush Viburnums were wiped out by an invasive insect called the Viburnum leaf beetle (VLB). I can distinctly remember cutting them down and hauling the dying trunks, clad in a few chewed and shriveled leaves, to the town dump for chipping. There was no sense in trying to grow a shrub with such a powerful enemy. So, if you told me it would someday be safe to once again plant a Cranberry bush Viburnum at my house, I would have thought you crazy.

Viburnum leaf beetles. The larger one is But now the tide the female, the smaller one male. Photo by Brian Eshenaur, NYS IPM might be turning.

A native to Europe, the VLB’s first appearance on this continent was in Canada 1947. The first U.S. find was in western New York’s Cayuga County in 1996, then it spread quickly, getting here in 2005. The adult beetles are about 1/4 of an inch in length and a humdrum brown. Females chew small holes in Viburnum twigs and insert eggs anytime from early July through October.

Both male and female adults also chew irregular holes in foliage. The eggs hatch the following June into greenish larvae which devour foliage, leaving only the midrib and major veins behind. By mid-June, they move down to the soil and pupate, then become adults, giving the VLB one generation per year.

Heavy infestations can defoliate shrubs, causing them to look unsightly and die back, and two years of damage might kill a plant outright.

Not only is this pest a problem for our landscapes, but it has devastated natural areas, since New York is full of wild Viburnums. The VLB is not an equal opportunity feeder, however, with American Cranberry bush, European Cranberry bush, Arrowwood and Sargent’s Viburnums among the most susceptible to injury. Some of the most resistant are Doublefile, Burkwood, and Koreanspice Viburnums. Since 2005, planting a resistant species has been imperative to prevent disappointment.

Viburnum leaf beetle feeding damage on an Arrowwood viburnum. Photo by Brian Eshenaur, NYS IPM

But now, in western New York, newly-planted Cranberry bushes and Arrow-woods are surviving with minor beetle damage, according to Brian Eshenaur of the NYS IPM Program. "Why did the beetle populations go down?

It seems with all the very susceptible native plants that were around initially allowed the populations to reach unnaturally high levels and the beetles moved into landscapes annually. With those food sources gone, the populations declined. Also, and maybe more importantly, predator insects and nematodes that affect the larva in the soil have built up and found the Viburnum leaf beetle as a food source!” The same phenomenon happened in Canada about 30 years ago.

I’ve seen local, wild Arrowwoods thriving this spring with only minor evidence of beetles, so maybe this good news is coming to the Hudson Valley, too. No one (that I know of) is studying the situation closely, so we gardeners will have to make careful observations. Perhaps a few susceptible plants could be installed as a test, green sacrificial lambs. I’m in that wonderful state known as cautious optimism.

A healthy Arrowwood viburnum growing in a roadside thicket, Columbia County, NY, June 2017.

Photo by David Chinery

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Warren County Connection

Chives (Allium schoenoprasum)

much milder and more subtle than other members of the onion family.

Indoor Culture Chives are easily grown in pots placed in a sunny location. Use pots with good drainage and fill with a prepared soil mix. Water to maintain uniform soil moisture. To achieve the best looking potted chives, dig clumps from the garden after a freeze (Dec.- Jan.). Plants potted in the fall for indoor growing do not perform as well and tend to become “leggy".

Popular Varieties 

Chives belong to the same family as onion, leeks and garlic. They are a hardy, drought-tolerant perennial growing to about 10-12 inches tall. They grow in clumps from underground bulbs and produce round, hollow leaves that are much finer than onion. In mid-summer, they produce round, pink flowers similar in appearance to clover.

Culture Chives prefer a full sun location and are tolerant of a wide variety of soils but will grow best in soils that are high in organic matter. Chives are most commonly propagated by dividing the clumps in early spring. Clumps should contain about 4-6 bulbs. They can also be grown from seed sown in spring. Seed may be slow to germinate and take 4-6 weeks to produce transplants. Plants grown from seed will produce variations in leaf texture and size. To keep plantings vigorous and from becoming overcrowded, divide plants every 2-3 years. Plants that are harvested frequently benefit from supplemental fertilizer during the season. Chives can self-sow and overtake a garden unless flowers are removed before they fade. Chives also make attractive edging in the perennial border and flowers can be cut for arrangements.

Harvesting Harvest chives throughout the season to prevent the leaves from becoming tough and to encourage formation of new bulblets. Cut leaves toward the base about one inch above the soil. Flowers can also be harvested for use as an edible garnish. Leaves are used fresh and can be dried but will discolor and quickly absorb moisture.

Chives can also be frozen for later use.

Uses Leaves can be used to flavor salads, dips, soups, stews, vinegars, cheese dishes, sour cream and butter. Flavor is

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‘Grolau’ Chives - This Swiss strain has been developed for indoor culture and greenhouse forcing.

Extra strong flavor and thick, dark leaves. Less susceptible to becoming leggy.

‘Nelly’ Chives - Fine texture leaves, blue-green in color, uniform upright habit.

‘Profusion’® Chives - Prolific production of leaves and flowers. Flowers are sterile and don’t produce seeds. Good variety for pot culture.

‘Staro’ Chives - Extra thick dark leaves.

Garlic Chives (Allium tuberosum) - Also called Chinese Chives. Similar in appearance to garden chives but leaves are flat and not round and flowers are white not pink. Growing to about 12-18 inches.

Culture is the same as for garden chives. Distinct garlic flavor to the leaves. Excellent as an ornamentaledible border plant. Cultivar ‘Kobold’ is more compact and uniform.

Source: University of Illinois Extension

I say, if your knees aren't green by the end of the day, you ought to seriously re-examine your life. ~Bill Watterson, Calvin & Hobbes

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Warren County Connection

(Continued from page 1)

ent leaf colors and interesting seed pods. It’s not all about the flowers. White is a peace maker in a sunny garden and lights up the shade. If you have an existing garden, get out your camera. Take pictures at different times of the year. You’ll see the gaps when you review the pictures. Don’t stress over design. Do what looks good to you.

You can make a simple chart with a column for the plant, color of leaf or flower (you can use leaf color here for shade), height, and time (season or month) it blooms (see chart below). If you want to go to more formal, you can add a column for shape (spike, round, cone, or filler).

You may add shrubs and background trees. A glance at the chart tells you what’s missing. You can put the chart plants on your paper plan.

Once you have your perennials and shrubs planted, you can add annuals for pops of color. Garden art is very popular now and adds a bit of whimsy. You can add sustainable plants like herbs, vegetables, and small fruit. I plant my lettuce in my garden by the mailbox. The woodchuck won’t go out there! Below is a sample chart for a sun garden. Keeping a simple notebook is your best tool for improvement. Write down what didn’t work. Keep track of your purchases. You can add what really worked well or flowered beautifully. I like to add notes on wildlife. Did you see any Monarch butterflies? Keep your photo gallery for reference. Garden photos are great to view in January! Remember, Mother Nature puts all colors together. You really can’t mess this up. Keep it simple to start and please yourself. Let the plants do the work.

Photo by Amy Sabattis, CCE Warren County

In times of uncertainty, one thing remains unchanged.

There isn’t a better place to be than in a garden.

Plant

Shape

Color

Height

Bloom

Peony

Round

Red

Medium

Spring

Delphinium

Spike

Blue

Tall

Mid-summer

Daisy

Round

White

Short

Early summer

Creeping

Filler

Pink, purple

Short

Spring

Aster

Round

Purple

Short

Fall

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Warren County Connection

Preventing Heat Stroke in Pets

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Seizure Glazed eyes Fast heartbeat Salivation Dark red or purple tongue Unconsciousness

If you believe your pet is suffering from a heat stroke, there are some things you can do to cool your furry friend down.  Move your pet from the heat to an air-conditioned or shady area if possible.  Take the animal’s temperature.  Apply water-soaked towels or ice packs to your pet’s head, neck, chest, stomach, and feet, or run cool water over him or her.  Allow your pet to drink small amounts of water.  Take your pet to the nearest veterinarian immediately—even if you have successfully cooled them down.

Similar to humans, pets are susceptible to certain heatrelated illnesses such as heat stroke during the summer months. As you take care of yourself and your family in the sun, also remember to pay special attention to your animal family members, too!

While heat stroke (hyperthermia) can happen to a variety of domesticated animals, make certain you know whether your pet has a predisposition to overheating.

For example, dogs with short snouts, overweight animals, and pets who have suffered from hyperthermia in the past may be likely to experience a heat stroke. Follow these steps to learn how you can help prevent your pet from overheating:  Don’t leave your pet in a parked vehicle (even if it’s running).  Give pets plenty of water to prevent dehydration.  Summer haircuts are nice, but don’t completely shave pets—their coats protect them from overheating.  Allow pets to cool off in the shade when outside.  Use animal-specific sunscreen.  Reduce heavy exercise in high temperatures.

Recognizing Heat Stroke Symptoms Knowing the warning signs of heat stroke can help you identify if your pet is in danger. Watch out for these signs during warmer weather:  Heavy panting or breathing difficulties  Lethargy  Fever  Vomiting and diarrhea

Remember, we can’t control the weather, but we can help keep our pets safe from extreme temperatures so that even they can enjoy the season!

Source: IFAS Extension, University of Florida

Water Safety Tips for Children Here are some things that adults can do to help kids stay safe around water this summer:  Never leave children unattended around water.

Young children can drown in as little as one inch of water.  Avoid any distractions when watching children in water, this includes cell phones.  Empty all tubs, buckets, containers and wading pools immediately after use. Store them upside down and out of children's reach.  Install a fence, at least four feet in height, around the perimeter of the pool or spa.  Use self-closing and self-latching gates.  Ensure all pool and spas have compliant drain covers.  Install an alarm on the door leading from the house to the pool.  Keep pool and spa covers in working order.  Have life-saving equipment such as life rings or reaching poles for use.  Teach children swimming skills at an early age.  Only use approved life jackets (PFD's or Personal Flotation Devices). Tubes and arm “floaties" and float toys are cute, but may fall off and are not safe to use.  Caregivers are busy, but learning CPR should be a top priority.

Source: PennState Extension

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Warren County Connection

An Economic Impact Payment can come on a prepaid debit card

This is true even if you aren’t normally required to file a tax return or are experiencing homelessness.

Some people may get their Economic Impact Payment in the mail on a prepaid debit card, instead of a paper check. People may receive a debit card even if Get My Payment shows they are receiving a check. There’s a special section about prepaid debit cards on IRS.gov.

No income is required, and you will not owe taxes on the payment.

You probably don’t file if your income is below:  $12,200 for singles  $24,400 for married couples

Here are a few of the common questions people may have about these cards.

Eligible individuals will receive:  $1,200 for singles  $2,400 for married couples  Up to an additional $500 per qualifying children

Did the IRS send prepaid debit cards? Yes. The prepaid debit cards are known as the Economic Impact Payment Card, and were prepared by the Bureau of the Fiscal Service, part of the Treasury Department. Check your mail carefully. These cards arrive in a plain envelope from “Money Network Cardholder Services.” The Visa name will appear on the front of the card.

The back of the card has the name of the issuing bank, MetaBank®, N.A. Information included with the card explains that the card is the recipient’s Economic Impact Payment Card.

Can someone transfer money from their debit card to their bank account? Yes. The limit on ACH transfers to a bank account is $2,500 per transaction. People can easily transfer the money from their card to an existing bank account online at EIPCard.com. Card holders can also transfer money using the Money Network Mobile App, which can be downloaded as an app onto a smart phone. Card holders will need the routing and account number for their bank account.

What does someone do if their prepaid debit card was lost or destroyed? Individuals who have lost or destroyed their EIP Card may request a free replacement through MetaBank® Customer Service. The standard fee of $7.50 will be waived for the first reissuance of any EIP Card. Any initial fee charged to a customer from an earlier date will be reversed. Individuals don’t need to know their card number to request a replacement. They may also request a replacement by calling 1-800240-8100 and choosing option 2 from the main menu.

The IRS will mail a letter about the Economic Impact Payment to the individual’s address of record within 15 days after the payment is made. Watch out for websites and social media attempts that request money or personal information and for schemes tied to Economic Impact Payments.

The IRS encourages people to share this information with family and friends.

You may qualify for an Economic Impact Payment even if you don’t usually file a tax return If you’re a U.S. citizen, permanent resident or qualifying resident alien, you may qualify for an Economic Impact Payment.

Visit IRS.gov/coronavirus for more information, including details on when you don’t need to sign up.

Even without a permanent address, you may still qualify for an Economic Impact Payment If you’re a U.S. citizen, permanent resident or qualifying resident alien you’ll likely receive an Economic Impact Payment.

You don’t have to have income to claim a payment. If you’re experiencing homelessness, you may still be eligible. The payment is not income and you will not owe tax on it. It won’t affect your eligibility for federal government assistance or benefit programs.

If you don’t normally file taxes, you need to sign up at IRS.gov/nonfilerEIP to receive a $1,200 payment. You may also get an additional $500 for each qualifying child.

You’re not required to file a tax return for 2019 if your income is below $12,200, or $24,400 for married couples.

Don’t use the non-filer tool if you:  Can be claimed as a dependent on someone else’s tax return  Filed or will file a 2018 or 2019 return To sign up you’ll need:  Name, a mailing address and an email address  Date of birth and valid Social Security number  Bank account information, if you have one  Identity Protection PIN, if you’ve received one from the IRS  License or state ID, if you have one  Name, SSN and relationship for each qualifying child If you receive any of these benefits, you should automatically get your payment where you normally receive your benefits.  Social Security retirement, disability or survivor benefits  Supplemental Security Income  Veterans Affairs Compensation and Pension benefits  Railroad Retirement benefits Visit IRS.gov/coronavirus for more information.

Warren County Connection

How to Get Out of Debt and Repair Your Credit

By Barbara O’Neill, Ph.D., CFP®, Rutgers Cooperative Extension

Got outstanding loan balances and credit card debt? Do monthly payments seem overwhelming? You are not alone. The ability to “buy now and pay later,” coupled with slick advertising, has made living beyond one’s means very tempting. As a result, many Americans, at all income levels, went on a credit-fueled “spending spree” during the late 1990s and early 2000s. Now it’s time to pay back what we owe and get out of debt as quickly as possible.

With the exception of large medical bills that are paid with a credit card, debt problems usually do not just “happen.” They grow slowly over time as spending exceeds available income. “Perma-debt,” a permanent balance on credit cards and other non-mortgage, noninstallment loan (e.g., car loan) accounts, is a big contributor. As soon as a payment is made, most of it (or more!) comes back the following month in the form of new purchases, interest, and/or fees. Debt does not have to be a permanent condition, however. Below is a description of five strategies to get out of debt. A sixth debt reduction strategy, bankruptcy, is discussed in the fact sheet Bankruptcy: A Last Resort. You’ll also learn about the only way to repair a credit history marred by debt problems (i.e., time) and telltale signs of credit repair fraud.

Credit Counseling Both non-profit and for-profit entities provide credit counseling services. Many are supported by contributions from creditors as well as by client fees. Services typically begin with some type of intake process (e.g., by phone, mail, or a secure online questionnaire) where information is gathered about a consumer’s income and outstanding debt obligations. With this information,

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credit counselors can examine debtors’ cash flow patterns and help them establish a spending plan (budget). If consumers decide to enter a debt management program, or DMP, they send the credit counseling agency a specific amount each week or month, which is pro-rated among their creditors. Some type of administrative fee, which should be a nominal amount, is generally charged as well. Creditors sometimes make concessions to DMP clients, such as reduced interest rates and waived fees, at the request of credit counselors. Clients, in turn, must generally surrender their credit cards and agree to incur no further debt during the duration of the program.

Make sure that the agency you deal with is accredited and preferably a member of the National Foundation for Credit Counseling (NFCC). Some states license credit counseling agencies, so inquire about this also. A state attorney general’s office, banking department, and/or consumer affairs department are good places to make these inquiries through. To find a NFCC-accredited agency, call 1-800-388-2227 or visit the NFCC Web site at www.nfcc.org. Many of these agencies have the words “Consumer Credit Counseling Service” or “CCCS” in their title.

Debt-Consolidation Loans This strategy involves taking out a new loan and closing old credit accounts after using debt-consolidation loan proceeds to pay them off. There are some serious downsides to doing this, however. One is the potential for a reduced credit score (depending upon what other information is already in a consumer’s credit file). A second is that, while the monthly payment will likely be smaller than the amount owed on previously overwhelming debt obligations, there will be a higher total cost to repay outstanding debt because loan payments are stretched out over time. A third disadvantage of debt-consolidation loans is the danger of losing your house if the loan is secured with home equity. A fourth is the danger of getting into trouble with credit cards all over again (once their balances are back to zero) and having to make both consolidation loan and new credit card payments. Finally, a fifth disadvantage of debt consolidation is the potential to pay a higher interest rate than what was previously charged or, worse yet, to pay interest on debt (e.g., legal or medical bills) that were previously interest-free.

The bottom line is that you cannot borrow your way out of debt. Yet, many people try to do this with a consolidation loan and end up compounding their financial prob(Continued on page 10)

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lems. It can be very tempting for some people to overspend if monthly debt payments are reduced, thus providing the illusion of “extra” money. In many cases, debt-consolidation loans are not a good solution to debt problems. They should be considered only if the interest rate on the debt-consolidation loan is lower than that on previous debt and if no new debt will be incurred until the loan is repaid.

Fold-Down/PowerPay Plans Fold-down (a.k.a., PowerPay) plans can be a very effective way to accelerate debt repayment when someone owes a number of creditors. The first step is to completely repay an initial debt, perhaps by using a tax refund or freeing up money through reduced household expenses, Next, the amount of the monthly payment for the debt that is completely repaid is applied (folded down) to one of the remaining debts, in addition to the amount that had previously been paid. This is sometimes referred to as a “power payment.” All other monthly payments remain the same so the amount spent monthly on debt repayment does not change. Over time, remaining creditors receive increasingly larger monthly payments as other debts are repaid. Hundreds, and sometimes thousands, of dollars in interest can be saved.

Power payments can be made in a variety of sequences including starting with debts with the highest interest rate first, smallest balance first, or shortest term first.

While paying off debt with the smallest balance can provide a psychological boost, starting with the highest interest rate first often provides the greatest reduction in interest and repayment time. The Utah State University Extension PowerPay® Web site provides a free personalized analysis. Users simply need to enter the names of creditors, the interest rate (APR) on debts, the monthly payment, and the outstanding balance. PowerPay® will provide a customized debt analysis (i.e., the time and interest savings) for each repayment scenario and a debt repayment calendar to follow. For further information, see www.powerpay.org.

Warren County Connection

Refinancing/Balance Transfers Transferring existing debt to a new loan or credit card with a lower interest rate can help alleviate debt problems. This strategy will only work if a debtor is able to qualify for a less expensive line of credit and the interest savings outweighs fees associated with the transaction.

A key factor with mortgage refinancing transactions is whether a homeowner will stay in the home long enough to recoup the closing costs associated with a new mortgage.

Voluntary Surrender Voluntary surrender occurs when debtors realize that they are unable to make monthly payments on an asset used as collateral for a loan (e.g., a car) and either return the secured asset to the creditor or obtain the creditor’s permission to sell the asset. By returning collateral voluntarily, debtors save repossession and/or storage fees and avoid having repossession or foreclosure listed in their credit report. In some instances, the secured property may be accepted by the creditor as complete repayment of the debt. Otherwise, the debtor is responsible for repaying the remaining balance (called a deficiency) after the asset is sold. Voluntary surrender of a house used as collateral is referred to as “deed in lieu.”

When people have trouble paying back what they owe, their credit history often suffers and it is easy to be lured into credit repair scams. You’ve probably seen advertisements for companies that claim to be able to “fix” a bad credit history so that you’ll be able to qualify for future credit. Their messages can be very tempting, especially for someone who has had prior credit problems (e.g., charged-off accounts) and desperately wants to borrow money for a home or new car. The term “credit repair organization” refers to firms that provide services, in return for payment, for the express or implied purpose of: improving a consumer’s credit history or credit rating or providing advice or assistance connected with this.

Two types of credit repair organizations, both of which should be avoided, are:  Organizations that use practices that are clearly illegal. An example is those that advise people to take on a new identity by applying for a taxpayer identification number to use in lieu of their debtlinked Social Security number.  Companies that don’t do anything illegal but charge high fees (e.g., $250 to $3,000) for things that people can do for themselves (e.g., negotiating the reporting of debt repayment with creditors).

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In many cases, the only remedy to improve a poor credit history is time; i.e., time to show creditors that your debt repayment practices have improved and time for negative information to drop off your credit report. By law, correct, negative information, such as late payments and repossession of a car, can stay in a person’s credit file for seven years (ten years in the case of bankruptcy). There is no “magic” way to make correct negative information “disappear.”

The Credit Repair Organizations Act defines what credit repair firms may not do:  Make any statement, or counsel or advise consumers to make any statement, which is untrue or misleading with respect to a consumer’s credit worthiness.  Make any statement or counsel or advise any consumer to make any statement, the intended effect of which is to alter the consumer’s identification to prevent the display of the consumer’s credit history.

In addition, credit repair organizations cannot accept payment for services until they have been performed.

Consumers must be provided with a dated, written contract and have the right to cancel it without penalty within three business days of when it was signed. Cancellation procedures must be explained in the contract.

Beware of credit repair companies that: (1) want you to pay in advance for credit repair services before any services are provided. (2) do not tell you about your legal rights or what you can do for yourself for free. (3) suggest that you invent a “new” credit identity by applying for a taxpayer identification number (TIN) to use instead of your Social Security number, and/or (4) advise you to repeatedly dispute information in your credit report.

These are all “red flags” of a fraudulent credit repair organization. Not only is it likely that you’ll lose some money but, if you follow illegal advice obtained from a credit repair organization and commit fraud, you may be subject to prosecution.

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Steakhouse Burgers

By Marybeth Mitcham, Nutrition, Food Safety, and Healthy Living Educator, Cornell Cooperative Extension of Warren County I love cooking outdoors, and also love to experiment with recipes. This burger recipe produces juicy burgers, regardless of whether they are cooked on a wood, charcoal, or gas grill. You can use any type of ground meat, but red meat seems to work best for this recipe. Place on buns of your choice, top with your favorite toppings, and enjoy. Just a note that although the recipe calls for the burgers to be cooked to the USDA recommended internal temperature of 160 degrees Fahrenheit, the temperatures for rare are 120 to 125, medium rare: 130 to 135, medium well: 150 to 155, and well done: 160 to 165.

Ingredients:  3 Tablespoons milk  2 Tablespoons Worcestershire Sauce  1 egg  2 Tablespoons low-sodium Montreal Steak Seasoning  2 pounds lean ground meat  2/3 cup breadcrumbs Directions:  In a bowl, combine milk, Worcestershire Sauce, egg, and steak seasoning. Stir to combine.  Add ground meat to liquid mixture, and slowly incor-

porate. Add breadcrumbs a little at a time, continuing to mix until thoroughly combined.  Form into 6 patties, cover with plastic wrap, and

place in refrigerator. When grill is hot, place on grill, and cook for around 10 minutes, making sure to cook on both sides. Burgers are done when the internal temperature reaches 160 degrees Fahrenheit.

Nutrition Information (85% lean ground beef and 2% milk): Serving size: 1 burger | Servings per recipe: 6; Calories: 483.7, total fat: 23.1 g, saturated fat: 8.8 g, trans fat, 0.9 g, sodium: 517 mg, carbohydrates: 21.4 g, fiber: 0 g, sugar: 2.3 g, protein: 44.1 g

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Monies raised through this event will be used to help support our organization’s educational programs.

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

Contact Amy Sabattis or Dr. James Seeley at 518-623-3291

Cronin’s Golf Resort Warrensburg, NY August 22nd Tee Time: 10am