Warren County Connection - March 2020

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

March 2020

Salt Damage to Plants

By Mary Jo R. Gibson, Master Gardener, Columbia County, PennState Extension

sodium chloride. But this salt may negatively affect many of our plants.

There are two kinds of damage from the de-icers that we apply to our roads and walkways: salt spray and soil-borne salt. Salt spray can travel up to 1000 feet from salt-treated roadways by fast-moving traffic and the wind. This spray pulls the water out of the leaves of conifers and from the buds of deciduous trees.

Salt damage on yews.

Salt spray is especially damaging in Photo credit: Joseph LaForest, the late winter and early spring when University of Georgia, Bugwood.org leaf buds are beginning to swell.

Often the leaves and flowers on the Learn how to minimize damage to side of the tree or shrub facing the plants from winter application of rock road do not open or are stunted besalt as a de-icer. This article also dis- cause of this drying salt spray. cusses which plants are most and least vulnerable to salt.

Soil-borne salt damage occurs when the de-icer from a road or walkway When we think of the effect that accumulates in the soil from saltwinter has on our gardens, we usual- laden runoff as the snow and ice ly think about how bitterly cold it melt. The amount that accumulates gets. The depth of insulating snow is affected by the type of soil and its for our plants is another concern. We drainage. Soils that are higher in clay worry about ice storms breaking the can hold more salt than sandy soils. limbs of our trees and shrubs. How- Unlike salt spray, soil-borne salt injuever, there is another problem that ry develops slowly over time and we must consider—salt damage to causes many complications for plants from de-icers. It is crucial that plants. Salts absorb and bind tightly we are safe when we drive and walk with water, preventing roots from during the winter, thus we need de- absorbing water. The salt can even icers. The most efficient, inexpensive pull water from the plant creating a and widely used chemical for melting drought-like condition. At higher snow and ice is common rock salt, (Continued on page 3)

In this issue: Gardening With Children

3

Pizza Garden - Youth Activity

4

Caraway

5

Cauliflower Potato Soup

5

Marijuana and Pets Should Not Mix

6

Financial Security in Life: Finding Money to Save

7

Keep Your Kids Busy Working This Summer!

9

What You Need To Know About Coronavirus Disease

10

Irish Chicken and Dumpling Soup

11

Special points of interest: 

Calendar of Events



Please support our advertisers

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 3/1/2020 1:00 PM - 2:30 PM 4-H Basic Air Pistol - Participants will learn the basics of pistol safety, which focuses significantly on muzzle control and keeping the finger off the trigger. Hand placement, trigger squeeze and sight window will be discussed as youth learn bench rest. Youth must enroll or be enrolled in 4-H, which can be accomplished by calling or emailing to register for the class, 518-668-4881 or jfb32@cornell.edu. Fee is $5 for current 4-H members or $15 with enrollment in 4-H. Location: Dunham’s Bay Fish & Game Club, 2080 Ridge Road Queensbury, NY 12804 3/1/2020 2:30 PM - 4:00 PM 4-H Intermediate Air Pistol - Participants will work on improving trigger press, site alignment, and track scores. Youth must enroll or be enrolled in 4-H, which can be accomplished by calling or emailing to register for the class, 518-668-4881 or jfb32@cornell.edu. Fee is included if you register for basic class or $5 for current 4-H members or $15 with enrollment in 4-H. Location: Dunham’s Bay Fish & Game Club, 2080 Ridge Road, Queensbury, NY 12804 3/3 & 3/4 2020 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM Parenting Apart - The childfocused program addresses the needs of families in transition after the separation, divorce or break up of a relationship with children involved.

For more information or to register contact Roxanne Westcott at rmw38@cornell.edu or 518-668-4881. Location: TBA Queensbury/ Lake George 3/5/2020 1:00 PM - 2:30 PM Nutrition Lesson - Come and learn about what goes into making healthy food choices, as we talk about GMOs, food labels, smart shopping, healthy snacks (and try some healthy snacks), and more! For more information about this program please contact Marybeth Mitcham at mem467@cornell.edu or 518668-4881. Location: The Conkling Center, 79 Warren Street, Glens Falls, NY 12801 3/5/2020 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM 4-H Horticulture Club - The Warren County 4-H program is seeking youth who are interested in joining their newly formed 4-H Horticulture Club. This program will introduce youth to growing and caring for houseplants, perennials, annuals, shrubs, vegetables and fruits. Participants will also learn about floral design, container and greenhouse gardening, identification of plants, trees, and insects. Youth will also go on fun, educational field trips.

This is a great opportunity for youth who are interested in Horticulture to expand their knowledge through hands-on learning. For more information contact Jessica Holmes at 518-668-4881. Location: Crandall Public Library, 251 Glen Street, Glens Falls, NY 12801 3/21/2020 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM 4-H Public Presentation Judging Day - Open to all Adirondack Guides and independent members. For more information contact Roxanne Westcott at rmw38@cornell.edu or 518-668-4881. Location: Cornell Cooperative Extension of Warren County, 377 Schroon River Road, Warrensburg, NY 12885

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.

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Warren County Connection

concentrations, sodium will compromise the absorption of essential nutrients such as calcium, magnesium, and potassium. With increasingly poorer health from salt damage, the plants become more susceptible to insects and diseases. Diagnosing soil-borne salt damage can be difficult because symptoms are common with other problems. These symptoms include browning along the edges of leaves, wilting, stunted growth, small, chlorotic (yellow) leaves, and early fall coloration and leaf drop.

What can we do about salt damage to our plants? First, take steps to minimize it. Consider using anti-skid products, like sand, instead of salt when possible. Calcium chloride, potassium chloride, and magnesium chloride de-icers are less harmful to vegetation than salt when used as directed. Move plantings away from areas where salt spray or salt-laden runoff accumulates. Alternatively, install plants that are salt tolerant and avoid salt-sensitive species. If your plants have been damaged by soil-borne salt, applying gypsum (calcium sulfate) in the spring will replace the accumulated sodium ions from the rock salt in the soil.

Gypsum will not change the pH of the soil. Gypsum has the added benefit of improving the texture of clay soils.

Apply at a rate of 40 lbs. per 1000 sq. ft. You can also add organic matter to the affected soil and avoid using inorganic fertilizers. The soil can also be drenched to remove the salt. Six inches of water will leach out 50% of the salt.

The eastern hemlock (Tsuga canadensis), is very sensitive to both salt spray and soil-borne salt. Hemlocks stressed by salt become more vulnerable to infestation by hemlock woolly adelgids and elongate hemlock scale. Since these exotic insect pests arrived, it has become common to see dead hemlocks along our roadways because these trees cannot handle so many traumas at the same time.

Red pines, white pines, and Douglas firs are all sensitive to salt. Junipers and Mugo pines are tolerant of salt. Norway maples, black locusts, and green ash trees are also salt tolerant, as are lilacs.

For a flowerbed near a roadway or walkway, try these salt tolerant perennials: Coreopsis (tickseed), Gaillardia (blanket flower), Achillea ‘Moonbeam’ (yarrow), Iberis (candytuft) and Geranium (also called cranesbill geranium, not the annual flowering plant commonly called “geranium”). Also, try Hosta (plantain lily), Hemerocallis (daylily), Heuchera (coral bells) and Sedum (stonecrop).

Some plants are tolerant to spray-salt, but not to soilborne salt, and vice versa. Learn to select your plants wisely to prevent disappointment. Lists of salt tolerant plants are available on the internet.

Gardening with Children Submitted by Shellie Wise, Master Gardener, Cornell Cooperative Extension Warren County

Wouldn’t it be great to hear your child ask for more veggies with their meals? It can happen. Children are more apt to eat foods they have grown themselves, so teach your child to garden. Gardening promotes physical, emotional, and cognitive development in children of all ages. Being outside in a garden increases gross and fine motor development, provides exercise and sensory stimulation, and increases body management skills. Learning to problem solve and think critically are just two of the many cognitive skills increased through gardening. Making a map of the garden and reading gardening books pertaining to the plants in the garden, keeping a journal, or planning what to do with the harvest are all skills honed in by school-aged children. Teaching children to garden deepens the bond between parent and child. When teaching children to garden you are teaching them about their community, nature, and the earth.

It’s important to allow children to have their own space.

It can be a pot on your steps or designated space in your garden.

Next, decide what to grow. Start with a discussion about what the child likes to eat and make a list. Visiting a local farmers’ market also inspires. Look through a seed catalog or stand in front of a seed packet display at the store for some ideas. To keep your child interested, select seeds/ plants that are easy to grow and provide sensory interest.

Lettuces come in all textures and colors. Alyssum flowers smell like honey. Other plants that are easy to grow and come in a variety of colors include beans, carrots, marigolds, nasturtiums, radishes, cherry tomatoes, snapdragons, and sunflowers. Include flowers and herbs along with vegetables to help attract pollinators and other wildlife to the garden. Discovering a toad, butterfly, or bumblebee is a bonus for the child gardener.

(Continued on page 4)

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Help your child make a plan for the garden. It may have a theme like a pizza or salsa garden where you grow plants for making pizzas or tacos. The garden may be an alphabet garden where plants begin with specific letters like those in the child’s name. Or a rainbow garden where the plants are grouped in colors of a rainbow. It could be a garden inspired by a favorite book or game.

On a sheet of paper, draw the garden shape and write in the names of the plants. Make sure to put the tallest plants, like tomatoes or sunflowers, to the back of the space, so they don’t block the sun for the other plants.

Remember that plants need room to grow, so give each large plant, like tomatoes or broccoli, 2-3 feet while smaller plants fit nicely in a 1-foot space. Follow the directions on the back of the seed packets or descriptions found in seed catalogs.

Schedule time to visit the garden daily. Or at least 15 minutes a couple of times a week. Teach your child how to water, weed, and care for the garden. Children have short attention spans, so completing one task at a time is helpful. They usually learn better by seeing and doing so, show your child how to accomplish a task instead of telling them what to do.

Be sure to celebrate each success or new experience with a photo or journal entry. Frame each challenge or failure as a learning experience and take the opportunity to discuss what to do differently next time. Above all else, get out and garden with children and have fun!

Some children’s books on gardening are available at the local library, bookstore or online: Growing Vegetable Soup by Lois Ehlert (for ages 1-4) From Seed to Plant by Gail Gibbons (for ages 4-8) How a Seed Grows by Helene J. Jordan (for ages 4-8) Gardening Lab for Kids by Renata Fossen Brown (for ages 8-12) Compost Stew by Mary McKenna Siddals Grow It Cook It by Deborah Lock Roots, Shoots, Buckets & Boots: Gardening Together with Children by Sharon Lovejoy There are many online and written resources available for gardening with children, but these three can get you started: https://web.extension.illinois.edu/gpe/index.cfm https://web.extension.illinois.edu/firstgarden/ http://kidsgardening.org For more information on gardening reach out to your local cooperative extension at http://warren.cce.cornell. edu

Warren County Connection

Pizza Garden - Youth Activity

Try something different in the garden this year. Everyone will enjoy growing a pizza garden.

This garden is even shaped like a pizza. In your garden area, mark off a circle by putting a stake upright in the ground. Attach a 3 and a half foot piece of string to the stake. Keeping the string tight, walk around in a circle and mark the ground to show the garden's border. Divide the circle into six equal wedges.

In your pizza garden plan to grow three vegetables and three herbs. In one wedge plant 2 or 3 oregano plants. Oregano is a perennial herb that gives pizza the characteristic taste and wonderful smell. It may be used fresh or dried.

Parsley is a biennial herb that reseeds itself. Plant 2 or 3 plants in its wedge.

There are several kinds of basil varieties, but I recommend sweet basil for your pizza garden. Basil is an annual herb and you can plant 2 to 3 plants in its wedge.

Onions can be planted from seeds or sets. Select red, white or yellow for your garden. You can plant up to 30 onion sets in your garden.

Plant 1 or 2 pepper plants in your garden. Plant any green, sweet, bell type of pepper. If you like hot, spicy pizza, plan to also grow a hot pepper variety.

The final wedge will be planted with one tomato plant. A paste tomato variety, such as Roma, is recommended for your pizza garden. Roma has small, oblong tomatoes with a thick meaty flesh.

The pizza garden could be a fun project for the whole family to get involved in.

Source: University of Nebraska Extension in Lancaster

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Warren County Connection

Caraway Description Caraway is most often grown for its seeds, but the root and leaves are also edible. Caraway is a biennial plant that produces seeds the second season after planting. The first season it forms a rosette of leaves 8-10 inches tall that resembles a carrot with a long tap root. The second season the plant grows to 2-3 feet tall and produces a large, flattopped flower head with white flowers.

Culture Caraway is grown from seed and prefers a full sun location in well-drained soil with a high percentage of organic matter. Caraway is best directly sown in the garden as it is difficult to transplant successfully. Keep seed bed moist as seed is slow to germinate. Plants also benefit from soils that are kept uniformly moist. The first season the plant will produce a rosette of foliage resembling carrot and then the plant will die back with frosts. In the spring, growth will resume and the plant will flower and develop a seed stalk.

Harvesting All parts of the plant can be harvested for culinary use.

Roots can be dug when plants are young. Fresh leaves can be harvested as needed and seeds can be harvested and dried after the seed heads turn from a green to brown. Place the seed heads in a paper bag in a cool, dry, well-ventilated location to dry. Separate the seeds from the seed head by rubbing them between your hands.

Before storing, make sure seeds are thoroughly dry.

Use Roots of caraway can be boiled and used like parsnips or carrot. Fresh leaves can be harvested as needed and used in salads, soups, and stews or eaten like spinach.

Seeds are used in baking, slaws, cheese, and potato dishes. Caraway offers a licorice flavor.

Source: University of Illinois Extension

Cauliflower Potato Soup

Ingredients 2 tablespoons margarine 1 cup chopped onion 4½ cups chopped cauliflower 4 cups peeled, diced potato ¾ cup shredded carrot 1 teaspoon caraway seeds 6 cups non-fat chicken broth ½ teaspoon salt Pepper to taste Directions 1. Melt margarine in large saucepan; add onion.

Cook until lightly browned.

2. Add cauliflower, potato, carrot, and caraway seeds, stirring constantly for 4-5 minutes.

3. Add remaining ingredients and bring to a boil.

Reduce heat, cover and simmer about 15 minutes or until vegetables are tender.

4. Remove lid, and lightly mash vegetables until chunky, pureed mixture.

5. Replace lid and simmer another 20-30 minutes.

Total Time: 1 hour Preparation Time: 30 minutes Nutrition Facts Serving Size 14 servings, 1 serving = 1 cup

Amount Per Serving Calories 91

Calories from Fat 27 % Daily Value Total Fat 3g 5% Cholesterol 2mg 1% Sodium 94mg 4% Total Carbohydrate 15g 5% Dietary Fiber 2g 8% Sugars 0g Protein 4g * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

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Warren County Connection

Marijuana and Pets Should Not Mix

taining THC,” says Dr. Tonozzi.

What to Do If Your Pet Is Exposed “If there is a known ingestion of marijuana, the pet should be evaluated by a veterinarian,” advises Dr. Tonozzi. “Important treatment considerations include the potential for co-intoxication from edibles that contain chocolate, raisins, xylitol, or high-fat substances.

Your veterinarian can assess the type of care needed, including whether the pet would benefit from decontamination procedures.”

Pet Poisoning Cases Get Higher

In the first week that recreational use of the drug became legal in Illinois, the University of Illinois Veterinary Teaching Hospital saw two cases of likely marijuana intoxication in pets.

Dr. Caroline Tonozzi, a specialist in veterinary emergency and critical care who heads the small animal ER at the hospital, expects the frequency of those cases to grow.

“Animal poison control hotlines have been reporting exponential increases in the number of calls about pets exposed to marijuana as the drug has been legalized for medical or recreational use in states across the country,” she says.

The rise of reports probably indicates not only more exposures but also more willingness among owners to seek medical help for their pets, now that legalization has lessened the stigma surrounding use of the drug.

Signs of Marijuana Intoxication Both dogs and cats can be poisoned by tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the psychoactive substance in marijuana.

Dogs are more likely to ingest the drug, while cats are more likely to be sickened by exposure to smoke.

In dogs, the most common signs of marijuana intoxication include dribbling urine, swaying or general unsteadiness, drooling, and being less alert. Cats will show signs that mimic those of neurologic disease, such as appearing to react to visual stimuli that are not actually present.

They may also have dilated pupils.

“There have been a small number of reported deaths in dogs from marijuana intoxication. Of particular concern are cases of co-intoxications from consuming marijuana in edible products such as brownies or other baked goods, especially products made with butter or oil con-

Health risks to pets from marijuana exposure include a very low heart rate and becoming so sedate that the pet cannot swallow or stand. “Pets can go into a coma within a few hours of ingestion. Therefore, it is key to have your pet evaluated soon after ingestion,” notes Dr. Tonozzi.

Ongoing medical monitoring at a veterinary facility may be advisable.

What About CBD? CBD stands for cannabidiol, another of the many chemical compounds found in marijuana. Unlike THC, CBD is not psychoactive, meaning it will not produce the “high” that is associated with marijuana. A wide variety of health claims associated with CBD have been made for human patients, and CBD products are marketed for pets as well.

“There is very little science to support the claims for effectiveness,” says Dr. Tonozzi regarding the use of these products. “What’s also alarming is the lack of regulation. Studies have shown a tremendous variability in the potency of commercially available products— including much higher and much lower concentrations— compared with the potency identified on the label.”

Contributing to Science The University of Illinois is currently partnering with veterinary researchers at Kansas State University who are validating a test for marijuana exposure in pets that uses the analytic technique of mass spectroscopy. The test will not only provide a positive or negative finding but will indicate with some accuracy the level of the pet’s exposure to the drug.

“Currently available tests to detect marijuana were developed for humans and are not reliable in pets,” says Dr. Tonozzi. “The human urine test tends to deliver false negatives when used for dogs, and the human blood test takes so long to get results that it is not feasible to use in (Continued on page 7)

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Warren County Connection

a treatment situation.”

Prevent Marijuana Intoxication in Pets Prevention is definitely the best cure when it comes to exposure to toxic substances.

Financial Security in Life: Finding Money to Save

“Just like any medication or intoxicant in your home, marijuana in the edible or smoked form should be kept out of reach of your pets,” Dr. Tonozzi emphasizes. “In fact, pets should not be allowed in a room where there is smoke of any kind, and they should be kept away from any high-fat foods or foods containing chocolate.”

If you believe your pet has been exposed to marijuana, please take your pet to the nearest veterinary clinic or emergency center.

Dear IRS, I am writing to you to cancel my subscription.

Please remove my name from your mailing list. ~Charles M. Schulz (Snoopy)

NEED HELP WITH YOUR TAXES? WE CAN HELP! Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program (VITA) sponsored by Cornell Cooperative Extension of Warren County is offering free tax help to families and individuals whose household income is below $57,000.

Trained IRS volunteers are available to help you prepare your State and Federal taxes at the same time, electronically file your return for free, and offer direct deposit options for faster refunds.

Daytime, evening, and weekend appointments are available. Sorry, we can not process tax returns with stock sales, rental income, or from business owners.

To make an appointment, please call Cornell Cooperative Extension of Warren County 1-800-211-5128

Why Save?

Families save money for their future goals and to have an emergency cushion available for unplanned expenses.

As a family, you must determine your savings goals. These goals will be based on the values of family members. For some families, it's important to save for retirement, education expenses, or a vacation. For other families, having a home, giving to charity, or making a major purchase are important goals. Goals are different for different families.

Learning to save money is the first step in reaching family goals.

Getting Started Sacrifices are hard to make but necessary to achieve your savings goals. Examine your spending habits. Discuss as a family which expenses are necessary for your lifestyle. Can you reduce or eliminate any spending categories? A shared approach to these decisions fosters respect and keeps communication open within the family.

Establish a "dollar watch" campaign. Food, utilities, household supplies, telephone calls, recreation, entertainment, clothing, and transportation could be put on the "dollar watch." Have family members make a list of ways to economize. Try to adopt a few of each family member's suggestions. Cooperation is more likely when everyone contributes to the process.

Practice Good Spending Habits Use a Shopping List Keep a household shopping list and write down items as they need to be replaced or purchased. Try to buy only the items on your list. This way you will only buy what you (Continued on page 8)

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need. Try not to shop when you or family members are tired or hungry.

Go on Fewer Shopping Trips Reduce the number of times you visit stores. Spending less time shopping reduces the chance that you will buy something you don't really need. Making fewer shopping trips will also save you both time and transportation expenses.

Buy Generic or Store Brands Store brands, which are usually less expensive than brand-name products, are great for basic staples such as sugar, flour, salt, vinegar, and household supplies such as bleach and ammonia. Many store brands are produced by major manufacturers with ingredients similar to those used in well-known brand-name products.

Avoid Waste Monitor your use of food, household appliances, transportation, and energy to reduce waste. Check and clean filters, run appliances with full loads, lower thermostats, turn off lights, store foods properly, and eat leftovers.

Get Information Many sources of information can help you make better buying choices. A public library has books and magazines you can use to research products you may want to buy.

In addition, many Internet sites provide good information about finances, lowering expenses, and increasing financial skills.

Do It Yourself Increase what you do or make at home. Buy fewer convenience items. Prepackaged foods and services are more costly because you are paying someone else for the preparation and for extra packaging. Convenience in small packages is the most expensive, so avoid buying individual servings of food products.

Clean Up Your Act Generic or store-brand vinegar, baking soda, salt, bleach, and ammonia can be used for many cleaning tasks--and they cost much less than brand-name cleaning products.

Many specialized cleaning products contain unnecessary perfumes and are expensively packaged.

Find It for Free Find free recreation and entertainment at local parks, playgrounds, and community concerts. Look for community health services for free vaccinations or medical ser-

Warren County Connection

vices. Check for free or low-cost educational programs at your local library, community colleges, schools, local agencies, or your county Cooperative Extension office.

Pay Yourself First Pay yourself first is a simple concept that paves the way for your accumulation of wealth. It simply means that each time you receive money from a regular source of income, such as your paycheck, or from an occasional income source, such as a tax refund, you save part of it.

Over time, the money saved will grow due to compound interest and will be available for emergencies or for your family's goals.

You Can Do It! Changing habits is never easy, but the reward will be a growing nest egg and less stress if a financial emergency arises. As with most things in life, "it's the little things that mean a lot." Taking that first important step can help you begin your journey to a financially secure future.

Source: PennState Extension

The stormy March has come at last, With wind, and cloud, and changing skies; I hear the rushing of the blast, That through the snowy valley flies...

For thou, to northern lands again, The glad and glorious sun dost bring, And thou hast joined the gentle train And wear'st the gentle name of Spring. ~William Cullen Bryant (1794–1878), "March"

NEW YORK STATE

Department of Environmental Conservation Saratoga Tree Nursery Tree Seedlings or Conservation Planting To Order Call (January 2 – May 15) (518) 587-1120

Pines Hardwoods Shrubs 2020 Seedling information is available on our website visit us at: www.dec.ny.gov/ animals/9395.html CHECK US OUT ON FACEBOOK https://www.facebook.com/NYSDECsaratogatreenursery

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Warren County Connection

Keep your kids busy working this summer!

yards to look their best. However, many people are too busy to do the work themselves and are willing to pay others. This is fortunate for youth who enjoy being outside and working with their hands. Some jobs could include mowing, raking, planting flowers, watering and fertilizing.

Babysitter Just about any parent will tell you, finding a good, reliable babysitter is tough. The average hourly rate for this service is $9.00. If you develop a reputation of being a “good babysitter” you could earn great money throughout the summer. The American Red Cross offers babysitting classes, as well as CPR and first aid certification, at local chapters across the nation.

How are your teens going to spend their days this summer? Read on to discover summer employment opportunities in your neighborhood.

The weather is getting warmer and soon your kids will leave the classroom behind for summer vacation. How are your teens going to spend their days? A summer job is a great way for them to learn the value of hard work and responsibility. The experience will also give them the opportunity to learn how to manage money and know the value of it.

Employment for young people can be hard to find. Child labor provisions under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) restrict the hours that youth under 16 years of age can work and the types of work they can perform. However, with a bit of creativity and guidance from adult mentors, there are many ways for youth to find work, learn responsibility, gain skills and earn extra cash!

Before beginning their job search, the teen needs to first decide where his or her interests lie. As you guide your child in this process, you could ask questions such as, “Do you want to work outside? Work with others? Work with animals?” Once their area of interest is identified, you will find there are many inventive summer jobs that match their interests. As an added bonus, many of these jobs can be obtained within your local neighborhood, removing the potential obstacle of transportation to and from work.

Youth Employment Ideas Yard Work Summer is the time of year when people want their

Pet Sitter Many people plan their vacations during the summer months. While they’re away, they need trustworthy pet sitters to step in and care for their much loved animals.

If you adore animals and have experience caring for them, this would be a perfect way to spend your time and earn money to boot!

Tutor While many students are eager to get a break from the classroom, some miss the chance to work on their academic skills during the summer months. Why not combine your talent for school subjects and your need for summer employment and offer your services as a tutor?

In addition to making good money, you will gain great experience for the future.

Helping your child develop work habits early in life will contribute to their future success.

Source: PennSate Extension

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What you need to know about coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)

Warren County Connection

-ncov/about/transmission.html.

What are the symptoms of COVID-19? Patients with COVID-19 have had mild to severe respiratory illness with symptoms of: • fever • cough • shortness of breath What are severe complications from this virus? Many patients have pneumonia in both lungs.

How can I help protect myself? The best way to prevent infection is to avoid being exposed to the virus that causes COVID-19.

What is coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)? Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a respiratory illness that can spread from person to person. The virus that causes COVID-19 is a novel coronavirus that was first identified during an investigation into an outbreak in Wuhan, China.

Can people in the U.S. get COVID-19? COVID-19 is spreading from person to person in China, and limited spread among close contacts has been detected in some countries outside China, including the United States. At this time, however, this virus is NOT currently spreading in communities in the United States. Right now, the greatest risk of infection is for people in China or people who have traveled to China. Risk of infection is dependent on exposure. Close contacts of people who are infected are at greater risk of exposure, for example health care workers and close contacts of people who are infected with the virus that causes COVID-19. CDC continues to closely monitor the situation.

Have there been cases of COVID-19 in the U.S.? Yes. The first case of COVID-19 in the United States was reported on January 21, 2020. The current count of cases of COVID -19 in the United States is available on CDC’s webpage at https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/cases-inus.html.

How does COVID-19 spread? The virus that causes COVID -19 probably emerged from an animal source, but now it seems to be spreading from person-to-person. It’s important to note that person-to-person spread can happen on a continuum. Some diseases are highly contagious (like measles), while other diseases are less so. At this time, it’s unclear how easily or sustainably the virus that causes COVID-19 is spreading between people.

Learn what is known about the spread of newly emerged coronaviruses at https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019

There are simple everyday preventive actions to help prevent the spread of respiratory viruses. These include:  Avoid close contact with people who are sick.  Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.  Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.  Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol if soap and water are not available.

If you are sick, to keep from spreading respiratory illness to others, you should:  Stay home when you are sick.  Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.  Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.

What should I do if I recently traveled to China and got sick? If you were in China within the past 14 days and feel sick with fever, cough, or difficulty breathing, you should seek medical care. Call the office of your health care provider before you go, and tell them about your travel and your symptoms. They will give you instructions on how to get care without exposing other people to your illness. While sick, avoid contact with people, don’t go out and delay any travel to reduce the possibility of spreading illness to others.

Is there a vaccine? There is currently no vaccine to protect against COVID-19. The best way to prevent infection is to avoid being exposed to the virus that causes COVID-19.

Is there a treatment? There is no specific antiviral treatment for COVID-19. People with COVID-19 can seek medical care to help relieve symptoms.

Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Warren County Connection Warren County Connection

Irish Chicken and Dumpling Soup A few years ago, I was privileged to accompany my daughter and her Irish Step Dance troupe to Ireland.

The trip was full of beautiful sights, incredible music, amazing dancing, and delicious food. I do not know if it was the magic of the trip, or the quality of the ingredients that were used, but every dish that I ate was simply marvelous. In fact, the food was so marvelous, that I made sure to take notes on several that I planned on re-creating once back in the United States.

This Irish Chicken and Dumpling Soup is one of those dishes. It is delicious in its simplicity and is the perfect comfort food during colder months. While you can certainly use pre-made biscuit mix – or a biscuit master mix - for the dumplings, you can also very easily make them from scratch. If you prefer your soup thicker (more like a gravy consistency), you can thicken the broth with a thickener like arrowroot, cornstarch, or potato starch.

I have made this dish using the instant pot, cooking the chicken, vegetables, and stock first on manual setting for 20 minutes, then manually releasing the steam valve when the timer ends. Once the lid is removed, the instant pot can be set to sauté, so that the dumplings can then be cooked in the hot broth.

MB’s Irish Chicken and Dumpling Soup Ingredients: 2 chicken breast halves, cut in small, roughly one-inch cubes 1 Sweet Vidalia onion, chopped 3 carrots, chopped 2 stalks of celery, chopped 2 potatoes, diced (I usually use yellow) ½ teaspoon garlic powder 1 teaspoon dried sage ½ teaspoon dried thyme 5 cups chicken broth Salt and pepper to taste Dumplings: 1 cup flour 2 teaspoons baking powder ½ teaspoon salt 1 Tablespoon shortening or butter ½ cup milk Instructions: Cut chicken into cubes. On separate cutting board, and using separate knife, dice and chop all vegetables.

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In a large stockpot or Dutch oven, add the chicken broth, chicken, vegetables, and spices, and cook at high heat until it reaches a boil. Reduce heat to low, cover, and cook until vegetables are soft, and chicken is cooked through (about 10-15 minutes).

While that is cooking, prepare the dumpling dough by mixing together the flour, baking powder, and salt.

Using a pastry cutter (or forks), cut in shortening or butter. Add milk and stir until incorporated.

When vegetables and chicken are thoroughly cooked, remove the lid and bring soup to a boil over medium-tohigh heat. Once the soup is at a rolling boil, drop spoonfuls of the dumpling dough into the soup broth. Replace lid, and reduce heat to medium, so that the soup continues to boil but does not boil over. Keep the lid on for 15 minutes, allowing the dumplings to cook.

After 15 minutes, remove lid and check one dumpling to see if it is cooked all of the way through (it should not look like raw dough in the middle). If more cooking time is needed, replace lid and cook for a few more minutes.

Season with salt and pepper if needed, and serve while hot.

Enjoy!

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