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Yahoo
16 hours ago
- General
- Yahoo
Tips to reduce the risk of tick-borne infection
EAST SYRACUSE, N.Y. (WSYR) — Many are itching to get outside as the summer season quickly approaches. But that means people also need to have several strategies in their back pockets to keep themselves safe from ticks. Ticks hide in plain sight in the outdoors. 'In grass, bushy areas, dry grass, under the leaf litter, and sometimes in between bark as well,' Dr. Saravanan Thangamani, PhD, said. But there are ways to boost protection. 'At the end of the day, tick check is the thing we advocate for above all else,' Harold Nugent, a tick educator with Cornell Cooperative Extension of Onondaga County, said. Before stepping back inside, check for ticks on the body from head to toe, and use a mirror to look at the spots that are hard to see. Ticks can travel indoors on clothing as well, making it important to check for the tiny terrors on each garment. But what happens if a tick bite cannot be avoided? 'Take blunt-ended tweezers…put it right under the tick, closer to the mouth part, and then gently yank it straight up, preferably, perpendicular to your body, to your skin, and then put it in a Ziploc bag with a moist tissue or towel and then send it to a lab,' Dr. Thangamani said. Dr. Thangamani is the director of the Upstate Tick Testing Laboratory. He said it is important to get a tick sample set out to a lab, such as his, to take early action against the disease. 'Tick bites induce allergies, tick bites induce itchiness…alright, that's non-pathogen specific, non-disease specific,' he said. 'However, ticks carry a lot of disease-causing pathogens that are transmitted to humans during the blood-feeding process.' You can learn more about how to avoid the bite at Ryder Park in Dewitt on Saturday from 10 a.m. to noon. The fourth annual 'Legs Against Lyme' walk is also taking place at 10 a.m. at Long Branch Park. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Potsdam code enforcer not thrilled with 'No Mow May'
May 27—POTSDAM — "No Mow May" may have gotten a bit out of control in Potsdam this year, according to the village code enforcement officer. "Last year at this time, we were deeply enthralled in No Mow May, where the village got behind not mowing the lawn," said Village Code Enforcement Officer Greg Thompson said during the May 19 village board meeting. "We have not done that this year." Thompson noted that his department had been lenient so far. "My department has been very forgiving to this point, but after driving around the village today, there are a lot of lawns that have to be mowed," he said. He warned that non-compliance with village codes would come with consequences. "We will cite you. If you do ignore it, we will have it mowed with a 25% surcharge added to the price. So we're asking people, 'Mow your lawns.' That includes trimming and mowing all the way to the curb," Thompson said. He emphasized the impact a well-kept lawn has on neighborhood appearance. "You know, when we leave our lawns long like that, number one, when you do decide to mow, it's incredibly hard on your equipment. And, number two, it can shock your lawn and actually kill the grass. So there are a lot of negatives to letting that lawn go unattended," he said. Mayor Alexandra Jacobs Wilke mentioned that Rose Rivezzi from the Climate Smart Communities Task Force had recently addressed the board about No Mow May. Jacobs Wilke said the recommendation was to mow, but not too short, "at a longer grass setting than golf course level." "She had other information from the pollinators group about other ways to support pollinators ... and a page was just added to our website that brought together those resources so that it can be shared online. We can put a link on our social media page and online later for people who are interested in helping the bees," the mayor added. Village Trustee Lynzie Schulte referenced related research. "There was a great article from Cornell Cooperative Extension on this. If anybody saw it in the paper. But by shocking it, you're actually like causing a lot more damage to anything living in there as well," she said. "Because now they have nowhere to go." Thompson also raised concerns about the aftermath of mowing overgrown lawns. Homeowners often rake up the clippings and leave them at the curb, creating hazards. "It creates an issue if we get a heavy rainstorm and that washes out into the road. It's incredibly dangerous for motorcycles. It becomes almost like an icy surface when it's wet for a motorcycle to traverse upen," he said. "And number two, affecting me more than the others, is the fact that (grass cuttings) will run down and clog up a storm drain if we get a large quantity of the grass," Thompson added. "So there's a lot of benefits. We just ask people to please make an effort to keep your lawns mowed if they would," he said. The efficacy of No Mow May, which originated in the United Kingdom, is up for debate. The American nonprofit Bee City USA argues that it allows plants to propagate that are beneficial to pollinators. Critics say that in many lawns, plants that are of no use to pollinators end up benefiting the most.
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
CCE supporting veterans with new education program
BINGHAMTON, N.Y. (WIVT/WBGH) – Cornell Cooperative Extension of Broome County is ensuring local veterans have the opportunity to learn more about agriculture and the importance of healthy eating. CCE, in collaboration with the Broome County Veterans Services Agency, announced the launch of the 2025 Broome County Veterans Resiliency Project. This initiative will provide local veterans with hands-on training and support in nutrition, healthy eating, gardening, and agriculture. The project will kick off on May 10 at the Broome County Regional Farmers Market, located at 840 Upper Front Street in Binghamton. From 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., veterans residing in Broome County will receive $15 in farmers market coupons. These coupons can be used the same day to purchase produce, proteins, dairy, and other goods from market vendors. Proof of veteran status is required, and the veteran must be present. Coupons will be distributed under a clearly marked banner welcoming veterans to the market. Additional distribution dates will be held in the coming months. In addition, veterans or their spouses who receive SNAP benefits are encouraged to visit the farmers market's information booth to learn about the Fresh2You program. This initiative allows SNAP users to exchange their benefits for market tokens, doubling their purchasing power. The program will continue on May 21 with a hands-on cooking class at 5 p.m. at the CCE Broome County office. The class will teach participants how to make fresh ricotta cheese, with veterans taking home their homemade creations. The class is open to veterans, military members, and their families, with proof of service required. To register for the events, visit CCE supporting veterans with new education program Gail Houston's 'Songs From The Soul' cancelled Accused Delaware County drug dealer facing felony charges Mets top prospect to start rehab stint in Binghamton Binghamton psychic guilty of defrauding lovesick victim Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
May 17: CCE Annual Master Gardener Plant Sale
Cornell Cooperative Extension will be hosting its annual master gardener plant sale on Saturday, May 17 at their office at 203 North Hamilton Street in Watertown. The sale will go from 10 a.m. until noon and have a number of plants such as: Annuals Perennials Herbs Vegetables Houseplants Trees Shrubs Lots of surprises Plant availability may vary depending on the season. North country evening weather: Friday, May 9, 2025 May 17: CCE Annual Master Gardener Plant Sale Tijuana shelters see funding, US donations dry up LCGH Auxiliary donates $30,000 toward purchase of new 3D mammography system This Teacher Appreciation Week, educators are feeling threatened in new ways Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
06-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Spring warmth brings vital pollinators back to Western N.Y.
ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) — Spring brings warmer weather, blooming trees, and a return to outdoor life. For farmers, it also marks the return of vital pollinators like bumblebees, wasps, and beetles. While honeybees aren't native, they're among the most essential pollinators in Western New York. 'Honeybees are actually a pretty big industry here in western New York. And, you know, they're very important. They supply us with honey. And although not really specific to New York, almonds are 99% reliant on honeybees for pollination. So, without honeybees, we would not have almonds,' said Challis Mathes, a horticulture resource educator for Cornell Cooperative Extension for Monroe County. With fewer grassy areas and more carefully maintained yards, natural habitats for pollinators are shrinking. But even spaces like utility corridors can be used to help restore what's been lost—providing food and shelter for these vital species. 'There aren't a lot of grassy areas. You know, people like to maintain their yards for various reasons. You know, aesthetics, keeping tick populations in check. But a lot of them do need those grassy areas. And so one of the things New York State does is work with utilities for, you know, where power lines go through, they can actually help them create habitat and put in, you know, different species that pollinators rely on, either for food or for reproduction,' Mathes said. Even small actions at home can make a difference. Simple additions to your garden can provide native pollinators with much-needed shelter and support. 'There are small little pollinator homes that you can get. They're usually just a bunch of little wooden circles,' said Mathes. 'Putting those out around your gardens is a really great way to be beneficial to native pollinators and gives them a little space to hang out and make a little house. So just simple things like that can be really impactful.' If you'd like to learn more about pollinators and how you can help protect them, Mathes encourages everyone to check out the programs and classes offered by their local Cornell Cooperative Extension office. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to RochesterFirst.
