Orleans County residents can dispose of unused prescription medication, sharps and pet medications on Saturday at three drop-off sites from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The goal of this event is to provide a safe disposal method that will prevent the contamination of the water supply and most importantly decrease the likelihood of theft and abuse of prescription medications. Upon completion of this event all collected medication will be destroyed in the presence of law enforcement officers at a designated incineration facility, said Sheriff Randy Bower.
“This is a great opportunity for the public to surrender unwanted and/or expired medications for safe and proper disposal,” Bower said. “Events such as these have dramatically reduced the risk of prescription drug diversion and abuse, as well as increasing awareness of this critical public health issue.”
The National Prescription Drug Take-Back Initiative includes the following sites in Orleans County:
Orleans County Public Safety Building – 13925 State Route 31 – Albion
Holley Fire Department – 7 Thomas Street – Holley
Medina Fire Department – 600 Main Street – Medina
The Public Safety Building also has a collection box that is available five days a week during regular business hours.
Saturday’s collection is a collaborative effort with the U.S. Department of Justice – Drug Enforcement Administration, the Orleans County Health Department, and the Genesee/Orleans Council on Alcoholism & Substance Abuse.
This photo includes back row, from left: Teacher Nicole Homme, Kathryn Young, Jamie Boyce, Taylor Hurrell, Hannah Sones, Alexandria Sargent. Front Row: Hailee Ogden, Bryanna Sikorski, Mercedes Wilson, Megan Dunn and Morgan Roach.
Press Release, Medina Central School
MEDINA – Mercedes Wilson is 2000 graduate from Medina High School. Recently she found herself back on campus with a new mission.
She spent several days talking with the high school girls about feeling confident in expressing themselves and being their own advocate when it comes to their health.
“When I was 28 years old I was diagnosed with stage 2 breast cancer,” says Mrs. Wilson. “I thought I had a pulled muscle and when I discussed it with my doctor they assured me that I was too young to be concerned about anything. I was fortunate enough when I started to go to a new doctor that they insisted that I get it checked out. It was devastating to think if I had pushed to be tested earlier, I would not have had to undergo what I did.”
Her journey inspired her to start the organization For Our Daughters (click here). Its focus is to empower young women to break down communication barriers and become advocates for their own health and wellness.
“Our youth are under an immense amount of pressure and while they are developing, it is our job to teach them valuables,” she says. “Not only do we address self-esteem issues, but encourage communication with parent/guardians.”
Mrs. Wilson was invited to talk to the students during their gym period by teacher Nicole Homme. The girls ran different scenarios on how to communicate with their mothers showing a productive way to do that and a negative way. Mrs. Homme says she thinks the students respond better to hear these important strategies from someone on the outside.
“Her story is very personal and she has experience of what happens if you don’t learn communication skills earlier on in life,” Homme says. “She tells the students if they feel something is not right, they need to advocate and communicate what it is that they are feeling. It is a very valuable lesson.”
This group participated in Zumba led by Ashley Ramsey, owner of FIT Method in North Tonawanda. She is in front of photo. Other participants include second row, from left: Abigail Neuman, Abbigail Lilly, Kali Worley, Lillian Alberi, Regan Dole, Brooke Bearss, Paige Dunn and Shelby Weese. Back row: Syiera Dow, Alexis Greco, Jessica Lawrence, Nicole Cooper, Jelia Howard, Nodia Osby, Hannah Heil, Divere Brown, Brianna Bearss and Jizzell Banks.
As part of the workshop, a Zumba instructor, Ashley Ramsey from FIT Method in North Tonawanda, came in to teach a class to the students.
“Being active is a key to promoting a healthy life,” says Mrs. Wilson. “Hopefully it will instill a desire to do some sort of activity for the rest of their lives. We can do better, if we know better.”
Mrs. Wilson talks regularly to many local high schools and hopes to reach her goal of reaching 1,500 young women in the Western New York area.
“These girls deserve a world where they feel confident, empowered, and their voices are heard,” she said.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 16 April 2016 at 12:00 am
About 120 participate in event to honor Wayne Burlison
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – Brian Krieger and Adam Burlison release balloons just after noon today during the second annual Run for Wayne, a 3.17-mile race in honor of Adam’s father Wayne Burlison.
He was 36 when he died from colon cancer on March 26, 2014. Krieger and Burlison were close friends and running partners. They helped start the Albion Running Club, which organized today’s race.
Wayne’s wife Lisa Burlison thanked the community for supporting the race. She also shared about her husband’s faith, and his commitment to his family, fitness and his students. Mr. Burlison taught music at Albion for 12 years.
The runners gather on Clarendon Road near the elementary school for the start of the race. The 3.17-mile course represents the 3 months and 17 days that Burlison lived his diagnosis of Stage 4 colon cancer.
The bright sunshine and temperatures in the 60s was a contrast from the first Run for Wayne on March 28, 2015, when there was lots of snow on the ground and frigid temperatures.
The Albion pep band played upbeat tunes to cheer on the runners.
Runners head east on Route 31 past Butts Road for the first mile.
Tess Pettit, right, and Trinity Allen hand out water.
Runners head into Mount Albion Cemetery, passing underneath the big stone arch. Burlison played in the Mark Time Marchers, a band that performs in many local parades.
A runner approaches a photo of Burlison attached to a tree along the course in the cemetery.
After a loop in the cemetery, runners head west on Route 31 to the finish at the elementary school.
Riley Seielstad, an Albion high schooler, ran her first race today. She was one of Burlison’s students.
Race results will be posted on the Albion Running Club website. Click here for more information.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 14 April 2016 at 12:00 am
Provided photo
ALBION – Staff at the Orleans Correctional Facility in Albion today cooked hot dogs, dressed in casual clothes, sold wristbands to raise awareness for colon cancer and made donations, an effort that raised $1,600 for the Cancer Services programs of Genesee and Orleans.
Some of the staff members are pictured outside the prison this afternoon. The facility is a medium-security prison on Gaines Basin Road.
The staff at Orleans Correctional pushed to raise the funds after Al Miller (pictured) of Corfu, who was diagnosed with colon cancer in December. Miller continues to work his shifts at the prison while he is on light duty.
Miller said he is grateful for his job, which he has had for 20 years. He said he is fortunate to have good health insurance. The Cancer Services Program in Genesee and Orleans provides free cancer screenings and other services.
Miller said he appreciated the turnout and support from his collages today.
“I feel bad for people without family and friend support,” he said. “I’m very fortunate here for the support system that I have.”
Kenny Gold, a corrections officer and leader in the union, said Miller has been a dependable worker for two decades.
“He’s been here for everybody for 20 years, and we’ll all be here for him, especially during his most vulnerable time,” Gold said today.
The union representing the corrections officer gave about $400,000 to different charities and causes last year, Gold said.
“The prisons are more than just people watching over convicted felons,” he said.
File photos by Tom Rivers – Firefighters spent hours at this massive fire in Albion at Orleans Pallet on Oct. 17, 2013.
Press Release, State Sen. Robert Ortt
ALBANY – Senator Rob Ortt (R-North Tonawanda) today announced the New York State Senate passed legislation on Monday that would provide volunteer firefighters with more health benefits as they continue to put their lives on the line to protect others.
The bill (S3891) amends the Volunteer Firefighters’ Benefit Law to extend levels of protections for volunteer firefighters that develop certain cancer related diseases while on the job.
“Volunteer firefighters provide an invaluable service across our state and especially here in Western New York,” Ortt said. “In the vast majority of my rural district, these selfless men and women are the first responders when emergency strikes. This legislation acknowledges the health risks they face and justly offers them the protections they deserve.”
There are more than 100,000 volunteer firefighters statewide that would have presumptive cancer coverage as a result of this legislation. The number of firefighters diagnosed with cancer has increased in recent years, and medical studies have shown that they are at a significantly higher risk for various types of cancer than the general population.
Dark smoke spewed from the Orleans Pallet fire in Albion on Oct. 17, 2013.
Increased cancer risks are linked to the high levels of carcinogens and other toxins from building fires and other hazardous settings where firefighters serve.
The bill is being sent to the Assembly.
This measure for volunteer firefighters is in addition to the $250,000 the State Senate recently secured as part of the enacted 2016-17 State Budget to support the recruitment and retention of volunteer firefighters.
The funding will help to address the shortage of volunteer firefighters throughout the state by using promotional tools to highlight the importance of protecting local neighborhoods and enforcing public safety.
The money will be used for promotional materials, public service announcements, and other tools in an effort to bolster the number of volunteers.
By Nola Goodrich-Kresse, public health educator for Orleans County
The first week of April is National Public Health Week (NPHW), a week set aside showing us how we can choose healthier living.
National Public Health Week started in April 1995 by the American Public Health Association (APHA) with a focus on Public Health prevention topics. This year’s theme is, “Healthiest Nation 2030”. This year the focus is on working together to make changes in our health and the health of our communities.
“Working across county boarders allows us to collaborate more efficiently and effectively,” stated Paul Pettit, Director of both Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments. “Pooling resources not only help rural health departments financially, but provide us the opportunity to expand our outreach with the ‘one message, many voices’ approach. This allows us to send out timely, consistent health related information.”
Review the following calls for action and see what you can do to work toward becoming the Healthiest You 2016!
The focus areas chosen this year are:
Build a nation of safe, healthy communities
Help all young people graduate from high school
The relationship between increased economic mobility and better health
Social justice and health
Give everyone a choice of healthy food
Preparing for the health effects of climate change
Provide quality health care for everyone
Strengthen public health infrastructure and capacity
This article will only touch on a couple of the focus areas. To learn more about National Public Health Week and the movement for change, visit their website by clicking here.
Build a nation of safe, healthy communities: make health a priority. From healthy housing to parks and playgrounds, choose to walk and bike. When biking, make sure you follow the rules of the road and wear a properly fitted helmet, no matter what your age is. Support local law enforcement to help them make our communities safer. Support farmers’ markets and local businesses that value health, such as retailers that don’t sell tobacco/nicotine products.
Help all young people graduate from high school. Education is the leading indicator of good health, gives people access to better jobs, incomes and neighborhoods. Engage your children in learning activities, visit their schools and get to know their teachers. Participate in school activities with your children and participate in your Parent/Teacher/Student groups. Become a mentoryou can make a difference!
Give everyone a choice of health food. Our food system should provide affordable food with nutritious ingredients, free from harmful contaminants. Consider starting a home garden. If you don’t have a lot of space, talk with family and friends to see if they would like to build one together. Containers work well for small tomatoes and herbs. Encourage your family to eat more fruits and vegetables instead of processed foods and sugar-sweetened beverages.
One of the easiest ways to strive toward a healthier nation is to take care of you. Make sure you eat well, engage in physical activity often, spend less time in front of a screen, and get plenty of rest. Treat yourself and others with care and respect. And finally, remember to have fun and laugh … after all, laughter is the best medicine.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 28 March 2016 at 12:00 am
Pilgrimage in honor of friend battling cancer
Provided photo – Tom Dujenski leaves for Madrid, Spain, on Wednesday and will start his 500-mile walk on Sunday.
MEDINA – From 5k walks and runs, to wine-tastings, basket raffles and golf tournaments, the Knights and Kaderli families and their supporters have tried many ways to raise money to help Orleans County residents fighting cancer.
How about a 500-mile-walk in Europe?
A Medina native, who now lives in Kansas, will soon embark on a 500-mile journey by foot in northern Spain and France to raise money for Knights-Kaderli.
Tom Dujenski has been planning the walk along the el Camino de Santiago route for about two years. When he learned Elaine McPherson of Medina was battling cancer, Dujenski decided to make the effort a benefit for McPherson and others in Orleans fighting cancer.
Dujenski has been close friends for decades with Elaine’s husband, Paul. He and Elaine have both been long-time participants in the annual Knights-Kaderli walk and run in East Shelby.
“This is a great opportunity to turn something into good,” Dujenski said by phone this afternoon from Olathe, Kansas.
Dujenski, 57, graduated from Medina and then worked in Buffalo before a career with a bank regulatory agency took him all over the country. He settled in Kansas to be near his daughter.
He has been preparing for the long walk, building his stamina and planning the trip.
He flies out to Madrid on Wednesday and starts the walk on Sunday at the base of the Pyrenees Mountains. He is allowing 40 days to cover 500 miles.
Dujenski said the walk will be a spiritual journey for him, a chance to visit sacred sites. He is taking a rock with Elaine’s name on it. Dujenski said there is a stone pile on the trip that has become a shrine. He will add Elaine’s stone to that collection.
He will also go to a shrine in Lourdes, France, and bring back holy water for Elaine.
“I’m so excited it’s not even funny,” Dujenski said today.
His wife, Lupita, will meet him at the end of the journey and they will fly home together.
Elaine McPherson’s family appreciates Dujenski’s effort in the challenging journey and for thinking of Elaine and others fighting cancer.
“She is very grateful,” said Elaine’s sister, Barb Hale.
The Knights-Kaderli Memorial Fund is named in honor of Richard Knights died from cancer in 1984, and Sue Scharping Kaderli who died from the disease in 1989.
Knights-Kaderli distributes about $50,000 annually to help families with expenses while battling cancer.
For more on the fund, and to donate as part of Dujenski’s walk, click here.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 18 March 2016 at 12:00 am
Goal: be ready for Strawberry Festival race in June
Photo by Tom Rivers – Some of the leaders of the “Run for God” program include, front row, from left: Tom Smith, Sheila Lemcke and Brian Krieger. Other participants in back include Becki Keegan, Joe McPhatter, John Given and his son Zeke Given.
ALBION – In 2012, the Albion Free Methodist Church started a “Run for God” program that takes people from the couch to running a 5-kilometer race in 12 weeks.
Organizers of the first Run for God weren’t sure how many would take up the challenge, starting in cold March weather and concluding with the 5K race in June during the Albion Strawberry Festival. There was a strong response to “Run for God” with 40 people finishing the first race.
Altogether, 274 people have participated in Run for God (including a half marathon training program) in the first four years. A new Run for God starts tomorrow (Saturday) at 8:30 a.m. at the Free Methodist Church, corner of East State and Platt streets.
The group meets for a devotional or spiritual lesson, and then begins the journey to a 5K, alternating with short jogs and walks. The group will gradually increase the running times during the following weeks.
Tom Smith and Sheila Lemcke are leading the program again this year. Smith, the worship leader at the church, said he enjoys the camaraderie among the runners.
The participants go at different paces. Run for God is open to new and more experienced runners, and people can join at any time during the 12 weeks.
“There is no judgment,” Lemcke said. “Everyone is accepted at any level.”
There is no cost to be in the program, unless participants want to buy a T-shirt or a Run for God book. For more on Run for God, click here.
The program is now sponsored by the Free Methodist Church and the Albion Running Club. The late Wayne Burlison was a founder of the Running Club and pushed to start the Run for God program.
Burlison was 36 when he died from cancer nearly two years ago on March 26, 2014.
The Running Club is planning the second annual “Run for Wayne” in honor of Burlison on April 16 at the Ronald L. Sodoma Elementary School, where Burlison was a music teacher.
The race starts at 12:01 p.m. The course is 3.17 miles. That distance was chosen to honor Burlison’s 3-month, 17-day fight with stage 4 colon cancer.
Burlison was a proponent of healthy living in the community. Through diet and exercise, he lost more than 150 pounds and ran a marathon and several half marathons.
For more information on “Run for Wayne,” click here.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 15 March 2016 at 12:00 am
Photo by Tom Rivers – Medina school counselors Sarah Ha, left, and Linda Knipe, right, are pictured with Kelsey Wolcott, a mental health clinic therapist.
MEDINA – Medina has three school counselors working with 635 students in grades 8 through 12. They focus on academic and career preparation, but the counselors for years have juggled helping students with anxiety, depression and other mental health issues.
That changed in early February when a mental health clinic therapist from the Orleans County Department of Mental Health started working out of the school.
Kelsey Wolcott spends two days at Medina Central School, splitting time in the high school and elementary school. Middle schoolers also go to appointments at either school building.
Wolcott said some students feel the pressure of family life, with parents going through divorces or blending families, while others may also feel the strain of poverty, and social and academic pressures. She helps students develop coping skills for some of the challenges.
Wolcott’s presence has allowed the school district’s guidance counselors to stay focused on providing career and college guidance for students.
“We were spending an inordinate amount of time on personal counseling,” said Linda Knipe, one of Medina’s guidance counselors. “We try to clear the obstacles so they can get an education.”
Medina, Lyndonville, Kendall and Holley have all teamed in recent months with the Mental Health Department to allow a therapist to work out of the school. That way students miss less class time by not having to travel to Albion at the Mental Health clinic on Route 31. Some of the students also have transportation issues, making it difficult to get to Albion.
Marc O’Brien, the director of the county’s Mental Health Department, has been part of joint meetings with the five school district superintendents the past two years. He said other counties have tried satellite offices at schools.
“It makes it more accessible for the kids,” O’Brien said. “The superintendents have been super cooperative to work with.”
All of the new satellite sites needed approval by the state Office of Mental Health. Students still need to travel to Albion if they need to see a psychiatrist.
The satellite sites are funded just like the county’s main clinic in Albion. Insurance companies are billed for the services, O’Brien said.
“We’ve been able to broaden the footprint of the department and get out into the community,” he said. “So far it’s working great.”
Provided photo – Pictured from left: SUNY Brockport student Kelly Valente of Mottville, NY; SUNY Brockport student Mariel Rivera of Webster, NY; State Sen. Rob Ortt; SUNY Brockport President Dr. Heidi Macpherson; and SUNY Brockport Chief Communications Officer David Mihalyov.
Press Release, State Sen. Rob Ortt
BROCKPORT – Senator Rob Ortt (R – North Tonawanda) today met Brockport State College’s president and students to announce $150,000 in state funds to renovate the Hazen Health Center.
The money, included in the 2015-16 state budget, will be used to modernize and upgrade approximately 3,000 square feet of the 12,000 square-foot student health center in Hazen Hall.
The college’s holistic Hazen Health Center is available to all enrolled students for both their physical and mental health needs. The funds secured by Senator Ortt will ensure an improved delivery of physical and mental health care to students.
“As chairman of the Mental Health Committee, it’s imperative for me to do what I can to help with the psychological well-being of individuals, improve mental health care services, and aid and educate in the prevention of mental illness,” said Senator Ortt. “College can be a stressful time in a person’s life and can take a mental and physical toll on our students. Outreach programs and services offered at places like the Hazen Health Center can deliver much-needed support at a critical time.”
The College at Brockport President Dr. Heidi Macpherson said, “The Hazen Center has been a leader in the field of Health, Counseling and Prevention/Outreach Services among New York colleges. In 2013-14, there were 3,401 individuals who received assistance with health services, and more than 900 individuals who received counseling services. I applaud Senator Ortt and the New York State Legislature for recognizing and investing in the health and wellness needs of our campus community.”
Renovation work includes updating patient rooms, improving waiting areas to make them more discrete, and transforming an underutilized back room into three new offices. The building will also have new floors, ceilings, lights and wall finishes to modernize the Hazen Health Center. Construction is expected to start this summer.
The $150,000 in capital funds for the project may be used for the payment of capital costs of construction, demolition, replacement, renovation, planning and design.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 23 February 2016 at 12:00 am
Photos by Tom Rivers – Dr. Dan Webb, co-owner of Catalyst Research in Depew, goes over the latest survey of about 1,500 students in grades 7 through 12. He presented the survey results this morning during a meeting of the Orleans United Drug Free Communities Coalition.
ALBION – The strong societal message against tobacco and alcohol seems to be working with big drops in use by youths in Orleans County from 2005 to 2015.
Every two years students in grades 7 through 12 are surveyed on their use of tobacco, alcohol and marijuana. (Since 2013, students have been asked if they use non-prescribed prescription drugs as well, and in 2015 they were asked for the first time about e-cigarettes.)
Alcohol use among students has dropped from 28.1 percent in 2005 to 16.7 percent of 1,572 students in 2015. The survey includes students in Holley, Kendall, Lyndonville and Medina school districts. Albion does its own survey.
In the survey, students are asked if they used alcohol, tobacco, marijuana, non-prescribed medications and e-cigarettes in the past 30 days.
Alcohol use is down 41 percent in the decade, the biggest drop. It continues a steady downward trend from 23.6 percent in 2009, 20.3 percent in 2011, 19.1 percent in 2013 and 16.7 percent in 2015.
Tobacco use is down from 13.6 percent in 2005 to 8.5 percent in 2015, a 38 percent decline.
Marijuana use is down 14 percent since 2005, from 12.1 percent to 10.4 percent. However, it was at 9.3 percent in 2009 and has gradually increased to 10.2 percent in 2011, 10.3 percent in 2013, and 10.4 percent in 2015.
The marijuana number is lower than other communities that are seeing 15 to 20 percent use among students, said Dr. Dan Webb, co-owner of Catalyst Research, which compiles the data in the survey for the Orleans United Drug Free Communities Coalition.
“Most of the numbers are going in the direction we want,” Webb told about 25 coalition members this morning during a meeting at the Genesee-Orleans Council on Alcoholism and Substance Abuse.
The survey shows some areas of concern, particularly with perception of risk by students. In 2005, 80.6 percent said they viewed marijuana use as risky and dangerous. But in 2015 that percentage dropped to 53.0 percent.
Students also reduced their perceptions of alcohol and tobacco risk with alcohol’s perception of risk down from 69.5 percent in 2005 to 65.4 percent last year. Tobacco also was viewed less harshly by students in 2015 (78.1 percent say it’s risky and dangerous) compared to 86.5 percent in 2005.
Parents, however, are perceived by students as being strongly opposed students using alcohol (95.6 percent), tobacco (93.9 percent) and marijuana (90.5 percent). That 90 percent threshold is important for keeping some students from trying the substances and products, Webb said.
Students reported more pressure from friends not to use tobacco or alcohol compared to 2005. However, the perception of friends’ disapproval for using marijuana dropped from 81.4 percent against in 2005 to 73.8 percent in 2015.
The coalition started asking students about non-prescribed medications in 2013 and 2.7 percent said then they had taken non-prescribed prescriptions in the previous 30 days. That percent increased to 3.4 percent in the latest survey.
Webb said e-cigarettes are proliferating with vape shops in many communities selling flavors of products like they are selling candy.
Nearly 30 percent of students, 29.2 percent, say they have tried an e-cigarette and 14.7 percent said they used one in the previous 30 days. The survey also asked if the students ever added substances to the e-cigarettes besides nicotine and 10.3 percent said they did.
The survey results will be shared with each participating school district, including a breakdown of the survey responses for each district. The district data will be shared confidentially with each district.
For more on the Orleans United Drug Free Communities Coalition, click here.
By Kristina Gabalski, Correspondent Posted 13 February 2016 at 12:00 am
Photos by Kristina Gabalski – Kim Hazel (left), Orleans County Cornell Cooperative Extension agriculture and horticulture senior adminsitrative assistant, and Nutrition Educator Natalie Heller sign the Nutritious Gatherings Pledge at the OCCCE offices in Knowlesville.
KNOWLSEVILLE – Hitting the drive-through to pick up donuts for sharing at the office can be a very easy thing to do, said Orleans County Cornell Cooperative Extension 4-H Educator Robert Batt. But it only takes a few more minutes to stop at the grocery store and select healthier choices like fruit, fresh veggies and cheese.
Extension staff in Orleans County are signing a Nutritious Gatherings Pledge – which will hang in their office at the Orleans County 4-H Fairgrounds in Knowlesville. The Extension staff members commit themselves to have “healthy foods for staff gatherings including breaks and meetings.”
Those healthy food options include cheeses, apples, nuts, hummus, yogurts, carrots, other fresh fruits and vegetables and healthy baked goods.
Batt said staff members realized they were frequently snacking on donuts and pastries at the office with some unpleasant results. The habit was making them feel sluggish in the middle of the workday and even packed on pounds.
Horticulture Educator Katie Oakes, for example, noticed she gained weight after starting at Extension last spring, Batt said. The staff recently decided things needed to change and the idea for a nutritious eating pledge surfaced.
Nutrition information and help in making healthy choices is available from Orleans County Cornell Cooperative Extension Expanded Food & Nutrition Education Program.
Natalie Heller, Nutrition Educator for the Extension’s Expanded Food & Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP), says she is excited about the change. “We all want to eat healthy and feel good,” she explained.
Physical activity and movement also play a part in living a healthy lifestyle at work, Heller said.
“We take a 15-minute break every day and walk on the Fitness Trail (located on the fairgrounds),” she said. “It helps with mental clarity and gives you more energy.”
Sweet treats are not completely banned under the pledge, but limited to special occasions like birthdays, anniversaries, awards, holidays, new hires and retires.
“That’s what we’re trying to teach our 4-H’ers,” Robert Batt said. “Treats are for special occasions.”
He said the Nutritious Gatherings Pledge helps staff members to be role models for 4-H’ers and also for other agency workers.
“We are challenging other agencies in Orleans County (to take the Nutritious Gatherings Pledge), to see if they are up to the challenge,” Heller said.
She noted that there are lots of possibilities for healthy snacks including salsa, pitas, whole grain chips, “options that are satisfying but healthier than having brownies,” Heller said.
A Healthy & Homemade 2016 Nutrition and Fitness Calendar is one of the many helpful sources of nutrition/healthy eating information available from the Extension.
Healthy baked goods fit under the pledge as well. The staff recently tried pumpkin muffins and also enjoyed healthy dips like fruit and peanut butter dip to go with fresh fruits and vegetables.
“You can use applesauce instead of oil in recipes and whole grain flour – or a mix of while and whole grain flour,” Heller said.
She is available to visit agencies and offices to make presentations on nutrition and healthy eating and can be contacted at 585-798-4265 ext. 24/ email: nah93@cornell.edu.
The Extension, through the Expanded Food & Nutrition Education Program, is offering a free nutrition programs at various locations around the county.
Each location will run for eight sessions:
Salvation Army – Wednesdays 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. – this session began Feb. 10;
Clarendon Town Hall – Fridays 11 a.m. to noon – starting Feb. 19;
Eastern Orleans Community Center (diabetes classes) – Mondays 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. – starting Feb. 22;
Hoag Library: Thursdays 11 a.m. to noon, starting Feb. 25;
Yates Community Library: Tuesdays 11 a.m. to noon, starting March 1;
Lee-Whedon Memorial Library: Tuesdays 1 p.m. to 2 p.m., starting March 1.
March is National Nutrition Month and Heller encourages everyone to chose nutritious food, fun and fitness. The Free Nutrition Program can provide help in making nutritious choices. The sessions will include food tastings, recipes and give-aways.
By Nola Goodrich-Kresse and Kristine Voos, Genesee-Orleans Public Health Education Team
This Sunday is one of the biggest sports events of the year – it is also one of the most anticipated commercial events. It is Super Bowl Sunday!
Whether you are rooting for your favorite team or your favorite commercial, there is bound to be food at your Super Bowl party.
According to the United States Department of Agriculture, more than 1.3 billion chicken wings and 4 million pizzas are expected to be eaten during the big game.
With any event longer than 2 hours that has food as a focus, it is important to be aware of food safety to avoid any penalties. Food poisoning can put a damper on your game so consider the following safety plays for a touchdown:
Make sure hot foods stay hot and cold foods stay cold. The “Danger Zone” is the temperature between 45°F and 140°F where bacteria multiply rapidly. Use a food thermometer to make sure your meets are cooked properly.
Make sure you watch the clock and don’t bring out foods too early or leave them out too long. Perishable foods should not be kept at room temperature for more than two hours. Put out smaller portions at a time to prevent waste and switch them out often.
Make sure you wash your hands properly and often. Always wash before starting to prepare foods and after handling raw meat, poultry or seafood. Remember to wash your hands after handling the trash. Handwashing is never a Hail Mary play – take your time using hot water, soap and washing your hands and wrists for at least 20 seconds.
Remember also to limit the high fat, sugar snacks. It is easy to overeat when you have a wide variety of foods in front of you. Use a smaller plate, don’t load it up and avoid multiple grazing sessions.
Choose fresh veggies to get a crunchy snack or make your own chips by baking tortilla chips to limit the oil and salt. Salsa is a good alternative to heavy dips and is also very flavorful. Tackle physical activity too by tossing a football during commercial breaks and dancing along with music during half-time.
Call a time-out on alcohol by taking steps to make sure you, your friends and family members avoid driving under the influence. Avoid the risk of hurting yourself and others by arranging a designated driver or cab to bring you to and from the celebration(s). It is also important to have alcohol-free beverages available for designated drivers and those under the age of 21.
Provided photos – Karen Blank talks healthy eating and fitness with Holley students.
Press Release, Holley Central School
HOLLEY – Karen Blank, owner of The Whole Approach in Holley, last month led Holley first and second graders through a workshop entitled “Healthy Snack Cooking & Games.”
Blank met with 24 students after school twice a week and taught them about nutrition, games to stay active, how to make their own healthy snacks and how to make healthy living choices.
The students were joined by their parents for the final workshop on Dec. 17, when they set the table together and prepared a healthy dinner of homemade ravioli and salad.
Families work on making homemade ravioli together.
Blank’s workshops were offered free to Holley students as part of the three-year Carol M. White Physical Education Program (PEP) grant the district received last year. The school district regularly offers before- and after-school programs to grades K-12 students as part of its FIT4U! program, made possible by the PEP grant. The FIT4U! program focuses on teaching students about fitness and nutrition through a variety of activities and educational programs.
Students took pre- and post-tests evaluating how much they knew about healthy choices at the start and conclusion of the workshop. Their knowledge of healthy behaviors increased from 61 percent to 99 percent.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 20 January 2016 at 12:00 am
Photo by Tom Rivers – Bruce Krenning relaxes at home today on the one-year anniversary of suffering from cardiac arrest.
ALBION – Bruce Krenning made the 7-hour drive from Albion to the Boston area on Jan.16, 2015. He didn’t feel his best, but Krenning pushed through.
He reached the area just in time for the birth of a new grandson, Jacob. He was born to Andrew and Nicole Krenning.
After that initial excitement, Krenning remembers feeling a constant cold. He was snuggled up in blankets, including on his head. On Jan. 20, a year ago, he ate dinner, settled into a recliner and was watching TV at his daughter Sarah’s house in the suburb of Chelmsford. (Sarah and her husband Peter live near Andrew and Nicole.)
Krenning told his daughter Sarah that something was wrong. He didn’t feel right. She was walking past him, when Krenning called out to her, “Sarah, help me.”
Krenning was in cardiac arrest, lifeless on the chair.
Sarah’s husband Peter called 911 and the dispatcher said to start CPR. Peter started chest compressions right away after he and Diane, Bruce’s wife, got him off the chair.
Four minutes after the call to 911, firefighters from the Chelmsford Fire Department arrived and took over CPR. They shocked Krenning with a defibrillator and his heart started beating again.
Krenning would go to Lowell General Hospital, when he spent nearly two weeks in recovery before coming home to Howlett Road in Albion. He received numerous get well cards while in the hospital and at home, and he said those lifted his spirits.
He didn’t suffer any stroke-like symptoms. He has continued an active life, although the pace is a little slower after retiring from farming and later insurance.
He remains chairman of the board of directors for Orleans Community Health, the parent organization of Medina Memorial Hospital. The board in April re-elected him as chairman.
Krenning, 72, and his wife both said they feel fortunate he survived.
“We know the statistics are not good,” Mrs. Krenning said.
The American Heart Association says only 8 percent of people who suffer cardiac arrest outside a hospital survive. Effective bystander CPR can double or triple a victim’s chance of survival, the American Heart Association reports.
Krenning said he is fortunate he had his “episode” at his daughter’s home. If he had been at his own home in rural Albion near Knowlesville, there likely wouldn’t have been enough time for paramedics to arrive with a defibrillator. Or he could have gone into cardiac arrest on the drive to Boston, when he was alone. His wife headed to the Boston area a week before he did so he could tidy up his office to tend to matters as he tried to transition into retirement.
Cardiac arrest is different than a heart attack. With cardiac arrest, the heart’s electrical system malfunctions. It may be caused by an irregular heart beat. A heart attack is caused by a blockage that stops blood flow to the heart.
Krenning, on the one-year anniversary of his cardiac arrest today, said he is grateful for the quick response a year ago, for the support of family and friends, and care from doctors at Lowell General, locally in Medina, and his cardiologist through Catholic Health, which is affiliated with Medina Memorial.
One doctor told Krenning he suffered “sudden death,” and is fortunate he didn’t die. Krenning said he doesn’t remember anything from his cardiac arrest. He doesn’t remember seeing a “white light” or anything like that. When he regained consciousness in the hospital, he recalls being disoriented and in pain.
He has been diligent in exercising, riding a bike on Howlett Road in warm weather and eating right. At 72, he walks with a cane, but that is due to arthritis.
The incident a year ago had a big impact on the immediate family in the room. Diane said she feels her faith in God is stronger. Her son-in-law, who gave Bruce CPR, quit a career in the high-tech industry and has become a financial advisor, helping people get insurance and plan for the future, including an unexpected loss.
Bruce and Diane have four grown children and 13 grandchildren. He was honored by the Orleans County Chamber of Commerce in September 2014 with a “Lifetime Achievement” award for his many years of community service, including on the Albion and Lyndonville boards of education, the Orleans County and New York State Farm Bureau leadership, and with the hospital board.
Krenning these days is committed to the local hospital and wants to encourage people to learn the basics of CPR.
He and his wife also are active members of the East Shelby Community Bible Church.
“We’ve always had a strong faith,” Mrs. Krenning said. “But it has developed more. We’re calmer about things now. We know the importance of caring about other people.”
