goBroomeCounty.com News Releases

Rabies Clinic Location Change (2008-08-27: Health Dept - Press Release)

webmaster@co.broome.ny.us (Broome County Webmaster) — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 17:09:02 -0400

The September 13th rabies clinic, sponsored by the Broome County Health Department and the Front Street Dog Shelter Alliance, will NOT be held at Fire Station #3 on West State Street, Binghamton, as previously announced. The clinic location is being moved to Otsiningo Park (near the pavilion) to coincide with the YWCA Encore Plus Canine Companion Walk that will be held on that day. The clinic hours are from 9:30 - 11:30 a.m.

Anyone with a dog, cat or pet ferret that needs a rabies vaccination is invited to attend. Animals receiving their first vaccination must be at least 3-months old. A $5 donation per animal is requested to help cover the cost of the clinic but is not required. All pets will be vaccinated regardless of the owner's ability to donate. If your pet has had a previous rabies vaccination, bring the certificate with you so that your pet may receive a three year vaccination. Without the certificate, your pet will receive a one-year vaccination. Pets must be under the control of their owner while at the clinic.

For more information regarding rabies, call the Broome County Health Department at 607.778.2887 or the Broome County Health Department information line at 607.778.3911 and select Option 1 to hear a list of upcoming rabies vaccination clinics. To view a list of the clinic dates, visit the Broome County Health Department website at www.gobroomecounty.com/hd.

BC Junction is Moving (2008-08-20: Transit - Press Release)

webmaster@co.broome.ny.us (Broome County Webmaster) — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 16:50:18 -0400

Effective Monday August 25, 2008 BC Junction will be moving from our present location, to 166 Court St, Binghamton, between Carroll and Fayette St.

Volunteers Needed for Meals on Wheels (2008-08-14: Executive - Press Release)

webmaster@co.broome.ny.us (Broome County Webmaster) — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 13:35:02 -0400

Meals on Wheels is seeking volunteers to assist with the delivery of meals to community members' homes. Over 200,000 meals are served annually through the Office for Aging Meals on Wheels program. Those currently working for the program consider it a great way to give back to the community and help out fellow neighbors.

For delivery, volunteers work in teams of two. One volunteer serves as driver and the other volunteer takes meals into the clients' homes. Delivery begins around 11:15 and is completed by 1:00pm. Volunteers who drive for Meals on Wheels in Binghamton are reimbursed $4.00 per route for gas.

Those interested in becoming a Meals on Wheels volunteer are asked to contact the Binghamton Meals on Wheels Office at 607.778.6205. The Meals on Wheels office is located at 85 Walnut Street in Binghamton.

For more information visit http://www.gobroomecounty.com/senior/SCmow.php

25th Annual Chris Thater Memorial Races (2008-08-13: Executive - Press Release)

webmaster@co.broome.ny.us (Broome County Webmaster) — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 15:59:47 -0400

August 23rd—August 24th Recreation Park Binghamton, NY

The Chris Thater Memorial Races are held each year in honor of Chris Thater, an avid cyclist who was killed by a drunk driver. In its 25th year, a host of the world's most talented runners and cyclists will take to the streets in Binghamton, NY, beginning on Saturday, August 23rd to compete in this premier competition. A complete schedule of events can be accessed at: www.bcstopdwi.com.
"The Chris Thater Memorial has become a premiere sporting event with a strong, important community message," said Executive Fiala. "I want to thank Jim May STOP DWI Coordinator, for the programming he does year round to promote the dangers of drinking and driving. This is an event for the whole family to enjoy and I thank the many sponsors and volunteers for their contributions to its success."
STOP DWI Coordinator Jim May has dedicated this sporting event in Chris's memory and in the process he has created a tremendously effective tool for spreading the anti drunk driving message. The Chris Thater Memorial attracts more than 1,500 athletes from around the world and more than 12,000 spectators. The weekend of racing and entertainment is held in a neighborhood setting surrounding Recreation Park.
"I'm proud the Chris Thater Memorial has become a highly respected stop for both runners and cyclists and I'm proud to be a part of building this community attraction," said Jim May, STOP-DWI Coordinator. "As this event has grown, we've been able to reach out to educate everyone, especially our young people, about the dangers of drinking and driving."
A true weekend of family entertainment begins with a noon concert on Friday, August 22nd featuring "Ceili Rain" on the Broome County Courthouse steps in downtown Binghamton. On Saturday evening from 6:30- 8:30pm "Fetish Lane" will perform at Recreation Park. Both concerts are free and open to the public thanks to Southern Tier Celebrates! and Delta Engineering.
"The City of Binghamton is excited and honored to continue a great tradition in hosting the 25th annual Chris Thater Memorial Races at our historic Recreation Park," said Mayor Matt Ryan. "This annual event is a tribute to Christopher Thater, and promotes public awareness of substance abuse and traffic safety. In the last 25 years, the Races have grown from a small local effort into one of the premiere cycling and running races in North America, and that only elevates the event's core message and our community's visibility. I applaud all the sponsors, organizers, participants, and supporters for the hard work and dedication, and I encourage our residents and visitors to join us at the races."
The action of the Chris Thater Memorial begins on Saturday morning at 10am with cycling competitions. A number of different cycling and running divisions will race during the day Saturday and all day Sunday. A 3-on-3 CYO Basketball Tournament is scheduled for Sunday. Numerous vendors and organizations will be on display in the park. The event will culminate on Sunday with the final cycling race scheduled to start at noon.
STOP-DWI stands for "Special Traffic Options Program for Driving While Intoxicated". The STOP-DWI Program was enacted by the State Legislature in 1981 for the purposes of empowering county governments to coordinate local efforts to reduce alcohol and other drug-related traffic crashes within the context of a comprehensive and financially self-sustaining alcohol and highway safety program.

National Stop On Red Week August 3-9, 2008 (2008-08-05: Health Dept - Press Release)

webmaster@co.broome.ny.us (Broome County Webmaster) — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 14:18:06 -0400

Red light running is a dangerous and costly traffic violation in our country. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, in 2006 red light running produced 171,000 crashes, 144,000 injuries and approximately 887 deaths in the United States. Red light running is a serious problem with devastating consequences. Red light running alone not only costs Americans over $14 billion dollars every year but also costs us lives. Drivers who fail to stop at red lights increase their risk of hitting another vehicle or pedestrian causing major intersection congestion.

Out of 2,515 crashes that occurred in 2006 in Broome County, 105 of these crashes resulted from drivers disregarding traffic control. These 105 crashes resulted in 2 fatalities, 55 personal injuries and 48 property damages – statistics that are significantly higher than the previous year. This same problem exists throughout the state. In 2006, in New York State, 201,606 crashes occurred with approximately 9,552 crashes resulting from traffic control signal disregard. This resulted in 83 fatalities, 7,074 injuries and 2,395 property damages (www.safeny.com).

The National Stop on Red Week campaign has been established to educate drivers about the dangers of red light running, to re-establish respect for traffic signals, to enhance the safety of our nation's drivers and pedestrians, as well as to reduce the number of injuries and fatalities resulting from this problem. However, education is not the sole solution. In order to fully combat this problem enforcement and engineering efforts, such as issuing citations and red light cameras, are required.

The Broome County Traffic Safety Board is encouraging enforcement agencies to take an active part in this initiative by issuing citations for running a red light. "Running a red light is a form of aggressive driving. Both are avoidable and inexcusable," says Christine Muss, Traffic Safety Coordinator for the Broome County Health Department. "Red light running is a result of people being in a hurry. Give yourself plenty of time to get to your destination and try to be a patient and attentive driver."

The Broome County Traffic Safety Board reminds motorists to remember these important rules when approaching intersections where there are traffic lights:

• Slow down and prepare to stop when you see a yellow.

• Always come to a complete stop and look both ways before turning right on red, unless a sign otherwise prohibits this, such as no turn on red.

• Scan intersections and approach with caution, even if the light is green.

• Yield to pedestrians. They have the right of way.

Safety is a shared responsibility. The Federal Highway Administration is responsible for building and maintaining safe roads but drivers must make smart decisions and be responsible on the road. For more information on National Stop on Red Week please visit the Federal Highway Administration website at http://safety.fhwa.dot.gov/ or The National Campaign to Stop Red Light Running website at http://www.stopredlightrunning.com/index.html.

Governor Paterson Announces Major Economic Development For New York's Southern Tier (2008-08-06: Executive - Press Release)

webmaster@co.broome.ny.us (Broome County Webmaster) — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 15:21:23 -0400

Impress USA to Construct New Plant, Pledges Jobs

Governor David A. Paterson today announced that Impress USA, a global leader in the consumer metal packaging industry, will build a new manufacturing plant in Conklin, New York, providing a major economic boost for the Southern Tier. The project will initially bring 75 new, full-time employees to the location during the first phase of construction and initial operations.

"New York State is committed to supporting the needs of manufacturers, like Impress, that want to invest and grow in Upstate," said Governor Paterson. "At a time when our State's economy has tightened dramatically, this type of private investment is critical for New York's economic development. Empire State Development's participation in this project was a major factor in the company's decision to locate the expansion in Broome County, and we are confident that this project will create a significant economic impact in the Southern Tier."

Impress plans to enter into a 100,000 square-foot facility agreement for metal manufacturing with a long-term lease. The plant is being constructed to allow for a second phase of expansion where employment could eventually be doubled.

Empire State Development will invest $750,000 in capital grants, an additional $750,000 will come from the Office of Small Cities, $650,000 will come from the Broome County Industrial Development Agency and the project will be eligible for the State's Empire Zone program. The Conklin plant will provide Impress customers with a range of modern metal packaging products for the human food and pet food markets. Their products are used in containers for a wide variety of materials, from infant formula to aerosol paint.

Kenneth A. Schoetz, Acting Empire State Development Upstate Chairman, said: "I am pleased that we were able to play such a vital role in the attraction of Impress to the Southern Tier region where the manufacturer will invest millions of dollars. Governor Paterson has made clear that the Southern Tier is a superb place to do business due to its highly-skilled workforce and excellent quality of life. I welcome Impress to Conklin and look forward to all of Upstate benefiting from this new manufacturing facility."

Barbara Fiala, Broome County Executive, said: "We are thrilled that of all the locations Impress considered, the company chose this one in our Corporate Park. Impress is a first-class company that produces a first-rate product, and we are proud they have decided to expand in our community."

Senator Tom Libous said: "Governor Paterson and County Executive Fiala understand the importance of creating good job opportunities for our area. Impress is a solid company with packaging plants all over the world. I'm not surprised they've chosen our community as one of their newest homes. We have a talented workforce that's ready and able to fill the 75 jobs openings Impress will bring here."

Dennis Kester, President of Impress North America, said: "We chose Conklin and Broome County, New York, because of the availability of a skilled workforce, a good community college and university to support our training needs, and a very supportive local and state government."

Francis Labbe, CEO of Impress, said: "We continue to see good growth opportunities in the USA. We had a wide choice of locations for this major development, but we have been so impressed by the energy and the support offered by the State of New York that our decision to locate the plant here was easy."

Health Advocates Launch Website To Protect New Yorkers from Secondhand Smoke In Their Homes (2008-08-04: Health Dept - Press Release)

webmaster@co.broome.ny.us (Broome County Webmaster) — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 13:11:46 -0400

Tobacco Free Broome and Tioga, together with 28 tobacco control organizations across New York State has launched SmokeFreeHousingNY.org. The site is specifically created as a resource for tenants, landlords/property owners and realtors. It offers a 'how to' for handling drifting tobacco smoke issues in apartments, coops, condos, along with other forms of multi-unit living.

"Public acceptance of secondhand smoke is dwindling and the demand for smoke-free environments is on the rise," said Sharon Fischer, Coordinator for Tobacco Free Broome. "New Yorkers are no longer exposed to secondhand smoke in the workplace, and now SmokeFreeHousingNY.org will help New Yorkers take steps to protect themselves and their families from this hazard at home.

Resources offered by the web-site range from providing tenants with actions to address secondhand smoke, offering landlords smoke-free policy adoption/implementation ideas to promotional tips for realtors.

Health Department Issues Guidance On What To Do If You Find A Bat In Your Home (2008-08-04: Health Dept - Press Release)

webmaster@co.broome.ny.us (Broome County Webmaster) — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 11:24:36 -0400

During the warm weather months, especially during the summer when bats are active during the evening, there is the potential that they could enter your home. Because there is a risk of rabies from bats, if you find a bat in your home and you cannot be absolutely certain there has been no contact with a person or pet, you must attempt to capture the bat and bring it into the Broome County Health Department for testing. Testing of the bat is important because it can confirm whether rabies treatment is needed to prevent rabies.

Within the past week there have been three separate cases where the bat was let go after it was captured because the person did a self-assessment and didn't see any evidence of a bat bite or scratch. A self-examination is unreliable because bat's teeth are very small and razor sharp. A bite from a bat can be as small as a pin prick and barely visible to the naked eye.

"In all three cases the people involved had to undergo rabies treatment. If the bats were captured and sent for testing, post-exposure treatment for rabies may not have been necessary," said Robert Denz, Director of Environmental Health Services at the Broome County Health Department. The only time it is advisable to let a bat go is if you saw the bat fly in your home and back out again and there was no contact with a person or pet.

Rabies is a virus that affects the central nervous system and is preventable through a series of vaccinations after an exposure. Once symptoms appear, however, rabies is fatal.

To capture a bat follow these steps:

• Turn on room lights and close the windows.

• Close the room and closet doors.

• Wait for the bat to land.

• Wearing gloves, place a coffee can, pail or similar container over the bat.

• Slide a piece of cardboard under the container to trap the bat.

• Firmly hold the cardboard in place against the top of the container, turn it right

side up and tape the cardboard tightly to the container.

Following these steps will insure that bat's brain remains intact, which is necessary for testing. To make arrangements to have the bat tested for rabies, call the Environmental Health Division of the Broome County Health Department during normal business hours at 607.778.2887. For emergency guidance on weekends and after normal work hours call Broome County Dispatch at 607.778.1911. A dispatcher will then contact Broome County Health Department staff for you.

To minimize the risk of an unwanted bat in your home, you should do a home inspection. Bats can get into homes through cracks as small as a pencil. Find potential points of entry and seal them. To further reduce the risk, make sure all windows and doors have screens on them and that the screens are intact. Attics are also a common entry point. Make sure access to those areas from the living area is tightly sealed.

For more information about bats and rabies visit the New York State Department of Health website at http://www.health.state.ny.us/diseases/communicable/zoonoses/rabies/ or the Centers for Disease and Control website at HTrevett@stny.rr.com.

Information Session Scheduled for New Downtown Binghamton Incubator (2008-07-29: Executive - Press Release)

webmaster@co.broome.ny.us (Broome County Webmaster) — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 12:04:18 -0400

123 Court St. soon ready to accept tenants

New and emerging businesses looking for assistance in starting a new company may find a home at the new Greater Binghamton Innovation Center. It's a high-tech incubator in Downtown Binghamton ready to provide an affordable, nurturing environment to anyone embarking on a new business venture.

An information session will be held this week for potential clients or anyone simply seeking answers about the incubator. The session will be held, Thursday, July 31st, at 5pm, in the Decker Room of the Broome County Library, 185 Court Street, Binghamton, NY 13901

Anyone with questions can call Broome County Economic Development at 607.778.2939. Or check out www.greaterbinghamton.com (click on the "Binghamton Innovation" link).

Ethnic festival seeking vendors (2008-07-25: Executive - Press Release)

webmaster@co.broome.ny.us (Broome County Webmaster) — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 15:55:13 -0400

The Broome County Ethnic Festival is looking for vendors and performers. The event is scheduled for 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday, October 25, 2008 at the Broome County Veterans Memorial Arena.

The third annual festival is a celebration of the community's varied ethnic groups, and will feature food, entertainment and demonstrations. Anyone interested in participating is asked to fill out and application and return it to the Broome County Executive Office, P.O. Box 1766, Binghamton, NY 13902.

Applications can be downloaded from the Broome County Government Web Site, www.goBroomeCounty.com. Look under "Featured Items" in the top right section of the homepage to find the link. If you have any questions or would like an application, please call Colleen Wagner at 607.778.2109.

Otsiningo Park Upgrades Include Greater Binghamton Welcome Sign and Bocce Ball Court (2008-07-24: Executive - Press Release)

webmaster@co.broome.ny.us (Broome County Webmaster) — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 09:30:31 -0400

Broome County Executive Barbara J. Fiala was joined by members of the Sons of Italy, the Abruzzese Social Club and her administration to unveil the Greater Binghamton welcome sign and a new bocce ball court in Ostiningo Park. Members of the Italian social groups were unable to compete on the new court due to the poor weather conditions.

"The new Bocce Ball Court and Greater Binghamton Welcome sign are excellent additions to Ostiningo Park," said Executive Fiala "After years of trying to get a "Welcome to Greater Binghamton" sign in the area, we commissioned the construction of a sign at Otsiningo Park in a location that can be seen by traffic traveling both north and south. Just in time for both the Empire State Games and the Spiedie Festival -those traveling through the area will now be welcomed by our Greater Binghamton logo."

The regulation bocce ball court was constructed near the northwest park office and pavilion. Bocce Balls can be rented at the park for the day by presenting a valid drivers license to a parks or security employee. Groups can also reserve the court by contacting the County Parks and Recreation Department at 607.778.2193.

The new welcome sign will cost the county between $15,000 and $20,000. Work for the project was completed by Joe Orlando and Son Contracting and 3i Graphics Broome County Economic Development Director Darcy Fauci explained during the news conference that there are plans for additional signs and the county is working with the DOT to find amenable locations in high traffic areas. Federal highway law prohibits signs from being placed near the Interstates at each of the county borders. The county is being creative to find locations that are visible and meet the State Department of Transportation and federal transportation guidelines.

"Our community sits at a crossroads of several major interstates and highways and millions of cars pass through Greater Binghamton every year, yet I think many travelers would be hard pressed to identify the community they are driving through," said Broome County Economic Development Director Darcy Fauci. "This strategically placed sign hopes to raise their awareness and make sure more people know where Greater Binghamton. It also promotes our website which provides those from outside the area an avenue to find out more information about our community."

New Bus Route to Farmers' Market (2008-07-22: Executive - Press Release)

webmaster@co.broome.ny.us (Broome County Webmaster) — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 16:54:07 -0400

Saturday Stop Added in Otsiningo Park

Broome County Executive Barbara J. Fiala and Broome County Transit Commissioner George Bagnetto announced today a new Saturday BC Transit route to Otsiningo Park and the Farmer's Market. The new stop will be added to the Front Street Route beginning this Saturday, July 26th, 2008. Located in Ostiningo Park, the Farmers' Market sponsored by Cornell Cooperative Extension, takes place each Saturday from 9am until 2pm from now until the end of October.

"BC Transit will now make a stop at the Farmers' Market in Otsiningo Park each Saturday," stated Executive Barbara J. Fiala. "As more people are using public transportation due to the rising fuel prices, we hope riders take advantage of improved access to the park and weekend market. The Farmers' Market offers an affordable variety of fresh locally grown vegetables and goods."

In its second year, the Farmers' Market at Otsiningo Park offers product from 18 vendors, including locally grown fruits and vegetables, meats, herbs and other products. Each Saturday local farmers and purveyors assemble in the park's northwest parking lot.

Those looking to ride BC Transit to the Farmers' Market should take the # 8 Front Street Bus Route from the downtown Junction starting at 8:50am. Outbound times from the Junction to the park include: 8:50am, 9:50am, 10:50am, 11:50am, 12:50pm, and 1:50pm. (8:50am leaves the Junction as a #40 Chenango, once it crosses over the Bevier St. Bridge, it continues on as the #8 Front Street; all the rest of the Junction departure times leave as the # 8 Front Street). Inbound departure times to the park from the Chenango Bridge Park & Ride are: 8:20am, 9:20am, 10:20am, 11:20am, 12:20pm, 1:20pm, and 2:20pm. The last departure from the Farmers' Market to downtown will be at 2:35pm.

"As more and more people want to know where their food is coming from, this is a great opportunity to interact with local farmers and form connections with them", states Laura Biasillo, Agricultural Economic Development Specialist with Cornell Cooperative Extension of Broome County and Otsiningo Park Farmers' Market manager. "Shopping at the Otsiningo Park Farmers' Market is just like shopping at a grocery store. We have produce, meats, eggs, maple syrup and honey, baked goods and even pet treats. You will find something for everyone in your family. You can even use EBT benefits and Farmers' Market Checks or credit and debit cards."

For more information about BC Transit including bus schedules go to:

Department of Social Service Receives Grant to Expand Child Protective Services (2008-07-18: Executive - Press Release)

webmaster@co.broome.ny.us (Broome County Webmaster) — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 16:03:44 -0400

The Broome County Department of Social Services (DSS) has been awarded a 2008 New York State Office of Family & Children Services (OCFS) grant. Social Services applied for the additional funding to expand operations to create an additional Child Protective Services Unit. The county will receive over $200,000 to hire additional staff for the new unit.

"The additional unit will expand efforts to protect the well-being of our area's youth," stated Executive Barbara J. Fiala. "Our community is still grieving over the unfortunate child fatality cases that occurred this spring."

Currently, the Department's Child Protective Service Division operates with 24 case workers and 4 supervisors. Sensitivity grew in the Greater Binghamton community following a series of tragic child fatality cases in the spring of 2008. Over the past nine months, DSS experienced a sustained increase of 40% in the number of child abuse and/or maltreatment reports.

Current staffing levels needed to be altered to better handle the increased caseload. "This is the best news I've heard all year. Staff members have been swamped with the increase in new child abuse reports to investigate." said Social Service Commissioner Arthur Johnson. "The Office of Family and Children Services responded to the community's need for additional staff."

Six new staff members will be gained from the targeted state aid. This staff increase is estimated to cost $209,523 to hire additional staff from September 8, 2008 through March 31, 2009. After that time period, the new staff will then become permanent department staff and included in the overall operating budget.

Airport Parking Lot Renovation Project Completed (2008-07-15: Executive - Press Release)

webmaster@co.broome.ny.us (Broome County Webmaster) — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 16:56:40 -0400

Today, Senator Tom Libous and Broome County Executive Barbara J. Fiala hosted a ribbon cutting ceremony at the Greater Binghamton Airport (BGM) for the completion of the 2.1 Million dollar parking lot renovation project. The construction work began at the airport in August of last year and was completed in June of this year.

"BGM is our gateway to the world," said Executive Fiala. "The parking lot expansion and upgrades make our regional airport more convenient and safe for travelers. Our airport supports our community's growth and economic development."

Tom Libous said "our airport is essential for keeping and creating jobs at Lockheed Martin, BAE and Universal Instruments. Upgrading and expanding the parking lot was also important to keep us competitive with Scranton and Elmira."

The overall Airport Parking Lot Renovation project cost was $2,196,000. With the help of Senator Tom Libous the county received two multi-modal New York State grants that, combined, amounted to $950,000 and an Air '99 grant that amounted to $300,000. In total, the county received $1,250,000 in state funding for this much needed project.

The parking lot upgrades included the following:

Free Family Fun Events (2008-07-15: Executive - Press Release)

webmaster@co.broome.ny.us (Broome County Webmaster) — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 16:48:12 -0400

Starting August 7th the KYDS Coalition, a local drug prevention community coalition, is hosting Family Days in local parks for community members. These events, which take place in area parks between 5:30pm-7:30pm, will include free family friendly activities such as entertainment, arts and crafts, fun snacks, games and giveaways.

"Keeping youth drug-free and safe is our goal," says project specialist Melinda Kmetz. "It's about bringing the community together. So many people want to make a difference and together we can."

The family nights are part of the coalition's broader effort to make Broome County a better place to live. Founded in 2000, the KYDS Coalition is a unique collaboration of agencies, organizations and school districts in the community.

"We work to create opportunities for supportive, healthy, drug-free youth, families, and neighborhoods in Broome County by strengthening existing partnerships between traditional and non-traditional prevention teams," added Kmetz. The KYDS Coalition is funded by the federal Drug Free Communities Support Program Grant, through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMSHA) and the Center for Substance Abuse Prevention (CSAP).

Join the KYDS Coalition Family Days in the parks on:

August 7th- Northside Park, Oak Hill Avenue, Endicott

August 14th- Recreation Park, Beethoven Street, Binghamton

August 21st- Floral Ave Park, Floral Ave, Johnson City

August 28th- Highland Park, Hooper Road Endwell

If you are interested in becoming involved in the KYDS Coalition or are a local business willing to donate services for our community events contact Melinda Kmetz 607.778.1146

Lyme Disease (2008-07-15: Health Dept - Press Release)

webmaster@co.broome.ny.us (Broome County Webmaster) — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 12:28:26 -0400

Summer is here, which means it's time for New Yorkers to take precautions to protect themselves from Lyme disease. Lyme disease has become an important public health problem in New York State. "Incidence remains low in Broome County, but in the past year there were a few cases of Lyme disease that were most likely acquired in Broome County. Therefore Broome County residents should be aware that there is a risk of acquiring Lyme disease in this region, and should take appropriate precautions," said Mari Yourdon, PHN, Communicable Disease Nurse.

"Lyme disease is spread by the bite of infected deer ticks," said Diane O'Hora, Supervising Public Health Educator for the Broome County Health Department.

"Ticks cannot fly or jump. They like to rest on low-lying vegetation and attach to a passing animal or person. Once on a body, ticks often attach to the more hidden areas such as the groin, armpits and scalp," warned Ms. O'Hora.

Campers, hikers, outdoor workers and others who frequent wooded and tall grassy areas will be more likely exposed to ticks. Because new homes are often built in wooded areas, transmission of Lyme disease near homes can be a concern in some areas of the state. The risk of exposure to ticks is greatest along trails in the woods and on the edges of properties with tall vegetation, but ticks may also be carried by animals and pets into lawns and gardens.

Early stages of Lyme disease are usually marked by one or more of the following symptoms and signs: fatigue, chills and fever, headache, muscle and joint pain, swollen lymph nodes, and/or a "bull's eye" red rash appearing on the skin at the site of the bite. Lyme disease is often difficult to diagnose, because its symptoms and signs mimic those of many other diseases. Left untreated, Lyme disease can produce severe arthritis, or cause neurological or cardiac problems. However with early detection and treatment with antibiotics, recovery from Lyme disease is usually rapid and complete.

"Domestic animals, such as dogs and outdoor cats, may become infected with Lyme disease bacteria, and some of these animals may develop arthritis," warned Ms. O'Hora.

Dogs appear to be more at risk for Lyme disease. Symptoms in dogs include lethargy, joint pain, fever, fatigue and kidney damage. While there is debate about whether cats suffer from Lyme disease, cats are thought to be highly resistant to the disease.

You can decrease you and your family's chances of being bitten by a tick by following a few precautions:

When in wooded and grassy areas which are likely to be tick-infested, wear light-colored clothing (to spot ticks) and tuck pants into socks and shirt into pants.

After every two to three hours outdoors, check for ticks on clothing or skin. Brush off any ticks on clothing before they can attach to your skin. Also, check your children and pets for ticks.

Do a thorough tick-check of your entire body at the end of the day. Pay particular attention to the back of the knees, behind the ears, the scalp, the armpits and your back.

If you decide to use tick repellent, apply carefully following label directions.

Children may be at greater risk for reactions to repellents, in part because their exposure may be greater. Do not apply repellents directly to children. Apply to your own hands and then put it on the child. Never apply to the hands of small children.

No one should apply repellents near eyes, nose or mouth. Also, use it sparingly around ears.

If any ticks are found, they should be removed immediately. Use fine-tipped tweezers to carefully grasp the mouth-parts of the tick close to the skin, and then gently and steadily pull the tick out without twisting or squeezing.

After removing the tick, wash the bite area thoroughly, apply antiseptic, and mark the area to watch for symptoms. Ms. O'Hora reminded people that gasoline, kerosene, petroleum jelly or hot matches should never be used to remove ticks.

For more information about Lyme disease call the Broome County Health Department at 607.778.3921 or visit the New York State Health web site at www.broomecountyfairny.com.

Pet Micro Chipping Offered (2008-07-08: Executive - Press Release)

webmaster@co.broome.ny.us (Broome County Webmaster) — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 11:04:01 -0400

On Wednesday, July 9th pet micro chipping will be offered at the Town of Vestal Fire Station Number 3, located on Old Owego Road, from 6 until 7:30pm. The cost of the chip is $35 and includes pet registration on the Home Again website.

Veterinarians will be on hand to insert a tiny chip (the size of a grain of rice) just under pet's skin. Each chip has a number that is entered into a data base. The chip can be quickly scanned by shelters to identify the pet's owner and reunite them with their animal.

For more information please go to: www.homeagain.com

All News Releases

webmaster@co.broome.ny.us (Broome County Webmaster) — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 00:55:58 -0400

All Broome County Government News Releases