The Board of Directors of the new Fulton Montgomery Regional Chamber of Commerce announces the appointment of Mark Kilmer as the Chamber’s President/CEO, according to a press release.  Kilmer has served as the Fulton County Chamber’s Interim President since May 10, 2012 and of both the Fulton County and Montgomery County Chambers of Commerce since September 19, 2012. 

Chamber Board of Directors Co-Chair Terri Easterly said of Kilmer’s appointment, “Mark has shown exceptional dedication and commitment through his tenure as our Chamber’s Interim President.  He has been instrumental in helping the Board of Directors, the Chamber staff and our members through the legal process of merging the two organizations into one entity.”  Kilmer was named following a nationwide search.

Kilmer stated, “One of my priorities over the next few months will be to develop a 2 to 3 year strategic plan for the Chamber.  I am thrilled to be given the opportunity to build, along with Chamber staff and the Board of Directors, the best business organization in the region supporting our members and their businesses.  I look forward to taking this Chamber into a new era, providing our business community with an even stronger voice, and helping our region become stronger economically and more business-friendly.”

The new CEO’s community service includes serving as Vice Chairman of the Fulton County Center for Regional Growth and currently is a Board member of the Crossroads Incubator Corporation.  He also currently serves on the Board of Directors of Mountain Valley Hospice and the Gloversville Economic Development Corporation, and is President of the Fulton County Mineral Club and Vice President of the Capital District Mineral Club.  He is Chief Karate Instructor at the Fulton County YMCA/Kai Do San Sport Karate.

Kilmer is a resident of Johnstown and an alumnus of Fulton-Montgomery Community College. Kilmer will be formally introduced to the Chamber membership at the Chamber’s Annual Dinner on Friday, January 18.

Eric Rasmussen, a forester committed to teaching others about the natural world, and Mike Riner, a farm manager who advocates for applied research, have been named 2012 Friends of Extension. They were honored during a ceremony at the Year-End Celebration at Cornell University and are shown here with Dr. Helene Dillard.

The staff of Cornell Cooperative Extension extends a message of Happy New Year to you and your family. We thank you for your support and assistance during 2012 and we wish you good health, good living, and prosperity in 2013.

The CCEFM office will re-open at 8:30 a.m. on Wednesday, January 2nd, 2013, resuming regular business hours Monday-Thursday, 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Happy Holidays from all the staff at Cornell Cooperative Extension in Fulton and Montgomery Counties. We hope that 2013 will be prosperous with goals exceeded, accomplishments numerous, and kindnesses extended.

Dr. James Garbarino, formerly a professor at Cornell University and currently a professor at Loyola University in Chicago, has authored an article entitled “Mitigating Effects of Gun Violence on Children and Youth” with Catherine Bradshaw and Joseph Vorrasi.

Find the article at www.futureofchildren.org and search for the title. The Future of Children is connected to Princeton University and the Brookings Institute and “provides research and analysis to promote effective policies and programs for children”.

Helping Children Frightened by News and Events

Child development and parent educators say that news coverage of events like today's trajedy in Connecticut and the mass shooting at a movie theatre in Colorado can frighten children and trigger fears about their own safety. Here are some ways teachers, parents and other caregivers can support children in dealing with traumatic events in the news.

Acknowledge the frightening parts of the event. Reassure children that they are loved and are safe. Children benefit greatly from support and caring expressed by the adults in their lives. Create an environment in your home or classroom that encourages respect for everyone's feelings and emotions.

Reduce or limit exposure to television images and news coverage. Parents should be aware of how much exposure to this news their children are getting. The frightening images and repetition of the scenes can be disturbing for children. If children do see TV coverage, parents and other caregivers should be willing to talk with them about what they saw. Let children ask questions -- it's OK if you don't have all the answers. What's important is giving them the opportunity to express their fears.

Let children air their feelings. While the impulse of some adults may be to downplay or avoid the news, it's important to create an environment that will allow children to express their fears. Most child development and parent educators agree on the importance of letting children to be able to talk about their feelings. Having open lines of communication can actually help decrease anxiety and fears.

Be creative. For children who are too young to talk or do not feel comfortable talking about their feelings, expressive techniques such as play, art and music can provide additional ways for children to express their feelings and let you know what may be troubling them.

For resources available through CYFERnet on helping children cope with frightening events in the news, see:

• Family Support in Times of Tragedy
  http://www1.cyfernet.org/hotnew/11-09-FtHood.html
  Resources on CYFERnet that may be of assistance for those of you working with the children, families, survivors, and communities impacted by community /military shootings, violence and terrorism.
• After a Disaster: A Guide for Parents and Teachers
  http://library.adoption.com/articles/after-a-disaster-a-guide-for-parents-and-teachers.html
  This site provides information on helping and understanding children from preschool to adolescence who have been through disasters.
• Encouraging Family Communication After a Disaster
  http://cals.arizona.edu/pubs/family/az1341/az1341f.pdf
  This site is meant to inform readers of the importance of family communication after a disaster.
• National Child Traumatic Stress Network
  http://www.nctsnet.org/trauma-types/terrorism
  The National Child Traumatic Stress Network is funded by the Center for Mental Health Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services. Contains links to resources for families, professionals, schools and the media. Includes a special section on terrorism and disaster relief with many resources available in Spanish.

Jim Kahler has been named National Program Leader, Youth Development, (STEM) Science, Technology, Engineering & Math at 4-H National Headquarters by NIFA (National Insititute of Food & Agriculture), Lisa Lauxman, PhD announced. Lauxman is the director of 4-H National Headquarters.

Jim has most recently provided leadership at the headquarters to the 4-H Science Mission Mandate and support to the CYFAR (Children, Youth & Families At-Risk) program as a Program Specialist. Prior to joining the headquarters staff at the end of 2011, Jim served for 20 years as a county 4-H educator with Maryland Cooeprative Extension. During his tenure in Maryland 4-H, he spent two years as a Technology Specialist for the   4-H/Army Youth Development Project.

Jim has hit the ground running and he can be reached at: jkahler@nifa.usda.gov. We welcome, Jim and look forward to his impact on 4-H youth programming in STEM. 

In 2011, an outbreak of Listeria monocytogenes in cantaloupe led to almost 150 illnesses and 30 deaths. With a spate of recent outbreaks of such foodborne pathogens as Salmonella, Shiga toxin-producing E. coli and L. monocytogenes, the ability to predict where and how these deadly microbes enter the food supply chain could save lives and prevent disease.

Cornell researchers have created a method that uses geospatial algorithms, foodborne pathogen ecology and Geographic Information System (GIS) tools to predict hot spots where these pathogens may be present and spread on farms prior to harvest. Many of the recent outbreaks of foodborne pathogens have been linked to contamination on the farm.

The method, which can be applied to any farm, uses classification tree tools with remotely sensed data, such as topography, soil type, weather trends, proximity to various sources (water, forests) and more, to predict areas where pathogens are likely to be present.

"We wanted to see if we could identify factors that gave us a higher or lower prevalence of finding these pathogens," said Laura Strawn, a graduate student in the field of food science and lead author of a study published online Nov. 9 in the journal Applied and Environmental Microbiology. "We can look at a farm and use this data analysis tool to tell the farmer where these hotspots may be for foodborne pathogens," she said.

It is that time of year again, Cornell Cooperative Extension of Fulton and Montgomery Counties is gearing up for its annual Incubation and Embryology program with the schools and youth in Fulton and Montgomery Counties. This 4-H project allows youth to learn science, explore and discover the mystery of life, develop a respect for life by understanding the development and basic requirements of a living organism and most of all have fun while enjoying hatching chicks in their own classroom.                                                                       

There are two sessions, the first one begins March 4th followed by the second session on April 15th. In addition, there is a training for first time teachers on February 13th at the Shirley Luck Senior Citzen Center in Johnstown. Educators interested in signing up for this project must complete the attached form and mail in payment to Cornell Cooperative Extension by February 1st. Please contact Shannon Dygert at 673-5525 ext. 122 or email smd69@cornell.edu with further questions.

The public is invited to attend a public outreach meeting for the NYS Greener, Cleaner Communities (CGC) Mohawk Valley Regional Sustainability Plan.

Wednnesday, December 5, 2012, 6:30 p.m., Robert McLaughlin College Center Auditorium, Herkimer County Community College

A free buffet dinner will be provided 5:30-6:30 p.m. for those who RSVP by Friday, November 30th. Call Greg Eisenhut at 315-866-4671 or email mvedd@twcny.rr.com

The Cleaner, Greener Communities Program was announced by Governor Cuomo in 2011 as a $100 million competitive grant program to encourage communities to develop regional sustainable growth strategies. The program is intended to provide the necessary resources for each region, as defined by the boundaries of the Regional Economic Development Councils, to develop a comprehensive sustainability plan.

Public outreach and input is an integral aspect of the Cleaner, Greener Communities Project. Read more about the plan's progress.