A public hearing on the tentative 2011 budget for Montgomery County has been scheduled for TONIGHT (Tuesday evening, December 14) 6:00 p.m., in the County Courthouse, 58 Broadway, Fonda. A Board of Supervisors meeting is expected to follow the hearing and a budget is expected to be adopted tonight.

Some resolutions have been put forth that will further reduce the appropriation for Cooperative Extension in Montgomery County. Any further reduction would gravely jeopardize the already bare bones operation & programs of CCEFM.

The reduced appropriation of $165,000 now established in the 2011 tentative budget means $8.23 for each household. That is less than the cost of a book of 44-cent postage stamps! For $8.23 per household, the vast majority of the current programming can remain intact.

The public hearing is your opportunity to speak in support of funding Cooperative Extension at its currently reduced amount of $165,000 for 2011. We urge you to do so.

Every year the media must report about disastrous fires caused by either uninformed or reckless use of live greens indoors during the holiday season and after.

Evergreens that have become dried can catch fire easily and quickly if care is not taken. When using live plant material to decorate the home, office or public buildings, use every caution to keep greens from becoming dry. Some common sense can go a long way to protecting from harm.

• Locate live greens away from radiators, fireplaces, stoves, candles, and electronic equipment including a television.
• Keep live greens out of entrance ways or the line of traffic.
• Never leave greens with lights on unattended; never leave lights on when not at home or in the building.
• Use freshly-cut material; the danger of fire is lessened by the moisture in the material.
• If using greens in an area of candles, insert stems into moist moss.
• Keep a fire extinguisher handy at all times; Be sure the fire extinguisher is in date and ready for immediate use.
• While commercially-made fireproofing materials are available on the market, the U.S. Forestry Service recommends plain water as the most practical and convenient method to keep live greens and trees green and resistant to fire.

LAST MARKET OF 2010

A fall series of indoor farmer's markets will come to a close with an indoor market this Saturday, December 11th, 9:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. at Alpin Haus, 1863 St. Highway 5s in the Town of Florida, Amsterdam. Alpin Haus is located directly across from the Target Distribution Center.

“This is the last market of 2010 and I encourage everyone to take this opportunity to look for and purchase local products for gift giving and for yourself", says Missy S. Potter, project coordinator. "The goal is to connect producers, some of whom have products that are not easily sold in the traditional farmer's market, to the consumer who seeks to buy local beyond the summer produce season." Customers at the markets meet and buy directly from the local farmers and producers who are set up booth-style. These popular markets generally draw hundreds of people to find local products.

The December 11th market will feature producers with meats, cheese, breads, alpaca yarns, jams & jellies, maple products, fresh vegetables, artisan crafts, Christmas wreaths and balls, cookie platters, baked goods, garlic and more. All products are grown or produced by the sellers. Cornell Cooperative Extension master gardeners will give two demonstrations: making wreaths of live material and the process of making wine. Children will find a coloring activity at the Cooperative Extension table. Admission and parking are free. And, it’s all indoors.

The off-season market series is co-produced by the Montgomery County Agriculture Economic Development Project and Cornell Cooperative Extension in Fulton and Montgomery Counties. It is supported by Alpin Haus as our generous host and partially underwritten by a generous gift from Hero-BeechNut. For more information, contact Missy Potter at msp234@cornell.edu or call 518-762-3909 x 101.

$49,000 cut for 2011

On December 2, 2010 the Fulton County Board of Supervisors adopted a budget for 2011 that includes an appropriation of $80,000 for CCEFM. The action reduces CCEFM's appropriation by $49,000, which actually will have a greater impact because of the proportionate loss of matching funds. We thank the Fulton County Board of Supervisors for restoring some funding.

Speakers Support Extension Funding

Speaking in favor of funding Extension during the public comment portion of the meeting were Jack Wilson, Walt Lane, Haley Claes, Tamara Healy, Doug Hill, CCEFM Director Marilyn J. Smith, and Dr. Helene Dillard, Director of Cooperative Extension in NYS.

We are grateful to all of the speakers who expressed their support and shared with the supervisors why Extension's programming is important in their own lives and the lives of their families and fellow Fulton County residents. We thank Dr. Dillard for sharing her perspective as Director of Extension in NYS, clarifying some misconceptions and misinformation, and for taking questions from the supervisors.

CCEFM is Example for Others to Follow Says Dillard

In her remarks to the Fulton County Board of Supervisors, Dr. Dillard commented that CCEFM is under very strong leadership and is an efficient and extremely well-run organization. She shared that as she visits other associations in the state, she would like to see other Extensions emmulate Fulton and Montgomery Counties' Extension.

We thank Dr. Dillard for taking time from a very busy schedule to visit CCEFM and express her concern for the need for continued programming for Fulton County residents.

Fulton County Farm Bureau urges funding for Cooperative Extension. Leader Herald reporter Michael Anich's article on November 26, 2010 tells the story.

Youth interested in becoming new 4-H members and adults interested in helping local youth develop into competent, caring and contributing adults through 4-H are invited to attend an upcoming 4-H interest meeting. A 4-H interest session is scheduled for Tuesday, November 30th from 6:30 – 8:00 p.m. at the Cornell Cooperative Extension Office at 55 East Main Street in Johnstown, New York.

4-H, the youth development program of Cornell Cooperative Extension, provides youth and adults with exciting, fun, interesting and rewarding experiences. 4-H youth development provides opportunities for youth ages 5–19, under the guidance of adult volunteers and Extension staff to pursue projects of particular interest, learn about healthy lifestyles, and participate in science, engineering and technology programs through neighborhood clubs and individual study.  The core 4-H ideal of practical, “learn by doing” experiences encourages youth to experiment, innovate and think independently.

Individuals planning to participate in this 4-H interest meeting are asked to call the 4-H office at Cornell Cooperative Extension at 518-762-3909, ext. 113 or ext. 114 no later than 12 noon on November 30^th. 

Cornell Cooperative Extension in Fulton and Montgomery Counties provides equal program and employment opportunities.

The Fulton County Board of Supervisors held a public hearing this afternoon to obtain public comment on the 2011 budget plan. Many speakers stood at the podium and expressed their support for restoring funding to Cornell Cooperative Extension for a variety of reasons. We thank all of the speakers in addition to speakers who were there to address other budgetary issues, but took the time to express their support for the value of Extension programs. We also thank the supervisors for listening carefully and urge them to lead the county to a workable result for the benefit of its residents.

Fulton County residents have another opportunity to address the Board. A second public hearing is scheduled for TONIGHT, Monday, November 22nd, at 7:00 p.m. in the Supervisors' Chambers. Please attend and express your support for funding CCEFM in the 2011 budget and for many years to come.

The Montgomery County Board of Supervisors returned partial funding to Cornell Cooperative Extension in Fulton and Montgomery Counties during a budget review session last night.

Following a brief presentation by Executive Director Marilyn J. Smith and a brisk question and answer period, the Committee of the Whole placed $165,000 back into the 2011 budget plan for Extension. This represents a 5% cut from the FY2010 funding level.

Supervisors also decided to award the contract for Agriculture Economic Development Project to Extension at a reduction of $2,000 from the FY2010 level of $27,000, bringing the figure down to a $25,000 allocation.

The Board and staff of Cornell Cooperative Extension are grateful to Chairman Vito Greco and the full Board of Supervisors for their dedicated work in the current budget review process. The great number of hours, the transparency of the process, and the willingness to dialog with departments and agencies are all commendable and greatly appreciated by our association.

While a 5% cut will require even more austerity in the 2011 operation of Extension in Montgomery County, this funding will keep intact proportionate matching funds to continue providing programs to county residents.

Connect with local producers and purchase local products at the Mohawk Valley Farm Market this Saturday, November 20th, 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. It's all indoors at the F.O.E. Eagles Hall, 12 South William Street, just off Main Street in Johnstown.

Don't miss the opportunity to purchase goods from Bird Haven Bakery (baked goods and eggs), Blue Moon Farm (meats, eggs, winter vegetables), Conbeer Family Farm (natural products, preserved/canned foods, mixes), Creek's Edge Elk Farm & Crum Creek CSA (elk meat, beef & other meats, eggs, soup mixes), Frasier's Sugar Shack (maple products), Glen Glade Farms (breads & other baked goods), Takacs Farm (fresh greens, tomatoes, root crops), Willowplace Farm (grass-fed beef & garlic). Find these producers all in one location at one time!

Make your list and we'll see you there!

The Mohawk Valley Markets are presented by the Montgomery County Agriculture Economic Development Project and Cornell Cooperative Extension in Fulton and Montgomery Counties.

The chairman of the Fulton County Board of Supervisors contacted Helene Dillard, Director of Cornell Cooperative Extension in New York State, requesting clarification of the consequences if the local association receives no funding appropriation from the local county budget. Director Dillard responded yesterday with a firm affirmation of this association's contention that without a county appropriation, Cooperative Extension would not be able to continue. Download the letter from Director Dillard in its entirety.