Come find out what the Real Men Can Cook event is all about at the first-ever pre-event this Saturday in the kitchen at the Ruby & Quiri store, Route 30A in Johnstown. A few 'real men' will cook up sample dishes that you can taste. You can also talk with the guys to learn about this fun, unique fundraiser.

Real Men Can Cook is set for next Friday evening, October 15th, 5:30-7:30 p.m. in the College Union cafeteria at Fulton-Montgomery Community College, State Highway 67, Johnstown.

Please get your tickets now! This event often sells out and you don't want to miss out on this great evening of delicious food, lighthearted conversation, and great basket raffles - all to help support community nutrition education programs aimed at creating healthy communities, individuals and families.

This year Real Men Can Cook is partnering with the Cancer Services Program of Fulton and Montgomery Counties to help build awareness of the need for breast cancer screening. All of the 'real men' will wear PINK this year! Come out and join us for the evening!

Take a walk in the forest one more time before winter sets in. A Day at the Thomas H. Burbine Sr. Memorial Forest in the Town of Charleston, Montgomery County, NY will be held on Saturday, November 6, 9:00 a.m.-12 noon. The morning will include time to explore the forest, an informational talk, optional fall clean up work and a hot dog roast.

Activities include:

• A guided walk through the forest by consulting forester and NYFOA Capital District Chair Mike Greason. Mike will speak about how to maintain a healthy forest while receiving income from it.
• Members from the Schoharie River Center will be available to demonstrate how to conduct a stream study.
• Trail maintenance to support the work of Eagle Scouts Brian Page and Alex Schnackenberg.

This event is sponosred by the Montgomery County Water Quality Coordinating Committee, Montgomery County Soil & Water Conservation District, Hudson-Mohawk RC&D Council, and the NY Forest Owner's Association Capital District Chapter.

For information about facilities or services or to request sign linguage interpretation or other auxiliary aids at this meeting, please contact Elizabeth Marks, coordinator, at 518-828-4385 x 105 at least 5 days prior to the event. Equal opportunity provider and employer.

Cornell Cooperative Extension in Fulton & Montgomery Counties recently received recognition from Kathleen N. Ludgate, Boston Regional Director U.S. Census Bureau. A recognition certificate signed by Dr. Robert M. Groves, Director, U.S. Census Bureau, states that CCEFM was a "valued partner... in raising awareness of and inspiring participation in the 2010 Census. Your efforts to help achieve a complete and accurate census count have made a lasting impact on the nation."

In her remarks, Reginal Director Ludgate stated "As a census partner, you can take pride in knowing tha tyour organization helped ensure that the communities you serve are accurately represented in Congress and eligible for funding needed for important community programs, servies and facilities.

Ellen Abend, NY EDEN Coordinator, Cornell University shares important information in light of today's weather:

With the potential for heavy rainfall over the next few hours which may lead to flooding in some areas, please remember “Turn Around, Don’t Drown”. Many deaths occur when people attempt to drive their vehicles through flooded roadways. Find more information at http://tadd.weather.gov/tadd-intro.shtml

Find more flooding resources at the NY EDEN website page: http://emergencypreparedness.cce.cornell.edu/disasters/Pages/Floods.aspx

The Center for Technology in Government (CTG) at the University at Albany is partnering with the New York State Office of Cyber Security (OCS) to collect actual broadband speeds from New York State residents.

CTG has developed a website with a simple speed test that residents can take from their home computer that will collect real-time broadband speeds. The data collected will inform the development of a comprehensive map of broadband internet availability throughout New York State. The map will be used to inform future policy decisions and funding for broadband activities in New York State.

Better broadband means greater opportunities for all New Yorkers and is an economic and social imperative in which all organizations have a stake, whether farmers, environmentalists, small business owners, educators, librarians, or mayors and town supervisors. According to a recent survey by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), 4 out of 5 Americans do not know the speed of their Internet connection.

"Better information can help all consumers choose the broadband services that best meet their needs," Joel Gurin, chief of the FCC's Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau, said in a statement. "Today, most people just know that their home broadband speed is supposed to be 'blazing fast.' They need more meaningful information to know exactly what speed they need for the applications they want to run, and what provider and plan is their best choice."

Please take the test from your home and ask your New York State resident-neighbors and friends to do the same. Visit www.nyspeedtest.org, click on "Take the Speed Test," and follow the prompts.

OCS has received funding to carry out this project by way of a grant from the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA).

This information was provided by Rod Howe, Assistant Director, Community & Economic Vitality, Cornell Cooperative Extension and Executive Director, Community and Regional Development Institute (CARDI)

Many thanks to all of the participants in the 2010 4-H Clover Combo Classic! Also, thanks to all of the generous, supportive sponsors and to all of the hard-working volunteers who together made the event happen!

Where will you be tomorrow, Sunday, September 26th?

Come and run or walk for YOUTH and for the health of it! 8K Run, 5K walk, 1K Kids' Dash, and 100 yard mascot race: 4-H Clover Combo Classic on Main Street in Fort Hunter, NY. The weather predictions are for a cool, September monring - just perfect for running or walking. Lace up your shoes and come run or walk with us!

This is a major fundraiser for the 4-H program in Fulton & Montgomery Counties. Lots of details at www.ccefm.com/clovercombo. We need your support to continue many of the awards programs for 4-H members in addition to project support activities. All monies raised stay right here in the local program. One or two hours of your time and energy at this event will make a difference!

See you there!

A Cornell University energy expert says widespread sustainable energy is possible by mid-century, according to a recent article in the Cornell Chronicle.

"Ultimately, most of the energy on the planet is going to come directly from the sun," Frank DiSalvo, a Cornell professor of physical science and director of the Cornell Center for a Sustainable Future, said in a Sept. 15 article. "More energy than we use in one year is hitting the planet every hour of the day from the sun."

According to the article, DiSalvo emphasizes that sustainability faces more than just technical challenges. "The cultural, social, political and behavioral dimensions in addressing sustainability will be central to determine possible futures for us and the planet," DiSalvo says.

To learn more read the article Widespread solar energy within 50 years? 'We can definitely do it,' predicts sustainability expert in the Cornell Chronicle.

To learn more about solar power in New York State visit the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority’s Web page Solar Incentives Are Heating Up!

Of course, the first step towards residential solar power is to reduce your overall power consumption. Reducing your usage will save you money and reduce the size of the solar system you’ll need. To learn more about simple low and no cost ways to trim your utility bill visit our Consumer and Financial Page.

The United States Department of Agriculture is looking for help identifying areas infested with tree damaging pests. The Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) and the Asian Longhorn Beetle (ALB) have destroyed millions of trees in the United States. The EAB has been confirmed in several New York counties this summer (Steuben, Monroe, Livingston, Genesee, Greene and Ulster counties, plus Cattaragus last summer).

The USDA says you can help stop the spread of the Emerald Ash Borer and the Asian Longhorn Beetle by checking your neighborhood for signs of these invasive bugs.

For more information on how to identify infestation read the USDA’s fact sheets on Emerald Ash Borers and the Asian Longhorn Beetle.

If you do spot these bugs or signs of infestation, the USDA is asking you report it to the USDA’s State Plant Health Director at USDA-APHIS-PPQ, 500 New Karner Road, 2^nd Fl., Albany, NY 12205, phone: (518) 218-7510 or by e-mail at Yvonne.M.DeMarino@aphis.usda.gov.

Also visit the USDA’s Beetle Detective website where you can find out how to report sightings online.

Photo credit: Howard Russell, Michigan State University, Bugwood.org

Home heating season is almost here. Are you prepared? Attend Cornell Cooperative Extension’s free energy saving workshop and start taking steps to lower your energy use and save money. Free energy saving tool kits will be distributed.

When: Monday, Sept. 20 at 6 p.m.

Where: Johnstown Public Library, 38 S. Market St., Johnstown

Pre-registration is required. Call 762-3909 x. 104 to sign up.

Save Energy, Save Dollars is a free interactive workshop designed to help consumers cut home utility bills. The workshop covers home heating, air sealing, hot water, appliance use and lighting. Free energy saving tool kits are distributed to each participating household.