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Executive Director Highlight | |
This September our Executive Director, Vanessa Lockel attended the Executive Leadership Conference in Geneva on Seneca Lake. These conferences which take place three times per year are filled with invaluable in information about Cornell University research and the Extension system CCE on a statewide level. In addition, these conferences allow for CCE executive directors from throughout the state to meet and share ideas and issues that impact our local communities.
On a tour of Cornell AgriTech’s McCarthy Farm ED’s learned about Plant Breeding and Digital Agriculture. This visit included a interesting meeting with a robotic dog designed to help detect plant pathogens. At the Cornell Food Venture Center they learned about the development emerging agricultural products and support services for those in food production.
At the end of the month, Vanessa attended the MTA LIRR event celebrating the completion of Third Track, one of the biggest infrastructure projects to take place in our region!
She also attended the Hispanic Heritage Breakfast held at the El Museo Del Barrio on Museum Row in New York City.
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LIHREC Celebrates 100 Years
The annual Plant Science Day hosted by the Long Island Horticultural Research and Extension Center (LIHREC) was held on September 15th and kicked off the celebration of the Center’s 100th Anniversary. Approximately 200 stakeholders participated in tours to learn about the extensive research conducted at the center in vegetable production, ornamental horticulture, viticulture, weed science, and more. After the tours, a barbeque closed out the successful event.
The celebration continued the following week on September 23rd with a visit from Cornell University's President, Martha Pollack, and from the Dean of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Ben Houlton. Dr. Mark Bridgen, director of the research center, organized a tour of the facilities and a discussion with the Cornell and CCE-Suffolk staff about how their programs support LI Agriculture and Horticulture through applied research and educational outreach. A reception followed with several guests sharing moving anecdotes and proclamations by President Pollack, Dean Houlton, NY Senator Anthony Palumbo, NY Assemblyman Fred Thiele, Suffolk County Legislator Al Krupski, Robert Anderson, a local grower from Emerald Flora in Manorville, and Dr. Bridgen. Congratulations to the research lab for all their hard work and community outreach!
For more on this event visit:
100th Anniversary of the Long Island Horticultural Research and Extension Center
For 100 years, agricultural research center in Riverhead has served as critical resource to region The Suffolk Times
One-stop shop’ marks century of ag research, extension on L.I., The Cornell Chronicle
Research and extension center in Baiting Hollow has been helping L.I. growers for 100 years, Riverhead Local
Please click here to learn more about CCE Suffolk Agriculture.
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This past Spring Community Education received a $6000 grant from the Education Foundation for CCE Suffolk to pilot the Fruit & Vegetable Rx. This grant focuses on increasing access of locally grown fresh fruits and vegetables to underserved communities. Our partner, Sun River Health Centers, refer qualifying patients to the workshops hosted by CCE Community Education bilingual nutrition educators. Participants receive a $15 voucher per workshop to spend at Thera Farms in Brentwood. Participants got to sample a roasted veggie pizza made with fresh locally grown vegetables at Thera Farms during the nutrition workshop.
On September 15, Family Health and Wellness educators, Kerri Reda and Cara Sultan along with Human Ecology junior Adelaide Graham, presented “Unpacking Gender,” at the Cornell University School of Human Ecology’s annual Parenting Project in-service, for extension educators and university staff. “Unpacking Gender” was created to address the needs of families with gender diverse children.
Click here to learn more about CCE Suffolk Community Education.
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SUFFOLK COUNTY FARM & 4-H | |
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The Suffolk County 4-H team was excited to celebrate100 years of greatness from the New York State Association of Cornell Cooperative Extension 4-H Educators. An amazing conference for awesome people working in New York State 4-H Youth Development!
Congratulations to our 4-H Educator, Nicole Fiorentino, on her Special Service Award and for her induction to the NYSACCE4-HE Board of Directors as the new secretary!
Click here to learn more information about CCE Suffolk 4-H.
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Cornell Cooperative Extension's Bay Scallop Restoration program was excited to welcome some of state guests this month! After weeks of pathology testing, NYSDEC approved the transfer of 1,200 bay scallops from a genetic line believed to be unique to Martha's Vineyard. The scallops are part of CCE's selective bay scallop breeding project that - a multi-year collaborative effort with the Marine Animal Disease Laboratory at Stony Brook and Martha's Vineyard Shellfish Group. The hope is that the adult bay scallops used in the selective breeding, which were collected after the mass die-off event in 2021, survived because of their genetics. Only time will tell if the scallops produced from this study are more resilient to climate change and parasite threats. This is our best chance to bring back a bountiful fall bay scallop harvest in the Peconic. | |
CCE Suffolk's SPAT program is featured in the October edition of Northforker magazine celebrating North Fork harvest. Check out the special feature on Community Education as well. See link here: The Northforker.com | |
What can I do to live a long life?
I think it’s safe to say that we all desire good physical health. Research shows that your mind’s thought process is vital. Never underestimate your ability to think positively about aging. By thinking that you will age well and deal with any challenge in the best way you can, your physical health will benefit. There is a strong mind-body connection. One of my classmates from Cornell University, who became a cardiologist, co-authored a book on this topic entitled “Heart and Mind, The Practice of Cardiac Psychology”.
How you view aging, and what it means to you to get older, can influence your health and well-being. In a longitudinal study, 660 people, aged 50+, who lived in a small town in Ohio were followed by a Yale Public Health Professor for more than 20 years. The professor found that participants who had positive perceptions about themselves in the aging process lived about 7 ½ years longer than those with negative self-perceptions. A review of 600 studies published in 2020 found that believing in the concept of ageism (having stereotypes and prejudices about aging) led to significantly worse health outcomes in more than 95% of studies in 45 countries. Negative perceptions about aging are linked to cardiovascular events and poorer memory. On the other hand, positive perceptions about aging reduced the participants’ likelihood of developing dementia and mental health problems, and increased participants’ recovery from severe disability.
Your view about aging will matter to your health. What can you do? Socialize with a variety of age groups in activities you enjoy. Choose to spend time with older people who exude vitality and interest in life. Improve your own perceptions about aging and look forward to good physical health and longevity!
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Board Member Spotlight- Haig Seferian | |
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For more than 40 years, Haig Seferian has been the Contracts manager and co-owner of his family’s metal fabrication business, P&K Tubular - Flagpoles Inc, located in East Setauket, New York. His area of expertise is in Government Contracting. The firm has been a Prime Contractor to the Department of Defense (DOD) and other Federal Agencies. A sampling of their diverse products includes Magnesium Snowshoes, Weldments for Sidewinder Missiles, Shelter Systems, Aircraft Tow bars, and Boarding Ramps for Trident Nuclear Submarines. Their commercial line of Lighting Standards, Flagpoles and Traffic Equipment have been distributed throughout the world. Two notable installations are the 100-foot Aluminum Flagpole at the Statue of Liberty and the Flagpole that stands atop the White House.
Mr. Seferian holds a Bachelor of Science in Forest Biology from the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry in Syracuse. Haig has continued to pursue his environmental interests and volunteer activities, with his ultimate goal being to give back to the general community. Notable achievements include annual gardening lectures, spearheading the Frank Melville Memorial Park’s native plant initiative, and the restoration of its community garden.
In addition to his position on the board of Cornell Cooperative Extension of Suffolk County, Mr. Seferian serves on the Frank Melville Memorial Foundation, the Old Field Environmental Committee and the Planting Fields Foundation. He is also an alumnus of the CCE’s Master Gardener Program.
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Coming Out Day Celebration
- Tuesday, October 11, 2022, 4:00 PM - 7:00 PM
National Coming Out Day is observed annually to celebrate and raise awareness of the LGBTQIA+ community and civil rights movement. Cornell Cooperative Extension of Suffolk County has teamed up with Stony Brook Medicine to offer a FREE family event to offer a safe space for a celebration. Stony Brook’s generous sponsorship enables families to enjoy this event at no cost. This event is open to ALL families, LGBTQIA+ and allies.
Wagon rides, pumpkin picking, crafts, face painting, costume contest, dance party, food trucks and more - there's fun for everyone!
CCE-Suffolk has a strong, ongoing commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion and remains committed to actively creating and sustaining a culture of belonging that embraces a diverse audience. We recognize that personal and collective action is required to move our vision of belonging from the aspirational to the everyday experience of all members of our community.
Fee: Free Admission
Location: Suffolk County Farm and Education Center, 350 Yaphank Avenue, Yaphank, NY11980
Click here for more information!
| COOK A FISH, GIVE A FISH | |
Cook A Fish, Give A Fish
Online Sushi Cooking Class w/ Chef Oscar Lange
CCE Marine Program and Eating With The Ecosystem presents Cook A Fish, Give A Fish - Online Sushi Cooking Class w/ Chef Oscar Lange - Tuesday, October 25, 2022 - Find event and ticket information.
Click here to register for Cook a Fish, Give a Fish!
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As our culture becomes more accepting of transgender and gender diverse individuals, we are having more discussions about gender than ever before. However, many of us may still not understand what it means to live in a gender-expansive society and to care for gender-diverse youth. In this program we will reframe traditional understandings of gender, build a deeper understanding of gender-diverse individuals and the LGBTQ+ community, and offer everyday skills to navigate a gender-expansive world.
Thursday, October 13, 2022 • 12:00-1:00p.m.
Register in advance for this meeting.
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Cornell Cooperative Extension
Suffolk County
Extension Education Center
423 Griffing Avenue, Suite 100
Riverhead, New York 11901-3071
TEL: 631-727-7850
suffolk@cornell.edu
Hours: 8:30am-4:30pm
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