Hi Friends-

Love Knows No Bounds is sponsoring another service trip to NYC area (Far Rockaways this time) this weekend May 18-19 to help folks clean up, muck out, throw out and start over.  There are a lot of folks who still need help cleaning and rebuilding, it’s hard to believe that this long after the storm there are still folks in need but it’s true.  Many people weren’t able to get insurance money to start the work.  Occupy Sandy has been working relentlessly since the storm, and will continue to do so.

If you would like to donate $10 or more to the volunteers (like me) at LKNB in order to fund this trip as well as future trips, that would be very much appreciated.  The more money we raise, the more people we will be able to transport to the affected areas to help the residents clean and rebuild.  I will be going this weekend to offer my help.  If you are interested in going in future trips, let me know.

http://www.crowdrise.com/lknbsandyrelief-nyc

Thank you!
Pam Gueldner

[Pam is a regular participant in BikeSki outings ...]

ITHACA NY - Dinner and Bikes - coming to Ithaca Mon May 13 - Submitted by Tad Brennan: “An old friend of ours is a bicycle activist in Portland, OR, who writes about integrating bikes into urban environments and into modern life.  Elly Blue and her crew–four authors, bloggers, film-makers and chefs–are going to be visiting Ithaca on May 13 and putting on one of their signature events, “Dinner and Bikes,” in which they combine a vegan dinner with some talks about bike activism and a documentary film about the bike scene in Portland. A Dinner and Bikes evening includes a gourmet, vegan and gluten-free buffet dinner prepared by Joshua Ploeg, a presentation about transportation equity and the everyday bicycling movement by Elly Blue, and a near-complete excerpt from Aftermass, Joe Biel’s forthcoming documentary about the history of bicycling in Portland. The event is followed by a book signing with all three presenters, and some time to peruse their traveling bicycle and cooking themed bookshop.” Mon May 13th 6-9 pm St Paul’s Methodist Church community dining room, 402 North Aurora St (entrance on Court). $12-20 sliding scale FULL STORY http://canaaninstitute.org/bikeski/viewtopic.php?p=1904#1904 Their website http://dinnerandbikes.com/ Ithaca Facebook event https://www.facebook.com/events/178000212357914/

This is a common occurrence on the public lands around Tompkins County such as Hammond Hill State Forest. New York State has both spring and fall hunting seasons. The spring season is May 01 - May 31 in 2013 and hours are sunrise until noon (all day in the fall). So, don’t be surprised to see hunters dressed in full camo in the mornings during the month of May. Head-to-toe camouflage helps hunters to stay undetected to the turkeys. More information on the NYS DEC website http://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/8366.html

SOURCE: CDC WEBSITE - The Lyme disease bacterium, Borrelia burgdorferi, is spread through the bite of infected ticks. The blacklegged tick (or deer tick, Ixodes scapularis) spreads the disease in the northeastern, mid-Atlantic, and north-central United States, and the western blacklegged tick (Ixodes pacificus) spreads the disease on the Pacific Coast.

Ticks can attach to any part of the human body but are often found in hard-to-see areas such as the groin, armpits, and scalp. In most cases, the tick must be attached for 36-48 hours or more before the Lyme disease bacterium can be transmitted.

Most humans are infected through the bites of immature ticks called nymphs. Nymphs are tiny (less than 2 mm) and difficult to see; they feed during the spring and summer months. Adult ticks can also transmit Lyme disease bacteria, but they are much larger and may be more likely to be discovered and removed before they have had time to transmit the bacteria. Adult Ixodes ticks are most active during the cooler months of the year.

All about blacklegged ticks

Relative sizes of several ticks at different life stages. In general, adult ticks are approximately the size of a sesame seed and nymphal ticks are approximately the size of a poppy seed.

For more information….please see the lifecycle of blacklegged ticks

Are there other ways to get Lyme disease?

• There is no evidence that Lyme disease is transmitted from person-to-person. For example, a person cannot get infected from touching, kissing or having sex with a person who has Lyme disease.
• Lyme disease acquired during pregnancy may lead to infection of the placenta and possible stillbirth; however, no negative effects on the fetus have been found when the mother receives appropriate antibiotic treatment. There are no reports of Lyme disease transmission from breast milk.
• Although no cases of Lyme disease have been linked to blood transfusion, scientists have found that the Lyme disease bacteria can live in blood that is stored for donation. Individuals being treated for Lyme disease with an antibiotic should not donate blood. Individuals who have completed antibiotic treatment for Lyme disease may be considered as potential blood donors. Information on the current criteria for blood donation is available on the Red Cross website .
• Although dogs and cats can get Lyme disease, there is no evidence that they spread the disease directly to their owners. However, pets can bring infected ticks into your home or yard. Consider protecting your pet, and possibly yourself, through the use of tick control products for animals.
• You will not get Lyme disease from eating venison or squirrel meat, but in keeping with general food safety principles meat should always be cooked thoroughly. Note that hunting and dressing deer or squirrels may bring you into close contact with infected ticks.
• There is no credible evidence that Lyme disease can be transmitted through air, food, water, or from the bites of mosquitoes, flies, fleas, or lice.
• Ticks not known to transmit Lyme disease include Lone star ticks (Amblyomma americanum), the American dog tick (Dermacentor variabilis), the Rocky Mountain wood tick (Dermacentor andersoni), and the brown dog tick (Rhipicephalus sanguineus).

• Page last reviewed: April 12, 2011
• Page last updated: January 11, 2013
• Content source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
  National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases (NCEZID)
  Division of Vector-Borne Diseases (DVBD)

Written comments will be accepted until April 7, 2013. Please be sure and read the comments on this article.

Dear State Forest Stakeholder:

I am pleased to announce that the Twin Sheds Draft Unit Management Plan, which covers both the Hammond Hill and Yellow Barn State Forests, has been completed and is available on the web at: http://www.dec.ny.gov/lands/88726.html You may recall that a public meeting was held at Tompkins-Cortland Community College on February 11, 2010 at the beginning of the planning process. I’ve attached the comment summary from that meeting: http://canaaninstitute.org/docs/Twin_Sheds_Public_Comment_Summary_2.pdf

Please see the new public meeting notice below.

PLEASE SAVE THE DATE -  DEC SEEKS PUBLIC FEEDBACK ON THE DRAFT TWIN SHEDS UNIT MANAGEMENT PLAN (UMP)

WHEN: Thursday, March 7, 2013, from 3:30 pm to 5:45 pm, and 6:30 pm to 8:45 pm

WHERE: At the Tompkins-Cortland Community College Forum Room, located at 170 North St., Dryden, New York. Directions to Tompkins-Cortland Community College are available at the following link: http://www.tc3.edu/about_tc3/map.asp

WHAT: To invite and accept public feedback on the Draft Twin Sheds UMP. The draft plan is posted on the DEC’s website at http://www.dec.ny.gov/lands/88726.html A limited number of copies of the plan are available on compact disk (CD). Please contact the DEC Cortland Lands and Forests office at (607) 753-3095 ext. 217 to request a copy. Two separate public sessions will be held; the first  will be held from 3:30 pm to 5:45 pm; the second  session will be held from 6:30 pm to 8:45 pm.  The first half hour of each session will be an open house format which provides time for the public to informally discuss the draft plan with DEC Lands and Forest  staff.  Beginning at 4 and 7 pm, respectively, DEC  staff will briefly present highlights of the draft plan.  Following the presentation, the public will have an opportunity to comment on the plan. Those unable  to attend the meeting are invited to submit comments to the DEC by mail to:  NYSDEC, Division of Lands and Forests, Attn: John Clancy, 1285 Fisher Avenue, Cortland,  New York, 13045- 1090, or by email  to: jmclancy@gw.dec.state.ny.us. Written comments will be accepted until April 7, 2013.

WHY: The Twin Sheds Draft Unit Management Plan was developed to address short and long term state forest land management needs, values and opportunities.

***************************
John M. Clancy
Senior Forester, Region 7
NYS DEC Division of Lands and Forests
Bureau of State Land Management
1285 Fisher Ave.
Cortland, New York  13045
(607) 753-3095 or 800-388-8244 ext. 258
FAX:  (607) 753-8532
Email: jmclancy@gw.dec.state.ny.us
B.S., M.B.A., Society of American Foresters CF
Serving Since 1991
- Visit the DEC Web Site at:

http://www.dec.ny.gov/
- DEC Division of Lands and Forests Web Site at: http://www.dec.ny.gov/about/650.html
- DEC Region 7 Web Site at: http://www.dec.ny.gov/about/615.html#Region

- Strategic Plan for State Forest Management
http://www.dec.ny.gov/lands/64567.html
- New York State Conservationist Magazine
http://www.dec.ny.gov/pubs/conservationist.html
Laws change; people die; the land remains.

- Abraham Lincoln

ITHACA NY - Cornell Plantations and the Department of Natural Resources at Cornell University are organizing a workshop aimed at training volunteers to identify and report new hemlock woolly adelgid (Adelges tsugae) infestations. This newly arrived invasive insect pest threatens eastern hemlock trees and the biodiversity they support, causing a cascade of environmental changes for some amphibians, fish, invertebrates, and plants in response to the increased light and warmer temperatures. Hemlock woolly adelgids were first reported in the central Finger Lakes region in mid-2008, but now inhabit dozens of local sites. Early detection of new sites is a high priority, and local conservation groups are organizing volunteer surveys as a critical first step in managing this devastating invasive species.

The workshops will feature a presentation by Mark Whitmore on the adelgid’s biology and the threat it poses to local hemlock forests. Participants will visit Beebe Lake to observe hemlock woolly adelgids first-hand and gain experience in detection, monitoring, and reporting protocols. Participants will also have the opportunity to volunteer in the “Adopt-a-Hemlock” program to conduct surveys and report new infestations in local hemlock forests. The workshop will be held on Saturday, March 30h from 1:00 – 3:00 PM at Plantations’ Nevin Welcome Center in the Botanical Garden, located at One Plantations Road on the Cornell campus.

Pre-registration is not required. For more information on hemlock woolly adelgid or to report new occurrences, visit www.cornellplantations.org/hwa

Cornell Plantations is the botanical gardens, arboretum, and natural areas of Cornell University, and is a member of Ithaca’s Discovery Trail partnership. Plantations is open to the public year-round, free of charge, during daylight hours. The Brian C. Nevin Welcome Center is open Tuesday-Saturday from 11am to 4pm. For more information call 607-255-2400, visit www.cornellplantations.org and find us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/cornellplantations

===

I am moving the “snow depth pics” … SNOW DEPTH PICS look at most recent (last image on last page of thumbnails) for most current depth image http://cinst.org/photos/Snow_Depth/index.html This “snow depth pics” is the album built up from the conditions report on the Bikeski email list. The most current snow depth photo will be the last one: the lower right image on the last page of thumbnails. Sometimes I will link directly to that image in the email newsletter.

Also I put all the outing pics together (about 12 years worth!) here. Check it out! http://cinst.org/photos/Bikeski_outings/index.html

To subscribe to the outdoor newsletter go here and tell me who you are (first and last name please). http://icycle.org/mailman/listinfo/bikeski_icycle.org

PHOTO GALLERIES PICS :: Community Photo Albums - It’s OK to download individual photos for personal use such as Facebook, but please leave the watermark intact if there is one. If you need higher resolution images, email me, I can sell you non-watermarked high resolution verisons for a reasonable fee. I also may have more of your group. I only tend to post about a third of the images on the web albums. I am available for hire for photographing events or for private photo shoots for webpages, portraits and so forth. Thanks! -Mike :-)


Chocolatada at Cornell Plantations [ 2012 ]
Judy’s Day Cornell Plantations [ 2011 ][ 2009 ][ 2007 ][ 2005 ][ 2004 ]
Ithaca Festival Parade [ 2012 ][ 2011 ][ 2010 ][ 2009 ][ 2008 ][ 2007 ][ 2006 ][ 2004 ]
Other Photo Albums of Michael’s on [ Picasa ][ Google+ ][ Facebook ]
Some assorted, very nice images: mostly Town of Caroline [ Various Photographs ]
Outdoor related Bikeski Group [ Snow Depth ][ Group Outings ]

Thanks! -Mike :-)

We had a brief discussion about groomed ski trails on the CNSC list serve today. I am NOT a supporter of groomed trails on public lands. Here is my (modified) response to that discussion, briefly explaining why. (1st indent following).  Scroll down for info on ski race.

Also … I need to give folks who are on this bikeski list but not on the other outdoor lists a heads up! The Cayuga Nordic Ski Club is hosting a race this weekend at Hammond Hill (Jan 12th Sat morning). This event happens once a year only if snow conditions permit. The racers have a one time special permit to groom tracks for this event. If you are not racing, please avoid the groomed tracks the night before and the morning of the race :-) Here is a map of the race course http://canaaninstitute.org/photos/2013_CNSC_race%20map.jpg Read the full description below.

Oh, and here is part of the response on that same grooming thread from Jack Rueckheim, CNSC co-president and race coordinator. (I am passing on mostly the part of the letter relevant to grooming and the upcoming race).

Cayuga Classic Ski Race Scheduled for Saturday, January 12, 2013 Here is part of the article from the CNSC website. Full article http://cayuganordicski.org/new/?p=656

Happy New Year,
-Mike :-)

Michael Ludgate
www.canaaninstitute.org

I am pleased to announce that the Rapid Waters Unit Management Plan (UMP), which covers both the Danby and Shindagin Hollow State Forests, has been completed and is available on the web at: http://www.dec.ny.gov/lands/72384.html

Your collective interest and participation in the planning process is very much appreciated and I personally thank you.

A limited number of CD’s are also available on a first-come, first-served basis, free of charge. If you would like one, please email me your mailing address.

http://www.dec.ny.gov/
- DEC Division of Lands and Forests Web Site at: http://www.dec.ny.gov/about/650.html
- DEC Region 7 Web Site at: http://www.dec.ny.gov/about/615.html#Region

- Strategic Plan for State Forest Management

Reminder: Deer hunting season in our area with guns, also known as “regular season” starts Saturday November 17th 2012 and ends December 9th 2012. Deer hunting continues after that with primitive weapons (archery and black powder). See NYS DEC website link below for exact dates on that. Please; whether you hunt, bike, hike or play: wear fluorescent neon colors (like “hunter orange” or “biker neon yellow”) so we can all see each other. The hunters in our area have an excellent safety record … but (for example) it is just as scary for them to think they hear a deer tromping through the woods only to discover it is a naive hiker wearing brown. So; wear neon! Oh and YES! hunting is permitted at Hammond Hill and Shindagin Hollow and generally all similar NYS forests. Deer hunting is not allowed after sunset. Regulations are stricter in areas designated “parks” like Treman or Buttermilk for example. Here is DEC’s web page with hunting dates: http://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/28605.html

There is a special deer hunting season closer to Ithaca in January 2013. A lot of people are asking about it. Here is the link again. There is a very detailed map and full details at this link. http://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/82382.html

October 2012 - The populations of deer continue to increase while the number of hunters continues to decline. As part of the NYSDEC’s “Youth Mentoring Program”, DEC is offering this one weekend only introduction to deer hunting to encourage new hunters. More information at NYS DEC website links below.

Youth Firearms Deer Hunt: 14-15 Year Old Junior Hunters can hunt Deer with a Firearm over the 3-day 2012 Columbus Day weekend [Oct 6-8]. Resident and non-resident Junior Hunting license holders may take 1 deer with a firearm during the youth deer hunt. Junior hunters may use a Deer Management Permit (antlerless-only), Deer Management Assistance Program tag (antlerless-only), or a regular season tag. During the youth deer hunt, junior hunters may use the regular season tag for a deer of either-sex. The youth deer hunt will occur in both the Northern Zone and Southern Zone, except in bowhunting only areas and Suffolk County. During the youth deer hunt, mentors may not carry a firearm, crossbow, or bow to pursue deer. Junior Hunters may also use a crossbow during the youth deer hunt. Rules for 14-15 year old Junior Hunters and their mentors outlined at NYS DEC website, including blaze orange requirements, also apply during the youth deer hunt. DETAILS http://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/46245.html#youth Additional hunting regulations here http://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/hunting.html

July 19, 2012 (Ithaca, NY) – Lyme Disease is on the rise in Tompkins County. The number of cases has steadily increased in the past few years the Tompkins County Health Department reports. Karen Bishop, Community Health Nurse Supervisor noted that in 2006 there were 2 cases; in 2010 there were 70 and 107 in 2011. “But the actual number of cases exceeds the official count because most cases are not confirmed through a lab test,” she added.

“By May of this year, there were 45 cases in 2012 but we know that there are many more. Local physicians have called the Health Department to report they are regularly seeing patients with symptoms of Lyme Disease – much more than they have in the past, she said.” Most of the cases have been acquired locally, not from travel to other areas.

Physicians report that people often aren’t aware that they’ve been infected by a tick until symptoms appear. These may include severe fatigue, recurrent flu-like symptoms, joint swelling, facial paralysis or rash. Some people might experience a sudden red, painful, lesion on their body. They should see their provider as soon as possible; Lyme Disease is a possible cause.

Tick-borne diseases are a serious health threat. Lyme disease may affect the skin, nervous system, heart and joints. However, early treatment with antibiotics is effective.

Karen Bishop urged all Tompkins County residents to remember:

Wear light-colored clothing and tuck pants into socks and shirts into pants when walking in wooded and grassy areas. Gardeners should take these precautions also.
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.
Do a thorough check of your body at the end of the day. Pay close attention to the back of the knees, behind the ears, scalp, arm pits and back. Check your children and pets, too.
If an attached tick is removed within 36 hours, the risk of infection is small. To remove a tick: Use tweezers, grasping the tick near the mouthparts, as close to the skin as possible. Don’t squeeze, crush or puncture the body of the tick, which may contain infectious fluids.
If you consider using repellents be sure to follow label directions. Do not allow children to apply repellents themselves. Use only small amounts of repellent on children.

To learn more about Lyme disease, call the Tompkins County Health Department at 274-6604 or visit the Department’s website: www.tompkins-co.org/health to see what a tick looks like and how to remove it.