On Friday, CCHN officials announced that several local school districts will benefit from a five-year, $1.25 million grant from the state’s Creating Healthy Schools and Communities program. The funding is being administered through a collaboration with the health network, Erie2-Chautauqua-Cattaraugus BOCES, and the Chautauqua County Department of Health and Human Services.

The program will be used to help implement strategies to combat obesity and other chronic diseases in high-need school districts and their surrounding communities.

Six communities will be targeted with the funding, including Jamestown, Dunkirk, Cassadaga Valley, Pine Valley, Silver Creek, and Ripley.

Other partnering organizations will include the Cornell Cooperative Extension, Dunkirk Local Development Corporation, Jamestown Audubon Society, Jamestown Renaissance Corporation, and KEE Concepts Consulting.

Collaborations are expected to expand as the initiative matures in each community.

The Roger Tory Peterson Institute on Curtis St. in Jamestown, NY.

JAMESTOWN – Two area non-profit organizations with a history of cooperation, common goals and a shared linkage to Jamestown’s famous naturalist, Roger Tory Peterson, have begun exploratory conversations about expanded collaborations.

A task force comprised of board leadership and the presidents of the Jamestown Audubon Society (JAS) and the Roger Tory Peterson Institute of Natural History (RTPI) have met to assess the desirability and feasibility of new program collaborations and the potential for consolidation of some administrative functions.

Reflecting the accomplishments of Roger Tory Peterson, both organizations have as a core goal to connect human beings with the natural world.

Both organizations have weathered the headwinds of the recent national recession and have emerged with reduced staffs and increasing financial stability.  Both rely on grants and donations from foundations and private citizens. The Chautauqua Region Community Foundation holds donor designated funds for both organizations from gifts and estates of local residents.

The task force will continue to meet throughout the coming months and will report from time to time on its progress.  For more information about each organization, the public is encouraged to visit the websites jamestownaudubon.org and rtpi.org.

The 2012 Jamestown Audubon Nature Photography Contest received entries from around the world. The winning photo in the Adult Wildlife category is “Leaping for Prey” taken by Gerald Wilders of Toms River, New Jersey.

JAMESTOWN – Monday, June 30 is the deadline for the Jamestown Audubon’s 2014 Nature Photography Contest.

According to officials, the annual competition, now in its sixth year, helps fulfill Audubon’s mission by connecting the photographer with nature and inspiring the viewer of the images to connect with nature.

Photographers with any level of experience are encouraged to submit their favorite images and prizes will be handed out to the top participants.

Images of winning entries from previous contests as well as details for the 2014 competition are on-line at www.jasphotocontest.com.

The first of these “Healthy Landscapes ~ Healthy Waters” workshops will be held on Thursday, June 26 from 7 to 8 p.m. at the BOCES Hewes Educational Center on West Lake Road in Ashville.

Jon Titus, Associate Professor of Biology at SUNY Fredonia, will be speaking about the importance and benefits of using native plants and the damage that can be done by invasive (or non-native) plants.

This event is free for all CWC and JAS members, with a $10 donation for non-members.  Reservations are not required for this event.

For more information on CWC, visit www.chautauquawatershed.org or call 716-664-2166.  For more information on JAS, visit http://jamestownaudubon2.wordpress.com/ or call 716- 569-2345.

MAYVILLE, N.Y. –The Chautauqua County Department of Health & Human Services (CCDHHS) is continuing to urge residents to take precautions to avoid mosquito bites and protect themselves from potential exposure to the mosquito-borne illness Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE). The DHHS, Public Health Division, has received notification from the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) Arbovirus Laboratory of additional EEE virus positive mosquito pools in the Conewango Creek Valley in the Towns of Kiantone and Carroll.

The declaration of an Imminent Public Health Threat related to mosquito-borne illness remains in effect in Chautauqua County through October 31.

DHHS learned today that five more mosquito pools have been confirmed positive for the EEE virus and two of those pools contained “bridge vectors” which are mosquitoes that bite both birds and mammals, including humans.

“I cannot emphasize enough how critically important it is for everyone in the County to protect themselves and their loved ones from mosquito bites,” said Christine Schuyler, Director of CCDHHS. “We’ve already lost a horse to this rare – but lethal – virus; I truly do not want to see any person contract this virus. Our county has by far the highest amount of EEE activity in New York State and has had the only equine death in the state this year; this is very serious,” added Schuyler.

“We’re truly thankful that the Jamestown Audubon Society allows the NYSDOH to conduct mosquito surveillance on their grounds,” added Schuyler. “This important work is what alerts us to the presence of disease-carrying mosquitoes. As evidenced by the recent equine EEE death in the Town of Kiantone, these mosquitoes are not limited to a certain area but can fly a distance from their usual habitat.”

People are urged to follow these precautions to defend against mosquito bites:

• Use insect repellent properly. Those with DEET, picaridin or oil of lemon eucalyptus are most effective. Read the product label and use according to package instructions.
• Limit outdoor activities in areas where mosquitoes are most active and between dusk and dawn which is the peak mosquito biting time.
• If you have to be outside, wear long-sleeved shirts, long pants, shoes and socks as weather permits.
• Repair or replace all window and door screens to keep mosquitoes outside.
• Reduce or eliminate all standing water.
• Empty or dispose of pails, cans, flower pots, or similar water-holding containers.
• Clear roof gutters, remove leaf debris from yards and gardens, and clean vegetation and debris from the edge of ponds.
• Turn over wheelbarrows and wading pools when not in use.
• Clean and chlorinate swimming pools, outdoor saunas and hot tubs and drain pool covers.
• Clean vegetation and debris from the edges of ponds
• Change the water in birdbaths and horse troughs twice a week.
• Dispose properly of old tires.

Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE)

Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) is a rare illness in humans but often a deadly disease with a 33 percent death rate. It is transmitted by mosquitoes and can affect humans, birds, horses and other mammals.

Most people bitten by an infected mosquito will not develop any signs; however, of those who do, symptoms usually appear four to ten days later. Signs of EEE infection begin with a sudden headache, high fever, chills and vomiting. The illness may then progress into disorientation, seizures, coma or inflammation of the brain (encephalitis). It causes death in most cases; however, some people will survive the infection and have mild to severe brain damage for life. There is no specific treatment for EEE; care is based on symptoms.  While people of all ages are at risk for EEE infection, children under age 15 and adults over age 50 have the greatest risk for contracting the severe disease.

There is no commercially available human vaccine for either WNV or EEE. The best way to protect yourself is to keep mosquitoes from biting you. EEE and WNV vaccines are available for horses in consultation with a veterinarian.

For more information on Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE), please visit:

• www.myhealthycounty.com
• www.health.ny.gov/diseases/communicable/eastern_equine_encephalitis/fact_sheet.htm.

The NYSDOH 2012 Mosquito Borne Illness Surveillance & Response Plan can be found at:

http://www.health.ny.gov/diseases/west_nile_virus/docs/2012_mosquito_borne_illness_surveillance_and_response_plan.pdf

The Water Chestnut Plant

MAYVILLE – It’s turning out to be an uphill battle against an invasive water species that can be a major problem and nuisance for county residents.

Chautauqua County Executive Greg Edwards and Chautauqua County Watershed Coordinator Jeff Diers say that several water chestnut sightings have been reported in small private ponds in the Towns of Carroll, Kiantone, and Poland, as well as Chautauqua Lake near Bemus Creek, Burtis Bay, and the mouth of the outlet.

Edwards says that he’s asked all private pond owners, lake shore residents and visitors throughout Chautauqua County take a few minutes to inspect the waterways near their properties for any potential signs of water chestnut. He’s also encouraging residents to take part in the County’s mass search for water chestnut on Chautauqua Lake this Saturday to help us prevent this invasive species from spreading.

The mass search will take place on Saturday, July 20, 2013 at 8 a.m. at the Stow Park landing of the Bemus Point- Stow Ferry. Participants are encouraged to bring sunscreen, hats, waders, water boots, kayaks, canoes, or boats to aid in the search and should call Jeff Diers at (716) 661-8915 for additional information.

Elsewhere in the County this summer, the Jamestown Audubon Society and the Chautauqua County Department of Planning and Economic Development have worked together to coordinate volunteer efforts to remove water chestnuts that have taken over Big Pond. Those interested in taking part in the water chestnut removal at the preserve should call (716) 569-2345.

Water chestnut is a rooted, aquatic annual plant that can reach up to 15 feet in length and has a rosette of floating leaves, which are green, glossy, and triangular with toothed edges. Anyone who finds this invasive species should call the watershed hotline at 363-4499, 753-4499, or 661-7499.

The Water Chestnut Plant

JAMESTOWN – The effort to remove the evasive species of Water Chestnuts from Chautauqua County is now underway for the 2013 season.

The Jamestown Audubon Society (JAS) and the Chautauqua County Department of Planning and Economic Development (CCPED) are taking on a major effort to minimize the spread of Water Chestnut, an invasive, non-native aquatic plant that has taken a foothold in the Big Pond at the Audubon sanctuary on Riverside Road, in the Town of Kiantone.

During the winter, Audubon’s Land Use Management Committee developed a plan, but did not have the personnel to successfully launch it.  Through funding from the County of Chautauqua Industrial Development Agency (CCIDA) and a grant from Audubon New York, the organization was able to hire a Water Chestnut Specialist to fight the plant.

Starting June 15, the Audubon will be having a series of “Chestnut pulling” days. It is a huge undertaking, requiring scores of volunteers. Audubon is calling upon anyone who loves a pond or lake in Chautauqua County to participate, and consider putting together a team that will “adopt” an area of Big Pond to keep it clear of Water Chestnut.

The first pull will be June 15^th from 8 am to noon.  It will start with an orientation on the best ways to pull water chestnut and will end with a lunch where everyone will report back with their results.

Officials from the Audubon and the water chestnut specialist will also be available to speak to any groups wanting more information or to sign up by calling Jamestown Audubon at 716-569-2345 or e-mail to rlundin@jamestownaudubon.org.

Hundreds of eager participants will gather for this annual outdoor learning experience on Friday thru Sunday, May 31-June 2, at Camp Allegany in the Red House area of New York’s Allegany State Park. The park’s cabins and campsites provide a home for many, while others commute from home or prefer local motels.

Dozens of knowledgeable outdoor enthusiasts will lead hikes and field trips, offer classes and workshops, and present programs and demonstrations. Their topics will range from trees, flowers, ferns, insects, birds, salamanders, reptiles, tracks, mammals, geology, astronomy, and ecology, to yoga, paper-making, photography, sketching, and nature games. Participants are welcome to just relax, visit, or hike, as well.

Volunteers from the Burroughs Audubon Nature Club and the Buffalo, Jamestown, and Presque Isle Audubon Societies organize the annual outing.

To register and for more information about the Allegany Nature Pilgrimage, visit alleganynaturepilgrimage.com or call 1-800-456-CAMP.

Still months from the June 30 deadline, submissions for 2013 have already arrived from Australia, Canada, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and across the United States.

Again this year, prizes will be awarded in three categories and two divisions. The Youth Division is for ages 8-18 or still in high school; Adult is 18 and over or post-high school. Youth and Adult winners in the categories of Landscapes, Plants, and Wildlife will all receive $100 cash prize as well as free photo finishing.

The Contest entry deadline is June 30, 2013. Full details for the competition are on-line at jasphotocontest.com.

The contest is sponsored by Main Street Photo of Bowling Green, Ohio.

Audubon offers a variety of seed choices, with the most popular being its exclusively formulated Conewango Blend. Specialty seeds, cakes, and peanut butter bells are also available.   For more information or to order, call (716) 569-2345 or visit www.jamestownaudubon.org.