The Cortland County Soil & Water Conservation District will have its 27th annual Cortland County River Clean-Up on Sept. 30 along the many streams, lakes, and ponds in Cortland County, the agency announced Wednesday.
Participants form teams and claim a portion of a stream, pond or lake from which they remove trash and debris from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Supplies and materials are provided to teams in advance. The event is free.
Register by Sept. 22. If you want to form a team, call 607-756-5991 for more information.
McGraw school board meets Tuesday
The McGraw Central School Board of Education will meet 6:30 p.m. Tuesday in the high school cafeteria.
Look, up in the trees, they’re changing
Field observers for the I Love NY fall foliage report narly 20% leaf change in the Adirondacks, with muted mix of green and yellow, and some pops of red, the tourism agency reports.
The first report of the 2023 fall foliage season estimates a 10% change near Malone, Lake Placid, Wilmington and Lowville, although Old Forge has 20% change.
expect between 5% and 15 change in the Catskills, with oranges and yellows predominating. The Chautauqua-allegheny region reports about 10% change
Most of the rest of the state, including Central New York, reports about 5% change or less.
The observers watch across 11 vacation regions.
Governor: Get COVID booster
Gov. Kathy Hochul suggested Wednesday at a COVID-19 update that New Yorkers get the latest COVID booster once it’s available later this week. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration authorized the booster earlier this week.
“The vaccine has always been the best way to protect yourself and your community against COVID-19, and this updated vaccine addresses newer strains of the virus that are currently circulating,” Hochul said. “As we enter the fall season, when respiratory viruses circulate, it is vital that New Yorkers consider getting this updated vaccine to protect themselves from this still dangerous virus.”
The updated vaccine, necessary due to waning immunity and mutated variants, was reformulated and developed to target a subvariant of Omicron, called XBB.1.5. According to CDC, more than 90% of the COVID viruses circulating are closely related to that strain, with tests showing the updated vaccine effective at increasing immunity to a more recent variant, called BA.2.86.
“As we head into the fall and winter months, and once again see an uptick in COVID across the state, I urge all New Yorkers to remember that COVID is a treatable disease, and we now have an updated vaccine that will help reduce your chance of serious illness and hospitalization,” said state Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald. “Remember, it’s about personal protection, personal prevention and personal wellness.”
Under the Affordable Care Act, most health insurance plans will cover the cost of COVID-19 vaccines, without the need for co-pays. Those who are uninsured, or whose insurance does not cover the updated vaccine, will have access to the shots free of charge through community health centers; local, tribal, or territorial health departments; and pharmacies participating in the HHS’ Bridge Access Program.
State data show 59.6% of Cortland County residents have received the primary vaccine series, but only 18.4% are up to date. That compares to the state, where 77% have received the primary series, but only 15.5% are up to date.
