Famed poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807-1882) wrote of “joy,” our positive word for this week: “Into our lives in many simple, familiar homely ways, God infuses the element of joy from the surprises of life which unrepentantly brighten our days and fill our eyes with light.”

Many of us, along the volunteer path, have a standard response to the greeting, “Hello, how are you?” Usually, “Fine, thanks!” But what if our response was “Joyful!” Would it change our thoughts, the way we view ourselves, our life? In my home, on the wall of my bedroom above my bed, hangs a ceramic plaque given to me by my daughter which says, “Do one thing every day that makes you happy.” Today, my one thing is writing my joyful letter to each of you.

Joyfulness is a choice we make as we come alongside our volunteer friends, sharing fundraising ideas to meet the needs of others in our community and beyond. Never a burden or a duty, but out of loving concern for others. It can easily become contagious as we share it with family and friends.

Get more from the Citrus County Chronicle

Our interactions with others are more meaningful when we choose joy and welcome exciting creativity when planning our projects of service to others.

Joy spreads and inspires. The poem, “Ode to Joy,” by Friedrich Schiller, is one in which the author’s words of joy inspired Beethoven’s “Ninth Symphony,” which is often used in movies to raise the energy level of joy.

With each day’s gift of life and the opportunity it brings to share the joy of loving kindness with a simple smile, a good word, or a kind deed, we can be strengthened joyfully.

Volunteers

The Valerie Theatre is seeking volunteers for the Valerie Players, performers and directors, and behind the scenes. Contact director Patrick Erhardt at patherhardt@gmailcom.

The Meals on Wheels program needs volunteers to deliver meals two hours a week to homebound seniors in your area. Call 352-527-5930.

Donations

CASA (Citrus Abuse Shelter Association) needs food items such as mayonnaise, seasonings (salt, pepper, garlic, onion), Gatorade, juice and snacks for children; disinfectant spray cleaner, liquid dish soap, diapers, Pull-Ups, ethnic hair-care products, sunscreen, sunburn-relief gel, 13-gallon kitchen trash bags, hairbrushes, and boys’ boxer shorts. Drop items off at the CASA outreach office at 1100 E. Turner Camp Road in Inverness. For more information, email Kimberly at [email protected].

Relief-Share is collecting in-kind donations of medical and first-aid supplies for the Ukraine refugees and hospitals. Email Megan at [email protected].

The Path’s Diaper Drive is collecting diapers in sizes 6-7, Pull-Ups sizes 4-T and 5-T and baby wipes. Deliver them to The Path’s office at 21 S. Melbourne St. in Beverly Hills. Email www.pathofcitruscounty.org.

Spotlights

The Beverly Hills Fishing Club’s Military Card Party is Wednesday, July 13, at the Beverly Hills Community Church hall. Call Karen at 352-228-0803.

Christmas in July is Thursday, July 14, at the George Washington Carver Center at 95 Three Sisters Springs Trail in Crystal River. The event will benefit children in need by helping to provide supplies including hygiene products, toys, books and clothes. Call Missy at 352-201-0664.

Female veterans luncheon is at 1 p.m. Friday, July 15, at Coach’s in downtown Inverness. The public is invited to attend and learn what the network of female veterans is doing. Call Cynthia at 352-628-6481.

The Key Training Center’s Run for the Money, Reach for the Stars Dinner/Auction begins at 5:30 p.m. Friday, July 15, at the Chet Cole Life Enrichment Center. Call 352-795-5541. Tickets for a chance to win a new 2022 American LandMaster L4 4×4 commercial-grade UTV (for plowing, hauling, dumping towing and trail riding) are available at the Key’s thrift stores. Call 352-795-5541, Ext. 238.

Citrus County Parks and Recreation will present a Billy Joel Tribute on Friday, July 15, at the Citrus Springs Community Center, 1570 W. Citrus Springs Blvd. Call 352-527-7340.

The Art Center Theatre will present the play, “Once Upon a Mattress,” Friday through Sunday, on the weekends of July 15-17, 22-24 and 29-31. Call the box office at 352-746-7606.

Special Notes

The Nature Coast Dulcimer Players host acoustic music jams from 3 to 5 p.m. Mondays in the Community Room at the Central Ridge Library at 425 W. Roosevelt Blvd. in Beverly Hills. Call 352-746-6622.

Bingo Nights are sponsored by the VFW Auxiliary of Post 8189 at 6 p.m. the first and third Tuesdays at the post, 8856 W. Veterans Drive, Homosassa.

Tower Tunes at the Depot take place from noon to 3 p.m. Wednesdays at the Depot Tower Stage in Inverness. Call 352-726-2611, Ext. 1303.

Open mic nights are from 6 to 9:30 p.m. the last Wednesday monthly at the Citrus Springs Community Center, 1570 W. Citrus Springs Blvd. Call 352-527-7540.

Friday dinners are served from 5 to 6:30 at VFW Post 4864. The public is invited. To-go orders are available. Call 352-465-4864.

Crafternoons are at noon the first and third Saturdays at the Old Courthouse Heritage Museum’s Kids Corner. Call 352-341-6428.

Until next week, stay positive and be joyful.

Ruth Levins participates in a variety of projects around the community. Let her know about your group’s upcoming activities by writing to P.O. Box 803, Crystal River, FL 34423.

[ad_2]

Originally Appeared Here

Cleanbox Technology helps call centers bring employees back to work safely

Cleanbox OmniClean is an all-purpose hygiene solution that achieves 99.999% decontamination in 60 seconds

Hospital grade (99.999%) cleaning of headsets, headphones, and many other head-worn devices in 60 seconds

Call centers can encourage employees to return to the workplace and keep them safe with Cleanbox UVC hygiene solutions

NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE, UNITED STATES, July 3, 2022 /EINPresswire.com/ — Businesses around the world are still struggling to return to normal work methods. While remote work might have kept the company afloat during COVID-19, there’s no substitute for in-person work. This is especially true in customer service. However, many employees are still reluctant to return to the office. Encourage them to come back to the call center with tools that disinfect phones and clean headsets with 99.999% efficacy. CleanBox delivers cleanliness, ease of use, and most importantly, confidence.

Cleanbox cleaning solutions were designed with enterprises in mind. Large companies have experienced massive disruptions to their workflows in recent years. Cleanbox wants to help them get back to normal. With reliable tools, it’s possible to create effective sanitization protocols that give workers the sense of security they need to get back into the office and lift enterprises to new heights.

Call Handling Challenges
Fielding customer service calls is one of the most important tasks large enterprises face. Poor customer service is a surefire way to sink a business. Uniting CSRs under one roof helps managers keep staff on track to meet targets and encourages collaboration. Having a call center also facilitates buying infrastructure in bulk, as it’s easier to install dozens of phones on a single office floor rather than distributing CSRs across many offices. The pandemic completely disrupted this workflow, though.

When centers closed, companies had to radically redesign their call fielding processes. Many employees have grown accustomed to this new way of working and are hesitant to return to their desks. In addition, there have been record numbers of resignations due to employees seeking other work opportunities. Training new employees takes time and money. As it is, CSRs tend to have high turnover rates. How can companies retain their best workers and attract better talent to the team?

Employees Vs. Enterprises
Companies and employees are currently in a stalemate. Businesses understand the value of having their employees in one place. Employees, on the other hand, seem to believe remote work can solve everything. Ironically, even though call centers frequently handle calls from other regions, they’re one of the least suitable places to implement remote work. Handling calls at home introduces inconsistencies that give a bad impression of the business to customers.

Imagine if customers hear children crying in the background, a dog barking outside the window, or simply cannot communicate clearly due to a spotty internet connection. Using a central facility eliminates these issues. However, employees are understandably nervous about returning to work in a massive room full of people. All the plexiglass dividers in the world won’t reduce the risk of infection in the workplace. CSR teams need reassurance that they will be in a safe, clean environment.

The Middle Ground
The key to bringing staff back into the office is to provide a clean environment. If employees feel that the company is taking steps to protect them, they’re more likely to respond favorably to orders to return to the office. When it comes to customer service centers, this means that staff equipment needs to be sterilized, especially when shifts rotate. But it’s not enough to rely on the company’s sanitation services provider. Bring in modern technology.

For employees to feel safe at work, they need to be in control to some extent. Paranoid workers will always have lingering doubts about the efficacy of cleaning services. Modern technology, however, instills confidence. Put CleanBox units around the office and workers can disinfect their own gear quickly and effectively. Workers will appreciate the investment and the sensation of control. Consider the difference modern technology brings to shared spaces like call centers.

How to Clean Headsets
Perhaps the most important component in any large-scale call handling center is the headset. It’s a central piece of equipment for communication. However, it sits on someone’s head all day, and they breathe directly into the boom mic for hours on end. It is, unquestionably, contaminated within moments of being used. Without tools like CleanBox, employees will probably spray headsets before use or wipe them down with a cloth or disposable wipes. These methods simply do not work.

Spraying and wiping will always miss some of the surface. Even the most consistent human being trained to perform this one task will inevitably fail to eliminate 99.999% of bacteria and viruses. For consistency and thoroughness, a machine is the only choice. Devices like the CX series were designed specifically to clean headsets. A patented UVC LED system blankets the headset with UVC light using carefully positioned LEDs to ensure full coverage and maximum cleanliness. It even gets into hard-to-reach places.

What About Disinfecting Phones?
If a call center uses desk phones or power-over-Ethernet phones with VoIP capabilities, they also need disinfecting. Receivers spend plenty of time being breathed on and pressed up against ears and shoulders. Like headsets, the only way to ensure a proper cleaning is to use a reliable solution like the OmniClean. By using a rotating quartz plate and surfaces that specifically reflect UVC light, any device can be sanitized.

Offices with a bring-your-own-device policy that allows workers to use their own phones can also benefit. The OmniClean can disinfect phones like iPhones as well. Using carefully tuned UVC LEDs, it’s possible to disinfect without damaging delicate components. The LEDs in CleanBox products emit a specific wavelength of UVC light that disrupts the DNA of viruses and bacteria without affecting the exterior finish of devices. In less than two minutes, any device can be sterilized to 99.999%.

Get It Right Every Time
The key to cleanliness is consistency. Wipes will never get it right every time. With a patented device designed for the equipment the staff uses every day, there’s no more human error. CleanBox devices are as easy to use as a microwave. Just open the box, put in the device, close the box, and press a button. After a minute, open the box and remove the disinfected gear. Save money by buying one machine that’ll last instead of wasting wipes.

It’s easy to incorporate this protocol into daily routines. Set reminders every few hours or make it a part of every shift transition. If employees are still using masks at the office, consider the CleanDefense system as well. This box was designed specifically with masks in mind. CleanDefense makes sure that even if mask supplies are running low, everyone stays safe.

Bring Workers Back
Investing in modern sanitization technology will give workers confidence and the sense of security needed to comfortably return to the office. Better still, the company will be prepared for the next health crisis. Even if another global pandemic doesn’t appear soon, being able to disinfect equipment reliably will reduce the likelihood of spreading illness throughout the office. Reduce downtime and keep workers healthy. Everyone benefits from a clean office.

To learn more, https://www.cleanboxtech.com. Cleanbox is used by 2,000+ enterprise clients globally across a wide range of industries, including Education, Healthcare, Manufacturing, Automotive, Transportation, Retail, Government, and DOD. Cleanbox is a Woman-Owned Small Business with the GSA.

About Cleanbox Technology:
Founded in 2018, Nashville, TN-based Cleanbox Technology, Inc. is a smart tech hygiene company specializing in the fast, effective cleaning of shared devices. Cleanbox’s patented products use UVC light in LEDs, providing safe, hospital-level decontamination in 60-seconds, without the need for chemicals, heat, or liquids. Cleanbox products are designed for cleaning shared devices, including head-mounted displays (HMDs), headsets, earphones, eyewear, stethoscopes, and other frequently used items. Cleanbox products have been independently tested and proven to kill 99.999% of contagions in 60-seconds. For more information, visit https://www.cleanboxtech.com. Cleanbox is used by 2,000+ enterprise clients globally across a wide range of industries, including Education, Healthcare, Manufacturing, Automotive, Transportation, Retail, Government, and DOD. Cleanbox is a Woman-Owned Small Business with the GSA.

Press: [email protected]

Company Information: Contact Cleanbox | Whitepaper on UVC | Cleanbox Monthly Newsletter | Discover Cleanbox Products and Get an Online Quote

Amy Hedrick
Cleanbox Technology
+1 615-208-4042
email us here
Visit us on social media:
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Other

Cleanbox UVC LED Shared Device Hygiene Products Overview

You just read:

News Provided By

July 03, 2022, 18:57 GMT

EIN Presswire’s priority is source transparency. We do not allow opaque clients, and our editors try to be careful about weeding out false and misleading content.
As a user, if you see something we have missed, please do bring it to our attention. Your help is welcome. EIN Presswire, Everyone’s Internet News Presswire™,
tries to define some of the boundaries that are reasonable in today’s world. Please see our
Editorial Guidelines
for more information.

Submit your press release

[ad_2]

Originally Appeared Here

Indoor air quality is a major concern, and air purifiers are becoming increasingly popular as a result. Daikin air purifiers keep their promise to provide cleaner and healthier indoor environments in homes, offices, and commercial spaces all over the world.

The Daikin MC55VB air purifier is a high-quality air purifier. With indoor air quality having a significant impact on people’s performance and well-being, Daikin’s air purifier aids in the purification of indoor air by circulating it through the unit and allowing the air to pass through a variety of filters and purifying technologies. The units are commonly found in residential settings, small offices, retail stores, classrooms, medical waiting rooms, and doctor cabinets. (1,785 AED). It’s a great addition for any space because of its compact size and sleek looks. It catches fine dust particles and has a powerful suction system.

The streamer unit, which uses high-powered plasma discharge technology, decomposes harmful substances* within the unit. These contaminants are either trapped on the HEPA filter or adsorb to the deodorising filter element. 2. The Active Plasma Ion generation unit purifies the space further by adding purifying elements to the cleaned air. These could help to deodorise odorous curtains and carpets, for example.

The purifier is equipped with a high-sensitivity dust sensor that distinguishes between small particles like PM2.5 and larger dust particles and reacts accordingly. There is triple detection of dust, PM2.5, and odour.

Furthermore, according to tests conducted at the Institut Pasteur de Lille, Daikin’s air purifier eliminates 99.98 percent of the human coronavirus HCoV-229E in 2.5 minutes. This virus is related to SARS-CoV-2, the Coronavirus that caused the COVID-19 pandemic.

Design Middle East also spoke to Tuna Gulenc, vice president of Daikin Middle East & Africa, as he discussed the emphasis on indoor air quality and why clean air is more important now than ever before.

Air pollution is a severe environmental problem with a determinantal impact on human health. Each year, seven million lives are lost due to air pollution, while a sizeable number of children around the world experience stunted development.

In a research conducted in 2020, scientists found that air pollution is a leading cause of death, accounting for more loss of life than smoking, malaria, and HIV/AIDs. Associated with an increase in cardiovascular diseases, such as heart attacks and strokes, as well as acute and chronic respiratory related illnesses such as asthma, figures from the World Health Organization (WHO) suggest that 43% of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) cases and deaths, 29% of all lung cancer cases and deaths and 19% of cardiovascular deaths are caused by air pollution. Those over the age of 60 are most at risk.

According to the WHO, today, 99% of the global population is breathing in unhealthy levels of polluted air, with people in low and middle-income countries suffering the highest levels of exposure. The phenomenon of air pollution is especially important in the GCC region, predominantly caused by the combustion of fossil fuels such as carbon emissions from the burning of coal, non-electric vehicles, and factories. In a catch-22, these emissions not only cause air pollution but exacerbate climate change. This leads to even poorer air quality with rising temperatures leading to phenomena such as smog and pollen.

 

Tuna Gulenc, vice president of Daikin Middle East & Africa

 

It is not, however, only the air outdoor that is contaminated with pollutants. Indoor phenomena such as dust and mould, building material, cleaning products and poor ventilation can all contribute to poor air in our homes. In fact, research has demonstrated that the air within our homes can be more seriously polluted than the air outdoor between two to five times . With people spending up to 90% of their time indoors, we must pay attention to the quality of air both indoors and out.

Among the most common biological indoor air contaminants are bacteria, mould, mildew, viruses, animal dander, dust mites and pollen. Contaminated central air handling systems can also become breeding grounds for biological contaminants such as mould and mildew, which then spreads throughout the home. Other significant sources of indoor air pollution include smoking, while household products such as paints, varnishes, wax and cleaning, disinfecting, cosmetic and degreasing products also have toxic potential.

To help us better manage the quality of the indoor air in our homes and places of work for better health, there are numerous solutions to quickly improving air quality by eliminating or controlling the sources of pollution, increasing ventilation, and installing air cleaning devices. Here are several quick tips to ensure we breathe the clean air in our homes on which our very health depends.

1) Don’t smoke at home
Smoking at home impacts your health and those around you, with children exposed to smoking at greater risk of respiratory tract infections. While ventilation can reduce the risks that smoking poses, smoking causes large amounts of pollutants to build up over time which cannot be eliminated by simply opening your windows. As such, it is better to avoid smoking at home altogether.

2) Manage your humidity levels
From drying your clothes outside to ensuring your kitchens and bathrooms are well ventilated, ensuring humidity levels are at an optimum level can go a long way to reducing biological contaminants in the home, such as mould.

3) Keep your home free of dust
Regular cleaning dust around the home and bedsheets at hot temperatures will ensure that dust mites, pollen, and animal dander, likely to aggravate respiratory conditions, are kept to a minimum.

4) Ensure your air conditions units are cleaned regularly
If not regularly cleaned, air filtrations systems can become a sign of contaminants and a breeding ground for mould, fungi, bacteria, and germs to thrive. These, in turn, then contaminate your indoor air exposing those in your home to a variety of respiratory infections.

5) Use an air purifier
And finally, use an air purifier. From airborne particles including viruses, bacteria, mould, fine dust and hazardous gases, state-of-the-art air purifiers capture harmful airborne substances and decompose them by high-speed electrons. An air purifier can also ensure optimised airflow for the perfect temperature and humidity levels and reduces odours. A quick, effective, and lasting solution for clean indoor air, an investment in the right air purifier will provide long lasting health benefits for you and your family.

[ad_2]

Originally Appeared Here

SARASOTA, Fla. (WFLA) — A national listeria outbreak that left one dead and dozens hospitalized was linked to a Sarasota ice cream brand, according to a food safety alert from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The CDC said Big Olaf Creamery in Sarasota voluntarily contacted retail stores across the country to recommend against selling its ice cream products until further notice.

Consumers who purchased Big Olaf Creamery brand ice cream at home should throw away any remaining product.

Consumers and retailers who purchased or sold the products are advised to clean and disinfect areas and equipment that may have come into contact, including ice cream scoops and other serving utensils.

Listeria is most likely to sicken pregnant people and their newborns, adults aged 65 or older, and people with weakened immune systems, the CDC said. Other people can be infected with Listeria, but they rarely become seriously ill.

Those who become ill may experience headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance, and convulsions, in addition to fever and muscle aches, the safety alert added.

According to the CDC, 12 people in Florida reported illness.

[ad_2]

Originally Appeared Here

The heavy steel doors clanged shut behind me. In front of me were row upon row of cells holding the most hard­ened criminals in the state. I felt them staring at me, sizing me up. What they didn’t know was that I’d been here before.

The first time I’d set foot in Maine State Prison, I was seven years old, visiting my father, who was serv­ing time for burglary. For many years, I’d told myself I was different from him, from the 900 men imprisoned here. But now, walking in on my first day as warden, I knew there was a lot we had in common.

I too had grown up desperately poor. Plastic had covered the broken windows of our trailer, useless against the bitter Maine cold. One winter, due to frozen pipes, we went without wa­ter. A $200-a-month welfare payment had to cover all our expenses, includ­ing feeding four boys. I was the second oldest.

Dad never swore at us kids or hit us. But he was more interested in drinking and carousing than holding down a job. If there wasn’t money for something, he’d steal it. He was in and out of jail.

He had epic fights with Mom. She held the family together. When Dad was in prison, we piled into the car and made the hour-and-a-half drive every week to visit him. He hugged us and told us he loved us, but there was no fatherly advice, no admonitions not to follow in his footsteps.

The Christmas I was seven, an inmate dressed up as Santa, and my older brother, Ron, and I sat on his lap. A photographer took our picture, and I held on to it.

I loved my parents. But there was no point in crying to them about how hard life was. I just had to suck it up. Not even God wanted to hear how I felt.

I’d been taught that my Heav­enly Father loved me, but I saw that he helped those who helped them­selves. People like Ron, who left home in ninth grade. He joined the Army, the military police. He visited me my se­nior year of high school, pulling up in a new Ford EXP sports car. What a way to escape a life of poverty! I enlisted at 18 and, like Ron, became an MP.

 

I served as a military policeman at a U.S. Army prison in Kansas. I didn’t look down on the prisoners. They’d made bad choices; this was the conse­quence. In the early 1980s, contribut­ing factors like mental illness, addic­tion and PTSD weren’t talked about.

After three years, I transitioned to the Reserves and came home to Maine. I got hired as a corrections of­ficer in Somerset County, where I’d grown up. Once I even guarded my dad. He badgered me for favors, like hot water for his coffee.

“I can’t do that,” I told him. “It’s your fault you’re in here, not mine.”

“C’mon,” he said. “I’m your dad.”

I didn’t bend. I couldn’t make excep­tions for prisoners. Besides, incarcera­tion was meant to be a punishment.

Over the next 20 years, I rose through the ranks, working as a rescue diver, K-9 handler, drug investigator. I loved the adrena­line rush of law enforcement. Busting down doors. Searching for drowning victims—including 19 I recovered too late to save.

That threw me. But I couldn’t dwell on it. I’d been pro­moted to chief deputy of Kennebec County. There was no place for feel­ings. If you showed any sign of pain or weakness, you put lives at risk, includ­ing your own.

That was a message I drilled into the men under my command in the Army Reserves. In 2004, my unit deployed to Iraq. I took a leave from my job, said goodbye to my family. “I’ll be back before you know it,” I said. Silently I prayed to come back in one piece.

I was a sergeant major, leading a 10-man team embedded with nearly 800 Iraqis in Fallujah. We patrolled con­stantly. Twice I hit roadside bombs. I was in firefights and saw civilians die, caught in the crossfire. The worst was losing 30 men in a helicopter crash.

I found comfort in my faith, but still, the grief was crushing. I used my one 15-minute weekly call home to reach Ron. Despite his being a veteran, there was a disconnect. The war was too re­moved from his everyday life. I gave up. As I’d learned long ago, there was no point in sharing my feelings.

I came home in 2005. I was in one piece, but something was off. My heart raced when I walked down Main Street or got stuck in traffic. Im­ages from the war haunted me. Other memories. The drowning victims I’d been unable to save. I told my wife, Jodi, I didn’t want to talk about Iraq and was glad when she didn’t press me. If I pushed everything down and did my job, I’d get past it.

By 2007, I was sheriff of Kenne­bec County. One day I was in my un­marked Chevy Silverado, Jodi beside me, driving our son, Caleb, home from camp. A driver swerved in front of us, then gave me the finger. Something snapped inside me. I flashed my lights and pulled him over. Stormed up to his car wearing shorts and a T-shirt.

I flung open the car door. Grabbed the driver by the shirt to yank him out. But his seat belt caught. His face was panicked. What am I doing? Neither one of us said a word. My grip loos­ened. I walked back to my truck. That was stupid.

Jodi and Caleb looked stunned. “Don’t you think you were a little hard on that guy?” Caleb said. I shrugged. I wasn’t in the mood for a debriefing. I pushed what happened out of my mind and drove home.

A couple days later, I was in my of­fice when Ron came in. “How are you doing?” he asked.

I broke down sobbing, shocking myself. “I don’t know what’s wrong with me.”

“Jodi asked me to come talk to you,” Ron said. “You should see someone at the VA.”

The VA assigned me to Dr. David Meyer. I’d never been to therapy. I settled into the chair across from him and made small talk, trying to steer the conversation away from myself.

“I’m glad you’re here,” he said. “In our sessions, I’m going to ask you to relive the trauma you’ve experienced. It won’t be easy, but you’ll gain more understanding over the emotions you’re feeling. Otherwise, it’s like a pressure cooker with no release valve.”

Dr. Meyer explained more about post-traumatic stress disorder, how it manifests as a variety of involuntary mental and emotional symptoms. I’d heard the term, of course. But I never imagined it applied to me.

Dr. Meyer dimmed the lights. “Tell me about one particular day in Iraq,” he said. His questions were probing.

I was back in Fallujah. The sound of gunfire. The sand in my teeth. Chaos. People dying around me. I couldn’t go more than 30 seconds without breaking down. But I kept at it, week after week.

It was like cleaning a garage stuffed to the rafters with experiences and emotions I’d never processed.

Dr. Meyer pushed me to unpack even more. “Your PTSD isn’t just from Iraq,” he said. “The poverty you ex­perienced as a child, the instability of your parents’ marriage, dealing with violence and death as a sheriff’s deputy. You’ve faced a lifetime of trauma.”

All the stuff I’d tried to escape…was a part of me. Dr. Meyer showed me ways to open up, to understand how one experience affects another. There was no judgment about being scared, angry, sad. I learned that feeling your feelings is healing, that emotion is the difference between merely surviving and truly living.

I shared more with Jodi. And with God. I poured out my soul to him. I’d thought God wanted me to be strong, to fend for myself. What I discov­ered was that he saw all of me—my strength, my work ethic, my problem-solving but also my pain, my vulner­ability—and loved the whole person.

Why else would he have a laid out a life of meaning for me, each experi­ence connecting to the next, like bricks in a carefully constructed pathway? The chaos of my childhood drawing me to the structure of the military yet also equipping me to handle the un­predictability of war and law enforce­ment. I asked God to guide me to what he wanted me to do next.

It wasn’t just my own life that I saw differently. I gained a new perspective on the men and women I worked with. As well as the people we arrested. Each of us was affected by trauma in our own way.

I brought in experts to educate my deputies about PTSD. We shared openly with each other. Several dep­uties began counseling.

I started a treatment program for inmates with substance abuse issues. And I created a separate pod in the county jail for veterans, focused on their particular circumstances. When we realized the sound of cells locking automatically sounded like machine guns firing, we began manually locking up.

With the leadership of Justice Nancy Mills, a county superior court judge, we started a veterans court, allowing veterans to avoid prison time if they participated in an intensive therapeu­tic program, including mental health and drug and alcohol treatment. Giv­ing out diplomas to the program’s first graduates was one of the most gratify­ing days of my life.

I earned a master’s degree in lead­ership management from Liberty Uni­versity, allowing me to more closely connect my faith and my work.

That day in 2015, when I walked into the Maine State Prison as warden, I brought with me a vision of prisons as doing more than simply warehousing inmates. We started referring to the men entrust­ed to us as residents. I talked to many who had a childhood like mine, which reinforced how blessed I was that God had a plan for that little boy who sat on the lap of an inmate Santa Claus one Christmas.

I kept a framed copy of that photo in my office to remind me how all my experiences had prepared me for this work and given me real empathy for each man now under my care. I want­ed to see the whole person, not just the bad things he’d done. What if we addressed the issues that had led him to get in trouble with the law? Doesn’t everyone deserve a chance to do bet­ter? Isn’t Jesus’ message one of atone­ment and redemption?

In addition to investing in mental health and substance abuse programs, we started vegetable gardens, with 3,000 pepper plants and 4,000 to­mato plants that first year. More than 60 residents became certified master gardeners. Our composting program saved more than $100,000 in trash disposal. Another 60 residents got certified as beekeepers, building their own hives in the prison woodshop.

And as I did at the county jail, I cre­ated a separate pod for veterans. They trained puppies to become service dogs for other vets through America’s VetDogs and for adults and children with disabilities through Little Angels Service Dogs.

We gave these men not only a sense of purpose in prison but also job skills they have used to build new lives for themselves on the outside.

Today I’m commissioner of the Maine department of corrections. It’s a humbling position for a boy who grew up visiting his father in the state prison. I still pray to God for guidance. For forgiveness. A chance to redeem myself when I fall short. It’s what we all deserve.

For more inspiring stories, subscribe to Guideposts magazine.

[ad_2]

Originally Appeared Here

Q. What is the risk of transmission of FMD from Indonesia to Australia?

A. In my opinion the risk is extremely high over the next 1 to 6 months.

The last case of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) in Australia was recorded in 1872. Since that time Australia has managed to remain free of the disease through a combination of effective biosecurity arrangements, strict animal quarantine and a measure of good luck. Indonesia has been free of FMD since 1986 providing a significant “barrier” to the disease which has been endemic in mainland Asia for centuries.

Outbreaks in Asia are relatively common, certainly in the order of several per year but the disease tends not to be a major problem for these countries as they are largely protected by highly effective vaccination programs. None of these countries export meat so their industries are generally not significantly impacted. Outbreaks usually result from the movement of animals out of unvaccinated areas, such as Myanmar into areas of neighbouring countries where for various reasons vaccine use has lapsed.

Considering the long history of infection in Asia with no transmission to Australia, why does the current outbreak in Indonesia represent a new and heightened risk?

There are four major factors which combine to produce a much greater and more immediate threat of disease transmission from Indonesia to Australia:

• The disease is spreading quickly through the Indonesian islands and will soon infect Bali;
• As yet there are only very limited quantities of vaccine available to protect local livestock;
• The main religion in Bali is Hindu which means that there are large numbers of pigs as well as upwards of 600,000 head of cattle spread all over the island;
• Tourism is rebounding rapidly as the restrictions from the Covid 19 pandemic subside with large and increasing numbers of Australian tourists visiting Bali.

FMD is one of the most contagious of all animal diseases. Infected animals excrete virus into the air and through all secretions including saliva. Pigs are multipliers of the virus as they excrete up to 3000 times more virus into the environment than ruminants. FMD virus can be spread from animal to animal and by contaminated vehicles and equipment including footwear, hands and clothing. Signs of infection include fever, depression, reduced appetite, increased salivation, and lameness. Virus can be excreted from an infected animal up to four days before clinical signs are apparent. While the virus survives longer in the environment in cold temperatures, its survival is improved when it is enclosed in organic matter and the humidity is above 60pc. The humidity in Bali today is a little over 80pc and this is the “winter” or dry season.

With the advent of mechanical equipment for farming tasks, the primary role for Bali cattle is a store of value for their owners (see earlier Bali cattle article). The daily routine involves cattle being walked out from their secure overnight holding area to a location where they are tethered for grazing during the day. At about 5 in the afternoon the owners collect the animals and walk them home again where they are held in the secure location and provided with additional supplementary feed.

The photos below show Bali cattle in one of the main tourist areas of Seminyak.  Most of these cattle are very quiet so it is easy for anyone including tourists to approach them and pat them if they wish. They are stunningly beautiful animals, so it is not uncommon for tourists to approach them for close up photographs.

“Mouse” Sullivan frequently visits these cattle and their owners near his villa in Seminyak.

 

Much of the remaining land in the southern tourist areas of Bali is vacant blocks between tourist villas.

 

In the late afternoon these cattle are walked home through Seminyak passing tourist villas, local homes and small shops.

 

Bali cattle are generally very quiet and their owners are extremely friendly often allowing tourists to pat them and take photos.

 

This vacant block in Seminyak is the secure nighttime home for more than a dozen cattle which are taken out to graze every day.

 

It is not too difficult to image this bull leaving a trail of virus from early stage foot and mouth lesions as he walks home passed this tourist villa shortly before the tourist walks out to get into their taxi to leave for the airport (12km away) for their 2.5 hour flight to Darwin. Many Darwin residents live in the large rural area surrounding the city where there are many opportunities to come across cattle, buffalo and pigs. The virus can survive several days in organic matter on the bottom of shoes.

In mainland Asia where Australian tourism is also very common, national FMD vaccination programs are normal practice so the chances of a tourist encountering an infected animal excreting large volumes of virus are remote. Cattle ownership in the middle of other Asian tourist destinations tends to be much less than in Bali.

There are a wide range of estimates on what an FMD outbreak in Australia would cost the economy and they range from 15 to 80 billion dollars over a 4+ year period. Regardless of the number, the impact to the Australian economy in general and the livestock industries in particular would be immediate and catastrophic with ongoing trade restrictions continuing for many years.

Considering the magnitude of the impact of an outbreak of FMD to Australia and the dramatically increased risk presented by the current epidemic in Indonesian I believe that it would be appropriate to upgrade the biosecurity measures to match this increasing risk. Until Bali is fully protected by vaccination of its cattle and pig populations, an increase in the attention paid to tourists returning to Australia, especially their footwear, seems to me to be warranted.  Travelers are already used to a multitude of annoying Covid interventions so additional requirements such as ensuring that shoes are clean and walking through a wet sponge infused with disinfectant before boarding and after leaving the flight would seem to me to be simple and sensible measures which might help to address the new level of risk. A search of flights this morning shows that there are 13 direct daily flights from Bali to Australian capital cities. This will increase by at least double later this year. There is no need to restrict tourism to Bali, just reduce the chances that one unknowing traveler will cost Australia and its livestock industries $50 billion dollars not to mention the massive animal welfare implications. The risk will return to more traditional levels once Indonesia’s susceptible animal populations are fully protected by a comprehensive vaccination program.

 

 

 

 

 

[ad_2]

Originally Appeared Here

More than 70 boat landing events are planned across the state to mark this year’s Aquatic Invasive Species Awareness Week, July 3 to July 9. Public awareness about the impacts of harmful, nonnative aquatic plants and animals is critical to protecting Michigan’s ecosystems, tourism and economy.

The boat landing events are part of the ninth annual Landing Blitz, where representatives of state departments and local partners such as lake associations and cooperative invasive species management areas give boaters tips to prevent the spread of invasive species and comply with recently updated laws. Similar AIS Landing Blitz events will be held in each of the Great Lakes states and Canadian provinces.

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has issued a proclamation to mark Aquatic Invasive Species Awareness Week to heighten awareness about this important issue.

You can help prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species by following these simple steps:

Required actions – it’s the law in Michigan

• Remove all aquatic organisms, including plants, from watercraft and trailers before launching or transporting.
• Remove all drain plugs and drain all water from bilges, ballast tanks and live wells before transporting a watercraft.
• Dispose of unused bait in the trash, not in the water.

Recommended additional actions – protect our waters by following these steps

• Clean boats, trailers and equipment by removing plants, debris, and mud before leaving the access area. Dispose of the material in a trash receptacle or otherwise away from the water body, if possible.
• Wash boats and trailers before leaving the access area, if possible, or at a nearby car wash or at home.
• Dry boats and equipment for five days before launching into a different water body.
• Disinfect live wells and bilges with a bleach solution (1/2 cup bleach to 5 gallons water).

A short EGLE video from a past Landing Blitz shows how easy it is to clean, drain, and dry boats and trailers.

“Recreational boaters and anglers can play a key role in helping prevent the spread of invasive species,” said Kevin Walters, aquatic biologist with EGLE. “Instead of spreading invasive species, we’re asking people to help spread the word about simple steps that can be taken when out recreating on Michigan’s waters.”

Events at boat launches are contingent on weather and volunteer availability. Contact Kevin Walters for a list of events.

AIS Awareness Week is sponsored by EGLE’s Water Resources Division, in partnership with the departments of Natural Resources and Agriculture and Rural Development, federal agencies and private and nonprofit organizations. For more information about AIS Awareness Week or the AIS Landing Blitz visit Michigan’s invasive species web site at Michigan.gov/Invasives.

Michigan’s Invasive Species Program is cooperatively implemented by the Michigan departments of Agriculture and Rural Development, Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy and Natural Resources.

/Note to editors: Accompanying photos are available below for download. Suggested captions follow.

Landing blitz: Volunteers help a boater clean, drain and dry a watercraft during a previous landing blitz event in Manistee, Michigan.

Zebra zapper: To prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species, boaters should remove debris or drain water from each of these points on a boat and trailer./

[ad_2]

Originally Appeared Here

Under the new CDC guidelines, COVID levels in La Crosse County seem to be in frequent fluctuation, bouncing from high to low as frequently as week to week. 

Meller 

The fluctuations, however, are not necessarily indicative of rising or falling infection rates, says infectious disease expert Megan Meller of Gundersen Health System, and shouldn’t be cause for anxiety.

“One of the things we see a lot is of confusion between the different measurements… (CDC) community levels are different than community transmission,” says Meller. “Community level data itself also takes into account not just COVID 19 transmission, but also burden on the health care systems, like how many people are getting hospitalized with COVID, and then what the staffing look like for inpatient beds. Whereas when you just look at the transmission level, it’s just looking at the number of cases occurring within the population.”

Continues Meller, “And so those numbers could fluctuate wildly and that’s that’s what we’re seeing at play, depending on what’s happening within the community, like if people are traveling, if school is not in session, you’re you’re going to see the kind of these fluctuations, along with the fact that testing is also going very well.

People are also reading…

The CDC’s COVID-19 Community Level metric factors in the number of hospital beds being used, hospital admissions, and the total number of new cases in an area. A single measurement may not change much in a week’s time, but one or two of the others could fluctuate, affecting the level determination.

Per DHS data, seven day averages for the Wisconsin have ranged from the 1,400s to 1,900s over the past month, a significant increase from three digit figures — as low as the 200s — in early spring, but still a drastic decrease from early 2022, when averages were as high as 15,500. 

La Crosse County over the past four weeks has maintained a daily average in the 30s, and in May daily cases ranged from 40 to 60, per the Mayo Clinic data tracker.

The CDC put the COVID level in La Crosse County at high the week of Feb. 24, dropping to low the following week. The decline in cases per 100,000 only declined by around 25, from 174 to 150, but the hospitalization admissions per 100,000 had a large drop, from 21.8 to 9.3 per 100,000. Inpatient bed utilization went from 6.3 to 3.8 per 100,000.

La Crosse County was most recently high level on June 9, with cases at 219.46, hospital admissions at 10.5 and inpatient beds at 3.2. The County dropped to medium the following week and was low the past two weeks. For the week of June 30, cases were 177.94 per 100,000, hospital admissions 7 per 100,000 and inpatient beds at 2.5 per 100,000.

With overall case rates far lower than during the peak of omicron, Meller says, levels are “more of a concern on the hospitalization part.” 

“One of the things that we’re very strong advocates for is, of course, getting vaccinated,” says Meller, which not only lowers risk of infection but significantly reduces chances of severe disease, hospitalization and death. The recent CDC approval of vaccination for youth six months to four, the last age group to be authorized, is “really big,” Meller says, as COVID seems to be “here to stay.”

“I think we’re still learning what that baseline looks like. The more that we can get people vaccinated and the more that people understand what their own risk is, like we do with influenza, (the better off we’ll be),”Meller says.

CDC community level ratings come with guidelines for masking, with face coverings considered optional at low and medium levels but recommended for all, regardless of vaccination status, at high level. At present, Meller says, it is largely an individual judgement of whether you feel comfortable being unmasked in public. Considerations may include whether a person has been vaccinated, and boosted if eligible, and if they have health conditions that make them more susceptible to severe illness. 

Even when the county is at high level, Meller says, residents in most circumstances shouldn’t be overly worried about others being unmasked. 

“I don’t think it’s a huge concern at this point because we know that the vast amount of population is either vaccinated or they were exposed at one point. So they already have some immunity from COVID 19,” Meller says. However, she notes, “I think it’s really important for people to respect (the health of others) and mindful of their actions, and knowing who they’re around, in terms of masking.”

Though low levels don’t require masking in most settings, healthcare settings, including Gundersen and Mayo Clinic Health System, continue to require face coverings in their buildings. 

“That’s something that the CDC is very clear on,” Meller says. “We we have to go by actual transmission levels (rather than a hybrid of measurements).”

In addition to vaccination, and masking when appropriate, Meller emphasizes hand washing, staying home if feeling ill, being tested for COVID, and not touching your face without cleaning or disinfecting your hands first. With at-home COVID testing kits readily available, people will be better able to determine if they have a common cold or COVID, and isolate if necessary. 

Since Omicron’s rapid circulation, no other variants have caused mass spikes in case rates, and while future mutations of the virus are inevitable they hopefully won’t prove as dangerous.

“I think we are approaching this new phase of the pandemic,” Meller says. “We’re getting there. We’re about two and a half years in at this point, and it seems like a long slog. But we know we’re getting there and we’re working on trying to figure out how to how to live with this.”

Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter.

[ad_2]

Originally Appeared Here

Dear Dr. Fox: I am reaching out to you in regards to purchasing a natural flea/tick collar for my 1-year-old Shih Tzu. We were using the Seresto brand until I saw the news about the number of deaths associated with the collars.

I went to your site and read about various cases; however, I did not see any recommendations. Please let me know what you would recommend we use. R.N., Atlanta, Calif.

Dear R.N.: I have added this statement to my website post “Preventing Fleas, Ticks and Mosquitoes”: Visit earthanimal.com to find various botanical products that help prevent fleas, ticks and mosquitoes from infesting and possibly infecting dogs and cats with insect-borne diseases.

With climate change and the documented harms of using insecticides on companion animals and risk to humans, especially children, in the home, these safe and effective alternatives are a wise choice.

People are also reading…

Dog summer ‘hot spots’In the summer, many dogs develop “hot spots” — weeping, red sores. Dogs often scratch and lick these sores, as well, worsening them. The most likely cause is insect-bite allergy, especially to flea bites. One flea on a sensitized dog can cause extensive allergic dermatitis, which should always be checked for when a “hot spot” is found on a dog. A flea comb can catch flea poop (digested dog’s blood) in the fur that looks like flecks of coal and turn brown-red when put on a piece of wet white paper.

Canine parvovirus vaccination reminderCanine parvovirus kills unvaccinated dogs quickly, especially puppies. More background from the Baker Institute for Animal Health at Cornell University:

“The tiny parvovirus is extraordinarily hardy. They are capable of surviving for months outside an animal, even through the winter, and are resistant to most household cleaning products. Infected dogs can shed vast numbers of viruses, making it difficult to disinfect an area once it has been exposed to an infected dog. These facts highlight the importance of isolating any dog that is infected with CPV from other dogs. Given the fact that most environments (including dog parks, lawns and even homes) are not cleaned with disinfecting products regularly, a puppy can be exposed to CPV without any warning, making the vaccine protection all the more important.”

There are several reasons this misconception cropped up. An

article

from the American Kennel Club shed some light on these issues. One of them is due to owners sharing pork they’ve prepared for themselves. Pork that’s been seasoned with spices and sauces can be harmful to dogs. So, too, can a pork bone that’s been exposed to these spices. Those wanting to safely feed their dog pork shouldn’t share what’s on their own plate with their pet. Raw pork can also present a danger to pets, as it can cause trichinosis, an infection resulting from the parasite trichinella spiralis larvae. As pork is rich in fat, there’s the possibility of its leading to indigestion or inflammation of the pancreas. Also dangerous for the canine pancreas are processed meats made with pork—think bacon, sausage, ham—and contain carcinogens linked to cancer. The high salt content of these forms of pork can lead to bloat, which is deadly for dogs. Additionally, among food allergies most often suffered by pups are those to rabbits, lamb, and yes, pork. With all the above taken into consideration, another

article

from the American Kennel Club, while not disputing the cautions above, put forth this information: Pork is a highly digestible animal protein and an excellent source of amino acids.

alexei_tm // Shutterstock

Email questions to [email protected] or write to Dr. Michael Fox in care of Andrews McMeel Syndication, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106. Visit Dr. Fox’s website at DrFoxOneHealth.com.

Receive local adoptable pets PLUS updates for pet lovers in your inbox every week!

[ad_2]

Originally Appeared Here

Several chores need a bit more information than I generally include in the to-do list at the end of these articles.

Blackberry and raspberry bushes fruit now. After fruiting is the perfect time to cut out the old, no longer productive canes. Remember that berries grow on second-year canes, so leave this year’s canes alone. They are the source of next year’s crop.

Cut old canes to the ground and remove them from the area.

Watering can become very important as the summer heats up. Your garden, lawn and containers will need at least an inch of water each week. In any seven-day period where we don’t get that much rain, you should consider watering to make up the difference, In the case of containers, in hot weather or if placed in a hot area such as a patio or driveway, they may need water two or more times a day. Conversely, in weeks with a lot of rain, when the garden and yard are still wet, don’t water.

Depending on the type of grass you have planted, it may go into summer dormancy. Called cool-season grasses, i.e., Kentucky bluegrass, perennial ryegrass, fine fescue, and tall fescue, thrive in areas with cold winters and hot summers. During hot and dry periods, these grasses will stop growing and may brown. Extended dry periods, beyond three weeks, can seriously damage or kill grasses that are not watered.

Know what type of grass you have and water if you must. You can decrease the amount of watering necessary by cutting the grass only when too long and maintaining a height of two and a half to three inches tall.

Harvesting is another July chore. Check crops at least every other day and harvest. Ripe tomatoes left on the vine will split open so pick them as they ripen or a bit early if the period of rain (a half-inch or more) is expected.

Water early in the day if possible. It decreases the amount of moisture lost to evaporation and allows the foliage to dry out before the cooler evening, Damp leaves and cool temperatures are ideal for developing molds and fungi problems. If you can’t water early, try to water from below, direct your hose at the soil or use a soaker hose. Note that it is helpful to use mulch to conserve water and to lessen the chances of spores splashing up onto your plants.

Weed regularly. If you let this get ahead of you, your plants will be fighting for nutrients and water with weeds. You will also multiply your problems by allowing any weed to go to seed. One plant can produce hundreds, even thousands of seeds, some with a viability of 10 or more years.

“Love of Gardening” is this year’s theme for the Parkland Garden Club’s annual garden tour. On July 16, the tour will be open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and includes nine gardens. A silent auction will be held at one of the houses on the tour.

Tickets are $20 before the tour and $25 the day of the tour. They can be purchased at these businesses: 4 Seasons Garden Center, 9005 Hamilton Blvd., Breinigsville; Crooked Row Farm, 3245 Rt. 309 Orefield; C. Leslie Smith, The Shops at Cedar Pt., 311 Cedar Crest Blvd., Allentown; Dan Schantz Greenhouse, 2031 29th St. SW, Allentown; Eagle Point Farms, 853 Trexlertown Rd., Trexlertown; Herbein’s Garden Center, 4301 Chestnut St., Emmaus; Lehigh Valley Home and Garden Center, 4220 Crackersport Rd., Allentown; Phoebe Floral Shop, 2102 W. Hamilton St, Allentown.

This is one of my favorite events, and I regret that I will not be at one of the tour houses this year because of a prior commitment. I’m sure the tour will be great and I hope to take part again next year.

The Summer Lecture Series is currently running several lectures from Rodale Institute’s regenerative organic experts. The events are hosted at the Rodale Institute Founders Farm Campus, in Allentown. Presentations are held weekly and include light refreshments are held weekly on Thursday evenings from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. Browse the upcoming free lectures at rodaleinstitute.org/education/rodale-institute-summer-lecture-series/

Also, consider attending Rodale’s Annual Organic Field Day on July 22. Tour the 386=acre experimental farm and learn about their research. Interact one-on-one with Rodale Institute experts and learn about a wide variety of research and demonstration projects. The event runs from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Registration is limited and required, tickets are $25 per person. Bring your own lunch or purchase food available on site. Register: rodaleinstitute.org/visit/organic-field-day/

Sue Kittek is a freelance garden columnist, writer, and lecturer. Send questions to Garden Keeper at [email protected] or mail: Garden Keeper, The Morning Call, PO Box 1260, Allentown, PA 18105.

Planting: Start final sowing of beets, bush green beans, chard, cucumbers, melons, okra, potatoes, pumpkins, summer squash, and sweet corn. Plant but protect from heat: late-season cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, peas, and broccoli for late summer or early fall harvest. Plant or pot up summer bulbs and tubers such as dahlias, cannas, calla lilies, and caladiums. Replace spent containers of spring flowers with heat-loving annuals. Move the pansies to cool shade and keep them watered during the summer if you want to keep them for the fall. Hold new plants until the weather cools. Gather them together to make watering easier.

Seasonal: Stake tall flowers and provide supports for vining plants. Deadhead flowers and trim damaged, diseased, and dead foliage to keep beds tidy. Shear back damaged or ratty-looking foliage on columbine (Aquilegia sp.) and cranesbill geraniums. Cut common bleeding heart (Dicentra spectablis) back to its base foliage. Prune back clematis (Group I, C. Montana rubens, for example) and deutzia, after blooming. Divide spring-blooming perennials after they finish blooming. Cut back peony flower stems as the blooms fade. Allow the greens to grow until fall then cut them back to the ground. Clip back iris flower stems as the blooms fade; divide plants in crowded beds

Give a light feeding to hellebores such as the Lenten rose. Stop pinching back helenium, chrysanthemums and asters. Test soil for new beds. Retest soil in poorly performing areas or those that haven’t been tested in the last 3-5 years. Apply corn gluten-based weed control in the garden and establish a schedule for reapplication, usually at four to six week intervals

Lawn: Treat for chinch bugs and sod webworms. Cut as needed, based on growth not schedule, to a height of about 2 ½ to 3 inches tall. Use a sharp blade and fresh gas. Keep newly seeded or sodded lawns watered; supplement rain in weeks where less than an inch. Apply spring fertilizer treatments now. Apply preemergent crabgrass control in the next few weeks. Fill in holes and low spots in lawn. Apply corn gluten-based weed control in the garden; reapply at four to six week intervals.

Chores: Harvest crops regularly, at least every other day. Check hoses; replace washers and correct leaky connections. Dump standing water and remove anything that may collect rainwater to help control mosquito populations. Check seed inventory for late crops and fall planting.

Inventory and restock seed starting and potting supplies. Clean, disinfect and store pots and trays used for seed starting and transplants. Water any recent plantings and containers anytime we experience a week with less than an inch of rain. Fix damaged screens and garden hoses. Note damaged caulking around doors and windows. Dump standing water and remove anything that may collect rainwater to help control mosquito populations. Provide deer, rabbit and groundhog protection for vulnerable plants. Reapply taste or scent deterrents. Clean and fill bird feeders regularly. Clean up spilled seed and empty hulls. Dump, scrub and refill birdbaths at least once a week. Consider setting out nesting materials if you have them.

Clear gutters and direct rainwater runoff away from house foundations.

Tools, equipment, and supplies: Check spring equipment and supplies, repair or replace. Sharpen blades, get fresh gas, check and/or replace oil. Send snow removal equipment for tuneup or repair.

Safety: Clear lawns of debris before mowing and make sure pets, children and others are well away from the area being mown.

Store garden chemicals indoors away from pets and children. Discard outdated ones at local chemical collection events. Photograph storm damage before clearing or repairing for insurance claims and file promptly. Any time you are outside and the temperatures are about 50°F or warmer watch for tick bites. Use an insect repellent containing Deet on the skin. Apply a permethrin product to clothing. Wear light-colored clothing, long sleeves, hats and long pants when working in the garden. Stay hydrated. Drink water or other non-caffeinated, nonalcoholic beverages. Even in cold weather, apply sunscreen, wear hats and limit exposure to sun. Wear closed-toe shoes and gloves; use eye protection; and use ear protection when using any loud power tools.

[ad_2]

Originally Appeared Here