Erie Cattaraugus County Community Source 4/14/23

Revitalize your landscape on a budget

Many homeowners think they have to spend tons of green to get green in their landscape, but that isn’t necessarily so. Homeowners can improve their landscapes without digging themselves into financial holes. These strategies can help anyone save some cash and still end up with attractive gardens and more.

• Use stones or gravel for a walkway. If commercially installed pavers or cement walkways are not within your budget, there are some affordable alternatives.

Flagstone or individually purchased and spaced pavers and pea gravel can be used to create pathways. Some construction sites even offer free stones when asked. Soften the look with moss or other plants on the perimeter.

• Remove some lawn.

Lawns can require hours of upkeep that may involve the application of expensive fertilizers and weed-killing products that are not always so eco-friendly. Reduce the size of a lawn by putting in a mixed planting bed of perennials or ornamental

grasses, or use landscape fabric and mulch.

• Look for free mulch. Municipal recycling centers may offer residents access to free mulch made from grinding up leaves, branches and other plant debris collected throughout the town. Simply bring a few containers to the recycling center and spread the mulch for an ornamental look or to insulate landscapes over winter and protect against weeds.

• Repurpose old items into planters. Old wheelbarrows, barrels, watering cans, and other items can be repurposed

into container gardening vessels. Figure out if items marked for the garbage bin can be incorporated into garden features instead.

• Invest in plants that are easy to propagate.

Perennials are the gardener’s friend when it comes to saving money. These plants sprout anew each year, and many, such as sedum, catmint, ferns, hostas, and black-eyed Susans, can propagate by division. Figure out the best times of year to divide the plants and start growing them in individual containers before planting the sturdy new shoots in the ground. A single

variety of plants grouped together in mass plantings is affordable and easy.

• Shop end-of season sales. Garden centers may begin to make room for holiday items come the fall. Take advantage of reduced costs on remaining plants and landscape accessories during this time of year. Plants can be covered or allowed to thrive indoors until they can be planted in the spring. • Pool your resources. Homeowners planning on a big landscaping or revitalization project may want to speak with neighbors to see if they’re interested in doing the same. Contractors guaranteed business from a few homes in the same neighborhood may be willing to negotiate lower prices for the volume of work on things like driveway repaving, deck- or fence-building, or installation of paver patios. Some handy ideas can help homeowners transform landscapes without spending too much.

CCHD ANNOUNCES UPCOMING ANIMAL RABIES IMMUNIZATION CLINIC

Drive-in Rabies Immunization Clinic

Scheduled for April 22 in Falconer

Pre-Registration for this Drive-in Rabies Clinic is Required

MAYVILLE, N.Y.: -- The Chautauqua County Health Department has announced a free rabies vaccination clinic to be held on Saturday, April 22, 2023. This clinic will take place from 10 am to 12 pm at the Village of Falconer Highway Building at 1 Coleson Drive in Falconer, N.Y. The clinic will be a drive-in clinic and animals must be pre-registered to receive vaccinations. Vaccinations will be provided free of charge to all dogs, cats, and domesticated ferrets three months of age and older.

Distemper shots and/ or microchips will also be available, at no cost. #VaccinatedandLoved

The Chautauqua County Humane Society (CCHS)

and the Chautauqua County Health Department (CCHD) will co-sponsor the event.

You must pre-register online at: https://on.ny.gov/3ZvA1SH.

There are a limited number of spots available at the clinic, so pet owners should pre-register online as soon as possible. If you register but decide not to attend the event, please cancel your appointment so the spot is available for another pet. You can cancel appointments via the confirmation email you receive when you register or call CCHD at (716) 753-4567. Walk-ins may not be accepted. At the clinic, vehicles will enter from South Work St.

Avoid drowsy driving incidents

Driving offers a sense of freedom that is hard to replicate. Is it any wonder young drivers are so eager to get their licenses while older drivers aim to hold on to them as long as they can?

Certain hazards come with getting behind the wheel, though most are largely preventable — including drowsy driving. As more people take to the roadways this spring and summer, it is important to remember that drowsy driving is a major problem.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that as many as 6,000 fatal crashes each year may be attributed to drowsy drivers. The National Sleep Foundation found about half of adult drivers in the United States admit to consistently getting behind the wheel while feeling drowsy. In addition, more than 40 percent of survey

respondents say they have fallen asleep behind the wheel at least once. The impact of drowsiness on driving is just as dangerous as driving while intoxicated, distracted or under the influence of both legal and illegal drugs.

• Reaction times are greatly reduced and worsen the drowsier the driver becomes.

• Awareness of hazards and the ability to sustain attention are diminished.

• Driving after being awake more than 20 hours without sleep is the equivalent of driving with a blood-alcohol concentration of 0.08 percent.

• The National Safety Council warns that fatigued drivers are three more times more likely to be in a car crash than drivers who are not fatigued.

onto Coleson Dr. near the front of Tops Markets. Pet owners will stay in their vehicles with their pets. Pet owners must bring previous rabies vaccination records for each animal receiving a shot to ensure proper and effective vaccination; clinic staff will confirm previous rabies vaccination records. All dogs must be on a leash. All cats must be in a carrier. Animal handlers will transport animals from the vehicle to the veterinarian for vaccination.

New York State Public Health Law requires each dog, cat, and domesticated ferret over the age of four months to be vaccinated against rabies. County residents are encouraged to be responsible pet owners by

having their pets vaccinated. Rabies is a very serious disease of warm-blooded animals caused by a virus. Raccoons, bats, skunks, and foxes are common disease carriers. The virus is transmitted to humans and animals through saliva and it can enter the body from a bite, scratch, scrape or open cut. The rabies virus infects the central nervous system and can cause brain swelling and ultimately death within days of the onset of symptoms. For more information about the clinic and rabies in general, visit www.chqgov. com/environmental-health/ rabies-prevention or contact the Chautauqua County Health Department at (716) 753-4481.

• Insufficient sleep is tied to poor decision-making, which can lead to risktaking behind the wheel.

Some drivers may not recognize they are driving while drowsy. Drivers with certain sleep disorders, such as obstructive sleep apnea, may not recognize that their interrupted, less restorative sleep can adversely affect their safety behind the wheel. Addressing sleep disorders can help drivers be more safe. Other people may be sleep deprived from working shift hours or taking care of young children. Asking for help to catch up on sleep can alleviate drowsiness when behind the wheel.

Individuals can take additional steps to make

them less susceptible to drowsy driving.

• Avoid driving between midnight and 6 a.m. or in the mid-afternoon when sleepiness peaks, according to the Sleep Foundation.

• Ask to change medications if they cause drowsiness. Check to see if supplements list drowsiness as reactions and avoid those that do.

• Take breaks when driving long distances. Travel with a driving partner who can share the responsibility of driving.

Drowsy driving is a problem that can be prevented. But drivers must first recognize the threat that drowsy driving can pose.

With Increased Fire Danger, DEC Reminds

New Yorkers: Annual Residential Brush

Burning Prohibition in Effect Through May 14

Spring Burn Ban Reduces Wildfire Risks, Protects Lives and Property

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) reminded New Yorkers today about the annual statewide ban prohibiting residential brush burning that lasts March 16 through May 14. With warmer temperatures and lower humidity, the risk of fire increased across the state this week. The Fire Danger Map for the 2023 fire season on DEC's website is updated with the latest fire conditions.

DEC enforces the annual brush burning ban to prevent wildfires and protect communities during heightened conditions for wildfires. Open burning of debris is the single-largest cause of spring wildfires in New York State. When temperatures warm and the past fall's debris and leaves dry out, wildfires can start and spread easily, further fueled by winds and a lack of green vegetation. Each year, DEC Forest Rangers extinguish dozens of wildfires that burn hundreds of acres. In addition, local fire departments, many of which are staffed by

volunteers, all too often have to leave their jobs and families to respond to wildfires caused by illegal debris fires.

New York first enacted strict restrictions on open burning in 2009 to help prevent wildfires and reduce air pollution. The regulations allow residential brush fires in towns with fewer than 20,000 residents during most of the year, but prohibit such burning in spring when most wildfires

New York webpage.

Some towns, primarily in and around the Adirondack and Catskill parks, are designated "fire towns." Open burning is prohibited year-round in these municipalities unless an individual or group has a permit from DEC. To find out whether a municipality is a designated fire town or to obtain a permit, contact the appropriate DEC regional office. A list of regional offices is available on DEC's website.

Spring is synonymous with rebirth. Each spring, flowers begin to bloom again, grass starts to grow and people from all walks of life rekindle their love affair with the great outdoors. Spring also marks the return of a familiar foe: allergies.

Seasonal allergies can put a damper on even the most welcoming spring day. After all, a day soaking up the sun isn’t so relaxing when it’s also spent sneezing and confronting allergy symptoms like congestion, runny nose and watery eyes. Thankfully, it’s possible for seasonal allergy sufferers to have their spring and enjoy it, too.

• Pay attention to seasonal allergy trackers. Seasonal allergies are now easier to track than ever. For example, Pollen.

com is an easily accessible and free site that allows visitors to type in their ZIP codes and access daily allergy reports for their towns and cities. Visitors also can see five-day forecasts that can help them plan trips and other outdoor excursions. Weather.com also offers free allergy reports and forecasts. Individuals with seasonal allergies can make use of these sites and plan their activities based on the information they provide.

• Stay indoors when allergen levels are especially high. The Mayo Clinic notes that there are several things individuals can do to reduce their exposure to seasonal allergy triggers. That includes staying indoors on dry, windy days. This doesn’t mean individuals need to lock themselves indoors all spring.

occur. Backyard fire pits and campfires less than three feet in height and four feet in length, width, or diameter are allowed, as are small cooking fires. Only charcoal or dry, clean, untreated, or unpainted wood can be burned. People should never leave these fires unattended and must extinguish them. Burning garbage or leaves is prohibited year-round in New York State. For more information about fire safety and prevention, go to DEC's FIREWISE

Forest Rangers, DEC Environmental Conservation Police Officers (ECOs), and local authorities enforce the burn ban. Violators of the State's open burning regulation are subject to criminal and civil enforcement actions, with a minimum fine of $500 for a first offense. For search and rescue, reporting a wildfire or illegal activity on state lands and easements, call 1-833-NYS-RANGERS (1-833-697-7264). To report environmental law violations, call 1-844-DECECOs (1-844-332-3267).

How to corral spring allergies

But it’s important that seasonal allergy sufferers recognize that some days might be too much to handle. Rain helps clear pollen from the air, so individuals who are avoiding the outdoors on days when pollen counts are high should be able to get outside after a good rain without triggering an attack.

• Maintain clean air indoors. The great outdoors is not the only place where allergens percolate. The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America notes that improving air quality in a home can reduce allergy triggers. Air conditioners can prevent outdoor allergens from entering a home, so utilize units on warm spring days when you might otherwise open the windows. Open windows and screen doors provide easy entry points for allergens like pollen, so turning on the AC when outdoor allergen counts are high can make seasonal allergies more manageable.

• Consider treatments. Overthe-counter treatments like antihistamines, nasal sprays and decongestants provide most individuals with sufficient relief from their seasonal

allergies. If OTC remedies are ineffective, treatments such as allergen immunotherapy and a consultation with an allergen may be necessary.

Seasonal allergies can spoil an otherwise welcoming spring day. But there are many ways for individuals to corral their seasonal allergies and still enjoy spring sun.

Vehicles are among the most costly expenses individuals have. According to data from Kelley Blue Book, the average price paid for a new vehicle in the United States in September 2022 was $48,094. Canadian car buyers face an equally expensive reality in their country, where the average MSRP for a new car is more than $45,000.

Since vehicles are such sizable investments, it behooves motorists to do as much as they can to keep their cars and trucks running smoothly. Vehicle owner’s manuals typically recommend maintenance intervals and should be drivers’ first resource for information regarding how to take care of their cars and trucks. But the following are some standard maintenance intervals drivers can keep in mind.

3,000 miles: The 3,000mile marker used to be the benchmark for changing oil, but modern vehicles can now go longer between oil changes.

However, it’s still a good idea to check other fluid levels every 3,000 miles. Windshield washer fluid, coolant, brake fluid, transmission fluid, and power steering fluid should all be checked every 3,000 miles and topped off if levels are low.

It’s wise for drivers to perform some additional maintenance checkups every 3,000 miles. Check tire pressure, inspect hoses (which should not be leaking or bulging) and clean the interior of the vehicle every 3,000 miles.

5,000 miles: Many vehicle manufacturers now recommend oil changes every 5,000 miles.

Tire rotations also can be part of service visits at this interval, and drivers can ask their mechanic to check their fuel filters and batteries every 5,000 miles as well. Many may already do this as part of their comprehensive maintenance packages, but it’s still good to confirm if they do and request they do

Maintenance intervals drivers should know

Around the 5,000-mile mark, wiper blades also may begin to show signs of wear and tear, including streaking on the windshield or scratching noises when in use. Each of those signs indicates the wipers need to be replaced. However, drivers should take note of these signs regardless of when they appear. Some may not make it 5,000 miles before they begin to wear down. In such instances, they should be replaced immediately regardless of how many miles it’s been since they were installed.

10,000 miles: Some vehicles may only require oil changes every 10,000 miles. That’s

not uncommon in vehicles that use synthetic oil, though drivers are urged to consult their owner’s manuals.

Brake pads also may need to be replaced around this time, and one telltale sign of that is a squeaking noise whenever the brakes are applied.

Drivers can ask their mechanics to check the alignment of their vehicles around this