The State University College at Oneonta's Biological Field Station recently reported the area may be seeing an increase in deer ticks, and county health officials have reported more cases of Lyme disease.
We urge anybody venturing into the woods to take the proper precautions, which include frequent self-checks, wearing light-colored clothing, tucking pants into socks and using insect repellents.
Ticks must be attached for 36 hours for someone to become infected with Lyme, according to state health officials. Immediate diagnosis can lead to effective treatment with antibiotics, so the earlier the detection, the better. We also urge careful checking of dogs and cats, which can contract the disease.
Ticks are tiny and difficult to spot, yet they can do a lot of damage. Lyme can cause tingling, numbness, facial paralysis, headaches, arthritis and swelling of the joints, and can damage the heart and the central nervous system.
Hunters must be especially vigilant against getting Lyme. With deer-hunting season opening Saturday, we hope that they will be on the lookout for ticks, as well as practicing general safety precautions.
Food banks need our help
With the tough economy, food banks are experiencing record numbers of aid-seekers while donations are down.
The Cooperstown Food Bank provided help for 3,417 people in 2005 and 6,169 people in 2009, and volunteer Ellen St. John said that it will probably surpass that total this year. Delaware Opportunities served 650 families in the county in October, which is about one-third more than a year ago, according to Linda Vausse, the agency's food bank coordinator. Stories from other local organizations are similar.
We applaud the efforts of food-bank workers, who are undertaking no easy task trying to help those in need. And harder months are ahead. In winter, some may be forced to choose between heating their homes and feeding their families.
Some organizations that are usually able to contribute, such as the U.S. Post Office, have been forced to cancel their food drives because of monetary woes. An individual donation of just a few items can make a big difference, and some organizations are still managing to put together projects to get involved in, such as Opportunities for Otsego, which is helping make holiday baskets.
We encourage those who can spare food donations to make an effort to do so and help alleviate the strain on this vital resource.
