Here’s a great warning to teach your children and grandchildren… while we don’t need to be afraid of thunderstorms, we do need to respect the lightning that may accompany them! You can also download a free lightning safety coloring book from the NOAA website where you’ll find tons of resources and information. Why not pass some of this information along at your next meeting?
NOAA reports there have been twelve deaths so far this year due to lighting. Be safe! When thunder roars, go indoors!
Submitted by Walter Boomsma
This little guy is kinda cute… and his kind seems to be in abundance this year. He (or she, I suppose) is known as the Hickory Tussock Caterpillar. Be advised, however, contact can result in a poison ivy like rash according to a number of sources including a recent article in the Bangor Daily News.
No panic, please… not everyone is suseptible and it’s not “poisonous” as such… for the full story you might check the UMaine Cooperative Extension website. Wear gloves when working in the garden and warn kids who might be especially attracted to the cuteness and think “Caterpillars don’t bite.”
You might consider making this part of your next agricultural report… or family health and hearing!
You’ll remember the old song… “I’ll see you in my dreams…” Well, it appears this Irene is not a dream and we’ll be seeing her soon.
This is not a time for panic–it is a time to focus on what you CAN do–and do it. Mostly it’s about using your head and some common sense. There are some great tips coming out from a number of sources. For example our friends at County Extension advise closing up your greenhouse so any wind can’t get inside.
The Maine Emergency Management Agency has created a special page “Maine Prepares“ which includes links to the National Hurricane Center as well as lots of safety information to review. Reviewing the information at the National Hurricane Center won’t be as exciting as listening to the gloom and doom from popular media, but you’ll get factual information without the drama.
Be aware that there are already many cancellations and it would make sense to confirm that any grange activities scheduled for Sunday and Monday are going to take place. We’ve already been advised and posted that the degree day planned at Winthrop Grange for Sunday has been postponed until Sunday, September 18, All other details remain the same.
Remembering the fraternal nature of our order this is also a good time to look out for your neighbors and friends. Nurture hope and dispense some charity!
“…and after the dread and darkness of the storm have subsided heaven’s sunlight bursts in upon us, making our hearts glad with the revived freshness of fruitful fields, orchards, and vineyard.”
From an email received recently…
We all carry our mobile phones with names & numbers stored in its memory but nobody, other than ourselves, knows which of these numbers belong to our closest family or friends. If we were to be involved in an accident or were taken ill, the people attending us would have our mobile phone but wouldn’t know who to call. Yes, there are hundreds of numbers stored but which one is the contact person in case of an emergency?
The ”ICE” (In Case of Emergency) Campaign is catching on quickly. It is a method of contact during emergency situations. As cell (mobile) phones are carried by the majority of the population, all you need to do is store the number of a contact person or persons who should be contacted during emergency under the name “ICE.” For more than one contact name simply enter ICE1, ICE2 and ICE3 etc.
Webmaster note:
Being a naturally curious person and former volunteer firefighter, I had to research this a little. The idea has been around since 2005 and appears to have originated in the U.K. There have been a number of “myths” regarding how this works (or doesn’t) but the fundamental idea has merit. To check on any emails you might get of this nature, the best source is www.snopes.com. It’s always a good idea to check things there before you forward emails with tips and warnings.
One of the best sources I found for information regarding this is the Los Angeles Fire Department! An important point made on their site is that you should not rely solely on this… adding ICE to your cell phone should be part of a comprehensive plan for dealing with emergencies that includes carrying a wallet card with your contact information.