Executive Director Highlight | |
NY Ag & Markets Commissioner Richard Ball Kicks Off
Board of Directors Meeting
We were honored to have New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets Commissioner Richard Ball represent the Office of the Governor, kicking off the first BOD meeting of 2023 with a review of the New York State budget for the upcoming fiscal year.
Thank you Commissioner for making Long Island a priority!
Learn more about the Board of Directors
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Meeting with Supervisor Scott Russell
It was an honor meeting with Scott Russell, Town Supervisor of Southold Town!
CCE Suffolk looks forward to participating in the upcoming Southold Town Board Work Session.
Also pictured:
Marta Blanco, Lead Bilingual Nutritionist
Vanessa Pino Lockel, Executive Director of CCE Suffolk
Chris Pickerell, Marine Program Director
Sonia Spar, CCE Suffolk Board President
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First All Staff Meeting of 2023
2023 has officially kicked-off with our first All Staff meeting of the year!
Thank you to all who presented their programs' updates and goals for the coming months. We're so excited to see the evolution of CCE Suffolk this year!
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Speaking at Sayville Rotary Club
Hatchery Technician Demetrios Caroussos joined me in highlighting the work of the CCE Suffolk Marine Program at a meeting of the Sayville Rotary Club.
Thank you to President Drew Baldwin and to the Sayville Rotary for a generous donation!
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Introducing Jacob Ocon,
Communications Coordinator
CCE Suffolk has recently welcomed a new Communications Coordinator: Jacob Ocon!
A graduate of Binghamton University, Jacob's first experience with CCE Suffolk was as a grants writer in 2020. Following some time spent in the advertising industry, he has returned to CCE as our Communications Coordinator.
Have something you'd like included in our monthly newsletter? Send submissions to jfo47@cornell.edu.
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DEIB Updates
(Diversity, Equality, Inclusion, & Belonging)
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Black History Month Spotlight:
Thomas W. Commeraw
An African-American man working in New York in the early 19th century is now receiving overdue recognition for his success, and he has a connection to something our Marine Program knows very well: oysters.
Thomas W. Commeraw was a free African American potter working in Corlears Hook, the area along the shoreline of the East River now between the Manhattan and Williamsburg Bridge. He found great success through his pottery craftsmanship and was an active participant in New York City’s free Black community, engaging in debates over state and national politics.
Of his stoneware products, there was a particular vessel for which Commeraw was especially well-known; his oyster jars.
“They date to...a time when Commeraw clearly appears to have been supplying the free Black oystermen of New York with this specific vessel in order to sell their hauls of shellfish,” says Jessa Krick, Historic Hudson Valley’s Associate Director of Collections.
Our very own Marine Program Director Chris Pickerell is the proud owner of some of these oyster jars, and has contributed them to be displayed at Crafting Freedom: The Life and Legacy of Free Black Potter Thomas W. Commeraw, an exhibit at the New York Historical Society Museum & Library. The exhibit, open until May 28th, features more than 20 stoneware jars. Learn more HERE.
Among CCE Suffolk's many missions is to create a more inclusive Suffolk County, one that celebrates the diversity in our communities. We wish everyone an empowering Black History Month, and encourage readers to learn more about African American history in our region.
Hofstra University has created an excellent resource for this purpose. Read HERE.
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NYSABPRHAL Conference
CCE Suffolk Executive Director Vanessa Lockel will be attending the 52nd Annual Legislative Conference of the New York State Association of Black, Puerto Rican, Hispanic & Asian Legislators the weekend of February 17th.
Learn More
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42nd Long Island Agricultural Forum
Thank you to the 300+ agricultural professionals that came out the annual Long Island Agricultural Forum!
Attendees enjoyed info sessions relating to the diverse fields within Long Island's agricultural industries, as well as a trade show.
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Cornell Small Farms Program:
Futuro en Ag
The Cornell Small Farms Program has started a new initiative to ensure access to Spanish language educational materials and training opportunities to advance Latina/Latino farmer success.
By expanding educational access and collaborative training opportunities, the Small Farms Program hopes to grow the Latina/Latino farmer community in New York State and beyond!
Learn More
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USDA Census of Agriculture
Every vote counts! Every five years, the U.S. Department of Agriculture takes a Census of Agriculture to update their complete count of America’s farms and the hardworking people who run them.
It is important for every New York farmer to be counted to help ensure our country’s agriculture community receives the resources they need.
Hurry! The Census closes February 6!
Take The Census
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Suffolk Alliance for Pollinators (SAP)
Launch
We are very excited to introduce the Suffolk Alliance for Pollinators!
Suffolk Alliance for Pollinators (SAP) is a coalition of local groups making Suffolk County a greener pollinator corridor through good gardening practices. Our efforts will enable Suffolk towns and communities to become part of the growing national initiative led by the Pollinator Pathway Northeast project, a volunteer organization working to establish pollinator-friendly habitat and food sources for bees, butterflies, hummingbirds and other pollinating insects and wildlife.
Learn More
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CCE Suffolk Named
Mother Cabrini Health Grant Recipient
The Community Ed team is proud to be selected as a Cabrini Health Foundation grantee for our project to improve the health of mothers and their babies through parenting & nutrition education. Through this partnership, we’re working to support vulnerable mothers & children throughout Suffolk County!
This grant is the latest in our organization's efforts to support young families on Long Island. CCE Suffolk is represented on the Suffolk County Maternal Morbidity and Mortality Task Force by Executive Director Vanessa Lockel.
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Did You Know? Positive Parenting Series
The “Did You Know?” video series consists of short, weekly videos that share facts about child development from birth through adolescence. The information in these videos can be beneficial to parents or other adults who care for or work with children. Understanding behavior at various stages of development can increase family harmony and wellness!
Learn more here
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Parent Educator Cara Sultan on Connoisseur Media's Island Outlook
Parent Educator Cara Sultan from the Community Education program sat down with Connoisseur Media for a conversation on parenting in today's world, and the educational tools CCE Suffolk offers parents across Long Island.
Listen here
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Ask the Family Educator
by Maxine Cohen, Parent Educator
In this month of love and valentines, how can we foster love and connection between generations?
Love is in the air this month, but not for everyone. How often do young people spend quality time with the older generation? Research shows that human needs go beyond merely food and shelter. Without opportunities for socializing and human connection, health suffers. The pandemic hit the elderly quite hard, causing feelings of tremendous isolation and loneliness.
Karl Pillemer, PhD., Human Development Professor at Cornell University, speaks about the importance of intergenerational connection. There needs to be a linking of the young and old, and not just infrequent visits between grandchildren and grandparents. The U.S. is dramatically age segregated. Think about the proliferation of age 55+ condo communities. In an attempt to bridge this gap, Dr. Pillemer created the Cornell Crisis Advice Project, an online program for interaction between young and old in facing challenging times. This successful program gave seniors a sense of purpose as they conveyed wisdom to the young about what they did in times of crisis (some had lived through the pandemic of 1918). Young people received a perspective that they never would have gotten without this interaction. The “elder wisdom” was priceless and gave seniors a sense of purpose. False stereotypes were exposed and the interchange encouraged critical thinking. All in all, this linking of the generations was a sharing experience and encouraged generosity of the heart and intellect.
How wonderful to share time, talent, and love between young and old! Quality of love is increased for both age groups. Remember, you are young once, but can be young at heart as you age by mixing and mingling with different age groups. Everyone wants and needs to be heard. Let the love flow!
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Suffolk County Farm & 4-H | |
Legislator Kara Hahn visits Suffolk County Farm
The Farm was proud to welcome Kara Hahn, Legislator representing Suffolk County's 5th district, for a visit!
We are always happy to meet 1-on-1 with local officials to help them understand how our programs can make a difference in and around their district.
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Dan Skabeikis: Celebrating 40 Years of Service
This week, we held a tribute lunch for Dan Skabeikis to commemorate over 40 years of service to CCE Suffolk!
Thank you Dan for your commitment to our Suffolk County Farm & Education Center over the years, you will surely be missed!
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Little Farmers Preschooler Featured on Oaki Clothing Instagram
One of our students at the Little Farmers Preschool was featured sporting some Oaki clothing while enjoying the great outdoors!
Link to Post
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Register for Sea Explorers Spring Events & Marine Camp!
Sign-ups are now open for February Break programs, Mini Marine Biologist Programs, Spring Beach Walks, and summer camp for 2023!
Learn More/Register Here
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Farm to School: Tilefish Tacos
The CCE Suffolk Marine Program, Choose Local FISH, and Harvest New York were at North Shore High School in Glen Head to host a Farm to School event!
Local tilefish tacos were served, caught by Fishing Vessel Kimberly out of Montauk. The New York State Farm-to-School Program was created by the NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets to connect schools with local farms and food producers; strengthening local agriculture, improving student health, and promoting regional food systems awareness.
Learn More About Choose Local FISH
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Cook a Fish, Give a Fish:
Monkfish Taco Salad
Thank you to everyone that came out for our first in-person Cook a Fish, Give a Fish cooking class, where Chef Jay Lippin of the East End Food Institute taught guests how to prepare Monkfish Taco Salad!
The Cook a Fish, Give a Fish program gives Long Islanders the opportunity to give back while they learn to cook their favorite local catches, as each ticket helps provide fresh seafood meals to community members in need!
CCE has partnered with seafood industry members to make a regionwide effort to increase monkfish domestic demand. Monkfish is an affordable, tasty and sustainable seafood option; However, this fish remains underutilized in the U.S.
We are surveying commercial fishermen, seafood dealers, seafood processors, and consumers throughout the region to learn more about the monkfish industry and consumer awareness levels. We would greatly appreciate your input. Please complete the survey(s) that apply to your user group or groups below:
Consumers Click Here
Fishermen Click Here
Dealer/Processors Click Here
Retailers Click Here
More on the Monkfish Initiative
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2022 Employee of the Year
Timothy Booker
Tim Booker is the Facilities Manager at CCE Suffolk, and has been part of our team since 1986!
If you have called our main line, or walked through the doors of our main office in Riverhead, chances are you have been greeted by Tim. He does an amazing job of holding the building together, making sure the building and the staff are safe and making suggestions to improve safety processes with emails update, signage, meetings with the Fire Marshall and more!
Tim is dedicated, loyal, and always shows great perseverance.
Congratulations Tim!
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Jean Schmitt Anson, Secretary
As the daughter of Albie Schmitt and Dottie Harbes, two longtime Long Island farm families, Jean started her life journey with dirt under her fingernails. After obtaining two Masters’ Degrees in Quantitative Analysis (St. John's University) and Technology Management (NYU), Jean worked in the Graphic Communications Industry doing Statistical Long-Term Planning for large corporations such as Chemco and Linotype. She was also an adjunct professor at Long Island University and Dowling College teaching Marketing, Management and Statistics courses. Eventually those side trips brought her back to the farm where she raised her two children, Jess Anson (studied Natural Resources at Cornell) and James Anson (studied Sustainable Agriculture at University of New Hampshire). While managing the Albert H. Schmitt Family Farm in Dix Hills, she uses her life skills that she learned along her travels to teach her fellow Long Islanders the joys of gardening.
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Toddler Talk
Wednesday, February 8, 2023, 1:00 PM - 1:45 PM
Wednesday, February 8, 2023, 8:00 PM - 8:45 PM
Wednesday, February 15, 2023, 1:00 PM - 1:45 PM
Wednesday, February 15, 2023, 8:00 PM - 8:45 PM
Join us for open conversations about living with toddlers! These 45-minute question and answer sessions are for parents and other caregivers of toddlers ( children between 12-36 months of age.) There is no fee to participate in these conversations, however advanced registration is required.
Register Here
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Nature at Night @ The Farm
Saturday, February 11, 2023, 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Registrants will participate in hands-on activities to discover some mysterious creatures that come out at night. They will learn how creatures like bats, owls and even bugs benefit our environment while we are asleep! Participants will also learn some benefits and difficulties of both nocturnal and diurnal animals. You will get up close and personal with some of our nocturnal friends and then enjoy a wagon ride around the farm.
Register Here
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2023 Veterinary Medicine Career Exploration Program
Thursday, February 16, 2023, 7:00 PM - 8:45 PM
Thursday, March 2, 2023, 7:00 PM - 8:45 PM
Thursday, March 9, 2023, 7:00 PM - 8:45 PM
Thursday, March 16, 2023, 7:00 PM - 8:45 PM
Thursday, March 23, 2023, 7:00 PM - 8:45 PM
The 2023 Veterinary Medicine Career Exploration program is now virtual, and is open to all high school students (9th - 12th grade).
This is NOT a hands-on program. This program includes:
-Lecture Series on Thurs evenings 7:00-8:45pm via Zoom
-Veterinarian Shadowing Experience (pending current COVID-19 status)
-Tour of Cornell Cooperative Extension Suffolk County Farm and Education Center: March 4 or March 12
Pre-registration is required. Registration for the program opens December 12th, 2022.
Register Here
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Fleece to Fiber @ The Farm
Saturday, February 18, 2023, 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Sheep are just one of the fabulous creatures that provide us with fiber. Participants will discover some other sources like llamas, goats and rabbits and spend time manipulating sheep wool. They will get up close with the animals that help keep us warm while learning how wool travels from sheep to sweater. After the program they will enjoy a wagon ride around the farm.
Register Here
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Agritourism Workshop Series
Monday, February 20, 2023, 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
Monday, March 20, 2023, 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
Monday, April 17, 2023, 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
Monday, May 15, 2023, 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
Monday, June 19, 2023, 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
Monday, July 17, 2023, 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
Are you thinking of starting an agritourism business or are you currently operating one?
Join our monthly lunch-hour, workshop virtual series and learn how to grow your agritourism business!
The first session will cover the basics of running an agritourism operation. The following sessions will focus on specific topic to help aspiring agritourism entrepreneurs grow their knowledge and profit through this exciting on-farm business.
Register Here
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On-Farm & Small-Scale Commercial Compost Production Course
Tuesday, February 21, 2023, 8:00 AM - 10:30 AM
Thursday, February 23, 2023, 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Tuesday, February 28, 2023, 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Thursday, March 2, 2023, 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
This course offers four comprehensive sessions on several topics related to producing compost on your farm or a separate, dedicated site.
Folks interested in starting up a composting facility or getting into on-farm composting, as well as on-farm compost producers and commercial compost producers are welcome
The first session on Facility Design, Regulations, & Producer Case Studies will be offered both in-person and virtually via Zoom. The other three sessions will be virtual only.
Sessions will be offered twice a week on Tuesdays and Thursdays starting February 21st and ending March 2nd.
All classes will be recorded and shared with registrants.
In-Person Registration for 2/21 Class
Online Registration
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Winter Break @ The Farm
Tuesday, February 21, 2023, 9:00 AM - Friday, February 24 @ 3:00 PM
The camp will run from Tuesday, February 21 through Friday, February 24 (9AM – 3PM)
Open to grades K-6, Winter Break at The Farm inspires youth to have fun outside while learning about agriculture, animal science, nutrition, healthy living, and life skills on a 100-year-old working farm. Rooted in the 4-H Positive Youth Development framework, our programs teach youth to use their Head, Heart, Hands and Health to foster self-esteem, teamwork and respect.
More Info/Register
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LI Horticulture Conference
Thursday, March 9, 2023, 7:30 AM - 4:30 PM
We invite you to join us for the 33rd Annual Long Island Horticulture Conference, back in-person after 2 years.
Landscapers, nursery growers, arborists, landscape architects and designers, turf managers, and others in the horticulture industry throughout Long Island and beyond are invited to attend.
More Info/Register
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Child Development Educator
Riverhead, NY
The Child Development Educator is a member of the Human Development team under the Community Education Program. Responsible for supporting educational program needs, assisting in delivering program goals and objectives, planning, implementing, and evaluating educational programs for adults and youth with a subject matter focus on child & human development, social emotional health, and well being. Work as an Extension Association team member in addressing local, regional, and statewide programming priorities. This individual represents Cornell Cooperative Extension's Community Education programs to the public, community leaders, government officials, and Cornell University as part of program delivery. This position is funded by a contract with the Suffolk County Department of Health Services. Learn more HERE
View All Employment & Volunteer Opportunities Here
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Have something you'd like included in our monthly newsletter? Send submissions to
Jacob Ocon, Communications Coordinator
jfo47@cornell.edu
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