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As flu season approaches, a possible breakthrough for monitoring H1N1

A new finding from the largest study of its kind could improve disease monitoring for the H1N1 flu, which is the same strain that caused the influenza pandemic in 2009. . In 2009, H1N1 was a huge concern in Connecticut, where the Centers for Disease Control classified its outbreak as being regionally located. Other states, such as Virginia suffered widespread outbreaks. In June 2009, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the strain of swine-origin H1N1 as a pandemic. The virus had spread worldwide and had caused about 17,000 deaths by the start of 2010, but about a year later, WHO declared that the H1N1 influenza pandemic was over. Now, Penn State has announced via an Aug. 2 press release a new technique expected to be especially useful in the tropics, where H1N1 is still a concern because flu season never ends, and where new viruses often emerge. Scientists have identified a way to not only identify the presence of H1N1 in the body, but know whether it ever existed. In

Farmers' Markets Brim With Fresh Fruits, Vegetables, Jams, Plants, Music and Laughter

Full disclosure: I had to leave Connecticut in May for a job in the D.C. area, and I'm pleased with my decision. But that doesn't mean there isn't a tug at my heart from Milford, where I spent over a dozen summers, when farmers' market season rolls around. So let's start with the Downtown Milford Farmers Market . It is held every Saturday, June 17 through Oct. 14, except on Oyster Fest Saturday (Aug. 19), from 9 AM to 1 PM. Get there early, right as they open, and you'll gobble up the best squash, cucumbers, and (my favorite) peaches. Also remember to pluck jams or fresh flowers and plants from the myriad vendors who come in from all points throughout the Nutmeg State. Kids can devour popsicles, Mom can get her pierogie-on-wheels fix, Dad can rock out to any number of musical acts who grace the space - located at 58 River Street, right by the train station, in the parking lot behind Corner Convenience and Scratch Baking. Of course, Milford isn't the on

Five West Haven, Conn. Students Honored by White House and EPA for Environmental Project

Five students and their teacher from West Haven, Conn., have been recognized as winners of the 2016 President’s Environmental Youth Award (PEYA). The program recognizes outstanding environmental stewardship projects by K-12 youth. These students demonstrate the initiative, creativity, and applied problem-solving skills needed to tackle environmental problems and find sustainable solutions, according to an EPA press release issued June 8. The students – Arya Bairat, James Rodrigues, Eran Avni-Singer, Sebastian-Morelli Peyton, and Jonathan Yun – started a team at the Engineering and Science University Magnet School (part of New Haven Public School District) in West Haven. They conducted their project with the support and guidance of their biology teacher, Ginger Meetze, and parent sponsor, Dhanahree Bairat. Their project addressed the problem of excessive plastics in the waste stream and air pollution, and their impact on the environment. “Today, we are pleased to honor these imp

You Can Save The Earth - And Color it Along the Way

"You Can Save The Earth - An Adult Coloring Book for Environmental Awareness, Conservation, and Sustainability " is a different kind of read. That's because it's also an adult coloring book with messages both poetic and simple enough for children to understand. So share it with them and you'll see their eyes light up - not only when they color the stunning drawings of wildlife and fauna, but when you explain the messages. From our limited resources and need to use less, to the reality that greenhouse gases are burning through the atmosphere so fast that if we don't do something, our grandchildren will not enjoy the same world. What's unique about this book is that it not only instructs, not only offers pages to color, but offers prompts to make one think. For example, under "Choose to Reduce", the author quotes Pope John Paul II: "The earth will not continue to offer its harvest, except with faithful stewardship. We cannot say we love

How Green is my Home? - UI helps Connecticut answer that question

Energize Connecticut is more than a mantra we shout during a thunderstorm, for United Illuminating in conjunction with Eversource has sponsored a competition to promote sustainable homes in the state. This year, the seventh annual competition, the Energize staff cite 17 remarkable green Connecticut homes that were entered in the competition, and each touts an inspiring story about how it became what's called "zero energy" (one hundred percent sustainable). Some placed a large emphasis on renewable energy and others on highly efficient design, says Energize Connecticut . Five winners have been plucked for the statewide design and build competition for single and multi-family homes. This year’s competition featured homes from across Connecticut built between June 1, 2016 and January 31, 2017. In this national initiative, participants built high efficiency homes that consume little to no energy by using sustainable building practices. “With new renewable energy techn

Audubon: 'The White House Just Declared Open Season on Our Public Lands'

Earlier today, Apr. 25, the National Audubon Society released a press release regarding President Trump's impending signing of an order to review the Antiquities Act. The Antiquities Act was enacted by President Theodore Roosevelt in 1906, and was intended to allow the president to set aside public natural areas as park and conservation land. The Bears Ears National Monument , established last December by President Obama, is threatened by this signing. It sits on 1.35 million acres of federal land in southeastern Utah , a state whose tourism industry has benefitted by promoting its Arches, Bryce Canyon, Zion, and Capitol Reef parks. Bears Ears is so named for its pair of mesas, a hallmark in this part of the country, where rugged red geography dazzles at every turn. According to Audubon, "reversing monument designations is a dangerous game." And they go on to say: “Blowing up more than 100 years of bipartisan tradition to rob our kids of their natural legacy is s

Earth Day spotlight: environmental film "Tomorrow" highlights solutions to global crises

On Earth Day there's no better time to watch a gripping documentary called "Tomorrow" . It shines a light on how both overconsumption and overpopulation have dovetailed at a time when climate change is threatening the planet. The film, first released in France at the end of 2015, stars French actress Mélanie Laurent ("Inglorious Basterds") and Paris-based activist Cyril Dion, whose message highlights a need to make the planet more livable not only now, but yes, tomorrow. Dion, who's also a director, co-wrote the film with Laurent. "Tomorrow" has won awards abroad, including France's equivalent of the Oscar, the Cesar, in 2016. Laurent as narrator explains how worried she is about her children's future following the 2012 publication of a Nature study from 20 researchers who show just how threatened planet Earth including we humans are. Stanford and U.C. Berkeley -based paleoecologist Anthony Barnosky , one of the lead researchers,

Earth Day 2017: Six Earth-friendly alternatives to your auto

Connecticut recently ranked fifth in the country for greenness — so why aren't we always acting green? We're particularly lax when it comes to giving up our one-person-per-auto mindset. This reporter wholly believes that the greatest impediment to getting more folks to share a ride, or get on the bus or train is reversing a stigma. Being a bus rider is even fodder for comic effect in movies. Women walking to the bus in the 'burbs sometimes get propositioned as ladies of the evening! It's the bus, people, not a meth deal. The reason to reverse the stigma is clear and urgent: we are on a collision course with climate change and the planet isn't winning. From coral bleaching to cites choking on air pollution, climate change -- a laughed-off topic by Donald Trump -- is the plague that keeps on giving. Thought last summer was too warm? Just wait till the next hurricane hits us and everyone's remarking how severe the weather "suddenly" is. So here are

Connecticut shines environmentally: first in nation for water quality, fifth overall

WalletHub, a personal finance website, has lauded our state with green praise once again. We've ranked fifth in the union overall for environmental practices, even tops for water quality. Analysts culled data on everything from rate of waste recycling to soil, air, and water quality. While we weren't high on every criterion, our overall rating was superb. Rankings in order were: #1 Vermont, #2 Massachusetts , #3 Oregon, #4 Washington, and #5 the Nutmeg State . The worst rating on the green scale was Wyoming. I got a chance to send some questions to one of their analysts, Jill Gonzalez. Following is a transcript of that discussion: Jill, explain to me, please, what methods you all used to determine these scores and can you quantify them? We compared the states across three quantifiable categories: 1. Environmental Quality, 2. Eco-Friendly Behaviors and 3. Climate-Change Contributions. These categories were evaluated using 20 relevant key metrics. We then calculated the o

Connecticut Vacation Science Camp a fun way for boys and girls to learn about creepy, crawly things

This week, most of us adults are wishing we were kids again because the Children's Museum in West Hartford is inviting children to come explore, learn, and get their hands messy. Following is the schedule : Today, April 10: Animal Science . The science center asks: "Have you ever wondered what it would be like to study animals?" Campers will have a chance to conduct animal experiments, observe wee animals microscopically, and learn about animal bones and teeth. (Better not leave your dentures there that day, Pops!) Tues., April 11: Experiments . Come to the museum hungry for what's being billed as "a day filled to bursting with experiments that you can eat! We will make liquid nitrogen ice cream, experiment with candy, and learn about the science of making food." Weds., April 12: Desert Animals . "Campers will meet an incredibly diverse group of desert animals including gila monsters and fennec foxes. We will learn about the special adaptations t

Four-part public tv documentary "The Crowd & The Cloud" highlights citizen science

A four-part documentary series called "The Crowd & The Cloud", showcasing the power of "Citizen Science in the Digital Age", airs this month on public television and is available online. Hosted by former NASA chief scientist Waleed Abdalati, now director of the Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences (CIRES) at the University of Colorado, Boulder, the series shows how citizens can cull data to augment the work of professional scientists. Everyday people can and are acting in ways leaders cannot - a timely message during a time of political upheaval on the scientific and environmental front. Whether one's concerned with Alzheimer's, fracking, weather, climate change, or epidemics like Zika, the documentary shows how citizens using smartphones and computers are harnessing the power of the digital age. Not only that, through mobile and other technologies people are helping scientists do their jobs. In the documentary trailer Abdala

Governor Malloy's Office announces initiative to develop state's brownfields

Hartford--Connecticut Governor Dannel Malloy's office announced today that applications for the latest round of grants under the Connecticut Brownfield Remediation program will be accepted through May 16 of this year. The dictionary defines a brownfield as "a former industrial or commercial site where future use is affected by real or perceived environmental contamination." The Environmental Protection Agency has operated its Brownfield Program to help tribes, states, and other communities restore brownfield properties since 1995. The release reads in part that in this, the eleventh round of competitive grant funding under which Connecticut partners with local municipalities and economic development agencies, "blighted properties" are being put back to use: "Under this round, a total of $4 million will be earmarked for remediation projects and $1 million will be reserved for assessment projects." “We have made brownfield remediation and redevel

New eco-living book 'Sustainability Made Simple' lives up to name

What's refreshing about Sustainability Made Simple: Small Changes for Big Impact is that it doesn't talk down to the reader, nor does it assume the reader knows anything more than that the climate is changing and everyday citizens should do their part to slow the process. The young authors, fairly recent University of California San Diego International Affairs grads, met on campus when they were studying environmental policy. Laurèn DeMates now works in sustainability in San Francisco at a tech startup, and co-author Rosaly Byrd, who blogs on sustainability for the Huffington Post, was calling in from her role as a sustainability professional for the UN in Rio de Janeiro. DeMates told me recently that the idea for the book arose naturally. "We definitely knew we wanted to do something about the polarization about information on sustainability. There was nothing in the middle that was helpful to individuals who don’t necessarily call themselves environmentalists. We wan

Roads and bridges in Connecticut still in peril, cites engineers' report card

The American Society of Civil Engineers has issued their 2017 "Report Card" for the nation's infrastructure, and the news is not good. The last report, issued in 2013, gave America a D+ and we're still at the same grade. Connecticut is hardly excluded. The ASCE says of our state that our "deteriorating infrastructure" impedes our ability to compete globally, and writes, in part: "While the nation’s infrastructure earned a “D+” in the 2017 Infrastructure Report Card, Connecticut faces infrastructure challenges of its own. For example, driving on roads in need of repair in Connecticut costs each driver $864 per year, and 8.0% of bridges are rated structurally deficient ." ... Connecticut Green Living spoke with ASCE's past president, Andy Herrmann today regarding both the nation and about Connecticut. Following is an edited transcript of the call: CGL: Did the national report card grade surprise you? Why or why not? AH: No – it has

Governor Malloy activates Connecticut's cold weather protocol for Storm Reggie

Governor Dan Malloy announced that in anticipation of Winter Storm Reggie , dangerously cold temps and negative wind chill factors over the next couple of days have forced him to activate the state’s Severe Cold Weather Protocol beginning at 5:00 p.m. on Friday, March 10, 2017, and remaining in effect through 8:00 a.m. on Monday. The Governor's office issued the following press release to ensure that Nutmeggers stay warm and safe: “Temperatures have been fluctuating a lot lately, which is especially why we want to get word out to the most vulnerable that it will be brutally cold this weekend and anyone in need should seek shelter,” Governor Malloy said. “Following the snowfall that we’re expecting to receive on Friday morning, temperatures will begin to drop for the next couple of days. If anyone is in need of shelter, call 2-1-1 to find the nearest available location.” While activated, the protocol directs staff from the state’s Department of Emergency Services and Public Prot

Seven days without sugar: day seven

The following article by the author first appeared on Examiner.com June 15, 2016 Well, I made it - seven days without sugar ... sort of. Let's say I gave up 90 percent of the sugar I was consuming. That's an A- by any measure. I gave up donuts, cookies, ice cream, even dried creamer in my coffee; plus, I felt weird putting Splenda, a sugar substitute, in my joe. I did use some honey. But mainly, I swapped out natural substitutes such as vanilla or cinnamon for a kick. I feel terrific! I am still waking up every morning with an ache in my mouth (bone spur following extraction) but I feel lighter - which I hope proves true when I go get my annual physical Tuesday. Point to make: I felt eager to book the physical because I am anxious to step on the doctor's scale. The United States Food and Drug Administration states in "How Sweet It Is: All About Sugar Substitutes" that there are five sugar substitutes: Newtame (relatively new), Equal, Sweet 'n Low, Swe

Seven days without sugar: day six

The following article by the author originally appeared on Examiner.com, June 13, 2016 Today I was told I look thinner. This came an hour after I told a source, "If I sound grumpy, it's because I am giving up sugar for a week." He laughed. The truth is, I'm amazed by how empowering it feels to get a handle on my  sugar addiction . I've eaten more fruit in the past few days than I ate the entire previous three weeks. I just tasted some Raisin Nut Bran and it seemed too sweet for me. I am feeling weak, though, and am not sure why this is. Perhaps, getting used to new eating habits I also need to become more educated. U.S. supermarkets chockful of processed foods are not on my hot list this week, and yet, this is what I can afford. Thankfully, it's summer and I can get apples fairly cheaply. My beloved peaches are cheaper, and watermelon can be bought in smaller slices if I can't afford the whole fruit. People who are pinching pennies often find their w

Connecticut 12th in national "best states" report

The coveted USA Today report of the best and worst states to live in has been published, and Connecticut can be proud - and a little worried. There's work to do. Our neighbor to the north, Massachusetts, ranked first overall including first in education, second in healthcare, and fifth for the economy. New Hampshire was #2, Rhode Island #21, New York #17, and New Jersey #2. Impressively, the Garden State came in second for education. We ranked #12 overall on the list, coming up highest for education at #4, #8 for crime and corrections, and #12 in healthcare. However, we won't write home about our economy - we're only #38, with a dismal #44 for GDP growth. Yin and yang: while we're #2 for gender equality -- yah! -- we're only #48 for our disability employment rate. Another downer? Our roads are ranked at the end of the pack, 50th in the Union. We can do better. With education and healthcare so highly ranked, though, there is obviously room for improvement. The

Seven days without sugar: day five 

This article originally ran on June 12, 2016 on Examiner.com. Today was a sad day following the news from Orlando. But I did try to maintain a sugarfree diet, eating an orange, low fat Swiss cheese, air popped popcorn, and a peach. However, after watching the news, the urge to eat some of those hidden shortbread cookies became overpowering. I ate three. The connection between emotions and sugar addiction cannot be underestimated. As children, we're given a lollipop at the doctor for good behavior; chocolate bunnies at Easter; advent calendars with chocolate behind each window at Christmas. Parents who packed their children a healthful lunch were often ridiculed, as I remember. My own mother strived to keep my brother and I on track, but single, working moms can only do so much. Who doesn't remember emptying a pillow case of Halloween candy and chomping on it all night? We have a real obesity problem in this country. I'm not obese, but I understand the impulse to eat

Seven days without sugar: day four

The following article by the author originally appeared on Examiner.com June 11, 2016 I'd be a liar if I said I wasn't glad I'm more than halfway through this self-inflicted sugary deprivation week . I'd also be a liar if I said I had given up all  sugar this week - but it's really not my fault. I have realized more than ever that in America, land of the processed food obsession, it's really tough to find enough to eat sometimes if one wants to go sugar-free. For example, I'm on a tight budget. I was craving a breakfast sandwich. I looked at the labels and it just appeared nothing was sugar-free. I had no choice but to break my own ban in the guise of a sausage/egg/cheese/English muffin sandwich. (You don't want me passing out, do you?) I also decided I could buy some bread, after all, if it touts "no high fructose corn syrup" and 21 whole grains per serving, and is low in fat (also no artificial colors, flavors or preservatives.) I see it

Seven days without sugar: day three

The following article by the author originally appeared on Examiner.com June 10, 2016 I want to cry right now - probably for no reason. I am aware, though, that this has as much to do with the sugar making its way from my bloodstream as it does a link to anything in particular (missing my family, my mentee's upcoming high school graduation, how much I miss Ho Hos...) So here's where I stand. I'd give myself a solid A- for how well I'm doing off sugar. I've switched from adding cream and Splenda or dried creamer and sugar to my coffee to going with some vanilla extract and/or cinnamon as needed. Sometimes I'll just drink it black. I've bought a new kind of meusli-ish cereal that doesn't have sugar; snacked on cashews; and rediscovered how much I love grapes. But there are slips: feeling the need to finish the cans of Pringles I'd bought prior to starting "Seven Days" , and then wondering if the balsamic vinegar-olive oil combo I was soak

Surge in Pilates and yoga facilities runs counter to tech workout craze

The U.S. fitness boom has grown even as the obesity epidemic has also surged over the past decade or so. The popularity of adding high-tech twists to the American workout - i.e. with attachable exercise monitors (" wearables ") or stationary bikes with apps - seems to run counter to an exploding yoga craze. The high-tech versus low-tech yogis or Pilates practitioners would, nevertheless, appear to show that exercise is more important than showy and techy ways of doing it. Here in Connecticut, the state is not only peppered with yoga facilities but one is more apt to run into someone with a yoga mat than a set of weights these days. According to a joint 2016 Yoga Journal and Yoga Alliance study , 34 percent of Americans say they are "somewhat or very likely" to practice yoga in the coming year, equal to more than 80 million Americans; and 37 percent of practitioners have kids under age 18 who also practice yoga. - The study also shows that yoga students spend $1