Hello,
and welcome to another busy and fun-filled week! We hope that you’ll stop
by our next delicious Pathfinder Produce market for all your fresh fruit and
veggie needs … we’re open on Thursday, July 25, from noon to 5 p.m. Our
friendly staff is eager to assist you with your purchases, and we’ve got some
ultra-fresh Pathfinder Hoop House produce for you to enjoy with your family.
The
next few weeks will continue to be action-packed at the Village. Our Camp
Pathfinder continues through the end of summer, and our summer concerts at the
Pavilion continue throughout August as well – Saturday nights at 7 p.m. (Don’t
forget your chair, jacket, and dancin’ shoes).
Our
annual American Cross Blood Drive is set for Tuesday, August 6; and we will
host a special cruise-in event on Thursday, August 15 for the entire community,
courtesy of the community-minded employees of NYCM Insurance.
***
Keeping Cool
This past weekend
was the National Baseball Hall of Fame’s Induction Weekend in Cooperstown, and
it was among the largest
held in terms of crowd-size. The heat
and humidity in our area made it uncomfortable, and I wondered how the fans
were faring under the hot sun. (At my house, a steady breeze helped things feel
cooler).
I also read over
the weekend about several individuals who had suffered heat exhaustion;
unfortunately, one former Giants lineman, Mitch
Petrus, succumbed to heatstroke after working in
triple-digit temperatures. According to reports, his death was from not having
enough electrolytes
in his system, although he had been drinking water.
So, I got thinking
about ways to keep cool during the hottest of days. Here’s a list of
things to follow, especially as we chart new temperatures for our region
through climate change:
- Stay out of the direct sun: The hottest times of the day are between noon and 3 p.m. Schedule exercise, playtimes, or outdoor work earlier or later in the day.
- Never leave children, pets, or seniors in cars, where temperatures may build up quickly, even on days with moderate temperatures.
- Wear light-weight, light-colored clothing.
- Understand your body’s cues when it needs water. Encourage kids and seniors to drink too. I’ve seen varying advice about drinking very cold drinks after exercise, as they may cause stomach cramps.
- Eat healthy foods that have naturally occurring electrolytes. These include milk products, dark leafy greens, bananas and other fruits.
- Take a page out of our forebearer’s cookbooks and don’t use the oven. Focus on eating cold salads, sandwiches, or grilling. (Summer kitchens anyone?)
- Reduce electricity usage when possible; don’t use the dryer or other heat-producing conveniences during the hottest times of the day. IMHO, line-dried towels work better anyhow!
- Check on elderly friends, neighbors or relatives to make sure they are well.
- Use the AC strategically and use heat-reflective window shades and curtains during the day. (My house has very high ceilings and wide overhangs, which shade the interior from direct solar gain. At night after things are cooler, we open the windows and blow the hot air out upstairs, which works quickly to make things comfortable for sleeping.
- Cool down in the shower or bath.
- Keep an eye on the forecast using a weather app, so you know when it will be hot.
- Know the symptoms of heatstroke … it can be life-threatening.
Until next time,
keep cool!
Lori
