Mosquito Readiness
While school is back in session, Georgians won’t be giving up on summer fun just yet. In fact, many of us may be spending even more time outside as it starts to cool off this September and October. Unfortunately, mosquitoes will be with us until it’s time to go in and turn on the heat. Here are some tips for limiting your family’s exposure to mosquitoes.Make sure there is no standing water on your property or near your home. Mosquitoes can breed in as little as a teaspoon of water, and that means everything from a bottle cap to the tarp covering the patio furniture is fair game.Get in the habit of looking for mosquito habitats every two weeks or whenever you mow the grass. Use EPA-approved mosquito repellents when playing or working outdoors. Repellents that use DEET are the most tested and are approved for children 2 months old and older, but some ingredients have also been approved by the EPA, two of which are derived from natural materials. Visit www.epa.gov/insect-repellents/find-insect-repellent-right-you to find a repellent that meets your family’s needs.Never let children apply repellents themselves. Adults should apply them to their hands and rub them on their child’s arms and legs. Wear loose-fitting, long-sleeve shirts and pants whenever possible.
Source: Governor’s office.### Governor Jim Douglas and Vermont Agriculture Secretary Roger Allbee will visit France in early September as guests of the French government and at the request of the French Embassy. The purpose of the visit is to investigate potential markets, export/import opportunities and resource exchange for Vermont agricultural producers. Building on a long history of shared agricultural practices and methodology, this study tour will facilitate an exchange of ideas and systems that can mutually benefit both countries.“France has a system in place based on geographic indicators supporting its agriculture industry and that fosters economic development. Vermont is in a unique position to move forward with a similar model,” said Governor Douglas. “Through this system of “terrior” or taste of place, France has been able to better isolate themselves from commodity pricing in food production – similar to what many Vermont producers are trying to accomplish here.”In the past few years, there has been great consumer demand for and support of the Buy Local initiative in Vermont. A taste of place or geographical indicator within the state’s food systems is a logical next step. “As people become more concerned about knowing where their food comes from and how it is grown, this model could have significant and positive economic impacts for Vermont producers,” Governor Douglas said. “We need to continue to do everything we can to support Vermont agriculture, and that includes exploring new opportunities and learning from successes elsewhere,” he added.Vermont and France have many similar characteristics agriculturally. Vermont is now known for its artisanal cheeses – many of them national and international award winners. Cheesemaking is a value-added, growth industry for the state. Many of Vermont’s artisanal cheesemakers owe their growth to France where they have studied the French model and brought those skills back home.And perhaps the best example of Vermont’s unique position to capitalize on the geographical indicator model is maple syrup. When people think about Vermont they think of maple. Not only are maple products value-added for producers, but they draws tourists from all over the world – further benefiting the Vermont economy.The study trip will involve meetings and exchanges with top level French agricultural officials including Bruno Le Maire, Minister of Agriculture and Michel Mercier, Minister of Rural Development.
“The reason why we want to take it to that level is to create a new record and create a new platform to allow the 2019 edition to herald what is going to happen in the next six years. We believe strongly that in another six years when we are marking the 10th anniversary, we should actually become a top class marathon, and that is our vision for this competition.“We believe that it is achievable. This is not necessarily about me; it is not even about the sponsors but about making Lagos to be on that top brand across the world and that is how cities are elevated to become global brand,” Governor Ambode said.He said arrangement had equally been firmed up to encourage more local participation, as well as more physically-challenged athletes, a development he said necessitated the increase in prize monies for the two categories.“We think obviously that we should pay more attention to our physically-challenged athletes this time around and also to embrace more of local participation. This time around, we would push more money to the local races and we would push more money to also our physically-challenged athletes to encourage more people to come in, while the main prize remain the same,” he said.Speaking further at the media briefing which was attended by Nigeria’s sports icons including Mary Onyali, Samson Siasia, Waidi Akanni, Seye Ogunlewe, among others, the Governor said the idea of the marathon was part of his administration’s initiatives to use sports, entertainment and hospitality to grow the economy and positively engage the bourgeoning youth population in the State.Besides, the Governor commended all the sponsors, media and all those who have contributed to the success of the marathon in the last three years, saying the development was a dream come true.Earlier in his welcome address, Chairman of Lagos State Sports Commission, Dr. Kweku Tandor said the Lagos City Marathon, was the third of its kind after Brighton and Bournemouth Marathon in the United Kingdom to earn the prestigious IAAF Bronze Label only after its second edition, which held on February 10, 2018.On his part, Managing Director of Access Bank, Mr. Herbert Wigwe said the commitment of the state government under the leadership of Governor Ambode has ensured that the Lagos Marathon had become an annual event on the international athletics map.He assured that Access Bank, the major sponsors of the Lagos Marathon would continue to give its full support to the event, adding that the 2019 edition will take the event a notch higher so as to receive an IAAF Silver Label for the marathon.Share this:FacebookRedditTwitterPrintPinterestEmailWhatsAppSkypeLinkedInTumblrPocketTelegram No fewer than 150,000 athletes both locally and internationally are expected to participate in the 4th edition of Access Bank Lagos City Marathon, Lagos State Governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode announced yesterday.Addressing a press conference at Lagos House in Alausa, Ikeja to officially announce commencement of preparations for the marathon which is billed to hold on February 2, 2019, Ambode said the target of the state government, was to use the forthcoming edition to take the tournament from the bronze label of International Association of Athletics Federation (IAAF) to silver, in partnership with the sponsors.According to him, “The whole idea is to turn the competition from bronze to silver level. In the last three editions, we had between 100,000 and 120,000 participants. This time around, we want to make sure that come February 2019, we would have not less than 150,000 participants.