The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation & Historic Preservation announced that the 2026 Empire Pass is now available for purchase. The $80 Empire Pass provides unlimited day-use vehicle entry to New York State Parks, state boat launch sites, arboretums, park preserves and Department of Enviro...

With the holiday season fast approaching, UConn Extension released a new fact sheet, “Smart, Savvy & Nourished: Eating Well on a Budget During Holiday Seasons.” This resource offers practical, research-based tips to help families and individuals enjoy nutritious, festive meals without overspending. ...

During the hectic holidays, an eye-catching display of plants may seem like the perfect gift solution, particularly at the last minute. But is it? Is the intended recipient a plant lover? Will they welcome the gift, or will it be something they’ll feel obligated to water (when they remember) and fee...

The New York State Department of Ag & Markets encourages shoppers looking for that perfect holiday gift item to support local growers and producers this year by shopping at a Taste NY Market. New York’s regional Welcome Centers’ Taste NY Markets and other Taste NY stores located around the state, in...

Cooler temperatures bring many things, including the arrival of fun and festive holidays. But flu season also kicks into high gear between the months of December and February. Although flu season runs from October to May, a combination of factors during the chilliest months of winter, such as increa...

Thanksgiving is just around the corner, with cranberry sauce playing a supporting role in traditional holiday feasts. While the question “whole berried or jellied?” may come to mind, what do you really know about cranberries? Native to the northern U.S. and Canada, they grow in rich, moist soil in b...

Once the Halloween candy disappears, holiday travel is a hot topic for news outlets everywhere. Everyone heading to Grandma’s or back home for the holidays has to run the gauntlet of flight cancellations, delays, higher fuel expenses, traffic jams and the inevitable threat of foul weather, all of wh...

Thanksgiving is celebrated each autumn and often serves as the entry point to the holiday season. Tradition plays a large role in Thanksgiving celebrations, as families incorporate many customs into their celebrations that some believe were once tied to the earliest Thanksgiving meals. But the truth...

While many management activities for insect pests of trees and shrubs end when the frost arrives (like most, if not all, insecticide treatments), some are still applicable in the cold winter months. Examples include: • Scout for egg masses and act accordingly. Many (not all!) insect pests overwinter...