CERT training; BYOK; Walk and Talk

 

Register now for Community Emergency Response Team training

 

September 6, 2012

 

FOR RELEASE AT WILL

 

     The York County Department of Fire and Life Safety has additional space available for York County residents interested in participating in its Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) training course, scheduled to begin on Sept. 13, 2012. 

     The CERT program provides citizens the knowledge, skills and abilities to not only help their families be better prepared for emergencies, but to help their neighborhood be better prepared, and to take action when York County is affected by major emergencies or disasters.

     In recent years, particularly after the county was impacted by a major ice storm, hurricanes Isabel and Irene, and Tropical Storm Ernesto, the Department of Fire and Life Safety has been training citizens to be prepared for an emergency or disaster. 

     Residents interested in participating in York County's CERT Training Program should be prepared to make a commitment to attend courses one Thursday night a week for nine weeks of training and two Saturday mornings for practical skills training. There is also a final course exercise and graduation. 

     The topics covered in the program include: CERT organization and expectations, disaster preparedness, disaster fire suppression, disaster medical operations, light search and rescue, disaster psychology, terrorism, neighborhood fire station tour, and practical training and exercise. CERT classes are taught using multiple instructional methods including presentations, discussions and practical experiences. The program concludes on the final day with a graduation ceremony.

     Classes will be held at the Public Safety Building, 301 Goodwin Neck Road, from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Registration is free and limited to York County residents. For more information on CERT, call the Department of Fire and Life Safety at 890-3600 Monday through Friday from 8:15 a.m. to 5 p.m. or visit www.yorkcounty.gov/fire.

 

Fall kayaking trips at New Quarter Park on Sept. 15 & Oct. 20

 

September 6, 2012

 

FOR RELEASE AT WILL

 

     Bring your own kayak (BYOK) or canoe to New Quarter Park this fall and watch the leaves change on Queen's Creek.

     Fall kayaking trips will be led by park staff on Saturdays Sept. 15 and Oct. 20, from 9 a.m. to noon. Learn more about the historic creek and enjoy seeing ospreys, egrets, great blue herons, and bald eagles along the way.

     Participants should arrive at 9 a.m., drive ¾ mile to the put-in site with park staff, and expect to launch by 9:20. The paddle will last about two and a half hours with take-out around noon. The program is free with your own kayak or canoe and open to the public. Kayaks are available to rent for BYOK from Chesapeake Experience for $30 by calling 757-890-0502 or e-mailing Jill@chesapeakeexperience.org no later than Friday noon before the Saturday paddle.

     BYOK get-togethers for kayakers and canoeists are a York County Parks and Recreation program. For more information or to add your name to the New Quarter Park e-mailing list, call York County Parks and Recreation at 757-890-3500.

 

Naturalist to lead New Quarter Park Walk and Talk on foraging

 

September 6, 2012

 

FOR RELEASE AT WILL

 

     Naturalist and author Vickie Shufer of Virginia Beach will lead an edible plant foraging excursion at New Quarter Park on Sunday, September 16, 2012, from 1 to 3 p.m.

     While walking to the park's Pawpaw patch, Shufer will talk about other edible and medicinal plants found along the park's trails.  Shufer has led previous walks at New Quarter where participants got to sample their foragings afterwards as Pawpaw smoothies and salad wraps.

     Shufer has published a number of nature-related books.  The most recent is "The Everything Guide to Foraging."  Her books will be available for purchase after the walk.  Shufer also leads groups on nature tours and owns a native plant nursery, Wild Foods Farm.

     New Quarter Park is located in upper York County at 1000 Lakeshead Drive, next to the Queens Lake neighborhood.  For more information, please call York County Parks and Recreation at 757-890-3500 or New Quarter Park at 757-890-5840.