Tobacco-Free Chalk Art Contest Hosted by Reality Check on Saturday, July 26, 2025

LOCAL YOUTH HOST CHALK ART CONTEST AND WELLNESS FAIR TO SUPPORT THEIR COMMUNITY AND HIGHLIGHT HARMS OF TOBACCO
Great photo, video, and interview opportunities

CONTACT: Camryn Chaffee, 315-435-3280 ext. 4607, CamrynChaffee@ongov.net

WHO: Reality Check youth from Onondaga, Cortland, Tompkins, and Chenango counties will volunteer and participate in the tobacco-free chalk art contest to educate and support their community. The Chalk Art Contest is proud to be part of the 2025 Syracuse Art Trail.

WHAT:

  • Event Kick-Off: Contest begins at 11am and all artists will begin their artwork. Kickoff address will be given by Reality Check youth and coordinators. There will be a photo op area set up.
  • Live Music: 2 – 2:45 pm
  • Contest Winners Announced: 4pm.

*More performers and additional timeline events to be added

WHERE:  Community Plaza of Everson Museum; 401 Harrison Street, Syracuse, NY 13202

WHEN:   Saturday, July 26th from 11 am to 5pm

LOCAL YOUTH HOST CHALK ART CONTEST AND WELLNESS FAIR TO HIGHLIGHT HARMS OF TOBACCO AND SUPPORT THEIR COMMUNITY
Reality Check youth from across Central New York are hosting a Tobacco-Free Chalk Art Contest at the Everson Museum Plaza on Saturday, July 26th. As part of CNY Art’s Syracuse Art Trail, both youth and adult artists can register to participate for free and show their artistic talents through chalk, while also portraying important tobacco messaging to the community. The art will be judged based on technique and creativity, as well as the ability of the artists to portray tobacco-free messaging through their art. Prizes will be awarded for the top three chalk art pieces in each age category, including free art classes and tickets to the Everson Museum. This event will also feature a wellness event with community providers from multiple counties, including Onondaga County Health Department programs and other non-profits that serve the community. There will be raffles and free art activities for all community attendees.

Live music performers are scheduled during the event, as well as artists showcasing their skills including face painting and other interactive arts with the community. All are welcome to join in on the fun at the Everson Museum Plaza on July 26th.

Reality Check is a statewide youth organization that focuses on engaging and empowering youth to stand up to the manipulative tobacco industry and create positive change within their communities. You can visit TobaccoFreeCNY.orgor RealityCheckofNY.com for more information.

Onondaga County Reports First Human Case of West Nile Virus Since 2019; First Finding of Eastern Equine Encephalitis Virus in Mosquitoes this Season

ONONDAGA COUNTY, JULY 16, 2025 – Onondaga County Health Commissioner Dr. Kathryn Anderson announced today that the first human case of West Nile virus (WNV) infection since 2019 has been reported in an elderly adult residing in the Town of Cicero. The individual was hospitalized, has since been discharged, and is currently recovering. Additionally, Eastern Equine Encephalitis virus (EEEV) was detected in mosquitoes collected from a mosquito trap located on East Taft Road in the Town of Cicero through the Onondaga County Health Department’s mosquito surveillance program.

West Nile and Eastern Equine Encephalitis viruses are transmitted through the bite of an infected mosquito and are considered endemic in Central New York. “Based on historical patterns, we should assume West Nile, Eastern Equine Encephalitis, and other mosquito-borne viruses are regularly present in our region,” said Dr. Anderson. “It’s important to take routine precautions against mosquito bites throughout the summer, particularly given the elevated mosquito activity we’ve seen so far this year in our surveillance program.”

Signs and Symptoms
Most people don’t get sick or have only mild symptoms after being bitten by an infected mosquito. Signs and symptoms vary depending on the mosquito-borne disease. Signs and symptoms may include:

  • fever
  • headache
  • neck pain
  • muscle pain
  • joint pain
  • rash
  • vomiting
  • diarrhea

Rarely, mosquito-borne diseases can cause serious problems, such as encephalitis, a swelling of the brain.

Personal Protection Measures 

  • Use this EPA search tool to help you choose the repellent product that is right for you, and follow the manufacturer’s instructions on proper use for safety and effectiveness. Ideally, choose a repellent with 20% picaridin or 10%–30% concentration of DEET (look for N,N-diethyl-m-toluamide on the label). The higher the concentration of DEET, the longer it lasts. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that repellents should contain no more than 30% DEET when used on children. Repellent should not be used on babies younger than 2 months old.
  • Mosquito repellent diffusers repel mosquitoes in the air and can be quite effective at reducing the number of mosquitoes in your immediate area.  Diffusers, alone or in combination with repellants applied to the skin, may offer additional protection.
  • Treat clothing and gear with products containing 0.5% permethrin. Permethrin can be used to treat boots, clothing, and camping gear and remain protective through several washings. Alternatively, you can buy permethrin-treated clothing and gear.
  • Mosquito-proof your home by replacing or repairing broken screens and getting rid of standing water where mosquitoes breed 


Remove Standing Water from Your Property
It is extremely important to remove mosquito breeding grounds by eliminating any standing water that may have collected on your property: 

  • Throw away outdoor containers, ceramic pots, or containers that hold water
  • Remove all tires from your property
  • Drill holes in the bottoms of recycling containers that are kept outdoors
  • Clean clogged rain gutters and make sure they continue to work properly
  • Turn over wheelbarrows and wading pools when not in use
  • Change water in birdbaths at least every four days
  • Clear vegetation and debris from the edges of ponds
  • Clean and properly maintain swimming pools, outdoor saunas, and hot tubs
  • Drain water from pool covers
  • Use landscaping to eliminate low spots where standing water accumulates

In response to this human case of WNV, the Onondaga County Health Department is conducting additional mosquito surveillance. The Health Department maintains ongoing coordination with the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) and the Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) to monitor conditions. Any future spraying decisions will be based on multiple factors, including mosquito surveillance data and the number of mosquitoes detected in monitoring traps, with guidance from NYSDOH and NYSDEC. 

For weekly mosquito pool test results and for more information about personal protection measures against mosquitoes, visit onondaga.gov/health-env/mosquitoes/  or contact the Onondaga County Health Department’s Division of Environmental Health at 315. 435.1649. 

Jamesville Beach Closed for Swimming Due to Visual Presence of Algal Bloom 

ONONDAGA COUNTY, JULY 10, 2025 – The Onondaga County Health Department announced today that Jamesville Beach located in the Town of LaFayette is closed for swimming due to the visual presence of an algal bloom. Water sampling will be conducted to confirm there are no toxins before the beach is reopened. Please note that this does not affect the park’s other amenities during normal hours of operation

Algal blooms can turn the water green and can form thick surface scums on the water. Certain types of algae can release toxins that may cause skin or eye irritation, or diarrhea and vomiting if ingested. People and animals should keep out of the water where algal blooms are present in any body of water.

The Health Department recommends taking the following precautions:

  • Don’t swim, wade, boat, or fish near blooms or scums and don’t eat fish caught from waters with blooms
  • Don’t drink the water
  • Keep children and animals away from any blooms or scums
  • Rinse with clean water if exposed

To learn more about blue-green algae visit:

While Jamesville Beach is closed, the public can enjoy the Oneida Shores Beach in Brewerton which is open Monday-Thursday, 12-6pm; Friday-Sunday, 11-6pm.

FOR FUTURE UPDATES on testing and closure status of Onondaga County Parks beaches please visit www.onondagacountyparks.com/about/water-quality-testing/ or call the Division of Environmental Health at 315.435.6617.

Tell Us What You Think About the Health of Our Community

The Onondaga County Health Department, in partnership with Crouse Health, St. Joseph’s Health, and Upstate University Hospital is preparing a Community Health Assessment and wants to learn more about what people in our community think about health.

You can take a Community Health Survey to share your thoughts. The survey asks questions about what health issues you think are most important and what could be done to improve health in your community. Your answers will help the Health Department and local hospitals decide what to work on and how to make our community a healthier place for everyone.

Let Your Voice Be Heard!

  • You know what your community needs.
  • Your ideas can help improve local health programs.
  • Participation in the survey is voluntary and responses are confidential.
  • As a thank you, participants can enter to win a $200 VISA gift card!
  • The survey is open until July 15, 2025.

The 2025 Community Health Survey is now available online at ongov.net/health

 

Unmasking the Appeal: Tobacco-Free CNY Recognizes World No Tobacco Day

TOBACCO-FREE CNY, MAY 30, 2025 –  This year, Tobacco-Free CNY recognizes World No Tobacco Day on May 31st with the theme selected by the World Health Organization (WHO), “Unmasking the Appeal: Exposing Industry Tactics on Tobacco and Nicotine Products.” World No Tobacco Day is a day set aside each year to focus on educating on the tactics used by the tobacco industry to make their harmful products seem attractive.

The attractiveness of tobacco, nicotine and related products, particularly to young audiences, remains one of the primary public health challenges. The tobacco industry uses flavors to make these products more appealing to youth and to mask the harshness of tobacco. Other tactics that are used include: glamorized marketing with sleek designs and colors promoted through digital media; deceptive designs used to mimic candies or sweets or by using the likeness of popular cartoon characters; and using coolants and additives to make their products easier to use, in hopes of leading to continued use and reducing the chance of quitting. All of these tactics increase the chance of early initiation of smoking, and potentially a lifelong addiction and serious health consequences.

Policy change is the most effective way to counter these strategies. By reducing access to flavors and setting restrictions on tobacco advertising seen in communities, we can work towards a healthier, tobacco-free future. World No Tobacco Day provides an opportunity for municipalities, employers, and property managers to reevaluate and strengthen their current tobacco policies. The Tobacco-Free CNY program, serving Onondaga, Oswego and Cayuga Counties, assists community partners with the creation and implementation of tobacco-free policies.

By unmasking the strategies used by tobacco companies, we hope to shed light on the ways the industry markets addiction. For more information Tobacco-Free CNY programs, please visit our website at tobaccofreecny.org or call (315) 435-3280. For help with quitting, please call the New York State Quitline at 1-866-697-8487 or visit nysmokefree.com for more information.

Onondaga County Health Department Identifies New Cases of Mpox

ONONDAGA COUNTY, MAY 22, 2025 — The Onondaga County Health Department has identified several cases of mpox (formerly known as monkeypox) in our community. All individuals are recovering at home, and contact tracing is underway to help prevent further spread.

Mpox is a rare but potentially serious illness caused by a virus similar to smallpox, though typically less severe. It spreads through close, often skin-to-skin contact, including during sexual activity, direct contact with rashes or body fluids, and through contaminated items like clothing or bedding. Gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men are at the highest risk of infection.

“We understand that hearing about mpox cases in our community may cause concern,” said Dr. Kathryn Anderson, Onondaga County Health Commissioner. “However, mpox does not spread easily from person to person, and there are steps everyone can take to protect themselves.”

 How to Lower Your Risk:

  • Avoid close contact with people who have a new or unexplained rash or flu-like symptoms.
  • Do not share personal items like towels, bedding, or clothing.
  • Practice safer sex, including reducing your number of sexual partners and using condoms.  Make a habit of exchanging contact information with sex partners to allow for sexual health follow up when needed.
  • Wash hands often with soap and water or use hand sanitizer.
  • Consider vaccination if you are at higher risk. Mpox vaccines are available and effective. Contact your healthcare provider, local pharmacy, or the health department to learn more.

Mpox symptoms typically include fever, headache, swollen lymph nodes, and a distinctive rash. If you think you may have symptoms or have been exposed, call your healthcare provider and avoid close contact with others until you’ve been evaluated.  Make sure that you share with your provider your concern for mpox and why you think you may be at risk.

The Health Department continues to monitor the situation closely and will provide updates as needed. For more information, visit www.ongov.net/health or call 315-435-3236.

Onondaga County Health Department Issues Health Alert Regarding Potential Increase in Ocular Syphilis Cases

ONONDAGA COUNTY, MAY 1, 2025 – The Onondaga County Health Department (OCHD) is issuing a health alert to inform healthcare providers and the public about a potential increase in cases of ocular syphilis in Onondaga County. Ocular syphilis is an eye condition that can occur at any stage of syphilis, a sexually transmitted infection (STI) caused by the bacterium Treponema pallidum. If left untreated, it can cause serious and permanent vision loss.

Key Facts About Ocular Syphilis

  • Syphilis is on the rise: Rates of syphilis have been increasing across the United States and in Onondaga County, and this increase may be contributing to a rise in ocular syphilis cases.
  • Ocular syphilis can cause a range of symptoms, including:
    • Changes in vision (blurred vision, decreased vision, or blindness)
    • Eye pain
    • Redness of the eye
    • Sensitivity to light
    • Floaters or spots in vision
    • Uveitis (inflammation inside the eye)
  • Early detection and treatment are crucial: Prompt diagnosis and treatment with penicillin can prevent or minimize vision loss.
  • Risk factors: Individuals at increased risk for syphilis, and therefore ocular syphilis, include:
    • Men and women who engage in unprotected sexual activity
    • People with HIV or other conditions with decreased immune function
    • Men who have sex with men
    • People with multiple sexual partners
    • People using apps for anonymous sexual encounters
    • People who have sex while high on drugs or using alcohol
    • Syphilis occurs in babies, teens, and adults of any age (including seniors)

Call to Action for the Public
The Onondaga County Health Department advises the public to:

  • Practice safer sex: Use condoms consistently and correctly to reduce the risk of syphilis and other STIs.
  • Get tested: If you are sexually active, talk to your healthcare provider about regular STI testing, especially if you have risk factors for syphilis.
  • Get tested for HIV.  OCHD prescribes medication to reduce the risk of acquiring HIV (called HIV PrEP) and other STIs including chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis (called Doxy-PEP)-call (315) 435-3626 or walk in to the Sexual Wellness Center in at the John Mulroy Civic Center, 421 Montgomery Street, Syracuse, NY for low-cost or no-cost STI testing, prevention, and treatment.
  • Seek medical attention for symptoms: If you experience any changes in your vision or eye symptoms, seek prompt medical attention.
  • Inform partners: If you are diagnosed with syphilis, notify your sexual partners so they can get tested and treated.

Call to Action for Healthcare Providers
The Onondaga County Health Department urges healthcare providers to:

  • Be vigilant for ocular symptoms: Consider ocular syphilis in patients presenting with new or unexplained eye symptoms, even if they do not have other symptoms of syphilis.
  • Test appropriately: Perform syphilis serologic testing (treponemal testing and RPR) in patients with suspected ocular syphilis.
  • Consult an ophthalmologist: Promptly refer patients with suspected or confirmed ocular syphilis to an ophthalmologist for a comprehensive eye examination and co-management.
  • Treat promptly: Treat patients with ocular syphilis with the recommended course of intravenous penicillin.
  • Report cases: Report all confirmed cases of ocular syphilis to OCHD to help monitor the extent of the problem and facilitate public health response.

The Onondaga County Health Department is committed to protecting the health of our community. We are closely monitoring the situation and working with healthcare providers to ensure that ocular syphilis is promptly diagnosed and treated.

 

Eliminating Tobacco Waste on Earth Day

TOBACCO-FREE CNY, APRIL 24, 2025 – While progress has been made concerning secondhand smoke exposure and its impacts on air quality, tobacco use continues to threaten the environment. Cigarette butts are the most littered item around the world. Roughly 4.5 trillion cigarette butts are littered globally each year, equaling 766,570 metric tons. In addition, Americans throw out more than 5 disposable vapes every second. Tobacco products leech toxic chemicals into the environment when they are discarded on the ground. The nicotine, pesticide residues, and metals that seep from these products can enter waterways and harm both aquatic wildlife and humans.

It can be difficult to properly discard disposable vapes, making them even more harmful to the environment. The lithium ion batteries can cause fires and explosions in trash cans, garbage trucks, and waste management facilities. The e-liquid within these devices contain high concentrations of nicotine that can spill and come in contact with the skin of waste management workers, leading to nicotine poisoning. Roughly 90% of young e-cigarette users do not properly get rid of their vapes through an e-waste facility.

Tobacco also harms the environment through its growth and production. Growing tobacco requires about 9 Olympic-sized swimming pools worth of water and 600 million trees to be chopped down every year. Often times, tobacco is grown in countries that already struggle with a limited water supply. Between the extreme amount of water used and the pesticides added to the crops that leech into the watershed, these countries are left with an even scarcer water supply.

As Earth Day just passed on April 22nd, now is the time to focus on protecting our environment from tobacco litter and waste. To join in on the efforts that began on Earth Day, rally together friends, family, neighbors, and community members, grab some trash bags, gloves, trash pickers, and any other supplies you may need, and clean up any tobacco litter that you can find in your community. If people work together to rid our environment of tobacco litter, we can improve the state of our environment and save wildlife. Our Reality Check youth conducted tobacco litter cleanups throughout Onondaga County while also educating their communities on the harms of tobacco on the environment. They were able to clean up large amount of litter as well as many tobacco litter items in their community as well! Please share with us if you join the effort to remove tobacco litter this spring!

 

For information on how to properly dispose of vapes and e-cigarette devices, visit:

Onondaga County
Onondaga County Resource Recovery Agency: OCRRA

Oswego County
Oswego County Department of Infrastructure Facilities and Technology, Residential Household Hazardous Waste

Cayuga County
Cayuga County Household Hazardous Waste

Additional Resource:
World Health Organization. (n.d.). Tobacco and its environmental impact: An overview. World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/publications-detail-redirect/9789241512497

Smoking in Movies: Hollywood Addicting Youth

TOBACCO-FREE CNY, MARCH 31, 2025 – During awards season, the spotlight is on movies and shows that have caught the attention of millions, and all eyes are on the screen to see who comes out on top. Although this may seem like innocent fun, in reality these popular movies are exposing millions of youth to tobacco on screen.

Smoking remains the #1 cause of preventable death in the United States and kills more than 7 million people worldwide every year. To prevent death and disease from smoking, Tobacco-Free CNY is focused on reducing the number of new smokers, especially among youth. However, the movie industry continues to expose youth to tobacco imagery, and research has found that young people who see tobacco on screen are up to three times more likely to start vaping nicotine and two times more likely to use tobacco. The CDC even suggests that on-screen smoking could kill almost 2 million children and teens alive today.  Despite these demonstrated harms, tobacco imagery is still allowed in youth-rated films and there is no standard rating for smoking in films.

Giving an “R” rating to films with tobacco imagery could decrease youth smoking rates by about 18%. This could save the lives of millions of youth and prevent countless more from suffering from diseases due to smoking. Working to have more accurate ratings and parental warnings that include tobacco would allow parents to avoid exposing their children to tobacco use.

To learn more about smoking in films, you can read Truth Initiative’s report HERE.
Find out more about the harms of tobacco at our website, tobaccofreecny.org/
To learn about our upcoming events, follow us on Facebook @tobaccofreecny

Smoke-Free Movie Event
To raise awareness on the harms of smoking in youth-rated movies, Tobacco-Free CNY and Reality Check hosted a smoke-free movie event. On Saturday, March 22, youth from three Reality Check groups in Onondaga County hosted a free movie showing of “IF” at Regal Cinemas at Destiny USA. Almost 100 community members gathered at the event and were educated by the youth. They played games, answered trivia questions, took photos at the photo station, showed their support for smoke-free movies, and earned fun prizes.

Prior to the movie, four youth spoke to the crowd about what they have learned while in Reality Check. They educated the audience on the harms of smoking and vaping, how the tobacco industry markets their products to youth, how secondhand smoke is dangerous to non-smokers, and why smoking in movies is harmful. They did a great job delivering this important information to the audience and kicking off the start of the movie!

Colorectal Cancer Screening Begins at Age 45: Free Screening Tests Available

ONONDAGA COUNTY, FEBRUARY 28, 2025 –March is National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month. According to the American Cancer Society, colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer diagnosed in both men and women in the United States, and close to 52,000 people die every year. National and New York State data show that 9 out of 10 of new colorectal cancer cases happen in adults aged 45 and older. The US Preventive Services Task Force and the American Cancer Society recommend that colorectal cancer screenings begin at age 45. People at higher risk may need to begin screening before age 45.

All people 45 and older should be screened for colorectal cancer. The FIT (fecal immunochemical test) Kit is a stool testing kit performed at-home or as part of a physical exam at your medical provider’s office that looks for blood in a person’s stool. A colonoscopy is a test that allows your doctor to view the inside of the entire colon to find and remove polyps in the colon or rectum. Other testing methods are available; talk to your doctor to determine which test is right for you and how often you should be screened.

Early detection saves lives. Colorectal cancer usually starts from precancerous polyps in the colon or rectum, which can develop into cancer over time. Sometimes polyps will bleed, and a person may notice blood in their stool. Other symptoms of colorectal cancer may include abdominal pain, bloating, or changes in bowel movement habits that doesn’t go away or unexplained weight loss. But it is important to remember that colorectal cancer does not always cause symptoms in its early stage. This is why having screening tests for colorectal cancer regularly is important to detect colorectal cancer early, when treatment works best. Colorectal cancer can be PREVENTED with regular screening and the removal of pre-cancerous polyps in the colon and/or rectum.

Free colorectal cancer screening tests are available. The Onondaga County Cancer Services Program (CSP) offers free tests for people aged 45 and older who do not have health insurance. Take-home fecal tests, such as FIT Kits are an easy and effective way to get screened. If the FIT test comes back abnormal, a follow-up with a colonoscopy will be scheduled. Any follow-up procedures, including colonoscopies, will be covered at no cost to the patient. If diagnosed with colorectal cancer, CSP staff will assist with the Medicaid Cancer Treatment Program (MCTP) application process. Services are available at many healthcare provider sites throughout the City of Syracuse and Onondaga County.  Call 315-435-3653 or visit the CSP website to register for your free screening test.

Remember, if you are over 45 years old and do NOT have health insurance, call 315-435-3653 to see if you qualify for free colorectal cancer screening. Early detection of colorectal cancer saves lives. Take care of yourself and schedule your appointment today!