Tompkins County Whole Health Department

10/10/2026

🌞🎃🍂 An absolutely gorgeous fall day to come out to Danby (Dotson Park) for their annual Harvest Festival, a free, family friendly event! TCWH is here: 1pm-5pm 🍂🎃🌞

10/08/2026

🍂 Use caution when jumping into leaf piles! 🍂
Adult ticks are active in the fall as they prepare for dormancy over the winter season. Ticks wait in plants and cling to animals and humans when they brush by. When spending time outdoors, take special care to prevent tick bites by following the “ABCD method”:

AVOID: If you can, avoid areas where ticks may be present. If you cannot avoid, be sure to follow these additional steps carefully.

“BUG” SPRAY: Use tick repellant on clothing and skin that contains 20%-30% DEET. Apply as directed and avoid eyes or mouth. Assist children with applying insect repellent. Treat your clothing, tents and other camping gear with permethrin. Be sure to follow instructions from the manufacturer.

CHECK FOR TICKS: Perform regular checks for ticks whenever you have been outdoors and do an additional full-body scan at the end of the day. Assist your family members with checking themselves and be sure to check your pets too!

DRESS FOR PREVENTION: Wear light colored clothing so that ticks are easy to spot. Tuck shirts into pants and tuck pants into socks.
If removal of attached ticks occurs promptly, the risk of tick-borne infection is minimal. For reducing the risk of tick-borne disease, ticks must be removed promptly, as some tick-borne diseases can be transmitted within just a few hours. Checking frequently and removing as soon as possible is essential for reducing risk of disease. Talk with your healthcare provider if you have questions about a tick bite or tick-borne diseases.

Learn more at link in comments 👇

10/07/2026

🚨Alert: TCWH - select Mental Health Groups postponed this week. Please spread the word to those who may be impacted.

Tompkins County Whole Health's Mental Health Services offers a wide-range of therapeutic groups for both youth and adults. This week, due to staff illness, two brand new groups are being postponed until next week. Due to walk-in intakes being accepted for these group offerings, there is a chance people were planning to come that are not pre-registered. Thank you for helping to spread the word!

Safety Zone: An after-school group therapy for middle & high school students:
Wednesdays, 4pm-5:15pm at the MH Services Building (201 E. Green St., Ithaca): postponed until Wednesday, 10/14

Trauma, Loss & Grief (for adults)
Fridays, 1pm-2pm, at Dryden Center for Community (9 E. Main St, Dryden): postponed until Friday, 10/16

We apologize for any inconvenience.

If you are interested in attending any of TCWH's Mental Health groups, please call our office at 607-274-6200 to learn more and to register. Please note that participation in one of these services may be considered an insurance billable mental health service. Link to learn more in comments below! 👇

10/06/2026

💜 October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month 💜

Addressing Domestic and Sexual Violence as a Public Health Crisis

TCWH Commissioner Jennie Sutcliffe stated, “TCWH recognizes domestic violence and sexual assault as a public health crisis, causing negative impacts on a person’s physical and mental well-being. Preventing domestic and sexual violence requires us as a community to take a public health approach, looking at strategies and actions to take across individual, relational, community, and societal levels. Sexual violence is preventable, and meaningful prevention requires a community response: clear consent, active bystanders, survivor-centered support, and accountability for those who cause harm.”

In Tompkins County, the Advocacy Center of Tompkins County provides domestic and sexual violence services. In 2025, the Advocacy Center served 592 adult survivors of domestic violence and received 1,738 calls to their hotline (607-277-5000).

This year, the Advocacy Center’s Domestic Violence Awareness Month theme is oriented towards support. Claire Hansen, Community Educator at the Advocacy Center stated, “You deserve care and community. It is just as important to think about the self-care that exists one month, one year, or several years down the road as it is to think about the healing that takes place immediately after a crisis.”

Hansen continued, “We are here to support survivors of domestic violence, wherever they may be in their journey. It is essential that the Advocacy Center, as an agency, and Tompkins County, as a community, demonstrate complete support for those who are experiencing violence and harm. The power of community cannot be understated. Everyone deserves safe, healthy relationships. When you are in need, or when you have questions about how to support someone, call the Advocacy Center’s 24-Hour Hotline at 607-277-5000 (dial 911 in a safety emergency).”

Full press release link below 👇
Tompkins County, NY

10/02/2026

Tonight, tonight, tonight!!! 😁

All are welcome to stop by 201 E. Green St., Ithaca for the PROS Art Show today, Friday October 2nd, during our "First Friday Art Gallery Night", which runs from 5pm-8pm. Light refreshments will be provided. We hope to see you there!

Ithaca Gallery Night

09/30/2026

🚨Product Recall: Elevated Lead Levels

Lior Gourmet Spices Ground Cinnamon Seasoning, sold in retailers and supermarkets across New York State and other states, has been voluntarily recalled due to elevated lead levels.

The product is packaged in 3.2 oz (90g) transparent plastic containers. The lot code GAP11304 can be found on the side of the container under the ingredient line. If you have this product in your pantry, discontinue use immediately and discard or return it to the place of purchase for a refund.

Short term exposures to very low levels of lead may not elicit any symptoms. It is possible that increased blood lead levels may be the only apparent sign of lead exposure. No illnesses have been reported to date.

Additional signs and symptoms of lead exposure are more likely with acute exposure to higher levels of lead or chronic exposure to lead. While lead can affect nearly every bodily system, its effects depend upon the amount and duration of lead exposure and age/ body weight. If a child is exposed to enough lead for a protracted period of time (e.g., weeks to months) permanent damage to the central nervous system may occur. This can result in learning disorders, developmental defects, and other longterm health problems.

Full report: https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/galil-importing-corp-recalls-lior-cinnamon-ground-seasoning-due-elevated-lead-levels

Concerned about your child's lead level? Call our Lead Poisoning Prevention program for support: 607-274-6600. www.tompkinscountyny.gov/health/lead

09/29/2026

Sneak peek at our upcoming First Friday Art Gallery! Link below! 👇

Tompkins County Whole Health's PROS Program is hosting its 2nd annual Art Show, during First Friday Gallery Night on Friday, Oct. 2nd.

Please stop by our Mental Health Services building at 201 E. Green St. to see client and staff artwork on display and enjoy some light refreshments.

09/28/2026

Health Alert: Early Fall Vaccination Recommendations for Flu & COVID-19

It is important to get your annual flu (influenza) and COVID-19 vaccinations in early fall, in advance of respiratory illness season, which typically runs from October – May.

The flu and COVID-19 both cause mild to severe illness, with symptoms commonly including fever or feeling feverish/having chills, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, muscle or body aches, headaches, fatigue (tiredness), and vomiting and diarrhea. Respiratory illnesses are highly contagious, as the viruses spread easily by tiny droplets released from coughing, sneezing, or talking.

Vaccination is the best protection against the flu and COVID-19. It is proven to reduce severity of illness and cut down on hospitalizations and death. Vaccination can prevent you from getting sick, which can prevent you from spreading these respiratory illnesses to others.

Find a pharmacy: https://vaccinationconversations.org/vaxfinder/

It is recommended that everyone ages 6 months and older receive a flu and a COVID-19 vaccine in early fall. Everyone is eligible to be vaccinated; pharmacies are able to vaccinate those ages 3 years and older; those ages 6mos – 36mos must receive vaccination through their pediatrician/primary care provider. Insurance coverage of vaccination may vary, contact your pharmacy, healthcare provider, or insurance provider to learn more.

Dr. Klepack stated, “Despite what you might hear from federal sources, if you would like to receive a Covid-19 vaccine you are entitled to have one. If a pharmacy seems to refuse you, seek vaccination at another pharmacy or contact our immunization clinic (607-274-6604) to fulfill your request.”

Full press release with additional information on our website, link in comments below! 👇

09/28/2026

TOMORROW!
Legal Assistance of Western New York, Inc. (LawNY) and the NY-510 Ithaca/Tompkins Continuum of Care will offer a no-cost legal walk-in clinic for low-income individuals on Tuesday, September 29, 2026 from 1pm-5pm in the Borg Warner Room of the Tompkins County Public Library (101 E. Green St, Ithaca).

Come meet with a panel of LawNY attorneys and staff to receive free, brief legal advice and connect with counsel about personal housing law questions.

Human Services Coalition of Tompkins County

Legal Assistance of Western New York, Inc. and the NY-510 Ithaca/Tompkins Continuum of Care will offer a no-cost legal walk-in clinic for low-income individuals on Tuesday, September 29, 2026 from 1pm-5pm in the Borg Warner Room of the Tompkins County Public Library.

Come meet with a panel of LawNY attorneys and staff to receive free, brief legal advice and connect with counsel about personal housing law questions.