Leading off today: Children are not at risk from lead exposure from artificial turf, according to a nationwide assessment by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission,
USA Today reported today.
"Our message is: Go out and play," CPSC spokeswoman Julie Vallese said. "Parents should not be concerned about harmful levels of lead in artificial turf."
Newer fields "generally had the lowest levels," the CPSC report said. "Although small amounts of lead were detected on the surface of older fields, none of these tested fields released amounts of lead that would be harmful to children."
The CPSC evaluated 40 turf samples and tested nine at its labs in Maryland. Its investigation began after two fields in New Jersey were closed because state health regulators found high levels of lead in turf fiber samples this spring.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency also launched an investigation, the results of which are expected this fall, a spokesman said.
Adirondack coach dies unexpectedly: Adirondack High girls basketball and softball coach Tom Maurer, 59, died Tuesday morning while recuperating from hip surgery last week, The Observer-Dispatch reported.
Maurer coached two sports at South Lewis before going to Adirondack, where at various times he guided the boys soccer, modified football, baseball, boys and girls basketball and softball teams. He had coached girls varsity basketball there for 11 seasons and softball for 16.
He had a reputation as an "old-school" disciplinarian who also encouraged players, and Maurer was one of the rare multi-sport veteran coaches who wasn't a teacher. He worked at the now-closed Ethan Allen manufacturng plant in Boonville for 34 years.
