Past Guests
Southern Tier Lyme Support Welcomes Laura Sage
OWNER OF HYPERBARIC OXYGEN CHAMBER
It was our pleasure to introduce our speaker for Southern Tier Lyme’s January Support Group meeting, Laura Sage. Laura, a resident of Owego, New York, has been navigating the challenges of Lyme disease since her diagnosis in 2011. Like many, she began with the standard doxycycline treatment, but her journey quickly became more complex as she faced unexplained symptoms that traditional medicine struggled to address.
Through extensive personal research and a deep commitment to her health, Laura explored alternative approaches to healing. Her path included working with an iridologist, seeking care at the Stram Center for Lyme Disease, and ultimately incorporating hyperbaric oxygen therapy into her regimen. Laura and her husband took a bold step by investing in their own mild hyperbaric oxygen chamber, which has played a pivotal role in her recovery.
Now, with a passion for empowering others, Laura and her husband have started a small business to make this tool available to others on their Lyme journeys. While they do not offer medical advice, they provide an opportunity for others to explore the potential benefits of this therapy. She had the portable hyperbaric chamber with her when she joined Southern Tier Lyme. Laura’s story is one of faith, perseverance, and a dedication to finding solutions.
January 21, 2025 | 6:30 PM
This event was hosted virtually, and in-person at:
Town of Chenango Building
1529 State Route 12
Binghamton, NY 13901
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Dial In +1 630-733-9572
PIN: 558 477 641#
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Southern Tier Lyme Support Welcomes Tara Scaringi
We enjoyed an enlightening evening with Tara Scaringi, a Physician Assistant, Sales Manager for CellCore Biosciences, and co-owner of Synergy Nutrition & Wellness. Tara brought a wealth of knowledge from her extensive background in health, wellness, and functional medicine.
Tara’s journey combines her passion for athletics, movement, and holistic health. With advanced training in athletic science, exercise physiology, yoga, and functional fitness, she has a unique perspective on the intersection of movement, medicine, and wellness.
As a representative of CellCore Biosciences, Tara shared insights into innovative approaches to health, detoxification, and healing for Lyme patients on:
December 16, 2024 | 5:30 PM
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Dial-in: (US) +1 408-831-2334
PIN: 307 769 808#
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Southern Tier Lyme Support Welcomes Joe Sweeney
Southern Tier Lyme Support was excited to welcome Joe Sweeney, a seasoned forester and outdoor enthusiast, as a special guest at the November 2024 support group meeting. Joe works as a forester for Double Aught Lumber, Inc. in Candor, NY, and has also worked with the Otsego County Soil & Water Conservation District and the Department of Environmental Conservation. With years of experience in forestry and a love for hunting, Joe shared valuable insights on how to prevent tick-borne illnesses while spending time outdoors, especially as a hunter and forester.
November 18, 2024 | 5:30 PM
Town of Chenango Building,
1529 State Route 12
Binghamton, NY. 13901
Past Events
CONGRATULATIONS Myron for eating 12 pancakes!
The pancake contest is an annual event and part of the Marathon Maple Festival in Marathon, NY. Each year, contestants – supporting various organizations – line up on the stage of the Marathon High School to test their stamina and stomach against stacks of pancakes. Myron Swarts, pictured with his fellow contestants, participated in the annual pancake eating competition on April 5, 2025. He consumed an impressive 12 pancakes and raised over $700 for Lyme Awareness! The 2025 winner consumed 24 pancakes to take the cake (ha!).
Myron Swarts serves as the president of Southern Tier Lyme Support, devoting his time and energy to assisting our organization fulfill its mission: Southern Tier Lyme Support is dedicated to increasing the public’s awareness of Lyme and other tick borne diseases through education, support and outreach activities. Myron is a Whitney Point native.
Myron as Victor the Tick
Not only did Myron sop up some serious syrup during the pancake eating contest, he also showcased the outcome of The 2025 Tick Project For Lyme Awareness. He showed up in costume as Victor the Tick and gave all attendees a good laugh. To learn more about The Tick Project For Lyme Awareness visit stlyme.org/tick-project-2025 or click the button below.
Lyme Symposium AGENDA
8:30 Registration, Coffee, Light Refreshments
9:00 Welcome Remarks (10 minutes)
Nagaraju Kanneboyina, Dean and Professor, School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Binghamton University.
Session IA: Ticks and tick-borne pathogen screening
20 minute talks, inclusive of Q&A
9:15a Saravanan Thangamani, PhD (via Zoom): Human Encountered Tick Testing as a Public Health Tool.
9:35a Xinru Wang, PhD: Rickettsia buchneri dynamics in Ixodes scapularis: ovarian tropism and dead-end infection in males
9:55a Yetrib Hathout, PhD: Ticks Screening for Pathogens Using Mass Spectrometry
Break and poster session
10:15-11:15am
Session Ib: Ticks and tick-borne pathogen screening
20 minute talks, inclusive of Q&A
11:15a Mike Stastny: Investigating the Impact of Lyme Disease Pathogens & other factors on the Behavior of Ixodes scapularis
11:35a Michel Shamoon-Pour, PhD: Genomic and Proteomic Analyses of Bacterial Communities of Ixodes scapularis Ticks from Broome County, New York
Lunch 11:55-1:15
Session II: Tick-Borne Disease Modeling and Prevention
20 minute talks, inclusive of Q&A
1:20p Mandy Roome, PhD: “Too Broke and Too Tired”: Trialing feasible tick-bite prevention strategies on farms
1:40p Narmada Sambaturu, PhD: Multi-scale Modeling of Infectious Diseases
Session III: Keynote Speaker
2:00p Richard Horowitz, MD (via Zoom): Multiple Systemic Infectious Disease Syndrome (MSIDS): How to Use the MSIDS & Dapsone Combination Therapy in Diagnosis & Treating Chronic LD/PTLDS & Co-infections
3:15p Closing Remarks
Yetrib Hathout, Director, Tick Borne Disease Research Center, Binghamton University
Southern Tier Lyme Support’s Tree – Home for the Holidays
Once again, members of Southern Tier Lyme Support took part in Roberson Museum and Science Center’s Home for the Holidays display. Along with several other local organizations, Southern Tier Lyme Support decorated a Christmas tree. This year, our tree features homemade ornaments, each of which is inscribed with Lyme disease facts in an effort to spread awareness during the holiday season. Home for the Holidays runs from November 21 – January 4.
Monday: 11AM – 5PM
Tuesday: 11AM – 5PM
Wednesday: 11AM – 5PM
Thursday: 11AM – 9PM
Friday: 11AM – 9PM
Saturday: 11AM – 5PM
Sunday: 11AM – 5PM
*Closed Thanksgiving Day, Closed after 5PM on Christmas Eve & New Year’s Eve; Closed Christmas Day & New Year’s Day
Roberson Museum
30 Front Street
Binghamton, NY 13905
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