Highlights

Snow Policy

Board & Council

Meeting

Cultural Arts

Contest

Book Club

KEHA State

Meeting

KEHA Chorus

Scam Du Jour

Talking Turkey

Rain Garden/Rain

Barrel

Carbon Monoxide

Treadmill vs

Walking

Weight Gain

During the

Holidays

Dates to

Remember

Cooperative

Extension Service Jefferson County 810 Barret Avenue

Louisville, KY 40204-1782

Phone: 569-2344 Fax: 569-3958

www.ca.uky.edu/ces

November/December 2015

Valerie Holland County Extension Agent for

Family & Consumer Sciences vmhollan@uky.edu

Snow Policy If Jefferson County Public Schools are closed due to the weather, all Homemaker classes and programs are cancelled. The Extension office is closed only in extreme Weather. It does not follow the Jefferson County Public Schools cancellation policy, which means some Extension programs may not be cancelled. Call the office at 569-2344, to check on other Extension programs.

Homemakers Board & Council Meetings The Homemakers Board will meet on Monday, January 4, 2016, 9:00 a.m. at the Farm Bureau Building. The Board is made up of all county officers and county educational chairmen. This board meeting will be followed by the Homemakers Council meeting at 10:30 a.m. The Advisory Council is a combination of the Board and all club presidents. These meetings are valuable to your club and it is very important for each club to have a representative. If you are unable to attend, please ask another club officer to attend in your place.

County Cultural Arts Contest Date: Wednesday, January 6, 2016 Snow Date: Wednesday, January 13, 2016 Place: McMahan Fire Station 4218 Taylorsville Rd. Louisville, KY 40220. The day’s agenda is below; don’t forget to bring your items in to be judged. Agenda: 10:00 am – 10:30 am Registration 10:30 am – 12:00 pm Judging 10:30 am – 12:00 pm Work on crafts 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm Viewing of the crafts 1:00 pm – 1:30 pm Check out

Book Club November: The Girl in the Blue Beret: A Novel by Bobbie Ann Mason

Inspired by the wartime experiences of her father-in-law, the author has crafted the haunting and

profoundly moving story of an American WW II pilot shot down in Occupied Europe, and his

wrenching odyssey of discovery, decades later, as he uncovers the truth about those who helped

him escape in 1944. Framed in spellbinding, luminous prose, Marshall's search for the girl in the

blue beret gradually unfolds, becoming a voyage of discovery that reveals truths about himself

and the people he knew during the war. An unforgettable story - intimate, affecting, exquisite - of

memories, second chances, and one intrepid girl who risked it all for a stranger.

December: Ava's Man by Rick Bragg A personal history of the Deep South. About the author's grandfather, an unlettered roofer who

kept food on his family's table through the worst of the Great Depression; a moonshiner who

drank exactly one pint for every gallon he sold; an unregenerate brawler, who could sit for hours

with a baby in the crook of his arm. Bragg conjures up the backwoods hamlets of GA and AL in

the years when the roads were still dirt and real men

never cussed in front of ladies. A masterly family

chronicle and a human portrait so vivid you can

smell the cornbread and whiskey.

January: The Emperor of Ocean Park by Stephen L. Carter

Carter combines a riveting legal thriller with the saga

of a unique family, set in two privileged worlds: the

upper-crust African-American society of the Eastern

seaboard and the inner circle of an Ivy League law

school.

2016 KEHA State Meeting April 18-21, 2016

Northern Kentucky Convention Center

The 2016 KEHA State Meeting will be held at the Northern Kentucky Convention Center. Lodging room blocks

are available at three hotels. Rates and details for each are included below. Reservations will be managed through

the Northern Kentucky Convention and Visitors Bureau. A website is available for reserving your rooms and

accessible at: KEHA 2016 Reservations

The web page will automatically display the hotels available at the special rate and will reserve rooms within the

established block and is open for reservations at any time. If you have issues making reservations via the website,

please contact the Northern Kentucky Convention and Visitors Bureau at 877-465-9282. The housing line is

available Monday-Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. EST.

Marriott River Center - $129 + tax (Rate includes complimentary wireless internet and self-parking.)

The Marriott River Center is connected to the Northern Kentucky Convention Center via an enclosed pedway.

Embassy Suites River Center - $139 + tax (Rate includes complimentary wireless internet, complimentary self-

parking, hot breakfast daily and a daily evening reception.) The Embassy Suites River Center is located across the

street from the Northern Kentucky Convention Center. Guests will have to cross outdoors to enter and exit the

convention center.

Radisson Riverfront - $119 + tax (Rate includes complimentary wireless internet, complimentary parking and

shuttle service to the convention center as available). The Radisson Riverfront is located one mile from the

Northern Kentucky Convention Center.

KEHA Chorus

As was announced at the 2015 KEHA State Meeting, a chorus is being formed for 2016. Any interested KEHA

member is invited to join the chorus. Wendy Hood, KEHA member from Mercer County will serve as the chorus

director. Interested members should send a $10 check made payable to Wendy to: Wendy Hood, 202 Park

Avenue, Harrodsburg, KY 40330-1616. The funds will be used to cover the cost of copying and mailing sheet

music and a rehearsal disc to the chorus members. The music will be provided in February 2016. A rehearsal will

be held on Monday, April 18 and the chorus will perform during the 2016 KEHA State Meeting.

Scam du jour: Chip card scams October 19, 2015 by Colleen Tressler, Consumer Education Specialist, FTC

Recently, I told you about the new credit and debt chip cards designed to reduce fraud, including counterfeiting. Now, I'm reporting on scammers who are trying to take advantage of the millions of consumers who haven't yet received a chip card. Here's what’s happening: Scammers are emailing people, posing as their card issuer. The scammers claim that in order to issue a new chip card, you need to update your account by confirming some personal information or clicking on a link to continue the process.

If you reply to the email with personal information, the scammer can use it to commit identity theft. If you click on the link, you may unknowingly install malware on your device. Malware programs can cause your device to crash, monitor your online activity, send spam, steal personal information and commit fraud. So how can you tell if the email is from a scammer?

There's no reason your card issuer needs to contact you by email — or by phone, for that matter — to confirm

personal information before sending you a new chip card. Don't respond to an email or phone call that asks you to provide your card number. Period.

Still not sure if the email is a scam? Contact your card issuers at the phone numbers on your cards.

Don't trust links in emails. Only provide personal information through a company's website if you typed in the web address yourself and you see signals that the site is secure, like a URL that begins https (the "s" stands for secure).

To learn more about protecting your personal information, check out Privacy & Identity.

Talking Turkey

To ensure that foodborne illness isn’t a guest at your holiday table, follow these tips from USDA when buying and preparing your turkey. When buying a turkey, allow one pound per person. If you buy a fresh turkey, check the “sell by” or “use by” date to make sure that it really is fresh, and buy it only 1 or 2 days before you cook it.

If you buy a frozen turkey, keep it frozen until you are ready to thaw it for cooking. The USDA recommends that you thaw a frozen turkey in the refrigerator. Leave the turkey in its original wrapping and place it in a pan to catch any juices that leak. Allow about one day to thaw for each four pounds of bird (for example, four days for a 16-pound turkey). After thawing, it’s safe to store the turkey in the refrigerator for up to two more days. To thaw a frozen turkey more quickly, you can use the cold water method. Cover the bird in its original wrapping in cold tap water, changing the water every 30 minutes. Allow about 30 minutes per pound of turkey and cook the turkey immediately after thawing. You can also use a microwave oven to thaw your turkey. Be sure to follow the oven manufacturer’s instructions. If you use this method, plan to cook the turkey immediately after thawing because some parts of the bird may become warm and begin to cook during microwaving.

When the big day comes and it’s time to prepare your feast, wash your hands but don’t wash the turkey. Washing poultry can spread bacteria around the sink and kitchen and lead to the contamination of other foods. Likewise, keep the raw turkey separate from the other foods you will be serving, using separate cutting boards and utensils to avoid spreading bacteria.

For optimum safety, cook stuffing in a casserole dish, separate from the turkey. If you are planning to stuff the turkey, mix the stuffing ingredients and stuff the bird just before cooking. Whether inside the bird or out, stuffing should be cooked to a temperature of 165 degrees F as measured with a food thermometer.

To roast the turkey, set the oven temperature to no lower than 325 degrees F. Place the turkey breast-side up on a rack in a shallow roasting pan. The time that it takes to roast a turkey depends on the size of the bird, whether or not it is stuffed, the type of pan and the oven itself. Breasts may take from 1½ to 3¼ hours; unstuffed birds will take 2¾ to 5 hours; and stuffed birds 3 to 5¼ hours. The only way to be sure the turkey is safely cooked is to use a food thermometer, checking the temperature at three locations: the innermost part of the thigh, the innermost part of the wing and the thickest part of the breast. All parts of the turkey must reach 165 degrees F to ensure that harmful bacteria are killed. Once cooked, remove the bird from the oven and let it stand for 20 minutes before carving. After the feast, be sure to refrigerate leftovers within two hours. Store the meat and stuffing separately and use or freeze within three or four days. Reference: Foodsafety.gov. Turkey. Retrieved June 26, 2015, from http://www.foodsafety.gov/keep/types/turkey/

Source: Debbie Clouthier , Extension Associate for Food Safety and Preservation, University of Kentucky; College of Agr iculture,

Homes Need Carbon Monoxide Detectors If your house has any fuel-burning heating equipment, you need a carbon monoxide detector to protect yourself and your loved ones from serious illness and death. This includes items such as a fireplace, gas or oil furnace or water heater, wood stove or kerosene heater. An attached garage with cars or other equipment with engines or a generator running outside your house are also potentially unsafe. Over 150 people die each year from accidental, non-fire-related carbon monoxide poisoning. Countless more need medical care from close calls. Carbon monoxide is called “the silent killer” because it is a colorless and odorless gas, and is fatal when breathed in high amounts. Because people cannot detect it and do not expect it, they often don’t know they are being poisoned until it is too late. It is such a serious problem that many excellent websites and other sources of information warn against its dangers. Carbon monoxide, or CO, is produced by simple combustion. Lack of proper ventilation allows CO to build up to fatal levels. Something as simple as a partially clogged chimney or vent can prevent CO from leaving the house. It is why people who burn wood for heat need to have chimneys checked every year, and cleaned regularly. It is also why kerosene heaters require outside ventilation of fresh air, such as by having a window partially open. Because CO is so tricky, everyone is urged to install a CO detector in their home. Since 2011, Kentucky law has required new homes to have CO detectors if they have fuel-burning equipment or attached garages. In addition, older homes where building permits have been obtained for modifications are also required to have them. Detectors are to be installed outside all sleeping areas of the house. A carbon monoxide detector can be purchased at any hardware or home improvement store. It is a small price to pay for peace of mind and life-saving protection from “the silent killer.” References: Carbon Monoxide Safety Bulletin, Prevention and Preparedness Division, Lexington KY Fire Department http://www.lexingtonky.gov/index.aspx?page=2823

Prevent Carbon Monoxide Poisoning, Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services http://chfs.ky.gov/news/Prevention+Carbon+Monoxide+Poisoning-DPH.htm

Carbon Monoxide web page, Tennessee Department of Health https://tn.gov/health/article/carbon-monoxide

Carbon Monoxide Safety Tips, National Fire Protection Association http://www.nfpa.org/safety-information/for-consumers/fire-and-safety-equipment/carbon-monoxide/carbon-monoxide-safety-tips

Carbon Monoxide Safety Outreach Materials, U.S. Fire Administration, FEMA http://www.usfa.fema.gov/prevention/outreach/carbon_monoxide.html

Carbon Monoxide Information Center, U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission http://www.cpsc.gov/en/Safety-Education/Safety-Education-Centers/Carbon-Monoxide-Information-Center/

Source: Mark Purschwitz, Extension Safety Specialist; University of Kentucky; College of Agriculture, Food and Environment, Department of Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering

Treadmill or Walking Outside - Which is better?

Are you thinking of starting to walk this year, but do not want to start off in the cold? You may be concerned that if you walk on a treadmill it will not be as good a workout as walking outside. The truth is they both provide great benefits to your body, but there are some small differences. Here are some considerations when comparing walking outside versus the treadmill.

If you are using a treadmill and leave it at a flat incline, you may not burn as many calories as you would if you were walking outside. The ground naturally has hills and valleys and your body always has to adjust to the landscape. In order to add a little more calorie burning to your treadmill walk, use the incline function. In fact, just inclining to 1 percent can help you burn more calories and get your heart rate up a little faster.

If you are on a treadmill, try not to hold the handrails. If you hold onto the handrail, you will burn fewer calories. It is also not good for your posture. Remember when you are walking, you want your arms to move freely and your head to be up straight.

Both indoor and outdoor walking requires you to use your balance. However, when walking outdoors you may have to dodge cracks and take small steps. This also adds a little more challenge to the walk. Walking outside, you also may walk downhill. This uses different muscles than walking on a flat surface or uphill. Very few treadmills have the ability to provide downhill walking.

Because the treadmill is flat, if you have not been active for a while, the treadmill provides a safe and easy way to start walking.

Many treadmills have programs than allow for a warm-up, walking challenge and cool down. This provides you with a challenge that you may not get outside.

If you do not have a sidewalk or a place to walk safely, treadmills are a terrific alternative.

You never know when the weather may prevent you from walking outside. The treadmill allows you to walk, no matter what it looks like outside.

If you get bored easily while walking, a treadmill may allow you to walk while you are watching TV or listening to music. If you do have a treadmill that you can use, there are also other places you can walk. Many communities have indoor tracks, super-stores, or other areas that are safe for walking. References: Jones, AM, JH Doust. "A 1% treadmill grade most accurately reflects the energetic cost of outdoor running." Journal of Sports Science 14(4)(1996): 321-7. J. Thompson Coon, K. Boddy, K. Stein, R. Whear, J. Barton, M. H. Depledge. "Does Participating in Physical Activity in Outdoor Natural Environments Have a Greater Effect on Physical and Mental Wellbeing than Physical Activity Indoors? A Systematic Review." Environmental Science & Technology, 2011.

Source: Nicole Peritore, Extension Physical Activity Program Coordinator, University of Kentucky;

College of Agriculture, Food and Environment

Dates To Remember

November 2015

2 - Homemakers dues are due

9 - Holiday Hints St. Thomas Episcopal Church

December 2015

Happy Holidays!

January 2016

4 – Homemakers Board Meeting Farm Bureau Building – 9:00 am

(County Officers & County Chairmen)

4 – Homemakers Council Meeting Farm Bureau Building – 10:30 am

(County Officers, County Chairmen

and Club Presidents)

6 – County Cultural Arts Contest

McMahan Fire Station – 10:00 am

11 - Snow Date Homemakers

Board Meeting Farm Bureau Building – 9:00 am

(County Officers & County Chairmen)

11 – Snow Date Homemakers

Council Meeting Farm Bureau Building – 10:30 am

(County Officers, County Chairmen

and Club Presidents)

13 – Snow Date County Cultural Arts

McMahan Fire Station – 10:00 am

25 – International Program Farm Bureau Building - 10:00 a.m.

International Chairmen

Weight Gain During the Holidays

Many people feel they ought to diet around the holidays. After all it is a time that you tend to over indulge. Combining this over indulgence with winter inactivity adds up to a whopping one or two pound average weight gain during the winter months. Bet you thought it was a lot bigger! Are you rethinking the holiday dieting? The bad news is that this weight gain usually is not lost in the summer. But then again, it is only one or two pounds — one pound this year and every year leading to twenty pounds in twenty years. Now it becomes an issue. What is a person to do? Compensate! Indulge on the holiday, just not every day leading up to and after the holiday. Eat sensibly on the other days by drinking more water and fruit and vegetables. In particular watch the high calorie punches, eggnog and alcohol. In addition, ramp up your physical activity. Take the stairs when you can; search for the furthest but safe parking spot; take a lunch-time walk; and do what works best for you and your schedule. If you still gain the average pound or two during the holidays, continue to eat sensibly and move more. Make that your new habit. Reference: Yanovski JA, Yanovski SZ, Sovik KN, Nguyen TT, O'Neil PM, Sebring NG. A prospective study of holiday weight gain. New England Journal of Medicine. 2000 Mar 23; 342(12): 861-7.

Source: Janet Kurzynske, Extension Specialist for Food and Nutrition, University Of Kentucky; College of Agriculture, Food and Environment