The University of Illinois Extension, Lake County is pleased to announce the appointment of several "citizen advisors" serving on the Extension Advisory Council. These volunteers have an opportunity to discuss how community problems can be addressed through informal education programs. Newton and Nada Finn, Waukegan; Adrienne Fosberg, Grayslake; Larry Leafblad, Grayslake; Lourdes Mordini, Gurnee; Brian Neal, Gurnee; and Deborah Pointer, Kenosha. Volunteers serving a second two year term are Usha Agarwal, Hawthorn Woods; Cynthia Alexander, North Chicago; and Kruti Patel, Hawthorn Woods.

"I see a continuing need for Extension and its ability to provide information and future educational programming, " comments Extension Council Chair and North Chicago resident, Cynthia Alexander. "Our goal is to obtain a good balance of programs that complement other Lake County programs and community activities. Serving as a Council volunteer gives me an opportunity to promote the Extension resources such as current topics in nutrition, the 4-H Youth Program, parenting education, money management and the Master Gardener Program."

The Council provides a means for citizens to participate in planning, marketing, delivering and evaluating Extension educational programs. It also provides a means for local people to reflect their views, opinions and concerns regarding current issues. In addition to providing linkages with agencies communities, organizations, and policy makers, members also assist with resource development and volunteer recruitment.

"Where Wellness Comes From Food and Fitness" - Sunday, Oct. 5, 2008

Wellness is the mission of this community event. Visitors will be connected to the wholesome goodness of locally grown food and local fitness opportunities. They can experience a small urban farm while tasting food prepared from local resources such as, roasted pig, corn-on-the-cob, veggie wrap from Tech Campus culinary students, Sunset Foods delightful salads, apple pie, cider and more. There will be a chef cook-off using locally grown food, fitness and nutrition demonstrations, local food and fitness vendors, a petting zoo, sheep dog demo, live music, and much more throughout the day. The event is Sunday, Oct. 5, and will be held at Prairie Crossing Farm in Grayslake from 11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Parking is available at Lake Forest Acute Care Center (towards rear of building), 1475 E. Belvidere Rd (Rt. 120), Grayslake, IL. A shuttle and trail lead to the farm.

The event is hosted by Prairie Crossing Charter School with the Lake County Extension as a Partner. Lake Forest Hospital is a Signature Sponsor and Tech Campus is the 2008 Featured Participant. To learn more visit our web site at http://web.extension.uiuc.edu/lake/index.html or http://edibleharvest.org/

Register to attend an Authentic High Tea with HCE!

Sponsored by the Lake County Association for Home & Community Education at No Cost To You!

Saturday, October 18, 2008 - 2pm until 4pm

Located at the University of Illinois Extension Auditorium, 100 S Highway 45, Grayslake, Illinois (between Hwy 120 & Center St.)

We welcome you to join us for an afternoon of elegance. High Tea will be presented with an authentic touch, historical accuracy, and reverence. Gerri of 'High Tea with Gerri', dressed in full Victorian costume, will serve the formal tea from an antique English teacart. Traditional finger sandwiches and pastries are exquisitely arranged on fine china, accompanied by Victorian silverware, vintage linens, and classical music. Learn about our organization while enjoying this truly elaborate event! Feel free to dress up for this lovely occasion! Arrive as early as 1:30 pm to view displays & door prizes.

Reservations are required. The event is free of charge and seating is limited. For reservations–call Betty at 815-385-4243 by October 1, 2008. Complimentary parking at U of I Extension building or adjacent to Farm Bureau.

University of Illinois Master Gardeners in Lake County are available to help gardeners with questions. Through October, the Master Gardeners can be reached at the University of Illinois Extension Lake County office from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. November through March, the Master Gardeners are available Mondays 9 am to noon and Thursdays, noon to 3 pm.

Call the Master Gardeners at (847) 223-8627 or stop in at the Extension office located at 100 S. Highway 45 in Grayslake.

The Master Gardeners will also be holding two final one-day Plant Clinics in September. The Plant Clinics will be held at the following locations:

Tuesday, Sept 16 at Lake Villa Library (Lake Villa)

Wednesday, Sept 24 at North Chicago Public Library (North Chicago)

At both locations, the Plant Clinic is open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Come anytime during those hours to have your garden questions answered. The Master Gardeners cannot take phone calls at any of the libraries. The service is limited to in-person visits.

4-H SUMMER CAMP ENRICHMENT PROGRAMS: This year was another outstanding partnership developed with the Boys and Girls Club of Lake County (Keller and Genesee sites) to work with their summer youth programs in many areas such as; Horticulture, photography, visual arts, aerospace, nutrition and health. The summer involved weeks of dedicated time learning in a fun manner. 4-H touched the lives of 27 youth at the Keller site and 20 youth at the Genesee site enhancing their knowledge in the above areas with hand on activities to make and take home. Thanks to our Urban Community Worker, Thessie Armstrong for her time and dedication to the youth involved in the Boys and Girls Club of Lake County.

By popular demand, we also took on another year of partnering with YWCA's summer camp program held at Greater St. James Church in North Chicago assisting youth in the area of sewing with our 4-H program titled "You sew, oh so great." The sewing session was held for 4 weeks for 2 hours and consisted of 15 youth participants. Each youth were introduced to the basic sewing techniques and using a sewing machine. They cut and sowed many different items such as; book makers, 6 patch pillows; and pin cushions. Special thanks to Community Worker, Eloise Williams, for her time and dedication to the all the youth involved in the YWCA summer camp program.

4-H NEW YEAR BEGINS: September 1^st kicks off the new 4-H year. 4-H is designed for youth between the ages of 8–18, regardless of race, color, national origin, place of residence, or handicap. Youth must turn 8 prior to September 1, 2008 and youth who have turned 19 prior to September 1, 2008 are not eligible to participate. 4-H is a community of young people across America, who are learning leadership, citizenship and life skills. We also have our Cloverbuds group which is a special program four our youngest 4-H members ages 5-7. This program introduces youth to sharing and getting along with others, different interest areas, life skills, self-confidences, communication and being part of a positive group setting. 4-H is a great program for youth to share their talents and interest with others. Recruiting members and volunteer leaders is most effective when done by friends, family members and supporters of 4-H. If you have youth that would benefit from our 4-H or Cloverbuds program, please contact Youth Educator, Vickie Brown at (847) 223-8627 x24.

4-H ENROLLMENT REQUIREMENTS: Boys and girls who are 8 years of age by September 1^st and have not reached their 19^th birthday on or before September 1^st (the beginning of the 4-H year) are the basic requirements to joining 4-H. There are also club interest projects available to youth that are 5 to 7 years of age, which are our Cloverbuds. 4-H membership is open to all youth without regard to race, color, national origin, gender, religion, ancestry, martial status, familial status, sexual orientation, disability or mental challenges. All 4-H projects, programs and activities are essential tools used to help youth gain important life skills. 4-H is operated by qualified staff members, screened volunteer adult leaders, youth volunteers, professionals and para-professionals. If you meet the above requirements and interested in joining 4-H, please contact University of Illinois Extension Youth Educator, Vickie Brown at (847)223-8627 x24.

4-H RECOGNITION OF EXCELLENCE (R.O.E.): University of Illinois Extension will be hosting their Annual 4-H Recognition of Excellence event on a Friday in November from 6:30 – 9:00 p.m. The theme is "Falling Into 4-H." The location site is still being determined based on availability of site. This annual event recognizes all 4-H volunteer leaders and youth for a great 4-H year with acknowledgments and awards for club accomplishments, record keeping, State awards and many more presentations. This is an evening of fun, food and a 4-H family night out! Please continue to check-out our website to get upcoming details at lake.extension.uiuc.edu.

With gasoline and milk prices competing to see which can cost more per gallon, the economic news is discouraging lately. Managing day-to-day costs is a challenge, but what about saving for retirement?

Don't panic! The Retirement Planner located on University of Illinois Extension's Plan Well, Retire Well: Your how-to guide website (www.RetireWell.uiuc.edu) can help you. This interactive worksheet will help you estimate how much income you need to retire, and the savings required to produce that income.

Once you have a goal to work towards, the Plan Well, Retire Well website has lots of information to help you achieve your retirement goal. "Look for things you can do now, before you retire, to enhance your retirement" suggests Kathy Sweedler, University of Illinois Extension Educator. "Can you increase your savings, change your investment allocation, cut expenses, pay down debt, add extra income or maximize tax-deferral opportunities?" The Plan Well, Retire Well website has strategies and tips to help you make the most of your money.

The important thing is to make a plan and take action. Decide to do one or two positive steps towards your retirement. Here are some ideas:

· Take your lunch two times a week to work rather than eating out. In a year, you can save about $1000 in food costs.

· Put $1000 or more (that's $20 a week) into an employer-sponsored retirement plan this year. Employer-sponsored retirement plans are tax-deferred so your contribution is with income before taxes. More of your money gets to grow towards retirement.

· Increase your payment on credit card debts above the minimum payment due. Paying off a debt with a high APR is an excellent rate of return on your money.

Now is the time to start thinking about your retirement regardless whether you've just started your first job or are just a few months from retirement. The University of Illinois Extension's Plan Well, Retire Well: Your how-to guide website (www.RetireWell.uiuc.edu) is an excellent resource to help you with your retirement planning.

Don't let the current economy delay your retirement saving goals. Make a plan and take action now. A little change in your savings today will add up to a big difference when you retire.

Lake County Association for Home and Community Education will hold a home-baked Holiday Cookie Sale at the Extension Office in Grayslake, on Saturday, December 13, 2008 starting at 9:00 a.m. Come early for best selection. Pre-orders will be honored. To pre-order call Betty at 815-385-4243.

For the most recent programs, go to our Upcoming Events Calendar online at http://web.extension.uiuc.edu/county/events.cfm?OfficeID=14&InterestAreaID=&ProgramArea=

Find more information about registration and fees at the Lake County Extension website. The following table is current as of newsletter publication.

Date	Time	Title	Location
September 6	8:00 AM - 3:00 PM	Rural Landowner Workshop & Expo	Burlington High School, 400 McCanna Parkway, Burlington, IL 53105
September 13	9:30 AM - 3:00 PM	Multiple Species Grazing Conference	Logan County Extension Office, 980 N. Postville Dr., Lincoln, IL 62656
September 16 - October 28		Farmland Leasing Class	Logan County Extension Office, 980 N. Postville Dr., Lincoln, IL 62656
September 16	8:00 AM	Energy Solutions Workshops 2008	Jennifer's Garden, 555 W. Gore Road, Morris, IL 61801
September 17	9:00 AM - 10:30 AM	Preserving Local Foods: Home Canning	Klehm Arboretum & Botanic Garden, Clarcor Building, 2715 South Main Street, Rockford, IL 61102
September 19	10:00 AM - 11:00 AM	"For Retirees and Near Retirees Only: Making Your Money Last"	Wauconda Public Library, 801 North Main, Wauconda, IL 60084
September 20 - October 11		University of Illinois Extension's Master Composting Series	Wauconda Public Library, 801 North Main, Wauconda, IL 60084
September 23	1:00 PM - 3:00 PM	For Retirees (and Near-Retirees) Only: Making Your Money Last	Lake County Unit, 100 S. Rt. 45, Grayslake, IL 60030
September 24	9:00 AM - 11:00 AM	Salsa Making Class	Klehm Arboretum & Botanic Garden, Clarcor Building, 2715 South Main Street, Rockford, IL 61102
September 30	4:00 PM - 5:45 PM	Blues, Blahs, and Bouncing Back	Lake County Unit, 100 S. Rt. 45, Grayslake, IL 60030
September 30	6:30 PM - 8:30 PM	Finding Sanity in Today's World: Decluttering Your Life	Lake County Unit, 100 S. Rt. 45, Grayslake, IL 60030
October 7	1:00 PM - 3:00 PM	Building a Better Memory	Lake County Unit, 100 S. Rt. 45, Grayslake, IL 60030
October 7	6:30 PM - 8:30 PM	"Improving Transition Times"	Lake County Unit, 100 S. Rt. 45, Grayslake, IL 60030
October 18	8:30 AM – 3:15 PM	Equine Health Check-up Workshop	Sunflower Farms, LLC; 19000 128th St.; Bristol, WI 53104
October 30	1:00 PM - 3:00 PM	Choosing a Financial Professional	Lake County Unit, 100 S. Rt. 45, Grayslake, IL 60030
November 4	1:00 PM - 3:00 PM	Building Bridges Across the Generation Gaps	Lake County Unit, 100 S. Rt. 45, Grayslake, IL 60030
November 11	1:00 PM - 3:00 PM	Fruits and Vegetables	Lake County Unit, 100 S. Rt. 45, Grayslake, IL 60030
November 18	1:00 PM - 3:00 PM	Stories From Your Past, A Legacy for the Future	Lake County Unit, 100 S. Rt. 45, Grayslake, IL 60030

The following educational programs are available from the University of Illinois Extension, Lake County. Contact our office at (847) 223-8627 for further information. Whenever possible, we expect pre-registration and audiences of 15-20 to be in attendance. Program fees vary and will be discussed at the time of confirmation.

· Family Communication Programs

Who Get's Grandma's Yellow Pie Plate - Almost all individuals have valued personal belongings. Participants explore ways to talk to family members about the difficult subject of distributing family items with emotional and sentimental value while still keeping relationships intact.

Building a Better Memory - Many of us give into the myth that aging and memory loss go hand in hand. The reality is that memory does change as we age, but forgetfulness is common for people at all stages of life. It's important to note that memory can be strengthened. This workshop covers how researchers are examining the memory process, how memory changes as people age, and some techniques and strategies for improving memory.

Blues, Blahs, and Bouncing Back - Everyone goes through times when they might feel down or blue, but what can we do about it? This lesson will cover the difference between regular "blues" versus depression, techniques for bouncing back, and insights on helping others.

Stories From Your Past, A Legacy for the Future - We live in an amazing technological age. Historical information is recorded almost before it happens. Yet, ironically, many adults and children know very little about their own family history. Family mobility, geographical distance, and hurried lifestyles provide limited opportunities for younger and older generations to engage in family storytelling, an activity that used to be a natural occurrence in the daily lives of most families. This workshop helps participants understand the history of storytelling and helps them explore ways to preserve individual and family stories for future generations.

Caregiving Relationships for People Who Care for Adults - Caring for parents and other dependent family members is a growing concern for families. More than 80 percent of care provided to older people comes from family members. The family is a major resource in helping older members with emotional and social support, crisis intervention, and linkages with the health care system. By participating in this program, participants will have the opportunity to become more conscious of their needs as caregivers and learn how to develop a plan to meet those needs.

Building Bridges Across the Generation Gaps - The good news is that people are living longer and living longer well. There is a challenge that comes with this good news. There are more generations than ever living and thriving in all aspects of American life. In many cases, each generation comes with its own perspective. Sometimes these perspectives are quite different and clash with one another. Learning to cope with the misunderstandings that can result from intergenerational relationships at home, at work, and in the community is very valuable. This program discusses what perspectives today's generations share and how they differ. Participants will also learn how to communicate effectively to build bridges across the generation gaps.

Forgiveness – An Important Gift You Give Yourself - Humans by nature are flawed creatures. At times we behave in ways that hurt others. This workshop will discuss what mental health professionals have come to understand about the importance of forgiveness in the healing process. Participants will examine their own feelings and experiences with forgiveness and learn strategies for using the power of forgiveness in their own lives.

Fostering the Creative Spirit in Yourself and Others - Humans are naturally creative from the very start. Unfortunately many people lose touch with their creative potential as time passes. It is possible to reconnect with one's creativity and to support creativity in children and others. Rediscovering one's creativity is an exciting process that can open new options for problem solving and productive living. This workshop will discuss how creativity develops, is expressed and changes throughout a lifetime. Come discover the value of a "culture of creativity" and learn how to nurture one in your home, workplace and community.

Building Character in the Home: Laying the Foundation - As parents, we want our children to know right from wrong. We also want them to be caring, compassionate, loyal, honest and responsible individuals. But, how do we guide children and help them develop good character? This program offers practical advice. Those attending will learn how the home setting affects character development. Discussion will also focus on role modeling that teaches character development as well as setting and enforcing appropriate limits.

Love Them Enough to Set Limits: The workshop will help parents; grandparents, educators and child care providers identify parenting styles, practice strategies for correcting children's behavior, help solve problems they face and discuss ways to help children handle strong emotions.

Looking for the Funny Side - When was the last time you laughed really hard – a hearty sidesplitting belly laugh? Humor can be good for you. Bringing humor into your life can provide both physical and psychological benefits. Do you look for humor in your everyday life? You don't have to be a comedian to have a sense of humor. This program will help participants look at ways humor can help them deal with stress and change in their lives. Benefits of humor will be identified.

Retirement Realities - Science, medical technology and improved lifestyle habits are adding new years to our lives. Many of us may be retired for almost a third of our adult lives. This lesson will discuss the changes in lifestyle and relationships that occur after retirement and provide some ideas for charting a plan to make the best of one's remaining years.

Remaining Strong in Trying Times - Families and individuals face many expected and unexpected challenges throughout life. Learning to cope with changes and challenges can be difficult. This program will cover key characteristics that researchers have identified in individual, families and communities who have thrived and remained re-silient in stressful times. Participants will discuss strategies to promote resiliency in life.

Helping Children Grieve - Research indicates that the loss of a parental figure, especially the mother, has significant and lasting effects on children and adolescents. This program is designed to help professionals, paraprofessionals, and foster parents understand the grieving process for children and understand their needs during this difficult time. Participants will increase their awareness of personal loss, review developmental stages in lieu of grief, consider the issue of "ambiguous loss", discuss ways to help facilitate the grieving process, and review intervention techniques that assist children in expressing their grief.

Finding Your Get Up and Go - There are times when it just seems hard to "get going". This lesson will introduce strategies for getting motivated and taking action, and will cover optimism, attitude, social involvement, and positive outlook.

More than Words - In this workshop series, participants will have an opportunity to share with others as they explore family communication and problem solving techniques that work. Participants will learn healthy ways to communicate, solve everyday problems, and express and respond to strong emotions. The series includes discussion for participants to share ideas and build upon their own family strengths.

Preventing Burnout - The goal of this program is to identify the causes, correlation, and outcomes of work-life stress using a review of the research literature. Included are strategies for coping effectively with stress, and sharing how to increase the use of adaptive work-life management skills to prevent burnout among program participants.

How to Avoid Marrying a Jerk or Jerkette - The most frustrating relationship failures are those that could have been avoided by being a better "love" consumer. This highly popular relationship education six session series is designed for adults seeking or in between romantic relationships. Based on relationships research and presented with humor, it helps participants learn the major predictors of what a person will be like in marriage and how to keep a balance between the messages from the mind and the heart.

Living Single in a Couples World – Program discusses overcoming loneliness, making new friends and learning to enjoy life as a single person.

Grandparents Raising Grandchildren –

Violence Across the Lifespan- Who it Affects and How You Can Help – Interpersonal violence touches many lives including children, teens, partner relationships and seniors. Program focuses on identifying the different forms of violence than affect individuals. Coping and interventions strategies will also be discussed.

Providing Child Care to the Teen Parent (Designed for Child Care Providers) -

Research shows that teenage mothers and their children experience more psychological, social and economic difficulties. Therefore, relationships, social networks and parental connections are essential for the health and safety of children of teen parents. In this program participants learn to recognize the different developmental ages and stages of teen parents, examine the difficulties and the complexities of being a teen parent, determine strategies to partner with teen parents to care for their child, recognize that the children of teen parents need support and examine their own thoughts and feelings about teen parents.

· Staff or Personal Development

Enhancing Personal Effectiveness through COLORS - Theory and research does not usually "reach out and touch" most of us. Through Enhancing Personal Effectiveness, the mystery of our own behaviors and personality becomes clear as we take a look at ourselves, and then relate that to the similarities and differences of others. Only when we understand, can we change. Thus, our magic and power are discovered in the "Ah-ha's" that provide us with clarity and under-standing. This information becomes an invaluable tool for enjoying success in life, in our careers, with our family, and in personal relationships. It opens our minds to new possibilities and allows us to undertake workable new actions. It becomes a key factor in fostering increasingly good feelings about others and ourselves.

Gender Differences in Learning - This program is designed to help participants understand general gender differences in development and how to accommodate learning differences. Participants will actively participate in the exploration of learning styles; view a short video on gender differences in young children and identify practice strategies for enhancing learning.

Diversity Training for Staff (Designed for staff in-service / Coming Soon) - This program will focus on respective practices for reaching out to low resource and diverse audiences. Participants will explore their own underlying assumptions that unconsciously guide their own practice behaviors and attitudes toward client groups. The main goal of this workshop will be to move professionals from cultural awareness to cultural competence and cross cultural efficacy.

· Personal Finance and Consumer Issues

Choosing a Financial Professional - You'd like to consult a financial planner or investment advisor. But how do you find someone you can trust, someone who's right for you? Learn what questions to ask, what those credentials and letters after the advisor's name mean, and the red flags that you should watch for.

Protect Your Identity - Privacy and identity theft are two of today's biggest concerns. Learn strategies for reducing the amount of personal information others can access, monitoring whether anyone has gotten credit in your name, and making it less likely that you'll be a victim.

Who Gets the Money? When and How to Tap Tax-Deferred Retirement Savings -Putting money into IRAs, Roth IRAs and other tax-deferred retirement plans was a smart thing to do. Understanding the rules about taking the money out is equally important. Learn answers to questions such as: Can I change my beneficiary after I reach the magic age of 70-1/2? How are distributions taxed? How do I know how much to take out each year? What rules apply if I inherit my spouse's IRA? What happens to the money when I'm gone?

Planning for "What If…?" What tools can you use to aid you and your family in the event of disability, incapacity, and death, or marriage, remarriage, and divorce? Whether your assets total $60 or $60,000,000, you need to have a plan for who will pay your bills and handle your finances, where the money will come from in case of emergencies and illness, how your property will be distributed, and how your dependents will be cared for.

Record Keeping: What to Keep and Why - Should I toss cancelled checks or bank statements? How long must I keep income tax records? What's the best place to keep birth certificates? Insurance policies? A list of my prescriptions? This workshop will help you decide which records to keep, for how long, and where to keep them. The answers could spell R-E-L-I-E-F.

Finding Sanity in Today's World: Decluttering Your Life - Is all the STUFF in your life driving you crazy? In this unique workshop, you will develop a personalized plan of attack for clearing the clutter. You'll learn how to reduce paper and clutter, easily locate those important notes and phone numbers, and create storage systems that work. You'll receive numerous easy-to-do tips to get started de-cluttering.

For Retirees (and Near-Retirees) Only: Making Your Money Last - Learn strategies for managing your finances to insure you don't outlive your money. We'll focus on how to determine a sustainable amount to withdraw from your assets each year, and whether you should you buy an annuity. The answers may be different when you're getting them from an educator instead of a salesperson.

Credit History and Credit Score - Today, your credit history impacts everything from how much you pay for auto insurance to whether you can get a cell phone. What's in a credit report, and why does it matter? What's the right place to go for my free annual credit report, where I can get my report without a sales pitch? Get all the answers in this workshop.

Informed Investing - Have you ever wondered what your financial advisor really means when she says an investment is low risk, your portfolio is diversified, she uses asset allocation, or that your mutual fund is a load/no-load/rear-load fund and has 12(b)1 charges? Maybe you'd like, for once, to clearly understand stocks, bonds, mutual funds, munis, dividends, and capital gains. This session will help you gain a true understanding of key investment concepts and strategies.

Purchasing On-Line - Are you puzzled on how to safely purchase on the Internet such items as clothing, dishes, home furnishings, food, used goods, antiques, collectibles, and other items, including those purchased on E-Bay? Do you know what to look for and what to do to safely make on-line reservations for airline tickets, car rentals, hotels, and so on? This lesson will provide some helpful tips on how to wisely and safely purchase items on the Internet, including E-Bay, and make reservations using the Internet. These tips will show you how to use on-line purchasing effectively so you are not the next victim of consumer fraud.

Purchasing on-Line – Learn helpful tips on how to wisely and safely make purchases on Ebay, buying and/or reservations on the internet without the fear of becoming the next victim of consumer fraud.

· Nutrition and Wellness

Maximizing Kitchen Appliances -- Slow Cookers: Do you have small electric appliances in your kitchen or storage that you don't use or that you aren't using to your best advantage? This lesson on slow cookers will help you understand food safety rules when using a slow cooker and give you ideas of how you can use your slow cooker to help you prepare nutritious meals. Recipes will be included.

Calcium- No Bones Without It! - The focus of this program is the prevention of osteoporosis. The program includes information on risk factors for osteoporosis, diet for healthy bones, maximizing bone mass and minimizing bone loss. Recommendations for calcium intake and sources of calcium will be discussed.

Dining With Diabetes - A three class series that includes demonstrations on how to prepare well-balanced meals for family members or friends with diabetes. Learn how to cook tasty foods using artificial sweeteners, low fat products, herbs and spices. The major purpose of the schools is to provide diabetes nutrition education along with easy-to-use recipes appropriate for people with diabetes. The sessions are divided to cover main dishes, side dishes and desserts. A complete meal is prepared each night of the class and participants are able to learn cooking techniques as well as sample recipes.

Living with Diabetes - Diabetes results from abnormally high amounts of sugar (glucose) found in the blood. If diabetes is diagnosed by your doctor, you will need to be sure to eat a healthy diet. This program will discuss the symptoms and risk factors of diabetes. It will also provide suggestions to those who have been diagnosed; family members; or caregivers some for developing a healthy eating plan and an exercise program. This presentation is an overview and serves as an introduction to the "Dining with Diabetes" workshop series. A recipe from "Dining with Diabetes" will be prepared and shared.

Fruits and Vegetables - Have you ever eaten jicama? How about daikon? Plumcots? All of these are some of the more unusual fruits and vegetables that we can find in our grocery stores today. This lesson will help you learn how many fruits and vegetables you should eat every day and will provide you with recipes for preparing them in new and different ways.

Eating Healthy on a Vegetarian Diet - A large number of Americans are choosing a vegetarian lifestyle for many reasons, particularly better health. However, maintaining a vegetarian lifestyle can be a challenging transition. This program focuses on the healthful effects of vegetarian diets and how to plan for nutritional adequacy. The program also includes making wise food choices, determining meal patterns, selecting cooking methods, and expanding knowledge about food sources for some important nutrients.

Exercise Is for Everyone - Physical fitness (exercise) benefits everyone in our society. Regular physical activity has many health benefits including improved cardiovascular health and a decrease in age related deterioration. This program focuses on the benefits and types of physical activity, as well as ideas for increasing daily physical activity. Some physical activity such as stretching, walking, or chair exercise is a part of the lesson. Comfortable clothes and shoes are necessary.

Fast Food – Is It Making Us Fat? - In today's fast paced world, it has become increasingly difficult to cook and eat most meals at home as much as we used to. "Fast Food" has come to the rescue, but is fast food to blame for making us fat? This program focuses on how to make fast food selections fit into a healthy meal plan. It will also include general information on eating right when eating outside the home.

Feeding Young Children - Parents of young children, foster parents and child care providers learn to plan and prepare nutritious meals and snacks for young children. Emphasis is placed on dealing with poor eaters.
Food and Fitness: Fact or Fiction - The American public is bombarded with weight control programs promising fast and immediate results. Many so-called "experts" tout the benefits of following special diets and the use of special foods and supplements to solve almost any dietary problem. This presentation focuses on some of the "facts and fictions" that influence daily food and lifestyle choices

Cook Today - Serve Tomorrow - This program provides information on how to save time and money by preparing a larger quantity of food at one time and storing part of it for use in the future. It also includes information on food safety related to storing and serving the food at a later time.
RED Plan – Rest, Exercise and Diet - Lifestyles have a significant effect on an individual's health and happiness. The lifestyles lived by many Americans have been criticized as wasteful, non-sustainable, unwise and unhealthy. Participants will learn how to maintain health in all areas of their lives. Many people think of health negatively; in other words, they give serious thought to their lifestyle, only when they become ill. A good healthful lifestyle is more than a matter of fate…one has the choice of taking control.

Fiber for You-Whole Grains in Your Diet - Learn how to incorporate more fiber in your daily meal plan without adding intestinal distress. The workshop will focus on the importance of fiber in the diet, label reading and Identifying fiber rich foods.

Food Labeling - If a nutrition facts label indicates "20% DV", are you sure you know what that means? Food labels are becoming increasingly important in helping us determine what is in the food we eat. This program focuses on current food labeling laws and how to use food labels to help control dietary intake.

Food Safety for Seniors - Some people – including people over 65- are more likely to get sick from harmful bacteria that can be found in food. Sometimes food borne illnesses are confused with other types of illness. This program focuses on helping senior citizens recognize food borne illness and provides advice on prevention.

Food Safety in the Home - Food safety is a critical issue in the U.S. Mishandled food is responsible for an estimated 250,000 cases of food borne illnesses every year. Babies, very young children, the elderly, and individuals who are suffering from illnesses such as diabetes, heart disease, HIV or AIDS, are at greatest risk for suffering a food borne illness. This program defines some of the causes of food borne illnesses and focuses on steps to take in the home to prevent them.

Functional Foods – What You Should Know - Phytochemicals, antioxidants, probiotics, nutraceuticals...These are just a few of the new health concepts becoming more popular in the United States. What do they mean? Are they safe? Do they work? This program offers some answers to these and other questions about functional foods and the role may (or may not) play in health and wellness.

Healthy Cooking with Herbs - Many people are interested in reducing fat, sugar and salt in the foods they eat. Often when these ingredients are reduced, so is flavor. By learning to use herbs and spices for seasoning, food can be both healthy and tasty. This program provides suggestions on how to add flavor to food with herbs and spices. Participants will see and taste food prepared with herbs and spices.

Quick and Easy Meals - A revolution in the kitchen has been taking place. The way we live has changed the very way our families cook and eat. Families are looking for easy and fast cooking that will provide delicious and nutritious food for all family members. The focus of this program is on time saving strategies to plan quick and healthy meals and share meal planning ideas and easy recipes. Some quick recipes will be prepared and shared.

Supermarket Survival Skills - Shopping for food on a limited budget is a challenge for many people. This program focuses on helping consumers save money by identifying strategies employed by businesses to encourage consumer spending. Package labeling and meal planning are also a focus of this lesson.

Understanding Fat in the Diet - Fat is an important nutrient in the diet. Unfortunately, there is much confusion about how to reduce fat and which fats are "good and bad" for you. This program focuses on making sense of the confusing information about fats and gives suggestions for reducing fat in the diet.

Fruits and Vegetables In the Daily Meal Plan – Jicama, daikon and plumcots are all more unusual fruits and vegetables that are readily available in most supermarkets. Learn about how many fruits and vegetables should be eaten every day and hear how to prepare them with a flare.

Microwave Cooking in the 21^st Century – Microwave ovens are considered a fundamental appliance in today's kitchen with many consumers using the microwave just as often as their oven or cook top. Learn about new microwave features including convection ovens and higher wattages. The program will include healthy foods and recipes adapted to newer ovens.

· Programs Available for Spanish Speaking Audiences

Como Controlar sus Emociones Cuando sus Hijos no se Comportan (How to Control your Emotions When Your Children Don't Behave) When children misbehave, parents sometimes over react. They lose control and later they feel sorry for their reactions.

Como Disciplinar a Sus Niños (How to Discipline Your Children) Different ways to discipline your children. - When and how to do it.

¿Cómo La Televisión, la Radio y otros Medios de Comunicación Influencian a Nuestros Hijos? (How does the Media Influence Our Children?) Media plays an import-ant role in our children's behavior. This role can be negative if parents don't play a role in supervising children's exposure and interacting with them on what they see and hear.

Comunicación (Communication) The importance of communication among family members.

Construyendo Relaciones Positivas con Nuestros Hijos (Building Positive Relations with Our Children) It is important to relate to our children in a positive way. This workshop presents ways to create and maintain positive relationships among parents and children.

Conviviendo con Su Hijo(a) Adolescente (Living Together with Your Teenager) Parents of teenagers sometimes have a hard time getting along with their children. In this workshop ways to live together in harmony are explored.

El Abuso Domestico (Domestic Abuse) Domestic abuse is a fact of life in many families. Some spouses are suffering abuse and don't know what to do. In this session domestic abuse, as well as community resources are discussed.

El Enojo (Anger) This is an anger management workshop. It describes different techniques used to control one's anger.

El Estrés (Stress) This workshop defines stress, explores ways that unmanageable stress affects our lives and what we can do about it.

Enseñando Computación Con Sensibilidad Cultural (Teaching Computers with Cultural Sensitivity) Two series of five sessions each introduce Microsoft Word & PowerPoint. Groups can be dedicated to young children (8 to 12 years of age), teens (12-16 years of age) and adults. These programs, taught in Spanish, are appropriate for those who have very limited, or no experience with computers. Technical skills address-ed include use of the mouse and use of the digital camera and scanner. Participants prepare a final presentation for the group. Basic reading skills are necessary.

Hablando Con Desconocidos (Talking to Strangers) Teaching your children about talking to strangers.

Está su Hijo(a) Usando Drogas (Is your Child Using Drugs) Drugs are everywhere. Our children are exposed to them in the schools and in the community, yet many parents don't know how to recognize different signs when their children are using them. This workshop provides this information and also includes actions to take in preventing and responding to substance abuse.

Familia 4-H (Family 4-H) This is a train-the-trainers workshop. It consists of a series of three sessions, two hours per week for 3 weeks. Family 4-H brings family members together for projects, activities and sharing sessions, just as 4-H groups bring kids together to learn about the world and each other. A minimum of 6 participants, each committed to attend all trainings, is needed to run this series.

Hablando Con Sus Hijos de Temas Delicados (Talking to Your Children About Difficult Issues) Death, disease, illnesses, sex, substance abuse, dating all are touched upon in this workshop.

Los Derechos de los Niños (Children's Rights) Children have rights & parents are not always aware of them. In this workshop they will learn what their children's rights are.

Los Valores Familiares (Family Values) In this workshop parents learn to recognize their own family values and how important these have been for them.

Llevándose Bien Con Su Pareja (Getting Along with Your Partner) Interpersonal relations with the one closest to you. (Based on Men are From Mars,Women From Venus…)

Necesidades de Desarrollo en los Niños (Development Needs of Children) Children have developmental needs. Parents gain knowledge of how to stimulate their children's development.

Nuestra Imagen y Nuestra Autoestima (Our Image and Our Self-esteem) The image that we have of ourselves sometimes is different of how others see us. This discrepancy causes problems for people.

Organizándose Como Grupo Comunitario (Organizing as a Community Group) This workshop teaches participants the importance of community people organizin