A recent research study released by the Corporation for National and Community Service indicates that volunteers help themselves to better health while helping others. The research showed that volunteers have greater longevity, higher functional ability, lower rates of depression and less incidence of heart disease.

The Health Benefits of Volunteering documents findings from more than 30 studies. These studies reviewed the relationship between health and volunteering, with emphasis on studies that sought to determine the connection between the two factors. The studies revealed that volunteering leads to improved physical and mental health, especially for older adults and those serving 100 hours annually (about 2 hours per week.)

According to Thomas H. Sander, Executive Director of the Saguaro Seminar at Harvard University, "Civic engagement and volunteering is the new hybrid health club for the 21st century that's free to join." Volunteering improves both personal health and strengthens communities through work performed by volunteers and the social ties volunteering builds.

Findings from the study support the Administration on Aging's ongoing efforts to harness the power of prevention and wellness for all older adults. Josefina G. Carbonell, Assistant Secretary for Aging at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services states, "Volunteerism is an important tool in our strategy to promote health and prevent disease."

The full text of The Health Benefits of Volunteering: A Review of Recent Research can be found in the Research and Policy section at http://www.nationalservice.org/. When you are finished with reading the report, consider contacting one of your community's service organizations to find out what volunteer opportunities are available. University of Illinois Extension has many volunteer opportunities in programs ranging from youth development to environmental stewardship and more.

Contact your local Extension Office to get more information. Be happy, be healthy–VOLUNTEER!

Teresa Easterly-Adams
Health Promotion Programs

America celebrates July 4 as Independence Day because it was on July 4, 1776, that members of the Second Continental Congress, meeting in Philadelphia, adopted the final draft of the Declaration of Independence.

Spontaneous Celebrations

Following its adoption, the Declaration was read to the public in various American cities. Whenever they heard it, patriots erupted in cheers and celebrations.

In 1777, Philadelphians remembered the 4th of July. Bells were rung, guns fired, candles lighted, and firecrackers set off. However, while the War of Independence dragged on, July 4 celebrations were modest at best.

When the war ended in 1783, July 4 became a holiday in some places. In Boston, it replaced the date of the Boston Massacre, March 5, as the major patriotic holiday. Speeches, military events, parades, and fireworks marked the day. In 1941, Congress declared July 4 a federal holiday.

Picnics and Games

Over time, various other summertime activities also came to be associated with the Fourth of July, including historical pageants, picnics, baseball games, watermelon-eating contests, and trips to the beach. Common foods include hot dogs, hamburgers, corn on the cob, apple pie, cole slaw, and sometimes clam bakes.

Colonial Attractions

While the Fourth is celebrated across the country, historic cities like Boston and Philadelphia draw huge crowds to their festivities.

In Boston, the USS John F. Kennedy often sails into the harbor, while the Boston Pops Orchestra holds a televised concert on the banks of the Charles River, featuring American music and ending with the 1812 Overture.

Philadelphia holds its celebrations at Independence Hall, where historic scenes are reenacted and the Declaration of Independence is read.

Rodeos and Candles

Other interesting parties include the American Indian rodeo and three-day pow-wow in Flagstaff, Arizona, and the Lititz, Pennsylvania candle festival, where hundreds of candles are floated in water and a "Queen of Candles" is chosen.

John Adams Urged Recognition

The second president, John Adams, would have approved. "I believe that it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival," he wrote his wife, Abigail. "It ought to be celebrated by pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations from one end of this continent to the other..."

John Hancock Was First

John Hancock, the president of the Second Continental Congress, was the first to sign the Declaration. With its ornate capitals, Hancock's sprawling signature is prominent on the document. Since then, when people are asked for their "John Hancock," they are being asked to sign their names.

All 56 men who ultimately signed the Declaration showed great courage. Announcing independence from Great Britain was an act of treason, punishable by death.

A Marvelous Document

The Declaration of Independence itself has become one of the most admired and copied political documents of all time. It was written by Thomas Jefferson and revised by John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, and Jefferson.

The Declaration of Independence is a justification of the American Revolution, citing grievances against King George III. It is also a landmark philosophical statement, drawing on the writings of philosophers John Locke and Jean Jacques Rousseau. It affirms that since all people are creatures of God, or nature, they have certain natural rights and liberties, that cannot be violated.

The Declaration and the American Revolution have since inspired freedom-seekers around the world.

Source: Information Please 2000-2007
Pearson Education, publishing as Fact Monster
http://www.factmonster.com/spot/independenceday1.hmtl
Accessed May 23, 2007

The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) has issued a warning to state residents to take precautions against ticks and the diseases they carry after receiving an increased number of reports from the public to IDPH.

"Ticks can transmit a number of diseases through a bite," warns Dr. Whitaker, state public health director. "As people start spending more time outdoors during the spring and summer, they need to make sure they are taking precautions to protect themselves against insect bites from ticks, mosquitoes, buffalo gnats and other biting insects."

To see the entire news release, including information on how you can protect yourself against tick-borne illnesses, please go to IDPH's news release.

For hundreds of years, even before Francis Scott Key wrote of seeing "the rocket's red glare, the bombs bursting in air," people have been awed by the bright lights and big noise of fireworks. The ancient Chinese used fireworks at festivities and to frighten enemies in battle. Captain John Smith set them off in Jamestown in 1608, enjoying a bit of popular entertainment and impressing Native Americans.

Smoky Origins

Legend has it that the Chinese made the first fireworks in the 800s, filling bamboo shoots with gunpowder and exploding them at the New Year with the hope that the sound would scare away evil spirits. According to tradition, Marco Polo brought this technology back to Europe.

It's fair to say, however, that the origins of fireworks are shrouded in smoke; the China story is widespread, and possibly true, but fireworks may, in fact, have developed in India or the Arab world. Fireworks became known in Europe during the 1300s, probably after returning Crusaders brought them from the East.

Explosive Popularity

By the 1400s Florence, Italy, was the center of fireworks manufacturing. At this time fireworks were just one effect in a celebration rather than its focus. At religious festivals Italians made plaster figures that spewed fireworks from their eyes and mouths. The 1533 coronation parade for Anne Boleyn included a papier-mâché dragon that belched fire.

During the 1700s displays became more elaborate and were popular with the European royalty. French king Louis XV ordered the extravagant displays of fireworks at Versailles, and Russian czar Peter the Great put on a five-hour show after the birth of his son. Meanwhile, in the American colonies settlers used fireworks to mark happy occasions.

Today fireworks are a key part of celebrating Independence Day in the United States, Guy Fawkes' Day in the United Kingdom, Bastille Day in France, and New Year festivities around the world.

Color by Fire

Early fireworks were enjoyed more for the sound than the show–in its simplest forms gunpowder explodes quickly, leaving a terrific bang but not much to see other than a rather brief golden glow. Over time people discovered that using chemical compounds with greater amounts of oxygen made the explosives burn brighter and longer.

The multi-hued displays we know now began in the 1830s, when Italians added trace amounts of metals that burn at high temperatures, creating beautiful colors. Other additives also produced interesting effects. For example, calcium deepens colors, titanium makes sparks, and zinc creates smoke clouds.

July: the Most Dangerous Month?

Armed with this knowledge, some aficionados enjoy trying to create their own fireworks. But these creations are even more dangerous and unpredictable than legal fireworks. Because homemade fireworks are often made from parts of other fireworks, they can contain deadly amounts of explosive powders.

In 1999 the U.S. Consumer Safety Commission reported 8,500 fireworks-related emergency-room visits–about two-thirds of these in July. And there's no tally of the countless blistered hands, traumatized pets, singed shrubs, and melted G.I. Joe dolls. Experts recommend leaving the fireworks spectacle to the professionals and limiting your flame-tending interests to the barbecue.

Source: 2000-2006 Pearson Education,
Publishing s Fact Monster
http://pring.factmonster.com/spot/fireworks1.hmtl
Accessed May 23, 2007

It is time to start protecting yourself from mosquito bites that could transmit the west Nile virus. The northern house mosquito bites both birds and humans. That's how the west Nile virus gets transmitted. The mosquito bites a diseased house sparrow or other bird, and then bites a human, infecting them with the virus. Most people might not even know they have the virus, may have an immunity built up to it or may experience mild flu-like symptoms, but for infants and seniors, a bite from an infected mosquito can cause serious disease, including muscle weakness, inflammation of the brain (encephalitis), stiff neck, stupor, disorientation, tremors, convulsions, paralysis, coma, or death.

There is a vaccine to prevent west Nile virus for horses but none yet for humans. The mortality rate for horses is 30 percent. Perhaps if the human mortality rate were that high, there would be more of an economic incentive to develop a vaccine for humans.

In the meantime, preventative measures can be taken including: regularly change or empty the water in birdbaths, dog dishes or other yard containers; add goldfish or bait minnows to yard ponds (not koi or carp); apply an insect repellant that contains DEET; repair and install screens in windows; and wear a hat, long-sleeved shirt, long pants, shoes, and socks to reduce the amount of exposed skin.

One of the biggest problems is clogged gutters. The northern house mosquito loves to breed in stagnant, even putrid, water, so cleaning out the gutters and other places water collects is one of the best things homeowners can do.

One easy way to prevent mosquitoes from becoming a nuisance when you're outside is to keep a fan blowing on your deck or patio. Mosquitoes are not very good at flying, so they need air to be still in order to land and bite. Keep the air circulating with a fan blowing over the area where your guests are outside.

The northern house mosquito is a small, medium brown, quiet biter meaning that it lands softly on the skin and the bite is painless enough that many people don't even know they've been bit. It doesn't buzz around your ear like other mosquitoes do.

For more information, visit www.ipm.uiuc.edu/wnv/

FAQs on West Nile Virus for Pet Owners

Q: Can West Nile Virus infect dogs and cats?

A. Yes, however infection rates in epidemic areas are low. WNV does not usually cause severe illness.

Q: Which dogs and cats are most likely to be susceptible?

A: Based on the most recent animal cases seen at the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, young, old, and immune-compromised pets would seem to be at a higher risk.

Q: How do dogs and cats become infected with West Nile virus?

A: The same way humans become infected: by the bite of infectious mosquitoes. It is possible that dogs and cats could become infected by eating dead infected animals such as birds, but this is unproven.

Q: How can I protect my pet?

• Keep pets indoors during peak mosquito hours–dawn, dusk, and early evening.
• Eliminate standing water around your home.
• Prevent pets from coming into contact with dead birds or squirrels that may have died as the result of the virus.
• Contact your local veterinarian if your pet exhibits any neurological signs, such as uncoordination, depression, decreased appetite, difficulty walking, tremors, abnormal head posture, circling, and convulsions.
• Use only approved mosquito repellent on your pet; make sure to read the label first to determine if the product is approved for use in pets.

Q: Is there a mosquito repellent available that is safe to use in dogs?

A: Currently there are a few products labeled for use on pets to repel mosquitoes. Products may be available at local pet stores/feed stores or veterinary offices. Contact your veterinarian if you have any questions regarding using a specific repellant on your individual pet.

Q: Can I use a mosquito insect repellent meant for humans on my pet?

A: No, only approved mosquito repellents should be used on your pet. Make sure to read the label first to determine if the product is approved for use on pets and then follow label instructions for applications.

Q: Can I use DEET (N,N-diethyl-m-touluamide, N,N-diethyl-3-methylbenzamide) mosquito repellent on my pet?

A. The use of DEET on animals is not recommended and should be avoided. DEET has been associated with serious adverse effects when used on dogs and cats. Citrus oil extracts and other essential oils are also not recommended due to the extreme sensitivity of some animals to these products.

Q: What are the signs of WNV in dogs?

A: Neurological signs are similar to those seen in horses such as uncoordination, depression, decreased appetite, difficulty walking, tremors, abnormal head posture, circling, and convulsions. These signs can mimic other diseases; therefore, it is very important to contact your veterinarian if your pet is exhibiting any of these signs.

Q: Is there a vaccine available for dogs and cats?

A: No, there is currently only a vaccine available for horses.

Q: What is the treatment for WNV in pets?

A: There is no specific treatment other than supportive care provided by your veterinarian.

Q: Can pets transmit the WNV to humans or other pets?

A: There is no documented evidence that animal-to-animal from animal-to-person transmission can occur. There is no reason to destroy an animal because it has been infected with WNV.

Q: West Nile Virus and Horses

A: As of August 28, 2002, WNV had been reported in 95 of 101 Illinois counties. Horses and humans have been infected, and some have died from WNV in 2002. A fact sheet and maps of the spread of WNV through Illinois can be found on the College Web site.

Clusters of equine WNV cases have been reported in Illinois in the summer of 2002. WNV signs may progress rapidly to include hyperaesthesia (increases responsiveness to external stimuli), depression, decreased appetite, muscle fasiculations, skim tremors, visual problems, and recumbency. Horses which become recumbent have a much poorer chance of survival. Early clinical signs include those typical of any spinal disease in horses, and Equine Protozoal Myelitis (EPM) cannot be ruled out.

The virus is spread by many different mosquito species and therefore is more likely to be transmitted where mosquito activity is high. Direct horse-to-horse and horse-to-human transmission does not occur. Any farm sustaining multiple cases of rapid onset neurological disease should have WNV considered as the most likely diagnosis, and Equine Herpes virus Myelitis, EPM, eastern and western encephalitis viruses, and rabies virus as secondary but important diagnoses.

Preventive measures include mosquito control and vaccination. Horses should not be turned out at dawn and dusk when mosquitoes are most active. Standing water should be eliminated, such as in old tires, wading pools and infrequently-used buckets. Insect repellants or fly sprays may also be helpful.

A WNV vaccine is available for horses. It is conditionally-licensed, meaning that complete efficacy data are not yet available. From field outbreaks in Florida in 2001, it appears that the vaccine is protective, but only once the horse has received both the primary and secondary (booster) injections at least 3 weeks apart prior to exposure to WNV.

We are recommending the use of this vaccine. It appears to be safe, and localized muscle-soreness reactions are no more common than with other equine vaccines.

Source: University of Illinois College Of Veterinary Medicine

It's finally here. Time to find the grill, clean the racks, and start planning the weekend menu. It's also a good time to review a few key safe food handling tips. While warm weather is the ideal time to cook outdoors, warm weather also provides ideal temperatures for bacteria to grow quickly, which can cause foodborne illness. A few simple guidelines for grilling food safely are provided by the USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline:

Wash hands and food surfaces often when working with food. All kitchen helpers, including the outdoor chefs using the grill, should wash their hands with hot soapy water before and after handling food. Also wash cutting boards, dishes, utensils and countertops with hot soapy water after preparing raw meat, poultry, and seafood. Remember to wash hands and surfaces again before going on to the next food to avoid cross-contamination.

Other cross contamination suggestions–separate raw meat, poultry and other perishable foods from the ready-to-eat foods, like bagged lettuce and hamburger buns; wash hands thoroughly before and after handling each food; and ALWAYS use a clean plate or platter for serving the cooked meat, poultry and seafood.

Cook meats to the proper temperatures. Use a clean food thermometer that measures the internal temperature of cooked foods like ground meats and poultry. Some key temps to note: ground beef should cook to at least 160°F, steaks to at least 145°F, and poultry to 165°F. All cuts of pork should reach 160°F.

Never partially grill meat or poultry and finish cooking later. Cook food completely to destroy harmful bacteria. When reheating take-out foods or fully cooked meats like hot dogs, grill to 165°F, or until steaming hot.

Lastly, be sure to refrigerate perishable food promptly. From the time you purchase the food at the store until you serve, note the time perishable foods are at room temperature. Perishable foods should not be in the danger zone of 40°F to 140°F for more than two hours.

Refrigerate or freeze perishables, prepared foods and leftovers within two hours. This includes thawing food in the refrigerator, under cold running water, or in the microwave.

The exception to the two-hour rule is hot weather. In hot weather (90°F and above), USDA recommends food should never sit out for more than one hour.

If you have further questions on grilling, contact the Meat and Poultry Hotline Monday through Friday, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Eastern Time, at 1-888-674-6854. Or visit USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) website at www.fsis.usda.gov.

A number of physiological changes occur as people age, which can affect the biology and appearance of the skin. These changes include:

• Loss of subcutaneous fat: As people age, the layer of subcutaneous fat below the dermis and epidermis begins to thin, making skin appear less plump. Facial bone structure becomes more prominent and parts of the face may appear to lose volume. For example, cheeks may appear less full and more gaunt.
• Loss of pigmentation: Skin gradually loses its ability to produce melanin through the years, leading to a loss of pigmentation. This loss of pigmentation may make skin imperfections, such as dark circles under the eyes, broken capillaries, and blemishes, more apparent.
• Reduced regeneration: The skin's natural repair mechanisms do not work as well in older skin as they do in younger skin. As skin ages, collagen and elastin begin to break down, leading to a loss of elasticity and the appearance of wrinkles. Gravity plays a role by tugging on weak, thinning skin, pulling it downward. This can result in sagging skin around the eyes and along the jaw line, neck, and upper arms.
• Slower Healing: Older, thinner skin is fragile and more prone to injury compared to younger skin. Because immune system function decreases with age, skin injuries also take longer to heal.
• Increased dryness: Older skin is dryer because the number of sweat and oil glands it contains decreases with time.
• Decreased circulation: Poor or reduced circulation, which is common with advanced years, decreases the amount of oxygen and nutrients being delivered to the skin. This can make skin look dull. Aging skin also accumulates more free radicals than younger skin, which can further dull complexion.
• Loss of estrogen: For women, loss of estrogen during menopause contributes to skin thinning and dryness and may lead to symptoms such as itching and burning.

Source:RealAge, Inc.
www.RealAge.com
Accessed May 24, 2007

Family Favorite? Study Says Parents, Sibs See Imbalances in Parent's Attention Differently

When parents treat their children differently, siblings and parents often have very different ideas about what's happening and why, says a University of Illinois study. And there can be as many points of view as there are family members.

"You'd think it would be clear when a child is receiving more positive or negative attention, and why that might be happening, but families don't seem to talk much about these differences unless someone complains," said Laurie Kramer, a U of I professor of applied family studies.

The study, conducted with Amanda K. Kowal and Jennifer L. Krull of the University of Missouri, included 74 two-parent, middle-class families with one child between the ages of 11 and 13 and a teen sibling who was two to four years older. Parents and siblings were interviewed individually about family interaction.

Even when children reported that they and their siblings were treated differently, they often didn't agree about exactly how or why they were being treated differently, Kramer said. One thing, however, was clear: siblings got along better if they had a shared understanding of why parents treated them differently and believed the treatment was fair.

"That means it's important for families to talk about these issues, and for mothers and fathers to really listen to what their kids are telling them about how their actions are affecting them," said Kramer.

An earlier study by the researchers showed that siblings understand when differences in treatment occur if there's a good reason for it. "For example, if a child is having trouble in school, parents may spend extra time with that child helping with homework and encouraging him. A brother or sister can usually understand that even if it means that they get less parental attention," Kramer said.

Parents can often squelch feelings of disadvantaged treatment by simply explaining the motivation behind their actions, she said. "Say, for example, 'I bought Joe a car when he was 17 because he was working after school and needed transportation. I didn't get one for you at this point because you're working downtown and don't even have a place to park a car.'"

"If that goes unsaid, the child who doesn't get a car at 17 may make financial assumptions that just aren't valid. Many families have limited financial resources or other good reasons for making such decisions. It's usually not 'Mom likes you best,'" Kramer said.

Kramer said the differential treatment performed by mothers may have a greater impact on teen's sibling relationships than fathers' differential treatment. "Children tend to closely monitor the ways in which mothers treat them and their siblings differently, and when they feel they have been unfairly treated, they may react with greater dissatisfaction than when fathers treat kids differently," she said.

The study appeared in a recent issue of Social Development. Funding was provided by the Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture.

After school has been out for a few weeks, your kids might get the "I'm bored" syndrome. The excitement of summer vacation fades quickly for some children. But, it doesn't have to be that way. There are things parents can do to help children find fun, constructive activities to occupy their spare time.

"Start by stimulating their imaginations with open-ended questions," suggests Milly Kaiser, one of our University of Illinois Extension family life educators Ask questions like, "It's nice outside, what would you like to do outdoors?" or "What have you been thinking about doing?"

Kaiser says that when you let children come up with their own solutions to boredom, you're helping them develop important problem-solving skills. As they come up with ideas, take time to listen and discuss any necessary precautions.

Brainstorm with your children to come up with fun activities they can do when "there's nothing to do." Write the activities on slips of paper and put the slips in an empty, clean jar labeled–Summer Activity Jar. Activities might include a game night for the family, plant something outside and watch it grow this summer, wash the car and have some water fun, or go to the library and choose a book to read.

As the summer progresses, new ideas can be added to the jar. Then when the children get bored they can reach into the jar for a fun activity–and, you'll be less likely to hear, I'm bored!"

Eastern Tent Caterpillar Has Arrived

Eastern tent caterpillar egg masses usually hatch in late April, and web-like tents can be seen in the branches of trees. Tent caterpillars aren't anything new to the area. As a native insect pest, its existence was initially reported as early as 1646. After years of observation, it has been noted that tent caterpillars occur in great numbers at intervals of approximately ten years.

Tent caterpillars cause damage to trees by feeding on emerging foliage. Healthy trees can develop a second set of leaves, but the use of stored food reserves for additional leaf production can weaken trees, making them more susceptible to attacks by borers and diseases.

Many residents become concerned when caterpillars reach a "mature size" and drop from trees, seeking a spot to spin cocoons and pupate into moths. People become alarmed as hordes of caterpillars begin crawling across patios and driveways, often selecting the sides of the home to spin their cocoons.

Eastern tent caterpillars hatch early in the spring as new leaves emerge. They form silken tents in branch crotches where the colony of 200 to 300 caterpillars stay during the night and on cloudy, rainy days. On sunny days, the caterpillars climb over trees and feed on young leaves. Depending on the number of caterpillars present, these insects are capable of stripping a tree. Infestations are most commonly seen on crabapple, apple, cherry and other fruit trees; in addition, ash, birch, willow, maple, oak, poplar, hawthorn and plum are attacked.

The caterpillars are black when young, but they soon develop a yellow stripe down the back that turns whitish with age. By the end of May, the larvae are 2 to 3 inches long and come out of trees looking for a place to form their cocoons. At this stage, insecticide sprays are not effective. Brown moths emerge from cocoons within a couple of weeks. After mating, females lay 150 to 300 eggs in a dark brown 1/2-inch long mass around small twigs. These eggs do not hatch until the following spring.

There are two similar caterpillars that might be confused with tent caterpillars.

Fall webworms attack a variety of trees in mid–to late summer. They feed within the silken tent, never leaving it. The tent keeps expanding as the caterpillars feed on the leaves.

Bagworms feed on junipers, spruces, arborvitae and other needled evergreens and some shade trees such as maples and oaks. They do not create a white silken tent, but spin old needles or leaves around their bodies, looking like upside-down cones.

The easiest method of control is to remove the caterpillar-filled silk tents at night or on a cloudy day. The tent can be rolled up onto a stick or end of a broom handle and disposed. Tents can also be cut out of trees. Do not burn tents while they are on the trees. Burning causes more injury to the tree than the caterpillars would cause.

Spraying trees with an insecticide when caterpillars are small is also effective. Do not spray blooming trees because of the potential toxicity of the insecticides to bees. Many organic insecticides, including Bacillus thuringiensis, are available.

You can also rub egg masses off branches between June and March to help reduce next spring's infestation. And if you do nothing, sooner or later the bird population will build up and feed on the caterpillars. This may take a couple of years, but it will cut down the populations.

Most trees will leaf out but may be stressed, especially this year after the early April freeze. Keep trees well watered, supplying between 1 to 2 inches of water per week. Fertilize plants in early October.

If you have an ash tree in your yard, now is the time to begin checking it for emerald ash borers in the adult beetle stage. This is the time of year that the adult beetles begin to emerge.

How to identify the emerald ash borer beetle:

• Bright metallic emerald green color
• Half an inch long, bullet-shaped body
• Exit holes in bark shaped like the letter "D"

There are a number of look-alikes that people might mistake for the emerald ash borer. The tiger beetle, ground beetles, even some bees and wasps have the green color. Other borers make an oval or round exit hold. The "D" shape is distinctive. It's made by the shape of their body coming out of the tunnels in the bark–perfectly flat on the bottom and rounded on the top.

In 2006 the beetles were spotted at ten sites in Kane County and six sites in northern Cook County in Illinois.

Insecticides containing imidacloprid have proven to be effective in preventing the ash borer from taking up residence in ash trees. The only brand currently available to homeowners is Bayer Advanced Garden Tree and Shrub Insect Control. Others can be professionally applied.

But, Nixon said that the best way to prevent infestation of the emerald ash borer is to purchase only local firewood and if you go camping, don't transport any leftover firewood. Leave it at the camp site.

The emerald ash borer was first identified in ash trees near Detroit in 2002 and has spread to neighboring states since then, most likely via packing materials and firewood. The larvae winter-over in the bark.

Adult beetles emerge from the wood during May and June, then go on to infest a new neighborhood of unsuspecting ash trees.

On their own power, the beetles only travel about half a mile a year. As with other invasive species, with assistance from humans, the emerald ash borer can travel much greater distances and infest ash trees just about anywhere.

For more information, visit www.emeralddashborer.info/ or www.ipm.uiuc.edu.

Barbeque sauce on that white polo, ice cream dripped down the front of your sundress, and grass stains covering jeans...what to do? It is so easy if you know how. Follow these instructions and visit The Solutions website at: http://www.solutions.uiuc.edu/index2.cfm?series=1 for more summer food stain removal information.

Ice Cream and Other Dairy Products

Fresh stains should be soaked and agitated in cold water before washing. If stain is dried, scrape or brush off any crusted matter. Soak for up to several hours in cold water with a detergent or an enzyme presoak. Launder in warm water. If stain remains, soak an additional 30 minutes and rewash. If color stain remains, launder with bleach safe for the fabric.

Fruit and Fruit Juices

Launder with detergent in the hottest water safe for the fabric. Do not use soap (bar, flake or detergents containing natural soap), since soap could make stain permanent. Soak tough stains for 30 minutes in one quart of warm water and one teaspoon of enzyme presoak product. To remove old or set stains may require washing with bleach that is safe for the fabric. If all the sugars are not removed, a brown stain will appear when the fabric is heated in the dryer or is ironed, as the sugar is carmelized.

Grass Stains

Soak in a solution of cool water and a laundry product containing enzymes for at least 30 minutes (several hours for aged stains). Do not use hot water as it will coagulate protein and make stain more difficult to remove. If stains remain, soak an additional 30 minutes, then rewash. Follow product instructions. Some laundry detergents contain enzymes. After soaking launder in warm water as usual.

Mud

Let mud stains dry. Brush to remove the soil. Soak in a solution of 1 quart warm water, 1 teaspoon liquid dish detergent and 1 tablespoon white vinegar for 15 minutes. Rinse with water. Let stand for several minutes. If stain remains, sponge with rubbing alcohol, rinse with clear water and launder. Also may soak stain for 30 minutes in an enzyme presoak. Add chlorine bleach to laundry if safe for fabric.

Barbeque Sauce and Other Tomato Based Sauces

Soak in cool water, 1/2 teaspoon liquid hand dishwashing detergent and 1 tablespoon vinegar for 30 minutes. Rinse. If stain remains, pre-treat area with a pre-wash stain remover, liquid laundry detergent or a paste of powdered detergent and water. Then wash in warm water. Air dry. If stain remains, soak in an enzyme product for at least an hour or overnight. Some detergents contain enzymes. Launder in warm water. Do not use hot water, hot air drying or iron until the stain is gone. Heat will set it.

No endorsement of companies or their products mentioned is intended, nor is criticism implied of similar companies or their products not mentioned.

Examples of products

Enzyme presoak products Biz bleach, Axion pre-wash stain remover/petroleum-based pre-treatment solvent such as Aerosol Shout, Spray'n Wash, K2r Spot Lifter.

Detergents

Heavy duty liquid detergents: All, Cheer, Era, Tide, Wisk

Light duty liquid detergents: Ivory, Lux, Woolite

Powdered detergents Amway, Cheer, Dash, Woolite, Tide.

Bleaches

Hydrogen peroxide is the mildest bleach.

Powdered all-fabric bleach–sodium Biz, Borateem, Clorox 2 perborate

Liquid all fabric bleach Clorox 2, Vivid

Liquid chlorine bleach-sodium Clorox, Purex hypochlorite

• McDonald's Corp. has announced that more than 1,200 of its US restaurants have already switched to a trans-fat-free blend of canola, soybean and corn oils for frying. However, no timeline has been announced for a complete switchover of all the chain's franchises.
• The typical American today drinks 24 gallons of bottled water per year. That is 100 times the average bottled-water consumption of Americans 25 years ago.
• To kill germs in your kitchen sponges, microwave them on full power for two minutes. This should reduce microbes by 99%. Sponges are a common source of microbes, including Salmonella, especially when they remain wet. Air-drying sponges does not significantly reduce germs, and though putting them in the dishwasher cleans them, it doesn't sufficiently decontaminate them. To guard against fire, make sure sponges contain no metal and are wet before you microwave them. Be careful when removing them since they will be very hot.

Eating more fruits and vegetables can help you ward off heart disease and cancer as well as bone and memory loss.

When you shop for produce you now should be seeing a new message about healthy eating: "Fruits and Veggies–More Matters." This is the catch phrase of a new campaign jointly sponsored by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the nonprofit Produce for Better Health Foundation (PBH). It is not just an empty slogan. Recent studies show eating more fruits and vegetables, whether fresh, frozen, fried, or canned, can help you reduce your risk of heart disease and cancer, slow bone loss, and even improve mental functioning.

The plant chemicals and nutrients in whole fruits and vegetables work together to provide those benefits, and nature's total package is far better for you than any pill made from an isolated phytonutrient. More than 5,000 natural phytochemicals have been identified in whole fruits and vegetables, as well as in whole grains, and the preventive benefits come from a combination of those phytochemicals.

Why do we need more? We need more because over 75% of American adults report eating fewer than five (5) servings of fruits and vegetables a day, despite increased awareness of the importance of fruit and vegetable consumption.

The latest federal dietary guidelines (www.mypyramid.gov) provide daily minimums for fruits, vegetables, and other foods geared to specific age groups and activity levels. For example, if you are an active woman over 50, you need around 2,000 calories a day, including at least 2.5 cups of vegetables and 2 cups of fruits every day as a minimum. For those who want a quantifiable amount, a better guideline would be to say that nearly half of what is on your plate should be fruits and vegetables.

The most recent "Top 12 Produce Picks" for nutrition (alphabetically): apricots, bell peppers (red), blueberries, broccoli, cantaloupe, carrots, raspberries, romaine lettuce, spinach, tangerines, tomatoes, and yellow onions.

And it is all good. Fresh and frozen fruits and vegetables are equally nutritious (in fact, flash-frozen foods may retain more of their nutrients). While some nutrients such as B vitamins may be lost during cooking or canning, fiber remains intact. Cooking breaks down cell walls of vegetables and increases the bioavailability and antioxidant activity of compounds such as lycopene in tomatoes. That's why people are encouraged to eat a variety of fruits and vegetables, fresh and cooked.

However, there are hundreds of fruits and veggies and tons of ways to prepare them. If you are one of those people who say you don't like vegetables, maybe you just haven't found the ones you do like. Try something new. Any vegetable or fruit is better than none at all.

To many, cholesterol and fat sound similar. But cholesterol and fat are not the same thing. Cholesterol is a fat-like substance present in all animal foods. This includes meat, poultry, fish, milk and milk products, and egg yolks.

Both the lean and the fat of meat and the meat and skin of poultry contain cholesterol. In milk products, cholesterol is mostly in the fat. This means lower fat products like skim milk contain less cholesterol. Whole milk has 33 milligrams in one cup while skim milk has only 4 milligrams of cholesterol for the same amount (one cup). Egg yolks and organ meats like liver are high in cholesterol. Three ounces of cooked liver has 331 milligrams and one egg yolk has 213 milligrams.

Dietary cholesterol, as well as saturated fat, raises blood cholesterol levels in many people. This increases their risk for heart disease. Some health authorities recommend that dietary cholesterol be limited to less than 300 milligrams per day. To keep dietary cholesterol to this level, USDA recommends following USDA's 2005 Dietary Guidelines to keep your total fat to the amount that's right for you.

One final suggestion–when selecting and preparing meat, poultry, dry beans and milk or milk products, make choices that are lean, low-fat, or fat-free.

The following recipe from the United States Department of Agriculture is a tasty way to incorporate dried peas in your meal.

Split Pea Soup

1-1/2 cups dry green split peas
1 small smoked ham hock
1/2 cup onion chopped
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon pepper
7 cups water

Add peas, ham hock, onion, salt and pepper to water. Simmer, covered, 1-1/2 hours or until ham hock is tender. Remove ham hock and cut meat from bone. Cut meat into small pieces. Return meat to soup. Heat to serving temperature. Refrigerate leftovers.

Nutrient Analysis Per Serving: 201 calories, 15 grams protein, 31 grams carbohydrates, 3 grams fat, 23% calories from fat, 9 milligrams cholesterol, 313 milligrams sodium.

Exchanges: 1/2 meat, 2 starch

What are the benefits? Greater convenience and access to more information are the main benefits of Internet shopping. Shoppers need go no further than the personal computer in their den or public library. Extensive information about product features, product comparisons and pricing is at your fingertips. Listed below are a few of the benefits:

• Save time–Avoid traveling to and from stores.
• Save money–Products can often be purchased for less. Some prices are lower, some retailers will pay shipping and some purchases avoid sales taxes.
• Ease of comparison shopping–A few clicks of the mouse displays product features, colors and prices of similar items from a variety of merchants.
• Large selection–Hundreds of thousands of items are available. It's difficult to find products you can't purchase online.
• Simplify gift-giving–It's easy to buy and send gifts. Simply select a gift, enter a delivery address and provide payment information.
• No crowds!

What are the dangers? Most online shoppers have concerns about privacy and security. By its nature, the Internet disseminates information very easily–even information you prefer to keep private. Major advances have been made to protect your privacy on the Internet. On the following page are a few tips to ease some of your concerns.

Tips to Protect Your Privacy

• Check for a secure server–A secure server scrambles or encrypts personal information to keep others from using it. When connected to a secure server, most browsers (like Netscape or Internet Explorer) will show a closed padlock at the bottom of your computer screen and will switch from http to https.
• Passwords offer extra security–The most secure sites will have you create an online account with an account name and password. Keep this information private, change passwords periodically and use different passwords for different sites.
• Consider the seller's reputation–Well-known and respected retailers tend to have more secure Web sites than smaller companies. These companies are also less likely to engage in fraud.
• Look for a privacy statement–Every web site that lets you make purchases should have a statement that describes the steps they take to promote privacy and security. Read the privacy statement to learn if your information will be sold or given out.
• Understand how the cookie crumbles! - Many merchants will want to place a "cookie" on your computer. Cookies are small files that identify you to the merchant. They may allow companies to collect marketing information about you and the Web pages you visit. You may not wish to share this information. Most browsers allow you to turn off the cookie function.

For more information about online shopping see:

• Federal Trade Commission site
• Better Business Bureau site

There are many things you can do if you are a victim of identity theft. Most of the time victims of this type of theft are burdened with the task of solving the problem themselves. Yet, there are agencies and organizations that can help you. So it is important that you act quickly to minimize the damage on your financial reputation.

When resolving the identity theft, it is best to keep a log of all the steps you have done. This includes all conversations, plus dates, times, names, and phone numbers. It is best to confirm conversations in writing. Be sure to send all letters in regards to the identity theft via certified mail with a return receipt requested. Also, keep copies of all letters and documents.

Complete the following four tasks right away when you are an identity theft victim:

• Contact the police department where the identity theft took place. Obtain a copy of this police report. Do this in case you need to send a copy to your bank, credit card companies, and to any others who need proof of the crime.
• Call or write the three top credit bureau fraud departments. Inform them about your identity theft. You should request that a fraud alert be placed on your file. Also, request that no new credit be granted without your okay.
• Close all accounts with banks and credit cards companies that were gotten into or opened by the thief. Remember your quick actions are needed if you are a victim of identity theft. You must notify your banks and other financial places within two days of learning of your identity theft. You may be responsible for the first $50 of your loss. Most of the time, the victim does not have to pay a dime.
• Open a new checking and saving account with new account numbers and passwords. Use passwords that are not easy to figure out by thieves. Do not use these as passwords: your mother's maiden name, your birth date, your pet's name, your children's name, last four digits of your social security number, or anything easy to figure out.

Contact your local Extension Service Office or the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Identity Theft Hotline for more information on protecting your identity and what to do if you are a victim of identity theft: 1-202-382-4357 or

http://www.consumer.gov/idtheft/index/html.

Preschool children need to eat the same variety of foods as older family members, but they probably need fewer calories. To get the variety of food to provide the nutrients they need, they can eat smaller servings.

The United States Department of Agriculture developed the Food Guide Pyramid to help us choose what and how much to eat from different food groups to get the nutrients we need and not too much of the things we don't need like fat and sweets.

The Food Guide Pyramid divided food into five groups plus an 'others' category of fats and sweets. The five food groups in the pyramid are:

• Bread, Cereal, Rice, and Pasta Group
• Vegetable Group
• Fruit Group
• Milk, Yogurt and Cheese Group
• Meat, Poultry, Fish, Dry Beans, Eggs, and Nuts Group
• Fats, oils and sweet.

The food groups are arranged this way as a guide to how much we should eat from each group. We need to eat several servings from the Bread, Cereal, Rice, and Pasta Group and very small amounts from the Fats, Oils, and Sweets group.

The Pyramid is an outline of what to eat each day. It is not a prescription, but a general guide that lets you choose a healthful diet that's right for you.

The Pyramid calls for eating a variety of foods to get the nutrients you need and at the same time the right amount of calories to maintain a healthy weight.

Find the Pyramid

Show your children a picture of the Food Guide Pyramid. Many food packages you have in the cupboard probably have a picture of the pyramid. Have the children look for the Pyramid on the foods you have at home, on food packages when you go to the grocery store or in magazines.

When they find the Pyramid on a food package, talk about which group they think that food belongs in.

Pyramid Tortilla

This is a fun snack or lunch for kids to make. It has food from all of the food groups. For each tortilla, you will need:

1 8-inch tortilla
1-2 ounces thin sliced turkey or ham
2 tablespoons shredded cheese
1/2 cup shredded lettuce
1 tablespoon raisins
Low-fat mayonnaise, cream cheese or margarine

Give each child a tortilla. Have them spread with mayonnaise, margarine or cream cheese. Then layer on the turkey or ham, cheese, lettuce and raisins. Roll up and enjoy.

This sandwich could also be made using a slice of bread or an English muffin.

Family Meals

A recent poll showed that nearly half of children ages 9 to 15 did not have daily meals with their families. Studies have shown that children who eat away from the family table are less likely to eat nutritious meals and are more likely to do poorly in school.

Now, when your children are young, is a good time to make family meals together important and enjoyable.

Here are some ideas to get you started:

• Keep mealtime positive.
• Reserve discipline for another time.
• Focus on each other and not the food. Allow children to eat until they are full without forcing "one more bite" or a clean plate.
• Don't forget to make mealtime fun, laugh together and share funny stories.

Have you reviewed your credit history recently? Did you see that you had some cards that you haven't used in a while? There is always a right way and a wrong way to do things. Whatever the reason for getting rid of a credit card, you'll want to make sure you do it thoroughly and that no harm is done to your credit report.

First, don't try to cancel a card while you're paying the balance. Cancel the card only after you have paid off the balance in full.

"There isn't a need to cancel that account until you're through with it. She adds that you have to employ self-discipline and stop using a card while you're paying off the balance.

OK, let's say you have paid off a card's balance and you want to cancel the account. Taylor suggests that you do the following in order:

• Notify the card issuer by phone.
• Follow up by notifying the card issuer in writing.
• Get a copy of your credit report and make sure it is accurate.
• Repeat, if necessary

Your issuer's customer-service number will be printed on the back of the card, and on the monthly statement. Call that number, confirm that your balance is zero, and notify the customer-service that you're cancelling the card. If you truly intend to cancel the card, hold firm if the rep tries to talk you out of it by promising lower rates or fees.

If you can, find out the name of someone to send and address a confirmation letter. At the least, ask for the address. Follow up with a letter. Write a short letter to the card issuer. If you can get a name so you can send it directly to someone, that is better.

The letter should say that you're closing your account and that you want your credit record to reflect the fact that you requested that the account be closed. Provide your name, address and account number.

Send the letter by certified mail or return receipt requested. That way you can prove that the card issuer received your letter. Then wait a month. You can allow as much as 30 days for the closing of your account. Then get a copy of your credit report and make sure it says 'Closed at the customer's request' and that account actually has been taken off your credit report.

Check your credit report. You don't want your report to say the account was "closed by the creditor," because that reflects negatively on you.

If the card issuer mistakenly reported that the issuer, not you, closed the account, you'll have to return to the beginning. Call the customer-service department to report the mistake, follow up with a letter sent by certified mail and include the copy of the original letter and check your credit report again.

Remember the credit report is your credit history and you are responsible to make sure it is correct.

Why cancel a card? One of the reasons people would want to close out credit cards is if they want to purchase a home. To have a lot of available credit is not to your advantage.

Here's an example: If you have three credit cards with low or no balances, a mortgage lender considers that as "potential debt." If you have a lot of potential debt, a mortgage lender might not be willing to lend all the money you need because you could take out a mortgage and then run up your credit cards, endangering your ability to pay all your debts.

And some people get in over their heads in debt and realize that they need to rid themselves of the temptation of credit cards. "You might want to close a credit card because you've re-evaluated your budget and you knew you were overextended or if you are in debt and trying to get out of debt. There is nothing wrong with canceling a card because it's a bad deal. Whatever the reason for canceling a credit card, it pays to do it right.

• Don't assume that packaged foods with fruit in their names or images of fruit on their boxes contain real fruits. A recent survey of 37 products, including cereals, yogurts, and beverages, showed that 19 of them (over 50%) did not contain any, despite references to fruits. For instance, Yoplait's Strawberry Splash Go-Gurt Yogurt had no strawberries; Fruity Cheerios and Berry Berry Kix had no fruit of any sort. In place of fruit, manufacturers often use natural flavorings, which have no nutritional value, plus lots of added sugar. If there is fruit, it is usually very little. Read the ingredient list and make sure that fruit is toward the top and comes before any added sugar. "Fruit juice concentrate" does not count as fruit–it is just a sweetener!
• Almost 80% of the sodium that Americans typically consume comes from processed food or from food served in restaurants or fast-food eateries.
• The number of US dairy cows has dropped 25% since 1970, but the average cow now produces 2,120 gallons of milk a year–up from 1,130 gallons in 1970.

Question: How safe is bottled water? I recently read that one brand actually comes from purified tap water, rather than spring water. Would I be better off using my own tap water?

Answer: According to a report from the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), a Washington, D.C.-based environmental group, as much as 40% of bottled water is nothing more than treated tap water. There are several brands of bottled water that use municipal water supplies, among them, Aquafina.

However, bottling plants are not required by law to disclose the source of their water. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) only regulates bottled water sold for interstate distribution, around 30-40 percent of the water sold in the U.S. The NRDC tested 103 brands of bottled water and found one-third contained significant contamination. It is best to stick to major brands from a company belonging to the International Bottled Water Association (www.bottledwater.org: click "What is IBWA," then on "Brands List.") Purchase bottled water from a store that sells a lot of it, so their supplies are replenished frequently. Store it in a cool place.

If you want to use your own tap water, run the water for 20 seconds in the morning to clear out any chemicals that may have been leached from pipes overnight. Buy water bottles meant for reuse made of hard plastic (such as polycarbonate) with a number 7 on the bottom; these can be put in the dishwasher.