Green represents the new way we think about helping our planet, and ourselves, by conserving, reusing, recycling and being more environmentally conscious of our surroundings. We're asking you to help us go green by having this newsletter sent to you via email. Not only would you be able to help us conserve supplies, time and postage costs, but it would arrive at your home sooner than the "snail mail" version … and in full color too.

To sign-up, send an email with the subject title "newsletter" to mason_co@extension.uiuc.edu and give us the email address you'd like us to use.

Mason County Extension has some items for you to consider when putting together your holiday gift list this year. Stop in and check 'em out!

• The new 4-H cookbook, Favorite Recipes of Illinois 4-H Through the Years - cost is $15. The book includes all-time favorite recipes from 14 University of Illinois Extension 4-H foods project books. Proceeds will support current 4-H foods project resources and training for 4-H volunteers through the Illinois 4-H Foundation.
• Mason County 4-H T-shirts - cost is $10. Shirts are white with green lettering and a 4-H clover emblem. We have a variety of sizes. Proceeds help defray cost of 4-H program fees for county 4-H members.
• So Easy to Preserve - cost is $18. The popular 375-page book has over 185 tested recipes, step by step instructions and in-depth information (using USDA guidelines) for both the new and experienced food preserver.

Mason County Extension recently hosted a tour for those involved in local economic development as part of the Mason County Economic Development Group. The visit to Pike County featured tours of Pittsfield's local hospital and its thriving downtown in addition to tours of the local industrial park and enterprise zone. A noon luncheon with Pike county officials allowed those attending to discuss problems in common between the two counties while also highlighting some novel solutions to those problems.

Mason County Extension recently hosted a tour of Pike County for those involved in local economic development. Those attending were: (Back row from left to right) Terry Svob (Havana), Floyd Foutch (Bath), Gene Lair (Forest City), Mark Friedrich (Havana), Lois Rickard (Mason City); (Front row from left to right) Nancy Proehl (Manito), Joe McCormick (San Jose), and Stephanie Sorrels-DeHart (Pike County Extension Community and Economic Development Educator). Not Pictured: Matt Montgomery, Mason County Extension Director.