Update for week of April 23 and April 30, 2007

Tuesday was a busy day! I started with Pepper Ridge in the morning where we discussed the importance of water and physical activity. I had the kids brainstorm about activities they could do over the summer that would help them meet the '60 minutes of activity a day' guideline given in My Pyramid. We also talked about poor beverage and snack choices and what would be some better choices. Included in suggestions were adding a little lemon, lime or orange to the water to give it flavor or eating snacks high in water content such as watermelon or cantaloupe.

Tuesday's activities continued with a luncheon with Dean Easter. It was an interesting conversation and a great meal!

Wednesday was staff meeting.

Friday was the Health Fair out at Ridgeview Elementary school. I did the prep and the 1-3pm shift. Judy came in to do the 3 – 5pm shift and did the booth tear down. I thought we had a good crowd for the first year. I believe the school was also happy with the turnout as it exceeded their attendance expectations.

The week of April 30^th:

Tuesday was my last visit to BHA's tutoring program for the semester. We did a review and a craft. The kids really have retained the information they were given and I was excited to hear them elaborate on answers!

Wednesday was the last visit for the Wood Street BHA program. Although Judy usually does this program, I did the wrap-up since she was on her way to California! Since I wasn't familiar with the kids I can't evaluate retention but we reviewed and talked about some ideas for physical activity this summer and healthy snack and beverage choices.

Update for Week of April 9 and April 16, 2007

I had Miller Park Seniors on Tuesday. We talked about calcium (especially the importance for menopausal women), played the Calcium Hi/Low game and enjoyed the snack of cheese sticks and calcium enriched orange juice. We then took our new information and talked about how to incorporate more calcium into our diet by making good snack and meal choices.

Most of the rest of my time this week has been spent preparing for upcoming programs.

Direct Teaching

1... March 24...Trans Fats...Expanding Your Horizons, through Math Science & Technology Conference. Prepared a display on Trans Fats with examples of good choices.

The conference at ISU is designed for grades 5-10, with an emphasis on girls to seek careers in math, science and technology. Parents and educators also attend.

2... April 9...Picnic Safety Program... here at the extension office for a teacher's sorority

News Releases

Cholesterol Numbers.../Community News/

Fiesta of Flavors Diabetes Web Site.../Community News/ County Newsletter/ Web site

Buying Hams for Spring Dinners.../web

Figuring Out the Holiday Ham.../web

Easter...All About Eggs.../Community News/ Web

E-Coli for Consumers.../Community News/ Web

Food Safety When the Power Out.../web

Barbeque Food Safety...Marinating Meat.../web

Newsletters

Many people subscribe to several newsletters...Continue to encourage e-newsletters

These numbers doesn't include newsletters used by program assistants in their programming!

Food for Thought Newsletter... = 664

Wellness Ways Newsletter... = 1080 Your Health and You Newsletter... = 440

Parenting Again Newsletter... = 68

Coordination

1. Coordinating with ISU FCS intern, Lauren Rusk; Pat and Judy, nutrition program assistants
2. Sampling of inquiries---

Q: Do you have a list of foods high in Vitamin K?

Q: How do you roast pecans? I have a recipe that says they need to be roasted for this coffee cake.

Q: Stinky refrigerator after power out.

Q: What type of wax one can put on citrus fruit to extend the fruits usefulness. I would also like to know where the wax can be purchased. I winter in AZ. and would like to take fruit with me when I return to my home

Q: Where to find sealing rings for pressure cookers

Q: Where can I go to enroll one of my food service workers in the food

sanitation certification program?

Q: Does vinegar expire? The date on my bottle says 2000.

Q: Our Girl Scouts use a Hobo Stove for outdoor cooking with cardboard and paraffin. It smokes a lot and I heard paraffin is toxic. Can you tell me more?

1. H.C.E. program planning/ Lessons for Living
2. Host site for telenet in service on Nutrition and Dementia Preparation...Registration forms, certificates, copies of power point
3. Nutrition & It's Relationship to a Sense of Well Being in the Elderly...Sara Wilham...at ECIAAA... requested a nutrition speaker for Aging Coalition.
4. Health Literacy... I also ordered Health Literacy DVD from the AMA...so will do a couple of programs for the Aging Coalition !
5. Babies and Butterflies... organized in an effort to get mothers in their first trimester of pregnancy to get prenatal care.
6. Food and Fitness...Mike Harrison @ 735-9835 called from State Farm to coordinate speakers in conjunction with a Walk-a-Thon. It will be held at State Farm Park. I will speak May 5 about Health & Nutrition. Plan to use the Fitness and Food program I will be delivering in August as a community leaders workshop.

7. Grandparents Raising Grandchildren conference meeting ...conference to be held June 30.

8. Young at Heart Day (also in volunteer & committee sections)

9. Little Jewels Day Care... Speakers Bureau Panel on Parenting. "How to talk so kids will listen/ Positive Parenting/ Discipline/ Q & A. Coordinated with Cammy Seguin, family life educator, to present on a speakers bureau panel. Cammy may pull in Gigi Grumbaugh. Will probably be May 22. They hope to do a panel about 3 times a year. Contact info. Angela Puloosy (?) H- 661-3424 and W- 662-0303. I also connected Angela with Sheila Diaz and Bess Desch, Partners in Parenting; and Mendy Smith, Children's Foundation. She thanked me profusely for my great connections in the community ! Nice.

Professional Development

1. Apr. 3...U of I Global Extension Initiative via telenet
2. Mar. 19...Public Forum on Self Neglect...Aging Coalition...
3. Mar. 16... Northern Cluster Meeting

Update for Week of March 26 and April 2, 2007

I supposed to have my last Heartland Headstart presentation but it was canceled. Because this is the third cancel, I didn't work to reschedule but told her she could call and if I was available, I would reschedule with her.

Worked on final programs for this semester as well as some collaboration with Judy.

Week of April 2, 2007

I had no programs this week.

I attended staff on Tuesday and worked in the office on Tuesday and Thursday.