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JANUARY 5, 2012
Dear Friends:
Check for dates and times in our
newsletter!
Tips for
Taking the Stress Out of Tax Season
They say nothing in life is certain
except death and taxes, and with tax season right around the corner, you
might be starting to worry about the latter.
But with the help of USA.gov, you don’t
have to stress about filing your taxes. Here’s what you need to know to make
the process simple:
The deadline to file your taxes this
year is April 17. The deadline is pushed back two days because of the
weekend and Emancipation Day, a Washington, D.C. holiday. If you can’t make
this deadline, you can request an extension and file your taxes later,
however, if you owe money, you still need to pay by the April 17th deadline.
If you think you could use some help
filing your taxes, find out if you’re eligible for free tax counseling. The
elderly, military members and their families and people with low to moderate
incomes may be eligible for free tax counseling. The IRS has trained tax
counselors who might be able to answer your questions.
The IRS makes it easy to file your
taxes online using the e-file system. The benefit to online filing is that
it’s free, it reduces the risk of making a mistake and it lets you get your
refund more quickly.
If you decide you don’t want to file
online and would rather submit a paper return, make sure you have all the
forms you need. You can download them online from the IRS or may also be
able to find them locally at your post office, credit unions, office supply
or grocery stores. You will also find instructions to fill out the forms
that you can read online or download to a Kindle device.
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Newsletters By Email!
Maryellen Garrison
Henry County Extension Agent
For Family and Consumer Sciences
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Once you’ve filed your taxes, you can
track your refund status easily to find out when you’ll get your money. If
you e-filed you will be able to get your refund information 72 hours after
the IRS receives your information. If you filed a paper return, you can
check your refund status in three to four weeks. You can also check the
status of your refund using IRS2Go, a mobile app available for iPhone and
Android devices.
By following these five tips and
getting your return in early, you’ll be able to watch your refund roll
in and avoid that last minute scramble.
Small Steps to Health
and Wealth™ Online Challenge Begins January 15
Just in time to rescue failed New
Year’s resolutions to improve health and personal finances, Cooperative
Extension is launching an online Small Steps to Health and Wealth™ (SSHW)
Challenge called “Winter 2012 SSHW Challenge.” This free six-week program,
open to anyone who enrolls online, will be held from Sunday, January 15,
through Saturday, February 25, 2012. Prizes will be awarded for participants
who report the highest point totals.
To sign up for the SSHW Challenge,
follow the “Challenges” link on the Small Steps to Health and Wealth™ Web
site at http://njaes.rutgers.edu/sshw/. Set up a user name and password and
download a simple one-page user’s guide with instructions about how to
proceed. Enroll in the Challenge titled “Winter 2012 SSHW Challenge.”
The SSHW Challenge is part of Small
Steps to Health and Wealth™, a national Cooperative Extension program
developed to motivate Americans to take action to simultaneously improve
their health and personal finances. It was built around a framework of 25
research-based behavior change strategies. The Challenge was originally
developed in a “paper and pencil” format with printed worksheets and is now
available online.
It has been well documented that, when
people monitor their behavior and measure how they’re doing, they are often
inspired to do better and achieve positive results. Participants in the
Challenge are “on their honor” to report their activities accurately. If
they “cheat” on reporting their points, they are only cheating themselves by
not following the recommended daily practices.
The Challenge is based on the
performance of ten recommended practices on a daily basis: five that involve
health and nutrition and five that involve financial management. Ten points
are given for performing each one for a maximum of 700 points per week and
4,200 points for the entire challenge. The Challenge is a great way to
convert ambitious New Year’s resolutions, like losing weight and saving
money, into daily action steps.
The five daily health and
nutrition practices are: eat at least 4 cups of fruits and vegetables;
get at least 30 minutes of physical activity; drink water or unsweetened
beverages instead of sugar-sweetened beverages; eat at least two
servings of whole grain foods; and learn something new about health and
nutrition.
The five daily financial
management practices included in the Challenge are: save a $1 bill (or
more) and/or pocket change; invest $5 or more per day (including
automated retirement savings plan deposits); track money spent
throughout the day; eat lunch prepared at home; and learn something new
about personal finance. The latter activity, for both health and
personal finances, can be accomplished by visiting Web sites, attending
seminars, or by reading, listening to, or viewing media reports.
The Winter Challenge
participants will have an opportunity to replace one daily health
activity and one daily personal finance activity with unique daily
personal challenges of their own making the Challenge more “personal”
for participants and giving them an opportunity to practice new
behaviors if they are already doing all of the 10 pre-selected
activities.
As participants enter their
personal data, they will see their point totals for each day of the week
and for each of the ten activities described above. They’ll also see a
bar graph that compares their personal progress to the average scores of
everyone else participating in the Challenge. Daily motivational
messages will also be provided to participants. Paper tracking forms can
be downloaded to keep track of daily activities until they are entered
online.
Doing even one of the ten
recommended daily practices is a great way to get started on the path to
better health and improved financial security. The more Challenge
activities that are performed by participants, the better. To sign up
for “Winter 2012 Challenge” visit the Small Steps hosted by Rutgers
Extension at
http://njaes.rutgers.edu/sshw/.
And if you are interested but
not an online person please give me a call at 845-2811. You won’t be
able to participate in the Challenge but we do have a limited supply of
Small Steps.
Sincerely,
Maryellen Garrison
Henry County Extension Agent
For Family and Consumer Sciences
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New Web page
links Kentuckians to local foods
In an effort to provide more
opportunities for consumers to access local foods, Kentucky first lady Jane
Beshear and University of Kentucky College of Agriculture Dean Scott Smith
unveiled the Kentucky and Local Food Resources Web page today at the
American School Health Association meeting in Louisville.
“We were delighted to join first lady
Jane Beshear, the Governor’s Office of Agricultural Policy and others in
this effort,” Smith said. “We expect this will enhance community access to
healthy, fresh food while also increasing economic opportunities for
Kentucky farmers.”
Beshear has worked to increase
awareness about the benefits of locally grown food to people across the
state. She approached Smith about creating a one-stop, online location for
Kentuckians to find local food producers in and near their communities.
“The average meal in the United States
travels 1,200 miles from the farm to the dinner table,” Beshear said. “By
purchasing locally grown food products, we can fuel our regional economies
and decrease our carbon footprint while also improving the nutritional value
of our diets. This website will be an exceptional resource to connect
Kentuckians to easily accessible and locally grown food. Thank you to UK’s
College of Agriculture and GOAP for their dedicated work and support of this
effort.”
Janet Mullins, UK associate extension
professor in the Department of Nutrition and Food Science, works to increase
Kentuckians’ access to local, healthy foods and was involved with the
development of the page.
...
“An array of local food resources is
available across the state, but this site gives us one centralized location
to direct consumers,” said Roger Thomas, executive director of the
Governor’s Office of Agricultural Policy. “We value the UK College of
Agriculture’s leadership on the first lady’s initiative, and we look forward
to continuing the coordinated effort to educate consumers on the
availability of local food resources.”
The Web page is available on the UK
College of Agriculture website at
http://www2.ca.uky.edu/foods.
Water is a
Valuable Resource, Conservation Suggestions:
On average Kentuckians use anywhere from
100 to 150 gallons of water per person, per day. To eliminate any excuses,
here are some of the no-cost water-saving suggestions you can start doing
today:
• Run the dishwasher only when full
(saves 2 gallons)
• Turn off water in between rinsing dishes or brushing teeth (saves 5
and 8 gallons)
• Shorten showers; fill bathtub only half-full (saves 5 and 18 gallons)
• Do not use the toilet as a garbage can (saves 2 gallons)
• Reduce laundry by one load a week; wash full loads only (saves 5
gallons)
• Start a compost pile for food waste (saves 4 gallons)
• Capture water in a rain barrel for irrigation (saves 5 gallons)
• Sweep sidewalks and driveways with a broom rather than spraying with
hose (saves 22 gallons)
• Limit and reduce lawn and garden irrigation (depending, can save 20-80
gallons)
• Mulch two to three inches around trees and plants (saves 25 gallons).
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Second Wind Dreams Founder P.K. Beville
(center) came all the way to Henry County from Alpharetta Georgia to meet
with our local Second Wind Dreams Committee (left to right) Margaret Hayden,
Carol Bryner, Wanda Thurman, Saundra Smith, P.K., Sue Barnett-Committee
Chair, Maryellen Garrison-Henry County Extension Agent, Edith Tennill and
Eleanor Sharp. Our group has granted 104 dreams of residents living at
Homestead Nursing Center. The goal of Second Wind Dreams is to enhance
quality of life for Seniors and to change the perception of aging.
VISIT THE SECOND
WIND DREAMS PAGE...
and the video
Second Wind Video
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Celebrating The History of
Extension in Henry County
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4H Agent Cathy Toole displays the
4H Apron made by Rose Barmore in 1935 at the Celebrating Extension
Memories program held this past Sunday at Twin Oaks Assisted Living.
The apron was an amazing piece of stitchery with French seams and
handmade buttonholes and will be used as a learning tool at the
current 4H sewing classes being taught.
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Over 100 past, present and future
Extension Volunteers enjoyed reminiscing over the many 4H Scrapbooks
and memorabilia displayed at the Celebrating Extension Memories
Program. The purpose of the program was to recognize the many
faithful Extension Leaders who have made a proud history for
Extension in Henry County. The first Extension Agent in Henry County
was Carl Malone who started in 1925 thanks to forward thinking of
J.C. Helburn the President of the Eminence Chamber of Commerce who
talked the Chamber and our local banks into providing the funding to
get Extension started. The Henry County Local provided Carl with
office space and a desk and the rest is history!
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Attending the Celebrating
Extension Memories program were Jerri Cockrel (Home Ec Agent
1973-1985), Maryellen Garrison (Home Ec Agent 1986-present),
Steve Moore (Extension Agent 1974-present), Alice Thompson
(Extension Secretary 1978-1988), Katie Sue Yount (Extension
Agent 1964-1972), Jim Prewitt (Ag Agent 1967-1983), Cathy
Toole (4H Agent 1997 to present). Not pictured but present
is Sheila Atchison (Extension Secretary 1973-1978), also not
pictured is current Secretary Annmarie Ivers (Extension
Secretary 1988 to present). This group represents 172 years
of Service to the Cooperative Extension Service!
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Your chance to
help Second Wind Dreams: Many of you know about the Second Wind
Dreams program that grants dreams of residents of nursing homes! Here is
an easy one! Homestead would like to have some CD’s and DVD’s donated
that the residents might enjoy (they do not want VCR or cassettes). Music
from the 30’s through the 70’s would be great (ex; Frank Sinatra, Big
Band, Dean Martin, Perry Como, Old time Country, Semi-Classical, Old
Standard Blues). And movies that might be appropriate! If you have any
you can either drop by the Extension Office and we will get them to
Homestead or take them directly there! Vicki Atha (activity Director at
Homestead) needs some volunteers to assist residents when they play
Bingo-right now they are playing at 2:30 on Mondays, 10:30 on
Wednesdays, and 10:30 on Saturdays. Vicki also needs some volunteers to
help residents remember how to knit and crochet give her a call
at 845-2861. In the 1940's, everyone pitched in to win the war, so
fulfilling dreams for elders nationwide is our way of thanking the
Greatest Generation.
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Zelma Winchester
granted a Second Wind Dreams wish for another Zelma who is a
resident at Homestead and wanted a CD player and some gospel music,
as Don Dalger, Administrator watched. If you or your group is
interested in granting a dream of a resident then give us a call at
the Henry County Extension Office or call Committee Chairperson Sue
Barnett. The Second Wind Committee has granted almost 90 dreams so
far and all of those who have granted a dream have reported that
they have received far more than they gave.
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The Second Wind Dreams program is working
on providing individual shadow boxes for each resident at Homestead Nursing
Center. They will be hung at the resident’s door and will include a small
life history of the resident letting visitors and staff know a little more
about the individual. Pictured are Helen Davis, Pat Gray, Saundra Smith and
Alvin Roberts working to stain the 64 boxes that were purchased thanks to an
anonymous donor. For information on how you or your group can participate in
Second Wind Dreams contact Vicki Atha or Don Dalger at Homestead, Sue
Barnett-Second Wind Dreams Chairman or the Henry County
Extension Office. |
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The first UK Plaid
Products: will be appearing in stores and available for
online purchase in September! The initial collection includes a
men’s tie, duffle bag, carrier tote bag, two sizes of cosmetic
bags, two sizes of table cloths, napkins, a photo frame, and an
id case. The website
www.ukplaid.com offers individuals an opportunity to
register their email address and receive notification when the
products are available. Later this fall, the Plaid Advisory
Board will be reviewing new product ideas developed by students
in Merchandising, apparel, and Textiles during the 2009 spring
semester and selecting additional products for production.
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