Agriculture and Natural Resources s11

November 28, 2003 Exclusives

Please do not delete this message. It is the only complete copy your office will receive of exclusives for Agricultural and Natural Resources, Family and Consumer Sciences and 4-H Youth Development.

AGRICULTURE AND NATURAL RESOURCES

Preparing for Winter Weather

FAMILY AND CONSUMER SCIENCES

Estate Planning Tips

4-H/YOUTH DEVELOPMENT

4-H Afterschool Program Provides Safe, Enriching Environment

*** Preparing for Winter Weather

Source: Tom Priddy

With old man winter just around the corner, it’s important to closely follow local weather forecasts and warnings and be familiar with seasonal weather terminology. This knowledge could save lives. Listening to a Specific Area Message Encoding (SAME) Weather Radio is one of the best ways to monitor severe winter weather notices. These radios only receive weather alerts for your specific county or the surrounding area. SAME Weather Radios provide an alerting tone when the weather-watching tone occurs for your particular county or designated area. You also can keep up with severe weather reports by listening to a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Weather Radio. Part of a nationwide network of radio stations, this radio broadcasts National Weather Service warnings, watches, forecasts and other hazard information 24 hours a day. Severe winter weather can completely immobilize an area. Heavy snow, blizzards or ice storms are a potential killer of people, pets and livestock. So when weather forecasts predict extremely harsh weather, make advance safety plans in case the conditions develop. Explanations about some winter weather terms you might learn about on radio or television broadcasts are listed below. A winter storm warning is issued in anticipation of a combination of heavy snow, freezing rain or sleet. This warning usually is issued six to 24 hours before the weather is expected to begin. A winter storm watch alerts you to the possibility of a blizzard, heavy snow, freezing rain or sleet. It usually is given 12 to 36 hours before the beginning of the storm. A winter storm outlook is issued prior to a winter storm watch, usually 48 to 60 hours in advance of a winter storm. The outlook is issued when forecasters believe winter weather conditions are possible. A blizzard warning is given for sustained or gusty winds of 35 miles per hour or more, and falling or blowing snow that limits visibility to one-fourth mile or less. These conditions should persist for at least three hours. The wind chill is based on the rate of heat loss from exposed skin caused by the combined effects of wind and cold. An advisory is issued when wind chill temperatures are expected to be between 20 degrees below 0 or colder. If temperatures are predicted to be 35 degrees below or colder, a wind chill warning is given. When accumulations of snow, freezing rain, freezing drizzle and sleet cause significant inconvenience and moderately dangerous conditions, a winter weather advisory is issued. Freezing rain falls on a surface with a temperature at or below freezing. Sleet is rain drops that freeze into ice pellets before reaching the ground. Both can cause damaging and dangerous ice accumulations. Visit the UK Agricultural Weather Center at http://wwwagwx.ca.uky.edu or contact the (County Name) Cooperative Extension Service to find out more about winter weather and preparation for severe conditions. Educational programs of the Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service serve all people regardless of race, color, age, sex, religion, disability or national origin. -30-

.Estate Planning Tips

Source: Sue Badenhop

The New Year is fast approaching. One early resolution you might want to make is to develop an estate plan, or update an existing one. Anyone over age 18 should have an estate plan. This is a complex issue because it involves people with different personalities and interests. Also, regulations governing estate plans routinely change. Thus, it’s a good idea to consult professionals to help you develop the initial arrangement or review one you already have. You should consult an attorney who specializes in estate planning and also may need to contact a certified public accountant and financial advisor. Some topics you might want to discuss include making a will, charitable contributions, how to transfer wealth to reduce estate taxes, establish a guardian for minor children, set up a trust to manage money for minor children, make a durable power of attorney and health-care directive should you become incapacitated, and settle an estate. You also might consider opening a joint checking account with one of your children or a trusted friend. One way to reduce the size of your taxable estate is to make gifts of money, land or other valuables. You can make a gift of $11,000 per year to anyone without tax consequences. For example, you and your spouse can give $11,000 to each child. If a child is married, the spouse also can receive $11,000 from each of you. Each grandchild also can receive $11,000 from each of you. In future years, the value of these gifts will increase based on the rise in the Consumer Price Index. Also, write down what you want to do with other valuable, sentimental items such as jewelry, furniture, photographs and the like. It’s important to discuss your estate plan with your spouse, children or parents. This avoids surprises when they are emotionally distraught over your death. It also helps them understand the reasons behind details in your will or trust document. Every adult, 18 years or older, should have a will, durable power of attorney and health-care directive. Death and disability are no respecters of age. For more information on estate planning or other family finance topics, contact the (County Name) Cooperative Extension Service. Educational programs of the Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service serve all people regardless of race, color, age, sex, religion, disability or national origin. -30-

4-H Afterschool Program Provides Safe, Enriching Environment

Source: Wendy Stivers

Kentucky’s 4-H Youth Development has provided after-school programs for nearly 100 years. These programs have included projects, clubs, camping and community service. We are expanding our after-school efforts by developing partnerships with other youth-service organizations including the 21st Century program sponsored by the Department of Education, local faith-based-sponsored programs and child-care programs. The purpose of these programs is to ensure that children and youth are in a safe, healthy and enriching environment when away from their families. The 4-H Afterschool program (www4hafterschol.org) is being used throughout the United States and its territories. Nationwide, more than 4.2 million students participate in 4-H Afterschool programs. In its broadest sense, the goals of 4-H Afterschool are to put into practice innovative, “learn-by-doing “ curricula, provide staff training and resource materials to other organizations doing after-school programming, establish 4-H clubs at after-school sites, and endorse the benefits of after-school programs. NOTE AGENTS: If you have an after-school programs in your county, briefly describe the activities and put how many total participants are involved. Youth in an after-school program benefit from our “learn-by-doing,” “hands-on” learning approach. 4-H Afterschool gives students opportunities to learn and grow through innovative, educational and fun activities covering a broad spectrum of topics. These include citizenship and civic education, communication and expressive arts, consumer and family sciences, environmental and earth sciences, healthy lifestyle education, personal development, leadership, plants and animals, and science and technology. Parents with children in after-school programs observed many benefits including increased interest in school, heightened learning skills and more positive behaviors, according to a 2002 Wallace-Reader’s Digest Funds study. Since 4-H is a part of the Cooperative Extension System, this dynamic program utilizes the knowledge and resources of land-grant universities About 40 CES 4-H agents recently attended a training session, enabling them to better carry out 4-H Afterschool programs and train others in youth-servicing organizations to use this program. Staff development and training are one of the CES strengths. 4-H professionals can offer assistance in a wide range of areas including youth development, life skills development, guidance, health, nutrition, “hands-on” learning techniques to use with youth, program management, and recruiting and training volunteers. By working with local 4-H professionals, after-school staff can develop high-quality programs geared to local needs and interests. To help spearhead this program nationwide, 4-H Afterschool has released a comprehensive toolkit, “4-H Afterschool in a Box,” containing instructional and promotional materials to help youth-servicing organizations improve existing programs or create new ones. The research-based curricula were developed using expertise from land-grant universities and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Cooperative Extension System. The JC Penney Afterschool Fund donated resources for this innovative program, including the “4-H Afterschool in a Box.” For more information on establishing or working with 4-H Afterschool, contact the (County Name) Cooperative Extension Service. Educational programs of the Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service serve all people regardless of race, color, age, sex, religion, disability or national origin. -30-