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Muskegon County Muskegon County Extension P: 231-724-6361 E-mail: [email protected] 97 E. Apple Avenue F: 231-724-4409 Web: msue.msu.edu/Muskegon Muskegon, MI 49442 Summer 2007 New and expectant moms learn to Urban planning student intern make baby slings working to improve McLaughlin neighborhood for today and New moms are highly encouraged to breastfeed as tomorrow research continues to indicate this practice contributes to better health from infancy throughout life. The McLaughlin Neighborhood will benefit from MSU Extension breastfeeding peer counselor Sarah the efforts of one MSU student this summer, thanks Lutkenhoff and family and consumer sciences educator to the university’s Urban Collaborators program, an Margaret Hauxwell organized an evening to give WIC- initiative that brings students, researchers and eligible moms the chance to come together to learn and Extension educators together to support Michigan’s create their own baby slings, which are designed to make key urban centers. breastfeeding easier and more comfortable. Jake Pettengill, an urban planning senior, will Seventeen young women participated in this event and spend his summer working on a survey of left with a newly completed baby sling. Some of the McLaughlin businesses, researching strategies that expectant mothers who had toddlers began using them can contribute to the neighborhood’s long-terms immediately. success and truly getting his hands dirty by Feedback on the event was positive and included volunteering in a community garden. comments about how nice it was to mingle with other He is living and working in the neighborhood young moms. Many requested information about thanks to the efforts of the Muskegon County MSU upcoming events for new mothers. Extension office and Sacred Suds, a faith-based Funding for this activity was provided from a WIC nonprofit organization. grant through the Muskegon County Health Department. Pettengill began his internship in May and will Volunteers for the event included MSU Extension staff present the results of his work to the Sacred Suds members, a volunteer from Hackley Community Care board before he returns to the East Lansing campus and a former intern of the MSU Extension Nutrition to continue his studies in August. Program. He plans to have the business survey completed and facilitate at least one business association meeting in the neighborhood by August. Peer Counselor, Pettengill is working under the supervision of Sarah Lutkenhoff Sarah Rinsema-Sybenga of Sacred Suds and Mary assists a young mom Robb, Muskegon County MSU Extension Director. at the sewing machine.

Michigan State University Extension helps people improve their lives through an educational process that applies knowledge to critical issues, needs and opportunities. Offices in counties across the state link the research of the land-grant university, MSU, to challenges facing communities. Citizens serving on county Extension councils regularly help select focus areas for programming. MSU Extension is funded jointly by county boards of commissioners, the state through MichiganBuilding State strong University communities and federally through the US Department of Agriculture. Strengthening agricultural profitability Encouraging responsible land and natural resource use Building healthy families Helping youth succeed Students learn science, nutrition and Plant sale is a success food safety at fish preparation program The Muskegon County MSU Extension Master Gardeners completed a successful plant sale in May in collaboration with the Muskegon Technical Academy Students participating in the Orchard View Community Education Parks and Recreation program (MTA). had an opportunity to learn about the importance of For three days, shoppers received expert advice including locally caught fish in a healthy diet. from the Master Gardeners and MSU Extension Because many of our lakes and streams contain educator Coleen Boyer on planting and maintaining chemicals that can cause contamination in fish, Coleen the various trees, shrubs and flowers offered for sale. Boyer, MSU Extension agriculture and natural This was the third year that the two organizations resources/horticulture educator, showed the students have worked together to provide this service to the how to clean the fish to eliminate as many of these community, but the first year that the Master contaminants as possible before eating. Gardeners have been responsible for coordinating the With specially prepared lake perch, students donned sale and ordering all the plants. their plastic aprons and gloves and along with adult Students from MTA helped customers carry and volunteers, cut open the fish and removed the parts load their purchases and provided security during non- most likely to carry the highest levels of contamination. business hours. Shoppers expressed their appreciation Selectively removing these parts increases the health for both the educational expertise shared and the help benefits of eating locally caught fish. The 13 students and support of the students. enjoyed the activity and the bonus science lesson, and More than 60 Master Gardeners and 35 MTA ended up dissecting and examining more than 30 fish. students volunteered their services over the four-day In addition, the students were given written sale and several committees and individuals worked instructions illustrating what they had learned so that for several months before hand putting everything in they could share it with their parents. place. Volunteer hours for this event totaled more than This project was funded through the Muskegon 800. At the rate of $18.77/hour provided by Public County Environmental Coordinating Council Sector, this amounted to a value of over $15,000 in EPA/CARE grant that Boyer coordinates as part of her volunteer time. This was Debi Jensen’s last Extension MSU Extension position. A second session in June activity before she left her post as Master Gardener included 30 additional students participating in this coordinator. Her extensive work during her two-year learning activity. The community education program is tenure has been appreciated. operated in cooperation with Muskegon Township. The money raised from the plant sale will be used for the hiring and support of a Master Gardener coordinator who will continue with this vital role at MSU Extension under Boyer’s direction.

2007 plat books coming soon The new Muskegon County Plat Books are in production and should be available for purchase at the MSU Extension office by mid July. Final changes will be made before printing begins in a few weeks. The cost for the new books will be $25, the same as they have been in the past.

Youngsters eagerly dissect, debone and scale fish as part of the Orchard View recreation program.

MSU is an affirmative-action, equal opportunity employer, Michigan State University Extension programs and materials are open to all without regard to race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, marital status, or family status. Issued in furtherance of MSU Extension work, acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Thomas G. Coon, Extension Director, Michigan State University, E. Lansing, MI 48824