Oakland Garden Club Meeting News

November 13, 2015 Leave a comment


Fifteen members of the Oakland Garden Club met in the Rosen room at the Oakland auditorium at 11:30 a.m., on Thursday November 12, 2015 for their annual pot luck lunch. Three guests attending were Vince Lindstrom, Harley Nelson, and Darrell Schneekloth.

 

Hostesses Sandra Anderson and JoAnn Peterson decorated the tables with a cornucopia with a mix of artificial mini pumpkins, bittersweet, sunflower, berries and colored leaves. Other decorations were baskets and a stream of leaves, peppers, pinecones, and multicolored pumpkins. All decorations sat on orange open raffia mats.

 

After lunch, each member answered roll call by telling what dish or dishes she or he had brought.

 

Upon deciding to enter a Garden Club exhibit in the Lyons Library Festival of Trees, Sandra Anderson said, using the same tree she had provided last year, she would make the decorations for it using pictures of flowers.

 

Julie Easton, President, suggested that since we did not send a rose bud to a Memorial Service for former member Bernie Weber, we donate money to the Golden Oaks memorial fund for her. Sandra Anderson moved and Geraldine Peterson seconded that we send $10.00 to Golden Oaks. The motion passed.

 

Rosa Schmidt reported that Emory Wickstrom’s family wants a flower or plant in the park in memory and provided a check of memorial money. Rosa gave the money provided to Treasurer, Audrey Unwin. Members discussed possible suggestions, perhaps even replacing an existing unsightly bush with a new and more attractive one. They will discuss it and make a final decision in the spring. Geraldine Peterson said she would write a thank you to the family.

 

The meeting was adjourned. The next meeting is the planning meeting on February 11, 2016. Bring snacks.

 

Cathi McMurtry, Secretary

 

 

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Keeping the Weight off During the Holidays

November 13, 2015 Leave a comment


Keeping the weight off during the holidays

Losing weight or maintaining weight loss during the holidays is often difficult. Especially during the holidays, all-too-common phrases such as “I’m too busy” or “It’s too hard to maintain a routine this time of year” make it easy to avoid exercise, choose unhealthy foods and pack on the pounds. To avoid unwanted weight gain, consider the following strategies as the holidays near:

  • Keep a food diary to keep yourself on track
  • Plan meals ahead of time so you aren’t eating on the go
  • Weigh yourself weekly and keep a written weight diary
  • Plan your breakfast before you go to bed and set out the items you can so they are ready
  • Set aside the ½ hour after dinner for family walks or activities with kids or pets
  • Set aside a few minutes during work breaks to walk with co-workers
  • Park a little farther away to increase steps

According to the American Heart Association, people who are successful with weight loss and maintaining weight loss have several common habits:

98% have modified their eating habits

94% increased their level of physical activity

78% eat a healthy breakfast every day

75% weigh themselves weekly

62% watch 1.5 hours or less of TV daily

 

For more information about making healthy choices for a healthier heart, visit Elkhorn Logan Valley Public Health Department’s (ELVPHD) website at www.elvphd.org. ELVPHD’s Operation Heart to Heart program provides health coaching and education for individuals and businesses. The program focuses on adopting a healthier lifestyle and includes heart health screening, education and coaching. To learn more please call 402-529-2233. Funding for this project provided by AstraZeneca HealthCare Foundation’s Connections for Cardiovascular HealthSM program.

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Keep Looking Up!

November 12, 2015 Leave a comment


Glorious Total Solar Eclipse Tales by Gary Fugman
Our Sun, the nearest star, is basically a featureless disk with a gaseous surface.  But seen under special circumstances, the star that keeps us all alive, comes to life itself with sunspots, a chromosphere and prominenses.  These features are waiting to be observed at the August 21, 2017 total solar eclipse across central Nebraska.  This weekend you can start to make your plans to observe the 2017 solar eclipse!
You are invited to Northeast Nebraska Astronomy Club (NENAC) Friday, November 13 at 7pm at the Lyons Library and Saturday, November 14 at 7pm at the Decatur Sears Center.  There Pastor Gary Fugman will lead you on a fascinating journey of discovery in the realm of eclipses and solar eclipses in particular.  You will learn about Baily’s Beads and pinhole camera associated with solar eclipses.You will learn about how a total solar eclipse was used to confirm Albert Einstein’s general theory of relativity.  Even more exciting, learn about details of the coming 2017 total solar eclipse!
Then, weather permitting, using free star charts, we will on Friday observe the November deep sky objects from Bill Hedges’ “Lost in Space” Observatory in Lyons.  On Saturday we observe from Fugman Observatory on the south side of Decatur.  Please dress warmly as temperatures fall quickly after sunset.
For more information on this and future NENAC events, google “nenacstars” or call Pastor Gary Fugman at 349-1953, and Keep Looking Up!
Questions to Consider:
1) During a total lunar eclipse, what would someone on the Moon see when looking toward the Sun?
2) Why is important that you be in a particular place on Earth to see a total solar eclipse?

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Dates to Remember

November 12, 2015 Leave a comment


By Mary Loftis, Extension Assistant

It’s time to make sure you put some important dates on your calendar.

Monday, November 30 will be the Annual 4-H Planning Meeting which will be held at the First National Bank NE in Tekamah at 7:00 p.m. Everyone is welcome to take part in this meeting to make our Burt County 4-H program even better in 2016. The total group will meet first to discuss any general topics and then will split into the livestock group and the general 4-H project area group. We will be setting dates, possible locations and brainstorming workshops, activities and creative ideas for the    4-H year.

 

December 1 is the deadline to return applications for the Martha & Don Romeo Scholarship. The Nebraska Association of Fair Managers will award a $500 scholarship to one qualifying 4-H male and 4-H female who are graduating seniors in the State of Nebraska who plan to continue with post high school education. The scholarship will be awarded at the annual NAFM convention in January. For the application, please call the UNL Extension Office in Burt County at 402-374-2929. Applications are due in the Extension Office December 1, 2015.

 

4-H Career Portfolios are due in the Extension Office on Thursday, December 10. This is a great opportunity to compile all your activities and projects into one important document and win awards as well. The on-line format makes it easy to add new activities this year to your previous year’s information. You will find the 4-H Career Portfolio on-line at: http://4h.unl.edu/careerportfolio. Scroll down the page to find the form you can fill in and you’re off and running! If you need any help getting started, or wrapping up this annual project please call the Nebraska Extension Office in Burt County at 402-374-2929.

 

Youth for 4-H Council

Are you 14 years of age or older (as of this coming January 1st)? Have you been a Burt County 4-H member for 3 years or more? Would you like to be part of the decision making process in the Burt County 4-H Program? We are looking for youth to become involved with the 4-H Council. You will have all the voting privileges of the adult 4-H Council Members and it is a two year term. If you are interested or know someone who would be a good candidate please call the Extension Office at 402-374-2929 by December 10.

 

More Medicare Comparison Sessions Planned

December 7th is the last day of the Medicare Open Enrollment period, but don’t wait any longer. You should compare your plans each year to make sure you get the best for the least. Due to popular demand, more Medicare Open Enrollment comparison sessions have been planned in Burt County to help make sure Medicare recipients get the coverage they need for the least cost. Upcoming Medicare sessions will be:

Tuesday, November 24 – Oakland Public Library, Oakland

Monday, November 30 – Lyons Public Library, Lyons

Call Nebraska Extension in Burt County at 402-374-2929 for an appointment or for a step-by-step instruction sheet on how to compare your plans on the www.medicare.gov website.

 

 

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Fungus That Causes Bat Disease Detected in Nebraska

November 12, 2015 Leave a comment


The fungus known to cause white-nose syndrome (WNS) in hibernating bats, a disease that has decimated bat populations in the United States and Canada, was recently discovered for the first time in Nebraska.

The fungus Pseudogymnoascus destructans – or P. destructans – was detected in samples sent to researchers at the University of California, Santa Cruz for testing. The samples were collected in 2015 from bats hibernating in a mine in Cass County in eastern Nebraska. Northern long-eared bats, tri-colored bats and big brown bats tested positive for the fungus.

WNS has killed more than six million bats in North America since it was first discovered in New York in 2007. In some states, winter bat numbers have declined by more than 90 percent. Since it was first detected, WNS has been confirmed in 26 states and five Canadian provinces. The fungus has been detected in four additional states, including Nebraska.

“While the presence of the fungus is disappointing, it is not surprising,” said Mike Fritz, Natural Heritage zoologist with the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission. “With the fungus being present in states around us and the migratory nature of bats, it was probably only a matter of time before it was documented in Nebraska.

“Although the fungus has been found in Nebraska, the signs of WNS – white fungal growth on the nose and lesions on the wings – have not yet been observed on any bats in the state,” he said.

Recent studies have shown that the value of insect control by bats to agriculture is worth several billion dollars annually. This value includes reduced crop loss to insect pests, reduced spread of crop diseases and reduced need for pesticide application.

WNS does not infect humans and is only known to affect cave-hibernating bats. The fungus thrives in cold, humid environments and invades the skin of bats, disrupting their hibernating behavior and depleting their fat stores.

“There is no cure for white-nose syndrome, “said Jeremy Coleman, National White-nose Syndrome Coordinator for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. “But researchers are studying several potential treatments that show promise for controlling the fungus and reducing impacts of the disease on bats.” These include bacteria and fungi that inhibit the growth of P. destructans, environmental manipulations, genetic modifications to reduce the virulence of the fungus, vaccines and other biologically-based anti-fungal compounds.

Researchers from the Commission, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, University of Nebraska-Omaha and University of Nebraska-Kearney began monitoring mines for the fungus in 2014. Researchers are asking for landowners’ help in locating and accessing mines for tracking the spread of the fungus. Those with knowledge of such sites are asked to contact Fritz at 402-471-5419.

For more information about WNS, visit: whitenosesyndrome.org/, or contact Fritz at the Commission or Bob Harms of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service at 308-382-6468, extension 208.

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Caregiver Support Group to Meet

November 10, 2015 Leave a comment


The monthly Caregiver Support Group will meet at the Bancroft Senior Center, this coming Monday, Nov. 16, 2015 at 2:00 p.m. Our guest speaker will be Barb Fancher, nutrition and service coordinator for the area agency on aging out of Norfolk.

The information that is shared by the caregivers, at the meetings, is kept confidential. If you are a caregiver; you are invited to attend these meetings.

 

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News From Bancroft Senior Center

November 10, 2015 Leave a comment


The senior center provides Information and Assistance to any individual who is looking for services for themselves or another person 60 years and older, the center manager and/or center participant can provide information to individuals on services available within the community. We link individuals to the services and opportunities that are available within or beyond the community itself. We will then establish adequate follow-up procedures to see that their needs were met. For more information call 402-648-3387.

*If you are 60 years and older and need information on programs designed to help keep you in your home longer or if you need legal help, contact Connie at 402-648-3387 or in the evening at 402-648-7648.

* We have the following medical equipment to loan out on an as need basis, wheel chair, bath seats, toilet seat riser and portable toilet chair, crutches or walkers. Call 402-648-3387 during office hours.

Meals on Wheels

*Would you like to get Meals on Wheels? Anyone over the age of 60 years and lives within the city limits are eligible for these meals. You may sign up anytime for the Meals on Wheels program; you can get the meals delivered however many times you want them each week. You must call 402-687-2332 before 8:30 a.m. if you want a meal that day. The suggested donation for the meals is $4.00.

Weekly Activities:

Wed. Nov.11: The melody chime group will practice at 9:00 am. Come for coffee at 10:00 am. Dominoes will be played at 1:30 pm.

Thurs. Nov.12: Rolls and coffee served from 9:00 am. until noon. Tai Chi class at 9:30 a.m. and the walking ex class at 10:45 a.m. Sign up to play in the pitch tournament at 1:30 p.m.

Fri. Nov.13: Rita Brehmer, a SHIIP volunteer, will be at the center from 1 – 4:30 p.m. to help you compare your plan to other plans that maybe more economical. She can also enroll new people into a drug plan. There is no charge for this service. Please sign up if you want to play in the pinochle tournament at 1:30 p.m.

Mon Nov. 16: The caregiver support group will meet from 2:00 – 3:30 p.n. Barb Fancher will be the guest speaker that day.

Tues. Nov. 17: Tai Chi class is at 9:30 am. and walking ex. class at 10:45 am. Stop in for coffee at 10:00 am. Sign up to play 5-handed pinochle at 1:30 p.m. The evening meal will be biscuits and gravy, serving from 5:30 – 7:00 p.m.

Wed. Nov. 18: The melody chime group will practice at 9:00 am. Join us for coffee at 10:00 am. The golf card game will be played at 1:30.

 

 

 

 

 

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Deer Hunting Prospects Looking Great

November 7, 2015 Leave a comment


Excitement is building as the Nov. 14 opener of Nebraska’s firearm deer season approaches.

Hunting prospects look good as restrictions on antlerless deer permits in recent years have resulted in deer population increases in most areas of the state.

Plenty of permits are still available. Permits and stamps may be purchased online or at any Game and Parks permitting office.

Find more resources and information on the news release.

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The Beauty of Fall

November 6, 2015 Leave a comment


The weather in November has been unseasonably warm so people can be outside soaking up the sun and enjoying the beautiful colors of fall. Both photos credit of Denise Gilliland, Editor and Chief, Kat Country Hub.

The weather in November has been unseasonably warm so people can be outside soaking up the sun and enjoying the beautiful colors of fall. Both photos credit of Denise Gilliland, Editor and Chief, Kat Country Hub.

IMG_1298

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Hunters Urged to Use Caution During Big Game Seasons

November 6, 2015 Leave a comment


With moose being reported in the Panhandle this year and a confirmed sighting of a young bull in Lincoln County this week the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission is urging hunters to be certain of their target before taking a shot.

Moose can be similar in appearance to other big game animals. Moose are large animals with a “bell” or large piece of skin under their necks; they have a pronounced shoulder hump and bulls (males) will have palmated antlers. Moose also have long, whitish colored legs and are dark brown in color.

Hunters will want to study game closely before firing a shot or releasing an arrow.

Game and Parks officials also remind people to keep their distance from any moose they may encounter as some have been known to become aggressive.

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