Parks Statewide Offering Family Halloween Events

October 19, 2015 Leave a comment


The air is crisp, the leaves are changing and Halloween is just around the corner – celebrate the season with one of many seasonal events happening at Nebraska’s state parks and recreation areas.

Ponca State Park, Indian Cave State Park and Ash Hollow State Historical Park will offer haunted hayrack rides and many other family activities, and the haunted barn at Buffalo Bill State Historical Park is back by popular demand in 2015. Visit our website to find spooky activities near you.

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Pistol League Offered at Nebraska Game and Parks

October 19, 2015 Leave a comment


The Nebraska Game and Parks Outdoor Education Center will host a .22-pistol league for shooters of all abilities ages 12 and up on Thursday nights beginning Oct. 22. Additionally, the center will offer two youth shooting programs — Intro to Gun Safety and Technique for Young Shooters, and Best Shots Youth Rifle Marksmanship.

All programs will meet weekly, and will focus on range safety, skill development and proper technique. More information on these and other events is available online.

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Medicare Mania Begins

October 16, 2015 Leave a comment


By Mary Loftis, Extension Assistant

As we head into October this week, Medicare Mania is just beginning. Although if you are a Medicare recipient you may have already received “Medicare mail” in your mailbox.

Medicare Open Enrollment begins October 15 and runs through December 7. This is your opportunity to see if another Medicare health or drug plan will fit your needs and your billfold for the next year.

There are always changes in the plans. In 2016 five prescription drug plans are being deleted. We don’t know yet if they will be automatically changed to another plan or what yet. In addition, one Low Income Subsidy Plan with a $0 premium is going away, while a new one is coming in.

Other changes can include the drugs the plans cover, the cost of the plan premiums and the cost of the drugs and co-pays as well as the deductible. This is why you NEED to compare your prescription drug plans each year.

If you use a Medicare Advantage (MA) Plan for your health care, there are also changes there. In Burt County the only two plans available are both Coventry plans. In Dodge County there are six Medicare Advantage Plans available and in Washington County there are seven MA plans for 2016.

If you receive information from your current Medicare Prescription Drug Plan and you are happy with the plan and your prescriptions continue to be covered you don’t have to do anything. The plan will continue on for next year…however, if you don’t compare your plan with the other prescription drug plans you may not know you could save significant money next year by changing prescription drug plans, pharmacies, or by using mail order to get your prescriptions. But it is always YOUR decision.

Opportunities to compare your prescriptions to the 2016 Medicare Health and Drug plans are available through several avenues including comparing on-line yourself by going to www.medicare.gov. You may also call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) to compare plans.

If you’d prefer a face-to-face opportunity to discuss your prescriptions and the plans available, you are welcome to make an appointment at any of the Senior Health Insurance Information Program (SHIIP) Medicare Open Enrollment comparison events. All SHIIP presentations and counseling sessions are free and unbiased. In addition, all counseling sessions are completely confidential.

As a SHIIP Counselor myself, I have planned 18 Open Enrollment Events throughout Burt, Dodge and Washington Counties from October 15-December 7. You are encouraged to call your local Nebraska Extension office to make an appointment for one of these sessions. You are welcome to attend any event in any county regardless of where you live, but please call the Extension office where the event is being held to make an appointment.

Here is a quick list of 2016 Medicare Open Enrollment Events:

In Burt County call 402-374-2929 for an appointment:

October 19 – Monday –9:00 a.m.-7:00 p.m. Chatt Senior Center, 1124 S. 13th Street, Tekamah, NE

 

October 28 – Wednesday – 9:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. Sears Senior Center, 8th & Broadway, Decatur, NE;

 

October 28 – Wednesday – 3:30-5:30 p.m. Tekamah-Herman High School, Room 107, Tekamah, NE

 

October 29 – Thursday – 9:00 a.m.-7:00 p.m. Chatt Senior Center, 1124 S. 13th Street, Tekamah, NE

 

November 2 – Monday – 9:00 a.m.-noon. Lyons Public Library, 305 Main, Lyons, NE;

 

November 3 – Tuesday – 8:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Oakland Public Library, 110 East 3rd, Oakland, NE

 

November 4 – Wednesday – 9:00 a.m.-noon. Lyons Public Library, 305 Main, Lyons, NE;

 

November 4 – Wednesday – 1:00 – 5:00 p.m. Sears Senior Center, 8th & Broadway, Decatur, NE;

 

November 5 – Thursday, 9:00 a.m.-7:00 p.m. Chatt Senior Center, 1124 S. 13th Street, Tekamah, NE

 

November 6 – Friday – 9:00 a.m.-noon. Lyons Public Library, 305 Main, Lyons, NE;

 

November 9 – Monday – 1:30 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. Oakland Public Library, 110 East 3rd, Oakland, NE

November 17 – Tuesday – 9:00-3:00 p.m. Craig Fire Hall, 333 south Main, Craig, NE;

 

In Dodge County call 402-727-2775 for an appointment:

October 15 – Thursday – 9:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. Hooper Senior Center, 208 North Main St., Hooper

 

October 22 – Thursday – 9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.  Nebraska Extension in Dodge County, 1206 W. 23rd Street, Fremont, NE

 

October 23 – Friday –9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.  Nebraska Extension in Dodge County, 1206 W. 23rd Street, Fremont, NE

 

October 30 – Friday –10:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. North Bend Public Library, 110 E. 13th Street, North Bend; NE

 

In Washington County call 402-426-9455:

November 18 – Wednesday –9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. Nebraska Extension in Washington County, 597 Grant Street, Suite #200, Blair, NE

 

November 19 – Thursday – 9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. Nebraska Extension in Washington County, 597 Grant Street, Suite #200, Blair, NE

 

 

 

 

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October is Farm to School Month in Nebraska

October 16, 2015 Leave a comment


The Center for Rural Affairs is celebrating Farm to School Month by hosting three webinars filled with useful information for school staff and farmers and ranchers interested in starting or expanding Farm to School programs in their communities.

 

The hour long webinars taking place during October and November will cover a wide range of topics such as how food service staff have participated in local food procurement, key points farmers and ranchers should consider when working with schools as a market opportunity, and how Nebraska farmers, ranchers and food producers have made the school connection.

 

“These webinars are a free resource we are facilitating to bring together educators, food service directors, farmers, ranchers, parents, students, and others interested in Farm to School programs across Nebraska,” said Sarah Smith with the Center for Rural Affairs. “They will allow Nebraskans from across the Farm to School table to hear success stories, learn best practices, and most importantly connect with each other. This effort will grow market opportunities for Nebraska food producers, and healthy, delicious food options for our Nebraska students. Bringing the farm to school is a win-win for all of us.”

 

The first webinar, “Farm to School Case Studies for Nebraska Food Service Staff” will take place Thursday, October 22, 2015 from 2-3pm and targets Nebraska Food Service Staff.  Rural food service directors will share how and why they have participated in local procurement and farm to school activities. Their stories will address a range of topics like scratch cooking techniques, working with local farmers and ranchers, using produce from a school greenhouse (and planning for it),  incorporating local foods into salad bars; and bringing local beef onto the school lunch tray.

 

The second webinar, “Farmers and Ranchers: Reach a New Market with Sales to Schools” will be held on Tuesday, October 27, 2015 from 2-3pm. This webinar, designed for Nebraska farmers, ranchers and food producers, will discuss key points for farmers and ranchers to consider when working with schools as a market opportunity. Participants will walk in a food service director’s shoes with Donna Handley, School Lunch Program Specialist with the Nebraska Department of Ed. She will answer what requirements and needs school food service staff face when serving school meals. Sarah Browning of University of Nebraska Extension will discuss the farm food safety procedures farmers and ranchers should consider, as well as helpful training resources that are available to address farm food safety topics. Finally, experienced farmer Ryan Pekarek, will discuss how and when to approach schools, and how to go about planning the growing season. This webinar will introduce food producers to the opportunities available when selling to schools, as well as considerations to take when planning for success.

 

The third and final webinar, “Farm to School: Farmers, Learn an Easier Way to Make the School Connection” takes place Wednesday, November 11, 2015, 2-3 pm. Participants will hear three unique stories on farm to school and how Nebraska farmers have made the school connection. Justin Jones, President of Lone Tree Foods, will share how Lone Tree connects food producers to eastern Nebraska and Western Iowa schools. Food Service Director Tini Van-Oehlertz of Pius X schools in Lincoln will explain her experiences purchasing local foods through the Nebraska Food Cooperative. And Dawne Price of Price Farms will describe how and why she directly connected with Lyons-Decatur Schools and the on-farm activities she organized for Lyons-Decatur elementary students. There are multiple ways to connect with schools, and this webinar will provide insight on Nebraska farm to school opportunities for the food producer.

 

For detailed registration details, interested participants should visit: http://www.cfra.org/farm-school-your-fingertips-join-our-fall-webinars.

 

The Center for Rural Affairs has many resources for helping bring the farm to the school. One such tool is the Farm to School Producers Map (found here: http://www.cfra.org/findfarmer), inspired by our online Nebraska Find-A-Farmer Tool designed to link a school or program with a farmer to work with directly.
Other Farm to School resources can be found at the main Farm to School page here: http://www.cfra.org/f2s

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Asian Ladybird Beetles are Invading Homes

October 16, 2015 Leave a comment


By John Wilson, Extension Educator

If you aren’t already, you should be on high alert. I’ve received numerous calls about home invasions around the county, many in broad daylight while the residents were in their homes. I have to confess that we didn’t take all the necessary precautions and our home also fell victim to these invaders.

So who is responsible? The perpetrators are Multicolored Asian Ladybird Beetles (MALBs), a common species of ladybug that congregates on the south and west sides of homes as temperatures drop and harvest forces them from their summer home in fields.

This odd trait goes back to Asia, the original home for this species of ladybug. They would migrate to overwinter in the cracks and crevices of cliffs in their native habitat. Since cliffs are few and far between in eastern Nebraska, the next best thing they can find are the vertical walls of buildings, your home and mine!

Outside, this ladybug doesn’t really cause problems other than large masses of the beetles will emit an odor. However, when these home invaders look for sheltered places to overwinter and find their way inside your home, it may be difficult to remember they are a beneficial insect that voraciously feeds on aphids. Once inside, they present several problems for homeowners:

  • They secrete a foul-tasting chemical, which makes them unpalatable to their enemies. This secretion can stain fabric and wallpaper.
  • Large infestations have a distinct unpleasant odor.
  • They have been reported to be an asthma trigger in sensitive individuals.
  • They will bite. It isn’t particularly painful, but it is annoying.

My wife identified two other problems with the MALBs I hadn’t considered:

  • MALBs are annoying as they walk across the television screen in the evening when other lights are off and they are drawn to the light of the TV.
  • One MALB proved to be particularly annoying when it landed in her cup of coffee when she wasn’t looking. There is no way to describe what happened next other than, “That wasn’t pretty!” The biggest challenge has been getting the coffee stains out of our carpet!

The best method to control MALBs inside your home is to keep them outside your home! Locate entry points and use caulking to seal cracks and crevices. Use weather stripping to insure a tight seal around your doors and windows, and make sure your screens are in good repair. Spraying MALBs with an insecticide where they congregate on the south and west sides of your home will have limited effect because others will migrate in, replacing the ones you might have killed.

Here are my suggestions to callers once these beetles have found their way inside:

  • Do not swat or smash these ladybugs. Their body fluids will stain your draperies and wall coverings.
  • Do not use insecticides to kill them inside your home. Insecticides will not prevent other beetles from coming inside and will have limited effectiveness unless sprayed directly on the MALBs.
  • Do vacuum up MALBs. This is the recommended strategy because it is safer and more effective than an insecticide application in your home.

If large numbers of ladybugs are sucked into the canister of the vacuum cleaner, their secretions will cause the vacuum cleaner to smell like ladybugs every time it is used. To prevent this, insert a knee-high nylon stocking into the hose wand to capture the beetles before they are sucked into the vacuum cleaner body.

Insert the knee-high stocking into a connection joint in the wand so it forms a bag inside the hose. A portion of the stocking is folded over the outside of the wand to secure it in place when the wand is put back together. After sucking up the beetles, remove the stocking and dispose of the beetles.

For more information on controlling ladybugs, contact your local Nebraska Extension office.

John Wilson

John Wilson

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A Week in the Armed Services Committee

October 16, 2015 Leave a comment


Welcoming Nebraskans to the U.S. Senate is one of the most rewarding parts of my job. Whether it’s a family in town to see the historic sites of our nation’s capital, business representatives from our state, or members of Nebraska coalitions and organizations, visiting with you and listening to your concerns is an important part of my job.

 

But my work in Washington encompasses more. I serve as a member of four committees, including the Armed Services Committee, the Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, the Environment and Public Works Committee, and the Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee. These committee assignments help me advance Nebraska’s priorities through hearings, investigations, legislation I introduce, markups, and more.

 

In this week’s column, I would like to highlight the past week of activities in the Armed Services Committee. Through my role on this committee, I have been honored to work with the men and women of our military to ensure they have the tools and resources they need to successfully protect our nation, complete their missions, and safely return home.

 

The full Armed Services Committee is known for its rigorous hearing schedule. Last week alone, the committee held three hearings and a closed briefing. On Tuesday, we investigated the situation in Afghanistan and heard testimony from General John Campbell, the commander of U.S. forces in Afghanistan. In his prepared remarks, General Campbell stressed the importance of our mission in Afghanistan, warning failure will result in a new sanctuary for terrorists and a launch pad for attacks on our citizens here at home and abroad.

 

The day before the hearing, I had the privilege of meeting privately with General Campbell in my office. During our meeting, he provided me with an update on our mission in Afghanistan. His comments projected a sobering reality that will guide our priorities in the years to come.

 

On Wednesday, the committee held a hearing regarding the effect that Iranian influence is having on Middle East stability. The hearing further underscored the dangers of the Iranian regime’s threats to global stability.

 

These hearings come in the wake of alarming developments in the Middle East, where Russia began attacks on CIA-trained rebels in Syria. These reports are deeply disturbing, and they reveal the damage caused by our absence and lack of a strategy in the region. For that reason, our third hearing of the week examined Russian strategy and military operations.

 

Each week, our work in the Armed Services Committee reveals more clearly that we live in a dangerous world. In that vein, every year, the committee authorizes appropriations for our national defense and sets policy priorities for the U.S. military in an annual bill, known as the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). This bill has passed Congress for 54 consecutive years and is truly a bipartisan effort.

 

This year, I was pleased to see our committee once again produce a bipartisan bill to ensure our military is prepared for the threats facing our nation. I was proud to serve on the NDAA conference committee, which reconciled the House and Senate versions of the bill. The final version passed the Senate this week and now heads to the president’s desk.

 

Our most important duty in Congress is to provide for the defense of our nation. As Nebraska’s voice on the Armed Services Committee making the decisions that provide for our country’s security, I take my role seriously. We live in a world that demands American strength.

 

Thank you for participating in the democratic process. I look forward to visiting with you again next week.

U.S. Senator Deb Fischer

U.S. Senator Deb Fischer

 

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Pheasant Season is Just Around the Corner

October 16, 2015 Leave a comment


Pheasant season opens on Oct. 31 and Game and Parks biologists anticipate 2015 will be a great year for hunting. Mild winter condition and timely spring rainfall have resulted in increases in pheasant abundance statewide. Spring rainfall also resulted in abundant cover, with staff reporting excellent habitat conditions across the state. Rural mail carrier survey results indicated that pheasant abundance was higher in all regions compared to 2014.

Visit our website for information more information on the pheasant forecast, as well as for information on where to hunt.

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Defending Unborn Children

October 16, 2015 Leave a comment


By Governor Pete Ricketts

Every year, Nebraskans gather in over 50 communities to participate in the ‪Life Chain, an event that celebrates the sanctity of life and shows support for unborn children.  Recently during this event, I had the opportunity to thank some of the many dedicated ‪‎pro-life Nebraskans who have faithfully given countless hours towards advancing pro-life principles through the years.  It was a great reminder that we can continue to protect unborn children here in our state by working together.

 

Protecting Nebraska’s truly vulnerable and guarding the sanctity of life are core duties of government and each one of us.  Because of the countless Nebraskans who recognize this, our state has built a national reputation as a pro-life state, and over the years we have passed many laws protecting the unborn.  The hard work of pro-life legislators, including the work of our Lt. Governor Mike Foley when he served in the Unicameral, has received high marks from national pro-life organizations.  For Nebraskans, being pro-life is not a partisan issue because treating all Nebraskans with dignity and respect, is a way of life in our state.

 

A recent video investigation of the largest national abortion provider, Planned Parenthood, has served as a solemn reminder that abortion kills thousands of unborn babies in our state and across our nation every year.  Videos from this investigation revealed top Planned Parenthood doctors negotiating prices for the body parts of aborted babies.  This callous disregard for human life has intensified with each successive video revealing new horrifying detail about the abortion industry’s attempts to profit from the destruction of human life.

 

As videos have continued to surface from the investigation, many Nebraskans have expressed to me how appalled they are by the abortion industry’s attitude toward the unborn.  Unfortunately, abortion providers are trying to put their spin on the facts, claiming that defunding them would increase the number of abortions in the United States because it would negatively impact other services provided at their clinics.  The abortion industry often claims that they provide irreplaceable medical services.  The evidence is inconsistent with this claim.  For example, according to the Chiaroscuro Foundation, Planned Parenthood is the primary care provider for only 19,700 of its 3 million clients.

 

Here in Nebraska, the numbers speak for themselves.  There are only two abortion providers with a total of three clinics in our state that provide limited services.  Across America, there are over 1,200 federally qualified healthcare centers, including six in Nebraska.  Additionally, my budget recommendation this year, which was approved by the Legislature, contained funding for a seventh Nebraska clinic.  These healthcare clinics provide basic healthcare services to both men and women, and have a broader network and reach across the United States.

 

Today, Planned Parenthood receives over $500 million of your taxpayer dollars annually.  In Washington, D.C., Nebraska Senators Deb Fischer and Ben Sasse are working tirelessly with a bipartisan group of senators to defund Planned Parenthood.  As Congress considers their priorities, it is important that they continue to seek new ways to protect the unborn.

 

My administration will always serve as an advocate for the unborn, and we are continuously looking for new ways to protect our unborn children and their mothers.  As you think about how we can work together to continue to build a culture that values life and grows Nebraska, I encourage you to share your thoughts with my office by calling at 402-471-2244 or emailing pete.ricketts@nebraska.gov.

Governor Pete Ricketts

Governor Pete Ricketts

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Oakland Garden Club News

October 15, 2015 Leave a comment


News Story for THURSDAY, OCTOBER 8, 2014 OAKLAND GARDEN CLUB

 

Fourteen members of the Oakland Garden Club met in the Oakland Library at 2:00 p.m., on Thursday October 8, 2015. Their guest was Librarian, Rosa Schmidt.

 

Hostess Geraldine Peterson decorated with a vase of artificial sunflowers and statice.

 

Members gave pledge to the American flag and read the Garden Club Creed from their handbooks. Each member answered roll call telling what root crops they stored and how. Few stored food crops any more, but several stored flower bulbs or tubers in sheds or garages or basements. The order of the meeting was changed to make sure that the Garden Club would be finished and out of the way when children arrived after school.

 

Geraldine Peterson gave the lesson on “Storing Root Crops.” Storing vegetable root crops enables one to enjoy them all winter long. First was an admonition Not to wash them as it would decrease their storage life. Lay crops out to dry and crumble dirt off.   Store items at 34 º and with humidity. Keep temperature constant as a change of even 5º will start root crops to grow. Best is in a crisper drawer in refrigerator—but not potatoes as they will get starchier. One may put foods in a plastic bag, poke holes in bag and hang up. Use a wooden or cardboard box, layer ¼ to 3” sawdust, peat moss, or shredded newspaper and then items. They may touch each other but not sides of box. Continue layering till box is full. Never place box on floor as it will draw moisture and items will rot. These boxes may be stored in cold shed, under porch, etc. Freezing will not hurt the produce; however, if they thaw, they must be used within two days. Go through items occasionally and remove any spoiling items.

 

One may dehydrate food for storage, but it must be blanched or cooked first. Another possibility is to leave items in the ground, cover them with one foot of mulch or straw and just dig up items as one needs them. A drawback of this plan is that insects or vermin may get into the items.

 

Do not store onions in any of these closed methods; yellow onions will keep better than white or sweet ones.

 

After the lesson, Cathi McMurtry read the September 10 minutes, and Audrey Unwin gave the treasury report.

 

In new business, President Julie Easton reported that sprinklers had been installed for flower beds #2 through #6 on the curve in the park, and that #8 would be done after rose bushes had been trimmed back. There is a control box for adjusting the timing with two pop-ups for each bed. Sean Linder of NE Rain is doing the installation.

 

Marie Daubert reported that, while bees enjoy our summer blooms, they need our fall blooms as well. Good ones are goldenrod, sedums, rudbeckia, New England aster, and Joe-pye weed. Also, don’t forget to plant your bulbs before the ground freezes for next spring’s show. Besides yellow or white, daffodils now come in pink and green, and tulips come in Technicolor. Others to plant for early to late blooming are alliums, snowflakes, hyacinths, and bluebells. You might plant a mixture of types of bulbs in mini pots and over winter in a garage or porch till spring temperatures rise above the teens when you can move the pots outdoors to bloom for you.

 

Members read the Garden Club Benediction and they were reminded that the November 12 meeting would be the pot luck luncheon at 11:30 a.m. in the Rosin Room at the city auditorium.

 

Hostess Geraldine Peterson served pumpkin pie.

 

Cathi McMurtry, Secretary

 

 

 

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News From Bancroft Senior Center

October 13, 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. Oct. 14: The melody chime group will practice at 9:00 am. Come for coffee at 10:00 am. Sign up to play 5-handed pinochle at 1:30 pm.

Thurs. Oct. 15: Rolls and coffee served from 9:00 am. until noon. Tai Chi class at 9:30 am. and the walking ex class at 10:45 am. Sign up to play in the pitch tournament at 1:30 pm.

Fri. Oct. 16: The Farmers Market is open today from 9:00 – 11:00 am. The monthly birthday party is at 1:30 pm. Play pitch or hand and foot or dominoes.

Mon .Oct. 19: Stop in for coffee and visit. The caregiver support group meets at 2:00 pm.

Tues. Oct. 20: Tai Chi class is at 9:30 am. and walking ex. class at 10:45 am. Stop in for coffee at 10:00 am. Fun bingo at 2:00 pm. Evening meal of French toast, pancakes, eggs, sausage, juice and coffee will be served from 5:30 – 7:00 pm.

Wed. Oct. 21: The melody chime group will practice at 9:00 am. Join us for coffee at 10:00 am. The foot clinic is today starting at 11:00 am.; call and set up an appointment. Dominoes will be played at 1:30 pm.

 

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