News From Bancroft Senior Center

March 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. March 11: Melody chimers practice today at 9:00. We will play Rummykub at 1:30 or any other game that you would like to play.

Thurs. March 12: Tai Chi class at 9:30, and walking ex class at 10:30. Today we have rolls and coffee for $2.00 from 9 to 11 am. Sign up to play in the pitch tournament at 1:30.

Fri. March 13: Soup for today has been changed to vegetable beef and chicken noodle. Sign up to play in the pinochle tournament at 1:30.

Mon. March 16: Join us for coffee at 9:30. The caregiver support group meets today at 2:00 pm.

Tues. March 17: Tai Chi class at 9:30, and walking ex. class at 10:30. Stop in for coffee at 10:00. Sign up to play in the pitch tournament at 1:30. Our evening meal will be served from 5:30 -6:45 and we will serve biscuits and gravy, scrambled eggs, fruit cup and juice. If enough people are interested in playing cards they will be played after the dishes are done.

Wed. March 18: Melody chimers will play at the senior center and nursing home in Wisner. If you want to play 5-handed pinochle please sign up to play the game at 1:30.

 

 

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Deadline Extended for Conservation Stewardship Program

March 9, 2015 Leave a comment


Lyons, NE – USDA’s National Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) recently announced  that the deadline for producer applications for the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) has been extended to March 13, 2015.
While CSP is a continuous sign-up program and producers can apply to enroll at any time of the year, NRCS applies a cut-off date for applications to be considered during a particular fiscal year.  Once the cut-off date is past, producers may continue to apply for the program, but they will not be considered for entry until the spring of the following year, in this case spring of 2016. In order to enroll in 2015 applications must filed by March 13.
“We hope more farmers and ranchers will take advantage of this extension for the CSP application deadline. To meet this deadline, they just need to submit the basic application form to their local NRCS office,” said Traci Bruckner, Assistant Director of Rural Policy at the Center for Rural Affairs.
According to Bruckner, the Conservation Stewardship Program is a voluntary stewardship incentives program, administered by NRCS, designed to reward farmers, ranchers, and foresters for maintaining existing conservation, as well as for the adoption of additional conservation measures that provide multiple environmental benefits that run beyond the farm or ranch. This program pays producers for clean water, better soil management, improved habitat, energy efficiency, and other natural resource benefits. Since the program began in 2009, nearly 70 million acres of farm and ranch land have been enrolled in the program.
Bruckner is encouraging farmers, ranchers and others to call the Center for Rural Affairs’ Farm Bill Helpline to share their experiences, both positive and negative. “We know the previous sign-ups have yielded some great success stories for farmers and ranchers, but also some disappointments and frustrations.”
“We want this program to work for all farmers and ranchers employing conservation-based farming systems, and firmly believe the CSP is a step in the right direction for policy to financially reward historical commitments to conservation, as well as encourage further adoption,” Bruckner continued. “This is a far better approach than paying to clean-up problems.”
“One of the main goals for our Farm Bill Helpline is to identify the strengths and weaknesses of programs such as the CSP,” said Bruckner. “It is only with that information that we are able to push for any needed changes and improvements.”
Producers can also receive guidance for applying for other conservation programs. “Through our helpline you will speak to someone who is knowledgeable about the program rules to help you understand how to participate in the program,” Bruckner added. Producers can call (402) 687-2100 and ask for the Farm Bill Helpline or send an email to tracib@cfra.org.

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Medicare and Travel and Health Insurance Information

March 9, 2015 Leave a comment


From the Nebraska Department of Insurance (SHIIP)

 

If you are planning a trip and rely on Medicare for your health insurance, there are a few things you should know before you hit the road. How Medicare will cover your healthcare needs when you travel will depend on where you are traveling and what type of Medicare coverage you have. Original Medicare (Medicare A and B plus a drug plan), provides hospital and medical coverage anywhere in the United States, District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the Northern Mariana Islands. Outside of these areas, Original Medicare A & B does not provide coverage, unless you meet the following criteria:

  • A medical emergency occurs in the U.S., and the foreign hospital is closer than the nearest U.S. hospital that can treat the condition.
  • You’re traveling through Canada without unreasonable delay by the most direct route between Alaska and another state when a medical emergency occurs, and the Canadian hospital is closer than the nearest U.S. hospital that can treat the emergency.
  • You are a resident of the U.S. and a foreign hospital can treat your medical condition is closer to your residence than the nearest U.S. hospital, regardless of whether an emergency exists.

 

In some cases, Medicare Part B (Medical Insurance) may cover medically necessary health care services you receive on board a cruise ship within the territorial waters adjoining the U.S. land areas. Medicare won’t pay for health care services you receive when a ship is more than 6 hours away from a U.S. port.

If you have a Medicare Advantage (MA) plan and travel within the United States, you may only have coverage in an emergency or urgent care situation. If you have an HMO plan, most likely it will not cover routine care outside of the plan’s network of providers. If you have a PPO plan, your plan must cover care you receive from providers outside of your plan’s network, provided they accept your plan. You will most likely pay more for care received when out of your plan’s service area. Prior to travel, it is always a good idea to check with your MA plan to see what costs and rules apply.

Original Medicare does not cover care abroad. Some Medigap Supplement plans provide additional coverage for certain medically necessary emergency care outside the U.S. after a $250 deductible for the year, if the care begins within the first 60 days of your trip, and if Medicare doesn’t otherwise cover the care. Foreign travel emergency coverage with Medigap policies has a lifetime limit of $50,000. Check with your insurance company for details on what is actually covered by your plan.

If you are traveling abroad, you might want to purchase a short-term medical policy to cover medical evacuation and other expenses incurred overseas in the event you should become ill or injured while traveling.

If you are planning any physical activities while traveling (mountain climbing, water skiing, snow skiing, scuba diving, etc.) you might want to consider purchasing additional hazardous sports coverage.

In the event you should become ill overseas, you might want to contact the nearest U.S. embassy for help locating medical services, including doctors, hospital and air evacuation services. You might also want to check with the embassy or consulate of the country you plan to visit prior to traveling to make sure your medications are not considered illegal substances under local law.

The U.S. Department of State is an excellent resource for travel abroad for seniors, including companies selling short-term medical policies and U.S. embassy contact information. http://travel.state.gov/content/passports/english/go/older-traveler.html

 

Mary Loftis,

Extension Assistant
UNL Extension – Burt County
111 North 13th Street, Suite 6
Tekamah, NE 68061
Phone: (402) 374-2929

Fax: (402) 374-2930

Internet: mloftis2@unl.edu

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Keep Looking Up!

March 9, 2015 1 Comment


By Gary Fugman
” Hot Topics in the Universe Revealed!”
The universe is full of mysterious objects.  These mysterious objects range from far away planets in our Solar System to forces in the center in our Milky Way and other galaxies.  Particularly in the 21st century astronomers have answered many more questions about mysteries in our universe, but with better images of the cosmos and more information gathered, more and more questions about astronomy have come to light.
Ten years ago Pastor Gary Fugman taught “Adventures in Astronomy” at Northeast Community College in West Point NE to dozens of area residents that wanted to know more about the night sky and the universe we all live in.  Now Pastor Gary and NECC-WP have once again collaborated to offer a new ground breaking, no, a sky breaking astronomy class, “Hot Topics in the Universe”.  The four session course will discuss and help you learn more about “Jupiter, King of the Planets”; Jupiter is the most influential body in the Solar System besides our Sun. “Planets around other Stars”; In recent years we know more and more about “exoplanets“.  “Sun to Die-Details Tonight at 7!”; Our Sun will not last forever.  What are the latest findings about the future of our star?  And, “The Monster at the Middle of the Milky Way!”; You are just going to have to come to this class because this is too scary for public print!
You are invited to enroll in this non-mathematical astronomy course that will keep you coming back again and again to “Hot Topics in the Universe” that we call home.  Call NECC-WP at 372-2269 or 888-749-6322 and ask to be part of “Hot Topics in the Universe” meeting in Room 207 on Mondays, March 23-April 20 (no class on April 6) at 7-8:30pm.  Included as part of the end of each class meeting will be real observations of objects in your universe with an astronomical telescope, weather permitting.  You are invited to bring your binoculars or telescope for these class observation sessions.
If you want to know more about “Hot Topics in the Universe”, this class is for you!
Photo courtesy of nenacstars.

Photo courtesy of nenacstars.

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International Working Women’s Day

March 8, 2015 Leave a comment


Today is International Working Women’s Day. The first International Women’s Day was held March 19, 1911. Women socialists and trade unions held an earlier Women’s Day on the last Sunday in February, 1908. The event grew from there, and has been celebrated annually since. The focus is upon women workers, and advancing women’s rights in the workforce, politics and society.
Cheers to all the hard working women out there!

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Longing for the Return of Hummingbirds

March 7, 2015 Leave a comment


Enjoying the beauty of hummingbirds last year at our house. Can't wait for their return! Both pics photo credit of Denise Gilliland, Editor and Chief, Kat Country Hub.

Enjoying the beauty of hummingbirds last year at our house. Can’t wait for their return! Both pics photo credit of Denise Gilliland, Editor and Chief, Kat Country Hub.

Hummingbird 3

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Happenings at Oakland Heights

March 6, 2015 Leave a comment


Oakland Heights News

By Nancy Silvey Activity Director

We have three birthday’s this week Mildred Moseman on March 2nd, Bertha Mellor, and Don Heaffner on March 6th Happy Birthday to all. Next week is a busy week on Tuesday March 10th we will be going to Golden Oaks for the noon potluck, (weather permitting), also at 2:30 pm is our Ugly Tie Contest and Root beer floats. On Thursday March 12th is the general store from 1:30 to 3:30 for the residents to come and do some shopping. On Friday March 13th is the Oakland Heights Relay for life team’s Salad Luncheon at the Rosen Room from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm. Also a reminder next weekend we return to daylights saving time on Sunday March 8th.

Church Service for Sunday March 8th at 2:30 pm will be given by the Salem Covenant Church with a luncheon served afterwards. On Tuesday March 10th at 9:30 am is Catholic Mass given by Father Paul.

Activities for the week of March 9th to March 14th, are as followed, Reading with Marilyn, Manicures, Reading Group, Sing a Long, Word Games, Bingo w/Evang. Free, Bible Fellowship, Reading the Local Paper, Let’s Play Ball, Friday Bingo, Saturday morning movie, and Lawrence Walk.

Volunteers signing in last week were; Judy Nelson, Betty Hanna, Bonnie Fleischman, Donna Baldwin, Mary Donavon, Mary Alice Pearson, Di Ruwe, Kay Swanson, Dani Moseman, and Sly Rouse.

Guest signing in last week was Kristie Peters.

 

 

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4-H Week Wrap-up

March 6, 2015 Leave a comment


By Mary Loftis

Extension Assistant

Last week was Burt County 4-H Week and several of our 4-H Clubs were spreading a little 4-H green as they promoted the good word of 4-H through various mediums and activities.

The Argo 4-H Club had their organizational meeting last Sunday. They voted to donate a scoop and push broom to the Burt County Fair Foundation Fundraiser and then went down the street and chipped out space on a dirty snow and ice pile to create a 4-H promotion sign.

The Logan Valley Clovers 4-H Club got together and created a tied fleece blanket to donate to the Fair Foundation Fundraiser as part of their 4-H week activities. They also had 18 of their 4-H club members prepare a meal for their families and then served 47 family members! Their meal consisted of Salisbury steak, mashed potatoes, steamed broccoli, rolls and hot fudge sundaes. Yum! The group also decorated the windows of the Lyons Public Library and had 4-H projects on display in their display cases.

The Flying Needles were busy as usual as they mixed and baked apple and banana muffins to deliver to the Golden Living Center, the Methodist Church coffee hour and the Extension Office. They were delicious! They also donated a chocolate cake baked by Dorothy Fleischman to the Fair Foundation fundraiser.

Not to show favoritism, Grandma Dorothy Fleischman also made a pie for the Lucky 13 4-H Club to contribute to the fundraiser.

The Clover Stars 4-H Club got together Monday and Tuesday after school to mix up and bake sugar cookies…with green sprinkles of course! It was quite interesting having 9 batches of cookies being mixed at the same time by five to 16 year olds. On baking day they learned the value of a good cookie scoop in making uniform sized cookies as well as making sure the cookies had enough space to grow…otherwise they “kissed!” One seasoned 4-H member explained that using a cookie scoop is the secret to a purple ribbon at the fair!  Over 300 cookies were baked as part of the group process, or at home by members who could not attend the baking day. The 4-H club members delivered these cookies to their classes at school, the Extension office, Tekamah City Office, and their grateful families. Thanks to the creativity of Heidi and Greta Lindberg the Clover Stars 4-H Club also donated a decorative flag holder and 6 creative 4-H and county fair flags to display to the silent auction.

The Burt’s Best 4-H Club donated a bucket of show supplies to the fair fundraiser to show their support of the event.

It seemed totally appropriate to finish Burt County 4-H Week, which also coincided with National FFA Week with the Burt County Fair Foundation Fundraiser Event on Saturday evening at the Tekamah Auditorium. The event was a great success with great food, fun and fundraising! Burt County 4-H & FFA members got the chance to serve as waiters for the five reserved tables as a special opportunity this year.

It was a great Burt County 4-H Week, and the best thing about it was having several new families come into the extension office to get information on 4-H! That’s what 4-H Week is ALL about!

 

 

Mary Loftis,

Extension Assistant
UNL Extension – Burt County
111 North 13th Street, Suite 6
Tekamah, NE 68061
Phone: (402) 374-2929

Fax: (402) 374-2930

Internet: mloftis2@unl.edu

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Spring Landscape Projects

March 6, 2015 Leave a comment


By John Wilson

Extension Educator

Even though it’s still covered with ice, the Canada geese have been checking out the nesting boxes on my pond. This is usually a good indication that, if not here, spring is just around the corner. Warmer days this weekend will gave you an opportunity to get outside and do some things in the yard.

You need to wait on several of those such as core aerating, power raking or fertilizing your lawn, or applying crabgrass preventer. I’ll talk more about those in the weeks ahead. But there are several things that you can start to do now.

First, it’s time to give a lot of your perennials a “haircut.” Mid-march into early April, once temperatures begin to warm, is a good time to remove the old tops of ornamental grasses, herbaceous perennials and asparagus. If the tops of these plants were left in place this past winter, last years’ growth needs to be removed before new growth begins this spring.

Ornamental grasses, herbaceous perennials like peonies, and asparagus begin new growth from the plant base or roots, and last years’ growth, which is now dead and will not green up again. The old growth needs to be removed to make room for the new growth. Removing last years’ top growth also reduces potential problems from overwintering insects and diseases.

To remove old top growth, use pruning shears and the rake to clean up plant debris and leaves that might have blown in over winter. For ornamental grasses, cut off last years’ growth to about four to six inches above ground.

 

Another good spring project is to replenish the mulch in flower beds and around trees and bushes. Mulch is beneficial and its use is highly recommended. I talked about this last week so I won’t go into all of those benefits again. When selecting a mulch, organic mulches like wood chips are better for the soil and for plants.

When you use organic mulch, like wood chips, in the landscape, the mulch will decompose and planting beds may become low on mulch. It’s been several years since I’ve added new mulch so this is the year I’ll add it around trees and in my flowerbeds before plants start to emerge and I get busy with other spring chores.

 

If you are tempted to add a deeper layer of mulch to reduce how often you need to replenish it, keep in mind that a mulch layer too deep is not healthy for plants. After mulch has settled, it should be two to four inches deep. If mulch is too deep, plant roots will grow in the mulch rather than the soil, increasing the likelihood of heat stress and drought injury later in the summer. Too much mulch also  reduces oxygen entering the soil and soils may remain too wet too long.

Inorganic mulches like gravel, lava or white rock are not good for the soil or plants. They do not release nutrients to the soil as they break down and they reflect more heat up on the plant in the summer as well as retain more heat and can injure where they come in contact with the plants. So use an organic mulch, but do use it correctly.

Finally, if you didn’t do this last fall, now is a good time to sharpen lawn mower blades, change the oil, and perform any other routine maintenance and repairs on mowers, tillers and edgers. This can save time and frustration later this spring when we need to mow the lawn or till the garden. So plan ahead and take care of these things now. It’s going to be a great weekend to be outside, so get out and enjoy it while taking care of some of these lawn and garden chores.

For more information on spring lawn and garden projects, contact your local Nebraska Extension office.

 

Mid-Plains BEEF Educational Series

The Nebraska Extension’s Mid-Plains BEEF Educational Series will conduct an April session on preparing for the upcoming cattle breeding season at the UNL Agricultural Research and Development Center (1071 County Road G, Ithaca) near Mead.

The session will draw on the expertise of Dr. Richard Randle, DVM and UNL Extension Beef Veterinarian, discussing breeding soundness exams and Trich testing for bulls; Dr. Kate Brooks, UNL Extension Livestock Economist, discussing economic decisions to keep vs cull – late calf heifers, no calf, or last calf cows; and Allan Vyhnalek, UNL Extension Educator – Platte County, discussing pasture leasing provisions.

The session will be Thursday, April 2, with registration at 11:30 a.m. and ending at approximately 3:30 p.m. The cost is $10 by March 27, or $15 at the door (make checks available to University of Nebraska-Lincoln). Lunch and hand-outs provided.

To register or obtain more information, contact: Lindsay Chichester, Saunders County, 402.624.8030; Steve Tonn, Washington County, 402.426.9455; or Monte Stauffer, Douglas/Sarpy Counties, 402.444.7804.

John Wilson

John Wilson

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Nebraska Medicaid Losses Top $400 Million

March 6, 2015 Leave a comment


Since Jan 1, 2014, Nebraska has been forfeiting $930,096 per day in federal funds that could provide health insurance for over 54,000 low-income, working Nebraska families and individuals. OnMarch 6th, the amount of forfeited federal funds will top $400 million.
“It is fiscally and morally bankrupt to continue to allow so many working families to struggle to find ways to afford the health care coverage they need,” said John Crabtree of the Center for Rural Affairs. “With the Unicameral’s Health and Human Services Committee prepared for their final consideration of LB 472, the Medicaid Redesign Act, it is worthy of note that Nebraska has already forfeited $400 million in federal Medicaid funds – tax dollars, paid in part by Nebraskans, that could have been used to provide affordable health care options for 54,000 working Nebraska families, but were turned away.”
This loss has been a real economic blow to Nebraska’s economy, Crabtree continued. But the most dire consequences of our state’s inaction are felt by low-income, working families across Nebraska, and in rural and small town Nebraska in particular. Impacting those who can least afford to have their economic and health care needs ignored.
“Every man, woman, and child in a small town loses when the hospital shuts down. Every Nebraska taxpayer loses when our state turns away $400 million that could be used to care for people, and build up our healthcare system. It’s time to act for Nebraska’s future by passing LB 472.”
John Crabtree, Center for Rural Affairs
National Rural Health Association research indicates that about 300 rural hospitals across the US are on the verge of closing due to financial issues, with a lack of access to the new Medicaid program as one major cause. In addition to compromising the health of rural people, a hospital closure causes job losses, lost economic activity, and lost community vibrancy in rural communities. A small town hospital closure costs about $1,000 in per capita income.
Moreover, hospitals and other providers are left with significant uncompensated care for the uninsured. The University of Nebraska Medical Center estimates through 2019 Nebraska will have more than $1 billion in uncompensated care without Medicaid redesign. And increased premiums for those with insurance are sure to follow that level of uncompensated care, Crabtree explained.
“Nebraska cannot afford to let over 50,000 of our friends, family members and neighbors fall into this health care coverage gap,” added Crabtree. “A gap where they make too little – yes, too little – to participate in the new healthcare marketplace and receive tax credits to make premiums affordable, but where they make too much to qualify for traditional Medicaid coverage.”
Crabtree urged Nebraskans to monitor http://www.cfra.org/news/150305/nebraska-medicaid-losses-top-400-million to keep an eye on how much Nebraska is losing every day, and how some other non-expansion states compare.

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