Todd County Extension Family & Consumer Sciences

Newsletter

May, 2019

The Truth About Vaping Despite the fact that smoking has been decreasing for years now, an alarming new trend has emerged. Electronic cigarettes, commonly known as e-cigarettes or vapes (short for vaporizers), have become increasingly popular. Electronic cigarettes are battery-operated devices that people use to inhale an aerosol, which can contain nicotine, flavoring, and other chemicals. E-cigarettes are made of four different components: a cartridge that holds a liquid solution called e-liquid or e-juice, a heating element, a power source, and a mouthpiece. They are designed to look like traditional cigarettes, cigars, pipes, or even everyday items like pens or USB memory sticks. First, it is true that vaping is less harmful than smoking. Because vaporizers do not rely on combustion, people who vape are not exposed to as many harmful chemicals as they are when they smoke traditional cigarettes. Some evidence suggests that e-cigarettes might be a useful aid for smoking cessation; however, the mere fact that nicotine is being vaporized into aerosol means that vaping is still bad for your health. Safer does not mean safe. Second, electronic cigarettes are as addictive as traditional cigarettes. They are typically still delivering the addictive drug nicotine (vapes are also called ENDS — electronic nicotine delivery systems), and some vape cartridges can contain

as much nicotine as an entire pack of cigarettes. In addition to nicotine, vape users could also be inhaling a variety of other harmful substances including heavy metals, volatile organic compounds, and ultrafine particles. The most concerning truth about vaping is that it is increasingly common among youth. E-cigarette use among middle and high school students in the U.S. increased 900 percent from 2011 to 2015. The nicotine in e-cigarettes is harmful to the development of the adolescent brain and probably increases the risk of addiction to other even more harmful substances. For young people, e-cigarettes are more likely to induce a nicotine addiction rather than to serve as an aid to quit smoking. Some young people might even become poly-tobacco users, people who use both e-cigarettes and traditional cigarettes. Because many e-cigarettes are marketed in seemingly harmless or sleek designs, they are often more attractive to youth than traditional cigarettes. And since e-cigarettes frequently come in kid-friendly flavors such as cotton candy or bubble gum, young people might be deceived into believing they are harmless. The rise of e-cigarettes is quickly becoming epidemic among American youth. If you or someone you know needs help quitting cigarettes or e-cigarettes, find free help online at smokefree.gov or by calling 1-800-QUIT-NOW. Reference: https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/drugfacts/electronic-cigarettes-e-cigarettes Source: Alex Elswick, extension specialist for substance use prevention and recovery

Cooperative Extension Service Todd County PO Box 97 Elkton, KY 42220 (270) 265-5659 Fax: (270) 265-3534 extension.ca.uky.edu

Leader Training Zumba, Yoga, Pilates and More will be taught Thursday, May 30, 10:00 a.m. at the Extension Office Meeting Room.

All Aboard – It’s Annual Meeting Time! Join Todd County Homemakers for their Annual Meeting, to be held Thursday, August 22, 2019, 6:00 p.m. at the Senior Citizens Center in Elkton. This year’s theme is “Dinner Train.” The meal will be Parmesan Chicken, Mashed Potatoes, Green Beans, 7-Layer Salad, Rolls, and dessert for $10. Meals may be purchased at the Extension Office or at your club meeting. The deadline for reservations is August 9. No refunds after this date. (See flyer for more details.)

Todd County Homemaker Council Todd County Homemaker Council will meet Monday, August 26, 5:00 p.m., at the Extension Office Meeting Room.

Cook Together, Eat Together Have some fun in the kitchen with your child/grandchild (ages 6-13). The Todd County Extension Nutrition Education Program and Family Resource/Youth Service Centers are offering “Cook Together, Eat Together” on June 6, 13, and 20, 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at Todd central High School in the Home Ec Department. To sign up, call Amy Stooksbury at the Extension Office, 270-265-5659.

Super Star Chef Camps The Todd County Extension Service and Family Resource/Youth Service Centers are sponsoring “Super Star Chef” Camps again this summer. For middle school students, the camp dates are June 18-20 (optional field trip on June 21) and for students grades 3-5, the dates are June 25-27 with

(optional field trip on Friday, June 28). Times are 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Sign up by calling the Family Resource or Youth Service Center at the child’s school or by calling the Todd County Extension Office at 270-265-5659.

Farmer’s Market Basket If you signed up for the Farmer’s Market Basket class, it will be held on Saturday, May 18, 9:00 a.m., at the Extension Office meeting room.

The class will last several hours so please bring your lunch and snacks.

Pennyrile Area Homemaker Trip See attached flyer for information about the Pennyrile Area Homemaker Trip to Louisville, KY on July 17-18. The cost of the trip is $118, which is due to the Todd County Extension Office by June 25. If you would like more information, contact the Todd County Extension Office or one of the Todd County Homemaker club presidents.

Lessons for 2019-20 At May and June club meetings, you will have the opportunity to sign up for 2019-20 leader trainings. See page 3 for the dates and times of monthly leader trainings.

Sincerely,

Jill B. Harris Extension Agent for Family & Consumer Sciences Education

Jill B. Harris

Homemaker Leader Trainings for 2019-2020

September Communication Essentials for Good Impressions (Tiffany Bolinger), Tuesday, September 3, 5:00 p.m. Communication is the key to effective leadership and fulfilling organizational vision and mission. Learn more about non-verbal communications (body language) and the roles speaking and active listening play in communication.

October German Heritage and Foods (Cecelia Hostilo), Friday, September 27, 11:00 a.m. Kentucky was settled by a large number of German immigrants. Many of their traditions, especially with food, live on and are still celebrated today. This lesson will review some of these foods, customs, and landmarks.

November Mindfulness (Mary Beth Riley), Thursday, October 31, 1:30 p.m. Is your life out of control? TAKE IT BACK! Mindfulness will help to reduce your stress and return your focus to what is important to you. It helps you re-center, reduces external distractions and allows you to evaluate yourself and your reactions to the stressors around you.

January Hosting a Smart Potluck, Mailout Learn simple strategies to enable your guests to make choices that will not sabotage their healthy eating plan. Make your potluck truly welcoming to guests with diabetes, heart issues, and special dietary needs, without eliminating a single one of your favorite dishes.

February LED Lighting (Jill Harris), Thursday, January 28, 5:00 p.m. It’s only been in the last 10 years that homeowners have embraced Compact Fluorescent Lightbulbs (CFLs) in place of the traditional standard incandescent bulbs. Now the newer technology of LED bulbs is becoming practical and affordable for home lighting use. This class will look at the characteristics of LED bulbs--what makes them unique and how they can best be used in the home.

March Traveling on the Cheap (Ashley White), Thursday, February 27, 1:30 p.m. One of the great things about retirement is having more time to travel, but who can afford it! Learn about ways to get more bang from your travel bucks. A few tips for traveling abroad will also be included.

April Simple Succulents (Katherine Jury), Wednesday, March 25, 1:30 p.m. Wowing gardeners with their versatility, beauty, and ease of care, succulents are no longer taking a backseat to traditional plants and flowers. Hens and chicks aren’t the only succulents grown by both master gardeners and brown-thumb’d growers. Learn the difference between a cactus and a succulent, how to care for them, and how to propagate your plants to grow even more. See many varieties of this low-maintenance species and how to pot them in order to maximize their beauty.

May Meal Kits: Are They Worth It (Janeen Tramble), Thursday, April 30, 10:00 a.m. Meal kit services have become increasingly popular. Participants in this program will learn the benefits and drawbacks of meal kits and determine whether they are an appropriate use of food dollars for their lifestyle.

June Jewelry Rejuvenation (Angie York), Thursday, May 28, 1:30 p.m. From utilizing old costume jewelry innovatively, to turning an heirloom into a new design, there are many options for taking beloved accessories and repurposing them in new, stylish ways.

At A Glance: Upcoming Dates May 14-16 Kentucky Extension Homemaker Association Annual Meeting, Louisville May 18 Farmer’s Market Basket class, 9:00 a.m., Extension Office Meeting Room May 30 Zuma, Yoga, Pilates, and More!, 10:00 a.m., Extension Office Meeting Room June 6 Cook Together, Eat Together, 5:00 – 7:00, Todd Central High School June 13 Cook Together, Eat Together, 5:00 – 7:00, Todd Central High School June 18-20 Super Star Chef Camp (Middle School), 9:00 – 1:00, Todd Central High School June 20 Cook Together, Eat Together, 5:00 – 7:00, Todd Central High School June 25 Dealine to sign up and pay for Pennyrile Area Homemaker Trip June 25-27 Super Star Chef Camp (Grades 3-5), 9:00 – 1:00, Todd Central High School June 30 Perfect Attendance papers due to Extension Office June 30 Homemaker Club Information Sheet due to Extension Office July 17-18 Pennyrile Area Homemaker Trip to Louisville A 9 D dli i f H k A l M i