Outagamie County Home & Community Education

News & ViewsSummer 2018

3365 W Brewster StAppleton, WI 54914

920-832-5121outagamie.uwex.edu

President’s LetterDear Fellow HCE Members, Friends and Supporters,

We sure have had an unusual weather forecast lately. Record snowstorm in April when we were looking for Spring, record high temperatures during Memorial Weekend and now unseasonal cool weather. The development of better technology still can’t change the weather. We do live in Wisconsin. I found the following in an old Farmer’s Almanac.

* Busy spiders mean the weather will be fine. * When fireflies are out in numbers, the weather will be fair for the next

three days. * Swallows flying high is a good sign because the insects will be out on clear

days. * If there is dew on the grass in the morning, it won’t rain that day. * Leaves on trees will turn over and show their bottom sides before a rain. * Birds eat more just before a storm. * When leaves fall late, winter will be severe-if they fall early winter will be

mild. * If there is a thunderstorm before noon on any day in September, you can

expect much rain or snow through the winter. * When geese can walk on top of the snow in March, there will be a muddy

spring. * When snowdrifts face North, spring will be early. * Sweep the house by dark on the moon and rid it of both moths and

spiders. * Two full moons in one calendar month bring good luck. * Medicines and tonics are more effective when given by the light of a full

moon.

Well, maybe these tales aren’t as reliable as radar and TECHNOLOGY, but they are much more fun. The next time we are outside being on the moooove, try to observe the signs around you. You never know, maybe they are right.

Dorothy Paltzer

Table of Contents

Advisor’s Letter . . . . . . . . pg 2

Upcoming Events . . . . . . pg 3

New Members . . . . . . . . . pg 3

Executive Board Report . . pg 4

Committee Report . . . . . . pg 5

Announcements . . . . . . . pg 5

Feature Report . . . . . . . . . pg 6

Bits N Pieces . . . . . . . . . . . pg 7

facebook.com/WAHCEinc

Page 2

As you know I have been a part of the Family Living program area. I am now part of the Human Development and Relationships Institute with an emphasis in Aging and Community Development. I am part of a team that is working on tools to create Aging Friendly Communities. As I reflected on the work I have seen your organization involved with – I see you as integral parts of the puzzle in building stronger communities. There are thirteen aspects that communities look at in developing – and while we aren’t doing all of the aspects – your organization by its title – Home and Community Education Association has been working on many key pieces.

Key pieces:Community Leadership and Intergenerational Collaboration Your work in the community to make changes is to be noted! Your intergenerational collaboration with the WI Bookworms is an excellent example of how you reached 330 low income Head Start children with a total of 2,310 books distributed this year! WOW! And it wasn’t only the books, the time spent in fund raising, teaching, working on lesson plans and interacting with the children – that is a major piece of the puzzle!

Family Caregiving Not only are you caring for family members – you are learning more about the many aspects of what is involved. You worked with Lutheran Social Services and learned about more of the Memory Care programs available and how to determine what services might be needed and how to tap the resources of the county.

Nutrition and Wellness Some of you are involved in Strong Bones programs and have participated in a variety of exercise and strength building programs to help augment your own health. We continue to have lessons on various aspects of how to eat better and make better health choices.

Arts, Culture and Lifelong Learning Annually you are learning more and more about what life has to offer and how to make the best use of your time and talents – lifelong learning, sharing your quilt making talents at the Quilt Show that was a huge success. Teaching others – the 4-H outreach at their learning day. Your lists go on and on!

Public Safety and Emergency Planning Though this may not be directly in the HCE program – many of you are involved in learning more about public safety and how to better serve our communities. I think some of you are weather watch spotters and work to help promote safety in your homes and communities.

Respect and Social Inclusion Though we don’t always understand other cultures and ways of living life, you continue to study and look at the many facets of life. Understanding the “Doughnut Girls” this year was an eye opener for me and the role of women in World War I for openers! And hosting it at Good Shepherd home where there were over fifty veterans in attendance is commendable to respect what they have done and look at the impacts made over the years. The doughnuts were tasty too!

Community Connectedness: Civic Engagement and Volunteer Opportunities As Community members I know some of you serve on local community committees and boards. You assist at the polls on Election Day. You volunteer to serve many other civic organizations such as Salvation Army, Food Banks, as well as Community 2000. Your “Picture Perfect Days” not only involved many volunteers – it opened the door for more people (even my dental hygienist who now collects all old calendars she can get at FVTC) to do more for others. Your mission is to connect and make a difference. The outreach with the lap quilts and memory books at King are notable.

It is amazing how much work you do – and the many things I don’t even know about that fit into this theme of building community and serving others. It is with gratitude that I applaud your many efforts and outreach. The hours, miles, time spent, means a lot to so many different people. The relationships you have created within your club work, and also in the community is very evident as you move forward with pride your many accomplishments. Congratulations! Have a wonderful summer.

Sincerely,

Karen DickrellFamily Living Educator

Liaison Corner

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Upcoming EventsJuly

16-18 20th Annual National Volunteer Outreach Network, Inc. | Pewaukee, WI24 Fair Booth Set Up | Outagamie County Fairgrounds | 1:00 pm24-29 Outagamie County Fair

August

2-12 Wisconsin State Fair7 House of Hope Orphanage Program sign up at the Extension office14 House of Hope Orphanage Program | Emmanual Lutheran Church, Seymour Presentor: Raissa Ashman25 Birthday Blessings and Blooms Program registration due to the UW-Extension office30 Newsletter Deadline

September

4 Newsletter Committee | UW Extension, Brewster Street | 10:00 am4 2018 HCE Day at UW Extension! 11:00 Executive Board Meeting 12:00 Lunch 1:00 Birthday Blessings and Blooms by Marilyn Herman17-19 WAHCE State Meeting | Country Springs Conference Center, Pewaukee26 Picture Perfect Day | Center Town Hall | 9:00 am -3:00 pm

Outagamie County HCE Extension to host an International Event

Tuesday August 14, 20181:00 - 3:00 pm

Emmanuel Lutheran Church, 349 N. Main Street , Seymour

Program: The Lords House of Hope Orphanage in Kenya, AfricaPresenters: Raissa Ashman, Volunteer (Recent trip made in 2016) Judy Rottier, Sponsorship Coordinator

Welcome New MembersCountry Apples: Lori Richardson and Theresa Short

Member at Large: Marilyn Anunson

Page 4

Executive Board ReportBy Linda Biese

Quilt Show

The Bi-Annual Quilt Show is booked for November 1-2, 2019. It will be held at the Starlite Club again.

Please plan ahead for displaying items and also items for sale in our booth to raise money for our Wisconsin Bookworms Program. We plan on having a separate booth for this.

Our goal is to have ten vendors and 100 quilted items for display. Several of our previous vendors are interested in attending again.

The cost of the hall increased partly because we are now a two day show. The vendors covered the cost of the hall before. We may have to increase the booth fee.

Last time our quilt raffle went well and we plan on doing that again.

Thanks for all of your help with this project. We have people asking about the show already.

Charity Workshop

Our Charity Workshop (Giving Bee’s) have been very busy.

We recently donated 85 three sided pillows and 85 emergency card kids for the Camp American Legion.

We have had requests for donations for several different places, so we have been donating three sided pillows, lap blankets, quilts and monetary donations when needed.

We just finished a quilt with fabrics donated by the ladies of the Krazy Krafters which will go back to them for a fundraiser.

Thank you everyone for your hard work. Even though you don’t attend workshops held at my home or at Mary Ann’s, I know you are working hard on your own. We have had several new people come and check what we do.

“Even the smallest gesture can make a big difference in someone’s life.”

Keep up the good work.

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Committee ReportBy Judy Asman and Marcie Suprise

We all worked hard to pull off a very successful Wisconsin Bookworms Raffle for 2018. It was accomplished by all of you who donated prizes, sold and bought raffle tickets. We made $1,505 in ticket sales and earned $1,000 from Catholic Financial Life Chapter #197 of Seymour.

The lucky prize winners are:1st Prize, Painters Palette Quilt - Gary Nettekoven2nd Prize, Floral Ring Quilt and Pillow - Dorothy Paltzer3rd Prize, Red and Silver Quilt - Marian Books4th Prize, Farm Scene Quilt - Judy Asman5th Prize, Children Throw - Lori Richardson6th Prize, Block Sampler - Gary Nettekoven7th Prize, Quilted Christmas Stocking - Dave Paulson8th Prize, Framed Print - Faye Wichman

The 2018-2019 Head Start school year will begin in October and will have classrooms in the same places as last year. They will have 114 children at State Street, 74 children at Lawe Street, 34 children at Kaukauna, 18 children at Seymour and 80 children at the Oneida Head Starts. We are off to a good start by ordering the books and when books (all 2,640 of them) come in August, I could use help counting and checking the books for damage. All volunteer readers will get their letter in late August. If you want to get your name on the list for reading or helping with the program, please contact Marcie Suprise 920-757-5407.

We should all be proud of our Wisconsin Bookworms Program, but we need people to step up and get more involved.

Announcements Congratulations to this year’s scholarship winners:

Shirley Richarson Scholarship: Marisssa HeartHCE Memorial Scholarship: Maria Van Asten

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Feature ReportBack Where I BeganBy Kathleen Brugger Schroeder

Both my parents were raised on farms directly across from each other on Brugger Road. When I was very young we lived in Marinette, WI. Then when I was approximately nine we moved back to mom’s parents’ farm for they had purchased another farm, were elderly and needed help. I loved the country! In the city you couldn’t go to the barn, raise chickens, have a garden, play by the river and so many other things.

Mom joined the local ladies Cicero Main Homemakers Club with my grandmother. While we were in school at Nichols State Grade School my two brothers and I helped form and were the first members of the North Star 4-H Club. I held several different offices and had sewing as one of my projects with my mother as a leader. It was always so much fun getting ready and participating for the Outagamie County Fair with projects and other activities like box socials etc. to raise money.

Now, almost 70 years later, after retirement I’m a member of HCE, and our little group within called “Giving Bee’s.” We enjoy volunteering, donating and taking part in activities and meetings. This year (2018) Nichols, WI will celebrate being 100 years old (see the announcement below). My good friend Linda Biese and I are making a quilt for them to raffle with pictures of Mr. Nichols and several original buildings on it. This is to help the community celebrate at their spring gathering April 28 and their “big” celebration September 8.

In February several of us HCE members went to Fox Valley Technical College to help instruct some of the 4-H children that signed up for a project in sewing. We made pillowcases. Pictures were taken showing the many proud and happy faces when they finished. The gratification we gained from helping and teaching I’m sure was visible on our faces as well.

You might say “I’m back where I began” and proud to be a member of HCE. North Star 4-H is where I began and now being a member of HCE has brought me full circle.

Bits and PiecesFUN FACES OF WISCONSIN AGRICULTURE BERRY BUNCH’S CRANBERRY FAST FACTS

Production Information The American Cranberry is a low-growing, vining, woody perennial plant with small, alternate, oval leaves. The plant produces horizontal stems or runners up to 6 feet (2 m) long. Short vertical branches 2 to 8 inches (5 to 20 cm) in height, called uprights, grow from buds on the runners and produce both vegetative and fruit buds. Each fruit bud may contain as many as seven flowers. They prefer sandy, marshy land called bogs.

Water is used during harvest to float the fruit for easier collection, and during the winter months to protect the plants from freezing and desiccation. The rest of the year the fruit is grown on dry beds.

Harvest begins in late September. Harvest has been improved from being done by hand, to using a two-handled rake, to mechanical pickers and water reels. There are two types of harvest methods: wet and dry. Wet harvest involves flooding a dry bog with water. Water reels (like egg beaters) drive through the water loosening the berries from the vines. Floating berries are corralled, loaded into trucks, and made into juices, drinks and foods. Dry harvesting uses a machine with moving metal teeth to comb the berries off of the vine. Berries are collected in a burlap sack on the back of the machine. The bags are lifted by helicopter so they don’t damage vines. Many fresh berries are harvested this way.

Wisconsin Production Wisconsin produces about 50% of the nation’s crop with over 3.6 million barrels of fruit. An average acre will yield about 189 barrels per acre- a barrel weighs about 100 pounds. Cranberry marshes occupy more than 180,000 acres and cranberries are harvested on about 18,000 of those acres. There are about 240 growers in 20 different counties in Wisconsin. The cranberry was named Wisconsin’s state fruit on April 5, 2004. Cranberry marshes date back to the 1830’s which was before Wisconsin became a state.

Career Information Seasonal workers are needed for harvest including fresh fruit sorters, truck drivers, machine operators, and pilots. Environmental affairs managers help producers protect the soil and groundwater. Crop scouts assist in preventing insect, disease and weed control. Recipe developers and food scientists find new uses for the cranberries and explore the nutritional benefits. Cartographers (mapmaker) assist producers in laying out fields.

Other Information Cranberry marshes need support lands which consist of natural and man-made wetlands, woodlands and uplands. The support land is not used for growing the crop, but is important for the series of ditches, dikes, dams and reservoirs necessary to have an adequate water supply. The natural wetlands help control flooding and filter and recycle water. The marshes are home to many forms of wildlife and some endangered species.

In 1880, John “Peg Leg” Webb from New Jersey, discovered the cranberry bounce. Instead of carrying his load of cranberries down the barn steps, he poured them down the steps and watched how they reacted. The freshest, firmest fruit went to the bottom while the rotten and bruised berries didn’t go down very far. A bounceboard separator was developed to simulate this test and is still used today.

Trivia• There are about 450

cranberries in a pound; 4,500 cranberries in a gallon of juice, and 45,000 cranberries in a 100-pound barrel.

• American soldiers used dried cranberries in World War II to keep healthy and energized.

• 91% of Thanksgiving dinners include cranberry sauce in their menu.

From WI Ag in the Classroom http://wisagclassroom.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/Cranberry-Plans.pdf

Outagamie County Home and Community EducationSummer Newsletter3365 W Brewster StAppleton, WI 54914

Outagamie.uwex.edu

UW-Extension Staff Catherine Neiswender Area Extension Director Amy Beck Office Assistant Joan Behle Office Assistant Kaitlin Bricco Seasonal Horticulture Assistant Karen Dickrell Family Living Educator Evan Groth Nutrition Educator*

Sarah Grotjan Dairy and Livestock Agent Vicki Handschke Office Assistant Kevin Jarek Crops, Soils, and Horticulture Agent Ina Montgomery Program Assistant Kristine Soper Nutrition Educator*

Kayla Viste 4-H Youth Development Educator MaryBeth Wohlrabe 4-H Youth and Family Development Coordinator Becky Zoglman Education & Communication Specialist *Serves Calumet, Outagamie, and Winnebago Counties

County Administration

Thomas Nelson County Executive Craig Moser County Executive Administrator Jeff Nooyen County Board Chair Joy Hagen County Board Vice Chair

Extension Education Committee

Dan Rettler Chair Keith Suprise Vice Chair Daniel Melchert Secretary BJ O’Connor-Schevers Member Debbie VanderHeiden Member

Phone Number 920-832-5121Fax Number 920-832-4783

711 Wisconsin Relay

An EEO/AA employer, University of Wisconsin-Extension provides equal opportunities in employment and programming, including Title VI, Title IX, and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requirements.