Reply to: Cooperative

Extension Service

Kenton County

10990 Marshall Road

Covington, KY 41015

(859) 356-3155

Fax: (859) 356-0363

Kenton.ca.uky.edu TIME FOR KENTUCKIANS TO TAKE MISQUITO ACTION University of Kentucky entomologists have captured Asian tiger mosquitoes in the Central Kentucky area during the past few days and are encouraging Kentuckians to take measures to prevent mosquito bites. “The Asian tiger mosquito is the most common mosquito in Kentucky. We are seeing it earlier than normal this year,” said Grayson Brown, entomologist with the UK College of Agriculture, Food and Environment. “What’s different this year is this mosquito is implicated as a possible carrier for Zika. Kentuckians who are concerned about Zika should start taking precautions.” The Asian tiger mosquito normally begins to appear in Central Kentucky in mid-June and populations begin to climb throughout the summer, peaking in late July, early August. The mosquitoes tend to arrive in Western Kentucky a little earlier and appear in Eastern Kentucky a little later than Central Kentucky. The mosquito is the primary carrier of canine heartworm.

“The Asian tiger mosquito is an opportunistic feeder and will feed on other things besides humans,” said Lee Townsend, UK extension entomologist. “It tends to bite humans around the ankles, an area that is often overlooked when applying repellents.” The Asian tiger mosquito was found to transmit Zika in Mexico, but so far, no locally acquired Zika cases have been reported in the United States.

Kentucky has six Zika cases, and all have been individuals who acquired Zika while traveling to other countries. The Aedes aegypti, or the yellow fever mosquito, is the mosquito that has been the known carrier of Zika in most of the cases in South America. Kentucky is on the northern edge of the Aedes aegyti range, and they typically appear much later in the summer. Kentuckians can take the following measures to minimize their chances of getting bitten this summer: Use Environmental Protection Agency-registered insect repellents. When used as directed,

these repellents are proven safe and effective for pregnant and breastfeeding women. Drain any standing water as it creates potential mosquito breeding sites. This includes bird

baths, bottles and any other items with water-holding capacity like old tires or trash. Fill in holes, depressions and puddles in yards. Keep gutters in proper working order. Make sure door and window screens are in good repair. Stay indoors between 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. when mosquitoes

are most active. Wear long-sleeve shirts and pants when outdoors. Individuals wanting additional information about mosquitoes in Kentucky should visit UK’s Zika website at http://pest.ca.uky.edu/EXT/ZIKA/1kyzika.html. Additional information for women concerned about zika during pregnancy is available at http://www.cdc.gov/zika/pregnancy/protect-yourself.html.

For more information contact: Grayson Brown, 859-257-3148, gcbrown147@gmail.com; Lee Townsend, 859-257-7455,

AUGUST 2016

A PUBLICATION OF NORTHERN KENTUCKY FAMILY & CONSUMER SCIENCES AGENTS

TABLE OF CONTENTS

TIMELY TIPS .................. 1

EATING RIGHT................ 2

SPENDING SMART ........... 2

RAISING KIDS ................ 3

LIVING WELL.................. 3

WHAT’S COOKING ........... 3

COUNTY INFORMATION .... 4

COOPERATIVE

EXTENSION

OFFICES

♦ ♦ ♦

BOONE

859/586-6101

♦

CAMPBELL

859/572-2600

♦

CARROLL

502/732-7030

♦

GALLATIN

859/567-5481

♦

GRANT

859/824-3355

♦

KENTON

859/356-3155

♦

OWEN

502/484-5703

♦

PENDLETON

859/654-3395

Raising Kids, Eating Right, Spending Smart, Living Well

When summer gathers up her robes of glory, And, like a dream, glides away… Sarah Helen Whitman

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MENU LABELING TO BECOME A REALITY IN 2017

When the U.S. Food and Drug Administration released its final guidance on menu labeling in late April, it was the last step in a process to require restaurants, convenience stores, take-out, retail establishments and supermarkets to publish the calorie content of their food on their menus. Some chain restaurants were already publishing this information on some items in anticipation of this announcement. Others have until May 2017 to implement the change. As food consumers, this means that for the first time, we are able to make informed decisions on all of our dining out meal purchases based on the food’s nutritional content. This is good news, as about 40 percent of the average Kentuckian’s food budget is spent on meals outside of the home. Kentucky is also known to have high rates of childhood and adult obesity.

Choosing healthier items when dining out could help us stay within our daily caloric limit and reach our ideal weight. In the 2015-2020 Dietary Guidelines, this calorie limit varies based on age, gender and activity level. To learn what these limits are for you, visit http://health.gov/dietaryguidelines/2015/guidelines/appendix-2/#footnote-3. A 2011 survey conducted by Janet Mullins, University of Kentucky extension professor, showed the need for menu labeling. She found that at least half of the nearly 1,000 survey participants, which were professionals in nutrition-related fields, could not identify menu items with the fewest calories on their own. Several factors can play into an item’s calorie count including preparation methods, amount of fat or oil used and portion size. For more information on menu labeling and healthier

eating topics, contact the your local County Extension

office.

PLAN FOR EARLY RETIREMENT

We all want to get the most out of our retirement, but financially that cannot be possible if we don’t start planning for it early in our careers. While retirement may seem like an eternity away for you, it will come sooner than you think. Many older workers have found this out the hard way, as they now plan to work longer than expected or not retire at all. Employer-sponsored plans include defined benefit plans, which guarantee a specific monthly amount, and defined contribution plans, which grow tax-deferred but do not guarantee specific benefits. Most employers offer the defined contribution plans which include 401(k), 403(b), Section 457 plans, profit sharing, stock bonus plans and money purchase pension plans. Some employers may offer a match to employee contributions. Contact your employer’s human resource department to find out which one is available and enroll. Enrolling early can help you later in life. You will have contributed more money for a longer period in the account, which means you will accumulate more compound interest over time. Social Security eligibility is based on your lifetime earnings record and your age. This requires you to meet work requirements yourself or to be married for at least 10 years to someone who meets the work requirements. Employed individuals who are married, widowed or divorced after at least 10 years of marriage are said to be dually entitled and can collect the higher amount between their own Social Security benefits or their spousal amount. You should understand that there are some ways your benefits can be reduced, including if you earn income after you have retired and/or you are between the age of 62 and full retirement age when you start receiving benefits. Often the benefits from employer-sponsored retirement plans and Social Security aren’t enough to fully fund a retirement, so you’ll have to rely on personal savings and investments. To find out how much more you’ll need to retire comfortably, you can contact your local Social Security office to ask for a Request for Earnings and Benefit Statement and your human resources department for a pension estimate. This should give you a ballpark figure of what your retirement income will be from those two sources. Personal savings rates are really low among Americans

but there are ways you can boost your personal savings.

Think about and write down what financial goals you have,

such as saving for retirement, and put the goals someplace

where you’ll see them every day, like on the refrigerator. Cut

down on eating out for breakfast and lunch. Eating breakfast

at home every morning could save you $3 to $5 dollars a

day. Over a year’s time, that adds up to a savings of $750 to

$1,250.

Source: Bob Flashman, UK Extension Professor

3

BUILDING “GRAND” FATHERS

Many of us have fond memories of our grandfathers… the stories, the candy, the fishing lessons and life lessons we learn while visiting them are things we treasure and carry with us throughout our lives. But as family dynamics have changed, more and more grandfathers are finding the old adage of “spoil them rotten and send them home” no longer a reality. In fact, around 2.4 million grandparents across the United States are now raising their grandchildren. Men are as caring and nurturing with the children as women and the same holds true for grandfathers who care for their grandchildren full time. Grandfathers play a vital role in the lives of these children because they provide them with support, security and encouragement. These things help support positive development and build self confidence in children. Grandfathers who are retired may have more available time to spend with children. They can use this time to talk with and listen to their grandchildren and reassure them

they are loved and are important family members. They can help provide a link to the past by sharing stories and reminiscing with their grandchildren. This helps children make connections between the past and the present. At a time when many younger families are dissolved by divorce, it’s not necessarily true with

older generations. Grandfathers in this situation have a unique opportunity to show their grandchildren mature, adult love exists and is attainable by holding hands, hugging and kissing their spouse in front of their grandchildren. Many grandfathers feel ill prepared, scared and worried about parenting a second time. At the same time, they are eager to provide the loving, caring and supporting environment their grandchild needs. Here are some helpful tips:

Seek out support groups. These groups provide a place for people to give and receive emotional and practical support and the opportunity to exchange information.

Take care of yourself physically and seek help from friends and family when necessary.

Be an example of healthy aging.

For more information on parenting grandchildren,

contact the your local County Extension Office.

Source: Angelica Reina, Child Development and Parenting Education Extension Specialist

HEALTH BENEFITS OF WALKING

Did you know that walking is the most popular physical activity among adults? This may be because it so easy to do. Perhaps it is because there is no special equipment that is needed. Maybe it is because you can do it almost anywhere. Regardless of why it is the favorite, there are certainly many reasons why it is a good idea to walk. Walking improves blood flow. It gets your heart beating a little faster and the blood flows a little faster too. Walking also helps prevent heart disease and lowers blood pressure when done regularly. Walking strengthens your bones. Walking can make your bones stronger. This is especially important for those at risk of osteoporosis. Walking can lighten your mood. People who walk often are in better moods. This is because walking releases endorphins to the body, making the person feel better. Walking can help with weight loss. For an average adult, a brisk 30-minute walk burns 200 calories. Calories burned can lead to weight loss. Walking improves sleep. When people are regular walkers, they are more likely to have better sleep patterns. They are also less likely to have insomnia. Walking slows memory loss. People who walk more have shown fewer declines in memory over time. Walking could lower your Alzheimer’s risk. One study has shown that men who walked more than one-fourth mile per day had less dementia and onset of Alzheimer’s disease when compared to those who did not walk. There are many benefits to walking on a regular basis and we are learning more every day. If you are looking for an easy activity that you can do almost anywhere, walking is a great choice. Source: Nicole Peritore, Extension Specialist for Family Health; University of Kentucky; College of Agriculture, Food and Environment

Big Blue Muffins Yield: 12 muffins 2 medium oranges 2 eggs 1/4 cup olive oil 1/2 low-fat plain Greek yogurt 1/4 cup sugar 1 cup all-purpose flour 1/4 cup honey 1 cup whole wheat flour 1 1/2 tsp. baking powder 1 tsp. baking soda 1 1/2 cups fresh blueberries Preheat oven to 400° F. Using a zester remove the orange zest from both oranges and place in a mixing bowl. Slice oranges in half. Squeeze juice into 1 cup liquid measuring cup. Add water if needed to make 1/2 cup juice. Add juice to zest. Add the oil, sugar, honey, eggs and yogurt. Mix together. In a separate bowl, place flour, baking powder, soda and salt. Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and mix until combined. Batter should be lumpy. Add blueberries and fold into batter until evenly distributed. Scoop the batter into greased 12-cup muffin pan, evenly dividing the batter. Bake 20 minutes or until lightly browned on the tops. Cool in the pan for 5 minutes. Remove to wire rack and serve.

Nutritional Info: 190 calories; 6g fat; 1g saturated fat; 40mg cholesterol, 240mg sodium; 31g carbohydrates; 2g fiber; 14g sugars; 5g protein.

What’s Cooking

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Kenton County Homemaker Kick-off Tuesday, August 30

Durr Center, Marshall Rd Join us as we begin our new homemaker year! Please call 356-3155 to register by August 25

Meal—$5 per person

5:30 PM –Registration for Kick-off—Wickland Room 6 PM—Welcome/*Salad Supper/

*Chicken, Pasta, & Fruit Salad, Croissants, Chips Dessert and Beverages

6:30 PM—Featured speaker—Cam Miller will discuss and share information on

“Old Latonia” and the film he is making

7:15–Update on our Scholarship Winners 7:30 PM– Door Prizes

7:45 PM General Dismissal

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NEWS■ ■ ■ FROM KENTON COUNTY COOPERATIVE EXTENSION SERVICE

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT

Joan Bowling Kathy R. Byrnes

Kenton County Extension Agents

for Family & Consumer Sciences

10990 Marshall Road Covington, KY 41015

859/356-3155

www.kentoncountyextension.org

Cooperative Extension Service

University of Kentucky

Kenton County

10990 Marshall Road

Covington, KY 41015-9326

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