An Educational Youth & Families, Agriculture and Natural Resources
Newsletter for Residents of York County

July - August, 2004

York County to Benefit From After-school Funds
After-school programs in Kittery, Eliot and South Berwick will benefit from grant funds from the National 4-H Council, through the JC Penney Afterschool Grant program.  The grant award was announced in May, 2004.

“Research has shown that students in quality afterschool programs have better academic performance, behavior, school attendance, and greater expectations for the future,” said Extension educator Jon Prichard, a co-author of the grant.

Maine 4H Afterschool will provide curricula and training to afterschool sites throughout Maine, including the three sites in York County, where the program is partnering with the Community Assets Builders program of the KEYS Community Wellness Coalition.

“This is a wonderful opportunity to support existing afterschool programs with an infusion of funding and staff training,” said Prichard.

A Vital Commodity to Communities
The need for afterschool programs is well-documented.

• 82 percent of adults say afterschool programs are essential for their communities (Afterschool Alert Poll Report, Afterschool Alliance, 2000).

• 86 percent of voters indicated the need for a national commitment to ensure that every child has a place in an afterschool program (JCPenney Afterschool Web Site).

• At least seven million and as many as 15 million “latchkey children” return to an empty house on any given afternoon (U.S. Census Bureau, Urban Institute estimates, 2000).

• Youth who do not participate in afterschool programs are at greater risk of violent crime (the juvenile crime triples after 3:00 P.M.), substance abuse, antisocial behavior, poor academic performance, and dropping out of school

Where Youth Achieve New Heights
Students in quality afterschool programs have better academic performance, behavior, school attendance, and greater expectations for the future (U.S. Departments of Education and Justice, 2000).

In a 2002 survey of parents with children who participate in after-school programs:

• More than 80 percent said their children obtained new skills and are more confident learners because of afterschool programs, and 85 percent said their children enjoyed school more.

• More than 70 percent of respondents said afterschool programs helped their children stay out of trouble and learn how to settle arguments without fighting.

• More than 80 percent of the respondents said they worried less about their child’s safety after school and appreciated their child’s talents more.

• 75 percent said afterschool programs helped their children get along with other family members better (Multiple Choices After School: Findings From the Extended-Services Schools Initiative, the Wallace-Reader’s Digest Funds, 2002).

Although the program in York County will focus on Kittery, Eliot and South Berwick, there will also be limited support available to programs in other communities, through a lending library and Extension staff support.

Giant Hogweed
An attractive but dangerous, noxious weed. Have you seen this plant?

About Giant Hogweed
Giant Hogweed is a member of the carrot or parsley family (Apiaceae) that was introduced into Europe and North America in the early 1900s. It is native to the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Its massive size and imposing appearance made it desirable for arboretums and gardens. Giant Hogweed soon escaped from cultivation and became established in rich, moist soils along roadside ditches, stream banks, waste ground, along tree lines and open wooded areas. In the U.S. it is known to occur in Pennsylvania, Maryland, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, New York, Ohio, Oregon, and Washington. The plant's name comes from Hercules, of ancient mythological fame, and Giant Hogweed is aptly described as robust in appearance.

Hogweed is Hazardous
This tall majestic plant is a public health hazard because of its potential to cause severe skin irritation in susceptible people. Plant sap produces painful, burning blisters within 24 to 48 hours after contact. Plant juices also can produce painless red blotches that later develop into purplish or brownish scars that may persist for several years. For an adverse reaction to occur, the skin, contaminated with plant juices, must be moist (perspiration) and then exposed to sunlight. Some other plants are capable of causing this reaction, known as phytophotodermatitis (Phyto=plant, Photo=light), including several that are also in the Giant Hogweed family. Giant Hogweed is a Federal Noxious Weed, making it unlawful to propagate, sell or transport this plant to the US. Since 2001, the U.S. and Maine Departments of Agriculture have been surveying for this weed.

Hogweed Prevention and Control
If you suspect you have Giant Hogweed on your property, contact the Maine Department of Agriculture staff who will help you verify identity and schedule a site visit if needed. The Department does not have a control program, but we will be glad to help with management suggestions.

Here are some points to remember when attempting to control giant hogweed:

• Seeds can persist for 510 years in the soil and are dispersed by wind and water.

• The plant has a tuberous perennial root system.

• Control plants when less than five feet tall as they are easier to manage.

• Be adequately covered when cutting these plants. Wear gloves, long sleeves and long pants.

• Don't share seedlings with your neighbors!

These are the most effective control methods for landowners:

• Remove the flower heads before they go to seed.

• Hire a professional pesticide applicator or apply appropriate herbicides following label directions when plants are actively growing.

• Dig up single plants making certain to remove all the roots.

 We need your help in locating new sites of Giant Hogweed in Maine.  If you see this weed, please report its occurrence by calling the Maine Department of Agriculture at 207-287-3891.

 To view color pictures of Giant Hogweed online visit:  http://dnr.metrokc.gov/wlr/LANDS/weeds/hogweed.htm

Sizzle Safely This Summer: Tips for Great Grilling
Outdoor grilling is a convenient and easy way to make great tasting, low-fat meals.  But should concerns about cancer-causing substances in grilled foods send you back into the kitchen to simply boil or bake?  Relax.  There’s no need to pitch the briquettes or ditch the gas grill just yet.  Use the following tips for grilling safely and you’ll be on your way to safer summer cooking.

Tips for Grilling Safely:

• Partially cook meat, fish or poultry in microwave, then immediately grill to finish cooking.  Microwave foods just prior to placing on the grill to reduce the amount of time foods are in the danger zone.  This practice cuts down on the amount of time food is exposed to high heat and smoke.

• Trim away excess fat to avoid flare-ups.

• Use smaller pieces, so foods cook more quickly.

• Flip foods frequently.

• Use medium and low temperatures.

•  Cut away charred and burned pieces before serving.

•  Grill marinated vegetables in foil.

 Adapted from: Environmental Nutrition, June 2001, Volume 24, Number 6

Mapping the Future of Maine’s Beaches and Birds
During this century, global climate change is projected to affect coastlines through rising seas, accelerated erosion, and increased severity of flooding from coastal storms.  The influence of climate change will be felt dramatically along coastal beaches and dunes where this dynamic landform is already under accelerated change from sea-level rise and the influence of coastal development and engineering on the supply and movement of sand.  Shoreline change affects the level of coastal hazards for people as well as the distribution and abundance of shorebird nesting and foraging habitat.  To anticipate the impact of climate change on Maine’s beaches and dunes, Maine Geological Survey, Maine Sea Grant, University of Maine and Maine Coastal Program are examining and mapping the geology, historical shoreline changes, storm impacts, and shorebird habitats of these ecosystems using a range of innovative technologies and environmental monitoring strategies .

Led by The Maine Geological Survey, efforts are underway to delineate 100-year erosion hazard areas along portions of Maine’s sandy shoreline for what may be the most forward-looking effort of its kind in the United States.  Previous work in Maine suggested that there would be significant impacts to coastal development from sea-level rise in the range of one to three feet. Maine’s policy of hazard avoidance has been cited as an effective model and preliminary study has indicated that new development has been safer. Our current priority is to identify dunes, both developed and undeveloped, that are most susceptible to erosion during the next 100 years.  The results have multiple applications for identifying coastal hazards, siting coastal development, evaluating opportunities for replentishing beaches with sand, and managing coastal habitat loss.

For development, Maine’s Coastal Sand Dune Rules, revised by the Maine Department of Environmental Protection in 2003, require evaluation of erosion during this century as well as the immediate erosion and flooding from a 100-year storm.  Maine also requires an assessment of beach and dune changes due to 2 feet of sea-level rise in the next 100 years based on local adjustments to global predictions. According to the Rules, an erosion hazard area (EHA) is any portion of the coastal sand dune system that can reasonably be expected to become part of a coastal wetland in the next 100 years due to cumulative and collective changes in the shoreline from: (1) historical long-term erosion; (2) short-term erosion resulting from a 100-year storm; or (3) flooding in a 100-year storm after a two-foot rise in sea level.  The Rules also state that the presence of stabilization structures, such as seawalls, are not necessarily sufficient evidence to demonstrate shoreline or site stability during the next 100 years.

The historical influence of humans on coastal sand budgets has been shown to far exceed natural changes in the last century and is expected to be the same or greater in this century.  Managing the present coast as well as projecting the influence of historical use and future climate change at a local level requires careful interpretation of past trends and sophisticated hazard assessment techniques such as those being applied currently in Maine.

Steve Dickson and Peter Slovinsky, Maine Geological Survey and Kristen Whiting-Grant, Maine Sea Grant & UMCE

Instant Messaging (IM) and your Children

How IM Works
In our fast-paced world, sometimes even the rapid response of e-mail is not fast enough. There is no way of knowing if the person you are sending e-mail to is online at that particular moment or not. Also, if you are sending multiple e-mails back and forth with the same person, you normally have to click through a few steps to read, reply and send the e-mail. This is why instant messaging (IM) has gained popularity.

Instant messaging allows someone to maintain a list of people that they wish to interact with.  Messages can be sent to any of the people in a selected list, often called a buddy list or contact list, as long as that person is online. Sending a message opens up a small window where you and your friend can type in messages that both of you can see.

Most of the popular instant-messaging programs provide a variety of features:

• Instant messages - Send notes back and forth with a friend who is online

• Chat - Create your own custom chat room with friends or co-workers

• Web links - Share links to your favorite Web sites

• Images - Look at an image stored on your friend's computer

• Sounds - Play sounds for your friends

• Files - Share files by sending them directly to your friends

• Talk - Use the Internet instead of a phone to actually talk with friends

• Streaming content - Real-time or near-real-time stock quotes and news 

Is Instant Messaging Safe for Kids?

The short answer is - sure. If you monitor your child’s buddy list and set up the parental controls (easy to do - just search for them on each internet service provider home page and you'll find a menu that shows you how in a few simple steps).  Your child can probably chat away until he/she runs out of things to say (experience tells us that is sooner rather than later). And while they are at it, have them IM their grandparents.

Common Sense says, however, that limiting IM time for your kids is a good thing.

• Don't let them IM while doing homework.

• Set a time limit (like we had when we were constantly on the phone at their ages) so that they build the muscle memory of turning off the computer (sometimes it seems they forget how!) and so that you don't argue each time.

Finally, make some rules:

• Tell your kids that the door stays open when the computer is on. You have to know who they are IMing if not what they're saying. It's a matter of safety.

• Tell your kids that under no circumstances should they ever IM someone they don't know and they should never reveal where they live, and what their phone number is or attach a photograph of themselves.

 Adapted from  www.howstuffworks.com  and www.commonsensemedia.org

Resources for You!
 
Youth “Financial Champions” Series
The 4-H Cooperative Curriculum System has published a wonderful youth guide for learning about money.  It’s part of the “Financial Champions” series published through Pennsylvania State University.  Here are some descriptions of each of the parts:

 Part One – Money Fundamentals: No matter what you choose to do with your life, you will have to learn to manage money to be successful.  This series will help you discover and apply sound money management principles while at the same time helping you learn more about yourself.

 Money Fundamentals will help you think about money as a “tool” to use in achieving your goals.  You will use what you have (money, time, talents, etc.) to get what you need or want (goals.)

 Knowing your money personality is the basis for learning to distinguish between needs and wants.  Price: $3.95

Part Two – Money Moves: You will continue to learn new skills to help you become a successful money manager.  All of the activities will help you learn how to acquire and evaluate information.  In addition, you’ll learn how to predict outcomes and analyze your own finances.

The activities will help you think about money as a “tool” to achieve goals.  Money should not be the goal, but rather a way to get where you want to go!  Think about money as the foundation on which to build your goals. Price: $3.95

Group Activity Helper’s Guide: The experiential learning model is the basis for Financial Champions activities.  The steps in this model are specific and sequential.  Experiential learning encourages youth to try to do the activity before being told or shown how.  Reflection and application questions ask youth to share what they did, process what was most important about the experience, generalize the life skill and personal financial skill to their own lives and think through how they could apply the skills to a new situation.

Youth learn best through trial and error and practice.  As they learn and discover new concepts and skills on their own, youth begin to feel they are competent.  The greatest gift adult leaders can give youth is to help them realize they are capable of mastering new skills. Price: $4.25

For more information, to review or order copies of these materials contact the Extension office.  To review and order direct, visit http://www.n4hccs.org/shop/products.asp

Helping Youth Learn About Themselves through the Arts

 Theatre Arts 1 – Play the Role
(40 pages) The activities in this first level are a wonderful introduction to the world of theater arts as the child and helper learn together in the fascinating world of make believe. Grades K-2.  $3.95

Theatre Arts 2 – Become a Puppeteer
(40 pages) This guide is exciting and lots of fun for both youth and helpers. Youth create sound effects, make puppets and prepare a puppet skit. Although acting is the primary subject matter, young people will practice and learn many life skills such as problem solving, managing feelings, decision making and communicating.
Grades 3-5. $3.95

Theatre Arts 3 – Set the Stage
(40 pages) Youth do improvisations, create disguises and design costumes. They learn how to express themselves clearly in the exaggerated manner that is seen on stage and screen. Other life skills practiced include problem solving, accepting differences, communicating, learning to learn and decision making. Grades 6-8. $3.95

Theatre Arts - Group Activity Helper's Guide 
(40 pages) This guide assists the Helper to facilitate learning throughout this project. How the skills are addressed throughout the series is explained and the "Advice to the Helper," provides the valuable information about experiential learning. The group activities reinforce the skills youth develop. Helpful hints throughout the guide aid the helper as the youth work through the four achievement programs of the theater arts curricula. Price $3.95

For more information, to review or order copies of these materials contact the Extension office.  To review and order direct, visit http://www.n4hccs.org/shop/products.asp

 Programs for You!
 

Vaughn Island 4-H Environmental Camp

• June 28– Aug 11:  3 and 4-day overnight camping trips with environmental education focus at Vaughn Island, Cape Porpoise Harbor, Maine

• Space is limited.  Pre-registration required

• Program fee $125-$165

• Call the Extension Office for a brochure and application

SPLASH!  From the minute you set foot on Vaughn Island 'til the moment you leave, you're part of an exciting learning adventure!  Our unique program offers three and four day tenting experiences where youth discover -- through their own natural curiosity and imagination -- the sights, sounds, smell and feel of Maine's rocky coast.

Designed with the whole child in mind, Vaughn Island 4-H Camp brings lasting memories.  Living, working and playing together, campers make new friends and develop a sense of trust and responsibility for the whole group.  An emphasis is placed on no-trace camping skills, cooperation, discovery of the island's plant and animal life, coastal heritage, and marine ecology.

Vaughn Island Camp is affiliated with Tanglewood 4-H Camp and Learning Center.

Summer Garden Tour & Workshop Series

Tuesday,  July  20 , 6:30 - 8:00 p.m.
York County Extension Office Grounds
Free of charge
Pre-registration is not required  - just come and dress casually for out doors!

 6:30—7:15 p.m. -   Invasive Plants in Maine
What are invasive plants? How can you recognize them, avoid them and eradicate them?

7:20—8:00 p.m. - Native Maine Plants
Landscaping with Native Maine Plants—it’s easy, beautiful, and the best news: they take less care, less fertilizer and have less pest problems.

Wells Branch Extension Homemakers Fair

July 16 – 9 a.m.-12 noon
Congregational Church on Route 1 in Wells
Free and Open to the Public 

The fair will include crafts, a white elephant table, books, and food.

Preserving the Harvest

Tuesday, July 27, 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
York County Cooperative Extension Office
Workshop is Free,Pre-register by July 19 by calling 1-800-287-1535

Ever wonder how to preserve all those great garden vegetables?  This hands-on canning workshop will teach you the basic steps to success for canning salsa and jam.  Workshop Leader: Kathy Savoie, MS, RD, Extension Educator. Limit class size to 12 (minimum requirement of 8).

Summer Garden Tour & Workshop Series

Tuesday,  August 17 , 6:30 - 8:00 p.m.
York County Extension Office Grounds
Free of charge

Pre-registration is not required  - just come and dress casually for out doors!

6:30 - 7:15 p.m.- Planting a Wildflower Meadow
Learn to plant a wildflower meadow that is ecologically sound, attracts lots of butterflies, hummingbirds, and beneficial insects, takes little care after establishment and is a nice alternative to lawns.

7:20 - 8:00 p.m. - Harvesting & Storing Those Herbs!
Learn to harvest and store herbs for use over the long winter season. 

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