Holiday Safety Leads to a “Greener” Season

This holiday season, make small changes that will increase your home’s safety, lower your utility bills, and conserve energy. You will be creating a safer home while saving money on your energy bills and you will be helping the environment by reducing your carbon footprint. North Carolina Cooperative Extension’s
E-Conservation Program has many energy saving suggestions to help North Carolina consumers reduce energy use and increase energy efficiency in the home.

LED Lighting:

LEDs are Safer:
Unlike traditional incandescent Christmas lights, LED lights do not get hot – a big plus if you will be using them on a real tree; and beneficial for any use. Because LED holiday lights are cool to the touch, replacing your old strings of 7-watt bulbs with LED lights can decrease the chances of home fires.

LEDs are More Energy Efficient:
LEDs use 90% less electricity than regular Christmas lights, saving you money on your holiday utility bills, and reducing your impact on the environment.

LEDs Last Longer:
LED lights last up to 100,000 hours. Assuming you use your Christmas lights five hours a day between Thanksgiving and New Year’s, that’s only 200 hours of use each year! How’s that for long-lasting?

LEDs are More Durable:
Since LEDs use light emitting diodes (not incandescence) to produce light, there are no filaments to have burn out; and thus, no bulbs to replace. Just plug in your Christmas lights, and they’re ready for use. Also, since the bulbs are plastic, rather than glass, there’s less chance of breaking lights while you’re stringing them up, and less time spent fussing over how they’re packed up after the holidays. Just toss them in a box, and forget about them until next year.

LEDs Come in a Variety of Styles:
Big bulbs, small bulbs, colored bulbs, white bulbs—LED Christmas lights come in a wide variety of styles – so there’s truly something for everyone. You can even find snowflake-shaped lights, rope lights and net lights.

LEDs are Inexpensive:Strands of indoor/outdoor lights can be purchased from big-box retailers for as little as $9.99 a strand.


For more energy saving tips, go to E-Conservation.net. The E-Conservation Program was created to inform and educate North Carolina consumers about ways to both reduce energy use and increase energy efficiency in the home. This project is designed to reach and teach consumers to be proactive in reducing their home energy consumption and in saving money through no-and low-cost energy efficiency measures, behavioral changes and home retrofits.

Military Extension Internship

A new initiative and partnership between the Cooperative Extension System and the Department of Defense has provided the funding for a national, military childcare/youth development internship program. Through this initiative, students and recent graduates will have the opportunity to develop professional skills in childcare and youth development through practical work experience with military children, youth, and families. Interns’ compensation will include travel to and from the internship site and housing for the duration of the placement. Interns will be placed on military installations across the United States.

The Military Extension Internship Program will continue to accept applications for its inaugural term through December 7th for placements beginning January 11, 2010. More information and application materials can be found at www.extension.purdue.edu/military, and we are happy to answer any questions you may have.

Application materials for Summer 2010 internships will be available after December 21st.

Family Fun Volunteers Contest (Deadline: November 30)

Does your family volunteer together? FamilyFun wants to hear about what it is you do -- and why! Tell FamilyFun about your family's commitment to service and your family (or nominee) could win up to $5,000 to donate to the charity of your choice! With judging help from HandsOn Network, FamilyFun magazine and Disney are giving away four grand prizes of $5,000 and five first-place prizes of $500 to each winner's favorite charity. All families participating in the contest will receive a FamilyFun Volunteers' certificate. The contest ends November 30, 2009.

For more information check out this website.

The November Clover News is now available. Click here to find out all the new and exciting things going on. We apologize for the delay in getting out your mailed copy, we had some issues with postage. It is in the mail and you should be receiving it in the next couple of days. Be sure to pay attention to registration deadlines. If you have questions, please let us know at 336-372-5597 or amy_lucas@ncsu.edu

Pumpkins Galore

Did you know that pumpkins are really a squash and some can grow to over 1000 pounds? Check out this special edition NEWSLETTER devoted entirely to bright orange treats growing in the fields. Find out facts about their life cycle and anatomy as well as some fun facts you may not have known. For more information on pumpkins or how you can grow your own, contact the Extension Service at 336-372-5597.

Military Appreciation Day & Veteran's Day Opportunities

Here are a few Veteran's Day Opportunities sent by J. Scott Enroughty Project Manager Extension Assistant/Military Programs.

Golden Corral's Appreciation Dinner

Golden Corral's 9th annual Military Appreciation Monday dinner will be held on Monday, November 16, 2009, from 5 to 9 pm in all Golden Corral restaurants nationwide.

The free dinner meal is a special "thank you tribute" to any person who has ever served in the United States Military. If you are a veteran, retired, currently serving, in the National Guard or Reserves, you are invited to join us for Golden Corral's Military Appreciation Monday dinner.

To date, Golden Corral restaurants have provided over 2.2 million free meals and contributed over $3.3 million to the Disabled American Veterans organization.

To locate a Golden Corral near you, visit www.goldencorral.com/locator.


Belk Discount

Belk is having a grassroots events, which allows Local/Federal Goverment employees and Military families to receive a special 20% discount on October 27, 2009. This would be on all regular & sale priced merchandise with very limited exclusions. All Belk stores will be participating. We too at Belk, appreciate the efforts of our military and the sacrifices their families endure to make us safe here at home. We have stores in AL, AR, FL, GA, KY, LA, MD, MO, MS, NC, OK, SC, TN, TX, VA, WV. For the discount coupon please click HERE.



Veterans Day offering at Applebees

On Wednesday Nov. 11 (Veterans Day), Applebee's will be offering all US
Veterans and active duty military personnel (including Reserves and
National Guard) a free entrée, including traditional sides, at all
domestic Applebee's restaurants. Military personnel can select from
one of six entrees:

7 Ounce Sirloin, Three Cheese Chicken Penne, Fiesta Lime Chicken, Fire
Pit Bacon Burger, Chicken Tenders Platter, and Oriental Chicken Salad.

For more information feel free to visit www.applebees.com and click on
"Veterans Day".

Leaders' Fall Day Reminder

Just a reminder that the deadline to register for the upcoming Leaders' Fall day is quickly approaching. The event will be held on November 14th in Rowan County from 9 am - 1 pm. This is a great time to get some ideas for your club or networking with other 4-H Volunteers. It is also a good opportunity to talk to others if you are interested in starting your own club. You do not have to be a current volunteer or club leader to attend. Please note the registration deadline has been moved to Wednesday, November 4th by 5 pm. You can register by calling the Extension Office at 336-372-5597.

Lunch and limited transportation will be provided. For more information, contact Amy at amy_lucas@ncsu.edu or by calling the Extension Office.

National 4-H Week (October 4-10)

Even though National 4-H week is almost over it's not too late to get involved with Alleghany 4-H

In Alleghany County there are more than 400 youth 4-H members and 50 volunteers involved in the 4-H program.

The fundamental 4-H ideal of practical, "learn by doing" experiences encourage youth to experiment, innovate and think independently. 4-H programs are offered through school-based, after-school and camp settings and within community clubs.

You can join the 4-H community today. To learn how to become a 4-H member or volunteer leader in Alleghany County, contact Amy Lucas, Extension Agent - 4-H Youth Development at the Alleghany Extension Office at (336) 372-5597 or amy_lucas@ncsu.edu.

4-H is a community of six million young people across America learning leadership, citizenship, and life skills. National 4-H Council is the private sector, non-profit partner of National 4-H Headquarters (USDA). The 4-H programs are implemented by the 106 Land Grant Universities adn the Cooperative Extension System through their 3,100 local Extension offices across the country. Learn more about the 4-H adventure at http://www.nc4h.org/.

Wilkes County Fair and Livestock Shows

The Wilkes County Fair is just around the corner. The fair will be held on October 13-17, 2009 at the Wilkes County Fairgrounds. For more information and directions check out the Wilkes County Fair WEBSITE.

Tuesday, October 13 - Beef and Meat

Goat Shows

6pm at the Livestock Barn

Entry Forms due by October 5th.

Thursday, October 15 Pet Show

5:30 pm Livestock Barn

For a full list of classes and registration forms click HERE.

West Central District 4-H Volunteer Leaders' Fall Day

**SAVE THE DATE

The upcoming Leaders' Fall day will be Saturday, November 14, 2009 at the Rowan County Extension Center in Salisbury, North Carolina from 9:00 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.

This event is open to those who are current leaders or volunteers or to anyone interested in learning more about 4-H.

Cost: Free

Refreshments and lunch will be provided.

The deadline to register is Friday, November 6th!

This year workshop topics include: What is ACE, Project Books from A to Z, Goat Basics, Woodworking, Friends of State Parks, Etiquette, Gifts by Nature and Sew Resourceful. For a detailed agenda, please click HERE.

Transportation will be provided, at no charge, to the first five registrants. For more information or to register contact the Extension Office at (336) 372-5597 or e-mail amy_lucas@ncsu.edu.