Extension Update: November 2009 Archives

Congratulations to Robin Peters for her reassignment as an Extension educator providing day-to-day coordination of several programs of Nutrition Connections.

Robin has moved to the Merrimack County office in Boscawen to work in tandem with Debbie Luppold, Extension specialist, Food and Nutrition.

Robin will oversee the requirements and projects for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Education grant. She will act as liaison between USDA Food and Nutrition Service (USDA FNS), the NH Food Stamp Program and UNH Cooperative Extension.

Four UNH Cooperative Extension educators were recognized for their achievements at the recent meeting of the National Association of Extension 4-H Agents in Rochester, NY.

Recognized were Kathy Jablonski, Grafton County, the Distinguished Service Award for eight or more years of experience, Nancy Evans, Merrimack County, Meritorious Service, for her overall outstanding commitment to the 4-H program, and retired Extension Educator Dotty Burrows, Carroll County, for 25 years of service. They are shown in the photo to the right.

Also recognized was Linda Willard, Strafford County, with the Achievement in Service Award for those with less than seven years of experience. (Linda was unable to attend.)

Congratulations!

UNH Cooperative Extension recently received the following grants:

Extension Specialist Stan Swier received $23,353 from the NH Dept. of Agriculture for a public outreach and detection campaign of the Asian Long-Horn beetle.

Extension Specialist Alan Eaton received $76,601 from the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture for Extension's Integrated Pest Management Coordination and Support Program.

Extension Specialist Matt Tarr received two grants totaling $48,806 from the NH Fish and Game Dept., for the Wildlife Action Plan technical assistance efforts. He also received $12,474 from Fish and Game for the New England Cottontail technical assistance work.

Land and Water Conservation Coordinator Amanda Stone received two grants from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, for a total of $136,000 for the "NH Wetland Mapper: A Web-Based Application for Assessing Wetland Functions and Value" project. Stone also received an $11,914 grant from the NH Charitable Foundation for the "Saving Special Places" project.

Extension Specialist Michael Sciabarrasi received $205,616 from the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture's Risk Management Agency for the "Crop Insurance Education" in targeted states. Extension, working in partnership with the NH Dept. of Agriculture, USDA's Farm Service and Risk Management agencies, and private organizations, will inform and educate farmers on the principles of risk management and strategies for managing production, marketing and financial risks.

UNH Panhellenic Council Interim President Sarah Sinnott and Kate Kalil of Alpha Phi organized a Greek Life Hero Pack Day at the MUB recently. Approximately 75 sorority sisters were in attendance, helping UNH Cooperative Extension's Operation: Military Kids program.

Hero Packs are for children of military parents who are deployed, and include such items as writing tablets, stuffed animals, etc. Hero Packs are backpacks filled with mementos and items designed to help connect kids with their deployed family member. Presenting Hero Packs to kids is a way to show appreciation and hand-deliver a salute to military youth for their strength and sacrifices while parents are deployed.

Sponsored by UNH Cooperative Extension 4-H Youth Development, which partners with all branches of the military, American Legion, Red Cross, schools, the spiritual community, YMCA, Community Recreation Centers, Boys and Girls Clubs, PlusTime NH, and other youth and family organizations to form the outreach effort to these youth throughout New Hampshire.

Shown in the photo with Charlotte Cross, UNH Cooperative Extension Specialist, 4-H Youth Development, are Katie Georgia and Kaitlyn Stone, both from Alpha Xi Delta, and Lydia Binford, Alpha Phi.

UNH Cooperative Extension’s Family, Home and Garden Education Center now has a much simpler name: UNH Cooperative Extension Education Center.

Following a two-year strategic planning process, the Center’s Advisory Council recommended a stronger connection to UNH Cooperative Extension in the Center’s name. The shortened name still maintains the most important part of the name, Education Center, to help with continuity. The shorter name was proposed and approved by Extension’s Leadership Team.

The physical location of the Center in Manchester at 200 Bedford St., will be referred to as the UNH Cooperative Extension Education Center. InfoLine will continue to be used in reference to the toll-free phone number at the Center.

A marketing plan also recommended discontinuance of the Family, Home and Garden logo. A survey of the logo indicated no loss of recognition, and the logo competed with UNH branding. New promotional materials more consistent with UNH Cooperative Extension branding will be distributed.

One of Extension Specialist Brian Krug's episodes of FloriCAST in the Greenhouse Grower Magazine won a silver award recently from the America Society of Business Publication Editors.

The silver award was for the step-by-step how-to podcast for the Proper Handling of Unrooted Poinsettia Cuttings, targeting greenhouse growers.

Congratulations, Brian!