February 2008
Monthly Newsletter; Issue Number 2-08

Upcoming Programs Celebrate The Family-Erie! Friday, April 25, 8:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. Riverside Inn, Cambridge Springs, PA Cost: $23 per person

LONG LIVE BANANAS!

It's okay to store bananas in the refrigerator-once they have ripened. Cold interferes with the ripening process, and bringing refrigerated bananas back to room temperature will not reverse the process. However, once bananas have reached the desired degree of ripeness at room tempera-ture, they can be kept in the refrigerator for up to two weeks. The outside will turn brown, but they will still be light-colored on the inside. Once cut, bananas darken quickly unless sprinkled with citrus juice (try orange juice) or a mixture of citric acid and water. Very ripe bananas can be peeled, cut into chunks, wrapped in plastic and frozen to be used later for smoothies, or defrosted and mashed for baking or making fruit sauces.
Source: Let's Preserve, Lancaster County

SIMPLIFY YOUR FINANCIAL LIFE

Save time, reduce stress, eliminate clutter, lower the fees that you pay and maybe even earn a little extra on your savings and investments by following these ideas from the FDIC Consumer News to simplify your financial life.

• Organize personal and financial papers to make sure you and your family can quickly find what you need.
  
• Get rid of papers you're sure you don't need.
  
• Look into consolidating accounts or concentrating your business with fewer financial institutions.
  
• Sign up for direct deposit of your pay and benefit checks and other regular income.
  
• Have a certain sum automatically transferred each month to a savings or investment account.
  
• Arrange for automatic withdrawals from your checking account to cover recurring expenses such as
  a mortgage loan or utility bills.
  
• Explore banking and bill paying online, which saves time and money (instead of writing and mailing checks) and can help you monitor your account more efficiently than waiting for monthly statements in
  the mail.

CLEAR OUT THE CLUTTER

Having lots of stuff around - like piles of mail, stacks of paper grocery bags, newspapers and knick knacks - provides welcoming places for dust and its allergens to accumulate and for mold, mildew and cockroaches to live and grow.

• Keep small items, like CDs, tapes, DVDs, books, figurines and stuffed animals, in enclosed storage containers, drawers or closed cabinets.
  
• Toss old newspapers and magazines. Set a limit: one week for newspapers; three months for maga-zines. If you hold them longer for recycling, get a closed storage container or move them to the garage.
  
• Get rid of that under-cabinet stash of grocery bags. Insects love to live in them, crawl through them, and leave allergens behind. If they're damp, mold grows in them, too.

Delete the Dust

Regular dusting and vacuuming, along with some wise decorating choices, can help control the dust mite population.

• Dust furniture regularly using a furniture dusting product.
  
• Vacuum and wet-mop floors weekly. Use an upright vacuum or a canister-style with a power nozzle - they pick up two to six times as much dust from a rug as canisters without a power nozzle.
  
• Use special dust mite-proof covers, sometimes called "allergy impermeable" covers, to keep dust from going through pillows and mattresses. Wipe covers with a damp cloth every week.
  
• Avoid wall-to-wall carpeting, especially in bedrooms. Instead, use small, washable rugs and launder them weekly. If you can't avoid carpeting, choose a short, tight weave to minimize dust accumulation and make cleaning easier.
  
• Choose lightweight, washable curtains instead of heavy draperies.
  
• When buying furniture, consider hard or smooth, easily-cleaned surfaces (wood, vinyl, leather or laminate) instead of upholstery. In the bedroom, omit unnecessary fabric surfaces, such as upholstered headboards, bed canopies, dust ruffles and throw pillows.

Rub Out the Mildew

Moist, humid surfaces are the climate of choice for mold and mildew. Look for and eliminate sources of excess moisture.

• Use the exhaust fan when bathing, showering or cooking.
  
• Keep the areas around faucets and handles and under sinks clean and dry.
  
• Shower curtains are a favorite breeding ground for mold/mildew. Most shower curtains can be laundered using detergent and liquid household bleach. Check the care label on fabric shower curtains. For vinyl ones, a combination of vinegar and baking soda in warm water will remove the soap scum. Mildew stains can usually be removed by rubbing with a mild chlorine bleach solution.
  

Source: The Soap and Detergent Association.

REASONS TO CELEBRATE

Looking for a reason to plan a theme dinner for your family or just a reason to celebrate during the long winter months? Here are a few things you might want to celebrate during the month of February:

• American Heart Month
  
• Library Lovers Month
  
• Black American History Month
  
• National Cherry Month
  
• Children's Dental Health Month
  
• Sweet Potato Month
  If that's not enough there are:
  
• International Pancake Day-Feb. 5
  
• Chinese New Year-Feb. 7
  
• National Chili Day-Feb. 28
  
• And, of course, don't forget Valentine's Day on February 14!

Sincerely,

 

Janice M. Ronan	Holly K. Hedstrom
Extension Educator - Family Living/4-H	County Extension Director
Lynn B. Clint		tlv
Extension Educator - Family and Consumer Sciences		2/4/08

Penn State encourages persons with disabilities to participate in its programs and activities. If you anticipate needing any type of accommodation or have questions about the physical access provided, please contact Janice M. Ronan or Holly K. Hedstrom at 814-825-0900 in advance of your participation or visit.

This publication is available in alternative media on request.

The Pennsylvania State University is committed to the policy that all persons shall have equal access to programs, facilities, admission, and employment without regard to personal characteristics not related to ability, performance, or qualifications as determined by University policy or by state or federal authorities. It is the policy of the University to maintain an academic and work environment free of discrimination, including harassment. The Pennsylvania State University prohibits discrimination and harassment against any person because of age, ancestry, color, disability or handicap, national origin, race, religious creed, sex, sexual orientation, or veteran status. Discrimination or harassment against faculty, staff, or students will not be tolerated at The Pennsylvania State University. Direct all inquiries regarding the nondiscrimination policy to the Affirmative Action Director, The Pennsylvania State University,
201 Willard Building, University Park, PA 16802-2801,
Tel 814-865-4700/V, 814-863-1150/TTY.