Senior Citizens Meals and RCC Food Pantry meal pick-up is today, 12:00 - 1:00 pm.

If you are 60 and older, or disabled, meal pick up is at the Community Building.

The Roachdale Christian Church Food Pantry will be today from 5:00 - 7:00 pm instead of on Saturday. They will resume their regular schedule next week.

            Next-generation farmers and business partners are encouraged to join Purdue Extension this winter for a six-session series “Grow Your Farm Fridays.” The series will be delivered in person at five locations around the state on Friday mornings from 9:00-11:30 a.m. beginning on January 21^st and ending February 25^th.

            Grow Your Farm Fridays is a series dedicated to developing key skills in tomorrow’s farm managers. The six sessions will include programs on: strategic thinking, farm diversification, marketing, carbon credits, sustainability, legal advice, pesticide licensing, corn and soybean production, and more.

            Locally, the Grow Your Farm Fridays will be hosted at the Purdue Extension – Putnam County Office (physical address 152 E Columbia St., Greencastle). A virtual option to attend the program series is also available.

            Continuing education credits are available at select programs for private applicators (PARP), certified crop advisors (CEUs), and commercial applicators (CCHs).

            The registration fee is $100, and can be accomplished here: https://cvent.me/l7RdwB The registration deadline is January 17th. For more information visit https://extension.purdue.edu/county/kosciusko/. For reasonable accommodations, please call 260-636-2111 prior to the program. Registration questions can be directed to the Purdue Education Store: edustore@purdue.edu.  

Purdue Extension Master Gardeners (EMG) receive training in horticulture to equip them to volunteer to assist Purdue Extension with home horticulture education in local communities.  The requirements for Purdue EMG certification include acceptance into the training through an application and screening process, payment of registration fee, completion of the EMG Basic Training which includes passing the open-book final exam with a score of 70% or higher, and contributing at least 40 hours of volunteer service approved by the local EMG County Coordinator within two years.  Purdue Extension Master Gardeners are also required to complete at least 12 volunteer and 6 continuing education hours every year in order to stay active. 

For 2022, there will be a Statewide Virtual Purdue EMG Basic Training from
February 1 – May 3, 2022 (does not includes final exam due date). Many counties have come together to offer this program which includes a local county connection hour. The statewide live webinars will be held on Tuesdays, from 6:30 – 8:30 pm. In Putnam County, the local county connection hour will be on Wednesdays, from 6:00 – 7:00 pm each week. Most of the local county connection hours will be held virtual, but a few may be held in-person. To complete the course, we ask that you attend both the statewide virtual sessions and the local county connection hours.

Application and Registration Information

Please read the Purdue Extension Master Gardener Program Policy Guide and complete, sign, and return the Purdue Extension Master Gardener Volunteer Application and Agreement (Form EMG-1) to the Putnam County Extension Office (located at 12 Central Square, Greencastle, IN). All applicants are also required to consent to national and state sex and violent offender registry checks and provide evidence of a government issued photo ID to your local EMG County Coordinator or designated Purdue Extension staff. You may download the policy guide here: http://tinyurl.com/MGstateguide or contact Jenna Nees at smith535@purdue.edu or 765-653-8411 to receive a copy.

Form EMG-1 & Government Issued Photo ID Due by January 11^th.

Upon confirmation of acceptance of your application and providing evidence of government issued photo ID, an online registration link will be sent to you. The registration options are listed below:

• $180.00 for an individual registration with print version of Purdue EMG Manual.
• $280.00 for two people sharing a print version of the Purdue EMG Manual. (Sharing option works best for two people living in the same household.)

Purdue is committed to making all programs accessible to participants. If you require auxiliary aids or services, or if you have other program-related concerns, please contact Jenna Nees at smith535@purdue.edu or 765-653-8411 at least 2 weeks prior to the program.

Visit our homepage at www.extension.purdue.edu/putnam or you can contact the local

Purdue Extension Office by calling 765.653.8411 for more information regarding this week’s column topic or to RSVP for upcoming events. It is always best to call first to assure items are ready when you arrive and to RSVP for programs. While many publications are free, some do have a fee. Purdue University is an equal access/equal opportunity institution. All times listed are Eastern Time.

Upcoming Events:

January 4 – Extension Office reopens

January 4 – African Violets & the Gesneriad Family, virtual program, 7 pm,
         https://tinyurl.com/PutMG22

January 10 & 24 – “Where Does Your Money Go?”, 2-3pm, Putnam County Public Library,
                    register at 765-653-8411

January 11 – Last day to apply for the virtual Master Gardener course starting February 1^st

January 11 – Local Leadership: Running for Office, Fairgrounds, 6-8 pm, register at
                     https://tinyurl.com/run4officePutCo22

January 13, 20, 27 – Winter Walking group, 9-10am, Putnam County Fairgrounds, register
                                  at 765-653-8411

January 20 & 27 – So You’ve Inherited a Farm, Now What?, virtual program, 6:30-8:30 pm,
                    $25, register at https://cvent.me/a8NVYZ

January 21 – Grow Your Farm Fridays, 9-11:30 am, Extension Office, $100, register by
            Jan. 17^th at https://cvent.me/l7RdwB

January 25 – Garden Conference, 6 pm, The Beef House, $50, register by Jan. 18^th at
           https://cvent.me/Wr5GyE

January 27 – Putnam County Extension & SWCD Annual Dinner, $5, 6:00 pm, Putnam Co.
           Fairgrounds

The Roachdale Christian Church Food Pantry will be open tonight 5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. 

Tonight is in place of Saturday.

Please contact the Roachdale Christian Church office (765) 522-1913 for further information.

As holiday celebrations continue, concern is rising for the nation’s blood supply, which has now dipped to concerninglevels and could force hospitals to hold off on essential blood and platelet transfusions for patients.

Historically low blood supply levels not seen in more than a decade persist for the American Red Cross, which supplies about 40% of the nation’s blood.The ongoing decline comes at a time of year when donations typically fall. Holiday get-togethers, school breaks and winter weather often lead to lower donor turnout, potentially further compounding the situation.

Potential donors are urged to schedule an appointment now by using the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting RedCrossBlood.org or calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).

If there is not an immediate opportunity available to donate, donors are asked to make an appointment in the days and weeks ahead to ensure the Red Cross can replenish and then maintain a sufficient blood supply.

In thanks,all who come to give through Jan. 2 will receive an exclusive Red Cross long-sleeved T-shirt, while supplies last.

Those who come to give blood, platelets or plasma in January will automatically be entered for a chance to win a getaway to Super Bowl LVI in Los Angeles. As an extra thank-you from the Red Cross, those who come to donate in January will also be automatically entered to win a home theater package and a $500 e-gift card. Terms apply; visit RedCrossBlood.org/SuperBowl for more information.

Blood drive safety 

Each Red Cross blood drive and donation center follows the highest standards of safety and infection control, and?additional precautions?– including face masks for donors and staff, regardless of vaccination status – have been implemented to help protect the health of all those in attendance. Donors are?asked to schedule an appointment prior to arriving at the drive. 

Save time during donation

Donors can also save up to 15 minutes at the blood drive by completing a RapidPass®. With RapidPass®, donors complete the pre-donation reading and health history questionnaire online, on the day of donation, from a mobile device or computer. To complete a RapidPass®, follow the instructions at RedCrossBlood.org/RapidPass or use the Red Cross Blood Donor App.  

To donate blood, individuals need to bring a blood donor card or driver’s license or two other forms of identification that are required at check-in. Individuals who are 17 years of age in most states (16 with parental consent where allowed by state law), weigh at least 110 pounds and are in generally good health may be eligible to donate blood. High school students and other donors 18 years of age and younger also must meet certain height and weight requirements.

Health insights for donors 

At a time when health information has never been more important, the Red Cross is screening all blood, platelet and plasma donations from self-identified African American donors for the sickle cell trait. This additional screening will provide Black donors with an additional health insight and help the Red Cross identify compatible blood types more quickly to help patients with sickle cell disease who require trait-negative blood. Blood transfusion is an essential treatment for those with sickle cell disease, and blood donations from individuals of the same race, ethnicity and blood type have a unique ability to help patients fighting sickle cell disease.    

Donors can expect to receive sickle cell trait screening results, if applicable, within one to two weeks through the Red Cross Blood Donor App and the online donor portal at RedCrossBlood.org.  

State Rep. Beau Baird (R-Greencastle) invites constituents to complete the 2022 issue survey to provide feedback ahead of the legislative session starting Jan. 4.

Constituents in House District 44, which includes all of Putnam County and portions of Clay, Morgan, Owen and Parke counties, will receive mailed postcards on how to complete the survey. To get started today, constituents can visit in.gov/h44 and then click on the red button labeled "Take My Survey."

"Public feedback is important to legislators when considering new laws and the biggest issues that need to be addressed," Baird said. "I hope to hear from Hoosiers in my district on what they want to see accomplished during the next session."
 

To complete the survey, constituents must be a resident of House District 44 and submit it by the Dec. 31 deadline. The survey questions are intended to reflect issues that may come before the Legislature and should not be interpreted as a reflection of their legislator's views.

Constituents can determine and confirm who their state representative is online by visiting the Indiana General Assembly's website at iga.in.gov, clicking on the "Find Your Legislator" tab and entering their home address.

Baird said the public can participate in the legislative process by completing the survey, testifying in committee and staying connected. Constituents can visit iga.in.gov to watch livestreams of session and committee meetings, view archived meetings, and access meeting calendars and meeting agendas. Hoosiers can also sign up to receive regular email news updates from Baird by visiting in.gov/h44 and entering their email address.

For help completing the survey, constituents can contact Baird at h44@iga.in.gov or by calling 1-800-382-9841.

The 2022 legislative session begins in January and must conclude by mid-March.

Retirement is one of few financial goals that people cannot borrow money for. There is no such thing as a “retirement loan.” Therefore, not surprisingly, one of the most frequently-cited goals that people save money for is retirement. Below are six “evergreen” time-tested steps to achieve financial security in later life:

Determine a Post-Career Income Goal
There is no magic number. The amount that people need depends on factors such as financial goals and lifestyle decisions, work plans, availability of employer benefits, health status, and estimated life expectancy. While 70-90% of income earned during full-time working years is often recommended, some older adults may spend 100-110%, especially during their “young old” years (approx. ages 65–74).

Do Some Math
A useful planning tool is the FINRA Retirement Calculator (https://tools.finra.org/retirement_calculator/). It has 12 questions about relevant variables including money already saved, annual income needs, expected income from other sources (e.g., a pension and/or Social Security), current age and tax rate, and assumed average annual return. The calculator provides a retirement analysis in text and chart form and details about asset accumulation over time.

Determine an Asset Allocation
This is the percentage of investments held in different asset classes including stocks, bonds, and cash assets. Having money in different places spreads out investment risk. Key factors in determining personal asset allocation percentage weights for each asset class (e.g., 50% stock, 40% bonds, and 10% cash) are age, investment time frame, and risk tolerance level, which can be determined using this online self-assessment tool (https://pfp.missouri.edu/research/investment-risk-tolerance-assessment/).

Balance Risk and Reward
Data exist on average returns over time of various combinations of asset classes (e.g., 70% stock and 30% bonds). While past returns are no guarantee of future returns, they are instructive. Generally, the more stock in an investor’s asset allocation mix, the greater the potential for high average returns and the more volatility (i.e., the spread between gains and losses) in an investment portfolio.

Set Later Life Goals
One way to set future goals is to answer several key questions about your planned lifestyle as an older adult: Where do you want to live? Will you continue to work? What hobbies and activities will you spend time on? and What activities are on your “bucket list”? Use a goal-setting worksheet to identify a deadline date and dollar amount for each financial goal.

Anticipate Spending Plan Changes
Spending patterns can change quite a bit as people get older and/or step away from the labor force. Expenses that often increase in later life include medical and dental expenses, health insurance premiums, travel and entertainment, and gifts. Those likely to decrease include auto insurance and expenses, clothing, and utilities, property taxes, and home maintenance if people downsize. Income taxes may increase or decrease depending on factors such as changes in income in later life and required minimum distributions.

If you would like to learn more about your finances and budgeting, consider attending the “Where does your Money Go” program this January. Details are in the upcoming events section below. For additional information about planning for retirement, review the Purdue University online course Planning for a Secure Retirement (https://www.purdue.edu/hhs/extension/planning-for-a-secure-retirement/). Source: Rutgers Cooperative Extension, Barbara O’Neill, Ph.D., CFP®.

Upcoming Events

December 22-January 3 – Extension Office closed for Winter Holidays

December 28 – 4-H Junior Leader Kickoff at 3G Bowl, grades 7-12, 6 pm

January 10 & 24 – “Where Does Your Money Go?”, 2-3pm, Putnam County Public Library, register at 765-653-8411

January 11 – Last day to apply for the virtual Master Gardener course starting February 1st

January 11 – Local Leadership: Running for Office, Fairgrounds, 6-8 pm, register at https://tinyurl.com/run4officePutCo22

January 13, 20, 27 – Winter Walking group, 9-10am, Putnam County Fairgrounds, register at 765-653-8411

January 27 – Putnam County Extension & SWCD Annual Dinner, details to come

February 1 – Indiana 4-H Day, Indiana Statehouse

Have you ever considered running for a local government office? Join Purdue Extension and the Putnam County Clerk’s Office to learn more about the process for running for local office, requirements and positions up for election in 2022.  This program is conducted in collaboration with the county clerk and past elected officials to create a community of local political knowledge and participation.

Who Should Attend: Anyone interested in running for a local office

When:  Tuesday, January 11, 2022  

Time:  6-8 pm

Where:  Putnam County Fairgrounds (191 N US HWY 231, Greencastle)

Registration: Register by January 4^th at https://tinyurl.com/run4officePutCo22

There is no cost for this workshop thanks to the generous sponsorship from the Putnam County Farm Bureau.

If you need a reasonable accommodation to participate in this program, prior to the meeting, contact Purdue Extension Putnam County at 765-653-8411 or smith535@purdue.edu by January 4, 2022. Purdue University is an equal opportunity/equal access/affirmative action institution.

In Parke County, limited available housing options are constraining people’s ability to live and work in the county. The Purdue Extension Community Development Program is collaborating to provide county-level, housing-related information that will guide county and local leaders as they work to improve housing needed for current and future community success.

“Housing represents a key aspect of economic and community development in Parke County. Our in-depth analysis will guide county and local leaders as they seek to improve the mix of housing needed to meet current and future housing demands,” said Michael Wilcox, assistant director and program leader for Purdue Extension’s Community Development Program.

In partnership with Parke County leaders, businesses and residents, the Purdue team will provide a comprehensive assessment of housing in Parke County through data analysis, co-host focus-group meetings with local partners and produce a survey to determine the housing demand and needs of employees working in the county.

“We have worked with Purdue Extension on multiple projects, including the development of our Business Retention & Expansion (BR&E) program. Lack of quality, obtainable housing was a need identified by our employers during the BR&E interviews. This assessment is necessary to address that need,” said Cyndi Todd, executive director of Partnership Parke County, Economic Development Office.

The Purdue team will synthesize the information collected and prepare a summary of major findings and possible strategies for leaders to consider as they address current housing issues.

“At Purdue Extension, we are our community’s educational partner for life, and an integral part of that is collecting the data that helps our stakeholders make sound data-based decisions,” said Kurt Lanzone, agriculture and natural resources educator, Purdue Extension – Parke County.

The survey is available online for anyone living and/or working in Parke County. Hard copies will be available after Jan. 3 at the Parke County Courthouse (116 W. High Street Room 104 Rockville).

Everyone is encouraged to complete the survey by Jan. 28. 

Three upcoming events will provide youth with the opportunity to gain civic duty knowledge through engaging activities. Civic engagement can take many forms whether running for public office, serving on a board, or helping to involve others in local decision-making processes to be informed.

The upcoming events include the programs Indiana 4-H Day at the State House, Running for Public Office here locally and the 4-H Grows Knowledge Clinic at Cloverdale High School. One can pick and choose from any of these events to attend as they are not linked together. To register for any of these programs, contact the Extension office 765-653-8411 by phone.

The first event, Running for Public Office will be on January 11 from 6-8 pm at the York Automotive Building on the Putnam County Fairgrounds. This program is for anyone with aspirations or curiosity about the requirements to run to elected office. County Clerk, Heather Gilbert will provide the legal details of running for office. A panel of past elected officials including Darrel Thomas and Sue Murray along with Gilbert will receive audience questions. The event will wrap up with an ethics consideration presentation.

A second event is Indiana 4-H Day at the State House on February 1. Registration will be due by Tuesday, January 18^th. The event is for youth grades 7-12 where youth will serve as pages, meet legislators and other 4-Hers, and be provided tours of the State House. The cost will be $15 and depending on the number of Putnam County youth attending, transportation may also be provided by local Extension staff.

The third event 4-H Grows Knowledge will be February 12 at the Cloverdale High School where there will be several different sessions. This program is designed for both adult and youth 4-H volunteers. There will be at least one of the sessions devoted to civic engagement as program organizers continue to finalize the program.

Visit our homepage at www.extension.purdue.edu/putnam or you can contact the local office by calling 765.653.8411 for more information regarding this week’s column topic or to RSVP for upcoming events. Office hours are Monday thru Friday from 8:00am-12:00pm and 1:00pm-4:00pm. Evening and lunch appointments are available, upon request. It is always best to call first to assure items are ready when you arrive and to RSVP for programs. While many publications are free, some do have a fee. All times listed are Eastern Time. Purdue University is an equal access/equal opportunity/affirmative action institution.

Upcoming Events

December 15 - Winter PARP, Off The Rails Event Center (Roachdale), 9-11 am, no
                         charge, register at: https://tinyurl.com/PutnamPARP2021

December 22 - Extension Office closes at noon for Christmas/New Year’s holiday

December 28 – 4-H Junior Leader Kickoff at 3G Bowl grades 7-12, 6 pm

January 4 – Extension Office reopens following Christmas/New Year’s holiday

January 11 – Running for Public Office, Putnam County Fairgrounds, 6-8 pm

February 1 – Indiana 4-H Day, Indiana Statehouse

February 12 – 4-H Grows Knowledge, Cloverdale High School

Purdue Extension Master Gardener volunteers contribute significantly to the lives of Indiana residents and local communities each year. In 2021, the Putnam County Master Gardeners volunteered more than 1,110 hours in Putnam County by hosting horticulture related events, working at the Putnam County Fair, and raising funds for two horticulture/agricultural scholarships.  During the December Putnam County Master Gardener Association meeting, several local residents received a new Master Gardener certification.  To earn Purdue Master Gardener certifications, volunteers must complete horticultural training conducted by Purdue Extension county offices and engage in volunteer service that has been approved by Master Gardener county coordinators and performed in Indiana communities.

During the 2021 December Putnam County Master Gardener Association meeting, Judi Bundza received her Master Gardener certification (35 cumulative volunteer hours & 35 cumulative education hours). Those receiving their Advanced Master Gardener certification (60 cumulative volunteer hours & 45 cumulative education hours) include John Craney, Anita Johnson, Pat Johnson, and Becky Samsel.

Please join Purdue Extension in congratulating all of the Purdue Extension Master Gardeners who received a new certification!

The main objective of the Purdue Extension Master Gardener (EMG) Program is to train volunteers to assist Purdue Extension with home horticulture education in local communities.  For Spring 2022, there will be a Statewide Virtual Purdue EMG Basic Training from Tuesday evenings from 6:30-8:30 pm February 1 to May 3, 2022. The local county connection hour will be on Wednesdays, from 6:00 – 7:00 pm each week. To complete the course, we ask that you attend both the statewide virtual sessions and the local county connection hours. If you would like to know more about the Purdue Extension Master Gardener Program or would like to sign up for the 2022 course, please contact the Putnam County Extension Office at 765-653-8411. Purdue University is an equal access/equal opportunity institution.

^{Pictured are four of Putnam County Master Gardeners who recently received new certification in 2021.  Individuals include, left to right, Anita Johnson, John Craney, Becky Samsel, and Pat Johnson.  Not pictured is Judi Bundza.}

The Indiana Department of Natural Resources is looking for qualified operators for the modern, multi-million dollar shooting range facility at Deer Creek Fish & Wildlife Area (FWA) in Cloverdale. 

Deer Creek FWA comprises 2,175 acres and includes rolling, interspersed agriculture and mature oak-hickory dominated woods. Visitors participate in hunting, fishing, shooting, trapping, and wildlife watching.

Deer Creek’s shooting range offers a rifle and pistol range, and a shotgun range. The building has indoor restrooms, and the host will be responsible for keeping these clean and supplied with basic toiletries. The building also includes space for retail sales.

The shooting range is an excellent opportunity for a public-private partnership to support recreational shooting and conservation. Funding for the Indiana DNR Division of Fish & Wildlife comes in part from the federal Pittman-Robertson and Dingell-Johnson programs. These funds are derived from excise taxes levied on firearms, ammunition, archery equipment, and fishing tackle. The shooting range facility directly supports the conservation of fish, wildlife, and their habitats through these programs.

Those interested in learning more about the facility and how to bid should contact Deer Creek FWA at 765-653-0453. The deadline for proposals is Dec. 15 at 10 a.m. ET.

Setting up an artificial tree for Christmas is nice and may give you the perfect tree shape, but nothing can replace the memories made with family when you visit a Christmas tree farm and select a real tree. Setting up a real Christmas tree has been part of the holidays since 1842. That year, Charles Minnegerode set up the first real tree in Williamsburg, VA.

When selecting a real Christmas tree, you need to begin by deciding what type of tree you want. There are several different types of trees you can select from; however, Scotch pine tends to be one of the more popular types grown in Indiana. Scotch pines are long lasting and will remain fresh throughout the holiday season. Their needles are approximately 1 inch in length and remain on the tree even after they become dry.

White pine is another popular tree in Indiana. It has soft, flexible needles that tend to be longer than most other tree species. Their limbs tend to be more pliable than fir trees.

Fir trees tend to have good fragrance, good needle retention, and freshness. They also have strong limbs that will hold ornaments well. This would include the Fraser fir and the concolor (white) fir. 

Douglas fir have similar features to other fir trees; however, it is not a true fir. Douglas fir have soft needles that are dark green to blue green in color. Their needles radiate in all directions from the branch and when crushed, give off a sweet fragrance. 

Once you know what type of tree you would like, you need to select a tree that fits the space available in your house. Remember that you do need to allow height for your tree topper and your tree stand. As you are narrowing down your tree options, look for a tree that is fresh (especially if it is pre-cut). If it is a pre-cut tree, run a branch through your enclosed hand. If needles fall off, then the tree is not considered fresh.

As soon as you have found your ideal tree, you will want to cut it. Cutting the tree is a two-person job. The individual doing the cutting will need to lie on the grown and make the cut. The second individual will want to hold onto the tree and keep the bottom limbs out of the cutters way. Once the tree is cut, have the tree farm staff shake the tree to remove dry and dead needles and wrap the tree in netting to make transport easier.

When you arrive at your house, you need get your tree into cool water. Trees, which have been cut for more than 6 hours, do not absorb water. To help with water absorption, you need to make a fresh cut (removing a half inch of the trunk) before placing your tree in the tree stand. Ideally, you want to utilize a tree stand that holds at least one quart of water for each inch of stem diameter.

Lastly, before you decorate your tree, you will want to place it in an area of your house that keeps it away from direct sources of heat. Therefore, you would want to avoid warm air floor vents, wood stoves and fireplaces, hot lights, etc. Avoiding heat allows your tree to stay cooler and avoids drying it out. Over time, you will have to add water to your tree stand. For example, a 7-foot tree may take two quarts of water a day for the first week after being cut.

Visit our homepage at www.extension.purdue.edu/putnam or you can contact the local Purdue Extension Office by calling 765.653.8411 for more information regarding this week’s column topic or to RSVP for upcoming events. It is always best to call first to assure items are ready when you arrive and to RSVP for programs. While many publications are free, some do have a fee. Purdue University is an equal access/equal opportunity institution. All times listed are Eastern Time.

Upcoming Events:

December 9 – Bi-State Crops Conference, Beef House, 9 am – 1:30 pm, $40+ credit fee,
                        register at: https://bit.ly/BiStateCrops2021

December 15 - Winter PARP, Off The Rails Event Center (Roachdale), 9-11 am, no
                         charge, register at: https://tinyurl.com/PutnamPARP2021

December 15 - ServSafe Food Manager 1-Day Class & Online Exam, 9am-4pm, register
                         at: www.purdue.edu/servsafe/workshops

December 22-31 – Extension Office Closed for Winter Holidays

January 11 – Last day to apply for the virtual Master Gardener course starting February 1^st

January 11 – Local Leadership: Running for Office, Fairgrounds, 6-8 pm, register at
                     https://tinyurl.com/run4officePutCo22