Do you know how that playground equipment at the park down the street was purchased? Or the new sign leading visitors to a local landmark? How about initial money for a festival? In any community, chances are that someone, or a group of individuals, wrote a grant proposal and received funding to help with the project. Grants are a way the government funds ideas and projects to provide public services and stimulate the local economy. Grants can come from many other sources as well like local foundations, corporations, or local government.  K-State Research and Extension’s Community Vitality Team offers grant writing training for local communities because grants are an important component of sustainable funding.

Individuals and community groups can learn more about writing successful grant proposals at an online workshop planned by K-State Research and Extension in Southwind District on Feb. 6^th & 8^th from 1:30 to 4:30 P.M. The workshop is presented by Nancy Daniels, a community vitality specialist with K-State Research and Extension and the author of many grant proposals. Participants can register online at https://bit.ly/47Fn39P. The cost to attend is $60.

“This workshop is for everyone, whether they’ve never written a proposal before and have no idea where to start, to those who have experience but are looking for ways to improve their approach,” Daniels said. “The magic that happens in a local community when people find out they don’t have to wait to get something done, that they can do it themselves, is incredible.”

Participants also learn from each other, she said, adding that even experienced grant writers pick up tips and are reenergized after coming together with peers in their communities. Participants are encouraged to bring their grants or grant ideas to share.

Workshop topics include:

• Conquering your grant writing fears and start writing
• Identifying sources of data for community needs (where do you find the numbers to back up your request?)
• Where to find grants
• Practicing the grant writing elements: Problem, Outcomes, Activities, Evaluation and Budget.

Southwind District is looking forward to working with Nancy Daniels and bringing this valuable workshop to our District! For More information and registration assistance, contact Community Vitality Agent, Amanda Clasen at [email protected] or at 620-244-3826.

With the turning of the calendar from 2023 to 2024, many Americans have likely set their News Year’s resolution to stick to “healthier” habits or routines. According to a research study conducted by the Fisher College of Business, 43% of people quit their resolutions by the end of January.

One cause for this high failure rate could be that our beliefs about “healthy” habits are based on opinions, not facts. There is a lot of information on the internet related to health topics. Whether it’s the newest drug to help with fat loss or a miracle workout routine that will give you a shredded 6-pack of abs, it can be hard to determine what is and is not a reliable resource that you can put your trust in. If you don’t see instant results as promised by all the false information, you will probably find yourself being part of that 43% statistic.

For that reason, the K-State Research and Extension Living Well Wednesday team has dedicated the 2024 Winter Series to topics focused on women’s health. Sleep is a Superpower was the subject of the first program on January 10^th. During this presentation, specialist Michelle Lane debunked some of the common misconceptions around sleep and helped participants understand how vital sleep is to their everyday well-being. Personally speaking, I didn’t understand the impact that sleep has on all aspects of health until I heard her presentation. The session was recorded and can be view on the Living Well Wednesday website at https://www.ksre.k-state.edu/fcs/livingwellwed/.

The next two topics are Women’s Health and Functional Medicine on February 14^th and Navigating Diets, Supplements, and Women’s Health in a Confusing World on March 13^th. Both programs are held virtually via Zoom from 12:10 – 1:00 pm and will be recorded for later viewing. Registration is still open for these programs and can be completed at https://www.ksre.k-state.edu/fcs/livingwellwed/. Upon registering, participants will receive a link to access the live Zoom session.

Don’t get lost in all the latest and greatest quick information on health. Your health is something to take very seriously and now is your chance to hear from experts in the field! For more information, contact Cassidy Lutz at [email protected] or by calling 620-625-8620.

By Clara Misenhelter

Southwind Extension District

The transition from the holidays to the start of a new year can be difficult to navigate for many reasons. Post-holiday blues are just one reason why you might be feeling down this time of year. Do you remember Garfield the cat’s famous hate for Mondays? Post-holiday blues have been compared to these “Sunday scaries” or the “Sunday blues,” which are the letdown feelings that some people experience on Sunday because their weekend is ending. Similarly, post-holiday blues are the letdown feeling that many people experience after the holidays. According to Colorado State University, this can be accompanied by lower energy, increased fatigue, and resistance to going back to work.

So, what can be done to combat the post-holiday blues? Dr. Crystal Schiller, an associate professor at UNC-Chapel Hill, recommends planning to spend time with a friend you did not see over the holidays, doing something small (like listening to your favorite music) to bring yourself joy, and getting tasks done. The final item in this list can help raise your spirits by bringing you a sense of accomplishment. Other things you can try to combat post-holiday blues include practicing gratitude daily, engaging in physical activity, and watching something funny. Both physical activity and laughter release endorphins, which have been described as “the body’s natural painkillers” in one article from Harvard Health Publishing.

Practicing mindfulness is yet another thing you can try to combat post-holiday blues. In his book “Wherever You Go, There You Are,” Jon Kabat-Zinn writes: “Mindfulness means paying attention in a particular way: on purpose, in the present moment, and nonjudgmentally. This kind of attention nurtures greater awareness, clarity, and acceptance of present-moment reality.” He also writes that it “provides a simple but powerful route for getting ourselves unstuck.” This route to getting unstuck is one that may be particularly useful in fighting post-holiday blues. Try committing just five minutes of your day to practicing mindfulness by focusing on your breathing and letting your thoughts float away like clouds. To learn more about practicing mindfulness, visit bit.ly/southwindmindfulness.

It is important to note that post-holiday blues differ from depression. If your symptoms worsen or do not go away, seek professional help. If you or someone you know is in crisis or seeking emotional support, call or text 988 to connect with the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. You can also chat with them online at 988lifeline.org/chat.

Kansas State University Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service

K-State Research and Extension is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

The Kansas State Southwind District has been selected as a host site for summer educators/interns for the third year in a row.

This full-time, eleven-week internship will run from approximately May 28th, 2024 to August 9th, 2024.

Educators/Interns will be responsible for planning, organizing, facilitating and teaching lessons to youth with research-based curriculum provided by K-State Research and Extension.

The pay for this grant-funded internship is $17 per hour.

You can find the link to the application here. For best consideration, apply by January 21st! Contact Clara Misenhelter ([email protected]) or Jennifer Terrell ([email protected]) with questions.

Beware of a silent threat in your home: radon. This colorless, odorless, and tasteless gas naturally lurks in the soil. The silver lining? Take action this winter, especially during Radon Action Month in January, to safeguard your home and loved ones.

Here are the facts on radon:

1. Radon and lung cancer

Radon induced lunch cancer is the number one cause of death in homes and is the second leading cause of lung cancer.   One in four Kansas homes have high levels of radon.

2. Radon in Kansas

Radon seeps into your home through the ground, exploiting cracks and openings in the foundation. According to the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, the average indoor radon level statewide stands at 5.4 picocuries of radon per liter (pCi/L), surpassing the EPA threshold of 4.0.

3. How do I know the level of radon in my home?

Testing is the only reliable way to determine the radon levels in a home.  Test kits can be obtained from your Southwind Extension District office for a reduced fee, which includes a lab analysis and return postage.

4. My home has elevated radon levels, now what?

The most common technique to reduce levels is called Active Soil Depressurization. An ASD mitigation system is a permanently-installed pipe-and-fan system that places a direct constant vacuum on the soil beneath the home’s foundation, so the amount of radon that can penetrate into the living space is reduced.

More information about radon, testing, and mitigation is available at www.kansasradonprogram.org or by calling the Kansas Radon Hotline at 1-800-693-5343.  To purchase a test kit locally, contact Tara Solomon-Smith, [email protected], or call 620-244-3826.

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Kansas State University Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service

Did you know that one in five people have an error on at least one of their credit reports according to a study conducted by the Federal Trade Commission? The three national credit reporting agencies are required by the Fair Credit Reporting Act to provide a consumer with a free copy of their credit report each year if they request it. Despite this, according to the most recent data available, only one in three Kansans check their credit report annually and Kansas adults rank at or near the bottom of the 50 states in checking their credit reports each year.

Credit is a tool many of us use for managing our financial lives. We use credit to achieve not only long-term goals, such as higher education and home ownership but also shorter-term goals. A credit report is an explanation of an individual’s credit history. Lenders and creditors use the information in this report when deciding whether or not to lend to us, how much credit to extend and what interest rate to charge. Landlords and utility companies use the information in credit reports to make decisions about deposits. Employers use the information prior to hiring or before allowing employees access to company-sponsored credit cards for company business expenses. Regularly checking your credit reports is one way to identify and guard against identity theft. It is recommended that consumers check their credit reports annually.

K-State Research and Extension has an email program called “Check Your Credit” that will remind you to check your credit report three times during the year on 2/2, 5/5, and 8/8. Through this program, you will also be sent periodic emails with information about how to understand your credit report, correct errors, and use your credit report to your advantage. You will also be sent a tool to help you keep track of what credit bureau you have checked and dates that you did them on.

Take a step towards financial well-being today by signing up for K-State Research and Extension’s “Check Your Credit” email program at https://bit.ly/SouthwindSaves2. For more information contact Cassidy Lutz at [email protected] or by calling 620-625-8620. I am excited to support you as you act to enhance your financial well-being!

By Clara Misenhelter

Southwind Extension District

As we enter the peak of flu season, it is important to remember the importance of one of the easiest and most effective ways to protect yourself from getting sick: handwashing. I am currently traveling to schools throughout the four counties served by K-State Research and Extension in the Southwind Extension District (which includes Allen, Bourbon, Neosho, and Woodson Counties) to provide a handwashing school enrichment lesson to first-grade students. As part of this activity, youth put lotion on their hands and look at their hands under a blacklight. Like germs, the lotion is invisible to the naked eye. However, the lotion lights up brightly underneath the blacklight. Youth are then instructed to wash their hands and look at them again underneath the blacklight to reveal the spots they missed. I have yet to have a single student get their hands completely clean the first time. This hands-on activity is an excellent reminder for youth about the importance of handwashing, but taking the time to wash hands properly is important for all of us.

So, what are the proper handwashing steps? The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) lists the following five steps:

1. Wet
2. Get Soap
3. Scrub
4. Rinse
5. Dry

While these steps seem simple, there are a few more items to keep in mind. First, after you wet your hands with water (which can be either warm or cold), you should turn off the tap before getting soap. Lather all surfaces of your hands with the soap. You should scrub your hands for as long as it takes to sing the “Happy Birthday” song from beginning to end twice. (Practicing this has been a favorite in the first-grade classrooms I’ve visited!) To learn more about the science behind these proper handwashing steps, visit bit.ly/handwashingscience.

For more information, please contact me at [email protected] or 620-365-2242. To receive the “Wellness For You and Community, Too!” e-newsletter published monthly by the Southwind District, visit bit.ly/southwindnews.

Kansas State University Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service

K-State Research and Extension is an equal opportunity provider and employer.