Here's What's Happening for December 2008 - January 2009:

FAMILY BUDGET EDUCATION PROGRAM: Free and confidential. Call (845) 344-1234.

CONSUMER HELPLINE: Addressing all of your home economics questions. Call (845) 344-1234.

GARDEN HELPLINE - 343-0664: Call the Garden Helpline to ask any gardening question you may have. The Helpline is answered “live” by Master Gardeners April - November, Monday, Wednesday, Friday, from 9:30 am - 12:30 pm. At other times, please leave a message. Or e-mail your questions to mghelpline@cornell.edu

PARENTING/CONSUMER HELPLINE: Information, classes and referrals.
Call (845) 344-1234 for a comprehensive list of parenting workshops & teen parenting programs.

NEW YORK STATE SAVES: BUILD WEALTH, NOT DEBT . Visit the America Saves web site www.americasaves.org to get started, or call Cornell Cooperative Extension Orange County at 344-1234.

Please call ahead to confirm times & programs.
For details call 845-344-1234 unless otherwise noted.

Dec. 2008 - Jan. 2009 Calendar to Download

DECEMBER

4  -- Strengthening Families:  Pine Bush.  (Class 7 of 7)

4 -- Save Energy!  Save Dollars!  Energy Savings Workshops.  Explore "do it yourself" ways to reduce your energy consumption.  Receive a FREE "Energy Savings Toolkit," containing a series of easy to use energy savings tools that will reduce your energy consumption, resulting in immediate cost savings.  Registration is Free!  RSVP by calling 291-4311.  This program will be held at the Town of Montgomery, Town Hall, Historical Room, 110 Bracken Rd., Montgomery, NY.  Lunch at 12:30pm, workshop at 1 pm.

4 -- Creating Holiday Wreaths and Tabletop Trees.  New this year: two sessions!  Choose from 10 am - 12 noon or 7 - 9 pm at Cooperative Extension Orange County, Middletown, NY.  Cost is $35 per person, with a 10% discount for Gardening in Orange County subscribers.   Space is limited and registration is required.  For more info. call or visit cce.cornell.edu/orange.

4 -- Relatives as Parents Program Coffee and Conversation.  A mutual support group (for grandparents and relative caregivers) meets the first Thurs. of every month at Central Valley Elementary School Library, School Library, Rte. 32, Central Valley, NY (across from Woodbury Common) from 6:30-8 pm.  Free childcare and 4-H youth program is available with pre registration.  For more information call Brenda Reynolds. RAPP 4-H Club to meet 6:30 - 8 pm.

6 -- The RAPP Holiday Party at Webb-Horton Presbyterian Church from 1 - 4 pm.  Pre-registration is required.  Contact RAPP Coordinator, Brenda Reynolds, for details.

9 -- Leader & Jr. Leader Meeting. CCE OC office, Middletown, 7:27pm.

9 -- Relatives as Parents Program Coffee and Conversation.  A mutual support group (for grandparents and relative caregivers) meets the second Tues. of every month at Independent Living, 5 Washington Terr., Newburgh, NY from 6:30-8 pm. Free childcare and 4-H youth program is available w/ pre-registration.  Call Brenda Reynolds. RAPP 4-H Club to meet 6:30 - 8 pm.

9 -- Agribusiness Economic Outlook Conference.  10 am to 3:30 pm at Cornell University, Ithaca, NY.  For more information contact Linda Putnam at 607-255-8429, email LDP2@cornell.edu, or visit http://aem.cornell.edu/outreach/conferences/ -- economic_outlook.htm.

11 -- Orange County Parenting Coalition.  All who live and work with children are invited to attend the Orange County Parenting Coalition meeting to be held at Bellvalle Community at 359 Gibson Hill Road, in Chester, NY from 2:30-4:30 pm.  Please bring a non-perishable food for the hungry.  For more information please call Suzan or Denyse.

11 -- 4-H Leader’s Association Meeting. Bring a dessert to pass. 7pm.

12 -- 4-H Holiday Astromony Spectacular!, 7pm at NFA Planetarium.  Reserve early, as seats are limited & interest is high.  Cost: $5 per adult, $3 per child 12 and younger.  Reservations due no later than 12/1/08. Questions, please call Ingrid.

16 -- Dairy Bowl/Challenge Practices. 7 pm, 4-H Office. These practices will count towards District & State Dairy Bowl Teams & State Fair Dairy Challenge Teams.

17 -- Dairy Bowl/Challenge Practices. 7 pm, 4-H Office. These practises will count towards District & State Dairy Bowl Teams & State Fair Dairy Challenge Teams.

18 -- Long Term Care Insurance "101" Workshops.  A 1 hour workshop will be held from 1 - 2 pm and repeated from 3 - 4 pm at Cornell Cooperative Extension Orange County located on 18 Seward Ave., Middletown, NY.  The session is free, but pre-registration is required as space is limited.  For more info., please call Stefanie or Christina.

24 -- Office Closed 1/2 day for Christmas Eve

25, 26 -- Office Closed: Christmas

JANUARY

1, 2 -- Office Closed: New Year’s Holiday

6 -- Dairy Bowl/Challenge Practices. These practices will count towards District & State Dairy Bowl Teams and State Fair Dairy Challenge Teams. 7pm. (scoring night).

6-7 -- Bus trip to the York PA Farm Show.  For more info. contact Larry or visit cce.cornell.edu/orange.

7-9 -- 2009 Empire State Green Industry Show.  Rochester Riverside Convention Center, Rochester, NY.  For more information contact NYSTA at 800-873-8873.

10 -- Sewing Lab for 4-H Members. Part 1: Jo-Ann’s Fabrics & Crafts Store, Dunning Farm Shopping Center, Middletown, 9am - 10:30 am. (snow date January 11, 1pm). Please call Pam at the 4-H office to register your date and time.

13 -- Leader & Jr. Leader Meeting. Education Center, Middletown, 7:27pm.

14 -- Nursery/Greenhouse Growers School 2009.  Ulster BOCES, New Paltz, NY.  For more information contact Rose at 845-344-1234 or Teresa at 845-340-3990.

14 -- RAPP Workshop. "The Emotional Well- -- Being of Relative Caregiving Families:  -- Utilizing Strengths, Decreasing Risks".  For more information contact, Brenda Reynolds.

15 -- Orange County 4-H Fly Tying Program. 7pm,  8:30 pm, at CCE office, 18 Seward Ave., 3rd Floor, Middletown.  The first 2 meetings will be at our office, with the later meetings at Gander Mountain.  Cost is $7per 4-H member, $17 per non-4-H member and per adult.  A collection of flies can be entered at the Orange County Fair.

16 -- Hogs & Hens - Hog Session.  1- 4 pm at Extension Office, Middletown, NY.  For more info. contact Audrey by phone or visit cce.cornell.edu/orange.

17 -- Hogs & Hens - Hen Session.  10 am - 1 pm at Extension Office,Middletown, NY.  For more info. contact Audrey by phone or visit cce.cornell.edu/orange.

17 -- Sewing Lab Part 2. Extension Office, 9am

19 -- Office Closed: Martin Luther King Birthday

20 -- Dairy Bowl/Challenge Practices. These practises will count towards District & State Dairy Bowl Teams and State Fair Dairy Challenge Teams. 4-H Office, 7pm. (snow date 1/27).

24 -- Sewing Lab Part 2. Extension Office, 9am

24 -- Produced in NY Presentations. 4-H Office Middletown, 9 am - 12 noon. Please call Pam Castro with questions about food preparation and recipe choices.

26 -- Cornell Cooperative Extension Orange County  - Board of Directors’ Mtg. - 7 pm at the CCE Office.

28 -- Urban Forestry.  8:15 am - 3 pm at the Westchester County Center, White Plains, NY.  For more information call 845-344-1234 or visit cce.cornell.edu/orange.

29 -- Winter Dairy Management 2009.  Extension  Office, Middletown, NY.  Cost is $20 per person if enrolled with CCE and $25 per person for non-enrollees.  For more information contact Larry or visit cce.cornell.edu/orange.

30 -- Farm Tax School.  Extension Office, Middletown, NY.  For more information contact Audrey or visit cce.cornell.edu/orange.

30 -- 4-H International Night. for Cloverbuds & 4-H.  Please call the 4-H Office with your clubs’ choice of country by Jan. 12, 2009.

30 -- Horse Level Day. Extension Office, Middletown, 6:30pm (snow date 2/6).

31 -- Sewing Lab Part 2. Extension Office, 9 am.

ESNY (Eat Smart New York) and EFNEP (Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program) nutrition classes are provided to families receiving or applying for food stamps or for limited resource families with young children.  Please call Darlene or Debbie to see if you qualify for either of these free programs.

Updated: December 4, 2008