December 12, 2003 News Releases
Released 12/10/03 and 12/11/03
UTAH STATE NEWS RELEASES FOR 12-11-03
PLANNING YOUR
DREAM KITCHEN
LOGAN — Do you have too much family and not enough kitchen?
Are you planning to remodel or build a new home? The kitchen
is often the most expensive and most used room in the house
and thus requires the most planning.
Utah State University Extension and the Utah House in Kaysville
present the day-long seminar “Explore your Dream Kitchen”
Saturday, Jan. 24, from 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. The seminar will cover
all aspects of design, evaluating and selecting appliances,
working with contractors, storage, energy conservation, accessibility
and budgeting. Instructors include expert kitchen designer Chris
Woodward, cabinet and interior designer Kathy Warren, Utah House
program coordinator Kerry Case, Utah House project director
Leona Hawks and Utah State Extension agents Marilyn Albertson
and Teresa Hunsaker.
Registration is $45 and is limited to 30 participants. Early
registration is encouraged because participants need to bring
kitchen measurements with them to the seminar. One hour of college
credit is available through Utah State University Continuing
Education for an additional $15. To register or for more information,
call Kerry Case at the Utah House 801-544-3089.
December 11, 2003
Writer: Dennis Hinkamp 435-797-1392
Contact: Kerry Case 801-544-3089
ASK A
SPECIALIST: HOW CAN I BE REALISTIC IN MY HOLIDAY EXPECTATIONS?
As the holidays approach, we anticipate being together with
family and friends, giving gifts and observing family traditions.
The enjoyment of the season can be diminished, however, if our
expectations are not reasonable.
For some, the holidays can bring feelings of sadness, particularly
in contrast to the way things are “supposed” to
be. The holidays can be especially difficult for those who have
experienced the death of someone close and are facing the season
for the first time without that person. Even after many years,
the holidays can become a marker of how many years it has been
since a loved one died. Divorce, family disruptions, illness,
financial problems or other kinds of loss or change can also
make the season difficult.
Whatever your situation, it is important to be realistic in
what you expect from the holidays. Consider these tips.
• Focus on traditions that are meaningful or start new
ones. Some holiday traditions may not fit as well as they once
did if there have been family changes such as death, remarriage
or children getting older. Spending the holidays in a different
way may bring new enjoyment to the season. This may work better
than trying to recreate a Christmas from previous years when
the family was in a different stage.
• Avoid a “now or never” frame of mind about
the holidays. We may think, “If this party, gift or family
activity isn’t just right, the whole season will be ruined
and we won’t have the chance to make it right for another
year.” Or, “The children will never be this age
again. They have to love every minute and have every toy.”
We set ourselves up for a letdown when we tell ourselves that
the holidays are our chance to get everything just right.
• Be realistic in financial expectations. Financial worries
over not being able to do or buy the things we see depicted
in advertisements or that we see others doing can lead to feelings
of inadequacy and sadness. Be realistic in how much you can
spend and what works for you and your family.
• Focus on one or two things you enjoy and plan to do
those. Pace yourself. Which holiday activities really bring
enjoyment? Are there other activities you impose on yourself
or your family that aren’t as enjoyable? Don't let the
things that matter most be at the mercy of the things that matter
least. What is going to mean the most to your family or loved
ones? It may simply be time spent together rather than a frantic
rush to plan or do one more thing.
• Be aware of fatigue. Being overtired can result in
feelings of depression if the quest for holiday cheer becomes
too frenzied.
• Be reasonable. Instead of saying, “Things just
have to go well,” try, “It will be nice if ...”
And instead of, “I just can’t stand it if ...”
remind yourself, “It will still
be OK even if ...”
• Plan things to look forward to when the holidays are
over. The Christmas season is a great time, but it isn’t
the only happy time. Remind yourself that there are many opportunities
to show love for your family and friends throughout the year.
Visit http://extension.usu.edu/cooperative/aska/ to see other
Ask A Specialist column
Writer: Julene Reese, Utah State University Extension, 435-760-9302;
julener@ext.usu.edu. Direct Ask A Specialist column topics to:
webmaster@ext.usu.edu.
Dec. 11, 2003
Answer by: Tom Lee, Utah State University Extension Family and
Human Development Specialist
UTAH STATE NEWS RELEASES FOR 12-10-03
THE USU WRIGHT
FLYER TO FLY ON 100TH ANNIVERSARY
LOGAN, Utah – The Utah State University Wright Flyer
will take to the skies Wednesday, Dec. 17, at the Brigham City
Airport between 10 a.m. and 12 noon, to celebrate the 100th
anniversary of powered flight.
“It is going to be exciting to fly on the anniversary,”
said Wayne Larsen, USU Wright Flyer pilot and Utah State alumni
from Brigham City. “It is a way to reflect on the 100
years since the Wright Brothers first flight and to celebrate
what they gave to us. It is also an opportunity for us to share
in the excitement of what is transpiring in Kitty Hawk.”
On Dec. 17, 1903, Orville Wright and Wilbur Wright made history
sustaining the first 12 seconds of controlled powered flight
on the shores of Kitty Hawk, N.C.
Utah State students and faculty wanted to commemorate the Wright
brother’s historic accomplishment by building a futurist
replica of the Wright Flyer using modern materials and technology
as if the Wright brother’s were building the plane today.
After receiving approval from the Wright Family, the USU Wright
Flyer project began two years ago.
More than 10,000 hours of hard work from Utah State engineering
and aviation technology students and faculty went into the USU
Wright Flyer. The project was supported by the Utah State University
Research Foundation, the Space Dynamics Laboratory, the National
Composite Center and the U.S. Air Force.
“I have always loved airplanes,” said Nick Alley,
design project manager, Utah State doctoral student. “Being
able to design build and fly an airplane that the founding fathers
of aviation created has been one of the greatest experiences
of my life.”
Most of the materials for the USU Wright Flyer were donated,
by several aviation and aerospace companies. ATK Thiokol Propulsion,
which built the 40-foot wing spars, was the largest material
donor. A Harley Davidson twin-cam 88B engine functions as Utah
State’s modern-day version of the engine originally built
by Charles Taylor for the Wright brothers. Kevlar and graphite,
used in the space shuttle and military aircraft, replaced muslin
and spruce used in the original Flyer.
The USU Wright Flyer’s has flown nearly 300 times, since
its first flight in March of this year. The longest flight,
of 12 minutes, was recorded in a historic moment during the
Inventing Flight Celebration in Dayton, Ohio. On July 5, 2003,
the USU Wright Flyer became the first and only Flyer to fly
over Huffman Prairie Flying Field since the Wright brothers.
“There is nothing in my entire career of over 15,000
flying hours that compares to flying over Huffman Prairie Flying
Field,” said Larsen. “To fly where the Wright brothers
learned to fly was a phenomenal experience.”
The USU Wright Flyer will be featured on The History Channel’s
Wright Challenge, Dec. 17th at 6 p.m. and 10 p.m. and on Tech
TV. To see photos and video clips and find out more about the
USU Wright Flyer, visit the web site at www.usuwrightflyer.org.
To learn more about the History Channel special, see http://www.historychannel.com/wright/teams.html
December 9, 2003
Contacts: Trina Paskett, (435) 797-4678 or (435) 881-2823
Maren Cartwright (435) 797-1355
UTAH DAIRY SEMINARS
OFFER INSIGHT AND INFORMATION
Utah State University Extension in cooperation with Brigham
Young University, the Utah Dairyman’s Association and
the Utah Dairy Commission offer the “Managing Transition
Cow Nutrition” seminar in three different Utah locations
Dec. 15, 16 and 17. The seminar will address how stiff competition
and close margins in the dairy industry require precise herd
management.
Feature speaker Mike Hutjens, University of Illinois, is a well-known
columnist for Hoard’s Dairyman magazine and a national
expert on dry and lactating cow diets. The program will also
include a trade show, a dairy producer panel discussion and
updates on current regulations affecting the dairy industry
in Utah.
Registration of $10 is payable at the door Dec. 15 at the Snow
College South Conference Center in Richfield; Dec. 16 at the
Brigham Young University Conference Center in Provo; and Dec.
17 at the Caine Dairy Research and Teaching Center in Wellsville.
Each identical seminar begins with registration at 9 a.m. and
concludes with the trade show at 2:45 p.m. Lunch is included
in the registration fee.
For more information call your Utah State Extension county office
or Extension dairy specialist Ron Bowman at 435-797-2163.
December 10, 2003
Writer: Dennis Hinkamp 435-797-1392
Contact: Ron Bowman 435-797-2163
NEW RESEARCH
HELPS CARNIVORES AND PEOPLE CO-EXIST
LOGAN — When wolves and other large carnivores threaten
people and livestock, wildlife managers often resort to killing
them. Now there’s hope for a non-lethal solution to controlling
carnivores. New research at Utah State University shows that
movement-activated guards with flashing lights and loud noises
can help keep wolves and bears away.
“High-technology devices are much more expensive, complicated
and limited in effectiveness than a single bullet from a high-powered
rifle, but they also allow a predator to live,” said Dr.
John Shivik, a wildlife biologist with the National Wildlife
Research Center at Utah State. “Surely this is the goal
of conservation.”
Conflicts between people and carnivores are rising as people
spread into remote habitats and as large carnivores recover
from past eradication efforts, Shivik said. “While wildlife
managers often address these conflicts by killing ‘problem’
animals, this runs counter to conservation efforts and could
impede the recovery of rare species. Conservation biologists
need to assist with the real-world problems predators cause.”
Experiments in Wisconsin and Minnesota showed that the movement-activated
guards deterred predators from feeding. But the movement-activated
guards have some drawbacks. They do not keep the predators away
completely, and they are too costly and complicated to be feasible
for many wildlife managers. Even so, movement-activated guards
hold promise for the future.
“Non-lethal approaches will allow conservation biologists
to assist in areas with high predation levels,” said Shivik
and his colleagues. “They also increase society’s
acceptance of large predators, such as wolves and bears.”
The research was sponsored by the United States Department of
Agriculture’s Wildlife Service, Conservation International
and the Wildlife Science Center.
Date: Dec. 10, 2003
Writer: Nadene Steinhoff, 435-797-1429
Contacts: John Shivik: 435-797-1348, 435-245-6091, john.shivik@aphis.usda.gov
More information: http://www.innovations-report.com/html/reports/environment_sciences/report-23651.html
RACOONS ARE CUTE
BUT COSTLY TO UTAH
LOGAN — Rarely seen in Utah until the 1960s, the raccoon
has become the state’s number one urban wildlife problem.
Contrary to what many people believe, raccoon populations are
generally higher in urban settings than in farming areas, said
James Barnhill, Utah State University Extension agent in Weber
County. This is due mainly to the increased availability of
food, water and den sites in the residential environment. Once
raccoons move into a housing area their populations can increase
rapidly. A study in urban Toronto, Canada, reported more than
160 raccoons per square mile.
Raccoons as nocturnal creatures usually den up during the day
and come out to forage at night, Barnhill said. They often feed
in garbage cans, scattering debris across the yard. They can
tear up lawns and newly laid sod searching for grubs and worms.
They eat pet food and sometimes even small pets. They are very
strong and can be ferocious fighters if cornered. They will
tear off shingles and fascia boards to gain access to attics,
and they often create fire hazards by plugging uncapped chimneys
with nesting materials when they make their dens.
In the agricultural community raccoons do extensive damage,
Barnhill said. Sweet corn is one of the racoon's favorites,
but they also feed on various fruits and vegetables, kill poultry
and damage plastic irrigation systems and silage pit covers.
They sometimes eat the protein supplements that dairymen feed
to their cows thus making it unusable as it is contaminated
by fecal waste left in the manger.
“The impact of raccoons on other wildlife is significant,”
Barnhill said. “They are a major predator of bird nests,
consuming both the eggs and young birds. They are partially
responsible for a decline in duck, pheasant and songbird numbers.
The Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge in Box Elder County removes
around 300 raccoons each year in an attempt to control their
impact.”
In addition to their other disruptive habits, one of the major
concerns regarding raccoons is the diseases they carry. In the
eastern United States raccoons are the major wildlife host of
rabies. Fortunately, rabies has not been identified in the Utah
raccoon population.
Raccoon feces often contain roundworm (Baylisascaris procyonis)
eggs, Barnhill said. If ingested, the larvas from these eggs
hatch and migrate through the tissues of the body. This can
damage the brain or optic nerve in the host animal, causing
severe neurological damage, blindness or death. Raccoons have
also been known to transmit canine distemper, Aleutians and
several other diseases.
Live catch traps are recommended for controlling raccoons, said
Barnhill. These traps need to be made of heavy material and
should be at least 10 inches x 12 inches x 32 inches. They cost
about $50, but it isn’t always necessary to purchase them.
The State Wildlife Resources office has traps they loan in exchange
for a refundable deposit.
“Many homeowners use tuna fish, peanut butter or canned
cat food as bait, but using fruit is recommended to avoid catching
dogs and cats,” Barnhill said. “Commercial raccoon
bait, called “Raccoon Lure,” is cherry-scented,
fruit-based and is available for $10 per 8 ounces.”
If trapping a raccoon becomes necessary, be aware that state
law prohibits the release of these animals, Barnhill warned.
No one wants a relocated nuisance to return to the original
site. In addition, studies indicate that relocated raccoons
have a 50 percent, or higher, mortality rate within three months,
due largely to problems getting oriented to the resources of
their new location.
December 10, 2003
Writer: Dennis Hinkamp, 435-797-1392
Contact: James Barnhill, 801-399-8208
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