The Osceola County Extension Service Program provides many classes and seminars to the public. Registration is required for ALL programs. Classes are taught in English and are free unless otherwise specified. Please call 321-697-3000 or the number provided for registration and more information.

If you are someone who enjoys the out of doors, likes sharing adventures with others, enjoys learning about nature, wildlife and our local surroundings…then one of our guided Woods Walks may be something you would truly enjoy!

We will begin holding Woods Walks shortly. To be notified directly, please email your name and phone number to Cindy Rutherford at crut@osceola.org or call 321-697-3000 to get on our list!

Upcoming Schedule of Events

• Friday, February 5, 2010
  Insomnia - Wellness
  4:30pm - 5:30 pm
  Sheriff’s Office - 2601 E. Irlo Bronson Memorial Highway
  Registration is required. Please call 321-697-3000.
  Many people suffer from one or more forms of insomnia and don’t know what to do. Since more and more research is indicating that sleep is essential to good health, learn the tricks to sleeping better and know when to get this condition treated.
• Wednesday, February 11, 2010
  Take Control of Your Money - Wellness
  9:00 a.m. - 12:00 pm
  Extension Services, Osceola Heritage Park
  1921 Kissimmee Valley Lane, Kissimmee
  Located at the intersection of Bill Beck Blvd. & US 192.
  Registration is required. Please call 321-697-3000.
  Stop wondering where money went and letting it control you. Instead establish financial goals, discover your financial potential and develop a plan to make your money work for you.
• Thursday, February 18, 2010
  Homeowner Irrigation Workshop
  10:00 am - noon
  Saint Cloud Civic Center
  3001 17th Street, Saint Cloud
  Registration is required. Please call 407-957-7344
  Learn how to: Save on your water bill, operate your irrigation controller, keep your landscape healthy, check your system for leaks.
• Wednesday, February 22, 2010
  Take Control of Your Money - Wellness
  5:30 pm – 8:30 pm
  Extension Services, Osceola Heritage Park
  1921 Kissimmee Valley Lane, Kissimmee
  Located at the intersection of Bill Beck Blvd. & US 192.
  Registration is required. Please call 321-697-3000.
  Stop wondering where money went and letting it control you. Instead establish financial goals, discover your financial potential and develop a plan to make your money work for you.
• Tuesday, February 23, 2010
  Finding Money to Save
  3:00 pm – 4:00 pm
  Osceola County Admin Building
  1 Courthouse Square Kissimmee FL - Rm. 4727
  Registration is required. Please call 321-697-3000.
  Find the money you’ve been searching for and implement different saving strategies into your management of personal finances.
• Wednesday, February 24, 2010
  Good Carbs vs. Bad Carbs
  11:30 am – 12:30 pm
  Historic Courthouse Room 315
  3 Courthouse Square, Kissimmee
  Registration is required. Please call 321-697-3000.
  Americans are spending billions on low - carb foods. Learn the clever labeling lingo and the difference between complex and simple carbohydrates and why all carbs are not bad.
• Wednesday, February 24, 2010
  Using Power Pay to Get Out of Debt
  1:00 pm – 2:00 pm
  Osceola County Convention and Visitor’s Bureau
  Registration is required. Please call 321-697-3000.
  Is debt stressing you out and keeping you up at night? Use PowerPay to create a debt reduction plan to better manage current debt and get out of debt faster.
• Friday, February 26, 2010
  Green Industries Best Management Practices Training
  9:00 am – 3:00 pm
  Extension Services, Osceola Heritage Park
  1921 Kissimmee Valley Lane, Kissimmee
  Located at the intersection of Bill Beck Blvd. & US 192.
  Registration is required. Please call 321-697-3000.
  For landscape professionals; fulfills the training requirement for the new Limited Commercial Fertilizer Applicator Certificate.

Find out more about this program by visiting their website.

All of us at KSIB / GuardianHost Networks would like to wish you and your loved ones a joyful holiday season and a Happy New Year! Thank you for being a part of our family and community. We’re truly thankful and we look forward to delivering you an even better experience in 2010.

What is Christmas?

Agnes M. Pharo wrote: “It is tenderness for the past, courage for the present, hope for the future. It is a fervent wish that every cup may overflow with blessings rich and eternal, and that every path may lead to peace.”

Please take a few minutes to see whom you can help this season. This year has been particularly tough on many good families here in Osceola County and even what you think might be the most trivial of donations could benefit a family in need greatly.

Travelling Tips

Be safe out there on the roads this year. The Osceola County Sheriff’s Department has created a quick safety list involving how to identify and avoid drunk drivers.

Ways to spot and avoid drunk drivers on the road:

• Be aware of cars that are speeding, drifting across lanes and erratically braking.
• Watch for high beams. It’s often a sign of a drunk driver. While you might be tempted to flash a high beaming car, be careful not to overdo it. The driver could be distracted by the flashing lights and swerve into your lane.
• Drunk drivers often travel with their headlights off or their parking lights on. Some turn on an interior light to adjust the heat or radio, then forget to turn the light off. If you spot these signs in an oncoming car, move to the right-hand lane as quickly (and safely) as possible.
• Never pass a driver you suspect is drunk. If you stay behind, you can see and react to problems.
• To create some distance between yourself and a drunk driver, safely pull into a parking lot, wait a few minutes, then proceed.
• Lose a tailgater by making a right-hand turn when you can do so safely. It may be a drunk driver who’s using your tail lights as a focal point. Most drivers under the influence won’t be able to respond fast enough to follow you.
• Keep your distance at intersections. Drunk drivers tend to cut the corners short or wide.
• While it’s always a good idea to stay one or two car lengths back from an intersection, on New Year’s Eve you should make it three car lengths.
• Don’t pull off to the shoulder unless you have no choice. A drunk driver can easily mistake your tail lights for moving traffic and may drift onto the shoulder, as if it was a driving lane. Remain alert after sunrise. Many people will try to ‘sleep off’ the alcohol, then start driving at daybreak. But if they’ve had too much to drink, they still can be driving under the influence.

Once again, thank you everyone and Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

- Marcus Tilghman
GuardianHost Networks, L.L.C.