University of Maryland Extension
ALLEGANY COUNTY
Our University of Maryland Extension (UME) Allegany office is located at One Commerce Drive in Cumberland and is open Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. Feel free to stop in, call us at 301-724-3320 or visit our UME Allegany website.
Spreading Holiday Cheer
Pictured: Chrissy Ujcic, Outreach Coordinator; Jody Parrish, Lacie Ashby, and Kristin Moore, Program Coordinator
SNAP-ED ADDS FULL-TIME POSITION
Our Snap-Ed Team member, Shirley Guinn, moved from part-time Healthy Food Access Faculty Assistant to a full-time Snap-Ed Educator. Shirley joins Project Leader and full-time Educator, Mandy Hawkins and Program Assistant, Shayla Hitchins to round out the Snap-Ed team. Our Snap-Ed efforts are focused on nutrition education and outreach to the low-income community with collaborations at ten elementary schools, four local food pantries, Head Start, and our local Farmers' Markets.
Shirley has worked for Snap-Ed since 2016 as a Faculty Assistant specializing in pantry and Farmers' Market education and outreach. We are excited to welcome Shirley into this new position and look forward to expanded Snap-Ed efforts.
Pictured is Shirley with her oldest grandson, Presley, at the 2022 Head Start Rodeo Event.
UME Welcomes New Team Member
Gardeners Cultivate Winter Projects
What do gardeners do in winter?
Find out below in this article from Annette Cormany, horticulture educator, University of Maryland Extension – Washington County. You will find tips on tending to your plants and garden spaces.
Money Smart Program offered to Students After School
In January and February, Dr. Ketterman will visit county after school programs to engage 2nd to 5th-grade students in conversations about money. Using the Money Smart curriculum by the FDIC, students learn basic financial concepts such as the difference between wants and needs.
The curriculum is available here. If you would like a program facilitated for your young audience, contact Dr. Ketterman at jketterm@umd.edu.
PRIVATE PESTICIDE APPLICATOR TEST TRAINING
Farmers that apply restricted-use pesticides are required to have a Maryland Private Applicators License. The Private Applicator License allows farmers to apply restricted-use pesticides to the property they own or manage for farming. To obtain a Private Applicator License, farmers must pass the Private Pesticide Applicator Maryland exam and apply for the license. Training will be held on January 30th from 6:30-9:30 pm at the University of Maryland Extension Garrett County office. Study materials are available online (free) at https://mda.maryland.gov/plants-pests/Documents/MD%20Core%20Manual.pdf or the study material is available at the office (cost $16.00). The test will be given by MDA in Garrett County later in the winter or early spring.
Please contact the Garrett County UME office at 301-334-6960, if you plan to attend the training or would like study materials.
WESTERN MD HAY & PASTURE CONFERENCE
The Western Maryland Hay and Pasture Conference will be held on January 18, 2023, at Garrett College in the GIEC Building, Room 111. The location of the conference is 687 Mosser Road, McHenry, MD 21541. Note the location change from previous years. The conference will begin at 9:00 am with registration starting at 8:30 am. The conference will conclude at 3:00 pm. There will be speakers to tackle the latest challenges in forage production.
The registration fee, including lunch, is $20.00 if you register by Wednesday, January 11, 2023. Registration after that date will be $25.00.
You can register and pay online HERE or by calling the UME - Garrett office at 301-334-6960.
If you need reasonable accommodations to participate in this event or a special diet to participate in this event, please contact the Garrett County office at 301-334-6960.
UME WESTERN CLUSTER YOUTUBE CHANNEL
Keeping Connected
We are available by phone, email, and video conferencing. If you have questions, contact one of our experts to provide solutions.
Dr. Jennifer Bentlejewski, WMD Director - jthorn@umd.edu
4-H Youth and Development
- Lacie Ashby, Principal Agent - lashby@umd.edu
- Jessica Mellon, Senior Agent Associate - jmellon2@umd.edu
Agriculture and Natural Resources
- Ashby Ruddle, Coordinator Nutrient Management Program - aruddle@umd.edu
MD - SNAP Ed
- Mandy Hawkins, Project Leader/Educator - ahawkins@umd.edu
- Shirley Guinn, Educator - sguinn1@umd.edu
- Shayla Hitchens, Program Assistant - sfelker@umd.edu
Family and Consumer Sciences
- Lisa McCoy, RD, Senior Agent - lmccoy@umd.edu
- Dr. Jesse Ketterman, Senior Agent - jketterm@umd.edu
Administrative Assistants
- Jody Parrish, Administrative Asst ll - jparrish@umd.edu
- Toni Richards, Administrative Asst I - tonir@umd.edu
University programs, activities, and facilities are available to all without regard to race, color, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, marital status, age, national origin, political affiliation, physical or mental disability, religion, protected veteran status, genetic information, personal appearance or other legally protected class.