by Heidi Copeland | Mar 23, 2021
Friday, February 12, 2021 opens the 2021 income tax filing season. Getting your income tax information together will help you file a complete, correct, and timely income tax return.
Things to know:
- 2020 return is filed in 2021
- As of now, April 15, 2021 is still the filing deadline
- File on time or file for an extension to avoid paying a penalty for failing to file on time.
- If you are owed a refund, you have up to 3 years to file and receive the money.
Coronavirus and Taxes
The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) authorized the IRS to issue Economic Impact Payments (EIPs)
- EIP1: $1,200 to most U.S. citizens and residents and up to $2,400 for married couples who file a joint return plus $500 per qualifying child.
- EIP2: $600 for individuals or $1,200 for married couples and up to $600 for each qualifying child.
- Generally, if you have an adjusted gross income for 2019 up to $75,000 for individuals and up to $150,000 for married couples filing joint returns and surviving spouses, you will receive the full amount of the second payment. For filers with income above these amounts, the payment amount is reduced.
On the 2020 Form 1040 (individual income tax return), taxpayers are asked about these monies. Did you get them and how much? Be aware that these funds were disbursed in different ways: paper check, direct deposit, and debit cards. Many people also received a notice 1444 A or B explaining these monies; many did not. It is important to familiarize yourself about the Economic Impact Payments (EIPs) and know the exact amount you received. (If you didn’t receive the funds, ask yourself these questions: Have you filed an individual income tax return in previous years? Have you moved/changed bank accounts since filing last?)
Remember, putting incorrect information on the tax return might mean a lengthy delay or alter the size of refunds/payments!
Know, too, that after October 15, 2020, the only way to claim your EIP will be to file a federal income tax return. If you did not file a 2019 tax return in 2020, you may instead be able to claim a recovery rebate credit when you file your 2020 federal income tax return in 2021.
People can check the status of both their first and second payments by using the Get My Payment tool, available in English and Spanish only, on IRS.gov or calling the IRS hotline @ 800-919-9835.
by Angela Hinkle | Mar 11, 2021
FCS Agent: Angela Hinkle Photo Source: UF/IFAS
Angela Hinkle is a Family and Consumer Sciences Agent in Escambia County, specializing in increasing the healthy food and nutrition behaviors of limited-resource families. She graduated from the University of Maryland in Broadcast Communications. After giving birth to a beautiful daughter, she worked for NC State on a grant helping moms breastfeed their new babies. She was offered additional duties from another grant – EFNEP (Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program). After the breastfeeding grant program ended, Angela re-located to Escambia County, Florida and was able to continue teaching efforts as a program assistant for the EFNEP program there.
As a single mom, Angela really appreciated the help of family, friends, and co-workers in advancing to the position of UF Extension Agent in 2008 and getting her master’s degree in Health Education (with a psycho-social emphasis) from the University of West Florida in 2010.
Along with her staff, Angela works with limited-resource youth and families, educating them in choosing, preparing, and eating healthy when budgets are severely restricted. She says it is definitely a challenge to help people make positive behavior changes and to assist communities in making the healthy choice the easy choice. But she says the successes that participants and community partners share about caring for their families in healthier ways always make it worth it.
Angela Hinkle Prepares Salsa Photo Source: William Reynolds
Other health and wellness Family and Consumer Sciences programming Angela has led includes: “Keeping the Pressure Down,” “Wellness Wednesdays,” “Let’s Walk Florida,” “Cook Smart Eat Smart,” “Feed Them Well,” “Smart Shopping for Families,” and the Growing Series including “Growing a Healthy Pizza,” “Growing Nachos,” “Growing an Ice Cream Sundae,” and “Growing Brunch.”
Angela was born in Trinidad in the West Indies. Her family moved to a trailer on a dirt road in Pensacola, FL when she was about five years old. She then moved around to Maryland, Oklahoma, Indiana, and North Carolina before finally circling back to Pensacola. In each place she has lived, food has always been a big passion. She loves to read about food, talk about it, make it, share it, explore the culture and history behind it, and eat it in a variety of settings. This passion makes her a great fit for the EFNEP program.
Her soul animal is a turtle, (usually moving very slowly, enjoying time in her own shell, but moving surprisingly quickly when prompted). In addition to food, Angela likes being with her dog (who is getting on in years but likes to take her for a walk every morning), a nice warm cup of tea, going to the movies, reading for pleasure, traveling and sight-seeing, and getting to spend time with her adult daughter.
by Terri Keith | Feb 21, 2021
Homemade canned preserves 1942.
Photo Credits: UF/IFAS File Photo
In 1795, Napoleon needed a better way to preserve large quantities of food for his troops during the Napoleonic Wars, so his government offered a reward of 12,000 francs for the invention of a new food preservation method. In 1809, Nicolas Appert won that award with his canning technique that used glass containers that were sealed then heated to a set temperature. Peter Durand created the tin canister a year later. These inventions led to the canning materials and processes that are used today to preserve food for people all over the world.
Canned food provides a convenient and often less expensive way to include fruits and vegetables in the diet of many individuals and families. Canned foods are also considered a staple in many pantries because of their shelf life. Commercially canned products may keep the food packed inside at its best quality for 1 to 5 years depending on the type of food. Most home canned foods are able to be stored for up to a year, though there are some exceptions.
Photo Credit: UF/IFAS Photo by Tyler Jones
To make the most of canned foods, keep these tips in mind.
Best by or use by dates on commercial products do not indicate safety. They are estimated dates provided by the manufacturer on how long they believe their product would be at its best quality. The exception to this is for infant formula products that are required to have a “Use-By” date and should not be used after that date.
Avoid cans or jars that are not in good condition. Look for dents, swelling or bulging, leaking, rust, cracks in jars or loose lids. If the food has a foul odor or spurts liquid when it’s opened, do not use it. Any of these could indicate the food may have been contaminated or could contain Clostridium botulinum toxins.
A woman canning in the kitchen.
Photo Credits: UF/IFAS File Photo
Store canned foods in a cool, dark and dry space. This will help them to last longer and keep the food inside at its best quality. Keep canned foods in an area that is between 50-70°F.
Use canned foods to fill nutrition gaps. Add a can of vegetables to your dinner menu—a side of green beans or carrots can help balance your plate. Try using a can of fruit as a basis for a dessert. Pineapple and cottage cheese, anyone? If you’re concerned about sodium or sugar in canned foods, look for products marked as low sodium or lite for less sugar. Compare ingredient and nutrition labels of different brands or varieties of a product to find what works best for you.
If you can foods at home, make sure you’re following recipes that have been tested for safety. Follow the guidelines in the USDA Complete Guide to Home Canning, 2015 Revision or find more information at the National Center for Home Food Preservation. You can also contact your local extension office; in Florida, you can find your local office here.
Resources:
U.S. Department of Agriculture, National Agricultural Library, How Did We Can?: https://www.nal.usda.gov/exhibits/ipd/canning/timeline-table
U.S. Department of Agriculture, AskUSDA, How long can you keep canned goods?: https://ask.usda.gov/s/article/How-long-can-you-keep-canned-goods
U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food Safety and Inspection Service, Food Product Dating: https://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsis/topics/food-safety-education/get-answers/food-safety-fact-sheets/food-labeling/food-product-dating/food-product-dating
by Kendra Hughson | Feb 21, 2021
Kendra during her professional development leave at Purdue University.
Kendra Hughson is a Regional Specialized Agent in Family and Consumer Sciences. She is based in Quincy, Florida and covers the sixteen counties in the panhandle. Kendra leads the northwest district county faculty in developing districtwide family and consumer sciences programs. Kendra is also currently serving as co-chair of the statewide family and consumer sciences program.
Kendra began her career with Michigan State University Extension in a suburban county in southwest Michigan after completing an internship program in the county office. With a bachelor’s degree in family studies, she intended to continue her education in marriage and family therapy while working as an extension agent. Kendra caught the “Extension bug” and ended up completing her master’s degree in Family and Consumer Sciences at Western Michigan University.
Kendra was hired with the University of Florida/IFAS Extension in 2007 leaving the snow, ice, and frigid winters behind. She has served as an agent, a county extension director, and returned to her passion for family and consumer sciences as a regional specialized agent. Kendra works primarily in health and wellness but enjoys the variety of family and consumer science programs. She studied evaluation during a professional development leave in 2018 and has since been passionate about telling the story of how family and consumer sciences programs improve the lives of the people with which we work.
Kendra and her daughter in St. Petersburg, FL.
Kendra lives in Tallahassee with her daughter and dog. Kendra enjoys travelling, including playing tourist in the sunshine state and visiting Lake Michigan in the summertime. When not working or managing family activities, Kendra enjoys reading, cooking (not baking), sewing, and being outdoors.
by Ginny Hinton | Feb 10, 2021
If you’re the parent of a “big kid” between the ages of 5 and 12, you’ve probably scratched your head at some point wondering how, where, and in what they should be traveling. There are more options now than ever! Unfortunately, many parents and caregivers make a dangerous choice, without even knowing they could be putting their kids in jeopardy. Following are some of the options for safe travel with older children, including how and why each might work for you:
BELT POSITIONING BOOSTER SEATS
Unlike a car seat, a booster is a positioner, not a child restraint. Its main purpose is to keep the seat belt on the child’s strong hips and collar bone. With a booster, the lap portion of the belt runs under an armrest or clip which holds it low on the hips and upper thighs. This positions the lap belt so that it can’t cut into the child’s soft abdomen, causing serious or potentially life-threatening injuries. Most boosters also position the shoulder belt to keep it flat across the collarbone and protect the neck. An updated study of booster seat effectiveness (Pediatrics, 2009) concluded that children ages 4-8 in boosters are 45% safer from nonfatal injuries than children in seatbelts. The study didn’t find any difference in preventing injury between backless and high-back boosters. Some parents prefer to use high-back boosters because they offer some side-impact protection and give their children a place to lay their heads if they fall asleep. Others prefer the convenience of a lightweight backless booster that can easily travel with the child and be moved between vehicles. A backless booster will NOT work if the vehicle headrest comes below the child’s ears because of the danger of whiplash from rear-end crashes. A child can safely move to a booster seat when he/she has outgrown a car seat by weight and height, as long as the child is mature enough to stay in position while traveling. This usually happens between ages 5-7 but depends on the individual child.
Credit: G. Hinton
VEHICLE LAP-SHOULDER BELTS
How do you know when your child is ready to “graduate” to an adult seatbelt? Because the height and depth of seats vary from vehicle to vehicle, and all children are not made exactly alike, there is no specific height or weight guideline. Instead, there is a simple 5-step test as follows:
• Is your child sitting all the way back in the seat?
• Do the child’s knees reach the edge of the seat without scooting?
• Do the child’s feet touch the floor?
• Does the shoulder belt cross the child’s collar bone and not his/her neck?
• Is the child mature enough to stay in position during the entire trip?
If you can answer “yes” to every question, your child is ready to use an adult seatbelt in that vehicle. If not, no matter what your child’s age, it might be best to continue using a booster seat for a while. When a child is too small sit in an adult seatbelt, the lap belt will slide up onto his/her stomach. In a crash, the belt will keep tightening because there is no bone or other object (i.e. the armrest of a booster) to stop it. During the crash, everything has to stop so fast that it causes the belt to put extreme force on the internal organs and spine, causing the organs to rupture and the spine to snap or fracture. This cluster of injuries is called “seat belt syndrome” and can be severe. Using a booster until your child is big enough to fit the vehicle seat eliminates the risk.
by Kendra Hughson | Feb 1, 2021
In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, many of us have turned to cooking more meals at home. Cooking meals and eating at home has many benefits. When preparing meals, you can select the ingredients and choose
healthy recipes lower in saturated fats, sodium, and sugar. When eating out, we tend to eat more food. You can more easily control your portion sizes when eating at home. Remember to include a variety of fruits and vegetables in your main dishes and side dishes. Finally, preparing and eating meals together is not only a fun way to teach healthy eating habits and cooking skills, but it is also a great way to connect with each other at the end of the day.
We invite you to join us for A Healthy Table: Virtual Cooking School. In our virtual cooking school, you will learn how to prepare healthy meals for your family through self-paced online lessons and hands-on cooking activities. You will have opportunities to engage in monthly live virtual cooking demonstrations and interactive learning experiences.
Register before February 9th and save 20% off the ticket price. Early registrants gain access to a bonus class and kick-off event. Tickets are on sale for $19.99 until February 9th and $25 thereafter. Registration will close on February 23. Once registered, you will receive the Zoom class link and the link to the class website. Register here: http://bit.ly/ahealthytable.
The monthly Zoom class events will be held from 6:30-7:30 pm CT/ 7:30-8:30 pm ET on:
- Tuesday, February 9th: Kickoff Event Available for Early Birds only Program introduction and a sweet, healthy treat demonstration.
- Tuesday, February 23rd: Lesson 1, Kitchen skills primer
- Tuesday, March 23rd: Lesson 2, Cooking techniques – baking, grilling, roasting
- Tuesday, April 27th: Lesson3, Simple dishes – eggs, breads, salads, pasta
- Tuesday, May 25th: Lesson4, One dish meals – one-pot, slow cooker, packet meals
- Tuesday, June 22nd: Lesson 5, Entertaining and special occasions – setting a table, appetizers
Come cook with us and set your table for better health.
References:
Benefits of Cooking at Home
Cooking at Home for Healthier Eating
Benefits of Family Meals
