UMaine Experts Offer Holiday Seasonal Advice

University of Maine specialists are available with consumer advice and ideas on a variety of holiday-related issues and activities, as plans are made for end-of-the-year gift giving, celebrations and seasonal decorations.

Leslie Forstadt, UMaine Cooperative Extension child and family development specialist, is available at 207.581.3487 in Orono to discuss alternative gift giving when budgets are tight or recipients seem to have everything they need already. Forstadt discusses several alternative gift-giving ideas in a UMaine Cooperative Extension video and in an earlier interview.

UMaine Cooperative Extension professor Donna Coffin at 207.564.3301 in the Piscataquis County office in Dover-Foxcroft is available to offer low-cost, energy-efficiency suggestions for lighting up the home with bright, colorful LED holiday lights.

David Fuller, UMaine Cooperative Extension agricultural and natural resources professional at 207.778.4650 in the Franklin County office, is available to discuss proper ways to clip fir tree tips for wreath making, and how to select and care for a holiday tree. UMaine forest resources instructor Louis Morin in Orono, at 207.581.2854, also can discuss selecting, cutting and care for the right holiday tree, and pros and cons about buying artificial trees.

Kristy Ouellette, UMaine Cooperative Extension assistant Extension educator in 4-H youth and family development, is available at 207.353.5550 in the UMaine Extension Androscoggin-Sagadahoc counties office in Lisbon Falls to offer ideas on encouraging children to make creative holiday gifts and cards and to stay active indoors in cold, inclement weather.

For more information, contact George Manlove at 207.581.3756.