Pumpkins are a staple of fall-time cuisine and festivities. Whether canned, dried or pickled, there are some important tips to keep in mind when preserving this holiday favorite. Due to natural acidity levels, pumpkins require certain precautions be taken when canning in order to make preserves that are safe to eat.

Georgia 4-H is piloting an educational series aimed at teaching children how to help prevent the spread of animal diseases like swine flu, salmonella, E. coli and rabies.

Mildew and musty odors sometimes develop during periods of damp weather. Controlling them can be as easy as buying a dehumidifier or placing a moisture barrier under the home.

Your home may be filled with an invisible, radioactive gas called radon. Radon is a naturally occurring gas that comes from the decay of uranium found in most rocks and soil. It ranks as the second-leading cause of lung cancer and is the leading cause of lung cancer among non-smokers.

Some 37 percent of American 10-to-12-year olds are active members of the social network site Facebook, according to a 2010 study by McAfee. To help Georgia teens stay safe on the Internet, Georgia 4-H specialist Cheryl Varnadoe teaches youths to make wise decisions when posting information to social network sites like Facebook and MySpace.

Once upon a time, it seemed like the school bully was best known for stealing lunch money and picking on other kids. Today, the news is full of stories about how the modern bully has moved from the lunchroom to the Internet. While the majority of schools now have policies in place about both bullying and technology use in the classroom, bullies who use their home computers may not have the same restrictions.

Hundreds of non-smokers are diagnosed with lung cancer each year in Georgia. The cause of their cancer could be the air inside their homes. With help from University of Georgia Cooperative Extension, Georgians are learning about the risks of radon and testing their homes for the gas.

Last week’s death of an elderly Dougherty County man has been attributed to Africanized honeybees. This fatality confirms the bees’ arrival in Georgia, according to the Georgia Department of Agriculture.

Halloween is a time of costumes, merriment and good fright. It can also cause anxieties. Children think of candy, candy, candy. Parents think of stranger danger, allergic reactions and upset stomachs.