The Town of Southeast Cultural Arts Coalition (CAC) is excited to present the third annual Brewster Summer Music Series (BSMS) at the Veterans Park Gazebo at Railroad and Morningthorpe Avenues. BSMS 2023 will kick off Wednesday, June 14, at 6:30 pm and feature a variety of music genres on successive Wednesday nights through July 26th. In addition to music, the evenings will include contests and raffle prizes along with the opportunity to pre-order family picnics from local food vendors.

CAC is currently soliciting sponsorships and donations to help fund the series. Sponsors reap benefits of community recognition while supporting the performers and community at large. If you would like to sponsor this event, reach out to concert organizers at bsms@culturalartsco.com, or visit www.brewstermusicfestival.com.

Located in Brewster, at the corner of Railroad and Morningthorpe Avenues, the Veterans Park is easily accessed via multiple transportation options including a scenic drive along the East Branch Reservoir along Route 22 North or a 10-minute drive from exit 10 along Route 684. Concert attendees may also find convenience traveling via MTA Metro-North’s Hudson Line to the Brewster Station, as the gazebo is a 5-minute walk away. Hartransit runs a shuttle bus service for those traveling between Danbury, CT and the Brewster Train Station.

CAC is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to celebrating the community with transformative and inspiring arts experiences.  Since its inception in 2010, CAC has operated a cultural arts center at the Southeast Old Town Hall while spearheading efforts to restore this 1896 historic landmark and reopen its exquisite upper floor theater. CAC’s space Studio Around the Corner in the basement of Old Town Hall showcases area artists and hosts a wide variety of cultural events including concerts, plays, and classes for the surrounding communities in Putnam, Westchester, Dutchess, and Fairfield counties. For more information about the organization, visit www.culturalartsco.com. The Brewster Summer Music Series is made possible, in part, by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature as well as through the Putnam Arts Council’s Arts Link Grant Program with public funds provided from Putnam County.

Have you heard or seen coyotes around recently? New York is currently in the midst of coyote breeding season, which generally runs from January – March.

During this time of year, coyotes are especially active as they mate and begin to set up dens for pups that will arrive this spring. They also tend to be more territorial, which can increase the risk of conflicts with people and pets.

To minimize this risk, DEC recommends that everyone follow the tips outlined in the links below and in the accompanying photo. If a coyote is exhibiting bold behaviors and shows little or no fear of people, contact your Regional Wildlife Office or, in emergency situations, the local police department.

Visit the DEC website for more information on coyotes and preventing conflicts with coyotes.

New York State Senators Pete Harckham and Shelley B. Mayer, Peekskill Mayor Vivian McKenzie and officials from Rebuild NY Now and area labor unions called today for an additional $2 billion in the NYS Department of Transportation’s Capital Improvement Fund at a special news conference held here at United Association (UA) Plumbers & Steamfitters Local 21.

The event was hosted by Thomas Carey, president of the Westchester Putnam Central Labor Body and business agent for UA Local 21, along with John T. Cooney, Jr., executive director of the Construction Industry Council of Westchester and Hudson Valley, a Rebuild NY partner, and other infrastructure advocates.

To watch a video of the press conference, click here.

The Rebuild NY Now coalition recently sent a letter to Governor Kathy Hochul and Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie asking for them to include the extra $2 billion of funding for roads in the FY2024 State Budget, which the State Senate has already approved. That would bring the total funding for DOT capital improvements up to $8 billion for the next four years.

“Residents are letting me know daily how frustrating and dangerous it is to drive on our roadways,” said Harckham. “I have been in regular contact with NYSDOT about certain roads needing immediate repair, but enough is enough! We know the costs to maintain and fix roads have increased, and that’s why it is necessary to add $2 billion to the NYSDOT’s five-year capital improvement plan.”

“I am pleased the Senate One House Budget resolution includes additional funding for the Department of Transportation’s Capital Program,” said Mayer. “Everyday I hear from drivers and passengers expressing frustration about the condition of our roads and bridges. We must fight for its inclusion in the final budget. Roadways that are in poor condition pose a danger to drivers, and are costly to individuals for vehicle repairs. Our communities and local economy depend on solid investments in our infrastructure.

Mayer added, “This additional funding will allow us to make the repairs our roads and bridges need, and that our drivers and passengers need and deserve. We must do what we can to safeguard New Yorkers and ease daily troubles by investing in roadways.”

Roadways are often regarded as the most vital infrastructure component in the United States because an overwhelming majority of goods are transported by truck and most commuters use roads daily to get to work. While recent studies show roads are getting better, thanks to federal investments, in eastern states they are getting worse. According to United State Department of Transportation (USDOT) data released last month, New York has the 6th worst roads in the US. (Only Hawaii, Massachusetts, California, New Jersey and Rhode Island are worse.)

The USDOT study notes that in New York 24% of the roadways are in poor condition and 37% are in fair condition; only 39% of our roads are in good condition. Per capita New Yorkers travel over 14 miles a day on statewide roads.

Along with the State Senate’s proposed $2 billion addition to the DOT Capital Improvement Plan, the Senate is also supporting partners in local government so that they can maintain municipal transportation infrastructure with:

•          An additional $200 million in support for the Consolidated Local Street and Highway Improvement Program (CHIPS);
•          $70 million in additional support for the Extreme Winter Recovery program; and
•          Increasing Aid and Incentives for Municipalities (AIM) funding by $213 million (approximately 30 percent per municipality).

“This additional $2 billion in highway improvement funding that our State Senators are supporting is much needed and will also create more jobs,” said Carey. “If you drive down our roads, you will know that they are in need of attention and repair.”

“New Yorkers want to be able to say that their roads are in good shape and are safe to travel on,” said Mayor McKenzie. “We deserve to have great infrastructure, and what better way to create more good jobs and increase economic development throughout our state than by maintaining our roadways?”

Cooney noted that NYSDOT’s Region 8, which covers Westchester and the Hudson Valley, has the worst road conditions in the state—and has for the past several years. Region 8 has 5,000 more lane miles to take care of than any other DOT region, and more bridge decks to maintain than New York City and Long Island combined.

“The extra funding for the DOT capital plan is sorely needed right here,” said Cooney. “The Senate’s One-House Budget recognizes this and knows the money needs to be spent to make our roads safer.”

*********************

 Pete Harckham represents the 40th Senate District, which includes the towns of Carmel, Kent, Patterson and Southeast, and the village of Brewster in Putnam County; the town of Stony Point in Rockland County; and the city of Peekskill, the towns of Bedford, Cortlandt, Lewisboro, New Castle, North Salem, Somers and Yorktown, the towns/villages of Mount Kisco and Ossining, and the villages of Briarcliff Manor, Buchanan and Croton-on-Hudson in Westchester County.

A new scam circulating on social media urges people to use wage information on a tax return to claim false credits in hopes of getting a big refund.

How the W-2 scam works
The scheme encourages people to use tax software to manually fill out Form W-2, Wage and Tax Statement, and include false income information. Scam artists suggest people make up large income, withholding figures and employer. Scam artists then instruct people to file the bogus tax return electronically in hopes of getting a substantial refund – sometimes as much as five figures – due to the large amount of withholding.

There are two other variations of this scheme going around. Both involve misusing Form W-2 wage information in hopes of generating a larger refund:

• One variation involves people using Form 7202, Credits for Sick Leave and Family Leave for Certain Self-Employed Individuals, to claim a credit based on income earned as an employee and not as a self-employed individual. These credits were available for self-employed individuals for 2020 and 2021 during the pandemic; they are not available for 2022 tax returns.
• A similar variation involves people making up fictional employees employed in their household and using Schedule H (Form 1040), Household Employment Taxes, to try claiming a refund based on false sick and family medical leave wages they never paid. Taxpayers use the form to report household employment taxes if they hired someone to do household work and those wages were subject to Social Security, Medicare or federal unemployment (FUTA) taxes, or if the employer withheld federal income tax from those wages.

The IRS verifies W-2s and is watching for these scams
The IRS, together with Security Summit partners in the tax industry and the states, is actively watching for this scheme and others. In addition, the IRS works with payroll companies and large employers as well as the Social Security Administration to verify W-2 information.

People who try this scam face a wide range of penalties, including a frivolous return penalty of $5,000. They also run the risk of criminal prosecution for filing a false tax return.

For anyone who has taken part in one of these schemes, there are several options that the IRS recommends. People can amend a previous tax return or consult with a trusted tax professional.

2023-39

Funding Comes from Federal Grant

The Westchester County’s Department of Senior Programs and Services (DSPS) has issued one request for proposal (RFP) from qualified agencies for services that benefit seniors.  Funding comes from grants through the Older Americans Act as amended, for Title III-E. 

The RFP:

Project Locator Services: This RFP seek services (“Project Locator”) that provide support to elderly persons suffering from Alzheimer's disease and related disorders who wander, their caregivers and families. 

Information on this RFP is available at http://www.westchestergov.com/rfp. The due date for this RFP is Wednesday, April 26, 2023. 

All proposals must be received at:

The Department of Senior Programs and Services

Westchester County Office Building

9 South First Avenue, 10th Floor

Mount Vernon, NY 10550-3414

For information about the Department of Senior Programs and Services, call (914) 813-6300 or visit www.westchestergov.com/seniors.

The Renegades are back in town! Starting on Friday, April 7^th, the Renegades will begin their 29^th season of professional baseball in the Hudson Valley, and 3^rd as a New York Yankee Affiliate. Through the first two seasons in the Yankees’ system, several top prospects have spent time with the Renegades, including the Yankees #1 Prospect, Shortstop Anthony Volpe; Yankees #2 Prospect, Outfielder Jasson Dominguez, and the first Renegades player to make the Yankees big league roster, Shortstop Oswald Peraza.

While the baseball is great, the fan experience is even better! The Renegades’ focus is to bring affordable family fun to the Hudson Valley, and provide the community with a safe place to enjoy the atmosphere of Minor League Baseball. Even for those who are not fans of the product on the field, the Renegades have something for everyone, no matter who you are or what you enjoy. For kids, take advantage of the brand new Kid’s Club, and be sure to visit the Fun Zone full of games and entertainment for all ages. For college students, head over to the stadium on Thursdays, for free admission with a valid student ID. Adults, enjoy a drink at the exclusive Sloop Beer Balcony, featuring craft beers from the local Sloop Brewing Company. Fan of Fireworks? Stop by, as every Friday of the season features a post-game Fireworks show, guaranteed to light the night, and end the game with a bang!

Tickets are available now, and remain an incredibly affordable way to spend a night in the Hudson Valley. With prices ranging from $6-$22, all are welcome to enjoy the fun and be a part of this wonderful community. Opening Day is Friday, April 7^th, at 6:05pm, with games running all summer long, through the second weekend in September. Click Here to purchase your tickets now, or visit www.milb.com/hudson-valley for more information on the season ahead.

On Sunday, March 26th, the Danbury Hat Tricks welcome all fans to stay after the 3PM game against the Delaware Thunder to take to the ice and skate with your favorite players!

The Hat Tricks welcome all fans of all ages! Any fan 17 years or under is invited to use this link to register for a complimentary ticket to the game. 

The Danbury Ice Arena provides the option for skate rental at the arena for those who do not have their own. 

Any additional questions can be sent to Chris Lynch- clynch@danburyhattricks.com

The Hat Tricks look forward to welcoming all their fans to skate with the Hat Tricks!

You get a call. There's a panicked voice on the line. It's your grandson. He says he's in deep trouble — he wrecked the car and landed in jail. But you can help by sending money. You take a deep breath and think. You've heard about grandparent scams. But darn, it sounds just like him. How could it be a scam? Voice cloning, that's how.

Artificial intelligence is no longer a far-fetched idea out of a sci-fi movie. We're living with it, here and now. A scammer could use AI to clone the voice of your loved one. All he needs is a short audio clip of your family member's voice — which he could get from content posted online — and a voice-cloning program. When the scammer calls you, he’ll sound just like your loved one.

So how can you tell if a family member is in trouble or if it’s a scammer using a cloned voice?

Don’t trust the voice. Call the person who supposedly contacted you and verify the story. Use a phone number you know is theirs. If you can’t reach your loved one, try to get in touch with them through another family member or their friends.

Scammers ask you to pay or send money in ways that make it hard to get your money back. If the caller says to wire money, send cryptocurrency, or buy gift cards and give them the card numbers and PINs, those could be signs of a scam.

If you spot a scam, report it to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

With the filing deadline quickly approaching, the Internal Revenue Service has urged everyone to remain vigilant against email and text scams aimed at tricking taxpayers about refunds or tax issues.

In day two of the annual Dirty Dozen tax scams campaign, the IRS again includes a warning about phishing and smishing schemes where cybercriminals try to steal a taxpayer’s information through scam emails or text messages.

“Email and text scams are relentless, and scammers frequently use tax season as a way of tricking people,” said IRS Commissioner Danny Werfel. “With people anxious to receive the latest information about a refund or other tax issue, scammers will regularly pose as the IRS, a state tax agency or others in the tax industry in emails and texts. People should be incredibly wary about unexpected messages like this that can be a trap, especially during filing season.”

As a member of the Security Summit, the IRS, with state tax agencies and the nation’s tax industry, have taken numerous steps over the last eight years to warn people to watch out for common scams and schemes each tax season that can contribute to identity theft. Along with the Security Summit initiative, the Dirty Dozen aims to protect taxpayers, businesses and the tax system from identity thieves and various hoaxes designed to steal money and information.

The Dirty Dozen is an annual IRS list of 12 scams and schemes that put taxpayers and the tax professional community at risk of losing money, personal data and more. Some items on the list are new, and some make a return visit. While the list is not a legal document or a formal listing of agency enforcement priorities, it is intended to alert taxpayers, businesses and tax preparers about scams at large.

Phish or smish: Avoid getting hooked by either
Taxpayers and tax professionals should be alert to fake communications posing as legitimate organizations in the tax and financial community, including the IRS and states. These messages arrive in the form of an unsolicited text or email to lure unsuspecting victims to provide valuable personal and financial information that can lead to identity theft. There are two main types:

• Phishing is an email sent by fraudsters claiming to come from the IRS or another legitimate organization, including state tax organizations or a financial firm. The email lures the victims into the scam by a variety of ruses such as enticing victims with a phony tax refund or frightening them with false legal/criminal charges for tax fraud.
• Smishing is a text or smartphone SMS message that uses the same technique as phishing. Scammers often use alarming language like, "Your account has now been put on hold," or "Unusual Activity Report" with a bogus “Solutions” link to restore the recipient’s account. Unexpected tax refunds are another potential target for scam artists.

The IRS initiates most contacts through regular mail and will never initiate contact with taxpayers by email, text or social media regarding a bill or tax refund.

Never click on any unsolicited communication claiming to be the IRS as it may surreptitiously load malware. It may also be a way for malicious hackers to load ransomware that keeps the legitimate user from accessing their system and files.

Individuals should never respond to tax-related phishing or smishing or click on the URL link. Instead, the scams should be reported by sending the email or a copy of the text/SMS as an attachment to phishing@irs.gov. The report should include the caller ID (email or phone number), date, time and time zone, and the number that received the message.

Taxpayers can also report scams to the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration or the Internet Crime Compliant Center. The Report Phishing and Online Scams page at IRS.gov provides complete details. The Federal Communications Commission’s Smartphone Security Checker is a useful tool against mobile security threats.

The IRS also warns taxpayers to be wary of messages that appear to be from friends or family but that are possibly stolen or compromised email or text accounts from someone they know. This remains a popular way to target individuals and tax preparers for a variety of scams. Individuals should verify the identity of the sender by using another communication method; for instance, calling a number they independently know to be accurate, not the number provided in the email or text.

Help stop fraud and scams
As part of the Dirty Dozen awareness effort, the IRS encourages people to report individuals who promote improper and abusive tax schemes as well as tax return preparers who deliberately prepare improper returns.

To report an abusive tax scheme or a tax return preparer, people should mail or fax a completed Form 14242, Report Suspected Abusive Tax Promotions or Preparers and any supporting material to the IRS Lead Development Center in the Office of Promoter Investigations.

Mail:
Internal Revenue Service Lead Development Center
Stop MS5040
24000 Avila Road
Laguna Niguel, California 92677-3405
Fax: 877-477-9135

Alternatively, taxpayers and tax practitioners may send the information to the IRS Whistleblower Office for possible monetary reward. For more information, see Abusive Tax Schemes and Abusive Tax Return Preparers.

Taxpayers who can’t pay their tax bill by the April 18, 2023, deadline shouldn’t panic. The IRS offers several options to help them meet their obligations.

It’s important for taxpayers to file their tax return or request an extension of time to file at irs.gov/extension by the April 18, 2023, deadline – even if they can’t pay their full tax bill. Doing so will help them avoid a failure-to-file penalty.

This extension applies only to the filing deadline, not the payment deadline. Except for eligible victims of recent natural disasters who have until Oct. 16 to make various tax payments, taxpayers who can't pay the full amount of taxes they owe by April 18 should file and pay what they can. Making a payment, even a partial payment, will help limit penalty and interest charges.

For taxpayers who cannot pay in full
Taxpayers struggling to meet their tax obligation may consider these payment options.

Online payment plans
Taxpayers who owe but cannot pay in full by April 18 don't have to wait for a tax bill to set up a payment plan. They can apply for a payment plan at IRS.gov/paymentplan. These plans can be either short- or long-term.

• Short-term payment plan – The payment period is 180 days or less, and the total amount owed is less than $100,000 in combined tax, penalties and interest.
• Long-term payment plan – The payment period is longer than 180 days, paid in monthly payments, and the amount owed is less than $50,000 in combined tax, penalties and interest.

Offers in compromise
An offer in compromise lets taxpayers settle their tax debt for less than the full amount they owe. It may be an option if they can't pay their full tax liability or doing so creates a financial hardship. The IRS considers a taxpayer’s unique set of facts and circumstances when deciding whether to accept an offer.

Taxpayers can see if they’re eligible and prepare a preliminary proposal with the Offer in Compromise Pre-Qualifier Tool.

The IRS offers penalty relief to eligible taxpayers
Taxpayers may qualify for penalty relief if they tried to comply with tax laws but were unable due to circumstances beyond their control.

Here’s what taxpayers should know about possible penalties and interest
Taxpayers who owe tax and don't file on time, may be charged a failure-to-file penalty. This penalty is usually five percent of the tax owed for each month or part of a month that the tax return is late, up to 25 percent. The failure-to-pay penalty applies if a taxpayer doesn’t pay the taxes, they report on their tax return by the due date.

Interest is based on the amount of tax owed and for each day it's not paid in full. The interest is compounded daily, so it is assessed on the previous day’s balance plus the interest. Interest rates are determined every three months and can vary based on type of tax; for example, individual or business tax liabilities. More information is available on the interest page of IRS.gov.

An extension of time to file is not an extension of time to pay. An extension only gives taxpayers until October 16, 2023, to file their 2022 tax return, but taxes owed are still due April 18, 2023.

More information:
What if I can’t pay my taxes?
What Is the Due Date of My Federal Tax Return or Am I Eligible to Request an Extension?
Tax Topic 653, IRS Notices and Bills, Penalties, and Interest Charges

The Danbury Hat Tricks and Todd Alfa Romeo of Danbury are proud to announce an exciting promotion for Saturday, March 25th @ 7 PM, when the Hat Tricks take on the Mississippi Seawolves at the Danbury Ice Arena.

One fan will have the opportunity to take an on-ice shot from the far blue line to put it into through a target in the goal. If successful, the fan will win a 2022 Alfa Romeo Giulia (taxes not included).

This contest is open to all fans over the age of 18. To participate, click this link, fill out the form, and you will receive a complimentary ticket to the game.

 As part of the promotion, with all participants there will be a series of drawings and contests to connect down to the final shooter.

To register, CLICK THE LINK HERE!

Todd Alfa Romeo of Danbury is located at 52 Newtown Road in Danbury and features a full selection of new Maserati & Alfa Romeo vehicles. There is also a strong line of reliable pre-owned vehicles. Todd Alfa Romeo of Danbury will get you into the automobile that fits your lifestyle and budget with competitive financing or lease plan.

Check them out online at www.toddalfaromeoofdanbury.com.

For further information on this event, go to www.danburyhattricks.com.

Muscoot Farm is getting a head start on its annual Farmers Market as it will open for the season, Sunday, April 2 and will run every Sunday through Nov. 19, 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

The weekly farmers market supports farmers and sustainable efforts in our area, featuring over 20 local vendors each week. Vendors vary every week and updates will be available on muscootfarm.org.

County Executive George Latimer said: “The Farmers Market at Muscoot Farm is a local staple that Westchester residents and visitors look forward to every season. It is a great place to become acquainted with various local vendors and help support small businesses.”

Commissioner of the Department of Parks, Recreation and Conservation Kathy O’Connor said: “Sundays at Muscoot Farm during Farmers Market season is a great family destination as visitors can browse the market and visit the farm animals.”

Muscoot Farm is located at 51 Route 100, Katonah, New York 10536. Admission is free. For more details, call Muscoot Farm at (914) 864-7282 or visit https://www.muscootfarm.org.

Support Connection, Inc. announces a free program:

 It’s Okay to Grieve, Let’s Talk: An Open Discussion for Men Living with Loss.

It will be held via Zoom video conference on:

Tuesday, March 28, 2023, from 7 - 8 pm (NY Time).

Open to men nationwide who have lost a spouse or partner to breast, ovarian, or any other gynecological cancer. Pre-registration is required. Must register no later than 5 pm (NY time) Monday, March 27, 2023.

To register, call Support Connection, 914-962-6402 or 800-532-4290. It is never possible to prepare yourself for the loss of a spouse or partner. Learning how to cope with the grief and the impact on your life is hard to do alone. Speaking with others who have also been through it is an excellent way to learn and feel less alone.
 
This program is open to all men who have experienced loss, regardless of how much time has gone by. The facilitator will lead the discussion, which will include the following topics:

• There is no one way to grieve: no right way, and no wrong way.
• Dealing with unexpected “trigger points” and reminders.
• Coping with loneliness.
• Giving yourself permission to move forward.

The open discussion format provides a safe and supportive venue to talk with others coping with similar challenges. Share concerns, experiences and information with others who have been there too.Discussion Leaders: Alan Bandes and Alan Forst are volunteer facilitators who have personally experienced the loss of their beloved wives to breast cancer.Support Connection, Inc. is a 501 (c) (3) not-for-profit organization that provides free,  confidential support services and programs to people affected by breast, ovarian or gynecological cancer. Founded in 1996, Support Connection is based in Yorktown Heights, NY, but through their toll-free services they help people across the country. Services include: One-on-one counseling with professional counselors who are cancer survivors; Ongoing peer-to-peer support groups; Educational and wellness programs; Webinars; Social gatherings for cancer survivors; Information and referral services; A toll-free cancer information and support hotline. Learn more at supportconnection.org. Support Connection Breast and Ovarian Cancer Support: We’ve Been There. We Care.

Researchers have published a new study about how diabetes in youth under 20 years old is expected to increase in the next 40 years. Type 1 and type 2 diabetes can develop at any age, and new calculations show that both types will increase significantly in the coming years. While type 1 diabetes can’t be prevented, early action can prevent or delay a lifetime of managing type 2 diabetes for kids, teens, and young adults.

Find out the latest research on the future of diabetes in youth:

There’s a growing type 2 diabetes problem in our young people. But parents can help turn the tide with healthy changes that are good for the whole family.

Until recently, young children and teens almost never got type 2 diabetes, which is why it used to be called adult-onset diabetes. Now, about one-third of American youth are overweight, a problem closely related to the increase in kids with type 2 diabetes, some as young as 10 years old.

Weight Matters

People who are overweight—especially if they have excess belly fat—are more likely to have insulin resistance, kids included. Insulin resistance is a major risk factor for type 2 diabetes.

Insulin is a hormone made by the pancreas that acts like a key to let blood sugar into cells for use as energy. Because of heredity (traits inherited from family members) or lifestyle (eating too much and moving too little), cells can stop responding normally to insulin. That causes the pancreas to make more insulin to try to get cells to respond and take in blood sugar.

As long as enough insulin is produced, blood sugar levels remain normal. This can go on for several years, but eventually the pancreas can’t keep up. Blood sugar starts to rise, first after meals and then all the time. Now the stage is set for type 2 diabetes.

Insulin resistance usually doesn’t have any symptoms, though some kids develop patches of thickened, dark, velvety skin called acanthosis nigricans, usually in body creases and folds such as the back of the neck or armpits. They may also have other conditions related to insulin resistance, including:

• High blood pressure
• High cholesterol
• Polycystic ovary syndrome

Activity Matters

Being physically active lowers the risk for type 2 diabetes because it helps the body use insulin better, decreasing insulin resistance. Physical activity improves health in lots of other ways, too, from controlling blood pressure to boosting mental health.

Age Matters

Kids who get type 2 diabetes are usually diagnosed in their early teens. One reason is that hormones present during puberty make it harder for the body use insulin, especially for girls, who are more likely than boys to develop type 2 diabetes. That’s an important reason to help your kids take charge of their health while they’re young.

More Risk Factors

These factors also increase kids’ risk for type 2 diabetes:

• Having a family member with type 2 diabetes.
• Being born to a mom with gestational diabetes (diabetes while pregnant).
• Being African American, Hispanic/Latino, Native American/Alaska Native, Asian American, or Pacific Islander.
• Having one or more conditions related to insulin resistance.

If your child is overweight and has any two of the risk factors listed above, talk to your doctor about getting his or her blood sugar tested. Testing typically begins at 10 years old or when puberty starts, whichever is first, and is repeated every 3 years.

Take Charge, Family Style

Parents can do a lot to help their kids prevent type 2 diabetes. Set a new normal as a family—healthy changes become habits more easily when everyone does them together. Here are some tips to get started:

Mealtime Makeover

• Drink more water and fewer sugary drinks.
• Eat more fruits and vegetables.
• Make favorite foods healthier.
• Get kids involved in making healthier meals.
• Eat slowly—it takes at least 20 minutes to start feeling full.
• Eat at the dinner table only, not in front of the TV or computer.
• Shop for food together.
• Shop on a full stomach so you’re not tempted to buy unhealthy food.
• Teach your kids to read food labels to understand which foods are healthiest.
• Have meals together as a family as often as you can.
• Don’t insist kids clean their plates.
• Don’t put serving dishes on the table.
• Serve small portions; let kids ask for seconds.
• Reward kids with praise instead of food.

Getting Physical

• Aim for your child to get 60 minutes of physical activity a day, in several 10- or 15-minute sessions or all at once.
• Start slow and build up.
• Keep it positive—focus on progress.
• Take parent and kid fitness classes together.
• Make physical activity more fun; try new things.
• Ask kids what activities they like best—everyone is different.
• Encourage kids to join a sports team.
• Have a “fit kit” available—a jump rope, hand weights, resistance bands.
• Limit screen time to 2 hours a day.
• Plan active outings, like hiking or biking.
• Take walks together.
• Move more in and out of the house—vacuuming, raking leaves, gardening.
• Turn chores into games, like racing to see how fast you can clean the house.

Want to Limit Overeating? Limit TV Time

A recent study showed that when the amount of TV kids watched was limited, they lost weight—but not because they were more active when they weren’t watching. The difference was snacking: kids ate more when they were watching TV than when doing other activities, even sedentary (not physically active) ones.

Encourage your kids to reach for fruit, the original fast food.

Young kids and teens are still growing, so if they’re overweight the goal is to slow down weight gain while allowing normal growth and development. Don’t put them on a weight loss diet without talking to their doctor.