Health Department Offers Thanksgiving Food Safety Tips
November 23, 2011
The Escambia County Health Department is emphasizing the importance of safe food preparation and storage to prevent possible foodborne illnesses.
“While family celebrations are being prepared, everyone should practice proper food hygiene,” said Dr. John Lanza, health department director. “Floridians should wash their hands and counter tops thoroughly before and after preparing foods to help eliminate bacteria. Foods should be cooked at the appropriate temperature and leftovers should be stored properly.”
Factors that can contribute to foodborne illnesses include:
- Improper food storage (inadequate refrigeration temperature or hot holding temperature). Safe refrigeration temperature is less than 41 degrees Fahrenheit, and safe hot holding temperature is greater than 140 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Improper washing of hands and fingernails
- Improper cooling of foods. Safe cooling of foods is getting the foods to less than 41 degrees Fahrenheit within a four-hour time period.
- Cross contamination (such as from uncooked meat to salad ingredients)
- Improper cleaning and sanitizing of eating and cooking utensils, work areas and equipment
- Contamination of food, utensils and equipment from flies, roaches and other pests
Tips to prepare turkeys safely:
- A whole turkey should be cooked at an oven temperature of 325 degrees Fahrenheit.
- An 8-12 pound unstuffed turkey should be cooked for 2-3 hours.
- Preparers should use a meat thermometer. Every part of the turkey should reach a minimum internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Frozen turkeys should be kept frozen until ready to thaw prior to cooking.
Individuals with liver disease or diabetes or who have had gastric surgery or are immune-compromised should avoid eating raw oysters or other raw animal protein during the holidays. Oysters that are thoroughly cooked or have been post-harvest treated can be consumed by people with these conditions to minimize the risk of infection from Vibrio vulnificus.
For more information about food safety, click here.
Thunderstorms Possible Tonight
November 22, 2011
There’s a large area of showers and thunderstorms approaching the North Escambia area this evening. There’s a slight chance that some storms will be severe, and some areas could see 1-2 inches of rain per hour.
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Tonight: Showers and thunderstorms. Low around 58. South wind around 10 mph becoming northwest. Chance of precipitation is 80%.
Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 73. North wind between 5 and 10 mph.
Wednesday Night: Clear, with a low around 43. North wind around 5 mph.
Thanksgiving Day: Sunny, with a high near 72. Northeast wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Thursday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 41. Calm wind becoming east around 5 mph.
Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 71. East wind between 5 and 10 mph.
Friday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 51. East wind around 5 mph.
Saturday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 74. Southeast wind between 5 and 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Saturday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 55.
Sunday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 60.
Sunday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers. Partly cloudy, with a low around 34.
Monday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 56.
Century Seeks $250K Line Of Credit To Pay Grant Expenses
November 22, 2011
The Century Town Council voted Monday night to allow a $250,000 line of credit to be opened by the mayor and town clerk to pay reimbursable grant expenses.
The town currently has grant projects of over $1 million in the works, and the town is required to pay out of pocket for various grant projects before receiving guaranteed reimbursements. That, according to Mayor Freddie McCall, has left the town shuffling money between town accounts to pay the grant-related bills.
“We are juggling money out of this department, that department, and it cuts us short,” McCall said.
The line of credit will be “much easier from a logistics standpoint”, according to Robert Hudson, the town’s accountant.
The town council voted to open the line of credit at an unknown interest rate from United Bank. The council did not receive a proposal from any other bank.
Century Purchases $11,450 Website, Marketing Plan
November 22, 2011
Century will soon have a website and an accompanying marketing plan with a total price tag of $11,450.
The Century Town Council voted 4-0, with council member Annie Savage absent, to purchase the package from Pensacola marketing company Ideawörks. The town accepted the proposal after an Ideawörks presentation Monday night without soliciting bids from any other company — contingent upon the town’s attorney approving the no-bid purchase.
The $11,450 package includes $4,200 for a “basic website design”, $1,750 for a content management system (CMS) to allow town employees to update the site, and $5,500 for a five-year comprehensive marketing strategy to include “grant identification, development, PR plan, five-year marketing plan and budget”. After the initial services are provided, an hourly rate of $75 to $95 will apply for additional services.
Caron Sjöberg, president of Ideawörks, told the council that her company has created over 200 websites, including the current site for the Emerald Coast Utilities Authority, the Three Rivers Resource Conservation & Development Council and the Perdido Key Chamber of Commerce.
Sjöberg said her company is ready to create a brand for Century with a goal of economic development on the website with a “simple” homepage, contact page, staff page, history, a photo album, business information, chamber information and town news.
To read the complete Ideawörks proposal accepted by the Town of Century, click here.
Pictured: Caron Sjöberg, president of Ideawörks, pitches her company’s website and marketing plan to the Century Town Council Monday night. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Molino Park Reflections Art Program Awards Presented
November 22, 2011
Four Molino Park Elementary School students were awarded for their work in the school’s annual PTA Reflections Art Program recently. Winners were: Teagan Andress, Visual Arts, 1st place; Lainey Pace — Film Production, 1st place; Emily Andress — Photography, 2nd place; Kaelin Brinker — Photography, 1st place.
Each student’s work of art is below, including a video at the bottom of the page from the film production category.
Beulah Bridge Set To Reopen By December 16
November 22, 2011
Emergency repairs on the Beulah Road bridge north of the Perdido Landfill are expected to be completed by December 16.
The bridge was closed November 15 after an inspection revealed structural deficiencies .
The detour north of the bridge is Muscogee Road to Highway 29 and south of the bridge is Beulah Road to Nine Mile Road. Variable message boards are placed on Muscogee Road and at the corner of Nine Mile Road and Beulah Road. Bridge closure signs are placed on Beulah Road, and there are barricades at the bridge.
Traffic south of the bridge and south of the Perdido Landfill can still access the landfill. Traffic north of the landfill should use the detour route, Muscogee to Highway 295 to Nine Mile Road west to Beulah Road north.
Emergency repairs to the bridge are underway by DKE Marine.
Century’s Roadside Park To Be Renamed ‘Nadine McCaw Park’
November 22, 2011
Century will rename the “Roadside Park” for the late town council member Nadine McCaw. The park, located along North Century Boulevard at Hecker Road, will be official renamed by proclamation at an upcoming town council meeting.
McCaw, a lifelong resident of Century, was elected to the town council in 2007, taking office in 2008. She passed away July 7, 2011.
“Her memory and legacy will continue to live on,” council member Sandra McMurray Jackson said. McCaw was known for going above and beyond for Century, often working behind the scenes and using her own money to benefit the town and its citizens, according to council member Gary Riley.
“She spent most of her paycheck every month on Century,” Mayor Freddie McCall said.
Pictured top: The soon-to-be Nadine McCaw Park on North Century Boulevard in Century. Pictured inset: Nadine McCaw at her first Century Town Council meeting in January 2008. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
Molino’s Lady Astros Win Fall Finale
November 22, 2011
The Molino Lady Astros won the USSAA Fall Finale 18U Open this past weekend.
“Playing is the last tournament of the season, we wanted to get to finals,” said Coach Donnie Nicholson . “We did and won the championship.”
The Lady Astros were the No. 1 seed headed into the championship game with the Elite Lady Sox from Dothan. The Lady Astros went ahead in the second inning with a 2-run home run from Jessica Briggs. Another 2-run home run Korina Rosario sealed the championship with a 4-3 win for Molino’s Lady Astros.
“Our defense and offense were excellent,” Nicholson said.
The Lady Astros were led on the mound by Jessica Briggs from West Florida High, Megan Green from Pace High, and Heather Thompson from Tate High. The team’s batting average was .463.
Pictured: Members of the Molino Lady Astros are: Ashley Richerson, Nikki Cody, Meagen Green, Jessica Briggs, Kayla Rosario, Korina Rosario, Piehden Courtney, Heather Thompson, Gracie Kilcrease, Amber Peebles, Jordan Barnette and Ronni Renfroe. Not Pictured Are Brook White, Dallas Dickerson and Emily Vasquez. The team is coached by Donnie Nicholson, Ed Courtney and Nick Rosario. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
No Longer Free, Adult Ed Program Enrollment Drops Dramatically
November 22, 2011
In the four months since Florida began charging tuition for adult education programs, enrollment has dropped dramatically, prompting concern from some lawmakers that the Legislature may have gone too far.
Since requiring not only tuition, but also documentation to determine residency, enrollment in adult education classes offered at colleges has dropped 45 percent and enrollment offered through some school districts has dropped 38 percent, according to preliminary data by the state Department of Education.
Last legislative session, lawmakers took a close look at charging for adult education programs, which generally are offered for free through school districts and colleges, as they grappled with a large budget shortfall.
Typically, students who do not have a high school diploma take the courses to study for their GED, learn English, or take basic adult education classes. A new law was passed that required in-state students to pay $45 for half a year or $30 per term in block tuition for the courses. Non-residents pay three times that amount.
Sen. Evelyn Lynn, R-Ormond Beach, said the intent was to make sure adult ed students “had some skin in the game,” and clamp down on the low completion rates for the free courses. “(Adult students) need that education, but they should also see the value of it and that it is worth something,” Lynn said.
One unintended consequence has been the impact tuition has had on inmates in Florida’s jails, prisons and juvenile justice facilities. Because of new requirements that require documentation to prove residency, and the tuition, some inmates cannot register for or pay for the classes, lawmakers said.
“There are many people incarcerated who cannot afford this minimal amount we are asking them to pay,” said Sen. Arthenia Joyner, D-Tampa. “We have an obligation to see how we can perhaps fix it.”
Lynn said she had received calls from adult education teachers who reported their classes were cut at jails and they were out of job, blaming the new law for their plight because students could not register or pay for classes.
But when pressed for details, Tara Goodman, the head of the division of career and adult education with the Department of Education, said it was too soon to tell how many inmates were impacted by the new law.
Last year, about 333,000 Floridians were enrolled in adult education courses, with about 10 percent of those coming from prisons, jails or juvenile justice facilities, Goodman said.
Florida has the second-highest number of adult education students in the country and it spent $256 million last year educating these students. The new fees are not designed to fully fund the cost of these courses.
By Lilly Rockwell
The News Service Of Florida
Featured Recipe: Those Thanksgiving Potatoes
November 22, 2011
Our Thanksgiving week recipe series continues today with a dish simply named “Those Potatoes”. It’s a great last-minute dish to put together in time to take to grandma’s house for the big dinner. And even an inexperienced cook can pull this one off in impressive fashion.
