Farm Bureau Food Check-out Week Targets Healthy Eating On Budget
February 16, 2009
With the continuing economic squeeze, many Americans are concerned that the cost of a healthy diet is out of reach. However, according to an Agriculture Department study, the cost of eating healthy has not changed as much as less-healthy alternatives. But eating healthy food within a budget does require smart shopping.
Farm Bureau’s Food Check-Out Week, February 15-21, is devoted to helping teach Americans how to stretch their grocery dollars with healthy, nutritious food. America’s farmers and ranchers are committed to producing safe, healthy and abundant food. And they share a common concern with consumers when it comes to putting nutritious meals on a table while sticking to a tight budget. U.S. consumers still spent under 10 per cent of their disposable income on food according to the latest USDA data. Consumers in other countries spend much more: France- 14 percent; Japan-15 percent; China-35 percent; Philippines-37 percent and Indonesia- 46 percent.
A March 2008 USDA report favorably supports the economics of healthier eating. Recent food price data show that prices for unprepared, readily available fresh fruit and vegetables have remained stable relative to dessert and snack foods, such as chips, ice cream and cola. Therefore, as defined by foods in the study, the price of a “healthier” diet has not
changed compared to an “unhealthy” diet.
Farm Bureau’s Food Check-Out Week is aimed at helping American consumers learn how to shop effectively to put nutritious meals on the table with fewer dollars.
“Learning to use your grocery dollars wisely ensures that nutrition isn’t neglected,” according Dorothy Cunningham of Escambia Farm Bureau Women’s Committee. “Fruits and vegetables – along with whole grains, low-fat dairy products, lean meats, fish, beans, eggs and nuts – are an important part of a healthy diet. Buying fresh produce when it is in season and costs less, while buying frozen fruits and vegetables when they are not in season, is a smart way to stretch that dollar.”
Here are some tips that consumers can follow to help stretch their food dollars :
Plan ahead before going to the grocery store. Make a list of the foods you want to serve during the next week. Check your newspaper for grocery store ads and coupons. Stick to your list. Do not go to the cookie or snack aisle if you don’t “ need” to. Shop the perimeter of the store. Produce, dairy products and meat are generally found on those outside walls. A tip for keeping produce fresh longer is to store it in a perforated plastic bag. This stops condensation and shriveling. Make holes in a plastic bag with a paper punch, knife or another sharp object about six inches apart all over the bag. When you get home, immediately store any fresh or frozen products especially meat.
For more specific information on nutrition , meal planning and food preparation, contact a registered dietitian.
Valentine’s Day Wedding At Century Care Center
February 15, 2009
Love was in the air and wedding bells were ringing Saturday afternoon at Century Care Center with a Valentine’s wedding to remember.
Karen Sue Coleman married her best friend Benjamin Edward Leonardi. Karen wanted her father, Floyd Coleman, to walk her down the aisle. Mr. Floyd has been a resident at Century Care for nearly six years. Rather than take him out of Century Care for the wedding, Karen decided to take the wedding to him.
The wedding took place with family, friends and a lots of Century Care Center residents outside under the center’s gazebo. And Karen got her wish, as her father Floyd escorted her down the aisle.
“It was chilly and windy, but the residents had been excited all week. They weren’t about to miss it,” said Mae Hildreth, Century Care Center activities director.
The wedding was followed by a reception for the happy couple in the Century Care Center dining room.
Pictured top: Mr. and Mrs. Karen and Benjamin Leonardi enjoy wedding cake Valentine’s afternoon at Century Care Center. Pictured inset: Karen is walked down the aisle at her wedding by her father, Century Care Center resident Floyd Coleman. Pictured below: More photos from Saturday’s wedding. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Get About $70 Of Groceries, Including Steaks, For $30: No Strings Attached
February 13, 2009
As the cost of food continues to rise, there is a program available at a local church that can save more than half off the cost of groceries. And, perhaps best of all, everyone qualifies, no strings attached .It’s called Angel Food Ministries, a program that provides food relief to more than a half million families a month across the nation.
It’s a simple concept…pay $30 for a box of food worth about $70. There are no applications; everyone qualifies. The process is simple too…just stop by the Allen Memorial United Methodist Church in Cantonment, pay the $30 and return on the designated pickup day to receive the box of food. They even accept food stamps.
And, for seniors, there’s a special box of food for just $28 that includes 10 full cooked, low sodium heat and eat meals.
Allen Memorial United Methodist Church has been the local host for the Angel Food Ministries program since October of 2006, according to their program director Katrina Williamson.
“It’s a great program,” Williamson said. “It can really help people out.”
Orders for February can be placed Saturday, February 14 or Monday, February 16 from 10 until noon at the church at 206 Pace Parkway in Cantonment for a food delivery on February 28. The church accepts cash or food stamps.
The $30 February box of food includes 1.5 pounds of sirloin strip steaks, two pounds of chicken breasts, one pound of boneless pork chops, two pounds of breaded chicken nuggets, a salisbury steak entree, plus other items like french fries, mac ‘n cheese, several vegetables and desserts.
Specials are also available each month with the purchase of a regular box of food. For instance, this month, one special is 1.5 pounds of ribeye steaks, 1.5 pounds of bacon-wrapped lean ground beef patties, two pounds of thick cut pork chops and one pound of mild Italian sausage with mozzarella cheese all for $22.
“Our food is “restaurant grade” meats, frozen vegetables, fruits, dairy products, etc. which we acquire through our involvement with only the best producers/vendors of high quality, “name brand” foods. Never “seconds” or “day old” type products are involved,” according to the Angel Food Ministries web site.
For more information about the program, call Allen Memorial United Methodist Church at 968-6213 or visit www.angelfoodministries.com. To visit the church and place an order…take Highway 20 south into Cantonment. Turn right at the red light onto Muskogee Road. Take the second right onto Pace Parkway.
Other churches in the North Escambia area that might be interested in hosting the Angel Food Ministries program can visit www.angelfoodministries.com for more information.
Click here to download a complete February Angel Food menu (pdf).
Northview NJROTC Heads To Florida A & M For Drill Competition
February 10, 2009
The Northview High School NJROTC attended the annual Florida A&M Drill Competition recently in Tallahassee.
“It was an opportunity for the unit to compete against other schools that are not in our area and it was an exciting and successful day,” Northview NJROTC instructor Charlie Code said. “It was a great experience for the unit and one that they will use to build upon for the future.”
Northview placed in the following events:
- Uarmed Basic Drill: 2nd place
- Armed Basic Drill: 2nd place
- Color Guard Drill: 4th place
- Personnel Inspection: 5th place
- Individual Drill: Jessica Bloodsworth, placed 2nd out of 150 cadets.
A total of 16 schools participated in the day-long event.
Click here for a complete photo gallery from the event.
Pictured above: The Northview High School NJROTC at the annual Florida A&M Drill Competition recently in Tallahasee. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Fish Fry, Motorcycle Ride To Benefit Toby Quimby Saturday
February 4, 2009
Toby Quimby and the Quimby family have been there for countless families in the North Escambia and Atmore areas for many years, and now they need your help with Toby’s mounting medical expenses.
Toby and the Quimbys have worked with area residents for years at Johnson Quimby Funeral Home and Atmore Memorial Chapel. Now Toby is battling two types of Lyme disease, spending most days in bed. He is in Kansas City, Missouri, for treatments that was last a minimum of three months.
Every week of those treatments is $2,000. Some of the cost is covered by insurance, but not all.
“God is really at work in our lives right now and we are aware that He is walking hand and hand with us through all of this,” Toby’s wife Maggie wrote in a journal that is chronicling Toby’s treatments. “He has really been through a lot of pain and weakness these past few days.”
The Atmore First United Methodist Church will hold a catfish plate fund raiser for Toby from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. next Saturday at the church. Catfish plates will be $6. Tickets are available at the church office. For more information, call (251) 368-8297. There will also be a yard sale in the church fellowship hall from 7 a.m. until 2 p.m. next Saturday.
A benefit motorcycle ride for Toby will be held Saturday, February 7 beginning at Atmore First United Methodist Church. The ride will follow a scenic route through Escambia and Monroe counties. The sign up is at 9:00. The first bike will be out at 9:45 and the last one will be out at 10:30. The ride is $20 per person, including lunch. For more information, email BigDCMA@mchsi.com or call (251) 294-0386.
All proceeds from both events will go to the Friends of Toby Quimby Fund.
To read Toby’s Caringbridge journal, click here.
Contributions can also be made to the Friends of Toby Quimby Fund at the First National Bank & Trust, P. O. Box 27, Atmore, AL 36504.
Pictured top: Toby Quimby. Pictured below: The Quimby family: Blake, 14; Brad, 10; Bryant, 7; Maggie and Toby. Courtesy photos.
Lights, Cameras, Reading: Byrneville Elementary Students Are Real Stars
February 2, 2009
The students at Byrneville Elementary School received the star treatment Friday as they dressed up for glamour shot photo sessions in preparation for a big Hollywood event Tuesday night.
Hollywood will come to the school as the red carpet will be rolled out, a movie will hit the big screen and parents will learn about making their student a star.
It’s all about reading at Byrneville. At Tuesday’s opening night Hollywood event, the students will watch the movie will kindergarten to second grade parents will learn about a new reading series. Parents of third, fourth and fifth graders will learn more about how to help their child succeed on the upcoming FCAT.
During Friday’s photo shoot, the children dressed up in fancy dresses, coats and jackets, jewelry, sunglasses and more “glam” items. The children will write about their favorite book on a star. Their glamour photo will be added to the star, the stars will be hanging in the hallways (the “walk of fame”) when parents arrive Tuesday night.
All of the events are taking place in conjunction with the school’s book fair that is themed “Reading Makes You a Star”. During the day Tuesday, the students are encouraged to come dressed up like movie stars or in other glamorous fashion.
From 2 to 6 p.m. Tuesday, Byrneville parents can visit the book fair with their child. At 6:00, the students will go to the cafeteria for a movie, and their parents will be split up for the their learning sessions.
You will find pictures of a couple of ducks in the photo gallery…those are Bob and Bess, Byrneville’s conversation ducks. Every morning, they have a new Post-it note on them outside the school office. The children read the sticky notes to learn the latest in the continuing drama of Bob and Bess. It is another tool Byrneville Elementary uses to encourage reading.
Pictured above: Byrneville student Chloe Smith gets treated like a star during a glamour shot photo session Friday morning. Pictured inset: Several young ladies pick out the perfect jewelry for their photo shoot. Pictured below: Jared Jeter poses for his photo shoot. NorthEscambia.com exclusive photos, click to enlarge.
January Students Of The Month Named At Area Schools
February 2, 2009
Students of the Month have been named for January at schools across North Escambia by The Escambia Association for Administrators in Education.
Area Students of the Month are:
- Bratt Elementary: Jordyn A. Dionne, kindergarten; Peighton D. Dortch, fourth grade.
- Carver/Century K-8: Destiney P. Bradley, kindergarten; Jayden C. Jackson, kindergarten.
- Jim Allen Elementary: Brandon K. Curtis, first grade; Garrett P. Donalson, first grade.
- Ernest Ward Middle: Danielle S. Suggs, sixth grade; Justin L. Halteman, eighth grade.
- Ransom Middle: Megan T. Light, eighth grade; Nakeem D. Williams, eighth grade.
- Northview High: Clinton E. Davis, 11th grade; Kaitlyn N. Caraway, 11th grade.
Pictured above: January Students of the Month are Northview High School were Clint Davis (L) and Kaitlyn Caraway. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com
Purchase Historic Chicago Obama Newspapers, Benefit Relay For Life
January 28, 2009
You can own a piece of American history and support Relay for Life at the same time. NorthEscambia.com is giving you a chance to purchase Obama Inauguration coverage newspapers from Chicago.
The January 21 newspapers — Chicago Sun-Times, Chicago Tribune, and USA Today special edition — are being sold at the Country Bumpkin in Century. All proceeds will benefit the NorthEscambia.com American Cancer Society Relay for Life team. The newspapers were purchased in Chicago and flown back to Pensacola in pristine condition.
We are also auctioning off a complete set of Chicago newspapers from January 21 – Chicago Sun-Times, Chicago Tribune, and USA Today special edition, and The Herald News — in an online auction.
The Chicago Sun-Times features a full front page color photo of Obama raising his right hand with the headline “So Help Me God”. The Chicago Tribune has full page color Inauguration photo and the headline “Starting today, we must pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off and being the work of remaking America”. The USA Today special edition was a limited run paper that is sold out nationwide. It is not the regular daily edition that was available locally. The Herald News has a full page color photo of Obama with the headline “President Barack Obama Face of Change”.
Each paper, except for the rare The Heralds News, is $15 for the first newspaper and $10 for each additional paper. There are limited number of the papers available, so if you want to own this piece of American history, you must be among the first to visit the Country Bumpkin in Century. Chicago is important in Obama’s history because while in Chicago he worked as a civil rights lawyer, activist and was eventually elected to the U.S. Senate prior to launching his campaign from Chicago.
We are auctioning off a complete set including one each of the Chicago Sun-Times, Chicago Tribune, and USA Today special edition, and The Herald News. To bid on the complete set of these historic collectible newspapers, send your name, phone number and the amount of your bid to news@northescambia.com. Bids will be accepted until midnight February 3. We will update the high bid amount daily here on NorthEscambia.com. Shipping is available for an additional charge, otherwise the papers will be claimed in Century at the Country Bumpkin.
The Country Bumpkin is located at 7850 North Century Boulevard in Century.
100 percent of the proceeds from the newspaper sale and auction will go to the American Cancer Society Relay for Life.
Two Local StudentsPerform In All-County Band
January 27, 2009
Two North Escambia students performed Tuesday night in the 2009 All-County Instrumental Gala tonight at Pensacola High School. Taylor Brook, an Ernest Ward Middle School student, played the trumpet in the All-County Middle School Band. And Briana Halteman, a student at Northview High School, plaed the flute in the school district’s All-County High School Band.
Taylor and Briana are the only North Escambia students in the All-County bands.
This is not an honor to be taken lightly. The All-County honors bands perform in the Instrumental Gala that is sponsored by the Florida Band Masters Association. Students are allowed to audition for a seat in the band. The students’ audition is judged by local band directors that sit with their backs to the student so that the students are graded solely by their talent, technique and tone. Each student is required to play a prepared piece of music, five major scales in under two minutes, a chromatic scale and sight-reading – where the students have to play a random piece of music placed in front of them.
Charles Tucker serves as band director for both Northview and Ernest Ward. He worked to prepare both young ladies for their performances tonight.
In September, Taylor received the music and scales that are required to play at the auditions. She practiced and learned the music and in November, before the Christmas Break, Taylor went to Jim C. Baily Middle School for tryouts. More than 20 students auditioned for the trumpet section of the Honors Band, but there were only 16 positions available. After waiting for two days, Taylor received notice that she had passed the auditions and was now a member of the Honors Band.
After the Christmas break, Taylor attended weekly practices at Jim C. Bailey and Ferry Pass Middle Schools. On Monday, she was in an all-day practice with the other students at Ransom Middle School. She practiced for a half day Tuesday, and then returned Tuesday night for the concert.
“I am excited that I made All-County Band since it is my senior year,,” said Briana, who current serves as the Northview Tribal Beat’s Drum Major.
The conductors this year were Robert W. Smith of Troy University, directing the Middle School Honors Band; Don Snowden of Pensacola Junior College, leading the High School Honors Band; and Andra Bohnet of The University of South Alabama, conducting the Honor orchestra
Taylor is the daughter of Matthew and Connie Brook of McDavid. Briana is the daughter of Lyndon and Norma Halteman of McDavid.
Pictured top: Ernest Ward Middle School student Taylor Brook. Pictured bottom: Northview student Briana Halteman.
Amber Holland Crowned Miss Northview High
January 25, 2009
Miss Amber Holland, a senior, was named Miss Northview High School Saturday night. First Runner Up was Sarah Killam, a sophomore. Second Runner Up was Katie Mann, also a sophomore.
With 32 contestants, the pageant came down to a top eight rather than the traditional top five. Top eight members were: Amber Holland, Sarah Killam, Katie Mann, Felicia Settle, Kayla Hall, Samantha Macks, Amanda Sellars, and Magen Weekly.
Other awards included: Miss Congeniality Courtney Merritt, Miss Hospitality Charleigh McPherson, Miss Physical Fitness Amber Holland, and Miss Poise and Appearance Sarah Killam.
The pageant was sponsored by teachers Anna Barry and Megan Carroll.
Miss Amber Holland was crowned Miss Northview High School tonight. First Runner Up was Sarah Killam, and Second Runner Up was Katie Mann. Pictured below: The girls of the Top 8 and other award winners. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
