New 3-Year Trash Contract Begins Between Century, Allied Waste
December 1, 2010
Wednesday was the first day of a new three-year franchise agreement between the town of Century and Allied Waste, and for the average resident there will be no major change.
Century’s 700 residential customers will continue to pay $15.04 per month for trash collection. Allied will continue to pick up household waste on Wednesdays, but Allied will no longer collect yard waste and items like discarded furniture. The Town of Century will collect those items on the first and third Tuesday of each month.
The town will save $3.58 per customer per month by self-collecting yard waste, or about $30,000 per year.
Under the new three year deal Century will also receive a $400 per month — $4,800 per year — discount on dumpsters at city facilities, and trash at the town hall will be collected at no charge.
The bottom line for residential customers, according to Mayor Freddie McCall, is that service will remain the same for Century’s residential household waste customers.
In addition, most of Century’s 35 business trash customers will see a five percent decrease in their monthly bills, according to Seren Ainsworth, municipal services manager for Allied Waste.
FFA Citrus Sale Ends Today
December 1, 2010
The Northview High School FFA Fruit Sale ends today with delivery just in time for Christmas.
The NHS FFA is selling citrus in attractive 2/5 or 4/5 bushel boxes perfect for gift wrapping. The Florida citrus is from RiverBrite in Vero Beach.
Orders must be made by Wednesday, December 1. The delivery date is Tuesday, December 14.
For an order form click here. Order forms and payment can be returned to Northview by mail (the address is on the order form), or dropped off at the school office. Fruits available include red apples, grapefruit, navel oranges, tangelos and Hamlin oranges. Mixed trio half bushels are also available.
For more information, call (850) 327-6681, ext. 248.
Keep The Wreath Green Campaign Begins Today
December 1, 2010
Today, Escambia County Fire-Rescue and the City of Pensacola Fire Department begin the “Keep the Wreath Green” holiday safety program designed to promote fire safety during the month of December. With this program, officials hope to reduce the number of fires during a time of serious fire danger with simple, life saving tips.
This year, the seventh year of the campaign, five-foot wreaths will be on display at 30 different locations throughout the holiday season. These sites are the Old Escambia County Courthouse on Palafox Place, the Public Safety Building on W Street, the Central Office Complex on West Park Place, all 18 primary county fire stations, seven stations within the City of Pensacola, Cordova Mall and one mobile display. Every time firefighters respond to a residential fire a green light bulb will be replaced with a red one to remind citizens of the dangers posed by holiday decorations.
To help citizens stay safe and “keep the wreath green,” officials are providing a holiday safety tip for each day of the month; visit www.keepthewreathgreen.com for a complete list.
Pictured above: The wreath at the Century fire station. NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Florida Escapes: Active Hurricane Season Ends
December 1, 2010
Florida property owners again dodged a bullet as the 2010 hurricane season officially ended at midnight Tuesday.
But lawmakers are already eyeing changes to reduce the state’s exposure and shore up the fund that helps pay claims in the event of a major storm, a package of which was vetoed by Gov. Charlie Crist earlier this year. It’s been five years since a hurricane made landfall in Florida, a historic hiatus that David Halstead, director of the Division of Emergency Management, said Tuesday should not lull Floridians into a sense of complacency.
The 2010 Atlantic hurricane season was actually one of the most active on record, with 19 named storms. Climatic conditions brought on by a La Nina weather pattern helped protect the United States from landfall.
But, to the chagrin of both homeowners and insurers, state officials cautioned Tuesday that there’s a downside to that – those same conditions could make already dry Florida a tinderbox over the next several months, ripe for wildfires.
In the Atlantic Basin a total of 19 named storms formed – tied with 1887 and 1995 for third highest on record. Of those, 12 became hurricanes – tied with 1969 for second highest on record. Five of those reached major hurricane status of Category 3 or higher.
These totals are within the ranges predicted in NOAA’s seasonal outlooks issued on May 27 (14-23 named storms; 8-14 hurricanes; 3-7 major hurricanes) and August 5 (14-20 named storms; 8-12 hurricanes; 4-6 major hurricanes). An average Atlantic season produces 11 named storms, six hurricanes and two major hurricanes.
Pictured above: The storms of the 2010 Atlantic hurricane season. Click to enlarge into a more detailed map.