Holiday Closings For Thanksgiving
November 22, 2012
The following will be closed in observance of the Thanksgiving holiday.
- Escambia County Schools (Wed-Fri)
- Santa Rosa County School (Wed-Fri)
- Escambia (Fla. & Ala.) and Santa Rosa county offices (Thur-Fri)
- Century, Jay, Milton, Pensacola, Atmore, Flomaton city offices (Thur-Fri)
- U.S. Post Office — retail windows closed, no mail delivery or collection (Thur)
- Florida state offices (Thur-Fri)
- Federal offices (Thur-Fri)
- No bus service from ECAT on Thursday
- West Florida Public Libraries, including Century Branch (Thur-Fri)
- Santa Rosa libraries (Thur-Sun)
- Pensacola State College
- University of West Florida
ECUA Garbage:
ECUA’s Thursday residential routes will be collected Friday, and Friday’s routes will be collected on Saturday. Thursday’s commercial routes were picked up on Wednesday; Friday commercial routes will be picked up as usual.
Deer Gun Season Open
November 22, 2012
Deer gun season opened Thursday in Northwest Florida — for a few days.
According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission:
Antlered deer may be taken Thursday to Sunday, November 22-25, by all legal centerfire rifles and pistols, shotguns, muzzleloaders, crossbows and bows. Deer gun season reopens December 8 to February 17. Antlerless deer may be taken only December 26 to January 1.
Antlered deer my be taken only by crossbow or bow November 26-30, and only by muzzleloader, crossbow or bow December 1-7 and February 18-24.
A hunting license is required in Florida. A license for a resident is $17.50 per year. A non- resident can choose between a 10-day license for $46.50 or a one year license for $151.50. Everyone deer hunting must also have a $5 deer permit.
A hunting safety course is required for those born on or after June 1, 1975.
BBB Black Friday Tips
November 22, 2012
Black Friday has traditionally been the biggest retail shopping day of the year, although numerous stores will open on Thanksgiving Thursday this year.
Whether in the store or online, the Better Business Bureau serving Northwest Florida offers advice to help you with your holiday shopping:
- Budget your shopping money and stick to it. Avoid impulse buys.
- Look for the details on every sale and understand the specifics.
- Advertising can be tricky; don’t get stuck paying more for an item than you expected.
- Credit card offers from a store will offer a discount on your purchase but may also carry high interest rates.
- Keep all receipts and warranty information for each item purchased.
- Fraudulent charges are easier to fix if you pay with a credit card than a debit card.
- Return policies differ with every store. Make sure you know the conditions for returns and exchanges, including whether restocking fees are charged.
- If you purchase a gift card, look for hidden terms that can decrease its value.
- Don’t leave your wallet, credit card or purse on a counter or in an unattended shopping cart.
- Ask for a store manager if any advertised offer does not match the price listed on an item.
- Yelling at store employees and other customers won’t make the lines shorter. Anticipate crowds and take a friend along to enjoy the day.
- Credit cards provide the most protection if someone steals the credit card number or if you don’t receive an ordered item.
- You, the customer, are responsible for knowing and understanding each online retailer’s return/exchange policy.
- Beware of deals that sound too good to be true, especially extremely low priced on hard-to-get items.
- Ensure you have the most recent updates for spam filters, anti-virus, anti-spyware and firewalls installed.
- Read the site’s privacy policy and understand what personal information is being requested and how it will be used.
- Make a file to keep copies of all purchase confirmation web pages and e-mails for future reference and as a record of the purchase.
- Only shop on trustworthy sites; look for the BBB seal and other widely-recognized “trustmarks.”
- Never wire money to pay for a transaction and when on sites like Craigslist, only shop locally.
- Delete phishing emails such as those claiming a problem with an order or account in an attempt to lure the “buyer” into revealing financial information.
- Actively keep an eye on your credit card statements to detect suspicious or fraudulent activity on your accounts.
- You are your best protection! Make sure your online purchase is secure by looking for the “s” (https://) in the URL and the “lock” symbol in the lower-right corner before paying.
Turkey Time: Cooking Safety
November 22, 2012
It’s Thanksgiving, time for family and friends to gather and give thanks. And time for cooks to ponder the correct way to prepare their turkey.
Today, we are taking a look at the proper way to cook your turkey with tips from Dorthy Lee, Family and Consumer Sciences Agent for the Escambia County Extension Office.
Clean
Begin every meal preparation with clean hands, and wash hands frequently to prevent any cross contamination. As a rule, hands that have come in contact with raw meat or poultry should be washed for twenty seconds in hot, soapy water.
Separate
Raw meat and poultry products may contain harmful bacteria, so make certain that the juices from those products do not come in contact with food that will be eaten without cooking, like the salad. Also, never place cooked food on an unwashed plate that previously held raw meat or poultry.
Cook
Use of food thermometer should be a standard operating procedure in your kitchen and, when used correctly, will ensure that your turkey is cooked to perfection. To be safe, the
temperature of a whole turkey should reach 180°F between the breast and the innermost part of the thigh.
If you stuff your turkey, the center of the stuffing must reach 165°F. If the stuffing has not reached 165°F, then continue cooking the turkey until it does. Let the turkey stand twenty minutes after removal from the oven before carving.
Chill
This is another important step because food-borne bacteria can grow while food sits unrefrigerated. Refrigerate or freeze perishable leftovers within two hours of cooking. To prepare your leftovers, remove any remaining stuffing from the cavity and cut turkey into small pieces. Slice the breast meat. Wings and legs may be left whole. Refrigerate stuffing and turkey separately in shallow containers.
Use or freeze leftover turkey and stuffing within three to four days, gravy within one to two days. Reheat thoroughly to a temperature of 165°F, or until hot and steaming.
For more information, call the Escambia County Extension office, (850) 475-5230.
Florida Retailers: Holiday Spending Spree Coming
November 22, 2012
Florida shoppers are expected to loosen the purse strings this holiday season, with retailers anticipating strong gains during an extended season that makes up a large portion of annual sales.
While Internet sales are expected to take an even larger chunk out of the Christmas pie, Rick McAllister, president and CEO of the Florida Retail Federation, said overall consumer spending increases will also buoy storefront sales as merchants take advantage of a 32-day shopping season between Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Overall, sales are expected to rise by 5.2. percent, the largest annual increase since the Great Recession. Florida consumers, heartened by improving economic indicators and succumbing to pent-up demand, are expected to spend $58 billion.
The boost in sales will support about 42,000 part time jobs.
“Holiday shopping is great for the local economies,” McAllister said. “Families are out shopping They’re buying gas, they’re stopping for lunch. They’re buying not only what’s on their list but what they see that they would like to have.”
A number of economic indicators were used to support the projections, which out-pace national figures showing a more modest expected gain.
New home starts are up, existing home sales and median prices are higher and the state unemployment rate continues to inch down. A University of Florida study recently indicated that consumer confidence about the future is at a post-recession high.
Meanwhile, consumers have spent the past few years lowering their credit card debt and putting money into savings.
In response, major retailers have resurrected and promoted layaway options for more credit card savvy customers who are more likely to pay in cash compared to before the recession.
But frugality will only go so far, McAllister said. Having skimped on personal expenditures for a couple years, consumers are also expected to take the opportunity during the holiday season to spend more on themselves.
”All those things add up to a consumer who is more willing to spend,” McAllister said.
Merchants count on fourth quarter shoppers for up to 40 percent of their annual sales. The average consumer is expected to spend $750 this season, up 1.2 percent over last year.
Nationally, holiday sales are expected to increase by 4.1 percent to $586.1 billion, the National Retail Federation reported last month. The national prediction was higher than the 10-year average holiday sales increase of 3.5 percent. Actual holiday sales in 2011 grew 5.6 percent.
“This is the most optimistic forecast NRF has released since the recession. In spite of the uncertainties that exist in our economy and among consumers, we believe we’ll see solid holiday sales growth this year,” NRF President and CEO Matthew Shay said in a statement.
Internet sales are expected to climb 15 percent over last year, but still account for only 5 percent of overall sales. Many national retailers are more closely linking online and store sales, with many chains like Best Buy allowing customers to order online and pick up their merchandise at nearby stores.
The increase in Internet commerce highlights the need for state and federal legislation dealing with sales tax issues, a revenue source that is eluding state officials and putting brick and mortar storefronts at a disadvantage, McAllister said.
Pictured: Rick McAllister, president of and CEO of the Florida Retail Federation, gives preview of holiday sales. Photo by Michael Peltier for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
By The News Service of Florida
Wreck Shuts Down Pine Forest Road
November 21, 2012
An accident involving three vehicles about 2:45 Wednesday afternoon shut down Pine Forest Road at I-10 for over an hour.
Two people were transported by ambulance to area hospital with non-life threatening injuries, and two people reportedly refused treatment at the scene.
The accident remains under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol; names have not been released. Escambia County EMS and the Bellview Station of Escambia Fire Rescue also responded to the crash.
An accident involving at least three vehicles about 2:45 Wednesday afternoon shut down Pine Forest Road at I-10. There was no immediate word of injuries in the crash. Reader submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Cut Cable Leaves Some Walnut Hill Residents Without Phone, Internet
November 21, 2012
A few hundred Frontier Communications customers lost phone and internet service this afternoon due to a cable cut in Walnut Hill. The cable was reportedly cut by a contractor digging for the installation of new utility poles along Arthur Brown Road near Kansas Road. The outage includes areas along Arthur Brown Road, Juniper Street, Cypress Street and Pine Forest Road. Service is expected to be restored by this evening. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Governor Tours Navy Federal
November 21, 2012
Governor Rick Scott today toured Navy Federal Credit Union’s campus in Beulah, where 2,700 of the company’s employees are based. At a press conference following the tour, Scott highlighted Navy Federal Credit Union’s continued expansion that will result in 700 new jobs and a $6.75 million investment into the area.
“Thanks to Navy Federal Credit Union hundreds of Florida families will have jobs, which will benefit this community. I’ve made job creation my top priority, and while we’re headed in the right direction, we still have a lot of work to do,” Scott said.
Scott highlighted Navy Federal’s recent announcement of its campus development strategy, which could set the stage for a decade of annual growth. To accommodate plans for a potentially larger campus, Navy Federal secured a 240-acre property from Escambia County 4-H located adjacent to its current site.
Debbie Calder, senior vice president of Navy Federal, led the tour and said, “Navy Federal is pleased to be part of the greater Pensacola community. We continue to hire talented individuals that possess the skills needed to provide world class service to our members.”
Three Escambia County Commissioners Sworn Into Office
November 21, 2012
Three commissioners — two newly elected and one returning — were sworn into office Tuesday morning.
Newly elected District 5 Commissioner Steven Barry took office after a 70-percent to 30-percent win over Packy Mitchell in the general election and a narrow 41 to 38 percent primary win over Sam Archer in a five person race.
“I am very excited about the opportunity to serve the community that I love. I know that it comes with a great deal of responsibility as well, but I am prepared to face that and help the entire county move forward,” Barry said after taking the oath of office from Judge John Simon.
In District 3, newly elected Lumon May took office. He received 71 percent of the general election vote to Tiffany Washington’s 21 percent. He received 69 percent of the primary election vote.
“First, give it unto God who allowed for this opportunity to happen,” May said Tuesday morning, thanking family, campaign staff and supporters for his election. “I am humbled today to be in a position to serve, and I think service means humility…I will serve, advocate, for those who have not had a voice. Thank you for trusting me.”
Commissioner Wilson Robertson was sworn into the District 1 seat after winning re-election. His win was narrow — just 32 votes — in the primary election over Jesse Casey. In the general election, he took 65 percent of the vote to 35 percent for Bobby Spencer.
After being sworn into office by Judge Lacey Collier, Robertson offered typical appreciation to family and supporters as he launched a 10-minute speech in which he called the media the “worst enemy” of Escambia County and taking particular aim at the Pensacola News Journal. For complete details, click here for an additional story.
Also at Tuesday’s Installation Meeting, a new chairman and vice-chairman were named for the commission under a standing rotation policy. Gene Valentino was named commission chairman, and May was name vice-chairman.
Pictured top: District 5 Escambia County Commissioner Steven Barry is sworn into office Tuesday morning. Pictured below: District 3 Commissioner Lumon May takes the oath of office. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Garbage Rates Rising In Century
November 21, 2012
Century residents will soon see a slight increase on their garbage bills.
The rate for residential service will increase 32-cents, from $15.38 to $15.70 per month for household waste. The town is passing along a 2.7 percent rate increase from Allied Waste, the town’s service provider. Under their contract with Century, Allied is allowed to periodically adjust rates based upon increases in the Consumer Price Index.
Commercial garbage customers in Century that utilize Allied Waste will see an increase of 2.7 percent.