Escambia Extension Urges Smart Grilling For Food Safety
July 4, 2012
Safety is an important consideration when operating a grill. Improper use can cause a fire or explosion. Keep the area around a lighted grill clear of combustible materials, and never use a grill in an enclosed area such as a sheltered patio or a garage. Avoid wearing loose-fitting clothing that may catch fire. The cooking grids should be cleaned after every cookout. The last thing you want to do is cause someone to become ill due to improper cleaning or unsafe food preparation practices.
Wash your hands with hot soapy water for at least 20 seconds before starting to prepare any foods, and wash your hands again if you do anything else—change a diaper, pet an animal, or blow your nose, for example. Cover any cuts or sores on your hands with a bandage, or use plastic gloves. If you sneeze or cough while preparing foods, cover your mouth and nose with a tissue and turn your face away, or cough into your sleeve. Always wash your hands afterwards.
Bacteria multiply rapidly at room temperature. Most food-borne illness-causing bacteria cannot grow well at temperatures below 40°F or above 140°F. Thaw foods in the refrigerator or in the microwave. Never leave foods out at room temperature.
Keep everything that touches food clean. Bacteria can hitch rides around your kitchen on all sorts of things—plates and cutting boards, dirty utensils, dish rags and sponges, unwashed hands.
Never chop fresh vegetables or salad ingredients on a cutting board that was used for raw meat without properly cleaning it first. If possible, keep a separate cutting board just for the preparation of raw meat, poultry, and fish.
Wash cutting boards thoroughly with hot soapy water, and then sanitize with a solution of household bleach and water.
Keep raw meat, poultry, fish, and their juices from coming into contact with other foods during preparation, especially foods that will not be cooked. Wash all utensils and your hands with hot soapy water after contact with raw meat.
Marinate meat, poultry and seafood in the refrigerator in a covered, non-metal container. Throw away any leftover marinade.
Grill food to a safe internal temperature. Use a meat thermometer to assure correct doneness of the food being grilled.
Safe minimum internal temperatures:
- Poultry (whole, ground, and breasts): 165°F
- Hamburgers, beef: 160°F
- Beef, veal, and lamb (steaks, roasts and chops):
- Medium rare: 145°F
- Medium: 160°F.
- All cuts of pork: 160°F.
Hold meat at 140°F until served. Use a clean platter for transferring cooked meat from grill to serving table.
Summer is the time for getting together with friends and family and cooking outdoors. Make your outdoor grilling experience safe and enjoyable.
For further information regarding food safety and other related topics, go to the University of Florida’s Solutions for Your Life website: http://www.solutionsforyourlife.com.
Dorothy C. Lee, CFCS, is an Extension Agent II, Family & Consumer Sciences with the Escambia County Extension Service. Reference: Safe Food Handling Fact Sheet, United States Department of Agriculture, Food Safety and Inspection Series.
‘A Capitol Fourth’ Live On WSRE TV 23 Tonight
July 4, 2012
This July 4th, America’s national Independence Day celebration kicks off our country’s 236th birthday, as A Capitol Fourth welcomes a new host, Emmy Award-winning television personality Tom Bergeron.
Hot off another winning season as host of the hit TV series “Dancing With the Stars,” Bergeron will lead an all-star cast in a patriotic evening of unrivaled musical performances, topped off by the greatest display of fireworks anywhere in the nation.
The multi award-winning event will feature acclaimed Broadway and television star Megan Hilty (“Smash”); singer-songwriter Javier Colon (winner of “The Voice”); R&B superstars Kool & the Gang; four time Tony-nominated Broadway star Kelli O’Hara; the National Symphony Orchestra under the direction of top pops conductor Jack Everly; plus a tribute to Team USA honoring the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic teams.
Broadcast live from the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol, A Capitol Fourth airs live in HD Wednesday, July 4, 2012, 7:00-8:30 p.m. on WSRE 23 before a concert audience of hundreds of thousands, millions more at home, as well as to our troops serving around the world on the American Forces Network. The program can also be heard live in stereo over NPR member stations nationwide.
A Capitol Fourth has truly become America’s favorite Independence Day celebration and a cornerstone of PBS’ annual programming line-up, as evidenced by the ratings. During the 2010-2011 season, A Capitol Fourth took the top prize, for the second consecutive year, as the number one rated program in primetime. A Capitol Fourth reached more than 11 million viewers.
“What an honor to be in the nation’s capital for America’s biggest birthday party,” said Bergeron. “Hosting A Capitol Fourth enables me to celebrate two things I’m a big fan of — America and PBS!”
The 2012 broadcast of A Capitol Fourth will include two unique segments:
- A rousing and patriotic send off to Team USA as they head to the London 2012 Olympic Games, featuring current and past U.S. Olympians as well as members of the U.S. Paralympic team; and
- A musical tribute to beloved American legend Gene Kelly, in celebration of his 100th birthday, featuring the National Symphony Orchestra performing a medley of Hollywood classics, including Singin’ in the Rain and An American in Paris.
Offering viewers extended coverage of the fireworks display, A Capitol Fourth will capture the stunning pyrotechnics from every vantage point with 20 TV cameras stationed around the city — including the U.S. Capitol, the White House, the Washington Monument and across the Potomac River. The show will be capped off with a rousing rendition of Tchaikovsky’s “1812 Overture,” with live cannon fire provided by The U.S. Army Presidential Salute Battery, an audience favorite and now a Capitol Fourth tradition.
Also participating in the event will be The Choral Arts Society of Washington, along with The U.S. Army Herald Trumpets, The U.S. Army Ceremonial Band, the Quantico Marine Corps Band, Members of the Armed Forces carrying the State and Territorial Flags and the Armed Forces Color Guard provided by the Military District of Washington, D.C.
Hot, Slight Chances Of Rain
July 3, 2012
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
- Tuesday: Isolated showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 96. Light and variable wind becoming south 5 to 10 mph in the morning. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
- Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 74. South wind 5 to 10 mph.
- Independence Day: Isolated showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 95. Northwest wind 5 to 10 mph becoming south in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
- Wednesday Night: Isolated showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 73. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph becoming light and variable after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
- Thursday: Scattered showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 1pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 94. Calm wind becoming west around 5 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
- Thursday Night: Isolated showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 73. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
- Friday: Scattered showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 94. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
- Friday Night: Isolated showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 72. South wind 5 to 10 mph becoming light after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
- Saturday: Scattered showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 94. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
- Saturday Night: Isolated showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 74. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
- Sunday: Scattered showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 95. Chance of precipitation is 40%.
- Sunday Night: Isolated showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 73. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
- Monday: Scattered showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 93. Chance of precipitation is 40%.
North Escambia ECUA Customer? Take Out The Trash Today
July 2, 2012
Trash pickup days are changed this week for most North Escambia ECUA customers due to the Fourth of July holiday on Wednesday.
ECUA residential sanitation customers scheduled for collection on Tuesday will have their garbage, recycling and yard trash picked up on Monday. Collection for Wednesday customers will be on Tuesday. The collection routes for July 5 and 6 will remain on their regular schedule.
For more information, call ECUA at (850) 476-0480.
The Heat Continues, Maybe An Evening Shower
July 1, 2012
A heat advisory continues in effect for Sunday for our readers in Alabama. There’s not a heat advisory in Florida, but it will still be a hot one.
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
- Tonight: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 1am. Partly cloudy, with a low around 73. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
- Monday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 96. Northwest wind 5 to 10 mph becoming southwest.
- Monday Night: Scattered showers and thunderstorms, mainly before midnight. Partly cloudy, with a low around 73. West wind around 5 mph becoming calm. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
- Tuesday: Isolated showers and thunderstorms after noon. Mostly sunny through mid morning, then becoming cloudy, with a high near 96. Calm wind becoming west between 5 and 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
- Tuesday Night: Isolated showers and thunderstorms before midnight. Partly cloudy, with a low around 71. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
- Independence Day: Isolated showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 94. Calm wind becoming west between 5 and 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
- Wednesday Night: Isolated showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 74. South wind between 5 and 10 mph becoming calm. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
- Thursday: Scattered showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 93. Calm wind becoming west between 5 and 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
- Thursday Night: Isolated showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 74. South wind between 5 and 10 mph becoming calm. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
- Friday: Scattered showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 93. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
- Friday Night: Isolated showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 75. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
- Saturday: Scattered showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 93. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
- Saturday Night: Isolated showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 74. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
Three Injured In Serious Traffic Crash (With Photo Gallery)
July 1, 2012
For an update to this story, click here. This article is for archive purposes only.
Three Cantonment residents were injured in a serious traffic crash Saturday morning, including a man trapped in his nearly demolished vehicle for about 45 minutes.
The head-on crash happened about 10:30 a.m. on Highway 297A at Eight Mile Creek Road, just northwest of the Nine Mile and Pine Forest Road intersection.
For a photo gallery, click here.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, 20-year old Tyler Moore was eastbound on Highway 297A in a 2003 Toyota Tundra when he veered into the lane occupied by a 200 Chevrolet Malibu driven by 31-year old David Karrick of Cantonment.
Karrick’s car came to rest upright in a ditch next to the roadway. It took first responders from multiple stations of Escambia Fire Rescue, including a special operations team, about 45 minutes extricate Karrick from the car. He was transported to Sacred Heart Hospital by LifeFlight as a “trauma alert” in critical condition.
Tyler Moore was seriously injured in the crash, while his passenger, 17-year old Kayla Moore of Cantonment, received minor injuries. The brother and sister were transported by ambulance to West Florida Hospital.
Tyler Moore was cited by the FHP for failure to maintain a single lane.
For a photo gallery, click here.
Pictured: Three people were injured in this two vehicle crash Saturday morning on Highway 297A at Eight Mile Creek Road. NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Smith, click to enlarge.
Forecast: Heat Advisory
June 30, 2012
The heat is on — and potentially dangerous — in the North Escambia area this weekend. Officials are urging caution as temperatures approach 100 and heat indices climb as high as 111 on Sunday.
There is a heat advisory in effect for Sunday afternoon.
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
- Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 74. South wind between 5 and 10 mph becoming calm.
- Sunday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 3pm. Mostly sunny and hot, with a high near 100. Heat index values as high as 111. Calm wind becoming south between 5 and 10 mph.
- Sunday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before midnight. Partly cloudy, with a low around 75. Southwest wind between 5 and 10 mph.
- Monday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 11am. Mostly sunny and hot, with a high near 97. West wind around 5 mph.
- Monday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 75. South wind between 5 and 10 mph becoming calm.
- Tuesday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 11am. Mostly sunny, with a high near 95. Calm wind becoming southwest between 5 and 10 mph.
- Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 74. South wind between 5 and 10 mph becoming calm.
- Independence Day: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 95. Calm wind becoming west between 5 and 10 mph.
- Wednesday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 72.
- Thursday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 94.
- Thursday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 73.
- Friday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 93.
ECUA Trash Collection Schedules Changed Next Week
June 30, 2012
Trash pickup days will change next week for most North Escambia ECUA customers due to the upcoming Fourth of July holiday.
ECUA residential sanitation customers scheduled for collection on Tuesday will have their garbage, recycling and yard trash picked up on Monday. Collection for Wednesday customers will be on Tuesday. The collection routes for July 5 and 6 will remain on their regular schedule.
For more information, call ECUA at (850) 476-0480.
Today: Benefit Car Washes, Yard Sale For Molino, NWE Teams
June 30, 2012
Two area teams will be working hard to raise money for playoff trips with car washes today:
The Northwest Escambia 12U boys will hold a car wash today from 8 a.m. until noon at Marvin’s Home Improvement in Atmore to raise money for a trip to the state tournament beginning July 6 in Alexander City, Ala. Donations are accepted.
The Molino Majors will hold a car wash and yard sale today from 8 a.m. until noon at Aldersgate United Methodist Church in Molino. The car was is a minimum $5 donation. The team is raising funds for a trip to Brooksville, Fla., on July 13 for the Florida Dixie Youth Baseball Tournament.
Lambeth VFD Yard Sale, Boston Butt Sale Today
June 30, 2012
The annual fundraiser for the Lambeth Community Volunteer Fire Department is going on today.
Boston Butts are $25, Ribs are $20, combos are $5 and sandwiches are $3. Homemade ice cream will also be available.
There is also a yard sale going on from 7 a.m. until 1 p.m. Items include a table with four chairs, couch, jewelry, curio cabinet, baby items, clothes and other items.
The Lambeth Community Volunteer Fire Department is located at 4888 Upper Creek Road, north of Flomaton. For information or directions, call (850) 254-0079.