Two Northview Cheerleaders March In Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade
November 25, 2016
Two Northview High School cheerleaders — Peighton Dortch (pictured left) and Morgan Myrick — marched in the 90th Annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City on Thursday. They are pictured (left) in their parade uniforms and on the set of Good Morning America (top). Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
BBB Black Friday Shopping Tips
November 25, 2016
Black Friday has traditionally been the biggest retail shopping day of the 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.
Business Groups Challenge Pollution Notificaton Rule
November 25, 2016
Five major business groups have challenged a plan by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection to impose new requirements for notifying the public when pollution incidents occur.
Administrative Law Judge Bram D.E. Canter has scheduled a Dec. 20 hearing in the case, filed last week by Associated Industries of Florida, the Florida Farm Bureau Federation, the Florida Retail Federation, the Florida Trucking Association and the National Federation of Independent Business, according to documents posted on the state Division of Administrative Hearings website.
The Department of Environmental Protection issued a proposed rule that, in part, includes requirements for businesses to notify the news media about pollution incidents. In the challenge, the business groups argue that the proposed rule oversteps the department’s legal authority and that it will create excessive regulatory costs.
“(The) proposed rule requires regulated entities to directly notify the media about certain ‘reportable releases’ into the environment, among other provisions,” the challenge said. “While the proposed rule has a laudable goal, its unprecedented shift of public notification responsibilities from the government to Florida businesses puts a heavy burden on businesses, especially small businesses, and exceeds FDEP’s statutory authority, among other legal shortcomings.”
by The News Service of Florida
Pictured: The Town of Century had 500 gallon sewage spill into this ditch near the Century Woods Apartment on West highway 4 on October 20. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Nine Northview, Ernest Ward Cheerleaders March In Disney Parade
November 25, 2016
Nine cheerleaders from Northview High School and Ernest Ward Middle School marched in the Disney World Thanksgiving Day Parade on Thursday in Orlando.
Each was named All-American and earned the opportunity during UCA cheerleader camp held during the summer.
The five Ernest Ward cheerleaders marching were (pictured bottom) Abigail Nelson, Hailey Harigel, Anna Adams, Mia Starns, and Shelby Rice.
The four Northview High School cheerleaders marching in Thursday’s Disney parade were Ashlan Harigel, Gabrielle Kline, Bailey Van Pelt and Briana Spruill (pictured below).
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
No Road Construction Lane Closures This Weekend In Florida
November 25, 2016
The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) has suspended construction-related lane closures across Northwest Florida for the Thanksgiving holiday. There will be no work on the interstate or state roads requiring lane restrictions from through Sunday. All major roads will be open to normal traffic.
Although no construction closures are scheduled over the holiday weekend, existing state highway work zones will remain in effect and drivers may encounter construction workers and reduced speed limits. Motorists are reminded to use caution while traveling through work zones around barricades and equipment.
FDOT is encouraging drivers to allow extra travel time and to use extra caution in existing work zones along state highways. Drivers are urged to make sure they buckle up, along with their passengers. FDOT and other safety agencies also ask drivers to obey speed limits, get adequate rest before traveling, avoid distractions and never drink and drive.
Drivers also are urged to be prepared for unscheduled highway closures due to accidents, disabled vehicles or other events. Motorists should be alert to changing weather conditions while traveling.
Travelers can access Florida’s 511 service from cell phones, landlines, and online at www.FL511.com to receive updates on travel in the area.
Miracle League Holds Annual Turkey Fry
November 24, 2016
The Miracle League of Pensacola held their annual turkey fry fundraiser Wednesday at their park on East Nine Mile Road.
Volunteers with the Miracle League spent their day frying turkeys for a minimum donation, with all of the proceeds going to benefit the Miracle League.
The Miracle League provides physically and mentally challenged children a safe and spirited program in which they can hit, run, and catch on a baseball field – just like other kids. MLP offers a unique and memorable opportunity these children would not otherwise have. It is a place where every player plays, every player hits, every player gets on base, every player scores, and every player wins – every inning.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Cook Carefully This Thanksgiving to Prevent Kitchen Fires
November 24, 2016
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is alerting consumers that the threat of fires in the kitchen triples on Thanksgiving Day. From 2009 through 2011, there was an average of about 1,300 cooking fires on Thanksgiving Day. This is more than three times the average daily rate from 2009 through 2011 of about 400 cooking fires a day.
“As fire safety experts have said for years, ‘Stand by your pan!’” said CPSC Chairman Inez Tenenbaum. “If you are frying, grilling or broiling food, stay in the kitchen. Not following this advice can be a recipe for disaster on Thanksgiving and throughout the year.” When it comes to fires in the home, cooking fires are number one. They accounted for nearly 150,000 fires (more than 40 percent of all annual unintentional residential fires) each year from 2009 through 2011. Unattended cooking is the top cause of cooking fires. Cooking fires also caused the most home fire-related injuries, with an estimated annual average of nearly 27 percent, or 3,450 injuries each year.
Overall, CPSC estimates an average of 362,300 unintentional residential fires, 2,260 deaths, 12,820 injuries and nearly $7 billion in property damage attended by the fire service occurring each year between 2009 and 2011.
To stay safe in the kitchen, avoid wearing loose-fitting clothing with long sleeves near ranges or ovens, watch children closely so they don’t come into contact with cooking food or hot stovetops, turn pan handles toward the back of the stove to prevent kids and others from spilling a pan’s scalding contents onto themselves.
In the event of a fire, call 911. Cover a pan with a lid to smother the flames. Never pour water or flour on a fire. That can make it worse. Keep a fire extinguisher in the kitchen.
“Turkey fryer fires can be explosive and result in serious burns,” said Glenn Gaines, Deputy U.S. Fire Administrator for the United States Fire Administration (USFA). “Only use a turkey fryer outside and away from your home. Never use it in a garage or on a porch. Don’t overfill the oil or leave the turkey fryer unattended.”
Since 2003, there have been more than 125 turkey fryer-related fires, burns, explosions, smoke inhalations, or laceration incidents reported to CPSC staff. There were 55 injuries among these incidents, but none were fatal. For the incidents reporting a dollar value for the property loss, the total loss reported was around $6 million. Additional incidents involving turkey fryers may have occurred that were not reported to CPSC.
Consumers should also protect themselves by installing smoke alarms in their homes. “Roughly three out of five home fire deaths happen in homes with no smoke alarms or no working smoke alarms,” said Jim Shannon, President of the National Fire Protection Association. “Smoke alarms save lives. Having a working smoke alarm cuts the chances of dying in a fire in half.”
Change the batteries in smoke alarms at least once every year and test the alarms every month to make sure they are working.
To provide a better warning of a fire and more escape time, install more than one alarm and interconnect all smoke alarms in the home. Interconnected alarms speak to one another, so if there is a fire in one part of the house, the interconnected alarms sound throughout the house and alert consumers to the fire more quickly.
For the best protection, install alarms on every level of the home, outside sleeping areas and inside each bedroom, and use both ionization and photoelectric alarms. Alarms that are powered by house wiring should have a battery backup.
Smoke alarms provide the warning, but every family should have a fire escape plan as well. Practice the escape plan with everyone in the house so they can get out quickly. The escape plan should include two ways out of each room (as practical) and a family meeting place that is outside where everyone can meet if there is a fire in the home.
Holiday Cooking Can Be Bad For ECUA Sewers And Home Plumbing
November 24, 2016
The Thanksgiving holiday means special times with family, friends, lots of delicious food and the potential for sanitary sewage overflows (SSOs). No matter how the meal is prepared, it will certainly generate fats, oils and grease, or FOG, Which can be damaging to the Emerald Coast Utilities Authority sewer system and your household plumbing.
Keep your plumbing and the sewer system free from blockages and overflows by properly disposing of FOG this holiday season. Many homeowners may be surprised to learn that pouring the fatty remains of culinary delights down the kitchen drain can result in costly and unpleasant SSOs. Besides the mess, untreated sewage can cause health hazards and threaten the environment. Overflows can also require expensive cleanup.
Cooks should avoid depositing other oil-based foods down the drain and garbage disposal. No-nos include fatty substances such as lards or shortening, butter or margarine, food scraps, dairy products, batter and icing, salad dressings and sauces. For more information on ways to keep your kitchen clean and green, visit www.ecua.fl.gov.
Conscientious cooks should:
- Throw food scraps in the trash
- Use a paper towel to wipe away residue from serving dishes and plates
- Rinse these items over a sink strainer to catch and dispose of any remaining food particles
Any grease left-over from holiday cooking should be poured into a heat-safe can, place it in the freezer to cool and harden, and toss the can out with regular garbage. If you’re planning to deep-fry a turkey, put the used fryer oil back in its original container or use an ECUA Cooking Oil Disposal Container. Drop it off at an ECUA Disposal Station to be recycled into biodiesel fuel. ECUA has several conveniently placed stations throughout the community:
Grocery Advantage
736 Hwy 29 North, Cantonment
Keep Pensacola Beautiful
3303 North Davis Highway
Ever’man’s
315 West Garden Street
ECUA at Ellyson Industrial Park
9255 Sturdevant Street
ECUA Sanitation Department
3050 Godwin Lne
ECUA Bayou Marcus Water Reclamation Facility
3050 Fayal Drive
Pensacola Beach Via de Luna Drive
53 Via DeLuna Drive
Adjacent to ECUA Pensacola Beach Wastewater Treatment Plant.
Aboard NAS Pensacola (Military and Base Personnel ONLY)
Andrew Jackson Court
Slemmer Avenue
Murray Street and Billingsley Street
Corry Field Housing at NAS Corry Station
Perdido Key
12950 Gulf Beach Highway
For additional information visit the ECUA website www.ecua.fl.gov or call ECUA Customer Service (850) 476-0480.
Average Cost Of Thanksgiving Dinner Down This Year
November 24, 2016
The American Farm Bureau Federation’s 31st annual informal price survey of classic items found on the Thanksgiving Day dinner table indicates the average cost of this year’s feast for 10 is $49.87, a 24-cent decrease from last year’s average of $50.11.
The big ticket item – a 16-pound turkey – came in at a total of $22.74 this year. That’s roughly $1.42 per pound, a decrease of 2 cents per pound, or a total of 30 cents per whole turkey, compared to 2015.
“Consumers will pay less than $5 per person for a classic Thanksgiving dinner this year,” AFBF Director of Market Intelligence Dr. John Newton said. “We have seen farm prices for many foods – including turkeys – fall from the higher levels of recent years. This translates into lower retail prices for a number of items as we prepare for Thanksgiving and confirms that U.S. consumers benefit from an abundant, high-quality and affordable food supply.”
The AFBF survey shopping list includes turkey, bread stuffing, sweet potatoes, rolls with butter, peas, cranberries, a veggie tray, pumpkin pie with whipped cream, and coffee and milk, all in quantities sufficient to serve a family of 10 with plenty for leftovers.
Foods showing the largest decreases this year in addition to turkey were pumpkin pie mix, milk and a veggie tray comprised of celery and carrots. A 30-ounce can of pumpkin pie mix was $3.13; a gallon of milk, $3.17; a one-pound veggie tray of celery and carrots, $0.73; and a group of miscellaneous items including coffee and ingredients necessary to prepare the meal (butter, evaporated milk, onions, eggs, sugar and flour), $2.81.
“Due to a significant expansion in global milk production, prices fell to the lowest levels since 2009, leading to lower retail milk and dairy product prices. Additionally, this year’s pumpkin prices are slightly lower following the production decline and higher prices seen in 2015,” Newton said.
Items that increased modestly in price were a dozen brown-and-serve rolls, $2.46; two nine-inch pie shells, $2.59; one pound of green peas, $1.58; 12 ounces of fresh cranberries, $2.39; a half-pint of whipping cream, $2.00; a 14-ounce package of cubed bread stuffing, $2.67; and a three-pound bag of fresh sweet potatoes, $3.60.
The average price is down slightly from last year to $49.87. After adjusting for inflation, the cost of a Thanksgiving dinner fell to $20.66 – the lowest level since 2010.
Although the classic Thanksgiving meal priced by Farm Bureau is considered modest by some, “we’re fortunate to live here in America, where many people are able to enhance their holiday meals with another type of meat or additional side dishes or desserts,” Newton said.
The stable average price reported this year by Farm Bureau for a classic Thanksgiving dinner tracks closely with the government’s Consumer Price Index for food eaten at home. The most recent CPI report for food at home showed just over a 2-percent decline over the past year.
Volunteer shoppers checked prices at grocery stores in 40 states for this year’s survey. Farm Bureau volunteer shoppers are asked to look for the best possible prices, without taking advantage of special promotional coupons or purchase deals, such as spending $50 and receiving a free turkey.
Shoppers with an eye for bargains in all areas of the country should be able to purchase individual menu items at prices comparable to the Farm Bureau survey averages. Another option for busy families without a lot of time to cook is ready-to-eat Thanksgiving meals for up to 10 people, with all the trimmings, which are available at many supermarkets and take-out restaurants for around $50 to $75.
The AFBF Thanksgiving dinner survey was first conducted in 1986. While Farm Bureau does not make any scientific claims about the data, it is an informal gauge of price trends around the nation. Farm Bureau’s survey menu has remained unchanged since 1986 to allow for consistent price comparisons.
Tips For An Energy Efficient Thanksgiving
November 24, 2016
It’s that time of year. Soon homes will be filled with the smells of oven-roasted turkey, candied yams, mashed potatoes and gravy, and stuffing from that special passed-down family recipe. And who could forget the pies!
Traditionally, Thanksgiving is the start of the holiday cooking season when kitchen appliances receive a lot of extra use when you’re preparing meals to be shared with loved ones and family members.
But no matter how much love and attention go into the special holiday favorites, Thanksgiving and the holidays are also a peak time for gobbling up energy, especially when the oven and kitchen appliances are working non-stop.
“Today’s new kitchen appliances use nearly 50 percent less energy than those from 10 years ago,” said Natalie Smith, Gulf Power spokesperson. “But when the holidays roll around, energy usage can rise when they get an extra workout and it can add up quickly. However, you may not have to use as much energy as you think by following a few simple tips.”
Thankfully, there are plenty of ways to keep holiday energy costs to a minimum. Here are some no-cost ways to save money and energy in the kitchen and be thankful for the savings on your November energy bills:
Cooking
· Oven preheating is usually not required and wastes energy. When preheating is required, avoid preheating longer than necessary. Preheating takes about eight minutes.
· Turn off the oven a few minutes before cooking is finished. Retained heat will complete the job.
· Use the microwave whenever possible, it’s the most efficient way to cook or reheat food.
· Don’t use your range or oven to heat the kitchen. It’s inefficient and can be a safety hazard.
· Choose pots and pans that have wide flat bottoms that just cover the burner. They will absorb all the heat and cook food more evenly. Aluminum pans with flat bottoms, straight sides, and tight fitting lids are best for energy savings.
Dishwasher
* Proper loading is important. Operate only when it is filled to capacity.
* If manufacturer’s instructions permit, open the door of your dishwasher after the last rinse cycle to allow moisture to escape and the dishes to dry as they cool. Some units have a “power-saver switch” that automatically eliminates the drying cycle.
Refrigerator
* Keep the refrigerator between 37º and 40º and the freezer setting at 0º.
* Keep condenser coils clean. Vacuum the coils at least twice a year.
* Make sure the door gasket seals tightly.
* Let hot foods cool before placing them in the refrigerator.
* Position the refrigerator away from heat sources. If the unit has back coils, position it at least 4″ from the wall.
* Avoid keeping the refrigerator door open.
* Think about getting rid of your extra refrigerator or freezer as they generally are inefficient and can cost two to three times more to operate per month.
Thermostat
· If you’re having a large group of people over, make sure to adjust the thermostat before guests arrive.
· If it’s cold outside, lower the thermostat a degree or two. The body heat from guest as well as the heat from all that cooking, will raise your home’s temperature without having to run the furnace.