Trip To Grandma’s Was A Little More Expensive This Year
November 25, 2010
That Thanksgiving trip to grandma’s house was a little more this expensive year, with gas prices up about 20 cents over last year.
The average price for a gallon of regular unleaded gas in the Pensacola metro was $2.79 headed into the Thanksgiving weekend, up from $2.60 last year and just $1.78 two years ago.
Around the North Escambia area, that gallon of gas ranged from $2.72 to $2.84 in an informal survey. The lowest Escambia County price was $2.71 at the Navy Mall and a Murphy Express on Navy Boulevard.
AAA today projected the number of Americans traveling for the Thanksgiving holiday will increase 11.4 percent from 2009, with approximately 42.2 million travelers taking a trip at least 50 miles away from home. Last year, 37.9 million Americans traveled during the Thanksgiving holiday. The 2010 Thanksgiving holiday travel period is defined as Wednesday, November 24 to Sunday, November 28.
“While Americans remain cautious with household budgets and discretionary spending amidst high levels of unemployment, many are in a better financial position this Thanksgiving than a year ago,” said AAA President and CEO Robert L. Darbelnet. “This improvement, along with a strong desire to spend time with friends and family, is expected to propel a significant increase in Thanksgiving travel.”
The forecasted double-digit increase in Thanksgiving holiday travel would signify an important upturn in travel volume for the holiday after a year of negligible growth in 2009 (0.2 percent) and two years after a historic 25.2 percent decline in travel in 2008. While the forecast for an 11.4 percent increase in Thanksgiving travel is significant, the increase in the number of travelers by 4.3 million is less than half of the volume lost from 2007 through 2009. Moreover, this year’s expected 42.2 million travelers remain almost 30 percent below the 2005 peak of 58.6 million travelers.
This year’s projected increase in holiday travel appears to be the result of modestly improved economic conditions since last year, including an increase in gross domestic product, real disposable personal income and household net worth combined with a decrease in consumer debt. While job growth has been minimal and unemployment remains high, the unemployment rate has remained stable, which is an improvement from 2008 and 2009 when job losses were mounting each quarter.
Pictured: A gallon of regular unleaded gas was at $2.75 in Century. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Our Facebook Fans: Are You Shopping On Black Friday?
November 25, 2010
It’s Black Friday — the crazy-hour traditional start to the holiday shopping season. We asked our Facebook fans about their Black Friday plans. A few responses are below.
(You can become one of our Facebook fans at www.facebook.com/northescambia)
- “I love Black Friday shopping!” Janalyn Pomeroy.
- “Get up at 2 a.m. to go stand in line for three hours to fight over the three TV’s that they discounted by $25? Forget it; I’ll pay the extra 25 bucks.” — Andy Maddox.
- “Yes, I’m one of those crazy people who get up at three to be at Walmart. Not just to get bargains, its a time I spend with my daughter and friends year after year.” Jackie Garrett Thomas.
- “Oh no…gotta watch the Iron Bowl.” — Deana Coker.
- “Will actually be working for the mighty Wal-Mart as crowd control and help with one of the hot items.” Bryan Coburn.
- “Nope…going to Tuscaloosa to watch the Tide beat Cam.” William Earl McKenzie.
- “I don’t have any money to shop. I’ve never been on Black Friday, so I’m staying home and watching football. Roll Tide, Roll Baby!” — Angela Richardson.
- “I’m going. I go every year with my mom, aunt and friends. We get up at three a.m. and go to the mall. Walmart and Target, and then go out for breakfast. Then home for a nap.” — Amanda Colbert.
- “No way, especially if it is raining. That is like punishment. I don’t need anything that bad. And, my wants won’t hurt me.” — Marie Duncan
Photos: North Escambia Turkeys
November 25, 2010
These turkeys were spotted by our photographer last year near Barrineau Park. They were alongside South Highway 99 near Crabtree Church Road. There’s no word on how the turkeys spent their Thanksgiving.
Pictured above: A couple of turkeys next to Highway 99 in Barrineau Park. Pictured below: A face only a mother could love. Pictured below middle: Showing off. Pictured bottom of page: Why did the turkey cross the road? NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
Health Department Offers Thanksgiving Food Safety Tips
November 25, 2010
The Escambia County Health Department is emphasizing the importance of safe food preparation and storage to prevent possible foodborne illnesses.
“While family celebrations are being prepared, everyone should practice proper food hygiene,” said Dr. John Lanza, health department director. “Floridians should wash their hands and counter tops thoroughly before and after preparing foods to help eliminate bacteria. Foods should be cooked at the appropriate temperature and leftovers should be stored properly.”
Factors that can contribute to foodborne illnesses include:
- Improper food storage (inadequate refrigeration temperature or hot holding temperature). Safe refrigeration temperature is less than 41 degrees Fahrenheit, and safe hot holding temperature is greater than 140 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Improper washing of hands and fingernails
- Improper cooling of foods. Safe cooling of foods is getting the foods to less than 41 degrees Fahrenheit within a four-hour time period.
- Cross contamination (such as from uncooked meat to salad ingredients)
- Improper cleaning and sanitizing of eating and cooking utensils, work areas and equipment
- Contamination of food, utensils and equipment from flies, roaches and other pests
Tips to prepare turkeys safely:
- A whole turkey should be cooked at an oven temperature of 325 degrees Fahrenheit.
- An 8-12 pound unstuffed turkey should be cooked for 2-3 hours.
- Preparers should use a meat thermometer. Every part of the turkey should reach a minimum internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Frozen turkeys should be kept frozen until ready to thaw prior to cooking.
Individuals with liver disease or diabetes or who have had gastric surgery or are immune-compromised should avoid eating raw oysters or other raw animal protein during the holidays. Oysters that are thoroughly cooked or have been post-harvest treated can be consumed by people with these conditions to minimize the risk of infection from Vibrio vulnificus.
For more information about food safety, click here.
FDOT Suspends Road Construction Projects Until Monday
November 25, 2010
To ease traffic congestion and insure safety along the roadways in Northwest Florida, the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) has directed construction contractors working on state roads to cease operations during the Thanksgiving weekend, according to Tanya Sanders Branton, public information specialist for the Florida Department of Transportation.
There will be no work on state roads requiring lane restrictions from Thursday, November 25, through Sunday, November 28. All major roads in Northwest Florida will be open to normal traffic, Branton said.
BBB Black Friday Tips
November 25, 2010
Black Friday has traditionally the biggest retail shopping day of the year, though last year, Cyber Monday – the Monday after Thanksgiving – officially replaced Black Friday as the most popular shopping day.
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.
Final BP Claims Protocols Released After Deluge Of Last Minute Filings
November 25, 2010
BP claims administrator Ken Feinberg on Wednesday released the set of protocols for final payment of damages following a deluge of last-minute emergency claims that came in prior to the November 23 deadline.
Saying that the Gulf Coast Claims Facility has already paid $2 billion to 125,000 recipients of emergency claims, Feinberg said the rush of last-minute requests will take until Dec. 15 to process. After that, the facility will turn its attention to making final payments from the $20 billion BP fund over the next three years.
Feinberg said the next round of final payments will compensate individuals and businesses for future losses in exchange for agreements by the claimants to end legal action against the company. Under the voluntary program, claimants must sign a release to waive any rights to sue BP and any other potentially liable parties.
Claimants not ready to make that commitment can still collect interim payments for past losses up until August 2013. Businesses and individuals unsatisfied with the compensation package can also take their claims to court.
Some business groups located inland or in other parts of the state also say the spill hurt their businesses as tourists canceled or cut short businesses to Florida destinations, some of which were hundreds of miles away from the tar balls and sheen the came ashore in Florida’s Panhandle.
Under the Federal Pollution Control Act of 1990, proximity to actual oil exposure is a “major requirement for a valid legal claim, according to a 48-page memorandum of law penned by Harvard Law Professor John Goldman. The memorandum goes on to say that businesses not directly affected by the blobs of oil will likely not fare well if they take their cases to court.
Feinberg has said repeatedly that proximity alone will not be the sole determinant for whether claims are valid, but affected businesses and individuals must provide credible evidence that any loss of business was attributable to the spill.
“The GCCF will be much more generous than current Federal or State Law,” Feinberg said in a statement. “Proximity is not a bar to a GCCF claim, but damage must still be proven.”
Thanksgiving Travel: Pensacola Airport Expecting 2,700 Travelers Per Day
November 25, 2010
No major problems were reported Wednesday at the Pensacola Gulf Coast Regional Airport, which was expecting about 2,700 people per day to travel through the terminal during the Thanksgiving holiday period.
Security delays were reported to be minor at the Pensacola airport, which does not have the new full-body scanners that have been installed at some airports.
Pictured above: The passenger lines at the Pensacola Gulf Coast Regional Airport were short early Wednesday afternoon. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Farm-City Week Recognizes Importance Of Local Agriculture
November 25, 2010
Before sitting down to Thanksgiving dinner, the Florida Farm Bureau would like everyone to remember that the meal they will enjoy is made possible by Farm-City partnerships.
National Farm-City Week, celebrated annually on the week leading to and ending on Thanksgiving Day, recognizes the importance of this cooperative network to the success of America’s agricultural industry.
The following was submitted by Dorthy Cunningham from the Escambia County Farm Bureau Women’s Committee.
This Thanksgiving Day, as we gather with family and friends to count our blessings, let’s give thanks for the bounty we enjoy not just on this holiday, but every day. The safe, plentiful food that is available to us, and the products used to produce the clothing, housing, medicines, fuel and other products we use on a daily basis, didn’t just appear in a store. They got there thanks to a tremendous partnership of farmers and rancher, processors, brokers, truckers, shippers, advertisers, wholesalers and retailers.
In appreciation of this farm-city partnership, the President of the United States annually proclaims the week leading up to and including Thanksgiving Day as National Farm-city Week.
Rural and urban residents are “Partners in Progress” who produce the products, consume the products, and make them readily available through an efficient production and marketing chain. Farmers and ranchers are just the beginning of that chain. Farm workers, researchers, processors, shippers, truck drivers, inspectors, wholesalers, agribusinesses, marketers, advertisers, retailers and consumers all play important roles in the incredible productivity that has made our nation’s food and fiber system the envy of the world.
This week, as we celebrate Thanksgiving, let’s remember the vital farm-city partnerships that have done so much to improve the quality of our lives. Rural and urban communities working together have made the most of our rich agricultural resources, and have made significant contributions to our health and well-being and to the strength of our nation’s economy. For this, we can give thanks.
Dorothy Cunningham
Chair, Women’s Committee
Escambia County Farm Bureau
Pictured top: Wheat is one of the crops produced in North Escambia. Pictured inset: Escambia Grain in Walnut Hill. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Manhunt For Man After Bail Bondsman Gives Chase
November 24, 2010
A manhunt turned up empty Wednesday evening for a local man wanted on a felony failure to appear warrant.
Deputies searched over two hours for a suspect identified as Tabarin Oneil Wesley, 30, by Chris Welborn, public information officer for the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office. Wesley was described as being a black male, last seen wearing a red shirt and blue shorts with no shoes.
The manhunt was centered around Showalter Park and the old Century Elementary School.
A bail bondsman reported to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office about 4:50 Wednesday afternoon that he had located Wesley in Showalter Park. The bail bondman gave chase and last reported seeing Wesley as he scaled a fence behind the school.
A K-9 unit from Century Correctional Institution arrived in the area bout 5:30 p.m. to assist in the search. The search was called off about 7:15 p.m.
Anyone that knows the whereabouts of Wesley should call the Sheriff’s Office at (850) 436-9620.
Pictured: Tabarin Oneil Wesley in April of 2010. Escambia County Jail photo.