News Briefs – Dec. 22, 2012

Peanut Butter Food Drive results County Extension Offices in 15 Northwest Florida Counties took part in the ”Take a bite out of HUNGER” Peanut Butter Food Drive Campaign that concluded with Farm City Week and ended Friday, November 16, 2012. In total 2039 jars of peanut butter were collected to be donated to food pantries in each participating county. The Florida Peanut Producers Association also took part and donated a pallet, or 1,400 jars of peanut butter to be distributed as well. Thank you to all of the County Agents, 4-H Clubs, FFA Chapters, Schools, Florida Peanut Producers Association, Church, and Civic Organizations in Santa Rosa County who helped to make the food drive a success. Because of your efforts, 490 pounds of healthy and nutritious peanut butter will be provided to families in need across Santa Rosa County. The Peanut Butter will be donated to the Bay Area Food Bank in East Milton. County Agents are planning to do this again next year. It was a great way to celebrate the bounty of agriculture in our region.

Milton City Holiday changes – Christmas: City Hall will be closed Monday, Dec. 24 and Tuesday, Dec. 25 and will reopen on Wednesday, Dec. 26 at 7:30 a.m. – New Year’s Day City Hall will be closed Tuesday, Jan. 1, 2013 and will reopen Wednesday Jan. 2, at 7:30 a.m. – Garbage Schedule Week of Dec. 24 through Dec. 28: Pick up only on Thursday Dec. 27 and Friday Dec 28. No other pickup the week of Christmas. Week of Dec. 31 through Jan. 4: Monday route as scheduled; Tuesday route will be picked up on Wednesday, Jan. 02; Thursday and Friday route picked up as scheduled. We appreciate your cooperation during this time.

SBDC at UWF Presents 'Starting a Business' The Small Business Development Center at the University of West Florida (401 E. Chase Street, Suite 100, Pensacola) is presenting “Starting a Business” on Thursday morning, January 10, 2013 from 9:00 a.m. – Noon. Take the first step in starting your small business! Attendees will learn the essentials for getting started in business including: idea evaluation, legal business structures, regulations & licensing, taxation, finding capital and more. Attendance fee is $35 for the public and free for students and employees of the University of West Florida who present a Nautilus card. Since our funding agency requires a minimum number of attendees, we cancel workshops that don’t meet these requirements. Pre-registration is strongly recommended. Call to register: 850-595-0063 SBDC workshops, seminars, and conferences provide practical, up-to-date information on business topics ranging from the basics to more advanced business management skills. Instructors include SBDC Certified Business Analysts, faculty from higher education, government experts, and private-sector professionals. The University of West Florida Small Business Development Center is a partnership program with the U.S. Small Business Administration and is a member of the Florida Small Business Development Center Network, a non-profit network of college and university-based centers. The organization provides high quality management counseling, entrepreneurial training, and information access and transfer to area business people, enabling them to maximize their businesses’ growth, competitiveness, and profitability.

This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: News Briefs – Dec. 22, 2012