ALACHUA COUNTY, FL - A new County Update show premiers tonight (10-10-08) on Cox Channel 12 at 7 p.m.  The show includes feature stories highlighting the following:

• Alachua County Fire Rescue Reserves K-9 Search and Rescue
• Strike Out Hunger Food drive
• County/City Hunger Summit
• Commissioner Pinkoson F.A.C. Appointment
• County Road Improvements
• Green Jail Enhancements
• Geogreen Mapping System
• Animal Services Spay/Neuter Grant
• Victim Services Myspace Page
• Energy Conservation Strategies Commission Report
• The Harn Museum of Art
• The Alachua County Hybrid fleet

County Update is on at 7pm every night but Thursday and at 7 a.m. and midnight every day (all showings may be preempted by special or regular meetings)   Click the link below to view the Ch. 12 schedule:

http://www.alachuacounty.us/government/depts/comm/schedule.aspx

 To view this show immediately on Video on Demand, click on the link below:

http://alachua.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?view_id=3&clip_id=844&publish_id=&event_id=

For more information, call the Alachua County Communications office at 352-374-5226

ALACHUA COUNTY, FL - The Florida Department of Health (DOH) Deputy Secretary/ State Health Officer for Children's Medical Services (CMS), Joseph Chiaro, M.D., announced today that Hospice of the Nature Coast and CMS Gainesville has been approved to provide pediatric palliative care services to the children and families of Alachua County who are enrolled in the Children's Medical Services Network.

CMS in Gainesville, in collaboration with Hospice of the Nature Coast, located in High Springs, and the Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA) will provide the "Partners in Care:Together for Kids Program"  (PIC:TFK). Hospice of the Nature Coast will provide PIC:TFK services through their local children's program "Herry's Kids".

The PIC:TFK program's primary goal is to provide additional support to families and their children who are at risk due to their chronic health condition.   PIC:TFK services include pain and symptom management, therapeutic counseling, expressive therapies for young children, respite, specialized nursing and personal care.  Palliative care is an approach to provide total comprehensive comfort-oriented care for children, adolescents, and families as a whole.  Its purpose is to enhance quality of life, minimize suffering, relieve causes of distress, and provide emotional and spiritual support through interdisciplinary services and interventions.

CMS Nurses and Hospice of the Nature Coast are now working on identifying children and their families who are eligible and encouraging them to enroll in the program.  

"We are very excited about partnering with Nature Coast who are experts in providing palliative care and palliative support services", says Maggie Bednar, Nursing Director for Gainesville CMS.

For more information, contact CMS Executive Community Health Nursing Director, Sharon Surrency at (352) 334-1409

The goal of the Alachua County Health Department is to promote, protect, maintain and improve the health and safety of all citizens and visitors.

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ALACHUA COUNTY, FL - The Alachua County Cooperative Extension is pleased to announce three, free, classes conducted by Wendy Wilber, Horticulture Extension Agent. 

1. Garden Tours of Local Florida Friendly Landscapes
   Saturday October 25, 2008 from 9 a.m. to noon. Tours originate from the Alachua County Extension Office 2800 NE 39^th Ave Gainesville.  Attend a class about creating a Florida Friendly Landscape and then take a tour of Gainesville home gardens that demonstrate environmentally friendly techniques. The tour guides will be Alachua County Master Gardener Volunteers. There is no cost for the tours and carpooling is encouraged. 
   
2. Good Plant Choices for your Florida Friendly Landscape
   October 23, 2008 from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. held at the Alachua County Extension office 2800 NE 39^th Ave.  Learn which trees, shrubs, perennials and grasses will work best in your low maintenance landscape. 
   
3.  Growing Fruit Trees in Your Home Landscape
    October 29^th, 2008 from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. held at the Alachua County Extension office 2800 NE 39^th Ave.  Learn to grow citrus, peaches, persimmon and      blueberries in your own backyard. 

To register for these classes please call 352-337-6209 (voicemail). For more information, call the Cooperative Extension at 352-955-2402.

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ALACHUA COUNTY, FL - The Alachua County Health Department (ACHD) urges citizens to get immunized against influenza.  It is expected that over 30,000 Americans will die from influenza and influenza related illnesses this year. "Getting a flu shot is one of the most important measures an individual can take to avoid getting the flu.  There is no anticipated shortage of vaccine this year." stated Jean Munden, Administrator of the ACHD.  "Diligent hand washing and avoiding public exposure when ill are other actions citizens should exercise."

The Alachua County Health Department has announced that they will begin their Influenza (Flu) vaccine clinics beginning Thursday, October 2, 2008.  The vaccine will be available on a walk-in basis at the main health department site located at 224 SE 24^th Street, Gainesville, Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. until 4 p.m.  The vaccine will also be available by appointment only in the Alachua Clinic 386-462-2542 and the High Springs Clinic 386-454-2421. The Health Department will also have a limited supply of the Flu Mist available for those individuals 2 years through 49 years who medically qualify for the vaccine. 

The cost for either the Flu shot or the Flu Mist will be $20 each.  For those with Medicare B, the Health Department will file for reimbursement as long as they receive a copy of their Medicare B card and any supplemental health insurance they may have and a photo ID.

To expedite your visit to the Health Department for a flu vaccine, we have added a Vaccine Administration Consent Form, the HIPPA information, as well as the Vaccine Information Statement on the inactivated flu vaccine to our web site.  You can reach the site by logging on to:  www.doh.state.fl.us/chdalachua/ or by Googling Alachua County Health Department.  For those who wish to receive the Flu Mist, we have forms in the office for you to read and complete upon your visit.

The health Department expects to receive their Vaccine for Children, [VFC] Influenza vaccine some time after the middle of the month of October.

The goal of the Alachua County Health Department is to promote, protect, maintain and improve the health and safety of all citizens and visitors.

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The information below is released on behalf of:

Jay MacKenna

Communications Specialist

U.S. Small Business Administration       

Office of Disaster Assistance

Field Operations Center East

101 Marietta Street, NW, Suite 700

Atlanta, Georgia 30303-2725

Telephone: (404) 331-0333   

Please see the linked fact sheet and press release below that were issued to the media recently as a reminder of the deadline of October 27, 2008 to submit a physical disaster loan application for damages sustained from Tropical Storm Fay that occurred August 18, 2008 and continuing through September 12, 2008.  

/assets/uploads/images/Communications/pr_images/FACT_Sheet_FL_11409_9-25-08_TS_Fay.pdf

/assets/uploads/images/Communications/pr_images/September_24_2008_Rel_08-661_FL_11409_SBA_Physical_Deadline_Reminder.pdf

Thank you for helping us in our outreach efforts to insure the disaster victims are aware of the available assistance.

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ALACHUA COUNTY, FL -  FEMA local update:

FEMA and the State of Florida  are opening a short-term Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) in Alachua County today, Oct. 1, 2008, at the Alachua County Fire Rescue Central Warehouse extension 5901 NW 34th St.  Gainesville 32653.  Residents who seek assistance are encouraged to visit the DRC.

DATES of operation: Oct. 1-4 (Wednesday through Saturday)

FEMA/SBA-assistance update (as of COB 09/30/08):

Total dollars approved for Individual Assistance (Individuals and Households Program):  $12,014,538.64

Total dollars approved for the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA): $3,472,000 (includes low-interest disaster loans  to homeowners, renters, and businesses)

 Local Counties include:

• Alachua County

             FEMA registrations to date: 37

             Approved assistance for the Individual and Households Program: $8,714.16

             A Disaster Recovery Center will open at 12 noon today, Oct. 1, 2008.

•  Lake County

             FEMA registrations to date: 141

            Approved assistance for the Individual and Households Program: $41,968.36

            The Disaster Recovery Center is open 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday (closed Sundays)

•  Marion County

             FEMA registrations to date: 114

             Approved assistance for the Individual and Households Program: $68,696.82

•  Volusia County

              FEMA registrations to date: 1,583

              Approved assistance for the Individual and Households Program: $1,462,052.66

              The Disaster Recovery Center is open 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday (closed Sundays)

Homeowners and renters who suffered damages to their property due to Tropical Storm Fay are encouraged to apply for FEMA assistance by the deadline of Oct. 24, 2008, by calling 1-800-621-FEMA (3362), TTY 1-800-462-7585, or go online to www.fema.gov. The toll-free registration lines are open 7 a.m. to midnight. In addition, although it's not mandatory, those who receive a U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) disaster-loan application are encouraged to complete it and return it to SBA by Oct. 27. Completing the application will expedite the disaster-assistance process.

 For more information, contact Amanda Bicknell FEMA Public Affairs Officer at 832-851-4182

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WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.

Name of Product: General Electric Toasters

Units: About 210,000

Importer: Wal-Mart Stores Inc., of Bentonville, Ark.

Hazard: An electrical short circuit can occur between the heating element and the bread cage, posing a fire and electrical shock hazard to consumers.

Incidents/Injuries: Wal-Mart has received 140 reports of fires or sparks coming from the toasters or the toasters tripping the circuit breaker in consumers' homes. No injuries have been reported.

Description: The recalled toasters have a chrome steel body, a black plastic base and controls with either two or four openings in the top. The GE logo is located on the front of the toasters just above the controls. Model numbers 169115 and 169116 are included in this recall. The model number is printed on the bottom of the toasters.

4-Slice: 169115

2-Slice: 169116

Sold at: Wal-Mart Stores nationwide from September 2007 through July 2008 for between $17 and $28.

Manufactured in: China

Remedy: Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled toasters and return them to any Wal-Mart for a full refund or replacement toaster.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact Wal-Mart at (800) 925-6278 between 7 a.m. and 9 p.m. Monday through Friday, or visit the firm's Web site at www.walmartstores.com

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ALACHUA COUNTY, FL - If you were involved in an accident and were unconscious, would law enforcement be able to locate your emergency contact person information? The Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles maintains a database (D.A.V.I.D) with information on licensed Florida drivers and those who have a Florida ID card. This data includes a photo of the person, vehicles registered to them, their driving record, etc.  A few years ago, it became possible for drivers to add their emergency contact information to the database.  In the event of an emergency, law enforcement officers can access this information and contact family members or other loved ones quickly.  Over 1 million people have already entered their emergency contact information into D.A.V.I.D. 

For more information or to add your emergency contact information into the database, go to http://www.flhsmv.gov/.  You will need your driver's license or ID card number to register. 

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ALACHUA COUNTY, FL - On Tuesday October 14th, from 5:30pm to 8:00pm, the Alachua County Health Department will be observing National Latino HIV/AIDS Awareness Day.  This year's theme is "Knowledge is Power.  Get the Facts.  Get Tested for HIV."  In support of this important public health initiative, the Alachua County Health Department, located at 224 SE 24^th Street, Gainesville, will be providing free HIV/STD testing in addition to offering ree and confidential HIV counseling. The free tests utilize the OraQuick Advance finger stick test and citizens will only have to wait 20 minutes for their HIV results.  Please call 334-7960 to schedule a free and confidential HIV OraQuick test.  Other Sexually Transmitted Disease information and screening will also be available.

For more information, visit http://www.alachuacountyhealth.com/

The goal of the Alachua County Health Department is to promote, protect, maintain and improve the health and safety of all citizens and visitors.

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