Through their annual collaborative effort, Osceola County Fire Rescue & EMS, the City of Kissimmee Fire Department and the St. Cloud Fire Rescue Department hope to see a lot of green and little to no red this holiday season.
The goal of the digital Keep the Wreath Green is to remind residents of the importance of fire safety through the holidays. The wreath, lit initially by all green bulbs, will light one red bulb for each house fire through the month of December.
The hope is, countywide, by following proper safety protocols regarding heating, cooking, electrical safety including holiday decorations and smoke alarms, no bulbs will turn red and all residents countywide will enjoy a safe and happy holiday season.
Fire officials and first responders have a few tips for keeping holiday decorations from being a hazard: If buying a real tree, get one that’s fresh and keep it
If buying a real tree, get one that’s fresh and keep it watered.
Use UL-rated lights for all decorations. Do not use indoor-rated lights outdoors. Turn them off when not at home.
Keep candles away from holiday trees or flammable items — or pass on using real candles at all.
HUNTING HOLIDAY MONEY? CHECK FLORIDA‘S TREASURE HUNT
Florida Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis encourages all Floridians to see if the state is holding unclaimed property or money in their names at FLTreasureHunt.gov. At a time of year where everyone could use a little extra spending cash, and an unexpected check from the State of Florida could help make things a little brighter this year. It’s free to search your and your family’s names and only takes a couple minutes.
Often, held money is in the form of unpaid utility or rental deposits, unclaimed paychecks or insurance premiums.
OSCEOLA COUNTY CHRISTMAS MEAL DISTRIBUTION
Three county Commissioners will host drive-through Christmas meal over the next week:
District 4 (Cheryl Grieb): Dec. 11, 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., Marydia Community Center (707 Sawdust Trail, Kissimmee). A free, drive-thru Christmas Food Distribution. Christmas Dinner Boxes and an Eye of Round Roast Beef will be distributed to the first 120 families. This is a drive-thru event & donation boxes will be distributed per family. Osceola County residents only.
District 2 (Viviana Janer): Dec. 17, 2 p.m., Archie Gordon Memorial Park (420 Buenaventura Blvd., Kissimmee). A free, drive-thru Christmas Meal Distribution. The first 500 families will receive a pernil – (pork butt), and Christmas meal staples. Please arrive early as supplies are expected to be distributed quickly. The food distribution event is for Osceola County residents only.
District 3 (Brandon Arrington): Dec. 18, 10 a.m.-noon, St. Rose of Lima Church (3880 Pleasant Hill Road, Kissimmee). A free, drive-thru Christmas Meal Distribution. Christmas Dinner Boxes will be distributed to the first 600 families. This is a drive-thru event. Food boxes will be distributed one per car.
UF/IFAS EXTENSION SERVICES CLASSES FOR DECEMBER AND JANUARY
Here is a list of classes and events offered by Osceola County Extension Services into January. See descriptions, as some are in person, some are virtual, some are free and some have fees:
Edible Trees for Your Garden: Dec. 18, Extension Services (Bill Beck Blvd. and U.S. 192), 10-11 a.m. $5, register at http://ocagriculture.eventbrite.com
Taking Control of Your Money (virtual class): Wednesday, Jan. 5, 2-5 p.m. Stop wondering where money went and letting it control you. Instead establish financial goals, discover your financial potential and develop a plan to make your money work for you. Register at https://ocfcs.eventbrite.com
Free Wildlife Webinar – Gopher Tortoises: Tuesday, Jan. 11, 12-1 p.m. Join us for a 1-hour lunch and learn about Gopher Tortoises. We will discuss the Gopher Tortoise’s unique characteristics, habitat, and more. This is a free online class, the Zoom link will be sent to you after you register at http://ocagriculture.eventbrite.com.
Virtual Event: A Home of Your Own, First Time Homebuyer – 1-Day class in Spanish: Tuesday, Jan. 18, 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.; 2-Day class in English, Jan. 24-25, 5-9 p.m. $10 fee. This class addresses the ins and outs of buying/building a home. Participants will learn how to prepare financially, select a home, negotiate price, review contract and what to expect at closing. Register at https://ocfcs.eventbrite.com
