The new Santa Rosa County budget has less money in it for roadwork; smoking cessation classes to be offered for free at the county Health Department; and festivals fill the weekend as the Beaches to Woodlands Tour continues.
1 If you live in an unincorporated area of Santa Rosa County, it may take longer to get the roads in your neighborhood resurfaced than it would have just a few years ago.
As of Oct. 1, the start of the fiscal 2011 budget, Santa Rosa County has less money for paving and other roadwork, and fewer employees to do that work.
The new budget allocates $750,000 ? divided evenly between the county's five road districts ? toward road and bridge work, a decrease of half over the past four years, according to Santa Rosa County Public Information Officer Joy Tsubooka.
The new budget also decreases by four the number of road crew members. That's on top of five positions lost last year. However, Tsubooka said it does not represent a loss of road crews teams.
"Positions are cut from various crews which results in smaller crews," she said. "We have 15 road crews but some of these have only two and three employees per crew. In these cases, one supervisor is over multiple crews."
However, one crew was eliminated in fiscal 2009 during a department reorganization.
2 Starting Thursday, the Santa Rosa County Health Department will offer free smoking-cessation classes in Milton. The Health Department is partnering with the West Florida Area Health Education Center to offer the service.
"We did not initially schedule classes in Milton, but we have a very high demand for the Quit Smoking Now classes in that area," said Susan Cook, certified tobacco treatment specialist with the West Florida center. "We hope interested residents will still be able to attend."
Classes are open to all Santa Rosa residents; smokeless tobacco users are also welcome. Classes are 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. on Thursdays at the Health Department in Milton, 5527 Stewart St. The class lasts six weeks.
(2 of 2)In Santa Rosa, 23.5 percent of adults smoke, according to Health Department statistics. The same study reports that 17.9 percent of respondents claimed exposure to secondhand smoke in the last seven days.
The Health Department also promotes the Florida Quitline, which also is free. Quitline provide free nicotine-replacement therapy, while supplies last, for callers who choose phone counseling services. The Quitline is 1-877-822-6669.
3 The annual monthlong Beaches to Woodlands Tour continues this weekend. Here are some highlights:
n St. Rose of Lima International Fall Festival and 5K: 6450 Park Ave., Milton. Admission: Free; 5 to 10 p.m., Friday; Noon to 10 p.m., Saturday; and Noon to 5 p.m., Sunday. Details: 623-3600.
n Monarch Madness Butterfly Festival: Panhandle Butterfly House, 8581 U.S. 98, Navarre. Donations accepted. Details: Theresa Friday, 623-3868, or visit http://www.panhandlebutterflyhouse.org/.
Saturday:
n Juana's Pagodas Charity Chili Cook-off and Volleyball: 1451 Navarre Beach Causeway, Navarre. Volleyball registration at 11 a.m. Chili setup at noon and tasting from 2 to 4 p.m. Details: Kevin Rudzki, 939-2130, or visit http://www.juanaspagodas.com/.
n Munson Community Heritage Festival: Blackwater River State Forest (Krul Recreation Area), Munson. Admission is free, parking is $5. Details: 957-6140, or visit www.fl-dof.com/state_forests/blackwater/heritage_festival.html.
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