Tour Hendry County Farms December 5th

LABELLE, FL. -- The Hendry County Farm-City Tour Council will be holding its 28th annual farm tour of the Hendry County agricultural industry, Saturday, December 5, 2009.  Tickets for the tour cost only $60.00 per person and the participants will be able to catch a modern air conditioned tour bus at the U-Save Supermarket Center on Palm Beach Blvd in Fort Myers or at the Hendry County Extension Office in LaBelle.
 
You will then be transported with knowledgeable tour guides to various stops around the county where you can get a close up look at some of the most efficient farmers in the world. 
 
Hendry County is one of the largest agricultural counties in the state and is largest producer of oranges in Florida with over 75,000 acres of groves.  In addition, Hendry County is the second largest producer of sugarcane, third largest in vegetable production and fifth largest in beef cattle.
 
This year's tour will feature a variety of interesting stops at some of Florida's most sophisticated agricultural operations including vegetable transplant and ornamental nurseries, citrus, sod, sugarcane and vegetable production as well as one of the largest beef cattle ranches in the state.  There will also be fresh Florida orange juice breaks at strategic stops along the way.
 
As an extra-added attraction, lunch will feature a delicious melt in your mouth steak lunch with all the trimmings served by the Hendry County Cattlemen's Association in a rural country setting.
 
In addition to the opportunity to see Florida agriculture up close and personal – you will tour some of the most unspoiled wild lands in all of southwest Florida where each turn of the road will reveal natural splendor and a chance to see a variety of wildlife.  All attendees will be given a free bag of mixed vegetables and citrus fruit from the agricultural producers of Hendry County to take home with you
 
Deadline for ticket sales is November 27th, 2009.  For additional information about the tour and how to purchase tickets for the tour, stop by Hendry County Extension Service Office, which is located at 1085 Pratt Blvd, LaBelle, Florida.  You may also contact the office as follows:

Phone: (863) 674-4092
ax:                  (863) 674-4637
Email:               dcabrera@ufl.edu
Letter:              Hendry County Extension Service
                        PO Box 68
                        LaBelle, FL   33975-1085
Make checks payable to:  Hendry County City-Farm Tour

Got Your Application In For A Census Job?

LABELLE, FL. -- Congressman Tom Rooney (R-Fla.) announced today that the U.S. Census Bureau is accepting applications for temporary employment.

In preparation for the 2010 Decennial Census, the Bureau will be hiring as many as one million people across the country.  Primary recruiting for census workers will take place throughout the fall and winter of 2009 with the bulk of hiring to occur in the spring of 2010.

''A reliable and accurate count in the 2010 census is extremely important for Florida," said Rooney.  ''The Census Bureau needs capable and dedicated workers to carry out the mission of the 2010 census."

Available positions include census takers who conduct personal interviews with respondents in their communities, crew leaders who train and supervise census takers, crew leader assistants, census clerks who perform administrative duties in local census offices and recruiting assistants who help spread the word in their communities about employment opportunities.

For most positions, hours vary and do not exceed 40 hours per week.  However, working evenings and weekends may be required.  Employment with the Bureau usually lasts five to 10 weeks.

For more information and to apply for a position, please call 1-866-861-2010.  Additional information can be found at: http://2010censusjobs.gov

Book Signing At Flora and Ella's

LABELLE, FL -- On Saturday, November 28th, Shannon Paul Loftin will have a book signing at Flora and Ella's restaurant in downtown LaBelle from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Shannon writes "We had just finished another wonderful dinner; every dinner my grandmother prepared was wonderful. She sat in her chair with her legs and her arms crossed, looking as if she was thinking very seriously about something, and she was­dessert."

''Too often in life we become so focused on material things that we lose sight of the true gifts that are given to us.''

Just a Touch is a collection of the 'gifts' she received from her grandmother, representing stories, family traditions, and memories her family have shared for years.

For example, the ''coconut cake recipe is something her grandmother would make every year for Thanksgiving, and she would make it two days before Thanksgiving to be sure it was good and moist.''

BA brought Shannon a coconut cake when she went to visit her in Miami, holding it on her lap the entire train ride. The coconut cake became more popular throughout the years.

Loftin graduated from LaBelle High School class in 1997 and is the Granddaughter of Bob and Margaret Paul, and daughter of Bryan Paul. Shannon's book is Just a Touch, Recipes from B.A.'s Kitchen.

Church of the Good Shepherd - Anglican Episcopal