Right around this time of year, for me, the phone calls begin asking about preserving fresh foods using methods of canning, so I thought it would be appropriate to write a short article of tips to keep in mind for canning season success.

1. Check the condition of your canners on a seasonal basis. Pressure canners should be tested to make sure they are holding the correct pressure and the rubber seal is in good shape. Water bath canners should be free from dents and cracks.

2. Use glass jars that are clean, and free of scratches, cracks, or nicks. Lids are not re-usable and lose their ability to seal after one just use, so you must use a new one each time. Bands can be reused as long as they are in good condition.

3. There are two types of approved canning methods: water bath and pressure canning. Using the incorrect method for canning can result in food-borne illness.

In 2015, home-canned potato salad was pinpointed as the cause for over 20 cases of botulism. This resulted in one death and several hospitalizations. It was determined that the botulism toxins were not killed, because the potato salad was not canned using the correct method.

Generally, high-acid foods can be water bath canned, and low-acid foods should be pressure canned. Refer to the chart from the USDA Complete Guide for Home Canning for direction.

4.       Follow the recipe directions exactly as written. The recipe times and temperature have been carefully calculated to reduce risk of food-borne illness. Adjusting these times or temperatures, or other parts of the recipe, could increase the likelihood of getting sick or food spoilage.

5. When in doubt call your extension agent. Okaloosa County Extension can help you determine which type of canning method to use, make an appointment to test your pressure canner, and help you answer any questions you have about canning.

Good luck this year preserving the bounty!

For more information, contact me at 689-5850 or jbreslawski@ufl.edu.

Jill Breslawski is an agent at the University of Florida's Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Extension office in Crestview.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: BRESLAWSKI: Here are 5 tips for successful home canning

Are you enjoying springtime? Is home improvement on your to-do list?

Then take a look at the Florida Electronic Library’s Home Improvement Collection for access to articles on everything from landscaping and gardening to building a bookcase, plans included. You can even search through the most recent editions of magazines like “Timber Home Living”, “Architectural Digest,” “House Beautiful,” “Popular Woodworking,” and “Mother Earth News.”

The Home Improvement Collection puts the research of hobbyists and professionals alike on a solid foundation with more than five million articles from more than 200 home improvement-focused publications, covering topics including architectural techniques, tool and material selection, zoning requirements, and much more.

From the library website at www.cityofcrestview.org/library.php, go to the Electronic Resources page, click on the Home Improvement Collection icon and enter your library barcode number.

You may also go to the Florida Electronic Library at www.flelibrary.org, choose “All Resources” and scroll down to the same icon.

Sandra Dreaden is the Crestview Public Library's reference librarian.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: DREADEN: Several spring home improvement resources available at Crestview library

If you’re a golfer, you know the joys (and occasional frustrations) of the game. But you might not realize that some of the lessons you learn on the links can carry over to other areas of your life – such as retirement planning.

So whether you’re already retired or are planning to retire in the next few years, consider the following suggestions:

• Try to overcome the “yips.” When you miss those short puts – the ones you know you should be making – you might be in the grip of your old friend, the “yips.” As you know, it’s not always easy to shake this problem, but many golfers have benefited by working to improve their concentration, especially by adhering to a strict pre-shot and in-shot step-by-step routine. When investing for retirement, or managing their portfolios during retirement, many people can get the investment version of the yips – that is, they get nervous during market downturns, and then they make mistakes, such as selling quality investments when their price has dropped. (Remember the first rule of investing: Buy low and sell high.)

To overcome this type of yips, the solution is the same as for golf: Maintain your focus and concentrate on making appropriate moves, such as building and maintaining a diversified portfolio that’s suitable for your needs, goals and risk tolerance.

• Forget about that hole-in-one. It’s  every golfer’s dream: a hole-in-one. When you tee up on that tempting par 3, and you’re feeling good, you might just want to go for it – but when you do, you could end up overshooting the green or plunking into the water. Many investors also try for a “hole-in-one,” in the form of pursuing that one “hot” stock that’s going to make them rich. However, by the time they hear about such a stock (if it even exists), it may have already cooled off – and, in any case, it might not be right for their needs.

Instead of looking for that ultimate, one-time winner, look for solid investments that you’d be comfortable holding for the long term.

• Study the course. The more you know about a course you’re going to play, the better off you will be. You can plan the approaches you’ll take on various holes and think about how to avoid the sand, water and rough. When planning for your retirement, or even when you’re living it, you also need a strategy, one that addresses questions such as these: How can I structure my investment mix to provide me with a long-term income stream? How much should I withdraw from my portfolio each year? When should I start taking Social Security? Am I doing all I can to control investment-related taxes?

• Visualize. Consider these words from World Golf Hall of Famer Nick Faldo: “Visualization is the most powerful thing we have.” If you can visualize what you want to do on each hole you play, you are well on your way toward a successful round.

The same idea holds true for retirement planning: If you can envision the type of retirement lifestyle you want, you’ll be more likely to achieve it by sticking with appropriate financial and investment strategies.

So, there you have them – some ideas that play well on the golf course and in the retirement arena. Put them to work soon.

This article was written by Edward Jones for use by your local Edward Jones financial adviser.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: SHANKLIN: What golf can teach you about retirement planning

Tax Freedom Day, which typically occurs in late April, according to the Tax Foundation, is when the nation as a whole has earned enough money to pay off its total tax bill for the year.

So you may want to use this opportunity to determine if you can liberate yourself from some investment-related taxes in the future.

Actually, Tax Freedom Day is something of fiction, in practical terms, because most people pay their taxes throughout the year via payroll deductions. Also, you may not mind paying your share of taxes, because your tax dollars are used in many ways — such as law enforcement, food safety, road maintenance, public education, and so on — that, taken together, have a big impact on the quality of life in this country.

Still, you may want to look for ways to reduce those taxes associated with your investments, leaving you more money available to meet your important goals, such as a comfortable retirement.

So, what moves can you make to become more of a “tax-smart” investor? Consider the following:

Know when to hold ’em. If you sell an investment that you’ve held for less than one year, any profit you earn is considered a short-term capital gain, and it will be taxed at the same rate as your ordinary income. (For 2016, ordinary income tax rates range from 10 percent to 39.6 percent.)

But if you hold the investment for longer than one year, your profit will be taxed at the long-term capital gains rate, which, for most taxpayers, will be just 15 percent.

If at all possible, then, hold your investments at least long enough to qualify for the lower capital gains rate.

Look for dividends. Similar to long-term capital gains, most stock dividends are taxed at 15 percent for most taxpayers. Thus, dividend-paying stocks can provide an additional source of income at a tax rate that’s likely going to be lower than the rate on your ordinary earned income.

As an added benefit, many dividend-paying stocks also offer growth potential. With some research, you can find stocks that have paid, and even increased, their dividends over a period of many years. (Be aware, though, that companies are not obligated to pay dividends, and can reduce or discontinue them at their discretion.)

Use tax-advantaged accounts. Virtually all retirement accounts available to you, whether you’ve set them up yourself or they’re made available by your employer, offer some type of tax advantage.

With a traditional IRA, or a 401(k) or similar employer-sponsored retirement plan, your contributions are typically tax-deductible and your earnings can grow tax deferred.

Contributions to a Roth IRA, or a Roth 401(k), are never deductible, but earnings can grow tax free, provided you meet certain conditions.

The bottom line? Contribute as much as you can afford to the tax-advantaged plans to which you have access.

Tax Freedom Day is here and then it’s gone. But by making some tax-smart investment decisions, you might reap some benefits for years to come.

This article was written by Edward Jones for use by your local Edward Jones financial adviser.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: SHANKLIN: Can you make your investments less 'taxing?'