The recipe for a safe Christmas dinner

For residents planning to eat festive meals at home, City of York Council’s food hygiene experts are serving up a feast of tips.

MealWhile 43 per cent of people feel that buying presents is by far the biggest worry at Christmas, cooking Christmas dinner comes second along with family arguments! Yet nearly a third of people will be eating Christmas dinner with more than seven guests and 45 per cent will spend over five hours preparing and cooking the festive meal.

Sean Suckling, Public Protection Manager at City of York Council, said: “The Christmas period can provide challenges when it comes to avoiding food poisoning. Cooking for more people than usual can mean having to handle different storage, defrosting and cooking times for food, making sure that large amounts of food are stored safely, and ensuring that any leftovers are still safe to eat, all while reducing unnecessary food waste.”

Dr Kevin Hargin, Head of Foodborne Disease at the Food Standards Agency, said: “In that long list of things to consider at Christmas, it’s very important that food safety isn’t forgotten. Planning is key, so make sure you follow some straightforward steps to ensure Christmas this year isn’t remembered for all the wrong reasons.”

The Food Standards Agency has produced the following tips to ensure everyone has a happy and healthy Christmas.
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Santa’s Socks given to York charities

More than 580 Christmas stockings have been created as part of the council’s second Santa’s Socks community arts project.

santas-socks-main-photoThe stockings will help share the festive spirit amongst York’s local communities as they will be filled with sweets, donated mainly by council staff, for distribution by York’s food banks and the Independent Domestic Abuse Service (IDAS).

Individuals, schools and community groups all busied themselves stitching, sticking, knitting, quilting, crocheting and decorating the wonderful Christmassy socks. Local groups included the WI, dressmaking classes, library volunteers, craft groups, quilting groups and knit and natter groups at libraries as well as informal gatherings of friends. The stockings were collected at libraries and other drop off points in the city.
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What’s on: A Christmas Carol

Date: Sat 12, Sun 13, Thu 17- Thu 24 Dec
Time: Between 11am and 4pm
Scrooge On Balcony Overlooking KirkgateVenue: York Castle Museum
Cost: Included in the entry fee

Meet everyone’s favourite cold hearted miser Ebenezer Scrooge as he tells you his story on the cobbled Victorian Street Kirkgate.

Bah, Humbug! Meet everyone’s favourite cold hearted miser Ebenezer Scrooge as he tells you his story on the cobbled Victorian Street Kirkgate.

The drop in one man show sees Scrooge transform his life in the much loved festive tale of redemption.

Please visit the website for full Christmas listings : www.yorkcastlemuseum.org.uk

Young people give back at Christmas

Christmas presentsYoung people working with City of York Council’s Youth Offending Team (YOT) are hard at work on a charity project which allows them to give back to the community

The latest reparation scheme is underway to source donated Christmas presents. These will be given to children whose families are suffering financial hardship, and who are attending four local parties hosted by Selby-based charity Spirit of Christmas.

Acting as ambassadors for the charity and working alongside their supervisors, the team of young people is approaching local shops and businesses to ask for donations to be used as gifts. Dozens have been given and are being wrapped by the young people who will help to hand them out to children at the Spirit of Christmas party which will be held in York.
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Details of Christmas bus services in York

“Free” Park and Ride from some sites on Boxing Day

All Services
Click to access
Click to access

[5]Additional buses from:

  • (1) Wigginton at 0607, 0633, 0725 /
  • Chapelfields at 0625, 0655 /
  • (5/5A) Strensall at 0620 /
  • Acomb at 0620, 0650 /
  • (11) Bishopthorpe at 0703 /
  • Ashley Park at 0753 /
  • (12) Foxwood Lane at 0635, 0725 /
  • Monks Cross at 0658, 0728
Park and Ride
Click for full timetable

Click for full timetable

[6] Free buses on 3, 7 and 9 running every 15 minutes, calling at all stops: York Boxing Day timetable

What’s on: Catch your Christmas Pudding

Santa DashDate: Sun 6 Dec
Time: Registration opens 9am
Venue: York Knavesmire
Cost : £10

Dress up like Santa and chase a christmas puddng around the Knavesmire. Run up to 6Km and raise some money for a great cause.

This event is a 6km walk, jog or run with a difference. Your £10 entry fee will get you a free Santa suit for you to dress up in and complete the 3km or 6km circuit.

The event is organised by the British Heart Foundation and all proceeds go to the charity. Now in its 6th year the event is a fun Christmas packed morning that helps you burn of a few calories before the festive season.

All abilities are welcomed and children can take part too.

There is even a Christmas themed fancy dress competition for those aged under 14 years old.

What’s on: The York Nativity

The York Nativity is a City wide event taking place in various churches from the 10th December.

The York nativity

Bringing the true meaning of Christmas to the festive season.

Warm spiced drinks and mince pies/shortbread are being served as the audience arrives for each of the performances which will take place as follows:-.

  • 10 Dec Holy Trinity Micklegate
  • 11 Dec St Olave, Marygate
  • 12 Dec All Saints Pavement

All performances are at 7.30pm.

Tickets £5, under 16s free, from Eventbrite (internet), or on the door.

Shoppers given later Park and Ride services this Christmas

 City of York Council and First York are making it easier for residents and visitors to stay in the city centre longer and take advantage of extended shop opening times in the run up to Christmas with a later running Park & Ride service.

Park and ride buses

Park & Ride services will be operating later than usual every Thursday evening until 17 December inclusive, with last buses leaving the city centre at around 9.30pm.

Additional late buses will also be running to and from the Designer Outlet with the last pick up from the city centre at 9.30pm on weekdays and 8.19pm on Saturdays until 23 December.

Shoppers looking to take advantage of the Boxing Day sales will be able to make use of three of the city’s Park & Ride services for free. Services from Askham Bar, Designer Outlet and Monks Cross will be free of charge on Saturday 26 December and will run from 7am with the last city centre pick up at approximately 6.40pm.
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