PASADENA (CNS) - With thousands of people expected to camp out tonight for prime Rose Parade seating, Pasadena police and fire officials issued a series of tips aimed at keeping people safe and within the law.

Among the rules and regulations governing parade goers are:

-- Overnight parking is only permitted tonight.

-- A permanent position on the sidewalk may be maintained along the parade route beginning at noon today. The "Blue Line" is the honor line. People and property such as blankets and chairs must remain on the curb until 11 p.m. Friday. At that time, spectators may move out to the Blue Line.

-- Small, professionally manufactured barbecues elevated at least one foot off the ground are allowed on the parade route, as long as they are 25 feet from buildings and other combustibles. Also, a fire extinguisher must be available.

-- People under 18 may be on the parade route between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. only if they are under adult supervision.

-- Dress for cold weather. Children and seniors should have extra layers of clothing to avoid hypothermia.

-- Stay hydrated and consume nourishing meals to avoid dehydration.

-- Report any suspicious activities and packages to emergency authorities along the parade route.

-- In case of emergency, call (626) 744-4241 from a cell phone or 911 from a landline phone and know the cross streets from which you are calling.

Things that are banned along the parade route are:

-- tents, sofas and boxes that an be used as stools or seats;

-- unoccupied chairs;

-- bonfires; and

-- fireworks, except as part of scheduled official events.

Items may not be sold along the parade route without a permit, and no public areas -- sidewalks, curbs, gutters, streets -- can be cordoned or roped off. It is also illegal to buy, sell or give away horns on the parade route, and selling space along the route is illegal.

Pets are not recommended because they are easily frightened by sudden, loud noises.

Spectators also may not throw any projectiles into the parade, including seemingly harmless items such as tortillas, marshmallows or flowers.

Vehicles obstructing emergency lanes will be towed, and walking in the street is not permitted during the parade. Open containers of alcohol are illegal on public streets, sidewalks or other areas.

Because of large crowds, police will resolve any problems quickly and remove from the scene anyone who violates the law or disturbs the peace.

During the parade, it is typical for the Pasadena Fire Department to respond to more than twice the number of normal calls because of hypothermia, illegal burning, miscellaneous medical issues, assaults and alcohol-related matters.

For more information, call (626) 744-7276.

Food Handling Tips

Each year Public Health investigates cases of food borne illness during the holidays that are the result of undercooked food and poor food handling practices. Typical symptoms of food borne illness (sometimes known as food poisoning) include stomach pain, vomiting, and diarrhea, all of which can start hours or days after consuming contaminated food or drink. For healthy people, most symptoms usually go away after a few hours or days without treatment. But food borne illness can be severe and even life-threatening in older adults, infants and young children, pregnant women, and those with conditions that weaken their immune systems, such as HIV/AIDS or cancer drug therapy.

Raw turkey, chicken, or meats can contain Campylobacter, Salmonella or E.coli bacteria that cause diarrhea and other problems. These bacteria can multiply rapidly when poultry is taken out of refrigeration and before it is thoroughly cooked. Freezing does not kill these bacteria, but they are destroyed when food is cooked to the proper temperature.

To thaw a turkey (by refrigerator, cold water or microwave):

Place frozen turkey in original wrapper in the refrigerator (40° F or below). Allow approximately 24 hours per 5 pounds of turkey. After thawing, keep turkey refrigerated for only 1-2 days before cooking.

A turkey that has been thawed in the refrigerator can be re-frozen.

It is not recommended to refreeze a turkey that has been thawed using other methods.

Place securely wrapped turkey in cold water and change the water every 30 minutes. Allow about 30 minutes defrosting time per pound of turkey. Cook immediately after thawing.

Check to see if the turkey is not too large and fits comfortably in the microwave. Check manufacturer’s instructions for the size of turkey that will fit in your microwave oven, the minutes per pound, and the power level to use for thawing. Cook immediately after thawing.

To cook a turkey:

When roasting a whole turkey, use a food thermometer to make sure it cooks to 165° F or higher. Insert the thermometer in the thickest part of the thigh, but not against the bone.

For safety and uniform doneness, cook stuffing separately in a casserole dish.

For pre-cooked turkey dinners, eat within 2 hours or refrigerate components separately, then reheat to a temperature of at least 165° F.?

When purchasing a fresh turkey, plan to cook it within 1-2 days after purchase. Do not buy fresh pre-stuffed turkeys. If not handled properly, any harmful bacteria that may be in the stuffing can multiply very quickly. Frozen pre- stuffed turkeys are safe because they have been processed under controlled conditions. Do not thaw frozen pre- stuffed turkeys. Cook from the frozen state by following package directions.

Other food handling tips include:

Wash fresh fruits and vegetables thoroughly before eating or cutting into them.

Separate raw meats and poultry from other foods such as fruits and vegetables. Avoid cross-contamination by using separate cutting boards, knives, and platters for these foods.

Wash cutting boards, utensils, and platters after preparing each food item and before going on to the next item.

Bring sauces, soups, and gravies to a rolling boil when re-heating.

Keep hot foods hot. Use chafing dishes or pans with Sternos or other heating devices, or keep foods in the oven at a temperature to ensure they remain at 135° F or above.

Keep cold foods cold. Refrigerate leftovers within 2 hours. Throw out foods that should have been kept cold, but have been left out for more than two hours.

"Taste testing" food or drinks to see if they have spoiled is not recommended.

Raw or lightly cooked egg or egg products, used in foods such as salad dressings, cookie or cake batter, sauces such as hollandaise sauce, and beverages such as eggnog, can cause food borne illnesses. Avoid eating uncooked items containing raw or lightly cooked egg or egg products.

Substitute pasteurized eggs when cooking these foods.

For more information on safe cooking, visit the USDA website at:

or call their toll-free Meat and Poultry Hotline at 1-888-674-6854. For the Hearing Impaired: 1-800-256-7072 (TTY). You may speak with a food safety specialist, in English or Spanish, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Eastern time during the week year round. An extensive menu of recorded food safety messages may be heard 24 hours a day.

If you get a food borne illness, seek medical attention. Please contact the LA County Department of Public Health at 1-888-397-3993 to report your illness.

The Department of Public Health is committed to protecting and improving the health of the nearly 10 million residents of Los Angeles County. Through a variety of programs, community partnerships and services, Public Health oversees environmental health, disease control, and community and family health. Public Health comprises more than 4,000 employees and has an annual budget exceeding $750 million. To learn more about Public Health and the work we do, please visit

, or follow us on Twitter:

LAPublicHealth.

I was a theatre major in college after spending several years performing on stage as a teen at the Gallery Theatre in Ontario. Radio eventually usurped the boards and I didn't do another play until about four years ago.

KPCC's Hettie Lynne Hurtes invited me to join DramaWest, which produces bi-monthly 10-minute play readings in Echo Park. I've recently done readings with Parson's Nose, where I'm also a board member. And next week, I'm reunited with a couple old friends from the Gallery Theatre days, when I play Martin Vanderhof (Grandpa) in Kaufman and Hart's "You Can't Take It With You," my first fully produced 3-act play since ... well, theatres now have electricity and air conditioning.

Frank Minano founded the nonprofit Inland Valley Repertory Theatre in the early '90s and the company produces in rep with the Candlelight Pavilion in Claremont, on the same site where my dad attended high school in the 1940s. A Buca di Beppo and Trader Joe's now sit close to where my family ate from Griswold's buffet in the 1960s and '70s.

"You Can't Take It With You" is as funny and poignant today as it was when the US was coming out of the Great Depression. For tickets, call 909-626-1254 ext 1 and mention my name for a discount. Or go online.

Many of you have known me for ten years as KPCC's Morning Edition host. Now I hope you'll meet another side of me.

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How much latitude should cities have in their payrolls? Do you find these salaries offensive?

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Patt Morrison talks with Arpaio this afternoon. If you'd like to get a head start on submitting questions or comments for him, do so here and I'll pass them on to Patt and her producers.