Century Branch Library Celebrates Its First Year
March 26, 2008
The Century Branch Library celebrated a successful first year with an open house Tuesday afternoon.
Local dignitaries were on hand as Pensacola’s Impact 100 was honored for its $113,335 contribution that funded a children’s reading room and literacy center. The group, which is comprised of women that have donated at least $1,000 each, choose the Friends of the Pensacola Library as a grant recipient last year to fund the children’s programs at the new Century library.
A plaque to be placed at the library (pictured left, click to enlarge) honors Impact 100 for “outstanding vision and dedication in committing to the future of our community”.
“This is a wonderful thing,” Escambia County District 5 Commissioner Kevin White told those in attendance. “This is a good example of governments working together, with Escambia County and the Town of Century coming together on this.”
The library has issued about 900 new library cards since opening in Century, a town with a population of just 1,800, according to Bette Hooton, a board member for the West Florida Library. The Century library is a branch of the West Florida Library system and is located in the town’s former jail.
During the Century library’s first year, over 15,000 books and other materials have been checked out, and there have been over 5,000 adult uses of the public computers in the library. Hooton said 2008 kicked off with 2,008 people using the library in January of this year.
“This library I deem a success,” Hooton said.
Pictured top of page: West Florida Library Board Member Bette Hooton and Century Branch Library Director Patricia Rigel at Monday afternoon’s one year anniversary celebration at the library. Pictured below, top (scroll down to see all three pictures): Impact 100 Board Members Marny Needle (left) and Kathy Anthony (right) with the plaque honoring Impact 100 and Gene Fisher, director of the West Florida Library.
Pictured below, middle: (L-R) Gary Riley, Century council member; Sharon Scott, Century council member; Henry Hawkins, Century council member; Benny Barnes, director of the Century Chamber of Commerce; and (standing) Ann Brooks, Century council member, enjoy refreshments. Council member Nadine McCaw, who works at the library, was also present.
Pictured below, bottom: District 5 Commission Aide Susan Hendrix, Century Mayor Freddie McCall and District 5 Commissioner Kevin White at the library anniversary event. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Woman With Local Ties Named To Final Four Tourney Team
March 26, 2008
A young woman with local ties played this weekend for Atlanta’s Oglethorpe University in the NCAA Division III Final Four, and she’s been name to the all tournament team.
Oglethorpe University junior Tina Grace of Pensacola, Florida was named to the 2008 Final Four All-Tournament Team for her performances last weekend in Holland, Michigan. Grace led Oglethorpe in two season-ending defeats on the campus of Hope College. Grace, a Pensacola Catholic High graduate, is the granddaughter of Jim and Alpha Maloney of Pilgrim Hills near Molino.
In Friday’s National Semifinal game against Messiah College, Grace scored a game-high 21 points on 7 of 13 shooting from the field and recorded 11 rebounds and 2 assists. Against Wisconsin-Whitewater the following afternoon, Grace scored 10 points on 4 of 8 shooting and added 6 rebounds, 3 assists and 7 steals to her total.
For the weekend, Grace averaged 15.5 points per game, 8.5 rebounds per game, 2.5 assists per game and 3.5 steals per game.
She joins Howard Payne University’s Kimberly Hoffman and Meia Daniels, Messiah College’s Nikki Lobach and Wisconsin-Whitewater’s Tiffany Morton on the 2008 All-Tournament Team.
Abundant Life Youth Win Awards At Recent District Competition
March 26, 2008
Several youth from Abundant Life Assembly in Century won awards recently at the 2008 District Fine Arts Festival in Marianna. Victoria Creamer, pictured left, received a Superior rating with an invitation to the national competition in for her vocal solo. She also received superior ratings for her digital photography and for “Human Video-Large”.
Angel Mitchell, pictured left, received the following awards: Human Video-Large: Superior; Vocal Solo-Superior; Puppetry Solo- Superior; Short Story- Superior; and Children’s Book- Superior.
Zach Ingram received the awards: T-Shirt design: Superior with invitation to nationals, and Human Video-Large: Superior. Cody Black was awarded Human Video-Large: Superior. Bo Ingram was awarded Digital Photography: Superior with invitation to nationals and Human Video-Large: Superior. Nikki Bradley was awarded Poetry- Superior.
Those that received superior ratings with invitation will advance to Nationals in August. The National Fine Arts festival will be in Charlotte, NC.
Pictured top: Victoria Creamer, Zach Ingram, Cody Black, Angel Mitchell and Bo Ingram. Pictured below,: Brittany Evans, Victoria Creamer, Brooke Calloway, Angel Mitchell and Zach Ingram at the competition. Submitted photos.
Escambia Students Of The Month Named By Education Association
March 26, 2008
The Escambia Association for Administrators in Education has named their Students of the Month for January. The association spotlights two students from each school. They are picked by the schools and receive certificates from the EAAE.
February Students of the Month:
- Jim Allen Elementary: Paul Garcia and Dylan Smith, fifth grade.
- Bratt Elementary: Savannah Roley, Kindergarten; Shalmali Bhadkamkar, fifth grade.
- Carver/Century K-8 School: Kendrell Elliott, sixth grade; Sklyer Macks, seventh grade.
March Students of the Month:
- Jim Allen Elementary: Rafael Jackson and Madison Jogan, Kindergarten.
- Bratt Elementary: Laura Kinley, 2nd grade; Morgan Ward, fifth grade.
- Molino Park Elementary: Sierra Slay and Chance Stockstill, 2nd grade.
- Carver/Century K-8 School: Keairra Brown and Devon Cottrell, seventh grade.
- Ernest Ward Middle School: Madalyn Coon, sixth grade; Ashley Mooney, seventh grade.
Space Shuttle Was Visible From North Escambia Monday Night
March 25, 2008
This exclusive NorthEscambia.com picture shows the space shuttle Endeavor as it streaked across the North Escambia sky Monday night (click to enlarge).
This photo was taken looking south-southwest from Walnut Hill at about 8:12 p.m. The shuttle had undocked from the International Space Station at 7:25 local time, ending its 12-day stay at the orbital outpost. Endeavor is scheduled to land at Kennedy Space Center Wednesday.
For the photo buffs: This photo was taken with a Canon Digital Rebel Xti, 28 mm at 1600 ISO with a 10 second manual exposure using a release cable. Probably not the best settings to use, but this was our best photo of the two and half minute window where the shuttle was visible. If you have experience with night sky photos such as this, we’d love to talk. Email us at news@northescambia.com.
Century Branch Library To Celebrate One Year This Afternoon
March 25, 2008
The Century Branch Library will celebrate its first year with an open house at 2:00 this afternoon.
“I’m very excited about what we have done in a year,” Librarian Patricia Rigel told NorthEscambia.com. “We continue to get new people using the library all the time.”
During the year since the Century Branch Library opened its doors, 815 new borrowers have received library cards in Century. Rigel estimates that 1,800 to 2,100 people use the branch every month. Of those people visiting the library, about 340 per month on average use the library’s computers.
The popularity of the computers has led to a decision to offer beginning computer classes at the Century Branch Library, she said. Classes are expected to being by May.
This public is invited to attend this afternoon’s open house at 2:00 at the Century Branch Library. The library is located at 7991 North Century Boulevard.
Pictured above: Children enjoy a recent children’s program at the Century Branch Library. Pictured below: The library under construction.
Northview High Class of 2012 Visits Campus
March 25, 2008
The Northview High School Class of 2012 had the opportunity to check out the school Monday night as the school held an orientation for next year’s freshman class.
For incoming freshmen Elizabeth Wright, the move from Ernest Ward Middle School to Northview High School won’t be as huge of a step as for some. She played with the Northview Tribal Beat marching band this past year, so she already has friends at the school.
“I’m super excited to be going here,” Elizabeth (pictured left, click to enlarge) said. “There’s a huge band trip in the summer, and then I can’t wait to play at the football games.”
She plans to take band (“I would die without the band,” she says) and yearbook as her electives. She will be the only freshman on the yearbook staff.
When asked was she’s most afraid of about her freshman year, she said “The wideness of the hallways. It is just so big and wide and open here compared to Ernest Ward.”
For incoming freshman Lydia Weaver, her freshman year nervousness involves not being able to find her classes on time.
Lydia is looking forward to getting to Northview and taking part in FFA. She is this year’s president of the Ernest Ward FFA, and many of her old friends are in the Northview FFA.
“I look forward to going to school with all of my FFA friends that are already here,” she said of attending Northview in the fall. For her elective, Lydia plans to take a PE class. Lynda is pictured on the left looking on as her mom Cheryl Weaver talks to Northview FFA President Andrea Byars.
Various departments, clubs and teachers setup displays Monday night in the main halls of the Northview campus to illustrate the educational and extracurricular opportunities available to next year’s freshmen class. Parents and students had the opportunity to visit with teachers, administration and staff during the orientation.
Pictured below, from the left: Northview Tribal Beat band members Elizabeth Wright, Drum Major Jeremy Halteman, Colton Sims, Tabitha Steege and Lania Eubanks. Wright was at Northview Monday night for incoming freshman orientation. Click photo to enlarge.
Northview Plans Renaissance Fair, Booth Sponsors Needed
March 25, 2008
The English Department at Northview High School has planned a Renaissance Fair at the school on Saturday afternoon, April 12 from 2:00 until 6:00.
“The fair will be full of thrilling activities for all ages: face painting, costume contest, sack races, obstacle course, jousting at the dreaded Barbarian Pit, perhaps a trip to the daunting gallows and other activities,” said Raja Atallah, NHS 10th grade English instructor. Turkey legs and other “scrumptious foods” and drinks will be available.
The senior class will perform William Shakespeare’s “Taming of the Shrew” twice during the event, at 2:00 and 5:30.
The English Department is currently looking for sponsors to help fund the event. For $30, sponsors will receive a booth to sell their wares. A $50 prize will be awarded for the best decorated booth.
For more information, contact Terri Jernigan, Megan Carroll, or Sascha Blackburn in the English Department at Northview High School at 327-6681.
Admission will be free for birth to pre-kindergarten , $2 for kindergarten to fifth grade and $5 for sixth grade to adult.
Pipeline Safety Meeting Tuesday Night
March 25, 2008
A pipeline safety awareness meeting will be held Tuesday night in Pensacola, and you are invited if “you put a shovel in the ground or operate any time of excavating equipment”.
At least two pipelines transverse the North Escambia area, as indicated by the map pictured above.
The free program will be held tonight at 6:30 at the Langley Bell 4-H Center at 4810 West Nine Mile Road in Pensacola.
“Whether it’s a natural gas, petroleum or water pipeline, a break can cause considerable property damage. In the worst case, breaks can result in injuries and even deaths,” a press release says.
The program will include a free buffet dinner. It is sponsored by Energy Services of Pensacola, Genesis Pipeline USA LP and Gulf South Pipeline Company LP.
At the program, key points will include:
- Who to call to locate pipelines in the area
- State and federal laws governing excavation around pipelines
- Indicators of a pipeline break and release
- How to recognize a pipeline emergency
- Proper first response guidelines to follow if a pipeline incident occurs
For more information, call (800) 982-8752 or email sarah@pipelinegroup.com.
Highland Kid’s Klub Celebrates Easter
March 23, 2008
Dozens of children celebrated Easter morning at Highland Baptist in Molino.
The children’s Kid’s Klub held an Easter Egg Hunt during the Sunday School hour, and also enjoyed a snack. During the worship service, the children performed a song for over 300 in attendance.
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