Family Fun: UWF Festival On The Green Continues
March 26, 2010
The University of West Florida Festival on the Green will celebrate its 10th anniversary Saturday at the UWF Main Campus in Pensacola. The festival is free and open to the public.
The annual arts and crafts festival is back with 20 venues and events, including a motorcycle safety demonstration; the Children’s Festival March 27; Time Portal to the Past; Time Portal to Your Future (featuring different UWF departments, formerly known as UWF Showcase); dog agility demonstrations; the Native American Village; and NCAA Division II men’s and women’s tennis matches.
“This is our 10th anniversary and many of the same individuals who opened the reborn festival in 2001 are still on board the steering committee,” said Connie Marse, Festival on the Green co-chair and UWF director of publications. “Participation from the campus community and attendance has grown significantly since the festival was revived.”
The festival usually welcomes around 20,000 to the UWF campus, according to Jeff Comeau, Festival on the Green chair and assistant director of UWF Human Resources. “This year, considering the economy, we are hoping for even more attendance since we don’t charge admission and we are right in the neighborhood.”
Special appearances are promised by WEAR’s Christian Garman; Sam’s Fun City’s Bullwinkle; Yo-Yo D’Clown making balloon animals; Chick-Fil-A’s friendly cow; The Magic Man doing magic tricks; Pen Air Federal Credit Union’s Penny the Porpoise; UWF’s Argie; The Flip Factory cheerleaders and gymnasts; and singer Mike McCarton.
Entertainment: Acts will include Not Quite Fab, a Beatles tribute band; “Grease,” a UWF Theatre Department teaser; Mass Kunfuzion; UWF Juggling Club Demonstration; Touch of Blue; UWF Symphonic Band; UWF Singers; UWF Madrigals; and the UWF Jazz Band. On March 26, the festival will showcase UWF music and theater students, while March 27 will bring a variety of entertainment on three different stages.
Fine arts: Artists from throughout the region will display and sell their work on both days. In the juried show, festival judges will recognize: Best of Show, President’s Award, First Place Award, Second Place Award and Judges Award. On March 26, student artwork on display at the Fine Arts Show along Magnolia Row, featuring drawing, painting, ceramics, printmaking, sculpture and mixed media. Also, selected student art will be on display at the juried exhibit at the UWF gallery.
Motorcycles: Motorcycle enthusiasts from the Gulf Coast Chapter of American Bikers Aimed Toward Education (A.B.A.T.E.) will be on hand with an array of bikes and to share motorcycle safety information.
Crafts fair: An assortment of crafts created, exhibited and sold by regional crafters will be on display. Find ceramics, wood, fiber, jewelry, toys and clothing among others.
Diversity stage: Various cultural and international artists will perform March 27. The highlight will be an appearance by South Pacific Luau and its energy-filled revue. Dances and sweet melodies of the islands of Hawaii, the visually stunning Poi-ball dance of New Zealand, the amazing fire knife dance of Samoa and the energetic hip-shaking routine representative of the island of Tahiti will take the audience on an entertaining journey.
Dog exhibition: The Five Flags Dog Training Club will return this year with exciting canine demonstrations presented by club members and their furry friends. At the Agility exhibition area, nimble pooches demonstrate their agile nature by following cues from their handlers through an obstacle course of jumps, tunnels and weave poles. Don’t miss the Country Canine Square Dancers or Pensacola’s first official Fly Ball team, the Panhandle Supersonics.
Children’s Festival: Kids will enjoy arts and crafts, games and activities, magic, clowns and gymnasts during activities March 27. Games will include kidding bowling, tile painting and jigsaw puzzle making. The UWF organizations Marine Ecology Research Society and Explore Summer Programs will host a marine life touch tank, “fish print” art and other games.
For details about Festival on the Green including entertainment schedule and festival map, visit uwf.edu/festival or call (850) 474-3000.
Spring Eggstravaganza Is Saturday
March 26, 2010
Looking for some springtime fun for the whole family? Escambia County will hold the annual Spring Eggstravaganza, Saturday, March 27. The event begins at 10:30 a.m. on the soccer fields at Ashton Brosnaham Sportsplex; 10370 Ashton Brosnaham Rd. Admission is free.
Bring your own baskets for the traditional egg hunt starting at 10:30 a.m. for ages 3-5, 6-7 and 8-10. Prizes will be awarded in each age group. Children’s games, crafts, face painting and a bounce house will make this a fun occasion for the entire family.
For more information on the 2010 Spring Eggstravaganza, contact Brandi Daigle in the Office of Public Information and Communications at 595-3476 or visit www.myescambia.com.
Seven Students Arrested Following Fight At Ernest Ward; Bus Driver Injured
March 26, 2010
Seven students were arrested following a fight on the campus of Ernest Ward Middle School that put a bus driver in the hospital Thursday afternoon.
Four of the students were released from jail Thursday night, while three remained in custody overnight.
Escambia County Sheriff’s Office deputies said the fight started about 3:50 p.m. as school was dismissed. The fight began between two students on a bus and escalated into an affray in the parking lot involving a small number of students. Several school staff members and bus drivers tried to stop the fight, and several of them were struck by students. One bus driver was transported to the hospital by ambulance. He was reportedly released from the hospital Thursday night. An unknown number of students and staff members were evaluated on scene by medical personnel but were not transported to the hospital.
The fight involved students from both Ernest Ward Middle School and Northview High School; Northview and Ernest Ward students are on the same buses each afternoon. There were no weapons involved in the fight. Deputies said they did not know why the fight started.
Four of the students arrested were Ernest Ward students; three were Northview students. The students arrested are facing a variety of charges, including battery and taking part in an affray or riot. One of the seven students, a 12-year old that attends Ernest Ward, was not charged in connection with the actual fight. He was charged with resisting without violence and obstructing justice after allegedly tried to grab a deputy’s handcuffs as he attempted to place a female into custody.
All of the students involved has been temporarily banned from the campuses of Ernest Ward or Northview. Deputies said Thursday night that there could be more arrests forthcoming in the case.
The afternoon fight was the second time deputies had been dispatched to Ernest Ward for a fight on Thursday. The Sheriff’s Office said the earlier fight between two students was not related in any way to the afternoon incident. The students in the morning fight were not taken into custody.
There was no school resource officer at Ernest Ward on Thursday; he had been assigned to work another school. Over a half dozen deputies responded to the school after the fight was reported. By the time deputies arrived a few minutes after the school called for help, the fight was over. Several students were placed in handcuffs and taken to the administration building of the school.
Several parents gathered outside the administration building as the students were questioned inside and deputies gathered witness statements from school employees. Hours later, the arrested students sat handcuffed in the hallway and school office as deputies continued their investigation. They were transported from the school about 7 p.m.
All school buses were held on the scene as emergency personnel worked. Most were released about an hour later; some were held on campus as long as an hour and a half.
Two ambulances were called to the scene, along with the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office and the Walnut Hill station of Escambia Fire Rescue.
More details will be posted as they become available.
Pictured top: One of the first deputies to arrive at Ernest Ward Middle School Thursday afternoon. Pictured top inset: Emergency workers on scene at EWMS. Pictured bottom inset: Deputy Scott Mashburn takes an unidentified juvenile into custody. Pictured below: The first ambulance arrives at Ernest Ward Middle School following an affray Thursday afternoon. NorthEscambia.com exclusive photos, click to enlarge.
North Santa Rosa Wreck Claims One Life
March 26, 2010
A single vehicle accident claimed one life in north Santa Rosa County Thursday afternoon.
Jeffery Dwight Foster, 41, of Milton was killed in the accident on Highway 4 west of Hurricane Lake Road at 1 p.m. The Florida Highway Patrol says Foster was westbound on Highway 4 near Munson when he lost control of his 2006 Chevrolet Z-71 pickup on the wet roadway.
The passenger side of the truck struck a pine tree by the roadway. Foster was transported to Santa Rosa Medical Center where he was pronounced dead. There were no passengers in the vehicle.
The FHP says Foster was wearing his seat belt.
Creative High School Students Honored
March 26, 2010
Several area high school students were honored Thursday night at the Mira Creative Arts Awards ceremony in Pensacola.
The awards honored ten “bright stars” in the creative arts each of Escambia County’s high schools.
Winners from the North Escambia Area were:
Northview High School
- Micah Byars, Props & Set Construction
- Clint Davis, Drama
- Kayla Dempsey, Drama
- Carley Hetrick, Vocal Music
- Tyler Hunter, Drama
- Thaddeus Jones, Instrumental Music
- Parish Kelley, Graphic Art
- Mallorie Okahashi, Set Design
- Jackson Smith, Instrumental Music
- Nathan Taylor, Visual Arts
Tate High School
- Stevie Evans, Visual Arts
- Leslie Ann Godwin, Instrumental Music
- Cally Hayes, Visual Arts
- Destiny Howard, Vocal Music
- Collin Bain Metcalf, Debate
- Megan Otteni, Drama
- Kimberly R. Thompson, Ceramics
- Jakob Ian Wisdom, Instrumental Music
- Kaitlin Williams, Yearbook
- Meghan Wojdyla, Yearbook
West Florida High School
- Heather Lee, Drama
Each student honored received $200 book scholarships from Pensacola Junior College, memberships to the Pensacola Museum of Art and award medallions.
All Escambia School Web Sites To Be Down For A Week
March 26, 2010
If you need any information from your child’s school web site or the Escambia County School District web site, you need to access that information before Monday.
The school district’s web site and individual school district web sites for all Escambia County (Fla.) schools will be down for maintenance during Spring Break. The sites are expected to return by Monday, April 5.
Tate Senior Signs With Jefferson Davis
March 26, 2010
Tate High’s Brandon Blackwelder has signed a letter of intent to play for Jefferson Davis Community College in Brewton.
Blackwelder will play third base and catcher for the Warhawks. For the Aggies, he has a batting average of .316 with 11 runs and 10 RBI’s so far this season.
Pictured: Brett Blackwelder, Brandon Blackwelder Dana Blackwelder, Tate Head Coach Todd Boyd, Jeff Davis Head Coach Darrell Blevins, Craig Blackwelder. Submitted photo by Deeann Lee for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Have You Seen This Cup Or This Man?
March 26, 2010
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office is looking for business in the area that sells beverages in blue and white cups, hoping the information will help them solve a murder.
The cup was found with ice still inside after the weekend shooting death of Donald D. Turner, 24, on Augusta Drive in Pensacola. One person, Alonzo Lee, 34, has been named a “person of interest” in the case. Lee is being held on unrelated outstanding warrants for battery on a law enforcement officer and resisting arrest with violence.
The Sheriff’s Office is looking for two more persons of interest in connection with the homicide. One has not been identified. He is described as a black male with light skin, a short haircut and a slight growth of hair on chin and cheeks that appears to be blond in color.
Daniel Maurice McMillian, also known as “LD”. McMillian (pictured), 23, is described as a black male approximately six foot tall and 180 pounds. He currently has active warrants for fleeing and eluding a law enforcement officer, resisting arrest without violence and possession of cocaine and marijuana.
Anyone who may know an establishment that sells the style cup pictured or that has any information on the homicide is asked to call the Sheriff’s Office at 436-9620 or Crime Stoppers at 433-STOP.
Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Officials: Ernest Ward And Northview Will Be Safe Places Today
March 26, 2010
School and law enforcement officials say that the safety of students will be a top priority today at Ernest Ward Middle School and Northview High School following an affray Thursday afternoon. But officials stress that they do not anticipate any problems at either school today.
Seven students were arrested after a fight involving Ernest Ward and Northview students erupted on the Ernest Ward campus Thursday afternoon. There were no weapons involved in the fight, and all of the students involved have been temporarily banned from either campus.
“We will have adequate security and surveillance in place at Northview on Friday,” Principal Gayle Weaver said. “We will not have any problems.”
Ernest Ward Middle School Principal Nancy Gindl-Perry said there will be extra security in place on her campus Friday.
“We will have district personnel and law enforcement in place,” Perry said. “Everything will be more than adequate.”
After morning exams, Ernest Ward students were scheduled to have a Field Day today, the final day of school before Spring Break. But Perry said the Field Day has been canceled due to an abundance of caution. Instead, students will have an indoor “fun day” following 9-week exams, with teachers providing games, movies and other activities in each classroom.
Pictured above: A sheriff’s deputy arrives at Ernest Ward Middle School Thursday afternoon following a fight that send a school bus driver to the hospital. NorthEscambia.com exclusive photo, click to enlarge.
Pensacola Ice Flyers End Regular Season With 5-4 Loss
March 26, 2010
The Ice Flyers had the first two leads in the game, but ultimately lost to the IceGators 5-4 in Pensacola Thursday night. Three straight goals by Louisiana put them ahead 4-2, but Pensacola tied it up in the third period. However, the IceGators came right back to win it with a Dean Moore goal at 17:53 in the third.
Pensacola only needed 27 seconds to score the first goal of the game. Matt Whitehead earned his 12th of the year with the help of Anthony Monte in front of the net. Chris Rebernik also earned an assist on the play.
Almost the entire period went by before Louisiana tied it up. Josh Bonar sent a shot from top-slot to top-shelf at 19:09 to end the first frame tied at one apiece. McBrien and Tozzo earned assists in the process.
Pensacola struck first in the second period, but the 2-1 lead would quickly turn into a 4-2 deficit. Kevin Galan threaded a beautiful centering pass from the near corner to Erik Stoyanovich in front of the net at 2:21, and Stoyo didn’t miss. Mark Hinz also picked up a point on the play. However, it was all Louisiana for the rest of the frame, as former Ice Flyer Trevor Karasiewicz fired a shot from the near point that evaded the netminder and tied the game at 5:52. Bonar also fired a shot from long range at 7:07; it gave him his second goal of the game and the IceGators their first lead. Tobias Karlsson added some cushion at 9:52 with a goal of his own on assists by the Ruberto brothers. The score held up into the intermission, and the Ice Flyers faced an uphill battle in the third period.
Pensacola picked up the two goals they needed to tie it up. At 7:47 Matt Whitehead sent a beautiful pass from the near midboards to Chris Rebernik right in front of the crease. Rebernik’s shot was on the mark, and the Ice Flyers were down by one. A little under four minutes later the passing was emulated when Lorne Misita sent a pass from the exact same spot on the near boards to Dan Buccella on the far post. Buccella tapped it in, gave a quick jump in exhalation, and fist-pumped the roof.
Tie game.
Both teams jockeyed for position with neither squad allowing a goal. At 17:53 though, Dean Moore found his shot and took it. The unassisted play gave the IceGators the game-winner, and Louisiana took the contest 5-4.
With the Mississippi win over Columbus tonight, the Ice Flyers will take on the Huntsville Havoc in the first round of the playoffs in a best of three series. The Ice Flyers will host a game on either April 2 or 3; more information will be added as it becomes available. Visit the Ice Flyers’ website at www.pensacolaiceflyers.com, or call the office at (850) 466-3111.