Turning Brown: How To Help Your Palm Recover From The Cold
March 19, 2011
Many varieties of palms across the North Escambia area are brown and sometimes even dead in appearance following our extremely cold weather earlier this year. Drs. Monica Elliott and Tim Broschat from the University of Florida provide the following tips on how to cope with damaged palms:
Patience is essential with cold-damaged palms! If the palm leaf has any green tissue remaining, the leaf should not be removed until later in the year. Leaving damaged leaves on the palm during the remainder of the winter may actually help the palm survive future cold events. Once the palm has produced substantial new growth (2 to 3 new leaves), damaged leaf tissue can then be removed.
All new leaves of a palm develop from the apical meristem or bud located in the crown of the plant. It is the bud that really needs to be protected. Leaf bases naturally provide insulating protection to the bud. This natural protection is one reason not to over trim palms at any time of the year.
As warmer weather returns, primary or secondary plant pathogens often attack stressed plants through the cold damaged tissue. Copper fungicides are recommended as an attempt (not a guarantee) to protect the bud and developing leaves from diseases that may attack damaged leaf tissue. There is no research to confirm if this is effective or not. The recommendation is based on what has been observed regarding cold damage to palms and knowledge of fungicides. In most situations, it is the base of the spear leaf not yet emerged from the whorl of leaf bases that is damaged first, leading to a spear rot, which may then lead to a bud rot. Thus, the goal of a copper fungicide is to prevent this spear rot from developing into a bud rot that kills the bud, and thus the palm.
Copper fungicides are recommended over all other group of fungicides because they have broad activity against both bacteria and fungi. No other fungicides have this broad spectrum of activity. You must have complete coverage of the target tissue to be effective – in this case, the base of the spear leaf and the bud. This is more difficult to accomplish in some palm species than others, particularly those with crown shafts, because the leaf bases tightly surround the emerging spear leaf, preventing movement of a fungicide into the bud region.
If the spear leaf does rot and can be easily pulled from the bud, it should be removed immediately, followed by a copper fungicide spray or drench of the bud region, which is now exposed.
The normal recommendation is to apply the copper fungicides no more than twice because of the possibility of copper phytotoxicity. If it is believed that more chemical protection of the bud is needed after the copper fungicides have been applied, a broad-spectrum contact fungicide may be beneficial.
You will not know if the palm has survived the cold until new growth emerges, which may be 4 to 7 months later. Hence, the need for patience! The new growth may be severely malformed or damaged, but the emergence of any living leaf tissue is a sign the palm is alive. Subsequent leaves will gradually improve in quality, but it may take as long as a year before normal leaves emerge.
Mary Everett Orr
March 19, 2011
Mary Everett Orr, 94, of Pensacola, passed away, Thursday, March 17, 2011.
Mary was born October 16, 1916 in Malone, Florida to Charley Monroe Everett and Fannie Mae McRane Everett. She was a charter member of First Baptist Church of Cantonment. Mary was a homemaker who loved growing flowers in her garden. She would often share her flowers with her church family by decorating the church with them.
Mary was preceded in death by her husband, Wilbur Leslie Orr.
She is survived by her daughter, Sharon Cunningham and husband Jacky; two grandsons, Greg (Sabrena) and Andy (Christina); and four grandchildren, Ashley, Austin, Parker and Ethan.
Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m., Saturday, March 19, 2011 at Bayview Fisher-Pou Chapel with Brother Brian Calhoun officiating.
Pallbearers will be, Jerry Marbut, Tom Serviss, Charles Barton, Johnny McElhaney, Adrian Enfinger and Robert Kennedy. Interment will follow at Bayview Memorial Park.
The family will receive friends from 1:00 p.m. until 2:00 p.m., Saturday, March 19, 2011 at the funeral home.
In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made in Mrs. Orr’s memory to Highland Baptist Church, Building Fund, 6240 Highway 95A, Molino, FL 32577 or Covenant Hospice, 5041 N. 12th Avenue, Pensacola, FL 32504.
BAYVIEW FISHER-POU CHAPEL, 3351 Scenic Highway is in charge of arrangements.
Photo Gallery: Northview FFA’s Food For America Program
March 18, 2011
Hundreds of elementary school students from across Escambia County learned a little bit about farm life and the origin of their food during the annual FFA Food For America Day held Friday at Northview High School in Bratt.
The students were able to “shake and make” their own sweet cream butter to enjoy on crackers. They also had the opportunity to pet a variety of barnyard animals, plus learn a little of the science behind agriculture.
The was 16th year the Northview High FFA has sponsored the program, which was named the best in the entire state last year by the Florida FFA organization.
For nearly 150 photos from the program, click here.
Pictured top: Students “shake and make” their own sweet cream butter Friday morning during the annual Food For America event at Northview High School. Pictured inset: Students had the chance to pet a variety of barnyard animals. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Video: U.S. Rep. Jeff Miller Addresses Libya, Japan Quake While In Century
March 18, 2011
U.S. Representative Jeff Miller was in Century Friday morning, and NorthEscambia.com poised a few questions about national issues to the Congressman one on one.
His responses are in the video above. (If you don’t see the video, it is because your home, work or school firewall is blocking external videos.)
Pictured below: U.S. Rep. Jeff Miller addresses a group during a public form Friday morning in Century. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Driver Trapped In Old Chemstrand Crash
March 18, 2011
Two people were injured in Friday afternoon wreck on Old Chemstrand Road near Judy Avenue.
One person received minor injuries in the wreck about 12:25 p.m. Another person was trapped for a short period, with firefighters forced to use the Jaws of Life to extricate them from their vehicle. The condition of the second driver was not known. Both were transported to area hospital by ambulance.
The accident is still under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol. Further details have not been released.
The Cantonment and Century stations of Escambia Fire Rescue, Escambia County EMS and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office responded to the crash.
Pictured top: First responders work to free a driver trapped in an accident Friday afternoon on Old Chemstrand Road. Pictured inset and below: Two people were injured in this wreck. NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Smith, click to enlarge..
2010 Census: Population Shift To Cantonment Area; Escambia Grows; Century, Pensacola Shrink
March 18, 2011
Escambia County’s population increased only slightly during the last ten years, but the county experienced a population shift into the area between Barrineau Park and 9 Mile roads, according to data released Thursday by the U.S. Census Bureau.
Escambia County saw a very slight 1 percent increase during the decade as the population increased from 294,410 in 2000 to 297,619 in 2010.
The county is divided into four “Census County Division” areas. Population figures from those divisions showed a very definite growth trend in the “Cantonment CCD” — an area roughly bordered by Barrineau Park and Quintette roads to the north and 9 Mile Road to the south. The area showed a 15.8 percent population increase to 50,638 person.
The three other Census County Divisions all showed 1.4 to 3.0 percent population decreases (see maps below).
Century’s population decreased slightly, from 1,714 in 2000 to 1,698 in 2010. The City of Pensacola saw a more substantial population decrease — almost 8.5 percent — from 56,255 in 200o to 51,923 in 2010.
Neighboring Santa Rosa County grew from 117,743 to 151,372 during the decade,an increase of almost 29 percent. Santa Rosa was among the fastest growing counties in Florida. The Town of Jay’s population decreased, from 579 to 533.
Below: This graphic shows the 10-year population change in four Census County Divisions in Escambia County.
Tate High Student Passes Away
March 18, 2011
Grief counselors were on hand again Friday at Tate High School following the death of a student Thursday morning.
The Gabe Carter, 15, reportedly began experiencing a seizure in a classroom and collapsed. The freshman was transported from the school by LifeFlight to West Florida Hospital where he was pronounced dead.
An announcement Thursday afternoon notified Tate students that their classmate had passed away, and counselors were made available.
Sexual Assault Victim Allowed To Return To School
March 18, 2011
The ninth grade victim of an alleged sexual assault at Tate High School is off suspension and will be allowed to return to class. But the 14-year old girl’s mother says she will be home-schooled and will not return to the public school system the remainder of the year.
Another ninth grader, 16-year old Raymond Teamer, is accused of forcing the girl to perform oral sex in a reading classroom on March 1. He is charged with felony sexual battery and indecent exposure. Teamer remains suspended from Tate and faces potential expulsion.
Escambia County Sheriff David Morgan says the school waited too long — until March 4 — to report the incident. But school officials say that procedures were followed and the incident was reported March 2.
Photos: A Very Special Anniversary Dinner
March 18, 2011
Reita and Larry Irwin of Bratt were able to celebrate a very special anniversary, thanks to the staff at Century Care Center.
Reita and Larry are both residents at Century Care Center. As their 33rd anniversary approached, staff member Pat Sharp wanted to make sure the couple could have a special romantic evening together. She and the staff, along with volunteer Betty Jones, arranged for the couple to enjoy a steak dinner complete with roses and sparkling grape juice, in a “private” dining area.
Pictured top: Reita and Larry Irwin of Bratt enjoy a special 33rd anniversary dinner. Pictured below: Reita Irwin, Larry Irwin and Century Care Staff membe Pat Sharp with Reita Irwin. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Meet With Congressman Jeff Miller In Century This Morning
March 18, 2011
U.S. Rep. Jeff Miller will host a “Coffee with the Congressman” in Century this morning
The event will take place at 10:00 a.m. at the Agricultural Building on West Highway 4 in Century. All constituents are invited to come by with questions and comments about pending legislation, federal issues, or just to meet their Congressman.