Several Area Churches Holding VBS This Week
June 12, 2011
Several North Escambia area churches will hold Vacation Bible School this week.
For additional VBS events in upcoming weeks, see our Events Page.
VBS — First Baptist Church of Bratt
Vacation Bible School at the First Baptist Church of Bratt, June 13-17 from 8:30-11:30 daily. Ages 3-years to 5th grade are all invited to attend the “Big Apple Adventure”.
VBS — Ray’s Chapel Baptist
Vacation Bible School at Ray’s Chapel Baptist Church in Bogia, June 13-17 from 6-8:30 p.m. Kick-off and registration on Sunday, June 12 at 5 p.m. Ages 5 through the 6th grade. (850) 256-3422.
VBS — Walnut Hill Mennonite
Walnut Hill Mennonite Church will hold Vacation Bible School “Let Your Lighthouse Shine” June 13-22 from 6-8:30 p.m. Ages 5 to ninth grade. Everyone welcome.
VBS — First Baptist Cantonment
Vacation Bible School at the First Baptist Church of Cantonment, June 13-17 from 8:30 a.m. until noon. (850) 968-9135.
VBS — Canoe Baptist Church
Vacation Bible School “The Big Apple” at Canoe Baptist Church, Sunday June 12 through Thursday, June 16 closing with Family Night. Ages 3 years through sixth grade, 5:30-7:30 p.m. Fun Day will begin VBS on Saturday, June 11 at 2 p.m.
VBS — Jay First Baptist
Vacation Bible School at Jay First Baptist, June 13-17 from 5:30 until 8:30 p.m. daily. More info: (850) 675-4587.
VBS — Cora Baptist Church
VBS at Cora Baptist Church, Highway 197, Jay, June 13-17 from 5-8:30 p.m. Ages 3 through teens. All are invited.
VBS- — Flomaton Pentecostal
Vacation Bible School at Flomaton Pentecostal Holiness Church, June 13-17, 5:15 until 8:15 p.m. Grades 1-6. For more info: Martha Samson (251) 296-2214.
Hero Headquarters Camp — Victory Assembly
Hero Headquarters Adventure Camp 2011 will be held Monday, June 13 through Friday, June 17 from 9 a.m. until noon for grade kindergarten to fifth. Family night on Sunday, June 19. More info (850) 587-2295 or register online at victorycan.org.
VBS–First Baptist Atmore
Vacation Bible School “Pandamania”, June 13-17 from 5:30 until 7:30 each evening. Ages 3 (by 9/1) through 6th grade. Click here to register.
VBS — Heritage Baptist Church
Vacation Bible School at Heritage Baptist Church, 3065 Highway 297A in Cantonment. PandaMania, 6-8:45 p.m. daily June 13-17. For ages completed kindergarten to complete fifth grade. Register online at www.excitingheritage.com or call (850 478-3316.
Recipes: Sundae Funday
June 12, 2011
Every week needs more Sundaes. Celebrate a great meal, a special occasion, a terrific day or just up the “cool factor” of any gathering by scooping up one of America’s favorite treats. Makeover this all-American dessert with easy to create recipes that promise to add a “cherry on top” to the experience. Get inspired and dip into these creative combinations.
(Scroll down to see all five recipes.)
S’Mores Dippers
Description
No campfire is needed for these s’mores.
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup marshmallow crème
- 1 teaspoon half-and-half or milk
- 2 tablespoons graham cracker crumbs
- 1 tablespoon red, white and blue cookie sprinkles
- 4 Blue Bunny Champ! Chocolate Swirl Mini Sundae Cones
Preparation
- In a small microwave-safe bowl, combine marshmallow crème and half-and-half. Microwave on High 20 seconds or until mixture just starts to puff; stir until blended. Cool for 3 minutes.
- Meanwhile, in another small bowl, combine graham cracker crumbs and colored sprinkles; stir. Dip cones into marshmallow mixture then into graham cracker mixture. Serve immediately. Additional cones may be used to use the remaining graham cracker and marshmallow mixtures.
Serves
Makes 4 servings
Notes, Tips & Suggestions
Recipe tested in a 1250-watt microwave. Adjust cooking times accordingly.
Strawberry-Kiwi Passion Sundaes
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup sliced fresh strawberries
- 2 teaspoons sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon grated orange peel
- 1 medium kiwi, peeled
- 2 Blue Bunny Personals Premium Double Strawberry Ice Cream
- 4 teaspoons chopped white chocolate
- 2 teaspoons sliced almonds
Preparation
- In a small bowl, combine strawberries, sugar and orange peel, gently mix.
- Slice kiwi lengthwise into quarters then slice into bite-sized pieces; gently fold into strawberries. Set aside 10 minutes to form juice.
- Top each Personal with half the strawberry-kiwi mixture. Sprinkle each with 2 teaspoons white chocolate and 1 teaspoon almonds. Serve immediately.
Serves
Makes 2 servings
Sand Bucket Sundaes
Description
This make-ahead dessert is great fun for summer parties or family desserts.
Ingredients
- 4 cups Blue Bunny Caramel Praline Crunch Frozen Yogurt
- 1/2 cup butterscotch-caramel ice cream topping, at room temperature
- 1/2 cup cinnamon graham cracker crumbs
- Gummy sea-shaped candies, optional
- Sea shell-shaped chocolate candies
- 2 small pails or buckets (about 2 cups in size), washed
Preparation
- In each bucket, layer 1 cup frozen yogurt, 2 tablespoons butterscotch-caramel topping and 2 tablespoons cinnamon graham cracker crumbs. Repeat the layers ending with graham cracker crumbs.
- Dessert may be eaten immediately or frozen at least 1 hour. If eating immediately, decorate with gummy and chocolate candies. If freezing, decorate just before serving.
Serves
Makes 8 servings
Triple Chocolate Cake Sundae
Description
Chocolate lovers will adore this sundae topped with a white chocolate-raspberry sauce.
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons half-and-half
- 1 3.5-ounce bar high-quality white chocolate, cut into small pieces
- 1 cup fresh raspberries, divided
- 4 1/2-cup scoops Blue Bunny Chef Duff’s Premium Triple Chocolate Cake Ice Cream
Preparation
- In a small microwave-safe bowl, combine half-and-half and white chocolate. Microwave on High, 30 seconds; stir until chocolate is melted and mixture is smooth. Heat an additional 10 seconds if not melted. Cover and refrigerate until thickened to a medium sauce, about 50 minutes.* (Recipe tested in a 1250-watt microwave. Adjust cooking times accordingly.) Gently fold in 1/4 cup raspberries.
- Place ice cream into 4 serving bowls. Top each with a scant 2 tablespoons white chocolate-raspberry sauce and about 4 fresh raspberries.
Serves
Makes 4 servings
Notes, Tips & Suggestions
*If sauce thickens too much during refrigeration, re-warm slightly in microwave, about 10 seconds.
Campfire Sundaes
Description
Your children will have fun making their own campfire desserts.
Ingredients
- 4 chewy chocolate chunk granola bars
- 4 1/2-cup scoops Blue Bunny Premium Peanut Butter Panic Ice Cream
- 4 tablespoons butterscotch-caramel ice cream topping
- 16 pieces candy corn
Preparation
- Cut granola bars in half lengthwise then in half widthwise, forming 4 pieces.
- For each sundae, arrange 4 granola bar pieces on a small plate to form “wood logs.” Top with 1 scoop ice cream, 1 tablespoon butterscotch-caramel topping and 4 candy corn “flames.” Serve immediately.
Serves
Makes 4 servings
Florida Weekly Gov’t Roundup: Fighting Universal Health Care, Gov Goes To Canada
June 12, 2011
Florida officials took their “Don’t Tread on Me” healthcare flag to Atlanta this week to urge federal judges to throw out a controversial health insurance law Florida says is un-American at its core.
In a legal battle pitting Florida and half the country against the Patient Protection Act (a.k.a. ObamaCare) attorneys for the state paid their respects to federal judges at the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals, kind of a courtesy call during a journey that most expect will terminate at the U.S. Supreme Court.
Wednesday’s much-watched arguments on whether the feds can force citizens to carry health insurance highlighted a litigation soaked week as lawsuits were filed on a number of fronts by groups unhappy with a host of issues from offshore oil drilling to gun rights.
State education officials, meanwhile, continued their quest to find a successor to Florida Education Commissioner Eric Smith, who stepped down Friday and will be temporarily replaced by interim commission John Winn, a repeat performer tapped as a search for a permanent replacement continues.
Finally, Gov. Rick Scott brought his “Jobs, Jobs, Jobs” bandwagon to the state’s northern neighbor as he wrapped up a weeklong Canadian trade mission with the news that he’d landed 110 jobs to reduce the ranks of the 1 million Floridians who don’t have one.
HEALTH CARE:
While Scott was in the land of universal health care, a three judge panel of the 11th Circuit appeals court on Wednesday peppered attorneys with questions in a case that could decide the future of last year’s health care overhaul for the United States.
Florida has spearheaded legal efforts on behalf of itself and 25 other states to strike down the law that will require almost all Americans to have health insurance starting in 2014 — a requirement known widely as the “individual mandate.”
With Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi and former Attorney General Bill McCollum sitting at the front of the courtroom, lawyers for states critical of the plan said it is unprecedented for Congress to force Americans to buy a product such as health insurance. They disputed that the U.S. Constitution allows such power, an issue that is central to the sweeping health care law.
Joel Dubina, chief judge of the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, said early in hearing that the individual mandate is the heart of the case as lawyers for the U.S. Department of Justice tried to convince the panel that Congress was well within its rights to require it as part of the regulation of interstate commerce. Uninsured people seek care at hospital emergency rooms, shifting billions of dollars a year in costs to other people who pay them through increased insurance premiums.
“Congress is entitled to wide deference in the way it deals with the problem,” said Acting U.S. Solicitor General Neal Kumar Katyal.
Attorneys representing the states say the notion that Congress can force someone to buy a product, in this case health insurance, is anti-thematic to the concept of individual liberty.
“They (uninsured people) are not engaged in commerce,” said Paul Clement, a lead attorney for the opponents, which also include 25 other states.”They’re sitting in their living rooms. They’re not doing anything.”
The case is perhaps the most widely watched legal challenge to the landmark federal law, which President Obama and Congress approved in March 2010. The appeal stems from a January decision by Pensacola federal judge Roger Vinson that the law is unconstitutional.
McCollum — who filed the case immediately after Obama signed it — said it raises constitutional questions about congressional powers that go far beyond health care.
“This is a real, real big reach,” he said.
Wednesday’s hearing was the most visible of a handful of legal challenges fought throughout the week. On Monday a group of physicians filed suit in a Miami federal court to nullify a controversial measure backed by the National Rifle Association that prohibits health practitioners from routinely asking their patients if they own guns and have them properly stored.
In a battle pitting the First Amendment against the Second Amendment, attorneys representing some pediatricians and family doctors are asking U.S. District Judge Marcia Cooke to throw out the recently approved measure (HB 155) they say steps illegally between a patient and their physician by limiting the types of questions practitioners can ask.
Later, environmentalists filed another federal lawsuit in Miami, this one claiming federal officials overseeing a Shell Oil request to drill in deep water in the Gulf of Mexico are relying on false assumptions and accepting inadequate safety standards to prevent a repeat of the BP Deepwater Horizon spill.
Less than a year after oil stopped flowing from the worst spill in U.S. history, a coalition of environmental groups including Sierra Club, the Florida Wildlife Federation and the Gulf Restoration Network filed suit in to stop federal officials from giving the company permission to drill in deep water about 70 miles off the Louisiana coast
On the state level, Attorney General Pam Bondi’s office said this week she plans to appeal a Broward County judge’s ruling that tickets issued by police officers for running a red light are unconstitutional because the fine is higher than that levied when a driver is ticketed by a red light camera. It’s a weird twist in the ongoing battle of red-light cameras.
EDUCATION COMMISH SEARCH
More than two dozen people have applied for Florida’s top education job but only a handful is likely to get greater scrutiny by the State Board of Education. The state has struggled over the last two months to find qualified applicants for the job and had to extend the deadline after the first round didn’t yield as many experienced candidates as the search firm wanted. In the first round, 19 applied. The second time, two of the original 19 withdrew and nine more submitted applications.
Among the newest applicants for the job are Gerard Robinson, the secretary of education for Virginia, Bret Schundler, who used to be the New Jersey education commissioner before being fired by Gov. Chris Christie, and Florida trial attorney William “W.C.” Gentry, who sits on the Duval County School Board. The search firm Ray and Associates was hired in April to recruit Florida’s next education commissioner. Eric Smith, the current education commissioner, said he would resign effective June 10.
In the meantime John Winn, a seasoned former education commissioner who held the job under Gov. Jeb Bush, is returning to Tallahassee as interim education commissioner. Winn resigned his post at the National Math and Science Initiative in Dallas.
In one of his final acts as commissioner, Smith gave tentative approval to a new formula used to evaluate some teachers that will eventually be used to determine their salaries. This new matrix includes test score data but also elements such as disability status, class size and attendance, which can impact a student’s performance.
A statewide committee of teachers, parents and administrators spent months determining what, besides test scores, should be considered when determining a teacher’s effectiveness in the classroom.
POLITICS:
Election news continues to trickle in as races heat up for 2012. Outspoken Bradenton Republican Sen. Mike Bennett filed the paperwork to challenge Democratic U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor of Tampa for the District 11 Congressional seat. Bennett’s most recent notoriety came as the leader of efforts to overhaul the state’s growth management system to return control of development decisions to local government.
Former Ruth’s Chris Steak House CEO Craig Miller is “leaning toward” getting into the Republican contest for the U.S. Senate in Florida. Miller, who ran unsuccessfully for Congress in 2010, lives in the Orlando area. The GOP field so far to take on Democratic U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson next year includes former U.S. Sen. George LeMieux, Senate President Mike Haridopolos, and former state Rep. Adam Hasner.
Candidates for the U.S. Presidency are already racking up frequent flyer miles to Florida. President Barack Obama will be in Miami on Monday afternoon for a fundraiser for the Obama Victory Fund 2012, the organization announced.
Meanwhile, Mitt Romney will spend three days in the state next week. The former Massachusetts governor will be in Boca Raton for fundraisers on Tuesday evening followed by a full day of fundraising and events on Wednesday. He ends his swing with a series of private fundraisers with various fundraisers on Thursday.
HAWKES’ (TEMPERATURE) RISE
First District Court of Appeal Judge Paul Hawkes took a legal swing at his accusers this week, calling a Judicial Qualifications Commission report on critical of his performance a legally shoddy hatchet job that should be dismissed.
The motion, filed by attorney Kenneth Sukhia, also says Hawkes plans to ask that the special counsel charged with prosecuting the case be dismissed for omitting critical information from the charges filed last month and for calling Hawkes one of former Gov. Jeb Bush’s “stooges.”
Hawkes has been lampooned for his involvement in the First DCA building, dubbed the “Taj Mahal” for its opulent construction. The judge also faces allegations of destroying public records and behavior unbecoming to the bench.
JOBS, JOBS, JOBS
Gov. Rick Scott spent the week in Canada, meeting with more than 120 company executives in his pursuit of jobs. Promising 700,000 new jobs by the time he ends a second term, Scott praised decisions by Toronto Sky Aviation Inc. and UCC Steelwork Connections Inc. to move some operations to Florida. The news follows an earlier announcement by Canadian security company Garda that it would relocate its U.S. Headquarters from California to Boca Raton. In all. the companies will bring 210 jobs to Florida.
“With three jobs announcements in one week, Florida is clearly on the right path,” Scott said in a statement Friday.
During his weeklong sojourn in the summer nesting ground of the Florida Snowbird, Scott did not take credit for an unrelated announcement from the Dave & Buster’s restaurant chain that it would hire 300 people for its new Orlando location. Regardless, we added it to this week’s tally.
STORY OF THE WEEK: Florida, the lead litigant in a lawsuit filed by 26 states, took its fight against a federal health insurance mandate to the 11th Circuit Court of Appeal, a stop in a journey likely to end in the U.S. Supreme Court.
QUOTE OF THE WEEK: “With three jobs announcements in one week, Florida is clearly on the right path,” Gov. Rick Scott in a statement announcing the creation of 210 jobs in Florida.
By Michael Peltier
The News Service of Florida
Robert A. Miller
June 12, 2011
Robert A. Miller, 79, of Cantonment, passed away on June 8, 2011.
Mr. Miller has been a resident of the Cantonment area for the past 40 years. He was a graduate of Auburn University and was a mechanical engineer with industrial construction companies for 44 years.
He is preceded in death by his son, Robert Christopher Miller.
Survivors include his wife of 54 years, Patricia Miller; two daughters, Melanie M. Money and Melissa K. Miller; eight grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
Trahan Family Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. A graveside service will be held in Red Level, AL at a later date.
Scores: Tri-County All Stars; 7-8 Little League Molino, Tri-County
June 12, 2011
He is a look at local little league tournament action from Saturday:
Tri-County 7-8 All Stars
Tri-County’s 7-8 year old advanced to the tournament championship game Sunday at John. R. Jones Athletic Park in Pensacola
Tri-County lost their first game to Myrtle Grove Gold 19-12 Saturday morning. They bounce back in the losers’ bracket, beating A&G 18-16. In their third game of the day, Tri-County eliminated NEP Gold from the tournament 26-25.
Tri-County claimed their spot in the championship by eliminating NEP Blue 23-22. Tri-County will get another shot at Myrtle Grove Gold in Sunday’s championship game.
Tri-County, Molino FL Dist 1 Little League
In the 7-8 year old Machine Pitch Baseball Tournament for Florida District 1 Little League at Niceville, Tri-County beat Shalimar 12-8 on Saturday. They will advance to play Defuniak Springs B at 7:30 Monday night. Defuniak B is coming off a 8-7 win over Niceville #2.
In other action, Destin beat Molino Saturday 12-2. Molino will get another shot in the tournament Monday as they face Defuniak Springs A at 6:30 p.m. Defuniak A lost Saturday to Niceville #1 17-5.
Birth: Annabelle Auburn Lynd
June 12, 2011
Sgt. and Mrs. Brian and Kitty Lynd of Fort Stewart Georgia are proud to announce the birth of their daughter, Annabelle Auburn Lynd. Annabelle came into the world on April 24, 2011, at Winn Army Community Hospital in Ft. Stewart Ga. She weighed 6 pounds, 2.3 ounces and was 19 inches long. Her grand parents are the late Al Proffitt and Penny Proffitt of Flomaton and John and Carol Southard of Puyallup, WA. Welcoming her home was her aunt Brandy McCurdy and her favorite cousin Robert McCurdy.
Severe Thunderstorm Warning – North Escambia, Atmore
June 11, 2011
The National Weather Service in Mobile has issued a
* Severe Thunderstorm Warning for…
northwestern Escambia County in northwest Florida…
this includes the city of Atmore…
* until 545 PM CDT
* at 509 PM CDT…National Weather Service Doppler radar indicated a
line of severe thunderstorms capable of producing damaging winds in
excess of 60 mph. These storms were located along a line extending
from 8 miles north of Atmore to Atmore…and moving southwest at 5
mph.
* Severe thunderstorms will be near…
i65 and al 21 through 530 PM CDT…
Atmore…Carney…i65 and CR 1 and Oak Grove around 545 PM CDT…
This includes Interstate 65 between mile markers 50 and 64.
‘Mafia’ Defaces Bratt Park
June 11, 2011
Authorities are searching for the person or persons that defaced the Bratt Community Park with claims about the “mafia”.
Between late Thursday and Friday morning, someone used paint and permanent markers to leave graffiti on 13 picnic tables, the playground equipment, concrete and a covered shelter at the Bratt Community Park on West Highway, near Northview High School.
Much of the graffit references the “ICP”, “Wicked Clowns”, “Juggalos” and “Hatchet Man Mafia” — all references to the music and personas of Insane Clown Posse, a hardcore hip hop duo known for their supernatural and horror-themed graphic lyrics.
“The hatchet man mafia rules you and the park,” a paragraph of profanity-laced graffiti reads on a children’s slide.
The graffiti at North Escambia’s newest park, which was completed last fall, is full of profanity on the picnic tables and children’s playground. It also contains references to several names and even phone numbers — giving the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office several leads on the culprits.
Authorities said the person or persons responsible for defacing the park could face felony charges due to the dollar amount of damage.
Anyone with information on the crime is asked to call the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office at (850) 436-9620 or Gulf Coast Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Cantonment Teen Arrested In Shooting Death Of West Florida High Student
June 11, 2011
A Cantonment teen has been arrested for the February shooting death of a West Florida High School student also from Cantonment.
Friday, Escambia County Sheriff’s Office investigators arrested 16-year-old Nicolas Anthoni Diaz and charged him with manslaughter in the shooting death of Ryan Edward Flaherty, 17.
Flaherty had been at a Pensacola home with several friends on February 27 when Diaz shot him in the head with a handgun, the Sheriff’s Office said Friday. He later died at a Pensacola hospital.
“After a lengthy and very thorough investigation by both our investigators and the State Attorney’s Office, it was determined that this was an appropriate charge in this case,” said sheriff’s spokesman Deputy Chris Welborn.
Investigators believe Diaz was under the influence of alcohol when he began to handle a handgun found in the house. The gun discharged as Diaz pointed it at Flaherty; the bullet struck Flaherty in the head.
Diaz is being held by the Florida Department of Youth Services. He has not yet been charged as an adult.
Flaherty was a student at West Florida Tech High School Multi-Media Academy and a member of the varsity soccer team.
Friday Night Mobile Home Fire Was Arson
June 11, 2011
The search is on for an arsonist after a Friday night mobile home fire in Century.
Area fire departments responded to the blaze at an abandoned mobile home on Hilltop Road, just west of North Century Boulevard. When they arrived, they found a small fire in a bedroom of the double-wide mobile home. The fire was quickly put out using just a fire extinguisher; damage to the home was minimal.
Authorities said the fire was intentionally set near a broken bedroom window. They also discovered that items and copper wiring had been removed from the home, but it was not clear when the items were removed.
The blaze is under investigation by the Florida State Fire Marshal’s Office and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.