Scott Wants $100 Million To Promote Florida For 100 Million Visitors
January 13, 2014
Gov. Rick Scott will seek $100 million to help bring 100 million visitors a year to the Sunshine State.
Scott announced Friday that he intends to ask the Legislature for the record amount of funding for Visit Florida, the state’s tourism-promotion arm, in the 2014 budget.
Legislative budget leaders are taking a cautious approach to the proposal.
The proposal is a jump of $25 million from what Scott sought last year and more than $35 million above what the Legislature eventually gave the agency for the current 2013-14 budget year.
The boost in funding would allow Visit Florida to expand its seasonal, city-specific targeted advertising to a year-round national campaign and would allow it to further target areas such as the United Kingdom and Brazil that already send large numbers of tourists to Florida.
During a morning appearance on an Orlando television station, Scott said marketing is “how we grow our economy.”
“All we have to do now is basically call up north and ask what the temperature is,” Scott said. “Other times, the more you put yourself in front of people, talk about our beaches, our weather, our attractions, our parks … so we just market ourselves more. We can get a lot more tourists in our state.”
And, of course, Scott said that with more tourists would come the creation of more jobs.
The funding request will be included in his annual budget request, which will be sent to the Legislature before the 2014 session starts in March.
Scott’s office released a series of supportive quotes from lawmakers, including Sen. Andy Gardiner, R-Orlando, and Rep. Ed Hooper, R-Clearwater, who will help oversee the economic-development budget process in their respective chambers. However, that doesn’t mean the funding request will have an easy journey through the Legislature.
Sen. Joe Negron, a Stuart Republican who heads the powerful Appropriations Committee, called the proposal “bold” and said the Senate will give it great consideration. But he added that lawmakers will have to determine if the recent funding increases to Visit Florida are why the state has seen tourism numbers increase.
“While tourism has increased, is this a correlation or causation?” Negron said. “That’s something we’ll have to analyze as part of the committee process.”
Rep. Seth McKeel, a Lakeland Republican who chairs the House Appropriations Committee, said in a release that the proposal will be “thoughtfully considered.”
“Tourism is certainly an important industry in our state,” McKeel said. “However, each year during the legislative budget process we must look at all of the state’s priorities and determine how to best allocate our available funds statewide.”
The Legislature approved $63.5 million for Visit Florida during the 2013 session, a $9.5 million increase from the prior year.
Meanwhile, the state is expected to be close to 94 million visitors for 2013, which would easily break the 2012 record of 91.4 million visitors.
Through the first three-quarters of 2013, the state had attracted an estimated 72.5 million tourists.
With the $100 million proposal, Visit Florida President and CEO Will Seccombe said the governor is further challenging Visit Florida and the tourism industry to reach 100 million visitors.
“We’re on pace for a third consecutive record year of tourism,” Seccombe said. “If you’re on that kind of a pace, there are two things you can do: You can sit back and enjoy the ride or you can double down and redouble your efforts to build on that momentum. There is no question that is what the governor has done.”
The state has already started to market itself as a year-round destination rather than just a warm-weather winter playground. Also, while focusing on attracting more people from traditional locales — New York, Boston, Atlanta and Chicago — ads have increased in markets west of the Mississippi and overseas.
The additional money would expand on both domestic and international advertising and include efforts to encourage passenger air carriers to increase international flights to the Sunshine State, Seccombe said.
Of Florida’s 2012 visitors, 13.8 million were international travelers.
The state money is in addition to $110.9 million in private contributions to Visit Florida.
by Jim Turner, The News Service of Florida
Carlton Wayne Roberson
January 13, 2014
Mr. Carlton Wayne Roberson, 70, passed away on Saturday, January 11, 2014, in Atmore.
Mr. Roberson was a native of Nokomis, FL and a life long resident of Nokomis, AL. Mr. Roberson was a member and Deacon of the New Life Baptist Church. His parents, Lloyd and Myrtle Roberson precede him in death.
Survivors include his wife of 51 years, Joyce Roberson of Nokomis, AL; two sons, Wayne Roberson and Ken (Tina) Roberson all of Nokomis, AL; one daughter, Gayle Nall of Perdido; one brother, Carl (Betty) Roberson of Deer Park, TX; two sisters, Joyce Samson of Slidell, LA and Joann (David) Hester of Atmore; five grandchildren, Dustin Nall, Cody Nall, Meagon Roberson, Brett Roberson and Taylor Roberson and one great-grandchild, Coltyn Nall.
Funeral services will be Wednesday, January 15, 2014, at 10 a.m. at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home with Rev. John Montalvo officiating.
Burial will follow at the Antioch Cemetery.
Visitation will be Tuesday, January 14, 2014, from 6 p.m. until 9 p.m. at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home.
Pallbearers will be Ronnie Richardson, Arnold Thomaston, Brian Aaron, Wilson Palmer, Bill Paulson and Chris Gibbs.
Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Homes is in charge of all arrangements.
Rodney Ronald Gajewski
January 13, 2014
Rodney Ronald Gajewski “Big Daddy”, 47, of Gulf Breeze (Midway) died January 5, 2014 after a short illness. He was a native of Detroit, MI.
During his professional career, he worked as a firefighter for Midway Fire District, South Walton Fire District, Sacred Heart Health System/Air Heart, Atlantic Life Flight, Escambia County EMS, Broward County Fire and presently was a paramedic with Life Guard Ambulance.
He attended Coastline Calvary Chapel Church in Midway.
He was preceded in death by a sister, Cheri Lee Lynch.
Survivors include: his wife, Kelly Gajewski; two sons, Justin Gajewski and Jonathan Provenzono; mother, Claire Gajewski; two sisters, Suzanne (Richard)Walcheck and Sheela Cooper; three step-daughters, Sarah Beargie, Mary Beth Beargie, and Katie Beargie; two step-sons, James Beargie and Michael Beargie; one step-brother, Jay Gajewski; nephews, Brad Jackson, Shawn Tobin, and Brian Ragland; and nieces, Heather Bolin, Jennifer Ragland, Claire Stark and Hayley Cooper; and extended family.
Trahan Family Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Visitation will be held from 12 noon until funeral service begins at 2:00 p.m., all on Monday, January 13, 2014 at Coastline Calvary Chapel Church in Midway. Pastor John Spencer will officiate with full first responder honors.
First responders will serve as active and honorary pallbearers.
Dewey Hollingsworth
January 13, 2014
Mr. Dewey Hollingsworth, 82, passed away on Saturday, January 11, 2014, in Atmore.
Mr. Hollingsworth was a native of Nokomis, FL and a life long resident of Nokomis, AL. Mr. Hollingsworth attended the Nokomis Baptist Church. Mr. Hollingsworth received over 20 awards including Highest Distinguished Dairyman of America, Florida Department of Agriculture for quality milk production and Master Dairyman of Alabama.
He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Joyce Hall Hollingsworth of Nokomis, AL; one daughter, Sharon Hollingsworth (Ronnie) Rose of Nokomis, AL; three brothers, Martin (Winfred) Hollingsworth of Bratt, Winston (Marie) Hollingsworth of Huntsville, AL and Marvin (Nettie) Hollingsworth of Atmore; three sisters, Dorothy (Arthur Ray) McKenzie of Nokomis, AL, Melba (Donnie) Cook of Nokomis, FL and Donna (James) Godwin of Huntsville; four grandchildren, Jason Williams, Julie Williams (Robby) Cale, Amanda Rose (Robby) Mills and Jessica Rose (Chad) Morgan and nine great-great children, Savannah Cale, Noah Cale, Blake Cale, Haleigh Cale, Ashleigh Cale, BreAnna Rose, Cameron Rose, Cheyene Rose and Jewel Rose.
Funeral services will be Tuesday, January 14, 2014, at 3 p.m. at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home with Rev. James Hill and Rev. Randy Hollingsworth officiating.
Burial will follow at the Nokomis Baptist Cemetery.
Pallbearers will be Norville Miller, Daryl Miller, Russell Hollingsworth, Randy Hollingsworth, Wayne Hubbard and Frank Williams.
Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Homes is in charge of all arrangements.
It’s Celebrate Literacy Week At Area Elementary Schools
January 13, 2014
It’s “Celebrate Literacy Week, Florida!”, and North Escambia elementary schools will celebrate a variety of activities this week.
The goal of the week is to promote literacy by raising awareness of programs and projects offered by the Florida Department of Education and partner groups, and to promote the enjoyment of reading for adults and children of all ages.
The following events are planned at North Escambia elementary schools this week:
- Bratt Elementary — An AR test, “Reading Rocks” with funny socks, student designed bookmarks, wear a hat and wear favorite team gear.
- Byrneville Elementary — Teacher swap day, buddy reading, community guest readers, family literacy night and vocabulary day.
- Molino Park Elementary — Used book sale, human bookwork, camo day, buddy read, guest readers, poster contest.
- Jim Allen Elementary — Guest readers, buddy readers and author studies.
- Lipscomb Elementary — guest readers, buddy reading, teacher swap, door contest.
- McArthur Elementary – 20 minutes reading period, awesome author’s day, cold hard facts day, fantastic fiction and pajama and poetry day.
- Pine Meadow Elementary — door decorating, buddy reading, sunglasses, pajama day to cuddle up and read.
Pictured top: Jacke Johnston’s fifth grade class at Byrneville Elementary School celebrated literacy with a guest reader last January. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
County Set To Approve $1.65 Million Construction Of New 4-H Facility
January 12, 2014
Escambia County is set to award a construction contract for a new Escambia County 4-H Center located at the Escambia County Extension Office on Stefani Road.
The total cost for the facility will be $1.65 million. The contract, if approved at a January 16 Escambia County Commission meeting, will be awarded to A.E. New, Jr., Inc. The company was the lowest of 12 companies that bid on the facility.
In 2012, the children and teens on the 4-H County Council voted to sell their 240 acre Langley Bell 4-H Center to Navy Federal Credit Union. Navy Federal paid $3.6 million for the property next to the credit union’s campus in Beulah, and the Escambia County Commission agreed to construct a new 4-H Center on Stefani Road with $1.5 million in local option sales tax (LOST) funds.
The new facility, as designed by Hernandez Calhoun Design International using input from 4-H leadership, has a final price tag $165,000 higher than originally planned. That amount was originally set to be covered by the 4-H Foundation, but the county will use additional LOST funds to pick up the difference.
The new 4-H Center will be a single story building just under 10,000 square feet that will include a multi-purpose room/auditorium with stage, kitchen, offices, reception area, life skills room, science room with wet lab, volunteer room with technology lab, county council,club meeting room and storage.
The 4-H Center and funds to build it are separate from the $3.6 million the 4-H Foundation received from their land sale and any additional facility or land the foundation may purchase.
Pictured top: The Langley Bell 4-H Center was sold to Navy Federal Credit Union for $3.6 million. Pictured below: A new 4-H Center will be constructed adjacent to the Escambia County Extension Office on Stefani Road. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Rainy Monday
January 12, 2014
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
- Monday: A chance of showers and thunderstorms, then showers and possibly a thunderstorm after noon. High near 64. Southeast wind around 5 mph becoming northeast in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 90%.
- Monday Night: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm before midnight, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 43. Northwest wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
- Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 63. Northwest wind 5 to 10 mph.
- Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 36. West wind 5 to 10 mph.
- Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 49. Northwest wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
- Wednesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 26. Northwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm after midnight.
- Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 55. Light southwest wind increasing to 5 to 10 mph in the morning.
- Thursday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 34. South wind 5 to 10 mph becoming west after midnight.
- Friday: Sunny, with a high near 58.
- Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 28.
- Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 56.
- Saturday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 32.
- Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 62.
Scott Looks To Calm Nerves Over Common Core
January 12, 2014
Looking to calm a rising furor in the grass roots of his party, Gov. Rick Scott said Saturday that a state set of revisions to nationwide education standards will be unveiled next week.
One day after a caucus of the Republican Party of Florida’s state committeemen and committeewomen backed a resolution opposing the Common Core standards, Scott also said he would support legislation specifying that curriculum is a local responsibility and limiting what information can be gathered about students.
Education Commissioner Pam Stewart said earlier this week that her department would propose about 40 changes to the voluminous education benchmarks. Scott’s remarks Saturday, to the annual meeting of the state GOP, signaled that he hopes the changes will soothe conservative fears about the standards.
“Here’s what we’re going to ensure: These are Florida standards,” he said. “They’re not some national standards; they’re going to be Florida standards. This is our state. We’re not going to have the federal government telling us how to do our education system.”
The overwhelming majority of the changes Stewart is set to propose would add material to the state’s version of the standards, officials say.
Common Core started out as a joint project by officials in about four dozen states, but some conservatives have grown worried that the standards will instead lead to unprecedented federal intrusion in local schools. The opposition to the guidelines has opened a rift on the right between those arguing against the benchmarks and members of the school accountability movement, like former Republican Gov. Jeb Bush, who backs the standards.
On Saturday, Scott spoke about legislative proposals only in vague terms. He did not stop to answer questions despite shouted requests from reporters who jogged toward him as he left the Rosen Centre Hotel.
But any measure spelling out the role of local school boards in curriculum might affect Common Core only at the margins, if at all. Supporters insist that the new standards only outline what students are expected to learn, while curriculum is still controlled at the local level.
The governor has tried before to get rid of concerns about Common Core, issuing an executive order in September that began distancing the state from a separate multi-state consortium building tests based on the standards. Scott also ordered the review of the benchmarks that led to Stewart’s proposed changes.
Rep. Debbie Mayfield, a Vero Beach Republican who has sponsored anti-Common Core legislation, said after Scott’s remarks Saturday that she was “perfectly happy with the direction the governor’s going in.” But she suggested that simply adding more material to the Common Core standards might not satisfy critics.
Mayfield has filed legislation (HB 25) intended to stop the standards from fully taking effect in Florida.
“If we have our own standards and if we have our own assessment, then what is the purpose of being in Common Core?” she asked Saturday.
Meanwhile, Republican Party Chairman Lenny Curry told the party’s executive board Saturday that he would refer Friday’s Common Core resolution to the RPOF’s legislative affairs committee. The executive board is not expected to vote on the measure.
by Brandon Larrabee, The News Service of Florida
Molino Community Center Heating, Cooling Systems Back In Business
January 12, 2014
The heating and cooling system at the Molino Community Complex was back in working order by 5 p.m. Friday.
Thursday, an Escambia County maintenance employee discovered that all of the heating and cooling system related copper tubing from underneath one side of the building had been stolen. The tubing, valued at $500-$600, was estimated to cost the county about $4,000 for repairs.
About two-thirds of the building — the community center and library — were not impacted by the crime, while the yet to be opened museum area was left without heating or cooling by the theft.
For more details on the theft, click here for an earlier story.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office is continuing their search for a suspect in the case. Anyone with information about the theft is asked to call Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP or the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office at (850) 436-9620.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Atmore Native Serving Up Authentic Air Force BBQ
January 12, 2014
When some people think of barbecue, they may imagine a simple hamburger thrown on a grill slathered in sauce on the Fourth of July. But for others, authentic barbecue is an extensive process that involves imported wood, secret ingredients, exact temperatures and up to 20 hours – all in hopes of perfecting the combined flavors of smoke, meat juices, spices and rub.
For Tech. Sgt. Sheldon Mason, 341st Maintenance Operations Squadron mechanical pneudraulics section assistant NCO in charge, perfecting barbecue is what the Atmore native does best.
“I started cooking when I was really young because my grandmother was a chef,” Mason said. “She didn’t really do barbecue as opposed to other cuisines, but I took to cooking at a young age.”
Mason has always been accustomed to large family gatherings of more than 100 people. But it wasn’t until his teenage years during these get-togethers when he learned “whole hog cooking,” that his love for barbecue took off.
“It’s just one of those things I’ve always wanted to do,” Mason said. “Within the past five years I’ve been able to get all the equipment I need to actually pursue this one day because barbecuing is really where my heart lies.”
Although Mason hails from the south in a place where barbecued pork is the food of choice, his specialty is beef brisket.
“It’s funny because I’m a southern guy and I cook brisket, which is very popular in Texas,” he said. “It’s a little different to cook something that’s not from where you’re from, but I figured once I mastered brisket, which is one of the hardest things to cook, I felt like I could take on anything.”
Today, Mason uses a gravity-fed smoker for low and slow cooking, which can cook up to 200 pounds of meat. Through trial and error, he has perfected his sauces, cooking time and wood type in the past decade.
“Length [to cook] depends on what the meat is and the size,” Mason said. “Ribs can take anywhere from four to six hours and pulled pork and brisket can take upwards of 12 to 16 hours; but each one is temperamental so I just have to go by the feel and the color. It’s not an exact science – it’s something I’ve learned based on experienced.”
Mason says he aims to satisfy the taste buds of all barbecue lovers from various regions in the U.S.
“I try to cater to everyone,” Mason said. “I don’t have one particular style of barbecue but I put my own spin on it to try to hit all the regions. From the east coast, to the west coast, to the Carolinas and Kansas City, every region has a different flavor of barbecue sauce and specialty meat.”
As an NCO who’s spent 14 years at Montana’s Malmstrom Air Force Base in various maintenance sections, Mason is accustomed to working with and supervising Airmen of different backgrounds. Mason’s vision to stay true to regional barbecue calls for importing wood directly from various states.
“The wood infuses different flavors into the meat,” Mason said. “Wood reacts with the different types of rubs and the different meat used. In order to cook true barbecue, I import all of the wood – from California to Georgia to Washington to stay true to that type of barbecue.”
For hopeful or avid lovers of making their own barbecue, Mason has a few suggestions.
“As far as wood, never use pine,” he said. “Fruit woods add a sweet flavor to the meat; whereas woods like hickory and oak infuse strong flavors, so it’s important to be careful. Mixing those with sugars can create a very robust flavor. Some people don’t know that they don’t need as much smoke as they may think they need. Although [the meat] is smoked, it doesn’t need 12 to 15 hours of straight smoke because it’ll darken the meat too much. Depending on the kind of meat – pork, ribs or brisket – it needs just enough smoke to give it that smoked flavor because the heat is what gives it the true smoke flavor.”
Although Mason typically barbecues for 10 to 50 people, he hopes to one days cook for the masses.
“I’ve done squadron functions, going-aways, retirements – I’ve done a little bit of everything,” he said. “Anyone that requests barbecue usually comes to me. It doesn’t really matter what the occasion is; the more the merrier.”
While Mason intends to pursue barbecuing as a full-time career in the future, his current life as an active-duty Airman continues to be his number one priority.
“I currently plan on retiring at 20 years to pursue this venture, but anything could happen,” Mason said, adding that he plans to open a barbecue place in Great Falls, Montana.
Although creating a business is Mason’s ultimate goal, he finds satisfaction in simply bringing friends, family and Airmen together on the principles he was raised on.
“Honestly, I think food is what brings people together,” he said. “Food, to me, is something everyone can relate to because everyone has to eat. The time it takes to barbecue is something a lot of people don’t understand because it takes such a long time to make this sort of food. It’s a simple food, but it’s not a simple science. Not a lot of people do this because it’s very time consuming and I’m very particular about how I make it. But I really enjoy doing it and that’s why I truly do it; that’s the passion I have.”
Pictured top: Tech. Sgt. Sheldon Mason of Atmore, 341st Maintenance Operations Squadron, pours barbecue sauce on ribs during an office lunch on Montanta’s Malmstrom Air Force Base. Pictured inset: Mason seasons his barbecue ribs. Photos by Senior Airman Katrina Heikkinen for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.