Have A ‘Fresh From Florida’ Thanksgiving (With Recipes)
November 24, 2015
Fresh From Florida recipes can be incorporated into holiday traditions. These recipes feature delicious products grown and harvested in Florida. Look for the products with the “Fresh From Florida” label at your local grocery store.
“For an authentic Florida Thanksgiving, enjoy Florida’s agricultural bounty and incorporate ‘Fresh From Florida’ products into your meal,” said Commissioner of Agriculture Adam H. Putnam. “This time of year, you can find cucumber, squash, tomatoes and many more products grown and harvested right here in Florida, just look for the ‘Fresh From Florida’ label when shopping.”
Stuffed Florida Zucchini and Yellow Squash Parmesan
Florida Snap Beans with Caramelized Onions and Mushrooms
Pan-Roasted Florida Vegetables
Florida Snap Bean and Sweet Pepper Sauté
Florida Squash and Tomato Gratin
From The Farm To The City: A Thanksgiving Bounty For The Needy (With Gallery)
November 24, 2015
About 200 students from schools in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties worked in fields near Jay Monday to harvest collards and bag sweet potatoes that will feed hundreds of needy families later this week for Thanksgiving.
The event at the University of Florida’s West Florida Research and Education Center was part of Farm-City Week, bringing the bounty of the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences farm to the needy of the city.
The FFA students from Northview High School, Tate High School, Jay High School, Central School, Beulah Academy, West Florida High and Ernest Ward Middle School harvested hundreds of bundles each of collard and turnip greens and sorted over a ton of donated sweet potatoes.
The greens were harvested in assembly line fashion — one student picking the greens, another bundling them with a rubber band and passed student to student to a waiting transport vehicle. Then teams of students worked to wash the greens. The students also bagged freshly ground corn meal and grits.
Along the way, the students learned not only about teamwork, but also about the farming process at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences farm.
The greens, sweet potatoes and other food items will be delivered Tuesday with the help of more students to about 700 families that were pre-qualified based upon need at the Waterfront Rescue Mission in Pensacola and the Guy Thompson Community Center in Milton.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Nice Fall Weather Continues
November 24, 2015
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 62. East wind around 5 mph.
Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 44. East wind 5 to 10 mph.
Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 68. East wind around 10 mph.
Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 53. East wind around 10 mph.
Thanksgiving Day: Mostly sunny, with a high near 72. East wind around 10 mph.
Thursday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 57. East wind 5 to 10 mph.
Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 72. East wind around 5 mph.
Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 57. East wind around 5 mph.
Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 73.
Saturday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 56.
Sunday: A 20 percent chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 68.
Sunday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 56.
Monday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 67.
Sonya Faye Howard
November 24, 2015
Mr. Sonya Faye Howard, 49, passed away on Friday, November 20, 2015, in Atmore.
Mrs. Howard was a native and lifelong resident of Atmore. Mrs. Howard was of the Baptist faith. She is preceded in death by her mother, Bonnie Faye Rolin; uncle, Julius Raybon; and husband, Thomas Eugene Howard.
Survivors include her father, Hubert Rolin of Atmore; husband, David McGhee of Atmore; two sons, Dustin O’Neal Raybon of Atmore and Thomas “Little Thomas” Howard of Tibbie, AL; two step-sons, David Adam McGhee of Ft. Walton and Cameron Allen McGhee of Texas; two step-daughters, Brooke McGhee of Daphne and Anne-Lisa McGhee of Daphne; four brothers, Hubert Rolin, Jr. of Atmore, Keith Rolin of Bay Minette, Timmy Rolin of Atmore, Michael Rolin of Uriah, Adam Bailey of Daphne and Shane Bailey of Daphne; two sisters, Taffy Rolin of Atmore, Anita McGhee Tuel of South Carolina and Christy Bailey of Goodway, AL; and seven step-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be Wednesday, November 25, 2015, at 2 p.m. at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home with Sis. Helen Stewart officiating.
Burial will follow at the Sardis Cemetery.
Pallbearers will be Buzzy Rolin, Clint Lassiter, Bryan Couch, Mark Johnson, Little Randy Fretwell and Walter Lee Rolin.
Honorary pallbearers will be Adam Bailey, Rusty Bailey, Tinker Rolin, Radio Rolin, Hawkeye Godwin and John Calvin McGhee.
Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Homes is in charge of all arrangements.
John Arthur McGhee
November 24, 2015
John Arthur McGhee, 76 of Atmore, passed away Monday, November 23, 2015, in Atmore. He was a fabricator with Goodyear Tires and Rubber Factory. He was born in Atmore on June 21, 1939, to the late Doris and Lunia Mae Presley McGhee. He was a member of The Poarch Band of Creek Indians whom he cared deeply for, where he served on the Tribal Council for 22 years. He was known as the “Corn Man”, where he roasted corn for many years at the Pow Wow. He was employed at Best Western for over 20 years, and was an avid Alabama fan.
He is preceded in death by his parents; a brother, Cliffton McGhee; sisters, Francis Robbins and Hattie Mae McGhee.
He is survived by his wife, Bernice Tripp McGhee of Atmore; four daughters, Brenda (Michael) Johnson of Douglasville, GA, Sherry (Kenneth) Howell of Helena, GA, Kim (Jimmy) Dean, and Sheila McGhee all of Atmore; three sisters, Marie (Otha) Martin, Juliann Stacey and Maxine Johnson all of Atmore; eight grandchildren, Olviia, Jon, Robert, Miranda, James, Mason, Nicholas, Maggie and Sophia.
Services will be Wednesday, November 25, 2015, at 2 p.m. from the Poarch Community Church with Bro. Lamar Martin officiating.
Interment will follow in Judson Cemetery.
Active pallbearers will be James Dean, Jon Robert Dean, Nathan Martin, Nicholas Howell and Mason Dean.
Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home is in charge of all arrangements.
Dorothy B. Meacham
November 24, 2015
Dorothy B. Meacham of Pensacola, went to be with the Lord on November 24, 2015. She was born November 16, 1921, in Denver, Colorado to Jesse and Florence Bowles.
Dorothy was preceded in death by her husband of 49 years, Clyde E. Meacham, (1994); and her sister, Mary Louise Norberg (2002).
She is survived by her three children, Ruth Meacham, Ralph (Vera) Meacham, and Marilyn (Bill) Brady; three granddaughters, Rebecca (Brent) Hale, Cyndi (Wayne) Burkett, and Karen (Carl) Lepard; and five great-grandchildren, Caleb and Kiersten Burkett, William Hale, and Todd and Katelynn Lepard.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, December 1, 2015, at Faith Chapel Funeral Home North with Bro. Brian Donovan of Bible Baptist Church officiating the service.
Interment will follow in Cottage Hill Community Cemetery.
The family will receive friends at 10 a.m. prior to services.
“Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
Faith Chapel Funeral Home North is in charge of the arrangements.
Minor Injuries In Train, Pickup Collision At Quintette Crossing
November 23, 2015
A Cantonment man received minor injuries after a train-pickup collision in Cantonment Monday afternoon.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, 65-year old Roy Moore was westbound about 2:30 p.m. at a crossing on Quinette Road just east of Highway 95A. He told state troopers he failed to see the flashing red lights on the railroad crossing signal due to a glare from the sun. Moore drove his 2000 Ford F150 through the crossing arm and directly into the path of an upcoming train. The front of the pickup collided with the ride side of the front car of the train.
Moore was transported by Escambia County EMS to West Florida Hospital with minor injuries. He was cited by the FHP for careless driving.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Price, click to enlarge.
Gulf Power Seeks Approval For Voluntary Solar Program With Yearly Fee
November 23, 2015
Gulf Power is seeking approval from state regulators for a pilot program that would involve customers voluntarily paying extra fees for solar-generated electricity rather than installing expensive rooftop solar panels.
The proposal, filed last week with the Florida Public Service Commission, would lead to customers paying $89 or $99 annual “subscription” fees to cover the costs of solar facilities. Customers would then receive credits of $2 to $2.50 per month on their electricity bills that would partially offset the fees. The credits would reflect that the use of solar energy would reduce the amount of electricity that Gulf would have to generate or buy elsewhere, according to the filing.
The local utility said it would need 2,880 subscriptions to cover the costs of the program. Once approved, the 1-megawatt community solar photovoltaic facility will be built near Milton, Florida.
“This is a customer opportunity to engage in solar participation,” the filing said. “The proposed program is strictly voluntary and is designed for Gulf Power customers who are either unable or do not desire to install solar generation systems on their residences or businesses. For many customers, ownership and operation of a solar generation system is either not feasible or is not desirable.”
The annual fee would be $99 but would be lowered to $89 for customers who agree to participate for five years.
“This is a limited program and we expect it to fill up fast,” said Rick DelaHaya, Gulf Power spokesperson. “We’re excited to bring more renewables to Northwest Florida and give customers a new option to participate in solar without having to install a costly system on their roof.”
If approved, this is the fourth solar project Gulf Power has initiated in Northwest Florida. In April, the Florida Public Service Commission approved the construction of three large-scale solar energy farms. Partnering with the U.S. Navy and U.S. Air Force, the solar farms will be constructed at Eglin Air Force Base, NAS Whiting Field, and NAS Saufley Field. When complete, the facilities could produce enough energy to power approximately 18,000 homes for one year.
The News Service of Florida contributed to this report.
Downed Line Cuts Power For 300 Customers In Molino, Sparks Brush Fire
November 23, 2015
About 330 Gulf Power customers in the Molino area lost power Sunday night due to a downed power line on Highway 196 near Schifko Road.
The downed line sparked a roadside brush fire that was extinguished by the Molino Station of Escambia Fire Rescue.
Most of those that lost power — located along and near Chestnut and Chance roads — had their power restored by 10:20 p.m. The restoration for about 30 customers along Highway 196 took until about 11 p.m. as the downed line was repaired.
Pictured top: Firefighters extinguish a brush fire on Highway 196 in Molino Sunday night caused by a downed power line. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge. Pictured below.: This map from Gulf Power shows the area of a power outage Sunday night in Molino.
Barrineau Park 4-H Club Wins State Community Pride Grant
November 23, 2015
The Florida 4-H Foundation has awarded a statewide 4-H Community Pride Grant to the Barrineau Park 4-H Club. The grant focuses on youth exploring the needs of their community and encouraging them to improve the quality of life of those around them.
The Barrineau Park 4-H proposal addresses needs of hunger, mentorship, and agricultural education in our community. With funds given through the grant, the club will purchase a hog, and the supplies for its care, to be raised by an urban youth in conjunction with a 4-H youth seasoned in animal science projects. These youth will work together to monitor the health and nutrition of the hog through a 100 day project that ends with the GCA & NRYO Spring Livestock Show.
During the 100 days, the youth will hope to obtain a buyer, or group of buyers, that will sponsor the project’s final component, having the hog processed and the meat donated to local food distribution venues that serve those in need in the community. The meat will be given to families with a collection of other food items and recipes for preparing meals with their pork products. With these items will also be included information about local agriculture and the benefits of purchasing meat products that have been raised locally. The club hopes that the success of this project will allow for sponsorship of multiple hogs to be raised by mentoring teams for the livestock show in coming years.
NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.