Tate, Northview Band Members Receive Top Ratings At State Event
March 29, 2016
Several local students took part in the Florida Bandmaster Association State Solo and Ensemble MPA this past weekend at Lincoln High School.
Four Tate High School band members were honored at the event:
Jana Burgos – Excellent rating
Tiana Hendricks – Superior rating
Eric Milligan – Superior rating
Nathan Tubbs – Superior rating
Two Northview High School band members also received top ratings:
Brianna Smith – Superior rating, baton solo
David Weber – Superior ratings , snare drum solo and marimba solo
Free Workshop: Learn How To Protect Your Home Against Formosan Termites
March 29, 2016
Formosan termites will soon be swarming, and homeowners can be prepared to protect their homes. A program to help homeowners become educated on Formosan termites and their management is coming to Escambia County.
Annually, Formosan termites cause $1 billion of damage in the United States alone, and the Gulf Coast is a known hot spot for this invasive pest. Join experts from the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and University of Florida IFAS Extension for education on this economically important pest.
Specific topics will include:
- Formosan termite biology including simple ways to ID them.
- Available Formosan termite pest control protection for you home.
- Identifying and fixing the weaknesses in and around your home.
DATE: Monday, April 4, 2016
TIME: 6-7:30 p.m. Check in at 5:45 p.m. and program starts promptly at 6:00 p.m.
LOCATION: Tryon Library, 1200 Langley Ave., Pensacola, FL 32504
The program is free, but preregister by calling 850-475-5230 or emailing bbolles@ufl.edu. Space is limited.
Special Olympics Torch Run Travels Through Escambia County
March 29, 2016
The 2016 Law Enforcement Torch Run in support of Florida Special Olympics began in Century Monday morning.
The torch run started at the Florida/Alabama state lineabout 7:30 a.m. Monday. Employees from Century Correctional Institution and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office escorted the torch down Highway 29 to the Century Town Hall.
On the second leg of the journey for the torch, the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, along with the Pensacola Police Department and other law enforcement agencies, carried the torch from the Sheriff’s Office Administration Building on West Leonard Street to Bartram Park in Pensacola.
The Law Enforcement Torch Run is an event to raise awareness and support for the Special Olympics.
Law enforcement officers from over 300 Florida agencies (police departments, sheriff’s offices, Florida Department of Corrections, Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Drug Enforcement Agency, U.S. Customs, Air Force Police and Marine Patrol) all participate in the state-wide torch run to benefit the athletes of Special Olympics Florida. Each year, over 5,000 officers carry the torch on a 1500-mile relay through 66 counties in Florida.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Molino Stories Of ‘The Way We Worked’ Thursday Night
March 29, 2016
The Molino Mid-County Historical Society, along with the West Florida Public Libraries, will host video stories of Molino’s rich work history on Thursday, March 31, at 6 p.m. at the Molino Community Complex (6450 Highway 95-A North). At one time Molino had a lumber mill, canning factory, brick yard and its own phone company. Watch video interviews of longtime Molino residents who recount memories of growing up and working in North Escambia. Several of the interviewees will be present for a question and answer session after the presentation.
“Molino’s Story” is hosted in concurrence with “The Way We Worked,” a Smithsonian Traveling Exhibition, which celebrates the history of our nation’s diverse workers and industries. The exhibit is on display in the Lillian F. King Museum, located in the Molino Community Complex until April 30. Viewing hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekly, closed Sundays, and open during “Molino’s Story” from 6 to 7:30 p.m.
Pictured: The original switchboard for the Molino Telephone Company. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Seahawks Top Northview 1-0 In 10 Innings
March 29, 2016
The Northview Chiefs dropped a heartbreaker at home to the South Walton Seahawks 1-0 in 10 innings Monday.
Alyssa Selvy pitched the win for the Seahawks allowing only two hits and two walks while striking out 24 of 36 batters. McKenna Kimball had the game winning hit for South Walton in the top of the 10th inning with a single up the middle that scored a runner from third who reached on a double to start the inning.
Tori Herrington took the loss for the Chiefs allowing six hits and no walks while striking out 12 of 36 batters. Hitting for the Chiefs were Kendall Enfinger: 1-4 and Lydia Smith: 1-4.
Northview will host Siegel, TN, Tuesday night. The junior varsity will play at 4:00 and varsity at 6:00.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Unemployment Rate Drops In North Escambia; Inches Up In Alabama
March 28, 2016
The latest job numbers released show the employment rate falling by over half a percent in Florida, while inching upwards in Alabama.
Escambia County’s seasonably adjusted unemployment rate fell from 5.5 percent in January to 4.9 percent in February. There were 6,672 people reported unemployed during the period. One year ago, unemployment in Escambia County was 6.0 percent.
Santa Rosa County unemployment decreased from 4.8 percent to 4.4 percent from January to February. Santa Rosa County had a total of 3,140 persons still unemployed. The year-ago unemployment rate in Santa Rosa County was 4.9 percent.
In Escambia County, Alabama, unemployment decreased slightly from 7.4 percent in January to 7.3 percent in February. That represented 1,068 people unemployed in the county during the month. One year ago, the unemployment rate in Escambia County, Alabama, was 7.2 percent.
Florida’s unemployment rate fell to 4.9 percent in February, down from a revised January rate of 5.1 percent. The new mark is the lowest for the state in eight years. The February jobless rate represents 484,000 Floridians being out of work from a labor force of 9.76 million, according to the state Department of Economic Opportunity. In a release, the agency noted that Florida’s job growth, 3 percent over the past year, has exceeded the national rate of 1.9 percent. The state’s unemployment mark, which a year ago was at 5.6 percent, now matches the national figure of 4.9 percent, which hasn’t changed in the past two months.
Alabama’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate, at 6.2 percent in February, was unchanged from January’s rateand was above the year-ago rate of 6.0 percent.
The jobless numbers released by Florida and Alabama do not include persons that have given up on finding a job and are no longer reported as unemployed.
The News Service of Florida contributed to this report.
Clear Tonight, Sunny Tuesday
March 28, 2016
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 50. North wind around 5 mph.
Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 76. Northeast wind around 5 mph.
Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 55. East wind around 5 mph.
Wednesday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after noon. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 75. Southeast wind 5 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Wednesday Night: Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly after midnight. Cloudy, with a low around 65. Southeast wind around 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Thursday: Showers and thunderstorms. High near 76. South wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%.
Thursday Night: Showers and thunderstorms. Low around 64. South wind around 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%.
Friday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 74. Northwest wind around 5 mph.
Friday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 53. North wind around 5 mph.
Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 69.
Saturday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 49.
Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 71.
Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 49.
Monday: Sunny, with a high near 73.
Century Council To Hold Workshop Meeting On Marketing Plan
March 28, 2016
The Century Town Council will a workshop tonight to discuss their marketing plan.
In October, the council decided to pay their consultant to create a request for proposals in order to receive bids to implement the marketing plan, including website maintenance, newsletter production, a recreational guide and formation of a young professional’s group. The town will pay for the services using economic development funds.
Advertisements were published in late December seeking a company to implement the plan, but the council has yet to accept any bid.
The meeting, which is open to the public, will be held in the council chambers at 7 p.m. at the Town Hall, 7995 North Century Boulevard.
NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Escambia Voluntary Pre-K Registration Underway
March 28, 2016
Will a child in your family turn four on or before September 1, 2016? If so, it is time to start the application process for Voluntary Pre-Kindergarten. The first step of the process includes applying for a Certificate of Eligibility (COE) from the State of Florida, and that involves scanning and submitting various documents and then waiting for email confirmation. Confirmation of your eligibility usually takes about a week. Parents will need to print that certificate to have when they then enroll their child in a VPK program.
For those who do not have easy access to a scanner, the internet, a computer and a printer, the Escambia County School District’s Title I VPK staff is standing by, ready to help. And for North Escambia residents, the registration process can also be completed at local schools. At last count, there were 18 Pre-K seats remaining at Molino Park Elementary, 34 seats at Bratt Elementary and Jim Allen Elementary was full.
“The goal of VPK is serve students by providing age appropriate opportunities and learning experiences, which provide a firm foundation for kindergarten readiness,” explains Melanie Perritt, the Coordinator for the Title I Voluntary Pre-Kindergarten Program in Escambia County’s School District. “ECSD has VPK available on 14 of our school campuses, and there are also 57 private providers of VPK in our county. We all believe that a year in VPK is the best gift you could give your future kindergartner, and we want to help you with the application process.”
The Title I office is located at the Spencer Bibbs Center at 2005 N. 6th Avenue in Pensacola, FL, 32503. Their phone number is 850-595-6915, ext. 224 or 277. The staff has computers and scanners and they will be glad to assist with the online eligibility registration process. Should a parent already have access to that equipment, they may go directly to the registration site at http://Familyservices.floridaearlylearning.com and then pick up the directions below at Step Two.
To have a student start VPK in August, when school starts, there are two steps.
Step One: Parents, or guardians, will need to (1) already have, or set up, an email address so the state can respond to their application electronically; (2) they will need to scan and submit the student’s official Birth Certificate, and (3) scan and submit Proof of Residency (ex. their most recent utility/power bill). These scanned documents will be needed to apply online for the child’s Certificate of Eligibility (COE). The State will send the parent an email when the COE is ready. If a parent does not have a printer, the staff at the Title I office is available to help them print the COE. Should eligibility be declined, the Title One VPK staff can also help the parent determine why eligibility was declined, and then assist them in resubmitting, if appropriate.
Step two: After the parent receives and prints the Certificate of Eligibility (COE), he or she must gather:
–The printed COE,
–The child’s birth certificate,
–Their most recent proof of residency (Bring a utility bill less than 60 days old),
AND
–Their child’s immunization record,
–Their child’s school physical form completed by a doctor from an appointment within one year of this year’s school starting day (so the appointment must have been after August 10, 2015).
Once a parent or guardian has all of those documents, the next step is to enroll in a VPK program.
Enrollment in any of the school district’s VPK sites will be handled at the Title I Office in the Spencer Bibbs Center. To make this more convenient for parents living in the northern parts of the county, the ECSD schools located at the north end of the county offering VPK will continue to register/enroll their students at those schools. This includes families whose students will attend VPK at Bratt Elementary, Molino Park Elementary, and Jim Allen Elementary Schools.
“This includes families who may have handled the application process on their own. To enroll in an ECSD school’s VPK, you must come to our office, unless you live the north end of the county,” stated Perritt.
The Title One VPK staff will help families identify which location is the best fit based primarily on the family’s address. Locations have limits on the number of students who can be enrolled there, so parents should not wait until the end of summer to complete this process.
“School based VPK is a full-day program. Students can ride to school on their neighborhood bus, just like older siblings,” said Perritt. “For many families, matching an older sibling’s schedule is most convenient, while for others, finding a private VPK provider close to home or work may be better. We want to help parents find the best location to ensure their child can have a successful VPK experience next year.”
ECSD schools with Title I VPK programs include: Jim Allen Elementary School, Bratt Elementary School, Ensley Elementary School, Global Learning Academy, Lincoln Park Primary School, McMillan Community Learning Center, Molino Park Elementary School, Montclair Elementary School, Navy Point Elementary School, O.J. Semmes Elementary School, Sherwood Elementary School, Warrington Elementary School, C.A. Weis Elementary School, and West Pensacola Elementary School,
Those eligible for a private VPK program can sign up for three, free, hours per day. Families who need their child to stay longer will have to talk with the site’s management to find out the cost involved for the rest of the day. Should it be more convenient for parents, they can also find similar assistance with the application process in the offices of the Escambia County Early Learning Coalition, located at 3300 N. Pace Blvd, Suite 210. Their staff can also provide information about the other 57 VPK providers. Their phone number is 850-607-8556.
The school district partners with Head Start as well as the Early Learning Coalition to provide services for boys and girls. Students enrolling in the Head Start Collaborative classes are eligible for additional wrap around services based on eligibility criteria which require documentation of the earnings of the family for the last twelve months.
“Again, what’s most important is getting 4-year-olds into a pre-kindergarten program to give them a chance to be better prepared for Kindergarten when they are five.” said Perritt. “Whether a parent chooses to place their child in one of our school-based VPK programs or with another provider, for everyone this two-step application process several days. So, please do not wait long to come see us. Parents can call ahead for an appointment or just walk-in. We are ready to start helping parents now.”
Black Bears Showing Robust Growth In Florida
March 28, 2016
Florida has a “robust” and growing bear population, according to the latest state estimate.
But a Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission official said Thursday it remains premature to speculate about whether a bear hunt will be held this year.
The latest Florida black bear estimate puts the overall population at 4,350 adults, of which 4,220 are believed to be in five areas of the state.
“We’re having more bears born and surviving than are dying,” Thomas Eason, the commission’s director of habitat and species conservation, told reporters in a conference call. “For a large carnivore like a black bear, these are pretty substantial growth rates that we’re seeing.”
The overall number — based on surveys conducted before a two-day hunt in October in which more than 300 bears were killed — is up from the estimated 2,640 last year in those five management areas, Eason said.
Eason, noting the latest numbers show the population is “robust” and “growing,” said the agency also estimates that bears are now breeding about 2,000 cubs a year in the state.
The bear population had been as low as 300 to 500 statewide in the 1970s, when bears were put on the state list of threatened species because of a mix of hunting and humans impacting their natural habitat.
Bears were removed from the list in 2012 when a new management plan was approved.
Asked if the increased number would support a recommendation from staff to hold a hunting season later this year, Eason said the agency continues to evaluate the updated population numbers and the results of the 2015 hunt.
“There is no proposal on the table right now, so I can’t tell you what we may or may not do,” Eason said. “I can tell you our researchers, our management staff, we’re all in this because we care deeply about bears and we definitely are going to continue to take conservative approaches on all of our management.”
Last year, a planned week-long hunt was shortened to two days after 304 bears were killed, 16 short of the so-called “harvest objective.” The goal of the hunt was to slow the bear population growth, Eason said.
Conservation groups headed by the Center for Biological Diversity and the Animal Legal Defense Fund have petitioned the federal government to approve an endangered-species protection designation for Florida black bears.
Jacki Lopez, the Center for Biological Diversity’s Florida director, said that while she hadn’t been able to review the new numbers they shouldn’t affect the groups’ petition.
“I don’t see how the new numbers could change the fact that the populations are extremely fragmented and face mounting threats from human population growth which will further isolate them and make them vulnerable to mortality from roads and proximity to urban areas,” Lopez said in an email.
Eason said the hunt was just one measure used to reduce dangerous interactions between bears and humans.
In 2015, lawmakers increased penalties for people who repeatedly are found feeding bears not in captivity. Eason said “roughly” 125 to 150 people were ticketed last year under the new rule.
This year, Florida lawmakers included $500,000 to reduce human-bear conflicts in the state’s new $82 billion budget. The money is to match local dollars in purchasing bear-resistant garbage containers.
The Center for Biological Diversity estimates at least 590 bears were killed in Florida last year, when factoring in the hunt, habitat loss and road kill.
The updated numbers from the commission are based on surveys conducted last year in three of the management areas and in 2014 in two other areas.
The latest numbers from the two-year survey show an estimated 1,080 bears were in the eastern Panhandle region, which includes the northwestern Big Bend area to west of Apalachicola Bay, up 80 percent from 2002.
With 1,150 bears, the South region — Broward, Collier, Hendry, Lee, Miami-Dade, Monroe, and Palm Beach counties — saw a 64 percent growth in the same period.
The bear population has also grown 75 percent since 2002 in the western Panhandle, where 140 bears were estimated. The western Panhandle was not opened to hunting last year.
The state has placed the bear population at 620 in the North region, which goes from Jacksonville west to Hamilton and Suwannee counties, and 1,230 bears in the Central region, which includes the St. Johns River watershed to the Ocala National Forest.
by Jim Turner, The News Service of Florida