Boy Scouts Prep 1,000 Pine Seedlings
January 17, 2010
An area Boy Scout troop spent a rainy Saturday at the Florida Division of Forestry in Molino preparing about 1,000 pine tree seedlings for donation or planting. The members of Troop 608 planted some of the trees on Molino property. Most will be planted at an Arbor Day observance Tuesday at Benny Russell Elementary in Milton, and others will be planted in various locations in Escambia County. The Scouts were joined by State Rep. Dave Murzin who organized the event. Submitted photos by Russell Merrill for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Photos: One Last Look At Our Winter Weather
January 14, 2010
Our two weeks of winter weather, some of which was the coldest in 25 years, provided the opportunity for lots of icy photos around North Escambia. We’ve gathered some of the best in a photo gallery to enjoy one last time, and we’ve included some new ones too.
Click here for a winter weather gallery.
Many thanks to all of our NorthEscambia.com readers that submitted photos over the past couple of weeks. Remember, when you see something you’d like to share, email your photos to news@northescambia.com.
Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Call Him Mr. Personality: Update On Orphaned Donkey
January 13, 2010
The donkey orphaned when his mother was shot by a Cantonment teen back in May continues to do well.
Kyle Mason Driver started an 11 month, 15 day sentence last week for shooting the mother donkey. [Read more...]
Panhandle Equine Rescue volunteer Lindley Paxton Barden took over for JB’s mom, keeping the days-old donkey inside her house, sleeping next to him and caring for him round the clock.
Now Barden has officially adopted JB, and changed his name to Burrito — Spanish for little burro. She provided this update:
Burrito is now eight months old. And although he remains small in stature, he is HUGE in personality! He is in all ways a donkey, as stubborn as they come. The cold weather has really brought out the prankster in him; he will cock his head and look me in the eye, even as he tries to bite a chunk out of my coat sleeve.
He loves breaking the ice in the water buckets, but also enjoys terrorizing his mother! To make (or should I say help) him behave, you have to make him think that acting good is HIS idea . He has taught me more about being wily, yet patient, than any animal I have ever known.
He still lives in the stall-and-paddock area with his bunk-mates, the Cow Boys, but a change for him is coming. I am now double-fencing four acres, to be inhabited by Burrito, Bobbie and Charlie Brown, and the two hogs and three dwarf goats (also PER rescues). The gang will still sleep in their stalls at night, but during the day Burrito will have some new friends and lots more room to run and play!
Pictured top: Burrito the donkey. Pictured inset: Burrito smiles for his appearance on NorthEscambia.com. Pictured bottom. Burrito and Charlie Brown. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Fill A Bowl For Manna
January 13, 2010
Fill a Bowl for Manna will be held Saturday to benefit the local food bank that serves clients across the area from locations that include Century and Jay.
The public is invited to select a bowl to fill with soups prepared by some of Pensacola’s most popular eateries. In addition, you can enjoy a silent auction of larger ceramic bowls and entertaining music.
Proceeds from the sale of the bowls as well as silent auction items benefit Manna directly. While filling a bowl with sumptuous soup, you will be helping Manna fill the empty bowls of more than 30,000 people in Northwest Florida.
The more than 500 unique bowls for the event were donated by faculty and students from PJC’s Arts Department and the public who attended the companion “Throw a Bowl for Manna” event co-hosted by PJC on November 13th.
Soups for the evening will be prepared by Apple Market, Bagelheads, Classic City Catering, Dharma Blue, Fish House, Global Grill, Gus at Skopelo’s, Jackson’s, Jerry’s Cajun Cafe, Portabello Market, Scenic Hills Country Club and Seville Quarter.
Fill a Bowl for Manna will take place this Saturday, January 16 at Manna’s main pantry located at 116 E. Gonzalez Street in Pensacola from 1-3PM. Admission of $25 entitles guests to a ceramic bowl keepsake filled with soups by local eateries. Reservations are requested, but walk ins are welcome.
Manna is a non-profit organization that has been fighting hunger in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties since 1983 from pantries in Pensacola, Ensley, Century, Jay, Molino and Milton.
For more information, call (850) 432-2053.
Pictured top: Selecting a handmade bowl at a previous “Fill a Bowl for Manna” event. Pictured inset: One of about 500 unique bowls donated by faculty and students from PJC’s Arts Department and the public who attended the companion “Throw a Bowl for Manna” event co-hosted by PJC. The bowls will be used Saturday night during the “Fill a Bowl” event to benefit Manna. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
More Winter Photos: Ice In A Pear Tree; Really Cold Ride
January 12, 2010
Our readers continue to have photo fun with our cold weather and sprinklers. Today’s photos feature a frozen bicycle and a frozen pear tree on Tumbling Lane outside Atmore. Submitted photos by Virginia Johns for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Do you have winter photos to share? Email them news@northescambia.com
Way Cool! Homemade Ice Slide
January 11, 2010
Lots of NorthEscambia.com readers have emailed us photos of their ice creations over the past several days. But we’ve got to admit, this ice slide in Molino looks like the most fun! The Woodfin family in Molino created this homemade ice slide in their backyard for Hadley, Sarah and Carley to enjoy. Submitted photos by R. Woodfin for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Do you have winter weather photos to share? Email them news@northescambia.com
Photos: Icy Wonderlands
January 11, 2010
NorthEscambia.com readers continue to send us photos of their ice creations, taking advantage of sprinklers and sub-freezing temperatures to have a little frigid Florida run. Pictured above Rachel, Zachary, Austin and Cody in front of an icy scene in Cantonment (submitted by Esta Silvia). Pictured left and below: Lon and Alice Malone created a winter wonderland in their yard on Highway 168 in Byrneville (submitted by Terry Emmons). Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
For more photos from the Malones in Byrneville, click here.
Do you have winter weather photos to share? Email them news@northescambia.com
Hope For Olivia
January 10, 2010
This week brought good news for the Bush family and their simple Christmas wish — a cure for Olivia.
We first introduced you to Olivia back in early December. Olivia Bush, 6, is blind, able to see only a little light with her left eye. She has a shunt to drain fluid off of her brain, and has frequent seizures.
Just before Christmas, Olivia and her family traveled to Miami Children’s Hospital hoping to find a cure for her seizures. While in Miami, Olivia was monitored by a 35-lead EEG and a video camera with doctors hoping to capture data from a seizure. On the Tuesday night before Christmas, she had a seizure that was captured on the EEG and video, according to her father Tad Bush.
That information has allowed doctors to schedule surgery for Olivia in early February, news the Bush family learned just this week.
“I am so excited about this! I am so happy that if all goes well, Olivia could finally be seizure free! Maybe no more meds? Praise the Lord!” said Olivia’s mom Amber Bush.
A scan of Olivia’s brain is pictured, and Amber Bush offers this explanation:
“The black on the pic is dead, useless brain. It does nothing, has no electrical activity….nada…just there taking up space. So, basically, Olivia has half of a brain. How amazing is that! She is such a miracle. The docs told us that if an adults brain looked like that, they would be a vegetable! Wow, isn’t God good! Her brain has reassigned all of that dead part to other parts of her brain. That is why they aren’t for sure what the part of her brain where the seizures are coming from controls. The more I look at it the more I see God in Olivia!”
NorthEscambia.com will continue to follow Olivia’s hope for a miracle. We first introduced our readers to Olivia back in early December. That story is below.
Olivia Bush’s story started July 22, 2003, almost four months before there should have been a first chapter in her life. Born at just 22 weeks, she weighed only one pound six ounces. She stayed in the NICU three and half months, defying doctors and coming home two weeks before her due date. Olivia is the second youngest baby to ever survive at Sacred Heart Hospital.
The current-day chapter Olivia’s story is perhaps best told by her mother, Amber Bush:
“Olivia is now 6 years old. She is blind and can only see light with her left eye. She has a shunt to drain fluid off of her brain, and has frequent seizures.
“Our little miracle girl started first grade this year and loves to go to school. She is spoiled rotten by everyone she meets and has her daddy wrapped around her little finger. She loves to rock and spin and everything needs to be fast. Roller coasters, throw up rides, and bumps are her friends. Olivia doesn’t meet a stranger. She has the greatest smile and laugh and always brightens our day. She is such an inspiration to everyone she meets, and she has come such a long way. Her favorite song is the BIBLE and she tells everyone to sing it to her.
“After enduring the NICU, she came home on oxygen and a heart monitor, and doctor after doctor. Then started the therapy. She is still in physical, occupational, speech, vision, and mobility therapy.”
Now, Olivia is heading to Miami Children’s Hospital. She will see the same doctor that cured the seizures of her cousin, Northview High student Nathan Therrell. NorthEscambia.com introduced our readers to Nate in November of 2008 when he was on the sidelines as Northview’s waterboy. After undergoing surgery at Miami Children’s Hospital, Nathan played in Northview’s Garnet and Gold Game in May of 2009, void of seizures. (Read about Nathan here.)
Olivia will be in Miami Children’s Hospital December 14-16 for a battery of tests that her parents hope will end with a successful treatment plan. It’s their Christmas wish.
“Pray for guidance in this matter and that the seizures will subside,” mom Amber said. “Please pray for Olivia. She has come such a long way, and we are so thankful. God has truly blessed us with a living angel and we are very grateful.”
A successful benefit car wash for Olivia Bush was held in Century on Saturday, December 5.
Pictured top: Olivia Bush with a therapy dog at Miami Children’s Hospital. Pictured top insets: Olivia at the children’s hospital. Pictured top inset: Olivia was just one pound six ounces when she was born at 22 weeks. Pictured bottom inset: Olivia Bush at six-years old. Pictured below: Tad, Olivia, Simon and Amber Bush.Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Byrneville Elementary Presents Delayed Christmas Program
January 10, 2010
Byrneville Elementary School third through fifth graders performed their “Santa’s Holiday Playlist” Christmas program Saturday night — a program that was delayed in mid-December due to flooding in the area.
Christmas spirit filled the air at Northview High School’s theater Saturday night as the children performed as snowflakes, reindeer, toy soldiers, elves, Mrs. Claus and Santa Claus under the direction of music teacher Elaine Holk. The program featured a variety of Christmas music, singing solos and all of the children playing their recorders.
For a photo gallery from the play and backstage preparations, click here.
Pictured above and below: Byrneville Elementary School’s 3rd-5th grade performed their Christmas play Saturday night at Northview High School. Photos by Angi Baker for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Article contributed by Angi Baker for NorthEscambia.com
Winter Weather Photos
January 10, 2010
Our super cold weather is continuing in North Escambia, providing some unique icy photograph opportunities. Deni Deron of Molino sent a photo of a sweetgum tree after a sprinkler was left on in the tree all night. And Deeann Lee in Cantonment emailed us photos of a frozen fountain.
For more photos, including a really cold bird feeder in a picture from Deni Deron, click here.
Do you have cold weather photos you would like to share? Email them to news@northescambia.com
Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.