Educator’s Group Names North Escambia Students Of The Month
September 28, 2009
The Escambia Association for Administrators in Education have selected their Students of the Month for September.
Students of the Month from North Escambia schools are:
- Bratt Elementary: Franki J. Daw, first grade; Logan D. Calloway, fourth grade.
- Jim Allen Elementary: McKenna L. Smith, fifth grade; Timothy J. Dease, fifth grade.
- Molino Park Elementary: Courtney N. Grim, fifth grade; Ashley G. Sticken, fifth grad
- Northview High School: Georgia A. Goetter, ninth grade; Dustin A. Boutwell, 12th grade.
Editor’s note: The Escambia Association for Administrators in Education did not name Students of the Month from Ernest Ward Middle, Byrneville Elementary or Tate High School. The names of the students are submitted to the educator’s group by the individual schools.
Pictured Northview High School named Georgia Goetter (left) and Dusty Boutwell as Students of the Month for September. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Next Weekend’s Jay Peanut Festival To Draw Thousands, Start Tour
September 27, 2009
The 20th Annual Jay Peanut Festival next weekend will kick-off the sixth annual Beaches to Woodlands Tour of Santa Rosa County into high gear. The month-long self-guided driving tour of Santa Rosa County features more than two dozen events. Geared toward locals and tourists alike, the tour has become an annual Gulf Coast staple.
“Once Fall season starts settling in people get motivated to get out and about,” said Karen Harrell, tour coordinator. “This is a showcase series of events for Santa Rosa County. These events are family-friendly and inexpensive, back-to-basic type of activities.” Along with great activities, Harrell said October is a great time for a weekend vacation with water temperatures still warm enough to swim and area lodging rates for out-of-towners down up to 40 percent from summer’s high season.
The Jay Peanut Festival draws upwards to 70,000 people to the 15-acre Gabbert Farm each year who have a chance to sample all types of peanuts -– boiled, green, fried, candied and more.
Admission is free and all weekend long there will be arts, crafts, antique, new items, games, rides, rock climbing wall, pony and horse rides, wagon rides, train rides, buckboard rides, anvil shoot, and a grist mill. The farm’s popular museum is also open for tours.
While the Jay Peanut Festival is being staged in the north end of Santa Rosa County, the new Navarre Beach Marine Science Station will play host to the sixth annual Coastal Encounters from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at October 3 at the Navarre Beach County Park.
The newest asset to the area, the Navarre Beach Marine Science Station also celebrates its Grand Opening. Budding marine scientists can learn about sharks, water safety, disaster preparedness and other local environmental issues will be included. And there will be opportunities to try kayaking and fishing. Arts and craft activities will include making sea turtle maracas; making a shark tooth necklace, fish painting, sand casting and more. One of the event’s most popular features is the touch tank, which allows kids and adults to handle creatures that are best left alone in the wild.
A new event is the Sweet Season Farms Corn Maze which is open weekends and daylight hours only in Milton through November 3. The maze features a Blue Angels-theme design. Owners Trent and Sharon Mathews and their children, Morgan and Lucas, have worked as a family to create a full day of fun in Milton that includes not only the maze but hayrides, a barrel train, a farm-themed playground, acorn cannon and a corn crib “sandbox.”
Another weekend highlight is the Riverwalk Run 5k sponsored by the City of Milton. The run winds through historic Bagdad, Downtown Milton and the beautiful Riverbank. The race features a rare 4 p.m. start time which gives people a chance to sleep in, if they choose.
Ongoing throughout the month are tours of the Jay Historical Museum and the Dragonfly Gallery’s “Sand to Sawdust” exhibit. An, Fall is always a popular time at Adventures Unlimited, popular destination for day and overnight visitors who enjoy canoeing, camping, hiking – and of course, roasting s’mores.
For event details visit www.thebeachestowoodlandstour.com or 800-480-SAND or (850) 939-8666.
Pictured above: Large crowds attended the annual Jay Peanut Festival last year. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
Ready, Set, Play: Playground Installed At New Bratt Park
September 24, 2009
The playground is now complete at the under construction Bratt Community Park on West Highway 4.
The playground features a large play area, a toddler swing and regular children’s swings. It also has adult size benches on the perimeter.
Editor’s note: While the playground is complete, the surrounding park is not. Walkways and parking areas are still under construction, and, with recent rains, are very muddy.
County employees are currently working to install the 8-foot wide, eight-tenths of a mile walking track around the perimeter of the 13-acre park.
The park will also include two softball fields, a full basketball court and exercise and rest stations positioned along the track. The softball fields will not be lit for night play; in fact, the park’s hours will follow that of other county parks — sunrise to sunset.
The park is being funded with $200,000 in LOST (local option sales tax) monies set aside for the park’s construction.
Pictured above: The playground at the new Bratt Community Park on West Highway 4 near the First Baptist Church of Bratt. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Hundreds Of Students Join In Prayer At See You At The Pole Rallies
September 23, 2009
(Updated) Hundreds of North Escambia students gathered to pray at their schools Wednesday morning as part of the annual See You At The Pole rally.
“I pray that we take cause in God and stand up, even when nobody else does,” Rebekah Miles, an eighth grade student at Ernest Ward Middle School prayed as she stood around the flagpole with her peers.
From Ernest Ward to Northview High School to Molino Park Elementary, hundreds did the same thing Wednesday morning — bowing their heads in prayer for fellow students, their schools, their countries. Students often prayed or encouraged others to take a stand for their Lord in light of recent court rulings restricting prayer in neighboring Santa Rosa County.
“Engage: Go and pray . . ” from 2 Kings 22:13a was the theme verse for the non-denominational See You at the Pole event at thousands of schools across the nation Wednesday.
“It is our job as Christians to engage and get God back in schools,” Northview High School junior Sarah Killam said shortly before leading scores of Northview students in the song “How Great Is Our God”.
A community-wide See You At the Pole Rally was held Wednesday night at the Flomaton High School Auditorium.
For a photo gallery from Northview High, Ernest Ward Middle and Molino Park Elementary click here.
See You at the Pole is a student-initiated, student organized, and student-led event scheduled annually on the fourth Wednesday in September. This is the 20th year for the event that started in a Ft. Worth, Texas, suburb.
Pictured top: Eighth grade student Rebekah Miles leads students in prayer Wednesday morning at Ernest Ward Middle School. Pictured inset: Students pray at Molino Park Elementary. Pictured below: See You At The Pole at Northview. Pictured bottom: See You At the Pole at Ernest Ward. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Molino Park photos courtesy Candy McGahan.
New Thrift Store To Benefit People And Animals
September 23, 2009
A group of pet-minded volunteers have found a way to help the animals and people all at the same time.
The Junior Humane Society has opened its own Thrift Store in Cantonment at the corner of Highway 29 North and Neal Road. Proceeds will benefit JHS activities, such as finding homes for homeless cats and dogs, while also providing unbelievable bargains for area residents battling tough economic times.
The store features a variety of clothing for all ages, shoes, office furniture, kitchen supplies, books, toys, pet supplies and other items with new merchandise arriving daily. It will be open four days a week, but days and times could change in the months ahead.
The store is a dream come true for Frankie Van Horn Harris, director of the Junior Humane Society.
“It’s something I didn’t think I would ever see in my lifetime, but it’s something I’ve always wanted to do as a fundraiser,” said Harris. She said a volunteer, Amanda Gifford, heard about the property being available.
A deal was made, and soon, Gifford, along and two other volunteers, Kristi Kirby and Crystal Clanton, were busy preparing the store for customers.
The store also features a wall featuring photos of dogs and cats looking for new homes through JHS.
“We are all excited about the thrift store. We hope to hold pet adoptions, bathing parties, and other events here,” she said.
JHS welcomes donations — just leave items on the front porch if the store is closed.
The JHS Thrift Store is open Wednesday – Friday from noon until 6 p.m. and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Grand Opening will be Saturday, October 10 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Pictured top: JHS Volunteers (L-R) Kristi Kirby, Amanda Gifford, Crystal Clanton, Mary Foster, Director Frankie Van Horn Harris, Christa Pettijohn, Elizabeth Irby and Janet Lewis outside the new JHS Thrift Store in Cantonment. Pictured inset: Frankie Van Horn Harris, director of the Junior Humane Society. Pictured below: Map showing the store location.
Urban Legend? Standing An Egg On Its End As Fall Begins
September 22, 2009
Fall officially began at 4:18 Tuesday afternoon — the fall equinox. Urban legend says that you can stand an egg on its end on the spring and fall equinox, but we found many websites that say there’s nothing special about the two times of the year.
But in the interest of science, and with risk of having scrambled eggs, we tried it anyway here NorthEscambia.com. We were able to stand several eggs on end with little effort and no accidents.
Urban legend? We are not sure if we are able to stand eggs on end at other times of the year. No one here has ever tried.
Pictured above: A couple of raw eggs standing on end on a floor at NorthEscambia.com about 4:20 Tuesday afternoon. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
One Step At A Time: Chiles Begins Florida Awareness Walk In North Escambia
September 22, 2009
Century was the first step for Lawton “Bud” Chiles on a one million step — 566 miles — walking journey across Florida to raise awareness of children’s health, education and safety issues in the state.
Chiles is retracing the steps of his father, former Florida Governor Lawton Mainor Chiles, Jr.
The journey of One Million Steps started quietly at the Alabama-Florida line Sunday afternoon, honoring the historic 1970 walk of Gov. Chiles as he ran for the U.S. Senate. Bud Chiles, who often traveled with his father on his journey, will walk across Florida in an effort to inspire one million Floridians to become involved in volunteering and making Florida a better place for children.
The walk got into full swing Monday in Century, with stops at the Camp Fire USA Childcare Program, where Chiles received a warm welcome from the children as he read books to the VPK class, learned about the vision and hearing screenings and had lunch with the three-year olds as they sang the “Green Song”.
“We had a wonderful visit,” said Tammy Bryer from Camp Fire. “Early childhood education, increasing child care subsidies so people can work, and prevention programs were discussed as part of his awareness campaign.”
Chiles visited the Century Pharmacy, a sponsor of the Imagination Library and other children’s programs. Children 0-5 were registered for the Dolly Parton Imagination Library that provides a free, age-appropriate book delivered to their home monthly. Free books were also handed out to children at the pharmacy.
“Our children’s education should come first in the state of Florida. We should be leading the nation in offering the very best education to our children not being in the ‘worse’,” said Moran.
Chiles also visited New Life Baptist Church to read to children during his stop in Century.
Chile’s organization, Worst to First, seeks to move Florida away from the bottom in education and other children’s issues.
By walking across the state and talking one on one with Floridians about issues facing the state, Chiles hopes to find solutions for Florida from the people.
“I saw first hand the unique bond he forged as he listened to people,” Bud Chiles said of his father’s walk and his desire to help children and families. “In the past 10 years, sadly, we have suffered from a lack of that leadership from our state’s politicians.”
“I want to help tell your stories about what is working and what is broken,” Chiles said of his desire to listen to Floridians as he walks across the state. “Florida’s politicians are out of touch, and we can’t count on Washington to fix what is broken. With your help, we will make Florida a place for children again.”
Late Monday afternoon, Chiles had walked down Highway 29 to just south of Bogia. His journey will take him into Pensacola by Wednesday.
For more photos from Chiles’ walk, click here.
Pictured top: Lawton “Bud” Chiles on his One Million Stop walk in North Escambia Monday afternoon. Pictured middle: The children at Camp Fire USA made this sign to welcome Chiles. Pictured bottom: Children reads to Camp Fire students. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Nursing Home Residents Remember, Create New Memories
September 20, 2009
An “Afternoon of Memories” was held Saturday at Century Care Center.
Past Century Care Center residents were remembered and all current residents were honored during the program. Residents and their families then had the opportunity to make memory boxes together following the program.
The Afternoon of Memories was sponsored by Century Care Center, Covenant Hospice and Century United Methodist Church.
Pictured: Century Care Center residents and family members took part in an Afternoon of Memories Saturday. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Arrr, Matey! Shiver Me Timbers! Talk Like A Pirate Day
September 19, 2009
The residents at Century Care Center celebrated Talk Like a Pirate Day on Friday.
Residents donned eye patches and pirate ships roamed the hallways as the residents celebrated the international fun day that was created in 1995.
Click here for more photos from Talk Like a Pirate Day at Century Care Center.
Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Teen Hit By Bus Thankful That She Is Alive
September 16, 2009
A Bratt teenager says she is lucky to be alive after being bumped by her school bus when it was slammed from behind Tuesday morning on Highway 4.
Courtney Gibson, 17, was crossing the road in front of her bus to board it when the bus was struck from the rear by a van driven by her neighbor. The impact sent the front of the van under the bus, pushing the bus forward about 21 feet and into Courtney’s arm. The impact was so severe it lifted the bus into the air; the back tires of the bus were left a few inches off the ground, supported by the van. Her only injury is a small bruise on her arm.
“I could have been killed, but I was so blessed,” she said. “I do thank God. He’s obviously got a plan for my life.”
It started as an ordinary day for Courtney and her mom, Janis Weaver. Like clockwork, Janis headed out of the driveway at 5:45 a.m., driving “BE 1″, Bryneville Elementary School’s new bus. At 6:15, Courtney was at the end of the driveway waiting for her bus to take her to West Florida High School where she is a senior. She is the first student to get on the bus each day.
“I looked both ways before crossing the road. I almost got hit one time before, so I try to be careful,” Courtney said.
“I saw him, but I thought he stopped,” she said of the van driven by Jesse Warner, 36. Jesse lives just four houses away. She continued across the street, around the guard at the front of the bus — an arm that extends to keep students from walking too close to the front of the bus where they can’t be seen by the driver.
“All of the sudden, Jesse’s van slammed into the bus. It moved forward and hit me in the arm. All is remember is screaming,” she said. “I got up and got on the bus.
“I was shaken and scared. I started crying when I talked to my mom (on the phone).”
Courtney also credits her survival to the quick thinking of her bus driver, Brenda Strickland of Pensacola. Strickland pulled the emergency brake, helping to stop the forward motion of the bus. Brenda was not injured in the crash, but she’s taking some time off before returning to work later this week.
“Mrs. Brenda is my hero; without her quick thinking, that bus could have rolled right over me.”
Once on the bus, Courtney did not realize the severity of the crash, and she did not know that it was her neighbor that had slammed into the bus. Once she was back off the bus, she knew the crash was bad, but it was some period of time before she realized who had hit the bus.
“I feel so bad for him, and I feel to bad for his kids,” she said. “I can imagine how they feel at this time.”
At West Florida High School, Courtney is working on becoming a certified nursing assistant. She has plans to study ultrasound at Pensacola Junior College and become a sonographer.
But she realizes that dream was almost cut short Tuesday morning.
“I almost didn’t get that chance,” Courtney said. “I just thank God that I did.”
For more information about the accident, click here for another story.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.