Northview High Plans Orientation For Thursday

August 2, 2017

From Northview High School:

We will issue class schedules, hall lockers, and textbooks to returning 10th, 11th and 12th grade students on the first day of school. Ninth graders and new students will attend an August 3rd Orientation and will receive everything they need at that time. Please remember that May 24, 2017, as noted on the registration cards, was the last day to request schedule changes. There is a processing procedure which students may utilize to request schedule changes, once school has started. However, since the parent and student approved the schedule at registration time and since the master schedule and teacher assignments have been made based upon these requests, all requests must support both the student’s requested schedule and teacher assignments. Please be advised that  schedule changes at this time are extremely rare and are allowed only for registration adjustments or academic requirements based on the FSA end-of- course exam scores. Students will not have the opportunity to request schedule changes during the textbook issuing time. Textbooks will be issued to correspond with the student’s printed schedule. Locker assignments will also be printed on the class schedules, so students should be extremely  careful not to leave their printed course schedules unattended.

August 3, 2017

School Offices will be closed from 11:30 A.M. – 12:30 P.M.

1 PM – 2:30 PM 9 th Grade and New Student Orientation

All incoming 9th grade and new students in grades 10, 11, and 12 should report to the theater before 1 p.m., on Thursday, August 3. In the theater, students will have a short introduction and welcome program. Immediately afterwards, the students will be divided into groups to facilitate the processing of schedules and lockers. Orientation will include a brief tour of the Northview campus. Parent Chromebook training will be provided as well. Students with signed Cromebook contracts will be issued Chromebooks to take home after school begins. Students without a signed contract will not be issued a Chromebook but will check one out daily from the media center. The entire process should take approximately 90 minutes, so parents are asked to be prompt in picking up their students at the breezeway after the conclusion of this activity.

Escambia 4-H Members Gain Skills, Earn Money At Regional Tailgate Contest

August 1, 2017

Recently, 4-H members from across Northwest Florida participated in the second annual Northwest Regional 4-H Tailgate Contest.

Grilling competitors took part in one of four categories: beef, pork, poultry (half a chicken or turkey breast), and shrimp. Participants were judged on their grilling abilities, but also on questions from judges on food safety, fire safety, and meat selection.

Regional winners earned $400 in scholarship money for first place, $250 for second place, $100 for third place, and $50 for fourth place. The top two individuals in each protein category earned the opportunity to participate in the State 4-H Tailgate Contest in Gainesville in October.

Five Escambia County 4-H members participated in the regional contest, including Noah Ball – Beef, Aubrie Dillon – Beef, Dillon Conti – Poultry, Raeleigh Woodfin – Pork, and Stewart Woodfin – Pork. All of the Escambia County entrants earned the opportunity to compete after winning the county competition as part of the Escambia  County 4-H Tailgate Day Camp.

At the regional contest held at Washington County Ag Center in Chipley, Aubrie Dillon placed fourth in the beef category and Dillon Conti placed third in the poultry category.  Dillon plans to continue using his grilling skills to cook for his  family.

“I had a lot of fun at the regional 4-H tailgate contests this year. It was actually the first time I ad ever thought about grilling chicken and I think I’ll probably be grilling chicken a lot more now. I want to encourage more 4-H  members to participate in the contest and I hope to see many more contestants next year,” Conti said.

Pictured top: Aubrie Dillon relaxes while cooking her steak recipe. Pictured below: Dillon Conti prepares his chicken for the grill, and Noah Ball checks the internal temperature of his steak. Pictured bottom: Raeleigh Woodfin prepares to grill her pork chops and Stewart Woodfin with his pork chops. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.

Tate Grad Modin Graduates From Basic Military Training

July 31, 2017

U.S. Air Force Airman Seth Modin graduated from basic military training at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, San Antonio, Texas.

The airman completed an intensive, eight-week program that included training in military discipline and studies, Air Force core values, physical fitness, and basic warfare principles and skills.

Airmen who complete basic training also earn four credits toward an associate in applied science degree through the Community College of the Air Force.

Modin is the son of Jennifer Modin of Cantonment.

He is a 2015 graduate of Tate High School, Cantonment.

Registration Event Scheduled For Danceworks Classes

July 30, 2017

Registration is underway for Heather Leonard’s Danceworks, and a registration event will be held Monday.

The registration will be from 5 until 7 p.m. on Monday at the Byrneville Community Center.

Ballet, tap, pointe, hip hop and jazz classes will be taught by Heather Leonard beginning the week of August 14 for girls ages 3 and up. Classes for ages 3-8  will be based on age, while classes for  dancers age 9 and over will be based upon level. Leonard has taught dance to hundreds of girls from North Escambia and surrounding areas.

For the class schedule, click here. For a registration form, click here. For further information or questions email hldanceworks@gmail.com.

NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.

Weekend Gardening: Spots On Your Crape Myrtles Can Be A Problem

July 29, 2017

by UF/IFAS Extension Service

As the heat and humidity increases in Northwest Florida, expect to see some diseases appear in the landscape. One problem that is popping up on crape myrtles is Cercospora leaf spot. While not a deadly problem, it can greatly detract from the beauty of crape myrtles.

The initial symptom on crape myrtles is the appearance of tan to dark brown spots randomly scattered on yellow to red discolored leaves. The spots develop first on the lower leaves and progress upward in the canopy. Spots will continue to develop from mid-summer through fall. The color change is due to the production of a toxin by the fungal pathogen.

Infected leaves will drop prematurely and serve as a source to spread the pathogen causing further disease development. As the summer progresses, many infected trees will have dropped all but the newest leaves.

Older varieties of crape myrtles are more susceptible to this disease than newer varieties. The crape myrtle varieties most tolerant to Cercospora leaf spot are Natchez, Muskogee, Basham’s Party Pink, Sioux and Tonto.

Long term, this disease is not detrimental to a tree, although it will slow down growth on younger plants. Plants growing in conditions that are not ideal will be more affected by the leaf spot disease.

The best control is selecting a planting site with good air circulation so that the foliage will dry quickly. Thinning interior branches will also promote air flow.

The use of fungicides to control this disease has not been very effective because they would have to be applied repeatedly on a regular basis throughout the growing season. If used, fungicide applications should be started in early summer when the spots are first noticed and continued at one to two week intervals when the weather is warm and wet. Consult your local Extension office for fungicide recommendations.

As always, be sure to read and follow all label directions. Fungicides can be classified by how they work on the fungus or how they work on the plant. Products that work in a similar way on fungi have the same mode of action (also referred to as chemical family or class).

Contact fungicides are sprayed onto plants and act as a protective barrier from pathogen infection. They prevent infections from occurring when applied before symptoms are visible, but infections that have already occurred will continue to develop.

Systemic fungicides move into the plant, but movement inside the plant is limited. The vast majority of fungicides only move upward in the plant vasculature, but not down. Some fungicides only move locally into the plant part treated. Some systemic products exhibit curative action, which means the disease is stopped during its development. For managing fungicide resistance, products with different modes of action should be used in rotations.

Since this disease will result in early defoliation or the loss of leaves, it is critical to practice good sanitation. Raking and destroying fallen leaves should be a routine practice in order to prevent the spread of the disease.

Northview JV Cheerleaders Earn All American Status

July 27, 2017

Northview High School’s junior varsity cheerleading squad recently participated in a home cheer camp.  Abigail Nelson (pictured left) and Emily Stabler, both upcoming freshmen, tried out and were chosen as All American Cheerleaders.  They will have the opportunity to participate in the Thanksgiving Parade at Disney World’s Magic Kingdom.  Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.

Deputy Offers Look At Law Enforcement To Kids At Carver Park

July 27, 2017

From blue lights to badges, Escambia County Sheriff’s Deputy Neil Tipton took the time to explain law enforcement to a group of children at Carver Park in Cantonment.  A summer feeding program is available weekdays at Carver Park on Webb Street for children under 18. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.

Thursday Is Aggie Day; Orientation, Schedule Pickup Set

July 26, 2017

Tate students and parents — mark your calendars. Here are some upcoming important  dates  for Aggie Day, Orientation, and schedule pickup for Tate High School.

Thursday, July 27 – AGGIE DAY



Aggie Day is a Welcome to Tate workshop led by Tate’s leadership students. Incoming 9th graders and new students are invited to take a few hours to learn about Tate High School. At 9 a.m., students will be split into groups in the Fryman Gym. Our leadership students will lead their group in a series of workshops to learn about activities, sports, clubs, and what makes Tate a great place to attend. Schedules will not be handed out at this event, and guidance counselors and administrators will not be present. This is a for-students, by-students event.
Drop Off: New Gym, 9:00 am
Pick Up: New Gym, 12:00 pm

Friday, August 4 – Freshmen/New Student Orientation, 9:00 am-10:30 am


Our more formal, assembly-style orientation will be at 9:00 am in the Fryman Gym. You will meet our administrators, deans, and 9th grade guidance counselor, Chuck Stanhope. Also, coaches and club sponsors will be available to answer any questions. At 10:30 am, 9th grade schedules will be available (in the gym). Tate leadership students will be present to assist in learning where classes are located. At 11:00, any schedules not picked up will return to the front office.

Friday, August 4 – Upperclassmen Schedule Pickup


10th-12th Schedules will be available for pick up from 1:00-3:00 in the Cafeteria.

Summer Reading Wrap-Up Parties This Week At The Library

July 25, 2017

Summer Reading wrap up parties will be held this week at West Florida Library branches across Escambia County:

  • Tuesday, July 25, 11 a.m. – Southwest Branch Library*
  • Tuesday, July 25, 3 p.m. – Westside Branch Library
  • Wednesday, July 26, 11 a.m. – Century Branch Library
  • Wednesday, July 26, 3 p.m. – Pensacola Library
  • Thursday, July 27, 11 a.m. – Molino Branch Library
  • Thursday, July 27, 3 p.m. – Tryon Branch Library

Come blow off some Summer STEAM with tons of bubbles and wrap up your summer adventures with highly active volcanoes. Celebrate reaching your summer reading goal at the library’s wrap-up party.

Weekend Gardening: Distinctly Southern Hydrangeas

July 23, 2017

by Santa Rosa County Extension

Nothing defines a southern landscape more than hydrangeas.

These beautiful, large flowering shrubs fill gardens with their green, leafy foliage and incredible blooms during the warm months.

In order to ensure consistent and reliable blooms, these shrubs must be cared for correctly. In addition to proper site location, fertilizer and moisture conditions, hydrangeas may require pruning. Proper pruning includes correct timing.

Hydrangea aficionados are constantly debating pruning techniques. There are many different types of hydrangeas and pruning differs according to the type. It is a big genus of plants and so it’s important to know what type of hydrangeas you may have and on what type of wood they bloom on.


Blooms on old wood, prune after flowering

The bigleaf hydrangeas, known scientifically as Hydrangea macrophylla, are what most people think of when you mention hydrangeas. Most gardeners will know these as mopheads (also called hortensias) and lacecaps. Many of these blooms will be blue or pink although other colors now are available.

Many large colonies of bigleaf hydrangeas have existed around old homes for decades, surviving and blooming in spite of neglect.  This tells us that it is not necessary to prune bigleaf hydrangeas.

However, if you want to keep these shrubs within a defined boundary, control their height or rejuvenate old shrubs, it will be necessary to prune them.

Bigleaf hydrangeas can be reduced in size immediately after flowering.  A general rule of thumb is that you may remove up to a third of the shrub’s height.  Be sure to complete your pruning before August.  This is critical because next year flower blooms start to form in August.  Pruning after August will remove next year’s blooms.

There now is a small group of bigleaf hydrangeas that are everblooming or remontant.  Endless Summer® is one well-known brand.  According to the developers of these reblooming hydrangeas, remove spent flowers to encourage rebloom.  They are quite forgiving and will not suffer if left unpruned or pruned at the wrong time because these cultivars bloom on both old and new growth.

Our native oakleaf hydrangea (Hydrangea quercifolia) is a large, deciduous shrub that can grow up to six feet tall.  It has deeply lobed, oak-like leaves which turn bronze in the fall.   This plant does not usually need pruning. If reshaping or size-reduction is necessary, prune after blooms begin to fade.

Article Continues Below Photo

Lacecap hydrangea

Blooms on new wood, prune in early spring

Smooth hydrangea (H. arborescens) is the other U.S. native. The most common cultivar, ‘Annabelle’, produces rounded inflorescences that may reach up to a foot in diameter.

The panicle hydrangea (H. paniculata) is more of an upright type.  It is typically a 10 to 15-foot large shrub or low-branched tree.

Panicle and smooth hydrangeas flower on current year’s growth and can be pruned anytime from late summer until early spring. If pruning these two species in the spring, try to prune before leaves appear.

Winter pruning

Established bigleaf, panicle, oakleaf and smooth hydrangea plants can often benefit from rejuvenation pruning. Remove about one-third of the oldest stems each year.  The result is a fuller, healthier plant. This type of pruning is easiest to do in winter, since the absence of leaves makes it easier to see and reach inside plants.

Hydrangeas offer a wide variety of plants which can make the timing of pruning difficult to remember.  Just keep in mind, if in doubt, either don’t prune at all or prune after flowering.

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