Christmas Memories: Antique Nativity Scene Back On Display In Century
December 4, 2014
A Nativity scene that was first displayed at a Century home over 50 years ago is once again shining bright this Christmas season.
“‘When my sisters and I were children, the Christmas season started for us when Mr. & Mrs. Straughn put their nativity up,” Leslie Gonzalez, now town clerk, said.
Bill and Sarah Straughn first displayed the Nativity scene in 1963 on their screened-in porch on State Line Road, just around the curve from Highway 29 behind what was then Straughn’s Hardware, now a laundromat and self-storage facility.
Now, decades later, their granddaughter Joan Carnley and her husband Hal have moved in and fixed up the family home — and returned the manger scene to display with the help of her parents, Cal and Carol Turner.
“Mom and Dad came and spent Thanksgiving with us so we set it up together,” said Joan Carnley. “Mom said grandmother went out and bought it for my sister Judy and me in 1963. We were living here at the time while my dad was in Vietnam. When we came home at Christmas through later years we always ran to see Baby Jesus. Just a simple manger scene but it evokes memories and feelings of love, family, peace and homecomings.”
Have a Christmas story to share? Email news@NorthEscambia.com.
Pictured: An antique Nativity scene out once again at a home on State Line Road in Century, over 50 years since it was first displayed. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Animal Shelter Aims To Find Pet Homes For The Holidays
December 4, 2014
The Escambia County Animal Shelter will host a public animal adoption event “Clear the Kennels” Friday and Saturday from noon until 6 p.m. at the shelter at 200 West Fairfield Drive.
The event aims to find homes for shelter animals before Christmas with manager’s special adoption pricing:
- Dogs, three years and older, $35
- Dogs, under three years, $55
- Cats, three years and older, $20
- Cats, under three years $30
Pricing includes spay or neuter, rabies vaccination and microchipping.
For more information, call (850) 595-3075.
Byrneville Elementary First Graders Visit Century Town Hall
December 3, 2014
First graders from Byrneville Elementary School recently visited the Century Town Hall on a field trip. In addition to visiting Mayor Freddie McCall’s office and hold the “Key to the Town”, they learned about the rules regard proper display of the U.S. flag. The students from Candice Thornton and Amanda Dawson’s classes also learned about the delivery of water to homes and water billing. And the students also discovered that although Century is a small town, it takes numerous community workers laboring to make it work. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Move-In Day Set For New Ernest Ward Middle (With Photo Tour)
December 1, 2014
Work is continuing on the new Ernest Ward Middle School in Walnut Hill, with a student move-in date now on the calendar.
Students are scheduled to begin classes in the new $20 million facility on Monday, February 2, 2015. Some portions of the building are nearing completion, with furniture being moved into place. Additional furniture deliveries are scheduled throughout December, and dates are scheduled for teachers to have their items moved from the old building into the new facility.
All of the items such as computers and furniture, with the exception of library shelving, will be brand new.
Some contractors are expected to work extended hours and seven-day weeks in order to meet the completion schedule.
Pictured top: Inside the new Ernest Ward Middle School library. Pictured inset: Cabinets and shelves inside a classroom. Pictured below: A science classroom. Pictured bottom library windows. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Storytime For Ages Five And Under Held Each Week At The Local Library
December 1, 2014
The West Florida Public Library offers Story Time for children five and younger each week.
Story Time is held:
- 10:30 a.m. Tuesdays at the Southwest Branch Library, 12248 Gulf Beach Highway
- 10:30 a.m. Wednesdays at the Molino Branch Library, 6450-A Highway 95A
- 10:30 a.m. Wednesdays at the Main Library: 239 North Spring Street
- 4 p.m. Thursdays at the Century Branch Library, 7991 North Century Boulevard
- 10:30 a.m. Thursdays at the Tryon Branch Library, 1200 Langley Avenue.
For more information call (850) 436-5060 or visit www.mywfpl.com. The events area always free of charge.
Register Now For Saturday Christmas Parades In Century, Molino
December 1, 2014
Registrations are still be accepted for Christmas parades scheduled for this Saturday in Molino and Century.
Century’s Land To Lake Lighted Boat Christmas Parade
The Century Christmas Land To Lake Lighted Boat Parade will be held Saturday, December 6 with line-up at 5 p.m. and floats rolling out at dark from Industrial Boulevard to Lake Stone. The entry fee is $10 per boat or float, with checks made payable to the Century Area Chamber of Commerce. For more information and a printable registration form, click here.
The parade is sponsored in part by NorthEscambia.com.
Molino’s 12th Annual Christmas Parade
Molino’s 12th Annual Christmas Parade will be held Saturday, December 6 with line-up at 10:15 a.m. The parade will begin at 11 a.m. at the west end of Crabtree Church Road and will end at the Molino Ballpark were Santa will be waiting to visit with children. All funds will go directly to the community to help children in need.
To participate in the parade, you can pre-register at Fran’s Diner on Highway 29 in Molino or register day of parade. Floats are $40, vehicles, motorcycles, tractors and golf carts are $30, and horses are $20 each. No 4-wheelers or go carts permitted. For more information, contact Charity Sheldt at (850) 324-4463 or Fran’s Diner at (850) 587-2803. Donations such as toys and non-perishable food can be dropped off at Fran’s Diner. Rain date will be Sunday, December 7 at 2:30 p.m.
Pictured above: One of the floats/boats in last year’s Century Christmas Land To Lake Lighted Boat Parade. NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Eagle Scout Project Cleans Up Drew’s Field
November 30, 2014
A t-ball field at Bradberry Park in Walnut Hill received some much needed attention this weekend from Eagle Scout candidate Benjamin Stott of Bratt.
Stott chose to focus his Eagle Scout project on beautifying and repairing Drew’s Field, which was dedicated in 2009 in memory of two-year Drew Marlow who died in a January 2008 Highway 97 traffic crash along with his father Danny Marlow.
Stott and his small team of friends and family worked to clear overgrowth from the base paths, the pitcher’s mound and batter’s box, pulled weeds from the field fence, fertilized the outfield, cleaned out the flower box surrounding a monument and replaced the dirt and weeds with decorative rocks.
He was helped by his brother Samuel Stott, Johnathan Elliot, Triston Long, Thomas Long, Ashley Long, Bill Pettus and his parents Kevin and Sherry Stott.
Benjamin Stott is a senior at Northview High School and will turn 18 in a few weeks. He is a member of Boy Scout Troop 430 in Molino.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Saint Monica’s Episcopal Church Calls New Priest
November 30, 2014
Saint Monica’s Episcopal Church of Cantonment has call Rev. Anthony MacWhinnie II, as its new priest in charge.
MacWhinnie, former vicar of St. Thomas by the Sea in Laguna Beach and former rector of St. Augustine of Canterbury in Navarre, is returning to lead the church and people who elected to send him to seminary.
St. Monica’s, which ministers to the community with a free beans and rice ministry, The Market at St. Monica’s, health screenings and various other outreach projects, has been without a resident priest since 2012.
In an announcement to the congregation recently, Senior Warden Chuck Barnett said, “We believe this is the best thing that has happened to St. Monica’s in years. Anthony has come home to where he belongs.”
Pictured: Rev. Anthony MacWhinnie II and his wife Elizabeth. Photo by Sarah McCarren for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Tate Grad Nunley Graduates From Basic Military Training
November 30, 2014
U.S. Air National Guard Airman 1st Class Luke A. Nunley has 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 earn four credits toward an associate in applied science degree through the Community College of the Air Force.
Nunley is the son of Lori A. Nunley and step-son of Tim C. Brown of Cantonment, brother of Ben C. Nunley of Starkville, MS and Nick H. Nunley of Pensacola, and grandson of Loranne Bass of Prentiss, MS.
He is a 2014 graduate of J.M Tate High School, Cantonment.
Tate Showband Members Place Wreath At Tomb Of The Unknown
November 29, 2014
The Tate High School Showband of the South placed a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier Friday at Arlington National Cemetery.
Band members toured Arlington, several war memorials and the Lincoln Memorial Friday. They are in Washington following their performance in the Philadelphia Thanksgiving Day Parade on Thursday. [Read more, see photos, video...]
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
