Beulah Volunteer Firefighters Practice Tanker Operations
September 23, 2014
Volunteers at the Beulah Station of Escambia Fire Rescue learned about tanker truck and drop tank set up procedures during a Monday night training session. Tanker trucks, and the pictured 2,500 gallon drop tank, are used to shuttle and supply water to firefighters when there is no or an inadequate water supply from a fire hydrant. Photo courtesy Capt. Mike Aaron for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge
Molino Naval Officer Promoted To Lieutenant Commander
September 21, 2014
Lieutenant Troy Bertran of Molino was recently took an oath to accept a promotion to lieutenant commander.
Bertran started his Naval careeer at at 17 as a seaman recruit. He worked his way up to petty officer first class before being commissioned as an ensign in the limited duty officer program. Bertran current has over 25 years in the Navy.
Originally from Palmetto, FL, Betrain knew he wanted to call Florida home again as some point during his career, settling in Molino.
Pictured top. Lt. Troy Bertran (left) of Molino and Capt. Alan Dean. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Fall Gardening Tips
September 21, 2014
As fall approaches, now is the time to start preparing your landscape for the upcoming cooler weather, according to the UF/IFAS extension service.
Flowers
- Cut back, and remove old flower stalks from flowering annuals and re-fertilize in order to obtain one more color before cool weather.
- Prepare beds for the planting of cool season annuals next month. Some plants to establish for fall, winter and early spring include: pansy, petunia, snapdragon, larkspur, stocks, statice, bachelor button, calendula, cleome, alyssum, marigolds, verbena, dianthus and candytuft.
- Divide perennials such as Shasta daisy, canna, amaryllis, daylily, coneflower, violets, and ornamental grasses like mondo grass and liriope.
- Cut strong stems of roses to encourage new growth for final flush of the year.
- Find a local source, or order wildflower seeds for fall planting. Be certain to choose a mixture that is specifically for the south. Prepare the area, but wait until November to seed them.
Trees and Shrubs
- Last month to fertilize woody ornamental shrubs in the landscape.
- No pruning unless it’s absolutely necessary. This is probably the worst time of year to do major pruning of shrubs. Late summer/fall pruning can stimulate tender growth that might be damaged by low winter temperatures.
- Plant woody ornamentals, including trees, shrubs, vines and ground covers during the fall and early winter. They respond well to planting late in the year because our relatively mild winters allow for root growth. Fall planted shrubs, for example, are well on their way toward having their roots established before hot weather arrives next spring.
- Select crape myrtles while in bloom.
- Examine the small twigs on the outer canopy of hardwood trees for black twig borer damage. Remove and destroy infested twigs.
- Pine needles fall during September and October. Rake and use them in the vegetable and flower garden as well as in shrub beds. Pine needles make excellent mulch. Apply generously to obtain a depth of 2 to 3 inches on the soil surface after they have settled.
- Mature palms should receive an application of granular fertilizer. Use a special palm fertilizer that has an 8-2-12 +4Mg (magnesium) with micronutrients formulation. Apply one pound of fertilizer per 100 sqft of canopy area or landscape area.
Vegetable Garden
- Prepare the soil now, allowing about 3 weeks between the incorporation of amendments and planting. In September sow seeds of beets, broccoli, brussels sprouts, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, collards, endive, escarole, kale, kohlrabi, leek, lettuce, mustard, onions, parsley, radishes and turnips.
- Last planting of beans (bush, lima and pole), cucumbers and summer squash
- Clean out the spring/summer vegetable garden once plants have stopped producing. Remove any that are known to have been diseased or heavily insect infested during the previous season.
Lawns
- Check the lawn weekly and watch for lawn pests. Check for chinch bugs and sod webworms in St. Augustine, spittlebugs and sod webworms in centipedegrass and mole cricket damage in all grasses
- Last month to fertilize bahiagrass, bermudagrass, St. Augustinegrass and Zoysiagrass using a complete fertilizer applied at 1.0 lb nitrogen per 1000 square feet containing 50% soluble and 50% slow-release nitrogen.
All About Peanuts: 48th Annual Santa Rosa Farm Tour Held
September 19, 2014
The 48th Annual Santa Rosa Farm Tour was held Thursday.
Participants had the opportunity to watch a peanut digging demonstration at the Roy Ward Farm in Chumuckla and learn about the science of peanut farming at the UF/IFAS West Florida Research and Education Center in Jay.
The day’s events also included visits to the Golden Peanut Company in Jay and Holland Farms for boiled peanuts.
Pictured: Participants in the 48th Annual Santa Rosa Farm Tour enjoy boiled peanuts at Holland Farms. Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Escambia, Santa Rosa Farm Bureaus Complete 1.5 Ton Peanut Butter Donation To Manna
September 18, 2014
The Florida Peanut Producers and the Farm Bureau in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties has completed their donation of one and a half tons of peanut butter to the Manna Food Bank.
After discussing the flood that damaged the Manna warehouse and food supply, the Escambia County Farm Bureau voted to spend $1,000 to buy peanut butter, Manna’s most needed item. The Santa Rosa County Farm Bureau board then voted to donate $1,001 toward the peanut butter donation.
When notified of the purchase of peanut butter, the board of directors of Florida Peanut Producers and Ken Barton, executive director and agreed to match the purchase and donated a pallet of peanut butter.
With the two counties cooperation and the match from the Florida Peanut Producers, 2,880 jars of peanut butter were donated. The first pallet was donated back in August, and the second pallet of Peanut Proud peanut butter was donated last week.
File photos.
Ernest Ward Middle Names September Students Of The Month
September 17, 2014
Ernest Ward Middle School has named September Students of the Month. They are Libby Pugh (pictured left), sixth grade; Bailey Van Pelt (pictured right), seventh grade; and Aurora McCann (not pictured), eighth. Photo for Northscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Marvel Comics Creates New ‘Captain Citrus’ For Struggling Industry
September 17, 2014
Florida’s homegrown superhero, Captain Citrus, has undergone a $1 million head-to-toe makeover with the help of comic-book giant Marvel Entertainment.
The muscled-up Captain Citrus, powered by the sun and intended to help boost Florida citrus sales while fighting evil, was unveiled Tuesday by the Department of Citrus at a comic-book store in Tampa.
“Raising awareness of the amazing nutritional benefits of Florida citrus, especially among families, is a priority,” department Executive Director Doug Ackerman said in a prepared statement.
Through the work of Marvel, Captain Citrus is no longer a rotund creature — basically an animated orange — from the Planet Orange as first designed by the state agency to be an educational tool to help the struggling citrus industry in 2011.
Now he’s John Polk, empowered by mysterious solar pods found growing in his family’s Central Florida citrus grove. In a debut issue of a digital comic, Polk joins members of the Avengers — Captain America, Thor, Iron Man and Black Widow — to battle a “gamma enhanced evil genius” known as the Leader whose minions have attacked Orlando.
Oh, and clad in a muscle-skimming citrus-hued suit Captain Citrus is still spreading the message of the nutritional value of orange juice.
In the inaugural issue, just before Polk answers the call to help the Avengers, he advises his sister on the need to drink her orange juice as she is soon off to a cheerleading tryout.
The state agency is also providing a teacher’s guide to offers lesson plans that highlight making smarter nutritional choices.
“Captain Citrus will show readers that while they may not be able to fly or shoot solar blasts, they can make healthy choices in their everyday lives and unleash the hero within,” Bill Rosemann, who oversaw the development of Captain Citrus as Marvel Entertainment’s creative director and editor, said in a statement.
Two additional digital chapters are planned. All will be available at CaptainCitrus.com.
The new face of orange juice comes as sales have declined due to increased costs and a shift in the eating habits of Americans.
Numbers published by the state department found that during a four week period in June and July, 36.11 million gallons of orange juice were purchased. The total represented an 8.3 percent decline in sales from the same period a year earlier.
Meanwhile, the U.S. Department of Agriculture reported that Florida, which is the top source of U.S. orange juice, earlier this year completed its smallest harvest in 29 years, with the industry suffering from the spread of an incurable plant disease called citrus greening.
The forecast for the coming year, which isn’t expected to show any turnaround, is due in October.
The state agency finalized the contract with the Disney-owned Marvel this summer, using marketing dollars that were freed up as the department halted longer, high-volume TV time for ads, a move expected to free up about $13 million for branding and marketing programs.
The department’s funding mostly comes from a tax on the sale of oranges and other citrus.
by Jim Turner, The News Service of Florida
Cobb Graduates From Basic Military Training
September 15, 2014
Air Force Airman 1st Class Avery N. Cobb 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.
Cobb earned distinction as an honor graduate.
Cobb is the daughter of Timothy and Kathy Cobb of Pensacola She earned a diploma in 2010 from Tate High School in Cantonment and a bachelor’s degree in 2014 from Auburn University.
Northview Schedules Homecoming Parade; Entries Accepted Now
September 15, 2014
The sixth annual Northview High School Homecoming Parade has been scheduled for Friday, October 3.
The parade will line up at noon and travel from Bratt Elementary School to Northview High. Entries are being accepted now; there is no cost to enter. For a printable entry form, click here. Entries are due by Tuesday, September 30.
Contact Perry Byars at (850) 327-6681 ext. 248 for more information.
The Northview Chief’s homecoming game will kickoff at 7 p.m. on October 3 against the Jay Royals.
Pictured: The 2013 Northview High School Homecoming Parade. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
Greater Escambia Relay For Life Kickoff Event Set For Tuesday
September 14, 2014
Team captains, survivors and community members are invited to attend the 2015 Kickoff of Relay for Life of Greater Escambia. The event will be held at Heritage Baptist Church on Highway 297A at 6 p.m. Tuesday.
The 2015 Relay for Life of Greater Escambia will be at Tate High School on Saturday, April 18, 2015, from 11 a.m. until 10 p.m.
“We look forward to seeing a huge community turn out for the meeting,” said Pat Clements, event chair.
Pictured: The 2014 Greater Escambia Relay for Life at Tate High School’s Pete Gindl Stadium. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
