Holland Named ‘Ag Innovator’
October 1, 2012
Bruce Holland of Allentown has been named the the Santa Rosa County Agriculture Innovator of the Year.
Holland, who operates Holland Farms, received the award from the Santa Rosa County Extension Service. Holland Farms is a diversified business that produces fresh produce, green peanuts, and is involved in agro-tourism with their pumpkin patch and other fall events.
The farm is a family affair with all the members of the family involved in different activities. BJ Holland, Bruce’s son and the farms manager, is responsible for starting the hay ride and the haunted hay ride last year.
Bruce’s daughter Julie, a high school business teacher, helps out with the farm’s bookkeeping and maintains their website and Facebook page. Bruce’s brothers Charles and Melvin also assist in the daily operation of the farm.
Whether it be in producing, marketing, adding value to existing crops, developing agro-tourism venues, or promoting agriculture they have led the way. Bruce says the key to their success is simply
“We like people, I like visiting with folks. When they come to our farm we go out of our way to make sure they feel welcomed and have a good time. It’s a long way out here to the farm and we want to make it worthwhile to the people who come,” Holland said.
Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Dig Pink Volleyball Matches To Benefit Breast Cancer Awareness
October 1, 2012
The Northview Lady Chiefs and the Flomaton Hurricanes will take part in a Dig Pink volleyball match this week to raise breast cancer awareness.
Dig Pink is an organization raising awareness for cancer through volleyball. A hospitality room will be available for survivors and cancer survivors will receive free admission to the games.
The Dig Pink event will take place Thursday, October 4 with the junior varsity playing at 4:30 and the varsity playing at 6:00 at Northview High School in Bratt.
Donations are being accepted now on the Northview Dig Pink website (click here.)
Pictured: Action from last year’s Dig Pink matchup between Northview and Flomaton. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Photo Gallery: Flomaton Celebrates Railroad Junction Day
September 30, 2012
Flomaton celebrated the town’s heritage Saturday with Railroad Junction Day featuring a wide variety of free activities, demonstrations, entertainment, food and vendors.
For a NorthEscambia.com photo gallery, including pictures from a children’s costume parade and a classic car show, click here.
Pictured top: Enjoying entertainment at Railroad Junction Day in Flomaton on Saturday. Pictured inset: Bo Brantley of the Tri-Cities Rotary Club emcees a children’s costume parade. Pictured below: A variety of vendors took part in the festivities.
Photos: Pumpkin Delivery
September 29, 2012
Fall will soon be in the air — and that means pumpkins for sale alongside Highway 29 in Cantonment. It’s a yearly event under big tent at the Allen Memorial United Methodist Church Pumpkin Patch.
Friday afternoon, members of the Pensacola State baseball team helped church volunteers unload 1,556 pumpkins from an 18-wheeler.
Pumpkins of all shapes and sizes are available, with some priced as low as $1. The pumpkin patch is located at on Highway 29 at Neal Road, just north of the paper mill.
For more photos, click to enlarge.
Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Escambia Firm Recycles Construction Debris, Creates Jobs
September 28, 2012
An Escambia County firm recently passed the one million pound mark with material it recycles from construction waste that otherwise would clutter landfills.
Lifecycle Containers also has created six new jobs for workers who identify, sort, transport and recycle construction waste into useful products. Cardboard, for instance, is recycled into concrete forms on other construction jobs. Asphalt and asphalt shingles are converted into roadway material; concrete becomes riprap for seawalls; lumber is donated to a nonprofit group.
Lifecycle Container’s founder is passionate about using creative techniques to protect the environment and reduce waste.
“This passion led me to tackle the huge issue of construction waste needlessly clogging our landfills,” said Allen Bounds. “This issue combined with my desire to create new jobs and do my part to bolster Pensacola’s economy led me to form Lifecycle.”
Bounds started recycling construction debris as a hobby in the late 1990s, but the business became so strong that he incorporated in 2010. The company keeps a sense of fun with its mission – naming its trucks LoLo and Bully and its cardboard-baler Cookie Monster.
It specializes in collecting and converting construction waste from medium-sized commercial buildings and renovations as well as residential additions and renovations.
Lifecycle gets high marks from Christopher Pelt, a project manager for Greenhut Construction Company, which is using Lifecycle while working on building projects for Sacred Heart Hospital.
“The cost is competitive with regular disposal services, so the right thing for any prudent person is to use these services if he cares about recycling materials,” Pelt said.
Pelt said Lifecycle provides “impeccable service” as Greenhut and Sacred Heart move away from the old custom of simply throwing away construction debris. Two Sacred Heart projects already have diverted more than 140,000 pounds of construction debris from the landfill and “we are just getting started,” Pelt said.
In addition to Greenhut and Sacred Heart, Lifecycle also works with Habitat for Humanity Re-Store, Pensacola Sanitation Department, Escambia County Solid Waste Department, the Emerald Coast Utilities Authority, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Green Globes and the United States Green Building Council.
Bounds said he specifically chose to locate the business and its warehouses inside the city limits because he is eager to bolster Pensacola’s economy.
Ernest Ward Middle Seeks School Advisory Council Members
September 27, 2012
Ernest Ward Middle School is actively soliciting parents and community members who wish to become part of the School Advisory Council for the 2012-2013 school year.
The SAC is an avenue through which parents can meet with representatives from school administration, teachers, educational support staff, and students to discuss all aspects of student life at Ernest Ward, from academics to extracurricular activities.
The SAC meets at least four times per year. The first meeting will be at noon Friday, September 28 in the school media center.
Quarter Horse Show This Weekend
September 27, 2012
The Northwest Florida Quarter Horse Association is hosting a three day horse show this weekend at the Escambia County Equestrian Center. Starting Friday, September 28, through Sunday, September 30, this special show features futurity and palomino classes along with the regular show schedule.
The competition starts at 6 p.m. on Friday and at 8 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Spectators are welcome with free admission. For a list of classes or for more information on the event, visit nwfqha.com.
Molino Park Students Learn Fire Safety (With Gallery)
September 27, 2012
Molino Park Elementary School students learned all about fire safety this week. The crew of Engine 1819 from the Molino Station of Escambia Fire Rescue was at the school as part of the Molino Park’s annual “Fire Safety Days”.
Pictured: First graders at Molino Park Elementary learn about fire safety Wednesday. Submitted photo by Sara Calhoun for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Hundreds Of Students Gather To Pray At The Pole (With Photo Gallery)
September 26, 2012
Hundreds of students gathered to pray at their schools in across the area Wednesday morning during the annual See You at the Pole event.
“The students at Northview come from every type of household, whether it’s high or low income, high or low morals, high or low beliefs in God,” said Northview student Ashton Gibbs. “Even if God used this day to save one person, it’s worth all the trouble and effort to put it together. If students were to just let go and let God on this day, we could see a change in the entire county.”
Students gathered as school began to pray in the non-denominational event. See You at the Pole is a student-initiated, student organized, and student-led event. Students prayed for their school, friends, teachers, government and the nation.
“I think See You at the Pole is a very important and profound day of prayer nationwide. Students gather around their school’s flagpole, hand in hand, and simply worship, pray, and cry out to Jesus whether it be outwardly or inside their heart,” Northview student Alison Bardin said. “What Christians need to realize is that they do not need to just pray on that set day, they need to pray daily, for God is always listening and wanting to help those that cry out to Him.”
“Having that reputation and personal relationship with God is the only thing I feel good about myself at the end of the day, because God is good all the time, and all the time God is good. I’d love to see a change in this school, and it’s only a matter of giving up yourself before God and you’ll see a change. It’s that simple,” Gibbs said.
“Its important to pray for our leaders to allow God to lead them in the right direction,” said Taylor Brook, another Northview student. “Also, its an important time to pray for students who are uprising leaders in this community.”
Pictured: See You at the Pole gatherings this morning at Ernest Ward Middle School (top), Northview High School (inset), and West Florida High (below). NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Community Mourns Loss Of Scott Nelson, Father Of Fallen Marine
September 26, 2012
The North Escambia area is mourning the loss of Scott Nelson of Bratt who passed away Monday.
Scott Nelson was the father of LCpl Travis Nelson who was killed in action August 18, 2011, in Afghanistan. Scott and his wife Beckie could not stand the thought of spending their first Christmas at home without their Marine. They decided to give back to the communities that had supported them so much following their tragic loss.
The Nelson family, along with a small army of volunteers, prepared and delivered about 125 meals on Christmas day for elderly, shut-in and needy people in the Bratt, Atmore and surrounding areas. It was all to honor the memory of Travis.
“He really was our hero,” Scott Nelson said just before Christmas.
Scott and the Nelson family established a scholarship in their son’s name to benefit outstanding seniors involved in either the Northview or Pace High School ROTC program or in the Young Marines of Pensacola. They family also worked to purchase a memorial that stands in honor of their fallen Marine at the LCpl. Travis M. Nelson Park in Bratt.
Scott Nelson and the Nelson family were named NorthEscambia.com Persons of the Year for their unselfish sacrifices.
On May 3, Nelson took part in a National Day of Prayer observance held in Century.
“I pray for the safe return of our troops,” said Nelson as he prayed for the military and local law enforcement, firefighters and EMT’s. “And for the families…only You can provide comfort in the their hearts.”
The following day, he received the diagnosis that he had cancer.
Funeral services for Scott Nelson were held Wednesday at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home in Atmore.
For the complete obituary, click here.
Pictured: Scott and Beckie Nelson remember their son, LCpl Travis Nelson, shortly after he was killed in action in August 2011. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.