Escambia Master Gardeners Grow Endowment Fund
March 19, 2022
When Ann Luther’s friend asked in 2008 if she wanted to take Master Gardener classes through the UF/IFAS Extension Escambia County office, she had no idea it would become one of her passions.
“I don’t know why, but I’d never heard of it,” Luther said. She had, to be fair, spent years moving from place to place as a military spouse, eventually retiring in Pensacola from a career as an elementary educator and becoming a part-time CPR instructor. Naturally, the teaching aspects of the Florida Master Gardener Volunteer program appealed to her. “I had always liked to garden, but I was never in one place long enough to put much in the ground,” she added.
After completing the course and becoming a UF/IFAS Extension Escambia County Master Gardener Volunteer in 2009, Luther vowed to make people aware of the program. Her involvement grew into many areas of the county’s organization throughout the years, including as a board member.
Growing knowledge throughout Florida
The Florida Master Gardener Volunteer program provides local communities statewide with University of Florida-trained volunteers, like Luther, who are passionate about sharing their gardening knowledge. But each program, coordinated through the local UF/IFAS Extension office, also relies upon fundraising to be able to offer those educational opportunities and outreach.
To reduce the fundraising burden for its future members, the Escambia County group set on a mission three years ago to establish an endowment fund. As 2021 closed, ahead of its five-year goal and despite almost two full years of COVID pandemic-related challenges, the fund reached its $30,000 target. This investment will generate over $1,000 each year for the group’s operations.
“We had a very active Master Gardener board at the time this effort started, and they wanted to find a way for future volunteers to spend less time fundraising and more time teaching,” said Beth Bolles, UF/IFAS Extension Escambia County horticulture agent and coordinator of the county’s program.
Escambia County’s volunteers help community members learn more about growing landscape and food plants successfully, sharing information at churches and public libraries, and through homeowners’ associations and garden clubs.
In a recent effort, Bolles shared, a group of Master Gardener Volunteers helped a local Native American tribe begin growing native plants with a significance to Native American culture. Luther said other projects focus on the military community and veterans’ groups; the volunteers include former military members, too.
‘It’s just my happy place’
“When we got this opportunity to ensure that the Master Gardener program continues after those of us in it now are no longer involved, we all thought that this was such an important opportunity to do something for this wonderful program,” said M.J. Ziemba, who’s been a Master Gardener Volunteer since 2018. “It’s not only wonderful for the people who are in the group; it’s wonderful for the whole community because we then take the information that we learn and help share it.”
Unlike Luther, Ziemba had learned of the Master Gardener program long before she became a volunteer. She thought of joining right then, sometime in the 1980s, but with four kids and a career in education, “I just didn’t have the time.”
“As soon as I retired in 2017, I signed up,” Ziemba said. “Working in the garden and being with my garden friends… it’s just my happy place.”
Securing continued services
Like other Florida Master Gardener Volunteer groups around the state, the Escambia County volunteers’ plant sales contribute some of their largest fundraising efforts each year.
In addition to the plant sales, though, Bolles said the group also got creative in trying to reach the endowment goal. They hosted a rummage sale, used planned speaking engagements to promote the fund and encourage donations, and created a set of educational postcards, with 100% of the proceeds going toward the endowment.
And although they’ve reached their initial goal, she added, “we know we’re still planning for the future, so we will continue to add to it.”
Read more about the Escambia County Master Gardeners Endowment at go.ufl.edu/mgvendowment.
>
The Apple Doesn’t Fall Far From The Tree; Escambia Sailor Reenlisted By His Father
March 18, 2022
“I was a freshman in high school when I realized that I wanted to serve my country,” said Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Zachary Melvin, from Escambia County, assigned to USS Gerald R. Ford’s (CVN 78) media department. “We had just moved to Washington state when my father had commissioned in the Navy as a chaplain and was assigned to the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68). I knew I wanted to have a career that I could look back at and be proud of.”
Lt. Cmdr. Eric Melvin, Fleet Logistics Multi-Mission Squadron (VRM) 30’s wing chaplain, based at Naval Air Station North Island, California, reenlisted his eldest son Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Zachary Melvin, on Ford’s flight deck March 9, 2022.
“It was never a question of if I should serve, but rather, when I should serve,” said Zachary. “I knew that I wanted to follow in the footsteps of my father and his father before him. I look forward to continuing that service.”
Zachary said he was not sure what branch he wanted to join and wanted to wait until he finished college to make the decision.
“I realized that the Navy was going to be the best direction for me,” said Zachary. “I began speaking with a recruiter towards the end of my senior year at Pensacola Christian College where I ended up getting my degree in theology.”
Zachary Melvin reported to the Ford in May of 2019. Since reporting, he has participated in many ship milestones, including post-shakedown availability, post-delivery test and trials, carrier qualifications, independent steaming events, Full Ship Shock Trials and a Planned Incremental Availability. Zachary said that he sees himself making a career out of the Navy and has been influenced heavily by his father’s drive and discipline.
“’He has definitely motivated me to push through various obstacles and challenges in life,” said Zachary. “It helps that he has been where I am now and I know that I would not be where I am today without his leadership. I am so inspired by my father’s dedication to our family. He has always been there for me and my siblings alike.”
Eric said that Zachary is well spoken, principled and compassionate. Saying that he has always been a leader at home.
“Zach is a man of strong character,” said Eric. “I believe his empathy for the underdog story has stemmed from having a younger brother with Down syndrome. Without Zach’s leadership and care for his siblings, it would have been difficult to make it through multiple hospital visits and near-death situations with his brother. Our family dynamic would have suffered greatly without him.”
Zachary said that his favorite thing about serving on the Ford has been working with junior Sailors. Seeing them go through some of the same struggles that he endured when he first arrived onboard.
“I have been given the opportunity to have a positive, direct impact on the lives of my junior Sailors,” said Zachary. “Coming from being in various leadership roles in college to being an E-3 on an aircraft carrier has been humbling. Learning to be a good follower has prepared me for being a good leader.”
In the Melvin household military service has been a family tradition going as far back as the civil war. Zachary Melvin’s grandfathers and step-grandfather all served in Vietnam, Chief Quartermaster Robert Melvin (USN Ret.), Ronald Kirkbride (USMC Ret.) and David Curtis (US Army Ret.)
“Military life has been a family tradition for our family for over sixty-five years,” said Eric. “I raised all of my children to love our country and the Navy as a whole. Zach was exposed to Navy life for most of his childhood. I would frequently wake the children up in the morning by proclaiming ‘reveille, reveille, up all hands, heave up and trice out!”’
Eric Melvin began his military career as a machinist mate (nuclear) on USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) in April 1989.
“I was serving on the Roosevelt as a nuke when Zach was born,” said Eric. “The ship was scheduled to get underway on January 21, 1995. With the help of the ship’s chaplain, I was able to stay behind on leave to be at his birth. He was born two days later. With our family’s Naval heritage, I knew there was a strong chance that Zach would follow in my footsteps. I am very proud that he has chosen to become a U.S. Navy Sailor.”
Story by Petty Officer 3rd Class Riley McDowell.
U.S. Navy photos by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Angel Thuy Jaskuloski for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
A Teachable ‘Operation’ – Byrneville Elementary Students Perform Surgeries
March 18, 2022
Students at Byrneville Elementary School performed surgery last week as they studied the human body in science.
In the “Room 41 Surgical Center’, students wore full surgical gear and called each other “doctor” as they were tasked with several surgeries. The organs were created out of playdough and the tools were toothpicks, but students were able to learn and have fun doing it.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Late ‘Matriarch’ Of Century, Ruth Paige, Honored; The Nurse Midwife Delivered Over 2,000 Babies
March 16, 2022
The Century Town Council Tuesday night honored the “matriarch” of the town with a proclamation.
Ruth Paige passed away this month at age 100.
According to the proclamation, “Mama Ruth” was the nurse midwife for Century and surrounding areas for over 70 years and is credited with delivering over 2,000 babies “of all ethnicities”.
“She is gone from this world yet will forever be etched in the hearts of Centurions,” the proclamation from Mayor Ben Boutwell stated.
Kingsfield Elementary Teachers Get Pied In The Face For Relay For Life (With Photo Gallery)
March 15, 2022
Kingsfield Elementary School students recently had a chance to pie their teachers in the face.
It was all part of an annual fundraiser for Relay for Life, and they collected $925.
The top five fundraising classes were
- Stephanie Harris, kindergarten, $178.78
- Natalie Goodwin, fourth grade, $112.12
- Kenli Rowe, fourth grade, $107.69
- Melissa Venable, kindergarten, $100.17
- Adam Clark, fifth grade, $69.42
For a photo gallery, click here.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Byrneville Elementary Names Students Of The Month
March 14, 2022
Byrneville Elementary School recently named their Students of the Month for February.
They are:
- Kindergarten: Kase Calloway and Wykel Thomas
- 1st grade: Ezra Hall and Paris Scott
- 2nd grade: Elsa Faulk and Tammy Glenn
- 3rd grade: Zaylee Baker and Easton Burris
- 4th grade: Dean Marks and Orlayjae Dixon
- 5th grade: Anastacia Cooley and Ethan Carter
Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Ernest Ward Middle School Names Students Of The Month
March 13, 2022
Ernest Ward Middle School recently announced their Students of the Month for December and January.
The January Students of the Month (pictured above, L-R) are Jaycee Miller, Sydney Little and Jackson Simmons.
The December Students of the Month (pictured below L-R) are Nicholas Barry, Brady Beckley and Kayleigh Young.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Tate High AJROTC Places In Multiple Events At Regional Drill Competition
March 10, 2022
The Tate High School AJROTC placed in several events Saturday at the JROTC Regional Drill Competition at Chipley High School.
The Tate High School AJROTC now advances to the State Drill Meet on April 2.
The category, place and commander for each is listed below.
Female Armed Squad
1st Place
Cadet Leventhal
Male Armed Squad
1st Place
Cadet Marshall-Gilley
Male Unarmed Squad
1st Place
Cadet Stegal
Male Unarmed Platoon
1st Place
Cadet Romero
Male Armed Platoon
1st Place
Cadet Jogan
Female Unarmed Platoon
1st Place
Cadet McKay
Female Armed Platoon
1st Place
Cadet Hoffman
Armed Male/Mix Exhibition Platoon
1st Place
Cadet Leventhal
Female Color Guard
2nd Place
Cadet Allgyer
Male Color Guard
3rd Place
Cadet Williams T.
Female Unarmed Squad-
3rd Place
Cadet Doten
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Raelynn Dean Wins Jim Allen Elementary’s 4-H Tropicana Speech Contest
March 10, 2022
Jim Allen Elementary School fourth grader Raelynn Dean was the school’s 4-H Tropicana Speech Contest winner. She also received honorable mention at the county contest. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Photos: Jim Allen Elementary Holds Annual Heart Run
March 7, 2022
Jim Allen Elementary School held their annual Heart Run last Friday.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
