Jay Nurse Named A ‘Legend’
March 8, 2012
A Jay Hospital employee has been recognized as a Baptist Health Care Legend — a team member who goes above and beyond to improve the quality of life for people in the communities served by the organization.
A nurse is a caregiver 24 hours a day, seven days a week and 365 days a year. Why? Someone who cares about helping others can’t just turn off feelings of compassion. Patsy Jackson is a prime example.
While on a leisurely motorcycle ride one Saturday, Patsy, an R.N. administrator at Jay Hospital, and her husband stopped to eat at a seaside restaurant. Patsy noticed a woman sitting nearby who did not look well. She kept her eye on the woman who eventually slumped over in her chair. Immediately to the rescue, Patsy ran to the table and helped lower the woman to the floor where she did compressions and the family member did mouth-to-mouth. Restaurant staff retrieved a defibrillator and Patsy hooked up the device and continued CPR until an ambulance arrived and took the woman to be treated.
On another occasion, a patient arrived by EMS to the emergency department in full code. The patient’s elderly wife was very distraught, helpless and traumatized by the situation. She was terrified of riding in a helicopter, but her husband needed to be quickly transported for care. Patsy drove the woman to the hospital, sat with her for five hours and interpreted information so that she could understand and be comforted by the care her husband was receiving.
Patsy’s presence was a blessing for two people who will never forget her expert care even off the clock.
VPK Registration Underway At Bratt, Jim Allen, Molino Park
March 6, 2012
Voluntary Pre Kindergarten registration is underway at three North Escambia schools for children that will be four on or before September 1, 2012.
The VPK program is offered in North Escambia at Bratt, Jim Allen and Molino Park elementary schools. Parents and guardians may register their children at the schools between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m.
Parents must bring the following documents in order to register their child: child’s birth certificate, proof of residency (utility bill or rent receipt, within the last ninety days), photo identification of the parent registering the child, current immunization record, and a physical within one year of August 20, 2012. Parents will complete the State VPK application as part of the enrollment process.
Registration will continue through March 30. Children whose parents reside in the selected school attendance areas will receive priority for enrollment.
For more information, contact the Title I Office at (850) 595-6915, Bratt Elementary at (850) 327-6137, Jim Allen Elementary at (850) 937-2260 or Molino Park Elementary at (850) 587-5265.
College Students Spend Their Spring Break Helping Others
March 6, 2012
A group of college students from Philadelphia are spending their spring break doing volunteer work for the Escambia County (Ala.) Habitat for Humanity. The 18 students from Holy Family University are spending their nights at the Brewton YMCA and their days repainting the homes of two elderly widows in Atmore.
The students are working at the Smith home on Peacock Lane in Robinsville and and O’Farrell home on Old Bratt Road.
The students will be working hard but will also get a taste of” Southern hospitality”. Tuesday, they will have a short day of work and then enjoy a picnic , hayride and “History of Atmore” tour hosted by the Atmore Area Chamber of Commerce. Thursday evening, they will be treated to a beach theme meal and painting party at the Hourglass in Brewton. Friday, the students plan to enjoy a day at the beach before beginning their trip back home.
The students are participating in Habitat’s national alternative break program, Collegiate Challenge. This is the fifth year Escambia County Habitat has hosted college volunteers through the Collegiate Challenge program.
Photo: Azaleas In Bloom
March 5, 2012
Unusually warm winter weather has the North Escambia area looking a lot like spring. Azaleas, like this one in Bratt, are beginning to bloom across the area. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Bratt Students Honored For ‘Diversity’ Poem, Photograph
March 5, 2012
The Escambia County School District held a reception for District PTA Reflections winners recently at the Hall Center. Two students from Bratt Elementary placed in the district contest and their work will go to the state level for judging.
Lydia Smith received first place on her literary entry (reprinted below) and Juliana Bryan placed second for her photography entry (pictured bottom of page). The theme of the reflections program this year was “Diversity”.
Different people
In this world,
Various looks
Everywhere around you,
Red, yellow, black, and white,
Small and big, man and woman,
In every way you’re different
To everyone else
You have diversity.
………………………– Lydia Smith
Pictured top: Bratt PTA Reflections second place winner Juliana Bryan (left), Superintendent Malcolm Thomas and first place winner Lydia Smith. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Correction: Byrneville Community Center
March 4, 2012
A few hours after we published photos of a misspelled sign on the Byrneville Community Center, the sign was repainted last Thursday. The misspelled sign can be seen in the photo to the left; the corrected sign is pictured above and below. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Weekend Gardening: Caring For Camellias
March 3, 2012
One of Northwest Florida’s most reliable and rewarding shrubs is the camellia. Providing dark green leaves throughout the year, gardeners are rewarded in late winter or early spring with a variety of beautifully colored and shaped flowers. Camellias tend to thrive in our acidic soil but they do require some routine maintenance.
Pick up the fallen flowers. A fungal disease known as petal blight will rapidly turn entire flowers brown. If a camellia has petal blight, remove and dispose of all blighted flowers both on the plant and on the ground. You may also consider discarding the old mulch around the shrub and apply a layer of fresh mulch. This practice sometimes helps prevent fungal spores from blowing back onto new flowers. One of the best ways to prevent this disease is to pick up and destroy fallen blooms. Flowers will continue to drop for several weeks, so it’s important to pick up blooms several times a week.
Scout for tea scale. One of the most common insect pests of camellia is a scale insect known as tea scale. Check the underside of leaves regularly for this annoying pest. These small, sessile, white, thin, sap-sucking insects can build up large numbers if you do not regularly inspect your plants and take corrective measures when scale is first found. Often your first clue will be spotty yellowing on the upper surface of the leaves. Horticultural oil can be used in the winter time if used before blooming or in spring after blooming. Do not apply horticultural oil when near-freezing temperatures may be expected. Always carefully read and follow pesticide label directions before use.
Expect some leaves to fall in the spring. Camellias are “evergreen” meaning that they have leaves on the shrub year round. However, as individual leaves age, they will fall from the shrub and are replaced with new leaves in the spring. It is not unusual for camellia to drop up to 30 percent of their leaves. As long as new leaves are developing, there is no need for concern.
Camellia can be pruned after they flower. The most important reason for pruning camellias is to improve the overall health of the plant. Many times, camellias that have not been pruned in a few years will develop dead or deteriorating twigs. Removing the dead and dying limbs will minimize the possibility of diseases such as “dieback” and will also allow the plant to re-concentrate its energies. In many instances, camellias that have been neglected for a number of years will become infested with scale insects. Pruning is an effective way to provide for better coverage of chemical sprays and increase air circulation.
Lichens are warning signs. Lichens are gray-green to green mossy growths on the stems of old, neglected camellias. The lichen is a combination of a fungus and an alga that grows symbiotically. They are not parasitic to the camellia. Affected plants usually need fertilizing, watering, and mulching for better growing conditions.
Fertilizer applications help to achieve maximum performance. Apply fertilizer in the spring after blooming but before new growth starts. With many fertilizers, small amounts at frequent intervals are better than heavy applications. Special camellia fertilizers are available at your local stores. One application in early spring after blooming should be followed by a second application in mid June to early July. Scatter the fertilizer evenly on top of the mulch and away from the main stem of the plant. Water the fertilizer into the soil. Do not fertilize after July, so the plants will have a longer time to harden off and avoid freeze damage.
Theresa Friday is the Residential Horticulture Extension Agent for Santa Rosa County.
Junior Miss Ernest Ward Middle School Named (With Photo Gallery)
March 3, 2012
Jadlyn Agerton was named Junior Miss Ernest Ward Middle School Friday during the school’s annual pageant.
First runner-up was Raegan Harrell; second runner-up was Lillie Allen; and third runner-up was Alexys Smith. Elizabeth Wright was named Miss Congeniality, while Agerton received the Physical Fitness Reward. The Poise and Appearance award was presented to Harrell.
Picture top: (L-R) Second Runner-up Lillie Allen, First Runner-up Raegan Harrell, Junior Miss Ernest Ward Middle School Jadlyn Agerton and Third Runner-Up Alexys Smith. Pictured left: Agerton awaits the judges’ decision backstage during Friday night’s Junior Miss Ernest Ward Middle School pageant. Pictured below: Allen is crowned third runner-up. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Spelling Counts: Can You Spot What’s Wrong With This Sign?
March 1, 2012
The sign over the entrance at the county-owned Byrneville Community Center was recently repainted — with a spelling error. Can you spot what’s wrong with the sign in these photos?
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Molino Park Students Collect Over 200,000 Pop Tabs
February 29, 2012
Molino Park Elementary School students collected tens of thousands of pop tabs — those little pull tabs off the tops of aluminum drink cans — to benefit the Ronald McDonald House.
So far this year, students collected 149 pounds of the pop tabs that have been delivered to the Ronald McDonald House. The money from recycling the tabs are used by the facility to help pay their water bill.
According to the Ronald McDonald House, there are 1,430 tabs per pound — meaning Molino Park’s 149 pound donation would contain an estimated 213,000 tabs. Placed end to end, they would stretch nearly 3.5 miles.
Rachel Veneble’s first grade class collected the most pop tabs — 21 pounds.