Bratt’s ‘Mayor Pro Tem’ Issues Homecoming Parade Permit
October 7, 2010
A “Community of Bratt Parade Permit” allowing the Northview High School DCT Class to hold a Homecoming Parade was signed Wednesday at Northview High School.
The “permit” was issued by “Defacto Mayor Protem” Marion Cooper of Cooper’s Grocery fame. The protem mayor was standing in for “Mayor” Donnie Bass who was unavailable Wednesday morning due to “important” Bratt business.
The Second Annual Northview Homecoming Parade will roll at 1:00 Friday afternoon from Bratt Elementary to Northview, where a pep rally will follow. There are currently about 40 floats, bands and other units scheduled to be in the parade.
To enter the parade for free, contact Tommy Weaver at (850) 327-6681 ext. 254.
Pictured above: Bratt’s “Defacto Mayor Protem” Marion Cooper (left) signs the Community of Bratt Parade Permit Wednesday at Northview High School as DCT Class sponsor Tommy Weaver witnesses. Pictured below: The parade permit. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Flomaton Students Learn Fire Safety
October 6, 2010
Students at Flomaton Elementary School got a lesson in fire safety Tuesday morning. Flomaton Fire Lt. Jeremy Lee (pictured) demonstrated how a fireman might look when rescuing a child from a burning home. The children also learned about “Stop, Drop and Roll”, fire prevention and had the opportunity to meet Smokey the Bear.
For a NorthEscambia.com photo gallery from the event, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Weekend In Photos
October 4, 2010
There was a lot going on in the North Escambia area this weekend, and NorthEscambia.com was there with hundreds of photos. Click any of the items below to see a photo gallery.
Photos: Northview Tribal Beat Band
October 4, 2010
Editor’s note: We took all of these photos of the the Tribal Beat Friday night, but due to a mistake on our part, they were not posted in a photo gallery we ran Saturday morning from the football game. We apologize for the error.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Photo Gallery: Thousands Attend Jay Peanut Festival
October 3, 2010
The 21st Annual Jay Peanut Festival attracted thousands to Jay this weekend.
For a NorthEscambia.com photo gallery from Saturday at the Jay Peanut Festival, click here.
The Peanut Festival featured something fun for everyone including arts and crafts, antiques, inflatable rides, rock climbing wall, pony rides, hay rides, train rides and much more. The Gabbert’s 1930’s Farm Museum was also be open for tours. There was plenty of food too…kettle corn, BBQ, hamburgers, roasted corn, apple dumplings and more.
And, of course, peanuts were the star of the festival, and were will be plenty of green peanuts and boiled peanuts as well as fried, roasted and candied peanuts.
The event is dedicated to the memory of Melissa Caroline Gabbert, who died of cancer in 1990.
Pictured: Thousands attended the Jay Peanut Festival Saturday. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
Featured Recipe: Death By Oreo Cupcakes
October 3, 2010
This weekend’s featured recipe from Janet Tharpe is Death by Oreo Cupcakes. Chocolate and Oreos? What could be better? These cupcakes are a mouthwatering combo of chocolate and and Oreo. And cream cheese.
To print today’s “Just a Pinch” recipe column, you can click the image below to load a printable pdf with a recipe card.
Fall Gardening: Time To Tackle The Chaos And Prepare For Winter
October 2, 2010
Towards the end of the growing season, many landscapes are overgrown and untidy. Allowing plants to tower over others can mean the demise of the smaller plant. It’s time to tackle the chaos and prepare for winter.
First and foremost, take a good look at your landscape. If a plant has outgrown its allotted space, perhaps it was the wrong plant in the wrong place. Avoid these types of problems by becoming familiar with a plant before you plant it. While you can try to control the size of the plant to fit its space, it will never be a happy, stress-free plant.
Information on the mature size of a plant and their site requirements can be found in several Extension publications. The Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ (FFL) “Guide to Plant Selection and Landscape Design” is intended for homeowners who want to take the next step and design their own Florida-Friendly landscapes. Included in this book is information on landscape design strategies, a landscape planning worksheet, and the FFL plant list containing many of the UF/IFAS recommended Florida-Friendly plants for each region of the state. It’s available online by clicking here.
Even in a well-planned landscape, though, the gardener’s controlling influence is important. The most useful methods for dealing with especially enthusiastic plants are removing, pruning, supporting or creating barriers to prevent unwanted spreading.
Removing and replacing
Autumn is an excellent time to establish shrubs and trees. Consider removing oversized plants and replacing them with carefully chosen ones that will happily fit within your defined boundaries. Plants that are installed late in the year will develop strong roots systems before hot weather arrives next spring.
Pruning
When it comes to pruning, it’s good to remember that it’s better to prune lightly occasionally as needed, than to allow a plant to get way overgrown and then cut it back severely. A few prudent snips here and there will help keep more vigorous plants from overwhelming their less vigorous neighbors.
Emphasis must be placed on the word “light.” It’s important to remember that late summer pruning may stimulate an additional flush of shoot growth on species which flush several times each year. These shoots could be damaged by an early frost.
Supporting
Another technique to improve the look of an overgrown landscape is staking. Staking or otherwise supporting plants keeps them from leaning or falling over onto others. It helps the tall plant look better, and obviously benefits the plants that would otherwise be covered. The stake should be tall enough to do the job but not be too obvious.
Stakes may simply be placed in such a way that the plant is supported by leaning up against it. On the other hand, it may be necessary to tie the plant to the stake. Typically, twine or plastic ties are used for this purpose. Make sure you tie the lower and upper parts of the plant to the stake to provide proper support.
Other techniques for support include tying twine in a loop all the way around a plant, using a wire cage – this is best done early in the growing season to allow the plant to grow into it – tying a plant to a sturdier, nearby plant or using one of the commercially available support systems.
Barriers
Many perennials and tropical plants spread by underground structures called rhizomes. If growth shows up outside the area you’ve allotted for that plant, promptly dig out the unwanted growth and replant it somewhere else.
Barriers extending at least one foot down into the ground around aggressive spreaders can sometimes help keep them under control. Digging, dividing and replanting clumps of aggressive spreaders annually is another good way to make sure they stay put.
Overgrown shrubs can cause a house to lose its curb appeal. Proper, regular control measures should be employed to keep a landscape looking its best.
Theresa Friday is the Residential Horticulture Extension Agent for Santa Rosa County.
Photo Gallery: Ernest Ward Presents Talent Show
October 2, 2010
Ernest Ward Middle School held their annual talent show Friday night at the school.
The following awards were presented:
Critics Choice Awards – First Place, Lori Harrell singing “I Wonder”; Second Place, Annie Bobo, Megan Bryan, Tamara Wise, comedy routine “I’m A Dork”; Third Place (tie) Morgan Wiggins, twirl routine; Koriaun Lewis, singing “You Raise Me Up”.
Peoples Choice Award – Annie Bobo, Megan Bryan, Tamara Wise for their comedy routine “I’m A Dork”.
For a photo gallery from the talent show, click here.
Participants in the Ernest Ward Middle School talent show were:
Katrina Rau; Amy Branch; Deasia Fountain, Felcia Muhammand, Flenequa Mitchell; Morgan Wiggins, Morgan Pope, Aliyah Creamer, Koriaun Lewis, Morgan Packer, Shania Ward, McKenzie Nassar, Lindsey Gindl, Kaelyn Coffey, Haley Coffey, Haley Brown, Annie Bobo, Megan Bryan, Tamara Wise, Gavin Coon, Jason Ogle, Abbie Johnson, Lori Harrell, Justin Moore and Amber Freeman.
Pictured top: Annie Bobo, Megan Bryan, Tamara Wise present their “Peoples Choice Award” comedy routine “I’m A Dork” Friday night during the annual Ernest Ward Middle School talent show. Pictured inset: Lori Harrel won the “Critics Choice Award”. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Photos: Molino Park 5th Graders Present “Cooking It!”
October 1, 2010
Refined sugar isn’t so sweet, but fruit and veggies are good — that’s the message behind a play and puppet show presented today at Molino Park Elementary School.
Molino Park’s fifth graders and professionals from the Pensacola Little Theatre presented “Cooking It!” — an original musical play designed to facilitate healthy eating and address childhood obesity.
For a photo gallery from a Thursday practice, click here.
“If you can’t pronounce it, renounce it,” says character Chef Freda, portrayed by PLT’s Tricia Hartley in the play after the students learn that refined sugar can “hide” behind names like manitol, sorbitol, dextrose and galactose.
But puppet characters Brussels Sprout and Carrot, along with Farmer Mark, spread the word that fruits and vegetables can be a tasty and healthy alternative, especially when sweetened with just a pinch of raw sugar and the flavorful help of the “Spice Girls.”
“Too much sweet stuff in your food is not good for you,” said fifth grader Domonique McNeill. “Sugar hides itself; you have to read the label to learn where the sugar is,” added Kylee Jackson.
The students have practiced all week under the direction of Michelle Hancock, Pensacola Little Theatre’s Beyond Boundaries coordinator.
“We’ve learned how to do a play with real actors,” said Aaron Dees. “It’s been great.”
For a photo gallery from a Thursday practice, click here.
Pictured above and below: Fifth grade students at Molino Park Elementary practice Thursday morning for a Friday performance of “Cooking It!”. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Ernest Ward Photo Gallery: That’s Just Tacky!
September 30, 2010
Wednesday was Tacky Day at Ernest Ward Middle Middle, part of Spirit Week for the Eagles.
Several other special dress days are planned:
- Thursday — Team Day
- Friday — Camo Day
- Monday — Twin Day
- Tuesday — Blue and Gold Day
For more Tacky Day photos, click here.
Pictured above and below: Some the tacky dress Wednesday for Tacky Day at Ernest Ward Middle School. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
