Photos: Fun And Wacky Science, Dr. Zap At The Library
June 16, 2010
“Dr. Zap” presented his fun and wacky view on science Tuesday as the summer reading program series continued at the Century Branch Library.
From toilet paper arches, to children floating on air to the amazement of a young girl that learned she could effortless lift 200 pounds — Dr. Zap taught children about scientific theory in a fun and imaginable way.
(The young lady, by the way, used a level and fulcrum to lift three boys — including her astonished brother — into the air.)
For a NorthEscambia.com photo gallery from the event, click here.
The summer read series at the Century Branch Library will continue each Tuesday at noon as follows:
- June 22 – John Jaramillo, storyteller and dancer
- June 29 – David Stephens, puppetry
- July 6, Ross Mudge, singing patriotic songs
- July 13, Beau Broomall, magician
For more information, contact the Century Branch Library at (850) 256-6217.
Pictured top: Children enjoy learning about science from Dr. Zap Tuesday afternoon at the Century Branch Library. Pictured inset: Dr. Zap. Pictured below: A young lady (right) lifts three boys weighing a combined 200 pounds using a lever and fulcrum. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Hiking Spain: Century Resident Continues Journal
June 15, 2010
We are continuing to follow the journals of Century resident Terri Sanders as she hikes 500 miles across Spain this summer.
As Terri hikes from Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port, France, she will file dispatches from her journal and send pictures when possible for NorthEscambia.com as she hikes the Camino de Santiago — the Way of St. James — to the Atlantic Ocean.
For her first entry, click here, for her second entry, click here, and for the third entry, click here.
June 2 2010
Start; Roncesvalles
Destination; Cizur Menor
Six o’clock this morning our hosts walked up and down the aisles singing a song about the Pilgrims to us. Of course it was all in Dutch since they were volunteers from Holland, but it sounded better than any alarm clock I have ever heard. Then I heard someone say it was raining. Well that is just great! Our second day out here and we get rain. It was at least a light drizzle and it took my mind off of how bad everything hurt.
The last few nights I have had trouble falling asleep. Wine, Tylenol PM, a sleeping pill has done nothing. Of course my body is still on American time.
The book says that you may be feeling stiff after yesterdays climb over the Pyrenees. Ha! What an understatement that is. Feeling stiff would be a welcome feeling over how I feel right now.
The trail today was a gentle downhill across fertile plains. The Rio Erro flows southward to join the Rio Ebro. There was more shade today and plenty of water fountains to quench the thirst of the tired, dry Pilgrim which what we are called. We are repeatedly told “Have a Buenos Camino” which means good hike. We had a steep descent on this relatively flat trail into the town of Zubiri (population 500) which is where I caught the taxi from.
I had sat here for over an hour and I knew the food smelled good. We went inside, took off our packs and went upstairs to the restaurant. We have had very few meals with carbohydrates which causes our energy level to be low. When you go into a restaurant here you are not put at a table by yourself but rather are seated at whatever table has empty chairs.
The pilgrim next to us had a bowl of lentil soup that looked delicious and I knew it was loaded with carbohydrates. Served with the always present slices of bread and a bottle of wine it was a most delicious meal. I believe the Spanish serve wine with every meal whether you want it or not.
We continued on after lunch taking in the rows of beautifully shuttered homes made famous by Ernest Hemmingway. The path today has been mostly made up of natural pathways, and offering more shade. I try to keep sunscreen on my lips but they have blistered anyway. I have had to put duct tape on a few hot spots but have had no actual blisters. Y
esterday I sneezed all day long and I was hoping it was just allergies. Today my head is stopped up, my nose is pouring and on top of being sun burnt I am running a fever. We passed a grocery store where I went in and tried my best sign language to ask the clerk if she had anything for a runny nose. She pointed me down the aisle and I searched high and low without any luck.
Finally Lou came in and got the same directions from her. He looked up and down but had no luck either. The clerk finally got frustrated with us, came marching down the aisle and pulled out a 12 pack of tissue boxes and stuck them under our nose. We left shortly after that so I would not give her a piece of my mind! The rain cleared up after lunch and the sun came out with a vengeance. We wonder if we will ever not hurt again.
The albequer was full tonight so we went on down the road to a hotel. It was more of a bed and breakfast though.
Tonight’s Pilgrim supper was a choice of fish, pork or stew. The inn keeper spoke no English and to get the point across about the pork he would snort! I was all I could do not to laugh out load. Our fellow Pilgrims spoke a little more English so we could carry on somewhat of a conversation. When they would lose us, the look on our face would tell then we were lost and they would slow down. I felt really bad all day today.
The trail was not that hard but it was hard for me to hike and try to breathe at the same time. I made the remark at the table I sure wished I could find someone who could get me an antihistamine. One of our fellow Pilgrims called the waiter over and the next thing I knew he was setting a glass in front of me with a little pack of something to pour in the water. I could recognize part of the word of propion. I figured all it could do was kill me and I felt so bad dying would have been a great improvement. It tasted just like an Alka-Seltzer. He would not take any money for it. I climbed up to the room and collapsed on the bed. I woke up one time to go to the restroom.
Miles 17
Part Of History: Barrineau Park 4-H Club
June 15, 2010
The Barrineau Park 4-H Club has been honored as being the oldest continuing 4-H Club in Florida, and the club has made a special presentation to ensure its history will be preserved.
During Saturday’s Blueberry Jamboree, club members presented a commemorative gavel, book, certificate and other items to the Barrineau Park Historical Society. The historical society will preserve the items in their museum located in the Barrineau Park Community Center.
The Barrineau Park 4-H Club was founded as an agricultural club in 1914 and organized as a 4-H Club in 1917. The club started with a small group of boys under the supervision of the local agricultural agent with about a dozen members. Lewis Floyd of Barrineau Park was one of the early members, remaining in the club until he turned 18 in 1922; he then became one of the club leaders.
Dorothy Gindl Casey remembers her early days in the club. “When I joined, it was a boys’ club and a (separate) girls’ club in the 1930’s,” she said.
Longtime member Francis Gindl has been a member or involved with the leadership of the Barrineau Park club for 47 years.
“They were all good 4-H’ers,” he said of his memories of the club’s early days. “They didn’t get in trouble being in 4-H.”
Gindl’s son Bobby Gindl serves as the modern-day leader of the Barrineau Park 4-H Club, following in the footsteps of his father.
“It has made a huge impact on my life,” the younger Gindl said. “I ended up becoming an agricultural teacher.”
The Barrineau Park 4-H Club meets at 2 p.m. on the third Sunday of the each month at St. Elizabeth’s Catholic Church at 3015 St. Elizabeth Street, near the intersection of Barrineau Park Road and Jacks Branch Road.
The 4-H Club is a community of six million young people across America learning leadership, citizenship, and life skills.
Pictured top: Former 4-H Leader Francis Gindl, Barrineau Park 4-H Club Leader Francis Gindl, and former member Dorothy Gindl Casey. Pictured below: Current Barrineau Park 4-H Club President Austin Dodd, 13, and Inspirational Leader Emily Boutwell, 8. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Food Bank Provides Help In North Escambia, Santa Rosa
June 14, 2010
North Escambia and Santa Rosa residents that need assistance putting food on the table can find the help they need close to home.
Manna Pantries provides a short-term emergency food source for those in need in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties. Food is distributed at seven locations in the two counties, including Century, Molino and Jay.
Nearly 75% of people served in the Emergency Food Program are persons referred to Manna from another program or agency, the majority of whom are in the process of applying for and being certified to receive food stamps. To qualify for food from Manna, people should bring:
- a written referral from the referring agency
- a contact phone number for the worker making the referral
- identification for every member of their household that establishes them in the residence
People who are not receiving or applying for food stamps may also be eligible for Manna’s Emergency Food Program. A person may seek food from Manna by providing proof(paid bills, notice of lay off or termination, decrease in income) of the claimed situation. Identification such as a Social Security card, birth certificate, or report card is required for all claimed members of the household.
For more information about Manna, visit www.mannafoodpantries.org.
MANNA Pantry Locations and Hours of Operation
Molino Pantry (Mobile Pantry Site)
Aldersgate United Methodist Church
6915 N. Hwy. 29
Mondays 10:00 – 12:00 p.m.
Jay Pantry
First Baptist Church
214 South Alabama Street
Tuesdays 9:30 – 11:30 a.m.
Century Pantry
7470 N. Century Blvd.
Intersection of Hwy 29 and Hwy 4W
Thurs – Sat. 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Gonzalez Pantry
Gonzalez Baptist Church
1590 Pauline Street
850.377.0792
Tuesdays 12:00 – 3:00 p.m.
Pensacola Main Pantry
116 E. Gonzalez Street 32501
850.432.2053
Monday – Friday 2 – 4:30 p.m.
Myrtle Grove/West Pantry
904 North 57th Avenue 32506
(inside Felix Miga Senior Center)
850.377.3970
M/W/F 10 a.m. – noon
Ensley Pantry
St. Peter’s Baptist Church
7761 Kershaw St. 32534
850.477.0118
Thursday 9 – 11:30 a.m.
Milton Pantry
Community of Christ Church
110 Raymond Hobbs Road 32570
Mon & Wed. 9 a.m. – noon
Friday noon – 3 p.m.
Thousands Enjoy Second Blueberry Jamboree (With Photos)
June 13, 2010
Over 4,000 people braved the sweltering heat to attend the second annual Blueberry Jamboree Saturday at the Barrineau Park Community Center.
The free event featured locally grown blueberries, live bluegrass music, dozens of arts and crafts vendors, bingo and even pie eating and blueberry spitting contests. The Kids’ Zone included bounce houses, face painting and educational games.
For a NorthEscambia.com photo gallery from the event, click here.
The Escambia County Farm Bureau Women’s Committee sponsored a Blueberry Jamboree Bake-Off. Click here for photos and results.
Despite the heat and humidity, well over 100 runners completed the 5K Race for the Blueberries. Click here for photos and results.
The second annual Blueberry Jamboree was sponsored in part by NorthEscambia.com, Escambia County Farm Bureau, International Paper, Wind Creek Casino, Faith Chapel Funeral Homes, Navy Federal Credit Union, BagelHeads, Fran’s Diner and Winn Dixie.
Pictured top: A couple dances to bluegrass music Saturday at the second annual Blueberry Jamboree in Barrineau Park. Pictured inset: A giant blueberry. Pictured below: Thousands attended the event. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Mmmm…Second Annual Blueberry Bake-Off Winners Named
June 13, 2010
It was a blueberry lover’s dream Saturday at the second annual Blueberry Jamboree Bake-Off at the Barrineau Park Community Center.
Dozens of cooks entered their tasty pies, cobblers, cakes and other blueberry goodies in hopes of winning cash prizes in the contest sponsored by the Escambia County Farm Bureau Women’s Committee. There was one basic rule — the homemade dessert must have included blueberries as an ingredient.
After the tempting treats were judged and the winners were announced, the public had the opportunity to sample the entries.
The winners of the second annual Blueberry Jamboree Bake-Off were:
Cake Division
1st place Melissa Collier – White Chocolate Cheesecake
2nd place Lukas Snelson – Blueberry Sour Cream Coffee Cake
3rd place Cathy Vanderpol – Vlueberry Sour Cream Pound Cake
Bread, Puddings and Other division
1st place Shelly Olsousky – Blueberry Yum Yum
2nd place Sharon Meharg – Blueberry Pizza
3rd place – Paul Schwartz – Zucchini Blueberry Nut Bread
Pies and Cobbler division
1st place Sabrena Padgett – Double Bottom Blueberry Lemon Supreme Pie
2nd place Cathy Vanderpol – Blueberry Cherry Pie
3rd place Cathy King – Bursting Berries & Orchard Fruit Pie
NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Roberts, Maddox To Wed
June 13, 2010
Don and Laura Smith of Atmore, Ala., and Mike Roberts of Aiea, Hawaii, announce the engagement of their daughter, Stephanie Nicole Roberts, to Walter Thomas Maddox, son of Bob and Diane Maddox of Tuscaloosa, Ala.
The bride-elect is the granddaughter of James and Jackie Presley of Atmore and Malcolm and the late Willie Mae Roberts of Bay Minette, Ala.
The prospective groom is the grandson of the late Robert Maddox and Winnie Maddox of Fayette, Ala., and the late Tommy and the late Ruby Maddox of Jackson, Ala.
Stephanie is a graduate of Escambia County High School and a graduate of the University of Alabama. She earned a bachelor’s of art degree in public relations and is currently the director of sports marketing and public relations at the Tuscaloosa Convention and Visitors Bureau.
Walt is a graduate of Central High School and a graduate of the University of Alabama-Birmingham. He earned his bachelor’s degree in political science and his graduate degree in public administration. Walt is currently serving his second term as Mayor of Tuscaloosa.
The wedding will take place June 26 at 4 o’clock in the afternoon at First Baptist Church in Atmore, Ala.
All friends and family are invited to attend the joyous occasion.
Cat Food For Lunch: Century Resident Continues 500 Mile Hike Across Spain
June 12, 2010
We are continuing to follow the journals of Century resident Terri Sanders as she hikes 500 miles across Spain this summer.
As Terri hikes from Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port, France, she will file dispatches from her journal and send pictures when possible for NorthEscambia.com as she hikes the Camino de Santiago — the Way of St. James — to the Atlantic Ocean.
For her first entry, click here. And for her second entry, click here.
June 1 2010
Start; St. Jean Pied a Port
Destination; Roncesvalles
Just as I remembered Lou was up at the crack of dawn. Back home I had been getting up early for practice since my morning does not start until 8ish. I was well rested and much relieved to be here. The morning air was brisk but the sky was a beautiful blue. There are 3 separate paths over the Pyrenees Mountains into Spain.
Of course Lou chose the most arduous one.
It is also the one with the most spectacular views. This path also benefits Pilgrims because the sun does not penetrate into the Valcarlos Valley until later in the day. We knew it was going to be a steep climb today. The worst one of the whole trip. After today the trail is relatively flat. As old as I am one would think that when I hear the word ”relative” that red flags should go up.
However Lou and I had hiked part of the Appalachian Trail and he knew what flat meant, or so I thought. I had not brought my hiking poles with me because on a relatively flat trail they would be pretty useless and just be extra weight. I had gotten my pack weight down to 22.4 pounds. That was before I let my new found friend back at the Madrid airport convince me that I would not need a sleeping bag. I dropped 2 more pounds ditching my sleeping bag.
He was meeting his friend Ronnie to send her off on her Camino. He was from Gainesville, Florida, and figured we could get together later to retrieve my bag. Will I ever learn to just trust my own judgments?
Anyway back to the day’s hike. The cobbled stones leading out of the city were easy to walk on. The farm land reminded me of being in rural Florida. If you didn’t see the building you would think you were in the states. Today’s hike is 19 kilometers. Metric were not taught to us when I was in school. I know two things about kilometers. A 5K run is 3.2 miles and a 10K run is 6.2 miles.
Our climb today would give us an elevation gain of 1450 meters over 25 kilometers. No matter if it is in miles or kilometers it was going to be one big long grueling day.
The guide book says that this route is a veritable baptism of fire into the El Camino and Spain and I began to believe it. We are encouraged to stretch our physical as well as our spiritual muscles as we climb. We are supposed to be able to sleep soundly tonight and reflect on our inner purpose for this journey, and if the purpose wasn’t clear we were to ask for clarity.
I didn’t need to wait until tonight to ask for clarity, I needed a divine revelation right now to help me get though today’s hike. Somehow I had left my hat at home so I had nothing to shade my face or the top of my head. Our reward was a clear day with stunning views although you can only see so many stunning views before you get bored. The thickly wooded countryside gave way to open hills and moorlands.
We stop several times to catch our breath and try to give our pounding heart a rest. I was extremely glad Lou had put on about 30 extra pounds since the last time I saw him. I seem to remember going up and up and up. All the while I am telling myself that this is the hardest day we will have.
There are lots of Pilgrims on the Camino but very few Americans. We are told Buenos Camino which means good way time and time again. We would climb for a couple hours then find some shade to rest in for a few minutes. Like any other climb, you think you can see the top only to have the trail turn and continue to go up.
At one point a herd of sheep came across the road in front of us then turned and climbed the bank to greener pastures. The lead sheep had a bell on and I guess the rest of the sheep followed him. That was the first wildlife we saw on the trail. Later on we would see cows and horses along the road. It must be free range out here.
At lunch we stopped at a shaded place and pooled our resources. Lou had done some grocery shopping yesterday while waiting on me. He had several cans of some sort of meat and some cheese. I had some bread and left over cups of yogurt. Lou opened a can of whatever it was, it looked like tuna fish. Neither of us had a spoon or knife so we used the broken handle of a little plastic spoon I had to scoop the meat out onto the bread, topped with a slice of cheese it was almost fit to eat.
We are sitting there eating when a Pilgrim came by. He spoke very little English. He picked up the can of mystery meat, howled with laughter and told us we were eating cat food. My stomach turned over and it was all I could do not to throw everything I had just eaten up.
The saving grace was that I knew there was no water to clean up afterward with so I just lay down and tried to think about something else. Frenchie took the can over to his friends and they too howled with laughter. I kept hoping he would confess he was jut pulling our leg, but he never did. I told Lou I would share his cheese with him but he could have the cans of meat!
We finally came in sight of our resting place for the night. It was a magnificent stone building with 60 bunk beds in it. Every other bed had a isle so two bunk beds were pushed together. Lou went down to make reservations for our Pilgrim meal while I unpacked my pack and made my bed for the night .Our reservations were at 7:00.
We joined the others in line and were escorted to our table. Another American, a young guy by the name of Ryan was seated with us. They just keep filling up the tables until there are no more empty spots. We had a bottle of wine and a bottle of water. Our first course was some sort of soup, I have no idea what it was but it tasted pretty good.
Then we could choose from trout or stuffed peppers for the main course with French fries. Since I had already seen the trout and knew it came to the table with its head still on I choose the stuffed peppers. I do not like to eat the head of anything with the head still on except crawfish, I ordered the stuffed peppers.
They bring out this plate with three tiny stuffed peppers and some sort of red sauce. Thankfully there was a basket of bread that would fill me up. We had a slice of vanilla ice cream with strawberry sauce over it to finish out the dinner. Lou ate my French fries since I could only manage a few. I do not have any kind of attachment to French fries. I guess I cooked too many of them when I was working at a fast food place in my younger years.
After dinner we hobbled back over to the hostel where we paid 6 Euros for a bed. I will say that this bunch of hikers is a whole lot quieter than the Appalachian Trail hikers. It was lights out at 10:00 sharp and the doors were locked. Everything thing hurts tonight. I hurt in places I didn’t know I had.
Miles 14.9 (I felt we had hiked a hundred and fourteen.)
Head Graduates From Basic Training
June 12, 2010
Air Force Airman Derek J. Head graduated from basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base, 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.
He is the son of Nicki Qualls of Highway 4, Jay. Head is a 2008 graduate of Jay High School.
North Escambia, Santa Rosa Produce To Be Sold At Area Food World Stores
June 10, 2010
Beginning next week, shoppers will be able to purchase local produce grown in North Escambia and Santa Rosa County at their local Food World.
Produce grown locally and marketed by the Panhandle Fresh Marketing Association will be available in 20 Food World and Bruno’s supermarkets in Northwest Florida and South Alabama, including stores in Pensacola and Atmore.
Panhandle Fresh already handles the marketing, the insurance and logistics of getting produce like sweet corn from Walnut Hill to Wal-Mart. Panhandle Fresh secures the orders from Wal-Mart and works with local farmers to coordinate the produce delivery. And beginning Tuesday, June 15, the produce will be available in the Food World and Bruno’s stores.
Panhandle Fresh sits between the farmer and the chain stores, providing the $3 million in liability insurance, for instance, that Wal-Mart requires. The group also provides the marketing, works to secure shelf space for the products, takes care of most paperwork and bills the chain store for the produce. The farmer delivers his goods, bills Panhandle Fresh and receives a check for the fresh goods.
“We’re excited about partnering with Panhandle Fresh to promote our local farmers and their products in our stores,” said Tony Albano, a representative from Southern Family Markets, which owns the Food World and Bruno’s stores in the area. “From harvest to our stores, in some cases within a day, you just can’t beat the quality of fresh and local produce.”
The big grocery stores get the freshest product possible from local farms, and the local farmers that participate get a much needed financial boost.
Pictured top: Panhandle fresh product in an area Wal-mart. Pictured inset: Steve’s Sweet Corn from Walnut Hill was just one of the products that Panhandle Fresh worked to get from area fields into retail giant Wal-Mart. Pictured bottom middle: Panhandle Fresh greens being sold in an area Wal-Mart. Submitted and NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.