Continuing Series: Century Resident’s Journal As She Hikes Across Spain
June 10, 2010
Century resident Terri Sanders is on a 500 mile hike across Spain this summer, and she is taking NorthEscambia.com readers along.
Terri, former owner of the Country Bumpkin and current purveyor of fudge at festivals and events across the area, calls it the “trip of a lifetime”.
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. here is no Internet access between towns, but she will send us her journal entries as she arrives in towns along the way that do have Internet access — so Terri’s journal entries on NorthEscambia.com may be delayed by a few days.
For her first entry, click here.
In today’s journal entry from Spain, it’s May 31. Terri is making her way to the starting point for her hike, running into lots of language barriers as she tries to make her way to southern France.
May 31, 2010
Surprisingly I slept pretty well. The first thing I noticed when I got up was that the window in the room actually opened up. After swinging it open the fresh air rushed in and filled the room with the scent of spring. I leaned out the window amazed that there was no screen no were there any signs warning me that I might fall out of the window!
I went downstairs to see if the day clerk at the desk spoke better English than the clerk last night. I was in luck she did speak English well enough to tell me that there was no way to get to St. Jean Pied A port from here unless I took a taxi which would cost several hundred dollars went back upstairs and told Ronnie. She is planning on getting on the Camino here rather than go to St. Jean.
She is afraid she will not be able to finish the Camino by her deadline. There was a continental breakfast here and I actually was able to order hot green tea to go with me meal. I only recognized a few of the items on the table. There were trays with a selection of thinly sliced meats. At least I assumed they were meats.
I got a croissant, picked up some sliced pineapple, a kiwi and a pack of honey along with a glass of orange juice. I made myself a nice little sandwich only to find that the slice of pineapple was a slice of cheese. It was a good breakfast anyway.
There was another family eating and when they heard us say hello they came over to talk to us. The older gentleman is walking the Camino with his wife and granddaughters slacking him every day. His Spanish conversation with the clerk got me the information to catch a bus outside the hotel into Pamplona, where I could catch a bus to Zubiri and from there catch a cab to St .Jean where I am to meet up with Africa. Plan A is for us to meet at the bus station in St. Jean today. Plan B is for us to meet at the bus station in St.Jean today. If plan A or BB fails, plan C is to call the authorities and report the other as missing!
As hard as I tried I could not get the family to give me a ride to St. Jean after they dropped the grandpa off. So much for the art of yoging in Spain. We were almost out of the hotel door when the clerk caught us asking us if we were leaving now to which we replied yes. She said we needed to pay for our room. We thought we had paid for it last night when we checked in, but apparently here you pay in the morning when you leave.
I bid Ronnie goodbye and sat my pack down at the bus stop. Across the road I kept noticing people walking into this obtuse little door, then come out a few minutes later with a loaf of bread wrapped partially in wax paper. No advertising, no signs except for one above the door that said Alimentcion. I grabbed my camera and decided to go across and take a picture of someone coming out with a loaf of bread.
I can’t even go into Wal-Mart and come out with just a loaf of bread! The next person that came out was a guy and as best I could I tried to explain to him that I just wanted to take his picture with the bread in his hand. Obviously he thought I was trying to take or beg his bread from him and rattled off lots of words and lots of finger pointing at the door. When he finally calmed down enough and saw the camera in my hand, he leaned against his car and gave me a smile. I snapped the camera and walked away.
As I waited for the bus I noticed all of the houses had window boxes in them and they were all filled with petunias. I guess it is spring over here. The sky is overcast and a light drizzle started. An older lady came up and smiled at me as I moved my pack off of the bench so she could sit down. The bus came and she motioned for me to follow her. I showed the driver the note that the hotel clerk had wrote out for me and he assured me I was on the right bus.
The buses here are worse than the taxis in New York. I was sure we were going to crash before we ever got to downtown Pamplona. I was intrigued to find that people really do hang their laundry out of the windows to dry. I thought that was staged for the benefit of a film crew. The laundry hanging out the high windows was almost as colorful as the window boxes on the lower windows.
Gradually one by one we picked up and dropped off passengers until the bus pulled over, the driver got his coat and got off the bus. Not a word to me until just at the last minute he said this was the end of the route. I asked him where the bus station was and he motioned down the road with his hand and walked off. I guess the courtesy ends with the shift change.
All I could do was begin walking in the general direction he sent me and hoped I would not end up walking to St.Jean today. After a few blocks, I stopped a young man and got the point across I was looking for the bus station. I got the same response from him, a way of his hand, a couple of sentences and he was off. I kept walking.
Finally after a few blocks I stopped a man in a three piece suit I managed to get across to him I was looking for the bus station spoke French with only a few words of English, but he recognized the words bus station. Rather than give me a general wave of his hand, he turned around and motioned me to follow him down the street all the while trying to find words to tell me where I needed to go.
He finally said black and motioned with his hands tall and round and pointed me down the street, smiled and turned and walked away. I started walking again and lo and behold a few blocks away I could see tall black columns along the road. It took me some back tracking to find out how to get across the roads. There are barriers all along the sidewalks so there is no jay walking.
I had walked completely by the building looking for a door to the inside but all I found were stairs and some signs that I could not read. I smelled diesel fuel though so I knew I was close to some buses somewhere!
After going down a few flights of stairs I walked out onto the lot where buses park. No sign of a ticket booth or anything but I knew I had to be close .Twists and turns and finally I saw the terminal. There were a couple ticket windows to choose from; of course I got into the wrong line. The clerk looked at my paper and sent me around the corner to an information window where I finally met someone who spoke pretty good English.
She read my note, and sent me back around the corner to the window next to where I had just come.
I got my ticket and figured out I had 3 hours to wait for the bus. Everything here is military time. I walked around the station looking for the bathrooms. It took two trips around before I found them. The doors going into them looked like office doors. The station here is similar to the airports back home. Small stores selling a variety of wares. A couple small cafes, and a beer stand.
I saw a store front that was familiar to me…Kentucky Fried Chicken with a Pizza Hut right next door. The thought of a cold drink got me headed in the direction of the store, but when I got there I realized it was too early in the morning for them to be open. I went back to the terminal and opened my net book up since the signs said Wi Fi. Every connection I tried required a password. I noticed that my battery was almost completely gone and set out looking for a place to plug it in to charge it. I had no luck.
I sat and watched the news in Spanish picking up the name Clint Eastwood but could not read the rest of the ticker along the bottom of the TV. I also was able to see that there were blue skies called for the next few days. I wondered if the weatherman had looked outside.
Out in the parking garage I noticed two Pepsi machines side by side. Bingo! I walked over to them and sure enough there was an electrical outlet. I dug my laptop out squeezed in between both drink machines and plugged my computer in. I got my little rubber pad out of my pack, put it on the floor and sat down. I figured all anyone could do would be to come over and make me unplug and leave. I sat there until close to the time my bus would leave.
I tried to get on one bus, but after looking at my paper, he sent me to another bus. A much smaller bus. I was the only passenger. I breathed a sigh of relief. I was on my way to St. Jean and I was in one piece. The driver let me know where to get off, and showed me a pub where she said I could find help. There is something about hiking trails and pubs. I always seem to end up in a pub where ever I am hiking.
I showed the note to the bartender, he showed me the payphone. Of course I could not read a thing. I held out a handful of coins, he showed me which ones I needed to make a call, and with an exasperated sign gave me the number. In Spanish of course! The look on my face must have been disappointing, because his girlfriend rattled off something to him and he called the taxi for me.
An hour later I was still waiting for the taxi. The bartender pick up his cell phone and calls the taxi. He tells me another ten minutes. I smile and say thank you.
Finally my taxi arrives and wants to drink a cup of coffee before taking off. Not a problem to me, I have spent hours waiting. We finally get going and try to communicate as best we can. I showed him my paper (thank God for that piece of paper) he nods yes and off we go.
The roads remind me of the ones in Tennessee where you meet yourself coming around the corner. As time goes on I begin to think, this is not a short cab ride. Then I start to fret about having enough to pay him. I have some Euros but mostly American dollars. We pull into St. Jean and he looks at my paper again. ”No bus station here” he says.
I wonder then, well why did you bring me here if you knew there was not a bus station here?? Panic begins to set in, and I guess he could see that I was on the brink of having a nervous breakdown right there in his taxi. He pulls over and says we find English speaker. I am thinking we need more than an English speaker now. We need a divine intervention and a bank loan to pay his bill.
He is smiling broadly as he come out of the store and climb into the car, which he had left sitting in the middle of the road. A few more blocks and we pull up into the bus parking lot. He grabs my pack, shaking his head and helps me into it. I pull out my wallet and watch him figure in his head how much I owed him. He says seventy Euros. I have a fifty euro and two five dollar bills and a ten. I offer than to him, but I can see it is not enough. I ask him about an ATM but I guess he was afraid to let me back in his car, because he took what I offered him, kissed both my cheeks and sped away.
I was supposed to meet Lou here today. It never occurred to me that he might not be there. My first stop was at the clerk’s window saying Banyo or bathroom. I took a quick look around but I was in too big of a hurry to take in the fact that there was not another person in the station.
Once I got back inside the station (the bathroom was outside), I looked around and did not see Lou. I knew I was a day short getting here. I was supposed to be here yesterday, but we were meeting here today. Of course the clerks spoke no English or Spanish but now it seemed everyone spoke French.
My Spanish/English dictionary was no help at all. Well it hadn’t really helped me much up to this point anyway. I waited an hour for the next bus from Bayonne which I knew was where Lou was coming from. He was not on the bus and my ability to keep panic from taking over was becoming weaker and weaker.
The station closed at 6:30 and they were adamant that I could not stay inside over night. Sign language does work in a lot of languages! With nothing else to do I walked up the road to a little produce stand and a bar. Now this was a new one on me. Buy produce and beer in the same place! It was pretty close to an open air market.
By this time I was starved and picked up some fresh fruit and yogurt. Putting them on the counter I pulled out my credit card. It seemed you had to spend 15 Euros to use plastic. The young clerk pointed me in the direction of the ATM and off I went. I am carrying 3 cards with money on each one. None of them worked. Then I remembered a bank debit card I had and low and behold it worked. I know there are some of you who cannot believe this but I have never used a debit card in my life.
Now was not a great time to learn. I managed to get some Euros and went back to buy my groceries. I would not allow myself to think any further than a few minutes ahead. I sat down inside and asked if I could charge my laptop. Yes and would I like the password for internet access? Well something good was finally happening to me.
I downloaded my email and the first thing I saw was a Facebook message from my oldest daughter. Lou had been to the bus station that morning and I was not there. In fact he had been there several times looking for me. My daughter is pretty level headed but I not used to getting a phone call at 3:00 am asking her where her mother is. She went into a panic mode.
I had several messages from her telling me to call her or call Lou.I guess she forgot that I did not bring my phone with me. She ended up calling Lou (thank God for caller ID) and after about 30 minute of emails and phone calls from her, she sent me a message saying hold on, stay put, do not move, Lou is on his way!
I was never so glad to see anyone in my life. I am glad he recognized me because I don’t think I would have recognized him. It had been 5 years since I have seen him on the Appalachian Trail. He had been on the trail 6 months and had a full beard and looked pretty rough. We hugged like long lost friends and headed up to the hostel where he was staying. I got a room and we went in search of supper.
Two North Escambia Teachers Receive Top Reading Awards
June 10, 2010
Two North Escambia area teachers were honored at the recent Second Annual Every Child a Reader in Escambia Apple Seeds program.
“It was a real blessing to see these childcare providers and teachers have an evening devoted specifically to them and be publicly recognized for what they do for our youngest children in regards to early learning and emergent literacy,” said ECARE Executive Director Clairen Reese.
Misty Lambeth (pictured right) of Camp Fire USA Century Learning Youth Center was honored as the second runner-up for Teacher of the Year. Carolyn Butler (pictured left) of Camp Fire USA Century Learning Youth Center was a finalist in the top 11 “Best of the Best”.
Teacher of the Year: Stephanie Collins of Montclair Elementary
First Runner Up: Michelle Smith of Wee Children’s Center / West Pensacola Baptist Church
Second Runner Up: Misty Lambeth of Camp Fire USA Century Learning Youth Center
Third Runner Up: Rachel Leavitt of Malena’s Mini School – Pine Forest
Fourth Runner Up – Corrine Vaughn of Vaughn Family Child Care Home
Finalists:
Christy Stevens of Malena’s Mini School One – Pensacola Blvd.
Tammy Smoot of Childcare Network
Carol Jones of Community Action Program Head Start Pensacola
Jennifer Huffaker of Childcare Network
Lucinda Cresap of Wee Children’s Center / West Pensacola Baptist Church
Carolyn Butler of Camp Fire USA Century Learning Youth Center
The Early Learning Coalition recognized the following individuals:
Outstanding Reading Pals tutor / volunteers Barbara Kelly, Leona Bailey, Judi Patrick and Dottie Patrick.
Parents who have gone above and beyond at their child’s early education and care programs:
Tamara Garrett, Martiza Woodfaulk, Pamela McGhee, Marion Skalicky, Stephanie Coleman, Jennifer LaBorde, Erin Dolan, Lillian Riverre, Terry and Richard Soble (foster parents) and Delores Redmond (foster grandparents).
Childcare providers who have gone above and beyond in helping a child create a more effective learning environment
Ashley Benjamin – Alice Williams Child Care
Sabrina Hunter – Alice Williams Child Care
La Margie Allen – Childcare Netowrk (Michigan Ave.)
Teresa Baker – Malean’s Mini School (Pine Forest)
Lillie Thomas – Malena’s Mini School – (Pine Forest)
Dan Mendoza – Jubilee Christian
Cynthia Cash – Malena’s Mini School (Pensacola Blvd.)
Debra Presley – Cokesbury Untied Methodist Preschool
Lasonia Hale – Childcare Netowrk (MIchigan Ave.)
Euwanna Brown – Little Whispers Preschool
Brenda Watkins – Blue Angel Early Learning
Jessica Antoine – Blessed Star
and Jennet Zaborny – Carden Christian Academy
Honorees in the early education field for:
15 years or more:
Judi Schultz – Blessed Star
Annie Mack – First Presbyterian
Pat Crosby – First Presbyterian
17 years or more:
Karen Radford – Blue Angel Early Learning
20 years or more:
Olivia Chen – Blessed Star (20 years)
Cathy Odom – Jubilee Christian (20 years)
Cynthia McPherson – Little Whispers Preschool (21 years)
Margie Anderson – First Presbyterian (22 years)
Georgia Robbins – First Presbyterian (23 years)
Dorothy Kitt – First Presbyterian (23 years)
Yolander Williams – First Presbyterian (24 years)
Merri Jo Owen – Cokesbury (25 years)
Wanda Lett – Alice Williams Day Care (29 years)
Emma Jean Brantley – First Presbyterian (32 years)
Both ECARE and ELCE also honored a wide range of community partners. Both organizations have a mission to help prepare children to enter school ready to learn.
Community Partners recognized by ECARE:
Gulf Power; Regions Bank; Downtown Rotary; International Paper; Barnes and Noble; Leadership Penacola; United Way of Escambia; Wal-Mart,;Baptist Heatlh Care; E.W. Bullock Associates; Avalex Technologies; Landrum Human Resources,;Clark, Partington, Hart, Larry, Bond, and Stackhouse; Kerrigan, Estess, Rankin, McLeod; and McDonald’s.
Community Partners recognized by ELCE:
Michael Johnson State Farm, Joe Leonard State Farm, Downtown Rotary, Kohl’s, Stanley Walker – Postmaster; Gulf Breeze Rotary; International Paper; Escambia County Landfill and Recycle; Wal-Mart Navy Boulevard; and Roxanne Baker – Escambia County School District.
ECARE partnered with The Early Learning Coalition of Escambia for this year’s ceremony at the Crowne Plaza in Pensacola. The theme was “Bee READy to Learn!” . Guest speaker was Pamela Broughton of Malena’s Mini School Pensacola Blvd., the 2009 Apple Seeds Teacher of the Year.
Century Library Summer Reading Series Begins With Chinese Acrobat
June 9, 2010
Kids of all ages enjoyed the acrobat Liang, a Chinese Olympian, spinning plates, balancing cups of water on her chin and even spinning knives Tuesday at Century Branch Library.
For a NorthEscambia.com photo gallery from the event, click here.
It was part of the library’s summer reading program.
The Century Branch Library invites children to celebrate with more summer library programs each Tuesday at noon.
- June 15 – Dr. Zap, fun and wacky
- June 22 – John Jaramillo, storyteller and dancer
- June 29 – David Stephens, puppetry
- July 6, Ross Mudge, sing patriotic songs
- July 13, Beau Broomall, magician
For more information, contact the Century Branch Library at (850) 256-6217.
Written by Delaney, age 9.
Pictured top: Children enjoy Liang, a Chinese Olympian acrobat, at the Century Branch Library Tuesday afternoon. Pictured inset: Lian is reportedly the only woman in the world that can simultaneously control 25 hula hoops. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Molino Woman Collecting Care Package Items For Troops In Iraq
June 8, 2010
A Molino woman is asking the North Escambia community to help her send care packages to American troops serving in Iraq for the Fourth of July.
Katie Hilburn’s fiancee, Spc. Ben Piatt, also of Molino, is about eight months into his tour of duty as a combat engineer in northern Iraq. He is scheduled to be in Iraq until October.
After hearing about the soldiers’ needs, Hilburn decided to send the care packages to Piatt’s unit in Iraq during the Christmas season last year, collecting several boxes of items.
“I received e-mails from different soldiers telling me how much it meant to receive packages from back home, so I want to keep supporting them,” she said. “It’s our job to take care of our soldiers and to remember them.”
The supplies will be collected at veteran-owned Cole’s Barbershop in Molino until Wednesday, June 16. They will then be shipped to Piatt, 21, and his unit in Iraq. Cole’s Barbershop is located next to Fran’s Country Grill on Highway 29.
Items being collected include:
Body Care
Toothpaste
Bottled body soap (for men)
Sunscreen
Germ X
Shampoo
Baby wipes
Q-tips
Shaving cream
Razors
Foot powder
Chap stick
Food
Ramen noodles (in the cup)
Propel powder
Small coffee creamer
Small sugar
Sunflower seeds
Apple sauce
Tuna fish and cracker packages
Beef jerky
Cereal bars
Peanuts
Cookies
Popcorn (microwavable)
Saltine crackers
Peanut butter
Fruit cup
Miscellaneous
Playing cards
DVD’s
Magazine’s (hunting, fishing, guns, sports)
Games
Pictured top: Katie Hilburn and her fiancee Spc. Ben Piatt prior to his deployment to northern Iraq. Pictured inset: Spc. Piatt in Iraq. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Century Resident Hiking 500 Miles Across Spain; Read Her Journal
June 8, 2010
Century resident Terri Sanders is on a 500 mile hike across Spain this summer, and she is taking NorthEscambia.com readers along.
Terri, former owner of the Country Bumpkin and current purveyor of fudge at festivals and events across the area, calls it the “trip of a lifetime”.
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.
She will introduce us to the sights and sounds along the way, the local customs and the daily struggles of the 500 hike. Terri made the seven hour flight to Europe on May 29 and started hiking on June 4. She will send us her journal entries as soon as possible after each day. There is no Internet access between towns, but she will send us her journal entries as she arrives in towns along the way that do have Internet access — so Terri’s journal entries on NorthEscambia.com may be delayed by a few days.
We will begin our trip with Terri Sanders today and post updates periodically over the next month. She plants to complete the trip by July 4.
Camino De Santiago
May 29 2010
Most people get at least one shot at a trip of a lifetime. Sad to say most of us never have the guts to throw caution to the wind and grab onto that chance. We let different things tie our hands behind our back, be it a job or finances, responsibilities that we may or may not be the only one that can handle.
Sometimes I think it is fear itself that hinders us from grabbing a hold of that chance, whatever it may be. A trip across America, a chance to go sky diving, take that dream vacation, or just take that job offer that would take you to your dream job. We say no so quickly sometimes without even considering what exactly it is we are saying no to. Our well decorated rut is our security, or maybe our sense of adventure was never allowed to develop as a child.
Whatever the reason, very few people really reach out and grab that once in a life time adventure. My once in a lifetime adventure was hiking the Appalachian Trail. I thought it was intriguing to be able to walk from Georgia to Maine and it was intriguing to say the least. One day about 6 weeks ago another chance of a lifetime fell into my lap.
I thought of all the reasons I didn’t need to take this trip, and all the reasons I wanted to take it. The wants won out and I started making plans to hike the Camino de Santiago in Spain. I knew very little about Spain and virtually no Spanish, but the guy I was going to be hiking with knew Spanish. He had hiked part of the AT with Jerry and I and just a chance email to me about him hiking this trip set things in motion for me to join him.
I booked my flight, practiced up on my phrase: “The rain in Spain falls gently on the Plain”. I have no idea what that phrase means if anything.
My flight left Pensacola this morning and I was on my way. The 7 hour flight over the Atlantic Ocean was my biggest concern. I guess I figured a crash on the ground would be easier than a crash on the water! Anyway the flight was uneventful and I landed in Madrid as planned.
The plan was to catch a bus from there to St.Jean Pied a Port where I would meet up with Lou to begin our hike. I was standing in the information line to see where to catch the bus when this guy walks up to me and says you look like a Camino hiker. You reckon the backpack gave me away?
It took about 5 minutes to find out that he was Walkabout and had hiked the AT in 2003 always just a few days ahead of me. He is from Gainesville, Florida and was meeting a friend of his that was also from Gainesville and was going to hike the Camino. His plans had changed and he was there to tell her he had been called back to work. Her name is Ronnie and he asked me if I would hang out until she got there and then the two of us could go to St. Jean together.
Some people would say that is where I made my first mistake, changing my plans, but I had figured in an extra day to meet up with Lou so everything seemed good. I could meet Ronnie grab a bus and we would be in St.Jean as I had planned. Then we find out her plane from Atlanta had been late leaving because of the weather. So Ed and I waited and walked from one end of the airport to the other several times.
To say he is ADD or obsessive compulsive would be an understatement! It then became obvious that I was not going to make the noon bus but could still make the later bus. Finally her plane landed and introductions were made all around. Ed made a hasty retreat to meet his flight, and Ronnie and I was off to get to the bus station. Or so I thought.
Turned out she had pre-bought a train ticket so off we went in search of the train depot. There ought to be a universal word for train, bus, plain, and taxi among a few other words….
We finally found the train station, took a number and stood in line for 30 minutes only to find out that we were in the line to buy tickets for the next day. Back to take another ticket and wait another thirty minutes. Finally at the ticket counter between the two of us we got the point across that we wanted to buy one ticket to the same place as her ticket.
I happened to mention the town. Things went downhill fast from there.
The ticket she had was for a town in Spain alright, but one nowhere near where she needed to go. We got two tickets to Pamploma and found out we had a 4 hour wait. We found a small café and could not read anything on the menu, but took a stab at something that sounded faintly like an American dish.
Ronnie ordered wine and I ordered water .She got grilled chicken with a salad and I got Stuffed Cannolli. Those trips to Olive Garden paid off. I thought they paid off but spell check didn’t have a spelling for this so we will go with how I spelled it.
When the bill came I found out it was cheaper to order wine instead of water. I won’t make that mistake again.
Since I had already saw all of the airport at least twice we went outside in search of a park to sit and wait. We weren’t lucky enough to find a park so we did the next best thing, put our packs on the ground against the building’s window, laid down and went to sleep. An hour later we woke up to the sounds of sirens, and figured we were going to be arrested for vagrancy, but we were not the target of the police.
Back inside we found an ice cream stand and enjoyed a ice cream, then went back to waiting for the train.
There are very few signs to point a visitor into the right direction ANYWHERE! We watched the screen for the announcement of our train and finally boarded. No sooner had we gotten seated than we found out the seats were reserved in this part of the train. We gathered our packs and went to another section, sat down, got comfortable and once again were routed from our seats.
We were beginning to think we would have to stand for the three hour ride, but finally a young girl took us to our seats. The scenery here reminds me of northern Texas, with only the houses setting it apart. The ride to Pamplona was 3 hours. It was just getting dark by the time we got to town.
Make A Splash And Read With Library Summer Reading Programs In Century, Atmore, Jay
June 8, 2010
Three North Escambia area libraries are inviting children to “Make A Splash” and enjoy reading with summer reading programs. Fun, free programs will be held at the Century, Jay and Atmore libraries. Schedules are listed for each.
The Century Branch Library invites children to celebrate with summer library programs each Tuesday at noon, beginning June 8.
- June 8 – Liang, Olympian Acrobat
- June 15 – Dr. Zap, fun and wacky
- June 22 – John Jaramillo, storyteller and dancer
- June 29 – David Stephens, puppetry
- July 6, Ross Mudge, sing patriotic songs
- July 13, Beau Broomall, magician
For more information, contact the Century Branch Library at (850) 256-6217.
The Atmore Public Library, will celebrate summer reading with six weeks of fun and reading. All programs listed below will be at 10 a.m., except for June 11 which is divided into three time slots.
- June 11 – Southern Pine presents an environmental program with lizards, frogs, and turtles. This program is divided into three time slots: 9:00, 10:00 and 11:00. Please call for a free pass.
- June 18 – Turtle Point visits with their creatures.
- June 25 – Pirate Day
- July 1 – Balloon Artist Day
- July 9: Awards Day
For more information, call the Atmore Public Library at (251) 368-5234.
The Jay Library will present their “Make a Splash – Read” summer programs each Monday (except July 5) beginning June 14 and continuing through July 19 at 11 a.m. for 3-5 years old that are able to attend without a caregiver and at 1 p.m. for students who have completed K-5th grade.
- June 14 - Pirate Pals for preschoolers; A Pirates Life For Me for K-5
- June 21 - Squeaky Clean for preschoolers; Geddy the Gecko Walks on Water for K-5
- June 28 – Under the Sea for preschoolers; Shark Tales for K-5
- July 5 – Library closed for Independence Day
- July 12 – Surf’s Up for preschoolers; Island Luau for K-5
- July 19 – Rainy Days and Muddy Mischief for preschoolers; The Little Mermaid performed by Jacksonville State Unversity’s Children’s Theater for K-5
For more information, contact the Jay Library at (850) 575-6293.
Bratt Principal Retiring; Several Other North Escambia Teachers, Staff Also Retiring
June 7, 2010
Bratt Elementary School’s principal and several other North Escambia area teachers and education personnel are retiring this year.
The last day on the job for Bratt Elementary Principal Sheryl G. Pomeroy (pictured) will be June 30. “I love Bratt and appreciate all the many ways you have been here for this school,” Pomeroy wrote in a letter to parents. “Your children are precious and deserve our time and energy.”
According to Pomeroy, Molino Park Elementary School Curriculum Coordinator Karen Hall has been recommended to replace Pomeroy. Her appointment will come before the school board at a later date.
Several other North Escambia area teachers and school personnel are also leaving this year, and there are several new personnel transferring into area schools. The following are scheduled to be approved by the Escambia County School Board on June 14:
- At Northview, NJROTC Capt. Lee V. Coleman, Coach Lorenzo Jones, teacher Bobby Simpson and Darlene Lee are all retiring.
- Gay C. Hassebrock, a teacher at Bratt Elementary, is leaving and Martha H. Jeter, media specialist, is retiring.
- Brenda D. Bell, a teacher at Molino Park Elementary, is retiring.
- Jessica A. Crites, Deborah A. Dubus and Rebecca J. Hamric will transfer from the Sid Nelson Center to Molino Park Elementary.
- At Ernest Ward Middle School, food service assistant Carloyn E. Morgan is retiring.
- At Tate High School, teacher Norma Givens, Judy Julian, John Kelley, Kenneth Meharg, Celeste Scott and Michael D. Varner are all retiring.
- Teachers Julie Remke, Cecily Sauls, Anne M. Vasser are leaving Tate High.
- Neil A. Cobb and Pamela K. Saxton will transfer from ESEAL to Tate. Wanda B. Parrott will transfer from the Sid Nelson Center to Tate High.
- At Ransom Middle School, teachers Arthur T. Farish and Patsy Manning and guidance counselor Jeanne Kaufke are retiring.
- Janna T. Blanton will transfer from the Sid Nelson Center to Ransom Middle School. William O. Brown, Stephen B. Smithee, Gloria M. Wiggins and Allison Roberts will transfer from the Clubbs Center to Ransom.
Pictured: Bratt Elementary School Principal Sheryl G. Pomeroy is retiring. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Students Of The Month Named
June 7, 2010
Escambia County Students of the Month for May have been named by the Escambia Association for Administrators in Education. The awards are presented monthly to two students from participating schools.
- Bratt: Lola R. Capps, kindergarten; Audriene D. Odom, fifth grade
- Jim Allen: Qutez D. Whiting, third grade; Michelle A. Cook, third grade
- Molino Park: Brandon R. Sheldt, second grade; Yasmine A. Elkins, fourth grade
- Northview: Emily F. Vickrey, 11th grade; Clinton E. Davis, 12th grade.
- Tate: Gavin R. Nigh, 11th grade; Ernaisja J. Curry, 12th grade.
NHS Class of 2010 Graduates (With Photo Gallery)
June 6, 2010
The 130 members of the Northview High School Class of 2010 graduated Saturday.
“Remember, you are the future of tomorrow,” Valedictorian Kaitlyn Nicole Caraway told her fellow classmates. “Make the most of yourselves and live life to the fullest.”
“Now is the time to make your past help you make your best futures. Use this long time coming to create the greatest longer time yet to come,” was the message from Salutatorian Clinton Eugene Davis.
Escambia County School Superintendent Malcolm Thomas also offered words of encouragement to the NHS Class of 2010. “Enjoy your memories, but do not let those memories lay down your dreams. Don’t let your love of what has happened in the past stop you chasing the potential of your future because I believe you can be anything you dream you can be if you are willing to work hard enough to make the dream come true,” he said.
For a NorthEscambia.com photo gallery from the event, click here. (Photos of each graduate are near the end of the gallery.)
Pictured top: Lauren Ashley Lowe (left) and Jennifer Megan Lowe celebrate after graduating Saturday from Northview High School. Pictured left inset: Christopher Antonio Moorer, also known as “Cornbread”, hold up his diploma while shaking the hand of Escambia County Superintendent of Schools Malcolm Thomas Saturday afternoon. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Graduating members of the Northview High School Class of 2010 were:
Clinton James Avery
Maranda Robin Baggett
+Tiffany Michelle Barrows
Aaron Darnell Bellamy
Grant Ian Bellizzi
Alexis Rae Black
*Jessica Nichole Bloodsworth
Ashely Noel Bonner
Patricia Sunshine Boughner
Dustin Alan Boutwell
Lindsey Ella Brewer
Johnathon Keith Buchanan
Heath Warren Burkett
Jonathan Craig Burkett
+Brittany Michele Burt
Shawn Dustin Burton
+Micah Perrygreen Byars
Zachory Derrick Byers
Samantha Lauren Byrd
*Kaitlyn Nicole Caraway
+Lennie Nannett Caum
Aaron James Chancery
Stanley Terry Chestnut, II
Aimee Richa Clarke
*Kolbi Shae Cobb
Robert Charles Connerly, Jr.
Samuel Cooler, Jr.
Phillip Ray Coon
Charles Austin Cooper
Alesha Lasha Copeland
Keith Anthony Cota
Cody Ernest Cousin
Richard Kevin Craig
*Clinton Eugene Davis
Na’Keetric Devonte Davison
Kayla Marie Dempsey
Don Duran Dubose, Jr.
+Jacob Lee Garrison
Patrick Ray Garrison
Jasey Darren Gibson
Andrew Joseph Giveans, III
*Candice Louise Greenwell
Ka’Daris De’Onta Grice
Bradley Scott Griener
#Caitlin Allie Hall
Casey Aaron Hare
Kinsey Lee Hendrix
Carley Brianna Hetrick
Gavin Gray Hinote
Branden Loren Hoffmann
Shakel Quartez Holmes
Kenneth Troy Hopper
Tyler Marie Hunter
*Eric Matthew Ickeringill
Jeremy Ledarius Jackson
Thaddeus Michael Jones
Parish Alissa Kelley
Clayton Wayne Kirby
Haley Danelle Knapp
Brian Exavier Knight
Michael Rusty Knight
Angela Nicole Knoble-Roddriguez
Sara Marie Kyles
+Seth Madison Leonard
Kassandra Alexandra Lett
Courtney Janice Linton
Joshua Lee Lockart
Steven Micheal Long
+Jennifer Megan Lowe
+Lauren Ashley Lowe
#Austin Hunter Lowery
*Bradley James Lowery
Marguettia Marshall
Colton James Maughon
Megan Nicole McCann
John Wesley McCullough
Alex Laine McDonald
Monica Anne McLain
+Amber Nicole McMillan
Courtney Michelle Merritt
La’Ashia Monac Mixon
Christopher Antonio Moorer
Devin Marquis Moorer
Ariel Dorena Morris
Wesley Ben Morris
Ashley La’Shunda Muse
Caitlyn Dawn Nall
Cody Webb Nall
Kenneth Nettles
Olivia M’Lynn Nolen
Mallorie Gail Okahashi
Elizabeth Suanne Page
Cody Davon Parham
#Matthew Cody Parker
Nastassia Nicole Peacock
Valarie Justine Perry
Brittany Danielle Pete
William Anthony Pierce
Dayton Robert Porter
Magen Renee Poston
Austin Tyler Reid
Erica Dawn Rendell
Kayla Louise Rentz
+Victoria Ashton Rigby
Caitlin Noelle Roley
Charles Thomas Rolin
Sarah Victoria Roth
Miranda Ashton Scott
John Anthony Sellars
*Felicia Michelle Settle
+Christopher James Sheets
*Mark Allen Shipps, Jr.
Gary Wayne Shook, Jr.
James Peter Shook
Haley Nicole Smith
*Jackson Helton Smith
Allison Rebecca Spence
Dylan Joseph Stafford
+Dakota Wayne Stuckey
Nathan Patrick Taylor
Harmony Shardia Thomas
Dillon Baritot Vardeman
Timothy Edward Wages
+Heather Danielle Ward
Stephen Blake Ward
John Ethan Waters
Magen Leigh Weekley
Justin Leon Whiting
Damon Scott Williams
Lance Austin Yuhasz
*Summa Cum Laude – Garnet and Gold Cord
#Magna Cum Laude – Gold Cord
+Cum Laude – Garnet Cord
Unofficial Class Ranking, June 2010
Is Your Church Having VBS?
June 6, 2010
Is your church having VBS this summer? We want to tell our readers about it.
Email information about your VBS to news@northescambia.com for inclusion on our Events page. Don’t forget to tell us the name of your Vacation Bible School, the days and times, the name and location of your church and what age groups are welcome at your VBS.
There is no charge to list your VBS here on NorthEscambia.com