Farm-City Week Recognizes Importance Of Local Agriculture
November 24, 2009
Before sitting down to Thanksgiving dinner, the Florida Farm Bureau would like everyone to remember that the meal they will enjoy is made possible by Farm-City partnerships.
National Farm-City Week, celebrated annually on the week leading to and ending on Thanksgiving Day, recognizes the importance of this cooperative network to the success of America’s agricultural industry.
The following was submitted by Dorthy Cunningham from the Escambia County Farm Bureau Women’s Committee.
As wise steward and innovative entrepreneurs, dedicated farmers and ranchers improve our well-being by working to ensure a healthy and abundant agricultural supply. To succeed in this important enterprise, our farmers rely on essential partnerships with urban communities to supply, sell and deliver finished products across the country and around the world. National Farm-City Week recognizes the importance of this cooperative network to the success of America’s agricultural industry.
Escambia County Farm Bureau and the Women’s Committee will be recognizing the importance of the connection and partnership that exists between rural farmers and urban residents. Escambia County Farm Bureau Federation believes that events and activities of Farm-City Week will created a greater awareness of the types and sizes of farms in our area. In a county as diverse and geographically divided as Escambia County, agricultural industries are not often at the forefront of the overall population’s attention. It is the intent of the Escambia County Women’s Committee to highlight the agricultural industries that contribute to the our county’s continued economic well-being and encourage consumers to support local agriculture.
Here in Escambia County, agricultural enterprises include forestry, cotton, peanuts, wheat, corn, fruits, vegetables, livestock, and dairy. Traditional row crop and livestock production utilizes more than 30,000 acres, while 250,000 acres are used to produce timber. Together, the value of agricultural, silvicultural, and livestock was worth more than $386 million by 2007 estimates. Our farmers are known for “going green”– local producers are true stewards of our land and want to keep the environment safe for future generations to farm and enjoy. Farm-City Week is the ideal time to get the good word out about farming.
National Farm-City Week strives to increase understanding, cooperation, and relationships between rural and urban residents. As this year’s commemoration again culminates on Thanksgiving, all Americans are encouraged to thank someone who helps make it possible for you and your family to enjoy the bounty of our food supply. It’s a partnership summed up best whether you are from the farm or the city as, “Let’s eat!”
Escambia County Farm Bureau Federation represents local agricultural interests. Its mission is to implement policies that are developed by members and provide programs that will improve economic well-being an quality of life for farmers and ranchers.
For more information about Farm-City Week and local activities, please contact Dot Cunningham at (850) 587-5553. For more information about local agriculture, contact Libbie Johnson at the UF IFAS Escambia County Extension Office at (850) 475-5230.
Pictured top: Wheat is one of the crops produced in North Escambia. Pictured inset: Escambia Grain in Walnut Hill. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Tate’s Showband Of The South The Only Band To Appear In Disney Christmas Parade On ABC TV
November 23, 2009
The Tate High School Showband of the South is the only band in the nation selected to perform at the 2009 Disney Christmas Day Parade.
Each year, Disney invites bands to apply for the chance to appear in the nationally televised parade. Tate Band Director Joe Hooten submitted an application back in January based upon the band’s 37 years of superior rates, their 2008 appearance in the St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Dublin, Ireland as well as video footage and pictures from local events.
The Tate band will travel to Orlando on Thursday, December 3. The parade will be filmed in Disney’s Magic Kingdom theme park on Saturday, December 5th and will be aired on the ABC television network on Christmas morning. The band will also get to participate in opening scenes for the parade.
While at Disney, the Tate band members will also get to participate in an educational behind the scenes clinic with cast members from Cirque du Soleil.
The Tate band offered a preview of their performance this past Saturday during the Miracle Bowl game between Tate and Northview High School.
Pictured above and below: The Tate High School Showband of the South previews their Christmas music planned for the Disney Christmas Parade. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Photo Gallery: Art On The Farm
November 22, 2009
People from across the area had the opportunity to enjoy Art at the Farm Saturday in Walnut Hill.
The annual event features art, crafts, foods like homemade gumbo and taco soup, pony rides and more. Event organizers said the event was successful, and the rains held off until after the event.
For photo gallery from Art at the Farm, click here.
Pictured above and below: Art on the Farm was held Saturday in Walnut Hill. Photos by Seales Photography for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Mmmm, Turkey: Byrneville Community Thanksgiving Meal For Seniors
November 20, 2009
Beulah Chapel Assembly of God held its annual Community Thanksgiving Lunch for Byrneville senior citizens Thursday. Dozens of seniors attended the lunch, which featured a full Thanksgiving menu of turkey, dressing and a variety of side dishes and desserts. Firemen from the Century Station of Escambia Fire Rescue, including the crew of Engine 519, assisted church members in serving the lunches. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Poarch Creek Indians Perform At Century Library
November 20, 2009
The Poarch Creek Indians presented pow wow dances Thursday at the Century Branch Library.
Several dozen children enjoyed the performance at the library. For a complete photo gallery, click here.
The Century Branch Library and the other libraries in the West Florida Public Library system will be closed November 26 and 27 for Thanksgiving.
Pictured above: A Poarch Creek Indian dancer performs at the Century Branch Library Thursday afternoon. Pictured below: A packed house for the performance. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Northview High Honors Veterans
November 19, 2009
Northview High School held their annual Veterans Day program Wednesday morning at the school.
During the program, which was rescheduled from last week due to Tropical Storm Ida, Walnut Hill resident Billy G. Ward recounted his recent Emerald Coast Honor Flight to the World War II Memorial in Washington. Ward explained each leg of the journey while the Northview students viewed photos Ward took for NorthEscambia.com. To view the photos, click here.
Pictured above: Veteran Billy G. Ward explains photos taken for NorthEscambia.com on his recent Emerald Coast Honor Flight trip to Washington. Ward was the guest speaker at Northview High School’s annual Veterans Day program held Wednesday. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Everyone Wins: Welcome To The Miracle League
November 19, 2009
The 1A Northview Chiefs will take on the 4A Tate Aggies at noon Saturday at Tate with proceeds benefiting the Miracle League.
The Miracle League of Northwest Florida, a baseball league for disabled and special needs persons that plays spring and fall at the Mitchell Homes Miracle League Park on Nine Mile Road.
The following is a NorthEscambia.com feature about the Miracle League from earlier this year.
Every game ends in a tie. Every player hits; every player scores. There are no strikeouts, no errors. Everybody wins.
Welcome to the Miracle League.
It’s a baseball league for disabled and special needs persons. With players from ages 3 to 63, there are 14 teams that play on the two fields at the Mitchell Homes Miracle League Park on Nine Mile Road.
“Abigail rounds second! She looks good this year, all decked out and playing some ball,” announcer Crystal Martinez says during an afternoon game at the Miracle League. “Loooook at her go! She’s headed home! She scores! Yeah Abi!”
That’s just the way a Miracle League game goes — always.
The players are in wheelchairs and walkers. Some handicaps are mental, some are physical.
Joshua heads toward the batter’s box in his walker to take a swing at the ball with his “buddy”. Each player has a “buddy” assigned to them to help them hitch, catch, throw or run the field.
“Go Joshua!” Martinez announces. “Good job!”
In the end, the game between the Orioles and the Twins was tied, just as every game has ended in a tie for the past nine seasons. The stats for each of the 150 players will be the same at the end of the season — perfect.
“It’s a wonderful thing for these kids,” Martinez told NorthEscambia.com after the game. “It’s about them getting to play a sport that otherwise they could not play…it’s about the smiles. I love to say that they are all stars when I am announcing.”
“I think it is a great thing,” said Stephen Gruenwald of Pensacola. His son James, 5, plays Miracle League ball from his wheelchair. “He enjoys it very, very much. And he loves the people; the volunteers are one of the best things.”
Players and volunteers come from not just Pensacola, but Mobile, Crestview, Brewton and points in between. Everybody is a volunteer that participates with the Miracle League. The are paid only in smiles.
“It’s a beautiful thing. Everybody here does it for one reason” volunteer Larry Powell said, placing his hand over his heart. “It’s here, in your heart, for these kids.”
“We have a guy that was a Marine for 32 years,” Powell said. “He will sit on that field with the smallest child and help them. It really gets to you.”
Each of the two Pensacola Miracle League fields is made up of 180,000 pounds of rec ycled tires formed into tiles painted to match a regular field. It provides a softer landing spot for a hard fall, while still providing a good bounce for the hollow core ball that is also designed to lesson injury potential. There are two seasons at the park, spring and fall. The rubber surface gets too hot to play in the summer.
The Miracle League needs more volunteers to serve as buddies, work the concession booth, pickup trash and many more tasks around their area of the Nine Mile Road ballpark.
The public is always welcome and encouraged to cheer on the players.
“It’s a special place here,” Powell said. “Everyone should watch one of these games. It will touch you.”
For more information on Miracle League, or to volunteer, visit www.miracleleaguepensacola.org.
Pictured top: Abigail gets a high five after a base hit during a Miracle League game in Pensacola. Pictured top inset: James takes a swing: Pictured bottom inset: Headed for home. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
Molino Park Sings Across America, Honors Veterans
November 18, 2009
Molino Park Elementary School students honored veterans Tuesday with “Sing Across America”, a patriotic program and donation drive for Emerald Coast Honor Flight.
Each grade level performed two songs, and guest speaker Gary Cooper provided insight into the American flag. Sheila Allen and Ginny Cruz, local singers and songwriters, performed their song “Stand Up America”.
Pictured above: Students perform during “Sing Across America” Tuesday afternoon at Molino Park Elementary. Pictured below: Ginny Cruz and Sheila Allen perform their song “Stand Across America”. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
No Playoffs: Northview, Tate Both Finish Third In District Football
November 17, 2009
Northview and Tate high schools both finished third in their districts for the 2009 football season. Only the top two teams in each district make the state playoffs.
District 1-1A
Northview (7-3, 6-2) finished behind Freeport (9-1, 8-0) and South Walton (7-1, 8-2). Northview’s only district losses this year were 14-6 to South Walton and 42-12 to Freeport.
Jay (2-6, 3-6) finished seventh in the district.
(team, district record, overall)
- Freeport 8-0, 9-1
- South Walton 7-1, 8-2
- Northview 6-2, 7-3
- Sneads 5-3, 5-5
- Vernon 3-5, 4-6
- Bozeman 3-5, 4-6
- Jay 2-6, 3-6
- Holmes County 2-6, 3-7
- Baker 0-8, 0-10
District 1-1A Playoffs:Blountstown (2-1A Runner-up) at Freeport (1-1A Champion)
Last meeting: 2004 regular season Blountstown 27, Freeport 14
South Walton (1-1A Runner-up) at Liberty County (2-1A Champion)
This will be first time Liberty County and South Walton have played.
District 1-4A
Tate (7-3, 3-2) finished third in the district for the 2009 season behind Pine Forest (8-2, 5-0) and Pace (6-4, 4-1). Tate’s district losses were 28-14 to Pace and 49-21 to Pine Forest.
(team, district record, overall)
- Pine Forest 5-0, 8-2
- Pace 4-1, 6-4
- Tate 3-2 , 7-3
- Milton 2-3, 5-5
- Navarre 1-4, 3-7
- Escambia 0-5, 3-7
District 1-4A Playoffs:
Fort Walton Beach (2-4A Runner-up) at Pine Forest (1-4A Champion)
Last meeting: 2004 regular season Pine Forest 35, Fort Walton Beach 0
Pace (1-4A Runner-up) at Niceville (2-4A Champion)
Last meeting: 2009 regular season -Niceville 42, Pace 28
Exclusive Photo Gallery: 17 Story Drop; Rappelling Off The Top Of The Wind Creek Casino
November 17, 2009
The old saying says the first step is the hardest. When that first step takes you from the roof over the edge of a 17 story building, most people would tend to agree.
Monday afternoon, members of the Poarch Creek Fire Department practicing rappelling down the side of the Wind Creek Casino –part of high rise rescue training and certification for department members.
“It was fun; there was definitely an adrenaline rush,” Poarch Creek fireman Andy Hammonds said after his 17-story descent. “It wasn’t too bad.”
Only three of the fire department’s members were certified in high angle rope rescues prior to Monday, including Chris McGhee, the Poarch Creek Fire Department’s training officer. With classroom training from the Alabama Fire College and the 17 story trip, another 14 men worked toward their certification Monday for whatever emergency that might arise in future.
“They are about to hire window washers; there’s a lot of glass in the building,” McGhee told NorthEscambia.com while standing on the roof of the casino Monday afternoon. “We might have to rescue one of the window washers one day.”
McGhee said that they Poarch Creek Fire Department would be able to put their training to use if the need arises in any surrounding area, including North Escambia.
The process of rappelling down the from the roof of the Atmore casino looks rather simple. Two ropes are tied off. One serves as a safety; one is the main rope for rappelling. The main rope passes through a rappelling rack, a device that provides friction to stop or allow a controlled descent. The safety rope is fed down with the firefighter. If he should fall or descend two quickly, a couple of knots provide a quick and automatic stop.
Once fitted with the proper gear, the trip down the side the Wind Creek was as simple as getting the courage to stand on the small ledge at the top of the building and stepping backwards.
For an exclusive NorthEscambia.com photo gallery from the training click here. In the photo gallery, we take you to the roof the 17 story Wind Creek. We watch as firemen prepare to rappel off the building; we look over the edge as the they head down. Plus, we take a look at the scenery from the top of the Wind Creek Casino, and look back up as the firemen descend.
Pictured above and below: Firefighters practice rappelling from the roof of the 17 story Wind Creek Casino Monday afternoon. In the lower inset photo above, notice the firefighter heading down the side of the Wind Creek. NorthEscambia.com exclusive photos, click to enlarge.
