Let The Good Times Roll! Century Care Celebrates Mardi Gras
February 25, 2009
Residents at the Century Care Center celebrated Mardi Gras Tuesday in grand style with both a parade and a party.
The parade, held Tuesday morning, featured lots of throws, including Mardi Gras beads and other trinkets. Residents in Mardi Gras costumes paraded and rolled through the hallways in their wheelchairs to the delight of other residents watching the parade.
Ms. Katie Clark was named Century Care Center’s Mardi Gras Queen, and Mr. Grady Sims was named CCC’s Mardi Gras King at a Tuesday afternoon Mardi Gras party.
Click here for a complete photo gallery.
Pictured above: A Mardi Gras parade will held Tuesday at the Century Care Center. Pictured below: Mrs. Katie Clark (left) was named Century Care Center’s Mardi Gras Queen and Mr. Grady Sims was named CCC’s Mardi Gras King. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com.
Northview Celebrates National FFA Week With Faculty/Staff Breakfast
February 25, 2009
FFA members at Northview High School celebrated National FFA Week Tuesday morning by cooking breakfast for the faculty and staff.
“Step Up, Stand Out” is the theme of National FFA Week this year as more than half a million members around the nation are participating in National FFA Week activities at the local and state levels. Stepping up and standing out is not only a way of life for FFA members, but it’s also a call to action for others. FFA members set a positive example with their leadership, work ethic and community service activities
Students cooked a breakfast of eggs, bacon, pancakes, grits, biscuits and sausage for the NHS faculty and staff and local agricultural and community leaders.
The FFA began in 1928 as the Future Farmers of America.
For more pictures from the National FFA Week breakfast at Northview High School, click here.
Northview High School has had an active FFA membership since it opened. Ernest Ward Middle School started a FFA chapter in 2005. Both schools work together, volunteer in the community and help each other throughout the school year.
Pictured above: Northview FFA students serve a National FFA Week breakfast Tuesday morning at the school. Pictured left: Northview FFA Vice President Allie Vidak serves eggs to the school faculty. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
The Eagle Cafe: Ernest Ward Middle Art Contest
February 24, 2009
Sixth grader Kyndall Hall’s artwork will proudly decorate the Eagle Cafe at Ernest Ward Middle School.
The school held a contest for a logo for a large lunchroom food service cart the school acquired from the Washington High School. EWMS tudents voted on which piece of artwork they liked best without knowing the name of the artist.
The serving cart be decorated with the new artwork by the beginning of next school year.
Other students submitting artwork in the contest were Katelyn Ziza, Tamara Wise, Emily Gudell, Tiffani Cruce, Julia Thorpe and Kent Smith.
Click here to see all of the entries.
Pictured top: Kyndall Hall’s drawing that will decorate the Eagle Cafe at Ernest Ward Middle School. Pictured left: Kyndall Hall with the food service cart that will be decorated with the logo. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Blueberry And Bluegrass Festival Coming To Barrineau Park
February 22, 2009
A blueberry and bluegrass festival is being planned for Barrineau Park.
Escambia County is hosting a Blueberry Jamboree at the Barrineau Park Community Center and Historical Society. The event will take place on Saturday, June 13 from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Artists and craftsmen are invited to showcase and sell their treasures at this first annual blueberry and bluegrass festival.
The cost for a 10’ x 10’ space is $45. Registration and payment must be received by May 31.
To register or for more information, please contact the Brandi Daigle of the Neighborhoods and Community Services Bureau at (850) 475-5220 or email recreation@co.escambia.fl.us.
The community center is located at 6055 Barrineau Park School Road in Molino.
Many Northview FBLA Students Place In District Competition
February 20, 2009
The FBLA from Northview High School participated in the 2008-2009 FBLA District I Competition recently at the University of West Florida. High schools from across Escambia, Santa Rosa and Okaloosa counties partipated in the event.
Northview winners were:
- Business Calculations: Brett Hanks, 3rd; Ashley Snow, 4th.
- Business Law: Magen Weekly, 1st
- Business Math: Kayla Hall, 4th; Derrick Portis, 5th
- Business Presentation (team): Amber Holland, 1st; Samantha Merritt, 1st; Amie Sutton, 1st
- Business Procedures: Kinsey Hendrix, 3rd; Shaquaina Lewis, 5th
- Desktop Publishing (team): Alex McDonald, 4th; Megan Tharp, 4th
- Introduction to Business: Destiny Showers, 5th
- Introduction to Business Communication: Taylor Byrd, 2nd
- Introduction to Parliamentary Procedures: Heather Kite, 2nd
- Public Speaking I: Rebecca Dean, 2nd
- Public Speaking II: Zachary Lamb, 2nd
- Word Processing II: Alesha Copeland, 4th; Kayla Rentz, 5th
Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Kids Race To Fun At The Library
February 20, 2009
Boys and girls raced to the Century Branch Library Thursday afternoon for a racing story time, the chance to sit in a real race car and a high speed box car derby.
For a complete photo gallery from the event, click here.
Pictured above: Ready…set…go! A box car race at the Century Branch Library Thursday afternoon. Pictured below: Children had the chance to sit in a real race car. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
North Escambia History Began With The Spanish
February 19, 2009
North Escambia can trace its history back to the Spanish with the first settlers in the area arriving when this area was a Spanish territory.
With the King and Queen of Spain in Escambia County today, we thought we would take a trip back to the early 1800’s when North Escambia was part of the Spanish kingdom.
The first recorded settler in Walnut Hill was John Gaylor in or about 1816. Gaylor received a land grant for acreage near Walnut Hill from the Spanish government. North Escambia was part of the Spanish Territory at the time. The land grant was for land located in the vicinity of the present-day Bradberry Park in Walnut Hill. Gaylor was under contract to use the land to raise cattle to be sold to the Spanish in Pensacola.
Many of the first settlers in the Davisville area also lived on land from Spanish Land Grants along Pine Barren Creek, known then as the Paxesco River.
The Spanish Land Grants were land claims filed by settlers in Florida after the transfer of the territory from Spain to the United States in 1821 in order to prove land ownership. Starting in 1790, Spain offered land grants to encourage settlement to the sparsely populated and vulnerable Florida colony. When the United States assumed control of Florida, it agreed to honor any valid land grants.
Residents had to prove that validity through documentation and testimonials. Those records became the dossiers filed by grantees to the U.S. government. They were either confirmed (found to be valid) or unconfirmed (found invalid) by the US government through land commissions, federal courts, or by the U.S. Congress. Most of the records for West Florida are missing.
King Juan Carlos I and Queen Sofia of Spain are in Pensacola today to help celebrate the city’s 450th anniversary.
Pictured: Copies of the Land District West Territory of Florida records from 1826 confirming John Gaylor’s Spanish Land Claim for land in Walnut Hill. Click to enlarge.
One Year Since Tornado Ripped Though Molino
February 17, 2009
Tuesday marked the one year anniversary of the Molino tornado that destroyed four homes, caused heavy damage and ripped the steeple of a church with worshipers inside.
The E-F1 tornado destroyed four homes in Molino about noon Sunday, February 17. Escambia County officials say at least 60 other structures were damaged by the twister along at least a two and a half mile path. At least 20 of those structures suffered major damage. There were no injuries reported.
Many homes in the Crest Lane area were damaged, with at least one house destroyed. Other suffered significant roof damage. As the tornado continued on a path to the northeast, it took the steeple off Highland Baptist Church and caused roof damage to the sanctuary. The steeple landed in the church parking lot, damaging at least four cars.
Church members said the service was about to end when they got word of the approaching tornado. Everyone evacuated the sanctuary and sought shelter in the church fellowship hall, a brick building with no windows. They prayed and sang songs as the storm approached, a church member said.
On Molino Road, near Brickyard Road, several more homes were damaged. The roof was completely gone from several houses and the Masonic Lodge building. One mobile home was flipped upside down and others were heavily damaged.
Gulf Power company cut power to about 4,500 people in the Molino area as a safety precaution. Power lines were down all around the area with many poles snapped in half.
Dozens of emergency responders conducted a door to door search in the areas with heavy damage, checking to make sure residents were not injured. Firefighters also drove all of the roads around the area, looking for any additional damage.
For cleanup photos from February 19, click here.
Pictured above: One of the homes destroyed by last year’s Molino tornado. Pictured below: Another home under repair February 17, 2008. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
Share The Road: Local Farmers Behind New State Law
February 16, 2009
Several local farmers were instrumental in getting legislation passed that changes the way Florida regulates farm equipment on the state’s highways.
Early last year, some farmers and equipment dealers were given citations by the state for moving over-width farm equipment during their normal daily operations. That led the local farmers and the Florida Farm Bureau to take action.
Thanks to the efforts of members of the Escambia and Santa Rosa County Farm Bureaus as well as Florida Farm Bureau, legislation was passed last year that eliminate the permits and fees for producers and allow them to move over-sized agricultural equipment within a 50-mile radius of their farms. Deliveries by equipment dealers will also be exempted.
Mike Godwin, Jerry Wayne McElhaney and Brett Ward from North Escambia were among the farmers and ranchers working for the legislation. Ben Ellison, who farms in North Escambia and lives in Santa Rosa County; and Lucas Killam and Marion Tidwell from Santa Rosa County were also instrumental in getting the legislation sponsored.
The state also recently installed signs reminding motorists that farm equipment shares the road on highways in agricultural areas across Florida, including along Highway 97 and along Highway 29.
The legislation was sponsored by Rep. Greg Evers and Senator Carey Baker, and much of the work to pass the bill was done by Farm Bureau members throughout Florida.
The new language basically says that no permit will be needed by producers if the farming equipment is 174 inches wide or less. It also goes on to say that if the equipment is over 174 inches wide, the equipment must have a warning lamp mounted on each side of the equipment, and must have a slow-moving-vehicle sign visible. The language also states that these lamps must be visible from at least 1,000 feet.
“Farm Bureau has been working hard for the past year on trying to solve this problem for farmers, and we could not have got the bill passed without the help of many Escambia and Santa Rosa County farmers. The Young Farmer and Rancher’s in both counties were also instrumental in getting the legislation passed”, said Allen Scheffer, Florida Farm Bureau Field Director from West Florida.
Pictured above: Signs reminding Florida motorists that agricultural equipment shares the road have been placed across the state following the passage of new legislation that was spearheaded by several local farmers. This sign greats travelers along Highway 97 just south of the Alabama state line. NorthEscambia.com photo.
Farm Bureau Food Check-out Week Targets Healthy Eating On Budget
February 16, 2009
With the continuing economic squeeze, many Americans are concerned that the cost of a healthy diet is out of reach. However, according to an Agriculture Department study, the cost of eating healthy has not changed as much as less-healthy alternatives. But eating healthy food within a budget does require smart shopping.
Farm Bureau’s Food Check-Out Week, February 15-21, is devoted to helping teach Americans how to stretch their grocery dollars with healthy, nutritious food. America’s farmers and ranchers are committed to producing safe, healthy and abundant food. And they share a common concern with consumers when it comes to putting nutritious meals on a table while sticking to a tight budget. U.S. consumers still spent under 10 per cent of their disposable income on food according to the latest USDA data. Consumers in other countries spend much more: France- 14 percent; Japan-15 percent; China-35 percent; Philippines-37 percent and Indonesia- 46 percent.
A March 2008 USDA report favorably supports the economics of healthier eating. Recent food price data show that prices for unprepared, readily available fresh fruit and vegetables have remained stable relative to dessert and snack foods, such as chips, ice cream and cola. Therefore, as defined by foods in the study, the price of a “healthier” diet has not
changed compared to an “unhealthy” diet.
Farm Bureau’s Food Check-Out Week is aimed at helping American consumers learn how to shop effectively to put nutritious meals on the table with fewer dollars.
“Learning to use your grocery dollars wisely ensures that nutrition isn’t neglected,” according Dorothy Cunningham of Escambia Farm Bureau Women’s Committee. “Fruits and vegetables – along with whole grains, low-fat dairy products, lean meats, fish, beans, eggs and nuts – are an important part of a healthy diet. Buying fresh produce when it is in season and costs less, while buying frozen fruits and vegetables when they are not in season, is a smart way to stretch that dollar.”
Here are some tips that consumers can follow to help stretch their food dollars :
Plan ahead before going to the grocery store. Make a list of the foods you want to serve during the next week. Check your newspaper for grocery store ads and coupons. Stick to your list. Do not go to the cookie or snack aisle if you don’t “ need” to. Shop the perimeter of the store. Produce, dairy products and meat are generally found on those outside walls. A tip for keeping produce fresh longer is to store it in a perforated plastic bag. This stops condensation and shriveling. Make holes in a plastic bag with a paper punch, knife or another sharp object about six inches apart all over the bag. When you get home, immediately store any fresh or frozen products especially meat.
For more specific information on nutrition , meal planning and food preparation, contact a registered dietitian.