United Way Awards $910,000 To Area Non-Profit Programs
July 16, 2013
United Way of Escambia County has announced that $910,000 will be awarded to area non-profit programs thanks to more than 10,000 donors who gave the united way during the 2012-2013 annual workplace campaign season.
There were 44 programs at 33 agencies who were awarded funding to serve the community by creating change in focus areas of education, health and financial stability.
In addition to the dollars raised for the grants awarded, United Way raised another $618,949 in donor designated pledges to tax exempt organizations. Designations for this year’s campaign were nearly double that of the last year’s campaign, resulting in a three percent increase in total dollars raised ($2,412,047).
In 2013-14, the $910,000 in allocated funding will enable agencies to draw down matches totaling $1.72 million from private, state and federal sources. In effect, this means donor contributions of $910,000 grew to $2.63 million through matching funds. Campaign dollars raised and leveraged, combined with other United Way initiatives, resulted in an $8.9 million community impact.
United Way funds were awarded as follows (click list to enlarge):
Relay For Life Seeks Volunteers
July 16, 2013
Relay For Life of Greater Escambia is seeking volunteers – community leaders, cancer survivors, caregivers, and all others – to join the 2014 Steering Committee. Relay Steering Committee members are essential to the planning and implementation of this life-saving fundraising event.
The Steering Committee is made up of local volunteers that want to help the American Cancer Society fight cancer. Committee members have the opportunity to take on a variety of roles, including team or sponsor recruitment, fundraising, survivor and caregiver recognition, publicity, mission education, and more. The Steering Committee meets throughout the Relay season to plan all aspects of the event and coordinate a unique and special community experience.
Greater Escambia’s 2013 event was held at Tate High School on May 3-4 and has raised more than $70,000. Plans for 2014 are underway, and the 2014 committee will hold its first meeting in early September.
Relay For Life is the signature fundraiser for the American Cancer Society, with events in more than 5,200 communities and 20 countries. Every year, the Relay For Life movement raises more than $400 million which helps fund groundbreaking research and free information and services for cancer patients and their caregivers.
Relay For Life events are held overnight as individuals and teams camp out at an athletic track, park or other gathering area. The events are held overnight to honor and symbolize a cancer patient’s journey through treatment. Teams do most of their fundraising before the event and many host entertaining fundraisers during the event. All funds raised through Relay For Life help the American Cancer Society save more lives by helping people stay well, get well, by finding cures and by fighting back.
For more information about joining the fight against cancer with Relay For Life, contact Event Chair Pat Clements at (850) 776-2944 or Ashley Marg with the American Cancer Society at (850) 266-2280.
Pictured top and below: The survivor and caregiver laps kick of the Greater Escambia Relay for Life last May at Tate High School. Pictured inset: Tate senior Halee Boyd, who is battling cancer, addresses the Relay crowd. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
Registration Event Scheduled For Danceworks Classes
July 16, 2013
Registration is underway for Heather Leonard’s Danceworks, and a registration event will be held Monday in Byrneville.
The registration will be from5:30 until 6:30 p.m. Thursday at the Byrneville Community Center, or students can register by mail.
Ballet, tap, jazz and hip hop classes will be taught by Heather Leonard beginning the week of August 20 for girls ages 3 and up, including classes for teens. Leonard has taught dance to hundreds of girls from North Escambia and surrounding areas. She is also the coach for the Northview High School Dance Team.
For a printable information sheet, schedule and registration form, click here. For further information, contact Heather Leonard at (850) 529-1358 or email hldanceworks@gmail.com.
Pictured: Scenes from the Heather Leonard’s Danceworks recital “Dancing at the Movies” last May at Northview High School. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
FDOT TO Hold Public Hearing On Creighton Road, Bayou Boulevard Improvements
July 16, 2013
The Florida Department of Transportation will hold a public hearing concerning the proposed intersection improvements to Creighton Road at 9th Avenue, and Bayou Boulevard at 12th Avenue. The hearing will be held Thursday, July 18 from 5-6 p.m. at Cokesbury Church, 5725 North Ninth Avenue.
The intent of these projects is to add an additional eastbound left-turn lane on both Creighton Road and Bayou Boulevard. Improvements include widening, milling and resurfacing existing lanes, minor drainage upgrades, sidewalk construction, and improvements to curb ramps and pedestrian signal features to meet current set Americans with Disabilities Act standards. The department will receive bids for construction fall 2015. These projects will require right-of-way.
The purpose of the hearing is to afford interested persons an opportunity to express their views concerning the project. The hearing will be conducted in an open house format, a formal presentation is scheduled for 5:15 p.m. FDOT representatives will be available to explain proposed improvements, answer questions and receive comments. Maps, drawings and other information will be on display.
Persons wishing to submit written statements in place of, or in addition to, oral statements, may do so at the hearing or by sending them to: Howard C. Hodge, III, P.E., General Consultant Project Manager, 1369 Railroad Avenue, Chipley, Florida 32428, or via email at hhodge@panhandlegroup.com. All statements postmarked on or before Monday, July 29, 2013 will become part of the public hearing record.
Chamber Taps Outzen To Head Sunshine Law Task Force
July 16, 2013
Rick Outzen has been appointed to lead a task force that will develop a Sunshine Law compliance plan for the Greater Pensacola Chamber.
Outzen, a chamber board member and publisher of The Independent News, was tapped by chamber Chairman Sandy Sansing to head up the effort that will outline how meetings will be held, how record requests will be handled and how board members and staff members will interact.
The Chamber Executive Committee voted recently to recommend to the full board that the chamber operate in compliance with the Florida’s government in the sunshine law, despite differing legal opinions about whether or not compliance is required.
“We felt it was the right thing to do,” said Sansing, “and Rick Outzen is the perfect person to develop the policies and procedures to make sure we are operating a fully transparent organization worthy of our private and public investors.”
Sansing said the chamber will move as quickly as possible, but that there will be a transition period necessary to train staff and board members and to set up the proper mechanisms for compliance.
“We do ask for a little patience as Rick and his team develop our strategy,” said Sansing. “We will be on a fast track, but it is a complicated law and we will have to learn as we go; so a little patience will be appreciated.”
Lemuel Lloyd Jordan
July 16, 2013
Mr. Lemuel Lloyd Jordan, age 61 of Century, passed away on Monday, July 15, 2013, at Sacred Heart Hospital.
Mr. Jordan was a native of Atmore and a lifetime resident of the Century community. During his working years, he worked as a welder for multiple paper mills. He was preceded in death by his parents, Gay and Nell Jordan and his sister, Gayle Bodkin. Mr. Jordan was of the Methodist faith.
He is survived by his wife, Teresa Wilson Jordan of Century; son, James ‘Nick’ Jordan of Century; daughters, Lindsey (Jeremiah) Wilson of Century and Kasey (Dustin Carnley) Jordan of Flomaton; brother, Glenn Jordan of Canada; grandchildren, Jaxon and Cooper Cole Jordan; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
Visitation will be held on Friday, July 19, 2013, from 10 a.m. until service time at 11 a.m. at Flomaton Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Eric Bryan officiating.
Interment will be in Flomaton Cemetery in Flomaton.
Sandra Delois “Toot” Watts
July 16, 2013
Ms. Sandra Delois “Toot” Watts, 56, of Century, joined heaven’s illustrious choir on Friday, July 12, 2013, at Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola.
She was a native and lifelong resident of Century and attended Century High School. She was a faithful member of Pilgrim Lodge Baptist Church where she labored for 50 years and enjoyed using her gift of singing by serving in the youth choir, young adult choir, choir #1, the inspirational choir, and the mass choir. Sandra loved to sing.
Those left to cherish the memories of her melodious voice are her son, DeMarcus (Tashan) Streety of Brewton; her mother, Nola Watts of Century; her father, Theodore Watts of Norfolk, VA; one sister, Vanessa Y. Watts of Century; three brothers, Norman Watts of Brewton, Cedrick A. Taylor of Century and David (Tiffany) Watts of Montgomery; five grandchildren; one great-grandchild; several nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, cousins, friends and the Pilgrim Lodge Baptist Church family.
Celebration of Life services will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, July 20, 2013, at the Pilgrim Lodge Baptist Church with the Rev. Kelvin Laster, pastor of the Bright Morning Star Baptist Church in Frisco City, officiating.
Burial will be in the Century Cemetery.
Public viewing will be held Friday, July 19, 2013, from 2 p.m. until 5 p.m. at the Turner Funeral Home and from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. at the Pilgrim Lodge Baptist Church. Her remains will lie in repose at the church one hour prior to the funeral service.
Turner Funeral Chapel, LLC is directing.
Hubert E. “Gabby” Boyd
July 16, 2013
Hubert E. “Gabby” Boyd, age 88, of Cantonment, passed through the gates of heaven on Sunday, July 14, 2013. He was born in Tarrytown, GA on January 26, 1925. Gabby graduated from Winter Haven High School where he was quarterback of the “Blue Devils”. After his military service, he attended Stetson University in Deland, FL where he played college baseball.
Gabby was a member of Hillcrest Baptist Church where he faithfully served the Lord as a Deacon for many years and later as Deacon Emeritus. He had a lifelong love of sports, playing baseball and softball until the age of 80. He umpired for church and city league baseball and softball until the age of 82. His greatest love was the Lord and his wife of 65 years, Lou, his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. “Paw Paw” gave the greatest hugs and made all who knew him feel special.
Gabby enlisted in the US Navy in July 1942, a veteran of WW II; he was assigned to the USS Stockton and was present at the signing of the Japanese Instrument of Surrender in Tokyo Bay in 1945. After serving his country honorably, he started his civilian career in Mobile in the propane gas business, later moving his family to Pensacola in 1953.
Gabby was preceded in death by his wife, Lula Grubbs Boyd; his parents, Hubert E. and Hattie Pearl Boyd; a sister, Hattie Merle Delores Boyd and two brothers, Ralph Boyd and William Boyd.
He is survived by a sister, Miriam Wanda Kimbrell; his children, Beth Taylor (Jimmy), Patsy Moye, Ronnie Boyd, Cindy Parker (Tim) and Randy Boyd; grandchildren, Jennifer Benz, Jimmie Salter (Nicole), Scott Traynom, Beth Culbertson White, Ashlee Weber (James), Kyle Parker, Katelyn Boyd and Karla Boyd; great-grandchildren, Jackson Benz, Chase White, Brooks Salter, Molly Benz, Everett Salter, William Benz, Aidan Weber, Camryn Traynom, Melinda Lula Salter, Mason Weber and Austin Boyd Salter; numerous cousins, nieces and nephews.
Memorial services will be at 1 p.m. on Wednesday, July 17,2013, at Hillcrest Baptist Church with Rev. Jim Locke officiating. The family will receive friends at 11:30 a.m. prior to the service on Wednesday.
Inurnment will be in Eastern Gate Memorial Gardens at a later date. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions be made to Hillcrest Baptist Church Building for Life, 800 E. Nine Mile Road, Pensacola, FL 32514.
Faith Chapel North Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Dollis Helen Wilson
July 16, 2013
Mrs. Dollis Helen Wilson, age 79 of Atmore, passed away Monday, July 15, 2013, at her residence.
Mrs. Wilson was born in Brewton and had been a resident of Atmore for the past 20 years. She had worked as a bus driver for the Escambia County, AL school board. She was a member of North Brewton Baptist Church. Mrs. Wilson was preceded in death by a son, Jon Colin Morris.
She is survived by her husband, Mr. Leon Wilson, Sr. of Atmore; two sons, Bryan Wade (Kim) Morris of Milton and James Henry (Lynda) Morris of Century; two daughters, Helen Irene Kirk of Auburn and Susan Ann (Ron) Fordham of Auburn; one half-brother, Edward White of Mobile; one sister, Margie Thompson of Milton; seven grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. on Thursday, July 18, 2013, from the chapel of Craver’s Funeral Home with Rev. David Cooper officiating.
Interment will follow in Weaver Cemetery.
Visitation will be held at Craver’s Funeral Home from 1 p.m. until service time at 2 p.m.
George Anthony Tremer
July 16, 2013
Mr. George Anthony Tremer, born May 2, 1929, in Mobile, passed away Saturday, July 13, 2013.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Alphonse J. Tremer, Sr. and Susan A. Murray Tremer and his loving wife of 58 years, Jeanne Jacobson Tremer.
He is survived by his son, Christopher A. Tremer (Donna Rene’e); his daughter, Alicia Tremer Poston (David L.); five grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; one sister, Dianne Tremer Jacobson; and numerous nieces and nephews.
George attended St. Vincent and was a graduate of McGill Institute, both in Mobile. He was a Boy Scout leader and assistant football coach at Sacred Heart Catholic School. Mr. Tremer retired from the United States Air Force. He was a past member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church and an active member of St. Elizabeth Catholic Church in Molino. He started the Catholic Prison Ministry in Century and remained a volunteer for 12 years. He was a long standing member of Knights of Columbus and a member of American Legion. He retired as a wholesale hardware salesman. He is pain free and at peace with the Lord.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Catholic Charities or Wounded Warriors Foundation in Mr.Tremer’s memory.
Rosary will be held on Monday, July 15, 2013, at 4:45 p.m. and then visitation until 7 p.m.
Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Tuesday, July 16, 2013, at St. Elizabeth Catholic Church at 10 a.m.
Interment will follow at St. Elizabeth Catholic Cemetery.
Faith Chapel Funeral Home North is in charge of arrangements.
