Molino Church Sponsors Ride For Alzheimer’s This Saturday
May 30, 2013
CrossFaith Church in Molino will host a motorcycle ride to benefit local Alzheimer’s victims and their families this Saturday.
The ride begins at Eagle’s Talon at 2323 Copter Road. Registration is 8-9 a.m. with the first bikes out at 9 a.m. The entry fee is $20 per bike, $10 per rider. The ride ends at CrossFaith Church in Molino with a cookout, door prizes and more. Proceeds go toward Alzheimer’s Services.
For more information, call (850) 262-9722.
A Rare Sight: Three Planets Together
May 28, 2013
There was a rare celestial dance of sorts in the skies Sunday and Monday night, staring Jupiter, Venus and Mercury.
The Sunday night show was called a “triple conjunction”, with the three planets — which happen to the brightest in the sky — appearing in a triangle-like meeting. Triple conjunctions of planets are fairly rare. The last time it happened was in May 2011, and it won’t happen again until October 2015.
The show will have one last performance, weather permitting, on Tuesday evening. The best time to look is 30 to 60 minutes after sunset. Tuesday night, Jupiter and Venus will appear much closer together, separated by just one degree.
Pictured top: Mercury, Jupiter and Venus together as seen over a water tower in Walnut Hill Sunday evening. Pictured below: The same photograph with the planets labeled. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Kids Can Dig Into Reading This Summer At The Library
May 28, 2013
Kids of all ages can keep their reading skills sharp during the summer as they “Dig Into Reading” with summer reading programs at area libraries.
WEST FLORIDA LIBRARY
The West Florida Public Library will hold a “Dig Into Reading” summer reading club for all children ages preschool and up. The event will include stories, weird noises, shadow puppets, magic, reptiles and more.
The 2013 Summer Reading Club will be held June 3-August 10. Children can register at any West Florida Public Library.
Century Branch Library
Summer Reading Program – Wednesdays, 3:30 p.m.
Molino Branch Library
Preschool story time — Mondays, 2:45 p.m.
Summer Reading Program - Mondays, 4:00 p.m.
Tryon Branch
Preschool story time — Thursdays, 10:30 a.m.
Summer Reading Program - Tuesdays, 1:30 p.m.
Main Library
Preschool story time — Wednesday, 10:30 a.m.
Summer Reading Program - Mondays, noon.
Southwest Branch
Summer Reading Program – Wednesdays, 10:30 a.m.
Westside Branch
Preschool story time — Saturdays, 2:30 p.m.
Summer Reading Program – Tuesdays, 4:30 p.m.
JAY LIBRARY
The Santa Rosa County Library System opens online registration for the 2013 summer reading program on Saturday, June 1 at www.santarosa.fl.gov/libraries.
The summer reading program’s kickoff and Viva Florida 500 Celebration, “Dig into Agriculture,” will be held at the Jay Library on Friday, June 7 at 1 p.m. Meet TUFFY, the Real American Quarter Horse, sit in a tractor, crawl through a soil tunnel, and plant your very own seed. Come enjoy hot dogs and peanuts.
Dig up some fun at library programs from June 10-July 19. Story time for 3-5 year olds (who are able to attend without a caregiver) will be held at 11 a.m. on Mondays at the Jay Library. Summer reading programs for those in grades kindergarten through fifth grades during last school year will be held on Mondays at 2 p.m. at the Jay Library. All activities are free and open to the public.
Featured programs include “Digging into Treasured Tales” by storyteller Pat Nease, “Burrowing Animals” by the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission—Northwest Region, “Digging up the Past” by the Florida Public Archaeology Network, “Pirate Tales” by puppeteer Katie Adams, “The Library Dragon” illustrator Michael White, and “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” by the Jacksonville University Storybook Theater.
Sunny And Warm Memorial Day Forecast
May 27, 2013
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
- Memorial Day: Partly sunny, with a high near 89. Light and variable wind becoming southeast 5 to 10 mph in the morning.
- Monday Night: Patchy fog after 4am. Otherwise, partly cloudy, with a low around 62. South wind 5 to 10 mph.
- Tuesday: Patchy fog before 7am. Otherwise, mostly sunny, with a high near 89. East wind 5 to 15 mph.
- Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 65. South wind 5 to 10 mph.
- Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 89. East wind 10 to 15 mph.
- Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 67. South wind 5 to 10 mph.
- Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 89. East wind 10 to 15 mph.
- Thursday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 67. South wind 5 to 10 mph.
- Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 90.
- Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 66.
- Saturday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 92.
- Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 65.
- Sunday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 90.
Memorial Day Programs Remember Those That Served
May 27, 2013
Several Memorial Day programs took place across the area this morning.
In Atmore, a Day of Rememberence Memorial Day program was held at the Atmore Memorial Monument in front of city hall (pictured top). More details and photos of this event will be published Tuesday.
Other planned events include:
All Day — Fort Pickens, Gulf Islands National Seasore
Gulf Islands National Seashore will host a special event in honor of Memorial Day at historic Fort Pickens. The event features a living history encampment by Company C, 3rd U.S. Infantry (1860-1865) until 5 p.m. Uniformed re-enactors will conduct period “Colors” and “Retreat” ceremonies at 5 p.m. Company drill demonstrations will be conducted at 3:30 p.m. Ranger led tours of Fort Pickens are at 2 p.m. At 3 p.m., a special moment of silence will be observed for those who have given their lives for their country.
Tuesday — Molino Park Memorial Day
Molino Park Elementary’s Melodic Minors Choir will present “Of Thee I Sing”, a patriotic concert to honor our veterans and service members on Tuesday, May 28 at 6 p.m. All service members past or present are welcome and encouraged to wear their service uniform or token of their service. Everyone is invited to attend.
Pictured top: A Day of Remembrance held Monday morning in Atmore. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Memorial Day Closures
May 27, 2013
Most city, county and state offices are closed today for Memorial Day.
Closures:
- Escambia County Board of County Commissioners
- Escambia County Tax Collector
- Escambia County Clerk the Court
- Escambia County Property Appraiser
- Escambia County Supervisor of Elections
- Escambia County Schools
- City of Pensacola
- Town of Century
- West Florida Library
- ECUA business offices
- Florida state offices
Exceptions:
- Perdido Landfill will be open, offices closed.
- ECAT: Administrative offices are closed with no bus service except for Route 59 Express, Route 64 Beach Jumper and the Beach Trolley.
Trash Pickup
There will be no charges to the ECUA residential or commercial sanitation collection schedule. Sanitation collection schedule. All garbage, yard trash, recycling and commercial dumpster collections will be made on their regularly scheduled collection days.
North Escambia Memorials Honor Those That Served
May 27, 2013
People across North Escambia and the country will pause today to remember the brave men and women that have served our country as we celebrate Memorial Day.
In North Escambia, there are several memorials that honor those that have served in the military:
Walnut Hill Veterans Wall of Honor
The largest such memorial in the North Escambia area, the Veteran’s Honor Wall has stood in front of the Walnut Hill Community Center since its dedication in 2003. There are nearly 300 names on the wall, including names of just over a dozen soldiers killed in action. The wall honors those from the Walnut Hill area that have served in the nation’s military.
The Walnut Hill Ruritan Club began planning the wall in late 2001, and they decided that it would be a community project at no cost to the veterans listed.
Billy R. Ward began to engrave the names with an antique machine the club purchased off the internet, and there were 220 names on the wall when it was dedicated in 2003. He spent a lot of time on the project, even visiting the Wall South Memorial in Pensacola to get an idea what size the letters on the plaques should be.
On the Walnut Hill Veteran’s Honor Wall, everyone is equal. It was decided that no service rank would be include on the name plaques, just the branch and years of service.
It is estimated that about one-fourth of the veterans listed on the wall are now deceased.
The Walnut Hill Veteran’s Wall is located in front of the community center at 7850 Highway 97.
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LCpl Travis M. Nelson Park
The LCpl Travis M. Nelson Park was dedicated in Bratt on November 8, 2011, in honor of the local Marine killed in action in August 2011 in Helmand Province, Afghanistan, in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. It was just two weeks after his 19th birthday and only about a month after he arrived in Afghanistan.
The park features a memorial in Nelson’s honor. It is located on West Highway 4, just west of Northview High School.
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Atmore Veterans Memorial
The new Veterans Memorial in Atmore stands proudly on the lawn of the Atmore City Hall to pay tribute to those have served from around Atmore and North Escambia. Names of the fallen are on the spire, while commemorative bricks around the base of the spire name those that have served in the military past and present.
Those honored on the bricks date back to the Revolutionary War with a brick with the name of Benjamin Sasser, 1755-1840. His relative, Federick Sasser, 1794-1846, is also honored for his service in the War of 1812.
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Barrineau Park Wall of Honor
The Wall of Honor inside the Barrineau Park Community Center honors scores of area residents that have served in the military. The wall was a project of the Barrineau Park Historical Society. (Pictured above.)
Century Veterans Wall of Honor
About four dozen of those that served from the Century area are honored on the Century Veterans Wall of Honor at Century’s Roadside Park on Highway 29. The memorial was dedicated on July 4, 2008. (Pictured below.)
The Century Veterans Wall of Honor is located in the Nadine McCaw Park at the corner of North Century Boulevard (Highway 29) and Hecker Road.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Gas Prices: Memorial Day Travel Not Too Hard On The Wallet
May 26, 2013
Memorial Day weekend travel is about the same on the wallet this year as compared to 2012.
According to the AAA Fuel Gage Report, the average cost of a gallon of regular unleaded in Escambia County was $3.40 Saturday, up four cents over a month ago. Last year, a gallon of unleaded gas averaged $3.39 per gallon on the Saturday of Memorial Day weekend.
In Molino, the gallon of gas was $3.39 at Highway 29 and Highway 97, while a gallon of gas was $3.35 at Highway 29 and Muscogee Road in Cantonment. Gas was at about $3.36 a gallon Saturday in Atmore.
AAA Travel projects 34.8 million Americans will journey 50 miles or more from home during the Memorial Day holiday weekend, a 0.9 percent decrease from the 35.1 million people who traveled last year. The anticipated decline in holiday travel is predominately due to a decline in air travel of eight percent, fee fatigue among travelers and a waffling economy. The Memorial Day holiday travel period is defined as Thursday, May 23 to Monday, May 27.
“AAA is forecasting Memorial Day travel to be slightly lower this year due to an to an up and down economy, the impact of the end of the payroll tax holiday on working families and a 30-year low in the percentage of working age people in the workforce,” said AAA President and CEO Robert L. Darbelnet. “Additionally, economic growth in the first quarter was strong, but the impact of the sequester is now beginning to be felt resulting in reduced economic growth expectations. These and other variables are expected to result in few travelers this holiday. ”
Approximately 31.2 million people plan to drive to their destination, an increase of 0.25 percent from the 31.1 million who drove last year. Almost nine out of ten holiday travelers (89 percent) will take to the nation’s roadways during the Memorial Day weekend, keeping automobile travel in the traditional lead as the dominant mode of holiday travel transportation.
A survey of intended travelers found that gasoline prices would have no impact on plans for 62 percent of travelers. Of the remaining 38 percent of travelers who said gas prices would impact their travel plans, 27 percent plan to economize in other areas. Eight percent are planning to take a shorter trip and three percent will travel by an alternate mode of transportation.
Since national gas prices peaked at the end of February, motorists nationwide have felt welcome relief at the pump. However, current gas prices are in line with this time last year and not expected to have an effect on travel plans.
Northview Baccalaureate Service Scheduled For Sunday
May 26, 2013
The Northview High School Class of 2013 will hold their Baccalaureate program at 2 p.m. Sunday at Bratt First Baptist Church in the Family Life Center. Everyone is invited to attend.
The student-led and organized program will include scripture, prayer and original instrumental and vocal music provided by the Northview Senior Class Ensemble and students. Guest Speaker will be Bro. Glenn Webber, with music led by senior Ashton Gibbs.
Bratt First Baptist Church is located on Highway 4 just west of Northview High School.
Pictured: The Northview High School Class of 2012 Baccalaureate Program. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Sunny Weekend Continues
May 26, 2013
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
- Tonight: Partly cloudy. Lows in the mid 50s. South winds around 5 mph in the evening becoming light.
- Sunday: Mostly sunny. Highs in the upper 80s. East winds around 5 mph becoming south in the afternoon.
- Sunday Night: Partly cloudy. Patchy fog after midnight. Lows in the lower 60s. South winds 5 to 10 mph in the evening becoming light.
- Memorial Day: Mostly sunny. Highs in the upper 80s. Southeast winds around 5 mph becoming south 10 to 15 mph in the afternoon.
- Monday Night: Partly cloudy. Patchy fog after midnight. Lows in the lower 60s. Southeast winds 5 to 10 mph.
- Tuesday: Mostly sunny. Highs in the upper 80s.
- Tuesday Night: Mostly clear. Lows in the mid 60s.
- Wednesday: Mostly sunny. Slight chance of showers and thunderstorms. Highs around 90. Chance of precipitation 20 percent.
- Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy. Slight chance of showers and thunderstorms. Lows in the mid 60s. Chance of precipitation 20 percent.
- Thursday: Mostly sunny. Highs around 90.
- Thursday Night: Partly cloudy. Lows in the upper 60s.
- Friday: Mostly sunny. Slight chance of showers and thunderstorms. Highs in the lower 90s. Chance of precipitation 20 percent.
- Friday Night: Partly cloudy. Slight chance of showers and thunderstorms. Lows in the mid 60s. Chance of precipitation 20 percent.
- Saturday: Mostly sunny. Slight chance of showers and thunderstorms. Highs in the lower 90s. Chance of precipitation 20 percent.
Pictured top: Saturday evening’s sunset as seen from the intersection of Highway 99 and Highway 164 in Oak Grove. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.