Library Summer Reading Program Begins May 29
May 27, 2018
Summer Reading Club 2018 “Libraries Rock” will kick off at all West Florida Public Libraries locations on Tuesday, May 29, with opportunities for adults and youth to participate and be entered to win a variety of prizes.
Participants and parents wanting to sign up their children may do so at any WFPL branch from May 29 through Aug. 4.
Youth ages 0-17 will get reading logs to keep track of every 15 minutes they read. After 12.5 hours of reading, they get a free book and a bonus reading log to be entered for additional prizes.
Youth prizes include books, ukuleles, tablets, Bluetooth speakers, bongo drums, otamatones, karaoke machines, musical instrument sets, light-up gloves and disco ball, voice-changing microphones and firetruck rides to school for a few lucky students.
Summer Reading Club youth programs include Tampa Taiko Drummers, Roger Day, The Moogician, Magical Poodles, Mike Artell, Reno’s Reptiles, Bucky & GiGi, Quite a Catch and Animal Tales (schedule below).
Adults will have a separate Summer Reading Club with prizes including ukuleles, tablets, Adirondack chairs and gift cards.
Escambia County residents 18 years old and above can pick up a Summer Reading Club log bookmark at any WFPL location. Fill in the bookmark with the titles of books that you read or listen to via audiobook during the summer and return the filled-in bookmarks to any location. During the first week in August, partially filled in bookmarks will be accepted.
Drawings will take place during the first week of August. Winners will be notified by Tuesday, Aug. 7. At the halfway mark, youth and adult Summer Reading Club participants will be entered in a drawing for six chickens and a coop. The winner of the chicken coop must complete Chicken Keeping 101 class held at Pensacola Library.
There will also be a top prize drawing for a keyboard at the end of Summer Reading Club, which is open to youth and adult participants.
Summer Reading Club programs for children:
Tampa Taiko Drummers
- Tuesday, June 5, 11 a.m. – Southwest Branch Library – Weather permitting program will be held at Big Lagoon State Amphitheater
- Tuesday, June 5, 4 p.m. – Tryon Branch Library
- Wednesday, June 6, 11 a.m. – Century Branch Library
- Wednesday, June 6, 4 p.m. – Pensacola Library
- Thursday, June 7, 11 a.m. – Molino Branch Library
- Friday, June 8, 11 a.m. – Tryon Branch Library
Tampa Taiko is back this summer with a dynamic, interactive show featuring Japanese Taiko drums
Roger Day, Musician
- Tuesday, June 12, 11 a.m. – Southwest Branch Library – Weather permitting program will be held at Big Lagoon State Park Amphitheater
- Tuesday, June 12, 4 p.m. – Tryon Branch Library
- Wednesday, June 13, 11 a.m. – Century Branch Library
- Wednesday, June 13, 4 p.m. – Pensacola Library
- Thursday, June 14, 11 a.m. – Molino Branch Library
- Friday, June 15, 11 a.m. – Tryon Branch Library
Award winning children’s musician Roger Day has played with the Indigo Girls, Nancy Griffith and the Crickets (Buddy Holly’s band). You don’t want to miss his performance!
The Moogician, Entertainer
- Tuesday, June 19, 11 a.m. – Southwest Branch Library – Weather permitting program will be held at Big Lagoon State Park Amphitheater
- Tuesday, June 19, 4 p.m. – Tryon Branch Library
- Wednesday, June 20, 11 a.m. – Century Branch Library
- Wednesday, June 20, 4 p.m. – Pensacola Library
- Thursday, June 21, 11 a.m. – Molino Branch Library
Todd Charles (the Moogician) combines magic, music and milk in a creative comedy show for kids.
Mike Artell, Artist
- Tuesday, June 26, 11 a.m. – Southwest Branch Library – Weather permitting program will be held at Big Lagoon State Park Amphitheater
- Tuesday, June 26, 4 p.m. – Tryon Branch Library
- Wednesday, June 27, 11 a.m. – Century Branch Library
- Wednesday, June 27, 4 p.m. – Pensacola Library
- Thursday, June 28, 11 a.m. – Molino Branch Library
- Friday, June 29, 11 a.m. – Tryon Branch Library
Mike Artell, author of “Petite Rouge The Cajun Red Riding Hood”, visits the library to share his unique talents including cartooning and music.
Dedria’s Gift Presents Local Scholarship Awards
May 25, 2018
The charity Dedria’s Gift recently presented two scholarships to deserving Flomaton High School students.
Dedria’s Gift honors the memory of Dedria Robinson who was killed in a 2005 automobile accident at age 11. The group annually provides school supplies for hundreds of children the Century area.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Tate High School Presents Industry Certifications
May 24, 2018
Tate High School presented numerous industry certification awards during a program Wednesday night at the school. The certifications were earned during career and technical educational classes.
“Tate High has had outstanding success this year with very high certification numbers,” Steve Harrell, Escambia County Workforce Development, said.
Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Escambia Retired Educators Honor Teachers, Students
May 24, 2018
The Escambia Retired Educators Association (EREA), recently honored outstanding retired educators and local students.
Beverly Reinschmidt was named Volunteeer of the Year. She retired with 35-years as a Tate High School English, journalism and yearbook teacher. She works with her sister Dorthy Lister to help produce Tate’s annual musical.
Pam Schwartz was named the EREA teacher of the year. She was an elementary teacher at Ferry Pass, an exceptional student educator for the county and former president of the Escambia Education Association.
Northview High School’s Anna Belle Barberree was presented a $1,000 EREA scholarship, and Madison Levins from Byrneville Elementary School was named essay winner.
Photos by Bonnie Exner for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Tate High School Presents Senior Awards
May 24, 2018
Tate High School recently held their Senior Honors Night. Among the awards presented to the Tate High Class of 2018 were:
National Merit Commended Scholars – Ashlyn Adams, Hannah Huggins, William Jones, Rosemary Smyth
Eagle Scouts — Paul Ashton, Alexander Babkin, Zachary Kempf, Lathan Lee, Jon Levan, Jonathan McClure, Patrick McHaney, Adam Norre, Blake Norre, Charles Page, Samuel Peterson, Ethan Stillwell, Thomas Young
Military Enlisted
- USMC: Aleaha Burleigh, Turner Cobb, Dylan Frederick, Jordan Heiny, Dalton Shenberger
- US ARMY: Carson Burgess, Parker Hand, Khavory Hartwell, Andrew Hoskins, Dawson Hux, Sage Martin, Mykaela Reed, Kaitlyn Reeves, Daniella Sandoval
- USAF: Emiyah Blanton, Patrick McHaney, Michael Morton, Claire Pierce
- USN: Brandon Pollock, Ulysses Silguero
Alpha Delta Kappa Scholarship — Miranda Avery
Cox Hero Award – Nina Ventura
DAR Good Citizen Scholarship — Brandon Pollock
Northwest Florida Gator Club & Pensacola Heritage Foundation — Mollie Anderson
Pensacola Civitan Club Citizenship Award — Maurice Hendricks
Poarch Creek Indians Scholarship — Henry Langford, Christian McGhee
Take Stock in Children Scholarship — Olivia Brown, Devin Searcy, Taylor Smith, Sabra Stewart
Barnhill Family GRIT Award & Scholarship – Danielle Williams
John E. Frenkel Educational Grants (Pensacola Interstate Fair) -- Miranda Avery, Adam Norre, Blake Norre, Trae Melton, Kathryn Skipper, Rosemary Smyth, Nicole Woods
Chris Williams Memorial History Scholarship – Thomas Young
Dillon Roberson Aggie Hero Award — Dawson Foster
PSRA Bob Hemme Scholarship — Emma Grissom
Bratt Elementary Names Students Of The Month
May 23, 2018
The following students were named Students of the Month for May at Bratt Elementary School.
Pre-K
Dillan Stuart
Myles Sellers
Kindergarten
Chloe McCann
Bentley Lowery
Zoey Davidson
Bella Walker
Bailey Campbell
First Grade
Javan Thompson
Kaedyn Eady
Mya McCants
Jamileon Syria
Second Grade
Jackson Sellers
Annabella Keen
Zachary Flowers
Tyler Amerson
Third Grade
Presley Amos
Khloe Mason
Savannah Lowry
Fourth Grade
Kailey Hawkins
Allison Flowers
Jordan Dawson
Joseph Hardenbrook
Fifth Grade
Cole Hughes
Jamison Gilman
Ashkia Weaver
Makayla Sells
Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Local Pearl Harbor Survivor Celebrates 100th Birthday
May 22, 2018
Francis “Frank” Emond of Cantonment turned 100 on Monday, celebrating with a party at Naval Hospital Pensacola where he volunteers.
The Navy veteran and Pearl Harbor survivor greets visitors, answers the phone at the Quarterdeck and pushes patients in wheelchairs who need assistance. He has been a Red Cross volunteer for over 16 years and enjoys the interaction with patients and staff.
Originally from Rhode Island, Emond enlisted in the Navy in 1938 as a musician. He played the French horn for the ship’s band and even got to perform at the 1939 World’s Fair in New York before he was assigned to the USS Pennsylvania (BB-38) in Hawaii in the summer of 1941. The day before the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor, Emond and fellow Navy musicians played at a dance and band contest. His band won the contest against other bands from the USS California (BB-44) and USS Arizona (BB-39). His band later donated the trophy they won in memory to the men from the Arizona. As the sun rose on Dec. 7, 1941, Emond was preparing for morning colors and the raising of the American flag.
That’s when Emond noticed the hundreds of Japanese planes that filled the sky followed by the sound of a torpedo striking a ship docked behind his battleship. In addition to being a musician, Emond was trained as a stretcher bearer and with the general alarm sounding amongst the sound of gunfire and explosions; he began retrieving injured and dead Sailors aboard the Pennsylvania.
Following the war, Emond remained in the Navy until he retired in 1968 in Pensacola. He is currently married and has two sons, five grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. His 100-year-old brother still lives in Rhode Island.
“It’s important for everyone to give something,” said Emond when asked why he still volunteers at Naval Hospital Pensacola, “and time is something that everyone can give. It’s an important gift.”
Emond is a popular volunteer at Naval Hospital Pensacola, though not everyone knows his history. He is popular for the enthusiasm he brings to the hospital and the help he provides to patients and staff.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Byrneville Students Enjoy End Of The Year Bash At Splash Pad
May 22, 2018
Byrneville Elementary School second and third graders were treated to an “End of the Year Bash” Monday at the Century Splash Pad at Showalter Park. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
ECSO Beats U.S. Navy In ‘Boots Vs. Badges Challenge’ In Molino
May 22, 2018
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office beat the U.S. Navy in the Escambia County 4-H Council’s Boots Vs. Badges Challenge at the 4-H property Molino.
The teams competed in an obstacle course challenge. The event also featured an obstacle course for the public, kids activities, vendors, a car show and more.
The event benefited Gulf Coast Kids House.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Students Cast Ballots For Favorite Books With Supervisor Of Elections Help
May 21, 2018
Students across Escambia County voted for their favorite books in Sunshine State Youth Reader Award book elections with the help of the Escambia County Supervisor of Elections.
The winning book at Ransom Middle School was “The War That Saved My Life”.
At McArthur Elementary School, 120 students cast a ballot. The favorite book among second graders was “Narwhal Unicorn of the Sea”, while third through fifth grade students chose “The Wild Robot”.
At Lipscomb Elementary School, the top book was “Maxi’s Secrets: Or What You Can Learn From a Dog”.
Pictured: Sunshine State Youth Reader Award book elections at Lipscomb Elementary (top), Ransom Middle School (below) and MrArthur Elementary (bottom). Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
