Northview Tribal Beat Participates In Dixieland Band Festival
October 26, 2015
The Northview High School Tribal Beat Band scored an over “2″ rating Saturday during the Dixieland Band Festival in Brewton. The band’s drum major received a “1″ rating, while other components such as color guard, majorettes and percussion scored a “2″. Photos by Gary Amerson for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
G’day Mate! Local Students Take Virtual Trip To Australia
October 26, 2015
G’day mate! Hundreds of students at Bratt and Byrneville elementary schools recently took a virtual trip to Australia, thanks to The Global Corner International Learning Center.
The students spent time learning through hands-on activities about the language, arts, culture, geography and more of a unique land half a world away. Each year, The Global Corner teachers take students from their classroom virtually to another country. Through The Global Corner, local students have “visited” Japan, Spain, Egypt, Brazil, Russian, Italy, Kenya and now Australia.
Other North Escambia area schools will take the Global Corner virtual trip to Australia. The program will visit Molino Park Elementary in November and Jim Allen Elementary in February.
Pictured top: Thanks in part to a grant from the International Paper Foundation, The Global Corner was able to provide Passport to Australia Activity Books to K-2 students at Bratt Elementary School. These books reinforce the information taught during our Passport to Australia with fun activities. Pictured two photos below: Global Corner at Bratt Elementary School. Pictured bottom: Byrneville Elementary School’s “Bob” and Bess” discuss the visit of Global Corner to their school. Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
I Lost My Son: Remembering Fallen Marine J.R. Spears
October 25, 2015
It’s been 10 years since Marine Cpl. J.R. Spears was killed by a single gunshot wound in Iraq, the first fatality from Escambia or Santa Rosa counties during the war in Iraq.
Saturday afternoon, his family, community members and even complete strangers gathered next to the J.R. Spears Memorial Field at Don Sutton Ballpark in Molino to remember the Tate High School graduate. It was, according to his father Tim Spears, a chance to celebrate what he meant to family and the community.
Spears and his daughters Jessie and Jenny wore black t-shirts with the No. 62 — J.R. Spears’ jersey number at right guard for the Tate Aggies. The team has since retired the jersey number in his honor.
Those gathered Saturday afternoon laughed and cried as they remembered J.R., and many wrote personal messages to him on red, white and blue balloons.
“Love and miss you – our hearys are broken. Save a place for us. Kisses from Molino,” said the message on one balloon. Many people wrote “Semper Fi” or “Thank you”. While another person wrote “You are forever in our hearts”. The balloons were released heavenward in his memory.
“We are going to send them straight to heaven,” event emcee T. Bubba Bechtol told the crowd.
For a photo gallery, click here.
The event also raised money for the J.R. Spears Memorial Scholarship that provides tuition for deserving Tate High graduates at Pensacola State College. When the winner of a “50/50 raffle” to benefit the scholarship fund was announced, a member of the Patriot Guard stepped forward and collected his winnings, only to return the cash to Tim Spears for the scholarship fund.
From the balloons, to the stories, to the hugs, and even the hamburgers and hot dogs, it was all about remembering the legacy of J.R. Spears.
“I don’t want everybody to forget why he died. He was doing what he thought was right,” father Tim Spears said. “A month or so before he was killed, there was a picture that came out…that showed him inside a house in Iraq talking to a man and a woman about why it so important for them to go and vote in their election and telling them what democracy was all about. That’s the kind of stuff that I want everybody to know.”
“They are not just over there killing people. They are trying their best to do what is right for the country that they are in and while defending our freedom and way of life over here,” he continued.
Then he paused, fighting back tears.
“And I guess there’s just a little bit personal on my part. I lost my son, and I want everybody to remember him and what he did.”
For a photo gallery, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Hundreds Enjoy Annual Molino Park Elementary Fall Carnival (With Gallery)
October 24, 2015
Hundreds attended the annual Molino Park Elementary School Fall Carnival Friday evening at the school. The event featured games, food, entertainment and lots of great family fun.
For a photo gallery, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Price, click to enlarge.
Fall Gardening: Time To Tackle The Chaos And Prepare For Winter
October 24, 2015
by Santa Rosa Extension
Towards the end of the growing season, many landscapes are overgrown and untidy. Allowing plants to tower over others can mean the demise of the smaller plant. It’s time to tackle the chaos and prepare for winter.
First and foremost, take a good look at your landscape. If a plant has outgrown its allotted space, perhaps it was the wrong plant in the wrong place. Avoid these types of problems by becoming familiar with a plant before you plant it. While you can try to control the size of the plant to fit its space, it will never be a happy, stress-free plant.
Information on the mature size of a plant and their site requirements can be found in several Extension publications. The Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ (FFL) “Guide to Plant Selection and Landscape Design” is intended for homeowners who want to take the next step and design their own Florida-Friendly landscapes. Included in this book is information on landscape design strategies, a landscape planning worksheet, and the FFL plant list containing many of the UF/IFAS recommended Florida-Friendly plants for each region of the state. It’s available online by clicking here.
Even in a well-planned landscape, though, the gardener’s controlling influence is important. The most useful methods for dealing with especially enthusiastic plants are removing, pruning, supporting or creating barriers to prevent unwanted spreading.
Removing and replacing
Autumn is an excellent time to establish shrubs and trees. Consider removing oversized plants and replacing them with carefully chosen ones that will happily fit within your defined boundaries. Plants that are installed late in the year will develop strong roots systems before hot weather arrives next spring.
Pruning
When it comes to pruning, it’s good to remember that it’s better to prune lightly occasionally as needed, than to allow a plant to get way overgrown and then cut it back severely. A few prudent snips here and there will help keep more vigorous plants from overwhelming their less vigorous neighbors.
Emphasis must be placed on the word “light.” It’s important to remember that late summer pruning may stimulate an additional flush of shoot growth on species which flush several times each year. These shoots could be damaged by an early frost.
Supporting
Another technique to improve the look of an overgrown landscape is staking. Staking or otherwise supporting plants keeps them from leaning or falling over onto others. It helps the tall plant look better, and obviously benefits the plants that would otherwise be covered. The stake should be tall enough to do the job but not be too obvious.
Stakes may simply be placed in such a way that the plant is supported by leaning up against it. On the other hand, it may be necessary to tie the plant to the stake. Typically, twine or plastic ties are used for this purpose. Make sure you tie the lower and upper parts of the plant to the stake to provide proper support.
Other techniques for support include tying twine in a loop all the way around a plant, using a wire cage – this is best done early in the growing season to allow the plant to grow into it – tying a plant to a sturdier, nearby plant or using one of the commercially available support systems.
Barriers
Many perennials and tropical plants spread by underground structures called rhizomes. If growth shows up outside the area you’ve allotted for that plant, promptly dig out the unwanted growth and replant it somewhere else.
Barriers extending at least one foot down into the ground around aggressive spreaders can sometimes help keep them under control. Digging, dividing and replanting clumps of aggressive spreaders annually is another good way to make sure they stay put.
Overgrown shrubs can cause a house to lose its curb appeal. Proper, regular control measures should be employed to keep a landscape looking its best.
Northview Yearbook Receives Top Columbia Scholastic Press Association Award
October 23, 2015
For the second consecutive year, the Northview High School Tribal Spirit yearbook staff has been honored with a Gold Medal from the nationally recognized Columbia Scholastic Press Association, affiliated with Columbia University in New York City and the Columbia Graduate School of Journalism.
The staff earned a total of 908 points out of a possible 1000 for their 2015 Tribal Spirit yearbook. The reference section scored 192 out of a possible 200 points.
“You and your staff worked very hard to produce a very solid outstanding publication. The staff made sure that every activity, sport, club, student life, etc. was covered. Very nice job! It was a pleasure to have been part of your community. Lots of luck for 2016,” a statement from the Columbia Scholastic Press Association to the Northview staff said.
The Tribal Spirit yearbook staff and their adviser, Alison Robinson, attended the Columbia Scholastic Press Association Convention in New York City in 2011, 2013 and 2015.
Pictured: Northview Tribal Spirit Yearbook staff members (front, L-R) Jessica Amerson, Ellie Amerson, Bethany Reynolds, (back, L-R)Celeste North, David Weber, Destiny Watson and Jordan Taylor. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Panhandle Ag Team Represented At “North America’s Premier Farm Show”
October 21, 2015
Known as “North America’s Premier Farm Show”, the 38th Annual Sunbelt Agricultural Exposition is going on this week in Moultrie, GA. The annual event has more than 1200 exhibitors showcasing the latest in farming technology. The Expo’s unique site has a 100-acre exhibit area adjoining a 600-acre working research farm.
Pictured: Panhandle Ag Extension Team member Libbie Johnson of Escambia County talks to visitors to the UF/IFAS barn at the Sunbelt Ag Expo Tuesday about native Florida wildlife. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
It’s a Tradition: Pumpkins, Pumpkins Everywhere
October 21, 2015
Looking for a pumpkin? The Allen Memorial United Methodist Church Men’s Pumpkin Patch is open once again this year at the corner of Highway 29 and Neal Road. Pumpkins of all shapes and sizes are available, with some priced as low as $1. The pumpkin patch is open daily from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m.
Organizers said hundreds of pumpkins have been sold far this year.
The church’s Fourth Annual Fall Festival will be held at the pumpkin patch this Saturday, October 24 from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. There will be free activities for the children including visits from the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office K-9 unit in the morning, the Cantonment Station of Escambia Fire Rescue, games, crafts and more. The Methodist Men group will be selling smoked turkey legs, pulled pork sandwiches and baked goods. Admission is free. Vendors are welcome; call Candace at (850) 525-7216 for information.
Pictured: The Allen Memorial Pumpkin Patch in Cantonment. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Molino Event To Mark 10th Anniversary Of Death Of Fallen Hero J.R. Spears
October 20, 2015
The 10th anniversary of the death of a local hero will be marked with a special event in Molino on Saturday.
Cpl. Jonathan Ross “J.R.” Spears (USMC) was killed in action, Ramadi, Iraq, on October 23, 2005.
Spears, the son of Tim Spears and the late Marie Spears, grew up in Molino. He spent many years playing baseball at Don Sutton Ballpark in Molino. He was a 2002 graduate of Tate High School, where he played football. His number 62 jersey was retired by the school to honor their former lineman.
“He was very determined to be a United States Marine. After losing over 80 poounds and passing boot camp, he did it. The proudest moments of his life were in his dress blues. He wanted nothing more than to protect his country, and he gave his life doing so,” his father Tim said.
The event Saturday will begin at 2 p.m. at Don Sutton Ballpark in Molino. Food and drinks will be provided. There will be a few speakers on behalf of J.R. Spears and the entire Spears family. The event will conclude with a release of balloons to honor Spears, other fallen heroes and those still fighting for freedom.
The event is free and open to the public, and everyone is encouraged to attend. Donations for Cpl. J.R. Spears Memorial Scholarship Fund will be accepted.
Let The Music Play: Jay, Northview Band Photo Gallery
October 19, 2015
For a photo gallery featuring the Northview and Jay bands from Friday night, click here.
For a football action story and photo gallery from the Northview at Jay game, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
