Two Escambia Businesses Honored As Innovators By Governor
January 22, 2014
Tuesday, Gov. Rick Scott announced the winners of the 2013 Governor’s Innovators in Business Awards during Florida Business Innovators Week. The awards recognize Florida companies in select industries that have influenced the state’s economic growth and diversification over the last year.
“Businesses are able to thrive because we have created an economic climate in Florida that supports job creation. I want to congratulate all of the companies being recognized today for their hard work in creating jobs and helping to create an opportunity economy in Florida that supports jobs for generations to come. Florida families are able to live the American Dream with the help of the successful, innovative companies that call Florida home, and I am proud to recognize some of those companies today,” Scott said.
Winners from Escambia County were:
The Governor’s Innovation in Tourism and Hospitality Award, for Florida companies that best exemplify innovation developed through product or process in the last three years, was presented to the Pensacola Lighthouse and Museum. As part of Florida’s tourism market, in particular the cultural heritage sector, Pensacola Lighthouse and Museum has grown from a volunteer organization to a booming business in a few short years. Through fiscally sound planning, the business experienced continued growth resulting in an increase in visitation from just 8,000 visitors in 2009 to more than 150,000 in 2013.
The Governor’s Business Expansion Award, for Florida companies that expanded their operations in 2012, investing capital and creating jobs, was awarded to Navy Federal Credit Union. Navy Federal’s largest regional operations center resides in Pensacola and they plan to continue their expansion and migration of personnel from Virginia to Florida. They recently announced a project that will add more than 1,500 jobs in Florida’s Northwest Region over the next five years.
Pictured: The Pensacola Lighthouse and Museum. Courtesy photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Residents Celebrate MLK Day With Parades, Ceremonies, Music
January 20, 2014
Crowds turned out across the area Monday to honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
The Century-Flomaton Improvement Association held their annual motorcade, ending with a program and celebration at the Ag Building. Songs, essays and speeches honored King’s memory, looked forward to the future and honored local community leaders that have passed away. Guest speaker Russell Fountain of the Bethel AFM Church of God in Century addressed the group before a community lunch.
In Atmore, the 2014 Martin Luther King Jr. Day parade rolled through town to a memorial program and lunch at Escambia County High School on Monday.
Pensacola honored Dr. King with a parade, while a Walk on MLK and program featuring Irma Wilson of Atmore was held in Flomaton.
For a photo gallery from the Century events, click here.
For a photo gallery from the Atmore events, click here.
Pictured top: The Pilgrim Lodge Baptist Church Youth Choir performs during the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Program Monday morning in Century. Pictured inset: Hundreds lined the streets of Atmore for the annual MLK Day Parade. Pictured below: The parade rolls through Atmore. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Church Launches Ministry Offering Free Beans And Rice
January 19, 2014
Hunger is a reality for many of our friends and neighbors, with some North Escambia families having a difficult time making ends meet.
“With continuing unemployment and increasing costs of living, more and more families have to choose between necessities like health care, child care, and even food,” said Connie Chamberlain of Saint Monica’s Episcopal Church in Cantonment. “January is National Poverty in America Awareness Month. While we cannot eliminate poverty completely, we can do something about feeding hungry people in our neighborhood.”
St. Monica’s Episcopal Church will launch a new Beans and Rice Ministry to do just that.
On the last Saturday of each month — beginning at 9 a.m. on January 25 — the church will distribute uncooked rice and dried beans free to each family who comes until supplies run out. For part of that time, a simple hot breakfast will be offered.
“The giving is done freely–without requirement, without proof of need. The only restriction is that you have to show up to receive,” Chamberlain said. “We invite any member of the community who needs food to come by the church during the distribution hours, and we invite anyone who wishes to support this vital ministry to contribute or to volunteer to assemble food and help give it away on Saturday mornings.”
For more information, call (850) 587-5022 or email clchamberlinb@aol.com.
Webster, Helton United In Marriage
January 19, 2014
Robinsonville Baptist Church was the setting for the ceremony uniting Ms. Susan Elaine Webster and Mr. Clay Clyde Helton in marriage on December 22, 2013 at 3:30 pm. Officiating the double ring ceremony was their pastor Mark Jones. The church and fellowship hall was beautifully decorated for Christmas in ivory and gold. Added to the beauty were red poinsettias, deer antlers, mason jars filled with gold and red ornaments and tied with antique lace, a rustic Christmas tree, burlap and lace. The pew bows and other bows throughout the sanctuary were made from burlap and lace from the brides mothers dress.
Programs designed with burlap, lace and double horseshoes were given out to guests. Photos of the couple in dark wood frames were placed in the foyer and fellowship hall. The sign in table was simple with antique lace and a monogram picture in a frame made of antique wood that was a handmade gift from Mrs. Traci Cummings.
The bride is the daughter of the late Mr. Robert Webster and Mrs. Gail Webster of Atmore. The groom is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Clyde Helton of Robinsonville.
Candles adorned with antique lace were lit in memory of the brides father Robert Webster and grandmother Dorothy ONeal and the grooms grandfather FM Helton, aunt Willie Marshall and nephew Randal Helton.
The bride descended the aisle in a floor length ivory lace and beaded gown with a lace trimmed v neck and fitted bodice with scalloped lace edging all around the hem. Her shoes were ivory flats adorned with beading. The necklace and bracelet of silver and crystal the bride wore were borrowed from her sister Audrey Long of Colfax, Indiana. The bride carried a bouquet of ivory and red roses pulled together with burlap, trimmed with ivory lace from her mothers wedding dress and pinned with her great grandmothers antique brooch. As the bride reached the front of the church, she took a moment to give her mother and mother in law each a single red rose tied with burlap and lace and an embroidered, lace trimmed hanky.
Attending the bride as maid of honor was the brides daughter Miss Karen Eiland of Atmore. Karen wore a knee length chocolate chiffon dress with a fitted waist and v neck and brown leather slip on wedges. She carried a single long stem red rose wrapped with burlap and tied with lace from her grandmothers wedding dress.
Mr. CC Helton, son of the groom served as best man. He was dressed in a chocolate pearl snap button down shirt, jeans and boots. The groom wore an ivory pearl snap button down shirt with a chocolate tweed western coat, jeans, boots and his Stetson hat. Father and son both wore a single red rose boutonnière wrapped in burlap and twine.
The wedding rings were displayed at the front of the church on an antique hitching post picked together by the bride and groom from the Helton family farm. A simple horseshoe adorned with ivory satin ribbons hung on the post with the rings tied by smaller satin ribbons to the center bow.
Prelude musical selections were God Gave Me You by Blake Shelton and This Ring by T. Carter. During lighting of the unity candle, soloist Mrs. Lori Nesmith and pianist Mrs. Shae Johnson performed one of the couples favorite hymns, How Great Thou Art. The recessional selection was Fall In Love by Kenney Chesney.
The bride surprised the groom by reading a heart felt letter which included a quote from Ecclesiastes 4:9-12.
A reception was held in the festive and beautifully decorated fellowship hall of their church. The three tier cake, made by Mrs. Kathy Martin,was homemade butter pecan adorned with three red rose buds and topped with a Montana Silversmiths cake topper of a bride and groom on a tractor. The lace covering the cake table was the brides grandmothers tablecloth. The couple made their own cake stand out of old timber and covered it with burlap and antique lace. The toasting glasses were mason jars adorned with antique lace tied with twine. Mrs. Caroline Singleton graciously cut the cake for the guests. Everyone enjoyed a catered array of delicious meats, cheeses, hors d’oeuvres, fruits, vegetables, dips and desserts. Mrs. Jean Pennington made her wonderful divinity for the occasion. Guests were each treated to a special gift from the couple.
(Submitted for NorthEscambia.com)
Weekend Gardening: Tips for January
January 18, 2014
Here are gardening tips for the month of January from the IFAS Extension Service:
Flowers
- Refrigerated bulbs such as tulip, daffodil and hyacinth should be planted in prepared beds.
- Start seeds of warm season flowers late this month in order to have transplants in March.
- There’s still time to transplant some cool season annuals such as carnations, foxglove, pansies, petunias and snapdragons.
- Re-fertilize cool season flowerbeds, using a liquid or dry form of fertilizer. Be careful not to apply excessive amounts and keep granules away from the base of stems.
- Finish dividing crowded perennials. Don’t wait until spring for this job.
- Plant bare root roses immediately after they are purchased.
Trees and Shrubs
- Plant trees and shrubs. This is an ideal time of year for transplanting larger specimens.
- Plant bare root plants such as deciduous ornamental shrubs and trees.
- Prune dormant shade trees, if needed.
- Stick hardwood cuttings of fig, grape, honeysuckle, Althea, Catalpa, Forsythia and Wisteria.
Fruits and Nuts
- Apply dormant oil spray to peach, plum, nectarine and other deciduous fruit trees. This practice is necessary when growing the stone fruits in locations along the Gulf Coast. Note: This applies to the flowering peaches and cherries since they are susceptible to the same pests as their fruiting cousins.
- Plant bare root deciduous fruit trees
- Prune dormant fruit trees if needed
Vegetable Garden
- Start seeds of warm season vegetables late this month in order to have transplants in March.
- Lime (if needed), and begin preparing vegetable gardens for the spring planting.
- Cool season vegetables that can still be planted in the garden are: beets, broccoli, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, celery, Chinese cabbage, kale, kohlrabi, leek, mustard, bunching onions, parsley, English peas, Irish potatoes, radishes and turnips.
- Irish potatoes can be started from January through March by planting seed pieces 3 to 4 inches deep in rows. Always purchase certified seed potatoes.
Lawns
- Check soil moisture during winter and water as needed.
Century Correctional Helps Byrneville Elementary Celebrate Literacy
January 17, 2014
Byrneville Elementary School took part in “Celebrate Literacy Week, Florida!” this week with a little help from Century Correctional Institution.
Several Century Correctional staff members volunteered their own time to read to the students this week because they realize that reading to young children is a great activity to stimulate language and cognitive skills while building motivation for reading, curiosity and memory.
The CCI staff members stressed the importance of learning to read and good education to the Byrneville students.
Pictured top: Assistant Warden Hutchins with Byrneville Elementary students. Pictured below: Warden Doug Sloan reads to students. Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Northview Grad Dixon Completes Military Basic Training
January 16, 2014
Air Force Airman Quadry D. Dixon graduated from basic military training at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, San Antonio, Texas.
The airman completed an intensive, eight-week program that included training in military discipline and studies, Air Force core values, physical fitness, and basic warfare principles and skills.
Airmen who complete basic training earn four credits toward an associate in applied science degree through the Community College of the Air Force.
Dixon is the son of Bonnie Ewing of Flomaton and Jimmy Dixon of Brewton.
He is a 2012 graduate of Northview High School.
Arbor Day Celebration and Tree Giveaway Planned For Molino
January 16, 2014
Escambia County Extension will host an Arbor Day celebration and tree giveaway event on Friday, January 24, from 10 a.m until noon at the Molino Community Center, 6450 Highway 95A North.
To obtain a free tree, residents must participate in a 10 minute tree-based educational session that will include site selection, proper planting, watering and general care and maintenance. Two tree species will be offered, mayhaw and willow oak, in one gallon containers. The giveaway is limited to one tree per client.
Pictured: Leaves of the willow oak tree. Courtesy photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Sea Turtles Rescued From Cold Released Again
January 15, 2014
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) and several partners returned approximately 50 sea turtles to the wild Tuesday in the Gulf of Mexico off Cape San Blas after the animals were rescued from last week’s cold water temperatures.
“It is very satisfying to be able to release these turtles following the exhaustive effort put in by rescuers last week,” said Dr. Allen Foley, FWC sea turtle biologist. “Our staff, partners and volunteers spent many hours braving cold conditions to search for and rescue these cold-stunned turtles.”
The sea turtles were rescued between Jan. 7 and Jan. 9, when water temperatures dipped below 50 degrees, causing cold-stunning. Cold-stunned turtles may float listlessly in the water or wash ashore, largely unable to move. In this state, they are susceptible to further effects from the weather, and to attacks by gulls that often involve eye injuries. Many of these turtles would die without human intervention.
Many of the turtles were rescued near Crooked Island and in Big Lagoon in Escambia County. The rescued turtles were all taken to Gulf World Marine Park in Panama City to allow them to recover from exposure to the unusually low water temperatures.
A water-temperature-monitoring buoy in St. Joseph Bay allows biologists to predict when sea turtle cold-stunning may occur. Thanks to this, responders were ready with a plan of action for this event. There is no forecast of cold-stunning conditions returning to the area in the near future.
The turtles were tagged before their release to allow researchers to individually identify them if any are encountered again in the future. Biologists chose to release the turtles into the Gulf at Cape Palms Park on Cape San Blas because the water is warmer and turtles released in the area in the past have returned to St. Joseph Bay, which is a known feeding area.
Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Library To Uncover “The History Of Molino”
January 14, 2014
The West Florida Library will present “The History of Molino” in a special program later this month.
The event will be hosted by Lil King, president of the Molino Mid-County Historical Society at the Molino Branch Library, 6450 Highway 95A, on Saturday, January 25.
With its location just 25 miles north of Pensacola, the Molino area, including the old town of Molino, played a vital role in the area’s settlement and development. From its start as a Spanish mission in the 1700s, an important mill town during the Industrial Revolution and into the modern era, Molino’s history is the story of life in rural Florida and how it has changed over the years.
The event is a part of the Explore Pensacola History lecture series. For more information, call the Main Library at (850) 436-5060.
Pictured top: Work to uncover evidence of The Mission San Joseph De Escambe along the Escambia River in Molino by the University of West Florida Archaeological Field School. Pictured below: An unusual glass necklace bead found in Molino, believe to possibly be an 18th-century “melon bead” with a translucent cobalt blue color. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
