Escambia Special Olympics Held At Tate (With Gallery)
March 2, 2013
The track and field portion of the Escambia County Specials Olympics was held Friday at Tate High School.
Hundreds of athletes from over a dozen schools took part in Friday’s event. Hundreds of Tate High students also took part, running events and serving as volunteer “buddies” for the athletes.
The day included track and field events, softball and tennis ball tosses, and other competitive events — plus fun events like fishing games, a petting zoo, face painting and more.
For a photo gallery, click here.
Pictured: Friday’s track and field events Special Olympics held Friday at Tate High School. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Photos: Northview’s Got Talent
March 2, 2013
Northview High School held their annual talent show Friday night.
Winners were:
1st place - Dance Group
2nd place — Guitar Trio
3rd place — Alison Bardin
Honorable mentions — Morgan Ward, Anna Donald
“Crowd Pleaser” — Northwest Florida Swim Team
For a photo gallery, click here.
Pictured top: Talent show first place winners “Dance Group”. Pictured inset: Honorable mention winner Morgan Ward. Pictured below: Second place winning guitar trio. Pictured below: The “Northwest Florida Swim Team”. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Local Singer Releases First Songs, Bluff Springs Music Video Premieres
February 28, 2013
Molino native and Tate High grad Dusty Sanderson’s first four songs and his first music video — filmed in Escambia County — have been released.
Sanderson, 20, signed with Lamon Records and recorded his four-song EP at Quad Studios in Nashville with Grammy nominated producer Dave Moody. His first music video for the title track “Chuggin’ Along” was shot January 24 in Bluff Springs, including a bonfire scene that featured a lot of his friends around a bonfire enjoying the song. Additional scenes were filmed earlier in the day at Chan’s on Nine Mile Road.
The first single “Chuggin’ Along” has just shipped to country radio stations across the nation. The four-song album highlights Dusty’s songwriting abilities, and in addition to the title cut, it includes “Dang Good Country Song,” “Country to the Stone,” and the ballad “This Old Guitar”.
“I’m still overwhelmed. It’s just crazy how fast a childhood dream can turn into a reality if you work hard enough for it,” Sanderson told NorthEscambia.com.
Sandrson has been playing guitar since he was 10 years old and singing since he turned 14. “It all started around a bonfire on the river,” he said, “with just me and my guitar, which eventually led to me getting my first real gig in my hometown at a little place called the Fugly Worm.”
Asked about his songwriting, Sanderson said, “I’ve been interested in writing songs all my life, but I didn’t get serious about it until I was 17. I had a girlfriend that I spent all day, every day with, so when she took a trip to LA for a week I had no clue what to do with my time, so I sat down in my room and started writing.” And he’s not stopped since.
“Chuggin’ Along” and Dusty Sanderson’s complete four song EP release are available from iTunes and Amazon.com. To watch the “World Premiere” of Sanderson’s video “Chuggin’ Along” on NorthEscambia.com, click here.
The Dusty Sanderson band will open for the Kentucky Headhunters on Saturday, March 16 at Beulahfest.
Pictured: Scenes from Dusty Sanderson’s video “Chuggin’ Along” that was filmed partially in Bluff Springs, just off Highway 29 in North Escambia. Courtesy images for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Sherri Stallworth Named Ernest Ward Middle Teacher Of The Year
February 28, 2013
Sherri Stallworth has been named the Teacher of the Year at Ernest Ward Middle School. Stallworth serves as the school’s media specialist, and also coordinates the production of the Ernest Ward Middle School yearbook “The Talon”. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Area Students Visit Space, Rocket Center, Science Lab
February 27, 2013
Fifth graders from Escambia Academy in Canoe, Ala., recently took their annual field trip to the U.S. Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville.
The students from Elizabeth McDonald’s class learned the history of space travel, participated in chemistry labs, rode flight simulators and went rock climbing.
The students also stopped at the McWane Science Center in Birmingham where they were able to pet sharks and stingrays, learn about bugs and birds and get hands-on with a variety of scientific equipment.
Pictured top: Escambia Academy fifth graders at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville: (front, L-R) Olivia Lamb, Ragon Lassiter, Madison Hammons, Makenzie Rolin, Malorie Parker, Abby Stewart, Rachel Donald, Madelyn Smith, Mary-Stuart Lewis, Lily Woods, (middle row) Chase Bell, Gracie Girby, (back row) Troy Fountain, Shivam Bhakta, Chaz McGhee, Sam Smith, Bryant Quimby, Hart Taylor, Parker Reynolds and Matthew Ray. Pictured below: Troy Fountain, Shivam Bhakta, Sam Smith and Matthew Ray get a close look at a lunar rock. Pictured inset: Chase Bell and Madison Hammons conduct a science experiement. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Youth Tour To Washington Winners Announced
February 26, 2013
Two local students have won the Escambia River Electric Cooperative Youth Tour to Washington contest.
Taylor Brook from Northview high School and Kayla Flowers from Jay High School will represent EREC on the Washington Youth Tour in June. While in Washington, Brook and Flowers will see the sights, learn about the nation’s capital and rural electrification while making new friends from across the country.
Students from across the EREC service area interviewed with an independent panel of judges. Contestants were judged on their knowledge of EREC and the history of rural electrification. Personal attributes of each candidate such as character, academic ability, personality and leadership abilities were also considered.
Pictured top: Youth Tour to Washington winners Kayla Flowers (left) from Jay High School and Taylor Brook from Northview High School.
Blue Jacket Jamboree Less Than Two Weeks Away
February 26, 2013
The Northview High School FFA Alumni Blue Jacket Jamboree is less than two weeks away.
This year’s lineup includes musical entertainment from local artists, along with an entire day of car shows, crafts, food, games, and more. The proceeds from this event will fund scholarships for graduating Northview seniors and promote agricultural education and FFA in Northwest Florida.
Featured music will include Shane Harrell and The Major Moves Band with a mix of Southern rock, classic rock, blues and country; and Denean Workman and her hope-centered music.
The Blue Jacket Jamboree will be held from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. on Saturday, March 9 at Northview High School. Admission is $5 for adults, $3 for children 10 and under, at the gate.
Arts and crafts vendor booths (except for food) are still available. For more information, contact (850) 256-5831 or (850) 327-6681 ext. 248..
The Blue Jacket Jamboree is sponsored in part by NorthEscambia.com.
Pictured top: Shane Harrell and The Major Moves Band. Courtesy photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Health And Hope Clinics Seek Donations From ‘Wish List’
February 24, 2013
The Health and Hope Clinics in Pensacola and Century provides well over $1.5 million worth of free medical care each year.
The clinic was first established in Pensacola back in 2003 by the Pensacola Bay Baptist Association to meet the needs of uninsured and medically underserved in Escambia County. The clinic is entirely volunteer and donor supported.
The Health and Hope Clinics are currently in need of donations on their “wish list”. Items needed are:
Household items
- Paper towels
- Paper plates
- Plastic utensils
- Trash bags, 13 or 30 gallon
- Batteries, AAA or AA
Cleaning supplies
- All purpose cleaner
- Antibacterial wipes
- Glass cleaner
- Bleach
Office supplies
- 8.5 x 11 copy paper, white
- Postage stamps
- Avery labels, 5160
- Staples
- Ink pens
- Highlighters, all colors
- Paper clips
- Scotch tape refills
- Sharpie markers, black
Medical supplies
- 1CC insulin syringes
- True Track glucose meters
- True Track meter strips
- Urine sample cups
- Blank patient charts
- Powder free latex exam gloves
- Sharps containers
- Antiseptic towelettes
- Bandaids, all sizes
Gift cards
- Grocery stores
- Fast food restaurants
Any items to be donated can be dropped off at either clinic location:
- Century, 501 East Church Street, (850) 366-4100
- Pensacola, 9999 Chemstrand Road, (850) 479-4456
Pictured top: The Health and Hope Clinic location in Century. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Weekend Gardening: Early Flowering Trees Are Ushering In Spring
February 24, 2013
Warmer temperatures have raised the spirits of gardeners in Northwest Florida. Although we know from experience that we still have a good chance of another cold snap or two, nicer weather is always a welcomed foray into spring.
Warmer weather also means that some trees and shrubs burst into bloom producing flowers that brighten otherwise drab winter landscapes. Several members of the rose family are currently in bloom in Northwest Florida and sure to grab your attention.
Flowering Quince
During Colonial times a quince tree was a rarity in the gardens of wealthy Americans, but was found in nearly every middle class garden. The fruit—always cooked—was an important source of pectin for food preservation, and a fragrant addition to jams, juices, pies, and candies. However, by the early twentieth century quince production declined as the value of apples and pears increased. Its popularity has plummeted and it is now a rarity in contemporary landscapes.
Quince has been cultivated in the Middle East for centuries, and may have even been the fruit of temptation in the story of the Garden of Eden. The ancient Biblical name for quince translates as “Golden Apple.” In ancient Mesopotamia, now Iraq, cultivation of quince predates the cultivation of apples.
This small, thorny, deciduous tree is one of the first to bloom in late winter. It is a member of the rose family and explodes with typical rose-type flowers in February each year. The single, white flowers are 1½ to 2 inches across and grow on current season growth.
The fruit is a fragrant, many-seeded pome about three inches in diameter. The fruit’s shape ranges from round to pear-like and the flesh is yellow. Several references refer to it as “hard and rather unpalatable.”
If you would rather not deal with the fruit, non-fruiting cultivars exist. Since most quince cultivars are not well-adapted to Florida because of their high chilling requirement, choose your cultivar carefully.
Apples
Another pome-type fruit that embellishes our landscapes in late winter is the apple tree. Along with the quince, it too is a member of the rose family. It is older in cultivation than the rose and is sometimes referred to as the prince of the rose family.
Relatively few cultivars of apples (Malus domestica L.) can be grown successfully in Florida.
Most apples have a high chilling requirement. Chilling requirement is defined as the number of hours less than or equal to 45 degrees F during the winter. Apple cultivars suitable for North Florida have a chilling requirement of less than 600 hours.
Only a few cultivars meet Florida’s low-chill requirement. Recommended cultivars include ‘Anna’, ‘Dorsett Golden’ and ‘TropicSweet’. ‘Anna’ and ‘Dorsett Golden’ originated in Israel and the Bahamas, respectively. ‘TropicSweet’ is a patented cultivar from the University of Florida. These cultivars each have a chilling requirement of 250 to 300 hours.
For more information on low-chill apples, review the University of Florida/IFAS online publication at http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/mg368.
Flowering Cherry
While we may not be able to produce beautiful, delicious cherries in Northwest Florida, we can enjoy a few ornamental, flowering cherry trees.
One species that does well in Northwest Florida is Prunus campanulata or the Taiwan cherry. The Taiwan cherry grows to 20 to 25 feet and spreads nearly as wide as it matures. Single, drooping rose-type flowers appear in late winter and will last for about ten days.
For other recommendations on flowering trees to add to your landscape, contact your local Extension Office.
Theresa Friday is the Residential Horticulture Extension Agent for Santa Rosa County. The use of trade names, if used in this article, is solely for the purpose of providing specific information. It is not a guarantee, warranty, or endorsement of the product name(s) and does not signify that they are approved to the exclusion of others.
Theresa Friday is the Residential Horticulture Extension Agent for Santa Rosa County.
Ernest Ward’s ‘Got Talent’
February 23, 2013
Ernest Ward Middle School students proved they’ve “Got Talent” during a talent show Friday night.
The first place winner was Seth Killam for his guitar, harmonica and singing performance of “I Won’t Turn Back”, and second place went to Brianna Smith’s baton routine to “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun”.
Additional awards were presented to Morgan Pope for selling the most tickets and Kaylin Glenn.
Pictured: Brianna Smith and Seth Killam, winners in the Ernest Ward Middle School’s “Got Talent” show Friday night. Submitted photo by Jacke Johnston, click to enlarge.