For “Good Boy” Rick Scott, Mom Can Be The Star Of The Show
October 30, 2010
Proud that her son is a “good boy”, Esther Scott has become something of star in this year’s race for Florida governor.
Her son’s TV ads feature her explaining how she raised her son in public housing, gave him all that she could and how he worked to buy a doughnut shop and gave her a job. Esther Scott said she really is proud of her son Rick Scott, the Republican candidate for governor.
“He really is a good boy,” Esther Scott told NorthEscambia.com Friday afternoon aboard the Rick Scott campaign bus. Rick Scott stood nearby, busily working to tidy up an on-board kitchen as he conducted a radio interview on his cell phone. Mom’s eyes were approving he as straightened up the mess left behind from doughnuts from an earlier visit to the Donut Hole Bakery Cafe in Santa Rosa Beach.
As Esther Scott, 86,walked into Fran’s Diner in Molino Friday, one would think a star had walked through the doors. Forget the guy with his name in huge letters on the side of the bus. Esther Scott has become a campaign star. As she travels with the campaign, she is asked to sign autographs, shakes hands and gets introduced like a star when Rick Scott takes the microphone. The applause is notable as she was introduced Friday in Molino.
Esther Scott said she remembers the day that her son came to her and hinted at his plans to run for governor of the Sunshine State.
“I told him to just be sure to hear what the people say, and not take money from people that would want favors in return. That’s what crooked politicians do,” she said. After all, he was a good boy, and mom planned from the beginning of the campaign that Rick Scott’s image would not be tarnished.
“He is going to make the best governor that Florida has ever had,” she said. “He will do the best that he can for this state, and keep every promise or die trying.”
She admits that she was a bit surprised that Rick, one of her five children, would seek the governor’s job. And she was even more surprised when he called and asked her to do the television ad.
“He’s a good boy,” is the ad’s catch phrase that has beamed its way across our televisions since Scott defeated Bill McCollum in the Republican primary.
“I was scared to death when it came time to film the ad,” she said. “I didn’t know why they wanted to hear from his mom. But it was kind of fun, and I think it got him a few votes.”
“I know I’d vote for him,” said said with a smile. “He’s good boy.”
But while she may be the rock star of the 2010 political ad season in Florida, Esther Scott told NorthEscambia.com that she is not a political adviser on the campaign. No pushing the issues to her son, she said.
“He didn’t listen to me as a child, and he’s not going to listen now about politics,” she said. “But he did always respect me.”
Pictured top: Esther Scott, mother of gubernatorial candidate Rick Scott, sits down for an exclusive interview with NorthEscambia.com Friday afternoon on the campaign’s bus. Pictured inset: Scott listens as her son addresses a crowd of supporters in Molino. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Photo Gallery: Bratt Elementary Fall Festival
October 30, 2010
The annual Bratt Fall Festival was held Friday at the school.
For a photo gallery, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Photos: Visit The Pumpkin Patch
October 29, 2010
Looking for a pumpkin? The Allen Memorial United Methodist Church Pumpkin Patch is open at the corner of Highway 29 and Neal Road. Pumpkins of all shapes and sizes are available, with some priced as low as $1.
For more photos from the pumpkin patch, click here.
Pictured top The Allen Memorial Pumpkin Patch in Cantonment. Pictured left: Loyd Pickens arranges pumpkins for sale recently. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Century Care Center Celebrates With Trick Or Treat, Fall Festival
October 29, 2010
Century Care Center hosted a fall festival Thursday afternoon, complete with a haunted house, costume contest, cake walk, games, prizes, food and trick or treating for the kids.
For more photos from the event, click here.
Pictured above and below: Century Care Center’s community fall festival was held Thursday afternoon. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Escambia Students Of The Month Named
October 28, 2010
Escambia County Students of the Month for October have been named by the Escambia Association for Administrators in Education. The awards are presented monthly to two students from participating schools.
The following students were named from North Escambia area schools:
- Jim Allen — Jason S. McGowan, fourth grade; Haleigh S. Goodale, fourth grade.
- Molino Park — Michael D. Antrim second grade; Valerie J. Gahimer, third grade.
- Ernest Ward — Kayleigh G. Linam, sixth grade; Liberty D. Peebles, seventh grade; Penny N. Banda, eighth grade.
- Ransom — Hunter G. Nesmith, sixth grade; Madison R. Rondeau, sixth grade.
- Northview — Jessica N. Mahon, 10th grade; Devon L. Cottrell, 10th grade.
- Tate — Anna B. Barlow, 12th grade; Lemard D. Cyrus, 12th grade.
Pictured top: Devon Cottrell and Jessica Mahon, Northview High School’s Students of the Month for October. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Bratt Park Completed
October 28, 2010
Work is substantially complete at the new Bratt Park on West Highway 4, and the park is open for use.
The 13-acre park includes an eight-foot wide, seven-tenths of a mile walking track, a well equipped playground and two covered pavilions with picnic tables.
The park also includes two softball fields, a full basketball court and exercise and rest stations positioned along the track. The softball fields will not be lit for night play; in fact, the park’s hours will follow that of other county parks — sunrise to sunset.
The park was funded with $200,000 in LOST (local option sales tax) monies set aside for the park’s construction. Bratt Park is located near the First Baptist Church of Bratt, just west of Northview High School.
For more information, or to reserve the park for a birthday party, church event, family reunion or other event, contact Escambia County Parks and Recreation at (850) 475-5220.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Northview, Ernest Ward, Tate FFA Fair Booths Awarded
October 27, 2010
Northview High School’s FFA booth at the Pensacola Interstate Fair took top honors, while Tate place second and Ernest Ward placed fourth.
The FFA booths showcased each school’s FFA chapter.
Northview’s booth showcased career development experiences, while Ernest Ward showcased Ag in the classroom and an EWMS project where FFA students from Ernest Ward visit and read to students at Bratt Elementary each year.
Pictured top: The blue ribbon Northview High School FFA booth at the Pensacola Interstate Fair. Pictured below: The Ernest Ward Middle School FFA booth. Pictured bottom: The Northview High FFA Alumni and Friends booth. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
See The Video: Century Relay Purple Glove Dance
October 27, 2010
The kickoff event for the Century Relay for Life was held Tuesday night, complete with the premiere of the “Century Relay Purple Glove Dance” video.
The Purple Glove Dance video (see below) features local residents — in purple gloves — to promote Century’s Relay for Life event. The video was produced by Century Relay Chair Jacke Johnston and edited by Elaine Holk.
For more information on Century’s Relay, or to sign up online, visit CenturyRelay.com.
(If you do not see the video below, it is because your home, work or school firewall is blocking external videos.)
Pictured top: The Century Town Council takes part in the “Purple Glove Dance” at a recent meeting. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Molino’s ‘Vampire Ladies’ Lead Northview Student To First Blood Donation
October 27, 2010
One Northview High School sophomore used his day of school on Monday to become a blood donor for the very first time — thanks, in part, to the “Vampire Ladies” of his childhood.
Zac Cole, 16, said had looked forward to the day since elementary school. While Cole was a student at Molino Elementary School, then-Principal Dale Cooey and group of parents known as the “Vampire Ladies” created a program to teach students the importance of giving blood.
After the September 11 tragedy, Molino Park held blood drives, encouraged students to recruit adult donors all while teaching the students about blood donations.
“These first students that were taught about blood donation are now old enough to donate themselves. They no longer have to be recruiters. They can now be someone else’s hero,” said Zac’s mom Peggy.
Zac, his mom and cousin Heath Cole visited Northwest Florida Blood Services in Pensacola Monday morning so Zac could make his first blood donation.
“That was easier than I thought it would be,” Zac said about giving blood on his day out of school.
Zac will be eligible to donate blood again on December 20; just in time to “give the gift of life” for Christmas, he said.
For more information on Northwest Florida Blood Services, click here. The Bloodmobile will be in North Escambia on Saturday, November 6 beginning at 11 a.m. for the annual Walnut Hill Volunteer Fire Department Catfish Fry.
Pictured top: Heath Cole (left) and Zac Cole pose with a new Kia Soul being given away by Northwest Florida Blood Services to one lucky donor. Pictured inset: Zac Cole makes his first blood donation.
Photos: Move That Bus! Extreme Home Makeover Reveal
October 25, 2010
With superstar Mariah Carey, the Tate Showband of the South, a Christmas parade and thousands screaming “Move That Bus!”, Finis Gaston saw his new “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” home for the first time Sunday afternoon.
Crowds waited for hours as bands and cheerleaders and TV production crews practiced in front of the new 3,600 square foot house, which was completely decked out with Christmas decorations. The Extreme Makeover episode filmed Sunday in Pensacola will air as a Christmas special on December 12.
For more photos from the “Big Reveal”, click here.
Then the excitement erupted as a white van drove up to the home on Rainbow Avenue, and out stepped Mariah Carey — a pop legend with more number one songs to her name than Michael Jackson.
But the crowning moment was the one we’ve all seen played out on TV so many times — a limousine drove up behind the Extreme Makeover bus. On cue, the crowd yelled those famous words — “Move That Bus!”. And then Finis Gaston, along with the nieces and nephews in his care, stepped into their new home.
The design of what they saw — four bedrooms, three baths and a nursery — will remain a secret until the show airs in December.
For more photos from the “Big Reveal”, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Smith, click to enlarge.