Yummy Library Lesson: Tasty And Healthy Snack Choices
June 17, 2009
Snacking can be tasty and healthy — that was the message during a summer reading program “Kids Can Cook!” at the Century Branch Library Tuesday afternoon.
Angela Hinkle from the Escambia County Extension Office presented tips for making smart food choices at a school and home. Children of all ages had fun creating and decorating a lunch box and filling it with healthy snacks.
For a photo gallery from the event, click here.
Next week, the library’s summer fun continues next Tuesday at noon with a free magic show with West Florida’s favorite local magician Beau Broomall.
For more information, contact the Century Branch Library, 7991 North Century Boulevard, at 256-6217.
Pictured above and below: Decisions, decisions — participants in the summer reading program Tuesday afternoon at the Century Branch Library were given the opportunity to choose four free healthy snacks. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Diverse Family: Bratt Mockingbird Is Raising Baby Blue Jay
June 15, 2009
A Bratt family has an interesting family of birds in their yard — a mockingbird is raising an orphaned blue jay along with her own young.
Here is the story, as related by Kim Godwin of Bratt:
My three daughters (Hannah, Shelby and Maegan) and I were driving down our driveway when I noticed a small ball of something just sitting on the ground. All four of us got out to check this little ball out. It just happened to be a tiny baby blue jay that had been orphaned.
We looked for the nest that it had apparently fallen out of but we couldn’t find it. Of course, we all wanted to pick it up immediately because it was so cute and tiny. I’ve always heard not to touch a baby bird with your bare hands because the mother would smell the human scent on it and leave it abandoned.
So, I grabbed a t-shirt and swaddled the tiny bird up in it. The next question for us was, “What do we do with this cute little bird?”. It just so happened that we have been watching a nest of mockingbird eggs hatch. The little mockingbirds could have only been a week or so old. I decided that we would see what happened if we stuck the blue jay in with the mockingbirds.
I didn’t really think that the mockingbird parents would just adopt the blue jay but I thought that is was worth a try. Well, then we had another obstacle — the nest was too small for the three tiny mockingbirds and the blue jay that is three times as big as the mockingbirds.
My nine-year old daughter Hanna looked up on the internet on how to create a make-shift nest. So, we found an old basket and filled it with pine straw. My husband tied it up in the tree where the old nest used to be. It wasn’t but just a few minutes and the mama mockingbird was checking out her new home which held her three babies plus one.
The mockingbird parents have fully adopted the bluejay and the whole family is doing well.
Pictured above: A hungry blue jay (the larger bird to the left) and two mockingbirds wait for mom to feed them. Pictured below: (L-R) Hannah Godwin, Maegan Godwin, friend Jadlyn Agerton, Shelby Godwin . Pictured bottom: More photos of the orphaned baby blue jay that is being raised by a mockingbird with her own young. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Over 5,000 Attend First Blueberry Jamboree (With Photo Gallery)
June 14, 2009
Over 5,000 people attended the first annual Escambia County Blueberry Jamboree Saturday at the Barrineau Park Community Center. The Blueberry Jamboree was a nostalgic throwback to the old fashioned festivals of years past with old fashioned music, food and about 60 vendors on hand with arts and crafts — and, of course, lots of blueberries.
For a complete photo gallery from the Blueberry Jamboree, click here.
For results from the 5K Race for the Blueberries, click here, and for results from the Blueberry Bake-Off, click here.
The event is sponsored in part by NorthEscambia.com, Farm Bureau Insurance, Wind Creek Casino, Casa Heating and Cooling, Navy Federal Credit Union, Scott’s Pharmacy, United Bank, DeLuna Lanes Bowling Center, Escambia Grain Corporation, Faith Chapel Funeral Homes, Greenhut Construction Company, Jus Because of Atmore, Janice Kilgore, The Silver Screen Theatre, Southern Dental Associates, A & N Blueberries, Adventures Unlimited, Cantonment Building Materials, Escambia River Electric Cooperative, Sam’s Fun City, the Escambia County Neighborhoods & Community Services, and UF/IFAS Extension.
Pictured above: Several bluegrass groups performed at the Blueberry Jamboree Saturday in Barrineau Park. Pictured below: About 60 vendors participated in the first annual event. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Mmmm…First Annual Blueberry Bake-Off Winners Named
June 14, 2009
It was a blueberry lover’s dream Saturday at the first annual Blueberry Jamboree Bake-Off at the Barrineau Park Community Center.
Dozens of cooks entered their tasty pies, cobblers, cakes and other blueberry goodies in hopes of winning cash prizes in the contest sponsored by the Escambia County Farm Bureau Women’s Committee. There was one basic rule — the homemade dessert must have included blueberries as an ingredient.
After the tempting treats were judged and the winners were announced, the public had the opportunity to sample the entries.
The winners of the first annual Blueberry Jamboree Bake-Off were:
Pies and Cobblers
First place: Blueberry Crunch Cobbler from Thelma Hickey. Second place: Blueberry Dream Pie (pictured above) from Marti Penland Koemmerer. Third place: Cream Cheese Blueberry Pie from Melissa Collie.
Cakes
First place: Groovy Blueberry Gooey Cake from Klyn Wilson. Second place: Blueberry Pineapple Crunch from Dorothy Cunningham. Third place: Just Blueberry Cheesecake from Cindy Criswell.
Other Desserts
First Place: Blueberry Delight from Cathy Vanderpol. Second place: Blueberry Muffin from, Laura Kerby. Third place: Blueberry Muffin from Nancy Fillingim.
Pictured above: The second place winner in the “Pies and Cobbler” division was Blueberry Dream Pie from Marti Penland Koemmerer. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Sherrill Receives Music Awards At Faulkner State
June 13, 2009
Kate Elizabeth Sherrill of Walnut Hill was recently honored for her musical accomplishments at Faulkner State Community College.
Sherrill was awarded the Faulkner State Freshman Music Major of the Year Award and the Faulkner Singers Award.
The awards were presented at the Department of Fine Arts annual banquet held at the Bienville Club in Mobile.
In addition to being a member of the Faulkner Singers, Sherrill is also part of Faulkner’s Sun Chief Sound.
Sherrill, who attends Faulkner on a music scholarship, is a member of Phi Theta Kappa where she will serve as communications Officer this year. She recently attended the Phi Theta Kappa International Convention in Dallas.
She is the daughter of Kent and Anne Sherrill and the granddaughter of Sam and Dean Graham and the late Hunk and Senie Sherrill.
VBS Continues At Area Churches
June 11, 2009
Vacation Bible Schools are underway at a number of churches across the North Escambia area this week.
For a list of VBS events in the area, click the “Events” tab at the top of the page. If you would like to submit photos from your VBS, email them to news@northescambia.com
Ray’s Chapel Baptist Church sent us these photos, and the following info:
Bible School is underway at Ray’s Chapel. A big thanks to EREC for bringing the train for fun rides. Among other things the kids, big and small have enjoyed animals from the zoo, a water slide turned powder slide and great bible lessons. You still have time to join the fun 5:30-8:00 PM through this Friday!
PS DONT TELL THE PREACHER’S WIFE HE WAS KISSING ANOTHER !!!!!!!
Pictured above: Ray’s Chapel Baptist Church Pastor Nathan Brown at the church’s VBS this week. Pictured below: More scenes from the Ray’s Chapel VBS, including the EREC “train”. Submitted photos by Ramona Preston for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Photos: Juan Sebastián de Elcano Departs Pensacola
June 10, 2009
After an estimated 13,000 people toured the Spanish tall ship Juan Sebastián de Elcano, she headed out of the Port of Pensacola late Tuesday afternoon. Many NorthEscambia area residents were among those that toured the ship during its week stay in Pensacola.
The Elcano and its crew of 300 sailors were in Pensacola for the 450th anniversary celebration of the city as well as the 60th anniversary of the Fiesta of Five Flags.
Pictured above and below: The Spanish tall ship Juan Sebastián de Elcano departs Pensacola Tuesday afternoon. Submitted photos by Brenda Kahalley of Molino for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Kids Learn About Funny Money At Century Library
June 10, 2009
The secrets of money were unlocked Tuesday as the summer reading program continued at the Century Branch Library.
In the “Funny Money Reading Fun” program, Dorothy Lee with the Escambia County Extension Service shared her know-how and secrets such as how to read a dollar bill and why there is a pyramid. Children of all ages had fun playing games and learning all about money.
Next week, the summer reading series will continue at the Century Branch Library with “Kids Can Cook”. The free program will be at noon next Tuesday, June 16. For more information, contact the library at (850) 256-6217.
Pictured: Children learn about money Tuesday afternoon during the summer reading series at the Century Branch Library. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Teacher To Be Hired To Ensure Community Involvement At Bratt And Ernest Ward
June 8, 2009
The Escambia County School District is hiring a teacher on special assignment to help ensure that parents and the community are as involved as possible at Ernest Ward Middle and Bratt Elementary schools next year.
It is all part of the plan to make sure the consolidation of Carver/Century K-8 into Ernest Ward and Bratt goes as smoothly as possible.
“We are using stimulus money to hire this person to help with community involvement at Bratt and Ernest Ward,” Escambia Superintendent Malcolm Thomas told NorthEscambia.com. “A big part of the program will be to help Century residents participate in the schools.”
When Thomas announced the closure and consolidation of Carver/Century, there were concerns expressed by many Century area residents that they and their children would not be able to become involved in their child’s school.
According to the job description for the position, the person hired will be a certified teacher that will:
- provide leadership in transition activities
- serve as a liaison between families, various committees, departments and agencies as requested by the principals
- assist the principals in the development, preparation and a process of data collection, needs assessments, satisfaction surveys and other activities
- assist the principals and office support personnel in the preparation of calendars, fliers, newsletters and registration packets
- coordinate and facilitate partnerships with civic groups, business partners, mentors and volunteers
“We will see if we get results and the position is beneficial before we continue it next year,” Thomas said. “We will see if it increases parental involvement.”
Northview Honors Teacher, Volunteers Of The Year
June 8, 2009
Teacher and volunteers of the year at Northview High School were recently honored.
Bill Welch was named the Senior Volunteer of the Year for NHS. Bryan Colburn was named Adult Volunteer of the Year. Micah Byars was named the Student Volunteer of the Year, and Sasha Blackburn was named the Teacher of the Year.
Pictured above: (L-R) Bill Welch, Bryan Colburn, Sasha Blackburn and Micah Byars were honored recently for their service to Northview High School. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.