Arrr! Pirates From The Seven Seas To The Library
July 16, 2008
Ahoy, Matey! About three dozen children of all ages enjoyed a pirate adventure Tuesday at the Century Branch Library.
From stories to a silly dress up game, everything was pirate themed as the library wrapped up its Summer Reading Series.
For more photos from the pirates at the library. click here.
A Bumper Crop Of Figs
July 15, 2008
Many area backyard fig growers are reporting a bumper crop this year across North Escambia.
In the Walnut Hill fig tree pictured above, there was an extra surprise…a bird’s nest about five feet off the ground with three blue speckled eggs inside.
The National Fig Council says:
“Figs, a recognized powerhouse of nutrition, have provided sustenance for as long as there has been dietary history. As early as 2900 BC, in early Sumerian times, the medicinal use of figs was stressed. Known for their fiber content, figs also contain more calcium, more potassium, and more iron than other common fruits. Fresh figs also contain important antioxidants.
“Fresh figs have long been the darling among discerning chefs, who have used the elegant specialty in a broad spectrum of culinary treasures including appetizers, sauces, salads, entrees and dessert.”
But around North Escambia, perhaps nothing beats a hot buttered biscuit with fresh fig preserves.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Drew’s Field Comes Closer To Becoming A Reality
July 14, 2008
The dream of Drew’s Field is moving toward becoming reality. And that could not make Cyndi Marlow happier.
Two year old Drew Marlow and his dad Danny Marlow died January 28 in an accident on Highway 97. A short time later, the Northwest Escambia Little League voted to name a new t-ball field at the back of Bradberry Park “Drew’s Field” in honor of Drew’s dream to play ball.
Cyndi told NorthEscambia.com that funding for the park remains an issue, but she got some good news last week. A Cantonment contractor has agreed to take over the entire construction process — from pulling permits to erosion control studies to the actual hands-on labor to build in the park — for free.
That contractor is also talking to a major area corporation about funding for items still needed for the park like a fence and sod.
In the meantime, Cyndi has picked out the monument that will stand at Drew’s Field. It’s a little over five feet tall. The top reads “Welcome to Drew’s Field” and the bottom features a quote from Danny. “Always let your Light shine,” it says. That’s what Danny would always tell players after ballgames that he coached.
The middle of the monument features a little boy and man walking hand in hand toward the sunset with baseball caps and a bat. The back of the boy’s jersey says “Drew” and has the number “3″ and the man’s jersey says “Drew’s Dad” and has the number “3″ too.
Drew and Danny spent hours playing with a blue and orange Florida Gators bat. Dreaming of that big t-ball opening day they both just knew would come when that little boy with a big number “3” on his jersey stepped to the plate.
Danny had it all planned out, down to the jersey number. Drew was Cyndi and Danny’s “miracle baby”…he was their third attempt at in vitro conception.
“We were just so excited. But then we went to the doctor. They rate the chances of the embryo surviving on a scale of one to five. A four or below has a small chance of surviving.”
“The doctor rated the embryo as a three that was Drew. A three out of five. We knew it was all in God’s hands.”
And God blessed the Marlows with a healthy sandy blonde baby boy they named Drew.
“That’s where the jersey number ‘3’ came from. Danny always said ‘could you imagine if he was a five’,” Cyndi said. “He always wanted Drew to wear ‘3’ in his first t-ball game.”
“We were going to go play t-ball,” Cyndi said. “That’s all Drew talked about. “
Drew will never get to play on his field at Bradberry Park. But Cyndi hopes that it will be ready to dedicate on next year’s opening day. “And we are hoping to have a team in the league called ‘Drew’s Dream Team’,” she said.
Additional funding is still needed to make Drew’s Field a reality. If you would like to help build Drew’s Field, donations can be made at any Gulf Winds Federal Credit Union in Escambia or Santa Rosa counties in Florida or at the Atmore, Alabama, branch to the “Drew’s Field” account.
To read our story from April about Drew’s Field, click here.
Pictured top: Drew Marlow’s Florida Gator bat on first base at what will become Drew’s Field. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge. Pictured middle: An artist’s drawing of the memorial to be placed at Drew’s Field. Pictured bottom: Drew Marlow, submitted photo.
Bratt Elementary Ranked As The Number One School In Escambia County
July 9, 2008
Bratt Elementary school was the highest scoring school in Escambia County in the Florida Department of Education School Grades released Tuesday.
Schools must achieve 525 points with the state to achieve “A” status. Bratt’s score was 637 — essentially and A+ on the school grade scale — beating out each and every other school in the county.
In fact, no other school in the county broke the 600 mark. West Florida High School was the next highest scoring school in the county at 589 points.
The scores are based on student achievements on the FCAT tests and Sunshine State Standards. The standards and grades are meant to show how well a particular school is performing to education department standards.
The Mouse, Too Much Noise And Other Stories At The Library
July 9, 2008
Florida storyteller Windell Campbell brought talks of a loud mouse, a noisy house and more to the Century Branch Library Tuesday.
The appearance was part of the library’s ongoing summer reading program.
Campbell is a special education teacher at Cork Elementary School near Plant City, FL. He tours the state during summer break telling stories with the help of several puppets.
The library’s summer reading program will continue at noon next Tuesday when pirates will invade the libary. The program is at noon, and it is free for children of all ages.
Click here for a photo gallery from the library program.
Pictured above: Storyteller Windell Campbell tells the story of a “Loud Mouse” Tuesday at the Century Branch Library. Pictured below: An audience member helps with a donkey puppet in the story of “Too Much Noise”. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
VBS Going On This Week At Ray’s Chapel
July 9, 2008
Vacation Bible School is continuing each evening this week at Ray’s Chapel Baptist Church in Bogia.
This year’s theme is Veggie Tales “Pirates Who Don’t Do Anything–Calling All Heroes”.
All kids 5-12 are still welcome to join in with crafts, science lab, snacks, games, fun and learning from the Bible.
The VBS continues each evening from 6:30 until 8:30. There will be a special program for parents on Friday, July 11 at 7:00.
Click here for more photos from Ray’s Chapel Baptist Church’s Vacation Bible School.
Submitted photos by Ramona Preston.
Out Of Africa: The Story Of The Walnut Hill Zebra And His Missing Giraffe Friend
July 7, 2008
A zebra and black bear in the back of a pickup truck created a stir in Walnut Hill on Friday afternoon, with some people nearly running off the road and others snapping pictures on their cell phones.
The zebra and the black bear were simply moving from one home to their new one in the Walnut Hill community. A far cry from their first move…about 9,000 miles from South Africa to Walnut Hill.
The attention-getting duo were being moved on the Fourth of July (pictured left on South Highway 99) to the new home of Richard and Vickie Beck on Tungoil Road in Walnut Hill. The Becks recently built their new home after selling their farm in South Africa.
The home features a wide variety of mounted animals from South Africa…from the zebra, to wild hogs, to monkeys, to big cats, even to a map of Africa painted on a preserved elephant ear.
But the largest mounted trophy is yet to come…it is a 19 foot tall full body mount giraffe that Vickie shot. There have been some paperwork delays in getting the giraffe out of Africa.
“This entire house was built to hold the giraffe,” Richard told NorthEscambia.com.
Six years ago, the Becks bought a 3,500 acre farm near of Alexandria, South Africa, near the Indian Ocean coast. They lived there April to August for each of the past six years, offering hunting and photo safaris during the South African winter. (Remember, the seasons are opposite south of the equator, so April to August is their winter.)
They have owned a sod business in Walnut Hill for the past 19 years. They had originally purchased the property in South Africa with the intent of opening an orphanage, but they ran into problems with local officials that just “wanted to pad their pockets instead of helping the children”. So they quickly turned their interest to hunting.
“I was fortunate enough to have a wife that would follow me 9,000 miles around the world to hunt,” Richard said.
Their hunting safaris did end up helping children in South Africa after all, he said. The meat from the animals often went to feed needy children in the area. The meat of most of the 27 different species hunted on the farm was customarily consumed by the South Africans, including the zebra meet. “It tastes like prime rib,” Richard added.
After owning the farm for six years, the Becks decided to sell. And the time could not have been better.
With the sluggish U.S. economy, the sod business has reached a historic low because of less new construction. If the Becks had not sold the farm in South Africa, Richard said they would have been in danger of losing the entire sod farm.
“The Lord has blessed us. We’ve been very blessed,” he said. “I definitely want to give Him the glory for all of this.”
The profits from selling the farm in South Africa allowed the Becks to build their new Tungoil Road home, and has provided money to make the payments on the sod farm. They have also been able to furnish the home with a complete African theme. The home features African hand carved cabinet doors, and an elaborate hand carved dining room set (pictured left).
The only thing missing from their new home is the giraffe, and Richard said he hopes it will soon be in a 40 foot shipping container on its way to the United States. Once in the states, the giraffe will join the zebra at home in Walnut Hill.
And Richard promised that he will invite NorthEscambia.com back once the giraffe arrives, so our readers can see the rare site of a full body mount giraffe.
For a complete photo gallery from the Beck home, click here.
Pictured top: The Walnut Hill giraffe was moved into his new home on the Fourth of July. Pictured below: An African scene painted on an elephant’s ear cut in the shape of the continent. NorthEscambia.com exclusive photos, click to enlarge.
Century Dedicates Wall Of Honor On The Fourth
July 5, 2008
Marion Brown stood quietly to the side as he Town of Century dedicated its new Veteran’s Wall of Honor Friday.
In her hands she held a picture frame with memories from her husband’s five tours in Vietnam. There is a purple heart and other medals from Willie H. Brown’s service in the 101st Airborne divison of the U.S. Army.
Willie Brown passed away last September from pancreatic cancer. Now the picture frame of memories honors his service to the country. But his name will soon be added to the new Century Veteran’s Wall of Honor.
“I wish he could be here today to see the wall,” Marion (pictured left) told NorthEscambia.com. “He had went to the mayor a few years ago and asked about some memorial to honor veterans. He would be so proud that it has finally happened.”
“He did not really like to talk about going to Vietnam,” she said. “But he served his country well. He was a courageous hero, just like all of the others.”
About thirty of those others that served from the Century area are now honored on the Century Veteran’s Wall of Honor that was unveiled in the Fourth of July ceremony at Century’s Roadside Park on Highway 29.
Several dozen families joined local dignataries in dedicating the wall, some waving American flags and wiping away tears as the crowd sang “God Bless America”.
Pictured top: The Rev. Willie Carter (right) prays a prayer of blessing over the new Century Veteran’s Wall of Honor Friday morning as an audience member holds a flag. Pictured above: Marion Brown holds a picture frame with items honoring her husband’s service in Vietnam. Pictured below: A young girls runs her finger along one of the names on the Veteran’s Wall of Honor. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
The Pearls Of The Pacific Perform At Century Care Center
July 4, 2008
The Polynesian dance group the Pearls of the Pacific brought their show to the Century Care Center Thursday afternoon.
From “Tiny Bubbles” to a selection from “Lilo and Stitch”, the girls performed traditional and interpretive hula dances. Several audience members also joined in on stage, trying their hand at the hula.
Pictured above: The Pearls of the Pacific at the Century Care Center Thursday afternoon. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Kate Sherrill Named Salutatorian Of Class
July 1, 2008
Kate Elizabeth Sherrill of Walnut Hill recently served her class at the Christian Institute of Arts and Sciences as salutatorian.
CIAS is an umbrella school, accredited by the state of Florida, which oversees home-schooled students in a rigorous college preparatory program. In addition to her course work at CIAS, Kate was duel-enrolled at Jefferson Davis Community College.
Kate was named to Who’s Who in American High Schools, is a member of the National Society of High School Scholars, and is on the National Honor Roll.
She is also active with the Greater Escambia Council of the Arts, appearing most recently as the witch in Into the Woods.
Kate works at Annie’s Community Cup and serves Walnut Hill Baptist Church as pianist. She also teaches private piano lessons.
She will attend Faulkner State Community College this fall on a vocal music scholarship. Kate is the daughter of Kent and Anne Sherrill and the granddaughter of Sam and Dean Graham and the late Hunk and Senie Sherrill.