Order A Free Tree From The Florida Forest Service
January 18, 2016
In honor of Florida’s Arbor Day last week, Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Adam H. Putnam announced that the Florida Forest Service is providing 10,000 free trees to Florida homeowners through a partnership with the Arbor Day Foundation’s Energy-Saving Trees Program. Florida’s Arbor Day is held each year on the third Friday in January.
Strategically placed trees can add extra shade to the home and reduce household electrical use by up to 30 percent. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, a single healthy, young tree can provide the same net cooling effect as ten room-sized air conditioners operating 20 hours per day. In addition to providing energy savings, trees provide other benefits such as cleaner air and improved storm water management.
Florida homeowners can reserve their free tree today at arborday.org/FloridaTrees. Within seconds of accessing the website, an online tool helps homeowners find the most strategic location for planting and estimates the annual savings and benefits that will result from the tree. Homeowners may reserve one tree per household. The program will continue until all the trees have been reserved.
The Energy-Saving Trees online tool was created by the Arbor Day Foundation and the Davey Institute, a division of the Davey Tree Expert Co., and uses peer-reviewed scientific research from the U.S. Forest Service’s i-Tree Software to calculate estimated benefits. This program is funded by a grant from the U.S. Forest Service.
The Florida Forest Service, a division of the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, manages more than one million acres of public forest land while protecting 26 million acres of homes, forestland and natural resources from the devastating effects of wildfire.
Weekend Gardening: Tips for January
January 16, 2016
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.
Tate, Northview FFA Members Place In Career Development Event
January 15, 2016
Tate and Northview High School FFA members excelled at a FFA Career Development Event Thursday.
The Tate High School FFA placed first in the Parliamentary Procedure event. Northview FFA member Haylee Weaver placed first in Extemporaneous Public Speaking; and Northview FFA member Mitchell Singleton placed second in Prepared Public Speaking.
A first place finished equates to a student being among the top 12 in the state.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Church, Forest Service Celebrate Arbor Day With Food And Trees For Needy
January 15, 2016
The Florida Forest Services teamed up with the Abundant Life Assembly of God Church in Century to provide free fruit trees to needy families.
Abundant Life holds a food distribution each Thursday for those in need in the community. During Thursday’s event, the Florida Forest Service provided food recipients with their choice of a free pear, plum, peach or loquat tree in celebration of Arbor Day.
The church food distribution serves about 400 needy families in the Century community each month. Food distributions are held weekly on Thursday with recipients allowed to receive food once per month.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Library Holding $5 Blowout Book Sale
January 12, 2016
The West Florida Public Library will hold a $5 Blowout Book Sale on the last Saturday of the month.
Attendees can pay $5 for a brown paper bag and stuff it will all the books that will fit. There’s no limit to the number of bags that can be purchased.
Contributions will be used to support the West Florida Public Library’s efforts to build community and improve literacy.
The sale will be Saturday, January 30 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the West Florida Public Library Main Branch at 239 North Spring Street.
Miss NHS Pageant Tickets Go On Sale Thursday
January 12, 2016
Tickets will go on sale this week for return of the annual Miss Northview High School pageant.
The public can purchase tickets beginning Thursday morning in the Northview front office. Tickets are $7 in advance only; tickets will be not be sold at the door. All proceeds will benefit the Northview Model United Nations Team and their annual competition in Orlando.
There are 18 contestants in this year’s pageant which takes place at 6:30 p.m. on Saturday, January 23.
Pictured: Miss NHS 2016 contestants (front, L-R) Maddi Weber, Jadlyn Agerton, Miss NHS 2015 Kendal Cobb, Kayla Galvan, Amber Freeman, (middle row) Morgan Myrick, Brittney Ward, Hannah McGahan, Sarah Dutton, Peighton Dortch, Sarah Perritt, Catie Clayton, (back) Alyssa Borelli, Brittanie McLemore, Bailey Spann, Ashtyn Carnley, Moriah McGahan, Brianna Smith and Alayna Brown. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Firefighters Donate Adult Diapers To Council On Aging
January 10, 2016
Local firefighters donated 700 adult diapers to Council on Aging of West Florida, and expect to deliver several hundred more in the coming weeks.
“We wanted to go above and beyond,” said Dusty Merritt, vice president of Pensacola Professional Firefighters Local 707. “We know there’s a need.”
Adult diapers and underwear can cost up to $40 a pack, and can be a cost burden for many seniors. This donation will allow Council on Aging to help the clients in the community who need it most.
“Every day firefighters serve our community selflessly,” said John Clark, president/CEO of Council on Aging. “They already do so much for others, and we are grateful that they chose us to be the recipient of another selfless act.”
Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Volunteers Build New Beds For Animal Shelter
January 10, 2016
The animals at the Escambia County Animal Shelter have new beds, thanks to the efforts of about 200 volunteers who built the beds on Saturday. The beds are designed to provide a place for the animals to sleep off the shelter floor. The volunteers constructed about 150 beds, providing a few extras for the 120 kennels at at the animal shelter. The materials were all donated, and the beds were constructed at Emerald Coast Granite and Tile. Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Tate High Names Students Of The Month
January 8, 2016
Tate High School has named Students of the Month for November. They are Paigge Gibson and Logan Blackmon, pictured with Principal Rick Shackle. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Three New K-9 Deputies At Work For The Escambia Sheriff’s Office
January 8, 2016
The new K-9 deputies went to work for the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office on December 26. In less than two weeks, Alek, Django, and Cairo and their handlers have tracked down suspects and taken illegal narcotics off the streets. Courtesy photo by the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.