Northview Students Earn Microsoft, Adobe Certifications
June 13, 2014
Numerous Northview High School students in grades 9-11 earned Microsoft Office Specialist Certifications or passed Adobe certifications as follows:
Passed three MOS certifications –
- Jessica Barrows
- Ciara Campbell
- Holly Cofield
- Hailey Forcheaux
- Mallory Gibson
- Landon Godwin
- Kaitlyn Kline
- Aaron McDonald
- Danielle Robinson
- Caleb Therrell
Passed four MOS certifications -
- Alyssa Bell
- Ethan Bomba
- Christopher “Noah” Coker
- Hanna Ging
- Kaylie Hudson
- Adrian King
- Andrea Miles
- Samantha Sharpless
- Destiny Stevens
Passed five MOS certifications –
- Alyssa Borelli
- Niki Coleman
- Charmayne Fountain
- Trevor Levins
- Kaitlyn Pugh
- Mitchell Singleton
- Nathan Singleton
- Harmoni Till
- Asja Trotter
- Jessica Stacey
Passed Adobe Illustrator
- Breanna Payne
Passed Adobe Photoshop
- Jadlyn Agerton
- Sean Allister
- Natalie Barrow
- Matthew “Ryan” Chavers
- Iyanna Davidson
- Lawrence Douglas
- Austin Faircloth
- Nathan Galvan
- Mallory Gibson
- Cheyenne Gray
- Dariane Guy
- Dillon Hall
- Brayden Hubbard
- Taylor Kearley
- Kaitlyn Kleinatland
- Logan Lambeth
- Brittanie McLemore
- Teamber Moorer
- Audriene Odom
- Kortney Reid
- Savanna Roux
- Jada Tucker
- Shania Ward
- Takeya Williams
- Hadley Woodfin
Molino Teen Serves As Florida House Messenger
June 12, 2014
A young man from Molino recently spent a week serving as a messenger in the Florida House of Representatives. Mitchell Singleton, who just completed his freshman year at Northview High School, served as a messenger for Rep. Clay Ingram.
“Mitchell has served as a page in the House of Representatives during previous sessions and really made a name for himself as a hard worker. I couldn’t believe how many people at the Capitol remembered him when he came back this year as a messenger,” Ingram said.
Pages and messengers are students who work one week at the Capitol during the 60-day Regular Session. Each of Florida’s 120 representatives may sponsor one page (ages 12-14) and one messenger (ages 15-18).
Being selected to serve is considered an honor and privilege. Pages and messengers assist the representatives and their staff during the Capitol’s busiest time of year while observing state government in action.
“Mitchell has a bright future ahead of him and I’m glad that he is interested in public service. I usually introduce him to people as the future President of the United States, and he doesn’t shy away from the title,” Ingram continued.
The page and messenger program is a long-standing tradition in the Florida House, with journals making mention of them as far back as 1865. Singleton and each page and messenger will have their name appear in the official Journal of the House as an official record of their time spent serving in state government.
Pictured top. Florida House Messenger Mitchell Singleton (second from left) with other messengers and Gov. Rick Scott. Pictured inset: Singleton’s “selfie” photo with Scott. Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Escambia Sheriff’s Office ‘Camp Friendship’ Underway At Molino Park Elementary
June 11, 2014
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office “Camp Friendship” is underway this week at Molino Park Elementary School. The free summer day camp for ages 6-14 features presentations by the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office K9 unit, jail tour, sports, arts and crafts and much more. Photo courtesy Escambia County Sheriff’s Office for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Private Landowners Can Receive Southern Pine Beetle Assistance
June 10, 2014
Private landowners in Florida can now receive assistance in fighting the southern pine beetle thanks to a state program.
Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Adam H. Putnam announced Monday that the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services’ Florida Forest Service is now accepting applications for the Southern Pine Beetle Assistance and Prevention Program. The sign-up period will run through July 18 and is available for non-industrial private forest landowners.
“The southern pine beetle is one of the most destructive forest pests in the southeast,” said Putnam. “By taking preventative measures now, Florida’s private landowners can greatly reduce their risk of timber loss during future outbreaks.”
Periodic outbreaks can rapidly kill millions of pine trees and deplete tens of thousands of acres of timber resources. The most recent series of major southern pine beetle outbreaks resulted in an estimated $59 million in timber loss between 1999 and 2002.
The program provides incentive payments for the following:
- Conducting a first pulpwood thinning
- Conducting prescribed burning operations
- Conducting mechanical underbrush treatments
- Planting longleaf or slash pine
“Since 2005, we have assisted many private forest land owners through this program,” said Jim Karels, director of the Florida Forest Service. “More than 150,000 Florida acres have been treated for southern pine beetle prevention.”
To learn more about this program and obtain an application form, contact a local Florida Forest Service office or visit www.FreshFromFlorida.com/SouthernPineBeetle/Prevention. Qualified landowners may apply for no more than two approved preventative practices per year. Funding requests may not exceed $10,000 annually. All qualifying applications will be evaluated and ranked for approval. This program is supported through a grant from the U.S. Forest Service.
Bratt Students Complete Heritage Projects Thanks To PCI Grant
June 10, 2014
Students that just completed the fifth grade at Bratt Elementary participated in a heritage project, thanks to computers and programs provided by a Poarch Creek Indian Endowment Grant.
Students investigated, collaborated, and created a heritage project depicting the history of their ancestors. Students were encouraged to interview older family members and incorporate the interview into their project.
The students also presented a program entitled “Americans All”, a musical celebration of America’s multicultural heritage.
Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
The Spice Kidz Go National With Winning Business Idea
June 10, 2014
Two local students are gearing up to pitch their newly launched business on a national stage, as they prepare to compete in a national competition being held in conjunction with the 10th Annual America’s Small Business Summit in Washington, D.C.
The siblings – Eve Knight, 12, and Liam Knight, 13 – were selected to compete in this year’s competition after winning the YEA! Saunders Scholars Regional Competition in Boca Raton, Fla., with their business, The Spice Kidz. The pair started their business as part of the first-ever Pensacola YEA! program.
“Early education plays an important role in developing characteristics that are critical to becoming a successful entrepreneur,” said Greater Pensacola Chamber President Jerry Maygarden. “These two students demonstrate our region’s continued commitment to cultivating innovative qualities that can help our local youth succeed in any profession they choose to pursue.”
The Spice Kidz’ award-winning idea was to pre-package Indian-style spices to make curry and Vindaloo dinners. Twelve other middle- and high-school students from Escambia and Santa Rosa counties also launched their new businesses at Pensacola’s inaugural YEA! Trade Show in conjunction with Downtown Pensacola Gallery Night. A total of $6,600 in grants has been awarded to their businesses by several local investors and entrepreneurs, with The Spice Kidz earning the most with $1,200 in funding.
“Innovativeness and ambition are critical components that lead to professional success,” said Global Business Solutions, Inc. CEO Randy Ramos, a successful entrepreneur himself. “Programs like YEA! help to foster the entrepreneurial mindset in young people and gives them the opportunity to pursue their dreams by harnessing their energy, optimism and creativity.”
YEA! is a national educational program that guides 6th- to 12th-grade students through the process of starting and running real businesses over the course of a full academic year. Students work in close cooperation with local business leaders, educators and community members to develop ideas and objectives that help to create their own fully formed companies. Winners of this year’s national competition will be receiving scholarships, as well as the opportunity to audition for ABC’s hit TV show Shark Tank.
“Entrepreneurial education is more than just building a business plan and marketing a product or service,” said Dr. Ed Ranelli, Dean Emeritus for the University of West Florida College of Business. “Starting a business also includes learning about how to recognize opportunities and capitalize on them, which is a skill every young professional should master.”
Funds Available For Farmers, Ranchers To Help Declining Pollinators
June 9, 2014
Florida’s pollinators — like honeybees – are in trouble. City sprawl is overtaking their habitat, threatening wildflowers and ecosystems, along with the state’s agricultural industry. And now farmers and ranchers can get technical and financial assistance to help.
The USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service is funding $300,000 in Florida through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program to promote conservation practices that help reverse the loss of pollinator food and habitat. The signup deadline is July 18.
Some of the conservation practices that address loss of foraging habitat for pollinators include conservation cover, field borders and hedgerow planting. To learn more, contact the Milton Service Center at 6277 Dogwood Drive or call (850) 623-2441.
“This initiative will improve the state pollinators while reducing food costs by improving fruit and seed set in important agricultural commodities,” said Russell Morgan, Florida’s state conservationist.
Century Receives $50,000 Grant For New Playground Equipment
June 8, 2014
The Town of Century has received a $50,000 state grant to renovate the existing playground area at Showalter Park.
Last fall, the town followed a recommendation from the Century Recreation Advisory Committee a submitted two Florida Recreation Development Assistance Program applications. In addition to the Showalter renovation grant, the town also applied for a $125,000 grant to install a splash pad at the Anthony Pleasant Sportsplex, but that grant was not approved.
FRDAP is a competitive program which provides grants to local governments for outdoor recreational projects. The grants are administered by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection.
Pictured: The existing wood playground equipment at Showalter Park in Century. The town has received a $50,000 state grant to purchase new playground equipment. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Vendors, Entertainers Needed For Twin Cities Watermelon Festival
June 8, 2014
Flomaton and Century are planning the Twin Cities First Annual Watermelon Festival. The event is planned for Saturday, June 28 from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. at Showalter Park in Century.
The festival will include family fun, craft booths, food, entertainment and more.
Vendors and entertainers are needed. Vendors should click here for a booth application. Interested entertainers should call Kim at Century Town Hall at (850) 256-3208 or email kgodwin@centuryflorida.us.
The Twin Cities First Annual Watermelon Festival is sponsored in part by NorthEscambia.com.
Weekend Gardening: Expert Tips For The Month Of June
June 8, 2014
Here are gardening tips for the month of June from the Florida Extension Service:
Flowers
- Annuals to plant include celosia, coleus, crossandra, hollyhock, impatiens (pictured above), kalanchoe, nicotiana, ornamental pepper, portulaca, salvia, torenia, vinca and zinnia.
- Sow seeds of sunflowers. They are easy to grow if you have a sunny spot. Look for some of the new, dwarf varieties that can also be used as cut flowers.
- Remove old blooms (deadheading) to make flowers bloom longer.
- Allow the foliage on spring bulbs to grow. Do not cut it off until it turns yellow and falls over.
Trees and Shrubs
- Mature palms should receive an application of granular fertilizer. Use a special palm fertilizer that has an 8-2-12 +4Mg (magnesium) with micronutrients formulation. Apply one pound of fertilizer per 100 sq ft of canopy area or landscape area.
- Do any necessary pruning of junipers this month.
- Finish pruning the spring flowering shrubs such as azaleas, camellias, spiraeas, wisteria and forsythia by early June.
- This is the month to reproduce plants by budding.
- Check mulch around ornamental plants to be sure it’s two inches thick. Add mulch as needed to help keep weeds down and conserve water. Keep mulch one to two inches away from trunk or stem.
- Inspect maple trees, especially silver maple for infestations of maple soft scale. Look for a white substance with some black on one end. Individual maple scales are about 1/4 inch in diameter and resemble bird droppings. They occur mostly on leaves and can cause defoliation unless controlled.
- Inspect the undersides of azalea leaves for spider mites and lace bugs. If dry weather conditions exist, these insects can do some serious damage if not controlled.
- Check conifers for signs of bagworms. Call your local Extension Service for control measures.
Fruits and Nuts
- Harvest peaches, nectarines and plums as soon as they mature, before the squirrels and birds get to them
Vegetable Garden
- Side dress vegetable gardens with fertilizer containing nitrogen and potassium. A fertilizer such as a 15-0-15 can be used. Use approximately 2-3 cupfuls (1 to 1 ½ pounds) per 100 feet of row.
- Increase watering frequency and amount as tomatoes load up with fruit.
- Vegetables that can be planted outdoors include eggplant, lima beans, okra, southern peas, peppers and sweet potatoes.
- Sweet potatoes are started from plants or “draws”. Be sure to purchase only certified weevil free sweet potato plants.
- Check for the following pests and control them if necessary: tomato fruitworm, stinkbugs on vegetables and aphids on all new growth
Lawns
- Check for the lawn pests and control them if necessary: Spittlebugs in centipedegrass. They are more attracted to especially lush areas of the yard such as along septic drain fields and in areas where excessive nitrogen fertilizer has been used. Chinch bugs in St. Augustinegrass Sod webworm in all turf
- Start monitoring for mole cricket infestations and prepare for treatment.