Banana Spiders Make Big Local Comeback
September 16, 2013
The golden orb weavers are back in greater numbers this year. More commonly called banana spiders, they seemed to have taken a break the past few years, only to return to our woods, trails and around homes with a vengeance this summer.
“That’s a cause for justifiable arson,” a commenter wrote on a local’s Facebook photo of a banana spider under the eaves of house, blocking a family’s entire kitchen window.
They can grow to several inches across, which can be scary if you don’t know that they really won’t hurt you physically (mentally is perhaps another story).
Because of its size, people sometimes assume that the banana spider is dangerous to people. The body of the female is 1 to 1 ½ inches long, plus an inch or two more when the legs are included in the measurements. The bodies of the males are much smaller, about ¼ inch, and are dark-brown. They are often found in the webs of females.
In reality, it is a shy spider (as nearly all spiders are). Just know this species is considered medically harmless to humans.
There is little danger to a healthy adult from an encounter with the banana spider. It will only bite if held or pinched and the bite itself will produce a localized pain with a slight redness, which quickly goes away. On the whole, the bite is much less severe than a bee string. It is best avoided, but it won’t kill you.
The banana spider preys on a wide variety of small to medium sized flying insects, which include mosquitoes, grasshoppers, stinkbugs, leaf-footed bugs, bees, butterflies, flies, small moths and wasps. Banana spiders have even been seen feeding on beetles and dragonflies.
The banana spider’s other name, the golden orb weaver, stems from the golden yellow color of their strong silk. Their large webs can typically be found in trees, along trails, under the eaves of houses, or other places where they’re likely to catch a lot of insects.
The University of Florida/IFAS Extension Service contributed to this story.
Pictured: A banana spider at a Bratt home. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
CDC: Floridians Should Eat More Fruits And Vegetables
September 16, 2013
According to a recent report by the Centers for Disease Control, a large number of Floridians can take an important step to improve their overall health simply by changing their dietary habits.
The agency strongly recommends increasing the consumption of fruits and vegetables.
Nearly 38 percent of all adults in Florida do not eat at least one fruit serving per day, while nearly 23 percent do not have at least one serving of a vegetable daily. Adolescents in Florida even less vegetables than their parents. About 42 percent do not consume at least one vegetable per day.
A diet rich in such foods, notes the report, “lowers the risk of many chronic diseases and can also help with weight management.”
The average fruit and vegetable consumption here matches that for most of the nation, with the exception that Florida adolescents eat fewer vegetables, on average, than their counterparts in other states.
For the complete report, click here.
Weekend Gardening: What To Do In September Calendar
September 15, 2013
Here’s the September gardening calendar from the UF/IFAS Extension Service.
WHAT TO PLANT
- Bedding Plants — If summer beds need refreshing,try ageratum, celosia, zinnia, and wax begonia for color into fall.
- Bulbs — Add color, texture, and pattern to the garden with the many varieties of Elephant’s Ear (Alocasia) available now. Others to plant now include calla, narcissus, and zephyr lily.
- Herbs — Plant herbs that tolerate the warm temperatures of early fall, such as Mexican tarragon, mint, rosemary, and basil.
- Vegetables — Plant cool season vegetable crops such as radish, carrot, cabbage, and lettuce.
WHAT TO DO IN SEPTEMBER
- Lawn problems — Continue to monitor the lawn for signs of insect damage. Fall armyworms, chinch bugs, mole crickets, and sod webworms are still active this month.
Fertilize lawns — Bahia, Bermudagrass, Zoysia, and St, Augustine lawns should be fertilized this month. Choose one with no or very little phosphorus unless a soil test indicates a need for it. A fertilizer containing controlled-release nitrogen will give longer lasting results. - Lawn Weeds — Healthy grass is the best defense against weeds. Avoid “weed and feed” products; only apply herbicides to areas with weed infestations.
- Flowering perennials — Firebush, firespike, russelia, and other perennials supply nectar for visiting hummingbirds.
- Vegetable gardens — If not done in August, prepare the fall vegetable garden. Using transplants from your local garden center will get the garden off to a fast start, but seeds provide a wider variety from which to choose
WHAT TO DO EVERY MONTH
- Adjust irrigation based on rainfall.
- Deadhead flowers to encourage new blooms.
- Monitor the garden for insects and disease.
- Plant trees, shrubs, and perennials and water until established
Girl’s Orange Juice Stand Benefits Liver Disease Patient
September 14, 2013
Shelby Godwin of Bratt has never met Wyatt Johnson, a 17-month old from Century who is suffering from a chronic liver disease. But she saw a fundraising flyer at CVS with Wyatt’s picture and was so emotionally touched by the young man that she wanted to do something to help him.
Her idea? A fresh orange juice stand along East Highway 4 in Bratt, under the shade trees in front of her house. The 10-year old used her own money to purchase the oranges and supplies for her little business venture and borrowed an old fashioned juicer from a friend of her mom.
Business wasn’t bad at all Friday afternoon.
“There was this man in a big ole pickup truck,” the young entrepreneur said. “He ordered a medium for $2, and he paid with a $20. I told him he didn’t need his change, so he donated it. Wyatt needs it more.”
Shelby’s orange juice stand will be open again next Friday and Saturday afternoons in the 5100 block of West Highway 4, almost directly across from the Bratt Assembly of God. A small fresh squeezed orange juice is $1 and a medium is $2. Donations are welcome and very much encouraged. All proceeds benefit Wyatt Johnson, son of Justin and Nicole Johnson of Century as he battles a liver disease and prepares for a possible transplant.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Benefit Car Wash Saturday For Pit Bull Attack Victim
September 13, 2013
A benefit car was will be held Saturday morning for the Nokomis woman who was viciously attacked and mauled by two pit bulls at her home July 18. The car wash for Sandra Lambert will be held from 9 a.m. until at O’Reilly Auto Parts on South Main Street in Atmore.
Lambert, 63, was transferred earlier this month from the USA Medical Center in Mobile to the West Florida Rehabilitation Institute in Pensacola, where she worked to learn to live without her dominant right arm. Her arm was amputated at the shoulder following the dog attack. She has now been released from the rehab center and is now staying at a relative’s home.
An account to help Lambert with medical expenses has been established. Donations can be made to the “Benefit Account for Sandra Lambert” at any branch of United Bank. Donations can be mailed to United Bank, P.O. Box 8, Atmore, AL 36504.
Pictured top: An Escambia County Animal Control officer removed a tranquilized pit bull from an enclosed porch at the home of Sandra Lambert on July 18. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Seven Area Students Named National Merit Scholarship Semifinalists
September 12, 2013
Seven local high school students have been named semifinalists in the 59th annual National Merit Scholarship Program.
The students are Eion M. Blanchard (pictured) from Tate High School; Nathan B. Deng, Caroline M. Fleischhauer, Preston E. Jones, Garrett P. Robinson and Richard J. Sliva, of Pensacola High School; and Andrew D. Royappa, a homeschooled student.
About 16,000 national semifinalists were announced Wednesday. These academically talented high school seniors have an opportunity to continue in the competition for some 8,000 National Merit Scholarships worth about $35 million that will be offered next spring. To be considered for a Merit Scholarship award, semifinalists must fulfill several requirements to advance to the finalist level of the competition. About 90 percent of the semifinalists are expected to attain finalist standing, and more than half of the finalists will win a National Merit Scholarship, earning the Merit Scholar title.
To become a finalist, the semifinalist and their high school must submit a detailed scholarship application, in which they provide information about the semifinalist’s academic record, participation in school and community activities, demonstrated leadership abilities, employment, and honors and awards received. A semifinalist must have an outstanding academic record through-out high school, be endorsed and recommended by a high school official, write an essay, and earn SAT scores that confirm the student’s earlier performance on the qualifying test.
New ‘Florida Farm Weather’ App Aimed At Farmers
September 12, 2013
Agricultural producers across Florida can now use their smartphones or computers to get real-time local weather data starting this week through the “My Florida Farm Weather” program. The program, developed by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services in partnership with University of Florida’s Automated Weather Network (FAWN), provides up-to-the-minute information on key weather variables, including rainfall, temperature, humidity, dew point, wind speed and wind direction.
The information is available online, where a map of the state of Florida aggregates data collected from weather stations on private agricultural lands throughout Florida. Visit http://fawn.ifas.ufl.edu/mffw/ and check the box next to “Grower” to view the data. The information is also available on Android smartphone platforms. An iPhone platform will be available in coming months. In addition, more enhancements, including historical data, will be added to the site.
“This technology will help Florida agricultural producers more efficiently manage irrigation and the application of nutrients on their lands,” said Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Adam H. Putnam. “Real-time weather data will also help producers save costs and mitigate their impact on the environment.”
Over the past year, the department has partnered with agricultural producers to install the weather stations and input data into a test site. So far, 79 operations are participating in the pilot program, with more applications pending. Producers enrolled in Florida’s agricultural Best Management Practices are eligible to participate.
Using the weather stations helps producers:
- Determine when to delay irrigation after rainfall and when to irrigate during frost/freeze events, which can reduce water use and costs.
- Determine when to use fungicide or pesticide sprays or fertilizer applications, which can reduce waste and costs.
- Optimize water use and minimize runoff of fertilizers and other farm chemicals into water.
Producers are eligible to receive funding for one weather station for each 300 acres of the operation. The department provides 75 percent of the cost of each device up to $5,000, with a total cap of $25,000 per producer. The technology was developed through a partnership with the University of Florida’s Automated Weather Network (FAWN).
Pictured: Work on a FAWN weather station. File photo.
First Responders Honored On 9/11
September 12, 2013
A variety of events honored first responders on Wednesday.
The Little Escambia Baptist Church in Flomaton provide breakfast during a special service Wednesday morning for first responders, including the crew of Century’s Engine 519 and the Escambia County EMS unit stationed in Century (pictured top).
Breaking Bread, a new barbecue, sandwich and hamburger restaurant at 6020 West Nine Mile Road, provided half price meals for first responders Wednesday, including Vicky and Stan Pagonis (picture left). Vicky is a dispatcher, and Stan is a police officer.
Georgio’s Pizza on East Cervantes Street fed first responders for free Wednesday and held their annual First Responders Pizza Eating Competition. The winner was Escambia County Deputy Scott Mashburn (pictured on the right below with restaurant owner Carl Hixon). He won $1,500 which be used to benefit law enforcement and the community.
Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Blog: Where Were You That September Morning?
September 11, 2013
September 11, 2001. It’s been 12 years.
Life, at least when that morning began, seemed good. I’ve always been a work at home dad, so I was home with my two girls. The youngest was almost four months old, and the oldest was approaching her fourth birthday. It was a normal morning. The little one was asleep, “fat and happy” as we used to say, after a morning bottle. The oldest was in the living room just a few feet from my office watching PBS Kids on the TV as I worked on a project for a client.
Then this arrived in my inbox:
Subject: CNN Breaking News
From: BreakingNews@CNN.COM
Date: Tue, 11 Sep 2001 08:52am– World trade center damaged; unconfirmed reports say a plane has
crashed into tower. Details to come.
I got up, walked to the living room and flipped the TV to CNN. They were talking about how a pilot could make such an error, hitting such a large building. They were speculating that it was just a small plane. But then as the TV news helicopters zoomed their cameras in closer, the anchors were beginning to notice what I had already thought….those holes the tower were to big to have been a small plane.
I called my wife at work in Atmore. She had seen the breaking news email, and had tried to visit the CNN website to see the story. If you remember trying to use the internet that morning, it was near impossible to get a news website to load; they were all overloaded. She was unable to see the pictures. I was describing what I saw on the TV to her.
I managed to grab a picture from CNN via my web server and then download and email it to her. We were speculating about how it could happen when the second one hit.
I remember saying “wait, hold on, wait…”. I told her what I just watched on the TV. The second plane had hit the other tower. We quickly decided that we were at war as the anchors on TV speculated again that perhaps there was a problem with some navigational system, causing jetliners on a beautiful, clear morning in New York to fly into some of the tallest structures in the world.
Another breaking news email arrived:
Subject: CNN Breaking News
From: BreakingNews@CNN.COM
Date: Tue, 11 Sep 2001 09:21am– Second plane crashes into World Trade Center.
She and I began to speculate ourselves that we were at war. What would we do? What should we do? What about the kids? It was not panic, understand, but just that protective momma and daddy instinct, I suppose. Prayer. That was a good idea. Maybe go to the bank and get out a little cash. That seemed like a good idea. How would you prep for a war on American soil? We were not sure.
I continued to relay information about what I was seeing on TV to my wife at work, who, in turn, would relay the information to her coworkers. They had a TV, but no cable service or antenna. They ended up fashioning a homemade antenna to see a fuzzy picture.
Meanwhile, the breaking news emails kept arriving…
Subject: CNN Breaking News
From: BreakingNews@CNN.COM
Date: Tue, 11 Sep 2001 09:32am– Sources tell CNN one of two planes that crashed into World Trade
Center was an American Airlines 767.
Subject: CNN Breaking News
From: BreakingNews@CNN.COM
Date: Tue, 11 Sep 2001 09:42am– President Bush calls plane crashes at World Trade Center a
terrorist act.
Subject: CNN Breaking News
From: BreakingNews@CNN.COM
Date: Tue, 11 Sep 2001 09:45am– Significant fire at the Pentagon. Details to come.
Subject: CNN Breaking News
From: BreakingNews@CNN.COM
Date: Tue, 11 Sep 2001 09:46am– White House evactuated. Details to come.
The Pentagon on fire? The White House evacuated? Notice that in CNN’s email they were in such a hurry that they misspelled “evacuated”. One sentence at a time, the situation became more grave.
Subject: CNN Breaking News
From: BreakingNews@CNN.COM
Date: Tue, 11 Sep 2001 09:55am– CNN confirms a plane hit the Pentagon
Subject: CNN Breaking News
From: BreakingNews@CNN.COM
Date: Tue, 11 Sep 2001 10:03am– One of World Trade Center towers collapses; fire forces
evacuation of State Department
Subject: CNN Breaking News
From: BreakingNews@CNN.COM
Date: Tue, 11 Sep 2001 10:30am– Second World Trade Center tower collapses in Manhattan
Over and over, we watched those towers collapse on TV, and we watched our Pentagon burn.
Our almost four year old asked a lot of questions. “Were people hurt? Did they need a Band-aid?” The magnitude of the event was lost on a four year old. Looking back at those first few hours, I think the magnitude of the event was lost on all of us.
Like many Americans, I sat glued to the TV that day, continuing to watch the video of the towers falling. Our almost four year old asked if another building fell down or if it was the same one. It was time to change the channel on the TV.
You might remember that many of the entertainment TV stations ran network news feeds. Others just simply ran screens about the day’s events. There was no USA network, no ESPN, no MTV. But on PBS, we found children’s programming at a time it was not normally on. For a little while, sitting in the living room floor holding my kids, the world stopped turning that September day, as we watched Big Bird and the Cookie Monster.
Country artist Alan Jackson later wrote a song “Where Were You When the World Stopped Turning?”.
Some of those lyrics:
Where were you when the world stopped turning that September day
Out in the yard with your wife and children
Working on some stage in LA
Did you stand there in shock at the site of
That black smoke rising against that blue sky
Did you shout out in anger
In fear for your neighbor
Or did you just sit down and cryDid you weep for the children
Who lost their dear loved ones
And pray for the ones who don’t know
Did you rejoice for the people who walked from the rubble
And sob for the ones left belowBut I know Jesus and I talk to God
And I remember this from when I was young
Faith hope and love are some good things He gave us
And the greatest is love
Where where you when the world stopped turning that September day? Your comments are welcome below.
It Literally Takes Your Heart And Breaks It – Local Students Describe Their Visit To 9/11 Memorial
September 11, 2013
It literally takes your heart and breaks it.
That’s how Northview High School senior Anna Fischer described her visit to the 9/11 Memorial in New York City. Fischer was among nine Northview High School Yearbook staff members that visited New York City in March.
The students were just 3-5 years old when the Twin Towers fell; some of them have but faint memories of the actual day. Their memories are instead shaped by what history, television and the internet has showed them over and over. The planes, the crashes. The collapses, the unimaginable aftermath.
Tuesday, one day before 9/11 and six months after their visit to the 9/11 Memorial, we asked the Northview yearbook students to describe what they felt as they stood at Ground Zero. Below are their stories, in their own words, and their photographs.
Dalton Daniel — First going to the memorial, I thought, “This is going to be so awesome!”, which is exactly how I felt about the whole trip. But as soon as I saw the small park, the north and south pools and the new construction of the World Trade Center, I was overwhelmed with amazement. Seeing the names around the pools gave me a melancholy but inspirational feeling. Needless to say, the view of the 9/11 Memorial was perfect and was one of the greatest sights I’ve ever experienced.
Anna Fischer – Standing in the place of where the two twin towers stood was a phenomenal feeling, but it was also very emotional. Walking up to the site, everything was quiet. Friends and family members of those in the accident standing by the pools, looking for their loved one’s name. Walking through the site, its like I could see the whole incident of 9/11 reenacted in my mind. It literally takes your heart and breaks it. It was such a marvelous and emotional experience, and I’d love to be able to go back.
Tamara Green — During our trip to New York, I was able to experience the 9/11 Memorial. It was very touching scenery and definitely one that I will never forget. Seeing the names of the victims that passed away during this tragedy is really what touched me the most. It was an emotional site to visit, but I am grateful that we all had a chance to honor the victims.
Justin King– Visiting the 9/11 Memorial was a sobering experience. I felt grief for the families who lost loved ones. It was an experience I would be happy to have again.
Kamryn Brock — While at the 9/11 Memorial I realized to never take what you have for granted because you never know what the next day will bring. I felt a lot of grief for those who lost someone during this tragedy. It was an amazing feeling when we all gathered together to say a prayer.
Bethany Reynolds — Visiting the 9/11 Memorial submersed me in emotions; it was so unreal. Only being three when the attack occurred, I remember very little. Being at the location where so many innocent lives were lost was truly saddening. The emotions I felt are almost indescribable because being there in person just tugs at your feelings in so many directions. The memorial was a quiet place where those who lost their lives are remembered and where I prayed for those still mourning over their lost loved ones. Seeing all of the names of lives lost allowed me to realize how thankful I really am for my freedom.
Julia Thorpe – Being able to visit the 9/11 memorial in New York City was surreal and humbling. In the first grade, I did not understand the impact of a terrorist attack or the collective heartache it gave our nation. For the average citizen, the passing of 9/11 each year is a day of remembrance, but for the families of those victims, each and every day is a struggle full of deep sorrow because they lost a loved one for no other reason than pure hate. Seeing the names on the memorial reminded me that those people were innocent Americans living their lives, and getting caught up in an unimaginable nightmare. Despite the sadness that the memorial brought, it also deepened my immeasurable gratitude for being able to live in this country, where the nation came together for such a tragedy and where our military defends our freedoms.
Zach Johnson — At the 9/11 Monument, I felt a lot of different emotions. From sadness, caused by the loss of so many individuals, to the thankfulness for the brave first responders, various emotions moved in me. It was clear that the monument was a sacred spot, a spot that honored everyone affected by the tragedy that occurred. I was moved at the way it affected not only me, but everyone else at the monument.
Maranda Moye – Visiting the 911 memorial was something that really made an impact on the way I think about things. Seeing the actual place where so many people were killed was almost surreal. I felt true reverence for the lives that were lost that day. I think what really shook me up was seeing a mother’s name on the memorial followed by, “her unborn child”. It makes you stop and think how fragile life truly is.
The students are pictured at the bottom of the page, scroll down.
9/11 Memorial photos by Anna Fischer, Justin King and Bethany Reynolds for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Above: Memorial to the first responders that perished at the World Trade Center site.
Above: St. Paul’s Chapel, constructed in 1766. It is the oldest public building in continuous use in Manhattan. It hosted George Washington on his Inauguration Day and survived the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001.
Pictured above, at the 9/11 Memorial last March, are Northview High Yearbook staff members Julia Thorpe, Kamryn Brock, sponsor Alison Robinson, Anna Fischer, Maranda Moye, Bethany Reynolds, Zach Johnson, Tamara Green, Zach Johnson and Justin King. Not pictured is Megan Carroll. Julia Thorpe, Maranda Moye and Dalton Daniel have since graduated from Northview.