It’s Celebrate Literacy Week At Jim Allen, Bratt, Byrneville, Molino Park
January 23, 2012
It’s “Celebrate Literacy Week, Florida!”, and North Escambia elementary schools will celebrate will a variety of activities this week.
The goal of the week is to promote literacy by raising awareness of programs and projects offered by the Florida Department of Education and partner groups, and to promote the enjoyment of reading for adults and children of all ages.
The following events are planned at North Escambia elementary schools this week:
Jim Allen Elementary
- All students will read for an additional 20 minutes each day as part of the Million Minute Marathon.
Bratt Elementary
- All students will read as part of the Million Minute Marathon.
- Students will create story character puppets from the Jan Brett books The Mitten and The Hat.
- On Wednesday, it’s Buddy Reading as students from the upper level grades read to students in the lower grades.
- Thursday is book character dress up day.
- During the week, book report posters will be presented by fourth grade students. Mrs. Cassady’s fifth grade students will present shoe box reports.
- Daily announcements will include information about Sunshine State readers each day.
Byrneville Elementary
- Students will read as part of the Million Minute Marathon.
- On Tuesday, upper grade students will read to younger students.
- Wednesday is Teacher Swap Day — teachers will read to a different class than the one they teach.
- Thursday is Parent Literacy Day with programs at 9 a.m. and 6 p.m.
- Guest readers will read to students on Friday.
Molino Park Elementary
- “Reading, Writing and Rover” presentation on Monday.
- Additional activities and reading throughout the week.
10 Volunteer Firefighters Complete Certification Training
January 22, 2012
Ten Escambia County volunteer firefighters completed their Firefighter I training on Saturday.
The newly certified volunteers firefighters, and their station of service, are:
- Cody Brown – Beulah
- Jeremy Chabot – West Pensacola
- Travis Darr – Ensley
- Ian Forrester – Bellview
- Brian Gossett – Ensley
- Ryan Kaderly – Molino
- Nick McCullough -Molino
- C.J. Parker – Molino
- Johnathon Stack – Warrington
- Kevin Winingar – Ferry Pass
Cantonment Trumpet Player One Of Nation’s Best
January 22, 2012
A trumpet player from Cantonment has been selected as one of the best high school players in the nation.
Chris Snyder has been selected as a semifinalist in the National Trumpet Competition held in Washington, DC. Each year, candidates from across the nation submit a video audition of themselves performing a difficult classical composition. He is one of 30 high school students selected out of hundreds of applicants who audition for the opportunity.
As a semifinalist, Snyder will be able to attend Master Classes led by artists the likes of Doc Severinsen, longtime band leader for the Tonight Show with Johnny Carson, and various other trumpet professional players from top symphonies across the United States.
Snyder, the son of Mark and Sonya Snyder, is a member of the Celebration Orchestra at Olive Baptist Church. For the past six years, he has studied trumpet privately from Darryl Evans and Tom Savage, both faculty members at Olive’s School of Performing Arts.
The OBC School of Performing Arts offers a variety of vocal and instrumental music lessons for all ages. For more information on the school, call (850) 475-1932 or visit www.olivebaptist.org.
Pictured: Chris Snyder practices at the Olive Baptist Church School of the Performing Arts. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Local Bride-To-Be Misses Dream War Eagle Wedding
January 21, 2012
A North Escambia area woman won’t get the free complete wedding package of her dreams this spring on Samford Lawn on the campus of Auburn University.
Jennifer Coleman, a Flomaton High School graduate, and her groom-to-be, Wes Sinor, fell short of first place in the War Eagle Wedding contest.
“Not the perfect ending, but still a very successful run at the War Eagle Wedding,” Coleman said. “Thanks everyone for your votes and support. Although we did not win, Auburn University has generously gotten us this much closer to our dream wedding.”
The couple of Katie Oliver and Slade Ponder were announced as winners on Friday of the May 26 wedding of their dreams including the dress, tuxedos, flowers, photos, cakes, limousine, entertainment, reception — a complete wedding package worth thousands. Oliver and Ponder received 9,992 votes for the win. The other two couples received 7,181 votes and 3,352 votes, but contest officials did not name which couple was second and which was third.
For an earlier story about Jennifer and Wes, click here.
Pictured: Wes Sinor and Jennifer Coleman of Flomaton, pictured here at the 2011 Auburn-Mississippi State game, are huge Auburn football fans. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
White House To Honor Man For Leading Century, Escambia County Disaster Prep
January 18, 2012
The executive director of the Be Ready Alliance Coordinating for Emergencies (BRACE) will be recognized at the White House on Thursday for his efforts in Escambia County and Century.
Greg Strader, founder of BRACE, will be one of the 17 local leaders who will be honored at the White House as Champions of Change who help prepare their communities for disaster and build a more resilient nation.
“These men and women have demonstrated significant innovation and creativity in working to get their communities ready for the unexpected and embraced the approach of involving all members of their communities in emergency preparedness and response, reaching out to faith-based, tribal, non-profit, private sector and community-based organizations, as well as individual citizens,” according to the White House.
The Champions of Change program was created as a part of President Obama’s Winning the Future initiative. Each week, a different issue is highlighted and groups of Champions, ranging from educators to entrepreneurs to community leaders, are recognized for the work they are doing to better their communities.
BRACE works to prepare educate and train local communities in disaster preparedness, response and recovery.
According to Kermit Housh, chairman of the board for BRACE, Strader will meet with administration officials to discus how the public private partnership model used by BRACE to prepare local for disaster can be a model for other communities.
“This past year we’ve been reminded that disasters can strike at any time and that preparedness is critical,” said Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano. “We commend the innovative practices and achievements that these individuals bring to the field of emergency management in order to make our communities safer, stronger, and better prepared.”
Through Strader and BRACE, Century recently held CERT — the Community Emergency Response Team — training, including mock disaster drill, for over two dozen local citizens.
Pictured top: Century town council member Sandra McMurray Jackson (left) and another CERT volunteer held a disaster “victim” during a CERT disaster drill. Pictured inset and below: CERT volunteers search for tornado victims during a drill. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
Bratt Elementary Holds Math Madness Night (With Gallery)
January 17, 2012
Bratt Elementary School recently held their 2012 Math Madness Night. About 200 students, parents and teachers took part in an evening on math activities and games. The evening ended with refreshments and door prizes.
“We would like to thank all of the teachers and parent volunteers who helped make this night a success,” teacher Linda Jackson said.
Pictured: Bratt Elementary’s 2012 Math Madness Night. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Weather Photos: A Colorful Barrineau Park Sunset
January 17, 2012
Low clouds made for an interesting sunset Monday in Barrineau Park, as seen in this weather photo submitted by Lawson Berry.
If you have a photo you would like to share, email it to news@northescambia.com.
Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Elliotts, Green Cedars Farm, Named Escambia County Farm Family Of The Year
January 15, 2012
Roger and Pam Elliott of Green Cedars Farm in Molino have been named the Escambia County Farm Family of the year.
Green Cedars Farm is an agricultural tourism farm dedicated to educating people about the origins of their food. The farm also provides a farm experience for events such as birthdays, parties, and even weddings.
Green Cedars Farm produces pastured poultry products, including chicken and Thanksgiving turkeys. Eggs from the pasture management system are marketed as tastier and more nutritious than conventionally produced eggs. Eggs are sold at the farm or at the Palafox Farmers Market on the weekends in Pensacola. The farm also produces lamb and pork for the freezer. Their meat products are designed to fit local niche markets and are promoted as locally and humanely grown.
The farm also has a small apple orchard incorporating the Green Shell Apple that was common in the Brewton area over 100 years ago. After some of the old trees were discovered, a grafting program was initiated to recover the almost lost genetics of the Green Shell Apple. This old heritage variety of apple will become a staple of the farm’s tours as a “you pick” apple.
To support the apple orchard, the Elliotts have a small honey bee yard. The honey bees provide the necessary pollination for the apple orchard as well as the garden and even many of the grasses in the pastures.
The Elliotts utilize the chicken and turkey droppings as fertilizer for their pastures, orchard and gardens. The sheep flock grazes behind the chickens to harvest the rich grasses produced. This management system also encourages a richer and more diverse population of soil microorganisms.
Roger retired from the U. S. Navy in 1993 after a 21 year career as a helicopter pilot. He was then employed by the University of Florida Extension as a Livestock/Small Farms/ 4-H Agent. Roger and Pam moved to their present farm on Gibson Road Molino in 2001.
Motivated by visits to other Agricultural Tourism farms and pastured poultry farms around the country, they began planning for a third career. After deciding that he would rather be a farmer than teach farmers, Roger retired from Extension in 2007 and began farming full time.
Dr. Pam Elliott is employed by the Escambia County Schools as a music teacher at N. B. Cook Elementary School of the Arts. On the farm, she is active as host for those visitors participating in the farm’s trail rides as well as day to day chores and upkeep of facilities. Pam loves canning local foods from the farm’s garden and presenting meals that are almost totally local grown. She has canned over 300 jars of produce and freezes other fresh foods for the family’s freezer.
The Elliott’s daughter, Dr. Laurel Elliott Newman, and her husband Michael Newman bring another set of skills to the farm. As a veterinarian, Laurel is involved in the health and welfare of the farm’s livestock and the livestock guardian dogs used in predator control.
Michael is responsible for the farm’s website — www.greencedarsfarm.com. As a professional photographer, Michael visually records farm events. Michael is also involved with the poultry breeding program in which the farm is involved in breeding Welsummer, Cuckoo Marans, and Delaware chickens — one of the “threatened” breeds of poultry. Michael is also responsible for the farm’s bee hives.
For more information about Green Cedars Farm, visit www.greencedarsfarm.com.
Pictured top: Jimmy Cunningham (left) of the Escambia County Farm Bureau presents the Farm Family of the Year award to Roger and Pam Elliott of Green Cedars Farm in Molino. Also pictured: Scenes from the farm. Photos courtesy Michael Newman for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Molino Park, Jim Allen Students Dream Up One Of A Kind Inventions
January 13, 2012
Flying cars, traffic evaders, automatic bed makers and more were on display Thursday at Molino Park and Jim Allen elementary schools. Some of the brightest students at both schools presented their one of a kind inventions during an Invention Convention held at each school.
Students in each school’s Gifted Enrichment Classes displayed their projects they completed as part of their 15 week study of inventions and inventors. Each project included a prototype of the invention, information on how it works or how it would be used and the estimated cost.
“There were some really creative ideas,” Molino Park Elementary Principal Alice Woodward said. “They worked really hard.”
For a photo gallery of the Molino Park Gifted Enrichment Class inventions, click here.
Some of the items presented included:
- Tired of traffic on your morning commute? The Traffic Evader by Bryce Korinachk has the ability to fly over traffic using an air propulsion system. Simply refill the air cylinder with any air compressor and you are environmentally friendly when flying over traffic. The Traffic Evader’s sticker price is $75,000 to $80,000.
- The Splashula, at just $9.95 is a bargain for the grill or kitchen. Simply fill the spray bottle attached to your spatula with oil spray, and you’ll be a lean, mean pancake cooking machine — just spray the pan and flip the pancakes. Or, for the grill, load the squirt bottle with water. Flip the burgers and douse the flames in one easy step.
- The “Bathroom Reading Buddy” holds your books, magazines or perhaps even your iPad while in the bathroom for just $24.99. “It attaches to the side of the cabinet and extends out to hold your reading material,” according to inventor Connor Crisco. “When you are finished, just push it back up against the cabinet and it’s out of the way.” $24.99, magazines not included.
- The Auto Bed Maker is sure to please both moms and kids. “This device makes your bed faster than a strike of lightning,” according to inventor Clayton Smith. And, if you act now, it’s half price at just $40.
- The Flying Car (pictured) is a reality in another inventor’s project, but it’s going to hurt the bank account just a bit with a $100,000,00.90 sticker price. It’s easy to use, press the red button to fly; press it again to stop flying. But don’t forget where you parked it — the prototype model is camouflage.
- Girl Guardian is a GPS tracking device disguised as an attractive girl’s bracelet. It’s not recognized as a GPS device, so the bad guy’s won’t touch it. It can be constantly monitored for easy tracking, and includes a panic button for emergencies. And it’s good for the environment — it uses GPS chips from discarded cell phones.
- The 911 AED takes the automated external defibrillator a step further — open the lid and it automatically places a cellular 911 call with GPS coordinates for the dispatcher.
- Passing the sunflower seeds around the dugout at the neighborhood little league games is easier than ever with the Sandlot Seed Server. Simply place a cup under the server then “Open the Core and Let’em Pour” for only $49.99.
- Watered down soft drinks are a thing of the past with the Flavor Ice from Micah Calhoun. For just $50.69 it provides ice made out of the same drink that you are dispensing. “When this ice melts, it only makes your soda taste even better,” Calhoun said.
- The Sponge Shoe is just $9.99. It’s a shoe, it ’s a sponge — no it’s a sponge on shoe. Walk around, and all those little messes are cleaned right up. “It also saves my mom time because she does not have to mop the floor if it’s small mess that I can clean,” inventor Brayden Mickel said.
- The Bristle Bullet is an “easy, fun, cool way to clean your gun”, in Jenna’s project. A brush, like that used to clean baby bottles, is mounted on the tip of a bullet. Simply fire the bullet at your target and your gun is cleaned at the same time. A dozen would sell for $36.99.
- The Glow In The Dark Cork is perfect for night fishing. The glow in the dark paint glows like the moon. No more worrying about battery operated corks that fail when they crack.
- The $45 Dog Collar 3000 hold dog treats on Fido’s collar — no more running back inside for treats on those long winter walks.
- No more ropes with the sure to be American made Flag Raiser by Dalton Brown. For just $19.99, easy electronic controls automatically raise the flag.
- Travel Trays are manufactured of industrial grade stainless steel and collapse for easy storage. From an iPod to a Nintendo DS to McDonald’s fries or a pint of Ben & Jerry’s — the Travel Trays hold most everything with no spill.
- Ever had a fight in the kitchen with the roll of plastic wrap? Fight no more with the Wrap Trap at the introductory price of $7.50. It’s all about the control — the Wrap Trap holds the box of Saran or other wrap nice and steady on the counter while the included blade makes the cut.
Pictured top: The Bathroom Reading Buddy. Pictured inset: The Flying Car for just $100,000,00.90. Pictured below: A portion of the Flavor Ice machine. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Ernest Ward Students Explore Past With National History Day Projects
January 13, 2012
History came alive through the eyes of students at Ernest Ward Middle School Thursday evening as they displayed weeks of work on projects for National History Day.
The History Fair in the school’s gym capped off a project in which EWMS students were required to do research into a topic. The research was presented in exhibit form, much like the typical science fair, or as a drama or web presentation. Students complete projects either individually or in teams.
For a photo gallery of projects, click here.
This was the third year Ernest Ward has participated in the national program, with the top projects from Ernest Ward headed next to a district competition. Winners included:
Individual Projects:
- Bethany Reynolds — The Cotton Gin: An Invention That Revolutionized a Global Industry
- Tristan Barrett — Scared of Reds: America’s Reaction to Communism
- Evan Till — The United States Cotton Industry
- Bailee Hinote — Native American Indians
Group Projects:
- Thomas Moore, Ben Preston, Jarod Townley — Railway System
- Mallory Gibson, Autumn Albritton — How The Revolutionary Ward Affected Indians
- Jessica Stacey, Abby Hammond, Destiny Watson — Pablo Picasso
- Tylet Houston, Tristan Reaves — The Revolution of Space Technology (Space Race)
Names of winners in the performance, web and research paper categories were not immediately available.
Pictured top: Ernest Ward Middle School National History Day entitled “Pablo Picasso” by Jessica Stacey, Abby Hammond and Destiny Watson. Pictured inset: Tristan Barrett’s “Scared of Reds: America’s Reaction to Communism” is judged. Pictured below: “Native American Indians” by Bailee Hinote. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
