Photos: Honoring Our Veterans
November 12, 2010
Veterans were honored across the area Thursday. There were parades in Atmore and Pensacola, and at students lined the fence with hundreds of flags at Ernest Ward Middle School in Walnut Hill.
For a Veterans Day photo gallery, click here.
Pictured top: The Tate High School AJROTC “Aggie Battalion” marched in the Pensacola Veterans Day Parade. Pictured left: Atmore World War II veteran John Garrard waves during the Atmore Veterans Day Parade Thursday morning. Pictured below: Hundreds of flags placed by the Ernest Ward Middle School SGA line the fence at the school. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Honoring Our Veterans: Northview High Holds Annual Program
November 11, 2010
Northview High School honored those that have served in America’s armed forces during the school’s annual Veterans Day program Wednesday morning at the school. During the program, a flag was presented to Joel Day of Atmore, a veteran of World War II that fought in the Battle of the Bulge. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Area Students Take Part In All-County Choral Gala
November 10, 2010
The 2010 All-County Choral Gala was held Tuesday night at Olive Baptist Church in Pensacola with several North Escambia area schools participating.
An audience of about 1,500 was on hand for the 23rd annual event which featured elementary, middle and high school All-County groups.
Students from Bratt, Molino Park and Jim Allen elementary schools and Ernest Ward and Ransom Middle schools were among the dozens of students selected to participate in the program that featured music ranging from classic to contemporary.
North Escambia area students participating included:
Jim Allen Elementary: Demerie Caro, Kayla Guilford, Paige Owen, Emily Rohde, Alexya Taylor. Greg Sexton and John McDonald, educators.
Bratt Elementary: Alayna Brown, Taniya Fletcher, Logan Hall, Haven Shores. Emily Pollard, educator.
Molino Park Elementary: Tapanga Johnson, Trista Lorenzana, Seth Parker, Evan Till. Twinette McDonald, educator.
Ernest Ward Middle School: Penny Banda, Amy Branch, Diamonique Brown, Breanna Campbell, Holly Cofield, Aaliyah Creamer, Sarah Dutton, Desiree Elliard, Nathan Hawthorne, Haley Maddox, Amy Murph, Ashley Rainbolt, Elizabeth Sanders, Brittany Victor, Jasmine Walker, Shania Ward, Joselynn Wiedel, Hadley Woodfin. Charles Tucker, educator.
Ransom Middle School: Matthew Baillie, Shelby Becker, Lindsey Beckham, Tiffany Butler, Hannah Carpenter, Allison Cramer, Tyler Debord, Harlie Diamond, Cherry Eddy, Tayler Garciano, Jamie Hendren, Miranda Holt, Kimberly Howard, Coles Johnson, Tori Kent, Olivia Martin, Shelby Penton, Courtney Sonnier, Jordan Summerlin, Victoria Teague, Alley Vansoyc, Paul Vinson, Landon Williamson, Kayla Winters. Sharon Godwin and Malinda Hawks, educators.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Century Care Center Veterans Honored For Service
November 10, 2010
Veterans at Century Care Center were honored this week for their services and sacrifices. During the program, sponsored by Covenant Hospice, each veteran was presented with a pin and certificate.
Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Flomaton Opens New, Expanded Library
November 10, 2010
A ribbon cutting ceremony was held Tuesday for the new Flomaton Public Library.
“It will allow us to offer many more services because it has so much more room,” said Librarian Faye Knowles. “It is a great facility.”
The town’s old library was only 2,400 square feet, while the new library is nearly four times that size. The extra space will allow the library the room to increase its book collection, provide space for meetings and programs, and offer room for library patrons to sit and read or use the wireless Internet access.
Residents outside of Flomaton are also able to enjoy the library, Knowles said, with library cards available to residents of both Alabama and Florida at no charge. Proper identification and a complete library card application are required.
The new Flomaton Public Library is located at the corner of Church and Houston streets, one block east of Sidney Manning Boulevard (Highway 29) in the downtown area. The library is open from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. Monday-Friday and 8 a.m. until noon on Saturday. For more information, call (850) 296-3552.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Ernest Ward FFA Names Officers
November 8, 2010
Officers were recently selected for the Ernest Ward Middle School FFA chapter. Officers are (back, L-R) Allison Woodfin, teasurer; Aden Davis, chaplain; Tiffani Cruce, president; Madison McGhee, photographer; (middle, L-R) Jaylen Parker, vice president; Haylee Weaver, reporter; Addy Lee, parliamentarian; Haley Brown, secretary; Bethany Reynolds, sentinel; and Miranda Vidak, historian. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Walnut Hill Fire Honors Firemen, Community Members During Fish Fry
November 7, 2010
The Walnut Hill Volunteer Fire Department honored members of the community and the department during their annual fish fry Saturday.
The Officer of the Year Award was presented to Diann Stewart, who has given “a lot of blood, sweat and tears to the department and stayed in the department while taking care of her family in an exceptional way,” according to District Chief Chris Brown.
Gerry Steege was named Firefighter of the Year, an award chosen by his peers.
Founding members Vern Peters and Bob Mininger were recognized for their part in forming the fire department in 1965.
Saturday’s fish fry marked the 41st annual event for the department, with 613 fish and chicken plates sold.
The Walnut Hill Volunteer Fire Department also presented their annual Community Service Award to NorthEscambia.com for service to the Walnut Hill community and the department.
Pictured top: Walnut Hill Volunteer Fire Department firefighter Chad Rigby breads catfish Saturday morning during the department’s annual catfish fry. Picture inset: Diann Stewart was named Officer of the Year. Pictured below: Gerry Streege was named Firefighter of the Year. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Featured Recipe: Steak Parmesan With Grilled Vegetables
November 7, 2010
This weekend’s featured recipe from Janet Tharpe is a Steak Parmesan with Grilled Vegetables. Fire up the grill, because this will be an instant hit at your next tailgate party. This dish’s blend of Parmesan, spices and a smoky-grilled flavor will score a real touchdown.
To print today’s “Just a Pinch” recipe column, you can click the image below to load a printable pdf with a recipe card.
Fill Voids In Landscape With Shrubs
November 6, 2010
Occasionally gardeners will lose a shrub in their landscapes. This typically results in an unsightly void. Or perhaps you chose a beautiful shrub but put it in a location which it quickly outgrew. Fall is the best time of the year to plant new shrubs and transplant those that may need a new home.
When planting new shrubs, take the time to choose plants that will meet your design requirement and will be the right size for your location. Trying to artificially manipulate a plant’s size or height by pruning should be avoided in the landscape, unless you are an expert at topiaries.
Another consideration when choosing shrubs is their leaf-retaining characteristics. Evergreen plants always have green leaves on the plant; however, they do drop foliage throughout the year. Deciduous plants drop all of their leaves at one time of the year, usually late fall.
Deciduous plants typically add beautiful floral displays to the landscape. Evergreen plants will provide the backbone of the design. The well-designed landscape will contain both deciduous and evergreen shrubs.
Northwest Florida gardeners can choose from a wide variety of beautiful shrubs. Some popular choices include azaleas, camellias, hydrangeas, cleyera, holly and gardenias. For more options and information, refer to a University of Florida publication titled “Selected Shrubs for North Florida.” It’s available online at http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/mg344 or by calling your local Extension Office.
The best time to add new shrubs to the landscape is when we experience cooler weather, fall through early spring. To ensure success, be sure to follow proper procedures when planting the shrub. Correct planting and proper aftercare will prevent problems in the future.
Begin by digging a hole at least twice as wide as and no deeper than the root ball. After digging, ensure that about one to two inches of the root ball is raised above the level of the surrounding soil. Remember the old saying, “Plant it high, it won’t die. Plant it low, it won’t grow.”
Probably one of the most overlooked steps is correcting root problems prior to planting. Shrubs that are planted with circling roots will always have circling roots and can abruptly fall over in high winds. Use your hands or a knife to loosen any roots that have been matted while growing in the container. Also, cut through any circling roots.
After you backfill the hole with the soil you removed, water-in the plant to release any air pockets. Mulch with three inches of organic mulch such as pine straw after planting is completed, but never on top of the root ball.
If you have decided to transplant a shrub, consider the following. Shrubs have better transplant tolerance than trees, deciduous plants better than evergreens, shallow rooted species better than deep rooted species, and younger plants better than older plants. Plants which are already in advanced stages of decline are likely to succumb to transplantation stress.
Dig as large a rootball as you can handle and follow the normal planting procedures. Aftercare is critical to a transplanted shrub’s survival, with proper watering perhaps the most important practice. Remember that sprinkler systems are not designed to establish trees and shrubs, so hand watering or a slow-drip system is recommended. Talk to your local Extension Agent for specific instructions.
You can have better success with planting or transplanting shrubs when you do it in the fall. Just be sure to follow established procedures and tend to the shrub for several months after planting.
Theresa Friday is the Residential Horticulture Extension Agent for Santa Rosa County.. Photo credit - David Marshall.
Century Police Department Cruiser Back On The Road
November 4, 2010
A Century Police Department cruiser is back on the road, thanks to the handiwork of a North Escambia man.
Jason Stein of Cantonment purchased the inoperable 1991 Ford LTD cruiser for $300 from the Town of Century, and he has restored it to be a near-replica of the original, complete with a Century Police door decal and the original blue flashing lights.
When the Century Police Department was disbanded in the early 1990’s, the car and law enforcement duties were turned over to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office. The Sheriff’s Office repainted the car and used it until about 1994, Stein said, before giving it back to the town where it was used as an administrative vehicle. By the time Stein purchased the car in 2008, it had been sitting for four or five years.
“I am very pleased with the results so far, but it’s not complete,” he said. “I have really enjoyed working on it.”
The number “26″ on the car is the original Century Police Department fleet number, and the door shield logo is as correct as possible he said. The blue lights are original and restored.
The blue light bar is removable, he said, while the police department markings on the car are removable magnetic signs to keep the car street legal.
Stein, who is a law enforcement dispatcher at Pensacola NAS, recently displayed the car in the Chicagoland Emergency Vehicle Show, and it will be on display this Saturday at a car show at the Marcus Pointe Baptist Church in Pensacola. In addition, Stein is a member of Panhandle Cruisers and participates in their car show most Saturday nights from 7 until 9 at the Burger King at Nine Mile and Chemstrand roads.
Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
