Work Is Now Underway At New Bratt Park
August 6, 2009
Work is now underway on the new Bratt Community Park, with the entire park expected to be completed by early next year.
County employees are currently working to install the 8-foot wide, eight-tenths of a mile walking track around the perimeter of the 13-acre park, according to Joy Jones, director of Escambia County’s Parks and Recreation Department.
The next step will be in the installation of the playground at the park, which is located at the corner of Highway 4 and Bratt Road near the First Baptist Church of Bratt. The playground has already been delivered to the county, and it is in storage in Pensacola waiting for an installer from the manufacturing company to begin installation later this month.
“We are just getting started, but we are going to keep it going,” Jones said of work on the park. The county is still waiting on one permit to be issued, she said, and then the work on other park features like the picnic pavilion will begin.
The park will also include two softball fields, a full basketball court and exercise and rest stations positioned along the track. The softball fields will not be lit for night play; in fact, the park’s hours will follow that of other county parks — sunrise to sunset.
The park is being funded with $200,000 in LOST (local option sales tax) monies set aside for the park’s construction.
Jones expects that park will be completed within six months.
Pictured top: Work is underway on the walking track at the new Bratt Community Park. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge. Pictured below: Plans for the park. Click plans to view the park plan in pdf format.
Flomaton Grad To Release New Album Next Week
August 6, 2009
A Flomaton High School graduate’s new CD will be released next Tuesday.
John Boutwell, who now performs under the name Ryland Bael, will release his country/pop album “Gone Too Long”, featuring 10 new songs that he wrote.
Boutwell graduated from Flomaton High School in 1995 and went on to get degrees from Jefferson Davis Community College and the University of Alabama. He was born in Bay Minette, but grew up around the Boutwell and Lambeth communites on Upper Creek Road just outside Flomaton.
After graduating from the University of Alabama in 2003, he remained in Tuscaloosa and formed his own label — Boutwell Entertainment, LLC. and released “John Boutwell: Remember Me” in 2004. He toured the Southeast for a couple of years to promote the album.
For “Gone Too Long” Boutwell decided to go with the pen name Ryland Bael and write about his life experiences, the result of a three year odyssey of personal heartbreak, healing, and triumph for this south Alabama son.
Ryland’s musical talents have their roots in an old country church in rural Alabama, and his music can best be described as a unique blend of gospel and country intertwined with pop, soul, R & B, jazz, and classical influences.
“I started playing piano and singing almost from the time I could walk and talk. I cut my musical teeth on Southern Gospel music. As I was growing up, being a guy who had no musical education and played everything by ear, whenever I heard something I liked on the radio, I’d take different elements and incorporate it into my own piano style. I began as a gospel writer and gradually began to write more and more country and pop lyrics,” Ryland said. “If you listen close, though, you’ll hear those soulful, gospel licks in almost every song I write and record. I’ll never get away from gospel music. It’s in my blood. “
His days at Flomaton High School helped shape his career. He said he was “discovered” his junior year by the FHS Drama Department when they needed a pianist for a spring musical. Able to play Broadway scores by ear, he would help the cast by transposing the music for those that could not sing in the original key. During rehearsal breaks, he would forgo the Broadway tunes and play songs that were popular on the radio.
“It broke up the monotony of long hours of rehearsal and really was the beginning of my goal to become a recording artist,” Ryland said. ” Suffice it to say, my years in Flomaton laid the foundation for my career aspirations to be a nationally known recording artist. We haven’t quite made it there yet, but we feel good about where things are headed.”
With songs like “Lonesome Highway”, “This Ain’t Goodbye”, “You’ve Had Your Chance”, and “Smile For the Memory”, his new CD shows the soul of man with broken heart that is open to healing. The songs tell the story of human spirit, falling in love and finding one’s self.
“Music is who I am. It’s what I was born to do,” Ryland said.
The CD was scheduled to release last Tuesday, but was delayed by the manufacturing company. When released this Tuesday, the CD will be available from www.rylandbael.com, and online retailers like Itunes, Amazon.com. Rhapsody.com and Napster.com.
Releasing the CD on his own label was a business decision that Ryland hopes will pay off as more and more people discover independent artists online. And he’s hoping that country radio will be good to him with the airtime needed to introduce his music to the country music masses.
“It’s a great project. We just have to work a little harder to get it heard,” he said. “Obviously, from a business perspective, we want to sell as many copies and downloads as possible, but beyond that, I hope this album finds its way to a million listeners that can listen and appreciate this record for what it is. A journey. I think there is something on this album that everybody, no matter what age or demographic, can identify with at some point in their lives. I have this feeling there are a lot of us out there that set out out in life and at some point start to lose ourselves and come to the realization we’ve been ‘gone too long’.”
While the album reflects Ryland’s past, he hopes it leads to a bright future in the music business.
“I’ve made it this far, and I can’t wait to see what the next chapter in my career holds,” he said.
The album can be sampled on www.rylandbael.com, and there are two videos on YouTube.
Walnut Hill Resident Finalist In Taco Jingle Contest
August 5, 2009
Olivia Godwin of Walnut Hill is hoping that a short tune about tacos will win an Alabama radio station contest.
Godwin is a finalist in a Taco Casa jingle contest sponsored by radio station 94.1 WZBQ in Tuscaloosa, Ala., where she is a student at the University of Alabama. The winner of the taco restaurant’s jingle contest wins a three day, two night stay at the Marriott Golf Resort and Spa in Panama City, Pepsi products and $600 worth of Mexican food from Taco Casa.
There are five finalists in the contest. Click here to vote. Olivia Godwin is in the photo at the bottom of the page. You must enter a valid email in order to verify your vote. To view Godwin’s video entry, click here.
Godwin is a 2008 graduate of Northview High School.
Old Fashioned Gospel Time At Century Care Center
August 5, 2009
There was some pickin’ and grinnin’ going on Tuesday morning at the Century Care Center.
Three of the residents’ favorite musicians all took part in a morning jam session for the residents. Harold Pope, “Brother” Kelly and Robert Strength entertained with old style gospel music.
Pictured above: (L-R) Harold Pope, “Brother” Kelly and Robert Strength Tuesday morning at the Century Care Center. Pictured below: The CCC residents enjoyed singing along. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Want To Help? Time To Start Planning Relay For Life 2010
August 4, 2009
Relay for Life is months away, but there is a meeting just a week away to being planning Relay for Life 2010 in North Escambia.
Community leaders and anyone passionate about fighting cancer in the North Escambia area are invited to a Relay for Life 2010 Committee Rally at 7:00 next Tuesday evening at the Century Ag Building at the corner of Highway 4 and Industrial Boulevard.
The purpose of the meeting will be to recruit new members for the Relay for Life Steering Committee. The committee is tasked with organizing teams, fund raising and the Relay event itself.
The 2010 Relay for Life will be the fourth in North Escambia supporting the American Cancer Society.
For more information, contact Paula Jernigan at (850) 256-3842.
Update: How To Build A Florida Igloo, And Other VBS Stuff
August 3, 2009
Last week, we ran a story about an igloo constructed by a Molino church using over 700 plastic jugs.
We received several comments and lots of email about the igloo, so we thought we’d share photos of the construction process that were emailed to us by Aldersgate United Methodist Church.
As for how the igloo was constructed, church members tell us it is nothing but the plastic gallon milk-type jugs and a lot of hot glue.
The igloo was constructed to be used in the “Polar Bear Snack Express” at Aldersgate’s Campe E.D.G.E. Vacation Bible School that is going on from 5:30 until 8:30 each evening this week at the church, which is located just south of the Highway 29 and Highway 97 intersection in Molino.
“It’s an action-packed, adrenaline-filled expedition that teaches kids how to live on the E.D.G.E. in their faith. Daily adventures with the Bible will introduce kids to characters that have experienced and discovered God in many ways,” Camp E.D.G.E. director Sandra Greenwell said. “We also will have our Camp Sites, Waterfalls, Caves, Butterfly Gardens, Science Labs…and much more.”
Camp E.D.G.E. is free and open to all children from three years to sixth grade.
To see a photo gallery of the igloo construction and other VBS preparations, click here.
It’s A Wrap: Beauty And The Beast
August 3, 2009
The Greater Escambia County Council for the Arts presented “Beauty and the Beast” this past weekend in Atmore.
The production featured over 70 cast members, several of them from North Escambia — making the show one of the largest the group has ever produced.
The role of Belle was played by Ellen Johnson, the Beast by Allen Rigby, Gaston by John Matthieu, Lefou by Emily Moore, Maurice by Norman Boyd, Lumiere by Perry Jones, Cogsworth by Stephen Billy, Babbette by Miranda Andrews, the Wardrobe by Kris Wood, and D’Arque by Leo Hursh.
More information about the Greater Escambia County Council for the Arts is at www.gecarts.com.Pictured top: A montage of photos from Beauty and the Beast. Pictured below: The show’s cast. Photos by Leonard Hursh, Hursh Photography for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Time To Think About Fall Tomatoes
August 2, 2009
The tomato is one of the most popular vegetables grown in home gardens. Gulf Coast gardeners revel in the planting of tomato plants in the spring. But unless you have grown hot-set tomatoes or the small fruited cherry and grape varieties, your tomato plants may have stopped setting fruit by mid-summer.
Most tomatoes are sensitive to night temperature. They set fruit best when it is near 70 degrees F. When tomato plants experience night temperatures lower than 55 degrees F or above 75 degrees F, interference with the growth of pollen tubes prevents normal fertilization. The pollen may even become sterile, thus causing the blossoms to drop.
High daytime temperatures, rain, or prolonged humid conditions also hamper good fruit set. If the humidity is too low, the pollen will be too dry and will not adhere to the stigma. If the humidity is too high, the pollen will not shed readily. Pollen grains may then stick together, resulting in poor or nonexistent pollination.
But living along the Gulf Coast does have its advantages. Since our first frosts generally don’t arrive until late November or early December, gardeners can enjoy a fall crop of tomatoes.
Unless spring tomato plants were protected with routine fungicide applications they are probably infested with diseases by now. If the foliage is yellowed and spotted and if production has ceased, it’s best to start over.
Visit area nurseries to find out what transplants are available. For the adventuresome, try some unusual varieties by starting them from seed, which can be ordered from specialty tomato seed companies.
Move to a new spot in the garden for your fall planting. You are asking for trouble if you plant tomatoes in the same spot more than once. If you know that your have nematodes or soil-borne diseases, try growing your tomatoes in a container with fresh potting media.
Of course, it’s important to prepare beds properly before planting this next crop of tomatoes. To do that, clear the site of all weeds or finished vegetable plants. Spread a 2-inch to 4-inch layer of organic matter (leaves, grass clippings, aged manure or compost can be used) over the soil. Turn the soil with a shovel, fork or tiller to a depth of at least 8 inches. This helps to maintain a high level of organic matter in the soil, which encourages a strong, healthy root system, improves drainage, retains moisture, provides nutrients and promotes vigorous plant growth. Be sure to wait a couple of weeks prior to planting if organic matter has been added.
By this time of year, insects and diseases have had all summer to build up their populations, and insects such as whiteflies, stink bugs, aphids and caterpillars are commonly seen. Since insect and disease pressure often is greater in the late summer/early fall than in the spring, watch plants carefully for problems and use appropriate control measures promptly when needed.
The key to heavy fall production is timing. The idea is to have healthy plants that are flowering as our night temperatures begin to gradually drop. If fall conditions are agreeable, it is possible to have fresh vine ripened tomatoes in December.
Fall vegetable gardening is not limited to tomatoes. Both sweet and hot pepper plants produce well if set out at about the same time. Other warm season vegetables can be started from seed in August. These include snap beans, lima beans, cucumbers, southern peas and summer squash.
History In The Park
August 2, 2009
The Alger-Sullivan Historical Society’s Day in the Park was held Saturday in Century. Collectors displayed their items and shared information with others. The historical society’s museums were open, and the group sold watermelon, hot dogs and more. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Molino’s Pumpkin Wins National Cute Dog Contest
August 2, 2009
NorthEscambia.com readers helped Pumpkin win a national cute dog contest at cutepuppypicture.com. Suzanne Landry of Molino entered Pumpkin in a cute puppy contest the national web site, and we posted a story with a link to vote for Pumpkin back on July 24. Pumpkin is a one and half year old Bichon Frishe. There’s no word yet on Pumpkin’s prize, but Landry said the web site has asked for her size. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.