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.
‘Don’t Take For Granted That You Will See Your Kids Grown’
July 30, 2009
Marty Green of Bratt thought she felt bad from too much stress in her life. Within a few shorts weeks, she learned that it was not stress but stage IV lung cancer.
The year started off rough for Marty and her husband Greg — their teenage daughter Blaze was critically injured in car accident on Greenland Road in Davisville on January 7. Blaze’s condition was dire at the time, with doctors telling the family that she should have been paralyzed from the waist down. She spent weeks in a halo to hold her head in a fixed position as she recovered from a fractured neck. The family was also busy taking care of a bedridden relative. Marty knew she was feeling bad; and she knew that there was a lot of stress in her life.
“I just thought I was having a much needed nervous breakdown,” Marty said. She felt “pretty bad” for a couple of weeks and had a few chest pains. She had always been one of those healthy people that seldom visited a doctor. But she found a doctor, and she was treated for stress. Two months later, the treatments were not working, and she knew something else was wrong.
She was now losing her voice, so she made an appointment with an ENT — ear, nose and throat specialist. He thought he saw something during her exam under her vocal cords, and he ordered a CT scan. There was nothing under her vocal cords, but there were spots on her lungs, adrenal glands and lymph nodes. A biopsy was scheduled the next day. The results were not good.
It took three weeks to get an appointment with an oncologist. The news was really bad, and the words were hard to hear: Stage IV large cell carcinoma.
“He would not give me a prognosis,” Marty, 44, said. “He just said it is bad. One day at time. He did not want me to think about that.”
She is undergoing aggressive chemotherapy. Tuesday and Wednesday were her first full days in many weeks at home without trips to Pensacola for medical appointments.
“I am just hoping that maybe I will feel better for a few more days,” Marty said. “It’s now in my bones,” she added, almost as an afterthought.
Her conversation was matter of fact, repeating what the doctors have said. She talked about the disease that has attacked her body with little emotion, almost as if she was talking about someone else. She has told the story before.
But the next part of the story was the hard part.
“I want to wish that it was all a dream; you just don’t think this will happen to you,” she said.
“I have to keep my faith up. The Lord is going to step in and do His thing. He did it for Blaze; I know he can do it for me.” She paused for a moment. “If it is His will.”
“I worry about the kids, Greg, my mom.”
It is easy to see in the Green’s living room that family is important. The family pictures are everywhere. They are not all the posed portraits that everyone displays. Some are just simple snapshots of cherished moments over the years. Like a photo of son Blake, now 12, when he played machine pitch ball a few years ago. It’s one of her favorites.
She enjoys looking at the photos as she sits in her corner chair in the living room. She enjoys the family memories.
“I know the Lord can heal. But he might have a different plan for me. We just don’t know. I worry about Greg and the kids.”
She knows that if she is not healed, that there might be other reasons.
“It might be his plan to send a message to all those out there to take better care of themselves, and get their faith straight. You never know when it is your time to go,” she said, followed by a long pause as she gathered her strength to continue. It was hard to say the next words.
“Don’t take for granted that you will see your kids grown.”
There was more to that statement than might be imagined. Marty has already lost one child, a daughter almost five years old that died after being thrown from a horse. She found out she was pregnant with Blaze just a month later.
“She was my angel. She was my answered prayer.”
In January, when she found out Blaze was in that car wreck and was being transported via LifeFlight, it was hard.
“When I almost lost Blaze, it was was more than I could stand.”
For Blaze, 16, it’s been a tough year. From the car accident, to the halo cast, to missing the rest of the school year, to the decision not to return as a Northview cheerleader — it’s been a lot.
When asked about her mom, Blaze answered, “It’s been a big change; I was used to her doing things around here, now I have to do them.” It was one of those answers that someone gives because it is the easier thing to say. When asked again, she paused. It was a lot for a daughter to say about her mom.
“When I think about her not being here,” Blaze said, no longer able to fight back the tears, “…think about her not being here…it’s a lot for a 16 year old. God will be here for us.”
“I tell her to never forget what the Lord did for her, and don’t let other people forget either,” Marty said. “He is good.”
The Green family does not have health insurance. A coed softball tournament to benefit Marty Green will be held beginning at 8 a.m. on August 1 at Bradberry Park in Walnut Hill. The coed softball team must consist of seven men and three women, double elimination. There is a $200 entry fee. For more information, contact Bodie Tullis at (850) 327-6788 or (850) 327-6722, Theresa Hanks at (850) 327-6722 or Pam Brown at (850) 327-6155. The tournament is sponsored by Northwest Escambia Little League and Northwest Escambia Football, with all proceeds going toward Marty Green’s medical expenses.
“I just want to thank everyone for what they have done for us,” Marty said.
Pictured top: Greg and Marty Green, daughter Blaze Green and son Blake Green. Pictured top inset: Marty Green prior to learning that she had cancer. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com. Pictured bottom inset: Blaze Green was severely injured while riding in the backseat of this car on January 7. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Mallory Mullis Named Escambia (Ala) Junior Miss
July 27, 2009
Mallory Brooks Mullis was named the 2010 Escambia County (Ala.) Junior Miss this weekend.
Ashleigh Elizabeth Ward was named First Alternate, and Allie Lanora Rush was named Second Alternate.
For a photo gallery of all of the participants in the 2010 Escambia County (Ala.) Junior Miss program, click here.
Mallory Brooks Mullis (pictured above, center) is the daughter of Debra and Ron Mullis and attends T.R. Miller High School. She is Secretary General of the South Alabama Model United Nations, a member of the Math Club, a cheerleader co-captain, participated in Relay for Life, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, the Kaleidoscope Editing Team, Pep Club, Spanish Club, tennis team, softball team, volleyball team, National Honor Society, and the Rural Health Scholars program. She is in the top 10 in her class, student government president for 2009-2010, student government treasurer in 2008-2009, freshman class treasurer, sophomore class representative, all state band participant, honor band participant, solo and ensemble superior ratings and volunteers for Habitat for Humanity.
Ashleigh Elizabeth Ward (pictured above, left) is the daughter of Don and Cindy Ward and attends T.R. Miller High School. She is a member of the First Baptist Church Youth Mentor and Small Groups, majorette and color guard of the T.R. Miller Band, yearbook staff, Pep Club, Spanish Club, Kaleidoscope staff, FCCLA, National Honor Society, top ten in class, SGA class representative, first chair second clarinet in the band, district honor band, Most Valuable Play in band, and a humane society volunteer.
Allie Lanora Rush (pictured above, right) is the daughter of Dru and Connie Rush and attends Cornerstone Christian School. She is a member of the Piano Audition for the Top Program, Blount Slawson Young Artist Piano Audition, Page for Lt. Governor Jim Folsom, Jr for two years, National Piano Guild, lifeguard and swim instructor at the YMCA, church praise band, President Advisory Council on Financial Literacy, 4-H Club, Church of God Teen Talent Regional winner in piano and drama, 4-H regional and state photography winner.
Pictured above: 2010 Escambia County (Ala.) Junior Miss Mallory Brooks Mullis (center), First Alternate Ashleigh Elizabeth Ward (left) and Second Alternate Allie Lanora Rush (right). Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Big Chill: Molino Church Builds Igloo With 700+ Plastic Jugs
July 26, 2009
Volunteers at a Molino church used over 700 plastic jugs to construct an igloo this week.
The igloo will be used in Aldersgate United Methodist Church’s Camp Edge August 3-7 from 5:30 to 8:30 each evening.
The igloo is held together with nothing but “lots of hot glue”, Sandra Greenwell, VBS organizer, said. For more info on the Camp Edge VBS, click here.
Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Interested In Seniors’ Activities In Walnut Hill? Or A North Escambia Crafting Group?
July 26, 2009
Local people are looking for others interested in seniors’ activities in Walnut Hill or a North Escambia crafting group.
If you are interested in forming a seniors’ activity group to meet at the Walnut Hill Community Center, call Billy Ward at (850) 327-4318.
If you are interested in joining a North Escambia crafting group, call Leslie at (850) 565-7128 or email lesliek1066@yahoo.com.
Danceworks Returning To North Escambia With New Teacher
July 23, 2009
Chelsea Sims has some really big slippers to fill. In the fall, she will be taking over as the teacher for Heather Leonard’s Danceworks.
Before announcing her retirement, Leonard taught dance for 14 years to hundreds of girls from North Escambia and surrounding areas. The business will reopen in the fall, under the Heather Leonard’s Danceworks name. Leonard will serve as the administrator and adviser, while Sims will teach the dance classes.
“I always wanted to teach dance,” Sims said. “I felt like this was where God was leading me. I’m very excited.”
“I’m so glad it worked out this way,” Leonard said. “There were so many girls that had put so much into dance; I wanted them to have a chance to continue.”
Sims (pictured left) is a 2009 graudate of Northview High School, where she was a majorette for two years and a varsity cheerleader for two years. She was named Miss NHS 2008, was a homecoming maid as a freshman and sophomore and was homecoming queen her senior year. She was one of Leonard’s dance students for 14 years.
The Heather Leonard’s Danceworks classes will return to the Byrneville Community Center on September 9. There will be a registration on August 20. For more information, call (850) 256-0948.
Reprinted below is the NorthEscambia.com story from April 22, 2008, with more information about Leonard and Sims.
When the music fades after a dance recital in Flomaton Friday night, Heather Leonard will take off her slippers for the very last time as a dance teacher. She’ll head off for the traditional post-recital pizza with the girls, knowing that she’s not only taught dance, but has taught grace and self-respect to hundreds of girls across North Escambia.
After 14 years teaching dance in North Escambia, Heather Leonard is retiring, and she is closing her Heather Leonard’s Danceworks. She will end her career with her students’ final recital at Flomaton High School.
She has taught not just dance to girls from Jay to Century to McDavid to Byrneville to Walnut Hill. She has taught them self-respect, self-worth and a little bit about her Lord.
She began teaching dance as her business 14 years ago after moving to Byrneville. Her first classes were taught at the Byrneville Community Center, a location she would continue to use until just after Hurricane Ivan.
“When I came here it was the biggest blessing that no one had ever really danced,” she said. “I came in and had a fresh slate. Fresh kids with no experience. They got to be mine.”
She was happy that she got to teach the girls of North Escambia that they could respect themselves and still dance.
“I am a Christian, and my values do not line up with a lot of the dance community. I’ve tried to teach the girls that they are how God made them. They are precious, innocent. They are not trashy.”
“I look at the way the dance community is as a whole…cut throat, self-centered, eating disorders to be too thin, smoking, drugs. I can’t stand those things.” Those are the things that Heather crusaded against during her 14 years.
“Once I was saved, I looked to God who showed me that those things were not what He liked,” she said. “He brought me out of the darkness into His light. I became very focused on ballet and finding a way to teach the girls to love themselves the way He made them. I’ve always been very careful to lead them in the right way.”
“We love Miss Heather,” Chelsea Sims, a senior at Northview High School said. She is 17, and she has danced 14 of those years with Heather. “She’s so much more than a teacher. She’s our friend.”
“She helps us with our lives,” Sarah Killam, a freshman at Northview said. She is 15, and she has danced with Heather for 10 of those years. “She’s like a mom to us. Sometimes we will stay after class and talk to her about what is going on in our lives.” The photo to the left shows Sarah with Heather at one of Sarah’s first recitals.
“And she’s always worked to help us be better Christians,” Chelsea said.
“We can have Sunday School sometimes after dance,” Darbi Langhorne said. She’s now in nursing school at Pensacola Junior College. She has danced with Heather for 14 years.
The theme song for Friday night’s recital will be “Sharecropper’s Seed” by Christian artist Nicole C. Mullen. “So I’m praising the Lord of the harvest…God still cares for the least of these,” the song says.
“The Lord cares about everyone. He cares about you, about me. One of my relatives was having a hard time, addicted to drugs. It could have been me. It’s impresses me so much how much God cares,” Heather said. “This dance is dedicated to him.”
Every performance for Heather Leonard’s Danceworks always starts the same. “Before every performance we circle up and pray,” she said. “It has always been that way.”
For the past few years, her dance studio has been in the back of the Country Bumpkin building in Century. It’s nice studio…a mirrored wall, a proper wood dance floor and metal ballet bars.
“That’s not how we started,” Darbi said. “We started with a mirror on a wood frame we rolled out at the community center. The (ballet) bars were PVC pipe and duct tape. But we just danced anyway.”
Hurricane Ivan proved to be a test for Heather and her students. It heavily damaged the Byrneville Community Center where her classes were held. There was no ceiling, no heat and water puddled on the floor when it rained.
“But we were determined,” she said, “that Ivan was not going to beat us. It was a lesson in perseverance. We felt like we had to continue to show that we had not been beat by Ivan.”
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Heather and the three girls gathered around on the floor looking through a box of pictures (pictured above). They would laugh as they looked at 14 years of memories. Sometimes Heather would pause, a fond memory on her mind.
“It’s been a great time,” she said.
“I love it a lot. I’ve been dancing since I was three years old. There has never been a year since then that I did not dance.”
So why is she retiring from dance?
“The Lord put it on my heart to set dance aside,” Heather said. “He wanted to make sure I love Him more than I do dancing. He changed my life. He made me; He saved me. He wants me to show others how much He cares.”
She expressed her thanks to the North Escambia community for supporting her during her 14 years. And she expressed special gratitude to her husband Stephen.
“My husband has been so supportive over the years,” she said. “He was the brains behind the business. He helped me go into business without doing into debt, and to be a good steward. I appreciate him so much.”
The final Heather Leonard’s Danceworks recital will be at Flomaton High School this Friday night at 7:00. Admission is free.
For more photos from Heather Leonard’s Danceworks, click here.
Pictured top: (L-R): Heather Leonard, Darbi Langhorne, Sarah Killam and Chelsea Sims practice their “Sharecropper’s Dream” dance. NorthEscambia.com exclusive photos, click to enlarge.
Atmore Rotary Fiddlers’ Convention Winners Named
July 21, 2009
Results have been announced in the Atmore Rotary Club’s 30th Annual South Alabama Old Time Fiddlers’ Convention.
Proceeds from the event fund the club’s Rotary Academic All-Stars program. The Academic All-Star program is open to students who attend Northview High School, Atmore Christian School, Escambia County High School or Escambia Academy.
Prizes awarded at the Fiddler’s Convention range from $59 to $1,000.
Winners of this year’s event were:
Bands
- 1st Open Range
- 2nd Mick Norton
String Bands
- 1st Open Range
- 2nd The Bell Family
- 3rd Seminole Trio
Dobro
- 1st Steve Crain
- 2nd Robert Bell
Banjo
- 1st Winky Hicks
- 2nd Greg Youngblood
- 3rd Billy Brown
Guitar
- 1st Charlie Carter
- 2nd Chuck Eldar
- 3rd Patrick Lowery
Mandolin
- 1st Chuck Eldar
- 2nd Wayne Crain
- 3rd Peter McCartney
Fiddle
- 1st Adam Purvis
- 2nd Garrett Youngblood
- 3rd W.G. Galbreath