It’s Celebrate Literacy Week At Area Elementary Schools
January 13, 2014
It’s “Celebrate Literacy Week, Florida!”, and North Escambia elementary schools will celebrate 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:
- Bratt Elementary — An AR test, “Reading Rocks” with funny socks, student designed bookmarks, wear a hat and wear favorite team gear.
- Byrneville Elementary — Teacher swap day, buddy reading, community guest readers, family literacy night and vocabulary day.
- Molino Park Elementary — Used book sale, human bookwork, camo day, buddy read, guest readers, poster contest.
- Jim Allen Elementary — Guest readers, buddy readers and author studies.
- Lipscomb Elementary — guest readers, buddy reading, teacher swap, door contest.
- McArthur Elementary – 20 minutes reading period, awesome author’s day, cold hard facts day, fantastic fiction and pajama and poetry day.
- Pine Meadow Elementary — door decorating, buddy reading, sunglasses, pajama day to cuddle up and read.
Pictured top: Jacke Johnston’s fifth grade class at Byrneville Elementary School celebrated literacy with a guest reader last January. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Scott Looks To Calm Nerves Over Common Core
January 12, 2014
Looking to calm a rising furor in the grass roots of his party, Gov. Rick Scott said Saturday that a state set of revisions to nationwide education standards will be unveiled next week.
One day after a caucus of the Republican Party of Florida’s state committeemen and committeewomen backed a resolution opposing the Common Core standards, Scott also said he would support legislation specifying that curriculum is a local responsibility and limiting what information can be gathered about students.
Education Commissioner Pam Stewart said earlier this week that her department would propose about 40 changes to the voluminous education benchmarks. Scott’s remarks Saturday, to the annual meeting of the state GOP, signaled that he hopes the changes will soothe conservative fears about the standards.
“Here’s what we’re going to ensure: These are Florida standards,” he said. “They’re not some national standards; they’re going to be Florida standards. This is our state. We’re not going to have the federal government telling us how to do our education system.”
The overwhelming majority of the changes Stewart is set to propose would add material to the state’s version of the standards, officials say.
Common Core started out as a joint project by officials in about four dozen states, but some conservatives have grown worried that the standards will instead lead to unprecedented federal intrusion in local schools. The opposition to the guidelines has opened a rift on the right between those arguing against the benchmarks and members of the school accountability movement, like former Republican Gov. Jeb Bush, who backs the standards.
On Saturday, Scott spoke about legislative proposals only in vague terms. He did not stop to answer questions despite shouted requests from reporters who jogged toward him as he left the Rosen Centre Hotel.
But any measure spelling out the role of local school boards in curriculum might affect Common Core only at the margins, if at all. Supporters insist that the new standards only outline what students are expected to learn, while curriculum is still controlled at the local level.
The governor has tried before to get rid of concerns about Common Core, issuing an executive order in September that began distancing the state from a separate multi-state consortium building tests based on the standards. Scott also ordered the review of the benchmarks that led to Stewart’s proposed changes.
Rep. Debbie Mayfield, a Vero Beach Republican who has sponsored anti-Common Core legislation, said after Scott’s remarks Saturday that she was “perfectly happy with the direction the governor’s going in.” But she suggested that simply adding more material to the Common Core standards might not satisfy critics.
Mayfield has filed legislation (HB 25) intended to stop the standards from fully taking effect in Florida.
“If we have our own standards and if we have our own assessment, then what is the purpose of being in Common Core?” she asked Saturday.
Meanwhile, Republican Party Chairman Lenny Curry told the party’s executive board Saturday that he would refer Friday’s Common Core resolution to the RPOF’s legislative affairs committee. The executive board is not expected to vote on the measure.
by Brandon Larrabee, The News Service of Florida
Molino Community Center Heating, Cooling Systems Back In Business
January 12, 2014
The heating and cooling system at the Molino Community Complex was back in working order by 5 p.m. Friday.
Thursday, an Escambia County maintenance employee discovered that all of the heating and cooling system related copper tubing from underneath one side of the building had been stolen. The tubing, valued at $500-$600, was estimated to cost the county about $4,000 for repairs.
About two-thirds of the building — the community center and library — were not impacted by the crime, while the yet to be opened museum area was left without heating or cooling by the theft.
For more details on the theft, click here for an earlier story.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office is continuing their search for a suspect in the case. Anyone with information about the theft is asked to call Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP or the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office at (850) 436-9620.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Atmore Native Serving Up Authentic Air Force BBQ
January 12, 2014
When some people think of barbecue, they may imagine a simple hamburger thrown on a grill slathered in sauce on the Fourth of July. But for others, authentic barbecue is an extensive process that involves imported wood, secret ingredients, exact temperatures and up to 20 hours – all in hopes of perfecting the combined flavors of smoke, meat juices, spices and rub.
For Tech. Sgt. Sheldon Mason, 341st Maintenance Operations Squadron mechanical pneudraulics section assistant NCO in charge, perfecting barbecue is what the Atmore native does best.
“I started cooking when I was really young because my grandmother was a chef,” Mason said. “She didn’t really do barbecue as opposed to other cuisines, but I took to cooking at a young age.”
Mason has always been accustomed to large family gatherings of more than 100 people. But it wasn’t until his teenage years during these get-togethers when he learned “whole hog cooking,” that his love for barbecue took off.
“It’s just one of those things I’ve always wanted to do,” Mason said. “Within the past five years I’ve been able to get all the equipment I need to actually pursue this one day because barbecuing is really where my heart lies.”
Although Mason hails from the south in a place where barbecued pork is the food of choice, his specialty is beef brisket.
“It’s funny because I’m a southern guy and I cook brisket, which is very popular in Texas,” he said. “It’s a little different to cook something that’s not from where you’re from, but I figured once I mastered brisket, which is one of the hardest things to cook, I felt like I could take on anything.”
Today, Mason uses a gravity-fed smoker for low and slow cooking, which can cook up to 200 pounds of meat. Through trial and error, he has perfected his sauces, cooking time and wood type in the past decade.
“Length [to cook] depends on what the meat is and the size,” Mason said. “Ribs can take anywhere from four to six hours and pulled pork and brisket can take upwards of 12 to 16 hours; but each one is temperamental so I just have to go by the feel and the color. It’s not an exact science – it’s something I’ve learned based on experienced.”
Mason says he aims to satisfy the taste buds of all barbecue lovers from various regions in the U.S.
“I try to cater to everyone,” Mason said. “I don’t have one particular style of barbecue but I put my own spin on it to try to hit all the regions. From the east coast, to the west coast, to the Carolinas and Kansas City, every region has a different flavor of barbecue sauce and specialty meat.”
As an NCO who’s spent 14 years at Montana’s Malmstrom Air Force Base in various maintenance sections, Mason is accustomed to working with and supervising Airmen of different backgrounds. Mason’s vision to stay true to regional barbecue calls for importing wood directly from various states.
“The wood infuses different flavors into the meat,” Mason said. “Wood reacts with the different types of rubs and the different meat used. In order to cook true barbecue, I import all of the wood – from California to Georgia to Washington to stay true to that type of barbecue.”
For hopeful or avid lovers of making their own barbecue, Mason has a few suggestions.
“As far as wood, never use pine,” he said. “Fruit woods add a sweet flavor to the meat; whereas woods like hickory and oak infuse strong flavors, so it’s important to be careful. Mixing those with sugars can create a very robust flavor. Some people don’t know that they don’t need as much smoke as they may think they need. Although [the meat] is smoked, it doesn’t need 12 to 15 hours of straight smoke because it’ll darken the meat too much. Depending on the kind of meat – pork, ribs or brisket – it needs just enough smoke to give it that smoked flavor because the heat is what gives it the true smoke flavor.”
Although Mason typically barbecues for 10 to 50 people, he hopes to one days cook for the masses.
“I’ve done squadron functions, going-aways, retirements – I’ve done a little bit of everything,” he said. “Anyone that requests barbecue usually comes to me. It doesn’t really matter what the occasion is; the more the merrier.”
While Mason intends to pursue barbecuing as a full-time career in the future, his current life as an active-duty Airman continues to be his number one priority.
“I currently plan on retiring at 20 years to pursue this venture, but anything could happen,” Mason said, adding that he plans to open a barbecue place in Great Falls, Montana.
Although creating a business is Mason’s ultimate goal, he finds satisfaction in simply bringing friends, family and Airmen together on the principles he was raised on.
“Honestly, I think food is what brings people together,” he said. “Food, to me, is something everyone can relate to because everyone has to eat. The time it takes to barbecue is something a lot of people don’t understand because it takes such a long time to make this sort of food. It’s a simple food, but it’s not a simple science. Not a lot of people do this because it’s very time consuming and I’m very particular about how I make it. But I really enjoy doing it and that’s why I truly do it; that’s the passion I have.”
Pictured top: Tech. Sgt. Sheldon Mason of Atmore, 341st Maintenance Operations Squadron, pours barbecue sauce on ribs during an office lunch on Montanta’s Malmstrom Air Force Base. Pictured inset: Mason seasons his barbecue ribs. Photos by Senior Airman Katrina Heikkinen for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
ECUA Sewer Averaging Period Continues
January 12, 2014
The ECUA’s sewer averaging period is continuing. The time period begins with each residential customer’s first meter reading on or after November 15, (including ECUA sewer customers whose water service is from another water provider such as Peoples Water Co.). The length of each customer’s sewer averaging period is 90 days.
Annual sewer charges are based on the average number of gallons of water used in a household during the sewer averaging period. Conserving water usage during this time helps residential wastewater customers impact their sewer rates for the coming year in a positive way. It is important to check all indoor and outdoor plumbing fixtures for leaks. Leaks will end up affecting your monthly water and sewer charges.
Most leaks are easy to identify, but there are many areas around the home where a plumbing leak can be found. Check common areas such as dishwasher (connections to the sink), sinks (examine pipes for wear and loose connections), bathtubs (check the caulking and seals), and toilets (if you hear a “toilet running” sound, but your toilet isn’t running). Following these simple measures can lower the monthly sewer charge for the next twelve months
For more information on ways to conserve, visit the ECUA website at www.ecua.fl.gov or call Customer Service (850) 476-0480.
High School Seniors: EREC To Award Two $4K Scholarships
January 12, 2014
This April, EREC will award scholarships to graduating seniors in Escambia County and Santa Rosa County whose parent or guardian is a member of the cooperative. Two $4,000 scholarships, one in each county, will be offered.
Seniors in EREC’s service area should check with their high school guidance counselors or click here to download an application. Deadline to submit scholarship application is March 3. Winners will be announced at EREC’s Annual Meeting on April 26.
The students must show proof of enrollment and maintain a GPA of 2.5 to continue to receive the funds each year.
This is EREC’s 17th year of offering scholarships to high school seniors. In the past, those capital credits issued by EREC that were unclaimed had to be turned over to the state. But state legislation now allows such funds to be deposited into a qualified, educational charity fund. The EREC membership voted to use these funds in the form of scholarships for graduating seniors in EREC’s service area.
300 Gulf Power Customers Spend Morning Without Power
January 12, 2014
About 300 Gulf Power customers spent Saturday morning without power in the Molino area. The outage, according to the company, was due to an equipment problem.
Residents of Molino Road near Highway 95A, “Old Molino” to the river, including River Bend, and out Fairground and Cedartown roads lost power about 8:30 a.m. Power was restored to all customers by just after noon.
Escambia Man Gets 18 Years After Retail Burglary, Shooting Tree
January 11, 2014
An Escambia County man was sentenced to prison after a retail store burglary and shooting a tree.
Robert Clifton Young, Jr., was sentenced by Judge Linda Nobles to 18 years state prison with a minimum mandatory of 13 years. Young plead to the charges of possession of firearm by convicted felon, burglary of structure armed with explosives or dangerous weapon, grand theft of a firearm, and grand theft of $300 or more but less than $5,000.
On May 16, 2013, Young broke into the Foot Locker store on Navy Boulevard. He stole two firearms and various small items, but tripped the alarm on the way out. As the Pensacola Police Department was investigating and processing the scene, the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office was dispatched to 3003 West Cervantes in reference to shots fired. Upon searching the house, Escambia County Sheriff’s Office found the items reported stolen by Pensacola Police Department. Additionally, the defendant had fired two rounds into a large tree in the front yard.
Young has a long arrest record and extensive criminal history, including battery and assault on a law enforcement officer, DUI, possession of a controlled substance and several driving charges.
Make A 2014 Calendar During Craft Time At The Molino Library
January 11, 2014
During Children’s Craft Time at 6 p.m. Monday at the Molino Branch Library, children will have the opportunity to make their very own 2014 calendar.
Materials will be provided; children just need to bring their imagination. Space is limited, preregister by calling (850) 435-1760 or signing up at the Molino Branch Library on Molino Road.
Cantonment Teacher Is Finalist For Trip To Mars
January 11, 2014
A Cantonment teacher is among 1,058 hopefuls that have been selected from 200,000 applicants as candidates to begin human life on Mars in 2025.
Louis O’Rear, a 49-year old science teacher at Ransom Middle School, is hoping for that ticket to ride from the Mars One program.
“I want my students to know that it’s important not what your dream is but to have a dream. And I’ve always wanted to explore space, always,” the father of two said.
“After all, the universe is the best classroom,” the teacher of 20-plus years said.
“The next several selection phases in 2014 and 2015 will include rigorous simulations, many in team settings, with focus on testing the physical and emotional capabilities of our remaining candidates. We expect to begin understanding what is motivating our candidates to take this giant leap for humankind. This is where it really gets exciting for Mars One, our applicants, and the communities they’re a part of,” said Norbert Kraft, M.D.
Details of the 2014 selection phases have not been agreed upon due to ongoing negotiations with media companies for the rights to televise the selection processes. Expect further information to be released in early 2014. Lansdorp says, “We fully anticipate our remaining candidates to become celebrities in their towns, cities, and in many cases, countries. It’s about to get very interesting.”
O’Rear’s application video for the Mars One program is below.