May Students Of The Month Named
May 31, 2011
Escambia County Students of the Month for May have been named by the Escambia Association for Administrators in Education. The awards are presented monthly to two students from participating schools.
The following students were named from participating North Escambia area schools:
- Bratt: Jesse S. Presley, second grade; Kirsten N. White, fifth grade
- Jim Allen: Tyler K. Comans, fourth grade; Kayla A. Doten, fourth grade
- Molino Park: Zada R. Lowery, pre-kindergarten; Kendall A. Alvare, prekindergarten
- Northview: Kasie L. Braun, ninth grade; La’derious T. Franklin, 10th grade.
Dobson Wins Eglin Gate To Gate Run
May 31, 2011
Matt Dobson of Jay was the overall winner in the 26th annual Memorial Day Gate to Gate 4.4 Mile Run/Walk at Eglin Air Force Base Monday morning.
The 41-year old Dobson’s winning time was 24:21, just ahead of second place finisher Thomas Howell, 15, of Niceville. The top female runner was Pasca Cheruiyot, 22, of Tallahassee. She finished in fifth place overall with a time of 25:18.
One other North Escambia area runner placed in the race — William Robertson, 26, of Cantonment was 227th overall with a time of 36:13.
Picture: Overall male and female champions in the 26th annual Memorial Day Gate to Gate 4.4 Mile Run/Walk at Eglin Air Force Base Pasca Cheruiyot (left) of Tallahassee and Matt Dobson (right) of Jay. Courtesy photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Molino Homemakers Donate To Ronald McDonald House
May 31, 2011
The Molino Homemakers recently took a tour of the Ronald McDonald House in Pensacola and presented them with 50 handmade tote bags.
A tour of the new facility on Bayou Boulevard, which opened in August 2010, was given by Stephanie Cornell.
A short film was shown as an overview of the service Ronald McDonald house offers to families who need a place to stay while a family member is in the hospital.
Cornell said there were a few requirements to be able to stay at the Ronald McDonald House. The two main requirements are a child age 0-21 in the hospital for treatment and the family must live at least 10 miles away from the hospital.
After the film Cornell took the Homemakers on a tour of the many different rooms from check-in to the family room, kitchen, laundry, bedrooms and playground. There are 26 bedrooms in the new facility — a home away from home for families in need.
The Ronald McDonald house operates on donations which are greatly appreciated. For a list of items needed or to learn more about the Ronald McDonald House visit www.rmhc-nwfl.org or call (850) 477-2273.
At the close of the tour the Homemakers presented Cornell with 50 homemade tote bags for families that use the facility. The ladies enjoyed lunch and fellowship at Picadilly Deli.
The next Molino Homemaker meeting will be Wednesday, June 1 at 10 a.m. at Aldersgate United Methodist Church in Molino. Visitors are welcome; dues are $5 per year.
Pictured top: The Molino Homemakers recently toured the Ronald McDonald House in Pensacola. The group presented Stephanie Cornell of the Ronald McDonald House with 50 homemade tote bags for use by the residents. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Bratt Students Honored For High FCAT Writing Scores
May 31, 2011
A dozen Bratt Elementary students were recognized recently for their performance on the Florida Writes FCAT test.
Students recognized for scoring a perfect “6″ were Ann-Margaret Boothe and Delaney Reynolds. Scoring a “5″ were Tanner Deese, Madison Sherouse, Kaitlin Berry, Noah Moore, Memory Peebles, Matthew Windham, Catherine Casey, Cailee Wilburn, Isaak Armstrong and Cameron Long.
Pictured above: (front, L-R) Delaney Reynolds, Ann-Margaret Boothe, Kaitliin Berry, Madison Sherouse, (back, L-R) Tanner Deese, Noah Moore, Cameron Long, (hidden from view) Isaak Armstrong, Cailee Wilburn, Catherine Casey, Matthew Windham and Memory Peebles. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Motorcyclist Injured In Monday Hwy 29 Crash
May 30, 2011
A Cantonment man was injured in a motorcycle crash Monday afternoon in McDavid.
The accident happened on Highway 29 near Bogia Road just after 4 p.m. when Randall K. McGilberry, 57, of Cantonment lost control and collided with a guardrail. McGilberry was transported to Baptist Hospital in Pensacola by LifeFlight. He was reportedly suffering from a severe arm injury.
The accident is under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol; further details were not immediately available. The McDavid Station of Escambia Fire Rescue, Atmore Ambulance and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office also responded to the accident.
Greater Love Hath No Man: New Monument Honors Those That Served
May 30, 2011
A new monument was dedicated on Memorial Day Monday that honors veterans from across the area.
The new Veterans Memorial in Atmore stands proudly on the lawn of the Atmore City Hall to pay tribute to those have served from around Atmore and North Escambia. Names of the fallen are on the spire, while commemorative bricks around the base of the spire name those that have served in the military past and present.
Those honored on the bricks date back to the Revolutionary War with a brick with the name of Benjamin Sasser, 1755-1840. His relative, Federick Sasser, 1794-1846, is also honored for his service in the War of 1812.
For more photos of the monument, including photos that show each name inscribed, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Photos: Northview Class Of 2011 Holds Baccalaureate Services
May 30, 2011
The Northview High School Class of 2011 held thei Baccalaureate service Sunday afternoon at the First Baptist Church of Bratt.
“Stay on track during this time of transition,” Nathan Brown, pastor of Ray’s Chapel Baptist Church, told the seniors. “No matter where you go, where you find yourself, remember the promises of God.”
About 300 people attended the service.
For more photos from the Baccalaureate service, click here.
Graduation for the Northview High School Class of 2011 will be at 4 p.m., Saturday, June 4 at the school.
Picture top: Jansen Bodiford, right, plays the guitar as the Northview Senior Ensemble sings “Our God” during a Sunday afternoon Baccalaureate service. Pictured inset: Senior Kara Hardin reads scripture during the service. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Discarded Gulf Power Concrete Becoming Gulf Reef
May 30, 2011
Almost 300 tons of concrete and aluminum donated by Gulf Power could soon be teeming with sea life.
The electric utility is providing the retired materials to help make an artificial reef about 2 miles south of Pensacola Beach in 60 feet of water near the Three Barges site. The Escambia County Marine Recreational Committee will sink the materials sometime next year.
The 66 concrete sections — covers for underground electrical equipment — weigh about 9,000 pounds each and will serve as a foundation for the public reef, which will include concrete culverts from the county.
“Concrete, steel and aluminum are great for reef-building — and this material would have otherwise been discarded,” said Jeff Rogers, Gulf Power spokesperson. “The fish and sea life love this stuff — it will be a boon to fishing and diving.”
The covers, made of 13-inch thick concrete with aluminum hatches, are being replaced with newer lids that will provide better access for Gulf Power technicians working on the underground electric equipment.
Artificial reefs provide crucial habitat for fish and create fishing and diving sites. The goals of the Artificial Reef program include enhancing the sandy seafloor to create habitat and increase marine life.
Gulf Power helped create another artificial reef in 1992 when it donated 35 tons of metal discarded from substations. The “Gulf Power Towers” are still a popular dive and fishing location today.
Pictured: Alan Steele, special projects supervisor with Gulf Power, stands with a portion of the concrete and aluminum lids the company is donating to Escambia County Marine Recreational Committee to be used as foundation for an artificial reef. Concrete culverts will cover the lids once deployed on the sea floor. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Math Teachers Of The Year Named
May 30, 2011
The Escambia County Council of Teacher of Mathematics have named their Mathematics Educators of the Year for 2010-2011. These teachers were honored at their schools.
Mathematics Educators of the Year include:
Yvonne Hurd
Brentwood Elementary School
Elementary School Division
Deborah Robertson
Ransom Middle School
Middle School Division
Marjorie Stradley
West Florida High School of Advanced Technology
High School Division
Food Safety Begins At The Market And Ends At Home
May 30, 2011
A refrigerator can be full of surprises. Wilted lettuce, dried out cheese, apples which have lost their crispness, and other similar surprises inhabit the very best refrigerators. All are victims of improper food storage, and they represent thousands of dollars which consumers unwittingly throw away each year.
Cash in on proper food storage by giving groceries a little extra care with you bring them home from the supermarket. You’ll save money and the food you buy will stay fresh longer, retain more nutritional value, and remain safe to eat.
Proper food storage begins at the supermarket. The way we shop can affect food quality. Many shoppers remember to put fragile fruits and vegetables on top of sturdier items in the grocery cart, but then let the ice cream melt while they wait in line at the deli or bakers. A better solution would be to put frozen and refrigerated foods into the cart last, particularly if you have a lot of shopping to do. You can also ask the person bagging your groceries to put refrigerated and frozen foods in the same bag. These items will keep each other colder on the trip home, plus putting the groceries away becomes less of a chore if everything that belongs in the refrigerator or freezer is in the same bag.
The trip between the checkout counter and your kitchen needs to be as short as possible. When perishable food items sit in the car for any length of time, they lose quality and begin to spoil. It’s a good idea to stop at the dry cleaners and post office before doing the grocery shopping.
At home “think cold”. Under the right conditions bacteria can grow rapidly. The refrigerator temperature won’t kill bacteria, but the cold will slow the growth of most bacteria. Frozen and refrigerated foods require the most care and should be put away first. Dairy products, poultry, meat, fish, eggs, and most fresh vegetables and fruit, plus custards and whipped-cream-filled pastries are a few of the grocery items that need to be refrigerated promptly.
Some food items require special handling. Taking care of these foods before you store them in the refrigerator will save time as well as money. Iceberg lettuce, for example, keeps better if you remove the core and store the head in an airtight container or resealable plastic bag. Fresh meat, poultry, and fish which are not pre-packaged need to be rewrapped and stored in the coldest part of the refrigerator or freezer. Meats should always be stored in the meat keeper drawer or on lower shelves to prevent cross-contamination of foods.
Storage times still vary even when groceries are carefully wrapped and refrigerated promptly. Berries and other fragile fruits, for example, have the best flavor and texture when eaten within a few days of purchase. Apples and citrus fruits can be stored for up to several weeks or more in the refrigerator. Most fresh meats will keep several days. Fish, poultry, and ground meats, however, should be cooked or frozen within one to two days.
Storing refrigerated foods properly and for the recommended times may not be enough, especially if your refrigerator gets too warm. It is a good idea to keep a refrigerator thermometer on a shelf in the fridge. The thermometer should always register 40ºF or less. In the summer it is a good idea to keep the refrigerator colder than usual because this is the time of the year when family members make frequent trips in and out of the refrigerator.
Often we remember to protect foods when we picnic away from home, but tend to forget that refrigerated foods still require special care when carried only as far away as the backyard. A few simple precautions will ensure these foods are as safe to eat as they are delicious: For backyard barbeques, leave meat, poultry, and fish in the refrigerator until the grill is ready, then grill just what you think you will need and serve promptly. Wait to bring out salads and other cold accompaniments until you are ready to begin serving.
For more information regarding food safety and other related topics, go to the University of Florida’s Solutions for Your Life website: http://www.solutionsforyourlife.com.
Submitted by, Dorothy C. Lee, CFCSm Family and Consumer Sciences Agent, Escambia County, dclee@ufl.edu