Continuing Series: Century Resident’s Journal As She Hikes Across Spain
June 10, 2010
Century resident Terri Sanders is on a 500 mile hike across Spain this summer, and she is taking NorthEscambia.com readers along.
Terri, former owner of the Country Bumpkin and current purveyor of fudge at festivals and events across the area, calls it the “trip of a lifetime”.
As Terri hikes from Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port, France, she will file dispatches from her journal and send pictures when possible for NorthEscambia.com as she hikes the Camino de Santiago — the Way of St. James — to the Atlantic Ocean. here is no Internet access between towns, but she will send us her journal entries as she arrives in towns along the way that do have Internet access — so Terri’s journal entries on NorthEscambia.com may be delayed by a few days.
For her first entry, click here.
In today’s journal entry from Spain, it’s May 31. Terri is making her way to the starting point for her hike, running into lots of language barriers as she tries to make her way to southern France.
May 31, 2010
Surprisingly I slept pretty well. The first thing I noticed when I got up was that the window in the room actually opened up. After swinging it open the fresh air rushed in and filled the room with the scent of spring. I leaned out the window amazed that there was no screen no were there any signs warning me that I might fall out of the window!
I went downstairs to see if the day clerk at the desk spoke better English than the clerk last night. I was in luck she did speak English well enough to tell me that there was no way to get to St. Jean Pied A port from here unless I took a taxi which would cost several hundred dollars went back upstairs and told Ronnie. She is planning on getting on the Camino here rather than go to St. Jean.
She is afraid she will not be able to finish the Camino by her deadline. There was a continental breakfast here and I actually was able to order hot green tea to go with me meal. I only recognized a few of the items on the table. There were trays with a selection of thinly sliced meats. At least I assumed they were meats.
I got a croissant, picked up some sliced pineapple, a kiwi and a pack of honey along with a glass of orange juice. I made myself a nice little sandwich only to find that the slice of pineapple was a slice of cheese. It was a good breakfast anyway.
There was another family eating and when they heard us say hello they came over to talk to us. The older gentleman is walking the Camino with his wife and granddaughters slacking him every day. His Spanish conversation with the clerk got me the information to catch a bus outside the hotel into Pamplona, where I could catch a bus to Zubiri and from there catch a cab to St .Jean where I am to meet up with Africa. Plan A is for us to meet at the bus station in St. Jean today. Plan B is for us to meet at the bus station in St.Jean today. If plan A or BB fails, plan C is to call the authorities and report the other as missing!
As hard as I tried I could not get the family to give me a ride to St. Jean after they dropped the grandpa off. So much for the art of yoging in Spain. We were almost out of the hotel door when the clerk caught us asking us if we were leaving now to which we replied yes. She said we needed to pay for our room. We thought we had paid for it last night when we checked in, but apparently here you pay in the morning when you leave.
I bid Ronnie goodbye and sat my pack down at the bus stop. Across the road I kept noticing people walking into this obtuse little door, then come out a few minutes later with a loaf of bread wrapped partially in wax paper. No advertising, no signs except for one above the door that said Alimentcion. I grabbed my camera and decided to go across and take a picture of someone coming out with a loaf of bread.
I can’t even go into Wal-Mart and come out with just a loaf of bread! The next person that came out was a guy and as best I could I tried to explain to him that I just wanted to take his picture with the bread in his hand. Obviously he thought I was trying to take or beg his bread from him and rattled off lots of words and lots of finger pointing at the door. When he finally calmed down enough and saw the camera in my hand, he leaned against his car and gave me a smile. I snapped the camera and walked away.
As I waited for the bus I noticed all of the houses had window boxes in them and they were all filled with petunias. I guess it is spring over here. The sky is overcast and a light drizzle started. An older lady came up and smiled at me as I moved my pack off of the bench so she could sit down. The bus came and she motioned for me to follow her. I showed the driver the note that the hotel clerk had wrote out for me and he assured me I was on the right bus.
The buses here are worse than the taxis in New York. I was sure we were going to crash before we ever got to downtown Pamplona. I was intrigued to find that people really do hang their laundry out of the windows to dry. I thought that was staged for the benefit of a film crew. The laundry hanging out the high windows was almost as colorful as the window boxes on the lower windows.
Gradually one by one we picked up and dropped off passengers until the bus pulled over, the driver got his coat and got off the bus. Not a word to me until just at the last minute he said this was the end of the route. I asked him where the bus station was and he motioned down the road with his hand and walked off. I guess the courtesy ends with the shift change.
All I could do was begin walking in the general direction he sent me and hoped I would not end up walking to St.Jean today. After a few blocks, I stopped a young man and got the point across I was looking for the bus station. I got the same response from him, a way of his hand, a couple of sentences and he was off. I kept walking.
Finally after a few blocks I stopped a man in a three piece suit I managed to get across to him I was looking for the bus station spoke French with only a few words of English, but he recognized the words bus station. Rather than give me a general wave of his hand, he turned around and motioned me to follow him down the street all the while trying to find words to tell me where I needed to go.
He finally said black and motioned with his hands tall and round and pointed me down the street, smiled and turned and walked away. I started walking again and lo and behold a few blocks away I could see tall black columns along the road. It took me some back tracking to find out how to get across the roads. There are barriers all along the sidewalks so there is no jay walking.
I had walked completely by the building looking for a door to the inside but all I found were stairs and some signs that I could not read. I smelled diesel fuel though so I knew I was close to some buses somewhere!
After going down a few flights of stairs I walked out onto the lot where buses park. No sign of a ticket booth or anything but I knew I had to be close .Twists and turns and finally I saw the terminal. There were a couple ticket windows to choose from; of course I got into the wrong line. The clerk looked at my paper and sent me around the corner to an information window where I finally met someone who spoke pretty good English.
She read my note, and sent me back around the corner to the window next to where I had just come.
I got my ticket and figured out I had 3 hours to wait for the bus. Everything here is military time. I walked around the station looking for the bathrooms. It took two trips around before I found them. The doors going into them looked like office doors. The station here is similar to the airports back home. Small stores selling a variety of wares. A couple small cafes, and a beer stand.
I saw a store front that was familiar to me…Kentucky Fried Chicken with a Pizza Hut right next door. The thought of a cold drink got me headed in the direction of the store, but when I got there I realized it was too early in the morning for them to be open. I went back to the terminal and opened my net book up since the signs said Wi Fi. Every connection I tried required a password. I noticed that my battery was almost completely gone and set out looking for a place to plug it in to charge it. I had no luck.
I sat and watched the news in Spanish picking up the name Clint Eastwood but could not read the rest of the ticker along the bottom of the TV. I also was able to see that there were blue skies called for the next few days. I wondered if the weatherman had looked outside.
Out in the parking garage I noticed two Pepsi machines side by side. Bingo! I walked over to them and sure enough there was an electrical outlet. I dug my laptop out squeezed in between both drink machines and plugged my computer in. I got my little rubber pad out of my pack, put it on the floor and sat down. I figured all anyone could do would be to come over and make me unplug and leave. I sat there until close to the time my bus would leave.
I tried to get on one bus, but after looking at my paper, he sent me to another bus. A much smaller bus. I was the only passenger. I breathed a sigh of relief. I was on my way to St. Jean and I was in one piece. The driver let me know where to get off, and showed me a pub where she said I could find help. There is something about hiking trails and pubs. I always seem to end up in a pub where ever I am hiking.
I showed the note to the bartender, he showed me the payphone. Of course I could not read a thing. I held out a handful of coins, he showed me which ones I needed to make a call, and with an exasperated sign gave me the number. In Spanish of course! The look on my face must have been disappointing, because his girlfriend rattled off something to him and he called the taxi for me.
An hour later I was still waiting for the taxi. The bartender pick up his cell phone and calls the taxi. He tells me another ten minutes. I smile and say thank you.
Finally my taxi arrives and wants to drink a cup of coffee before taking off. Not a problem to me, I have spent hours waiting. We finally get going and try to communicate as best we can. I showed him my paper (thank God for that piece of paper) he nods yes and off we go.
The roads remind me of the ones in Tennessee where you meet yourself coming around the corner. As time goes on I begin to think, this is not a short cab ride. Then I start to fret about having enough to pay him. I have some Euros but mostly American dollars. We pull into St. Jean and he looks at my paper again. ”No bus station here” he says.
I wonder then, well why did you bring me here if you knew there was not a bus station here?? Panic begins to set in, and I guess he could see that I was on the brink of having a nervous breakdown right there in his taxi. He pulls over and says we find English speaker. I am thinking we need more than an English speaker now. We need a divine intervention and a bank loan to pay his bill.
He is smiling broadly as he come out of the store and climb into the car, which he had left sitting in the middle of the road. A few more blocks and we pull up into the bus parking lot. He grabs my pack, shaking his head and helps me into it. I pull out my wallet and watch him figure in his head how much I owed him. He says seventy Euros. I have a fifty euro and two five dollar bills and a ten. I offer than to him, but I can see it is not enough. I ask him about an ATM but I guess he was afraid to let me back in his car, because he took what I offered him, kissed both my cheeks and sped away.
I was supposed to meet Lou here today. It never occurred to me that he might not be there. My first stop was at the clerk’s window saying Banyo or bathroom. I took a quick look around but I was in too big of a hurry to take in the fact that there was not another person in the station.
Once I got back inside the station (the bathroom was outside), I looked around and did not see Lou. I knew I was a day short getting here. I was supposed to be here yesterday, but we were meeting here today. Of course the clerks spoke no English or Spanish but now it seemed everyone spoke French.
My Spanish/English dictionary was no help at all. Well it hadn’t really helped me much up to this point anyway. I waited an hour for the next bus from Bayonne which I knew was where Lou was coming from. He was not on the bus and my ability to keep panic from taking over was becoming weaker and weaker.
The station closed at 6:30 and they were adamant that I could not stay inside over night. Sign language does work in a lot of languages! With nothing else to do I walked up the road to a little produce stand and a bar. Now this was a new one on me. Buy produce and beer in the same place! It was pretty close to an open air market.
By this time I was starved and picked up some fresh fruit and yogurt. Putting them on the counter I pulled out my credit card. It seemed you had to spend 15 Euros to use plastic. The young clerk pointed me in the direction of the ATM and off I went. I am carrying 3 cards with money on each one. None of them worked. Then I remembered a bank debit card I had and low and behold it worked. I know there are some of you who cannot believe this but I have never used a debit card in my life.
Now was not a great time to learn. I managed to get some Euros and went back to buy my groceries. I would not allow myself to think any further than a few minutes ahead. I sat down inside and asked if I could charge my laptop. Yes and would I like the password for internet access? Well something good was finally happening to me.
I downloaded my email and the first thing I saw was a Facebook message from my oldest daughter. Lou had been to the bus station that morning and I was not there. In fact he had been there several times looking for me. My daughter is pretty level headed but I not used to getting a phone call at 3:00 am asking her where her mother is. She went into a panic mode.
I had several messages from her telling me to call her or call Lou.I guess she forgot that I did not bring my phone with me. She ended up calling Lou (thank God for caller ID) and after about 30 minute of emails and phone calls from her, she sent me a message saying hold on, stay put, do not move, Lou is on his way!
I was never so glad to see anyone in my life. I am glad he recognized me because I don’t think I would have recognized him. It had been 5 years since I have seen him on the Appalachian Trail. He had been on the trail 6 months and had a full beard and looked pretty rough. We hugged like long lost friends and headed up to the hostel where he was staying. I got a room and we went in search of supper.
Two North Escambia Teachers Receive Top Reading Awards
June 10, 2010
Two North Escambia area teachers were honored at the recent Second Annual Every Child a Reader in Escambia Apple Seeds program.
“It was a real blessing to see these childcare providers and teachers have an evening devoted specifically to them and be publicly recognized for what they do for our youngest children in regards to early learning and emergent literacy,” said ECARE Executive Director Clairen Reese.
Misty Lambeth (pictured right) of Camp Fire USA Century Learning Youth Center was honored as the second runner-up for Teacher of the Year. Carolyn Butler (pictured left) of Camp Fire USA Century Learning Youth Center was a finalist in the top 11 “Best of the Best”.
Teacher of the Year: Stephanie Collins of Montclair Elementary
First Runner Up: Michelle Smith of Wee Children’s Center / West Pensacola Baptist Church
Second Runner Up: Misty Lambeth of Camp Fire USA Century Learning Youth Center
Third Runner Up: Rachel Leavitt of Malena’s Mini School – Pine Forest
Fourth Runner Up – Corrine Vaughn of Vaughn Family Child Care Home
Finalists:
Christy Stevens of Malena’s Mini School One – Pensacola Blvd.
Tammy Smoot of Childcare Network
Carol Jones of Community Action Program Head Start Pensacola
Jennifer Huffaker of Childcare Network
Lucinda Cresap of Wee Children’s Center / West Pensacola Baptist Church
Carolyn Butler of Camp Fire USA Century Learning Youth Center
The Early Learning Coalition recognized the following individuals:
Outstanding Reading Pals tutor / volunteers Barbara Kelly, Leona Bailey, Judi Patrick and Dottie Patrick.
Parents who have gone above and beyond at their child’s early education and care programs:
Tamara Garrett, Martiza Woodfaulk, Pamela McGhee, Marion Skalicky, Stephanie Coleman, Jennifer LaBorde, Erin Dolan, Lillian Riverre, Terry and Richard Soble (foster parents) and Delores Redmond (foster grandparents).
Childcare providers who have gone above and beyond in helping a child create a more effective learning environment
Ashley Benjamin – Alice Williams Child Care
Sabrina Hunter – Alice Williams Child Care
La Margie Allen – Childcare Netowrk (Michigan Ave.)
Teresa Baker – Malean’s Mini School (Pine Forest)
Lillie Thomas – Malena’s Mini School – (Pine Forest)
Dan Mendoza – Jubilee Christian
Cynthia Cash – Malena’s Mini School (Pensacola Blvd.)
Debra Presley – Cokesbury Untied Methodist Preschool
Lasonia Hale – Childcare Netowrk (MIchigan Ave.)
Euwanna Brown – Little Whispers Preschool
Brenda Watkins – Blue Angel Early Learning
Jessica Antoine – Blessed Star
and Jennet Zaborny – Carden Christian Academy
Honorees in the early education field for:
15 years or more:
Judi Schultz – Blessed Star
Annie Mack – First Presbyterian
Pat Crosby – First Presbyterian
17 years or more:
Karen Radford – Blue Angel Early Learning
20 years or more:
Olivia Chen – Blessed Star (20 years)
Cathy Odom – Jubilee Christian (20 years)
Cynthia McPherson – Little Whispers Preschool (21 years)
Margie Anderson – First Presbyterian (22 years)
Georgia Robbins – First Presbyterian (23 years)
Dorothy Kitt – First Presbyterian (23 years)
Yolander Williams – First Presbyterian (24 years)
Merri Jo Owen – Cokesbury (25 years)
Wanda Lett – Alice Williams Day Care (29 years)
Emma Jean Brantley – First Presbyterian (32 years)
Both ECARE and ELCE also honored a wide range of community partners. Both organizations have a mission to help prepare children to enter school ready to learn.
Community Partners recognized by ECARE:
Gulf Power; Regions Bank; Downtown Rotary; International Paper; Barnes and Noble; Leadership Penacola; United Way of Escambia; Wal-Mart,;Baptist Heatlh Care; E.W. Bullock Associates; Avalex Technologies; Landrum Human Resources,;Clark, Partington, Hart, Larry, Bond, and Stackhouse; Kerrigan, Estess, Rankin, McLeod; and McDonald’s.
Community Partners recognized by ELCE:
Michael Johnson State Farm, Joe Leonard State Farm, Downtown Rotary, Kohl’s, Stanley Walker – Postmaster; Gulf Breeze Rotary; International Paper; Escambia County Landfill and Recycle; Wal-Mart Navy Boulevard; and Roxanne Baker – Escambia County School District.
ECARE partnered with The Early Learning Coalition of Escambia for this year’s ceremony at the Crowne Plaza in Pensacola. The theme was “Bee READy to Learn!” . Guest speaker was Pamela Broughton of Malena’s Mini School Pensacola Blvd., the 2009 Apple Seeds Teacher of the Year.
Molino Park’s Karen Hall To Be Named Bratt Principal
June 9, 2010
It’s official — Molino Park Elementary School Curriculum Coordinator Karen Hall has been recommended for the job of principal at Bratt Elementary School.
Escambia County School District Superintendent Malcolm Thomas will make the promotion recommendation at the next meeting of the school board on Monday, June 14. Hall will replace Sheryl Pomeroy who will retire effective June 30.
Two other new principals are expected to be named at that school board meeting: Lesa Morgan will move from principal at West Florida High School to the position of director of workforce education for the county, and Holly Wilkins will be promoted from assistant principal at Scenic Heights Elementary to principal at Bellview Elementary.
Transportation Plan Includes $48 Million In North Escambia Improvements
June 9, 2010
A five-year transportation improvement plan includes four new bridges, a major resurfacing project, widened shoulders and a rail safety project in the North Escambia area — over $48 million in construction.
A recently released Florida-Alabama Transportation Planning Organization report identifies the projects to be completed, project phasing, estimated costs and funding sources. Inclusion in the report does not guarantee that a project will be funded.
North Escambia area projects included in the five-year plan include:
- Resurfacing Highway 29 from north of Pine Barren Road through Century to the Alabama state line. Preliminary engineering would take place in fiscal year 2010-2011 at a cost of $3,816,010. The bulk of the construction would take place in 2013-2014. The total cost for the 15.585 mile project is estimated at $29,431,725.
- Bridge replacement on Highway 97 in Walnut Hill over Little Pine Barren Creek (near Wiggins Lake Road). The total cost to replace the bridge, which was constructed in 1941, is estimated at $4,373,469 with the work to take place in 2014-2015.
- Bridge replacement on Fannie Road over Dead Lake in Century would take place in 2013-2014 under the plan. The project has an estimated total price tag of $4,710,503.
- Bridge replacement on Highway 97A over the west fork of Boggy Creek (near Dan Hall Road) would take place is 2012-2013 for $4,635,910.
- Shoulders would be paved on Crabtree Church Road from Sunshine Hill Road to Highway 97 in Molino. The 2.59 mile project would take place in 2014-2015 for $1,527,068.
- The Brushy Creek Bridge on South Pineville Road would be replaced in 2013-2014 at a cost of $4,611,309.
- A railroad crossing signal would be installed in fiscal year 2010-2011 at the crossing on Athur Brown Road near Corley Road in Walnut Hill. Total cost would be $251,000.
The Florida-Alabama Transportation Planning Organization was created by the governors in Alabama and Florida to oversee the transportation planning process in the Florida-Alabama TPO Planning Area.
Pictured top: The Little Pine Barren Creek Bridge on Highway 97 is tentatively set for replacement in fiscal year 2014-2015. Pictured inset: The bridge was constructed in 1941. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Century To Take Low Interest Loan For General Fund
June 9, 2010
The Town of Century will borrow about $150,000 on a low-interest loan in order to free up general fund monies for another purposes.
The 2.6 percent, 20 year note will come from the state’s revolving fund to reimburse the town’s general fund for engineering services related to a water improvement project. Since the town has already paid for the engineering, the funds can be used for any purpose.
“I think it would be a good financially sound way to pay the town back, said Robert Hudson, Century’s accountant.
Council President Ann Brooks said she thought the money would be wisely invested in street paving.
But council member Henry Hawkins, the lone vote against the loan, said he did not believe borrowing money was a good move. “We are leaving debt for our children to pay, and I don’t like it.”
In September, the town voted to accept a low interest loan from the state for water improvements that will automatically forgive $1.4 million in payments — with Hawkins voting against. On the approximately $1.6 million loan, Century would be responsible for repaying only about $250,000. Payments on the revolving loan will cost the town about $12,400 annually.
W.D. Childers Conviction Tossed Out
June 9, 2010
W.D. Childer’s bribery conviction was overturned in a federal appeals court on Tuesday, with the judge ruling that testimony that was disallowed in the original trial could have led to a different outcome.
Childers, who once served as President of the Florida Senate, was convicted of bribery and accepting unlawful compensation for official acts in connection with a Highway 29 soccer complex scandal in 2002 while he served as an Escambia County Commissioner.
The soccer complex scandal eventually landed four Escambia Commissioners in jail on charges that included Childers, Willie Junior, Terry Smith and Mike Bass. Junior was later found dead under a house, committing suicide the day before he was to be sentenced.
Childers, once known as “The Banty Rooster” for bringing home the bacon for Northwest Florida, was released from state prison on June 17, 2009, having served almost three years of a 42-month sentence on the charges related to the $3.9 million soccer complex purchase. Junior testified that he received a collard green pot full of cash in exchange for his vote to purchase the soccer complex.
Childers was also the first man in Florida jailed for violating the open-meeting portion of the Sunshine Law for a phone call he and Smith made to then Supervisor of Elections Bonnie Jones. Childers served about a month in jail before being released.
Most notably for North Escambia, Childers was the man responsible for the funding to four-lane Highway 29 to the Alabama state line.
Former Tate Star Selected By Mets In MLB Draft
June 9, 2010
Former Tate High School baseball player Brandon Brown of Cantonment was selected by the New York Mets in the 22nd round of the Major League Baseball draft. He was the the 662th draft pick overall.
As a senior at South Alabama this past season, Brown, 22, started all 59 of the Jaguar’s games at shortstop. He batted .265, had three home runs, 30 RBI and three home runs for the Jags. As a junior at USA, he hit .319 with one home run, five doubles, 10 RBI and scored nine runs over 20 games – 13 of which were starts.
At Tate High School, Brown pitched and played third base for coach Todd Boyd. He helped Tate to the 2005 state championship, playing alongside fellow Jag David Doss. Brown was named a 2006 Puma All-American and ranked as the No 1. Top Prospect by Baseball Factory.
Brown was selected in 47th round of 2006 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays.
Brown is the son of Terry and Jan Brown. His older brother Bo played four seasons for the Atlanta Braves organization.
Signs Warn Escambia Swimmers To Stay Out Of Water
June 9, 2010
The Escambia County Health Department has issued a health advisory for the beaches of Perdido Key following the report of numerous tarballs washing ashore from the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill.
The advisory includes an area extending from the Florida-Alabama line to the entrance of the Perdido Unit, Gulf Islands National Seashore. The health department issued the following tips for avoiding negative health impacts from an oiled shoreline:
- Avoid entering areas where oil can be seen (no wading, swimming or entering the water).
- Avoid direct skin contact with oil, oil-contaminated water and sediments.
- Avoid contact with dead or dying fish or other aquatic life.
- Do not swim or ski in areas affected by the oil spill, and if traveling through the area by boat take precautions when hoisting the boat anchor. If oil makes contact with the skin, wash it off with grease-cutting liquid dishwashing detergent and water.
- Do not fish in oil spill-affected waters.
- Do not harvest or eat dead fish, fish with oily residue, or fish that have a petroleum odor.
- Avoid boating through oil slicks or sheens.
- Young children, pregnant women, people with compromised immune systems, and individuals with underlying respiratory conditions should avoid the area.
- Prevent pets from entering oil-contaminated areas.
- Those near Florida’s Gulf Coast may detect an odor because of the oil spill. Some people are more sensitive to these odors and may experience nasal irritation and feelings of nausea. In combination with seasonal allergies, such as sensitivity to pollen, or pre-existing respiratory conditions such as asthma, some people may experience more severe symptoms.
- Individuals experiencing respiratory symptoms that are aggravated by the odors from the oil spill should consider:
- If symptoms do not improve, contact a primary care physician or other health care professional for medical advice
- Individuals who have pre-existing medical conditions such as asthma or other respiratory illnesses should contact their physician if feeling symptomatic.
- Staying indoors in air-conditioning and avoiding strenuous outdoor activity.
The health department is posting signs at the affected area. Residents can participate in activities that are above the high tide line. If they experience respiratory problems, they should leave the area and contact a physician, as they deem necessary.
Pictured: The signs being posted around Perdido Key by the Escambia County Health Department, click to enlarge.
Century Library Summer Reading Series Begins With Chinese Acrobat
June 9, 2010
Kids of all ages enjoyed the acrobat Liang, a Chinese Olympian, spinning plates, balancing cups of water on her chin and even spinning knives Tuesday at Century Branch Library.
For a NorthEscambia.com photo gallery from the event, click here.
It was part of the library’s summer reading program.
The Century Branch Library invites children to celebrate with more summer library programs each Tuesday at noon.
- June 15 – Dr. Zap, fun and wacky
- June 22 – John Jaramillo, storyteller and dancer
- June 29 – David Stephens, puppetry
- July 6, Ross Mudge, sing patriotic songs
- July 13, Beau Broomall, magician
For more information, contact the Century Branch Library at (850) 256-6217.
Written by Delaney, age 9.
Pictured top: Children enjoy Liang, a Chinese Olympian acrobat, at the Century Branch Library Tuesday afternoon. Pictured inset: Lian is reportedly the only woman in the world that can simultaneously control 25 hula hoops. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Gulf Power, ECUA Win Sustainable Energy Award
June 9, 2010
A local partnership that brings cleaner air and cleaner water to Northwest Florida has won a major award from the state of Florida as an environmental best practice.
Gulf Power Company and the Emerald Coast Utilities Authority (ECUA) are co-winners in the partnership category for the Sustainable Florida-Collins Center 2010 Best Practice Awards program.
The award was announced Friday at the Sustainable Florida Awards banquet in St. Petersburg.
This marks the 12th year the non-profit Sustainable Florida, a program run by the Collins Center for Public Policy, handed out Best Practice Awards. The award honors businesses, organizations and individuals whose work demonstrates that a healthy environment and a healthy economy are mutually supportive.
A record 109 entries were received this year. A panel of leaders in government, business, academic institutions, and civic and environmental organizations evaluated the nominees based on outcomes achieved, the ability to duplicate the effort, and overall success of the initiative. The winners were culled from among 21 finalists in seven categories.
Beginning in September, Gulf Power’s scrubber system and operations at Plant Crist will use millions of gallons of reclaimed water from the ECUA’s new Central Water Reclamation Facility being constructed just north of the power plant.
The partnership helps establish the new ECUA advanced wastewater treatment plant as a zero-discharge facility, while reducing the water Gulf Power uses from the Escambia River. Gulf Power’s scrubber system, which began operating in December, is reducing regulated air emissions at the power plant by more than 95 percent.
The new ECUA facility eventually will replace the Main Street Wastewater Plant, which discharges up to 20 millions of gallons of effluent daily into Pensacola Bay, and stands in a coastal flood zone, vulnerable to storm surge.
“Both utilities worked together to create a sustainable partnership to benefit our community,” said Sandy Sims, Gulf Power Public Affairs manager. “By partnering with ECUA to make beneficial use of their reclaimed water, ECUA will eliminate millions of gallons of effluent discharged into the bay while Gulf Power uses the water to run our scrubber which reduces air emissions from our power plant. It’s a double good benefit for the environment.”
After Hurricane Ivan in 2004, ECUA was awarded a $154 million federal grant to replace the Main Street plant. But it would not be permitted to discharge into Escambia Bay, which is deemed to be an impaired waterway — even though the effluent would be cleaner than that from the Main Street plant.
“Partnering with Gulf Power provided ECUA a viable, environmentally progressive option for disposal, which is beneficial to all concerned,” said Steve Sorrell, executive director of ECUA “Our costs were reduced, directly benefiting our ratepayers, and the environmental advantages to both partners, and our community, are immense.”
With Gulf Power using the reclaimed water, it reduced the amount of land ECUA needed to purchase for spray-fields.
Gulf Power is permitted to use up to 20 million gallons a day of reclaimed water, of which more than 80 percent will be evaporated as part of the scrubber, cooling tower and plant operations. The reclaimed water from ECUA’s new plant will be cleaner than existing river quality water and its low-chloride content helps Gulf Power produce marketable gypsum.
The scrubber system uses a simple reaction to neutralize gases produced while generating electricity. Water cools the gases from the four generating units, which are then bubbled through a swirling bath of crushed limestone in the scrubber’s Jet Bubbling Reactor vessel.
The byproduct of the process is market-quality gypsum, which can be sold to cement or wallboard manufacturing companies. Steam released through the scrubber stack is the most visible sign of the system at work.
“Our projects and our partnership will help improve both the air and water quality in Northwest Florida,” Sims said. “Partnerships like this are the best way to move forward as a business and a community — to provide a sustainable future.”
Pictured above: The new scrubber in operation at Gulf Power’s Plant Crist in Pensacola. Courtesy photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.