Governor Crist, First Lady Host Book Drive For Area Children
December 22, 2008
A book drive held by Florida Gov. Charlie Crist and first lady Carole Crist collected hundreds of books for foster children across Florida, including a Cantonment children’s home.
Governor Charlie Crist and first lady Carole Crist celebrated the Governor’s Holiday Book Drive by hosting a party and book reading at the Governor’s Mansion Sunday with foster children, families and foster agency workers. The book drive has collected more than 700 books for foster children across Florida, including the children of the Northwest Florida Baptist Children’s Home in Cantonment.
“As Christmas Day and the New Year approaches, it is important that we remember the many children throughout Florida who do not have the gift of a ‘forever’ family,” Governor Crist said. “Carole and I pray that every child has the opportunity to find a caring family to give them a permanent home filled with love and support.”
The Governor and first lady served cookies and punch to 30 local foster children, who attended along with foster families and representatives of several foster care organizations. Joining them was Department of Children and Families Secretary George Sheldon and Jim Kallinger, Chief Child Advocate. The children sat down with the Governor and first lady and read “The Twelve Days of Christmas in Florida” by Sarasota author Frank Remkiewicz, whose colorful book showcases Sunshine State treasures including flamingos, Key lime pies, alligators.
“It’s an honor to have my book chosen for a read-aloud at the Governor’s Holiday Book Drive celebration,” Remkiewicz said. “I had so much fun creating a book about Christmas in Florida. The state has so many unique features. It was difficult to only choose 12 of them.”
The children at the party received books collected during the book drive as gifts. The other collected books will be distributed across Florida to children served by six foster care organizations:
- SOS Children’s Village in Coconut Creek
- Florida Sheriff’s Youth Ranch in Live Oak
- 4Kids of South Florida Inc. in Fort Lauderdale
- Big Bend Community Based Care in Tallahassee and the Big Bend
- Florida United Methodist Children’s Home in Enterprise
- Northwest Florida Baptist Children’s Home in Cantonment
Brush Fire Burns Highway 4 Yard
December 22, 2008
A brush fire Sunday afternoon burnt a large portion of the front yard of a home on Highway 4.
The fire was reported about 2:25 Sunday afternoon at a home on Highway 4 just west of Canoe Creek. The residents of the home extinguished most of the fire prior to the arrival of the Walnut Hill Station of Escambia Fire Rescue.
The fire burnt most of the front yard of the home and a small portion of the yard of a neighboring home, but there was little damage.
There were no injuries.
Century Care Center Ranked As One Of The Best In The State
December 21, 2008
Century Care Center has received a five star rating from the federal government, making it one of the top rated nursing homes in the area and placing it in the top 10 percent of for-profit nursing homes in the nation.
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services modeled the five-star rating system after the star rating system for hotels and restaurants, basing scores on inspection records, complaint investigations and various quaility measures. Those criteria were assigned individually in the categories of quality, staffing and health inspections to create an overall score.
Just four nursing homes in Escambia County made the five-star list: Century Care Center, Bayside Manor, Haven of Our Lady Of Peace and Rosewood Manor. Three others received the four-star score, three made the three-star list, two received two stars, and one — Pensacola Health Care Facility — received a one-star score.
In Santa Rosa County, three nursing homes received the top score. In Escambia County, Ala., Atmore Nursing Center received three stars, and West Gate Village in Brewton received four stars.
Century Care Center has 88 licensed beds.
In Florida, there were more one-star rating nursing homes than five-star. Seventeen percent of Florida’s 679 nursing homes received one star, while 12 percent received five stars. Nationally, just 9 percent of for-profit nursing homes received five stars.
North Escambia Store Sells Winning Lottery Ticket
December 21, 2008
Somebody who purchased Florida Lottery Fantasy 5 ticket at a North Escambia store is $123,754.79 richer thanks to the numbers 06-10-16-25-27.
The winning Fantasy 5 ticket for the Wednesday, December 18 drawing was sold at the State Line Gift Shop on Highway 97 at the Alabama-Florida state line.
The $247,509.58 top prize will split between the State Line Gift Shop winner and the holder of a ticket sold in Miami Beach. The retailers will receive a $500 bonus for selling the top prize winning tickets.
A store clerk says a man called the store wanting to know how to redeem the ticket. He was told to contact the lottery office in Pensacola. The clerk identified the man as Guy Victor, a store regular. She did not know where Victor lives, but she did say he often buys a lot of lottery tickets about once a week.
In Wednesday drawing, 383 players matched four numbers and each won $104.00. A total of 11,449 players matched three numbers and each won $9.50, and 111,141 players matched two numbers and each won a free Quick Pick ticket.
Area Artist Donates Painting To Gulf Coast Kids House
December 21, 2008
The Santa Rosa Kids House has announced a special gift of area artist Autry Dye.
Dye was asked to create a an original piece to become the building’s focal point. Her painting “Family Day on Blackwater River” is original acrylic on canvas measuring three by five feet.
“I wanted to capture an impression of the Blackwater so more people could realte to the painting,” Dye said. “I thought it would be a wonderful addition to the facility.”
The Santa Rosa Kids House is a non-profit corporation. The building house various law enforcement agencies that deal with child abuse in one “kid friendly” building.
Pictured above: Autry Dye with her painting “Family Day on Blackwater River” at the Gulf Coast Kids House. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com.
Christmas Week Services, Events Planned At Area Churches
December 21, 2008
Beginning today, several North Escambia area churches will hold special services and present musicals and plays for Christmas. If your church has an event or special service scheduled that is not listed, please let us know by submitting the event in the comments section at the bottom of this page.
Angels Unaware In Bratt
The college and career groups at the First Baptist Church of Bratt will present “Angels Unaware” on Tuesday evening, December 23 at 6:00. Everyone is invited to attend.
Molino Christmas Eve Service
Aldersgate United Methodist Church in Molino will hold a Christmas Eve Service on Wednesday, December 24 at 6:30 p.m. Everyone is invited to attend.
Walnut Hill Christmas Eve Service
Walnut Hill Baptist Church will hold a Christmas Eve Candlelight Service at 6:00 Wednesday, December 24. Everyone is welcome to attend.
Christmas Eve Communion
A “Come and Go Communion” will be held from 5 until 6 p.m. on Christmas Eve at Century Methodist Church at 530 Church Street. Everyone is invited to “come as you are” and take part in this service. For more information, contact Rev. Janet Lee at 256-3503.
Free Christmas Dinners
Free Christmas dinners will be distributed at the home of Mrs. Gladys Hicks at 851 Salters Lake Road in Century from 10 a.m. until for anyone in need. Sponsored by the Waterfront Rescue Mission.
Deadline Extended: Nominate North Escambia Persons Of The Year
December 21, 2008
NorthEscambia.com will honor several North Escambia residents as North Escambia Persons of the Year as 2008 comes to a close, and we need your help.
We are asking our readers to nominate people that they believe made a difference in North Escambia during 2008. We will choose several of them to be named as a 2008 North Escambia. Person of the Year. The awards are our way of saying thanks to those that have worked to improve our lives in the North Escambia area during the past year.
We are not necessarily looking for a person with a long list of accomplishments. We are looking for people that have given of themselves to help others and the communities of North Escambia during 2008.
To nominate someone, please email their name, contact information (if known), and the reason why you believe they should be a Person of the Year. The person must either be a resident of North Escambia, work in North Escambia or otherwise have significantly impacted North Escambia in some way. We define North Escambia as being Quintette Road south of Molino, north to the Alabama line.
Entries should be emailed to news@northescambia.com by Tuesday, December 23. We need your email and phone number just in case we have questions, but your name and contact information will not be published.
The 2008 North Escambia Persons of the Year will be named after Christmas.
Christmas Celebration: Carver/Century Students Receive Gifts
December 20, 2008
Christmas came early for students at Carver/Century K-8 School Friday as Santa Claus and members of Trinity Presbyterian Church handed out Christmas gifts to students.
Every student in grade Pre-K through fifth received gifts from Trinity, a Carver/Century Partner in Education. The church also sponsored a pizza party for the school’s middle school students, and Santa visited the classrooms.
“Wow, it’s really Elmo,” one student screamed has he received a brand new TMX Elmo. “Thank you! I love him!”
For over 20 years, Trinity has provided the Christmas gifts for the Carver students, many of which come from some of the poorest homes in the county. Volunteers from the Pensacola church also provide for the students at other times during the school year, including Halloween bags, Easter baskets, school supplies, free books for summer vacation and sometimes even clothing for a needy child. Trinity Volunteers also tutor students once a week each week during the school year.
Trinity partnered with Carver about 20 years ago after a Carver teacher was telling her Sunday School class at Trinity about the problems faced by many of the Carver students. The church’s “service committee” stepped forward and has spearheaded the “Century Christmas Stars” project ever since.
“This is the highlight of our year,” Trinity member Martee Atkins said. “For some of these kids it is their only Christmas.”
“I really enjoy watching the kids; sometimes it makes me feel like I am a kid again,” Trinity member Bill Tabbe said. “We enjoy coming up here and being part of the children’s lives.”
“It’s really, really special,” Atkins said.
Fischer Price front end loaders, dolls, TMX Elmo dolls, radio control cars and Wilson NFL footballs were among the presents given to the children.
For a photo gallery from Carver/Century and the Trinity gifts, click here.
Pictured: Students at Carver/Century received Christmas gifts from Trinity Presbyterian Church Friday morning. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Century Care Center Celebrates With Christmas Party
December 20, 2008
The residents at Century Care Center celebrated with their annual Christmas party Friday afternoon.
Santa Claus visited with the residents during a good old fashioned Christmas party.
Catherine Rutherford was honored as Century Care Center’s 2008 Resident of the Year.
“Thank you from us to all who contributed time, money, gifts, and Christmas spirit,” CCC Activities Director Mae Hildreth said.
For a photo gallery from the event, click here.
Pictured above: Santa visits with a resident at Century Care Center Friday afternoon. Pictured below: Century Care Center Administrator Don Ripley congratulates 2008 Resident of the Year Catherine Rutherford. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Rudolph’s Day Off: Santa Arrives At Area School In Helicopter
December 20, 2008
The reindeer got the afternoon off Friday as Santa Claus arrived at Flomaton Elementary School in Baptist Hospital’s LifeFlight helicopter.
“Santa, Santa, Santa,” the students screamed as the jolly old elf in his red and and white suit crawled out of the helicopter. Santa met with boys and girls, hearing those last minute Christmas wishes.
NorthEscambia.com took an aerial tour of Century and Flomaton in the LifeFlight helicopter. We’ll have those photos in a photo gallery Tuesday morning; you don’t want to miss them.
For a photo gallery from Santa’s visit on LifeFlight to Flomaton Elementary School, click here.
Pictured above: Santa arrived in LifeFlight Friday afternoon at Flomaton Elementary School. Pictured below: Santa poses with Flomaton students. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
