Escambia County Employees Team Up To Revamp Historic Davisville Community Center
November 21, 2023
The Davisville Community Center has been well-loved over the years, with a long, rich history in North Escambia – once used as a school, and now as a community gathering place.
As with any 100-year-old building, the Davisville Community Center has started to show its age, with peeling paint, dry rot, and a severely weathered sign welcoming visitors to the building, located on Highway 97 in the Davisville community south of Atmore.
The Escambia County Facilities Management Department started making a plan to repair the community center, originally requesting a quote from an outside contractor to do the job. But when Maintenance Technician Samantha Mitchell caught wind of the project, she asked her supervisor if she could take the lead on the project and complete the work in-house instead. He agreed, and Mitchell quickly got to work, assembling a team of county staff and coordinating what needed to be done to give the community center a much-needed facelift.
For more photos, including before and after pictures, click or tap here.
After several months of work, the Facilities Management team completed numerous improvements at the Davisville Community Center, including repainting the building’s entire exterior, rebuilding four front gates, painting and repairing fencing, completely rebuilding the wheelchair ramp, replacing dry rotted siding, and installing new metal skirting to cover the building’s crawl space. They also completed some landscaping improvements, replaced potentially hazardous deck nails with screws, and replaced the community center’s front sign, among other interior and exterior upgrades.
For Mitchell, who has only worked at the county for just over a year, it was rewarding to see her first big project come to fruition. Mitchell said it was a team effort that involved multiple county staff members, but she and her coworker Jack Taylor took the lead on the project.
“We’re very project oriented, so having a big project like this versus having something that takes a couple hours is exciting to us,” Mitchell said. “It’s an accomplishment, because you can see a difference from where you started. The building has a lot of history, and it’s really cool because most of the stuff there is original, so you get to see the history.”
The project began in May 2023 and wrapped up by the end of July 2023, at a total cost of approximately $5,000 for materials and in-house labor. The same work would have cost more than $30,000 for a contractor to complete, meaning Mitchell’s initiative saved Escambia County approximately $25,000.
“It’s amazing to see the positive transformation of this historic and beloved building in the Davisville community, and even better knowing that the work was completed in-house by county staff at a cost savings to Escambia County and our citizens,” District 5 Commissioner and Chairman Steven Barry said. “The Davisville Community Center has long been a popular gathering place for the north end of the county, and I’m excited that we were able to make it an even better facility for the community to continue to enjoy for many years to come.”
Facilities Management Deputy Director Robby Freeman, one of Mitchell’s supervisors, said she has hit the ground running since she started working for the county, always taking initiative and looking for new projects to tackle.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
“She pulled a team together, they went up there, and they saved the county about $25,000 doing that project in-house,” Freeman said. “I’ve never had anybody step up that much to do that, and she’s continued to do that since she’s been here – wanting to take on pretty much anything and everything.”
In addition to Samantha Mitchell and Jack Taylor, other Escambia County staff members who worked on the Davisville Community Center improvements include Bill Barrett, Steve Dillard, Harold Hodges, and Glenn Kelly.
Mitchell said she’s already received positive feedback from residents and visitors who frequent the community center, which is used for everything from gymnastics and yoga classes to family gatherings and birthday parties.
“They were really excited that it went from looking kind of dingy and not very appealing to bright and shiny,” Mitchell said. “It’s a building that’s used quite often and rented out to the public, and it was cool to do something that the community is going to use, and something they can be proud of.”
Freeman echoed the public’s positive feedback about the project, also praising Mitchell’s drive to take the initiative and work with her team to get it completed.
“It went above and beyond what I expected,” Freeman said. “Just the whole aesthetics, and the whole entire project, came together I think even better than she thought it would. And it made a world of difference up in Davisville. She made a big showing up there, and the people up there absolutely love it. It looks like a brand-new place.”
For information about Davisville Community Center rentals, contact Escambia County Parks and Recreation at 850-475-5220.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Farm-City: Volunteers Harvest Thanksgiving Dinner For 1,000 Needy Families (With Gallery)
November 21, 2023
Monday, students and volunteers from Escambia and Santa Rosa counties worked in fields near Jay to harvest vegetables that will help feed 1,000 needy families this week for Thanksgiving.
The event at the University of Florida’s West Florida Research and Education Center is part of Farm to City Week, bringing the bounty of the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences farm to the needy of the city.
The students were from agricultural programs and organizations that included FFA members from schools including Northview High, Ernest Ward Middle, Jay High School, Central High, Beulah Academy, Beulah Middle and others.
The produce will be distributed to 500 families in Escambia County and 500 more in Santa Rosa County along with a turkey or ham and all the fixings for a Thanksgiving meal from Feeding the Gulf Coast and the Waterfront Rescue Mission. The food will be distributed Tuesday at the Waterfront Rescue Mission at 348 West Herman Street from 9 a.m. until noon. Another distribution will take place Tuesday from 9 a.m. until noon at the the Milton Community Center. Both distributions are first come, first served with up to two families per vehicle.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Escambia Fire Rescue Urges Caution When Frying Turkey
November 21, 2023
Escambia County Fire Rescue is urging caution if you choose to fry your Thanksgiving turkey.
ECFR recently held their annual turkey burn demonstration, which exploded into flames.
Escambia Fire Rescue encourages residents to use these safety tips when deep-frying a turkey this Thanksgiving:
- Use a fryer with thermostat controls. This will ensure the oil does not become overheated.
- Thaw your turkey completely. Ice on the bird will cause the oil to splatter.
- Don’t overfill the pot with oil. If you do, the oil will overflow when you add the turkey, causing a fire hazard.
- Keep children and pets at least three feet away from the fryer.
- Always use the fryer outdoors. Ensure the fryer is at least 10 feet from a structure or other combustible material.
- Only use your turkey fryer on sturdy, level surfaces as they can easily tip over.
- Consider using an electrical or air fryer.
Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Driver Passes Away Following Crash Last Week on Chemstrand Road
November 21, 2023
One of the five people injured in a wreck November 13 at the intersection of Chemstrand Road and Crooked Oak Drive has passed away.
Two vehicles were involved in a crash with one vehicle crashing into a ravine. Two passengers were extricated from a pickup truck while an additional 20 minutes was required to extricate the passengers from the vehicle in the ravine. Five patients were transported to area hospitals.
The 43-year old male driver of the vehicle that went into the ravine passed away over the weekend, according to the Florida Highway Patrol. The man’s name has not been released.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Marcus Pointe Baptist Holding Community Thanksgiving Service This Evening In Molino
November 21, 2023
Marcus Pointe Baptist Church will host a community Thanksgiving service at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Molino Community Center auditorium on Molino Road (by the library). Everyone is welcome.
Burglary And Vandalism Of Vacant Molino Church Under Investigation
November 21, 2023
The burglary and vandalism of a vacant church in Molino is under investigation.
The owner of the building at 314 Molino Road discovered the burglary Monday.
According to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, someone made entry into the building, discharged fire extinguishers and dumped cleaning chemicals they found inside. An outside flag pole was also broken, but nothing was stolen, according to the ECSO.
For more photos, click or tap here.
Investigators said the building is vacant, not abandoned, and was recently purchased.
Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP or the ECSO at (850) 436-9620.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
There Is Still Time To Make Your Appointment To Let The Miracle League Fry Your Thanksgiving Turkey
November 20, 2023
Now is the time to reserve your spot to have the Miracle League of Pensacola fry your Thanksgiving turkey.
A minimum of $30 per turkey or turkey breast is necessary to help cover costs, and any additional donation will benefit the Miracle League of Pensacola.
Call (850) 631-0203 with questions or to schedule your appointment (leave a message if no answer). Walk-ups are welcome, but reservations should be made early as the number of time slots is limited and appointments take priority.
There are a few things to remember after scheduling an appointment. Completely thaw your turkey, removing all of the inside packaging and giblets. Write down exactly how much your turkey weighs so it is fried perfectly and take it to the Miracle League Park at 555 East Nine Mile Road at your appointment time between 7 a.m. and 4 p.m. on Wednesday, November 22. And be on time for your appointment.
Individuals interested in volunteering should also call (850) 631-0203.
Herrmann’s Dramatic Game Winner Provides Ice Flyers Thrilling OT Win On Star Wars Night
November 20, 2023
by Bill Vilona
The Ice Flyers had the force with them for most of Star Wars Night.
Finally, as time waned in overtime, they got the fortune, too.
For more photos, click or tap here.
Defenseman Zac Herrmann made a nifty deke move on a Macon player, then lifted a backhand shot into the net with 1:58 left in the extra period as the Ice Flyers gained a hard-earned 3-2 win Saturday night against the Macon Mayhem.
The deciding moment came in a game where the Ice Flyers outshot Macon 53-18 in one of the biggest shot differentials imaginable.
“I kinda lost (puck) a bit and got lucky, pulled it through and I knew the goalie was fighting to get across (the crease) so I had to go up with it,” said Herrmann, who scored his fourth goal this season. “I did a quick look and he was still kind of moving side to side, so it’s just an instinct thing.
“It was one of those games where we were fighting our sticks a little bit and not burying our chances.”
The win completed another festive night with 5,520 delighted fans at the Pensacola Bay Center and kept the Ice Flyers (7-4) unbeaten (5-0) on home ice through the first month of the season. The Ice Flyers will have their next home game on Wednesday, the night before Thanksgiving Day.
After Brett Mecrones flicked a wrist shot into the net with 13:23 remaining to give the Ice Flyers a 2-1 lead, the game continued to be played in Macon’s defensive zone
But just as Macon pulled goaltender Josh Boyko, who had been brilliant the entire game, for an extra attacker, the Mayhem’s Tommy Munichiello tied the game with 1:19 left. The arena when from excited to deflated.
“I’ve been on both sides of it and when you are on this side of it, when you are really outplaying the other team, out-chancing them, they are very challenging game to coach,” said Ice Flyers coach Gary Graham. “Because that team was just waiting for a break. They started getting behind us and hoping for an opportunity.”
In the overtime, Ice Flyers goaltender Stephen Mundinger stopped a breakaway chance for Macon, which then triggered the Ice Flyers’ rush the other way. Herrmann got the puck, made the move and won the game.
“That was kind of the epitome of three on three (overtime hockey),” Herrmann said. “I gotta a little lucky, I think I made a bad read on that and ‘Dinger (Mundinger) bailed us out and obviously the puck went the other way and made nice play and scored.”
“Zach’s move… if you know how bad the ice is in overtime… to be able to pull that to his backhand on that ice and tuck it up underneath the bar is an extremely difficult thing to do. He is playing some outstanding hockey for us right now.”
After dropping Friday night’s game at Birmingham 5-3, Graham was anxious to see how his team would respond in a quick turnaround with a different opponent.
Macon scored just 1:18 into the game. The Ice Flyers had numerous changes in the ensuing minutes to tie the game and it finally happened with 2:36 left before intermission when Dallas Comeau took a pass from Garrett Millan between the faceoff circles and produced the goal.
“It was close,” Graham said.
But that is how the game stayed until the third period.
“We did a lot better job of getting to the goalie and making it uncomfortable,” Graham said. “You have to tip your hat to (Boyko). He played spectacular. He was out of this world. He really gave them a chance and that’s what you need some nights when you’re not at your best.
“I thought it was a good hockey game for the fans, because we played extremely hard. And after a loss, I think that is what you want to see from your group. Every time we have lost a game this year, we’ve had a response.”
The night began with Star Wars characters in costumes from the 501st Legion greeting fans outside the Bay Center, then inside the arena on the concourse level
WHAT’S NEXT?
WHO: Birmingham Bulls vs. Ice Flyers
WHEN: Wednesday, 7:05 p.m.
WHERE: Pensacola Bay Center
Escambia County Receives New Offer For OLF-8
November 20, 2023
Escambia County has received a new offer for a portion of the OLF-8 property on Nine Mile Road.
The Letter of Intent (LOI) was received from Beulah Town Center, LLC.
“This invitation to negotiate is with the desire to develop a portion of this unique county asset following the design principles approved by the (Escambia) Board of County Commissioners in the DPZ Master plan for OLF8,” the letter stated. Beulah Town Center Manager Fred Hemmer said the offer was for about 375 acres of mixed use residential, retail, green space, and infrastructure property.
The offer letter includes $20 million for the 375 acres with additional options totaling up to an additional $12 million.
According to a blog post from District 1 Commissioner Jeff Bergosh, the offer follows the spirit of the Master Plan and includes no single-family housing.
Bells Will be Ringing: Salvation Army Red Kettle Campaign Kicks Off
November 20, 2023
The Salvation Army’s iconic Red Kettle Campaign is back on in the Pensacola area, ushering in the festive spirit of Christmas. The Red Kettle Campaign is The Salvation Army’s primary fundraising initiative, providing life-changing programs and services throughout the year, including food assistance programs, emergency financial assistance, youth programs, and disaster response.
The 2023 Red Kettle campaign goal is $148,000. The Red Kettle campaign ends December 23, and kettles are in 19 locations in both Santa Rosa and Escambia counties.
The Salvation Army has an unwavering commitment to helping people in times of need, and the Red Kettle campaign is a critical source of funding that helps us meet that commitment,” said Captain Stephan Wildish of The Salvation Army of Pensacola. “The funds the community generously gives to the Red Kettle ensures families do not have to make agonizing choices between basic needs like housing, food, and medical care.”
The Salvation Army relies on the money raised through the Red Kettle campaign to provide Christmas to local families and safeguard the well-being of people in need through year-round programming and social services.
Volunteering as a bell ringer is an excellent opportunity to give back to the community while spreading the season’s joy. To become a volunteer bell ringer, please visit RegisterToRing.com and follow the prompts or contact Captain Stephan Wildish at (850) 432-1501 or email Stephan.Wildish@uss.salvationarmy.org .