Living in Pensacola

Senior Chief Henry Hewit surprises wife Tammy with his return from Afghanistan

2010-06-27T07:58:00.000-07:00

PENSACOLA, Fla. (June 10, 2010) Senior Chief Engineman Henry Hewitt surprises his wife Tammy, during a Naval Education and Training Command (NETC) all-hands meeting, after returning from a six-month Individual Augmentee tour in Afghanistan. Hewitt is the NETC equal opportunity advisor, his wife is administrative assistant to the NETC force chaplain and command ombudsman. (U.S. Navy photo by Steve Vanderwerff/Rleased)

2010-06-21T22:24:00.000-07:00

PENSACOLA, Fla. (June 15, 2010) President Barack Obama is greeted by Sailors and Marines at the Naval Air Technical Training Center on board Naval Air Station Pensacola. President Obama was in the region touring the Gulf Coast to see firsthand the effects of the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. (U.S. Navy photo by Steve Vanderwerff/Released)

june 20 pomp

2010-06-21T22:01:00.000-07:00

Pompano Fishing at Perdido Key: Johnson Beach

2010-06-13T19:35:00.000-07:00

Beautiful Howie home and living compound on the Inter-Coastal Waterway

2010-06-13T19:16:00.000-07:00

Innerarity Point and Perdido Key

2010-05-21T12:35:00.000-07:00

Gulf National Shoreline; Johnson Beach, Black Drum, May 18, 2010

2010-05-18T07:27:00.000-07:00

Back Stage: Victor Victoria

2010-03-07T19:06:00.000-08:00

Perdido Key

2010-03-05T09:33:00.000-08:00

Pensacola Little Theater: Victor/ Victoria Rehearsal

2010-02-12T21:44:00.000-08:00

Pensacola Little Theater: Victor/ Victoria (Joanna Robbins Hayes)

2010-02-12T21:18:00.000-08:00

Pensacola Little Theater: Toddy and Victor/ Victoria

2010-02-12T21:04:00.000-08:00

Pensacola Little Theater: Victor Victoria - Toddy (Jerry Ahillen)

2010-02-12T20:49:00.000-08:00

Saltscapes

2010-01-13T18:17:00.000-08:00

Blues Over Pensacola Beach

2010-01-04T07:01:00.000-08:00

Downtown Holiday Lights 2009

2010-01-02T07:17:00.000-08:00

Pelican Drop: Downtown Pensacola New Years Celebration '09

2010-01-01T12:21:00.000-08:00

Downtown Pensacola rings in the new year, party in Plaza Ferdinand.

Susan Jernigan came prepared to party. By 5 p.m. Thursday, the Pensacola resident had staked out the perfect spot next to Plaza Ferdinand to watch the downtown countdown and Pelican Drop.

Surrounded by family and friends, Jernigan opened a large box crammed with noisemakers, hats, tiaras and glow-in-the-dark decor.

"We're ready," she said. "And if someone comes along who doesn't have anything to wear for New Year's, I've got it right here."

Jernigan was among dozens of early birds waiting to ring in 2010 at the downtown celebration. The New Year's Eve street party featured a children's area, vendors, several stages of live music and fireworks.

Nathaniel Jenkins, 8, just wanted to see "the big bird fly."

The 13-foot-tall silver-colored pelican, scheduled to drop at midnight, glittered as it dangled from its crane next to Plaza Ferdinand.

"It's got a lot of lights," said Nathaniel, pointing at the sculpture. "It's pretty cool."

Downtown businesses were part of the party. At nearby Intermission, staff sold drinks on the busy sidewalk. Down at New York Nick's, crowds began to gather to celebrate the new year at 11 p.m., "on New York time."

Becky Bray, administrator of the Community Redevelopment Agency, which sponsored the Pelican Drop, hoped to see about 40,000 in attendance.

"Last year was our first year, and even better than we'd hoped," she said. "This year, we planned for the larger crowds. This is something we hope will stimulate the permanent businesses in downtown Pensacola."