What were Pensacola’s top stories this week? Take a look
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Here's a roundup of our top stories from the past week that are available only to our subscribers.
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West side drive-thru Starbucks planned for Blue Angel Parkway
If the Target Starbucks' limited menu on 2950 S. Blue Angel Parkway just isn’t cutting it, a full-service drive-thru location planned across the street on 2991 S. Blue Angel Parkway may do the trick.
Site plans have been approved by Escambia County for a store near the Blue Angel Walmart Supercenter, permits have been obtained and construction is now underway.
The location is anticipated to open this summer, a Starbucks spokesperson confirmed Thursday.
Full story:Venti news for West Pensacola Starbucks fans! New drive-thru store coming this summer
New business brings the perfect summer snack to Navarre Beach
Sun-soaked beach days in Navarre just got a little cooler with the official opening of Jeremiah’s Italian Ice Tuesday at 1892 Andorra St. Unit C4 in the Publix Plaza.
If the neon “Greetings from Navarre” mural isn’t enough to put even lifelong locals into vacation mode, the rainbow swirled “gelatis” will.
The shop blends refreshing Italian ice with creamy frozen custard into one layered treat. Flavor combinations are nearly endless with over 40 rotating flavors of Italian ice to blend with a vanilla, chocolate or swirl custard. If you simply cannot make up your mind, there are free samples daily that help make the choice a little easier. Yes, they will let you try all of them.
Some of the crowd favorites for Navarre so far have been the coconut key lime pie, Oreo mud pie and birthday cake.
Full story:A sweet new Italian ice shop opened in Navarre on Tuesday. Here's what the buzz is about.
Pensacola father, son score lifetime memory with hockey legend Sidney Crosby
When he created a local charity 13 years ago for his son Matthew, who has special needs, long-time Pensacola sports radio broadcaster Paul Chestnutt was naturally uncertain of its impact.
It has led to an experience of a lifetime.
The Tampa Bay Lightning learned of his efforts, driven by his love for his son and their shared bond in hockey, and hosted Matthew and Paul, the Fox Sports Pensacola radio personality and Ice Flyers radio broadcaster, on March 2 at the Lightning game that night in Tampa against the Pittsburgh Penguins.
The Chestnutt tandem met hockey royalty, led by the Penguins’ Sidney Crosby, one of the NHL’s all-time greatest players, who visited with the pair in an emotion-evoking moment before the team’s pregame skate. Matthew, 20, known as Matty, was born with Cerebral Palsy and is unable to speak or walk.
Full story:Pensacola father, son score lifetime memory with Pittsburgh Penguin legend Sidney Crosby
New businesses want to come to Warrington but zoning hinders move
In an effort to help bring new businesses to Warrington, Escambia County officials are recommending county commissioners overturn a decades-old regulation that limits where convenience stores can be located in the community.
Staff with the Community Redevelopment Agency say older restrictions that require the separation of same use businesses are hampering the redevelopment of certain properties in Warrington. Tuesday, Escambia County’s Planning Board reviewed the Land Development Code and recommended to the Board of County Commissioners that they adopt a change in the Warrington Overlay zoning rules.
Warrington is the only CRA area in Escambia County with overlay zoning requirements that prohibit convenience stores from being within 2,500 feet of each other. The owners of a long vacant gas station and convenience store at 100 S. Navy Boulevard have approached the county several times about renovating the property and reopening the business, but the overlay doesn’t allow for it because there’s another convenience store nearby on Navy Boulevard.
Full story:Escambia wants to bring new businesses to Warrington. This zoning rule change could help.
City Limits Food Truck Park owners open first food truck, more planned
The City Limits Food Truck Park on 2200 W. Cervantes St. is still about a month away from opening, so in the meantime the park's owners are taking their culinary creations on the road.
The City Limits co-owners Donnie Deluna and Melvin Jacob debuted their first food truck, Something Asian, in late February as they await some final paperwork to open their food truck park for good.
Once open, the co-owners hope the park will provide a gathering place for the neighborhood and a spot where people can grab a gourmet dinner without having to travel downtown.
Full story:The City Limits rolls out first food truck, counting down to Cervantes food truck park
Army vet working to revive rundown East Milton sports complex
As a newcomer to the sports association management game, Keith Whitfield decided that if he was going to learn how to properly maintain a baseball field, he'd be best off going to the experts.
Full story:Army vet working to revive rundown East Milton sports complex. County partnership possible.
Whitfield inherited sporting facilities from a group that had been gone for at least 10 years before his arrival. The massive concrete floored gymnasium leaks when it rains and condensation builds up and creates puddles if the HVAC system isn't kept running.
The baseball and softball fields, including the scoreboards and fencing around them, need serious work. The goal posts on the football field look like they could topple at any time and, with no sidewalks, the entire park needs to be brought into compliance with the American Disabilities Act.
This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Pensacola News Journal's top stories for the week of March 6-10
