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Big Brothers Big Sisters of 
Northwest Florida launches license 
plate campaign with Escambia 
County Tax Collector’s Offi ce

 
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwest 

Florida is partnering with the Escambia 
County Tax Collector’s Offi ce to promote the 
sale of their specialty license plate. A portion 
of the proceeds for each sale will be donated to 
the agency.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwest 

Florida matches at-risk youth with caring 
adult mentors. The mentors, also called Bigs, 
provide their mentees, called Littles, with 
both emotional support and schoolwork 
assistance. The program reaches beyond 
improving grades – it also improves life 
outcomes. Last year, of all the Littles matched 
six months or longer, 97 percent remained 
crime free, and 88 percent maintained or 
improved their school attendance.

In Escambia County, there are currently 

more than 250 active matches. “It costs about 
$3 a day to support each match,” says Big 
Brothers Big Sisters of Northwest Florida 
President and CEO Paula Shell. “One way 
the community can help offset these costs 
is to purchase our license plate. A portion 
of the proceeds come to the agency and 
help us support matches and perform vital 
duties like background screenings, volunteer 
recruitment, and training.”

“The purchase of a Big Brothers Big Sisters 

specialty license plate is an investment in 
our community and the ability of a child to 
succeed in life,” says Escambia County Tax 
Collector Scott Lunsford.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwest 

Florida has been the area’s leader in one-
to-one mentoring for 29 years by serving 
children ages 6 to 18. Our mission is to 
provide children facing adversity with strong 
and enduring, one-to-one relationships that 
change their lives for the better, forever. Last 
year, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwest 

Florida served 616 children in Northwest 
Florida.

Big Top Brewing Company Is 
Getting Bigger

 
To the residents of Pensacola, Big Top 

Brewing Company, a Sarasota based craft 
brewery, encourages you to get excited for a 
hot new watering hole located conveniently 
between downtown and the bayfront. Big Top 
has announced the opening of a new brewpub 
in early August 2018, located at 21 West 
Romana Street, Pensacola, FL 32502. 

This 4,100sqft brewpub will feature 22 

tap handles as well as a 5bbl pilot brewing 
system. What will set this location apart from 
its fl agship location in Sarasota is the addition 
of an in-house food menu. Lunch and 
dinner with daily specials on the traditional 
American fare of salads, pizzas, and 
sandwiches will delight the senses with their 
gourmet twist; “We don’t do standard beers, 
so we won’t do standard food either. Like 
each one of our unique brews, our food will 
be crafted with the same passion and concern 
for quality and taste,” said Big Top Brewing 
CEO and owner, Mike Bisaha. In keeping 
with the daily fun that can be found in the 
Sarasota taproom, the Pensacola brewpub will 
also include event space, bar games, a small 
performance area, and an enhanced retail 
shop. 

You can also fi nd Big Top Brewing 

Company on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, 
and Instagram.

Patti Marine Enterprises donates 
dive platform to UWF archaeology 
program

 
Today, the University of West Florida 

received a new dive platform from Frank 
Patti, Jr. of Patti Marine Enterprises. The 
Division of Anthropology and Archaeology, 
within the College of Arts, Social Sciences 
and Humanities will use the new platform 
for staging archaeological and other scientifi c 
research. 

“I am honored and pleased to provide 

UWF with two viable hulls that will work 
in unison as a platform for expeditions and 
all the history that has yet to be found in 
Pensacola waters,” Patti said. 

Two rebuilt barges will replace the current 

20-year-old platforms, which were rebuilt in 
2002 with the assistance of the Patti family. 

Students, faculty and staff utilize the dive 

platform for investigating shipwrecks in 
Pensacola Bay, including the three shipwrecks 
from the Spanish fl eet linked to Tristán de 
Luna y Arellano’s 16th century expedition to 
modern-day Pensacola. 

The platform allows for several teams of 

divers in the water, while others take notes, 
screen materials or maintain equipment 
above. The new platform is expected to hold 
more people and will feature canopies to 
provide shade and seating, as well as storage 
facilities for personal equipment. 

Dr. Elizabeth Benchley, director of the 

Division of Anthropology and Archaeology, 
said UWF will benefi t from the Patti family’s 
gift in many ways. 

For more information about the Division 

of Anthropology and Archaeology, visit uwf.
edu/anthropology. 

 Photo: Members of Patti Marine 

Enterprises guide the University of West 
Florida’s new diving platform into the water.

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6/25/18   11:15 AM