Wednesday March 5th, 2008 - 6:00AM

We wrote to you yesterday about the very important series, "Pensacola: A Proud Past, A Better Tomorrow," that will air on BLAB TV. The series debuts tonight at 7 PM on Cox channel 6, and Mediacom channel 38.

Here is the rest of the schedule in case you can't get to it tonight:

March 8 @ 8 p.m.
March 10 @ 11:10 p.m.
March 12 @ 7 p.m.
March 16 @ 12 p.m.

On Blab-TV
Cox Cable channel 6
Mediacom channel 38

Here is the way the program's producers, Scarborough Consulting, described the program in an email sent out yesterday:

"Pensacola: A Proud Past, A Better Tomorrow," will look first at the state of job development and wages in Escambia County. Among the guests will be Rick Harper, director of the Haas Center for Research and Economic Development at the University of West Florida, who will give an overview of jobs and wages. There will also be representatives of economic development agencies in Escambia, Santa Rosa, Mobile, and Baldwin counties. Representatives of Pensacola Young Professionals will discuss the job market from the prospective of those entering the job market or working in an uncertain economy to establish their careers.

"What we are attempting to do with this first show is to paint a portrait of the job and wage situation in Pensacola and Escambia County, to see how we stack up regionally and nationally," said Debbie Ritchie, host of the show. "What is the current job and wage picture? As we face an increasingly uncertain economic picture, how competitive are we in terms of attracting jobs and growing the economy? With economists saying there has been no growth in actual wages nationwide since 2003, what can we expect and how can we ensure that workers in Escambia County are getting their fair slice of the pie?

"With the segment with the young professionals we want to touch on issues pertinent to them. What does Pensacola's future look like to those entering the job market? Are there enough good jobs here to bring the best and brightest to our area to work?"

The show, which will be rebroadcast several times over a two-week period, is the first of seven shows by Pensacola: A Proud Past, A Better Tomorrow that will cover a wide range of economic and social issues effecting Escambia County citizens. Subsequent shows will originate every two weeks and will deal with education, the environment, housing, health, and economic development. Each show will also honor an individual or organization that is making a difference in community.

The first group to be denoted a "Difference Maker" will be Impact 100, a Pensacola-based philanthropic women's organization that bestows significant grants in the areas of the arts and culture, the environment, recreation and preservation, family and health and wellness.

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For further information, contact George Scarborough, of Scarborough Consulting, by email at:

George@ScarboroughConsulting.com

As we get word, we'll update all our Friends on upcoming programs!