Bella fella 2017 by Digital Producer

FOR AND ABOUT MEN

Confident

Living

Supports Menâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Health PJ-0000398286

BOLD STORY & PHOTOS BY PHILLIP MAKSELAN /BELLAMAGAZINE.COM

The upcoming season will see cooler temperatures and the fashion forward man will want to dress for the occasion. Whether youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re in a casual leather jacket, a chic suit or a unique blazer, the goal is to look your best and be noticed.

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SHOPPING LIST Paisley coat by Tallia, $295; White dress shirt by Haupt, $145; DL1961 Black Nick Jeans, $178.

“Men who take pride in the way they dress make better first impressions. When you feel good about the way you look, it creates a stronger sense of selfconfidence not only in your job, but also in your personal relationships. I’ve always encouraged guys to make sure that their clothes fit well and are appropriate for the occasion.” — Don Alan Work, owner of Don Alans

MEET JUSTIN Justin Coker grew up in nearby Evergreen, Alabama and is an advertising executive at the Pensacola News Journal. The son of two “brilliant” educators, he grew up riding horses and listening to his parent’s music collection. Coker loves scuba diving, and he is passionate about ocean conservation. “I love traveling the natural world, especially from a tent or paddle board. There’s no distance I won’t travel for the right life experience. I surround myself with people who keep me inspired and yoga helps me balance everything else,” Coker said. WHERE TO SHOP • Don Alans, 401 S. Palafox St., Pensacola; 850-439-1762; facebook.com/DonAlans.

SHOPPING LIST Top: Missaui Leather Coat, $495; Meyer denim slacks, $235; Haupt light blue dot printed shirt, $155. Left: Coppley Suit, $895; Mizzen/and Main dress shirt, $125; Tie by Carrot and Gibbs, $125. November 2017 / Bella Fella / 3

Unlock the secrets to

happiness GABI GARRETT / BELLAMAGAZINE.COM PHOTOS BY PHILLIP MAKSELAN / BELLA/PNJ.COM

Staying physically active and staying socially active are both large contributors to overall satisfaction of day-to-day life. According to many studies, exercise helps increase self-esteem; exercise also increases chemicals like serotonin and allows the release of endorphins, combating the symptoms and likelihood of depression.

U.S News and World Report states that people who volunteer tend to also increase their selfesteem, overall psychological well-being and happiness. These mood-boosters tend to go up as the feelings of connectedness in the community increase. Local Pensacola men Walker Wilson and Travis Peterson are living proof of the benefits of exercise and community engagement. Walker Wilson, 28, was born and raised in Pensacola. Currently still living in his hometown, he believes in staying active and doing all he can to give back to the community. “I try to do something active every day. It’s a great way to relax and have fun. I enjoy running and riding bikes with my friends,” Wilson said. Wilson started to get active in the past few years and can attest to his physical activity leading him to a more connected community.

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“I have really enjoyed being able to meet new people through that outlet, especially at some of the run clubs around town,” Wilson said. Wilson also encourages others to get outside and move. Last year, he started a charity called onBikes Pensacola, where bikes are gifted to underprivileged and foster children to encourage physical activity at a young age. Wilson’s advice to his fellow Bella Fellas on starting their own active lifestyle — just start moving. “Don’t keep putting it off and saying ‘Oh I’ll start next week.’ Get your friends involved and help motivate each other, even if it’s to go on a run and then grab a

drink afterwards,” Wilson said. Travis Peterson owns Impact Campaigns, a public relations and political consulting firm in Pensacola. The 41-yearold’s version of staying active in the community includes organizations such as the Five Flags Rotary and the Board of Trustees at First United Methodist Church. His family, wife Tara and kids Zach and Abby, also support the West Florida Council on Aging, Pensacola Humane Society, Panhandle Charitable Open and Southern Youth Sports Association Peterson has always been active, physically. He played sports in high school and continued his activity level into college.

Walker Wilson stays active and engaged in the community.

OnBikes Pensacola’s annual Winter Wonder Ride takes place on December 16 in Old Seville Square. You can secure your ticket to support the non-profit at onbikespensacola.org.

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Pick one healthy thing that you aren’t doing now and try to do it two to three times per week in November...start small, and try to be consistent with that one small thing. Then move to the next one when you’re ready.” — Travis Peterson “As I’ve gotten older, I can really tell a difference in my energy level when I’m consistently exercising and when I’m not,” Peterson said. It is not alway possible to keep up the idealistic gym routine of a few days a week, especially when work travel begins to pick up. Peterson suggests finding exercise in other arenas such as playing with your kids, walking around the neighborhood or his favorite — walking to meetings downtown instead of driving. If your office isn’t in a walkable area, you could try a stand-up desk or park your car a little further away throughout the day. Peterson’s advice to fellow businessmen and dads who are ready to commit to raising their activity level — just do it. “The thing that inspires me the most is just knowing that if I drag my butt to the gym, I

never regret it. But I always regret skipping a gym day. Also, I can really tell a difference when I’m eating well or not. Two or three days of road food or junk and my energy level dips, I’m not as mentally sharp, and, of course, my waistline expands.” Peterson said. This November, Peterson challenges you to start now. “Pick one healthy thing that you aren’t doing now and try to do it two to three times per week in November. Maybe it’s cardio, or lifting weights, or a new sport. It could be as simple as walking for 20 to 30 minutes in the morning or evening, or just saying no to that dessert, second helping of food or third beer. But start small, and try to be consistent with that one small thing. Then move to the next one when you’re ready.”

Travis Peterson suggests starting with one new healthy habit at a time.

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Home Work

GET LEAN AND STRONG WITHOUT LEAVING YOUR HOUSE LEAH SEACREST / BELLAMAGAZINE.COM • PHILLIP MAKSELAN / BELLAMAGAZINE.COM

Everyone gets pressed for time. When we do, it’s far too easy to put our health on the back burner. Though there is insurmountable evidence backing the benefits of daily exercise, sometimes that’s just not enough to get us to the gym. Time restraints can prove to be a real setback when trying to make health and fitness a part of your daily routine. Contrary to belief, you can still get a killer workout at home with minimal

equipment and make a big impact. Pensacola’s own 2017 Reebok CrossFit Games Masters (age 55-59) division winner, Shannon Aiken, shares his take on the importance of making time to exercise. “Staying fit and flexible is so important to our longevity and quality of life. It all starts with core strength and goes from there,” Aiken said. For him, it’s a way of life. Aiken’s typical routine would begin

with a 3-mile run or 2K meter swim, followed by a workout at his favorite CrossFit gym. However, the “world’s fittest 55 year old” explains, if he were limited on time and equipment, the following would be his three favorite athome movements for total body strength and core stability. “These are easy to do anywhere and will keep you in great overall condition,” Aiken explained.

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Home Work

GET LEAN AND STRONG WITHOUT LEAVING YOUR HOUSE LEAH SEACREST / BELLAMAGAZINE.COM • PHILLIP MAKSELAN / BELLAMAGAZINE.COM

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DUMBBELL PUSHUP WITH RENEGADE ROW Muscles worked: core, chest, back, triceps, biceps Start in a plank position with hands on dumbbells, shoulder-width apart. Brace midsection and lower down into a pushup. Return to your starting position. Row one weight up toward the side of your body while balancing on your other hand; return to ground. Repeat on the other side. Keep core tight throughout the movement and avoid sagging through the low back or twisting shoulders to the side as you row.

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Keith Hoskins

THE DRIVE TO LEAD BY EXAMPLE MOLLYE BARROWS / BELLAMAGAZINE.COM • PHOTOS BY PHILLIP MAKSELAN / BELLA/PNJ.COM

As a boy growing up in Parkville, Missouri, a small suburb of Kansas City, Keith Hoskins had dreams of flying. Becoming a pilot could be considered a commonplace dream for many children, but the thought of soaring sky high as an accomplished aviator had special significance for Hoskins. Growing up the youngest of six children in a minority family, there were challenges. Hoskins remembers his parents worked hard, but his family was richer in faith and love, than income and social status. “My father was a paratrooper. He served 39 years total, both active military and in the National Guard. He inspired me as a young child about aviation and the opportunity to

become a pilot. Back then we had the Golden 13 and the Tuskegee Airmen — AfricanAmerican pilots who served so honorably; still, it was challenging for African-Americans to become pilots for the military,” Hoskins said. Hoskins not only achieved his dreams, he surpassed them. After graduating high school, he went to Missouri Western State University on an academic and athletic scholarship, playing football for the school and graduating with a degree in electrical engineering. He joined the U.S. Navy in 1989 and Aviation Officer Candidate School brought him to Naval Air Station Pensacola for the first time, the place where he would launch his career as

Keith Hoskins, previously a Blue Angel pilot, is a general manager at Gulf Power Company.

a prestigious Blue Angel pilot and eventually become base commander. “I had a lot of hopes during my military career,” said Hoskins, who retired last year as a decorated captain after 27 years in the Navy. “The opportunity to be a commander of NAS Pensacola, the cradle of naval aviation — that is a jewel. Sometimes I laugh when I think of my military career — most of the things I wanted to do, I did.”

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Escambia and Santa Rosa counties, represents the company on community boards and with government officials, and coordinates district operations to better meet customers’ service needs. He serves on a variety of boards, including the Baptist Health Care Foundation, Gulf Coast Kid’s House, the Pensacola Chamber of Commerce, the National Naval Aviation Museum and the Board of Governors for Pensacola State College. “I still have a short list of a lot of things I want to accomplish,” said Hoskins. “I love to be challenged; I love to work outside of my comfort zone. I was trained as a pilot — that was my trade. I flew F-18 hornets — I flew them off ships — but I still had other jobs: safety, administrative, I did short tours as a strategy officer, national strategy and policy, which is outside of my comfort zone. I was also an instructor, I taught others how to fly. At one point I was the national director for all Navy ROTC programs. Again, out of my comfort zone, and I had to work hard to figure it out fast.” Hoskins is thrilled to be a part of the Gulf Power team because it also keeps him

challenged and active in the community, also addressing issues close to his heart, like poverty and education. Although he and his wife have brought up three children, now adults who are either working or attending school, he wants to see local children achieve the same dreams he had for himself and his family. He leads by example, just like his father taught him. “When we talk about service and giving back, I try to be a model citizen. I’m blessed to be an American and to be provided with all the things I’ve been provided in my life,” said Hoskins. “In sharing my story, I hope there’s a piece of it that can resonate with someone who has a particular interest in succeeding or facing adversity. I faced a lot of adversity in my life, but the thing that always kept me on track was that I decided I’m never going to let somebody else determine the course of my life. “Have persistence and never allow yourself to fall backward, but fall forward. There will be failures and you have to figure out how to keep moving forward — it’s just persistence and believing in yourself.”

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After retirement, Hoskins expected to relax, but the same drive to achieve that propelled his successful military career, kept him off the golf course and sent him back to the workforce, this time in the private sector working for Gulf Power Company in Pensacola. “Even though this is paradise and there are so many things to do recreationally, there’s just so much going on here, in terms of community giving and business opportunities,” explained Hoskins. “It’s hard to sit still in a community like Pensacola. What is happening regionally with the growth of business — I have to be a part of that. That’s just in my blood. I wanted a position that I could continue to give back to the community and serve in a similar capacity to the military, which is all about honor, commitment and integrity. Gulf Power translated very well.” Hoskins has already moved up the ranks at the energy company. He began as manager of major accounts and military affairs and within months was promoted to Western District general manager, where he is responsible for customer service and sales operations in

November 2017 / Bella Fella / 11

SHORE to Table

The Flounder STORY & PHOTOS BY PHILLIP MAKSELAN / BELLAMAGAZINE.COM

The Pensacola area offers an abundance of waterways to fish in, and many people will reel in a fine catch and go to the grill with it. However, there are other ways to catch and prepare a meal from our shores. One such method is gigging, and having a good ol’ fish fry. Local businessman and flounder gigging enthusiast Matt Merritt has been perfecting his hobby since his father and a friend introduced him to floundering on Old River in Perdido Key. “They went on the coldest, darkest nights in October and November during the fall run/migration, which is when the large southern flounder migrate from the rivers and the bays into the Gulf of Mexico to spawn. I gigged my first 5-pound flounder when I was 11 years old, and I’ve been hooked ever since,” Merritt said. It may seem easy enough to walk along the shore or ride in a small boat and gig some flounder, but actually succeeding is a different story. You have to know what you’re looking for and keep a keen eye out, because often they are at least partially under the sand. “One of the reasons that I love floundering is because it is just like hunting in the water at night. Traditionally, I take the boat around Ft. Pickens and around Pensacola Pass. From time to time, I’ll make a trip over to Alabama Point and the 12 / Bella Fella / November 2017

Matt Merritt with his gig and LED light for hitting the shoreline and bringing home a bounty of flounder.

THE BARE NECESSITIES • Gig (three or five-pronged) on a bamboo or metal pole • Waterproof light (LED preferred) • Stringer • Cooler

Fort Morgan area. When I’m walking the Gulf, I’m only taking my gig, a handheld LED light, a stringer to put the flounder on, and most importantly a ‘Shark Shield’ to keep the sharks away. The sharks get fairly aggressive, especially at dusk and dawn when you’re carrying a plethora of bloody flounder through the water,” Merritt explained. With floundering being a predominantly night time activity, Merritt notes that having a family doesn’t allow him to hit the shore every night of the week anymore, but he and his wife, Erin, have made a compromise. “In the past couple years, as long as I’m home by 1 a.m. and can sleep in the next day, I can go once a week,” he said.

PHOTO COURTESY OF MATT MERRITT/SPECIAL TO BELLA FELLA

Above: Matt Merritt and Bobby Smith with a great evening catch of flounder.

Recreational fishing is typically an activity to bond with friends and family, share good times and hopefully good food. Floundering is no different, and Merritt agrees. “One of the things that I most enjoy about floundering is the opportunity it gives me to fellowship with so many of my friends. Over the years, I’ve been able to take so many of my close friends and even those I haven’t gotten to know that well out on the boat floundering. I find it to be a great opportunity to be of service to others and the reward I get by seeing a ‘first-timer’ stick his first flounder is indescribable. I will always be grateful to my dad for taking the time to introduce me to the sport I’ve grown to have so much passion for,” he said.

MATT’S FRIED FLOUNDER Ingredients: (Amount of ingredients varies depending on the catch.) • “Slap Yo Momma Fish Fry,” available at Joe Patti’s • Tony Chachere’s seasoning • Black pepper • Garlic powder • Canola oil Clean and de-bone the fish. Hand-pat each filet in buttermilk to soak overnight. In a container, place a generous layer of the “Slap Yo Momma Fish Fry,” enough to coat all filets, and layers of Tony Chachere’s seasoning, black pepper and garlic powder (generally, all seasonings 1 tbsp. or more to taste). Place filets in the container and shake to coat

Matt serves up the flounder. them with the fish fry and other seasonings. Heat canola oil to 349 degrees, or as near as possible, and place filets in the oil (a few at a time depending on size). When filets are golden brown and floating, they are done (generally 1-2 minutes).

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SPONSORED CONTENT

MULTI-DISCIPLINARY APPROACH TO ADVANCED

PROSTATE CANCER Woodlands Medical Specialists is excited to offer the region’s first Advanced Prostate Cancer (APC) Clinic. Board certified specialist physicians from Urology, Medical Oncology and Radiation Oncology are all under one roof and will collaborate to tailor individualized treatment plans for each patient. WHAT IS ADVANCED PROSTATE CANCER? Prostate cancer can be a slow-growing disease that can take years or even decades to progress or affect a patient’s life expectancy. Unfortunately, some patients are diagnosed with Advanced Prostate Cancer, or APC. APC is a type of prostate cancer that has a high risk of spreading to bones, lymph nodes or other organs. Patients with APC typically have a PSA of 20 or higher, or a Gleason score of 8, 9 or 10. 14 / Bella Fella / November 2017

If left untreated, this aggressive form of prostate cancer can progress rapidly. Some patients with APC even have evidence of metastatic disease spreading throughout the body at the time of diagnosis. WHY IS THERE A NEED FOR AN ADVANCED PROSTATE CANCER CLINIC? When a patient is diagnosed with high risk or metastatic prostate cancer, they may feel the need to travel great distances to a university or large cancer center for second opinions or treatment options they feel may not be available closer to home. Patients with APC often need a combination of radiation, chemotherapy, hormonal treatment or even surgery. At the Woodlands APC Clinic, patients are given all of the Advanced Prostate Cancer treatment

options that are currently FDA approved, right here in Pensacola. All lab tests, imaging studies and treatments can be done on-site at Woodlands. Woodlands APC Clinic also provides opportunities for patients to enroll in clinical research trials for cutting-edge, promising or proven therapies. Having advanced prostate cancer is stressful enough. Patients with APC often are forced to juggle multiple appointments and physicians, in order to get the optimal care they need and deserve. At Woodlands Medical Specialists, we offer the Gulf Coast’s only multidisciplinary APC Clinic. Woodlands APC Clinic provides a unique and efficient opportunity to have you and your loved ones receive treatment plans from two or three physicians, all in one appointment. With our team-based consultation approach, there is never a concern about breakdown in communication between your doctors. With all of your prostate cancer physicians in the same room, they will always be on the same page. Don’t wait on Prostate Cancer, let Woodlands APC Clinic wait on you! If you have been diagnosed with Advanced Prostate Cancer, contact Woodlands Medical Specialists at 850-696-4000 to schedule an intimate, personalized consultation for you and your family.

Taste of Tailgating

GCKH, describes the partnership as “natural.” She the VIP Whiskey/Bourbon Tasting. There will explains that because of the “excellent food, unique also be signature cocktails developed by lead beverages and high level of integrity” for which mixologist Patrick Bolster. UPH is known, only two months of planning were Attendees can participate in fun tailgating required for this maiden venture. games and NFL matchups featuring the Saints According to UPH’s chef and owner, Blake vs. Bucs and Falcons vs. Panthers will air on bigRushing, UPH participates in about 10-12 events screen televisions. per year. Raffle tickets are being sold for a travel “GCKH is such a great organization and we package to a Dallas Cowboys home game. thought it was an easy collaboration. The menu is Like Kostevicki and Rushing, event chairs customized and this is tailgating with a UPH flare,” Nikki Bell and Todd Thomson are among those Rushing said. who believe that it is important to support The exciting and unique menu includes: Buffalo GCKH’s mission to facilitate the investigation, TIFFANY WASHINGTON / BELLAMAGAZINE.COM Deviled Eggs with Crispy Chicken Skin, Whole prosecution and treatment of child abuse and Smoked Beer Can Chickens with White BBQ neglect and promote child abuse prevention Gulf Coast Kid’s House has teamed up Sauce, Sweet Potato Nachos, Pastrami and White awareness through community action. with Union Public House to create a new Cheddar Sliders with House Pickles and Hot event called Taste of Tailgating. This clever IF YOU GO Beer Mustard, Maple Spiced Apple Cobbler collaboration was born when the GCKH • What: Taste of Tailgating with Caramel Swirl Gelato and other unique fundraising team put their heads together to • When: 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Nov. 5 tailgating bites. plan a fun sports-themed event that would • Where: Union Public House, 309 S. Reus St, For an additional charge of $20 ($25 the appeal to both men and women. Pensacola day of), sports fans are invited to partake in Stacey Kostevicki, executive director at • Tickets: Call Carey Stabenau at 850-607-6851 or 850-607-6320 Raffle tickets for two sixth-row tickets to Dallas Cowboys home game • More Information: Visit unionpensacola. against Washington Redskins on Nov. 30, two Southwest Airlines tickets com or gckh.org; sponsorship packages are and two days hotel accommodations in Dallas are $100 and only 100 still available by calling GCKH at 850-595-5800. tickets are being sold. Purchase by calling GCKH at 850-595-5783.

New fundraiser combines football, food and craft cocktails

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