Pensacola Magazine, June 2020

HOME+GARDEN

Quarantine Projects Pensacola locals get creative

Hiking Scenic Pensacola Enjoy the Great Outdoors

Cºªstªl c Clªssi A Sophisticated Renovation

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Also in This issue:

BUSINESS CLIMATE ON THE MARKET

A Real Estate Section

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Editor’s Note I’ve always been enchanted with the historic Seville District in downtown Pensacola. The old homes, cute cafes and stately live oaks are full of southern charm and beauty. So, I was happy when we decided to feature the lovely home that Nancy and Terry Pope recently purchased and renovated with the help of interior designer Constance Crosby. The adorable creole cottage should be available as an Airbnb rental by the time we go to press, so be sure to keep it in mind for future visiting friends and relatives.

During this strange time, we’ve all had to adjust to the new normal of COVID-19 life.

Many people took the extra time at home to work on projects or to create safe events for the community. Dakota Parks takes a look at a few of those projects on page 17.

We’ve also profiled a local favorite on the restaurant scene—Marina Oyster Barn. Lilly Paradise tells the story of this East Pensacola Heights eatery, with photos by John Cary.

On a personal note, I’d like to thank everyone who reached out to me with condolences on the passing of my sweet mom, Mary Crosby. My mom was an amazing woman—smart, funny, kind and generous. She was a fantastic mom and the absolute best grandma in the world. Her sense of adventure and her love of the whimsical have given our family countless adventures and memories that will inform our lives, warm our hearts and nurture our souls for generations to come. I’ve talked about my mom frequently on these pages—sharing stories, recipes and photos. It’s no secret that she was my best friend, and navigating this loss during the pandemic has been difficult to say the least. While only time will soften the pain of her passing, the well wishes of friends, family and colleagues have certainly helped to alleviate the loneliness this pandemic adds to the mourning process.

So, thank you for all of your kind words.

I hope you and yours are staying safe and taking care of one another.

Beyond that, we have a list of hiking trails for safely enjoying the outdoors, gardening tips and some healthy treats for the kiddos.

Kelly Oden Executive Editor

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@pensacola_magazine

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Contents HIKING SCENIC PENSACOLA 13

Visit Pensacola profiles a few of Pensacola’s most scenic trails.

QUARANTINE PROJECTS

17

Pensacola locals share with us what projects they have been working on during quarantine.

BRING IN THE BIRDS WITH THESE WINNING PLANT VARIETIES 21 Tips for optimizing your bird garden.

SUPER SNACKERS

13

25

Healthier options for summer snacking.

17

MARINA OYSTER BARN OUTLIVES ANOTHER STORM 29 Local restaurant continues to serve it’s guests for 51 years.

COASTAL CLASSIC

35

A sophisticated renovation of a Seville District classic.

21

29

IN EVERY ISSUE Editor’s Letter 6 Page 10 with DeeDee Davis 10

SPECIAL SECTIONS Business Climate On the Market ON THE COVER:

213 Alcaniz photo by Guy Stevens

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MAGAZINE

JUNE 2020 Owners Malcolm Ballinger Publisher Malcolm Ballinger malcolm@ballingerpublishing.com Executive Editor Kelly Oden kelly@ballingerpublishing.com Art Director Guy Stevens guy@ballingerpublishing.com Graphic Designer/Ad Coordinator Garrett Hallbauer garrett@ballingerpublishing.com Editor Gina Castro ginac@ballingerpublishing.com Assistant Editor Dakota Parks dakota@ballingerpublishing.com Contributing Writers Melinda Myers DeeDee Davis Sean Smith Editorial Intern Lilly Paradise Sales & Marketing Paula Rode, Account Executive ext. 28 paula@ballingerpublishing.com Geneva Strange, Account Executive ext. 21 geneva@ballingerpublishing.com Becky Hildebrand, Account Executive ext. 31 becky@ballingerpublishing.com 314 N. Spring St. | Pensacola, FL 32501 850.433.1166 | fax: 850.435.9174 ballingerpublishing.com

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NW Florida’s Business Climate Magazine and Pensacola Magazine is locally owned and operated. All Rights Reserved. Reproduction or use of the contents herein is prohibited without written permission from the publisher. Comments and opinions expressed in this magazine represent the personal views of the individuals to whom they are attributed and/or the person identified as the author of the article, and they are not necessarily those of the publisher. This magazine accepts no responsibility for these opinions. The publisher reserves the right to edit all manuscripts. All advertising information is the responsibility of the individual advertiser. Appearance in this magazine does not necessarily reflect endorsement of any products or services

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PAGE 10 with DeeDee Davis

What Makes YOU Dance?

One of the people who had a lasting and unquestionably significant impact on my life was a young woman named Gardner Ann Garrett. I was six years old and my mother enrolled me in tap and ballet classes in her Montgomery, Alabama studio.

I suppose I must have twirled around the house enough that my astute mom thought she might channel that energy into something a bit more productive. Plus, I was pretty shy, and this would surely get me out of my shell. And did it ever. I don’t know how much dance lessons really did to make me more outgoing, but I will say this. One dance recital wearing satin and tulle, not to mention real makeup, and I was changed forever. I will never forget being dusted with some kind of skin glitter before taking the stage with the other girls in my class and thinking life couldn’t be any better. Pirouettes, chasses, deboules, and jetes. We all felt like prima ballerinas with the Bolshoi Ballet before switching into our Shirley Temple tap shoes for the big finale. Shuffle, hop, step! I can still hear the sounds, not necessarily in unison, of the taps on our black patent leather shoes as we tapped our little hearts out, looking, I’m sure, as if we were trying to scrape the varnish off the stage.

From the time I was three, I owned a pink jewelry box, courtesy of Santa Claus, that was home to a necklace or two. Far more important in that box was the pop-up ballerina that when wound up would spin to The Swan Song. I used to wind and watch her dance for hours at a time, imitating her permanent pose. Dance lessons were a dream come true. I eventually graduated to pointe class and my organized dance days were done. Pointe, for those who haven’t experienced this torture, is ballet with shoes that force you on your tippy toes. Childbirth is worse, but not by much.

10 Pensacola Magazine

You can’t help it. You simply become one with the music. Of course, there is a huge difference in doing this alone versus in a group setting. If everyone in the crowd is in the mood, you tend to feel invisible when you join in. Line dancing was born this way. However, YouTube is filled with invisible moments, and they ain’t pretty.

There is a dancer inside all of us. Network television obviously understands this well based on the success of the hit show Dancing With The Stars. It has filtered down to local charities that sponsor their own version of the show in ongoing efforts to raise much-needed funds. Granted, it is sometimes painful to watch a contestant writhe erratically through a routine. Lack of rhythm is a deal breaker if you plan to show your best steps to an audience. Someone needs to be honest after a rehearsal or two and then, let the chips fall where they may. It does take guts to perform publicly and all who are willing to sacrifice for a cause should be commended. Gallant efforts, however, are rarely appreciated by the masses. Dancing With The Stars is every bit as much about voting someone off the show as it is respect for talent.

Different things bring out our inner dancer.

Scoring a touchdown or catching a prize fish do it for some. And, under certain social circumstances, many of us let our hair down and dance as if we were rock stars. It is true that adult beverages may occasionally be involved in casting our inhibitions to the wind. But sometimes raw emotion simply takes over. Think wedding receptions. There is usually so much joy at these events that you can’t help but be expressive, especially after one too many glasses of celebratory champagne or a couple of tequila shots. Be honest. Aren’t there certain songs that make you move?

Dance lessons for adults are all the rage.

You can sign up for an instruction package at a studio such as our local Fred Astaire Dance Studio and come out with a pretty decent command of basic steps. Pros at these studios can work miracles with even the most challenged of students.

Additionally, the physical and psychological benefits are amazing. Obviously there is value because of the exercise. Just look at some of the celebrities who have danced on the television series and you can see how they positively improved their fitness levels. But dancing also relieves anxiety, boosts self- confidence, and provides a social outing. And after being quarantined for so long, dance lessons might just be the answer to losing those extra pounds.

And, you will be ready to show off your best moves once the dance opportunities with non-profits open back up.

My pink jewelry box was lost at some point over the years during one of our moves. Last year Santa, aka my husband, gave me a new one that is very similar to the original, only now the ballerina twirls to Lara’s Theme from Dr. Zhivago.

It still works the same magic.

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Hiking Scenic Pensacola

Visit Pensacola profiles a variety of unique hiking destinations—each one is a perfect way to safely enjoy the great outdoors.

By Sean Smith Courtesy of Visit Pensacola

IT’S ALL UP (LAND) FROM HERE Bay Bluffs Park Traveling through East Pensacola along Scenic Highway, you might notice the small parking lot with an attached boardwalk. Welcome to Bay Bluffs Park. It’s not really a nature hiking trail – more like a nature coffee break.

The boardwalk steps take you down the sandy bluffs to a shaded view of Escambia Bay – which is across the railroad tracks, and then back up the other side. It’s an extremely

short hike, or a hardcore steprunning loop for locals. Me? I like to take the dogs and sit in the shade for a sandwich and a beverage, watching the mullet jump and the occasional osprey plummet for mullet.

UWF Hiking Trails Just northeast of downtown Pensacola, the University of West Florida is perched on a remarkable habitat where Escambia Bay meets Escambia River, and the coast turns to upland. UWF offers hiking and biking trails on and around the campus, with open parking on weekends.

The UWF Edward Ball Nature Preserve Trail is a half-mile loop that takes you through Thompson’s Bayou – a hardwood swamp. But there are plenty of other trails to step out into the woods.

The West Campus Trails range from 1.75 miles to 12 miles.

These undulating narrow trails wind through creek beds and wooded inclines.

Some trails are accessible from off-campus and are frequented by mountain bikes and running groups and occasional equestrians (no moto-anything). It is upland Florida woodlands in some areas, and you can see the transition to the coastal habitat. There are lots of hills here, so remember to keep your water handy. Thankfully, you’re almost always in the shade under tree canopy.

BEACHY HIKES See the wildlife – Don’t tread on us! It’s beach nesting season and you can get an eyeful and an earful from the protected least terns and black skimmers that nest along our beaches

– especially in Gulf Islands National Seashore (Opal Beach, Fort Pickens, Johnson Beach.) Black skimmers, with their colorful orange bills and wide, sweeping albatross-like wings, soar at bell-height over the water to skim small fish and crustaceans. They can nest among the smaller least terns. Watch where you step though, these birds nest in tiny, clawed indentions in the sand. And please, stay clear of the marked nesting areas.

Sea turtles nest here, too!

Loggerhead, green sea turtles and the smaller Kemp-Ridleys crawl ashore at night during the spring and summer to dig a nest for 80-130 eggs, which they bury in the sand before crawling back to sea.

Volunteers and park staff patrol the beaches at dawn and will mark the nest. Please don’t disturb the nests. If you spot a disoriented turtle, contact Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission at 1-888-404-FWCC (3922), or *FWC on your cell phone.

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Hiking Scenic Pensacola PERDIDO KEY Big Lagoon State Park Tucked into rows of coastal subdivisions along Gulf Beach Highway are 700plus acres of natural coastal beauty and recreation. You’ve found Big Lagoon State Park.

It’s across the Intracoastal Waterway from its federal park cousin, Johnson’s Beach, which is part of Gulf Islands National Seashore.

Some five miles of walking trails take you along boardwalks over saltwater marshes to sandy pine flatwoods. Beaches, shallow bays, palmetto-lined trails and open woodlands let you experience natural Northwest Florida. Take a break from all that hiking and rent a canoe!

Johnson Beach You might see the name Gulf Islands National Seashore a lot. That’s because it’s actually a series of national seashore/ parks from Santa Rosa Island to Mississippi. Johnson Beach is

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the eastern tip of Perdido Key, and it provides an unspoiled coastal habitat with the Gulf on one side and the protected waterways of the Intracoastal on the other. You can walk along either shore and enjoy the Gulf and the waterway that leads into Pensacola Bay.

pushed the storm surge through. The park has recently rebuilt the roadway farther from shore, so it will allow more protection to the road and more undisturbed habitat for the shorebirds that nest here. If you’re driving, watch for curves that might not be on your GPS yet.

Take the Discovery Nature Trail, a half-mile boardwalk leading through dunes, pine trees and salt marsh. Better yet, hop over to the beach side and walk around the point.

It’s a good four miles, and you can see the transition from Gulf-side to bay-side habitats.

There are some beach lots to park along the way. And at the fort and ranger station, there are more trails that lead through the campgrounds and along the beach. The fort itself is worth the trip. Hiking it makes the trip unforgettable.

PENSACOLA BEACH

THE SWAMP HIKE

Fort Pickens

Tarkiln Bayou Preserve State Park

Up for a long hike along the Gulf of Mexico, or a short loop along Civil War relics?

Fort Pickens has it all. It’s about seven miles of unbroken beach one way from the Fort Pickens gate to the sea wall.

See steep dunes and breached areas where the hurricanes

Dubbed the Perdido Pitcher Plant Prairie, Tarkiln Bayou is a haven and homeland for rare pitcher plants, which reside in the boggy wetlands.

They emit a sweet scent that insects find attractive until the insects get trapped inside the plant’s sticky throat and

become lunch. The red blooms and white tops of the pitcher plants fire up in April – a spectacular sight. Osprey and bald eagle roam the skies and maybe, if you’re skulking around sunrise or sunset you could spot a secretive bobcat.

The preserve also has two hiking choices: Tarkiln Bayou Trail – A half-mile ADA-accessible trail with a sidewalk and elevated boardwalk that meanders through a prairie, cypress and swamp scrub, leading to an observation area with a scenic view of the bayou.

Perdido Bay Trail – It’s more than six miles of trails lined with oak and pine leading to the beaches along Perdido Bay. You’ll cross creek beds and muddy areas, so not a great place for your Cole Haan loafers.

From beaches to swamps to rugged woody hills, you’re never far from a nature hike in Pensacola!

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Quarantine Projects

by Dakota Parks

When the entire world goes into lockdown, everyone suddenly has a lot of free time on their hands. Free time for some people might mean board games, puzzles, Netflix and snacks, but for others, it’s picking up a new hobby, planting a garden or starting a community-based project. Whether they’re meant for the community or just the fruit of someone’s labor, quarantine projects have started to flood the Internet as people share their DIY creativity. In an attempt to spread some positivity and joy amidst the panic and fear associated with COVID-19, we asked Pensacola to share with us what they’ve been doing with their free time, and Pensacola delivered. Here are just a few great projects people have been working on at home and within the community.

Porch Concerts Abigail Walker is a lifelong musician, a music teacher at Creative Learning Academy, a prior adjunct professor at UWF and PSC and a bassoon player for the Pensacola Symphony Orchestra. She has played in the symphony since she was 14 years old, although she left for college and returned.

With the majority of her concert season cancelled, Walker was walking through her neighborhood in East Hill with her children and her ukulele, when she realized that she wanted to bring music to her neighborhood.

Armed with her bassoon and social media, Walker posted on the East Hill Facebook page and sparked what would become a neighborhood-wide

network of quarantine porch concerts.

“We just moved to East Hill in November, and it’s an incredible neighborhood, but I hadn’t gotten to know my neighbors yet or how to even connect with them in the first place, and suddenly it’s a global pandemic,” Walker explained. “I still feel like I’ve gotten closer to my neighbors than I ever could have imagined.”

Neighbors would post their cross streets and what time they were playing and put on a concert for pedestrians walking, biking and jogging past. The first week after she posted about it, Walker said there were six or seven people playing music, singing and bringing out amps, keyboards, Trombones—a wide variety of genres

and instruments.

Suddenly people were sharing their artwork, books, even photos of gardens and trees.

“So many people see music as comfort and healing, and Pensacola

Abigail Walker playing her bassoon on her porch for pedestrians. it was the space I needed to be in. I needed to be out there for myself, and I just wanted to spread that same comfort to other people.”

Jamey Jones reading a poem from his home in the Open Books virtual poetry reading. has such a strong music community—especially our symphony,” Walker said. “Musicians train year-round for their concert season. Once, I got out on the porch, even with the kids interrupting me asking about Zoom or wanting their iPad back, I knew

Virtual Poetry Open Mic Christopher Satterwhite is a writer, UWF English professor, co-founder of Open Books & The Prison Book Project, as well as a co-founder for the 309 Punk

Museum Project. Open Books is a non-profit, volunteer-run bookstore which supports the Prison Book Project.

Since 2000, the Prison Book Project has been sending thousands of books to inmates in the Florida prison system.

When Open Books made the decision to temporarily shut down for quarantine, they also knew their upcoming events and fundraisers would have to be cancelled. Through the power of social media and the collection of local poets, Satterwhite explained that they put together a virtual open mic to spread some creativity and showcase their organization on patreon.com.

“All proceeds from the bookstore go towards paying postage to send books to people JUNE '20

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talking to people, even strangers—that used to make me uncomfortable when I was kid. She just had this impact on everyone she met.”

Lauren Gund's mural she painted on her back yard fence

in prison, so with the bookstore being shut down, we’re trying to be creative. The virtual open mic was the best way we could be creative and be safe,” Satterwhite said. “We wanted to make the video because it’s a really depressing time for a lot of people.

We also like to think of ourselves as a cultural center and believe that literature in its broadest terms is important for society and that poetry is the closest you can get to the heart. We just wanted to showcase the heart in all of us and give some people hope.”

As Satterwhite explained, prisoners can receive books from only publishers or booksellers, so they operate the program through Open Books and send around 600 books a month, which cost around $1 a book to send.

“After 20 years of operating this program, that means we’ve been essentially building libraries within the prison system,” 18 Pensacola Magazine

Satterwhite said. “Prison libraries tend to be underfunded, small and unreflective of the reading styles of inmates.

For all the book lovers out there, that have encountered that one book that has changed their lives, imagine being in prison where you have no access to books—we're trying to give them access and change their lives.”

Satterwhite explained that Open Books will need book donations and volunteers eventually, but until they catch up on letters, the best way to support them is through small donations. You can view the virtual poetry open mic and support Open Books at www.patreon. com/openbooks.

Painted Mural on N. Reus St. Lauren Gund has lived in Pensacola for the past five and half years and works for the civil engineering firm Mott MacDonald. Gund has

worked in graphic design and always considered herself a creative person—although not a painter. She wanted to do something to spread positivity in the community, and when she realized her backyard fence was the closest thing to a free billboard, she designed and painted the Everything Will Be Ok mural located on N. Reus St. across from Gulf Winds Credit Union.

Although Gund set out to spread positivity during quarantine with her mural, she explained that the mural also became a commemoration for her mother that passed away unexpectedly two years ago.

“My mother was such a loving, caring and positive person.

Her entire career was centered around helping people: working for the Department of Health, hospice, different health organizations—she was even a lawyer and a nurse—just kind of a badass,” Gund said. “She was always

While Gund was painting the mural across two weekends, she quickly saw the community’s reaction, people stopping their cars in the street to talk to her, walking by every day to see the progress, taking photos. One woman even stopped to tell her she had just lost her job that day and needed to see that message.

Mellissa Callaway working with her Glowforge to make ear savers for essential workers.

“I was just trying to get the paint up there so people could see it, but I didn’t realize the actual process of painting would be such an incredible gift.

I just met so many people. I was trying to give the community a gift; meanwhile, the community was giving me a gift—a very unexpected one,” Gund explained.

3D Laser Printed Ear Savers Mellissa Callaway moved to Pensacola in 2000 from Orlando.

She sarted her own hand lettering business Scripted Calling at the end of 2018. She uses a Glowforge 3D laser cutter to engrave or cut materials to be sold on her Etsy shop. Callaway wanted to do something to help during the pandemic, and when Glowforge announced their Two Million

Essential Ears Initiative, she began producing ear savers that are designed to alleviate the pain and soreness healthcare workers encounter when wearing masks for their entire 12-hour shifts.

“Most people are going stir crazy right now, but they have this overwhelming desire to help. As a Glowforge owner, this was my way to give back just a little bit,” Callaway said. “I kept seeing the commercials and videos of healthcare workers,

research different options for wood and drainage, but she is happy with the product of her first solo project. She currently has zucchini, peppers, tomatoes, basil and cilantro growing.

Rebekah Snyder building and planting vegetables outside her studio apartment.

and I could tell there was so much stress and pain being caused to their ears and faces from the masks that are supposed to protect them so they can protect us. I knew that if this is all I could do, then I was willing to do it.”

Callaway explained that the design is already prefabricated.

One sheet of material produces around 100 ear savers. The ear saver is placed on the back of the neck and holds both sides of the face mask to take stress off the worker’s ears.

If you are an essential worker and want to receive free ear savers, visit forms.glowforge. com/request to fill out the request form and find a manufacturer near you.

Raised Planter Box Rebekah Snyder, rooftop technician for Audobon

Florida, spends most of her time on the Panhandle shorelines and gravel rooftops working with state threatened birds that nest on the beaches and are often disturbed and destroyed by humans. While her job remained essential, she lost all volunteer help in the field resulting in her workload increasing.

As a way to destress and settle into her new studio apartment near Bayou Grande, she built a raised planter box during quarantine.

“I grew up with a large family garden in Pennsylvania and made my first garden box in college. Since living here, I have missed that part of being back home: spending eight hours weeding a tomato patch, going out back to pick some fresh herbs for dinner,” Snyder said.

“I wasn't able to make anything like this at my old apartment in town, so after moving to my new place, I was excited to be able to build a garden box and get back to my hobbies.

Gardening is very good for your mind and soul.”

Snyder said if she were to build another, she may

“My box is 8'x2' but I followed the same instructions available online as a square box. I also got a lot of advice from Elizabeth, the master gardener at From the Ground Up Community Garden,” Snyder explained. “She was able to talk me through my concerns about drainage, which plants are good to start with at what point in the season, soil differences,

etc. The community garden is a great asset.”

Vegetable Garden Devin Michael Patrick, 23, is a Pensacola local and a seasonal traveler that has visited 36 countries and counting.

He lives and works in the Pensacola area during the busy tourist season at various resorts

and restaurants, then spends the off season traveling the globe.

When the quarantine shutdowns resulted in him being laid off work, Patrick took the time to catch up on some reading and gardening.

“My grandmother had a big garden. She would grow gourds and then make crafts out of them.

It was so cool—grandma growing her own arts and crafts— like using the garden to make something that could literally last forever,” Patrick said. “Unlike someone renting, I’m committed to this space, and it’s really special to me watching

planting over 20 varieties of herbs, vegetables and fruit. He explained that he used seeds for the easy to grow plants like pumpkins, squash, and corn but purchased prepackaged starters for the types he finds tough to sprout like peppers and watermelon. His advice for new gardeners is to start small and not get discouraged if plants die.

“If you just start with one plant and work up, then it just becomes natural because you spend time with your plants and learn how to take better care of them,” Patrick said. “I think that's what makes it fun. Gardening is just

Devin Michael Patrick tending to his garden and vegetable harvest during quarantine.

the transformation. I decided while I had the time I might as well double the size of the garden and try out some new varieties.”

After tilling the space for the garden and waiting for the last frost of the season, Patrick took to

about loving plants, spending time with your plants and tending to your plants. It's not a big deal—you're just doing it until it becomes second nature.”

•

JUNE '20

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heat and drought it grows 3 to 5 feet tall and its green leaves turn purple in the sunlight. Twelve-inch-long flower spikes top the plant, making it the perfect thriller in container gardens, backdrop in flowerbeds or addition to garden bouquets. But you’ll want to leave most of the flowers on the plants to produce seeds that bring in the birds.

Bring in the Birds with These Winning Plant Varieties

by Melinda Myers

Fill your gardens with beautiful plants that produce an abundance of seeds the birds will love. You’ll enjoy the flowers as well as the birds that visit to dine on the seeds. Best of all, there is no feeder to refill or clean.

Sunflowers are likely the first seedproducing plant that comes to mind.

Their dark brown centers turn to seeds that attract a wide variety of birds and, of course, squirrels to your yard. Add a unique flare to your sunflower collection with the AllAmerica Selections (AAS) winner Sunflower Ring of Fire. Its chocolate brown center is surrounded by a ring of red petals tipped in gold. The four- to five-feet-tall plants reach their peak late in the season, adding a fresh look to any flowerbed.

AAS Winner Purple Majesty Millet is another bird magnet. Tolerant of

Another group of AAS Winners, the Salvia Summer Jewel™ series, bloom earlier and more prolifically than other similar varieties on the market. You can choose from white, pink, red and lavender flowers that attract butterflies and hummingbirds. And as their flowers turn to seeds, you will find colorful goldfinches flocking to the plants.

Coneflowers are well known for their bird appeal. Our native purple and pale purple coneflowers are always a good choice, but a few relatively new hardy varieties increase the color options for gardeners. The 2020 AAS Winner Sombrero® Baja Burgundy was trialed for three years, survived brutal winter and summer conditions and continued to produce deep-violetred flowers midsummer to frost.

Cheyenne Spirit Echinacea produces a mix of purple, pink, red and orange flowers while PowWow Wild Berry’s compact plants are topped with deep rose-purple flowers. Start these two from seed in early spring and be rewarded with colorful flowers the first summer.

A popular companion of coneflowers, black-eyed Susans, are sure to add

JUNE '20

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a bright spot of color to any garden.

And as the flowers fade, they provide an abundance of seed for birds to enjoy fall through winter. The 2020 AAS Winner American Gold Rush provides all the beauty plus a resistance to Septoria leaf spot disease.

Longtime favorite flowers like cosmos, coreopsis, marigolds and zinnias also help bring in the seed-eating birds. Select single flowered varieties for maximum seed production. Radiance and Cosmic Orange cosmos, Sahara Starlight and the Profusion series of zinnias are a few outstanding performers to consider.

Ornamental Millet, or Purple Majesty

Look for other award-winning varieties that attract seed-eating birds, hummingbirds and other pollinators to your garden on the AAS website (all-americaselections.org). AAS is a non-profit trialing organization with test gardens and volunteer

judges across the United States and Canada. Winners are selected for their outstanding performance in home gardens and containers.

Increase your garden’s beauty, decrease maintenance and bring in the birds with a few of these winning flower varieties.

About the Author Melinda Myers has written more than 20 gardening books, including Small Space Gardening. She hosts The Great Courses “How to Grow Anything” gardening DVD series and the nationally syndicated Melinda’s Garden Moment TV & radio segments.

Myers is a columnist and contributing editor for Birds & Blooms magazine and was commissioned by AAS for her expertise to write this article. Myers’ web site is www.melindamyers.com.

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Let kids get hands-on with healthy, easy treats Snacks are a way of life for people of all ages, but especially children, who consume about 25% of their daily calories from snacks, according to research published in the “Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior.” Providing nutritionally balanced snacks for your children at home can make for a happy and healthy day.

Planning snacks that are as delicious as they are healthy is a winning solution, and snacks are a simple way to add more nutrition to your child’s diet.

For example, low-fat and fat-free dairy foods are essential to children’s growth and overall wellness. They provide calcium and vitamin D, two nutrients kids don’t get enough of, according to the

2015 Dietary Guidelines for Americans. The guidelines recommend 2-3 servings of low-fat and fat-free dairy foods every day, depending on the child’s age.

Giving kids a role in the preparation can give them added incentive to enjoy healthy treats, and these recipes are all easy enough that kids can make them on their own (or with minimal assistance). Giving your kids the ability to play a role in the kitchen and create is a gift that can last a lifetime. The culinary skills they develop early in life can give them the confidence and know-how to cook nutritious meals for themselves as teens and adults.

Get more ideas to get kids cooking and snacking smart at milkmeansmore.org.

Red, White and Blue Greek Yogurt Bark Prep time: 5 minutes Servings: 12 3 1/3 1 1/2 1/2 1/2

cups plain non-fat Greek yogurt cup honey, plus additional for drizzling (optional) teaspoon vanilla cup strawberries, sliced into rounds cup blueberries cup raspberries, halved

In medium mixing bowl combine Greek yogurt, 1/3 cup honey and vanilla.

On parchment paper-lined baking sheet, spread Greek yogurt mixture to 1/4-inch thickness. Press strawberries, blueberries and raspberries into yogurt. Freeze at least 3 hours. Break into pieces upon removing from freezer.

DAIRY: DID YOU KNOW? Dairy foods can add taste and versatility to your plate, but they also deliver a unique package of essential nutrients important for good health.

Milk has a unique combination of nine essential nutrients: protein; calcium; potassium; phosphorus; vitamins A, D and B12; riboflavin and niacin. Each of these nutrients is a key ingredient of milk and they all work together to help keep bodies healthy.

Milk, cheese and yogurt are good sources of high-quality protein, which is essential for growth and maintenance of muscle and other proteins within the body.

Enjoying dairy foods like milk, cheese and yogurt as part of a healthy diet is associated with many health bonuses, including reduced risk of heart disease, Type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure.

Peanut Butter Yogurt Dip Prep time: 5 minutes Servings: 4 3/4 1/4 1

cup vanilla Greek yogurt cup peanut butter dash cinnamon apples, graham crackers or other dipper of choice

In bowl, six Greek yogurt, peanut butter and cinnamon until smooth.

Serve with apples, graham crackers or another dipper of choice.

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Frozen Banana Pops Prep time: 2 hours Servings: 8 4 8 2

large bananas, peeled wooden ice pop sticks cups vanilla non-fat Greek yogurt 1/2 cup creamy natural peanut butter Cut each banana in half and carefully insert wooden ice pop stick in bottom of each, about one-third into banana. Place bananas on large baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Freeze bananas until partially frozen, about 30 minutes.

Carefully dip each banana in tall pint glass of vanilla yogurt

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26 Pensacola Magazine

to coat, leaving 1/2-inch at bottom of banana uncoated.

Return yogurt-coated bananas to parchment paperlined baking sheet and freeze until completely firm, about 1 hour.

Microwave peanut butter until smooth and creamy, about 30-45 seconds. Drizzle peanut butter evenly over bananas then place on baking sheet to freeze until peanut butter is firm, about 30 minutes.

Serve immediately or wrap each banana in plastic wrap and store in freezer up to 3 months.

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Marina Oyster Barn Outlives Another Storm

by Lilly Paradise photos by John W. Cary

Southern hospitality, delicious seafood and sparkling blue water are things you can expect to see at the Marina Oyster Barn here in Pensacola, Florida. Since 1969, Dale Rooks has made it his mission to serve genuine smiles and locally caught oysters to his guests.

Rooks began shucking oysters when he was 16. “Back in high school, my father and uncle taught me. My uncle used to shuck them barehanded, which is tough,” Rooks said. Rooks took over the restaurant after his mother's death and continued to offer excellent customer service in honor of the amazing woman who raised him.

Celebrating 51 years of business, Rooks explained the history of the restaurant and how this local hidden treasure has grown over time.

“My mom and dad opened it in the early 60s. It was a marina and they sold fish, tackle and stuff like that,” Rooks said. “We had oysters for 80 cents a dozen, gumbo and then had a bar on the weekends. It just took off from there.”

If you’ve been to the Marina Oyster Barn, you know the phrase "Topless Oysters” is found throughout the restaurant on t-shirts and koozies to signifying the restaurant's main dish. “My dad was always a little corny, but back when I was

about your age, my dad had a sign up that said 'Topless Oysters’, but some college kids stole it, and we haven’t got the sign back. Since then, that phrase has just been a part of our restaurant,” Rooks said.

The Marina Oyster Barn endured hurricane after hurricane over the years.

Since the grand opening, Rooks made sure that no matter what came his way, he would protect the business at all costs.

“We’ve been through a lot like the oil spill and Hurricane Ivan, which was the JUNE '20

29

worst. We were closed for three and a half months,” Rooks said. “Every time water comes in here from a hurricane, it leaves a ring around the building where the water recedes. I kept a record of it in my books of how high each hurricane was.”

Just picture it, an entire restaurant almost underwater from a category 5 hurricane.

When you walk in, there is a display of how high each hurricane was on the wall.

Rooks described how scary the situation was and how hard it was to come back from such a destructive storm. “I will never forget my mother crying after seeing the damage,” Rooks said. But with the help of his supportive staff, they survived one of the most dangerous hurricanes to ever enter the Gulf of Mexico.

Little did they know, another storm was brewing. COVID-19 put a pause on business and tested everyone's patience, especially regulars who couldn’t get enough of the mullet. A hurricane let alone a pandemic was not going to stop 30 Pensacola Magazine

Rooks from keeping his humble abode alive. Rooks made it his priority to re-open the business in the safest way possible. With time and cooperation, the business was up and running again, and to-go orders were skyrocketing.

As a restaurant owner, Rooks does whatever it takes to make the people who dine in feel like family. Regulars come in weekly and never get tired of

the fresh seafood and endless generosity.

“We have had a lot of customers over the years, but you know with older people, we tend to see some pass away which is very sad. They just love the place,” Rooks said. What makes this local spot special is the connections made with guests. Getting to know the people who sit at your booths not only

contributes to the growth of a business but also adds authenticity and sparks conversations that can make a guests’ day.

Antique photographs and seashells cover the walls of the Marina Oyster Barn, encompassing a relaxing laid back environment. Everyone that works here loves what they do and takes pride in friendly customer service. “We don’t have much turnover with servers here, which they like because they end up making a good amount of money,” Rooks said. “One of the girls that just left here went to work at Yellowstone Park. She had been with us for a while and said she had never seen such a compassionate crowd that would come into a place like this, and that if you’re in Pensacola this is the place to go.”

Kim, a waitress that has been working at the Marina Oyster Barn for 24 years, expressed how rewarding her job is. “I get

a lot out of being a server, I can’t imagine doing anything else,” Kim said. “I like when the people have babies and then get to hear about it and see them grow up.”

One thing that makes this restaurant authentic is the old photographs that cover the walls. Each photo has a background story and contributes to the local feel people love. “My favorite thing in this restaurant has to be the picture of Miss Jane because she owned this place and passed it on to Dale when she died two years ago,” Kim said.

John W. Cary, a photojournalist based out of New York and Florida, has been a photographer for forty years. He was raised in Pensacola and has been friends with Rooks since he was a kid. Cary remembers going to the Marina Oyster Barn before it was even a restaurant.

“It’s a family thing. When I was young I would go there and his father would be

working in the bait shop, and we would get snacks and hang around there,” Cary said. “Dale is a very nice, very happy, long time friend, he is just a wonderful person and we have a good time.”

“I left New York because of the coronavirus and I wanted to get away, I told Dale I wanted to shoot some photos of what was going on down there,” Cary said. “I want to capture the unobtrusive moments.” He captivated smiles, laughs, couples outside eating during quarantine, and even Rooks granddaughter dressed as a princess.

As a guest in Rook’s restaurant, Cary never gets enough of the delicious oysters and superior customer service. “It’s a small intimate southern restaurant on the bayou, you don’t find these types of places outside the Gulf Coast region,” said Cary.

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Cºªstªl c Clªssi A Sophisticated Renovation

by Kelly Oden • photos by Guy Stevens

W

HEN NANCY AND TERRY POPE bought their 1850’s two-story Creole Cottage on Alcaniz, they were attracted to the home’s location in the historic Seville District as well as its proximity to Seville Square and the burgeoning restaurant scene on and around Palafox Street. “We were really enchanted with Seville,” Nancy said. “The historical part of it just spoke to us.”

The Popes did some research and found that the house was first purchased by a gentleman who

operated a dry goods store on there. “He bought it right after he got married and then we know they left the area and went to Mexico during the Civil War,“ Nancy said. “We're not sure what happened after that.”

With the help of local interior designer, Constance Crosby, the Popes updated the three bedroom, twobath home with modern décor and conveniences while leaving the original integrity still intact.

Exterior

The original wrought iron gate features floral medallions, which were hand painted in historic colors by local artist Cindy Mathis. Crosby and the Popes chose to order custom-made, gas-fueled, copper wall sconces from New Orleans to illuminate the long, southern porch.

For privacy, they also added an etched glass cover to the original front door windows.

The Pope’s purchased the home to use as an Airbnb and hope to rent it out for small

36 Pensacola Magazine

wedding parties as well. “This is a premier location for that,” Nancy said. “Walking access was very important to us. You can just walk out the door and hit four or five restaurants, you’re half a block from Seville Square, you're two blocks off of Palafox and you can hop in your car and be at the beach really quickly.”

JUNE '20

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Living Room For the interior look and feel, Crosby said the Popes really wanted a sophisticated coastal cottage feel.

“We used light blues grays – kind of reflecting the colors of the area,” Crosby said. “We wanted colors that advanced the light in the house, which had been really dark before.

The lighter colors make the rooms look larger and Nancy wanted a variety of colors. We found a wonderful palette that would work through each bedroom as a different color.” The living room ceiling had been lowered to accommodate the air conditioning, but the Popes decided to raised it back up and expose the original wood ceiling.

The shiplap walls and original pine floors add too the historic charm.

Plus, it’s extremely functional. “It's just a comfortable functional living 38 Pensacola Magazine

area,” Crosby said. “We tried to make everything as maintenancefree for Nancy and Terry. The rug is very soft, but it’s polypropylene, so you can just hose it down. The sofa is not leather. It's a faux leather, but it looks and feels like leather.

The fabrics we've used are called smart fabrics, which means they're easy to clean and maintain. We've tried to be consistent with that throughout the house, so this is as easy as possible to maintain.”

The Popes also wanted to include local artists in the design and they succeeded. Each room features pieces by a variety of local artists including Frank Abbott, Cindy Mathis, Pat Reagan and more.

Kitchen

The kitchen and dining combo can easily accommodate eight people at the table. A separate coffee bar helps keep traffic out of the cooking area.

Stainless steel appliances and glass flecked solid surface countertops offer convenience while the farmhouse sink and geometric porcelain backsplash keep the historic charm in place.

A large oyster painting by Cindy Mathis sets the mood for this coastal kitchen. “We love the oysters,” Nancy said. “That was just the perfect piece.”

“It’s a very traditional kitchen,” Crosby said. “It's not a trendy look. I wanted to keep it very open and bright and give it a little bit of a farmhouse feel. For easy maintenance, we used faux leather again on the chairs and the polypropylene rug in a soft palate.

I think the table makes a real statement in here, too.

It’s very functional with a great design.”

JUNE '20

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Bedrooms Each of the three bedrooms features a different color scheme pulled from the local art hanging over the bed.

Each is coastal themed in its own way. One pulls the nautical blue from local historic maps while another pulls coastal marshland colors from a Pat Reagan painting. The third bedroom is the only one with a television and it pulls bright pops of color from another Pat Reagan painting. The custom-built Mennonite closets are beautifully built and extremely functional. Solid wood furniture and easy to clean polypropylene rugs finish out the rooms.

40 Pensacola Magazine

Bathrooms & Laundry

One bathroom features a stunningly large walk in shower with beautiful mirrored tile accents. Local ceramics artist, Sue Woodson created custom, color matched ceramics to adorn the walls of each bathroom.

The laundry room features custom murals by Cindy Mathis and doubles as a dressing room for bridal parties or special occasions.

JUNE '20

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Community News Support Downtown Businesses during 'Sunday Strolls' in May and June A section of Palafox Street in downtown Pensacola will be closed to vehicle traffic for "Sunday Strolls" every Sunday in June to promote safe outdoor retail and restaurant activities to support local businesses. Palafox Street from Garden Street to Main Street will be closed to vehicle traffic from 10 am to 9 pm every Sunday.

Closing the street to vehicular traffic will provide additional space for downtown visitors to more easily practice social distancing while supporting local businesses.

Residents are encouraged to come support local restaurants and businesses as they enter economic recovery, but everyone should continue to follow guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. Individuals who are sick or who are at a higher risk for severe illness from COVID-19 are encouraged to stay home.

First Sea Turtle Nest of the Season at Gulf Islands National Seashore Biologists at Gulf Islands National Seashore have identified the first sea turtle nests of the season at Gulf Islands National Seashore. The nests were discovered May 22 at the park's Perdido Key Area. A total of three nests were identified in the area by park biologists.

Each year, beginning in mid-May and ending in late summer, the seashore provides some of the best nesting habitat for several species of sea turtle, most commonly the loggerhead sea turtle but Kemp’s ridley, green and on occasion

leatherback sea turtles do nest within the seashore. Adult and hatchling sea turtles are distracted or disoriented by man-made artificial light sources which draw them away from the Gulf of Mexico and inland. These disoriented turtles often die from dehydration, are preyed upon by coyotes, ghost crabs, or sometimes crawl onto roads or parking lots where they are run over by cars.

“By turning off excess outdoor lights and installing sea turtle friendly lights, we can all help to protect nesting and hatching sea turtles,” said Superintendent Dan Brown. Park staff and volunteers are monitoring park beaches daily for nesting and hatching activity as the season progresses. If you see a sea turtle at night, keep your distance and keep all lights off (including flash lights and flash photography).

James M. Cox Foundation Donates $25,000 to Feeding the Gulf Coast Cox Communications and Cox Automotive are working together to help feed families in Northwest Florida through Feeding the Gulf Coast with a $25,000 donation from The James M. Cox Foundation. The grant will support local families in need during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The pandemic has caused economic strain for so many in our community, and we’ve been impressed with how our local food banks are taking care of the most vulnerable among us,” said David Deliman, market vice president for the Cox Gulf Coast market. “We are proud to support the food bank in their mission to ensure none of our friends and neighbors in Northwest Florida go without food.”

“Since March 13, Feeding the Gulf Coast has provided more than 5.7 million meals

to our communities as we continue to serve during this time of increased need due to COVID-19,” said Cyndy Baggett, Vice President of Development and Marketing of Feeding the Gulf Coast.

“For every dollar, Feeding the Gulf Coast can provide five meals to those experiencing food insecurity along the Central Gulf Coast. We are so grateful to receive $25,000 which will help us provide 125,000 meals to those in need.”

The James M. Cox Foundation is the charitable arm of Cox Enterprises, the parent company of Cox Communications and Cox Automotive. In response to the growing strain on feeding the community, the foundation announced a $25,000 donation to support people in need where Cox employees live and work.

Pensacola Humane Society Tent Sale Set for June 13 Funds will go to shelter upgrades and critical animal care Join the Pensacola Humane Society on Saturday, June 13, from 8 am – 12 pm in which we clear out our storage areas!

You’ll find bargain prices on carriers, crates, beds, harnesses, leashes, toys and many more gently used items for your pets. Proceeds will help fund shelter equipment and critical medical care costs.

The sale will be held outdoors at the shelter, located at 5 North Q Street, Pensacola, FL 32505. For more information visit pensacolahumane.org.

Park at OWA Reopens June 5 OWA will officially reopen its amusement park, on Friday, June 5, 2020 at 11 am. The reopening will incorporate enhanced health and safety measures that were developed based on guidance from the CDC and health officials.

JUNE '20

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Heightened health and safety measures are being implemented for guests and team members to ensure the well being of everyone visiting OWA. The new policies will include health screenings for guests before entering The Park at OWA, installation of additional hand sanitizing stations throughout the resort, enhanced cleaning and sanitization practices, and added signage to encourage social distancing.

“Our entire team has worked tirelessly the past few months to get The Park ready for guests. We are excited to see guests enjoying the rides and share special family moments once again,” said Kristin Hellmich, OWA’s Director of Marketing/PR said. “We have always taken great pride in our Parks’ safety and cleanliness. The upcoming Park reopening will be no exception as we continue to implement recommended health and safety practices to ensure our guests have a great experience.”

Additional steps are being added to accommodate social distancing, such as limiting the number of guests allowed in the amusement park at one time.

Come out to OWA for thrilling rides, unique foods and genuinely fun times all around. For more information regarding the amusement park, restaurants, retailers or entertainment venues at OWA, go to www.VisitOWA.com.

The Allstate Foundation Presented a Helping Hands Grant of $20K to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwest Florida in Recognition of School Supply Drive Project On Tuesday, May 26, The Allstate Foundation presented a Helping Hands Grant of $20,000 to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwest Florida (BBBSNWFL) in recognition of a school supply drive orchestrated by 44 Pensacola Magazine

local Allstate agents from Pensacola to Panama City. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and with respect to social distancing, this check presentation took place virtually over Zoom with participating agents throughout Northwest Florida and the BBBSNWFL staff. This gift will support BBBSNWFL’s many programs and services, which continue to change the lives of children from Pensacola to Panama City.

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Melissa Kenner, a BBBSNWFL Governing Board member, rallied local Allstate agents from Pensacola to Panama City to conduct a school supply drive at each office throughout BBBSNWFL's five county service area. She said, "I'm very proud to work for a corporation who gives back and encourages agents to volunteer. This is my third year leading a group grant project with my fellow agents in Northwest Florida and this gives me so much joy knowing we are making an impact in our local communities."

WE WILL CONTINUE WITH CURBSIDE SERVICE Starting May 25 we will begin to see patients in the office again.

Please call 438-4092 for an appointment.

"We are so thankful for Melissa's drive and determination to engage agents in the Panhandle through the support of needed school supplies." Said President & CEO, Paula Shell. "Even through the restrictions placed on everyone with COVID-19, she didn't let that stop her.

She rallied her fellow agents and stood firm with a commitment to impact our Littles' lives. Thank you to her and to the Allstate Foundation for believing in our mission and vision to change lives."

To learn more about Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwest Florida, please visit bbbsnwfl.org or call 850.433.5437.

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48 Pensacola Magazine

SPECIAL SECTION

Magazine

June 2020

50. Business Owners, Community Leaders Strategize Ways to Cope with COVID-19

56 Around the Region Find out what is happening in business, government and cultural news in the greater Pensacola area and Northwest Florida.

JUNE '20

49

BUSINESS OWNERS, COMMUNITY LEADERS STRATEGIZE WAYS TO COPE WITH COVID-19

BY GINA CASTRO

COVID-19 is a virus that is spread person to person through the air and contact with contaminated surfaces.

Because this virus has the ability to spread rapidly, CDC recommended that people practice social distancing, wear face masks and wash their hands frequently. To comply with safety regulations, businesses across Florida were shut down for almost two months. During the shut down, some businesses, like restaurants and breweries, were able to support themselves through curbside pickup.

While other businesses, like hair salons and gyms, were forced to close entirely.

Gov. Ron DeSantis lifted the shut down on May 1, and Phase 1 of reopening Florida launched May 4 and was placed into full effect May 18. Restaurants, retail stores, gyms, museums and libraries are able to serve customers indoors at up to 50 percent capacity. Hair salons, barbershops and nail salons were able to open on May 11 at a limited capacity and must allow at least 15 minutes between customers for proper disinfecting practices.

Before 9/11, travelling through an airport was simple. You could meet loved ones at the gate and airport security was just a metal detector. Airports changed drastically after that tragic attack. In fact, that tragedy is the main reason TSA was established. Now a virus has attacked the world and is reshaping the hospitality industry as we know it.

50 NWFL’s Business Climate

Hair salons like Salon San Carlos are going the extra mile to ensure that their clients and staff remain safe during this pandemic. Salon San Carlos posted a COVID-19 specific list of safety and health guidelines to its website. Its guidelines state that clients and staff must wear masks, services will be by appointment only and that clients must wait in their vehicle until the salon notifies them to enter the building.

As for vacation rentals, DeSantis stated that counties may seek approval to operate vacation rentals by submitting a written request and county vacation rental safety plan to the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation.

Bars, pubs and nightclubs with at least 50 percent of sales from alcohol

will remain closed until Phase 2.

The City of Pensacola, the Downtown Improvement Board (DIB), the Greater Pensacola Chamber, Visit Pensacola and Quint Studer came together at the Blue Wahoo Stadium May 12 to discuss strategies with the community to help businesses stay afloat. The City recently announced that Palafox will be closed to vehicles every Sunday during the month of June. These community leaders explained that at this time businesses need to make safety and cleanliness their top priority.

“Regardless of your view on the virus, the research is showing that you have to make your customers feel comfortable, so whether you agree with masks or don’t agree with masks, I recommend that you and your employees wear them to instill confidence,” Michael Carroll, DIB Chairman, explained. “Cleanliness is of the utmost importance. Your businesses need to be spotless and disinfected. You need to convey a level of comfort, confidence and trust because that's what customers are looking for.”

The the Re-open Florida Task Force’s guidelines gives several suggestions to help businesses reduce their chances of spreading the virus. If restaurants have laminated menus, the guidelines state to disinfect the menus after each use and to make paper menus single use only. Businesses should avoid cafeteria-style dining arrangements and utensils should be distributed by staff rather than stored on the tables.

Due to COVID-19, condiment caddies and table settings will most likely be a thing of the past. States like California have suspended the use of shared food items such as ketchup and salt shakers as well as pre-setting tables with napkins and glassware.

The Chamber released a Reopening Escarosa Resource Guide, which can be found on the Chamber website.

“Regardless of your view on the virus, the research is showing that you have to make your customers feel comfortable, so whether you agree with masks or don’t agree with masks, I recommend that you and your employees wear them to instill confidence.”

“This is a two county effort between Escambia and Santa Rosa that works with our chambers, our economic development organizations and tourism partners,” Pensacola Chamber President and CEO Todd Thomson said. “This doc takes all of the information that's been put out by the state, by industry, executive orders from the governor, best practices from the industry and how you get testing if you think you have symptoms.” Thomson said that this guide will be updated as the reopening phases progress.

Visit Pensacola’s President and CEO Darien Schaefer, who came into his role April 20, shared his confidence in Pensacola’s tourism industry during the May 12 meeting. “Tourism can be a major reason we pull through the COVID-19 crisis,” Schaefer said. “We want to do that respectfully, and at the same time, open up our businesses and support them in a way that we can handle the amount of customer base, and we’ve seen some good activity on the beach since it’s opened.

People have been acting respectfully, and there's been good distancing everytime that I've been down there.”

Schaefer explained that Visit Pensacola has made cuts in staff and all budgets except its marketing budget. “We’ve cut everywhere else but the marketing budgets. We have a soft message out there that Pensacola and Escambia County are ready for visitors when they are ready to travel,” Schaefer said. “As we watch the progression and stay ahead of the recovery, we’ll ramp up our marketing accordingly.”

Mayor Grover Robinson urged businesses to find ways to bring their business outdoors. “Being in the sunshine and being outside is an opportunity to make it more difficult to transmit the virus. That’s why we’re trying to take more businesses outside,” Robinson explained. “It’s not that we want to change you into something that you are not, or that this is a great plan to try to get you going outside.

The simple truth is that being outside makes it less likely for it to transfer from one person to the next.”

Robinson suggested restaurants take advantage of their outdoor seating and sidewalks. However, Studer pointed out that many restaurants don’t have much outdoor space to work with.

“I know Iron, for example, if they could use only their outdoor space, they would have only four tables out there,” Studer said. “But their neighbors around them let them expand a little.

It's not forever. It's only until things get better. Outdoor dining is not easy.”

Audience members and community leaders shared ideas for creating more outdoor dining space. Carroll suggested using select parking spaces for dining, which Studer said is being done in other cities. Some business owners suggested that customers take their food to go and eat at nearby parks.

JUNE '20

51

Phases of Reopening Phase 1 Restaurants, personal service businesses, gyms and retail are at 50 percent capacity. Bars, pubs and nightclubs are closed. Vacation rentals are suspended.

Phase 2 Bars, pubs and nightclubs are open at 50 percent capacity.

Restaurants, personal service businesses, gyms and retail are up to 75 percent capacity.

Vacation rentals are allowed with restrictions.

Phase 3 All businesses are open at full capacity with limited social distancing protocols.

The City of Pensacola and DIB experimented with an idea to promote outdoor business on Mother’s Day, which received backlash from downtown business owners. On May 10, the city limited Palafox Street from Garden Street to Main Street to pedestrians only from 10 am to 9 pm. The idea behind this one-day trial was to help businesses on Palafox get more space for customers so that businesses can keep customers six feet apart. During the May 12 meeting, some business owners were upset that the city interfered with their business while others liked the idea.

MariCarmen Josephs, the owner of Carmen’s Lunch Bar, was the first to state her opposition to the closure.

“I do understand that we want more seating, but I think there is a false assumption that all restaurants are in favor of the closure of Palafox,” Josephs said. “The restaurants I’ve spoken with are not in favor of closing Palafox. The number one reason being is that curbside service is what has kept our businesses alive. We’re bringing in thousands of dollars daily doing curbside service.”

Josephs explained that closing Palafox on Mother’s Day negatively impacted her restaurant’s visibility and accessibility because customers were not able to drive up to her South Palafox Street location to pick up their food that day. “I can serve a lot more cars than I can tables currently,” Josephs explained. “Obviously this is going to change as the phases progress, but I think curbside has been a very valuable service during this time, and it's also safe and responsible.”

Katie and Kelly Rozier, co owners of Indigeaux Denim Bar & Boutique, explained that the closure impacted the visibility of their storefront because many of their customers notice their

52 NWFL’s Business Climate

store as they drive down Palafox. “We know our businesses inside and out.

We have put blood sweat and equity into Indigeaux for 10 years now,” Kelly Rozier said. “When you come up with a plan to be executed in two days flat, it’s counterproductive to the plan we’re already working on.”

The Mayor said that he appreciated and welcomed constructive criticism

“My goal is for everybody to give up a little to help someone else's business. Your business may be helped by the closure or hurt by the closure.

That's not important.

The viability and the vibrancy of downtown is what's important.”

– Mayor Grover Robinson but assured that there is no solution that will benefit all businesses equally.

“My goal is for everybody to give up a little to help someone else's business,” Robinson said. “Your business may be helped by the closure or hurt by the closure. That's not important.

The viability and the vibrancy of downtown is what's important.”

Robinson continued on to explain that though there are numerous businesses outside of downtown that are just as

JUNE '20

53

vital and important to Pensacola, it’s important to keep downtown strong.

“Some of you don't have businesses on Palafox. It's just as important to have a vibrant Palafox if you're on Jefferson, if you're on Garden, wherever you are, it's vitally important that we have a vibrant Palafox,” Robinson said.

“Even if you aren’t on Palafox, you are dependent on what happens on Palafox.”

Current owner of Badlands and former owner of longtime downtown business New York Nicks, Nick Zangari spoke in support of the closure. “I can’t understand how putting feet on the street is a detriment to your business.

That’s hundreds maybe thousands of people walking up and down Palafox by your business,” Zangari said. “I just don’t understand the mentality of not putting feet on the street.

54 NWFL’s Business Climate

If people know Palafox is closed, they are going to come down. That street should be closed. That’s for everybody’s good, not just mine.”

Other business owners promoted coming to a compromise on the closure such as a few hours a week.

DC Reeves, the owner of Perfect Plain, also weighed in on the heated debate.

“It’s easy to come to this meeting two days after and say it should have been this way or that way, but that was a one-day sample,” Reeves said. “If you really think about it, so many small and big market cities are clamoring to shut down their streets, and I’m not saying that’s what’s best for us. I’m not saying that it's the best solution, but look around the rest of the country, it’s a trend. I think we need to have an

open mind about the solutions when we are trying something that could be helpful for some businesses.”

All of the community leaders at the event expressed that they are willing to hear suggestions from business owners and citizens alike. Robinson frequently hosts live Q&A’s on his Facebook as an opportunity for citizens to share their concerns and questions.

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AROUND THE REGION Torgersen Causey Insurance & Benefits is pleased to welcome Doug Mullins, SCP, to their team.

In his role at Torgersen Causey, Doug will offer HR Consulting services for clients needing help with complex HR issues, HR compliance and comprehensive training initiatives. Doug is a graduate of Ohio University with a degree in Sociology, and holds a Masters degree in Information Systems Management from Webster University. Prior to joining Torgersen Causey, he was Vice President of HR for a large credit union. He is also a retired Colonel from the U.S. Air Force.

Douglas Mullins, HR Consultant

Escambia County Short-Term Vacation Rentals Safety Plan Approved and Open for Reservations Visit Pensacola is pleased to announce Secretary Beshears with the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation has approved the short-term vacation rental plan that was submitted Friday, May 15, by Escambia County.

"At Visit Pensacola, we're excited that our short-term rentals lodging experience is once more available in the Pensacola Bay Area,” Visit Pensacola President Darien Schaefer said. “We are proud to be a part of the team who worked together to present this plan for approval and are looking forward to guests visiting our destination while doing so safely and within the CDC guidelines.”

The plan presented to the Secretary would allow for short-term vacation rental reservations and the acceptance of arriving guests in Escambia County,

56 NWFL’s Business Climate

beginning today, May 19, 2020, and includes the following: Reservations Reservations and stays will be allowed from U.S. states with a COVID-19 Case Rate less than 700 cases/100K residents as of May 15.

Reservations from COVID-19 hot spots identified by the Governor are to be avoided for the next 30- 45 days.

Reservations from international travelers will not be accepted.

Health and Safety of Guests Remote check-ins should be made available when possible to cut down on face-to-face interactions.

CDC resources must be provided to any

guest while staying on property.

CDC guidance must be provided to guests traveling with pets and service/ assistance animals if the property is pet friendly.

All properties must provide local COVID-19 guidance for guests.

Escambia County has a dedicated webpage that includes local information at myescambia.com/COVID19 Employees or contractors working in short-term rentals will be provided CDC related safety guidance to alleviate the transmission of the virus and provide further protection for employees and guests.

The complete outline can be found here, Escambia County Short-term Vacation Rental Plan for Secretary Beshears. The county will review this plan weekly and update as needed.

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JUNE '20

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AROUND THE REGION Nominations open for Spirit of UWF and Alumni Awards The University of West Florida recognizes those who make a difference at UWF and in their communities through the Spirit of UWF Alumni and Community Awards.

Those eligible for nomination include alumni, friends, faculty and staff of the University. These awards are presented in collaboration with the UWF Alumni Association and the UWF Office of Career Development and Community Engagement.

Nominations will be accepted for the following awards: •

The Chambered Nautilus Award of Merit

•

Distinguished Alumnus

Coflyt® Ready for Takeoff After Securing Growth Round Reflecting $3 Million Valuation Coflyt, the first-of-its-kind intelligent aircraft management software in the general aviation space, today announced the completion of a growth round of $500,000 in funding with a post-raise valuation of $3 million.

Coflyt changes the way owners manage their aircraft as the first integrated tool to replace paper log books and spreadsheets.

Since its release in the fall 2019, Coflyt has been used to handle aircraft management for hundreds of single- and multi-engine aircraft globally.

Coflyt was started by Eric Hill at Mississippi State University and received seed funding from co-founder Tal Clark in May of 2019. “The completion of this growth round provides the capital that Coflyt needs to continue our engagement and rapid growth within the general aviation community,” said Clark.

“The adoption we’ve seen shows the value that Coflyt brings to the aviation

•

Honorary Alumnus (Non-Alumni)

•

Outstanding Young Alumnus

•

Research and Scholarship Award

•

Workforce and Career Development Award

•

Public Service and Education Award

•

Quality of Life Award

•

Community Engagement Educator Award

•

Community Impact Award

•

Community Innovation Award

“We invite you to submit nominations for the Spirit of UWF Alumni and Community Awards,” said Howard Reddy, vice president for University Advancement. “This is a wonderful opportunity to honor our alumni, friends and community members. Award recipients personify the Argo spirit, and sector,” said Clark. “We’re building on that through strategic partnerships with aviation innovators Share My Aircraft, Airbly, VREF, and aviation influencers such as Aviation101 and MojoGrip to share the excitement we’re seeing from the general aviation community.”

Coflyt will use the funding to continue to grow its presence in the general aviation space and share its digital solution for at-a-glance aircraft readiness with aircraft owners and partnerships as well as flying clubs and flight schools.

As a part of the raise, Coflyt will be moving into new office space within Jetty IoT in

we look forward to proudly recognizing their invaluable contributions" The Alumni Awards Selection Committee will review and select recipients for all Alumni Awards. The Community Engagement Coordinating Committee will review and select recipients for all Faculty/Staff and Community Awards. Recipients will be honored at a ceremony on Oct. 10, 2020.

Applications and supporting materials are currently open and will be accepted until 5 p.m. on July 10, 2020. For more information about the Spirit of UWF Alumni and Community Awards, visit uwf.edu/spiritofuwf.

Pensacola, which is focused on supporting high growth companies within SaaS, Fintech and other industries developed around a recurring revenue stream. “Our hometown of Pensacola and Co:Lab have been tremendously helpful to us as a start-up, and we are excited about our next chapter with the support of the team at Jetty IoT,” says Clark.

For more information, contact Brittany Myers at 850-712-2913 or brittany.myers@ coflyt.com; or Pace Clark at 901-828-7260 or Pace.Clark@coflyt.com.

JUNE '20

59

60 Pensacola Magazine

ON THEA MARKET Real Estate Section

In This Section

Find Inspiration in Award-Winning Design page 70

By the Numbers: A Look at April's Market Highlights page 62

4 Ways a Smart Home can Save You Money page 74

3 Ways to Give Your Home's Curb Appeal a Boost page 64

Simple Ways to Beautify Your Outdoor Space and Enjoy Time at Home page 76

Real Estate and the Coronavirus page 67

JUNE '20

61

BY THE NUMBERS A LOOK AT APRIL'S MARKET HIGHLIGHTS

800 57

Monthly Sales

Avg. Days on Market

2050 $220k

Homes on Market

Median Sale Price

MARKET HIGHLIGHTS April sales slipped 18% compared to March and 11% from April of last year.

62 Pensacola Magazine

Median sale price was 4% less than March, but 5% above last April.

At 57, combined DOM average was a full week less than March.

Single Family inventory across all price ranges remained virtually unchanged compared to March.

Condo inventory in At 314, pending the $300K - $499K sales were slightly price range has above March’s total increased 28% since of 310. last December.

Information courtesy of Pensacola Association of Realtors

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(850) 433.0577 | naipensacola.com JUNE '20

63

3 WAYS TO GIVE YOUR HOME'S CURB APPEAL A BOOST Homeowners only get one chance to make a first impression.

That's one chance to impress potential buyers, family, friends and neighbors with the first thing they see: your home's exterior.

From simple upgrades to meticulous landscaping projects and replacing an outdated roof, there are dozens of options to enhance the appearance of your home's exterior.

Improvements don't need to break the bank or take a year to complete. By focusing on three simple areas, you can change the entire look of your home that you'll appreciate every time you pull into your driveway.

1. Landscaping

out of hanging baskets, or even in berms and raised garden beds, provide a boost to your curb appeal. Exercise your creativity by combining plants of different height, texture and color in the same container.

By sticking to perennial plants native to your environment, you will not have to worry about replanting every year.

2. Roofing Redesigning the style and color of your roof is a dramatic and effective strategy for improving curb appeal.

"Your roof accounts for 50% of your home's exterior," said Stephen McNally, vice president of sales and marketing for TAMKO Building Products LLC. "Updating the shingles on your roof is going to make a huge impact on the overall appearance of your home - take advantage of it."

The key to curb appeal is balancing what makes you happy with what works in your community. Take a moment to observe the types of trees, plants and flowers in your surroundings and look for ways to incorporate them into your yard.

Planting flowers is one of the easiest, most cost-effective ways to make an impact.

Flowers along the sidewalk, in front of the house, inside flower boxes, pouring 64 ON THE MARKET

Start by evaluating roofing choices for compatibility with your existing siding as well as the style of your home. If your home has a busy exterior with more than one contrasting color, try adding a classic, rustic color like TAMKO's Weathered Wood. If your home's exterior is a more neutral shade, try adding a vibrant colored shingle to stand out in your neighborhood.

To learn more visit www.tamko.com.

3. Paint Whether you're updating your color scheme or applying a fresh coat, painting is an easy way to update your home's look from the street in a big way. Depending on your budget, this project can be big or small. To make the most significant impact, consider painting the entire house. This will bring new life to paint that has lost its luster or possibly a new palette of color to incorporate into your yard. Although this project can call for a larger investment, the result will pay off in the end.

If your budget is more limited, focus on the areas that catch the eye. Give shutters and trim a fresh coat of paint, or paint the front door a bright shade of red or blue.

You don't have to make a large investment to make a large impact. Focusing on key areas of your home's exterior will refresh the entire appearance of the home and provide a facelift that's within your reach.

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JUNE '20

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A heartfelt thank you to all healthcare workers, law enforcement personnel, government officials, and other essential workers for keeping the Pensacola community healthy and safe.

WE A R E

#PENSACOLASTRONG

REAL ESTATE AND THE CORONAVIRUS Brandon and Samantha signed a contract to purchase their dream home in January. They closed in late February while still owning their prior home. Typically conservative, they took a huge risk but an acceptable one, they calculated, given we were in the hottest housing market in decades. So, they stretched themselves as far as they could and planned to put their old house on the market only after closing and moving into the new home.

The prior home was made ready for sale and listed on March 14, 2020, the world’s worst timing as it was exactly that week the world changed with the coronavirus being the subject of nearly every conversation since. The most significant shock to the national economy in at least 70 years, is how Dr. Richard Harper described our recent downturn while speaking at the NAIOP Annual Economic Update this week. While he expects growth in July and August, we will need many more months, and most likely years, to make up for the loss our economy has suffered due to the shutdowns during the last few months. The year began with the hottest real estate market in more than a decade. The biggest issue has been a lack of supply as buyers outnumbered sellers and prices have steadily increased. However, from mid-March through May, stay at home orders of state governors seriously undermined the housing industry. For April alone, housing starts plunged over 30%. In fact, in April, the National Association of Home Builders/ Wells Fargo Housing Index dropped more than 40 points, the steepest drop ever, to a score of 30 on a scale of 0 to 100. The National Association of Home Builders reported that “96 percent of respondents [to a recent NAHB poll] said the virus was having at least some adverse effect on traffic, and 72 percent characterized it as a major adverse effect.”

The data point to a strong rebound, however. The Mortgage Bankers Association reported a 38% drop off in mortgage applications for purchasers in April.

Since then, applications for mortgages by purchasers have recovered to the point where they are only 1.5% less than the same month last year. A stunning rebound. Such seems to be the national sentiment. The stock market has had a no less dramatic turnaround. The deepest, quickest plunge followed by a strong rebound.

Northwest Florida has fared much better than the nation as a whole. Gov. DeSantis was conservative in his orders regarding closing businesses generally and construction particularly and construction activities were never halted as they were considered “essential.” While supply chains of materials have been negatively affected, this has not been a significant hamper. With recordlow interest rates, real estate continued to sell. Local area builders noticed a slow-down in traffic through model homes in April. As businesses started to re-open in May, traffic returned at a healthy rate, they reported.

To cushion the blow of closing a large portion of the economy, the federal government provided unprecedented stimulus with $1,200 direct payments, required forbearance – the ability to withhold payments – on federally backed mortgages, and the very popular Paycheck Protection Program. The fourth-round of stimulus packages are currently being discussed.

As people have by and large stayed close to their homes, they have started or dreamed up renovation plans or even the idea of building new. As confidence in the economy improves and with record low-interest rates, one has to think that refinances will continue as this is a great way to tap the equity in homes created by an increase in home values. Custom home builders are reporting their phones are ringing off the hook as people look to start a new build or renovation. People are seeking to focus on a positive project, instead of focusing on the daily number of reported COVID-19 cases.

Commercial real estate is a different story than residential. Many retail and office tenants were required to close and many of those did not pay their April or May rents.

Again, here, there is a silver lining. The Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) provided relief to many tenants and millions of “small” businesses in the country took advantage of the loan. The program best helps those businesses that have employees.

Indeed, the purpose of the program was to provide an incentive for employers to keep employees staffed. If the borrower uses the loan proceeds to pay wages and benefits, rents, and utilities based on a set formula, the amount paid for these items does not have to be repaid. Landlords will benefit as PPP recipients receive the loan proceeds and therefore have the funds – and an incentive – to pay rents. Again, there is hope. Hope that re-opening the economy will lead to businesses becoming rent-paying tenants again. Time will tell.

And as for Brandon and Samantha, just last week they went under contract for the sale of their home.

Stephen Moorhead, a

Board-Certified Real Estate Attorney, is the Managing

Partner of Moorhead Real Estate Law Group and the owner of Clear Title of

Northwest Florida, LLC.

JUNE '20

67

FLORIDA ASSOCIATION OF BROADCAST JOURNALISTS

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Residential Addition $100,000-$250,000 Ultimately, this two-story addition included a sunroom and a second-floor master bedroom and bathroom.

However, due to problems with a previous contractor, structural issues with the existing framing needed correcting first. The result was an open living space and new 870-squarefoot master suite upstairs.

Find Inspiration in Award-Winning Home Design Award-winning renovation projects aren’t just a way to identify topnotch contractors, they’re a chance for homeowners to gather ideas and learn from other home improvement success stories.

One such source of inspiration is the National Contractor of the Year (CotY) Award Winners who are honored each year by the National Association of the Remodeling Industry.

A panel of industry experts anonymously selected winners based on the functionality, aesthetics, craftsmanship, innovation and degree of difficulty of their projects.

Find inspiration in these 2020 residential project winners, and see the complete list at nari.org.

70 ON THE MARKET

Residential Exterior Under $50,000 The clients wanted to move the side entrance of this home to its original location in the front. City approval was contingent on returning specific historic architectural details, including replacing the brick columns with historically accurate wood columns and installing doors and windows more in line with the 1910 era when the house was built.

“In New Orleans, we are very sensitive to preserving the historic character of our houses, so this was an important goal for both the homeowners and the city,” said Chris Kornman of Entablature, LLC in New Orleans. “We learned that history often directs the design down a path the owner may not have been considering.”

“This project taught me that customers are looking not only for a skilled contractor, but one that will listen, understand and empathize with them,” said Allen Deuschle with Kansas City Remodel & Handyman Allen LLC in Overland Park, Kansas.

“I spent extra hours prior to a signed contract listening to their needs, ideas, offering suggestions and assessing unresolved issues.”

Residential Addition Over $250,000 The goal of this project was to integrate a kitchen, dining and mudroom addition with an open floor plan to accommodate large gatherings while maintaining an intimate spatial feel. Varied ceiling treatments, including a coffered living room, a smooth kitchen ceiling and a custom vaulted dining room ceiling helped differentiate the spaces.

“We encountered some interesting structural challenges that involved a complex weaving and concealing of steel beams and columns,” said Mike Fought with Nicholson Builders in Columbus, Ohio.

“The new beams and columns took the place of load-bearing exterior walls, and this created visual connection through the home, specifically upon entry at the front door.”

Residential Landscape Design/ Outdoor Living Over $250,000 This narrow, sloping site was made functional with a multiterrace design that added a pool, patio, deck and level natural turf yard in a compact space that was constrained by a steep hillside above and a marsh below. LED rope lighting on risers improved visibility and promoted stair safety while porcelain tile and plank decking cooled swimmers’ bare feet.

“The work to create inspired spaces is highly collaborative and is driven by understanding, relationship and vision,” said James Sweeney of Mom’s Design Build in Shakopee, Minnesota. “If you can enjoy the journey, the end result will be even better.”

Entire House $250,000$500,000 In this project, an old, weathered beach cottage was transformed into a modern dream home with a complete overhaul of both the exterior and interior. Modern design elements were added throughout, including a kitchen with waterfall countertops, a fireplace with black brick and white stucco and a cable railing system surrounding the mahogany deck.

“During this remodel we were reminded that each new project brings an opportunity to learn or to improve a current process,” said Fred Vazac with Vazac Contracting Corp. in Saint James, New York. “We opted to use a precast concrete diamond footing that was perfect in the sandy environment.

We still use this type of footing on other projects.”

Aragon Downtown 662 Aragon St 2 Bed | 2 Bath 1,800 Sq. Ft. $599,000

Home & Auto go together.

Like you & a good neighbor.

Michael Johnson, Agent 3127 E Langley Avenue Pensacola, FL 32504 Bus: 850-478-7748 www.michaeljohnsonagency.com

1601975

Some things in life just go together. Like home and auto insurance from State FarmÂŽ. And you with a good neighbor to help life go right. Save time and money.

CALL ME TODAY.

State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company, State Farm Indemnity Company, Bloomington, IL State Farm County Mutual Insurance Company of Texas, Dallas, TX State Farm Fire and Casualty Company, State Farm General Insurance Company, Bloomington, IL State Farm Florida Insurance Company, Winter Haven, FL State Farm Lloyds, Richardson, TX

Many utility companies offer consumers a rebate for joining energy savings programs that connect to smart thermostats. You can search for rebates at Resideo.com/rebates.

Light up the room, but only when you're in it

4 ways a smart home can save you money Over the course of the last several months, hundreds of millions of people have sheltered in place as governments issue executive orders to help slow the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19).

As a result, many homes are becoming a fortress against the virus, a makeshift school, an office outpost and a daycare facility. As summer approaches and homeowners continue to spend more time at home with the air conditioner and the lights on, they are looking for ways to optimize the efficiency of their homes.

The typical U.S. family spends at least $2,200 a year on home utility bills, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. On average, that's 7% of a consumer's annual income. Utilities that used to be considered "optional," such as Internet and mobile phone service, are now considered essential during the coronavirus era, adding additional expense to a family's monthly budget.

So where can a homeowner look to cut back?

When thinking of a smart home, some people might just think of cool, connected gadgets that make life easier or more convenient. However, many smart-home solutions are becoming part of sustainable living, and they can save you money along the way.

Here are four ways you can introduce smarthome solutions into your daily life, reducing the monthly strain of high utility bills.

72 ON THE MARKET

Don't sacrifice efficiency for comfort - automate your thermostat Our homes are our source of comfort and the temperature of your home should help you achieve that feeling. However, heating and cooling can account for nearly half of a family's monthly utility budget. A smart thermostat, like the Honeywell Home T9 thermostat, can reduce this cost by tailoring to your temperature preferences during the day and at night. By adding smart room sensors to your most popular rooms, you can deliver the right temperature to the right room at the right time. And look for trusted brands that are ENERGY STAR certified. You'll be doing your pocketbook and the environment a favor.

Sign up for rebates When a sudden heat wave hits a large swath of the country, air conditioning systems in houses, apartments, hospitals and office buildings all crank on at once, and utility companies go into overdrive trying to meet their clients' increased energy demands.

This kind of short-term increased demand puts a strain on our electric grid and can even become a public safety hazard if overloaded systems crash just when consumers most need to cool their indoor environments. To prevent this from happening, utility companies implement a variety of voluntary energy saving programs (known in the industry as demand response, or DR) that incentivize consumers to reduce their energy use during periods of peak demand.

Parents can often tell the exact path their children have taken based on what lights have been left on throughout the house. Turning off lights is an easy thing to forget, even as adults. We've all accidentally left that closet light or bedroom lamp on all day. Consider installing automated and motion-activated lighting solutions. With easy DIY installation, a weekend lighting project can give you long-term energy savings. Interested to know how much energy and cost are associated with running various home appliances? Check out this energy calculator from Energy.gov.

Get to know your water usage Most of us don't think twice when turning on the faucet, flushing the toilet or running a warm bath, which takes energy to heat. Water is our planet's most precious resource, but it's something we take for granted because it's available at the turn of a tap. Monitoring and being aware of your water footprint can help reduce your monthly bill, while reducing strain on water supplies. For example, your money goes down the drain when dishes are washed by hand - using up to 27 gallons per load instead of using an ENERGY STAR certified dishwasher that can use as little as three gallons per load.

Smart washing machines can help you optimize your laundry preferences - and can find the right wash cycle and water-temperature preferences suitable for that load.

Resideo's Wi-Fi Water Leak and Freeze Detector can alert you and your smartphone if it detects a possible water leak.

Are you feeling like you want to start improving your home's efficiency, but don't know how to begin? Summer is a great time to start, and HVAC contractors and security dealers are considered essential businesses during the coronavirus in many states. Most credible professionals have adjusted the protocols when interacting with homeowners as well. Contact a professional that can recommend efficient whole-home solutions to help optimize your home's water and energy resources.

We fulfill our

clients dreams dreams and help them

create memories memories because our

Realtors put their clients first clients first e Nan Harper & John Pinzino

IslandRealtyPensacolaBeach.com

WELCOME TO MIRADOR!

2007 E Gadsden St APT 101 Pensacola, FL 32501 3 Bed | 3 Bath | 1,616 sq ft $309,000 Rare opportunity to own one of the largest units in the condo. Spanish architecture complements the palm-studded, lush landscaping. Super nice, well maintained unit with fresh paint, original hardwood floors, metal spiral staircase, large master with 2 closets. Relax by the pool and enjoy the view of Bayou Texar.

Sara Stacks

Suncoast Professional Realty, LLC 109 S Alcaniz St. Pensacola FL 32502

850.432.8448 | 850.449.8554

Now Building Huntington Creek Just West of the Equestrian Center

Free Design Service Build on our lot or yours!

• Parade Winner 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 • Builder of Dream Home 2015

Award Winning Homes!

• Builder Of The Year 2015

Come visit our furnished model homes Monday - Saturday 10am to 6pm Sunday 1pm to 6pm

T: (850) 944-6805 • E: chopllc@yahoo.com • classichomesofpensacola.com

A-Mays-ing Making Property Management Manageable® Our Office is Locally Owned and Operated

– DENNIS REMESCH – – JOHN KYZAR –

ShowingS to CloSingS! DEBORAH MAYS Crs, CdPe

850.529.3998

DeborahMays@remax.net

www.DeborahMays.com

PMI Northwest Florida 301 N Barcelona St Suite H Pensacola, FL 32501

Horizons Realty

850.332.0707

1335 Creighton rd., PensaCola, Fl 32504

PMINorthwestFlorida.com

Each office independently owned & operated.

LUXURY L I V IN G — Selling the Gulf Coast —

NEW PRICE!

IN THE WHISPERS AT CORDOVA

1660 Cross St, East Hill UNDER CONTRACT $334,900

Santa Rosa Dunes #612 Pensacola

BRING OFFER $399,900

Gorgeous executive home in one of the most sought-after neighborhoods in Pensacola. Beautiful open floor plan. Lovely sunroom. 9 ft ceilings with lighted tray ceilings to 10 ft. Open patio. Covered back porch.

SOLD

33 Coweta Dr, Cantonment

$126,500

700 Panferio, Pensacola Beach

SOLD

1028 Stormy Terrace, Pensacola, FL 32503 MLS 568345 | $460,000

$360,000

PREMIER COASTAL TEAM Jenn Cole 850-712-4084 Stephanie Harrington 850-816-6684

Joe Billingsly

850.291.6761 Joe@ParadiseBeachHomes.com

We want to serve you.

Kathy Ray

205.527.6696 KathrynRay@bellsouth.net

29 Via De Luna Drive Pensacola Beach, FL 32561 BuyOnPensacolaBeach.com

Your Local, Hometown Lender Angela Lane

Executive Mortgage Loan Originator NMLS #1249678

850.776.6094

Angela.Lane@SoutheastMortgage.com SoutheastMortgage.com/AngelaLane

Southeast Mortgage of Georgia, Inc NMLS#103956 Fl #MLD718 244 E. Intendencia St Pensacola, Fl 32502 800-344-8788(ext.495)

Simple ways to beautify your outdoor space and enjoy time at home

Step 2: Define the space

Step 4: Enjoy daily

You can create an outdoor room by defining the space strategically. Adding a rug is a great way to give the space a more intimate feel, just make sure it's made for outdoor use specifically to stand up to the elements.

You can also create a sense of enclosure with potted plants lined in the corners or along the sides to create the visual illusion of a wall. Try your hand at container gardening and you'll enhance your space and provide fresh vegetables and herbs for home cooking.

Create a routine to enjoy your outdoor space daily. Schedule a morning meditation, afternoon escape or evening happy hour. Raise a glass of your favorite Flat Top Hills wine and toast to living life to the fullest, even from the comfort of your backyard.

Whether it's a crisp sauvignon blanc, supple rosĂŠ, lush chardonnay, mouth-watering red blend or rich cabernet sauvignon, it's the perfect way to enjoy your outdoor oasis.

Step 3: Add decorative accents To make an outdoor space feel like your own, add a few thoughtful decorations.

Get started today There's no better time than the present to begin your backyard transformation.

Start by entering the Flat Top Hills Backyard Sanctuary sweepstakes, which will award

W

HETHER IT'S A QUAINT PATIO, a simple garden, a rolling expanse of land or the many possibilities in between, the backyard is the perfect place to unwind. As people spend more time at home, creating a personal outdoor sanctuary is more important than ever before.

Fortunately you don't need a lot of time or space to create an outdoor escape you'll enjoy for months to come. Here are some simple, affordable ideas for transforming any space into an outdoor oasis where you can release stress and reconnect to Mother Nature: Step 1: Pull up a chair A place to sit and relax is essential so you can fully enjoy your outdoor space.

This doesn't mean you have to order a whole new set of patio furniture though. Just one or two chairs along with a table for your favorite beverage can be an inviting start. You 76 ON THE MARKET

could even update a worn outdoor chair with a fresh coat of outdoor paint and new cushions and you'll get a brand new look for less. Add a few outdoor accent pillows for a splash of personality and to make the space reflect the same level of comfort found indoors.

Outdoor mirrors are trending and an affordable, upscale addition to your outdoor areas.

Decor such as signs, statues and mosaics can add style to any space. To add elements of relaxation, consider a rock garden, fountain or wind chimes, which will help you escape stress while stimulating the senses.

one winner with a makeover for a patio, garden or balcony.

Other prizes include gift cards for meal delivery, a Flat Top Hills wine glass and wine bucket set, and mini corn hole games. Open now through May 31, enter the Flat Top Hills Backyard Sanctuary sweepstakes at www.facebook. com/FlatTopWines or woobox. com/4tfvnj. Visit www. flattopwines.com for complete details and official rules.

FIRST TIME HOME BUYER SPECIALIST Simone Sands, Realtor ©, CRS Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices PenFed Realty 17 West Cedar Street, Suite 2, Downtown Pensacola cell 850-293-2292 | office 850-434-2244

HURST HAMMOCK

Located on Perdido River

4 Bed | 3 Bath | 1872 sq ft | .43 acre

Looking to buy or sell?

$349,000

Don’t let the exterior fool you!

This great 4 bedroom home is beautifully updated and provides almost 1900 square feet of indoor living space. Great for fishing, birdwatching, canoeing, kayaking, or hiking the trails on Nature Conservancy Preserve.

The river has access to the Intercoastal Waterway.

Call Frasier Phelps!

850.485.2665

17 W Cedar St, Suite 2 Pensacola, FL 32502 phone: 850.434.2244 fax: 850.434.8081 www.BHHSPenFed.com

Sydnee Johnson Sydnee Johnson Going above and beyond to find your next home.

Going above and beyond to find your next home.

SYDNEE JOHNSON RealtorJOHNSON SYDNEE

22ARealtor Via DeLuna 4475 Bayou Blvd.

Pensacola Beach, FL 32561 Pensacola, FL 32503 22A Via DeLuna 4475 Bayou Blvd.

4475 Bayou Blvd. sydneejohnson.cbintouch.com Pensacola Beach, FL 32561 Pensacola, FL32503 32503 Pensacola, FL (850) 712-6772 Cell sydneejohnson.cbintouch.com sydnee.johnson@floridamoves.com

(850) 712-6772 Cell Follow me on sydnee.johnson@floridamoves.com Follow me on

©2017 DBA. All Rights Reserved. DBA fully supports the principles of the Fair Housing Act and the Equal Opportunity Act. Operated by a subsidiary of NRT LLC. Coldwell Banker and the Coldwell Banker Logo are registered service marks owned by Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC.

©2017 DBA. All Rights Reserved. DBA fully supports the principles of the Fair Housing Act and the Equal Opportunity Act. Operated by a subsidiary of NRT LLC. Coldwell Banker and the Coldwell Banker Logo are registered service marks owned by Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC.

850.232.4001

www.pensacolahomelistings.com conna@connaodonovanteam.com

1215 Ariola Dr, Pensacola Beach 4BD/3BA | 3,362 SF $1,299,000 | MLS #567036

1405 Ariola Dr, Pensacola Beach 3BD/2.5BA | 2,520 SF $1,170,000 | MLS #560266

509 Ft Pickens, Pensacola Beach 3BD/2.5BA | 2,370 SF $775,000 | MLS #541718

203-E Regency, Pensacola Beach 1BD/1.5BA | 921 SF $319,000 | MLS #566310

B4 Boardwalk, Pensacola Beach 2BD/2.5BA | 1,420 SF $450,000 | MLS #565184

1003 Maldonado Dr, Pensacola Beach | 4BD/3.5BA | 1,824 SF $780,000 | MLS #569373

5 N Galvez, Pensacola Beach 4BD/3BA | 2,136 SF $828,500 | MLS #568906

1565 Ripple Ct, Gulf Breeze 6BD/3.5BA | 4,258 SF $525,500 | MLS #572028

Join - Connect - Grow

This home is loaded with numerous must-see features. The location is unbeatable, offering easy access to I-10, UWF, West Florida Hospital, Navy Federal and many more. With a large patio overlooking the inviting in-ground pool, you can be sure the back yard is a wonderful place to relax.

Elizabeth “Ann” Tidmore Broker Associate Certified Residential Specialist

850.572.7458 WWW.PENSACOLACHAMBER.COM 850.438.4081 SUPPORT@PENSACOLACHAMBER.COM

Coastal Realty Experts 811 North Reus Street Pensacola FL 32502

These hands once trembled with fear and uncertainty.

Now, they’re holding on to brighter days.

*The coin you see is an Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) token, given to those in alcohol or drug recovery. The tokens give AA members a physical reminder to take sobriety one day at a time.

We are a non-profit, faith-centered ministry offering food, addiction recovery services, housing, spiritual guidance and more to Escambia County’s most vulnerable and under-resourced residents.

850.912.8383 • BrightBridgeMinistries.org

Sold within 24 hrs on the market!

I can do the same for you!

Sunnie McClung O: 850-332-0222 C: 850-982-4828

AlwaysSunnieInFlorida.com

305 W Gregory St. Pensacola, FL 32502