Health Wellness Feeling Blue:
Meghan McCarthy’s Vision for a Healthier City
Seasonal Picks!
A guide to local u-pick farms
mind•body•spirit Holistic therapies offer alternatives to traditional treatments
closer to a cure The scoop on current clinical trials
SPECIAL BUSINESS CLIMATE SECTION INSIDE
Spring toward Better Health
april 2016 • pensacolamagazine.com
Industry leader in commercial real estate for thirty four years. President/CEO John Griffing SIOR CRE works in the areas of acquisition, disposition and consulting of commercial real estate. Primary areas of expertise are industrial, public lands and property, and general commercial. NAI Halford Vice President DeeDee Davis, SIOR has been a top producer with the company since joining NAI Halford in 2004 and brings a wealth of experience and professionalism to the position. Davis specializes in the sales and leasing of commercial and investment properties.
JOHN GRIFFING & DEEDEE DAVIS
John Griffing, SIOR CRE
President/CEO Jgriffing@naihalford.com 850-287-0117
DeeDee Davis, SIOR
Vice President Operations Ddavis@naihalford.com 850-430-1503 24 W. Chase Street, Suite 100 Pensacola, FL 32502
NAIHALFORD.COM
ERIC MILSTEAD Eric Milstead is the lead broker for Florida’s Top Properties. He has been a top selling broker for over 21 years. His strong base of repeat customers is one of the reasons Eric has remained so successful in his career in an incredibly competitive sales environment. Among Eric’s repeat buyers and sellers are some of the Gulf Coast most influential individuals, developers, and institutions. Eric prides himself on giving his clients the most precise and up to date feedback on the state of the market, its trends, comparable sales and property values, giving a realistic outlook on what to expect in today’s market.
Eric Milstead • emilstead2@gmail.com • 850-221-0443 2 | pensacola magazine
BAPTIST and MAYO CLINIC T H E B E ST. TO G E T H E R . Baptist Health Care is more than just a health care system. As a locally-owned member of this community, our top priority is the health and well-being of those we serve. As a member of the Mayo Clinic Care Network, we have access to some of the best and most innovative medicine in the world. This means better health care for you and the ones you love, right here at home. Visit us online or call to learn more.
850.434.4080 e B A P T I S T H E A LT H C A R E . O R G / M AYO
Beau Aldridge, MD Surgery Baptist Health Care Physician
pensacola magazine | 3
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† Cox Business Visa® Prepaid Card available with qualifying new services ordered and activated between 1/4/16 and 5/1/16 with minimum 3-year contract. Customer must mention promotion code “reward promo” when placing their order to receive card. Account must remain active, be in good standing, and retain all services for a minimum of 30 days after install. Online redemption required following instructions to be mailed to customer after service activation. Online information to be submitted no later than mm/dd/yy. Void where prohibited. Limit one Prepaid Card per customer; total not to exceed $150. Allow 6-8 weeks after redemption for delivery. Cards issued by MetaBank®, member FDIC, pursuant to a license from Visa U.S.A. Inc. Cardholders are subject to terms and conditions of the card as set forth by the issuing bank. Card does not have cash access and can be used anywhere Visa debit cards are accepted within the U.S. only. Cards valid through expiration date shown on front of card. Valid in U.S., U.S. territories and Puerto Rico. Offer subject to modification or withdrawal at any time without notice. Other restrictions may apply. ©2016 Cox Communications, Inc. All rights reserved.
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THEY’RE JUST A PHONE CALL AWAY.
Editor’s Note my two cents on the subject Kelly Oden Executive Editor Although I love healthy eating, I admittedly struggle with other aspects of health, particularly exercise. I tend to dislike exercise for the sake of exercise and I struggle to find (make) time for the types of activity I do enjoy like yoga, biking and swimming. Like many people, I will go on fitness binges by being very active for a stretch of time and then I will slowly creep back into my lazy ways. Why is it so difficult for some people and so easy for others? Discipline? Genetics? Upbringing? Perhaps it is a combination of these things. Most people know and understand that physical activity is intrinsic to their overall happiness and well-being, yet an estimated 80 percent of Americans do not get enough exercise and we are facing multiple health epidemics like obesity, diabetes and heart disease, all of which can be greatly helped, if not reversed, via diet and exercise. So, where to begin? Well, we have a few suggestions for you in this health and wellness issue of Pensacola Magazine. Let’s start with food: fresh fruit to be exact. It’s nearly U-pick season in Northwest Florida and local farms will soon be overflowing with ripe strawberries, blueberries and more. There are few things that compare with the flavor of fresh-picked, perfectly ripe berries and the health benefits are tremendous, as well. Check out our annual U-pick guide to find the best times for picking your favorite fruit. Easy, right? Now on to the hard part—exercise. Why not try something fun and different? If you’re already active, it will shake up your routine and if you’re not, it just might
Subscription Expiration Date is printed on the address label. Renew your subscription now online at www.ballingerpublishing.com: One year $14.95 and two years $22.75.
6 | pensacola magazine
inspire you get moving more regularly. In this issue, Dawn Gresko outlines some pretty fun workout routines. Fly and jump with Aerial Yoga and Kangoo or hang out with TRX. The choice is yours and either way, you’ll build muscle, burn calories and rid yourself of stress. Check it out on page 39. Next, check out Josh Newby’s article on Meghan McCarthy’s effort to make Pensacola a Blue Zone. Blue Zones are extremely healthy communities where residents often live to 100 years old. It’s a big job for our community, but Meghan’s enthusiasm and passion will make you a believer in no time. Finally, after you’ve eaten and exercised your way to good health, make sure you are caring for your mind, body and spirit in other ways, as well. Holistic therapies offer a range of treatments to help with a variety of illnesses, injuries and issues. On page 33, you can learn a little more about acupuncture, Rolfing®, Thai yoga massage and cryotherapy and how they can help you live a healthier life with less stress and less pain. All this and more, including a story on local clinical trials, as well as reader favorites like Page 10 with DeeDee Davis, Pensacola Scene and our monthly calendar: Play, Live, Give. Happy spring and I hope you enjoy the issue!
Expert care just for kids. As one of the nation’s leading children’s health systems, Nemours has made a promise to bring you the care you need – where and when you need it. And when you need a pediatric specialist, the experts of Nemours are here for you, close to home. Pediatric specialty care in ENT, cardiology, endocrinology, gastroenterology and more. See all that we offer at Nemours.org.
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For Appointments: (850) 505-4700 For Appointments: (850) 505-4745 For Appointments: (850) 505-4700
pensacola magazine | 7
contents April 2016 39
SPRING TOWARD BETTER HEALTH Exploring fun exercises that elevate both you and your health.
17
23
Page 10 with DeeDee Davis 10 Pensacola Scene 12 Pump up the Volume 26
Seasonal PIcks
A guide to supporting local by visiting u-pick farms for fresh produce and products any time of the year.
closer to a cure The scoop on current clinical trials in the Pensacola Bay area and how you can get involved today.
Play Live Give 44
29 33 Special Section 49 On the Cover: Tara Taylor of Breathe Yoga. Photo by Guy Stevens.
8 | pensacola magazine
Feeling Blue
How Meghan McCarthy is changing Pensacola’s attitude toward health— through public awareness, partnership and more.
mind•body•spirit Local holistic therapies offer alternatives to traditional treatments.
MAGAZINE
April 2016 Publisher
Malcolm Ballinger malcolm@ballingerpublishing.com
Executive Editor
Kelly Oden kelly@ballingerpublishing.com
Art Director
Guy Stevens guy@ballingerpublishing.com
Graphic Designer/Ad Coordinator Anna Hitchcock anna@ballingerpublishing.com
Editor
Josh Newby Josh@ballingerpublishing.com
Assistant Editor
Dawn Gresko dawn@ballingerpublishing.com
Editorial Interns
Kayla Glaze kayla@ballingerpublishing.com Marsha Wood marsha@ballingerpublishing.com
Sales & Marketing
Stephanie Boyce, Account Executive ext. 21 stephanie@ballingerpublishing.com Paula Rode, Account Executive ext. 28 paula@ballingerpublishing.com
Published by Ballinger Publishing: magazine
Member of:
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 by Ballinger Publishing. Š 2016
pensacola magazine | 9
page10 with DeeDee Davis
Is there anything more beautiful than springtime in Pensacola? It’s as if Nina Fritz and Pat Regan worked all night painting the trees, sky, and flowerbeds along the Gulf Coast. Presto! You wake up one morning and you have moved from a black and white world to high-definition color. Robin’s egg blue-sky, pink buds galore, phlox of every shade, brilliant cardinals nesting, and the promise of our magnificent crepe myrtles preparing for their debut. Leave the television OFF and enjoy the gift of nature before the heat of summer wilts more than just
McGuire’s was the scene for plenty of happy faces on March 12. Thousands (11,100+ to be exact) turned out for the annual “race.” Who doesn’t love an opportunity to put on a green tutu with a wig and face paint and show up for something that actually implies exercise? The 5K takes approximately three hours to complete because
Diane Somer, Will Bazemore, Ann Willhauck and Corbett Davis Sr.
10 | pensacola magazine
Buck Lee
blooms. This time of the year makes me a regular on weekends at the Palafox Market, and then it’s off to Lowe’s I go. They are not the only garden center with such a magnificent selection but I am a creature of habit and my car is on autopilot early on Saturdays. I have decided that I surely must be part farmer. How else do you explain someone who loves plants, dirt and fertilizer with such unbridled passion? Plants just love you back when you take care of them. No sass talk, no pouting, just a happy place.
you are either laughing at the crazy costumes or gawking at and admiring the thousands of impressive troops who participate. And afterwards, free beer for all! I love this kind of workout! Congratulations to McGuire Martin and his staff and family who pulled off another rain-free fun time for this community. There were plenty of familiar faces
Kevin and Laura Mason
in the crowd, including Stephen Simpson and Tina Tortomase; Robby and Tonya Underwood; Mayor Ashton Hayward; Carl Broussard; Corbett Davis, Sr. and Ann Willhauck; Will Bazemore; Francis Yeo; Buck Lee; Pam Childers; and Diane Somer.
Johnny Stallworth
David Penniman and Teri Levin
page10 with DeeDee Davis
Many thanks to Teri Levin who opened her home for a dinner to benefit the Children’s Home Society. Kevin and Laura Mason bought the event at an auction so guests got not only a magnificent dinner by David Penniman’s Classic City Catering, but also a sneak peak at Palafox Street’s newest apartment. Construction is not yet finished, but the New York style flat is magazine cover worthy. With no furniture yet, there was plenty of room for the lavish tables set for the evening. Fiore’s Shannon Palin created beautiful green and white arrangements for centerpieces amongst the perfectly laid white linen settings. John Ripley entertained on piano throughout the evening as Johnny Stallworth made sure glasses stayed full for guests that included Mayor Ashton and An Hayward; Tony and Bonita Jacobs; Amy Martin; and Cliff and Dana Mowe.
Connie Crosby co-chaired the event with plenty of help from her committee that included Sue Flanders; Jodee Hart; Pat Griffin; Nan Harper; Betty Wasson; Bonnie Bedics; Glenda Raines; Kim Ray; Brenda Summersell; Mary Anne Boutin; Dick Bedics; SueSue Sherrill; Judy Scruggs; Kat Villines; Amelia Asmar; Sandy Gureck; Brooke Hicks; Kim Lein; and Marte Picker. The organization was founded in 1973 by a dedicated group of women who wanted to support and promote the Pensacola Symphony Orchestra. More congratulations go out to the newest inductees into the Pensacola Sports Association Hall of Fame. Jackie Brown, President of the PSA, presided over the 62nd annual banquet as Tim Bryant, Charles Gheen, Mike Killam, and Fred Robbins were honored.
Most 5 year olds want to spend their birthdays at places that involve pizza and bouncing balls, but not so for Jack Jordan, son of Dr. Steve and Evan Jordan. Jack celebrated his sixth with his pal, Mayor Ashton Hayward, who gave him a personal tour of the Pensacola Police Department. Seems he is law enforcement’s biggest fan. Welcome to the world Connor Braxton Shook, who was born on March 24 to Matt and Lindsey Shook.
April Birthdays 12 Winnie Bazemore 14 Shelley Ovsak 18 Julia Ussery
Congratulations to the Pensacola Symphony Guild for a very successful 30th annual Magnolias and White Linen luncheon. The very entertaining author Mary Kay Andrews was the featured speaker, and, if her books are half as good as she is at the podium, I want all of them. New World Landing was filled to capacity with a mostly female audience. Kat Davis and
John Ripley
Mayor Ashton Hayward and Jack Jordan
pensacola magazine | 11
pensacolascene who/what/when/where
le
n + Adam Nob
so Hunter McPhear
Sherry Gerald, Alicia Barnett, Janie Deroche, Victoria Bode and April Patrick
Gulf Coast Reniassance
illa + Steve Harrell
Nancy + Greg Ardoin, Tw
i of Nicole Nickola
b Briar Patch Gar
Portofino Island Resort Final Phase Launch
etty Roberts
Abby Rinke + B
Marian Vlasiewicz, Doris Bonura and Lisa Krake
Buck Lee 12 | pensacola magazine
Faire
Rob Overton, Jerry Maygarden, John Appleyard + Dr. Brendan Kelly at the launch of the Appleyard Storytelling Cottage
2016 Eye Ball
Marsha Hanson + Leah Hawkins
Spellman College Glee Club pictured at Marriott Co urtyard
Malcolm + Stacy Williams Sheriff David M organ + Pete M oore
ger, Glenys Ballin n, Jen Cole, so t an H an a ry sh B Mar re + Francis Angela Moo
Cali Scully + A ngie Lane
Gerald Adcox
Dave + Mary Hoxeng
pensacola magazine | 13
pensacolascene who/what/when/where
Vice Consul Maria Davis and Cristóbal Colón de Carvajal y Gorosábel, 18th Duke of Veragua (Christopher Columbus) share a toast at a cocktail party in Madrid at the Hotel Palace Bar.
The Pensacola Delegation meets bullfighter Victor Mendes in Madrid. Victor Mendes was one of the top bullfighters in the world during the 1980s and 90s. (L-R): Dr. Diane Buck, Victor Mendes, Jose Aguilar.
Jaime Moreno, proprietor of Los Arcos, Dr. Diane Buck of Intercultural Connections, Cristóbal Colón, Joe Gilchrist, owner of FloraBama, Admiral Enrique Torres Piñyero, former CO of the Juan Sebastian de Elcano and his wife, María Eugenia González Losada at a cocktail party at the Hotel Palace in Madrid.
The Pensacola Delegation traveled to El Escorial, Spain with Cristóbal Colón to visit Jaime Moreno and Mercedes Sanchez, proprietors of Los Arcos a horse ranch that breeds pure Andalusian horses. L-R: Jaime Moreno, Cristóbal Colón, and Vice Consul Maria Davis. The horse is named Estimado.
The Pensacola Delegation toured the Spanish Naval Museum, escorted by Spanish Marine Colonel Francisco Javier Miranda Freire. Molly Long, President of the Navy League and Vice Consul Maria Davis pose with a painting of the Spanish Naval Training ship Juan Sebastian de Elcano being overflown by the US Navy Blue Angels, painted and generously donated by Pensacola artist Nina Fritz for induction into the Spanish Naval Museum in Madrid.
The Pensacola Delegation meets Spanish Ambassador Ramón-Gil Casares at the Galvez Exposition at Casa America in Madrid (L-R), Elizabeth Wise, Regent of the Daughters of the American Revolution, Gerry Parks, Captain Dan McCort (USN Ret), Spanish Ambassador to the United States Ramón Gil-Casares, Captain Flack Logan, former CO of the USS Lexington and his wife Kathleen Logan, Vice Consul Maria Davis, Nancy McCort, Dr. Diane Buck, Philomena Madden, Colonel Jose Manuel Guerrero Acosta of the Institute of History and Military Culture, Molly Long, President of the Spanish Chapter of the Navy League, Lori Landrum, Jose Angel Narvaez Bueno, President of the University of Malaga, Antonio Campos, Mayor of Macharaviaya, Spain and Jose Aguilar, famed musician and artist.
14 | pensacola magazine
pensacola magazine | 15
Veranda
of Pensacola
Veranda of Pensacola is a retirement community which fosters long-lasting friendships and a strong sense of belonging. Visit with friends, enjoy the numerous activities, or relax in your own beautiful apartment. Come and see for yourself how our residents are enjoying, “Retirement Living at its Finest.”
Hear what actual residents have to say at www.verandapensacola.com
Veranda of Pensacola, Inc. · 850-417-7869 · 6982 Pine Forest Rd., Pensacola
AL#11190
16 | pensacola magazine
Seasonal Picks! A guide to local u-pick farms
BY KAYLA GLAZE
photo by Joanna Kosinka
Spring is here and what better way to pre-celebrate the long, lazy days of summer than by getting out and picking buckets full of juicy, sweet, sun-ripened berries straight from the vine? Whether you have been swept up in the organic craze, or want to plan for a fun day outdoors with the family, you’ll want to check out the local farms offering opportunities to pick your own produce this year. U-pick farms allow locals to see, touch, taste, smell and feel the difference between freshly-picked blueberries and store-bought alternatives. For the spring months, we can expect blueberries, blackberries and strawberries to be ready for harvest. Over the summer, scuppernong and muscadine grapes will come into season, and closer to the fall Satsuma mandarin oranges will be available. Some U-pick farms are also offering U-cut flowers, which means you can choose your own sunflowers and zinnias and closer to fall you can pick fresh Autumn flowers. U-pick farms are located across Escambia, Okaloosa, and Santa Rosa counties in Florida, as well as Baldwin and Mobile counties in Alabama.
By visiting U-pick farms, you are not only supporting the economic growth of surrounding communities but sustainable business practices, as well, since Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) has several benefits for consumers and farmers. By visiting CSA farms for your fruits and vegetables, you eliminate the need for a middle man since you purchase directly from the farmer. From CSA farms, you get produce that has not been altered by chemical or physical processing that is normally used to prepare food for wholesale distribution. In addition, chemical and pesticide use at CSA and U-pick farms is often minimal, so feel free to sample as you pick since you won’t find toxic substances on the crops. Be sure to ask about chemical use first. If you’re allergy-prone, whether to plant pollen or bug bites, be sure to pack an epi pen as a precaution—it’s always better to be safe than sorry. Make sure you dress in cool clothing that you don’t mind getting messy, wear comfortable shoes, and consider bringing hats and sunscreen for UV protection, so you can keep picking through the harsh afternoon sun and get the most out of your visit. Bringing along a few baskets or buckets is a good idea, too, since some farms do not offer containers for your pickings. We all know how fickle Mother Nature can be, so for your best chances at a successful venture out you should call the farms ahead of time to confirm the farm is ready for U-pickers. Sometimes crops are ready either earlier or later than planned.
pensacola magazine | 17
Seasonal Picks Be wary of critters!
The U-pick farms are true farms, which means you’ll want to come to the fields prepared to face any type of weather, or any member of Florida’s diverse wildlife. Insects like ants and bees are a common sight, and don’t be surprised if you find a scaly head or two peeping out at you from under the brush.
Florida
Escambia County A & N Blueberry Farm
4040 Suncrest Lane, Molino, FL 32577 Phone: 850-341-9767 Website: anblueberry.com A & N Blueberry Farm minimizes chemical and pesticide use, which means your hand-picked blueberries are the definition of fresh. While other produce is available for purchase at the farm, such as watermelons, cantaloupes, cucumbers, tomatoes, and squash, visitors may only pick their share of blueberries from the fields. Blueberries are $1 per pound. Cash or checks are acceptable payment. There are bathrooms and picnic areas on site so you, your family and friends are welcome to stay awhile as you pick for berries. Open: Monday through Saturday from 7 am until dark. U-pick: Blueberries Available: May 30 – July 10
Beulah Berries, LLC
6658 Suwanee Road, Pensacola, FL 32526 Phone: 850-453-2383 Website: beulahberries.com Call for availability before making the trip to Beulah Berries, where over seven acres of irrigated blueberry bushes are grown. Beulah Berries offers blueberries from Highbush and Rabbiteye plants. Only cash is accepted and the price is either $10 per gallon or $5 per half-gallon of blueberries. Children are welcome under adult supervision. Check in at the berry shed and grab a yellow bucket so you can U-pick until your heart’s content. Open: Daily from 7 am to 7 pm. U-pick: Blueberries Available: Late April – mid July
18 | pensacola magazine
Okaloosa County Akers of Strawberries
1054 Melton Road, Baker, FL 32531 Phone: 850-537-2768 Website: akersofstrawberries.com Akers of Strawberries is a family owned and operated farm, which offers strawberries at $1.50 per pound for U-pickers. Take a break from the fields while you’re visiting to enjoy homemade frozen yogurt, strawberry shortcake or strawberry sundaes, as well as fountain drinks and sweet tea. Cash, check, Visa, Mastercard, EBT cards and WIC farmers market checks are all acceptable forms of payment. Open: Monday through Sunday. Call for availability and hours. U-pick: Strawberries Available: May – July
Eglin Air Force Base Reservation Locations
Duke Field, Range Road 212, and near Kentner Pond Phone: 850-882-4164 Website: jacksonguard.com If you are interested in picking blueberries on Eglin Air Force’s reservation, then you will need to apply for an outdoor recreation pass, which allows you access to the following three locations: Duke Field, Range Road 212 and Kentner Pond. All U-pickers over the age of 16 must have a permit to pick. Contact Jackson Guard for information and maps of the areas. U-pick: Blueberries Available: June Santa Rosa County
The Arc Santa Rosa
6225 Dixie Road, Milton, FL 32570 Phone: 850-623-9320 Website: thearcsantarosa.org The Arc Santa Rosa is nonprofit organization serving individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities in Santa Rosa County. The Arc throws an annual
Blueberry Bash each year to start off the blueberry-picking season. All chemical and pesticide use is minimal. Cash payment is accepted. Blueberries are $2 per pound if U-pick, and $4 per pound if Arc members pick. Open: Monday through Friday from 8 am to 2 pm. Weekends by appointment only. U-pick: Blueberries, blackberries and muscadine grapes Available: Late May – early July for berries, and August for muscadine grapes
Blue Basket Farms
8655 U.S. Highway 89, Milton, FL 32570 Phone: 850-623-0652 Website: facebook.com/BlueBasketFarms Blue Basket Farms offers contests and promotions for free blueberries on their Facebook page. Cash, checks, as well as debit and Visa cards are acceptable forms of payment. U-pick blueberries are $1.75 per pound. Other produce available for purchase but not for U-pick includes watermelons and squash. Open: Monday through Saturday from 6 am to noon. U-pick: Blueberries Available: Late April – May
A Guide to Local U-Pick Farms Hillcrest Farm
Alabama
Baldwin County Bee Natural Farm
9711 Twin Beach, Fairhope, AL 36532 Phone: 251-928-4311 Bee Natural Farm is located east of Fairhope High School. As the name of the farm suggests, Bee Natural Farm is committed to using natural practices to grow produce including blueberries, which will be ripe for the picking in June. Fresh fruits, veggies and local honey are also offered for purchase but not for U-pick. Open: Six days a week from sunup to sundown. U-pick: Blueberries Available: June
Gardner’s Berry Farm
21909 County Road 68 North, Robertsdale, AL Phone: 251-960-5317 Website: gardnersberryfarm.com Gardner’s is a family farm, where there are over 1,000 hybrid blackberry and 700 blueberry bushes. Berries are sold by the gallon, and Gardner’s provides buckets and bags for picking. Sampling is encouraged. Call for an appointment. Open: Sunup to sundown, but picking is discouraged during the middle of the day. U-pick: Blueberries, blackberries Available: May – June
30497 Hixson Road, Elberta, AL 36530 Phone: 251-962-2500 Website: facebook.com/ hillcrestfarmalabama Hillcrest Farm offers Upick organic blueberries and grapes during harvesting season. The farm store is open year-round, and shelves contain preserves and jams, as well as fresh produce like kale, green onions, Satsuma oranges and even pecans. Cash or checks are acceptable payment. Open: Monday, and Wednesday through Sunday from 8 am to 5 pm. U-pick: Blueberries, scuppernong and muscadine grapes Available: May – July
LA Berry Farms, Inc.
12562 Mary Ann Beach Road, Fairhope, AL 36532 Phone: 251-279-8745 Website: weeksbayplantation.com LA Berry Farms is located on the Weeks Bay Plantation in Fairhope. LA Berry Farms is a family-friendly, pesticide-free farm where U-pickers are guaranteed 100 percent organic blueberries. LA Berry Farms is also a proud partner of Ever’man Cooperative Grocery & Cafe. Open: Monday through Thursday from 8 am to noon. U-pick: Blueberries Available: May – July
Lyrene’s Flower Farm
11689 Highway 104, Fairhope, AL 36532 Phone: 251-928-0925, or 251-990-8877 Lyrene’s Flower Farm offers fresh, wholesome blueberries for U-pickers looking for locally grown berries that haven’t been
exposed to harsh chemicals. Prices for blueberries are $1.50 per pound if you pick, and $2.50 per pound for berries already picked. Open: Monday through Saturday from 7 am to noon. U-pick: Blueberries Available: June 1 – July 15
Peebles Farm
11850 County Road 91, Lillian, AL 36549 Phone: 251-235-1060 Peebles Farm is a family owned and operated farm, which minimizes chemical and pesticide use on crops. Adults and children are welcome to visit. Only cash is accepted as payment. Open: Monday through Saturday from 7 am to 5 pm. U-pick: Blueberries, blackberries Available: June – July
Pickin’ Tips:
Don’t forget to pack a positive attitude and remember to have fun while getting to know your local farmers and what they have to offer you and your community. Get a little dirty, have a lot of fun, and teach your kids that food does not always come from a store. pensacola magazine | 19
Seasonal Picks Stewart Organic Farm
YOUR SCHOOL YOUR COMMUNITY n n n n n
Preschool through 8th grade Small class sizes 21st Century Learning Culturally enriched community Student achievement ranks in nation’s top 10%
Creative Learning Academy 850.432.1768
| 3151 Hyde Park Road | Pensacola, FL 32503
www.CreativeLearningAcademy.org
NEW MEMBER
Saturday, May 14 9AM–12PM: 4th–8th graders 12:30PM–5PM: 9th–12th graders Please call 434-7760 to schedule your appointment FINANCIAL AID IS AVAILABLE FOR QUALIFIED FAMILIES 20 | pensacola magazine
15450 Ransom Stewart Lane Bay Minette, AL 36507 Phone: 251-751-9038 Stewart Organic Farm is a locally owned and operated farm, which raises crops that are herbicide and pesticide free. Vegetables for sale include zucchini, squash, tomatoes, okra, peas and more. Contact Carl to find out what produce is ready for harvesting. Open: Tuesday through Friday from 8 am to 6 pm. U-pick: Select vegetables, call for availability Available: May – August
Zimlich Ideal Farms
21790 Ranchette Road, Robertsdale, AL 36567 Phone: 251-947-8819 Zimlich Ideal Farms offers a variety of vegetables you can pick yourself including corn, beans, potatoes, rutabagas and cabbages. Call ahead to learn what vegetables are in season and available for harvest. Cash and check are acceptable forms of payment. Open: Call to schedule a visit. U-pick: Blueberries, vegetables Available: Late May Mobile County
Betty’s Berry Farm
3887 Driskell Loop Road, Wilmer, AL 36587 Phone: 251-649-1711 Website: bettysberryfarm.com Betty’s Berry Farm is one of the Tanner-Williams Agritourism Commission destinations. At the farm, sampling is encouraged and there is all can eat blueberries while you’re in the field. While visiting the farm you can view the many donkeys, horses, chickens and cows, but please don’t feed or touch the animals. Children are welcome with adult supervision. U-pick blueberries are $1.50 per pound, but pre-picked berries go for $2.50 per pound. The farm offers bags for your berries, but you are welcome to bring your own baskets, too. Debit and credit cards are not accepted. Open: Tuesday through Sunday during early mornings or late afternoons if the weather permits. U-pick: Blueberries Available: May 31 – mid July
Blue Moon Farm
13620 Tom Gaston Road, Mobile, AL 36695 Phone: 251-865-0252 Website: bluemoonfarm-grandbay.com Visit Blue Moon Farm for the ideal family outing. The farm is surrounded by fields of sunflowers and grazing cattle. Farm-fresh eggs, vegetables and blueberry plants are available for purchase. U-pickers are welcome to collect berries at $10 per gallon. The cost of U-cut flowers are $1 per two zinnias, and $5 per four sunflowers. Open: Daylight hours for U-pick berries, and Saturdays 9 am to 5 pm for U-cut flowers U-pick: Blueberries, blackberries, flowers Available: Late May – July for berries, April – November for flowers
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Oak Hill Produce
7250 South Grand Bay Wilmer Road, Grand Bay, AL 36541 Phone: 251-751-2006 Website: oakhillproduce.com Oak Hill offers a variety of produce for purchase including blueberries, broccoli, cucumbers, eggplants, peas, peppers, summer squash, sweet corn, winter squash, tomatoes and more. U-pickers should call for availability, or visit the website. Open: 10 am until dark. U-pick: Strawberries, blueberries, limited vegetables Available: May – October
Sunnyland Satsuma
1381 North Grand Bay Wilmer Road, Mobile, AL 36608 Phone: 251-802-7371 Website: sunnylandsatsuma.com Sunnyland Satsuma is another Tanner-Williams Agritourism destination. Bring your own plastic bags and clippers to harvest Satsumas, which are sweet and easy-to-peel mandarin oranges that grow well in the southern Gulf States. Satsumas are $20 per five gallon bucket, and U-pickers are ask to gather a five-gallon minimum of Satsumas. Cash and personal checks are the only accepted payment. Prepicked and boxed Satsumas and pecans are available for purchase at check-out. Open: Friday and Saturday from 8 am until dusk, and Sundays from noon until dusk. U-pick: Satsuma mandarin oranges Available: November – December
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Closer to a cure by dawn gresko
Sometimes clinical trials get a bad rep: we hear horror stories of medical malpractice and misuse, as well as mistreatment of patients, and we’re quick to assume the worst. But, do these negative examples give a clear picture of what clinical trials aim to accomplish? To gather up the facts, Pensacola Magazine reached out to local medical facilities engaged in clinical trial research to find out more on protocols for open trials and procedures for signing up. While there are several open trials at Andrews Institute, Baptist and Sacred Heart hospitals, we honed in on a select few that focus on lowering bad LDL cholesterol, finding new treatments for Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL), and a non-invasive treatment for helping those with osteoarthritis, all aimed at bringing us closer to a cure. In a clinical trial, volunteers receive a specific intervention, such as a drug or device, according to the research protocol, or plan, created by the investigators. A trial is typically headed by a principal investigator, often a medical doctor, who may oversee a research team including other doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals. These trials can be sponsored (or funded) by pharmaceutical companies, academic medical centers, voluntary groups, and other organizations. Although an informed consent document, which contains all pertinent details of the trial, must be signed before a participant enters a trial, the document is not a contract; a participant may withdraw from a trial at any time regardless of whether or not it has concluded. Additionally, to ensure the health and best interests of all patients are a priority, all trials must be reviewed and approved by the IRB (institutional review board) and the FDA, who are actively involved in adequately protecting all research participants.
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closer to a cure The Andrews Research & Education Institute (AREI) of Gulf Breeze is a special, non-profit division of the Andrews Institute, which was established to advance the science of orthopaedic care and sports medicine to educate not only the professional community but the general public on issues affecting daily health and well being. Currently, there are as many as ten ongoing clinical trials at AREI, including OrthoCor—a prospective, double blind, and placebo-controlled study on patient satisfaction outcomes with the use of an OrthoCor PEMF treatment for osteoarthritis, especially in regards to the knee. The goal of the OrthoCor clinical trial is to significantly decrease a patient’s pain due to knee osteoarthritis, especially if the patient has tried other treatments, such as intraarticular corticoseteroid injections, which have failed to reduce pain. “We are always looking for less invasive ways to treat our patients,” said Dr. Joshua G. Hackel and Dr. G. Daxton Steele of the Andrews Institute. “The OrthoCor brace is painless and will hopefully prove to be an additional treatment method for our patients suffering from osteoarthritis. We know the device works; it’s already been proven in previous trials. So, the goal of the current trial will be to quantify how well it works.” OrthoCor Medical sponsors the OrthoCor brace trial at AREI, and OrthoCor’s patented Pulsed Electromagnetic Field (PEMF) technology is used in the brace to relieve pain and reduce edema. PEMF is a low-level, time-varying electromagnetic field that penetrates superficial soft tissue, helping to accelerate the body’s natural antiinflammatory and recovery responses.
Those who are eligible for the trial include patients ages 45 to 75 who have on-going pain after receiving traditional therapies, and Andrews Institute uses a Kellergren Lawrence scale to see if patients rank high enough (between Grades 3 and 4) to be included in the study. The OrthoCor trial lasts six weeks and requires that patients wear the brace at least two hours a day starting in the morning. Laura Schubert is the research nurse for OrthoCor under AREI, and she attends to the patient’s care during the six-week trial. There are a total of four visits to Andrews Institute during the study: two visits with the doctors and two with the research nurse.
The new treatment being tested is Ublituximab, compared to an approved treatment, Ibrutinib Patient visits to the cancer center for treatment vary anywhere from two weeks to a month.
Other trials at AREI include prospective treatments for plantar fascilitis, rotator cuff tears, chronic diabetic ulcers, rheumatoid arthritis, and more. To learn more about current clinical trials at AREI, or how you can volunteer, visit andrewsinstitute.com/ arei, or call 850-916-8575.
“We encourage more to participate in clinical trials,” said Toni Hyatt, research nurse at Sacred Heart Cancer Center. “Without research we don’t get the answers to the burning questions we’re asking about cancer. We continue to make advances in cancer treatments because of research and we need participants from all walks of life to consider a clinical trial.”
You may not know it, but Sacred Heart Hospital has a full-fledge Cancer Center that participates in clinical trials sponsored by the National Cancer Institute and pharmaceutical companies. Sacred Heart’s current cancer research studies include several prospective treatments for breast and lung cancers, multiple myeloma, and many others including supportive treatment trials to address symptoms, such as mouth sores, caused by traditional radiation therapy for cancer affecting the neck and head.
Trial eligibility depends on factors like whether or not you’ve been treated for CLL before, or whether or not you are considered high risk. Screening tests to determine risk status and eligibility are created by a clinical trial sponsor, who outlines what defines a patient’s eligibility to participate in the clinical trial. However, determining risk status also helps determine treatment modality, or the way a treatment is administered according to a patient’s individual needs.
Clinical coordinators and research nurses Betsy Brou and Toni Hyatt are overseeing as many as 20 trials at the Sacred Heart Cancer Research Center, including three trials on CLL (Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia). All three are randomized studies with a similar goal: keeping CLL patients in remission for as long as possible.
Although the research nurses do not administer any of the treatment, they are still very much involved in patient care and well-being on an active basis.
“Without research we don’t get the answers to the burning questions we’re asking about cancer. We continue to make advances in cancer treatments because of research and we need participants from all walks of life to consider a clinical trial.” - Toni Hyatt, research nurse at Sacred Heart Cancer Center.
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Here’s a breakdown of each study: the first trial is for all CLL risk types that are either newly diagnosed or failed other lines of therapy, the second is for CLL high risk types that failed other lines of therapy, and the third is an observational rather than interventional trial that focuses on collecting data on CLL rather than administering experimental treatment.
“We’re there every step of the way,” said Betsy Brou, research nurse at Sacred Heart Cancer Center. “From walking patients to meet with doctors to making sure they get to appointments, we’re there so each patient receives exceptional care.” Patients may remain on the clinical trial for as long as the treatment is working. Signs that the treatment is working includes measuring patient blood counts, as well as patient accounts of feeling better and visible
reduction in lymphnode swelling within 15 days of starting treatment. If you’re interested in Sacred Heart Cancer Center and research trials, don’t hesitate to call research nurses Betsy Brou and Toni Hyatt at 850-416-4611, or visit sacred-heart.org/cancer-center for more information. Baptist Clinical Research conducts research in all areas of medicine and participates in drug, device and psychosocial clinical research projects. Research studies coordinated by Baptist Clinical Research come from a variety of sponsors including the pharmaceutical industry, the federal government and academia.
“We’re there every step of the way. From walking patients to meet with doctors to making sure they get to appointments, we’re there so each patient receives exceptional care.” — Betsy Brou, research nurse at Sacred Heart Cancer Center
One such study is a clinical trial for lowering LDL cholesterol—better known as the “bad” cholesterol. The study is examining a treatment that can inhibit PCSK9 receptors in the liver from producing LDL, which would effectively lower LDL cholesterol.
injected every two weeks and it can be used in conjunction with statins like Lipitor and Crestor, which are drugs that can also lower your cholesterol by blocking HMG-CoA, an enzyme your body needs to make cholesterol. The treatment contains an antibody that Volunteer eligibility depends on your level of attaches to LDL receptors and essentially LDL cholesterol. For example, one trial looks deactivates them. for participants with LDL over 100, while others look for those with LDL greater than “If you get a flu shot, it stimulates your body 70. to make antibodies against influenza,” said Dr. Doty of Baptist Clinical Research. “The In addition to testing the efficacy of the medication we’re testing is very advanced. new treatment to lower LDL cholesterol, It contains antibodies selectively made to the newer LDL cholesterol lowering trials intervene with LDL cholesterol receptors in at Baptist are geared toward looking at the liver.” outcomes of whether or not a lower LDL will also reduce risk of cardiovascular events like So far, the PCSK9 receptor-blocking stroke, heart attack, tachycardia and so on. treatment has helped reduce LDL cholesterol production by 50 to 70 percent. The drug is
Patient follow up for LDL cholesterol lowering trials continue up to five years after the trial ends. For more on the current LDL cholesterol trial at Baptist, you may call the Cardiology Consultants at 850-484-6500, or visit cardiologyconsultants.com. However, Baptist’s clinical research stretches beyond LDL cholesterol. Other trials include those on finding new ways to treat Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), diabetic foot ulcers, hypertension, diabetic neuropathy, and using Dermacell to treat chronic wounds in the lower extremities of diabetic patients. If you’d like to know more, call 850-469-2491, or check out ebaptisthealthcare.org/clinicaltrials to view current trials or fill out an information request form.
what is PEMF? OrthoCor’s Active System is more than your standard knee brace: it is the only device that delivers patented PEMF (Pulsed Electromagnetic Field) therapy, which has been shown to stimulate reaction pathways that lead to reduced pain and inflammation in muscles/joints. Inside every OrthoCor brace is a powerful microchip that delivers PEMF directly to the source of injuries, for a noninvasive and drug-free therapy with no side effects. PEMF has been used successfully to treat conditions like arthritis, swelling, postoperative pain and chronic knee pain.
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by DeeDee Davis
While not everyone starts the new year with a list of wellintended resolutions, most of us at least take inventory of our own shortcomings and vow to do better. Additionally, a new year is a time to reflect on what is really important in our lives and on what needs to be eliminated. For all of us procrastinators who didn’t kick a plan into action in January, spring is almost here and we have another chance. One thing that I learned a long time ago is that if you don’t have your health, not much else matters. It’s awfully nice to think of being in a position where you have all the money you could possibly want, you have children who are perfect and never give you heartache, you have an ideal spouse who worships you, and you have a rich social life with lots of friends. None of it can be fully enjoyed or appreciated, however, if you don’t have good 26 | pensacola magazine
health. There are some health issues that simply can’t be avoided, but there is a tremendous amount you can do for yourself that is far better than an insurance policy. It does, however, require a little effort on your part. Exercise and diet. Period. Without this regiment, you will uvltimately become part of the undesirable American statistic dealing with obesity. One in three of all Americans fall into this category, and being overweight isn’t the only byproduct of a poor diet and lack of exercise. Science tells us that a lifestyle that includes physical activity and smart food will result in a slower aging process, healthier bones, better mental health, and overall more sustained happiness. Why in the world would you abuse the Cheetos and biscuits when you know the potential damage? I do, more often than I like to admit, indulge in chocolate and warm, oven-fresh bread dripping with butter. I pray for the day when modern medicine re-evaluates the potato and determines that it is not only beneficial to your diet, but that you
are encouraged to have regular doses of fries and au gratins, as well as stuffed, mashed and hash-browned potatoes and tots. At times it is almost painful to pass on the joy of a lovely potato. But, on exercise, I am unwavering. This is largely because I have the best role models in the world for dragging my sorry self to the gym every morning: my parents. Both of my parents routinely exercise, but my father is nothing short of amazing. A young 85, he is the gym rat of Anytime Fitness. Seriously, he and my mother walk three miles every morning at daybreak, seven days a week, rain or shine. Afterwards, my dad heads for the gym where he takes yoga and then pilates. Pilates! When he first told me he had joined the class, I thought he was kidding. I didn’t even know he knew what pilates was. He is a poster child for gym. He loves the instructors, the classes, the interaction, and in short, the whole experience. He has always been active, but he most definitely kicked it up a notch
when he dealt with late stage cancer several years ago. I hope you haven’t had to face this in your family because it is the most frightening experience imaginable. Seeing a seemingly healthy person brought to their knees with this monster disease will without a doubt make you humble. Not my dad. The one who would do anything short of murder, and don’t even rule that out, for the five of us kids. The thought of life without him was more than any of us could accept, and God Almighty must have seen how pathetic the bunch of us are and how much we needed him. But, my dad was one of the fortunate ones. Nursed back to health by my no-nonsense mother, he hit the ground running upon completion of gut wrenching chemotherapy. His passion and appreciation of life is sublimely contagious and we have all learned from it. Had he not been so strong from years of exercise and a sensible diet, the results might not been so favorable. A strong body wards off all kinds of ailments and makes the ones that sneak past your guard much more manageable. It is absolutely never too late to get started and no excuses are permitted. What better time than spring to take up some kind of regular physical activity? If you can’t commit to a gym, just get out and walk. Do this for yourself and those you love. You will look better, feel better and be better. Who knows, before you know it, you will even pass on the second helping of mashed potatoes— at least until the new modern medicine report is issued.
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April 22 - Aug 28
April 22 - July 16
Opening Reception April 22nd, 5:30pm
Steven Knapp: Lightpaintings
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Right: Chuck Close, Alex, 1992, color woodcut on laid paper, image courtesy of the Syracuse University Art Collection Left: Stephen Knapp, Installation Image, Courtesy of artist
The Artist Revealed: Artists Portraits & Self Portraits
Feeling Blue: Meghan McCarthy’s Vision for a Healthier City Could Pensacola be the next Okinawa, Japan, or Loma Linda, California? These regions of the world boast people who live measurably longer lives. It is not unusual, for example, for men and women in these locales to live to 90 or even 100 years old. You may think there is no way Pensacola could ever attain that level of health and longevity. Well, Meghan McCarthy, director of Healthy Lives at Baptist Hospital, is working hard to make it a reality by implanting a public awareness campaign and educating people on the benefits of eating right, exercising, socialization, and maintaining a healthy emotional and spiritual attitude. She is working with community leaders to gauge public interest in a series of initiatives that would provide recommendations for wholesome living right here. In a county that routinely rates among the least healthy in the state, the initiative is long overdue. BY JOSH NEWBY
So what phase of the Blue Zones project are you in now? Meghan: The whole point of bringing in the Blue Zones team to Pensacola was to see if people were into it. This type of thing has to be community-owned to be successful. So we had this dream to bring Blue Zones here and a thousand people attended our public awareness events
photo by Guy Stevens
over 48 hours. We sent out a follow-up survey and got back some great feedback. As a Baptist representative, I’ve even heard from Sacred Heart physicians who want to be involved. Now, when we put something out there, it’s not going to speak to everyone. You have to tailormake it. Promoting the economic benefits is not going to excite everybody. By making a human connection and telling them, ‘How would you like to live to see your great grandkids,’ is a lot easier than saying, ‘Lose 10 pounds.’ Naples just did this for a couple million dollars. Now people will say that Naples is a lot different than us. That’s true; every city has its challenges. But if we
can do a Blue Zone in Naples and in Pensacola, we can pretty much cover the gamut of a lot of Florida cities. We can create a model of how to roll it out statewide. Unfortunately, health is not really in our repertoire here, which is ironic, because people want to retire here. The dream is to retire here, so you would think we would value health. It really comes down to viewing health as a value, just as we view the environment as a value. I have been firming up community support. I’ve met with the University of West Florida and with the City of Pensacola to really align what support we will need. The next
steps will be Baptist firming up a plan. The traditional Blue Zones approach is to partner with the city and build up boots on the ground. I’m thinking of an alternate method that might lower the overall cost. Other cities do that, too. We’re moving forward, but we’re not committed to anything yet.
What are some tangible things that can happen? Meghan: Part of Blue Zones’ success is in their certifications. For example, they’ll look to certify 50 restaurants as Blue Zones restaurants. Each restaurant has a list of 25 things they can do, like not offer bread unless someone asks or provide a side of fruit instead of fries. You
pensacola magazine | 29
can still get fries, but the idea is to make health the default option. Now, not that every restaurant would have to do every one. No one size fits all. This can of course be lucrative, too, as people seek out those restaurants with certifications. Grocery stores can have Blue Zones checkouts, too, that don’t have any candy impulse buys in their aisles. A lot of stores have to designate so much squarefootage to Coke, for example. We’re asking they advertise Dasani water instead of the soda. So we have all these subconscious elements that gently nudge people to make healthy choices.
How does poverty factor into all of this and what can we do about it from that angle? Meghan: The great thing about Blue Zones is it’s for everyday lifestyles. Right now, if you walk or bike somewhere, people think you’re homeless or need help, so we need to make health cool. It really is a culture thing. When you can buy soda for half the price of water, that’s a differential that we need to combat. However, I don’t believe socioeconomic status is a barrier to health, and there’s research to support that. We do need to have resources, but we already have
GOING BLUE: Cities all over the globe have been identified as Blue Zones. Could Pensacola be next? 30 | pensacola magazine
many. When I look at an obese child or a hungry child, I see the same thing—a malnourished child. We can add a layer of incentives to the action we take that encourages partents to make healthy choices for their children early on. And we need to do that by connect where the family lives or goes to church. We have to collaborate. We have to create intersection points where lifestyles meet healthy choices and resources.
What is Pensacola’s greatest health downfall? Meghan: Honestly I believe it is about culture. This can be the San Diego of the South. We have these beautiful beaches and environment and we want people to be able to move easily and have opportunities. Let’s look at our green spaces, our parks. Can people get there by walking or do they have to drive there? I think we have a lot of momentum with the coming ferries and the YMCA. It’ll be cool to be healthy. It’ll be like a badge of honor. You know, people judge values based on what they can see. When we have bike racks and Blue Zones, people perceive those things. It’s not overnight, but we instill that we want to be healthy and that is a part of our growth, including economic growth.
What are some of the economic advantages of being a blue zone?
“This can be the San Diego of the South. We have these beautiful beaches and environment and we want people to be able to move easily and have opportunities.”
Meghan: Healthier employees are more productive. They are absent and sick less. Now, it’s tough to show a direct ROI, but it is a common sense return. The number of working moms is growing, and the number one reason they call in sick is because of sick kids. We talk so much about workforce development and business recruitment; well, a healthy workforce is a part of that. Tourism is a factor, too. Healthier options can translate to that. Maybe it’s a bike path from New Orleans to Tallahassee, or from the Gulf to somewhere north of us. Having more bike races would be a huge economic driver that can translate to business growth and overall culture change. Another big thing is insurance. Businesses under 50 employees— even if they’re the healthiest 50 employees there are—are subject to the rates of their risk pool. That averages out here in Pensacola, especially since Florida Blue has about 60 to 70 percent of market share. Most people are using them as an insurer. If we’re all healthier, then we’re
saving them money and that should lower everyone’s rates. Finally, surround yourself with health. Humans do things in groups, whether it’s work out or eat or play. So have a salad potluck for your birthday, work somewhere that allows you a standing desk. We have to make our neighborhoods safe so people feel assured they can securely gett some free running or walking exercise in. Zip codes do determine your health, but as we work together, we can boost the overall health, as a community, of all those zip codes.
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mind . body. spirit by Kelly Oden
Mind. Body. Spirit. The holy trinity of holistic healing.
Unlike western medicine, which typically treats specific physical ailments and often relies heavily on pharmaceuticals, holistic therapies work within the theory of connectedness and strive to treat the whole self— the emotional, mental, physical and spiritual. Holistic therapies can be successful both on their own and combined with traditional medical treatment. In fact, many traditional medical centers are adding holistic therapies like acupuncture, massage and meditation. There are quite a few interesting modalities available for those looking relief from pain, stress, depression and chronic illness. We spoke with a handful of local practitioners about their specific therapies and the benefits they offer.
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mind • body • spirit Rolfing ® Sharalee Hoelscher Certified Rolfer™ healingwithbodywork.com Cost: $115 per session
Founded by Dr. Ida Rolf, Rolfing® is a type of structural integration bodywork that focuses on the system of ligaments, tendons, and connective tissue called fascia, that runs through the entire body. Rolfing® is neither a massage nor is it chiropractic or energy work. Rather, Rolfing® uses light to medium pressure and body movements to gently realign and restore function to the connective tissues that support joints, organs and muscles thereby restoring balance and functionality to the entire system. Contrary to popular belief, Rolfing® should not be a painful experience. Sharalee Hoelscher, the only Certified Rolfer™ in the Pensacola area, says, “Rolfing® focuses on the system as a whole. So you can think of this system of soft tissue that a Rolfer™ works with as being continuous from head to toe. Just like your skin is continuous on the outside, this system is continuous on the inside. Just like if I am wearing a long sleeve top and I pull on the cuff of the sleeve, you can see the collar will move, the same thing with the soft tissue of the body. If I were to tie my pants down at the ankle then try to hike them up above the waist, they’re not going to go because they are being held from a distant location. Many times a symptom is just a symptom and is not actually the problem. The problem might actually be in a distant location of the body. So, I might be working on someone’s ankle and really be making a change to their neck because the system is continuous. The Rolfer™ does an assessment of the system as a whole and sees where it is not functioning correctly, where is it out of balance. We get the system as a whole functioning correctly. We get it in balance and then everything moves freely without pain as it is designed to.” During the one hour and 15 minute sessions, clients are dressed in their undergarments and no oils or lotions are used. “People are for the most part lying on a padded table, but sometimes I work with them sitting on a bench or standing and I work 34 | pensacola magazine
“We get the system as a whole functioning correctly. We get it in balance and then everything moves freely without pain as it is designed to.” with them in their gait—as they move, as they walk, as they reach, as they bend. So, as the person moves, I might anchor the tissue somewhere and then ask them to move something in a particular way to get things functioning again,” she says. The sessions are long because Sharalee uses time rather than force. “This allows the work to be gentle and comfortable for the person. As I contact the tissue with my hand or the side of my arm, I just simply give the tissue some input and I give it time to change— to lengthen or expand,” she says. Rolfing® is particularly useful for issues with pain including back or neck pain, painful restricted movement, injuries (even old ones), poor posture, chronic
muscle tension, headaches, repetitive stress injuries, sciatica, carpal tunnel, posture and much more. According to Sharalee, one of the best things about Rolfing® is that the results are long-lasting, many times permanent. For this reason, Rolfing® is typically done in 10 sessions. Most people find their problem is resolved very early, yet they complete all the sessions to ensure their body functions at its highest and best potential for years to come. However, if all sessions are not completed, there can still be very good results.
photo by Robert Baisden
The western medicine explanation of acupuncture, says Bonnie, is that the needle will trick the body into thinking it is a foreign invader. So you insert the needle and the body goes ‘Oh no, there is something here that I don’t recognize.’ It sends defense mechanisms and red and white blood cells to that area. This brings in oxygen and nutrients to the cells and it flushes out the waste products.”
Acupuncture Bonnie Mclean Doctor of Oriental Medicine spiritgatemedicine.com Cost: $80 for initial consultation and treatment. $65 to $80 for follow-ups. Bonnie McLean has a doctorate in Oriental Medicine and has been working in the healing arts for over 50 years. She explains that Chinese Medicine is a form of energy medicine that is about 5,000 years old. It is originally based on Taoist philosophy, which speaks about the human body in terms of energy as well as matter. The ancient Chinese believed that a basis life energy called “qi” or “chi” is present in every living creature, and that it circulates along specific pathways in the body called meridians. “We all have an energy body that feeds all of the cells and all of the systems of the body. It connects everything. I think of it like rivers of energy. We have some major ones and then we have smaller and smaller ones shooting off. These rivers of energy nourish the soil and help make the inner vegetation of the body grow. I see the energy meridians as being like that. So, say you put a damn on one of the rivers—you have too much energy at one end and not enough at the other. In Chinese medicine, we say that disease forms from blockages of energy. We open up those blockages so that energy can flow freely both ways and you’ll be in homeostasis,” Bonnie explains. “It’s the state of homeostasis where the body can regenerate and heal itself.”
As long as energy flows freely through these pathways, the balance (homeostasis) of the body is maintained and the body is healthy. When the flow of energy is blocked for any reason, this energetic system is disrupted and pain or illness results. This can occur in the case of injury, disease, use of alcohol or drugs, lack of exercise, poor nutritional status, weakness from birth, or even chronic mental or emotional anguish. By stimulating appropriate acupuncture points along the energy pathways, the blocked energy is released and health can be restored. Along these energy meridians are acupuncture points. These points may be stimulated by a number of methods. The most commonly used method is acupuncture, the insertion of very fine solid sterile needles. When asked about how the needles work on the body, Bonnie explains, “Chinese Medicine believes the needles work on an energy level. We can actually affect the energy body by working on the physical body. The Chinese see this in terms of yin and yang. In western medicine we call this the positive and negative ions of an atom. Each cell has a certain balance of positive and negative ions in the cell and in the environment around the cell. When a body part is injured or diseased, that balance is affected. I think that the metal needles actually “reboot the computers” of the cells. This gives unhealthy tissue it a chance to re balance to its normal state so it can heal itself.” What Bonnie likes about Chinese Medicine is that it recognizes that all healing is self-healing. A modality like acupuncture can “kick start” and support that healing process. But we are all our own healers.
Research in the Eastern and Western parts of the world has shown that acupuncture stimulates the neurotransmitters in the brain and spinal cord. These are the substances that are responsible for proper transmission of nerve impulses and our sense of well-being. The best known of these are the endorphins, which are endogenous morphine-like substances. Studies have also shown that acupuncture can produce physiological reactions in the body, such as changes in heart rate, blood pressure, brain activity, blood chemistry, endocrine functions, intestinal and gastric activity, and immunologic reactions. Acupuncture can be used to treat a wide range of conditions. These can include sprains, strains, and other injuries, such as whiplash; neck, shoulder, and low back pain; sciatica; tension, migraine, and sinus headaches; osteoarthritis and bursitis; anxiety “Chinese Medicine believes the needles work on an energy level. We can actually affect the energy body by working on the physical body.” and depression; asthma; and gastro-intestinal disorders. In the U.S., acupuncture is best known for treating pain conditions, stress-related disorders, and addictions. The frequency and duration of acupuncture treatments varies according to the type, seriousness of the problem, and if it’s acute or chronic, as well as the general condition of the patient. The effect of acupuncture tends to be cumulative, says Bonnie. “An average course of treatment would be one to two times a week for four-six weeks for acute problems and probably longer for chronic injuries and ailments. Treatment for detoxification from alcohol, cigarettes, drugs, or medications for severe pain may be daily for three-seven days.” pensacola magazine | 35
mind • body • spirit “...I would love to see our culture shift towards a more proactive mindset around health maintenance, including regular massage to keep the body in good working order.”
photo by Guy Stevens
Thai Yoga Bodywork
Tara Taylor Massage Therapist, Yoga Instructor breathepcola.com Cost: $75 per session Tara Taylor, massage therapist and director at Breathe Yoga and Wellness Center, explains Thai-yoga bodywork as a system of massage and manipulation developed in Thailand, and influenced by the traditional medicine systems of India, China, and Southeast Asia, as well as by yoga. Often referred to as the “martial art of healing,” Thai-yoga bodywork combines rhythmic compression, exotic stretching positions similar to yoga asanas, and breath control to provide both relaxing and therapeutic results. “As I understand it,” explains Tara, “in Thailand, massage is seen more as preventive health maintenance and is participated in by a larger portion of the population than it is here in the states where it is sometimes seen either as a luxury, 36 | pensacola magazine
or as something to resort to only when there is an issue or injury needing to be addressed. I would love to see our culture shift towards a more proactive mindset around health maintenance, including regular massage to keep the body in good working order.” For Tara, the difference between Thai and traditional massage lies more in the technique than in the purpose or outcome, saying, “The purpose of both includes easing tension, working out adhesions, working with scar tissue, increasing circulation of blood and lymph, optimizing range of motion, and increasing overall health in the body, making it a more comfortable place to live. In Thai massage the recipient is clothed and no lubrication is used. Thai massage is done on the mat as opposed to the table. Thai massage generally includes a greater amount of stretching and range of motion than table massage. The recipient, in my experience, while deeply relaxed, usually stays a little more ‘awake and aware’ in Thai massage due to being moved around into all of the different positions, but it can be a very meditative experience.”
The practitioner uses hands, palms, feet, knees, and the receiver’s bodyweight during the treatment that may include a variety of positions including prone, supine, side-lying, and seated. In Thai massage, the main techniques are passive stretching, applied slowly by the practitioner; rhythmic and deep static compression, and rocking or other rhythmic movements. “There are also obvious stress relieving effects, and, if you are a believer in an energetic body, then it is also said to increase the flow of energy through the meridians or nadis, which contributes to overall health and well-being,” says Tara. Tara sometimes combines traditional and Thai massage and she even offers private yoga sessions in which the yoga work ends with a Thai Yoga Massage during final relaxation.
“This is at max, 15 minutes out of person’s day. You’re not soaking wet and you can go about your business when you’re done.” In addition, the skin’s exposure to these sub-zero temperatures triggers the release of anti-inflammatory molecules, endorphins, and toxins, and increases oxygen circulation within the bloodstream. “If you think about,” says Tara, “people have been using ice and ice baths to reduce inflammation forever. This is at max, 15 minutes out of person’s day. You’re not soaking wet and you can go about your business when you’re done. People feel instantly better. I have people in physical therapy, people with surgery, people with arthritis. I have all kinds of clients and they all feel instantly better.”
Cryotherapy Tara Santosuosso Owner, Chill Cryotherapy www.chillpensacola.com Cost: $45 per session Originally developed in 1968 in Japan as a treatment for rheumatoid arthritis, researchers also discovered it was helpful for multiple sclerosis and fibromyalgia, which are all inflammatory diseases. European Olympic athletes subsequently discovered the benefits and it became very popular in Europe 30 years ago. Tara Santosuosso opened Chill Cryotherapy when she realized the therapy wasn’t available in Pensacola. An avid tennis player, Tara discovered cryotherapy while living in Texas and she became a true be-
liever after repeated ankle injuries. Within three sessions, her pain was gone and she was back on the courts. Cryotherapy, Tara explains, is a wholebody exposure to sub-zero temperatures used to promote the body’s natural antiinflammatory response, release endorphins, reduce pain and promote overall health. Cryotherapy is not a medical procedure. Rather, it is a non-invasive alternative for individuals seeking faster recovery and improved health. The whole-body cryosauna uses a gaseous form of nitrogen to lower skin surface temperature, by 30 to 50 degrees, in a two-to-three minute session. The exposed skin reacts to the extreme temperatures by sending messages to the brain that stimulate natural regulatory functions of the body.
Clients typically wear undergarments although women may be nude, if desired. Thermal socks, gloves and shoes are provided to protect the extremities from temperatures as low as negative 300 degrees. Clients enter the cryosauna in a robe and disrobe once settled inside. A trained operator guides clients through the cryotherapy session. Only the clients face is visible outside of the chamber. As the session begins, cool dry air will circulate within the chamber for just two-three minutes. During this time your skin surface temperature will drop significantly. When the session is over, the body vasodilates and the enriched blood is released back to the skin surface tissues, muscle tissues, and joint spaces that have been flushed of toxins. This is certainly not an exhaustive list of holistic therapies—just a peek at a few of the more unique options. Other popular modalities include Reiki, Cranial Sacral Therapy, Infra-Red Heat Therapy, Pranic Healing, Aromatherapy, Tapping and more. If you are suffering from a chronic pain or illness and western medicine has yet to give you the relief you need, try one of these holistic options. Or, better yet, take Tara Taylor’s advice and begin a treatment of preventative self-care to avoid many of these issues to begin with. pensacola magazine | 37
Join us on May 22 at 11 a.m. for a Sunday Champagne Brunch presented by the Levin Family. The event features James Beard Award Nominee Chef Briand from Fisher’s in Orange Beach, a Bay Cruise and Live Experience Auction.
Bid
Tickets
$125
on
boat
per
tours,
person
plane
at
rides,
fishing
trips
and
more!
w w w. g u l f c o a s t k i d s h ou s e. c om
All Proceeds Benefit Gulf Coast Kid’s House
the Switzer family
by dawn gresko
Spring toward Better Health
Exploring fun ways to elevate your fitness routine Spring is in the air, but flowers aren’t the only ones who get to show off their transformation in full bloom. If you’re slim on motivation, consider the season of renewal as good a time as any to go through your own transformation in body and mind by trying something new in the world of fitness. Pensacola Magazine spoke with Breathe Yoga and Wellness Center, Pure Pilates, and Uru Yoga and Beyond, who guided us through three elevated exercises any person can try, including: circus-like aerial yoga, buoyant Kangoo Jumps, and core-
building TRX Suspension Training. The professionals suggested TRX for core work, Kangoo for cardio, and aerial yoga for stretching and toning. So, don’t be shy about signing up for something new because all exercises can be adjusted according to your level of experience, and you can opt for either a private or public class. While we’re all guilty of making and not keeping those New Year’s resolutions of cutting back on junk food and working out on a regular basis, we’re here to show you there’s more than one way to spring your way to better health.
pensacola magazine | 39
Spring toward Better Health
AERIAL YOGA
photo by Guy Stevens
“There is truly nothing to fear with aerial equipment as long as you are mindful during the practice.”
Tara Taylor (Breathe Yoga) in inverted Dancer's Pose
“Just relax and have fun,” said Susan Clark, owner and instructor at Pure Pilates. “You are not competing with anyone, so be present, focus on the moment of the movement, and in the end you will feel a great sense of accomplishment.”
40 | pensacola magazine
For those who might be intimidated by the aerial yoga equipment, don’t worry: you won’t break the material, no matter how much you stretch out your flying fish or super person posture.
breathing and flexibility from regular training, aerial yoga reduces back pain, supports the joints, aides in spinal decompression, increases blood flow and flexibility, and relieves stress.
“There is truly nothing to fear with aerial equipment as long as you are mindful during the practice,” said Tara Taylor, owner and instructor of Breathe Yoga and Wellness Center. “Aerial yoga can be customized to be suitable for any body type, fitness level, age, or style of practice. All postures are optional and students don’t have to do anything I suggest other than breathe.”
“Each time you practice aerial yoga, you’ll learn one new movement or pose,” said Rebecca Sathre, owner and instructor at Uru Yoga
Practicing aerial yoga has a lengthy list of health benefits, as long as you’re willing to soar in a swing at least one day a week. In addition to the benefits of shoulder strengthening and abdominal toning, as well as improved coordination,
Ready to ascend like an aerialist? You can check out the schedule for local aerial yoga classes and find out what’s right for you at purepilatepensacola. com, uruyoga.com, and breathepcola.com.
photo by Guy Stevens
You don’t have to be a seasoned yogi, or yogani, to experiment with aerial yoga. Aerial yoga is a combination of traditional yoga poses done on the floor and postures practiced using a “trapeze,” called either a sling or swing, while suspended at waist height. The goal is to distribute your body weight between the fabric and the floor, allowing you to access traditional yoga postures in new and fun ways. The swing is made of the same fabric that aerialists use in the circus, and you get to look and feel like a Cirque du Soleil performer no matter your level of experience.
and Beyond. “It’s important to take pride in those small successes and not become discouraged if you can’t conquer a complicated pose right away.”
Colleen Brown (Breathe Yoga) in Wide-Legged Heart-Opening Pose
TRX
SUSPENSION TRAINING
Photos courtesy of Pure pilates
“If you get the muscle shake that means you are working hard, which is a good thing!”
If you’re serious about sculpting your core, look no further than TRX Suspension Training. The system of exercise was developed by a Navy SEAL who wanted his body at peak performance for missions and the training blends the practices of total body resistance exercise (TRX) and suspension training for construction of your core, which includes not only your abs, but your pelvis, back and chest muscles, too.
The exercise isn’t as intimidating as it sounds and you don’t have to be a Navy SEAL to get your TRX Suspension Training on. All instructors are trained to modify exercises to suit each individual’s level. This means changing the person’s stance and changing the way the body is angled in relation to the floor and ceiling. Plus, you are in control of how much you want to challenge yourself on each exercise.
It’s a total body workout that you can literally do anywhere: set up either at the gym, home or at a hotel while you’re traveling, or even outdoors if you can find a stable column or tree to which you can attach the resistance bands.
“Although we don’t have beginner classes, any TRX Suspension Training class can be beginner level with simple adjustments to stance and angle,” said Clark of Pure Pilates. “If you get the muscle shake that means you are working hard, which is a good thing!”
A few of the benefits associated with the TRX Suspension Training system are developing a strong core, which supports the lower back and improves balance, as well as builds functional strength and the improvement of an individual’s anaerobic cardiovascular endurance. Dedicating at least 30 minutes of training for twice a week is a good place to start.
Looking to build a hardcore core? Visit purepilates.com to find out more on TRX Suspension Training, or keep up to date with class schedules.
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If you’re wondering who else is doing TRX Suspension Training, the answer is all branches of the US military, as well as Olympic swimmers, men and women’s sports teams, ur
The TRX Suspension Training leverages gravity and your body weight to perform hundreds of exercises with a single training tool—so you don’t have to worry about hitting the pause button so you can move to a different piece of equipment.
and even celebrities Gwen Stefani and Jennifer Lopez.
TRX Suspension Training is a low-impact exercise that is easy on the joints and creates balance within the muscular system, which helps in cases of injury rehabilitation. However, you might want to avoid TRX equipment and training if you have shoulder injuries that prevent you from picking up and lifting things.
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pensacola magazine | 41
Spring toward Better Health
KANGOO
Pure Pilates
426 South Palafox Pensacola, FL 32502 850a.607.2772 purepilatespensacola.com
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2400 Executive Plaza Rd, Pensacola, FL 32504 Phone: 850.377.5334 uruyoga.com
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Uru Yoga & Beyond
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505 South Adams Street Historic Seville Square Pensacola, FL, 32502 850.470.4444 breathepcola.com
Tired of your old exercise routine, or just looking to make fitness feel less like a chore and more like recreation? Make the hop to Pure Pilates for a Kangoo class, or jump to purepilatespensacola.com for more details.
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Breathe Yoga
Those who utilize the Kangoo Jumps rebound shoes find the shock they would normally experience in an aerobic class is absorbed through the
Beginners start off by walking in the boots to find their balance and to get their equilibrium adjusted. After you are comfortable walking, you start jogging and jumping, then you just follow along with the simple and fun choreography prepared by Kangoo instructor Barbara
Kielich at Pure Pilates. A good tip to remember is to go at your own pace and listen to your body.
ur
The Kango Jumps rebound shoes, or Kangoo boots, are used for exactly what the name “Kangoo” implies: jumping
unique design of the shoe instead of in their joints. Positive results from consistent Kangooing include increased cardiovascular fitness, weight loss due to raising the body’s ability to lose fat, muscle toning, and in a few cases, improved bone density.
co
“Kangoo Jumps makes you feel like a kid,” said Clark. “You’re having fun and burning some serious calories at the same time. So, prepare to sweat. It will be a great full body workout!”
around like the spring-legged marsupial of the Australian Outback—the kangaroo. The rebound shoes are designed to reduce impact on your joints by 80 percent, so they do not do not damage over time from healthy hopping. The shoes have a special Impact Protection System (IPS), which allows the wearer to perform rebound exercises without fatiguing the legs and body from the hard stop of the floor.
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42 | pensacola magazine
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Kangoo Jumps is the newest fitness craze and it’s everything your inner child could ask for: you get to have the fun of jump rope and bouncy houses, while simultaneously making a responsible adult decision for bettering your health.
u r k e p h ot o g r a p h y
Photo courtesy of Meg Burke photography
“ You’re having fun and burning some serious calories at the same time. So, prepare to sweat. It will be a great full body workout!”
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pensacola magazine | 43
Play / Live / Give APR APR15
Blue Wahoos What’s a Wahoo? If you haven’t already found out, it’s time to travel out to Blue Wahoos Stadium and check out how our blue-andwhite striped Wahoos bring the best of baseball to Pensacola. Chime in with over 5,000 baseball fans to “Take Me Out to the Ball Game” and help kick off the 2016 baseball season for the Blue Wahoos. This month, we can look forward to at least ten home games, so be sure to pick up your peanuts and Cracker Jacks while enjoy the game. Game dates and times are subject to change, so keep up to date on the latest by visiting bluewahoos.com. If you’re ready to grab your tickets, for a single game or the season, call Joey DiChiara at 850-984-8444, or email jdichiara@bluewahoos.com.
April 12-16: v. Jacksonville Suns April 22-26: v. Jackson Generals
APR St. Joseph’s Blues 9-10 and BarBQ
St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in downtown Pensacola is celebrating 125 years since their founding. Part of that celebration is the first annual Blues and BarBQ event. The event takes place the weekend of April 9 and 10 at the church campus located at 140 West Government. Admission is free! There will be renowned local and regional Blues musicians all through the day in addition to great BarBQ by some of the areas favorite vendors, fun creative activities for children and arts and crafts vendors. Inside the parish hall will be a silent auction, Bingo, and chances to win. For more information, visit www.facebook. com/bluesbbq1
APR Alton Brown Live: 12 Eat Your Science
Alton Brown has a knack for mixing the perfect base of science, music and food into two hours of pure entertainment, coming to Saenger Theatre on April 12. Fans can expect all new everything, including songs, multimedia presentations, talk-show antics, and bigger and better (potentially dangerous) food demonstrations. Tickets range $58 to $99. Find out more, and reserve seats now, at pensacolasaenger.com.
APR Fiesta Treasure Hunt
13-17 20-24
APR Gulf Coast Half 10 Marathon
Meet under the Beach Ball for the Gulf Coast Half Marathon, returning April 10 to Pensacola Beach. Registration and packet pick up is from 12 to 6 pm on April 8 and 11 am to 5 pm on April 9 at Running Wild (3012 East Cervantes Street). Check out gulfcoasthalf.com for more details, or to register now.
44 | pensacola magazine
Who doesn’t love scavenger hunts with prizes totaling nearly $5,000? Pensacola is calling all treasure hunters to decipher ten daily historical clues that lead to the location of Don Tristan DeLuna’s lost treasure and to daily prizes between April 13 to 17 and April 20 to 24. Those who answer all ten daily clues correctly will have their name go into a final drawing for a grand prize announced at the Pensacola Crawfish festival on May 1. Visit weartv.com for more information, or to submit your answers to the clues.
APR Blue Angels Practice
12-13 19-20 26-27
Ready to see some contrail Cuban Eights? In addition to classic crowd favorites, the Blue Angels will be showing off some new moves you won’t want to miss. So, jet
off with the Blue Angels as they fly high above the National Naval Aviation Museum during this month’s practice sessions. Practice starts at 11:30 am and runs for 55 minutes. For more information, visit navalaviationmuseum.org.
APR James Taylor Band 19 at Pensacola Bay Center
Don’t miss an unforgettable night with award-winning, Rock and Roll Hall of Famer James Taylor and his all-star band at Pensacola Bay Center on April 19. For more than 40 years, Taylor’s music has touched the lives of his listeners with his distinctive style of guitar playing and warm, baritone voice. Tickets range $60 to $85, and you can reserve your seats now by visiting pensacolabaycenter. com, or calling 800-745-3000.
APR Cooking Demos with 20 Chef Irv: Worlds of Flavors
Chef Irv Miller of Jackson’s Steakhouse is back to show you how to prepare mouth-watering recipes featuring flavors from the around the globe. Chef Miller will introduce a spice rub combination and marinades both for fish and meat that reflect regional culture and climate ingredients. Each class costs $45 per person, which covers the cooking demonstration, tastings
Play / Live / Give of the recipes, wine pairings, and a take-home recipe booklet so you can try your hand at Miller’s recipes in the comfort of your own home. Reservations are required, and you may make yours by calling 850-4699898, or visiting jacksonsrestaurant. com.
APR Bud Light Charity 23 Golf Challenge
Show your support and swing hard for a cause: Arc Gateway and Pensacola Sports are teaming up for an afternoon of great golf to benefit two tee-rrific organizations at Marcus Pointe Golf Club on April 22 starting at 10:30 am. Look forward to a great day filled with door prizes, food, beverages, awards and more! Cost is $150 per player, and sponsorships opportunities are available starting at $150. For more details, contact Grier Halstead at 850-4342638 ext. 1105, or email budlightgolf@ arc-gateway.org.
APR Let It Be: A
21 Celebration of the Music of The Beatles
Relive the past from Ed Sullivan to Abbey Road with favorite hits by The Beatles, including “Hard Day’s night,” “Get Back” and many more, at Saenger Theatre on April 21, when the Celebration of the Music of The Beatles begins at 7:30 pm. For one night, the Fab Four will come together again on the stage, so you can see the band perform hits you never got the chance to experience live. Tickets range $45 to $55, and you may reserve your seats now by visiting pensacolasaenger.com.
APR Santa Rosa Island
23 Triathlon presents Tri The Island
The Santa Rosa Island Triathlon Inc. is pleased to announce Tri The Island: a new event to be hosted on Pensacola Beach on April 23 at 7 am. This event is USAT-sanctioned and consists of a 30-mile swim, a 10-mile bike, and a two-mile run set on beautiful, beach scenery. To learn more about the triathlon or registration, visit santarosatriathlon.com.
APR Brian Regan at
22 Saenger Theatre
Brian Regan is guaranteed to bring laughter to Saengar Theatre, where he will take the stage on the night of April 22. Regan is a stand-up comic known for his live broadcast on Comedy Central and stand-up performances on the Late Show with David Letterman. Visit pensacolasaenger.com for more details, or to reserve your tickets now.
APR Food Truck Festival 23
Pensacola Hot Wheels Food Truck Festival is set to roll out food and fun on April 23 from 11 am to 3 pm at Plaza de Luna in Downtown Pensacola. It is the first time Pensacola will see food trucks
APR Pensacola Little
29 Theatre presents to Don’t Dress for Dinner May and Swing, Swang, 1 Swung The Mainstage Production Don’t Dress for Dinner explores exactly what can go wrong when you invite your chic Parisian mistress into your French farmhouse for a romantic weekend while your wife is away. Join Pensacola Little Theatre on the weekend of April 29 to May 1 for Swing, Swang, Swung: an evening of dance that will feature choreographed works set to popular music by artists, such as The Beatles and Led Zeppelin. Get your tickets online now, or learn more about the upcoming shows, at pensacolalittletheatre.com.
Pensacola Museum of Art presents The Artist Revealed and Stephen Knapp: Lightpaintings
APR 22
Chuck Close Alex, 1992 color woodcut on laid paper, image courtesy of the Syracuse University Art Collection
gather together and open their doors in the heart of downtown. The event is free and will feature the following food truck lineup: Busy Bee, The Beachy Barista, Arepas by Samantha’s Gift, Warriors Wagon, Hip Pocket Deli, Nomaidc Eats, BellyBusters Food Wagon, 3-D Burgers and Tea, and Joe Caribe. Proceeds will benefit Pensacola Habit for Humanity and cover costs for their mission of building homes, community and hope, for creating healthier and sustainable neighborhoods. Visit pensacolahotwheels.org for more details.
Stephen Knapp Installation image Courtesy of artist
The Artist Revealed brings together 50 works in a variety of media that examine self-portraits and portraits of other artists, including the works by Edouard Manet, Check Close, Leonard Baskin, Edward Steichen, Norman Rockwell, and Anders Zorn, while sitters include James McNeill Whistler, Thomas Eakins, Charlie Chaplin, C.S. Lewis, and Pablo Casals. Stephen Knapp: Lightpaintings will display 14 of Knapp’s lightpaintings: works that explore color, light and space through the use of specially cut dichroic glass, shaped and polished to create a palette that refracts light onto the walls and surrounding space into abstract compositions. Both exhibits will have an opening reception on Friday, April 22 from 5:30 to 7:30 pm, and will be on display for the summer of 2016. For more on upcoming exhibits, check out pensacolamuseum.org. pensacola magazine | 45
Play / Live / Give thru Quayside presents APR Mixed Breeds 29
Mixed Breeds follows the diverse artworks of Laura Wolfersperger, Scott Melville, Manuel Rivas, Linda Devin and Sue Ewell, which will be on exhibit throughout the month of April as part of Quayside’s feature artist show. For more on this month’s exhibit, check out quaysidegallery. com.
APR The 32nd Annual
29 Pensacola Crawfish to Festival and Fiesta May 10K & 5K Run/Walk 1 Get your Cajun on with dishes served next to 16,000 pounds of boiled crawfish on beautiful Pensacola Bay, while celebrating the founding of Pensacola, for the 32nd annual Pensacola Crawfish Festival from April 29 to May 1. In addition to be good eats, there’s guaranteed to be good times with live music, a kid’s area, and other entertainment. Earn free admission to the Crawfish Festival by putting on your running shoes for the 41st annual Fiesta 10K & 5K Run/Walk on Saturday, April 30 at 7:30 am. Visit fiestaoffiveflags. org for more details.
APR Disney on Ice presents 29 “Let’s Celebrate!”
to Join your favorite Disney friends
May 1
in one colossal party on ice at the Pensacola Bay Center. Follow Mickey and Minnie Mouse, Princess Tiana and Prince Naveen, Alice and the Mad Hatter, Lilo and Stitch, and Woody, Jessie and Buzz Lightyear during a magical medley of holidays, celebrations and festivals from around the globe. Go to pensacolabaycenter. com for more details, or reserve your tickets now by calling 800-745-3000.
and blankets, but pets and glass must stay at home. For more information, call the SRIA at (850) 932-2257, go to visitpensacolabeach.com or tune in to Cat Country 98.7 for the latest updates.
APR Bands on the Beach 12 19 23
Pensacola’s Bands on the Beach is making a comeback! The free concert series is every Tuesday night from 7 to 9 pm beginning on April 5 until Oct. 25 on the Gulfside Pavilion on Casino Beach. Bring your own lawn chairs
April 12: Emerald Coast Blues Brothers April 19: After Midnight April 23: 13th Hourglass
APR Vinyl Music Hall 9 22 30
Every month, Vinyl Music Hall hosts a wide variety of acts, events, performances and more that draw a diverse crowd to Downtown Pensacola’s go-to venue. This month is no exception, so don’t miss out on any one of the upcoming shows. Get your tickets now, or find out more on April’s calendar of events, by visiting vinylmusichall.com. April 9: Lou Gram: “The Voice of Foreigner” April 22: Big Deal Burlesque April 30: ZOSO: The Ultimate Led Zeppelin Experience
The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival
Apr 22-24 & Apr 28-May 1, 2016 The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, Jazz Fest for short, is an annual celebration of the music and culture of New Orleans and Louisiana. This spontaneous, momentous scene—this meeting of jazz and heritage—has stood for decades as a stirring symbol of the authenticity of the celebration that was destined to become a cultural force. Although the official Fest 46 | pensacola magazine
takes place over two weekends at the New Orleans Fairgrounds, bars and nightclubs around the city book incredible night shows on fest days and during the week in between. This icon of music festivals celebrates its 47 year with spectacular headliners like Stevie Wonder, Neil Young, Pearl Jam, Red Hot Chili Peppers and Beck as well as some of the most promi-
nent names in jazz and funk, including Irma Thomas, Irvin Mayfield, Trombone Shorty, Galactic and Flowtribe. No matter your jam-- jazz, rock, hip-hop, pop, funk, indie, blues, or zydeco, Jazz Fest has live entertainment to suit everyone’s taste. Plus, the Fest grounds are full of incredible food, art and culture unique to New Orleans and Louisiana.
THROW APR Christopher’s Concerts 14 21 28
Every Thursday evening from 6 to 8 pm, bring your chairs and beverage of choice to the lawn of St. Christopher’s Episcopal Church (3200 N. 12th Ave.) for the 2016 concert series featuring our area’s local talent. If you forgot your snack, don’t worry: feel free to grab an ice cream sandwich and fresh popcorn, or weekly specials from local food vendors, from the concessions area so you’re all stocked up and ready to sit back and enjoy the show. Find out more about the 2016 concert series schedule and more at scpen.org/ christophers-concerts. April 14: Not Quite Fab April 21: The Blenders April 28: Infusion
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Late Night Saturdays Starting April 2 • 10 PM wsre.org
“If they don’t finish high school, they have essentially curtailed the opportunity they have for success in life.” —General Colin L. Powell Graduation rates are on the rise; however, low-income students are graduating at a rate that’s almost 15% lower than the rate for their non-low-income peers.* Public media’s American Graduate initiative aims to raise the national graduation rate to 90% by 2020 and to help better prepare our graduates for higher education and the workforce. WSRE is proud to engage our local communities in this effort to keep more students on the path to a high school diploma, college and successful careers.
Become an American Graduate Champion. An American Graduate Champion commits their time, skills and resources to make sure that young people succeed. Become an American Graduate Champion and inspire others to better understand the crisis and how they can become part of the solution. Learn more at wsre.org/AmericanGraduate. *Building a Grad Nation: Progress and Challenge in Ending the High School Dropout Epidemic — 2015 Annual Update. Washington, D.C.: Civic Enterprises, the Everyone Graduates Center at Johns Hopkins University School of Education, America’s Promise Alliance, and the Alliance for Excellent Education. 48 16677-0316 | pensacola WSREmagazine Ballinger April FP ad.indd 1
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Be Ready Escambia A BEHIND-THE-SCENES LOOK AT HOW THE ESCAMBIA COUNTY EMERGENCY OPERATION CENTER MANAGES EMERGENCY SITUATIONS.
· OTHER STORIES ·
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For the Vets
An Aging Florida
THE MILITARY IN OUR REGION ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR AN ECONOMIC IMPACT IN THE BILLIONS. BUT WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THOSE MEMBERS OF THE MILITARY BECOME VETERANS? DO WE TURN OUR BACK ON THEM?
FLORIDA’S DENSE SENIOR POPULATION HAS MEANT ECONOMIC STABILITY AND SUSTAINABLE OUTSIDE DOLLARS FOR DECADES. BUT IS THE HONEYMOON PERIOD COMING TO AN END? HOW WILL THE GRAYING OF FLORIDA AFFECT FUTURE GENERATIONS?
Around the Region FIND OUT WHAT IS HAPPENING IN BUSINESS, GOVERNMENT AND CULTURAL NEWS IN THE GREATER PENSACOLA AREA AND NORTHWEST FLORIDA.
nwflbusinessclimate.com | Business Climate | 49
Military
For the Vets T
he often-unseen servants of our nation and protectors of liberty, the members of our armed services are also economic drivers and the catalyst for positive change in Northwest Florida. They perform their duties in service to our country, often without regard for self-fulfillment or family. But, when it comes time for our country to pay them back and allow them to stand at ease, the resources at their disposal are often hidden behind layers of bureaucracy and a backlogged system that often hinders more than it helps. The impact of Florida’s military economy is more than $70 billion. That number is expected to balloon to more than $100 billion by 2030. The state’s 20 major military installations account for 758,000 jobs, including 61,000 active-duty service members and about 25,000 civilians who serve. The average wage per military job in Florida is $77,000, making the industry one of the most high-wage employers in the state. There are also about 1.5 million combat veterans in Florida, expected to increase to 1.9 million by 2030. Locally, the Department of Defense is the largest economic engine in Greater Pensacola, according to Florida West Economic Development Alliance. Naval
50 | Business Climate | nwflbusinessclimate.com
Catherine Cooper walks to the Military Veteran Resource Center at the University of West Florida. Catherine is active duty Navy and came to UWF from Japan as a direct result of our tailored support for Medical Enlisted Commissioning Program (MECP). Attending UWF’s nursing program, when she graduates she will be commissioned as a Naval Officer and continue on active duty as a Navy Nurse. By Josh Newby
Air Station (NAS) Pensacola, Saufley Field, Corry Station, Naval Hospital Pensacola and Whiting Field are responsible for about $7.8 billion in economic impact. NAS Pensacola alone provides support to 89 DoD and 30 non-DoD commands. An enterprise of this scale means 27,631 uniformed and civilian jobs, $409 million in annual defense procurement spending, an average wage of $82,890 for military and defense positions, and more than 330,000 veterans in Northwest Florida alone. With such a massive military presence in our region, you would think it would be a no-brainer that those whom the armed services protect would have their back financially once it was time to step down. Unfortunately, as many are aware, that is often the opposite of the case. On any given night in our country, more than 50,000 veterans are homeless. Seventy-five percent of these heroes are wartime—mostly Vietnam-era—veterans. While there are nearly 1,500 Veterans Affairs facilities in the country, there is still a backlog of about 75,000 cases. Many veterans either commit suicide or turn to addiction when faced with the news that they will have to wait months to receive the mental health attention they need. Fortunately, there is good news to be found in all this. Backlogged cases peaked in 2013 with 612,000, so the new number, while still regrettable, is not nearly as bad as it could be. This is in large part thanks to the White House and VA pledging to eliminate the backlog in 2015, as well as a number of state and local agencies working with community partners to help veterans in our own area. The Panhandle Warrior Partnership is one such organization. The relatively new 501(c)3 is dedicated to ensuring every warrior and their family throughout the Panhandle has greater access to benefits and housing, use of the GI Bill for education, help with employment and so on. Their four-step program, which involves connecting, educating, advocating and collaborating, has housed 39 homeless, enrolled 945 in educational programs, helped employ 495 individuals, enrolled 1,265 in VA healthcare, and registered 2,944 for VA benefits. “Every vet’s need is different and we take a very individualized approach to helping them,” said Executive Director Dan Verda. “These people are often referred to us, at which point we learn as much as we can about their situation and need. Where do they live, where do they work, what are their goals?”
The Partnership then works to help each veteran accomplish those goals, whether it’s to find housing or complete a degree and find work in a high-demand field. “We also work to educate both sides of the equation,” said Verda. “We work with the community to understand the vets’ value and promote the importance of accepting these people with open arms. We of course work with the veteran to educate them on the resources available to them, then we work with them every step of the way.” Whether it is 90 Works, local veteran help centers, the University of West Florida, Pensacola State College, or other public service organizations, the Partnership is deeply entrenched in every level of every facet veterans could need. “Our case coordinators will check back in with the clients and provide constant followup,” said Verda. “Obstacles occur for these veterans and we want to be there to advocate for them.” Verda said the problem many clients face is the large amount of bureaucracy implicit in any big government organization. There are also a number of legal intricacies that veterans have to navigate. The amount of red tape means that inevitably some will get lost in the process. That is when it is all too easy to get discouraged. “A lot of people don’t realize just how hard it is to navigate,” said Verda. “I liken it to doing taxes. If you just have one income and you’re unmarried, it is very easy to file taxes. But if you recently sold a house, you own a small business, have kids who just moved out, and a spouse who works from home, you’re going to want to hire a professional to do your taxes. We are those professionals for vets. They earned these benefits and we want to ensure they get them.” With just a ten-person staff, you would think it would be easy for the Partnership to get overwhelmed. Luckily, they have a very clear system of prioritization. If a veteran is either homeless or at risk of becoming homeless, that individual gets instant attention. Another agency that also works hard for those who have sacrificed so much for us is the Military Veteran Resource Center (MVRC) on the UWF campus. Headed up by Marc Churchwell, the department has grown significantly since it first opened a little over four years ago. Before its inception, Churchwell identified a big gap in assistance for navigating the GI Bill. nwflbusinessclimate.com | Business Climate | 51
Military He realized it would be advantageous to both clients and the university if there were an agency dedicated to helping veterans use those benefits. “They often don’t know how to use it or apply for it,” said Churchwell, referring to the GI Bill provided to veterans to attend college on the government’s dime. “We talked with advisors on campus and quickly built a support system for these individuals coming through.” It has been a huge monetary success for the university, accounting for about $6.5 million per year in revenue. At this point, about 25 percent of the campus population is military-affiliated. The MVRC has since grown beyond its initial goals, though, and now offers guidance services, social work services, writing assistance and more. UWF is one of the few institutions in the state that has an agency like this one. With Northwest Florida’s strong concentration of military and veterans, it has been a great success, even drawing potential students from other areas of the state to our shores. “I believe we’ve been successful because at the end of the day, we really are all about customer service,” said Churchwell. “We work with these students as soon as they enter the door and offer a hands-on approach. If you need to go across campus to speak with an advisor, we will actually take you there. We don’t want to lose them at any step along the way.” Churchwell is also working to establish a support network of different organizations called the Pensacola Veteran Support Organization Network. Right now, it is an email group through which clients are referred to partners in the area that can address a specific need. Another big issue in veterans’ lives is healthcare. Increasing costs and barriers to help are unfortunately a recipe for disaster, but Sacred Heart Health System is taking matters into its own hands. The organization recently announced a partnership to provide care through the Veterans Choice Program, giving veterans the choice to receive care at Sacred Hearts throughout the region. Qualified veterans who face wait times in excess of 30 days at the VA or have to travel farther than 40 miles from their home can receive care from Sacred Heart doctors at 50 sites between Gulf Shores, Ala. and Apalachicola, Fla., according to a hospital press release. “No population is more vulnerable and more deserving of our compassion and support than our nation’s veterans,” Susan Davis, president and 52 | Business Climate | nwflbusinessclimate.com
“We work with the community to understand the vets’ value and promote the importance of accepting these people with open arms. We work with the veteran to educate them on the resources available to them, then we work with them every step of the way.”
CEO of Sacred Heart Health System, said in the release. “The men and women in our community who have sacrificed so much for us deserve access to high quality health care. Working together, we have every confidence that our Veterans Choice public-private partnership will advance care for our military veterans.” The Veterans Access, Choice and Accountability Act of 2014 established funding to pay for healthcare services provided to veterans by private healthcare providers. Through the partnership, Sacred Heart physicians and other caregivers are authorized to provide primary care, inpatient and outpatient specialty care, and mental health for eligible veterans outside of VA. Veterans who qualify for VA healthcare can continue to receive care at a VA medical facility of their choice as they have in the past. The program will end when the allocated funds of $10 billion are used or no later than Aug. 7, 2017. The VA is never going to work all the way through their backlog, by their own admission. Churchwell thinks this is due to the organization’s sheer size. “It affects so many lives that you can’t just shut it down for a bit, work through the backlog, and establish better processes and procedures,” said Churchwell. “It has to keep going.” And so does a regional approach to helping veterans. Through grassroots organizations like the Panhandle Warrior Partnership and more institutional solutions like the MVRC, we can continue to work together to fight for these veterans as they have fought for us.
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T:10.4”
THEY’RE JUST A PHONE CALL AWAY.
Community Community
BE READY ESCAMBIA BY DAWN GRESKO
A BEHIND-THE-SCENES LOOK AT HOW THE ESCAMBIA COUNTY EMERGENCY OPERATION CENTER MANAGES EMERGENCY SITUATIONS Who do you call when floods, hurricanes and tornadoes are coming? What about when a truck filled with hazardous materials spills over the highway? When we think of emergency situations, those who often come to mind are first responders like our local law enforcement, firefighters and emergency medical personnel. However, what emergency personnel do in the field is all based on the important operational decisions and planning formulated first by the Emergency Operation Center (EOC). Our local Division of Emergency Management, also called the EOC, is responsible for coordinating mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery efforts for emergency events in the Escambia County community. The EOC’s all-hazard approach to emergency planning includes threats from hurricanes and other weather emergencies to either man-made or technological emergencies, such as hazardous material spills and acts of terrorism (though these instances are low in our area). The EOC makes decisions according to the data collected in house, as well as data sent to the EOC by agencies the center works with closely, such as the 54 | Business Climate | nwflbusinessclimate.com
National Weather Service. In short, the EOC relies on its communication with as many as 90 local agencies to determine the appropriate course of action depending on what type of emergency is facing the community. “The EOC brings all players to the table to work as a single cohesive team when dealing with community-wide disaster response,” said emergency management director John Dosh. “Outside of the EOC, we have a lot of participants who we communicate with because they have the right tools to address the situation. These participants include utility companies (power and water), emergency responders, hospitals, as well as search and rescue teams.” The staff for day-to-day operations at the EOC consists of four members, including Dosh himself. Other staff members include a GIS specialist and IT personnel.
The GIS specialist helps by drawing a picture of an event to help with intelligence and putting together a map to better inform responders and others dealing with recovery efforts, so they may better address the situation at hand, whether it is a weather-related threat or otherwise. The data the EOC receives from other agencies is crucial to emergency operation, which is why communication is of the utmost importance. For this reason, the EOC always has an IT specialist on staff to ensure the center’s technology is running smoothly. The EOC uses a web-based operating system called Win DOC, which allows the center to communicate across different agencies. Win DOC allows the EOC to pass messages, as well as import and export data and imagery from other agencies. Another program the EOC utilizes is a software package
called HURREVAC, a FEMA VAC program for projecting a hurricane evacuation decision model. The EOC is ready to respond to an emergency on a minimal level all the time. When an emergency situation arises, all it takes is one phone call by Dosh and the EOC is kicked into high gear and fully activated within 10 to 15 minutes (the time it takes for the rest of the staff to travel to the EOC). But, as many as 150 people get involved, including National Weather Service meteorologists from the regional office in Mobile, law enforcement, and other experts outside the immediate vicinity of the EOC. The main stage for EOC operations is a command center-like room: a large, open area that encourages open communication. While the Win DOC software is for documenting communication, face-to-face communication is encouraged since the EOC finds they get the best results when information is relayed in person. Support rooms include a media room, where media can set up and establish a communication path to the general public. The room encourages media presence, and, as decisions are made and directions are given, there is a direct link to the community through the media room.
As emergency management director, Dosh is responsible for both managing and maintaining EOC operations, as well as ensuring the community government is prepared for any kind of disaster. “When people ask what we do at the EOC,” explained Dosh. “I often describe myself as a conductor in a very fancy band. I stand up there and wave my wand and make sure everyone plays their wonderful instruments at the right time and at the right tone. Other than that it’s not me, but them, making the music.” To better inform the public of incoming emergency situations, the EOC has initiated an Emergency Notification Program called Alert Escambia. This is a free service available to those who sign up online at bereadyescambia.com. The site will prompt you to enter contact information so can be notified of any emergency alerts in the area. Alert Escambia is a joint effort by the EOC, Health Department, ECUA, Gulf Power, Ascend Performance Materials, and International Paper, who also help fund the service at a cost of $70,000 per year. This program works through the EOC’s subscription to Everbridge, an agency selected
“
THE EOC BRINGS ALL PLAYERS TO THE TABLE TO WORK AS A SINGLE COHESIVE TEAM WHEN DEALING WITH COMMUNITYWIDE DISASTER RESPONSE.”
Photos courtesy of Escambia County Division of Emergency Management. nwflbusinessclimate.com | Business Climate | 55
Community to provide automated notification systems and provide emergency recall services to not only EOC staff but to the general public, as well. So, in the event of an emergency, locals will be notified and told what steps to take. Similar to the services provided by Everbridge is WEA (Weather Emergency Alert), which is embedded in every new cell phone as a federal standard. Basically, WEA allows the National Weather Service to use your cell phone as a weather alert radio, activating your emergency notification tool when severe weather, such as tornadoes or hurricanes, are headed in your direction. It works like this: WEA communicates with the tower that communicates with your mobile device. In this way, once the EOC and National Weather Service have determined the potential path or area where severe weather will hit, WEA alerts residents who are at risk. Without knowing it, you might have seen WEA in action during the devastating February tornadoes that swept through Escambia County. If your phone set off an emergency alert tone about the tornado, then you witnessed just what WEA can do. According to Dosh, those who headed to local shelters during February’s tornadoes did so because of the WEA alert that notified them. To stay ahead of the game and prepared for emergencies, Dosh encourages residents of Escambia County to visit bereadyescambia. com. The website has links where you can sign up for Alert Escambia, and stay up to date on Florida 511 traffic information and reports by the National Hurricane Center, and provides access to important telephone numbers, evacuation routes, crisis alerts and more. “If you’re prepared for a hurricane with resources to last at least 72 hours,” explained Dosh. “Then most of the same things that help in the case of a storm will also help with shortterm emergencies like tornadoes and wildfire evacuations. If you’re prepared and ready to go with the major disasters, then preparation for smaller ones should fall right into place.”
56 | Business Climate | nwflbusinessclimate.com
nwflbusinessclimate.com | Business Climate | 57
Economy
An Aging Florida
F
lorida: the land of sunshine, Disney World, and no state tax. The fourth largest state in the union that is quickly catching up with third-place New York, Florida is no longer the US’s best-kept secret. Diverse industries, beautiful weather and an economic recovery that occurred quicker than most other areas of the country, our state is quickly becoming a collection of both influential metropolises and majestic rural areas. But, Florida is also home to a secret weapon that could one day prove problematic if current trends continue: Florida is graying.
The state of Florida prides itself as a destination for retired senior citizens. The warm and business-friendly climate attracts these affluent individuals so much so that the retirement industry is the state’s second largest economic sector. There are no signs of this slowing down: nearly 1,000 people migrate here a day, almost 60 percent of whom are from those ages 60 and older. In fact, these aging baby boomers and Silent Generationers account for 50 percent of new home construction and $135
by Josh Newby
58 | Business Climate | nwflbusinessclimate.com
Photo: Emilio Labrador
billion of spending power. Older populations are civically engaged, give charitably, volunteer their time, and are generally considered to be a net positive for the state. While they represent about 58 percent of Medicaid spending, what they give back in local taxes, sales taxes and volunteer hours is thought to far outweigh whatever perceived drain they may symbolize. “Seniors who live elsewhere in the country are discovering that they have greater buying power here,” said John Clark, president and CEO of the Council on Aging of West Florida. “A home that may cost $450,000 in Connecticut, or somewhere like that, would cost about $200,000 down here. So they bring their Social Security check and their retirement savings down here. That means new money for Florida.” Rodney Guttman, who heads up the University of West Florida’s Center on Aging, agrees. “These older adults not only have a lifetime’s worth of money,” said Guttman. “Their houses and cars are usually paid for. You know, people under 30 just don’t have the type of economic flexibility that seniors do. The economy in Florida is really driven by people over 50.” Seniors in Florida also give about $3.5 billion annually to charities and non-profits. They also represent the largest voting block in the state. When
“The economy in Florida is really driven by people over 50.”
Population Growth: 2010 to 2030
it is all said and done, the Florida Department of Elder Affairs estimates that those over 65 are a $2.8 billion net tax benefit for the state. These individuals are worth more than just their weight in gold, though. They also serve as a valuable patron of the arts, the story-tellers for the next generation, and a resource for wisdom and perspective. “They are the history-takers,” said Guttman. “There’s not a lot new under the sun, and senior citizens recognize that. They help ease the transition to adulthood for younger adults by providing perspective on relationships, politics and life in general.” Guttman went on to say that, while seniors may no longer be the producers of tangible goods that they once were, they do garner an appreciation for the finer things in life, they promote culture, encourage conversation and preservation, and remain quite active in the community. “It’s a bit of a misnomer that seniors are old and addled,” said Clark. “In fact, only about 5 percent of this population are in long-term care and can’t really be active in the community. The others remain quite active, assuming they have access to quality healthcare and transportation.” That is where both the Center on Aging and the Council on Aging come in. Both agencies work as tireless advocates for senior needs in the area, as well as cheerleaders for all that older populations contribute to the state. The Center on Aging works on both outreach and research covering a variety of topics, like family issues and Alzheimer’s care and care-giving strategies. They also collaborate with Azalea Trace, a retirement community in Pensacola. They continually provide workshops for citizens to remain vibrant members of the region and understand how their new limitations—such as decreased driving reaction time—fit into the life they still desire to live. The Council on Aging prides itself on helping seniors in both Escambia and Santa Rosa counties live safe, healthy and independent lives. The Council provides a number of ancillary services, nwflbusinessclimate.com | Business Climate | 59
Economy
Florida’s Population Growth
such as in-home programs and services like Meals on Wheels, Alzheimer’s respite care, an adult day health care center, case management, a foster grandparent program, and more. Both organizations also advocate strongly for issues that are near and dear to the lives of seniors and their families. For example, John Clark at the Council on Aging spends a great deal of time promoting the benefits of at-home care over institutional care. “It’s better for the citizen and it’s better for the tax-payer,” said Clark. “It’s between $8,000 and $12,000 cheaper for the individual to receive at-home care than it is for them to be permanently institutionalized. Also, they get to stay with their family and in their own familiar surroundings.” The graying of our state has certainly served us well for the past several decades, but is the relationship between the economy and the population reaching a tipping point? Right now, the ratio of taxpaying workers to retirees is about 3:1. This is due in part to older workers who are staying in the labor force longer, a result of improved health outcomes for seniors, but, also a necessity because of savings and home value distillation in the wake of the Great Recession. However, the Florida Assisted Living Federation of America estimates that ratio will shrink to 2:1 by 2050 as more seniors continue to migrate to our shores, older populations that had been working slowly become unable, and younger workers are simply not replacing their grandparents’ high 60 | Business Climate | nwflbusinessclimate.com
salaries through the application of highly skilled vocations. Seniors will spend down their savings and a lower standard of living could soon become the norm for those in their 80s and beyond, which would result in higher healthcare costs that are not being repaid by the younger population’s tax contributions. On a regional basis, these economic issues are more likely to affect southern- and midFlorida before the Northwest. Right now, the median age for those counties is already between 50 and 62. With these possible problems on the horizon, it is important to take steps to mitigate these issues now rather than later. That is why the Center and Council on Aging continue to advocate for preventative and sustainable healthcare, independence and viable public transportation options. The more autonomy and power we can give to seniors now, the more older populations can
adapt to technological and economic changes, the more they will continue to be Florida’s secret economic powerhouse. More than any other infrastructural weakness in Northwest Florida, both Guttman and Clark consider transportation of paramount concern. “If you’re not mobile, you’re in trouble,” said Guttman. “You have to be able to adapt. That’s why we continue talking to community partners to make the region older-adultfriendly. What’s good for older adults is really good for everyone. Longer street-crossing times, for example, helps pregnant women and kids, too. There’s a tendency to think of the youth and Millenials when planning cities and looking to the future. But, when we think about youth, let’s think about the older adults, too. They like entertainment and restaurants, too. In that way, we can have a truly inter-generational community. Let’s start thinking of our state in that context and begin giving back to the seniors who have given and continue to give us so much.”
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Around the Region
Covenant Care announces the development of new facility to address unmet community need Covenant Care is expanding services to provide additional care solutions for patients and families facing Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia. Slated to open fall 2016, the Covenant Memory Care Center will offer 11 state-of-the-art private rooms within a 7,000-square-foot secured wing. The facility will be housed on the Joyce Goldenberg Campus, which is also home to the Covenant Inpatient Hospice Center. The Covenant Memory Care Center will allow residents to age in place, in a tranquil, home-like setting, with skilled staff, innovative programs and optimal living arrangements designed specifically to meet the unique needs of those impacted by dementia.
UWF Executive Mentor Program continues to connect students with business leaders
PSC receives $8 million toward new Baars Building Pensacola State College President Edward Meadows announced the college has received $8 million in state funding toward the replacement of the 60-year-old Mary Ellison Baars Building on the Pensacola campus. These funds will facilitate the site preparation and engineering needed to make the project shovel ready. The new 80,000 square-foot building will house mathematics, computer science, cyber security, aviation maintenance, advanced manufacturing programs and other high-tech programs. In 2014, $1 million in state funding was received to begin architectural design of the building. The total project cost is $25 million. The new facility plays a key role in plans for VT Mobile Aerospace Engineering, Inc. to open a new maintenance, repair and overhaul facility at Pensacola International Airport in 2017. VT MAE is working with PSC to provide project training for 200 to 300 new jobs coming to the region with the potential for expanding to 1,000 workers.
Chat with the Blues The City of Pensacola and the Blue Angels Association are inviting the public to chat with members of the Blue Angels team both past and present. As part of their 70th anniversary season, the Blue Angels will be available to the public in casualconversational forums this year. The forum will begin with introductions and background information on the team and then open up for questions. The first scheduled forum is Monday, April 4. Who: Blue Angels What: Blues in the City Open Forum When: Monday, April 4th at 6:00 p.m. Where: Sander’s Beach - Corrine Jones Community Center, 913 South I St, Pensacola, FL 32502
The University of West Florida College of Business Executive Mentor Program welcomed its fourth class, matching 50 students with mentors from businesses throughout the Northwest Florida community. The Executive Mentor Program accepts new participants each fall and spring and provides mentors and mentees a unique space to learn from one another. Mentees work with executives from throughout Northwest Florida to receive professional development, networking opportunities and one-on-one guidance for their career aspirations. Mentors counsel, influence and prepare the next generation of business leaders by sharing their stories, knowledge, skills and advice, while offering students support and friendship.
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Late Night Saturdays Starting April 2 • 10 PM wsre.org
“If they don’t finish high school, they have essentially curtailed the opportunity they have for success in life.” —General Colin L. Powell Graduation rates are on the rise; however, low-income students are graduating at a rate that’s almost 15% lower than the rate for their non-low-income peers.* Public media’s American Graduate initiative aims to raise the national graduation rate to 90% by 2020 and to help better prepare our graduates for higher education and the workforce. WSRE is proud to engage our local communities in this effort to keep more students on the path to a high school diploma, college and successful careers.
Become an American Graduate Champion. An American Graduate Champion commits their time, skills and resources to make sure that young people succeed. Become an American Graduate Champion and inspire others to better understand the crisis and how they can become part of the solution. Learn more at wsre.org/AmericanGraduate. *Building a Grad Nation: Progress and Challenge in Ending the High School Dropout Epidemic — 2015 Annual Update. Washington, D.C.: Civic Enterprises, the Everyone Graduates Center at Johns Hopkins University School of Education, America’s Promise Alliance, and the Alliance for Excellent Education.
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Thank you to all of our supporters of the 14th Annual Eye Ball Independence for the Blind
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