Pensacola Magazine March 2016

Make a Splash

tips & trends for creating a phenomenal pool

Shared Home

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Airbnb in Pensacola

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Editor’s Note my two cents on the subject Kelly Oden Executive Editor

Spring is naturally a time of change—of renewal, rebirth, spring cleaning and warm weather. Along with all of the normal changes of the season, Ballinger Publishing is going through a couple big changes, too. First, our long-time art director Rita Laymon is moving on to the greener pastures of Dallas, Texas. Rita brought her keen eye and broad technical knowledge to the pages of our magazines for nearly 11 years.

I had the pleasure of working with her for nine of those years.

In that time, we saw each other through births, divorces, deaths, redesigns and rebranding campaigns. It’s always a whirlwind in our office and I can’t imagine steering this ship without her. Her work ethic, loyalty and friendship will be sorely missed, but we all wish her the best of luck and tons of happiness in her next adventure. Good bye and thank you for everything, Rita!

Lucky for us, our graphic designer Guy Stevens was ready and willing to step up and take on the duties of art director.

Guy has been a great addition to our team and I know he will do a superb job in this new role. Congratulations, Guy! We look forward to seeing your vision for our humble publications!

We’ve all been doing a good bit of spring cleaning around the Ballinger offices as we will soon be moving from our space in the Rhodes Building to new offices on Spring Street. I’ll miss my exposed brick walls, high ceilings and views of St. Michaels, but all good things must end as they say. Our new offices are roomier and still located downtown, so I really have nothing to complain about! Look for us at 314 North Spring Street as of March 16.

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

As for this issue, we were fortunate to get a peek into the downtown luxury loft of John Peacock and his wife Jerre. This is truly downtown living at its finest and we are sure you’ll agree. The spacious loft perfectly mixes the industrial with the contemporary for a hip, cozy abode with all the luxuries of modern living. Check it out on page 38.

Ever consider renting from Airbnb? Josh Newby gets the lowdown on the trendy home sharing service from local homeowners who rent their extra spaces through the site.

Read all about it on page 25.

Life in the panhandle is hot. What better way to beat the spring, summer and even fall heat than with your very own swimming pool? Dawn Gresko speaks with some local pool companies to get the scoop on current trends for cool pools.

Dive in on page 31.

All this, as well as stories on the Ronald McDonald House Kaps 4 Kids fundraiser, Marcus Pointe Baptist Church’s Son Rise Service on Easter morning, gardening tips, spring recipes and more. We hope you enjoy the issue and the beautiful spring weather!

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Contents

March 2016 25

38 straw bale gardens 16 celebrate the son rise 18

18

kaps 4 kids 20 Shared home 25 Make a splash 31 lofty living 38 play live give 48 8 | pensacola magazine

31

MAGAZINE March 2016 Publisher

Malcolm Ballinger • malcolm@ballingerpublishing.com

Executive Editor

Kelly Oden • kelly@ballingerpublishing.com

Art Director

Guy Stevens • guy@ballingerpublishing.com

Graphic Designer & Advertising Coordinator

Anna Hitchcock • anna@ballingerpublishing.com

Editor

Josh Newby • Josh@ballingerpublishing.com

Editorial Assistant

Dawn Gresko • dawn@ballingerpublishing.com

Edtorial 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

Owners Malcolm & Glenys Ballinger

Publisher Malcolm Ballinger • malcolm@ballingerpublishing.com

Executive Editor Kelly Oden • kelly@ballingerpublishing.com

Art Director Guy Stevens • guy@ballingerpublishing.com

Graphic Designer & Advertising Coordinator Anna Hitchcock • anna@ballingerpublishing.com

Editor Josh Newby • Josh@ballingerpublishing.com

Editorial Assistant

Dawn Gresko • dawn@ballingerpublishing.com

Sales & Marketing

Paula Rode, Account Executive ext. 28 paula@ballingerpublishing.com Stephanie Boyce, Account Executive ext. 21 stephanie@ballingerpublishing.com

Website: www.ballingerpublishing.com Editorial Offices

41 North Jefferson Street, Suite 402 Pensacola, Florida 32502 850-433-1166 • Fax 850-435-9174

Published by Ballinger Publishing: ART • ENTERTAINMENT • LIFESTYLE

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. © 2016

pensacola magazine | 9

page10 with DeeDee Davis

Pensacola Mardi Gras was the best ever and gave all of us a bit of a reprieve from our other entertainment- the presidential campaign. I must admit I like seeing the establishment get shaken up a bit. At times, everyone gets too big for his britches and clearly this is the case now. Interesting that it takes someone like Donald Trump to hand it to them. Maybe partisan politics has finally gone too far. If Marco Rubio and Jeb Bush start a love fest, you will know I am right. The “establishment,” and we know who they are, is determined to have someone they can control (i.e. fund them and they will respond). This is something I love about Trump. Sure, he says a lot of things that are absolutely not going to happen- Trump or no Trump. But what he says mirrors a lot of what voters feel.

And they will gladly trade logic for leadership and a tell-it-like it-is candidate. Plenty of my friends think I have lost my mind with my respect and admiration for him. He is not a polished politician, and as he did in the business world, he will learn the art of compromise in the hallowed halls of Washington, D.C.,

should he get that far. So, no, he does not unnerve me in the least. The Art of the Deal may have to be modified to fit the political world but he is anything but dumb. Can you imagine?

A candidate that doesn’t owe lobbyists and super pacs ANYTHING? Reagan wasn’t taken seriously either when he started on his political journey, and, for whatever reason, he is absolutely revered. Why? He was different and he was funny.

Hilarious that Rubio and Cruz slam Trump for being a reality TV star. Why is a cowboy any different? Make no mistake, this is not an endorsement but I am watching and listening carefully.

But, in a world dominated with Trump headlines I felt the need to weigh in as one who is not confused about the phenomenon in the least. The only regret in all of this that I feel is that you have to be in a financial position that allows you the luxury to do what he is doing. God bless Bernie Sanders for the good run he has made on $27 contributions. The message matters but it takes a whole lot more when you enter the ring with the big boys.

At Ron and Jan Miller’s Birthday Celebration

John and Diane Keith

Malcolm & Glenys Ballinger

Randy and Donna Sanders 10 | pensacola magazine

Jon and Marny Needle

Roc and Sue Sue Penfold

Judge Robert and Lisa Hilliard

Jan and Ron Miller

NAI Halford held their second annual Mardi Gras open house for invited clients, colleagues and friends. The Dixieland Dandies performed with popular Pensacola favorites Ed and Rosie Butler doing honors as featured entertainers. They are longtime musical legends here and have not missed a beat. More that 150 guests stopped by for Cajun music and delicious eats by David Penniman’s Classic City Catering. President/CEO John Griffing and his wife Cathy were there greeting guests who included Clay and Debbie Roesch; Bob Montgomery; Jim Reeves; Bo Johnson; Eric Milstead and Stephen Jones; Stephen Simpson and Tina Tortomose; Mike Gilroy; John Tice; Charles Liberis; Mayor Ashton Hayward; City Councilman Larry B. Johnson; John B. Clark; Sheriff David Morgan;

Jackie Brown

Lou Ray; and State Representative Doug Broxson.

Congratulations to President of the Board of Directors of Pensacola Sports Jackie Brown for another successful Double Bridge Run. She has actually chaired the run since 2010 and is also heavily involved in the Santa Rosa Triathlon.

It’s good to venture out of town occasionally to support other worthwhile causes and see how other organizations put together major fundrais-

ers. We were guests recently at the Everglades Foundation Benefit in Palm Beach where Tom Brokaw was honored for his distinguished journalism career and his unending efforts as an outdoorsman and naturalist to preserve the environment.

The Everglades Foundation seeks to restore and preserve the Everglades through education, advocacy and science. Nearly 8 million people, a third of all Floridians, depend on the Everglades for their daily water supply. It’s also the only place on Earth where crocodiles and alligators co-exist. This impressive gala included an intro by Harrison Ford, comedy by Jim Gaffigan, and music by Alan Jackson.

They also raised $3.5 million on the event.

The happiest of birthdays was celebrated on Feb. 21 by Ron and Jan Miller, who share

the same special day. They opened their beautiful, sprawling Lillian home on a perfect Sunday afternoon to nearly 200 guests who enjoyed music by the Pensacola Opera and food by the incomparable Chet’s with Randy and Donna Sanders frying up the best grouper I have ever eaten.

Among the well wishers were Judge Robert and Lisa Hilliard; Tommy and Dawn Tait; Mike Baggett and Shea Hargrove; John and Diane Keith; Malcolm and Glenys Ballinger; Eric Gleaton and Marilyn Bryant; Judge Roger and Ellen Vinson; Clair Montgomery; Don and Marnie Needle; and Rock and Sue Penfold.

Happy March Birthdays to 25 Benjamin Nettles 26 Will Bazemore 29 Fred Levin

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pensacola scene who • what • when • where

Pensacon 2016

Aaron and Christy Butler

Ibri Day and Garret Caillouet Sophia Benn

Heather Taylor, Johnny Atkinson II and Rachel Staggers

James Thomas Matthew Kuka Nicole Hughes Kristen Serrato Ashley Connell Josh Worley and Danielle Guerriero

Jackson and Mike Reaves

Rusty Siwko and Gabrielle Nyte Vanity Washington and Thomas Ladner

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Cyle Rodgers

Pensacola Magazine’s Wedding cover reveal party

Brandi Gomez and Rachael Cox

Darrin Land, Casey Campbell and Jeff

Jasmine and Paul Silivos Teresa Belcher_Jake Jones

Na’Shanda Edwards and Jeffery Hill Jeremy Patillo, Simone Sands, Debbie and Roy Smith

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pensacola scene who • what • when • where

Tom Courtney, Linda Anderson Courtney, Jodi and Myron Mickelson, Jane and Don Norbin

Gallery Night Downtown Pensacola

Dennis Boyce

Serena Woody

Greg and Charlyn Edmondson

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Karen Armstrong

magazine

February 2016

Special Issue on stands now!

Up, Up and AWAY PLUS Gender in the Workplace

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home & garden

Create a Garden Anywhere with Straw Bales

by Melinda Myers

Add productive garden space and raise your planting bed to create raised bed gardens on a patio, lawn or any area with poor compacted soil. Straw bale gardening has been around for centuries, but thanks to Joel Karsten’s book Straw Bale Gardens it has gained new popularity.

All that is needed are a few straw bales, fertilizer, a bit of compost and time to condition, plant and water the garden.

Be sure to purchase straw bales made from alfalfa, wheat, oats, rye or other cereal grain that have less weed seeds than hay. Start a few weeks before the designated planting date.

Place the bales in their permanent location with the cut sides up and twine parallel to the ground. Once you start the condition process, the bales will be very heavy and hard to move. When the bales are in place you are ready to start the conditioning process. This is done to start the inside of the straw bales composting, so they’ll support plant growth.

On day one, spread fertilizer over the top of the bale. Use a ½ cup of a complete garden fertilizer or three cups of an organic fertilizer like Milorganite (milorganite.com). Then completely moisten the bale. The organic fertilizers feed the microorganisms that help decompose the straw into a nutrient rich planting medium.

Thoroughly soak the bale everyday. On days three and five you will add more fertilizer at the same rate used on day one.

Days seven through nine use half the rate used on day one. This would be ¼ cup of a complete garden fertilizer or 1 ½ cups of an organic fertilizer. Thoroughly water the bale each time.

16 | pensacola magazine

On day ten, you will add one cup of 10-10-10, or three cups of an organic fertilizer rich in phosphorous and potassium. This completes the conditioning process.

Bales treated with a complete fertilizer should be ready to plant. You may need to wait a few more days when using an organic fertilizer. The inside of the bale should be the temperature of warm bath water or cooler for planting. If it is hotter than this, wait for the bale to cool a bit before you plant.

Use a trowel to pry open a hole in the bale. Place the plant in the hole and cover the roots with potting mix or compost.

Create a planting bed for seeds by covering the bale with a one- to two-inch thick layer of planting mix. Follow the planting directions on the back of the seed packet.

Regular watering is critical for success with this method. Soaker hoses or drip irrigation make this an easier task. You can also use gallon milk jugs with holes

in the bottom or inverted two-liter soda bottles placed near the base of each plant to provide water where it is needed.

Give your straw bale garden a nutrient boost about once a month or as needed throughout the growing season.

Follow these steps and you’ll be well on your way to growing a productive straw bale garden to enjoy throughout the season.

Gardening expert Melinda Myers has more than 30 years of horticulture experience and has written over 20 gardening books, including Small Space Gardening and the Midwest Gardener’s Handbook.

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pensacola magazine | 17

CELEBRATE the SONRISE

Written by Kayla Glaze

Celebrate the Risen Son with Marcus Pointe Easter is a time of renewal. Spring flowers begin to bloom after their long winter sleep. The birds begin to sing their sweet songs again. We celebrate the coming of spring with Easter egg hunts, baskets full of goodies for children, and church services to honor the religious meaning behind the holiday. Every Easter, Marcus Pointe Baptist Church invites Pensacola to join them for a unique Sonrise Service at the Blue Wahoos Stadium. As the sun is rising, Pastor Godfrey brings the powerful message of the resurrection to the gathered congregation.

This family-friendly Easter kick-off event begins Saturday before Easter with a giant egg hunt for children. The egg hunt features 50,000 eggs hidden around the outside of the Pensacola Wahoos Stadium for children of all ages to enjoy. There is also a special egg hunt for special needs children that will feature 500 to 1,000 eggs hidden in a special area. On Easter Sunday, March 27, Marcus Pointe Baptist Church will begin a service inside the Wahoos Stadium at 6:30 am. The service will last approximately one hour. Pastor Godfrey, who has been at Marcus Pointe for 25 years, sends a special Easter message designed to reach as many people as possible, from all 18 | pensacola magazine

walks of life, and inspire them to focus on the power of Jesus. His mission is to impact as many people as possible and help change lives.

Pastor Godfrey selected the location for a reason, saying, “We chose the stadium because it has a community feel to it. It is widely known throughout the community and that is what we wanted this service to feel like, a community service. ” “There will be shuttles that will bring people from the parking lots to the stadium and also have a lot of security. Everything will be well lit and very safe,” Godfrey explains.

For many families, Easter is a time to recommit themselves to getting involved with a church. For one family in particular this decision to make Easter morning their first Sunday in a church setting changed their lives. Bob Murphy and his wife Cindy decided that instead of waking up so early to make it to the 6:30 am service, he would park his RV in the stadium parking lot so he could sleep a little later. His family sat through the service and once the time came to mark the invitation card with an S for salvation, Murphy looked down and saw that his 10-year-old daughter took that walk of faith that morning and marked her

Last year Marcus Pointe celebrated the risen son with 4,500 people.

This year Pastor Godfrey is expecting at least 5,000 people to join in the celebration. Each event is open to the public and all denominations are welcome.

This Spring, Make Some New Friends

Adopt-A-Manatee card. This changed Murphy’s life forever.

Murphy has since become involved in his church and had the opportunity to preach at his own church one year to the day from his first Sonrise Service. The Murphys have had the opportunity to serve as missionaries and he now attends seminary.

Murphy shared some thoughts on his experience at the service, saying, “Three years ago we were not involved in a church and decided to attend the Sonrise Service.

There is a palpable electricity in the air that engulfs you and makes you feel like you are a part of something big. As the crowd fills into the stadium and begins to greet each other with love, you feel like you are in a special place. You can be anybody with any type of relationship with God, or no relationship, and you go in there and feel like you were meant to be there. Many people don’t go because they feel like they are not good enough; like they have not cleaned their life up enough, but you go and there is a sense of God’s love there. It doesn’t matter who you are. You feel the love of God and the love of the community and church.”

If you are looking for a unique service Easter morning, join Marcus Pointe Baptist Church as they bring a powerful message to the community. This service begins March 27 at 6:30 am at the Pensacola Wahoos Stadium.

Call 1-800-432-5646 (JOIN) savethemanatee.org

®

Photo © David Schrichte

pensacola magazine | 19

Kaps 4 kids: RAISING FUNDS FOR FAMILIES IN NEED When Kora came into the world 11 weeks early, her mom Elizabeth knew that the Ronald McDonald House (RMH) would provide a welcome place for her family to stay. The family had stayed at the House previously when Kora’s older brother was born prematurely and they found themselves more than two hours away from home. When an emergency C-section was necessary, she sent dad across the street to ask for a room that would keep her family together. Baby Kora suffered with multiple complications due to her prematurity: failure to thrive and multiple intestinal surgeries.

Today, Kora continues to experience difficulties gaining weight like a typical child her age, which has impacted the family immensely. Her brother and sister spent Kora’s three months in the hospital blazing a trail between the train set and playroom.

Though Kora’s discharge day was a happy one, mom still worried about her children’s ability to deal with the baby’s multiple appointments and the extra attention Kora needs. Like any mother, Elizabeth’s biggest fear is her child will never fully recover.

“Has her body been deprived of nutrients 20 | pensacola magazine

long enough to cause developmental delays?

Will my family ever truly adjust to caring for a child with long-term medical issues?”

What Elizabeth doesn’t have to worry about is a safe place to stay when Kora needs medical care. She recently wrote in a note to Ronald McDonald House, “You kept my family fed.

You kept them warm and sheltered. You kept them entertained. You kept them loved and cared for. You kept us a family, and that’s what we needed most.”

Executive director Judy Burns hears stories like the Ensing’s every day. “We believe a family’s love is the strongest medicine. Each day at the House, we hear how much our mission means to families who desperately need to stay together; splitting up during a hospital stay is not an option. In most instances, neither is funding a hotel room while children receive long-term critical care,” says Burns.

The House and its supporters are a lifeline during the most difficult circumstances. In 2015, 1,057 families were cared for at RMH, staying for a total of 7,596 room nights. Their philosophy is simple: nothing else should

matter when a family is focused on healing their child – not where they can afford to stay, where they will get their next meal or where they will lay their head at night to rest. For this reason, their 26-bedroom House serves as a home-away-from-home for families who travel to Pensacola to receive critical medical treatment for their children.

For over a decade, supporters have championed RMH’s largest fundraiser, Kaps 4 Kids (K4K). K4K is all about businesses, organizations, schools and individuals coming together for a community-wide casual day. Team captains gather orders and get merchandise at the pick-up event on April 15th at the Ronald McDonald House. By purchasing a K4K cap, visor, t-shirt, insulated tote bag or a pair of striped Ronald socks you are set to participate in Kaps 4 Kids.

The House simply asks everyone to proudly wear K4K gear on April 22 and cover the Panhandle in a sea of green, spreading the word about the House and its mission.

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Elementary schools from Escambia to Bay County get involved through an annual art competition. Over 300 drawings were entered this year and ten were chosen to be featured during K4K and on the K4K merchandise.

The overall winner featured on the kelly green t-shirt is Molly Settimio from A.K. Suter Elementary School. The following nine artists will be on the insulated tote bag: Reese Sayer, West Navarre Intermediate School; Madison Lopez, Berryhill Elementary School; Sarah Branch, Scenic Heights Elementary School; Alayna Smith, West Navarre Intermediate School; Krystina de Alba, Lipscomb Elementary School; Isabella Watts, Oriole Beach Elementary School; Taylor Eckhoff, Beulah Elementary School; Chloe Ducker, St. John the Evangelist Catholic School; and Stella Bryant, Beulah Elementary School.

Looking for a way to help families and get involved in all of the fun? Proudly wear your K4K gear on April 22 and join them at the Wahoos Stadium on April 24 as they celebrate the finale of Kaps 4 Kids! Discounted tickets for the game can be purchased as a package when you order a K4K t-shirt through the House. All in attendance wearing a green K4K shirt are invited to parade into the stadium with our presenting sponsor, Hill-Kelly Dodge Chrysler Jeep Ram, Ronald McDonald and the House therapy dog, Sundae, before the game.

To purchase merchandise, stop by the Ronald McDonald House or visit the Kaps 4 Kids page on www.rmhc-nwfl.org. For more information on how to form a team or become a sponsor, contact Lauren Stimmell at 850.477.2273 or events@rmhc-nwfl.org.

pensacola magazine | 21

A Leg Up Put a twist on springtime celebrations

Spring celebrations wouldn’t be the same without one classic centerpiece: leg of lamb. Whether roasted or grilled, a leg of lamb is a tried and true addition to the Easter or Passover table. As elegant as it is, it’s also quite simple to prepare.

For a new take on tradition, swap conventional mint jelly with a vibrant salsa verde or mint-pistachio pesto for a fresh, but familiar, flavor that complements the rich taste of American lamb. Find more springtime celebration-worthy American lamb recipe ideas at americanlamb.com.

Boneless Leg of American Lamb

Follow these easy guidelines for preparing the perfect roast: • For generous portions, figure on one half pound

of American lamb per serving.

• Use a good meat thermometer to determine

doneness. Medium rare: 145 F; medium: 160 F. • Remove the roast from the oven when the

internal temperature reaches 10 degrees less than

your desired temperature; it will reach desired

doneness while it rests, allowing the meat’s juices

to settle.

• Carve the roast across the grain so the meat will be tender.

Grilled Butterflied American Lamb Leg with Mint-Pistachio Pesto (Serves: 6-8) 3

1 1 1/2 1/4

2 1 1 1/2

pounds boneless leg of American lamb, butterflied salt and pepper (to taste) Mint-Pistachio Pesto cup shelled pistachios cup fresh mint (leaves only) cup fresh Italian parsley cup plus 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil tablespoons red wine vinegar tablespoon lemon juice (to taste) teaspoon lemon zest teaspoon sea salt (to taste) freshly ground black pepper (to taste) pinch red chili pepper flakes

Heat oven to 350 F. Lay lamb leg open on a cutting board. Trim off visible fat. Season lamb generously with salt and pepper; allow to sit at room temperature for 30 minutes prior to grilling.

Toast pistachios by placing in single layer in shallow dish or pan and baking 8 to 10 minutes.

In food processor, add pistachios, mint, parsley, oil, vinegar, lemon juice, lemon zest, salt, pepper and chili flakes; blend until somewhat chunky.

Heat grill to medium-high. Grill lamb leg to medium-rare (remove from heat when thermometer reads between 130 F and 135 F), or to desired doneness. Rest meat, lightly covered, for at least 10 minutes before serving.

Slice meat across grain into thin slices. Serve lamb with pesto, grilled vegetables and salad.

22 | pensacola magazine

Paddy O’ Furniture

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Swing, swang, swung April 29 & 30, 2016 | 7:30 p.m.

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generously sponsored by Massage envy spa

pensacola magazine | 23

Independence for the Blind of West Florida Presents:

THE 14TH ANNUAL EYE BALL

March 5, 2016 6 PM to 11 PM Hilton Pensacola Beach Gulf Front ➢ ➢ ➢

Dance to the music of Mass Kunfusion Delicious gourmet dinner by Chef Dan Dunn Great Live and Silent Auction Items

Great Live and Silent Auction Items! Bere’ Bracelet Sales. Alwand Vahan Bracelet 14 K Gold and Sterling Silver Cuff Style with .18 Carats of diamonds. Stone Color Black Onyx. 6mm wide. Value $2,650. Tickets may be purchased for $50.00 each online at www.ibwest.org, or stop by Independence for the Blind Offices at 3107 North Davis Highway. ONLY 300 tickets will be sold!

Proceeds from this event helps support life changing training and hope to teens, adults and the elderly who are blind, becoming blind or visually impaired in the 10 county area of Northwest Florida.

Tickets can be obtained on the Independence for the Blind Web Site www.ibwest.org or by calling Sally McConnell at 850.477.2663 for more information.

24 | pensacola magazine

w

sharedhome

by Josh Newby

w

We’ve all been there. A huge hotel with hundreds to thousands of rooms, long elevator rides up to the eighth floor, a generic room setup with few homelike amenities. We accept the disadvantages of chain lodging because of the convenience and competitive pricing they offer. But what if there was a way to feel like we were at home with all the personal touches and unique flairs while on vacation?

You may say that options like vacation rentals and timeshare properties have long existed as a more customized, flexible and roomier alternative to hotel stays while on vacation. True, but the prices for those choices are usually far outside the range of the young, spontaneous travelers so many companies are trying to appeal to.

Enter Airbnb, the latest disruption to the lodging industry.

A website for both sides of the rental equation—host and guest—it features over 1.5 million listings in 34,000 cities and 190 countries after only eight years in business. By appealing to the free-spirited, bargain-hunting nomad in all of us, the business has been a quick hit by providing both a relatively risk-free revenue stream for those with spare bedrooms, second homes and mother-in-law suites, and a free market, reputationbased alternative for those looking for a more artisan hotel experience.

pensacola magazine | 25

sharedhome The service quells fears of deviant renters and rentees by requiring a government-issued ID to create an account, a picture-based profile, and a system of reviews and ratings to build credible reputations within the platform.

Hosts are never required to accept a reservation, and can even privately message with potential guests before agreeing to an arrangement.

Renters wanting to earn as much as $500 a week through the service must simply go online, fill out information such as basic room or house dimensions, a location of the property and amenity details. They must also upload exterior and interior shots of the space, set a nightly price and specify whether or not they would like to review each rental request or book guests instantly. After a few security questions and identification verifications, you can be ready to rent.

On the flip side, those with an established Airbnb account must merely search what part of the country—or world—they’d like to visit, message the host, and set up a plan. Hosts can be as interactive or hands-off as the guests prefer, and most of this can be stipulated beforehand.

Once rentees arrive in the space, they will generally meet briefly with the host to go over house rules, exchange keys, and obtain Internet or alarm passwords.

From there, you are welcomed into a fully furnished home, often with movies, books, dishes, musical instruments, paintings, and more stylistic touches that are uniquely specific to the city in which you are staying.

It is an experience unlike any other, yet oddly safe and secure on both sides of the transaction. It has become big business in Pensacola, where many

26 | pensacola magazine

out-of-town guests often come to lay on the beach or explore the historic downtown. You can find homes in East Hill, north on Nine Mile, on the beach, or even in the heart of the city. The homes are as eclectic and varied as their hosts, so guests can find a space to welcome them or challenge them— whatever they prefer. This is customizable lodging in the most 21st century way.

Channel Gore is a stay-at-home mom in East Hill whose husband is in the military. She started as an Airbnb host because she missed having a job to work on and her own income.

“I can make money on my own time and still be with my baby,” said Gore.

But what about security concerns? After all, her husband is often gone and she is a new mother, welcoming guests into her house’s adjunct space with a baby in the house.

“The identity verification puts me at ease,” said Gore. “It’s a bit of an involved process on both ends to be a host or a guest. You can chat with the person and make sure you know who you’re renting to.”

Gore spoke highly of the experience thus far. She enjoys meeting new people, and even welcomed a recent guest to join her and her family for Christmas dinner and even go to Gallery Night.

As for the level of interactivity, Gore admitted that not everyone is as extroverted as she, so she lets the guests have the experience they desire.

“If they want autonomy, I leave them alone but make sure they know I’m available to help,” said Gore. “It’s been a mixed bag of interactions, but they’ve all been pleasant.”

Fortunately, Gore has not had to deal with any unruly tenants.

“I’ve been pleasantly surprised,” said Gore. “Renting a room to someone is nothing new and I’ve been pleasantly surprised by it all. We’ve actually made more money than I expected.”

For those wanting to rent their space, Gore recommended having a unique listing and not being afraid to make the space as unique as possible. For Gore, that means lots of bright colors that represent the vibrant beach-like esthetic

pensacola magazine | 27

sharedhome

‘‘

I can make money on my own time and still be with my baby. The identity verification puts me at ease.”

28 | pensacola magazine

of Pensacola. And it seems to be working, too. Gore reported that their space is filled about half the time, mostly from people traveling from New Orleans or even overseas.

It seems to be working for Airbnb, too. The company has been valued at $20 billion, by taking a 6 to 12 percent commission from the guest payment and 3 percent of what the host receives overall.

One of the best parts of Airbnb is that the host does not even have to live in the space they rent. This has meant big business for people like Tammy Howell, who actually lives in south Florida and rents out her second home.

For years, Howell had been renting the property through a rental company, but has since found Airbnb to be a better option for her.

“I can negotiate prices to get people in during the off season,” said Howell.

“It’s easier than having a set contract with a management company. I like the experience better because it provides direct

sharedhome

communication, pictures of the people, and reviews on them as a guest. I can screen as much or as little as I want.”

Unlike Gore, Howell has occasionally had an unruly tenant or two. Her property is on Pensacola Beach, and sometimes during New Year’s Eve, things can get a little rowdy. Luckily, Airbnb has a safe and secure reporting process. You simply let them know of the issue—be it a broken window or something more serious—with 48 hours and they resolve the issue. They also offer host protection insurance for free, which protects against liability claims of up to $1 million.

Pensacola is a welcoming community with Southern charm and cultural temptations to offer guests traveling from abroad or the next state over. Thanks to Airbnb, the city can offer that personal touch in a safe and exciting way.

Be the bohemian traveler you’ve always wanted to be—and while you’re at it, make some money by renting out the homes you left behind.

pensacola magazine | 29

FINANCING AVAILABLE

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call 850.476.5517 Vaughn’s Inc Of Pensacola 1290 W. Nine Mile Rd Pensacola, FL 32534

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30 | pensacola magazine

home & garden

Making a Splash Tips & Trends for Creating Your Phenomenal Pool

L

Let’s face it: no matter what time of the year it is, Pensacola has notoriously warm weather.

So, why wouldn’t you want the chance to take a refreshing dip at any time in the privacy of your own yard? To help bring your pool ideas to fruition, Pensacola Magazine asked some of our area’s pool professionals at Vaughn’s Pools, Parker Pools and Gulf Coast Pool and Spa about what’s hot and not in the pool world.

They all had a lot of input regarding popular pool shapes and features: while straightshaped pools are still high in demand, natural looking kidney and freeform shapes are in

Written by Dawn Gresko

fashion and pool additions like fountains and spillover spas are all the rave. But, don’t let what’s trending stop you from building the custom pool of your dreams—the pool professionals are here to help you materialize the vision you had in mind for your own personal water hole for swimming, socializing, and simmering down after a long day. We also have the scoop on special software that provides 3D images of how your completed pool will look in your yard all in an effort to help you find the best fit for your home and garden.

pensacola magazine | 31

Shapes & Styles So, you’ve got an idea for how you want your pool, but you have concerns about space, design and layout? The professionals suggest planning ahead, as much as six months to a year in advance, both to ensure your pool is built in time for the hotter, summer months and to make sure your pool looks exactly how you imagined it would.

“Do your homework when deciding on your pool and contractor,” said Chad Parker of Parker Pools. “This will be a large investment that will be with you for as long as you own your home. Remember that going with the lowest bid isn’t always the best option, so do your research because, of course, in the end you get the quality that you are willing to pay for.”

There’s a new 3D imaging software, called Realtime Landscaping Pro, which can be used for drawing up 3D renditions of pools. Along with showing you how the pool will appear in your yard, these 3D images can give you a visual concept to work with by showing how much space you’ll be left with after factoring in additions like patio furniture, pool extras like spas and enclosures, as well as the plant life surrounding your pool area.

Now that you know how much space you’re working with and you’ve made a tentative layout for the pool you want, it’s time to get the ball rolling by helping your pool take shape. From freeform designs, which have more curvature and less straight edges like you might find in natural occur-

ring bodies of water, such as ponds and lagoons, to more geometrically-geared pool shapes that are a combination of squares and rectangles, the options are practically limitless.

Speaking of shape leads to the question of with what material you choose to construct your pool. While gunite, which give a natural slate or stone appearance, has grown in popularity, traditional vinyl and fiberglass pools are still high in demand (especially because they tend to be the most economical option).

If you’re worried about how your fur babies will manage in the new pool, all pool materials can be pet-friendly if maintained properly. However, if you have an especially large dog and you’re concerned about tears, you might consider using gunite instead of fiberglass or vinyl.

Although vinyl liner pools were traditionally limited in the shapes available, today pool providers are pretty much able to build whatever the customer requests, so you don’t have to limit yourself to a certain material because of the shape you select for your pool project.

“Since 1979, we’ve specialized in vinyl pools and repairs,” said Walter Vaughn, owner of Vaughn’s Pools. “But, the experts at our company can install all different types of pools, including San Juan fiberglass and vinyl pool systems

by Performance, as well as spas by Dimension One.”

fire & Ice The custom gunite “Fire & Ice” pool was designed by Parker Pools using Realtime Landscaping Pro and it is one example of how a custom pool can be tailored to the client’s interests.The pool includes a number of accessories: a negative edge spa on a raised stacked stone wall with fountains and benches, as well as a sun shelf and Fastlane swim machine, fiery braziers, concrete decking and a screen enclosure.

Fastlane has super strong jets that allow a person to swim in place without needing a long swim lane, or larger pool, and it’s perfect for aqua aerobics and hydrotherapy.

32 | pensacola magazine

home & garden

STRAIGHT EDGE The straight line or “Straight Edge” pool is another example of a custom pool built by Parker Pools using 3D imaging software. The gunite pool was made with Super Blue quartz that gives the appearance of glimmering speckles, and the pool’s white perimeter is made of coping firerock with brick pavers. The shape was inspired by the owner’s desire to incorporate a lengthy, 50-foot swim lane for laps, along with a 9 by 9 foot sun ledge where swimmers can enter the pool with ease, or lounge in nine inches of cool, shallow water.

Now, you’ve got the groundwork laid out for shape and materials, the next step is deciding on how to fill your pool: will you choose chlorine or salt water? There’s no judgment here, but alternatives to chlorine systems are on the rise, as well as equipment and filters that cut down maintenance time and increase energy efficiency.

Although in the past those in the Pensacola Bay area relied heavily on sand filters due to their low maintenance and affordable price, this came at the expense of murkier waters.

Today, there is a new style sand filter by Pentair with Clear Pro technology that improves water clarity without needing additional chemicals.

Additionally, saltwater pools are trending and many older pools are transitioning to saltwater because of its low maintenance and cost. Even a combination of salt and chlorine, referred to as salt chlorinated, pools can maintain a more

consistent chlorine level that requires less “shocking” of the pool and are not as harsh as fully chlorinated pools.

“Saltwater pools are the most popular type of pool around today,” said Tom Jensen of Gulf Coast Pool and Spa. “They have gained popularity for a variety of reasons with reducing the amount of chemicals being the biggest reason, and saltwater feels much better to those with sensitive skin.

The cost to maintain salt pools is typically lower than traditional tablet or granular chlorinated pools, too.”

Automatic pool cleaners by Polaris and Hayward OmniLogic pool panels that can be accessed from any smartphone are growing in popularity, since they are making pool maintenance easier than ever. LED pool lighting can also be accessed from smartphones on which you can initiate a pool lightshow for your own (as well as your guests’) entertainment.

pensacola magazine | 33

accessories Last, but not least: deciding on the finishing touches, or additional features, for your pool.

Since slides and diving boards are not as popular as they used to be, because of strict insurance regulations, the pool providers are finding raised and spillover spas are taking over as the go-to add on features.

Popular shapes for raised spas are circular and usually they are placed above ground and near the edge of the pool for easy access; if you’re ready to cool down, hop in the pool, but if you’re ready to relax, recline in your raised spa.

Slightly different are spillover spas, which are placed on the side of a pool and have a decorative waterfall, which that spills over into the main swimming area and adds a sense of luxury to any pool.

Waterfall décor is another trending add on, which can be placed in various ways depending on how you’d like to feature the calming sound of running water.

While spillover waterfalls are popularly combined with spillover spas, waterfalls can be added regardless of whether or not there is a raised spa.

Soak up the sun while staying cool by lounging on a sun shelf, a shallow part of the pool just barely covered with water and usually placed where you can get the maximum amount of sunlight.

DANDILION HEAD You might’ve spotted the dandelion fountain-splash pad in front of Sole Inn and Suites in Downtown Pensacola, which provides just one example of the level of customization you can add to any pool accessory. The head is four feet in diameter and and has 61 arms extending from the spherical shape.The design for the fountain was borrowed from the Ontario-based Crystal Fountains, who collaborated with Parker Pools on building the unique structure.

With an abundant supply of pool professionals and options in the Pensacola Bay area, including the vinyloriented Vaughn’s Pools, the custom gunite-focused Parker Pools, and luxury-aimed Gulf Coast Pool and Spa, there’s no doubt you’ll find the cool pool that suites you.

Vaughn’s Pools Find out how to build a great space for cooling down in your backyard at vaughnspools.com.

Gulf Coast Pool and Spa

Get ideas for your own pool project as you browse through diverse and luxurious pools and spas at gulfcoastpoolandspa.com.

Parker Pools

Learn how to create the perfect swimming pool area to accent your lifestyle at parkerpools.us.

34 | pensacola magazine

SPILLOVER SPA Get the best of both worlds with a raised spillover spa: either relax in the therapeutic waters of your spa while the rest of your family and friends swim beside you, or hop over the side to join the fun. Round spillover spas are popular in white, blue, or gray granite, and sought-after sizes are usually 88 to 92 inches.

GULF COAST POOL & SPA The Ultimate in

Vinyl lined Pools Quality, custom In Ground Construction & Service

Gulf Coast Pool and Spa, Inc. 2461 Langley Ave Pensacola, FL (850) 478-1343 gulfcoastpoolandspa.com Gulfcoastpoolandspa@gmail.com FL License #: RP0054512 | AL License #: 048321 pensacola magazine | 35

lofty living

home & garden

Written by Kelly Oden • Photos by Randy Hamilton 36 | pensacola magazine

Downtown living is on the rise. With a number of affordable and high end housing projects in the works, Downtown Pensacola is the “it” place to live for both young and established professionals, as well as retirees and even families. The benefits of downtown living are unbeatable—the ability to walk or bike to work, access to great nightlife, sporting events, the bay, historic properties and landmarks, and some spectacular outdoor spaces.

John Peacock and his wife Jerre had all of this in mind when they decided to move from Marcus Pointe to a downtown loft in 2012. “I loved the house in Marcus Pointe, but I didn’t like the commute and I am always downtown for something,” John explains. “I also didn’t like the fact that I had to do maintenance and yard work to the house all of the time. I love the fact that there is no outside maintenance really required here.”

They’ve never regretted the move. “It’s so accessible to everything,” says John. “Being one block off of Palafox, you don’t really hear anything, but you are one block to the Saenger and to all the great restaurants in town.

We love the vibrancy of downtown, but then we can also go home and have quiet.”

The Peacock’s purchased their 2,700 square foot Baylen loft as an empty shell. The exposed brick and industrial architecture features were in place, but the layout, finishes and amenities in the three bedroom, three and a half bath were all chosen by the couple. pensacola magazine | 37

home & garden

Living Areas The Peacocks call their style modern Tuscan; combining the stripped-back look of exposed brick walls, wooden floors, modern lighting, high ceilings and exposed beams with the comfort and richness of plush sofas, soft, warm color palettes and high end amenities. The open living and dining space is at once roomy and intimate. The large curved windows in the living area lead to a balcony and provide ample natural light, as well as unique architectural appeal.

38 | pensacola magazine

Dining The kitchen is a chef ’s dream with Wolf and Subzero appliances, including double convection ovens, built-in microwave and warming drawers, an ice maker, granite countertops, custom cabinets and more. “I’m a foodie, so it’s designed with a chef in mind,” says John. “It’s got everything a foodie could want—a big pantry right off the kitchen, a pot filler near the stove. We host a lot of charitable events and although we usually have those catered in, I do love to cook myself.”

pensacola magazine | 39

home & garden

views & amenities

40 | pensacola magazine

Being a foodie often goes hand in hand with being an oenophile and that is certainly the case for the Peacocks. The couple had a climate controlled wine cellar installed that holds 450 to 500 bottles.

The balcony provides a lovely outdoor space for relaxing or entertaining while the private elevator offers an alternative to the reclaimed wood stairway leading to the second floor.

The two-car garage has plenty of room for storage with multiple built in cabinets.

These amenities are extremely unique and appealing features for a downtown loft.

Although the loft could be three bedrooms, the couple chose to convert one bedroom into a state of the art exercise room.

The home is also equipped with the Control4 Smart Home System, which controls audio, climate, lighting, video and security from a centralized control tablet or even remotely using a smart phone.

pensacola magazine | 41

home & garden

bed & bath

The exposed brick and industrial beams continue in the master suite.

High ceilings mix with modern lighting and a minimalist design aesthetic. The master bath is both elegant and functional with a large walk in closet, separate water closet, double vanity, full walk in shower with multiple body spray showerheads and a whirlpool tub.

42 | pensacola magazine

As much as the Peacocks love their downtown loft, seven grandchildren and the need for more space has convinced them to put it on the market and move to a bigger space. Will they be staying downtown? You bet. The couple couldn’t imagine living anywhere else. If you are interested in viewing the property, call Eric Milstead with Florida’s Top Properties at 850-221-0443. pensacola magazine | 43

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44 | pensacola magazine

PLAY•LIVE•give Mar. 4 – Apr. 15 PMA’s Annual Members’ Juried Exhibition The Pensacola Museum of Art (PMA) will celebrate its 62nd annual Members’ Juried Exhibition starting on March 4, when a special opening reception will be held from 5:30 to 7:30 pm. This exhibition provides a glimpse into the incredible level of artistic skill and excellence of artists the PMA is proud to call members. Last year’s award winners included Svend Damhave, Karen Moody, Loren Miller, J. Derrick Edwards, Kelsey Irvin, Linda Kernick, and Bobby Goldsmith. For more information on this exhibition, please visit pensacolamuseum.org.ww

Mar. 11 – 20 PLT presents The Paper Bag Princess Once upon a time there was a princess named Elizabeth who planned to marry a prince named Ronald, who was perfect in every way. But, suddenly, a dragon came to town and destroyed her kingdom, kidnapped her Ronald, and burned all of Elizabeth’s clothes so she had no choice but to wear a paper bag. Will Elizabeth find the dragon and will she rescue Prince Ronald? There’s only one way to find out: check out one of the many showings at Pensacola Little Theatre (PLT) this month. Running from March 11 to 13 and March 17 to 20, shows will begin at 7:30 pm except on Sundays when the show begins at 2:30 pm. To learn more about The Paper Bag Princess visit pensacolalittletheatre.com, or call to reserve your seats at 850-4322042.

entire career, including songs the legendary guitarist hasn’t played live in over 20 years. All seats must be reserved and regular tickets range from $39.50 to $69.50. For more information, or to reserve your seats now for this “mindbending guitar daredevilry,” visit pensacolasaenger.com.

Mar. 18 – 19

Mar. 12 McGuire’s 39th Annual St. Patrick’s Day Run Grab your four-leaf clover for luck as you go for the gold at the annual McGuire’s St. Patty’s Day Prediction Run back for its 39th year on Saturday, March 12. Each runner, or walker, predicts how long it will take them to complete the 5K run. The finishers that come closest to their prediction win. The race begins at 9 am, starting and ending at McGuire’s in beautiful Downtown Pensacola. Sign up now, or learn more about the 5K run at mcguiresirishpub.com.

Mar. 12 – 13

Smokin’ in the Square BBQ Cook Off Join professional barbeque teams from around the US who will gather to compete at Seville Quarter for the seventh annual Smokin’ in the Square, the first barbeque contest locally to be sanctioned by the Kansas City Barbeque Society (KSBS). Professional teams will be competing for prize money and bragging rights in the backyard competition. Admission is free and the event runs Friday from noon to 9 pm, and Saturday from 10 am to 7 pm. This will be great family fun, entertainment, and food, and all proceeds go to local charities. A special 2016 VIP event presented

by Sonny’s BBQ will be held at the Lee House. For more information, visit smokininthesquare.com.

media, graphics, photography and others. There will also be 22nd Annual Gulf Breeze a children’s entertainment and Celebrates the Arts Gulf Breeze Celebrate the Arts student artwork area, as well as is a juried, fine arts and crafts a member art show and sale, a festival that brings quality national, wide variety of food vendors, plus regional and local artists to Gulf live music and entertainment. For Mar. 19 Breeze, and this year the festival more on the upcoming festival, visit gulfbreezearts.com, or Bullets Over Broadway at will run through the weekend contact Sherri Chambers at either Saenger Theatre of Mar. 12 through Mar. 13 at 850-572-4292 or schambers@ Prepare yourselves because the GBHS parking lot (675 Gulf Bullets Over Broadway is coming gulfbreezearts.com.

Breeze Pkwy.). The event runs to Saenger Theatre on Saturday, from 9 am to 5 pm on Saturday, Mar. 19 at 2 pm. The play was Mar. 15 and 10 am to 5 pm on Sunday. The written by Woody Allen and it’s a Joe Satriani two-day fine arts and crafts festival musical comedy about the making is a family-friendly event, where To mark the major milestone of a Broadway show, as well as a you can see more than 140 artists anniversary of Joe Satriani’s first story of a young playwright who, in from across the US and beyond, solo album “Not of This Earth,” desperate need of financial backing who will be selected by a jury of Satriani will bring to life the for his next show, accepts an offer he fine artist professionals. Artwork “Surfing to Shockwave” 2016 can’t refuse from a mobster looking categories include ceramics and tour and an evening spotlighting to please his showgirl girlfriend. pottery, oils and acrylics, glass, his 30-year career at Pensacola Tickets start at $56 per person and sculpture, watercolor, wood, Saenger Theatre on Tuesday, you may reserve your seats online at fiber and leather, jewelry, mixed Mar. 15 at 7:30 pm. The show pensacolasaenger.com. will highlight music over Satriani’s pensacola magazine | 45

Mar. 26

P E N SACO L A’ S

Clean Energy Fest

Take me to Church

Great Gulf Coast Art Festival

An Afternoon at St. Michael’s

Back on the Blocks

Science on the Street

q+a with pma

A chat with the new Executive Director

all the events, developments and traditions we can’t wait to see in 2016

FREE

your official gallery night guide DOWNTOWNCROWD.COM • NEVER BE BORED. | DEC. 2015

Inside the Mind of Carlos Mencia

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PUCK IT with the Pensacola Ice Flyers

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YOUR OFFICIAL GALLERY NIGHT GUIDE

DOWNTOWNCROWD.COM • NEVER BE BORED. | NOV. 2015

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Easter Egg Hunt & Kids Fun Day Find the hidden eggs on the beautiful, white sandy beaches behind Flora-Bama on Mar. 26 starting at 2 pm. The family-friendly event is at no charge and over 5,000 Easter eggs will be scattered around to be hunted. The hunt will be divided into four different age categories to ensure fair hunting for kids. All you need to do is bring your own basket. The Easter Bunny will even make a special appearance, parachuting in to greet children of all ages after the hunt has conclude.

He will hang around in the tent area for pictures with the kids along with crafts, games, face painting and more. Check out florabama.com for more details.

Through Apr. 9 PMA presents Funky Turns 40 PMA will continue its showing Funky Turns 40, an exhibition that commemorates the 40th anniversaries of 1970s Saturday morning cartoons that featured positive black characters for the first time in television history.

This exhibition includes original production cells and drawing used to produce these cartoons. Funky Turns 40 includes 60 pieces of animation art from the Museum of UnCut Funk collection, one of the world’s most unique and extensive collections of original animation production cells and drawings from the 70s. For more on this exhibit, visit pensacolamuseum.org.

Vinyl Music Hall 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. Get your tickets now, or find out more on March’s calendar of events, by visiting vinylmusichall.com.

Mar. 3: Thunder Snowcone Burlesque Mar. 12: Atreyu Mar. 18: The Cured – A Tribute to The Cure Bill Idolized – A Tribute to Classic Billy Idol Mar. 19: Yesterday – A Tribute to 46 | pensacola magazine

The Beatles Mar. 25: Station to Station – A Tribute to David Bowie Mar. 28: Pensacola Music Company Spring Recital

Mar. 31 Harlem Globetrotters The Harlem Globetrotters are preparing for their most epic tour in history, as the world famous team celebrates its 90th anniversary world tour with over 320 games in North America alone. A starstudded roster will have fans on the edge of their seats to witness the ball handling wizardry, basketball artistry and one-of-a-kind family entertainment that thrills fans of all ages. Visit pensacolabaycenter. com for more details, or to reserve your seats now.

Apr. 2 13th Annual Chocolate Fest at Cordova Mall The Gulf Coast Kids House’s 13th annual Chocolate Fest, presented

by Sandy Sansing Dealerships, will be held once again in the halls of Cordova Mall on Saturday, Apr. 2 from 12 to 3 pm. All proceeds benefit Gulf Coast Kid’s House, a not-for-profit child advocacy group that provides abused children and their families with a safe place to receive vital medical exams, trauma counseling, and case investigation. Special VIP passes for exclusive access between 12 to 1 pm are available for $20 each, while general admission (1 to 3 pm) tickets are $15 each.

Remember this chocolate lover’s extravaganza is for a cause: by participating in the 13th annual Chocolate Fest you are helping raise funds that ensure child victims of abuse and neglect receive timely, effective and steamlined treatment and care. Please visit pensacolachocolatefest.com for more information.

The Retreat is a special place, and experience, that has been described as refreshing, supportive, fun, assuring, caring and heartwarming by those who participate and their families.

Positive outcomes for participants include increased socialization, improved mood and behavior, greater sense of purpose and improved sleep habits.

Family caregivers gain peace of mind knowing their loved ones are in a safe place while they go off to work or get much needed respite.

Call 850.266.2503 to arrange a tour.

875 Royce Street, Pensacola (ACHA#9051) Monday-Friday 7:30am-5:30pm Daily fee includes breakfast, lunch and activities.

Come see what you are missing!

To learn more, visit www.coawfla.org.

pensacola magazine | 47

SOGO District To Host Bridal Stroll on March 19 Find everything you need for your wedding at the Bodacious Shops and the SOGO District Are you recently engaged and planning the wedding of your dreams? The Bodacious Family of Shops and their SOGO neighbors are here to help.

The Bodacious Shops and the SOGO District of downtown Pensacola are hosting their first annual SOGO Bridal Stroll on March 19 from noon to 4 p.m..

Brides are invited to stroll through the shops at Palafox and Main Streets to find everything they need to make their special day a dream come true.

“The SOGO District has everything a bride would need to help plan her wedding,” says Rishy Studer, owner of the Bodacious Family of Shops. “From registries for your bridal showers, to fitness for getting ready for the big day, to flowers and decorations to make your day picture perfect, it’s all here.”

The Bodacious Shops’ wedding headquarters is their upstairs store, SoGourmet. The kitchenry store has everything a newlywed couple would need on their registry, from stovetop to tabletop. SoGourmet also has three different event spaces, ideal for a cooking class, rehearsal dinner, a wedding shower overlooking Palafox Street, or a bridal brunch on the back balcony with a view of the Blue Wahoos Stadium and the Pensacola Bay.

salads. SoGourmet is a kitchenry shop located upstairs selling every needed kitchen essential from cooking tools to high-end tableware, wine and cheese.

Cooking classes are offered in the teaching kitchen and event space and planning is also available with two beautiful outdoor spaces overlooking downtown.

The Bodacious Brew is downtown’s premier coffee shop offering a wide range of coffees, teas, pastries and a full breakfast menu, located next door to The Olive.

Participating businesses include: • • • • • • • • • • • •

The Bodacious Family of Shops Fiore of Pensacola VolumeONE Salon Pure Pilates Susan Campbell Jewelry Scout Jackson’s Steakhouse Great Southern Weddings Great Southern Catering & Events Al Fresco Fresh-Air Dining Don Alans Skopelos at New World

Guests of the Bridal Stroll will start at the Bodacious Shops and make their way through all the participating shops, sipping on wine and champagne along the way. Along with planning your big day, select participating stores will have special opportunities for guests, along with chances to win door prizes and wedding planning gifts.

The Bodacious Family of Shops experience begins in The Bodacious Olive, a downtown Pensacola epicurean boutique and market that offers a delicious array of traditional and infused extra virgin olive oils, aged infused and spiced vinegars, daily made pastas, hot baked bread, gourmet deli cheese as well as spices and herbs. SoChopped Salad Bistro is located behind The Olive, offering fast, healthy and delicious

pensacola magazine | 49

Saturday, April 2nd

Art • EntErtAinmEnt • LifEstyLE

magazine

Cordova Mall

VIP Entry 12-1 pm General Admission 1-3 pm

2016

2016 Tickets: $20 VIP Access $15 General 850.595.5800 PensacolaChocolateFest.com

50 | pensacola magazine

pensacolamagazine.com

SPECIAL SECTION

SPECIAL SECTION 57

The Drones are Coming NEW BUSINESS APPLICATIONS ARE MAKING DRONES UBIQUITOUS IN AMERICAN SOCIETY. HOW THESE UNMANNED SYSTEMS ARE CHANGING LIFE IN NORTHWEST FLORIDA FOR GOOD.

· OTHER STORIES ·

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Escambia Votes

American Heritage

AS THE PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY AND GENERAL ELECTION NEARS, THE LOCAL SUPERVISOR OF ELECTIONS IS PREPARING FOR THEIR PEAK SEASON. BUT HOW DOES IT ALL COME TOGETHER AND WHAT DOES IT SAY ABOUT OUR SOCIETY’S VOTING BEHAVIOR?

IMMIGRATION, WELFARE, MARRIAGE, HEALTHCARE: ALL THIS ISSUES ARE HOT TOPICS OF THE 2016 ELECTION YEAR, AND, AS PART OF A CONTINUING SERIES OF POLICY-BASED CONVERSATIONS, WE BRING YOU A DIALOGUE WITH CONSERVATIVE THINK TANK RESEARCHER ROBERT RECTOR.

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 | 51

Community

Escambia Votes Business Climate spoke with the Escambia County Supervisor of Elections Office regarding March’s presidential primary election, voting equipment and procedures, as well as ways to get involved in the voting process beyond the presidential election. By Dawn Gresko Have you voted? Sometimes it’s a question we dread to hear, but the answer is important regardless of your party affiliation. While the presidential primary election is on our minds this March, it is essential to realize there is more to voting than submitting your ballot for president every four years on Election Day. There are three main ways to vote in Escambia County and Florida: absentee voting, early inperson voting, and voting on Election Day. In Florida, there is a “no excuse” absentee

52 | Business Climate | nwflbusinessclimate.com 52 | Business Climate | nwflbusinessclimate.com

voting, which means anyone can vote via mail without needing an excuse for the absence, such as deployed military, out of county, or cannot come into a poll location due to hospitalization.

A total of 26 percent of citizens chose to vote by absentee ballot in the last presidential election in 2012.

The first votes counted are absentee votes in which the election worker team separates ballots from envelopes then submits to a tabulator.

Early in-person voting will occur at seven

locations in Escambia County for a total of eight days, starting March 5, for a total of nine hours per day from 8 am to 5 pm. There are differences between counties on the days and hours of voting, since state law leaves the decision up to individual supervisors in each county. At least eight days with a minimum of eight hours a day must be allotted for early voting, beginning on the tenth day and ending on the third day before the presidential election. There were 29 percent of Escambia County voters who chose to cast their ballots early in the most recent presidential election in 2012.

At the end of the early voting period, thumb drives are removed from the DS200 tabulators and then read into an electronic port manager where the results are accumulated. The team

“

People don’t always realize that the decisions to pave roads, build schools, libraries, parks and more: all of it is determined by the local races.”

does not touch the results, and, in fact, they sign sworn statements to make sure they do not peek at any of the submissions.

Election Day voting will take place this year on March 15 from 7 am to 7 pm at 79 voting locations in Escambia County. In 2012, a total of 45 percent of voters chose to cast their ballots on Election Day. “As a community, we get really excited in the Presidential Primary Election year and more people vote,” said Sonya Daniel, Deputy SOE of Administration at the Escambia County Supervisor of Elections Office. “But, people don’t always realize that the decisions to pave roads, build schools, libraries, parks and more, all of it is determined by the local races: general elections in August and November, which occur in off years between presidential elections. Being an active part of the process is more than just voting for president every four years.”

On Election Day, tabulators accumulate votes throughout the day. Once the polls close, a secure wireless modem communicates data back to the Supervisor of Elections Office where it is stored until all votes are received and the canvassing board certifies the results.

Looking at previous presidential elections in Escambia County, perhaps the most relevant statistics to compare to this year’s election are from the 2008 presidential election, because both Democrats and Republicans had opportunity to vote in 2008. In the 2012 presidential election, Barack Obama was unopposed

within the Democratic Party, which meant only Republicans had the chance to vote in the Presidential Primary for the candidate they wanted to represent their party.

In 2008, there was a total of 80,000 ballots cast in Escambia County and votes were a little over 53 percent Republican and 39 percent Democratic. The remaining 7 percent of votes were nonpartisan.

As far as equipment goes, Florida has its own certification program while a lot of states rely on federal certification. There are three systems certified in Florida and Escambia County has digital scan tabulators (DS200 and DS850), an electronic poll book (EViD), and a ballot marking device (AutoMARK) that became a requirement after the 2004 elections in which reforms required that Florida have a device that was fully accessible to persons with disabilities.

Okaloosa County just started using the electronic poll books, or EViDs, this election cycle.

In the case of duplicate voting, or when a person tries to vote twice, if they go to a polling place after voting via absentee ballot, then EViD will deny access to the voter by letting them know “Sorry, you already voted.” The flip side is also true, so if you go to a polling place and vote then try to send in an absentee vote, the tabulator will not accept your ballot because it will recognize that you already voted based on the information gathered from the statewide voter database.

So what can you expect when you go to the polls? Be prepared to present your photo/

signature identification (e.g. driver’s license, passport, military or student ID) to an election worker, find your name located in the electronic poll book (EViD), confirm photo ID and signature before you are issued a voting pass, which is turned in at the ballot table before your ballot is issued. You then take it to the privacy booth where you submit the ballot to the DS200 Tabulator and receive an “I Voted” sticker.

The AutoMARK uses a digital scan ballot which allows voters with disabilities the option of a touch screen or audio headset function to mark their ballot. The screen also has large-print capability and adjustable screen contrast for better viewing.

Those who do not have an acceptable photo and signature identification at the polls may vote a provisional ballot, which must be approved by the county canvassing board—who compare your signature on the provisional ballot to the signature on your voter registration record. If the signatures match, your vote will be counted. The canvassing board is composed of the Escambia County Supervisor of Elections David Stafford, as well as members of the Board of County Commissioners and a county judge.

“One common misconception is that election workers are volunteers,” said David Stafford, Escambia County Supervisor of Elections.

“That’s not true, all election workers get paid.

When you’re doing something as critical as an election, if 20 percent of people working behind the scenes don’t show up you’re in a world of nwflbusinessclimate.com | Business Climate | 53 nwflbusinessclimate.com | Business Climate | 53

Community trouble. Still, we tend to see people not in it for the money. The election workers do it because they see it as a way to contribute to fellow citizens and help fulfill their civic duty.”

There are between 500 and 600 election workers employed in Escambia County. Some general responsibilities of the election workers include setting up the polling place before 7 am opening, dealing patiently with the public and co-workers, performing assigned duties, and working with other poll workers to pack up materials and machines after the last voter.

The different election worker titles are as follows: clerk, EViD supervisor, EViD operator, ballot issuer, equipment operator, and poll deputy. Poll workers, also referred to as election workers, can work anywhere from 14 to 16 hour days during an election year. The workers attend a minimum of two hours of training about 45 to 60 days before every election.

Planning for the primary election can begin as soon as the previous primary has concluded, so to some extent the Supervisor of Elections Office began planning for the 2016 presidential election soon after the 2012 election. However, preparations kick into overdrive about 120 days prior to the presidential election.

Part of that planning process stems from voter education and outreach programs, spearheaded by Brandi Ziglar and Sonya Daniel, for adults and children alike.

They have found the most diligent group of voters are seniors from ages 66 and up.

For that reason, the Supervisor of Elections Office team tries to piggyback on events hosted by the Council on Aging and they go to senior dining sites to talk with seniors about updating their signatures (since signatures change as we get older). Sonya and Brandi also bring the AutoMARK to show seniors how to use the machine, which especially helps those with shaky hands fill out the ballot on a touchscreen interface that can be erased if an individual makes a mistake, or doesn’t mark an area clearly.

Sonya and Brandi have gone to elementary schools to help children participate in voting through the Sunshine State Reader Program (SRP), which runs through second to fifth grades. The children read a minimum of five books from a list of a dozen books given to them by the teacher, and if they finish enough of the books, they can vote for a favorite. The goal is to incorporate voter education by printing ballots similar to what adults in the children’s life will use on Election Day. The children also become familiar with voting equipment, such as the EViD, DS200 Tabulator, and AutoMARKs—the latter of which is used for special needs students.

“We put our Escambia County youths 54 || Business Business Climate Climate || nwflbusinessclimate.com nwflbusinessclimate.com 54

through mock voting for two reasons,” said Brandi Ziglar, communications specialist at Escambia County Supervisor of Elections Office.

“First is so they get familiar with voting equipment and it’s not intimidating when they get older. Second, it’s a fun and engaging activity, which encourages kids to read so they can vote on a favorite book.”

Thanks to the grant provided to the Supervisor of Elections Office by the Help America Vote Act, many of the voter registration drives and voting events can be done with no cost to the schools.

As for high school, the Supervisor of Elections has gotten involved by helping assist with high school SGA elections, as well as homecoming and prom court elections. Again, the idea is the same: to expose students to the same type of ballots, voting booths and equipment used in real elections. Plus, 16 to 17 year olds can pre-register to vote.

“What many people don’t realize is that 16 to 17 year olds can pre-register to vote,” said Brandi. “So, we host voter registration drives at high schools, so those teenagers can pre-register to vote. The week of their 18th birthday, Mr. Stafford signs a letter saying, ‘Happy birthday, you are now official registered to vote in Escambia County’.”

In addition to voter registration drives at Escambia County schools, the Supervisor of Elections sets up a table for voter registration outside of their office (213 Palafox St.) every month on Gallery Night from 5 to 7 pm. They also attend local events, such as those hosted by the Pensacola Symphony, as well as Ice Flyers and Blue Wahoo games to promote voter awareness.

The office has also partnered with Pensacola NAS to make sure military members are registered voters and have updated addresses.

Sonya and Brandi were also excited to announce that they attend every naturalization ceremony, including the most recent ceremony on Feb. 19, which occurs five times a year.

According to Sonya and Brandi, the naturalized citizens are the most excited about registering to vote for what is usually the first time in their lives.

“With all of our outreach efforts, the 18 to 25 year olds have more registered than any other age group but they are less likely to vote,” said Sonya.

“This is why we’ve put emphasis on having actual voting experiences early on in elementary schools and now high school. We feel like if we can get younger members of the community to be part of that process then they are inclined to stick with it.”

For the new year, consider taking an interest in the local races and add voting to your list of resolutions. To update your voter information, or learn more about the Supervisor of Elections Office and ways to get involved, visit escambiavotes.com.

Voter Registration by Party Escambia County

Voter Turnout in General Election

Poll Worker Responsibilities and Pay Clerk Responsible for operation of polling location Verify delivery of supplies prior to Election Day Primary contact with Elections Office Maintain all paperwork Return voted ballots at the end of the day Oversee and assign duties $200

Voter Registration by Party Escambia County

EViD Supervisor Assist the Clerk as needed Responsible for opening, closing and operation of EViD Assist with opening and closing procedures at polling location $170

EViD Operator Determine voter eligibility Verify voter identification and signature Provide Ballot Issue Slips to voters $130 95 96 97 98 99 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15

Voter Registration by Age Group Escambia County

Ballot Issuer Maintain and audit ballot supply Distribute ballots to voters Assist clerk in balancing vote totals with cast ballots $130

Equipment Operator Set up and shut down voting equipment Troubleshoot voting equipment issues $130

Poll Deputy Maintain order outside the polling place Assist other workers in preparing polling place on Election Day Post signs and materials outside and near the entrance of polling location $120

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Business

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THE DRONES ARE COMING

BY JOSH NEWBY

W

e see them on television delivering air strikes, we see them at events with mounted cameras, we see children playing with them in our neighborhoods.

These Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS), or drones as they are more colloquially known, are fast becoming a fact of life not only in the world, but in Northwest Florida, as well. Decreasing costs have led to their ubiquity, their ease of use has created an entire hobbyist subculture, and their multitude of applications are transforming the business model of many local industries. nwflbusinessclimate.com | Business Climate | 57

Innovation

Among these applications are aerial photography and video, building and construction inspections, agricultural inspections, storm damage assessment, aerial site surveys, 3D mapping, wildlife migration tracking, search and rescue, and more. While there are still grey areas from a legislative and regulatory standpoint, most commercial drone use requires an FAA 333 Exemption. As an example of just how much the drone industry has exploded in Northwest Florida, there was just one such exemption in the area just a few years ago; today, there are 25.

Drones are not just revolutionizing the business world, either. More than 800,000 drones were sold for hobby usage this past holiday season. Many casual-use UASs can be purchased for less than $250, while most commercialapplication pieces are available for under $1,000.

One of the first organizations to exploit this new market in Northwest Florida was Pelican Drones.

They are FAA-certified and are setting the pace for many competitors also hoping to break into this brave new world.

“We saw a market that could benefit from visual storytelling and decided to help tell that story,” said Alan Gray, co-owner of Pelican Drones. “We started with real estate and boat photography and people were blown away.

If you live here, you may think this is the most gorgeous place on earth, but trust me: you don’t know just how beautiful it is until you see it from the air.”

Gray and fellow co-owner Chris Tonn quickly realized how much this might change a variety of businesses in the region. They were the first between Tallahassee and

58 | Business Climate | nwflbusinessclimate.com

New Orleans to procure a commercial license for drone use.

“When you get up in the sky with a 5K or 1080p camera, the amount of clarity is astounding,” said Tonn.

“You can see specific landscape breaks, you can see depth changes under the water; essentially, you can show people something they’ve seen a million times, but from a perspective they’ve never seen before.”

Gray and Tonn have integrated their drone-flying acumen with technology that already exists in areas outside photography. From the comfort of the ground, they can pilot a quadcopter drone over terrain, the camera can take multiple photos and stitch them together to create a 3D model complete with height and texture. A pilot and assistant can deliver lifesaving blood, defibrillation equipment or medicine to storm-stricken areas where crews may be unable to drive to and helicopters may be illequipped to reach. A lifeguard can pilot a buoy or flotation device out to someone who is drowning offshore. Someone deep in the wilderness who is bitten by a poisonous snake can order an emergency antivenom transport. A delivery service can bring you, via drone, an item you ordered just moments ago, as long as you have an RFID-landing pad and obstruction-free airspace.

Drones are already changing the world.

Fortunately, there are a number of safety measures in place to ensure against widespread destruction or invasion of privacy. It is illegal to fly a drone above 400 feet, or within five miles of an airport, or at night.

Commercial and hobby droneenthusiasts are also not allowed to fly above people or above

MOST PREVALENT COMMERICAL DRONE APPLICATIONS • • • • • • • • •

Real Estate Aerial Surveillance Aerial Photography Agriculture Construction Infrastructure Utility Inspection Film and TV Environmental

national parks, or fly without a spotter in urban areas. The drone weight plus payload and fuel must also not exceed 55 pounds.

Many of these regulations are built into the drone’s firmware. Every device comes equipped with GPS monitoring and a computer that is programmed to not fly where it is not allowed. This computer also compels the device to fly “home” when the battery is too low or conditions are averse to flying.

The software is adaptive, too. If a signal is lost, the drone automatically returns home. If the drone senses a low-flying priority vehicle, like a medevac helicopter, it knows to avoid that airspace.

“The industry is really regulating themselves through advanced software and geofencing,” said Gray.

Pelican Drones and other commercial drone companies can sometimes skirt these restrictions by shooting national parks and people from an oblique angle, or requesting an FAA exemption if they are under contract to monitor something that would be otherwise restricted.

Right now, most drones fly between 30 and 60 mph, though some competitive racing drones can fly over 100 mph. That means the UAS can fly in winds of about that speed, making storm-time emergency delivery that much more viable. While battery life is still a concern for many devices (most batteries last just 17 to 22 minutes in perfect flying condition), much headway has been made to give them a longer lifespan.

Drones operate in an extremely complicated yet seamless way. Much like a helicopter, drones generate lift by using rotors to transfer above air beneath them. With multiple rotors, UASs can

Northwest Florida from Pelican Drones’ point of view

achieve stability and a system of fail-safes to ensure safety, ease of operation and smooth flying.

Controllers, which often come in the form of app-installed iPads, communicate with the drone via 2.4 gigahertz radio waves. Drones are installed with a variety of orientation equipment, including a downward-facing sonar that bounces sound waves off the ground to vertically acclimate itself.

The world of drones is a new and exciting one, to be sure, and one that is not without concerns of safety and privacy.

Fortunately, the companies that manufacture these life-changing devices are doing all they can to placate fears and guarantee that this new innovation improves our lives instead of destroying them.

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2/24/16 9:10 AM nwflbusinessclimate.com | Business Climate | 59

Politics

American

HERITAGE

With the presidential primaries already well underway, many Americans find themselves revisiting controversial topics, such as welfare, immigration, marriage and more.

These issues highlight a sharp divide between right and left with focuses ranging from the individual to the community.

To help shed some light on these topics from a conservative vantage point, Business Climate caught up with Robert Rector, a senior researcher at the Heritage Foundation. Dubbed the intellectual godfather of all things welfare and immigration, Rector was the principle architect of 1996’s national reform legislation and has been known to interface regularly with lawmakers on both sides of the aisle.

His long-term study on the negative fiscal effects of illegal immigration drew the ire of liberals and conservatives alike.

Not shy to discuss uncomfortable topics, Rector addressed the controversy surrounding his ideologies. By Josh Newby Tell me about the Heritage Foundation.

We’re a think tank in Washington that supports free markets and traditional values. I’ve been there since the Reagan Administration.

Before that I was in grad school for political science.

What are some topics you consider yourself an advocate on?

I’m an expert on welfare, poverty and immigration. All these things are a lot larger than people understand. Take welfare, for example. Last year, we spent a trillion dollars on anti-poverty programs. We spend 75 cents on anti-poverty for every dollar we spend on Social Security and Medicare. This largely goes unrecognized because there’s 80 different programs and they’re never counted together, so they’re hidden costs. We miscount poverty in the United States because almost none of that trillion dollars is counted as income of low-income people. For example, a fourperson family is considered poor if they make less than $24,000.

But food stamps is not income. Public housing is not income. The Earned Income Tax Credit is not counted as income. So what you find is that people say, “No one can live on minimum wage.” Well a single mother who gets a minimum wage job, which is actually fairly uncommon, gets a bout $14,000 a year in earnings. But, she also gets another $20,000 to $25,000 a year in benefits—food, cash and medical care. Her actual economic resources are above $35,000. All those benefits are effectively hidden in public discourse.

What are some of those 80 programs?

The largest is Medicaid, and then you have SNAP and the Earned Income Tax Credit. You have Section 8 housing, supplemental 60 | Business Climate | nwflbusinessclimate.com

security income, WIC, and on and on. There are over 15 programs that provide housing, and they’re very generous.

Are they too generous?

In some cases they are. What you need to do in welfare is have a system where the assistance supplements the individual’s efforts to help themselves, rather than displacing it. The principle mechanisms for self-support are work, education and marriage, because two incomes are higher than one. If the welfare state simply added on where it was needed, everything would be fine. But, the welfare state is highly inefficient because they discourage work and in particular discourage marriage. Each of these programs pushes down the recipient’s efforts to support themselves and engage in constructive behavior without reliance on the tax payer.

How does it do that?

The benefits are automatically cut by the way they’re structured. As soon as the husband’s income is counted, the benefits go way down. You get much more welfare if he’s not formally part of the family.

Immigration is a big topic this year with the election and it’s something you’ve studied extensively. What’s your opinion on some of the proposals?

Well, I think it’s important to understand that illegal immigrants are extremely costly to the American taxpayer. Legalizing them in every case means giving them access not only to the vote, but to the American welfare system, which is the most expensive welfare system in the world. Therefore, granting amnesty to the current illegals would cost us $6 trillion.

That figure was criticized even by members of the conservative party.

Not conservatives. It was criticized by libertarians. There’s a difference.

Well, Paul Ryan is hardly libertarian, yet he said this study hugely exaggerated the cost.

Look, here’s the simplest way to understand this. Do you believe someone with a tenth-grade education pays as much in taxes as he receives in welfare?

These individuals don’t get food stamps or Medicaid or other forms of welfare.

They get $4 of government handouts for every $1 in taxes they pay. Does Paul Ryan know anything about this? No. The average education level of an illegal immigrant is tenth grade. That individual has full access to the entire welfare state, including Social Security, Medicare, and education for his kids.

That costs a lot. The only way to think otherwise would be to assume that they act somehow different than people living here who are impoverished.

They’re all identical. You can go into the census reports and look at a legal immigrant family with that education level and see how much food stamps and Medicaid they got. Immigration status doesn’t vary much. If you believe an immigrant with a tenth-grade education doesn’t cost anything, you must also believe a citizen with that education doesn’t cost us anything. The welfare state is not self-funded.

The fact of the matter is that we have a massive system of redistribution where we take from the upper middle class and give it to under-privileged Americans. It’s a massive system. It’s the most expensive system in the world. If you legalize a group that has a tenth-grade education, they impose enormous cost on the taxpayer. It costs $12,000 a year to educate a child in public school in the United States. Is an individual with a tenth-grade education paying for that? Who is paying for that? The upper middle class is. We can’t have an unlimited infill of people without having enormous costs associated with it.

Paul Ryan is an open-border advocate on this issue. You cannot have open borders and a welfare state. This costs $6 trillion.

What are some ways that these programs discourage work?

Any time you give someone $30,000 a year for free, which in some cases we do, there will be an impetus to work considerably less. The way to get around that without just scrubbing the benefits is to attach a work requirement to the benefits, which was done in one program 20 years ago.

But, there are no work requirements now, even in temporary assistance to needy families it is quite lax. Welfare should not be a one-way handout.

It should be a system of assistance to those who need it, but it should also require constructive behavior on the part of able-bodied participants. I believe that any able-bodied recipient receiving cash, food or medical care should be prepared to work or at least look for work as a condition for getting aid. Nine out of 10 Americans believe that.

Moreover, it makes very little sense to punish low-income parents for getting married, which is what the current welfare system does as soon as the father is out of the household.

That figure was a 50-year speculation though. A lot could change and many say it doesn’t do justice to the added GDP these legal-status aliens would contribute.

Robert Rector

It’s not speculative.

It is speculative. You don’t know what factors will arise in that amount of time. Even the CBO said it was speculative.

Well it’s speculative on the down side. I froze Medicare at the current level. Is that a reasonable assumption?

No. Of course not. It’s nwflbusinessclimate.com | Business Climate | 61

Politics going to be much more expensive. What Obama’s amnesty did was grant people eligibility to Social Security and Medicare. My estimates are minimal and these are hugely expensive programs. There’s no way someone of this education contributes enough to pay for it. So was it a long-term estimate?

Yeah.

Part of the Gang of Eight bill was to prioritize legal status for those who are college graduates, especially those with STEM degrees.

That isn’t what that bill did. That bill basically gave amnesty to virtually everyone.

A part of it was in fact that educational component. Would you support an immigration law that tests for academic achievement?

No. I don’t think you want to have any law that says, basically, “Come to the United States and have children who go to college.” One of the most telling things I’ve ever heard in this immigration debate was a Mexican expert who said that there’s lots and lots of people in Mexico who would like to come to the United States, but they respect our laws too much to do that.

So, maybe we should have a swap.

You’re granting a huge financial benefit whose sole right to that benefit is that they break our laws. Out of the whole population, you broke our laws; we’re going to give you effectively $1 million each. That is irrational and unjust.

How does that cost weigh against the cost of deportation?

You don’t have to deport them. All you have to do is enforce the current laws.

What about the millions who are already here?

There are 11 million here. In 1986 we granted amnesty. Congress promised that would be the last amnesty we grant. For the first time, we declared that it was unlawful to hire illegal aliens. That second condition has not been enforced for one hour since 1987. We lied to the American public. So before you talk about anything for the future, you should keep the promise that was made 30 years ago.

You do that by implanting an e-verify. That would automatically render about five million illegals, they would not be able to be employed. It would open up five million low-skills jobs for American who have a right to be here, and for legal aliens. They would have access to those jobs and that would raise wages in those fields. You don’t have to round them up, because they don’t have that much access to welfare if we enforce the law against hiring. A majority of them will go home.

At the present time is a system that explicitly discriminates against every employer who obeys the law. There’s always a plumber or a roofer who went out of business because they would not hire illegals, but their competitors did. So we’ve essentially driven honest businessmen into bankruptcy through this very deliberate practice of lying to the American people by not enforcing our laws.

To switch gears a little, what are some problems in our society that give rise to poverty in the county?

Well, when the war on poverty began, you had about 7 percent of children living in poverty. Today, that number is 41 percent. Our society is splitting into two halves: children in the upper half being raised by married parents with a college education, and children in the bottom half are being raised by single moms with a high school diploma. In every respect, a child raised without a biological father in the home is much more likely to drop out of school, get involved in crime, and basically fail in life. That’s not something to be promoted.

It’s not a question of imposing values because they’re not hostile to marriage. Minorities will have a baby in their early 20s, and their game plan is 62 | Business Climate | nwflbusinessclimate.com

to have a baby then find someone to marry. Anyone in the upper middle class will vouch that that is the worst idea. But we don’t tell them because we don’t want to hurt their feelings. No, let’s tell them, because their goal is a traditional one with marriage and kids and a dog and a house. So let’s tell them a proper game plan with optimal results. No one in the upper middle class does that.

That begins this cycle of disadvantage for the kids. So where does the buck stop?

Well, you’re not going to make it up by giving them more welfare.

The boys need a male role model in the household. If the boys grow up without that, they drift into extremely self-destructive and anti-social roles themselves. They end up in drugs and crime and prison. Throughout lowincome communities, we have displaced fathers and replaced them with welfare checks. So, let’s give them their wings back.

How then do you incentivize the father to stay?

First you have to say he’s important, which we don’t. These mothers are not having children to have toys to play with. They want their kids to succeed, so we have to show them how, and part of that is having a positive male role model. Just say that, because we do not say that anywhere in our society.

To the men, you say that you don’t want to do to your kids what your dad did to you. So just say, “You don’t know what your dad did to you, then don’t have a child with a woman that you’re not committed to. Be the dad you wish you had.”

Are there any policies that have been proposed this election year that you favor or that you don’t favor?

There’s not much of anything to discuss thus far.

So if people are interested in making some of these changes tangible, how can they do that?

At the individual state level, the states get $30 billion a year for temporary assistance to needy families. Three of the four goals of that legislation promote marriage, and almost every state ignores that. So, everything I said to you about marriage, states should encourage marriage, but they don’t because that money is controlled by liberals for the welfare status quo.

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64 | Business Climate | nwflbusinessclimate.com

Around the Region

Rick Duke named founding director of Center for Entrepreneurship at the University of West Florida The University of West Florida announces Joel R. “Rick” Duke as founding director of the Center for Entrepreneurship at the University of West Florida College of Business.

In July 2015, UWF announced the formation of the Center for Entrepreneurship through a $1 million gift commitment from Quint and Rishy Studer. Thanks to the Studers’ generosity, the Center will encourage and support educational initiatives related to entrepreneurship and entrepreneurial thinking while serving as a comprehensive resource for economic innovation for students, industry and community partners. The Center is housed in the UWF College of Business, and Duke will report to Dr. Tim O’Keefe, dean of the College of Business.

The Center for Entrepreneurship hosts activities and initiatives related to creating a culture of entrepreneurial thinking. Quint Studer serves as the Entrepreneur-in-Residence to mobilize a professional network of entrepreneurs that will positively impact the Center through contributions to advisement, seminars, classes, workshops and a host of other initiatives.

UWF Military and Veterans Resource Center to expand services in Northwest Florida The Military and Veterans Resource Center of the University of West Florida is expanding its successful Mentoring and Counseling Program as part of ongoing efforts to provide more comprehensive services to military students and families in Northwest Florida.

The expansion is made possible in part by additional funding from the Florida legislature, which provides ongoing support of the center and its mission. Now, says MVRC Director Marc Churchwell, the program will not only provide additional outreach to students using Veterans Affairs benefits, but also to veterans, dependents of veterans and active duty military who are no longer eligible.

The Mentoring and Counseling Program currently serves an estimated population of 1,700 UWF students annually. In the three years since the program’s inception, approximately 210 students have received intervention support from MVRC services, resulting in successful persistence of academic progress – indicating the program is helping this special population stay in school.

According to Churchwell, expanding the MVRC’s Mentoring and Counseling Program to include all military affiliated students will more than double the population to be served. Conservative estimates, he reports, indicate the total number to be approximately 3,400 – 28 percent of UWF’s total student population. This could mean more than 200 students will graduate as a direct result of the program’s expansion.

Venture Hive announces 2016 Veteran Accelerator Program class Venture Hive is proud to announce that six high growth veteran‐owned companies have been selected to participate in the 2016 Venture Hive Veteran Accelerator class. The Venture Hive Veteran Accelerator was created through a partnership with the City of Fort Walton Beach.

The program is a founder‐friendly, 12‐week accelerator program focusing on individual development and supports global, disrupt‐ the‐industry visions. The companies selected focus on leveraging the resources and strengths of Florida’s Emerald Coast to scale their companies.

The companies are Aerial Autonomy, All Around Baby, Holy Kidz Summer Camp, Decurator, High Caliber Lady, Airtime Aircraft.

nwflbusinessclimate.com | Business Climate | 65

Around the Region

Chamber honors the region’s business, community leaders On Feb. 16, the Greater Pensacola Chamber announced its 56th Annual PACE Award recipients during a special one-night event at the Hilton Pensacola Beach Gulf Front. Each year, the PACE Awards are presented to outstanding individuals in the community who have made significant contributions to Greater Pensacola’s overall economic progress.

“We are privileged to have an abundance of leaders devoted to moving the Greater Pensacola region forward with their talents, enthusiasm and spirit,” said Clay Ingram, Greater Pensacola Chamber President & CEO. “We are honored to pay tribute to these individuals who continue to positively impact our community.”

President of Elebash’s Jewelers, Patrick Elebash, was named Emerging Business Leader of the Year for his efforts to make Pensacola a vibrant and progressive city. Elebash, a Leadership Pensacola graduate, has served on multiple boards of directors and continues to lead both personally and professionally. Stacey Kostevicki, executive director of Gulf Coast Kid’s House, was named Emerging Advocate Leader of the Year for bringing services with lasting improvements to children and families in crisis. Kostevicki was recently elected president of the Florida Network of Children’s Advocacy and continues to expand children’s advancement along the Gulf Coast.

Sacred Heart Health System’s chief executive officer Susan Davis Ed.D, RN was named Professional Leader of the Year for directing a top health care system. Her efforts continue to transform our community into a truly

regional healthcare center, promoting Pensacola as a national player in the healthcare industry. Sue Martin was named Community Leader of the Year for her dedication to improving the lives of numerous children over the years. Martin is the founder of Mall Ball, which is the largest fundraising ball in Pensacola, collecting over $4 million in 21 years for Sacred Heart Children’s Hospital.

Chef Joe Abston, owner of Hopjacks Pizza Kitchen & Taproom, The Tin Cow, and Edible Invaders, and overseer of culinary direction at Pot Roast & Pinot, was named Business Leader of the Year. Chef Abston was pivotal on the growth of the downtown area and continues to further the downtown scene, advocating for Gallery Night and chairing Palafox Wine Walk. Mort O’Sullivan, III, CPA was awarded the Pioneer Award for his professional career with Warren Averett and his many contributions to Northwest Florida. O’Sullivan has over 38 years of experience in public accounting and is a past chairman and current board member for the Greater Pensacola Chamber.

Finally, Molly McGuire Martin was awarded the Spirit of Pensacola Award for her many accomplishments as a successful businesswoman and entertainer. She passed away in 2014, but her spirit lives on through the restaurants she built with her husband McGuire – McGuire’s Irish Pub (Pensacola and Destin), Flounders (Pensacola Beach), Crabs (Pensacola Beach) and Vinny McGuire’s Pizza (Destin).

nwflbusinessclimate.com | Business Climate | 67

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