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Approximately 66% of breast cancer cases are diagnosed at a localized stage, before cancer has spread outside of the
when it is
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The 5-year relative survival rate for cancer diagnosed at the
In Every Quiet Corner, a Story
Some stories speak loudly, while others whisper. The cover story in this issue is a quiet kind of legacy. One that doesn’t clamor for attention but has shaped generations through consistency, humility, and grace. Sitting down with Jane Merrill was not the kind of interview where answers come easily. Jane doesn’t self-promote, and she doesn’t speak in headlines. But in the pauses, the memories, and the gentle deflections, I found something far richer: a portrait of a matriarch whose presence has shaped her family, her church, and her community in ways that matter most.
This magazine was always intended to be a love letter to Pensacola, to its people, its pioneers, and even its hidden heroes. Jane Merrill is all three. Sharing her story, alongside her grandson Collier Jr, reminded me why I had started this journey in the first place.
In this Unbreakable Bonds issue, we continue that spirit of generational connection of nurturing what matters. You'll find stories that celebrate creativity, family traditions, and the little joys that come from raising children, caring for pets, and building meaningful lives. We highlight local experiences that invite discovery, from imaginative getaways to elevated meals with room for playfulness.
We also spotlight voices that savor the lifestyle in every sense through artistic pursuits, heartfelt writing, and personal journeys that remind us how deeply rooted our passions can be.
This month’s features are tied by a simple thread: love expressed in everyday ways. Whether it’s the loyalty of a pet curled up at your feet, the wisdom passed down at a family table, or the courage to build a life filled with intention, you’ll find that thread running quietly through every page.
Thank you for being part of this community. Thank you for reading, sharing, and living the lifestyle with us.
SUZANNE POPE, PUBLISHER @PENSACOLACITYLIFESTYLE
August 2025
PUBLISHER
Suzanne Pope | suzanne.pope@citylifestyle.com
PUBLICATION DIRECTOR
Bianca Bain Villegas
bianca.bainvillegas@citylifestyle.com
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Alex Boykin, Suzanne Pope, Stephania Streit, Anna Wall, Laura Watts
CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER
Blake Jones
Corporate Team
CEO Steven Schowengerdt
COO Matthew Perry
CRO Jamie Pentz
VP OF OPERATIONS Janeane Thompson
VP OF SALES Andrew Leaders
AD DESIGNER Jenna Crawford
LAYOUT DESIGNER Kathy Nguyen
QUALITY CONTROL SPECIALIST Brandy Thomas
business monthly
ROUNDUP OF NEWS FROM LOCAL BUSINESSES
Latitude Margaritaville
Envision the shimmering emerald green waters of the Gulf of Mexico, sugar-white sand beaches, rolling sand dunes, and beautiful forests. This amazing place is the spectacular setting for Latitude Margaritaville Watersound. This 55+ retirement community is located near Panama City Beach just off of the Scenic Highway 30A corridor. This area, with its many small coastal towns, is the embodiment of the relaxed, beachy vibe that is at the heart of the Latitude Margaritaville lifestyle.
Autism Pensacola
We are Autism Pensacola, a Florida non-profit organization serving families of Escambia and Santa Rosa counties. Since 2002, we’ve served individuals and families affected by autism as a connector and resource for autism support, advocacy, education and networking opportunities in the Area. We want to change the way our community thinks and feels about autism. Relationships drive our mission to maximize access to the best care and support for individuals and families affected by autism.
Equity Project Alliance
Our Mission is to be a progressive catalyst that confronts systematic racism and promotes transformative thinking, unity, and equity for everyone. Across their lifespan, residents of color in Escambia County face systemic racism and disadvantages that disproportionately impact their physical, mental, and social health, as well as the educational and economic opportunities afforded to Black families and communities of color. HOW CAN WE CREATE A MORE EQUITABLE ESCAMBIA WHERE EVERYONE CAN LIVE WELL AND THRIVE?
Jam Session
Cue the lights, camera and action. Kelly and Thomas Koch aren’t missing a beat as they help music students sharpen skills and build confidence.
When I was in second grade, once a week after school I would walk down the street to the home of Mrs. Roberts, a lonely old woman who sat next to me on her piano bench while I plunked out little ditties during a half-hour lesson, trying not to be distracted by her yapping dog, the ticking metronome and the strange smell wafting from her kitchen. If I had practiced enough that week, she’d place a small star sticker on the page of my John Thompson’s piano lesson book, and I’d move on to the next song, wishing I could play something more exciting than “From a Wigwam” or “Bill Grogan’s Goat.” It was oldschool, boring and oh-so-low- tech. Times have certainly changed for music education since my days in Mrs. Roberts’ living room. Case in point: Gulf Breeze music school Minds On Music ® . This isn’t your average piano lesson, Minds On Music (M.O.M.) incorporates video games, a variety of instruments, a professional recording studio, and a performance stage complete with stellar lighting and sound and a Steinway grand piano.
The Early Stages
It all started with little Tommy, the son of founders Kelly Koch and Thomas Koch. “Every single decision we make at M.O.M. is based on what we wanted for Tommy and his music education,” shares Kelly, a Florida native who met Thomas in Atlanta and later moved with him and their son to the Florida Panhandle for what they thought was a temporary stay. After spending time in Gulf Breeze with other couples who had young children, they fell in love
ARTICLE BY LAURA WATTS
PHOTOGRAPHY PROVIDED
with the area. “We realized that this was where we wanted to raise our son,” recalls Thomas. “This area truly cares for its children. It’s what made us want to grow our family roots here.” Having heard about the powerful ways music affects the brain, they enrolled Tommy in music classes starting when he was very young. When he began kindergarten, Thomas and Kelly made the bold move to switch careers, he was operating an engineering company, and she owned a veterinary products business. Since they both had musical backgrounds, they pivoted to music education and acquired additional training at Pensacola State College. They started out teaching music lessons in their home to neighborhood kids. But when they outgrew the space in 2014, Kelly and Thomas opened the doors of Minds On Music’s studio in Gulf Breeze.
A Comprehensive Approach
Their custom teaching program, MusIQ ® , is for students ages 5 and up (including adults). Each one-hour lesson includes private instruction on an instrument; music theory, history and appreciation using videos, worksheets and games; and access to M.O.M.’s performance stage and recording studio. “We wanted to create an
environment that fostered learning in an engaging and dynamic way,” says Thomas. “We employ technology in our music lab to accelerate the process of learning musical concepts while making it fun.” The studio, which employs 10 teachers who are experts on multiple instruments, also offers music classes for babies and toddlers, one-on-one music therapy, and a band and vocal ensemble program.
M.O.M. helps students prepare for music competitions and assists recent college graduates with finding music education jobs.
M.O.M. holds the distinction of being the first and (so far) only Steinway Select Studio in Florida. Lessons and recitals are offered exclusively on instruments designed by Steinway, the renowned manufacturer of gold-standard pianos for the past 175 years. Steinway recording artists offer workshops, concerts and master classes for M.O.M. students and staff to enhance their learning.
Rewiring the Brain
“Our whole philosophy is centered around how good learning music is for the brain and development,” Kelly says. And that’s not a sales pitch to entice prospective parents. Scientific studies continue to show the benefits that long-term musical training has on the brain.
The Global Council on Brain Health reports that music training in childhood imparts health benefits that may endure throughout life by, among other things, reducing stress and facilitating interpersonal connections. The Brain and Creativity Institute at USC Dornsife, in partnership with the Los Angeles Philharmonic Association and nonprofit Heart of Los Angeles, published results of a five-year study finding that music instruction during childhood helps kids’ brains develop more swiftly and yields verbal and language-related benefits that may last a lifetime.
The federal government’s National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health stated that certain brain structures are larger in musicians than non-musicians, with particularly noticeable changes in people who started their musical training at an early age. And the findings of a panel of experts convened by the National Institutes of Health showed that performing music profoundly changes the brain by modulating its various networks. They even described highly trained musicians as “auditory-motor athletes.”
CONTINUED >
Ukelele and Guitar
Student Guinevere Villegas playing at Carnegie Hall in New York City
“OUR WHOLE PHILOSOPHY IS CENTERED AROUND HOW good LEARNING MUSIC IS FOR the brain AND DEVELOPMENT.”
The Sky’s the Limit
Applying what they learn at Minds On Music, students have found success beyond the walls of the studio. Young students Guinevere Villegas, Tony Aninon and Anastasia Wade were invited to play piano at Carnegie Hall in New York City after placing at the top of their divisions in the Gulf Coast Steinway Society piano competition. Starting as an 8-year-old M.O.M. student, Summer Campbell excelled at a variety of instruments and became a parttime music instructor with the studio while she was in high school.
One of M.O.M.’s first students, Austin Sanders—now known as ASTN—is a Los Angeles-based singer, songwriter and producer with more than 1.9 million monthly listeners on Spotify.
And what about Thomas and Kelly’s original music student, their son, Tommy? Not only does he continue to play
piano, guitar and drums, but he is currently playing Division 1 baseball for the University of Tennessee, an achievement that his proud parents feel is due in part to the performance experience he gained from years of music lessons and recitals. The adventure of learning to play a musical instrument, like any rewarding enterprise, takes dedication. It also takes guidance, encouragement and tools that make the journey achievable; precisely what Kelly, Thomas and their Minds On Music team aim to share with the community.
“Success for us is that students become aware of the magic of music,” Kelly says. “Whether they want to sing in church, in a band, play alone in their bedroom or perform at Carnegie Hall, we tailor our instruction to what they want and where they want music to take them.”
M.O.M. teachers and staff at the Better Brain Sonata Fest music competition
Legacy
ARTICLE BY SUZANNE POPE PHOTOGRAPHY BY BLAKE JONES
In Every Quiet Corner, a Story: Jane Merrill in Her Own Words
and Light
In the heart of Seville Drive, in a house built by her parents, lives a woman who has become a living landmark not through attention-grabbing ventures, but by serving as a vital connection between generations, carrying legacies, and embodying the quiet joy of consistency. Jane Merrill (née Henderson), born right here in Pensacola, might be introduced as the daughter of Burney Henderson, wife of Will Merrill Jr., and mother of Will, Burney, and Collier Merrill. She is also the aunt to many nieces and nephews, including great-nieces and great-nephews, who gather together every Christmas at her home. Her story has layers that extend far beyond her titles.
Jane Merrill
FAMILY, FAITH, AND A BIT OF BASEBALL
After what she describes as a "checkered academic career," Jane graduated in 1955 with a degree in English and Spanish from the University of Alabama. After graduation, she returned home and met her future husband, Will, a Marine helicopter pilot, while he was in flight training in Pensacola. They married, moved to North Carolina, and eventually returned home, where Will co-founded Building Supply Center alongside his father-in-law and brother-in-law, Dick Dickerson.
Although Jane never pursued a professional career, she has built a life full of meaning. "My career has been being a wife and mother," she shared. "And I’ve done various volunteer activities."
Her face brightened when we talked about Alabama football and the New York Yankees. As a lifelong baseball fan, she reminisced about watching Don Larsen pitch his perfect game during her wedding week and proudly displayed her keepsake gold baseball medallion commemorating her father’s high school championship in Tuscaloosa.
"I started this magazine as a love letter to Pensacola," I told Jane as we began our conversation. "It was created to honor both the legacy families who shaped this town and the newcomers who fell in love with it. You sit at that beautiful intersection."
THE WOMAN BEYOND THE NAME
Researching Jane Merrill yields limited information online. There are a few mentions of her civic roles, such as involvement with the WSRE Foundation, Impact 100, and the Junior League, but little else that delves deeply into her life. When asked about who she is beyond her familial connections, Jane humbly replied, "I’m just a normal person."
However, "normal" does not encompass her decades of volunteer work, participation in bridge clubs, playing Mahjong, attending antique shows, and being an active member of the Christ Church Episcopal of Pensacola, where she has remained devoted for decades. One of the volunteer activities she particularly enjoyed was her participation in prison ministry a few years ago. While Jane may downplay her achievements, the evidence tells a different story. She has contributed significantly to her community with quiet intention and a sense of responsibility that seems increasingly rare.
Jane & Collier Jr
Collier Jr.
GIVING BACK QUIETLY
Jane’s contributions stretch across Pensacola. She spent nearly a decade volunteering at ARC Gateway, helped organize the annual Crab Cake Cookoff, worked antique shows for Christ Church, and even joined a prison ministry. “It was scary, but meaningful,” she recalled. "We weren’t allowed to ask the women any questions, just to visit and give them a break."
From hosting Impact 100 events to selling Tootsie Pops in elf costumes at ARC’s holiday events, Jane has always been present in moments that make the city feel personal.
THE GIFT OF HENDERSON BEACH
When her father, Burney, sold the land that would become Henderson Beach State Park, he did so well below market value because he believed in public access. "We were so proud of it," Jane said. "It was his way of sharing something special."
Her face softened as we talked about how that land, once family-owned, had become a beloved public sanctuary. "We still have property down there, and I haven’t visited in a while, but I should. It’s beautiful."
THE MATRIARCH AND THE NEXT GENERATION
Jane appears on the cover of this issue with her grandson, Collier Merill Jr., affectionately known as Collier Jr. A rising sophomore at Catholic High School, Junior is thoughtful, reserved, and proudly carries the family name into a new era.
When asked what he admires most about his grandmother, he smiled and said, "Her being so active at her age. Most people aren’t like that." He spoke about trips they've taken together to Hawaii, Alaska, Las Vegas, and how much he enjoys spending time with her. "She’s funny," he added. "Kind, loving, and devoted."
Collier Jr. may not see himself as a storyteller, but through quiet moments of reflection, it’s clear he holds deep admiration for Jane. He works at Atlas,
a local restaurant owned by his father, part of the Great Southern Restaurant Group here in Pensacola, and loves to fish. With family roots that stretch back generations in Pensacola, he carries both pride and humility. "It feels cool knowing I have family going back so many years," he said.
He dreams of one day serving in the Navy, following a long line of military service in his family, and possibly attending the University of Alabama. When asked how he feels about being on the cover with his grandmother, he said simply, "It's cool. I think it’ll remind me of her."
A LEGACY OF GRACE
Jane Merrill may resist the spotlight, but she embodies the grace, grit, and generational wisdom that make Pensacola special. When asked if there was one decision she made that she was most proud of, she paused.
"I don't know that there's anything I did that was just mine," she said. But that humility is exactly why this story needed to be told.
It isn’t always the loudest voices that shape a community. Sometimes it’s the ones who show up, stay rooted, and keep the door open for family, neighbors, and friends.
And in Pensacola, that door swings open at the home of Jane Merrill.
Jane & Collier Jr
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Healing Paws for Warriors
SAVING LIVES AT BOTH ENDS OF THE LEASH
ARTICLE BY ANNA WALL | PHOTOGRAPHY PROVIDED
When Casey was medically retired from the Air Force after 11 years of service, she found the transition to civilian life incredibly difficult. Her PTSD worsened over the years, leading to agoraphobia that severely affected her relationships with her friends and family. Isolated and embarrassed, Casey looked into acquiring a service dog to help with her condition but couldn’t afford the hefty price tag. In November 2023, a social media post about a local nonprofit called Healing Paws for Warriors changed everything.
Founded by a group of Fort Walton Beach residents motivated to reduce veteran suicide, Healing Paws for Warriors matches veterans with service dogs at no cost to the service member. The organization takes their life-saving mission one step further by sourcing their service dogs from local shelters and training them to match the specific needs of veterans living with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI), and/or Military Sexual Trauma (MST). By training rescue dogs to support and empower veterans, Healing Paws for Warriors effectively saves two lives in the process.
Encouraged by Healing Paws for Warriors’ mission, Casey completed the lengthy application process and was accepted into the program. She soon began training with her so-called Battle Buddy, a medium-sized dog with kind eyes named Falcon. Healing Paws for Warriors involves the veterans in the training of their service dogs, allowing
Falcon & Casey
them the opportunity to be part of the solution to their recovery. During the service canine’s training, Healing Paws for Warriors provides instruction, certification, equipment, seminars, and initial veterinarian care at no cost to the veteran. Each class of Battle Buddies completes an intensive training program that involves visiting a range of locations, from the Cordova Mall to Northwest Florida State College, to practice tasks together and grow comfortable in public spaces.
Casey’s confidence increased significantly during the training program and Falcon quickly became her trusted support system. Since graduating, Casey feels that she has her freedom back. With Falcon by her side, she is able to run errands and be a fully-engaged parent again. She credits Falcon and Healing Paws for Warriors with saving her life.
Since its founding in 2015, Healing Paws for Warriors has graduated more than 69 pairs of Battle Buddies like Casey and Falcon. That’s over 138 lives saved. The organization provides a welcoming family for their Battle Buddies long after graduation. Alumni like Casey return frequently to mentor new trainees and participate in programming throughout the year. Healing Paws for Warriors accomplishes all of this with a small core staff and a generous team of volunteers. They rely on donations, fundraisers, and grants to support the cost of training and caring for their canine Battle Buddies. Executive Director Chief Master Sergeant (ret) Dennis Krebs hopes to continue growing the program by serving as many veterans as possible. He urges the community to help spread the word and encourage veterans to take the important step of asking for help and applying to the program. Casey’s story shows that something as small as a social media share can inspire the next veteran to meet their Battle Buddy.
“Healing Paws for Warriors taught me to use Falcon as a barrier between myself and others. He literally watches my back. His eyes track me. I am his person.”
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Rolling Suds, the nation’s leading power washing franchise, dedicates its services to revitalizing and enhancing the value of commercial real estate properties.
Savor the Lifestyle: Friendship
ARTICLE BY STEPHANIA STREIT | PHOTOGRAPHY PROVIDED
“Today, we must develop and strengthen our connections by building quality relationships”
“Our next business, after this will be to discuss Friendship. For friendship is a virtue, or involves virtue; and also it is one of the most indispensable requirements of life. For no one would choose to live without friends, but possessing all other good things.”
Aristotle, in Book 8 of his Nicomachean Ethics, poetically described how to live the best life by elevating one of our most fundamental functions of humanity. Friendship. “Friends are the ultimate “biohack”, Simon Sinek passionately states to Jay Shetty in his June 2025 interview about loneliness. “Friends,” he says, “can help fix anxiety, depression, the inability to cope with stress and even increase longevity”. So, do you have the type of friendships that elevate you to help you live your best life? Do you have many or do you have few? Do you have any at all? Who is in your friendship wallet?
But, before we answer this question, let’s define what friendship is and its associated value. Simon Sinek observes that every friendship does not have to be a deep and meaningful relationship, but every friendship does need to be additive; in other words, it needs to be worth your investment of time. Aristotle agrees with this sentiment and classifies friendships into 3 categories, utility, pleasure and virtuous, to illustrate this point. Utility is the type of friendship you may have with a business colleague or a study group. This relationship is based on a means to an end, a way to gain something useful. Pleasure is all about shared enjoyment and having a rocking good time together through activities, such as hobbies and recreation. However, the “perfect” friendship, as Aristotle describes, is the friendship of virtue. This is the highest form of friendship. It is based on a deep level of mutual respect, admiration and
understanding of each other and has the potential to last a lifetime. He explains this type of friendship is essential for personal happiness in order to live your best life. It gives the participants the ability to experience a profound and meaningful bond that is unavailable in any other type of friendship. In fact, Aristotle believes it is so important to living your best life that he dedicated about a fifth of his writings to friendship in the Nicomachean Ethics.
Even the Surgeon General of the United States recognizes the inherent need for quality friendships to live a healthy lifestyle. In 2023, Dr. Vivek H. Murthy wrote a heartfelt letter to the American people as an introduction to his published Advisory designating loneliness and isolation, the lack of social connection, as an epidemic plaguing American society. When he took office in 2014, he embarked on a cross-country tour and heard many stories of individuals feeling “isolated, invisible and insignificant”. This feeling was communicated equally from men and women of all ages and across all socioeconomic and cultural backgrounds. He was shocked how indiscriminate and prevalent this feeling was and how ultimately devastating it is on our mental, emotional and physical wellbeing. His Advisory highlighted scientific studies that confirmed what he heard directly from the American people-one in two adults reported experiencing loneliness before Covid 19. Loneliness is associated with a greater risk of cardiovascular disease, dementia, stroke, depression, anxiety and even premature death. Being socially disconnected has the same effect on our health as smoking 15 cigarettes a day. Dr. Murthy eloquently conveys how “we will continue to splinter and divide until we can no longer stand as a community or a country. Instead of coming together
CONTINUED >
to take on the great challenges before us, we will further retreat to our corners- angry, sick and alone.” His plea to we, the American people, is simple. Today, we must develop and strengthen our connections by building quality relationships, a directive echoed over 2000 years ago by Aristotle.
Juan Mann embraced this perspective in 2004, when he realized he needed something more. His life was in shambles in London which forced him back home to Sydney. When he disembarked the plane, no one was there to greet him, to welcome him home. He felt like a stranger in his own hometown. As he stood in the terminal, watching other passengers being enthusiastically greeted with open arms, smiling faces and warm hugs, he felt incredibly alone. He wanted someone out there to be happy to see him, to smile at him, to hug him like there is no tomorrow. I believe all of us, at least once in our lives, has felt the same as Juan. But, instead of going home, sad and miserable, Juan set out to find that happiness, that friendship, in a hug. He went to the busiest pedestrian intersection in
the city, wrote “Free Hugs” on a cardboard sign and just stood, waiting for that first hug.
After about 15 minutes of passersby staring at him, a petite, older woman stopped beside him, reached up, tapped him on the shoulder and told him how her dog had just died that morning. And how that very same morning was the one year anniversary of her only daughter dying in a car accident. Pausing, she then told him what she needed most, at a time when she felt all alone, was a hug. He knelt down; they put their arms around each other and hugged. When she finally let go, she was smiling. When was the last time you hugged someone long enough to feel the oxytocin rush through your body and make you smile? Or better yet, when was the last time you hugged someone and waited until they let go first? You are the company that you keep. Passionately, seek out those, no matter the type of friendship, who enhance your life for the better and enjoy them as frequently as possible. Be vulnerable. Be passionate. Embrace Life. Embrace Friendships. Embrace You and Live your best life.
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“Let’s go out for dinner.”
A SUPER TASTER’S TOP PICKS FOR A WINE-DATE NIGHT OUT IN PENSACOLA
ARTICLE
BY ALEX BOYKIN OF GULFCOAST WINE | PHOTOGRAPHY PROVIDED
How often do you hear: “What do you want to eat tonight?” Well, if you live around Pensacola, you are in luck. Our local culinary scene continues to improve. For those of us who consider ourselves oenophiles, a meal without good wine is just food. The Pensacola area has some great restaurants, but where can you get both great food and a wine experience to match? Let’s explore why you would want to order wine when you dine out, define restaurant wine and discuss what makes a wine program worth your time. Then, I will share my top picks and why they are doing it right. So, call the babysitter (or dog sitter) and let’s go out tonight! There are two main reasons why you order wine at a restaurant. First, wine lists at good restaurants are not random. They are created with some thought behind them. Distributors and Chefs collaborate to curate wines that should pair with the food. Therefore, when you order a dish at that restaurant there is a wine, or two, that will pair with it. That can make ordering wine at a restaurant much less stressful than trying to pair a wine with a dinner that you are making at home.
The second reason is the selection. All distributors have their Restaurant List comprising of wines that are not available to the public. Most big wineries make “restaurant” level wines aimed at catering to all levels of restaurants, from fast casual to the finest of dining. So, the only way of getting certain wines is at a restaurant, making many “restaurant” wines exclusive. Now for the fun. Here is how the best wine and food restaurants were picked. I asked about 100 people what restaurants came to mind when they wanted a nice dinner with a good of wine. Next, I paid the top seven spots a visit with my very accurate food thermometer. Yes,
you read that correctly. I sat down with my thermometer and asked my server to recommend a glass of red wine with my meal. I highly recommend following these steps when ordering restaurant wine. If your server says “Well, a lot of people really like this one.” Warning! You and I are not “a lot of people!” We all like different things and when I hear that kind of comment, I know the staff has no wine training. At this point I flip over to the cocktail menu.
But let’s say the server does have a recommendation. Great! I order a glass of that red wine. Now, watch the server and try to see where they pull that bottle of wine from. Was it already opened? If so, how long? Opened or not, was that bottle just sitting out on the counter?? Rule#1 in Wine: Do not serve hot wine! I am not going to name this restaurant but it is one of my favorites. When I ordered my glass of red wine for this story the server walked over to the back of the bar, grabbed the bottle that had been sitting out on a counter and poured my glass. The wine in that glass was 82F, un-drinkable! At $15 a glass, that’s a fail! All red wine should be served no warmer than 68F.
So, which restaurants got it right? The following restaurants had a good wine list, could recommend a glass of wine, serve it within the correct temperature range, and finally, that recommended wine did a good job of pairing with my meal. In no particular order: Pearl & Horn, Union Public House, The East Hill Wine Bar, George’s, and Iron. There are many that came close yet missed one of the criteria, and this list is not stagnant! People and knowledge move around, so if you use my method chances are you’ll enjoy a glass of wine that elevates your entire dining experience. Cheers to that!
Alex Boykin
LEARN MORE: “Alex the Wine Hunter” founded Gulf Coast Wine to show how fun and accessible wine is. He has a WSET 2, is a former Special Operations pilot and currently flies as an Air Force Hurricane Hunter.
Photo Credit:
Kristen Marcus Photography
PAWS TEAM
WHERE HEALING HAS FOUR LEGS AND A WAGGING TAIL
ARTICLE AND PHOTOGRAPHY PROVIDED
At Ascension Sacred Heart Hospital, healing isn’t just about medicine. It’s about heart. And sometimes, the most powerful medicine doesn’t come in a syringe. It comes in the form of a furry friend with a wagging tail and a whole lot of love to give.
Thanks to the incredible generosity of our Sacred Heart Foundation donors, Change Makers and the support of grants like Impact 100, which funded our very first facility dog, the Sacred Paws Facility Dog Program is still growing and thriving. What began with just a few paws has become a beloved team of five highly trained facility dogs, with one more pup just joining the pack.
Each of our dogs is carefully matched with a clinically trained healthcare associate. Together, they work as a team to help patients manage the stress, anxiety, and fear that can come with a hospital stay. With specialized training from Canine Assistants in Atlanta, these dogs provide much more than comfort. They are an essential part of patient care.
In the children’s hospital, you’ll find regulars like Tully, Klio, Sherlock, and Swirl offering courage to our young patients before procedures, distraction during treatment, and smiles all day long. Recently, we welcomed Luisa, who now brings her gentle presence to patients in the ADULT oncology unit and ICU.
Soon, thanks to the generosity of our Change Makers Junior Board at Sacred Heart Foundation, we have added another furry friend named Birdie. She will serve in the children’s operating room, helping soothe patients and their families during some of the most stressful moments before surgery.
“Having a facility dog for the pediatric OR is a huge asset to our Children’s Hospital,” says Blakely Richardson of the Change Makers. “Animals bring humans so much comfort, love, and support, so having Birdie present roaming the halls and in the O.R. will be so uplifting to our littlest patients.”
The Change Makers, a group of driven young philanthropists, chose to fully fund Birdie and her future care. Their decision will impact hundreds of children and families for years to come.
“This group of young leaders has not only shown us what’s possible in just one year. They’ve made a lasting impact on the lives of our patients and families,” said Jane Lauter, Development Coordinator of the Ascension Sacred Heart Foundation. “They are truly living up to their name Change Makers.”
Whether it is greeting a nervous child before a scan, curling up next to a patient recovering from surgery, or simply walking through the halls offering high-fives and tail wags, the Sacred Paws team transforms the hospital experience for everyone. They remind us that healing comes in many forms, and sometimes, the most powerful therapy walks on four legs.
Their presence has forever changed our hallways, filling them with smiles, comfort, and hope. We are deeply grateful to our donors, the expert trainers at Canine Assistants, and the incredible handlers who help make these moments possible every day.
At Sacred Heart, we believe in treating the whole patient. And sometimes, that begins with love, loyalty, and a lick on the cheek.
