38 minute read
GREEN SCENE With
GREEN SCENE
BRIGHTENING THE SPRING LANDSCAPE
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Season of renewal is time for plants of many colors
by LES HARRISON
Spring is truly the season of renewal on the Emerald Coast, heralding the return of blooms and activities in the garden and about the yard. Now is the time to prepare for horticultural success.
At the top of the list for managed landscapes is the installation of annuals and bedding plants. Moderate temperatures will make the work almost a pleasure.
Warm season annuals offer an almost infinite variety of color, texture and plant forms that can be used to brighten landscape beds and add a splash of color to a porch, deck or patio if placed in containers. A few also make good cut flower selections to enhance interior environments. In North Florida, most flourish for only a single season.
These annuals can be damaged by late frosts or freezes, so they should be planted after the potential for frost has passed, but with enough time to reach their peak maturity.
March is typically an ideal time to plant bulbs in the home landscape. Some like caladiums can be planted all year but run the risk of damage if not protected from a late frost. Dahlias, crinums and agapanthus are also good candidates.
AGAPANTHUS
There are a number of cool season
FRUITS AND crops that can be replanted for another round of production.
VEGETABLES Radishes are almost guaranteed to have time to produce another crop. Other potential second harvests include kale, cabbage, broccoli and other brassicas. Of course, the yield will depend on the weather remaining cool long enough for the plants to properly develop. While February is too early to prune citrus trees, it is time to get the first round of fertilizer applied. Pruning will stimulate growth that could cause damage to the tree if there is a late frost or freeze. Wait until late March, at the earliest, to prune. This is the month to plant Irish, white or new potatoes, but hold off on sweet potatoes or yams. Potatoes prefer loose, well-drained soil with a slightly acidic pH in the range of 5.0 to 6.0. Care must be taken to ensure the root zone has adequate drainage. Areas of the home garden subject to periodic flooding should not be used for growing this tuber.
Flowering native trees
Some native trees add to spring’s splendor. Sparkleberries produce hundreds of tiny bell-shaped blooms that give the plant the appearance of a frosty wrap. Sparkleberry (Vaccinium arboretum) is the only North American member of the blueberry genus capable of reaching the height of a small tree.
Mature specimens can reach up to 30 feet in height and will take full sun or partial shade. Their bark is thin, flaky and brownish red, and often covered in lichens.
The trunk may be multi-stemmed and given to wildly twisting shapes that offer a distinct contrast to SPARKLEBERRY straight trunked trees.
The flowering dogwood, Cornus florida, is a subcanopy tree that grows in much of the eastern and southern United States. Blooms are commonly white, but there are pink and red cultivars. The pink and DOGWOOD red varieties are difficult to establish in North Florida.
Sub-canopy trees commonly grow under much taller species and thrive in partial shade. Dogwoods reach about 30 feet in height but can handle direct sun. CRABAPPLE
These trees are most commonly found in fertile, well-drained soil. They do best in neutral to slightly acidic soil with a pH range of 6.0 to 7.0, and they have a low tolerance for salinity.
Local crabapples produce pink blooms with five dainty petals. The southern crabapple, Malus angustifolia, shares many characteristics with dogwoods.
These sub-canopy trees reach about the same height, and both bloom at approximately the same time in spring. While usually found under taller trees, they, too, can handle full sun.
Both trees provide food for wildlife in the form of their fruit, retaining the product of their blooms well into the autumn.
Crabapple fruit has been used as the basis of jellies for hundreds of years but not for fresh consumption. Related to larger apples, the astringent, bitter taste of crabapples eliminates any possibility of it being a snack option.
Les Harrison is a retired University of Florida/ Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Wakulla County Extension Director.
DEAL ESTATE
JUST SOLD
Sale of Gulf-front Home Sets Record
Rosemary Beach Realty, Northwest Florida’s premier luxury real estate company, has brokered 30A’s most expensive residential home sale at 88 Paradise by the Sea Court for $15.95 million. Jonathan Clark and Ashlee Mitchell of the Clark & Mitchell Group, together with broker Amanda Hampel, brokered the sale of this off-market property in fewer than 60 days. This four-story Gulf-front home in the gated community of Paradise by the Sea was masterfully designed by architects from A BOHEME Design and constructed by EarthBuild, LLC. The owners selected the highest caliber designers to execute their vision, with landscape architecture design by Kendall Horne and interior design curated by Melanie Turner Interiors of Atlanta.
SOLD PRICE: $15,950,000 ADDRESS: 88 Paradise by the Sea Court SQUARE FOOTAGE: 9,790 BEDROOMS: 8
BATHROOMS: 9.5 YEAR BUILT: 2019 FEATURES: Private, gated entry, main house and carriage house for guests; 60 feet of private beach plus an exclusive beach walkover; two private pools and pool deck with covered spa; shellstone flooring that extends from interior to exterior on ground floor; chef’s kitchen with butler’s pantry featuring a total of four Shaws porcelain sinks, SUB-ZERO, Wolf and Miele appliances, and a La Cornue Cornufé 110 range with custom painted glass hood; Karpaty cabinets throughout home; two Gulf-front primary suites, each with en-suite baths; Belgian white oak plank flooring and hand-placed ceiling paneling by Francois & Co. APPEAL: Home was uniquely designed to specifically allow for a view of the Gulf upon entering. Residence also boasts stunning interior architectural details, such as groin vaulted ceiling in hallways, customdesigned mahogany front door, custom fireplace surrounds and Belgian white oak ceiling paneling in the living room. This is a private, gated community with a private beach. CONTACT INFORMATION: Amanda Hampel, AmandaH@rosemarybeach.com
Finding the Right Finding the Right Mortgage LenderMortgage Lender
Whether you’re going through the home buying process for the Whether you’re going through the home buying process for the very first time or refinancing again, it’s important to partner with the very first time or refinancing again, it’s important to partner with the right lender to be sure you learn all of your mortgage options, and right lender to be sure you learn all of your mortgage options, and get the right mortgage product for you and your financial goals. get the right mortgage product for you and your financial goals. With Balenda Hetzel and her team of professionals at Inlanta With Balenda Hetzel and her team of professionals at Inlanta Mortgage, you’ll do just that.Mortgage, you’ll do just that. “When you work with our team, you become family and we treat “When you work with our team, you become family and we treat you that way,” said Balenda. “We take the time to understand your you that way,” said Balenda. “We take the time to understand your own unique financial situation, and then we take care of you and own unique financial situation, and then we take care of you and your loan, personally, from start to finish.” your loan, personally, from start to finish.” With a wide range of mortgage products and a personalized With a wide range of mortgage products and a personalized approach to business, Balenda’s team provides its clients a level approach to business, Balenda’s team provides its clients a level of service unmatched by standard banks and larger lenders. Inlanta of service unmatched by standard banks and larger lenders. Inlanta Mortgage, a top independent lender, is committed to delivering an Mortgage, a top independent lender, is committed to delivering an exceptional customer experience, with an unwavering dedication exceptional customer experience, with an unwavering dedication to integrity, honesty and ethics.to integrity, honesty and ethics. “We truly put our clients first and focus on getting their loans closed “We truly put our clients first and focus on getting their loans closed quickly and easily,” emphasized Balenda. “Because we originate, quickly and easily,” emphasized Balenda. “Because we originate, process, underwrite and close our loans in-house, we can provide process, underwrite and close our loans in-house, we can provide more options on rates and products, which means our clients get more options on rates and products, which means our clients get the best rate and best product to meet their needs.”the best rate and best product to meet their needs.” Inlanta also boasts some of the industry’s most advanced computer Inlanta also boasts some of the industry’s most advanced computer and mobile technology, allowing homebuyers to streamline the and mobile technology, allowing homebuyers to streamline the mortgage process and communicate more easily with both their mortgage process and communicate more easily with both their lenders and real estate agents. In addition, it offers a wide range of lenders and real estate agents. In addition, it offers a wide range of mortgage products, including Conventional, FHA, VA, USDA, Jumbo mortgage products, including Conventional, FHA, VA, USDA, Jumbo mortgage loans and more. Learn more about Inlanta Mortgage at mortgage loans and more. Learn more about Inlanta Mortgage at www.inlanta.com, and contact Balenda and her team of mortgage www.inlanta.com, and contact Balenda and her team of mortgage experts at 850.499.4759 or email balendahetzel@inlanta.com. experts at 850.499.4759 or email balendahetzel@inlanta.com. Inlanta Mortgage 225 Main St, Suite 14 Destin, FL 32541 Inlanta Mortgage 225 Main St, Suite 14 Destin, FL 32541
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STORIES
from the
Long-term Care Administrator & Advocate
Martha Perez serves as the Administrator/ Vice President of Haven of Our Lady of Peace. She began her healthcare career in 1992, the start of 28 years in the field of long-term care — her purpose and passion in life. Born in Guantanamo, Martha was 2 years old when her family left Cuba and applied for U.S. citizenship. Once that was obtained, they settled in Pensacola, where she grew up and married. Upon her husband’s retirement from the Air Force, they moved back to Pensacola from Italy, and Martha began job hunting. She spent time as a nursing home receptionist in Gulf Breeze, a temporary position, but she enjoyed it so much that she stayed until a permanent job opened. She was hired and then transferred to a sister facility in Pensacola. After that, she advanced and moved up the ranks: medical records, AP/payroll, business office management, and human resources — all of which she enjoyed. But at that point, Martha had succeeded in just about every position available and was left wondering what to do next. Then it occurred to her, “Why don’t I get licensed and run the facility myself?” So, she did. In long-term care, an individual must be federally and state licensed. She applied to the licensing board and got accepted. The next step was serving as an Administrator in Training (AIT) under a licensed preceptor. She completed a year’s internship, took the boards and passed, becoming licensed
in 1999. She began work as a facility administrator, and that was the start of her tenure in long-term care, a field she will never leave. However, Haven of Our Lady of Peace was the nursing home where Martha most wanted to work, so she kept applying there, year after year. Finally, she was hired as its administrator. She affirms, “This facility truly takes care of its people. It doesn’t just provide a beautiful environment, it is fully stocked with supplies. Just open up the closets and look.” She emphasizes this because she experienced a work environment where the supplies were not adequate to take care of the residents, which greatly troubled her. The Haven was rebuilt and modernized in 2001. Instead of the long corridors associated with traditional nursing homes, its construction features four, homelike living areas or “neighborhoods.” Each room opens to a common dining and activities area and to a central nursing station. Martha lists the services that the facility provides: short-term inpatient rehabilitation, wound care, IV therapy, medication management, diabetes education, hospice care, and a secured Alzheimer’s disease care unit. The care team includes doctors and an ARNP specializing in geriatric medicine, nurses, physical therapists, occupational therapists, speechlanguage pathologists, nutritionists, activities and a chaplain. What she finds most fulfilling in her daily work is the opportunity to connect and make a difference. She explains that if she were employed in hospital operations, she would be an administrator thinking about putting processes together and limited to “rounding” on the leadership team. She would never get to know the people she was serving — the patients. While at the Haven, she has the luxury of becoming totally familiar with all the residents and their families. “Every single day, I interact, walking the hallways, going into their rooms. I know their quirks and routines. If I make a decision, I literally get to know how it affects the end user. Residents can call me, or wheel to my office to complain. This is not something you get to experience in any other healthcare operations’ environment. I’ve got the best of both worlds.” It surprises Martha that a lot of people in this area don’t know that Ascension Sacred Heart has a skilled nursing facility. The Haven is not only a longterm provider but offers short-term rehabilitation as well. She is concerned that in the health spectrum, seniors sometimes get forgotten. Yet their needs are just as important as other segments of the population, and she will always advocate for their care. She adds that it can be a difficult populace to serve, and she understands why many people are reluctant to work with seniors because it involves end-of-life patients. “Yet,” she says, “More than anything, this is an amazing place to work. Senior care can be so rewarding.” When she isn’t working, Martha is an avid runner, enjoys boxing, loves pro football and is a huge Jacksonville Jaguars’ fan. When her son was born in 1996, he left the hospital fully decked out in Jaguars attire, from hat to tiny shoes. Looking to the future, Martha hopes Ascension Florida will look to expand its services to the senior population. The need is there: Pensacola and the Emerald Coast’s communities are significant retirement areas with a huge senior population. She envisions Ascension Florida becoming the foremost provider — in Pensacola — of the best senior care possible. And she would like to see more done to inform the community of what the Haven offers to seniors, as it is an integral part of the compassionate, personalized healthcare provided by Ascension Sacred Heart.
A MESSAGE FROM CAROL CARLAN
As we settle into this new year, Ascension Sacred Heart Foundation looks forward to continuing its philanthropic tradition of ensuring all are welcome when they walk through our doors — with an emphasis on the poor and vulnerable. The Daughters of Charity would be pleased that their faith-based, charitable Mission has not only survived the past century but also continues to grow. This is made possible by our community partners, volunteers and our remarkable legion of donors. When I think of the difference their support has made to the success of the Foundation, I am immensely grateful. The Studer Family Children’s Hospital at Ascension Sacred Heart offers a 30-by8 foot Mural Wall outside its Pediatric Emergency Department. We feature a Story From the Heart behind teenage artist Lauren Bonner’s inspiration for creating the first kid-friendly painting on the wall. Martha Perez, Administrator/Vice President of Haven of Our Lady of Peace, is determined to provide the very best long-term care for seniors. Her heart-warming account tells us why she is so passionate about this and details the Haven’s services. Our Stories from the Heart also include the outstanding Volunteer Guild at Ascension Sacred Heart Emerald Coast, whose willing hearts and helping hands are indispensable to the facility. And we feature foundation board member Kerry Anne Shultz, whose guiding life principle has been “Service Above Self.” May your new year be filled with many blessings.
Carol Carlan President, Ascension Sacred Heart Foundation
Lauren Bonner: Artist & Advocate
Lauren Bonner was still in high school when she painted the mural that playfully leads the way into the new Bear Family Foundation Center for Hope at the Studer Family Children’s Hospital at Sacred Heart. Always artistic, she had focused more on performing as a 10-year member of the Pensacola Children’s Chorus. Lauren didn’t start painting until her junior year of high school. “I fell in love with everything about it,” she says. “I just knew that’s what I wanted to do.” So when she was asked to create the mural, it was a perfect fit. The granddaughter of Belle and Lewis Bear, Lauren has been working alongside her mother, Cindi Bear Bonner, to raise awareness for childhood cancer since she was a little girl. “I look up to my mom, and I just see the great things she does for kids with cancer, ” she says. It all started when Lauren was in the fifth grade, and her neighbor, Carolyn Hendrix, was diagnosed with Ewing’s Sarcoma at the age of 4. Lauren’s mom helped build the Facebook page Praying for Carolyn, and that is how the Bonners met other families whose children were also fighting childhood cancer. Today, Cindi runs the Pensacola chapter of Rally Pensacola, an extension city for Rally Foundation for Childhood Cancer Research. Lauren has had the opportunity to host events, attend vigils and she even lobbied on Capital Hill in Washington, D.C., to be a light to families in the darkest days of their lives. “People think childhood cancer is rare, but it really isn’t,” Lauren says. “It’s the No. 1 disease killer of children in our country.” That’s why it was so meaningful to her to make the Center for Hope a bright spot in a bleak moment. “I think it’s important to help people smile. We are lucky to have the Children’s Hospital because it gives families the ability to stay in Pensacola together during the cancer treatments and not have to travel to other hospitals,” she says. “There are siblings and jobs, and it is important for everyone to have some normalcy at home with their family.” When she started designing the mural, Lauren focused on the innocence and happiness of childhood, tying in the symbolic childhood cancer Gold ribbon and the kite of the hospital logo. (Everyone’s favorite therapy dog Sprout is there, too.) “I wanted to create something that would make every person who walked by it smile. The ribbon traces the wall above children hula hooping, flying a kite and throwing a ball. … I wanted them to see kids playing.” Now in her first year at the prestigious Savannah College of Art & Design, Lauren is proud to have been a part of the Center for Hope — and she hopes to continue mixing her passion for raising awareness and making art.
Serving With Heart
The Volunteer Guild at Ascension Sacred Heart Emerald Coast (ASHEC) is devoted to serving the community through substantial support of the hospital’s mission. The Guild is a Christ-centered organization with values that mirror those of the Daughters of Charity, founders of the original Sacred Heart Hospital. Their vision was to provide healthcare to all with an emphasis on the poor and most vulnerable. Guild volunteers consider it a privilege to help carry on this 105-year-old hospital ministry of hope and healing. Auxiliary volunteers can be found giving personalized assistance with a smile and compassionate reassurance to patients throughout 24 areas of the hospital. Approximately 500,000 hours of service have been donated since the facility opened its doors. The Guild’s presence is acknowledged as a significant factor in ASHEC’S achievement of maintaining patient satisfaction scores ranking among the highest in the nation. Additionally, the Guild has provided philanthropic contributions to the hospital in excess of $800,000, raised through membership dues, donations, the Guild Gift Shop and sponsorship of fundraising events such as the annual Emerald Coast Duck Regatta. Their charitable giving has helped make new and expanded healthcare services possible to meet the community’s needs. For example, the creation of the Sacred Heart Rehabilitation Center’s SNOEZELEN® Multi-Sensory Environment (MSE) room was funded by the Guild in 2018. It provides therapeutic assistance to individuals with special needs and challenging conditions, such as autism. Young patients can enjoy a vast range of sensory experiences that enhance learning and treatment goals. The Guild also provides scholarships and other funding resources to medical staff members seeking to further their healthcare education. And it assists with prescription funding for patients unable to afford their medicine. Ascension Sacred Heart Emerald Coast was built in response to the healthcare needs of a growing region. When the hospital opened its doors in January 2003, the Volunteer Guild was ready to serve. Twenty-five women attended its first organizational meeting; shortly thereafter, Jane Carron was nominated President and a Board of Directors was formed. Today, the organization consists of eight Executive Board Members, nine Standing Committees’ Chairpersons and 175 active volunteers. Members of the community are encouraged to join the Guild and lend their volunteer skills to its activities. The Volunteer Guild at Ascension Sacred Heart Emerald Coast is dedicated to the support of the hospital and its mission in every way — particularly on the financial needs of various departments in the hospital and the educational needs of the medical team. Guild President Judy Brock states, “Each year, the Guild is focused on fundraising to help fulfill the needs of the hospital. Once funds are raised, it is our honor to have various departments present to us their needs that are not fulfilled through capital projects. And the difficult part of the process is to select the projects we feel most need to be funded to meet the medical needs of our Emerald Coast community. Over the last few years, we have supported cancer treatment needs, rehabilitation services for children, and needs of the Family Birth Place and others. What an honor it is for us to serve Ascension Sacred Heart Emerald Coast.”
Service Above Self
Kerry Anne Schultz was born in a small Nebraska town, the eldest of six children in a Catholic family whose parents were role models for hard work and heartfelt values. She and her siblings, at very young ages, were taught to be kind to others and help their neighbors. They were also encouraged to think “service above self,” which became Kerry Anne’s guiding life principle. As a high school student, she realized that her parents could not afford tuition for a private college, so planning for a scholarship would be necessary. She entered a pageant and became Miss Nebraska National Teenager on the strength of her essay and talent performance (the latter attributed to serious high school violin study). Winning on the state level meant competing in the national event held in Tennessee, where she placed third runner-up and was awarded the full academic scholarship she had set her sights on. She graduated summa cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in both history and political science from Oklahoma City University. She went on to attend Western Michigan University’s Thomas M. Cooley School of Law. Kerry Anne is the founder of Schultz Law Group in Gulf Breeze. Kerry Anne became acquainted with Ascension Sacred Heart when she was admitted with life-endangering medical problems leading to the premature birth of her daughter. She says, “We are alive today because of the incredible care and treatment we received as patients. I am forever indebted to that hospital.” When asked to join the Ascension Sacred Heart Foundation as a board member, she saw it as a way of giving back, and she wanted to lend her voice to helping others support the ministry. “My heart has always been in service. When you have a goal with a not-for-profit, whether it be fundraising or getting the mission and message of an organization out, when you work towards that goal with others that are like-minded — the organization will receive.” Occasionally, Kerry Anne gets questioned as to how the local geographic region — not being a major metropolitan area — is able to attract world-class providers to the Studer Family Children’s Hospital at Ascension Sacred Heart. Her response is that exceptional physicians are drawn to the area by virtue of its amenities and quality of life. They also see the support that Ascension Florida gives and how much the community believes in the facility’s amazing care and treatment of its pediatric patients. The child that is a patient in the Children’s Hospital is “almost enveloped with services that encompass everything.” Kerry Anne often shares with others the success stories of how providers touched the lives of children and families who entered the hospital’s doors.
DESTIN CHARITY WINE AUCTION FOUNDATION
Destin Charity Wine Auction Foundation (DCWAF), recognized as the fifth largest charity wine auction in the U.S. by Wine Spectator, is pleased to announce the donation of $1.2 million to 16 children’s charities in Northwest Florida following its first virtual auction on Aug. 22. Each charity was awarded its funding in a private check presentation ceremony, adapted to fit social distancing guidelines. Ascension Sacred Heart Emerald Coast received $83,000 to fund Pediatric and Family Birth Place equipment to include Halo Bassinets, Vein Viewer, Bili Lights and GlideScope.
ACE HARDWARE BUCKET DAYS CAMPAIGN: JULY 31–AUG. 2
Customers made a $5 donation to their local CMN Hospital for a limitededition, 5-gallon bucket and received 20% off almost everything that fits inside the bucket. Customers and participating locations helped raise $403 during the campaign.
ABOUT THE ASCENSION SACRED HEART FOUNDATION
Since 1915, Ascension Sacred Heart has been at the heart of healing for Northwest Florida and South Alabama. Like our founders, the Daughters of Charity, Ascension Sacred Heart is dedicated to providing quality, compassionate healthcare to the citizens of our regions, regardless of their ability to pay. This steadfast commitment to our community could not have been achieved without the support and generosity of the thousands of individuals, businesses and organizations that have donated to Ascension Sacred Heart Foundation. Through this charitable giving, Ascension Sacred Heart Foundation has been able to provide millions of dollars of free and low-cost healthcare to the poor, uninsured, under-insured and low-income families. With the help of generous donors, we are proud to partner in Ascension Sacred Heart’s mission of care along the Gulf Coast.
calendar
FEB/MAR 2021
For more events in the EC, visit
EmeraldCoastMagazine.com
and 850tix.com.
compiled by JAVIS OGDEN AND REBECCA PADGETT
FEB. 12–28
Emerald Coast Theatre Company presents
→ The sleepy town of Popcorn Falls is forced into bankruptcy when a neighboring town threatens to turn it into a sewage treatment plant. Their only hope — open a theater! Two actors play over 20 roles in a world of farce, love and desperation, proving once and for all that art can save the world. Starring ECTC’s producing artistic director Nathanael Fisher and ECTC board president Jason Hedden, this play is sure to provide muchneeded laughs to start 2021.
For more information, visit emeraldcoasttheatre.org.
PROMOTION
REGIONAL
MAR. 4 OPENING NIGHTS: MAX WEINBERG’S JUKEBOX
→ In this interactive concert, Rock & Roll Hall of Famer Max Weinberg, best known as a drummer for Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band, plays songs selected by audience members from a list of more than 200 titles. Every Weinberg performance combines power, dynamism and versatility in a one-of-a-kind evening of rock and roll.
OpeningNights.fsu.edu/events/maxweinbergs-jukebox
APRIL 23–25
SOUTH WALTON BEACHES WINE & FOOD FESTIVAL
→ Preparations are underway for the event that USA TODAY named one of the “South’s standout food and beverage festivals.” For three days, wine lovers from around the country will gravitate to Miramar Beach for an encounter with an impressive roster of winemakers, distillers, brewers and chefs at Grand Boulevard at Sandestin. With hundreds of high-quality wines available to sample, this annual awardwinning charity event delivers an experience unparalleled among Northwest Florida wine festivals.
For more information, visit sowalwine.com.
KNOW BEFORE YOU GO
Pandemic and social distancing policies may affect gatherings. Check websites to see if the listed events will occur as scheduled. HAVE AN EVENT YOU’D LIKE US TO CONSIDER?
Send an email to sbornhoft@rowlandpublishing.com.
BROADWAY ON THE BOULEVARD CABARET
FEB. 4-6
Mix, mingle and enjoy live music performed by the Emerald Coast Theatre Company’s talented actors. Meet the local and regional actors that grace the ECTC stage in this intimate cabaret setting. This is an unforgettable limited engagement that you won’t want to miss.
emeraldcoasttheatre.org/on-stage
THE LORDS OF 52ND STREET
FEB. 5
They are New York’s favorite band, they sold more than 150 million records, they helped establish Billy Joel’s formidable sound and they continue to perform their legendary hits to this day. The Piano Man’s original bandmates Doug Stegmeyer, Liberty DeVitto, Russell Javors and Richie Cannata are The Lords of 52nd Street.
mattiekellyartscenter.org/events
ST. ANDREWS MARDI GRAS
FEB. 5-7 The St. Andrews Mardi Gras, the official Mardi Gras parade and festival of Panama City, is the most popular and largest Mardi Gras celebration in Bay County. Come see over 14 krewes, over 30 brightly colored floats and participate in a two-day festival that includes a pet parade, kid’s activities and food.
standrewsmardigras.com
DOUBLE BRIDGE RUN
FEB. 6
The Pensacola Double Bridge Run, presented by Publix, is one of the premier 15Ks in the country. The race will begin and end on Pensacola Beach and will include running over the Bob Sikes Bridge twice and into the city of Gulf Breeze.
FLORA-BAMA’S ‘SUPER’ BOWL CHILI COOK-OFF
FEB. 6
In the spirit of the Super Bowl, teams will strive to serve up super bowls of chili and impress the judges at the FloraBama Lounge, Package and Oyster Bar in Pensacola. Warm up your winter by sampling the wide variety of entries. Awards will be announced at the end of the day.
florabama.com/chili-cook-off
NFSO: ‘STARS OF TOMORROW/AN EVENING AT THE OPERA’
FEB. 13
The Northwest Florida Symphony Orchestra and guest conductor Jeffrey Rink present Stars of Tomorrow/ An Evening at the Opera featuring the winners of the 2019 NFSO-John Leatherwood Concerto Competition: Kye Richardson (violin), Evan Nicholson (cello) and Skyler Covert (violin). Soprano Bevin Hill will dazzle during the second half of the evening with beloved opera arias and melodies, interspersed with NFSO’s performances of popular opera overtures and pieces. Virtual tickets are also available for live streaming.
mattiekellyartscenter.org
↑ SEASIDE SCHOOL
VIRTUAL HALF MARATHON + 5K
FEB. 14-28
Run at your own pace and on your own course as the Seaside School’s 19th annual race goes virtual this year. Race times will be tracked via an app, and the registration fee will directly benefit the Seaside School.
30A WINE FESTIVAL–INTERMEZZO
FEB. 18-21
Sip and swill at the 30A Wine Festival–Intermezzo, which has been reimagined as an intimate dining series held in the pocket parks around Alys Beach. Intermezzo will embody the rich and diverse coming together of food, wine and community that previous festivals celebrated, but on a smaller, more intimate scale.
30awinefestival.com
JEANNE ROBERTSON: HUMORIST
FEB. 19
At 76 years young, Jeanne Robertson continues to charm audiences with her humorous observations about life. The former Miss North Carolina, standing tall at 6-foot-2, has a vivacious personality, big heart and great sense of humor.
mattiekellyartscenter.org/events
SANDESTIN GUMBO FESTIVAL
FEB. 19-20 Restaurants and businesses along the Gulf Coast will compete for the title of Area’s Best as they serve up unique creations of a Southern classic dish: gumbo.
sandestingumbofestival.com
OPENING NIGHT AT PENSACOLA SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
FEB. 20
The music of Copland’s Appalachian Spring and Brahms’s Violin Concerto in D Major, Op. 77, will fill the Saenger Theatre in Pensacola.
pensacolasymphony.com
PENSACON
FEB. 26–28
Pensacola’s Comic Con returns to the Pensacola Bay Center and Pensacola Grand Hotel with many celebrity authors, artists and actors participating.
DEBORAH NORVILLE
MARCH 5
Two-time Emmy Award winner Deborah Norville, the anchor of television’s “Inside Edition,” speaks candidly about her health struggles and how she continues to better herself daily in the second President’s Speaker Series event of 2020–2021 season at the Mattie Kelly Arts Center.
mattiekellyartscenter.org
RUSSIAN SPECTACULAR
MARCH 6
The Saenger Theatre welcomes the Pensacola Symphony Orchestra performing Prokofiev’s classical symphony Symphony No. 1 in D Major and Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto No. 1 in B Minor, Op. 23.
pensacolasymphony.com
EMERALD COAST CAC’S GALA AND GOLF TOURNAMENT
MARCH 6-7 Help abused, abandoned and neglected children by attending the Emerald Coast Children’s Advocacy Center Gala. This annual, signature fundraising event will include a delicious dinner, dancing, live entertainment and a golf tournament.
eccac.org
JUNIOR COMPANY SHOWCASE
MARCH 9 This exciting showcase featuring group and solo works by talented teens will include classic and contemporary musical theatre pieces, improv, and comedic and dramatic selections. Don’t miss this one-night-only event that will be fun for the whole family.
emeraldcoasttheatre.org/on-stage
BEETHOVEN AND BLUE JEANS
MARCH 20
in dungarees. This fun concert will feature Beethoven’s Symphony No. 3, Eroica.
pensacolasymphony.com
THE LISTENING LOUNGE
MARCH 25
Come on out and enjoy a glass of wine or beer while listening to some of the best local musicians in the area. A unique evening of music at the Emerald Coast Theatre that you won’t want to miss.
emeraldcoasttheatre.org/on-stage
MKAC GALLERIES: ARNIE HART JURIED STUDENT EXHIBITION & ARTS FACULTY EXHIBITION
MARCH 26
A guest juror will judge the annual exhibition for the Visual Arts Department of Northwest Florida College.
mattiekellyartscenter.org/events
GULF BREEZE CELEBRATES THE ARTS FESTIVAL
MARCH 27-28 The City of Gulf Breeze and Gulf Breeze Arts, Inc. (GBA) will present the 27th annual Gulf Breeze Celebrates the Arts fine arts festival at Gulf Breeze High School. The juried festival will bring together quality local, regional and national artists.
gulfbreezearts.com
MARCH 30
Four women at a lingerie sale have nothing in common but a black lace bra — and memory loss, hot flashes, night sweats and more! This hilarious musical parody set to classic tunes from the ’60s, ’70s and ’80s will have you cheering and dancing in the aisles! See what more than 17 million women and fans worldwide have been laughing about for 19 years.
SOCIAL STUDIES
Destin Charity Wine Auction
NOV. 5–7 The Destin Charity Wine Auction Foundation hosted the fourth annual Harvest Wine & Food Festival — with a social-distancing twist. In lieu of their annual grand tasting in Cerulean Park, the festival featured several micro-events along the coast. Emerald Coast Magazine hosted one of these wine dinners with Revana Vineyard at Cuvee 30A. Guests enjoyed a four-course meal prepared by chef Tim Creehan and expertly paired with each wine presented by Revana.
PHOTOS BY DAVISTA PHOTOGRAPHY
1 Terri Levin with Crystal Collins Spencer and Brian Spencer 2 Savannah Reber and Melissa Eager 3 McKenzie Burleigh and David Hester 4 Jennifer Creehan, Glenda Palmore and Jack Wilson
5 Carli Harman and Maria White 6 Shelly Brown and Laura Quick 7 Patt Ladd 8 Tanna Massar and John Russell
9 Kendall and David Kapitanoff
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SOCIAL STUDIES
The Listening Lounge: Featuring Longleaf Drive
NOV. 17 Emerald Coast Theatre Company’s Second Stage launched a new series — the Listening Lounge — with local bluegrass band Longleaf Drive. Guests took in an exhibit of local artworks by members of the Cultural Arts Alliance of Walton County and enjoyed the “fresh Florida plinkin” of the featured band. The next Second Stage event, “Broadway on the Boulevard Cabaret,” is scheduled for February.
PHOTOS BY NIKKI HEDRICK OF EDWARD A. MCGRATH PHOTOGRAPHY
1 Don and Donna Albright, Carol Messina with
Diana and John Ward
2 Longleaf Drive band 3 Janet Rappazini, Donna Stuart, Myra Williams and Linny Delahoussaye 4 PJ and Tara Padgett
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GulfPower.com/Together
At Gulf Power we are working together with the communities we serve to make Northwest Florida an even better place to raise a family and do business.
Happenings at The Village of Baytowne Wharf
The Village of Baytowne Wharf is reminiscent of a fishing village with its charming wooden buildings and ideal location nestled alongside Choctawhatchee Bay. While the Village foments a sense of ease and relaxation, it’s not exactly a sleepy fishing town. Instead, The Village of Baytowne Wharf is home to locally inspired boutiques and galleries, coastally influenced eateries, a pulsating nightlife and a bustling schedule of events fit for everyone.
While the Village hosts events and activities throughout the year, they are most known for the four signature events — the Sandestin Wine Festival, Sandestin Gumbo Festival, Baytowne Beer Fest, and Sparkling Wine & Holiday Lights. Each of these events gives back to the community by supporting local nonprofits. In 2019, over $55,000 was raised for local charities.
The first event in 2021 will be the 32nd annual Sandestin Gumbo Festival Feb. 19–20. This event always gets crowds jazzed up with the signature tastes of New Orleans. Guests sample a variety of gumbos featuring light and dark roux, chicken, sausage and seafood.
Attendees will have the opportunity to vote for “People’s Choice,” and a cast of celebrity judges will announce the area’s best gumbo. The event will also feature another coastal crowd pleaser, bloody marys. Sip to your heart’s desire on bloody marys from some of the area’s finest bars and restaurants, and one will be awarded with the title of “Best Bloody Mary at the Beach.” Throughout the event, listen to the jazzy and soulful sounds of Dikki Du and the Zydeco Krewe.
With an array of activities and amenities in a scenic and inviting setting, visitors and locals alike seek out The Village of Baytowne Wharf, whether it’s a day perusing shops, an evening dinner with a date or a weekend of events for the whole family.
THE VILLAGE OF BAYTOWNE WHARF LOCATED IN SANDESTIN GOLF AND BEACH RESORT | (850) 267-8180 | BAYTOWNEWHARF.COM
(continued from page 41)
PATHS
TO FITNESS
Alternative approaches have unique appeals
BY STEVE BORNHOFT
Among people pursuing fitness goals, some will choose to go it alone, to experience the loneliness of the long-distance runner.
Most, however, will seek the assistance of a personal trainer or participate as a member of a group in workout sessions at a Crossfit gym or fitness studio.
Both options have advantages.
A trainer working one-on-one with a client can customize workouts to specifically address goals and weaknesses. People who join in classes enjoy support and encouragement from fellow participants and may engage in friendly competition.
38 February-March 2021 EMERALDCOASTMAGAZINE.COM
Workouts led by head coach Alexis Ware at Orangetheory Fitness in Panama City Beach are designed to increase endurance, strength and power.
PHOTOS BY MIKE FENDER (WARE) AND STEVEN GRAY (WORK)
Chris Work of Pensacola has worked as a self-employed fitness trainer since 2009 after previously working for gyms for nine years. He trains diverse clients including middle- and high-school athletes seeking competitive advantages; professionals seeking to balance sedentary jobs with physical activity; and seniors working to maintain mobility and flexibility.
In all cases, his relationship with a client begins with a consultation. Drawing upon lessons he learned as a pre-physical therapy student at Pensacola State College, Work explores issues that may include old injuries, back pain, weakness in hamstrings, muscle strength imbalances and the nature of the job a client holds.
“For example, I have a client who is a UPS driver,” Work said. “He’s up and down a lot, so I give him a lot of spine-sparing exercises.
“People may have muscles in the front that are stronger than those in the back. They may be experiencing joint or shoulder pain. People who work desk jobs are likely to have a lot of muscle tightness.”
Work stresses the importance of building or shoring up a foundation for fitness training.
“The base may have cracks in it, and we may have some patchwork to do before we can build a highrise on it,” he said. “You can’t just start people out on a deadlift.”
Too, Work said, “lingering problems” not uncovered by the initial consultation may become apparent once light workouts begin.
Work holds certifications from the Athletics and Fitness Association of America (AFAA) and the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) and has always been fascinated by anatomy and physiology.
Trainer Chris Work of Pensacola works with a range of clients, including seniors who may need help maintaining mobility and functionality or in recovering from joint replacement surgeries. He tailors his workouts for his clients based on their goals and initial consultation.
EMERALDCOASTMAGAZINE.COM February-March 2021 39
Hysong, weather permitting, prefers to conduct her fitness training outside at a walking park kittycorner from her office on 11th Street in Panama City. Workouts tend to be weightless. That is, they involve primarily dips, lunges, squats and abdominal work. She emphasizes breathing techniques that are helpful both in fitness training and as relaxation techniques.
“There is something to the old saying about taking a deep breath,” Hysong said.
Hysong said that in her nearly 30 years as a mental health counselor, she has never seen the collective anxiety level in Bay County as high as it has been since the pandemic arrived.
Political turmoil and divisiveness have been additional stressors, Hysong said.
Three days a week, Hysong starts her day at 6:46 a.m. at the Emerald Coast Behavioral Hospital where she leads a boot-camp style class for military personnel — active, reservists and retired — who are dealing with substance abuse and mental health issues. Ninety percent or more have been affected by post-traumatic stress disorder, she said.
Hysong otherwise works out with weights, goes for long walk/runs and takes yoga classes.
As a trainer, she especially likes teaching people what they can do with their own bodies, thus avoiding any need to go to a gym or consult a trainer.
“People say to me, ‘If you teach them all of these things they can do without you, aren’t you working yourself out of a job?’
“And I say, ‘Yes, that’s the point.’ Just like therapy. I teach people strategies and techniques and let them put them into play.” EC
To book your LUXURY getaway, contact your travel advisor: Shelly Leugers totally4Utravel@outlook.com (850) 293-6661 | Totally4UTravel.com
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