Emerald Coast Magazine- August/September 2016

AT THE READY MEET THE

FEARLESS FOLKS

+

JONESIN’ FOR JAZZ

MOTOWN HOOKS UP WITH COASTAL INFLUENCES

WHO KEEP THE JUICE FLOWING

And Baby Makes Eight Growing family readily adapts to adoption The Best Ice Cream It starts with a dairy herd in Marianna Learn & Serve Community serves school as classroom

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Contents

AUG/SEPT 2016

64



HOME MAKERS

Julie and James Raffield of Milton have provided a permanent home for four children whose biological parents were stripped of their parental rights by the courts.

by MATT ALGARIN

70 ON THE GRID

When storms threaten, linemen — and linewomen — are prepared to go wherever they’re needed to keep the juice flowin’.

by REBECCA PADGETT

78 ETHIOPIA

Julie and James Raffield were the parents of two boys of their own when they decided to adopt a girl. But they adapted to adoption better than they expected. Now they have three adopted children and are in the process of adopting a fourth. Clockwise from top left: Angelique, biological sons Vaughn and Vincent, Keylen and Seth.

photography by TIM SKIPPER PHOTOGRAPHY

Join us as we visit an African nation that presents a study in stark contrasts.

Ethiopia is home to burgeoning cities and traditional thatched-hut villages.

by MARINA BROWN

EMERALDCOASTMAGA ZINE.COM

August–September 2016

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AUG/SEPT 2016

31 THE WAVE

19 LEARN AND SERVE

At the Chautauqua Charter School in Panama City, the entire community serves students as a classroom.

22 GOING FOR TWO

Students taking advantage of dual enrollment programs get a head start on their college educations.

26 GARY YORDON Upon

turning 60, turning hypochondria into an art form is like falling off a log.

PANACHE

31 SUNDRESSES This

summer wardrobe staple has a disposition like the Old Sol, itself: sunny, light and bright.

34 H ELL ON HEELS

On some occasions, heels are unavoidable, but the “agony of da feet” doesn’t have to be.

38 WHAT’S IN STORE

IN EVERY ISSUE

For the shopper in all us, a roundup of what’s new in the retail world.

EXPRESSION

41 BEST SELLER In

a world in which franchise bookstores have struggled, Sundog Books in Seaside has no plans for a final chapter.

44 MUSIC PROMOTER

Crook Stewart may look like the Cowardly Lion, but he has the courage to think Panama City can become a mecca for musicians.

Cheryl Jones has been entertaining beach crowds with music born of her Motown roots.

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While they may be underfoot, rugs should not be overlooked for what they can add to interior spaces.

Boutique owner Celia Tucker has a style of her that combines coastal and New York influences.

DETROIT Since 1988,

Rugs that rock

106 FLOOR COVERING

36 C ITIZEN OF STYLE

48 A LITTLE BIT OF

106

41

50 BIGGS DEAL Painter

Margaret Biggs looks inward to find inspiration for paintings that reflect her personal journey — and yours.

August–September 2016 EMERALDCOASTMAGA ZINE.COM

12 PUBLISHER’S LETTER 14 DIRECTOR’S COLUMN 130 SOCIAL STUDIES 141 DINING GUIDE 146 P OSTSCRIPT

62 GASTRO & GUSTO 53 GET CREAMED

Sample the ice cream produced by the Southern Craft Creamery in Marianna and you may never go back to the lowerpriced brands.

58 P EACH TREATS

Peaches and vanilla ice cream are as indivisible as bacon and eggs, especially in cobbler like your great aunt used to make.

60 TASTES OF SICILY Like others parts of Italy, Sicily has a cuisine of its own, replicated on the Emerald Coast by Mimmo’s Restaurant.

62 D RINK LIKE PAPA

Ernest Hemingway loved Cuban watering holes and fresh mojitos, but you don’t have to travel to Havana to enjoy one.

AT THE READY MEET THE

FEARLESS FOLKS

+

JONESIN’ FOR JAZZ

ABODES

MOTOWN HOOKS UP WITH COASTAL INFLUENCES

96 DOGGIE DIGS We’re

here to help you get started on building a new crib for Fido, but we can’t say how he’ll take to it.

104 M OISTURE CONTROL

Everything you need to know about building a rain garden, plus our best advice on pests.

And BABy MAkes eight Growing family readily adapts to adoption the Best ice creAM It starts with a dairy herd in Marianna LeArn & serve Community serves school as classroom

93 SWING ZONE Porches,

where the tea is sweet and the conversations sublime, are back.

WHO KEEP THE JUICE FLOWING

ON THE COVER: For Gulf

Power line technician Demetric Washington, life on the job is both equipment intensive and fraught with danger. He finds, however, that preparation, training and experience do much to allay fears. The Pensacola lineman is among those who helped us gain an appreciation for the first responders who keep the juice flowing. COVER PHOTO

BY TODD DOUGLAS

PHOTOS BY ELLEBELLE PHOTOGRAPHY (31), CHASE YAKABOSKI (41), LAWRENCE DAVIDSON (106) AND COURTESY G.S. GELATO & DESSERTS (62)

Contents

The Cosmetic Vein & Laser Center

SKIN VEINS FACE BODY

The BioLift: Non-Surgical Face, Neck & Brow Lift Dermal Fillers · Botox · Sculptra · AcuPulse CO2 Laser · ResurFX Dermatology · PDT: Skin Cancer · Photorejuvenation Velashape Cellulite & Body Contouring SmartLipo Triplex · ThermiTight · SculpSure ThermiVA Vaginal Rejuvenation · Geneo Oxygen Facial Laser Hair Removal

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“I didn’t realize how bad my legs were until Dr. Moskowitz treated my legs with Varithena®. I slept better than I have in years. My legs have never looked and felt better. This treatment truly seems like a miracle.” —Julie R.

Federico Richter, MD · Board Certified, Venous & Lymphatic Medicine · Board Certified Family Practice Medicine · Anti-Aging Medicine

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W W W . S K I N A N D V E I N S . C O M EMERALDCOASTMAGA ZINE.COM

August–September 2016

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Contents

AUG/SEPT 2016



SPECIAL SECTIONS AND PROMOTIONS

85

SACRED HEART FOUNDATION is committed to making exceptional health care possible for generations to come — and in so doing brings about inspiring stories of people helping people.

Feedback

108 DEAL ESTATE

With words and pictures, we profile two Gulf-front properties: a palatial home in Rosemary Beach that was sold recently and a dream home in Seacrest that is seeking an owner.

MR. BORNHOFT AND MR. ROWLAND: Thank you for the great job that everyone involved did in presenting the story, “The Ocean’s Forests: Reef balls and eternal reefs create new habitats for animals of the sea,” in the June/July issue of Emerald Coast Magazine. As the writer of the piece, I posted a link to the story on my social media accounts and supplied the link to the owner and public relations contact for Eternal Reefs. They loved it and appreciate having their story told.

MARTHA LAGUARDIA-KOTTIE NICEVILLE

↑ TUSKERS HOME STORE makes it its mission to help you achieve your vision for your home. Whether your home is newly constructed or has been lovingly lived in for years, Tuskers will make sure that it reflects your style and tastes.

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128 Events, exhibits and live performances crowd the docket of inviting things to do up and down the Emerald Coast.

We announce the results of this year’s Best of the Emerald Coast balloting.

SPECIAL PROMOTION

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Who do you turn to when you need to get a job done right?

We profile highly regarded professionals who work hard to maintain their reputations by exceeding your expectations.

CALENDAR

DIGITAL GRAFFITI RECAP

Next Issue

PROFESSIONAL PROFILES

August–September 2016 EMERALDCOASTMAGA ZINE.COM

FEEDBACK SUBMISSION GUIDELINES

We welcome comments on our efforts and gladly will share them with our readers subject to a few guidelines.

When submitting a letter for publication, please supply your full name, physical address, phone number and personal email address. This information will help us verify authorship; it will not be shared with others or used for any commercial purpose. Letters, when published, will appear with the writer’s name and city of residence. We reserve the right to edit letters and to shorten them for space. Submit letters via e-mail to letters@rowlandpublishing.com or mail them to: Feedback, Rowland Publishing 1932 Miccosukee Road, Tallahassee, FL 32308

PHOTO COURTESY OF TUSKERS HOME STORE

98 111

CLARIFICATION The Citizen of Style profile [Emerald Coast April/May 2016] on jewelry artist Annie Parker was written by contributing writer Zandra Wolfgram.

EMERALDCOASTMAGA ZINE.COM

August–September 2016

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EMERALD COAST MAGAZINE

VOL. 17, NO. 4

AUGUST–SEPTEMBER 2016

Who was your all-time favorite teacher?

PRESIDENT/PUBLISHER BRIAN E. ROWLAND

EDITORIAL

Gary Ghioto at UWF. His public affairs reporting class really resonated with me.

CREATIVE

My ballet teacher, Peggy Dorsey, who had performed with the Royal Ballet. She taught me that art is interpretation, not replication.

CREATIVE DIRECTOR Lawrence Davidson PRODUCTION MANAGER/NETWORK ADMINISTRATOR Daniel Vitter SENIOR ART DIRECTOR Saige Roberts ART DIRECTOR Jennifer Ekrut PUBLICATION DESIGNERS Charles Bakofsky, Shruti Shah ADVERTISING DESIGNER Jillian Fry DIGITAL PRODUCTION SPECIALIST Chelsea Moore CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Alfotokunst, Yury Birukov, Galyna Andrushko, Bluerain, Michael Booini, Steve Bornhoft, Matt Burke, Dmitry Chulov, Lawrence Davidson, Dereje, Todd Douglas Photography, Elle Belle Photography, Nick Fox, Scott Holstein, HBB Photography, Moon Creek Studios, Phillip Makselan, Chelsea Moore, Rhonda Murray, Off the Walls Photography, Kay Phelan, Kansas Pitts Photography, Luisa Puccini, Pure 7 Studios, Sonja Revells Photo, John Russo, Tim Skipper Photography, STM Photography, Jacqueline Ward Images, Zandra Wolfgram, Chase Yakaboski, Zlikovec

SALES, MARKETING AND EVENTS VICE PRESIDENT/CORPORATE DEVELOPMENT McKenzie Burleigh Lohbeck DIRECTOR OF NEW BUSINESS Daniel Parisi ADVERTISING SERVICES COORDINATOR Tracy Mulligan, Lisa Sostre ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES Bess Grasswick, Darla Harrison, Lori Magee Yeaton, Rhonda Lynn Murray, Dan Parker, Linda Powell, Paula Sconiers, Alice Watts, Brianna Webb EVENTS AND SPECIAL PROJECTS COORDINATOR Leigha Inman INTEGRATED MARKETING SPECIALIST Jennifer Ireland MARKETING AND EVENTS ASSISTANT Mackenzie Ligas

Miss Jasper Schlinker, my high school English teacher, who taught me to diagram sentences. She was tough but kind and supportive.

OPERATIONS Donna Born, my fourthgrade teacher. She connected with students and inspired me to become a writer.

ADMINISTRATION & HUMAN RESOURCES MANAGER Jim Bratton CORPORATE CLIENT LIAISON Sara Goldfarb STAFF ACCOUNTANT Jackie Burns ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT Lisa Snell RECEPTIONIST Katherine Marshall

EMERALD COAST MAGAZINE emeraldcoastmagazine.com facebook.com/emeraldcoast twitter.com/emeraldcoastmag instagram.com/emeraldcoastmag pinterest.com/emeraldcoastmag youtube.com/user/emeraldcoastmag

Mr. Astrauskas, 9th grade English. He was a milder version of Robin Williams in the “Dead Poet’s Society” and taught us how to think for ourselves.

ROWLAND PUBLISHING rowlandpublishing.com

My AP senior English teacher, Mr. Jesse. He really helped prepare me for college.

Mr. Dan Regan. His knowledge of the criminal justice system always fascinates me.

EDITORIAL OFFICE 1932 Miccosukee Road, Tallahassee, FL 32308. (850) 878-0554 SUBSCRIPTIONS One year (6 issues) is $30. Call (850) 878-0554 or go online to emeraldcoastmagazine.com. Single copies are $3.95.

Purchase at Barnes and Noble in Destin and Pensacola and Books-A-Million in Destin, at Sun Plaza in Mary Esther, on E. 23rd St. in Panama City and 6235 N. Davis Hwy., Pensacola and Panama City.

CUSTOMER SERVICE & SUBMISSIONS Emerald Coast Magazine and Rowland Publishing, Inc. are not responsible for unsolicited manuscripts, photography or artwork.

Editorial contributions are welcomed and encouraged but will not be returned. Emerald Coast Magazine reserves the right to publish any letters to the editor.

Copyright August 2016 Emerald Coast Magazine Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part without written permission is prohibited.

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August–September 2016 EMERALDCOASTMAGA ZINE.COM

PHOTOS BY CHELSEA MOORE (IRELAND), STEVE BORNHOFT (ALGARIN, BURKE AND SCHMIDT), OFF THE WALLS PHOTOGRAPHY (LIGAS) AND COURTESY OF INDIVIDUALS

Steve Bornhoft, one of my professors at FSUPC; he got me my job at Rowland Publishing.

DIRECTOR OF EDITORIAL SERVICES/EDITOR Steve Bornhoft SENIOR STAFF WRITER Jason Dehart EDITORIAL COORDINATOR Rebecca Padgett CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Matt Algarin, Susan Benton, Shelby Bouck, Marina Brown, Hannah Burke, Jennifer Ireland, Lis King, Jack Levine, Thomas J. Monigan, Audrey Post, Rebekah Sanderlin, Liesel Schmidt, Zandra Wolfgram, Gary Yordon EDITORIAL INTERN Nina Rodriguez-Marty, Reeves Trivette, Joseph Zeballos PRODUCTION SPECIALIST Melinda Lanigan

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August–September 2016

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from the publisher

Giving opens many doors, creating new and numerous opportunities along our life paths.

In my line of work, I interact with a wide range of people representing countless organizations, passions and fields of endeavor. For some, I have noticed, giving is something that is difficult, if not impossible, to do.

This is true of people who may have enjoyed great professional and financial success and others who have not. All of the non-givers have a hard time articulating respectable reasons for their seeming selfishness and inability to give.

Giving comes from the heart, but it also is an acquired behavior. Giving is learned early in a person’s development. Experts say it begins around the age of 2 when kids confront the challenge of “sharing their toys.”

Children observe what their parents and family members do to give to others and this helps establish their own philosophy of giving for their lifetimes. Once established as a practice, giving may manifest itself in tithing at church, buying Girl Scout cookies, preparing a meal for a sick neighbor or participating as a member of a family that always made it a practice to help others.

I believe that as members of society we have an obligation to give back, something that can be accomplished in many ways other than writing a check.

We all have something that would be of value to another person or organization, even if it’s just a few kind words, a bit of our time or unused items that others can use.

Prior to making my most recent annual trip to Central America, where I unite with friends from decades past to hang out, rest, reminisce, fish and eat well, I came up with an idea.

The country we visit is a poor one, but its people are rich in character and pride. Every year, we are greeted by Arturo Soto, who grew up with little but was influenced by a family that was moved by the spirit of giving. His mother, for example, would take in people from the local hospital who needed to recover from surgery until they were ready to travel to their homes in the countryside. Arturo was called upon to give up his bed to these persons in need. Today, Arturo helps many organizations in his town and serves as a city councilman. He is respected and admired by many for doing what comes to him naturally.

My traveling companions and I either own or work for successful companies, and I suggested that we all

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August–September 2016 EMERALDCOASTMAGA ZINE.COM

likely had serviceable, but retired, computers sitting around. I challenged each of our group’s members to bring one along on our trip. Two of us from Tallahassee each managed to stuff three systems with towers and keyboards into our overweight luggage. It was an adventure to push them through Customs, but the bubble-wrapped equipment arrived safe and sound.

Meanwhile, Arturo arranged for us to visit two schools in a remote area where the classrooms were hot and spartan. Teachers worked to manage six grade levels simultaneously, including emotionally disabled students from abusive homes. It was here that we delivered our computers.

In response, teachers were sincerely thankful and their students were wide-eyed. Many had never seen a computer before.

After we got the computers set up, the students honored us by presenting us with handmade gifts of appreciation. I don’t hesitate to tell you that I was touched.

The school is without internet service, but Arturo has contacts in the public education system and will be providing teachers with educational CDs to facilitate learning and help students take their places as global citizens.

I encourage you to assess your life at home and at work and resolve to do one additional act of giving this year. Doing so will make a big difference in another person’s life — and yours.

Take care,

BRIAN ROWLAND browland@rowlandpublishing.com

SCOTT HOLSTEIN

THE ART OF GIVING

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director’s column

THE LIGHT THAT UNITES MATT BURKE

A graphic artist looked up from his work in response to a rapping on the window nearest his work station. Outside stood an unfamiliar man pouring sweat and with a plaintive look on his face.

The artist motioned the man toward the door, met him there and then steered him to the reception desk where the visitor explained that he had written something that he wanted to have published.

The receptionist invited him to have a seat in the lobby and went to retrieve me.

The man appeared fit. He wore a long-sleeved, plaid, buttondown shirt with rounded collars and matching three-quarter length pants. Close cousins to pajamas. He clutched a girlish notebook and introduced himself as Marcelo.

“I am not a terrorist,” he began and I was tempted to reply, “Good to know!” but said nothing. The visitor’s manner was serious and his English unpolished.

“I am from Argentina. I was doing construction in Panama City but the work ran out and I am staying at the shelter. I have been in America for seven years. I am a U.S. citizen.”

Acutely and painfully aware of how he might be perceived, the man found it necessary or at least advisable to tell me what he is not. Having done so, he presented me with something that promised to tell me who he is — a seven-stanza poem, neatly handwritten on paper edged in pink.

Sebastian Junger, the writer of “The Perfect Storm” whose life was changed dramatically when he sustained a chainsaw accident and was forced to consider career opportunities other than tree services, has a new book out titled “Tribe.” In it, he posits that people were happier as members of primitive egalitarian collectives than they are as players in highly competitive modern societies. Such close-knit small groups, he has found, continue to form among soldiers in battle zones, uniting men and women who later struggle to re-enter environments where, increasingly it seems, it’s every man or woman for himself or herself.

In hoping for better, Junger is embarking on a hopelessly idealistic notion, some would argue. As a graduate communication student at Florida State University-Panama City, my chief professor and advisor, Dr. Stan Lindsey, was a Burkean, that is, a devotee of the writings of communication theorist, Kenneth Burke.

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August–September 2016 EMERALDCOASTMAGA ZINE.COM

Lindsey ensured that I never will forget, any more than I will forget the opening lines of the prologue to the Canterbury Tales, Burke’s definition of man. Clause four — I will spare you the others — holds that humans are hardwired such that we are “goaded by a spirit of hierarchy” that produces systems that result in pervasive guilt: “Those who are Up are guilty of not being Down and those Down are guilty of not being Up.” (Geez. It is no wonder, then, that growing up in an affluent suburb in the ’60s, I aspired to hippiedom.)

Junger, for his part, departed the safe, cloistered environment in which he grew up and walked off to look for America. Hitchhiking across the West, Junger was at an on-ramp outside Gillette, Wyoming, when he was approached by an itinerant day laborer who had found no work that morning in the mines.

For starters, Junger didn’t know whether to trust the man, whose hair was “matted and wild” and whose union suit was “shiny with filth.” He feared that he was about to be robbed.

Here was an encounter not unlike mine with Marcelo the poet.

Instead, the idle laborer opened his lunch box and gave to Junger his bologna sandwich, an apple and bag of potato chips.

“For reasons, I will never know,” Junger writes, “the man in Gillette decided to treat me like a member of his tribe, those people you feel compelled to share the last of your food with.”

Marcelo’s poem reveals a tortured, but hopeful and prideful, man seeking to recover lost love and sustenance.

There is nothing final.

In the background, there is hope That takes hold of you and fills you With an intense light that rescues The darkest of beings with the joy Of knowing that there is a tomorrow And a way out.

Thank you, Marcelo, for stopping by. You shined a light on me and I like to think I did the same for you. It is that light, Professor Burke, which makes us human.

STEVE BORNHOFT sbornhoft@rowlandpublishing.com

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AUG/SEPT 2016

A CONSCIOUS, COOL COMPENDIUM OF COASTAL STUFF

CHAMPIONS

THE CHAUTAUQUA SCHOOL

Here, barriers lie down

by STEVE BORNHOFT

As Mary Beth Nutt neared the end of her career at AT&T, change was accelerating, the workforce was shrinking and her responsibilities were growing. She retired at the first opportunity — and then promptly resumed working.

She wanted to give back to a woman, Cynthia McCauley, under whose wing her son, Ryan, had made progress she would not have thought possible. So it was that she went to work as a VISTA program volunteer at the Chautauqua Learn and Serve Charter School for young adults with “disabilities” —

photography by MICHAEL BOOINI

Ryan Nutt, 33, a graduate of the Chautauqua Learn and Serve Charter School in Panama City, continues to serve the school as an ambassador in the community and as an inspirational model for students.

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August–September 2016

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wave or, as Nutt would have it, “special abilities.” McCauley founded the school 11 years ago and has served as its director since the day on which its charter was approved by the Bay County School District.

Nutt has two children, a daughter who lives in Tallahassee, and Ryan, 33, who lives with her. Their IQs are separated by 72 points.

“I have children at both extremes,” Nutt said.

Ryan, who aged out of public education 12 years ago, hangs out at Chautauqua three days a week and works Fridays and Saturdays at a movie house as an usher. McCauley worked with him when she was a teacher in the Exceptional Student Education program at Bay High School, located just a 7-iron away from Chautauqua.

“I cannot tell you how much Cynthia has changed Ryan’s outlook on life,” Nutt said.

“She taught him to feel good about himself and to be joyful.”

And Ryan has gotten to know Cynthia well.

“Ryan has the ability to read people,” Nutt said, “and he can tell what Cynthia’s mood is when the rest of us may not have a clue. He picks up on the slightest behavioral cues that the rest don’t detect.”

Indeed, his prescience about people extends to strangers.

On one occasion, he was a member of a Chautauqua delegation that distributed holiday gift baskets to businesses, including a bank, that had supported the school with contributions.

Ryan carried a basket to the bank’s teller line where he was tantalized by a tray of cookies intended for customers.

“Would you like one?” a teller asked Ryan with a nod toward the tray.

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JOHN RUSSO

THE

Chautauqua School founder Cynthia McCauley, at left, had developed a model for the school that keeps on-campus activity to a minimum and stresses community service. Misty Fowler, in photo at right, leads students in a classroom exercise.

“I am on a diet, but I will take one and give it to someone back at school,” Ryan said while carefully selecting a frosted snowman.

Presently, it was time for the delegation to depart.

“Make good decisions,” Ryan admonished the teller whose fellow employees then roared with laughter. The teller had a reputation as a party girl.

“Cynthia has given Ryan the gift of confidence,” Nutt said.

“He interacts with people in ways that never would have occurred absent her influence on him. Now, every day with Ryan is an adventure — in a good way.”

After completing her VISTA service, Nutt became a full-time employee of the school. She has now been there for seven years.

Misty Fowler is a charter employee of the charter school who, like the boss, migrated from Bay High School to Chautauqua. Heather Hay is a 10-year employee of the charter school. Both hope never to have to leave.

“This is a wonderful work environment,” Hay said, briefly setting aside a student’s

August–September 2016 EMERALDCOASTMAGA ZINE.COM

individual education plan. “It is gratifying to see the growth in our students and how they give back to the community.”

Indeed, Chautauqua students help maintain the Bay High cafeteria, deliver meals to homebound seniors and train young and old to use the Bay County’s public transit system.

“Saint McCauley is one of a kind — generous, kind and inspirational,” Hay said. “She is a big part of the reason that I love my job.”

For Fowler, there is “no better place on earth.”

“Where else would you go if you wanted to work for a school whose students have been to all seven continents?”

Fowler asked rhetorically.

“They have hosted a Nobel Peace Prize winner. Leaders of foreign countries contact us wanting to discover how we do things here.”

Chautauqua, above all else, is a place where accomplishments, many of them improbable, happen as a function of a sense of possibility, where everyone has a seat on the bus, the plane, the train.

Just ask Ryan. He’ll tell you. EC

SPECTATING NOT ALLOWED

➸ Cynthia McCauley introduces people to the school she founded, the Chautauqua Learn and Serve Charter School, not by telling them about it, but by immersing them in it. So it was that during my first visit there, I was dispatched to retrieve Brandon who had been discouraged from coming to school by the grandmother and greatgrandmother for whom he cared as head of the household — despite being a teenager with autism.

Once back on campus, I joined a knot of students and staff assembled along a fence line, where they were trying to corral a forlorn looking cat. The group included a student, Ian, who studied the animal with what appeared to be a trained eye, then announced, “That’s a stub-tail cat.” Those were the first words he ever was heard to speak at the school and they would be enough for staff members to build on in making the kind of incremental progress that the school recognizes and celebrates.

— STEVE BORNHOFT

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August–September 2016

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EDUCATION

AN EDUCATIONAL DOUBLE DIP Dual enrollment provides a ‘head start’

by MATT ALGARIN

M

uch like a proud parent talking about his kids, Anthony Boyer talks about the dual enrollment program at Northwest Florida State College.

Instead of bragging about a few children, Boyer, the program’s director, has the pleasure of gushing about roughly 1,200 “children” who are currently participating in dual enrollment courses at the college’s campuses in Okaloosa and Walton counties.

All told, more than 55,000 high school students in Florida participated in dual enrollment classes at one of the state’s 28 state colleges last year. Combined, they earned more than 577,000 semester hours of college credit.

“It gives them a head start with their education,” Boyer said.

NWFSC has been offering dual enrollment courses for more than 25 years. When you break it down to simplest form, dual enrollment is a statewide program that allows high school students to enroll, free of charge, in college courses and earn credit all while pursuing their high school

FOR MORE INFORMATION

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diploma. Public school, private school and home-schooled students are eligible to benefit from dual enrollment courses.

When a student and parent decide to explore dual enrollment, the student is well advised to take the Postsecondary Education Readiness Test (PERT).

Then, the dialogue with high school dual enrollment coordinators can begin.

In his role at the college, Boyer works directly with the local schools where dual-enrollment students currently study.

As for the program, itself, there are some basic requirements a student must meet before he can enroll in classes.

First, he must be enrolled in a Florida

public school or a non-public secondary school, according to the Florida Department of Education. Students are required to have an unweighted gradepoint average of at least 3.0. In addition to the GPA standard, students must take the PERT or qualify on the basis of SAT or ACT scores.

“We want to be able to see what level they are at, to make sure they are eligible to enter the program,” Boyer added.

“One thing with dual enrollment, there are minimum scores they must obtain with the testing to take certain classes, such as English composition and mathematics.” »

To explore more about the dual enrollment program at Northwest Florida State College, see NWFSC.edu where you’ll find everything from information about dropping classes to graduation deadlines and detailed eligibility requirements.

August–September 2016 EMERALDCOASTMAGA ZINE.COM

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If a student doesn’t score especially well on the PERT, there’s no need to panic. Let’s use math as an example.

While the student may not have scored well enough to get into college algebra, he can take intermediate algebra, which is a prerequisite for college algebra. If a student’s scores don’t qualify him for intermediate algebra, he can still register as a dual enrollment student for up to 12 credit hours, as long as the classes chosen don’t require intermediate algebra as a prerequisite.

Dual enrollment courses are available to students who are going into their 10th grade year. Although these students may be young in age, Boyer says they are more than capable of excelling in “Taking dual the program. These youngenrollment er students typically will classes was enroll in classes including “College Success,” which one of the best helps to prepare them for things I did for life on a college campus. my education. It So what’s the biggest benefit to a student who partakes created an easy in dual enrollment courses? transition from “The academic chalhigh school to lenge,” Boyer says. “When you can be challenged and college, got me a receive that dual credit, you head start in both are motivated.” my educational The students want to push themselves, there’s no and working question about it. careers, and it Dual enrollment students helped me save a can earn 60 credits toward their college degree all lot of money.” while satisfying the require— Annie Young, Donor ments to graduate high Relations and Communications school.

Coordinator for NWFSC Annie Young, who now works as the donor relations and communications coordinator for the college, can’t say enough about her experience with the dual enrollment program at NWFSC. “I was a sophomore at Choctawhatchee High School when I found out about the program and after reviewing all of the benefits of taking college courses while still in high school, it was an easy yes,” she said. “Taking dual enrollment classes was one of the best things I did for my education. It created an easy transition from high school to college, got me a head start in both my educational and working careers, and it helped me save a lot of money.”

While the dual enrollment program continues to evolve, Boyer says that, overall, he has received positive feedback from both parents and students. At the end of the day, Boyer is proud of the students who have taken the initiative to participate in dual enrollment. EC

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IT’S NOT ROCKET SURGERY

Another stroke of hypochondria Elevating an affliction to a veritable art form

by GARY YORDON

ILLUSTRATION WORKS / ALAMY STOCK PHOTO

I

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August–September 2016 EMERALDCOASTMAGA ZINE.COM

recently went for my annual physical. As the nurse was walking me to my room, my doctor emerged from another room and told me to go with her and he would come by and stick his head in. I thought to myself, “Wow this really is going to be a thorough check-up.”

Most men don’t like to admit they worry about their health. I revel in my concern. I have taken hypochondria to an art form. I am the Monet of medical misery. When I see an advertisement for some disorder, I can develop the symptoms within minutes. At restaurants, I order the dish that’s least likely to choke me.

Plus, turning 60 is not for the faint of heart. If you wake up in the morning and there’s not a finger lying on your pillow, it’s a victory — another day and nothing fell off. Parts of you that used to be in one place are now someplace else.

You make noises that you never made before. If you have hair it’s receding like a low tide, and “grits” defines your biceps more than it does your breakfast.

Then there’s the whole memory thing. You walk into a room and have no idea why. Thirty seconds ago, you had a reason for going there, but that’s long gone. You figure if you just stay there for a minute, it will come back to you.

Last night I stood in front of my open refrigerator like I was waiting for the food to talk. I had a point to make here, but it slipped away.

I’m convinced the internet was invented so we could check symptoms.

Recently I woke up in the middle of the night with a ringing in my ears.

WebMD here I come. I figure despite the zero minutes I spent in med school I can figure this one out. »

ND G O L F AE S E N T S N F I T S E W HH AA RR F W S A N DH R E S O R T P R E N E Y TT OO WW N BEAC L BB AA Y A L AA NN NN UU A H H T T 9 TT HH EE 9

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August–September 2016

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Here’s where it gets a little tricky. It says the ringing could be anything from too much wax to a stroke.

So I have two choices, gently probe with a Q-tip or immediately call 911. The problem is as soon as I read the word “stroke,” I start to develop new symptoms.

Now I’m on to other symptoms and while I’m reading I’m pretty sure my left arm is going numb. I’ll Google “heart attack symptoms” in a moment; right now I’m dealing with my impending stroke.

It says I should try to smile because inability to do so is one of the warning signs of a stroke. So there I am at 3 a.m. sitting in my living room with the bells of St. Mary’s going off in my ears and likely only moments to live, trying to muster a smile. I wonder if this is how my wife is going to find me — stiff as a board on the floor with a half-smile on my face.

My symptoms are now My symptoms multiplying like rabbits. I’m are now mulexperiencing cold sweats tiplying like and what feels like a swollen gland in my neck. I’m having rabbits. I’m trouble swallowing and my experiencing eyes are burning. Just then cold sweats and I’m distracted by a pop-up ad for gout medication. Great, what feels like now my foot hurts. Suddenly a swollen gland I realize the Cubs never will in my neck. I’m have won in my lifetime and, oh yeah, I’ll never see my having trouble kids again. swallowing and It’s all spinning out of my eyes are control, and then I have this lucid moment of logic; I’ve burning. been reading all this for an hour. If it were any of the bad things they would have already happened. Slowly, my symptoms begin dissipate. Maybe the ringing is just wax. I regain feeling in my left arm. That was a close one.

Fast forward to my physical. It went great although I’m not 100% certain it was my blood they tested.

Those things get mixed up sometimes. I make a mental note to make sure I get a second blood test just to make sure the first test was accurate.

I had one more thing I wanted to share with you … give me a minute … it’ll come to me … EC

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August–September 2016 EMERALDCOASTMAGA ZINE.COM

Gary Yordon is president of The Zachary Group in Tallahassee, hosts a political television show, The Usual Suspects and contributes columns to the Tallahassee Democrat newspaper. He may be reached at gary@zprgroup.com.

COURTESY GARY YORDON

CALL TO LEARN MORE. 850.267.2229

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Where Healthy, Beautiful Skin Awaits

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August–September 2016 EMERALDCOASTMAGA ZINE.COM

panache AUG/SEPT 2016

ELEMENTS OF STYLE RANGING FROM THE SUBLIME TO THE MORE SUBLIME

SO SKIRTACIOUS

A PERENNIAL FAVORITE

The simple, versatile sundress by LIESEL SCHMIDT

W

hen you live in a state known far and wide for its sunny, warm weather, the sundress could well be considered as essential as the proverbial Little Black Dress. Fortunately for women in the Sunshine State, the sundress has never gone out of vogue, due to the many permutations of this very basic piece that have been offered by designers over the years; and it seems that they have only increased in popularity, making their way from runways to real ways all over the world.

FASHION photography by ELLEBELLE PHOTOGRAPHY

High Heels

|| CITIZEN OF STYLE

Celia Tucker

|| WHAT’S IN STORE

↖ Stripes, spots and floral galore.

Any print pleases on a sundress.

Retail Roundup

EMERALDCOASTMAGA ZINE.COM

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↗ Flowing, frilly and flirty.

Sundresses make summer days effortlessly chic.

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August–September 2016 EMERALDCOASTMAGA ZINE.COM

photography by ELLEBELLE PHOTOGRAPHY

on how you style your dress, even boldly colored dresses can be made more office appropriate — throw on a cardigan or a fitted jacket in a complimentary color, and you’ll look polished and professional without ever seeming stuffy.

As is the case with any dress, cut is crucial. If you’re petite, you’ll hardly want a length that will overwhelm your frame or make you look shorter, so pay attention to hemlines. Maxi, midi and shorter skirted styles are all having their day in the sun, so you may have to try out a few variations before you find your most flattering fit. No dress is one size fits all, simply because not every woman is built exactly the same. What looks fantastic on your friends might not suit you, so never assume that you’ll be able to pluck that showstopper off the rack and love it just as much on you as you do every time you see it on someone else.

You are you, and their dress might need to be something you admire from afar.

As the heat index rises, take a peek into your own closet to assess your dress. Is it time to try out sundresses for the first time, or do you have one to put back in rotation? Whatever the case may be, sunny weather is the perfect time to have fun with your wardrobe and say yes to the dress. EC

Sundresses for Any Occasion Under the Sun Sure, sundresses are beautiful and bright, but they stay in style largely because of their versatility.

You won’t regret investing in this summer staple that specializes in ready-to-wear options.

POOL PARTY Slip on a bold printed sundress over your swimsuit, accessorize with beaded sandals and top it off with a straw hat.

NIGHT OUT ON THE TOWN Summer nights are meant to be easy and breezy. Pair a sleek sundress or maxi dress with strappy heels or wedges. A bright colored clutch is the only other accessory you’ll need.

TO WORK A sundress at work can be accomplished if the dress is of appropriate length and paired with a sweater. The bright color or print may add a little fun to your cubicle.



There are reasons that the sundress has been a perennial favorite for women of all ages and all socioeconomic backgrounds. Dresses are, in and of themselves, a way to simplify things — they don’t require the pairing of a top with a bottom, and that all-in-one appeal has translated through countless fashion trends over the centuries. Naturally, comfort and culture have come into play in the way that dressing has evolved, and one of the results of these many shifts has been the sundress.

By definition, a sundress is lightweight and breathable, loosely fitting, and sleeveless — a killer combo when it comes to warmer weather. Contrary to what some might assume, however, sundresses don’t have to be skimpy. In fact, with lower hemlines and necklines that actually leave something to the imagination, sundresses can be relatively modest rather than always having to push the limit on propriety.

Amazingly enough, sundresses have been a player in women’s wear since the 1940s, though they didn’t really reach the height of their popularity until Lilly Pulitzer put her stamp on them 20 years later. Her interpretation of the dress — one of ease and brightness and bold prints — made them stand out, and women have been happily wearing them ever since.

With their many cuts, colors and patterns, sundresses are flattering to almost every figure, and an endless variety of fabrics makes them versatile enough to wear for almost any occasion. You don’t have to have a trip to the shore on your schedule to wear a sundress — their versatility alone makes them a warmweather staple, something that should be in every woman’s closet as a foundational piece, especially if the dress is in a color, style and fabric that can be easily styled in multiple ways — think neutrals like navy, black, white, cream and tan. But even shades like coral, teal, red and pink can be played up or down simply by adding the right accessories or a few other wardrobe pieces. Depending

SUNDRESSES FOUND HERE Looking for a great sundress? It’s easier than you might think to find some new favorites to fill your closet. Take a trip out to the shops at Grand Boulevard at Sandestin, Gulf Place Town Center or Destin Commons for beautiful dresses from famous label designers like Lilly Pulitzer and Tommy Bahama to outfit your days out in the sun; and make sure to stop by Today’s Boutique and Barefoot Princess to get expert advice on what styles will suit you best. Today’s Boutique is located at 4433 Commons Drive East, Suite E103, in Destin. For more information, call (850) 837-3160.

Barefoot Princess is located at 9100 Baytowne Wharf Blvd.

Suite B-3, Destin; (850) 351-1806.

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HELL ON HEELS FASHION

Those fabulously fashionable heels could be harming your health REBECCA PADGETT by

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inderella had the right idea when ditching her heels. They are far less than ideal when running away at the clock’s strike — and even walking in high heels has a down side.

Those blisters that the coveted pair of stilettos you had been drooling over in the department store window have given you are obvious enough, but more serious issues may be developing below the surface.

“Heels put more pressure on the ball of the foot than it is designed for,” said Dr. Eric M. Larsen of Brooks Foot & Ankle Associates.

“This pressure can speed up the development of problems like bunions, hammertoes, neuromas and more. The best way to avoid these problems is to decrease the frequency that you wear heels and decrease the heel height.”

Kicking the heels habit, however, isn’t easy. Formal events, corporate functions and the dictates of fashion mess up the best of such intentions.

Before you purge your closet, know that there are ways to combat the hell caused by heels.

Counteract the stresses by stretching the feet and legs both before and after wear. If this doesn’t help or pain persists, you may consider consulting a podiatrist or chiropractor.

“If you have to wear heels, I recommend having a pair of custom innersoles made to fit into your heels,” said Dr. Shawna Hogan of Regatta Chiropractic & Laser Center Inc. who sees patients suffer with low back, hip and leg pain reThe most lated to heel wearing. “In addependable form dition, wear your comfortable of heel is one with a shorter, shoes to and from your venue wider base and and change into your heels a rounded toe, upon arrival. Stretching bepreferably in a high-quality fore and after helps as do Epmaterial such som salt soaks and ice to help as leather. relax tired feet and reduce inflammation after wear.”

The most dependable form of heel is one with a shorter, wider base and a rounded toe, preferably in a high-quality material such as leather. Dr. Larsen even suggests wedges over stilettos because they provide better stability.

It may be worth your while to take a few extra steps when shopping for heels. Have your gait analyzed and your foot measured in order to find the perfect fit, you know, just like Cinderella. EC

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August–September 2016 EMERALDCOASTMAGA ZINE.COM

Marsha Doll NYC Model/Actor Bootcamp

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This camp is not just for those who want to become a model/actor, it’s for anyone wanting to build their self confidence, overcome stage fright, and improve their communication skills in a positive environment!

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SPONSORED REPORT EMERALDCOASTMAGA ZINE.COM

August–September 2016

35

THE WIDE-LEG JEAN

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“I’m most comfortable in a pair of jeans. I think the wide leg is super-flattering and a good excuse to throw on a pair of heels!”

WHITE BUTTON-DOWN SHIRT

“I think every girl needs to have a good handful of those. They’re easy to layer on a trendy necklace; you can throw a vest over it, pair it with a hat.”

Rails, Charli White Button Down Shirt, $148, railsclothing.com, Available at Willow + Mercer

PANAMA HAT

“I love a hat. It’s another thing that’s great for the beach because we have crazy hair here!

Throw it on with your swimsuit cover-up, a pair of jeans or even a dress.”

Janessa Leone, Klint Straw Hat, $188, janessaleone.com, Available at Willow + Mercer

THE COLOR ARMY GREEN

“It looks great on everybody — a redhead, a blonde, a brunette.

People don’t wear enough Army green!”

Amo, Green Army Twist Trousers, $259, amodenim.com, Available at Willow + Mercer

TIE-DYE

“Not the wild kind, like I’m going to see the Grateful Dead! One of my favorite designers is Raquel Allegra. She does modern tie-dye on shirts, dresses and pants.”

Raquel Allegra, Red Tie Dye Tee, $232, raquelallegra.com, Available at Willow + Mercer

VINCE HIGH TOP SNEAKERS CITIZEN OF STYLE

Celia Tucker

“I’m all about the sneaker trend!”

Vince , Newlyn Leather High-Top Sneaker, $295, vince.com, Available at Willow + Mercer

Couture store owner is contemporary and coastal cool HANNAH BURKE by

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elia Tucker makes her residence on the Emerald Coast, but her wardrobe lives part time in New York City.

Along with her business partner, Cindy Krutz, Tucker has created four different stores under the Willow Boutique name — the latest of which is Willow + Mercer in Inlet Beach at 30A. This new addition marries New York City street style with seaside chic, which most accurately reflects Tucker’s personal fashion.

The Alabama-raised Southern gal’s love for style likely originates from her grandmother, a fashionista who would live in New York City at the Plaza Hotel during opera season.

“She was the first woman on the Metropolitan Board of Opera,” Tucker says.

“She had this huge cedar closet with all of her opera gowns, pearls and handbags. My

36

sister and I would play in it all the time, so fashion started at a really young age.”

Despite the glitz and glamour that opera is known for, Tucker is not a girly girl.

“I don’t think I own anything pink,” she says, laughing. That’s not to say she doesn’t love a good pair of heels, but pairing them with jeans, T-shirts and modish jewelry are what she loves most. Tucker has established a contemporary wardrobe for herself, with a predilection for black and white pieces. Reliable fashion staples that she can mix and match are key to her style, rather than letting the latest fads dictate what she wears.

“I’m not really a trendy person, but I do like what’s on the runway translated into everyday style,” Tucker says. EC

August–September 2016 EMERALDCOASTMAGA ZINE.COM

STORE LOCATIONS:

Willow + Mercer, 12805 S101 30Avenue Inlet Beach 32413 Willow, 5 Main Street Suite 3A Rosemary Beach 32461. (850) 231-0433 Willow + Woods, 45 Central Square Suite CC2 Seaside 32459. (850) 231-0248 Mason, 2236 East County Hwy 30A Seaside 32459

PHOTOS COURTESY WILLOW + MERCER / HBB PHOTOGRAPHY (TUCKER), AMO DENIM (JEANS), JANESSA LEONE (STRAW HAT), RAILS (WHITE SHIRT), RAQUEL ALLEGRA (TIE-DYE), VINCE (SNEAKER) AND ZOË CHICCO (NECKLACE)

DAINTY GOLD JEWELRY

“I’m always wearing a little gold necklace. That’s one of my signature pieces at Willow’s.”

Zoë Chicco, 14K Single Diamond Choker Pendant Necklace, $355, zoechicco.com, Available at Willow + Mercer

30Avenue 850.231.5100

Pier Park 850.234.6200

EMERALDCOASTMAGA ZINE.COM

August–September 2016

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panache NOW OPEN

 WHAT’S IN STORE? A roundup of retail happenings throughout the Emerald Coast

by ZANDRA WOLFGRAM

Adding to its 465,000-square-foot, 110-store retail empire SILVER SANDS PREMIUM OUTLETS welcomes ECCO. Located near Nike Factory Store and Columbia Sportswear Outlet in a 3,000-square-foot space, ECCO is known for its stylish, high quality and comfortable footwear. The innovative shoemakers and skilled craftsmen behind the company continue to produce most of each shoe by hand. Under Armour is in the process of expanding their footprint at Silver Sands Premium Outlets. During construction of their new space, which is expected to open in June, the company will remain in their current location. Additionally, the retailer has opened a temporary Under Armour Youth store, located near Nike Factory Store to house their youth merchandise. Silver Sands Premium Outlets also recently celebrated the grand openings of Taylor Made Golf Factory Store, Auntie Anne’s Soft Pretzels, Converse and a remodeled Sunglass Hut.

The muchanticipated opening of ANTHROPOLOGIE in Grand Boulevard Town Center enjoyed an enthusiastic response to its artful opening, which included creative bites by 30A Signature Catering, cocktails and a donation of proceeds from a special preview party to Mattie Kelly Arts Foundation.

LINE-UP CHANGES

STORES GALORE Things are bustling at DESTIN

COMMONS. In addition to the much-anticipated opening of the region’s first Whole Foods Market, Destin Commons has opened Pepper Palace a one-stop shop and tasting bar for hot sauces and salsas; Trailside Outfitter featuring camping, backpacking and hiking gear; and Pink n Blue Avenue owned by Gulia Kirimova, which carries clothing, accessories, shoes and toys with brands that are inspired by children who like to express, explore and create.

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August–September 2016 EMERALDCOASTMAGA ZINE.COM

‘SHELL’ ART GULF PLACE ON 30A is celebrating its place on the Emerald Coast by beautifying its plaza with three turtle artworks, which demonstrate its support of South Walton Turtle Watch efforts.

FINE LINES SANDESTIN GOLF AND BEACH RESORT announces new product lines for the recently remodeled Barefoot Princess and Island Clothiers including Spartina, Gemili Jewelry, True Flies, Molly Bracken, Mariposa, Kate Spade and Escapada as well as new home goods and furniture selection.

Coconut Kids’ new lines include Properly Tied, Volatile Shoes and Blu

by Blu. The resort will celebrate its annual Passport to Fashion retail event on Sept. 25 (see calendar for full listing).

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY! Several iconic businesses along the EC have much to celebrate. SUGAR BEACH INTERIORS marks its 30th anniversary this year; AVANTAGARDE SALON & SPA, who recently was voted EC Top Salon for 2016, is aging well as it reaches its 20th year in the business in all things beauty. And speaking of looking good, everyone at DESTIN PLASTIC SURGERY remains ageless though it is now 20.

PHOTOS BY ZANDRA WOLFGRAM (ANTHROPOLOGIE) AND COURTESY DESTIN COMMONS (PINK N BLUE AVENUE), CARMA CRACKERS AND UNDER ARMOUR

Introducing Under Armour HealthBox™, the world’s first Connected Fitness system created specifically to measure, monitor and manage the factors that determine HOW YOU FEEL.

One snappy snack idea sold at Seaside Farmer’s Market was baked by Panama City Beach resident Joanne Trout.

Trout originally baked bread for the market, but after making crackers, she found a creative niche inside the box, so to speak. She crafts her artisan CARMA CRACKERS using non-GMO flour and fresh local ingredients, without any preservatives or added colors. Since they are now available online (carmacrackers. com), you can have good “Carma” all year-round.

THE MARKET SHOPS in Miramar Beach just made shopping sweeter by adding a Ben & Jerry’s and life healthier with Jennifer Gizzi’s Formula Fresh Juice & Coffee Bar.

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August–September 2016

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expression

AUG/SEPT 2016

CREATIVE WORKS LAND ON PAGES, CANVASES AND STAGES

BOOKS

SUNDOG BOOKS

Independent bookstore succeeds even as chains are passing from view 

by HANNAH BURKE

MUSIC photography by CHASE YAKABOSKI

Music Matters

|| STAGE

Jones and Company

|| ARTIST PROFILE

Margaret Biggs

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W

hen it comes to meeting entertainment needs, the American public is hooked on instant gratification — and access to books is no exception.

The rise in popularity of eBooks and digital libraries has caused many chain bookstores to fail, but the success of independent booksellers remains untouched, proving that convenience isn’t everything.

For Sundog Books owners Bob and Linda White, it’s the indie experience that has helped their business persevere in spite of digital-library and chain-bookstore competition.

Nestled in Central Square in the coastal community of Seaside, Florida, Sundog Books has been open since 1986. Linda reminisces about the decision that she and Bob made to open the bookstore: “We both loved books. We had good friends who had successful bookstores in Mississippi, and we wanted to do something at the beach besides a restaurant.”

Although Sundog specializes in fiction, the bookshelves contain an eclectic collection of literary genres.

The collection has evolved over the years. “There’s a lot more non-fiction now,” Linda says. “We have books on architecture, which is a great big part of the store,

The author sits out on the porch and signs books. A lot of people that aren’t well-known get to do it, and they really enjoy that. We’re still kind of out of the way for publishers to send us big names, but we get some because they like ← Sundog Books the area,” Linda says. specializes in books According to the about Florida or Whites, it’s the area written by Florida authors. One shelf and the sense of comis devoted to titles munity in Seaside that recommended by employees. has allowed their business to flourish.

Sundog Books’ loyal following has only grown in the past 30 years.

“It’s not just locals. It’s people who vacation here. They always come in and get a stack to last them,” and style. Cooking books, too — say Linda. they’re always great.”

Patrons receive a Sundog bookTo expand upon their selection, mark with each purchase — a Bob White and his staff members tangible reminder of where you garner inspiration from the weekly obtained the book you spent hours Review of Books in the New York reading under the sun that one Times. The employees of Sundog summer. are huge contributors to the stockAs for the Sundog name, Bob ing process — the store features an White got it from Martin Scorseentire section of books dedicated to se’s “The Deer Hunter.” “Sundogs staff recommendations. The memare circular rainbows on each side bers of the Sundog family, five fullof the sun in a winter’s sky,” Linda time employees and 10 part-time, explains. “It has to be cloudy to have diverse interests that keep see them, but if you start looking, subject matter varied. you’ll see them.”

You’ll also find an assortment Fortunately, it doesn’t have to be of gifts among the books, includwinter to discover one of Seaside’s ing witty cards, unique toys and greatest treasures. Sundog Books T-shirts. A quick trip up the stairs is, in fact, that splash of color in a to the second story of the building shrouded landscape of commercial puts you in Central Square Rebooksellers and digital giants. EC cords, a store founded by the Whites, but now owned by close friends Jenny and Tom King. Customers often float between the book and vinyl collections.

The pastel building that houses both stores resembles the beach homes that permeate the area, complete with a front porch that serves as a frequent hosting site for book signings.

“If your book has been published, you can call us Sundog Books owners Bob and Linda White and make arrangements.

LINDA WHITE’S TOP 5 BOOKS WRITTEN ABOUT FLORIDA OR

BY FLORIDA AUTHORS RISE AND DECLINE OF THE REDNECK RIVIERA

by Harvey Jackson “Jackson provides a fascinating history of the Alabama/Florida coast, told by an insider.”

PANHANDLE TO PAN: RECIPES AND STORIES FROM FLORIDA’S NEW REDNECK RIVIERA

by Irv Miller “This longtime Panhandle chef shares his wonderful recipes while providing snippets of history and photos.

It’s a great present to yourself or others!”

GRAYTON BEACH AFFAIR

by James Harvey “Espionage and romance come together in this brilliant novel, set in Grayton Beach during World War II. Great beach read.”

I DON’T LIKE WHERE THIS IS GOING: A WYLIE COYOTE NOVEL

by John Dufresne “In the second Wylie Coyote book, Dufresne continues to entertain us with a memorable story and characters.”

HOOT

by Carl Hiaasen “A Newbery Honor book and the first Florida mystery/ adventure Hiaasen wrote for ages 8-14.

Very enjoyable. The original plot makes for a fast read.”

photography by CHASE YAKABOSKI

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expression MUSIC

MUSIC MATTERS Crook Stewart seeks to make Panama City a mecca for musicians

by HANNAH BURKE

F

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SCOTT HOLSTEIN/ROWLAND PUBLISHING FILE PHOTO



or Panama City, Music Matters isn’t just a movement; it’s a mantra.

Created by Crook Stewart and his wife, Victoria, Music Matters is a built-from-thebottom-up campaign to reinvent downtown Panama City’s Harrison Avenue as a hot spot for local musical talent — à la Nashville’s Broadway street.

Crook Stewart was born in Panama City in 1956, but he’s been everywhere, man. Upon turning 18, the musician moved to Atlanta, Georgia, where he became a stagehand. In 1989, while working in Atlanta, a friend recommended him for a job with Joan Baez as her tour manager. This would be the beginning of Stewart’s ongoing 27 years of tour managing, landing him gigs with Jackson Browne; Crosby, Stills & Nash; Art Garfunkel’s and The Rolling Stones.

“In general, all the bands have a booking agent and a personal manager. Those two get together The ground floor of Crook and decide where and when the Stewart’s home artist is going to play. Once that’s in Springfield, next to Panama been decided, they pass it along City, is devoted to me and I pretty much take to a performance space, The Ghetto care of the rest,” Crook Stewart Palace, which plays says. “Tour managing is all of host to informal, spontaneous jam the logistics for the tour, as far as sessions involving where everybody’s going to fly musicians young and old. into at the beginning, when the buses are going to pick them up and arranging hotels.”

Stewart, who is currently on the road with Graham Nash, estimates that he will be traveling for over 10 months this year, alone. However, the Emerald Coast is still the place he calls home.

“I am fortunate enough to have been able to travel,” he says. “I’ve been able to go out into the world and soak up all the culture — and then enjoy paradise when I get back home! One of the things that I missed was that there wasn’t much of a music scene going on in Panama City, which is why my wife and I got involved with Music Matters. We always thought that it would be even more of a paradise if there was some culture to go around as well.”

Thus, the Ghetto Palace was born: Crook and Victoria’s Springfield home on the top floor and a rockin’ concert venue on the bottom. »

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ARTWORK BY MARK BONNER

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August–September 2016 EMERALDCOASTMAGA ZINE.COM

“What we realized was that there were a lot of different talented people from our area who really didn’t have a place to go out and play, or be seen or heard,” Stewart says. “We open our doors at 7:30, and normally there’s a line down the block to get in. We go until about midnight, so usually that means about 20-25 different artists will be on stage throughout the course of the evening.”

With no predetermined lineup, musicians show up, sign in and take the stage. “It’s just us entertaining and having friends over to play and people over to listen,” Stewart continues. “We’re not a business in any form or fashion; it’s just our way to give back to the musical community.”

Stewart likes to keep an eye out for bands that may be the “next hottest thing.” Rather than have these artists move to places like Austin or Seattle to gain success, the couple’s goal with Music Matters is to make Panama City “Music Matters a location where these bands can stay. shows it doesn’t “If you look in Austin always take a and Nashville, both of government or those two cities were built on the backs of music. taxpayers’ money That’s what made those to make this haptwo metropolitan areas pen. What it really what they are. So I think music could do the same takes is people for our area.” getting together About two years ago, and having a the Stewarts organized a meeting to ignite shared vision.” the Music Matters — Crook Stewart, movement. The interest Creator of Music Matters was evident: The mayor showed up, along with a few commissioners and support from the Downtown Improvement Board. A plan was formulated by which musicians played for tips only for a month, without being paid by the businesses in whose buildings they played.

When that month was up, those businesses had experienced some of the highest grossing nights of their history, leading them to pay for live entertainment from then on.

“We really want to see the musicians rewarded a little bit better, because they kind of suffer in Nashville,” Stewart stresses. “They are the ones responsible for that city’s success, but they’re also the ones getting shut out by it because they’re working for tips only. The city becomes hot property, their rent goes up. If Panama City starts taking shape as a music and arts mecca, we want to see the artists rewarded for turning the city into something more than it was before.”

The best way to get involved, Stewart advises, is to support live, local music and buy art from resident artists. “Music Matters shows it doesn’t always take a government or taxpayers’ money to make this happen. What it really takes is people getting together and having a shared vision.” EC

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expression STAGE

JONESIN’ COMPANY One of the EC’s most popular bands turns 25

by REBEKAH SANDERLIN

M

usic lifts us. It soothes us, distracts us and keeps us company. Good times or bad, at peace or at play, there’s a soundtrack to our lives.

And Cheryl Jones has made it her life’s mission to find — or write — the perfect song to suit every moment.

“Music is a conduit for me,” Jones says. “It flows through me and takes a part of me with it.

And I take a part of it with me.”

Jones’ music has provided a soundtrack for people along the Emerald Coast since 1988, when, at the urging of a cousin who had already relocated here, Cheryl and her husband, Denny, left their hometown of Detroit and put their roots down in the Florida sand. They formed their band, Jones and Company, the following year.

“This community allows us to live the dream,” she says. “The sea breeze is really inspiring. People here are calm, accepting and ready to just go with the flow.”

Jones and Company is

↖ Since 1988, Cheryl Jones and a merry band of gentlemen have been making funky music together on the Emerald Coast — music that reflects her Detroit roots.

celebrating its 25th anniversary this year with the release of a new CD titled, “Raise the Roof.”

As the musical director for Jones and Company as well as the lead singer, primary songwriter, wife of the bassist and mother of the trombone player, music seeps into every aspect of Cheryl’s life — and that’s just how she likes it. The eldest of five children, Cheryl was raised in the midst of the golden age of Detroit music. Weekly family jam sessions were a common occurrence when she was growing up. When Cheryl’s siblings — all musicians, themselves — come to visit, they often join Jones and Company onstage.

Jones and Company has another frequent addition to their line-up: Cha’Blis Chevrolet.

Pronounced like “Shall-Believe-Shall-Roll-Hey!” Cha’Blis is Cheryl’s alter ego, a sassy and funky diva who allows Cheryl to

step a bit further away from her other alter ego, the philosopheracademic.

“I think all artists, at some point, are philosophers,” she says.

“There’s a reason that lurks behind what artists make and do.”

Cheryl isn’t your casual philosopher, however. She holds an interdisciplinary master’s degree in classical music, psychology and philosophy, and a doctorate in education. She also teaches philosophy and ethics to students at Northwest Florida State College — when it isn’t Sunday night and she’s in Destin at AJ’s, channeling Cha’Blis to sing some “tell-it-like-it-is” blues.

Because Jones and Company performs in an area where members of the audience are often tourists on vacation, the band has to be comfortable with playing many different musical styles, or whatever a diverse audience craves.

“When I describe our music, what I usually say is that we’re basically funk, R&B and jazz, with nostalgic notes from the ’50s, ’60s, ’70s, ’80s and ’90s, mixed in with our original music, reggae, salsa, Brazilian, African and New Orleans music, complete with Hawaiian and South African overtones, with just a touch of Jimmy Buffett and Journey, and lots of references to Beethoven, Debussy and Steely Dan,” Jones says.

Got that? In other words, if a kitchen sink could get funky and make you want to dance — that’s Jones and Company.

Jones is fond of her close relationships with her audience. “We’re not just Jones and Company, we’re Jonesin’ Company,” she says. “We are longing for your company, your presence. And we know that at some point, y’all are longing for us.” EC

is apt to look differently depending on the performance and venue. Sometimes the band plays as an 8-piece band, sometimes a 4-piece band. And sometimes JONES AND COMPANY Cheryl sings solo. Jones and Company Band members include: Cheryl Jones on keyboards and vocals; Denny Jones on bass, guitar and vocals; Brent Purcell on drums and percussion; Paul Scurto on trumpet and vocals; Ellis Jones on bass trombone; Ike Bartley on saxophone and vocals; Wayne Burkholder on guitar and vocals; and Stanley Watson on drums and percussion. Jones and Company performs as a 7- to 8-piece band every Sunday from 4 to 8 p.m. at AJ’s, in Destin; as a 3-piece band every Wednesday night in the courtyard at Ruth’s Chris in Destin; and as a 4-piece group every Friday night from 8 to 11 p.m. at Bric à Brac, in Destin. They are also frequently hired to perform at weddings, concerts, festivals, conventions and parties.

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August–September 2016 EMERALDCOASTMAGA ZINE.COM

photography by TODD DOUGLAS PHOTOGRAPHY

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expression

MARGARET BIGGS Painting a path to inner peace

M

argaret Biggs has always had a deep appreciation of and love for visual expressions of creativity, but it wasn’t until her early 30s that she began to earnestly explore her own talent for painting. Since then, she has developed an artistic process that involves meditation and tapping into her deep spiritual connection with nature.

“All of my work is extremely testimonial to my own journey … toward inner peace,” Biggs says. “I find that sense of peace in nature, where I feel a true communion with the divine. That natural beauty and strength and sense of peacefulness is what inspires my work, and people see that and feel it when they look at my pieces.”

More than anything else, Biggs seems to find fulfillment in disseminating that peacefulness and in fostering and facilitating the emotional healing of others through her art. As a longtime student of meditation, she’s well aware of the powerful ways that visual images can affect the soul. Her paintings of rocks and shells and her landscapes and

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

by LIESEL SCHMIDT

PHOTO BY PHILLIP MAKSELAN (BIGGS) AND COURTESY MARGARET BIGGS (PAINTING)

ARTIST PROFILE

seascapes visually echo her life and the lives of those around her.

“My broken seashells (paintings) have become metaphors for … life,” Biggs says. “We can all get a bit beaten up and broken during our lives; but if we maintain a spiritual connection to the divine, then we can grow in beauty on the inside. For me, shells represent ← that so clearly.”

Paintings Biggs’ style is extremely distinct, including this with a feminine quality that is recone titled “Within and Beyond” ognizable in each of her pieces, result from the regardless of subject matter. That, artist’s unguarded trust of her in itself, is highly important to any imagination. successful artist, as it sets the artist apart from all others. But Biggs’ distinctive style isn’t intentional; it’s intuitive and inherent.

She follows many of the processes that other artists have for centuries, taking photographs and then transferring the images onto paper before sketching them out on canvas; but somewhere along the way, imagination takes over and guides the brush and the flow of paint to unlock images and evoke emotions that could never be captured by strict interpretation.

“There’s got to be a passion and a deep feeling of connection to what I’m seeing for the inspiration to come,” Biggs explains. “My paintings have a very ethereal quality … yet they kind of have an abstract feel to them, as well — even though the reference is based in reality. My imagination plays a very large part (in) what I do, and about halfway through the process, I put the photograph away and allow my imagination to take off. Somehow, in (doing) that, the painting takes on a life of its own.”

Whether it’s due to the vitality of Biggs’ artwork or to the sensations of peace and healMargaret Biggs’ ing that viewing her paintings evokes, several paintings have state hospitals, doctors’ offices and medical fabeen acquired by cilities across the country have purchased her the Ritz Carlton pieces in their efforts to incorporate natural Hotel in Sarasota and alternative methods of healing into their and can be found traditional medical practices. Contributing for sale at Edward Montgomery Fine to the well-being of others has been one of Art Gallery in Biggs’ greatest achievements as an artist.

Carmel, California; “There’s something so fulfilling about (it),” Artblend Gallery in she says. “(It’s) one of the things that gives my Fort Lauderdale and work (the) most meaning.” There is no doubt at area art festivals that Biggs’ paintings reach far beyond the and shows. canvas to influence and inspire others. She’s For more information on leaving a legacy, touching life after life, one Biggs and her artwork, visit margaretbiggs.com. painting of a rock, seashell or tree at a time. EC

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FRESH SEAFOOD?

One of the first questions people ask when they visit our area is “How can we be sure we’re getting fresh seafood?”

That’s an excellent question. There is a good chance that the seafood you will be offered traveled farther than you did. In the state of Florida, even though we are surrounded by water, more than 90% of the seafood sold this year will be imported from other countries.

Throughout the United States, the huge majority of seafood is imported.

Most of it is mislabeled. Frozen seafood is sold as “fresh” and imported seafood is sold as “local.” According to Oceana, 93% of fish sold as red snapper is actually some other species. 57% of tuna sold at sushi bars throughout the country is not tuna. Most of the tilapia served in this country comes from Viet Nam and Thailand and much of it is farmed in waters with sewage run-off and the source of feed is pig feces.

Harbor Docks has been selling fish through its wholesale market since 1981. We sell to markets across the United States and Canada. We also sell to select restaurants along the Gulf Coast. Harbor Docks contracts with over 100 commercial boats to insure that we have an adequate supply of fresh fish.

We invite you to dine at our restaurants – Harbor Docks, in the heart of Destin, and Camille’s, overlooking the Gulf in Crystal Beach. But we’d also encourage you to try any of the wonderful, independent, local restaurants in our area that are committed to serving Florida seafood.

We know who they are, because we sell them their fish.

Check our website to find out which restaurants sell certified Gulf-to-Table fish from Harbor Docks Seafood Market.

DES TIN , FL | 850. 837. 2506 | H A R B O R D O C K S .CO M S E A F O O D & C O C K TA I L S

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Snapper and Tuna stats: http://oceana.org/en/news-media/publications/reports/oceana-study-reveals-seafood-fraud-nationwide Imported seafood stat: http://www.fishwatch.gov/farmed_seafood/outside_the_us.htm Tilapia/pig feces: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-10-11/asian-seafood-raised-on-pig-feces-approved-for-u-s-consumers.html

August–September 2016 EMERALDCOASTMAGA ZINE.COM

gastro&gusto AUG/SEPT 2016

DINING, IMBIBING AND LIVING LIFE TO THE FULLEST

IT WILL MAKE YOU MELT

HANDCRAFTED FROM THE HEART Southern Craft Creamery churns up a sweet story

by REBECCA PADGETT

Summer is the slight coconut scent of sunscreen mingling with a smoky tinge of barbeque, the screech of seagulls at the beach and the crashing of azure waves, the feel of sand between your toes and the sun creating freckles on your face, the bright hues of sundresses and the sunsets watched at the close of an endless day. But, what does summer taste like? Indisputably, ice cream.

HOME COOKIN’

Peach Cobbler

photography by LAWRENCE DAVIDSON

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Mimmo’s Ristorante Italiano

|| LIBATIONS

Mojitos

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gastro & gusto Flip flops smack the sidewalk as you chase their own dairy farm, appropriately named Cindown the ice cream truck playing Christmas dale Farms, in 1994. First and foremost they intunes in the middle of July, churning homemade tend to pay homage to great tasting milk. ice cream with grandma and the sticky, sweet Their daughter, Lauren O’Bryan, came in contrail of rainbow ice cream dripping down your tact with a man making his own ice cream in Atelbow at a baseball game. Something about sumlanta and he was interested in learning more about mer evokes our most treasured memories, many dairy. She set up a meeting between the ice cream revolving around this creamy creation. maker and her parents. From there, it was history.

Ice cream can start a conversation, in fact, “That night we laid in bed and looked at each that’s what the owners of Southern Craft Creamother and said, ‘Why aren’t we doing this in ery in Marianna, Florida intend for it to do.

Florida?’ ” laughed Cindy Eade.

“We want our ice cream to be the glue that Their daughter and son-in-law Zach took on gets people to sit down together and talk to each the idea at full speed, attending ice cream school other,” said Dale Eade of Southern Craft Creamat the University of Wisconsin (yes, this is real) ery. “We are all busy as a family, but sitting down and spending a year perfecting the company’s at the table was the time to talk. We hope our ice now-famous base of sweet cream. Cindy and cream allows family and friends to sit down and Lauren also attended Pennsylvania State Univisit with each other. If that happens, all of our versity’s ice cream school. efforts are worth it.”

This business is family operated to the core as People are talking, that’s for sure. With unique the Eade’s oldest daughter Meghan and her husflavors such as strawberry balsamic, roasted baband Brad Austin manage the farm. Cindy and nana with salted peanuts and salted dark chocDale prefer to go without titles as they do it all. olate, just to name a few, it’s no wonder taste Operators, distributors, janitors, flavor creators, buds all over North Florida are tingling. Word milkers and much more. Helen Taylor is not an must have spread because in 2013 they sold their immediate member of the family, but she might first pint. Within that same year, as well be since she grew up on the While a pint-sized Southern Craft Creamery was the farm next door. Helen is the charbusiness, Southern Craft overall winner of the Made in the ismatic and cute-as-a-button mind Creamery has a regional South Award for Garden & Gun behind building on the marketing reputation. Dairy farmers Cindy Eade, left, and her magazine. foundation laid by Lauren. husband, Dale, right, and At the heart of it all, Dale and They capitalize on being a small the girl next door, Helen Cindy Eade are dairy farmers and operation that is deeply rooted in Taylor, are key players in the operation. have been since 1980. They opened meaningful relationships with »



AN ICE CREAM SAMPLER While chocolate, strawberry and vanilla are forever favorites, Southern Craft Creamery offers a variety of unique and tantalizing flavors. ➸ SALTY CARAMEL Handcrafted caramel complicated with a little salt and vanilla. ➸ COFFEE Locally roasted beans from Amavida Coffee steeped in sweet cream. ➸ ROASTED BANANA WITH SALTED PEANUTS Salted peanuts and rich cream accompany sweet bananas roasted in butter and brown sugar. ➸ TUPELO HONEY Sweet yet complex flavor that showcases honey from Longbeard Hives. ➸ BAY LAUREL A delicious pairing of bay laurel leaves and milk, giving it a light, floral taste. ➸ COCONUT CREAM Coconut steeped in milk develops a rich, creamy base in which pieces of toasted coconut are tossed. ➸ CANDIED BACON This one is for the sweet and salty lovers. All the salty goodness of bacon, but in ice cream. ➸ ORANGE BLOSSOM HONEY The state’s signature fruit and countless pollinators yield a special sweetness. ➸ STRAWBERRY BALSAMIC Classic strawberry is elevated to new heights when combined with balsamic syrup. ➸ SATSUMA GINGER Sweet citrus notes of Satsumas from Cherokee Satsumas in Marianna are joined with spicy ginger.

— REBECCA PADGETT

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August–September 2016 EMERALDCOASTMAGA ZINE.COM

photography by CHELSEA MOORE

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August–September 2016 EMERALDCOASTMAGA ZINE.COM

gastro & gusto their customers as well as their vendors. Currently, their ice cream can be found in North Florida, Gainesville, Orlando and a few towns in Alabama.

Because they deliver the products themselves they prefer to stay in a range they can travel to and from in the same day.

“We aren’t going to be a national company, that isn’t in our DNA,” explained Dale. “We avoid corporate and distribute ourselves because the people we do business with own our ice cream and own our story. They know our story and care about it like they should.”

Not only do they distribute local, they use local by showing love to their fellow farmers or small business owners.

“Our satsumas are from Jackson County, Tupelo honey COME AND GET IT from Calhoun County, pecans Throughout the Emerald Coast from Pensacola, strawberyou can find their ice cream in the following locations: ries are from Floral City, the coffee is local from Amavida ➸ AMAVIDA COFFEE and the chocolate is from a ➸ CAROUSEL SUPERMARKET company in Asheville, French Broad. We do anything we can ➸ SIGNATURE MARKET AND CAFÉ OF 30A to help other small, local busi➸ LA CREMA TAPAS AND nesses. We even put them on CHOCOLATE our labels,” said Taylor. ➸ EDWARD’S FINE FOOD On these labels you will AND WINE not find an ingredient that CK’S FEED & SUPPLY ➸ you don’t recognize or can’t ➸ GEORGE’S IN ALYS BEACH pronounce. There is noth➸ CK’S SEAGROVE BEACH ing artificial or produced in a MARKET & CAFÉ lab. The only ingredient that ➸ MODICA MARKET comes from a bottle is the ➸ FOR THE HEALTH OF IT highest-grade vanilla extract.

As farmers and people dedi➸ WHOLE FOODS IN DESTIN cated to a quality craft, this is ➸ BUCK’S PIGGLY WIGGLY EXPRESS a rock-solid foundation that will not sway. ➸ APPLE MARKET “One of the tenants of our ➸ EVER’MAN NATURAL FOODS foundation and one of the reasons to do this at all is we see ➸ BUBBA’S SWEET SPOT today that people are yearning for information on where their food comes from,” said Dale. “Most companies don’t have the resources to answer those questions honestly. We wanted to have the opportunity to have that conversation about where our products come from because we know.”

As the sun rises, five gallon buckets filled with milk from over 500 cows are being transported from a 467 acre farm to an old peanut factory six miles down the road. The ice cream is made in a 30-gallon pasteurizer and then stabilized for 18-24 hours before being placed in a freezer at 25 degrees below zero. Over 20 different flavors sit in those freezers made with more heart than could possibly be measured. EC

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August–September 2016

57

gastro & gusto RECIPES

↙ Aunt

Edith’s Peach Cobbler INGREDIENTS:

» ½ cup unsalted butter » 1 cup all-purpose flour » cups sugar, divided » 1 tablespoon baking powder » ⅛ teaspoon of salt » 1 cup milk » 4 cups fresh peach slices » 1 tablespoon lemon juice » A sprinkle of ground cinnamon

↖ The marriage

between peach cobbler and vanilla ice cream may be as indivisible as any other in the world of food.

HOME COOKIN’

JUST PEACHY And simply delectable

by SUSAN BENTON

I

f summertime has you dreaming of peaches — the sweet stone fruit so iconic to the South that it evokes memories of the freshpicked, perfectly ripened bite — then you are not alone.

Bursting with flavor, peaches were first discovered growing wild in China, where they are considered a symbol of immortality and friendship.

Spanish missionaries brought peaches to the New World in 1571, and since 1982, Americans have celebrated this luscious fruit each August with National Peach Month.

Boasting under 50 calories and no fat, along with being rich in phytochemicals called phenols that act as antioxidants, as well as being packed with vitamins A, C, B1, B2, B3 and

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B6, to name a few, it is no wonder that peaches are so beloved.

Although Georgia is known as “the Peach State,” South Carolina and California actually out-produce them by number. Here in Northwest Florida, when seeking their chin-dripping sweetness, plan to visit your local farmers market along the Emerald Coast during the months from mid-April to August, when peaches are at their peak.

When shopping, don’t be fooled into thinking that the pretty red blush indicates ripeness, but instead look for color at the stem’s end that is golden yellow or white, but not green. The fruits might be firm but should not be rock hard. Also, when you get your peaches home, place them on

August–September 2016 EMERALDCOASTMAGA ZINE.COM

the counter, or, to ripen them quickly, put them in a paper bag. Peaches are ripe when they give slightly to the touch, much like an avocado.

With grandparents who owned a peanut farm in Georgia that also produced peaches for home consumption, I grew up eating my fair share.

The summers were hot but the memories golden, just like the delectable fruit.

Cooks can let their creative juices flow when making my great Aunt Edith’s recipe for peach cobbler. She was well known in the community for her coveted dish, a simple mixture that, when baked, leaves taste buds begging for more.

Another favorite in our household is the refreshing Peach Bellini. The Bellini is said to have originated at Harry’s Bar in Venice, Italy, in the 1940s, created by founder Giuseppe Cipriani in the garments of St. Francis in a famous Bellini painting. It is the perfect sunset cocktail to sip on while entertaining guests and a fantastic option over a mimosa for brunch. To that I say, Salute! EC

PREPARATION:

Melt butter in a 13- by 9-inch baking dish. Combine flour, 1 cup of sugar, baking powder and salt, and then add milk, stirring just until the dry ingredients are moistened.

Pour the batter over the butter.

In a pan over medium-high heat, add the remaining 1 cup of sugar, peach slices and lemon juice, bringing the mixture to a low boil while stirring constantly, about 10 minutes. Pour over the batter and sprinkle with cinnamon.

Bake the peach cobbler at 375 degrees for 40 to 45 minutes or until golden brown, and then serve warm, topped with vanilla ice cream.

Peachy Keen Bellini INGREDIENTS:

» 2 ripe peaches, seeded and diced » 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice » 1 teaspoon sugar » 1 bottle chilled prosecco sparkling wine PREPARATION:

Place the peaches, lemon juice and sugar in the bowl of a food processor that is fitted with a steel blade and process until smooth.

Press the mixture through a sieve and discard the peach solids.

Place 2 tablespoons of the peach purée into a champagne glass, and fill it with the chilled prosecco. Serve immediately.

EMERALDCOASTMAGA ZINE.COM

August–September 2016

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gastro & gusto

DINING OUT

SAVORY SICILIAN

Take a bite of Palermo, Italy, at Mimmo’s Ristorante Italiano in Destin

by SUSAN BENTON

C

ooking food and doing it as a business is no joke — but Mimmo La Innusa has been hard at work seven days a week, showcasing his talents as a chef and restaurateur at Mimmo’s Ristorante Italiano in Destin, for three years now.

Born in Palermo, Italy, La Innusa began cooking at the age of 5 under the tutelage of his mother and grandmother.

“I have a huge family, over 80 people, and on Sundays and holidays we would feast,” he said. “Everyone brought something to our home, but it was my mother and grandmother who were the most involved in the kitchen.”

Palermo is located in the northwest of the island of Sicily, right by the Gulf of Palermo in the Tyrrhenian Sea. “Growing up there was such fun,” La Innusa said. “I have the best memories, and though I do miss Palermo, my (American) wife, Meghan Hall, and I return each year to visit family, and to find inspiration to create innovative dishes for Mimmo’s blackboard menu that we rotate daily.”

At just 15, La Innussa moved to Florence and then to England to explore new cooking techniques, but found that old habits die hard. After a good friend of his visited

YUMMY 60

↗ Mimmo La Innusa, pictured, presides at Mimmo’s Ristorante Italiana, located in the heart of Destin at the 98 Palma Plaza, 979 U.S. Highway 98 East. The restaurant is open Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 5 to 10 p.m.

Destin and returned describing the beautiful beaches and warm weather, La Innussa felt compelled to see the Emerald Coast for himself. Once he did, he was hooked, and officially moved to Destin within the month.

Right away he partnered with a Miramar Beach restaurateur, sharing the traditional skills he was taught, and was successful in attracting a local following. Wanting to flex his culinary muscles, La Innussa chose to break out on a solo venture, creating a menu that reflected the recipes from his upbringing.

Mimmo’s features Mediterranean-inspired dishes along with thoughtfully handcrafted thin-crust pizzas that are cooked in a matter of minutes in an 800-degree brick oven. Everything is made from scratch

daily, from the bread to the sauces. A granite bar flanked with stone holds the bevy of bottles that shake up the craft cocktails available, and Mimmo’s offers beer and a specialty wine list as well.

In a family-friendly, Italian-chic venue dripping with wrought iron chandeliers that exude Old World elegance, Mimmo’s can seat 150 patrons.

“You must try my favorite, Pasta Carbona with pancetta that is finished in a light cream sauce, and the pan-seared Veal Scaloppini (Saltimbocca) made in a port-wine mushroom sauce,” La Innusa said. “They are so delicious! It feels like home at Mimmo’s. It’s beautiful, comfortable and people feel good here.” EC

Mimmo’s homemade dessert menu is not extensive, but even at that, making a selection is far from easy. Diners struggle to choose among Tiramisu, ladyfingers dipped in coffee, layered with a whipped mixture of egg yolks and mascarpone cheese and flavored with cocoa; cannoli, fried pastry dough filled with sweet, ricotta cheese and chocolate chips, lightly dipped in pistachio nuts; spumoni, Italian ice cream and cheesecake, the traditional creamy dessert topped with whipped cream drizzled in Lambrusco sauce.

August–September 2016 EMERALDCOASTMAGA ZINE.COM

photography by JACQUELINE WARD IMAGES

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August–September 2016

61

gastro & gusto LIBATIONS

Making mojitos with moxie

by ZANDRA WOLFGRAM

H

avana, Cuba, is the birthplace of the mojito, although the exact origin of this classic cocktail is still a mystery. One theory traces the mojito to a similar 16th century drink known as El Drake, after Francis Drake. In 1586, after his successful raid at Cartagena de Indias, Drake’s ships sailed toward Havana, but an epidemic of dysentery and scurvy broke out on board. A small contingency went ashore and came back with aguardiente de caña (a crude form of rum), lime, sugarcane juice and mint. It proved an effective cure and ensures a mojito toast “to your health” means all the more.

You can now travel to Cuba, but it may be a little easier to head to The Pearl hotel’s Havana Beach Bar & Grill in Rosemary Beach when you thirst for the traditional Cuban highball classic.

Inspired by the El Floridita, one of Hemingway’s favorite haunts in old-town Havana, the Havana Beach Bar & Grill is a swank place with swagger. Artist Tommy Crow’s vibrant color-chrome photos and film of Havana add to the nostalgic vibe. A 1938 mug shot of a youthful Frank Sinatra hangs over the piano bar. The charge against him, it says, was “seduction.”



MINT CONDITION

Corey Jernigan, 37, who has been tending bar and mixing spirits for 15 years says in his YOU DON’T HAVE year at Havana he hasn’t tired of mixing their TO VISIT HAVANA; traditional mojito cocktail. “We really love GREAT MOJITOS ARE mojitos and we take pride in the one we serve.

SERVED HERE …

It’s simple, fresh and classic,” Jernigan says.

Havana’s version contains white rum, BUD & ALLEY’S organic simple syrup, fresh lime juice, a splash ROOFTOP BAR Seaside of sparkling water and fresh mint leaves. “I use math when I mix, so I do a two on one, meaning THE CRAFT BAR it’s two ounces of white rum to one ounce of Destin, Miramar Beach, citrus,” Jernigan explains. “And I like to put a Grayton Beach lime on top of the mint, because you don’t want to bruise the leaves when you muddle.”

CUVEE 30A Jernigan contends a proper mojito should be Panama City Beach served in a column glass. “Fifty percent of taste is smell, so you want to keep the mint in your FIREFLY Panama City glass in order to really keep the aroma in your nose to have a full taste experience.”

HAVANA’S BEACH The mix of sweetness, refreshing citrus and BAR & GRILL mint flavors complements the kick of the rum, Rosemary Beach and is probably why this particular cocktail is so popular here on the Emerald Coast, and JACO’S BAYTFRONT why the Havana muddles through several BAR & GRILL Pensacola pounds of mint each week.

The sultry mojito has seeped into many SOTOL TEQUILA & stories of adventure and romance. Legend has it MEZCAL in literary circles it is a favorite drink of author Fort Walton Beach Ernest Hemingway who was a regular at the Havana bar La Bodeguita del Medio.

TOMMY BAHAMA’S Because he supposedly wrote “My RESTAURANT & BAR Grand Boulevard, mojito in La Bodeguita, My daiquiri Miramar Beach in El Floridita” — both the bar and drink, became a sensation.

Luckily, you don’t have to go to Cuba to enjoy this refreshing cocktail. There are plenty of watering holes along the EC who can help you take the mental journey. But if you have a hankering for a hand-rolled stogie to go with your high ball, it may very well be worth the trip. EC

RECIPE Made with award-winning GS Gelato Peach Guava Sorbet

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August–September 2016 EMERALDCOASTMAGA ZINE.COM

COURTESY G.S. GELATO & DESSERTS

→

Peach Guava Mojitos Recipe courtesy of GS Gelato, Fort Walton Beach

INGREDIENTS

DIRECTIONS

➸ Handful of mint leaves ➸ Splash of sparkling water ➸ 2 ounces white rum, more if desired ➸ 3 scoops of Peach Guava Sorbet ➸ Juice of 1 lime

In a cocktail shaker, muddle together mint, lime and GS Gelato Peach Guava Sorbet.

Add the rum and some ice into a shaker.

Shake gently to mix well. Evenly divide liquid between two glasses and add a splash of sparkling water on top. Garnish with fresh mint leaf spears.

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August–September 2016

63

And Baby Makes

Eight Family Provides Special Needs Children with a ‘Forever Home’ story by MATT ALGARIN photography by TIM SKIPPER

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August–September 2016 EMERALDCOASTMAGA ZINE.COM

EMERALDCOASTMAGA ZINE.COM

August–September 2016

65

And Baby Makes

Eight

T

here may be a two-seat Ferrari in James Raffield’s future, but for the time being the Milton resident is perfectly content behind the wheel of his eight-passenger vehicle.

Raffield, who has an infectious laugh and quick wit, and his wife, Julie, are the proud parents of two boys — one 7 and the other 9. Like most families, the day-to-day hustle and bustle keeps them busy, whether it’s preparing breakfast, rushing to get ready for school, planning an outing to the Gulfarium or getting ready for bed.

But for the Raffields, a family of four wasn’t a destination. You see, James and Julie had known for quite some time that they wanted to adopt, and after all the t’s were crossed and i’s dotted on June 2 in front of a local judge, the Raffield family officially grew by three. James and Julie were now the proud parents of a 2-year-old, two 7-yearolds and two 9-year-olds.

“When we talked about children, we knew we wanted to have our own, but we also knew we wanted to adopt,” James said.

“There’s so many children out there that need to be adopted.”

66

“We went in wanting to adopt a single girl,” he added.

Well, we see how that worked out, but that’s perfectly fine by James and Julie, who were matched with their new children back in May of 2015. Later that month, the Raffields met the kids for the first time at a park.

“It just felt right,” James recalls of their initial meeting.

In June 2105, the three children moved into the Raffields’ home on a foster/legal risk basis. Over the next year, the Raffields and their children patiently waited for the adoption process to play out ahead of the June 2 finalization.

Although it had taken quite a bit of time to get there, James said he and Julie, as well as the kids, were calm as they stood before the judge.

“We had anticipated this for so long,” he said. “The kids were all excited.”

While the Raffield family may have just expanded from four to seven, there is another adoption in the works. Once finalized, the Raffields will officially welcome a 7-monthold baby to the family.

It’s been years since James and Julie have

August–September 2016 EMERALDCOASTMAGA ZINE.COM

had to change diapers, but James said he’s an old pro when it comes to changing a baby.

For James, it’s the baby spit-up, not the diapers, that has him a bit uneasy.

Although the Raffields knew they wanted to adopt early on, they had no idea where to even begin the process.

In the state of Florida, there are four types of adoption: entity adoption (an agency or intermediary facilitated adoption), step-parent adoption, close relative and the adult adoption, according to adoption information found at floridabar.org.

“A guy named Travis Hill had come to our church and was talking about the adoption process and a program that was going on,” James said.

Hill connected the Raffields with the team at the Families First Network, which is associated with the Baptist Health Care system.

Families First Network works in partnership with the Department of Children and Families to provide a variety of foster care and related services with entities such as the Lakeview Center, judiciary subcontracted service providers, foster parents, the District One Community Alliances, agency stakeholders and the community, according to its website.

Their services include case management for out-of-home and in-home placements; foster home recruitment, training, recommendation for licensure, and support; adoption support; independent living program; dependency court resource facilitation; subcontract manBlended family: agement; and other reJulie and James lated services to abused Raffield had two children of their and neglected children own when they and their families. committed to adopting one more.

Children that are But one became placed in foster homes four. “We saw a need,” James and with adoptive famiRaffield said. lies through the Families First Network have had their parental rights suspended by the judicial system and are considered to be “special needs,” as they can come from homes or situations where they didn’t have a proper upbringing or family setting.

But that doesn’t mean these children are problematic or will be difficult to raise and nurture.

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For many children in the foster care system, the dream of a “forever home” never materializes.

Matches can be hard to find. But Julie and James Raffield have seen to it that four former foster kids, ages 7 months to 9 years, always will have a family to share their triumphs and tribulations with.

“A lot of people have a misconception that a child did something wrong or they are broken,” said Linda Roush, director of community relations for the Families First Network in Pensacola. “That’s simply not the case.”

In Florida, statistics show there are more than 1,000 children waiting to be adopted.

Many are located on the Emerald Coast and are older, school-aged children and part of sibling groups who want to grow up with their brothers and sisters. While they may have been abused or have physical or emotional challenges, Roush says all they want is to find their forever home. The Families First Network, which has been working in foster care and adoptive services since 2002, finds forever homes for about 200 kids a year on average.

“Every child needs a place they can call home,” Roush said. “They are going to experience life events where you want a family to be there to experience it.”

When it comes to adopting children

68

through the Families First Network, there are specific requirements that must be met by a prospective adoptive family. Both married and single adults may apply to adopt, and prior parenting experience is not required to adopt. Adoptive families must have sufficient income to meet their own expenses, as well as those of the adopted children, but there are no set income limits for adoptive families. Adoptive families must have sufficient room in their home for an adopted child, but there are no set requirements about housing.

Adoptive parents must have sufficient physical and emotional ability to meet the needs an adopted child, but otherwise there are no restrictions on the age or medical conditions of an adoptive applicant. Finally, individuals convicted of certain crimes of violence such as child abuse, domestic violence or murder may not adopt.

As for the adoption process itself, all prospective adoptive families must complete a two-hour orientation and a 27-hour

August–September 2016 EMERALDCOASTMAGA ZINE.COM

training program called PRIDE, which stands for Parent Resources for Information, Development and Education. The program, which has no cost, helps prepare prospective foster and adoptive parents with important information on how trauma impacts a child’s growth and development.

The program also helps families know what will be expected of them as foster and adoptive parents. Adoption applicants must also participate in an adoptive home study. This process includes family as well as individual interviews, police background checks and child abuse clearances, references and income verifications.

“We want to make the best choice” when we are pairing children with adoptive families, Roush said. “Ideally, we want to make sure they get along and have some similar interests.

“You are looking for those little nuances that will help make this a permanent home,” she added.

And Baby Makes

Eight The adoptive families and children spend time together so they have an opportunity to feel each other out. This allows both sides to see if there is good chemistry. The last thing Roush and her team want to do is place a child in a home where the comfort level is not close to 100 percent.

“The process can start over if the child comes back and says they don’t feel comfortable with a family,” she said. “Because most of them are older, they have preferences and they can verbalize what they want and don’t want in a family. Some kids don’t want siblings, so that has to be taken into account.”

But not all children will find a forever home.

“It’s just so heartbreaking when we cannot find a good match for them,” Roush said of children in the foster care system who may spend extended time in the program.

For those who may not find a forever home by the age of 18, the Families First Network does offer assistance programs geared toward life skills training, vocational learning opportunities and housing placement assistance. A lot of the young adults who turn 18 will go back to the family they were removed from before they entered the foster program, but they ultimately come back to the program, Roush said.

But why would someone want to adopt a foster child instead of a child from another adoption service? Well, there are no legal fees involved, adoptive parents are vetted and matched with children that are good fits, the child receives a tuition waiver for college from the state of Florida, the child is covered by Medicaid until the age of 18, and funds for counseling or special medical attention are available to help offset those expenses.

“Most of our children are perfectly healthy and they look like any other child,” Roush said. “They are not bad kids, it’s just more than likely something was wrong with mom or dad.”

So it’s families like the Raffield’s that can

make all of the difference in the life of a child in the foster care system, and sometimes that difference can manifest quickly.

On the first night the Raffields’ adoptive children spent the night in their home, they had already started calling James and Julie their mom and dad.

“The foster parents had told them we were the people that were chosen to be their forever family,” James said. “I guess they were already mentally ready.”

While it seemed a bit awkward at first, James said they didn’t correct the children.

speed, as we need to teach them all the life lessons and expectations that we want them to be familiar with,” James said. “That’s probably been our biggest challenge so far, teaching them what we expect of them and how to be their best.

“These are children who may not have had the best home life or upbringing, so they are at a disadvantage compared to our biological children who have had seven and nine years to learn our way of doing things,” he added.

Looking back 10-15 years, James said he definitely didn’t imagine he would have six children, but that’s part of the fun and his growth as a man and father.

“These children need help, whether it’s educational, spiritual or just plain love,” James said, “because they may not have experienced that in the past.”

If you look at the day-to-day life in the Raffield home, it has changed just a bit. Or maybe quite a bit now that the family has grown. Everything takes just a little bit longer when it comes to outings. Instead of planning outfits, car seats and bags for two children, the Raffields now have to pack up their eight-seat vehicle for three extra children. Just think about it, with six children ranging in age from seven months to nine years, that’s a lot of laundry. In order to accommodate for the expansion, James laughs and says he went out and purchased the largest washing machine and dryer he could find on the market without having to go with a commercial model.

Although it’s going to take some time for the Raffields’ new children to completely adjust to their new home and new parents, life is amazing for James and Julie, and they are absolutely thrilled with their adoption experience.

“We tell people considering adoption that you have to ask yourself two questions: Have you always loved children? And have you always loved being around children?”

James said. “Those two answers should be the same.” EC

In Florida, statistics show there are more than 1,000 children waiting to be adopted. Many are located on the Emerald Coast and are older, school-aged children and part of sibling groups who want to grow up with their brothers and sisters.

While they may have been abused or have physical or emotional challenges, Roush says all they want is to find their forever home.

The Families First Network, which has been working in foster care and adoptive services since 2002, finds forever homes for about 200 kids a year on average.

If the youngsters were comfortable calling them mom and dad, that was perfectly fine by the Raffields.

“At this point they were technically not ready to be adopted yet, they were still a legal risk case, which means they could have been reunited with their legal parents,” James said.

But it all worked out for the best.

With the June 2 adoption finalization behind them, and the pending adoption of their 7-month-old in the works, the Raffields are turning their focus to the day-today activities that any family would enjoy.

“We just want to bring the new kids up to

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LIFE LINES Heroes who keep the juice flowing story by REBECCA PADGETT

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photo by TODD DOUGLAS PHOTOGRAPHY

I

t’s 3 a.m., and the ink black sky is interrupted by a silver streak of lightning and the reverberating crash of thunder. I’m 7 years old, and I’m afraid. Not so much of the storm, itself, but because I know that soon my dad will receive a call, and he does. In a matter of 10 minutes, his demeanor has changed from a sleepy stupor to steely determination. He kisses his family, but his mind is already on the task that awaits him.

This story is for my father and those like him.

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Utility customers trust that when they flick a switch, there will be light. But line technicians including Demetric Washington of Gulf Power Co., pictured here, know that power is a high-maintenance proposition. Squirrels, trees, storms and wayward automobiles all can lead to calls for emergency service.

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L

LINEWORKERS VARY IN age, height, size and background, but have much in common: sunweathered faces, farmer’s tans and hearts of service. They have thick skins, adapt well to sudden developments and tend toward fearlessness. Weather seemingly has no effect on them. Their uniform consists of long sleeves, jeans and boots, even in temperatures soaring into the 90s.

On a given day, those same garments may be rain-soaked and caked in mud.

Few people are cut from fabric durable enough to handle this line of work. Few would choose to find themselves 40 or more feet in the air with 7,200 volts pulsating around them. The lineworker’s work life is not one of pencil pushing and key stroking. Instead, they answer calls arising from a squirrel that has tripped a line, a drunk driver who has hit a utility pole, or even a hurricane whose path is on track to devastate a city.

Every day, the lineworkers of Gulf Power rise to meet the challenges that face them at the top of a pole.

Life on the Line

COURTESY GULF POWER

Countless sources report linework as one of the most dangerous professions. Although every safety precaution is taken, lineworkers are cognizant that injury and death can occur on Joyce Vanselow, a the job. They assume those risks Panama City Beach service technician for as readily as they tie their boots, Gulf Power, has been on strap on their safety belts and head the job for 15 years. She into the elements, always without describes her role as “tough, but rewarding,” asking for an ounce of praise. and one that requires “I think of how hard it can be uninterrupted safety sometimes and, too, how dangerous consciousness.

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“THEY ARE OUT IN THE MOST UNCOMFORTABLE ENVIRONMENTS, NOT BECAUSE THEY ENJOY WORKING IN A STORM, BUT BECAUSE THEY FEEL A TREMENDOUS RESPONSIBILITY TO CONVENIENCE AND SERVICE THEIR COMMUNITY.” — Barry Moline, executive director of the Florida Municipal Electric Association (FMEA)

it can be,” said Joyce Vanselow, a Panama City Beach service technician of 15 years. “We are very safety conscious and we want to make sure everyone goes home at night. It’s a tough job, but a rewarding job.”

A fellow Gulf Power line technician, Demetric Washington of Pensacola, offered similar thoughts.

“The dangers of my job are always in the back of my mind, but the training I have been through the past seven years prepares me for what obstacles I may come across,” he said.

Families are affected when a lineworker is unable to make family dinners, dance recitals, baseball games or holiday gatherings.

“Of course, my family is always worried when I am out in the weather during storms,” expressed Vanselow. “The biggest thing is callouts in the middle of the night. Then there are shifts working weekends and, of course, holidays. It affects you when you are not there for those special occasions because you have to work. It’s also tough when you are working and everyone else is off. But, you balance everything because it’s a very rewarding job.”

While the majority of their time is spent in local towns, lineworkers may be called to respond to the effects of natural disasters across the state or throughout the country. They are no strangers to the destruction and devastation brought about by hurricanes and tornados.

“The worst damage I have ever seen was the 2011 tornado in Tuscaloosa,” said Washington. “It basically looked like a scene out of a movie. I can remember booming up in the bucket and actually seeing the path that the tornado took. It was something I’ve never seen before in my life.”

LAWRENCE DAVIDSON

At The Ready The Florida Municipal Electric Association (FMEA), located in Tallahassee, is a voice for linemen throughout the state. Barry Moline is the executive director of the FMEA and appreciates the mindset and devotion of lineworkers.

“The most interesting aspect of the commitment of lineworkers is their attitude toward service,” Moline said.

“They are first responders, much like police or firefighters.

They are ready when there is an emergency, and they respond

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to it immediately. They are out in the most uncomfortable environments, not because they enjoy working in a storm, but because they feel a tremendous responsibility to convenience and service their community.”

While we simply flip a switch to turn on the lights, the process is not so simple for linemen who are working to restore your power. Lineworkers are aware of the inconveniences that a power outage presents and strive to keep outages to a minimum.

“I wish the public understood that we are first responders, too,” said David Shultz, a Gulf Power line technician of 24 years. “When the power goes out, we are the ones that respond, no matter the time, day or weather conditions.”

FMEA realized that lineworkers, while serving their communities, are a community within themselves. They have a language, duties and lifestyle that is theirs alone.

No matter the city, state or country, this line of work unites its workers because it is unique and requires people truly dedicated to responding to the needs of others.

Getting Hooked

LAWRENCE DAVIDSON

COURTESY GULF POWER

Becoming a lineman is much like obtaining a bachelor’s degree. As many as four years are spent in the apprentice phase, during which aspiring linemen must complete 8,000 hours of state-mandated training. The apprentices take written and online tests, along with multiple in-the-field tests.

Line technician David They involve everything from tool Shultz, below, likens his job to that of recognition to safety measures to EMTs, firefighters performing tasks that would be and law enforcement expected on the job. Every test officers: “We’re first responders,” he says. must be passed.

Training facilities Vanselow is a woman in a field like the one at left consisting mostly of men, but this are located in four Panhandle locations. doesn’t appear to affect her.

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“IT’S ABOUT HELPING PEOPLE, PLAIN AND SIMPLE. IT IS THE MOST REWARDING THING WHEN WE ARE ABLE TO RESTORE POWER AFTER AN OUTAGE OR STORM. OUR CUSTOMERS ARE GRATEFUL FOR WHAT WE DO. YES, IT CAN BE HARD WORK, BUT KNOWING THAT WE HELPED BRING A BIT OF NORMALCY TO PEOPLE IS REWARDING ENOUGH. HELPING PEOPLE IS WHAT IT IS ALL ABOUT.” — Joyce Vanselow, a Panama City Beach service technician of 15 years

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he said. “Having electricity has become a necessity in today’s society and it is rewarding to be able to provide that need.”

“It’s about helping people, plain and simple,” explained Vanselow. “It is the most rewarding thing when we are able to restore power after an outage or storm. Our customers are grateful for what we do. Yes, it can be hard work, but knowing that we helped bring a bit of normalcy to people is rewarding enough. Helping people is what it is all about.”

Heart Lines There are many people who enjoy their jobs but, if given the chance to discontinue working, gladly would. I venture to say that this does not apply to linemen. Their lives are irretrievably affected as soon as the hooks in their boots latch onto a pine pole.

Their faces are often sunburned, with a leather-like complexion that may lead to early aging or worse, skin cancer. Their knees creak and crack like dilapidated stairs due to years of climbing. Shoulder surgeries are common because of overexertion. Visits to the chiropractor are as frequent as oil changes. But their blood pulses with adrenaline as they visit heights that few others do. And even as they rise above us, they don’t look down upon us. They are grateful for the ability to give life and light to their cities.

“Lineworkers have it in their gut and brain to have that desire to serve and to keep the fabric of our communities going,” FMEA’s Moline said. “They are the most dedicated people I have ever met, and I greatly admire what they do.

I wish everyone admired what they do. We take them for granted because they work in the background. How often do we drive by a utility truck and thank those guys? They keep our community going, and we often don’t realize it.”

I grew up knowing lineworkers. They talked about their jobs the way I always hoped I would, all smiles, pure fire and an inability to imagine waking up every day to pursue any other profession. I admired their passion, tenacity, ruggedness, fearlessness and, most of all, dedication to service.

Growing up, I always wondered why lineworkers were rarely recognized or honored when I clearly saw the courage and perseverance required by this line of work. Naturally, my father is my hero, but there are thousands of lineworkers throughout this country who display the same integrity and resolve, day in and day out. EC

LAWRENCE DAVIDSON

“I have never considered myself needing any special favors because I am a woman,” Vanselow said. “If I was not capable of doing the job, whether a man or woman, then I would not be a service tech. No one has ever challenged me because I am a woman. We work as a team. I am proud of all my team members and the work we do everyday.”

The alliance among lineworkers is remarkable. They may have disagreements on the ground, but those differences are set aside once their hooks hit the pole. True of any group that works together closely in adverse or dangerous circumstances, close bonds develop.

“The skills that my job requires are great common sense, the ability to learn and problem solve, good people skills with customers and co-workers, courage and the drive to help people,” said Shultz.

Communication extends beyond their pole mates to the community members they encounter. Many have questions about what caused an outage and how long power will be out.

Understandably, many customers express frustrations. The lineman’s number one goal is to satisfy customers, and with hearts of service, they do.

“I love getting the lights back whether I’m working in my area or on a storm trip,” said Washington. “You actually feel good when you get customers’ lights on and can see the look on their faces after they have been without power for a substantial amount of time.”

Shultz agrees. “Restoring power to our customers helps them return to a normal life and I love being a part of that,”

Forty-six feet in the air, this lineman replaces connectors to improve reliability and enhance the customer experience.

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destinations

Ethiopia on my Mind A wandering spirit finds magic, beauty in an ancient locale

by MARINA BROWN

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Ethiopia is a study in contrasts. At one extreme, thatched hut villages remain part of the landscape.

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hether travel is short-lived or the red thread that gives life meaning, it is the change, the surprise, the difference from the expected that is thrilling.

And nowhere on Earth can that more be found than in the landlocked African nation of Ethiopia.

What? Where? What about Italy? Isn’t Paris nice? Why visit one of the poorest countries on the continent, a country twice the size of Texas where 88 languages and hundreds of dialects are spoken, where faith ranges from the most devout of Christians to animists who wear plates in their lips and ritually beg to be beaten?

Yet it is just this schizophrenic mélange of mystery, magic, unspeakable physical beauty and a sense that at last, like gazing deeply into a transparent sea, one can grasp the undulating images of ancient times as clearly as say … the aromatic goat now bleating beside you, that makes Ethiopia the most astounding of countries.

Surrounded by places whose names are guaranteed to make you shiver — Somalia, Kenya, Eritrea, Sudan and South Sudan — Ethiopia has managed to keep its turbaned head above the fray. And although drought and food shortages are currently affecting everyday life, the chants of bearded priests wrapped in white shammas drift upward in the smoky morning air; dancers shake their shoulders in giddy joy at the drop of a hat; and elegant, doe-eyed women repeat the hour-long coffee-making ritual three times a day. Like everything in Ethiopia, they each take their cue from the past.

Addis Ababa is the more or less central capital. There are a few tall buildings there. A university. Hotels. And certainly many Chinese businessmen trying to build yet another factory in the country’s agricultural belt. But it is in the mountainous and lake-dotted north that one finds the ancient, beating heart of Ethiopia.

The sun sets on the city of Addis Ababa, left. Above, a young woman on the village of Axum prepares a coffee ceremony, an important part of Ethiopian culture, while a man plays a masenqo.

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which I planned on using. We share M&Ms; draw pictures of each other; and marvel at the churches carved from the top down into volcanic rock and the ivory-draped monks who live there like holy troglodytes. And when we hug and part ways, Muskula waves his AK like a hankie in the air … goodbye to a human cousin from very far away.

From the northern mountains, south through the Great Rift Valley where tectonic plates collided and where mankind arose, life changes. There, tribal customs shrug off

COURTESY OF MARINA BROWN

YURY BIRUKOV / SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

Scenes from Ethiopia: Above left and far left, two views of the rock-hewn Church of St. George; left, a Gelada baboon sits atop a cliff in the Semien Mountains; above, right, a priest reads a holy book inside the St. George Church in Lalibela; at right, writer Marina Brown with a bodyguard.

Sitting at the feet of a white-robed priest in a rock church near Lalibela, I listen as the old man thumbs through an ancient text painted on goatskin and describes Ethiopia’s glory days when the country’s queen, Sheba, traveled to Israel to meet King Solomon. In a love-atfirst-sight scenario, the queen begot a son who later returned to the land of Israel to meet his father, then brought back with him the Ark of the Covenant to Ethiopia. The old priest, smelling vaguely like the rock niche where he sleeps at night, points out that the Ark is kept under monastic guard in a special palace in the holy city of Axum — never seen, but venerated as the touchstone of the country’s fiercely Christian beliefs. The right “arm” of the True Cross is also claimed by Ethiopia, and also secreted under lock and key.

During a bone-jarring, 12-hour ride through the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Simien Mountain National Park, whose amethyst peaks reach 13,000 feet and whose fields of yellow meskel flowers sprawl across valleys, I make another friend — one of our three AK-47-toting “helpers,” bodyguards who boarded our small bus and sat amicably down beside us. Elderly Muskula and I giggle over the babooshilada — big, nit-picking baboons that show off their 5-inch incisors in the valleys; he teaches me to say, “I want a fish” and “I love you” in Amharic … neither of

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Christianity. The Hamer, the Mursi, the Karo, the Konso peoples shelter in mud and dung thatched huts, carve elaborate symbols on their torsos and arms, modestly cover in goatskin skirts and force platesized discs into their lips.

I watch a man leap over the backs of nine cows in a rite that would ready him for marriage; women begging to be beaten by men with switches, proudly showing their lacerations as proof of how strong they are as possible wives. And I feel my own aesthetic shift watching a young woman being coated with cinnamon-colored mud — and ultimately, along with her friends, finding her beautiful.

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A woman, at top, paints the faces of her children with naturally occurring pigments. They are members of the Karo tribe, which is threatened because the government is taking away their land. At left, a woman from the African tribe, Mursi, with adornments including a large lip plate.

Above, a traditional village of Hamer people in Turmi.

And that is why I travel. To feel myself change along with what I see. To look through the eyes of the people I watch. To shift my gaze to their points of view and practice. And, for a moment, to feel our separateness disappear.

Even now, as I sniff the interior of a small cup made from the horn of a bull,

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I can smell the animal it came from. I think of my little bodyguard whispering, “Babooshilada.” And I feel the warm hand of a priest blessing me in a stone church with his ancient iron cross. Ethiopia changed me, blessed me indeed. As all places do, if only we open our eyes and wander. EC

S P O NS O R E D R E P O RT

Stories from the

Heart INSPI R ING STOR I ES OF PEOPL E H EL PI NG PEOPL E The life-changing care Sacred Heart Health System provides has touched the hearts of many who strive to ensure that this incredible mission of care continues for future generations. Sacred Heart Foundation is proud to be a partner in this endeavor. Please enjoy these “Stories from the Heart.”

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NATHANIEL BOWERSOX

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Courage comes in all sizes

nce upon a time, in the not-so-far-away-kingdom of Crestview, there lived a family — the Bowersoxes.

Daniel worked for the local Walmart and the couple was expecting their first child, Nathaniel. One February day, the child would make his grand entrance into the world and send his family on an unexpected journey within The Studer Family Children’s Hospital at Sacred Heart.

As fate would have it, Walmart, Daniel’s employer, holds an annual campaign to raise funds and awareness for The Studer Family Children’s Hospital at Sacred heart, your local CMN hospital. The proceeds from the 2014 Walmart and Sam’s Club campaign, in conjunction with donations from The Destin Charity Wine Auction Foundation and Caduceus Society of the Emerald Coast, helped to purchase an important piece of lifesaving equipment — a Neonatal Critical Care Transport Unit for The Studer Family Children’s Hospital at Sacred Heart. This purchase would prove impactful for not only the Gulf Coast region, but also for the Bowersox family.

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Feb. 5, 2015, about one month before his due date, Nathaniel was born. Despite the early start in life, the delivery went smoothly. The following day a blockage caused Nathaniel’s small intestine to rupture, earning him one of the inaugural rides in the Neonatal Critical Care Transport Unit. He was transported from Crestview to The Studer Family Children’s Hospital in Pensacola, receiving specialized care during the hour drive in what is basically a mobile Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). The Neonatal Critical Care Transport Unit is a custom designed transport unit that includes state-of-the-art-technology and patient-comfort features. The unit has the capacity to transport up to two newborns at a time, along with one parent or guardian, and is staffed by neonatal medical experts.

The Bowersox family is not the area’s only family to benefit from the new Transport Unit. The Studer Family Children’s Hospital at Sacred Heart has seen a tremendous need across our region for neonatal medicine. As a result, the hospital has made several commitments to our

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community to help ease the growing demand for pediatric care.

Sacred Heart Hospital on the Emerald Coast (SHHEC) in Destin is undergoing a $30 million expansion. Part of the growth plan is to increase the pediatric services at The Family Birth Place. SHHEC is steadfast in its commitment to increase capacity by adding one additional labor and delivery room, one additional antepartum room, five additional post-partum rooms and an expanded nursery that will be capable of treating babies with greater health care needs in the future. Patients can also expect to see additional dedicated pediatric services with increased outpatient services, expanded pediatric clinic hours, telemedicine capability and pediatric-friendly inpatient rooms.

The Studer Family Children’s Hospital at Sacred Heart in Pensacola has also experienced growth over the past year. As the region’s only Level III NICU, the children’s hospital sees more than 800 babies admitted to the NICU each year. In March of 2015, the NICU underwent a $1 million expansion of 12 Level III beds — the highest level of neonatal care available — increasing the total number of NICU beds in The Studer Family Children’s Hospital to 67. The 12bed expansion provides all private rooms.

At just over one month old, Nathaniel would celebrate another milestone within The Studer Family Children’s Hospital at Sacred Heart. He became the first baby to move into the newly expanded Level III NICU. “Being in the NICU, it has been such a comforting experience — and, at

times, a nice distraction — to develop relationships with the other parents. We grow to care about each other, and we are all concerned for each other’s babies,” says Megan, Nathaniel’s mom. “But being up here in the new private rooms where it’s so quiet, I’ve been able to enjoy these private moments with my son. We have more space than I know what to do with, and I’m so excited to share this window view with him.”

The needs of our children across Northwest Florida, South Alabama and South Georgia are tremendous, and the NICU expansion is just the beginning. The Studer Family Children’s Hospital at Sacred Heart has announced plans to care for a new generation of children with a new $85 million four-story children’s hospital, along with a major expansion to women’s services. Sacred Heart Health System is a member of Ascension, the nation’s largest Catholic and nonprofit health care system. Together, Sacred Heart Health System and Ascension have committed $55 million toward the project with the remaining $30 million to come from regional support.

The Studer Family Children’s Hospital is growing to meet the health care needs of families across the region, like the Bowersoxes. The new facility will allow the hospital to provide care for more children, increase access to specialized pediatric and maternity care and consolidate pediatric services in one convenient location. While our walls are expanding, the central mission of the children’s hospital has remained the same — children are at the heart of everything we do.

“Being in the NICU, it has been such a comforting experience — and, at times, a nice distraction — to develop relationships with the other parents. We grow to care about each other, and we are all concerned for each other’s babies.” – MEGAN BOWERSOX

A Message from Carol Carlan A century ago, the Daughters of Charity came not only to build a hospital, but to carry out their charitable mission of providing excellent health care to all people. Today, the hospital continues that same mission. As a truly regional health system, we have grown over the past 100 years, to include three hospital campuses, outpatient facilities, physician offices and other health Carol H. Carlan care services President, spanning 200 Sacred Heart Foundation miles across the Gulf Coast.

While technology has advanced, buildings have grown and services have expanded, the commitment to the mission and vision of the Daughters of Charity has remained the same.

As a statement of faith in the future of Sacred Heart Health System, we embarked upon our Second Century Campaign to help us sustain our mission through the next 100 years. On the following pages, you will read about one of our Second Century Campaign initiatives, The Studer Family Children’s Hospital, and one of the many stories that inspired this initiative, Nathaniel’s story. However, none of this is possible without the support of our board members, associates, physicians, volunteers and donors for their dedication and leadership in support of our mission. On behalf of the Sacred Heart Foundation, we want to say “thank you” for the generosity of our community which helps us support tomorrow’s health care today.

“Be the difference for those we serve.”

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MAKING MIRACLES FOR OUR CHILDREN Walmart and Sam’s Club share a basic belief — that every child deserves the chance to live better. This belief is why the Sacred Heart Foundation and The Studer Family Children’s Hospital at Sacred Heart have enjoyed an incredible 29-year partnership with Walmart and Sam’s Club. Each year, our partners’ customers, members and associates from the 29 stores across our region help better the lives of the thousands of children treated at our children’s hospital each year through their volunteer and fundraising efforts.

From fishing tournaments and bake sales to crazy hats and dance moves, Walmart and Sam’s Club puts the “fun” into fundraising! In 2015, the six-week register campaign raised $258,517 for The Studer Family Children’s Hospital, your Children’s Miracle Network hospital. Our partners’ dedication and commitment did not stop there as they continued fundraising throughout the remainder of the year, raising a grand total of $409,187. Funds raised support the expansion of services at our new children’s hospital that will care for our new generation of children!

“As we look to the future and celebrate the expansion of children’s services across our region, I am honored and humbled by the compassionate and dedicated associates at Walmart and Sam’s Club. Because of their support and the support of many others, children and their families will continue to receive world-class health care in our community for generations to come,” says Carol Carlan, President of Sacred Heart Foundation.

We are grateful our partners believe, like us, that every child deserves a chance to live better. You, too, can help bring life-saving care and miracles to children in our communities. Join us in making miracles by donating at your local Walmart and Sam’s Club store today!

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Walmart Associates with the critical care transport unit

Walmart Associates bringing the ‘fun’ into fundraising

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The Studer Family Children’s Hospital at Sacred Heart breaks ground S acred Heart Health System hosted a ceremonial groundbreaking on May 3, 2016 for its new four-story children’s hospital, which will be named The Studer Family Children’s Hospital in honor of Quint and Rishy Studer. “Sacred Heart is pleased to recognize a couple with passion for improving the health and education of children in our community, and a leader who has improved care to hospital patients across the country,” said Debbie Calder, chair of the Sacred Heart Health System board of directors, in reference to Quint and Rishy Studer. The groundbreaking “is about what the Studers represent to our community, and what Quint represents to healthcare across our nation,” says Susan Davis, CEO of the Sacred Heart Health System. Widely known and respected within the healthcare field as founder of the Studer Group, Quint Studer is a consultant who has worked with 900 hospitals over his 29-year career. Quint and his wife, Rishy, have been strong proponents for the development of our community.

Patricia A. Maryland, Dr.PH, President, Healthcare Operations and Chief Operating Officer of Ascension Health, said: “The leaders of Ascension appreciate Quint’s many contributions of time and

talent to guiding Sacred Heart, and we’re grateful to Quint and Rishy for their tremendous support of the delivery of compassionate, personalized care for children in the Gulf Coast region.”

In his remarks, Quint Studer thanked Sacred Heart and Ascension for investing millions of dollars in Pensacola to care for children. “It shows that they are looking at children, at all children. We’re very fortunate to have Ascension. We’re very fortunate to have Sacred Heart.

How a community takes care of its

less fortunate, says the values of a community.”

In reference to the naming of the hospital, Quint said “on behalf of Rishy, I, and Mallory, we are thrilled with this honor and we plan, with you, Susan, to continue to do the heavy lifting and the heaving fact that we are and we need to continue raise money to make this children’s hospital a reality.”

Join the Studer Family in making the children’s hospital a reality.

Make a gift today at Foundation.

Sacred-Heart.org.

“When parents come to Pensacola and they come to the Children’s Hospital, they won’t worry about being in the right hospital, because they know they are in the right hospital.” — QUINT STUDER EMERALDCOASTMAGA ZINE.COM August–September 2016 89 FOUNDATION.SACRED-HEART.ORG | S AC R E D H E A RT FO U N DAT I O N 5

Stories

Heart from the

S P O NS O R E D R E P O RT

Hospital and community leaders gathered together to break ground on The Studer Family Children’s Hospital at Sacred Heart. As the region’s only children’s hospital, serving families across Northwest Florida, South Alabama and South Georgia, this expansion will provide care for more children, increase access to specialized pediatric and maternity care and consolidate pediatric services in one convenient location.

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1. (L to R): Jeff Hendrix, Carolyn Hendrix, Rishy Studer, Mallory Studer, Quint Studer, Susan Davis, Debbie Calder and Dr. Patterson 2. Dr. Robert Patterson, Medical Director, The Studer Family Children’s Hospital at Sacred Heart 3. (L to R): Quint Studer, Susan Davis and Rishy Studer 4. Jeff Hendrix and Carolyn Hendrix 5. A large crowd gathered for the ceremony 6. Pastor Jenny Medley with friends 7. David Sansing, Chair of the Sacred Heart Hospital Advisory Council

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90 August–September 2016 EMERALDCOASTMAGA ZINE.COM SApril–May AC R ED H E2016 A RT FO U N DAT IO N | FOUNDATION.SACRED-HEART.ORG EMERALDCOASTMAGA ZINE.COM

Stories

Heart from the

S P O NS O R E D R E P O RT

Sacred Heart Foundation

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Wes Reeder, Attorney

Michael “Mike” Johnson, Owner

Michael “Mike” Baggett

CHAIR

VICE-CHAIR

SECRETARY

Raymond “Ray” Flores, CPA

TREASURER

Emmanuel, Sheppard & Condon

State Farm Insurance

Senior Financial Advisor Senior V. P. Wealth Management Merrill Lynch

Flores, Flores & Garg, P.A.

Autumn Beck

Justin Beck

Philip Justiss

Sister Ellen Kron, DC

MEMBER

MEMBER

MEMBER

Autumn O. Beck, Attorney PLLC

President Beck Partners CRE, LLC

Jane Lauter

Ron Moliterno

MEMBER

MEMBER

VP & Secretary The Kugelman Foundation

MEMBER

Director Mission Capital Advisors

Daughter of Charity

Wes Payne

President – NW Florida Division BancorpSouth

MEMBER

Mall Manager Simon

EMERALDCOASTMAGA ZINE.COM August–September 2016 91 FOUNDATION.SACRED-HEART.ORG | S AC R E D H E A RT FO U N DAT I O N 7

Stories

Heart from the

S P O NS O R E D R E P O RT

Caduceus Society on the Emerald Coast donates to Project Lifesaver The Caduceus Society on the Emerald Coast sponsored the Walton County Sheriff’s Office Project Lifesaver Program to help locate patients who are lost or who wander away from their caretakers and loved ones. The Caduceus Society’s mission is to support the health care needs of the sick and the poor through physician-directed financial support.

Rosemary Beach 11th Annual Girls’ Getaway The Rosemary Beach Foundation hosted their 11th Annual Girls’ Getaway earlier this year to benefit the Rosemary Beach Foundation and Women’s Health Services at Sacred Heart Hospital on the Emerald Coast. The sold-out event featured music, art and fun while raising awareness and funds for women’s health issues. The Rosemary Beach Foundation presented a $10,000 check to Sacred Heart Hospital on the Emerald Coast President Roger Hall and Chief Operating Officer Nina Jeffords.

Attention all Graduates of Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at The Studer Family Children’s Hospital The Studer Family Children’s Hospital at Sacred Heart invites former patients and families of its Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) to the annual NICU reunion on Saturday, October 1, held in the Greenhut Auditorium at Sacred Heart Hospital. This annual event is an opportunity for families to reconnect with the nurses, doctors and team members who cared for them throughout their journey.

For more information call 850-416-1600.

A BOU T TH E SACR ED H E A RT FOU NDATION Since 1915, Sacred Heart Health System has been at the heart of healing for Northwest Florida and South Alabama. Like our founders, the Daughters of Charity, 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 Sacred Heart Foundation.

Through this charitable giving, 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 Sacred Heart’s mission of care along the Gulf Coast.

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92 August–September 2016 EMERALDCOASTMAGA ZINE.COM SApril–May AC RE D H E2016 A RT FO U N DAT IO N | FOUNDATION.SACRED-HEART.ORG EMERALDCOASTMAGA ZINE.COM

Abodes

AUG/SEPT 2016

TRENDS FROM FLOOR TO CEILING, FRONT TO BACK

EXTERIORS

COURTESY OF SUGAR BEACH INTERIORS/MOON CREEK STUDIOS

PRIMPING THE PORCH

The relaxed conversation space 

by LIS KING

DIY

Doghouses

|| GARDENING

Rain Gardens

|| INTERIORS

Rugs

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

Furniture capable of withstanding the elements doesn’t have to be purely practical.

Wicker provides a stylish and timeless option.

“HELLO. COME SIT, HAVE SOME SWEET

tea, and let’s talk about life.”

That’s how we think of America’s iconic porch, and it’s enjoying a renaissance. Half of all new homes are now built with porches — and along the Emerald Coast, one porch often isn’t enough.

“With weather like ours, it’s great to have two porches,” says interior designer Karen Waterfield of Sugar Beach Interiors in Destin. “One in front for neighborly chats, and one in back to hang out with friends and family. At our home, the back porch has become the soul of the house, and I urge anybody with a porch, sprawling or modest, to take it beyond those white plastic chairs.”

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HOW TO MAKE YOUR PORCH INVITING: 1. Take advantage of the new outdoor textiles. Use area rugs and runners to define eating and conversation areas. Use pillows to add splashes of color and pattern, and hang a side curtain to screen out too much sun or nosy neighbors.

2. Add greenery: hanging ferns, herbs and shade-loving flowers in planters, and branches in big bottles, vases or galvanized buckets.

3. No glaring floodlights, please. Bring in pretty lighting, including candles and hurricane lamps. Twine little white string lights through nearby vines or tree branches.

4. Try al fresco napping. A day bed piled with quilts and pillows can do double duty as seating and bed.

5. Weather-resilient furniture designed for inside but built for outside now offers great outdoor looks and comfort. Choose from all-weather wicker chairs and sectionals, and dining tables with recycled wood or metal bases and concrete tops.

6. Think fire for ambiance.

You can go luxe with a masonry fireplace for $5,000 and up, or you can go simple with a $300 firepit.

7. Street noise? A small fountain will screen it out.

COURTESY OF SUGAR BEACH INTERIORS/MOON CREEK STUDIOS

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HONORING THE OUTSTANDING WOMEN during an intimate luncheon on August 19 — women of character PINNACLE AWARDS and integrity, our leaders, mentors and community servants. These BUSINESS LEADERS OF NORTHWEST FLORIDA

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August–September 2016

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IN THE DOG HOUSE

The ideas are endless for the perfect pooch palace

by JASON DEHART

Let’s Get Started! ➸ Make sure the structure is watertight, for obvious reasons, and that the floor is off the ground. The house should be big enough to allow your pup to stand up and turn around, but not so big that it can’t be warmed by body heat. Also, no matter what material you use, be sure to check for exposed nails or staples that could hurt your dog.

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➸ Doghouse plans

abound on the Internet.

You can scale them to fit your particular pooch.

Once you pick out a particular design, you’ll need some fundamental tools to do the job. These include measuring tape, paint, nails, hammer, square, circular saw, table saw, masking tape, paintbrush and perhaps a sander. Of course, don’t overlook the standard safety gear of any DIY project: goggles, dust mask and hearing protection.

August–September 2016 EMERALDCOASTMAGA ZINE.COM

➸ You can use just about

any regular building material for your project, including exterior wood siding, studs for framing, shingles or tin for the roof, plywood and aluminum. You might even repurpose the slats of old unused wood pallets.

TOOLS & SUPPLIES TO HAVE ON HAND

P

eanuts” fans have long known something was a bit odd about Snoopy’s doghouse. As the character became more popular, his house defied conventional physics to accommodate his adventures. It may have seemed normal-sized on the outside, but the interior was enormous.

It contained a rec room, pool table, guest quarters, lots of storage space, a library, stairway, ping-pong table and much, much more. Odder still, for all its inner space, Snoopy was almost always depicted sleeping outside, on top of the gable roof.

Real-world doghouses, however, aren’t quite as magical. Nor can they fly and fight the Red Baron. But that doesn’t mean the outdoor hut you build for your pooch can’t be a perfect retreat and look snazzy, too.

Doghouses can be as simple or as extravagant as time, money and personal preference will allow. That said, there are some essential points that have to be considered during the planning process.

Once the house itself is complete, you might take it a step beyond by adding some simple lighting or landscaping. You could also do something quirky or nerdy, like turn your pup’s house into a Lord of the Rings “hobbit hole,” give it a classic art deco look, or even make it a real-life “cartoon” dog house painted with bright colors and framed with stylized, asymmetrical lines and curves. EC

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SPECIAL PROMOTION

RELAX AND REFLECT Tuskers allows your home to express its style

BY REBECCA PADGETT

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COURTESY OF TUSKERS HOME STORE

A

home is not simply four walls, a roof and a floor. Your home is more substantial than just a place to escape the elements or lay your head to rest. Whether your home is newly constructed and awaiting memories of years to come or has been lovingly lived in for decades, Tuskers Home Store makes it their mission to create a custom interior design that is both stunning and uniquely yours.

With a plethora of accessories, patterns, color palettes and gadgets to choose from, furnishing your home can become overwhelming, especially in an ever-changing industry.

Tuskers will help you visualize your home as a personal escape, whether that includes light and airy color schemes or rich and vibrant patterns.

By assessing your wants and needs for your home, it becomes easy to select an overall theme. From there, Tuskers often encourages picking a few eclectic accent pieces that will be eye-catchers and conversation starters. This may take you out of your comfort zone but will result in a stunning focal point. An ornate area rug, abstract artwork or the mixing of leathers and print fabrics may do just the trick.

With over 1,000 fabrics and leathers to choose from, it is guaranteed you will find a style for you home, if not multiple. A range of options also allows you to select the price point that best matches your budget.

Furnishing your home should be an enjoyable and collaborative experience that aids in furthering the adoration of the space where you spend the majority of your time. The design team focuses on maintaining the overall vision you have in mind based off of your home construction, layout and location.

From the rustic charm of Rosemary Beach to the innovative and bold style of Seaside to the alluring Tuscan-inspired homes of Sandestin, each home is unique yet fitting of its surroundings.

They say that home is where the heart is. Tuskers believes that to be whole-heartedly true.

Your memories and moments are made here and the furnishings should reflect that.

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Eclectic and warm mixes of reclaimed woods, soft metals and natural fibers compose the design foundation of many homes in the area. These pieces bring forth comfort and quality, which are primary, driving forces in Tuskers’ design jobs. The sustainability of these products will serve families for many years of sunsoaked Emerald Coast fun. Subtle greys, whites and browns make for a pleasing color palate in almost any home and allow for key pieces to take the forefront.

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COURTESY OF TUSKERS HOME STORE

SPECIAL PROMOTION

SPECIAL PROMOTION

Each home has a life it was meant to live — whether that be coastal casual with cool blues and island touches or something a tad more vivid or even traditional. Investing time into your home will allow it to reveal its character. You can then design a plan that brings about true potential.

Modern, beachy, artsy, contemporary, classic or a mix of many styles, Tuskers can accommodate.

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Outdoor living spaces can quickly become one of the most important areas in the design process. From summer barbeques to winter bonfires, outdoor spaces often hold as many memories as indoor spaces. In order to make the most of the great outdoors, investment in outdoor furnishings should be considered. The outdoor elements need to be a continuation of the inside of the home in both design and quality. Achieving maximum comfort and superior style is essential. No plastic patio furniture allowed.

The harsh salt air, humidity and heat are also of paramount consideration when selecting outdoor products. Selections must be made of substantial materials if you plan to have them last through a single Florida season.

With top-of-the-line brands such as Tommy Bahama and Summer Classics, homeowners can truly create their own personal backyard resort.

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COURTESY OF TUSKERS HOME STORE

SPECIAL PROMOTION

SPECIAL PROMOTION

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abodes Your Monthly Garden Chores AUGUST

GARDENING

HOW TO BUILD A RAIN GARDEN

➸ Fertilize citrus for the third and final time this year. ➸ Plant fall-blooming bulbs such as Lycioris (red hurricane lily) for fall blooms. Plant Zephyranthes (zephyr lilies) for flowers next spring. ➸ Divide day lilies, amaryllis and crinum lilies if they need it.

RAIN GARDENS HELP REDUCE

stormwater runoff, a growing problem as development increases the amount of ground covered by pavement. They temporarily hold water in a retention area, giving it more time to soak into the ground and return to the aquifer, as well as filtering pollutants before it soaks in. Rain gardens can be beautiful as well as functional. BY AUDREY POST,

➸ Test the soil in your vegetable garden before planting fall crops.

SEPTEMBER

➸ Divide clumping

perennials such as daylilies, crinum lilies, irises and agapanthus now.

MS. GROW-IT-ALL®

STEP 1: Assess your yard for the best location for a rain garden. Consider a low place in your yard, at least 10 feet away from the house to keep water away from the foundation and away from large tree roots. Never place a rain garden over a septic tank.

PESKY PESTS

STEP 2: To calculate the size garden you need, decide how much of your home’s roof will contribute to the runoff. The University of Florida’s Extension Service recommends multiplying the square footage of the roof area feeding the runoff by 20 percent for sandy soil and 30 percent for clay or loam.

STEP 3: Once you’ve chosen your garden’s location, make it 6 to 12 inches deep and level, with sloped edges. It will be higher on the bottom edge than the top. The larger the garden, the greater the variety of plants you can use. Select plants that can stand “wet feet” and, ideally, withstand periods of drought, too.

Otherwise, you’ll have to water during dry periods.

STEP 4: Apply several inches of mulch to suppress weeds and keep the soil cool. Keep the plants watered for the first couple of months until they’re established. You’ll need to weed regularly for the first couple of years, until the plants spread sufficiently.

After the growing season, allow the dead foliage to remain.

Whitefiles can be nasty suckers

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August–September 2016 EMERALDCOASTMAGA ZINE.COM

➸ Buy spring-flowering bulbs as soon as they become available to get the best selection, then store them for planting in November. ➸ Plant your fall vegetable garden: broccoli, cabbage, carrots, collards, arugula, lettuce, leeks, turnips, radishes, mustard, beets, kale, Swiss chard and green onions. ➸ A late crop of summer vegetables such as tomatoes and cucumbers can be planted early in the month.

Whiteflies are common on many ornamental plants, as well as citrus.

They have needle-like mouths with which they puncture leaves and suck fluids. The top sides of leaves on infested plants become pale or spotted, then turn yellow and drop. The problem often goes unnoticed until an infested plant is disturbed and small clouds of whiteflies emerge from it.

WHITEFLIES In addition, whiteflies excrete a sugary substance called honeydew, on which an unsightly black fungus called sooty mold grows. Besides being unattractive, sooty mold may disrupt photosynthesis and cause early leaf drop. Ants feed on the honeydew, often the first sign of a whitefly problem. Insecticidal soap or horticultural oil are the first line of defense against whiteflies. Spray both the tops and the undersides of the leaves. If you choose to use a chemical pesticide, make sure it’s labeled for use on whiteflies and follow the directions. Whichever method you use to get rid of the whiteflies, be sure to follow it with removal of the sooty mold. Spray a mild solution of soapy water on the leaves, then rub them to get the black soot off. Unfortunately, spraying alone won’t get rid of the soot.

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➸ Collect seeds from summer-blooming flowers for next spring. Allow the flowers to form seed-heads, shake the seeds out onto a sheet of newspaper and let them dry. Turn the seeds daily. Store in airtight containers in a cool, dry closet or other dark place.

©2016 PostScript Publishing, all rights reserved. Audrey Post is a certified Advanced Master Gardener volunteer with the University of Florida/IFAS Extension in Leon County.

Email her at Questions@ MsGrowItAll.com or visit her website at msgrowitall. com. Ms. Grow-It-All® is a registered trademark of PostScript Publishing. illustration by CHARLES BAKOFSKY

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INTERIORS

DON’T JUST BRUSH IT UNDER THE RUG Rugs serve a variety of purposes in enhancing the home REBECCA PADGETT by

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August–September 2016 EMERALDCOASTMAGA ZINE.COM

hen you imagine an eye-catching, question-asking object for your home, you likely think of obscure wall art or a luxurious sofa. Your mind probably doesn’t immediately jump to a work of art that you quite literally walk all over — but maybe it should.

Think about it: When you enter a room, your eyes are most drawn to colors, patterns and textures, all of which a rug possesses.

“The properly selected area rug can become another piece of artwork in your space or help to tone down the design of an area,” said Leisa Johnson president of Infinity Flooring.

Because rugs come in a variety of colors and patterns they make an easy accessory or statement piece for any room. Rugs are easy to switch out with the seasons: floral and pastels for spring, bold prints and bright hues for summer and cozy, earthy knits for fall and winter.

Beau Interiors of Grayton Beach is a home interiors and lifestyle store, which offers design services specializing in rugs. Owner, Margie Perry offers unique ways to decorate with this flooring favorite.

“Layering different types of rugs can be fun and add an interesting visual in the space,” said Perry. “For instance, we often place a cowhide rug on top of a natural fiber rug to combine textures. Also, placing a smaller, beautiful fine rug on a natural fiber rug creates a casual elegance and also helps with cost averaging.”

The material of your rug is dependent on a few factors, such as the space it will be occupying and its purpose. Popular materials include wool, synthetic fibers, olefin, nylon, polyester, sisal, sea grass, mountain grass, hemp … and the ↖ list goes on. If you are seeking to make a space While underfoot, more warm and cozy, the fluffier or fuller the marugs should not terial the better. These rugs also act as a barrier for be overlooked.

Their colors, acoustics by absorbing sound between the fibers. patterns and Rugs composed of natural products typically textures make wear better in high-traffic areas such as kitchens welcome and eye-catching or mud rooms. They can handle the elements of contributions to juice box spills and muddy puppy paws. a room’s decor.

“Depending on the area you are using, the rug varies in purpose,” explains Johnson. “At front doors an area rug is used to create a wipe off area to catch debris from getting into main portions of the home.

In living areas they help with creating a warmer environment as tile and wood can be cold under foot.”

There should be a 12- to 18-inch perimeter around the furniture so that the rug receives the attention it deserves.

The finest rugs originated as wool, and this is still the standard for a quality rug that lasts, meaning wool rugs are best suited as the center of attention.

So if you’re seeking a prominent, transitional and practical piece for your home, don’t shrug — invest in a rug. EC photography by LAWRENCE DAVIDSON

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SPONSORED REPORT

DEAL ESTATE JUST SOLD

Beachside palace attracts new owners

by SHELBY BOUCK

Large Gulf-front homes with big lots and panoramic views don’t often go on the market. Add an in-ground pool, two-car garage with carriage house and floor-to-ceiling windows on the entire Gulf side of the first floor, and you’ve found the equivalent of a gold bar among sand dollars. This home sold for more than 90 percent of its list price. It has produced in excess of $250,000 annually in rental income for its previous owners and is sure to serve its new owners as an excellent investment.

SALE PRICE: $8,000,000 LIST PRICE: $8,750,000 ADDRESS: 77 S. Green Turtle Lane, Rosemary Beach SQUARE FOOTAGE: 4,139 BEDROOMS: 5 BATHROOMS: 5.5 YEAR BUILT: 2003

REALTOR SAYS: “The entire second floor of this home is a stunning living room which features cypress ceilings, a stone fireplace and an expansive balcony which runs across the entire width of the home providing spectacular views of the Gulf.”

CONTACT: Linda M. Miller, Rosemary Beach Realty LLC, (850) 974-8885, lmiller@rosemarybeachrealty.com

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COURTESY ROSEMARY BEACH REALTY LLC

FEATURES: Balcony, fenced lot, open patio, in-ground pool, screened porch, breakfast bar, built-in bookcases, crown molding, beamed ceiling, elevator, multiple fireplaces, hardwood floors, recessed lighting, kitchen island, waterfront views in master bedroom, two-car garage with carriage house, floor-to-ceiling windows and balcony across entire first floor.

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SPONSORED REPORT

DEAL ESTATE JUST LISTED

Luxury estates coming to Seacrest

by SHELBY BOUCK

If Mattel could make a life-size Barbie dream house, decorate it in eggshell rather than bubblegum pink, and put it on a bluff overlooking the Gulf of Mexico, it would bear a striking resemblance to homes under construction at Sandy Shores. Projects in progress include this three-story residence featuring an elevator, a three-car garage, a bathroom outfitted in marble and an incredibly spacious kitchen. If you’ve always dreamed of living like the Jay Gatsby of the Gulf Coast, here’s your chance.

PRICE: $9,250,000 ADDRESS: Lot 3, Bluffs at Sandy Shores, Seacrest SQUARE FOOTAGE: 7,726 BEDROOMS: 7 BATHROOMS: 7 full, 2 half YEAR BUILT: Under construction

REALTOR SAYS: “Presiding over the Gulf of Mexico from atop a 28-foot bluff, this will be one of the most exquisite residences along Scenic Highway 30A. Construction of this luxurious estate is estimated to be complete

by September.”

CONTACT: Debbie Webb Watson, Realtor, Scenic Sotheby’s International Realty, (850) 633-4876, debbie@scenicsir.com

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COURTESY SCENIC SOTHEBY’S INTERNATIONAL REALTY

FEATURES: Gated community, swimming pool, infinity hot tub, Gulf views, elevator, open floor plan, three-car garage with carriage house, private porches, kitchen island, double kitchen sinks, two dishwashers, marble bathrooms, hardwood floors, fireplace.

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Professional Profiles Every day we confront choices as we work to improve our lives, advance our businesses, promote our brands and protect our interests. In so doing, we often have occasion to enlist the services of skilled professionals. Who is the best person for the job?

Those can be tough calls, but we’re here to help. In this special section of Emerald Coast Magazine, we profile selected, highly regarded professionals who are proven performers in their fields of expertise. Whom can you trust? Turn the pages of this section and find out.

EMERALDCOASTMAGA ZINE.COM

TURN THE PAGE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT TOP PROFESSIONALS

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August–September 2016

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PROFESSIONAL PROFILES

“

EMBRACE AND EXPRESS YOURSELF THROUGH LOVING WORDS, POSITIVE VIBES AND OF COURSE …

EXTRAORDINARY STYLE.

”

DESTIN COMMONS

S

ince its inception in 2003, Destin Commons has become the gathering place on the Emerald Coast for locals and visitors alike.

With its award-winning lineup of stores, restaurants and community events, Destin Commons has solidified its spot as a landmark destination for the area. Touted as “Best of the Emerald Coast,” “Best in Destin,” “Finest on the Emerald Coast” and the recipient of Awards of Excellence from Trip Advisor and making top 10 list appearances across other channels, Destin Commons’ guests continue to sing its praises.

Whether you haven’t had a chance to stop by and enjoy all the new offerings or you’re a loyal visitor, we welcome you back and look forward to guaranteeing an exciting experience like no other.

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THREE WORDS THAT BEST DESCRIBE US Fashion, Food, Fun!

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WHAT WE ABSOLUTELY CANNOT LIVE WITHOUT Our valued guests, of course!

OUR MISSION Provide a memorable shopping experience to all of our guests by delivering the best atmosphere, service and product selection along the Emerald Coast.

THE BEST ADVICE WE HAVE TO OFFER You are uniquely you! Embrace and express yourself through loving words, positive vibes and of course … extraordinary style.

WHAT WE LOVE MOST ABOUT WHAT WE DO We are able to not just provide the best in shopping, dining and entertainment, but to create a one-of-a-kind experience for all of our guests.

6

WE REALLY SURPRISED OURSELVES THE TIME WE … That time? More like every day!

We run lean and mean, managing over 95 stores and restaurants as well as throwing some of the largest community events in the area with a team of eight.

7

OUR GREATEST ACHIEVEMENT Our annual Smoke on the Coast BBQ and Fireworks Festival. It gets bigger and better each passing year. Mark your calendars, because July 3 is the set date every year and you don’t want to miss it!

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WHAT MAKES US UNIQUE Destin Commons’ architecture and ambiance in addition to our unique to market retailers really creates a special experience for our guests.

MOST PEOPLE DON’T KNOW THIS, BUT WE … Donate over $100,000 to local area charities and organizations each year through our Coins for a Cause parking meter program. Since its inception we have given over $1 million to date.

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HAPPIEST PROFESSIONAL MOMENT … Arriving to work daily excited to work with the best staff around and getting to provide a gathering place for our guests to create experiences and memories.

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KANSAS PITTS

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

Jake Hayes, Heather Ruiz, Dean Smith, Bob Perry, Scott McGuire, Jessica Johnsey, Jeff Bradham and Michelle Sanchez

4100 LEGENDARY DRIVE | DESTIN | 850.337.8700 | DESTINCOMMONS.COM

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PROFESSIONAL PROFILES

FORT WALTON BEACH MEDICAL CENTER Exceptional People. Exceptional Care.

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ort Walton Beach Medical Center (FWBMC) is a 257-bed hospital with over 200 of the most highly respected and qualified physicians in the area. It is ranked nationally for patient safety and infection prevention. It is the only acute care hospital in the Tri-County area qualified to perform open heart surgery and has the only Advanced Primary Stroke Center and Accredited Chest Pain Center, making Fort Walton Beach Medical Center the best hospital in the area to care for your heart.

Fort Walton Beach Medical Center also provides advanced care for critically ill patients. This care includes cardiovascular and trauma injury care units, emergency services and a rehab facility, Rehabilitation Institute of Northwest Florida in Destin, that is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF).

For expecting mothers, Women and Children’s Services at Fort Walton Beach Medical Center is proud to be initiating the pathway to becoming a designated Baby Friendly Hospital. Their highly skilled team of OB/GYNs and nurses provide compassionate

care, while private labor, delivery and recovery suites offer a safe, supportive and homelike environment. Our unique Couplet Care system provides one-on-one nursing care to help mother and baby off to a happy, healthy start. To provide additional peace of mind, should a delivery become high risk, Fort Walton Beach Medical Center has the only Level II Neonatal Intensive Care Unit with neonatologists available 24/7.

1000 MAR WALT DRIVE | FORT WALTON BEACH | 850.862.1111 | FWBMC.COM

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TONY BROTHERS, M.D. Northwest Florida Orthopedics

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WHAT MADE YOU WANT TO PURSUE A CAREER IN MEDICINE? I grew up always wanting to be a physician. My interest in sports led me to orthopedics. The ability to help patients get back to playing sports and performing activities of everyday life resonated strongly with me.

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TELL US ABOUT YOUR BACKGROUND. Like many in our local area, I was raised in a military family. I spent my formative years living in Taiwan, Japan and Okinawa. After my father retired in California, I chose the University of California San Diego for college because of its excellent pre-med program. Next I attended the Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences, which allowed me to combine medicine with serving my country. I served three years as a flight surgeon before being awarded a military scholarship to attend UCSD for my orthopedic residency. I was very fortunate to be assigned to Eglin AFB in 2003. I served as the Orthopedic Chairman, Chief of Surgery and had two tours to Afghanistan prior to retiring last year and starting my next chapter at FWBMC.

3

“

I worked at Eglin Air Force Base for 11 years all the while living in Niceville. I am a part of this community. I coach my kids’ teams, they grew up here and I don’t think there is a better place to live.

Through Eglin I made connections that led me to my position now. I was able to build a practice and set up a trauma program for my community.

”

WHAT IS THE SECRET TO YOUR SUCCESS? I take care of patients in the same manner that I would want my family treated. I take time to explain treatment options and answer all questions. My goal is to minimize any anxiety that the patient or their family may have in the treatment process, especially if surgery is required. I have a wonderful staff that strongly believes in patientcentered care. In addition, I employ all the most up-to-date treatment options to get patients back on their feet.

4

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE PART OF YOUR JOB? I truly enjoy seeing patients return to activities they love. It is a great feeling to get a hug from a patient who tells me that I have given them their life back. That is why I became a physician.

341 NW RACETRACK ROAD, SUITE B | FORT WALTON BEACH | 850.862.BONE (2663) | NWFORTHO.COM

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PROFESSIONAL PROFILES

ERIC L. SANDWITH, M.D. Northwest Florida Heart Institute

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WHAT SERVICES DO YOU PROVIDE? I am a cardiothoracic surgeon. I mostly perform surgery in the chest: coronary artery bypass, aortic valve replacement, atrial fibrillation surgery, pacemakers, defibrillators, minimally invasive lung resection, biopsies and much more.

2

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN IN BUSINESS? I started practice in 2004 in South Florida, but I have been with the Northwest Florida Heart Institute and Fort Walton Beach Medical Center since 2007 working to develop state-of-the-art cardiovascular services.

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WHY DID YOU CHOOSE YOUR LOCATION? I had a wonderful opportunity to move to this beautiful location from South Florida. After I arrived, I soon realized there was a definite need in this area for a local cardiac surgeon who could provide excellent cardiovascular surgical care.

I knew that I would be able to provide this, which would allow the local population to stay and obtain their medical care here, close to home. I have strong, healthy relationships with local cardiologists and hospitals.

4

WHAT ARE SOME OF THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS THAT YOU HAVE MADE WITH YOUR PRACTICE? I have been able to provide local, state-of-the-art care for heart disease and heart valve pathology. I have a great team of physician’s assistants and nursing staff that are specialized in the care of heart patients. I have performed over 1,000 open-heart surgeries since I have been here. I am also the only surgeon in the area qualified to perform open-heart surgery. I was the first in the area to utilize robotic surgery for lung cancer. Most importantly, my complication rates for heart surgery are below the average rate according to The Society of Thoracic Surgeons.

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WHAT DOES THE FUTURE HOLD FOR YOUR PRACTICE? Locally, I plan to continue what I am doing to make the community aware of the remarkable level of success we have been able to achieve.

We actually have better results than the surrounding centers. Globally, as cardiac surgery rapidly evolves over the next few years, I hope to adapt our techniques accordingly to meet the expectations of our patients.

“

I really enjoy getting to know my patients and their families and learning what makes them tick. I enjoy the process of watching them improve over time. I treat my patients like family. Of course, the technical part of my job is fascinating, challenging and demanding all at the same time.

”

1032 MAR WALT DRIVE, SUITE 230 | FORT WALTON BEACH | 850.862.3194 | NFLHEARTINSTITUTE.COM

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ROBERT FELDMAN, M.D. Florida Institute of Neuroscience

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WHAT SERVICES DO YOU PROVIDE? Treatment of brain, spine and peripheral nerve disorders, particularly those that cause back, neck, arm and leg pain, numbness, tingling and weakness.

2

WHAT ARE SOME OF THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS THAT YOU HAVE MADE WITH YOUR PRACTICE? I believe that keeping up with the newest advances in my specialty is important. Another important accomplishment is maintaining a personal and individualized approach to my patients. Patients are not rushed, we do not overbook and we spend a lot of time with our patients. Discussions are in layman’s terms, every question is answered, responses from the office are prompt and most importantly, we will not offer surgery if the patient does not need it or we do not think it will help.

3

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE PART OF YOUR JOB? Seeing a patient that came into my office crying in pain, unable to work or play with their children, then come in to my office after surgery smiling.

4 “

perating on the brain and spine is a privilege. It O requires demanding attention to detail and requires constant performance at 100%. This mentality permeates my practice, and our patients can tell that they are getting the care and results that would be hard to find elsewhere. The F.I.N.E. Institute team is looking forward to making a difference in the lives of people in this community for another 15 years.

WHAT DOES THE FUTURE HOLD FOR YOUR PRACTICE? Because of our results and how we take care of patients, our volume is significantly expanding. We have already added a very capable and experienced Physician Assistant, Ken Ellison, to ensure that patients do not have to wait too long to be seen. We are also expanding the practice with neurologists and pain management physicians to accommodate the increase in patient volume as well as expanding the scope of our practice to include patients with non-surgical neurological and pain disorders. The future is very bright for our patients and us.

”

1032 MAR WALT DRIVE, SUITE 250 | FORT WALTON BEACH | 850.863.FINE (3463) | FINEINSTITUTE.COM

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PROFESSIONAL PROFILES

GULFSHORE AIR CONDITIONING AND HEATING INC. Steve Reynolds, President

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“

orth Florida residents know the importance of cooling your home in the summer and even bumping up the heat in the winter. Gulfshore Air Conditioning and Heating Inc. is aware that their services are often vital to restore your life to the comfort you deserve. Over the past 23 years, Steve Reynolds has built his business with a great team of professionals holding multiple degrees and certifications who successfully tackle new challenges on a daily basis. The company genuinely cares about their clients and understands that going above and beyond to provide quality service has facilitated their growth.

I HOPE TO ACCOMPLISH BUILDING THE MOST STREAMLINED, HELPFUL AND QUALITY ORIENTED HVAC FIRM IN THE SOUTHEAST. MY BIG GOAL IS TO HAVE GULFSHORE BE KNOWN AS THE FIRM WHO CAN DESIGN AND BUILD SYSTEMS THAT OUTPERFORM ALL OTHERS, AND THAT OUR PERSONNEL ARE THE MOST CARING IN THE BUSINESS.

”

1

DESCRIBE YOUR BUSINESS PRACTICE. My strategy has always been to hire only the finest people in the industry, provide the training and tools they need to exceed the client’s expectations and stay on the forefront of technology. This allows Gulfshore to excel past the competition and provide a level of service that allows firm relationships to build.

2 CHASE YAKABOSKI

HOW DO YOU MEASURE SUCCESS? By the loyalty and the number of satisfied clients we have. Nothing makes me happier than a completely satisfied customer who expresses how pleased they are with our services, their utility bill or their relief that a complex issue was resolved.

3

WHY DID YOU CHOOSE THIS PROFESSION? The diversity of the job fits my design capabilities and mechanical aptitude. I love to solve problems and create mechanical solutions, especially where others have failed.

Steve Reynolds and Sadie

1439 LIVE OAK ST., SUITE C | NICEVILLE | 850.897.6540 | GULFSHOREAIR.COM

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PROFESSIONAL PROFILES

HARRIS INSURANCE

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e are a local, family owned, independent insurance firm celebrating 52 years in business. Our agency is unique in that we developed our own technology which has enabled us to actively write and compare rates with hundreds of different insurance companies. Harris Insurance shops these available markets to compare price and coverage and then offers an individually tailored proposal to our clients based on their needs. We protect our clients from potential financial loss while providing the best value from the insurance marketplace. Simply put, we provide the best value and the best protection at the best price.

“

THE SATISFACTION OF HEARING OUR CLIENTS THANK US BY REFERRING FRIENDS AND FAMILY IS PROBABLY THE MOST REWARDING.

”

1

WHAT DOES YOUR COMPANY GUARANTEE? We provide rock solid coverage through A+ rated insurance companies, licensed to do business in Florida.

We take the responsibility of protecting our clients very seriously. You could better describe our role as a consumer advocate for our client with the insurance company.

2

WHAT IS THE BEST PART OF WORKING FOR YOUR COMPANY? It is never boring. There is a constant ebb and flow of rate adjustments, underwriting rule changes and insurance companies moving in and out of Florida, which keeps us on our toes.

The satisfaction of hearing our clients thank us by referring friends and family is probably the most rewarding.

3

WHAT IMPACT DOES YOUR BUSINESS MAKE IN THE COMMUNITY? In addition to our regular donations, we also conduct “give back” promotions where we prepare a list of charities and designate a portion of every sale to be donated. What’s fun is we let our clients choose which charity to fund and then calculate the proceeds at the end of the promotion. In our last promotion we distributed more than $12,000 to charities including the Salvation Army, Wounded Warriors, American Diabetes Association and the American Red Cross.

4

WHAT DO YOU HOPE CUSTOMERS GAIN FROM INTERACTING WITH YOUR COMPANY? Our objective is simple in that we want each client to know how much we look out for them. Not just at the time of our initial sale, but also throughout the year, at renewal and anytime should a claim or need arise. Their satisfaction is our No. 1 priority.

5

CHASE YAKABOSKI

WHAT SERVICES DO YOU PROVIDE? We are the “one call” agency providing all forms of insurance including auto, home, business and life.

C. Whit Harris, CIC

123 SE MIRACLE STRIP PARKWAY | FORT WALTON BEACH | 850.586.7540 | HARRISINSURANCE.COM

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PROFESSIONAL PROFILES

“

WHAT I PERSONALLY LOVE MOST IS SEEING SOMEONE LIGHT UP WHEN THEY HAVE FOUND THE PERFECT OUTFIT.

”

SANDESTIN RETAIL

— Aja Heck, Assistant Director of Retail

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THREE PHRASES THAT BEST DESCRIBE US: Service-oriented, Southern-lifestyle branded and enthusiastic staff.

WHAT WE ABSOLUTELY CANNOT LIVE WITHOUT: Our amazing relationship with our customers! They are the lifeblood of our business. Whether they are our favorite locals, best repeat out-of-towners or a new guest that is visiting us for the first time, we enjoy getting to see them whether it is for a regular shopping trip or one of our fabulous events.

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f some retail therapy is on the agenda, look no further than the shopping experience offered at The Village of Baytowne Wharf. You’ll be endlessly tempted by the inviting storefronts you pass offering everything from the cutest clothing for the kids to chic beachwear for mom and dad.

Located in the heart of the Village are the Sandestin Family Retail stores where you can find Sandestin logo resort wear for all ages at Sandestin Clothing Company, and top designer brands for everyone in the family at Barefoot Princess, Island Clothiers and Coconut Kidz.

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OUR MISSION is to be the finest boutique on the Emerald Coast through the delivery of excellent customer service and best selection of merchandise for men, women and children.

WHAT WE LOVE MOST ABOUT WHAT WE DO: We love connecting with our locals and guests that visit us year after year.

We build relationships and love outfitting them from everyday wear to a special occasion. What I personally love most is seeing someone light up when they have found the perfect outfit.

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WHAT MAKES US UNIQUE: We are a collection of retail stores that has something for everyone. From infant to teen at Coconut Kidz, men’s and women’s apparel at Island Clothiers and Barefoot Princess and cute fashionable logo wear for all ages at Sandestin Clothing Company. There is literally something for the entire family. Our goal is for no one to walk out empty handed! Our stores also have an eclectic mix of brands, including many local brands and those made in the USA. We have recently added a home goods section to Barefoot Princess.

SONJA REVELLS PHOTO

6 Aja Heck, Assistant Director of Retail

MOST PEOPLE DON’T KNOW THIS, BUT ... we offer personal shopping and styling for our guests and locals by appointment. We also keep “Wish Lists” for birthdays, Christmas or baby registries at Coconut Kidz so you can always ensure you get just the right gift for yourself or that special someone. Additionally, if you enter your favorite sales associate’s name into the PROMO code section on ShopSandestin.com, you will receive FREE SHIPPING!

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OUR HAPPIEST PROFESSIONAL MOMENT: Every day we are happy just working with our amazing guests and our retail team!

9300 EMERALD COAST PARKWAY W. | MIRAMAR BEACH | 850.351.1806 | SHOPSANDESTIN.COM

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PROFESSIONAL PROFILES

MATTHEWS & JONES, LLP

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ana Matthews started the Destin firm in 1983. Michael Jones had his own firm and since 1984 served our region with diligence, compassion and integrity in the areas of personal injury, probate and estate planning. “Mike and I have been best friends since age 12 and decided to spend the rest of our careers working side by side,” says Dana Matthews.

“

OUR CLIENTS CAN EXPECT AN HONEST ASSESSMENT OF THEIR LEGAL SITUATION WITHOUT EMPTY PROMISES.

”

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WHAT KIND OF LAW DO YOU SPECIALIZE IN? Matthews & Jones, one of the larger firms in Northwest Florida, has transaction and litigation teams that encompass a full spectrum of real estate representation, estate planning, corporate reorganization and complex work-out transactions, civil litigation, criminal, divorce, family law, personal injury, immigration and adoption. The firm has attorneys licensed in federal and state courts in Florida, Mississippi, Texas, District of Columbia, Alaska, Alabama and Georgia and has offices in Destin, Niceville and Crestview.

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WHAT IS YOUR BUSINESS PHILOSOPHY? We truly believe hard work and our free enterprise system in a democratic society make it possible to turn dreams into reality. When you incorporate that concept into the desire to provide unparalleled service to clients in need, success and client satisfaction will result.

3

SCOTT HOLSTEIN

WHAT IS THE “SECRET” TO YOUR SUCCESS? Client service is key to our law practice. Our clients can expect an honest assessment of their legal situation without empty promises. We strive to develop relationships with each and every client so that our attorneys and staff have a clear understanding of each individual client’s personal and business needs.

Michael Jones and Dana Matthews

4475 LEGENDARY DRIVE | DESTIN | 850.837.3662 323 E. JOHN SIMS PARKWAY | NICEVILLE | 850.729.7440 850.729.7440 • 596 N. FERDON BLVD. | CRESTVIEW | 850.682.6211 DESTINLAW.COM

4

TELL US ABOUT YOUR RECENT EXPANSION OF STAFF AND SERVICES. Over the past year we hired three new attorneys to handle the firm’s growing litigation practice and expanded our market by opening our third office in Crestview.

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YOU MADE A BOLD CHOICE TO USE A PANTHER TO SYMBOLIZE YOUR FIRM IN YOUR MARKETING CAMPAIGN. WHY? The Florida panther’s strength, agility and tenacity are the qualities our clients expect and deserve.

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“

SEASIDE WILL CONTINUE ITS PURSUIT OF PROVIDING UNIQUE, PRECIOUS EXPERIENCES TO ITS CUSTOMERS. THE SHAPE OF ITS DOWNTOWN AND THE SIZE OF ITS BUILDINGS MAY CHANGE OVER TIME, BUT ITS SPIRIT AND ITS DRIVE TO STAND APART NEVER WILL.

THE MERCHANTS OF SEASIDE

”

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OUR HISTORY IN BRIEF: Founded in 1981, Seaside is touted as the first New Urbanist community. From inception, it has focused on incubating some of the most original businesses in Northwest Florida. It boasts a collection of highly beloved, award-winning mom and pop stores, eateries and specialties that strive for originality, exceptional service and quality products.

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easide is built on 80 acres of Florida’s Gulf Coast and is acclaimed worldwide as an iconic community offering a thriving town center with shopping and dining all within walking distance to homes, cottages and offices. Consisting of more than 475 cottages, many of them vacation rentals, the community offers nearly 20 restaurants, bars and eateries, and more than 40 shops, galleries and services.

Seaside has been recognized and awarded by numerous publications and television programs such as Trip Advisor, the Travel Channel, Travel + Leisure and USA Today for its beautiful beaches, bountiful vacation rentals and specialty retail merchants.

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WHAT WE ABSOLUTELY CANNOT LIVE WITHOUT: The families who come to visit us year after year. The parents who, having spent their time in our town during their youth, now yearn to introduce their children to one of their favorite places.

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WHAT MAKES US UNIQUE: None of our merchants or businesses are chains; each is one of a kind. And, most live in the area. The spirit of camaraderie, friendliness and philanthropy is genuine. That just might be one reason Seaside merchants collectively won Judge’s Choice for “Best Retail Collective” in the “2016 Perfect in South Walton” awards hosted by VISIT South Walton TDC.

4 CHASE YAKABOSKI

MOST PEOPLE DON’T KNOW THIS, BUT ... It is estimated that close to a million people pass through our town on an annual basis to visit the shops and restaurants or to attend an event, including the more than 270,000 tourists that stay in Seaside annually.

The Merchants of Seaside

P.O. BOX 4730 | SEASIDE | 850.231.6111 | SEASIDEFL.COM

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OUR HAPPIEST PROFESSIONAL MOMENT: Going to the premiere of “The Truman Show” as a community. Seeing Seaside depicted on the big screen, in one of the greatest films of all time, was a true honor and a joyous experience.

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PROFESSIONAL PROFILES

RESORTQUEST GROUP SALES TEAM

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“

I DEVELOP CLOSE RELATIONSHIPS WITH MY CUSTOMERS AND TREAT THEM LIKE MY FAMILY. — Joyce Serina, Director of Group Sales

”

Joyce Serina Director of Group Sales

CHASE YAKABOSKI

hen you idealize the perfect getaway weekend it likely includes toes in the sand, splashing in waves and soaking in the sun. ResortQuest’s vacation rental homes and condominiums ensure comfort and priceless memories, not only for vacationers, but for meetings and groups.

Joyce Serina and her team play an imperative part in providing expert advice to ensure the goals of meeting and event planners, brides, grooms and reunions are met. For nearly 20 years, her enthusiasm and knowledge have been essential in collaborating for inspired meetings and events in Northwest Florida, from Pensacola Beach to Panama City Beach and beyond!

“I develop close relationships with my customers and treat them like my family,” said Serina. “I place emphasis on providing flawless customer service and run the business as if it were my own.”

Her success is seen in group travelers who continually make it back to the sandy white shores year after year. She has recently witnessed prosperity in the company’s expanding wedding and sports group market. She credits a considerable portion of these accomplishments to the staff she works with on a daily basis.

“I recruit great people and let them work their magic,” smiled Serina. “I hope to be a great leader for my sales team and help them accomplish their goals while providing amazing experiences and memories for our guests.”

Kristen Cagadas, Joyce Serina and Heather Recor

546 NW MARY ESTHER CUT OFF, SUITE 3 | FORT WALTON BEACH | 844.207.8207 | SPOTLIGHTONRQ.COM

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PROFESSIONAL PROFILES

SIMPLE HR JACQUELINE WARD IMAGES

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impleHR understands just how complicated owning a business can be. There are over 2,000 laws and regulations for employee management alone. Keeping track of these constantly changing rules can be a full-time job. SimpleHR specializes in employee management, so you can focus on your business.

For over 13 years, SimpleHR has provided comprehensive human resource solutions and administrative relief for our clients,

always keeping in mind our mission to maintain the highest standards in all that we do. Our services include human resources, benefits, payroll administration, workers’ compensation, safety consultation, payroll taxes and corporate filings for our clients.

SimpleHR is dedicated, at all levels of our operations, to providing quality services that meet the initial and ongoing needs and expectations of our clients and employees.

SimpleHR takes away our clients’ stress and risk, in turn, giving back their time and peace of mind.

36474 EMERALD COAST PARKWAY, BUILDING B | DESTIN | 850.650.9935 | SIMPLEHR.COM James C. Campbell has been practicing criminal defense, family law and more for over 28 years.

He is a lifelong resident of Okaloosa County and has represented clients in the Panhandle throughout his legal career. His extensive involvement in community service has included serving as president of the Okaloosa-Walton County Bar Association, president of the All Sports Association, president of the Shalimar Athletic Association and Choctawhatchee High School Touchdown Club, member of the Okaloosa/ Walton County Bar Association and currently serving on the Board of Directors of the Mattie Kelly Arts Foundation.

CAMPBELL & HENDERSON, PLLC

JENNIFER G. PHOTOGRAPHY

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ampbell & Henderson, PLLC is a fullservice law firm equipped to handle all of your legal needs. Their primary practice areas include divorce and family law, criminal defense, foreclosures, construction law, civil litigation as well as estate planning and administration. They have years of experience handling legal issues for members of our military and their families, including military divorce and military criminal defense representation.

Whether you are a local civilian resident, a member of the military or a visitor from out of town, Campbell & Henderson, PLLC is there to provide you with the legal services you need.

Clark H. Henderson, James C. Campbell

Clark H. Henderson, a native of Waynesboro, Mississippi, handles family law, criminal defense, foreclosures and civil matters. He has been admitted to the bar in Florida and Alabama. Prior to joining the firm in 2012, Clark practiced in Birmingham, Alabama, where he handled various civil matters. He is a member of the Mid-Bay Bridge Rotary Club and the Okaloosa/Walton County Bar Association.

4 11TH AVE., SUITE 2 | SHALIMAR | 850.651.9313 | CAMPBELLANDHENDERSON.COM

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PROFESSIONAL PROFILES

AVA’S ATTIC CONSIGNMENT BOUTIQUE

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hether you are seeking an eye-catching new piece for your wardrobe or want a never seen before furniture update for you home, you’re sure to find it in Ava’s Attic’s 10,000 square feet of one-of-a-kind items.

Dive into a treasure trove of quality condition highend, brand name and designer secondhand clothing, furniture, accessories, artwork and more. If that doesn’t tickle your fancy, custombuilt furniture is available or you can paint your own piece with their very own brand of chalk paint. This family run business strives to provide exceptional service, unique décor and to greet you and treat you like one of their own.

“

I LOVE MY JOB BECAUSE WE ARE A FAMILY BUSINESS. MY DAUGHTER WORKS WITH ME IN THE STORE AND MY SON BUILDS AND DOES RENOVATIONS. I GET TO WORK WITH MY KIDS EVERY DAY AND THEY OFTEN BRING IN MY GRANDKIDS. I THINK IT’S SPECIAL TO HAVE BUILT AND GROWN A BUSINESS WITH THEM.

”

— Susan Henry, owner

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OUR MISSION: To take care of our customers and consigners in ways that make them happy and satisfied.

WHAT WE LOVE ABOUT WHAT WE DO: Working with and seeing all of the people who come in.

GREATEST ACHIEVEMENT: Creating this store. We started out at 1,600 square feet and have since expanded to 10,000 square feet full of interesting items. We are proud to have added on this much space. And, it’s been great being voted BEST Consignment Store on the Emerald Coast five years in a row! And, voted FINEST Consignment Store on the Emerald Coast.

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WHAT MAKES US UNIQUE? There isn’t another business just like us. We paint, build and sell. We enjoy creating customized furniture, painting pieces, building and even renovating. We do a little bit of everything. We also have our own line of chalk paint that we make and sell.

5 6

CHASE YAKABOSKI

WHAT IS THE BEST ADVICE YOU HAVE TO OFFER? Never throw in the towel on an old piece of furniture. You can always change it, rejuvenate and refresh it.

Courtney Hood and Susan Henry

OUR NAME CAME FROM: Ava’s Attic was named after Courtney’s daughter, and Susan’s granddaughter, Ava. When the store opened in 2009 my granddaughter Ava was one year old.

12889 EMERALD COAST PARKWAY W. | MIRAMAR BEACH | 850.424.6826 | AVASATTICINDESTIN.COM

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PROFESSIONAL PROFILES

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OKALOOSA HEART AND VASCULAR CENTER

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ince 1991, Okaloosa Heart and Vascular Center has been providing current, comprehensive health care in the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of heart problems. Okaloosa Heart and Vascular Center offers a full range of integrated cardiac services, from patient education through inpatient care, including: Clinical Cardiology and Consultation, Echocardiography, Doppler Ultrasound, Exercise Testing, Holter Monitoring, Nuclear Cardiac Imaging, Cardiac Catheterization, Coronary Angioplasty, Intra-Coronary Stenting and Structural Heart Disease. With six physicians and five local offices to serve you, the staff is committed to exploring new technologies and techniques that provide better ways to care for their patients, and to treating each patient like a person rather than a diagnosis. At Okaloosa Heart and Vascular Center we aim to provide each patient with the highest comprehensive care, comfort, convenience and respect for individuality; to maintain high work ethics and professionalism; and to treat others with dignity and respect.

ALWAYS SEARCHING FOR BETTER WAYS TO CARE FOR OUR PATIENTS … ALWAYS TREATING EACH PATIENT LIKE A PERSON RATHER THAN A DIAGNOSIS.

”

Dr. Mark Katzenstein

Dr. Anthony S. Al-Dehneh

Dr. Michael L. Yandel

Dr. Joseph A. Pedone

Dr. Juan Carlos Zarate

129 E. REDSTONE AVE., SUITE A | CRESTVIEW | 850.682.7212 36468 EMERALD COAST PARKWAY, SUITE 1101 | DESTIN | 850.424.5638 1032 MAR WALT DRIVE, SUITE 110 | FORT WALTON BEACH | 850.862.1753 552 TWIN CITIES BLVD., SUITE A | NICEVILLE | 850.279.4426 1045 U.S. HIGHWAY 331 | DEFUNIAK SPRINGS | 850.682.7212 OKALOOSAHEART.COM Dr. Marcello A. Borzatta

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AUG/SEPT 2016 For more events in the EC, visit EmeraldCoastMagazine.com compiled by JENNIFER IRELAND and ZANDRA WOLFGRAM

OCT. 5-9

SOUTH WALTON FASHION WEEK

Celebrate high fashion as local boutiques and designers showcase their styles at this large-scale, five-day series of events taking place at South Walton locations including 30Avenue, Alys Beach and Grand Boulevard. This event features emerging designers and models, local and national designers, stores and boutiques.

Tickets start at $40. The event is presented by South Walton and produced by the Cultural Arts Alliance of Walton County. Visit swfw.org for more information and to purchase tickets.



BEST of the EMERALD COAST

OCT. 7

BLUE MARLIN CENTURY 21 GOLF TOURNAMENT PHOTOS BY PURE 7 STUDIOS (SWFS), KAY PHELAN (SHRIMP) AND COURTESY BLUE MARLIN REALTY GROUP (GOLF)

OCT. 22

→ Congratulate the stand-up, standout businesses selected by readers of Emerald Coast Magazine to receive Best of the Emerald Coast awards for 2016. A celebration in their honor kicks off at Grand Boulevard at 6 p.m. Enjoy food, fun, fashion and entertainment and become familiar with the products, services and menus that the winners have to offer.

→ Get into the swing of things at this annual tournament held at the beautiful Regatta Bay Golf & Yacht Club.

Proceeds will benefit the Silver Sands School, a special day school which provides educational services to students who, because of their cognitive challenges, require services beyond those offered by other special education programs. Players of all levels are encouraged to play in this 18-hole scramble!

Both general admission and VIP tickets are available for purchase at emeraldcoastmagazine.com.

For a complete list of winners, consult the October/ November issue of Emerald Coast Magazine.

All golfers will enjoy complimentary meals and an after-party at the clubhouse with live music, food, drinks, raffles, prizes and more. Visit bluemarlinrealtygroup.com for more information.

SEPT. 30–OCT. 2

DESTIN SEAFOOD FESTIVAL

→ The 38th annual Destin Seafood Festival is back at the beautiful Destin Harbor Boardwalk.

For three days, enjoy fresh seafood from local restaurants along with live music and free entertainment. The best local and coastal musicians on the beach will rock out on four separate stages, so pull up a chair or get your dancing on.

The festival is free to the public. Make sure to follow their Facebook page for updates on musician lineups, shuttle information and VIP tickets. For more information, visit destinseafoodfestival.org.

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SOCIAL STUDIES Sandestin Wine Festival

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APR. 14–17 The 30th annual festival at Baytowne Wharf comprised four days of unique events ranging from wine dinners with celebrity chefs to participation in preview events and taking part in wine tastings that showcased hundreds of wines. The festival benefited Fisher House of the Emerald Coast and Sandestin Foundation for Kids.

PHOTOS BY RHONDA MURRAY

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1 Sous Chef KD, Bryce and Pam Jarvis, and Christopher Chandeysson 2 Jennifer Steel and Russell Carter 3 Anna Morelock and Brooke Scholl

Emerald Coast Magazine Lounge at Digital Graffiti MAY 14 Images illuminated the white walls of Alys Beach for this three-day festival where artists from around the world come to showcase their digital art talents. Emerald Coast Magazine hosted the EC Lounge on Saturday night where attendees enjoyed cold drinks from Cathead Vodka and Idyll Hounds, small bites from Chef’s and live entertainment from DJ Lady Muse.

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PHOTOS BY JACQUELINE WARD IMAGES

1 Russell and Michelle Harris 2 Marta Rata 3 Kerri Parker and Michelle Smith

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baytownewharf.com

GLASS CLASSES AT THE SHARD SHOP ↑ DAILY This make-your-own-shardart boutique welcomes all ages and skill levels to create art with glass on canvas. Prices are from $35 for kids and $85 for adults.

The Shops of Grayton, 26 Logan Lane, Grayton Beach.

Open Mon–Sat 9:30 a.m.– 4 p.m. (850) 231-0544 shardshop.com

CONCERT IN THE PARK MONDAYS Gather with family and friends every Monday at Marina Park in beautiful WaterColor for a summer concert series. FREE. Marina Park in WaterColor, 34 Goldenrod Circle, Santa Rosa Beach. 6–8 p.m.

(850) 534-5975 stjoeclub.com/events

FAT TUESDAY PARADE

PHOTOS BY SCOTT HOLSTEIN (SHARD SHOP) AND COURTESY 30A LEARNING ACADEMY (CAMP)

TUESDAYS Let the good times roll all summer long as HarborWalk Village transforms into the Big Easy. Enjoy dazzling floats, beads and lots of swag at this festive parade.

Stay for live entertainment on the main stage, along with a stunning, vibrant fire-dancing show. FREE. HarborWalk Village, 66 Harbor Blvd., Destin. 6 p.m. emeraldgrande.com

BOOMIN’ TUESDAYS TUESDAYS Enjoy lawn games and inflatables at the Events Plaza in The Village of Baytowne Wharf. Later, watch the night sky light with fireworks over the lagoon at 9:15 p.m. FREE.

KNOW BEFORE YOU GO

WEDNESDAY NIGHT CONCERT SERIES WEDNESDAYS Enjoy this outdoor music concert series featuring live performers, bands and musicians. FREE. Events Plaza, The Village of Baytowne Wharf at Sandestin, 9300 Emerald Coast Parkway West, Miramar Beach. 7–9 p.m.

(850) 267-8117 baytownewharf.com

KIDS/PARENTS NIGHT OUT WEDNESDAYS & FRIDAYS Parents can drop their kids at 30A Learning Academy and enjoy a night out while their children enjoy a night of games, crafts, movies and more in a safe, private school environment. $40 per child.

30A Learning Academy.

7 Town Center Loop, Santa Rosa Beach. 5:30– 9:30 p.m. (850) 291-7197

GRAND BOULEVARD FARMERS’ MARKET WEDNESDAYS & SATURDAYS This outdoor market features dozens of vendors offering locally sourced produce, eggs, milk, cream, butter, grass-fed beef, chicken, lamb, pork, local honey, pickled vegetables and gourmet jams, as well as flowers, herbs, soaps and lotions. FREE. Grand Park in Grand Boulevard, 600 Grand Blvd., Miramar Beach. 9 a.m.– 1 p.m. (850) 837-3099 grandboulevard.com

RED, WHITE AND BLUE CELEBRATION THURSDAYS Take part in a weekly celebration that honors

the efforts of people who go above and beyond to better their community.

Enjoy live entertainment

by Villages Belles, a fire spinner, free kid’s crafts and face painting and a vintage World War II aircraft flyover.

The evening is topped off by a spectacular fireworks display over the Destin Harbor. FREE. HarborWalk Village, 66 Harbor Blvd., Destin. 7 p.m.

DOWNTOWN ART WALK

emeraldgrande.com

For more information, email downtownfwbartwalk@ gmail.com.

MAGICAL THURSDAYS THURSDAYS Make an appearance at this fun magic show performed by Captain Davy in The Village of Baytowne Wharf. FREE. Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort, 9300 Emerald Coast Parkway West, Miramar Beach.

7 p.m. (850) 267-8117 baytownewharf.com

MAKE COOL ART AT BLUE GIRAFFE FRIDAYS

FRIDAYS Every third Friday of the month, stroll Fort Walton Beach’s historic district and visit merchants from participating shops and restaurants while enjoying art demonstrations, live music, complimentary refreshments and special discounts. FREE. Downtown Fort Walton Beach. 5:30–8:30 p.m.

ROCK THE DOCKS SATURDAYS Come out Saturday night for free music concerts on the HarborWalk Village stage.

Coming up: Hotel Oscar (June 6), TBD (June 13), Gypsy Riot (June 20), Flash Food (June 27), TBD (July 11), The Wide Open (July 18), Continuum (July 25). FREE. HarborWalk Village, 66 Harbor Blvd., Destin. 7 p.m.

bluegiraffe30A.com

Enjoy live music at the Marina Bar & Grill. FREE. Marina Bar & Grill at Sandestin, 9300 Emerald Coast Pkwy West, Miramar Beach. 6–9 p.m.

(850) 267-7778

Live music and waterfront views at the Marina Bar and Grill every Friday. FREE. Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort, 9300 Emerald Coast Parkway West, Miramar Beach. 6–9 p.m.

(850) 267-7778 sandestin.com/events

Details of listings can change at the last minute. Please call ahead of time to confirm.

THE MARKET AT GULF PLACE SUNDAYS An outdoor farmers market featuring locally grown fresh fruit, vegetables, handmade crafts by local artisans and more. FREE. Gulf Place on Scenic Highway 30A and County Road 393 in Santa Rosa Beach. 3–7 p.m., with live music 6–9 p.m. in the amphitheater.

(850) 200-6805 facebook.com/marketatgulfplace

SEASIDE FARMERS MARKET SATURDAYS

FRIDAYS

Facebook.com/ SandestinMarinaBar

emeraldgrande.com

The Moore Family Folk Art Team will help you make your own up-cycled art out of vintage soda cans, bottle caps and weathered woods.

Walk-ins are encouraged to attend this event, which promises fun for the whole family. $20 per piece. The Blue Giraffe, WaterColor Town Center, 1777 E. County Highway 30A, Santa Rosa Beach. 10 a.m.–6 p.m.

(850) 231-5112

LIVE MUSIC FRIDAYS

Marina at Sandestin. Have a happy hour drink and dine on your favorite football grub, while you watch your favorite college teams on one of the screens inside or on the patio. FREE. Marina Bar & Grill at Sandestin, 9300 Emerald Coast Pkwy., Miramar Beach.

(850) 267-7778

Get your pick of fresh produce, baked goods, dairy products, native plants and other unique offerings during Seaside’s market on Saturday mornings. Held behind Raw & Juicy. (850) 231-0043 seasidefl.com

LIVE MUSIC SATURDAYS SATURDAYS

Sandestin.com/events

MARINA SAILGATE PARTIES SATURDAYS Enjoy an outside “tailgate” party at the scenic Baytowne

30A LEARNING ACADEMY’S ADVENTURE CAMPS 

Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort, 9300 Emerald Coast Parkway West, Miramar Beach. 7 p.m. (850) 267-8117

TUESDAYS & THURSDAYS Children ages 2–13 are invited to participate in hands-on field experiences to learn about Northwest Florida’s diverse ecosystems and explore the unique environmental wonders of our 30A and Emerald Coast area. $45. Adventure camp locations will include Topsail Hill Preserve State Park, Conservation Park, Ponce de Leon Springs, Indian Temple Mound and more. 9:30 a.m.–1:30 p.m.

To register parents can email Rebecca Matherne at 30ALearningAcademy@gmail. com or call (850) 291-7197.

HAVE AN EVENT YOU’D LIKE US TO CONSIDER? Send an email to ec-calendar@rowlandpublishing.com.

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SOCIAL STUDIES Destin Charity Wine Auction APR. 30 The Destin Charity Wine Auction Foundation celebrated the 11th annual auction, raising more than $2.65 million for children in need in Northwest Florida. The record-breaking results are a $350,000 increase over the $2.3 million raised last year. This sold-out event was attended by 636 wine enthusiasts and featured auction items such as an African Safari and a trip to Cabo San Lucas.

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PHOTOS BY STM PHOTOGRAPHY

1 Cristina Mariani-May, Jay Spaleta and Ric Forman 2 Dan and Stephanie Buckner 3 Sarah Keating and Tracy Wilson 4 John Russell and Keith Burns

Little Black Dress Party MAY 21 Partygoers met up at the Sandestin Linkside exhibition hall to celebrate good health and raise funds for local women in need. The seventh annual event benefitting the WhiteWilson Community Foundation featured dinner, dancing, live and silent auctions, entertainment and of course, black attire. This year’s theme was “A Night at the Opera.”

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PHOTOS BY KAY PHELAN

1 Vicki Stokes, Alexandra Stokes, Chris Camp, Bill and Karissa Bell 2 Ron and Joy Adams 3 Megan DeAtley and Erin Igram 4 Sandy Buckley, Ewa Euyan and Kay Phelan

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SUNDAY CINEMA SUNDAYS Come enjoy a movie under the stars on the Events Plaza lawn in The Village of Baytowne Wharf. FREE. Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort, 9300 Emerald Coast Parkway West, Miramar Beach. 8 p.m. (850) 267-8117 baytownewharf.com

THIRD THURSDAY WINE WALKABOUT AUG. 18 Check in at 5 p.m. with the Artists at Gulf Place to receive a complimentary glass and a walkabout map.

Visit each participating merchant to be entered for a chance to win giveaways at the end of the night. $20 per person. Gulf Place, 45 Town Center Loop, Santa Rosa Beach. 5–7 p.m. gulfplacefl.com

CITIZEN SCIENCE SATURDAY AUG. 20

ADSO WINDOW ART DISPLAY ↑ AUG. 1–31 “Beach Dreams,” the works of multi-talented Anne Johnston will be on display during August in the studio windows of the Art Center, fronting First Street in historic downtown Fort Walton Beach.

FREE. ADSO Art Center, 17 First St. SE, Fort Walton Beach. (850) 244-1271 artsdesignsociety.org

PHOTOS COURTESY SANDESTIN GOLF AND BEACH RESORT (TRIATHLON), ADSO ART CENTER (JOHNSTON ART) AND YOLO

SUMMER CONCERT SERIES AUG. 7 & 14 Bring a chair or blanket and enjoy a family friendly summertime on the amphitheater lawn. FREE. Gulf Place, 45 Town Center Loop, Santa Rosa Beach. 5–8 p.m. gulfplacefl.com

‘SHADES OF BLUE’ ADSO ART EXHIBIT AUG. 2-26 All artwork in this show Arts & Design Society Show will be limited to various shades of blue. FREE. ADSO Art Center, 17 First St. SE, Fort Walton Beach. Gallery hours: Tue–Fri, noon–4 p.m.; Sat, 1–4 p.m. Opening reception, Friday, Aug. 5, 6–8 p.m.

(850) 244-1271 artsdesignsociety.org

Stop by the Science Center and learn how to be a scientist in our community. $12 adults, $10 children, $3 members. Emerald Coast Science Center, 31 Memorial Pkwy. SW, Fort Walton Beach. 10 a.m.–2 p.m., (850) 664-1261 ecscience.org

5TH PADDLE AT THE PORCH AUG. 20 Paddle at the Porch showcases the beautiful emerald green water and white sandy shores of Destin, Florida, behind one of its most loved restaurants, The Back Porch Seafood & Oyster House. It features a Kids’ Fun Race, 1-Mile Beginner, 3-Mile Recreational, 6-Mile Elite, and, new this year, a Relay. Races will be followed by awards, which include a $6,000 cash purse. $12–$65. The Back Porch Seafood & Oyster House, 1740 Scenic Hwy. 98 E., Destin. Races start at 9 a.m.

(850) 837-6241

Sandestin’s beach and bayside community.

Proceeds benefit Sacred Heart Hospital on the Emerald Coast. Registration is $140; $200 for a three-person relay team.

Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort, 9300 Emerald Coast Pkwy. West, Miramar Beach.

6:30–11 a.m. (877) 276-886 sandestin.com/events

‘3-D’ ADSO ART EXHIBIT AUG. 30-SEPT. 23 All artwork in this Arts & Design Society show will feature works in various medium all in three dimensions. FREE. ADSO Art Center, 17 First St. SE, Fort Walton Beach. Gallery hours: Tue–Fri, noon–4 p.m.; Sat, 1–4 p.m. Opening reception, Friday, Sept. 2, 6–8 p.m.

(850) 244-1271 artsdesignsociety.org

ADSO WINDOW ART DISPLAY SEPT. 1–30 The art of Ann Tucker will be on display during September in the studio windows of the Art Center, fronting First Street in historic downtown Fort Walton Beach. FREE. ADSO Art Center, 17 First St. SE, Fort Walton Beach.

(850) 244-1271 artsdesignsociety.org

BAYTOWNE ART WALK SEPT. 2–4

SANDESTIN TRIATHLON

The Village of Baytowne Wharf welcomes the fall season with a family friendly three-day celebration of art and live music. FREE. Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort, 9300 Emerald Coast Pkwy.

West, Miramar Beach.

5–10 p.m. (850) 267-8117

AUG. 20

baytownewharf.com

The 30th Annual Sandestin Triathlon will challenge more than 700 athletes to a half-mile Gulf of Mexico swim, a 20-mile bike trek along the coast, and a 4-mile run through

ALYS BEACH 5K & 1 MILE FUN RUN

PaddleAtThePorch.com

SEPT. 4 Avid runners and families will both enjoy this

certified 5K through Alys Beach and its nature trail.

A 1-mile fun run for kids will take place after the 5K, with awards, music and fun for all in the Amphitheatre following the races. Proceeds benefit Alaqua Animal Rescue. For more information and to register, visit alysbeach. com/5k. Alys Beach Amphitheater. 7 a.m. alysbeach.com/events

LABOR DAY CONCERT

HARBOR HOP SEPT. 18 Brotula’s Seafood House & Steamer, Boshamps Oyster House, and AJ’s Seafood & Oyster Bar host Harbor Hop, benefitting Food For Thought Outreach Inc. $5 donation per stop.

Boshamp’s Oyster House 11 a.m.-1 p.m., AJ’s Seafood House & Oyster Bar 1:30–3:30 p.m., Brotula’s Seafood House & Steamer 4–6 p.m. facebook. com/BrotulasSeafoodSteamer/

SEPT. 4 Celebrate the end of summer with live music followed by fireworks.

Food and beverage will be available for purchase.

FREE. Alys Beach Amphitheatre. 6–9 p.m. alysbeach.com/events

THIRD THURSDAY WINE WALKABOUT SEPT. 15 Check in at 5 p.m. with the artists at Gulf Place to receive a complimentary glass and a walkabout map.

Visit each participating merchant to be entered for a chance to win giveaways at the end of the night. $20 per person. Gulf Place, 45 Town Center Loop, Santa Rosa Beach. 5–7 p.m. gulfplacefl.com

CITIZEN SCIENCE SATURDAY: SPORTS SEPT. 17 Stop by the Science Center and learn how to be a scientist in our community.

Join Northwest Florida State College Athletics to learn about the science and research behind sports and meet some of your favorite local players.

Fun for all ages. $12 adults, $10 children, $3 members.

Emerald Coast Science Center, 31 Memorial Pkwy. SW, Fort Walton Beach. 10 a.m.–2 p.m.

(850) 664-1261 ecscience.org

EMERALDCOASTMAGA ZINE.COM

FLORIDA JAZZ & BLUES FESTIVAL 

calendar

SEPT. 23–25 With a goal of celebrating and elevating “A Culture of Live Music,” the Florida Jazz and Blues Festival is bringing a number of artists to Tallahassee, including festival headliner The Legendary Count Basie Orchestra. Other artists scheduled to perform at Cascades Park and Capital City Amphitheater include Mac Arnold, the Freddy Cole Trio, Johnnie Marshall, the Rebirth Brass Band and many more. The music begins on Friday, Sept. 23 at 6 p.m. and continues on Saturday and Sunday at 1 p.m. Tickets may be purchased at fljazzandblues.com.

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PRESENTED BY

October 22

6:00 pm

Grand Boulevard at Sandestin® The 2016 winners will be on display at Grand Boulevard for an evening of food, fun, fashion and entertainment. Join us at our 17th annual event as we sample from the best restaurants, shopping and businesses on the Emerald Coast.

TICKETS AVAILABLE ONLINE AUGUST 1 $40 IN ADVANCE | $50 DAY OF EVENT | $75 VIP

EMERALDCOASTMAGAZINE.COM Sponsored by

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9:00 pm

Benefiting

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July 22 - Oct 8 Sponsored by Emerald Coast Magazine

Sept 9 - Jan 7 Sponsored by Beck Partners

Sept 23 - Nov 12

39TH ANNUAL PENSACOLA SEAFOOD FESTIVAL



407 S Jefferson St. Pensacola, FL (850) 432-6247 pensacolamuseum.org

SEPT. 30–OCT. 2

PHOTO COURTESY FIESTA OF FIVE FLAGS AND THE PENSACOLA SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

Savor delicious seafood and enjoy the historic surroundings of downtown Pensacola. Presented by Wind Creek Casino & Hotel, this festival is one of the largest arts and crafts fairs in the region with more than 150 artisans. Free. Seville Square, Fountain Park and Bartram Park, Downtown Pensacola. Friday, 11 a.m.–11 p.m., Saturday, 10 a.m.–11 p.m., Sunday, 11 a.m.–5 p.m., fiestaoffiveflags.org

PASSPORT TO FASHION: BRUNCH AND BUBBLY

ADSO ARTIST SPEAKER LUNCHEON

SEPT. 25

SEPT. 28

Enjoy an afternoon of sipping, socializing and shopping at the Sandestin Family Retail Shops. Collect a stamp on your passport for a chance to win 10 percent off your day’s shopping spree and enjoy brunch treats paired with specialty cocktails along the way. Feel free to bring the kids for fun activities and snacks. FREE. The Sandestin Family Retail Shops, located in The Village of Baytowne Wharf, 9300 Emerald Coast Pkwy West, Miramar Beach. 11 a.m.– 2 p.m. (850) 351-1806

Arts & Design Society presents guest artist Ann Wagner, who will be speaking on her metal art. $12; $15 for reservations made after Monday, Sept. 26.

ADSO Art Center, 17 First St. SE, Fort Walton Beach. 11:30 a.m.

All artwork in this Arts & Design Society show will feature works, in various mediums that celebrate the glories of Autumn.. FREE. ADSO Art Center, 17 First St. SE, Fort Walton Beach.

Gallery hours: Tue–Fri, noon– 4 p.m.; Sat, 1–4 p.m. Opening reception, Friday, Sept. 30, 6–8 p.m. (850) 244-1271 artsdesignsociety.org

www.DestinLittleLeague.net

Send reservations request to adsorsvp@gmail.com or call Risa at (850) 376-3901, artsdesignsociety.org

Call (850)797-4434

‘AUTUMN BEAUTY’ ADSO ART EXHIBIT SEPT. 27–OCT. 21

For more information, check us out at:

for a FREE TRIAL! OPENING NIGHT! ↑ OCTOBER 1 Join the Pensacola Symphony Orchestra for its opening of the 2016–2017 season, celebrating Maestro Peter Rubardt’s 20th season with the orchestra and featured artist, Bella Hristova. $22-94. Saenger Theatre, 118 S. Palafox Place, Pensacola.

7:30 p.m. pensacolasymphony.com EMERALDCOASTMAGA ZINE.COM

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2016

DIGITAL GRAFFITI

RECAP

photography by

JACQUELINE WARD IMAGES

→

THE ALABASTER WALLS at Alys Beach served as giant projection screens as artists from across the country and the world displayed their work at the ninth annual Digital Graffiti Festival. And Emerald Coast Magazine was there, hosting the EC Magazine Lounge on May 14 at Fonville Park. There, festival-goers enjoyed a specialty cocktail, savored treats supplied by masters of coastal cuisine and flipped through complimentary copies of the newly redesigned Emerald Coast Magazine. »

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1 ↑ 1. Guests soaked up the summer sun as it slowly dropped dropped below the horizon. → 6. Emerald Coast Magazine staff, styled in tasteful fashions

by Alys Shoppe. Back Row: Daniel Vitter, Rhonda Murray, Carlin Trammel. Second Row: Darla Harrison, Leigha Inman. Front Row: Tracy Mulligan, McKenzie Lohbeck. ↗ 7. Hand drawn, white henna art illustrated across the bodies of event attendees. → 8. Chef’s, of Panama City Beach, served the Lounge guests delacies including watermelon, mint, feta and basil bites.

SEE VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS AT EMERALDCOAST MAGAZINE.COM

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2 ↑ 2. The creative minds behind the award-winning art, cast along the white walls of Alys Beach (from left to right): Tevfik Rıza Gözlükçü, Burak Gölge, Katina Bitsicas (DG2016 Special Recognition), Sean Capone, Keaton Fox, Brett Phares, Curator, Michael Denton, Jinku Kim (DG2016 Curator’s Choice Award), Kathryn Whitesides, Yandell Walton (DG2016 Special Recognition),Tracy Miller-Robbins and Michael Flückiger ↙ 3. Emerald Coast Magazine’s Dan Parker served up delicious libations to Idyll Hounds’ Frasier Hansen and Chas Swanson.

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4 ↑ 4. Fishers Flowers & Events added the perfect summer touches with fresh tulips throughout the Lounge. ← 5. DJ Lady Muse kept the energy scandent with fresh beats and vibrant Bote paddleboards as her backdrop.

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The EC Magazine Lounge exuded a simple, yet chic, bohemian vibe with intricate tent design by Fisher’s Flowers and Events. Bote Board provided vibrant paddleboard displays that guests used to pose in front of for photos, with encouragement to post on social media using Emerald Coast Magazine’s signature hashtag, #LoveEC, along with #DGAlysBeach.

Jacqueline Ward Images was on-site to capture every candid moment as the sunset slipped away and the dance tracks by DJ Lady Muse pulsed on.

The 360 degree bar kept guests satisfied with local potions by Cathead Vodka and Idyll Hounds Brewing Co. The light and refreshing “EC Lemonade” featured Cathead Honeysuckle Vodka, lemonade and a pleasant splash of lavender. The brews on tap were Idyll Hounds’ newest, Raspberry Sour, and their prevalent pale ale, Man-o-Wheat. As thirst was quenched, so was hunger with exclusive hors d’oeuvres by Panama City’s most recent cuisine gem, Chef’s.

Emerald Coast Magazine staff, dressed in striking styles by Alys Shoppe, provided body art to event attendees with white paint creating modern designs with a bohemian warrior flare from head to toe.

At the close of the night, Digital Graffiti curator Brett Pharres announced the welldeserving winners of the 2016 art festival.

presented by

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chefyi

WATERSOUND CAFE

Chef TimothyDoucet Head Chef, Watersound Café, located in Watersound Origins Community

How would you describe the cuisine?

The menu features salads, sandwiches and fresh local fish as well as a variety of other options.

We also have unique items like Nutella crepes and a Mediterranean platter with housemade hummus and quinoa tabbouleh. The café space itself has indoor and outdoor seating as well as a porch, so it’s a great place to grab lunch and hang out for a bit.

What is your favorite dish and why?

The Cuban Rueben is my personal favorite and is our signature sandwich.

How do you measure your success?

Booker T. Washington says, “Success is to be measured not so much by the position that one has reached in life as by the obstacles which he has overcome.” Every chef has that one story to tell of a shift so heinous, they are lucky to have stepped away alive. However dramatic, that experience is knowledge purposed for future success.

What made you want to pursue this career? My official culinary career began when I was seventeen at a local catering business. Unofficially however, it began at the age of seven standing tip-toe on a stepping stool watching my mother cook dinner for my family.

What is your philosophy? “Never serve anything you would not eat yourself.” As most teenagers, I was very lazy with everything I did. One day I was stopped by the executive chef and asked, “Would you eat this food?” to which I replied, “Of course not.” “Then why would you serve it?” he replied. Those words stick with me to this day.

What is the most important item in the kitchen? A knife! The best test for a sharp knife is to lay the knife down on a cutting board with the blade of the knife upward and drop a nice fresh Roma tomato on the blade. If it slices more than halfway, you have a sharp knife.

JACQUELINE WARD

What inspires/influences your cuisine? Everything. Literally trying everything, at least once. I’m big on trying new cuisine. I usually get carried away at new restaurants and order one of everything just to try out different flavors.

 530 Pathways Drive | Located in Watersound Origins Community | 850-213-5093 | Watersound.com

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dining guide AMERICAN 45 CENTRAL

Enjoy big wines and small plates in an intimate atmosphere. Open daily 11 a.m.– midnight. 45 Central Square, Seaside, 850-231-4545. $$ L D

THE BEACH HOUSE

Casual beach front dining. Open daily 11 a.m.–10 p.m. 4009 S. Sandestin Blvd., Miramar Beach. 850-267-4800. $$ L D

CAFÉ BOLO ★

Gourmet coffee, sandwiches, soups, pastries and cakes on beautiful Scenic 30A. Open daily from 7 a.m. 4368 County Road 30A, Santa Rosa Beach. 850-267-2060. $ B L Seafood, poultry and pasta served with specialty sauces. Homemade desserts.

Open Tue–Sun 5–10 p.m. 14 Vicki St., Santa Rosa Beach. 850-267-0054. $$$ D

BUFFALO’S REEF ★

Hot wings and cold beer. Tue–Sat open at 10:30 a.m., Sun open at noon.

116 Eglin Pkwy., Fort Walton Beach.

850-243-9463. $ L D

CALLAHAN’S RESTAURANT & DELI Great sandwiches, seafood specials and prime rib. Mon–Sat 10 a.m.–10 p.m.

791 Harbor Blvd., Destin. 850-837-6328. $L D

THE CRAFT BAR ★

Craft brews on tap along with artisan cocktails and elevated bar fare. Open daily 11 a.m.–12 a.m. 4424 Commons Dr., Destin.

Also in Grayton Beach and Pensacola.

850-460-7907. $$ L D

CUVEE BISTRO ★

Classic Italian, French and Asian influenced dishes. Open daily 5:30-10 p.m.

36120 Emerald Coast Pkwy. W. Destin. (Also at 30Avenue, 12805 Highway 98 in Inlet Beach.) 850-650-8900. $$$ D

GEORGE’S AT ALYS BEACH

Seafood, burgers and sandwiches. Open daily 11 a.m.–3 p.m. and 5–9 p.m. 30 Castle Harbour Dr., Alys Beach. 850-641-0017. $$ L D

FIREFLY

Fresh Gulf seafood, steak, artisan pizzas and signature cocktails. Open daily at 4 p.m. 535 Richard Jackson Pkwy., Panama City Beach. 850-249-3359. $$$ D

JACO’S BAYFRONT BAR & GRILLE

Waterfront restaurant serving burgers, salads, seafood and brunch daily. Open Mon– Wed 11 a.m.–9 p.m., Thu–Sat 11 a.m.–10 p.m., and Sun 10 a.m.–9 p.m. 997 S. Palafox St., PENSACOLA. 850-432-5226. $$ L D

★ Best of the

Emerald Coast 2015 Winner

Dinner and dancing. Serving barbecue and seafood daily 5–9 p.m. The Village of Baytowne Wharf, 126 Fisherman’s Cove, Miramar Beach. 850-502-4590. $$ D

MAGNOLIA GRILL

Steak, seafood, pasta, soups, salads and desserts. Lunch Mon–Fri 11 a.m.–2 p.m.

Dinner Mon–Sat, open at 5 p.m. Closed Sun. 157 SE Brooks St., Fort Walton Beach.

850-302-0266. $$ L D

The original, award-winning wood-fired pizza and classical Italian cuisine

MARIE’S BISTRO & BAR ★

Seafood, steak, pasta and sushi. Serving lunch 11 a.m.–2 p.m., Tues–Fri and dinner at 5 p.m. Tues–Sun. 2260 W. County Highway 30A, Blue Mountain Beach. 850-278-6856. $$ L D

CAFÉ TANGO

THE KEY

JOHN WEHNER’S VILLAGE DOOR BAYFRONT RESTAURANT & NIGHTCLUB ★

2008 - Best Italian 2009 - Best Pizza 2010 - Best Pizza & Best Chef 2011 - Best Pizza, Best Italian & Best Chef 2012 - Best Italian 2013 - Best Pizza & Best Walton Restaurant 2014 - Best Pizza, Best Walton Restaurant & Best Chef 2015 - Best Pizza

MARINA BAR AND GRILL

Seafood, po’boys, burgers and salads.

Open daily 11 a.m.–7 p.m., Breakfast Sat–Sun 8–11 a.m. Kitchen closed Mon–Tue. Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort, 9300 Emerald Coast Pkwy. W., Miramar Beach. 850-267-7778.

$B L D

JOHNNY O’QUIGLEY’S ★

Steak, seafood and barbecue. Mon–Thu 11 a.m.–midnight, Fri–Sun 11 a.m.–1 a.m.

34940 Emerald Coast Pkwy., Destin.

850-837-1015. $ L D

MARINA CAFÉ

Gourmet pizzas, Creole and American cuisine. Open daily 5–10 p.m. 404 E. Hwy. 98, Destin. 850-837-7960. $$$ D

NICK’S BOATHOUSE

Serving a wide variety of seafood, steaks and flatbreads by the waterfront. Open daily for lunch and dinner from 11 a.m.– 9 p.m. 455 W. Main St., Pensacola.

850-912-8775. $$ L D

SUNSET BAY CAFÉ

Chef-inspired twists on classic dishes.

Breakfast, lunch, dinner or cocktail. Open daily 7 a.m.–2 p.m. Tiki Bar open noon to sunset. Linkside Conference Center, 158 Sandestin Blvd. N., Miramar Beach.

850-267-7108. $ B L

VIN’TIJ WINE BOUTIQUE & BISTRO Seafood, salad, chef specials. Open daily 11 a.m.–midnight. 10859 W. Emerald Coast Pkwy., Suite 103, Miramar Beach.

850-650-9820. $$ L D

ASIAN BASMATI’S ASIAN CUISINE & SUSHI

Asian dishes and full sushi bar. Open 4 p.m. daily. 3295 W. Hwy. 30A, Santa Rosa Beach.

850-267-3028. $$ D

The restaurants that appear in this guide are included as a service to readers and not as recommendations of the Emerald Coast Magazine editorial department, except where noted.

B L D

Breakfast Lunch Dinner

Lunch M–F 11–2 · Dinner M–Sat 5–9 · 850.650.5980 12273 US Hwy 98, Miramar Beach · fatclemenzas.com

Outdoor Dining Live Music $ Inexpensive

$$ Moderately

Expensive

$$$ Expensive

Magnolia Grill fort walton beach

tom & peggy rice, proprietors

(850) 302-0266

www.magnoliagrillfwb.com bridal luncheons • wedding rehearsals unique receptions

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SPECIAL PROMOTION

chefyi

SEAGAR’S

Chef Dan Vargo Executive Chef, Seagar’s Prime Steaks & Seafood How would you describe the cuisine?

The cuisine at Seagar’s Prime Steaks & Seafood can be best described as Regional American.

Seagar’s is best known for its beautifully handselected, perfectly cut and presented USDA prime meats and fresh seafood dishes.

What is your favorite dish and why?

My favorite dish to eat would be braised oxtail or short ribs. However, I thoroughly enjoy making fresh ravioli stuffed with caramelized shallots and blended cheeses from the cheese board. The ravioli are finished in a light pan sauce with morel mushrooms and Madeira wine. I also love to make pastas and gnocchi, while I often enjoy curing, braising and processing meats.

What made you want to pursue this career? I pursued a culinary career because I enjoy the freedom that food gives. I get paid to play with food, produce dishes and figure how to make each creation even better.

What is your philosophy? Set a goal or challenge and work to achieve it. Once you achieve it, try to perfect it and then look for your next challenge or opportunity.

PHOTO COURTESY HILTON SANDESTIN BEACH GOLF RESORT & SPA

What is the most important item in the kitchen? The most important item in the kitchen is black pepper. There are only five dishes on our menu that do not include black pepper at some point in the recipe.

What inspires/influences your cuisine?

My experiences and surroundings influence my dishes. My style of cooking morphs continuously and adapts to where I am. The ability to immerse yourself in a particular regional style, utilize the phenomenal products of that area and blend your style to that environment has always been something I enjoy.

 4000 Sandestin Blvd. S. | Miramar Beach | 850-622-1500 | Seagars.com

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OSAKA ★

Known for its sushi but serves a variety of dishes, including chicken, steak and seafood.

Lunch 11 a.m.–2:30 p.m., Dinner 5–10:30 p.m.

34845 Emerald Coast Pkwy., Destin.

850-650-4688 or 850-650-4689. $$ L D

JASMINE THAI ★

Traditional dishes in a contemporary atmosphere. Lunch: Tue–Sun 11 a.m.– 3 p.m. Dinner: Tue–Sun 5–9 p.m.

4463 Common Drive W., Ste. 108, Destin.

850-460-7780. $$ L D

SHAN KISHI

Sushi, sashimi and hibachi are the focus at this Japanese eatery. Open daily 11 a.m.– 10 p.m. 11275 US Highway 98 W, Unit 4, Miramar Beach, (850) 460-8998 and 13800 Panama City Beach Pkwy, Panama City, (850) 249-3663. $ L D

YIOTA’S GREEK DELI

Traditional greek food made from family recipes. Order at counter. 10 a.m.–5 p.m.

130 E. Miracle Strip Pkwy., Mary Esther.

850-302-0691. $ L

DESSERT BLUE MOUNTAIN BEACH CREAMERY Homemade ice cream, sorbet and frozen yogurt treats. Open daily 10 a.m.–10 p.m.

Cash only. 2129 S. County Highway 83, Blue Mountain Beach. 850-278-6849. $$

BRUSTERS ★

Ice cream selections are made fresh on-site daily. Noon–7:00 p.m. 4655 Gulfstar Drive, Destin. 850-269-2920. $

IRISH

THAI DELIGHT

Traditional dishes in a casual atmosphere.

Open daily 11 a.m.–9 p.m., 821 Harbor Blvd., Destin. 850-650-3945. $$ L D

BBQ BUCK’S SMOKEHOUSE

Brisket, ribs and pulled pork sandwiches and plates in a casual, rustic atmosphere.

Open daily 11 a.m.–8 p.m. 303 Harbor Blvd., Destin. 850-837-3600. $ L D

JIM ’N NICK’S BAR-B-Q ★

Smokehouse barbecue, beer and wine.

Open daily 11 a.m. 14073 Emerald Coast Pkwy., Destin. 850-351-1991. $ L D

98 BAR-B-QUE

Award-winning barbeque, gumbo, sandwiches, salads in a casual atmosphere.

Dine in, take out, catering. Mon–Sat 11 a.m.–8 p.m. 5008 Highway 98, Santa Rosa Beach. 850-622-0679. $ L D

MIMMOS

JOHNNNY MCTIGHE’S IRISH PUB

Easygoing pub providing Irish and American eats, a game room for kids and deck seating. 11 a.m.–2 a.m. 2298 Scenic Highway 30A, Blue Mountain Beach.

850-267-0101. $$ L D

MCGUIRE’S IRISH PUB ★

Burgers and pub grub and the famous 18-cent Senate Bean Soup. Open daily 11 a.m.–2 a.m. 33 Highway 98, Destin. (Also in Pensacola). 850-650-0000. $$ L D

ITALIAN/PIZZA ANGELINA’S PIZZA & PASTA

Authentic homemade pizza pie and Italian dishes in a casual atmosphere.

Lunch and dinner daily: 11 a.m.–9:30 p.m.

4005 E. Hwy. 30A, Seagrove Beach.

850-231-2500. $ B L D

979 US HWY 98 E

|

Destin

(in the 98 Pa lms Shopping Plaza)

850.460.7353 EatMimmos.com

CLEMENZA’S UPTOWN ★

BREAKFAST/ BRUNCH/BAKERY

Italian cuisine and wood-fired pizza.

Open Mon–Fri for lunch, Mon–Sat for dinner. 75 Eglin Pkwy., Fort Walton Beach.

850-243-0707. $$ B L D

ANOTHER BROKEN EGG CAFÉ ★

FAT CLEMENZA’S ★

Breakfast all day, plus sandwiches, patty melts, specials, soups, salads and desserts. Open daily 7 a.m.–2 p.m. Closed Mondays. 979 E. Highway 98, Suite F, Destin. (Also in Miramar Beach, Panama City, Pensacola, Sandestin and Grayton Beach) 850-650-0499. $ B

BON APPETIT FRENCH BAKERY & CAFÉ ★

French pastries, croissants, crusty breads, soup, salads and sandwiches served.

7:30 a.m.–5:30 p.m. Mon–Fri, Sat 7:30 a.m.– 2 p.m. Closed Sun. 420 Mary Esther Cutoff, Fort Walton Beach. 850-244-2848. $ B L

MAMA CLEMENZA’S EUROPEAN BREAKFAST ★

Award-winning breakfast. Old World family recipes. Open Wed–Sun 8 a.m.–1 p.m.

Holiday Plaza, 12273 Emerald Coast Pkwy. W, Destin. 850-246-6262. $$ B

GREEK AEGEAN RESTAURANT ★

Authentic Greek restaurant. Breakfast 8–11 a.m., Lunch 11 a.m.–4 p.m., Dinner 4–9 p.m. 11225 Emerald Coast Pkwy., Miramar Beach (and Shalimar). 850-460-2728. $$ B L D

ALA BABA GRILL CAFÉ

Casual spot for familiar Turkish and Greek recipes offered à la carte and at a buffet, plus beer and wine. 10 a.m.–9 p.m. 550 Mary Esther Cutoff, Fort Walton Beach. 850-986-5555. $ L D

Classical Italian cuisine. Lunch Mon–Fri 11 a.m.–2 p.m. Dinner Mon–Wed 5–9:30 p.m., Thu–Sat 5–10 p.m. Holiday Plaza/Hwy. 98, Miramar Beach. 850-650-5980. $$ L D

GRAFFITI

Traditional Italian house specialties like seafood pizza. Mon–Thu 5–9 p.m., Fri–Sat 5–10 p.m. 707 E. Hwy. 98, Destin.

850-654-2764. $$ D

HELEN BACK

Pizza and cold beer in a sports bar atmosphere. Locations in Pensacola, Navarre, Crestview and Valparaiso. Open daily 11 a.m.–4 a.m. 114 Amberjack Dr., Fort Walton Beach. 850-796-1451. $ L D

MIMMO’S RISTORANTE ITALIANO Italian dishes. Open Mon–Fri 11 a.m– 10 p.m., Sat–Sun 5–10 p.m. 979 Highway 98, Suite 5, Destin. 850-460-7353. $$ L D

THE PIZZA BAR AT BUD & ALLEY’S Artisan cheese, fresh salads, antipasto dishes, homemade soups, seasonal vegetables, hearty pastas and homemade wood-fired Neapolitan pizza. Open daily from 11 a.m. 2236 E. County Road 30A, Seaside. 850-231-3113. $$ L D

TRATTORIA BORAGO

Pork tenderloin or pan-seared grouper from the open kitchen. Open 6 p.m. daily. 80 E. Hwy. 30A, Grayton Beach. 850-231-9167. $$ D

TRADEWINDS

A cozy favorite among locals serving

Bruster’s & Nathan’s of Destin 4655 Gulfstarr Drive 855-269-2920 BRUSTERS.COM

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NOW OPEN at Pier Park in Panama City Beach

where fire meets freshness Local Produce, Fresh Gulf Fish, Highest Quality Beef

Thank You for Voting Us BEST Hibachi 18 Hibachi Tables | Sushi Bar Private Dining | Large Parties Welcome Open Daily for Lunch and Dinner DESTIN | 34745 Emerald Coast Pkwy | (850) 650-4688 TALLAHASSEE | 1690 Raymond Diehl Road | (850) 531-0222 PANAMA CITY BEACH | 15533 Panama City Beach Parkway | (850) 588-8403

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The Tradition Continues Best Italian 2013, 2014, 2015 Best Restaurant Okaloosa County 2013, 2014 Best Service, Food & Beverage 2015

Best Brunch 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015

12273 Emerald Coast Pkwy, Miramar Beach | 850.424.3157 Uptown Station, 75 Eglin Pkwy, Fort Walton Beach | 850.243.0707 ClemenzasAtUptown.com

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heaping portions from old family recipes.

Enjoy a number of pasta variations as well as seafood, chicken, veal, steak and thin crust pizza. Expansive wine and beer list.

Reservations required. Open Tue–Sat 5 p.m. 205 Government St., Valparaiso.

850-678-8299. $$ D

TUSCANY ITALIAN BISTRO

Northern Italian cuisine meats, fresh seafood and garden vegetables. Tues–Sun 4 p.m.–close. 36178 Emerald Coast Pkwy., Destin. 850-650-2451. $$ D

MEXICAN CANTINA LAREDO ★

A gourmet twist on Mexican favorites.

Sun–Thu 11 a.m.–10 p.m., Fri–Sat 11 a.m.– 11 p.m. 585 Grand Blvd., Miramar Beach.

850-654-5649. $$ B L D

CRAB ISLAND CANTINA

Latin-inspired Mexican cuisine. Mon–Thu 11 a.m.–10 p.m., Fri–Sat 11 a.m.–11 p.m., Sun 11 a.m.–9 p.m. 2 Harbor Blvd., Destin.

850-424-7417. $$ L D

PEPITO’S ★

Authentic Mexican cuisine, delicious margaritas and weekly specials. Open daily 11 a.m.–10 p.m. 11225 Hwy. 98, Destin, Niceville, Miramar Beach. 850-269-7788.

Emerald Coast. Open daily 5 a.m.–11 p.m.

538 E. Hwy. 98, Destin. 850-837-2506. $$ B L D

HARRY T’S

American and seafood spot set in a roomy waterfront space stuffed with circus memorabilia. Mon–Thu 11 a.m.–10 p.m., Fri–Sat 11 a.m.–11 p.m., Sun 10 a.m.–10 p.m.

46 Harbor Blvd., Destin. 850-654-4800. $$ B L D

HIGH TIDE RESTAURANT & OYSTER BAR ★

Casual eatery featuring an oyster bar. Open daily 11 a.m.–9:30 p.m. 1203 Miracle Strip Pkwy.

SE, Fort Walton Beach. 850-244-2124. $$ L D

JACKACUDA’S SEAFOOD & SUSHI

Seafood, sushi, salad and sandwiches. Open daily from 11 a.m. Sunday brunch at 10 a.m.

56 Harbor Blvd., HarborWalk Village, Destin.

850-424-3507. $$ L D

PICOLO’S RESTAURANT

Fresh seafood. Open daily 11 a.m.–3 p.m. and 5–10 p.m. 70 Hotz Ave., Grayton Beach.

850-231-1008. $$ L D

POPPY’S SEAFOOD FACTORY

Fresh seafood, steak and poultry dishes.

Open 11 a.m.–9 p.m. daily. The Village of Baytowne Wharf, Miramar Beach.

850-351-1996. $$$ L D

$$ L D

THE TACO BAR AT BUD & ALLEY’S Baja fish tacos, homemade guacamole, burritos and top-shelf margaritas. Open daily from 11 a.m. (in season). 2236 E. Country Road 30A, Seaside. 850-231-4781. $$ L D

SEAFOOD

TAKE OUT DESTIN ICE SEAFOOD MARKET & DELI ★

Fresh fish and seafood items, pastas, salads and side dishes, Buckhead meats, decadent deserts, wines, cheeses, spices and more.

Open daily 8 a.m.–7 p.m. 663 Emerald Coast Pkwy, Destin. 850-837-8333. $$ L D

BOATHOUSE OYSTER BAR

SARAH K’S GOURMET

Ice cold beer, raw oysters, award-winning gumbo. Open daily 11 a.m.–2 a.m. 288 B Harbor Blvd., Destin. 850-837-3645. L D

Ready-to-heat cuisine. Jumbo lump crab cakes and fresh chicken salad. Open at 11 a.m.

34940 Hwy. 98, Destin. 850-269-0044. $ L D

BOSHAMPS SEAFOOD & OYSTER HOUSE ★

WENDY’S KITCHEN

BROTULA’S SEAFOOD HOUSE & STEAMER ★

STEAK & SEAFOOD

Gulf-to-table Southern cuisine.

Open daily at 11 a.m. 414 Harbor Blvd., Destin. 850-424-7406. $$ L D

Fresh steamed and boiled seafood dishes.

Open daily for lunch, dinner and Sunday brunch. Destin Harbor, Destin.

850-460-8900. $$$ B

BUD & ALLEY’S WATERFRONT RESTAURANT

Sea-to-table dining serving fresh seafood, steak and vegetarian dishes. Open 11:30 a.m.

Mon–Fri. Roof bar open 11:30 p.m.–2 a.m. in summer. 2236 E. Hwy. 30A, Seaside.

850-231-5900. $$$ L D

DEWEY DESTIN’S HARBORSIDE ★

Award-winning seafood in a quaint house.

Open daily 11 a.m.– 8 p.m. 202 Harbor Blvd., Destin. 850-837-7525. $$$ L D

DEWEY DESTIN SEAFOOD RESTAURANT & MARKET ★

Outdoor setting, fresh seafood. Open 11 a.m.–8 p.m. 9 Calhoun Ave., Destin.

850-837-7575. $$ B L D

FISH OUT OF WATER RESTAURANT Southern coastal cuisine with an Asian flair.

5:30–10 p.m. daily. Located in the WaterColor Inn, Santa Rosa Beach. 850-534-5050. $$$ D

HARBOR DOCKS ★

A surf-and-turf restaurant. Breakfast, lunch and dinner and the best sushi on the

Homemade meals from Wendy’s kitchen to your table. Comfort food, casseroles.

11 a.m.–6 p.m. Mon–Fri. 14091 Emerald Coast Pkwy., Destin. 850-837-8837. L D

BIJOUX RESTAURANT & SPIRITS ★

Fine dining coastal cuisine with a New Orleans flair, Gulf seafood, prime steaks.

Open daily, 4–10 p.m. The Market Shops, 9375 Emerald Coast Pkwy. W, Suite 22, Miramar Beach. 850-622-0760. $$$ D

JACKSON’S STEAKHOUSE

High-end steakhouse cuisine with fine wines. Local seafood is hand-selected and artistically prepared to perfection. Open Tue–Sat for dinner 5:30 p.m.–10:30 p.m.

Open Tue–Fri for lunch 11 a.m.–2 p.m. 400 S. Palafox St., Pensacola. 850-469-9898. $$$ D

MARLIN GRILL ★

Seafood, steaks, salads and appetizers.

Open nightly at 5 p.m. The Village of Baytowne Wharf, Miramar Beach. 850-351-1990. $$$ D

RUTH’S CHRIS STEAK HOUSE ★

Steak and seafood. New Orleans-inspired.

Mon–Sat 5:30–10 p.m., Sun 5:30–9 p.m.

Silver Shells Resort. 1500 Emerald Coast Pkwy., Destin. 850-337-5108. $$$ D

SEAGAR’S PRIME STEAKS AND SEAFOOD

Premium steak, fresh seafood and caviar.

Open 6 p.m. daily. Hilton Sandestin.

4000 S. Sandestin Blvd., Miramar Beach.

850-622-1500. $$$ D EMERALDCOASTMAGA ZINE.COM

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postscript

A BLIND VISIONARY

by JACK LEVINE

M

y dad was 60 when I was born. Not only was he the oldest dad on the block, he was older than all of my friends’ grandfathers. He was also a blind man, having lost his sight while in his early 50s.

After a few days of blurred vision, he became totally blind.

The doctors guessed it was vascular, perhaps an aneurysm on the optic nerve.

It’s said that when one sense goes the others perk up a bit.

Well, eight years after my dad went blind, I came along!

Some things in life don’t require good vision!

Growing up with a blind dad wasn’t easy. Sometimes his blindness frightened me.

On occasion I would play blind, walking through a room with my eyes tightly shut feeling my way with outstretched arms and walking in a halting gait wondering how my dad managed to move around with such effortless grace.

Beginning at age 9, it was my responsibility to read for Dad — mostly newspaper columns, editorials and letters from his friends. Walter Cronkite was his TV news anchor; I read the opinions.

When I read for him, he listened to me struggle through the tough words with patience. I had to spell out a few. But I’ll never forget the light that would shine from his blind eyes when I got to a

146

phrase in an article or friend’s letter that moved him — a new fact or a fresh angle on an issue of concern. When that light went on, I knew I was doing a good job. He couldn’t see my smile, but I knew he sensed it.

Dad never went to school one day in his life. He was an immigrant who came to this country at the turn of the century to escape the tyranny of forced “conscription” in the Russian Czarist Army.

The teenage boys gathered from the shtetles were not really being recruited or given uniforms; they were forced to run through the woods, used as human target practice, to hone the skills of the sharpshooters.

Those few who survived feigned death, crawled back to the village to warn the others, like my father, to run away and escape to

August–September 2016 EMERALDCOASTMAGA ZINE.COM

the West. He and a friend, Benny, left their families at age 14, working their way through Poland over a threeyear period to save enough to board a ship in Danzig (now Gdansk) for the New World, for survival and to be free.

Dad spoke five languages and mastered Braille but was versed in the language of politics the best. He believed it was politics that forced those young kids to run through the woods as human prey, and it was politics and policies that needed to be influenced at every stage of his life.

I think of how different my childhood would have been if I had a different father — one who was not blind, who could play catch, or take me to a movie or compliment my drawings. Yet, I know I was enriched by being with a wise old man, helping to narrate his life’s events. For as long as

I can remember, I saw for two people. That was both an obligation and an opportunity.

I think of Dad’s Day — now 40-plus years after my Dad’s death — as a chance to cherish the gifts he gave me that had no wrapping paper. His influence lives in the work I do, my appreciation of others’ challenges, and the relationship I have built with my own two sons who never got to meet the old guy with the gray beard and bright, shining eyes.

One of the most significant ways to heed the commandment, “Honor Thy Father and Thy Mother,” is to make a contribution in our parents’ name to a charity which reflects the values we’ve learned from those who paved our paths. Or volunteer to read to a child, visit a lonely elder or send a note to a long-lost friend. What better honor than to give of ourselves in the name of those who gave so much to us? EC

Jack Levine is founder of the 4Generations Institute. Top, Jack, age 5, with his dad.

PHOTOS COURTESY JACK LEVINE

A father’s insightfulness inspired his son

When choosing a senior community, where do you begin?

We suggest starting with lunch.

We can’t think of a better way than lunch with some new friends to introduce you to life at Somerby.

After a delicious meal, let us show you around. You will get to see how the people who live here enjoy the spark of happiness that comes from living with purpose. Experience our inviting accommodations, our spirited lifestyle and come meet our Associates who are devoted to making each day a surprise and delight.

We look forward to meeting you and sharing why Somerby is

Full of Life.

Let’s do lunch. Call 866.822.1156 to plan your visit.

ASSISTED LIVING

8 6 6 .8 2 2.1 1 5 6

•

•

MEMORY CARE

www. S ome r byS par k .com

FL License #AL12667

Royce Mitchell

Broker Royce.Mitchell@penfedrealty.com (850) 737-0567 Cell (850) 267-0013 Office

Dune Allen - Scenic Highway 30A This classic beach home is a must see. Located on Scenic Highway 30A in the heart of Dune Allen, this home boasts panoramic views of the Gulf of Mexico and Allen Lake. Enjoy stunning sunsets from the home’s private rear deck.

Showcasing six bedrooms, five bathrooms and two levels of living space, this gulf front home is perfect for family gatherings at the beach. Buyers have the option to combine this home with 53 Fort Panic and 75 Fort Panic for a total of 225 feet of rare private gulf frontage!

43 Fort Panic

4,000,000

$

Chris Sause

Broker Associate chris@sausegroup.com (850) 225-1591 Cell (850) 267-0013 Office

Frangista Beach - Scenic Gulf Drive Known as “Acqualina,” this spectacular beach estate, capable of sleeping up to 24 people, is a rental monster. Grossing $117,000 in rental sales in 2015, with a projected gross of over $130,000 in 2016. This home is ideally located in elegant Frangista Beach and is only a short distance from the neighborhood’s private gated beach access. Sure to impress, the home boasts three stories, nine bedroom, five and a half baths, a massive amount of indoor living space, gulf views, a heated pool, elevator and incredible outdoor living space with 700 square feet of deck. Optimally designed for comfort and relaxation, this home is meticulously furnished and outfitted with the latest in home electronics.

100 Miami Street

1,500,000

$

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