Pensacola Magazine December 2012/January 2013

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Pensacola • Your City • Your Magazine

g g

Decem

ber 2012/January 2013

Pel i can Drop • Gui l t F ree Trea t s • Good Deeds Tha t Go Rewarded

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editor’s note > my two cents on the subject

As 2012 comes to a close, I find myself reflecting on what has happened overthe past year. On a personal level, I am floored by my daughter’s remarkablegrowth both physically an intellectually. I love watching her learn and grow—it’s sorewarding. I am also proud of the summer garden I planted this year as well asmy efforts to lead a healthier life.

It’s also been a year of remarkable growth for the City of Pensacola. TheMaritime Park and Wahoo stadium were finally finished and have changed theface of our downtown waterfront very much for the better. Plenty of newbusinesses have sprung up and there are so many festivals and events that Ioften have a hard time choosing what to do. One annual tradition here atPensacola Magazine is our year-end interview with Pensacola Mayor AshtonHayward. It’s been an interesting year for Mayor Hayward—one full of challengesand triumphs. We hope you enjoy the interview and Mayor Hayward’s perspectiveon his second year in office.

And speaking of traditions, don’t miss Pensacola’s New Year’s tradition—ThePelican Drop. Read all about it on page 11. This issue also holds some healthyholiday recipes, profiles on the winners of the Association of FundraisingProfessionals Philanthropy awards, information on Our Lady of the Angels clinicand so much more. I hope you enjoy this issue and that you have a very happyholiday and a fantastic New Year.

Pick up any of our magazines at one of these fine locations:

Barnes and NobleBookseller1200 Airport Blvd.Pensacola, FL 32504850-969-9554

Family Christian Stores1520 Airport Blvd.Pensacola, FL 32504850-474-9324

Ever’man Natural Foods315 W. Garden St.Pensacola, FL 32501850-438-0402

Varona’s Airport Gift ShopArea Books-A-Million Area Walmart StoresArea Bruno’s StoresArea K-Mart Stores

Kelly OdenExecutive Editor


Contentsfeatures

Mayor Ash ton Hayward ...............30Still Going Strong

celebrationPe l i can Drop Ushe r s i n t he New Yea r . . .11

foodGui l t F ree Fo r Me . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14

philanthropyGood Deeds Tha t Go Rewarded . . . . . .17

architectureP la t i num Award Honor s NAS P ro jec t . . .20

healthOur Lady o f The Ange l s Med ica l C l in i c :F ree Hea l thca re and Hope . . . . . . . . . . .23

UWF book clubThe Immor t a l L i f e o f Henr ie t t a Lacks . . .26

holidaysGrea t Ways to “Green” Your Ho l iday Season . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29

departments

Cover photo by Kassie McLean

repeatsda tebook . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .42pensaco la scene . . . . . . . . . .44

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cover of Pensacola Magazine Weddings 2013, andthat model could be you.

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Winner 2012


By Josh Newby

tens of thousands of locals have beenentertained and enthralled by Pensacola’s newest reason to party: the Pensacola Pelican Drop.Kids and adults alike find the experience to be a local, stress-free, safe way to celebrate thepassing of one year and the beginning of the next.

ce lebr at ion

Pelican Drop Ushers in the New Year

For the past four years,


The celebration, which is marketed as far east asTallahassee, balances the entertainment value of manylarger cities’ drops around the country with a distinct GulfCoast feel and family-friendly value that only Pensacolacan provide.

Fifty thousand spectators have been attending theannual event for years, and the Downtown ImprovementBoard (DIB) that has been overseeing the event for thepast two years expectsjust as big a crowd thisyear.

“It’s a reallyimportant event forboth Downtown andthe community as awhole,” said AlexandraColley, assistantexecutive director ofthe DIB. “After thesepast several years, ithas become a stapleevent. It is quicklybecoming a Pensacolalegacy.”

Last year, area hotels were sold out and the Downtownarea saw a huge boom in business before, during andafter the event.

The event begins for kids at 5 pm and the official musicand live entertainment begins for all attendees at 8 pm.Kids have their own countdown from 5 to 8 pm as theyenjoy a competitive dance-off, karaoke, and bubblestomp—an activity that lets them stomp out thousands of

bubbles, mimicking thesound that fireworksmake, as the Pelicanascends into the air toprepare for the drop.The Blue Wahoos andIce Flyers are expectedto attend and interactwith attendees as well.

As usual, there willbe three stages, theCAT Country Stage, theGo Pensacola Stage,and the Main Stage,each featuring different

Tips1. LOCATIONPalafox Place will close down for a massive party. Streetclosures begin on the morning of December 31 andcontinue until 1 am on January 1.

2. PARKINGThere is plenty of handicap and regular parking in theJefferson garage, as well as the local parking lotsdowntown. An interactive parking map is available atpensacolaparking.com/where/events.php.

3. ARRIVE EARLY FOR THE BEST VIEW OF THEPELICAN DROPFolks begin arriving as early as 5 pm on December 31for the family-friendly events. Some of the prime viewingspots will be filled by mid-evening.

4. HIT THE BATHROOM FIRSTThere are public portable restrooms throughout theevent location.

5. FOOD AND BEVERAGESThe local bars and restaurants will be open to buy foodand drinks, as well as food vendors on the streets. Nocoolers please.

6. BE READY FOR CROWDSApproximately 25,000 people will end up on PalafoxPlace the night of New Year’s Eve.

7. NO ANIMALSOnly service animals allowed.

8. BE PATIENT AND HAVE A SENSE OF HUMORYour feet will get stomped on. People will block yourview. Someone is bound to bump into you. Keep yourcool and you (and those around you) will enjoy the NewYear's Eve Pelican Drop.

9. CONSIDER THE WEATHERThe weather in Pensacola on New Year's Eve can varywidely. If it's going to rain or be bitterly cold, you mightwant to consider dressing for the weather, with extralayers to add as it gets later and colder. Remember, forthe Ball Drop in New York City the average temperatureis 28 low and 42 high compared to Pensacola’stemperature of 45 low to 63 high.

10. PLEASE MAKE SURE YOU PLAN TO ARRIVEHOME SAFELY.

The event is always well attended and some may find the crowd intimidating, so here are some easy, helpful tipsto ensure a fun and safe time for all.


musical acts from different genresand an ultimate headliner.

The CAT Country Stage will featureWhiskey River from 8 to 9:15 pm andthe Wes Loper Band from 9:45 to 11pm. The Go Pensacola Stage willfeature Lucky Town from 8 to 9:15pm and Cold Hard Truth from 9:45 to11 pm. The Main Stage will featurethe Emerald Coast Blues Brothersfrom 8:45 to 10:45 pm and SteelMagnolia from 10:45 pm to 12:15 am.

As the hours and minutes tick by,as the air cools and the excitementswells, the party never stops as localsprepare for the drop that signals thestart of another great year inPensacola.

New York has the crystal ball andAtlanta has the peach, butPensacola’s Pelican, inspired by thelocal brown pelican, is significant asthe city’s mascot that isrepresentative of the area’s seasidesetting. It was constructed over thecourse of 300 hours by local artistMichael Dicks and his crew andstrengthens Pensacola’s foundationas a cultural Mecca of the southeast.Weighing in at half a ton, the pelicanstands 13 feet tall and has awingspan of 17 feet. It features 2,000hand-cut metal feathers and requires3,000 watts of power. It will be brightenough to be seen all over the city.

At midnight, the Pelican willdescend its perch at the intersectionof Palafox and Government Streets asfireworks fly high into the night andexplode.

Sponsors for the event includeWEAR and WFGX; InternationalPaper; the Pensacola News Journal; GoPensacola; CAT Country; Wilson,Harrell, Farrington, Ford, Frickle,Wilson & Spain, PA; ADJConnection; and the City ofPensacola’s CommunityRedevelopment Agency.

14 pensacolamagazine.com December/January 2013

food By Jodi Brown, the Ultimate Kitchen Commando

Guilt Freefor Me

I eat the most amazinglydelicious foods on a regular basis that add to the quality of my life rather than subtracting from it. Andwhile I don’t live a completely raw lifestyle, one aspect of that movement’s way of thinking that I amtotally on board with is desserts. Raw desserts rock my world. If you have a sweet tooth that is workingagainst you because it is rooted in traditional processed foods, I highly recommend that you go to yourcomputer and Google “raw dessert recipes.” Just do it. You’ll be astounded at what you discover, reallyyou will.

I might just be the luckiest gal I know.

Raw Chocolate Truffles

The holidays are a great time of year to go the extramile when it comes to preparing food. I tell people that Ihave three opportunities every day to make myself happy– breakfast, lunch and dinner. I will admit here and nowthat I have made some amazing raw pies in my life (keylime and chocolate cream) that were so good after dinner,I had them again for breakfast the next morning. Guilt-free, of course.

Raw cacao butter is not something you can run downto the store and pick up so buy some online and it willkeep in the refrigerator for months. A little bit goes aLONG way, and as you try and move towards a morehealthful lifestyle, ingredients like these will be key toyour success. You can go to my website and find links toa variety of food and supplement items that I enjoy usingwhen I prepare these and other recipes.


About the Author:Jodi Brown is the Ultimate Kitchen Commando andloves to turn people on to delicious and healthy foods.She assists people with food transitions and teacheshealthy cooking classes. She shares her time betweenNew Orleans and Pensacola. To learn more, visitwww.ultimatekitchencommando.com.

2 oz. raw cacao butter 1/2 cup raw almonds ground into a flour2 ½ tbsp. raw cacao powder1 ½ tsp. vanillaPinch of sea salt1/2 of a small-medium ripe Hass avocado1/4 tsp. cinnamon1/8 tsp. cayenne pepper2 ½ tbsp. raw local honey

Grind the almonds into a flour and set aside (use acoffee grinder or magic bullet to do this). Grate 2 oz. ofraw cacao butter and put it into a food processor fittedwith an “S” blade. Add the cacao powder, salt, cinnamon,cayenne pepper and pulse until well blended. Then addvanilla, avocado and honey and blend, scraping the sidesdown occasionally, until you get a smooth paste.

Fill a small bowl with about 1 inch of cacao powder.With two spoons work the paste by scooping truffle sizedbits onto one spoon, then pushing it off with anotherspoon into the cacao powder. Do about 5 or 6 at a time,and roll them quickly in the powder before picking themup and rolling them between your palms until youachieve finished pieces. The cacao powder helps to keepthe paste from sticking to your hands. Makes aboutthree dozen, depending on how you size them.

Keep refrigerated. Best if consumed within 3-4 days.Optional: Substitute the cinnamon and cayenne with mint oilor orange zest. Or roll them in cinnamon instead of cacaopowder, or a combination of both. Play with this. You’llcome up with some interesting combinations, I’m sure.

Raw Chocolate Truffles

I decided to make these into “balls” rather than barsjust because I’m a gal that likes to grab a tastefrequently, rather than having a whole serving. If youwant, you can make these into bars, instead of balls. Why are they powerful? They are made with raw nutsand seeds, which means that the nutrition inherent inthose items is still intact. Roasted nuts and seeds areheated to very high temperatures thus ultimatelydepleting much of what they have to offer nutritionally.Hemp seeds are loaded with protein and fiber and chiaseeds are a great source of omega-3 fatty acids as wellas fiber, calcium, phosphorus and manganese. Gojiberries are super rich in antioxidants and maca powderwill give you a great boost of energy. Oh, and they tastelike cookie dough.1/2 cup of raw pumpkin seeds (aka pepitas) – groundinto a flour1/2 cup of raw almonds – ground into a flour1 cup of raw walnutsZest from one organic lemon1/8 cup goji berriesPinch of sea salt1 tbsp. hemp seeds1 tbsp. chia seeds1/2 tbsp. maca powder8-12 medjool dates (depending on size)

Combine ground nuts, seeds, walnuts, goji berries,zest and salt into a food processor and process until thewalnuts are ground and the ingredients are wellcombined. Add hemp, chia and maca powder and pulseuntil integrated.

While the machine is running, drop the medjool datesinto the machine one at a time (pits removed) until themixture starts to pull together into a more solid mass.You’ll see it start to change around date number eight.When you think it is done, open the processor andsqueeze a bit between your fingers and thumb. If itsticks well and isn’t dry, it’s ready to roll.

Portion into bite-sized balls and roll between yourpalms to create a uniform shape. Makes about 40 balls.Refrigerate for up to two weeks in the refrigerator. You can, if you choose, make these into any shape youlike. You can make bars by evenly pushing the “dough”into a square or oblong pan, refrigerating for a few hours,then cutting into shapes that make you happiest.

Cookie Dough Power Balls

Cookie Dough Power Balls


phi lanthropyBy Josh Newby

goes unpunished,but that is certainly not the case for many philanthropists and generousnon-profits that were awarded on November 16. The National PhilanthropyDay awards luncheon, presented by the Association of FundraisingProfessionals (AFP) in northwest Florida and hosted by Gulf Power,provided a forum where individuals and groups could be recognized fortheir hard work and dedication in philanthropy. It was a unique opportunityfor non-profit organizations in the community to recognize those treasuredfriends who helped make a difference throughout the past year.

Good Deeds That Go Rewarded

They say that no good deed


Two types of awards were presented at the luncheon,one for outstanding philanthropist, and another foroutstanding philanthropic foundation, organization orcorporation.

Criteria for the first award state than an individual orfamily must exhibit exceptional generosity and civicresponsibility, demonstrated by significant financialcontributions to charitable organizations in thecommunity. The recipient’s personal generosity andcommunity leadership should motivate others to giveand to become involved in philanthropy.

Criteria for the second award include a foundation orcharitable organization whose grant programs, donationsand charitable activities significantly enrich thecommunity. The recipient must provide visible leadershipand incentive for others to pursue philanthropic activitythat serves many segments of the community. Acorporation or business is recognized for its philanthropicimpact in the community through direct and indirectsupport of charitable projects. Leaders in this entity mustdemonstrate a high level of community spirit andparticipation, motivating employees and colleagues tosupport charitable activity.

The winners of the first award were Quint and RishyStuder, both of whose longtime charitable and businesscommitments to Pensacola are well known. Quint andRishy brought their vision and love of baseball to thecommunity. In the past year, the Community MaritimePark, sandwiched between the waterfront and theDowntown district, was completed. In support of theWahoos employees, Quint has transferred Studer Group’sQuality of Service model, exemplified by winning the 2010Malcolm Baldrige Quality Award and his latest book, TheGreat Employee Handbook, to the 300 plus employees in hisbaseball organization.

“It is an honor to honor them,” said Kyle Marrero, vicepresident of university advancement at the University ofWest Florida, as he presented the award. “They areresponsible for the improvement and revitalization ofPensacola.”

“On behalf of Quint and myself, I’d like to thankeveryone,” said Rishy Studer. “It’s an honor to be counted

among the recipients of this award. I have alwaysbelieved that life is not about how much we live, butabout how much we give back.”

The Studers have also supported programs forautistic children and hospice care. They are thesponsors of the Pensacola Pledge scholarshipprogram, which awards eligible recipients attendingthe University of West Florida or Pensacola StateCollege money towards classes. Quint also foundedthe Better Pensacola Forum, a non-profitorganization designed to help local leaders developpractical strategies to improve quality of life.

The winner of the second award was thePanhandle Charitable Open, which has hosted an

annual golf tournament for charity every year for the past12. Since 2006, the open has been responsible for giving atotal of more than $310,000 to 20 non-profits in the area,including Council on Aging of West Florida, ARC Gateway,Manna Food Bank, Escambia Charter School, and ChildGuardians, Inc. John Clark, the president and CEO ofCouncil on Aging of West Florida, nominated theorganization and its founder, John Peacock.

“The purpose of this open is to help others in thecommunity,” said Clark. “Through John Peacock’sinvolvement in the community, he has gathered like-minded individuals with a passion to fund local charities.”

Peacock, who began the charity in honor of his lateson, spoke on the importance of staying positive.

“You can either go through life miserable or positive,”said Peacock. “The community has surrounded thisventure with love and support, and the past few yearshave exceeded our wildest expectations. On behalf of myboard, thank you. I don’t know of a more givingcommunity.”

Both winners received letters of congratulation fromPensacola Mayor Ashton Hayward and Certificates ofAchievement from Congressman Jeff Miller.

Kenda Hembrough, vice president of communicationsfor the AFP of West Florida, has been with the associationsince 2001 and spoke highly of the work they do both for


fundraising professionals in the area and for non-profits inthe community.

“We provide support for one another,” saidHembrough. “We are able to connect with mentors, andhelp non-profit professionals be ethical and maximizeopportunities to do good work in the community. We’revery blessed to live in a generous community withcompanies and individuals who go above and beyond tomeet the needs of the counties. It’s important that theyare recognized for the difference they make. It would beinteresting to imagine what our community would looklike without the influence of donors. So many give somuch and do so much.”

Patrice Whitten, president of the West Florida chapterof AFP and executive director of Alumni Affairs atPensacola State College, has been a member since 1995and said that she believes the community impact ofthose honored is immeasurable and long-lived.

“Our mission is one of promoting volunteerism,developing the potential of area professional fundraisingexecutives, and improving communities through theaffective action and leadership of trained non-profitleaders and volunteers,” said Whitten. “By equipping ournon-profit leaders, and by building public awareness of

the power of philanthropy, AFP West Floridachampions philanthropy as a cause—an elementessential to our community’s future.”

The current membership of AFP West Floridaincludes many leaders of area non-profitorganizations. Their impact is best defined as far-reaching and perpetual. Manna Food Bank feedsthe hungry; Pensacola State College, the Universityof West Florida and Northwest Florida StateCollege provide quality educational opportunitieswith accessible, affordable tuition; the Foundationfor Excellence in Education provides an extramargin of support for the Escambia K-12 schools;Baptist Health Care heals the sick; the RonaldMcDonald House provides temporary housing for

families of critically ill children; the Pensacola Operaand Pensacola Museum of Art provide quality culturalevents; and the United Way of Escambia Countyprovides support for many non-profit agencies in thePensacola area.

“Our members are helping those in great need amongus,” said Whitten. “They are healing and comforting oursick and chronically ill and providing food and shelterfor indigents and the homeless. They are training futurenurses, teachers and scientists and providing betterfutures through educational opportunities that areaffordable and accessible. They help break the cycle ofpoverty and promote health and fund research forcures. Non-profit executives dedicate their careers toserving others through non-profit organizations. This iswhy we do our work and why volunteers and donorswillingly support area causes. We are all in it to be apart of something that is greater than ourselves andimpact the future.”

That future is bright as long as hard-working,dedicated, generous philanthropic leaders continue togive freely to deserving organizations. It seems that thegifts are uniquely beneficial for both the recipients andthe givers, a trend that associations like the AFP hopeto keep alive for a long time to come.

“It is important to recognize our benefactors becausethey champion causes and set the standard for otherswho give,” said Whitten. “To honor their gifts is why wecelebrate National Philanthropy Day in America. Thetask of ‘paying it forward,’ of carrying on the traditionof giving back and providing for our ‘forces for good’relies on professional non-profit leaders and resourcedevelopment officers. We must be the conduits throughwhich our benefactors can express their goodwilltoward humankind.”

Gulf Power staff who gave of their time and expertiseto National Philanthropy Day include Bentina Terry, JTYoung, Sandy Sims and Doris Mink.

For more information on the AFP, visitafpwestflorida.org.


Caldwell Associates Architects, inconjunction with Greenhut Construction Company,received a prestigious national design award forrenovating the old Navy School of Photography buildingon NAS Pensacola.

The award, presented by Building Design & ConstructionMagazine’s 29th Annual Reconstruction Award Program,recognizes the teamwork between owners, architects andcontractors to successfully deliver excellent buildingprojects.

The project received one of two Platinum Awards, thehighest given in the program. Only one other restorationwas given the same accolades: New York City Hall.

“It was an honor to be selected among the manydistinguished entries,” said senior project manager KeithBullock.

Building Design & Construction Magazine is an industrypublication. The building reconstruction was submitted forthe design award because the project exemplified thecollaboration and partnering required to deliver acomplicated renovation to a historic structure.

The project renovated Building 1500 for use as the newCommand Headquarters for Pensacola NAS. The 63,000square foot, four-story structure now houses the BaseCommand Headquarters, as well as the numerous otherbase functions that support command operations.

By Christienne Cloutierarch i tecture

P la t i num Award Honor sNAS P ro jec t


The building was originally constructed during the 1930sas a barracks for Army personnel. The building wasrenovated numerous times over the years for a variety ofuses. The many renovations significantly altered interiorspaces of the building, but surprisingly, the exterior wasnever substantially altered.

The scope of work that Caldwell and Greenhut didincluded compliance with the Secretary of InteriorStandards for Rehabilitation and Guidelines forRehabilitation. The extent of work also included anti-terrorism/force protection and progressive collapseprotection required of Department of Defense buildings.

Additionally, the project was subject to federalguidelines regarding protection of archeological assets. Theentire area around the project site is designated as asignificant archeological zone.

“We needed to have an archeologist on site in order toprotect any artifacts,” Bullock said. “Seven hundred testpits were dug to determine if any sensitive objects were inthe area.”

The program also called for preservation andrehabilitation of the exterior components that are thecharacter-defining elements. Miscellaneous non-contributing attachments to the building were removed andwall surfaces were repaired. The existing roofs wereretained and repaired. New exterior windows that comply

with both the Secretary of Interior Standards forRehabilitation and Guidelines for Rehabilitation, therequirement of anti-terrorism/force protections and windload/impact resistance criteria of the IBC were provided.

There were many challenges the design team faced. Oneincluded bringing the original staircases up to code whilestill preserving their integrity.

“The four existing stairwells were kept in place, butmodified with removable architectural panels andguardrails to bring them up to code,” Bullock said. “Aunique design solution created an asset out of a potentialeyesore.”

"Balancing the many complex and sometimes conflictingprogram requirements of this project required a great dealof teamwork,” explains Miller Caldwell. He went on torecognize the leadership of senior project manager KeithBullock and project architect Michael Crawford.

Bill Greenhut commented that, “The challenges of thisproject required extraordinary solutions to ensure theowner’s objectives were met.” He also noted thecontributions that project managers Kevin Spellman andJustin Varnadoe made towards achieving those goals.

The project was directed by Bryan Moeller and EddieTodd on behalf of the Navy, representing NAVFACSoutheast and the local Facility Engineering andAcquisition Department.


that there are 76,000 uninsured people living inEscambia County and 18,000 in Santa Rosa County. While many of these people arenot in need of immediate medical care, there are a few that need professionalhealthcare, yet have no access to it. Whether for the occasional sniffle or forsomething more serious like diabetes, high blood pressure or the flu, a local medicalclinic is ready and willing to help the disadvantaged with the assistance of tirelessvolunteers and a trained staff.

hea l thBy Josh Newby

Our Lady of The Angels MedicalClinic: Free Healthcare and Hope

It is estimated


Our Lady of Angels, located Downtown on IntendenciaStreet, is a non-profit medical clinic that provides highquality medical attention to the Pensacola area’s workingpoor, the uninsured, the homeless and many militaryveterans with partial VA coverage. The only requirementsthese patients must meet in order to receive the freemedical attention are that they be uninsured and makeless than 200 percent of the national poverty level, whichamounts to about $22,340 for single people. The clinic iscommonly referred to as St. Joe’s Medical Clinic for itsaffiliation with St. Joseph’s Catholic Church.

This ministry of healthcare and hope all started whenDr. David Conkle, still the head doctor at the clinic, gottogether with a group of church parishioners in the fall of2001. They saw the need for competent, no-cost medicalattention for the city’s homeless and talked with the priestand bishop about the idea of opening a clinic.

In May of 2002, the doors were open. Not many knewof the wonderful resource located in the heart ofDowntown, and Dr. Conkle humorously commented that ittook three weeks to receive their first patient. Now, adecade later, in 2012 alone, the clinic will helpapproximately 6,000 patients, 2,000 of which are new thisyear.

“At that time, there were no clinics, facilities or servicesfor people who were homeless,” said Lily Townsend, afounder and volunteer of the clinic. “It was and is an all-

free service to them.”The clinic has also increased its days of operation from

once per week to three times per week—Tuesday,Wednesday and Thursday—to meet increasing demand.

“Our numbers have certainly increased exponentiallysince that first year,” said Dr. Conkle. “People recognizewhat a wonderful resource this is and we are more thanhappy to assist them in whatever way we can.”

Surprisingly, the clinic does not receive anygovernmental assistance. Rather, the clinic relies on thefinancial support of private individuals, businesses,foundations, community support of the biannual “Gospeland Gumbo” event and other fund-raising events held atSt. Joseph’s Church.

In 2009, the clinic won the much-coveted Impact 100grant and expanded from four exam rooms to eight. Thereis now room for laboratory services and non-narcoticmedications, which are also provided free of charge if thepatient cannot afford them.

“We also recently received a BlueCross BlueShieldgrant that has helped with prescriptions and medicalsupplies,” said Millie Green, organizer for the newCommunity Advisory Board for the clinic.

The clinic operates with a 100 percent volunteer staff ofmore than 50 individuals that include doctors, nurses,social workers and skilled assistants. One of the reasonsfor this is to ensure that every penny that is given to the


ministry goes to the patients. There are no administrativeor managerial costs. The clinic’s annual services costabout $90,000 a year, services that would cost more than$1 million elsewhere.

“Our staff is not limited to members of the church,”said Green. “Those of Jewish, Catholic, Christian and otherfaiths come together to serve the greater good.”

Billy Brown, a volunteer since 2006, said that he isblessed to help the less fortunate and considersvolunteering its own reward.

“I’ve been blessed in so many ways, and this clinic issuch a worthwhile place to pass those blessings along,”said Brown.

The patients often form relationships with theirattending physicians and nurses, who seek to provideguidance and help in all aspects of life.

Kiara Burden, a patient at the clinic, is unable to affordmedical attention and treatment for diabetes.

“I don’t have insurance of any kind,” said Burden. “Ifeel so fortunate that this service exists and that thedoctors and staff are so friendly.”

Mary Bond, who helps to screen patients when theyfirst enter the clinic, has been volunteering for more thana decade and spoke about the importance of the clinicand of volunteering to help society in any way.

“Volunteering is a great thing to do,” said Bond. “We alllove each other and this is a wonderful way to show that.

The patients are fantastic and the staff are so special. It’sa truly edifying experience.”

While those whom the clinic serves are well aware ofits selfless and unflagging efforts to help all who walkthrough its doors, many in the community at large areunaware of the wonderful and indispensible service beingprovided to those less fortunate. As a result of all thisincreasing demand, more volunteers are needed toregularly offer the medical attention that the clinic’spatients rely upon.

In order to increase community awareness andvolunteerism, the clinic recently announced the formationof a Community Advisory Board. The members are HarrisReynolds, David Peaden, Susan Bullock, Justine Simoni,Josefina Divito, Charles Carrier, Millie Green and the Chair,Judson Brandt. The advisory board held its first meetingin August to outline goals and will continue to meetquarterly. These goals include advancement of communityawareness about the important work of the clinic.

“Up until now, the clinic has been too much of a well-kept secret,” said Townsend. “We’re hoping to changethat, both so we can get more volunteers and so we canhelp more people.”

“We are another resource to help the clinic,” saidBrandt. “Our goal is to use various community supportsystems to continue the mission of the clinic.”


UWF book c lub

About The Book“Her name was Henrietta Lacks, but scientists

know her as HeLa. She was a poor Southern tobaccofarmer who worked the same land as her slaveancestors, yet her cells - taken without her knowledge- became one of the most important tools inmedicine. The first ‘immortal’ human cells grown inculture, they are still alive today, though she hasbeen dead for more than sixty years. If you could pileall HeLa cells ever grown onto a scale, they'd weighmore than 50 million metric tons - as much as ahundred Empire State Buildings. HeLa cells were vitalfor developing the polio vaccine; uncovered secretsof cancer, viruses, and the atom bomb's effects;helped lead to important advances like in vitrofertilization, cloning, and gene mapping; and havebeen bought and sold by the billions.” RebeccaSkloot takes us on an extraordinary journey, from the‘colored’ ward of Johns Hopkins Hospital in the 1950sto stark white laboratories with freezers full of HeLacells, from Henrietta's small, dying hometown ofClover, Virginia - a land of wooden slave quarters,faith healings, and voodoo - to East Baltimore today,where her children and grandchildren live andstruggle with the legacy of her cells.

Myths Dispelled: Organ and Tissue DonationQ: How many people are on the waiting list foran organ donation?A: Currently, 114,052 people are on the list, and18 people will die each day waiting for an organ.

Q: Who can be an organ donor?A: Anyone can be a potential organ donor,regardless of age or medical history.

Q: Where does my religion stand on the matterof organ donation?A: All major religions in the United Statesadvocate organ donation, viewing it as a selflessand generous act. However, speaking to a clergymember or religious advisor may help easeanxiety surrounding the decision.

Q: Can I have an open casket if I’m an organdonor?A: An open casket is an option in all cases oforgan donation.

Q: Will my family be responsible for any medicalcosts surrounding the donation?A: No cost will be incurred against the donor ordonor family. Responsibility for transplant costsfalls upon the recipient.

Q: Will my status as an organ donor affect thequality of the medical treatment I receive?A: No. Every effort is made to save the life ofthe individual before organ donation isconsidered—regardless of age, gender, healthstatus, or cost.

Q: How do I become an organ donor?A: Sign up on the state’s donor registry—registration provides a record of personalconsent to organ donation, and is the first placea transplant team will check to determineeligibility. Also, talking to family members andfriends about the decision is of utmostimportance, as in some cases family membersmay still be asked to provide consent. Selectingthe “organ donor” option on a driver’s licensealso provides a record of the decision.

For more information about organ and tissuedonation, visit: www.organdonor.gov, orwww.donatelife.net.


Published in 2010, The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks is still onthe New York Times Best Seller list. Rebecca Skloot’s grace andsensitivity in telling the story of Henrietta Lacks, a 31 year oldblack woman who unknowingly made an invaluable contributionto medical research, is matched by her ability to begin a muchneeded conversation about the ethics of biomedical research.

In January of 1951, Henrietta Lacks went to Johns Hopkins inBaltimore to receive uranium treatments for cervical cancer. Buther cancer was incredibly aggressive, and she died in Septemberof that same year. During her first treatment, her doctor took asample of her tumor, and this nickel-sized sample became thebasis of modern cell and tissue research. Henrietta’s cells, calledHeLa cells, were the first human cells successfully grown in alaboratory, the first “immortal” cell line developed for medicalresearch.

Henrietta’s family knew nothing about the double life of hercells, and when they found out, it seemed to them the stuff of badscience fiction. Skloot’s focus on the lives of Henrietta and herfamily reveals the racial politics that have plagued medicalresearch and the ordeals of her family as they attempted to cometo grips with a painful paradox: Even though Henrietta’s cells werethe basis of research that earned other people a lot of money,they could not even afford health insurance. For this reason, it isespecially remarkable that Deborah, Henrietta’s youngestdaughter, takes an historical view of the situation. As she tellsSkloot, “Like I’m always telling my brothers, if you gonna go intohistory, you can’t do it with a hate attitude. You got to remembertimes was different.”

The doctor who took the sample from Henrietta’s tumor didnot gain consent for that procedure. In 1951, doctors andresearchers were under no legal obligations to get patient consentbefore taking biological samples. Doctors in hospitals like JohnsHopkins, hospitals that offered free medical services, felt that thetaking of samples was part of the trade for those services.Researchers were unconcerned about consent because they werenot working with a person, just a few discarded cells of a personthat were technically medical waste.

While the laws regarding informed consent are far morestringent today, the bits and pieces a person leaves behind as aresult of medical treatment are still deemed medical waste. Thecourts have consistently ruled against individual ownership of celland tissue specimens in order to protect the impetus of for-profitmedical research. But the advances in technology over the last 50years mean that these biological specimens reveal far moreinformation than they once did, which, as Skloot points out,creates privacy issues for donors. At one time, a few of your cellscould tell a researcher how a cell worked. Now, a few of your cellscan tell a researcher about your family tree.

We all recognize the need for medical research. As Sklootreveals, experiments with HeLa cells made innumerable advancesin medical treatment possible. We must question, however,whether medical researchers and the judicial system recognize thehumanity of the people who make these advances possible.

The Haunting Story ofHenrietta Lacks

By Andrea Johnson, Graduate Student, UWF Department of English My five-year-old nephew Trevor spun around the living

room floor, arms flung out, dark lashes framing his blue eyesagainst flushed cheeks, while my 63-year-old father playedthe trombone. Only slightly winded, my dad hit a final noteand rested the trombone against the music stand whileTrevor collapsed onto the rug. Eight years ago, my fatherwould not have had enough air capacity in his lungs toascend a flight of stairs, much less play the musicalinstrument. He is the recipient of a lung transplant.

My father had been diagnosed with a genetic form ofemphysema, exacerbated by his history of smoking in the1950s and 60s. His doctors gave him less than a few years tolive and placed him on the waiting list for a lung transplant.He had to carry around a beeper, a novelty in the 1990s, toalert him to the untimely death of a stranger who might be amatch for him. We were told that at any moment, thetransplant team could find a donor lung; yet there was alsothe very real possibility that he could die waiting for one. Hewas completely dependent upon a ten-pound oxygen tank,which he carried with him at all times. When I once askedhow it felt to try to breathe with uncooperative lungs, hethought for a moment, and then simply replied, “Most peoplenever really appreciate how good it feels just to take a big,deep breath of air.”

We were at Waffle House the morning his pager went off. Iremember hearing its innocent chirping and a disconnectedfeeling, like I was watching the scene unfold from the otherside of a movie screen. They had found a match. After fivehours of surgery and seven days in the Intensive Care Unit, hewalked out of the hospital with a new lung from an 18-year-oldboy named Lewis. The oxygen tubing that had been histenuous lease on life remained coiled into a pile in the cartrunk on the way home.

In The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, doctors procure awoman’s cells without her knowledge, and these cells go onto revolutionize medical care. HeLa cells helped makepossible the polio vaccine, cancer research, and even organdonation. Whether Henrietta Lacks or her family would havegiven informed consent is unclear. What is clear, however, isthat because of her, countless lives have been saved andimproved.

Admittedly, Henrietta’s story is enough to invoke anxietyin even the most medically knowledgeable individual. Itpresents questions surrounding the ethics of patient privacyand informed consent, the treatment of poor people withinthe healthcare system, and whether the end result, or thegreater good, ever justifies the means. Yet another facet ofHenrietta’s story is the enormity of her unwittingcontribution. Her daughter Deborah muses, “I really don’tknow how she did all that, but I guess I’m glad she did,cause that mean she helpin lots of people. I think she wouldlike that.” As I was reading Henrietta’s story, I thought of theboy whose lung lay beneath my dad’s rib cage. Because ofthe compassionate decision of a complete stranger, myfather was able to breathe freely again.

Breathing FreelyBy Lisa Hitchcock, English Capstone 2012



With homes adorned in holidayhues of silver, gold and red, these are colorful times. Thisyear, why not “green” your holiday by adopting some eco-friendly traditions? From making holiday meals withorganic ingredients to wrapping gifts in recycled paper,it’s easy to find ways to celebrate the season and be kindto Mother Nature at the same time.

Earth-friendly feastingAmericans are embracing organic foods for manyreasons, from better taste on their plates and improvedhealth in their homes, to the gentler impact on theenvironment associated with the production of organicproduce and meats. If you’ve never tried organic diningbefore, give your family - and the earth - the gift of goingorganic this holiday season. And if you prefer organicfoods throughout the year, there’s no need to set thehabit aside just because of the holidays.

From main dishes of responsibly raised poultry andline-caught fish, to side dishes of sustainably grownvegetables and grains, it’s easy to serve a holiday mealthat’s good for your family and the environment. You canfind holiday-appropriate organic and local products atyour local health food store or farmer’s market.

Decorating with heartSome traditional holiday decorations can be less than

friendly for the environment, but a cut tree is notnecessarily one of them. Consider that the production ofartificial trees consumes large quantities of resources andcreates wasted by-product. Also, keep in mind most treelots sell trees raised on farms, so natural forests are notimpacted by the tree you buy off the lot. When it comes

time to dispose of your tree, consider mulching ityourself, rather than just setting it out on the curb.

What would the holidays be without bright lights? Butthose little bulbs can consume lots of energy. Switchingto LED lights will reduce the amount of power it takes tokeep your home twinkling brightly this holiday season.And a bonus of LED lights: they last longer, so you won’thave to buy new strands every season.

Guilt-free givingGift-giving and the goodwill it brings are at the heart of

the holidays, but that good feeling often also comes withripped wrapping paper, pounds of packaging materialsand a lot of energy consumed in shopping. It is possible,however, to give gifts with minimal impact on theenvironment - and your conscience. Handmade gifts arenot only more eco-friendly, they show the recipient thatyou cared enough to invest time and effort in creatingsomething unique. But if you’re not handy, look for giftsthat are energy-efficient (like solar-powered items orgadgets that use rechargeable batteries), come withminimal packaging, are made of sustainably harvestednatural materials, or that are locally produced.

Intangible gifts can also be “green.” Instead of giftingthe cooking enthusiast in your life with a new set of potsand pans, sign him up for a cooking class and attendtogether. Give your gardening fan a “gift certificate”redeemable for your help when spring planting seasonarrives.

Greening your holiday season will take some thoughtand time, but giving yourself and your loved ones a moreenvironmentally responsible holiday season will besomething you can celebrate throughout the year.

Great Ways to GreenYour Holiday Season

hol idaysCourtesy of Brandpoint


g g

Looking back on his first two years as Pensacola’s mayor, Ashton Hayward has learnedmuch. It has been a year full of successes, including a greater reliance on clean energy,a program aimed at making first-time home buying easier, and a successful plan to bringjobs to the area. 2012 was not without its controversies though. Gallery Night streetclosures, disagreements with City Council and an increase in crime have made themayor’s second year a challenging one.

Continuing an annual tradition, Pensacola Magazine sat down with Ashton to discussthese items and more, to dispel the rumors, report the facts and to take an intimate lookat his leadership principles and the future of the city. His candor and belief in Pensacolaalways serve to remind citizens why he is dubbed the “strong mayor.”

By Kelly Oden


PM: How do you feel your second year has differed fromyour first year? What have you learned?

AH: That’s a good question. I’ve definitely learned a tremendousamount. I’ve learned more than I anticipated, I’ll tell you that.When you’re in the trenches and in the job everyday, you’recognitive of walking out of your house and there’s anexpectation of you from the public, so I think that makes you aquick study and you have to know what you’re doing. I thinkwe’ve been able to do a lot in the community. My main goal isalways to get the community to rally around its city and to letthem believe and know that they can have a successful city andto believe that they are winners. Hopefully the things that I’mdoing now will impact the community 10, 15, 20 years from now.I think that’s the most important thing. And then obviously,doing quality projects for the taxpayers, so they truly get to seetheir dollars at work. You have to have a quality city, from alandscaping standpoint, from a beautification standpoint. Ifyou’re going to do a retention pond, do it the right way. Ifyou’re going to build an amphitheater, do it the right way. Allthese things impact the lives of people who live here. So whileI’m mayor, I want to make sure whatever my name’s on, thatthe leadership is doing it right. The second year I’ve obviouslyfelt more comfortable in my skin. I think everything you do inlife is politics. That’s clear to me. I’ve always known that. So thatallowed me to maybe take on the job. But I think you get morecomfortable if you do something—if you do it all the time.


PM: Are you able to let criticism fall off your back alittle easier in the second year?

AH: Everyone’s human, you know. I’ve never been scaredof criticism, because I think if you live in fear it’s reallyhard to accomplish a lot of things in life and I’m not bigon that. This is not a dress rehearsal for me. Criticism’spart of the game. We’re all going to have critics.

PM: Do you take stock of it and maybe readjust yourthinking due to criticism?

AH: It’s a motivator for me. I’m one of those that if I readsomething in the paper, I’ll show up at their door andsay, “How can I be better?” I’ve done that a few times. I’llsay, “Listen, let me fix this for you. How can we make itbetter for you?” I think sometimes people just want to beheard. I think that’s why it’s so important that we’ve beenable to touch the community throughout our town hallmeetings and bringing city hall, if you will, to the people.

PM: Speaking of town hall meetings, they seem to bepacked and a lot of people show up. What are someof the strategies that you use to connect withcommunity members and implement their feedback?

AH: I think it’s very important. I try to put myself in theirshoes. Now that I’m the mayor and I’m in that position, Itry to look at it from when I was a citizen in the privatesector. I say, “How can I help you? Give me what you

think you need to make your city better.” I give them anoverview of what we’re doing, what we’ve done, wherewe’re going. How can I make their neighborhood better,how can I make their city better? We get into a lot ofdiscussions. We’ll share what we feel is better and we’lltry to impact those discussions. The most important thingthat I take away from those meetings—and I think anygood mayor will tell you—the things that are mostimportant are public safety and neighborhoods. We hearthat no matter what. The big ideas, we’ll get to those. Ifyou focus on the little things, the bigger deals will be a loteasier.

PM: After a town hall meeting, do you come back onthe next day or that week and talk to your staffabout some of the things that were brought up?

AH: Well, I have a great staff, I have a great team, and Ithink it’s very important to make them feel comfortableand confident in their jobs. A lot of the department headscome to meetings and I’ll direct questions to them sothey can answer. I think that’s a really good way to seewhere they’re coming from and give them an opportunityto share their ideas. We come back and discuss them.Everyone has to fill out a yellow card and give us theirinformation so we can follow up. I’ll send them a letter.Whatever their issue was, we’ll have that department heador director follow up immediately, the next day usually.

Mayor Ashton Hayward at the Port of Pensacola


PM: That’s great. I didn’t realize you were so quick torespond.

AH: I think that it's important to adapt, especially forpoliticians. It’s real-time, whether it’s social media orimmediately delivering on something somebody askedyou to do. You don’t get to everything, but you definitelyneed to make the effort. I remember one town hallmeeting, I think it was this year, I showed up the nextmorning to address this guy’s issue about a sidewalk byWoodlawn Middle School. They couldn’t believe I reallyshowed up and wanted to address the issue. I told them Iwould be there, and so it’s very important, if you tellsomeone you’re going to do it, to do it. At least try andgive it 100 percent.

PM: You must have a clone hidden somewherebecause you are everywhere in the community.

AH: You can’t do everything as the mayor. Joe Riley willprobably go down in history as one of the greatestmayors in our country, and there was an article in theWall Street Journal recently where he said, “For five days aweek, I just kill it. And then on the weekends, I try toread, spend time with my family.” So that’s challenging forme. With my personality, I want to be going all the time,but my family’s the most important thing. But I enjoydoing it, so why not do it?

PM: Let’s talk about jobs. The Chamber is ahead ofschedule in their plan to create 3,000 jobs by 2015.What do you attribute that success to?

AH: Well, I think everybody being motivated and singingoff the same sheet of music is important. Obviously, weare motivated to create an environment where businesscan thrive and people take risks and entrepreneurs willwant to create a business, young people will want to stayhere for the schools and quality of life. It's important thatthe Chamber and the mayor’s office work together anddeliver to that potential business opportunity. We’re goingto work together, we’re going to find the right incentivepackage, and we’re going to really try to close the deal.Also, we need to enhance the businesses that are herelocally. I think that we can do a better job at really tryingto help the businesses that are here, because we haveincredibly smart people in Pensacola and our region. Wehave to also reach out to people who have never been toPensacola so when they do touch down here, whether theairport is their first impression or they drive in, that it setsthe right expectations. I think that’s incredibly important. Ithink we’ve all been dedicated to doing that. Also wehave great ambassadors in the community who havestepped up to give their hard-earned dollars to theChamber to create the Vision 2015. I’m very blessed thata lot of those people are my friends and I’ve cultivatedthose relationships hopefully by being reciprocal, bybeing a good friend. They help tremendously, too. There

Mayor Ashton Hayward at the Blount School


are a lot of ambassadors here that I try to take with meto see politicians or business owners or potentialbusinesses that can lend themselves and say, “Why didyou stay in Pensacola when you could’ve livedanywhere?” I think when you sell that story the right way,it’s a big impact.

PM: We used to be known as kind of a brain-draincommunity. Young people left for greener pastures.Do you see that this effort and all of the economicefforts are turning that around?

AH: I think it’s definitely turned around. I have two youngwomen in my office. There’s obviously a switch. Idefinitely feel that, because again, getting back toadapting to the 21st century and where we’re living today,young people are so advanced in the aspect of knowingwhat they want and they see that quality of life is such amain focus of how they want to live their life. So manypeople want to be where the quality of life is superior.They want a walkable community and Pensacola has anincredible grid system, we have an incredible Downtown.You have the bay, the beach, the military aspect, youhave a great little airport. They recognize that and I thinkthey believe too that businesses follow talent today.Those businesses and CEOs want to be in anenvironment that has that quality. I think you’re startingto see that. I think the enrollment at UWF with 13,000 isincredible. I think Judy Bense is a heck of a visionary anda leader. She rallies the kids. They believe in her. It’s okayto be different. I think one of the greatest things in ourcountry today is that it’s okay to be different. Everyonedoesn’t have to think like each other to be successful.You see that more and more. That’s how Pensacola isgoing to be successful, by welcoming different ideas andpeople.

PM: Talking about Downtown, there’s been a lot oftalk about taking advantage of our cultural heritageand tourism on an economic level, such as the UWFplan, the ferry plan that would link all of ouradvantages. What do you think we can expect tocome from some of these?

AH: I think you’ll see some stuff come out of that. Onething that I tried to do immediately is touch base with thefolks up in DC, because obviously they’re talking to everycity in America. Every city goes up to DC and has theirhand out. I met with the Department of the Interior and Isaid, “Listen, we need a ferry between Ft. Pickens andPensacola and our beach.” She was very kind andgracious. I met again after the oil spill and I had thatidentity with her and we’re still talking. I think you’ll seesome of that. Look at Savannah, look at Charleston, andlook at Williamsburg. Even look at San Antonio and whatthey did with building a canal through there to the Alamo.We have so many amazing historical buildings. Obviously,they’re under the prevue of UWF and the state. Weshould be driving cultural tourism. If we can even pluck a

million visitors, just think of the dollars that would impactthe community. I think Pensacola is at a crossroads withwhat is going on. We’re going to start playing in thegame. For so long, we've chosen not to be in the gameand the only way you can win is if you’re in the game.

PM: That leads me to our attention on a national andinternational level. The Bay Center has received tonsof national awards for its work, the airport isincreasing in passengers, the stadium, obviously, iscovered in a lot of national sports media when theWahoos are in season. How else is Pensacolabecoming more of a player on the national andinternational stage?

AH: I truly believe it’s about having a leader that’s willingto get outside their comfort zone and get out there andtell their story of who they represent and the people theyrepresent, whether that’s at the state level or the federallevel or with your congressmen. One thing that’s reallybenefited Pensacola is me cultivating my relationship withGov. Scott. I think that has paid dividends and will paydividends in the future. I let him know that we’re overhere and that we’re not cut off from the rest of the state.You have to do that and tell that story to people. I thinkwe’re doing that with the new branding effort and tryingto get me out there in front of as many people as I can.That’s what the new form of government lends itself to.You’re truly selling your city for your citizens. Whenrevenues are down like they are now, you have to getbusinesses in there that can create jobs and have that netresult of spending money and putting it back in thecommunity. So, that’s one of the things that we’refocused on. I feel fortunate that we’ve done a lot, butthere’s a ton more that we can do, and that’s one of mybig efforts. I was just at a community leadership dinner atthe governor’s mansion last Monday and the great thingabout it was I was the only elected official there, buteverybody that was there was from different parts of thestate. Obviously they meet me, we network, we chat, wetalk. Hopefully you do a good job of selling your city andthen they’ll talk about it to other people who areinfluential. The only way you can help people is to get theright people on the same page.

PM: You mentioned the branding campaign. Therewas some criticism on that, but it seems to bemoving forward and people seem to like it. What doyou hope it is going to convey to first time visitorsand tourists?

AH: Well we’re definitely the upside of Florida, andeverything that’s great about Florida is better inPensacola. I don’t think enough of us have said that whenwe’re outside of Pensacola. I think a lot of cities haveambassadors like I touched on. We need to have acollective group of ambassadors for Pensacola when wego out and meet potential businesses so we can talkabout Pensacola. What I’m trying to do is definitely tell


that story. The branding campaign I think is far betterthan what we talked about in the beginning of theconversation. We need a modern, clean image—we’re acoastal city in the state of Florida and we’re never goingto forget our history. We’re the first settlement inAmerica. There are many cities that claim the City of FiveFlags in our great state; however, we’re Pensacola andwe’re going to create a better future.

PM: How has the response been since the initialunveiling? Have people come around a little bitmore?

AH: I think so. I’ve been to a couple of events where inmy speeches I’ve said, “We’re the upside of Florida.”People loved it. We are. I know a lot of people in theadvertising business outside of Pensacola who are verysuccessful and they like it. It’s clean, it’s smart, and that’swhat we’re trying to do.

PM: The first-time homebuyer loan program: what doyou expect that to do to boost local housing andurban development?

AH: Well, I think when you look around Pensacola, somany people have suffered since 2008 and they’re stillcontinuing to suffer. A lot of people I know, a lot of

friends and family, are still out of work. Anything tostimulate and motivate the public when you’re the leaderof the community, you want in your creative ideas. Thefirst-time homebuyer program does that. You know, wewant people to invest in the city. Property, compared tothe rest of the country, is less expensive. We want to getmore people moving into our area and Downtown andthe areas around Downtown and pick up some of thesevacant properties and homes. We need to at least pushthat effort. The main focus for me was to say, “We wantyou in this city. We want you living here taking advantageof our incredible services.” If you look at Pensacola, ourfire, police, sanitation, gas company, we have all theseincredible assets and so that was a part of me workingwith the housing department, saying, “Let’s tell our story.”And I think it’ll pay off. But you have to motivate peopleand any creative ideas that are out of the realm ofgovernment, I think you apply some of the private sectorto that, and you work it in a little bit.

PM: You talked about some of the inner-city areas. Iwanted to ask a little about crime. We’ve had somerecent spurts of crime, such as shootings and break-ins. Can you talk to me about what the city’s doing?

AH: That gets back to my number one thing, which is thatpublic safety is incredibly important, whether it’s a

Mayor Ashton Hayward


crosswalk or someone’s car or home getting broken into,which is very, very personal. You feel violated. Obviously,being a small town, you know a lot of people. My motherand father live in Cordova Park, where I grew up. I live inEast Hill. Right around the corner from my house, peoplehave been broken into. It’s an effort that Chief Simmons andSherriff David Morgan and myself and other leaders arereally focusing on. We’ve totally ramped up, getting out there,where we feel that the crime is coming from. That questiongets asked a lot. You have an issue with drugs and things ofthat matter that are going to drive that, especially in a downeconomy. It’s not an excuse. You want to solve the issue.You want to make sure your constituents and your citizensfeel safe. You can’t be everywhere, but the most importantthing for me was to get involved in Reentry Alliance ofPensacola, the program with Judge Casey Rodgers. That hasbeen a really unique opportunity for me to talk to a lot ofthese people that have been sent back to prison, gotten outof prison, and trying to start a better life. We want to usethem to help us fight crime and Judge Rodgers has beenamazing. There’s a program called Safe Streets in Chicagoand Baltimore. We want to scale it down to a smaller scalewhere we can work with those people who can give usinformation and I think information is power, especially whenit comes to fighting crime. The more information we have,the smarter we can be policing the community.

PM: Let’s talk about Gallery Night. There’s been lots oftalk concerning the controversy of closing the streets.What is your vision for Gallery Night in terms of workingwith the Downtown Improvement Board and the policedepartment? What is your vision for making thetransition from pedestrian traffic to vehicular traffic gomore smoothly? Do you see it as something that shouldstay open till midnight or end at 9?

AH: Well, I think when you’re leading the city, you want tohave as many amenities as you can have Downtown, whetherit’s the Pensacola Blue Wahoos, whether it’s people comingto enjoy the green space. The Opera, the Ballet, and theSymphony can perform at the amphitheater, you can have aconcert at Vinyl, you can have a show at the Little Theatre orthe Saenger, or Gallery Night. I had a great meeting with allthe restaurant and bar owners to get their feedback andopinion and see how we can really work together with theretail. I’m very focused on density and creating Downtownliving and more people moving Downtown, creating thatbalance where it’s a win-win for the community. It’s abalancing act. It needs to be the right ingredients for thepeople and it’s the people’s city. They pay the freight, andobviously the business owners do because they’re the risk-takers that are creating the jobs. The good thing about it isthese conversations are happening because we’re growing.It’s obvious that the community wants the street closed tillmidnight when we’re having an event. I think collaboration isincredibly important as we’re growing in this city, as we’regrowing out of this recession. Let’s really look at the samesheet of music so we can be a winner. I think that’s whatwe’re going to do.

PM: Where does the ECUA property stand?

AH: There is some interest in the property from a fewdifferent developers. From the city’s perspective, we need tomake sure it’s right for the citizens. I strongly feel that itshould be mixed-use down there--a little bit commercial, alittle bit residential. The more creative you are, the better. IfNew York City can create all these little green spaces down inthe middle of Fifth Avenue, then we can definitely do it inPensacola. That will add to more of the walkable city we’retrying to create. Right now we’re seeing more and moreyoung families running with their children or running withtheir husband and wife or partners. A lot of people enjoyDowntown and we’re not even near where I see it. I thinkthat property needs to be developed correctly. I use thatword strongly because everything we develop from here onout needs to be first-class, whether that’s the airport,landscaping, a retention pond, an amphitheater or AdmiralMason Park. We won all these awards from the state that arenot high-profile, but they’re big awards when they come tohow you want your city. We got an award for the pavers outat the Maritime. We got the number one airport last year.There’s an engineering award we won for Admiral MasonPark from the state. That’s a big deal. What it’s saying iswe’re doing quality work in the city. Some of those aren’t thesexiest things, but I get more calls about Admiral Mason Parkfrom people who don’t live here but are enjoying thatbecause they’re close to the water. Everyone loves the water.You've also got a huge asset in Joe Patti’s and the interactionof that whole social thing is important.

PM: How much say does the city have in who buys thatproperty?

AH: The ECUA owns it. At one time, we owned our sewerand water. And then in the 80s we rolled it off and did abond deal. A special act of legislation created the ECUA.They’ve been a great partner. Building our first fueling stationwas huge. I think they bought 50 plus sanitation trucksalready, which is huge. The maintenance is low, the cost offuel is nothing compared to gas. We have a great relationshipwith them. Steve Sorrell and myself have met numeroustimes, making sure it’s the right deal. If the city is able towork something out with them, I’m all ears. We want to be apartner with them on the planning and zoning of it and towork together to make sure it’s a win-win.

PM: You mentioned the natural gas. Tell me a little bitabout that. We’ve got the first fueling station and 50sanitation trucks.

AH: I believe it’s 50. It might even be 60. They’re saving over$1 million a year doing that. They’re buying our fuel at $2.05a gallon. Think about natural gas as compared to fuel. It’sunbelievable. That has been a huge, huge win for us. We’regoing to build two more stations. We want to do one righthere where our maintenance is on Palafox and we haven’tdecided the other one. Eventually, we'll start partnering upwith the private sector. UPS is big into natural gas. Obviously,your supply chain vehicles are moving to natural gas ifthey’re transporting stuff across the country. We’ve had a lot


of big players contact us who are in that business of buildingfueling stations around the country. They’ve said, “How doyou do this?” I’ll say, “Well, we own the natural gas company.We did it.”

PM: Can we talk about the friction between yourself andthe City Council?

AH: I don’t view it as friction because we’ve had greatleaders in the past and I think we have a really great Councilthat was sworn in yesterday. I try to measure myself like weall do and see what we’re doing. We’ve been able to pass somany great things with the Council. I view it as a nicepartnership. We’ve been able to do a lot for the city, and youhave to have a majority to do that. I think in the new form ofgovernment, I’m happy I did my due diligence before I got inhere to talk to a lot of mayors who took over in the newform of government. I talked to them to see what they didand didn’t do. The first two years were always going to bechallenging, because it’s a new form of government and it’sdifferent. For me, it’s all good. I don’t want the public tosuffer ever. But this is a town that needs to be really, reallyunited and focused on driving growth. I think we can leavethe petty issues at home.

PM: What about newly elected members and officers?Tell me about how you feel about them and how youplan to work with them.

AH: I think it’s terrific. Mr. Wu is going to be our CouncilPresident. He’s a true diplomat and a smart man, and I knowhow much he cares about the community, so that’s a big win.

Andy Terhaar is a young guy who can choose to liveanywhere he wants and he chose to stay in Pensacola. We’reretaining talent like we talked about. That was my messagewhen I ran for office. I think Andy is definitely focused ongrowing the business side of Pensacola and helping thecommunity. I think he’s going to be a huge asset. JewelCannada-Wynn’s going to bring a lot of institutionalknowledge. Jewel’s big on education. We’ve had terrificconversations, had lunch right before Thanksgiving and reallyfocused on District 7 and helping me just like I am onhelping her, which I think is great. Mr. Wingate is focused onDistrict 5 and brings a lot wisdom. He’s big on education,too. We do a great job at picking up the garbage and cuttingthe grass and filling pot holes and providing services. That’swhat government does. Let’s not forget that’s what we do.That’s why there are taxes that we pay to make sure yourcity hums, but you need to have vision and leadership andcreate an environment for these companies and businessesthat we want to move here. That’s why we need to be unitedand focused on that. I think the new Council coming on—I’vetalked to them obviously—they saw what happened the firsttwo years and I don’t think they want to be a part of thatnegative minority. It’s great for healthy debate andquestioning. All those things are terrific. I welcome that. Butthe petty stuff, the taxpayers don’t want to hear it.

PM: Speaking of which, will you run again when yourcurrent term is up?

AH: I strongly feel that this city definitely needs really goodleadership forever, obviously. I can say I’m definitely strongly

Mayor Ashton Hayward at City Council


leaning that way. My wife and I said wewould discuss it December 2012 when itgot close to my two years in office. I’msure I’ll make a decision by early nextyear.

PM: Do you have anything else to addabout the priorities of your secondyear and if you’ve accomplishedthem?

AH: Most definitely. For me, personally, Iwanted the public to know howcommitted I am to Pensacola and howfocused I am on making our city andtheir city a better place to live, work andplay. I think the majority strongly feelsthat in the city, in the county, in oursurrounding friends and neighborsoutside of that. I think they’re starting tosee Pensacola emerge in a leadershiprole again and that was my goal and Ithink we’re on the way to doing that. I’mdefinitely focused on continuing that, onbeing accessible to people. I try to be asaccessible as possible. Maybe that’s mypersonality. If you look at what we didimmediately, it’s amazing we’ve onlybeen here two years. We have twocommunity resource centers coming outof the ground, which are going to bereally focused on the cultural side. It’s foreveryone to really be a gathering placewhere kids can come and learn differentthings. One is off Ninth Avenue and oneis off of Gregory Street in Legion Field.There’s going to be a library there insideof Legion Field which is going to bereally cool for the west side library.Those are going to be two big wins that’llbe coming online. We’ve been veryfortunate to tear down the Blount Schoolwhich was dilapidated for 30 years. We’veintelligently worked with our housingdepartment and we were able to get thatschool torn down. There will be adevelopment going there. We’ll make thatdecision in 2013 on what the best use forthat two acres is.

PM: What’s on the horizon for 2013that’s exciting that you can talkabout?

AH: Most definitely getting off to theright start with the Council. People whoknow me know that I’m not big intohaving confrontations, so I think if youwant to go that route, that’s great andI’m very competitive, but this town cando so much. It’s better when we’re all

focused on doing that, so that’s going tobe a big tell-tale coming out of the gate. Ithink you’ll see some really good thingsout at the airport in 2013. I really thinkyou’ll start to see some investment fromoutside of Pensacola in 2013. That’ll beimportant to spur the growth ofPensacola and Northwest Florida. I feelpositive for 2013. I think it’s going to be agood year for everyone who lives here.

PM: What did you take from the urbanredevelopment report that is fairlyquickly implementable?

AH: That’s kind of what it was. It wasn’t astudy. It’s looking at how the market hasimpacted our city like it's impacted therest of the world. What should we focuson right now in 2012 and 2013 and goingforward? I think we all are on the samepage that we need more housingdowntown, obviously to sustain thebusinesses that have taken risks to openup downtown. Also to create thatenvironment where you have a heavypopulated city on our scale. What I wouldlove to see is where you will eventuallyhave a building where you might have adoctor’s office downstairs, you mighthave dry-cleaning downstairs, you mighthave a grocery store downstairs, and thenyou might have ten floors of apartmentsabove that. Our city is ready for that. Idefinitely see that. When you have thatmix of urban vibe, it’s a winner foreverybody. Pensacola is on that edge oftrying to gain more population, and thenyou have an older population thatwants to downsize and they’re reallyliking the vibe of downtown, too.They’re at that age where they want towalk. It’s a turnkey atmosphere and Ithink people like that. I’d like to seemore of the university downtown,doing classes. Those are importantthings. The URAC Committee wasterrific. I’m looking at it right now. Theydelivered right before Thanksgiving. Wewere pretty much on the same pagewith everything. I would also like to seein 2013 some research institute comingdowntown and working in conjunctionwith IHMC. I think IHMC and KenFord’s leadership is such a huge assetfor Pensacola. He’s growing and justgot a big grant from NASA. So themore that he can do, that brings inmore of the creative class. I think that’sincredibly important and I’m reallyfocused on that.



datebook

Art

Art Workshop at PMADecember 22Children ages 5 to 13 explore the elements of art and theprinciples of design, inspiring creativity. Learning in theMuseum of Art gives children a new perspective on art and arthistory while they participate in fun, hands-on projects.Workshops are subject to change and availability. Art suppliesincluded. For more information, call 850.432.6247.

Youth Art FocusJanuary 15Experience the next generation of great Pensacola artists. ThePensacola Museum of Art, in recognition of National Youth Artmonth, and in partnership with the Escambia Country SchoolSystem, presents the 57th annual Youth Art Focus exhibition. Ithighlights the best work from art students and educators inEscambia County schools. This exhibition of work from morethan 500 students, grades pre-K through 12, recognizes theirstrong artistic achievements and area teachers' dedication to arteducation. Tuesday from 5 to 7 pm. For more information, call850.432.6247.

Music

PSC Presents Pensacola Civic Band Holiday ConcertDecember 17, 18The Pensacola Civic Band performs holiday selections, withproceeds going to student scholarships. Monday and Tuesdayat 7 pm. Tickets are $5. For more information, call 850.484.1847.

Saenger Theatre Presents B.B. KingJanuary 8Don’t miss this wonderful opportunity to see the legend live at8 pm on Tuesday. Tickets start at $59.50. For more information,call 850.595.3882.

Theatre

PLT Presents A Christmas StoryDecember 13-16America's #1 Christmas movie comes to life on stage as ahilarious holiday story. This play chronicles young andbespectacled Ralphie Parker as he schemes his way towards theholiday gift of his dreams, but many distractions stand betweenhim and his Christmas wish. Tickets start at $14. Thursday –Saturday at 7:30 pm, Sundays at 2:30 pm. For more information,visit www.pensacolalittletheatre.com.

Ballet Pensacola Presents The NutcrackerDecember 14-16In Ballet Pensacola's Nutcracker at the Saenger Theatre,audiences will be enthralled during this annual classic as themusic of Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky accompanies the story ofClara and her dream of the Nutcracker Prince. Don't miss thisPensacola holiday tradition! Tickets start at $20. Friday andSaturday at 7 pm and Sunday at 1:30 pm. For more information,call 850.595.3882.

PLT Presents Holiday CabaretDecember 17-19From classic Christmas carols andhymns to more modern holiday songs,Pensacola Little Theatre is celebratingthe season with an evening of songand dance. Holiday Cabaret featuresnearly two-dozen local performers anda litany of beloved Christmas songs,including “Have Yourself a Merry LittleChristmas,” “It’s Beginning to Look aLot Like Christmas” and “Oh HolyNight.” Friday and Saturday at 7:30 pmand Sunday at 2:30 pm. Tickets start at$14. For more information, call 850.432.2042.

Editor’s Pick30A Songwriters FestivalJanuary 18-20, 2013The 30A Songwriters Festival will heat up Florida's Scenic Highway 30A, January18-20, 2013, where writers who perform their own music and performers who writetheir own songs meet for a weekend of soulful melodies, powerful vocals andcompelling lyrics throughout the northwest Florida beach neighborhoods of SouthWalton. Lucinda Williams, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Shawn Mullins, Jeffrey Steele,Nanci Griffith, Suzanne Vega and Fastball are among the co-headliners for thefourth annual event. The festival will feature more than 125 songwriters and 200musical performances. Venues range from unique listening rooms to spaciousoutdoor amphitheaters. The Festival is produced by the Cultural Arts Alliance of Walton County and is presented byVisit South Walton. Festival weekend passes are now available for $150 and can be purchased atwww.30asongwritersfestival.com, at the Cultural Arts Alliance office and at Central Square Records in Seaside. Formore information on the 2013 30A Songwriters Festival, including a full list of artists, venues, accommodationspackages and to purchase tickets, visit www.30asongwritersfestival.com


Saenger Theatre Presents West Side StoryJanuary 3More than 50 years ago, one musical changed theater forever.Now it's back and mesmerizing audiences once again. From thefirst note to the final breath, West Side Story soars as the greatestlove story of all time and remains as powerful, poignant andtimely as ever. Thursday at 7:30 pm. For more information, call850.595.3882.

PLT Presents A New BrainJanuary 11-13, 17-19An energetic, sardonic, often comical musical about making themost out of life in the face of tragedy. When a neurotic,frustrated composer is confronted with a terminal illness, hefinds comfort in the healing power of art. The show is in fact theWilliam Finns autobiographical account of his own battle for lifewhen he was afflicted with a seemingly terminal illness.Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 pm and Sunday at 2:30pm. For more information, call 850.434.0257.

Special Events

Zoo LightsDecember 14-16, 21-24, 26-30Guests are invited to enjoy the beauty of the Gulf Breeze Zoo atnight as they admire thousands of sparkling holiday lights from5 – 10 pm! Train rides are $3. For more information, call850.932.2229.

Winterfest Trolley ToursDecember 14-16Trolleys act astheaters takingpassengers to aseries ofinteractiveperformancesalong a two-mileroute in HistoricDowntownPensacola. Fridaysat 5:30 pm and Saturdays at 5 pm. For more information, call850.435.9014.

Christmas GalaDecember 15Pensacola’s tallest Christmas tree will be lit at 6:30 pm. Joinother holiday revelers on the Lighthouse Lawn for cookies, hotcider and hot chocolate. Attendees are encouraged to bringtheir wish lists and enjoy a visit with Santa Claus! Lighthousewill be lit at 5 pm the remainder of the season. For moreinformation, call 850.393.1561.

Santa’s Holiday Express TourDecember 18-23Take a jolly trip with Santa from Plaza Wonderland throughhighlights of the holiday season. This 30-minute tour isespecially great for young children and out-of-town guests.Tuesday through Friday at 5:30 pm, Saturday and Sunday at 5pm. For more information, call 850.417.7321.

Christmas Eve ServiceDecember 24Marcus Pointe Baptist Church will present a very special freeCommunity Christmas Eve Service. This one-of-a-kind service willfeature a choir of more than 200 from churches around the areaand a special Christmas message from Pastor Gordon Godfrey.The service will begin at 4:30 pm, giving attendees plenty of timeto celebrate other Christmas Eve traditions afterwards. For moreinformation, visit PensacolaChurch.org.

Pensacola Pelican Drop – Countdown to 2013December 31Festivities kickoff at 5 pm on New Year's Eve and continue until12:30 am. Throughout the evening the giant Pelican (13 feet tall,with a 20-foot wingspan) is perched above the celebration on a100-foot platform at the intersection of Palafox and GovernmentStreets. Although Palafox and Government Street will be closedto traffic, area restaurants will be open and additional vendorswill be providing refreshments. Live performances on threeoutdoor stages provide ongoing entertainment throughout theevening. The popular kids’ area will be expanded this year andwill feature the special kids’ countdown at 8 pm with confettiand the “bubble stomp.” At the stroke of midnight, the wholecity celebrates as the Pelican descends amidst fireworks andmore confetti. For more information, call 850.435.1673.

Polar Bear DipJanuary 1Great laughs and fun for the whole family await as locals andout-of-towners enjoy the annual splash in the Gulf of Mexico atthe Florida-Alabama state line on Perdido Key. Afterwards,everyone joins in a Southern tradition of eating black-eyed peason New Year's Day and warms up with good music andbeverages at the world-famous Flora-Bama. Festivities begin atnoon. For more information, call 850.492.6838.

WWE RAW World TourJanuary 4The WWE RAW Superstars have announced their return to thePensacola Bay Center. For the first time ever in Pensacola,watch CM Punk vs. Ryback in the main event for the WWEChampionship Friday at 7:30 pm. Tickets start at $18. For moreinformation, call 850.432.0800.

Mardi Gras KickoffJanuary 5The historic streets of Downtown Pensacola will host the secondannual Wind Creek Pensacola Mardi Gras Kickoff Celebration at5 pm. Free to everyone. Come join us and celebrate the 2013Mardi Gras Season along with the Krewes, their King andQueens for the upcoming season, King Cake and the town crier.The King Cake will be cut at 12:01 am on January 6. For moreinformation, call 850.436.7638.

Pensacola Beach Run: 1/2 marathon, 5K and 10KJanuary 12All three courses are flat and fast at Casino Beach. Participantschoose the distance they want at the turns. Feeling good at the5K turn? Just keep going for the 10K, and the same is true forthe 1/2 marathon! Beautiful runs adjacent to the beaches for allthree courses. Packet pickup: Grand Marlin, just across thebridge on Pensacola Beach. Friday, from 3 to 8 pm. Severalexhibitors, and drink and food specials! For more information,call 850.932.1500.


pensacola seen

Eloise & Robert DeVarona andJan Miller Carolyn & Dickie Appleyard Sammy & Patti Cantavespre

Betty & Brad Roberts Artie & Teresa Shimek Gail & Todd Torgerson withGlenys Ballinger

Mary & Michael Riesberg Jane & Will Merrill Donna Fassett, GlenysBallinger & Charlie Merritt

...at the Wreaths of JoySponsor Party at the

home of Artie & Teresa Shimek

Michael Jet Rosburg &Lola Oden

...at the Elf ParadeDowntown Pensacola

Documents

Pensacola Magazine December 2012/January 2013