GulfBreeze Gulf Breeze Area Chamber of Commerce Magazine
TM
Issue 14/Fall 2012
Gulf Breeze Schools
A Reputation for Excellence
A Community Art Project The Future of Fuel: Natural Gas in Gulf Breeze Making an Impact: GBHS Football Coach Chris Nemith
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Fall/2012
contents inside Gulf Breeze Magazine Cover photo by Bekah Griffith
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feature 23) Gulf Breeze Schools A Reputation For Excellence
slices 8) commentary 10) businessofthemonth
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11) who’snewtothechamber 11) businessbriefs 12) chambernews 14) inthebreeze The Future of Fuel: Natural Gas in Gulf Breeze 19) thearts A Community Art Project 26) peopleprofile Making an Impact: GBHS Football Coach Chris Nemith 28) calendar 30) partingshots
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Don’t be the last to find out
What’s Happening in Gulf Breeze
GulfBreeze Gulf Breeze Area Chamber of Commerce Magazine
GBACOC EXECUTIVE BOARD CHAIRMAN: Cathy Burleigh, Gulf Coast Community Bank CHAIRMAN-ELECT: Dave Mungai, Choice Video Services PAST CHAIRMAN: Karen Jurkowich, Occasions by Karen/Levin Rinke Resort Realty SECRETARY: Jill Teston, Redhaus Design, Inc. TREASURER: Rick Cantin, Richard H. Cantin, CPA PA/Breeze Payroll BOARD OF DIRECTORS Dave Alverson, Gulf States Insurance Group David Beckham, AT&T Advertising & Publishing Donna Cooper, Doral Bank Drew Dennis, Omega Contruction & Design, Inc. Chad Gilliland, Andrews Institute Jan Hruska, Breezy Boat City Kathy Kuehl, Mail’s A Breeze Steve McNally, AVS Systems, Inc. Tom Naile, St. Ann Catholic Church Bronwyn Naylor, CyberTech Computer Services Don Richards, United Peninsula Association Jim Robert, Plastic Engraving Chad Sutherland, Publix – Gulf Breeze Dave Szymanski, City of Gulf Breeze David Tuyo, Pen Air Federal Credit Union
STAFF Jennifer Gray, SPECIAL EVENTS Sharon West – BOOKKEEPER Josie Cotti – PRESIDENT/CEO
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GULF BREEZE AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 409 GULF BREEZE PARKWAY, GULF BREEZE, FL 32561 (850) 932-7888 • www.gulfbreezechamber.com • www.gulfbreezemag.com Gulf Breeze Magazine is a joint venture of Ballinger Publishing and the Gulf Breeze Area Chamber of Commerce.
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commentary What a great time to live in Gulf Breeze! 2012 is the year of growth for our City. We see the beginnings of a new Hampton Inn and Chick-Fil-A, as well as the completion of Wal-Mart’s Neighborhood Market and the expansion of the Gulf Breeze Recreational Center. While we are celebrating new business today, our City management team is looking to the future with the long range planning committee to ensure the City continues to grow while maintaining our quality of life. The Fairways to Freedom Golf Tournament was a huge success. What a great opportunity to appreciate our military and raise money to support the Marine Aviation Memorial Tower. I look forward to next year’s event! In July our Governmental Affairs committee with the United Peninsula Association held a very informative candidates forum. Now that the primary elections are complete, we can focus on November elections. As always, we work hard to stay informed of current and upcoming events that may impact our local businesses. We will continue to be watchful of the continued planning for the replacement of the three mile bridge and of the Board of County Commissioner’s progress on a new economic development team and preparations to use the money from the RESTORE ACT. I encourage you to stop by the Chamber, and please call me anytime if I may be of assistance to you. Sincerely, Cathy Burleigh Chairman of the Board Gulf Breeze Area Chamber
I am a totally converted Floridian and it was fall in Gulf Breeze that saved me. I was born and raised in Maryland, Pennsylvania and Delaware, but in my heart I am all Florida. It took me three months in 1990 to be born again. When I arrived in July I floundered. I was allergic to the fire ants, my children couldn’t play in the sticker-filled grass, and the humidity kept me running between air conditioned environments. But then fall dawned and I saw the light and haven’t looked back. In 1994 my little girls and I stood on decking overlooking the Atlantic Ocean at Rehoboth Beach, Delaware and I said to my sweet darlings, “These people THINK they are at the beach, but we know better.” I was now training the next generation. Fall starts in August in northwest Florida; it doesn’t bother to wait until Labor Day. It arrives to the sounds of school buses and bells and to the glow of local football stadium lights. Its colors are reflected in local, collegiate, and national football jerseys, caps, flags and every other form of team pride. Sure, we will still sweat our way through the early part of it but October will dawn and the humidity will break. Yes, we will still keep our eye on the tropics through November but we will be tracking it more on our smart phones than our TVs as we head out to all the tailgate parties, festivals, art shows, and 5K runs that explode onto the calendar every fall weekend. It is a delightfully busy, pleasant time of year to be a Gulf Breeze resident. In this Fall edition of the Gulf Breeze Magazine I hope you enjoy the articles that connect with this time of year in Gulf Breeze. I hope you take time to read about our excellent school system, our economically and environmentally friendly natural gas station, and all the other local and business details we share. Have a great fall season, Josie Cotti President/CEO Gulf Breeze Area Chamber
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Place a classified ad in the Gosport and over 25,000 people will see it every week.
Call 433-1166 ext. 24 and thin out that garage. Fall/2012/Gulf Breeze Magazine
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businessofthemonth February
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Pen Air Federal Credit Union CEO: Stewart Ramsey Pen Air Federal Credit Union was chartered in 1936 to serve Civil Service and Military employees and their immediate families assigned to the military bases in the Pensacola area. Today they serve many other family groups as well. Dedicated to strength, security, and service, they now serve over 100,000 members. They have been recognized nationally with 84 consecutive quarters as a Five-Star Superior Rated Financial Institution for Safety and Security by Bauer Financial Inc. You can visit their Gulf Breeze Branch at 3591 Gulf Breeze Pkwy. Call (850) 505-3200, Ext 3336 to contact Tricia Wilburn, the branch manager. Also visit www.penair.org.
Tiger Point Golf Club Tiger Point Golf Club is an oasis of green along highway 98. Voted the Best of the Bay in 2010 for Best Golf Courses, their East Course meanders along the Intracoastal waterway and boasts spectacular views of the sound, Pensacola Beach, and the celebrated Florida sunsets. A true links style course, Tiger Point offers great golf for every golfer regardless of ability. Its beautiful clubhouse is home to the Sunset Grille where everyone can enjoy fine evening dining or a delicious hamburger lunch. Tiger Point’s clubhouse facilities are a well appointed location for weddings, receptions, and other events as well as golf tournaments. Call their friendly staff at (850) 932-1333 or visit them at 1255 Country Club Road, Gulf Breeze.
FormSystems, Inc. Owners: Joe and Karen Webb Joe and Karen Webb established FormSystems, Inc in 1995. It has grown from a distributor of traditional business forms to a complete business product and service provider. By embracing the latest technology, they can take your project from concept and design to printing and distribution. Additionally, through partnership agreements with industry leaders, they can provide office products, office furniture and promotional products. Visit their experienced staff at 3700 Creighton Rd., Suite 3, Pensacola or call them at (850) 479-0800. www.formsystems.net
March Loftis Marine Owner: John Loftis Loftis Marine is a professional, licensed and insured marine construction company that is dedicated to customer satisfaction. They provide docks, boat-houses and seawalls, focusing on structural integrity, aesthetics and service after the sale. They can also handle sun-decks, erosion control, and gazebos for residential clients. For commercial clients, they can design and build entire marinas or just construct a pier for your restaurant or business. You can reach John and his team at (850) 934-0530 or visit them at 528 W. Garden St., Suite #4, Pensacola. www.loftismarine.com.
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July May Papa Nalu Aloha Grill Owners: Paul and Debra Palpallato The Palpallatos opened their restaurant in October 2007, right at the beginning of the economic downturn. With excellent customer service and recipes handed down from Paul’s father, they have attracted a loyal customer base to see them through those first tough years. Their 12 employees make you feel welcome as soon as you walk through their door. Visit Aloha Grill for lunch or dinner at 3499 Gulf Breeze Parkway. Call (850) 932-4837.
CyberTech Computer Services Owner: Walt Daniel CyberTech Computer Services was established by Walt Daniels in 1995 after retiring from the Navy. Their trained computer professionals can repair and upgrade home and business computers and networks as well as train individuals and staff to use the new systems. They also sell computer systems as well as hard drives, memory, CD/DVDs and other peripherals. CyberTech has been an active member of the Gulf Breeze Area Chamber since its inception. You can reach their friendly staff at (850) 9321504 or visit their website at www.cybertech-computers.com. GB
businessbriefs City of Gulf Breeze Changes The face of Gulf Breeze is changing once again. Several new businesses have transformed the old Blockbuster suite in the Dolphin Square complex. Santino’s moved to expanded digs on the corner and Pure Pilates has taken up residence in a beautifully appointed suite next door. Subway will soon be leaving its cramped quarters in this complex and moving into a larger space in the Seashell Collections building next to the high school. The new Chick-Fil-A building is also changing the landscape of the corner lot of the Gulf Breeze complex with a large new restaurant. Omega Construction & Design Finds a New Home Omega Construction and Design is establishing a new office at 2880 Gulf Breeze Parkway. Owner Drew Dennis said, “It was imperative to stay in Gulf Breeze. I want to be the best part of Gulf Breeze I can.” Omega Construction & Design is an all purpose contractor who can handle any home or business construction project or renovation no matter the size in Escambia and Santa Rosa county. The work is of the highest caliber, done efficiently and on time. With big plans on the horizon, Drew and his team will host a grand opening at their new location as soon as the renovations are completed. You can reach them at 2558383. Visit their website at www.omegaconstructionanddesign.com. Jim Robert Completes Certification The Gulf Breeze Area Chamber congratulates Jim Robert, owner of Plastic Engraving, on earning his Certified Recognition Specialist (CRS) designation – an achievement shared by less than 2 percent of awards professionals nationwide. CRS certification marks one of the highest levels of professional accomplishment in the awards and engraving industry, achieved by completing 70 hours of technical and business seminars sponsored by the Awards and Recognition Association (ARA), an international trade organization with nearly 2,700 member companies. Plastic Engraving, Inc, was established in 1996 and incorporated in 2000. Plastic Engraving can provide your business with high quality engraved name tags and signs as well as plaques and trophies. You can reach Jim at 934-4113 or visit www.plasticengravinginc.com.
Gulf Breeze Unincorporated News The unincorporated areas of Gulf Breeze are also seeing some improvements. United Peninsula Association has begun its beautification project at the Garcon Point Bridge entrance on Highway 98 with grant money it received. The organization is applying for more grants to complete other landscaping projects along the highway to improve the overall appearance of the corridor. The County, Rep. Broxson and the FDOT are working to quickly deal with the poor lighting along this open stretch of highway where there have been so many fatal accidents involving pedestrians. The Commission also recently broke ground on the new recreation facility at Tiger Point Park. This facility will include the audiovisual resources needed to host County Commission meetings in the Gulf Breeze area. New Leaders in Large Companies Several large companies in the Pensacola Bay area have seen changes in leadership this summer. Baptist Hospital hosted the installation of its new Chief Executive Office, Mark Faulkner, in May at First Baptist Church in Pensacola. Stan Connally has taken the helm as President of Gulf Power Company. He comes to the Pensacola office from a Senior Vice President position at Georgia Power. Pen Air Federal Credit Union completed its extensive search for a new Chief Executive Officer with the selection of Stewart Ramsey. Mr. Ramsey comes to Pen Air from serving as the CEO of Fort Campbell FCU in Clarksville, TN. New Chefs in Gulf Breeze Two local businesses showcased their new chefs at the Chamber’s Taste of Expo on Friday, August 10th. The Blake at Gulf Breeze, a beautiful assisted living facility with individualized care at 4410 Gulf Breeze Parkway, was pleased to showcase the culinary talents of Chef Crystal Clark. Crystal owns her own catering business, Destiny Sweets, and is a graduate of Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts. Crystal made a fabulous appetizer and a delicious chocolate dessert for Taste of Expo guests. If you would like to contact The Blake about hosting or catering an event or party, call 934-4306.
The Sunset Grille at Tiger Point Gulf Club celebrated the talents of their new chef, Jesse Sproles, as well. Jesse comes to Tiger Point from Portofino. Tiger Point is also welcoming new Food & Beverage Director, Joey Lanier, formally with Portofino and Hemingway’s. Their tailgatethemed presentation, tasty appetizer and thirst-quenching beverage earned them honors in the Taste of Expo Golden Spatula awards. (850 ) 932-1333. Sunset Grille at Tiger Point Golf Club is open to the general public for your dining pleasure; it is also available for all types of events, weddings, or parties. Call Kristen Loera at (850) 9321333 to schedule an event or stop on by for lunch or dinner at 1255 Country Club Rd.
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who’snewtothe chamber? Alpha/Omega Training Performance Center/Crossfit AOP Bloom Medical Spa Broadway Lights Dance Center Camping World Dry Sales Concrete EFX Corporation Escarosa Errands, Inc. God-win’s Hair Design Gulf Breeze Natural Gas Home Care Solutions Jump N Party NewLand Lawn Care, Inc. Pure Pilates Resort & Luxury Home Title, Inc/Liberis Law Firm Safe Harbor Women’s Resource Center Special Olympics – Escambia/Santa Rosa Storypoint Church Uncharted Marine Canvas, Inc What the Tech LLC
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chambernews
ambassador
Gulf Breeze Area Chamber Golden Spatula Award Winners The Gulf Breeze Area Chamber held its annual Taste of Expo on Friday, August 10th at the Gulf Breeze Recreation Center. Created to showcase the Gulf Breeze Expo in a business after hours setting, the highlight of this event is the restaurants, caterers and bars who come and present their appetizers, desserts, and beverages in a tasty, fun competition called the Golden Spatula Awards. Area chamber members only are invited and asked to vote for their favorite presenter. Each presenter can offer a submission for Best Appetizer, Best Beverage, Best Dessert, and Best Presentation. The Chamber thanks the following for participating: Barefoot Wines, Bamboo Willie’s, Hemingway’s Island Grille, Icealicious, Paddy O’Leary’s Irish Pub, Publix at Gulf Breeze, Rotolo’s, Sunset Grille at Tiger Point Golf Club, The Blake at Gulf Breeze, The Villas at Gulf Breeze, and Varona’s. The Chamber has received many compliments on the caliber of the event and all its presenters. The award winners were The Villas at Gulf Breeze for Best Dessert, and Sunset Grille at Tiger Point Golf Club for Best Appetizer, Best Beverage, and Best Presentation.
The Chamber recognizes Dave Alverson as our Ambassador of the Quarter. Dave is the owner of Gulf States Insurance Group. Dave has the highest attendance record in 2011 and 2012 at Chamber breakfasts and business after hours as well as ribbon cuttings. He not only serves as an Ambassador but also as the Chairman for the Business Development Committee and as a member of the Board of Directors. Congratulations, Dave, thank you for all you do for the Gulf Breeze Area Chamber and its members.
Gulf Breeze Area Chamber Night Golf Fun Join the chamber for after dark fun at its annual Night Golf Classic on Friday, September 28th at Tiger Point Golf Club. It will be a great night out on the West Course as we conquer nine holes of golf with glow-in-the-dark balls. Enjoy the pre-game party and oncourse shenanigans. Registration will start at 5 pm and we will head out on the course just as the sun sets. Light up your cart and join in other fun competitions. Golfers, come take on this fun challenge. Non-golfers are welcome as each team has one throw per hole. If you would like more information about this entertaining night time outing, call us at (850) 932-7888 or visit our website at www.gulfbreezechamber.com. Sponsorships available beginning at $125 – a great opportunity to meet and greet a large group. Individuals: $50. Foursomes: $200 ($180 before September 7th).
Dave Alverson, Ambassador of the Quarter - Second Quarter
Toolbox for Small Business Success The Chamber is hosting this workshop series but attendees are welcome to select the seminars that best suit their need. A business is like a building, without a solid structure it can collapse. The Toolbox for Success Series is designed to help you build or repair your business structure with six seminars: Branding Your Business, Intro to Marketing, Protecting Your Business, Human Resources, Online Marketing, and Business Tax. Each will be taught by area professionals with years of experience in their field. The seminars will be held every other Wednesday starting August 29th and can be attended as a unit or singly. For Chamber members the cost is $20. There is a $20 discount for registering for the whole series. Contact the Chamber office to make your reservation, 932-7888 or visit us online: www.gulfbreezechamber.com. Gulf Breeze Area Chamber Social Media Sites Hook up with the chamber on all social media outlets. “Like” the chamber’s Facebook page at www.facebook/gulfbreezechamber.com. Visit with Josie Cotti on Linked-In. And “follow” the GBChamberLady on Twitter to stay on top of all things chamber related. Also follow Josie’s blog at http://gulfbreezechamber.blogspot.com/. Watch for our future YouTube page, QR code, and mobile app as well. And don’t forget to check out our new website: www.gulfbreezechamber.com.
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Gulf Breeze Area Chamber Ambassador of the Quarter – Second Quarter
Position: Owner, Gulf States Insurance Group (850 ) 9101169, dave@gulfstatesinsurance.com Company: Gulf States Insurance Group is an independent insurance firm and an Aflac provider. Personal Insights: What do you enjoy most about your job? As a life insurance agent, my job satisfaction comes from knowing my clients are prepared should the unexpected happen. My goal is to make complex concepts like life insurance and long-term care insurance understandable. I strive to develop a relationship with my clients so that I can better understand their insurance needs. Through the use of the internet, the insurance industry has tried to make the sale of life insurance no different than downloading an app for your iPhone. I believe the purchase of life insurance is a very personal and important decision that requires the advice of a professional. Do you have any causes or organizations that you support or are actively involved in? I have become very passionate about the Economic Development activities in our region. As the chairman of the Chamber Business Development Committee, I feel it is my responsibility to keep the membership informed of economic development activities. What is your favorite thing to do in the Pensacola Bay area? I enjoy the free activities that the area offers such as Bands on the Beach and Gallery Night. Our area offers some great festivals.
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inthebreeze
The Future of Fuel: By Josie Cotti
Photo courtesy of Gulf Breeze Area Chamber of Commerce
Natural Gas in Gulf Breeze
The City of Gulf Breeze has provided natural gas to homes and businesses in our area since the 1960s. Like many cities, the City’s founders determined that investing in a utility company would be a wise long term investment for their residents. Their belief has been affirmed with the strength of today’s company.
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Gulf Breeze Natural Gas is branching out in several new directions. First, they laid a pipeline under the Santa Rosa Sound so that they could begin providing clean, safe natural gas to Pensacola Beach. Now they are working to build a natural gas station for vehicles that run on compressed natural gas (CNG). The City’s goal is to build this “swipe and go” service station either on the vacant lot at the corner of Hoffman Dr. and Gulf Breeze Parkway or on the back corner of the lot where the Gulf Breeze Area Chamber is located. A CNG station is a progressive move on the part of the City’s leadership. Using natural gas vehicles (NGV) is an environmentally-friendly, safe alternative to gasoline. It is a readily accessible fuel. In some circles, the United States is known as the “Saudi Arabia of natural gas.” It is also a cleaner burning energy source. Florida ranks fourth nationally in carbon dioxide emissions, but recent studies have shown that overall the Pensacola Bay areas CO2 emissions have decreased because Gulf Power is using more natural gas to produce electricity. Imagine the improvement if more vehicles ran on natural gas. NGV usage is also a win-win for our economy. Natural gas is cheaper to use than gas. Businesses, particularly those industries with fleets of vehicles, and individuals could see a 40 percent cost reduction in fuel expenses. So what keeps NGV or CNGs out of our garages and slows the progress of replacing gas guzzling trucks, buses and heavy duty vehicles with natural gas fuel burning engines? There are several factors. One of course is infrastructure. The Natural Gas Trade Association is helping to build America’s Clean Energy Natural Gas Highway. Currently there are about 98 stations in 33 states with the goal to complete phase one with 150 stations along major highway hubs by the end of 2013. It is a daunting task, but with forward thinking communities like Gulf Breeze stepping up to the plate, the future is bright. There are also some vehicle design limitations that have to be worked around for smaller vehicles. Right now the natural gas is
stored in cylinders that take up too much trunk space for today’s on-themove family. The greatest deterrent to increasing NGV/CNG usage is the vehicle price tag. Although the cost for fuel for an
alternative to gas vehicles worldwide. Although few models are currently available for the average consumer in the US beyond the Honda Civic natural gas hybrid and the new Ford and GM truck series coming out this year,
The United States is known as the “Saudi Arabia of natural gas.” NGV is lower, the fee to purchase the vehicle is currently higher. There isn’t a fast enough return on investment to justify the initial financial outlay for small businesses and individuals. Also, unlike with electrical cars, there is no tax incentive program on NGVs presently for the consumer. For companies like Waste Management Systems or ECAT, the investment payback on the more expensive NGV truck or bus can be compensated for within a three year timeframe - the rule of thumb for investment - because of the great savings on their enormous fuel usage. So even though CNGs are cheaper to operate, a family doesn’t drive enough miles a year to see the fuel savings balance out the higher car payment. On the federal level there are also some inequitable tax issues that must be cleaned up to grow the industrial as well as private use of NGVs. While natural gas use in the United States’ transportation system has not taken off yet, it is the fastest growing
consumers can purchase retrofits to some vehicles. The City of Gulf Breeze recently retrofitted two of their vans. The US ranks 17th worldwide in NGV usage despite having more vehicles on the road than all the other 16 countries combined. The largest area of current growth, though, has been in the medium to heavy-duty vehicles. The United States is the top manufacturer of NGV refuse trucks and transit buses. Fifty percent of all orders for trash trucks in the United States is for the NGV version. The City of Gulf Breeze is once again working hard to serve not only its residents but the region by growing Gulf Breeze Natural Gas. By championing the use of natural gas, Gulf Breeze is joining a worldwide initiative that will ultimately help our region and country to be less dependent on foreign oil, to be cleaner and greener for future generations, and to grow our economy by increasing the amount of money individuals and businesses have leftover after filling their tanks. GB
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thearts
A Community Art Project By Amanda Kelly
As you cross the threemile bridge entering Gulf Breeze, it is hard not to notice the magnificent, aluminum sculpture that inhabits the landscape at Wayside Park. The 17foot double helix includes LED lights and is an abstract by renowned Pensacola artist, Kevin Marchetti. Marchetti’s piece greets incoming traffic and has already, in its first few months, sparked much anticipation and excitement for the other permanent art sculptures scheduled to be unveiled this year. Photo by Bekah Griffith
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generates this kind of good conversation. “One of the ideas about the project was to have it so that people could interact with it. They could walk to it or ride their bikes to it, or mothers can bring their children to it. This is part of appreciating art and teaching and exposing youth to art,” Zieman says. “I’ve had some complaints from a few people. My standard response is that I love it. If we get people talking about public art and if people are passionate enough that they want to issue their complaints or
Photo by Bekah Griffith
Called “Fuego,” the sculpture is first of five permanent art displays planned to celebrate the city of Gulf Breeze’s 50th anniversary. Each of the displays will be located throughout Gulf Breeze in public spaces for citizens to enjoy. Dr. Steve Zieman, a local dentist and resident artist, initiated the idea for the project and has remained intimately involved in the planning process. “I was asked to be on the 50th celebration committee and in one of the meetings we were talking about everything we were going to do. I had been thinking for some time that I would really like to see the aesthetics of Gulf Breeze expanded. Of course art is absolutely one of the better ways of increasing the value of a community,” says Zieman. From this he brought forth the idea to create five art displays, one for each of the decades that Gulf Breeze celebrated. “The whole idea was to get people thinking about art and the importance of it,” says Zieman. David Alsop, another Gulf Breeze resident as well as a local architect in downtown Pensacola, has been actively involved in many aspects of the technical planning. “I hope that it [the project] encourages more people to participate in the arts. I hope that it brings some people to town and I hope that it gets notoriety for the artists. People who are exposed to this over a period of time will be enriched by it,” Alsop says. The old adage ‘everybody is a critic,’ comes to mind when thinking about the conversation art inspires. People involved with a particular artwork, whether it be a sculpture, a painting, or another art form, eventually decide what it is they think and feel as a result of their interactions. The Art for Gulf Breeze project
their compliments we have started to achieve our goal,” says Alsop. The project has a trifold goal of achieving not only appreciation for the arts and a beautification of the city of Gulf Breeze, but there was also the underlying goal of achieving recognition for local artists. Gulf Breeze and the surrounding area is notable for its abundance of skilled artists from a variety of backgrounds. The
done, but the fifth may be done after the first of the year,” says Zieman. Spaces have also been selected for the third and fourth sculpture. Zieman adds, “Peter King is doing a marvelous geographic and historical piece that is going to in the Nature Walk at Shoreline Park South. He is doing a beautiful ceramic sculpture. Michael Boles is the fourth artist, and his work will go near Highway 98 and the overpass.”
The project has a trifold goal of
“ achieving not only appreciation for the arts and a beautification of the city of Gulf Breeze, but there was also the underlying goal of achieving recognition for local artists. sculpture project has focused its efforts on keeping the initiative local in order to showcase the cornucopia of talent in various art forms. “The real value of this project is recognizing our local talent. It is an opportunity for the community to appreciate the extreme talent we have here. It has become like a lightning rod of conversation and people keep asking ‘when will the next one come?’ If we can have our local citizenry recognized for achievement and particularly in this venue in art, that’s a blessing,” says Zieman. The next phase of the project will include the unveiling of a second, 20-foot sculpture called ‘Starlight.’ The work, by Pensacola artist Lou-Mitchell Courtney, will be located at Woodland Park. “I like to think of it as a phoenix rising from the ashes. It will be in the middle of a number of oak trees, near the playground. It is going to be quite spectacular,” says Zieman. ‘Starlight’ will be unveiled sometime in late September or early October. In terms of planning, the committee remains flexible for each successive unveiling. “We want to have everything finished by the end of the year. We are pretty sure we will have four of them
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It is worth mentioning that none of this would be possible without the support and commitment of the City of Gulf Breeze. “I want to be sure it comes out how admirable it is that the City of Gulf Breeze—the mayor and the city council members—are on board and making this commitment. I think it is outstanding, on their behalf,” says Alsop. Mayor Beverly Zimmern says, “I’m very excited that this publicly driven initiative is coming to a reality...It is a very exciting event for our community and it certainly adds value and aesthetics and an amenity to our community that many others do not have.” “I’ve lived here all my life. I am an artist myself and art brings beauty and value to any space. I wanted to increase the beauty and the value of the community of which I live in,” says Zieman. “I am very proud to be part of a community that has vision and supports projects like this one. That is what Gulf Breeze is all about.” For more information about the artists participating in the project or to learn how you can contribute financially to the project, visit artforgulfbreeze.com. Contributions by check can also be sent directly to the City of Gulf Breeze. GB Fall/2012/Gulf Breeze Magazine
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Photo by Kassie McLean
Gulf Breeze Schools A Reputation for Excellence By Emily Lullo
One of the many things that Gulf Breeze is well known for is its superior schools, and many who relocate to the area cite this as a strong factor in their choice. When so many schools struggle to meet testing standards and keep programs afloat, knowing an area’s public school system is doing well can put parents’ minds at ease. Besides high grades on the school grading scale and high standardized testing achievements, schools in Gulf Breeze can also offer something unique for students, like career academies that are right in line with growing workforce needs in both the local community and on the national level.
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small town community is surrounded by places that offer ample opportunity for learning outside the classroom as well. “Our teachers, parents, administrators and district staff all work together to create an environment that drives success. Our communities are rich with opportunities to educate our children as well,” he says. “From elementary school to high school, our students leave the classroom setting to visit museums, historic places, marine and other science related venues.” Teachers in the Gulf Breeze district all work to challenge and encourage students toward excellence in academics and extracurricular activities. Gulf Breeze High School is well known for many of its elective activities such as its well regarded theatre department, its football team that made it to the playoffs last year, and its marching band, which includes more than a quarter of the student population. But Peden says the preparation for later learning is also an important strength of this successful district. “Our elementary schools establish a rock-solid foundation preparing them for success in middle and high school. In addition to core curriculum, we offer a wide variety of electives and career path exposure. Middle school students are learning aviation, graphic arts and economics,” he says. Once in high school, the students can get started working toward goals for the future, whether those include college, a career or both. One aspect of Gulf Breeze High School’s curriculum that has drawn many to the school has been the career academies. The career academies are small, personalized learning communities within the school in which select students and teachers participate during a three or four year span. The academies focus on academic skills as well as technical or career skills that will build the foundation for students to pursue those fields further in a college or university setting. GBHS houses two such programs: the Academy of Multimedia Design
Photo by Kassie McLean
Schools in Gulf Breeze received recognition most recently for being awarded as ‘A’ schools. On last year’s Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test, the Santa Rosa County School District scored above the state average in every subject for every grade. Gulf Breeze Elementary has the distinction of being a Blue Ribbon School and being named one of the top 100 schools in the state of Florida. Gulf Breeze Middle School has also enjoyed the “A+” rating for the last 14 years, since the rating program’s inception. Oriole Beach Elementary also maintained the “A” school distinction, as did Woodlawn Beach Middle School. Along with Gulf Breeze High School (whose school rating score is delayed and still pending) these schools make up District 5 of the Santa Rosa School district. Santa Rosa County District 5 School Board Member Scott Peden represents these schools. “Santa Rosa School District consistently ranks as one of the top districts in the state. We’re ranked number two for the 2011-2012 school year. What is even more amazing is that we’re second to last in funding per student we received from the state.” Peden says he’s always had a strong involvement in schools, and his wife Renee has now been at Gulf Breeze Elementary School for 23 years, currently teaching third grade. He took office in November of 2010. “I have always been involved with schools and education as a parent, volunteer and businessman. I decided to run because I felt my experiences in business and in the schools would be beneficial to the children, teachers, parents and taxpayers,” he says. It’s that involvement from parents, who log thousands of volunteer hours every year at the schools, that combines with dedicated teachers to make them so successful, Peden says. The
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Photo by Bekah Griffith Photo by Kassie McLean
& Technology, and the Academy of Medical & Health Professions. The Academy of Multimedia Design & Technology offers Adobe certifications to students in areas of interest like digital design and web design, and graduates of the program will have one or more certifications upon completion. Certification tests are free of charge for students in the program. The student lab utilizes 34 new Dell student workstations, 23” HDMI monitors, a new wall-mounted SMARTBoard, dual LCD projectors & screens and 34 Genius tablets, and the most up-to-date hardware and “Industry Standard” software available. Students are able to work on digital design projects with community college and local business partners to prepare them for their secondary work, and eventually, a career. The program is headed by Heather Renfroe, the only Adobe Certified educator in the area. Classes in the program give practical experience and opportunities to collaborate with others on projects, and focus on teaching skills and providing industry certification for programs like Photoshop, Dreamweaver and Flash Animation, giving a head start to students who want a career in these areas. Last year the program took three “2012 Academy Awards” for Career Academy of the Year, Industry Certification Achievement Award, and for having the student Career Academy Scholar of the Year. For the Academy of Medical & Health Professions, students must go through an application process and be accepted into the program. The three or four year program allows students to take classes on topics like anatomy and physiology, disease, legal and ethical medical issues and CPR training. As seniors, students participate in a clinical rotation at a healthcare facility under the
guidance of a professional nurse, and after completing a certain number of hours, can sit for an exam to become a nursing assistant. The program is brand new, having started with the first batch of students just last school year, but administrators and program director Barbara Atchison are using this time to fine-tune the upcoming years’ curriculums as the first group works their way through the program. The advent of a health academy at Gulf Breeze High School is especially beneficial with the close proximity of establishments like the Andrews Institute and Gulf Breeze Hospital. Students also have other opportunities to jumpstart their college and careers with dual enrollment programs, through which high school students can take some courses at Pensacola State College for credit in both high school and college. “Several students have graduated from Gulf Breeze High School with a high school diploma and an AA degree,” Peden says. “With the recently opened south campus of Pensacola State College in our area, our high school will have more opportunities and students will not have to travel as far.” From early on in the education of Gulf Breeze students, dedicated teachers in these highly regarded ‘A’ schools form the basis for education that continues throughout their school careers. Through access to a variety of programs and with positive reinforcement from involved parents, Gulf Breeze students soar to success from K through 12 and beyond. GB
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peopleprofile
By Emily Lullo
Making an Impact: GBHS Football Coach Chris Nemith
School is back in session, but the Gulf Breeze High School football team has been working hard throughout the summer. They’re training for the upcoming season under the guidance of head coach Chris Nemith. The P.E. teacher and coach is coming into his tenth year with the school and his passion for his work and for living in Gulf Breeze with his family has not waned in his years on the fields of GBHS or on the white sands of the shoreline. Gulf Breeze Magazine spoke with Coach Nemith in the week leading up to the Kickoff Classic season opener about why he loves this seaside city and what’s in store for the upcoming season. 26
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What brought you to Gulf Breeze and where are you from? What brought me here was my job at Gulf Breeze High School. I was hired as the head football coach in April of 2003. I came from Mobile, Alabama. I was the head football coach at McGillToolen Catholic High School. Tell me about your education. I got my undergraduate from Salisbury University in Salisbury, Maryland, and then I attended the United States Sports Academy and through that I spent my internship at Rutgers University in New Jersey. I got a master’s in sports science and exercise physiology and sport conditioning. How do you like living in Gulf Breeze? I love it here. In 1989 I flew down to Mobile when I attended the United States Sports Academy for my graduate degree. I came over here and visited Pensacola Beach. Being from the east coast I would go to Ocean City, Maryland or Rehoboth Beach and the sand there is brown. The first time I saw it and stepped foot on the beach, I just fell in love with the area and been down here ever since. I called it my home since the first time I got here. I love the pristine beaches and the weather and to add to that, it’s just a great family atmosphere in this community. It’s a great community to educate your children. It’s a safe community. For the most part, it’s a safe, nurturing, family community. How has your experience been as the head football coach at Gulf Breeze High School? It’s a rewarding job. I coached on the college level in the mid-80s. In the high school level, the relationships that you build and the impact you make on your players and even as a teacher with regular students, you can’t put a value to that. I know everyone says teachers and coaches don’t make enough money, but it’s a rewarding job. Every day is different and it’s a job that gives back to you. It can be exhausting at times but it’s watching young people grow and become adults and move on to bigger and better things outside of high school. Watching the kids when they have a victory in a game and seeing the joy that they have and the peace that they have and then after a defeat, you see the pain and the hurt in the kids and so you experience that passion with them. It’s really a job that you get out of it what you put into it. It’s so important to know that just a word or a sentence can push a kid in the right direction and also pull them in the wrong directions. When the kids come back years after they’ve left high school, you know you did something right even in the process maybe of making a tough decision about a kid or student athlete when they were here, but they come back and they always thank you. So that’s when you know you’re making an impact. What’s in store for the upcoming football season? We’re coming off a real successful season last year. We were district runner up and we made it to the playoffs and we have a lot of returning kids so the expectations are pretty high for this group. It’s going to be a challenge coming off the year we had last year. This area’s one of the top high school football playing areas in the country. All the coaches do a great job. Teams are prepared so it’s a pressure packed season every year. You pray that your kids stay healthy and you just put them in the right places to have a chance to be successful and you hope for the best.
The philosophy of our high school is that we nurture every class period. Our academic teachers do a great job here. They challenge the students to be successful and to be champions. They foster a winner’s attitude and it just permeates all the way through the hallways and each classroom and the locker room and in our athletics. The kids have the best opportunity to be the best they can be. That’s hard to find. I’ve taught at quite a few high schools. It’s a joy and it’s exciting to come to work ever day here at Gulf Breeze High School. What’s your coaching philosophy? The reason I got into coaching was to be able to teach and I love the game of football. I love everything about it. Being able to teach something that you love never gets boring. It’s easy to stay with the details and not get bored of the details. Our whole thing here is we want to teach the kids and foster an understanding that you can be intense and you can be passionate and you can be physical, but through that we want to teach them how to love, to care about each other. We want to teach them how to forgive and we also want to teach them accountability. Not everyone of our football players are going to go play college football, but they’re all going to graduate from here and they’re all going to go out and be someone’s boyfriend, and eventually someone’s husband. They’re going to be fathers, so we push the kids. We demand excellence from them. We don’t cuss, we don’t demean. We want the kids to have the best experience they can have and be able to take from us and help them move forward. I take great responsibility to the fact that we’re just an extension of their family and at this point in their lives we spend more time with these student athletes than their parents do sometimes. I take great care and responsibility that someone’s entrusting me with the development of their son. Other than lots of wins, what are you hoping to see from your team this season? I’ve seen our kids overcome some adversity this summer and I saw how they reacted and the resolve that they have to overcome those things and how they embrace the experience and grew from it and learn from it. Every day is dynamic. It’s never the same. The best things I’ve seen from these kids is the resolve that they’ve had through the off season and spring training practice and summer of overcoming adversity and also the humility that they still hold onto when good things happen. They understand it’s a team thing, it’s not an individual. That really gives me a lot of peace knowing that when we’re in a situation this year if we happen to be up on somebody, instead of exalting themselves I know they’ll stay humble and still honor their opponent. At the same time, if we get in a situation where we’re fighting and scratching and clawing to try to get ahead of somebody, I know our kids will have the resolve to get through that adversity and be able to deal with that as a team. I’ve seen from January to now the camaraderie between the team that has developed. There’s about a hundred kids and they’re all diverse. None of them are the same, so seeing the common goal and the expectations that they have of each other and their accountability for each other—that’s what makes coaching such a dynamic profession. It’s not just what happens on game night. It’s all that preparation that no one ever sees that is just very unique. GB Fall/2012/Gulf Breeze Magazine
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thecalendar 2012 September MONDAY
SUNDAY
TUESDAY
Community Events 1 – 3 Jamaican Festival, Pensacola Beach 14 Gallery Night, Downtown Pensacola 15 – 16 Taste of the Beach, Pensacola Beach
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6:30 pm Gulf 5 4 pm Breeze City Governmental Council Meeting, Affair Committee, Gulf Breeze City Hall Chamber Conference Room 3 pm Chamber Connection & Ribbon Cuttings, Chamber Office 7 pm Midway Fire District Commission Meeting, Midway Fire Station
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17 6:30 pm City
FRIDAY
THURSDAY
8 am Gala Committee Meeting, Chamber Conference Room 9 am Business Development Committee, Chamber Conference Room
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7
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13 7 am Chamber 14 12 pm Leads Monthly Group 2, Breeze Realtors Blue Ribbon Meeting, Breakfast, Andrews Chamber Performance & Conference Room Chamber Research Pavilion Conference Room 12 8:30 am Gulf
18 12 pm Leads
Group 1, Chamber Conference Room
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Council Meeting, Gulf Breeze City Hall
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26 12 pm Chamber 27
SATURDAY
1
21 - 23 Deluna Fest, Pensacola Beach 28 – 30 Pensacola Seafood Festival
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Chamber Office closed for Labor Day
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WEDNESDAY
5:30 pm Combined Business After Hours with Pensacola Beach Chamber, Bamboo Willie’s
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21 1:30 pm
Woman’s Business Luncheon, Fellowship Hall First Baptist Church 12 pm Leads Group 2, Chamber Conference Room 5 pm Gulf Breeze Chamber Night Golf event at Tiger Point Golf Club
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Board of Directors Meeting, Chamber Conference Room
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15
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October TUESDAY
MONDAY
SUNDAY
6:30 pm Gulf 2 12 pm Leads Breeze City Group 1, Council Meeting, Chamber City Hall Conference Room
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3 4 pm Governmental Affair Committee, Chamber Conference Room
SATURDAY
FRIDAY
THURSDAY
WEDNESDAY
am Gala 4 8Committee Meeting, Chamber Conference Room 9 am Business Development Committee, Chamber Conference Room
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6
7
8
pm Chamber 9 3Connection & Ribbon Cuttings, Chamber Office 7 pm Midway Fire District Commission Meeting, Midway Fire Station
10 8:30 am Gulf
Breeze Realtors Blue Ribbon Meeting, Chamber Conference Room
7 am Chamber Monthly Breakfast, Andrews Performance & Research Pavilion
12 12 pm Leads
Group 2, Chamber Conference Room
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4 pm Chamber Executive Committee Meeting, Chamber Conference Room 6:30 pm City Council Meeting, Gulf Breeze City Hall
16 12 pm Leads
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19 1:30 pm
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26 12 pm Leads
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Community Events 31 30
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25 5:30 pm Chamber Board Business After of Directors Meeting, Hours, Bayside Chamber Conference Colliseum Room
2 – 7 Songwriters Festival, Pensacola Beach 5 – 6 October Fest, Pensacola 12 – 14 Greek Festival, Pensacola 18 – 28 Pensacola Interstate Fair
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Woman’s Business Luncheon, Fellowship Hall First Baptist Church
Group 1, Chamber Conference Room
Group 2, Chamber Conference Room
19 – 28 Boo at the Zoo, Gulf Breeze 19 Gallery Night, Downtown Pensacola 27 Making Strides Against Breast Cancer, Pensacola
November MONDAY
SUNDAY
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
8 am Gala 1 Committee Meeting, Chamber Conference Room 9 am Business Development Committee, Chamber Conference Room Election Day 12 pm Leads Group 1, Chamber Conference Room 3pm Chamber Connection & Ribbon Cutting
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5:30 pm Face-toFace Networking, Bimini Beach Bar, Pensacola Beach 6:30 pm Gulf Breeze City Council Meeting, City Hall
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12 Chamber Office 13 7 pm Midway
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Closed for Veteran’s Day
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6
Fire District Commission Meeting, Midway Fire Station
19 4 pm Chamber 20
Executive Board Meeting 6:30 pm City Council Meeting, Gulf Breeze City Hall
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Chamber Board of Directors Meeting, Chamber Conference Room
4 pm Governmental Affair Committee, Chamber Conference Room
FRIDAY
THURSDAY
SATURDAY
3
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7 am Chamber 9 12 pm Leads Monthly Group 2, Breakfast, Andrews Chamber Performance & Conference Room Research Pavilion
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16 15 5:30 pm Business After Breeze Realtors Blue Ribbon Meeting, Hours, The Blake at Chamber Conference Gulf Breeze Room
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14 8:30 am Gulf
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Chamber Office Closed for Thanksgiving 27
28 Community Events 29
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2 – 4 Greater Gulf Coast Arts Festival and Blue Angel Homecoming Show, Pensacola 16 – 18 Pensacola Wine Festival and Gallery Night, Pensacola
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Parting Shots
Kristen Loera, Norm Crowder, and Shanean Jones enjoy the warm hospitality from Harbourtown business sponsors for the May Gulf Breeze Area Chamber Business After Hours.
1SG Paul McCarghy, 1LT Richard Overcast, SFC Perry Smithy and SGT William Weems celebrate Army’s win over the four other branches of the military in the 1st Annual Fairways to Freedom Golf Tournament, a Military Appreciation Month event.
Right to Left: Best Dessert winner Chef Adam Reynolds from The Villas at Gulf Breeze, along with staff members Sabrina Shelton and Carol Ettelson receive their Golden Spatula Award at Taste of Expo 2012 from Josie Cotti, President/CEO, Gulf Breeze Area Chamber. Midway Fire District and Gulf Breeze Fire Department representatives are honored by their community at the Gulf Breeze Community Day with the Blue Wahoos on August 9th. 30
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Kazoo and Blue Wahoos’ staff members welcomed Gulf Breeze Area Chamber members to the May Business After Hours at Harbourtown on May 17th.
Pen Air Federal Credit Union Team 1 are all smiles after coming in first place at the Fairways to Freedom Golf Tournament on May 24th at Tiger Point Golf Club.
Right to Left: Chef Jesse Sproles, Food & Beverages Director Joey Lanier and Director of Sales Kristen Loera sweep the Golden Spatula Awards at Taste of Expo 2012, winning the Best Appetizer, Best Beverage, and Best Presentation awards. Kaytlyn Carlson sings the National Anthem at the Gulf Breeze Community Day on August 9th at the Blue Wahoos.