Editor’s Note

The holidays are upon us, folks. In just a blink of an eye, it will be Thanksgiving. Time to pull out the roasting pans, the nice dishes and the gratitude. The truth is, it’s a lot of work to pull together a holiday feast. My mother was a pro—turning out multiple courses with a smile on Editor’s Note her face and a truly grateful heart. I don’t think she was much happier than when her family was gathered around Kelly Oden her table celebrating, laughing and just sharing time together. I miss those moments always, but especially at the holidays. While I love that sense of family and togetherness almost as much as she did, I did not inherit her cooking skills or her organizational strategy for bringing large meals together. Therefore, my holiday dinner prep is usually stressful, messy and always late. It’s the Executive Editor Editor’s Note Editor’s Note thought that counts, however, and I do manage to get a meal to the table at Good morning, Pensacola! What a strange some point. My frantic cooking usually makes for a few good laughs at my place we find ourselves in this spring. The novel expense, which I don’t mind once I’m sitting down with a nice glass of wine coronavirus COVID-19 has arrived in our watching everyone enjoy the fruits of my labor. community and, although we have so far been luckier than many, the fight to keep it from spreading continues. We went to print with This year, we asked a few local chefs to share their takes on the holiday this issue on March 30. At that time, Escambia casserole – something a little different, but still in line with the harvest County had 42 confirmed cases and Santa season. They delivered a handful of uniquely delicious and gorgeous dishes Rosa had 30. Those numbers rose quickly once testing was expanded. Too quickly. The fact is, to complement your holiday spread. I hope you will try your hand at one, or we don’t know who might have the virus or be all of these tasty recipes. I know I’ll be making one or two! carrying the virus without symptoms. That is why it is essential that we, as a community, stay For me, the fall is also the time for harvesting my backyard citrus. We have home as much as humanly possible--leaving only for absolute essentials. I like the idea, too, a few varieties of oranges and some small lemon trees. When my daughter of practicing physical distancing rather than was little, it was the highlight of the season to harvest the trees and deliver social distancing. We can remain social via the fruit to family, friends and neighbors. My mom, however, had the Meyer many avenues in this modern world—phone calls, texts, video calls—and I encourage lemon tree to end all Meyer lemon trees. This beast produced hundreds everyone to stay connected to their tribe. We of grapefruit sized Meyers each season. We spent weeks making every don’t know what tomorrow will bring and we all need to feel connected to something conceivable lemon product we could think of. We gave away bags upon bags or someone in order to get through this. of lemons and then we froze bags and bags of juice and we still had lemons On the topic of physical distancing, in our left. I’ve rounded up a few of our recipes for your Meyer harvest this year. I COVID-19 resource guide, you will see that highly recommend the preserved lemons! Pensacola neighborhoods and community groups have found several clever, unique and safe ways All of this, plus info on Pensacola Opera’s 40th anniversary gala, the return of to stay connected and to make a difference while practicing physical distancing. I must Winterfest and a local mushroom grower who is growing tons of unique fungi say, I am very impressed with the outpouring for use in culinary and health products. of love and support I have seen amongst my fellow Pensacolians—yeah, the toilet paper I hope you enjoy the issue and I hope you have a very happy Thanksgiving hoarding was weird, but there are more than enough people giving of themselves to make up full of family, friends, food, love and gratitude. for it. Can I get a big round of applause for our first responders and hospital workers? Thank How is it August already? you for putting yourselves on the front lines These to keep us as safe as possible. Also, a big shout out to all the teachers out there scrambling to contradictory, but I can assure you I am feeling them both equally— and I don’t think I am alone. put together online lessons to keep our kids engaged and learning instead of worrying about things they cannot control. We appreciate you! On that note, I encourage you to read our This year is just too much. All of it—the COVID-19 Resource Guide, which provides politics, the pandemic, the pundits. I’m over resources for food, business, community it. So, this month we chose to focus on a and more. The ever-changing nature of much more relaxing and playful “P” word: this crisis necessitates that I mention that Pets. Who doesn’t go all gooey inside over these resources may or may not be available an adorable kitten or a playful pup? Only to you by the time you read this issue. I the most heartless among us, I suspect. hope it will provide a place to start, some ideas or some inspiration either way. Adoptions are on the rise during the pandemic and it’s easy to see why. Pets alleviate the stress, You may also notice that we have some nonboredom and loneliness of social distancing and uncertain futures. There may be many things out of our control in 2020, but we can provide pandemic related stories in this issue. We made the call to include already planned articles that might still be helpful, relevant or enjoyable for our readers. We hope you find them useful. a loving home to a sweet pet and get more love than we could have imagined in return. As for us, Pensacola Magazine has been While the Pensacola Humane Society has had published under one title or another for great success with adoptions and fostering more than 40 years. We have no plans on this year, those who love animals know that changing that. We will continue to publish the shelters are never empty. There is always a and to bring you all the information we can pet in need, so if snuggling up to a sweet kitty for as long as we can. Please reach out to us or playing fetch with a playful pup sounds like a good way to pass some time, check with story ideas, inspiration or just a quick hello. We are all working from home and we are missing our water cooler conversations. out our adoptable pet profiles on page 34. Stay safe, stay healthy and stay strong, Pensacola! We’ve got some feel-good pet stories for our readers as well. Gina Castro met with some

Congratulations. If you’re reading this first 2021 issue it means you have survived 2020, which is no small feat considering the barrage of pain, anxiety, divisiveness, uncertainty, loss and loneliness that 2020 brought to bear on the entire planet. Many have lost their lives, their loved ones, their jobs—one after another, the hits just kept coming. And here we are—on the other side, at least in terms of the Gregorian calendar. What will change incredible special-needs pets and their owners and she discovered that while these precious in 2021? A lot? A little? We have multiple vaccines babies may take a little more care, the love that we hope will eventually reign in the coronavirus, they give in return is worth every second. put the country back to work and allow for some semblance of social normalcy. When we can freely If exotic animals are more your thing, head visit again, how will our lives be different? What has on over to the brand spanking new and 2020 taught us? How has it changed us? I suspect it will take time to unpack all of the physical, mental significantly enlarged Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo. The new location features all the hands-on, up close interaction as the previous location plus and emotional impacts of 2020, but I hope time added attractions, amenities and experiences will heal us and that we are able to grow in positive that will make for a wonderful family day out. ways from our individual and collective experiences. In 2021, I’m foregoing the traditional resolutions If you’re interested in conservation, check out with specific, measurable outcomes. Instead, Dakota Parks story on local Panhandle Rooftop Nesting Biologist, Rebekah Snyder. Through to a few of the themes that 2020 brought to her work with Audubon Florida, Snyder helps to ensure local shorebirds have safe nesting spaces in an increasingly overpopulated region. All of this, plus a few DIY pet treat Losing my mom early in 2020 really brought home recipes and some good news from the the idea that time is a limited resource. We have this moment and the future is always uncertain. Florida legislature regarding protection for pets in abusive situations. In 2021, I hope to give more attention to my So, turn off the news, put down your phone relationships with family, friends and community. and enjoy these heartwarming tales and adorable of photos of local animals and the folks who care for them. When you’re While we have always heard that good health is our done, give your kitty a little catnip and most valuable asset, 2020 made sure we knew it. throw your dog a bone. It’s these simple pleasures that will keep us all sane.

Obesity, diabetes and heart disease became death sentences for too many people battling Covid. While genetics predispose some to these illnesses, many can be managed or eradicated by lifestyle changes. I’d like to focus on making healthy choices while still enjoying the bad-for-you good stuff in moderation.

Passion and Joy

I don’t know about you, but 2020 offered far too little of either of these to me. I was so consumed with my mom’s illness and then with surviving the grief of her loss and the anxiety of the pandemic and the sorrow of so many national news stories that I took little time for myself. This year, I hope to explore creative and personal endeavors that help me rediscover myself and discover new outlets for personal expression.

Procrastination

While many people made glorious headway on home improvement and personal projects in 2020, I did not. I did not organize anything. I did not fix anything. I did not learn a language or a new skill. Nothing. But that’s ok, too. I’m still here. That’s an accomplishment. However, in 2021, I’d like to lighten my load and empty my house of much of the clutter and unnecessary junk that fills it. It’s time to make room for something new. In this issue, we’ve covered all of these topics and more to help readers shift their own focus in 2021. We hope you enjoy. Here’s to your health!

8 | NOVEMBER 2022Kelly Oden Executive Editor Kelly Oden Executive Editor Kelly Oden Executive EditorSubscription expiration date is printed on the address label. Renew your subscription today online at ballingerpublishing.com: One year $14.95 or two years $22.75.

PENSACOLA

CULTURE + LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE

NOVEMBER 2022

Owner Malcolm Ballinger Publisher Malcolm Ballinger malcolm@ballingerpublishing.com Executive Editor Kelly Oden kelly@ballingerpublishing.com Art Director Ian Lett ian@ballingerpublishing.com Graphic Designer/Ad Coordinator Garrett Hallbauer advertise@ballingerpublishing.com Editor Morgan Cole morgan@ballingerpublishing.com Assistant Editor Nicole Willis nicole@ballingerpublishing.com Contributing Writers DeeDee Davis Darien Hardy Alex Hilkey Sales & Marketing Paula Rode, Account Executive ext. 28 paula@ballingerpublishing.com Geneva Strange, Account Executive ext. 31 geneva@ballingerpublishing.com

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