VIE - People + Places / March April 2012

NORTHWEST FLORIDA – COLA 2 COLA®

entertAinment Green Carpet Challenge

Livia Firth Inspires Top Designers

30A Songwriters Festival

Sam Bush, the Bangles, and Matthew Sweet Take the Stage

2012 Golden Globes

Lights! Camera! Action!

Written Word the oxford American Writers’ Summit

An Insider’s Exposé

Voyager

Nashville Spotlight

A Sense of Place

Emerald Coast Gold

Giving

Rebuilding Haiti

March/April 2012

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For more information, please visit:

viezine.com

In this issue:

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People + Places GBK’s Golden Globes Gift Lounge 86 Judith March 92

Giving Helping Haiti 122 CVHN: Love Thy Neighbor 134

Golden Globes Feature Star Power: Lights! Camera! Action! 80 Livia Firth Green Carpet Challenge 108

Get Healthy Grounding 72

Fashion Bathing Beauties: Leona Swimwear 31 Voyager Music City 58 R. Higgins: A Cultivated Eye for Design 48 Sense of Place Alys Beach: The Road Less Traveled 20 Pickos World Ski Center 150 U-Boats: Battle in the Gulf 116 Perspectives E.O. Wilson Biophilia Center 140

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The Written Word Oxford American Summit for Ambitious Writers 64 The Art of Life Downtown LA Art Walk 96 Music Makers: 30A Songwriters Festival 42 Jillian Edwards 52 Business Corner HomeRun Advantage: Navigating the Sea Change 130 For the Love of Food Fleming’s: A Chef Inspired 76 VIE’s Favorite Things 104

VIEZINE.COM MARCH /APRIL 2012

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TasTe The GourmeT side of mexican cuisine

COLA COLA

®

Primary Targeted Audiences

W

e are thrilled you have picked up a copy of VIE and hope you enjoy reading about the people and places of our coveted region,

COLA 2 COLA®—Pensacola to Apalachicola. We live in a great place where life is good! We have a passion for our area and the people and businesses found here, and we hope that you will share in our excitement.

VIE can be found locally at Tourist Development Council centers, Chamber of Commerce locations, Sundog Books in Seaside, Florida, boutiques, restaurants, bedand-breakfasts, and special events.

We are excited to announce that VIE‘s distribution has recently branched out to the

Sip the finest margarita Taste guacamole made fresh at your table Savor fresh seafood and steaks with authentic sauces

following airports: Baltimore/Washington International, Houston Hobby, Memphis International, Nashville International, Orlando International, and Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International. In addition to these high-profile locations, VIE is also being added to the shelves of some of the country’s top-selling bookstores, newsstands, and supermarkets, giving our advertisers potential access to millions of people.

VIE is a registered trademark. All contents herein are Copyright © 2012 Cornerstone Marketing & Advertising, Incorporated (The Publisher). All rights reserved. No part of this periodical may be reproduced without written permission from The Publisher. VIE is a lifestyle magazine of Northwest Florida (COLA 2 COLA®) and is published bimonthly. The opinions herein are not necessarily those of The Publisher. The Publisher and its advertisers will not be held responsible for any errors found in this publication. The Publisher is not liable for

Grand Boulevard 585 Grand Boulevard Sandestin 850.654.5649 follow on Facebook & Twitter cantinalaredo.com

the accuracy of statements made by its advertisers. Ads that appear in this publication are not intended as offers where prohibited by state law. The Publisher is not responsible for photography or artwork submitted by freelance or outside contributors. The Publisher reserves the right to publish any letter addressed to the editor or The Publisher. VIE is a paid publication. Subscription rate: One year $29.95 (U.S. only).

On the Cover:

VIE Creative Team:

Our cover features the radiant Livia Firth just before the 83rd Academy Awards, which took place on February 27, 2011. Her sustainable couture gown was designed

by Gary Harvey. Since launching the Green Carpet Challenge in December 2009, Firth and British journalist Lucy Siegle have inspired top fashion designers to create “sustainable fashion” made of fabrics manufactured from recycled containers and other eco-friendly materials. Read all about this trendsetting initiative in “Saving the Planet, One Red-Carpet Gown at a Time” on page 108.

VIE would like to give a special thank-you to Jason Olive, who helped secure our feature with Livia Firth, and a very special thank-you to Livia Firth herself for sharing her green initiative!

Lisa Burwell Publisher lisa@viezine.com

Gerald Burwell Editor-in-Chief gerald@viezine.com

Bob Brown VP of Creative Services bob@viezine.com

Ainsley Rogers Public Relations Director ainsley@viezine.com

Tracey Thomas Graphic Designer tracey@viezine.com

Darby Kellum Public Relations Assistant darby@viezine.com

Troy Ruprecht Graphic Designer troy@viezine.com

Mary Jane Kirby Account Executive maryjane@viezine.com

Phil Cowart Graphic Designer phil@viezine.com

James Ryan Account Executive jim@viezine.com

Bill Weckel Web/Project Manager bill@viezine.com

Margaret Stevenson Copy Editor Shannon Quinlan Distribution Coordinator

Tim Dutrow Video Producer tim@viezine.com

VIE Contributors: Contributing Writers: Paige Daugherty A. Edmonson Dale Foster Mary Catherine Kinney Dasmin E. Merrer Clark Peters Kyle Petit Tori Phelps Liesel Schmidt

Published by:

Anne W. Schultz Susan Vallée

Contributing Photographers:

(850) 231-3087

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Contact us at info@theideaboutique.com

Quinn Ballard Rick Bennett Carol Ann Fitzgerald Dale Foster Jack Gardner Michael Granberry Colleen Hinely Shaun Menary Lorie Moulton

Kyle Petit Kelly Price Romona Robbins Shelly Swanger Susan Vallée Steve Wells Dawn Anderson Photography Jayophoto.com

VIEZINE.COM MARCH /APRIL 2012

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Publisher’s Note:

Seems It Does Rain in Southern California (With Apologies to Albert Hammond)

Members of the VIE team got on board a westbound 767 on January 11, 2012, and headed to Los Angeles to represent Northwest Florida in our marketing tour around the globe—the Golden Globes that is! As self-proclaimed ambassadors of good news about Northwest Florida’s COLA 2 COLA®, we like to take VIE on the road to look for interesting stories while showing off our piece of paradise through the pages of the magazine. Creating a local magazine and giving it a global perspective was an interesting approach four years ago and, to stay true to VIE’s roots, we’re always looking for “The Story”—the one that is not getting a lot of ink, the real behind-the-scenes story, the philanthropic story—your story. When Sandra Brooks (www. sandrabrookscollection.com) called last fall asking if VIE would be interested in partnering with her at the GBK Celebrity Gift Lounge at the 69th Annual Golden Globes (www.gbk.com), I had a moment when I shook my head in disbelief and wondered how a trek to Los Angeles could lead us to find new stories for the magazine.

VIE featured Sandra Brooks and her handmade, one-of-a-kind jewelry collection last year. From our first meeting, Sandra and I felt that a kindred spirit connected us personally and professionally.

Because I respect her incredible gift for marketing, I gave consideration to actually becoming a sponsor.

Questions began spinning in my mind. How could this benefit VIE? Why in the world would we need to go to Los Angeles? Would our readers like to get a behind-the-scenes look at what goes on prior to a big awards show in Hollywood? Well aware that celebrity holds a strong appeal in our society, and understanding what “star power” can do to launch a new company, we took the chance and took a piece of Florida’s “Great Northwest” out West for some one-on-one product endorsement of our own.

Photo by Troy Ruprecht

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We met celebrities, publicists, agents, and directors, all of whom seemed to have a single-minded goal— to make connections. We met the most gracious, humble, and unassuming people; all seemed genuinely interested in our elevator pitch about VIE and Northwest Florida. Courtesy of Alys Beach on 30A (www.alysbeach.com), we presented Hollywood

darling Jennifer Love Hewitt with a vacation at Alys Beach and a $1,550 gift certificate from Dr. Steven Weiner’s The Aesthetic Clinique (www.aestheticclinique.com), so keep your eyes peeled for a celebrity sighting in town!

We met Jason Olive, playwright, actor, supermodel, photographer, and owner of his own branding and marketing firm (www.jasonolive.com). Jason is basically a Renaissance man with a charisma that almost outshines his good looks! He was impressed with VIE and offered us the possibility of featuring Livia Firth (wife of Oscar-winning actor Colin Firth) and her philanthropic cause, the Green Carpet Challenge, which encourages and challenges fashion designers to make eco-friendly gowns.

Our trip was a success: we believe we brought back interesting stories from L.A. for our readers and we have the honor of having the lovely Livia Firth grace VIE’s first cover of 2012. Thanks to Sandra Brooks and Gavin Keilly from GBK for having us this past January at L’Ermitage Beverly Hills, where Gavin’s team did an amazing class-act job with everything they touched!

You may be familiar with Albert Hammond’s hit song from the ’70s, “It Never Rains in Southern California.” In it, the singer laments being down on his luck and stuck far away from home, but our experience in L.A. couldn’t have been more different.

We were blessed to have kindness and opportunity rain down on us. To paraphrase a line from the song: “It poured, man, it poured.”

To Life!

—Lisa

In Loving Memory Ruth GRimaldi BuRwell (1929 – 2011)

dedication by Gerald Bur well Northwest Florida was not my mother’s birthplace, but like so many of us who have been fortunate enough to call it home, she fell in love with its beauty. An artist through and through, Mom was constantly amazed by God’s handiwork in everything she saw—a seashell, a piece of driftwood, the endless expressions of the Gulf ’s waves, a shape found within puffy clouds in the blue sky—and the stars. Oh, how she loved the stars! Her unassuming nature made her eager to share her joy with anyone willing to listen or play along.

Thank you, Mom, for sharing your curiosity with everyone that had the chance to enjoy it! You are greatly missed!

Ruth Burwell was born the second of three daughters to Col. and Mrs. Michael Grimaldi (U.S. Army), the founders of Miramar Beach, Florida. She is predeceased by son Anthony and sister Marion Grimaldi Wright. Ruth is survived by her loving husband of fifty-six years, Ralph; her sister, Barbara Grimaldi; her children, Thomas (Gerry Anne), Margaret (Lenny) Stevenson, Louis (Leeanne), Joseph, and Gerald (Lisa); her grandchildren, Christina, Joseph, James, Daniel, Nicolette and Brigette; and many cousins, nieces, and nephews.

Pictured above: Ruth’s joyful nature beams from the catwalk at an Officer Club fashion show on Eglin Air Force Base (ca. 1953).

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the Planned settinG for the next eveninG’s dinner Party, consisted of a larGe chef’s kitchen, a sPacious dininG area with a taBle that sat eiGht, and a Great room with a firePlace ... we were excited!

seasoned traveler, this gem of a resort, nestled within the unique setting of coastal Northwest Florida, is a sight to behold. And locals like myself, already familiar with Alys Beach, are constantly amazed at this awesome refuge that is steadily unfolding right before our very eyes.

As part of our check-in, we received parking and pool passes, a list of local restaurants, an informational map of the community, and a tour of 46 Charles Street North, our home for the next three nights. Like teens that had just arrived at camp, we chose our favorite rooms in the spacious 3,000-square-foot home, which had a central courtyard and soothing sounds coming from a wall fountain. The main living area, the planned setting for the next evening’s dinner party, consisted of a large chef ’s kitchen, a spacious dining area with a table that sat eight, and a great room with a fireplace and expansive floor-to-ceiling windows. We were excited!

Our mission: To see firsthand what it was like to be tourists in our own backyard—to enjoy a “mini-staycation”—a close-by getaway. With guests arriving from out of town, it was serendipitous to have received a gracious invitation from Alys Beach to experience a first-class holiday at the prestigious resort. And, like so many vacationers do, we planned our retreat as if it were a family reunion—one that would create lasting memories.

Planning and preparing for a vacation is usually fraught with anxiety.

Itineraries, logistics, and the sheer drudgery of travel can sometimes be overwhelming. It usually seems that there is too much to do and too little time to do it in.

And then—you arrive!

Successfully vacating daily responsibilities is a feeling that can only be described as euphoric. Ah! Paradise!

The vacation we had planned was different from most—our “port of call” was less than ten minutes from home, greatly minimizing our stress! After registering, I arranged a tour so that our visiting guests could get the lay of the land in the resort town, which is without a doubt soon to be a worldclass destination. With its picturesque and sometimes whimsical architecture, Alys Beach is expertly planned around streets and pedestrian walkways with curious and inviting nooks and crannies. For the

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The next morning, we ambled across the street to the intimate Fonville Press where, over coffee and fresh pastries, we studied our new surroundings.

Elegant simplicity abounds in this sleepy village of perfection. Despite the saturation of bleached-white on the buildings all around us, one doesn’t feel the slightest hint of monotony. The varied shapes of the structures, the interesting door and window openings, and the exquisite attention to detail all provide an extremely diverse and rich architectural palate. In juxtaposition to all the white, there are splashes of color sprinkled around the town: poppy-colored umbrellas at Fonville Press; lime green umbrellas at Caliza Pool; a charming, old-fashioned mobile hot dog stand dressed in navy and white stripes; and sage green umbrellas at George’s Restaurant.

The remainder of our day was filled with lounging poolside and a light lunch at Caliza, then getting ready for a dinner that would be prepared by the chef de cuisine at Alys Beach.

We felt lucky to be able to share this experience with our friends.

the dinner Party Getting dressed for a soiree and not having to leave the house is an indescribable treat! It felt a little decadent, but that’s what a vacation is all about—treating yourself right. A gourmet seafood feast was prepared right in our vacation home: light, flaky triggerfish and beautifully prepared grilled shrimp paired with wine selected by the chef. A captivated audience watched intently as the chef explained the ingredients and the preparation of each dish. A great dinner with friends and family made for one of those once-in-a-lifetime events that will stay in our memories forever!

arts & entertainment at alys Beach As evidenced in the magnificent architecture and town planning of Duany Plater-Zyberk and Company (DPZ), a passion for the arts thrives in the 158-acre Alys Beach.

A resort town rooted with a cultural heart and soul, some of the hippest events in the area happen at Alys Beach. One of them, now in its fifth year, is Digital Graffiti, which will take place on June 8 and 9 of this year. During the world’s largest digital projection art festival, competing artists from around

i endearlinGly refer to our stay at alys Beach as my “alys in wonderland” ... it is a maGical Place!

the world use the latest technology to project original works onto the town’s iconic white walls—this is a must-see event. Visit www.digitalgraffiti.com to learn more.

The Alys Beach Foundation is proud to welcome back Sinfonia Gulf Coast for a concert under the palms in the amphitheater on Sunday evening, May 29 at 7:30 p.m. Singer Robert Shaw and the Lonely Street Band will join the orchestra with their “Celebrating Elvis” show. Visit www.sinfoniagulfcoast.org for tickets.

Ahh, the hope and promise that vacations offer—to be renewed, rested, and ready to return home. I endearlingly refer to our stay at Alys Beach as my “Alys in Wonderland” ... it is a magical place!

For reservations and information on Alys Beach, please visit www.alysbeach. com or call 866.732.1760 (toll free).

eateries in alys Beach As for dining in Alys Beach, not only can you have an on-site personal chef arrange a picnic basket for an intimate outing to the beach or prepare a feast in the comfort of your home, but there are also some great eateries located on property. Each of these excellent options has a completely different ambience.

George’s at Alys Beach Highway 30A – 30 Castle Harbour Drive (850) 641-0017 www.georgesatalysbeach.com A perfect beachy-casual spot for lunch or dinner Monday–Saturday Lunch 11 a.m.–3 p.m.

Dinner 5 p.m.–9 p.m.

Poolside Dining at Caliza Restaurant 23 Nonesuch Way (850) 213-5700 www.calizarestaurant.com Fresh local seafood, grilled steaks, and pastas Open to the Public Tuesday–Saturday 5:30 p.m.–9:30 p.m.

Piper’s Highway 30A (850) 213-5500 A mobile cart that serves original Chicagostyle Vienna Beef hot dogs and triple-decker sandwiches

Fonville Press 147 N. Charles Street (850) 213-5906 A chic coffee and sundry shop

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Bathing Beauties Donning Leona Spring 2012 Swimwear

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by a. edmonson

Photography By Jack Gardner And Troy Ruprecht

Drive along Walton County, Florida’s Scenic Highway 30A and you’ll stumble right into Alys Beach, an oasis not so different from a hidden retreat in the West Indies or coastal Morocco. Tucked into the heart of this beach community is the exquisitely stylish Caliza Pool.

Reminiscent of a traditional Greek agora or Roman piazza, the pool complex comprises private cabanas, arched colonnades, elevated terraces, and an open-air bar—all surrounding a distinctive and diverse selection of outdoor living areas and pools. Long, elegant drapes of various colors and textures are used to define the many diverse intimate and private sections. Lush gardens, fountains, and tropical palms shield Caliza from the outside world, creating a truly secluded and serene escape.

With its limestone paved terrace and bleached-white walls set against a sky of azure blue, Caliza Pool was the perfect backdrop to complement the bright hues of the Leona Spring 2012 swimsuit line from Nashville-based designer Lauren Leonard.

An up-and-coming designer with the ability to put her distinctive mark on otherwise classic pieces, Leonard stands apart from the crowd with her fresh and unique perspective on women’s swimwear. Bright colors, girly ruffles, and styles that flatter a woman’s shape work together to create suits that are eye-catching as well as functional and comfortable to wear. In a market where choices seem endless, it isn’t always easy to create a line that grabs the buyer’s attention immediately, but Leonard has succeeded in doing just that.

Alongside one of Caliza’s pools, we watched from behind the scenes as these willing models were transformed into bathing beauties in pieces from the Leona Spring 2012 swim collection.

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To shop this collection visit www.leonacollection.com 1. Ainsley and Darby relax alongside one of Caliza’s shaded wading pools.

2. Kyle wears Leona’s Northriver Top and Yacht Club Bottom, both in Maize.

3. A view of Alys Beach’s Caliza Pool.

4. Models splash, lounge, and laugh during downtime.

5. Models wearing select pieces from the Leona Spring 2012 Swim Collection.

6. Ginger wears Leona’s Ahoy Bandeau Top and Tide Up Bottom in White.

7. Cecilia relaxes and looks on.

8. Turquoise creates a striking contrast against Caliza’s snow-white walls.

(Bikini not by Leona Collection) 9. Darby and Cecilia take a stroll around Caliza Pool. Darby wears Leona’s Cascade Top and Ripple Bottom in Papaya.

10. Abby models Leona’s Tuscaloosa Tunic while Renee carries the Temerson Tote, both in Papaya L Print.

11. Renee gazes over Caliza Pool. (Cover-up not by Leona Collection) 12. Ainsley wears the Main St. Skirt/Dress by Leona in Cactus Tile Print Chiffon.

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Unlike a branded concert series, the 30A Songwriters Festival allows music fans the chance to hear songs sung just as they were intended to be sung, and by the writers themselves. Though the festival is only in its third year, it already feels like a long-celebrated tradition among friends. This is partly due to the undeniable uniqueness of the festival, and partly to the quiet transformation of Scenic Highway 30A into a creative musical hot spot, one that keeps musicians and music lovers eager to return each year.

The festival excels in lining up first-class local, national, and international talent for all to enjoy in venues that allow attendees to really listen to what is being said or, in this case, sung. Attendees aren’t just given the opportunity to listen to music; they are given the opportunity to listen to the soul behind the music. When a songwriter performs a song, the very emotion that inspired them to craft the lines, which often depict true experiences, seeps through—emotion often not conveyed when a “famous” artist is paid to make a song popular. The songwriters-inthe-round event, which is organized by the Cultural Arts Alliance of Walton County (CAA) along with Russell Carter of Russell Carter Artist Management, truly is all about the music, allowing artists of all types to showcase their art. For three days, people equipped with as little as an acoustic guitar, a voice, and a story captivate an audience just as a rock group might with blaring electric guitars and amps.

It all started with a simple notion. The CAA wanted to re-create festivals that they had experienced in the past while achieving three goals: to support the CAA, to fulfill its mission, and to build businesses and the economy.

They had no expectations of size but sought to bring tourists to this area and expand the growing local music scene further. To jump-start the plan, Jennifer Steele, executive director of the CAA, signed on Shawn Mullins, who was managed by Russell Carter. Carter, who owns a house in Grayton Beach, offered his connections immediately, bringing with him a fleet of megatalent, including the Indigo Girls, the Shadowboxers, the Bangles, and Chely Wright.

“The first festival was a lot bigger than we anticipated,” Steele said. “We began with thirty artists the first year, then a hundred the next year, and 125 this year. The response has been overwhelming. It’s great to have an audience that loves it, but it’s remarkable that artists want to come back year after year.” And come back they have, giving the organizers the exact response they were seeking. But what makes this festival so different from other events across the country? Easy. The atmosphere.

Photo by Shelly Swanger

For the performers, the festival offers more than a chance to play music along the beautiful beaches of 30A, although that is a definite perk. They get the opportunity to perform for an engaged, undistracted audience, and their words take center stage. During the shows, listeners remain quiet, captivated, and involved, allowing the musician to lead them through the hills and valleys of his or her creative soul. “Songwriters [Festival] is inspiring for the artists,” Carter said. “This atmosphere is conducive to creativity, and the musicians are all here to perform—to come onto the stage and be expressive, and come off stage and talk songwriting.”

In return for donating their time and talents, the artists are given true 30A hospitality.

Upon arrival, they are put up in gorgeous homes, given complimentary packages from dozens of local retailers and service providers, and allowed the opportunity to play music VIEZINE.COM MARCH /APRIL 2012

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with whomever they choose. The venues that feature the performances are chosen with care to ensure an outstanding experience. “Most artists tour around the country annually, so they see a lot of venues,” Carter said. “Even the famous clubs are just rooms painted black that reek of beer. On 30A, the elegant restaurants are converted into nightclubs by adding light and sound equipment and rearranging the furniture. The ocean is right outside. It’s just fun for the artists.”

On Friday afternoon, the first day of the festival, the weather was perfect and the area was alive with activity for the first time in a while. I headed to Fish Out of Water for a press conference featuring headliners Lindsay Fuller, Amy Ray, David Ryan Harris, Jim Lauderdale, Shawn Mullins, David Wilcox, John Oates, and Joan Osborne. As I watched them interact and pass the microphone, I couldn’t believe how laid back these artists seemed to be. They may have been at ease, but I was beyond being excited! I couldn’t wait to hear what all this talent would offer over the course of the next hours and days.

On Friday night, I ventured over to Restaurant Fire in Blue Mountain Beach to see the ASCAP showcase performance that featured Dave Barnes, Jillian Edwards, Jonathan Singleton, and Maggie Eckford. When Dave Barnes, best known for his song “God Gave Me You,” sang his first soulful note, every person in the packed venue fell silent.

The four singers took turns singing with an acoustic guitar to an audience mesmerized by their verses. I stayed at Fire to hear John Driskell Hopkins, best known as the bassist for the Zac Brown Band. He stood tall, sported a scruffy, long beard, and sang his songs with great intensity.

On Saturday, I headed to the Backyard of Love at Hibiscus Coffee and Guesthouse in Grayton Beach to hear Larkin Poe. Two sisters, Rebecca and Megan Lovell, make up the heart of the band, which they named in honor of their great-great-great-grandfather. Rebecca’s vocals were extremely soulful, and she seemed to be as absorbed with her acoustic guitar as the captivated audience was with her performance.

After lunch, I headed over to Seaside’s Lyceum stage for Matthew Sweet’s performance. He opened with a set taken from his critically acclaimed and commercial hit album, Girlfriend.

After wrapping up to applause that shook the stage, the Bangles stepped up. Their set included all of their hits, plus energetic covers of Prince’s “Manic Monday,” Emmitt Rhodes’ “Live,” and my personal favorite, Paul Simon’s “Hazy Shade of Winter.”

Next, I ventured to Central Square Records on Seaside’s square to hear David Berkeley, a songwriter I’d heard previously on NPR’s World Cafe. Reminiscent of Cat Stevens, Berkeley’s voice blended with his poetic words effortlessly throughout the performance.

Jim Lauderdale; photo by Steve Wells

When Hopkins finished, I left Fire and drove east down Highway 30A to Seaside’s Meeting Hall Theater to hear the Tall Pines play some country soul-shaking tunes. Connie, the female half of the duo, effortlessly played a suitcase drum and a tambourine with Woodstock-worthy flair. Her voice blended effortlessly with that of her partner, Christmas, who harmonized and played the guitar. NPR had picked their 2007 album as one of the top ten of that year, which after a quick listen, came as no surprise to me.

Coming from their home in Charlottesville, Virginia, husband-and-wife duo Laura Wortman and Kagey Parrish shared a microphone as the Honey Dewdrops at the Boathouse on Saturday night. It was a really popular venue and I was grateful to grab a seat. While performing, the Honey Dewdrops acted as storytellers with their original folk songs, which were clearly inspired by American traditional music.

Their harmonies were both serene and soulful as the melodies accompanied by the guitar, banjo, and mandolin seemed to climb tall mountains and venture into deep valleys.

Seventy-five degrees and sunny, the Gulf Place Amphitheater was the place to be on Sunday, and I was happy to be in the mix. Sam Bush, the King of

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The Tall Pines; photo by Steve Wells

New Grass and a local favorite, wowed the audience again. Sporting a Stinky’s Fish Camp T-shirt in support of his favorite local performing venue, the fast picker made huge music with his mandolin, jamming styles that ranged everywhere from bluegrass to reggae, jazz to soul. Between songs, he told festivalgoers of his longtime love for South Walton and how he and his wife have been coming here for years—yet another nod to our hospitable home.

This beautiful, music-drenched Sunday wrapped up my Songwriters Festival experience, and I couldn’t help but think that promoters of the 30A Songwriters Festival have a daunting task ahead of them for next year.

How could they possibly improve upon such a stellar weekend? By following the simple approach that has proven successful: assemble an immensely talented lineup and put them on the beach. Our gorgeous landscape and friendly community speak for themselves. Thanks, Songwriters. See you next year.

O p e n i n g pa g e p h O t O s

All photos by Steve Wells, except where noted. Clockwise, left to right: 1. Rebecca Lovell of Larkin Poe 2. Davin McCoy 3. Matthew Mayfield 4. Scott Schwartz of the Shadowboxers (Photo by Shelly Swanger) 5. Susanna Hoffs of the Bangles (Photo by Colleen Hinely) 6. Jim Lauderdale

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A Cultivated Eye As a small-town boy with big dreams, Roger Higgins grew up knowing he would not be the fourth generation to carry on in the funeral home business, which was the family tradition. Instead, Higgins determinedly set his eye on design.

Higgins moved to Nashville from his “Mayberrylike town” in East Tennessee and attended O’More College of Design. There, fate stepped in and he met Ann Shipp. The two became business partners after graduation and opened the doors of R. Higgins Interiors in 1994. The design duo has been unstoppable since.

Roger Higgins and Ann Shipp work as the principal designers of the company, which is nestled in the Hillsboro Village area of Nashville, along with four design assistants, a bookkeeper, a

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receptionist, and members of the custom framing department. The expert designs of the group have not gone unnoticed. The work of R. Higgins has been published on the cover of Traditional Home, and within Architectural Digest, Classic American Home, At Home Tennessee, and Nashville Lifestyles.

Not your average design house, R. Higgins embraces a perfect mix of old and new, resulting in timeless creations. A mix of antique and modern pieces may seem unhinged, but R. Higgins has perfected the art. To master this craft, the passion for design must be deep and the vision unique.

Higgins’s passion stems from his love for old houses. He believes this to be a “Southern thing” and has always been interested in auctions and

tours of historic homes. This love of all things old has undoubtedly influenced his designs. Higgins believes that “historic homes seem to have more presence than new homes” and works this philosophy into every design.

“I’m inspired by anything that is done well and that can stand the test of time,” says Higgins.

“An interior could be European or contemporary or historical, but if it’s done right and the vision comes together, then I’m inspired.”

To execute his inspired visions, Higgins focuses on a few basic guidelines to help in the creative process.

“Allow yourself to be surprised with something unexpected,” the designer says. For Higgins,

for Design

By Darby Kellum | Photography by Quinn Ballard

there is not just one right answer in the design world. Stepping out of a comfort zone and being open-minded while incorporating new styles often yields unique yet successful results.

Quality is also a key ingredient. “Do less, and do better,” Higgins often says. Concentrate on investing money in quality pieces versus spreading it too thin across cheaper options—and be consistent with quality. By keeping these simple guidelines in mind, Higgins’s work embodies the designer’s fresh and unique taste that his growing clientele is avidly seeking.

In addition to their design services, R. Higgins offers a showroom that allows shoppers to find anything from light fixtures and unique accessories to extraordinary furniture pieces and

fabrics. Because each item in the showroom is picked by hand, individuals have the opportunity to shop and leave with a piece of Higgins’s eye for design. Whether shoppers are in the market for classic pieces or unique eclectic items, the R. Higgins showroom is guaranteed to equip even the novice decorator with beautiful decor.

The showroom at R. Higgins Interiors has become a Nashville staple, boasting only the best antiques and home goods. With Roger’s vision, the designs and showroom of R. Higgins Interiors are truly one-of-a-kind.

Ten Showroom Pieces Roger Higgins Adores: Exclusively for VIE, Higgins himself chose his top ten pieces to incorporate into the home. But first, he gave us three building blocks he believes every home should have.

First, comfortable seating. Whether your home looks like a museum or is ultracasual, there should be seating options that make guests feel at home.

Good lighting is also key in a space. Higgins says the way to achieve good lighting is to have it layered in one given space. At the very least, you should have access to a dimmer switch for the recessed lighting. However, to truly bring a room to life and give it more versatility, you

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WATER HEATING

should try layering recessed with a chandelier and table lamps at different heights.

“Every house needs something old or salvaged,” Higgins said of the third and most design-oriented must-have. “If there is one thing that I believe, it is that the old pieces make you appreciate the new, and the new pieces complement the old.

It’s all about balance.”

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Art Deco Chair: “I love it because people are into clean-lined pieces right now, and it incorporates that style while also having an attachment to history. If something can possess both a modern element and a vintage idea, then I like it.”

Giant Bird’s Nest with Ostrich Egg: Include the unexpected. Visual pieces like this add a little surprise to your decor. “You have to notice pieces like this,” says Higgins.

Black Leather Trunk: “It’s a versatile piece. You can use it as a coffee table or at the end of the bed and it will look great. It’s made from old English camphor wood that will keep the moths away. I also love that you can still smell the wood even though it’s a million years old.”

Framed Replica Carvings: Include personal pieces, like these antique replica carvings of the Parthenon, to add personality to the home. These carvings were the artist’s copies that were reproduced and sold as souvenirs.

Accents like these are great conversation starters!

Dinner Chime: “You just can’t beat it! It was the pre-texting way to call for dinner.”

Artists’ Models: These are inexpensive, interesting, and add life to a space.

“They’re sculptural and artistic without being too serious. They don’t make you feel old!”

Wooden Cubes: “They are indestructible! You can put one next to a sofa in a playroom or beside a gilded Louis XVI chair to make it hip and modern. Their simplicity can fit into any space.”

Venetian Glass Mirror: “It’s pretty and feminine—perfect for a woman’s dressing table. The vintage shape and style appeals to a lot of people because it’s nostalgic without looking old.”

Louis XV Crystal Chandelier: This chandelier is extremely versatile. “It’s the perfect size and shape for a bedroom or a cozy dining room. It’s a timeless fixture that will only get better with age.”

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Gilded Gesso Oval Mirror: “It’s like a pair of great black shoes: classic.” It’s perfect for an entry hall or even a very grand dressing room. It’s a piece that will always make a statement without being overwhelming.

broke the ice of formality over lattes, and Jillian settled in to begin her story. From the start, it was obvious how humble and passionate this twenty-three-year-old singersongwriter was about embarking on her musical career.

laughed. “I just stared at them, like ‘You want me to sign those!’ And then they handed me a check. I didn’t even know I was getting paid!”

Often compared to Taylor Swift, Mindy Smith, and Nickel Creek’s Sara Watkins, Jillian’s music has deep roots in folk and pop music, creating a unique fusion of the two genres.

The youngest of four children (a role she shares with her twin brother, Cole), her childhood was rooted in the Richardson, Texas, community where her aspirations to become a singer unfolded in true Partridge Family style. “My whole family grew up singing and making music together,” Jillian said. “In church. In school. At home. All of us gravitated toward music individually—and as a family.” She first picked up a guitar her sophomore year of high school when her father, a computer software writer with a heartfelt passion and talent for music, helped his four children learn to play while accompanying them on the piano.

Jillian, whose family had previously vacationed in Seaside, was smitten with both the festival experience and the people of the 30A community. “I love being here for the festival and seeing the area in a whole new light. There is such an appreciation for art and music,” she explained. “It’s a beautiful place, with beautiful people, too.”

“I was way too nervous to go out on my own,” Jillian said, as she described the beginnings of her professional career. “I was singing BGV [background vocals] for my brother at the end of my senior year of high school, and when he finished his set, he told the audience, ‘Now, my sister is going to play one of her songs.’ I had no time to be nervous or to back out, so that was really my first time to play a song that I had written in front of people who weren’t my family.

Cole [her twin brother] and my dad had planned it that way. Very sneaky. But, because of that moment, I was able to see that I was able.”

And able she has proved. Jillian’s debut album, the six-song Galaxies & Such, was released in 2009 and garnered enough attention to get her placed as an opener on regional tours, headlining small venues and house concerts around the South. Her second release, Headfirst, features seven more songs written with sobering lyrics detailing both happiness and heartache. Headfirst stole the top spot on iTunes the week of its November 15 release, displacing The Civil Wars’ Barton Hollow in the singer-songwriter category, and remained number one on singer-songwriter charts all through the release week. The album was in the top twenty-five on the iTunes overall charts for two weeks total, while her song “No Other Plans” was the number one song on singer-songwriter charts for the release week.

Jillian is quick to admit she has frequently experienced various levels of shock and awe throughout her musical journey. With a certain sense of youthful abandon, Jillian arrived at the 30A Songwriters Festival with few expectations other than having the opportunity to perform at the beach. Currently not under management, she wasn’t sure what to anticipate. We shared a good laugh over her surprise at checking in to the Festival. “They pointed to a huge stack of posters and said, ‘Sign these, please,’” she

“My whole family grew up singing and making music together.

In church. In school. At home. All of us gravitated toward music individually—and as a family.”

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Jillian’s shows seemed to be a hot spot in the festival lineup, as Fire restaurant, the 30A venue she was assigned to, was packed to capacity for each performance. Attendees arrived hours in advance to hear her ringing alto and soulful acoustics alongside Jonathan Singleton, Dave Barnes, and Maggie Eckford as part of the ASCAP showcase. Tables filled up quickly and latecomers had to be turned away. Jillian was also eager to hear other performers who had ventured to 30A for the weekend; she was particularly impressed with Lori McKenna during a sitting at First Note Music Hall. “I fell in love with her innocence and skill,” said Jillian, a nod to her appreciation for authenticity.

The songwriter, who speaks as eloquently as she writes, radiates a passion for her craft and strives to ensure that her music is honest, authentic, and real, without worrying about critics or bad reviews. “I don’t make music to win the approval of anybody, although I can’t deny how good it feels when I do.

It’s icing on the cake, but it’s not the cake. Attention, good or bad, isn’t the reason I write songs,” she said.

“I love putting into words how I feel, and I love singing,” Jillian continued. “There’s nothing like feeling as if I can communicate exactly how I feel by adding melody with words. So, when I experience a new feeling, I make a song out of it. Nothing feels better than to sing it—it feels good even if no one hears. But it’s also an incredible feeling to me to have someone else hear it and understand completely.”

Moved by the intensity and passion Jillian conveys through her craft, I was reminded of a quote from Rumi, which I often repeat to myself: “Let the beauty of what you love be what you do.” There’s no doubt that this soulful songwriter does just that.

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True MeloD e y Th of

Photography by Rick Bennett

once known for a booMing honky-Tonk, rhinesTonecowboy-booT, anD wrangler-Jean culTure, The True nashville is hiTTing MainsTreaM anD subsequenTly capTivaTing The counTry. In the summer of 2010, my wheels rolled into the Davidson County limits for an internship a mere ten days after the most devastating flood in the city’s history. The ruin was expansive, but the town rallied, wrapping arms around each other and answering the call to become their own disaster relief team.

Adopting “We Are Nashville” as the flood-relief battle cry, the muchacclaimed community of Nashville came to life.

That summer, a deep love for Music City planted itself right in the middle of my heart and upon graduation, I wasted no time in moving back. A born, bred, and fiercely proud South Georgia cotton blossom, my roots are sinking quickly into Nashville’s culture and town—enough for me to now claim it as my own. I took an entire month to rediscover this town that continues to win my affection.

“I wake up every day and wonder when my intense crush on Nashville is going to fade,” whispered Carolyn Heaps, a South Carolina Southern belle, as we strolled through downtown’s historic library. I nodded in a joyful agreement. “If Nashville were a boy, he would be a mighty fine charmer, making me weak in the knees with every sparkly summer night sky, intimate laughter-soaked dinner, and rowdy bluegrass jam.”

Tagged as the “Athens of the South,” it’s no surprise that music, art, food, and a rich value of culture are ingrained in the bedrock of our community. Unlike many great Southern towns, Nashville has maintained its small-town Southern identity despite the continued growth and rapid influx of transplants. At night, traffic signals morph to flashing lights at eleven o’clock, and a slow pace of life continues to prevail. The steady spirit of Nashville pulses with an electric current of possibilities. We are a hope-driven community tightly laced together with ambition, passion, and support.

So, it is my honor to introduce you to a snippet of our Nashville, the real Nashville.

Keep in mind, we love to eat well, drink often, and dance much—and we are happy you’ve joined the party.

Dine: Burger Up: 2901 12th Avenue South / burger-up.com Miranda Whitcomb Pontes, owner of Nashville’s newest treasure, Burger Up, aimed to create a community-driven restaurant founded on gourmet burgers crafted with local and organic ingredients. Industrial architecture and rustic barn-wood tables (handmade by Pontes’s husband) foster an intimate, communal dining atmosphere. Burger Up achieves the impossible—it is at once the ideal spot to impress a first date, to meet for a drink, to celebrate a special occasion, or to catch up with close friends. Truly anything on the menu is to die for; however, for an authentic Burger Up experience, order the “Woodstock” with truffle fries and honey Dijon aioli.

The Frothy Monkey Coffeehouse: 2509 12th Avenue South / frothymonkeynashville.com The Frothy Monkey, a charming cottage with a cozy atmosphere in the 12South neighborhood, serves up the best coffee in town. A perfect place to begin a day of Nashville adventures, meet a friend, or accomplish a bit of work. The buzzing energy of the Frothy Monkey is a “must.”

City House: 1222 4th Avenue North / cityhousenashville.com Modern Italian with a twist of Southern flair, City House shines with its expertly crafted seasonal menu. A must for the true foodie, the restaurant caters to an adventurous palate while also serving customized cocktails that suit your meal and strike your fancy.

Drink: Arrington Vineyards: 6211 Patton Road, Arrington, TN / arringtonvineyards.com Founded by Kix Brooks (of the legendary Brooks & Dunn country music duo), Arrington Vineyards sprawls across beautiful Tennessee hills and boasts the most spectacular

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wines. In the warm months, Arrington is in its prime.

Bring a quilt and your favorite cheese complement, purchase one of winemaker Kip Summers’s masterpiece bottles, find a grassy spot to lounge, and enjoy being serenaded by Music in the Vines, a jazz event that pairs perfectly with that Chardonnay. Don’t miss the chance to sway on the swings hanging from trees throughout the property.

The Patterson House: 1711 Division Street / thepattersonnashville.com A Gatsby-inspired speakeasy where master cocktail artisans create drinks of art, the Patterson House sits

Step into the 5 Spot on Mondays and you’ll feel as if you’ve slipped straight into a scene from Dirty Dancing. Newly coined as “Motown Monday,” the best of the classics spin at the 5 Spot in East Nashville for a fun night of swing dancing.

Beginners, arrive early for lessons from 8:15 until 9:30 p.m., and then shimmy and shake the night away to doo-wop, ’50s, soul, and Motown classics. Nobody puts Baby in a corner, so lace up your favorite pair of dancing shoes and twist the night away.

go & Do: Nashville Flea Market: 625 Smith Avenue / nashvilleexpocenter.com The Nashville Flea Market, truly a hidden gem, is housed at the fairgrounds on the third weekend of every month. Go on a “picking” adventure: wade through the off-brand colognes and piles of “Tipsy in Tennessee” shot glasses to the back shed where you’ll strike gold. Vendors from across the South gather to sell the very best finds and expertly crafted pieces. Don’t leave without stopping by to see Pat Steele and his black school bus bursting with breathtaking reclaimed barnwood crafted furniture and decor.

Full Moon Pickin’ Party: 2500 Old Hickory Boulevard / friendsofwarnerparks.com/pickingparty (Also known as “The Night Nashville Dipped Me on the Dance Floor.”) Every full moon from May to October, the best bluegrass pickers in Middle Tennessee gather at the Equestrian Barn on the expansive Percy Warner Park for a night of spontaneous picking. Under the light of the full moon, enjoy banjos, mandolins, and even the occasional upright bass, all accompanied by food from Whitt’s Barbecue and complimentary drinks. Watch Nashville shine at a Pickin’ Party—an absolute must for all ages.

discreetly and unmarked in Midtown. Under low-lit chandeliers and among floor-to-ceiling bookcases, treat yourself to an expertly designed Bacon Old-Fashioned— a cocktail mixed with bacon-infused bourbon—and their sinful cinnamon-sugar doughnuts. The Patterson House will make you swoon.

Dance: Robert’s Western World 416 Broadway / robertswesternworld.com Find yourself a fella and prepare to two-step till dawn. A nightly live band plus a grill serving up the best late-night fried bologna sandwich until 3:00 a.m. make this gem a favorite local stop among the neon lights of Broadway.

Nicknamed “Hillbilly Heaven,” Robert’s is every Johnny Cash– and PBR-lovin’ fan’s paradise.

Keep on Movin’! Mondays at The 5 Spot: 1006 Forrest Avenue / the5spotlive.com 60

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Supper and Song at Imogene + Willie: 2601 12th Avenue South / imogeneandwillie.com Imogene + Willie, famous for making artisanal jeans, throws a swinging backyard party on Thursdays during the spring and summer months. Wind through the beautiful workshop and retail space to the gravel patio out back where you’ll find Nashville’s hippest crew soaking in the melodies of a local singer-songwriter, generally a friend of owners Matt and Carrie, and the Mas Tacos food-vending truck handing out sweet potatoes, quinoa tacos, and Mexican Coke. Imogene + Willie attracts quite the trendsetting crowd, including Nicole Kidman and Jack White, so, as always in Nashville, act like a local.

lisTen: Forming and transforming the landscape of melody, the musical artists in Nashville—the ones that we are most proud of, the ones we boast about, and the ones we are lucky to have called our town home—are the city’s jewels. Any night of the week, songwriters occupy stages across the city, and you shouldn’t leave this town without a good dose of live music. After all, you are in Music City—come hear our pride and joy!

Station Inn 402 12th Avenue South / stationinn.com Tucked into the Gulch, Nashville’s newest and chicest neighborhood, rests the most unassuming, white cinderblock building. Swing open the door on any given

night and the low ceiling, mismatched chairs, and lowlevel stage humbly host the city’s most prestigious bluegrass players. Monday nights you can always catch Vince Gill picking with his buddies; however, the impromptu Sunday night Bluegrass Jam remains one of my favorite nights in Nashville. Feeling bold? Bring your favorite bluegrass instrument and join in. As for me, I’ll be having a Shiner and tapping my toes on the front row.

The Bluebird Cafe 4104 Hillsboro Pike / bluebirdcafe.com A Nashville tradition, this famed hole-in-the-wall venue hosts songwriters’ rounds on a nightly basis. With a full dinner and drink menu, make a night of it and hear some of the town’s best writers “in the round” at this quaint songbird seat.

Ryman Auditorium 116 5th Avenue North / ryman.com A beautiful historic church turned music venue with acoustics and charm to match, the Ryman is the most prestigious and legendary music hall in town. From President Teddy Roosevelt to Mumford & Sons, the list of greats that have graced the hallowed Ryman stage is long. A guided tour plus balcony seats to a show would be a perfect Nashville experience.

A Writing Conference to Ruin the Rest: ______________________________________

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think it was around the first week of June when The Oxford American had me reverting to the love-stricken, nervous, unsure-ofherself 17-year-old girl of my past.

Did they receive my application? Should I e-mail to find out? No, that would look clingy—don’t want to disqualify myself by looking like a stalker. Did my writing samples get put into the yes pile? Do I suck as a writer? Why haven’t I heard back from them? The Summit is in a month. I’d hardly have time to book a flight at this point. Is my e-mail account full again? Maybe I should check it once more. Why weren’t they e-mailing me back?

And then, blissfully, they did. And I was accepted.

And I ran around my house doing a dreadful youhave-no-rhythm dance that looked slightly like Elaine’s infamous gyration on Seinfeld, without the arm gestures. My husband was unfazed. “Of course you got in,” he said. An ever-supportive hug was followed by: “So what do you want to do for dinner?”

He got a look, but at least the terrible dancing stopped.

I was excited for so many reasons. I was about to spend five days being taught by one of my favorite authors, Tom Franklin. His newest book, Crooked Letter, Crooked Letter, is fantastic, but it was one of his earlier books, Hell at the Breech, that made a big impression. I’m not great with names. I tend to stare into space when asked about my favorite books, because there are so many, and who my favorite writers VIEZINE.COM MARCH /APRIL 2012

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are, because I pay more attention to the actual story than to the person who created it. But I remembered Hell at the Breech, and chances are you will too if you read it.

I’d also be in the same room with William Whitworth (former editor-in-chief of The Atlantic Monthly), Pico Iyer (an incredible travel writer), and David Remnick (editor of The New Yorker and a Pulitzer winner). That alone was enough to make me swallow my tongue.

Throw in the chance to meet the editor and staff of a beloved magazine that has inspired and informed me for years and I’m sure you understand my need to boogie in my living room. Just as every honest writer has had an Oprah’s Book Club dream, every Southern writer has an Oxford American (OA) byline dream.

only one there with great fashion sense. On the way to find my room I passed an entire group of young, hipster-ish writers. They all seemed so energetic and stylish. Attractive men in fedoras with plaid shirts rolled at the sleeves and young women in button-front A-line dresses paired with loafers and vintage jewelry. I felt a little old, so I did what any awkward old-feeling person does at a conference and headed straight for the welcome reception at the bar.

Thankfully, an OA editorial intern, Galen Bernard, saw me staring at the back of someone’s head and said hello. That hello led to other hellos and before I knew it I had forgotten about my nervous jitters and was chatting it up with incredibly interesting people who all seemed to curse like sailors. I teetered back to my room that night feeling as if I’d fallen into my very own briar patch.

The next morning, the esteemed editor of The Atlantic Monthly, William Whitworth, was speaking and I had my first class with Tom Franklin and crew. Because I’m not actually a stalker, I had no idea Tom Franklin teaches for a living (when not writing bestsellers). This helped create a great class experience. He began the class by saying how much he loathed writing

____________________________________________________________________________________________

Something pivotal happened to me that week when we talked about the stories as if nothing were more important. because nothing was. Only the words mattered. ____________________________________________________________________________________________ I arrived at the Winthrop Rockefeller Institute fresh from a two-day, storm-filled drive. It’s in the middle of nowhere. A beautiful nowhere called Petit Jean Mountain. There are expansive views across valleys, rolling hills, pastures, and the Arkansas River; I even caught the scent of muscadines ripening on the vine as I stepped out of my truck.

workshops that felt the need to cut others down—and he said he had no intention of making anyone cry (good to know!). He then proceeded to pass out our submitted short stories and we jumped into the week with daily critiques. I was grateful to see mine fell on the last day. I’d never been through a process like this before and had no idea what to expect. This was real now.

People were going to read my fiction. People who didn’t feel obligated to be nice or spare my feelings.

I glanced at my dirty Converse shoes, applied lipstick, sucked in my stomach, and made my way across the boiling hot parking lot toward the entrance to the Institute. (Picture two old farm silos joined by a glass partition, surrounded by manicured gardens.)

Those people were impressive too (and, I would later discover, drank like fish and were fun as hell). They all seemed to possess MFAs and to have had their fiction published. And there were multiple awards. And one had a book awaiting publication. No pressure. I eyed my stapled story in the stack and felt exposed, as if all my dirty little bits were on display.

I’m met halfway there by Marc Smirnoff ’s assistant, the impossibly kind Meghan Tear Plummer, who, at that moment, was wearing a wicked cool belt with a large buckle that you’d expect a cattle rancher, not a petite brunette, to wear. Turned out she wasn’t the 66

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After the class had adjourned, I explored the grounds and began reading and critiquing my classmates’ work beside a bubbling creek. I don’t think I read a single story that week that didn’t make me raise my eyebrows at least once. The discussions that followed the next day were exhilarating. We spent two hours talking about characters as if they were flesh and blood. As if their small actions rocked the world with consequence. There were stories about interracial dating,

A musician from the popular Little Rock–based band True Soul Revue. Its member Lee Anthony founded the first black-owned record shop in Arkansas and True Soul Records, which established Little Rock as a major recording spot in the South.

Photo by: Carol Ann Fitzgerald

____________________________________________________________________________________________ cancer, loss, troubled families, and tangled relationships. They were just as messy and beautiful as real life is.

Something pivotal happened to me that week when we talked about the stories as if nothing were more important. Because nothing was. Only the words mattered.

That first day of class, I wondered if a week critiquing others would teach me anything. Tom scheduled no lectures, and I don’t think we talked about craft even once. But by the end of the week I was floored at how much I had learned about pacing, building tension, and moving a character through a scene.

One of the unexpected delights of the Summit was the food. Who goes to a conference expecting good food? Show of hands? Not me. I had warm eggs, dry rotisserie chicken, and wilted salad in mind. Instead, Chef Robert Hall prepared delicious barbecue, slow-roasted pork tenderloin, fried green tomatoes, fresh salads and sandwiches for lunch, and a blackberry cobbler that I missed out on somehow. It seems The Oxford American took a whole approach with the Summit—and used it as an excuse to showcase the finest Southern foods with the finest Southern music and writers. Smirnoff said he’d had moments of “sublime depth” at conferences over the years and wanted to help other writers experience the same.

“Because I’m not so special, I often think that what I like, others will like,” the esteemed editor said. “I tend to be critical-minded, but I want to go further in my life and do something with analysis, not just analyze. So here was a good sample case: what to do with all this analysis of literary conferences? Try one of our own!

Take our ideas of what constitutes a great and memorable experience, and what doesn’t, and help them to come alive!”

And they didn’t disappoint on any level. The bands Don’t Stop Please, Dog of the South Radio Players, Tyrannosaurus Chicken, and True Soul Revue had even the most awkward scribes on their feet.

And did I mention the softball, the daily guided hikes, the archeology excursions, and the morning PiYo sessions? This wasn’t a conference. This was summer camp for writers.

In the Interviews on the Mountain series, Whitworth, Iyer, and Remnick were each riveting in their own ways. These were free and open to the public, and it was nice to see many locals attend the event.

I had no idea there was such a thriving literary scene in the hills of Arkansas.

William Whitworth came across as a tad shy but incredibly knowledgeable during his interview with Smirnoff. He shared a marked-up copy of a story that eventually made it into The Atlantic Monthly. It was great to watch the looks of surprise and relief on people’s faces as the story wound its way around the room. Turns out even the finest writers need a great editor.

Travel writer Pico Iyer was an absolute delight.

The man radiated energy. A prolific writer, he said each year he goes into a sort of news exclusion for about three months, I believe. No e-mail, no news, no television. When he reenters the world of business, he said, usually not that much has happened. I thought about how much time I waste watching the news or reading news stories or posting on Facebook and then eyed his stack of VIEZINE.COM MARCH /APRIL 2012

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books. He has written nine books (seven nonfiction and two fiction), and Video Night in Kathmandu is a must read.

The conference culminated with an interview with Pulitzer Prize winner David Remnick. Turns out he is self-deprecating and hilarious. He also does a mean Bill Clinton impression. His insight on editing and the craziness of the publishing world was great. I left the room, inspired, with a signed copy of The Bridge in hand. I think, more than all of the speakers that week, he demystified the process for me the most. I edit for a living. The “magic” of getting something to publication is not something that I’m overly interested in. What fascinates me are the people. These talented folk who run a weekly publication and have a family and who manage to fly out to a conference for a day and just nail it. Remnick had the entire room laughing and nodding and scribbling notes. I think the secret to that success is his absolute passion for the stories. That was what I garnered from Whitworth, Iyer, and Remnick.

In their own ways, they are all incredibly dedicated to what they do. These are people who live their

The Tom Franklin crew gathered for a farewell photo on the last day of critiques.

(Standing L–R) Mary Pauer, Author and instructor Tom Franklin, Starr Crow, David Meischen, Terri Shrum Stoor, Emily Choate, Anene Tressler-Hauschultz.

(Seated L–R) J. Ed Marston, Susan Vallée and Tad Bartlett.

Photo provided by: Susan Vallée

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passion. That’s an easy sentence to type, but not an easy lesson to follow. Living your passion. Think about that.

for years. Real friendships were made that week and stories were given breath.

The last day of the conference was also when my story was up for critique. I had, unlike everyone else in my class, submitted the beginning of my book (a sweet little story about what happens when local lore, an ancient evil, and a serial killer eventually meet up in the woods). I didn’t know that it was more appropriate to submit a short story—but my classmates handled it wonderfully and we ended up workshopping my concept and characters for two hours, which was better than the best cake in the world. The feedback I got was great and I even creeped out a few people, which is a good thing. It was the validation to continue that I so desperately needed.

Thank you, Marc Smirnoff, Oxford American staff, and übertalented faculty who made yourselves so available to everyone that week. It was an experience that changed me for the better.

I returned to my room and wrote furiously—killing off a character in the process.

We toasted her demise that night over a special dinner prepared by Chef Lee Richardson, chef of Little Rock’s Capital Hotel. As I stuffed myself with Arkansas rice grits (who knew?) and brown sugar pie ... Oh, the brown sugar pie ... Good Lord, was that not ridiculously delicious? I looked around the room and smiled.

Some of the brightest literary stars—Kevin Brockmeier, Cristina Henriquez, Scott Huler, Jay Jennings, Heidi Julavits, Wells Tower, and Tom Franklin—and a room full of ambitious writers were stuffing their faces with me. And we were all bound by this dedication to the story and the love of the craft.

And as I reflect on that time, the words of Smirnoff stick with me. Smirnoff said his ideal attendee to the Summit is a writer who “begins the game with an iota of natural talent (may you be so blessed) and is also an attentive and creative listener who is keen on improving one’s approach to writing. Be self-aware of both what you do well and poorly. Didn’t somebody say the truth shall set you free?”

Indeed. Somebody did.

As we bid farewell the next morning, we exchanged cards, friended each other on Facebook with smart phones, and hugged as though we’d known each other

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EARTHING Are you grounded?

By ClArk Peters

A

new theory about health emerged recently that I believe may be of significance for those interested in health and longevity. There is a major caveat here: the clinical trials sufficient to satisfy the authorities have not been done and won’t be for some time. Typically, these trials involve large sample populations split into two groups (one receives treatment; the other, the control group, gets “sham” treatment), take years to complete, and run up costs in the millions. The studies are also run “double-blind”: that is the participants don’t know what group they are in (obvious), nor do the measuring technicians.

Since these trials have not been done, the reader should proceed with the knowledge that what follows is still in the theoretical stage. That said, thousands of anecdotal inputs suggest this theory may indeed be viable. As well, the theory and the science seem to be correct and intuitively to make sense. Here’s the theory.

The earth’s surface is enveloped with negatively charged electrons. This is a scientific fact and well known. Among other things, this is what causes lightning, as positively charged molecules in storm clouds interact with the negative electrons on the surface. You may recall from high school science class that negative and positive charges are attracted and neutralize each other when they meet. Lightning rods on your house are “grounded” and thus direct the lightning strike to the ground instead of frying your electrical and electronic items, or worse. In fact, your electrical outlets (plugs) are now installed “three-pronged” for the same reason—that third prong connects that outlet to the ground.

So What?

Well, the human body, which is roughly 70 percent water, is an electrical system of sorts as well. Water enhances conductivity of electricity, and those unfortunate few who get struck by lightning serve as a conductor for the energy to reach the ground. In this human electrical system, your brain constantly sends out electrical signals to each of your cells, instructing them to perform tasks. As you would imagine, it is desirable to have a “neutral” body for this system to work properly.

And here’s where the health implications come in. You have undoubtedly heard of “free radicals.” These nasty critters are the cause of many of our current health problems, even though they are a natural by-product of our cells’ interaction with its fuel (glucose) and oxygen. The key here is that free radical molecules are positively charged and need a negative charge to become neutralized (and thereby rendered harmless) in your body. If not neutralized, they seek a negative charge from other cells, thus leading to those cells being compromised and in turn leading to inflammation—the major cause of all the degenerative diseases (cancer, heart disease, stroke, Alzheimer’s, etc.).

Again, so …?

Our ancestors of the past hundred thousand years or so were hunter-gatherers who were constantly moving barefooted over the earth. Similarly, they slept and sat directly on the earth. In short, they were in constant contact with the

ground. Of course, we are much more “civilized” now.

This civilization has caused us to raise our beds off the ground and, indeed, build structures (houses and apartments/condominiums) that are well off the ground. As important, we are all “tenderfeet” now because shoes and footwear protect our feet from the rough surface of the planet. Almost all the footwear available today has soles made of materials such as rubber, plastic, and other nonconductive substances used to insulate wire and cable. In short, we have effectively disconnected from the earth and therefore from the flow of negatively charged electrons on the surface. The theory strongly suggests that we reestablish this connection to assist our bodies in neutralizing the positively charged free radical molecules that threaten our health.

The good news is that this “reconnection” is fairly easy and inexpensive to establish. Being in contact with the earth allows a natural flow of the surface electrons into the body’s electric system. So, the simplest way to reconnect is to take off your shoes and walk or sit with your feet in direct contact with the earth. Incidentally, you will, if you do this daily, be surprised at how quickly the soles of your feet will “toughen up,” making this activity more comfortable. Since water enhances conductivity, a morning walk while the dew is still on the ground is an excellent start to the day. Because the minerals in salt water enhance conductivity even more, the best grounding walk is ankle deep along our shorelines—a “trifecta,” if you will, of exercise (walking), Vitamin D (from sunlight), and the ideal reconnection with the healing energies from the planet’s surface.

Even if you build a barefoot walk or two into your daily routine, the majority of your day will still be spent, thanks to our modern lifestyle, disconnected. Clearly, there is no downside to grounding—our ancestors did it 24/7.

Indeed, if the theory is correct, more is better. So, as you might expect, the proponents of this practice have developed ways to stay connected for more hours of the day.

Let me pause here and indicate that a much more thorough discussion of earthing is possible by connecting with a couple of websites, www.earthing.com, www.earthinginstitute.net, or by reading the book Earthing: The Most Important Health Discovery Ever? by Clinton Ober, Stephen Sinatra, M.D., and Martin Zucker. On the websites, you will also find products to increase conductivity

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Being in contact with the earth allows a natural flow of the surface electrons into the body’s electric system. throughout the day and night. I will mention a few I have purchased, but I want to make it clear that I have no association with these organizations other than as a consumer.

• Footwear: The authors envision a future where all footwear will be conductive; currently, though, the only conductive footwear available is thongs/flip-flops with a conductive plug in the middle of the sole.

• Pads/Sheets: Sheets or pads with conductive materials woven into the cotton or silk fabric are attached to a wire with a male end that plugs into the third port (ground) of a three-pronged outlet. The user becomes grounded while sleeping or sitting, thus dramatically increasing the amount of grounded time.

• Patches: Connected the same way as the sheets or pads, these small patches adhere to the skin and are thought to direct a steady stream of healing negative electrons to such problem areas as a sore lower back, an arthritic joint, a twisted ankle, etc.

• Grounding plugs: Though less convenient than the plugs in the house, a rod is simply shoved into the earth and a wire fed into the house and connected to the products mentioned above. This would be used for houses that are ungrounded; the wire can come through a window, door sill, or cable port into the house. They also can be used outside for patches, camping, etc.

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in daily life.” They posit that the earth’s primordial natural energy may provide the ultimate anti-inflammatory and anti-aging medicine. School is still out, as mentioned earlier, on these claims, but literally thousands of reports from people who have become “grounded” speak to improvement in their various maladies.

These improvements range from a lessening of distress (pain, discomfort, lack of range of motion, illness, etc.) to complete cures! Among the conditions positively impacted (and this is the short list) are the following: • Insomnia • Chronic pain • Healing of wounds • Stress • Anxiety • Inflammation • Blood pressure • Hormonal imbalances • Jet lag • Effects from EMFs (electromagnetic fields—TVs, cell phones, computers, high-tension wires, etc.)

The authors are in no way discounting other factors in illnesses—that is, earthing is not being proposed as a magic bullet to cure everything. They recognize the other major insults to the body—poor nutrition, genetics, pollution, obesity, lack of exercise, etc. Rather, they maintain that disconnectedness from the earth should be added to the list, especially if you consider: —the anti-inflammatory potential of earthing, —the medico-scientific consensus that inflammation is the root cause of most ailments ranging up to the lethal diseases,

There are other products, but my experience is limited to this list.

—and the fact that earthing is so easy to implement.

The claims for earthing, admittedly still anecdotal, are impressive. The authors believe that “earthing restores and maintains the human body’s natural electric state, which in turn promotes optimal health and functionality

Well, you can make up your own mind on this admittedly new and somewhat “out there” theory. I have tried the products and barefoot life and can report that the improvements were not immediate, but they were definitely noticeable. Most everyone who “grounds” mentions improved sleep. You probably surmised from

MARCH /APRIL 2012 VIEZINE.COM

my last article, “To Sleep … Perchance to Dream” (Fall 2011), that I wrestle with occasional sleeplessness. After a few nights of sleeping grounded, I can report some very restful nights—I have just started, so I don’t know that this will continue, but I am very encouraged. Also, I have a severe (diagnosed) case of arthritis in my right shoulder. Again, the difference was not immediately obvious, but after several sessions with the patches, I can report a significant lessening of discomfort—certainly not a complete cessation of pain (this condition has been around for years, after all), but definitely much more range of motion with less discomfort.

I think this is worth exploring. May the ground be with you!

introducing SouthWalton.com The Health Nut Clark Peters has spent much of his time since his retirement in 1997 researching health and longevity.

His purpose in writing these columns is to share his findings with readers in plain English and assist them in making accurate and informed lifestyle choices. The columns are based on the premise that we all want to live a long, vigorous life and are striving to make healthy choices.

While Mr. Peters believes these recommendations will result in better health and longevity for almost everyone, the reader is advised to consult with his or her physician before making any major lifestyle changes.

You may e-mail Mr. Peters at: hlthnut@earthlink.net.

TM

the ultimate guide to South Walton, Florida

part of the

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By Liesel Schmidt

With the barrage of cooking shows on television in the last five or six years, the considerable interest generated has resulted in food as its own culture—even in the realm of the everyday home cook. Using blogs and other social marketing venues, self-proclaimed foodies are wielding enough power to make restaurants rise or fall faster than a soufflé.

As the foodie culture explodes, so too do the appreciation for cooking as an art and the regard for dining as an event. “People are more appreciative of the culinary nuances,” says Chef Innocent Utomi, executive chef at Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse and Wine Bar at Grand Boulevard in Miramar Beach, Florida.

In this economy, the task of keeping a restaurant current and successful can often resemble a battle—a battle that requires passion, something that Chef Innocent seems to possess in abundance. As a child in Nigeria, he watched his mother’s passion for food and cooking, and his own natural ability became a gift that would eventually carry him across oceans.

crept into his repertoire and, in 1995, Chef Innocent achieved a major professional benchmark when he snapped on a chef ’s coat for Capital Grille. In his eleven years with Capital Grille restaurants, Chef Innocent was instrumental in the company’s expansion, training chefs to create the foods that contributed to the chain’s growth to more than forty restaurants.

A solid background as a first-class, innovative chef positioned Utomi perfectly for the right moment. When an opportunity at Fleming’s presented itself, he realized he had found his new home. Now living in South Walton with his Brazilian wife and their three young children, Chef Innocent has made his mark, designing exquisite plates for the diners who come to the Grand Boulevard location he oversees. “If you’re a guest who likes to travel a lot, I like to create different dishes from different countries to remind you of where you have been—the kinds of food you have tried before,” says Utomi. The chef ’s attention to detail and ability to capture the palate of his customers is evident by the plates he presents.

Leaving the familiarity of home, Chef Innocent made his way to London where, while earning a degree in business, he fostered his love of cooking.

Chef Innocent Utomi As he fine-tuned his mastery of French cooking under the apprenticeship of a renowned chef, Utomi began to realize his own potential for chefdom. Again, his passion was placed on the back burner for two more years as he traded London fog for the shores of Rhode Island and worked his way through an accounting degree. But numbers did not capture his fancy like food did, and after learning Italian cooking at an upscale restaurant, Chef Innocent’s destiny in cuisine seemed sealed.

“That is innovation,” says Chef Innocent of the Fleming’s menu. “As chefs, we are given a lot more freedom for creativity, and you see that more than before,” he continues, referring to recent changes that have come about in the restaurant’s offerings. And those offerings bear no resemblance to the run-of-the-mill plates seen at so many chain restaurants liberally peppering the map. Chef Innocent designs his menu mindfully, fully appreciating his environment. “When cooking, I change the kinds of dishes I’m creating to cater to the season,” says the chef. “Summer would have to be my favorite season because there are a lot of vegetables and fruits.”

Relocating to Florida, Chef Innocent refined his skills over the next few years in the restaurants of Miami. American, Caribbean, Cuban, and fusion influences

Changes in seasonal, locally sourced ingredients aren’t the only change that Chef Innocent has noticed during his time on the Emerald Coast. “The people here are very,

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“If you’re a guest who lIkes to travel a lot, I lIke to create dIfferent dIshes from dIfferent countrIes to remInd you of where you have been.”

very nice. They’re more laid back,” the chef notes. “I’ve been in the big cities, in Miami, where everything has to go fast, and now I’m more used to this easy-going style. It’s very cool, and I like it. It’s mellow.”

That mellowness has, in no way, affected his desire for excellence. Even on his days off, Chef Innocent can be found at the stove of his own kitchen, preparing meals for his family. “My wife is very selective in what she eats, but she likes me to make sushi and little salads for her. She challenges me a lot. As a result, I have mastered the sushi dishes.”

Most recently, Fleming’s has been focusing on attracting a wider following, though they are hardly abandoning their lofty standards. “I want to make sure my guys are perfect with a dish before I put it full blown on the menu,” insists the chef. “We’re tailoring smaller and lighter plates. Many are gluten free—we are sensitive to those with food allergies so that we have something on the menu for them to choose from. We are doing a lot of things to be more aware of the modern diner.”

As dishes are prepared and presented, the lifelong dreams of chefs and restaurateurs are made and shattered—precious and fragile as handcrafted sugar showpieces. “One thing that I have learned in my experience, and I have been doing this for almost twenty-five years, is that you just have to be patient. Be patient and you’ll see it. Everything will come together.

A little off in temperature and you can mess everything up.” It is an analogy that could well be made of life as a whole, a lesson that can be applied even outside the confines of a kitchen. “You never know what the future holds,” intones Chef Innocent. One look at his résumé, at the battle scars earned from cooking on the line, at the miles traveled over the course of his own life, and those words are given that much more weight.

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GIVING & RECEIVING

By Lisa M . BurweLL

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t the start of each new year, Hollywood acknowledges the best of the best with a series of award ceremonies. The Golden Globes is the first stop on the lineup of red-carpet events, followed by the SAG Awards and then the Oscars. The Help, The Descendants, The Iron Lady, The Artist, Moneyball, and My Week with Marilyn are just a few of the nominated titles we’ve been hearing about in the media. Hollywood hype and celebrity star power are causing moviegoers to descend upon theaters to check out movies they might not normally be inclined to see. Our brand-driven culture has led many to realize the power of celebrity endorsements over the past few decades. Nike was one of the first trailblazers into this genre of celebrity brand marketing; as a result, its brand was catapulted into superstardom.

So, it’s no real surprise that VIE decided to be one of the sponsors at the exclusive GBK 2012 Golden Globes Celebrity Gift Lounge held at L’Ermitage Beverly Hills this past January prior to the 69th Annual Golden Globe Awards. Other sponsors who presented their brands to Hollywood’s elite included

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the Sandra Brooks Collection (www.sandrabrookscollection.com); Crizal SunShield™, whose no-glare lenses were found in designer sunglasses from Fendi, Prada, and Burberry; Air Pacific, who gave all of the nominees and presenters round-trip tickets for two to Fiji and accommodations for the celebs at exclusive five-star island resorts in Fiji, including Yasawa Island Resort and Spa, Vomo Island Resort, and Tadrai Island Resort; Hayari Parfums, who debuted their oriental floral fragrance for women, Only for Her; and many more. During the two days leading up to the Golden Globes, which was held at the Hilton on Sunday, January 15, a cavalcade of celebrities stopped by the rooftop at L’Ermitage to pick up their swag. A plethora of gift lounges are scattered in hotels throughout Beverly Hills prior to the Golden Globes, but many attendees, sponsors, and celebrities alike told us that GBK’s was the best of the best and we were glad to be a part it.

This genre of marketing is basically all about brand alliances, product placement, and celebrity endorsements— aligning with the star power of actors and actresses, playwrights, directors, and their publicists. The event organizer, GBK (www.gbkproductions.com), has been

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Scene: Take One 01: Tinsel Korey of the Twilight movie series 02: Morena Baccarin of Homeland (Golden Globe winner for Best TV Series – Drama), V and Heartland 03: RJ Mitte of Breaking Bad

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04: Leslie David Baker of The Office 05: The beautiful model Anastasia Makarenko 06: Jennifer Love Hewitt of Ghost Whisperer 07: Erica Durance of Smallville 08: Tony Denison of The Closer

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planning events such as this for years and has seen firsthand how start-ups have gone from obscurity to attaining national status, topof-mind awareness, and, of course, increased revenue. Take RevitaLash, for example, a brand that has been partnering with GBK for the past few years. “They are now almost a household name and continue to grow their revenue,” cooed GBK owner Gavin Keilly.

GBK’s sponsors included a wide range of creative, luxurious, and select companies who shared their products and accomplishments with industry tastemakers and celebrities, all while giving back to greater causes, such as poverty and education. “As much as we give our sponsors the chance to present their products to celebrities in an effort to launch their business with star-power endorsement, we also believe in giving back.” GBK alone donated 20 percent of the event’s proceeds to the Clinton Global Initiative and Fenc Fiji, which helps to educate the underprivileged children in Fiji, and Stop Bullying Now.

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As I watched the intense marketing network unfold on the beautiful rooftop of the boutique hotel in swanky Beverly Hills, a Biblical verse from my childhood struck me at the core—“It is more blessed to give than to receive.” Everyone was giving and receiving in some way: the celebrities were accepting gifts and in turn giving their brand of star power to endorse those products; the sponsors were giving their products and taking the star power in hopes of launching those very products. But, what surprised me the most was how genuine everyone was. The celebrities were gracious and humble, and at times seemed a little bashful to have all of these gifts bestowed on them. It was evident that this was part of what their industry suggests to keep up public relations. But the genuine smiles and attention each of them gave as over twentyfive sponsors shared their elevator pitch was impressive. Were they acting? They couldn’t all have been that good, so I’ve concluded they were just very nice people.

A camaraderie between many of the sponsors was evident: we were all there for a common

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purpose, telling our stories about our products to people of influence. Take Centerville Pie Company of Cape Cod, Massachusetts (centervillepies.com), which, by the way, has the best chicken pot pie that I’ve ever tasted. “We put love in our pies and that is why they taste so good,” beamed co-owner Laurie Bowen. She and her good friend Kristin Broadley opened the company in 2009 and just recently had a big growth spurt after being featured in the December issue of O, The Oprah Magazine. Their company partnered with Cape Abilities, a nonprofit organization that proudly supports and employs people with disabilities. Many of the other sponsors we met have similar stories about giving back to their communities. In the tough economic climate we’ve endured these past several years, if a new business launches and makes a go of it, or an existing company is able to stay in business, you can bet someone is doing something good for someone else.

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Scene: Take Two 09: GBK president Gavin Keilly with Jennifer Love Hewitt 10: Christopher McDonald of Harry’s Law 11: Jewelry designer Sandra Brooks with Thomas Gibson of Criminal Minds and Dharma and Greg 12: GBK president Gavin Keilly with Eric Stonestreet of Modern Family 13: Sandra Brooks Collection jewelry display at GBK’s 2012 Golden Globes Celebrity Gift Lounge 14: The beautiful handiwork of precious stone and metal by Sandra Brooks 15: VIE proudly represents Northwest Florida’s COLA 2 COLA® 16: The exclusive VIE by BareSkin athletic towel as part of the publication’s display.

17: The luxurious L’Ermitage Beverly Hills, site of the GBK Celebrity Gift Lounge 18: Christopher Heyerdahl of The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn 19: The celebrity welcome wall at GBK’s Celebrity Gift Lounge

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STARSTRuCK TiDBiTS We were a little starstruck to meet Elizabeth McGovern, one of the lead stars of PBS’s exceptionally produced Downton Abbey (on Sunday evenings), which won a Golden Globe for Best Mini-Series. Elizabeth is married to Simon Curtis, the director of My Week with Marilyn, which was recently nominated for an Oscar in addition to a Golden Globe— and he was delightful.

Callie Thorne, formerly of Rescue Me and now in the lead role of Necessary Roughness, was beautiful, personable, and really sweet!

We loved her!

Thomas Gibson, from Criminal Minds and Dharma and Greg, was a true gentleman— so kind—and great looking!

Meeting some of the cast members from Glee, Revenge and Modern Family was a highlight—they were super friendly and very nice!

We all loved meeting Jennifer Love Hewitt— a beautiful person inside and out!

PEOPLE + PLACES GBK’s Exclusive 2012 Golden Globes Celebrity Gift Lounge VIE traveled to Los Angeles in January as an official sponsor of GBK’s exclusive 2012 Golden Globes Celebrity Gift Lounge, which was held on the rooftop of the beautiful L’Ermitage Beverly Hills in preparation

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for the 69th Annual Golden Globe Awards. On Friday,

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January 13 and Saturday, January 14, handpicked luxury sponsors mixed and mingled with Hollywood’s finest—a who’s who of celebrities, publicists, agents, directors, and writers. The event’s picturesque setting was evocative of the glamour that Hollywood is known for.

Our showcase featured complimentary copies of the VIE – Winter 2011 issue, fashionable “me + vie—read responsibly” T-shirts, an exclusive VIE athletic towel by BareSkin, and a widescreen that looped videos of behind-the-scenes VIE photo

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shoots and commercials. In addition, VIE was honored to present actress Jennifer Love Hewitt with complimentary gift certificates for a stay at Alys Beach and personal care from The Aesthetic Clinique, both located on Scenic Highway 30A. VIE was thrilled and honored for the opportunity to showcase our spectacular Northwest Florida— COLA 2 COLA®—at such a prestigious event!

Photography by Lorie Moulton/GBK Production

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Eric Stonestreet

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Mayim Bialik and Melissa Rauch

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The VIE team and Jennifer Love Hewitt

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Angus T. Jones

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Jason Olive

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Anthony Anderson and VIE’s editor-in-chief, Gerald Burwell

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GBK’s Exclusive 2012 Golden Globes Celebrity Gift Lounge (cont’d)

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Reshma Shetty

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Pat O’Brien and VIE’s sales executive, Jim Ryan

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Nick Wechsler, Connor Paolo, and Gabriel Mann

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Jason Isaacs

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Jennifer Love Hewitt

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Iqbal Theba

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Callie Thorne and VIE’s publisher, Lisa Burwell

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The VIE team and Rico Rodriguez

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Eden Sher

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PEOPLE + PLACES

1 Photo by Romona Robbins

Judith March Local fashion designer Stephanie Nichols continues to rise through the fashion ranks with her line, Judith March! The VIE team ran into the Judith March girls at Los Angeles International Airport in January during our venture to L.A. for the 2012 Golden Globes, and we loved seeing our Northwest Florida friends while

2 Photo by Dawn Anderson Photography

so far away from home. Since picking up fabrics and inspirations for the new fall line in Los Angeles, the design house has been very busy. In February, the Judith March team ventured to the Atlanta Apparel Market where they presented the newest collection in a fashion show for buyers. Anna Garrott opened the show singing Etta James’s “Something’s Got a Hold on Me,” and Nichols closed the show by walking the runway with her precious son, Fox. Judith March owner and designer, Stephanie Nichols.

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Nichols and her son, Fox, walk the runway.

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Nichols picks out fabrics for new designs.

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Nichols and Fox closing the Judith March fashion

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show in Atlanta.

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4 Photo by Dawn Anderson Photography

3 Photo by Romona Robbins

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I’m Not Going to Sit Out This Dance!

In college I loved to dance – I even taught dance classes. Well, fast-forward to age 47.

I was less than five feet tall and weighed 200 lbs. Dancing was out of the question – I could barely make it through a day at work, on the air at the radio station. Standing that long was painful and exhausting. I had tried every kind of diet known kn to man, but nothing worked. I was miserable, and I was losing hope.

The happiest day of my life was in October 2010, when I was approved for Octobe gastric bypass surgery with Dr. Lord. His staff helped me every step of the way – from working with my insurance to preparing me for surgery and what to expect afterwards.

Weight loss surgery is the best thing I have ever done for myself, period. One year after the surgery, I’ve lost 102 lbs., and the aches and pains are gone, too.

I feel hopeful about my life again.

In fact, I feel like dancing!

To learn about bariatric services at Sacred Heart, please call (850) 416-7546 or visit www.sacred-heart.org/bariatrics.

Jackie Linn, radio personality, Soft Rock 94.1 before and after weight loss surgery.

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VIE: What is a typical day on the job like for you?

Shlomi Haziza. The project, which started with some sort of connection with movies, further developed as a spin on the Roman portrait sculptures.

To refresh the idea of these sculptures, he assigned each sculpture a different “power,” similar to those of the Roman gods. Each head sculpture expresses an individual personality.

VIE: What has influenced or inspired you to transition from painting to furniture design?

I was curious to learn more about his artistic inspiration, prompting me to dig a bit deeper into his story.

This is the interview with Shlomi Haziza, owner and founder of HStudio:

VIE: What inspires you now?

VIE: What does the future hold for HStudio a year from now? Or even five years?

Haziza: The modern world inspires me. Also, anything that touches people and relates to their imagination. Keeping people in awe is always exciting!

Haziza: It depends on trends and my imagination, really. Ideas and technology will also always be influencing the growth of HStudio.

Haziza: The ability to transition between different mediums is key in the success of art and design. Innovation has always been important with my development as an artist and designer.

Haziza: Oh, it is ever changing. I’m always looking at new materials and finishes for our designs. I oversee the entire creative process within the company; so it is busy, to say the least.

OPPOSITE PAGE (left to right, top to bottom) •• Danny Welton poses with his harmonica • HStudio downtown signage • Paul Fegan (a.k.a. Fantastic Fig) • Sculpture by HStudio • Troy Ruprecht poses with door prize • A visitor from Art Walk • Lulu Elephant Sculpture by HStudio • Visitors of Art Walk pose for the camera • Featured artist Gino Perez • Visitors of Art Walk taking a seat • Troy Vee with Danny Welton • Troy Vee • Exterior of HStudio • Phil DeTolve and Nickie Mersino • Visitor of Art Walk enjoys a drink • Visitor appreciates the featured art • Acrylic sculpture by HStudio • HStudio Staff • Paul Fegan • HStudio staff member (left) and visitor (right) •• Photos by Troy Ruprecht, taken at the HStudio downtown Los Angeles location VIEZINE.COM MARCH /APRIL 2012

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A visitor of Art Walk smiles for the camera

Your hair. Fantastic.

a salon at Grayton Beach Phone: 850-231-0605 1394 CR 283 Bldg 10 Grayton Beach, FL 32459 HairbyScottTaylor@gmail.com w w w. S c o tt Ta y l o r S a l o n . n e t

VIE: What is the one work you’ve done that you are most proud of ?

Haziza: There isn’t just one; I’m mostly just very proud of the people in my company as a whole.

VIE: You’ve had great success at what you do. Do you have any advice for young artists or anyone who is beginning a new career?

Haziza: It is important to never stop dreaming.

Always keep good relationships, and keep yourself current with trends. Know your subject. Stick to what you believe in, and don’t be afraid to do what you love.

VIE: Overall, what would you like people to think about when they hear about HStudio?

Haziza: What we are: innovative, high-end, quality art and furniture made in Los Angeles and made with love. We are leaders in the art and furniture business, but most importantly, we are good people.

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ARBOREAL’S STYLISH STATIONERY Why not take a break from texting and e-mailing to write a handwritten note on stylish stationery? Nashville-based Arboreal is an invitation and stationery company that prints on recycled papers using soy-based inks—a mission we don’t want to write off!

Arboreal Paper Company, $17 Available at Sweet Bay Prints sweetbayprints.myspstore.com

SANDRA BROOKS COLLECTION EYE CANDY The Sandra Brooks Collection is handcrafted in the designer’s Atlanta studio from natural stones and elements found around the world. We especially covet this stone-encrusted cuff—its colors match our beautiful Gulf of Mexico waters and our bright summer sun, making us long for the warm, sunny days ahead!

CHARITABLE CHICKEN PIE This is a pie with a mission, and no good deed goes unnoticed at VIE! This Cape Cod pie company expanded its production by partnering with Cape Abilities, a nonprofit organization that supports people with disabilities, to employ more than forty disabled adults. The outcome? Both savory and sweet pies, whatever your palate desires!

Centerville Pie Company Savory Chicken Pie, large-$22, small-$11 centervillepies.com

SPARKLING HYDRATION Warmer weather is ahead, and that means we’ll take any excuse to be active!

Sparkling ICE is our newest hydration obsession. With no calories, this flavored water is loaded with vitamins and antioxidants and comes in more than eight different flavors.

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Sandra Brooks Collection Stone cuff price upon request sandrabrookscollection.com

SUPPORTING THE MISSION At the young age of 15, Haley Kilpatrick started a nonprofit organization, Girl Talk, to help middle school girls navigate the often turbulent time of being a preteen. Kilpatrick has now written a support guide for parents, The Drama Years: Real Girls Talk about Surviving Middle School — Bullies, Brands, Body Image, and More. Tune into The Today Show on April 2 as she launches her book, and ventures to both Panama City Beach and Seaside for her book tour!

The Drama Years, $16 desiretoinspire.org

FLORIENTAL FRAGRANCE As spring approaches, why not consider a floral oriental fragrance to change up your routine? Only for Her by Hayari Parfums is a new fragrance created in Grasse, France, from a blend of floral, citrus, spicy, and woody notes. Each crystal bottle is hand-filled and individually numbered, making it truly unique.

Hayari Parfums, Only for Her 1.7 fl. oz. (50 ml), $112 (85 euros) hayari-parfums.com

VIE’s

JUDITH MARCH’S STATEMENT-MAKING SHORTS

FAVORITE

Local designer Stephanie Nichols has taken the design world by storm with her fresh take on vintage-inspired trends for the Judith March collection. For spring, we’re particularly partial to these eye-catching side-tie shorts—they’re sure to make a colorful statement!

Judith March Butterfly-Print Shorts, $69.99 judithmarch.com

THINGS

DECADENT SHUT-EYE These Comphy Company eye pillows, each with an additional vial of lavender fragrance oil and diffuser pads, will ensure a better night’s sleep! Having made luxurious and durable linens for the spa industry for the last eight years, the Comphy at Home line gives you a luxurious spa experience each time you turn in for the night. All of their lines are designed with the most eco-friendly fabrics available today—that’s eco-chic and luxurious!

Sunny days have arrived, and we’ve gathered a myriad of products for the upcoming season that have caught our eye and tickled our fancy.

Each of these products will be a hit for spring.

From fashion to food, we’ve got the best!

The Comphy Company Eye pillow and case, $21.90 Find a retailer near you by calling 323.225.8234

CRUSH-WORTHY COUTURE WILD GINGER DARK CHOCOLATE TRUFFLES The decision between Mary Ann and Ginger had to have been a tough one for ole Gilligan, but not for us! When it comes to these chocolates, we vote ginger! These bold chocolate fudge truffles have a kick of natural wild ginger—the spiciness is unmistakable.

Cocopotamus Chocolate Gilligan’s Fave 5-piece box, $9.50 cocopotamus.com

In his Paris atelier, Nabil Hayari creates beauty and luxury for the discerning woman’s wedding or special event. It’s really no wonder we have a serious fashion crush on the exquisitely crafted gowns that come out of this design house. As a sponsor of the GBK Celebrity Gift Lounge, we caught Jennifer Love Hewitt also gushing over the couture line!

Hayari Couture Gown price upon request hayari-couture.com

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VIE Goes Hollywood It started with a surprising message: VIE was selected as a sponsor of the GBK Celebrity Gift Lounge at the 69th Annual Golden Globe Awards, a coveted opportunity that would introduce the magazine to movers and shakers on the West Coast. It was a thrilling and slightly frightening prospect. Should we actually do it? We considered it for, oh, a millisecond. Yep, count us in.

If “gift lounge” doesn’t sound familiar, “swag bag” probably does. The gift lounge is where the swag is offered, and the first thing we learned as a sponsor is that the loot isn’t restricted to what can actually fit in a bag. Trips to Fiji, couture gowns, one-of-a-kind jewelry, and gourmet chocolates were just some of the treats up for grabs. VIE showcased the magazine, a “me + vie—read responsibly” T-shirt and a VIE by BareSkin® microfiber athletic towel. Not exactly a tropical vacation, but the celebrity attendees seemed to enjoy the offerings, and we achieved our goal of presenting VIE and the Emerald Coast to a much wider audience.

One of those in that audience was Jason Olive. He’s probably best known as an actor in Tyler Perry’s For Better or Worse, but this Renaissance man is also a playwright, photographer, model, and business owner. As he flipped through VIE, commenting on the quality, he talked to us about his friend, Livia Firth, and her Green Carpet Challenge. Our immediate thought: VIE and Livia are a match made in heaven (or at least in Hollywood).

Going Green on the Red Carpet Fashion always plays a major role at awards shows, with attendees investing days or weeks creating ensembles that will land them on the “best dressed” list. Livia Firth, creative director of Eco Age Ltd., is much more interested in cultivating a “sustainably dressed” list. Firth and British journalist Lucy Siegle launched the Green Carpet Challenge in December 2009, and Firth led by example, wearing only sustainable fashion to that season’s awards shows, including the Golden Globes, where her husband, Colin, was nominated for his role in A Single Man. The Green Carpet Challenge (GCC), sponsored this year by American Express, has gained enormous momentum thanks to Firth’s infectious commitment to glamour with a conscience. She has enticed eleven superstar design houses to participate in the 2012 GCC: Giorgio Armani, Chanel, Alberta Ferretti, Tom Ford, Gucci, Yves Saint Laurent, Stella McCartney, Paul Smith, Valentino, Roger Vivier, and Ermenegildo Zegna. “Over the last three years, the Green Carpet Challenge has become an all-consuming passion of mine,” Firth says. “This part of the fashion landscape is so exciting because it’s genuinely revolutionary and relentlessly positive. It is absolutely the right time to take the challenge up a gear, so we are working with our favorite world-class designers and actors as GCC ambassadors.”

Firth wore the first gown in the 2012 GCC lineup, an Armani strapless column dress with a geometrically pleated train, to the Golden Globe Awards on January 15. The legendary designer credits Firth with providing a new source of inspiration. “Livia’s enthusiasm and dedication to this cause have been very inspiring for me,” Armani says. “Awareness for the environment is a topic that’s very important for us all: we cannot avoid it.”

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“Over the last three years, the Green Carpet Challenge has become an allconsuming passion of mine.�

Livia Firth with husband, Colin Firth, getting dressed for the 83rd Academy Awards that took place on February 27, 2011. Gown designed by Gary Harvey.

Italian-born Firth finds undeniable pleasure in the fact that this initial outing was all about Italy, from the designer to the wearer to the dress’s origins. “The super silky, sophisticated dress was actually made from fibers scavenged from the recycling of householders in Northern Italy,” she shares.

The fact that plastic water bottles can be reborn as haute couture is a tidbit Firth drops easily into exchanges, making listeners want to know more. It’s no wonder she’s been so successful in rallying others to her cause.

Everything Old Is New Again Firth isn’t new to the world of activism. Honored with philanthropy and human rights awards for long-standing commitments to international causes, she decided to use her unique access to designers and Tinseltown stars to generate awareness of the impact—and beauty—of sustainable fashion.

The first task is explaining what “sustainable fashion” really is—or rather what it’s not. More of an attitude than a definition, there’s no one way to describe it. There are, however, five main criteria on which most subscribers can agree. Like Armani’s contribution, sustainable fashion usually involves recycled materials. Other principles include using locally made products that reduce transportationrelated fuel consumption; products that are built to last through more than one owner; products that use organic materials free from pesticides, chemical treatments, and harmful dyes; and products made by fairly compensated workers who enjoy safe, healthy workplaces.

Professionalism and dedication that lasts...

All the original GCC pieces conform to specific environmental and social standards. The point, however, isn’t necessarily to nitpick whether a piece of clothing fits all of those benchmarks. Firth’s mission, with the help of her designer friends, is to inspire everyone to think about the fashion choices they make and how changing something as simple as what you put into your closet can make a world of difference to, well, the world. “Fashion is a brilliant communicator,” Firth says. “The fashion we communicate through the GCC promotes social justice, environmental integrity, and the very best in design.”

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SPECIAL EDITION

WEATHER Region—Rain, Colder (Details in Daily Almanac)

VOLUME 37 — No. 46

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 1942

FIVE CENTS

Battle in the gUlf

By Bill Weckel

When we think of the front lines of the war with Nazi Germany, places like Normandy, Anzio, and Tobruk quickly come to mind. The beautiful emerald waters of the Gulf of Mexico don’t conjure up images of the life-and-death struggle that took place between the Axis and Allied powers. But that is exactly what happened in the Gulf of Mexico from 1942 to 1943—it was a battlefield where many sailors lost their lives.

In 1942, Hitler had only one weapon capable of striking at the United States: the submarine. The German Kriegsmarine (Navy) was well equipped for the task. Its Ubootwaffe, or submarine force, had more than two years of combat experience, built on a solid foundation of successful submarine warfare tactics and strategies developed during the previous war. Additionally, the Kriegsmarine possessed fig. 1

several of the world’s most advanced submarines: the Type VII and Type IX. The larger Type IX boats had the range and endurance for extended operations off the North American coasts, while the smaller Type VII boats could be refueled and resupplied by the specially modified supply submarines known as Milchkühe (milk cows).

Hitler wasted very little time in bringing the war to the United States. Just eleven days after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, the Kriegsmarine dispatched six of its long-range Type IX boats to reconnoiter the East Coast of the U.S. in an operation code-named Paukenschlag, or “Drumbeat”. They discovered an enemy unprepared for war. American merchant ships plied the coastal shipping lanes without the protection of armed escorts or an organized convoy system—tactics that proved successful

in combating Germany’s U-boat threat during the First World War. In less than a month, the Drumbeat boats sank thirty-four ships without loss to themselves. The Uboats had found a fertile hunting ground and would soon return in strength. Successive waves of U-boats, sailing from their bases in occupied France, would discover even better hunting in the Gulf of Mexico.

U-507, a Type IXC U-boat, departed Lorient, France on 4 April 1942 under the command of Korvettenkapitän Harro Schacht. Twenty-six days later, U-507 attacked and sank the SS Federal, an American steam tanker out of Tampa, five miles north of Cuba. After eluding several patrol planes, U-507 entered the Gulf of Mexico. On 4 May, the SS Norlindo, sailing unescorted from Mobile, would

Figure 1: German Type VIIC U-boat

Figure 2: Emblems such as these adorned the conning towers of many German U-boats. The Bremen Town Musicians and the Sawfish were popular mascots among crew whose average age was less than twenty-five years old.

fig. 2

Type VIIC U-boats, like the one pictured above, were used extensively by the Kriegsmarine to attack Allied shipping along the East Coast of the United States and in the Gulf of Mexico. Along with the newer, long-range Type IXC U-boats, the VIIC’s were employed with devastating effect, sending more than fifty merchant ships, their cargos, and their crews, to the bottom of the Gulf of Mexico.

U-202

be the first ship to be sunk in the Gulf of Mexico. A single torpedo would send her to bottom with a loss of five of her crew.

war. After attacking and sinking the SS Robert E. Lee near the Mississippi River Delta, the U-166 was itself attacked and sunk by the U.S. Navy patrol craft PC-566, with a loss of all hands.

The sinking of the SS Norlindo marked the beginning of a very successful campaign in the Gulf of Mexico. Throughout 1942 and 1943, more than twenty U-boats would operate in the Gulf, attacking merchant shipping from Florida to Texas.

Ultimately, fifty-six ships would fall victim to the U-boats. May of 1942 holds the distinction of being the most successful month for the U-boats with more ships being sunk in the Gulf of Mexico that month than during any other month, and in any other theater of the Second World War.

The success that the boats experienced in the Gulf had as much to do with American inexperience and unpreparedness as it had to do with the superior tactics and technology possessed by Germany. Naval commanders in Washington were reluctant to follow British advice and institute a convoy system and provide armed escorts. The Gulf Coast failed to institute blackouts and merchant mariners didn’t practice light discipline. These two shortcomings greatly enhanced the ability of U-boat crews to both navigate using landmarks and accurately target ships at night. One German commander operating off the west coast of Florida commented, “It’s as if they [the Americans] aren’t aware there’s a war going on.”

The U-boats operated with near impunity in the Gulf, only losing one boat there during the entire

U-294

British frustration with America’s inability (or unwillingness) to institute basic defense measures rose steadily through 1942. Ironically, the Royal Navy ended up providing the U.S. Navy and Coast Guard with armed

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Figure 3: The Works Project Administration created posters in an effort to educate and mobilize the civilian population against the U-boat threat.

Figure 4: The submariners of the German Kriegsmarine were considered elite troops, and their exploits were popularized in wartime newsreels, postcards and postage stamps.

Figure 5: PBY Catalinas like this one patrolled the Gulf of Mexico in search of U-boats.

patrol vessels to combat the U-boat threat in the Gulf.

By 1944, however, the tide had shifted to favor the allies. The convoy and escort system was in place and the Intracoastal Waterway was operational. Blackout measures became the norm, and beach patrols guarded against Nazi saboteurs. Technological developments such as sonar, radar, and improved antisubmarine weapons turned the hunters into the hunted. By war’s end, the elite, all-volunteer Ubootwaffe would claim the highest loss rate of any German service. Of the forty thousand men who served in U-boats during the Second World War, twenty-eight thousand were killed in action, with another eight thousand becoming prisoners of war.

Is hip replacement surgery the best solution for my husband’s hip arthritis?

Fort Walton Beach Medical Center and Twin Cities Hospital are equipped with the latest technology and a full spectrum of medical specialists for women and their families. In addition, Fort Walton Beach Medical Center has won multiple awards for Orthopedic Services — and Twin Cities Hospital’s Certified Orthopedic Joint Replacement Program has earned the Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval™, and is coordinated by a Certified Orthopedic Nurse Specialist. Together to serve you better.

It’s quite possible that hip replacement is the best option. Hip joint damage caused by arthritis can create severe pain and interfere with daily activities. If this is the case with your husband, he may be a good candidate for hip replacement surgery. This procedure can result in decreased pain, increased mobility, improvement of daily activities and improved quality of life.

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By Dale Foster In November 2011, I joined a mission team to visit Jacmel, Haiti, with the intention of helping build housing for earthquake victims. Little did I know what a life-changing adventure this would be.

ocated seven hundred miles southeast of Miami, Haiti occupies the western third of the island of Hispaniola, which it shares with the Dominican Republic. To many of us in the northern latitudes, Haiti is seen as an impoverished, politically corrupt third-world country. Already the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, with 80 percent of the population living under the poverty line and 54 percent in abject poverty, most Haitians live on less than $2 a day. The country’s population of over 9 million speaks a unique Haitian Creole dialect with some French.

On January 12, 2010, a magnitude 7.0 earthquake struck just outside of Portau-Prince, the capital city. It is believed that more than 220,000 people were killed as a direct result of the earthquake and over one million were displaced, making Haiti the largest refugee camp in the world. Haiti’s population of orphans and vulnerable children is estimated at 1.2 million. In October 2010, a cholera epidemic, thought to be accidentally introduced by aid workers from abroad, was identified. An estimated 4,000 peopled died as a result, with over 200,000 infected. President Michel Martelly took office in May 2011 with the promise of reform and reconstruction of the earthquake-battered nation.

Our trip was coordinated through Forward Edge International (www.forwardedge.org), a nonprofit volunteer network. Forward Edge mobilizes hundreds of volunteers each year in Latin America, Africa, and the United States. They have worked extensively in Haiti with a good track record. Our team of five included members from Idaho, Oregon, Nebraska, and Florida.

Upon leaving the airport and driving through downtown Port-au-Prince, my first impression of Haiti was a shocking realization of pervasive abject poverty and destruction. In all my travels, I had never seen this magnitude of destitution. Clearly, the people of Haiti were making a subsistence living at best before the earthquake. Now, visiting almost two years later, the legacy of the earthquake still lingers in dilapidated buildings, damaged roads, and numerous tent cities.

As we were driving through the streets in our van, it was clear that Haiti has suffered from years of government neglect of the basic public services. There is a saying in Haiti that everyone owns a gun, except the police—they can not afford them. Garbage and trash are piled in the middle of the streets, often headhigh in some places. Obviously, the people here have no other place to dispose of the trash and the government is unable to supply timely collection service.

The streets and sidewalks are lined with hundreds of small vendor tables, offering wares or produce under umbrellas or small coverings. Dead chickens VIEZINE.COM MARCH /APRIL 2012

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line the sidewalk

in

one

area,

obviously the poultry section, waiting for passersby to make their selections. We passed more tent cities, but most of the people seem to be walking the streets. You can get a sense of the huge population of Haiti by seeing how many people are walking around.

Driving in Haiti is like a Grand Prix race.

Our team worked near the city of Jacmel, a port city of about 137,000 on the southern coast. The earthquake damaged about 70 percent of the homes in Jacmel. The team worked with Restoration Ministries and Restore Haiti (restorehaiti.com) to build houses and help with the feeding program for children in the community of Morne Oge, a few miles northwest of downtown Jacmel. Restoration Ministries was organized by Pastor Jean Lafleur to serve the religious, health, education, and nutritional needs of the Morne Oge community. The community has a very rural feel to it. People here are living in whatever they can—tents, tin shacks, and partially completed houses.

Our team domiciled at the Leviya Hotel in Jacmel. The hotel was actually quite nice and even had small air-conditioning units in the rooms. Unfortunately, electrical power for the entire town was cut off at about 4:00 a.m. every morning and not turned back on until the afternoon. Team members shared rooms, but conditions were comfortable and certainly better than anticipated.

Rules of the road do not apply, except that cars have right of way over pedestrians and

After a three-hour church service on Sunday, preached with fervor in Haitian Creole, we rested and rose early on Monday, eager and ready for the duties at hand. Our first assignment was to work requirement because it is used every few secon two houses currently under construction and supported onds. Clearance between vehicles and passing

by Restoration Ministries. The houses are of concretepedestrians is measured in inches, not feet. Public block construction and are sturdy against hurricanes transportation is not available, so many travel by priand impervious to rot. In stark contrast to the vate “tap-taps,” converted trucks or buses designed to other homes in the area, all houses built by carry as many people as possible. The thirty-mile drive to Restoration Ministries have indoor plumbour destination took over three hours. ing, a septic tank, and a water cistern.

All work is done by hand with minimal I noticed one indicator of the standard of living as we passed a broken tools. No heavy-duty construction water pipe that had created a large muddy puddle on the side of the street. Several equipment is available. Blocks, cewomen were using the water for washing clothes and bathing. Without an adequate ment, and water are carried by hand. sanitation infrastructure, residents of the city have little choice.

The footings for the house and a 40-foot-deep septic tank were all dug As we left the crowded and dilapidated streets of Port-au-Prince and climbed by hand with a shovel and pickax. The the winding mountain road leading to the country’s interior, we saw another ground is very rocky, but fortunately side of Haiti emerge. It is a land of green mountains and large unpopulated there is plenty of available labor in Haiti areas. The road was steep, but we still saw makeshift houses and vendor for such work. The Haitian people are stands along the way. Most of the vendors seemed to be selling bananas very industrious, making do with what and other fruits and vegetables. On the return trip on this same road, we little they have. The construction work would see that Saturday morning is market day in these small mountain is very demanding, but the laborers work communities. The streets are almost impassable with crowds of buyers hard and do a good job. and sellers—the Haitian version of Walmart. Few actual storefront motorcycles. A functional beeping horn is a

buildings exist, with most business being conducted on the sidewalk

Across the path from our construction site, an elderly woman and a or street. I was told by one Haitian businessman that everyone in small child were shucking corn Haiti is an entrepreneur—everyone has something to sell. and roasting ears for the construction workers. That would Driving through Port-au-Prince earlier, I noticed several street be their lunch. One of the vendors selling charcoal. Without access to electrical power workers climbed a coconut or propane gas, many Haitians depend on charcoal for cooking. tree to bring our team fresh Looking at the countryside, I saw the results of years of deforestacoconut milk—a great tion to make the charcoal. Erosion and mudslides have become major treat on a warm day. problems in parts of Haiti.

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Pigs and chickens roamed free in the area, eating anything that might be available. Haiti has relatively little arable land for agriculture. I did not see a single large farm anywhere during our travels.

Small plots (less than an acre) of corn, pitimi (millet), bananas, plantains, mangoes, sugar cane, and coconuts are common. In this part of the country, all the produce is grown for local consumption with no surpluses for trading—this is subsistence-economy farming.

Working until noon, we walked to the minister’s house and were treated to a nice lunch. Lunch and dinner each day normally consisted of rice or spaghetti and meat, usually chicken. We were informed that we were eating like the upper class of Haiti. The food was very good and well prepared. The coffee was especially good; it seemed to be a blend of locally grown coffee and cane sugar.

The minister’s house also served as a safe house for orphans and sexually abused young girls. It was always a busy place. Plans for expansion of the ministry’s work in Jacmel include a larger church and feeding center, a medical clinic, a school, a library, and separate housing for orphans.

After lunch, we walked to the church to help out with the feeding program. Each day, Restoration Ministries feeds over three hundred children. For many, this is the only meal they get each day. The children in the program are all sponsored, mostly through Restore Haiti (www.restorehaiti.com). For a donation of US$30–$40 per month, the ministry is able to send a child to school (tuition, uniform, and books) and provide him or her with a daily meal. (Almost all schools in Haiti are private, and few families can afford tuition.) Feeding is in two shifts due to limited space in the church building; younger children eat first. The children file in the door and are seated on long benches in front of tables. Bowls of food and cups of water are distributed, but no one eats until everyone has been served and a prayer is said. The food is generally rice and beans, with some meat when available. The children are very well behaved: even though they may be hungry, they do not touch their food until they are given permission.

After they have eaten, the children are reenergized and ready to play outside. I had brought an American-style football to teach the children how to throw and catch. Most had never seen one, but they learned fast. Most surprising to me was the children’s immediate acceptance of us. As the only Caucasian people in the community (in fact, I did not see any others in Jacmel during our stay), you would think we would have been an oddity. Yet these children would come to us and want to hold hands as we walked. They would occasionally want us to pick them up and hold them. One night, while listening to a sermon outside the church, two 7- or 8-year-old girls came to me and wanted me to pick them up. So, I picked them up and held them in my arms, and began swaying as the pastor preached. In a few minutes, the girls had put their heads on my shoulders and were going to sleep.

Although I had signed on primarily to do construction work, interaction with the children of Jacmel was the most rewarding and surprising part of the trip. With families living day to day on subsistence wages, these children continue to play and smile.

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They are not sad, bitter, or defeated. They are energetic and amiable.

Our daily schedule for the week was to work on the houses in the morning, work with the feeding program in the afternoon, and engage in group discussion of the day’s events in the evening.

Thursday, November 24—it was Thanksgiving Day in the United States, but I was the only one of our team to mention it. We were in another world where the idea of a large meal to celebrate thankfulness seemed improbable and out of place. It was certainly a day of reflection about our lives, our loved ones, our relative affluence, our significance, and our spirituality. Being surrounded by so much hardship, it was a little overwhelming. On a personal level, I arrived in Haiti hoping to fill a void in my life by helping others. Today that feels like such a selfish goal. I realized that my intention should be simply to help those in need, regardless of any residual benefit to myself.

In comparison with other countries in the Caribbean, Haiti is the poorest and the most densely populated. High unemployment rates and low

literacy and education rates combined with little arable land, few natural resources for export, high HIV prevalence, little tourism, modest manufacturing, and an inadequate transportation/sanitation infrastructure paint a bleak picture for Haiti’s future. Microbusiness seems to be the norm, but with no revenue growth, the net effect is that the economy will not improve from current conditions. Clearly, this is a country of subsistence-level existence where living day to day takes on a whole new meaning.

But, through all the clouds of despair, there are rays of hope. This hope rests in educating a new generation of children with the tools and resources to make a difference in this struggling country. Massive international assistance will be required to help the country recover. Charitable and religious groups such as Restore Haiti and Restoration Ministries are making noticeable improvements in specific areas. This will be a long journey and may be generational in nature. Hopefully, with a stable government and additional foreign aid, Haiti will rise to become a viable, self-sufficient country.

Those of us fortunate enough to live along the beautiful Emerald Coast often forget how blessed we are. Many of us are so blindly engrossed in our own lives and the excesses of our consumer economy that we are unable to empathize with, or show compassion for, those less fortunate. The sun and sand can lose their significance when compared with the struggles of our fellow humans in others parts of the world. The opportunities to serve the people of Haiti are endless for anyone with a giving heart and willing hands.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Dale Foster is an inventor, adventurer, businessman, writer, librarian, archivist, historian, television producer, and volunteer for worthwhile causes. He is the editor/author of three books and over two dozen journal and magazine articles. In 2009, he was a volunteer in the Galapagos Islands and has served with various government and civic groups along the Gulf Coast. He has been a happy resident of Santa Rosa Beach since 2005.

For anyone wishing to sponsor a child in Haiti, contact Restore Haiti at www.restorehaiti.com.

For anyone wishing to form or join an aid group, contact Forward Edge International at www. forwardedge.org.

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NAVIGATING THE SEA CHANGE IN VACATION RENTAL MANAGEMENT: STEAM AHEAD WITH HOMERUN ADVANTAGE

by Darby Kellum

A start-up company is a challenge, even in a robust economy. So, how does one go about launching such a venture in a difficult economic climate, especially in an industry that is experiencing a significant metamorphosis? Firsthand knowledge, a passion to serve, and innovation are probably the most important and effective tools to possess when it comes to ensuring success in times like these.

are exactly what HomeRun Advantage, Northwest Florida’s newest property management company, is utilizing to produce great results. The company has developed options to increase rental income for investment homeowners and, by applying an innovative business model based on sound experience, HomeRun Advantage plans to sail ahead of the pack in what seems a literal flotilla of rental management companies.

“HomeRun Advantage is a new type of vacation rental management company that bases itself around simplicity, honesty, and more importantly, money in the homeowner’s pocket,” said Michael Austin, vice president of HomeRun Advantage. “We’re excited to bring something to the property management field that is not only extremely profitable for the owner, but also basic and simple to understand.”

Having worked with the largest management companies and resorts in Northwest Florida, Austin is a veteran of the hospitality industry and is the perfect choice in charting the course for this pioneering company. His experience includes consulting roles as well as working directly with vacation property owners. “I’ve seen what works and what doesn’t work when it comes to property management,” he said. “If you don’t adapt your business strategy as things evolve and change, then your business will get left behind.”

By removing the extra overhead that has become unnecessary in today’s modern management world, HomeRun Advantage is able to offer management options to homeowners 130

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with appropriate subcategories that allow the company to charge very competitive rates for service. HomeRun Advantage does not take a percentage of the room revenue, allowing homeowners to take home 100 percent.

The first option, the Basic Service Plan, is perfect for owners who understand who their customers are, know how to book their guests’ vacations, and are successful at marketing their properties.

This plan allows the owner to continue doing what has worked in the past, while HomeRun Advantage takes on the role of “operations team” by coordinating check-in, housekeeping, maintenance, and emergency calls after the owner has booked the reservation. HomeRun Advantage can even help with an existing VRBO listing and introduce owners to other unknown marketing channels.

The Rental Services Plan is the second option, and it is predicted to launch later this year. This plan will attract the owner who understands how profitable a property can be but has not reaped the benefits because of the fees that are levied in an effort to keep the large management company profitable. The Rental Services Plan allows HomeRun Advantage to use the most cost-saving method of property rental by charging a low, flat annual administration fee for performing all duties of a rental management company. The flat fee allows owners to select the level of service desired with the option to

add or exclude services—custom tailoring their individual needs as time passes.

“This allows our clients the opportunity to participate on a trial-and-error basis that is specific to their property and desired level of participation,” said Austin. “Owners can test what works, keep what they want, and not have to pay for the rest. The best part for owners is that HomeRun Advantage never keeps a cent of room revenue.

Owners pocket 100 percent of the revenue.”

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So how is HomeRun Advantage charting a course for success and separating itself from other property management companies? The bottom line is there are no monthly fees and owners know what to expect. The homeowner controls the costs while HomeRun Advantage controls the high-quality rental experience for the guest.

“We initially recognized the need for a better vacation management solution and, with all the experience our senior team has amassed from decades of hotel and resort management experience, we put our heads together to solve it,” said Austin. “Many of us have spent years listening to owners, and we believe that HomeRun Advantage is truly the best solution to satisfy all owner needs.”

For more information, please visit www.homerunadvantage.com

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Once the construction process began, we realized that the wait was worth it. Your team was organized, available, and their attention to detail was impeccable. Because of their experience, they often anticipated the inevitable issues that arise long before they became a problem. Our reputable architects also were impressed with your operation.

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DOING RIGHT. Life happens fast these days. So fast, in fact, that noticing something seems only to happen if we’re paying really close attention. Our modern conveniences, designed to improve our lives, can sometimes impede our ability to realize when others are in need. Setting aside a little time to help someone—a fellow shopper overburdened with packages or a lost stranger in need of directions—essentially keeps us grounded in an age-old principle: love thy neighbor.

Rooted in that tenet is a wonderful story—the story of how Children’s Volunteer Health Network began. Like most uplifting stories, it started with someone in need and another who noticed and took action instead of being blind to or, even worse, passively observing the problem and not doing anything at all.

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When Tricia Carlisle-Northcutt, a South Walton, Florida, resident and owner of Right Brain Strategies, LLC, noticed a sweet, young boy being bullied because of his severely crooked teeth, she hoped someone would help him. “Monster Mouth,” as young Tyler was called, had great leadership potential but was instead aggressive and disruptive, behavioral by-products of the ridicule from his peers. As a volunteer at Point Washington Baptist Church’s after-school outreach program, Tricia watched week after week as the problem grew worse, always hoping someone would step in to help the young boy’s condition. Then it dawned on Tricia: she was that someone.

After three quick phone calls to other church members, the faith-based Children’s Volunteer Health Network (CVHN) was born. The concept

was simple: if doctors and dentists donated their services and volunteers donated their time to take children to appointments, children like this young boy might otherwise have the opportunity for health services that poverty or harsh financial circumstances prevented. After the founding members contacted a dentist enthusiastic to donate his services, Tyler had a mouth full of braces and, years later, a renewed outlook on life, thanks to a community that cared for him.

CVHN now offers medical assistance to K–12 children of Okaloosa and Walton counties currently on the free or reduced-price lunch program; the children are referred to CVHN by an adult, often the school nurse. The network provides a discount prescription drug card and access to healthcare services, the mobile dental clinic, and the new CVHN Dental Clinic, located

By Ainsley Rogers

across from CVHN headquarters on Highway 98. Since its inception, CVHN has helped 2,697 children, providing health services including root canals for 274 children, glasses for 157, and braces for 22.

But the story of giving doesn’t end here. The local community now enters the story, since the giving hearts of concerned individuals are what keep CVHN’s mission accomplishable. Funded only by donations, assistance from foundations, and free service from providers, 86 cents of every dollar goes directly to the children. To raise funds, the CVHN staff and board of directors have strategically placed themselves in the South Walton social scene to help raise money for children’s assistance through multiple events held throughout the year.

CVHN’s first event was held over seven years ago at the then 331 Restaurant. “We basically went to the owners and said, ‘We have kids with no insurance that need help. We have to do something,’” said Jane Bahr, a founding member of CVHN. After garnering $39,000 in donations, the inaugural Hurricane Party was deemed a success. Each year, the Hurricane Party is the most successful fund-raising event held for CVHN, with the most recent raising over $38,000 at Pandora’s Steak House in Grayton Beach. Since that first fundraiser, the CVHN calendar has grown to include events for all kinds of celebratory tastes—all have been successful in aiding children in need.

The success of CVHN events are excellent examples of what the philanthropic hearts of Okaloosa and Walton County residents can accomplish.

People from all walks of life join in giving of their

time, their skills, and their talents to ensure that uninsured or underinsured children of the community have medical and dental care provided to them. Because of that, CVHN has been wildly successful in promoting happy, healthy children all around.

CVHN’s story hasn’t ended, nor will it with the continued support of the community. In keeping with all great stories and parables in sacred texts, true happiness comes from heeding that one little instruction—that we should love one another.

For more information on the Children’s Volunteer Health Network, how to volunteer, or how to make a donation, please visit CVHNkids.org.

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CVHN in 2012: Throughout the year, there are many opportunities to give to Children’s Volunteer Health Network—and have a great time while doing it!

The first of March will usher in the inaugural 30A Wine Festival for wine lovers and connoisseurs alike.

Slated to take place March 3 and 4, the new wine festival will be an exclusive, intimate weekend affair of fine wines and food pairings. The walkabout will take place at Alys Beach beginning Saturday morning, where select vintners will be discussing their featured wines in seminar fashion. That afternoon, light hors d’oeuvres will be paired at the grand wine tasting where the lucky attendees will have the opportunity to sample up to eighty different wines on Kelly Green while the Sean Dietrich Trio plays.

Attendees will also have the opportunity to enjoy music by Cloud 9 Orchestra and sample more fine wine and food pairings from local restaurant sponsors from 6 to 9 p.m. The weekend will wrap with a champagne brunch on Sunday morning.

Foundation, will host an exclusive patron dinner at Caliza Pool in Alys Beach in April—a perfect gourmet evening of fine wines and foods. Patron packages include access to a full weekend of festivities, including a reserve tasting and auction at Sandestin Golf & Beach Resort and the Sandestin Wine Festival in Baytowne Village.

For those looking to wine and dine, CVHN, in partnership with the Destin Charity Wine Auction

Each November, Cottages for Kids, a unique event especially popular with families, takes place in

In May, the Premiere Golf Tournament will take place at Shark’s Tooth Golf Club to benefit CVHN. A tee-off party and silent auction will take place the evening of May 14 at WaterSound Beach Club, while May 15 will serve as a day for golf enthusiasts competing in honor of CVHN. Sponsorships varying from to $500 to $4,000 are available, while the presenting sponsorship, valued at $7,500, is reserved by Alys Beach.

Rosemary Beach. In 2011, three playhouses were brought from dream to reality by local builders, architects, and designers working with other community members to create exciting, new cottage displays. The creative structures were raffled off to lucky patrons who had purchased tickets at $5 apiece. The result: $13,000 to help uninsured and underinsured children gain access to the care they need. With volunteers ranging in age from 15 to 80, builder teams made up of high school students, and the support of many local businesses, positive feedback was plentiful and a good omen that the event will continue to grow in 2012.

This Christmas, be sure to watch for the annual CVHN Holiday Party to be held at V Seagrove.

This event is an exciting way to give to CVHN—live music and fabulous food draws crowds from up and down 30A.

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© 2012 The St. Joe Company. “JOE,” “St. Joe”, “WaterColor”, “the triple bar” design, “A Southern Coastal Landscape”, “RiverCamps”, the “RiverCamps” logo, “WaterSound Beach”, the “WaterSound Beach” logo, “WaterSound”, the “WaterSound” logo, and the “Taking Flight” design are service marks of The St. Joe Company. The materials and features and amenities described and depicted herein are based upon current development plans, which are subject to change without notice. WaterSound Beach Club, Camp Creek Golf Club, and Shark’s Tooth Golf Club are private clubs for St. Joe designated communities which require purchase of separate memberships subject to application and acceptance and may be subject to payment of fees, membership requirements, rules or other limitations which are subject to change. This does not constitute an offer to sell real property in any jurisdiction where prior registration or other advance qualifications of real property is required, including New York. Void where prohibited by law. Equal Housing Opportunity. The St. Joe Company does not guarantee the obligations of nor provide any warranties for homes built by unaffiliated or third-party builders who build homes in WaterColor, WaterSound, WaterSound Beach, WaterSound West Beach and RiverCamps. Beach Properties of Florida, LLC, is an independent, third-party not affiliated with The St. Joe Company. Obtain the Property Report required by Federal Law and read it before signing anything. No Federal agency has judged the merits or value, if any of this property. *For qualified buyers. Restrictions may apply.

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By Anne W. Schultz Photography by Michael Granberry

Could I be looking at the next Rachel Carson, E.O. Wilson, or any of the other naturalists whose pictures hang on the classroom walls indoors? I wonder as I survey the fourth graders circled around their teacher outdoors. My husband and I are at the E.O. Wilson Biophilia Center observing a typical school day at a science learning facility unlike any other in the nation.

Local conservationist M.C. Davis developed it on Nokuse Plantation, 49,000 acres in Northwest Florida set aside as conservation land. The expansive exhibit hall, classrooms, theater, laboratories, and nature trails are designed not only to educate minds about our natural surroundings, but also to open hearts to them. The center’s namesake, E.O. Wilson, calls this natural love “biophilia,” a term he coined from combining two Greek words for love and life. He believes biophilia is implanted in every person, perhaps so they will preserve God’s creation.

Obscured by thick forest, the buildings are barely visible from Highway 20, except for peaked tin roofs gleaming in the sunshine like some shining vision of hope. Over ten thousand children have studied here since it opened September 12, 2009.

This autumn day feels chilly yet still warm enough for the cotton T-shirts color-coded by the center to keep classes separated. We follow our group wearing turquoise to a grassy clearing to learn how to track the home range of a gopher tortoise. Birds sing and breezes ruffle native grasses strewn with pink and yellow wildflowers. The vaulted-ceilinged screened porch looms nearby. Its steeply pitched roof points skyward, drawing attention to the majestic longleaf pines towering above. These trees are part of a threehundred-year project to restore the land to the original longleaf pine ecosystem that covered 95 percent of the Southeast before European settlement.

Next, we file into that screened porch where students reinforce what they learned outdoors by VIEZINE.COM MARCH /APRIL 2012

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Out in the woods, he acted as excited as a little boy, just like one of these kids, even though he’s over eighty years old!

He is truly an amazing man. writing it out on paper. We sit on benches near a black Lab snoozing in the sunshine. Dalton, one of the center’s biologists, looks like an ecotour guide dressed in khaki pants and matching ExOfficio shirt intended to blend into the natural surroundings.

He charts the path on a graph and asks questions.

The “Yes, sir” and “No, sir” responses indicate you’re in the South, as this northern section of Florida is more like an extension of Alabama than the rest of Florida. This area is ranked sixth in the nation for its biodiversity—the same rich landscape riddled by marshes and pine forests that stimulated E.O. Wilson as a boy and inspired a passion for nature, resulting in a lifetime career as an eminent Harvard biologist who won two Pulitzer Prizes for books in his field. He shares the belief of founder M.C. Davis that children are the hope for the future of our planet. The wide-eyed wonder on their faces, the concentration, and enthusiasm show me it’s happening right here in front of me.

At our next session, the class learns how habitat destruction affects the gopher tortoise. Turtle Bob introduces himself as a field biologist and explains that his office is outdoors; that is where he studies live plants and animals. “What’s the difference between a turtle and a tortoise?” he asks the attentive class seated on the floor surrounding him. When no one answers, he responds, “Turtles spend some or most of their time in water. The gopher tortoise lives strictly on land. Around twenty thousand used to live here and now only about 580 remain. That makes them threatened. This means, if we don’t take care of them now, they will soon become endangered and then could become extinct. And that means forever,” he adds.

“Gopher tortoises can live up to a hundred years old,” he explains, “and spend 80 percent of their time in their burrows.” “Who are their main predators?” he quizzes them. Hands shoot up, and several call 142

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out, “Humans.” He asks what else, and then gives them a clue: “What yips a lot?” “Coyotes,” they confidently answer in unison. The students learn a gopher tortoise is a keystone species because others depend on it for survival. Turtle Bob explains that 360 different kinds of animals find shelter in gopher tortoise burrows, especially during forest fires or when chased by predators. “Why is the width of the burrow the same as the length of the tortoise?”

“So they can turn around,” one boy answers. Again I realize how little I know about nature and how facts like this reveal its intricacy and perfection, as these children are teaching me!

And then, like a magician pulling a rabbit from a hat, Turtle Bob brings out the very tortoise species

he has been talking about from a large crate, along with a six-foot-long black indigo snake. “This snake is one of the species that finds protection in the burrow,” he tells the awestruck audience. “There are no more indigo snakes in Walton County, as we decimated scores of longleaf pines and lost the burrows that sustain them.” The kids rush in closer, clustering around the animals when he asks if anyone wants to hold or touch them. One by one, they gently stroke the hard shell of the tortoise, or hold it in both hands. Then he gathers up the snake and places it around the neck and shoulders of each child in the same graceful way Hawaiians drape floral leis on arriving tourists. The snake interaction is only with parental and school approval, and students choosing to interact appear to love it. In my day, the girls

would have shrieked and run away in terror, but these girls rush up, breaking centuries of superstitions and fears about snakes that have been passed down through generations.

After Turtle Bob dismisses the class for lunch, my husband and I chat with him about the center and his time with E.O. Wilson. “I was privileged to take a hike with him here at the Center. Out in the woods, he acted as excited as a little boy, just like one of these kids, even though he’s over eighty years old!

He is truly an amazing man,” Turtle Bob said in awe.

My husband and I are honored to be here around this amazing staff, the teachers, and the enthusiastic students. How fun can learning be?

We left feeling hopeful about the future of nature as we see it will pass down to those who care. These children have entered into a relationship with nature that will last a lifetime. Mine sure has. Chances are the hand that stroked a gopher tortoise as a child will be the same one that reaches out as an adult to lift a stranded tortoise off the highway, reach down and pick up trash off the beach, and pick up a cell phone to protest developments that don’t consider the environment in their planning. These budding naturalists will raise a stink about filling in wetlands because they know that shorebirds and other creatures they have seen and studied live there. They know that wetlands and marshes are their homes: where they nest, raise babies, talk to each other, and forage for food.

Even if no one attains the status of a Rachel Carson, or Florida’s own Marjory Stoneman Douglas—who helped rescue the Everglades with her classic book, The Everglades: River of Grass—these future citizens will know they’ve made a contribution by doing their part as stewards of the earth. It all begins with a little love. Look what happened to M.C. Davis and E.O. Wilson!

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Open Tuesday– Saturday 10– 5 850.231.2036

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this past summer, the center opened for the first time to the general public, so children of all ages can now see what all the fun is about.

From June 1 through August 31, the center is open on the following days and times: Fridays – 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Saturdays – 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Sundays – 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

From September 1 through May 31, the center is open on Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. to learn more, visit www.eOWilsonCenter.org or call 850.835.1824.

Contact Info: Anne W. Schultz 93 Quiet Water trail Santa rosa Beach, FL 32459 saait@aol.com 850.231.0947

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EMERALD COAST BY

KYLE PETIT

Tucked away on the south side of Highway 98 in the heart of Santa Rosa Beach, Florida, is a small neighborhood built on the banks of three small lakes. The neighborhood is called Shortline Lakes and it is home to the Pickos World Ski Center. The owner, Cory Pickos, is a multitime world-record holder and world champion water-skier.

kiers come from all over the world to train with Cory and his staff of champions. The lakes are the site of several tournaments throughout the year, several of which are record tournaments.

During the 2011 season, several records were taken down. Two world slalom records were broken by none other than Santa Rosa Beach’s own Miss Regina Jaquess, my best friend and owner-operator of Emerald Coast Compounding Pharmacy. Last fall, she and several other worldclass athletes who train at the World Ski Center had the opportunity to represent their respective countries in the Pan American Games. I had the great honor of traveling to Mexico to watch them all go for gold at the games.

The celebrated Team USA with their managers.

On October 18, I boarded a plane in Panama City, Florida, and headed to Guadalajara, Mexico, the epicenter of the Pan American Games. About an hour’s drive outside the city is Chapala, a lovely village set alongside a beautiful tournament lake, which was the site for the waterskiing portion of the Pan American Games. It was here that men and women competed from countries including the United States, Canada, Chile, Argentina, Colombia, Brazil, Guatemala, and Mexico, representing disciplines such as wakeboarding, slalom waterskiing, trick skiing, and jumping.

Our U.S. athletes brought home gold medals in women’s slalom, jumping, and overall; and men’s slalom, jumping, and wakeboarding. Ski and pharmacy phenomenon Regina personally secured three gold medals—slalom, jumping, and overall—and took bronze in trick. She broke a Pan American record in slalom (tying her personal record), and broke the Pan Am record in jumping—all while breaking a world record in overall performance. The athletes from all over the Americas who train at the World Ski Center in Santa Rosa Beach brought home a grand total of fifteen medals for their respective countries.

All in all, not too shabby.

Gathered together to watch Regina Jaquess tie her world record in women’s slalom: Kyle Petit (right center) with US men’s gold medalists in slalom and wakeboard, and the Canadian men’s slalom silver medalists.

In 2012, Shortline Lakes will once again bustle with activity, playing host to several tournaments throughout the season, including the acclaimed Pan American Water Ski Championships to be held September 12–16. These skiers are fueled by a passion for their sport and a strong desire to win, but don’t let their expertise discourage you from coming for a lesson! The World Ski Center VIEZINE.COM MARCH /APRIL 2012

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Javier Julio, the trainer at Santa Rosa Beach’s Pickos World Ski Center, takes a victory lap after claiming the men’s overall title.

continues to grow, teaching young skiers who either wish to simply glide on the water or dream of one day breaking records of their own. Those who already know their way around the water are welcome to drop by and pick up some pointers; for those who are simply curious and would like to see the champs at work, there is always someone on the lake. This past year, the boats were kept running through December without having to be put away.

Who would have thought that, tucked in the woods of Santa Rosa Beach, a whole world of elite waterski competition was making its mark?

If you would like more information about these champions at work, or if you would like the chance to spend some time on the water with them, please contact the World Ski Center at (850)267-3988, or visit www.corypickos.com.

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