Bella Magazine April 2026

Stories to inspire

Fear became her fuel. Meet Cheryl Clendenon of In Detail Design Collective — and her daughter, Libby Carver, who's carrying her legacy forward

artfulness

From design to music, from adventures to stories, celebrate creativity in every form — including West Garden District and the Pensacola Symphony Orchestra

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Sonshine’s Corner

Bella Magazine is teaming up with Sonshine’s Corner to bring you the most inspirational show on the Gulf Coast — and you’re invited!

Join us live at 9 a.m. on the first Tuesday of every month on WPAN-TV / BLAB-TV for Talk About It Tuesday — a powerful, uplifting hour featuring Bella’s finest: beautiful women, bold voices, smart conversations, and stories that empower, inspire, and uplift.

From Escambia to Santa Rosa, we’re changing the conversation and celebrating the confidence, culture, and community that make us shine. So grab your coffee, tell a friend, and tune in.

Sonshine’s Corner + Bella Magazine — where sass meets substance.

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The place to be inspired,informed & uplifted

from the publisher

For the longest time, I believed creativity belonged to a very specific group of women — the ones who casually say things like “I’m just popping into the studio for a few hours” or who own twelve shades of watercolor paint and know how to use every single one. Meanwhile, the rest of us were out here trying to keep houseplants alive and hoping that finding the perfect spot for the barely alive plant counted as creative.

But somewhere between attempting a Pinterest craft that looked like it had been assembled by a drunk raccoon and realizing I actually enjoyed the process, I had a small epiphany: creativity isn’t a club with a velvet rope. It’s more like a buffet. And there are a lot more options on the table than most of us realize.

The first mistake many of us make is assuming creativity equals “fine art.” If you’re not painting landscapes or sculpting something dramatic out of clay, you must not be creative. That thinking is not only wrong — it’s limiting. Creativity is less about the medium and more about the mindset.

Take cooking. Some people follow recipes the way lawyers follow contracts. Others treat the kitchen like a playground. A pinch of this, a splash of that, suddenly you’ve invented a pasta dish that probably shouldn’t work but somehow does. That’s creativity in action — no paintbrush required.

Then there’s everyday artistry. Maybe it’s arranging flowers from the grocery store so they look like they belong in a boutique window (not a talent I possess). Maybe it’s styling an outfit that makes strangers stop and ask where you bought your jacket. Or maybe it’s decorating a tiny apartment in a way that makes every square foot feel intentional.

None of those things hang in galleries, but they absolutely count.

Writing is another sneaky creative outlet. You don’t have to be drafting a novel or publishing poetry. Journaling, scribbling observations in your phone notes or even crafting the world’s most dramatic group chat messages all require imagination and voice. If you’ve ever spent ten minutes choosing the perfect emoji to complete a story, congratulations — you’re participating in the arts (and I probably just showed my age).

I love the creativity involved with every issue of Bella, even if I’m not the one writing, taking pictures or putting layouts together. There is still the fun of deciding themes and stories and the flow of each issue throughout the year. I also love the process of home renovations and interior design, even though I am definitely not a designer. In our cover story this month we talk to the mother/daughter team at In Detail Interiors — they are definitely a creative duo!

Let’s also talk about the crafty corner of creativity, which has been getting a deserved reputation makeover. Knitting, embroidery, candle making, pottery, DIY home projects — these activities sometimes get dismissed as quaint or old-fashioned. But anyone who has attempted to crochet something that isn’t shaped like a drunk raccoon (don’t ask me why I keep talking about drunk raccoons) knows there’s serious skill involved.

More importantly, making things with your hands slows the world down. It pulls your brain out of the constant doomscroll cycle and into something tangible. There’s a quiet satisfaction in creating something that didn’t exist an hour ago and our mental health definitely benefits.

The point is that creativity doesn’t require permission, talent scouts or expensive supplies. It just requires curiosity and a willingness to try something that might turn out a little crooked.

And honestly, that’s half the fun.

So if you’ve been waiting for a sign that you’re “creative enough” to start something — painting, baking, writing, knitting, rearranging your living room for the fifth time this month — consider this it.

Your creativity doesn’t need to be judged. It just needs to exist.

— Kelly MacLeod

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Liz Biggs, Colette Boehm, Sharla Gorder, Jennifer Harrison, Allison McCrory, Chelsea Owens, Leslie Peck, Cynthia Reeves

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS

Toni Sparks, Kate Treick

meet the team

Liz Biggs, writer/columnist

Liz Biggs is a Pensacola native and mother of four. Once upon a time, she had a high-pressure career, but now she has a pension and is a freelance writer for Bella Magazine. Liz enjoys music, dancing, tennis and travel and tries to find humor in everything.

Colette Boehm, writer

Colette Boehm is a freelance writer and photographer and a native of coastal Alabama. She specializes in telling compelling stories of the people and places she encounters and also provides effective travel-related content and photography to a variety of clients, including destinations and marketing firms.

Courtney Hays, administrator/assistant editor

Courtney Hays, a West Virginia native, made Navarre her home in 2020 after purchasing her grandmother’s house. A former English teacher for eight years, she now enjoys her work with Bella Magazine. Newly married, Courtney loves traveling, practicing yoga, listening to podcasts and hosting game nights with friends.

Kristin Holifield Cagle, advertising

Kristin Holifield Cagle is a fifth-generation Pensacola native who loves to help women and business owners alike achieve their goals. With a master’s degree from the University of West Florida, she specializes in marketing. She is the mother of two and enjoys soaking up the sun at the beach and spending time with family.

Sharla Gorder, writer/columnist

Sharla Dawn Gorder is a Pensacola Beach resident and columnist for the Island Times newspaper. She is the author of “My Vices Collide; a Celebration of Being a Little Messed Up,” and “Crayon Dawn,” a coffee table book sold in stores throughout the Pensacola area and at her website, crayondawn.com.

Jennifer Harrison, advertising

Jennifer Harrison is a Pensacola native (via the Navy). She is involved in the Pensacola community through IMPACT 100, Pensacola Navy Days, charitable food distributions, Leadership Pensacola, ECPS Foundation, Achieve Escambia, ECCPTA and more.

Allison McCrory, writer/fashion stylist

Allison McCrory is almost a Pensacola native who has worked in writing and editing since 1984 when she started with The News, an afternoon newspaper that later merged with the morning Journal. The mom of two adult kids, Allison suffers from a tennis addiction, practices yoga and loves to cook.

Elizabeth Meyer, designer

Elizabeth Meyer spent her early career as a designer and design director at newspapers across the country. She is currently an adjunct instructor and director of The Agency at Cardinal Media at Ball State University. Betsy was born in Pensacola while her father was in the U.S. Navy.

Chelsea Owens, writer

Chelsea Owens grew up in Gulf Breeze and received degrees in communications and art from the University of West Florida. She has a lifelong passion for style and art, and over 10 years of social media and marketing experience. She is also a pilates instructor who enjoys both staying busy and relaxing at the beach.

Cynthia Reeves, writer

Long-time writer Cynthia Reeves spent 25 years as a broadcast journalist in the southeast, including 10 years as a reporter at WEAR-TV in Pensacola. As a high school teacher of journalism, TV production and English, she passed her skills down to young writers. She also served as District 1 director for the Florida Scholastic Press Association.

Justine Williams Roper, writer

Justine Williams Roper is a doctor of physical therapy, personal trainer, and speaker from Pensacola. She has written women's health articles for publications like Essence and enjoys all things movement and food. She is the proud owner of InHer Physique Pelvic Floor Therapy & Wellness, where her passion for women’s health truly shines.

Leslie Peck, writer/beauty expert

Leslie Peck is a local aesthetician, makeup artist, lash artist and brow specialist. She has experience in TV, film, print and celebrity makeup in Los Angeles and 11 seasons of NYC Fashion week. Leslie was featured on the front page of the Wall Street Journal in 2007 for her work at Fashion Week.

Sonshine, writer

Sonshine is a Northwest Florida media personality, currenting hosting “Sonshine’s Corner” on BLAB TV. She is a business consultant, author, motivational speaker and fitness consultant. Sonshinemoorer@gmail.com.

Toni Sparks, photographer

Toni Sparks is a proud Pensacola native. As the visionary behind Short Story Studios, Toni is dedicated to creating magazine-quality images with elegance and style. Her experiences infuse her photography with a unique perspective that celebrates and elevates every moment.

Kate Treick, photographer

Kate Treick is a professional photographer, writer, speaker and publisher who has called Pensacola home since 2012. She and her husband, Joel, have two teenaged kids and two funny little dogs. Kate loves spending time with friends, leading music at her church, reading and traveling. kate@katetreickphotography.com

Magi Thomley Williams, advertising/writer

Magi Thomley Williams, ACB, ALB is a business and nonprofit consultant, writer, trainer and speaker. Dedicated to improving her community by helping nonprofits build their boards, improve their media presence and attract donor funding, Magi enjoys writing about impactful nonprofits, thriving businesses and the women who lead them. Magi@ThomleyConsulting.com.

Teresa Torres Zwierzchowski, social media

Teresa Zwierzchowski has more than 20 years’ experience in communications, including more than 15 working for the Pensacola News Journal. She is a lover of all things communication including brand, culture, social media as well as community and public relations.

BY CHELSEA OWENS / BELLAMAGAZINE.COM / PHOTOS

spendorsave

• 3D voluminous flower design midi dress, $209.99, sierradarien.com

• Oscar de la Renta gradient flower drop earrings, $440, neimanmarcus.com

• The Caldera marbled acrylic clutch, $598, neimanmarcus.com

where to shop

• Appliquéd dress, $49.99, hm.com

• BaubleBar Elsie floral earrings, $48, bloomingdales.com

• Crescent marble minaudiere clutch, $40, target.com

H&M: Cordova Mall, 5100 N. Ninth Ave., Pensacola; 855-466-7467; hm.com

Target: multiple area locations; target.com

fashion

Get excited!

Spring fashion is all about “wearable joy!”

By Allison McCrory / Photos by Kate Treick Photography

Adorn yourself in joy when dressing for spring 2026!

That’s the advice from Tahnee Judice, owner of Hemline, a new downtown Pensacola boutique located on Jefferson Street.

“This spring is all about optimism, self-expression and wearable joy,” Judice said. “We’re seeing a return to color, femininity and playful silhouettes, balanced with timeless shapes that feel fresh again.”

The season’s trends evoke a seaside or agrarian vacation: florals, retro resort, stripes, citrus, femininity and nautical.

“The focus is on relaxed, flattering cuts that feel polished but effortless, with movement over structure,” Judice noted.

Judice reported that amidst AI domination, fashion is prioritizing individualism.

According to Pantone Color Institute experts, “designers at New York Fashion Week fearlessly stepped into personal expression, a dramatic bulwark against AI and creeping homogenization. Finding freedom to redefine color usage, this season’s palette contrasts stimulating colors with foundational tones.”

The results of unexpected color combinations are dynamic. Pairing similar shades results in a cohesive monochromatic effect. Pick your preference!

“Accessories are playful and colorful this spring,” Judice said. “Think statement mini bags, chunky chain jewelry, strappy sandals and retro-inspired sunglasses.”

Shopping list: Go on a tropical vacation without leaving town with this dress by Haven in fresh floral, a springtime favorite, $114.

Madelyn Champion

Destin native Madelyn Champion is fusing her modeling background with cutting-edge technology training AI models. Yet when not working, the natural world is her happy place.

“One of my favorite things to do on the Emerald Coast is go to the beach and watch the sunset with friends,” said Champion, who recently completed her master’s degree in data science at the University of West Florida.

“My husband and I also like to take our dog to the dog beach in Pensacola during the summer because she loves to play fetch and the water cools her off.”

Completing a March 5K with a friend as well as horseback riding are other outdoor pursuits. Strength training and Pilates round out Champion’s fitness routine.

Aesthetically speaking, Claude Monet’s “Water Lily Pond” so inspired Champion she once created her own interpretation. She feels at home in boho chic fashion in natural fibers as well as timeless Ralph Lauren pieces. Equestrian and western fashion influences reflect her bond with horses.

Shopping list: Clean lines and fabric evoking the tranquil awe of a desert sunset define this maxi dress by Sisal, $495; matching scarf, $135.

About the location

Quayside Art Gallery & surrounding areas 17 Zaragoza St., Pensacola 850-438-2363; quaysidegallery.com

• Housed in a historic 1873 firehouse, Quayside is the largest co-op gallery in the Southeast, featuring more than 200 artists.

Clothes compliments of Hemline Pensacola

100 S. Jefferson St., Unit J, Pensacola 850-741-2281; shophemlinepensacola.com

Model compliments of Izon Models & Talent LLC

301 N. Barcelona St., Suite E, Pensacola 850-433-2099, izonmodels.com

stylingthe shoot

Photography: Kate Treick

Fashion styling: Allison McCrory

Where to shop: Hemline Pensacola

Spring is in full bloom. Beach days and brunches are calling your name. It’s time to get out your sundresses and rompers and jazz up your look with some makeup features that are trending. Don’t be scared to try something different. It’s only makeup and if it doesn’t work the first time, cleanse, rinse, repeat.

Channel your inner creativity and try some looks that echo a presence from long ago. Keeping it quick and simple is key. After all, the bottomless brunch mimosas are waiting for you and they do have a time limit.

Beautiful, hydrated skin always takes center stage and these looks are the ride-or-die. Pick up your makeup brushes and get to work. It’s time to try something new or maybe a nod to the not-so-new.

EURO ROMANCE

makeup  ART of

— Story and photos by Leslie Peck

Where to shop

• Sephora, Cordova Mall, 5100 N. Ninth Ave., Pensacola; 850-473-0083

• Result Medical Aesthetics and Permanent Makeup, 400 E. Jackson St., Pensacola; 850-361-4024

• Dillard’s, Cordova Mall, 5100 N. Ninth Ave., Pensacola; 850-477-9565

2026 will absolutely have a “Wuthering Heights” cinema inspo with old-world charm. Minimal eye makeup with a flushed pink cheek that starts high and sweeps to the temple. Popsicle-stained lips in hues of pink, red and burgundy for a bold, whimsical pout. Cream blushes, lip and cheek stains and balms. Don’t forget the easiest part to complete the look: wind-swept messy hair. Perfect for your euphoric romanticism adaptation.

SHIMMER AND SHINE

How about both? Take your eyes and lips back to the 90s with iridescent eyes and frosty lips. Think Pamela Anderson, Jennifer Lopez, Kate Moss, Britney Spears, Rhianna and Lizzo. Run to your nearest MAC counter and scoop up an old-school frosty tube of lipstick in Fresh Moroccan, Plum Dandy, O, New York Apple or Bombshell.

All of you underground MAC girls know those long-lost friends. Shimmer isn’t hard to find when it comes to eyes. Creamy eyeshadow sticks are easy and long-lasting and a palette full of shimmer in multiple hues can create the perfect eye for any spring outfit.

SMOKE SHOW EYES

A 90s grunge-inspired, day-after, I-mightget-into-trouble smoky eye is making a comeback — even for the good girls. Smoky comes in all sizes and shades depending on the mood and the ensemble. When going for a bold eye, keep the rest of the makeup simple and clean, especially for daytime. The key to a smoky eye is to start with a pencil liner to line the eye, add a little shadow and blend, blend, blend. As you add more product, keep on blending. Always finish with mascara to glam up the lashes.

7

Mascara, $29

10 Jane Iredale Lash Fixation Length and Definition Tubing Mascara, $28

WANT TO GO?

Unique Boutique

• Where: 1625 W. Garden St., Pensacola

• When: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday-Wednesday and Friday; 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday; 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday; Closed Sunday

• Info: 850-285-0251; ub-pensacola.com

Hair + Co

• Where: 1627 W. Garden St.

• When: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. TuesdayFriday; 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday; Closed Sunday and Monday

• Info: 850-378-8366; hairandco.salon

Angie Carter-Rosier of Unique Boutique and Jody Chevillet of Hair + Co are pictured at Del Mar Plaza, where their neighboring storefronts are contributing to renewed energy in the West Garden District. Through collaboration and smallbusiness leadership, they are helping strengthen the district’s economy and sense of community.

local fare

How Unique Boutique and Hair + Co are shaping community Empowering West Garden

By Jennifer Harrison / Photos by Kate Treick Photography

On West Garden Street inside Del Mar Plaza, something special is happening. It’s not just shopping. It’s not just self-care. It’s neighbors supporting neighbors, friendships forming and small businesses growing together.

A TREASURE TROVE WITH HEART

After years of buying and selling upscale resale treasures — a journey that began in Nashville — Angie Carter-Rosier thought she was easing into semi-retirement. Instead, she found herself building something even more meaningful: Unique Boutique.

The boutique is warm and welcoming. It’s the kind of place where customers are invited to slow down, browse a little longer and maybe leave with something they didn’t even know they were looking for.

“Find what you love and love what you find” is an idea Carter-Rosier has always believed in.

And that spirit is woven throughout the shop.

But Unique Boutique is more than racks of carefully chosen resale pieces.

Through partnerships with local artisans and fellow small businesses, Carter-Rosier has helped create a supportive ecosystem right on West Garden Street. The boutique features thoughtfully curated secondhand treasures, but it also gives local makers a place to share their creations — offering them exposure and connection they might not otherwise have.

She’s also the driving force behind the West Garden District Artisan Market, held indoors on Saturdays. Her goal is simple and steady: 14 artisans and a food truck every week. A place where families can stop by, meet the makers, grab a bite and feel part of something local.

And she’s not stopping there. Carter-Rosier is working to form the West Garden Business Association — hoping to bring neighboring businesses together so they can collaborate, cross-promote and support one another.

“Maybe,” she laughs, “I won’t have to go hunt them all down myself.”

At its core, Unique Boutique isn’t just about shopping. It’s about creating space — for creativity, for connection and for community to grow.

A SALON BUILT ON OPPORTUNITY

Just next door, that same sense of purpose continues at

Hair + Co.

For Jody Chevillet, the salon began as a personal investment. After retiring from careers in paralegal work and real estate, she invested $100,000 to build a salon with hopes her daughter would one day run it. When life took a different turn, Chevillet stepped in and discovered a new passion she didn’t see coming.

Today, Hair + Co is more than a salon. It’s a place where women build careers, confidence and community.

Inside the welcoming space are stylists earning six figures without college degrees — women who have created stability and independence through trade skills and hard work. Many are single mothers or new to the area, drawn to the flexible schedules and supportive environment.

“It’s about self-sufficiency,” Chevillet says.

Flexible hours allow her team to balance work and family life while growing professionally. Clients range from teenagers preparing for special events to seniors who faithfully keep their weekly appointments. One beloved client hasn’t missed her regular blowout in years.

From hair extensions to relaxing head spa treatments, Hair + Co offers high-quality services in an atmosphere that feels friendly and comfortable. It’s less about luxury and more about making people feel good when they walk out the door.

MORE THAN BUSINESSES

Despite construction and economic challenges, Del Mar Plaza continues to stand strong — with free parking, friendly storefronts and business owners who genuinely care about their customers.

Both Carter-Rosier and Chevillet believe in showing up for the community that shows up for them.

Shopping here isn’t just buying a dress or booking an appointment. It’s supporting a dream, helping a neighbor and keeping West Garden vibrant.

At Unique Boutique and Hair + Co, customers quickly become familiar faces. Conversations last longer than transactions. Recommendations are honest. And every visit feels a little more personal.

Together, these women are building more than businesses — they are building belonging. They’re creating gathering places where creativity is encouraged, independence is supported and neighbors feel welcome.

Because sometimes the strongest communities are built one small business at a time.

cover story

A BOLD BEGINNING

Cheryl Clendenon and Libby Carver: The motherdaughter dynamic duo at In Detail Design Collective

By Liz Biggs / Photos by Kate Triek Photography

In Detail Design Collective is a successful Pensacolabased interior design project management firm founded by Cheryl Clendenon 25 years ago. Creating and building her business from the ground up, Clendenon’s firm has earned tremendous respect in the industry as well as many accolades and awards, including two recent 2025 Designer of the Year honors from the Interior Design Society.

Her design work has been published in over 100 magazines, including House Beautiful, Meredith Publications, Fine Homebuilding,Architectural Digest, Forbes, Martha Stewart, The Spruce, Southern Living and many others.

The story of how she developed her business is quite inspirational.

“Sometime in 1999, I sat on my recently divorced friend Harriet’s sofa in East Hill, panic-stricken, thinking my life was not going as planned — I had a 4and 6-year-old, a pretty brutal divorce and damn, I was so scared,” recalled Clendenon.

Fear and inertia hold most people back, but Clendenon let the fear propel her forward.

“My background was in sales and marketing, but I firmly believe everything I have done is what got me to where I am today and contributed to the growth and achievements of my firm. Every experience, both good and bad, is part of the mix. My first career required a lot of sales, creativity, problem solving, working with diverse people and being persuasive — all elements I embody today.

“Honestly, it was a ton of hard work, self-education, long nights, tears, fears and failures. There was no other option but success because I had two little people that depended on me and they thought their momma was the best,” said Clendenon.

Officially incorporated in 2001, In Detail began as a kitchen and bath specialist and then in 2007 began doing full-service design that has grown immensely with full home remodels and new builds.

Due to Clendenon’s vision and hard work, In Detail Design Collective is a design firm known for highly detailed work, complex problem-solving and a

IN DETAIL DESIGN COLLECTIVE

• What: Full-service interior design, renovations, home furnishings and plan reviews

• Where: 1514 N 9th Ave., Pensacola

• Hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. MondayThursday; 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday

• Info: 850-437-0636; InDetailInteriors.com

disciplined approach to both creativity and execution. Clendenon is actively involved in the architectural and spatial thinking behind every project her firm takes on — overseeing layout, flow, function and the decisions that shape how a home is built, renovated or transformed.

MOTHER-DAUGHTER DYNAMIC

After graduating from Florida State University and working for a furniture manufacturer, Clendenon’s daughter, Libby Carver, joined the firm as an associate designer.

“I really like the business end of it too and I blame my mom for this as she had me entering purchase orders at 12 years old,” said Carver.

According to Clendenon, the dynamic they have built works really well. Clendenon is the schematic designer most of the time, doing the heavy lifting for the plans and overall concepts of a remodel or new build.

“We work as a team on the initial design direction and concepts. I refine the schematic aspects and Libby refines the interior appointments. Liz Lapan, our vice president of operations, manages the client flow, orchestrations with contractors and, of course, keeps the rest of us on our toes. But the truth is we all have a say in every aspect. Libby and I are on hand to troubleshoot and provide design oversight once we are in construction,” said Clendenon.

“I am super proud of Libby being the lead on two first place awards we won this year from the Interior Design Society — and she was my co-designer on a project that was a finalist in the HGTV Designer of the Year awards. Libby is also a certified associate kitchen and bath designer from the National Kitchen & Bath Association.”

Clendenon feels the dynamic has been even tighter since the birth of her granddaughter, Elodie. Carver agrees.

“I didn’t think my mom and I could get closer, but then Elodie came along,” Carver said. “I will not lie and I think I speak for many first-time moms — it is really hard to leave her and go to work some days. Ok, every day!”

“But, being honest, I do not see myself as being a full-time stay at home mom. I like what I do too much and my mom worked, so I saw this modeled successfully. She began the business as a ‘mommy-centered’ business so she could take off for school events and never miss one of our games growing up. She may not have been the room mom bringing

“My mom respects my opinion, though, on most things, and I feel she values what I contribute to the team. We sometimes will hash out a design plan for a client and go back and forth, but we also have learned the art of compromise and the client gets the best of this as they have more than one creative working for them.”

— Libby Carver

the goodies and volunteering a lot, but she showed up in so many other ways and this is how I want to show up for my daughter.”

Working together as adults brings both strength and perspective.

“It is not easy working with your parent and having them see you as an adult. I think it is natural for parents to always see you as their babies — or teenagers perhaps.”

“My mom respects my opinion, though, on most things, and I feel she values what I contribute to the team,” said Carver. “We sometimes will hash out a design plan for a client and go back and forth, but we also have learned the art of compromise and the client gets the best of this as they have more than one creative working for them.

“I think this is a huge benefit as we do work as a team on most projects and all have our role but also have a say in the final outcome of what we present. I love that about working with both my mom and Liz.”

Clendenon agrees — even if their personalities differ.

“Libby has definitive ideas on the direction of the firm. She also wants that whole work-life balance thing that people her age seem to like. Libby keeps us very grounded, which I have always loved about her even as a kid. She will say to

me, ‘Mom, I love you so much but there are days when you are really A LOT,’” laughed Clendenon.

SUCCESS AND SUCCESSION

Clendenon has no plans to retire any time in the near future, but she is thrilled to have such a strong team in place with Carver and Lapan. That support allows her to do something she is passionate about — business coaching. Her trademarked Damn Good Designer brand is a multifaceted interior design business strategy coaching program.

“I have been working with other small businesses across the country for eight years and it has been very rewarding to see others thrive and build a business that is defined especially for them and their life goals. I would not have thought it 10-plus years ago, but I am loving developing business strategies for someone other than myself,” said Clendenon.

She also enjoys writing a monthly column for “Home Accents Today,” as well as hosting a designer-focused podcast with Lapan.

Carver is most content working with fewer clients but on high-quality projects.

“My mother would grow this place to infinity, I think — but then Elodie came along and she has rethought owning the world,” laughed Carver.

“I love that she has ideas all the time — and then sometimes I hate that she has ideas all the time! I am the more chill influence of the two, which is funny when you think I am the daughter here, but it’s just the way our brains are wired.

“We both get excited when we ‘hit it’ and ideas are clicking and we are in the creative zone. That is probably my favorite time with her at work — when we are working on a project side by side.”

“I do not enjoy when she nags about tracking my time or keeping up with our crazy project management system. I would say we are both passionate about design and creativity but I am quietly passionate and she is loudly passionate!”

According to Clendenon, Elodie might be the next generation to carry the firm forward.

“Her favorite thing to do right now at 11 months is to make me walk around with her while she points to things she likes.

“And interestingly enough in my house this weekend, she pointed to every single stinking piece of art I had on the wall and loved all the textural wallcoverings, so who knows — we may have a designer of some sort there!”

HAPPY 100TH local

Pensacola Symphony Orchestra!

By

The local cultural arts treasure called the Pensacola Symphony Orchestra traces its roots to a 12-year-old boy who found his passion while playing violin in a downtown Pensacola church concert.

In 1888, young Edwin Northup played his violin in a benefit concert at St. Michael’s Church to rave reviews. Northup went on to study engineering at MIT and marry pianist Louise Schmidt before returning to his hometown. But his early passion for music simmered, ready to be rediscovered when the time was right.

The Northups settled into their home at the southwest corner of Gregory and Spring streets, and the time to renew that musical passion was ripe. The couple regularly invited like-minded instrumentalists into their home to play together, eventually requiring a building jack under the gathering room to support the weight of the musicians and two grand pianos. The fledgling group called themselves the Pensacola Civic Orchestra.

For 100 years, the Pensacola Symphony Orchestra has been the soundtrack of our community. From parlor concerts to full orchestral performances, it has grown into a cultural cornerstone of the Gulf Coast. Today, more than 100 musicians carry that legacy forward, bringing music to life for new generations.

Meanwhile, other musical forces were surging in Pensacola with a desire to make the city a music stronghold, as many cities of the day were doing. Thanks to the converging efforts, the Pensacola Philharmonic Orchestra was formed in 1926 under the leadership of German immigrant John Borjes, offering the community free entertainment and a forum for musicians to grow their skills.

BEAUTY THROUGH THE STORM AND BEYOND

One hundred years later, the more than 100 musicians who comprise the Pensacola Symphony Orchestra regularly bring their magic to the Gulf Coast. Some members have played with the PSO for more than 40 years; two-thirds are from outside the threecounty area of Escambia, Santa Rosa and Okaloosa.

Conductor Peter Rubardt is wrapping up his 29th season with the orchestra. One memory from those years of bringing the healing power of music to the community is particularly poignant.

“In 2004, Hurricane Ivan wiped out our town and our opening night,” Rubardt said. “The Saenger Theatre was damaged, but we felt strongly that we should play,

so we moved the concert to Olive Baptist Church, and we changed the program to Beethoven’s ‘Ninth Symphony.’ Somehow we managed to gather a chorus and four soloists, scheduled two quick rehearsals and put on a free concert for the community. What a memorable example of the power of music.”

“That is the ultimate goal of the symphony,” said Executive Director Bret Barrow. “We endeavor to provide and teach music that connects, challenges, comforts and celebrates.”

SERENADING THE COMMUNITY

The symphony performs eight concerts at the Saenger between October and March. Yet its interaction with the community extends much further.

“We offer free performances in parks, libraries, galleries and community centers that allow people who may not otherwise come to a symphony concert to explore and enjoy classical music,” explained Julie Martin Green, who leads music education for the PSO. Healthcare and hospice centers as well as schools and memory care units are beneficiaries of symphony outreach.

“Last season, 42 PSO musicians

served more than 11,000 community members through 188 free community engagements,” Martin Green said.

Many Gulf Coast residents remember the excitement as fifth graders of getting dressed up in anticipation of a field trip to the larger-than-life Saenger Theatre to hear the symphony perform — “a touchstone for many students in our community for the last several decades,” Barrow noted.

Seaside Mother’s Day concerts at Pensacola Beach, Great Gulfcoast Arts Festival performances and, in recent years, July 4 concerts at Maritime Park are among a few of PSO’s gifts to the Pensacola area community.

Life often comes full circle. Much like the Northups more than 100 years ago, flutist and piccolo player Bethany Witter Wood and her husband, drummer Jordan Wood, love creating music with some of their favorite people in the community they call home. Witter Wood has been a PSO member for 25 years.

“I cherish being in this ensemble, which includes my husband and some of my dearest friends,” she said. “The orchestra is full of close-knit sections, and Peter Rubardt is truly an inspiring conductor.”

“At Reservoir, we celebrate the arts, flavors and community spirit that define Pensacola. Come refresh, refill, and replenish with us.” — Kristin Jones

Reservoir A place to connect profile

By Cynthia Reeves / Photos by Kate Treick Photography

As she was considering names for her restaurant endeavor, Pensacola native Kristin Jones sat down to relax with an evening devotional. The word “reservoir” appeared repeatedly:

“God is a reservoir of light. God is a reservoir of love. God is a reservoir of hope. God is a reservoir of peace.”

She knew then that Reservoir must be the name of this special place that needed a fresh life.

REVITALIZING A NEIGHBORHOOD

The Reservoir is housed in the historic Malamo Brothers corner grocery store near the Blake Doyle Skatepark on Haynes Street in historic East Hill. Built in the 1900s, the old store’s bones live on in a relaxed atmosphere with the Southern-inspired cuisine.

Guests may sit at tables made from wood salvaged from the 1800s-era house on the original site.

“Older guests can remember getting penny candy there,” Jones reflects. But the building had become a “negative space” over the years. There had been a fire, vandalism and homelessness.

All that changed in March 2025. Jones and her

WANT TO GO TO RESERVOIR?

• Where: 524 Hayne St., Pensacola

• When: 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. TuesdayThursday; 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday; 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday brunch; Closed Monday

• Info: 850-542-9999; reservoirpensacola.com; online ordering available

husband, Casey Jones, decided to lease the building and open the eatery.

Jones laughs that she didn’t know until last year that her husband — who has a hospitality business background — had been dreaming of owning a restaurant for the past two decades.

Now she manages daily operations, marking a new chapter after a career in education.

“I bus tables; I hostess. I’m happy to

clean dishes. I do everything!”

Jones grew up in the community, spending much of her time at First Baptist Church of Pensacola. She spent the last nine years teaching 4-year-olds at the church preschool.

“I had a heart for the children and the hugs and love they give, but I have a renewed passion in life. When guests come in, I go to every table and try to make a connection with them as well.”

The warmth and charm of the restaurant seem to mirror its owner’s driving mission. She often hears about the bright and energetic “vibe” of the restaurant, which she finds fulfilling.

“When someone walks in the door no matter their beliefs, what they look like, or their background, my hope is they feel nothing but kindness and acceptance.”

The atmosphere is simple, clean and modern. There are cozy velvet sofas to

lounge on in one corner and a spacious outdoor patio to relax on in the back. Children and dogs are welcome to play and run outside. There is cornhole, Jenga and a space for outdoor parties and entertainment.

CHEF-INSPIRED CUISINE

The warm atmosphere has made the restaurant an inviting neighborhood hub, but it is the outstanding food that defines it.

“At Reservoir, we celebrate the arts, flavors and community spirit that define Pensacola. Come refresh, refill and replenish with us,” the website boasts.

Jones found her chef by knocking on his car window while in the car line at their child’s elementary school one morning. She knew his reputation as a creative chef, so she offered him a chance to join her team and customize a menu to serve the neighborhood and skate park crowd.

Josh Brown, who grew up in New Orleans, has worked around Pensacola and Fairhope, Alabama, and embraces the “farm-to-table” concept.

Everything is made from scratch.

“There’s nothing but fresh ingredients — every sauce, every dressing.”

For the first few months, Reservoir

served only breakfast and lunch. They now have a full menu including craft beer and a hand-selected wine list. Brown and his team added several items to the menu in January.

Jones was thrilled that one of the first customers to try the new 16-ounce braised lamb shank was Pensacola boxing legend Roy Jones Jr. He reportedly ate one serving in the restaurant and liked the dish so much, he ordered another to go. The lamb is tender and juicy, served with garlic-whipped potatoes, lamb jus, cornbread gremolata, herb salad and pickled red onion.

The Basil Pesto Alfredo and sautéed mussels are also new additions. The mussels are unique, with a Caribbeanstyle sofrito, sweet peppers, garlic and lime juice inspired by sous chef Troy Larrabee’s family recipe from Colombia. Another signature dish is the Ponzu Crunch, a tempura-fried chicken thigh sandwich with Asian slaw.

Murder Point oysters are a local favorite served raw, fried or chargrilled. To top it off, a new must-have dessert is the NOLA-inspired vanilla bean crème brûlée topped with fresh fruit and whipped cream.

Jones says while she never intended

to be a burger place, she’s been told Reservoir burgers cooked in beef tallow and served with duck fat fries are “the best in town.”

GROWING REPUTATION

Hungry yet? Even though the business has only been open for a year, the Joneses’ historic preservation project, community gathering spot and Southern-style restaurant are getting rave reviews. Reservoir was named Best New Restaurant 2025 by Pensacola’s Inweekly.

Brown has been invited by Visit Pensacola to be one of two chefs appearing on the popular “Good Morning Nashville” show this month.

Jones says running a brand-new restaurant is the hardest work her family has ever done. She jokes it may even top raising toddlers, but she views everything that has happened in the last year as a “God wink” of sorts.

Stories about people gathering, sharing their love for food, giving back and enriching Pensacola’s heritage warm her heart. She feels as if all her staff are like family, and so are the guests.

This place was meant to be revitalized, and she looks forward to greeting everyone who joins her on the site.

profile

MUSIC has set the tone

Virginia Clark’s work is striking a chord with students that will echo far into the future

By Colette Boehm / Photos by Kate Treick Photography

“I’ve always played. I really feel like music set the tone for my life. It truly has led me to everything that I have now and everything I do now.”

That is how Virginia Clark described a journey that began when, as a 10-year-old, she started playing the cello shortly before her family moved from the Chicago area to Pensacola. That decision opened doors not only to a multidiscipline musical career, but also to the family she and her husband have made.

“I started playing cello in Illinois,” she recalled, “and when I moved, the orchestra director here was Cecil Clark, who ended up being my father-inlaw. So, I’ve actually known my father-in-law longer than I’ve known my husband.”

While studying with the longtime Northwest Florida musician and instructor, she met his son Jonathan, and the two have been together since middle school. They are now married with two children.

After becoming a certified music instructor, Clark taught in the Escambia County School District for 20 years and currently teaches in the Santa Rosa County system, adding a strings program to its offerings.

“I now teach at Gulf Breeze High School and Gulf Breeze Middle School,” she said. “It’s a part-time job, but it’s enough to be able to do what I love, teach, but still be able to perform and get all my rehearsals in. I get to teach and I get to perform. And I love both.”

That love includes performing as part of the White Tie Rock Ensemble and with the White Tied Quartet.

“I do love performing with the quartet,” she said, “because I get the best of both worlds. I can be playing some Mozart quartets, or I can be playing Led Zeppelin. That group scratches both itches, to be able to do both.”

Perhaps her biggest joy in music, is seeing young musicians blossom into successful performers. The quartet scratches that itch, also. Her fellow musicians in the group are all women who used to be her students. Originally formed to play with the orchestra, the foursome is known for “bringing the classics” to its live rock and roll experiences. The group now also plays gigs of its own, with both electric and acoustic sets.

“It’s fun to be able to play, performance-wise, with grown-up women who I’ve known since they were 10 years old,” Clark said.

Preparing those and many other 10-year-olds to become successful is something she is passionate about. In addition to her work in the school system, she is also the artistic director of ECHO, the Emerald Coast Honors Orchestra. This private organization’s mission is to nurture young musicians through providing them with performance opportunities and the tools and experience they need to persevere.

Unlike traditional youth orchestras, ECHO goes beyond the classical repertoire, specializing in performing music that connects with and inspires young musicians. From rock and roll to film and television soundtracks, the orchestra showcases a variety of sounds in a fresh, contemporary way in a variety of venues. Those performances include collaborations with the White Tie Rock Ensemble, where students have the opportunity to perform alongside professional musicians and explore a wide range of genres.

The overall experience, she noted,

teaches students that being the best musician is not always the key to success. ECHO allows her the opportunity to expand on the standard curriculum of public-school programs to help students achieve that success.

“Educationally, yes, we’re teaching them to the play instruments,” she said of public music education, “but we’re not teaching them how to show up on time, what to wear, what questions to ask, how to advertise, how to make a contract, how to book a gig.”

These are the things, she believes, that prepare students to have a sustainable career.

“Whether it’s while you’re a kid in college learning to play for weddings or whether you’re trying to be a professional touring musician, there’s a lot more that goes into that than just the playing of the instrument. It is step by step, solely based on the harder you work, the better you will be. And that benefits everything. I don’t care if you never pick up a violin again once you graduate. The fact that you’ve learned that working produces results and that working at a skill will make you better at that skill, is applicable to any field in

life. Whether you want to be a doctor, a professional athlete or whatever the case may be, that is the lesson.”

“You have to show kids,” she continued, “that there is a pathway that works for them. Or why would they invest their time and their effort? I think trying to be relatable, just being able to say, ‘Look, I was a kid that had a bad audition and sat in the back of the orchestra, but then the next semester, I was the kid who had a better audition and sat closer to the front of the orchestra.’ I think relatability is what makes educators successful.”

Clearly, Clark has become very successful in her efforts, as her young musicians mature and make their mark in the musical world. A halfdozen of her former students are now orchestra teachers. Others have become professional musicians. And one is currently serving as the president of the Florida Orchestra Association.

“By and large,” she noted, “my students have been so successful professionally in whatever they choose to do. It is rewarding to see. That truly is what I’m the happiest about professionally. Seeing my kids succeed.”

WHERE STORIES COME

Hally the Heron

A children’s book brings a father’s environmental mission to life on Pensacola’s Bayou Texar

“Hally the Heron at Home on the Bayou,” written by Carol Myers and illustrated by Leslie Scott is available at hallytheheron.com or at these locations: The Apple Market, Angel’s Garden, Bodacious Books, Prim in Proper and The J.W. Renfroe Pecan Co.

By Cynthia Reeves / Photos by Kate Treick Photography

“I am a humble heron, a bird that likes to walk in the shallow water by the shore.”

In the beautifully illustrated children’s book “Hally the Heron at Home on the Bayou,” written by Carol Myers and illustrated by her sister Leslie Scott, Hally tells his story about life on Pensacola’s Bayou Texar. The bayou holds a special place in the family’s history.

The book is dedicated to their dad, the late Philip A. “Hally” Payne, who lived in East Hill on the bayou when he was a young boy.

“We want kids to value what our dad valued as a local. He enjoyed living on the water, sailing, fishing and exploring,” Myers said.

In the mid-1970s, the family moved to the East Pensacola Heights side of the bayou during a period of high pollution in the waterways of Pensacola. Myers believes the development of Cordova Mall and the surrounding area led to stormwater runoff that collected in the bayou. Pollution resulted in fish kills and swimming bans. It threatened wildlife — the blue herons, dolphins, ospreys and pelicans.

Payne, a dentist, made it his life’s work to return the bayou to the pristine, magical place he remembered as a child.

“Our dad was instrumental in bringing the woes of the bayou to the attention of the Pensacola City Council, where he attended meetings for 35 years,” Myers said. They called him “The Bulldog” because he wouldn’t give up on his mission to clean up the bayou. Through his efforts and those involved in the Bayou Texar Foundation, the city purchased street sweepers to mitigate stormwater runoff.

After Payne died in 2005, the City Council honored the environmentalist with a new street sweeper with his name on the front. The bridge over Bayou Texar was also named the Dr. Philip A. Payne Bridge.

Myers wrote the book while caring for her mother before she died three years ago. She and Scott would look out at the bayou from their family home and see the impact of their father’s work.

“We would call it the nature show. A blue heron would visit the dock every day. The birds are kind of an indicator of the health of any ecosystem,” Myers said.

The thriving wildlife inspired the sisters to share their father’s legacy.

“So now the birds are back and the fish are back, and there’s dolphins in the bayou, and it’s great,” Scott added.

Scott painted the illustrations and presented them to Myers as a surprise for her birthday. She used Neocolor permanent wax pastels to create soft yet colorful portraits of the heron and his critter friends on the bayou.

“It was really a big gift for me that I could be a part of it. So, it was a two-way street there,” Scott said.

The story seems to be a simple day in the life of the blue heron, but it is actually a loving tribute to a man and his mission.

“I think he would just get the biggest kick out of the fact that we are kind of continuing his mission because in this story, we’re trying to expose kids to the things in Pensacola that we think are of value —the natural beauty,” Myers said.

She sees the heron character as her father’s essence living on.

The story ends with Hally the Heron looking out over his bayou home with pride — just like Payne did when he worked tirelessly to preserve it.

“Today my life is full. I look forward to another day standing watch over my beloved bayou home.”

Myers has more stories about Hally and his adventures that she hopes to publish one day. Her goal is to use a portion of the proceeds to continue to protect the bayou.

TOP: This chalk mural by Jessi Queen is part of Make Your Mark on Mentone, which changes seasonally.

FAR RIGHT: Mentone, Alabama offers scenic views. For those who want to spend time outdoors, both DeSoto State Park and Little River Canyon National Preserve are an easy drive away, in nearby Fort Payne, and have great hiking trails and beautiful scenery.

worth the trip

Mentone, ALABAMA

A welcome retreat for art lovers

Story and Photos by Colette Boehm

If you are looking for a quiet getaway to enjoy some beautiful scenery and a surprising variety of art, the tiny North Alabama town of Mentone is an excellent choice.

I had been to Mentone a few times to enjoy the fall foliage and to check out some hiking and birding locations, but my last visit was aimed at exploring the town’s art scene.

For a town with a population of only 342 residents, it is amazing that Mentone supports two thriving arts organizations and a calendar full of art-centered events. In addition, the “artistic spirit” of the community is clearly on display at many of this small town’s shops and businesses.

Highway 117 runs through the center of town, but don’t expect to find a classic downtown here. This central corridor is lined with local businesses and leads to scenic views over “the brow” to the valley below, or to waterfront views near Little River Falls.

The first spot for art lovers to check out is the Make Your Mark on Mentone mural, which changes seasonally. Artists are invited to create a scene, commissioned by a local arts group, to be displayed as part of a rotating collection of chalk murals. The mural is displayed in a downtown park on the grounds of the Mentone Inn, and provides a background for farm markets, festivals and other community events held at the park. Murals change every few months and reflect the seasons, stories and spirit of Mentone.

Just down the road, the Mentone Arts Center displays the work of more than 60 artists and makers who are inspired by the Lookout Mountain region. These artists either grew up in the area, live there or have a strong connection to the Mentone and Lookout Mountain area.

The works throughout the gallery include paintings in oils, pastels and watercolors, stained glass, pottery, woodwork, jewelry and more. The center hosts performing artists and serves as a listening room for special musical events including monthly free Songwriters in the Round sessions.

There is also a slate of classes offered, which Executive Director Randy Grider sees as an opportunity to make art more accessible and

TOP RIGHT, ABOVE: The Wildflower Café offers food, music and a gift shop. ABOVE LEFT: Juli Jordan, president of the arts council and former Pensacola resident, is the creative mind behind Hoot Owl Hollow.

WANT TO GO?

Hoot Owl Hollow

• Where: Mentone, Ala.

• Info: hootowlmentone.com; 256-273-9510

Wildflower Café

• Where: 6007 Ala. Highway 117, Mentone, Ala.

• Info: mentonewildflower.com; 256-634-0066

The Hatter Cafe & Country Inn

• Where: 4277 Ala. Highway 117, Mentone, Ala.

• Info: thehattercountryinn.com; 941-376-6810

Mentone Arts Center

• Where: 5951 Ala. Highway 117, Mentone, Ala.

• Info: mentoneartscenter.org; 256-674-3366

Little River Arts Council

• Where: 5866 E. River Road, Mentone, Ala.

• Info: littleriverartscouncil.org; 256-674-3366

less intimidating to all.

“We bring in visiting instructors for art classes,” Grider said. “That allows affordable classes for novices. We see about a 50-50 mix of locals and visitors. It’s fun for moms and daughters or couples. And so many of them will come back for another one.”

He said visitors are frequently art enthusiasts who are looking to get away and experience an “authentic” location. “I think there’s a ‘real’ feeling here in Mentone,” he added.

Little River Arts Council is another group focused on supporting and promoting the arts. The council hosts a small gallery and various programs on the campus of the historic Moon Lake Village. Programs throughout the year include pop-up art events, a summer music series and the annual Mentone Fall Festival, held each October. The group is also raising funds for the Moon Lake Arts Collective, a proposed public-access pottery and arts studio, to be added to the Moon Lake campus. The collective will also include a new art gallery for the council.

Juli Jordan, president of the arts council, is a former Pensacola resident

who moved to Mentone to live on family property, where she has created rental cottages that provide an art-filled retreat for visitors. Set amid forested land, Hoot Owl Hollow is just a short walk from Main Street but feels a world away. It offers three unique rental cabins. Conceived, designed, decorated and managed by Jordan, each offers a magical setting for a getaway.

“Ninety-nine percent of the people who stay here talk about how much better they feel, that they were able to relax and how quiet and peaceful it is. I enjoyed fixing the places up and providing the space, but I think it really feeds their soul. It does mine,” Jordan said.

The cabins are filled with art and creative touches and each has an outdoor sitting area perfect for taking in the sights and sounds of the vast, wooded property.

The popular Wildflower Café is a Mentone staple known for its funky, shabby décor and creative menu. The café incorporates local food and music, along with an artistic spirit, into its oneof-a-kind setting. From the abundance of native plants, to the gift shop filled with

Your local, trusted, family-owned pet destination. Meet and interact with puppies, kittens, and more before you decide — plus all the supplies and rewards to keep tails wagging.

local art and clothing, to the warmth of the various dining rooms, owner L.C. Moon is proud to have created a spot where patrons come for more than a meal.

“Food is one way to feed your soul,” she said, “but the Wildflower is a place where you can feed your soul through the experience, as well.”

The tomato pie is the café’s signature dish, but the menu includes Southern favorites, burgers and Caribbean specialties.

Nearby the Hatter Café is also a restaurant like no other. The Alice in Wonderland-themed spot is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner and has a list of specialty teas and coffees. The remodeled home was opened as a restaurant in 2018 by a couple who took to heart the quote fairy tale quote, “The secret, Alice, is to surround yourself with people who make you smile. It is then, and only then, that you’ll find Wonderland.”

Mentone has become a wonderland for those looking for a quiet getaway with beautiful scenery, eclectic art and authentic folks who love creating and sharing their work and their home.

out&about

Mix & Mingle with Sunday's Child

On Feb. 25, supporters gathered for an evening of food, connection and conversation hosted by Sunday’s Child. The nonprofit is dedicated to fostering a more inclusive Pensacola Bay Area that champions diversity, equity and equality, with a focus on uplifting the LGBTQ+ community. The mixer offered guests an opportunity to learn more about its mission and growing impact. Since its founding, the organization has awarded more than $1.2 million in grants to local charities.

out&about

P.A.C.E. Awards

On Feb. 24, the Pensacola business and civic community gathered for the annual Pensacola Area Commitment to Excellence Awards (P.A.C.E.) hosted by the Greater Pensacola Chamber of Commerce. The event shines a spotlight on the people and organizations whose leadership, innovation and service make Pensacola a thriving place to live, work and grow.

Photos by Toni Sparks / Short Story Studios

Lewis Bear III, KC Gartman, Rick Byars, Martha Saunders, Chip Simmons, Alicia Tappan, Bobby Potomski

Honorees included: Emerging Leader Bobby Potomski of Baptist Health Care; Advocate Leader Alicia Tappan of Survivor Led Solutions; Business Leader Rick Byars of Florida Power & Light; Community Leader KC Gartman of Baptist Health Care; Professional Leader Cyndi Warren of Warren Averett; Leader in Education Martha Saunders of the University of West Florida; Spirit of Pensacola recipient Lewis Bear III of Lewis Bear Company; and Pioneer Award Sheriff Chip Simmons of the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.

Benefiting Children's Home Society of Florida

Presented By The Sansing Family The 21st Annual

Honorary Chairs

The Klein and Marcy Miller Family

Portofino Island Resort Pool Deck

May 3, 2026

Scan the QR Code to Learn More

By Sharla Gorder

I before E, except after C? her perspective

I should’ve been born Catholic. So many of the rituals of the faith appeal to me — none more so than the Sacrament of Penance, or the Rite of Confession.

I, for better and for worse, have always been powerfully driven to “confess my sins,” and not just to some nebulous Higher Power, but to a real flesh-and-blood person, or perhaps even to the world at large, depending on the egregiousness of my transgression.

Get ready, World at Large, this one’s a doozy.

Forgive me readers, for I have sinned — well, maybe the word “sin” is not quite right. I mean I didn’t dishonor my father or mother, commit adultery or bear false witness against the Winns next door. In fact, I’m in pretty good compliance with all 10 of God’s biggies.

And no one got hurt or killed, unless of course my own ego counts. If that’s the case, then yes, I’ve come close to committing sin No. 6 on Moses’ Hit Parade of No-Nos. My ego has taken quite a beating, but it’s not dead yet.

But man, does it sting. Still. And it’s been over a month.

over the last year. I distinctly remember, about 600 books in, while at a signing at Sundog Books at Seaside, looking at the inscription and thinking, "Is that right?"

Then, in my head, the voice of a teacher (probably, Mrs. Brennan, the witch) knowingly replied, “I before ‘e,’ except after ‘c.’” Good, okay then. There is no “c” in seize. Phew.

Just a few weeks ago, I was rudely awakened at 4 a.m. — not by my husband’s snoring or the garbage trucks at the curb — but by a single word suddenly blaring in my head. I sat bolt upright in my bed, pressed my face into my hands, and whimpered, “Please, no.”

I stumbled downstairs to the office and grabbed the top copy on a stack of signed books on my desk. I opened it to the inscription page — Damn!

My latest book, “Crayon Dawn,” my proudest creative accomplishment to date, was blighted. I felt sick.

I have no idea what I had been dreaming that night that tipped me off, but something in my subconscious couldn’t take it anymore. Maybe my sixth-grade English teacher, Mrs. Brennan, the one who truly despised me for reasons I’ll never know, was making a cameo appearance in a nightmare, wagging her arthritic finger at me and smiling smugly, “And you call yourself a writer. Maybe you should learn to spell.”

Uh, yeah, maybe I should.

I stood gawking at my own, regrettably legible, handwriting on the bright white page of my pretty coffee table book. In bold, confident strokes of my special (indelible) book-signing pen, I had written, “Sieze the Dawn! Love, Sharla Dawn…” times 1,500.

Yes, I had written that sentiment in more than 1,500 books

I am such a good little rule follower, but that “i before e” rule should be stricken from the syllabus of every English teacher on the planet. It applies, in common usage, barely half the time. How was I to know?

My only hope was that each of the hundreds of folks in possession of a blighted book had had a Mrs. Brennan for a teacher.

My first thought, as I stood there in the gloom, was “I must tell no one!” Then, “I must tell someone!” And finally, for reasons I don’t fully understand, “I must tell everyone.”

I started with my husband, then my brother, then a near stranger in the parking lot at Publix. No relief from my debilitating shame.

Then it occurred to me. I’ll call Laura.

I hope everyone has at least one friend like Laura.

She’s the one who could talk even the most determined would-be jumper down from the ledge. She will know exactly what to say. She always makes me feel so good about myself.

There, again in a parking lot, this time my dentist’s, with much wailing and gnashing of teeth, I made my teary confession. And Laura, being Laura, absolved me — with sound reason, clever humor and genuine love.

I got off the phone with her and felt lighter — and also a little bit sheepish. Laura, at that moment, had a thing or two on her own plate; her elderly mother had just had a stroke, and her son was getting married in a week. She has also fought and won, not one but three battles with cancer.

And here I am wailing, “Help me Laura, I’m in crisis! I misspelled a word!”

She didn’t miss a beat. Love rarely does.

And so, World at Large, there you have it. My confession.

And my apology. Sorry about that. If you are in possession of a blighted book, your best hope is that I become immediately famous and then die tragically. Your book might then be worth even more than the $34.99 you paid for it.

One can only hope.

(Blighted books, as well as untainted ones, available at crayondawn.com. Specify your preference. I’m feeling pretty healthy right now — but you never know.)

By Liz Biggs

Hot tub time machine her perspective

We’ve had a trampoline in our backyard for almost 20 years. I have wonderful memories of the kids jumping on it — all four of them together trying to knock each other over (fry, bacon!) or individually when they learned how to do highflying flips and toe touches. If I ever felt lethargic during the day, I would go outside and jump to wake up and get my blood flowing. Alas, all good things must come to an end, and our beloved trampoline recently dry rotted and rusted beyond repair.

Now we have a big round patch of dead grass in our backyard that makes me sad. We’ve never had a pool, so I suggested to my husband that we get a hot tub. But I’m not sure if I really want a hot tub. Somebody would have to clean it and maintain it, and I hate the smell of chlorine. What I really want is a hot tub time machine.

If I’m being honest, I truly don’t want to go back in time and stay there. I worked way too hard to get to the comfy place that I’m in right now. And dang, I love all the amazing people in my life, especially my four Bigglets. But, oh how fun it would be to get in that hot tub time machine for just a little snippet of time — to relive a few glorious moments.

Where would my first stop be? Hmm, maybe Sacred Heart School? It was fun, but there was no air conditioning back then and I got bored in church a lot so maybe not. But I’d love to go back to those carefree days of playing paper football on classroom desks on rainy days. Remember folding paper into a tight triangle and flicking it over (but not off) the edge of the desk for a touchdown? And flicking it between your opponent’s thumb and forefingers for a field goal?

In eighth grade I was “going steady” with a sixth-grade boy. He had blue eyes, dark wavy hair and dimples. (All the popular eighth grade boys smoked cigarettes, and since my mom smoked, that wasn’t cool to me.) He would get a hall pass and I’d meet him at the water fountain, where we would nervously flirt and giggle until we were sent back to class. One day, he kicked a folded triangular-shaped note to me from the hall when the teacher wasn’t looking. It said, “Foxy” and had a pencil drawing of a cute girly fox and a boy with hearts for eyes. I think I smiled for three days straight. Of

course, we had to break up when I went off to high school, but I’ll never forget every Thursday when I jumped up onto the handlebars of his banana-seat bike and he took me to my piano lesson. We usually stopped at B&H, the convenience store next to J’s Bakery, for bubblegum. My piano teacher, sweet Dolly Davis, had a little hand sculpture on her piano. I was ordered to put my gum in the hand during my lesson, but could pop it back in my mouth after. Yes, I’d love to go back to a foxy-football-note-passing-eighth-grade Thursday in my hot tub time machine. High school didn’t have air conditioning either, so I wouldn’t stop there for long. Maybe I’d go back to the day I got my orange Gremlin and drove it into the parking lot for the first time, blasting the Gap Band’s “Burn Rubber on Me” (with the windows open, because my car didn’t have air conditioning either). Or maybe I’d go back to that one day in the hall outside the anatomy classroom where they were dissecting frogs and it smelled like formaldehyde. A popular, older boy — the Jordan Catalano of our high school — looked my way. The football player who made all the girls swoon when he would stick out his lower lip and breathe out, blowing his perfect hair up into the air, looked at me. I immediately looked behind me, thinking there must be a cute cheerleader. When I nervously looked back at him, he laughed and stared me straight in the eye. We only had one date — he drove a silver truck and loved country music, which I had never heard before. Every time I hear Johnny Lee’s “Lookin’ for Love,” I think of him. He was kind, and informed me he wasn’t looking for love so I should probably date someone my own age.

Would I go back to my college days? Probably the most fun four years of my life, but dang those classes were hard and I had to work too many jobs to pay for it. I’d transport back to Mobile for Mardi Gras though — Joe Cain Day was a blast. And maybe flash back for a few road trips and late nights.

But maybe we should just plant flowers in the sad patch of grass. Maybe I’ll just stay home in the air conditioning with all my vivid memories dancing in my head. Maybe it’s better to write about them than try to relive them.

Creation