Local Pulse Pensacola

07/30/2025

Brave By Nature: Hooves, Horns & Heroes 🦏
What do a first responder and a 4,000-pound rhino have in common? More than you’d think.

Over the next few weeks, Local Pulse Pensacola is teaming up with Gulf Breeze Zoo to spotlight some of our bravest community heroes—alongside a few of the Zoo’s most extraordinary residents.

First up: the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office. Sheriff Chip Simmons, Chief Deputy Tommi Lyter, and Chief of Staff Whitney Lucas met Soman, the Greater One-horned Rhino, for a one-of-a-kind experience.

From feeding him his favorite snacks to learning about his care and conservation, the Sheriff and his team discovered how strength, calm under pressure, and a protective nature aren’t just found in humans.

Stay tuned as more departments step into the wild to connect with the courageous animals who are brave by nature. 🐾🚓

More information on the Gulf Breeze Zoo through the link below.

https://localpulse.com/2025/07/brave-by-nature-hooves-horns-heroes/

07/30/2025

Jon Bon Jovi said it best:

“It’s my life / It’s now or never / I ain’t gonna live forever / I just want to live while I’m alive.”

That lyric? It’s a rally cry for all of us choosing to live intentionally.

To stand tall. To not back down. To care deeply. To move boldly.

To take up space and make our voices heard—not someday, but now.

Because this life? It’s ours!

-Melanie Luna, Health & Wellness Columnist
Local Pulse Pensacola

Follow the link below to read the full article.

Wellness

This ain’t a song for the broken-hearted… but it is a little love letter to anyone choosing to live fully, not just exist. Lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about quality of life. Not just how long we’re here—but how well we live while we are here. None of us know how much time we’ll get ...

07/29/2025

Congratulations to Holly Strickland on her new role as Executive Director of Autism Pensacola Inc.

Holly is a graduate of University of West Florida and has more than 20 years of administrative and operational experience.

Autism Pensacola has selected Holly Strickland as its new executive director. Strickland brings a wealth of experience and forward-thinking business acumen to the organization that serves individuals with autism and their loved ones throughout Northwest Florida. She has more than 20 years of admi

07/28/2025

Nominate a Pediatric Patient’s Family for a Healing Beach Getaway!

Do you know a family whose story has inspired you? A family that has shown unimaginable resilience, and they just need a reason to smile again?

The Ascension Sacred Heart Foundation is now accepting nominations for a former patient family or a current patient family of Studer Family Children’s Hospital at Ascension Sacred Heart to receive a special getaway to Destin, Florida, and they are inviting you to help them do so.

Details below.

When a child is facing a serious illness like cancer, life can feel like it’s been put on pause. Appointments replace school days. Hospital rooms take the place of playgrounds. And every family moment becomes one of managing medications, staying strong, and simply getting through the day. At Stude

07/28/2025

The University of West Florida has a new leader, and he’s been all in from day one.

Manny Diaz Jr., former Florida Commissioner of Education, officially stepped into his role as UWF’s interim president just hours after concluding his state post — and he wasted no time laying out an ambitious vision during a recent press conference.

Read below for details.

The University of West Florida has a new leader, and he’s been all in from day one. Manny Diaz Jr., former Florida Commissioner of Education, officially stepped into his role as UWF’s interim president just hours after concluding his state post — and he wasted no time laying out an ambitious v...

07/28/2025

Meet Andrew Frisbie—a Navy veteran, lifelong hospitality pro, and self-described empath with a laugh so distinct it once earned him “Best Laugh” in high school.

He is also the new General Manager of The Global Grill Tapas Bar and Restaurant.

He’s not just taking the reins; he’s continuing the legacy with humility, heart, and a whole lot of experience.

I sat down with Andrew to talk tapas, leadership, pig farms, and what makes Global Grill such a rare gem.

Lisa Long Lyter
Editor in Chief, Local Pulse Pensacola

For over two decades, Global Grill Tapas Bar and Restaurant has earned its reputation as one of Pensacola’s most beloved fine dining restaurants—known as much for its tapas cuisine as for its tight-knit team and low staff turnover. When sixteen-year veteran leader and General Manager Steve Balon...

07/27/2025

Parents, ever wonder what one week away from screens could do for your teen?

Think:
✅ Real friendships
✅ Confidence boost
✅ Reconnected faith
✅ A fresh perspective

Youth camp isn’t just fun, it’s transformative.

Click the link below to read why it might be exactly what your teen needs.

Karen Jolly, Local Pulse Staff Writer

In today’s fast-paced world, it’s hard to find space to breathe, especially for teenagers. Between school, sports, social media, and the constant buzz of group chats and notifications, today’s teens live in a whirlwind of pressure, comparison, and distraction. That’s why a simple week at you...

07/26/2025

We LOVE our dogs. But do we love washing our dogs? Now we do at and DIY dog wash! 🧼 🐾🫧

For just $10 you can treat your furry friend to a bath using shampoo, rinse, condition rinse, tick & flea control and a blow dry.

Video and details below.

I LOVE my dogs. I do not love washing my dogs. There is nothing fun about holding them in one place while simultaneously trying to spray the hose, scrub them down and not throw your back out while doing it. Over the last few weeks, I have driven past the On the Run Carwash at Cervantes and Scenic an

07/26/2025

“Tucked just off the beaten path, behind a Torii gate and the gentle sound of running water, lies a new wellness space in East Hill — Golden Hour Yoga & Tea House. More than a business, it’s a deeply intentional offering to the community. A place to pause, take a breath, and reconnect with yourself in a world that rarely gives us permission to slow down.

Earlier this week I spent over two hours sitting with Sydney over a pot of tea. I came to learn more about the space, but I left feeling something much deeper: seen, validated, affirmed.

This isn’t just a tea house. It’s a wellness space for real life — for the couple that's feeling burned out, the new mom needing a place to breathe, the person trying to reconnect with their body, or anyone simply craving a slower, more intentional pace.”

- Lauren Holler, Live and Love Wellness

Yoga class schedule and offerings can be found on their website: https://www.goldenhourpensacola.com/home

Tucked just off the beaten path, behind a Torii gate and the gentle sound of running water, lies a new wellness space in East Hill — Golden Hour Yoga & Tea House. More than a business, it’s a deeply intentional offering to the community. A place to pause, take a breath, and reconnect with yourse

07/25/2025

“When it comes to sharing, I believe the responsibility is actually the listening.

Have you ever heard something so profound and then completely forget who said it or where you heard it from?

This happened to me recently.

I can’t remember if I was talking with someone or listening to something, but I remember hearing this simple suggestion.

“When you pray, don’t forget to pause and listen.””

A Holy Moment born from a reminder to listen. If you take away anything from this post today, I hope it is the virtual hug I am sending.

Be blessed, not stressed and thank God it’s Friday. Click the link below to read!

https://localpulse.com/2025/07/there-is-power-in-the-listening/

Makenna Curtis
Holy Moments Columnist
Local Pulse Pensacola

I’ve always considered myself an open book. There is this natural comfort that I have sharing with others, and find that others too find comfort in sharing with me. This desire to share openly may be a result of having family members that studied psychology, life experiences that have shaped me, o

07/24/2025

“One thing you may have noticed about Lou and I over these past several weeks of sharing adventures with you is that we love to have fun.

With each experience or circumstance we find ourselves in, we are going to seek the fun in it. Fun seeking must run in our gene pool because it seems to come pretty naturally to both of us.

Call me biased, but Lou is my favorite person to have fun with. I know I can count on her to lighten the mood, make a silly expression, or bring the life of the party to any occasion.

This week’s adventure is a little more personal than most of our adventures that we’ve shared so far. This one hits closer to home. Quite literally, it IS about our adventure of finding our new home.”

We are excited to share this adventure with you! It is a part of our life’s adventure series that is pure, good, and exciting news.

Check out the full read here and keep on having fun! 🙌

Catch you next week,
Mak & Lou 💛

&Lou

One thing you may have noticed about Lou and I over these past several weeks of sharing adventures with you is that we love to have fun. With each experience or circumstance we find ourselves in, we are going to seek the fun in it. Fun seeking must run in our gene pool because it seems to come pr

07/24/2025

The 52 World and Pensacola Humane Society have partnered this summer for a pet adoption event! 🙌

TONIGHT and Saturday you are invited to come meet the sweetest fury friends looking for a family of their own. 🐶🐱

Have you been looking for a dog or cat to join your family? Don’t miss your chance! 💛

👉 For more information about the adoption event, The 52 World, and the Pensacola Humane Society, click on the link below.

https://localpulse.com/2025/07/a-fury-friend-adoption-event/

The 52 World is excited to team up with the Pensacola Humane Society to host two special Adoption Days! Pet adoptions will take place on Thursday, July 24, from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM and Saturday, July 26, 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM. On Thursday, July 24th meet some adorable cats and playful kittens eag