Home Care In Gulf Breeze, FL

When Carolyn Nguyen moved to the United States at 18, she didn’t know much English, but she did know her grandmother’s traditional Vietnamese recipes.

She made a career out of cooking in Seattle, where the restaurants she opened won awards for her from-scratch cooking, according to Nguyen. After making the decision to enjoy retirement, she made a trip to the Panhandle to visit a friend in Gulf Breeze, who got her thinking about how successful a Vietnamese restaurant could be in the Tiger Point area.

She took the suggestion seriously and found herself pressing her nose up to the window of the former Taste of Thai at 3475 Gulf Breeze Parkway. She found the owner, who offered to sell her the building, and she saw the restaurant’s potential to create something special. Now, the space will be transformed into Pho Gulf Breeze, slated to open on Dec. 1.

There, you can taste "real” Vietnamese coffee, not the stuff from the powder, Nguyen says.

"People who have had it in Vietnam are craving the good coffee (here)," she said.

You can also sample the nearly 30-hour-in-the-making pho broth, the special bones that “bring the flavor” out of the soup, the freshly sliced garlic, the premium-grade brisket, all the little touches that make the dish feel like home.

“I helped my grandma, always asking, ‘Grandma, what is that?’" Nguyen recalls of learning to cook as a child.

Even on a restaurant scale, she still prepares every plate like it's being served at her own family table.

“The reason why it tastes different is the ingredients,” Nguyen said.

The restaurant will have a cozy feel, seating up to about 50 people using both outside and inside tables, she said. The walls dressed with black and white photographs she brought back with her from Vietnam.

You may see her family members, who will be part of the restaurant with her, cooking in the kitchen. The whole experience should feel like you’re back in her grandmother’s home sharing a meal.

Aside from the signature pho, which is in the restaurant’s namesake, the restaurant will offer a variety of options from banh mi sandwiches to fried rice and chow mein.

The menu specifics are still being developed and will be finalized closer to opening day.

Once open, Pho Gulf Breeze will allow for dine-in service, carry-out service and delivery service through third-party services such as Uber Eats and Door Dash.

She hopes that the restaurant will bring a sense of pride to the city of Gulf Breeze for their Vietnamese cuisine.

"I'm very excited to do something special," Nguyen said.

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PENSACOLA, Fla. -- David Glassman spent 22 years in the U.S. Marines.

Glassman was a helicopter pilot. He says he got into it for selfish reasons, liked the uniform. But these days, the retired lieutenant colonel is all about helping other veterans, helping first responders, and giving back to a community that has more than its fair share of both.

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He received a number of nominations from our viewers to be featured as a veteran who makes a difference in his community.

Glassman got off to an inauspicious start in the military.

"I got the lowest possible score possible, to get a student aviation contract, AQT/FAR exam," Glassman said.

But he became a helicopter pilot. For about a dozen years, he flew the CH-53.

And after 22 years in the military, he retired in 2010. He decided it was time to serve others, and give back.

"Specifically, Col. Chris Holsworth was my CO down here, also known as Caveman, a widely known personality in this community," Glassman said. "And he just taught me what it meant to give back to others. He lived what it means, through his 28 years, to give until you can't give any more."

Glassman served as director of operations and community liaison for the Center for Strategic Military Excellence in Pensacola, looking for gaps in the services offered by the Veterans Administration. And he found some.

"On a personal level, I'd be remiss if I didn't acknowledge that the VA has taken very good care of me, but there's a reason there's such a need," Glassman said. "And why there's so many non-governmental organizations , veteran support organizations that are out there. That's because there are gaps in needed goods and services. If we can get back to that one word description of what's going on or what should be going on, it's outreach."

Outreach to help veterans deal with the physical, psychological or emotional trauma that often comes with military service. And outreach to connect veterans to other veterans who are going through, or have gone through, the same difficulties in making the transition to civilian life

"And for my purposes, there's no real transition," Glassman said. "And that's where the government is failing our veterans. There's not a real comprehensive transition."

To that end, Glassman created "Ahero", which stands for "America's Heroes Enjoying Recreation Outdoors."

It's a twice a year publication that essentially invites veterans, and now first responders, to get together and learn from each other while hunting, fishing, or golfing.

"What they need most is relationship," Glassman said. "They need to spend time with each other. And from that we can break down barriers to communication, and when you've serviced together they'll share things they may not share with a spouse, or anyone else. But they will share it with another service member."

Glassman's mother is the senior editor of "Ahero" magazine. Something he's especially proud of.

He's also on the board of directors for the Veterans Memorial Park Pensacola Foundation, and has been instrumental in finding the people and the funding behind many of the memorials there.

PENSACOLA, Fla. − The death of a Florida plastic surgeon’s wife is under investigation after she experienced multiple medical complications while undergoing several procedures at his office.

Hillary Brown was receiving procedures on Nov. 21 from her husband Dr. Ben Brown at Restore Plastic Surgery in Gulf Breeze when she seized and went into cardiac arrest, according to an emergency response report and her family.

After a week of being in a coma, her family said she was taken off life support because she had gone without oxygen to her brain for too long and her organs were donated. The death is being investigated by the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office.

Hillary Brown, 33, was the mother of three young children by a previous marriage. She and her husband, 40-year-old Ben Brown, had been married for about two years. While Ben Brown faces previous malpractice lawsuits, her parents are left wondering what might have happened to their daughter.

What happened during Brown's death? Cause under investigation

Ben Brown called 911 from Restore Plastic Surgery office around 4:15 p.m., on Nov. 21, according to a Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office incident report viewed by Pensacola News Journal, part of the USA TODAY Network.

The emergency call notes indicated a female patient was in cardiac arrest after potentially being overmedicated.

“I interviewed the medical technician (name redacted) who advised the patient is Hillary E. Rogers Brown, who is currently Dr. Brown’s spouse,” a deputy wrote. “Hillary Brown was in the process of several surgical procedures when she experienced several seizures and then went into cardiac arrest.”

The Santa Rosa County Sheriff's Office "frequently (conducts) death investigations when the death was unexpected or the death occurs under unusual circumstances," spokesperson Jillian Durkin said in a statement regarding Hillary Brown’s death.

“The cause and manner of death is pending the receipt of the autopsy protocol from the District One medical examiners office. The autopsy protocol typically takes several months as it usually is dependent on extensive laboratory and toxicology tests as well as the information gathered by our Major Crimes detectives concerning the circumstances of the death,” Durkin said.

Hillary Brown's family devastated and looking for answers

Hillary Brown's parents, Marty and Dixie Ellington, were shocked and devastated about the death of their daughter. They arrived at the hospital when Hillary was still in a coma after a frantic call from Ben Brown telling them to come from their home in Texas right away.

Her parents said she was “full of fire and energy” since she was a girl, and are left wondering how she was here one day and gone the next.

Marty Ellington said that Ben Brown told him that he was out of the medication they typically use, so he used something different. Ellington was left wondering why there was not more staff or equipment present to utilize in case of an emergency.

“We want answers,” said Marty Ellington. “We haven’t been given answers. If it’s a mistake, it was a mistake, but it doesn’t bring my daughter back, you know. I don’t want his money. I don’t want anything. All I want is an answer because I think that we owe that to my daughter.”

In a social media post from Nov. 24, Ben Brown wrote about his wife’s coma.

“We need prayers for a miracle. Hillary had a cardiac arrest on Tuesday afternoon,” he wrote. “We called 911 and started CPR. Her heart came back but her brain is not doing well...Hillary Ellington Brown you are my soulmate, my world, my everything. Please come back. Please!”

Practice faces previous malpractice lawsuits

Ben Brown's practice, Restore Plastic Surgery, has two malpractice lawsuits open against it, though only one lists Ben Brown as a defendant.

In that case, plaintiffs Wendy and William Carden allege that Ben Brown used "foreign materials" in a post-mastectomy reconstructive breast surgery without Wendy's consent in 2018, causing infection and sepsis at the surgery site.

The suit also accuses Ben Brown of "negligently failing to periodically monitor the position of the upper extremities," claiming that Wendy Carden suffered nerve damage and other permanent injury due to the extension and position of her arms during the prolonged surgery.

The case is still ongoing in Escambia County Circuit Court.

Ben Brown's family says 'mistruths' circulating online

Public relations firm Red Banyan provided a statement on behalf of Ben Brown's family Thursday, saying "his deep grief and shock is only compounded by many mistruths circulating online and in the media."

“Ben is completely devastated by the sudden loss of his loving wife Hillary, and is desperately trying to understand how to live one day, never mind a lifetime without her by his side," the statement read.

It also stated that Ben Brown was performing "minor and routine" services during Hillary Brown's medical emergency, all medical protocols were followed, and additional medical staff were present at the time of the procedures.

"Our lives have been permanently upended by the loss of Hillary and we will forever keep her in our hearts.”

With 20.3 seconds left in the game, West Florida trailed by five points.

The Jaguars stood on the Gulf Breeze 16-yard line – thanks to an untimely roughing the passer penalty against the Dolphins – and West Florida drew up a pass play. Quarterback John Nicholas had his mind made up before the ball was even snapped: he was going to throw across the middle since Gulf Breeze’s safeties were playing a little wide.

But the option wasn’t there.

Then Nicholas decided to roll out of the pocket to give himself more time and to find another receiver.

No one was open.

“Then I was like, ‘You know what? I’m gonna go get it,’” he said.

Nicholas ran up the middle of the field for the 16-yard touchdown with 10.5 seconds left in the game. The ensuing two-point conversion pass from Nicholas to Val Johnson gave West Florida a three-point advantage.

After two incomplete passes from Gulf Breeze in the remaining 7.6 seconds, West Florida ended its regular season with a 35-32 nail-biting victory over the Dolphins on Thursday at Marlon L. Bullock Field.

“Coming into that drive, I told myself, ‘There is no way we’re not going to go out here and score,’” Nicholas said. “That was just my mentality. … When everything broke down and nothing was there (on the last play), I just went for it.”

“We’ve always told John, ‘Find the (running) back, or run it.’ … He knew what the game situation was, and he took advantage of it,” West Florida head coach Harry Lees said. “He used some guts and got it done.”

Gulf Breeze initially had the upper hand with back-to-back touchdowns in the first quarter, forcing two three-and-outs from the Jaguars. But then West Florida started to find its offensive spark, starting with a 23-yard touchdown pass from Nicholas to Marquez Jones on a wheel route after running up the sideline.

The Jaguars, after scoring their second touchdown of the night on a 6-yard run up the middle from Nicholas, gained some momentum after Andre Caldwell intercepted a Battle Alberson throw that was tipped up in the air.

While West Florida didn’t score before halftime, but scored on its first drive in the second half. Nicholas connected with Josh Spears on an 8-yard touchdown reception to give the Jaguars their first lead of the game.

The teams continued to trade offensive shots and gave the lead back and forth during the second half. Late in the fourth quarter, West Florida couldn’t convert on a fourth down that put Gulf Breeze back on offense.

With Gulf Breeze in the West Florida half of the field, on third-and-11 after the Dolphins were called for a false start, Alberson went to pass. Caldwell, again, had a big play, swatting down the throw almost immediately after it left Alberson’s hand. Gulf Breeze was forced to punt on the next play.

There was only 2:10 left in the game – but that’s all West Florida needed for the comeback victory.

“It’s about time something good happened,” Lees said. “We had a tough loss (last week). We had to see if we could just come back. Like we’ve been preaching all year, we made a way. … Gulf Breeze, they’re the real deal. Everybody we play is good. Gulf Breeze brought it. I’m just happy for our guys.”

Gulf Breeze ends its 2023 season with a 3-7 (2-2 District 1-4S) record under first-year head coach Jeff Gierke.

“All year, we just couldn't find a way to get a stop we needed to or make a play when we needed to to seal the game. There's probably four losses, where we just got to make one play and we win, and we just can't seem to do it,” Gierke said. “I feel really bad for these seniors, they played so hard. They've done everything asked them to do, but just came up on the short end a bunch of times.”

West Florida (4-5, 1-2 District 1-2S) ended its regular season on Thursday as well. Ranked 10th in Region 1-2S, the Jaguars trail seventh-ranked Marianna for the final at-large berth for the regional playoffs.

And after a win like Thursday’s, plus with the scheduled West Florida played in the season, Lees thinks his team deserves that at-large bid.

“Everybody we know, and everybody we’ve played, knows that we’re a good football team. We played over our heads. We’ve done it week in and week out, and we’ve battled,” Lees said. “For a state to sit there and let teams schedule 1R schools, I guarantee if those teams play our schedule, they don’t have four wins – period.”

Ben Grieco is a sports reporter for the Pensacola News Journal. He can be reached on X (@BenGriecoSports) and via email at [email protected].

Veterans Day just isn't enough to thank U.S. military veterans for their service and sacrifice, so how about a Veterans Week?

Florida Rep. Michelle Salzman, a U.S. Army veteran, led legislative efforts to establish a celebratory statewide Veterans Week, which includes the traditional Veterans Day, Nov. 11. This year, Gulf Coast Veterans Week will be celebrated with a slate of activities including music, comedy, a kickball tournament and art events. And, of course, two biggies - the traditional Veterans Day Ceremony and Parade on Veterans Day, Nov. 11.

This year, Veterans Memorial Park received a grant from Pensacola's Foo Foo Festival - a month-long citywide arts and cultural celebration - to host "Week in the Park," which is just part of Gulf Coast Veterans Week.

"The whole objective is to pay tribute to and to help veterans," said Navy veteran Niels Anderson, a member of the Veterans Memorial Park board and one of the organizers of Gulf Coast Veterans Week. "A lot of veterans have some problems with transitioning (to civilian life) and we hope this week will help them. Music is therapy. Laughter is therapy. We're celebrating and honoring those of us who served - and our families who allowed us to do so."

Here's a peek at the Week in the Park events, which all take place at Veterans Memorial Park on Bayfront Parkway:

Though not at the park, there will also be a Veterans Memorial Park Foundation Fundraising Dinner & Concert beginning at 5 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 11 at First Baptist Church of Pensacola, 500 N. Palafox St. The event will feature a musical performance by Mac McAnally, guitarist with Jimmy Buffett's Coral Reefer Band. He is, like the recently deceased Buffett, a singer-songwriter and two of his singles were hits on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and six more on the Billboard Hot Country chart. The concert and dinner event will also feature a silent and live auction. Tickets are $150.

More to do:Greek Festival, Greater Arts Fest, Foo Foo Fest: Your guide to Pensacola fall festivals

For details on all "Week in the Park" events, go to Veterans Memorial Park of Pensacola Florida (veteransmemorialparkpensacola.org).

The "Week in the Park" is just part of Gulf Coast Veterans Week.

Separately, the Pensacola Beach Veterans Day Parade will be 2 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 11. A program honoring veterans will be conducted at the Casino Beach Pavilion immediately after the parade. The Veterans Day Parade is sponsored by Pensacola Beach Elks Lodge # 497. The parade includes over 60 veterans from all branches of service and multiple tours of duty from WWII to current conflicts. Multiple organizations will also participate in the parade to honor our veterans, including the Gulf Breeze High School band, McGuire’s Pipe Band, and twelve Veterans from the Blake Assisted Living Facility. The parade route will be on Via DeLuna Drive and proceed west into the Casino Beach parking lot and end at the pavilion where a ceremony honoring veterans, POW/MIA and active military will be conducted.

Grand Marshall and primary speaker for this year’s parade is Col. Allison Black, commander of the 1st Special Operations Wing, Hurlburt Field, Florida. Also serving in the parade is Chief Master Sgt. Joey R Meininger, 1st Special Operations Wing, Hurlburt Field, Florida. Any veteran wishing to participate in the parade may contact Donna Cahill at 850-516-8533.

Others events include:

Gulf Coast Veterans Week also coincides with the 2023 Blue Angels Homecoming Show, Friday and Saturday at Naval Air Station Pensacola.

"The whole week is designed to get the veterans and their families out with the rest of the community," said Navy veteran Rob Gregg, a Veterans Memorial Park board member and director of TRIO Veterans Upward Bound at Pensacola State College. "Veterans Week has definitely grown from last year and there are a lot of activities that we hope will help bring veterans and the community together."

Anderson said planning the Veterans Week schedule took community and corporate support.

"It means so much when corporate America steps up to help us help veterans,'' he said, noting Marine Max Pensacola's platinum sponsorship of Gulf Coast Veterans Week. "Events like these wouldn't be possible without businesses like them."

For information on all Gulf Coast Veterans Week events, go to Veterans WeekUS.