16 maconmagazine.com | February/March 2026
Also inside
12 Editor's letter
19 Faces
28 Local Buzz: A new chapter
for public space in Macon
30 Local Buzz: Dr. Penny L.
Elkins Named Mercer
University's 19th President
31 Announcements
32 Foodie News
56 Grocery Woes: Food access
and the complicated
relationship between
communities and
grocery stores
60 Macon Chose Me:
Dr. Brandi D. Simpson
74 Eat what I eat: Papouli's
76 Fitness: Eat this, stay young
78 Will Robinson shares
why Downtown Macon
is the perfect place to
start a business
92 Interiors: Four thoughtful
kitchen ideas for
everyday living
94 Cups and Water:
The Sacred Table
98 Top 10 in the 478
100 Five minutes with…
Chelsea Hughes
ON THE COVER
Lettuce grows
in Macon in
the state's
largest and
most advanced
greenhouse.
Photo by Matt
Odom.
Contents | FEBRUARYMARCH 2026
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