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DOWNTOWN CROWD JANUARY 2019
Editor’s Letter
Publisher Malcolm Ballinger Owners Malcolm & Glenys Ballinger
CONTENTS
Gina Castro, Editor
Executive Editor Kelly Oden Editor Gina Castro
9
Art Director Guy Stevens Graphic Designer Bara’ah Jaraiseh Editorial Assistant Dakota Parks Advertising Account Executives Paula Rode Paula@ballingerpublishing.com Geneva Strange Geneva@ballingerpublishing.com Becky Hildebrand becky@ballingerpublishing.com For advertising rates or news tips contact Phone: 433-1166 · Fax: 435-9174 DOWNTOWN CROWD is published by Ballinger Publishing. Offices located at 314 N Spring St., Ste. A, Pensacola Florida 32501 Published by Ballinger Publishing
Downtown Crowd is locally owned and operated. It is published monthly for distribution in Pensacola, Florida. All Right Reserved. Reproduction or use of the contents herein is prohibited without written permission from the publisher. Comments and opinions expressed in this magazine represent the personal views of the individuals to whom they are attributed and/or the person identified as the author of the article, and they are not necessarily those of the publisher. This magazine accepts no responsibility for these opinions. The publisher reserves the right to edit all manuscripts. All advertising information is the responsibility of the individual advertiser. Appearance in this magazine does not necessarily reflect endorsement of any products or services by Ballinger Publishing. © 2020
“New year, new me” is a big pile of, for the sake of keeping this note PG, baloney. This is probably the adult version of “Santa doesn’t exist,” but no, 2020 will not be your Princess Diaries moment. And admit it, beneath the glasses and frizzy hair, we all knew Anne Hathaway was hot. Whenever you try to completely reinvent yourself, you just end up bumming yourself out. I graduated from the University of West Florida a week ago, as of the day I’m writing this letter. As I walked across the stage at graduation, I realized that I’m officially an "adult adult." I can’t just keep putting off major decisions like applying for law school or graduate school because “I’m just a college kid.” You know how that realization made me feel? Straight up uncomfortable.
group of mostly buzzed runners called the Hash House Harriers. If you join this anonymous group, you’ll get a pseudonym that is loosely based off your street cred. You can learn more about this unconventional running group later in this issue. We have a friend, Grace, who decided to kick her bad habit by taking a step into the uncomfort zone. You can read all about her visit with a hypnotist in this issue. We talk a lot about “new year, new me,” but have you heard about “new year, new city”? We handpicked local music, podcasts, hobbies and fashion to help you see Pensacola in 2020 vision.
If you need something to look forward to in the new year, our Military Matters section has you covered. World War II veteran Woody Williams is fundraising to build a Gold Star But as I sat through the rest of Memorial Monument to pay the ceremony thinking about tribute to families who have my uncertain future, I realized lost a family member in serI kinda like feeling uncomfort- vice. You can learn how your able. I am finally starting a new donation can make a differyear where I don’t have the road ence in this issue. This section mapped out before me, and it’s also features a UWF graduate absolutely exciting. student’s journey to a WWII bomber crash in Alaska. 2020 is the opportunity to take risks that take you out of your Cheers to feeling straight up uncomfort zone. By “risks” I don’t comfortable in 2020! mean joining your local street gang or petting a feral cat. Although, those are fair guesses. However, I do suggest joining a
G. Castro
10
Seeing
Pensacola in 2020
14
16
26 9 Jo Rich Beauty Bar 10 The Hash House Harriers 13 5 Questions with Creatives: Dago Martinez 14 Pineapple Express Rice Bowls
16 Seeing Pensacola in 2020 21 Kicking Bad Habits 24 Calendar 26 Military Matters
DOWNTOWNCROWD.COM | 7
JAPAneSe
NEW YEAR CeLeBrAtiOn
Saturday, January 11, 2020
noon - 4 p.m.
The Wright Place • 80 E. Wright Street, Pensacola, FL 32501 • Doors open at 11:30
10 $6
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AdultS
Students & MilitAry
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FREE
Children 12 & under
FREE
with i.d.
Credit cards & checks accepted for admission/ membership, but some vendors may be cash-only. Advance tickets available at Sake Café and Kyoto.
w w w.jasnwfl.org
Calling All Divas Jo Rich Beauty Bar Opens on Palafox By Gina Castro
Have you ever heard of the “lipstick effect”? It’s a psychological phenomenon in which wearing makeup can give individuals a confidence boost. Wearing makeup can give you the dose of confidence you need to strut your stuff. In fact, that’s the reason why Joellen Rich decided to open Jo Rich Beauty, a beauty bar located on Palafox. “I really love the look on a woman's face when you do her makeup or help her with an issue she has been struggling with,” Rich said. “It’s just an amazing feeling to empower other women, and that's one of the reasons why I wanted to open Jo Rich Beauty.”
“I started messing around with makeup five years ago. I actually didn't even know how to put it on correctly,” Rich said with a laugh. “It was something that started because I had a little bit of postpartum depression with my second son. I wasn't feeling very good about myself, so everyday, I made a point to put red lipstick on. From that point, it snowballed into this, and I became a makeup artist and an esthetician.” Rich, along with her five other employees, is a licensed esthetician and makeup artist. An esthetician is a person who specializes in the beautification of the skin, so they do services such as facials, lash lifts and eyebrow tinting. Rich is also hyapen certified. Hyapen is a needleless procedure that sprays Hyaluronic acid into the skin. You can use it
< Owner Jo Rich and Dawg
"
I really love the look on a woman's face when you do her makeup or help her with an issue she has been struggling with.”
Makeup by Jo Rich
<
Rich didn’t start out as the all knowing beauty guru she is today. She started off with just the basics: red lipstick and some mascara. It snowballed from there.
to plump your lips, smooth out fine lines and wrinkles. It's an alternative option to using botox and fillers.
Jo Rich Beauty offers a wide range of beauty services including anti-aging facials, Microdermabrasion, special event makeup, and eyelash and eyebrow tinting. You can read more about their services on their website jorichbeauty.com. You can also use the beauty bar as an event space for bridal parties, birthday parties or just a spa day with the girls. Rich said that the beauty bar will also host master classes in makeup. They partnered with Dr. Kevin Welch who is able to inject botox in clients. They also partnered with Robert Casey who is an emmy winning New York based makeup artist. Casey is from Gulf Breeze. Rich said that he will be at the beauty bar every other month to teach master classes for makeup artists and non makeup artists. To stay up to date with Jo Rich Beauty, follow them on Facebook and Instagram at @jorichbeauty. DOWNTOWNCROWD.COM | 9
Not Your Conventional Running Club Hashers flaunting their Red Dress attire in New Orleans
By Dakota Parks
Knee-high socks, plaid kilt skirts, vests covered in patches, handmade necklaces that double as name tags, and beers in hand: this is what a pre-lube looks like with the running group, the Hash House Harriers. The pre-lube is just the start of the debauchery— the warm-up before the run. The Hash House Harriers were formed nearly 80 years ago in prewar Malaysia by a group of British colonial officers looking for a way to run off their hangovers, promote physical fitness, quench their thirst for beer, and keep their older members feeling young. Now, hashing, as it is called by members, has thousands of chapters, or kennels, stretching across all seven continents. 10 | DOWNTOWNCROWD.COM
Downtown Crowd sent me out to get the scoop first-hand by going on trail with the local hashers. Despite running with a torn ligament in my knee, I was met with an outflux of support as members even stopped to help me hurdle a lowlying wire fence. What I did not expect to discover in this group was a tight knit family that spans coast to coast, worldwide. The local kennels in Pensacola are Survivor H3 and East Hill H3, while Siete Cerveza H3 and Emerald Coast H3 are based out of Fort Walton. “Hashing is a combination of two different things. It’s a British game, ‘Hare and Hounds,’ and that’s the reverse tag game where the hare is hiding and you have to find them. Then, there’s the Malaysian side of it: ‘paper chase,’ where one person
goes out and creates a running trail with little bits of paper or toilet paper and the others have to find them. They’ve basically combined the two of those games into what is now known as hashing,” said “One Two” age 26 from Siete Cerveza and Emerald Coast. At every trail, a hare leads the way leaving clues like chalk marks or dashes of flour along the trail for the group of hounds, or runners to find. However, it’s not as simple as a game of tag or even a scavenger hunt—there are false trails, backchecks, song checks, mid-run beer checks and most importantly: the hare always lies. Trails can vary in complexity, length, and terrain. Survivor H3, for example, loves a “shiggy trail,” the rough terrain with mud, briars, and unkempt trails.
“Length of the trail depends if it’s in the shiggy, a pavement pounder, a pub crawl, or a ball buster (half marathon). As a general courtesy, they will let you know ahead of time if it’s going to be a long trail. That’s part of the inclusivity of hashing: no one gets left behind. Survivor has trails between 3 and 5 miles, but the average trail is about 2.5 miles,” said “Poppins” age 50 from Survivor. Traveling is a big part of hashing. Members travel across the globe to meet new people and hash with new kennels. Social media has made it even easier to meet new hashers and kennels. “I’ve hashed in Germany, Brussels, Korea, Okinawa, Florida, New Orleans, Mississippi, Alabama, Geor-
gia, and Ohio, but realistically that’s not even a lot of places. There are groups that only travel-hash. Different kennels have wildly different trails. When I was in Korea, we hopped on the train, went 13 miles outside the city and literally ran through rice paddies all the way back,” said “One Two.” While members cross kennel lines and even travel to hash with new kennels, they all have a “mother kennel,” which is either the kennel where a hasher first runs and/ or is given a “hash name” by. Hash names are often raunchy, hilarious and tell a story through the name. Once a member runs enough trails to make an impression on their kennel, they are named. “Hash names are a way to remain anonymous and really emerge into our community. There’s a lot of potential for people with different occupations and backgrounds to get involved. If you have high military clearance or a career that would disagree with our debauchery and shenanigans, hash names keep you private. There are some hashers that I have no idea what their real names are,” said Liz, age 37, Grand Master of Survivor H3. From landscapers to doctors, lawyers, politicians, teachers and a large population of military members, the members of Hash House Harriers come from diverse backgrounds. Despite the median ages of 25 to 45, members can be as young as 21 with some hashers running trails into their 70s. Members come together to support each other, drink beer and raise money for charity.
“Nun & Dun” and Dakota Parks at the 2019 Tour duh Snowball hash in Pensacola.
We asked for "faceless" photos - the hashers delivered.
"
What I did not expect to discover in this group was a tight knit family that spans coast to coast, worldwide."
“That’s my favorite thing about hashing. No matter what’s going on, or what event is being hosted, it’s never for profit. Every excess penny goes to charity. So, you get to run around like a hooligan, drink, share laughs with this community of people, and know that you’re still doing the world good,” said “Nun & Dun” age 26 from Siete Cerveza.
One of the most famous international Hash House Harrier events is the Red Dress Run. The run originated in San Diego in 1987 and quickly spread to major cities like New Orleans, Beijing, Montreal, Ho Chi Minh City, Helsinki, Moscow and Tokyo. As the event grew, some cities opened them up to the general public and not just hashers. Quite possibly the largest event worldwide, The New Orleans Red Dress Run to date has raised close to $2.5 million for over 100 different charities. Red Dress is just one event where hashers raise money for charity. The local kennel, Survivor raises money at a variety of fundraisers. In 2017, Survivor donated their largest amount ever raised at $9,000 to Arc Gateway in Pensacola. They’ve also donated to My Father’s Arrow and Favor House in the past. They just recently made an early donation to the Pensacola Humane Society in December 2019 to replenish their low food supplies.
Whether you’re a beer drinker or completely sober, a runner or an avid walker, a competitive athlete or an average Joe, hashing is an allinclusive community. The only way to find out if hashing is a fit for you is to bite the bullet and hash a trail. To find out more about upcoming events and local kennels, visit gotothehash.net or look up the local kennels by name on Facebook.
"On On" is shouted on trail to let other hashers know they're on true trail
DOWNTOWNCROWD.COM | 11
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CRE ATIVES DAG O M ART IN E Z BY G I N A CA STR O
All of us have a little rebel inside telling us to be different-- to take risks. Some spend their lives taming their rebellious nature. While others are happy to take a leap of faith. Dago Martinez is a rebel. Born and raised in Venezuela, Martinez decided to forge a new path in Pensacola. In just his three years here, he graduated from Pensacola State College’s graphic design program and now works as a junior graphic designer at HatchMark Studio. You can see Martinez’s work on his Instagram @mrtnz_design or on his website www.behance.net/dago_mrtnz. Becoming a graphic designer wasn’t a part of your original plan. So what set you on the path to becoming a graphic designer? Art has not always been part of my life. Back home, I was going to college to be a doctor. When I came to the United States, I decided to be a rebel or "a practical rebel," as we like to define ourselves in HatchMark, and go for what I knew deep in me would make me happy. I decided to change my major and go for graphic design because that's what I really loved. Even though I started drawing before I went to college, I wasn’t that good, so I got better once I started going to school. After taking a couple of drawing classes, I fell in love with it.
Spanish because I went to college in the U.S. and I work for a magazine here, so most of the stuff I do professionally is in English. So, drawing and lettering in Spanish is just a way for me to get away from what I make professionally and just do something for fun-- for me. It takes me back to my culture and where I came from. I'm currently working on a couple of illustrations inspired by my country. That’s something I haven't done. I’m using one of the most famous singers from Venezuela; his name is Simón Díaz. He’s an inspiration for a couple of the illustrations I will be creating in the next couple of weeks. I’ll be posting that on my Instagram.
What is your process for lettering? Is it mostly handwritten or digital or a combination of both? It depends on my mood. There are times I start with just a piece of paper and a pencil, and I just go from there, and then I illustrate it on the computer or on my iPad. As far as my process, I just need to find a quote that I want to illustrate then I look for inspiration. One technique I use is to take photos of anything that catches my attention because I never know when I will use it. I would like to tell you that I look for inspiration in something or someone specific, but it is not like that. I do not like to be typecast in a specific style of illustration. I like to seek inspiration everywhere or on anybody in order to stay fresh. As far as my process, I do something that I like to call "Frankenstein." I take a couple of references, I combine them and then I apply the style that I want to experiment with.
You’ve had your work displayed on a variety of platforms such as lanyards, posters and tattoos. Do you have a favorite platform to display your art on? I like posters because you can bring them up to any size. Another thing that I want to do is create T-shirts with my illustrations, which is another thing I’m working on.
I see some of your lettering is in Spanish. How else do you incorporate your Spanish heritage into your work? I’m originally from Venezuela. My first language is Spanish. I like drawing and doing lettering in
So, Dago, you just finished Pensacola State College’s graphic design program. Where do you see your art in the future? I don't know where life will take me in the future but as long as I keep doing what I love, which is graphic design, I will be happy. For now, I am happy to be part of the Pensacola graphic design community that is growing exponentially. As far as future projects, I already started a series of illustrations based on the Venezuelan culture. Designing in Spanish is something I've always wanted to do. This will be a really good opportunity to incorporate more of my culture into my art. Next year, I'll be sharing more of my illustrations on my Instagram account, and hopefully, I'll start selling some merch. DOWNTOWNCROWD.COM | 13
Love in Paradise
COUPLE OPENS UP TROPICAL THEMED RESTAURANT By Gina Castro | Photos by Bara'ah Jaraiseh
Whether it’s dividing the bills, tag teaming the chores or just supporting each other, many can agree that marriage is a team effort. However, few couples would agree to be coworkers let alone open a business together, but that’s not the case for Erin and Michael Perez the owners of Pineapple Express.
“We are a husband and wife team. We have always worked together, and we work well together. I couldn’t do this business without her, and she couldn’t do it without me,” Michael said. “That's one of the joys in working with her. I understand some people who are husband and wife find it difficult to work with each other. I’m just blessed that I can work well with my wife. I listen to her always, and she listens to me sometimes. It's fun.”
14 | DOWNTOWNCROWD.COM
The couple began working together when they were only dating at Michael’s brothers’ Japanese restaurant in Mobile, Alabama, called Kai. “When we were working there, Erin was helping us out with serving, hosting and advertising. It was good training ground,” Michael said.
“We just wanted to start something that felt more like ours” Erin added. So they started a couple of side businesses. They designed their own T-shirts, created a version of Uber Eats and worked in real estate. But none of these businesses felt right for
them. After moving to Pensacola to be closer to Erin’s twin sister and father, the couple agreed to start their own restaurant.
All bowls are free of Gluten, Dairy, MSG, GMO and HFCS
“When I was doing real estate, my vision wasn’t to just sell houses. It was for my own benefit because I wanted to make connections for our business,” Michael
Also serving the famous Dole Whip!
said. “Erin was on board. That’s the best part. When we talked about doing it, she said ‘yeah let’s do it.’ If she was not for it, I knew I couldn’t do it without her.” From there the couple spent three months curating a menu that is both gluten free and dairy free, without MSG, GMO or high fructose corn syrup while also having vegan friendly options. It is important to Erin and Michael that their food is both healthy and delicious because they have a lot friends who have gluten allergies and Michael is lactose intolerant. “A lot of people have gluten problems, and we have friends who value eating healthier,” Michael said. “One of the things that Erin and I always say is if
Pineapple Express owners Erin and Michael Perez at their grand opening. we wont eat it, we won't serve it. We're not picky eaters, but we're careful eaters.”
my digestive system, so I enjoyed it. It's an ice cream I am able to eat."
The idea is for the restaurant to be a healthy grab-and-go spot. Customers choose white rice, brown rice or coconut quinoa as the base; organic, oven-roasted chicken, grass-fed beef or tofu as the protein; and teriyaki, barbecue, flaming hot or "P.EX Original" as the flavor. Each sauce is made in house. Pineapple Express also sells Dole Whip, which is something like dairy free pineapple ice cream.
Opening Pineapple Express is not the end of the road for Erin and Michael. They plan to open more locations in Florida, and first on their list is Navarre. They also own a food truck, so they plan to pop up around town during the lunch rush soon.
“For our anniversary, we went to Hawaii. It was the first time we ever had the Dole Whip, and I have lactose intolerance, so I was nervous about eating it. When I tried it, it didn’t upset
Pineapple Express is located at 224 E. Garden St., Suite 6. You can stop by Monday-Saturday 11 am–6 pm.
DOWNTOWNCROWD.COM | 15
HOBBIES
Each new year is an opportunity to try a new adventure and learn new things. Picking up a new hobby is a fun way to make friends who have similar interests to you, and the great thing about hobbies is that you don’t have to be good at them. Hobbies are a space for you to just have fun doing something you enjoy. Pensacola is filled with a diverse range of hobbies for you to try from gardening to reading to bicycling, there’s at least one hobby for everyone's interest.
Seeing
Pensacola in 2020 We all wish that we could turn to an all-seeing crystal ball to predict how 2020 is going to go for us. Unfortunately, the future is not
that easy to predict. However, small choices like trying out a new hobby, tuning into a new band, buying that new funky clothing accessory, or eating at a new restaurant can have a dramatic influence on your mood and vibe for the new year. Daring to try the unknown is the best part of the new year, so get out there and try some of Pensacola’s finest activities! By Gina Castro + Dakota Parks 16 | DOWNTOWNCROWD.COM
From the Ground Up Community Garden
Get some fresh air and soak up the sun with your community at downtown Pensacola’s community garden. From the Ground up Community Garden is about more than just growing plants. It’s about growing healthy foods that will sustain our community’s bodies. So grab your favorite gloves and garden tools and give gardening a try. To keep up with this group, follow their Facebook page.
Pensacola Designers
Have you heard about the event DesignXL? These guys put it together. Whether you are an artist or a supporter of the arts, is a great group to join to learn and network within the local creative community. To learn more about this group, look them up on Facebook page.
Bike Pensacola
If you’re interested in getting a great workout while making the Pensacola community safer, Bike Pensacola is the group for you. This group does all sorts of bikes rides from slow bike rides to bike rides during the full moon to holiday bike rides. But most importantly, they attend FL Department of Transportation hearings to help make Pensacola a place where bicyclists can ride safely. You can find a list of their events on their Facebook page.
Let’s Dance Dance Dance
Now this group is for those who really want to let their hair down. Whether you know how to dance or don’t, Let’s Dance Dance Dance would love to show you a good time on the dancefloor. This group dances to a wide variety of music at different venues. They also sets up dance lessons, which you sometimes have to pay for. They meet several times a month. For more information, find them on MeetUp.
WUWF Book Club
This club is perfect for introverts and extroverts. Joining this book club is completely free and online. The club reads one book every two months, so it’s easy to juggle life and this club. You can share your thoughts about the book with the whole community of WUWF online, but if that’s not your cup of tea, you can chat about the book in person when WUWF hosts its Book Club Salon at different venues in the area. For more information on how to join, go to their website pbc.guru/wuwf/.
High Shine Sequins, metallics and glitter, OH MY. If you haven’t gotten around to watching HBO’s Euphoria, you are missing out. That show is not only inspiring makeup trends but also high fashion. Designer brands like Ralph Lauren and Adam Lippes are adding some drama to basic pieces by layering some shimmer and sequins. Rocking high shine is all about moderation. It’s easy to go overboard, so try to stick with one to two bold pieces, but other than that, go on with your sparkly unicorn self.
For our 2020 fashion section, we cherry picked a few of our favorite fashion pieces from the 2020 spring fashion shows. There are a couple of classic styles that have come back in full swing and a few already popular styles that have just been added to.
WOMENS FASHION
MENS FASHION
Sexy Suit Pieces Clueless vibes with a touch of danger are coming in hot this season. Over the summer, lingerie corset tops were all the rage. Designer brands such as Mugler, Dion Lee and Proenza Schouler wanted to hang onto the lingerie trend, so they paired it with suit pieces that are similar to the valley girl look Clueless displayed. Sometimes when we look at runway fashion, we find it difficult to translate high fashion into everyday fashion. But it can be done! For a faux lingerie look, you can pair a lacey almost see through top with a matching blazer and skirt, which is completely work appropriate and smokin. For a fun day or night around town, you can wear a fitted blazer with no shirt underneath and fitted pants.
Sleeves, Sleeves, Sleeves. I cannot emphasize enough how important sleeves are this season. Puffy layered sleeves started trending two springs ago, but according to fashion designers Zimmermann, Stella McCartney and Mara Hoffman’s 2020 spring fashion show, puffy sleeves are back in style. It’s more than puffy sleeves, it’s bold, loud sleeves, such as embroidered edges, lace and foulard prints. This style is easy to pull together. For a more professional look, you can pair a basic colored puffy sleeve top with slacks or a long skirt. For a casual look, you can go completely wild with the design of the shirt and sleeves and pair it with skinny jeans and ankle strap heels.
Old School Sneaks In 2020, old school is the new school. Yes, we’re talking high top Converse, which if you ask me, never went out of style, but we’re also talking about clam toe Adidas. you can easily dress up with a button up and slacks or down with a basic tee and jeans. Coach’s spring/ summer 2020 collection showed that bulky sneaks and velcro straps are must-haves, which is the perfect opportunity to bring those Reeboks with the straps back out again. These chunky styled shoes look great with form fitted pants or bulky pants that have have a form fitted ankle.
Hair photos provided by Wilfrid's Barber & Fine Goods.
Haircuts Wilfred’s Barber Shop gave us the 411 on men’s hottest haircuts, and it turns out, Billy from Stranger Things has officially resurrected mullets from its 1980s grave. Yup, business in the front--party in the back, is back, baby! Also, the timeless hairstyle the pompadour is still all the buzz in barbershops. The classic cropped haircut is still a popular, stylish style for men today. DOWNTOWNCROWD.COM | 17
Seeing Pensacola in 2020 TECH PLUGS:
MUSIC AND PODCASTS TO PLUG INTO Music
The Pensacola music scene is diverse and constantly expanding. From the 309 Punk Project keeping the punk scene alive and kicking to Chizuko and Seville cherishing and supporting our local artists, while Vinyl Music Hall brings in touring artists, the music scene doesn’t stop there. Here at Downtown Crowd, we thought there’s no better way to ring in the new year than with some new jams and genres ranging from rap, punk, blues, folk, rock, and even a native flute player—and no, that flute player isn’t a reference to Lizzo.
DEAdBUGGS A Pensacola Punk band. The four band members Drew, Nathan, Brandon and William recently released their album “NO FUN” on Spotify. To keep up with their music and show venues, follow them @DEAdBUGGS on social media. Big Lo A Pensacola rapper and hip-hop artist. With seven albums on Spotify and a large social media presence, Big Lo has made a name for himself in the music scene. You can catch him hosting shows at Chizuko, on Spotify or on Twitter for updates @BigLoHipHop. Tanya Gallager An American indie folk singer-songwriter from Pensacola with multiple albums and singles on Spotify. Her soulful music can be heard at numerous local venues. To keep up with her follow her on Facebook @tanyagallaghermusic.
McDean A singer/songwriter duo and couple, Nicole and Hannah put on an emotional acoustic and vocal show. Find them at local venues and follow them on Spotify @McDean Faux/Fox A Pensacola Death Blues band. The three band members Mike, Mike and Nick can be regularly spotted playing at Chizuko. You can also listen to their singles and EPs on Spotify and follow them on Facebook @fauxfoxmusic for updates. 18 | DOWNTOWNCROWD.COM
Blue Levee A local blues band that plays covers and originals. You can spot them at numerous local bars, breweries, restaurants and venues. Catch their jams on Spotify and Facebook @BlueLeveeBand Michael Brant DeMaria Dr. DeMaria is a clinical psychologist, author and speaker in Pensacola using his passions in practice for music therapy. Dabbling with percussion, keyboard and ethnic instruments, DeMaria’s spiritual music can be found on Spotify. His albums are great for meditation, relaxation and spiritual journeys.
Panzacola A psychedelic rock band from Pensacola with three members Jordan, Nathan and Sean. Their music can be found on Spotify or at local spots like Seville Quarter and local breweries. For updates, check them out @Panzacolamusic
PODCASTS
For many of us podcasts are simply the best solution to long work commutes, traffic jams and road trips. Podcasts have come a long way from their origins in 2004 and now include podcasts about business, politics, comedy, advice columns, parenting, sports—the list goes on. If you can talk about it, someone probably has a podcast about it. Podcasts are a way for us to unwind and even learn a thing or two in the process. Here are some local Pensacola-based podcasts! Behind The Grind An Entrepreneur Think Tank—from tips for upscaling businesses to interviews and talks with local CEOs and entrepreneurs, Behind The Grind is the ultimate podcast to local business. The Derek Diamond Experience Videographer and aspiring filmmaker Derek Diamond tackles pop-culture and interviews people from film, art, music and sports. Meredith for Real The Curious Introvert—Meredith Hackwith Edwards sits down weekly with a stranger and unpacks their curious lives. From fashionistas to yoga gurus, Meredith tracks down a curious bunch. The Life for Me Podcast Jordan English, real estate agent and personal life coach gives tips, interviews and heartfelt podcasts for working mom’s in the business world.
Bike Pensacola
LOCAL EATS + ALTERNATIVE WORKOUTS
Whether you’re partaking in a New Year’s Resolution to lose a couple pounds or thinking about trying out Meatless Monday’s, we want to help make those decisions a little bit easier by highlighting some healthy joints to grab a bite to eat and some alternative ways to get your heart pumping. Did you know you can burn up to 350 calories an hour pole dancing? That’s nearly the same as jogging for an hour!
Alt. Workouts Kickboxing and Jiu Jitsu at Pensacola Kickboxing, Kali & Jiu Jitsu End of the Line Café
Chizuko
Local Clean Eats with Vegan Menu Items iQ Eatery - 4051 Barrancas Ave Unit C, Pensacola, FL 32507 Primal Nosh - 3810 Barrancas Ave, Pensacola, FL 32507 End of the Line Café - 610 E Wright St, Pensacola, FL 32501 Ever’man Cooperative Grocery & Café - Garden Street and Nine Mile Locations Chizuko - 506 W Belmont St, Pensacola, FL 32501 Skopelos at New World - 600 S Palafox St, Pensacola, FL 32502 Café Single Fin - 380 N 9th Ave, Pensacola, FL 32502 Nom Sushi Izakaya - 410 S Palafox St, Pensacola, FL 32502 Jordan Valley Restaurant - 201 S Jefferson St, Pensacola, FL 32502
Pole Dancing with Burlesque Fitness Kittens at Beautiful You Studio Swing Dancing Classes at Pensacola Swing Yoga at Breathe Yoga and Wellness Center Bicycling at Bike Pensacola Paddle boarding & Kayaking at SupDogs or at Outdoor Gulf Coast
DOWNTOWNCROWD.COM | 19
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Kicking Bad Habits Using Hypnotherapy to Harness the Subconscious
By Gina Castro
When people think of hypnotherapy, thoughts of crystal balls, the swaying of a watch on a long chain or even the phrase “you’re getting very sleepy” comes to mind. This may come as no surprise, but hypnotherapy does not have a good reputation. It’s often associated with brainwashing and magic. Contrary to popular belief, hypnotherapy has shown medical benefits. Hypnotherapy has been used to help treat anxiety, stress, pain, addiction and weight loss. Hypnosis is a complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), which is a term to describe unconventional products and practices that can be used alongside mainstream treatment options. Some other types of CAM are acupuncture and aromatherapy. Pensacola’s Bayside Hypnosis owner and hypnotist Michelle Spencer said that people question hypnotherapy because of stage hypnosis. “People relate hypnosis to stage hypnosis, which is opposite to what we do here. Stage hypnosis is real, and it does happen. But it is only to people who want it to happen,” Spencer said. “The only way hypnosis will work is if you want it to. During stage hypnosis, the people who are up on stage, they want to quack like a duck when they see the color yellow. They want the attention, and it’s fun. But here at Bayside Hypnosis, this is more serious. This is like a holistic approach toward really curing your body and your habits with your mindset.”
Spencer, a certified hypnotist, studied hypnotism for weight loss, smoking cessation, pain management and stress management under the direction of Master Hypnotist Scott McFall. Bayside’s website features testimony from several clients. Spencer said that there is no limitation that prevents hypnosis from working. However, Spencer said hypnosis will not work on someone that does not have an IQ high enough to understand what she’s saying, someone who is intoxicated and someone who doesn't want it to work because you can defy hypnosis. The idea of hypnotherapy actually working on someone outside of a work of fiction seemed very unreal to us. But we figured, don’t knock it until you tried it. So, we put hypnotherapy to the test by having a friend of Ballinger Publishing try hypnotherapy at Bayside Hypnosis with Spencer. Our friend has been biting her nails for 22 years, and she is only 28 years old. Because of the sensitivity of her experience, we’ll call her Grace. Grace works a desk job that can get stressful when the deadlines start to pile up.
"After the first session, I noticed every time I picked up my hand and brought it to my face to bite." “I constantly bite my nails. I can’t count how many times I bite my nails a day,” Grace said. “Sometimes I keep biting until I hurt myself or bleed, and I’ll be like ‘Ow okay, maybe I should slow down.’ It's the worst when I’m stressed out.” Grace doesn’t just bite her nails. She also bites her cuticles and the skin surrounding the nail up to her first knuckle. Grace’s habit makes everyday things like cleaning the house and cooking painful because of the exposed cuts on her fingers. This habit also affects her confidence. “My hands look ugly,” Grace said. “When I dress up or go out, I don’t have long nails to paint. I wore press
on fake nails to stop myself from biting, but I would still bite at the skin.” Grace has tried to quit biting her nails many times. There were a few periods in her life where she was able to quit for some time. The longest she went without was three months, but she would always cycle back to biting her nails. So, she figured trying hypnotherapy couldn’t hurt. Spencer placed Grace in a four session stress relief program. She had her first 30 minute session on Dec. 9. Grace was excited yet nervous to go into her first session. “Michelle told me nail biting was something I resorted to as a little kid. It made me feel safe, and I relieve stress from biting,” Grace said. “So, she said ‘As a little kid, you discovered that biting makes you feel better in stressful situations, so you kept doing it. But you're not a little kid anymore, so we need to put nail biting in your past.’” Grace said that she was conscious during the whole session. However, she did feel as though her eyelids were too heavy to open. DOWNTOWNCROWD.COM | 21
5 Questions to ask your hypnotherapist How long have you been a hypnotist? Do you have a lot of training and hypnosis experience in my issue? Do you offer a hypnosis guarantee to lose weight, stop smoking or reduce anxiety? Demographics matter: Which would give you the best hypnosis results; Male vs. female, older vs. younger, compatible values, faith-based, or personal appearance? Do you offer a free hypnosis consultation so I can meet you and ask questions to see if hypnosis can help me?
“All hypnosis is an extreme level of relaxation. We get you to the level right before you fall asleep,” Spencer said. “That is when your subconscious mind is the most suggestive, so it can take in all of the suggestions that you want in order to make the change you want easy on you. The only way to really change your subconscious mind is through hypnosis.”
it to my face to bite,” Grace said. “I would realize that I didn't want to bite and just put my hand back down. I was aware of each time I brought my hand to my mouth.”
After the first session, Grace didn’t bite her nails again. Grace also became aware of each time she was about to bite her nails, an action which she wasn’t aware of before seeing Spencer.
“As a hypnotist, I coach the client, and then we back it up with the hypnosis so that the subconscious mind starts speaking a different language,” Spencer said. “It’s a very effective and easy way to change your human behavior in order to get the results or outcome that you want from a situation.”
“After the first session, I noticed every time I picked up my hand and brought Before
22 | DOWNTOWNCROWD.COM
Grace said that she didn’t feel repulsed by the idea of biting her nails she just didn’t feel the urge to bite them any longer.
After 3 Weeks
Although Grace hasn’t bitten her nails since Dec. 9, she still picks at the skin around her nails, but she doesn’t do it as excessively as she did before. However, there is still the question of if hypnosis is a permanent solution. Spencer said it’s all up to Grace if she is able to permanently quit her habit. “It’s permanent, but it's up to her,” Spencer said. “If she allows her mindset to take her into a stressful mindset that was making her bite her nails, then she could go back to biting. We make sure that the client is attached to the goal. That goal was more important to her than biting her nails.” Grace saw Spencer again one week after the first visit. Grace went into the session feeling confident about ending her habit and excited to learn more from Spencer. Spencer began the session by having Grace describe what the habit looked like. “I told her I picture myself on the couch, biting and scrolling through Instagram just stressed out,” Grace said. “I scroll through Instagram and look at people’s work and art and think to myself ‘I could do that, but I'm still sitting here biting and scrolling.’ I actually teared up when I said that to her. It brought tears to my eyes picturing my bad habit. I didn’t want to be that kind of person. She told me to think of a word to describe that picture, and I said ‘lonely.’ That was the first word that came to my head.”
Then Spencer had Grace imagine her life without the bad habit. Grace said that she would be playing with her dog or drawing. Grace called this picture "happy." “She made that picture of my life without the bad habit colorful and sparkly and look good in my brain, and then we buried the photo of my bad habit deeper and deeper in the back of my mind until it went away.” Even though Grace has finished only two out of the four sessions, her habit has almost completely disappeared. To keep up with Grace's journey, follow us on social media @DonwtownCrowd. To learn more about Bayside Hypnosis, go to their website baysidehypnosis.com.
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CALENDAR Polar Bear Dip January 1, 2020 The Flora-Bama Lounge on the Florida-Alabama state line on Perdido Key hosts this popular, annual splash in the Gulf of Mexico. Afterwards, everyone joins in a southern tradition of eating black-eyed peas on New Year's Say and warms up with good music and beverages. Great laughs, fun for the whole family! Pensacola's Mardi Gras Kick Off January 4, 2020 This is a City Wide event, and the public is invited to attend the FREE EVENT. To kick off this fantastic Mardi Gras season, PMGI is very happy to present the Pensacola Mardi Gras Kick Off Celebration. Pensacola’s best parading Mardi Gras Krewe’s will have their float and their entire Krewe on Palafox and Government Streets, where their Krewe will be ceremoniously blessed and proclaimed ready to participate. Each Krewe will be in costume and will have it’s royalty present. The Father, along with the Town Crier T. Bubba Bechtol, will bless each individual float, the City of Pensacola, and the entire Pensacola Mardi Gras season. Come out and join us for FREE King Cake provided by Bluejay’s Bakery, and dance the night away with
a second line jazz band street performance. The party starts at 5:30 pm. January 2020 Jazz Jam Fun January 6, 2020 Jazz it up with Jazz Pensacola! Free for participating musicians, including high school and college students with student IDs. Each participating student also receives one free admission ticket for one guest. Cost is $10 for Jazz Pensacola members and guests, $12 for nonmembers, free for students with ID and military in uniform. Become a Jazz Pensacola member at the event, and admission is free. Featuring the House Band led by trumpeter Roger Villines, Jazz Jam is strictly for fun, an opportunity to play jazz with other musicians. Drummers, please bring your own sticks/ brushes. Improvable Cause January 11, 2020 Improvable Cause is Pensacola's only professional improv comedy troupe! Performing the first Saturday of every month at the Pensacola Little Theatre, IC's shows are completely unscripted and totally hilarious! Everything is
created in the moment with audience suggestions, so each show is different! IC shows are edge-of-your-seat theatre where anything can happen (and usually does!)
the Pig, the first Gallery Night of 2020 is bound to make you squeal! Come out and check out the galleries, boutiques, restaurants, bars, food trucks and street vendors.
Pensacola Beach, 10k, 5k, Half Marathon January 11, 2020 Run along a fast and flat race route along the beachfront shoreline of the Gulf of Mexico in the Florida panhandle area, the Pensacola Beach Half Marathon, 10K & 5K features a course that’s open to both runners and walkers (in the 10K and 5K races) and takes participants along this city’s scenic waterfront along paved roads between the Gulf of Mexico and the Santa Rosa Sound.
Schoolhouse Rock LIVE! January 24 - February 9, 2020 Directed by Mario Cieri. Musical Direction by Kath Johansen. Choreography by Michael Dennis. Tom is a nervous school teacher about to start his first day of teaching. He tries to relax with a little TV when various characters representing the facets of his personality materialize from the television set. Reviving the catchy play, playful Saturday morning hits of the 1970s, Schoolhouse Rock Live! is both educational and enjoyable for everyone!
Krewe of Nereid King Kake Party January 11, 2020 Come kick off the 2020 Mardi Gras season on Pensacola Beach with the Mermaids! DJ music with Boogie Inc., raffles & of course king kake! Laissez les bon temps rouler! It's free and open to the public!
Ice Flyer’s Schedule Jan. 4, 2020 Macon @Pensacola 7:05 Jan. 10, 2020 Evansville @Pensacola 7:35 Jan. 11, 2020 Evansville @Pensacola 7:05 Jan. 24, 2020 Birmingham @Pensacola 7:35 Jan. 25, 2020 Roanoke @Pensacola 7:05
Gallery Night January 18, 2020 Celebrating the Lunar New Year, the Year of
UPCOMING
ICE FLYERS THEME NIGHTS
For tickets visit: PensacolaIceFlyers.com
STAR WARS NIGHT JAN 04 • SAT 7:05
TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING NIGHT JAN 10 • FRI 7:35
MARDI GRAS NIGHT JAN 11 • SAT 7:05
$5 NIGHTS JAN 24/25 • FRI 7:35 / SAT 7:05
MILITARYMATTERS AN ARMED FORCES NEWS SECTION
Honoring the Victims of NAS Tragedy December 6 started out just as any day. No one in the nation or even our hometown of Pensacola expected such a tragic event to take place at the Naval Air Station that day. We lost three young men that day, and our hearts at Ballinger Publishing, along with all of Pensacola, pour out to those brave men and their families. Pensacola will never forget the
Airman Mohammed Sameh Haitham Student, Naval Aviation Schools Command, 19, from St. Petersburg, Florida
26 | DOWNTOWNCROWD.COM
sacrifice these men made for our community and country. “The sorrow from the tragic event on NAS Pensacola will have a lasting impact on our installation and community,” NAS Pensacola Commanding Officer Capt. Tim Kinsella said. “We feel the loss profoundly and grieve with the family and friends of the deceased. The
Ensign Joshua Kaleb Watson, Student, Naval Aviation Schools Command, 23, from Coffee County, Alabama
sailors that lost their lives in the line of duty, showed exceptional heroism and bravery in the face of evil. When confronted, they didn’t run from danger; they ran towards it and saved lives. If not for their actions, and the actions of the Naval Security Force, that were the first responders on the scene, this incident could have been far worse.”
Airman Apprentice Cameron Scott Walters, Student, Naval Aviation Schools Command, 21, from Richmond Hill, Georgia
Pensacola International Airport Host Runway 5K Benefiting USO
MILITARYMATTERS Pensacola Airport Runway Run 5k Awards Female 1st HEATHER DELAPIEDRA of Pensacola Beach, FL 00:20:22.79 2nd JESSICA CHAPPELL of Pensacola, FL 00:22:30.06 3rd HANNAH BIRX of Cantonment, FL 00:23:27.40 Male 1st EMMANUEL PAQUET of SAINT ETIENNE, France 00:16:04.14 2nd JORDAN BOYCE of Fort Walton Beach, FL 00:17:39.18 3rd KAI PAYNE of Gulf Breeze, FL 00:18:01.62
Hundreds of runners and walkers took off on the Pensacola International Airport runway Dec. 7, for the Seventh Annual Runway 5K benefiting the United Service Organization Northwest Florida. The 5K is sponsored by Pensacola International Airport and the City of Pensacola. The 5K aims to honor and remember National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day day with a unique and fun run that takes place on the runway. This year’s 5K took place on the 78th anniversary of the attack on Pearl
Harbor. All proceeds go to USO Northwest Florida, whose mission is to keep local military connected to family, home and country throughout their service to the nation. USO hasn’t determined how much money was raised from the event yet. “The proceeds are all staying local here in USO NWFL to contribute to our daily programs and supplies and help connect our service members to family, home and country throughout their service to the nation,” USO respondent said.
Pensacola Airport Runway 5k Walk Awards Female 1st GISSELLA GURULE of Milton, FL 2nd DOROTHY TAYLOR of Milton, FL 3rd KIM BROWN of Cantonment, FL Male 1st RENE MALAISE of Pace, FL 2nd IRA WOODFAULK II of Pensacola, FL 3rd BOB MATHESON of Defuniak Springs DOWNTOWNCROWD.COM | 27
MILITARYMATTERS
Navy Federal Names the Top 10 Best Careers After Military Service
1. Health Care
It’s not surprising that the health care industry is the #1 match for veterans’ goals, given the competitive salaries and how well jobs match military experience. Two other benefits that stood out were the strong sense of community and teamwork within the health care industry and its opportunities to help people.
2. Government / Public Administration
Believe it or not, 1 in 4 vets do some sort of government work. The combination of a competitive salary, opportunities for career growth, a match for military experience/skills, consistent work location and flexible hours/schedule checks a lot of our vets’ boxes. Intro by Gina Castro
Navy Federal partnered with Hire Heroes USA®* to identify industries and career paths that meet the values that matter most to servicemembers. Clay Stackhouse, Navy Federal’s Member Outreach Manager for the panhandle: Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana and Arkansas, was a marine for 25 years, so he knew how challenging transitioning from the military to civilian life can be on veterans and their families. “In the military, you have an identity. I left highschool and went right to the naval academy. My entire adult life was invested in my identity as a military person, and as you transition out, you're wondering what your identity will be,” Stackhouse said. “That’s why we partnered with these veterans, and we get very personal with the kinds of things they wanted. I had decided I was done chasing bad guys and I wanted to help the good guys. We talked to over a 1,000 people 28 | DOWNTOWNCROWD.COM
over a years time, and it turned out that transition help was one of the biggest things they wanted. Everybody wants gainful employment once they get out. So we partnered with hire heroes and we came up with a list with the best 10 occupations after service.” Here are the top 10 industries Navy Federal identified as best after military service.
3. Defense Contracting
Defense contracting is most popular among vets 45 and younger. Top reasons? Competitive salaries, working for a mission-driven organization, having work suited to military experience and skills, and special programs for vets.
4. Information Technology
In an increasingly digital world, careers in the IT field are becoming more popular and lucrative. IT jobs provide
MILITARYMATTERS competitive salaries, clear advancement paths and a ton of training and development opportunities.
5. Financial Services
Financial services careers work particularly well for younger vets, with more than 1 in 10 in related jobs. Matching benefits include a clear advancement path, training, development and creative/ strategic opportunities, and competitive salaries.
6. Education
The education industry matches veterans’ desires for a mission-driven/team-oriented environment, mentorship opportunities and a consistent work location. For these and many other reasons, 13 percent of those with college degrees end up in education.
7. Law Enforcement
Law enforcement is one of the industries most suited for— and comparable to—military experience and skills. It offers clear career advancement and fulfills the desire for a mission-driven, team-oriented environment. It’s particularly popular among those living in the western US and those who transitioned in 2001 or later.
8. Retail
Retail, unlike other industries on our list, offers incredibly flexible work schedules, along with a consistent work location, a goal-oriented environment and the opportunity to be self-motivated. Veteran employment in retail is highest among those 45 and older.
9. Manufacturing
Manufacturing is the leading industry for vets without a college degree and for those over 35. This industry matched their desire for a good salary, consistent work location and a team environment. Plus, they can take advantage of specialized training for career growth.
10. Transportation/ Warehousing
Rounding out our top 10 list for careers that match what vets value is transportation/ warehousing, which gives them an opportunity to work with their hands and not have to sit at a desk in a traditional 9 to 5 job. Similar to manufacturing, this industry provides specialized training to advance in the field. It also allows them to be involved with a mission-driven organization and is well-suited to their military experience and skills.
DOWNTOWNCROWD.COM | 29
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Opening soon in Pensacola Join today at our Membership Center. 7000 N Davis Hwy., Pensacola Monday – Friday: 9AM – 7PM, Saturday: 9AM – 5PM, Sunday: NOON – 5PM
The clock won’t start ticking on your Membership until the Pensacola Club opens – but you can start shopping on BJs.com. All BJ’s Memberships are subject to BJ’s current Membership Terms, ask in-Club or go to BJs.com/terms. *Offer is valid for the Pensacola, FL, Membership Center only, may not be combined with other offers, not redeemable for cash, nontransferable and only good for new Members who are active or veteran military personnel. Plus sales tax where applicable. Offer is contingent upon your enrolling in BJ’s Easy Renewal, and you authorize BJ’s to charge the debit/credit card first used at BJ’s after accepting this offer, an annual recurring charge in the amount of the then-current Membership fee for all active Memberships on your account, plus tax where applicable, on the first day of the month your Membership expires. Expires: 3/31/20. **BJ’s Membership Cards and BJ’s Gift Cards will be mailed to the address on file and may take up to 3 – 4 weeks to process. Coupons will be mailed prior to Club opening. Market Code: MIL382
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MILITARYMATTERS
WWII Veteran Fundraising for Pensacola Monument
“We owe it to
these families. We can’t alleviate their pain, but we can pay tribute to their loss."
the Congressional Medal of Honor from President Truman at the White House on Oct. 5, 1945. Today, Williams, 93, has spent several years traveling across the nation to fundraise for Gold Star Families Memorial Monuments. Currently, there are 58 memorial monuments in 43 states with an additional 62 monuments in progress. “No one ever said ‘Gold Star Dad’ or ‘Gold Star Grandma’ only Gold Star Mother, but they lost, too,” Williams said during his speech at 5Eleven on Dec. 20. “We owe it to these families. We can’t alleviate their pain, but we can pay tribute to their loss.”
By Gina Castro | Photos by Bara'ah Jaraiseh
In 1917, U.S. Army Captain Robert L. Queisser of the Fifth Ohio Infantry designed what became known as a service flag or service banner in honor of his two sons who were serving in World War I. This banner was quickly adopted by family members of servicemembers across the United States as a way to show support
for the military. People would hang the banner on the window with a star pinned to it to resemble each family member serving in the military. A blue star represented a living servicemember while a gold star meant the servicemember had died active duty. So, the terms “Blue Star Wife” and “Gold Star Mother” were formed.
However, a term or symbol for gold star daughters, sons, brothers or dads was never created, at least not until 2015. In 2015, World War II Medal of Honor Recipient Hershel “Woody” Williams started a foundation to erect Gold Star Families Memorial Monuments in all 50 states to honor and pay tribute to families who have lost a family member in service. Williams received the Medal of Honor during the Iwo Jima battle. Williams displayed “valiant devotion to duty” and service above self by destroying seven pill boxes as a flame thrower under enemy fire and clearing a lane for friendly forces the iconic day the U.S. flag was raised on Mount Suribachi. He was given
Williams came to Pensacola on Dec 20 to help fundraise for a Gold Star Families Memorial Monument to be built at Pensacola Veteran’s Memorial Park. Law Firm of Aylstock, Witkin, Kreis & Overholtz, who hosted this event, donated $10,000 toward the memorial. A total of $30,000 was raised during the event, but the monument still needs $60,000 to complete the project. If you are interested in making a contribution online, go to GulfCoastGoldStarFamilies.org. If you have any inquiries about Gold Star Families, you can submit your questions to GulfCoastGoldStarMemorial@ gmail.com.
DOWNTOWNCROWD.COM | 31
MIKE DOLLEN CMDCM USN (Ret.) | REALTOR ÂŽ Designated Military Relocation Professional and Florida Military Specialist
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MILITARYMATTERS
UWF Graduate Student Investigates WWII Bomber Crash
By Gina Castro | Photos provided by NPS
76 years ago, a B-24 liberator plunged into the Alaska snow. It was Dec. 21, 1943, when at 25,000 feet, one of the plane’s four engines malfunctioned, and the aircraft suddenly began to spiral out of control. The military aircraft carried a crew of five but only one survived. Co-pilot Lt. Leon Crane was launched into Alaska’s -40 degree weather with only the clothes on his back. Master Sgt. Richard Pompeo, who was thought to have parachuted out, was never found.
for two months to treat the frostbite on his hands and feet. Once Crane regained his strength, he continued his journey for help along the river. He eventually came across another cabin that was occupied by the trapper Albert Ames and his family. The family brought Crane via snow dogs to the Woodchopper mining camp along the Yukon River. From there, Crane flew back to base at Ladd Field near Fairbanks.
The supplies in the plane were overrun with flames. Crane had no cell phone and no GPS let alone a compass to guide him home. He had nothing but his parachute, which he used as a makeshift sleeping bag, two packs of matches and a boy scout knife for the nine days he spent waiting for aid.
Today, the crash site still remains in the area now known as the YukonCharley Rivers National Preserve. Well, for the most part, Rachel Hines, University of West Florida archaeology graduate student, said during her presentation for Odd
Crane, afraid of succumbing to starvation and hypothermia, decided to trek 120 miles north along the Charley River. What Crane didn’t know was that along the river are several unlocked small cabins with supplies and food, also known as a trapping area. He stayed in one of the cabins
Colony’s Archeology on Tap series. “A lot of the things had clearly been taken from the site over time,” Hines said. “It was pretty obvious that things that should have made it like gauges, dials and other things that are fun to have were missing. We looked at some photos from the 80s of the site, and in the photos, there was a machine gun, and now its missing. It was cool things like that that people took.” Though the site can be reached only by helicopter, the site has been visited plenty of times by archeologists and others. Hines and her coworker, Emilia Tisental, were sent to the crash site to document the serial DOWNTOWNCROWD.COM | 33
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I think because of this story that is associated with Leon Crane’s survival, it would really be a loss for the park to give up parts of the site. I not only thought that we shouldn’t salvage this but also that we should put it on the National Register of Historic Places because it’s a cool story.”
numbers of all of the site’s remnants. They were there for a total of three days and documented 160 items from the site. Hines said that they downloaded pilot manuals of the B-24 liberators from online to help them identify the pieces they found. “One of our goals was to deter people from taking things or at least to get all of the information about it incase people do take things in the future,” Hines said. “Our other goal out there was evaluating the site for the National Register of Historic Places. The National Register is a way for the National Park Service to evaluate sites that are worth preserving. They wrote a whole section for what aircrafts are eligible. It was helpful to us. If this is eligible, then the National 34 | DOWNTOWNCROWD.COM
Park Service is supposed to care for it.” At the conclusion of the project, Hines and Tisental agreed that the site had too much of a historic value for it to be salvaged for parts. Hines believes that the site qualifies for the National Register of Historic Places. “When I was working with the park service they really hammered in this idea of ‘unimpaired.’ This idea to preserve the unimpaired for peoples enjoyment I think is really important and really speaks to what the national parks service is trying to do,” Hines said. “I think because of this story that is associated with Leon Crane’s survival, it would really be a loss for the park to give up parts of the site. I not only thought that
we shouldn’t salvage this but also that we should put it on the National Register of Historic Places because it’s a cool story.” Hines said that the process to get the site added to the National Register of Historic Places is tedious but that the National Park Service is considering starting the process soon. If you’re interested in learning more about what Florida Public Archaeology Network-Northwest Region’s projects, check out their Facebook page or website fpan.us/nwrc. Odd Colony’s next Archaeology on Tap will be "A Sticky Situation: Turpentining in Florida" on Feb. 12 at 6 pm.
