Downtown Crowd, June 2020

PENSACOLA'S JUNE '20

Also in this Issue:

MILITARY MATTERS an Armed Forces News Section

Tales of Love Under Lockdown & Failed Corona Courtships downtowncrowd.com

Your health and safety is our TOP priority.

As we open our kitchen to welcome you back, we have made changes to follow CDC and State of Florida mandated health guidelines.

Group sizes will be limited and follow 6-foot distancing guides.

Classes will be demonstration style and all employees will be wearing masks and gloves, following strict sanitation rules for daily cleaning.

Join us in the kitchen to enjoy good food and Bodacious good times, following all safety guidelines.

Back in the Kitchen June Classes & Camps CAST IRON FILET & SHRIMP JUNE 3 • 6 PM $65 CULINARY KIDS CAMP AGES 5 - 8 JUNE 8 – 12 9 AM TO NOON $200 BEEF WELLINGTON JUNE 8 • 6 PM $65 CULINARY KIDS CAMP AGES 8 - 11 JUNE 15 – 20 9 AM TO NOON $200 CULINARY KIDS CAMP AGES 11 - 14 JUNE 22 – 27 9 AM TO NOON $200

HANDS-ON SUSHI JUNE 24 • 6 PM $65 CEVICHE – 2 WAYS JUNE 29 • 6 PM $65

Classes fill up fast, so sign up today!

(850) 438-7857 sogourmetpensacola.com

TAX AND FEE NOT INCLUDED. RESERVATIONS REQUESTED 24 HOURS IN ADVANCE AND ADULT COOKING CLASSES RESERVATIONS INCLUDE A COMPLIMENTARY GLASS OF WINE OR BEER. REFUNDS AVAILABLE ONLY WITH 48 HOUR NOTICE. CLASSES THAT DO NOT MEET A MINIMUM OF 10 WILL BE RESCHEDULED AND REGISTRATION FEES REFUNDED IMMEDIATELY.

/BodaciousShops

AUTOSPORT PENSACOLA

SUPPORTING COMMUNITY & RELATIONSHIPS FOR YEARS.... WE’RE STILL HERE SUPPORTING YOU!

STRONGER TOGETHER!

KIAAUTOSPORTPENSACOLA.COM

6637 PENSACOLA BLVD, PENSACOLA, FL 32505

850.457.7772

TIRES FOR LIFE AND LIFETIME POWERTRAIN WARRANTY REQUIRE ALL FACTORY MAINTENANCE FOR AS LONG AS YOU OWN THE VEHICLE. SEE DEALER FOR DETAILS.

HIRING ALL POSITIONS

PENSACOLA, FL

• BARTENDERS • WAITERS • ENTERTAINERS • SECURITY

Call 904.707.8136

GENTLEMEN’S MONDAY - SATURDAY 3 P.M. - 3 A.M.

850.438.8030

CLUB 3121 W NAVY BLVD

DOWNTOWN CROWD JUNE 2020 Publisher Malcolm Ballinger Owners Malcolm & Glenys Ballinger Executive Editor Kelly Oden Editor Gina Castro Art Director Guy Stevens Graphic Designer Garrett Hallbauer Editorial Assistant Dakota Parks Editorial Intern Lilly Paradise 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

Editor’s Letter

Gina Castro, Editor

If there is anything good that came out of quarantine, it’s the extra time we had to focus on relationships. I’ve lived in an apartment for some time now, so I haven’t kept up the practice of small talk with neighbors since leaving the suburbs. When I walked my dog during quarantine, I felt an urge to strike up conversations with my neighbors, and I’m glad I did. I built friendships with people I probably would have said only a simple “Hello” to.

to share its quarantine dating stories with us, and Pensacola delivered. This issue has a spicy collection of adorable and horrible corona courtships. You’re not going to want to miss this gem.

If you weren’t able to make new friends during quarantine, don’t sweat it. Emerald Republic is hosting its second speed friending event this month, and we have all the deets you need.

CONTENTS

8

We also have some wholesome stories in this issue. Big Brothers and Big Sisters matched mentors with children in the area virtually, and pre-quarantine matches found unique ways to continue their relationships. You can read about how these Bigs and Littles supported each other despite the odds in this issue.

10

We even rounded up some sweet pet adoption stories. Right before the shut down, animal shelters across the state had only days to get their pets adopted. Fortunately, these furbabies were able to find their furever homes just in time. You can read about how this isolating time helped solidify these friendships, too.

Quarantine even strengthened my relationship with my longtime boyfriend, Dylan. We celebrated our four-year anniversary at the end of March. Usually we would have spent the day at the beach and then had a romantic dinner downtown. Of course, the shut down changed those plans, but I’m actually glad it did. We spent our anniversary weekend cooking each of our family’s favorite foods that the other hadn’t tried before. I made him Puerto Rican style mofongo, and he made me Chilaquiles. The food was delicious, and we had our best anniversary yet.

Now that beaches are open and downtown is slowly coming back to life, it’s time to bust out your summer wardrobe. If your summer looks are a little dull this year or are in need of some touch ups, we found the latest fashion in local boutiques. So, you can shop locally and look good doing it.

That night made me wonder how other’s dating lives and relationships were affected by quarantine. So, we asked Pensacola

Happy Pride, y’all!

The Military Matters section is featuring the steps the Naval Air Station took to create a safe and secure environment post-quarantine. Despite the pandemic, Port Operations went without a hitch. You can read both of these stories in this issue, too.

G. Castro

16

18 7 5 Questions with Creatives: Dyandra Bonet Mendoza

16 Pets Find Their Furever Homes During Quarantine

8 Speed Friending

18 Shop Summer Fashion Locally

10 Loving and Loathing in the Time of Quarantine 15 You've Got a (Virtual) Friend in Me

21 Military Matters

DOWNTOWNCROWD.COM | 5

FIRST TIME HOME BUYER SPECIALIST

Did you know home ownership is the #1 thing you can do to create long term wealth?

CALL ME To Find Out How You May Be Able To Move In A Home With NO MONEY DOWN.

Simone Sands, Realtor ©, CRS Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices PenFed Realty 17 West Cedar Street, Suite 2, Downtown Pensacola cell 850-293-2292 | office 850-434-2244

5 QUES TIONS WITH

CRE ATIVES DYAND RA BO NET MEN DOZA

BY DA KOTA PA R KS

Local singer/songwriter and self-proclaimed “spiritual gangsta,” Dyandra Bonet Mendoza recorded and released her first single amidst the COVID-19 quarantine. Her song “Good Ass Day,” produced by local studio Modus Flow, was written to spread some positivity amidst the current chaos of the world. Mendoza was born in San German, Puerto Rico and grew up in Orlando, Florida. However, she calls Pensacola home and received her Bachelor’s degree in Public Relations with a minor in sports management from the University of West Florida in 2016. After working for the Pensacola Blue Wahoos for a year, then travelling the country for three years, she returned home to establish herself and put her heart into making music. Her single can be found on Spotify, Apple Music, iTunes, Amazon Music and TIDAL music.

How did you get involved in music and how long have you been writing/making music?

My entire life music is the only thing that has ever made sense to me. Growing up, my mama always sang to me, had me in church choirs, worship band and church/school plays. When I was around 8 years old, I inherited my older brother’s Walkman and after that, it was game over. I would carry it around everywhere listening to any cassette tape I could get my hands on. In high school my mama put me in private music lessons where I learned how to read/write music and play guitar/ piano. When I got into college, life got busy and I kind of forgot about it—but my passion for music never left, just laid dormant for a while.

How did your years spent travelling impact you and the music you write?

It has influenced everything. After I graduated college, I just wanted to see what was out there. I bought a new car and hit the road. I traveled and worked as a bartender/waitress for three years in different national parks and resorts all over the country—from the Grand Canyon, to Vegas, to different ski resorts in Colorado. It makes you feel small but like so special at the same time. You know, it's

like how can something so vast be out there, and I'm just over here stressing about how I'm going to pay my bills? I’ve lost count of how many journals I have written music in. I write every day— especially when traveling. I put aside at least 30 minutes to an hour every single day to sit down with my thoughts and just put down whatever comes out.

What was your inspiration for the lyrics? You mention a lot of positives like clear skin, meditation, gratitude.

The inspiration and message behind the song is that good days are intentional.

We can choose to look at everything that is going wrong in our lives, or we can choose to focus on everything that is going right. Count our blessings instead of our losses. Despite all the scary things happening in the world, I felt so blessed to be “stuck" at home, next to our beautiful beaches, surrounded by everyone I love most. This song was meant to be my debut single back in January, but then COVID-19 happened. It was then that I realized I needed to dedicate the song to the world, not just to myself. It’s been proven more than once in history that when the world is down, musicians/ artists take it upon themselves to help bring that energy back up. I haven’t been able to work since March because of

shutdowns, but I chose to focus my time and energy toward my deeper passion, which is music.

Is hip-hop the main genre you write music for and how does it fit your style as a musician?

Hip Hop/Rap and R&B/Soul are definitely my main vibe. I love how poetic, lyrical and emotional these genres are. They tell stories about pain, grief, triumph and overcoming obstacles. Stories straight from the heart and soul. I believe that when we share our story, we change the world. As an artist, I intend to do exactly that. My producer, Anthony Navarro at Modus Flow, is absolutely incredible. He’s a real audio wizard and his guidance in the studio made the song what it is today.

What is your biggest goal for your music?

I want my music to be healing and to resonate with people. I want to show people that it doesn't matter where you come from, what you've been through or what you're going through right now—all that matters is your perspective and how you can share all of the good amongst the bad. I haven't had an easy life.

I've always had to hustle and grind for what I've wanted and what I've needed, living paycheck to paycheck. I may have a tough life, but I also have a beautiful and rewarding one. So, I want to just encourage, heal and spread some love in life, because I think the world needs more of that.

DOWNTOWNCROWD.COM | 7

F F Come and ge t you some new buds, real quick • by D akota Parks hile speed dating has been around since the mid 1990s, the plethora of online dating apps like Tinder, Bumble, Plenty of Fish, OkCupid, etc. have since squashed the popularity of the once trendy face-to-face dating activity.

However, while there are 1,500+ dating apps, most people still struggle to make new platonic friends.

According to the New York Post, 45 percent of adults find it difficult to make new friends and the average American hasn’t made a new friend in five years.

Emerald Republic Brewing Co. has stepped up to the plate by launching its newest event—speed friending. Due to COVID-19, all events are still canceled until June 1 or later; however, Emerald Republic’s next event is tentatively set for June 10.

8 | DOWNTOWNCROWD.COM

Just like speed dating, speed friending gathers a diverse group of people and pairs them together for five-minute intervals with various questions for conversation ice breakers. Veronique Zayas, founder of HatchMark Studio and owner of Emerald Republic explained that participants are given three questions during each pairing: two easy “get to know you” questions and one philosophical “life-thought” question.

“We love to see our brewery as a place where people can come to run into someone that they otherwise wouldn't have met. That is something that happens at a lot of breweries, and we wanted to help facilitate that,” Veronique explained.

“We've got people from all walks of

life that are coming into this place that are having unexpected conversations and making a human connection. It came from this idea of how can we create an event that promotes human connection and friendship.”

Participants have five minutes of conversation with a stranger, share a craft beer together and then move on to a new pairing—with 10-minute breaks in between to grab a beer, use the restroom or sit out of a round. Speed friending is a low stakes way to meet new people and socialize without any pressure.

“We knew we didn’t want to host speed dating. Phil and I run this place and we're married, so most of our friends are also married,” Vero-

sat in on a few rounds of speed friending when there was an odd number of people.

You see these guys? They became friends so fast, bro.

nique said. “None of us are out there dating, and there are plenty of apps for that now, but I think everybody is open to making new friendships. Those are the kind of connections that we try to build on this place.”

Veronique’s husband and co-owner of Emerald Republic, Phil Zayas actually

“It was a lot of fun and it goes quick.

You just get to know a little bit about the person sitting across from you and share a beer,” Phil said. “Speaking as someone who is socially awkward, it was a great way to meet someone without pressure. It’s only five minutes—and if you totally bomb it, you get another five minutes with someone new. Even then, it’s not about impressing someone like you’re on a date—it's just conversation.”

Speed friending was one of the last events Emerald Republic hosted before being shut down for COVID-19.

As a recently opened business, opening its doors in Dec. 2019, Emerald Republic was only open for three and half months before quarantine was

It’s only five minutes—and if you totally bomb it, you get another five minutes with someone new.

Even then, it’s not about impressing someone like you’re on a date—it's just conversation.”

implemented across the country. They quickly adapted to the community needs offering filtered water refills when grocery store shelves were empty, and they stayed afloat selling to-go orders.

As a testament to the popularity of the speed friending event, first hosted back in March, Emerald Republic plans to host it regularly once a month—including making it one of the first events to be hosted by the brewery when social distancing is over, bars and breweries officially reopen and events are able to take place again. Veronique explained that speed friending may look a little different—seats and tables placed farther apart, but at the heart of it, the event is supposed to promote socialization and human connection, which people need now more than ever.

by Gina Castro

ating in itself is an absolute pain.

Approaching someone at a bar is almost archaic these days and navigating the sea of online dating apps can lead to a barrage of questions like is this match looking for hookups, a relationship or just a free dinner? And when you add quarantine to the mix, your dating life could become even drier than the Sahara Desert, or get the spice that’d make you feel “like a virgin touched for the very first time.”

Madonna said it, not me. Anyhoo, yes. We’re talking about dating during quarantine. If you think about it, Netflix had us preparing for social distancing love affairs months before CDC. Its reality shows Love is Blind and Too Hot to Handle both limit physical interaction 10 | DOWNTOWNCROWD.COM

Disclaimer: Mature + Sexual Content

to strengthen emotional connections. So for many of the people we spoke with, limited physical interaction helped them make a genuine connection with someone. While for others, the taboo around physical interactions, due to social distancing, made meeting inperson more erotic – sorry CDC. We asked Pensacola for its quarantine dating stories either wholesome or tragic, and boy oh boy did Pensacola deliver. The majority of the people who shared their stories with us chose to be anonymous. This article calls for quite a bit of unpacking, so follow us on social media @DowntownCrowd to join the conversation! And from the wise words of Pornhub, remember that the safest sex you can have during quarantine is with yourself.

Two years ago, Andrea went through a pretty rough break up. Since then, she’s spent her time being a bartender in popular downtown bars and describes her dating life as “pretty much non-existent.” Then cupid, also known as quarantine, inspired our girl to try her hand at online dating. “Once all of this started happening, I was like well there isn’t anything else to do, so I might as well get online and see what happens,” Andrea said.

But what Andrea didn’t know was that dating during quarantine was going to give her the opportunity to connect with a love interest on a deeper level. A typical date for Andrea before the pandemic consisted of meeting someone at a bar and having a few drinks to-

Drive-by Dating When you hear the phrase “drive by” the first thing to come to mind is typically death, but after hearing about Angie’s wholesome drive thru dates during quarantine, we figured this title is a good combination of danger and sweet. Angie is a bad mamajama. She works in the Navy as an air traffic controller. Crazily enough, Angie is the only person we spoke with who actually followed social distancing guidelines. And guess what, CDC – she’s still single. “I’ve already had to get tested for COVID one time and it hurt. I don't want to put myself in any situation where I had to get testing done again,” Angie said. “My dad is elderly and sick, so I didn’t want to take any chances of catching anything that I might bring

gether. “Alcohol was always involved.

Obviously, I’m in the service industry, but it was always around my dating life, so it’s been nice not relying on alcohol to have a connection with someone,” Andrea explained.

So, she made a Tinder account and put herself out there.

“I ended up matching with this girl. We talked for three weeks via FaceTime,” Andrea said. “We decided to meet up at the Bay Bluffs Park and just have a Scrabble date with coffee.”

Okay, so as wholesome as this first date is, it’s quite risky to do nonessential activities during quarantine. It probably made the big guy upstairs a tad home to him. I would rather be safe than sorry.”

Yet, Angie still wanted to go on dates with her Tinder matches, so she thought outside of the box. She discovered that the restaurant The Hangar American Grill, located in Milton, was doing weekly drive-in movies, so her and her date sat in their own vehicles, had their food sent to them and enjoyed a CDC approved first date.

Angie and Tom, Dick and Harry had several physically distant dates.

Just to be clear, Angie didn’t date like all three of these guys on one date, but she is dating a couple of dudes and Tom, Dick and Harry just flows. Don’t hate the player, hate the game. Since Angie and one of the Dicks both own Jeeps, they parked their Jeeps at the beach and laid in their own Jeep hammocks, at a respectable 11 feet apart.

Andrea and her date, we’ll call her Jess, had an amazing first date. So, they went on several more outdoor dates from hiking the UWF trails to chilling in Jess’ Jeep hammock at the beach. In short, this love affair is classic Nicholas Sparks but like if he were a good writer.

Even though Angie and her dates were physically distant, she felt closer to them on an emotional level than she did with her dates before quarantine. “I've gotten to know them a lot better than we normally would have. Normally, we would meet up in person, go get dinner or get drinks,” Angie said. “I usually never talked to them after that. But with this, I'm forced to talk to them a lot more beforehand.”

Dating during quarantine has even changed what she is looking for in a connection. “Before I wasn’t so hung up on if they could hold long conversations. It was always a good thing that we could talk to each other and have things in common,” Angie explained. “Now it’s become very relevant to me. If a person were doing only small talk and we ran out of things to talk about, I stopped talking to them. I responded to those who were actually able to hold a conver-

SpiceMeter

“This is a good, gradual connection.

I definitely think that this is growing a little bit quicker than I would normally do because we have been talking everyday over the phone.”

Although Andrea and Jess’ exclusive relationship doesn’t have a title yet, their connection has become deep and meaningful to Andrea. “This is a good, gradual connection. I definitely think that this is growing a little bit quicker than I would normally do because we have been talking everyday over the phone.” Andrea explained.

“Normally, I wouldn’t talk to someone for two days because the social interaction was too much.”

Even though the shut down is over and popular date spots are gradually reopening, Andrea and Jess decided to keep their relationship simple. “Rather than going out to places, we’re going hiking again,” Andrea said. “It’s been really nice being out in nature and having nature fuel the dates.”

We’re happy to know that even during a global pandemic, love wins.

sation, so I think dating like this has been a lot better than before.”

SpiceMeter

Social Distancing?

I Don’t Know Her.

mad, too. By the “big guy upstairs” we mean the CDC.

One of the guys Angie is dating, we’ll call him Brad, could potentially become a more serious love interest depending on how long he is stationed in Pensacola.

“We’ve talked about when things open up, we’ll go out and explore because [Brad] hasn’t actually gone out and explored yet.”

Hopefully COVID-19 continues to work in Angie’s favor and prevents Brad from leaving Pensacola too soon. If not, she still has the other guys.

DOWNTOWNCROWD.COM | 11

SpiceMeter

Maybe I’m Manic, Maybe It’s Quarantine, Maybe It's Maybelline.

This Corona Courtship is, well, messy. It involves a pregnant woman, celibacy and a whole lot of pettiness. Paula Sessions, a plumber, has been single since Sept. 23, 2019.

This story starts with a quick trip to her cousin’s house in the middle of February. “There was this girl there.

As I walked by, she was like ‘OMG hi, you’re so beautiful.’ I was like ‘Girl, thank you so much. You better stop because I’m gay as hell,’” Sessions recalled. “I left just like that because I always have to make some kind of exit.” But what seemed like an insignificant encounter later blossomed into a two month affair.

SpiceMeter

“Everybody who is single kinda gets lonely during quarantine, right? Facebook has this dating mode, so I tried it. The same girl was on there and we matched,” Sessions said.

The Trial Run

This next story is of a sprouting long distance relationship thrown into the chaos of COVID-19. While other lovers spent the many days of isolation in each other's arms, Cate and Trish were forced to find comfort in each other's texts. Cate is an air traffic controller in the Navy. Each year, she spends months in Pensacola for training, but her real home is Oak Harbor, Washing12 | DOWNTOWNCROWD.COM

Five minutes into chatting on Facebook Dating, Sessions and Alexis, which is a fake name to keep the ex anonymous, were vibing and planning their next meeting. “We had a lot of the same interests. That’s what really pulled me in,” Sessions said. “She was able to hold a conversation, she was beautiful, she was of color. It was everything I could want.”

Sessions was head over heels for Alexis even when Sessions found out, a few weeks into their relationship, that Alexis was in the third trimester of her pregnancy and had two children. “Again, quarantine is messing me up. I needed love and attention,” Sessions explained.

Since Sessions is celibate, she and Alexis weren’t intimate. However, that doesn’t mean Alexis wasn’t intimate with her boyfriend. Did we forget to

ton. While in Oak Harbor, Cate matched with a lassie an hour and a half away in Seattle. To Cate, Trish was enchanting.

Not only is Trish smokin hot but she also leads an incredible career as a tattoo artist.

But they both knew this romance wasn’t going to be all rainbows and kittens. Cate’s lengthy stays in Pensacola was one thing, but Trish’s fruitful career made her split her time in Seattle and New York. “It’s one of those things, especially being in the Navy, I've prepared for, but I still wasn’t prepared,” Cate said. “I haven't been in a relationship for a long time. It’s just weird to not be able to do those little things that you take for granted in a relationship.”

mention that Alexis has a boyfriend, too? Pregnant women need love too.

Unfazed by the peculiarity of her quarantine romance, Sessions introduced her new girlfriend to her longtime friends at a Starbucks drive thru, and needless to say, they were shocked. “Who let me get into a relationship like that? I did. I can’t blame

“As I walked by, she was like ‘OMG hi, you’re so beautiful.’

I was like ‘Girl, thank you so much. You better stop because I’m gay as hell.’” nobody,” Sessions said. “Maybe I’m manic, maybe it’s quarantine, maybe it's Maybelline.”

Sessions and Alexis’ relationship came to a crashing halt when they got into a heated argument over Alexis’ secrecy. “I guess it was those pregnancy hormones. I don't know,” Ses-

Cate hasn’t been in a relationship since she joined the Navy, which was seven years ago. She’s also never been in a long distance relationship but Trish has.

Although not seeing each other has been an early test on their relationship, it’s also somewhat of a gift. “It’s definitely changed the way I look at dating.

This is kind of forcing us to go about it in a new way,” Cate explained. “I never would have considered downloading an app to watch a movie together hundreds of miles away from each other.”

Cate and Trish have found new ways to connect like sharing long texts about their feelings to one another, having dinner together over FaceTime

sions continued. “Either way, we had an argument. She was yelling, throwing stuff at my car, slamming my car door, so I dropped her off back home.”

The two didn’t talk for a few days.

Even though Sessions had no interest in continuing the relationship, she sent Alexis a text in hopes that the two would meet and Sessions could retrieve the books she left at Alexis’ home.

“And then she brought up the argument, and I was like ‘Why are you bringing up old stuff?’ I don’t like that kind of energy. I unfollowed her everywhere and messaged her ‘Look, I’m just going to be single now, but I’m wishing you well,’” Sessions explained. “This was maybe a day or two before her baby was born, so I don’t know if that's a bad thing to do, but I just couldn't do it anymore. So I cut her off.”

As for the books Sessions left behind, she plans to cut her losses and download them illegally. The Internet is a blessing and a curse, y’all. Don’t worry about Sessions though. She is doing well and hasn’t lost hope in online dating.

and cozying up with a good movie miles apart.

Quarantine put a strain on their budding relationship but it also helped them test the waters on their long distance love affair before committing to an official relationship. “I feel close to her. It’s nice to be able to cultivate that from a distance,” Cate said. “When this is all over, I have something to look forward to. It’s better than waiting for my schedule to go back to normal.”

Well, Cate and Trish, we wish you both nothing but the best!

SpiceMeter

Not All Heroes Wear Capes

This last dating story is about a woman in the Pensacola art scene. Before quarantine, Riley was seeing only Sarah, who she met at the Pensacola Beach Pride Weekend. “We agreed we would just be friends with benefits because we don’t have enough life in common to date,” Riley said. “And then quarantine started happening, and we had to decide if we were going to continue sleeping with each other or not.

We decided that two people is better than 10 people.” So, Riley and Sarah continued being friends with benefits.

I think we can all agree there is some solid logic backing up our pals Riley and Sarah, but if CDC did a vibe check on you two, we doubt you’d pass.

“I broke quarantine and I was like ‘I'm coming to your beach condo and we’re going to sort this out.’ We had a good time, but she still likes men,” Riley said.

Anyhoo, things are about to get spicy.

Apparently having one quarantine booty call wasn’t enough for Riley, so she added about four or five maybe six lovers to the mix. “Since quarantine, my life’s motto has changed to ‘Do what you want, but do what the CDC wants you to do,’” Riley said.

Still filled with generosity, Riley decided to help another poor soul. We’ll call this one Hot Nurse. Hot Nurse is a trans man living in a mansion in Mobile, AL. The two met on Tinder. Despite being a literal hot nurse with stacks to back it up, Hot Nurse was having a hard time getting with the ladies because he works in a hospital during a pandemic. But a tall drink of water is still a tall drink of water for our girl Riley.

“We’ve talked every day. We’ve almost become friends,” Riley said. After a romantic turned steamy FaceTime, the two agreed to meet in person.

Obviously, Riley’s CDC is a lot cooler than ours because hers let her break quarantine like a lot. But it was technically for a cause, so we guess it’s Gucci? We’ll let you decide.

Riley has been having a flirtatious relationship with Allison, who is bi-curious, for the past two years. Riley, being the generous person she is, decided to help this poor girl figure it out.

During all of this, Riley and Sarah were doing their regular hookups. “I was telling her about him and showing photos, and she was like ‘You know, I’ve never been with a trans man before, but he’s

really attractive,’” Riley told us. So, Heroine Riley agreed to take on another case. This time it’s a twofer.

Sarah had never been with a trans man and Hot Nurse had never been in a ménage à trois (look that bad boy up when you get the chance). One night, the three played a version of telephone.

Hot Nurse would send Riley a relatively spicy photo, which Riley would then forward to Sarah. Sarah would then send an equally risque photo to Riley to then share with Hot Nurse. “I’ve had [ménage à trois] before, but I’ve never been a digital curator of nudes.” And there you have it folks: a virtual ménage à trois. Thanks for introducing us to the new wave, Riley.

Some people volunteer while others use what their mama gave them. You know what they say, idle hands are the devil’s workshop. Keep on doing what you’re doing, Riley.

FLORIDA ASSOCIATION OF BROADCAST JOURNALISTS

2020 AWARDS

• • • • •

Best Radio Newscast 1st Place Breaking News 1st Place Continuing Coverage 1st Place Team Coverage 1st Place News Anchor / Anchor Team Live, Local News Every 30 Minutes All Day Talk & Text at 437-1620 | Alexa & Google Home Online & Facebook at NewsRadio923.com

Come try our fresh mullet, shrimp and grits, catfish, flounder, mahi, jumbo shrimp, poboys piled high with fresh seafood...

And homemade gumbo!

Open Tue–Thurs: 11am–7pm Fri and Sat: 11am–8pm Closed Sunday and Monday 7000 Pine Forest Rd

850-941-1982

SHOP

SUMMER FASHION LOCALLY

SOBO BOUTIQUE

offers a girly twist on modern pieces that you can wear day or night. From swimwear to athleisure wear, they've got you covered. Sobo offers curbside pick up and free local delivery up to 10 miles away. Free shipping is available for orders online as well as an extended return policy for up to 30 days. It's time to amp up your wardrobe in the prettiest way possible. To learn more about Sobo, visit thesoboboutique.com. photos by Sarah Coleman Photography

BY GINA CASTRO + LILLY PARADISE

I

T’S SUMMERTIME AND THE FLORIDA HEAT IS GETTING SERIOUS. If you’ve experienced the Florida summer heat, even just once, then you know the goal for each of your summer looks should be light, airy fabric with bold colors. Vibrant shades of teal, purple and pink can make just about any skin tone pop. Summer is all about fun, so mix some prints, play around with metallic accessories—just wear what makes you feel good.

Whenever new fashion seasons roll around, it's easy to do all of your shopping at the mall. After all, the mall is the only place in town worth shopping at, right? Wrong! There are dozens of locally owned boutiques filled with the hottest summer fashion. You can find chic bikinis, maxi dresses and board shorts in small businesses right here in Pensacola. Small businesses across our state and country are facing financial hardships due to the COVID-19 shut down. One way you can help these businesses is by shopping local. To make shopping locally just a little bit easier on you, we’ve collected some of our favorite pieces from local stores.

14 | DOWNTOWNCROWD.COM

Nudes and Cutouts If you’re a fashionista, chances are you’ve already picked up on this summer's hottest trend: naked.

Scandalous, we know. This trend has been embraced by runway designers from New York to Paris. Over the years, flesh colored tones, or nudes, have become more and more popular in the form of lipsticks, coats, bikinis and everything in between.

Now, cutouts have been added to complete the naked look. Sobo’s 3 Ring White Tortoise One Piece Swimsuit checks all of the boxes. In this suit, you’ll be turning heads.

Maxi Skirts If your vibe is looking like an absolute goddess, then the Istanbul Paisley Skirt is a necessity. Just imagine the light, translucent fabric blowing in the breeze giving your outfit a flare of drama. This skirt is versatile, too. You can partner it with a T-shirt and sneakers for a casual chic look, or wear a white, off-the-shoulder crop top with a long, dainty necklace for a soft boho look. No matter what you pair this skirt with, it’s bound to look perfect this summer.

CIAO BELLA BOUTIQUE AND SALON Want to feel classy and fabulous? Ciao Bella

Boutique and Salon are here for you, girl! From maxi dresses to jewelry, to shoes, to perfume, the possibilities are endless. And if you're feeling boujee, you can even get your hair cut and colored for only $55. Ciao Bella offers a $5 fee for shipping under $50 as well as free shipping for orders over $50. To learn more about Ciao Bella, visit ciaobellaboutiquefl.com.

Dressy Beach Outfits This look is for all you bahama mamas out there. Sure, casual beach looks are cute, but dressy beach outfits take you to a whole other level. Bella’s Bon Voyage Dress is a subtle beach glam that can be even more glam with a pair of gold, thick hoops, low heels and an updo. Dressy beach outfits are great for dinner at Pensacola Beach’s many restaurants, such as Hemingway's Island Grill.

Loose Fitted Pants Let’s just go ahead and say it: wearing skinny jeans in 90 degree weather is just asking for a heat stroke. Light, loose fitted pants like Ciao Bella’s Cup of Joe Pants are comfy, cool and fashionable.

You can wear these pants with a light tank top, tube top or T-shirt.

These pants are perfect for brunch with the girls or dinner after a day at the beach. The best part is they feel comfy as pajamas, yet they pass as summer chic.

SCOUT

has everything you need to add some color to your wardrobe this summer. Located on Palafox street, Scout's mission is to create the closet of your dreams with advanced contemporary pieces. The owner and New York fashion designer, Julia Ussery, has more than 20 years of experience in the fashion industry. To learn more about Scout, visit shopscoutonline.com.

Shades of Green

Shades of emerald and pistachio green were all over the runways this year from leather tote bags to boots to satin skirts. Scout’s floral green wrap dress showcases the popular green color as well as the traditional summer floral look. The layers of the thin wrap around dress will draw attention to your body shape while also keeping you cool on hot days. This dress can be kept casual with sandals or turned up a notch with a pair of wedges.

Metallic Accessories Metallics have been the go-to for Christmas and New Years Eve parties. These shiny silvery or golden looks seem almost made for the holidays. However, metallics were spotted all over the Spring Summer 2020 Fashion Week in New York, London and Italy. Metallics were used as button up shirts, jump suits and accessories. Scout’s metallic slides can add a little dazzle to your look. You can make these shoes stand out with a monotone outfit, or have them blend in with flowing pink dress. There is more than one way to accessorize with metallics. You can accent your outfits with wide metallic bracelets or metallic geometric earrings. No matter how you style it, you’re sure to shine.

INDIGEAUX DENIM BAR & BOUTIQUE Indigeaux Denim Bar and Boutique has

everything you need when it comes to downtown fashion. Not only do they have a great selection to choose from, but you can also find name brands you love at an affordable price.

If you sign up via email on their website, you will receive 15 percent off your first order. Free shipping is also available for orders over $75. To learn more, visit shopidb.com.

Rompers Soft shades of pink, blue and yellow are always a summer hit. These colors make your skin tone look tanner, and if you’ve been blessed with extra melanin, it’ll make your skin tone pop more, too. That’s one of the reasons why we love Indigeaux’s Show Me Your Mumu Tilda Tie Romper. Its tie dye print uses light pink and white, which you can accessorize with simple gold or silver pieces. This romper is tied on both shoulders so that you can manipulate the length.

Plus, it comes with pockets. Score!

Bohemian

Summer is the time to play with bold prints and bright colors. Bohemian (boho) looks are hits every summer. Lucky for us, Indigeaux has styles from one of the top brands for boho: Free People. Free People Better Than Sunshine Crop Top is one of our favorite pieces. Its plunging neckline can make any outfit sexy. We’ll be the first to admit it. Plunging necklines are a bit intimidating. Just secure the fabric with some tape and rock that look, girl. This shirt would work well with white capris or pants. Photo by Free People

Photo By Show Me Your Mumu

GWENDOLYN-ROSE is a high fashion brand of clothing created,

designed and sewn by Nester "Whigene" Taylor. Taylor began taking an interest in sewing as a teenager, which has grown into a passion for creating fashion that is a reflection of his love of art. Gwendolyn-Rose clothing is known for its high quality, attention to detail, and unique looks that takes fashion to a more artistic level. This brand creates clothes for both men and women. All of the looks featured here are styled by LaTavia Harris. To learn more about this brand, visit his Facebook page @GwendolynRoseLookbook.

Daring Prints

If you could sum up the Gwendolyn-Rose brand in one word, it would be daring. For some reason, men’s fashion tends to be more dull and less, well, daring. However, Taylor believes all clothes could stand to use some more color. We selected two of our favorite shirts from his March 2020 runway show. The first shirt is a button up with circular shapes and shades of blue, which is modeled by Taylor himself. The second shirt is a cool gray with a black flower pattern, which is a great starter shirt for those who want to experiment with prints. Both of these shirts can be styled with a pair of jeans and sneakers, but if that look is too hot for the summer heat, you can roll the sleeves up and partner the shirts with fitted shorts. The lighter shirt, or first shirt, looks best with lighter colored pants or shorts. The floral shirt would look great with either darker or lighter bottoms. A sure way to pull off both of these looks is to look and feel confident.

WATERBOYZ

If you love riding some gnarly waves, you need to shop at Waterboyz. Not only is it a skate park and café, but it also offers a variety of surf and skate brands you are sure to love. You can shop in stores or online and return anything you do not like within 30 days for an exchange, some restrictions apply. Free shipping is also available for all Waterboyz T-shirts.

To learn more, visit waterboyz.com.

Simple T-shirt You can never go wrong with a simple T-shirt. These are perfect for staying cool in the summer heat and can match your board shorts, regular shorts or pants. Waterboyz’s Wander Off Tee comes in two vibrant colors: sunset and green.

Both of these colors are sure to make your skin tone pop.

DOWNTOWNCROWD.COM | 15

GREAT SOUTHERN RESTAURANTS N O W O P E N F O R D I N I N G. INDOOR AND OUTDOOR DINING AVAILABLE

All seating is by reservation only.

To make a reservation, call or visit each restaurant’s website.

We are practicing all safety measures including spacing, sanitation, and more.

850-470-0003

850-469-9898

850-912-4856

GREATSOUTHERNRESTAURANTS.COM

850-542-8398

l)

You’ve Got a Friend in Me a (Virtu

School age children have been greatly impacted by the COVID-19 quarantine. They are used to spending almost seven hours a day Monday through Friday at school, chatting with friends and following a routine. Since schools are closed, their social time has been limited to what they can do through a screen and their consistent routine has vanished. Routines improve a child’s confidence and reduce stress. Without a routine, adapting to social distancing guidelines can be even more challenging for these children.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwest Florida has found a way to add some consistency to these children’s lives during this time.

BBBS has been matching adult role models with children to create life-long friendships since 1989, and they didn’t let quarantine stop them. BBBS has continued to match Bigs with Littles virtually, and matches from before quarantine have found ways to maintain their friendships.

“During these unprecedented times of fear, anxiety and worry, it is important that our children have someone to turn to,” Bella Costa, Marketing and Communications Coordinator at BBBS, said. “We are focused on keeping existing Big/Little matches connected with innovative and creative support through phone calls, text messages, digital learning platforms and other technology enabled engagement tools. Now, more than ever, our children need a mentor.”

Sally Pink and her Little sister Serenity matched long before the shut down. “It's been really difficult for us to find a way to still talk because Serenity is just seven years

old,” Pink said. Before the shut down, Pink and Serenity would wander around the Gulf Breeze Zoo or relax at the beach. Now, Pink has to think of other ways to connect with Serenity while abiding social distance guidelines.

Pink delivers goody bags with different age appropriate activities to Serenity’s home. One of the goody bags was filled with movie night essentials: a fun movie, popcorn and hot chocolate. Later, they chat about their favorite parts of the film. “It gives her more of a topic to talk about, and it’s super simple,” Pink explained.

Pink explained how her friendship with her Little has helped not only Serenity get through this time but also Pink. “I battle with mental health a lot. Quarantine is hard,” Pink said. “For me, it would have been insanely easy to grow depressed and let my whole day go to waste, but every single week, I plan out what activities to do with Serenity. It helps having those things to look forward to.”

Other matches have been taking advantage of various apps to

by gina Castro

communicate virtually. Michael Hanna met his Little brother Eli a few days before the shut down.

loved,” Carmona said. “If there is anything I can do out in the community to make them feel loved, why not do it?”

Whenever Hanna is able to text or Snapchat Eli, Hanna will send Eli’s mom a text. Eli is only eight years old and doesn’t have a cellphone of his own. Eli likes to show Hanna his Transformers and exchange pictures with the different Snapchat filters. “He likes to dance. It’s the funniest thing,” Hanna said.

“We‘ll play each other different songs through the laptop, and he’ll dance to it and show me his favorite ones. I dance with him, too.”

Carmona’s mom told Carmona to look into BBBS, and since Carmona is now settled into Pensacola, her second duty station, she was able to start the process to become a Big Sister. She’s met her Little Emilia, 6, through only Zoom, but Carmona hopes to Zoom with Emilia once a week until they can meet.

Walker Wilson has known his Little Brother Travion since Travion was in the fourth grade. Wilson was a mentor for Travion through a program in the school district.

Once Travion entered middle school, the two matched at BBBS to continue their friendship. Before COVID-19, Wilson and Travion spent their time together playing basketball. “Now, I give him a call to talk about what they have been doing, what they ate for dinner and his school work,” Wilson said. “It’s been good for him to have someone not in the house to chat with and look forward to talking to on a regular basis.”

Hanna decided to become a Big after seeing a friend from high school post about her Little on social media. “I looked into it, and I felt like I should get involved because I feel like I've lived a selfish life as far as my time goes,” Hanna said. “Being a Big Brother is an opportunity to help a kid, and it’s been amazing. It’s changed my outlook on a lot of things and what I should be putting my time toward.”

Since Eli is the oldest of three siblings, he often misses out on mature conversations. “He doesn’t have anyone older than him that he can interact with and talk to and play with,” Hanna explained. “I think just him knowing that there is somebody to be able to interact with at a mature level makes this time easier for him.”

Megan Carmona was inspired to do something for the children in the community during quarantine after watching The Trials of Gabriel Fernandez on Netflix. “It just seemed like a really good thing to do. The children need to feel

BBBS is always looking for caring adults who are eager to be a mentor for the children in the community. If you are interested in being a Big Brother or Big Sister, visit bbbsnwfl.org or call 850.433.5437 today.

Bigs finding ways to connect with their Littles despite social distancing. None of the the matches met in person during quarantine.

DOWNTOWNCROWD.COM | 17

keep her from being euthanized,” Carly explained. “After meeting her, we knew right away we had no choice but to adopt her.”

Since Carly has been working from home and Jordan temporarily lost his job, the two were able to give extra attention to Winnie as she acclimated to her new home. Winnie unfortunately came into the couple’s life severely underweight and had birdshot embedded in her skin.

“We were home 24/7 and loved the time we got to spend bonding with Winnie,” Carly said. “We got to witness a little bit more of her personality shine through every day.”

Pets Find Their Furever Homes During Quarantine

by Gina Castro

The secret to surviving quarantine is having a companion who doesn’t talk much. Pets have a way of comforting us without relying on words. Dog and cat adoptions spiked in the month of March as pet shelters started closing and the loneliness of social distancing settled in. Pensacola Humane Society (PHS) said on its social media that shelter euthanization in the United States decreased by 25 percent in March. PHS is a no-kill shelter that works tirelessly to find cats and dogs their furever homes. Animal shelters across the state had to clear their shelters within only a few days as part of the governor’s stay-athome order. Even though it was a challenge getting these pets adopted, so many pets were 18 | DOWNTOWNCROWD.COM

able to find loving homes and people were able to find comfort in their recently adopted pets during this global pandemic.

Downtown Crowd decided to catch up with some of these quarantine adoptions.

Carly and her husband Jordan Richards have a home filled with adopted animals, but when they heard that a pitbull named Winnie had a few days before her euthanization, they instantly made room in their home and hearts for her. Thanks to a post on social media by The Mylo Foundation, Carly and Jordan were able to save Winnie from being euthanized at the Mobile County Animal Shelter. “We didn’t originally intend to adopt Winnie at first, only foster her to

Phoebe Allen adopted her handsome cat Peter, formerly Peep, from PHS, but her landlady needed some convincing first.

After telling her landlord about PHS’s desperate need to find Peter a home, Allen’s landlady agreed to the adoption. “He is the cutest little menace around.

He has provided a lot of comfort and distraction during this time,” Allen said. “Before, there were days I would sometimes have nothing to do other than my work. Now, I get to play and cuddle with him. It’s been a lot of comfort.”

Allen has been able to use her extra time bonding with Peter.

The two play all sorts of games and are in the process of getting Peter comfortable with a harness so that they can enjoy walks outside together. “He is really excited to have a home and not be at the humane society anymore,” Allen said.

Randy Wolfe has been saving up for a dog for sometime and figured quarantine was the perfect time to find his new best friend, Tiny. “I’ve been putting it off for awhile, and since we

Tiny can’t do anything right now, I decided to go get a dog now,” Wolfe explained. So, Wolfe made a stop at PHS and instantly adored Tiny. Now, the two spend time walking around the neighborhood and playing ball at the park. Having Tiny during quarantine was a great support system for Wolfe. “I live alone, so it’s just me. It’s nice to have somebody else to play around with. I keep him company and he keeps me company,” Wolfe said.

Rebecca Barber and her boyfriend have been fostering Frost since November. They absolutely adored Frost and thought about adopting her for some time. You may remember Frost from Downtown Crowd’s March issue. We featured Frost in our “Oldies but Goodies” article, which was about adopting senior pets. Frost bounced from home to home after her original owner passed away. “The shelter had her for a little while, and she was doing really bad there.

She didn’t get along with other cats,” Barber said. “I think she bit a couple of volunteers, too. She did great with that next foster, but then that foster was moving and couldn’t take her with.”

Eventually, Frost found a new foster home with Barber, who then adopted her in March.

Carly, Jordan + Winnie

Peter + Pheobe

“We grew to love her, and by the time quarantine rolled around, we were not ready to give her up,” Barber explained. “We saw so many cats that were getting adopted and we were worried that someone would adopt her if we didn't do it ourselves.”

So, Barber officially adopted Frost. “We love her so much.

We’re going to keep her forever,” Barber said.

Although COVID-19 had devastating effects on many of us, it also made us value the day-today relationships we sometimes take for granted. We’re happy to know there’s some good that came from all of this. If you’re interested in adding a furbaby to your home, visit pensacolahumane.org.

Creatisphere Summer

Art CamP WEEK LONG CAMPS Ages 6-11, May 26th- August 7th Pottery • Drawing • Sculpture • Photography Glass Studio • 3-d Design • Mixed Media Painting Printmaking • Collage • Textiles • Yoga and more!

Each is different!

Check the website for complete details.

FCAC will partner with the Mess Hall for select weeks!

Saturday Morning Art Classes!

2nd Saturday Creating with Clay Scholarships Available! Visit firstcityart.org for info and application.

Firstcityart.org or call (850) 429-1222

mu

en

Co

Adopt -AManatee

m

ally Owne oc

d

L

Go Wild This Father’s Day

n it y D r

iv

BALLINGERPUBLISHING.COM 850.433.1166 ®

1-800-432-JOIN (5646) savethemanatee.org Photo © David Schrichte

Explore together HistoricPensacola.org

MILITARYMATTERS AN ARMED FORCES NEWS SECTION antiterrorism, supply, counter-unmanned aerial vehicle operations and physical security.

ment and proper sanitizing of vehicles, equipment and workspaces.

“The security department utilizes and maintains a vast array of equipment to perform the mission to include marked and unmarked vehicles, firearms, bullet resistant vests, radios, duty gear, night vision, and a fully operational firearms range which supports many local tenant commands and other law enforcement agencies,” he said.

The NSF has been working to ensure personnel onboard NAS Pensacola are practicing smart health precautions in the wake of COVID-19.

Tillman said personnel should follow guidance passed via the chain of command and medical professionals, and work on practicing social distancing in common areas.

The NSF continually trains to prepare for any threats to base assets and personnel.

“Our training mission remains a top priority and we have not slowed our tempo,” Tillman said.

NAVY SECURITY FORCES PROVIDE SAFE, SECURE ENVIRONMENT ONBOARD NAS PENSACOLA

BY JOSHUA COX The Navy Security Forces (NSF) protect assets, service members and their families, civilian employees and visitors onboard NAS Pensacola and other local naval facilities.

The diverse team of law enforcement personnel here have a challenging mission that can change rapidly in response to policy changes, local force protection conditions and events on the installation.

“The unique nature of our mission at NAS Pensacola is to maintain an acceptable level of security while balancing the public access [for visitors] aboard the installation,” said NSF Deputy Security Director Ken Tillman.

“NAS Pensacola is very much a part of the Pensacola community, and as someone who

grew up here, I believe to an extent Pensacola residents claim a type of ownership and take great pride in the installation.”

Tillman said the NSF is responsible for NAS Pensacola, Corry Station, Saufley Field and Blue Angel Naval Recreation Area, and maintains agreements with Naval Hospital Pensacola and the Veterans Administration for police services in exigent circumstances.

“Our overall authorized end strength is approximately 160 personnel,” Tillman said.

“Approximately half of those are active duty Navy, and the other half are civilian.”

Tillman said while the majority of the NSF personnel work in operations, many work in support roles such as in administration, training, investigations, armory and range operations,

In addition to our sustainment training such as domestic violence response, arrest and apprehension, crime scenes, search and seizure, rules of evidence, and more, we continue to have a robust exercise program including drills to prepare for potential protests, gate runners, vehicle-borne improvised explosive devices, and active shooter incidents, Tillman said.

COVID-19 has presented new challenges for the department, but the NSF is working to ensure daily operations continue to run efficiently during the pandemic.

“While our mission is unchanged, how we accomplish the mission has changed,” Tillman explained. “Like many of our law enforcement partners, our mission requires frequent, close contact with personnel. Many of our normal operations such as touching ID cards at the gate, or filling the waiting room at the visitor’s center have had to be adjusted. Additionally, the use of facial coverings, other personal protective equipment, and social distancing during shift briefings and training has become the new normal.”

“We have noted an increase in personnel gathering after hours in common areas of their lodging facilities and recreation areas and it has been challenging for our personnel to regulate,” Tillman said. “This practice should be halted until we get on the other side of this pandemic.”

The NSF has received several accolades in the past year, demonstrating the department’s outstanding proficiency and preparedness.

“Our most recent accomplishments are receiving the highest score on a regional inspection to ever be awarded by the Commander, Navy Region Southeast (CNRSE) team in September 2019 and our K-9 kennel receiving the Kennel of the Year Award,” Tillman said.

Tillman said he is continually humbled to work with such a great group of personnel.

“They make me proud to be a part of this organization,” he said. “Whether in their performance in higher headquarters inspections and assessments, or their response to real-world events, their loyalty to their duties continually impresses me.”

Tillman said the NSF personnel work around the clock to meet a common goal.

“Whether personnel are visiting the installation or assigned here, it is our goal to provide a safe and secure environment to live, work or train,” he added.

Tillman said the NSF has conducted internal training related to personal protective equipDOWNTOWNCROWD.COM | 21

MILITARYMATTERS

NAS PENSACOLA PORT OPERATIONS CONTINUE AMID COVID-19 PANDEMIC

BY JOSHUA COX Many units and departments onboard NAS Pensacola safely continue operations despite the COVID-19 pandemic. The Port Operations Department has a mission to accomplish and has adapted along the way to combat the virus.

“The official mission of Port Operations is to service the craft that we have in port,” said Chief Warrant Officer 4 Sigarrie Nettles, NAS Pensacola Port Operations department head.

We have more ships to come later on in the year, but we have three ships and those three ships are our priority right now, he added.

One of the missions for the department is to mitigate oil spills and ensure the water around NAS Pensacola isn’t impacted by the arrival and departures of vessels.

On a normal day at the pier, the Port Operations personnel welcome vessels and provide a vital service to ensure the ships can continue the mission.

“We do oil spill response for the base for anything that is in the water,” Nettles explained. “The fire department usually handles everything for land, but if anything is in the water it’s our job to clean that up. We have three utility boats that we use mainly for the oil spill prevention, by putting the barriers around the ships as they come in port.”

“Right now we have Coast Guard Cutter Cypress, Dauntless and Decisive that are home-ported here,” Nettles said.

Port Operations also maintains more than 100 exclusion buoys around the base.

“If you drive down the street through the base you'll see all

22 | DOWNTOWNCROWD.COM

of the buoys that tell people to stand off — or where not to come in,” Nettles said.

“We also have to periodically do maintenance on those.”

Nettles said the department has taken increased measures to combat the threat of COVID-19.

“Since the COVID-19 epidemic hit we knew for a fact that we couldn't be one of the departments to shut down,” Nettles said. “Our work has to continue 24 hours a day.”

I have required everyone to wear a mask whenever they can't practice six feet social distancing, and we have one person dedicated every hour to go through and wipe down all the knobs and handrails to disinfect, Nettles said.

Nettles said he is the only active duty service member in the department, but works with two civil service personnel and about 30 contractors.

“They are really enthusiastic about being here and I want to keep that feeling going,” Nettles said.

Nettles said the work environment is outstanding around the port, and the team members have a commitment to excellence and their daily tasks.

“I love being here — I would stay here forever if I could,” Nettles added.

MIKE DOLLEN CMDCM USN (Ret.) | REALTOR ÂŽ Designated Military Relocation Professional and Florida Military Specialist

We proudly serve all local residents and businesses and honor all active military.

10%

Military Discoun t

Monday - Friday: 9a.m. to 5:30p.m.

Saturday: 9a.m. to 3p.m.

Closed Sunday 551 S Fairfield Dr. Pensacola, Fl 32506

850.444.9191

www.storagekingusa.com

850.207.1191 4475 Bayou Blvd, Pensacola mike.dollen@floridamoves.com

I specialize in military relocations and proudly serve our military community.