Inweekly Jan. 13 2022

Independent News | January 13, 2022 | Volume 23 | Number 2 | Lumon May and Troy Rafferty / Photo by Matt Warren of Levin, Papantonio, Rafferty law firm

FREE ▶

winners & losers

outtakes

4

5

news 6, 8

The best art has a pulse...

feature story

buzz 10

12

publisher Rick Outzen

graphic designer Tim Bednarczyk

contact us info@inweekly.net

editor & creative director Joani Delezen

contributing writers Gina Castro, Savannah Evanoff, Jennifer Leigh, Jeremy Morrison, Sydney Robinson, C.S. Satterwhite

a&e

15, 21 Independent News is published by Inweekly Media, Inc., P.O. Box 12082, Pensacola, FL 32591. (850)438-8115. All materials published in Independent News are copyrighted. © 2022 Inweekly Media, Inc. All rights reserved.

not your average* board certified civil trial attorney

*Board Certification by the Florida Bar Association and the National Board Of Trial Advocacy.

Statistical information current as of April 2020.

zarzaurlaw.com 22

•

(855)hirejoe

•

pensacola, fl inweekly.net

Find your future.

The Center serves as downtown Pensacola’s cultural and artistic hub.

It is home to local theatre, ballet, education, events, community organizations and more. As we look to the future, we plan to reimagine our space, and we invite you to join us on the journey. learn more at findyour center pensacola.com

AD DESIGN COURTESY OF BRAND ON US ™, AN IDGROUP INITIATIVE.

January 13, 2022

3

winners & losers

Jayer Williamson / myfloridahouse.gov

winners JAYER WILLIAMSON As reported in "The

A CRAFTY SOUTHERN PUB WHERE IT ALL COMES TOGETHER MON-THUR 4-9 AND FRI-SAT 11-10 TUESDAY NIGHT: BURGERS AND BORDEAUX

UNIONPENSACOLA.COM

309 SOUTH REUS ST. | 850.607.6320

Buzz" in this issue, State Rep. Jayer Williamson (R-Pace) announced on Thursday, Jan. 6, that he will not seek a fourth term in the Florida House. Williamson has been one of the most effective lawmakers in Tallahassee, serving as chairman of the House Infrastructure & Tourism Appropriations Subcommittee. He also has been one of only seven House members of the Joint Legislative Budget Commission, which gave him a seat at the table during budget negotiations. Williamson has been a champion for Northwest Florida, and his leadership will be missed next year.

CARLOS ORONA The Emergency Medical Services paramedic is Escambia County's Employee of the Month for January. Orona began his career with Escambia County in 2015. Recently, he demonstrated significant dedication and worked tirelessly to implement the new ImageTrend report writing software. He spent countless hours troubleshooting the ImageTrend operations platform and training employees.

NAVY FEDERAL CREDIT UNION For 25 years, Navy Federal Credit Union made the holidays a little brighter by hosting a collection drive to support the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation. Breaking records this year, the credit union's members and employees donated over $20,000 and 20,000 toys. Over 260 of Navy Federal's domestic branches participated in the Toys for Tots drive this year, which is around 75% of the credit union's worldwide branch network. Members and employees also had the option to conveniently donate online. Locally, 200 families had their Christmas wish lists fulfilled.

CITY OF PENSACOLA & IDEAWÖRKS

After debuting its new PARKPensacola website in November 2020, the Web Marketing Association honored the City of Pensacola and local public relations agency Ideawörks with an Outstanding Mobile Website award for superior achievement in mobile development as part of the association's eighth annual MobileWebAwards competition. Designed

by Ideawörks, the PARKPensacola website focuses on educating users about parking downtown and using the PARKPensacola app, whether they are residents or visitors.

44

Ron DeSantis / flgov.com

losers RON DESANTIS Despite the world seeing

Omicron cases surging, Florida's governor let between 800,000 to 1 million COVID tests under his care expire, even though the federal government had given a threemonth extension to distribute them. Initially, he denied his administration allowed the tests to expire after Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried blew the whistle on the debacle. A week later, he admitted the failure. DeSantis has begun to discourage COVID testing to downplay his actions and somehow blame the Biden administration. We need fewer road trips and pressers and more time in the office in Tallahassee.

DOWNTOWN SCOOTERS The Downtown Improvement Board has asked the Pensacola City Council to impose tighter restrictions on the downtown scooters.

The DIB wants the council to limit the number of scooters allowed in the city to 200, ban them from sidewalks and parking garages, disallow unlicensed drivers from operating the vehicles, create designated pickup and drop-off areas and limit their hours of operation from 5 a.m.-10 p.m. In October, a local man racked up $60,000 in medical bills after wrecking one of the scooters. The following month, another rider was hospitalized with severe injuries after running a stop sign and colliding with a car. The regulations should make the scooters safer.

CYBER NINJAS The Florida-based com-

pany hired by Arizona Senate Republicans to review the 2020 presidential election in the state's most populous county has fired all its staff and closed after Maricopa County officials debunked its findings.

The county's election officials found that 76 of the 77 claims made in the Cyber Ninjas report on its audit of the county's 2020 election were false or misleading.

Maricopa County Superior Court Judge John Hannah said he will fine the company $50,000 a day if Cyber Ninjas didn't immediately turn over public records related to the audit requested by the Arizona Republic newspaper. The audit report had been used by Donald Trump and his supporters as proof the 2020 election was stolen from him. inweekly.net

PINE STREET— 0.34 ACRE LOT $80,000 | MLS #594527

RACT

ONinTGulf Breeze near Oriole Rare opportunity to DERthisClot Nown U Beach! Lot Size Acres: 0.34 | Lot Size Square Feet: 14810

outtakes

1709 ST MARYS BAY DR. • MILTON $720,000 | MLS #600352

By Rick Outzen

STOP THE BLAME GAME Since I started "Real News with Rick Outzen" on WCOA, I have shared the latest COVID-19 statistics every week. I've encouraged people to get tested if they have any coronavirus symptoms or have been exposed to someone who has tested positive.

I've also told listeners where they can receive the COVID vaccinations and booster shots. Why? Because we know the vaccine and boosters help if someone becomes infected. They are less likely to be hospitalized or to die. I want our lives to return to normal. Our quality of life improves and our economy stays strong if we can avoid spikes in hospitalizations and deaths.

Also, I believe I have an obligation to think not only about my health but also the health of those around us. Though Gov. Ron DeSantis has blocked the health department from giving us daily numbers on COVID deaths for Escambia County, we know the coronavirus has been our third highest cause of death, behind only heart disease and cancer. More than 300 people died last year due to COVID-19, and many of those deaths were avoidable.

We have helped our WCOA listeners and Inweekly readers keep up with the latest CDC guidelines as a public service.

Sadly, Gov. DeSantis has made a political game of the pandemic, attacking the Biden administration and misleading the public.

First, he and his surgeon general, Dr. James Ladapo, discouraged citizens from getting tested, even though the state has broken the number of new cases daily since the first of the year. Ladapo said on Monday, Jan. 3, that he wanted to "unwind the testing psychology" of the federal government."

He and DeSantis touted reopening monoclonal antibody sites. The treatment is for those infected with COVID-19 and may block the virus from attaching to cells, making it more difficult to reproduce and cause harm.

In other words, the governor doesn't want you to find out if you're infected. But, if you are, he has a treatment for you.

At his Tuesday, Jan. 4, presser, after the

Florida Department of Health announced it didn't have plans to open drive-through testing sites, the governor said, "A lot of those tests aren't a good use of testing.

Testing really needs to be focused on the people who have clinical symptoms."

Discouraging people from getting tested was a political strategy floated by the Trump administration in 2020. If fewer people get tested, Florida will show fewer COVID-19 cases. DeSantis can tout that his health policies have worked as he heads into the 2022 election cycle.

But the governor did hedge his bet. He declared that he would start sending out at-home test kits. He didn't know when or how many, but he would do it before the federal government put them in our hands. Last month, President Joe Biden announced a plan to distribute 500 million at-home coronavirus tests throughout the country. The distribution of the tests still has not started.

Then on Thursday, Jan. 6, we may have found out why DeSantis wanted to poo-poo COVID testing. During a press conference, Florida Division of Emergency Management Director Kevin Guthrie admitted that up to one million tests had been allowed to expire.

On Dec. 30, Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried had sent out a statement about the stockpile going to waste.

She begged the governor to set up statesponsored testing sites. DeSantis blasted her for speaking out.

On Friday, Jan. 7, DeSantis tried to spin his failure. He used a familiar strategy—blame Joe Biden. The governor argued that the stockpile was due to a lack of demand during the fourth quarter of 2021 and blamed the Biden administration for not granting extensions to keep the tests eligible. The White House had already given FDOH one three-month extension in September.

If people wanted to be tested, the state should make the process as easy as possible. Please stop playing the blame game and make more tests available. {in} rick@inweekly.net

Our quality of life improves and our economy stays strong if we can avoid spikes in hospitalizations and deaths.

January 13, 2022

Secluded waterfront community two-story home.

3 Beds, 2 Baths, 1 Partial Bath • 3,329 Sq. ft. • 37,026 Sq. ft. Lot Call or text Cheryl Young at 850-712-4742 to see today!

SEVILLE SQUARE REALTY, LLC Cheryl Young Licensed Real Estate Broker

308 E. Government St. • Pensacola, Florida 32502

(850) 712-4742

www.sevillesquare.net • cheryl@sevillesquare.net

Licensed in Florida & Alabama

Practicing Since 1974 INJURED? (ALL TYPES OF ACCIDENTS)

ARRESTED? (ALL FEDERAL & STATE COURTS)

WHITE COLLAR CRIMES (HEALTH-CARE FRAUD • DRUG OFFENSES & D.U.I.s)

FREE CONSULTATION ON INJURY / DEATH CASES & CRIMINAL CASES NO RECOVERY - NO FEE / COST ON PERSONAL INJURY & WRONGFUL DEATH CASES

24 HOUR SERVICE

433-9922

304 E. GOVERNMENT STREET 5

STAYING SAFE DURING THE OMICRON WAVE

Though we wished otherwise, the COVID-19 pandemic hasn't gone away.

The Delta variant is still out there, and the Omicron variant is infecting people at an alarming rate pretty much everywhere, including locally.

Currently, Escambia County's positivity rate is edging near 50%, up from less than 5% before Christmas. The hospitalizations have more than tripled since the start of January, prompting the city of Pensacola and the county to bring back their COVID dashboards.

They have continued to climb, with hospitalizations reaching 176 on the county dashboard as we went to press on Tuesday, Jan. 11.

Last Thursday, Inweekly interviewed Justin Labrato, Ascension Sacred Heart's chief operating officer. He estimated that about 80% of hospitalizations are unvaccinated patients. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have reported that less than 56% of Escambia County's population that is age 5 or older has been fully vaccinated.

Since Christmas, the local pharmacies have run out of at-home rapid test kits.

While both President Joe Biden and Gov. Ron DeSantis have said they will send out kits before the end of January, that hasn't happened. Community Health 66

Northwest, Ascension Sacred Heart and the Florida Department of Health have opened drive-through testing sites to answer the demand. The sites don't require appointments.

Ascension Sacred Heart can provide results within 24 hours, thanks to its investment in Roche's Cobas analyzer that runs 1,000 PCR tests in eight hours. The other site may take up to 72 hours to provide test results. Because of supply shortages, the rapid tests are only available for the sickest patients in local emergency rooms or by appointment with Community Health or FDOH. The testing sites have been in high demand. Ascension Sacred Heart broke its record with 649 swabs on its first day. More than half of the tests came back positive.

To help you stay informed and safe during this surge, we rounded up as much information as we could about local testing and vaccine locations. We also included some basic information about symptoms and quarantine guidelines, plus links to both the city and county COVID information hubs. Your best bet is to bookmark these pages and refresh them often since things are constantly changing and being updated.

COVID-19 TESTING SITES ASCENSION MEDICAL GROUP SACRED HEART: The drive-through testing is open 9 a.m.-1 p.m., Monday-Friday, at 5192 Bayou Blvd., near the Ronald McDonald House. No pre-registration or appointment is needed. Bring a valid form of identification and insurance card, if you have one. Lab results will be available in 24 hours.

FDOH-ESCAMBIA: The drive-through testing requires no appointment. Bring a valid form of identification. Results will be available within 48 hours. The following schedule is subject to change while supplies last and pending inclement weather: •Monday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday: 9 a.m.-6 p.m., 3330 West Park Place, across the street from FDOH-Escambia Fairfield •Tuesday: 9 a.m.-6 p.m., Marie K Young Wedgewood Community Center, 6405 Wagner Road •Sunday: 8 a.m.-1 p.m., 3330 West Park Place, across the street from FDOH-Escambia Fairfield

FDOH-Escambia offers COVID-19 rapid testing to persons experiencing symptoms or those who have been exposed to someone with known COVID-19. By appointment only. Call (850) 595-6500 option 6 to schedule an appointment. Bring a valid form of identification.

COMMUNITY HEALTH NORTHWEST FLORIDA: Check the Community Health Northwest Florida Facebook page for the latest updates.

BAPTIST HEALTH CARE: Call the screening center at (850) 434-4080, 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday, to determine if you need an appointment. Online assessment screenings are available at ebaptisthealthcare.org or by texting "Screen" to (850) 318-3080.

VACCINATIONS FDOH-ESCAMBIA: COVID-19 vaccines, including boosters, are currently being offered to eligible persons at the FDOHEscambia Fairfield clinic, 1295 W. Fairfield Drive. No appointment is needed, and they inweekly.net

are open 8 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Monday-Friday.

FDOH-Escambia currently offers three authorized vaccines to eligible persons— Pfizer for ages 5 and up and Moderna and Johnson and Johnson for ages 18 and up.

Questions can be directed to FDOHEscambia's COVID-19 phone line at (850) 595-6500 option 6.

COMMUNITY HEALTH NORTHWEST FLORIDA: Persons wishing to participate in any CHNWF vaccination clinic may call the Community Health Vaccine Call Center at (850) 439-3358.

CVS: Register in advance at CVS.com or through the CVS Pharmacy app. People without online access can contact CVS customer service at (800) 746-7287.

PUBLIX: Monitor publix.com/covid-vaccine/florida.

WALGREENS: Schedule a vaccine at walgreens.com/schedule vaccine. You can also call (800) 925-4733 and choose option 1 for COVID-19 vaccine appointment information. Or visit any local Walgreens store with a pharmacy. Ask any pharmacy team member for assistance in scheduling an appointment.

WALMART & SAM'S CLUB: Make appointments at walmart.com/covidvaccine and samsclub.com/covid.

WINN-DIXIE: Monitor winndixie.com/ pharmacy/covid-vaccine.

BOOSTER RECOMMENDATIONS •Moderna: COVID-19 booster vaccines are recommended for individuals 18 years of age and older who have completed their initial COVID-19 vaccination series and at least six months have passed since the completion of their second dose.

•Pfizer: COVID-19 booster vaccines are recommended for individuals 12 years of age and older who have completed their initial COVID-19 vaccination series and at least five months have passed since the completion of their second dose.

•Johnson & Johnson: COVID-19 booster vaccines are recommended for individuals 18 years of age and older who have received their initial COVID-19 vaccination and at least two months have passed since their initial dose.

January 13, 2022

COVID-19 SYMPTOMS Symptoms may appear two to 14 days after exposure to the virus.

•Fever or chills •Cough •Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing •Fatigue •Muscle or body aches •Headache •New loss of taste or smell •Sore throat •Congestion or runny nose •Nausea or vomiting •Diarrhea Call your medical provider for any other symptoms that are severe or concerning to you.

CDC QUARANTINE GUIDELINES On Jan.4, the CDC updated COVID-19 isolation and quarantine recommendations with shorter isolation (for asymptomatic and mildly ill people) and quarantine periods of five days to focus on the period when a person is most infectious, followed by continued masking for an additional five days.

With the recommended shorter isolation and quarantine periods, it is critical that people continue to wear well-fitting masks and take additional precautions for five days after leaving isolation or quarantine. You can end isolation after five full days if you are fever-free for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication and your other symptoms have improved.

Mask use and layered prevention strategies, such as receiving all recommended vaccination and booster doses, physical distancing, screening testing, handwashing and improved ventilation, are key to preventing COVID-19 and decreasing transmission.

LOCAL INFORMATION HUBS •Escambia County COVID-19 Information: myescambia.com/covid-19-information-forescambia-county •City of Pensacola COVID-19 Community News: cityofpensacola.com/3093/covid19-community-news {in} 7

ECAT UNION PRESIDENT PREVAILS

Mike Lowery / Photo Courtesy of ECAT

By Jeremy Morrison Mike Lowery is back on the job and behind the wheel at Escambia County Area Transit. The longtime employee—ECAT's union president—was recently reinstated following his April 2020 termination and a nearly year-long arbitration process.

Lowery's termination occurred following a series of quick-succession disciplinary actions, ending with his firing for bringing a television news crew on ECAT property as he pushed for the implementation of COVID safety measures. The union president considers it all a little suspicious and believes he was targeted for a specific reason.

"You got a 25, now a 26-year employee who had a great record all the way up, and then in a matter of less than 60 days he received a one-day, a three-day suspension and then termination," Lowery recalled recently. "You know, that's a little awkward—and he's the union president, and he was fighting the county hard on COVID protective measures during that entire time, even after he got fired."

This month's decision resulting from a neutral arbitration process essentially confirmed Lowery's position or at least validated his assertion that the termination was unwarranted. As part of the arbitration agreement, the ECAT employee has won his job back and his seniority level in place with both back pay and health benefits.

88

"'Made whole,' that's what they call it," Lowery said.

While Lowery is pleased with the arbitration outcome, he stressed that the experience had negative impacts on both his family—"the damage it did to my family, you know, being out of work for 21 months is devastating, there's no doubt about that, the physical and mental stress it put on me and my family"—as well as the ECAT employees he represents as president of the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1395.

"It's pretty damaging, what it did during a pandemic, to take away the union president," Lowery said. "And that's a little disappointing that they would try to do that, knowing that that would be harmful to the workforce during a pandemic."

"FEELS LIKE KARMA"

As ECAT's second-most senior driver, Lowery had a pretty good run.

"I had no discipline in my file for almost 25 years, OK? I mean, not even a complaint from a passenger," he said.

That changed in February 2020 when Lowery got a first offense for insubordination and a one-day suspension. Then, in March, he got a second, carrying a threeday suspension. That meant that when he ushered a television cameraman onto ECAT property, resulting in a third offense, the result was his termination.

During this time, as a new pandemic

reality set in, Lowery was actively fighting to implement certain protections, such as limiting the number of riders, requiring masks, forgoing a fare and rerouting passengers to a rear-door entry to limit a driver's potential exposure. That's why the union president and his vice president invited the news over to ECAT's facility in the first place to lobby for these safety measures publicly.

"I had to be aggressive, and I was doing whatever I could to get management to do things," Lowery recounted.

Following his termination, Lowery pursued a multi-tiered grievance process, with a neutral arbitrator being brought in during the third and final phase. With COVIDrelated delays drawing out this process, it took a while, but the ECAT employee eventually realized a more-or-less suite of victories—his first offense was tossed, the county preemptively downgraded the second office, and the third—the offense that got him fired—was downgraded to a case of insubordination.

Lowery said he was pleased with how the process turned out and looks at its findings, as well as a series of events with county administration, as a validation of sorts.

"It's kind of ironic that I was terminated and the people that signed my termination were Janice Gilley, the county administrator, who was fired, and then Jana Still, who was the HR director, who was fired, and then you have the mass transit director, Tonya Ellis, who resigned before we got the ruling back on this case," Lowery said. "So it kinda to me is—it feels like karma almost, you know what I'm saying?"

While Lowery's 2020 termination sidelined his job, it did not have the effect of removing him as union president for both ECAT employees, as well as other blue-collar workers with Escambia County.

"What they didn't anticipate was that it didn't take away my union job," Lowery said. "I think they thought that when they fired me from my job, I would no longer be union president."

But Lowery remained at Local 1395's helm, continuing to push for the implementation of safety measures—most of which were eventually adopted—as well as a slog through ongoing contract negotiations with the very people who had fired him.

"So I literally got fired by Ms. Gilley and Ms. Ellis and then turned around within a week or two and had to sit across from them in labor negotiations representing

the workers," the union president said, explaining that he tried to maintain a sense of "professionalism" during the process. "It was tough, no doubt about it, to sit across the folks who had fired you."

Contract negotiations for the employees remain ongoing.

"THE PROCESS WORKS"

Escambia County administration has been quiet regarding the findings of Lowery's arbitration process. According to county spokesperson Andie Gibson, that's not bound to change.

"Wes Moreno, our county administrator, does not comment on staff matters and will not be issuing a statement," Gibson clarified to Inweekly.

Escambia County commissioners, however, have weighed in to some degree.

"The termination of Mike Lowery is not a decision which went before the board, just as the decision to reinstate his position did not come before the board," said Commissioner Steven Barry. "However, now that Mike is back at work, I trust he will serve Escambia County citizens well, and I hope that we are handling our personnel issues in a more fair and appropriate manner."

Commissioner Doug Underhill stressed that both county administration and county employees should be held accountable for their performance and that Escambia could improve on both fronts.

"The results of this arbitration make it very clear to me that going forward, we need to do a much better job of both," Underhill said. "So for myself, I choose to spend my energies from this point forward focusing on getting it right in the future."

Commission Chairman Jeff Bergosh avoided drilling into the specific circumstances of Lowery's case—of entertaining the question of whether Lowery should have been fired in the first place—and focused on process, which he believes played out as it is designed to do.

"My thoughts on the whole issue are pretty basic," Bergosh said. "Management made a determination. They felt like it was discipline that was warranted and that it could be sustained under law, ordinance and collective bargaining agreement. We had an employee who felt he was slighted and mistreated. He felt like staff did not follow the policy and the collective bargaining agreement specifically as it relates to progressive discipline. And so he fought it, utilized the process and was victorious at the end. The process works." {in}

"So I literally got fired by Ms. Gilley and Ms. Ellis and then turned around within a week or two and had to sit across from them in labor negotiations representing the workers."

Mike Lowery

inweekly.net

January 13, 2022

9

are called to serve. I'm looking forward to finishing the 2022 legislative session doing just that—making a difference in the lives of my fellow Floridians.

I want to give a special thanks to Speaker Sprowls for the trust he placed in me over the last year, and though I will be gone, I look forward to seeing great things from Speaker Designate Renner next cycle. Thank you for your support and friendship. Thank you for challenging me, lifting me up and working side-by-side with me. I am a better person because God allowed our paths to cross.

-Jayer Williamson State Representative, House District 3 A former Santa Rosa County commissioner, Williamson was first elected to the Florida House in 2016. He chairs the powerful Infrastructure & Tourism Appropriations Subcommittee and has had a seat at the table when the state budget has been negotiated. His leadership will be missed.

SUN BELT PROTOCOLS The Sun Belt

The Bear Family / Courtesy Photo

BIG HEARTS The Bear Family Foundation

donated $4.98 million to local nonprofits last year. Lewis Bear Jr. and his wife, Belle, discussed the foundation's mission with Inweekly publisher Rick Outzen on 1370 WCOA/104.9 FM. The Bear Family Foundation, a 501(c) (3) private foundation, was established and incorporated in Florida in 2002. Since 2003, the foundation has provided funds to more than 50 nonprofits in Northwest Florida. Lewis talked about how the family runs the foundation.

"We've got three generations on that board, and it's just a pleasure to sit at a meeting and listen to them," he said. "They do their homework. They, this past year, went through 50-something charities that had made requests to our foundation, and each and every one of them did their homework and knew what the grants were about and visited some of them. And so it's working; it's doing what we had hoped it would do. And that's to get generations involved in making this a better place for people to live."

Belle, who co-founded IMPACT 100 Pensacola Bay Area, added, "All of us feel like we get more out of it than even the organizations get because it is heartwarming to do something good for people and anybody; it's just really heartwarming."

JAYER STEPS AWAY Last week, Inweekly broke the news that State Rep. Jayer Williamson (R-Milton) had sent an email to his fellow Florida House members that would not seek a fourth term this fall.

010 1

Here is his email: Members: With the 2022 legislative session soon to be underway, I wanted to take this opportunity to reach out and share some news directly with you. After using the holiday break to spend time with my family, reflecting on the past year and pondering the future, I have decided not to seek a fourth and final term as a member of the Florida House.

Most of you know that I'm a very "live in the moment and let's see what happens" kind of person. I try not to dwell on the past, and I certainly know I can't predict the future. However, during the last few weeks, I've spent a lot of time praying and having serious conversations with my family about the road ahead.

While I didn't make this decision lightly, it was surprisingly easy.

Often forgotten in politics is the fact that we are all humans. We laugh, cry and bleed just like everyone else. I am a grandson, son, father, husband, uncle, nephew and brother. Like many of you, I also have a "real job" and employees that rely on me to support their families. Unfortunately, some of the people we serve forget this, as do many who hold public office.

We're not celebrities or rockstars, and our goal shouldn't be getting a blue checkmark on Twitter or likes on a Facebook post. My sole purpose for doing this job is the same now as when I was 5 years old and told my grandfather why I wanted to be a State Representative—"to help people." As you continue in the future, I hope you will always stay true to why we

Conference modified its COVID-19 protocols for the 2021-22 men's and women's basketball season. Games that cannot be played due to COVID-19 will be canceled and considered a no-contest. The minimum threshold required to compete is seven student-athletes plus one full-time coach. Teams failing to meet the threshold may choose to play with available players and coaches.

The 2022 Sun Belt Conference Men's and Women's Basketball Tournaments will be March 2-7 at the Pensacola Bay Center.

All 12 Sun Belt Conference men's and women's teams will compete in the singleelimination tournament, with the two tournament champions earning automatic bids to the NCAA Tournament. Firstround games begin Wednesday, March 2, with championship games set for Monday, March 7.

Seeding in the Sun Belt Championship will be based on the overall conference winning percentage. Teams must play a minimum of 80% of the average number of conference games played to use their overall conference winning percentage for seeding in the conference championship.

Teams falling below the 80% threshold will be seeded at the bottom of the brackets.

COVID DEATHS For the second year in a row, COVID-19 emerged as the third-leading cause of death in Florida and Escambia County, resulting in more fatalities than other causes except for heart diseases and cancers.

According to the latest report on deaths from the Florida Department of Health, more Floridians likely died in 2021 of the coronavirus than lung diseases,

diabetes, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, kidney disease, poisonings, overdoses, falls, motor vehicle crashes, homicides or suicides.

In Escambia County, COVID-19 accounted for 383 deaths in 2021, up 61 from the previous year's total of 323 death. Heart disease and cancer accounted for 752 and 698 deaths, respectively. The heart disease deaths were up 57 from 2020; the cancer deaths were down 64.

HOLIDAY FIRES At the conclusion

of "Keep the Wreath Green," Escambia County Fire Rescue placed a total of 19 red bulbs on the wreaths between Dec. 1-31.

Each time firefighters respond to a residential fire with damage, a green light bulb on the county's wreath was replaced with a red one to remind citizens of the dangers of fires in residential homes. The record for red bulbs on the wreath is 22, set in 2004.

The 19 red bulbs in 2021 are the secondhighest amount.

"Day one, right out the gate with our Keep the Wreath Green campaign, we had an apartment fire that affected four units and families," Escambia Public Safety Director Eric Gilmore told Inweekly. "I don't know what the absolute contributing factor is, but we did wind up with 19 red bulbs.

And that was very unfortunate."

Gilmore shared that the Dec. 1 fire started in a fireplace. Several other fires were due to electrical issues, some of which were associated with holiday decorations.

WEDGEWOOD FIGHT With the daily newspaper wanting to rewrite the history of the clean-up of the Rolling Hills C&D Recycling facility in the Wedgewood community, Inweekly interviewed Commissioner Lumon May. "We started when we first ran for office (2012) looking at what we believe were environmental injustice in Wedgewood, a traditionally African American workingclass neighborhood," Commissioner May shared, "One of my commitments to Judy Cook and many others like LaFanette Soles-Woods was that we were going to address that issue."

May proposed several ordinances to regulate the landfills and borrow pits and prohibit their growth. He said, "We realized that many of the pits had been around 40 years or longer and weren't going to get out of it overnight.

We kept losing commission votes."

He continued, "In 2014, I decided to do a pit tour in which we got our former State Rep Mike Hill and the media on a big bus with residents. We brought some eye-opening information back to the community and back to the board. And then we started pushing for tougher regulations."

The commissioner made multiple trips inweekly.net

to Washington D.C. and met with EPA. He also met with Florida DEP officials. He said, "We were able to close down Rolling Hills, which was a tremendous feat because they had been in violation for many, many, many years. My new colleagues recognized the importance of making sure that everybody had a clean and safe neighborhood to live in."

The fight against environmental justice continues. There is a lot of money in operating borrow pits and landfills.

"All this is rooted deeply in greed," said May. "The Rolling Hills-Wedgewood area disproportionately had landfills in it because people could acquire the land cheaply, and many of those residents did not have a voice. Quite frankly, nobody was advocating for those citizens against those investors, developers, pit owners until we were elected."

He pointed out that fixing environmental problems takes years, if not decades.

May said, "We continue to work with our partners at DEP and EPA in trying to bring some relief to those citizens. I promised them that I would not stop the fight until I made it good for their children and their grandchildren."

He added, "And we may not make it for all of those citizens who stood up, who wore those orange shirts. And we may not cure it all on the leadership of when I served my time, but we're going to continue to fight this fight. We're trying to set forth Wedgewood a policy, a procedure and a legacy of goodwill for all citizens here in Escambia County."

ASK 5 The Messaging Committee of the Mental Health Task Force emailed the social media materials for the first quarter, which it would like to begin sharing on Feb. 1.

The "Ask 5" campaign encourages people to take a moment to ask five people if they're OK. At the end of January, the social media materials will be available on

January 13, 2022

the Mental Health Task Force of Northwest Florida website, mentalhealthtaskforce.org.

WHY BROADBAND Last week, CES, for-

merly known as the Consumer Electronics Show, returned to Las Vegas after taking a hiatus in 2020 due to the coronavirus. ABC News' Alex Stone reported that John Deere was a big player at the show.

"They are saying the future of farming is changing, where it's going to be autonomous," Stone told Inweekly publisher Rick Outzen on 1370 WCOA. "The farmer doesn't have to be up at 3 o'clock in the morning and out in the field. Their autonomous equipment, which can be run with an app, works a lot like a Roomba, the vacuum that will clean your house for you."

He continued, "Same idea here, where they're saying there is no reason why a human needs to be behind that wheel. And AI software and machine learning can do a better job of getting all of the fields in a more efficient manner. They're saying that is how we will have food on our table in the next couple of years, that the machines will go out there and do it on their own."

John Deere unveiled equipment that can be added to its 8R 410 tractors for full autonomy. Two boxes contain 12 stereo cameras and an Nvidia GPU that let a farmer control the machine from a smartphone, starting with a swipe of a button and watching live video as the machine moves across a field.

Last month, Escambia County Commissioner Steve Barry told Inweekly that one of the reasons he has advocated for the county building a broadband network in District 5 is to help farmers take advantage of the technology innovations. To use the John Deere technology, farmers need reliable high-speed internet service.

"The purpose of undertaking the whole broadband endeavor is to bring service to those that have no service and those that are greatly underserved," said

Barry. "It's providing a service that the private sector has not deemed with a high enough return on investment to warrant in their business models."

THE BIG REVEAL The Studer Commu-

nity Institute will release the 2021 Quality of Life survey at CivicCon Town Hall set for 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 18, at The Rex Theatre, 18 N. Palafox. Quint Studer will present the results. The link to register for the free event can be found at studeri.org.

Since 2008, Quint and Rishy Studer have sponsored the annual survey of the residents' perceptions of local government, public schools, elected officials and various quality of life issues. Mason-Dixon Polling & Strategy conducts the survey.

Each year, the survey results are an indicator of what issues the community ranks as important as well as answering a fundamental question—"Generally, do you think that (Escambia County/Pensacola) is heading in the right direction, or are things on the wrong track?"

Past surveys have been released in the fall by the Better Pensacola Forum and Pensacola Young Professionals. This is the second consecutive year Quint Studer has presented the results at a CivicCon town hall. CivicCon is a lecture series established by the News Journal and the Studer Community Institute in 2017.

RANGER PELICAN In celebration of Gulf Islands National Seashore's 50th anniversary, the city of Pensacola hosted an unveiling ceremony of a new Ranger Pelican on Friday, Jan. 7, at the Downtown Pensacola Ferry Landing, 750 Commendencia St. The Ranger Pelican, dressed in a National Park Service uniform, brings attention to the natural and cultural resources protected by the seashore. Since January 1971, Gulf Islands National Seashore has

worked to preserve the barrier islands, coastal mainlands and surrounding waters extending 160 miles from Mississippi to Florida coasts. The seashore also protects each of the 19th-century forts built across the park, including Fort Pickens, Fort Barrancas, Advanced Redoubt and other historic landmarks.

The Ranger Pelican was made possible through a partnership between the city of Pensacola, Gulf Islands National Seashore, Pensacola Bay Cruises and the Port of Pensacola.

GASTRO PARTNERS Gastro Health, a national leading medical group specializing in digestive and liver health, has partnered with Gastroenterology Associates of Pensacola. The deal closed on Dec. 31 and marks the company's first presence in our area.

Gastroenterology Associates of Pensacola consists of eight physicians and 12 advanced practice providers. Its 17 offices span northern Florida and Alabama. The physicians perform procedures in northwest Florida's only certified American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy quality endoscopy center.

"Gastroenterology Associates of Pensacola joins the Gastro Health family energized by what we can accomplish together," said Wayne Adkisson, MD, who has practiced gastroenterology in Pensacola since 2001. "This partnership brings even more resources to our patients and our dedicated team members so we can build upon the already stellar care our patients receive."

This latest acquisition by Gastro Health is part of a continued national growth and expansion period in the single-specialty gastroenterology sector over the last three years. Gastro Health has a presence in six states—Florida, Alabama, Washington, Virginia, Ohio and Maryland—with over 140 locations and 315 physicians. {in}

11

that May form his own youth athletic league. May said, "We came up with the name and decided how are we going to do it. Nobody had any money. None of the coaches had any money. I didn't have any money. So Mr. Chandler gave us $10,000.

Derrick Brooks gave us $10,000. My dad was retiring and got some money. My dad gave us $17,000, and that's exactly how we got started."

The problem was where would the new league hold its football, basketball and baseball games. Legion Field seemed a logical place, but it was overrun with drug dealers.

Ray Palmer helped May establish SYSA. He had his doubts when they drove around the field. He shared, "It was the kind of a place where people hung out and just kind of did things that you don't want to see in the community, like drinking and illegal drugs. Once we cleaned all that up, ran all those people out, it was a lot better. But starting out, it was rough."

He admitted, "We lost some people because of the atmosphere that was there, so we had to change that atmosphere. And once the atmosphere changed, people flock there now. I mean, everyone loves to come down to the Legion."

More Than Sports

By Rick Outzen

Troy Rafferty and Lumon May / Photo by Matt Warren of Levin, Papantonio, Rafferty law firm

The roots of the Southern Youth Sports Association began in the 80s when a teenager walked into a chaotic Pensacola gym. This year, on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day, that same teenager, all grown up, will announce a new $2.7 million community center, funded primarily with donations, that will double the organization's capacity and help more children on Pensacola's Westside.

Since it was established in 2005, the SYSA has mentored thousands of boys and girls from Escambia County. The organization not only provides youth sports but also offers after-school care, tutoring and other academic support programs.

"Our mission is to develop integrity and character through the four b's—Bible, books, ball and balance," said co-founder Lumon May. "We want to develop youth spiritually, teach them to work hard in school, to act disciplined in their sport and to work to strike a balance in their lives."

He added, "We use athletics as means to bring the youth to Legion Field and Theophalis May Community Center, and though we 212 1

have had several boys and girls play college and professional sports, we measure our success by how many have gone from tough home lives that include single-parent homes and poverty to career success."

Someone Had to Lead

Nearly four decades ago, May, age 14, walked into the gym and found pandemonium. His younger brother wanted to test his basketball skills, but their father, Rev. Theophalis May, would only allow it if Lumon accompanied him and brought some order to place. The 14-year-old formed a basketball league with players from the various neighborhoods—Morris Court, Attacks Court, Lincoln Park, Warrington Village and other areas.

May said, "When I walked in with my brother, the gym was a wreck. People smoking weed. People cussing. Out of control. Only one employee was there."

He organized five teams of six people.

May remembered, "I got some T-shirts, took markers and put their numbers on them. We had a superstar youth baseball team, so I

just told all the baseball players that everybody had to coach a team. I had one person from Truman Arms, one person from the Village, one from Attacks Court, one from Morris Court. It was kind of a rivalry."

"We put poster boards all around the gym. I put up the brackets, and we held big tournaments for the kids. Fans packed the place. I'd buy whoever won the tournament cokes," May continued.

The basketball and football programs continued to grow under May's leadership as he attended high school and the University of West Florida, but the direction of the facility changed whenever leadership changed. The budget fluctuated, and finally, in 2005, the youth sports were cut entirely.

"We had 60 to 70 teams, hundreds of volunteers," said May. "But every year, I built the program up, and I'd have all these kids. Then funding would get cut. It was a disaster. They never fixed the facilities. I was reduced down to part-time hours, and we had no full-time staff."

John Chandler, a Black business leader and supporter of youth sports, suggested

Coaching kids can be challenging, particularly with SYSA's goals to make the experience more than just sports.

"We go pick them up, take them home, feed them, check on their grades, make sure they're disciplined, make sure they're not out in the streets all the time of night," Palmer shared. "It's kind of like a kid of your own. It's the way we really look at it because we look at it as a family."

He said, "I've been coaching for 30-plus years, and what keeps me coming back are kids like Terrell Hankins when I coached him, who had just a tough, tough childhood."

Palmer said Hankins' mother had drug problems. His father and older brother were in prison. He said, "I don't even see how he made it. I would take him home sometimes; he would sit on the porch because he was too embarrassed to go in the house because they had no electricity in the house. I would drop him off at Loaves & Fishes. He would tell people his mom worked there, but he was actually staying there."

"Growing up in a singleparent home and with my mom having a drug addiction, the center was my outlet, a place to get away from my situation." Terrell Hankins Today, Hankins is a chemical operator at Reichhold Chemicals. He recently shared his story with SYSA players and their families at the fall SYSA banquet.

Hankins volunteers as an SYSA coach.

"My introduction to SYSA was at seven years old," he told Inweekly. "Coach Lumon was one of my first coaches. He inweekly.net

and Coach Palmer showed me so much attention, focusing on my grades. I never wanted to let them down, so I always made good grades."

He continued, "I was an okay athlete, but I knew I always had a chance to get the academic award because I stayed focused on my grades. And nine times out of 10, every year, it wasn't an athletic award that I got; it was always the academic award."

Hankins had praise for Coach Palmer.

"You could tell that he was trying to be stern, but it was to drive the kids, to get them to pull the best out of them. He was always fair. I mean, I played varsity basketball for him, also played football for him, but he was always fair, but he was stern. It was only to get the best side of the kids."

He shared what he said at the SYSA banquet. "I just basically told them how the program saved my life. Growing up in a single-parent home and with my mom having a drug addiction, the center was my outlet, a place to get away from my situation. I told the kids, 'Hey, this program saved my life.' And I stand on that. I mean, everything that I have right now in life is a direct reflection of being involved with the SYSA program."

Hankins explained why he coaches at SYSA. "I want the kids to be able to experience everything that I experienced. And they say you never forget your little league coach. I'm 40 years old, and I still say, 'Yes, sir,' to Coach Palmer and Coach Lumon. It is not a first-name basis. It's Coach Lumon; it's Coach Palmer. I want the kids to experience the same thing I experienced."

About Hope

From its humble beginnings, SYSA has expanded to serve over 1,000 children annually thanks to the support of the Bear Family, Quint and Rishy Studer, Jim and Shirley Cronley, Troy and Ashley Rafferty, and others.

For several years, Troy Rafferty and the Levin Papantonio Rafferty law firm have been the title sponsor of the Soul Bowl, a day-long competition between the football programs of the SYSA Tigers and East Pensacola Rattlers at the Blue Wahoos Stadium. The games were rotated between the two league's home fields until 2012 when Quint Studer offered to be the presenting sponsor at the Maritime Park.

In 2017, the Raffertys pledged $50,000 annually toward scholarships administered

by SYSA for Escambia County students to inspire them to pursue success through higher education.

"I've been familiar with the SYSA for more than two decades and, in particular, Coach May," said Rafferty. "I've seen firsthand the impact SYSA has with the kids— teaching them not just sports but giving them mentorship that role models leadership and community involvement. All those traits that are so important for kids."

"I've seen firsthand the impact SYSA has with the kids—teaching them not just sports but giving them mentorship that role models leadership and community involvement." Troy Rafferty He added, "Ashley and I feel we have an obligation to do everything we can to make sure that all the kids in the community have the opportunity to succeed. SYSA has been a perfect match for us. They are developing the future leaders of our community."

In 2014, the city of Pensacola opened the Theophalis May Community Center at Legion Field. Funds were tight, so to build the facility, the city had to include a library branch to cover the construction cost, which left SYSA with one small room to offer tutoring. It hasn't taken long for the organization to outgrow the facility.

"We have almost 1,000 children in our program. We have so many basketball teams, so many programs, and cheerleading and dance that most of our children can only get in the gym for practice once a week during the school months," said May. "To have an impact with kids, our coaches need to spend more time with them to develop strong relationships."

He continued, "We don't really have a workout room to do skills training and those type of things. We don't have enough gym space; we don't have enough classrooms; we're busting at the seams. We be-

lieve that we can increase our performance and delivery of services by expanding."

For the past few years, May has been working on plans to build another gym with more classroom space. The Raffertys started the capital campaign with a pledge of $1 million. Former Seattle Seahawk and SYSA player Doug Baldwin Jr., Jim and Shirley Cronley, and the late Fred Levin, Mike Papantonio and the other Levin Papantonio Rafferty partners have also contributed.

"My wife, Ashley, and I are putting money where our mouth is," said Rafferty.

"A lot of great people all over the community have stepped in and stepped up to help out because they see the great work Lumon and Tammie May and their volunteers do."

He added, "SYSA is a wonderful, wonderful program. It's really a gem in our community. And many people don't realize the outreach and everything that they do over at SYSA, but it is an essential part of our community."

In December, the Pensacola City Council approved a 25-year lease for the land next to the Theophalis May Community Center for the Rafferty Center, which will have two basketball courts and several classrooms. The new gym will be named for Baldwin's grandfather, Junius Boling, a longtime SYSA supporter who passed in 2017.

"Mayor Robinson and all of our friends at the city council understand the mission of what we're doing," said May. "I'm very proud of the next steps that we're going to make. With the Rafferty Center, we're going to be able to expand those facilities without asking for one dime of dollars from the city or county. Our state lawmakers have helped find appropriation dollars, and the rest will be other community members stepping up, young people contributing and parents who came from the program."

Why is the gym important? "Because you can look at so many other mentoring programs and the educational tutorial program, you don't have any children. We use sports as the vehicle of liberation for children from all the detriments—educational, social and health—in their life. With sports, we can get them in the building to talk to them about nutrition, health, respect, hard work and grades. We can talk to them about commitment to family. But first, we got to get him in the building," May explained.

Big George Barge has been with SYSA since 2006 when he was 14 and started coaching when he graduated from high school. He sees himself in the children he coaches and mentors.

"The players remind me of myself a lot," said Barge. "I want to be that guy for them, giving guidance that they may be missing at home.

At SYSA, you connect to a lot of people. Then, when you make those connections, it's like you make those connections forever."

He's happy the court will be named for Baldwin's granddad. "Mr. Boling. Man, he was a great guy. Every time we needed him, he was always there for us. And he became like one of the father figures to everyone there.

And I'm really excited about that and really excited about the new center, too."

Former UWF basketball star Michele Inere has coached at SYSA for the past 10 years. Her day job is as a general magistrate in the First Judicial Circuit.

"Now, having both of those gyms right there is just going to open up the door for us to do so many more things that are not just going to benefit our kids but the whole community." Michele Inere "The thing about the Rafferty Center is we're constantly talking about, 'Wow, what if we could do this?' And we have all these plans, but it's cost-prohibitive because it requires us renting out a bigger facility to be able to do a lot of the stuff that we want to do," said Inere. "Now, having both of those gyms right there is just going to open up the door for us to do so many more things that are not just going to benefit our kids but the whole community. It's exciting."

Palmer echoed May's and the other volunteers' feelings about SYSA. "Sports gets them there, but to me, it's much, much deeper than sports. I mean, you can go anywhere and play sports. But to mentor and mold someone and make them a positive citizen, to me, that's what it's all about." {in}

Adoption • Paternity • Dependency/DCF Hearings Prenuptial Agreements • Postnuptial Agreements Divorce • Child Custody and Timesharing Child Support • Child Support Modifications Alimony • Collaborative Divorce • Divorce Mediation • Pre-Suit Family Law Mediation

Tired of suffering from droopy eyelids? Uplift your eyelids with the once daily eye drop, Upneeq. Call now to schedule your appointment with the eye care specialists at Terrezza Optical: 850-434-2060 January 13, 2022

127 Palafox Place Suite 100 (850)466-3115 autumnbeckblackledge.com 13

414 1

inweekly.net

WEEK OF JANUARY 13-19

Arts & Entertainment art, film, music, stage, books and other signs of civilization...

Verse and Song Unite

By Savannah Evanoff

Charles McCaskill / Courtesy Photo

The Pensacola Symphony Orchestra didn't invent the concept for "Beethoven & Blue Jeans."

Bret Barrow, PSO's director, explained that the concept of a more casual orchestral affair wasn't theirs; orchestras throughout the country have their own variations.

But the premise of Pensacola's this year isn't only to make the music more accessible, but it's also to reach more audiences— in this case through spoken word, he said.

"Maybe you are a follower of the local poetry scene, and you really feel compelled by the written word," Barrow said. "To hear these poems read and paired with the music, maybe that brings us some access to or some experience with the orchestra that you wouldn't otherwise have."

"Beethoven & Blue Jeans: Poetry, Prose & Verse" will not only celebrate Beethoven with the composer's First Symphony but also with a program pairing music with poetry. Music Director Peter Rubardt collaborated with poets Jamey Jones and January 13, 2022

Charles McCaskill, who will read their poems aloud as the orchestra performs musical selections from George Walker and Tobias Picker.

The performance will also feature soprano Halley Gilbert singing "Knoxville: Summer of 1915" with prose by James Agee set to the music of Samuel Barber. Selections from Leonard Bernstein's evocative "On the Waterfront" will complement the program.

"It's interesting to hear their viewpoint, to hear how they react with the music." Bret Barrow While the orchestra will perform the requisite Beethoven they know and love— bookended by Beethoven's Symphony No. 1 and Bernstein's "On the Waterfront"—it has more eclectic pieces wedged between, Barrow said.

"We do some really conventional, popular classical pieces, but we also have a

Jones will perform to composer Picker's chance to juxtapose that and explore some "Old and Lost Rivers," Barrow said. really adventurous literature or do some "We worked with [Jones] to select a things that are unexpected, which is what poem that has allusions to the different makes this program exciting," Barrow said. ways in which you can see rivers," Barrow "The pieces are a little shorter, so there's said. "There's several stanzas to this poem, usually more pieces on the program, but but they are all this really vivid language they also are wide-ranging in their scope, that addresses the various ways in which and this year is no different." rivers can interact. I think that piece will This will mark poet McCaskill's first come together nicely with this ethereal time collaborating with PSO. McCaskill, 32, flowing piece by Picker, which is kind of a is a Pensacola native and an active member neat way to compare music and poetry." of the local art and activism community.

The opportunity to work with artists of He was a co-host of the longest-running a different field was gratifying, Barrow said. poetry open-mic event in the city and most "They're super talented folks and have recently was recognized as a finalist for really brought something to the table that Poet Laureate of Northwest Florida by the we were not able to achieve on our own," West Florida Literary Federation.

Barrow said. "It's interesting to hear their The previous Poet Laureate of Northviewpoint, to hear how they react with west Florida, Jones, recommended McCaskill's work—specifically the piece he will the music."

To Barrow, "Beethoven and Blue Jeans" perform—to Rubardt. is like any other performance, even if guests "It's humbling to have my work talked do indeed wear blue jeans. They play the about in these circles," McCaskill said. same way they would at any other concert.

"I think there's plenty of ground to tread "What makes it maybe most interesting when it comes to the mixing of artistic is there is a perception sometimes in the forms to really get disparate communities community that if you haven't been to an all enjoying moving works." orchestra concert that you have to dress a McCaskill will perform his piece "If These Bricks Could Breathe," an ode to John certain way, or there's a certain prerequisite where you can attend as far as your knowlSunday, a local Black historical icon more edge of what goes on," Barrow said. "We people are recently learning about, he said. really work to get rid of that by taking some"To do more honor to his name and his thing that is a little more familiar, or at least memory by performing these words to so more accessible, Beethoven (I think most many people in such a prestigious venue, people have at least heard the name), and it means so much to me," McCaskill said. "I pairing it with something a little different; it hope the music and the words together will gives us a chance to show off the sort of a convey the sober introspection as well as wide range that is possible with an orchestral the celebration of the man—celebration of music and also get rid of some of the preconour past and the knowledge of legacy that ceived notions about who's in the audience we are called on to continue."

McCaskill most looks forward to being on and what you have to wear and what you have to do in order to be there." {in} stage and feeling the energy of the space.

"The artists who have poured their art into the walls and aisles of seats, the artists who I will be performing alongside," McCaskill said.

"The best art has a pulse and I'm really looking forward to feeling it WHAT: PSO’s annual celebration of that evening."

Beethoven featuring poets Jamey Jones and The performance will have an added layer of meaning for McCharles McCaskill and soprano Halley Gilbert Caskill because he recently moved WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 15 to Fort Myers, he said.

WHERE: Saenger Theatre, 118 S. Palafox "Being able to have one last COST: Tickets start at $23; PSO is also hosting farewell to my hometown that a digital video stream of the show for $20 brings together so much of what I DETAILS: pensacolasymphony.com love about it—history, community, art," McCaskill said.

BEETHOVEN & BLUE JEANS: POETRY, PROSE & VERSE

15

a&e happenings The selected artist is responsible for the preparation of the art for highresolution reproduction. The artist will be contacted following the selection process and receive technical specifications for the production file.

ARTS & CRAFTS EXHIBITORS FOR JAZZFEST Jazz Pensacola is calling arts and

crafts exhibitors to submit applications for the 2022 Pensacola JazzFest, taking place 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Saturday, April 2, and 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday, April 3, at Seville Square.

Application form can be found at jazzpensacola.com/pdf/2022-JazzFest-ArtsCrafts-App.pdf.

Only original art and handmade crafts will be accepted. No commercial/massproduced products will be accepted. Please read the complete contract, particularly concerning refunds.

All entries are $200 for a 10-by-10 canopy or smaller. All fees go to support Pensacola JazzFest, a free event for the community.

REGIONAL WRITING CONTEST SEEKS "IN FOCUS FLASH MEMOIR" ENTRIES

Gallery Night / Photo by Ty and Cat Photography

NONPROFITS & FUNDRAISERS ANIMAL ALLIES CAT & KITTEN ADOPTIONS Every Saturday in January

from 11 a.m.-3 p.m., meet cats and kittens looking for their forever home at Pet Supermarket, located at 6857 N. Ninth Ave. Visit aaflorida.org for more information.

MARDI GRAS FESTIVITIES

PIRATES OF LOST TREASURE WELCOMES SNOWBIRDS Pirates of Lost

Treasure will kick off their Mardi Gras season at the Flora-Bama, located at 17401 Perdido Key Drive, on Thursday, Jan. 13, at 12:30 p.m. Pirates will be in their attire welcoming our Snowbird friends and handing out beads. Tickets for their Treasure Chest of Grog will be available that day along with information as to how you can participate in the upcoming Flotilla.

11TH ANNUAL KREWE OF BLUES PIN AND BEAD FESTIVAL All krewes are

welcome to promote their favorite charity and krewe memberships. There will also be a diaper drive for Gulf Coast and Santa Rosa Kids' House, 50/50 drawings and prize raffles. The event will be 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

Sunday, Jan. 16, at Historic Seville Square.

For more information, visit facebook.com/ kobpinandbeadfestival.

CALL TO ARTISTS

COMPETE IN CHORAL SOCIETY'S "YOUNG VOICES" High school and col-

lege students are invited to participate in Young Voices 2022, the Choral Society of Pensacola's third singing competition, on Saturday, Jan. 29, in the Ashmore Auditorium at Pensacola State College. Winners will receive cash prizes, as well as an invitation to perform in the Society's Feb. 20 concert, "Stage and Screen."

All singers between the ages of 14 and 616 1

30 who are currently enrolled in a high school (or home school) or a college in Florida or Alabama are eligible to compete in one of four categories—High School Level 1 (freshman or sophomore), High School Level 2 (junior or senior), College Level 1 (freshman or sophomore) and College Level 2 (junior or senior). Competitors must prepare two selections—an art song or aria and a musical theatre number. Both selections must be memorized. Singers will be assigned specific competition times and perform on stage in the auditorium of the Ashmore Fine Arts Center at Pensacola State College (Bldg. 8, 1000 College Blvd.).

An accompanist will be provided on request.

This year's judges are Dr. Sheila Dunn (Director, Dr. Grier Williams School of Music, University of West Florida), Dr. Laura Moore (Director of Choral Activities, Department of Music, University of South Alabama) and Mr. Michael Dye (Executive Director Designate, Florida Vocal Association). The public is welcome to attend the competition free of charge.

Entry deadline is Friday, Jan. 21, at 5 pm.

For further information, visit the Choral Society website at choralsocietyofpensacola.org or email youngvoices@choralsocietyofpensacola.org.

PMA MEMBERS SHOW The Pensacola Museum of Art invites artists, makers, designers and creative thinkers from its member community to submit artworks for The Members Show. This annual juried exhibition seeks to generate community dialogue, foster creative expression and recognize the support and talent of our members. Artists can win cash prizes with $150 to first place, $125 to second place, $100 to third place and $75 to people's choice.

The Members Show will be extended through the month of May. The exhibition

is open to PMA members working in all media and subject matter. The submission deadline is Sunday, Jan. 30, at 11:59 p.m.

Visit pensacolamuseum.org for details and submission form.

2022 PENSACOLA JAZZFEST POSTER

Jazz Pensacola invites fine artists and graphic designers to submit renderings for the 2022 Pensacola JazzFest. The commission is $500. The Jazz Pensacola Board of Directors will consider all renderings and make a selection. Initial drafts are due by Jan. 18. If selected, the completed submission deadline is Feb. 24.

The poster design should reflect the deep, rich, diverse jazz music heritage of Pensacola and communicate a sense of place. Submissions should conform to a vertical orientation using a ratio that will fit, with margin, on a final poster size of 18 inches wide by 24 inches high. All content must be the submitter's original creation and must be unpublished. The submitter must have all rights to images and graphics used in the final artwork and during the design process.

The poster must include the name of the festival, 2022 Pensacola JazzFest.

The festival event information, including date, location, sponsors and any additional information, will be added to the poster in the graphic production process.

There is no need to include this information within the artwork.

Any mixed media suitable for twodimensional mechanical reproduction is allowed, including both hand-drawn and computer-generated graphics. Submissions must be in low-res (72 PPI) JPEG format and emailed to info@jazzpensacola.com.

There is no limit to the number of entries by a single artist. Each entry must include the artist's name, address, email and telephone number.

West Florida Literary Federation is sponsoring "In Focus: A Contest for Flash Memoir," a creative nonfiction contest with cash prizes and an opportunity for publication.

Luke Wallin, professor of creative writing, former editor of The Louisville Review and award- winning author of national acclaim who lives in Rhode Island, will serve as a guest judge. The judging panel will be looking for entries that distill a personal experience and share the heart and essence of it in order to impact readers with a keepsake take-away. Contest entries will be read with the name of the writer concealed.

Contest Facilitator Claire Massey asks writers to "share your moments of truth, the crossroads and rest stops on your journey, the images that define who you were and who you are."

Contest entries will be accepted electronically in January. Any resident of Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa, Walton or Bay counties in Florida or Baldwin, Mobile and Escambia counties in Alabama, 18-years or older is eligible to participate.

Members of West Florida Literary Federation and the Florida Writers' Association are also eligible to enter. Non- members pay a $10 submission fee. For more questions email Massey at westfloridaliteraryfederation@gmail.com or visit wflf.org.

ARTS & CULTURE

WHAT'S SHOWING AT PENSACOLA CINEMA ART Starting Jan. 14, "Spencer"

will be playing at the theater on Fridays and Saturdays, and the "The King's Daughter" will be showing starting Jan. 21 on Fridays and Saturdays. All showtimes are at 1 p.m. PCA is located at 220 W. Garden St. Tickets are $10 cash only. Now streaming, "Hive," based on the true story of a wife whose husband goes missing during the war in Kosovo. Visit pensacolacinemaart.com for more information. inweekly.net

a&e happenings AN EVENING IN IRSRAEL The Global

Corner will celebrate "An Evening in Israel" featuring an authentic Israeli food and wine at Pensacola Opera Center, 75 S. Tarragona St., from 6-7:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 13. Tickets are $60-$70. Proceeds benefit the Global Corner's educational in-school passport program in elementary schools.

For more information, visit theglobalcorner. org/gc_event/an-evening-in-israel.

BIERGARTEN MOVIE NIGHT Visit

Gary's Brewery & Biergarten, located at 208 Newman Ave., for movie nights Wednesdays in January from 6:30-8:30 p.m. The Brewpub menu is open until 9 p.m. "Wall-E" will be playing Jan. 19, and "Hook" will be playing Jan. 26. Visit facebook.com/garysbrew for more information.

PENSACOLA ARTS MARKET Enjoy

shopping for a variety of handcrafted wares at Pensacola Arts Saturdays from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. The next date is Saturday, Jan. 15, at 1401 W. Intendencia St. Enjoy art, espresso, vintage goods, baked treats, handcrafted unique gifts and more. Admission is free.

For more information, visit facebook.com/ pensacolaartsmarket.

EASY GOING GALLERY ART MARKET

Every Sunday, Easy Going Gallery and Carter J Studios present a weekly art market Sundays from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. at Easy Going Gallery, located at 701 N. V St. Enjoy art, espresso, vintage goods, baked treats, handcrafted unique gifts and more. Vendors can participate for a $20 fee. For more information, contact easygoinggalleryart@gmail.com.

FIRST CITY ART HOLIDAY EXHIBIT

Enjoy works of art from Paint Out Group at First City Art's 1060 Gallery's "So Chill" exhibit through Jan. 17. First City Art is located at 1060 N. Guillemard St. Visit firstcityart.org for more information.

SNOWBIRD BEACH BASH The Pen-

sacola Beach Chamber of Commerce and the Santa Rosa Island Authority will host the Seventh Annual Snowbird Beach Bash on 9 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 20, at Our Lady of Assumption Catholic Church, located at 920 Via De Luna Drive. Entry is $1 per person, and all proceeds will benefit the Pensacola Beach Jr. Lifeguard Program. For more information, call (850) 932-2257, or email aj_powell@sria-fla.com.

MATT & BEN Before "The Office," Mindy Kaling co-wrote the play "Matt & Ben" with Brenda Withers about Matt Damon and Ben Affleck before they were famous.

Showtimes are 7:30 p.m. Fridays, Jan. 21 & 28; 7:30 p.m. Saturdays, Jan. 22 & 29; 2:30 Sunday, Jan 23; and 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 27, at Pensacola Little Theatre, 400 S. Jefferson St. Tickets are $14-$20. For tickets, visit pensacolalittletheatre.com.

I LOVE THE 90'S THROWBACK COMEDY TOUR Laugh with comedians Micheal January 13, 2022

Hunter, Dirty South, Steve Brown, Redbone, Doo Doo Brown and Marvin Dixon on Saturday, Jan. 22, at 8 p.m. at Saenger Theatre, located at 118 S. Palafox. Tickets are $33-$53. Visit pensacolasaenger.com for more information.

JOAN FULLERTON WORKSHOP

Palette Productions Pensacola presents a workshop with artist Joan Fullerton on Jan. 24. You can claim a place in her class with a $100 deposit with the application form found online at paletteproductions.net.

For more information, call Diane Goeller at (850) 384-3652 or Pat Page at (850) 293-5414.

PENSACOLA OPERA PRESENTS: THE MAGIC FLUTE The Magic Flute trans-

ports audiences on a mystical journey filled with genies, spirits and the hilarious antics of a creature who is half man and half bird.

The classic elegance of Mozart's music enthralls us as a young man discovers his humanity during his quest for the truth.

Performances are 7:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 28, and 2 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 30, at Pensacola Saenger, 118 S. Palafox. Tickets start at $25. Visit pensacolaopera.com for more information.

TREE HUGGER TRIVIA Join Keep Pensacola Beautiful Youth Advisory Council for Tree Hugger Trivia on Friday, Jan. 29, from 7-9 p.m. at Voices of Pensacola, 117 E. Government St. Tickets are $10-$15.

Visit keeppensacolabeautiful.org for more information.

PENSACOLA PSYCHIC, METAPHYSICAL AND HEALING ARTS FAIR This

annual psychic fair brings speakers, tarot readers, mediums, healers, metaphysical gifts and UFO enthusiasts. The event is Wednesday, Jan. 29, from 1-5 p.m. at Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. Readers and vendors can sign up by calling (850) 941-4321. For more information, visit pensacolapsychicfair.com.

GALLERY NIGHT PENSACOLA 2022 THEMES The Gallery Night Pensacola board has announced the dates and themes for the 2022 year. The first Gallery Night of the year is Friday, Jan. 21, with streets closed to vehicle traffic from 5-9 p.m. The Gallery Night Pensacola footprint includes Palafox Street (from Garden Street to Main Street), Jefferson Street to Intendencia and connecting blocks in-between. Artistic mediums include glass, paint, woodworking, jewelry, mixed media and more. In addition to arts, music and activities, downtown restaurants, galleries and shops will be open extended hours, encouraging patrons to come and explore our award-winning downtown.

The schedule is as follows: •Jan. 21 – Lunar New Year •Feb. 18 – Pensacon •March 18 – Shake Your Shamrock •April 15 – Earth Day + vintage market •May 20 – Dancing in the Streets

•June 17 – Juneteenth Celebration •July 15 – Motorin' Car Show •Aug. 19 – Under the Surface •Sept. 16 – Celebrate Blue Angels •Oct. 21 – Fright Night •Nov. 18 – Throwback/Decades •Dec. 16 – Ugly Sweater Day

VISIONARY APONTE: ART AND BLACK FREEDOM Visionary Aponte: Art and Black Freedom is from creator José Antonio Aponte, a free black carpenter, artist and former soldier who was also the leader of an ambitious antislavery conspiracy in Cuba in 1812. The exhibit is on view at Pensacola Museum of Art through March 27. Visit pensacolamuseum.org for more information.

2000 MEN: BLACK POLITICIANS DURING RECONSTRUCTION A new

exhibit at the Pensacola Museum of History shares the stories and histories of Black politicians during the Reconstruction period. The Pensacola Museum of History is located at 330 S. Jefferson St. For more information, visit historicpensacola.org.

UWF HISTORIC TRUST 9/11 EXHIBIT

An exhibit honoring victims lost and others impacted by the tragedy on Sept. 11, 2001, is now on display on the second floor of the Pensacola Museum of History. The University of West Florida Historic Trust curated the exhibit, 9/11 Remembered, which runs through January, with items on loan from the 9/11 Memorial & Museum in New York and the History Museum of Mobile. The gallery includes a section of the I-beam from one of the World Trade Center towers and a helmet and other items worn by first responders who responded to the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Visitors can also view a video of newsreels from 20 years ago on projectors and a video from NAS Pensacola that features military members who responded to the 9/11 attacks. For more information on UWF's Historic Trust, visit historicpensacola.org.

FINDING 1821 Finding 1821 is part of the

UWF Historic Trust's Suddenly American exhibit. Using historic newspapers, maps and documents, it is possible to locate where businesses stood in the 1820s. From taverns to parasol shops, each site on the Finding 1821 trail reflects a local establishment that was near that location 200 years ago. Outside each business is a QR code that links to a corresponding advert from an early 1820s newspaper. Over a dozen sites have been identified so far. Take a stroll around town, visit local shops and explore the history of Pensacola through today's technology. Visit historicpensacola. org for more information.

THE KINGDOM OF THIS WORLD, REIMAGINED The Kingdom of This World,

Reimagined provides a new look at the real and imagined stories told in Alejo Carpentier's 1949 historical novel "The Kingdom of This World," which recounts the Haitian

Revolution in his signature literary style—lo real maravilloso, or the marvelous real.

This exhibit will be on view at the Pensacola Museum of Art through Jan. 9. The PMA is open Tuesday-Saturday from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. and Sundays from noon-4 p.m. For more information about exhibitions, programming or support, visit pensacolamuseum.org.

SCRIPTEASERS WITH PENSACOLA LITTLE THEATRE Scripteasers, Studio

400's and Pensacola Little Theatre's Script Reading Club invites you to monthly script readings at PLT, 400 S. Jefferson St. Want to bring your scripts for the group to read and discuss? Contact Pensacola Little Theatre to get in queue. The group reads prospective scripts for future seasons as well as new scripts that need a table read before the next edit. Not a playwright but love to read out loud? This is your easy, fun theatre night.

Fascinated by the play selection process? Sit in for a listen and usually a lot of laughs. Visit facebook.com/pensacolalittletheatre for more information and the latest dates.

OPEN MIC AT THE GORDON Show off your talents on the second Thursday of every month at The Gordon's Open Mic showcase from 7-10 p.m. Admission is free.

The Gordon is located at 306 N. DeVilliers St. Visit thegordon.org for more information.

OPEN MIC COMEDY AT BIG TOP BREWERY Try out some new jokes or

enjoy some homegrown talent every Monday at 7 p.m. for Open Mic Comedy at Big Top Brewery, located at 21 W. Romano St. Everyone gets five minutes depending on the number of sign-ups. Registration begins at 6:30 p.m.

NEW CLASSES AT MIXON MAGIC PERFORMING ARTS Mixon Magic Per-

forming Arts (MMPA), a boutique performing arts studio located at 1010 N. 12th Ave., Ste. 238, will be offering a limited class schedule this fall. MMPA offers professional dance, fitness and "Mommy and Me" instruction for all ages and skill levels with weekly classes including, but not limited to, Creative Movement, Ballet/Jazz Combo, Broadway, Tap, Showstoppers, Acting and Voice. Classes will be provided for children as young as 2 years old (with a parent or guardian) through adult.

MMPA is dedicated to the safety and well-being of all students and families and has implemented protocols based on guidance from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Masks are required for entry into the building and studio. More information about Mixon Magic Performing Arts can be found at mixonmagic.com, by contacting hello@mixonmagic.com or emily@mixonmagic.com or by calling (850) 221-7438.

GENDER PORTRAITS Gender Portraits

is a project from artist Drew Riley of the Austin Creative Alliance. The nonprofit organization supports sex and gender minorities using art as a foundation for education, 17

a&e happenings activism and advocacy. The exhibit is on view at Voices of Pensacola, located at 117 E. Government St., through January. For more information, visit historicpensacola.org.

BLACK CITIZENSHIP IN THE AGE OF JIM CROW "Black Citizenship in the Age

of Jim Crow," a traveling exhibition from the New York Historical Society Museum & Library with additions from the African American Heritage Society of Pensacola, is now on view at Artel Gallery. To learn more about it, visit africanamericanheritagesociety.org.

Artel Gallery is located at 223 S. Palafox.

CRAFT CLASSES AT STUDIO SOUTH ON NINE MILE Learn a new craft or meet up with other makers at Studio South.

Tuesday is Knit Night 4-7 p.m., and Sit & Stitch is Saturdays 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Both classes are free. For a full calendar of events, visit studiosouthon9mileroad.com.

Studio South is located at 955 E. Nine Mile Road.

CLASSES AND WORKSHOPS AT FIRST CITY ART First City Art Center of-

fers a wide range of classes and workshops for artists of all levels. Classes include glass blowing, ceramics, painting and drawing, kiln-forming, stained glass and more. For a complete list of classes and times, visit firstcityart.org.

LIVE MUSIC

THE STEELDRIVERS The SteelDrivers

will be performing at Vinyl Music Hall, 2 S. Palafox, on Saturday, Jan. 15. Doors open at 7 p.m. and show starts at 8 p.m. Tickets are $30-$100. Get yours at vinylmusichall.com.

PENSACOLA SYMPHONY PRESENTS: BEETHOVEN AND BLUE JEANS Dress

up or down for PSO's annual celebration of the composer Beethoven. Other selections include Northwest Florida's former Poet Laureate. Poets Jamey Jones and Charles McCaskill read their poems aloud as the orchestra performs musical selections from George Walker and Tobias Picker. Soprano Halley Gilbert will perform "Knoxville: Summer of 1915" with prose by James Agee set to the music of Samuel Barber. Selec-

GRAPHIC NOVELS

tions from Leonard Bernstein's evocative "On the Waterfront" complement the program. The show is Saturday, Jan. 15, at 7:30 p.m. at the Saenger Theatre, located at 118 S. Palafox. Tickets are $20. For more information, visit pensacolasaenger.com.

LIVE MUSIC AT RED FISH BLUE FISH PENSACOLA BEACH Head to Red Fish

JAZZ GUMBO The next Jazz Gumbo

SAXOPHONIST JIM ANDREWS AT ALICE'S RESTAURANT Saxophonist Jim An-

honors The Horace Silver & Art Blakey Jazz Trumpet Legacy Monday, Jan. 17, at Phineas Phogg's at Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. Cost is $10 for Jazz Pensacola members and guests, $12 for nonmembers, free for students with ID and military in uniform. Join Jazz Pensacola and admission is free.

AARON LEWIS: FRAYED AT BOTH ENDS ACOUSTIC TOUR Roots-inspired

performer Aaron Lewis will be at Saenger Theatre, located at 118 S. Palafox, 7 p.m.

Friday, Jan. 21. Tickets are $35-$85. For more information, visit pensacolasaenger.com.

GLENN MILLER ORCHESTRA AT NATIONAL AVIATION MUSEUM The

world-famous Glenn Miller Orchestra is returning to the National Naval Aviation Museum for a live, in-person concert on Tuesday, Jan. 25, at 7 p.m. Concertgoers must present tickets for entry onto Naval Air Station (NAS) Pensacola. When arriving at the gates of NAS Pensacola, they must provide a printed e-ticket or have a confirmation email opened and ready for the NAS Pensacola Security Officer, in addition to a valid driver's license or Department of Defense (DoD) ID card. Preferred seating tickets are $55 and general admission tickets are $35 per person. Group rates are also available at $30 per person for 10 people or more. Tickets are available online at navalaviationfoundation.org/glenn-miller.

MONDAY NIGHT BLUES AT SEVILLE QUARTER Blues Society of Northwest

Florida and Seville Quarter present Monday Night Blues, the longest running weekly Blues Jam in Florida, starting at 7 p.m. with an opening and followed by the Blues Jam at 9 p.m. Seville Quarter is located at 130 E. Government St. For more information, visit sevillequarter.com.

Blue Fish for live performances from local bands Fridays and Saturdays all day. For musician lineups, visit facebook.com/redfishbluefishpensacolabeach.

drews will be performing at Alice's Restaurant, located at 1504 W. Intendencia St., on the first Friday of every month from 6-9:30 p.m.

RAY COLEY AT CAZADORES MEXICAN RESTAURANT Ray Coley performs oldies mix with jazz and blues every weekend with keyboard, horn and flute. Fridays and Saturdays from 6-9 p.m. and a jazz set on Sundays from 12-3 p.m. on the patio at Cazadores Mexican restaurant, located at 8183 W. Fairfield Dr. Weather permitting.

CURT BOL JAZZ QUARTET Visit Five Sisters Blues Café, located at 421 W. Belmont St., Sundays from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. and listen to Curt Bol Jazz Quartet. Visit curtbolband.com for more information.

OPEN JAM AT ARTEL GALLERY Artel Gallery is open from 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesdays and Saturdays for open jam with Pensacola Folk Music Society. Feel free to visit and listen to music. Artel Gallery is located at 223 S. Palafox.

KARAOKE AT MUGS AND JUGS Sing your heart out Sundays at Mugs & Jugs, 12080 Scenic Highway, or just enjoy drinks friends with $4 Smirnoff and $6.50 domestic pitcher drink deals from 7 p.m.-3 a.m. For more information, visit facebook.com/mugsjugs.

LIVE MUSIC AT HUB STACEY'S Sit back

with good food and live music at Hub Stacey's, located at 312 E. Government St. For a full calendar of bands, check hubstaceys.com.

MONDAY NIGHT BLUES AT SEVILLE QUARTER Seville Quarter and the Blues

Society of Northwest Florida bring the "Blues" back to the Seville Quarter Entertainment District, located at 130 E. Government St. every Monday night in End O' the Alley starting at 7 p.m. For more information, visit sevillequarter.com.

TUESDAY NIGHT JAZZ AT SEVILLE QUARTER Enjoy smooth jazz with Me-

lodious Allen and The Funk Heads every Tuesday night at Lili Marlene's in Seville Quarter, located at 130 E. Government St. Show starts at 6:30 p.m. Visit sevillequarter.com for more information.

FITNESS + RECREATION

PENSACOLA ICE FLYERS GAMES The Pensacola Ice Flyers home games are at Pensacola Bay Center, located at 201 E. Gregory St. Tickets start at $15. Purchase yours at pensacolabaycenter.com.

UPCOMING HOME GAMES: •7:05 p.m. Friday, Jan. 14 •7:05 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 15 PUBLIC SKATING Pensacola Bay Center hosts public ice skating sessions through April. All public skate sessions last one hour. Sessions typically occur on the weekends and after Ice Flyers Home games.

Capacity is limited for each session, so get your tickets early. Cost is $12 for adults and children including skate rental, $9 for children with no skate rental and $10 for adults and children in groups of 15 or more.

UPCOMING DATES: •1:30, 3 and 4:30 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 16 •1:30, 3 and 4:30 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 23 ISLAND FIGHTS Don't miss Island Fights 71 live at 7 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 29, at the Pensacola Bay Center, located at 201 E. Gregory St. By tickets at pensacolabaycenter.com.

MULADHARA SOUND BATH & MEDITATION Join Marni & Rin Ley for an

evening of Chakra Alignment & Grounding starting with The Root at 2400 Executive Plaza Drive at 6:30 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 30.

Cost is $25. Bring a yoga mat, small blanket, bottled water, crystals and pen and journal.

For more information and for tickets, visit facebook.com/asherandbeeapothecary.

F3 NATION FREE WORKOUTS FOR MEN F3, a national network of free, peer-led workouts for all men, has expanded its outdoor workouts to Pensacola. The three Fs stand for Fitness, Fellowship and Faith.

Classes are free of charge to all men 18 and

KIDS BOOKS

909 N. 12th Avenue

pensacolapopcomics.com 818 1

inweekly.net

a&e happenings older or 16 with an adult guardian. Each class ends with a circle of trust. Class times are 7-8 a.m. Saturdays and 5:30-6:15 a.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays at Maritime Park, located at 351 W. Cedar St. Visit f3pensacola.com.

openness in the shoulders, hips and spine.

For more info, go to mindandmetta.online.

Cost is $12 per class, and the location is 375 N. Ninth Ave., Ste. B. Limited space available. Ask about membership pricing.

OVER 50 DANCE CLUB Take part in the Over 50 Dance Club at Sanders Beach Resource Center, located at 913 S. I St., Tuesdays from 6:30-9 p.m. The dress code is dressy; cover is $5-$10. This club is tobacco- and alcohol-free. For more information, call (850) 623-5013.

GULF COAST BREWERY RUN Thurs-

PENSACOLA PEGGERS CRIBBAGE CLUB LOOKING FOR MEMBERS Pen-

sacola Peggers Cribbage Club 396, the local Grass Roots Club affiliated with American Congress of Cribbage, is seeking new cribbage players for the group. The club meets weekly on Wednesdays at 6:30 p.m. at Sonny's BBQ, located at 6702 N. Ninth Ave., to play six games of cribbage.

WEEKLY FRIDAY DANCE Get moving every Friday night with a dance sponsored by the Fraternal Order of Eagles. Enjoy food from 6-7 p.m. Dancing is from 7-10 p.m.

A variety of bands and music provide the tunes. Cost of admission is $6. Dances are located at 105 Kenmore Ave. in Pensacola.

For more information, call (850) 476-5696.

PENSACOLA PARKRUN The Pen-

sacola Rec Plex North parkrun is 7:30 a.m.

Saturdays. The weekly timed 5K run or walk takes place at the University of West Florida and is open to everyone, regardless of fitness level. For more information, visit facebook.com/rpnparkrun or email recplexnorth@parkrun.com.

BREATHE AND READ AT BODACIOUS BOOKSTORE AND CAFÉ Recenter

yourself at this monthly event at Bodacious Bookstore and Café, with an instructor-led beginner yoga class and a group book discussion at 9 a.m. on the first Saturday of every month. Bodacious Bookstore and Café is located at 110 Intendencia St. For more information, visit bodaciousbookstore.com.

WFPL MOLINO TRACK CHALLENGE

Put on your walking shoes and join the walking challenge at the Molino library.

Just visit Molino's track, turn on your favorite fitness tracker app to log your progress, dial up your tunes or an audiobook and start walking. When you finish, come into the library and log your progress with staff on our track challenge board. The top walker in this program will win The Coldest Water Bottle. The Molino Branch Library is located at 6450-A Highway 95A. For more information, visit mywfpl.com.

RELEASE & RENEW AT FITNESS IMPACT TRAINING At 8:15 a.m. on Mon-

days, Wednesdays and Fridays, release into a yin yoga flow centered around low-stress training for high-stress individuals. The focus will be on the basics of breath and January 13, 2022

days at 6 p.m., join Pensacola Runners Association for a 5K fun run. Enjoy a free beer after the run and complimentary games such as cornhole, ping pong and more. Gulf Coast Brewery is located at 500 E. Heinberg St. For more information, visit facebook.com/gulfcoastbrewery.

BEER GARDEN YOGA Join Coastal County Brewing Company Saturdays at 9 a.m. for the new Yoga in the Garden Series.

Classes will be led by Tara Taylor, a highly experienced instructor from Breathe Pensacola. All skill levels are welcome.

Cost is $10 and includes a pint of beer after the class. Coastal County Brewing Company is located at 3041 E. Olive Road.

For more information, visit facebook.com/ coastalcounty.

SOUL FLOW YOGA AT BEAUTIFUL YOU STUDIO Every Tuesday at 7 a.m., flow

and vibe with some soulful music to start the day. This hour-long class will center around engaging the core through smooth yet strong yoga sequences. Cost is $10 per class or $99 for an unlimited 30-day pass.

Located at 513 W. Intendencia St. For more info, go to mindandmetta.online.

YOGA CLASSES AT EVER'MAN Beginner Yoga with John is 10 a.m. Thursdays, 4:30 p.m. Tuesdays and 12:15 p.m. Wednesdays. Funky Yoga Flow is 6 p.m. Tuesdays.

And Vinyasa Yoga Flow is 6 p.m. Thursdays.

All classes at Ever'man, 327 W. Garden St. For a full calendar of events, visit everman.org.

OCEAN HOUR BEACH CLEAN-UPS

Ocean Hour has picked up its weekly beach clean-ups in the Pensacola area Saturdays at 8:45 a.m. On Saturday, Aug. 28, volunteers will be at Philip A. Payne Bridge. Supplies will be provided, but volunteers are welcome to bring their own. For locations, visit oceanhourfl.com.

FOOD + DRINKS

A CELEBRATION OF TRUFFLES, BAROLOS & BARBARESCOS AT ANGELENA'S Visit Angelena's for a special

dinner celebrating truffles, Barolos and Barbarescos. The dinner will be held in the main dining room on Thursday, Jan. 13, at 6 p.m. located at 101 E. Intendencia St. Savor the last of the season's truffles and the "king" and "queen" of Italian wines, Barolo and Barbaresco, with Chef James Briscione and Wine Director Brooke Parkhurst. Max Rowe, Fine Wine Specialist of Breakthru Beverages, Aspect Division, will share his knowledge of Piemontese wines. Event cost is $250 per person (plus tax and gratuity). Reservations are required and can be made by calling (850) 542-8398.

19

a&e happenings PINTS, PUPS & PAJAMAS Join Perfect Plain Brewing Co., located at 50 E. Garden St., for a pajama-themed pup costume contest 5 p.m. Friday, Jan. 14. Cash prizes are up for grabs for the top three pups.

For more information, visit facebook.com/ perfectplainbrewingco.

MOONBEAM CAN RELEASE AT ODD COLONY Monday, Jan. 17, is the night of

the Wolf Moon and also the release of Odd Colony's Moonbeam Dark Czech lager. Try it from noon-10 p.m. at 260 N. Palafox. Visit facebook.com/oddcolony for more details.

COOKING WITH CHEF IRV MILLER: THE BUTCHER AND BAKER The next

cooking demonstration with Chef Irv Miller is Wednesday, Jan. 19, at 5:30 and 7 p.m.

Classes are $55 per person and cover the food demonstration, tasting, wine pairings and a take-home recipe booklet. Reservations are required. Make yours by calling Jessica Edwards Ryberg at (850) 686-3149.

Jackson's is located at 400 S. Palafox.

BUSTING YOUR CHOPS: CHEF KNIFE SKILLS 101 Learn from our experienced

chefs the proper way to use your chef's knife Wednesday, Jan. 19, at 6 p.m. at Bodacious, located at 407-D S. Palafox. Cost is $65 per person. Make your reservation at bodaciousshops.com.

GREAT SOUTHERN WINTER RESTAURANT WEEK Chefs from each Great

Southern restaurant will prepare a threecourse, fixed-price dinner menu utilizing the best in local and seasonal ingredients, showcasing their culinary expertise, for $33 per person per restaurant. Menus will be available at each restaurant Monday, Jan. 24-Sunday, Jan. 30, beginning at 5 p.m., along with our standard dinner menus.

Visit greatsouthernrestaurants.com for more information.

COMFORT FOODS: SOUPS & STEWS

Learn to prepare the perfect soups and stews with our Bodacious chefs Tuesday, Jan. 25, at 6 p.m. at Bodacious, located at 407-D S. Palafox. Cost is $45 per person. Make your reservation at bodaciousshops.com.

SUNDAY FUNDAY BRUNCH AT THE WELL The Well, located at 42 E. Garden

St., has expanded its offerings with a Sunday Funday Brunch cocktail menu including items such as Spicy Paloma made with Mezcal, a Cold Brew Cocktail with Irish whiskey, a Cucumber-infused Spritz, a Bloody Mary spiced with house-made hot sauce and garnished with fresh pickled vegetables. Price range is $9-$12. Brunch hours are Sundays from noon4 p.m. Other small plate offerings are available Thursday-Saturday from 4 p.m.-one hour before closing. For more information, visit facebook.com/thewellpensacola.

FIRST FRIDAY FINE WINES Visit The Nest

TABLETOP TUESDAYS AT THE 5 BARREL Join The 5 Barrel for a special

Tabletop Tuesday event at 6 p.m. every Tuesday in March. A wide variety of games ranging from the classic chess to the crowd favorite Catan will be available. Players are welcome to bring their own games.

ARAGON WINE TASTINGS Wine

tastings at Aragon Wine Market are back every Thursday from 5-7 p.m. in store at 27 S. Ninth Ave. For more information, visit aragonwinemarket.com.

THURSDAY TRIVIA NIGHT AT THE 5 BARREL Gather a group for a weekly

General Store at 11 S. Palafox, Ste. C, on the first Friday of every month for a wine tasting from 6-8 p.m. Visit bluejaysbakery.com for more information.

Thursday Trivia Night Thursdays from 7-9 p.m. at The 5 Barrel. There will be prizes for every round and select drafts for $3. Find out more at facebook.com/the5barrel.

joy a four-course meal with Kent Rasmussen Winery of the Napa Country. The dinner is Wednesday, Jan. 26, at 6 p.m. at Bodacious, 407-D S. Palafox. Cost is $99 per person.

Reserve your spot at bodaciousshops.com.

BAYOU BUZZ COFFEE TASTING TOUR

THURSDAY BIERGARTEN TRIVIA NIGHT Gary's Brewery Trivia Night is back by

PLANT BASED JUNK FOOD IN PENSACOLA Join Odd Colony and Vulture

BURGERS AND BORDEAUX AT UNION PUBLIC HOUSE Every Tuesday night, enjoy

KENT RASMUSSEN WINE DINNER En-

Food for vegan comfort food such as vegan crispy chik'n sandwiches and loaded fries from 4-8 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 27, at Odd Colony, 260 N. Palafox. Visit facebook. com/oddcolony for more information.

Seville Savories Food Tour will host a coffee tour of downtown Pensacola Tuesdays-Fridays from 8:30-11:30 a.m. Tickets are available online at sevillesavoriesfoodtour.com.

a specialty burger and a glass of Bordeaux for $18 at Union Public House, located at 309 S. Reus St. For more information, visit facebook. com/unionpensacola.

popular demand. Thursdays from 7 to 9 p.m., test your trivia skills with a glass of beer or wine. Arrive early to grab a spot. Gary's Brewery is located at 208 Newman Ave. For more information, visit facebook.com/garysbrew.

for more listings visit inweekly.net

NOW AVAILABLE Author & Hall of Fame Trial Lawyer

DELIVERS AGAIN! A FAST-PACED THRILLER IN THE TRADITION OF JOHN GRISHAM “propulsive... fueled by the righteous indignation of a legal team fighting against one of the darkest scourges of modern society: the invisible epidemic of sex trafficking”

ORDER TODAY

“a fast-paced legal thriller with hard-hitting conflict — sometimes 'Bondian'action! — that introduces an engaging team of protagonists and an equally despicable group of baddies”

020 2

inweekly.net

a&e

By C. Scott Satterwhite

Surviving with Carter J things. Do you remember the first time someone recognized you as an artist?

CARTER J: The first time I was recognized as an artist was at my mom's job—in her newsletters, where they had an art competition, of a drawing of our mom at work.

who wants to know you, because you been working, meeting people, passing out cards, letting people know who you are and what you do. That has been my saving grace— Not being afraid to approach people. That's how you survive, at least if you want to eat.

INWEEKLY: That's cool. She must've been proud. I remember winning a coloring contest once, and the picture hung on our fridge for a long time, but eventually, people drew phone numbers on it. Hopefully, your work fared better, but you gotta start somewhere. Glad your mom encouraged you. Some other folks who've encouraged you recently are part of the historic community here in Pensacola. So you've recently been asked to create portraits for Pensacola's Reconstruction-era politicians. How did that come about?

CARTER J: Working with the community— that's what got me that project. I like to think that it's because of my networking in the community.

INWEEKLY: I love that. There's an artist named Julia Arredondo, and she wrote this work called "Side Hustle is Life."

I'll see if I can get you a copy, but it's all about the hustle. Constantly working.

Constantly making yourself relevant. You clearly do this. I see you in the museum, but I also see you on the street. Your work is on the walls of the museum but also back on The Blocks. Then you're at Gallery Night. Now that's work. You're one of the few people that I know who largely survives off your art. How do you do that?

CARTER J: It's always, "Wow! I wasn't expecting that!" Or I thought this was gonna be a caricature, but this is better.

People ask, "Do you do parties?" And just recently, T-Mobile has reached out to me to draw portraits at their booth during Gallery Night.

INWEEKLY: For real, though. You're everywhere. Who was it that reached out to you?

CARTER J: When they reached out, Mr. [Richard] Rodriguez and the administration knew of me from Brownsville community organizing. I was honored to be a part of it, and to be able to refer kids there for extra credit assignments is great.

Carter J Self-Portrait / Photo Courtesy of C. Scott Satterwhite

If you've been to Gallery Night, gone to a Civil Rights organization's banquet or been to the Belmont-DeVilliers area recently, you've probably run into Carter J's work.

Carter J is everywhere. He's done exhibits at Artel Gallery, First City Art Center, Open Books and, most recently, in the Pensacola Museum of History's "2000 Men: Black Politicians During Reconstruction" exhibit. In that exhibit are Carter J's portraits of Reconstruction-era politicians.

Besides that, Carter J's work is all over the place. Following him on social media, one would often see abundant smiles of random people who recently had their portrait drawn by him downtown. From art festivals to the flea market, it's hard to think of a venue where Carter J hasn't been. For me, my first interaction with Carter J was in the classroom.

Over a decade ago, I was teaching a course where documentary filmmaker Jackie Olive visited the class. Before class began, she introduced me to Carter J, who asked if he could join the class for the day. At the end of class, the artist hands me a portrait of January 13, 2022

myself teaching. Quite an honor. I still have that portrait in my office.

Over the past few years, Carter J has branched out and has his own studio now, offering various classes to homeschooling groups, hosting painting parties and joining just about any gathering when asked. As far as public art in Pensacola, it's hard to think of another artist who is as constantly and consistently working as hard as Carter J. Just back from a holiday camping trip, Carter J was nice enough to set his paintbrush down for a few minutes to talk about his craft and the prolific art that he creates.

INWEEKLY: Thanks for joining us, Carter. Let me start with the basics—what brought you to Pensacola?

CARTER J: My family brought me here.

I followed my sister who's career Navy. I came down with her family and my mom, who retired and moved down after working for Bellsouth/AT&T for 30 years.

INWEEKLY: Creating art and taking on the identity of an artist are two different

INWEEKLY: Have you done anything like this before?

CARTER J: I did a small showing, a celebration of the Obamas back in 2017 at the First City Arts Center. Does that count?

INWEEKLY: Of course—my wife and I went to that show. We still have that portrait you did of Michelle and Barack kissing. It's super cute. It's on our piano right now. You should come by sometime and see it. Our house is practically a museum of your work. Going back to history, you paint a lot of historical and cultural figures in Black history. How do you see your role in telling these stories through your art?

CARTER J: Dope shit influences my art, Scott. My family and community play a big role in what and how I create. It's both a service and a survival tool.

INWEEKLY: I like the way you put that— a service and a survival tool. Times are hard. You've got to know where to find inspiration and support but also healing.

So who influences your art?

CARTER J: I always say I'm a "surviving artist," not a "starving artist." I hate that term, "starving artist," because I eat every day off this. Networking, networking, networking. It's not who you know but

INWEEKLY: I heard about that. Last time the phone company reached out to me was because I owed them money. That's cool that they wanna pay you.

CARTER J: I guess that's a sign I'm being watched, and I'm also having an impact on Gallery Night. That is super satisfying.

INWEEKLY: What is the response you get at Gallery Night when people see your finished portraits?

CARTER J: Portraits is a quick fix, bro.

It's my bread and butter. It's my go-to. It's my Steady Eddie. I never have to go and apply for a regular 9-5 because of this. It means the world to me, and I know this gift directly connected my creator. So when I operate in it, I'm walking in my purpose.

But I also do landscapes and abstracts, too.

It's all a vibe, yo!

INWEEKLY: What advice would you give to a young artist getting started?

CARTER J: Ask any young artist, "What's 10 times 10?" When they say 100, I tell them to take 10 of their favorite pictures to the T&W Market and sell those 10 pieces for $10 apiece, and that's the beginning of your art career. True story! Create—don't hate.

You either creatin' or you hatin.' Go figure it out and stay free! And if you don't believe in it, it's gonna be hard to get others to. But if you think it's dope, chances are others will, too. So put it out there, smile and watch greatness ensue. {in} To keep up with Carter J, give him a follow on Instagram—@smarterj.

21

free will astrology WEEK OF JANUARY 13 ARIES (MARCH 21-APRIL 19): The

coming months will be an excellent time for you to explore the art of Soulful Bragging. Do you deserve any of the titles below? If so, feel free to use them liberally throughout 2022. 1. Practical Idealist with Flexible Strategies. 2. Genius of Interesting Intimacy. 3. Jaunty Healer with Boisterous Knowledge of the Soul's Ways. 4.

Free-Wheeling Joker Who Makes People Laugh for Righteous and Healing Reasons.

5. Skillful Struggler. 6. Empathy Master with a Specialty in Creative Compassion. 7.

Playful Reservoir of Smart Eros. 8. Purveyor of Feisty Wisdom and Cute Boldness. 9.

Crafty Joy-Summoner.

TAURUS (APRIL 20-MAY 20): Most people who use tobacco products are at risk of having shorter life spans than they might have otherwise had. Smoking is detrimental to health. Those who smoke in their 20s and 30s may cut 10 years off their longevity. But here's some good news—If you kick your tobacco habit before age 40, you will regain most of those 10 years. I bring this to your attention because I'd like it to serve as a motivational tale for you in 2022. According to my analysis of the astrological omens, you will have more power than ever before to escape any harmful addictions and compulsions you have—and begin reclaiming your full vitality.

GEMINI (MAY 21-JUNE 20): In May

1974, the Grateful Dead introduced a new wrinkle to their live musical performances.

Playing at the Cow Palace in San Francisco, they amplified their music through a "Wall of Sound"—604 speakers piled high, together channeling 26,000 watts of energy.

Had any band ever treated their fans to a louder volume and crisper tones? I'd like to make this breakthrough event one of your top metaphors for 2022. According to my analysis, it will be a great year for you to boost your signal. I invite you to distribute your message with maximum confidence and clarity. Show the world who you are with all the buoyant flair you can rouse.

By Rob Brezsny

CANCER (JUNE 21-JULY 22): Philosopher Emil Cioran said he despised wise philosophers. Why? Because they practice prudent equanimity, which he regarded as empty and sterile. In Cioran's view, these deep thinkers avoid strong feelings so they can live in cool safety, free from life's nervewracking paradoxes. I agree with him that such a state is undesirable. However, Cioran contrasted it with the lives of the normal people he admired, who are "full of irreconcilable contradictions" and who "suffer from limitless anxiety." My question for Cioran: Are there no other options between those two extremes? And my answer—Of course there are! And you can be proof of that in 2022, Cancerian. I expect you'll be full of deep feelings, eager for new experiences, and infused with a lust for life—with less anxiety and fewer irreconcilable contradictions than ever before.

LEO (JULY 23-AUG. 22): In 1838, 29-yearold naturalist Charles Darwin was early in his career. He had not developed his theory of evolution and was not yet a superstar of science. He began ruminating about the possibility of proposing marriage to his cousin Emma Wedgwood. If married, he wrote, "constant companion and a friend in old age; the charms of music and female chit-chat—good things for one's health." If not married—"no children; no one to care for one in old age; less money for books, loss of time, and a duty to work for money."

I bring this to your attention, Leo, because I suspect that in 2022, you may be tempted and inspired to deeply interweave your fate with the fates of interesting characters. A spouse or partner or collaborator? Could be. Maybe a beloved animal or spirit guide?

Have fun making your list of pros and cons!

VIRGO (AUG. 23-SEPT. 22): What were your favorite toys when you were a child?

Now would be a good time to retrieve fond memories of them, and even acquire modern versions so you can revive the joy they gave you. In my astrological analysis, you'll be wise to invite your inner child to play a bigger role in your life as you engage in a wide range of playtime activities. So yes,

consider the possibility of buying yourself crayons, Legos, dolls and puppets, video games, squirt guns, roller skates, yo-yos, jump ropes and board games. And don't neglect the pleasures of blanket forts, cardboard boxes, mud pies and plain old sticks.

LIBRA (SEPT. 23-OCT. 22): In his novel "The Story of a Marriage," Andrew Sean Greer asks, "Does love always form, like a pearl, around the hardened bits of life?" My answer would be, "No, not always, but when it does, it's often extra sweet and enduring."

One of my wishes and predictions for you in 2022, Libra, is that love will form around your hardened bits. For best results, be open to the possibility that difficulty can blossom into grace. Look for opportunities that are seeded by strenuous work.

SCORPIO (OCT. 23-NOV. 21): "It is

worth living long enough to outlast whatever sense of grievance you may acquire." Author Marilynne Robinson wrote that, and I recommend her thought as one of your uplifting meditations in 2022. According to my reading of the astrological omens, the coming months will be a favorable time to dismantle and dissolve as many old grievances as you can. This could and should be the year you liberate yourself from psychic grunge—for the sake of your own mental, physical and spiritual health as much as for the sake of others'.

SAGITTARIUS (NOV. 22-DEC. 21):

Some critics view author Diana Wynne Jones as a genius in her chosen field: fantasy novels for children and young adults. She had a generous spirit, asserting, "I have this very strong feeling that everybody is probably a genius at something; it's just a question of finding this." If you are still unsure what your unique genius consists of, Sagittarius, I believe 2022 will show you in detailed glory. And if you do already know, the coming months will be a time when you dramatically deepen your ability to access and express your genius.

CAPRICORN (DEC. 22-JAN. 19): Cap-

ricorn biologist Robin Wall Kimmerer wrote a meditative book about moss. It was her response to questions she had been wondering about: Why has this inconspicuous plant

persevered for 350 million years? While so many other species have gone extinct, why has moss had staying power through all the Earth's climate changes and upheavals? And what lessons does its success have for us?

Here are Kimmerer's conclusions—Moss teaches us the value "of being small, of giving more than you take, of working with natural law, sticking together." In accordance with astrological omens in 2022, Capricorn, I believe moss should be your role model. (Kimmerer's book is "Gathering Moss: A Natural and Cultural History of Mosses.")

AQUARIUS (JAN. 20-FEB. 18): Author

Joyce Carol Oates has been very successful and has won several major awards. But she describes her job as arduous and timeconsuming. "I work very slowly," she testifies. "It's like building a ladder, where you're building your own ladder rung by rung, and you're climbing the ladder. It's not the best way to build a ladder, but I don't know any other way." I wouldn't always recommend her approach for you, Aquarius, but I will in 2022. As long as you're willing to accept gradual, incremental progress, you'll get a lot of fine work done.

PISCES (FEB. 19-MARCH 20): I've selected a quote for you to use as one of your guiding principles in 2022. I urge you to undertake a specific action in the next 24 hours that will prove you mean to take it seriously. Here's the wisdom articulated by Piscean rabbi and philosopher Marc-Alain Ouaknin—"People must break with the illusion that their lives have already been written and their paths already determined."

It's reinvention time, dear Pisces.

THIS WEEK'S HOMEWORK: What's the most important thing for you to get rid of in 2022? newsletter.freewillastrology.com.

freewillastrology.com

freewillastrology@freewillastrology.com Rob Brezsny © Copyright 2021, 2022

Stock Market Losses?

Winner Best Late Night Eats

Hire a lawyer who is a former Merril Lynch stock broker.

& Runner Up Best Bar–West Pensacola/Perdido Key, Best Bar Ambiance, Best Bar Food & Best Bar for Games

11 East Romana Street | Pensacola, Fl 32502

genemitchell.org 222 2

inweekly.net

news of the weird AWESOME! In what one police officer called a "real-life Lassie situation," a 1-year-old Shiloh shepherd named Tinsley is being hailed as a hero for saving her owner and another person after a car crash on I-89 in Vermont.

WMUR-TV reported that Cam Laundry and his passenger had been ejected when his truck hit a guardrail and went off the road on Jan. 3. When state troopers and a Lebanon, New Hampshire, police officer found Tinsley on the side of the road, she evaded capture and led them to the scene of the accident.

"We were shaken up, didn't know what was happening," Laundry said. "Next thing we know, the cops were there, and it was all because of her." Tinsley's reward? A venison burger. Follow-up: Laundry has a February court date for driving under the influence. At least Tinsley was sober.

ANGER MANAGEMENT Tennessee state Rep. Jeremy Faison, 45, had to be ejected from the stands at a high school basketball game in Johnson City on Jan. 4 after he became angry at a referee and tried to "pants" him—pull down his trousers. Faison's son was playing on the Lakeway Christian Academy team, the Associated Press reported. Later, Faison tweeted: "Totally lost my junk and got booted from the gym. ... I hope to be able to find the ref and ask for his forgiveness. I was bad wrong." Our advice to referees everywhere: Always wear a belt.

CONNIVING CATS Seoul, South Korea's Metropolitan Fire & Disaster Headquarters is warning citizens: Your cats may burn your house down. According to the agency, more than 100 fires over the past three years have been started by cats, The Washington Post reported. "We advise pet owners to pay extra attention as fire could spread widely when no one is at home," warned Chung Gyo-chul, an official at the department, which recommends keeping paper towels and other flammable items away from cooking appliances.

SIGNS OF THE APOCALYPSE In Texarkana, on the border of Texas and Arkansas, Dec. 30 brought a new phenomenon: fish falling from the sky. KXXV-TV reported that people found fish on their sidewalks and lawns, but city officials have an explanation: "Animal rain" occurs when small water animals are swept up in waterspouts or drafts. "2021 is pulling out all the tricks," the city posted on Facebook. "While it's uncommon, it happens ... And please, for the sake of everyone, let's tiptoe into 2022 as quietly as possible."

BUT, WHY? The Daily Mail reported that Israeli scientists at Ben-Gurion University have constructed a "fish operated vehicle (FOV)"— a water-filled tank, camera and computer on wheels—and have trained goldfish to "drive" it. In the beginning of the trials, the fish just drove around randomly, but eventually

By the Editors at Andrews McMeel

they were able to guide the vehicle toward a food reward by changing the direction they were swimming. The researchers said the experiment proved that fish can "overcome environmental manipulation" and if they one day adapt to live out of water, they'll be able to find food. Um, OK. WEIRD SCIENCE Russian biologist Vera Emelianenko stumbled across a strange phenomenon in the snow along the White Sea coast, in the Russian Arctic, in December. Bright blue glowing spots were embedded in the snow, Oddity Central reported, and her feet would leave streaks of blue as she walked. Emelianenko collected a sample and examined it under a microscope, where she found tiny aquatic crustaceans called copepods. When she poked them with a needle, they lighted up blue. The creatures normally live up to 100 meters deep in the ocean, but an expert at the Academy of Science in Moscow thinks they might have been caught in a powerful current that swept them ashore and into the snow.

AWWWWWW Alfredo Antonio Trujillo was born at 11:45 p.m. on Dec. 31 at Natividad Medical Center in Salinas, California.

Just 15 minutes later, at 12 a.m. on Jan. 1, his twin sister, Aylin Yolanda Trujillo, made her grand entrance, according to NBC Bay Area.

Twins born in different years are a rarity, with the chances being about one in 2 million. "What an amazing way to start the new year!" said Dr. Ana Abril Arias.

PLOT TWIST Since 2016, the publishing world has been baffled by a fake insider who tricks authors or editors into sending him unpublished manuscripts, then apparently just keeps them for himself. On Jan. 5, at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York, Filippo Bernardini, 29, was arrested on wire fraud and identity theft charges related to the mystery. ABC News reported that Bernardini, who works for Simon & Schuster in London, allegedly collected hundreds of unpublished works, including those of well-known authors and a Pulitzer Prize-winner. If found guilty, he could face up to 20 years in prison.

EWWWWW Young people in Norway are called to military duty to guard NATO's northern borders, and until recently, when they were discharged, they were allowed to take their military-issued underwear with them. But no more, the Guardian reported.

COVID-19 has caused supplies to dwindle, so as of Jan. 7, people leaving service are being asked to hand over their unmentionables to be "washed, cleaned and checked," defense logistics spokesman Hans Meisingset said. "What we distribute is in good condition." {in} From Andrews McMeel Syndication News Of The Weird © 2022 Andrews McMeel

Send your weird news items to WeirdNewsTips@amuniversal.com January 13, 2022

23

“Fastballs and bigotry -- keep swinging at them.”

HENRY LOUIS “HANK” AARON The Home Run King Who Defied Racism b. Mobile, AL 1934; d. Atlanta, GA 2021

Civil Rights Icons Presented By

Independent News | January 13, 2022 | inweekly.net