Inweekly April 15 2021 Issue

Independent News | April 15, 2021 | Volume 22 | Number 15

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winners & losers

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winners & losers

Mary Donovan McClellan / Courtesy Photo

winners MARY DONOVAN MCCLELLAN Autism Pensacola's Board of Directors selected McClellan as its new executive director. She is responsible for fundraising, donor stewardship, community engagement and campaign development, as well as managing the general day-to-day operations of the organization. The Pensacola native has worked for years providing public relations, marketing, corporate event planning, content writing and nonprofit fundraising services. Autism Pensacola was established in 2002 by a select group of parents and community members who worked tirelessly to promote awareness, advocacy and education of autism and those affected by it. Susan Byram was the organization's executive director until her retirement in 2018 and has continued to serve as API's organizational consultant. NORMAN VICKERS The founder of Jazz Pensacola has been named a "2021 Jazz Hero" by the Jazz Journalists Association. Dr. Vickers is one of only 23 persons nationwide to be honored this year. Jazz Heroes are united in determination to keep jazz in the air and in our ears and include presenters, educators, writers, photographers, broadcasters, videographers nonprofit administrators, chefs, festival workers, public faces of grassroots organizations and active musicians who have developed, sustained and helped document America's native-born music in their local communities and beyond. Kudos to Pensacola's harmonica-playing physician. INNISFREE HOTELS Northwest Florida's

largest owner of beachfront hotels is donating up to 6,300 room nights to frontline medical professionals leading the fight against COVID-19. Beginning April 13, Innisfree will make rooms available without charge to doctors, nurses, EMTs, paramedics and other frontline medical staff who need a place to sleep, recharge or isolate from their families through the end of May. The initiative will be executed in partnership with Hilton and American Express's commitment to donate up to a million hotel room nights across the United States. Innisfree is working with local organizations. Rooms will be available across a variety of Innisfree properties in Pensacola Beach, Orange Beach, Fort Walton Beach, Panama City Beach and Sarasota.

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Joel Greenberg / Seminole County Tax Collector's Office

losers JOEL GREENBERG The indicted former Seminole County tax collector appears to be at the center of the reported federal investigation of Rep. Matt Gaetz concerning allegations involving sex with a teenage girl that supposedly Greenberg hooked him up with. He allegedly recruited "sugar babies" for his buddies. Rumors that Greenberg was "singing" to the feds turned out to be true when his attorney announced last week he was negotiating a plea agreement. CHRIS DORWORTH The affable, onetime hard-partying lobbyist for the city of Pensacola stepped down from his job with Ballard Partners after reporters began to dig into his relationship with Matt "Not a Monk" Gaetz and his "Night at the Roxbury" buddy, Joel Greenberg. A photo of the trio outside the White House in 2019 has been widely circulating on the internet. The former GOP state representative from Lake City had a bright political career when he was chosen as the House Speaker-designate for 20142016. Then he lost re-election. JASON PIROZZOLO The doctor hosted Gaetz at several events promoting medical marijuana. Both Gaetz and Greenberg spoke at a fundraiser for Ron DeSantis hosted at Pirozzolo's house in 2018. CBS News has reported investigators are probing into a trip to the Bahamas funded by Pirozzolo and reportedly included female escorts, Gaetz and others. With Gaetz's help, the doctor was appointed to the Greater Orlando Airport Authority. Dorworth lobbied for the authority in 2019. HALSEY BESHEARS According to the New York Times, the former state lawmaker and head of the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation was on the Bahamas trip funded by Pirozzolo. Beshears resigned from the DeSantis administration in January for health reasons. ANTHONY SABATINI The GOP law-

maker was hired in 2019 to provide legal services to Greenberg's office. A county audit was unable to determine what services were provided for the money. Sabatini and Gaetz recently sang karaoke in Tallahassee with Pensacola's Rep. Alex Andrade. inweekly.net

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PULL THE PLUG It's time to pull the plug on the Janice Gilley experiment. She's in over her head as the county's administrator. Watching the county commission meetings, Gilley appears to be detached and disconnected from many of the board's discussions. And the commissioners are frustrated finding out details of county problems in public meetings from Gilley subordinates that she lets dangle without any support from their boss. In April 2019, Gilley won the board's support with her county government plan that had a snappy title, "Strive to Thrive in 2025." She promised to develop a strategic plan that would set priorities and be reflected in the county budget. She presented the board with a 100-day plan divided among people, policy, process and plan. Gilley said, "I expect to be held accountable to anything on this list." The list included her review of procurement and minority business processes. Thanks to the News Journal reporting, we recently learned county staff never implemented its Covenant for the Community that was to require contractors to have 70% of its workers on county projects live in Escambia or Santa Rosa counties. The policy was passed in August 2018, six months before the board voted to hire Gilley. Still, it should have come up during Gilley's procurement review and after listening to Commissioner Lumon May constantly talk about more inclusion in county contracts. It didn't help that the purchasing department was using procurement processes that were stuck "between 1985 and 1999," which is what Assistant County Administrator Wesley Hall told the county commissioners when he presented Accenture Consulting's report on the department in December—another thing that should have come up during Gilley's 100-day review. "We're at least 20-25 years behind," said Hall. Accenture found the purchasing office lacked best practices technology and had become mired in paperwork. Requests for Proposal were taking five months on average. Gilley has hired a new purchasing director,

but how long will it take to change the system and validate the department is following the covenant and other board policies? The biggest "fire" blazing at the county when Gilley was interviewed for the job was its Public Safety Department and Emergency Medical Service division. Allegations of falsifying training documents and other irregularities had led to several senior officials resigning. Gilley brought in her former boss, Jerry Maygarden, to help right the department. A year later, four EMS employees were arrested. From the moment Gilley reported for work, everyone knew the county had HR issues in Public Safety. Last week, the commissioners learned the department had a long-standing practice of keeping personnel files outside the HR department. Gilley stayed silent in the meeting and didn't admit that she knew about the policy. HR Director Jana Still did, and it's difficult to believe that through Maygarden's work and all the investigations the practice wasn't brought to her attention. Purchasing and HR are critical functions of any county government. Administrators who don't make sure they're operating at the highest productivity levels have little chance of thriving today, next year or in 2025. Furthermore, the revelations about the Covenant for the Community and Public Safety's separate HR folders have undercut the commissioners' trust in Gilley's ability to run the county and its half-billion-dollar budget. The job simply isn't a good fit for her skill set. Gilley has never worked on the administration side of county government. Most of her work experience was lobbying for the University of West Florida and in state government and Republican politics. She served briefly on the county commission in the early 2000s when she was appointed to finish Terry Smith's term after he was indicted. It was thought Gilley could right the county ship and get things done. That hasn't happened. She, the commissioners and the public would be happier if an amicable separation could be worked out. Then the county could find a professional administrator with county government experience. {in} rick@inweekly.net

From the moment Gilley reported for work, everyone knew the county had HR issues in Public Safety.

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LIVING ON A PRAYER By Jeremy Morrison and Rick Outzen Warrington Middle School has struggled for years. And no one is satisfied with that. "I am not saying that it's okay for them to be a D school," stressed Escambia County School Board member Paul Fesko. Warrington has aimed for a C grade for a while now, which is needed to avoid closure by the state. There's a chance the school might make that goal this year, but it's a slim chance. "There's a chance," Fesko allowed. "I'm big on prayer, so I'll be praying." Even if Warrington fails to get a C this year, the middle school will be allowed to remain open for the 2021-22 academic year due to an extension granted by the Florida Board of Education during its March meeting. "I think it's a really tough situation, just given the oddity and the uniqueness of COVID," said Escambia County School District Superintendent Tim Smith, relaying the rationale he laid out last month in Tallahassee when pleading with the state on Warrington's behalf. "We live in a world of accountability, and that's just the way our educational system is," Smith said. "Sometimes you get those tough requirements, and you just have to do it. It's a non-negotiable, and you just have to do it." But would the turnaround mandates handed down from the state have been effective? Or do the latest prescribed measures, as Fesko suggests, simply offer more pain for a school that has for so long struggled for gains? "It's just like, 'Floggings will continue until morale improves,'" Fesko said. "That's a Far Side cartoon I saw one time." Thanks to a recent emergency order from Education Commissioner Richard Corcoran, the district was granted a reprieve from drastic changes at the school, but it still needs to figure out to improve its academic performance.

THOMAS' LEGACY

Warrington Middle School was former School Superintendent Malcolm Thomas's first major project after being elected in 2008. Though the school had earned a C grade in 2009, he brought in a new principal and faculty and promised to make the middle school the best in the district and eventually the state. Though he had limited success early and even received an $8.3 million Race to the Top fund promising to make Warrington the model for teaching improvements throughout the district, the school's grade began to falter as state academic standards got more rigorous. In 2018, Thomas hired the Rensselaerville Institute to operate Warrington Middle April 15, 2021

School, which had consistently ranked in the bottom 20 public middle schools in Florida. The school was one of only five middle schools in the state to make the Florida Department of Education's list of Persistently Low-Performing Schools. In March, at the state board meeting, it was pointed out that Escambia County spent less on its turnaround consultant than other districts and saw the least amount of improvement. Though he has only been on the job for six months, Superintendent Smith had to convince the state board that the district could improve the school's academics if given more time.

A REPRIEVE

When he went to Tallahassee to request that the Florida Board of Education grant Warrington an additional year, Smith knew he would face a critical audience. "This school has been a D or an F for eight straight years," said board Chairman Andy Tuck. "You really think that's realistic to think that it's going to get better this year?" "This year?" Smith replied. "I think it's an uphill climb." Reflecting on his discussion in Tallahassee, Smith understands the state's position. "This is a difficult situation for the state board because the goal—everybody wants the kids at Warrington to learn, thrive and be successful—is the end goal desired," the superintendent said. "The commissioner of education wants that; the state school board wants that; we want that; everybody involved wants that." But the folks at Warrington are also in a difficult situation. The students and their families and the principal, teachers and staff are all being held to existing standards and benchmarks despite the challenges presented during a year in which the pandemic's realities have resulted in remote students, quarantines and an abundance of absences. To sprinkle salt upon this already irritated landscape, Warrington almost got a C during the 2018-19 school year, missing the mark by one percentage point. "They were right there; they were extremely, extremely close to climbing up to the C," Smith said. "Had they had one more percentage point, we wouldn't be having this conversation, and I wouldn't have gone up requesting an extension from the state board. So that was a pretty big percentage point." Last year, the school did appear on track to make that all-important C, but then COVID shuttered school campuses, and assessment tests were scuttled altogether. "If that momentum could've kept up and so forth—we'll just never know because the kids didn't test at all last year," Smith said. But those almosts don't add up to anything useful, and the state had lost its patience. If the Warrington didn't earn a C grade this school year, the state board want-

ed the school to hire a new principal for Warrington. At least 80% of the middle school's English and math teachers would have needed at least three years of experience and be rated either effective or highly effective as per the state's VAM, or value-added model rating. A new external operator would have to be hired to deliver support services and take on management of the school. Corcoran's order made those possible mandates moot by authorizing school districts and charter schools to waive state testing requirements for spring 2021. It also suspended school grades for another year. When he received the order, Superintendent Smith said comparing test scores between years with and without the COVID pandemic wouldn't have given the state reliable data on a district's improvement. He told Inweekly, "I just think the grades would make a misstatement, and I think that could be problematic because people look to those grades and people form a lot of their perception around schools and school districts based on those grades. And if they're not valid or reliable, it just seems counterintuitive to me." The order came as a relief to the school district because Superintendent Smith was troubled by the potential for the staff shakeups at Warrington that the state wanted if the school didn't earn a C for 2020-21 school year. Principal Brent Bummet has led the school for three years, and Smith credited the administrator with beginning to turn the ship around. "We very well would have attained it last year, but we'll never know, and now the principal is going to be held accountable in the most disruptive, most unique situation I've ever seen in over 30 years of education it," Smith lamented. "So that's a tough situation right there." As for Warrington's teachers, only about half meet the experience criteria, and fewer than that hit the rating threshold. Smith admitted that requirement would have necessitated "some adjustments, for sure." Finding experienced, effective teachers that want to work at Warrington, with its out-of-the-gates do-or-die challenge, has been problematic. The district is currently in talks with potential service providers but has yet to secure a new one.

"KEEP PUSHING HARD"

Warrington Middle School serves nearly 800 students. Sixty-four percent of the school's students are African American, 24% receive ESE (Exceptional Student Education) services and 85% are from low-income families. If the state forced Warrington to close due to failure to attain a grade of C or above after so many consecutive years of trying, the school's students would be scattered to other middle schools in the district. That change, Superintendent Smith said, would result in cataclysmic disruptions. "That would be a huge impact to the

community. I think that would be a very, very hard thing for our families, our school staff, school leadership and kids," Smith said. "The toughest thing would be to see our kids lose their school and have to go to a school they didn't plan on going to." The superintendent continued, "I think it would take away a key fundamental component of the community, of educating the youth in our neighborhoods where our families live and where our kids go to school.

"The toughest thing would be to see our kids lose their school and have to go to a school they didn't plan on going to." Tim Smith So I think it would be—I'd probably use the word devastating, is what it would be." Such a punitive measure, or even the turnaround measures the state tried to tie to its extension for Warrington, doesn't sit well with Fesko. The school board member feels the potential staff changes—not the first time the state has ordered a shakeup at the school—would have only served to fracture the existing stability at Warrington. He added, "Consistency is one of the most important things." "They need to look in the mirror once in a while," Fesko said of the state. "Step aside and stop doing punitive things that don't get results." Fortunately for Warrington Middle, Commissioner Corcoran's emergency order, which was issued Friday, April 9, has offered some reprieve by granting waivers of the accountability system. The order gave districts the power to make grade promotion and course passage decisions based on class performance, without considering state exam results. Third-graders may advance regardless of their Florida Standards Assessment reading result. Teachers won't be evaluated based on the students' test performance. Though assessment tests will no longer carry the usual implications, Superintendent Smith said that local students will still be tested. The data from such assessment tests is needed to implement measures to improve a student's or school's educational trajectory. "We want it just to see where are our kids, and that will help with figuring out how to adjust and accommodate the needed teaching for next year," Smith said. And while the school district may have dodged some harsh realities for Warrington thanks to the emergency order, the superintendent still believes a C grade for the middle school is "very much an achievable goal." "This is a doable climb for this school," Superintendent Smith said, slipping into the role of Warrington's chief cheerleader. "Keep pushing, keep pushing hard. We want to keep pushing because we can reach the goal." {in} 7

GILLEY'S HR NIGHTMARE

Janice Gilley / Photo Courtesy of MyEscambia

By Rick Outzen The Escambia Board of County Commissioners found out during its agenda review that Public Safety and its fire department have not been following the county's HR policies and collective bargaining agreements by maintaining separate personnel folders with counseling notes that never make it to the employee's official personnel file maintained by the HR department. Commissioner Jeff Bergosh was told letters were placed in three battalion chiefs' personnel files regarding alleged electioneering occurring at Station 6. Campaigning on county property is a violation of county policy and state law. However, the letters were not placed in the HR department's files for the chiefs. In other words, someone lied to the commissioner. Bergosh told Inweekly after the meeting that he didn't want to bring up the issue 88

but had no confidence that the matter would be corrected unless he made the entire board aware of the problem. At the agenda review, HR Director Jana Still said, "The official personnel file is housed at HR. Public Safety, in particular, has this thing called a 'letter to file.' It's a form of documentation that's not considered disciplinary in nature. And so they don't send that to HR because it's not considered official discipline because it's not part of our progressive discipline process. It's not even part of any of our collective bargaining." County Administrator Janice Gilley hired Still in November 2019. The HR director said she had been "trying to cull" the practice in Public Safety and had held training sessions on how to discipline employees properly. Commissioner Bergosh said, "If the fire department has this different thing where they can keep things from going into a file with some method—that's not in their CBA and not in our policy; that's not fair to any

of the other bargaining groups who are following the policy." "Madam Administrator, all of this is very concerning," said Commissioner Steven Barry. "I would presume that you're concerned about this." Still interjected, "Yes, we've been talking through and working on it since I've been here. And I know since Ms. Gilley—" Barry cut her off—"There's a degree of working on processes. And there's a degree of saying this is how it is, and this is it. That's not something you work on. These are the rules, whatever the rules are. That's not a process. In my opinion, that is what's supposed to happen. It's not a negotiated thing. It's not, well, this is what we recommend. This is what the rules are. And it's not for discussion, or there shouldn't be ambiguity in what's expected." Gilley spoke up, "So this was a situation that some of us had assumed had been resolved. We were not aware that it had not gone into the file. So we just found out yesterday or the day before that the letters had not gone into the room." "I presume you were alarmed, then," said Barry. "I don't like what's been said. I presume it to be true. I don't like what's been said, so I'm alarmed. I would hope you were alarmed. "Yes, I'm disappointed in the fact that it did not follow the whole process," said Gilley and then dropped out of the discussion, letting the staff explain and defend. Still pointed out the process was handled by former Public Safety Jason Rogers, who resigned last December. However, the commissioners weren't going to let Gilley and her staff blame someone for a process that Still said had been going on for years and has continued with HR and the administrator's knowledge. "Jason cannot be the only person that knew what happened or what went on," said Barry. "So to go back to the policy of blaming, 'Well, so-and-so is not here; it was their fault'—they're the 100% recipient of this blame—is insincere and generally inaccurate. He can't be the only person that knew what happened in a situation, or, in my opinion, it's very hard to believe that one person would be the only person that knew what happens." Commissioner Lumon May said, "If someone violates a policy and it's a common practice to violate the policy, then someone needs to be reprimanded." He continued, "Fundamentally, EMS and public safety have been a mess. We spent hundreds of thousands of dollars of

taxpayer dollars. We sent Janice Kilgore over there. We'd sent Jerry Maygarden over there. We created a compliance department where we're spending almost a million dollars just because we want to straighten that out. And we still have no positive results." He continued, "The perception is the reality of running a good old boy's system. And that's why we like inclusion and diversity. That's why we don't have very many African Americans there because of this culture of entitlement, a culture that things are being done under the table. And so to me, we got to change that perception if we want to be an all-inclusive county."

WHAT HAPPENED

During the 2020 election, the firefighters endorsed Jonathan Owens over District 1 incumbent Commissioner Jeff Bergosh. According to the counseling notifications for fire battalion chiefs Adam Bobe, Dan Brask and Adam Harrison given to Inweekly, former Public Safety Director Jason Rogers had sent out to all fire personnel in a department memorandum, dated July 31, 2020, that he warned against electioneering in the stations. On Aug. 27, 2020, the week after the GOP primary, a political sign was found in the truck bay at Station 6. All assigned personnel were questioned, but no one fessed up to putting the sign there. Rogers held the three supervisors, Bobe, Brask and Harrison, "ultimately responsible" because they were to ensure "directives from your supervisors are promulgated and adhered to by all assigned personnel." The notifications were dated Nov. 20, 2020, and signed by Escambia Fire Chief Jon Williams but not by the battalion chiefs. After the agenda review, HR Director Still followed up with Assistant Administrator Debbie Bowers and clarified, "While it is true that a 'Letter to File' is not part of the existing IAFF Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) and is not considered a form of discipline, it is utilized as a way to memorialize a conversation or incident with an employee." She continued, "In the case that was referenced at the (agenda review) meeting, a Letter of Counseling, which is the first step in the progressive discipline process, was in fact given to all three battalion chiefs." Still said she wasn't aware of the letters of counseling issued to the men until recently. While the practice has been to maintain such documents at the department level, she said, "I do agree that a copy should have

"We created a compliance department where we're spending almost a million dollars just because we want to straighten that out. And we still have no positive results." Lumon May

inweekly.net

been provided to HR to maintain in their personnel file." Bowers forwarded the letters and Still's comments to Bobe, Brask and Harrison, notifying them that the documents would be placed in their personnel files. Brask fired back an email objecting to Bowers' action. He said the counseling notification form was not a form used for union members. The correct form should have been a letter of counseling, "a correct form of discipline in the IAFF CBA." He went on to describe a December meeting the battalion chief had with county leaders regarding the incident. "The result of a meeting (12/14/20 @ 1300hrs) between the three accused Battalion Chiefs, Chief Williams, Jason Rogers, and you was that no disciplinary action would be taken against the three of us," wrote Brask. "Jason Rogers asked everyone to leave the room besides the three Battalion Chiefs, and Jason Rogers acknowledged that the requirement for us to be disciplined was politically generated. He confirmed that the picture taken of the Jonathan Owens' campaign sign came from a volunteer firefighter from Beulah by the name of Reed Moss. Moss sent the picture directly to Bergosh, who directed Administrator Gilley to punish someone." He continued, "There are numerous inconsistencies with this entire disciplinary process; the most current issue is the letters of counseling, which we were never provided. The three of us are now being disciplined twice for the same issue. This issue can be rectified by following what was originally decided on 12/14/20, which was that no disciplinary action was required."

to these folks; these are going in the file," said Bergosh. "It's put on someone's desk, but then it doesn't go. That's the break; that's where the problem occurred." He continued, "And, madam administrator, I want this looked into. Who did not follow the process? Who specifically had this in their hand and didn't follow the policy?" Assistant administrator Bowers said, "I'll take responsibility for that. When Jason left, we did have a meeting with the battalion chiefs. We did agree that there would be a letter to the file. Unfortunately, I didn't know there were different files." Bergosh said, "There should not be separate files." "I did not know that until yesterday I had a conversation with you and with Chief Williams," Bowers replied to Bergosh. "He will rectify that. But I did not know when we sent letters to the file; it meant something different." Commissioner Robert Bender said it was his understanding that having personnel files at Public Safety was a long-standing practice. "You are correct," said Still. "It's longstanding, but as soon as we got here, we've been trying to, more and more, make sure you send it to HR. It should only be in HR. HR file should only be in HR, especially since we're starting electronic records, there's less chance of paperwork getting lost." Commissioner Doug Underhill tied the long-standing practice to the county's legal issues with its medical director and EMS— "in that process, we found out there was a secret evaluation done." "This practice exists for one purpose only, and that is so that you can stack up evidence against somebody to use against them later," he said. "So to say that it's non-disciplinary in nature is like saying that as I'm trying to noose, it's really not about hanging somebody until the guy's dangling." Underhill said the practice of building loyalties outside the chain of command was destroying the Public Safety department. He said, "I'm not alarmed. I'm not disappointed. I'm freaking infuriated." Underhill addressed Public Safety Director Eric Gilmore, "If it warrants a disciplinary issue, then it becomes a disciplinary issue. If it doesn't, it doesn't. There's nothing in between. What's happening here is you're never resolving anything." Gilmore was not part of the counseling notification decision and was serving as emergency management director at the time. Underhill was referring to past Public Safety practices, not Gilmore's leadership of the department. "No excuses here on this end, but it will be taken back," replied Gilmore. "It is not taken lightly, and it will be discussed with all management staff that this will cease." Gilley stayed silent. {in}

"Who did not follow the process? Who specifically had this in their hand and didn't follow the policy?" Jeff Bergosh

GILLEY MUM

At the agenda review, County Administrator Gilley offered little input or defense for the confusion surrounding the incident, the letters of counseling and why public safety had a policy maintaining a separate file system for them. The commissioners were clearly frustrated with what they were hearing. "I've got three letters that appear to be disciplinary in nature," said Commissioner Bergosh, "letters to file describing the incident and what is expected with three names on it, but these documents are not in the personnel files for these individuals. How does that happen, number one, and number two, are these public records … Alison, if they've never been put in the file." County Attorney Alison Rogers said, "They're definitely public records. Whether or not they carry with them the effectualness that's on the title of those documents is another story." Still told the board that it was common practice to document an incident that doesn't arise to discipline in a letter to the file. "It's very important when it's presented

"There's nothing in between. What's happening here is you're never resolving anything." Doug Underhill

April 15, 2021

9

COUNTRY CLUB SCAMMED John Thomas, owner of Thomas Insurance on Garden Street in Pensacola, has been arrested by federal agents in Arizona for wire fraud. Sources have shared that Thomas was a player among the Pensacola Country Club set, writing the insurance for their homes, cars and businesses to the tune of hundreds of thousands of dollars over the years. His clients were given policies and certificates of insurances—the only problem was several of them were fake, according to documents filed in federal court last week. In a forfeiture affidavit, the federal has moved to seize a Portofino Condominium on Pensacola Beach in the name of "The JSSK Family Trust" that was purchased in October 2014 and a Canyon Crossing unit in Park City, Utah, that was purchased in December 1998 in the name of Thomas and his wife as trustees of the same trust. Neither condo has any liens or mortgages. The federal government argued that properties are subject to forfeiture because they were bought from proceeds traceable to wire fraud and money laundering. The court documents don't identify the victims but described what the federal investigators uncovered. Victim #1 is a family-owned manufacturing business in Pensacola that bought general liability, business auto, business property, product liability, director, officer and employment practices liability and flood insurance from Thomas Insurance. The owners heard rumors that a Pensacola Beach hotel, a client of the insurance firm, had a fire, and Thomas had to pay out $900,000 because there was no insurance policy to pay the claim. The executives of Victim #1 contacted the insurance companies on their policies and found the policy numbers were invalid. One was actually for a cinema in Gulf Breeze. Others dating back to 2014 didn't exist at 010 1

all, according to the court documents. The estimated total paid to Thomas Insurance for the policies was $220,600. Victim #2 is a real estate rental company on Pensacola Beach that has used Thomas Insurance since Hurricane Ivan, paying the firm $100,000 in premiums from 2014-2020. When two properties suffered significant damage due to Hurricane Sally, Thomas allegedly told the owner the damage wasn't enough to exceed the policies' deductions. The owner estimates showed the damage exceeded $850,000. Thomas committed to sending the estimates to the supposed insurance carrier, but he never followed up with the owner. When Victim #2 checked with the insurance carrier, he found the policy didn't exist. Victim #3 is a Pensacola attorney who owns a commercial warehouse. The attorney paid Thomas over $70,000 for insurance from 2014-2020. The warehouse was damaged by Sally, and Thomas came out to "self-adjust" the damage. Following Thomas' instructions, the owner got a roofing contractor but became concerned when he didn't hear from Thomas after work had started. Victim #3 also found out his policy didn't exist. The documents list Victims #4 and #5, who had similar issues. If you have done business with Thomas Insurance, you need to check on your insurance policies. If you want to share your story, email rick@inweekly.net.

TRUST LAUNCHING Now that Gov. Ron

DeSantis has appointed five members to complete the Escambia Children's Trust board of directors, the group is set to launch when the board meets on Tuesday, April 27. Inweekly has heard the board will elect a new chairperson, a spot currently held by School Board member Patty Hightower. The buzz is board members are being lob-

bied to choose attorney Stephanie White as the new chair. Buzz Ritchie has apparently taken himself out of consideration for the interim executive director, leaving a behind-thescenes struggle to either find a replacement to nominate at the meeting or have the board advertise for the position. The board needs to conduct a needs assessment and create a budget by the end of June. A white paper by Clark Partington attorney Will Dunaway recommends the board use data already accumulated by Achieve Escambia, the school district and other agencies that work with children. The Board of County Commissioners has directed county staff to provide administrative and legal support. The week before the Escambia Children's Trust board meeting, CivicCon will host a Zoom Town Hall meeting with an expert panel to discuss best practices for Children's Trusts. The event will be 6-7:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 22. The panel will include Kelley Parris, the executive director of the Hillsborough County Children's Council; Sean Boyle, the executive director of the St. Lucie Children's Services Council; and Michele Watson, the CEO of the Florida Children's Council in Tallahassee.

CPAC PROCESS Mayor Grover Robinson's Citizen Police Advisory Committee held its last meeting on March 30 when it submitted its recommendations to the mayor. Inweekly reporter Jeremy Morrison covered the meeting and several committee members' thoughts on the eight-month process (Inweekly, "CPAC Last Gasp?" 4/8/21). Community activist and Inweekly Rising Star Hale Morrissette was interviewed for the article. It was her protest at the foot of the Pensacola Bay Bridge that pushed the mayor to finally create CPAC nearly a year after a former Pensacola Police Department detective killed an unarmed Black man during a traffic stop. Morrissette shared the CPAC experience was "a little frustrating." She said, "I feel like we were kind of thrown out there, not given a full direction of what we were supposed to do. And then, further down the line when it felt like we were starting to get our grips, they're like, 'Oh, OK, now you're gonna be dissolved.'" She believes that CPAC should be a permanent fixture of the city and hopes the Pensacola City Council will make it such. "(CPAC) was supposed to be a permanent standing dialogue between police relations and the community," Morrissette said. "For it to instead be treated like a board that went through and reviewed policies and then give a report— no, that's not what we were supposed to do." She added, "We need to be able to have a committee of citizens that is prepared to sit with truths and be able to struggle with certain dialogue so we can get somewhere."

Morrissette believes the recommendations should be standard across the board. She regrets not having the time to expand them and "think about all the other different parts of accountability and measurement goals." "I don't necessarily blame anybody, except the people who tried to make this a rush job," she said. "I think that the committee members, us and the city staff, have been working our asses off trying to make this a very impactful experience and making sure our time counts."

CPAC'S RECOMMENDATIONS The recommendations fell into four different categories—general recommendations, policies and training; community policing and racial equity; mental and behavioral health; and, finally, use of force and general orders. A. General Recommendations, Policies & Training •Chief of Police Search: The city should prioritize experience, transparency and inclusivity in its current search for a new police chief. •Police Chief Residency: The city's chief of police should live within the city. •Officer Incentives/Grants: The Pensacola Police Department (PPD) should establish incentives, such as assistance with down payments for a house, to attract officers and offer them the ability to "become more active members" of the community. •Recruitment: PPD should focus on recruiting officers "from within the neighborhoods they serve" and on recruiting more African American officers to the force. •Education Diversity: PPD should recruit officers with diverse backgrounds in areas such as social work and psychology. •Trauma-Informed Policing: All officers should undergo trauma-informed police training. •21st Century Policing: The city should adopt all applicable recommendations outlined in former President Barack Obama's Task Force on 21st Century Policing. •Crisis Intervention Training: PPD officers should undergo Crisis Intervention Training to address mental health incidents better. •Deprioritization: The city should deprioritize low-level possession of cannabis or marijuana. B. Community Policing & Racial Equity •Racial Equity: PPD should engage in efforts to be more inclusive and conduct workshops by subject-matter experts. •Law Enforcement Partnerships: PPD should partner with other law enforcement agencies with the goal of "sharing and understanding ... the history and impact of race and racism in our communities." •Race and Equity Coordinator: The city should hire a dedicated race and equity coordinator. •Pilot Program: PPD should partner with East Pensacola Heights Rattlers youth sports program to improve community relations. •Evaluations: The city should incorporate community-policing metrics into evaluations. inweekly.net

•Community Buy-In: The city should incorporate the community in the process of developing evaluation procedures. •Remove Racist: The city should remove the Confederate flag from PPD uniforms and badges. •Neighborhood Trust: Officers should be assigned to specific neighborhoods to better understand that area's particular needs as it pertains to issues such as economic security and mental health. C. Mental & Behavioral Health •Community Dialogue: PPD should establish regular community meetings. •Annual Citizen Survey: PPD should survey the city's residents annually. •Task Force: The city should develop a pilot program creating a specialized outreach team of officers who focus on mental and behavioral health issues. D. Use of Force & General Orders •Use of Force Data: PPD should present use-of-force data to Pensacola City Council on an annual basis. •Public Comment: Proposed changes to PPD policies should be publicly posted to allow for public input.

IMPERFECT BRIDGE REOPENING

After meeting with Florida Department of Transportation officials recently, Mayor Grover Robinson feels "very optimistic" that the Pensacola Bay Bridge will be repaired and back online by Memorial Day. Also, the flyover coming off the bridge and into Pensacola is also expected to be completed then. Unfortunately, the associated roundabout will not be finished until around mid-July. During that interim, traffic coming off the bridge and wanting to get off Gregory Street will exit on 17th Avenue. Drivers traveling onto the bridge from Pensacola won't be allowed to use 17th or 14th avenues because of cars' speed coming off the bridge to downtown Pensacola and I-110. The mayor admitted, "It's not perfect, it's not what we

April 15, 2021

want, but we do feel like that's probably the safest option for probably six weeks."

FACES OF ESCAMBIA Escambia County's 200th Anniversary Commission is excited to celebrate and share the county's rich history and unique heritage with the public. Researchers with the West Florida Genealogical Society have identified more than 2,000 individuals who were here when Florida passed from Spain to the United States. These were more than just names; every person had a rich life and history. By honoring a member of the 1821 community, you participate in this celebration of our rich and diverse Florida heritage. Fill out the form at pco.la/1821 and upload your photo to represent a member of the 1821 Pensacola community—use an uncluttered background, clearly showing face and shoulders—no hats please—and names are optional. Then your photo will be used in a web-based interactive mosaic of faces from our modern community honoring the 1821 community. TOLL SUSPENSION EXTENDED Accord-

ing to Executive Orders 20-224, 20-248 and the extension of those orders in Executive Order 21-64, Florida Department of Transportation Secretary Kevin J. Thibault, P.E. has directed Florida's Turnpike Enterprise to further extend the toll suspension for the Garcon Point Bridge. Tolls have been suspended on the Garcon Point Bridge through Sunday, May 9. The extension allows the Garcon Point Bridge to continue serving as a temporary detour route while the Pensacola Bay Bridge is being repaired from damage sustained during Hurricane Sally. For additional real-time updates on the Pensacola Bay Bridge, visit nwflroads.com.

BLUE WAHOOS TICKETS Pensacola's Double-A team has been selling its full-season (60-game) packages for the 2021 season. Partial season and mini-plans (5+ games) are available starting April 15. The remaining available tickets will be sold as single-game

tickets beginning April 28. Visit milb.com/ pensacola/tickets/ticketoptions. In coordination with Major League Baseball, the Blue Wahoos have set the following safety guidelines for Blue Wahoos Stadium in 2021: •Face Masks: Face masks must be worn at all times by all fans over the age of 2 unless fans are actively eating or drinking in their assigned seat. •In-Seat Concessions: Mobile concession ordering with in-seat delivery through StadiumDrop will be available. •No Bags: No bags will not be permitted in the stadium, except for medical or diaper bags. •Physical Distancing will be enforced on the concourse, concession lines, Bait and Tackle Shop and at all entrances and exits. •Multiple Entrances & Exits: Guests will be directed to enter and exit the stadium through designated entry gates. •Buffer Zone: For the safety of players, coaches and fans, there will be a two-row buffer closest to the field in areas frequented by players and coaches. No autograph requests will be allowed.

LIBRARIES REOPEN West Florida Public

Libraries will reopen on Thursday, April 15. The Virtual Shelf and online order pickup options are still available at mywfpl.com. If you have a meeting room request, please visit Meeting and Study Rooms at mywfpl.com to book a room. Public computer access for general use will remain at one hour per day. No time limits are applied if the person is actively completing unemployment, small business loans or similar economic benefits applications. Limited study space will be available with a one-hour-perday limit on use, depending on the branch.

ARC MEMBERSHIP DRIVE The Arc Gateway has kicked off its annual Bobby Tronu Membership Drive for the month of April with a goal of expanding its membership by 500 new members.

Membership is an essential aspect of The Arc Gateway organization, increasing awareness, which ultimately leads to a better-informed community. Membership is a critical step in creating society-wide acceptance of people with disabilities. "A strong membership provides a powerful voice for those we serve," says Chip Henderson, Chief Advancement Officer. "The larger our numbers, the more leverage we have and the stronger our voice is with state legislators and policymakers." The drive honors legendary supporter Bobby Tronu, who for more than 50 years played a special part in The Arc Gateway's efforts to improve the lifestyles of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The annual membership drive pays tribute to the years of support and service Tronu provided. "As a nonprofit organization," Henderson continues, "public support is critical to sustaining our mission of making lives better for children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities." Members can make a one-time donation, contribute annually or even donate monthly. To learn more about membership options or to join, visit arc-gateway.org/ giving/membership.

BURGER BATTLE The Rotary Club of Pen-

sacola Suburban West has teamed up with the Rotary Club of Pensacola-Cordova to put on the Annual Burger Battle By the Bay to be held 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m. on Saturday, May 1, at the Community Maritime Park. Attendees get to taste numerous samples of grilled burgers made by both professional and amateur cook teams and vote for their favorite. Proceeds benefit Take Stock in Children in Escambia County and the other community service projects of the Pensacola SubWest Rotary Foundation and Cordova Rotary. You can purchase tickets online through the Burger Battle by the Bay 2021 Facebook page. Tickets are $15 in advance, $20 at the gate. {in}

11

A plant with five points, a strong smell and calming effects has planted its roots in Pensacola. And it's perfectly legal. Hemp is a new crop in the area. Like marijuana, hemp is cannabis. The legal difference is that hemp contains 0.3% or less THC, and marijuana has 0.3% or more. Hemp and marijuana are, for the most part, the same plant but with one major difference—hemp doesn't have psychoactive effects because THC is the psychoactive element in marijuana. Hemp contains mostly CBD or CBG, which aren't psychoactive. Hemp farming in the Sunshine State is still in its infancy. Florida's State Hemp Program was approved in April 2020. There are only 844 licensed hemp cultivators statewide, and in the Panhandle—the conservative backbone of the state—there are even fewer farmers willing to take the plunge. Pensacola native David Pierce started growing CBD and CBG hemp a year ago. Pierce is an entrepreneur who owns Harrow to Harvest, a hemp farm just east of the Florida-Alabama line. Although the majority of his career was spent in the horticulture industry, Pierce was always interested in agriculture. Hemp was his opportunity.

"PIONEERING A NEW INDUSTRY"

"I've always been intrigued by hemp, so it was sort of a natural progression for me to try to grow it on a big scale," Pierce said. "This is pioneering a new industry. I had never been able to do that before in life, so I figured it was now or never." Pierce's hemp is made into tinctures and oils, which are used to treat anxiety, pain and other ailments. He also sells hemp 212 1

flower, which has relaxing effects. All of these products can be purchased without a medical marijuana card. Many people use CBD and CBG products as alternatives to addictive prescriptions. Pierce explained that his wife was prescribed Xanax, an addictive anti-anxiety medication, for years, but she now treats her anxiety with only his plants. However, being a pioneer of a developing industry has its challenges. One persistent issue is legislation. Since the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) limits the THC levels in hemp to 0.3%, farmers have to destroy any plants above that percentage. Pierce explained that the THC percentage increases due to stress. Rain, drought, hurricanes and other weather conditions can stress the plant, thereby increasing the THC or making the plant "hot," as the industry calls it. Because of stress related to Hurricane Sally, 1,500 out of 8,000 of Pierce's plants had to be disposed of.

"We still have a very conservative legislature that doesn't want to see the industry grow." Nikki Fried "The hurricane messed me up pretty bad," Pierce said. "We grew about four strains. Two of the strains came back sort of hot. They were at 4.2%, so we had to destroy those." Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried oversees the state's hemp program

and is an advocate of the full legalization of cannabis. In an effort to support hemp farmers, Fried proposed that the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA) request the USDA to increase the industrial hemp THC limit to 1%. "Congress right now has the authority of the level of THC that can be in hemp plants," Fried continued. "It was arbitrary back in the day when they created the .3%, so increasing it to 1% will certainly help our farmers, especially here in the state of Florida, and they won't get hot on them." Another thorn in the hemp industry is ignorance. Fried explained that bills like HB 1455, which intends to place a 10% THC cap on marijuana, show that some legislatures aren't aware of the benefits of cannabis. "We still have a very conservative legislature that doesn't want to see the industry grow," Fried said. "They are misinformed about the amazing impacts it has on the patients that are using different types of medical marijuana products."

"BREAKING THAT STIGMA" Part of the reason there is misinformation about cannabis is because of its illegal and racist history. Cannabis flourished in the 19th century as a popular ingredient in medicinal products. The narrative surrounding the plant began to change after the Mexican Revolution in 1910. A large number of Mexicans immigrated to the U.S.— bringing marihuana, known as marijuana in English, with them. The Marihuana Tax Act of 1937, which was supported with racial stereotypes rather than scientific fact, made cannabis illegal. Veteran and cannabis advocate Crystal Silins turned to cannabis as a last resort. Her

battle with breast cancer, chemotherapy and multiple surgeries caused her to become addicted to Xanax, hydrocodone and other prescription drugs. "It got to a point where I wasn't necessarily taking it because I was hurting or anything. I was used to the way it made me feel," Silins explained. "I considered it OK because I had a prescription for it." Eventually, she pushed aside her misgivings about cannabis and tried CBD. Now, Silins is in support of the full legalization of cannabis. She believes that hemp could help destigmatize cannabis.

"There are a lot more open-minded people about hemp-derived CBD than there are about medical marijuana. That's how I got started." Crystal Silins "There are a lot more open-minded people about hemp-derived CBD than there are about medical marijuana. That's how I got started. I opened my mind to the nonpsychoactive part of the beautiful plant," Silins explained. "That did segue me into learning more about THC, but I think that if more people get on board with understanding CBD, then they'll see it doesn't need to be all demonized. The CBD is, I would say, a nice warm window of opportunity into hopefully breaking that stigma and allowing the supply chain to open up a bit more." This leads to another challenge in the inweekly.net

David Pierce / Photos by Gina Castro

hemp industry—lack of a supply chain. Pierce explained that there aren't nearby facilities to process his hemp yet, so he has to grow and process his plants. Since he can do only small-scale processing, it takes him about 24 hours to make a gallon of oil or tincture. This issue has largely to do with the industry being so new. Hemp was legalized in Florida in 2019, and the state's hemp program's first anniversary is this month. "This is a new industry for the state, and it's going to take some time to build it out," Fried said. "We are extremely supportive of all of the capital and companies that are coming into our state to participate in this incredible industry." Despite a somewhat difficult first year, Pierce plans to expand his hemp farm. He is planting 10 acres of grain and fiber hemp this April 15, 2021

"This is pioneering a new industry. I had never been able to do that before in life, so I figured it was now or never." David Pierce month. Pierce explained that growing this type of hemp is easier than growing CBD and CBG hemp. The latter hemp requires more attention because of the THC regulation and pests. This year, Pierce is growing the CBD and CBG hemp only indoors. Grain and fiber hemp don't have THC or CBD, so farmers don't have to worry about the crop turning hot. They also have thousands of uses. Grain hemp is predominantly used for food. Its seeds are edible and contain omega-3 fatty acids and protein. Grain hemp can be used in products like soap, protein powder and flour.

Fiber hemp can also make a major difference in the environment. It can make hemp plastic, which is biodegradable and more durable than plastic. Fiber hemp is also used to make fabric. It uses less water and chemicals than it takes to grow cotton, and hemp fabric lasts longer than cotton. Because of hemp's infinite uses, Fried predicts Florida will have a profitable future in hemp. "I'm envisioning this to still be a $20-$30 billion industry for our state, from the cultivation side to the human and animal consumption like the CBD products, but more so the industrial side, which is really what gets me extremely excited," Fried said. {in}

Learn more about industrial hemp farming in Florida

fdacs.gov/cannabis-hemp/hemp-cbd-in-florida

David Pierce's Harrow to Harvest Hemp Farm harrowtoharvest.com

Crystal Silins

pensacolacbd.com

Current Number of Hemp Cultivators in Florida Statewide: 844 Panhandle (10 counties): 36 Escambia County: 4 13

a&e happenings pressure washing, exterior home painting, light landscaping and outdoor light bulb replacing. KPB needs a community of partners, sponsors and volunteers for this annual project. Email Lauren Doubek, Education & Outreach coordinator, at lauren@keeppensacolabeautiful.org for groups of five or more volunteers. For group sizes of four or less, visit volunteermatch.org to register individually.

CALL TO ARTISTS

KEEP PENSACOLA BEAUTIFUL PIECES ADRIFT ART SHOW Pieces Adrift is a

Attending "normal" events might not be happening yet—but that doesn't mean local businesses and nonprofits aren't still keeping the community connected in creative ways.

NONPROFITS + FUNDRAISERS

THE ARC GATEWAY KICKS OFF ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP DRIVE The Arc

Gateway has kicked off its annual Bobby Tronu Membership Drive for the month of April and invites the public to join. The nonprofit agency would like to expand its membership by 500 new members. Membership is a very important aspect of The Arc Gateway organization, increasing awareness which ultimately leads to a better-informed community. Membership is a critical step in creating society-wide acceptance of people with disabilities. The Arc Gateway runs membership drives yearly with the availability to join year-round. The drive honors legendary supporter, Bobby Tronu, who for more than 50 years played a special part in The Arc Gateway's efforts to improve the lifestyles of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The annual membership drive pays tribute to the years of support and service Bobby Tronu provided. To learn more about membership options or to join, visit arc-gateway.org/giving/ LB0245 MchUltraOrgSeltzer membership or call 850-434-2638. INW Final

A S RE AL A S IT TA S TE S 414 1

CAT ADOPTIONS IN APRIL Animal Allies will be at Pet Supermarket on N. Ninth Avenue. Saturday, April 24, 11 a.m.-3 p.m., and Everette Animal Welfare Group will be at PetSmart, on N. Davis Highway Saturday, April 10 & 24, noon-4 p.m. If you can't adopt, you can talk about opportunities to donate, foster or volunteer. All cats are up to date on shots and tested negative for leukemia, and adoption fee includes spay or neuter with microchip and flea pill. For more information, visit aaflorida.com. PENSACOLA HUMANE SOCIETY BATHE-INS The PHS bathe-ins are back

with the first date Saturday, April 17, from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Prices are $8-$11 depending on size of dog. Bring your own towels. For more information, visit pensacolahumane.org.

PAINT YOUR HEART OUT WITH KEEP PENSACOLA BEAUTIFUL Paint Your

Heart Out (PYHO) is a community beautification program from Keep Pensacola Beautiful (KPB) that aims to assist our elderly, disabled, veteran and/or single-parent community members through a massive service project once a year. PYHO is open to all Escambia County residents and nominated by the public. During the month of May, a team of volunteers will go to the selected property 041521.pdf 2 beautification 4/7/21 8:48 projects AM and perform such as

community art exhibition and auction that educates viewers about the harmful effects marine litter has on our coastal ecosystem. All pieces submitted to this show are made of at least 50% reclaimed waste material to inspire onlookers to rethink their trash in a creative way. Art that is donated will be open for public auction, and proceeds will benefit Keep Pensacola Beautiful's programming initiatives in 2022. To participate in Keep Pensacola Beautiful's upcoming Pieces Adrift Art Show & Auction as an artist, visit facebook.com/keeppensacolabeautiful for a link to the signup form. Artists of any level are welcome to join.

EMERALD COAST REVIEW SEEKS REGIONAL WRITER, ARTIST SUBMISSIONS The Emerald Coast Review is

collecting quality fiction, nonfiction, poetry, contemporary, emerging and experimental works along with the best of art, graphic design and photography. Residents from the following counties are encouraged to submit—Escambia, Santa Rosa, Walton, Okaloosa and Bay (Florida); Mobile, Escambia and Baldwin (Alabama). To view guidelines and submit work, visit wflf.org/ecr. Submissions close April 30. Accepted submissions will be announced and writers will be notified that their piece(s) will be published in the ECR in Fall 2021.

VENDORS AND CRAFT EXHIBITORS FOR JAZZ PENSACOLA 2021 Jazz Pen-

sacola is calling arts and crafts exhibitors to submit applications for the 2021 Pensacola JazzFest planned for May 15-16 at Seville Square in historic downtown Pensacola. Application forms can be downloaded

at jazzpensacola.com. Only original art and handmade crafts will be accepted. No commercial/mass-produced products will be accepted. All entries are $200 for a 10-by-10-foot canopy or smaller. All fees go to support Pensacola JazzFest, a free event for the community. For more information, call Jazz Pensacola administrator Alice Crann Good at (850) 433-8382, Monday-Thursday, 8 a.m.-1 p.m., or visit jazzpensacola.com.

FOO FOO FEST GRANT APPLICATIONS NOW OPEN Pensacola's Foo Foo Festival

officially announced its plans for its seventh annual events, taking place Nov. 4-15, 2021. In 2021, the Pensacola Foo Foo Festival will once again fund top-scoring grant applicants, with the number of grants to be awarded contingent upon the number of submissions. This year, the Foo Foo Festival will provide up to $315,000 in grant funding, and grant applicants can apply for up to $100,000 in grant funding. All organizations, businesses and community partners are encouraged to participate as "Friends of Foo," receiving visibility at the 12-day event. To apply for this year's Foo Foo Festival, visit foofoofest.com. The Foo Foo Fest team will continue to monitor developments surrounding COVID-19 leading up to November's events and will fully cooperate with any instructions heeded for Escambia County by local and state officials and the CDC. The Foo Foo Fest grant application is Friday, April 30, 2021. On Wednesday, May 12, 2021, there will be an announcement of the public grant scoring. For more information, visit foofoofest.com.

ARTS & CULTURE

PENSACOLA VEGFEST 2021 Pensacola

VegFest features vendors focused on normalizing compassionate living with vegan food vendors, live music, face painting, yoga classes and guest speakers. This year's event will be 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday, April 17, at Community Maritime Park, 351 W. Cedar St. Admission is $7. For more information, visit facebook.com/pensacolavegfest.

P'COLA FREAKNIK COOKOUT & PICNIC Head to Community Maritime Park, 351

ENJOY RESPONSIBLY

©2021 Anheuser-Busch, Michelob Ultra™ Organic Seltzer, Spicy Pineapple, Peach Pear, and Cucumber Lime, IRC Beers, St. Louis, MO FCB [80 calorise, 0g carbs, og protein and 0.0g fat, per 12 oz.]

inweekly.net

a&e happenings W. Cedar St., on Sunday, April 18, from 2-8 p.m. There will be food, vendors and '90s and 2000s music from DJ Ziggy & Friends. For tickets, or more information, call or text 850-791-0109.

GALLERY 1060 MEMBERS' SHOW First City Art's annual Members Show will be on display through May 1 featuring works of art from past, present and future FCAC members and staff. A virtual reception will take place in April. For more information, visit gallery1060.com. OPERA AFTER DARK Opera After Dark is a unique, free outdoor concert like no other, featuring professional singers in an exciting performance under the stars. All guests will receive free glow sticks. Refreshments from local food trucks will be available to purchase. Located at the UWF Historic Trust Museum Plaza. Next date is rescheduled for 8 p.m. Thursday, May 6. For more information, visit facebook.com/pensacolaopera. BALLET PENSACOLA PRESENTS: SNOW WHITE Ballet Pensacola will

conclude its 2020-2021 season with "Snow White." Showtimes are 7 p.m. Friday, April 16, and Saturday, April 17, and 2:30 p.m. Sunday, April 18, at the Pensacola Cultural Center, 400 S. Jefferson St. Tickets are $28-$40. For more information, visit balletpensacola.org.

YIKES! COMEDY SHOW Enjoy at night

of laughs with YIKES! Comedy Night. Just $5 a ticket. For more information, visit facebook.com/oddcolony or facebook. com/dolcegelatopensacola. UPCOMING DATES: •7 p.m. Saturday, April 17, at Dolce and Gelato, 2050 N. 12th Ave.

GULF BREEZE HIGH SCHOOL PRESENTS: CINDERELLA The Gulf Breeze

High School Drama Department presents "Cinderella" Wednesday, April 14, and Thursday, April 15, at the Saenger Theatre, located at 118 S. Palafox. Tickets are $18 and can be purchased online at pensacolasaenger.com.

2021 OPERAZZI BALL: OPERA ON THE HIGH SEAS Pensacola Opera's annual

fundraising event is themed after their most recent production of H.M.S. Pinafore. The black-tie affair will be 6:30 p.m. Friday, April 16, at Sanders Beach Community Center, 913 S. I Street. Tickets are $150. Visit pensacolaopera.com for more information.

MOVIE AND FIREWORKS: THE CROODS: A NEW AGE The Pensacola

Blue Wahoos will be showing "Croods: A New Age" at Blue Wahoos Stadium on Friday, April 16, at 7 p.m. Tickets are $5 per person and include both the film and a post-movie fireworks show. The gates at Blue Wahoos Stadium will open at 6 p.m. Limited tickets will be sold at bluewahoos.com.

THE MAGIC OF BILL BLAGGS LIVE Il-

lusionist Bill Blagg will perform at the Saenger April 15, 2021

FREE CONCERT SERIES TUESDAYS 7  9 PM | GULFSIDE PAVILION

Theatre, located at 118 S. Palafox, Friday, April 16, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $28-$45. For more information, visit pensacolasaenger.com.

and 15; 3 p.m. Sundays, May 2, 9 and 16. Thursday performances are 7:30 p.m. May 6 and 13. For tickets, visit pensacolalittletheatre.com.

PENSACOLA OPERA: SERENADES BY THE SEA Enjoy live performances from

PENSACOLA CRAWFISH FESTIVAL

artists in residence of Pensacola Opera at the Gulfside Pavilion on Pensacola Beach on Sunday, April 18, at 7 p.m. Visit facebook.com/ pensacolaopera for more information.

OPERA AMERICA ON THE ROAD: PENSACOLA OPERA Join Pensacola

Opera on Wednesday, April 21, for an interactive, online presentation from President/ CEO Marc A. Scorca on the origins and future of opera in the United States and the role of Pensacola Opera in the landscape of American Opera. Event begins at 6 p.m. Registration is free. For more information, visit facebook.com/pensacolaopera.

PENSACOLA SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA PRESENTS: HAYDN SYMPHONY NO. 94, "SURPRISE" Join PSO in person or

virtually for a performance of music from Mahler and Haydn at 1:30 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, April 24, at the Saenger Theatre, located at 118 S. Palafox. Special guest is Baritone Corey McKern. Tickets start at $28. Purchase tickets online at pensacolasaenger.com.

VIRTUAL HOT GLASS COLD BREW The

First City Art Center's virtual event Hot Glass Cold Brew, featuring visiting glass artist Rob Stern, will take place virtually on Facebook on Friday, April 30, at 7 p.m. Guests will enjoy a front-row seat to watch Rob Stern's demo from home with their new HGCB cup. The "Virtual Cup Tent" will open on April 16 featuring one-of-a-kind glass and ceramic cups made by local artists. The cups will be available for purchase from the online store on FCAC's website, firstcityart.org. Each cup purchase will include a raffle ticket and a BOGO pint voucher to Pensacola Bay Brewery.

MOUNTAINFILM POP-UP AT PERFECT PLAIN BREWING CO. The Moun-

tainfilm tour will make a Pensacola stop at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 29, at Perfect Plain Brewing Co., 50 E. Garden St. Featured films are inspired documentaries curated from the Mountainfilm Festival held every year in Telluride, Colo. For more information, visit mountainfilm.org.

MIKE EPPS: IN REAL LIFE COMEDY TOUR Actor and Comedian Mike Epps will

perform at the Pensacola Bay Center, 201 E. Gregory St., 7:30 p.m. Friday, April 30, for the reduced-capacity show. Tickets start at $65.50 and will be sold in pods for groups of two to six. For more information, visit pensacolabaycenter.com.

25TH ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTRY SPELLING BEE Pensacola Little Theatre

presents this hilarious play that tells the story of six mid-pubescents through a spelling bee. Show dates are 7:30 p.m. Fridays, April 30, May 7 and 14; 7:30 p.m. Saturdays, May 1, 7,

2021

The annual crawfish festival will be held April 30-May 2 at Seville Square with live entertainment all weekend. Admission is $5 per day, $2 for kids 6-12 years old and free for kids 5 and under. On Friday, music is 3 p.m.-10:30 p.m., noon-10 p.m. Saturday and 12:30-5 p.m. Sunday. To see the full lineup, visit fiestapensacola.org/crawfish-festival.

SM 2014

STAND-UP COMEDY AT THE REX THEATRE Visit The REX Theatre every

Not Quite Fab | April 20

Friday at 8 p.m. for national stand up acts. Tickets are $26-$35 at the door. For more information, visit rexpensacola.com.

Beatles Tribute Band

COMEDY MAGIC SHOW AT THE REX THEATRE Comedy magician Tom Coverly,

known as "The Illusionist," performs Saturday nights at The Rex Theatre, located at 18 N. Palafox. Shows start at 7 p.m. Tickets are $10-$35. For more information, visit rexpensacola.com.

Bay Bridge Band | April 27 60’s, 70’s, 80’s

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 the number of sign-ups. Registration begins at 6:30 p.m.

MONTHLY ARTIST MINGLE AND ARTIST Q&A Safely mingle with friends

and neighbors and meet new artists with the monthly event at Gordon Community Art Center, located at 306 N. DeVilliers St. For more information, visit thegordon.org.

NEW EXHIBITS AT PENSACOLA MUSEUM OF ART The Members Show is

now on view through April 25. This annual celebration of the talent and creativity of our museum member community features the work of more than 50 artists working across a range of media and techniques. "Hot Mess" is also on view through April 25. This exhibition of recent paintings, prints and animations by 2020 Members Show winner Laura Hydle is about self-reflection and coping with life, happily and, at times, reluctantly. Other exhibits on view include "Antarctica" through April 4 at the downstairs gallery. For more information and hours of operation, visit pensacolamuseum.org.

We encourage all concert-goers to take appropriate COVID-19 preventative measures, socially distance themselves and follow the guidelines of our local health authorities.

For updates, call SRIA at (850) 932-2257, go to VisitPensacolaBeach.com or tune to Cat Country 98.7. Please, no glass containers or pets.

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GREAT GULFCOAST ARTS FESTIVAL 2020 LIMITED-EDITION POSTER AVAILABLE ONLINE With the cancel-

lation of this year's Great Gulfcoast Arts Festival due to COVID-19, the festival committee invited local artist Kreg Yingst to create a poster for 2020 in his original woodcut print design. The 250 limited-edition posters are each signed and numbered by the artist. Festival posters have become a local collector's item and are available online this year only.

113 Palafox Place (Across from Saenger Theatre)

Pensacola

(850) 434-2060 15

a&e happenings The posters are available at ggaf.org for $27, including shipping and sales tax. Yingst, a long-time GGAF artist, received his B.A. from Trinity University in San Antonio after attending the University of Texas and his M.A. in painting from Eastern Illinois University. After graduation, he taught art for 13 years and has been a full-time artist since 2003. The Great Gulfcoast Arts Festival returns Nov. 5, 6 and 7, 2021, at Seville Square, Fountain Park, Bartram Park and Museum Plaza in Downtown Pensacola.

DRAG SHOWS AT DOLCE AND GELATO Head to Dolce and Gelato, located at 2050 N. 12th Ave., for regular drag shows. For more information, visit facebook.com/dolcegelatopensacola.

PENSACOLA OPERA AL FRESCO Pen-

sacola Opera's outdoor live concerts are Saturdays at 2 p.m. in the UWF Historic Trust Museum Plaza. For more information, visit pensacolaopera.com.

OPERALIVE: THROWBACK THURSDAYS Take a walk down memory lane with

friends of the Pensacola Opera. Learn more about the craft and look back on past productions with live discussions on Facebook Live Thursdays at 5:30 p.m. Viewers are encouraged to join in the conversation. Tune in at facebook.com/pensacolaopera.

NEW CLASSES AT MIXON MAGIC PERFORMING ARTS Mixon Magic Performing

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 informa-

tion about Mixon Magic Performing Arts can be found at mixonmagic.com, by contacting hello@mixonmagic.com or emily@mixonmagic.com or by calling 221-7438.

BLACK CITIZENSHIP IN THE AGE OF JIM CROW On view at Voices of Pensacola

is "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. To learn more about it, visit africanamericanheritagesociety.org. Voices of Pensacola is located at 117 E. Government St. and open Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

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 offers 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.

SUNDAYS ON THE MEZZANINE Enjoy a full-length concert series on select Sundays at 3 p.m. on Facebook. Tickets are $9.99 and can be purchased online at facebook.com/ pensacolaopera.

LIVE MUSIC

BANDS ON THE BEACH Bands on the

Beach is back. The free concert series features shows each Tuesday night, from 7-9 p.m., from April to October at the Gulfside Pavilion at Casino Beach. UPCOMING DATES: •April 20: Not Quite Fab •April 27: Bay Bridge Band

PSO IN THE PARK Pack a lawn chair or blanket and join Pensacola Symphony Orchestra for a free performance at the

Museum Plaza, located at 120 Church St. All shows are Sundays at 3 p.m. UPCOMING DATES: •April 18 •May 9

BANDS ON THE BLACKWATER Following the cancellation of the complete 2020 schedule due to COVID-19, the City of Milton is bringing back the popular concert series starting Friday, April 2. All concerts will be held from 7-9 p.m. at Jernigan's Landing, 5158 S. Willing St. UPCOMING DATES: •April 16: Bay Bridge Band •April 23: Pearl Clarkin •April 30: Boukou Groove JEFF GLICKMAN AT DOLCE AND GELATO Musician Jeff Glickman will be

performing at Dolce and Gelato, located at 2050 N. 12th Ave., from 7-9 p.m. Friday, April 16. For more information, visit facebook.com/dolcegelatopensacola.

GOLDIE LAHR AT GARY'S BREWERY

Singer/songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Goldie Lahr will perform at Gary's Brewery and Biergarten, located at 208 Newman Ave., from 6-9 p.m. Friday, April 16. For more information, visit facebook.com/garysbrew.

PAT MEUSEL AT DOLCE AND GELATO

Head to Dolce and Gelato, located at 2050 N. 12th Ave., for live music from Pat Meusel at 4 p.m. on Saturday, April 17. For more information, visit facebook.com/dolcegelatopensacola.

JAZZ GUMBO Jazz Pensacola and

Seville Quarter host this monthly event for jazz lovers everywhere. The next date is Monday, April 19. Show starts at 6:30 p.m. Seville Quarter is located at 130 E. Government St. For more information, visit sevillequarter.com.

LYNN DRURY AT GARY'S BREWERT

Lynn Drury will perform at Gary's Brewery and Biergarten, located at 208 Newman Ave., Friday, April 23, starting at 6 p.m. For more information, visit facebook.com/ garysbrew.

NEEDTOBREATHE LIVE AT THE WHARF AMPHITHEATRE NEEDTO-

BREATH with special guest Andrew Ripp will be coming to The Wharf Amphitheatre Sunday, April 25. The Wharf is located at 23101 Canal Road in Orange Beach. The show is at reduced capacity. Get your tickets at ticketmaster.com.

THE CLOWNS OF MUSIC AT DOLCE AND GELATO Visit Dolce and Gelato,

located at 2050 N. 12th Ave., for a day of music and comedy with Corey Mack, Bangarang Peter, Jean Pierre-Pouye and more. Show starts at 3 p.m. on Sunday, April 25. Tickets are $10. For more information, visit facebook.com/dolcegelatopensacola.

BEN BELL Musician Ben Bell will be pre-

forming at Dolce and Gelato, 2050 N. 12th Ave., from 5-7 p.m. Friday, April 30. For more information, visit facebook.com/dolcegelatopensacola.

JAZZ JAMS AT THE 5 BARREL Enjoy great jazz music from Jazz Pensacola musicians Wednesday, May 5 from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at The 5 Barrel Brewery & Taproom, 121 S. Palafox. Admission is donation based. LIVE MUSIC AT RED FISH BLUE FISH PENSACOLA BEACH Head to Red Fish

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

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 5-7 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.

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free will astrology WEEK OF APRIL 15 ARIES (MARCH 21-APRIL 19): "Today

I feel the whole world is a door," wrote poet Dennis Silk. In a similar spirit, 13th-century Zen master Wumen Huikai observed, "The whole world is a door of liberation, but people are unwilling to enter it." Now I'm here to tell you, Aries, that there will be times in the coming weeks when the whole world will feel like a door to you. And if you open it, you'll be led to potential opportunities for interesting changes that offer you liberation. This is a rare blessing. Please be sufficiently loose and alert and brave to take advantage.

TAURUS (APRIL 20-MAY 20): Taurus

philosopher Ludwig Wittgenstein was called a genius by Nobel Prize-winning author Bertrand Russell. His "Philosophical Investigations" was once voted the 20th century's most important philosophy book. Yet one of Wittgenstein's famous quotes was, "How hard it is to see what is right in front of my eyes!" Luckily for all of us, I suspect that won't be problem for you in the coming weeks, Taurus. In fact, I'm guessing you will see a whole range of things that were previously hidden, even though some of them had been right in front of your eyes. Congrats! Everyone whose life you touch will benefit because of this breakthrough.

GEMINI (MAY 21-JUNE 20): Why don't

rivers flow straight? Well, sometimes they do, but only for a relatively short stretch. According to the U.S. Geological Survey, no river moves in a linear trajectory for a distance of more than 10 times its width. There are numerous reasons why this is so, including the friction caused by banks and the fact that river water streams faster at the center. The place where a river changes direction is called a "meander." I'd like to borrow this phenomenon to serve as a metaphor for your life in the coming weeks. I suspect your regular flow is due for a course change—a meander. Any intuitive ideas about which way to go? In which direction will the scenery be best?

CANCER (JUNE 21-JULY 22): Can-

cerian poet Denis Johnson eventually became a celebrated writer who won

By Rob Brezsny

numerous prizes, including the prestigious National Book Award. But life was rough when he was in his twenties. Because of his addictions to drugs and alcohol, he neglected his writing. Later, in one of his mature poems, he expressed appreciation to people who supported him earlier on. "You saw me when I was invisible," he wrote, "you spoke to me when I was deaf, you thanked me when I was a secret." Are there helpers like that in your own story? Now would be a perfect time to honor them and repay the favors.

LEO (JULY 23-AUG. 22): What do you

believe in, exactly, Leo? The coming weeks will be a fine time to take an inventory of your beliefs—and then divest yourself of any that no longer serve you, no longer excite you, and no longer fit your changing understanding of how life works. For extra credit, I invite you to dream up some fun new beliefs that lighten your heart and stimulate your playfulness. For example, you could borrow poet Charles Wright's approach—"I believe what the thunder and lightning have to say." Or you could try my idea—"I believe in wonders and marvels that inspire me to fulfill my most interesting dreams."

VIRGO (AUG. 23-SEPT. 22): Virgo poet Charles Wright testifies, "I write poems to untie myself, to do penance and disappear through the upper right-hand corner of things, to say grace." What about you, Virgo? What do you do in order to untie yourself and do penance and invoke grace? The coming weeks will be an excellent time for you to use all the tricks at your disposal to accomplish such useful transformations. And if you currently have a low supply of the necessary tricks, make it your healthy obsession to get more. LIBRA (SEPT. 23-OCT. 22): Kublai Khan,

ruler of the Mongol Empire and China in the second half of the 13th century, kept a retinue of 5,000 astrologers on retainer. Some were stationed on the roof of his palace, tasked with using sorcery to banish approaching storm clouds. If you asked me to perform a similar assignment, I would not do so. We

need storms! They bring refreshing rain and keep the earth in electrical balance. Lightning from storms creates ozone, a vital part of our atmosphere, and it converts nitrogen in the air into nitrogen in the ground, making the soil more fertile. Metaphorical storms often generate a host of necessary and welcome transformations, as well—as I suspect they will for you during the coming weeks.

SCORPIO (OCT. 23-NOV. 21): "Unex-

pressed emotions will never die," declared trailblazing psychologist Sigmund Freud. "They are buried alive and they will come forth, later, in uglier ways." I agree, which is why I advise you not to bury your emotions— especially now, when they urgently need to be aired. OK? Please don't allow a scenario in which they will emerge later in ugly ways. Instead, find the courage to express them soon—in the most loving ways possible, hopefully, and with respect for people who may not be entirely receptive to them. Communicate with compassionate clarity.

SAGITTARIUS (NOV. 22-DEC. 21):

Sagittarian author Cristin O'Keefe Aptowicz wrote a poem entitled "Not Doing Something Wrong Isn't the Same as Doing Something Right." I propose that we make that thought one of your guiding themes during the next two weeks. If you choose to accept the assignment, you will make a list of three possible actions that fit the description "not doing something wrong," and three actions that consist of "doing something right." Then you will avoid doing the three wrong things named in the first list and give your generous energy to carrying out the three right things in the second list.

CAPRICORN (DEC. 22-JAN. 19):

In the past few weeks, I hope you've been treating yourself like a royal child. I hope you've been showering yourself with extra special nurturing and therapeutic treatments. I hope you've been telling yourself out loud how soulful and intelligent and resilient you are, and I hope you've delighted yourself by engaging with a series of educational inspirations. If for some inexplicable reason you have not been attending to these important

matters with luxurious intensity, please make up for lost time in the coming days. Your success during the rest of 2021 depends on your devout devotion to self-care right now.

AQUARIUS (JAN. 20-FEB. 18): Sometimes when a disheartening kind of darkness encroaches, we're right to be afraid. In fact, it's often wise to be afraid, because doing so may motivate us to ward off or transmute the darkness. But on other occasions, the disheartening darkness that seems to be encroaching isn't real, or else is actually less threatening than we imagine. Novelist John Steinbeck described the latter when he wrote, "I know beyond all doubt that the dark things crowding in on me either did not exist or were not dangerous to me, and still I was afraid." My suspicion is that this is the nature of the darkness you're currently worried about. Can you therefore find a way to banish or at least diminish your fear? PISCES (FEB. 19-MARCH 20): "Some

people, if they didn't make it hard for themselves, might fall asleep," wrote novelist Saul Bellow. In other words, some of us act as if it's entertaining, even exciting, to attract difficulties and cause problems for ourselves. If that describes you even a tiny bit, Pisces, I urge you to tone down that bad habit in the coming weeks—maybe even see if you can at least partially eliminate it. The cosmic rhythms will be on your side whenever you take measures to drown out the little voices in your head that try to undermine and sabotage you. At least for now, say "NO!" to making it hard for yourself. Say "YES!" to making it graceful for yourself. THIS WEEK'S HOMEWORK: Tell me about your most interesting problem—the one that teaches you the most.

freewillastrology.com

freewillastrology@freewillastrology.com Rob Brezsny © Copyright 2021

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

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news of the weird GOVERNMENT IN ACTION Most citizens of Brussels, Belgium, have never seen the Palace of Justice, the largest courthouse in the world, without construction scaffolding surrounding it, as renovations on the facade of the iconic building have been mired in red tape and bureaucratic incompetence for most of 40 years, according to The Bulletin. In mid-March, construction crews finally started work, but not on the building; they arrived to shore up the scaffolding, which has grown outdated and dangerous over so much time. Officials assert this will allow outside renovations to finally commence and predict the scaffolding will come down by 2030. Belgians, however, are skeptical. ALL IN THE FAMILY At a wedding in Suzhou, Jiangsu Province in China on March 31, the groom's mother noticed a birthmark on the bride's hand that was similar to one belonging to her long-lost daughter. When asked, the bride's parents admitted they had found her as a baby by the side of the road and taken her to live with them as their own—a secret they had never told. The Daily Star reported that upon hearing of the connection, the bride burst into tears, saying the moment was "happier than the wedding day itself." Bonus: The groom was also adopted, so their marriage could proceed as planned. JOB OF A RESEARCHER Scientists studying ticks at A.T. Still University in Kirksville, Missouri, have enlisted the help of the Missouri Department of Conservation in asking the public to refrain from killing any ticks they pick off themselves and mail them to the university instead. Conservation department spokesman Francis Skalicky told KY3-TV that, while 14 species of ticks live in Missouri, "we're trying to find out ... the prevalence of species and more information on the diseases they are carrying." He asks people to put ticks in a zip-close bag with a damp paper towel before sending them in for study. CAUSING A STINK Police in Phoenix are searching for whoever dumped hundreds of carp and gizzard shad along a road on the north side of the city on April 4, KPHOTV reported. Arizona Game and Fish said the estimated 1,000 pounds of fish were dumped along with trash left over from a spearfishing tournament at nearby Lake Pleasant. "It's pretty gross," said motorist Karen Rowe. "I mean fish in the middle of the desert, so it's quite shocking." Authorities said those responsible could be charged with criminal littering. SWEET REVENGE Concord, North Carolina, police say they have not determined a motive for an April 2 incident in which Lacy Cordell Gentry, 32, allegedly drove his car through the front doors of the Walmart he

By the Editors at Andrews McMeel

had recently been fired from, destroying displays but avoiding injuring any shoppers. "If you take a car through a Walmart, there's going to be a lot of damage," one officer told local media. The New York Daily News reported that Gentry was taken into custody and faces multiple charges. DISTURBING THE PEACE Neighbors around a new luxury condo tower in Brooklyn, New York, are up in arms, and up at night, because of the persistent, shrill whistle they say is coming from the building, reported NBC New York. The city has been inundated with complaints. "It almost sounds like the subway screeching, but it's constant, and it usually happens late at night," Chris Valentini said of the noise. A representative of the developer told neighbors the sound originates from wind whipping around the new metal balconies. "This is not uncommon in new buildings," he said, "and we will resolve it." THE PASSING PARADE Authorities in Sri Lanka arrested Caroline Jurie, the reigning Mrs. World, after she snatched the crown from the head of Pushpika De Silva as she was crowned Mrs. Sri Lanka on national television on April 4, allegedly injuring her. Jurie, the 2019 Mrs. Sri Lanka, claimed De Silva was a divorced woman, which made her ineligible to win the pageant, but organizers confirmed De Silva is only separated, and she has been re-crowned. The new queen reported on Facebook that she went to the hospital to be treated for head injuries after the incident, and police spokesman Ajith Rohana told the BBC Jurie was charged with "simple hurt and criminal cause." Pageant director Chandimal Jayasinghe said, "It was a disgrace how Caroline Jurie behaved on the stage." LOST AND FOUND Cybill Moore of Weatherford, Texas, was puzzled by the large basket of men's dirty laundry left on her front porch, along with a bag of laundry soap and dryer sheets, on March 26. Assuming there'd been a mix-up, she left it on the porch for a day and posted on social media sites to find the owner, with no luck, she told the Weatherford Democrat, so she finally just washed, dried and folded the clothes. That's when a strange man showed up at the door saying he meant to drop the laundry four houses down, where he pays a woman to clean his clothes. Moore said he was shocked that she had laundered the items for him, and now, "A lot of people have joked about dropping off their clothes for me, since I'm doing 'community laundry.'" {in}

From Andrews McMeel Syndication News Of The Weird © 2021 Andrews McMeel

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