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Independent News | April 28, 2022 | Volume 23 | Number 17

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winners & losers

outtakes

news 6, 8

It's the milkshake that brings all the people to my yard.

feature story

buzz 10

publisher Rick Outzen

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

editor & creative director Joani Delezen

calendar 16

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.

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FRIENDS OF THE NAVY-MARINE CORPS RELIEF SOCIETY The 501(c)(3) organization fa-

DISNEY Gov. Ron DeSantis decided to punish

cilitated by Pen Air Federal Credit Union presented a check in the amount of $50,000 to the NavyMarine Corps Relief Society of Pensacola. Funds were raised during the 22nd Annual Friends of the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society Charity Golf Tournament. To date, the local community has helped raise more than $550,000 to further the mission of the relief society at Naval Air Station Pensacola. For 21 years, the credit union has hosted an annual charity golf tournament to raise funds on behalf of the society, which cannot solicit its own funding.

WARREN AVERETT CPAS AND ADVISORS Accounting Today's lists named the firm

a Top 100 Firm, a Top Tax Firm and a Regional Leader. These lists are ranked by revenue and showcase accounting firms that have seen growth and innovation during 2022 while also dealing with different issues and challenges as they navigated the ongoing staffing crunch in the accounting profession. To determine the lists, Accounting Today surveyed approximately 300 tax and accounting firms from all over the country and used those results to provide meaningful insights into the landscape of the accounting profession. Warren Averett was ranked No. 41 on the Top 100 Firms list. The firm placed at No. 3 as a Regional Leader in the Gulf Coast, which covers the states of Alabama, Florida, Louisiana and Mississippi.

BEULAH MIDDLE, TATE HIGH FFA Florida FFA selected the FFA chapters of these Escambia County schools as "Florida's Finest." The chapters excelled in growing leaders, building communities, and strengthening agriculture and have worked diligently to fulfill the mission and vision of the FFA. Beulah Middle and Tate High are two of only 30 FFA organizations statewide to be selected for this prestigious recognition. Additionally, Beulah Middle won first place in the state of Florida for Aquaculture, beating all high schools and middle schools in that competition in Tampa.

the area's most significant economic generator for opposing his "Don"t Say Gay" law. He got the Florida Legislature to abolish the Reedy Creek Improvement District that helped make Disney World possible. A 2019 study by Oxford Economics found that Disney has a $75.2 billion annual economic impact on Florida. Since Disney World opened, Orange and Osceola counties have grown from 370,000 people to 1.8 million. The Tallahassee Democrat reported on the park's 50th anniversary that Disney World generated $409 million in sales tax revenue in 2018 alone. We remember when Republicans were pro-business.

MOBILE RIVER America's Rivers annually publishes a list of what it considers the most endangered rivers. Formed by the Tombigbee and Alabama rivers, the Mobile River is No. 3 on the list. The river is threatened by a leaking coal ash pond at Alabama Power's Plant Barry, which contains more than 21 million tons of toxic coal ash. Pollution from the coal ash pit threatens the health and well-being of Mobile Bay, the historic African American community of Africatown, the City of Mobile and the Port of Mobile. DON'T THINK GAY The Orlando Sentinel reports that the Florida Department of Education has dropped out of the Youth Risk Behavior Survey, the confidential questionnaire from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that has been conducted statewide in public high schools every other year for the past 31 years. The survey covers diet, exercise, smoking, self-image, bullying and drug use, as well as mental well-being, suicidal thoughts, sexual orientation and gender identity. Florida KIDS COUNT director Norín Dollard told the Orlando Sentinel that the survey has been "a longstanding, trusted source of data that lawmakers, advocates, state agencies and nonprofits have relied upon over the years to identify trends in potentially harmful behavior among Florida's youth." FDOH would not comment on why the state won't allow students to take the survey.

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outtakes

By Rick Outzen

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NO MORE POLITICIANS When asked to defend the decision to reject 71% of math textbooks for kindergarten-fifth-grade students, Gov. Ron DeSantis criticized the textbook publishers and the "education establishment" for being increasingly politicized. The irony is that the education commissioner who rejected the textbooks is a politician, former House Speaker Richard Corcoran. His replacement will be a state senator, Manny Diaz Jr. If he wanted to take politics, shouldn't the governor avoid giving politicians the reins to public education? Unfortunately, DeSantis has done the opposite. Corcoran has no background in education. Most of his adult life has been in politics—running others' campaigns, legislative aide, chief of staff, outside counsel to lawmakers before winning his House seat. He replaced Pam Stewart, who began her career as an elementary school teacher in 1975. She advanced to guidance counselor, district teaching specialist, assistant principal and principal. She served as deputy superintendent for the St. Johns County School District. At the Department of Education, Stewart served as deputy chancellor for educator quality under Gov. Charlie Crist and education commissioner under Gov. Rick Scott. However, DeSantis likes politicians running Florida's public education system. They follow orders. When Corcoran steps down at the end of April, Diaz will be ready to fill the spot with the same political fervor as his predecessor. Why pick Diaz? In the press release, the governor explained, "Manny Diaz has done a great job in the Legislature on education issues ranging from teacher pay to parental rights and choice." In other words, DeSantis expects Diaz to carry out his political agenda. To his credit, the senator has some background in public education. He worked as a teacher and coach at Miami Springs High School and a social studies teacher and later assistant principal at Hialeah-Miami Lakes High School and George T. Baker Aviation School. But since winning election to Florida House in 2012, he has been employed by Academia, the largest forprofit charter management company in Florida. Academia supports over 200 educational institutions, including charter schools, international digital learning communities and a junior April 28, 2022

college. The for-profit management runs 59 schools in Miami-Dade County alone. Diaz is the vice president for Financial Affairs at Doral College, a private junior college that offers courses to Academica's high school students. Doral College is not accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS). All of Florida's public universities and colleges, including Pensacola State College and the University of West Florida, are accredited by SACS. Doral College is licensed by the Florida Commission for Independent Education (CIE) and accredited by the Distance Education Accrediting Commission (DEAC). In Escambia County, Fortis Institute is the only school licensed by CIE. DEAC accredits postsecondary institutions that offer programs primarily by the distance education method. Florida has only three other degree-granting DEAC members—Chi University, Genesis University and Sarasota University. I think you get the picture. Being the Financial Affairs vice-president of Doral College is hardly the qualification to run the state's public education system. However, being a state lawmaker is what mattered to Academica. Diaz isn't the first lawmaker on the college's payroll. Former State Senator Anitere Flores was Doral's first president from 2011-2015. She is currently the director of development for The A.C.E. Foundation, a nonprofit that supports charter schools. Public education is competition for Diaz and his employers. As our education commissioner, who will he take care of? Hint—not public schools. Adding even more politics to the decision, Commissioner Corcoran's decision left Florida school districts with only one approved publisher for math textbooks for K-5 classrooms—Accelerate Learning, which is based in Houston, Texas, and owned by The Carlyle Group. Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin, a Republican, was the co-CEO of the firm until he resigned in 2020 to run for office. Ron, the first step to removing politics from public education is to appoint a seasoned educator to run the fourth-largest system in the country. Step two—avoid buying books from your political allies. It's not rocket science. {in} rick@inweekly.net

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AMERICAN MAGIC RETURNS "The guy who owns the boat, he's spending $110 million to race this boat, but he's trying to get us to help cover some of the expenses down here, so we said we would," local businessman Collier Merrill explained to Escambia's commissioners. "We just kind of gave him a handshake and said we'd do the best we could." Merrill and Pace have teamed up in pursuit of offset funding for the American Magic effort. The search for funds will be deep and lengthy, with the process of what Merrill refers to as "eating the elephant" having just begun. Prior to pitching county commissioners, the pair were able to get a letter of support and a tentative commitment for $500,000 from the Escambia County Tourism Development Council. They're hoping to get funds from various sources including not only Escambia County and the city of Pensacola, but also potentially RESTORE funding generated via environmental fines stemming from the 2010 oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. "By the way, sailing is the richest sport in the U.S.—in the world, I should say—I used to think billfishing was, sailing knocked that out," Merrill noted. Photo Courtesy of American Magic

By Jeremy Morrison The winds of fortune may be blowing Pensacola's way. But such winds are never certain or are they cheap. The American Magic sailing team will be returning to Pensacola later this year and plans to train on Pensacola Bay as it prepares for the 2024 America's Cup in Barcelona, Spain. With the team's return comes dreams that stretch beyond the race's treasured trophy—local leaders hope the area's association with the country's premier sailing team can be parlayed into developing Pensacola into a sailing capital of sorts. They dream of a partnership aimed at fostering healthy community sailing and training programs, perhaps a manufacturing facility, as well as the potential to possibly host the world's oldest international sporting competition. "I think this is a great opportunity for our area," said Escambia County Commissioner Robert Bender recently. "We go to some of these CivicCon events, and you hear about, you know, ‘be known for something,' and so I want to look at what our future opportunity is. I mean, we really could be known as sailingtraining capital of the United States based on what's been given to us—this 18.5-mile-wide bay that doesn't have obstacles, it doesn't have reefs. It's somewhat underutilized. So, I mean, this is a real opportunity and something that can be real."

AMERICA'S BRIGHTEST HOPE

The America's Cup has its roots not in America but rather in England. As Tom Pace Jr., commodore of the Pensacola Yacht Club, 66

recounted recently to Escambia County commissioners, in 1851, a group from New York sailed the schooner America across the Atlantic Ocean and competed against a fleet of British yachts in the Hundred Guineas Cup, a race around the Isle of Wright. "Upon seeing the American's destruction of their fleet, the Queen was reported to have asked, ‘What is the prize for second?' And the adage is, ‘Mum, there is no second place.' And that is the lore of the American's Cup. There is no prize money; there's no ancillary; there's only the honor and achievement of going after the hardest trophy in sport to secure," Pace said. That first race was a big upset and represented a shift from Great Britain to the United States—from old world to new—when it came to maritime dominance. Following their win, the American team donated the trophy to the New York Yacht Club under a Deed of Gift which stipulated that the prize should be "a perpetual challenge cup for friendly competition between nations." For the next 132 years, the U.S. successfully defended challenges for the cup. Then, in 1983, a team from Australia finally beat the Americans. Since that time, New Zealand and Switzerland have also seen victories. America, meanwhile, has seen its victories become fewer and farther between since the 1980s, with the most recent U.S. victory being in 2013. Pace describes the American Magic team as this country's "brightest hope" to take back the America's Cup. The team trained in Pensacola in 2019 and 2020 in preparation for the 2021 America's Cup in New Zealand. During a semifinal qualifying race for the cup, the team's

vessel was damaged after capsizing while making a high-speed turn and nearly sunk. Though the team attempted to repair the damaged boat, they lost the next race and were eliminated from the competition. With its sights set on the 2024 race, the American Magic team has decided to return to Pensacola. It likes the reef-free, deep-water conditions afforded by Pensacola Bay. "Returning to Pensacola was an easy decision for us," said Terry Hutchinson, skipper and president of sailing operations for American Magic, describing the bay as "an ideal training venue for foiling monohulls." Currently, the American Magic team is transporting its boat from New Zealand to the U.S. The team will arrive in Pensacola in September. The team's base, located at the Port of Pensacola, will be expanded upon during the summer in preparation for their return and winter training. In total, the American Magic team will be relocating nearly 60 people, along with their families, to the area, in addition to temporary members spending shorter stretches. "We are so incredibly excited that American Magic is returning to the city of Pensacola," Pensacola Mayor Grover Robinson said. "I know I speak for many of our residents when I say I look forward to seeing the American Magic team out on beautiful Pensacola Bay."

EATING THE ELEPHANT

Shipping the American Magic from New Zealand is going to run more than a million dollars. And racing in the world's oldest sailing competition ain't cheap either. But don't worry, the hat's being passed around in hopes of securing some collective community kick-in.

"I know it's early on, but again, this is the first step in something that could be much bigger." Robert Bender In exchange for any funding put toward American Magic, Merrill and Pace have said that the team's presence and partnership will allow the area to be nurtured into a potential sailing pipeline, complete with not only regular regattas on the bay but also ongoing programs designed to encourage participation in the sport as well as train participants to elite levels with an aim at filling the country's ranks of sailors with international competition ambitions and skills. "I know it's early on, but again, this is the first step in something that could be much bigger," said Commissioner Bender. Yes, much bigger. If American Magic were to be victorious in one of its America's Cup attempts, the team would be in the position to select the site of the next race. Pensacola Bay is an option. This, of course, would be a huge logistical lift. Accommodating something on the scale of the America's Cup would require an infrastructure commitment beyond the area's deep-water bay. "So if they win in Barcelona, then potentially, we could get the America's Cup here in Pensacola, Escambia County?" Escambia County Commission Chairman Jeff Bergosh pondered, considering the implied commitments, such as an adequate number of hotel rooms to accommodate the event. "That'd be a challenge." "It will be a challenge," Pace acknowledged. "However, it's an enormous prize." {in} inweekly.net

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BIODIVERSITY MAP HIGHLIGHTS ESCAMBIA RIVER

Image Courtesy of NatureServe

By Jeremy Morrison Across the map, a glowing spectrum of colors lights up the lower 48. Some areas of the United States, such as Southern California and the Southeast, are brighter than others. The Gulf Coast and Florida Panhandle in particular tend to draw the eye. "It is very bright," acknowledged Regan Smyth. Smyth works with the nonprofit organization NatureServe, which compiled this new series of maps that reflect the ranges of biodiversity across the country and identifies areas where that biodiversity is most at risk. The maps, published recently in the journal "Ecological Applications," provide information on how ecological challenges can be most efficiently approached. They include a wider range of species outside the regular cast of vertebrates, such as butterflies, bees, fish and plants. "The Gulf Coast area of Florida has been recognized for a while now as a biodiversity hotspot," Smyth said. Jon Oetting of Florida's natural heritage program pointed out how the mapping project reveals and emphasizes our area's biodiversity in comparison to everywhere else in the country. He told Inweekly, "It puts everything on the same playing field across the country. Now, there's a straightforward way for us to say how a place in Florida compares to the rest of the country in terms of its variety and biodiversity." 88

As it turns out, Northwest Florida is among the most vibrant biodiversity hotspots. Noting the region's glow on the map, Oetting said, "Yes, I think it's very fair to represent the Escambia River as a high-value area for biodiversity in the state of Florida and really nationally if you look at those colors." Biodiversity maps have been done before, both in this country and abroad. Smyth, NatureServe's vice president of data and methods, explained, "The map starts from that 50 years of field data by the people who kind of know their state best." But these new maps incorporate other data, such as the range of suitable habitat for a given species, and employ computer modeling in an attempt to provide a more comprehensive assessment of the country's biodiversity. "There's been this explosion in kind of computational power," Smyth said. "So instead of just knowing where somebody has gone out and seen this rare salamander, we're able to use computer modeling techniques and analyze that data to create a more full and precise picture of where things are likely to be." The project ultimately built habitat models for more than 2,000 of the nation's most imperiled species. Importantly, these species include many typically left off such biodiversity maps. Smyth said, "If you care about biodiversity in general, you know, it's easy to care about saving elephants and saving pandas, and that's important, but that's not what sustains us, right? We depend on freshwater. We depend on things

to pollinate crops. We depend on, in a world with climate change, having an ecosystem with a full genetic diversity where they can evolve over time as the planet changes." He continued, "By including not just the furry, cute things that often get a lot of attention, we're really looking at that full diversity of life that sustains human life on the planet and has intrinsic value in and of itself." These sometimes-overlooked species are particularly relevant when it comes to biodiversity in Northwest Florida. The region—diverse in habitat and rich in rivers—is brimming with such biodiversity. "There's a large number of rare crayfish species and also mussels that are found in those Panhandle rivers that are pretty rare and significant. Some of those are listed species," said Oetting, chief of conservation planning services with the Florida Natural Areas Inventory at Florida State University. "Those often come out as highlights when you look at the Apalachicola or Escambia rivers, for example." Tim Day, Escambia County's senior natural resources manager, has been aware of Northwest Florida's status as a biodiversity mecca for the entirety of his professional life. "We have the highest concentration of species of frogs and snakes in North America," Day pointed out. "I think we're maybe third worldwide in terms of how many species of turtles are here. And then we're real high on the list just in terms of biodiversity of birds and clams."

Of particular interest in the Escambia River, as noted on NatureServe's hotspot map, are several species of freshwater mussels. Eight species living within the Escambia, Yellow, Choctawhatchee and Mobile watersheds—with names like "fuzzy pigtoe" and "round ebonyshell"—have federal protections under the Endangered Species Act in 2012. Freshwater mussels, which can live for centuries, are important to the environment because they act as natural filters in the waters. According to the Center for Biological Diversity, more species of freshwater mussels are found in the Southeast than anywhere else in the world, though 75% of the region's mussels face the risk of extinction. "You really need to think of them as kind of like the canary in the coal mine," Day said, explaining that water quality issues due to sedimentation or agricultural runoff can stress the natural habitat of such species. "… If our water shifts too far one way or another compared to kind of how they developed, if they disappear, meaning water conditions or the bottoms of the rivers or creeks have changed enough that it's no longer what we would have normally called natural." Along the Escambia River, efforts have been made to educate landowners in the watershed about best management practices for using fertilizer for agricultural purposes. Large tracts of riverfront property have been bought up for conservation purposes. "Almost the entire river course in Florida is in conservation land," said Oetting. "That's a real success story that we can paint in Florida is that they have recognized over the decades the value of these river systems, both for biodiversity and for water resources in general, and flood control and all of that, so they've taken action to conserve those areas." Of course, as Day pointed out, protecting this area's rich diversity such as the mussels in the Escambia usually requires a joint effort. The Escambia River, for instance, is but a trickle in Florida, whereas it begins in Alabama, where the waterways are managed by those respective agencies. "Alabama actually holds 90 % of the watershed. So, as it crosses the line into Escambia County, we only get the last 10% of the drainage basin," Day said. "It's one of those things— you know, what is Escambia doing? We do quite a bit. I would never say there's never room for us to continually look for ways to improve as we get more data on what contributing sources might be, but it's hard being the bottom 10% instead of the top 90 in terms of prevention." {in} In 2021, the Pensacola & Perdido Bay Estuary Program (PPBEP) funded a documentary film project produced by the Blackwater Soil and Water Conservation District highlighting efforts to mitigate agricultural impacts to the Escambia River. PPBEP plans to host a screening of the documentary in late May at the Imogene Theatre in Milton. inweekly.net

Find your voice. 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

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April 28, 2022

and Quint Studer, has an EDATE that will expire in 2028. The other active EDATE is for Ascend Performance Materials, which created 107 jobs with an $88.6 million investment. It expires this year. These EDATEs will remain active without a referendum, but the county loses the power to create new ones without voter approval.

AFCEA RETURNS

Visit Pensacola Hospitality Olympics / Photo Courtesy of Visit Pensacola

THE FUTURE OF TRAVEL National Travel

and Tourism Week is May 1-7. Visit Pensacola will celebrate the contributions of the U.S. travel industry and the critical role it plays in driving economic growth with a week of activities that highlight industry workers and businesses that have gone above and beyond in the industry and the Pensacola Bay area community. "The theme is the future of travel," Visit Pensacola's Nicole Stacey told Inweekly. "We really want to hone in on what's the future of Pensacola?" Activities have been planned for Monday, May 2-Friday, May 7. On Monday, corporate teams will compete in the Hospitality Olympics at Pensacola Blue Wahoos Stadium from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. On Tuesday, Visit Pensacola will host its ReVisit Pensacola Summit at the Holiday Inn Resort Pensacola Beach from 9-11 a.m. Stacey said, "We're going to have a panel discussion with our hoteliers, downtown and the airport. Darren Schaffer, our CEO, is going to talk about strategic planning. We're going to have someone from Visit Florida there." She continued, "We're really going to talk about how have we been doing and what does the future look like with that?" The annual Hospitality Hero awards will be announced at Visit Pensacola's annual luncheon on Wednesday. Hospitality Hero awards are dedicated to team members that go above and beyond to create a great experience and welcome guests in the community. Stacey explained, "We will cover the categories like attractions, lodging, restaurants, transportation, shopping. And with the last two years that we've had, we know that there are some incredible hospitality heroes out there." 010 1

Thursday is Tourism Gives Back Day. Visit Pensacola has partnered with Keep Pensacola Beautiful, Pensacola and Perdido Bay Estuary Program, and Clean Horizons to host a cleanup at Jones Creek, 900 S Old Corry Field Road, from 9 -11 a.m. Volunteers will receive a t-shirt and lunch on the day of the event. Those wanting to participate need to register by Thursday, April 28. Register at tinyurl.com/mr3eann2. On Friday, the Visitor Information Centers will have open houses with treats and Insider Guides for the public. The Pensacola Visitor Information Center will open from 9 a.m.5 p.m. at 1401 E. Gregory St. The centers in Perdido Key and Pensacola Beach will also be open. To learn more about all the events, visit visitpensacola.com.

EDATE REFERENDUM Escambia County

voters will decide in November whether the county should be allowed to provide economic tax breaks for new business developments. At its April 28 board meeting, the Escambia County Commission unanimously approved placing a county-wide referendum on the ballot in November to extend the authorization for its EDATE program (economic development ad valorem tax exemptions). The county has had an EDATE program since 1992, but according to Florida law, it must be renewed by voters every 10 years. The county only has four active EDATEs. Navy Federal Credit Union has two for its new buildings on the Beulah campus in exchange for creating 5,000 jobs and investing $900 million in the site. They will expire in 2026 and 2029, respectively. Southtowne, a $52 million downtown apartment complex built by Rishy

After a break of several years, the Blue Angels chapter of AFCEA (The Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association) is back with a new focus on connecting the CyberCoast. "We provide the forum for the military, government and industry communities to get together and collaborate about technology and align strategies and help needs of those we serve in the area," said chapter president Bill Dunn. "We're a memberbased, nonprofit, international organization founded in 1946. We're about 29,000 members across the world and 138 chapters." Along with networking events, AFCEA plans to reboot the successful CyberThon youth competition of years past, as well as launch a TechNet Conference that will bring nationally respected speakers to Pensacola and connect military, government and industry for discussion around cyber. "We're planning on bringing CyberThon back in a big way in the first quarter of 2023. It's going to take a while to pull this off," said Dunn. "CyberThon generates STEM scholarships, as well, from $10,000-$15,000 a year, that we put back into the community." At its monthly luncheon on Wednesday, April 20, members heard from Capt. Terrence Shashaty, Commanding Officer of NAS Pensacola, and Jason Burt, Cybersecurity Advisor Region IV for the Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA). Capt. Shashaty broke the news about the special recognition the base has received. He said, "NAS Pensacola is the CNIC (Commander Naval Installations Command) Large Installation of the Year. I'll throw out a little kudos, not only to the staff but all the lieutenant commands—but most certainly the community, too, because when you look at the writeup, a lot of the things were partnerships or things that we've done together with the community." CISA is a relatively new agency, established in November 2018. It has four divisions—cyber-

security, infrastructure, emergency communications and the National Risk Management Center. All four divisions have one common mission, which is to lead the collaborative effort to strengthen the resilience of America's critical infrastructure. Burt covers Mississippi, Alabama and Florida and told the audience that CISA plans to add more advisors. "We were recently authorized 50 additional billets, said Burt. "They're called 'cybersecurity state coordinators' and will be positioned in the capital of every state. They're going to be mostly focused on state and local cybersecurity matters, so think election security." To learn more about AFCEA, visit pensacola.afceachapters.org.

SENTENCING DELAYED For the second time, the sentencing of Stephen Alford has been delayed. Last November, the Okaloosa County developer pled guilty to one count of wire fraud related to his attempt to illegally obtain $25 million from former Florida President Don Gaetz, father of Congressman Matt Gaetz. At his plea hearing, Alford admitted that in the spring of 2021, he engaged in a scheme to defraud the victim out of $25 million based upon Alford's false promises and guarantees to secure a Presidential Pardon for Congressman Matt Gaetz. The scheme involved a series of meetings and text message exchanges between Alford and the victim, as well as undercover recordings arranged by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. During the exchanges, Alford repeatedly promised the victim that Alford had access to President Joe Biden. On Monday, April 18, the sentencing hearing was convened, and Judge Casey Rodgers ordered to delay the sentencing until June 1. Alford faces up to 20 years imprisonment to be followed by a term of supervised release. GOOD FOR STARTUPS The personal-

finance website WalletHub has released its report on 2022's Best Small Cities to Start a Business. WalletHub compared more than 1,300 cities with fewer than 100,000 residents across 18 key metrics to rank the most business-friendly small markets. Florida had three cities in the top 10—Fort Myers, South Bradenton and Winter Park. The city of Pensacola ranked No. 66, primarily due to a very low score in Business Environment, which was 549 out of 1,334 cities. Among Florida's small cities, Pensacola ranked No. 25 and was the only Northwest Florida town to make the top 25 in the state. The two heaviest weighted items in the Business Environment category were Average Growth in Number of Small Businesses and Startups per Capita. Other items included were Industry Variety and the averages of Length of Work Week, Commute Time, Reveinweekly.net

nue per Business and Growth of Business Revenues. To read the report, visit bit.ly/3voubpr.

ETHICS IN BUSINESS AWARDS The University of West Florida College of Business honored 2022, 2021 and 2020 Ethics in Business award recipients at the 20th Combined Rotary Luncheon last week. The luncheon returned to in-person for the first time since 2019 due to COVID-19. The Ethics in Business Award recognizes individuals who exemplify the concept of "service above self" and work to build a positive sense of self-worth within both the business community and the broader community as a whole. Criteria for the award are based on adherence to the high ethical standards of honesty, integrity and consistency in dealing with employees, contractors and customers while positively enhancing the economic well-being of the firm's stakeholders and providing jobs, opportunities and profits. Each year, a "Combined Rotary of Pensacola Ethics in Business Award" is given to one individual from the small business sector (49 or fewer employees) and one individual from the large business sector (50 or more employees). The 2022 big business award winner was Dr. Ed Ranelli. Ranelli is associate vice president for external affairs at UWF, professor and Dean Emeritus of UWF's College of Business. He was among those who spearheaded the establishment of the Ethics in Business Award. "I am honored to be a Rotarian and to live by the motto 'service above self,'" Ranelli said. "It is a privilege to be selected to be among the 40-plus Ethics in Business Award recipients. These individuals have set the standard for excellence in our community." The 2022 small business co-winners were Rodney Rich and Kerry Anne Schultz. Schultz is a successful lawyer and the principal of her own practice, Schultz Law Group, P.L.L.C. She is very involved in the community, serving on several boards in Northwest Florida. "I am honored and humbled to accept this award and to join past recipients whom I have

long admired and respected," Schultz said. "An enormous salute to all of this year's nominees, each of whom serves above self and makes incredible contributions to our community. I am happy to give tirelessly to my employees, clients and community. It is an honor to serve with each of you." Rodney Rich is the owner of Rodney Rich and Co., Inc. He is passionate about historical preservation contributing to renovations in downtown Pensacola, including the Seville Square area, Temple Beth El and Saenger Theater. The 2021 and 2020 Ethics in Business Award winners—Sally Fox, Steve Moorhead, Dale Duce and Gerald Adcox—were also recognized. To learn more, visit uwf.edu/cob/community-outreach/ethics-in-business-award.

like food and fuel, the Florida Prepaid College Board urges families to lock in the future cost of college with a Florida 529 Prepaid Plan. Open Enrollment runs through April 30 and is the only annual window when families can lock in future tuition costs at today's prices. Plans start at $45 per month. As an incentive, for each year of college or university Prepaid Plan purchased this Open Enrollment, Florida Prepaid will put $125 into a Florida 529 Savings Plan, up to $500, that can be used toward additional college expenses. Florida families can choose from five prepaid tuition plans, as well as the optional prepaid dormitory plan, to find the options that best fit their budget and savings goals. For more information, visit myfloridaprepaid.com.

BROADBAND SPEED TEST In conjunction

PERIOD POVERTY The University of West

with the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO), Escambia County is enlisting the help of the public to take the Florida Broadband Speed Test to assist in further developing Florida's Broadband Availability Map. Your participation will help the state of Florida identify gaps in high-speed-internet service to advance the state's overall broadband infrastructure expansion goals. Using your internet connection, the speed test will measure the speed of internet transmission between your device and an outside server. The speed test can be completed using any device that has an internet or cellular connection and takes less than one minute to complete. After taking the speed test, you will receive immediate results from your test. Results will populate the map once you complete the speed test and will include your download, upload, latency and ping speeds. The data collected from your internet's speed test will be displayed on the Florida Broadband Availability Map in real-time. To take the Florida Broadband Speed Test, visit myescambia.com/speedtest.

OPEN ENROLLMENT As families across

the state deal with rising prices on essentials

Florida's Student Government Association is taking steps to tackle period poverty on UWF's Pensacola campus. Period poverty is the inability to access clean menstrual hygiene products. A recent study conducted by two College of Education and Professional Studies faculty members revealed its prevalence on campus. "Period poverty is not new, but there has been a growing awareness globally and some legislation enacted to address it in recent years," said Jennifer Brinkley, assistant professor of legal studies. "We began digging into this topic following a study published in the National Library of Medicine, which implored us to explore period poverty at UWF. We thoroughly researched the topic, developed an anonymous survey and encouraged students to complete it." Brinkley, along with Dr. Nicole Niebuhr, assistant professor, criminology and criminal justice professor, recently completed a study on period poverty among UWF undergraduates. Brinkley and Niebuhr sent the survey to UWF undergraduate females and received 762 usable responses. The study examined the instances of period poverty among the student body, as well as determined what life strains students were under when trying to access menstrual hygiene products.

Not only did 18.8% of the undergraduate students surveyed experience period poverty over the last 12 months, but 7.6% experienced it every month in the last 12 months. The results also indicate that 27.6% of students surveyed used other materials, like toilet paper or fabric, when they could not access menstrual hygiene products. Brinkley and Niebuhr presented these findings to SGA in March. While the products have been available for free on campus for the past few years, Steven Wiktorski, SGA student affairs vice-chair, says he believes some students may not know where to find them. "We are working on increasing the awareness and advertising the availability of these products on campus," Wiktorski said. "The products are purchased by SGA. Then we provide them to peer educators who place them in six bathrooms around campus. In addition, they are available at UWF's Argo Pantry, but I don't think a lot of students are aware of that." Wiktorski said they had great success with a menstrual hygiene product giveaway at University Commons in October. "This semester, we are restocking the supply and exploring the possibility of restocking more bathrooms," Wiktorski said. "We are also now providing environmentally sustainable menstrual products. Last month, the University Affairs Committee approved funding for 1,000 organic tampons and 1,500 organic pads." Wiktorski says the results of Brinkley and Niebuhr's study highlights the importance of focusing on this issue. Brinkley and Niebuhr have submitted an article to several law journals for consideration. "An intense stigma surrounds menstruation," said Niebuhr. "It is important that efforts are made to minimize the stigma. Through education, legislative action and advocacy, changes in law and policy can minimize stigma and protect citizens' mental and physical well-being." For more information about the University of West Florida Student Government Association, visit uwf.edu/sga. {in}

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Cooking Through the Chapters

BodaciousShops.com 407 S. Palafox St.

• BODACIOUS KIDS CAMP •

Send your future chef on a trip through the wonderful world of books! Each day of camp we will explore a new book and will cook themed meals that are featured in and inspired by the pages of that book. Over five days of camp, campers will learn the skills to be successful, safe, and creative chefs! Skills taught will include basic prep skills, knife skills and food prep techniques. Campers will be educated on healthy eating habits and will be engaged with hands-on cooking.

AGES 6-9 May 30 – June 3 & June 13 – June 17 AGES 10-12 July 11 – July 15 & July 25 – July 29 SCHEDULE 9AM – 1PM, Monday – Friday Drop-off at 8:45 AM daily Graduation ceremony at 12:15 PM on Friday Every camper gets a chef apron!

212 1

BOD0693 Bodacious Kids Camp full pg. .indd 1

inweekly.net

4/22/22 9:59 AM

FOR THE LOVE OF BOOKS AND INDEPENDENT BOOKSTORES By Sydney Robinson

Bodacious Bookstore / Courtesy Photo

Bookworms rejoice—Independent Bookstore Day is back this Saturday, April 30. Inspired by Record Store Day (which took place this past Saturday and was part one in our "Favorite Saturdays" series), Independent Bookstore Day (IBD) was established in 2014 and has been celebrated yearly ever since through the American Booksellers Association (ABA). Courtney Wallace, marketing manager at ABA, says the IBD that we know today had humble beginnings back in 2014. "It began initially as California Bookstore Day with 93 stores and has now reached over 900 stores across all 50 states as a national party," said Wallace. To support independent bookstores, the ABA and their initiative IndieBound provide curated book lists and resources to independent bookstores, including their Indie Store Finder. April 28, 2022

"The monthly 'Indie Next List' and bimonthly 'Kids' Indie Next List' are book recommendations submitted from indie booksellers that serve as additional resources and marketing for readers to discover new reads," said Wallace. Ray Daniels, CCO at ABA, says that contrary to popular belief, the value of independent bookstores and the books they sell are growing in 2022, not declining. "Despite threats and predatory pricing from monopolies like Amazon, independent bookstores are definitely going to be around and will continue to appeal to those who like customer service, knowledgeable and friendly associates, and want to keep their money in their local economy," said Daniels. To participate in IBD, independent bookstores can register through their regional Inde-

pendent Booksellers Association and receive exclusive website listings and limited-edition swag. One such regional association that services the Pensacola area is the Southern Independent Booksellers Association (SIBA), who spoke to Inweekly to promote the book-based holiday. "SIBA helps spread the word, and materials, provided by the ABA, to our member stores," said Linda-Marie Barrett, SIBA Executive Director. "We also share IBD activities on our social media and in our newsletters to both members and to bookstore customers. We recognize and want to enhance the importance of this day of celebrating independent bookstores." Though many industries have suffered over the last two years, Barrett is hopeful about the state of independent bookstores in the South. "We've seen an increase in new or non-traditional store models like pop-ups, bookmo-

biles, co-op and online-only and an increase in stores with BIPOC ownership," said Barrett. "We are very optimistic about the future of indie bookselling." "Stores that were able to meet the needs of customers during a pandemic—offering online shopping, home delivery, curbside pick-up, virtual author and book club event programming—are coming back strong," said Barrett. "Stores went above and beyond to get books out to people, and their customers saw that and appreciated it deeply. Amazon deprioritized book delivery during the pandemic. Indies prioritized it." It's this flexibility, paired with a personal touch, that will keep independent bookstores afloat. "Independent bookstores, like libraries, are often the heart of the community," said Barrett. "Independent bookstores are often heroic in their stances in support of free speech, access 13

to books, including shipping books to prisons and giving books away to community partners with readers in need." "I would say, an independent bookstore in your community is a sign of good health, like butterflies in your garden."

BOOKSHOPS HERE AT HOME

Thankfully, Pensacola is home to two very different bookstores—Bodacious Bookstore and Open Books—that have big things planned for the upcoming book-celebrating day. Pensacola's main source for used books, Open Books will be celebrating IBD with a 25% off sale on all books in store. Stocked with gently used and donated books, Open Books is a nonprofit, all-volunteer space. All proceeds from sales of their books support the Prison Book Project, which works to provide inmates in Florida prisons with educational and entertainment materials. Open Books store manager Johnny Ardis says a day like IBD is vital to bring attention to small bookstores. "We don't have that big of an advertising budget, nor are we always located on a main thor-

oughfare, so anything to bring attention to the small bookstores will help," said Ardis. Opening too late in 2019 to celebrate, and skipping the holiday for the pandemic in 2020, this is only the second year that Bodacious Bookstore has been able to celebrate IBD. To make up for lost time, store manager Melissa Smith says the bookstore has a full slate of activities for readers of all ages to celebrate. First up is a "Books and Bubbles Happy Hour" featuring "bubbles for the children and champagne for the adults to celebrate our amazing local bookstore," said Smith. During that happy hour, kids can participate in a story time with local children's authors Ryan Caver ("Litter Litter, Please Come Here"), Kim Bates ("Riley the Raccoon Counts to Ten") and Anna Whibbs Theriault ("Goodnight Pensacola"). Shoppers can also enjoy 10% off all day and will receive exclusive IBD swag like tote bags. "We're also going to be giving away advanced reader copies," said Smith. "So with a purchase of $20 or more, you can pick an advanced reader copy, which is books that aren't published yet. It's just a little perk of celebrating with us that day."

Bodacious will also welcome local authors Trish Taylor, Kevin Miller and Inweekly publisher Rick Outzen to meet with the public. Smith says bookstores like Bodacious play a vital role in making Pensacola's culture what it is today. "As Rishy Studer, our owner, believes—and that's why we're here—is that every town should have a bookstore," said Smith. "It's part of our [Bodacious] mission to improve the quality of life in Pensacola and we believe that a bookstore does that." "It's just a great day to celebrate not only that we have an independent bookstore here but to celebrate our customers and the connections that we make with people that come through our doors," said Smith. Smith notes that supporters of the bookstore can shop in stores as well as making Bodacious Bookstore their designated indie book choice on bokshop.org or Libro.fm, both of which donate a portion of all their sales to independent bookstores. "Of course, the most important thing is just to come in, and you know, we love giving book

recommendations and making those connections with our customers," said Smith. "It's really our passion, and that's something you don't get when you shop online or even at a big box store."

INDEPENDENT BOOKSTORE DAY 2022 WHEN: Saturday, April 30 DETAILS: indiebound.org/independentbookstore-day

PARTICIPATING LOCAL STORES: BODACIOUS BOOKSTORE WHERE: 110 E. Intendencia St. DETAILS: bodaciousbookstore.com

OPEN BOOKS WHERE: 1040 N. Guillemard St. DETAILS: openbookspcola.org

COMIC S FOR ALL

If you like to read but prefer comic books, our "Favorite Saturdays" series has one more special day coming next Saturday, May 7, that you'll want to check out. This year marks the 20th anniversary of the first Free Comic Book Day (FCBD). Since its inception, the event held every year on the first Saturday in May has grown to include thousands of shops around the world and has given away

millions of comic books to readers of all ages. And for nine of those years, Pensacola Pop Comics has been participating in the fun. The local comic book shop is among the roughly 2,000 comic book shops in the country providing a place for the imagination to escape and run wild. After a rough couple of years, owner Harley Orr said he doesn't have any favorites among the free offerings this year. He's just excited for the "whole kit and caboodle." "The last two Free Comic Book Days were pretty much canceled. This one should be a return to abnormality," Orr joked of the "new normal." FCBD is pretty much what it sounds like. On Saturday, May 7, all participating comic book stores will have free comics to give away (while supplies last). It's the perfect way to try out a new title or introduce young readers to the medium. There's a comic for just about everyone, with familiar titles like Spiderman, Teenage

Mutant Ninja Turtles and Archie, as well as new books such as Wandance & Blackguard, two new manga series. And you can try them out for free—just make sure not to be greedy. Need some recommendations? Just ask Orr. That's the advantage of shopping at an independent store versus online. "It depends if you want a serialized story or a complete one—a chapter a month or binge it all in a weekend. Then it depends on the genre and your tastes," said Orr. "There's so much material available that you need a comic sommelier to help winnow out the noise. That's where I can hopefully help out." Like Record Store Day (which Orr points out is actually six years younger), FCBD brings people in the doors and puts comic books in hands. Although, Local Comic Shop Day—which occurs in the fall—is more for the enthusiasts, he said. "I'd say FCBD is bigger and better—not that it's a competition," he said. "I'm usually envious of the records I see spilling in that day from Revolver. FCBD is more egalitarian. It's the milkshake that brings all the people to my yard."

By Jennifer Leigh

After nine years in the comic shop business—including two and counting during a pandemic—Orr hasn't tired of talking comics with the community. The people are his favorite part of his job, he said. "I've met a lot of great people that I wouldn't have otherwise. And they want to return to my little shop? Even better."

FREE COMIC BOOK DAY 2022 WHEN: Saturday, May 7 DETAILS: freecomicbookday.com

PARTICIPATING LOCAL STORES: PENSACOLA POP COMICS WHERE: 909 N. 12th Ave. DETAILS: pensacolapopcomics.com

TBS COMICS WHERE: 6895 N. 9th Ave. DETAILS: tbscomics.com

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inweekly.net

# BOO K TO K Sure, you've heard of TikTok, the popular social media app pilfering our spare time and destroying our attention span, but have you heard of BookTok? A sub-genre of the app, dubbed in late 2019 by the hashtag founder Kathy Ellen Davis, BookTok exploded during the early days of the pandemic as TikTok users (mostly young women) began sharing content about their favorite books in meme format. Users were lured to the bookish side of the app by the algorithm, and before long, an entire industry-changing genre of content was born. Today, a wealth of creators promote the latest releases and even revive long-dormant books, putting the publishing industry through its paces to fill demand. BookTok creators have undoubtedly contributed to a boost in book sales, with book retail giant Barnes & Noble reporting a 14% increase in book sales over the last two years, thanks in part to their embrace of the trend. Independent bookstores are capitalizing on this influence, too, with many dedicating specific aisles and tables to the latest titles trending on BookTok. BookTokers' genres range from fiction to nonfiction, but the greatest of these by far is the romance genre. Casting aside some of the past prejudice around shameless "smut," BookTokers indulge in bodice-ripping drama, enemies-tolovers tropes and even some good old-fashioned fanfiction. The online platform also appears to have had an influence on the types of books gaining popularity in the mainstream, with a surge in LGBTQ romance books being published and displayed in more places than ever before, as recently reported by the New York Times.

Want a fresh look at the written page? Check out these BookTok creators for reviews, recommendations and commentary: @pagemelt commentary, romance, queer fiction, general fiction @frances.books sapphic fiction and romance @schizophrenicreads commentary, non-fiction, fantasy @anitaslibrary romance @raereadsbook romance, fan fiction @moongirlreads_ graphic novels, fiction @bookhers YA, fiction, romance @caitsbooks YA, rom-com, fiction, romance @aymansbooks romance, YA @jemilabereadin romance, sapphic, anime, fantasy, fiction @kathyellendavis #BookTok founder, commentary, children's books @thehauntedbookshopmobile independent bookstore in Mobile, Ala. And if you're staying far away from the app but still want a peek of the magic, here are some highly recommended BookTok selections: "It Ends with Us" by Colleen Hoover "Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo" by Taylor Jenkins Reid "Shatter Me" by Tahereh Mafi "Song of Achilles" by Madeline Miller "The Cruel Prince" by Holly Black "The Love Hypothesis" by Ali Hazelwood "The Midnight Library" by Matt Haig "The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue" by V. E. Schwab "The Spanish Love Deception" by Elena Armas "Tripping Arcadia" by Kit Mayquist "You Deserve Each Other" by Sarah Hogle

LISTEN U P

Photo Courtesy of Libro.fm

If audiobooks are more your speed, you can still get in on the IBD fun courtesy of Libro.fm. And really, it only makes senses that the first audiobook company that directly supports local bookstores would celebrate IBD in their special way. Mark Pearson, CEO of Libro.fm, says that IBD is the "Super Bowl for independent bookstores," and even though they're a virtual platform, users can still find discounts and incentives all week long. In the days leading up to IBD, Libro.fm users can get discounts on membership and access to a special list of audiobooks for $4 or $5. They also have a special curated section featuring this year's IBD ambassador Angie Thomas' 10 favorite audiobooks. "What we expect this year is that it's a chance for people to really buy a lot of books, show up at their bookstore in person or online and voice their support with their wallet and buy books," said Pearson. April 28, 2022

For those who are unfamiliar with the app, here's a quick rundown of how it works: Libro.fm gives back to independent bookstores through every purchase customers make, giving 10% of membership fees to selected bookstores or 15% of every a la carte audiobook purchased. Much like Bookshop.org, Libro.fm allows customers to select the bookshop they want their purchases to benefit. And if you don't have a local shop or personal favorite in mind, they can help you find the right one. "At Libro.fm/indies, a customer can filter by all sorts of categories," said Pearson. "Women-owned, Black-owned, indigenous-owned— you can find a local bookstore that matches the criteria you are looking for anywhere in the United States from a list of more than 1,200." Pearson also noted the importance shopping local, even online, has on the publishing industry. "You are not only supporting a bookstore that's active in the community; you are changing the books that will be published by buying through one of those bookstores," explained Pearson. "With more sales, those stores will have more power to influence the types of books that get published." {in} Go to libro.fm/ibd for the complete rundown on all their specials, curated IBD shopping lists and more. 15

a&e happenings day, May 1, at Pensacola Cultural Center, 400 S. Jefferson St. Tickets are $30-$43 and can be purchased online at pensacolalittletheatre.com.

ONE OF KIND CLOTHING SWAP Head to Easy Going Gallery, 701 N. V St., from noon-3 p.m. on Saturday, April 30, for an eco-minded event and swap your unique threads.

9 TO 5: THE MUSICAL The University of West Florida Department of Theatre presents "9 to 5: The Musical," written by Patricia Resnick with music by Dolly Parton. Performances are 7:30 p.m. April 29 & 30 and 2:30 p.m. Sunday, May 1. All performances will take place in the Mainstage Theatre of the Center for Fine and Performing Arts, Bldg. 82, 11000 University Parkway. Tickets are $7-$18 and free for UWF students with their Nautilus card. For more information, visit uwf.edu/tickets.

STERLING EDWARDS WATERCOLOR WORKSHOP Sterling Edwards, a renowned

watercolor artist, will be teaching a workshop in Pensacola May 2-5 with Palette Productions Pensacola. Choose watercolor or acrylic paint and join students of all skill levels in this workshop. For more info, call Pat Page, (850) 2935414, or Diane Goeller, (850) 384-3652. Easy registration at paletteproductions.net.

INDEPENDENT BOOKSTORE DAY AT BODACIOUS BOOKSTORE Local children's auBallet Pensacola Presents: The Wizard of Oz / Photo by Edward A. McGrath Photography

—NONPROFITS & FUNDRAISERS—

ANIMAL ALLIES BINGO Animal Allies Florida

is hosting Bingo at Scenic Hills Country Club, located at 8891 Burning Tree Road, twice a month. Proceeds go to help local animals. The fun starts at 7 p.m. $10 gets you 30 cards. Winners share the pot. Food and drink will be available for purchase. You must be 18 years old to play.

GULF COAST LOVE AFFAIR In collabora-

tion with other community partners such as the Belmont-DeVilliers Neighborhood Association, Truth for Youth and Michael Allen, Change Tomorrow Today 365 (CTT365) is hosting the First Annual Gulf Coast Community Love Affair on Saturday, April 30, from 7 a.m.-9 p.m. The theme for this year's event is "Self-Sustainability: Let's Survive, Grow & Prosper." The First Annual Gulf Coast Community Love Affair is an opportunity to provide the community with the tools needed to endure the good and the bad of life while keeping focus on personal goals and coming together as a community. This will provide an improved quality of life for all citizens of the community. The First Annual Gulf Coast Community Love Affair is a free event for the public and is sponsored by a variety of organizations, including Florida Power & Light, Tobacco Free Florida and CareerSource Escarosa. More details can be found at changetomorrowtoday365.org/communityloveaffair.

PAINT YOUR HEART OUT WITH KEEP PENSACOLA BEAUTIFUL Take part in a

community beautification event restoring a 616 1

heavily utilized park and boardwalk with Keep Pensacola Beautiful, 9 a.m.-3 p.m., Saturday, May 7, at Bay Bluffs Park. RSVP using KPB Volunteer Match. Please wear work clothes and comfortable shoes. KPB will provide a painting shirt, reusable water bottles, snacks and lunch. For more information, visit keeppensacolabeautiful.org.

—GRADUATIONS—

UWF COMMENCEMENT CEREMONY The UWF Spring Commencement will take place Saturday, May 7, at Pensacola Bay Center, 201 E. Gregory St. At 9:30 a.m.—Undergraduate students only—Hal Marcus College of Science and Engineering (HMCSE), Usha Kundu, MD College of Health (UKCOH); at 1:30 p.m.—Undergraduate students only—College of Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities (CASSH), College of Business (COB), College of Education and Professional Studies (CEPS); at 5:30 p.m.—Graduate School (Masters, Specialists, Doctorates). PENSACOLA STATE COMMENCEMENT

The Pensacola State College Commencement is Sunday, May 8, at 3 p.m. at Pensacola Bay Center, 201 E. Gregory St.

—CALL TO ARTISTS—

FOO FOO FEST APPLICATIONS Applications are open for vendors to join Pensacola's Foo Foo Festival taking place Nov. 3-14. In 2022, 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 $400,000

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 submit their various events (occurring Nov. 3-14, 2022) for consideration to become a "Friend of Foo," receiving visibility as part of the regional marketing campaign and throughout the 12-day event. To apply for this year's Foo Foo Festival, visit acepensacola.org. To apply for consideration as a "Friend of Foo," visit foofoofest.com. Foo Foo Fest Application Timeline: •Friday, May 6 - Foo Foo Fest Grant Application Deadline (Noon CT) •Tuesday, May 24 - Public Grant Scoring and Official Announcements

—ARTS & CULTURE—

"PRESIDIOS OF SPANISH WEST FLORIDA" WITH DR. JUDY BENSE, UWF PRESIDENT EMERITUS On April 28, join the UWF

College of Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities for an evening with UWF President Emeritus and anthropology Professor Dr. Judy Bense as she discusses her latest book, "Presidios of Spanish West Florida," at Voices of Pensacola, 117 E. Government St. The event starts at 5:30 p.m. Copies of Bense's book will be available for purchase at the event.

BALLET PENSACOLA PRESENTS: THE WIZARD OF OZ Take a trip to the Emerald

City with Ballet Pensacola with their latest production, "The Wizard of Oz," at 7 p.m. Friday, April 29; Saturday, April 30; and 2:30 p.m. Sun-

thors Kim Bates, Oliver from Clean Horizons and Todd Fisher, alongside local adult authors Kevin Miller and Trish Taylor, will be at Bodacious Bookstore, 110 E. Intendencia St., for Independent Bookstore Day on Saturday, April 30, from 7 a.m.-7 p.m.

GALVEZ DAY The Pensacola Heritage Foun-

dation will be sponsoring Galvez Day on Friday, May 6. The event will begin at 10:30 a.m. at the Galvez Monument on the corner of Wright and Palafox streets. Dignitaries from Spain, the DAR and the SAR will be present. The street will be closed for this event, and Mayor Grover Robinson will open the ceremony.

WHAT'S SHOWING AT PENSACOLA CINEMA ART PCA is located at the Studer Communi-

ty Institute, 220 W. Garden St. "Death on the Nile" will be playing Friday, May 13, and Saturday, May 14. Tickets are $10 cash donation per person. Face masks are recommended. Reservations are not required. Visit pensacolacinemaart.com for more information and the latest showtimes.

BROADWAY BOOGIE: GROWN-UPS Join

this weekly class on the basics of boogie in a fun, easy-going, non-judgmental setting. Classes are Fridays, April 1-May 20, from 5-6 p.m., at The Gordon Art Center, 306 N. DeVilliers St. This class teaches the fundamentals of musical theatre style dancing including jazz, tap, ballet, ballroom, fosse and more. This class is a beginnerlevel class for teens and adults, ages 16 and up. Registration is open through March 15 at myneighborhoodtheatre.com.

PENSACOLA ARTS MARKET Enjoy shop-

ping for a variety of handcrafted wares at Peninweekly.net

a&e happenings sacola Arts Saturdays from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. 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. EXPLORING NATURAL PIGMENTS AND DYES Artist Angelica Tilton will give a brief tour

of her current exhibit "Exploring Natural Pigments" in the Stairwell Gallery and will discuss her experience working with natural paints, pigments and dyes in a workshop on Friday, April 29, from 6-8 p.m. Participants will have the opportunity to experience natural pigments and paint a piece inspired by the Gulf Coast's wildlife together using some of the artist's watercolors made from natural pigments. The class is $20. Register online at pensacolamuseum.org.

TAG is open Monday-Friday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. All events are free and open to the public. For more information, visit uwf.edu/tag.

GALLERY 1050 MEMBERS SHOW The artists of First City Art Center will be showcasing their work through April 23 at the center's 1060 Gallery, located at 1060 Guillemard St. For more information, visit gallery1060.com. MONOCHROMATIC Artel Gallery's latest

juried show is "Monochromatic," where artists created a work of art in any medium using only one color. The exhibit is on view through May 6. Also on display is PanHandle Potters and works from Vivian Spencer. Artel Gallery is located at 223 S. Palafox. Visit artelgallery.org for more information.

NEW BEGINNINGS Gallery 1060's newest exhibit, "New Beginnings," opens on April 25 and runs through June 11 with a show reception to be held the evening of May 6 to coincide with First City Art Center's resumption of it's Hot Glass/ Cold Brew series. The show is free and open to the public during normal Gallery 1060 open hours. More information can be found at gallery1060.com.

planet? Visit Molino Library, 6450-A Highway 95A, to create a spinning Earth of your very own on Thursday, April 28, from 3-4 p.m.

PMA MEMBERS SHOW The PMA Members Show is on view at Pensacola Museum of Art through Sunday, May 29. View works of art from local artists. For more information, visit pensacolamusuem.org.

UPCYCLE FOR THE PETS Upcycle for a cause

INTO THE MIRROR: CARRIE ANN BAADE

SPINNING EARTH DAY CRAFT Love the

by making brand-new toys for pets and those waiting for adoption at Escambia County Animal Shelter. Bring your clean, well-worn T-shirts and jeans to use 10:30-11:30 a.m. Saturday, April 30, at Pensacola Library, 239 Spring St.

THE MAROON MARINES: ARCHAEOLOGY AT PROSPECT BLUFF A new tempo-

rary exhibit at The Destination Archaeology Resource Center, located at 207 E. Main St., features the story of the largest free black settlement in what is now the United States. This exhibit is sponsored by City of Pensacola Councilmember Teniadé Broughton. During the War of 1812, a fort was built by Black British Colonial Marines and Indigenous people along the Apalachicola River. Called "Negro Fort" by American officials, it eventually became the center of the largest free Black settlement in what is now the United States. When the war ended, the U.S. believed the fort threatened the institution of slavery and must be destroyed. To the Maroon people who lived there, however, the fort at Prospect Bluff was a beacon of freedom worth fighting for. For more information, visit fpan.us.

SYNTHESIS, A GROUP BFA EXIT EXHIBITION The Art Gallery at the University of West

Florida (TAG) and the Pensacola Museum of Art (PMA) present "SynThesis, a Group BFA Exit Exhibition." This exhibition will be on display at TAG April 28-May 15 and at the PMA April 15May 15. A reception will be at TAG on April 28 from 5-7 p.m. TAG is located in The Center for Fine and Performing Arts, Bldg. 82. April 28, 2022

2021 Members Show winner Carrie Ann Baade describes herself as steward and axman, returning to the haunting moments in art history in order to reclaim them. By using the "bone yard" of Western painting with reverence, she cuts them up into fragments resulting in collage. In their repainting, these are fierce feminist parables. Paintings made of paintings; the old masterworks are infused with the artist's own experience. The exhibit is on view through Sunday, May 29. For more information, visit pensacolamusuem.org.

MAPPING NORTHWEST FLORIDA EXHIBIT AT THE PENSACOLA MUSEUM OF HISTORY Visualized Landscapes: A Selection of

Northwest Florida Maps is now on view at Pensacola Museum of History. The exhibit explores the shifting topography of Northwest Florida through a series of maps selected from the Trust Archive. Visualized Landscapes: A Selection of Northwest Florida Maps is on view on the second floor of the Pensacola Museum of History until August. For more information about the UWF Historic Trust or to purchase tickets, visit historicpensacola.org.

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

GRAPHIC NOVELS

KIDS BOOKS

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.

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. 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

909 N. 12th Avenue

pensacolapopcomics.com FREE CONCERT SERIES TUESDAYS 7  9 PM | GULFSIDE PAVILION

2022 SM 2014

The Astronauts | May 3 80’s & 90’s

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

True Blue Band | May 10 Blues and Funk

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 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 wellbeing 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

a&e happenings 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.

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.

—FOOD + DRINKS—

BLUES NIGHT FOR GULF COAST KIDS HOUSE Join Odd Colony, 260 N. Palafox., on

Thursday, April 28, from 6-10 p.m. to support Gulf Coast Kid's House with blues music from Fred Domulot & the 4th Down Band from 7-9 p.m., raffle prizes with 100% proceeds to Gulf Coast Kid's House and MI SU Street Food from 5-9 p.m. Wear blue to win an Odd Colony gift card. Visit facebook.com/oddcolony for more information.

HANDS-ON CHARCUTERIE CLASS Enjoy a hands-on experience of preparing a charcute-

818 1

rie board with Bodacious, located at 407-D S. Palafox, Thursday, April 28, at 6 p.m. Each guest will receive their own wooden board to take home. Class is $65. Visit bodaciousshops.com for more information.

PENSACOLA CRAWFISH FESTIVAL The

Pensacola Crawfish Festival is Friday, April 29-Sunday, May 1, at 311 E. Government St. Tickets are $5 for adults, $2 for kids 6-12 and free to kids 5 and under. Visit fiestapensacola. org/crawfish-festival for more information.

LEXINGTON BREWING TAP TAKEOVER

Join Gary's Brewery & Biergarten, 208 Newman Ave., Saturday, April 30, at 4 p.m. for a Tap Takeover with Lexington Brewing Company. A rep will be on site with free swag. Bratwursts, hot dogs and charcuterie boards will be served from the brewpub kitchen until 5 p.m., followed by Dad Gum Good BBQ in the biergarten from 5-9 p.m. Visit facebook.com/ garysbrew for more information.

MAY THE 4TH BE WITH YOU AT PERFECT PLAIN Celebrate Star Wars Day at Perfect Plain Brewing Co. and Garden & Grain, at 50 E. Garden St. They'll be celebrating all day with their annual Star Wars beer release—Binary Sunset DIPA—Star Wars-themed cocktails, trivia and costume contest. Trivia is from 8-10 p.m. Visit facebook.com/perfectplainbrewingco for more information.

STAR WARS DAY AT ODD COLONY Odd

Colony is celebrating Star Wars Day with City in the Clouds IPA release, N64 Pod Racer on the projector and trivia at 7 p.m. Odd Colony is located at 260 N. Palafox. Visit facebook.com/ oddcolony for more information.

SECOND ANNUAL CINCO DE MAYO WITH TACOS MEXICANOS Join Perfect Plain for the

fore closing. For more information, visit facebook.com/thewellpensacola.

FIRST FRIDAY FINE WINES Visit The Nest 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.

Second Annual Cinco de Mayo Party with Tacos Mexicanos. The party is from 4-close with $6 Margaritas, $5 Tequila Shots, Birria Tacos and more. Live Music from Tyler Livingston and the Absolutes from 6-9 p.m. Visit facebook.com/ perfectplainbrewingco for more information.

BAYOU BUZZ COFFEE TASTING TOUR

MONTHLY WINE TASTING IN AGAPI GARDEN Visit Agapi Garden, at 555 Scenic

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.

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

WEEKNIGHT HAPPY HOUR Every week-

Highway, from 5-7 p.m., to sample five wines for $10. For more information, call (850) 813-5683.

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 cucumberinfused spritz and 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 noon-4 p.m. Other small plate offerings are available Thursday-Saturday from 4 p.m.-one hour be-

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.

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

night before 6 p.m. at The 5 Barrel, get $1 off all The 5 Barrel pints, $2 wine by the glass and half off hummus plates when you buy a pint of beer. Visit the5barrel.com for more information.

TABLETOP TUESDAYS AT THE 5 BARRELJoin 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.

inweekly.net

a&e happenings 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 Thursday Triv-

ia 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.

THURSDAY BIERGARTEN TRIVIA NIGHT Gary's Brewery Trivia Night is back by popular demand. Thursdays from 7-9 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.

PALAFOX MARKET Palafox Market is back

at its regular location in MLK Jr. Plaza. In a carefully planned, phased reopening, Palafox Market has launched with about half its regular vendors, showcasing food, farm produce and products geared toward safety and sanitation such as handmade soaps and face masks. For more information, visit facebook.com/downtownpensacola.

EVER'MARKET AT NINE MILE ROAD Visit

UPTOWN PENSACOLA MARKET Check out local vendors of art, produce and other local treasures every Saturday at 7201 N. Ninth Ave. from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. For more information, visit facebook.com/uptownmarketpensacola. TWILIGHT THREE-COURSE SPECIAL The District's Twilight Three-Course special is back Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 4:30-6 p.m. Guests enjoy three courses for $35 per person. Diners must be seated by 6 p.m. for offer to be valid. To make a reservation, call (850) 332-5224, or go to districtstreaks.com. The District is located at 123 E. Government St.

—LIVE MUSIC—

BANDS ON THE BLACKWATER Rhonda Hart and the Hartstrings will be playing Bands on the Blackwater at 7 p.m. on Friday, April 29. The concert is held at Jernigan's Landing, 5158 Willing St., in Milton. THE HIP ABDUCTION The Hip Abduction will be performing at Vinyl Music Hall, 2 S. Palafox, on Thursday, April 28. Doors open at 7 p.m. Tickets are $17. Visit vinylmusichall.com for more information. ERIC LINDELL AND THE GOLDEN TWILIGHT ORCHESTRA See Eric Lindell and the

Ever'Man at 1000 E. Nine Mile Road on the fourth Saturday of each month for the Ever'Market with food, music, giveaways, activities and more. Visit everman.org for more information.

Golden Twilight Orchestra at Vinyl Music Hall, 2 S. Palafox, on Saturday, April 30. Doors open at 7 p.m. Tickets are $20-$40. Visit vinylmusichall. com for more information.

200 SOUTH SMALL BUSINESS SATURDAY

SOUNDS TRIUMPHANT The Pensacola Symphony's 96th season comes to a close with the heroic music of triumph Saturday, April 30, at 7:30 p.m. at the Saenger Theatre, 118 S. Palafox. Composer Libby Larsen will join us from the stage to discuss her own work, "Symphony: Water Music," and the composers and pieces that have inspired her, including Respighi's "Fountains of Rome" and Sibelius' majestic Second Symphony. Visit pensacolasymphony.com for more information.

Every first Saturday of the month, the businesses at 200 South will host Small Business Saturday to show support for local businesses. Bring a receipt from a purchase from any other downtown business and receive 10% off your bill at Graffiti Pizza, World of Beer, Taco Agave and Blend Lounge.

PENSACOLA POSITIVITY'S SUNDAY MARKETS Sunday Markets on Palafox Street happen each Sunday from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. in MLK Plaza on Palafox. Local makers, growers and creators gather each under the oak trees to sell their goods to the community. Interested vendors can request an application by emailing requeaskmikellah@gmail.com. For more information, visit facebook.com/ palafoxmarkets.

SATURDAYS AT THE MARKET OUTDOOR VENDOR EVENT Located at 5300

Berryhill Road, the outdoor market features artisans and crafters alike from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. on Saturdays. Social distancing guidelines will be in effect. For more information, email saturdaysatthemarket@gmail.com.

PENSACOLA POP-UP FARMERS MARKET Check out fresh and organic produce,

milk, eggs, meat, fresh-baked bread, mushrooms, lumber, grits, cornmeal, pies and plants Saturdays from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. at East Hill Market, located at 1216 N. Ninth Ave. For a list of vendors, visit facebook.com/easthillmarket. April 28, 2022

CODY COPELAND AT GARY'S BREWERY

Cody Copeland will be performing at Gary's Brewery & Biergarten, 208 Newman Ave. 6:309:30 p.m. Saturday, April 30. Visit facebook. com/garysbrew for more information.

BATTLES Battles will be playing at Vinyl Music Hall, 2 S. Palafox on Sunday, May 1. Doors open at 7 p.m. Tickets are $20. Visit vinylmusichall. com for more information. ALL THAT REMAINS All that Remains will be

playing at Vinyl Music Hall, 2 S. Palafox, Monday, May 2. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. Tickets are $28. Visit vinylmusichall.com for more information.

JAZZ PENSACOLA JAZZ JAM The next

Jazz Jam will be at Gary's Brewery & Biergarten, 208 Newman Ave., Wednesday, May 4, at 6:30 p.m. Visit facebook.com/garysbrew for more information.

BANDS ON THE BEACH Join Santa Rosa Is-

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

land Authority for free weekly concerts every

a&e happenings Tuesday night from 7-9 p.m. at the Gulfside Pavilion on Pensacola Beach. Upcoming dates: May 3 - The Astronauts May 10 - True Blue Band

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.

JAZZ CONCERTS AT THE PENSACOLA LIBRARY Visit Pensacola Library, located at 239 N.

Spring St., for a free jazz concert from 1-3 p.m. on the first and fourth Tuesday of the month through July. The next concert is March 22. Visit jazzpensacola.com for more information.

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

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

JOE OCCHIPINTI JAZZABOUTS Catch Joe

Occhipinti and guests at Alice's Restaurant & Wine Bar, 1504 W. Intendencia St., Wednesdays from 6:30-9:30 p.m. and at Calvert's Restaurant & Bar, 670 Scenic Highway, Sundays from noon-3 p.m.

020 2

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

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.

JAZZ BY THE BOOK Join Joe Occhipinti and

the Jazzabouts at the Pensacola Library, 239 N. Spring St., every Tuesday from 1-3 p.m. for classic jazz favorites.

RAY COLEY AT CAZADORES MEXICAN RESTAURANT Ray Coley performs old-

ies 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 Sis-

ters 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 Gal-

lery 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 Sce-

nic 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 SATURDAYS AT THE WELL

Visit The Well, 42 E. Garden St., on Saturdays from 4-7 p.m. for live music. Visit facebook.com/ thewellpensacola for more information.

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 Melodious 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—

BLUE WAHOOS STADIUM TO HOST FAN KICKBALL LEAGUE Join the Blue Wahoos Stadium Kickball League, a co-ed adult league (18

years and up). The league will play on Monday evenings at the ballpark weekly from June-August. Team rosters can consist of up to 18 players, and each team will play a minimum of 11 games throughout the season. Every player will take home an exclusive league T-shirt to wear during games, and an on-field bar will serve drinks (21 years and up) each night. Official league rules are available at bluewahoos.com. The entrance fee per team is $500 ($27.75 per person on an 18-player roster) and includes a T-shirt for each player, equipment and umpires, and a full season of fun. Teams can register to play at milb.com/pensacola/events/kickball. Registration will remain open until May 11. Fans with questions may reach out to Jordan at jmorrow@bluewahoos.com or call the Blue Wahoos office at (850) 934-8444.

EMERALD NATIONALS Watch the Emerald Nationals competition Saturday, April 30, and Sunday, May 1, at Pensacola Bay Center, 201 E. Gregory St. Tickets are $28 for one day or $40 for two. Visit pensacolabaycenter.com for more information.

BEACH HIKE OFFERS LESSONS IN COASTAL ECOLOGY Join Healthy Gulf for a beach

ecology walk along the shifting sands and waters of Santa Rosa Island at Pensacola Beach at 8 a.m. on Saturday, May 7. The hike will be along both the Gulf and Sound side of the Island, exploring the changing plant communities and life along the shoreline.

inweekly.net

a&e happenings The hike is a total length of about 4 miles and will take about two hours to complete. The exact meeting location at Pensacola Beach will be provided upon registration. Space is limited in order to ensure a quality experience, so to reserve a spot or for more information, please email christian@healthygulf.org or call (850) 687-9968.

BLUE WAHOOS GAMES The Blue Wahoos

are back in season at Blue Wahoos Stadium, 351 W. Cedar St. Tickets are available at bluewahoos.com. Upcoming home games: 6:35 p.m. Tuesday, May 10 6:35 p.m. Wednesday, May 11 6:35 p.m. Thursday, May 12 6:35 p.m. Friday, May 13

WORLD T'AI CHI DAY Celebrate World T'ai Chi Day Saturday, April 30, from 10-11 a.m., at Bayview Park, 2001 E. Lloyd St. No experience necessary. All are invited to participate for a free hour of T'ai Chi and Qigong.

FREE YOGA IN THE PARK SCHEDULE RELEASED FOR 2022 Breathe Yoga and Well-

ness Center in partnership with the City of Pensacola will offer free one-hour yoga classes to citizens on the first Sunday of every month at 9:30 a.m. in Bayview Park, located at 2001 E. Lloyd St., and Community Maritime Park, located at 301 W. Main St. All ages and levels of experience are welcome. Participants must bring their own mat and other accessories they would like to use. Participants are asked to bring a bottle of water to stay hydrated, as water will not be provided. Upcoming Dates: May 1: Bayview Park

CHESS CLUB Learn how to play one of the oldest games in the world with West Florida Public Libraries. Whether you are a beginner or a master chess player, this is a chance to learn new skills, practice your moves and improve your game in a friendly environment. The library will provide all the chessboards and pieces.

Upcoming dates: 1-3:30 p.m. Saturday, April 23, at Southwest Library 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Saturday, April 30, at Genealogy Library

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 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.

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 6:309 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. April 28, 2022

PENSACOLA PEGGERS CRIBBAGE CLUB LOOKING FOR MEMBERS Pensacola 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.

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

PENSACOLA PARKRUN The Pensacola 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. 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 Mondays,

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 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.

GULF COAST BREWERY RUN Thursdays 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.

for more listings visit inweekly.net

www. radiofree pensacola .com 21

free will astrology WEEK OF APRIL 28 ARIES (MARCH 21-APRIL 19): I rec-

ommend you adopt a limitation that will enable you to claim more freedom. For example, you could de-emphasize your involvement with a lukewarm dream so as to liberate time and energy for a passionate dream. Or you could minimize your fascination with a certain negative emotion to make more room for invigorating emotions. Any other ideas? You're in a phase when increased discipline and discernment can be liberating.

TAURUS (APRIL 20-MAY 20): "Imag-

ining anything is the first step toward creating it," wrote author and activist Gloria Steinem. "Believing in a true self is what allows a true self to be born," she added. Those are excellent meditations for you to focus on right now, Taurus. The time is ripe for you to envision in detail a specific new situation or adventure you would like to manifest in the future. It's also a perfect moment to picture a truer, deeper, more robust version of your beautiful self—an expanded version of your identity that you hope to give birth to in the coming months.

GEMINI (MAY 21-JUNE 20): Gemini

author William Butler Yeats won a Nobel Prize for Literature, so I conclude he had considerable talent and wisdom. But he cultivated interests and ideas that were at variance with most other literary figures. For example, he believed fairies are real. He was a student of occult magic. Two of his books were dictated by spirits during séances. In the coming weeks, I invite you to draw inspiration from his versatile repertoire. Welcome knowledge in whatever unusual ways it might materialize. Be eager to accept power and inspiration wherever they are offered. For inspiration, here's a Yeats' quote—"I have observed dreams and visions very carefully and am certain that the imagination has some way of lighting on the truth that reason has not, and that its commandments, delivered when the body is still and the reason silent, are the most binding we can ever know."

CANCER (JUNE 21-JULY 22): You

know what's always good for your well-being? Helping people who are less fortunate and less privileged than you. To enhance your health, you can also fight bigotry, campaign against the

By Rob Brezsny

abuse of animals, and remedy damage to the natural world. If you carry out tasks like these in the coming weeks, you will boost your vigor and vitality even more than usual. You may be amazed at the power of your compassion to generate selfish benefits for yourself. Working on behalf of others will uplift and nurture you. To further motivate you, here are inspirational words from designer Santiago Bautista—"I am in love with all the gifts of the world, and especially those destined for others to enjoy."

The time is ripe for you to envision in detail a specific new situation or adventure you would like to manifest in the future. LEO (JULY 23-AUG. 22): "There is a moment in each day that Satan cannot find," wrote author and artist William Blake. Here's how I interpret his poetic words—on a regular basis, you become relatively immune from the debilitating effects of melancholy, apathy and fear. At those times, you are blessed with the freedom to be exactly who you want to be. You can satisfy your soul completely. In the next six weeks, I suspect there will be more of these interludes for you than usual. How do you plan to use your exalted respite from Satan's nagging? VIRGO (AUG. 23-SEPT. 22): Poet Louis Little Coon Oliver (1904–1991) was a member of the indigenous Mvskoke people. He declared, "I do not waste what is wild." That might mean something different for him than what it would mean for you, but it's an excellent principle for you to work with in the coming weeks. You will have more access than usual to wildness, and you might be tempted to use it casually or recklessly. I hope that instead you harness all that raw mojo with precision and grace. Amazingly, being disciplined in your use of the wildness will ensure that it enriches you to the max and generates potent transformative energy. LIBRA (SEPT. 23-OCT. 22): I suspect

you will have the skills of an acrobat in the com-

ing weeks—at least metaphorically. You will be psychically nimble. Your soul will have an exceptional ability to carry out spry maneuvers that keep you sane and sound. Even more than usual, you will have the power to adjust on the fly and adapt to shifting circumstances. People you know may marvel at your lithe flexibility. They will compliment you for your classiness under pressure. But I suspect the feats you accomplish may feel surprisingly easy and breezy!

SCORPIO (OCT. 23-NOV. 21): A Tumblr blogger named Af-70 gives copious advice. From his wide selection of wise counsel, I have selected six tips that are right for your needs in the coming weeks. Please study the following counsel. 1. "Real feelings don't change fast." 2. "Connect deeply or not at all." 3. "Build a relationship in which you and your ally can be active in each other's growth." 4. "Sometimes what you get is better than what you wanted." 5. "Enjoy the space between where you are and where you are going." 6. "Keep it real with me even if it makes us tremble and shimmer." SAGITTARIUS (NOV. 22-DEC. 21): Consider putting a sign on your door or a message on your social media that says something like the following—"I've still got some healing to do. While I'm making progress, I'm only partway there. Am open to your suggestions, practical tips and suggestions for cures I don't know about." Though the process is as yet incomplete, Sagittarius, I am proud of how diligent and resourceful you have been in seeking corrections and fixes. My only suggestions: 1. Be bold about seeking help and support. 2. Be aggressive about accessing your creativity. Expand your imagination about what might be therapeutic.

CAPRICORN (DEC. 22-JAN. 19):

"To uncover what is hidden in my soul might take me a week or two," my friend Allie told me. I told her she would be lucky if her brave and challenging exploration required such a short time. In contrast, some people I know have spent years trying to find what is buried and lost in their souls—me, for instance. There was one period of my life when I sought for over a decade to find and identify the missing treasure. According to my astrological analysis, you will soon enjoy multiple discoveries and revela-

tions that will be more like Allie's timeline than mine—relatively rapid and complete. Get ready! Be alert!

AQUARIUS (JAN. 20-FEB. 18): A Thai cook named Nattapong Kaweenuntawong has a unique method for cooking the soup served in his Bangkok restaurant. At the end of each night, he saves the broth for use the next day. He has been doing that daily for 45 years. Theoretically, there may be molecules of noodles that were originally thrown in the pot back in 1977. In accordance with current astrological omens, I urge you to dream up a new tradition that borrows from his approach. What experience could you begin soon that would benefit you for years to come? PISCES (FEB. 19-MARCH 20): Pisces-

born Casimir Pulaski (1745–1779) was a Polish nobleman and military commander. As a young man, he fought unsuccessfully to free Poland from Russian domination. Driven into exile, he fled to America, arriving during the Revolutionary War with Britain in 1777. General George Washington was impressed with Pulaski's skills, making the immigrant a brigadier general. He distinguished himself as a leader of American forces, exhibiting brilliance and bravery. For that excellence, he has been honored. But now, over two centuries later, his identity is in flux. DNA analyses of Pulaski's remains suggest he was an intersex person with both male and female qualities. (Read more at tinyurl.com/pulaskismithsonian.) I bring this to your attention, Pisces, because the coming months will be a favorable time to question and revise your understanding of your identity. May you be inspired by Pulaski's evolving distinctiveness. THIS WEEK'S HOMEWORK: Make a guess about when you will fulfill your next sweet ambition. newsletter.freewillastrology.com.

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news of the weird NO LONGER WEIRD Can we all agree that any alligator walking anywhere in Florida—on a golf course, down a street, through a parking lot, wherever—is no longer news, let alone weird news? This moseying gator, for instance, is NOT weird: In Venice, Florida, a large alligator walked through a neighborhood on Easter morning on its way to Harrington Lake, United Press International took the time to report, for whatever reason. The Sarasota County Sheriff's Office took a video—slow crime day. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission was notified, but did not respond BECAUSE THIS IS NOT NEWS. ANTI-SOCIAL MEDIA The Federal Aviation Administration has revoked Trevor Jacob's pilot's license, The New York Times reported on April 20, after concluding that Jacob purposely abandoned a plane he was flying and filmed it crashing into the Los Padres National Forest in California while he parachuted to the ground. Jacob then posted the 13-minute video on YouTube, calling it "I Crashed My Plane." The FAA said Jacob acted in a "careless or reckless manner so as to endanger the life or property of another." In the video, the propeller can be seen as it stops spinning, and Jacob opens the door and jumps out with a parachute and a selfie stick. The FAA noted, "During this flight, you opened the left side pilot door before you claimed the engine had failed." The agency also noted that Jacob did not contact air traffic control, try to restart the engine or look for a safe place to make an emergency landing. But he got 1.7 million views! REMEMBER TO BACKUP YOUR PHONE A woman in her 40s on a visit to Olympic National Forest probably won't want to go back anytime soon after a harrowing experience at the top of Mount Walker on April 19, The Olympian reported. The anonymous woman dropped her cellphone into a vault toilet (a waterless, nonflush toilet typically found at campgrounds and near hiking trails) and attempted to fish it out using her dog leash. Instead, she fell headfirst into the abyss; she tried to escape on her own but ended up calling 911 with her recovered phone. Fire crews from Brinnon, Washington, fashioned a platform she could stand on, and they pulled her out and washed her off. First responders, who said she was lucky not to have been overcome by toxic gases, encouraged her to seek medical attention because of her exposure to human waste. GOVERNMENT IN ACTION Citizens in Cornwall, England, are fuming after the St. Blaise Town Council ordered that 1,000 daffodils in the Old Roselyon Play Area be cut down because they can be poisonous if eaten and could give children diarrhea, Metro News reported. But a spokesman for the Roselyon Play Park Committee called the move "preposterous" and "totally bonkers." He went on to explain that the land was once an orchard and was home to so many of the flowers that a part of it was called Daffodil Walk. Residents took to social media to protest the directive: "When I was in primary school, every year

By the Editors at Andrews McMeel

we were given a daffodil bulb to grow ... Funny, I don't remember trying to eat them or anyone being poisoned." Another said, "Daffodils are also poisonous to dogs, (but) even my mutt has the common sense not to eat them." TAKE A DEEP BREATH Tom Jozsi, a 60-year-old maintenance worker in Kenosha, Wisconsin, was in the dentist's chair when his visit turned anything but routine, WISN-TV reported on April 18. Jozsi was getting a cavity filled when he inhaled an inch-long dental drill bit. "I didn't really even feel it going down," he said, but the bit was deep in his right lung, a CT scan showed. Pulmonary expert Dr. Abdul Alraiyes and his team at the Aurora Medical Center-Kenosha decided to try a catheter that's used for the early detection of cancer, allowing them to reach the small bit and pull it out without any harm to Jozsi's lung. Today, the bit is displayed on a shelf in Jozsi's home. FOCUS One unidentified person in Dublin, Ireland, was responsible for making 90% of all noise complaints received at Dublin Airport in 2021, United Press International reported on April 19. The person averaged 34 complaints per day, totaling 12,272 for the year. They nearly doubled their number from 2020, 6,227, and are already on track for a new record in 2022, with a daily average of 59. The company that runs the airport says it responds to each complaint and works with communities on issues such as aircraft noise. POLICE REPORT The moral of this story: Always keep an eye on that gas gauge. Police in Memphis, Tennessee, were called about an abandoned Chevy Suburban on the I-55 bridge between Tennessee and Arkansas on April 17, WREG-TV reported. The truck, left in a southbound lane of traffic, had been struck by another car, and while police were preparing to tow it away, the Chevy's owner, Catherine Mardesich, 54, returned to the scene, saying she had run out of gas. But when police started to inventory the truck, she allegedly said, "I don't want you going through my vehicle." And here's why: Inside they found 229 pounds of marijuana and $17,800 in cash. Mardesich was charged with possession. Nearest gas station? 0.9 mile. SUSPICIONS CONFIRMED When a load of "weird" items were delivered to a Los Angelesarea charity in February, a worker there thought the donor must have been "rich or famous or whatever," KABC-TV reported on April 21. But one item drew the attention of the Los Angeles Police Department: a large stuffed reindeer that had a hole on its underside. A staff member at the charity was inspecting the hole to see if it could be fixed when three bags of white powder fell out. Officers said the substance resembled cocaine, but they took Blitzen away for further investigation. {in} From Andrews McMeel Syndication News Of The Weird © 2022 Andrews McMeel

Send your weird news items to WeirdNewsTips@amuniversal.com April 28, 2022

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Independent News | April 28, 2022 | inweekly.net

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