Inweekly April 9 2020 Issue by Inweekly

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Independent News | April 9, 2020 | Volume 21 | Number 15 | Want to play? See how many times can you find "Stay Home."

U FREE â–¶

winners & losers

outtakes

news 6

Our greatest fears have come to fruition.

buzz

food 12

publisher Rick Outzen

graphic designer Tim Bednarczyk

editor & creative director Joani Delezen

contributing writers Savannah Evanoff, Jennifer Leigh, Jeremy Morrison, C.S. Satterwhite

community board 14

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. © 2018 Inweekly Media, Inc. All rights reserved.

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April 9, 2020

winners & losers

The people of Northwest Florida rise to the occasion when faced with a crisis, even when elected officials and bureaucrats might drag their feet. Inweekly wants to recognize those who have stepped up to meet the COVID-19 pandemic in another all-winners edition of this column.

GULF POWER The utility recently announced its plan to lower bills for customers amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Subject to Florida Public Service Commission approval, beginning May 1, Gulf Power plans to issue a one-time decrease of approximately 40% for the typical residential customer bill as a result of lower fuel costs. In Florida, fuel savings are typically refunded to customers over the remainder of the year to provide level, predictable bills. However, Gulf Power instead has sought to give customers the total annual savings in their May bill. Business customers will also see a significant one-time decrease in May, depending on usage and rate class. GENERAL ELECTRIC RENEWABLE ENERGY The factory in Pensacola is a major

MOTHER EARTH

manufacturer of wind turbine products. The company began using its onsite 3D printer to make plastic face shields that will extend the life of the N95 masks used by local health care workers. The factory is currently printing 24 N95 mask shields a day, which are being donated to Ascension Sacred Heart Hospital.

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COSTA ENTERPRISES MCDONALD'S

The franchisee with locations in Navarre and along the panhandle offered one free combo meal of choice per customer who presented a valid hospital ID badge or medical ID per day. The "Free Meals for Heroes" initiative was a way to say thank you to all health care workers who have put themselves at risk to work during the global pandemic. Over the course of two weeks, a total of 9,056 meals were served from the 24 Costa Family McDonald's locations.

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MALCOLM THOMAS The Escambia

County superintendent of schools last week vowed the school district would do everything possible to hold a high school graduation ceremony for the Class of 2020, even if that means waiting until July due to coronavirus. At a press conference held at the Emergency Operations Center, Thomas said, "I will tell you this, we will do something to make sure we honor our seniors who've spent their life thus far preparing for that moment where they can

walk across a stage in a cap and gown, have a picture taken and receive a diploma. We know that's important, and we are going to support that in any way we can."

SCOTT LUTH Small businesses affected

by the coronavirus pandemic in Escambia County will soon be able to apply for $2,500 grants, thanks to the efforts of FloridaWest CEO Scott Luth who solicited the help of the Greater Pensacola Chamber, UWF Small Business Development Center, City of Pensacola and Escambia County to put together the program. Last Thursday, the Escambia County Commission unanimously approved investing $100,000 in the grant program. The city is putting up $25,000. The SBDC will administer it.

AMALGAMATED TRANSIT UNION LOCAL 139 The union that represents

transit workers won a major victory last week. Beginning Monday, April 6, Escambia County Area Transit (ECAT) suspended fare collection for passengers of ECAT bus services. In addition, bus passengers will be instructed to enter and exit through the rear doors only and sit behind the accessibilityreserved seating area. Both were changes for which ATU Local 139 had lobbied county officials for weeks.

ECAT The U.S. Department of Transporta-

tion's Federal Transit Administration last week announced a total of $25 billion in federal funding allocations to help the nation's public transportation systems respond to COVID-19. Escambia County is expected to receive over $10.3 million for capital and operational expenses during COVID-19 for local transit services. This should protect transit workers from being furloughed.

RONALD BOOKER The City of Pensacola sanitation worker rescued a woman who was having a medical emergency when he saw her slumped over in a car in her driveway. The woman had come from dialysis, and her blood didn't clot properly. Booker called 911 and stayed with her until an ambulance arrived. Paramedics have said that Booker's quick actions may have saved her life. inweekly.net

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MORE TESTING, DAMMIT This week, President Donald Trump bragged that 1.79 million tests had been completed in the U.S. Over the weekend, Gov. Ron DeSantis touted that our state had tested more than 100,000 Floridians, and Florida was now the state with the secondhighest number of tested individuals. Meanwhile, Escambia County has averaged less than 190 specimen collections and about 125 test results daily for the past three weeks. Tuesday morning, the Escambia County Emergency Operations Center shared a spreadsheet of COVID-19 specimen collections at local hospitals and drive-thru sites from March 15 through April 5. The report showed only 4,112 samples had been collected over three weeks, about 1.29% of the county's population. Of these samples, we've only received the test results on 2,631 of them, a little less than two-thirds. A fraction of Escambia County is getting tested— those who have passed a screening for symptoms or are recommended by their physicians. Only those that call the hotline are screened. Tens of thousands—who either don’t show any symptoms or are afraid to go to a doctor—aren’t being screened. Adding to the problem, one hospital is carrying most of the burden of the specimen collections, according to a report from the EOC. Through April 1, Ascension Sacred Heart collected 2,628 specimens from its drive-thru facility, Baptist collected 581 at its standalone clinic and Community Health Northwest had collected 423 with Ascension Sacred Heart's help. According to the EOC report, West Florida Hospital had only collected 13 samples in outpatient settings. West Florida Hospital only accounted for 2.48% of the collections. Ascension Sacred Heart was handling a disproportionate share of the testing burden, 69.73%. Meanwhile, Ascension, Baptist and Community Health continued to look at how to expand drive-thru and standalone testing sites in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties. If all three hospitals did the same

amount of specimen collections, we would have over 7,884 test results back or in the pipeline. We could expand our testing beyond only the sickest patients in our community and get a much fuller picture of how the novel coronavirus is spreading in Escambia County. Until we broaden the list of people eligible to be tested and begin spending dollars promoting the specimen collections, we can't start discussing the resumption of social and economic activity. Diagnostic testing should be the cornerstone of our containment strategy. Instead of county commissioners agonizing over closing beaches and bingo parlors and finding ways to avoid closing nonessential businesses, our elected officials should be fighting for more testing and quicker turnaround of results. We need to take politics out of the equation. The data isn't Republican, Democrat, conservative or liberal. We shouldn't be afraid of the facts. Our doctors, nurses and health care workers on the front lines, who are collecting the specimens and caring for those with confirmed cases of or under investigation for COVID-19, are doing heroic work. We need to give them the tools to do their job. A local health care worker shared with me what it has been like fighting the virus. "The mental exhaustion is real—just thinking every second what you are touching, cleaning constantly, making sure your PPE (personal protection equipment) is properly donned and sealed and discarded," she shared. "And yes, if you should throw it away at all … will that be your last protective gear." She added, "We try to be rational; we try to offer hope. We mainly just miss good, old-fashioned spending time with our patients—touching, talking, hugging. It just all sucks." We don't need any more lofty speeches from county officials about how hard they are working or spreading empty praises among themselves. We need more testing, dammit. Make it happen. Now! {in} rick@inweekly.net

We need to take politics out of the equation. The data isn't Republican, Democrat, conservative or liberal. We shouldn't be afraid of the facts.

April 9, 2020

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THE ACADEMICS OF A PANDEMIC

By Jeremy Morrison Not too many people spend much time thinking about infectious diseases until, of course, they have to. But if you're an infectious disease specialist, your current world view looks a little different. You're watching a long-anticipated nightmare feverishly unfold upon the world. "Our greatest fears have come to fruition," said Dr. Wes Farr, a University of West Florida lecturer who specializes in infectious diseases. Infectious disease specialists have sweated out SARS, avian flu and H1N1, but this COVID-19 coronavirus is different. It's the thing they've been dreading. What they feared, explained Farr, "was that an animal virus would mutate enough that it was highly virulent and damaging in humans and also become highly infectious, so that it could spread in humans and cause a pandemic." This novel coronavirus was something for which we were unprepared. And now, as the disease sweeps the globe, all we can do is weather the storm and try to minimize the damage. With everyone now keenly interested in the various aspects of an infectious disease like COVID-19, Dr. Farr, along with his UWF colleague Dr. Ashok Srinivasan, spent some time with Inweekly discussing how a virus operates and what measures may be taken to combat its potentially ravaging effects on humans.

HAVE VIRUS, WILL TRAVEL

What exactly is an infectious disease? And what is a virus? "Infectious diseases are caused by agents, such as viruses, bacteria, fun66

gal infections and parasitic infections," explained Dr. Farr. "A virus is different from bacteria in that bacteria can grow and multiply on their own, whereas a virus needs to be inside another cell, such as a human cell, an animal cell or plant cell, and it uses the machinery of that cell to replicate and make new viral particles." There are many different kinds of viruses. Consider the varying strains of the seasonal flu, for example. Some viruses are highly contagious but not that severe. Others are pretty severe but not very contagious. COVID-19 is both. "This virus is highly infectious," Farr said, "so it's more likely to spread from one infected person to another, and it is very virulent, meaning that it has a high disease causing potential." While for some people this coronavirus may carry mild symptoms similar to the flu, other people, especially older individuals or those with underlying health conditions, could experience life-threatening symptoms and the worsening of existing issues. In addition to his duties at UWF, Farr spends one week each month tending to patients at the Charleston Area Medical Center in West Virginia, the last state in the country to register a confirmed case of COVID-19. "One of my patients last week did have pneumonia from COVID-19," Farr said, "but that was fairly stable. She was oxygenating fairly well, but after about five or six days of her illness requiring hospitalization, she developed cardiac complications."

FLATTENING THE CURVE

Viruses boast a fascinating travel network—living organisms. Replicating repeatedly, they can travel the world, and all the quicker on a plane out of Wuhan. "Wuhan is a big city," said Dr. Sriniva-

san. "It's a huge transportation hub, so lots of people fly from Wuhan to other parts of China, and not only China; they have international flights, too." Srinivasan heads UWF's Viral Infection Propagation Through Air-Travel project, which researches how infectious diseases are transferred through air travel. The concept of a worldwide pandemic is nothing new. It's just that an infectious disease can travel much faster these days. "There have been global epidemics through travel for several hundred years," Srinivasan said. "But it took a long time to travel, so it would take six months or something to go from one place to another place." And so, with a disease such as the highly contagious COVID-19, a pandemic can engulf the world quickly and efficiently. "Of course, the problem is, what do we do now?" Srinivasan said. "Because it's too late to do contact tracing and all of that; there's too many cases." The prescribed measures should be familiar to everyone by now—limiting of crowd sizes and isolation of infected individuals. "The typical approach to decrease the number of infected people would be to have quarantining, screening and similar steps," Srinivasan said. "And to decrease the crowd would be to cancel actives, right? No more sports, restaurants, travel, all that. These are the limited options you have to decrease the infection's spread." As governors move to statewide stayat-home restrictions, the question remains, will these emergency orders be enough to curb the spread of the virus? And if more restrictions or time are needed, is the United States geared for such measures? "[In the] United States, people value freedom a lot," Srinivasan said. "China did two or three months. I don't think in the United States we can do that."

"If we didn't use the mitigation techniques, such as social distancing, there would be a huge spike, a huge peak in the number of new infections and deaths." Dr. Wes Farr "If we didn't use the mitigation techniques, such as social distancing, there would be a huge spike, a huge peak in the number of new infections and deaths," Dr. Farr said. "At the top of that spike, and several weeks after the top of that spike, the capacity of the U.S. health system would be overwhelmed by the number of patients."

THE CURE ON A DISTANT HORIZON New vaccines are developed each year

to accommodate the emerging strains of influenza. When the swine flu, or H1N1, began spreading in 2009, work done the previous year on a vaccine for avian influenza allowed for quick development of a vaccine. But coronaviruses don't typically warrant the development of a vaccine. There's low risk and the correlating political will. "The reasons for that, most coronaviruses do not cause significant disease in people," Farr said. But, now there's COVID-19. "In contrast, COVID-19, the perceived risk to people is very high, and because of that, there is a political will to develop a vaccine," Farr said. "Since we're starting from scratch, it will take about 12 to 18 months." As urgent as it is to develop an effective vaccine to COVID-19, Farr cautioned that rushing the process could carry consequences. He points to 1976, when a vaccine for a strain of swine flu was rushed through and resulted in some patients becoming paralyzed. "There is a risk in a hurried production of a new vaccine," he said, "the risk being that we may not have enough time to test it for its safety."

POLITICS OF A PANDEMIC

Steering the U.S. through this coronavirus crisis is Dr. Anthony Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. "I take his recommendations very seriously," said Dr. Farr, who described Dr. Fauci as "very accomplished, very intelligent." In delivering his regular assessment and recommendations regarding this pandemic, Dr. Fauci has become a political target of sorts for the fringier reaches of the political right. He was recently assigned a security detail. The politicization of this pandemic, Farr said, doesn't surprise him. "I think down through history, many infectious diseases have been politicized," he said. "Tuberculosis has been politicized over the last 100 or 150 years. HIV also was politicized, so I'm not surprised one bit that an outbreak pandemic or epidemic like COVID-19 has been politicized." And as far as the politics of the pandemic are concerned, Farr said it's likely a no-win scenario. "If they don't enact the mitigation efforts, there will be a huge increase in the number of cases. If they do enact mitigation efforts and they're effective and the cases aren't that great, they'll be accused of overreacting," he explained. But, unfortunately, it's probably too late for that uncomfortable political position—no one's likely to be accused of overreacting. Farr said, "What has happened in New York City should convince everybody that these mitigation measures are needed." {in} inweekly.net

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NEAR MISS Last Friday, Pensacola Mayor Grover Robinson notified the media that he had been tested for COVID-19 and was in self-quarantine after the his son, Grover Robinson V, tested positive for the virus. The previous day, the mayor had attended a press conference at the county's EOC with area officials. Fortunately, he reported that his results came back negative later on Friday. The mayor announced that he would continue to self-isolate, and in an abundance of caution, City Hall was deep cleaned and sanitized over the weekend. At a virtual press conference on Monday, April 6, Mayor Robinson said his son was recovering, and the mayor might stay in isolation with his family. "The city policy is that either you need two tests or 14 days," he said. "So I'm continuing quarantine with my family and may look to take a test later this week just to be sure that I'm all good and don't go back to City Hall and contaminate anything." NOT SO LUCKY On Sunday, WEARTV Channel 3, Sinclair's ABC affiliate in Pensacola, announced that COVID-19 virus had infected its office. Standing outside the building on Mobile Highway, anchor Sue Straughn reported at 5 p.m. that the station hah two positive COVID-19 cases. She said, "Out of an abundance of caution, our management has decided to suspend the news operations inside the studio, but we will still be bringing you all your local news."

"The county commission has not taken specific action to close businesses, and I would be more than happy for the mayor to speak." Janice Gilley SLOW START TO SAFETY On April 2, the Escambia County Emergency Operations Center reluctantly held its second press conference since the EOC was activated two weeks earlier. Commissioner Lumon May shared with Inweekly as he nodded toward the public safety building, "Inside they're calling this the "Rick Outzen press conference." Once the presser started, it became clear city, and county leaders were hesitant to list any businesses being closed by Gov. Ron DeSantis' Safer-at-Home executive that was set to go into effect the next day. When asked by Inweekly about any specific types of businesses being closed, County Administrator Janice Gilley said only bingo parlors are under consideration at this time. 88

"The county commission has not taken specific action to close businesses, and I would be more than happy for the mayor to speak," she said. "We will be entertaining this evening an order specifically related to bingo parlors, because I do think there may need to be some clarification from the county commission about that particular entity." Mayor Grover Robinson said his staff was asking for voluntary compliance with the order until they can figure out how to implement it. "Rick, I think at this particular time, we're looking for compliance, and we've asked for those kinds of things within businesses," said the mayor. "So seeing that tonight is when the order goes into effect, it's still a little bit early for us to see what's there, but I think we've tried to be very clear about those things that are essential and non-essential and that we begin to figure out what those things are." He added, "I think you see what was in Miami-Dade. We hope people have had a chance to read that and seeing the different businesses that are listed." Inweekly asked, "So like closing bars, restaurants and gyms, this is going to be voluntary for all those other businesses at this moment?" "Right now, we're asking people to figure out how to comply within it," answered Mayor Robinson. "I think we'll come out of the week, and we'll understand a little bit better where we are." Sheriff David Morgan said the city, county and sheriff's office public information got together and said, "We need to come before the public and talk a little bit about this to reassure everyone that basically nothing has changed." "What the governor did yesterday was he issued a warning for those, again, who are the most high risk in our community, those that are 65 and older specifically," said the sheriff. "It was a plea asking them to please, again, please follow the advice of our medical professionals. Limit your outside contact. It was not a lockdown order."

BINGO BOUNCE At its April 2 regular meeting, the Escambia County Commission had little appetite for issuing an emergency order closing any businessâ€”except for bingo parlors and maybe abortion clinics. But in the end, the board decided to leave closures in the hands of the governor and the state agencies that regulate them, and the commissioners said they would rely on businesses to voluntarily comply. The issue is Gov. Ron DeSantis listed essential businesses in his Safer-at-Home order but was mute on nonessential, leaving it to county commissions and cities to determine if they wanted stricter regulations. "I tell you what, I will have to paint with

a very, very fine paintbrush to be able to get to a yes on any of these," said Commissioner Doug Underhill, referring to nonessential businesses. "The only two that I have found that I could get to a yes are the bingo parlors and the abortion clinic. And the reason for that is that with regard to the bingo parlors, they did not appear to be taking any realistic measures to practice social distancing, and by that, I mean, practically none." County Attorney Alison Rogers told the board that she had drafted an emergency order to close bingo parlors, but the commissioners didn't consider it.

"If businesses aren't following the guidelines that have already been given by the governor's office, then actions should be taken against those businesses. I mean, if bingo parlors are not following the guidelines that have been put out by the governor's office, what's the recourse for that noncompliance? Steven Barry "If businesses aren't following the guidelines that have already been given by the governor's office, then actions should be taken against those businesses," said Chairman Steven Barry. "I mean, if bingo parlors are not following the guidelines that have been put out by the governor's office, what's the recourse for that noncompliance?" Underhill injected that the governor's order was only guidelines, not directives. "I don't know that they're not directives," said Barry. "If you had a gym operating right now, I think they would be shut down by the Department of Health." He continued, "I'm not saying I disagree with the measures that have been placed over us, but it's had a harrowing effect on our economy, maybe warranted. I'm not saying it's not warranted, but if those are not being followed, I don't see how it's our responsibility to then take the action that's already been taken by the governor's office, to specifically close this business or that one." "Mr. Chairman, I have very little appetite â€Ś actually, I have almost no appetite for going any further than Tallahassee directs us to go," said Underhill. Rogers said that she had a colleague who reviewed the governor's executive order and found about 208 businesses defined as essential. The board wasn't

interested in any vote that stated those businesses and services not listed among those 208 should be closed. "I don't often talk about my wife," said Commissioner Robert Bender. "She may say that her nails are essential. I don't want to be the one telling her no." He continued, "This is for people to evaluate, make your own decision. Is going to get your nails done worth getting infected or getting someone else infected? A lot of it seems up to our discretion. But something you need to ask yourself every time you go out, is it worth it?" In the end, the board's consensus was to direct to the county administrator and attorney to inform the appropriate authority in Tallahassee about bingo parlors. No vote was taken.

COUNTY FURLOUGHS? At the EOC press conference last Thursday, Inweekly asked Mayor Grover Robinson and County Administrator Janice Gilley whether they would lay off any employees in April. The mayor said no, but Gilley said she may furlough employees without pay. Mayor Robinson has sent out a memo to city workers the "very first week" that said, "We want you to understand your job is safe." Some may have to do different jobs and work at another location. "But at this particular time, everything we have within the budget is there. We are looking at next year's budget, and we understand there are some things that we'll have to look at. But at this particular time, absolutely everyone is there," said the mayor. He explained, "Our biggest concern is making sure the people have jobs, can take care of their family â€Ś At this time, we've made a commitment absolutely within ourselves internally, that we were going to keep all of our individuals, and we sent that message out to our employees." Gilley initially said her response was "very similar to what the mayor has said." She pointed out that some workers also have been moved to other departments, but some may not be paid for long. "The county is doing everything they can to keep from having to furlough employees," said Gilley. "What I cannot say is that there will be absolutely no furloughs because I do think that it depends on how long this particular enemy continues to attack us as a community. Our number one goal is to not have to furlough any employees." SCHOOLS: A DIFFERENT WORLD At the EOC presser, School Superintendent Malcolm Thomas said the school district had a "very productive week" as the teachers prepare to "teach 40,000 students that are not sitting inside a classroom." inweekly.net

"That's been a challenge for our teachers," said Thomas. "They've had to learn new tools and new strategies that they can use and employ with their students." He continued, "It's been a challenge for some of our parents to learn how to log on and to act like their student acts sometimes when they are in the classroom, but I want to thank them all for the cooperative spirit." All students, including kindergarten, have been given Chromebooks. For those without internet connectivity, the district is providing workbooks, textbooks and flash drives with lesson plans. "We have been saying that if you have not been contacted by your child's teacher at this point, you really do need to reach out to the school because we have tried to make at least one contact with every family," said Thomas. "If you've not heard, it's probably because we have the incorrect telephone number or contact information." He added, "It's a different world, but it's one that seems to be working. I'm just so impressed as I look over the shoulder of some of our teachers in the last few days to see the amount of energy they're putting into the lessons, how they're being creative and innovative, and at the end of the day, that's what's going to carry us through."

UNDERHILL CRUSHED At the April 2

county commission meeting, Commissioner Doug Underhill failed twice to reopen the local beaches, despite having sent a mass email to voters in his fellow commissioners' districts arguing his case. Commissioner Lumon May made the motion to keep the beaches closed until further notice. The vote passed 4-1, with Commissioner Underhill casting the lone dissenting vote. Underhill moved to open the beaches and have the Escambia County Sheriff's Office figure out how to enforce distancing. The motion failed due to lack of a second. Before the meeting, the Escambia/

April 9, 2020

Santa Rosa County Medical Society sent a letter to the commissioners asking that the board keep the county beaches closed. The letter cited a recent poll of local physicians that revealed 85% of them favored keeping the local beaches closed "until the current crisis has passed." "Opening our local beaches prematurely would increase opportunities for community transmission while also potentially attracting travelers who are COVID-19 positive," wrote Dr. Karen Snow, the society's president. "Policing safe social distancing would distract law enforcement from other priority missions."

"Opening our local beaches prematurely would increase opportunities for community transmission while also potentially attracting travelers who are COVID-19 positive." Dr. Karen Snow 3D-PRINTED FACE SHIELDS To address the shortage of frontline supplies for health care workers as they tend to the pandemic, the University of West Florida's Sea3D Additive Manufacturing Laboratory will begin producing full-face shields that will be distributed free in the community. "I think equipment like this and the masks that are being produced by manufacturing partners around the community will really go a long way in helping us to at least mitigate the situation at hand," said Nicole Gislason, interim assistant vice president of the UWF Haas Center. The face shields being produced at the Sea3D lab consist of a flexible plastic visor and a snap-on Mylar shield. UWF intends to print 60 face shield kits per day, or ap-

proximately 1, 440 shields per month. The university estimates that each unit carries a production cost of $6.50 in materials and $4 in labor. The university is also partnering with a few local organizations, including area hospitals, and the Escambia County Division of Emergency Management, and businesses, like Jupiter Bach, GE Renewable Energy and Alto Products Corp. Jupiter Bach is manufacturing the actual shields that snap into place on the plastic printed visors. The company plans to make more shields than visors so that they can be replaced upon becoming to scuffed. "Each day, a new manufacturing company or a new maker reaches out to us and says, 'Hey, how can we help?' And there is nothing more heartening than to see community partners come together in a time of need," Gislason said. The design used to make these face shields is a modified variation on an existing design used worldwide. UWF tweaked it for use specifically in the health care and foodservice industries. Gislason said that while the masks produced by UWF will be going to the local community, the university is providing digital design plans to anyone who wishes to manufacture their own masks.

"We saw a community in need and a nation in crisis. I honestly would not have thought of doing it any other way." Patrick Rollins SANITIZING & SPIRITS Like so many

other business owners, Rollins Distillery in Gulf Breeze has been adapting by the day to survive each local, state and national requirement being made in the interest of public health. After suspending their popular distillery tours, Rollins has been able to con-

tinue selling their locally-distilled liquor by the bottle and providing cocktail recipes for those of us missing a well-crafted drink at home. But these days, they are brewing more than their popular vodka and rums. They're also distilling hand sanitizer. "The fact that we can produce the ethanol that is necessary for sanitizer, a high-proof spirit which could literally benefit everybody, it was almost a no-brainer," said distillery owner Patrick Rollins. "This is our opportunity to help the community as a whole." "We saw a community in need and a nation in crisis," said Rollins. "I honestly would not have thought of doing it any other way." The distillery has made the sanitizer available to the public each day at 10 a.m., Monday through Saturday, in two-ounce bottles. The limit is set at two bottles per person and four per household. Even with those rules, they typically run out within a couple of hours most days. Rollins has been keeping the public notified about the daily allotment via social media. Approximately one-third of the sanitizer is being donated to first responders and elderly-care workers. The other two-thirds are distributed to the public on a donation basis to keep it accessible to those out of work or otherwise in need. Rollins says that the distillery is working hard to produce as much sanitizer as possible within their means, but being a small distillery has its limitations. "The supply chain is messed up [due to COVID-19]. Of course, we are producing the ethanol, but the additional glycerine and hydrogen peroxide have to be ordered as well as the containers and labels, which are very important. We are adhering very strictly to the WHO [World Health Organization] recommendation as we are required to for a liquid sanitizer." For more information, go to facebook. com/rollinsdistillery. {in}

news you may have missed

CENSUS DAY April 1 was Census Day, a key reference date for the 2020 Census— not a deadline. The federal government uses the day to determine who is counted and where in the 2020 Census. The 2020 Census questionnaire will take about 10 minutes to complete. When you respond, you'll tell the Census Bureau where you lived as of April 1, 2020, and you should include everyone who usually lives and sleeps in your home. You can respond before or after that date. The Census is the nation's once-ina-decade headcount of every person in the United States. The results of the 2020 Census will help determine how hundreds of billions of dollars in federal funding flow into communities, including the City of Pensacola and Escambia County, every year for the next decade. That funding shapes many different aspects of every community throughout the U.S., from highway planning and public transit to educational programs and housing assistance. Complete the Census at my2020census.gov. FELON VOTING RIGHTS VICTORY

Dara Kam of The News Service of Florida reported the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Tuesday, March 31, turned down Governor Ron DeSantis' request for what is known as an "en banc," or full court, review of a decision by a three-judge panel of the Atlanta-based court. The case involves a challenge to a 2019 Florida law that made felons' voting eligibility contingent upon payment of court-ordered fees, fines and restitution. The panel on Feb. 19 upheld a ruling by U.S. District Judge Robert Hinkle that the state cannot bar felons from voting if they are "genuinely unable" to pay the obligations. Hinkle issued a preliminary injunction in October and ordered the state to come up with a process to determine whether felons are able to pay financial obligations.

But in a hearing to prepare for an April 27 trial in the case, Florida Secretary of State Laurel Lee's lawyer, Mohammad Jazil, told the judge that her department had not complied with Hinkle's monthsold mandate, in part because the DeSantis administration was awaiting the federal appeals court's action. "The state is working diligently every day. The state will have a process. The state has contingencies planned for if the courts go one way, the courts go another way. The state currently believes it would be irresponsible to lay out a process only to have it be changed by a court order a week, a month, two months from now with the November election coming up," Jazil told Hinkle on March 24. Hinkle, who for months has scolded the state for failing to come up with a plan, interrupted Jazil. "If you don't have a position in place by the time of trial and I decide that it is a constitutional right—and if you read the 11th Circuit (panel) decision, you probably don't want to bet against that—the answer's not going to be, oh, start working on this. If the state is not going to fix it, I will," the federal judge admonished. The three-judge panel's February ruling unambiguously affirmed Hinkle's decision about the unconstitutionality of Florida's law. The Legislature passed the law to carry out a 2018 constitutional amendment designed to restore the voting rights of felons who have served their sentences. "The long and short of it is that once a state provides an avenue to ending the punishment of disenfranchisement—as the voters of Florida plainly did—it must do so consonant with the principles of equal protection and it may not erect a wealth barrier absent a justification sufficient to overcome heightened scrutiny," judges Lanier Anderson III, Stanley Marcus and Barbara Rothstein decided. In Tuesday's order, the appellate court said it was denying DeSantis' request because

"no judge in regular active service on the court … requested that the court be polled on rehearing en banc," a move required for the full court to revisit a panel decision. The governor's communications office released a statement noting that Hinkle will hold a more detailed trial on the issues in late April. "We are disappointed in the denial of a rehearing before the full court; nonetheless, the case is going to full trial in three weeks," the statement said. Supporters of the constitutional amendment, which appeared on the November 2018 ballot as Amendment 4, maintained that its passage could restore voting rights to as many as 1.5 million Floridians. The state law, however, drastically reduced that number, lawyers representing the plaintiffs have said. "The three-judge panel unanimously ruled that a person's right to vote cannot be contingent on their ability to pay, and the full 11th Circuit unanimously declined to reconsider the panel's decision. It is time for the state to give up on its quest to dismantle Amendment 4," ACLU of Florida lawyer Daniel Tilley, who represents some of the plaintiffs in the case, said in an email.

"Engaged and active voters are the linchpin of a healthy democracy, and our research demonstrates that students are more enthusiastic than ever about voting." Alexandria Harris VOTING LAWSUIT SETTLEMENT On Friday, the League of Women Voters of Florida announced a settlement agreement with Secretary of State Laurel Lee regarding a lawsuit filed in 2019 challenging then

Florida Secretary of State Ken Detzner's prohibition on placing early voting sites on college and university campuses. The League led the lawsuit which was filed by eight young Florida voters, the League, Priorities USA Foundation and the Andrew Goodman Foundation. As a result of the settlement, the lawsuit will be voluntarily dismissed. "We are gratified that once again the constitutional rights of our young voters have superseded partisan politics," said Patricia Brigham, president of the League of Women Voters of Florida. As part of the settlement, Secretary Lee has issued a directive that makes it clear that Florida's supervisors of elections are free to place early voting sites on college and university campuses and rescinds any prior directives that indicated that student unions were unsuitable for early voting and mandated a certain number of non-permitted parking sites. "This settlement is not just a win for student voters in Florida but also a victory for democracy," said Alexandria Harris, executive director of the Andrew Goodman Foundation. "Engaged and active voters are the linchpin of a healthy democracy, and our research demonstrates that students are more enthusiastic than ever about voting. Lawmakers should be doing everything in their power to support and encourage their participation." "Today's announcement is a victory for Florida's college students and for the communities that will have increased accessibility to polling places throughout the state," said Guy Cecil, chairman of Priorities USA. "We'd like to thank the plaintiffs who stood up to an unjust ruling and the Florida officials who agreed to make these changes in an effort to expand access to the ballot box."

NO MEDIA BIAS For as long as there have been news media, there have been allegations that journalists are biased and slant

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stories to fit their views. While many studies have explored this issue, there has been little research into how political ideology influences which stories get covered. In the April issue of Science Advances, a Florida State University researcher addresses that gap. Hans Hassell, an assistant professor in the Department of Political Science, makes his findings clear in the title of his stud, "There is No Liberal Media Bias in the News Political Journalists Choose to Cover." "Contrary to popular narratives and despite the fact that journalists skew to the left politically, there is little to no bias in what reporters choose to cover," Hassell said of his study's findings. The more airtime or ink a story gets, the more important people believe it to be. So which stories get covered is as important as how they're covered, Hassell said. "This is about agenda setting," Hassell added. "Lots of studies have shown that what people perceive as the most important problems are based on what's being covered in the news." Hassell's work on the study began in 2017 and embraced a number of researchgathering methods, including a survey of 6,000 journalists, election returns, Twitter data and a novel correspondence experiment design. That work led Hassell and his team to conclude that what journalists choose to cover is dictated by a multitude of factors. "There is an institutional set of norms that dictate newsworthiness," he said. "Lots of things drive those norms, but reporters' personal, ideological preferences about what they view as valuable is not one of them." Assistant Professor of Political Science John B. Holbein of the University of Virginia and Assistant Professor of Political Science Matthew R. Miles of Brigham Young University co-authored the study.

BEACH LEASE VICTORY On Thursday,

April 2, the Florida Supreme Court denied a petition by the Escambia County School District to assert a challenge to prior court rulings finding that county-owned land on Pensacola Beach could not be subjected to real property taxes. Both Judge Duncan of the Circuit Court of Escambia County and the First District Court of Appeal had previously found that land at Pensacola Beach, which is subject to long-term but non-perpetual leases, is owned by the county. County-owned land is immune from ad valorem taxation. "This puts an end to attempts to declare the controlling taxation statutes unconstitutional. It seals the victory of taxpayers at Pensacola Beach that has resulted in savings of more than $100 million over the life of April 9, 2020

their leases," said Ed Fleming, who together with Todd Harris of the McDonald-Fleming firm represented more than 2,000 beach taxpayers in the litigation. The McDonald-Fleming firm won a string of victories on the taxation issue dating back to tax year 2011, when the county property appraiser began taxing countyowned land as if it were owned by leaseholders. The First District Court of Appeals and the Florida Supreme Court rejected multiple attempts by the Escambia County Property Appraiser and the Escambia County Tax Collector to challenge the constitutionality of Florida Statute 196.199. In an effort to reassert that challenge, Fleming said, the property appraiser recruited the Escambia County School District to assert an independent challenge under the guise of it being a "sympathetic" party. As a result, the school district incurred thousands of dollars in legal fees in asserting a losing challenge. "This is an important and continuing victory for beach taxpayers," said Harris. "They will realize benefits from this action year after year for the duration of their 99year leases."

YOUTH EMPLOYMENT DEADLINE Es-

cambia County is seeking youth ages 16-24 who are interested in an opportunity to get paid work experience this summer through the Escambia County Youth Employment Program. Applications are due Friday, April 17, by 3 p.m. Qualified youth who are accepted into ECYEP will be able to work up to 30 hours a week at $8.56 per hour, with positions available in various county departments along with the Escambia County School District, Property Appraiser, Tax Collector's Office and Supervisor of Elections Office. Participants will also receive job readiness training prior to job placement as well as post-employment briefings. Last summer, 96 youth participated in the program, working in county departments including Public Works, Public Safety, Escambia County Area Transit, West Florida Public Libraries and more. Limited positions are available. The applicants must be age 16-24 and live in Escambia County, Fla. To download an application, visit shorturl.at/nqADL. Applications can also be picked up at the Brownsville Community Center, 3200 W. De Soto St. Incomplete application packets will not be accepted.

DIB MEETINGS GO VIRTUAL The

Downtown Improve Board is still hosting their regular meetings this monthâ€”virtually using the Zoom app. Visit downtownpensacola.com/meetings for the schedule and details on how to register. {in}

POPPY GARCIA: BLESS YOUR HEART VIRTUAL TOURS AVAILABLE AT PENSACOLAMUSEUM.ORG PENSACOLA MUSEUM OF ART 11

WEEK OF APRIL9-15

We (Still) Need to Eat A directory of local restaurants offering take-out, curbside pick-up and/or delivery options that's pretty much impossible. So make sure you check online or call before deciding where to order from.

DOWNTOWN

Photo courtesy of End of the Line Café

Now more than ever, local restaurants need our support. And we all need a break from our pandemic pantry stashes. Thankfully, eateries are still allowed to operate and serve up take-out, curbside pick-up and/or delivery meals. Just remember to eat local the next time you decide to

order out—it really will make a difference for these small businesses. Also, keep in mind most restaurants have limited hours and menus right now. And sadly, some are deciding to close (temporarily and in general) during this crisis. We're trying our best to keep this directory up to date, but due to our press schedule,

1912 The Restaurant 200 E. Gregory St., 4333336, pensacolagrandhotel.com 5 Sisters Blues Café 421 W. Belmont St., 9124856, fivesistersbluescafe.com Adonna's Garden St. Cafe and Bakery 811 W. Garden St., 696-2227, adonnasbakery.net Angelena's Ristorante Italiano 101 E. Intendencia St., 542-8398, angelenaspensacola.com Atlas Oyster House 600 S. Barracks St., 4700003, atlasoysterhouse.com Blue Wahoos Stadium Concessions 351 W. Cedar St., 934-8444 ext. 451, bluewahoos.com Bluejay's Bakery 11 S. Palafox, 982-9731, bluejaysbakery.com Bodacious Bookstore & Cafe 110 E. Intendencia St., 466-6966, bodaciousbookstore.com Bodacious Brew-Thru 16 W. Main St., 4346300, thebodaciousbrewthru.com Bodacious Brew Cafe 407-C S. Palafox, 4346300, thebodaciousbrew.com Broussard's Bayou Grill 690 E. Heinberg St., 396-6099, broussardsbayouco.com/pensacola Bubba's Sweet Spot 412 S. Palafox, 332-6696, bubbasweetspot.com Cactus Cantina 22 S. Palafox, 741-3296, mycactuscantina.com

Cafe Single Fin 380 N. Ninth Ave., 433-2929, cafesinglefin.com Casks & Flights 121 S. Palafox, 495-3897, casksandflights.com Coffee Cup Restaurant 520 E. Cervantes St., 432-7060, facebook.com/coffeecuppensacola1945 Cottage Cafe 203 W. Gregory St., 437-0730, eatatcottagecafe.com Dog House Deli Downtown 30 S. Palafox, 432-3104, doghousedeli.com End of the Line Café 610 E. Wright St., 4290336, eotlcafe.com Fosko Coffee Barre 8 S. Palafox, 332-7737, fosko.com Four Seasons Catering and Eatery 212 S. Palafox, 434-6771, fourseasonspensacola.com Global Grill 27 S. Palafox, 469-9966, facebook. com/globalgrillpensacola Graffiti Pizza 210 S. Palafox, 972-1960, graffitipizzafl.com Hot Spot BBQ 901 E. La Rua St., 497-6060, servebbq.com Jaco's Bayfront Bar & Grille 997 S. Palafox, 432-5226, jacosbayfrontbarandgrille.com Jerry's Bistreaux Cajun Food Truck 500 E. Heinberg St., 512-4565, facebook.com/jerrysbistreaux-cajun-catering Jo's... As Always 501 N. Ninth Ave., 466-5136, jospensacola.com Joe Patti's Seafood 524 S. B St., 432-3315, joepattis.com

Feel Good Food

Photo courtesy of Tacos Mexicanos

QUARANTINE TACOS

Tacos Mexicanos, 3000 N. 12th Ave., 291-7195, tacosmexican.com For the last few weeks, Tacos Mexicanos has embraced the changing landscape and rules of the pandemic by offering customers who are suffering financially the opportunity to receive low cost and even free food thanks to their "Gratitude-Forward" campaign. Started March 13, owner Gabriel Her212 1

nandez announced on social media that he would be opening up his existing online ordering setup to allow customers to purchase "Gratitude-Forward" meals for $5. In addition to the full menu of burritos, tacos, rice bowls and more, these meals are "for a random person who may be out of work due to [COVID-19]," and redeeming the free meal requires no proof—it's all on the honor system. "[In announcing the promotion], I did emphasize the fact that it's a trust system," said Hernandez. "We are trusting they actually need it. Buy it in good faith." In addition to the gratitude campaign, Tacos Mexicanos is selling "Quarantine tacos" for $1 each. Limited at 10 per person, those looking to lunch on a budget can purchase chicken or carnitas tacos daily from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Finally, Tacos Mexicanos is offering yet another discount meal campaign with coupon code "gratitude." Reserved for those who are out of work or otherwise suffering financially, entering the discount code when checking out on the website grants

the purchaser 20% off, which is the amount of profit Tacos Mexicanos sees on most of their items. "[Customers] should only use [the 'gratitude' coupon code] if you really need it because that's where it's a wash for us; it just pays the expenses of making the food." Hernandez said that these efforts to provide discounts and free food to locals are no-brainers. "The way we think of it is, even if it doesn't pay that well to do these things … people, who maybe don't have a lot to look forward to right now, can at least look forward to some tacos."

LUNCH BREAKS

•Joe's Caribe, 6224 N. Ninth Ave. Ste. 3, 7602512, joescaribe.com •Costello's Butcher Shop, 8190 W. Fairfield Drive, 741-2823, facebook.com/costellosbutcheranddeli •American Lunch at Dharma Blue, 300 S. Alcaniz St., 433-1275, facebook.com/dharmabluecafe Joe's Caribe is one of the many local restaurants helping to feed kids in need during the school closures. They are allowing children of all ages and from

all counties, including displaced college students, to receive a free bagged meal Monday through Friday, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Costello's Butcher Shop is also stepping up and helping bridge the food gap for students out of school. Costello's customers can sponsor a child's meal to help support the store's efforts, asking for $2.39 to pay for one meal, which includes a sandwich, chips, apple and bottle of water. Children in need can pick up their free meal any time from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. A couple of weeks ago, downtown restaurant Dharma Blue made the difficult decision to temporarily suspend business, closing their restaurant to the public for the time being. Fortunately for those in need, Dharma Blue's nonprofit partner American Lunch is still serving lunch every day outside of the downtown restaurant, providing meals to anyone who asks for one from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. So far, first responders and folks out of work have benefitted from high-quality meals like roasted pork loin with mashed potatoes, seafood jambalaya and chicken fried rice. {in} inweekly.net

Jordan Valley 201 S. Jefferson St., 607-2780, facebook.com/jordanvalleydowntown Khons on Palafox 34 S. Palafox, 912-6762, khonsonpalafox.com Lucy's in the Square 301 S. Adams St., 3788475, facebook.com/lucysinthesquare Nomadic Eats & Nomadic's Cafe 9 E. Gregory St., 375-5696, nomadiceats.com McGuire's Irish Pub 600 E. Gregory St., 4336789, mcguiresirishpub.com Old City Market 140 S. Jefferson St., 860-6842, oldcitymarketinc.com Pineapple Express Rice Bowls 224 E. Garden St., Ste. 6, 332-6478, pineapple-express-ricebowls.business.site Polonza Bistro 286 N. Palafox, 912-6454, polonza.com SaBai Thai 130 S. Jefferson St., facebook.com/ sabaithai.soj Skopelos at New World Landing 600 S. Palafox, 432-6565, skopelosatnewworld.com Taco Agave 200 S. Palafox, 332-7952, tacoagave.com Taste of India 810 E. Gregory St., 439-3005, newtasteofindia.com The Dwarf Fried Chicken 407 N. DeVilliers St., 470-0652, facebook.com/dwarfchickenstand The Fish House 600 S. Barracks St., 470-0003, fishhousepensacola.com The Olde English Creamery 221 E. Zaragoza St., 542-7969, englishcreamery.com The Tin Cow 102 S. Palafox, 466-2103, thetincow.com Union Public House 309 S. Reus St., 607-6320, unionpensacola.com Urban Swinery 19 S. Palafox, 332-5536, facebook.com/pg/urbanswinery

CORDOVA

Cactus Cantina 5121 N. 12th Ave., 912-8565, mycactuscantina.com Craft Gourmet Bakery 5555 N. Davis Highway, 332-5921, craftgourmetbakery.com George Bistro & Bar 6205 N. Ninth Ave., 9124655, georgebistroandbar.com Ichiban 5555 N. Davis Highway, 494-2227, facebook.com/ichibanpensacola Joe's Caribe 6224 N. Ninth Ave. Ste. 3, 7602512, joescaribe.com Mr. Pollo Pensacola 6404 N. Ninth Ave., 5424752, mrpollopensacola.com O'Brien's Bistro 4350 Bayou Blvd., 477-9120, obriensbistro.net Sake Cafe 4880 N. Ninth Ave., 494-9999, sakecafepensacola.com Sky's Pizza 5559 N. Davis Highway, 477-4424, skyspizzapie.com The Leisure Club 1151 Office Woods Drive, Ste. A, 912-4229, theleisureclub.net Tuscan Oven 4801 N. Ninth Ave., 484-6836, thetuscanoven.com Vallarta Mexican Grill 9121 Pensacola Blvd., 476-5262, vallartamex.com Yums 1620 Airport Blvd., Ste. 120, 477-2999, newyums.com Rio Bravo 5030 Bayou Blvd, 479-7351, riobravomexicanrestaurante.com

SCENIC HEIGHTS

Calvert's in the Heights 3102 E. Cervantes St., 332-5838, calvertsintheheights.com Constant Coffee Scenic Heights 615 Scenic Highway, 432-3991, constantcoffeeandtea.com Giorgio's Pizza 3000 E. Cervantes St., 4325996, mygeorgiospizza.com April 9, 2020

Jerry's Drive-In 2815 E. Cervantes St., 4339910, jerrysdrivein.com Marina Oyster Barn 505 Bayou Blvd, 433-0511, marina-oyster-barn.business.site Nancy's Catering & Events 555 Scenic Highway, #6721, 434-0112, nancyshauteaffairs.com New Yorker Deli 3001 E. Cervantes St., 4690029, newyorkerdeliandpizzeria.com Scenic 90 Cafe 701 Scenic Highway, 433-8844, scenic90cafe.com The Magnolia 2907 E. Cervantes St., 912-6196, magnoliapensacola.com

WEST PENSACOLA

CJ's Grille 2100 W. Garden St., 435-9543, facebook.com/cjskitchen Costello's Butcher Shop 8190 W. Fairfield Drive, 741-2823, facebook.com/costellosbutcheranddeli Cub's Crawfish 4145 Barrancas Ave., 456-7551, facebook.com/cubscrawfish850 Cypress / Emerald Coast Bread Co. 1124 W. Garden St., 724-1124, cypresspensacola.com El Agave Mexican Restaurant 3811 W. Navy Blvd., 458-3939, facebook.com/elagavenavyblvd El Paso Mexican Grille 5490 Mobile Highway, 378-8553, facebook.com/elpasomobilehwy Hip Pocket Deli 4124 Barrancas Ave., 455-9319, facebook.com/hippocketdeli IQ Eatery 4051 Barrancas Ave., Unit C, 5493333, iqeatery.com Kingfisher 1500 Barrancas Ave., 432-1119, kingfishersandwiches.com Pedros Tacos & Tequila Bar 13584 Perdido Key Drive, 492-1701, facebook.com/pedrosperdidokeyfl Saigon Market 604 N. Pace Blvd., 912-6555, facebook.com/saigonorientalmarketanddeli Shoreline 1180 W. Main St., 433-8852, sfpensacola.com Taste of Jerusalem 707 N. Pace Blvd., Ste. B, 466-3648, tasteofjerusalempensacola.com The Elbow Room 2213 W. Cervantes St., 4340300, facebook.com/elbowroompensacola The Oar House 1000 S. Pace Blvd., 549-4444, oarhousepensacola.com Tommy's Pizzeria 800 W. Michigan Ave., 4663311, facebook.com/pensacolatommyspizza

NORTH PENSACOLA/ NINE MILE ROAD

La Hacienda 8086 N. Davis Highway, 4942130, lahaciendarestaurantes.com Petrella's Italian Cafe 2174 W. Nine Mile Road, 471-9444, petrellasitaliancafe.com Rock n Roll Sushi 1531 E. Nine Mile Road, A-6, 760-2455, rnrsushi.com Sammy Barkers 875 E. Nine Mile Road, 9126000, sammybarkers.com Uptown Market 7201 N. Ninth Ave., Ste. A, 9128030, facebook.com/uptownmarketpensacola Tokyo Japanese Steakhouse & Sushi Bar 312 E. Nine Mile Road, Ste. 25, 479-9111, gotokyopensacola.com

GULF BREEZE

Lao Ocean 368 Gulf Breeze Parkway, 733-9789, facebook.com/laoocean850 Mariachi's Mexican Grill 2747 Gulf Breeze Parkway, 934-3606, mariachismexicangrillfl.com Papa Nalu Aloha Grill 3499 Gulf Breeze Parkway, 932-4837, papanalu.com Rock N Roll Sushi Gulf Breeze 1468 Tiger Park Lane, 565-5300, rnrsushi.com

Taco Rock 911 Gulf Breeze Parkway, Unit B, 733-9078, taco-rock.business.site Thai 54 Cuisine 47 Gulf Breeze Parkway, 6778145, thai54cuisine.com

PENSACOLA BEACH

Café NOLA 400 Quietwater Beach Road, 6778532, thecafenola.com Casino Beach Boardwalk 41 Fort Pickens Road, 932-6313, casinobeachbar.com Flounder's Chowder House 800 Quietwater Beach Road, 932-2003, flounderschowderhouse.com Frisky Dolphin Sunset Oyster Bar & Grill 715 Pensacola Beach Blvd., 934-3141, friskydolphin.com H20 Hilton 12 Via De Luna Drive, 343-6791, h2opensacolabeach.com Hemingway's Island Grill 400 Quietwater Beach Road, Ste. 16, 934-4747, hemingwaysislandgrill.com Papa's Pizza 400 Quietwater Beach Road, #1, 934-1198, papaspizza.com Peg Leg Pete's 1010 Fort Pickens Road, 9324139, peglegpetes.com Red Fish Blue Fish 5 Via De Luna Drive, 6778899, redfishbluefishpensacolabeach.com Sidelines Sports Bar & Restaurant 2 Via De Luna Drive, 934-3660, sidelinespensacola.com The Grand Marlin 400 Pensacola Beach Blvd., 677-9153, thegrandmarlin.com

MILTON/PACE

Ace's 6583 Caroline St., 623-3611, facebook. com/bbbbright1 Blackwater Bistro 5147 Elmira St., 623-1105, blackwaterbistro.com Boomerang Pizza Kitchen 5227 Willing St., 564-1465, boomerangpizzakitchen. hungerrush.com Cactus Flower 4865 US-90, 910-4424, facebook.com/cactusflowercafesusa Cosse's Place 5365 Stewart St., 626-2655, cossesplace.com David's Catfish House 5129 Dogwood Drive, 626-1500, facebook.com/dch.milton Jin Jin Chinese Restaurant 6209 US-90, 6239009, newjinjinmilton.com La Hacienda (Pace) 4601 US-90, 995-8414, lahaciendarestaurantes.com La Hacienda (Milton) 6471 Caroline St., 6232558, lahaciendarestaurantes.com Main Moon 5444 Dogwood Drive, 626-6668, mainmoonmilton.com McKinely's Sandwich Shop 5262 Stewart St., 983-0303, mckinelys.com Milton Quality Bakery 6727 Caroline St., 6233676, miltonqualitybakery.com Nikko Japanese Steakhouse 4510 US-90, 994-1295, facebook.com/nikkosjapanesesteakhouseandsushibar Ollie's Neighborhood Grill 6181 US-90, 6267499, facebook.com/ollies.milton Rock N Roll Sushi 4551 Watkins St., Unit A, 889-4252, rnrsushi.com Taco Town 5382 Stewart St., 981-9969, tacotownflorida.com TASTEbuds Sweet Treats & Ice Cream 4573 Watkins St., 910-4946, tastebudspace. business.site Tastee Freez 6511 Caroline St., 623-0707, tasteefingers.com The Cutting Board 5701 US-90, 564-1442, cuttingboardfl.com The Hanger 3966 Avalon Blvd., 564-6223, eatatthehangar.com {in}

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COMMUNITY BOARD For however long we think it's of value to the community and our readers, we're going to use the editorial space typically reserved for our calendar of events for a community information source. Our plan is to make this space work in two ways—provide information for those in need of assistance and also ways to help for those who are able to do so during this crisis. If you have something you'd like included in a future community board, please send the details to info@inweekly.net.

≥PENSACOLA HUMANE SOCIETY ANNOUNCES NEW PET PANTRY HOURS

Due to the mandated state shutdown, the Pensacola Humane Society will be closed for adoptions for the next 30 days. However, the Pet Pantry, which provides dog and cat food for pet owners in need of temporary assistance, is still operating and donations are needed. Every morning, the front patio is filled with families needing dog and cat food, litter and treats, and people continue to come in throughout the day. Donations of any brand of wet or dry cat, kitten, dog and puppy food, litter and treats can be left on the front porch of 5 N. Q St., or the staff of PHS will meet you at your car and unload your donations for you. The Pet Pantry provides the food at no cost to pet owners who come to the shelter and present an acceptable form of identification, such as a driver's license. The Pet Pantry is open 10 a.m.–3 p.m. seven days a week.

≥ECAT TEMPORARILY SUSPENDS FARES Beginning Monday, April 6, ECAT, to

support the county's efforts to address the COVID-19 virus, will temporarily suspend fare collection for passengers of ECAT bus services. In addition, bus passengers will be instructed to enter and exit through the rear doors only and sit behind the accessibility-reserved seating area. Front-door access will be permitted only for passengers needing the boarding ramp or operator assistance to access the bus. ADA accessible seating space near the front of the bus is reserved for individuals in mobility devices, individuals in need of special assistance and families with children in strollers. The changes will provide some separation between the operator and the passengers—and between passengers. The changes are being implemented in addition to precautions already implemented by ECAT, including the rigorous and increased sanitizing efforts of every bus on a daily basis. Call ECAT Customer Service at 595-3228 if you need assistance with a specific route or have additional questions. Updated information will also available on goecat.com.

≥GOV. RON DESANTIS SUSPENDS EVICTIONS AND FORECLOSURES Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis announced last week he has signed an executive order suspending all evictions and foreclosures in the state for 45 days amid the coronavirus pandemic. The order suspends all statutes "providing for a mortgage foreclosure cause of action." For evictions, the order only specifies tenants may not be removed for nonpayment, indicating evictions for other reasons will still be in bounds. 414 1

≥STATE SURVEY LAUNCHED TO

FIGHT COVID-19 The Florida Department of Health (DOH) has launched a new community action survey, StrongerThanC-19, designed to aid Florida as the state continues to fight the spread of COVID-19. The StrongerThanC-19 community action survey is free to use and can be accessed by visiting strongerthanC19.com.

≥SANTA ROSA COUNTY, CITY OF MILTON AND FLORIDA SBDC TO OFFER SMALL BUSINESS GRANTS Santa Rosa

County, in partnership with the Florida SBDC at UWF, has created the Santa Rosa County Small Business COVID-19 Recovery Grant Program to assist businesses throughout Santa Rosa County impacted by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Milton will allocate $60,000 to add to the $100,000 appropriation made by Santa Rosa County. The grant program will provide up to $2,500 per applicant or business to help offset losses that small businesses may currently be experiencing as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Applications are available for download now at santarosaready. com. Note that complete applications will be reviewed in the order they are received and that each applicant or business is only eligible for one grant. If the applicant or business has received the Northwest Florida Small Business COVID-19 Grant, they will not be eligible for the Santa Rosa County Small Business Recovery COVID-19 Grant. For details on eligibility and to apply for the grant, go to sbdc.uwf.edu and select Request SBDC Consulting and complete the online request form. Remember to identify "SRC COVID-19 Grant" by name in the request form. Download the Santa Rosa County Small Business COVID-19 Recovery Grant Application at santarosaready.com, complete and sign the application, and gather all supporting documents. Email completed and signed applications, as well as supporting documents, all in PDF format to ahaider@uwf.com. Application deadline is 5 p.m. on April 13. For more information about the program or assistance with completing the application, contact the Florida SBDC at UWF at 850-5867802 or email ahaider@uwf.edu.

≥BAPTIST HEALTH CARE NOW OF-

FERS ONLINE SCREENING Baptist Health Care now offers online assessment screenings for COVID-19 to determine if further diagnostic testing is needed. Anyone who is concerned about a possible exposure to COVID-19 or is exhibiting symptoms including fever, cough and shortness of breath can complete an initial online assessment screening using a smartphone, tablet or computer. The assessment screening begins at ebaptisthealthcare. org. The screening can also be accessed by texting Screen to 318-3080. Once the online screening is completed, options for further preventative measures or screenings, if indicated, are offered. Those whose assessment indicates the need for further

testing will receive a phone call from a Baptist Health Care team member who will schedule an appointment. The online assessment screening is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

≥GREATER PENSACOLA CHAMBER ANNOUNCES "VIRTUAL" BABY SHOWER FOR MILITARY MOMS The Greater

Pensacola Chamber of Commerce Department of Military Affairs and Department of External Affairs will be hosting a Virtual Baby Shower/"Shower in a Box" for military moms in the Escambia and Santa Rosa county area in partnership with the leaders of NAS Pensacola Spouses Network. Due to the current events of COVID-19, many of these mommies are not able to fly back to their home states for their previously scheduled baby showers with family and friends. A "Shower in a Box" includes: •Gifts for mommy and baby •Essential items for mommy and baby (diapers, wipes, etc.) •Opportunity for a virtual baby shower with family and friends complete with a live video link and electronic invitations so the box can be opened with their family The box will be delivered to each mother for their enjoyment by designated leaders of NAS Pensacola Spouses. The registry is now open through June 15, and there is an option to give monetary gifts as well. Registration is at babylist.com/ military-mommies-baby.

≥BROWNSVILLE OFFERS WALK-UP

COVID-19 TESTING The Brownsville

Community Center will offer walk-up COVID-19 testing in addition to drive-through testing. The service began Monday. To help prevent the spread of COVID-19, please call 850-746-2684 to be prescreened over the phone before visiting the walk-up testing site. Tell the phone representative you plan on visiting the walk-up site.

≥WINN-DIXIE HOLDS SPECIAL

HOURS FOR FIRST RESPONDERS, HEALTH CARE WORKERS, OTHERS

Winn-Dixie stores are remaining open from 8 to 9 p.m. every Monday and Tuesday to allow these community heroes the opportunity to stock up on fresh food and essential items. As a reminder, Winn-Dixie stores have dedicated the opening hours Monday through Friday for seniors and high-risk customers.

≥SANTA ROSA OPENS DEDICATED

CALL LINE The Florida Department of Health in Santa Rosa County has established a dedicated call line to respond to residents' questions and concerns about COVID-19 in Santa Rosa County. Residents may call 850-564-2307 to have their questions answered 24 hours a day. Questions may also be directed to the state's COVID-19 call line at 1-866-779-6121, 24

hours a day, seven days a week, or email COVID-19@flhealth.gov.

≥GULF POWER TO PROVIDE BILL RELIEF DURING ONGOING COVID-19 PANDEMIC Gulf Power announced last week its

plan to significantly lower bills for customers amid the ongoing pandemic. Subject to Florida Public Service Commission approval, beginning May 1, Gulf Power plans to issue a one-time decrease of approximately 40% for the typical residential customer bill as a result of lower fuel costs. In Florida, fuel savings are typically refunded to customers over the remainder of the year to provide level, predictable bills. However, given the emergent and significant financial challenges facing many customers due to COVID-19, Gulf Power will instead seek to give customers the total annual savings in their May bill. Business customers will also see a significant one-time decrease in May, depending on usage and rate class. For customers experiencing hardship as a result of COVID-19, Gulf Power has resources available at gulfpower. com/help, or the company can connect customers with resources available from federal, state and local authorities. To further assist customers, Gulf Power is also implementing the same policies that it does during major crisis events, including suspending electrical disconnections and providing payment extensions for customers in a hardship situation. These policies will remain in effect while Florida is under a state of emergency.

≥LA COSTA LATINA OFFERING NEWS

AND UPDATES IN SPANISH La Costa Latina is providing news and important information regarding the coronavirus pandemic to Spanish-language locals, from closures to knowing your rights to protect your health. Visit latinomediainc.com or facebook.com/latinomedia and share the sites with your Spanish-speaking friends.

≥ CAREERSOURCE ESCAROSA SHARING JOB LISTINGS CareerSource Esca-

rosa is updating their site and social media with local employers who are hiring right now, including openings in retail, administration and telecommunications. For a complete list, visit careersourceescarosa.com.

≥KEEP SUPPORTING THE GIRLS IN A

PANDEMIC Here are few things you can do

from the comfort (and safety) of your home that will go a long way in supporting the girls, straight from Audrey Moore, affiliate director of Support the Girls - Gulf Coast: •If you are doing any spring cleaning, keep us in mind as you sort through those ill-fitting bras. Other great donation ideas you may have around the house include Ipsy (makeup) bags for period packs, Ziplock bags, laundry detergent and sealed menstrual hygiene items (it is okay if the box is open, as long as each item is individually sealed). •Donate to help I Support the Girls with shipping menstrual products all over the United States at isupportthegirls.org. inweekly.net

•If you know of an organization that could use a donation or have a contact at a public school doing free lunches (ISTG has period packs they can also hand out to their students), email Moore at ISTG.gulfcoast@gmail.com.

≥WSRE ADJUSTS DAYTIME SCHEDULE TO AIR "AT-HOME LEARNING" PROGRAMS FOR STUDENTS WSRE has begun

airing a new daytime schedule of "At-Home Learning" PBS programs suited for students from Pre-K through 12th grade weekdays from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. The schedule change is part of a statewide effort among PBS stations in Florida to support families, educators and students during school closures brought on by the coronavirus pandemic. The new daytime schedule replaces WSRE's usual lineup of PBS KIDS programming on the main channel, 23.1. This programming for early learners will remain available on the WSRE PBS KIDS channel, 23.4, and streaming online at pbskids.org. At PBS KIDS for Parents (pbs.org/parents), searches can be filtered by topic and age. For example, select Social Skills for age 3 to find appropriate articles, printable activities, recipes, games and apps. The article "How to Talk to Your Kids About Coronavirus" is an example of how PBS KIDS for Parents provides up-to-date information aligned with current events. Designed for teachers and students, PBS LearningMedia (pbslearning-

April 9, 2020

media.org) is accessible for everyone. Search by grades Pre-K through high school to find videos, games and activities aligned to state and national school standards. The WSRE program schedule, along with links to the PBS LearningMedia and PBS KIDS for Parents websites, can be found at wsre.org.

≥LOCAL CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE, LEADERS HOST MEDICAL SUPPLY DRIVE Chambers of Commerce in the two-

county area, in conjunction with Senator Doug Broxson, Mayor Grover Robinson, Santa Rosa County Commission Board Chairman Don Salter and Escambia County Commission Board Chairman Commissioner Steven Barry, are hosting a medical supply drive on Friday, April 3, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. They are asking individuals and businesses, such as construction companies, contractors, nail salons, nonessential medical offices, veterinarians, etc., to donate any supplies not currently being utilized to assist our health care community in combating COVID-19. For more information, contact Sara Lefevers at 356-8735 or slefevers@pensacolachamber.com or Donna Tucker at 623-2339 or ceo@srcchamber.com. Local health care providers have identified their greatest needs as follows: •Respirator Masks N95 1860/1860s •Standard Face/Surgical Masks

•Flexible Minitip Flocked SwabNasopharyngeal •Full-Length Face Shields; Isolation Gowns Volunteers will be accepting donations via drive-by drop-off at: •Pen Air Federal Credit Union, 1495 E. Nine Mile Road, Pensacola •Blue Wahoos Stadium, 351 W. Cedar St., Pensacola •Grover T's, 5887 Highway 90, Milton •Navarre Chamber of Commerce, 1804 Prado St., Navarre

≥STATE AGENCIES PARTNER TO KEEP DELIVERING MEALS TO ELDERLY The Florida Department of Elder

Affairs (DOEA) will be working in partnership with the Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) and the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association (FRLA) that allows the needs of the business community and workers in the restaurant business to be matched with the needs of the elderly and meal delivery services. DOEA's 11 Area Agencies on Aging throughout the state will work with local volunteers and other local service providers to ensure meal delivery to Florida's most vulnerable population. For more information about the Florida Department of Elder Affairs, visit elderaffairs.org.

≥FLORIDA SBDC ANNOUNCES CHANGES TO SMALL BUSINESS EMERGENCY BRIDGE LOAN APPLICATION PROCESS Due to the widespread

impacts of the coronavirus (COVID-19) and small businesses' needs for emergency capital, the application process for the Florida Small Business Emergency Bridge Loan program has changed. Eligible small businesses interested in applying for the Florida Small Business Emergency Bridge Loan program should apply for the program through one of two ways—one, online at floridasbdc.org/disaster/ebl, or two, download the application, complete it and mail it with the required supporting documentation to the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO) at Florida Department of Economic Opportunity, C/O Small Business Emergency Bridge Loan, 107 E. Madison St., MSC-160, Tallahassee, FL 32399-4120. Loan applications must be completed by May 8, 2020. For application assistance, please contact the Florida SBDC office nearest you at floridasbdc.org/ locations. For questions regarding the loan program, please contact DEO toll-free at 833-832-4494, or email floridabusinessloanfund@deo.myflorida.com. for more listings visit inweekly.net

a&e

By Jennifer Leigh

Coping is Key you feel better, we promise. Have a virtual cocktail hour on Zoom. Watch a movie with your bestie from your respective homes and live text at your favorite moments.

TAKE "BREAKS" FROM THE NEWS

We know—easier said than done, but it's still important. If you're watching too much news or reading too many Tweets, make sure to step away from the headlines. Trust us, you can stay informed and not stayed glued to your phone 24/7.

THERAPY ONLINE

The world has been turned upside down in the past month in this "new normal." If you're feeling a lot of feelings right now, it totally makes sense. While physical health is top of mind during the coronavirus pandemic, here's a reminder to check in on your mental health, too. Luckily, in the age of technology, there are a lot of ways to get the help or check-up that you need while still minding stay-at-home guidelines. There are also plenty of old-fashioned ways to reduce stress and anxiety. Here are a few suggestions on how to cope.

PRACTICE REAL SELF-CARE

If you're working from home or in self-isolation, you might find it hard to stick to normal routines. Don't forget to take care of yourself. Get up from the computer, stretch, meditate, exercise regularly and get lots of sleep. And don't beat yourself up if you don't check them all off in one day.

BE SOCIAL (AT A DISTANCE)

Check in on your friends and family. It will make

Virtual therapy is more accessible than ever and right now, and some options are even free. •Join Real (join-real.com) for free digital group salons and mental check-ins during the pandemic. •The COVID-19 Emotional Support Hotline has more than 6,000 therapy professionals volunteering to help. Make a free appointment at 844-863-9314. •If you listen to podcasts, you've likely heard testimonials for talkspace.com. The online therapy app is currently offering seven-day free trials and $100 off (with code 1004U).

•The Headspace meditation app is a great way to reduce stress, and right now, it's offering free access to specific mediations called Weathering the Storm. Learn more at headspace.com. •The National Alliance on Mental Illness COVID-19 resource guide has an answer for just about every concern. Find it online at nami.org. •And if you want to talk to someone local, there's Hale Morrissette. Morrissette is a community advocate and social worker who has been doing regular online sessions during the coronavirus crisis (as well as online DJ sets). For more information, email hale@lifeishale. com or text 972-8993.

DON'T FORGET THESE IMPORTANT NUMBERS

If you or someone you care about has talked about self-harm or harming others, don't hesitate to call 911 or these national hotlines. •Disaster Distress Help: 1-800-985-5990 and TTY 1-800-846-8517 or text TalkWithUs to 66746 •National Domestic Violence: 1-800-7997233 and TTY 1-800-787-3224 •National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255 {in}

THANK YOU INWEEKLY FOR SUPPORTING THE ARTS

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April 9, 2020

free will astrology WEEK OF APRIL 9 ARIES (MARCH 21-APRIL 19): Moses did

40 years' worth of hard work on behalf of his people, delivering them out of slavery in Egypt. Yet God didn't allow him to enter into the Promised Land. Why? At the end of his travails, he made a minor mistake that angered God beyond reason. Petty? Harsh? Very much so. I'm happy to say that your fate will be very different from Moses'. Some months from now, when your labors bring you to the brink of your own personal version of the Promised Land, not even a small error will prevent you from entering and enjoying it. And what you do in the coming weeks will help ensure that later success.

TAURUS (APRIL 20-MAY 20): Built

in the third century B.C., the Colossus of Rhodes was a monumental statue of the Greek sun god. It stood in the harbor of the island of Rhodes and was called one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Alas, an earthquake struck the area 54 years after it was finished, knocking it over and smashing it into fragments. Three centuries later, many of the chunks still lay scattered around the harbor. I offer this as a teaching story, Taurus. If there are any old psychological ruins lying around in your psyche, I encourage you to conduct an imaginary ritual in which you visualize throwing those ruins into a big bonfire. Clear the slate for the new beginnings that will be available once the COVID-19 crisis has settled down.

GEMINI (MAY 21-JUNE 20): "Argue with

anything else," writes author Philip Pullman, "but don't argue with your own nature." Amen! That's always good advice for you Geminis, and it will be especially crucial in the coming weeks. A certain amount of disputation and challenging dialogue with other people will be healthy for you, even an effective way to get clarity and advance your aims. (Don't overdo it, of course.) But you must promise never to quarrel with or criticize your own nature. You should aim at being a radiant bastion of inner harmony and a powerhouse of self-love. Do whatever's necessary to coax all your different aspects to work together in sweet unity.

By Rob Brezsny

CANCER (JUNE 21-JULY 22): Like many Cancerians, painter Marc Chagall cultivated an intimate relationship with his dreams and fantasies. His fellow artist Pablo Picasso remarked, "When Chagall paints, you do not know if he is asleep or awake. Somewhere or other inside his head there must be an angel." Being a Crab myself, I know how essential it is for us to be in close connection with reverie and the imagination. Every now and then, though, there come occasions when the demands of the material world need our extra, focused attention—when our dreamy tendencies need to be rigorously harnessed in behalf of pragmatism. Now is one of those times. LEO (JULY 23-AUG. 22): Is there an influence you're ready to outgrow, Leo? Are there teachers who have given you all they have to offer, and now you need to go in search of new founts of inspiration and education? Have you squeezed all possible value out of certain bright ideas and clever theories that no longer serve you? Are you finished with old sources of excitement that have lost their excitement? These are the kinds of questions I encourage you to ask yourself in the coming weeks. It'll be a favorable time to celebrate the joyful art of liberation—to graduate from what might have been true once upon a time and prepare for the wide-open future after the COVID-19 crisis has mellowed. VIRGO (AUG. 23-SEPT. 22): Your words of power in the coming days are simple: deep, low, down, below, dig, dive and descend. I invite you to meditate on all the ways you can make them work for you as metaphors and use them to activate interesting, nourishing feelings. There'll be very little worth exploring on the surface of life in the coming weeks, Virgo. All the hottest action and most valuable lessons will be blooming in the fertile darkness.

LIBRA (SEPT. 23-OCT. 22): Before the COVID-19 crisis arrived, were you ensconced in roles that were good fits for your specific temperament and set of talents? Did you occupy niches that brought out the best in you and enabled you to offer your best gifts? Were there places that you experienced as power

spots—where you felt at home in the world and at peace with your destiny? Once you've meditated on those questions for a while, Libra, I'll ask you to shift gears—Meditate on how you'd like to answer similar questions about your life in the future. Once this crazy time has passed, what roles will be good fits for you? What niches will bring out the best in you? What will be your power spots?

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

a word that's not used much these days. It means a marsh or a boggy lowland. Decades ago, Scorpio poet Marianne Moore used it in a short poem. She wrote, "If you will tell me why the fen appears impassable, I will tell you why I think that I can cross it if I try." In my opinion, that's an apt battle cry for you right now. You shouldn't be upset if people tell you that certain things are impossible for you to do. You should be grateful! Their discouragement will rile up your deep intelligence and inspire you to figure out how you can indeed do those things.

SAGITTARIUS (NOV. 22-DEC. 21): "Goodness alone is never enough," wrote author Robert A. Heinlein. "A hard, cold wisdom is required for goodness to accomplish good. Goodness without wisdom always accomplishes evil." I think that's an interesting thought for you to consider during the coming weeks, Sagittarius. If you want your care and compassion to be effective, you'll have to synergize them with tough intelligence. You may even need to be a bit ferocious as you strive to ensure that your worthy intentions succeed and the people you love get what they need. CAPRICORN (DEC. 22-JAN. 19): Are there any ways in which you have been wishy-washy in standing up for what you believe in? Have you shied away from declaring your true thoughts and feelings about important issues that affect you and the people you care about? Have you compromised your commitment to authenticity and integrity for the sake of your ambition or financial gain? In asking you these questions, I am not implying that the answers are yes. But if in fact you have engaged in even a

small amount of any of those behaviors, now is an excellent time to make corrections. As much as possible, Capricorn, focus on being trustworthy and transparent.

AQUARIUS (JAN. 20-FEB. 18): Physicist Edward Teller believed there is no such thing as "exact science." And in his view, that's a good thing. "Science has always been full of mistakes," he said. But he added that they're mostly "good mistakes," motivating scientists to push closer toward the truth. Each new mistake is a better mistake than the last and explains the available evidence with more accuracy. I suspect that you've been going through a similar process in your personal life, Aquarius. And I predict that the good mistakes you've recently made will prove to be useful in the long run.

PISCES (FEB. 19-MARCH 20): Few astrologers would say that you Pisceans are masters of the obvious or connoisseurs of simplicity. You're not typically renowned for efficiency or celebrated for directness. Your strength is more likely to be rooted in your emotional riches, your ability to create and appreciate beauty, your power to generate big dreams, and your lyrical perspective on life. So my oracle for you this time may be a bit surprising. I predict that in the coming weeks, your classic attributes will be very useful when applied to well-grounded, downto-earth activities. Your deep feelings and robust imagination can be indispensable assets in your hard work on the nuts and bolts. THIS WEEK'S HOMEWORK: Rilke said, "If the Angel comes, it will be because you have convinced her, not by tears, but by your humble resolve to always be a beginner." Any comments? freewillastrology.com

freewillastrology.com

Stock Market Losses? Hire a lawyer who is a former Merril Lynch stock broker.

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news of the weird ANNALS OF ISOLATION In Melbourne, Australia, "a bit of boredom in isolation" led 27-year-old astrophysicist Daniel Reardon to experiment on March 26 with an idea to stop people from touching their faces—a necklace and accompanying bracelet of magnets that would sound an alarm whenever someone reached up, The Guardian reported. When that didn't work, Reardon started playing with the powerful neodymium magnets, clipping them to his earlobes and nostrils, and that's where things went wrong. Two magnets inside his nostrils became stuck together, and he couldn't separate them. Reardon tried using pliers, but they became magnetized: "Every time I brought the pliers close to my nose, my entire nose would shift toward the pliers and then the pliers would stick to the magnet," he said. Finally, his partner "took me to the hospital that she works in because she wanted all her colleagues to laugh at me," and doctors applied an anesthetic spray, then manually removed the magnets. "Needless to say, I am not going to play with the magnets anymore," Reardon said. •Donuts Delite in Rochester, New York, has found a special way to pay tribute to immunologist Dr. Anthony Fauci. Since March 23, the shop has been printing Dr. Fauci's image on thin, edible paper, then applying it to the buttercream frosting on its doughnuts. Nick Semeraro, franchisee of the shop, told the Democrat & Chronicle: "He's on TV giving us the facts; you've got to respect that. ... People are buying them like crazy. We're making more right now." The doc doughnuts go for $20 per dozen, curbside pickup and delivery available. •A survey commissioned by Mentimeter, an interactive presentation company, found that 12% of people working from home turn their computer's camera off during a video meeting because they're wearing few or no clothes, United Press International reported on March 26. Along with that, Walmart Executive Vice President Dan Bartlett told The Washington Post, "we're seeing increased sales in tops, but not bottoms," a phenomenon presumably driven by video conferencing workers who do leave their cameras on. •App developers Daniel Ahmadizadeh and Christopher Smeder have good news for those in the dating pool during this time of social distancing and staying at home. Quarantine Together is a text-based app they launched on March 15 that asks users once a day whether they've washed their hands, and if they say yes, they're introduced to another user. Nivi Jayasekar of San Francisco told CNN she was eager to give it a shot: "It was a hilarious idea. I feel like it's an opportunity to form a deeper connection with someone before meeting them," she said. Ahmadizadeh reports that sign-ups have been growing by 50% every day.

By the Editors at Andrews McMeel

DOGGONE IT! Alberto Tito Alejandro, 51, was arrested following a high-speed chase after Washington state troopers received multiple calls on March 29 about a car hitting two other vehicles south of Seattle and then racing away at speeds up to 100 mph, AFP reported. Trooper Heather Axtman said when officers got close to the 1996 Buick, they were shocked to see a dog sitting in the driver's seat. Alejandro was steering and pushing the gas pedal from the passenger seat. "When we took him into custody," Axtman said, "he admitted to our troopers that he was teaching his dog to drive. ... I've heard a lot of excuses ... but I've never had an excuse that the dog was driving." Alejandro was charged on multiple counts, including driving under the influence of drugs. ALL IN MedFet UK, a small company that supplies people who indulge in medical fetishes, donated its entire inventory ("just a few sets") of disposable medical scrubs to Britain's National Health Service on March 27 after being contacted by desperate procurement officers, Metro News reported. "When we, a tiny company set up to serve a small section of the kink community, find ourselves being sought out as a last-resort supplier to our National Health Service in a time of crisis, something is seriously wrong," the company posted on Twitter. It also took the opportunity to provide a PSA: "Whether getting ready for some kinky fun or guarding against a virus outbreak, the single most effective method of infection control is scrupulous hand hygiene." DESPERATE MEASURES After three days quarantined in his house in Mexico, Antonio Munoz got a yen for Cheetos. With the neighborhood store just feet away, but out of reach for a nonessential trip outside, Munoz enlisted the help of his chihuahua, Chokis. Munoz attached a note and $20 to Chokis' collar and sent the dog across the street. Sure enough, Chokis returned with the Cheetos, and Munoz told Metro News on March 25 he has repeated the trip two other times, bringing back different flavors of potato chips. CAN'T WIN A tractor-trailer crash and subsequent fire near Dallas on April 1 lay waste to an entire load of a hot commodity in these bizarre times: toilet paper. The Associated Press reported the driver was unharmed, but the TP "burned extensively" and spilled over the interstate, which had to be closed to traffic. The truck was hauling the large rolls typically used in business restrooms. {in}

Send your weird news items to WeirdNewsTips@amuniversal.com April 9, 2020

DOWNTOWN PENSACOL A

SHOPPING GUIDE Our downtown businesses are working through these uncertain times and adapting to serve you. Shop Online • Special Discounts • Order To Go • Get Curbside or Free Delivery • Personal Shopping Appointments With everyone working together, we will get through this. STAY SAFE AND SHOP LOCAL. To see the most up to date information, please visit DowntownPensacola.com or follow us on Facebook. For questions, please contact The Pensacola Downtown Improvement Board at (850) 434-5371.

Home/Gifts

Fitness

Melobay (850) 542-0010 • melobay.com

A&J Mug Shop (850) 434-2203• ajmugs.com

Bear Levin Studer Family YMCA (850) 438-4406 • ymcanwfl.org

Properly Posh Baby (850) 542-4269 • properlyposhbaby.com

Belle Ame’ Soap Bar (850) 912-8240 • belleame.com Bodacious Shops (850) 433-6505 • bodaciousolive.com Bodacious Bookstore and Café (850) 446-6966 bodaciousbookstore.indiecommerce.com

Disko Lemonade at Southtowne (850) 972-8117 • diskolemonade.com Pure Pilates (850) 607-2772 purepilatespensacola.com

Scout (850) 607-7105 • shopscoutonline.com Stay The Spa staythespa.com

Ride More Bicycles (850) 912-8805 • ridemorebicycles.com

The South Outfitters Downtown Pensacola (850) 332-5395 coastalpaddlecompany.com

Ride Society (850) 542-4266 • ridesociety.com

Style Downtown (850) 497-6648 • styledowntown.com

Fashion/Beauty

Volume ONE Salon (850) 434-5409 • volumeonesalon.com

Urban Objects (850) 912-8683 urbanobjectspensacola.com

Arrow Salon & Spa (850) 465-3862 vagaro.com/arrowsalonandspa

Wilfrid’s Barber and Fine Goods Phone: (850) 912-4200 wilfridspensacola.com

Jewelry

Bluetique (850) 432-1264 • bluetiquepensacola.com

Extras

Elebash Jewelry Company (850) 432-5136 • elebashs.com

DESHI (850) 497-6954 • deshibeauty.com

Jewelers Trade Shop (850) 432-4433 • jewelerstradeshop.com

Don Alans (850) 439-1762 • donalans.com

Susan Campbell Jewelry (850) 434-8948 susancampbelljewelry.com

GRAY Boutique (850) 495-3131 • graypensacola.com

Fiore of Pensacola (850) 469-1930 • fioreofpensacola.com Rusted Arrow Mercantile (850) 285-0371 rustedarrowmercantile.com

Art Artel Gallery (850) 432-3080 • artelgallery.org Blue Morning Gallery (850) 429-9100 bluemorninggallery.com Pensacola Museum of Art (850) 432-6247 • pensacolamuseum.org Quayside Art Gallery (850) 438-2363 • quaysidegallery.com

Indigeaux Denim Bar & Boutique (850) 607-2255 • shopidb.com Innerlight Surf & Skate Shop (850) 495-3507 • innerlightsurf.com Jo Rich Beauty Palafox Glamour Bar (850) 982-2545 • jorichbeauty.com The Market and Mainly Shoes (850) 434-3012 • ashopforwomen.com

Cigar Factory Pensacola Everyday Noon to 4 pm (850) 495-3308 cigarfactoryneworleans.com/pensacola Moza & Company Tile and Stone (850) 232-1832 • MozaAndCompany.com Palafox Computers Inc. (850) 332-5350 • palafoxcomputers.com Pandora De Balthazar European Luxury Bedding (850) 434-5117 pandoradebalthazar.com Schmidt’s Music (850) 434-0317 www.schmidtsmusic.com Dr Gene Terrezza & Associates (850) 434-2060 • terrezzaoptical.com

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~ BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE STUDERS ~ Independent News | April 9, 2020 | inweekly.net