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Independent News | August 6, 2020 | Volume 21 | Number 32

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winners & losers

outtakes

news

It was right on time.

a&e

cover story

calendar 16

11 publisher Rick Outzen

graphic designer Tim Bednarczyk

editor & creative director Joani Delezen

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

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.

Rub elbows with those who take their leisure time seriously.

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Your health and safety remain our TOP priority. At Bodacious, all cooking classes are demonstration style (hands off) at this time. Food and beverage staff are practicing the highest safety standards with daily temperature readings and wearing medical-grade face masks and gloves at all times. Guests will remain at recommended distances while enjoying a gourmet meal, a delicious glass of wine and a fresh Bodacious cooking experience. Due to limited product availability during COVID, our Chef may have to make menu substitutions based on the availability.

FRESH for AUGUST Cooking Classes

Fresh Gulf Seafood Bake Aug 12 6 PM $65 Join us for the best tips and tricks for cooking our fresh Gulf seafood! Our chefs will put together a delectable menu and demonstrate how to create incredible seafood dishes.

Julia Child French Cuisine Dinner - 7 courses

Cast Iron Filet & Gulf Shrimp Aug 24 6 PM $65 Don’t let cast iron feel intimidating! Become an expert cast iron chef with this class. Learn how to make pan-seared filet mignon with a fabulous shrimp dish! You’ll leave knowing how to cook and serve an iconic surf and turf from your home kitchen.

Aug 14 6 PM $100 Join us to celebrate the birthday of one of the world’s culinary stars. We will curate seven wonderful courses together for a decadent and one-ofa-kind experience. The dinner will focus on wonderful French cuisine and iconic recipes from Mastering the Art of French Cooking. Wine by the glass available, specially curated to pair with the meal. Bottles will be for sale from our retail shop.

Chinese Cuisine Demo Aug 26 6 PM $65 Make the best Chinese dishes at home! Enjoy crispy pork belly and a Gulf Shrimp entrée with a countryside vegetarian stir-fry featuring bok choy, Chinese cabbage, and mushrooms.

Ladies Night Charcuterie Aug 28 6 PM $65

Seafood Stuffed Flounder Aug 21 6 PM $65 Join our chefs as they demonstrate how to create a beautiful Balsamic Glazed Crab Stuffed Flounder over Lemon Risotto with Chef Roasted Vegetables. Served with Chefs Choice Salad with Homemade Vinaigrette and a decadent Dessert. Come to learn and enjoy this menu!

Create the perfect cheese board! We’ll focus on the art of preparing and serving a memorable charcuterie tray with each person creating their own. Customize your tray from a selection of various gourmet cheeses from around the globe, artisan cured meats, and assorted accoutrements. A complimentary glass of wine is included.

Cooking Class Participant Tips & Details: Culinary enthusiasts are encouraged to participate or observe during the class. • Wine & beer service available. • Participants receive 10% off shopping at SoGourmet on day of class. Credit and debit card only for purchases. Cooking Class Cancellation Policy: Classes must meet a minimum of 10 reservations. We reserve the right to cancel and undersold classes will be rescheduled. Reservation fees will be refunded within 24 hours. Full refund if cancellation is 48 hours before the date of the event. If cancellation is not 48 hours before the event, you can transfer your credit to an upcoming class. You cannot receive a full refund after the 48-hour mark. Thank you for your understanding!

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winners & losers

Michael Ledger / Courtesy of Feeding the Gulf Coast

winners MICHAEL LEDGER Feeding the Gulf Coast welcomes Ledger as its new president and CEO. He has overseen the Florida Branch as the Florida Branch manager since June 2019. Under his leadership, the branch has distributed nearly 15 million pounds of food throughout the Florida Panhandle, equating to nearly half of the food bank's distribution service area. Ledger has consistently implemented strategies to serve those in need in the communities while overcoming challenges presented by limited facility space and ongoing Hurricane Michael response efforts. While serving as the Florida Branch manager, Ledger was responsible for setting the stage for expanding the Milton warehouse. YMCA OF NORTHWEST FLORIDA

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YMCA lifeguards showed off their skills on July 26 in the Y's first Aquatics Games. Despite a lack of spectators, four teams of six aquatics staff competed in a swim relay, capture the flag, rescue relay and mini-triathlon, plus proved themselves in a written test and critical incident scenario. The Mermaid Squad won the games, which offered a rare afternoon of fun for the hardworking staff. "We're in that tough time of summer when staff are hitting the wall," said Aquatics Director Kristin Strickland. "This was something to look forward to and a chance to demonstrate their skills and teamwork." The Y has operated four area pools this season without any critical incidents.

2020 SENIOR CHILL OUT Despite the dawn-till-dusk rain in Northwest Florida on Friday, July 24, the Council on Aging of West Florida received a record number of donations for its 2020 Senior Chill Out. Held in partnership with WEAR ABC 3, Cat Country 98.7 and Lowe's Home Improvement stores, the single-day solicitation of ACs, fans and cash will enable the senior services agency to distribute tangible relief to hundreds of senior adults suffering in the stifling Florida heat. Five Lowe's locations across Escambia and Santa Rosa counties accepted donations totaling 353 ACs and $23,146, beating last year's record of 348 ACs and $20,674. The agency also received 295 fans.

Mark Inch / dc.state.fl.us

losers MARK INCH As COVID-19 spreads throughout the state's prison system, Florida Department of Corrections Secretary Mark Inch and Deputy Secretary Ricky Dixon have tested positive for the virus, the state agency announced late Friday, July 31—the same day the agency reported 9,801 cases among prisoners and employees. Inch began experiencing mild symptoms shortly after visiting Columbia Correctional Institution, a North Florida prison in Lake City where 1,300 inmates and 72 corrections workers have tested positive for the virus, according to the press release. Inch is the highest-ranking state official known to have tested positive for the virus since the first COVID-19 case was reported in Florida on March 1. The secretary has visited numerous correctional facilities and probation offices "to provide support" over the course of the pandemic. U.S. ECONOMY The Commerce Depart-

ment last week reported the sharpest economic contraction in our country's history. Gross domestic product (GNP) shrank at an annual rate of 32.9% in the second quarter as many businesses closed and consumers stayed home to slow the spread of the COVID-19 virus. The contraction in April, May and June was more than three times as sharp as the previous record—10% in 1958—and nearly four times the worst quarter during the Great Recession. Before COVID-19 hit, the national debt was estimated at 109% of GDP. Some have estimated the debt to GDP may move over 130% by the end of next year.

BRIAN MURPHY The Department of Homeland Security has reassigned the acting undersecretary for the department's Office of Intelligence and Analysis following news reports from the Washington Post that his office compiled intelligence reports on journalists and protesters in Portland, Ore. The newspaper reported that DHS had circulated three Open Source Intelligence Reports to federal law enforcement agencies. The reports targeted a reporter for The New York Times and the top editor of the blog Lawfare. Murphy has reportedly been moved to an administrative support role within the department's management directorate. inweekly.net

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outtakes By Rick Outzen

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HOME TO SPACE EXPLORATION Pensacola became a temporary part of the space program when the SpaceX recovery ship, GO Navigator, set out from NAS Pensacola to pick up the astronauts of SpaceX Crew Dragon Endeavour spacecraft after it splashed down in the Gulf of Mexico last Sunday afternoon. The splashdown was historic because it was the first return of a commercially built and operated American spacecraft carrying astronauts from the space station. Millions watched live coverage of the event and heard Pensacola mentioned numerous times. In a summer filled with sickness and death, the return of NASA's SpaceX Demo2 was a much-welcomed distraction. For those who grew up with the Mercury and Apollo missions and watched Neil Armstrong step on the moon, the splashdown was a chance to reconnect to those memories and remember the race to space and all the innovations it brought to our everyday lives. In September 1962, President John Kennedy declared our nation would put a man on the moon in a speech given in the football stadium at Rice University. "The exploration of space will go ahead, whether we join in it or not, and it is one of the great adventures of all time, and no nation which expects to be the leader of other nations can expect to stay behind in the race for space," he said. President Kennedy later added, "We choose to go to the moon in this decade … not because (the tasks) are easy, but because they are hard because that goal will serve to organize and measure the best of our energies and skills, because that challenge is one that we are willing to accept, one we are unwilling to postpone and one which we intend to win." Space exploration sparked our imaginations. We became fans of Star Trek and its many spin-offs. We saw the endless possibilities of a future that was diverse and without prejudice or strife. President George W. Bush tried to rekindle the enthusiasm for space explora-

tion with his Vision for Space Exploration in 2004. Among its goals were to explore Mars and other destinations with robotic and crewed missions and pursue commercial transportation to support the International Space Station and missions beyond low Earth orbit. Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX) is one of the commercial companies in the race to space. The company is own by Elon Musk, co-founder of PayPal, who watched the splashdown from the Kennedy Space Center. Amazon founder Jeff Bezos has financed Blue Origin, another aerospace company. Its Stena Freighter is docked at the Port of Pensacola and is being refitted as a landing platform for its New Glenn rocket design. Under the Obama administration, a robotic SpaceX capsule docked with the International Space Station for the first time in 2012. The White House expanded the space commercialization effort, giving private companies money to develop spacecraft that could carry astronauts to orbit. Last year, President Donald Trump reestablished the United States Space Command with its provisional headquarters at Peterson Air Force Base in Colorado Springs, Colo. On May 15, the U.S. Air Force announced an open bidding process to select the permanent U.S. Space Command headquarters' permanent location, and Pensacola is in the running. With the help of FloridaWest, Pensacola Mayor Grover Robinson has sent a letter to the Air Force expressing interest in the command. Retired U.S. Navy Capt. Christopher Middleton, who serves as chairman of the West Florida Defense Alliance and as the military affairs liaison for UWF President Martha Saunders, is working with FloridaWest on the Pensacola bid. Early projections are the command headquarters could generate 1, 400 jobs. Let's keep our fingers crossed that our city, where naval aviation began, could also be home to the U.S. Space Command. {in} rick@inweekly.net

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REPUBLICANS AGAINST TRUMP Rick Outzen The Lincoln Project is a group of prominent current and former Republicans who have banded together to make sure Donald Trump and his allies in the U.S. Senate don't win re-election this November. Their popular ads have been picked up by news outlets around the country, including former Pensacola Congressman Joe Scarborough's "Morning Joe" on MSNBC. They are hard-hitting and pull no punches on how Trump has dealt with the COVID-19 pandemic, his health and his lack of a replacement for Obamacare. Their video "Mourning in American" alleges President Trump has made "the nation weaker, sicker and teetering on the verge of a new Great Depression." It has garnered over 3.3 million views since it was published on YouTube on May 4. Another video, "Wake Up," already has three million views, and it's only been on YouTube since Thursday, July 30. The "Mourning" video earned a tweetstorm from the president when it debuted three months ago. "A group of RINO Republicans who failed badly 12 years ago, then again eight years ago, and then got BADLY beaten by me, a political first-timer, four years ago, have copied (no imagination) the concept of an ad from Ronald Reagan, 'Morning in America,' doing everything possible to get even for all of their many failures," wrote Trump. "I didn't use any of them because they don't know how to win, and their so-called Lincoln Project is a disgrace to Honest Abe." The Lincoln Project has used social media to point out what they see as the president's mistakes, lies and incompetence. So far, their strategy has worked, according to Pensacola native Ryan Wiggins, who serves as a regional press secretary for the organization.

"Almost every single ad that we have cut has gone viral," she told Inweekly in a recent interview. "We are currently not spending all that much money on TV. That's Facebook, Twitter and other social media, and it's working, even in Pensacola where we are really not focused right now." The Lincoln Project's Twitter account, @ProjectLincoln, has over 1.7 million followers. Its YouTube channel has more than 467,000 subscribers.

"The idea is to get into Trump's head and the heads of some of his enablers." Ryan Wiggins She added, "I love the fact that this is a super PAC (political action committee) that doesn't behave like a super PAC and is getting major national attention for acting more like a national campaign. The idea is to get into Trump's head and the heads of some of his enablers." Wiggins is a seasoned political strategist and media consultant. She has held key positions with the former Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum, Florida Department of Health, Florida Department of Children and Families, Florida Department of Transportation and the Executive Office of the Governor of Florida. As founder of Full Contact Strategies, LLC, Wiggins spearheaded the media and strategic political efforts behind the passage of the bill that legalized non-euphoric strains of cannabis for medical use. Wiggins is a longtime friend of Rick Wilson, a Republican political consultant who wrote the bestseller "Everything Trump Touches Dies." In December 2019, Wilson founded the Lincoln Project along with George Conway, husband of Trump advisor Kellyanne Conway, Steve Schmidt, a senior campaign strategist for Sen. John McCain in 2008, and several others.

The irony of the Lincoln Project is that many of its founders admit their past political campaigns for Republican candidates used negative ads against Democratic opponents that paved the way for Trump's political strategies in his 2016 presidential run. "They're all feeling like this is their penance," Wiggins said. "We need to fix this problem that, to some degree, we helped create." Wiggins worked to "fire Obama" and fought Obamacare while she worked for Attorney General McCollum. She said, "The things I have done personally and been involved in led to this presidency. That's one of the reasons I'm very happy that I got picked up on this project— because it's a chance to do the right thing." In 2016, she wrote a viewpoint against Trump that was published in several Florida newspapers, including the Tampa Bay Times. Trump's people never forgave her for speaking out, and she was blacklisted from working on other GOP campaigns. "The Republican Party prizes loyalty over all else," Wiggins said. "The fact that I have been a conservative my entire life and worked for conservative candidates means nothing because I don't stand with Donald Trump. I have been blacklisted essentially from the party. I'm a political orphan because this isn't my party, and I don't support this person in office." Since 2016, other Republican consultants have appeared reluctant to recommend that their clients challenge the Trump administration, according to Wiggins. "You see a lot of people having to sign contracts and sign pledges so that money goes into their campaigns," she told Inweekly. "When you're a swing state and have people running for office, you will need to keep them in line in the presidential year." She continued, "I think that that is one of the ways they're trying to keep Republicans in line. It's making them sign these pledges and telling their consultants they want money. They've got to come out for the president."

For Wiggins, the Republican Party looks nothing like the party that she joined when she registered to vote two decades ago. She said, "This is why you see prominent Republicans throughout the entire country coming out and stepping away from the party because this party is not that party. This is the party of Trump." She also doesn't think the Republican Party can be salvaged.

"We do not have any desire to go to save the Republican Party because it's not savable. It has become the party of Trump right now. In 2024, you'll have Tucker Carlson running or one of Donald Trump's kids. There's just no saving that." Wiggins "We do not have any desire to go to save the Republican Party because it's not savable," Wiggins said. "It has become the party of Trump right now. In 2024, you'll have Tucker Carlson running or one of Donald Trump's kids. There's just no saving that. The mission is to commit to getting rid of Donald Trump and getting rid of the people who have enabled his kind of behavior." Meanwhile, the reach of the Lincoln Project continues to grow, gaining social media followers by the thousands each week and "getting donations and seeing people sign up for our newsletter like crazy." "Some of the people that are the founders of this movement are people I studied in college," she said. "Every single person who is on this is at the top of their game right now. It is fascinating to work with these people. " Wiggins added, "It's a really great time in history to be a part of this. I am thrilled that a little girl from Pensacola got picked to be on this national campaign." {in}

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inweekly.net

PRIMARY ELECTION DAY IS

TUESDAY, AUGUST 18

In Florida’s closed partisan primary elections, you are only eligible to vote in primary contests for the party in which you are registered, unless it is a universal primary or nonpartisan contest. Due to the structure of Florida’s primary elections and Escambia County’s single-member districts, not all voters will receive a ballot in the August primary election. Your party affiliation, district and precinct determine which contests appear on your primary election ballot. For some voters, there are no primary contests in which they are eligible to vote.

Escambia County Supervisor of Elections David H. Stafford reminds you there are

Three Ways to Vote

1. Early Beginning Saturday, August 8, through Saturday, August 15, voters may cast their ballot early at any one of nine area locations using our Ballot on Demand technology and digital scanners. An ExpressVote Ballot Marking Device is also available for use. Early voting times and locations can be found on EscambiaVotes.com

2 . By Mail Any voter may request a vote-by-mail ballot by using the online form at EscambiaVotes.com, by contacting the Supervisor of Elections by mail, phone, email, fax, or in person at the Elections Office, 213 Palafox Place, 2nd Floor. Requests must include the voter’s date of birth and address, and must be received no later than Saturday, August 8. Voted ballots must be returned to the Elections Office no later than 7 p.m. on Election Day. Vote-by-mail voters may track the status of their ballots at EscambiaVotes.com. 3. At Your Precinct Cast your ballot at your precinct on Election Day, using our DS200 digital scanners or an ExpressVote Ballot Marking Device. On Tuesday, August 18, polls will be open from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m. For election results and complete voting information, please visit us at

EscambiaVotes.com (850) 595-3900

August 6, 2020

soe@escambiavotes.com

"While this settlement cannot bring Mr. Crawford back to his family, his story and the settlement should be used as a springboard for further progress in our community," said the firm. "Mr. Crawford's family looks forward to working with city and PPD officials to protect against the possibility that this kind of excessive force tragedy is allowed to occur again."

PANDEMIC OR NOT Escambia County ad-

SAFE ELECTIONS Last month, the University of West Florida Center for Cybersecurity provided virtual training for the Escambia County Supervisor of Elections staff in preparation for the 2020 election. The election training session included reporting suspicious activity, demystifying the world of hackers and building a cybersecurity culture in which all staff members understand their roles in minimizing vulnerabilities. "A network is only as strong as its weakest link," said Center for Cybersecurity Assistant Director Guy Garrett, who led the training session. "Credit to the Escambia County Supervisor of Elections staff for taking this seriously. Voters in the county should take comfort in the fact that the staff increased their preparedness by participating in the training." Supervisor of Elections David Stafford scheduled the training session as a proactive step to ensure his staff is properly prepared for possible cybersecurity threats during the general election. "Election security has never been more important to Florida's election officials," Stafford said. "Supervisors of elections from across the state have engaged with state, federal and non-governmental entities to enhance our security posture. UWF's Center for Cybersecurity has been a key partner in our efforts." For more information about the UWF Center for Cybersecurity, visit uwf.edu/ cybersecurity. JULY COVID SUMMARY July was a particularly deadly month for Escambia County due to widespread cases of the COVID-19 virus throughout the community. 88

On June 30, the county had 2,046 total positive cases, 7,074 being Florida residents. The cases more than tripled. The positivity rate jumped from 6% to 12% yearto-date by the end of the month. Hospitalizations quadrupled, going from 94 to 440 total by July 31. Deaths skyrocketed from 44 on June 30 to 97 on July 31. Cases associated with long-term care facilities went from 344 to 714.

CRAWFORD SETTLEMENT The Zarzaur

Law firm last week announced that the City of Pensacola and the family of Tymar Crawford had reached an amicable settlement of the Pensacola Police Department's (PPD) use of excessive force that resulted in the killing of Mr. Crawford on July 5, 2019. "As the Pensacola Police Department determined, Officer Siemen violated the city's use of deadly force policies when he shot and killed Mr. Crawford," said the firm in its press release, noting the officer has been fired. "By meeting the demands of Mr. Crawford's family, the city has further acknowledged the wrongful conduct of its officer. This acknowledgment has meant a great deal to Mr. Crawford's family and friends most affected by his death." The settlement amount was the maximum amount allowed by Florida law under these facts and circumstances, according to the firm. Crawford's family believes that by settling the case, establishing the Citizen's Review Board and by hiring a consultant to assist them in reviewing and reforming its police training, the city has shown that it is taking steps toward addressing the inadequacies apparent from this tragedy.

ministration has continued to hold meetings with developers and contractors on their development plans since March. The fact that county operations have continued during the crisis has been a source of pride for leaders in the county administration—even bragged about at commission meetings. However, when the time comes for county officials to sit down and negotiate with union officials, COVID suddenly becomes a problem, and the county puts off bargaining sessions to the end of September. The county's HR director recently notified ATU Local 1395 President Mike Lowery that no bargaining session will be held until the end of September "due to ongoing impacts of the COVID pandemic and unavoidable scheduling conflicts." "Many factors and alternatives were considered," wrote HR Director Jana Still. " However, at this time, the decision is to temporarily suspend labor negotiations in accordance with the Board of County Commissioners Pandemic Influenza Emergency Plan." That sort of makes sense—until you dig deeper. For the county's Pandemic Influenza Emergency Plan to go into effect, the county must proclaim a pandemic influenza emergency. That didn't happen when the emergency order was signed by Commission Chair Steven Barry on March 16. The order opened the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) but made no mention of an influenza pandemic. Furthermore, the governor's executive order in March declared a public health emergency but didn't use the words "pandemic" or "influenza." Escambia isn't concerned enough about the health risk to require employees to wear face coverings. Most of the Emergency Support Functions (ESF) at the EOC have been demobilized for weeks. According to the plan's overview, a pandemic for the county government is characterized by a cumulative absentee rate of up to or more than 25-30% of county employees for up to six months on a rolling basis. The county's snapshot dated 7/29/20 only showed only 1.47% of its employees are currently positive for COVID. Another 1.52% are awaiting testing—nowhere near a pandemic-level crisis for the county gov-

ernment. The persistent message from the county administration is the virus has had no impact on its operations, so why does it suddenly matter in union negotiations? Is it a pandemic or county business as usual? The administration can't have it both ways.

STAY CLEAN As of Wednesday, July 29,

Escambia County has offered bottles of hand sanitizer in addition to face masks as part of its public health campaign, "Mask Up, Escambia!" The face mask encouragement campaign—with an exclamation point so you know they really mean it—began on July 1. "Escambia County is pleased to be able to offer free hand sanitizer in addition to a free mask for the public during this unprecedented time," said Emergency Manager Eric Gilmore.

"Unfortunately, it sounds like COVID-19 is not going away anytime soon. We are urging the public to continue to focus on staying clean to stay healthy." Eric Gilmore "Unfortunately, it sounds like COVID-19 is not going away anytime soon. We are urging the public to continue to focus on staying clean to stay healthy," he added. "The county has supplies, and we are doing everything in our power to encourage the public to 'Mask Up' and stay clean." As an added bonus, when the public picks up at up 2-ounce hand sanitizer bottle, they also will get a free mask while supplies last. The county has 10,000 hand sanitizer bottles and 27,000 masks in stock for this campaign, so hurry before the supply runs out. The COVID giveaways are available at all library branches from 2-6 p.m., MondayFriday, and 8 a.m.-5 p.m. at Escambia County Extension, 3740 Stefani Road; Brownsville Community Center, 3200 W. De Soto St.; and Ebonwood Community Center, 3511 W. Scott St. They are also available the Lifeguard Tower 4 on Casino Beach.

JAIL JUMBLE An inmate at the Henderson

County Detention Center tested positive for COVID-19 on Saturday, July 25. According to Henderson County Jailer Amy Brady, the inmate was extradited to the facility from the Escambia County Jail, where he had been since July 8, before arriving in Henderson on Wednesday evening. As Inweekly has reported, the county administration's policy has been to only test prisoners if they show symptoms, even though Commissioner Lumon May and Commission Chairman Steven Barry have inweekly.net

reportedly asked the administrator to test all inmates. The positivity rate for the 200plus inmates that have been tested has exceeded 70%. As of Tuesday, July 27, Corrections work crews have retuned for six county departments—Roads, Waste Services, Parks, Facilities, Code Enforcement and Animal Services. The redeployment timeline may be accelerated or delayed based on the rate of return of staff to duty and the availability of inmate crews medically cleared for work. "We are looking forward to providing services such as grounds keeping and support to the landfill, animal services, code enforcement and fleet maintenance again." Escambia County Corrections Chief Rich Powell said. "Temperatures are taken as road crews depart and return to the facility each day, and we will continue to monitor this situation throughout this pandemic." Corrections received its first positive COVID-19 test result at the work annex, formerly known as the road prison, on July 9. As a precaution, the medical recommendation was to suspend road crew operations that provide services throughout the county.

A RACE FOR ROOM NIGHTS With

our community's health in mind, Ronald McDonald House Charities of Northwest Florida (RMH) has decided to host a different kind of race this year. Now through the end of August, they are challenging the community to Race for Room Nights. Ronald McDonald House Charities of Northwest Florida continues to serve families who have a child facing a medical crisis. They have partnered with Highpointe Hotel Corporation to secure rooms for a deeply discounted rate, and RMH has covered these hotel stays for each incoming family. The challenge is to form a team and compete against one another to see who can raise the most money for hotel stays. A one-night stay equals $50. The teams

who raise the most money for room nights will receive a trophy and be announced on RMH social media pages along with their monthly e-newsletter. Whether your team is just you or a group of 100, there is still a chance to bring home the prize, as the categories for the winners are based on team size. Donations to support your team can be made online at rmhc-nwfl.org/firecracker5k. Simply leave your team name in the comment section before clicking the donate button to ensure your team receives credit for your donation. RMH encourages you to get outside and participate in your own Firecracker 5k! Have your friends, family or coworkers pledge $50 per mile you go. By hosting your own 5k and receiving pledges, you could support a family for three nights. For up-to-date information, visit rmhcnwfl.org/firecracker-5k or check out the Facebook page at facebook.com/rmhcnorthwestfl. For more information, contact Morgan at morgan@rmhc-nwfl.org.

COMMUNITY INVESTMENT United

Way of West Florida recently awarded $647,549 in grants to 31 nonprofit agencies in support of 35 programs through the organization's Community Investment Process. Programs operated by these agencies provide critical services to individuals and families across Escambia and Santa Rosa counties in the areas of health, education and financial stability. The source of the grant funds are undesignated contributions from nearly 100 area workplace campaigns and individual donors. The grant awards by focus area are listed below: HEALTH AWARDS— $180,214 •Hot Meals Program: Bright Bridge Ministries •Nutrition Program: Council on Aging of West Florida •Gulf Breeze Weekend Food Program: Gulf Breeze Presbyterian Church

•Family Advocacy for Child Victims of Abuse: Gulf Coast Kid's House •Access to Care: Health and Hope Clinic •Sexual/Physical Abuse Treatment Program: Lutheran Services of Florida •Healthy Seniors Food Program and Tummy Bundles: Manna •Hygiene Kits for Students on Food Assistance Programs: Outreach Navarre •Outreach and Prevention: Santa Rosa Kids' House EDUCATION AWARDS—$223,666 •Re-entry and GED Program: AMIkids Kids for Camp: Autism Pensacola •Academic Success: Boys and Girls Club of the Emerald Coast •Capstone Academy: Capstone Adaptive Learning and Therapy Centers •Teenspace Program: Children's Home Society of Florida •A Step Ahead: Community Action Program •ReadingPals: Every Child A Reader Escambia •Weekend Food Program Food Bags: Outreach Navarre •Girls Earning Diplomas (GED) Program: PACE Center for Girls •Pearl Nelson Center Early Intervention: The Arc Gateway FINANCIAL STABILITY AWARDS—$177,000 •Emergency Assistance Program: Catholic Charities of Northwest Florida •Family Resource: Family Resource Program of Santa Rosa •Financial Stability Program for Domestic Violence Victims: FavorHouse of Northwest Florida Mobile Pantry Program: Feeding the Gulf Coast •Independence for Dependent and Homeless Youth: Legal Services of North Florida •Veterans Legal Assistance: Legal Services of North Florida •Re-entry Portal Serving Santa Rosa County: Re-entry Alliance Pensacola

•Social Services and Basic Needs: The Salvation Army •Overnight Shelter & Short-Term Rescue Program: Waterfront Rescue Mission •Child Care: YMCA of Northwest Florida United Way of West Florida also is funding the final year of multi-year grants, totaling $66,669, to: •Community Based: Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwest Florida •Service Learning and Leadership Development: Chain Reaction •Epilepsy Services and Resources Center: Epilepsy Florida •Child Abuse Prevention Education: Gulf Coast Kid's House •Victim Services: Lakeview Center Through a separate fundraising effort, UWWF launched a response fund to support households that have been economically affected by the COVID-19 pandemic facing our nation and community. UWWF's COVID-19 Fund has received $385,297 in support from corporate and individual donors. Major corporate contributors are the Gulf Power Foundation, Inc, Florida Blue, Beach Community Bank, Wind Creek Hospitality, Eastman Foundation and Navy Federal Credit Union. UWWF distributed phase one of the COVID-19 Response Fund grants totaling $246,266 to nonprofit agencies providing direct support to impacted individuals and families in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties. Remaining and additional funding will be distributed at a later date and will focus on current community priorities. Similar to the Community Investment process, the Response Fund distribution process was volunteer-driven. Community Investment and COVID-19 Response Fund grants provide vital support to programs that improve lives by providing emergency assistance and access to health care. To learn more about UWWF's work, visit uwwf.org. {in}

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2020 PRIMARY GUIDE Let's admit it—most of us had really hoped that by the time election season was in full swing, things would be back to "normal." Or at least as close to "normal" as things could get in 2020. Even though that's not the case, it's still important that we all exercise our right to vote in both the upcoming primary election this month and the general election in November. In many ways, this primary is being viewed as a test run, especially when it comes to voting by mail. Some voting experts are predicting half or more of all ballots cast in November will be sent through the mail due to the pandemic. That means election officials, candidates and voters have some things to learn and processes to adjust before November. There's still a little time to request a mail-in ballot for the primary and early voting starts this weekend, so we included details on how to do both here. We also included a roundup of all the City of Pensacola and August 6, 2020

Escambia County races and some resources to help you learn more about the candidates.

BALLOT BREAKDOWNS

On Aug. 18, Escambia County voters will decide the primaries of 10 local races, although the ballots will vary widely depending on your district and party. One of the highest-profile races, as always, is U.S. Congress, District 1. All Republicans will choose between incumbent Congressman Matt Gaetz and two challengers to decide who will face Democrat Phil Ehr and No-Party Affiliation (NPA) candidate Albert Oram in November. Both GOP challengers have run for office before—Greg Merk against Alex Andrade for Florida House District 2 in 2018 and John Mills for Congress in 2016 and 2018. The two Florida House primaries are also Republican-only affairs, and if you have Twitter, you're probably aware the District 2 race has gotten a little intense.

In District 1, incumbent Mike Hill faces Michelle Salzman for the right to face Democrat Franscine Mathis in the general election. In District 2, incumbent Alex Andrade battles Cris Dosev. The winner meets Democrat Dianne Krumel in November. Three Escambia County commissioners and three Emerald Coast Utilities Authority board members are up for re-election. The District 1 county commission and ECUA primaries are universal primaries, which means all registered voters in the district may cast a ballot. Incumbent Jeff Bergosh faces Jesse Casey, Jonathan Owens and Jimmie Trotter. The primary for ECUA District 1 features Debra Brusso against incumbent Vicki Campbell. The top vote-getters of the two primaries will be declared winners. The District 3 races are Democratonly primaries. For the District 3 county commission seat, incumbent Lumon May faces LuTimothy May Sr. The winner will face write-in Jason Laird in November.

Five Democrats are running for the ECUA District 3 seat—Ellison Bennett, Clorissti Bernie-Shoemo, Eric L. Jordan Sr., Ashley McDonald and Larry Williams. The winner will face Republican Pueschel Schneier and NPA candidates Calvin Avant and John R. Johnson in the general election. The District 5 county commission primary is for Republicans only. Incumbent Steven Barry faces John Reading and Meagan Walters for the right to meet Democrat Barbara Goins in November. The ECUA District 5 primary is a universal primary and matches Kevin Stephens and incumbent Larry Walker. The winner gets the board seat. The Pensacola City Council races are nonpartisan, meaning party affiliation isn't considered on the ballot. Only council races with more than two candidates require a primary. If no one garners over half the votes, then the top two face off in the general election. Brenton Goodman, James L. Gulley and Delarian Wiggins are in this primary. 11

AUGUST PRIMARY RACES

COUNTY COMMISSIONER, DISTRICT 5 REPUBLICAN Steven Barry facebook.com/stevenbarryforcountycommissionerdistrict5

We included the candidates' websites here so you can check out their platforms and qualifications if you're still undecided.

JOHN READING

U.S. CONGRESS, DISTRICT 1 REPUBLICAN Matt Gaetz mattgaetz.com Greg Merk votemerk.com John Mills johnmillsforcongress.com

ECUA, DISTRICT 1 UNIVERSAL PRIMARY (open to all registered voters) Debra Brusso facebook.com/debra-brusso-for-ecua-district-1 Vicki H. Campbell facebook.com/vickicampbellforecua ECUA, DISTRICT 3 DEMOCRAT Ellison Bennett ellisonbennettforecua.com Clorissti Berine-Shoemo clorisstiforecua.com Eric L. Jordan Sr. Ashley McDonald votemcdonald2020.com Larry Williams facebook.com/electlarrywilliams

FLORIDA HOUSE, DISTRICT 1 REPUBLICAN Mike Hill facebook.com/hill4fl Michelle Salzman michellesalzmanforhouse.com FLORIDA HOUSE, DISTRICT 2 REPUBLICAN Alex Andrade voteandrade.com Cris Dosev dosev2020.com

ECUA, DISTRICT 5 UNIVERSAL PRIMARY (open to all registered voters) Kevin Stephens facebook.com/kevinstephensecuadistrict5 Larry Walker facebook.com/votelarrywalkerecua

COUNTY COMMISSIONER, DISTRICT 1 UNIVERSAL PRIMARY (open to all registered voters) Jeff Bergosh jeffbergoshblog.blogspot.com Jesse Casey jessecasey.net Jonathan Owens facebook.com/owensdistrict1 Jimmie Trotter facebook.com/jimmietdist1

CITY COUNCIL, DISTRICT 7 NON-PARTISAN (open to all registered voters) Brenton Goodman votebrentongoodman.com James L. Gulley Delarian Wiggins facebook.com/delarianforpensacola

COUNTY COMMISSIONER, DISTRICT 3 DEMOCRAT Lumon May lumonmay.com LuTimothy May Sr. facebook.com/lutimothymaydis3

To see which of these races will be on your ballot, visit escambiavotes.gov/sample-ballot.

CANDIDATE FORUMS AND INFORMATION RESOURCES

In addition to studying up on the candidates by way of their websites and Facebook pages, here are some other valuable resources and events to check out.

WSRE'S "RALLY" "RALLY" is a televised candidate forum produced by WSRE in

cooperation with both the League of Women Voters Pensacola Bay Area and the League of Women Voters of Okaloosa and Walton Counties. The first of this primary's two forums focused on the following races—Escambia County Commission Districts 1, 3 and 5; State Representative Districts 1 and 2; and U.S. Congress District 1. The primary forums have already been broadcast, but you can still stream them at wsre.org/productions/rally.

CITY COUNCIL CANDIDATES The Greater Pensacola Chamber and News Radio

REGISTRATION RECAP

A few weeks ago, we learned about voter registration stats in Escambia County. As of July 31, the Escambia County Supervisor of Elections reports 223,357 total registered voters. That's a cumulative increase of 10,370 voters since the 2018 general election. Registered voter turnout for the 2018 general election was 130, 406 out of 212,987, about 61%. For the 2016 general election, the last presidential race, Escambia County had 74% voter turnout. But how did those local voters actually cast their votes?

2018 GENERAL ELECTION Voted by Mail Voted Early Voted on Election Day Provisional Ballots

2016 GENERAL ELECTION Voted by Mail Voted Early Voted on Election Day Provisional Ballots 212 1

26.5% 29.9% 43.5% 0.01%

Megan Walters facebook.com/meganwalters4d5

34,540 39,053 56,747 66

92.3/AM1620 are hosting a forum for Pensacola City Council candidates 5:30-7 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 6, at The Deck at The Fish House. In an effort to maintain CDC guidelines, in-person participation will be limited. However, the public can register to join virtually at pensacolachamberfl.chambermaster.com/eventregistration/register/5541.

VIRTUAL ECUA CANDIDATE FORUM The League of Women Voters of the Pensacola Bay Area hosted a virtual forum Aug. 3 for ECUA candidates. You can find a recording of that forum at lwvpba.org. VOTE 411 Launched by the League of Women Voters Education Fund in October of

2006, VOTE411 is a one-stop shop for election-related information. Visit vote411.org to learn more.

DATES TO REMEMBER AUG. 8 Primary Election Voteby-Mail Ballot Request Deadline

AUG. 8-15 Primary Election

Early Voting

AUG. 18 Primary Election OCT. 5 General Election Voter Registration Deadline OCT. 24 General Election Voteby-Mail Ballot Request Deadline

25.3% 36.2% 38.4% 0.01%

39,313 56,179 59,575 157

OCT. 24-31 General Election

Early Voting

NOV. 3 General Election inweekly.net

HOW TO VOTE IN 2020

As we mentioned, coronavirus concerns are impacting the election cycle in numerous ways, and questions about voter safety are extremely valid. In light of that, we've included extensive instructions on voting-by-mail and early voting options.

HOW DO I VOTE BY MAIL?

All qualified and registered voters are permitted to vote by mail under Florida State Statute 101.62. You must request a mail-in ballot by 5 p.m. the 10th day before the next election—which is this week for the upcoming primary. So if you think you want to use this method to cast your ballot in this particular election, you must make your request no later than 5 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 8. Mail-in ballots must be received by the Supervisor of Elections (SOE) office no later than 7 p.m. on Election Day, so be sure to get yours in the mail as promptly as you can. In Escambia County the cost of return postage has already been covered, so you don't have to worry about that. Worried about your ballot making it to the SOE in time? You can use their "Track My Ballot" tool to chart the progress of your vote from the mailbox to the destination. Go to escambiavotes.gov/track-my-ballot to learn more. According to the ACLU of Florida, one reason vote-by-mail ballots are rejected have to do with signatures. "When you vote by mail, a layperson will compare your signature on the outside of the ballot certificate envelope to the signature on file with the elections office," their website explains. The signature needs to match the signature the SOE has on file, captured from your voter registration application, so make sure you actually sign it and don't treat it like a random credit card receipt. In the event that there is a problem with your vote-by-mail ballot, you should be notified by the SOE. If you're still a little wary of this process, just make sure you track your ballot using that link we listed. If you can't track it on their website within three days of mailing it, you should contact your SOE. If you are worried you're cutting it close to the deadline or just decide you'd rather vote in person, you can bring your mail-in ballot to any early voting location during the early voting period or your local precinct on Election Day. You'll surrender your mail-in ballot and receive an in-person ballot instead. If you're unable to return the ballot, you'll have to vote with a provisional ballot, so make sure you don't end up in that situation. You can also drop your mail-in ballot off at the SOE office by 7 p.m. on Election Day. For more on voting by mail in Escambia County, visit escambiavotes.gov/vote-by-mail.

HOW DO I VOTE EARLY?

For the Aug. 18 primary election, you can vote early from Saturday, Aug. 8, through Saturday, Aug. 15. There are nine early voting locations in Escambia County, and any registered Escambia County voter can vote at any early voting polling place.

LOCATION Supervisor of Elections Office Main Library Molino Community Center Genealogy Branch Library Southwest Branch Library Pensacola Interstate Fairgrounds Escambia County Extension Brownsville Community Center UWF Conference Center

ADDRESS

213 S. Palafox, Second Floor 239 Spring St. 6450-A Highway 95A, Molino 5740 N. Ninth Ave. 12248 Gulf Beach Highway 6655 Mobile Highway 3740 Stefani Road, Cantonment 3200 W. DeSoto St. 11000 University Parkway, Bldg. 22

HOURS

8 a.m.-5 p.m. 9 a.m.-6 p.m. 9 a.m.-6 p.m. 9 a.m.-6 p.m. 9 a.m.-6 p.m. 9 a.m.-6 p.m. 9 a.m.-6 p.m. 9 a.m.-6 p.m. 9 a.m.-6 p.m.

HOW DO I VOTE ON ELECTION DAY?

First, find your precinct. This will be based on the address associated with your voter registration—which you remembered to update, right? You can use the handy “Find My Precinct” tool on the SOE website to find yours: escambiavotes.gov/precinct-finder. Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on election days. According to the 2018 general election, the most voters per hour were before 8 a.m. and between 4 and 6 p.m. If you’re interested in being a poll worker, you can get more info and download an application on the SOE website at escambiavotes.gov/election-worker-information. Poll workers require two hours of training before each election. Pensacola Votes is a nonpartisan voter education and civic engagement guide developed by the team at Inweekly to empower local voters to show up and stay focused. In a period where many of us are looking for ways to get involved and make a positive impact, Pensacola Votes will bring you educational resources to help you help your community. Got questions? Send them to us at pensacolavotes@gmail.com, or send us a direct message on Instagram, @pensacolavotes. August 6, 2020

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WEEK OF AUGUST 6-12

Arts & Encouragement hope, help and other signs of humanity at a time when we really need it...

Microgrants Make a Big Impact By Jennifer Leigh

THE SPRING'S BLACK-OWNED SMALL BUSINESS MICROGRANT RECIPIENTS: 4TH QUARTER BARBERSHOP 6505 N. W St. A TOP NOTCH CHRISTIAN ACADEMY 401 W. Wright St. ASHER & BEE, APOTHECARY AND TEAHOUSE 3014 N. Ninth Ave., Ste. B, asherandbee.com BEAUTIFUL YOU STUDIO 513 W. Intendencia St., facebook.com/pensacoladance COLE'S WINGS AND THINGS 2301 N. Pace Blvd. FARROW'S BARBER SHOP 1200 W. Gadsden St. FAXON STYLZ SALON 321 N. DeVilliers St., facebook.com/snobhairsalon FRAZIER'S BOUTIQUE AND FASHIONS 2408 Langley Ave., Ste. E Anthony and Sabrina Simpson, owners of Something Old Salvage

Last month, the Spring Entrepreneur Hub launched its Black-Owned Small Business Microgrant Program to help boost eligible small businesses in Escambia County. Twenty-nine Black-owned businesses were awarded the minimum $1,500 microgrant, most of which have not received any loans or grants since the beginning of the pandemic. Those grants are helping give local businesses a little extra help when they need it most. "It was right on time," said Asher & Bee Apothecary and Tea House Owner Marni Woodson. Woodson had reopened her store at its new location on Ninth Avenue just a few months before the pandemic closed businesses everywhere. Suddenly, she had to find a way to sustain her business and reach customers in a new, yet socially distant, way. "We started doing virtual events, curbside pickup—we have an app where people can shop," she said. Like a lot of small business owners, Woodson looked at state and federal grants but found there were too many hoops to jump through. Woodson is not only the owner but the only employee at her shop, which makes it hard to spend the extra time on paperwork. However, applying for the microgrant was "really easy," she said. Following the death of George Floyd, the microgrants from The Spring Entrepreneur Hub—a program of the Studer Community Institute (SCI)—serves as a way to support Black entrepreneurs. Businesses that did not August 6, 2020

receive a grant were offered free training from SCI. Studies have long shown there are disparities Black people face in health care, education, and incarceration, to name a few. That can also apply to business, said Woodson. "This helps create some equal footing," she added. "Black business owners don't always have access to resources." As a certified herbalist, Woodson uses native herbs and plants to make natural remedies. And she's seen an uptick in customers in recent months who've come to her with no health insurance or those who seek natural alternatives to alleviate the burden on the health care system during the pandemic. With her grant, she'll be able to keep up with demand, she said. "It's important to have not just a local herbalist, but a Black herbalist who can help treat the health disparities Black people face," she said. During the height of the pandemic, Sabrina Simpson, who owns Something Old Salvage with her husband, Anthony, said the business lost 30% in sales during the height of the pandemic. They were able to receive help from the Payroll Protection Program. And the microgrant was also put toward payroll costs, said Simpson. "With any infusion of capital, we want to put it directly into re-investing in our employees," she added. In the last few months, business has picked back up, and Simpson was able to hire three more employees. One reason to support small businesses—they support you right back.

"We are hiring local people who re-invest their money into the local community," said Simpson. "When you support small business, your money stays in the local economy." Something Old Salvage started as a side gig for Sabrina and Anthony before they left their respective careers to become first-time business owners two years ago. They've received mentorship from The Spring in the past, which was "invaluable." "Just in that first conversation, we came away with new ideas," said Simpson. "It was a wealth of knowledge." The microgrant has given them peace of mind as they look to the future of their business. With so much uncertainty around the pandemic, the extra funding was simply "a blessing," said Simpson. {in}

SUPPORT BLACKOWNED BUSINESSES

Next time you go out to eat or go shopping or need a specific service, check to see how you can support Black business owners in the Pensacola area. Here are a few places to find directories:

GERTRUDE FOWLER ADULT FAMILY PROVIDER 432-5044 GIANT PRODUCTIONS ratedgpmedia.com GOODFELLAS BARBER SHOP 120 Chief's Way, Ste. 4 HARMONIC LEARNING EDUCATION AND TRAINING, LLC facebook.com/harmoniclearningedu HENNY PENNY'S PATISSERIE 4412 W. Jackson St., hennypennyspatisserie.com JAMES B. WASHINGTON EDUCATION AND SPORTS, INC. jbweducationandsports.org LIBERTY 1ST TAXI 602-7306 MIZ DIVA'S DEN BEAUTY SALON 49 W. Ensley St. NICKY'S HEAVENLY HAIR facebook.com/nichole.d.burrows PENSACOLA KID'S PLACE 875 E. Nine Mile Road, Ste. 6, kidsplayplacefl.com PENSACOLA ROYAL PERFORMERS INC. facebook.com/pnsroyalperformersInc.17 REALITY CHECK COUNSELING SERVICES, LLC 321 N DeVilliers St., realitycheckcs.com SIGNATURE STYLEZ SALON 4400 Bayou Blvd. SISTERS OF HOPE INC. sistersofhopereentry.net SOMETHING OLD SALVAGE 6505 N. W St., somethingoldsalvage.com STILL CUTTIN UP BEAUTY SALON 2704 W. Avery St. #2, facebook.com/stillcuttinuphairstudio STRIKE A SELFIE OPEN-AIR PHOTOBOOTH LLC strikeaselfiephotobooth.com THE NEIGHBORHOOD ICE CREAM PARLOR 120 Chief's Way, Unit F

GULF COAST MINORITY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE: gcmcc.info

UNITY SALON & SPA CENTER LLC 919 W. Michigan Ave., facebook.com/unitysalonandspacenter

BANTUCOLA: bantucola.com

VIOLA'S MEN'S APPAREL 2727 W. Cervantes St., facebook.com/violas850

INWEEKLY'S BLACK-OWNED PENSACOLA DIRECTORY: inweekly.net/black-owned-pensacola

YARDED OUT yardedout.org 15

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

NONPROFITS & FUNDRAISERS

JOY COMMITTEE ADOPTION EVENT

Meet your next fur friend with the Joy Committee adoption event at Petsense in Gulf Breeze, noon-3 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 8. Petsense is located at 3335 Gulf Breeze Parkway. Visit facebook.com/thejoycommittee for more information.

CAT/KITTEN SUPPLIES FOR PET PANTRY CRITICALLY LOW AT PENSACOLA HUMANE SOCIETY The Pensacola

Humane Society's Pet Pantry is in need of donations, especially for kittens. Kitten season is in full swing, and the pantry is low on essential kitten supplies, such as cat and kitten food, kitten formula, litter, bedding and other items. The Pet Pantry provides dog and cat food, litter and treats 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. to 4 p.m. seven days a week at 5 Q St. For more information, visit pensacolahumane.org.

DOGGIE BATHE-INS RESUME The Pen-

sacola Humane Society 2020 Doggie BatheIn season has begun, with proceeds going to fund its foster program and kitten supplies. Bathe-ins offer low-cost dog bathing and flea dips during the warm weather season. Events are held the third Saturday of the month, April through October, and continue as follows—Aug. 15, Sept. 19 and Oct. 17. Charges are based on the dog's weight and range from $8-$11. Please bring your own towels, or you may rent a towel for a $1 donation. Pensacola Humane Society is located at 5 N. Q St. For more information, visit pensacolahumane.org.

ARTS + CULTURE

CURATED COURSES: AN EXCLUSIVE DINING EXPERIENCE WITH PMA Join

the Pensacola Museum of Art and Troubadour Dining Pensacola on Thursday, Aug. 13, for an exclusive food and art pairing experience inside PMA's newest exhibition, "...I Forgot To Laugh: Humor and Contemporary Art." Troubadour Chef Alex Lamonte and beverage specialist Ashley VosmeraMitchell have curated a four-course dining and wine experience inspired by the exhibition. Guests will enjoy early access to the exhibition and receive a private tour before dining in the galleries. As well as enjoying a unique dining experience, guests of this event will be supporting the mission of the Pensacola Museum of Art by helping to provide arts education and immersion experiences for the Pensacola community. Seating for this exclusive event is limited, with only 20 spots for diners. Tickets are $125 for PMA members and $150 for 616 1

non-members. The PMA and Troudabour will ensure the safety of our diners by providing tables of only two and four patrons each, spacing tables to provide social distancing in the gallery, and all servers will be wearing masks. For more information, visit facebook.com/pensacolamuseum.

MUSEUMS UPDATES+NEW EXHIBITION

The T.T. Wentworth and Pensacola Museum of Art (PMA) are now open Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. Both museums are operating at limited capacity. To ensure social distancing guidelines are kept, visitors must reserve a $5 timed ticket online. The tickets are good for both museums for one day only. On view at PMA is an exhibition called "A Question of When." It responds to the changing world during the COVID-19 global pandemic. Throughout history, art has played a unique and crucial role in times of change. Featuring works by Marc Chagall, Walker Evans, Joan Miró and other artists from the museum's permanent collection, "A Question of When" is a visual representation of the collective grief and ongoing sense of hope felt by many as this situation unfolds. The show represents over 100 years of art making across a variety of media. Other exhibitions on display "DocuFlorida 3" and "Lessons in Ink" at the T.T. Wentworth Museum. You can also still enjoy virtual tours of exhibitions and collection highlights. For more information on both, visit pensacolamuseum.org and historicpensacola.org.

ARTEL GALLERY'S EXHIBITIONS ON DISPLAY Artel's latest exhibition is titled

"The Good, The Bad & The Ugly." The exhibition is on view now-Sept. 3. Other exhibited shows include "Places I Went To, People I Saw" and "How to Disappear by Summer Sevi." For more information, visit artelgallery.org.

BALLET PENSACOLA VIRTUAL PROGRAMMING The Ballet Pensacola Virtual Programming Series gives ballet fans a look at performances in the comfort of their own homes—or anywhere their devices take them. Utilizing a new soundstage built by the ballet's technicians, the artists will reimagine, repurpose and relaunch two beloved ballets from the Ballet Pensacola repertoire—"Alice in Wonderland" (a 2017 premiere) and "The Matrix " (a 2013 premiere). For more information, visit facebook.com/ balletpensacola.

COLLECTION UNCORKED: AT HOME

The Pensacola Museum of Art has teamed up with Wine with Hilary Shaffer and Pot Roast & Pinot to bring their popular "Collection Uncorked" wine tasting into your home. Collection Uncorked invites visitors to learn more about our permanent collection through curated wine and art pairings. Chief Curator Anna Wall and Shaffer, a

certified specialist of wine, are collaborating to match works of art with wines whose flavor profile or origins complement the art, artist or subject matter. This limitededition curated box of three wines allows you to recreate the experience at home. Inside, you'll find reproductions of the works of art with narratives to guide you on your journey. Each box is $65. Order by noon on Wednesday of each week and pick up at Pot Roast & Pinot the following Saturday. For more information, visit potroastpinot. com/product/collectionuncorked.

PENSACOLA SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA "VIRTUALLY TOGETHER" Be sure to follow Pensacola Symphony Orchestra on Facebook to see videos of orchestra musicians performing special works from their homes. To watch, visit facebook.com/pensacolasymphony.

OPERALIVE Pensacola Opera is keep-

ing patrons connected through their new online series OperaLIVE. Episodes typically include things like interviews and performances with artists, plus appearances by Pensacola Opera staff. For updates on new episodes or to watch past ones, visit facebook.com/ pensacolaopera. You can also subscribe to their channel on YouTube.

WORKSHOPS AT STUDIO SOUTH

Face-to-face workshops have resumed at Studio South. Studio South is located at 955 E. Nine Mile Road, Ste. 101. For more information and to see a complete list of July events, visit studiosouthon9mileroad.com.

SINGERS' CINEMA Every Friday after-

noon through August, enjoy a movie pick from the Choral Society of Pensacola. Information on each week's movie and where to find it online will be available on their Facebook page, facebook.com/choralsocietyofpensacola. Some can be viewed free; most are available for rent for under $5. Watch the movie over the weekend, and then join the Choral Society Monday evenings for a Zoom session to share your thoughts.

CALL FOR ARTISTS

FCAC JURIED SHOW Calling all local artists to submit their work for Gallery 1060's Third Annual Juried Show at First City Art Center. All media is welcome. Entry Fee is $20 for FCAC members, $25 for non-members. Curbside drop-off dates are Thursday, Aug. 27, 1 to 4 p.m.; Friday, Aug. 28, 1-4 p.m.; and Saturday, Aug. 29, 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Full details and requirements can be found on Gallery 1060's website at gallery1060.com/2020-juried-show. POSTER COMPETITION FOR 2020 GREAT GULFCOAST ARTS FESTIVAL The Great Gulfcoast Arts Festival is accepting submissions to its 2020 poster design competition through Aug. 7. The winning artist receives a $1,000

cash award. The winning design will be featured on posters, T-shirts and other GGAF promotional items for the festival. This year's event is Nov. 6, 7 and 8 in Seville Square and Bartram Park in historic downtown Pensacola. Competing artists can find the complete list of rules and requirements at ggaf. org/poster. Entries need to be mailed or delivered to Duncan McCall Advertising, 4400 Bayou Blvd., Ste. 11, Pensacola, FL 32503.

PIECES ADRIFT ART SHOW Keep Pensacola Beautiful is recruiting artists to participate in their Pieces Adrift Art Show and Silent Auction. Pieces Adrift is a Keep Pensacola Beautiful programming fundraiser and pollution awareness event. Artists are welcome to participate with any level of experience, whether hobbyist or professional. Each piece submitted should be comprised of at least 50% litter. Due to COVID-19, KPB recommends using your discretion when picking up litter off the ground. Art pieces may also be created using trash from your home. Artists may also pick through sorted bins of trash at the KPB office left over from last year. "Pieces Adrift is a creative and unique way to unite the community in achieving a common goal—making Pensacola a beautiful place to live, work and play. It brings awareness to the perpetuating issue of litter and ocean pollution on our beaches and roadways. By repurposing trash as art, we hope to inspire our community to be mindful of what and how they throw it away," says Madelyn Newton, Marketing and Development, VISTA. The deadline for submissions is Sept. 1. For more information, please email marketing@keeppensacolabeautiful.org.

LIVE MUSIC

OPEN JAM AT ARTEL GALLERY Artel

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

SIPS AND SERENADES Hang out curbside at the Pensacola Little Theatre for live performances from local and national talent and to-go cocktails. Mask wearing is encouraged. Events are 6-9 p.m. on select weekends. Visit pensacolalittletheatre.com for more information and dates. REGIONAL INTERNATIONAL BLUES CHALLENGE Blues Society of Northwest

Florida will be holding their annual Regional International Blues Challenge 2-11 p.m. Aug. 8 in Lili Marlene's in Seville Quarter at 130 E. Government St. Categories include Band and Solo/Duo. For more information, visit facebook.com/sevillequarter.

SUNDAE SERENADE Listen to tunes from Robert Heeke at Dolce and Gelato from 3-6 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 9. For more inweekly.net

a&e happenings information, visit facebook.com/dolcegelatopensacola.

KARAOKE AT MUGS AND JUGS Sing

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

LIVE MUSIC AT HUB STACEY'S Sit back

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

LIVE MUSIC AT PARADISE BAR & GRILL Enjoy live music at Paradise, located

at 21 Via De Luna Drive. For more information and a full calendar, visit paradisebar-grill.com.

LIVE MUSIC AT RED FISH BLUE FISH

Live music is back at Red Fish Blue Fish from 6-10 p.m. Wednesdays through Sundays. For a calendar of bands, visit facebook.com/redfishbluefishpensacolabeach.

LIVE MUSIC AT WATER PIG BBQ Enjoy BBQ with a view and live music 6-10 p.m. Wednesdays through Sundays at Water Pig BBQ. For a calendar of bands, visit facebook.com/waterpigbbq.

FITNESS + RECREATION

BLUE WAHOOS TO HOST SUMMER SPECTACULAR MOVIE & FIREWORKS NIGHT The Pensacola Blue Wahoos will

host Summer Spectacular at Blue Wahoos Stadium on Saturday, Aug. 8, featuring a showing of the classic baseball film "The Sandlot" on the videoboard at the ballpark and an extended post-movie fireworks show. Admission to the event is $10. Tickets are available now at the stadium box office and at bluewahoos.com and include both the movie and fireworks show. Gates at Blue Wahoos Stadium will open at 5:30 p.m. with the film beginning at 6:30 p.m. The fireworks show will follow the conclusion of the movie. Guests will be welcome to sit in the stands at the ballpark to enjoy the movie and fireworks or on the field itself. Fans may bring blankets and pillows for their comfort, but chairs, strollers and wagons are not permitted inside the ballpark. Concessions will be available throughout the stadium. In addition to the movie and fireworks, several exclusive dining options are available for guests, including a surf-and-turf menu at the Hancock-Whitney Club for $55 or the all-American buffet experience for $35. General admission tickets as well as food packages purchased for the team's previously postponed Fourth of July event will be valid at the Summer Spectacular. Face masks are required inside of Blue Wahoos Stadium and should be worn whenever guests are moving throughout the ballpark. Masks may be removed when eating or drinking or when seated to enjoy the show with proper physical distancing. August 6, 2020

GULF COAST BREWERY RUN Thurs-

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

MEDITATIONS IN THE LABYRINTH

Join Empathic Practice and Felipe Muñoz for weekly mediations 5:30 p.m. on Fridays. The meditations are held at Long Hollow Park on Guillemard Street and are an opportunity for people to get together and practice guided meditations, singing bowl meditation and labyrinth walk meditation. All classes are free, although donations are accepted. Social distancing will be practiced. Bring your own mat or pillow. For more information, visit facebook.com/ empathicpractice.

BACKYARD YOGA AT ADONNA'S BAKERY Get your yoga practice in the

backyard of Adonna's Bakery. Classes are 9 a.m. Wednesdays and 9:30 a.m. Sundays, weather permitting. Cost is $10. Class size is limited to 12 to allow for social distancing. Register through the fitDEGREE app. For more information, visit facebook.com/ diskolemonade.

YOGA CLASSES AT EVER'MAN Stretch

your muscles with Beginner Yoga at 10 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. (at the Nine Mile store) Thursdays; 4:30 p.m. on Tuesdays; and 11:45 a.m. Wednesdays. Funky yoga is at 6 p.m. (eight-person limit) on Tuesdays. Vinyasa Yoga Flow is 6 p.m. Wednesdays. All classes are at Ever'man, located at 327 W. Garden St. unless otherwise noted. For more information, visit everman.org.

LA LECHE LEAGUE Class is 10 a.m., Thursday, Aug. 6, at Ever'man, located at 327 W. Garden St. For more information, visit everman.org. HUMANISTS OF WEST FLORIDA The

next meeting is 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 8, at Ever'man, located at 327 W. Garden St. For more information, visit everman.org.

WHAT IS HYPNOSIS HYPNOTHERAPY? WITH GABRIELE POWELL Class is

2 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 9, at Ever'man, located at 327 W. Garden St. For more information, visit everman.org.

EARTH ETHICS Class is 6 p.m. Monday, Aug. 10, at Ever'man, located at 327 W. Garden St. For more information, visit everman.org. YOGA WITH ADRON CHAMBERS Yoga with Adron is back on Thursday and Saturdays with Asher & Bee Apothecary and Tea House. Classes are 6 p.m. Thursdays and 9 a.m. Saturdays. Cost is $11. Classes are open to everyone including beginners, novices and masters. Asher & Bee is lo-

cated at 3014 N. Ninth Ave. To register for classes, email 11adron56@gmail.com.

BLUE WAHOOS AND BUBBA WATSON OPEN STADIUM DISC GOLF COURSE

The Pensacola Blue Wahoos and team co-owner Bubba Watson have partnered to bring disc golf to Blue Wahoos Stadium. The course covers the entirety of the stadium and is open to the public from noon-8 p.m. on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. Admission is $5 per player per round. Children ages 6-12, seniors, military members and first responders will receive a $1 admission discount. Children 5 and under receive free admission with a paid adult. To ensure the safety of participants and in adherence with COVID-19 guidelines, new groups will be allowed to begin playing the course every 15 minutes. Players are encouraged to bring their own discs or to purchase a three-disk starter pack from the Blue Wahoos for $25. Disc rental is not available in accordance with safety. Go to Wahoos Stadium and visit the Bait & Tackle Store behind home plate to register. A scorecard and course map will be provided to each player. For more information, visit bluewahoos.com.

BIKE PENSACOLA SHARES SLOW RIDE ROUTES If you're missing the

monthly slow rides, here's a chance to enjoy the routes. Bike Pensacola is sharing slow ride maps from popular events. Find the maps on Facebook at facebook.com/ bikepensacola. You will still need to adhere to safety and social distancing guidelines.

OCEAN HOUR BEACH CLEAN-UPS

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

FOOD + WINE

CELEBRITY CHEF COOKOUTS AT SEVILLE QUARTER Thursdays, a Celebrity

Guest Chef will be cooking up a delicious culinary experience from 5 to 7 p.m. in the End O' The Alley Courtyard. The featured Celebrity Guest Chefs will create their own menu in collaboration with Seville Quarter's executive chef, Cameron Mitchell. Look forward to a different entrée and side dish of entertainment every week. UPCOMING CELEBRITY CHEFS •Aug. 6, Paul Hazucha, Flounder (proceeds benefiting The Marine Corps League) •Aug. 13 Brian Morris, BBQ Pulled Pork, Baked Beans, Potato Salad with Bread Roll •Aug. 20 Bud Lovoy, Italian Red Sauce with Meatballs •Aug. 27 Theresa Williams, Crawfish Fettuccine •Sept. 3 Kelly Mcgraw, Chicken Hunter Style •Sept. 10 Bill Carlson, Andouille and Chicken Jambalaya for more listings visit inweekly.net

Stay safe & healthy.

The Lee House is here if you need us.

In the meantime, follow us on social media – where we’re sharing some of our signature baking recipes for you to try at home, as well as favorite pineapple pics, and heartwarming stories.

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free will astrology WEEK OF AUGUST 6 ARIES (MARCH 21-APRIL 19): In her book “Sticks, Stones, Roots & Bones,” Stephanie Rose Bird reports that among early African Americans, there were specialists who spoke the language of trees. These patient magicians developed intimate relationships with individual trees, learning their moods and rhythms, and even exchanging non-verbal information with them. Trees imparted wisdom about herbal cures, weather patterns and ecologically sound strategies. Until recently, many scientists might have dismissed this lore as delusion. But in his 2016 book “The Hidden Life of Trees,” forester Peter Wohlleben offers evidence that trees have social lives and do indeed have the power to converse. I've always said that you Aries folks have great potential to conduct meaningful dialogs with animals and trees. And now happens to be a perfect time for you to seek such invigorating pleasures.

TAURUS (APRIL 20-MAY 20): Author

Joanne Harris writes, "The right circumstances sometimes happen of their own accord, slyly, without fanfare, without warning. The magic of everyday things." I think that's an apt oracle for you to embrace during the coming weeks. In my opinion, life will be conspiring to make you feel at home in the world. You will have an excellent opportunity to get your personal rhythm into close alignment with the rhythm of creation. And so you may achieve a version of what mythologist Joseph Campbell called "the goal of life"—"to make your heartbeat match the beat of the universe, to match your nature with Nature."

GEMINI (MAY 21-JUNE 20): Author

Gloria Anzaldúa writes, "I am an act of kneading, of uniting and joining." She adds that in this process, she has become "a creature that questions the definitions of light and dark and gives them new meanings." I would love for you to engage in similar work right now, Gemini. Life will be on your side—bringing you lucky breaks and stellar insights—if you undertake the heroic work of reformulating the meanings

By Rob Brezsny

of "light" and "dark"—and then reshaping the way you embody those primal forces.

CANCER (JUNE 21-JULY 22): "Pleasure is one of the most important things in life, as important as food or drink," wrote Cancerian author Irving Stone. I would love for you to heed that counsel, my fellow Crabs. What he says is always true, but it will be extraordinarily meaningful for you to take to heart during the coming weeks. Here's how you could begin— Make a list of seven experiences that bring you joy, bliss, delight, fun, amusement and gratification. Then make a vow—even write an oath on a piece of paper—to increase the frequency and intensity of those experiences. LEO (JULY 23-AUG. 22): At times in our lives, it's impractical to be innocent and curious and blank and receptive. So many tasks require us to be knowledgeable and self-assured and forceful and in control. But according to my astrological analysis, the coming weeks will be a time when you will benefit from the former state of mind: cultivating what Zen Buddhists call "beginner's mind." The Chinese refer to it as “chūxīn,” or the mind of a novice. The Koreans call it the “eee mok oh”? approach, translated as "What is this?" Buddhist teacher Jack Kornfield defines it as the "don't-know mind." During this upcoming phase, I invite you to enjoy the feeling of being at peace with all that's mysterious and beyond your understanding. VIRGO (AUG. 23-SEPT. 22): "Almost everything will work again if you unplug it for a few minutes, including you." Author Anne Lamott wrote that, and now I'm conveying it to you—just in time for the Unplug-Yourself Phase of your astrological cycle. Any glitches or snafus you may be dealing with right now aren't as serious as you might imagine. The biggest problem seems to be the messy congestion that has accumulated over time in your links to sources that usually serve you pretty well. So if you'll simply disconnect for a while, I'm betting that clarity and grace will be restored when you reconnect. LIBRA (SEPT. 23-OCT. 22): Have you been saving any of your tricks for later? If so, later has arrived. Have you been postponing

flourishes and climaxes until the time was right? If so, the coming days will be as right a time as there can be. Have you been waiting and waiting for the perfect moment before making use of favors that life owes you and promises that were made to you? If so, the perfect moment has arrived. Have you been wondering when you would get a ripe opportunity to express and highlight the most interesting truths about yourself? If so, that opportunity is available.

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

learned to make my mind large, as the universe is large, so that there is room for paradoxes," writes Scorpio author Maxine Hong Kingston. That would be an excellent task for you to work on in the coming weeks. Here are your formulas for success—1. The more you expand your imagination, the better you'll understand the big picture of your present situation—and the more progress you will make toward creating the most interesting possible future. 2. The more comfortable you are about dwelling in the midst of paradoxes, the more likely it is that you will generate vigorous decisions that serve both your own needs and the needs of your allies.

SAGITTARIUS (NOV. 22-DEC. 21):

"Some people will never like you because your spirit irritates their demons," says actor and director Denzel Washington. "When you shine bright, some won't enjoy the shadow you cast," says rapper and activist Talib Kweli. You may have to deal with reactions like those in the coming weeks, Sagittarius. If you do, I suggest that you don't take it personally. Your job is to be your radiant, generous self— and not worry about whether anyone has the personal power necessary to handle your radiant, generous self. The good news is that I suspect you will stimulate plenty of positive responses that will more than counterbalance the challenging ones.

CAPRICORN (DEC. 22-JAN. 19):

Capricorn occultist Peter J. Carroll tells us, "Some have sought to avoid suffering by avoiding desire. Thus they have only small desires and small sufferings." In all of the zodiac, you Capricorns are among the least

likely to be like that. One of your potential strengths is the inclination to cultivate robust desires that are rooted in a quest for rich experiences. Yes, that sometimes means you must deal with more strenuous ordeals than other people. But I think it's a wise trade-off. In any case, my dear, you're now in a phase of your cycle when you should take inventory of your yearnings. If you find there are some that are too timid or meager, I invite you to either drop them or pump them up.

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

people who live in the town of Bazoule, Burkina Faso regard the local crocodiles as sacred. They live and work amidst the 100plus creatures, co-existing peacefully. Kids play within a few feet of them, never worrying about safety. I'd love to see you come to similar arrangements with untamed influences and strong characters in your own life, Aquarius. You don't necessarily have to treat them as sacred, but I do encourage you to increase your empathy and respect for them.

PISCES (FEB. 19-MARCH 20): Your body naturally produces at least one quart of mucus every day. You might not be aware of it, because much of it glides down your throat. Although you may regard this snot as gross, it's quite healthy. It contains antibodies and enzymes that kill harmful bacteria and viruses. I propose we regard mucus as your prime metaphor in the coming weeks. Be on the alert for influences and ideas that might empower you even if they're less than beautiful and pleasing. Make connections with helpful influences even if they're not sublimely attractive. THIS WEEK'S HOMEWORK: What helpful tip might one of your wise ancestors offer you about how to thrive in the coming months?

freewillastrology.com

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news of the weird CLICHES COME TO LIFE Gabriel and Tracy Brawn moved into Gabriel's childhood home in Dover-Foxcroft, Maine, in 2012 and enjoyed a warm relationship with next-door neighbor Steve Ritter, whose garage had been partially built on the Brawns' property decades ago. But after Ritter passed away in 2016, his wife and grown children took over the property, sometimes renting it out, and "this place turned to craziness and chaos," Tracy Brawn told the Bangor Daily News on July 16, leading finally to Gabriel Brawn grabbing his Sawzall on May 26 and cutting the Ritters' garage in half, right down the property line. "We're putting up a fence," Tracy Brawn said. "Fences make good neighbors." Dover-Foxcroft police Chief Ryan Reardon said, "We were aware of the situation and believe it's been resolved at this point." LATEST ALARMING HEADLINES A roving gang of baboons in Knowsley Safari Park in Merseyside, England is known to vandalize cars and otherwise alarm visitors, but lately, The Sunday Times reported, they've been seen carrying knives, screwdrivers and a chain saw, which workers believe they've acquired from visitors. "We're not sure if they are being given weapons by some of the guests ... or if they're fishing them out of pickup trucks and vans," an employee said. Park officials have pooh-poohed the reports, saying, "We believe that many of these stories have grown in exaggeration as they've been retold." PREDICTABLE A $64,000 glass replica of a Disney castle on display at the Shanghai Museum of Glass in China was shattered in July after two kids "hit the exhibit counter when they were chasing each other," a museum spokesperson posted on Weibo. The Today Show reported Spanish glassblower Miguel Arribas spent 500 hours creating The Fantasy Castle in 2016, but "luckily it's not destroyed," said Arribas Brothers company spokesman Rudy Arribas. When COVID-19 restrictions are lifted, Miguel will go to Shanghai to repair the castle. "We're used to kids and this kind of stuff happening," said Rudy. "Glass breaks." LOST AND FOUND Chris Marckres of Hyde Park, Vermont, went skydiving on July 25, but, he told NECN, "I think my adrenaline was so high and I was just so excited, I didn't realize I had lost it." "It" was one of Marckres' two prosthetic legs. The double amputee was harnessed to an instructor and landed safely, but he didn't know where the leg ended up. His plea for help on Facebook was answered the next day by farmer Joe Marszalkowski, who found the prosthetic in his soybean field. Marckres said the leg suffered a few scratches but was otherwise unharmed. "We kind of take for granted sometimes how many truly good people there still are in the world," he mused. •Mike Evans of Woodson Terrace, Missouri, went for a 5-mile float trip with friends on

By the Editors at Andrews McMeel

the Meramec River on July 25 and decided to get out of the raft and walk behind it in the water for a bit. As the water got deeper, he had to swim to catch the raft, and as he climbed back in, Evans discovered his prosthetic leg was gone, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported. He searched with no luck, but a Missouri state trooper responding to a call nearby heard about the loss and coordinated a dive team to help. It took divers a couple of hours the next day to find the leg, saving Evans about $27,000 to replace it. "It was a happy ending to a stressful few days," Evans said. •After Christian Meyer of Berlin, Germany, lost his running shoes to a thief, he posted a notice on a community sharing platform and learned other residents had also lost shoes that were left outside. Meyer soon discovered the culprit, telling local media on July 26 that he caught a fox "red-handed" with a pair of blue flip-flops in its mouth and eventually found its stash of more than 100 multicolored shoes, according to Fox News. Meyer's shoes, however, were not among them. THE STREET WHERE YOU LIVE Concerned friends of Hartford, Connecticut, retiree Victor King contacted police on July 26 when they couldn't reach King, who had recently reported being threatened with a samurai sword by a man he rented a room to, according to an arrest warrant. The Hartford Courant reported that first responders arriving at the house on Asylum Avenue found King's body, badly slashed and decapitated. Police began a search for the renter, Jerry David Thompson, who was soon found and arrested, but refused to cooperate with detectives, referring them instead to paperwork in his car indicating he believes himself to be a sovereign citizen and therefore not subject to the law. He was arraigned on July 28 and held on $2 million bail. INEXPLICABLE Out for an early morning stroll on July 27, Mariel Kinney, 32, and Kevin Pinto, 30, drew the attention of residents in Hopkinton, Massachusetts, who called police to report a naked couple walking their dog down the street, authorities said. "It was kind of wild," Police Chief Joseph Bennett told the Milford Daily News. "They were buck naked." Officers asked the couple why they weren't wearing clothes, but they declined to answer or were incoherent, Bennett said, and "(t)here was a short foot pursuit." After a struggle, they were captured and charged with indecent exposure and assault and battery on a police officer, along with other crimes. {in}

Send your weird news items to WeirdNewsTips@amuniversal.com August 6, 2020

G RE AT S OUT H E RN RE STAU RA NT S PRE SE N T S

Summer Restaurant Week 3 COURSES: $33 PER PERSON, PER RESTAURANT

August 3–9 The Fish House, Jackson’s Steakhouse, Five Sisters Blues Café and Angelena’s Ristorante Italiano present a seven-day culinary celebration offering chef-selected three course dinner menus at $33 per person, per restaurant. Menus available each day at 5 p.m., Monday, August 3, through Sunday, August 9.

Reservations recommended. To make a reservation and view menus, visit greatsouthernrestaurants.com.

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WWW.PENSACOLAOPERA.COM Independent News | August 6, 2020 | inweekly.net