Independent News | December 26, 2019 | Volume 20 | Number 51
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winners & losers
outtakes
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5
news 7, 8
Things can only be put off so long.
buzz
cover feature 13
10
contact us info@inweekly.net
publisher Rick Outzen
graphic designer Michael Daw
editor & creative director Joani Delezen
contributing writers Savannah Evanoff, Jennifer Leigh, Jeremy Morrison, C.S. Satterwhite
a&e 17
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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In the holiday spirit, the Winners & Losers team came up with this all-winners version of their popular column. Happy holidays!
MORT O'SULLIVAN The University of West Florida Board of Trustees chair was presented the Presidential Medal of Honor during the fall commencement ceremony, honoring his more than 40 years of distinguished service to the university. The award is presented to individuals who have distinguished themselves by their actions and contributed in some manner to the wellbeing of the university and the geographical region, primarily through public service and philanthropy. Recipients embody UWF's values and leave a distinct and positive impact on the university and community. O'Sullivan joined the UWF Board of Trustees in 2010. He served as vice chairman beginning in 2013 and was named chairman in 2017. His term as chairman ends in January. BEAR FAMILY FOUNDATION The
Bear Family Foundation donated a total of $2,793,500 this year to nonprofits. It's the mission of the Bear Family Foundation to continue a tradition of philanthropic giving, from generation to generation, through financial donations and volunteering in our communities. Since its beginning, the foundation has donated a total of $8.1 million to local agencies and organizations.
PANHANDLE TIGER BAY CLUB The club
merged with the University of West Florida Downtown Lecture Series in early November. However, its legacy will live on with the John Broxson-Panhandle Bay Club Scholarship. The club donated $2,500 for the scholarship. Christina Broxson, wife of John Broxson, matched that contribution. The club was established in 1977 by Pensacola News Journal
columnist Pat Lloyd and former Florida Sen. John Broxson. The Tiger Bay Club also contributed funds to the Pat Lloyd Scholarship at UWF, which was established in 1987.
THIRD ANNUAL HOLIDAY YOUTH EXTRAVAGANZA Escambia County and
District 3 Commissioner Lumon May hosted 600 residents at the third annual Holiday Youth Extravaganza Friday, Dec. 13, featuring singing, dancing, giveaways and more for the community to enjoy. Commissioner May told the crowd, "We do this because we care for children, and we believe that we are doing this for children to seniors and everything in between. We invest in human capital."
GREATER PENSACOLA AQUATIC CLUB
The Greater Pensacola Aquatic Club gifted $80,500 to the University of West Florida for video boards in the UWF Aquatic Center. Formed as the Pensacola swim team in 1972, GPAC has been synonymous with excellence in competitive swimming on the local, regional, national and international levels.
THE LAST MILE Friends and family honored
the memory of Brien Pursell on Nov. 10 with the fourth annual running of The Last Mile downtown. On a training run three years ago, Pursell was struck and killed by a vehicle on US 98. Days after the accident, 50 people gathered to complete the "last mile" of the route. This year's sunset run included support from presenting sponsor Gulf Power, as well as Pensacola Sports, Seville Quarter and the City, plus many others. Race proceeds benefit youth programs at the YMCA of Northwest Florida.
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outtakes
By Rick Outzen
SOLID REPORTING We have built our newspaper on investigative reporting and being a government watchdog. Our role has been to present the best, reliable facts in a meaningful context so that you can make good decisions about your lives and our community. We use a variety of reporting methods to bring you the news. Sometimes the stories come from simply being at the right place at the right time. Our reporter Jeremy Morrison broke two big stories this year. His photograph of a drink flying in air seconds before it stuck Congressman Matt Gaetz went viral. He also caught on tape State Rep. Mike Hill laughing and misquoting the Bible about whether gays should be put to death. That story was picked up statewide and led to Florida lawmakers condemning Hill's actions. Sometimes the stories come together because the writer is willing to dig. The movie "Green Book" won the Oscar for Best Picture for its account of gifted pianist Don Shirley and his driver Tony Vallelonga as they traveled in the Deep South. Scott Satterwhite researched the Green Book, a publication that highlighted where African Americans could stay, dine and shop while traveling in the South, and Shirley, who was born in Pensacola. Few locals knew Shirley's father was the pastor of St. Cyprian Episcopal Church in the Belmont-DeVilliers area. And other times, the stories developed because sources came forward with informa-
tion that hadn't been reported by authorities. In November, we were tipped off that the former manager of the ECUA Materials Recycling Facility had been arrested for stealing over $510,000 worth of recyclables and allegedly funneling the proceeds to a shell company he owned. We requested the arrest report and reported how the alleged scheme worked and was uncovered by ECUA auditors. ECUA board members knew of the investigation, but no press release was sent to the public. Our investigation of the Jacqueline Harris Preparatory Academy took two months to complete. The school founder, Celestine Lewis, had profited by taking a gift of the McReynolds school property from the Escambia County School District and putting it in her for-profit company instead of letting the school's nonprofit corporation buy it. Public records showed the school board voted for the school to pay the appraised value, $520,000, for the McReynolds property. Instead, the school would pay over $2.3 million to rent the facility to Lewis and a subsequent owner. And though the district's agreement with the charter school had a conflict of interest clause that should have prevented Lewis from renting the McReynolds property to the school, the school district didn't enforce it. Though different journalistic methods were used to develop the stories, the articles were solid. We promise to continue to not let you down in 2020. {in} rick@inweekly.net
Though different journalistic methods were used to develop the stories, the articles were solid.
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HOW DID THEY DO? Doug Underhill continually taking swipes at each other, she had little time to work on big projects. She had three department heads resign over a two-week period, while the public safety department and emergency medical services imploded. In her resignation letter, Lovoy alluded to behind-the-scenes conflicts, "I find it difficult to continue performing my duties in a place where allegations of any variety can be made and reputations ruined before an individual is allowed to answer for the charges against them. Behind all the immediate distractions, I know the county is a better place than that." Lovoy did land on her feet and was immediately hired by Mayor Grover Robinson to replace CFO Dick Barker, who will move into the assistant city administrator slot next March.
AMY MILLER
Quint Studer
By Rick Outzen At the beginning of this year, we singled out eight locals to watch—people whom we felt were going to be in the spotlight in 2019. We weren't wrong. Some had great years, a few not so much.
ALEX ANDRADE
Our freshman lawmaker had a busy and successful legislative session with six of his bills passing. He worked with Escambia County Commissioner Lumon May to keep pressure on the Florida Department of Transportation to make West Cervantes Street safer. He also held joint town halls with other elected officials in his district to hear from his constituents. His success and outreach did upset some veteran politicians. At a May 23 meeting of Women for Responsible Legislation, State Rep. Mike Hill criticized Andrade for supporting a bill that offered protections for the LGBTQ community against discrimination in employment, housing and public places, saying bill was "not the value of Northwest Florida." The slap at Andrade backfired on Hill when he drew condemnation for laughing at a comment from the crowd that homosexuals should be put to death. We expect Andrade to stay in the spotlight this year. He has sponsored a bill that December 26, 2019
would remove mandatory minimums for drug offenses and allow a judge to decide the appropriate sentence for the individual defendant. He also has another bill that would reform alimony, which has attracted a lot of attention.
ESCAMBIA COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD
The legislative body for the Escambia County School District has taken a slow, measured approach to the selection of the district's first appointed superintendent of schools before Superintendent Malcolm Thomas' term expires in November 2020. We see it as a good sign the school board re-elected Patty Hightower to serve as its chairperson through this transition. She has been open-minded and transparent in leading the selection process. The board's next community input forums on the appointed superintendent are set for 6 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 7, at Beulah Middle School, 6001 W. Nine Mile Road, and 6 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 9, at Tate High School, 1771 Tate Road.
AMY LOVOY
The interim county administrator failed to contain the kitten rodeo, also known as the Escambia County Board of County Commissioners, and saw her brief time at the helm of the county government completely collapse into disarray. With Commissioners Jeff Bergosh and
Probably no city department head benefited from the election of Grover Robinson more than Port of Pensacola Director Amy Miller. No longer having to worry about the whims of city hall politics, Miller has been able to develop business for the port. Offshore Inland stepped up its efforts at the port and landed repair work on a Blue Origin vessel. America's Cup team, American Magic, has made the port its winter training facility, and Mayor Robinson is talking optimistically about the facility's future, whether it will be in advanced technology, marine research, aquaculture or all three fields.
PENSACOLA YOUNG PROFESSIONALS
Coming off their successful passage of a referendum that changed the superintendent of schools to an appointed position, the young leaders have struggled to determine what will be their next step. In May, PYP hired former board member Ruthie Christie to serve as the organization's full-time executive director and moved its offices to the SCI Building. PYP plans to do more with the data from the annual Quality of Life (QOL) survey and work on real solutions being implemented from the data collected. They have scheduled an expert panel for late January that will look at the five key areas of the survey—healthcare, education, child wellbeing, affordable housing and economic growth—and discuss the reality of each versus perception.
GROVER ROBINSON
For the media and public, his weekly press conferences have been refreshing and informative. He supplemented the pressers with town hall meetings in several of the city districts. When he came into office last fall, Robinson found the city was about $45 million short on its share of funding for Project Titan, the code name given the $210 million aviation
repair facility planned for Pensacola International Airport. It took him about four months, but he was able to secure enough funding to continue the expansion. He also has been able to pull the city council together and approve funding for the SCAPE plan that will develop the infrastructure for further development along Pensacola Bay. Though he talked about the issue, the mayor has yet to tackle homelessness and panhandling. He also has yet to define how his proposed citizen advisory committee will work and whether it will review police incidents. He will also need to show if the "old guard" at city hall—Dick Barker, Keith Wilkins and Rusty Wells—will be more transparent and open under his leadership or will they fall back into old habits.
QUINT STUDER
This man never sits still. He recently sold Southtowne for $60.6 million and has already begun construction on a similar mixed-use building in the BelmontDeVilliers neighborhood. He financed the SCAPE study and an employee engagement survey for the city of Pensacola. In September, Quint and Rishy Studer became owners of the Beloit Snappers, a Class A Minor League Baseball affiliate of the Oakland Athletics in southern Wisconsin. Meanwhile, their Pensacola Blue Wahoos, a Double-A affiliate of the Minnesota Twins, clinched their fifth consecutive playoff this year. And now he is tackling entrepreneurship. His Pensacola Entrepreneur Initiative plans to bring more structure and galvanize Pensacola's entrepreneurial ecosystem so that it will work more efficiently for local entrepreneurs and operate well enough to attract outside entrepreneurs into making Pensacola their home. It's a different approach to economic development. His chief of staff, D.C. Reeves, has been working this past year full-time on PEI, mapping and studying our community's strengths, gaps and room for improvement when it comes to entrepreneurship. We expect this initiative to take off in 2020.
SUSAN WOOLF
Mayor Robinson's choice for city attorney has rebuilt the city's legal department into one more capable of handling legal matters in-house. She came to the city having served five years as the general counsel for Escambia County Clerk of Circuit Court and Comptroller Pam Childers. She also had worked as an assistant city attorney from 2008 to 2011 and then as general counsel for the Pensacola Police Department until 2013. Woolf has impressed the city council and public with the thoroughness of her presentations in public meetings. Her experience has been an asset to the city. {in} 7
NEWS LEADERS AT THE HELM
Steven Barry / Photo courtesy of My Escambia
By Jeremy Morrison Both the city of Pensacola and Escambia County are wrapping up an eventful year and heading into 2020 facing a number of key issues that present both challenges and opportunities. To help lead each local government through this next year, two new people are stepping into the top spot on the respective legislative bodies. For the county, Steven Barry chairs the Escambia County Board of County Commissioners. Over at the city, Jewel Cannada-Wynn serves as president of the Pensacola City Council. Both elected leaders have served in the lead role once before, so they are not strangers to taking the helm. And each has their sights set on specific issues they expect to be placed upon their table in the coming year. As Pensacola and Escambia head into 2020, Barry and Cannada-Wynn spent a few minutes with Inweekly discussing their plans and expectations for local government and the communities they serve.
ESCAMBIA EXPECTATIONS
Escambia County experienced a roller coaster of a year in 2019. Against the backdrop of a still-ongoing investigation by the Florida Department of Health into the county's Emergency Medical Services department, a procession of top staffers began to file out the exit, including the interim county administrator, assistant administrator and multiple department heads. "The administration thing is a big deal," Chairman Barry said. Since this administration meltdown, which occurred throughout the spring, 88
Escambia has been in recovery mode. The commission brought in Janice Gilley as the county's new administrator, with instructions to begin the rebuilding process. So far, Barry's encouraged with the developments he's seen, calling the process "an exciting opportunity" and expressing "unconditional confidence in Janice's ethics and aptitude to lead the county forward." "I'm very excited. I couldn't be happier with the work that she's done since July," Barry said. "I think there's going to be more and more good things, more and more progress." Looking ahead to next year, the chairman knows the EMS investigation will remain an issue—"I think the board will give a lot of weight to the findings of the investigations"—but also lists off a number of other items he feels the commission needs to be mindful of. Chief among these issues is the fate of the Pensacola Bay Center. "The issue being an issue is not really a new conversation," Barry said, adding that he feels the time has come to take action on this front. "Things can only be put off so long."
"The issue being an issue is not really a new conversation. Things can only be put off so long." Steven Barry For years, Escambia's leaders have discussed upgrading the Bay Center, formerly the Pensacola Civic Center, which it funds. The aging venue currently hosts a wide variety of events, from concerts to monster truck rallies to graduations, but momentum has steadily built around efforts to scrap the facility and replace it with a sports complex and adjoining event venue. While he's generally supportive of replacing the Bay Center, Barry isn't committed to a specific plan or even concept and said that a lot of the conversations will center on funding. He said, "I don't think there's appetite for property tax or sales tax revenue." Barry pointed toward the possibility of funding the Bay Center efforts with a fifth-cent tacked onto the current bed tax, which visitors pay when they stay in
area lodging. The Tourism Development Authority has recently been discussing approving the idea. "That would seem like a reasonable conversation," Barry said. "It's hard to imagine any type of new facility without Triumph or bed tax or something."
"It's hard to imagine any type of new facility without Triumph or bed tax or something." Barry Other issues the incoming commission chairman is thinking about as his term begins include the board's increased involvement in employee contract negotiations, as well as overseeing the county's continued efforts when it comes to bringing RESTORE funds, or restoration money associated with the 2010 oil spill, to the area. Chairman Barry is also conscious of fostering healthy relationships among his fellow commissioners and also with citizens. That's a tall order in an environment where, during this past year, dramatic discussions have spilled into the commissioner's chambers on multiple occasions, reaching an absurd peak when Commissioner Doug Underhill presented a box labeled "industrial strength dildos" that he said a constituent had mailed to his office. "I hope it's an even keel year," Barry said, expressing a desire for increased civility all the way around, from both board and gallery. "I'm going to expect that those interactions are going to be civil and healthy. And I'm going to expect that the interactions between the board will be civil and healthy." Barry also summed up his view of the chairman's role, emphasizing the opportunity to serve. "If you do it well and you do it the way I believe it's intended to be done, it is a year of service to your colleagues," the chairman said. "It's not a year of additional entitlements; it's a year of service to your colleagues."
THE VIEW FROM CITY HALL
As she returns to the president's seat on the Pensacola City Council, Jewell CannadaWynn isn't sure what to expect. She shared, "Politics is one of those things where you never know what's going to come up, and you never know what people's reactions are going to be to a given issue." Among the issues Cannada-Wynn is expecting to deal with during her tenure is the need in the city for affordable housing. In addition to grappling with ever-present housing issues, the city has also experienced increased development in certain areas, which has led to existing residents being pushed out of some areas in search of more affordable housing.
"I think we need to have a definite direction when we speak of housing, especially when we talk about affordable housing," Cannada-Wynn said, pointing to the city's current efforts to put together a task force to come up with a plan to address this issue. The council president also expects to be discussing planning efforts, like the urban redesigns outlined in this past year's SCAPE plan focused on a walkable and connected urban core, as well as the recent masterplan presented for the area west of downtown, encompassing Maritime Park and the 19-acre former wastewater treatment site near city hall. While council approved the financing of $17 million with an eye on these projects, Cannada-Wynn said that a decision still needs to be made on how best to use these funds. "I'm hoping we will have a discussion about it," she said, pointing to an upcoming workshop on the topic. Baptist Hospital's recently-announced departure from its current campus to a new home near Davis Highway and I-110, while it will take years to play out, will also be a focus of the city soon, as officials begin to consider how the current campus near downtown can be used going forward. "I would love to see a mixed-use area over there," Cannada-Wynn said, adding that she was "optimistic" about the opportunity. "I'm just hoping that we can all come together to come up with something that would benefit that corridor."
"I'm just hoping that we can all come together to come up with something that would benefit that corridor." Jewel Cannada-Wynn Also on the radar is the process of assessing the city's ordinances. "Some of the ordinances are old. Are they still as effective as they should be?" she asked. "We know that we need to deal with this issue to function effectively as a city." City council has attempted this recodification process before, under the previous administration of mayor Ashton Hayward. But that "got bogged down" as council and the mayor worked to hammer out a relationship under the then-new strong-mayor form of government. "I know the major hiccup the last time was the balance of power. But I don't think that we're going to have those issues this time," Cannada-Wynn said, explaining that Mayor Grover Robinson has fostered a relationship built on collaboration and accessibility. "That type of environment and climate really improves the effectiveness of the city. I'm really pretty positive and pretty happy about it." {in} inweekly.net
Only 45% of Escambia County children are ready for kindergarten.
Escambia County will never be the best place to live until we successfully address this issue. For Escambia County to achieve excellence, we must help our children be ready for kindergarten. Kindergarten readiness is an indicator of a child’s success in school.
85%
of a child’s brain is developed by age 3 A Brain Bag, like this one, is filled with tools, advice and techniques about why it is so important to read, talk, sing and play every day.
You can be part of the solution.
Help us create a community where every child is ready for kindergarten. Every $25 gift provides one family with the tools to help build a brain and build a life for their child. IN PERSON OR BY MAIL
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9
NEW UWF DEGREE The University of West
Florida is launching a Bachelor of Science in Construction Management beginning in Fall 2020, pending approval from the Florida Board of Governors. The UWF Board of Trustees approved the program at its quarterly meeting held on Dec. 5. The proposed program currently operates as a specialization in building construction within the Bachelor of Science in Engineering Technology program. Dr. George Ellenberg, provost and senior vice president, says repositioning it as a stand-alone degree will increase the program's visibility and provide students and potential employers with a better understanding of the education and training graduates receive from UWF. "We are responding to local workforce demand for the construction management industry, and this offering will help satisfy many of those needs," Ellenberg said. "Students and potential employers can be assured that this will be a rigorous program that prepares graduates for a career in the field." Housed in the Department of Administration and Law in the College of Education and Professional Studies, the new program will consist of 120 semester hours, taught in the traditional face-to-face format. Students will graduate prepared for various positions in the building construction and general contracting industries, including construction management, supervision, inspection and estimation. "The Northwest Florida community will benefit greatly from the addition of this program," said Dr. William Crawley, dean of the UWF College of Education and Professional Studies. "Alongside building construction occupations, our area is growing, and we have the opportunity to retain our graduates' local talent. Equally important, based on the caliber of our other programs, potential employers can have confidence in hiring the students and alumni of the building construction management program in the future." The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts more than 11% growth in construction management related occupations through 2026 with an annual median wage for construction
managers of $93,370. In addition, the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity projects more than 12% growth in construction management jobs in the state of Florida through 2026 with an annual median wage of $79,850. In the local counties of Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa and Walton, construction of buildings and specialty trade contractors ranked among the top 20 fastest growing industries. For more information about the Bachelor of Science in Construction Management, visit uwf.edu/construction.
FALLEN HONORED On Tuesday, Dec. 10, the Navy posthumously awarded Wings of Gold to all three Sailors killed during the Dec. 6 shooting at Naval Aviation Schools Command aboard Naval Air Station Pensacola. Acting Secretary of the Navy the Honorable Thomas B. Modly proclaimed Ensign Joshua K. Watson as a naval aviator and Airman Mohammed S. Haitham and Airman Apprentice Cameron S. Walters as naval aircrewmen. "It is my honor today to present the Wings of Gold to the families of these three American heroes who were among the first to respond to horrific attacks upon our own naval family and, tragically, were also our Sailors who made the ultimate sacrifice in protecting their brothers and sisters in arms," said Modly. "Although this authorization pales in comparison to their immense bravery in the line of fire, this winging represents the symbolic achievement of the coveted goal that all three came to Pensacola to accomplish—to join the long line of naval aviators, flight officers and aircrewmen who have served the cause of freedom so valiantly for over a century." He added, "Airman Haitham, Airman Walters and Ensign Watson represent the highest virtues of naval aviation and undoubtedly belong in that great fraternity of selfless service to our Navy, our department and our nation." Student naval aviators are selected based on their aptitude for flight training. A recent U.S. Naval Academy graduate, Watson possessed the education, skills and tenacity required of naval aviators and was set to begin the rigorous training toward earning his
coveted Wings of Gold. Naval aircrewmen, often said to be the Navy's "guardian angels," undergo some of the Navy's most physically challenging training. Candidates must be comfortable in the water and pass demanding physical fitness standards. Both Haitham and Walters possessed the strength, skill and determination required of the Navy's aircrewmen.
ST WANTS MORE The city of Pensacola has been working toward a four-hangar maintenance repair and overhaul (MRO) facility at the airport for years. Dubbed Project Titan, the $260 million project currently has one hangar complete, and the city's tenant and corporate partner in the project, ST Engineering, is ready for more. On Dec. 16, Mayor Grover Robinson announced that work on phase two of the Titan project will soon commence. He said, "We're glad to have hangar one, but we're ready to get two, three and four going." The remaining work at the airport will run $210 million. The funds are coming from a collection of sources, including $66 million in oil spill recovery money from Triumph Gulf Coast. The city is also still working to secure a remaining $4.8 million for the project. Bill Hafner, chief integration officer with VT Mobile Aerospace Engineering, oversees ST's operations at Pensacola's airport, and he too is ready for more space.
"We need this space; we need this growth. The opportunity is there." Bill Hafner "We need this space; we need this growth. The opportunity is there," Hafner said, joining the mayor for the weekly presser at Pensacola City Hall. Hafner relayed promising projections surrounding the aviation industry, particularly the MRO sector. He detailed how air travel, both passenger and freight, is on the rise and is expected to continue to grow. Meanwhile, major aircraft manufacturers are looking at 10-yearlong backorders on planes.
"I can tell you right now, FedEx and UPS, two of our largest customers—everything that's got wings is flying, because they have all those boxes coming into the country for Christmas," Hafner said. "Many of our customers are bringing equipment out of retirement. They're taking things out of mothballs and putting them back into service because the manufacturers simply can't get new equipment out there fast enough." What this means for the MRO industry is expanded opportunities because older aircraft are being brought out of retirement to meet the demand. "It all trickles down, folks, and those planes need to be maintained," Hafner said. Hafner said that once the MRO campus at the Pensacola airport is completed, the company will need approximately 1,700 employees to fill maintenance and other positions. With an eye toward that need, the company is partnering with local schools, like George Stone and Booker T. Washington High School, to train students for the industry. "As far as locating folks down here, there's been great response. In fact, we have a much easier time recruiting and hiring in Pensacola than we do in our other locations," Hafner said.
CYBERATTACK UPDATE Since Mayor Robinson announced that the city of Pensacola had been the target of a cyberattack, the city has largely recovered communication capabilities, as well as other city functions, and is currently working to get fully back on line. While the city has confirmed that the attack involved ransomware, officials have been otherwise tightlipped about the specifics surrounding the attack. That trend continued at mayor's Dec. 16 press conference, with the mayor citing an ongoing investigation as the rationale for not elaborating. "We cannot discuss specifics of the attack," Robinson said. Some apparent details regarding the attack have emerged, though. An FDLE email surfaced briefly online and confirmed the use of the MAZE malware, and a cyber security
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blog also reportedly made contact with the cyber attackers responsible for the attack and confirmed the ransom ask was $1 million. Mayor Robinson would not confirm or discuss any of these points on Monday. "I can't confirm anything," Robinson said, explaining that the investigation into the attack is ongoing. "We've been advised by those that are investigating this not to discuss details in the press." The mayor would also not say if the city had communicated with the hackers. "I think they've reached out to—" the mayor said, before PIO Kaycee Lagarde interjected. "That would be part of the investigation that we can't talk about," Lagarde said. The mayor said that the city had not been able to figure out if any personal or private data belonging to residents or customers of the city had been compromised in the attack. "We believe they were not, but again, we can't confirm that," the mayor said. Officials have engaged an outside tech firm, at a cost of $140,000, to assess the post-attack technical landscape at the city. The city will also be pursuing insurance to cover any future cyberattack events.
NEW TEAM MEMBER The city of Pensacola has hired a risk manager. Ryan Fitzgerald started work at the city last week and comes to Pensacola from Layette, La., where he served as risk manager for the Diocese of Lafayette. His first assignment will be looking into cyber security insurance options. "I'm sure cyber insurance is going to be the first thing he looks at, so we're ready for him to get on board and take a look at that," Mayor Grover Robinson said. QUESTIONS FOR LAWMAKERS WSRE is accepting questions from the public for legislators who will appear on "Legislative Review: Dialogue with the Delegation," airing at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 9. The program will also be simulcast on NewsRadio 92.3 FM and 1620 AM. Questions may be submitted in advance by email to questions@wsre.org. Each question must be accompanied by a name and city of residence. Questions will also be accepted by phone during the broadcast. Moderated by Jeff Weeks, "Legislative Review" features a panel discussion with the local legislative delegation responding to constituents' questions on budget and policy topics. The following legislators of the Northwest Florida delegation have been invited to participate—Sens. Doug Broxson (District 1)
and George B. Gainer (District 2); and Reps. Mike Hill (District 1), Alex Andrade (District 2), Jayer Williamson (District 3) and Mel Ponder (District 4). WSRE presents a live broadcast of "Legislative Review" as a community service before and after each legislative session. Florida's 2020 legislative session convenes on Jan. 14.
ROOF REPAIRS Work is set to begin next week on the replacement of all of the roofs within the Gulf Islands National Seashore's Perdido Key Area, as well as all of the park's entrance stations. The work will temporarily close some facilities while work is begin completed. Any closures will be posted on the park's website as necessary. The work will replace asphalt shingle roofs on restrooms, picnic pavilions and administrative structures with standing-seam aluminum roofs. The new aluminum roofs are more sustainable, reducing the park's recurring repair costs. In addition to the facilities at the Perdido Key Area, all of the park's entrance stations will receive new aluminum roofs. In addition to the added sustainability of these new roofs, they will be redesigned to improve the visitor experience during inclement weather. The roof replacements are funded by park entrance fees. Revenue from entrance fees
remain with the NPS and helps ensure a quality experience for all who visit. At Gulf Islands, 76.5% of entrance fees are retained by the park and are devoted to maintaining facilities that directly serve visitors. Learn more about how fee dollars are at work at the park by visiting nps.gov/guis/planyourvisit/yourfeesatwork.htm. The contract for this work was awarded on September 15, 2019, to Reasor Building Group, LLC for $406,000. The roof replacement project is expected to be completed in Spring 2020.
HAVANA NIGHT GALA On Jan. 17, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwest Florida will host one of Pensacola's most beloved events, their annual Big Gala presented by the Escambia County Sheriff's Office at Skopelos at New World. Palm fronds, mojitos, bongo drums, handrolled cigars and salsa dancers will set the stage for the Big Gala 2020: Havana Night. Guests can expect a seated hand-crafted dinner from chef Gus Silvos, live entertainment from Mr. Big and the Rhythm Sisters, alongside Fred Astaire Dance Studio of Pensacola, chances to win and a live and silent auction. Festivities will begin at 6 p.m., and dress for the evening is black tie. Tickets are $175 and can be purchased by calling 433-5437. {in}
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We are a non-profit, faith-centered ministry offering food, addiction recovery services, housing, spiritual guidance and more to Escambia County’s most vulnerable and under-resourced residents.
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December 26, 2019
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If you're anything like us, you're probably experiencing a combination of seasonal stress and year-end fatigue right about now. It makes sense, too, because 2019 has been a long, hard year—so hard, in fact, some of you might not even want to rehash it.
December 26, 2019
Luckily for you, we went ahead and did the homework of recapping the past 12 months so you don't have to. From fun stuff, like chicken sandwiches, to notso-fun stuff, like the ongoing impeachment proceedings, here's a look back at the year in headlines.
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NATIONAL HEADLINES 1. IMPEACHMENT INQUIRY
conversation with President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence—the first time a sitting president has spoken directly with astronauts outside of a spacecraft in space since the 1969 moon landing.
Hardly anyone generated headlines and started more Megan Rapinoe's armsTwitter feuds spread address to the crowd this past year became instantly iconic than U.S. after the U.S. Women's President soccer team won the Donald 2019 FIFA Women's Trump. World Cup with a 2-0 One victory against the specific Netherlands. Star playheadline ers such as Rapinoe and and collecAlex Morgan stole the tive twitter hearts of viewers during debate, howthe competition, and TIME ever, stood out Magazine even named the from the rest— team collectively its Athlete of Impeachment. the Year. The athletes' Congress Donald Trump / Photo by Evan El-Amin, Shutterstock.com skill and gumption on the opened a field was also a strikingly formal imcompelling argument for peachment inquiry into President Trump equal pay for professional female athletes in September, making him the fourth U.S. … and, well, all women. president to find himself in that predicament. Despite his consistent denial, the inquiry started because of a phone call In August, a mass shooting took place Trump had with then-newly elected at a Walmart in El Paso, Texas, killing 22 Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky. people and injuring 24, making it the deadPublic hearings began in November, makliest—though certainly not the only—mass ing the end of 2019 even more divisive than shooting in 2019. The shooter, 21-year-old it started. Patrick Crusius, allegedly aimed to kill people of Mexican descent. Because of this, the FBI is approaching its proceedings What started off as insanely crowded as an act of terrorism. field has since dwindled down to an only somewhat crowded field, as the race for the 2020 Democratic presidential nominee moves into the new year. Of the 12 You know what they say—if you make officially sanctioned DNC debates, half a Facebook event, they will come … or have already happened, and each made not. While millions RSVP'd to the "Storm headlines for different reasons. But the top Area 51, They Can't Stop All of Us" public three frontrunners have remained pretty Facebook event, only a small crowd actuconsistent—Joe Biden, Bernie Sanders and ally showed up at the top-secret Air Force Elizabeth Warren. facility suspected to host aliens. No one raided. No aliens were seen. But a few unsuccessful music festivals were attempted in the wake of this meme-friendly "raid." Memes overlapped with real-life when
5. U.S. WOMEN'S SOCCER
6. EL PASO SHOOTING
2. DEMS DEBATE
7. "STORM AREA 51"
3. JEFFREY EPSTEIN
financier Jeffrey Epstein's death was ruled a suicide. Epstein was arrested on charges of sex trafficking in July, was denied bail ahead of his trial and died in jail in August. Although it was officially ruled a suicide by the New York City medical examiner, not everyone is on board. "Epstein didn't kill himself," said every meme ever. The meme message isn't just an empty conspiracy theory. Two prison guards face charges related to his death, fueling a national conversation about prison protocols and staffing.
4. FIRST ALL-FEMALE SPACEWALK
NASA's 221st spacewalk in support of space station assembly wouldn't seem like a big deal, unless it was the first time for two women to do it. U.S. astronauts Christina Koch and Jessica Meir stepped outside the International Space Station in October for the first all-female spacewalk. During the seven-hour, 17-minute event, the pair of astronauts also shared a casual phone 414 1
8. TIGER WOODS
After fighting knee and back injuries, Tiger Woods revived his golf career with the comeback to end all comebacks. The underdog won first place at the Masters Tournament in April, marking his first major title in 11 years.
9. BOEING 737 MAX GROUNDING
In March, aviation authorities around the world grounded the Boeing 737 MAX passenger airliner for the longest ever grounding of a U.S. airliner—and with good reason. Two new airplanes crashed within
five months, killing a total of 346 people. The tragedies cost Boeing billions of dollars in revenue, compensations to airlines and lawsuits from victims' families. In November, the Federal Aviation Administration revoked Boeing's authority to issue airworthiness certificates for any individual MAX airplanes. Last week, the company said it will temporarily halt production of the planes in January 2020.
10. ABORTION BANS
Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Ohio, Utah. No, those are aren't our predictions for 2020 swing states. Those are the states that have passed some kind of bill limiting access to abortion this past year. Currently, none of these new gestational bans—which prohibit abortions past a certain point in pregnancy—have gone into effect, and most are currently tied in the courts. So obviously, this issue isn't going away anytime soon—not that it ever really has.
INTERNATIONAL HEADLINES 1. "HOW DARE YOU?"
Sixteen-year-old environmental activist from Sweden Greta Thunberg went viral internationally after she gave global leaders a piece of her mind at the U.N. Climate Change Summit in September. "How dare you?" she exclaimed between other remarks full of disdain toward politicians who prioritize economy over the environment. Thunberg garnered much criticism from her passionate verbiage but continues to study climate change, meet with politicians and fight for change. Thunberg, who gave up school to devote her time to activism, even sailed for more than two weeks on a zero-emission boat to attend the U.N. Climate Action Summit in August in New York City.
2. HONG KONG PROTESTS
When the Hong Kong government introduced the Fugitive Offenders amendment bill, the people of Hong Kong fought back with protests starting in June, known as the Anti-Extradition Law Amendment Bill Movement or the water revolution. The bill would have allowed some criminal suspects to be extradited to mainland China. The activists want more autonomy from China and demand the right to vote, an investigation into police brutality and amnesty for protestors. Unfortunately, tensions have heightened, causing violence between activists and police officers.
3. NOTREDAME FIRE
Amid renovations in April, the roof of the Notre-Dame Cathedral went up in flames, causing significant damage to the architectural landmark. People worldwide were distraught over the fire because the
medieval cathedral is not only a remarkable example of French gothic architecture but also a patriotic symbol of the city of Paris and France as a whole. Committed to restoring the building's majesty, the French Parliament passed a law in July requiring it be rebuilt to the same specifications as before the fire.
4. BIRTH OF PRINCE ARCHIE
Prince Harry and Meghan, Duke and Duchess of Sussex, welcomed their little prince, Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor, into the world in May. He is seventh in line of succession to the British throne.
5. DEATH OF ABU BAKR AL-BAGHDADI
Abu Bakr Al-Baghdadi, the elusive, yet influential, leader of one of the most violent terrorist organizations, Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), died Oct. 26 in Syria during a U.S. Special Operations raid. Abu Ibrahim al-Hashimi al-Qurashi was named his replacement.
6. THERESA MAY RESIGNS
After almost three years serving as the second-ever female U.K. prime minister, Theresa May formally quit because of repeatedly failing Brexit negotiations. The Brexit agreement for the U.K. to withdrawal from the European Union was denied by Parliament three times. May was succeeded by Boris Johnson but still acts as a backbencher in the House of Commons.
7. SRI LANKA EASTER BOMBINGS Easter Sunday turned into tragedy this year when a series of bomb blasts at churches, hotels and a housing complex in and around Colombo, Sri Lanka, killed more than 250 people and injured many others. The Islamic State militant outfit claimed responsibility for the attacks in April.
8. LEGALIZED SAME-SEX MARRIAGE
Taiwan became the first country in Asia to legalize same-sex marriage in May. Same-sex marriage also became legal in Austria at the first of the year.
9. BREXIT AIN'T OVER YET
The European Union has agreed to extend the Brexit deadline until Jan. 31, 2020, which means Brexit is going to continue to make headlines in the new year.
10. RUSSIA, RUSSIA, RUSSIA
Whether the story is about their four-year Olympic ban, their geopolitical tension with the Ukraine or the continued investigations into their role in U.S. elections, Russia has proved to be newsworthy on every level in 2019.
LOCAL HEADLINES 1. NAS SHOOTING
On Dec. 6 of this year, an attack at NAS Pensacola left four people dead, including inweekly.net
the shooter, who was a pilot from Saudi Arabia enrolled in a training program on the base. In addition to the fatalities, eight others were wounded responding to the attack, including members of local law enforcement, and are currently recovering.
2. RIP TYMAR CRAWFORD
5. ESCAMBIA MELTDOWN
It was a rough year for Escambia County government. In addition to a still on-going investigation into the county's Emergency Medical Services division by the state, the county also saw a mass exodus of staffers. Among those jumping ship were interim County Administrator Amy Lovoy, as well as Assistant County Administrator Matt Coughlin—both Lovoy and Coughlin have taken positions with the city of Pensacola)—and a number department heads, including Public Safety Director Mike Weaver and EMS Chief Rusty Nail. By summer, Escambia County commissioners brought in Janice Gilley as administrator, with instructions and expectations to get Escambia's house in better order.
In July of this year, Tymar Crawford was shot and killed by Pensacola Police Department Detective Daniel Siemen following a traffic stop. Although Siemen was fired by the PPD following an internal investigation—for not following the department's use-of-deadlyforce policy—a grand jury did not find that there was cause Photo by C. Scott Satterwhite to prosecute the officer criminally. In the wake of the shooting, and Years in the making, the city of Pensacas per the grand jury recommendations, ola finally landed Project Titan in February city officials have committed to additional of 2019. The $210 million project cobbles training for local police officers in an effort funds from a variety of sources—public, to avoid such events in the future. private and oil spill money via Triumph Gulf Coast—to bring ST Engineering to town in the hopes of igniting an aviation maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) hub, as During a June town hall event at an well as the associated training programs for East Hill restaurant, local congressman such an industry. City officials are still figurand national Trump darling Rep. Matt ing out where some of the funds are coming Gaetz had a drink thrown on him by a profrom, but ST closed out the year heraldtestor. The otherwise unremarkable event ing industry projections that forecast an was notable because it marked the first increasing need for the four-hangar MRO "milkshaking" of a political candidate in the facility that will eventually sprawl across U.S. The protest tactic had been deployed Pensacola International Airport. for some time in the U.K. The drink thrown at Gaetz was not actually a milkshake, however, but rather a slushie from Taco State legislator Rep. Mike Hill enjoys Bell. Amanda Kondrat'yev, who threw the getting media attention for his far-right drink at Gaetz, ended up serving 15 days in legislative efforts and statements, such jail on assault charges. as attempts to pass his so-called heart-
6. LANDING PROJECT TITAN
3. THE "MILKSHAKING" OF MATT GAETZ
7.HILL'S HILL TO DIE ON
4. REVISIONING DOWNTOWN
Pensacola entertained two shoot-forthe-moon planning projects in 2019. Combined, they could be the blueprint for the future of downtown. One plan was an effort of CivicCon and involved having New York urban design firm SCAPE draw up plans to create a more walkable and connected waterfront downtown. The other plan was dreamed up by new urban design guru Jeff Speck and the DPZ firm and reimagined the area encompassing Maritime Park and the empty former ECUA property as a mixed-use, residential-retail utopia. Both plans were funded by developer Quint Studer, who owns the 19-acre ECUA property. The Pensacola City Council has already financed $17 million to put towards the SCAPE plan.
December 26, 2019
beat abortion bill, which would essentially outlaw abortion in the state. But in 2019, the legislator stepped over a line when he entertained a brief discussion regarding instituting the death penalty for gay men during a local speaking engagement in May. Initially falling back on a fake-news defense, Hill eventually attempted to clean up his mess following a bipartisan outcry and calls for an apology by his colleagues around the state.
8. HAPPY TO HAVE THE BLUES
In January, the Belmont-DeVilliers neighborhood received some long-due recognition for its significance in the story of blues music when the Mississippi Blues Commission made the neighborhood part of the Mississippi Blues Trail and installed a marker. Belmont-DeVilliers was part of what was known in pre-segregation days
as the Chitlin' Circuit and hosted everyone from Dizzy Gillespie and Ella Fitzgerald to James Brown, Ray Charles and B.B. King.
9. BAPTIST HOSPITAL RELOCATION
This summer, Baptist Hospital announced plans to relocate its operations to a campus situated near I-110 and Davis Highway by 2023. Perhaps more notable than the hospital's new location is the change that will inevitably face the area surrounding Baptist's current home near downtown Pensacola. In the absence of the hospital, the sprawling campus will represent an opportunity to consider what developments will best suit the area.
10. LESSONS LEARNED ON THE SOCCER FIELD
Upon entering office, Pensacola Mayor Grover Robinson encountered a landmine— the previous administration had left him to make the case for a land-and-services deal with the YMCA in an effort to develop a complex on Langley Avenue for the city's growing youth soccer program. The at times dramatic debate—eventually resulting in a new home for the Y on Summit Boulevard as well as the city's future soccer complex on Langley—provided early insight into the incoming mayor's style and strategy.
POP CULTURE HEADLINES 1. TAYLOR SWIFT—"LOVER" AND FIGHTER
Sure, she's been making music for years, but 2019 was her breakout year, and we're so happy the world is finally feeling "Good As Hell." It's about damn time, y'all.
3. JO BROS RIDE AGAIN
After six grueling years for fans, the Jonas Brothers announced their reunion in April, following it up with the catchy hit single "Sucker for You" in March. Arguably the best part though was the music video, which didn't just feature Nick, Joe and Kevin, but also their wives, Priyanka Chopra, Sophie Turner and Danielle Jonas. To be honest, we're a sucker for all of them. They even took the reunion on the road with their "Happiness Begins" tour, which kicked off in August.
4. KANYE DOES GOSPEL
Every album Kanye West drops is a departure from the one prior—but especially his latest. West released his ninth studio album, "Jesus is King," on Oct. 25, and the response was equal parts praise—and worship—and pitchforks. While the gospel album was evangelical, it didn't resonate with all Christians—who, at times, felt criticized by the lyrics and accused West of hypocrisy. "Closed on Sunday" features some of the more light-hearted lyrics, such as "Closed on Sunday, you're my Chick-filA." Speaking of Chick-fil-A…
5. POPEYES CHICKEN SANDWICH
Popeyes released a new menu item in August that backed up traffic with the long lines at drive-thrus everywhere—the chicken sandwich. The internet took notice and immediately pegged it against Chick-fil-A's iconic chicken sandwich, documenting the comparison—as we do now—in memes. Popeyes' mouthwatering sandwich sold out quickly, and now people are counting the seconds for its return to the fast food joint's menu.
As if releasing the biggest album of the year and setting multiple sales and streaming records weren't enough, Taylor Swift proved that she can multitask with the best of them in 2019. During the midst of all the hype and proA new piece of artmotion for her latest work at Art Basel made album, "Lover," Swift people question just took to social media how subjective art really Taylor Swift / Photo by JStone, Shutterstock.com to explain her ongois. Maurizio Cattelan's ing battle to get her "Comedian"—composed master recordings back. While she owns of a real banana duct-taped against the the original recordings of the new record, wall—might not have been so controversial Swift is fighting against Scooter Braun for if it weren't for its six-figure price tag. And, the masters of her earlier music with Big yes, people purchased it, sort of. They Machine Records. bought an art certificate, because the banana will, in fact, decompose. Some people don't understand the allure of a piece their Going into 2019, we all knew we needed kindergartener could assemble, but others interpret it as having a deeper message. In a hero—someone to unite us, to make us another questionable take on art, perforhappy, maybe even dance, and to remind mance artist David Datuna ate the banana. us to actually like ourselves again. ThankDon't worry, they replaced it. fully, we got that hero in the form of Lizzo.
6. DUCT TAPE BANANA
2. ALL HAIL LIZZO
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7. JUSSIE SMOLLETT
Celebrities rallied behind "Empire" actor Jussie Smollett in January after he told police two white men attacked him in Chicago after spouting off racial and homophobic slurs, poured an unknown chemical substance on him and tied a rope around his neck. Things got awkward, though, when it came out that Smollett allegedly paid two Nigerian men, and former "Empire" extras, to stage the attack. Smollett was indicted for disorderly conduct in February. In March, all charges were dropped in return for Smollett performing community service and forfeiting his $10,000 bond, but the FBI announced it will investigate why exactly the charges were dropped so suddenly.
8. #MUTERKELLY
Many radio stations felt compelled to silence R. Kelly and stop playing his music
after seeing Lifetime's docuseries "Surviving R. Kelly," which revealed sexual abuse allegations against the singer. The film featured interviews from survivors detailing R. Kelly's physical, mental and sexual abuse. Kelly's record label, Sony Music's RCA, dropped him after it aired. In February, Kelly was formally charged with 10 counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse. The second season of the docuseries, "Surviving R. Kelly Part II: The Reckoning," will premiere Jan. 2, 2020.
9. OPERATION VARSITY BLUES
Several high-profile celebrities were involved in the college admissions scandal, aka Operation Varsity Blues, an investigation that revealed many parents were influencing admissions decisions via bribery and more at top-tier universities. Leading the headlines were "Full House" star Lori Loughlin and her husband Mossimo Giannulli and "Desperate Housewives" actress Felicity Huffman.
10. J-LO HUSTLED
If anyone won 2019, it was J-Lo. While the actress, singer and dancer has never been exactly forgotten, this year, she had a major resurgence. First, the world swooned when she got engaged to another two-syllable nicknamed celebrity, A-Rod (aka Alex Rodriguez). Then, she co-produced and starred in the movie "Hustlers," which is loosely based on a true story about a group of strippers who take illegal measures to make extra money. Her intense routines for the film made us wonder if it's possible to age backward. Lopez won Instagram shortly after when she posted a video of herself strutting down the runway at Milan fashion week in a recreation of the green, palm-print Versace dress she wore to the Grammys 20 years ago. {in}
Jennifer Lopez / Photo by lev radin, Shutterstock.com
REST IN PEACE A fashion icon. A forever teen idol. A truly beloved author. Big Bird himself. Sadly, 2019 took some great ones from us. These are just some of the year's notable passings: John Conyers Elijah Cummings Doris Day
Peter Fonda
Ric Ocasek
Jarad A. Higgins (Juice Wrld)
Ross Perot
Nipsey Hussle
Luke Perry
Karl Lagerfeld
Malcolm John Rebennack (Dr. John)
Peggy Lipton
Cokie Roberts
Peter Mayhew
John Singleton
Toni Morrison
Caroll Spinney
Mary Oliver
Gloria Vanderbilt
Dr. John / Photo by Bruce Weber
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WEEK OF DECEMBER 26-JANUARY 1
Arts & Entertainment art, film, music, stage, books and other signs of civilization...
Cinematic Marvels By Daniel Barnes
dark comedy gripped me from the first shot of a knife slicing open a box of clothes. Marianne-Jean Baptiste stars as a lonely single mother drawn into "a prism of retail abstraction" by an evil red dress. Strickland packs more wildly ravishing moments into the first 15 minutes of "In Fabric" than most filmmakers could muster in their entire careers.
MARRIAGE STORY
When the 2010s started, there were only two Marvel Cinematic Universe movies. Ten years later, the MCU boasts 23 feature films, with seemingly no end in sight. Meanwhile, Martin Scorsese ended the last decade by making a movie that played on IMAX screens, and now his films debut on iPhone screens. It often feels like the cinema wars are over, and the corporate brand loyalists won. But no matter the obstacles, great filmmakers continue to make great films. For his part, film critic Daniel Barnes found 10 reasons to celebrate the state of filmmaking in 2019.
DANIEL'S TOP 10 OF 2019 UNCUT GEMS
Directors Benny and Josh Safdie double down on the pure rush of their 2017 success "Good Time" with this adrenaline-soaked thriller. Adam Sandler gives the performance of the year as Howard Ratner, a New York City jeweler and danger addict barreling through halls of power in search of the ultimate win.
ONCE UPON A TIME IN HOLLYWOOD
It's so easy to luxuriate in the sights and sounds December 26, 2019
of Quentin Tarantino's historical fantasy that you could overlook the richness of the text. "Once Upon a Time…" is Tarantino's careerencapsulating look at how violence shapes our lives, both on-screen and off. Leonardo DiCaprio and Brad Pitt deliver the most emotionally vulnerable performances of their careers as soon-to-be has-beens in 1969 Hollywood.
PETERLOO
Mike Leigh's epic story of the 1819 Peterloo Massacre played to largely indifferent festival circuit audiences in 2018, and it only received a cursory theatrical release before getting dumped onto Amazon Prime. Honestly, I wasn't all that pumped to watch two-plus hours of speeches followed by a bloody massacre either, but I found "Peterloo" riveting from start to finish.
MIDSOMMAR
This sun-drenched horror film from "Hereditary" director Ari Aster haunted me like nothing else released in 2019. Florence Pugh gives a gut-wrenching turn as a grieving student who follows her turd of a boyfriend to Sweden, only to find terrors beyond comprehension.
IN FABRIC
Peter Strickland's marvelously overwrought
Noah Baumbach ends a decade that included "Greenberg," "Frances Ha" and "Mistress America" with this painful but hilarious look at an artistic couple going through a messy divorce. Adam Driver and Scarlett Johansson are both marvelous in the lead roles, while Laura Dern, Ray Liotta, Alan Alda and Julie Hagerty contribute strong support.
ROLLING THUNDER REVUE: A BOB DYLAN STORY BY MARTIN SCORSESE
Less heralded than the other Scorsese movie released on Netflix this year, but more of a pure joy to watch, Scorsese builds this "pseudo-documentary" from pieces of Dylan's 1978 film "Renaldo and Clara" and then sprinkles in some fakeout talking head interviews. Come for the metacommentary; stay for the face-melting concert footage from Dylan's Rolling Thunder Revue tour.
PAIN & GLORY
For his 21st feature film, the great Spanish director Pedro Almódovar reaches back into his inkwell of semi-autobiography to create the quietly enchanting "Pain & Glory." Frequent Almódovar muse Antonio Banderas sets aside his usual scenerychewing to play an ailing, Almódovar-esque filmmaker confronting his past.
THE IRISHMAN
The end of the decade seemed to put many great directors in a reflective mood, and no one ruminates through his art like Scorsese.
Instead of the flash-bang "Casino" clone that many people expected, Scorsese gave us a bleak, somber story about the inexorable rot created by corruption and violence.
PARASITE
As in "Snowpiercer," director Bong Joon-ho turns an obvious class war parable into a compelling genre film. It's the perfect mix of his penchants for tidy symbolism and unhinged tonal shifts, with a strong ensemble cast led by longtime Bong favorite Song Kang-ho.
DANIEL'S BOTTOM FIVE OF 2019 GLASS
Like Tarantino in "Once Upon a Time in Hollywood," M. Night Shyamalan reexamines his past with "Glass." Instead of a culmination of a grand career, though, Shyamalan reaches the rock bottom of hacky gimmicks and clueless storytelling.
ALADDIN
Just as swollen and painfully unnecessary as the four other Disney live-action remakes of animated films released in 2019. So why single out "Aladdin?" Because you can't unsee those dance sequences directed by Guy Ritchie.
ALL IS TRUE
Kenneth Branagh caps a career built on flavorless yet vainglorious Shakespeare adaptations with this borderline unwatchable turn as the Bard of Avon. Branagh directs the film with his usual lack of personality or control.
THE FANATIC
Former Limp Bizkit frontman Fred Durst directs this revenge fantasy for talentless elitists. Star John Travolta hits an embarrassing new low, and yet his shameless overacting is the only reason to watch this atrocity.
YESTERDAY
Given full access to The Beatles songbook and an irresistible story idea, director Danny Boyle and screenwriter Richard Curtis manage to make a film that misunderstands the appeal of the band more thoroughly than the 1978 disaster "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band." {in} 17
calendar THURSDAY 12.26
WORK ON THE FLORIDA TRAIL 8 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Every Thursday. Three miles north of Deaton Bridge Road. meetup.com/ftawesterngate YOGA WITHIN REACH 9-10 a.m. Free. Community Health Northwest Florida, 2315 W. Jackson St., Room A. healthcarewithinreach.org AWM WINE TASTING 5-7 p.m. Free. Aragon Wine Market, 27 S. Ninth Ave. facebook. com/aragonwine DOWNTON ABBEY 1 p.m. $7 (cash only). Studer Community Institute, 220 W. Garden St. pensacolacinemaart.com THE OFFICE CHRISTMAS POP-UP BAR 4 p.m. Perfect Plain Brewing Co., 50 E. Garden St. facebook.com/perfectplainbrewingco JUDY 4 p.m. $7 (cash only). Studer Community Institute, 220 W. Garden St. pensacolacinemaart.com YAPPY HOUR 5-10 p.m. Through Feb. 27. 5% of proceeds benefit Escambia County Animal Shelter. Red Fish Blue Fish, 5B Via De Luna Drive. redfishbluefishpensacolabeach.com ZUMBA WITH SHANNON AND FRIENDS 6-7 p.m. $4. Homestead Community Center, 7830 Pine Forest Road. END OF THE LINE THURSDAY DINNER 6-9 p.m. End of the Line Café, 610 E. Wright St. Sign up for the newsletter for menu. eotlcafe.com ICE FLYERS VS. MACON MAYHEM 6:35 p.m. $15 and up. Pensacola Bay Center, 201 E. Gregory St. pensacolabaycenter.com
FRIDAY 12.27
ONE-ON-ONE TECH HELP 10 a.m. Pensacola
Library, 239 N. Spring St. mywfpl.com
THE OFFICE CHRISTMAS POP-UP BAR Noon.
Perfect Plain Brewing Co., 50 E. Garden St. facebook.com/perfectplainbrewingco DOWNTON ABBEY 1 p.m. $7 (cash only). Studer Community Institute, 220 W. Garden St. pensacolacinemaart.com JUDY 4 p.m. $7 (cash only). Studer Community Institute, 220 W. Garden St. pensacolacinemaart.com HAPPY HOUR COOKOUT 5 p.m. Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. sevillequarter.com RELATIONAL COMMUNICATION WITH ESPERE METHOD 5:30-7:30 p.m. Ever'man
Educational Center, 327 W. Garden St. everman.org ACOUSTIC SONGWRITERS NIGHT 6 p.m.
Let’s Wine!
Free Wine Tasting Every Thursday AWM 5pm - 7pm
27 S. 9th Ave. | 850•433•9463 AragonWineMarket.com 818 1
Every Friday through March 27. Frazier's Country Wines, 3130 Barrancas Ave. fromthegroundupgardenpensacola.com GLOW BOWL 9 p.m.-1 a.m. Every Friday and Saturday. $12 per person. Strikerz Entertainment Center, 3200 N. Palafox St.
SATURDAY 12.28
PARKRUN/WALK MEETUP 7:30 a.m. Univer-
sity of West Florida, Rec Plex North Field, 11000 University Parkway. parkrun.us/ recplexnorth FMW AUDUBON BIRDWALK 8:30-11 a.m. Free. Naval Live Oaks - Gulf Islands National Seashore, 1801 Gulf Breeze Parkway. fmwaudubon.org OCEAN HOUR CLEAN-UP 9-10 a.m. Bruce Beach, 601 W. Main St. oceanhourfl.com SANTA ROSA FARMERS MARKET 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Fresh local produce, honey, baked goods and live music. Pace Presbyterian Church, Woodbine Road. PALAFOX MARKET 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Fresh produce, live plants, baked goods, fine art and antiques. Items originate directly from participating vendors, including dozens of local farmers, home gardeners and area artists. Martin Luther King Jr. Plaza, N. Palafox. palafoxmarket.com YOU SELL IT HERE FARMER'S MARKET 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Free admission. Every Saturday. 8600 Pensacola Blvd. facebook.com/yousellithere THE BOUND BOOK 10-11 a.m. Studio South, 955 E. Nine Mile Road. studiosouthon9mileroad.com THE OFFICE CHRISTMAS POP-UP BAR 11 a.m. Perfect Plain Brewing Co., 50 E. Garden St. facebook.com/perfectplainbrewingco DOWNTON ABBEY 1 p.m. $7 (cash only). Studer Community Institute, 220 W. Garden St. pensacolacinemaart.com JUDY 4 p.m. $7 (cash only). Studer Community Institute, 220 W. Garden St. pensacolacinemaart.com JIMMY NINE LIVES AND THE BLUEGRASS CATS
5-8 p.m. Dolce and Gelato, 2050 N. 12th Ave. facebook.com/dolcegelatopensacola DANCE PARTY 7 p.m.-midnight. $10 workshop, $10 party. DanceCraft, 8618 Pensacola Blvd. dancecraftstudios.com ICE FLYERS VS. BIRMINGHAM BULLS 7:05 p.m. $15 and up. Pensacola Bay Center, 201 E. Gregory St. pensacolabaycenter.com
SATURDAY SWING OUTS 8 p.m. $5. Saturdays. Breathe Yoga Studio, 505 S. Adams St. INFERNO BURLESQUE 8 p.m. $15-$35. Vinyl Music Hall, 2 S. Palafox. vinylmusichall.com GLOW BOWL 9 p.m.-1 a.m. Every Friday and Saturday. $12 per person. Strikerz Entertainment Center, 3200 N. Palafox St. EMO PROM: I'M NOT OKAY 10 p.m. Free. Vinyl Music Hall, 2 S. Palafox. vinylmusichall.com
SUNDAY 12.29
THEMED BRUNCH AT PERFECT PLAIN
10 a.m. Perfect Plain Brewing Co., 50 E. Garden St. facebook.com/perfectplainbrewingco SCRY VISION EVENT 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Vision board and ritual event. Asher & Bee Apothecary and Tea House, 7 E. Gregory St. facebook.com/asherandbee TRANSMISSION MEDITATION WORLD SERVICE 10:30 a.m. Ever'man Educational
Center, 327 W. Garden St. everman.org ASHTANGA YOGA WITH GARY JR. 10:30 a.m. $12. Gary's Brewery and Biergarten, 208 Newman Ave. facebook.com/garysbrew BRUNCH WITH LIVE MUSIC 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Café Single Fin, 380 N. Ninth Ave. facebook.com/cafesinglefin VEGAN BRUNCH 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Sign up for the newsletter for menu. End of the Line Café, 610 E. Wright St. eotlcafe.com SUNDAY BRUNCH AT H20 11 a.m. $28.95 for adults. Free valet parking and 15% off with local ID. H20 Hilton, 12 Via De Luna Drive. facebook.com/hiltonpensacolabeach THE OFFICE CHRISTMAS POP-UP BAR 11 a.m. Perfect Plain Brewing Co., 50 E. Garden St. facebook.com/perfectplainbrewingco PUBLIC ICE SKATE 2-6:30 p.m. $9-$12. Pensacola BayCenter, 201 E. Gregory St. pensacolabaycenter.com STINGERS COMEDY AT LUCAS' 6 p.m. $25$30. Lucas', 400 Quietwater Beach Road, Ste. 5A. facebook.com/localsknowlucas GYPSY & ME 7-10 p.m. Perfect Plain Brewing Co., 50 E. Garden St. facebook.com/perfectplainbrewingco
MONDAY 12.30
RESUME HELP 11 a.m. Molino Branch Li-
brary, 6450-A Highway 95A. mywfpl.com
PUBLIC ICE SKATE 2-6:30 p.m. $9-$12.
Pensacola Bay Center, 201 E. Gregory St. pensacolabaycenter.com SEVILLE QUARTER MILERS 6 p.m. Runners meet in front of Seville Quarter for a run around downtown Pensacola. Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. sevillequarter.com
TUESDAY 12.31
YOGA WITHIN REACH 9-10 a.m. Free. Community Health Northwest Florida, 2315 W. Jackson St., Room A. healthcarewithinreach.org BLUE ANGELS PRACTICE 11:30 a.m. National Naval Aviation Museum viewing area, 1878 S. Blue Angel Parkway. Use West Gate Entrance. DOWNTON ABBEY 1 p.m. $7 (cash only). Studer Community Institute, 220 W. Garden St. pensacolacinemaart.com PUBLIC ICE SKATE 2-6:30 p.m. $9-$12. Pensacola BayCenter, 201 E. Gregory St. pensacolabaycenter.com JUDY 4 p.m. $7 (cash only). Studer Community Institute, 220 W. Garden St. pensacolacinemaart.com TRYON FAMILY MOVIE NIGHT 4 p.m. Tryon Branch Library, 1200 Langley Ave. mywfpl.com COMPLIMENTARY WINE TASTING 4-6 p.m. Bodacious, 407-D S. Palafox. sogourmetpensacola.com FIBER FREESTYLIN' AT STUDIO SOUTH
5:30-7:30 p.m. Tuesdays. Open to all knitters, crocheters, weavers and more. Studio South, 955 E. Nine Mile Road. studiosouthon9mileroad.com FUNKY YOGA 6 p.m. Free. Ever'man Educational Center, 327 W. Garden St. everman.org ZUMBA WITH SHANNON AND FRIENDS 6-7 p.m. $4. Homestead Community Center, 7830 Pine Forest Road. COUNTRY TWO-STEP DANCING 6:30 p.m. $12. Whiskey Runners Saloon, 610 E. Nine Mile Road. dancecraftstudios.com
WEDNESDAY 1.1
POLAR BEAR DIP AT FLORA-BAMA Noon.
17401 Perdido Key Drive. florabama.com/ polar-bear-dip SANTA ROSA ISLAND POLAR PLUNGE 2 p.m. Registration begins at noon. Cost is $15. Paradise Bar and Grill, 21 Via De Luna Drive. pensacolabeachchamber.com WEST COAST SWING DANCING 6:30 p.m. $12. Whiskey Runners Saloon, 610 E. Nine Mile Road. dancecraftstudios.com
Adoption • Paternity • Dependency/DCF Hearings Prenuptial Agreements • Postnuptial Agreements Divorce • Child Custody and Timesharing Child Support • Child Support Modifications Alimony • Collaborative Divorce • Divorce Mediation • Pre-Suit Family Law Mediation
127 Palafox Place Suite 100 (850)466-3115 autumnbeckblackledge.com
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calendar
WHAT ARE YOU DOING NEW YEAR'S EVE?
NYE CHEF'S TASTING MENU 6PM OR 8:45PM • TUESDAY 12/31
"LOADED BAKED POTATO" FINGERLING POTATO, CRÈME FRAICHE, PARSLEY, SHALLOT, AMERICAN HACKLEBACK CAVIAR, EGG LOBSTER, CHORIZO AND SAFFRON STEW ROUILLE, BAGUETTE WILD MUSHROOM RISOTTO, SEARED DIVER SCALLOP, TRUFFLE, TARRAGON SOUS VIDE HANGER STEAK, FOIE GRAS BUTTER, POTATO RUSTI, SAUTÉED SPINACH, PORT GLACE
No idea? You're in luck, because we've got a few suggestions—including some swanky multi-course dinners, a night at the symphony and the ultimate booty-shaking dance part
TUESDAY 12.31
2020 NEW YEAR'S EVE PARTY 8 a.m.-until. Free admission. Live music from Tyler Livingston & The Absolutes, balloon drop and fireworks at midnight. Bamboo Willie's Beachside Bar, 400 Quietwater Beach Road. bamboowillies.com NEW YEAR'S EVE AT FISH HOUSE 11 a.m.-2 p.m. (lunch); 2 p.m.-until (dinner). Fish House, 600 S. Barracks St. greatsouthernrestaurants.com NEW YEAR'S EVE AT FIVE SISTER'S 11 a.m.4 p.m. (lunch); 4-9 p.m. (dinner). Five Sister's Blues Café, 421 W. Belmont St. greatsouthernrestaurants.com LUCAS' NEW YEAR'S EVE PARTY 3-5 p.m. seating, $99. 7 p.m.-1 a.m. seating, $165. Lucas', 400 Quietwater Beach Road, Ste. 5A. facebook.com/localsknowlucas NEW YEAR'S EVE DINNER AT POT ROAST & PINOT 4-5:15, fixed three-course meal,
$30. 7 and 9:30 seatings, four-course gala menu, $75 plus $40 for optional wine pairing. Pot Roast & Pinot, 11-B S. Palafox. potroastpinot.com NEW YEAR'S EVE AT V. PAUL'S 4:30-10:30 p.m. Four-course Italian meal. $59.95. Make reservations at 466-5855. V. Paul's Italian Ristorante, 29 S. Palafox. NEW YEAR'S EVE DINNER AT SEVILLE QUARTER 5:30 and 8 p.m. seatings. $50-
60. Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. sevillequarter.com
SOUTH MARKET FOUR-COURSE DINNER + BUBBLES 5:30-9 p.m. $55 per person, $120
per couple. South Market, 232 E. Main St. facebook.com/eatsouthmarket
NEW YEAR'S EVE AT UNION PUBLIC HOUSE
6 p.m. and 8:45 p.m. $80 per person. Special tasting menu with optional wine pairing, $35. Union Public House, 309 S. Reus St. facebook.com/unionpensacola
and up. Pianist Ian Parker returns for George Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue and Debussy's Clair de lune, and saxophonist Dave Camwell shares jazz favorites from Duke Ellington and Richard Rodgers. Saenger Theatre, 118 S. Palafox. pensacolasymphony.com NEW YEAR'S EVE AT ANGELENA'S Seatings at 7 and 9 p.m. $125 per person. Four-course meal and wine pairings. Angelena's, 101 E. Intendencia St. greatsouthernrestaurants.com BOOTY DROP 2020: Y2K THROWBACK EDITION 8 p.m. $10, includes champagne toast.
chizuko, 506 W. Belmont St. facebook.com/ chizukopensacola RING IN 2020 AT THE WINERY 8 p.m.-1 a.m. $20. '80s theme party. Frazier's Country Wines, 3130 Barrancas Ave. facebook.com/ frazierscountrywines
CREDIT CARD REQUIRED TO HOLD YOUR RESERVATION • 850-607-6320
309 SOUTH REUS ST.
Shazam Rocks. Hilton Pensacola Beach, 12 Via de Luna Drive. f acebook.com/hiltonpensacolabeach BOUJ YEAR'S EVE 8 p.m. $99-$129. DJ, tarot card readers, cocktail displays and games, magicians and drag show. Perfect Plain Brewing Co., 50 E. Garden St. facebook.com/ perfectplainbrewingco NEW YEAR'S EVE BASH WITH PARADISE ALL STARS 8 p.m.-12:30 a.m. Paradise Bar
and Grill, 21 Via De Luna Drive. paradisebar-grill.com NEW YEAR'S EVE AT SEVILLE QUARTER 8 p.m.-3 a.m. $20-$75. All guests will get party favors and enjoy a Cristalino Cava Brut toast at midnight. Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. sevillequarter.com NEW YEAR'S EVE BASH 9 p.m.-1 a.m. $95$125. Includes open bar, party favors, champagne toast and breakfast buffet. Skopelo's, 600 S. Palafox St. skopelosatnewworld.com NEW YEAR'S CELEBRATION AT SANDSHAKER
9 p.m.-1 a.m. No cover charge; live music from Horseshoe Kitty. Sandshaker Lounge, 731 Pensacola Beach Blvd. sandshaker.com NEW YEAR'S EVE FIREWORKS DISPLAY
Midnight. Pensacola Beach Boardwalk, 400 Quietwater Beach Road.
WEDNESDAY 1.1
CELEBRATE NEW YEAR'S EVE WITH PENSACOLA SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA 7 p.m. $23
p.m. $8 bottomless mimosas, $5 Bloody Marys. Red Fish Blue Fish, 5 Via De Luna Drive, Unit B. facebook.com/redfishbluefishpensacolabeach
December 26, 2019
2 SEATINGS AVAILABLE: 6PM OR 8:45PM • RESERVATIONS REQUIRED $80 PER PERSON PLUS TAX & GRATUITY; OPTIONAL WINE PAIRING FOR $35
NEW YEAR'S EVE PARTY AT PENSACOLA HILTON 8 p.m. Free concert from
NEW YEAR'S EVE SEATINGS AT JACKSON'S STEAKHOUSE 7 and 9 p.m. $125. Three-
course meal with complimentary party favors and Hoppin' John at midnight. greatsouthernrestaurants.com
PARIS-BREST
NEW YEAR'S DAY BRUNCH 11 a.m.-3
19
calendar Arts & Culture
ferson St. pensacolamuseum.org
≥Current Exhibits
JOHN MARKOWITZ: RECENT WORKS On
SMALL MATTERS WITH GUEST ARTIST KATHY BREAZEALE
On view through Jan. 3. First City Art Center, 1060 N. Guillemard St. firstcityart.org
PIGMENT OF OUR IMAGINATION On
view through Jan. 10. Artel Gallery, 223 S. Palafox. artelgallery.org
BEIRUT: PHOTOGRAPHS BY JOHN BECHTOLD On view
through Jan. 19. Pensacola Museum of Art, 407 S. Jefferson St. pensacolamuseum.org 100 FACES OF WAR EXPERIENCE On
view through Jan. 19 at Pensacola Museum of Art. Traveling exhibit from Smithsonian. Pensacola Museum of Art, 407 S. Jef-
020 2
view through Feb. 2. Pensacola Museum of Art, 407 S. Jefferson St. pensacolamuseum.org COTTON FIELDS TO CONGRESS: THE LIFE AND CAREER OF EARL HUTTO On view at
the T.T. Wentworth, Jr. Florida State Museum, 330 S. Jefferson St. historicpensacola.org
GALLERY DAYS
Noon-4 p.m. Saturdays. Featuring local artists. To be featured, contact Angel at 941-7354586 or call the restaurant at 4770035. TGI Fridays, 1240 Airport Blvd.
Workshops & Classes
POTTERY ON THE WHEEL Six-week
workshops are held
Tuesdays from 6-9 p.m., Wednesdays from 9 a.m.-noon, Thursdays from 6-9 p.m. and Saturdays from 9 a.m.-noon at First City Art Center, 1060 N. Guillemard St. Cost is $157.25 for members and $185 for non-members. For more information, visit firstcityart.org. INTRODUCTION TO POTTERY ON THE WHEEL Every Monday
from 6-8:30 p.m. at First City Art Center. Classes are $40. For more information, visit firstcityart.org.
CLAY HAND BUILDING Six-week
workshops are held Tuesdays from 6-9 p.m. and Thursday from 9 a.m.-noon at First City Art Center. Cost is $157.25 for members and $185 for non-members. For more information, visit firstcityart.org.
CLAY SCULPTURE
Six-week workshops held Saturdays from 9 a.m.-noon at First City Art Center. Cost is $157.25 for members and $185 for non-members. For more information, visit firstcityart.org.
Call for Artists
Jazz Pensacola invites fine artists/graphic designers to submit renderings for the official 2020 Pensacola JazzFest poster. The commission is $300. The poster design should reflect the deep, rich, diverse jazz music heritage of Pensacola and communicate a sense of place. Submissions should conform to a vertical orientation using a ratio that will fit, with margin, on a final poster size of 18 inches wide by 24 inches high. All content must be the
submitter's original creation and must be unpublished. The submitter must have all rights to images and graphics used in the final artwork and during the design process. The poster must include the name of the festival—2020 Pensacola JazzFest. The submission deadline is Jan. 6, 2020. If selected, the completed art deadline is Feb. 28, 2020. For more information, call Jazz Pensacola administrator Alice Crann Good at 433-8382, Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., or visit jazzpensacola.com.
Bars & Nightlife
≥Live Music
THURSDAY 12.26 FORREST HIGGINS
6 p.m. Five Sisters
Blues Café, 421 W. Belmont St. fivesistersbluescafe.com LIVE MUSIC 6 p.m. Peg Leg Pete's, 1010 Fort Pickens Road. peglegpetes.com JIM ANDREWS 6:30 p.m. The District, 123 E. Government St. districtsteaks.com TANYA GALLAGHER
7 p.m. Hub Stacey's 312 E. Government St. hubstaceys.com
JAY WILLIAMS BAND
Restaurant 8183 W. Fairfield. JOHN RIPLEY 6:30 p.m. The District, 123 E. Government St. districtsteaks.com MIKE BOCCIA 7:45 p.m. Goat Lips Chew and Brewhouse, 2811 Copter Road.
FRIDAY 12.27
DUELING PIANOS
8 p.m. Sandshaker Lounge, 731 Pensacola Beach Blvd. sandshaker.com HIGH DEMAND 9 p.m. End O' the Alley Courtyard, Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. sevillequarter.com
LIVE JAZZ WITH JOE OCCHIPINTI Noon.
DUELING PIANOS
The Drowsy Poet Coffee Co., 655 Pensacola Beach Blvd. BLENDERS 6 p.m. Five Sisters Blues Café, 421 W. Belmont St. fivesistersbluescafe.com LIVE MUSIC 6 p.m. Peg Leg Pete's, 1010 Fort Pickens Road. peglegpetes.com
OPEN MIC/JAM
RAY 'BIG DOG' COLEY 6-9 p.m.
OPEN COLLEGE JAM WITH MIKE BOCCIA
7:30 p.m. Goat Lips Chew and Brewhouse, 2811 Copter Road. 8 p.m. Rosie O' Grady's Dueling Piano Show. Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. sevillequarter.com 8-11 p.m. Goat Lips Brewhouse, 2811 Copter Road. Use our instruments or bring your own.
Cazadores Mexican
8 p.m. Rosie O' Grady's Dueling Piano Show. Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. sevillequarter.com MIKE & FRIENDS 8 p.m.-midnight. Goat Lips Brewhouse, 2811 Copter Road. CRISTI DEES 8 p.m. Hub Stacey's 312 E. Government St. hubstaceys.com BUZZCUTT 9 p.m. Sandshaker Lounge, 731 Pensacola Beach Blvd. sandshaker.com
for more listings visit inweekly.net
inweekly.net
December 26, 2019
21
free will astrology WEEK OF DECEMBER 26 ARIES (MARCH 21-APRIL 19): Nazi Germany invaded and occupied Denmark during World War II. In 1943, Hitler ordered all Danish Jews to be arrested—a first step in his plan to send them to concentration camps. But the Danish resistance movement leapt into action and smuggled virtually all of them to safety via fishing boats bound for Sweden. As a result, 8,000-plus Danish Jews survived the Holocaust. You may not have the opportunity to do anything quite as heroic in 2020, Aries. But I expect you will have chances to express a high order of practical idealism that could be among your noblest and most valiant efforts ever. Draw inspiration from the Danish resistance. TAURUS (APRIL 20-MAY 20): When
she was 31, Taurus writer Charlotte Brontë finished writing her novel "Jane Eyre." She guessed it would have a better chance of getting published if its author was thought to be a man. So she adopted the masculine pen name of Currer Bell and sent the manuscript unsolicited to a London publisher. Less than eight weeks later, her new book was in print. It quickly became a commercial success. I propose that we make Brontë one of your role models for 2020, Taurus. May she inspire you to be audacious in expressing yourself and confident in seeking the help you need to reach your goals. May she embolden you, too, to use ingenious stratagems to support your righteous cause.
GEMINI (MAY 21-JUNE 20): 2020 can
and should be a lyrically healing year for you. Here's what I mean—Beauty and grace will be curative. The "medicine" you need will come to you via poetic and mellifluous experiences. With this in mind, I encourage you to seek out encounters with the following remedies. 1. Truth Whimsies 2. Curiosity Breakthroughs 3. Delight Gambles 4. Sacred Amusements 4. Redemptive Synchronicities 5. Surprise Ripenings 6. Gleeful Discoveries 7. Epiphany Adventures 8. Enchantment Games 9. Elegance Eruptions 10. Intimacy Angels 11. Playful Salvation 12. Luminosity Spells
CANCER (JUNE 21-JULY 22): "There are years that ask questions and years that answer," wrote author Zora Neale Hurston. According to my astrological analysis, Cancerian, 2020 is likely to be one of those years that asks questions, while 2021 will be a time when you'll get rich and meaningful answers to the queries you'll pose in 2020. To ensure that this plan works out for your maximum benefit, it's essential that you formulate provocative questions in the coming months. At first, it's fine if you generate too many. As the year progresses, you can whittle them down to the most ultimate and important questions. Get started! LEO (JULY 23-AUG. 22): The Roman Emperor Vespasian (9–79 AD) supervised the restoration of the Temple of Peace, the 222 2
By Rob Brezsny
Temple of Claudius and the Theater of Marcellus. He also built a huge statue of Apollo and the amphitheater now known as the Colosseum, whose magnificent ruins are still a major tourist attraction. Vespasian also created a less majestic but quite practical wonder—Rome's first public urinals. In accordance with astrological omens, I invite you Leos to be stimulated by his example in 2020. Be your usual magnificent self as you generate both inspiring beauty and earthy, pragmatic improvements.
VIRGO (AUG. 23-SEPT. 22): When Virgo
author Mary Shelley was 18 years old, she had a disconcerting dream-like vision about a mad chemist who created a weird humanlike creature out of non-living matter. She set about to write a book based on her mirage. At age 20, she published "Frankenstein," a novel that would ultimately wield a huge cultural influence and become a seminal work in the "science fiction" genre. I propose we make Shelley one of your role models for 2020. Why? Because I suspect that you, too, will have the power to transform a challenging event or influence into an important asset. You'll be able to generate or attract a new source of energy by responding creatively to experiences that initially provoke anxiety.
LIBRA (SEPT. 23-OCT. 22): Libraborn mystic poet Rumi (1207–1273) wrote that he searched for holy sustenance and divine inspiration in temples, churches and mosques—but couldn't find them there. The good news? Because of his disappointment, he was motivated to go on an inner quest— and ultimately found holy sustenance and divine inspiration in his own heart. I've got a strong feeling that you'll have similar experiences in 2020, Libra. Not on every occasion, but much of the time, you will discover the treasure you need and long for not in the outside world but rather in your own depths. SCORPIO (OCT. 23-NOV. 21): Among his many accomplishments, Scorpio rapper Drake is an inventive rhymer. In his song "Diplomatic Immunity," he rhymes "sacred temple" with "stencil." Brilliant! Other rhymes—"statistics" with "ballistics"; "Treaty of Versailles" with "no cease and desist in I"; and—my favorite—"Al Jazeera" (the Qatar-based news source) with "Shakira" (the Colombian singer). According to my analysis of the astrological omens in 2020, many of you Scorpios will have Drakestyle skill at mixing and blending seemingly disparate elements. I bet you'll also be good at connecting influences that belong together but have never been able to combine before.
riod when he lived at 50 different addresses. I'm going to be bold here and hypothesize that 2020 will NOT be one of those years when you would benefit from being like Rilke. In fact, I hope you'll seek out more stability and security than usual.
CAPRICORN (DEC. 22-JAN. 19): Fif-
teenth-century Italian metalworker Lorenzo Ghiberti worked for 28 years to turn the Doors of the Florence Baptistry into a massive work of art. He used bronze to create numerous scenes from the Bible. His fellow artist Michelangelo was so impressed that he said Ghiberti's doors could have served as "The Gates of Paradise." I offer Ghiberti as inspiration for your life in 2020, Capricorn. I think you'll be capable of beginning a masterwork that could take quite some time to complete and serve as your very own "gate to paradise"—in other words, an engaging project and delightful accomplishment that will make you feel your life is eminently meaningful and worthwhile.
AQUARIUS (JAN. 20-FEB. 18): You're wise to cultivate a degree of skepticism and even contrariness. Like all of us, your abilities to say NO to detrimental influences and to criticize bad things are key to your mental health. On the other hand, it's a smart idea to keep checking yourself for irrelevant, gratuitous skepticism and contrariness. You have a sacred duty to maintain just the amount you need, but no more—even as you foster a vigorous reservoir of receptivity, optimism and generosity. And guess what? 2020 will be an excellent time to make this one of your cornerstone habits. PISCES (FEB. 19-MARCH 20): Dante Alighieri (1265–1321) finished writing "The Divine Comedy" in 1320. Today, it's considered one of the supreme literary accomplishments in the Italian language and a classic of world literature. But no one ever read the entire work in the English language until 1802, when it was translated for the first time. Let's invoke this as a metaphor for your life in the coming months, Pisces. According to my visions, a resource or influence that has previously been inaccessible to you will finally arrive in a form you can understand and use. Some wisdom that has been untranslatable or unreadable will at last be available. THIS WEEK'S HOMEWORK: Your imagination is the single most important asset you possess. What can you do to ensure it serves you well and doesn't drive you crazy?
SAGITTARIUS (NOV. 22-DEC. 21): Sagittarian poet Rainer Maria Rilke (1875–1926) embodied a trait that many astrology textbooks suggest is common to the Sagittarian tribe—wanderlust. He was born in Prague but traveled widely throughout Europe and Russia. If there were a Guinness World Records' category for "Time Spent as a Houseguest," Rilke might hold it. There was a four-year pe-
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freewillastrology@freewillastrology.com Rob Brezsny © Copyright 2019
inweekly.net
news of the weird BRIGHT IDEA The Raleigh (North Carolina) News & Observer reported on Dec. 9 that a 14-year-old runaway made a logical choice when deciding where to hide. Around 8:30 that morning, as workers at Bed Bath & Beyond opened the store in Greenville, they discovered someone hidden in the store and called police. Officers responded for a "breaking and entering in progress," but found only a teenage boy who had "camped out" in the store overnight. He was returned to his home. BAH, HUMBUG! Marie Bennett, 40, and Joseph Betancourt, 24, of Woodland, California, would have made the Grinch proud, but police in Red Bluff weren't having it. On Dec. 5, the two allegedly broke into the Children First Foster Family Agency, where they stole "(a) large amount of toys that were being held there for children for Christmas presents," police told Fox News. Surveillance video showed the burglars coming and going from the home next door; officers arrested Bennett and Betancourt for burglary, theft and breaking and entering, and they recovered the stolen toys, declaring, "These 'Grinches' will not be stealing Christmas from kids on our watch." •The Bosch's Country View Nursery in Allendale, Michigan, is a longtime favorite destination for Christmas tree shoppers. But sometime in early December, the Grinch visited, lopping the top halves off more than a dozen trees, according to WZZM13. It takes a fir tree between six and 10 years to grow to Christmas tree height, explained owner Brian Bosch. "Somebody had a bad day, I'm assuming," he said. "I don't know why somebody would do that." Bosch did say that the trees might recover, although it would take a few years.' POLICE REPORT In Turlock, California, mothers became alarmed when a man turned up at their doors, asking for "five strands" of hair and fingerprints from their children in order to collect their DNA. "He said he was with Amber Alert," Lauren Hassett told KTXL on Dec. 4, and "that he needed to finish a
By the Editors at Andrews McMeel
DNA file" on her daughter. She also said the man asked for her daughter using a name the 13-year-old girl only uses online. Hassett ordered the man off her property and called police, who were later able to catch up with him. Officers said the man's business was legitimate, but "the manner in which the information was relayed led to some misunderstanding. ... The involved adult male was passing out child DNA kits, which would be retained by the family, in the event it was ever needed for future investigations." •Operation Santa's Naughty List took place Dec. 3 to 8 in Polk County, Florida, seeking to target human trafficking and prostitution, and it was beyond successful. The sting stung 124 people, including 46 customers and numerous others for different crimes, but the standout was Rodney Davis, a 56-year-old husband and security guard at Disney World, the Tampa Bay Times reported. When Davis showed up to purchase sex from an undercover detective, he was wearing ... nothing. Not even socks. Prostitutes who were identified as victims of human trafficking were taken to shelters and offered support services. IRONY Ronald Cyr, 65, of Van Buren, Maine, became the victim of his own trap on Nov. 28 when he was shot by a handgun that he had rigged to fire whenever someone opened the front door. Cyr was able to call 911 and say that he had been shot, WAGM reported, but he later died. When officers of the Van Buren Police Department arrived, they found that along with the home's front-door booby trap, other devices were set up, prompting them to call the Maine State Police bomb squad. Homemade security devices that use weapons are illegal in the United States. {in}
From Andrews McMeel Syndication News Of The Weird © 2019 Andrews McMeel
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December 26, 2019
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Independent News | December 26, 2019 | inweekly.net