Inweekly Dec. 30 2021

Independent News | December 30, 2021 | Volume 22 | Number 52 | Photos by Ringo Chiu, Stephanie Kenner and BiksuTong / Shutterstock.com

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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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December 30, 2021

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winners & losers

Ted Ent and Sylvia Tisdale / Photo Courtesy of Innisfree Hotels

Once again, the Winners & Losers cubicle of the Inweekly media empire has refused to hand in a list of losers, choosing to only report on community winners. They were last seen racing down Government Street on Bird scooters.

INNISFREE HOTELS Pastor Sylvia Tisdale and the Epps Christian Center got a big surprise when Innisfree Hotels made a big donation to her ministry. Since 2003, the Epps Christian Center has reached out to the hungry, homeless and hurting by providing food and meals to fight food insecurity in the underserved community of Brownsville. Julian and Kim MacQueen, cofounders and owners of Innisfree Hotels, wanted to surprise her this holiday season with a gift that will forever change her ministry. They presented her with a check to help pay off her mortgage on the small church and also created a direct supply line with From the Ground UP Community Garden to help provide fresh vegetables and other garden staples to her kitchen that serves over 400 families. Innisfree is a triple bottom line company, measuring success not only in profits but also through its impact on people and on the planet. To these ends, Innisfree strives to promote a culture of responsibility and service to humanity. And as a result, this gift to Pastor Tisdale was in line with their mission. ASHLEE SIMPSON The Area Education

Manager for Junior Achievement of Northwest Florida has been named the organization's president. Simpson will oversee a staff of two employees, 21 board members and 200-plus volunteers, who manage the organization's work readiness, entrepreneurship and financial literacy programs that currently reach close to a thousand K-12 students in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties. Board Secretary Ildi Hosman said that Simpson's background and five years with Junior Achievement are invaluable to the organization and will help the organization grow exponentially under her leadership.

ALAN GARRONE Global Connections to

Employment (GCE) selected Garrone as the 2021 Team Member of the Year. GCE hires people with disabilities to work at sites across the nation. Garrone has worked for GCE for 11 years. He works in the facilities maintenance department at Lakeview Center. In addi-

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tion to his contributions at work, Garrone volunteers with the fire department, and he coaches Special Olympics athletes. He's an avid surfer and helped his mother through the daunting challenges of breast cancer.

EPA The U.S. Environmental Protection

Agency (EPA) announced plans to accelerate the cleanup of fi ve Superfund sites in Florida with funds from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. The Pensacola area has two sites included on the list. American Creosote Works on Main Street has been listed on the Superfund program's National Priorities List since 1983 because of contaminated soil and groundwater resulting from facility operations. Escambia Wood Treating on North Palafox Street made the list in 1994 because of contaminated groundwater and soil resulting from waste handling practices at the site.

ASCEND FOUNDATION Around 100 Ascend Cares volunteers worked the Westgate Nature Trail, totaling nearly 900 volunteer hours through the summer and fall months. A previous boardwalk near Escambia Westgate School had deteriorated due to weather. It was removed, and a new wider walkway with rails was installed for hundreds of feet into the wooded area behind the school. Escambia Westgate School serves children with physical and intellectual disabilities. The boardwalk will allow children in wheelchairs to have access and enjoy the beautiful woodlands behind the school. SALTMARSH, CLEAVELAND & GUND

The CPA and consulting firm has been chosen by industry peers for the third time in a row as one of Forbes' 2022 Top Recommended Tax and Accounting Firms in the U.S. Forbes has once again partnered with Statista to conduct an independent survey among thousands of tax and accounting professionals and their clients in the United States. Out of the 4,400 total recommendations, Saltmarsh was among the 177 companies to receive recommendations for both tax and accounting services. inweekly.net

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FIVE IDEAS FOR 2022 As 2021 winds down, I spent time pondering what changes I would like to see in the new year. Here's the rough draft of a few of my ideas. The mayor needs to appoint a commission to rename the "alphabet streets" for Black leaders whose mark on Pensacola's history was ignored by T.T. Wentworth and other white historians. The streets that stretch westward from A to Z streets are a throwback to when city and county leaders didn't care about their predominantly Black neighborhoods. The cross streets bear the names of Stephen Mallory, who served as the Confederate Secretary of the Navy, slave owner and businessman Don Francisco Moreno, William Blount, whose law firm became Beggs & Lane, President Andrew Jackson and one of his officers, James Gadsden, who later served as U.S. Ambassador to Mexico. Pensacola should consider honoring Gen. Daniel Chappie James, the first black officer to attain four-star general status in the U.S. military, politicians John Sunday, Salvador Pons, Charlie Rouse and Zebulon Elijah, civil rights activists H.K. Matthews and Leroy Boyd and educators Gertrude Smith Brown, Evannah Jones Barge and Lillie Anna James. We shouldn't have trouble coming up with names for the streets. If city leaders act quickly, we might have the list approved as part of the Black History Month celebrations, and then we can schedule rededication ceremonies throughout the year. The following change will face considerable opposition, but it's time we look at changing height restrictions for commercial buildings, particularly in downtown Pensacola. Taller buildings create greater density, better use of limited commercial properties and more tax dollars. Builders can create more diverse mixed uses that will include retail, restaurants, office spaces and residential. When Harold Dawson and Emmitt Smith proposed building two 21-story towers at the Maritime Park, Mayor Grover Robinson and several council members pushed back against the idea, but the project would have created 534 residential units, retail and of-

fice spaces and a seven-level parking garage with nearly 1,500 spaces. We would bring more people to downtown Pensacola and maximize the tax dollars generated from the project and those who work and live there. The Escambia County School District needs to approach Gov. Ron DeSantis and Education Commissioner Richard Corcoran and offer to pilot a vocational career program for middle and high school students. The state has done away with using test scores to measure school performance. Let's set up a different academic path for those students not geared for college—a path that focuses on core subjects in math, language arts and science and offers vocational training and apprenticeships. Politicians have been talking about bringing back vocational education for years. Escambia County can be the testing ground for making it a regular part of public school education. I like Judge Tom Dannheisser's suggestion to televise court proceedings at the M.C. Blanchard Judicial Building. The courtrooms already have cameras. Why not make the video available on the internet and local cable networks? Certain cases would be exempt, but the public would benefit from knowing how cases are deliberated, especially when it comes time for voters to elect judges. Dannheisser pointed out that public forums at city council, county commission and school board meetings give the public outlets to address their concerns and bring up issues to elected officials. But people have no such avenue to provide this feedback to those sitting on the bench. Televising court proceedings would, at least, let citizens see which judges preside over their cases and better understand the rulings made. This proposal would probably be the easiest to implement, but I suspect Clerk Pam Childers will object for no other reason than I suggested it. My last idea has nothing to do with local government. I want the Southern Eastern Conference to adopt a four-team playoff of the conference football title. Otherwise, Ole Miss will never have a chance to win it. {in} rick@inweekly.net

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ROAD DIET DELIGHT

Rendering of West Cervantes Street / Image Courtesy of FDOT

By Jeremy Morrison A while back, Brownsville Assembly of God Pastor Evon Horton was listening to a presentation from an engineering firm about the benefits of decreasing the number of lanes and slowing traffic along West Cervantes Street, and something clicked. "They used some phrases that were new to me, and I thought this explains a lot," Horton recalled. The pastor isn't referring to the phrase "road diet," although that was essentially what he was learning about. "They used the phrase that right now, Brownsville is a place people 'drive through,' not a place people 'drive to.'" West Cervantes, or U.S. 98, has been for a long time, for the past few decades anyway, a relatively busy four-lane road plowed by fast-moving traffic. The road's swiftness tends to turn places like Brownsville into a blur barely noticeable outside the car window. But what if the traffic moved slower? What if the road was slimmed up and shared space with bike lanes and sidewalks? "What will happen is Brownsville will become a place that will have revitalization through traffic calming," Horton said. But, alas, such dreams face some pretty significant hurdles, like convincing the Florida Department of Transportation that such a notion has merit and getting the 66

Florida-Alabama Transportation Planning Organization (TPO) to prioritize the effort. Folks in Brownsville have been talking about a road diet for West Cervantes for a while, and now, perhaps somewhat ironically, a current roads project underway on West Cervantes—one that will ultimately leave the street a four-lane affair—may now be parlayed into the two-lane, roadcalmed project community advocates have envisioned for their neighborhood. The stretch of West Cervantes that runs through Brownsville has long been a dangerous area with an exceedingly high number of accidents. Many have involved pedestrians getting hit by vehicles. FDOT conducted studies and analyzed traffic data to improve this situation and determined that the state road could be made safer via several changes. So last spring, FDOT began a $7 million project along a 2.2-mile stretch of Cervantes aimed at improving safety. The project aims to calm traffic and includes new traffic signals, additional crosswalks, ADA-compliant ramps, a wider multi-use path and a barrier running down portions of the roadway's center to prevent illegal pedestrian crossings. The project also calls for reducing lane widths and lowering the speed limit to 30 mph, but the road will still boast four lanes, two flowing in each direction. The Florida-Alabama TPO prioritizes road projects for the region. The orga-

nization is made of elected officials from Escambia and Santa Rosa counties, as well as from Baldwin County, Ala. During a recent meeting, some Brownsville residents of the West Cervantes Coalition urged them to support pushing on beyond the current project and towards a road diet. Among those who spoke was Brownsville resident Mike Kilmer, who has long championed the road-diet concept for the area. "In Brownsville, we've been working for over 10 years to revitalize a neighborhood that in 1979 went from two lanes with parking and fairly vibrant," the neighborhood advocate told the TPO members, "although struggling a little bit, to pretty much got a nail in the coffin with the four-laning as you guys are probably mostly all very aware of." Kilmer shared with the members that FDOT's current roads project along the two-mile stretch of West Cervantes serves as an excellent demonstration of what a potential road diet might do for the area, as the construction has required that two lanes be closed and traffic speeds reduced, effectively producing a make-shift road diet. He urged members to take the necessary steps to begin the process for such a road diet project to become a reality. "I'm hoping that my daughters will still be interested in roller skating when it's safe to cross on Cervantes," Kilmer said.

"Reducing Cervantes down to the two lanes is a great safety precaution, and it has worked." Evon Horton Pastor Horton also spoke during the Dec. 8 TPO meeting, urging members to consider the benefits of a road diet for West Cervantes. The pastor also pointed to the current West Cervantes construction as an example of what a road diet might do for the area. "Reducing Cervantes down to the two lanes is a great safety precaution, and it has worked. It hasn't caused the traffic conges-

tion that we thought it would; it has worked quite well over this last year," he said. In addition to stressing the slow-down benefit to neighborhood revitalization efforts, Horton also pointed to the issue of pedestrian safety, contending that a road diet would benefit pedestrians. "We are looking at a pedestrian community. Thirty-two percent of Brownsvillians do not have vehicles; they bike or walk," he said. "And I believe that's one of the primary reasons that we've had an increase in the fatalities and pedestrians. And most of the fatalities on Cervantes have been a pedestrian accident." Later, the pastor reflected again on the safety issue, explaining that it was a driving concern for his church and a major impetus behind the push for a road diet. "It's going to save lives," Horton said, "which is a huge concern for a church." The current project unfolding on West Cervantes wraps up in the spring. Beyond that, FDOT spokesman Ian Satter explained that any further actions would need to be sparked at the TPO level. "Should the FL-AL TPO wish to consider a road diet for Cervantes Street, it would have to go through their priority process for a study to be conducted," Satter said in an email. It appears that an effort to prioritize funding a study on the issue does have some support among TPO members. Escambia County Commissioner Doug Underhill, who was formerly opposed to the concept of a road diet for West Cervantes, spoke in favor of exploring the option during the recent meeting. "I've had longstanding concerns about the road diet with regard to the impact it would have on Jackson and Avery [streets]," Underhill said. "This has served as a perfect test period. And what we've seen with Cervantes being a two-lane (road) does not have the impacts that were feared on the neighborhoods to the north and south. I'm very supportive of moving forward with the road diet and keeping Cervantes as a twolane once this work is done." Later, Pensacola City Council President Ann Hill said she thought that a road-diet effort would gain traction if it had community support. "It can happen with public support," she said. "FDOT does collaborate when it's quite clear what the community wants." Pensacola Mayor Grover Robinson said that the city has long supported a road diet for West Cervantes, but he felt that such a move would need to be rooted in the neighborhood once the FDOT project is complete. "I truly believe we need to let the new changes be absorbed by the community and then hear from them. If they don't feel the new work is sufficient and they would like a diet, I am totally supportive of that," Robinson said. "However, the request and impetus needs to come from the neighborhood." {in} inweekly.net

THE BREES WAY

Drew Brees / Photo by Steve Jacobson / Shutterstock.com

By Rick Outzen The week before Christmas, NFL reporter Mike Nabors autographed his book, "The Brees Way," at Bodacious Bookstore & Café. Over three decades, Nabors covered the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Jacksonville Jaguars and all 15 seasons Brees quarterbacked the New Orleans Saints. He sat down with Inweekly to talk about Brees' career and his special relationship with Saints Head Coach Sean Payton. Nabors discussed the impact of Brees choosing the Saints over the Miami Dolphins when he entered free agency after five seasons with the San Diego Chargers. "If Drew Brees would've gone to Miami when he left San Diego via free agency, Nick Saban would've been his head coach, and that would've changed a lot of things," said Nabors. "Nick Saban likely wouldn't have gone to Alabama, but I don't know if Drew Brees would've been Drew Brees because a big part of Drew Brees is Sean Payton and the chemistry they had."

He said Doug Flutie, a Heisman Trophy quarterback who wrote the foreword for the book, was very envious of the fact that Brees had such a great relationship with his head coach. Nabors said, "They tailored the offense around Drew, really built to his strengths, something coaches didn't do for Doug Flutie. So hearing Flutie's perspective on their relationship really shows how rare it was from a quarterback's perspective." The player-coach relationships helped Brees become an elite player who holds the league record for career completion percentage and is second in career touchdown passes, career passing yards, career pass completions and career pass attempts. He has the record of consecutive games with a touchdown pass, breaking the feat held by Colts legend Johnny Unitas for 52 years. Saints fans revere him for giving New Orleans its first Super Bowl title over New Orleans native Peyton Manning of the Indianapolis Colts. "Talking to Drew, he has such admiration for Sean, not only in terms of drawing up game plans but the details of how he cared for the team in terms of, 'You guys like the team hotel? You like the sweats on the road?' He's really into asking players those questions, too," Nabors shared. "They're kind of different guys, but in terms of coach and player, they're both competitive, and they both like to take chances. And in terms of offense, we've seen what's happened in terms of the record book for many years." Saints have suffered many dismal seasons. Brees realized his move to New Orleans would work out in 2006. The team would eventually make its first NFC championship game that season. "That preseason was so bad that you wondered if they would win a game," said Nabors. "The third preseason game was in Jackson, Miss., because they couldn't play in the dome yet; it was post-Katrina," Nabors

recalled. "They were playing the Colts, and Peyton Manning lit up the Saints' defense. Drew told me in the book there was one throw he made in that preseason game where—after two really bad games and bad practices where he could barely throw the ball—he knew at that point he was going to be okay." He continued, "He tells a story in the book of his conversation with Sean Payton, where he wasn't sure if Payton believed him. But at that point, he felt like he was going to be okay, and remarkably, he was after that." The essence of "The Brees Way" is the author's unique relationship with the quarterback. Is Brees as nice as he appears on television? "I tell a story in the introduction of the book," said Nabors. "I never would ask Drew for his autograph—obviously, we don't do that in the media—but we had some fun skits we would do to friends of mine every once in a while. I deliver in the book a story about a skit we did about a friend's wedding, and Drew easily did it for me. The readers will enjoy that in the introduction." While Nabors said he was a big fan of Tom Brady, he pointed out one of the significant differences between the two future Hall of Famers. He said, "When Brady loses, often he doesn't shake the hands of the opposing quarterback, walks off the field. He's kind of short in press conferences." Nabors continued, "Drew and I did nearly 300 one-on-one interviews after every game. He was great. He was never short with me. And this is what really was impactful—he was often better after losses than wins. When he would have those recordsetting nights, he would lament having two incomplete passes. But when he would lose monumental games, like the no-call in the NFC championship game with the Rams or the Minnesota Miracle, which was just brutal, he was better because he knew that he was the leader of that team and that he set the tone. What he said afterward would trickle down to the rest of the team. So I think he knew the responsibility he had."

Nabors added that Coach Payton was also better after losses. "He comes from that Parcells school—he doesn't want to over-compliment the players when they're doing well but does build them up when they lose and not get too down." The author said, "Brees was the same way. But I'll tell you, we did so many interviews. I never had a bad moment with him, not one time in 14 years, and I think that says it all." Being only 6 feet tall, Brees isn't the prototypical quarterback, but Nabors called it a "travesty" that he didn't make the list of the NFL's top 10 all-time quarterbacks. "I know they were trying to do a retrospective of all the generations, but for a guy who, at the time, had held all the records before Brady broke them—and by the way, Brady broke them with more games—I think he's a top-five quarterback," he said. "I think if you look at his records, the one that really stands out for me are the 5,000yard passing seasons," Nabors pointed out. "There's only a handful of quarterbacks that have done that, and Drew's done it five times. And you can say what you want about modern offenses. He's done it five times. That's not just a fluke. He has a body of work that's better than most quarterbacks." The author would include Brady in his top five but would take Brees over Peyton Manning. He said, "I would. I think he's a more clutch player. I would take Drew in the clutch." He added, "This is my big takeaway from Drew, and I told him this last time I spoke to him. I think Saints fans can appreciate this, too, especially this season. The great thing about Brees and following his career, even though the three consecutive losing seasons in '16, '17 and '18, if it was third down, you always felt like you had a chance. I don't care if it was third and 10 or third and 20, or whatever." Nabors said, "Drew always made you feel like you had a shot." {in} To learn about Mike Nabors and "The Brees Way," visit mikenabors.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

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Andrew Cuomo / Photo by Hans Pennink / Shutterstock.com

CUOMO & HARASSMENT Karen Hin-

ton, former press secretary for Andrew Cuomo, discussed her book "Penis Politics" with Inweekly publisher Rick Outzen on 1370 WCOA. She served as press secretary to Cuomo when he was federal Housing Secretary and later to New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio. Hinton began her career as a reporter in Mississippi and Colorado. She served as press secretary to Congressman Mike Espy, worked for the Democratic National Committee and held various communications and public relations positions. She was one of the women who came forward and accused Cuomo of harassment. "What led me to speak up was an interview that Charlotte Bennett, one of the 11 who has accused him of sexual harassment," said Hinton. "She spoke on CBS Nightly News, and I sat there and listened to her every word. And I knew she's telling the truth because of my own experiences with him." She continued, "He was much more aggressive and deliberate and pinpointed, much more than myself. But I knew I could tell from her descriptions that it was very similar to what had happened to other women who had worked for Andrew and to me." Hinton added, "I do believe from talking to some of the 11 women that they feel like I helped because they grew more confident in their decision to speak up and also to get people to understand what they were saying." The author talked about the growth of the #MeToo movement that took off in 88

2017 and how women in sports speaking out gave her strength. She coined the term "penis politics" to explain how some men try to control and have power and authority over women. Hinton said, "It's not just in the workplace. It's also at home, in romance, in schools, in colleges it's pervasive." Listening to other women's accounts of harassment gave her confidence to tell her story about Cuomo. Hinton said, "Since I also had worked for him since 1995 and had stayed in touch with him throughout the years, I also got a sense of how bullying and tough and insulting and domineering he could be over not just women, but men too. So I had many reasons building up to that point to decide to speak out." She advised that women who are harassed to seek out to a confidant. Hinton said, "I think communicating with someone you trust is very, very important because I think it will help that woman then decide how to speak up." She explained, "You know, do you file a claim or do you want to switch positions in the company, but make sure the man who's been harassing you is told that this is inappropriate because you don't want to encourage it to happen with other women." According to Hinton, men who are sexual harassers in the workplace tend to be that way with many women and over time. She said, "They won't stop unless they're told to stop."

TECH COMPANY EXPANDS HERE FloridaWest Economic Development

Alliance announced Circulogene will be expanding its operations into downtown Pensacola. Circulogene will be testing cancer patients worldwide from their local facility. The expansion into Escambia County has created 10 jobs so far and is expected to create up to 70 new jobs within four years with an average wage of more than 230% of the current average. "This is a company that we've actually been working with, oh gosh, probably almost a year and a half now since they first came to Pensacola to look for a new location to expand their operation," FloridaWest CEO Scott Luth told Inweekly. "It's a very high-end tech company in the medical field. And so we worked with the company, looked for locations and tried to identify some things that would help them select Pensacola as their new home." He continued, "We had to show them that the size of Pensacola, our quality of life and what we offer here would allow them to tap into great employees and folks coming out of the university." Circulogene needed resources to help equip its lab and build out its space. Luth said, "The University of West Florida has its Industry Resilience and Diversification (IRDF) grant program that's actually a carryover from the oil spill days when Senate President Don Gaetz secured $30 million for our region." UWF has about $10 million remaining that it doles out as micro-grants for high-tech companies. Circulogene fit the criteria. Luth said, "We spent probably six to eight months working through that application process to secure about $250,000 to help them with their startup costs to make sure that they located here." In the press announcement of the expansion, Matthew Schwartz, UWF associate vice president of Research Administration, said, "The University of West Florida is proud to support FloridaWest and other regional partners in facilitating the expansion of new businesses into Northwest Florida for the joint benefits of creating new jobs and diversifying our regional workforce. As Circulogene has demonstrated, the IRDF fund can play a substantial role in supporting those efforts." Luth called the IRDF grant a "key component" of this company's decision to locate in Pensacola. He also pointed out, "Circulogene sees Pensacola's I-10 corridor as a great location to establish its proprietary diagnostics services within the Southeast Gulf Coast states. Pensacola is renowned for its medical facilities and advanced manufacturing companies, and Circulogene is a great addition to our growing biotech sector." Circulogene has been operating its lab in Birmingham for the past six years. Mike Mullen, president and CEO of Circulogene,

said, "With more oncologists sending in blood for molecular profiling, it made sense not only to expand our footprint but to do so in Pensacola, close to one of our largest growing markets. Of all the locations we considered for this expansion, we found Pensacola to be ideal, and FloridaWest's assistance was another deciding factor." Circulogene will be the first company to establish a molecular DNA testing laboratory dedicated to cancer diagnostics in Pensacola. They will receive patient samples from all over the world to test for genetic mutations of their cancers to realize more effective treatment strategies for patients.

EMS TURNAROUND On Monday, Dec.

13, the Florida Department of Health (FDOH) conducted a random inspection of Escambia County Emergency Management Services. EMS passed the inspection that covered multiple compliance topics. "We are really excited, especially where we've come from," Escambia County Public Safety Director Eric Gilmore told Inweekly. "The officer came in, and he looked at things such as how we store drugs, how we divvied the drugs out, our DA license, our billing, our record-keeping, our HIPAA compliance, our medical directors, our protocols, our training with our medical directors. He even inspected three random trucks, went through our ambulances to make sure they were stocked appropriately." He continued, "All said and done, when we got done with the inspection, we sat down with the compliance officer, and we were like, 'What can we do better? Where are we at? What you to tell us, give us the feedback.' And he said, 'Eric, when I write this report up tonight, y'all are the gold star standard.'" According to Gilmore, the FDOH inspector said EMS not only met state standards but exceeded them in several areas. Under former County Administrator Janice Gilley, whom the commissioners fired in June, EMS was a train wreck. Since then, the department has had several leadership changes—Public Safety Director Eric Gilmore, EMS Chief David Torsell III, EMS Deputy Chief Christopher Stephens, Escambia County Medical Director Dr. Josh Gordon and Assistant Medical Director Dr. Peter Alexandrov. Gilmore praised his leadership and staff and pointed out how the county's partnership with the University of Florida has improved EMS. "Dr. Josh Gordon came in, and within three months, they had protocols written for us, specifically, trained on the protocols with our EMS staff," said the public safety director. "Paramedics have to be paramedics. Don't ask for permission. You're a paramedic for a reason. Get out there and do your job." inweekly.net

Gilmore added, "We've changed the culture, as far as our medical staff and paramedics go. It all came together in the last six months. And here we are with the culmination of Monday's inspection with the state. I couldn't be prouder."

BIRD PROBLEMS Mayor Grover Robinson

plans to bring a plan to the city council on improving the safety of the Bird scooters in downtown Pensacola. Scott Mitchell, whose family owns and operates Seville Quarter, believes something has to be done to curtail the late-night joyriding on the scooters. "These Bird things are great. The tourists love them; all the big-time downtown walkable, rideable people think it's great in the middle of the afternoon, and I have no problem with that," Mitchell told Inweekly. "But please come down at 2:30 in the morning or at 3:30 in the morning after everybody's downtown is closed, including Seville Quarter and watch the people riding, playing chicken with cars, running through stop signs, racing in packs like they're doing the Tour de France on those Birds." He continued, "And you will realize, just like my mom said in high school, nothing good happens after midnight; you need to be home. It's kinda like those Birds don't need to be flying in the late night." Mitchell has been frustrated by the city's lack of action. The scooters aren't supposed to be on the sidewalks, but they have been endangering patrons coming out of downtown restaurants. "I know one person has been run over so far, but it's a tourist novelty," he said. "The tourists are not out that late. We keep them as a daytime function."

ETHICS ISSUES The Escambia County's Office of Compliance and Ethics has investigated whether Natural Resources RESTORE Project Manager Matthew Posner was paid to be the interim director of

December 30, 2021

the Pensacola Perdido Bay Estuary Program even after a full-time director was hired. According to the findings, the Estuary Policy Board hired Posner as interim in November 2019 after Jim Trifilo resigned. Posner was given a stipend of $802.40 per bi-weekly pay period for the additional work. Donald Kilborn was hired and began working on Dec. 1, 2020. However, Posner continued to be paid through Oct. 15—$16,850.40. When discovered, Assistant County Administrator Chips Kirschenfeld, Posner's supervisor, notified Posner that his pay would be garnished to reimburse the county. Earlier this month, Posner submitted an amended budget for the Pensacola Perdido Bay Estuary Program that included a senior advisor position for $36,590. Kirschenfeld instructed Posner to change the budget to the correct salary for a part-time senior advisor. Complicating the matter, Posner was given a 10% raise this year. Also, the Estuary program has received a $2 million EPA that has special reporting requirements. By garnishing Posner's wages, Kirschenfeld hoped to avoid any issues when audited by the EPA. In the report, Posner submitted documents that showed his continue to work— about 375 overtime hours—for the program after Kilborn was hired. Kirschenfeld testified to investigators that he believed Posner was the only one who knew about the unauthorized stipend checks from the program. As manager of the EPA grant, Posner should have known the stipends were not a valid expense. Posner told investigators that he talked with Kirschenfeld, accountant Susan Holt and Kilborn several times about the stipend. He asked if it was OK he received it after Kilborn came on board. He claimed to have been told that they didn't see it as an issue since the work was continuing to be done. He said he was working 10-15 hours overtime a week to implement the Estuary program.

The investigators found Posner violated the BCC Human Resource policies, the BCC Code of Ethics and provisions of Florida Statutes 112.313. OCE recommended Interim County Administrator Wes Moreno and senior staff review the report to determine what to do with Posner, including whether to consult with the State Attorney.

ADOPTION HELP Emmanuel Sheppard & Condon has added adoption to its roster of legal practice areas. Attorney Clay Whittaker has joined the firm, bringing expertise in adoption and a four-year-old adoption practice, Gulf Coast Adoptions. Gulf Coast Adoptions operates under the umbrella of ESC and provides the Gulf Coast area with trusted, knowledgeable adoption services for expectant mothers, birth mothers and families looking to adopt. "Adoption is a sensitive yet complex area, and it's important for those adopting and those considering placing their children for adoption to have a highly trusted source for adoption-related legal services," said Wes Reeder, ESC firm president. "As the firm already provides other important family services such as estate planning, family law and guardianship law, adoption was a natural fit." Gulf Coast Adoptions is run by Whittaker and his wife, Cheryl, who bring their own experiences with adoption. Four years ago, he was practicing law as a board-certified construction attorney when the couple experienced the adoption process firsthand. They became the proud adoptive parents of their daughter, but they both felt they could have improved the adoption process. "When we adopted our daughter, we didn't have the transparency and communication we thought should be present and which we now make a primary focus," said Whittaker. "We strive to build relationships between the adoptive parents and expecting mother/birth mother to foster the trust that we feel is vital not only to the success of the adoption plan but their

relationship as they move forward through life. We achieve this by open and frequent communication, honesty in the process and expectations, and by being sincere, listening and not judging." Gulf Coast Adoptions sets itself apart with its open communication, and every call or text is answered by a seasoned member of the adoption team rather than a call center. Besides handling newborn adoptions, Whittaker also handles stepparent adoptions, relative adoptions, second parent adoptions, adult adoptions and identified adoptions. If you're an expectant mother considering adoption for your child or are interested in adoption, contact Gulf Coast Adoptions 24/7 at (850) 999-7977, or visit gulfcoastadoptions.com.

WINTER SAVINGS The Visit Pensacola

Winter Savings Card features coupons and deals for Escambia County events, attractions, activities, restaurants and shops. The card is valid Dec. 15, 2021-March 31, 2022. Additionally, it highlights all 2022 snowbird events for Visit Pensacola, the Perdido Key Chamber of Commerce and the Pensacola Beach Chamber. The Winter Savings Cards are available at all visitor information centers in Escambia County, including Pensacola Beach, Perdido Key, Downtown Pensacola and the Visit Florida I-10 Welcome Center. On Feb. 8, 2022, Visit Pensacola will host its annual Snowbird Roost at the Museum of Commerce in Historic Pensacola Village. Tickets are $15 and are available for purchase at the Pensacola Visitor Information Center and the Perdido Key Visitor Information Center (must be purchased in advance). The event will showcase a Mardi Gras theme and feature picnic baskets from Classic City Catering, live entertainment, vendors and more. For more details, visit visitpensacola. com/plan-your-trip/snowbirds. {in}

9

After the hellfire of 2020, you'd think we would have gotten a break this year. But, as we all know, that was simply not to be. From the dystopian kick-off courtesy of the Jan. 6 insurrection to the series of deadly tornadoes that tore through six states earlier this month, 2021 never slowed down—not even on holidays. And even though we're totally over this mostly shitty year, we had to send it off with a proper look back. Here's a recap of the year in news, local stories and pop culture. May 2022 be blissfully boring for us all, amen.

NATIONAL HEADLINES VAXXED UP

With the first U.S. dose administered in late December, 2021 was the year that Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson's life-changing vaccines against COVID-19 were distributed to the public. This vital step meant drastically reduced infection rates, hospitalizations and, unfortunately, a drastic increase in vaccine skepticism and delusion. In Florida, just over 64% of adults are fully vaccinated (this number doesn't include the CDC-recommended booster that is now available to any vaccinated individuals who received their shots six or more months ago).

JUST IN TIME

Access to the COVID vaccine didn't come a day too early as the U.S. felt the impact of the Delta variant of COVID in the late summer. The more aggressive variant drastically increased infection, hospitalization and death rates among the unvaccinated and served as the peak of the entire pandemic for many states. Today, the U.S. is on pace to see one million COVID deaths, and that's without factoring in any other variants that may be headed our way (looking at you, Omicron).

THE INSURRECTION

Can you believe it has been less than one year since American citizens attempted to overthrow the U.S. government, plotted to bring harm to elected officials including Mike Pence and Nancy Pelosi, beat and killed Capitol police, and rioted in the Capitol building? To date, over 700 individuals have been charged for their role 010 1

in the Jan. 6 insurrection, and many of the most publicized players have been found guilty and sentenced to prison time.

INAUGURATION

Despite significant concern about further civil unrest in the wake of the insurrection, President Joe Biden was sworn into office on Jan. 20. Joining him in the White House was Kamala Harris, who became the first woman, Black and South Asian vice president.

GAETZ-GATE

U.S. Congressman Matt Gaetz made headlines when he went under investigation for paying women for sex and potentially enticing a 17-year-old girl to cross state lines for sexual activity. The scandal deepened when Gaetz associate Joel Greenberg admitted to paying a 17-yearold girl with money and drugs in exchange for sex with himself and unidentified others. In October, two top prosecutors were added to the Department of Justice's investigation into Gaetz's case. We're not sure even Trump can save him from this one.

JUSTICE (OR NOT)

2021 was a rough year to place your trust in the courts. While we celebrated the guilty verdict of Derek Chauvin in the killing of George Floyd, we mourned the legal lapses which led to Kyle Rittenhouse walking free. The three men who murdered black Georgian Ahmaud Arbery while he was jogging were convicted and will be sentenced in the new year. In Florida, this inconsistent application of justice feels especially threatening amid continued attacks on free speech, with activists fearing for their lives knowing the

legal system is reluctant to convict vigilantes like Rittenhouse.

DEADLY YEAR FOR TRANS IDENTITY

This year, a record number of anti-trans laws were passed including bans on transgender children and adults participating in sports (right here in Florida), infamous "bathroom bills" and attacks on gender-affirming surgery and education. This legislative volley has had real-life implications, with 2021 serving as the deadliest year on record for trans people, and a growing discourse around TERFS, or Trans-Exclusionary Radical Feminists, in online communities.

LATE-STAGE CAPITALISM-ING

Thanks to supply chain issues and market volatility, America is now witnessing a 30-year high on inflation, an impact we are seeing at every level. Coupled with the inability to receive items like in the past via shortages, shipping delays and the occasional barge-gate, everything seems to cost much more and takes much longer to get to you. Oh, and in case you haven't heard, if you didn't receive a pretty hefty cost-of-living raise this year, you are now making less than you did last year to pay for those more expensive goods.

THE GREAT RESIGNATION

When states and the federal government began ending COVID support for unemployed Americans, it was expected that the lag in employment would quickly disappear. Instead, we have witnessed workers holding out for better pay and treatment from a job market that has worked in the favor of employers for decades. In August, the "Great Resignation" reached its peak, with employers seeing resignations and unfilled roles in staggering numbers. October, referred to as "Striketober," saw dramatic increases in labor movement including strikes at John Deere, Amazon, Starbucks, Kellogg's and more. To entice employees, corporations were forced to offer sign-on bonuses, competitive hourly pay and benefits packages.

BUILDING AMY CONEY BARRETT'S LEGACY

As promised, the attack on abortion rights in America has been swift and hard. In Texas, a unique law placed a bounty on people seeking abortions, allowing citizens to sue those who enable or assist with abortions occurring after six weeks of pregnancy. Copycat laws are popping up across the United States, and the Supreme Court has ruled to allow the law to stay in place for now, but legal challenges to it are proceeding. In Mississippi, SCOTUS is set to rule on another abortion case in 2022 that outlaws abortion at 15 weeks. If the law is upheld, Roe v. Wade will be considered effectively null, triggering automatic anti-abortion laws to be set in dozens of other states.

INTERNATIONAL HEADLINES MONARCHY FADING

After having given up their titles in 2020, Prince Harry and Megan Markle gave up their royal duties, making final their separation from the crown in February of this year. In April, Prince Philip, the longserving Royal Consort of the queen, died at the age of 99. Heading into the winter, Queen Elizabeth is stepping back from public duties at the advice of her doctor, signaling a new chapter for the Crown.

GENOCIDE IN CHINA

Criticism is growing against the Chinese government for their human rights violations against Uyghur Muslims, who have been imprisoned in Chinese "re-education" camps by the hundreds of thousands. Detainees allege that they are being tortured, sexually abused, sterilized and forced to work without pay. China claims that their camps are to combat Islamist militancy in the region, while the Uyghurs claim China intends to erase their culture. inweekly.net

OLYMPICS

The 2020 Summer Games were held in July and August of this year in Tokyo. A surge of the Delta variant threatened the viability of the event, but Japan elected to forge forward in a COVID-oriented version of the sports events. Heading into 2022, controversy is rising around the planned winter Olympics in Beijing as human rights groups call for censure of China over their treatment of Uyghur Muslims, and officials from several countries refuse to attend the events.

ALEXEI NAVALNY

LOCAL HEADLINES

HOUSING CRISIS

COVID PEAK

More than a year and a half into the COVID pandemic, Pensacola and the Panhandle experienced its most traumatic peak yet this summer with the rise of the Delta variant. Local hospitals peaked on Aug. 25, reporting 298 hospitalizations. State leadership has continued to obfuscate and shield important COVID data, so we do not know how many of our neighbors' lives were lost during this time. And unfortunately, the city and county have stopped tracking COVID data entirely but promise to resume if and when rates begin to rise again.

Russia's coordinated assault against Putin opposition Alexei Navalny continues with his arrest and sentencing of two and a half years in a corrective labor colony. The Local icon Russian governFred Levin passed ment has been away on Jan. 12 accused of torturfrom complications ing Navalny, and related to COVID. Amnesty International Levin, 83, leaves behind has recognized him as a a large legacy, having "prisoner of conFred Levin / Courtesy Levin Papantonio Rafferty made his career as science," or political an attorney pursuing prisoner. In Decemlitigation against criminal corporations. Such ber, Navalny's daughter accepted the cases included the landmark case against European Union's highest human rights the tobacco industry in Florida which ended award on his behalf. in a $13 billion settlement. In December, Pensacola City Council voted to rename a portion of Zaragoza Street between Palafox As part of a long-coordinated plan, and Baylen to Fred Levin Way in honor of his President Biden officially withdrew U.S. contributions to the city. troops from Afghanistan in August. After decades of U.S. occupation, Afghanistan citizens struggle in the face of hunger, disThe homeless encampment at Holease and economic collapse as the Taliban lis T. Williams Park underneath I-10 has quickly regains control. The United Naserved as an unconventional respite to tions estimates that as many as one million many unhoused individuals in Pensacola. children could die this winter in AfghaniThrough an emergency ordinance, the city stan without intervention. has passively permitted the encampment as local charitable groups work to provide resources to those living under the bridge. In June, Israel's Prime Minister BenMeanwhile, the city council held multiple jamin Netanyahu was unseated after four meetings with the Homeless Task Force to terms in office. Netanyahu's loss of power consider and allocate ARPA funds earcame after a lengthy trial for bribery, fraud marked for homeless issues. In December, and breach of trust. The group that worked Mayor Grover Robinson said that he and to unseat him was a bipartisan "change the FDOT plan to remove those camped government," putting in place right-wing under the bridge by January 2022, while nationalist Naftali Bennett. Councilwoman Ann Hill plans to propose another 90-day extension.

RIP FRED LEVIN

AFGHANISTAN

LIVING UNDER THE BRIDGE

NETANYAHU

ISRAEL'S APARTHEID

In April, international watchdog group Human Rights Watch accused Israel of apartheid and persecution against Palestinians, a sharp rebuke on the longsuffering conflict between the two nations. HRW said that Israel's behavior rose to qualify as crimes against humanity in their 213-page report, noting the control of land and seizure of Palestinian-owned land as evidence for their claims. Israel denied the claim and accused HRW of having an "antiIsraeli agenda." December 30, 2021

return for other important city council issues in the future.

FOOD TRUCK DEBACLE

Much like the issue on homelessness, the debate about food trucks in downtown Pensacola was renewed earlier this year when a dormant ordinance against the sale of "merchandise" was resurrected by Mayor Robinson. After public outcry, the city council revised two ordinances to officially permit food trucks on public property and outlined a no-go zone directly downtown. May we never tackle this issue again, and may those fired up about food on wheels

As the city continues to grow and leadership focuses on recruiting and retaining talent, we have watched as the idea of affordable housing becomes more and more distant. Homes that two years ago were moderately affordable are now completely out of reach, and the creep of gentrification has turned into something akin to a sprint. There are several plans for apartment buildings and other similar multi-unit properties in the works to hopefully alleviate the issue but no clear plans to enable affordable housing incentives by local leadership. In the meantime, it's hard to ignore the role this bloated housing market plays in issues like the homeless encampment.

GAETZ-GATE (AGAIN)

House Rep. Matt Gaetz hasn't made much local news in 2021 for the simple reason that he has not really spent much time here. Despite being elected to serve this district, Escambia voters are much more likely to hear about Gaetz being investigated for inappropriate relationships with minors, attempting to hire Kyle Rittenhouse as an intern, proposing a federal "Stand Your Ground" law or talking about literally anything and everything on Fox News.

re-election in District 4, while Sherri Myers has reached her term limit in District 2, leaving candidates Brian Hoffman, Charletha Powell and Brian Wyer vying for the spot.

"RECORD-SETTING VERDICT"

This fall, the Santa Rosa County Sheriff's office was ordered to pay more than $1.7 million in legal damages related to the 2016 suicide of Jose "Fran" Escano-Reyes. The jury in the federal civil case determined that SRCO had deprived the inmate his human rights and failed to monitor him properly while on suicide watch, later falsifying documents to cover it up.

POP CULTURE HEADLINES #FREEBRITNEY

Britney Spears fans have been calling to #FreeBritney from her conservatorship for years, and this November, it finally happened. After 13 years of having little to no control over her own life, including her finances and medications, Spears is officially free. She's been celebrating by driving herself on coffee runs and buying candles—as she should.

FALLING FOR OLIVIA

THE BRIDGE IS BACK!

Remember last January when we all After eight became lovesick months, the Penteenagers again, sacola Bay Bridge obsessing over finally reopened, "drivers license" ending a nightmare like it was our commute for Gulf damn job? Yeah, Breeze residents. The that was fun. Thankbridge, damaged during fully, Olivia Rodrigo Hurricane Sally by unsewasn't a one-hit wonder cured Skanska barges, was Photo by Ringo Chiu / Shutterstock.com and actually gave us one of originally estimated to open the best pop albums of the in March of 2021, but it wasn't until mid-July year a few months later with "SOUR." that the full four lanes of traffic were open.

FOOD MOVES

The local culinary scene has been through it over the last two years. But it wasn't all bad news at least. In 2021, we saw many big players making big moves, including George Bistro + Bar opening a second concept downtown, EPH icon The Magnolia moving to East Hill and the team behind Skopelos closing and opening a new concept called Agapi Bistro + Garden. The sudden closure of The Tin Cow was unexpected though and shocked a lot of local foodies as we closed out the year.

2022 ELECTION KICKOFF

The Pensacola mayor's race has begun in earnest, with campaign filings from D.C. Reeves, Jewel Cannada-Wynn, Timothy Floyd Horton and Steven Sharp. City Council District 2 and 4 are both up for election in 2022, with incumbent Jared Moore seeking

SQUID GAME'S U.S. TAKEOVER

Netflix's biggest show ever. Many have tried to secure that title, but for now, it belongs to "Squid Game." The Korean thriller, which shows fictional contestants compete in life-or-death games, is already confirmed for a second season.

TAYLOR'S VERSIONS

We know all anyone talked about in November was that one song that's as long as three songs, the scarf and the actor that maybe still has it. And we were totally here for all of that. But what's really important is Taylor Swift rerecording her first six albums and giving us "Taylor's Versions" so she can rightfully own the songs she wrote. It's truly a badass move.

MUST-SEE HBO

In a world fully accustomed to binge viewing, HBO did a really good job this year 11

reminding us that sometimes good episodes come to those who wait. This past summer, Sunday nights were all about "The White Lotus," and this fall, it's been split between "Succession" and the farewell season of "Insecure." Some fans, who clearly didn't grow up during the age of TGIF or Must-See TV, have even gone so far as to call these weekly episode releases "groundbreaking." Cute, huh?

"KRAVIS" 4 EVER

While everyone else was busy worrying about Bennifer 2.0 or who Pete Davidson was dating, we decided to make Kourtney Kardashian and Travis Barker our favorite celebrity couple to love to hate on in 2021. What can we say—there's just something about a grown-ass woman going full mall pop-punk because she falls in love with a drummer that speaks to us.

MENTAL HEALTH MATTERS

This summer, Naomi Osaka withdrew from the French Open and Simone Biles pulled out of several events during the Tokyo Olympics. Both said their mental health was the reason, and it sparked a lot of important conversations and inspired others to prioritize their own mental health.

REST IN PEACE

DMX / hurricanehank / Shutterstock.com

In addition to the individuals we lost to the coronavirus this year (which we would list and pay tribute to if we could), 2021 also took quite a few musicians, actors, athletes and cultural icons from us—like DMX and Cicely Tyson. These are just some of the year's notable celebrity passings: 212 1

GAETZ-GATE (AGAIN, AGAIN)

We know we already talked about Matt Gaetz, but it's worth noting that Gaetz-gate made a pretty funny impact in the world of pop culture in 2021, too. There were quite a few jokes on "SNL's Weekend Update" and all the other late-night shows, too. But hey, what do you expect when a political scandal involves partying with co-eds and Venmo receipts?

R. KELLY GOING TO PRISON

It really shouldn't have taken this long, but the singer was found guilty on all nine counts against him this September and is facing life in prison.

ASTROWORLD TRAGEDY

As evidenced by that last one, not all pop culture headlines are fun, and this one certainly isn't. Last month, during Travis Scott's Astroworld Festival, 10 people died and hundreds were injured during a crowd crush. Everything is still under investigation, and multiple lawsuits are pending against Scott and other festival organizers. {in}

Hank Aaron Virgil Abloh Dustin Diamond Young Dolph DMX Olympia Dukakis Siegfried Fischbacher Willie Garson Hal Holbrook bell hooks Larry King Cloris Leachman Norm Macdonald Biz Markie Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh Christopher Plummer Black Rob Charlie Robinson George Segal Peter Scolari SOPHIE (Sophie Xeon) Stephen Sondheim Cicely Tyson Jessica Walter Charlie Watts Michael K. Williams inweekly.net

WEEK OF DECEMBER 30-JANUARY 5

Arts & Entertainment art, film, music, stage, books and other signs of civilization...

RadioLive Returns By Hunter Morrison

John Common / Courtesy Photo

After nearly two years, WUWF's RadioLive will return to the Pensacola Museum of Commerce in downtown Pensacola on Thursday, Jan. 6. RadioLive is a monthly radio and television program that features adult, acoustic and alternative music from original singers and songwriters. "RadioLive brings artists to Pensacola that probably wouldn't be coming here for any other reason," said WUWF Executive Director Pat Crawford. "We designed it to be on Thursday night because Thursday night is a shoulder night for a lot of artists on their way to a paying gig on Friday or Saturday night. If they can work it into their tour, these musicians can pick up an extra night in Pensacola." The program showcases three handselected musical acts each month. "Generally, I want someone who is very engaging, someone who is very comfortable in front of the audience and doesn't just play a couple of songs and makes no commentary in between," Crawford said. "I like them to have basically a conversation with our audience because that's what sets RadioLive apart." December 30, 2021

The last RadioLive performance was in March 2020, just as the pandemic began to spread across the United States. At that time, WUWF was in the process of making improvements to the program. The pandemic has allowed time for these improvements to be completed. Much of the funding for these improvements came from RadioLive 25 members— donors who each gave $1,000 to support the program. "We've been slowly pulling it all together," Crawford said. "We've been buying better equipment and also have been using some of the money to provide more money for the artists." Other improvements that have been made to RadioLive since the pandemic, to include better cables and wiring, which benefits both RadioLive staff and audience members. Because of the pandemic, many musicians and songwriters have not had the opportunity to tour or perform in front of a live audience. For many, this may be one of the first live performances since before the pandemic. "It's been a hard couple of years for these touring artists," Crawford said.

"That's their livelihood, so we're excited to have them back." John Common, a singer-songwriter who grew up in Pensacola, has made several RadioLive performances over the years. He is a big supporter of the program and WUWF and is excited to be performing at the next RadioLive event.

"There's just a real purity of experience with RadioLive. The only people who come to RadioLive are people who love original music and art and are there for the experience." John Common "His music is just wonderful," Crawford said. "He's a great artist who has become a great friend over the years. He told me the first time I had him on RadioLive that he grew up listening to RadioLive, and that was part of the inspiration that got him playing music." Common says that during the pandemic, there were few spaces where musicians and

songwriters could come to perform that were not intertwined with a bar venue. For him, RadioLive is a completely different setting. "There's just a real purity of experience with RadioLive," Common said. "The only people who come to RadioLive are people who love original music and art and are there for the experience." Unlike most shows Common has performed for, RadioLive has kept him connected to his roots. It has also kept him connected to the arts community in Pensacola. "I am so excited, and I feel really honored to be performing," said Common. "I am so glad that they invited us. I would've done it for free, truth be told." In addition to performances by Common and Jess DeNicola, the Jan. 6 RadioLive performance will feature music from Wild Ponies and Abigail Dowd. "I'm really excited about having these three acts as our way to kick off the return of RadioLive," said Crawford. In addition to benefitting musicians and songwriters, RadioLive allows Pensacolians to see performances by musicians they may otherwise not have. It also exposes locals to new musicians. "Although these aren't household name artists, many of them are writers for the household name artists," Crawford said. "Quite a few of the artists that we've had on this show, they have been very successful in Nashville as songwriters. Their songs have been recorded from all sorts of people that are household names." Due to the pandemic, RadioLive will be limiting in-person attendance to 150 people. Tickets for the Jan. 6 RadioLive performance have sold out, and in order to maintain a moderate level of social distancingm no additional tickets will be sold at the door. But don't worry if you missed this one—tickets for the next show, happening Thursday, Feb. 3, will go on sale Friday, Jan. 7. February's selection of songwriters on RadioLive will feature music from Tanya Gallagher, The Lubben Brothers and The Whispering Tree. "We are really excited," said Crawford. "We've been waiting for this day a long, long time. I wish that the status of COVID was a little clearer than it is, but we're going to do the best we can to provide good entertainment in a safe environment to the extent that we can." {in} For more information about RadioLive visit wuwf.org/radiolive. 13

a&e happenings canned cocktails till 1 a.m. Guests have the option to purchase an $80 bar ticket for open access to all the drinks. Alga Beer Co. is located at 2435 N. 12th Ave. Visit algabeerco. com/product/nye for more information.

BOUJ YEAR'S EVE Celebrate the end

of 2021 at Perfect Plain Brewing Co., 50 E. Garden St. Get dressed up to enjoy a night of drag shows, live music, bull riding, tattoos and an open bar of craft cocktails and beer. Party begins 9:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 31. Tickets are $99-$179. Visit facebook. com/perfectplainbrewingco and click the Eventbrite link for tickets.

HOLIDAY EVENTS

ESCAMBIA COUNTY ANIMAL WELFARE CENTER OFFERING HOLIDAY ADOPTION SPECIAL To help pets find

NEW YEAR'S EVE CELEBRATIONS AGAPI NEW YEAR'S EVE DINNER

Join Agapi and Executive Chef Gus Silivos for a New Year's Eve Dinner featuring entrees such as grouper margarita, sumacspiced lamb chops, osso buco and more. Dinner service is from 4-10 p.m. Agapi Bistro + Garden is located at 555 Scenic Highway. Call (850) 225-5235 for reservations.

NEW YEARS AT GREAT SOUTHERN RESTAURANTS Take the family out for

holiday dinner at Great Southern Restaurants. The Fish House: Located at 600 S. Barracks St. Open Friday, Dec. 31, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. for lunch service and 3 p.m.-until for dinner service. Special features include parmesancrusted grouper and warm crab spinach and artichoke dip in addition to full dinner menu. Open Saturday, Jan. 1, from 5 p.m.-until for dinner service. Walk-in service only. Jackson's Steakhouse: Located at 400 S. Palafox. Open Friday, Dec. 31, from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. for lunch service and 5 p.m.until for dinner service. Special features include roasted Anjou pear and gorgonzola cheese with arugula, candied walnut and champagne-shallot vinaigrette and bell pepper confetti and $5 glasses of Piper Sonoma champagne in addition to full dinner menu. Open Saturday, Jan. 1, from 5-10 p.m. Call (850) 469-9898 for reservations. Five Sisters Blues Café: Located at 421 W. Belmont St. Open Friday, Dec. 31, from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. for lunch service. Open 4-9 p.m. for dinner service. Special menu including BBQ-braised short ribs in addition to full dinner menu. Live music from Cat Daddy Blues from 7-10 p.m. Open Saturday, Jan. 1, from 4-9 p.m. for dinner service. Walk-in service only. Angelena's Ristorante Italiano: Located at 101 E. Intendencia St. Open Friday, Dec. 31, from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. for lunch service and 5 p.m.-until for dinner service with special menu including a wood-fired 8-ounce filet mignon, a pasta tasting menu and a champagne pour in addition to full dinner menu. Open Saturday, Jan. 1, from 5-10 p.m. Call (850) 542-8398 for reservations. 414 1

FLORA-BAMA NEW YEAR'S EVE BASH Ring in 2022 at Flora-Bama with live music on three different stages, food, party favors and a champagne toast at midnight. Party starts at 6 p.m. Tickets can be purchased at florabama.com/new-years-eve. Flora-Bama is located at 17401 Perdido Key Drive.

PENSACOLA SYMPHONY PRESENTS: CELEBRATE THE NEW YEAR! End the

year with PSO featuring timeless music of Louis Armstrong and Ella Fitzgerald with Grammy nominee Carmen Bradford on vocals. The show is 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 31, at Saenger Theatre, 118 S. Palafox. Visit pensacolasaenger.com.

PHASES OF PHUNK NEW YEAR'S EVE PARTY Odd Colony Brewing Co., located at 260 N. Palafox, is hosting a New Year's Eve party with a beer release, live music from Panzacola and Lonestar Food Truck. Free admission. Complimentary champagne pours will be available at midnight. Party starts at 2 p.m. Friday, Dec. 31. Visit facebook.com/oddcolony for details.

MEME GALA Ring in 2022 at the MEME GALA, which kicks off at 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 31, at the Frank R. Marston American Legion Post 33, 1401 W. Intendencia St. The event will incorporate internet memes and live music. For tickets and more information, go to facebook.com/thedizzyarts. COASTAL COUNTY BREWING SECOND CHANCE PROM Ring in the New

Year dressed in your finest eating all-youcan-eat appetizers and all-you-can-drink local brews and more. The party runs from 8 p.m.-1 a.m. with live music, a photobooth and a keg drop at midnight with a champagne toast. Tickets are $75. Coastal County Brewing is located at 3041 E. Olive Road. For more information, visit coastalcountybrewing.com.

NEW YEAR'S EVE AT ALGA BEER Alga Beer's New Year's Eve party starts at 8:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 31. Dress casual for a night of live music, draft beers, house wines and

homes during the holidays, Escambia County Animal Welfare Center is running a December adoption special. Until Dec. 31, all cats and kittens are $10 and dogs and puppies are $25. Adoption fees include spay or neutering services, microchips, heartworm tests and the initial vaccinations including rabies vaccinations. Escambia County residents will be required to purchase a separate $11 license at the time of adoption. Visit PetHarbor to see all of the adoptable pets at the Animal Welfare and Adoption Center. The Escambia County Animal Welfare and Adoption Center is located at 200 W. Fairfield Drive. Hours of operation are Monday-Friday from noon-5 p.m. and Saturdays from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Follow the Escambia County Animal Welfare and Adoption Center on Facebook to stay up to date on adoption events, shelter news and more.

VISIT PENSACOLA HOLIDAY TRAIL RETURNS Visit Pensacola has announced the return of the Pensacola Holiday Trail, an easy-to-use list of holiday-themed activities taking place in Escambia County and hosted on the Visit Pensacola app. To encourage residents and visitors to get out and take part in all the destination happenings, Visit Pensacola will award Pensacola experience packages to five lucky users who check in to the Pensacola Holiday Trail. The Pensacola Holiday Trail contest will run through Saturday, Jan. 1. For more information, visit visitpensacola. com/holiday-trail.

FIRST CITY ART HOLIDAY EXHIBIT

Enjoy works of art from Paint Out Group at First City Art's 1060 Gallery's "So Chill" exhibit through Jan. 17. First City Art is located at 1060 N. Guillemard St. Visit firstcityart.org for more information.

BEACH ECOLOGY WALK Join Healthy

Gulf for a New Year's Day beach hike as they celebrate the arrival of 2022 along the shifting sands and waters of Santa Rosa Island at Pensacola Beach. The walk starts at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 1, and the exact meeting location will be provided upon registration.

Space is limited in order to ensure a quality experience, so to reserve a spot or for more information, please email christian@ healthygulf.org or call (850) 687-9968.

FLORA-BAMA POLAR BEAR DIP Start the New Year with a Polar Bear Dip at Flora-Bama, located at 17401 Perdido Key Drive. Fun starts at noon on Saturday, Jan 1. Visit florabama.com for details. PENSACOLA BEACH POLAR BEAR PLUNGE Wash off 2021 with the annual

Polar Bear Plunge on Saturday, Jan. 1. This year's event will take place in two locations—Paradise Bar & Grill and Red Fish Blue Fish. Registration begins at noon, and plunge happens at 2 p.m. All proceeds go to the Pensacola Beach Chamber of Commerce to fund events on the Island. For more information, visit pensacolabeachchamber.com.

TRADE-A-TREE Bring your live holiday

trees to Keep Pensacola Beautiful on Sunday, Jan. 8, at Floral Tree Gardens, located at 3601 N. Davis Highway, from 9 a.m.-noon. Your holiday trees will be recycled into mulch for free. Free live oak trees will also be available. Visit keeppensacolabeautiful.org for details.

CALL TO ARTISTS

PMA MEMBERS SHOW The Pensacola Museum of Art invites artists, makers, designers and creative thinkers from its member community to submit artworks for The Members Show. This annual juried exhibition seeks to generate community dialogue, foster creative expression and recognize the support and talent of our members. Artists can win cash prizes with $150 to first place, $125 to second place, $100 to third place and $75 to people's choice. The Members Show will be extended through the month of May. The exhibition is open to PMA members working in all media and subject matter. The submission deadline is Sunday, Jan. 30, at 11:59 p.m. Visit pensacolamuseum.org for details and submission form. 2022 PENSACOLA JAZZFEST POSTER

Jazz Pensacola invites fine artists and graphic designers to submit renderings for the 2022 Pensacola JazzFest. The commission is $500. The Jazz Pensacola Board of Directors will consider all renderings and make a selection. Initial drafts are due by Jan. 18. If selected, the completed submission deadline is Feb. 24. 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, 2022 Pensacola JazzFest. inweekly.net

a&e happenings The festival event information, including date, location, sponsors and any additional information, will be added to the poster in the graphic production process. There is no need to include this information within the artwork. Any mixed media suitable for twodimensional mechanical reproduction is allowed, including both hand-drawn and computer-generated graphics. Submissions must be in low-res (72 PPI) JPEG format and emailed to info@jazzpensacola.com. There is no limit to the number of entries by a single artist. Each entry must include the artist's name, address, email and telephone number. The selected artist is responsible for the preparation of the art for highresolution reproduction. The artist will be contacted following the selection process and receive technical specifications for the production file.

REGIONAL WRITING CONTEST SEEKS "IN FOCUS FLASH MEMOIR" ENTRIES

West Florida Literary Federation is sponsoring "In Focus: A Contest for Flash Memoir," a creative nonfiction contest with cash prizes and an opportunity for publication. Luke Wallin, professor of creative writing, former editor of The Louisville Review and award- winning author of national acclaim who lives in Rhode Island, will serve as a guest judge. The judging panel will be looking for entries that distill a personal experience and share the heart and essence of it in order to impact readers with a keepsake take-away. Contest entries will be read with the name of the writer concealed. Contest Facilitator Claire Massey asks writers to "share your moments of truth, the crossroads and rest stops on your journey, the images that define who you were and who you are." Contest entries will be accepted electronically in January Any resident of Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa, Walton or Bay counties in Florida or Baldwin, Mobile and Escambia counties in Alabama, 18-years or older is eligible to participate. Members of West Florida Literary Federation and the Florida Writers' Association are also eligible to enter. Non- members pay a $10 submission fee. For more questions email Massey at westfloridaliteraryfederation@gmail.com or visit wflf.org.

ARTS & CULTURE

BALLET PENSACOLA'S DRACULA AVAILABLE FOR STREAMING Ballet

Pensacola's take on the haunting and legendary tale is now available to stream. Cost is $25 per view. For more information, visit showtix4u.com/event-details/57601.

WHAT'S SHOWING AT PENSACOLA CINEMA ART "The French Dispatch" will

be playing Friday, Dec. 31. All showtimes are at 1 p.m. PCA is located at 220 W. Garden St. Tickets are $8 cash only. Visit pensacolacinemaart.com for more information.

BEAUTIFUL BEGINNINGS BRIDAL EXPO The "Beautiful Beginnings" Expo December 30, 2021

will be Sunday, Jan. 9, from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. at Pensacola Bay Center, 201 E. Gregory St. Wedding professionals will be on site with displays, information, samples and more. Tickets are $10, cash only. Visit pensacolabaycenter.com for more information.

BOOTLEG BALL: SPIRITS OF THE SPEAKEASY Don your Glad Rags and Fox

Trot down to the Museum of Commerce on Saturday, Jan. 15, or the Bootleg Ball: Spirits of the Speakeasy, a fundraiser for the University of West Florida Historic Trust. Doors open at 7 p.m. Tickets are $200 per person. Get yours at historicpensacola.org/ support-membership/bootleg-ball.

PENSACOLA ARTS MARKET Enjoy

shopping for a variety of handcrafted wares at Pensacola Arts Saturdays from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. The next date is Saturday, Jan. 15. Enjoy art, espresso, vintage goods, baked treats, handcrafted unique gifts and more. Admission is free. For more information, visit facebook.com/pensacolaartsmarket.

EASY GOING GALLERY ART MARKET

Every Sunday, Easy Going Gallery and Carter J Studios present a weekly art market Sundays from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. at Easy Going Gallery, located at 701 N. V St. Enjoy art, espresso, vintage goods, baked treats, handcrafted unique gifts and more. Vendors can participate for a $20 fee. For more information, contact easygoinggalleryart@gmail.com.

VISIONARY APONTE: ART AND BLACK FREEDOM Visionary Aponte: Art and Black Freedom is from creator José Antonio Aponte, a free black carpenter, artist and former soldier who was also the leader of an ambitious antislavery conspiracy in Cuba in 1812. The exhibit is on view at Pensacola Museum of Art through March 27, 2022. Visit pensacolamuseum. org for more information.

2000 MEN: BLACK POLITICIANS DURING RECONSTRUCTION A new

exhibit at the Pensacola Museum of History shares the stories and histories of Black politicians during the Reconstruction period. The Pensacola Museum of History is located at 330 S. Jefferson St. For more information, visit historicpensacola.org.

UWF HISTORIC TRUST 9/11 EXHIBIT

An exhibit honoring victims lost and others impacted by the tragedy on Sept. 11, 2001, is now on display on the second floor of the Pensacola Museum of History. The University of West Florida Historic Trust curated the exhibit, 9/11 Remembered, which runs through January, with items on loan from the 9/11 Memorial & Museum in New York and the History Museum of Mobile. The gallery includes a section of the I-beam from one of the World Trade Center towers and a helmet and other items worn by first responders who responded to the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Visitors can also view a video of newsreels from 20 years ago on projectors and a video from 15

a&e happenings NAS Pensacola that features military members who responded to the 9/11 attacks. For more information on UWF's Historic Trust, visit historicpensacola.org.

tion about exhibitions, programming or support, visit pensacolamuseum.org.

lalittletheatre for more information and the latest dates.

FINDING 1821 Finding 1821 is part of the

THE KINGDOM OF THIS WORLD, REIMAGINED The Kingdom of This World,

Reimagined provides a new look at the real and imagined stories told in Alejo Carpentier's 1949 historical novel "The Kingdom of This World," which recounts the Haitian Revolution in his signature literary style—lo real maravilloso, or the marvelous real. This exhibit will be on view at the Pensacola Museum of Art through Jan. 9, 2022. The PMA is open Tuesday-Saturday from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. and Sundays from noon-4 p.m. For more information about exhibitions, programming or support, visit pensacolamuseum.org.

OPEN MIC AT THE GORDON Show off your talents on the second Thursday of every month at The Gordon's Open Mic showcase from 7-10 p.m. Admission is free. The Gordon is located at 306 N. DeVilliers St. Visit thegordon.org for more information.

enjoy some homegrown talent every Monday at 7 p.m. for Open Mic Comedy at Big Top Brewery, located at 21 W. Romano St. Everyone gets five minutes depending on the number of sign-ups. Registration begins at 6:30 p.m.

SCRIPTEASERS WITH PENSACOLA LITTLE THEATRE Scripteasers, Studio

NEW CLASSES AT MIXON MAGIC PERFORMING ARTS Mixon Magic Per-

UWF Historic Trust's Suddenly American exhibit. Using historic newspapers, maps and documents, it is possible to locate where businesses stood in the 1820s. From taverns to parasol shops, each site on the Finding 1821 trail reflects a local establishment that was near that location 200 years ago. Outside each business is a QR code that links to a corresponding advert from an early 1820s newspaper. Over a dozen sites have been identified so far. Take a stroll around town, visit local shops and explore the history of Pensacola through today's technology. Visit historicpensacola. org for more information.

WE ARE NOT A MOVEMENT. WE ARE MOTION ITSELF. Using source material

from the 309 Archives, AnArchivist transforms linear time into a cyclical dimension with the announcement of a new beginning, while also celebrating the 20th anniversary of the eight-week Zine Challenge of 2001 and the playful/poetic/participatory aesthetic of the Pensacola DIY scene. The exhibit is on view at PMA through Jan. 2. PMA is open Tuesday-Saturday from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. and Sundays from noon-4 p.m. For more informa-

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400's and Pensacola Little Theatre's Script Reading Club invites you to monthly script readings at PLT, 400 S. Jefferson St. Want to bring your scripts for the group to read and discuss? Contact Pensacola Little Theatre to get in queue. The group reads prospective scripts for future seasons as well as new scripts that need a table read before the next edit. Not a playwright but love to read out loud? This is your easy, fun theatre night. Fascinated by the play selection process? Sit in for a listen and usually a lot of laughs. Visit facebook.com/pensaco-

OPEN MIC COMEDY AT BIG TOP BREWERY Try out some new jokes or

forming Arts (MMPA), a boutique performing arts studio located at 1010 N. 12th Ave., Ste. 238, will be offering a limited class schedule this fall. MMPA offers professional dance, fitness and "Mommy and Me" instruction for all ages and skill levels with weekly classes including, but not limited to, Creative Movement, Ballet/Jazz Combo, Broadway, Tap, Showstoppers, Acting and Voice. Classes will be provided for children as young as 2 years old (with a parent or guardian) through adult. MMPA is dedicated to the safety and

well-being of all students and families and has implemented protocols based on guidance from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Masks are required for entry into the building and studio. More information about Mixon Magic Performing Arts can be found at mixonmagic.com, by contacting hello@mixonmagic.com or emily@mixonmagic.com or by calling (850) 221-7438.

GENDER PORTRAITS Gender Portraits

is a project from artist Drew Riley of the Austin Creative Alliance. The nonprofit organization supports sex and gender minorities using art as a foundation for education, activism and advocacy. The exhibit is on view at Voices of Pensacola, located at 117 E. Government St., through January. For more information, visit historicpensacola.org.

BLACK CITIZENSHIP IN THE AGE OF JIM CROW "Black Citizenship in the Age

of Jim Crow," a traveling exhibition from the New York Historical Society Museum & Library with additions from the African American Heritage Society of Pensacola, is now on view at Artel Gallery. To learn more about it, visit africanamericanheritagesociety.org. Artel Gallery is located at 223 S. Palafox.

CRAFT CLASSES AT STUDIO SOUTH ON NINE MILE Learn a new craft or meet

up with other makers at Studio South. Tues-

inweekly.net

a&e happenings day is Knit Night 4-7 p.m., and Sit & Stitch is Saturdays 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Both classes are free. For a full calendar of events, visit studiosouthon9mileroad.com. Studio South is located at 955 E. Nine Mile Road.

CLASSES AND WORKSHOPS AT FIRST CITY ART First City Art Center of-

fers a wide range of classes and workshops for artists of all levels. Classes include glass blowing, ceramics, painting and drawing, kiln-forming, stained glass and more. For a complete list of classes and times, visit firstcityart.org.

LIVE MUSIC

KANSAS Kansas' "Point of Know Return"

anniversary tour will have a Pensacola stop at 8 p.m. Jan. 7m, at the Saenger Theatre, 118 S. Palafox. Tickets are $68-$118. Visit pensacolasaenger.com for more information.

CURSIVE Cursive, with special guests The Appleseed Cast, will be performing at Vinyl Music Hall, 2 S. Palafox, on Thursday, Jan. 13. Doors open at 7 p.m. Show starts at 8 p.m. Tickets are $20. Get yours at vinylmusichall.com. MONDAY NIGHT BLUES AT SEVILLE QUARTER Blues Society of Northwest Flori-

da and Seville Quarter present Monday Night Blues, the longest running weekly Blues Jam in Florida, starting at 7 p.m. with an opening and followed by the Blues Jam at 9 p.m. Seville Quarter is located at 130 E. Government St. For more information, visit sevillequarter.com.

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

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

SAXOPHONIST JIM ANDREWS AT ALICE'S RESTAURANT Saxophonist

Jim Andrews will be performing at Alice's Restaurant, located at 1504 W. Intendencia St., on the first Friday of every month from 6-9:30 p.m.

RAY COLEY AT CAZADORES MEXICAN RESTAURANT Ray Coley performs oldies mix with jazz and blues every weekend with keyboard, horn and flute. Fridays and Saturdays from 6-9 p.m. and a jazz set on Sundays from 12-3 p.m. on the patio at Cazadores Mexican restaurant, located at 8183 W. Fairfield Dr. Weather permitting.

CURT BOL JAZZ QUARTET Visit Five Sisters Blues Café, located at 421 W. Belmont St., Sundays from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. and listen to Curt Bol Jazz Quartet. Visit curtbolband.com for more information.

OPEN JAM AT ARTEL GALLERY Artel Gallery is open from 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesdays and Saturdays for open jam with Pensacola Folk Music Society. Feel free to visit and listen to music. Artel Gallery is located at 223 S. Palafox. December 30, 2021

KARAOKE AT MUGS AND JUGS Sing your heart out Sundays at Mugs & Jugs, 12080 Scenic Highway, or just enjoy drinks friends with $4 Smirnoff and $6.50 domestic pitcher drink deals from 7 p.m.3 a.m. For more information, visit facebook. com/mugsjugs. LIVE MUSIC AT HUB STACEY'S Sit back with good food and live music at Hub Stacey's, located at 312 E. Government St. For a full calendar of bands, check hubstaceys.com. MONDAY NIGHT BLUES AT SEVILLE QUARTER Seville Quarter and the Blues

Society of Northwest Florida bring the "Blues" back to the Seville Quarter Entertainment District, located at 130 E. Government St. every Monday night in End O' the Alley starting at 7 p.m. For more information, visit sevillequarter.com.

TUESDAY NIGHT JAZZ AT SEVILLE QUARTER Enjoy smooth jazz with Me-

lodious Allen and The Funk Heads every Tuesday night at Lili Marlene's in Seville Quarter, located at 130 E. Government St. Show starts at 6:30 p.m. Visit sevillequarter.com for more information.

FITNESS + RECREATION

PENSACOLA ICE FLYERS GAMES The Pensacola Ice Flyers home games are at Pensacola Bay Center, located at 201 E. Gregory St. Tickets start at $15. Purchase yours at pensacolabaycenter.com. UPCOMING HOME GAMES: •7:05 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 30 •7:05 p.m. Friday, Jan. 7 F3 NATION FREE WORKOUTS FOR MEN F3, a national network of free, peer-

led workouts for all men, has expanded its outdoor workouts to Pensacola. The three Fs stand for Fitness, Fellowship and Faith. Classes are free of charge to all men 18 and older or 16 with an adult guardian. Each class ends with a circle of trust. Class times are 7-8 a.m. Saturdays and 5:30-6:15 a.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays at Maritime Park, located at 351 W. Cedar St. Visit f3pensacola.com.

OVER 50 DANCE CLUB Take part in the Over 50 Dance Club at Sanders Beach Resource Center, located at 913 S. I St., Tuesdays from 6:30-9 p.m. The dress code is dressy; cover is $5-$10. This club is tobacco- and alcohol-free. For more information, call (850) 623-5013. WEEKLY FRIDAY DANCE Get moving every Friday night with a dance sponsored by the Fraternal Order of Eagles. Enjoy food from 6-7 p.m. Dancing is from 7-10 p.m. A variety of bands and music provide the tunes. Cost of admission is $6. Dances are located at 105 Kenmore Ave. in Pensacola. For more information, call (850) 476-5696. for more listings visit inweekly.net 17

free will astrology WEEK OF DECEMBER 30 ARIES (MARCH 21-APRIL 19): Historians disagree about the legacy of Jimmie Carter, who was President of the United States from 1977 to 1981. Was he effective or not? Opinions differ. But there's no ambiguity about a project he pursued after his presidency. He led a global effort to eliminate a pernicious disease caused by the guinea worm parasite. When Carter began his work, 3.5 million people per year suffered from the parasite's debilitating effects. Today, there are close to zero victims. Will 2022 bring an equivalent boon to your life, Aries? The banishment of an old bugaboo? A monumental healing? I suspect so. TAURUS (APRIL 20-MAY 20): In 2022, I hope you will express more praise than ever before. I hope you'll be a beacon of support and inspiration for the people you care for. The astrological omens suggest this could be a record-breaking year for the blessings you bestow. Don't underestimate your power to heal and instigate beneficial transformations. Yes, of course, it's a kind and generous strategy for you to carry out. But it will also lead to unforeseen rewards that will support and inspire and heal you.

GEMINI (MAY 21-JUNE 20): If you search Google, you'll be told that the longest biography ever written is the 24-volume set about British political leader Winston Churchill. But my research shows there's an even more extensive biography: about Japan's Emperor Hirohito, who lived from 1901-1989. His story consists of 61 volumes. In the spirit of these expansive tales, and in accordance with 2022's astrological aspects, I encourage you to create an abundance of noteworthy events that will deserve inclusion in your biography. Make this the year that warrants the longest and most interesting chapter in that masterpiece. CANCER (JUNE 21-JULY 22): One

of the 20th century's most famous works of art was "Fountain." It was scandalous when it appeared in 1917, since it consisted entirely of a white porcelain urinal. Marcel

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Duchamp, the artist who presented it, was a critic of the art market and loved mocking conventional thought. Years later, however, evidence emerged suggesting that "Fountain" may not have been Duchamp's idea—that in fact he "borrowed" it from Cancerian artist and poet Baroness Elsa von Freytag-Loringhoven. There's still disagreement among art scholars about what the facts are. But if definitive proof ever arrives that von Freytag-Loringhoven was the originator, it will be in 2022. This will be the year many Cancerians finally get the credit they deserve.

LEO (JULY 23-AUG. 22): Author Carson McCullers wrote the novel "The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter." Early in the story, the character named Mick Kelly has a crisis of yearning. McCullers describes it—"The feeling was a whole lot worse than being hungry for any dinner, yet it was like that. I want—I want—I want—was all that she could think about—but just what this real want was she did not know." If you have ever had experiences resembling Mick's, Leo, 2022 will be your year to fix that glitch in your passion. You will receive substantial assistance from life whenever you work on the intention to clarify and define the specific longings that are most essential to you. VIRGO (AUG. 23-SEPT. 22): After careful research, I have concluded that one of your important missions in 2022 will be to embody a perspective articulated by poet Rand Howells—"If I could have but one wish granted, it would be to live in a universe like this one at a time like the present with friends like the ones I have now and be myself." In other words, Virgo, I'm encouraging you to do whatever's necessary to love your life exactly as it is—without comparing it unfavorably to anyone else's life or to some imaginary life you don't actually have. LIBRA (SEPT. 23-OCT. 22): If your quest

for spiritual enlightenment doesn't enhance your ability to witness and heal the suffering of others, then it's fake enlightenment. If your quest for enlightenment encourages you to imagine that expressing personal freedom exempts you from caring for the

well-being of your fellow humans, it's fake. If your quest for enlightenment allows you to ignore racism, bigotry, plutocracy, misogyny and LGBTQIA-phobia, it's fake. Everything I just said about enlightenment is equally true about your quest for personal success. If it doesn't involve serving others, it's meaningless. In this spirit, Libra, and in accordance with the astrological omens, I invite you to make 2022 the year you take your compassion and empathy to the highest level ever.

that a different strain of penicillin was found—one that could be mass-produced. The genius who made this possible was Mary Hunt, a humble researcher without a college degree. By 1944, the new drug was saving thousands of lives. I mention Hunt because she's a good role model for you in 2022. I believe you'll have chances to improve on the work of others, generating excellent results. You may also improve on work you've done in the past.

SCORPIO (OCT. 23-NOV. 21): Two mating rabbits could theoretically engender 11 million relatives within a year's time. Although I suspect that in 2022 you will be as metaphorically fertile as those two hypothetical rabbits, I'm hoping you'll aim more for quality than quantity. To get started, identify two projects you could pursue in the coming months that will elicit your most liberated creativity. Write a vow in which you state your intention to be intensely focused as you express your fecundity.

AQUARIUS (JAN. 20-FEB. 18):

SAGITTARIUS (NOV. 22-DEC. 21): A blogger named Soracities writes, "The more I read, the more I feel that a good mark of an intelligent book is simply that the author is having fun with it." Sagittarian author George Saunders adds that at its best, "Literature is a form of fondness-for-life. It is love for life taking a verbal form." I will expand these analyses to evaluate everything that humans make and do. In my opinion, the supreme sign of intelligence and value is whether the creators had fun and felt love in doing it. My proposal to you, Sagittarius, is to evaluate your experiences in that spirit. If you are doing things with meager amounts of fun and love, what can you do in 2022 to raise the fun and love quotient? CAPRICORN (DEC. 22-JAN. 19): Mi-

crobiologist Alexander Fleming discovered penicillin in 1928. It was later described as "the single greatest victory ever achieved over disease"—an antidote to dangerous infections caused by bacteria. But there's more to the story. Fleming's strain of penicillin could only be produced in tiny amounts—not nearly enough to become a widespread medicine. It wasn't until 1943

Catherine Pugh wrote a series of children's books collectively known as Healthy Holly. Later, when she became mayor of the city of Baltimore, she carried out a scheme to sell 100,000 copies to hospitals and schools that did business with the city. Uh-oh. Corruption! She was forced to resign from her office and was arrested. I'd love for you to be aggressive and imaginative in promoting yourself in 2022, but only if you can find ethical ways to do so. I'd love for you to make money from doing what you do best, but always with high integrity and impeccability.

PISCES (FEB. 19-MARCH 20): Piscean

Vaslav Nijinsky is regarded by many as the 20th century's most brilliant dancer. He had a robust relationship with beauty, and I want you to know about it. Hopefully, this will inspire you to enjoy prolonged periods of Beauty Worship in 2022. To do so will be good for your health. Memorize this passage from Nijinsky: "Beauty is God. God is beauty with feeling. Beauty is in feeling. I love beauty because I feel it and therefore understand it. I flaunt my beauty. I feel love for beauty." THIS WEEK'S HOMEWORK: Name your greatest hope for the person you love best. newsletter.freewillastrology.com.

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news of the weird CHUTZPAH On Dec. 6, Laura Oglesby, 48, pleaded guilty to one count of intentionally providing false information to the Social Security Administration, The New York Times reported. Her story is much more complicated than that one charge. In 2016, Oglesby used her estranged daughter's identity to create another life for herself as Lauren Hays, a 22-year-old college student in Mountain View, Missouri. She obtained a Social Security card and driver's license, then racked up more than $25,000 in debt with student loans and other expenses. She also worked at Southwest Baptist University and rented a room from Wendy and Avery Parker. "Everybody believed it," said Mountain View Police Chief Jamie Perkins. "She even had boyfriends that believed that she was that age: 22 years old." Oglesby may face up to five years in prison and will have to pay restitution to her daughter and SBU. MY KINGDOM FOR AN EDITOR Thankfully, a sign on Interstate 95 in Delaware directing drivers to a Wilmington exit was only temporary, but that didn't stop commuters from noticing it. The Associated Press reported that the sign was missing an "A" in the avenue's name ("Delware"); transportation officials said it was made in a hurry in case the permanent sign didn't arrive in time for the opening of the exit, which had been under construction. There's always time for correct spelling, kids. THE WAY THE WORLD WORKS Those large inflatable Christmas decorations may fill the hearts of children with holiday cheer, but one young ursid saw a sparring partner and went on the attack in Monrovia, California, on Dec. 8. Donna Hargett captured video of a bear cub wrestling with her neighbor's inflatable reindeer as the mama bear looked on, United Press International reported. "I looked up and there it was, jumping on the reindeer," Hargett said. "We see these two around all the time. They're trouble," she said. In fact, Hargett said they once broke into her home and left paw prints on the bed. No word on Rudolph's condition. LEAST COMPETENT CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM Lauras Matiusovas, 30, was suddenly (and mistakenly) released from the Pentonville Prison in North London on Nov. 26 after serving only 48 hours of a four-year sentence. After he called the probation officer, who told him that everything was in order, Matiusovas did what any grateful con would do: He embarked on a 10-day boozing binge with his friends. "It's mad," one buddy said, according to the Daily Star. "He could have jumped on a flight and left the U.K. Instead, he chilled with us and had a great time." But it all came to an end on Dec. 6, when he was hauled back to his cell. The Ministry of Justice commented:

By the Editors at Andrews McMeel

"Releases in error are incredibly rare, but we take them extremely seriously." NOT YOUR FATHER'S BUICK Sure, the Greatest Generation may be coasting down the road at 32 mph in their Le Sabres, much to other drivers' frustration, but Buicks weren't always old-man cars. In fact, car collector Anthony Saia sold a 1987 Buick GNX on eBay on Dec. 11 for $249,999, Fox News reported. The GNX, part of a limited edition of 547 built for only one year, was produced by Buick along with McLaren Engines and ASC Inc. It was the second-fastest 0-to60 mph car of its day (behind the Porsche 911 Turbo), and others have sold for similar amounts. Saia's car had 426 miles on it. SIGN OF THE TIMES Working at home? Stubbed your toe while making the commute from the bedroom to your desk? In Germany, you can now sue for worker's comp insurance for injuries suffered while working at home. Germany's Federal Social Court ruled that an unnamed man who slipped on a spiral staircase and broke his back was entitled to coverage, saying it viewed the "first morning journey from bed to the home office as an insured work route," NBC Washington reported. IT'S A LIVING Hasan Riza Gunay, known as Turkey's one and only stress coach, has a unique method for easing his clients' angst: He lets them hit him (and doesn't hit back), Oddity Central reported. After a decade in the business, though, Gunay is ready to train someone to take his place. "Most of my clients suffer from depression or panic attacks," he said. "I would like to train other potentially interested people ... and hand over my gloves to the new generation." Gunay said around 70% of his clients are women whose strength is equivalent to that of boys 12 to 14 years old, so he doesn't worry about getting hurt. And he wears protective gear, sometimes accompanied by a photo of the person the client is unhappy with. YIKES! Rob and Marcela Wild of Robertson, South Africa, figured there might be a mouse in their newly decorated Christmas tree when their cats started watching it intently on Dec. 10. Instead, they found one of the most venomous snakes in Africa, a boomslang, CNN reported. The Wilds called on snake catcher Gerrie Heyns, who used "snake tongs" to put it on the floor. "Once I had it under control, the family came right up to see the snake," Heyns said. "A scary moment turned into an exciting moment for the children." Heyns released the female snake, about 4 1/2 feet long, back into the wild a couple of days later. {in} From Andrews McMeel Syndication News Of The Weird © 2021 Andrews McMeel

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Independent News | December 30, 2021 | inweekly.net