Independent News | December 9, 2021 | Volume 22 | Number 49
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winners & losers
outtakes
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news 6, 8
I have no clue.
feature story
buzz 10
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publisher Rick Outzen
graphic designer Tim Bednarczyk
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editor & creative director Joani Delezen
contributing writers Gina Castro, Savannah Evanoff, Jennifer Leigh, Jeremy Morrison, Sydney Robinson, C.S. Satterwhite
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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 9, 2021
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winners & losers
Michael Rhodes and Kevin Brandenburg / Photo Courtesy of Escambia County
winners KEVIN BRANDENBURG Escambia Coun-
ty recently recognized the Fleet Maintenance Specialist in the Parks and Recreation department as the 2021 Employee of the Year. As the Fleet Maintenance Specialist, most of Kevin's time is focused on equipment maintenance, where his well-rounded skill set allows him to work on multiple components of the fleet with ease. Brandenburg is a member of Lower Alabama Search and Rescue and a volunteer fireman and donates time with Miracle League of Pensacola.
SANDY SANSING FOUNDATION Gulf Coast Kid's House announced that Sandy Sansing made a $100,000 donation to support its mission to end child abuse and heal families in Escambia County. The Sansing family has supported the nonprofit for almost two decades, contributing over half a million dollars since 2005. In the last year, Gulf Coast Kid's House provided services to over 3,300 child victims of abuse and neglect. The trained professionals under one roof investigate, treat and prosecute child sexual and physical abuse and severe neglect cases. Education in child abuse prevention is also provided. BEULAH ACADEMY OF SCIENCE The United States Department of Agriculture is investing $6,516,900 toward fi ve community projects serving 61,998 Floridians. Beulah Academy of Science will receive a $2,850,000 loan to build a 17,000-squarefoot gymnasium facility at the charter school campus. This facility will provide students with indoor health and wellness activities during extreme heat and poor weather conditions and add three additional classrooms. FILL THE MAYFLOWER The Northwest
Florida community united in the fight against hunger right before Thanksgiving for Manna's most significant food drive of the year, Fill the Mayflower. Donations from the two-day event will provide 105,000 healthy meals to neighbors in need in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties. Fill the Mayflower was made possible by Coastal Moving & Storage, Cat Country 98.7, NewsRadio 92.3 and WEAR Channel 3 News. Food collected during Fill the Mayflower will be distributed through Manna's programs and partners in the two-county area, which have experienced an increased need for food assistance over the past 18 months.
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losers FLORIDA POWER & LIGHT The Or-
lando Sentinel reported the utility's top executives worked closely with the political consultants behind a scheme to promote spoiler candidates in three Florida Senate races last year. Records uncovered by the newspaper reveal the consultants who controlled Grow United Inc., the darkmoney nonprofit at the center of the "ghost" candidate scandal, billed FPL for more than $3 million days before they began moving money through the entity. The records also showed FPL had donated more than $10 million in recent years to other dark-money nonprofits controlled by some of the same consultants. The same parent company owns Gulf Power and Florida Power & Light.
PAM CHILDERS The Escambia County Clerk once again blindsided the Board of County Commissioners, telling them she would no longer write checks to the ICMA retirement plans of Commissioners Steven Barry, Robert Bender and Lumon May as of Jan. 2, 2022. Attorney Troy Rafferty of Levin Papantonio Rafferty, who represents the board, thought he and Childers' attorney, Matt Dannheisser, were in negotiations to avoid a lawsuit. Childers dumped her letter on Commission Chairman Jeff Bergosh the day after the board's Dec. 2 meeting. She had ample time to have her demand put on the agenda and discussed before the public in an open meeting. In August, the clerk refused to jointly ask Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody to review the issue. Her recent letter has canceled any negotiations between Rafferty and Dannheisser, leaving the courts as the only way to resolve the impasse. UF BOARD OF TRUSTEES The board of the state's flagship university is upset the faculty protested being silenced from offering testimony on politically sensitive issues, such as election laws. UF Board chairman Mori Hosseini called the protests "disrespectful" and demanded they must stop; how dare professors threaten certain trustees' cozy relationship with Gov. Ron DeSantis and state lawmakers. UF president finally relented and allowed testimony as long as it was done on the professors' own time. inweekly.net
outtakes By Rick Outzen
PENSACOLA'S PAST The two news articles in this issue demonstrate the challenges of telling Pensacola's history and reveal the town's segregated past. Both covered injustices. One was handled by community leaders; the other needed a sympathetic governor to intervene. "Taking Care of Enlisted" started with a conversation over coffee with Glenn Johnson, former program director for 1370 WCOA. Glenn had come across a box of postcards from 1941 that offered suggestions on how Pensacola could be more hospitable to enlisted men stationed at NAS Pensacola. With the anniversary of Pearl Harbor this week, the article seemed a perfect fit for our newspaper. With Europe battling Nazi Germany, the military presence in Northwest Florida was expanding. Saufley Field had been completed, and a massive base in Okaloosa County was in the works. More enlisted servicemen came to Pensacola, and locals weren't that welcoming. The sailors complained the town offered little entertainment, other than "jook joints, two-by-four skating rinks and two-stool hamburger places." They felt the townsfolk and their daughters looked down on them and considered them less than human. They begged for a YMCA devoted to the military personnel. The radio station broadcasted a roundtable discussion that sparked city and community leaders to take action. With the help of federal funds, a USO facility was built on Spring Street and opened a few months after the attack on Pearl Harbor. The race of the enlisted men isn't mentioned in the postcards or the station's archives, but most likely, the ones getting the attention were white. The roundtable was all white, as were the community leaders working on the USO facility. As I was finishing the WCOA story, Rev. H.K. Matthews reached out, wanting to discuss the acknowledgment and lamentation ceremony regarding T.T. Wentworth Jr. and his Ku Klux Klan connections. He was invited and attended the ceremony but wasn't happy with how the event unfolded. The retired pastor was concerned the civil
rights struggles during the 1960s and 1970s were being forgotten. The Klan targeted Rev. Matthews. Law enforcement and local newspapers were more adversaries than friends. No one wanted him fighting for Black people who were fired from their jobs, denied employment or arrested and convicted of crimes they didn't commit. The Methodist minister asked too many questions. He organized demonstrations and picket lines. Rev. Matthews suffered. He lost several jobs, was beaten on the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Ala., and dealt with several attempts on his life. After protestors shouted at a demonstration, "Two, four, six, eight, who shall we incarcerate?" Sheriff Royal Untreiner accused the pastor of having protestors yell "assassinate" instead of "incarcerate." Rev. Matthews was arrested, tried and convicted of felony extortion. Co-defendant Rev. B.J. Brooks agreed to probation to avoid state prison. Matthews refused any offer of probation. At his sentencing, Circuit Judge Kirke Beall said a pre-sentence investigation revealed "everyone who had any dealings with his man businesswise or otherwise had nothing good to say about him." Matthews was sentenced to five years. The Southern Christian Leadership Conference severed its relationship with him, issuing a press release stating the former leader was no longer authorized to speak for the SCLC, and the Escambia County chapter would not be responsible for his actions. With the help of attorney Fred Levin, Gov. Reubin Askew freed the pastor, but no one would give him a job, fearing retaliation from law enforcement and the Klan. I completely understand the hurt Rev. Matthews felt listening to apologies made to a predominantly white crowd in a lovely waterfront park away from the Black churches and neighborhoods that the Klan terrorized for generations. Both news articles concern the mistreatment of people. The enlisteds' complaints were heard; the Black community was punished for speaking out. It's going to take more than apologies to heal Pensacola. {in} rick@inweekly.net
No one wanted him fighting for Black people who were fired from their jobs, denied employment or arrested and convicted of crimes they didn't commit.
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TAKING CARE OF ENLISTED
1941 postcards and mail sent to WCOA / Original mail courtesy of Cumulus Media
By Rick Outzen Pensacola is a Navy town. Attend the summer or fall airshows of the Blue Angels, and you can see and feel the pride our community has in Pensacola's long history with the military. However, city residents didn't always appreciate enlisted service members, according to the archives of Pensacola's first and oldest radio station, WCOA. Sailors and soldiers stationed at NAS Pensacola complained that the town of fewer than 38,000 people in the 1940s had little to offer those on leave. In January 1941, Frank Gatchrell, who worked in the Aircraft Radio Lab, wrote WCOA, "I am from California and have traveled over 42 of the U.S. states, not to mention other parts of the world, and never in all my life was I ever treated as I have been here … I can truthfully say that I have not enjoyed my stay here as far as recreation goes. The only thing there is to do in this city is to go to jook joints and get sloped up, and then chances are you get into trouble." Yeoman First Class R. E. Warren complained the town only offered the enlisted "jook joints, two-by-four skating rinks and two-stool hamburger places." Seaman James Benjamin Berry shared that when he asked a nice girl for a date, "The first thing she said was, 'Do you have civies?'" He added, "I am proud of my 66
uniform and I won't pull it off to date a nice or no nice girl." Chaplain W. C. Olive wrote WCOA, "Several of the boys here on the station have voiced their opinion that a man living in a place where he is considered no better than a common tramp, after a while begins to take stock of himself and wonders if he really is any better than the classification he seems to be placed in." Olive continued, "Some of them, I am sorry to say, finally decide that since the general public opinion seems against them living a clean life, begin living a life that eventually brings a very low morale to the lives of many men." The correspondence was triggered by WCOA's weekly roundtable, "Let's Talk This Over," which focused in early 1941 on improving recreational facilities for enlisted men. The discussion prompted an immediate reaction from enlisted men and officers at the Naval Air Station. Hundreds of letters and postcards flooded into the radio station in the San Carlos Hotel at the corner of Garden and Palafox streets. In 1941, Pensacola was home to the world's largest Naval Air Training Station. The nation had not yet entered the war in Europe but had spent nearly $6 million on new construction and improvements at the base. The initial work on the new $3 million Saufley Field had been completed. Fort Barrancas had 2,600 officers and enlisted. The Army Air Corps, the predecessor to
the Air Force, had received $5 million to build Eglin Field in Okaloosa County. More and more enlisted men were pouring into Northwest Florida. The radio show touched a nerve with the military personnel. Many felt the businesses were profiting off the enlisted men and cared more about the dollars in their cash registers than the welfare of those training at the base. "In as much as Pensacola is a 'Navy Town' and is largely supported by Navy business, it should be considered a privilege (and good business) by the businessmen of Pensacola to exert every effort to provide recreational centers for the enlisted men," wrote Yeoman Second Class W.L. Hank. Seaman R.T. Parker said that he had been impressed with facilities and recreation and social programs at the Army and Navy YMCA in Norfolk when he was completing his training on the Virginia coast. "Imagine, if you please, my surprise and humiliation upon arrival in Pensacola to find absolutely nothing along this line for the enlisted men of the armed services," wrote Parker. "It is amazing beyond reason that a community so closely connected with the Army and Navy for more than a century should have been so blind or indifferent to the needs of the enlisted men through all the years."
"It is amazing beyond reason that a community so closely connected with the Army and Navy for more than a century should have been so blind or indifferent to the needs of the enlisted men through all the years." R.T. Parker Parker and his fellow enlisted men pleaded for Pensacola to build an Army and Navy YMCA. Seaman Howard Jorgenson wrote, "The greatest majority of the servicemen in this locality welcome your efforts to correct some of the existing conditions, with much hope to the end that they will culminate in a more true friendly American relation between the people of your fair city and the men who someday may be forced to save your fair city from destruction by invaders." Many of the letters were read on the air in the following weeks. City and business leaders listened. The Junior Chamber of Commerce, led by attorney Bert Lane, endorsed the commencement of an Army and Navy YMCA in Pensacola. The women's division of the national defense committee announced plans to take over Sanders Beach and create a recreation spot for service-
men. The Pensacola City Council pledged $3,000 to repair the pavilion at the beach. Churches, civic groups and businesses combined efforts to offer more recreational opportunities. In May 1941, the city opened a recreation center for Army and Navy enlisted personnel on the first floor of the Knights of Pythias building, 114 W. Garden St. The facility had "an attractive meeting room, a writing and reading room and a game room." The center was open from noon until late evening. The second floor had a ballroom for Saturday night dances hosted by the Daughters of the American Revolution, Navy Wives' Club, American Legion Auxiliary and other women's organizations. The city covered the cost of renting the hall. In June 1941, Congress passed a bill authorizing $150 million for community activities in defense cities. Pensacola was in line to receive $120,000 to build a city recreation center for servicemen. The newly established United Service Organization (USO) would handle the operational costs if the city raised $8,000 to contribute to the USO fund. William Rosasco Jr. cochaired the USO fundraising committee. The quota was met in less than six weeks. NAS Pensacola Commandant A.C. Read wrote Rosasco, "It is very gratifying to the personnel of this station to see your USO drive go over so successfully and know the city thereby cleared more than one hurdle towards obtaining a recreation building for our enlisted men, which is now so badly needed in Pensacola." Under the leadership of City Manager George J. Roark, the city donated a site on South Spring Street for the USO building. Roark told reporters that the parcel had belonged to the city for more than a century. He joked, "We have no records of a title. However, we gave Uncle Sam a squatters title." The cornerstone was laid on the afternoon of Tuesday, Dec. 9, under the auspices of the Frank Marston post of the American Legion and the Legion's Third District Commander, Sol A. Levy. Naval planes roared overhead. The 13th Coastal Artillery Band played. However, the ceremony likely was somber. The headlines of the Pensacola Journal the day before the ceremony read, "Honolulu, Philippines Bombed." Pearl Harbor had been attacked. President Franklin Roosevelt addressed Congress, and the lawmakers declared war on Japan. World events overshadowed the cornerstone ceremony, pushing the news article to the back page of the daily newspaper's Dec. 10 edition. However, the building became a fixture downtown for decades. Today, only its distinctive arched facade remains, but the brick entrance reminds us of when the city realized it needed to take care of its enlisted visitors. {in} inweekly.net
December 9, 2021
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TARGETED BY THE KLAN
H.K. Matthews / Photo by Dedee Russell
By Rick Outzen Last year, documents given by T.T. Wentworth Jr.'s relatives to the University of West Florida Historic Trust revealed Pensacola's "Mr. History" had led the Ku Klux Klan during the 1920s and had written the Black community out of his version of the city's past. On Nov. 21, Wentworth's descendants and leaders whose churches allowed the KKK to recruit from their congregations apologized at a special ceremony at the Community Maritime Park. Among the few Blacks in attendance sat an older man who quietly listened. The Klan had targeted Rev. H.K. Matthews, making him its number one enemy, and repeatedly attempted to kill him. No one apologized to him. Matthews was gracious when the daily newspaper asked his thoughts after the speeches. He applauded the effort. However, the ceremony bothered him.
Last week, Matthews, who formed Escambia County's chapter of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference and was beaten along with the late John Lewis on the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Ala., in 1965, visited the Inweekly office to share his misgivings. "I attended the morning and afternoon services," said Matthews. "And Sharon Yancey (Wentworth's grandniece) made this long speech on behalf of T.T. Wentworth, apologizing. I was sitting on the front row, and she never mentioned the fact that I was one that faced the perils of the Klan. There's nobody else here; most of the other folk are dead." The minister understood the UWF Historic Trust's research to date hasn't connected Wentworth to the Klan that threatened his life during the 1960s and 1970s. Still, the speakers missed an opportunity to show that the white supremacists' damage done in Pensacola wasn't limited to only the 1920s.
"I think most people have seen the photo of the Klan in robes marching down Palafox," said Matthews. "That parade was to counter our demonstrations and sit-ins in downtown Pensacola." He shared that Klan leaders joked that he was the best recruiter for them. The KKK had recorded messages—"Voice of the Klan, 21 Sullivan Avenue"—that told listeners what he was doing in the civil rights movement regularly. "H.K. Matthews every day, almost every hour, was the target. 'This nigger Matthews this,' and 'This nigger Matthews that.' That was a constant thing all day long because I was the one who they felt was the main culprit. And I guess I proudly own it," the minister said with a smile. He continued, "My interaction with the Klan was almost daily, especially as it relates to them making those telephone calls and telling people what needs to be done to me. One of them had the nerve to ask me, 'What would happen if we burn a cross on your yard?' I said, 'Well, since the police don't believe anything we say anyway, if you burn a cross on my yard, I'm going to have you there when the police come. You'll be on the ground, and I'll have you there for them.' The harassment was just constant." Memories of the racist South are still vivid for Matthews. Those memories fueled him to fight for civil rights. He was raised by his grandmother and shared what it was like to ride the bus with her on visits to his father. She and her grandson weren't allowed to sit "because we were the wrong color." "And I used to say to my grandmama, 'Mama, why is it they treat us like they do?' And she would always say, 'Well baby, don't worry. Life is like a revolving wheel. After a while, the bottom rail was going to come to the top.' So having seen all that, having watched the mailman call my grandmother, who was in her 50s and 60s, 'Annie,' and calling me 'boy,' and calling my
grandfather 'uncle,' it was within me that that was wrong." It took him a while to figure out what to do. Matthews said, "When I got out of the military, well, I thought I was something. I was running around with my chest stuck out saying, 'Look, world, I'm back.' And I discovered the world didn't even know I'd been gone. I mean, who was I? But all I wanted then was the next liquor bottle."
"I think most people have seen the photo of the Klan in robes marching down Palafox. That parade was to counter our demonstrations and sit-ins in downtown Pensacola." H.K. Matthews In 1959, Matthews decided to quit drinking after a weekend of wasting most of his paycheck on liquor. He started going to church. Rev. W.C. Dobbins took the young Matthews under his wing. Matthews said, "And then in 1960, I preached my initial sermon at Allen Chapel. Rev. Dobbins had formed the Pensacola Council of Ministers and asked me to join. I was the only Methodist preacher among all Baptist ministers. He integrated the lunch counters and got transferred." Dobbins' departure left a leadership void. Matthews said, "Nobody in that group wanted to take the lead. The Baptist ministers asked me to do it and then went on television and declared me the new leader. From that point forward, I picked up where Rev. Dobbins left off." An early challenge came when Montgomery Ward opened a store at Cordova Mall. The company had hired several people to help open the location. Before the grand opening, the manager laid off all the Black employees, including the wife of black policeman Jesse Dean. "I went out there to talk to the manager,
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inweekly.net
Ora Wills and H.K. Matthews / Photo by Dedee Russell
and he might as well told me, 'I managed the store. You stay in your lane, and I manage the store,'" Matthews told Inweekly. "I said, 'All right, thank you, sir, but in the morning when you come to work, we going to have a picket line outside of your store.' Before I could get to home, I guess the manager had called headquarters in Chicago and told him what I had said." The manager didn't realize the man to whom he reported at headquarters was Black, and his uncle was a member of Matthews' church. The executive told Matthews to take Ms. Dean to the store in the morning. She got her job back, and the picket line was avoided. After the march in Selma with John Lewis, Matthews was propelled onto the national stage. He shared, "The SCLC was sending me here and there." When he was asked to defend a Black man in Pascagoula, Miss., who had been falsely accused of murdering a white woman, Matthews stayed with Leon Wells, whom Matthews laughingly said was a bigger fool than him. One night, Wells received a phone call—"This is the Ku Klux Klan, and you got that nigger Matthews staying up there, and we going to kill him." Leon replied, "All right, you come on, kill him. But if you kill him, you going to have to eat him." Another time, the civil rights activist rented a motel room in nearby Moss Point. When he and his companions approached the room, one of them saw a man in the room with a shotgun through the curtains. They returned the key to the office with no mention of the attacker. "I never did let on to them that I knew what was going on," said Matthews. "They had given me the key to the wrong room. And all I had to do was try to get in that room, and they would say I was shot because I was breaking in." The Klan tried several times to block the highway between Pensacola and Pascagoula to force Matthews to pull over. The pastor said, "My son asked me, 'Well, daddy, did you stop?' I said, "I'm here, ain't I?" We gunned that car, and they scattered, but they were going to stop us because they knew that I was in the car." December 9, 2021
In Chipley, the Klan surrounded his motel room. He said, "I was the only fool Black person to stay in the motel in Chipley, but I was across the street. They milled around, and they finally left. And that's when they had the control for the motel was up in the office. The manager turned the heat off. It was dead winter. Heat off, phone off. I couldn't call out." Matthews continued, "It was snowing. I wrapped up as much as I could and put my pistol under my cover. And I said, 'If one of them try to get me, I'm going to drop somebody in that snow out there.'" Matthews' luck ran out in 1975. He led several protests after a deputy shot and killed a Black motorist (Inweekly, "A Cycle of Injustice," 3/25/10). He and Rev. B. J. Brooks, along with 50 other protesters, were arrested. The ministers were convicted of felony extortion. Matthews was given a fiveyear sentence but received clemency and later a pardon from Gov. Reubin Askew. Matthews couldn't find work in Pensacola after being released from prison. He said, "Even Black folk wouldn't give me a job. I wound up in Evergreen serving three small backwoods churches." Still, the pastor isn't bitter—"I ain't got no room for hate." However, he doesn't want Pensacola to forget the sacrifices for the racial progress made over the past half a century. "I applauded them for doing the ceremony at the Maritime Park," said Matthews. "But then I thought about maybe that was hastily said because they didn't really apologize to the folk who needed to be apologized to. I might be way off base out in Jupiter somewhere, but they should have said, 'H.K. Matthews is here, who was a victim that had close encounters with the Ku Klux Klan. And to him, we offer a sincere apology.' That was never done." {in} Publisher's Note: The Inweekly staff discussed how to handle Rev. Matthews' quotes that included a racial slur against him. Generally, we would avoid publishing such words, but we believe these quotes are central to readers' understanding of how the Klan personally terrorized Rev. Matthews. We didn't think we should obscure his quotes with a euphemism like "the N-word" or censor him in any way. 9
Bender and Lumon May, effective Jan. 2, 2022. The letter came directly from Childers, not her attorney, Matt Dannheisser, who has been negotiating with Troy Rafferty. She has offered yet another interpretation of the Florida law. The amount the county contributes to the commissioners' retirement is the same whether made to the Florida Retirement System or ICMA plan. Childers argued the county's contribution isn't the issue. She believes it's the commissioners' retirement benefits. She has refused to join the commissioners in asking for an opinion from the Florida Attorney General. It would appear the clerk and commissioners are headed to court to resolve this matter. Matt Gaetz / Photo Courtesy of gaetz.house.gov
SMARTER THAN A SEVENTH-GRADER?
Congressman Matt Gaetz is a national celebrity who does interviews all over the country—except with the students at Creative Learning Academy. Last week, seventh-graders Ryan Saghir, Violet Rosenthal, Erin Reilly and June Moore appeared on "Real News with Rick Outzen" on WCOA to discuss their podcast, "Pensacola People's Podcast." Their favorite interview has been with Rebekah Jones, the Democrat who is challenging Gaetz in 2022. The students said they have tried to interview Rep. Gaetz, but he hasn't gotten back to them. Why Congressman Gaetz? "Because we already interviewed Rebekah Jones, and both of them are running for Congress," said Saghir. "We want to know their different opinions on different things." Reilly added, "I think that would be really interesting to just see their two sides and how they differ." The students have called and emailed the congressman. Saghir said, "We called his secretary once, and she said that she was going to try to schedule a meeting with an interview with him, but we're still at that point." Is Gaetz smarter than a seventh-grader? Reilly answered, "I hope."
CHILDERS CHARGES County Clerk Pam
Childers has sent a letter to the Board of County Commissioners notifying that she doesn't accept the assertions made by the Levin Papantonio Rafferty law firm regarding the legality of the county's 401(a) ICMA retirement plan. The clerk told the board she would discontinue making contributions to the plan on behalf of Commissioners Steve Barry, Robert 010 1
BEDS FOR THOSE WITHOUT
Appearing strategic in its approach to address the issue of homelessness, the Pensacola City Council last week approved funding initiatives with a nearsingular mission—securing shelter for those currently living without. "Heads in beds, period," said Councilwoman Jennifer Brahier, bluntly, during a special meeting Wednesday, Dec. 1. "That doesn't mean we don't have a lot of things to do, but right now, we have an immediate crisis." On the table was $2,575,000 in federal American Rescue Plan Act funding that Mayor Grover Robinson has earmarked for homeless initiatives. The council decided to commit more than half of it for projects geared toward increasing the city's available shelter beds and held back the balance for future efforts surrounding homelessness. The council provided varying amounts of funding to Bright Bridge Ministries, Lakeview Center, Pensacola Dream Center, Re-Entry Alliance of Pensacola (REAP) and the Children's Home Society. REAP received the largest allotment—$400,000 for a holistic center located on North Palafox. The center will provide 29 beds for families with children, plus another 10 so-called "respite" beds, along with a site for a collective of service providers. Pensacola Dream Center got $300,000 for its Canopy of Hope project, which provides seven short-term beds. Bright Bridge got $281,400 for its shelter operation with 30 beds. The council also set aside $180,000 to pay for motel rooms for homeless individuals in the case of an emergency. The set-aside was in place of an earlier consideration to fund a campground-style facility. Lakeview and Children's Home Society represent the only initiatives not connected to directly sheltering individuals. The
council awarded $300,000 to Lakeview for a mobile response unit for use within city limits. The Children's Home Society, which serves homeless youth, received its full ask of $135,254 because the agency amounts to what Councilman Jared Moore described as "a low risk" with a "multi-tiered value." Notably, the REAP holistic center didn't receive unanimous support among the council members. The center drew numerous comments from residents living in surrounding neighborhoods. They urged council members to nix the campsite, citing safety concerns and the property's proximity to a nearby school. Councilwoman Teniade Broughton said she understood residents' concerns and also contended that historically Black neighborhoods tend to be "the dumping ground of our social ills." The councilwoman asked the city to "pause" in considering this project. Councilwoman Brahier contended the project shouldn't be scrapped due to neighborhood concerns. She said, "I'm not sure that's a reasonable thing to do." While Broughton was joined by Councilman Delarian Wiggins and Council President Ann Hill in her dissent; the holistic center landed its partial funding request on a 4-3 vote.
LEVIN WAY APPROVED Last month, the Pensacola City Council approved changing the name of a one-block stretch of Zaragoza Street in downtown Pensacola to Fred Levin Way. The new name will pay homage to Fred Levin, the Pensacola native, legendary trial attorney and philanthropist. Mark Proctor, president of Levin Papantonio Rafferty, requested the new street name in a letter he wrote to Mayor Grover Robinson. Proctor and Levin were law partners for more than 40 years. Levin passed away in January 2021 of COVID-19, prompting Proctor and the Levin Papantonio Rafferty law firm to search for ways to honor this larger-thanlife Pensacola icon. "Since our law office, where Fred spent a great part of his life, is on this street, we believe that this would be the perfect spot for Fred Levin Way," Proctor noted in his letter to the mayor. He later added, "We believe that based upon Fred's dedication to our city over the many years, it would be a collective honor to remember a man who has given so much." TIME UP FOR OVERPASS CAMPOUT
City officials have applied an eviction moratorium to the public. During the Dec. 1 special council meeting, the city attorney noted that the property is covered by the moratorium until Dec. 22, after which the city could post a notice to evict within five days.
Neighborhood Administrator Lawrence Powell clarified that such notice would likely come in January when the Florida Department of Transportation begins work on a long-planned greenway project in the area. "We have to do this right; five days is not enough," Councilman Delarian Wiggins said. "These are people's homes." Mike Kimberl, executive director of the Alfred Washburn Center and longtime local homeless advocate, warned the council that unless the city was truly able to point to available shelter space for evicted campers—something these funding designations are designed to deliver—the move would lead to inevitable lawsuits anyway. "We do not need to be in the national news again over that kind of nonsense," Kimberl said.
BIDDING WAR FOR LEO The fight to
keep deputies and police officers may get more expensive for cities and counties next year if Gov. Ron DeSantis wins support from lawmakers for pay increases for state law enforcement officers. Last week, at a press conference, DeSantis said his proposed budget will include $73 million to increase pay for officers at the Florida Highway Patrol, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Minimum pay for entry-level officers would increase by 20%, while salaries of veteran officers would go up 25%. The proposal also will include a second round of $1,000 bonuses for first responders as a show of appreciation for work during the COVID-19 pandemic. "Last summer, we made clear we had their (law enforcement officers') back. We wanted to make sure our communities were kept safe," DeSantis said. "And we wanted to show our appreciation that as other jurisdictions were defunding law enforcement, or taking money away, that we would fund and then some."
SANITATION SUCCESS Mayor Grover Robinson highlighted Sanitation Services and Pensacola Energy at his weekly press conference on Monday, Nov. 29, turning the mic over to the heads of both departments. "We are really excited," said John Pittman, who oversees the city's sanitation department. "I think it's about time for us to go to the next level when it comes to recycling." Behind Pittman were three sizeable blue recycling containers. The containers constitute the city's recycling center, which just reopened on Summit next to Fire Station 3. The re-opened recycling center will be open 24 hours a day and accept the same materials residents place in their curbside recycling containers. Two of the site containers are designated for cardboard, inweekly.net
while the third is available for other items, including glass, plastic and paper. Items not permitted in any of the recycling containers include Styrofoam, electronics or household waste. Both Pittman and the mayor pointed out the site's security camera, explaining it was meant to deter illegal dumping. Pittman said, "We're going to make sure that we recycle, but recycle in the right way." Amy Miller, who oversees all of the city's enterprise operations, praised Pittman's innovative two-year tenure with the city. "Sometimes good things come by bringing in fresh ideas, fresh energy," Miller said, crediting the sanitation director with initiating a switch to collecting trash and recyclables on the same day, as well as the offering of an add-on, container-to-door option for residents. "Sometimes it's kind of hard to hold him down because we can't do it all at one time."
NATURAL GAS ON UPSWING Whereas Miller attributed the sanitation innovations to new leadership, she said the converse was true with Pensacola Energy, where long-time head Don Suarez continues to lead the enterprise. "Sometimes a department can really benefit from that steady leadership, that calm hand of someone that's been around for a while and knows how things work," Miller said. Suarez reported Pensacola Energy, the city's natural gas utility, is adding about 1,000 new customers each year, and next year it plans to onboard a biggie—International Paper. "It's not often that a gas utility gets to add a major industrial customer like that," Suarez said. Also, Pensacola Energy is entering into a five-year contract with BP to purchase Carbon Offset Natural Gas. "Basically, it's traditional molecules of natural gas that are matched with set-aside forest land, dedicated forest land so that
December 9, 2021
those trees absorb the carbon dioxide that the natural gas will emit when it's burned. So it's carbon neutral. That's the intent of the carbon-offset natural gas," explained Suarez. To clarify, Pensacola Energy will be purchasing land via BP with the intent that the trees on the land will not be cut. "Yeah, it's a new concept," Suarez said, adding that the set-aside land would be verified. "There are independent auditors that verify that the forest land is assigned to our gas supply." Suarez pointed out the five-year contract as a period designed to "see just how accurate that verification is," but said he felt pretty comfortable with BP. "The industry advises to be careful about carbon offsets because you need to know who you're doing business with," he said. "We're doing business with one of the largest, if not the largest, natural gas producer in the world, BP, so we have confidence that it's verifiable, but we want to investigate that further." Suarez said that so-called carbon offset natural gas is a bit more expensive than natural gas sans BP-set-asides. "The carbon-offset natural gas cost about, round-figures, 10% more," he said, adding that the city is offsetting much of that increase through a bond-centric purchasing mechanism available only to municipalities. "It's not quite 46 cents; it's around 30 cents, but it offsets most of that premium."
2021 NATIONAL PHILANTHROPY DAY AWARDS The Association of Fund-
raising Professionals West Florida Chapter announced recipients of the 2021 National Philanthropy Day awards during its annual awards ceremony in mid-November. Krewe of SWAT was awarded the 2021 Philanthropic Service Organization of the Year. This award recognizes a communitybased organization that is not otherwise connected to a foundation or business, whose grant programs, donations
and charitable activities significantly enrich the community. Zarzaur Law P.A. was awarded the 2021 Philanthropic Business of the Year. This award honors a corporation or business in Northwest Florida that demonstrates outstanding commitment through financial support, encouragement and motivation of others to take leadership roles toward philanthropy and community involvement. Northwest Florida Fellowship of Christian Athletes was awarded the 2021 Outstanding Faith-Based Organization Award. This award recognizes organizations that motivate and support their members' service-related efforts. Brian Wyer was awarded the 2021 Outstanding Champion of Diversity and Inclusion award. This award honors an individual that promotes diversity and inclusion in the workplace. Aidan Bryan was awarded the 2021 Outstanding Youth in Philanthropy of the Year. This award recognizes services by an individual or a group of young people ages 10-23 who demonstrate outstanding commitment to the community through direct financial support, development of charitable programs, volunteering and leadership in philanthropy. Aimee Dumas was awarded the 2021 Outstanding Volunteer Fundraiser of the Year. This award is for individuals with a proven track record of ongoing, significant time and commitment for one or more organizations. Brett Berg was awarded the 2021 Outstanding Fundraising Professional of the Year. This award is given to a fundraising professional of at least five years and has been involved in the Association of Fundraising Professionals Chapter, shaping and molding not just their nonprofit of employment but the profession as a whole. John and Jerre Peacock were awarded the 2021 Philanthropists of the Year. This award recognizes exceptional generosity
and civic responsibility demonstrated by significant financial contributions to charitable organizations in the community.
EGGFEST SETS RECORD Pensacola
nonprofits will get a shot in the arm from overwhelming participation in this year's Pensacola EggFest. The event will be donating $65,000 to local charities, bringing their nine-year total to more than $500,000. Organizer Doug Jolly said exposure the local charities receive helps bring a muchneeded spotlight and financial assistance to their missions. "We'll be writing checks to Manna Food Pantries, Rally Pensacola, Studer Community Institute, The Last Mile, Hunting for Healing, Guardian Ad Litem and The Blazer Academy," said Jolly. "Prior to the event, we had already supported ARC, Sarcoidosis Foundation, Gulf Coast Kid's House, Autism Pensacola and Making Strides Against Breast Cancer and more. I love the way this event is growing and giving back." The one-weekend event has now turned into more than 20 events throughout the year. One of the organizers, Jerold Hall, said the support from the community has been very humbling for the team. "It's more than the money we donate," said Hall. "It's the few thousand meals served at area hospitals during the pandemic and hundreds served to out-of-work hospitality workers." He continued, "It's cooking for volunteers gathering school supplies for children who can't afford them and taking hot meals to families in need. It's cooking for a business who lost everything during a storm— and watching a community rally to raise money for their out-of-work employees. It's hauling our small but mighty Big Green Egg BBQ Trailer, Jolene, to feed volunteers and families who were displaced after a hurricane. We estimate that nearly 100,000 meals have been served in just the last few years." {in}
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Featuring family recipes from local chefs
No matter what or how you celebrate this time of year, chances are at least one of your holiday traditions involve food. Whether it's a certain homemade dish, classic dessert or just a seasonal item you buy as soon as it hits shelves, the holidays really bring out the sentimental foodie in a lot of us. For some people, December snacking is all about the classics—hot chocolate, gingerbread cookies, peppermint anything. But this feature is about those non-traditional food traditions that make the holidays special for you and yours—like the pie you eat every single year that isn't pecan. Or cookies that can only be made using your late grandmother's handwritten recipe. You know, the really good stuff that sometimes elicits a 'Huh?' when you try and explain it to people outside your immediate family. We hope you're inspired to try at least one of these recipes. And if cooking isn't your thing (which we totally get), we encourage you to visit these local chefs at their restaurants this season instead. {in}
(and a few Inweekly staffers, too)
Family photos courtesy of Caress, Pam, Amy, Joani and Gina
Pink Lemonade Pie Caress/Moni Hudson, Executive Pastry Chef at The Lodge at Gulf State Park and Henny Penny's Patisserie Growing up, my grandmother would make this pie for special occasions. Where did the recipe come from? I have no clue. Why do we make it at Christmas? Again, no clue. But we've done it for over 40 years. It's easy, delicious and quick to make. Despite now being a pastry chef and making all kinds of amazing desserts, this pie still makes me smile and is a definite go-to for me. Ingredients 1/2 can frozen pink lemonade from concentrate 1 container frozen whipped topping 1 can sweetened condensed milk 1 pre-made graham cracker pie crust 1 lemon for zesting Preparation •Mix the first three ingredients together and pour into the pie crust. •Freeze the pie until ready to serve. •When ready to serve, make sure you take it out 5 minutes prior and garnish with lemon zest. •Chef's tip—Use the clear top included in the pie crust pack to cover the pie while freezing.
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Khao Jee Pam VanNess, Owner and Chef at SaBai on Jefferson When I was a kid, I remember my grandmother and my mom making this sticky rice snack that our family calls "Khao Jee." Ingredients Thai sticky rice, cooked 1-2 eggs, beaten Pinch of salt Preparation •Form the sticky rice into a ball and place it on a skewer. •Brush the rice with the egg wash. •Grill it (or toast it over a campfire) until the egg is cooked.
inweekly.net
Oyster Stuffing
Chef's tip—The batter should sizzle when poured. •Bake at 400 degrees for 35-40 minutes.
Amy Potmesil, Culinary Director for The Well and Executive Chef for The Nest This is my great-aunt Alpha's oyster stuffing recipe. You can get pre-shucked oysters at Joe Patti's if you decide to make it. CORNBREAD (for the stuffing) Ingredients 4 cups white cornmeal mix 1 cup all-purpose flour 2 teaspoons baking powder 1 teaspoon salt 2 eggs 1 1/2-2 cups whole milk Vegetable oil Preparation •Preheat oven to 400 degrees. •Pour 2 tablespoons of oil into a large cast-iron skillet in the heated oven for 5-10 minutes. •Mix dry ingredients and 1 1/2 cups milk; add eggs one at a time. Add more milk as needed until desired batter consistency. •Remove skillet from oven and pour prepared batter into it.
Ding Bats Joani Delezen, Inweekly Editor and Creative Director I have yet to meet a person who didn't know my grandmother, Katherine, or my mother, Joann, who knows what ding bats are. I have no idea where the original recipe came from or why they're called ding bats. But I do know that some of my best holiday memories were made sitting at the table, with the Luther Vandross Christmas album playing in the background, on "rolling duty"— which, after you read this recipe, you'll know is a very important job, especially for a 6-year-old. Ingredients 1 stick of margarine 1 cup sugar 1 egg (beaten)
Coquito
OYSTER STUFFING Ingredients 4 tablespoons butter 20 shucked oysters plus their liquor Cooled cornbread, crumbled 2 large onions diced 1 bunch celery (several stalks) diced 2 teaspoons minced garlic 1 tablespoon poultry seasoning 1 bunch parsley, finely chopped Preparation •Melt the butter in a Dutch oven. •Sweat the celery, onion and garlic until soft. •Crumble cornbread into large bowl. •Add oysters, onions, celery, garlic, parsley and poultry seasoning. Stir well. •Stir in oyster liquor until desired consistency. Chef's tip—You can add a little chicken stock if it's too dry. •Spoon mixture into buttered casserole dish. •Bake at 400 degrees for 1 hour.
8 ounces of dates 1 cup chopped nuts 1 teaspoon vanilla 4 cups Rice Krispies Coconut flakes *Makes 45-50 small balls Preparation •Mix margarine and sugar; add in the well-beaten egg and dates. •Cook together over low to medium heat until dissolved. •Add in nuts and cook 7 minutes. •Remove from heat, add vanilla and stir. •Add Rice Krispies and mix well. •Form into small balls and roll in coconut flakes.
Cherry Nut Nuggets
Gina Castro, Inweekly Staff Writer
Michael Firth, GM at Restaurant IRON
From Thanksgiving to Three Kings Day, my family celebrates the holiday season with a glass of Coquito. Coquito is a coconut eggnog that originated in Puerto Rico, but many people from other Caribbean Islands drink it, too. Coquito's sweet tropical taste always gets us in the holiday spirit.
This recipe was given to me by my German grandmother, Omi.
Ingredients 2 12-ounce cans of evaporated milk 1 15-ounce can of cream of coconut 1 13.5-ounce can of coconut milk 1/2 cup of sweetened condensed milk 3/4 cup of white rum Splash of vanilla extract A dash of ground cinnamon Cinnamon stick (for garnish) Preparation •Bend all of the ingredients together. •Put it in the fridge until it's cold (usually 30 minutes to an hour works) December 9, 2021
Ingredients 1 cup butter (softened) 1 3-ounce package cream cheese (softened) 1 cup sugar 1 egg 1 teaspoon almond extract 2 1/2 cups flour, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/4 teaspoon baking soda—combined 1 1/3 cups finely chopped pecans Maraschino cherries, drained and cut in half Preparation •In a mixer, combine butter and cream cheese until evenly mixed. •Gradually add sugar, beating until the mixture is light and fluffy. •Add egg and almond extract and beat well. •Gradually stir in flour/salt/soda. •Chill dough at least one hour. •After the dough has chilled, shape into 1-inch balls, roll in pecans and place on an ungreased cookie sheet. Gently press one cherry half into the center of each ball. •Bake at 350 degrees for 16-18 minutes. 13
Find your voice. The Center serves as downtown Pensacola’s cultural and artistic hub. It is home to local theatre, ballet, education, events, community organizations and more. As we look to the future, we plan to reimagine our space, and we invite you to join us on the journey. learn more at findyour center pensacola.com
AD DESIGN COURTESY OF BRAND ON US ™, AN IDGROUP INITIATIVE.
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inweekly.net
WEEK OF DECEMBER 9-15
Arts & Entertainment art, film, music, stage, books and other signs of civilization...
Holiday Movie Guide By Joshua Encinias
family, she learns to love herself for who she really is.
original cast, "Afterlife" leans into their legacy while charting its own path.
SINGLE ALL THE WAY
WEST SIDE STORY
Streaming on Netflix This holiday season, Hallmark, Lifetime and Netflix will debut queer holidays movies, and Netflix's "Single All the Way" is the best of the bunch. The movie follows Peter (Michael Urie), who is desperate to avoid his family's judgment about his perpetual single status. He asks his best friend Nick (Philemon Chambers) to join him for the holidays and pretend that they're now in a relationship. But when Peter's mother (Kathy Najimy) sets him up on a blind date with her handsome trainer James (Luke Macfarlane), the plan goes awry and holiday romance ensues. Everyone's favorite character actress Jennifer Coolidge rounds out the cast.
A BOY CALLED CHRISTMAS
What will bring people back to movie theaters? Good movies! Thankfully, this holiday season is packed with movies worth leaving your couch to see. The best of them are "Ghostbusters: Afterlife" and Steven Spielberg's reimagining of "West Side Story." If actual holiday movies are more your style, you don't even have to go anywhere. "Robin Robin," "Single All the Way" and "A Boy Called Christmas" are all on streaming on Netflix. And finally, in the year that was, you may have missed some movies along the way. So we included three that are available to stream or rent online this month—"Pig," "The Scary of Sixty-First" and "Summer of 85."
Streaming on Netflix "A Boy Called Christmas" is the origin story of Father Christmas. The movie follows an ordinary young boy called Nikolas who sets out on an extraordinary adventure into the snowy North in search of his father, who himself is on a quest to discover the fabled village of the elves, Elfhelm. Taking with him a headstrong reindeer called Blitzen and a loyal pet mouse, Nikolas soon meets his destiny in this magical, comic and endearing story that proves nothing is impossible. The movie is adapted from the bestselling book by Matt Haig and written by "Ghostbusters: Afterlife" co-writer Gil Kenan.
GHOSTBUSTERS: AFTERLIFE
HOLIDAY AND AWARD MOVIES
ROBIN ROBIN Streaming on Netflix "Robin Robin" is the tale of a small bird with a very big heart. After Robin's unhatched egg falls out of the nest and into a dumpster, she comes out of her shell—in more ways than one—and is adopted by a loving family of mice burglars. As Robin grows up, her differences make her something of a liability, especially when the family takes her on food raids to the houses of the humans (pronounced "who-mans") in the dead of night. When Robin embarks on a holiday food heist of her own to prove herself worthy of her December 9, 2021
In theaters now "Ghostbusters: Afterlife" is a surprisingly great time at the movies. Instead of copying the first "Ghostbusters" film, this sequel leaves Manhattan for the Midwest for an adventure that's equal parts "The Goonies" and "Gremlins" as it is "Ghostbusters." The story follows a single mom, the daughter of Egon Spengler, and her two kids as they arrive in the fictional small town of Summerville after Egon's death. The kids begin to discover their connection to the original ghostbusters and the secret legacy their grandfather left behind as all hell breaks loose. With substantial cameos from the
In theaters Dec. 10 Steven Speilberg's "West Side Story" might make Academy Awards history. The 1961 classic picked up 10 Oscars, and based on the love shown to Speilberg's reimagining from critics and moviegoers alike, "West Side Story'' (2021) looks like an awards frontrunner this time around also. Director Spielberg and writer Tony Kushner reconfigure and reanimate the source material; some wouldn't call it a remake, but a story reborn. Just like the 1957 musical, "West Side Story" explores forbidden love and the rivalry between the Jets and the Sharks, two teenage street gangs of different ethnic backgrounds.
SUMMER OF 85
Available to rent François Ozon's "Summer of 85" is all of the sex, intrigue and death "Call Me by Your Name" left on the cutting room floor. Shot on 16mm film and dappled in neon light, "Summer of 85" follows Alexis (Félix Lefebvre), who meets David (Benjamin Voisin) when his sailboat capsizes during a storm. David saves Alexis, and the two set off on a summer love affair that ends in tragedy. It's the pulpy gay love story of the year. {in}
MOVIES YOU MAY HAVE MISSED IN 2021 PIG
Streaming on Hulu "Pig" is about Rob, a truffle hunter played by Hollywood's wildman Nicolas Cage. Rob lives alone in the Oregonian wilderness with his beloved foraging pig, a beautiful russet-colored Kunekune called pig. When she's stolen from Rob, he must return to his past life as a celebrity chef in Portland in search of his friend and pet. "Pig" looks like a Nic Cage meets Liam Neeson action flick, but it's really an exploration of friendship and healing from life's wounds.
A few more reasons to head to the theater this holiday season
THE SCARY OF SIXTY-FIRST
DON'T LOOK UP
Streaming on Shudder Dec. 24 "She's a very sick girl and she's always been into, like, the UK," says Noelle (Madeline Quinn) about her roommate Addie (Betsie Brown) to her new friend The Girl (Dasha Nekrasova). Sick fascinations are the instruments of demonic evil in Nekrasova's debut feature, "The Scary of Sixty-First." Quinn co-wrote "Scary" with Nekrasova based on their shared feeling of futility in the aftermath of Jeffrey Epstein's death. Unsatisfied with the story that Epstein committed suicide, in the summer of 2019, Nekrasova held Epstein Truther Meetups to investigate his death with fellow skeptical New Yorkers, and her truther explorations became an idea for the film. "The Scary of Sixty-First" shows if you speak of the devil, he just might appear.
Limited theatrical release Dec. 10; streaming on Netflix Dec. 25
RED ROCKET
In theaters Dec. 10
NIGHTMARE ALLEY In theaters Dec. 17
THE TRAGEDY OF MACBETH In theaters Dec. 17
THE LOST DAUGHTER
Limited theatrical release Dec. 17; streaming on Netflix Dec. 31
PARALLEL MOTHERS In theaters Dec. 24
LICORICE PIZZA In theaters Dec. 25
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a&e happenings 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.
HOLIDAY BIKE TOUR WITH FPAN Join
Work by Poppy Garcia / Courtesy Photo
HOLIDAY GIVING
CLASS FOR COATS From now until Dec. 9, every Thursday, bring in a coat and receive a free class at Disko Lemonade. Coats can be new or gently worn and will go to the Gulf Coast Kid's House. Visit facebook.com/diskolemonade for details. CHRISTMAS FOR SENIORS Senior citizens have had another rough year, especially those who are still living in isolation to avoid the risk of COVID exposure. Organizations such as Council on Aging of West Florida have been helping to make sure seniors have all their basic needs. During the holidays, they host the annual Christmas for Seniors initiative, asking for donations of gift cards to stores like Walmart, Dollar General, Target, etc. so seniors can purchase something for themselves that they need or want. You can send gift cards by mail to 875 Royce St., Pensacola, FL 32503, or drop it off in person by Friday, Dec. 10. For more information, visit coawfla.org.
HOLIDAY EVENTS
ALL I WANT HOLIDAY GIVEAWAY The
Downtown Improvement Board has announced the return of the "All I Want" $1,000 giveaway. Every time you make a purchase of at least $10 at downtown restaurants, bars and shops, you can earn an opportunity to win a $1,000.00 downtown Visa gift card. The promotion runs through Dec. 24. For more information, visit downtownpensacola.shop.
SANTA AT YOUR LOCAL PUBLIC LIBRARY Santa is making an early visit to
Escambia County and will make 11 stops to visit all the children and finalize his list. Bring your family to your local library for Santa pictures this holiday season. UPCOMING DATES: •Thursday, Dec. 9, 5:30-6:30 p.m. – Southwest Library, 12248 Gulf Beach Highway •Tuesday, Dec. 14, 3-4 p.m. – Tryon Library, 1200 Langley Ave. 616 1
•Wednesday, Dec. 15, 10:30-11:30 a.m. – Pensacola Library, 239 N. Spring St. •Thursday, Dec. 16, 10:30-11:30 a.m. – Tryon Library, 1200 Langley Ave. •Thursday, Dec. 16, 5:30-6:30 p.m. – Molino Library, 6450-A Highway 95A •Saturday, Dec. 18, 11-noon – Pensacola Library, 239 N. Spring St.
POLAR EXPRESS PAJAMA PARTY
The National Naval Aviation Museum will present "The Polar Express" Pajama Party at 2:20 p.m. every Saturday and Sunday on the Giant Screen Theater through Sunday, Dec. 19. All Department of Defense (DoD) ID cardholders and their sponsored guests are welcome. Children are encouraged to wear their pajamas. All children will receive a free cup of hot chocolate and cookie from the refreshment counter. Ticket prices are $7 per person. Infants 1 and under are free and do not require a ticket purchase. Please arrive early and purchase tickets in person at the museum ticket counter. Advanced tickets are available in person at the Giant Screen Theater ticket counter. For more information, email mcates@navalaviationmuseum.org.
PENSACOLA WINTERFEST Celebrate Christmas in downtown Pensacola with Santa and a cast of holiday characters at Winterfest Plaza, 223 S. Palafox. Various holiday-themed trolley tours run Nov. 26-Dec. 24. For more information, visit pensacolawinterfest.org/tickets.
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
the Florida Public Archaeology Network, Ride More Bicycles, UWF Historic Trust and Pensacola Bay Brewery for a holidaythemed tour of Pensacola history and heritage from 4-6 p.m. Friday, Dec. 10. The 3-mile tour will explore Pensacola's history and archaeology, shedding light on over 3,000 years of local heritage. Participation is free; donations are accepted. To RSVP, send an email to northwest@fpan. us. Visit fpan.us/events/holiday-biketour-2021 for more information.
HOLIDAY ARTS AND CRAFTS SHOW AT GULF BREEZE COMMUNITY CENTER A Holiday Arts & Crafts show will
take place in the Gulf Breeze Community Center, located at 800 Shoreline Drive, Saturday, Dec. 11, from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. For more information, visit gulfbreezearts.com.
PENSACOLA CHRISTMAS PARADE
Watch nearly 100 floats parade through downtown Pensacola on Palafox for the annual Christmas Parade starting at 5:15 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 11. Preceding the parade will be a 1.2-mile Christmas Parade Dash sponsored by Pensacola Runners Association.
HOLIDAY SHOPPING AT ALYSSA'S
Alyssa's Gift Markets will be held Dec. 11 and 18 from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Alyssa's is located at 4856 Chumuckla Highway in Pace. Visit shopalyssas.com for more information.
DECK THE HALLS In celebration of the holidays and back by popular demand, Jackson's will present "Deck the Halls," a lunch event featuring Pensacola Opera, on Saturdays, Dec. 11 and 18, at Jackson's Steakhouse, located at 400 S. Palafox. Seatings are at 10:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. Reservations are required and can be made by calling (850) 469-9898 or visiting jacksonsrestaurant.com. CAROLS ON THE COAST: A HOLIDAY BRUNCH EVENT WITH PENSACOLA CHILDREN'S CHORUS In celebration of
the holidays, Angelena's will present "Carols on the Coast," a special brunch event, on Sundays, Dec. 12, and 19, at Angelena's, located at 101 E. Intendencia St. There are two seatings for each event at 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. with carolers from Pensacola Children's Chorus and special entrees from Chef James Briscione. Reservations can be made at (850) 542-8398 or by visiting angelenaspensacola.com.
HOLIDAYS AT THE HANGAR This
holiday season, Hellcat Hangar, located at 1008 N. Navy Blvd., is unveiling a new 4,000-square-foot production house by opening its doors for a holiday market on Thursday, Dec. 9, from 4-9 p.m. The event will feature over 30 local vendors, and all proceeds will benefit FavorHouse of Northwest Florida and Autism Pensacola. Vendors include Tap the Coast, The Crafted Makerie, Mrs. Jones Cold Brew, Urban Botanic Studio and more. Santa Claus will be in attendance, plus there will be music by local artist Hane Skot and food by RJ's Tasty Plates soul food truck. Tickets start at $25 for adults 21+ and come with two drink tickets. Visit facebook.com/hellcathangar for more information.
RALLY PENSACOLA HOLIDAY SHOPPING SOIRÉE Rally Pensacola is
hosting this festive shopping event that supports local businesses while raising crucial funds for childhood cancer research at the SCI Building, located at 220 W. Garden St., on Friday, Dec. 10, from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. In addition to shopping, the event will feature light hors d'oeuvres, champagne and more. The first 125 attendees will receive a swag bag, and a percentage of all on-site purchases will be donated directly to Rally. After the pop-up, the event will continue with al-day shopping at partner stores and restaurants in downtown Pensacola and Gulf Breeze. The full list of participating businesses will be announced soon. If you're interested in becoming a partner or vendor, please email dana@rallyfoundation.org. Visit facebook.com/rallypensacola for more information.
THE PENSACOLA CHORAL SOCIETY WOMEN'S ENSEMBLE Enjoy an engag-
ing holiday musical presentation by The Pensacola Choral Society Women's Ensemble as they perform seasonal selections under the direction of Isabelle Peterson on Saturday, Dec. 11, from noon-1 p.m. at the Pensacola Library, 239 N. Spring St.
SANTA DROP AT FLORA-BAMA Watch Santa parachute on the beach at FloraBama at noon on Saturday, Dec. 11. FloraBama is located at 17401 Perdido Key Drive. Visit florabama.com for more information.
LOTIONS AND POTIONS CLASS AT PENSACOLA LIBRARY Make your own
body scrubs, powders, lotions and potions to keep for yourself or give as a gift this holiday season on Saturday, Dec. 11, from 1:30-3 p.m. at Pensacola Library, located at 239 N. Spring St.
SANTA PAWS & PINTS Visit Gary's Brewery & Biergarten, located at 208 Newman Ave., for craft beer, cider, seltzer or wine and enjoy the day with Santa, Mrs. Clause and The Elf on Saturday, Dec. 11. Pictures with Santa & Mrs. Clause from 1-4 p.m. Visit facebook.com/garysbrew for more information. inweekly.net
a&e happenings
Back to the Beach
Christmas came early for Gulf Coast music fans. Hangout Music Fest has confirmed the festival is happening in 2022 and announced the lineup. So go ahead and put May 20-22, 2022, on your calendar. The 2022 headliners are Post Malone, Tame Impala and Halsey. The lineup also includes Doja Cat, Fall Out Boy, Megan Thee Stallion, Jack Harlow, Zedd, Maren Morris, Phoebe Bridgers and more. Tickets go on sale Monday, Dec. 13, but anyone who's interested can sign up for a limited time to take part in a pre-sale event starting Friday, Dec. 10. Just go to hangoutmusicfest.com to register.
COMPLETE HANGOUT 2022 LINEUP (as of Dec. 6)
Photo Courtesy of Hangout Music Fest
KEEP PENSACOLA BEAUTIFUL JINGLE BELL WRAP: DIY WRAPPING PAPER WORKSHOP KPB has partnered
with Maker's Loft to host the Jingle Bell Wrap from 2-5 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 11, at Maker's Loft, 6675 Pine Forest Road, #2. They will be creating sustainable wrapping paper by upcycling paper grocery bags. Tickets are available through the event link at keeppensacolabeautiful.org.
PENSACOLA CHILDREN'S CHORUS PRESENTS: CHRISTMAS ON THE COAST Pensacola Children's Chorus an-
nual holiday show will be 7:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 10, and Saturday, Dec. 11, and 2:30
GRAPHIC NOVELS
KIDS BOOKS
Post Malone Tame Impala Halsey Doja Cat Fall Out Boy ILLENIUM Megan Thee Stallion Kane Brown Zedd Jack Harlow Maren Morris
p.m. Sunday, Dec. 13, at Saenger Theatre. Tickets are $15-$41. Visit pensacolasaenger. com for tickets.
HOLIDAY LIGHTS AWARDS AND CAROLING PARTY Join Pensacola Beach for
their caroling event on Dec. 11 at 3 p.m. at the Pensacola Beach Boardwalk. Winners of the holiday lights contest will be announced at 4 p.m. that day and Santa will be present. The Boardwalk shops will be open for holiday shopping, and the public is invited to enjoy the lights on Pensacola Beach. In the event of inclement weather, announcements of winners and caroling will take place at Bamboo Willie's on the Boardwalk.
SNBRN Phoebe Bridgers AUDREY NUNA Leon Bridges 347aidan Louis The Child ericdoa Still Woozy renforshort Oliver Tree LP Giobbi SLANDER Ship Wrek The Band CAMINO Zach Hood Lil Yachty JVNA Chelsea Cutler VNSSA The Head And The Heart Blu DeTiger Sublime With Rome NOTD T-Pain Luttrell Surfaces Neal Francis Flo Milli The Blossom Madeon Hugel Koffee Tre' Amani Dayglow Flipturn DIESEL (Shaquille O'Neal) Nightly Fletcher gabriel black Breland Bren Joy Moon Taxi Montell2099 Tyla Yaweh Hastings Remi Wolf Madds The Brook & The Bluff Petey Martin beabadoobee SIDEPIECE Paul Cauthen Role Model Surf Mesa Joy Oladokun WHEN: Friday, May 20-Sunday, May 22 KennyHoopla WHERE: Gulf Shores, Ala. Briston Maroney DETAILS: hangoutmusicfest.com Bankrol Hayden Lucii
HANGOUT MUSIC FEST 2022
ODD COLONY HOLIDAY MARKET Odd
Colony, located at 260 N. Palafox, is hosting their biggest market yet on Sunday, Dec. 12, from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. featuring over 20 local makers and vintage vendors, plus brunch by MI SU Street Food and treats by Casita Bread and Maker's Coffee Co. Odd Colony will also be accepting winter coat donations for Pensacola Dream Center, which is a volunteer-driven organization that finds and fills needs in our community. Visit facebook. com/oddcolony for more information.
CHORAL SOCIETY OF PENSACOLA HOLIDAY SING-A-LONG Join The Choral Society of Pensacola Women's Ensemble,
conducted by Isabelle Peterson, and the Choral Society chorus, conducted by Peter Steenblik, with the Gulf Coast Chorale, conducted by Brenda Smith, for a holiday sing-along Sunday, Dec. 12, at 5 p.m. at REX Theatre, located at 18 N. Palafox. Admission is free, but participants are asked to bring a nonperishable food item for Manna Food Pantries.
SEVILLE QUARTER INDOOR MARKET PLACE Seville Quarter, located at 130 E.
Government St., will host an indoor market on Sunday, Dec. 12, starting at 1 p.m. The event will feature over 50 vendors under one roof plus live music and food and drink specials. Visit sevillequarter.com for more information.
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909 N. 12th Avenue
pensacolapopcomics.com December 9, 2021
11 East Romana Street | Pensacola, Fl 32502
genemitchell.org 17
a&e happenings JINGLE JAZZ PRESENTS NORTH POLE PANIC & FOOD DRIVE Jazz Pen-
sacola invites the community to a blast of seasonal fun Monday, Dec. 13, at Phineas Phogg's, Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. Music starts at 6:30 p.m. This year's Jingle Jazz is a gift from Jazz Pensacola's Board of Directors. However, donations are always accepted. This event is also a food drive. Please bring non-perishable items. Visit jazzpensacola.com for more information.
BIERGARTEN CHRISTMAS MOVIE NIGHTS Head to Gary's Brewery, located
at 208 Newman Ave., on Wednesdays, Dec. 15 and 22, from 6:30-8:30 p.m. for holiday movies. On Dec. 15 will be "The Grinch" (2018), and Dec. 22 is "A Christmas Story." Visit facebook.com/garysbrew for details.
IT GULF COAST UGLY SWEATER CONTEST AND TOY DRIVE IT Gulf
Coast invites you to Black Sheep Tavern, 3102 E. Cervantes St., from 5:30-8:30 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 15, for an Ugly Sweater contest and Toys for Tots drive with free appetizers. The event is open to the public, and a free drink coupon is provided to anyone who registers for the event at itgulfcoast.org. There will be prizes for the contest winners. One lucky recipient will win a Comp TIA Security+ class course-
818 1
ware and test voucher (value of $2, 495). You must be present to win.
KREWE OF AVANT GARDE & THE PENSACOLA MILITARY OFFICERS ASSOCIATION (PMOAA) TOYS FOR TOTS DRIVE AND SILENT AUCTION
The Krewe of Avant Garde and Pensacola Military Officers Association of America (PMOAA) invite the community to their first combined Holiday Dinner Event from 6-9 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 15, at the Pensacola Yacht Club, 1897 Cypress St. The event will host a Toys for Tots drive as well as a Silent Auction with music for dancing. A cash bar will be provided. Ticket information is available at facebook.com/ avantgardekrewe.
THE NUTCRACKER WINE DINNER
Chef Daniel Watts of Classic City will be preparing a special menu inspired by the classic holiday tale Thursday, Dec. 16, at 6 p.m. at Bodacious, located at 407-D S. Palafox. Tickets are $99 and can be purchased at bodcaciousshops.com.
SANTA PAWS AT PERFECT PLAIN
Bring your pet to Perfect Plain Brewing Co., located at 50 E. Garden St., for a pet photo for $10, which includes a printed 4x6 picture or digital image. Bring a donation from the Joy Committee Rescue's wish list and receive a free 12-ounce pour. Event is
Saturday, Dec. 18, from noon-3 p.m. Visit facebook.com/perfectplainbrewingco for more information.
BALLET PENSACOLA PRESENTS: THE NUTCRACKER Don't miss the holiday
classic from Ballet Pensacola 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 17, and Saturday, Dec. 18; 11 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 18; and 1:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 19, at Saenger Theatre, located at 118 S. Palafox. Tickets are $33-$53. Visit pensacolasaenger.com to purchase.
WHITE TIE CHRISTMAS Enjoy a familyfriendly, rocking holiday concert featuring the festive music of The Trans-Siberian Orchestra on Saturday, Dec. 18, at the Pensacola Bay Center, located at 201 E. Gregory St. Tickets are $25-$118.50. Visit pensacolabaycenter.com for tickets. COMEDIANS IN DRAG DOING COMEDY CHRISTMAS SPECIAL YIKES Open
Mic presents an evening with local comedians competing for the crown with their best Drag Lip Sync & Standup Comedy along with a Q&A Bikini Contest Saturday, Dec. 18, at 8 p.m. at Odd Colony, located at 260 N. Palafox. Tickets are $10. Visit facebook.com/ oddcolony for more information.
SANTA PAWS AT WISTERIA TAVERN
WolfGang presents Santa Paws at Wisteria Tavern from noon-5 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 19.
Bring your pups for pictures with Santa Paws. $10 a picture and you will receive a printed and digital copy. There will also be a food truck and local vendors. Donations will be collected for SouthBARK Rescue. In return for your donation, Wisteria will give you a $1 beer and a free Jell-O shot.
CHRISTMAS MURDER MYSTERY DINNER THEATRE Celebrate the season
with our holiday-themed dinner and show Sunday, Dec. 19, from 6:30-9:30 p.m. at Garden & Grain, located at 50 E. Garden St. Tickets are $55 per person and are available in the event link at facebook.com/perfectplainbrewingco.
KIDS CULINARY CAMP: HOLIDAY EDITION Send your young elf to this special holiday edition of our Bodacious Kids Camp where they will learn just what it takes to be Santa's elf at Bodacious, located at 407-D S. Palafox. Dates are 9 a.m.-12 p.m. Monday, Dec. 20, Tuesday, Dec. 21 and Wednesday, Dec. 22. Classes are $165. Tickets can be purchased at bodaciousshops.com.
IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE SCREENING
Pensacola Cinema Art presents a special one-night-only screening of the classic "It's a Wonderful Life" at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 21, at REX Theatre, 18 N. Palafox. Tickets are $5 cash only. For more information, visit pensacolacinemaart.com.
inweekly.net
a&e happenings HOLIDAY CHARCUTERIE CLASS AT BODACIOUS Learn the art of charcuterie
for holiday parties with Bodacious on Tuesday, Dec. 21, at 6 p.m., located at 407-D S. Palafox. Cost is $45. Get your tickets at bodaciousshops.com.
NONPROFITS & FUNDRAISERS
DECEMBER CAT ADOPTIONS Animal Allies will be at Pet Supermarket, 6857 N. Ninth Ave. in Pensacola, Saturday, Dec. 11 and 18, from 11 a.m.-3 p.m., and Everett Animal Welfare Group will be at PetSmart on North Davis Highway every Saturday in December, except Christmas Day, noon-4 p.m. If you can't adopt, you can talk about opportunities to donate, foster or volunteer. All cats are up to date on shots, and adoption fee includes spay or neuter with microchip. Visit aaflorida.org/adopt for more information. AGAPE LOVE FOR ART: VIRTUAL AUCTION FOR BRIDGING THE GAP
Fleur de Pensacola is hosting a virtual auction event to benefit Bridging the Gap, a ministry that serves those without homes every Thursday evening under the Lee Street bridge. In a collaboration with Pamela Nichols Fine Art, Jade Tree Succulents and Fleur de Pensacola, the highest bidder of the virtual auction will receive an original oil painting, a beautiful succulent creation and a floral arrangement customized to the winner. Bidding starts Nov. 30 and will end Dec. 14. Winner must either be able to pick up items in Pensacola, or shipping will be available for the oil painting, but not the succulent or floral arrangement. Contact Anna Orbik at (850) 417-0312 for more information.
CALL TO ARTISTS
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, 2022. If selected, the completed submission deadline is Feb. 24, 2022. 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. 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 twoDecember 9, 2021
dimensional 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.
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.
ANTARCTICA: SEASONS OF WATER AND ICE Antarctica: Seasons of Water
and Ice is on exhibit on the second floor of UWF's John C. Pace Library, Room 215, through Dec. 12. For more information on the exhibit and presenting partners, visit uwf.edu/tag.
WHAT'S SHOWING AT PENSACOLA CINEMA ART "Old Henry" will be playing at 1 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 9. Tickets are $8 cash only. "Cry Macho" will be playing Dec. 10, 11, 14 & 16. PCA is located at 220 W. Garden St. Visit pensacolacinemaart.com for more information.
IMPROVABLE CAUSE AT PLT The next
Improvable Cause show is Saturday, Dec. 11, at 10:30 p.m. at Pensacola Little Theatre, located at 400 S. Jefferson St. Tickets are $10 plus fees. Reserve yours at pensacolalittletheatre.com.
PAINTING WITH POPPY WORKSHOP
Tap into your creative spirit with artist Poppy Garcia for this three-hour workshop on Wednesday, Dec. 15, at Odd Colony, located at 260 N. Palafox. Cost is $65 per person. Only 20 seats available. Visit instagram.com/thepoppygarcia for more details.
PENSACOLA ARTS MARKET Enjoy
shopping for a variety of handcrafted wares at Pensacola Arts Market on Friday, Dec. 10, from 4-9 p.m. at Gary's Brewery, located at 208 Newman Ave., and Saturday, Dec. 18, at 1401 W. Intendencia St. from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. 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 19
a&e happenings gifts and more. Vendors can participate for a $20 fee. For more information, contact easygoinggalleryart@gmail.com.
PENSACOLA LITTLE THEATRE PRESENTS: 1940'S RADIO HOUR A different
time is evoked in this marvelously theatrical show, a live broadcast of The Mutual Manhattan Variety Cavalcade from the Hotel Astor's Algonquin Room on Dec. 21, 1942. Showtimes are 7:30 p.m. Dec. 10, 16, 17 and 18 and 2:30 p.m. Dec. 12 and 19. Tickets are $27-$33; $9$17 for students in select seats. There is a $2 discount for military, seniors and students. Thursday shows are half price. To purchase, visit pensacolalittletheatre.com.
WE SEE YOU Presented by the HER Foundation and Kate Treick Photography is an exhibit saluting female veterans in Pensacola and the Florida Panhandle on view through Nov. 28 at Cordova Mall, located at 5100 N. Ninth Ave. THE ART GALLERY - BFA SYNTHESIS EXIT EXHIBITION The UWF BFA exit
exhibition will be on view at TAG Nov. 18-Dec. 11 in the Center for Fine and Performing Arts, located at 11000 University Parkway, Bldg. 82. For more information, visit facebook.com/tag82uwf.
VISIONARY APONTE: ART AND BLACK FREEDOM Visionary Aponte: Art
020 2
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 2022, 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 NAS Pensacola that features military members who responded to the 9/11 attacks. For more information on UWF's Historic Trust, visit historicpensacola.org.
Sundays from noon-4 p.m. For more information about exhibitions, programming or support, visit pensacolamuseum.org.
FINDING 1821 Finding 1821 is part of the
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.
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
THE KINGDOM OF THIS WORLD, REIMAGINED The Kingdom of This World,
SCRIPTEASERS WITH PENSACOLA LITTLE THEATRE Scripteasers, Studio
400's and Pensacola Little Theatre's Script Reading Club invites you to monthly script readings at PLT, 400 S. Jefferson St. Want to bring your scripts for the group to read and discuss? Contact Pensacola Little Theatre to get in queue. The group reads prospective scripts for future seasons as well as new scripts that need a table read before the next edit. Not a playwright but love to read out loud? This is your easy, fun theatre night. Fascinated by the play selection process? Sit in for a listen and usually a
inweekly.net
a&e happenings lot of laughs. Visit facebook.com/pensacolalittletheatre for more information and the latest dates.
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.
OPEN MIC COMEDY AT BIG TOP BREWERY Try out some new jokes or
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.
NEW CLASSES AT MIXON MAGIC PERFORMING ARTS Mixon Magic Per-
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 2022. 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. Tuesday is Knit Night 4-7 p.m., and Sit & Stitch is Saturdays 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Both classes are free. For a full calendar of events, visit December 9, 2021
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
MONDAY NIGHT BLUES AT SEVILLE QUARTER Blues Society of Northwest
Florida and Seville Quarter present Monday Night Blues, the longest running weekly Blues Jam in Florida, starting at 7 p.m. with an opening and followed by the Blues Jam at 9 p.m. Seville Quarter is located at 130 E. Government St. For more information, visit sevillequarter.com.
VAGRANTS Show is at Vinyl Music Hall, located at 2 S. Palafox, Friday, Dec. 10, at 7 p.m. Doors open at 6 p.m. Tickets are $12 and available at vinylmusichall.com. SOUND MINDS PRESENTS: FUYU
Visit Easy Going Gallery at 701 N. V St. on Friday, Dec. 10, at 9 p.m. to celebrate Katsu Style's birthday, the coming of winter and the season of giving. Admission is $10 or a donated toy to the benefit of FavorHouse of Northwest Florida. All toys must be brand new and unwrapped. For more information, visit facebook.com/easygoinggallery.
KATIE DINEEN AT GARY'S BREWERY Musician Katie Dineen will be playing at Gary's Brewery & Biergarten, located at 208 Newman Ave., from 1-4 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 11. For more information, visit facebook.com/garysbrew.
JASON CRYSELL Jason Crysell will be
playing at Gary's Brewery & Biergarten, located at 208 Newman Ave., from 4-7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 11. For more information, visit facebook.com/garysbrew.
THE GATOR BOYS AT GARY'S BREWERY The Gator Boys will perform at Gary's Brewery & Biergarten 6 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 18. Gary's is located at 208 Newman Ave. For more information, visit facebook.com/garysbrew.
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 An-
drews will be performing at Alice's Restaurant, located at 1504 W. Intendencia St., on the first Friday of every month from 6-9:30 p.m. for more listings visit inweekly.net 21
free will astrology WEEK OF DECEMBER 9 ARIES (MARCH 21-APRIL 19): Aries filmmaker Andrei Tarkovsky (1932–1986) was experimental and innovative and influential. His imagery was often dreamlike, and his themes were metaphysical. He felt that the most crucial aspect of his creative process was his faith. If he could genuinely believe in the work he was doing, he was sure he'd succeed at even the most improbable projects. But that was a challenge for him. "There is nothing more difficult to achieve than a passionate, sincere, quiet faith," he said. In accordance with your astrological omens during the next 12 months, Aries, I suggest you draw inspiration from his approach. Cultivating a passionate, sincere, quiet faith will be more attainable than it has ever been. TAURUS (APRIL 20-MAY 20): "All journeys have secret destinations of which the traveler is unaware," said philosopher Martin Buber. How true! I would add that the traveler is wise to prepare for the challenges and opportunities of those secret destinations … and be alert for them if they appear … and treat them with welcome and respect, not resistance and avoidance. When travelers follow those protocols, they are far more likely to be delightfully surprised than disappointingly surprised. Everything I just said will apply to you in the coming weeks, Taurus. GEMINI (MAY 21-JUNE 20): Gemini
sleight-of-hand artist Apollo Robinson may be the best and most famous pickpocket in the world. Fortunately, he uses his skill for entertainment purposes only. He doesn't steal strangers' money and valuables from their pockets and purses and jackets. On one occasion, while in the company of former US President Jimmy Carter, he pilfered multiple items from a secret service agent assigned to protect Carter. He gave the items back, of course. It was an amusing and humbling lesson that inspired many law-enforcement officials to seek him out as a consultant. I suspect that in the coming weeks, you may have comparable abilities to trick, fool, beguile and enchant. I hope you will use your
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By Rob Brezsny
superpowers exclusively to carry out good deeds and attract inviting possibilities.
CANCER (JUNE 21-JULY 22): Many
sportswriters regard Michael Jordan as the greatest basketball player ever. He was the Most Valuable Player five times and had a higher scoring average than anyone else who has ever played. And yet he confesses, "I have missed more than 9,000 shots in my career. I have lost almost 300 games. And I have failed over and over and over again in my life." He says the keys to his success are his familiarity with bungles and his determination to keep going despite his bungles. I invite you to meditate on Jordan's example in the coming days.
LEO (JULY 23-AUG. 22): In his poem "Song of Poplars," Leo author Aldous Huxley speaks to a stand of poplar trees. He asks them if they are an "agony of undefined desires." Now I will pose the same question to you, Leo. Are you an agony of undefined desires? Or are you a treasury of well-defined desires? I hope it's the latter. But if it's not, the coming weeks will be an excellent time to fix the problem. Learning to be precise about the nature of your longings is your growing edge, your frontier. Find out more about what you want, please. VIRGO (AUG. 23-SEPT. 22): Black is
your lucky color for the foreseeable future. I invite you to delve further than ever before into its mysteries and meanings and powers. I encourage you to celebrate blackness and honor blackness and nurture blackness in every way you can imagine. For inspiration, meditate on how, in art, black is the presence of all colors. In printing, black is a color needed to produce other colors. In mythology, blackness is the primal source of all life and possibility. In psychology, blackness symbolizes the rich unconscious core from which all vitality emerges.
LIBRA (SEPT. 23-OCT. 22): In the first
season of the animated TV series "South Park," its two creators produced an episode called "Make Love, Not Warcraft." The story lovingly mocked nerds and the culture of online gaming. Soon after sending his handiwork
to executive producers, Libran co-creator Trey Parker decided it was a terrible show that would wreck his career. He begged for it to be withheld from broadcast. But the producers ignored his pleas. That turned out to be a lucky break. The episode ultimately won an Emmy Award and became popular with fans. I foresee the possibility of comparable events in your life, Libra. Don't be too sure you know which of your efforts will work best.
SCORPIO (OCT. 23-NOV. 21): Nobel Prize-winning Scorpio author André Gide (1869–1951) had an unusual relationship with his wife Madeline Rondeaux. Although married for 43 years, they never had sex. As long as she was alive, he never mentioned her in his extensive writings. But after she died, he wrote a book about their complex relationship. Here's the best thing he ever said about her—"I believe it was through her that I drew the need for truthfulness and sincerity." I'd love for you to be lit up by an influence like Madeline Rondeaux, Scorpio. I'd be excited for you to cultivate a bond with a person who will inspire your longing to be disarmingly candid and refreshingly genuine. If there are no such characters in your life, go looking for them. If there are, deepen your connection. SAGITTARIUS (NOV. 22-DEC. 21): A fashion company called Tibi sells a silver mini dress that features thousands of sequins. It's also available in gold. I wonder if the designers were inspired by poet Mark Doty's line—"No such thing, the queen said, as too many sequins." In my astrological estimation, the coming weeks will be a fun time to make this one of your mottoes. You will have a poetic license to be flashy, shiny, bold, swanky, glittery, splashy, sparkling and extravagant. If expressing such themes in the way you dress isn't appealing, embody more metaphorical versions. CAPRICORN (DEC. 22-JAN. 19): "I
have pasts inside me I did not bury properly," writes Nigerian poet Ijeoma Umebinyuo. Isn't that true for each of us? Don't we all carry around painful memories as if they were still fresh and current? With a little work, we could depotentize at least some
of them and consign them to a final resting place where they wouldn't nag and sting us anymore. The good news, Capricorn, is that the coming weeks will be an excellent time to do just that—bury any pasts that you have not properly buried before now.
AQUARIUS (JAN. 20-FEB. 18): In February 1967, the Beatles recorded their album "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" in London. A man claiming to be Jesus Christ convinced Paul McCartney to let him weasel his way into the studio. McCartney later said that he was pretty sure it wasn't the real Jesus. But if by some remote chance it was, he said, he didn't want to make a big mistake. I bring this to your attention, Aquarius, because I suspect that comparable events may be brewing in your vicinity. My advice—Don't assume you already know who your teachers and helpers are. Here's the relevant verse from the Bible—"Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it. PISCES (FEB. 19-MARCH 20): According to Professor of Classics Anne Carson, ancient Greek author Homer "suggested we stand in time with our backs to the future, face to the past." And why would we do that? To "search for the meaning of the present—scanning history and myth for a precedent." I bring this to your attention, Pisces, because I think you should avoid such an approach in the coming months. In my view, the next chapter of your life story will be so new, so unpredicted, that it will have no antecedents, no precursory roots that might illuminate its plot and meaning. Your future is unprecedented. THIS WEEK'S HOMEWORK: Send your predictions for the new year—both for yourself and the world. newsletter.freewillastrology.com.
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news of the weird CREME DE LA WEIRD Some news items just catapult themselves to the lead story position. On a Delta airlines flight in November from Syracuse, New York, to Atlanta, the woman sitting in 13A allegedly tried to breastfeed her hairless cat, much to the cat's (and other passengers') distress. Flight attendants repeatedly asked the woman to return the yowling cat to its kennel, the New York Post reported, but she refused. "Her shirt was up and she was trying to get the cat to latch ... and the cat was screaming for its life," said Ainsley Elizabeth, a flight attendant who was on board during the incident. Finally, a message was sent through the Aircraft Communications Addressing and Reporting System (ACARS) alerting the ground crew in Atlanta that they would need a Red Coat team member to apprehend the woman at the gate. (Red Coats are specially trained to handle customer service issues, which now include cat-breastfeeding.) It's unclear what happened to the woman or her cat after the flight landed. CUTENESS ALERT The Flower Mound Rebels, a youth football team in Texas, won't be in the playoff s this year, NBC News reported. The Rebels, composed of 7- and 8-year-olds, are "too good" for their league, boasting a perfect record and having outscored their opponents 199-6, according to Keller Youth Association Vice President Rhett Taylor. "They are a select-level team." He said if the team had competed in the league's super bowl, he would have caught it from parents of other teams. Center Greyson Tanner, 8, reported being "very sad" about the ruling. RANDY ALIENS Preacher and author Sharon Gilbert, 69, raised a reaction when she appeared on the "Jim Bakker Show" on Nov. 23 and described the moment when an alien visited her for nefarious reasons. "After Derek and I got married, one night, this other Derek appears in our bed. The real Derek is lying down next to me; other Derek sits right up out of him. It startled me," she said, according to Newsweek. No doubt! Gilbert asked the "critter" who he was, "Because he clearly wanted to have sexual relations." Along with claiming to be Derek, the creature said he was Xerxes, but Gilbert wasn't having it. "I reached up, grabbed his face and I said, 'You are a liar, and Jesus is real.' And I pulled that face off, and beneath it was a reptile." One Twitter user responded, "This is a story a 7-year-old tells when you ask them why they're late for something." 'EDUCATIONAL' TOY Ania Tanner, a grandmother from Ontario, Canada, found a cute singing and dancing cactus on the Walmart website and purchased it for her granddaughter, CTV News reported. The animated $26 toy sings in three languages: English, Spanish and Polish. But when Tanner, who is Polish, listened to the Polish lyrics, she was shocked:
By the Editors at Andrews McMeel
"This toy uses swear words and talking about cocaine use. This is not what I ordered for my granddaughter. I was in shock. I thought, what is this, some kind of joke?" The Polish song is by rapper Cypis, who didn't give permission for the use of his song by the Chinese manufacturer of the item. For its part, Walmart said the toy is sold by a third-party vendor and will be removed while they investigate. OOPS! Twenty-year-old Lucy Battle of Burnley, England, nearly threw out the baby with the bathwater ... er, with the sofa, recently. Battle posted an ad on Facebook Marketplace about her sofa, with the caption "Need gone today," but she accidentally posted a photo of her 7-month-old son, Oscar, rather than of the furniture, Leeds Live reported. "I just somehow managed to upload the wrong photo ... I didn't expect it to go so far!" Battle said. One user commented, "Can I swap for a teenager?" But Battle isn't budging: "I don't want to give away my child." AWESOME! Swedish meatballs for everyone! A snowstorm that dumped about 12 inches in Aalborg, Denmark, on the evening of Dec. 1 forced about 30 people to spend the night in an Ikea store, Pix11-TV reported. Store manager Peter Elmose said customers and employees slept "in the furniture exhibitions and our showroom on the first floor, where we have beds, mattresses and sofa beds," giving shoppers the chance to "pick the exact bed they have always wanted to try. It's been a good night. All fun."
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•The Tan Hill Inn in northern England—Britain's highest-altitude pub—drew a big crowd on Nov. 26 for the Oasis cover band Noasis. But when heavy snow and dangerous wind conditions hit the remote pub, more than 60 people were stranded there, with the exits blocked and vehicles buried, NPR reported. People slept on the floor and mattresses and ate Yorkshire pudding while playing games and watching movies. Noasis missed their next gig, in Essex, but everyone was able to leave the inn by Nov. 29 with a great story to tell. BRIGHT IDEA In Greenwood, South Carolina, firefighters responded on Nov. 28 to the Morningside assisted living facility, where several rounds of ammunition, which had apparently been stored in a toaster oven, discharged and caught a resident's apartment on fire. WSPA-TV reported that employees initially believed a shooter was on the property when they heard the shots, but the room's resident was found unconscious and suffering from smoke inhalation. The fire was extinguished, and no other apartments were damaged. {in} From Andrews McMeel Syndication News Of The Weird © 2021 Andrews McMeel
Send your weird news items to WeirdNewsTips@amuniversal.com December 9, 2021
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Independent News | December 9, 2021 | inweekly.net