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Independent News | December 25, 2025 | Volume 26 | Number 51

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winners & losers

outtakes

news 6

I think we can just tackle this.

feature

a&e

publisher Rick Outzen

graphic designer Tim Bednarczyk

editor & creative director Joani Delezen

contributing writers Joshua Encinias, Savannah Evanoff, Jennifer Leigh, Dakota Parks, C.S. Satterwhite, Tom St. Myer

happenings 14

Independent News is published by Inweekly Media, Inc., P.O. Box 12082, Pensacola, FL 32591. (850)438-8115. All materials published in Independent News are copyrighted. © 2025 Inweekly Media, Inc. All rights reserved.

your case is not just a file in the pile. JOE ZARZAUR

BOARD CERTIFIED CIVIL TRIAL LAWYER* PENSACOLA, FL

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*Board Certification by the Florida Bar and the National Board Of Trial Advocacy. Statistical information current as of November 2022.

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December 25, 2025

winners & losers

Brendan Kelly / Photo Courtesy of Arkansas State University

winners BRENDAN KELLY The former University of

West Florida leader has been selected as the 24th president of Eastern Michigan University, marking a homecoming for the Flint native and two-time EMU alumnus. Kelly arrived at UWF in 2004 as an assistant professor and forensics coach, earning induction into the National Forensic Association Hall of Fame. He rose to vice president for university advancement in 2013, leading a $50 million capital campaign and overseeing the UWF Foundation's $77 million portfolio. After leaving UWF in 2017, Kelly served as chancellor of USC Upstate and president of the University of West Georgia before joining the Arkansas State University System in 2024. He will arrive as president-elect on March 1, 2026, and formally assume the EMU presidency in May.

DONELL STALLWORTH The chef at Pen-

sacola's Shrimp Basket restaurant rescued a longtime customer after noticing his unusual absence. Charlie Hicks, 78, had eaten at the restaurant twice daily for a decade when he suddenly stopped showing up in September. Stallworth left work mid-shift to check on Hicks, finding him collapsed with broken ribs and severe dehydration. The chef's quick action saved Hicks' life. The Shrimp Basket staff then helped Hicks relocate to an apartment next door and furnished his new home. Hicks has since resumed his daily routine, describing their relationship as "a connection." CBS News and national media picked up on the story, and it went viral during the holiday season.

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Wipf, Water Quality and Land Management Division Manager, as its 2025 Employee of the Year during the Dec. 11 Board of County Commissioners meeting. Wipf oversees environmental initiatives, including surface water quality monitoring, urban forestry, air quality compliance and laboratory services. He also manages environmental coordination with Emerald Coast Utilities Authority and leads a team of scientists and environmental professionals. The 24-year county veteran previously received Employee of the Month honors in November. Natural Resources Management Director Chips Kirschenfeld praised Wipf's "dedication each day to protecting and improving the county's natural resources."

losers NEW UWF ZOMBIE DEGREE PROGRAM

For two years, Gov. Ron DeSantis has demanded the elimination of degrees he deems financially unjustifiable. He has mocked "Zombie Studies," which are general-education and identity-oriented courses that the governor declared have "no educational value." Gov. DeSantis ordered audits of employment-irrelevant programs, and told students seeking such subjects to "go to Cal Berkeley." To make his point, he specifically singled out sociology degrees as poor investments unlikely to lead to gainful employment. Now the University of West Florida has created the Academy of American Civic Republicanism Center—one that university leaders hope will lead to a new degree program. How much will a graduate with a Civic Republicanism degree earn?

CANDY ZULEGER State Attorney Ginger Mad-

den's office has notified local defense attorneys about concerns surrounding forensic DNA analyst Candy Zuleger and her former company, Trinity DNA Solutions in East Milton. The notification follows revelations from Bermuda, where Zuleger's DNA analysis led to multiple wrongful convictions. Her testimony in a 2014 murder case claiming a one-in-46-million probability was later deemed "fundamentally flawed" by independent experts last year, prompting Bermuda's Director of Public Prosecutions to review 273 cases. Trinity DNA Solutions voluntarily withdrew its U.S. forensic laboratory accreditation in 2018. Zuleger worked for the Florida Department of Law Enforcement between 1996 and 2004, then founded Trinity DNA Solutions, which was described as "state's first private DNA testing laboratory" when it opened. Trinity DNA Solutions was dissolved in 2022.

PROPERTY TAX CUTS A new Florida League of Cities study warns that proposed homestead property tax eliminations could devastate municipal budgets. Full elimination would cost cities 38% of ad valorem revenue and 14% of general fund revenue, forcing millage rates to nearly double. High fixed-dollar exemptions ($250k-$500k) would produce 25-32% revenue losses. The research found fixed-dollar exemptions disproportionately benefit higher-value homeowners while providing no relief to renters and new buyers. Rural communities face the steepest impacts due to limited revenue alternatives. The study recommended targeted relief and state revenue replacement to preserve essential services. inweekly.net

outtakes

By Rick Outzen

CONVERSATION STARTERS I had plenty to cover with this weekly column in 2025. My goal has always been to provoke thought. We don't have to agree, but I see "Outtakes" as a conversation starter. Here are summaries of a few of my favorite columns this past year:

REMEMBERING BOB SNOW (1/30/25) The man who transformed downtown Pensacola's entertainment landscape, Bob Snow, died Jan. 24. In 1967, when businesses fled downtown for malls, the Navy aviator envisioned opening Rosie O'Grady's in an abandoned warehouse. When Snow faced a $3,500 air conditioning debt with empty pockets, attorney Wilmer Mitchell secured him a $5,000 bank loan. Snow repaid it the day after opening. Snow expanded into neighboring properties, creating Seville Quarter. He later developed Orlando's successful Church Street Station. Now owned by the Mitchell family, Seville Quarter remains Snow's lasting legacy. TOO MUCH VEEP (5/1/25) In April, Rep. Alex Andrade compared Gov. DeSantis' administration to "Veep"—bumbling incompetence rather than "House of Cards"-style calculated scheming—after investigating the Hope Florida Foundation scandal. A $10 million Medicaid settlement was diverted to the First Lady's foundation, then flowed to organizations fighting the marijuana ballot initiative. The foundation operated two years without incorporation, bylaws or tax filings. Key figures refused to testify before Andrade's committee. DeSantis responded with a public meltdown at Pensacola State College, calling the Florida House "rotten" and saying they were "behaving more like Democrats." A VICTORY FOR PENSACOLA YOUTH (5/29/25) The Pensacola City Council ap-

proved a land lease for the Rafferty Center, a $3 million privately-funded facility for the Southern Youth Sports Association (SYSA). Led by Commissioner Lumon May, SYSA serves marginalized youth on Pensacola's West Side who historically lacked access to quality athletic programs. The donation requires no taxpayer construction costs, only city maintenance, estimated at $52,500 annually over 46 years. The facility centers public-private partnership adDecember 25, 2025

dressing community inequities through sports and mentorship.

A COLLABORATIVE MODEL (8/14/25) Cap-

tain Chandra Newman's decision this summer to place two local businesses off-limits to military personnel highlighted a breakdown in community responsibility. Pensacola once had a better solution: the Underage Drinking Task Force that operated through the 1990s-2000s. Led by Admiral Jack Fetterman, it brought base commanders, law enforcement and business owners together monthly for proactive intervention before violations escalated to off-limits designations. The model used education, ongoing dialogue and early support rather than reactive punishment. We urged the county and city to resurrect this proven approach to protect young service members and maintain our military-friendly reputation.

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IS POLIO A RIGHT? (9/11/25) Gov. Ron De-

Santis and Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo announced plans to end all state vaccine mandates for children, including for the polio vaccine. Ladapo proclaimed vaccination a matter between individuals and God. He ignored polio's devastating history: the 1916 NYC outbreak killed 7,130, and 1952 saw 21,000 cases nationwide. Salk's 1955 vaccine and Sabin's 1961 oral vaccine nearly eliminated the disease. Rotary International's PolioPlus program achieved 99.9% global reduction, immunizing 2.5 billion children. Will Florida's children grow up in a world where polio remains an ancient memory or returns as a present-day threat?

GOVERNING IS HARDER (11/5/25) Mayor

D.C. Reeves's "New Palafox" project shifted from a simple $3 million street repaving into a $10.7 million infrastructure and aesthetics upgrade improving drainage and walkability. While many downtown property owners support the investment, retailers fear they won't survive the five-month closure. The city is attempting unprecedented mitigation: a $768,000 contractor incentive that transfers to affected businesses if the May 24 deadline is missed, an "accordion approach" potentially opening some blocks by April and 414 free parking spaces. The musical "Hamilton" warned politicians that "winning [is] easy … governing's harder." While handling business owner pushback, Mayor Reeves has likely found this to be true. {in} rick@inweekly.net 5

TOP LOCAL NEWS STORIES OF 2025

Ron DeSantis / Photo Courtesy of flgov.com

By Inweekly Staff DESANTIS UNIVERSITY The name remains

University of West Florida, but DeSantis University is more fitting. The Florida governor turned UWF hard to the right in 2025 through his Board of Trustees appointments and their subsequent pressuring of Dr. Martha Saunders to resign as president. DeSantis appointed five board members in January, none of whom are UWF alums or Pensacola locals. A Senate committee rejected one of his appointments, Adam Kissel, but DeSantis re-appointed him anyway. Two of his appointees, Scott Yenor and Gates Garcia, later resigned rather than face Senate confirmation hearing. But DeSantis found capable replacements to apply pressure to Saunders. One replacement, Zachary Smith, ambushed Saunders at the Board of Trustees meeting in May. Smith directly challenged her about past university programming, including a drag show called "Drag Me to Hell," and events related to certain authors and speakers. When Saunders said she was unfamiliar with some of the events, Smith pressed further: "What are the safeguards, Dr. Saunders?" He later said, "I appreciate that answer Dr. Saunders, but again, I'll be frank, that doesn't give me much comfort." Saunders resigned as president just four days later. DeSantis clearly had Saunders' replacement picked before her ousting. The Board of Trustees, dominated by his appointees, wasted no time naming Florida Education Commissioner Manny Diaz Jr. as interim president. Diaz will soon lose the interim title. In November, the presidential search committee, chaired by none other than Smith, named Diaz the sole finalist for the presidential position. DeSantis pushed Saunders out the door despite UWF tying Florida State University for third this past year in the Florida Board of Governors' performance-based funding model. UWF scored 91 out of 100 points.

ANDRADE VS. HOPE FLORIDA Pensacola lawmaker Alex Andrade pursued answers about 66

financial irregularities with a foundation linked to First Lady Casey DeSantis' Hope Florida initiative. As chair of the House Health Care Budget Committee, Andrade raised pointed questions about a $10 million settlement redirected to the Hope Florida Foundation rather than state coffers. When administration officials pushed back, Andrade remained undeterred and pursued accountability. Andrade alleged that DeSantis' chief of staff, James Uthmeier, led a money laundering scheme funneling money to his political committee, which opposed last year's recreational marijuana amendment (that DeSantis strongly opposed). The governor rewarded Uthmeier by appointing him Florida's attorney general. In October, Andrade testified for about two hours before a Tallahassee grand jury investigating the alleged money laundering. Save Our Society from Drugs Executive Director Amy Ronshausen testified that same day. Her St. Petersburg-based nonprofit received a $5 million grant from the Hope Florida Foundation. Andrade alleged that Uthmeier directed Ronshausen to apply for the grant with the understanding that the money would be transferred to his political committee. Ronshausen initially told Andrade this was true during his spring investigation, but she later recanted, claiming Andrade coerced her. In December, Andrade upped the estimated amount he claimed Uthmeier stole from Florida taxpayers. The lawmaker revealed that the state had reimbursed the federal government $6 million for its share of the $10 million payment to the Hope Florida Foundation, bringing the total to $16 million. Neither DeSantis nor Uthmeier has admitted to any wrongdoing. DeSantis accused Andrade of running a smear campaign against his campaign and his wife. He referred to Andrade as a "jackass."

WSRE-TV FOUNDATION AND PSC DIVORCE Pensacola State College delivered

a haymaker to Big Bird, Daniel Tiger, Ken Burns and everyone else associated with PBS. The PSC Board of Trustees voted to end WSRE's 53year affiliation with PBS, which had been part of the public television station's programming since 1972. PSC chose to sever ties to save nearly a million dollars. WSRE lost $1.5 million in state and federal funding this year and the PBS affiliation alone costs about $880,000. WSRE is in the same position as stations across the country. Congress cut $1.1 billion allocated to public broadcasting, affecting PBS and NPR, among others. The same trustees voted to decertify the WSRE-TV Foundation as a direct support organization and demanded that the foundation honor its previously agreed-upon budget and continue funding station operations. The result? A messy divorce. Upset that PSC cut ties with PBS, the foundation is fighting back, refusing to hand over its $5.5 million saved for public programming and community support.

In December, the foundation took its fight to the courts. The foundation filed a first-inthe-nation federal lawsuit to prevent PSC from seizing control of the money. The foundation board unanimously decided to seek court intervention to determine whether PSC's demands constitute an overreach and to clarify what relationship, if any, should exist between the two sides.

BALKING ON BAPTIST DEMOLITION

Pensacola Mayor D.C. Reeves failed to secure $2 million from the county this year, but demolition of the old Baptist Hospital campus is underway. Reeves said the initial demolition is occurring inside the building. A perimeter fence will be installed in January. County commissioners balked at the mayor's request for $2 million. The board instead offered to pay $500,000, using Community Development Block Grant funds, for one building to be used as a community resource center and a second building to be set aside for healthcare services. The deal fell apart when the county requested five years to complete the resource center, which the mayor wanted opened sooner. The city listed six parcels on the Baptist campus for sale as a possible means to solve the roughly $1.5 million shortfall. Who will oversee the redevelopment of the Baptist campus remains uncertain. The Pensacola City Council met in December, and dozens of residents packed the chambers to oppose hiring Bayou District Consulting to guide the redevelopment planning. Community Redevelopment Agency chair Teniadé Broughton responded by pulling the item from the agenda. Bayou District Consulting is a New Orleansbased firm with locals on the team, including Clark Partington, Jerry Pate Design, Geosyntec, SMP Architecture and Impact Campaigns.

GRADES UP, ENROLLMENT DOWN Escambia County Public Schools earned impressive grades in 2025, but with fewer students in the classrooms, as the state voucher system continues to take students from public schools. High schools and middle schools in the district improved their grades significantly. High schools quadrupled their number of B grades, and every high school improved or maintained its grade from the previous year. Five middle schools improved their grades, with only one dropping a letter grade. Three middle schools earned A grades, and another three earned B's. Three elementaries raised their grades from a B to an A, and another three improved from a C to a B. And yet for all those gains, the school district is losing students precipitously in a county where the population continues to rise. The school district's enrollment has dropped by 1,122 students since the fall of 2024. The enrollment is down 2,000 students from five years ago and down 5,000 from 10 years ago. The state voucher program is having a sig-

nificant impact on public school enrollment statewide. A growing number of families are taking advantage of the Florida Empowerment Scholarship program, which allows them to use state money for private and home schooling.

AIRPORT SUCCESS STORY Pensacola Inter-

national Airport bustled with activity throughout 2025, handling thousands of passengers each day. On May 19 alone, the airport handled over 15,000 passengers. The increased traffic in 2025 continued the momentum from 2024 when the airport set a record by handling 3.1 million passengers. USA Today recognized the success, naming Pensacola International among the top 10 small airports in the United States for a second time in three years. The increased traffic creates some issues for an airport terminal originally built to accommodate one million passengers. Those issues should soon be alleviated. In October, the airport broke ground on an ambitious Terminal Expansion and Modernization Program. A new five-gate concourse will be constructed, nearly doubling the security checkpoints and increasing overall airport capacity by almost 50%. The expansion will provide the capacity to meet forecasted demand through 2044. The airport is addressing the traffic with smaller projects, too, including a fifth TSA screening lane and a paved new parking lot on Tippin Road that added about 400 spaces.

OUTLYING FIELDS FINALLY IN MOTION

A group headed by Catalyst Healthspan Founder and CEO Chad Henderson and former Mayor Ashton Hayward won a drama-filled bidding process to develop the coveted 540-acre Outlying Fields property in Beulah. The drama unfolded for all to see at a County Commission meeting in January. Commissioners sought the highest bid among three developers for the property formerly known as OLF-8. A flummoxed Henderson withdrew his bid that night rather than partake in a bidding war. After he withdrew, the commissioners unanimously approved a $50 million bid from Tampa-based Beulah Town Center. That bid fell through after Beulah Town Center and the County failed to agree on terms, opening the door in June for Henderson to resubmit the accepted $42.5 million bid. Henderson said Outlying Fields will include five districts. A town center will feature dining, shopping and gathering spaces. The community district will include recreation, family amenities and preserved and natural landscapes that celebrate Beulah's woodlands and wetlands. Local shops and national businesses will fill the commerce district. The residential district will consist of multiple neighborhoods with diverse, sustainable housing options for the growing Beulah workforce. The Employment Technology Innovation District will include companies invested in technology, innovation, clean manufacturing, cybersecurity, biopharmaceuticals and life sciences. {in} inweekly.net

December 25, 2025

CONGRATULATIONS WINNERS ENVIRONMENTAL AWARD

AWARDS

CivicCon is a partnership of the Center for Civic Engagement and the Pensacola News Journal to make our community a better place to live, grow, work and invest through smart planning and civic conversations.

WINNER: Santa Rosa Band of the Lower Muscogee Accepted by Chief Dan “Sky Horse” Helms BUSINESS/ORG: Creek Heritage Center WHY: Creating hands-on environmental education for youth.

WINNER: East Bay River Preserve Land Aquisition Accepted by Kerry Smith, Rhett Rowell and Colten Wright BUSINESS/ORG: Santa Rosa County, Trust for Public Land, NAS Whiting Field WHY: Preserved 429 acres for public use and habitat restoration.

GREAT NEIGHBORHOODS AWARD

PLACEMAKING AWARD WINNER: Elizabeth Eubanks BUSINESS/ORG: From the Ground Up

Garden / Innisfree Hotels – Hive Foundation WHY: Transformed an abandoned space into a vibrant community garden.

SAFE STREETS & PEOPLE-CENTERED TRANSPORTATION AWARD

WINNER: East Hill Neighborhood Association BUSINESS/ORG: EHNA WHY: Strengthening community through improvements and events.

WINNER: Ronnie Rivera BUSINESS/ORG: Escambia County Sheriff’s Office WHY: Building safer neighborhoods through

community partnerships.

BEST NEW ADDITION TO DOWNTOWN PENSACOLA / MILTON

WINNER: Christian Wagley BUSINESS/ORG: Bike Pensacola WHY: Championing safer, more

walkable and bikeable streets.

WINNER: Levin Family – Fred Levin Way Fest

TRANSPARENCY & GOOD GOVERNMENT AWARD WINNER: Grace McCaffery BUSINESS/ORG: Latino Media Gulf Coast

/ Hispanic Resource Center WHY: Ensuring Spanish-speaking residents receive transparent, vital information.

Accepted by Brenton Goodman, Marci Goodman and Madrina Ciano BUSINESS/ORG: Fred & Marilyn Levin Family Foundation WHY: Providing essential items and services to thousands during an annual community event.

WINNER: Melissa Glyptis Simpson BUSINESS/ORG: The Sweet Greek (Milton) WHY: Revitalized a historic building into a

community hub.

Sign-up for CivicCon Newsletter: Find out how you can join the civic conversation. Email: CivicCon Communication Director Eduardo Lara elara@civicconversations.org

www.CivicCon.org 88

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STRONG TOWNS AWARD

EQUITY AWARD

WINNER: Jennifer Knight BUSINESS/ORG: End of the Line Café WHY: Reusing existing properties to

enrich culture and community.

THE CIVICCON AWARD

WINNER: Transformation Church Accepted by Lead Pastor Brad Livingston BUSINESS/ORG: Transformation Church WHY: Eliminated $6.5M in medical debt for 4,400 residents.

WINNER: Colten Wright BUSINESS/ORG: Santa Rosa County

Commission WHY: Championing smart growth, civility, and community-focused development.

2025 CIVICCON EVENTS

WINNER: Cheryl Hinnen BUSINESS/ORG: Bright Bridge Ministries WHY: Serving the county’s most vulnerable

with essential support.

COMMUNITY VOLUNTEER AWARD

FEB 25 — Rebekah Kik Zoning, land development codes & affordable housing APR 14 — Coby Lefkowitz Building better neighborhoods & community-focused development JULY 22 — Escambia Children’s Trust Panel Children’s services & community impact SEPT 23–25 — Civic Leader Summit: Building Vibrant Cities (Keynotes: Quint Studer, Chuck Marohn, Jill Miller, Mayor D.C. Reeves, Ilana Preuss + breakouts) OCT 20 — Scudder Wagg Public transit & the built environment NOV 4 — Chris Hand Effective citizenship & civic engagement DEC 1 — CivicCon Awards Ceremony Honoring local community leaders

SCAN TO WATCH VIDEOS

WINNER (Posthumous): Reverend John Powell, accepted by his son, Sheldon Powell BUSINESS/ORG: Truth for Youth WHY: Decades of mentoring and uplifting local children.

WINNER: Anna Lochas BUSINESS/ORG: UWF / PYP / PWA WHY: Tireless leadership strengthening Pensacola’s civic community.

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BlabTV • Hanto & Clarke • Barcis Design & Construct • Bert Thornton • Leslie & Gerry Yandle • Pathways for Change • InWeekly • The Watson Firm, PLLC • A&J Mug Shop • Bellcore Commercial • Navy Federal Credit Union • J. Green Construction • Greater Pensacola Chamber • Frankie Pesce III, CFP Financial Advisor • Carol Carlan • Cosentino Wealth Management Team • Whibbs Stone Barnett Turner • Carson Construction Inc. • Kukua Institute The Center for Civic Engagement is a 501(c)(4) nonprofit organization. December 25, 2025

This has been a year of disruption as national and state political agendas crept into our community—and not in a good way. Our winners for the year are as strong as ever, covering politics, philanthropy, the arts, business and education. The losers' side has more state figures than in past years because their interference has caused much of the disruption, particularly at the University of West Florida. We created Winners & Losers to provoke thought and conversation. We hope you will enjoy this list. As always, we appreciate your support. And remember, everyone starts with a clean slate in 2026.

WINNERS JOHN APPLEYARD

The Florida and Caribbean Advertising Hall of Fame inducted Pensacola advertising executive and historian John H. Appleyard (1922-2020). The honorees were nominated by their peers and voted into the Hall of Fame as recognition for their ongoing commitments to being active in their communities, mentoring others and creating the business practices followed today in the advertising industry. Appleyard was a cornerstone of Pensacola's business community while simultaneously developing his passion for local history.

BELLE BEAR Gov. Ron DeSantis recognized the same traits we did when we put the Bear family matriarch on top of the 2025 Inweekly Power List. The governor named her to the Florida Women's Hall of Fame. She is the principal of the Bear Family Foundation and a dedicated community member with a lifelong commitment to serving Escambia and Santa Rosa counties. Bear was a founding member of IMPACT 100 Pensacola Bay Area. DERRICK BROOKS NFL Hall of Famer Derrick Brooks returned to his hometown to support O.J. Semmes Elementary School students ahead of the first day of classes. The Derrick Brooks Foundation and Derrick Brooks Charities distributed classroom supplies, 400 backpacks and more than 250 Chromebooks to the school they have supported for four years.

CHADBOURNE-DEMARIA FOUNDATION Mother Clelia Morning Star

High began at Pensacola Catholic High School in 2020 with 20 students. It completed a Phase 2 expansion in 2014, thanks to the ChadbourneDeMaria Foundation's $1.3 million donation. The school now serves 30 special needs students and has broken ground on Phase 3. 010 1

BROOKE DISALVO The assistant U.S.

District attorney is the 2025 recipient of the William S. Meador Award, presented annually by the Escambia-Santa Rosa Bar Association's Young Lawyers Division. The award was established in 2005 to honor Bill Meador's legacy of practicing law with integrity, sincerity and courtesy while recognizing Meador's commitment to giving back to the community.

EMAN EL-SHEIKH The Global Council

for Responsible Artificial Intelligence selected Dr. Eman El-Sheikh, University of West Florida (UWF) Center for Cybersecurity associate vice president, as a Global Ambassador for the United States. As a Global Ambassador, El-Sheikh will advocate for secure AI development and responsible AI adoption that benefits society globally. She will help guide the ethical integration of AI into critical sectors, ensuring its alignment with societal well-being.

ALEX GARTNER The executive and artistic

director of the Pensacola Children's Chorus (PCC) has received the 2025 Louis Botto Award for Innovation and Entrepreneurship from Chorus America. He is the first youth choir director to win this honor in its 27-year history. Since 2016, Gartner has transformed PCC from a single choir into 14 diverse ensembles serving Northwest Florida and Southwest Alabama.

ILDI HOSMAN The director of public

relations at Landrum is the chair of the Greater Pensacola Chamber of Commerce. Hosman is only the third woman to chair Florida's oldest sustaining Chamber of Commerce, following in the footsteps of the late Gwen Appelquist and Carol Carlan. Before joining Landrum, Hosman served as the president for Junior Achievement of Northwest Florida.

EMILY LEY What started as a simple love for school supplies has become one of the most compelling David vs. Goliath stories in American business today. Emily Ley, the 42-year-old Pensacola entrepreneur behind the lifestyle brand Simplified, has done something that countless business owners have only dreamed of—she stood up, fought back and sued the federal government over its tariffs. She became a champion for 77% of U.S. importers who are small businesses with fewer than 20 employees. LUMON MAY The District 3 county com-

missioner had a spectacular year. He broke ground on the Rafferty Center, which will double the size of the community center named

after his late father, Rev. Theophalis May. His summer youth employment program had over 200 participants. In August, Escambia County and Pensacola Habitat for Humanity hosted ribbon cuttings to celebrate 14 new affordable homes, as part of a partnership between Escambia County and Pensacola Habitat to provide more affordable housing to residents in need. No wonder that Democratic gubernatorial candidate David Jolly has tapped May to co-lead his Community Development and Economic Empowerment platform.

CHANDRA MCKERN The Pensacola Opera's executive director celebrated her 10th anniversary at the helm of Northwest Florida's only professional opera company affiliated with OPERA America. Since 2015, McKern has transformed the organization through strategic leadership and successful grant acquisition, including two National Endowment for the Arts grants and an IMPACT 100 grant. JOHN MERTING The Merting Family established a $500,000 endowment to launch the John W. Merting Family Office of Research and Intellectual Growth at UWF. The investment will prepare students to compete for Fulbright and Rhodes scholarships, potentially producing UWF's first Rhodes Scholar. This fall, UWF senior Ambrea Hobbs became the institution's first-ever Rhodes Scholar finalist. Though not selected for the scholarship, her achievement as a finalist marks a significant accomplishment for both the student, the university and the Merting family's initiative. LOUSINDY MITTON The UWF cyberse-

curity student made history as the university's first recipient of the Foreign Affairs Information Technology Fellowship. The prestigious program, sponsored by the U.S. Department of State, provides an annual scholarship. Mitton earned her bachelor's in cybersecurity from Miami Dade College and serves on UWF's Graduate Student Advisory Board.

HALE MORRISSETTE The community

activist got people to pack Pensacola City Hall and voice their concerns about the development advisory team recommended by the Reeves administration, and the neighborhood's lack of input in the selection process. The Pensacola City Council agreed with Morrissette and residents, and the item was pulled from the agenda.

RAY PALMER The president and CEO of

Pensacola Sports will step down on Sept. 30, 2026, giving the sports tourism organization a year

to conduct a national search for his replacement. Palmer has led Pensacola Sports for more than two decades. Under his leadership, the organization has evolved into a nationally recognized sports tourism powerhouse.

PENSACOLA YOUTH BALLET The cultural organization announced their Legacy Awards, which pay tribute to the remarkable women who laid the foundation for professional dance in our community. Dorothy Lister, Patsy Graydon Hill, Elvie Demarco and Gioia Michelotti were visionaries who transformed Pensacola's artistic landscape, opening doors for generations of dancers to follow. LESLIE PERINO EW Bullock Associates has

named Perino as president and chief executive officer, succeeding founder Ellis Bullock III, who established the Gulf Coast marketing agency in 1982. Bullock will transition to chairman in an advisory role after leading the company for more than 40 years. Perino, a 23-year veteran who previously served as chief operating officer, has been instrumental in the agency's creative output and operational success.

REV. JOHN POWELL The highly respected

community activist, youth advocate and faith leader in Pensacola passed away in July. Rev. Powell was best known as the founder of Truth for Youth, a nonprofit organization established in 1993 to provide educational, cultural and social programs for at-risk youth in Pensacola and surrounding areas. The City of Pensacola named a street in the historic Belmont-DeVilliers neighborhood in his honor. CivicCon posthumously gave Rev. Powell its Community Volunteer Award.

LUCY ADAMS STEVENSON The high school senior testified before the Florida Senate Criminal Justice Committee supporting legislation to combat AI-generated exploitation. The Pensacola High School student body vice president shared her experience as a victim when her images were manipulated into explicit content. Sen. Don Gaetz's SB 1180 closed this loophole by making it a third-degree felony to "willfully and maliciously generate and possess hardcore pornography of an identifiable person without consent." SUSAN WOOLF The UWF general counsel was abruptly removed in late July 2025 by Interim President Manny Diaz Jr., following a clash with Board of Trustees chair Rebecca Matthews. Woolf raised formal objections to using a politically connected outside law firm in the presidential search, which Matthews insisted on hiring. Within hours inweekly.net

of putting those concerns in writing to the Board of Trustees, Diaz had her terminated "effective immediately." Woolf was trying to protect UWF from potential lawsuits.

SAM YOUNG The Pensacola Habitat for

Humanity CEO was appointed to the Federal Reserve Board's Community Advisory Council (CAC), positioning him to influence national policies on affordable housing, economic development and financial inclusion. The CAC provides diverse perspectives on the economic circumstances and financial needs of consumers and communities, particularly low- and moderateincome populations.

LOSERS PAM CHILDERS

In 2024, Florida saw an alltime high of 143 million visitors, who spent $134.9 billion in total. Escambia Clerk of Court Pam Childers made it difficult for those trying to ensure our economy benefited from the growth. For months, she refused to reimburse Visit Pensacola for over $1 million in advertising and operational expenses, including utility bills and payroll. The Escambia County Tourist Development Council begged the Clerk's office for a checklist for vendors to follow "so that everyone understands what the expectation is to provide when they submit for the reimbursement of the use of the funds." Money didn't start flowing until June, and it appears the damage to tourism marketing had already been done. According to her office, tourist development tax collections for FY 2025 were relatively flat. For October and November 2025, the collections are down $54,989. Thanks, Pam.

FLORIDA DOGE Florida's Department of

Government Efficiency (DOGE) is all smoke and mirrors. The agency claimed a National Science Foundation grant promoted "wokeness" at UWF. Gov. DeSantis demanded UWF refund $800,000 to the federal government, alleging the program focused on social justice over classical education. UWF quickly clarified that grant actually funded scholarships for future math and science teachers, with current scholars conducting projects on water quality sampling and aspirin synthesis. In October, Florida's Chief Financial Officer Blaise Ingoglia blasted the City of Pensacola for its "Welcome to Pensacola" sign at the foot of the Chappie James Bridge, citing it among a list of local government expenditures that he said Florida DOGE auditors determined were excessive and wasteful. However, no property taxes were

spent on the sign. The City of Pensacola gave the Florida Department of Transportation its Five Flags Plaza with the agreement that FDOT would pay for the design and construction of a welcome sign. FDOT provided $470,000, and the city used American Rescue Plan Act funds to cover the remaining project costs.

ASHLEE HOFBERGER The District 4

county commissioner's attempt to fire County Administrator Wes Moreno and replace him with Chief Deputy Sheriff Tommi Lyter was dead on arrival in February. The two rounds of amateurish renderings of her Pensacola Beach Gateway Arch were blasted on social media, leading her to abandon the project in June. Her plan to build five fire stations won public support, but residents were not happy to see their fire services tax nearly double to pay for them. Last month, Hofberger's effort to hire a consulting firm to study how to cut back property taxes failed to win any support from her fellow commissioners. Hofberger chairs the Board of County Commissioners next year. This should be fun to watch.

ANASTASIOS KAMOUTSAS While serving as Gov. Ron DeSantis' deputy chief of staff, Kamoutsas orchestrated the placement of eight new UWF trustees, according to a Tallahassee insider. The power play landed Education Commissioner Manny Diaz Jr. the UWF presidency, and Kamoutsas was appointed Diaz's replacement. As Education Commissioner, he has threatened to investigate any Florida educator who criticized the late Charlie Kirk. A recent Auditor General review of Florida Empowerment Scholarships, also known as school vouchers, is an accounting nightmare with over 30,000 students unaccounted for and a $398 million shortfall. Rather than focusing on this financial crisis, Kamoutsas attended a Leon County School Board meeting where he blasted the school district for continuing to "demonstrate a need for improvement in leadership." REBECCA MATTHEWS The UWF Board of Trustees chair offered the board only one choice of candidate to serve as interim president after Dr. Martha Saunders resigned—Manny Diaz Jr., who appointed Matthews to chair the Florida Education Foundation board of directors in 2022. Matthews also picked the UWF Presidential Search Committee and recommended the search consultants and a law firm to guide the process for Saunder's permanent replacement. Lo and behold, the search committee only recommended one finalist for the Board of Trustees to consid-

er—Manny Diaz Jr. It's not hard to pick the winner when the deck is stacked.

OFFICE OF INDEPENDENT INTERNAL AUDIT Escambia County Clerk

Pam Childers' Office of Independent Internal Audit (OIIA) quietly disappeared from her official website, along with its policy manual and departmental information. In 2024, Childers launched OIIA with fanfare as an oversight body to prevent fraud and review high-risk spending areas within the county's $748.6 million budget. However, after operating for one year with a six-figure budget, the office produced zero audit reports. Chief Audit Executive John Greene and his deputy, CPA Scott Baretta, departed without explanation from Childers. The webpage for the OIIA policy manual returns an error message stating that no matching page exists.

withdraw them all because he no longer was a state lawmaker. Florida CFO Jimmy Patronis shellacked Rudman, winning 33,554 to 5,083 in the GOP primary. Rudman's Florida House District 3 seat remained vacant during the current 2025 legislative session, leaving the City of Milton without anyone to advance its appropriation bills. There's more. Rudman resigned from the Pensacola State College District Board of Trustees before his confirmation hearing. He had threatened to expose fellow lawmakers for alleged drug violations at the hearing.

gressman got a speeding ticket on the Chappie James Bridge for driving more than 20 mph per over the posted 35 mph speed limit. Locals know that Gulf Breeze Police patrol the bridge, but it seems Patronis was unaware he might get caught. Patronis said the Gulf Breeze officer was doing his job, and he paid his fine. However, he spoke out against "speeder sniping" and complained that the officer who stopped him was out of sight. Gulf Breeze Police Chief Rick Hawthorne told WEARTV that the officer was parked on the bridge just past the hump. He added, "So he wasn't behind a bush or a tree and couldn't be seen."

ZACK SMITH When Gov. Ron DeSantis appointed him to the Pensacola State College Board of Trustees and later to the UWF Board of Trustees, few locals knew much about him. After observing him for nine months, we have learned that the senior legal fellow and manager of the Supreme Court and Appellate Advocacy Program at The Heritage Foundation hates anything that mentions or alludes to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI)—and he abhors drag shows. He wanted to deny an employee's sabbatical at PSC because he disagreed with the faculty member's poverty research. He allegedly violated the privacy of UWF faculty going up for tenure because a particular research subject was not in line with his views. He pushed for WSRETV to end its affiliation with PBS and questioned the college's relationship with Achieve Escambia and the hiring of its former executive director. And he objected to a drag show being held at the Saenger Theatre, calling it "blasphemous."

JEREMY REDFERN The Florida Attorney

JAMES UTHMEIER The Destin native

JIMMY PATRONIS The Republican con-

General's communications director allegedly violated state public records law by providing exclusive document access to a Politico reporter. State Rep. Alex Andrade claims Redfern delivered approximately 600 pages of printed documents to the reporter, granting a two-week exclusive on records that Andrade and other news outlets had requested since April. The documents are related to the Hope Florida Foundation and a Medicaid settlement agreement with Centene. The alleged violation is particularly notable since the Attorney General's office drafts Florida's "Government in the Sunshine" Manual, which guides compliance with the state's public records laws.

JOEL RUDMAN Shortly after winning re-

election to the Florida House, Rudman resigned from the Florida House to qualify to run for the congressional seat vacated by Matt Gaetz. To attract attention to his campaign, Rudman filed seven bills in December. On Jan. 2, he had to

is a perfect example of the egotistical political hacks that thrive in Gov. Ron DeSantis' orbit. Uthmeier ran the governor's disastrous presidential campaign that only garnered nine delegates in the 2024 Iowa Republican caucuses. Uthmeier allegedly steered $10 million from a Medicaid settlement to the Hope Florida Foundation. The majority of the funds eventually went to Keep Florida Clean, a political action committee that he chaired. Keep Florida Clean used the money to defeat a constitutional amendment that would have legalized marijuana. A state grand jury is investigating the matter. Meanwhile, DeSantis rewarded Uthmeier by appointing him as Florida's Attorney General. In November, Attorney General Uthmeier requested the Pensacola City Council cancel a December 23 drag show at the Saenger Theatre, though his letter did not cite any laws that the show violated. The Pensacola City Council ignored his request. {in}

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

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WEEK OF DECEMBER 25-31

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

Inked for Good with Victoria Higgins By Elizabeth Royappa

day, he messaged me and said that he would take me on." "Most of the time, if not 100% of the time, getting an apprenticeship is light years more difficult than the process I went through," Higgins noted. Her apprenticeship was at a studio called Hula Moon. That shop no longer exists, but it was the site of an important milestone: "My first tattoo on another person was actually on my older brother," Higgins said. "As soon as I got my apprenticeship, he said, 'I will pay you $500 to do your first tattoo on me. Do not tattoo anybody else. Let me know when you're ready to tattoo on someone else, and I will fly there and be your first customer.'"

GETTING COMFORTABLE

Victoria Higgins / Photo by Courtney Park (@courtneyparkphotography)

Most pre-teens can't accurately predict their future career. Local tattoo artist Victoria Higgins was an exception. "I've always wanted to tattoo, which I know sounds crazy for a child," she said. "But I've always been an artist, so it kind of just came naturally for little 12, 13-year-old-me in my rebellious stage to want to align myself with like, the outcasts of art," she added. "14 is when I got my first tattoo. I'm not sure if it was legal for me to get tattooed at that time or not, but I did have parental sign-off and the tattoo artists didn't really bat an eye at it." Legality aside, this early entrée to the world of tattooing allowed Higgins to see behind the scenes and confirm her desire to become an artist herself. Being a military kid, Higgins moved around a lot. She says she sought out tattoo spaces wherever she lived and "would be there basically anytime I had extra money." December 25, 2025

LEARNING THE ROPES

When high school ended, her parents made it clear that college wasn't optional, so Higgins earned a degree in visual communication design and then found a corporate job. A lot of her colleagues at the time were "minimalists," Higgins remembers. "They were really going for that 'clean girl aesthetic,' where they would fit in perfectly at Apple … I have always had a lot of tattoos, and especially in the corporate realm, it [was] still a taboo thing." After two and a half years there, Higgins felt it was finally time to chase her original dream. At this point, she had settled down in Pensacola. "I had a lot of friends who were tattooers," she said. "So there were several people who let me work the front desk just to see if that was something I wanted to do. Then one day, I asked someone I knew, like, 'Hey, do you know anyone who would want to apprentice me?' … The next

After a full two years of apprenticing, Higgins moved to Sacred Grounds, and then The Western Rose about a year later. The Western Rose is her current home base. She describes the shop as "very warm, very inviting … we're definitely maximalist here. There's stuff on all of the walls; a bunch of the stuff here is antique or vintage. We definitely lean into the Western feel for everything." "I think clients tend to prefer walking into a space that immediately makes them feel warm and cozy. Something about having a bunch of shit on the walls does that." "It's not your home, it's not work, but it's a third space where you feel comfortable sitting and hanging out," she continued. "For me, even though work is not technically a third space, it definitely doesn't feel like work to me most of the time." Higgins is mom to a 3-year-old and a 9-yearold. Being a working artist and a parent is "chaos in a bottle," she said, but it's also opened up new business pathways. Her nontraditional hours— typically mid-morning and early afternoon, when kids are in school—have attracted a lot of stay-athome parents, servers and bartenders. "I kind of opened myself up to a whole market that I didn't know existed," she said. The tattoo style she's drawn to is "American Traditional" with a twist. A coworker calls it "Bubblegum Traditional," which Higgins feels is "pretty spot-on." "If I can add pink to it, I'm going to; tattoos for the gays and the girlies, that's basically where I'm at." Critters, like "possums, raccoons, frogs," are some of Higgins's favorite things to ink. Bonus points if they're Florida critters. And her style isn't pure bubblegum—she also includes "spooky, dark, Baphomet-style things" in the list of favorite subjects.

PAYING IT FORWARD

During the recent SNAP delays, Higgins started brainstorming ways for The Western Rose to help out. "I was seeing online that the food pantries are difficult to get to if you don't have a car … [The Western Rose is located] downtown, and we are seeing a lot of generational homes going up for sale or rent because a lot of empty lots are being bought by developers, and the property taxes skyrocket." "If people are struggling to keep their homes, they're struggling to keep food on the table and pay bills. And on top of that, you had the SNAP benefits that were not being released. We see a lot of unhoused people down here … they're the most vulnerable people in our community and it's really hard for them to get access to things that aren't nearby." "Because we're seeing so much of that downtown, I was like, 'You know what? I think we can just tackle this.'" The solution: a bright orange, hand-painted locker in the studio's yard labeled "Free food pantry—take what you need, leave what you don't." It's open for donations and pickup 24/7. Clients, passersby and The Western Rose employees themselves donate food. Clients also tip extra sometimes as a donation to the pantry. Next to the locker is a suggestion box in which Higgins says many thank-you notes are dropped. "I've seen people who are clearly [at the pantry] because they need something put something from the locker into their bag, and then take something from their bag and put it into the locker. So even the most vulnerable and down-on-their-luck are still trying to help out where they can." The Western Rose also hosts an annual fundraiser called Mystic Rodeo, supporting a different local cause every year. Details for the 2026 Rodeo will be released on the studio's socials closer to fall. Higgins wants to make it easy for clients to help their neighbors. "If you can afford to get tattooed right now, you probably also have a couple of extra dollars to throw towards a good cause, you know?" she concluded. {in}

VICTORIA HIGGINS, AKA VICBITS TATTOOS

vicbitstattoos.com, @vicbitstattoos

THE WESTERN ROSE & FREE FOOD PANTRY LOCATION

18 S. DeVilliers St., @the_western_rose_ 13

a&e happenings fet and gift bag. Details and tickets at facebook.com/perfectplainbrewingco.

NIGHT OWL NEW YEAR'S EVE New Year's Eve Masquerade

party with Jitterbug Beverage Co. featuring mocktails, a costume contest, music from DJ Hale and a special menu with Globetrotter Street Food 8 p.m.-1 a.m. at Odd Colony, 260 N. Palafox St. Free entry and parking. Details at facebook.com/oddcolony.

DRINK 'TIL IT DROPS Coastal

County New Year's Eve party starts 11 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 31 with $5 CCB pints, full kitchen menu, mimosa bar, craft cocktails and no dress code. Located at 3041 E. Olive Road. Details at coastalcountybrewing.com.

FLORA-BAMA ANNUAL NEW YEAR'S EVE BASH Enjoy

HOLIDAY EVENTS

HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS Escambia

County Department of Animal Welfare will offer a free pet adoption special for dogs and cats one year or older, now through Tuesday, Dec. 30. A $15 licensing fee will be applied to all adoptions for Escambia County residents. Adoption fee for kittens and puppies is $25-$50. View adoptable animals at 24petconnect.com. The Escambia County Animal Welfare and Adoption Center is located at 200 W. Fairfield Drive. Hours of operation are Monday-Friday, noon to 5 p.m., and Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

KIDS HOLIDAY PAJAMA PAWTY! Let the

holidays linger with cookie decorating, hot cocoa and cuddle time with adoptable cats 10-10:45 a.m. Sunday, Dec. 28 at Coastal Cat Café, 1508 W. Garden St. Details and tickets at coastalcatpcola.com.

NEW YEAR'S AT GREAT SOUTHERN RESTAURANTS Ring in the New Year Wednesday, Dec. 31 at Great Southern Restaurants including The Fish House, 600 S. Barracks St.; Atlas Oyster House, 600 S. Barracks St.; Jackson's

Steakhouse, 400 S. Palafox St.; 5 Sisters Blues Café, 421 W. Belmont St.; and Angelena's Italian Ristorante, 101 Intendencia St. View New Year's Eve menus and make reservations at greatsouthernrestaurants.com.

PENSACOLA SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA PRESENTS: CELEBRATE THE NEW YEAR!

Concert is 7 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 31 at Saenger Theatre, 118 S. Palafox St. Details and tickets available at pensacolasaenger.com.

KPOP DEMON HUNTERS NEW YEAR'S EVE PARTY Glow stage family-friendly dance

party with vendors, permanent jewelry, face painting and more 7-9 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 31 at Pensacola Little Theatre, 400 S. Jefferson St. Tickets are $40-$80 and available at pensacolalittletheatre.com.

MIDNIGHT MASQUERADE New Year's Eve

party 9 p.m.-1 a.m. at Perfect Plain Brewing Co., 50 E. Garden St. With cash bar, DJs, live entertainment, photobooth and more. Tickets are $40 for general admission. VIP tickets are $199 and include a burlesque show, midnight breakfast buf-

live music on all three stages, food, party favors and a midnight champagne toast. The fun starts 6 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 31 located at 17401 Perdido Key Drive. Details at florabama.com/new-years-eve.

NYE RHINESTONE RODEO BALL The

Krewe of Daisy Dukes invites you to the Rhinestone Rodeo Ball with live music from Mr. Big & The Rhythm Sisters, open bar, midnight champagne toast, light hors d'oeuvres and more. 8 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 31 at Court of DeLuna Event Space, 116 E. Gonzalez, Ste. 7. Cost is $125 per person. Tickets available at kreweofdaisydukes.com/rhinestone-rodeo.

NEW YEAR'S EVE FIREWORKS Ring in the

New Year with a free firework display along Pensacola Beach boardwalk starting at 11:55 p.m.

FLORA-BAMA POLAR BEAR DIP Start

the New Year with a dip in the Gulf 12 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 1 at Flora-Bama, 17401 Perdido Key Drive. Participants receive free draft beer and lunch of ham, black-eyed peas, greens and cornbread. Details at florabama.com/polarbear-dip.

PENSACOLA POLAR BEAR PLUNGE The Pensacola Beach plunge is 2 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 1 outside Paradise Bar & Grill, 7 Casino Beach Drive. Registration is $15 and includes a t-shirt. Skip the shirt and register for $10. All proceeds go to Pensacola Beach Chamber of Commerce for island events. Register at pensacolabeachchamber.com. NOON YEAR'S EVE PARTY Enjoy an all-ages

New Year celebration with music, park activities, beach ball drop and complimentary toast 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 3 at Laguna's, 460 Pensacola Beach Blvd.

ARTS & CULTURE

PERFECT DAY BOOKS POP-UP The mobile book store will be at The Lucky Goat, 7175 N. Davis Highway, Sunday, Dec. 28. Find details on Instagram @perfectdaybookstore.

MERMAID SURGEON: A MEDICAL DRAMA 309 film screening by Artist in Residence Faustine Papelli 6 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 28 at 309 N. Sixth Ave. Details at facebook.com/309punkproject.

PENSACOLA CINEMA ART SCREENING: MARTY SUPREME Watch "Marty Supreme"

at Pensacola Cinema Art 1 p.m. Friday, Jan. 1 and Saturday, Jan. 2 located at 220 W. Garden St. Cost is $10 and includes free snacks and wine. Visit pensacolacinemaart.com for details.

PENSACOLA MARDI GRAS KICK OFF The

official Mardi Gras kick off will begin inside Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. 5 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 3. Watch the royal processional, a Second Line and blessing of the floats. Details at pensacolamardigras.com/kick-off-celebration.

COASTAL WEDDINGS EXPO Visit with wed-

ding vendors 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Monday, Jan. 4 at Pensacola Bay Center, 201 E. Gregory St. Details at pensacolabaycenter.com.

SWAN LAKE Classical Arts Entertainment presents this timeless ballet from international dancers 7:30 p.m. Monday, Jan. 5 at Saenger Theatre, 118 S. Palafox St. Tickets and details at pensacolasaenger.com. MUTTS GONE NUTS: UNLEASHED A comedy show featuring four-legged stars 7:30 p.m. Tuesday,

Changing a life starts with you Foster parents provide loving homes to some of the most vulnerable in our community. When you become a foster parent through Lakeview Center, our specialized team is here to support you on this rewarding journey. Start your foster care journey at eLakeviewCenter.org/foster.

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a&e happenings Jan. 6 at Saenger Theatre, 118 S. Palafox St. Tickets and information at pensacolasaenger.com.

DUALITIES EXHIBITING ARTISTS PRESENTATIONS Presentations from Dale Castelucci,

Yvonne Christine and Ashan Pridgon 5-7 p.m. Friday, Jan. 9 at Pensacola Museum of Art, 407 S. Jefferson St. The exhibit is on view through Jan. 11. Details are at pensacolamuseum.org.

CREATURE FEATURE: JURIED ART SHOW DIY multimedia art show 4-9 p.m.

Friday, Jan. 9. Submissions are open until Dec. 30. The exhibit's theme: twisting the macabre and the grotesque into something beautiful and fantastical. Capture what it feels like to be othered or ostracized. Monsters are a reflection of our fears and desires; what are yours? Direct message @the.undergrowth on Instagram for address and details. Free entry day of show, donations encouraged.

ZINE MAKING SKILLSHARE Join 309 Punk Project for an afternoon of zine making 1-4 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 10 at 209 N. Sixth Ave. Details at facebook.com/309punkproject. IMPROVABLE CAUSE The first Improvable

Cause show of 2026 is 10 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 10 at Pensacola Little Theatre, 400 S. Jefferson St. Details and tickets at pensacolalittletheatre.com.

PALAFOX MARKET Palafox Market 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturdays. The event features local farmers,

artists and crafters on North and South Palafox streets at Martin Luther King Jr. Plaza and Plaza Ferdinand. For updates, visit facebook.com/ downtownpensacola.

FOOD + DRINKS

DUMPLINGS FOR DAYS Cooking class is 4 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 27 at Pensacola Cooks, 4015 Barrancas Ave., Ste. C. Option to bring your own beer. Menu is gyoza, pierogi and modak. Tickets are $60 per student and available at pensacolacooks.com.

ATLAS BEVERAGE CLASS The first Atlas

Beverage Class of 2026 is 5 and 7 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 8 located at 600 S. Barracks St. Cost is $30 per person. Make reservations by calling (850) 287-0200 or email taylor@goodgrits.com.

LIVE MUSIC

BOUKOU GROOVE, 12ELEVEN AND JOSH DRAKE BAND Show starts at 7 p.m. Friday,

Dec. 26 at The Handlebar, 319 N. Tarragona St. More info available at thehandlebar850.com.

THE PURPLE MADNESS: AMERICA'S NO. 1 PRINCE TRIBUTE EXPERIENCE Show is 7

p.m. Saturday, Dec. 27 at Vinyl Music Hall, 2 S. Palafox St. Tickets and info at vinylmusichall.com.

PENSACOLA SONGWRITER ROUNDS SERIES FEATURING JOHNNIE PALMER, ROCKSTAR GIRLFRIEND, SIDESWEPT BANGS AND HOST KATIE DINEEN Show

starts at 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 28 at The Handle-

bar, 319 N. Tarragona St. More info available at thehandlebar850.com.

THE VENUE KINGS Show is 7 p.m. Friday, Jan. 2 at The Handlebar, 319 N. Tarragona St. Details and tickets at thehandlebar850.com.

WUWF PRESENTS RADIOLIVE The next

RadioLive is 6 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 8 at Museum of Commerce, 201 Zaragoza St. featuring Shelby Kemp, Drew Young and Dana Cooper. Tickets are $10 and available at radiolive.org.

PENSACOLA SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA PRESENTS: BEETHOVEN & BLUE JEANS

Concert is 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 10 at Saenger Theatre, 118 S. Palafox St. Details and tickets at pensacolasymphony.com.

FITNESS + RECREATION

OCEAN HOUR CLEANUPS Ocean Hour cleanups are 8:45 a.m. Saturdays. On Dec. 27, the sites are Morgan Park and Sanders Beach. Ocean Hour provides bags, gloves, grabbers and buckets. For more information, visit oceanhourfl.com. PENSACOLA ICE FLYERS HOME GAMES

Pensacola Ice Flyers home games are located at Pensacola Bay Center, 201 E. Gregory St. Tickets start at $12 and are available at pensacolabaycenter.com. The next upcoming home game is 7:05 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 27, Friday, Jan. 2 and Saturday, Jan. 3.

PUBLIC ICE SKATING Public ice skating ses-

sions run from October through April at Pensacola Bay Center, 201 E. Gregory St. Tickets are $12-$15. A public skate season passes are good for all public and after game skate sessions and range from $200-$300. Visit pensacolabaycenter.com for details. Upcoming dates are 2, 3:30, 5 and 6:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 26, Sunday, Dec. 28, Monday, Dec. 29, Tuesday, Dec. 30, Wednesday, Dec. 31 and 9:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 27.

38TH ANNUAL MAKE IT TO THE LINE Take part in Flora-Bama's 4-mile run/walk and 1-mile fun run 7:30 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 27 at Flora-Bama, 17401 Perdido Key Drive. Register online at florabama.com/make-it-to-the-line. UWF WOMEN'S BASKETBALL Games are

4:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 2 and 1 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 4 at UWF, 11000 University Parkway, Bldg. 54. Tickets at goargos.com.

UWF MEN'S BASKETBALL Games are 7:30

p.m. Friday, Jan. 2 and 4 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 4 at UWF, 11000 University Parkway, Bldg. 54. Tickets at goargos.com.

RUN, ROAST & REFRESH: PENSACOLA SOCIAL WELLNESS GATHERING Spend a day in

movement with cold plunges, pilates and more 10 a.m.-12 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 3 at Portside Pickle, 740 Commendencia St. Register online at runroastrefresh.ticketspice.com/run-roast-refresh. {in}

Adoption • Paternity • Dependency/DCF Hearings Prenuptial Agreements • Postnuptial Agreements Divorce • Child Custody and Timesharing Child Support • Child Support Modifications Alimony • Collaborative Divorce • Divorce Mediation • Pre-Suit Family Law Mediation

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WWW.HOTELTRISTAN.COM | PENSACOLA, FL

December 25, 2025

free will astrology WEEK OF DECEMBER 25 ARIES (MARCH 21-APRIL 19): In the Brazilian rainforest, Cecropia trees and Azteca ants have a special relationship. The trees' hollow branches serve as nesting spaces for the ants and offer them sugar-rich food. In return, the ants aggressively defend the trees from herbivores and predators, protecting them from damage. This mutualism benefits both species. The trees get protection that enhances their growth, while the ants gain shelter and nutrition. In the coming months, Aries, I invite you to seek symbiosis that's equally vigorous. Enjoy the fun challenge of reducing your solo struggles as you rouse collaborations that boost your power and everyone else's. The goal is intelligent alliance, not compromise. Be resourceful as you trade a bit too much independence for just the right amount of interdependence. TAURUS (APRIL 20-MAY 20): When potters center clay on a wheel, they typically use one hand inside the vessel to apply steady, controlled force. The other hand remains fluid, guiding and stabilizing the outer rim of the spinning clay. This balanced use of pressure—one hand firm and bracing, the other adapting minutely to the shifting clay—helps bring the lump into perfect symmetry. I propose you make this a prime metaphor in the coming months, Taurus: control meeting surrender. You will be crafting a new balance between security and surprise. Too much rigidity, and the form cracks; too much flow, and it collapses. Practice the middle art.

You won't be less golden for passing through shadow. GEMINI (MAY 21-JUNE 20): Poet Audre

Lorde spoke of how caring for herself was the exact opposite of being selfish. It was the foundation of her ability to serve and inspire other people. My Aunt Sophie used to say, "You can't pour from an empty cup. Take care of yourself first." Educator Stephen Covey advised, "Be patient with yourself. Self-growth is tender; it's holy ground. There's no greater investment." Poet Vironika Tugaleva writes, "Learning to love yourself is essential

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By Rob Brezsny

and life-changing." Everything I just said should be your keynotes in the coming months, Gemini. Boost your self-care to sublime levels.

CANCER (JUNE 21-JULY 22): A remark-

able species of jellyfish can circumvent the aging and death process that affects all other animals. "Turritopsis dohrnii" converts its mature, specialized cells back into stem cells, essentially recycling its own body into youth. The process may repeat indefinitely, making the animal theoretically immortal. In the coming months, Cancerian, your emotional wisdom will also show amazing regenerative power. Challenging and intriguing situations will be opportunities for you to initiate stunning acts of renewal. Like the jellyfish, you won't merely manage change but will use it as a catalyst for vigorous growth. Have you ever before been blessed by such wildly rejuvenative powers of metamorphosis? I don't think so.

LEO (JULY 23-AUG. 22): According to ancient Egyptian myth, the sun god Ra rode a celestial boat across the sky by day. Each night, he plunged into the underworld to wrangle with chaos so he could rebirth light in time for the dawn. That's your mythic assignment for the coming months, Leo: not to be nonstop luminous, but to renew and nurture your radiance in the dark. Your courage will lie in feeling and learning from your doubts without identifying with them. Your magnetism and wisdom will deepen as you descend. You won't be less golden for passing through shadow. VIRGO (AUG. 23-SEPT. 22): In medieval monasteries, scribes added whimsical drawings called drolleries into the margins of sacred manuscripts. These marginalia included scenes like frogs playing harps, nuns chasing rabbits and fantastical creatures engaged in playful or absurd activities. How should we interpret these seemingly prankish additions? Scholars disagree. In any case, I recommend you experiment with drolleries of your own, Virgo. Inject improvisation into duty. Add ornament to order. The coming months will reward your serious play. You'll accomplish more by enjoying the work than by obsessing on perfecting it. A touch of friskiness may even improve efficiency. So when you edit, doodle; when you analyze, wink.

LIBRA (SEPT. 23-OCT. 22): Italy's Orto Botanico di Padova is the world's oldest botanical garden still in its original location. Since its inception 480 years ago, it has been a center for botanical research, education and conservation. Its layout is striking, a square-inscribed in a circle, symbolizing harmonious order. In the coming months, Libra, you will be wise to associate yourself intimately with a similar wonder: an enduring source of beauty and revelation that you can both serve and benefit from.

Be brilliant and persistent in ensuring that love thrives. SCORPIO (OCT. 23-NOV. 21): Astronaut

Chris Hadfield has spent 166 days orbiting the Earth in the International Space Station. In the microgravity of outer space, he says, motion is very smooth; objects and people float. He marvels at how everything is always moving, and yet the pace itself is tranquil and unhurried. I foresee you enjoying a lot of this kind of grace in the coming months, Scorpio: momentum without mania; constant fluidic movement that's never hectic or rushed. What a great privilege! I expect you will rack up many flowing accomplishments.

SAGITTARIUS (NOV. 22-DEC. 21): In Kyoto's famous moss gardens, caretakers practice artful arrangement rather than total removal of shed foliage. They use delicate tools to gather trees' cast-off leaves and arrange them on the moss to create visual harmony rather than bare tidiness. This approach reflects the Japanese aesthetic principles of embracing imperfection. Supposed "flaws" become part of the beauty of the garden. I propose that you regularly adopt a metaphorically comparable approach in the coming months, Sagittarius. Integrate rather than edit. Be creative with what's changing form. Treat socalled messes and unexpected plot twists not as blemishes but as rich textures that feel meaningful and inspiring. CAPRICORN (DEC. 22-JAN. 19): A new-

ly planted orchard spends its first year growing roots, not fruit. Underground and unseen, the

real work happens. I surmise that's like what you will be doing in the coming months, Capricorn: mostly invisible stabilization and preparation. If anyone asks you what you're producing, smile inscrutably and say, "Depth." Be committed to the quiet, hidden work rather than any showy song and dance. As my rough and rugged spirit guide Esther likes to say, "You don't got to prove nothin' to nobody!" The nourishment you will be storing up will sustain later abundance.

AQUARIUS (JAN. 20-FEB. 18): Engineers may engage in "stress testing." They evaluate a system's hardiness and reliability by subjecting it to pressure or force. I suspect that life will bring you a benevolent version of this trial in the coming months, Aquarius. That's a good thing! It's not meant to break you, but to prove how much resilience you have developed. Situations that might have formerly cracked your confidence will affirm and reveal your upgraded endurance. Take note of your composure and congratulate yourself for it. You will have every right to exult in the vivid evidence of how much you've grown. PISCES (FEB. 19-MARCH 20): Piscean author Anaïs Nin wrote, "Love never dies a natural death. It dies because we don't know how to replenish its source." Apply her counsel dynamically during the coming months, dear Pisces. Be the great replenisher. Make yourself into a fountain of beauty as you share lavishly. Nurture tenderness and adoration with unexpected flowers, gorgeous music in the midst of the routine and affection expressed through artful thoughtfulness. Be brilliant and persistent in ensuring that love thrives. Your elegant generosity and fond attention should enrich everything you touch. HERE'S THE HOMEWORK: What's the best thing you can do to stimulate more of the love you want in 2026? {in}

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news of the weird AWESOME! Among the 80,000 items that were traded in to GameStop for store credit during the retailer's first-ever "Trade Anything Day" on Dec. 6 were a goose, a framed dog portrait and a tiny Jesus, KENS-TV reported. But a store in Corsicana, Texas, may have received the weirdest item: a lounging taxidermic bobcat. A company spokesperson said the stores gave out about $400,000 in trade-in credit vouchers. "Our customers showed up with big imaginations ... We are very happy with the turnout." THAT'S BANANAS! Cargo vessels have been in the news lately, but this fruity mishap has folks in southern England on high alert. On Dec. 6, eight containers full of bananas went overboard from a cargo ship, Yahoo! News reported. In West Sussex, rotting fruit has been washing up on the pebbled beaches, the U.K. coast guard said, adding that the public should avoid the areas littered with debris. They also discouraged the public from eating the floating fruits. WHO KNEW? In Japan, millions of families will head to their local KFC on Christmas Day for chicken and fixins, Yahoo! News reported on Dec. 3. "Stores with the Colonel statue will dress him in Christmas attire," said Takuma Kawamura, a KFC marketing manager. Fans will indulge in special "Party Barrels" with chicken, side dishes and ice cream or cheesecake. Not a terrible idea ... IT'S RAINING ... A woman driving to work on Nov. 19 in Bryson City, North Carolina, was stunned when a cat fell from the sky and crashed through her windshield, shattering about half the glass on the passenger side. The Charlotte Observer reported that the cat had been seen by a witness struggling with the eagle that was flying with it; the car was traveling at about 55 mph when the cat made impact. The driver was uninjured, the cat didn't make it, and the eagle made a quick exit. GOALS In northern China, an unidentified 23-year-old man was the victor in a lying-flat contest, the South China Morning Post reported. The contest at a shopping mall on Nov. 15 started out with about 240 people lying flat on mattresses; 186 of them had quit within 24 hours. After 33 hours and 9 minutes, just three contestants were left, and organizers upped the competition by asking them to raise their arms and legs. "My girlfriend sent me a link to the competition and suggested I have a go," the winner said. His prize was about $420. "I will use the money to treat my friends for a hotpot dinner," he said. IT'S A MYSTERY Authorities in Flagler County, Florida, are trying to solve the mystery behind some "suspicious incidents," Click Orlando reported. Between Nov. 12 and 17, in seven separate circumstances, a masked man was captured on surveillance video leaving a piece of wood and a $1 bill on front porches of homes. One family, who received two different deliveries, said the second one had writing on the

By the Editors at Andrews McMeel

wood: "The Midnight Stalker is coming for Palm Coast." Flagler County Sheriff Rick Staly called the incidents "unnerving" and said the person could face charges of trespassing, loitering and prowling, and littering. NOPE Fox News reported that a sky-dining— that's right, DINING, not DIVING—attraction in Kerala, India, froze at its full height with two adults, two children and a staff member on deck on Nov 28. The dining experience involves a crane lifting a platform 120 feet in the air, allowing diners to enjoy a panoramic view. However, the hydraulic system powering the lift failed, leaving the riders with no way to get down. Instead, firefighters used ropes to climb to the platform, then put each person in a harness and lowered them to the ground. The whole operation took about four hours. No injuries were reported. WAIT, WHAT? Quick, get your Christmas order in before Dec. 11 for Mug Root Beer's limited-edition cologne, "Daddy's Home." Fox5 Atlanta reported on Dec. 3 that the company is for the first time detouring into personal care with the scent, which includes aromas of cedar, sandalwood, vanilla and caramel. "It's the kind of scent that whispers 'come to papa' to dogs and dawgs alike," the company said. The package includes a 1.7-ounce cologne and a 10-pack of MUG Root Beer mini cans for the low, low price of $15. "Daddy's Home by Mug Root Beer is for our die-hard MUG fans who believe root beer rules every sense, not just taste," a statement read. ONLY IN CANADA On Nov. 11, an unnamed 36-year-old man entered a bus in Hamilton, Ontario, while the driver was taking a short break outside, Fox5-TV reported. Then the man drove off, with all the passengers still inside. He drove around, making stops to let people off and on, and even denied one person trying to board without a bus pass. Police followed the bus and eventually took the rogue driver into custody, but praised his skills: "There was not a ding on the bus," said Trevor McKenna of the Hamilton police. "He did a great job." He was charged with theft over $5,000, possession over $5,000, obstructing police and driving while prohibited. IT'S GOOD TO HAVE A HOBBY Martin Stroby, 42, of Helsingborg, Sweden, has earned a Guinness World Record for the dubious achievement of stuffing matches in his nostrils, United Press International reported on Nov. 18. The previous record was 68 wooden matches; Stroby was able to shove 81 into his nose. "I discovered I could both stretch my nostrils a lot and also ignore the pain from putting all those matches in there, so I would say I'm a natural," Stroby said. "As a father I want my children to look up to me in the same way I look up to my father." {in}

Send your weird news items to WeirdNewsTips@amuniversal.com December 25, 2025

Independent News | December 25, 2025 | inweekly.net