Inweekly Feb. 14 2019 Issue

Independent News | February 14, 2019 | Volume 20 | Number 7 | Photo by Caleb Kuhl

FREE â–¶

winners & losers 4

outtakes 5

news 6, 8

That's Beyoncé's life every single day, but I got it once in my lifetime.

buzz

cover feature

a&e

13

17

10

publisher Rick Outzen

graphic designer Michael Daw

contact us info@inweekly.net

editor & creative director Joani Delezen

contributing writers Savannah Evanoff, Jennifer Leigh, Sarah Mc Wilson, Jeremy Morrison, C.S. Satterwhite, Stephanie Sharp, Sydney Robinson

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.

“Holding careless drivers accountable makes Pensacola safer for us all.”

JOE ZARZAUR BOARD CERTIFIED CIVIL TRIAL ATTORNEY

ihatejoezarzaur.com 22

(855)hirejoe

P E N S A C O L A inweekly.net

Celebrate life and love with unique culinary experiences in the heart of Historic Downtown Pensacola.

HANDS-ON COOKING CLASSES Make date night extra special with a fun cooking class in our Culinary Instruction Kitchen, or

let us create a private class just for you.

WINE & CHEESE Choose delicacies from around the world for a romantic meal or picnic, or let us prepare a delicious charcuterie plate for you to enjoy on our balcony.

CELEBRATE WITH US Let us help design a perfect party, private dinner or special event, with handpicked wines,

inspired menus and world-class hospitality.

S I P, S A V O R A N D S H A R E A B O D A C I O U S D AY !

sogourmetpensacola.com @BodaciousShops

MON – FRI 9am – 6pm

SATURDAY 9am – 4pm SUNDAY 9am – 2pm

DOWNTOWN PENSACOLA 407 South Palafox Street 850-433-6505

Photo Credit: Aislinn Kate Photography

February 14, 2019

BOD0321 SoGo Kitchen ad IN.indd 1

3

2/4/19 9:52 AM

winners & losers

Grover Robinson / Courtesy Photo

winners

losers

GROVER ROBINSON The mayor of Pensacola had to pick up the pieces of Project Titan and cobble together funding to create an aircraft maintenance campus at the Pensacola International Airport. Over the course of three days, Robinson raised $20 million from the Pensacola City Council, Escambia County Commission and Triumph Gulf Coast and this week hopes to get another $20 million from the Florida Department of Transportation. The mayor answered questions and debated the project's merits. It was a masterful effort.

OPIOID TRAINING The News Service of Florida reported last week that about one in four Florida healthcare providers failed to take a two-hour continuing education course on proper opioid prescribing by the required Jan. 31 deadline. The mandate was included in sweeping legislation on opioids that put limits on prescriptions for opioids and required providers check a statewide prescription drug database before prescribing potentially addictive pain medications to patients.

JACK BROWN After four and a half years

participated in the January 2016 meeting where the decision was made to go after former Fire Chief Matt Schmitt and Deputy Fire Chief Joe Glover—CFO Dick Barker, Chief Human Resources Officer Edward Sisson, Assistant Administrator Keith Wilkins and Special Assistant to the Administrator Rusty Wells. Their decision and the execution of a complicated scheme that led to the firing of Schmitt and Wells cost the city and its insurance carrier $575,000, plus the city's legal fees. All four white men still work for the city, have six-figure salaries and have been rewarded with pay raises.

serving Escambia County, the administrator has retired. Brown dealt with the aftermath of the April 2014 flood and the Central Booking and Detention Center explosion and numerous infrastructure issues. He helped secure new sites for the Escambia County 4-H Facility and the Escambia County Correctional Facility and kept the OLF-8 and OLF-X land swap project on track. Brown provided steady, professional leadership when it was most needed.

GEORGIA BLACKMON The community

activist has sold her Gathering Awareness and Book Center on DeVilliers Street and will be turning the store over to the new owner at the end of February. Her nonprofit Mother Wit Institute has promoted Pensacola's AfricanAmerican heritage and diversity in the area.

Blackmon has taken on the ongoing fundraising for the restoration of the Ella Jordan Home, a 138-year-old home that was once a center of African-American education and culture in Pensacola. Her voice is important to this community.

THE GANG OF FOUR Four city officials

NANCY OAKLEY The Madeira Beach city

commissioner resigned days after being fined by the state ethics commission for sexually harassing a former city manager by licking his face and groping him. In her letter of resignation, Oakley insisted she is innocent and said she intends to appeal the ethics violation ruling.

Last month, the Commission on Ethics unanimously fined Oakley $5,000 and called on the governor to issue her a public reprimand.

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

127 Palafox Place Suite 100 (850)466-3115 autumnbeckblackledge.com 44

inweekly.net

outtakes

By Rick Outzen

RELIGIOUS FREEDOM The U.S. Supreme Court made a bad decision last week when it allowed the state of Alabama to discriminate based on religion.

On Thursday, Feb. 8, Alabama executed a Muslim inmate after the U.S. Supreme Court denied his request for a minister of his religion to be present while the lethal injection was administered. Death row inmates are allowed a Christian chaplain but not those of other religious faiths.

The state defended the Alabama Department of Corrections by arguing that only prison employees are allowed in the execution chamber for the security reasons, and the prison did not employ any imams.

The previous day, the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals agreed with the Muslim inmate and stayed the execution, citing the state policy "touches at the heart of the Establishment Clause."

The First Amendment's Establishment Clause prohibits the government from making any law "respecting an establishment of religion." This clause forbids the government from establishing an official religion and also prohibits government actions that unduly favor one religion over another.

Alabama requested the Supreme Court to overturn the ruling because its prohibition on the imam being in the room didn't substantially burden the inmate's religious freedom. The imam would be allowed to witness from one of the adjacent viewing rooms, separated from the execution chamber by two-way glass.

The Supreme Court in a 5-4 ruling allowed the execution. Justices Ruth Bader

Ginsburg, Stephen Breyer, Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan voted to halt the execution while the legal fight went forward.

In her dissenting opinion, Justice Kagan wrote that the "the clearest command of the Establishment Clause" that the Supreme Court has upheld over the years is that one religious denomination can't be given preference over another.

"But the state's policy does just that," wrote Justice Kagan. "Under that policy, a Christian prisoner may have a minister of his own faith accompany him into the execution chamber to say his last rites. But if an inmate practices a different religion—whether Islam, Judaism or any other—he may not die with a minister of his own faith by his side. That treatment goes against the Establishment Clause's core principle of denominational neutrality."

She said Alabama needed to demonstrate its policy was narrowly tailored to justify religious discrimination.

"I have no doubt that prison security is an interest of that kind," wrote Justice Kagan. "But the state has offered no evidence to show that its wholesale prohibition on outside spiritual advisers is necessary to achieve that goal."

I agree with Justice Kagan. Our religious freedom must be upheld, even if it's inconvenient for some. Discrimination directed at any religion impacts negatively all religions. Let's hope the Supreme Court gets it right next time. {in} rick@inweekly.net

Our religious freedom must be upheld, even if it's inconvenient for some.

Practicing Since 1974 INJURED? (ALL TYPES OF ACCIDENTS)

ARRESTED? (ALL FEDERAL & STATE COURTS)

WHITE COLLAR CRIMES (HEALTH-CARE FRAUD • DRUG OFFENSES & D.U.I.s)

FREE CONSULTATION ON INJURY / DEATH CASES & CRIMINAL CASES NO RECOVERY - NO FEE / COST ON PERSONAL INJURY & WRONGFUL DEATH CASES

24 HOUR SERVICE

433-9922

304 E. GOVERNMENT STREET

417 E ZARRAGOSSA ST. Downtown Charming Historic Seville Cottage with waterview views of Pensacola Bay from rear. Features hardwood floors & windows along the front facade giving lots of light as you enter this well-designed Residence built in 1865 by the Moreno family. • $1,100,000

SEVILLE SQUARE REALTY, LLC Cheryl Young Licensed Real Estate Broker

308 E. Government St. • Pensacola, Florida 32502

(850) 712-4742

www.sevillesquare.net • cheryl@sevillesquare.net February 14, 2019

Licensed in Florida & Alabama 5

MAYOR COMPLETES TITAN DEAL

Photo Courtesy of FloridaWest

By Jeremy Morrison It was a rough touch down, but it appears that Pensacola Mayor Grover Robinson has landed the city's Project Titan, a $210 million jobs and infrastructure project at the Pensacola International Airport.

The project—years in the making and already underway—involves constructing four hangars and associated facilities at the airport to accommodate maintenance, repair and overhaul operations for the aerospace industry, specifically for ST Engineering, the existing hangar's tenant that has promised to create hundreds of jobs and participate in training programs.

The project relies heavily on funds stemming from environmental penalties related to the 2010 oil spill, but that money hinges on the city's ability to piece together the remaining funds.

The decisive, if awkward, moment for Project Titan came Feb. 8 as Mayor Robinson appeared before Triumph Gulf Coast board members, who had already committed a crucial $56 million toward the project, to ask for a little bit more money. If Triumph balked, the project could fall apart.

"We're still going to be short some," Robinson told them.

This was not good news. But a spirited scolding notwithstanding, everyone understood no one was going to let a fewmillion-dollar deficit hold up a project being touted by proponents as a generational game-changer and potentially a catalyst for an entire industry.

"We've been to the well a couple of times on this thing," board member Allan Bense told Robinson through a half-nice 66

smile before Triumph ponied up the dollars needed to push the project forward. "I don't want to see you here again."

WHITTLING A SHORTFALL

When Mayor Robinson came into office last fall, he found a surprise awaiting—the city was about $45 million short on its share of funding for Project Titan.

"Last October, we thought this was over the line and finished," Robinson told the Pensacola City Council a few days before his appearance before Triumph.

For the last few months, the city administration has worked to secure the needed funds, seeking commitments from the state, specifically $20 million more from the Florida Department of Transportation, about which it feels "it is reasonable to be optimistic." And during the first week of February, Robinson made the rounds locally, hitting up the Pensacola City Council and Escambia County Board of County Commissioners for $5 million respectively.

"We certainly have very large requests," Robinson acknowledged to city council members.

The mayor seemed to be pursuing Titan funding with increasing urgency. He was already working off a deadline extension from Triumph, and now he said that ST Aerospace needed assurances the project's funding would indeed materialize and was pointing toward a Valentine Day company meeting as a make-or-break date.

"Big time," confirmed Bill Hafner, president of VT MAE, a subsidiary of ST, standing in the lobby outside the Escambia County Commission chambers. "We're on a tight timeline."

Hafner explained that the company was looking to take on a big contract, the kind that only comes along "every five years"

and the kind that would require additional facilities. If more hangars weren't going to be funded in Pensacola, ST would have to rethink its operational plan.

"It's a key factor," Hafner said. "Obviously, if you don't have the capacity, they're not going to consider you."

If Titan fell apart due to funding, it would be a big deal beyond causing ST to reassess. It would dash the hopes of establishing a foothold in the aerospace manufacturing industry, as well as the jobs and training programs associated with ST's presence and expansion, not to mention all the increased tax revenue and projected ripple-effect benefits attached to such a project.

Mayor Robinson found fairly receptive audiences to this line of thinking in the city council and county commission, receptive enough, anyway.

"We're really talking about the future of Pensacola," Councilman P.C. Wu said before the council kicked in its $5 million.

"If anyone wants to run down this project, they're missing the big picture," said Escambia County Commissioner Jeff Bergosh.

TITAN HOLDOUTS

But not everyone agreed that committing so much money to Project Titan was a great idea. There were some concerns about publicly funding a project that benefitted private industry and questions about the rosy economic benefit projections being laid out before officials.

"I think it's too much money," said Councilwoman Sherri Myers, citing a letter from former City Budget Analyst Butch Hansen warning of "significant financial risk" for the city.

Robinson, in fact, only narrowly secured his recent $5 million request from

the city council, with three of its seven members refusing to support the commitment. The county commissioners were more vocal in their support, with only one holdout among the board, an outcome Bergosh had predicted.

"I think it's going to be a 4-1 vote at the end of the night, and it's going to be a great thing," Bergosh said, downplaying Commissioner Doug Underhill's concerns about Titan.

But Underhill—as well as council members Ann Hill, Jared Moore and Myers— were expressing fairly textbook concerns about such a project. They feared that putting so much money into the project would drain resources away from other obligations and that the cost per job was simply too high.

"I'm tired of telling citizens no to things like streetlights, sidewalks and safe roads and saying yes to things like this," Underhill said.

Several city council members also expressed philosophical reservations about incentivizing private industry with public dollars. Others countered with examples of successfully incentivized industries in neighboring regions.

"Do I like incentivizing?" Councilwoman Jewel Cannada-Wynn asked rhetorically. "It is the name of the game in some places."

"Ladies and gentlemen," Wu told his fellow council members, "Mobile hasn't grown the way it did because they didn't provide any incentives."

TRIUMPH'S LAST GIFT

With a fresh $10 million in hand and a new cartoon in the daily paper lampooning the mayor's frantic hunt for funds, Robinson headed off to see the Triumph board with an ambitious ask for another $12.5 million in funding. A rejection of the request would also mean the original $56 million would be revoked, which would sink the project.

"I don't think any of us likes the way this feels," said Triumph board member Benjamin Lee. Ultimately, Triumph agreed to commit $10 million more to Titan but threw in some additional stipulations on the funds. In return for the additional funds, Robinson agreed to work on a deal with ST Aerospace that saw its training and jobs benefits spread across Northwest Florida and also tethered the company to the area for seven years.

"I can live with $10 million," Robinson told the board, saying that he felt sure he could secure the remaining funds somewhere.

Triumph's total commitment of $66 million to Pensacola's Project Titan represents the largest amount of funds the board has put toward any project. Robinson was told not to expect any more for the area.

"At some point and time," Bense warned, "there will be members of the public saying, 'You gonna give it all to Pensacola?'" {in} inweekly.net

February 14, 2019

7

WANTED: APPOINTED SUPERINTENDENT

Patty Hightower / Courtesy Photo

By Duwayne Escobedo Patty Hightower admitted it might be difficult for the Escambia County School Board to appoint its first superintendent in 2020 because of the school system's reputation for performing poorly.

The Escambia County School Board chairwoman pointed out in 1998 on Florida's first standardized test, Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test (FCAT), only two schools in the state earned an "F." They were both located in Escambia County.

This year, the district did not have any "F" schools and earned an overall "B" grade.

"What aren't we doing?" asked Hightower. "These kids are our kids. Why can't we meet their needs? We've tried a lot of things, but we still struggle."

When asked what it would take to attract a top-notch superintendent to the school system, Hightower responded, "I've been trying to figure that out. Maybe they

want to come to Escambia County because they see the challenge."

Hightower was making her first public presentation about the process of hiring an appointed superintendent Thursday, Jan. 31, as part of a Q&A sponsored by the Pensacola Young Professionals at the Pensacola News Journal office building. About two dozen locals came to listen to Hightower, a four-term school board member.

She urged them and the rest of the community, especially parents of school-aged children, teachers and principals, to envision what they want in an appointed superintendent.

Voters passed the measure to move away from an elected superintendent by less than 1 percent in November. Across the country, 99.5 percent of school districts have an appointed superintendent. Only Florida, Alabama and Mississippi cling to holding an election.

HIGHTOWER'S WISH LIST

"We need a person who can tell us where they can take us," she said. "They need to tell us, 'This is what I can do to change (the school district's) direction.' We need a leader who can move the trajectory, so we don't have that many schools in the lower 300 (in the state)."

"We need a leader who can move the trajectory, so we don't have that many schools in the lower 300." Patty Hightower She did credit current three-term Superintendent Malcolm Thomas for increasing the graduation rate from 56 percent in 2008 to 80 percent today and creating workforce academies at middle schools and high schools, among other gains.

Kim Krupa, a local resident and Achieve

Escambia director, said the community needed to focus more on positive things happening in local schools and spread the word about them.

"I think we need to hire someone who loves and believes in public schools," Krupa said. "We have an image problem. But people don't know about all the positive things we're doing."

"I think we need to hire someone who loves and believes in public schools." Kim Krupa Twenty-nine of the 67 counties in Florida appoint a superintendent. Escambia passed the measure for the first time in six tries dating back 51 years. Additionally, Marion and Martin counties also voted this past election to appoint their school superintendents. It was the fourth time Marion voters considered the issue and the fifth time since 1986 that Martin voters cast ballots.

Hightower said that she has been worrying about the appointment process.

She held up a white binder showing all the independent research she has done.

The process usually takes up to six months to complete, but Hightower reported that Thomas said he would stay beyond his term that ends Nov. 16, 2020, if the board needs him to help ensure a smooth transition.

She said she planned to set aside an hour at each meeting so the five-member board can discuss the hiring. Although the board did listen to a presentation by the Florida School Board Association, it has yet to address the process together. The first chance for that will be at its Monday, Feb. 18 workshop, Hightower said.

"I'm glad the public is entrusting us to do this," Hightower said. "We are taking it seriously. We have been in charge of hiring before but not at this magnitude."

Hightower said the process would begin with a six-week national search for an education leader. The board would likely hire an advisory committee to screen the applicants and make recommendations to the board.

Once the selection process concludes, the school board must negotiate the salary with its choice to oversee the district's 51 schools, 40,000 students, 7,000 teachers, staff members and more than $650 million budget. Hightower said the state would allow Escambia up to $225,000 to fund a competitive salary.

As part of the hour-long PYP event, Hightower shared a slide that compared salaries of appointed superintendents in Florida county school districts similar in size to Escambia.

Those school systems all paid salaries more than the $141,806 earned annually by Superintendent Thomas.

The school districts, number of students and salaries were: •Collier, 46,000 students, $236,677 •Lake, 42,000 students, $195,000 •Manatee, 48,000 students, $193,718 •St. Johns, 39,000 students, $165,000 "I was thinking it was going to be worse," said Hightower, who served as the Florida School Board Association board president from 2015-2017.

Butch Hansen, a Pensacola resident, said he had no issue with paying a higher salary to an appointed superintendent.

"You get what you pay for," Hansen said.

Hightower said she wishes she could fast forward to the end of the selection process for a new superintendent. Although she wouldn't name names, she said she had local people in mind and people who head other school districts in Florida that she would like to appoint.

"The next superintendent must continue our movement forward," she said.

"We can't go backward." {in}

EATS, DRINKS & SMILES BIG ASS SMILES @THEMAGNOLIAEPH NOW OPEN ON SUNDAYS 88

inweekly.net

All women are invited to join!

Since 2004, IMPACT 100 Pensacola Bay Area members have awarded 98 grants of $100,000 or more to 72 nonprofit organizations in Escambia and Santa Rosa Counties, resulting in an investment of $10,498,000 in our area communities.

Each year we invest in transformative projects for nonprofit grant recipients that positively benefit our community.

What are the 2018 grants funding?

Interactive wildlife refuge and conservation classroom

Deadline to join is March 1st!

Adaptive baseball field for physically and mentally challenged individuals State-of-the-art park lighting to properly illuminate the memorial of those who served Facility improvements for child mentoring programs Highly-trained facility dogs serving the emotional needs of children and their families in the pediatric units Field-based outreach to the homeless via a mobile outreach office And much, much more.

100% of the $1,000 membership donation is distributed in grants to the nonprofit recipients in our community.

Volunteer

Join by March 1st

Discover the many ways you can volunteer with IMPACT 100.

Go to the IMPACT 100 website to learn more about membership, join, or renew.

$

Donate

Support IMPACT 100 by making a donation and/or providing services.

Ăź

Submit a Grant

Learn about the IMPACT 100 grant process and how your nonprofit organization can apply.

AD SPONSORED BY THE STUDER FAMILY February 14, 2019

9

This struggle materializes at a rate of $26.48 per hour—what it takes a household of four in Escambia County to survive with the associated costs of living.

These struggling Floridians are Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed or ALICE. They are households earning above the poverty line but not enough to cover the most basic of needs like food and housing. Even in affordable communities, across the board increases in everything from childcare to health care plague a family's ability to save or buy a home despite holding down a 40-hour-a-week job.

"The people reflected in this study are working and providing direct services in our community every day," Gilliam stated. "The fact that this population has grown, despite the perceived growth of our community, shows that there's still a lot of work to be done."

The cost of basic household needs increased steadily, outpacing the rate of inflation and wage growth. The cost for a family of four in Escambia County to meet basic needs rose 6 percent annually. The costs rose 14 percent annually for a single adult.

For town- and county-level ALICE data or to find county-by-county survival and stability budgets for six family sizes, visit unitedwayalice.org/florida.

Museum Plaza Grand Opening / Photo Courtesy of University of West Florida

HISTORIC CONNECTION On Friday, Feb.

8, the University of West Florida Historic Trust celebrated the grand opening of Museum Plaza, a new multi-use and educational community space in downtown Pensacola that helps tell the story of Pensacola's rich history.

"Without the invaluable support of donors and community partners, this all would not have been possible," said Howard Reddy, vice president for university advancement.

"We have created a dynamic community space in the heart of our historic city that preserves and interprets our archaeological treasures and provides a unique platform for learning and engagement."

The plaza connects the T.T. Wentworth, Jr. Florida State Museum, Pensacola Children's Museum, Voices of Pensacola Multicultural Center and the Historic Pensacola Village.

"The notion of the plaza was to create an urban green space downtown that better ties the eastern part of the historic properties we manage to the Palafox business district, with better lighting, better walkways and to make it more pleasant to look at," said Rob Overton, executive director for the UWF Historic Trust. "We determined that it could be a focal point for downtown if we livened it up and tied the two parts of the city together."

The grand opening highlighted Museum Plaza's interactive early learning playground, Commanding Officers' Compound, the Rose Garden Storytelling Circle and the Linda Evans Memorial Education Pavilion.

010 1

Discovery Square, the interactive early learning playground donated by Quint and Rishy Studer, highlights the industries that played an essential role in the development of Pensacola—timber, fishing, shipping, brick making and transportation. Its design features unique equipment with colorful letters and numbers, encouraging children to explore and learn while playing.

"There's no greater thing than to give back and to help children learn," said Quint Studer. "We are pleased to be a part of this and to be able to share this community."

The plaza is the next phase of development included in the UWF Historic Trust Interpretive Master Plan. Funding for Museum Plaza was provided by the UWF Historic Trust, Quint and Rishy Studer, David and Emily Walby, IMPACT 100, Fiesta of Five Flags and the Florida Division of Historical Resources.

INDEPENDENT PERSONNEL BOARD

Pensacola Mayor Grover Robinson last week committed to establishing an independent personnel board after listening to a presentation at the mayoral transition team meeting.

Two years after he took office, Mayor Ashton Hayward went to the state legislature and asked for the repeal of the city's Civil Service Board. He won the support of city employees, city council and lawmakers because he committed to creating an Independent Personnel Board.

Gov. Rick Scott signed the bill in June 2013. The board was added to the city's HR manual in December 2013. However,

even though it was in the HR manual on the city's website for two years, Hayward never created the Independent Personnel Board.

Hours after Fire Chief Matt Schmitt and Deputy Fire Chief Joe Glover were placed on leave on Feb. 2, 2016, a new HR manual was uploaded to the city's website. The independent board was eliminated, and the chiefs could only appeal their leaves to Chief Human Resources Officer Edward Sisson and City Administrator Eric Olson.

We now know that Sisson made the allegations against the chiefs, and Olson participated in the closed-door meeting where the decision was made to put them on leave.

Imagine that your only appeals had to be before the men who placed you on leave.

Mayor Robinson said the county has an independent appeals board, and he will establish one for the city.

FAMILIES STRUGGLE United Way of Escambia County last week announced that of 118,702 households in Escambia County, about a third struggle to pay for basic needs such as housing, childcare, food, transportation, health care and technology.

Another 12 percent live below the poverty level, which means nearly half of the county's households are fighting to provide basic needs. Statewide, 46 percent of households face the same financial challenges.

"There is enormous value in this data," said United Way of Escambia County President & CEO Laura P. Gilliam. "It really paints an accurate picture of the working families struggling to get by in our community."

VOTERS WANT TO KNOW A recent Inweekly/Political Matrix poll of 444 likely Pensacola City voters conducted found residents overwhelmingly—71.2 percent— want Mayor Grover Robinson to investigate why former Fire Chief Matt Schmitt and Deputy Fire Chief were fired.

On Jan. 29, 2016, City Administrator Eric Olson, his special assistant Rusty Wells, CFO Dick Barker, Chief Human Resources Officer Edward Sisson and Assistant Administrator Keith Wilkins met with Beggs & Lane attorney Russell Van Sickle and Allan Norton & Blue attorney Rob Larkin to come up with a legal scheme that would place the chiefs on administrative leave and conduct an investigation that would undermine the chiefs' EEOC complaints and give Mayor Ashton Hayward the cover to fire them.

The plan worked, but there was one huge catch. The city couldn't defend its actions in federal court after Schmitt and Glover filed discrimination lawsuits. The city and its insurance carrier in October 2018 had to settle and pay the former chiefs $575,000. The settlement was made in the waning days of the Hayward administration and hidden from the public until Inweekly reported it last month.

More than 86 percent of the respondents believed Mayor Hayward should have disclosed the settlements.

INGRAM'S FAREWELL On Friday, Feb. 8, Greater Pensacola Chamber CEO Clay Ingram sent out a farewell message to inweekly.net

chamber members and supporters. Ingram has been tapped by Gov. Ron DeSantis to lead Volunteer Florida, the state's agency for volunteerism and national service.

Of his four years leading the chamber, Ingram said, "We created a robust advocacy program to help our members navigate the maze of government red tape, re-energized our monthly events, brought in nationally renowned keynote speakers for our annual meetings and most notably have launched the West Florida Defense Alliance."

He said that Todd Thomson had been named the chamber's interim president and CEO.

CRIME DOWN Violent crimes in the city of

Pensacola were down during the 2018 calendar year, according to the FDLE. The property crime rate was down 4.2 percent, and the clearance rate of crimes reported to the Pensacola Police Department was up 11.8 percent.

A new statistic being reported by the FDLE is the number of police officers who were assaulted during the same calendar year. In 2018, 41 Pensacola police officers were assaulted while doing their jobs.

Police Chief Tommi Lyter said in a PPD press release that his focus has been to address problem areas and respond immediately.

Officers then stay in affected areas no matter how long it may take and when the underlying causes have been addressed.

"Those who choose to commit violent acts on the citizens of Pensacola will be met with a heavy response from the Pensacola Police Department," said Chief Lyter.

AFFORDABLE BEACH TOWN In its fourth annual study, SmartAsset analyzed data to find the most affordable beach towns in America, and Pensacola ranks in the number two spot. It is the first of four Florida beach towns to crack the top 10.

Pensacola ranks second thanks to low home values, affordable housing costs and relatively low property taxes. The median home here is worth just under $156,000, 11th lowest in the study, and the annual property

taxes for the average home cost slightly less than $1,200 per year, a top-20 score.

ANNEXATION CONVERSATION While

he described it as "incredibly hard and difficult to do," Mayor Robinson appears game for a conversation about annexation.

He said during his weekly press conference last week that cleaning up the city's jagged boundaries—"better lines, easier to understand"—made sense.

"I mean, if we could get it done, I'd love to have a much squarer city that was easier to understand," the mayor said.

The reason annexations are difficult, the mayor said, is due to the vote requirement attached to them. He said he plans on discussing that issue with the city's legal department.

"Unless there are some legal changes, it's going to be very hard to do annexation," the mayor said. "But everybody's been asking about it."

NEW TEAM BROADCASTER Chris Gara-

giola, the grandson of Hall of Fame broadcaster Joe Garagiola Sr., will fill the open seat in the radio booth for the Pensacola Blue Wahoos. He has served as the team's assistant broadcaster and media relations trainee for the past two seasons.

Garagiola's broadcast experience includes the Australian Baseball League, where he served as lead broadcaster and beat writer for the Melbourne Aces, and as the voice of his alma mater Trinity University (TX), where he called football, baseball and men's and women's soccer as well as serving as a co-anchor on the university's news channel. In the baseball off-season, he continues to broadcast Trinity Tigers sports.

Garagiola comes from a distinguished baseball family. His grandfather played nine seasons in the major leagues before embarking on a 58-year broadcasting career, during which he received the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame's Ford C. Frick Award and the Buck O'Neil Lifetime Achievement Award. His father, Joe Garagiola Jr., was

the original general manager of the Arizona Diamondbacks and the architect of their 2001 World Series-winning team. He currently serves as a special advisor to the Diamondbacks president and CEO.

SOUND OFF The Escambia County

School District is seeking input from students, parents, teachers, employees, community members and other stakeholders as work begins to develop on the proposed academic year calendar for the 2023-24 school year.

The committee's final recommendation for the 2023-24 Academic Year Calendar will be on the agenda for the March 26 Regular School Board Meeting. The survey links, along with two draft proposals, are located on the Escambia County School District website main page at escambiaschools.net. The survey closes Tuesday, Feb. 19.

CARPENTER'S CREEK MEETING Sherri Myers, Pensacola City Council District 2, is hosting a town hall meeting at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 19, regarding Carpenter's Creek.

The meeting will provide an oral history project and an update on the status of the new Ninth Avenue Bridge, and Escambia County Commissioner Robert Bender, District 4, will give an update on the Carpenter's Creek Restore Project.

Laurie Murphy, executive director of the Emerald Coastkeepers, will give details of the invasive species removal events. The meeting location is Asbury Place, behind Cokesbury United Methodist Church, 5725 N. 9th Ave.

PACE AWARDS The Greater Pensacola

Chamber will host its 59th annual Pensacola Area Commitment to Excellence (PACE) Awards at 6-10 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 20, at the Hilton Pensacola Beach Gulf Front, 12 Via De Luna.

Each year, the chamber presents the PACE Awards to celebrate the best and brightest leaders who have made significant, positive contributions to the Pensacola community. Awards will be presented in

the following leadership categories—Business, Community, Advocate, Emerging Education, Professional Leader and the Spirit of Pensacola Award.

The costs are $80 per person or $750 for a table of 10. Limited seating is available. To RSVP, visit pensacolachamber.com/events.

JULEP SEEKS NOMINATIONS The Junior League of Pensacola invites you to join them at 11 a.m.-1 p.m. on March 8 at the Pensacola Yacht Club to local women in leadership luncheon.

The luncheon will honor four women who will receive a Women's Empowerment Award.

The purpose of these awards is to build up women in the community who display the traits of what it truly means to be a woman leader in the Pensacola community. They are currently taking nominations for the following categories—Woman in Business, Woman in Philanthropy, Woman of Service and Youth Woman in Leadership (ages 16-21).

Nomination details and ticket sales can be found at womenseempowermentpensacola.com. Nominations are due Monday, Feb. 18, and must include the nominee's headshot, biography and a completed nomination form.

MARK YOUR CALENDAR CivicCon: Pe-

ter Bazeli, "Market Studies: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly," 6-7:30 p.m. Monday, Feb. 18, at Sanders Beach Community Center, 913 S. I St. Doors open at 5:30 p.m.

Mayor Grover Robinson will host his second town hall meeting on along with Councilwoman Jewel Cannada-Wynn and Escambia County Commissioner Lumon May 5:30-7:30 p.m. Monday, Feb. 18. at Theophalis May Resource Center, 1301 W. Gregory St. The Haas Center at the University of West Florida and Gulf Coast Minority Chamber will host an informal meeting to present "A Demographic Overview of the Black Community in Pensacola" 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Monday, Feb. 25, in Studer Community Institute Meeting Room, 220 W. Garden St. To register, visit ow.ly/sN8a30nChjg. {in}

MOST INVESTMENT LOSSES ARE FROM PRODUCTS WITH CONFLICTS OF INTERESTS PETER J. MOUGEY

Recovered $250 million on Behalf of over 3,000 Investors

850.435.7000 | LEVINLAW.COM Pensacola, FL February 14, 2019

11

@VOLUMEONESALON 212 1

inweekly.net

van

By Sa

vanoff na h E

Matt and Kim / Photos by Caleb Kuhl Valentine's Day isn't a highlight reel for Matt and Kim. The indie-pop duo and real-life embodiment of #couplegoals are excited to be performing at Vinyl Music Hall on the holiday of hearts this year, but it used to be a no-go.

"We have bad luck on Valentine's Day," Matt Johnson told Inweekly. "Early on, as a couple that was a band, we'd get asked to play Valentine's Day shows. For some February 14, 2019

reason or another, they would go awful. It was just probably a coincidence, but at one point, we were like, 'No more Valentine's Day shows.'"

In the last handful of years, V-day performances have returned to the tour. But Johnson still proceeds with caution, he said with a laugh.

When Matt and Kim first started, they didn't talk much about their relationship.

"I don't think we ever denied it existed,

but we didn't want it to be the main thing we were about," Johnson said. "Then it wasn't until an album called "New Glow" that we actually had a song or two that talked about our relationship and all the positive aspects of that."

The songs felt honest, Johnson said.

On the band's latest album, "Almost Everyday," he revisited their romance in the song "Happy If You're Happy."

"I just wrote that song about Kim,"

Johnson said. "It's the one that most people connected to on that album‌ Kim's the best thing that ever happened to me. I regret not writing about it sooner."

Matt and Kim spend every day together, because they work together, Johnson said. But that's just it, they work together.

"The thing is, we don't get sick of each other," Johnson said. "We should've murdered each other many years ago—on paper anyway."

13

While the two are in positive spirits, "Almost Everyday" came after a rough year.

Kim had a knee injury that prevented them from touring, among other negative things that happened in the world.

The album title reflects the darker material.

"We were leaving it kind of open, but to say directly, it was just about hearing more bad news almost every day," Johnson said.

"My entire adult life, we've been touring with this band. It was the first year we didn't do it. It felt like what it would probably feel like when we retire from this, and I didn't like that at all."

"I think there was a lot of talk about life speeding up," he said.

Johnson didn't realize how often the topic of death made its way onto the album until after they wrote it. The music is a bit heavier, he said.

"A lot of times, we've had a little bit of a darker undertone under what seemed like very upbeat songs," Johnson said. "I think that's sometimes what makes them feel a little more honest. Our songs are still upbeat songs. They're still fun to dance to. They're still fun to perform. Actually, I can sing a little more passionately in some of them because the topic is in my heart more."

"The thing is, we don't get sick of each other. We should've murdered each other many years ago—on paper anyway." Matt Johnson

414 1

"When you see a band on stage, 'Who wants to hear a new song?'" Johnson said.

"Everyone sort of subtly cheers yes, but they just want to hear songs they know."

Among these tracks people know will be songs from their 2008 breakout album "Grand." They reissued the record on orange vinyl for its 10th anniversary in January.

The record changed their lives. Because of it, they have a platinum record on the wall and a VMA statue, Johnson said.

"It was this pivotal point that was five years into our band's career," Johnson said.

"We had already been around for a while before we put that out. We thought the pace we were at is what we'd always be at, and I was totally fine with that."

Their career was already beyond his expectations, he said.

"Then we made this one album in a bedroom, where I recorded it myself, having no idea how to record an album," Johnson said.

"And people seemed to connect to it on such a level… that one was certainly special."

Johnson can't wait to bring their new music to Pensacola —the place where, "dude," he had his most "Beyoncé moment."

In October of 2011, Matt and Kim had a show in New York City the night before they were supposed to play DeLuna Fest in Pensacola Beach. The two didn't think they could do both shows, but DeLuna Fest kept asking.

Jokingly, they agreed to perform—but only if they got a private jet.

"That was my one and only time," Johnson said. "We landed in Pensacola. Walked off the plane, walked into the little terminal area.

Right there was an Inweekly cover that had our picture on the front. Someone picked it up and said, 'Is this you?' I'm like, 'Yup.'" "That's Beyoncé's life every single day, but I got it once in my lifetime." {in}

The band has a reputation for getting wild at its concerts, and they are totally cool with that.

"Our show is enough balloons and confetti to make a mess," Johnson said. "And Kim jumping up and down on her drum set, shaking her booty."

This tour is next level, though. They recently had 1,000 blow-up sex dolls printed with their faces on them.

"This was Kim's decision," Johnson said. "Never in my life did I think I would spend $15,000 on blow-up sex WHAT: Matt and Kim with Yuno dolls, especially with my face on them.

WHEN: 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 14 We have a storage space that is just WHERE: Vinyl Music Hall, 2 S. Palafox floor to ceiling Matt and Kim dolls."

COST: $25 The duo typically only takes a DETAILS: vinylmusichall.com; mattandcouple of songs from their latest alkimmusic.com bum on tour, plucking the remainder of the set list from their catalog.

MATT AND KIM

inweekly.net

February 14, 2019

15

FLAGSHIP ROMANCE

presents

RadioLive adioLive THE FIRST THURSDAY OF EACH MONTH at the Museum of Commerce in Historic Pensacola

Featuring

TOM FELDMANN FLAGSHIP ROMANCE NIKKI TALLEY PAUL & LEZLEE

03/07/19

6:00 p.m.

Doors 5:00 p.m.

Broadcast LIVE on 88.1 FM

Tickets $10

available at wuwf.org 850.474.2787

GREAT SOUTHERN WELCOMES PENSACON, February 21-24, 2019 HERE ARE SOME OF THE CELEBRITIES that celebrated pensacon at the fish house... MAKE SURE TO STOP BY THIS YEAR! YOU NEVER KNOW WHO YOU MIGht see!

THREE DIFFERENT FAN EXPERIENCES IN ONE GIANT COMPLEX!

Pom Klementieff

Guardians of the Galaxy avengers infinity war

Brent Spiner star trek

THEME DECOR | PHOTO OPPS | DRINK SPECIALS

Robert Picardo Star trek

Robert Duncan McNeill star trek

Brittany Daniel WHITE CHICKS, Joe Dirt

Ian Beattie

Game of Thrones

Mindy Sterling

Tommy Flanagan Sons of Anarchy

Austin Powers ICarly

Lou Ferrigno

The Incredible Hulk

850-470-0003 . GREATSOUTHERNRESTAURANTS.COM . 600 SOUTH BARRACKS STREET . DOWNTOWN PENSACOLA 616 1

inweekly.net

WEEK OF FEBRUARY 14-20

Arts & Entertainment A Timeless Tale Comes to Life art, film, music, stage, books and other signs of civilization...

By C. S. Satterwhite

Illustration by Margo Crane A year ago, at the University of West Florida production of "The Music Man," breaking news was announced—"The Little Mermaid" was coming to Pensacola.

The audience cheered and applauded. The excitement was palpable, and now the moment has arrived.

Swimming to the stage starting this weekend is a cast of familiar characters, surely to the delight of many who grew up with one of Disney's most popular films. As this year marks the 30th anniversary of Disney's release of "The Little Mermaid," the timing couldn't be better for a revival.

While today most know "The Little Mermaid" as the 1989 Disney film, the inspiration comes from the somewhat dark and cautionary fairy tale by Hans Christian Andersen. In the story, a mermaid named Ariel falls for a human,

Prince Eric. As mermaids are not truly human, Ariel enlists a sea witch named Ursula to trade in her fin for legs. As with any such fairytale bargain as that between Ariel and Ursula, there is a price to be paid.

Bringing such a beloved children's story to the stage might fill a director with a sea of anxiety.

That's not so for UWF director Sara Schoch. A graduate of the prestigious Brandeis University, Schoch teaches musical theatre at UWF and has over 150 productions under her belt.

Nonetheless, she knows "The Little Mermaid" will be a special show for many people. Where some may fear the expectations of an audience who grew up with this animated story, Schoch is confident that her production "honors the message of the timeless tale."

"I think we have the key elements that are in the movie," said Schoch.

But if one had only seen the film version, there are extra treats in the stage production.

Familiar songs, such as "Kiss the Girl" and "Under the Sea," will surely get the audience singing, but the stage offers more.

"In the Broadway version, there are a few new songs and a deeper development of some storylines," said Schoch.

And for the super rare few who have not seen the film, do not fear. Schoch promises "there will be something for everyone, whether you've seen the movie or not."

The goal, however, is not to reproduce the

film. The goal is to create an entirely new experience for a multigenerational audience.

"I'm watching my niece fall in love with this adventurous mermaid, and it gives me a lot of hope for the future," said Schoch.

Working with a seasoned cast, Schoch's greatest challenge is showcasing the talent.

From the role of Ariel, played by Rebecca Douglas, to student assistant director Victoria O'Dell, UWF's talent pool will be on full display in this well-rehearsed and ornatelydesigned musical.

"We have the entire department working on this show." Sara Schoch "We have the entire department working on this show," said Schoch. As this musical has been in the works for over a year now, Schoch said that "it is impossible to think about the time that everyone associated…has poured into this production."

"One of the things that is so special about the theatre department here at UWF is that everyone has a hand in making productions a success. So, I want to make sure that my direction reflects the incredible talent of our students and faculty," said added.

For Schoch, who recently directed "The Music Man," this play offers a personal gratification. "I think that this one ["The Little Mermaid"] allowed me to return to my imagination a little bit more," she said. "I love fantastical worlds because when we buy right into the convention that there is going to be a

mermaid on stage, the sky is the limit as far as the artistic vision goes."

Although most of the cast and crew are students, most are also veterans of the stage with fairly long resumes. Michael Anthony Butler is a senior majoring in theatre and plays the role of Chef Louis in the play.

"My favorite part of working on this musical was discovering parts of my acting ability that I had never shown before," he said. "This role is larger than life and a lot of fun to play."

Butler worked with Schoch previously in "The Music Man" and "Christmas Carol" and also performed in the Pensacola Little Theatre's wildly successful "Mary Poppins" over the summer.

If "The Little Mermaid" lives up to its expectations and Schoch's confidence is well placed, Pensacola's theatergoers will leave with their hearts warmed with love and heads filled with song. At long last, Ariel has arrived. {in}

THE LITTLE MERMAID

WHAT: UWF Department of Theatre presents Disney's "The Little Mermaid" WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Feb. 15, 16, 21, 22 and 23; 2:30 p.m. Feb. 17, 23 and 24 WHERE: Mainstage Theatre at the Center for Fine and Performing Arts, Bldg. 82, 11000 University Parkway.

COST: $18 for adults, $14 for senior citizens and active military, $12 for non-UWF students and UWF faculty and staff, $6 for high school students, free for UWF students DETAILS: uwf.edu/tickets

Stock Market Losses?

Hire a lawyer who is a former Merril Lynch stock broker.

Gene e. mitchell attorney and counsellor at law

Representing retirees and other investors

850-232-5278 11 east romana street

www.attorneygenemitchell.com February 14, 2019

17

calendar p.m. $15 and up. Pensacola Bay Center, 201 E. Gregory St. pensacolabaycenter.com MASTER CLASS 7:30 p.m. $25. Collaboration between Pensacola Little Theatre and Pensacola Opera. 400 S. Jefferson St. pensacolalittletheatre.com THE LITTLE MERMAID 7:30 p.m. $6-$18.

Free for UWF students. University of West Florida Center for Fine and Performing Arts, 11000 University Parkway. uwf.edu MOZART MADNESS 7:30 p.m. $10. First United Methodist Church, 6 E. Wright St. pensacolasymphony.com PUBLIC ICE SKATE 9:30 p.m. $9-$12.

Pensacola Bay Center, 201 E. Gregory St. pensacolabaycenter.com

SUNDAY 2.17

WAKE UP HIKE 7 a.m. Meet at Bay Bluffs Park, Scenic Highway at Summit Ave., for a brisk one to two-hour walk with brunch to follow at an area restaurant.

BRUNCH WITH LIVE MUSIC 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

Café Single Fin, 380 N. 9th Ave. facebook. com/cafesinglefin TRANSMISSION GROUP WORLD SERVICE MEDITATION 10:30 a.m. Free. Ever'man

Papadosio / Courtesy Photo

THURSDAY 2.14

YOGA WITHIN REACH 9-10 a.m. Free. Commu-

nity Health Northwest Florida, 2315 W. Jackson St., Room A. healthcarewithinreach.org ONE-ON-ONE TECH HELP 11 a.m. Molino Branch Library, 6450-A Highway 95A. mywfpl.com PILATES MAT 12:30 p.m. Free. Ever'man Educational Center, 327 W. Garden St. everman.org QUILT, STITCH AND SEW OPEN SESSION 1-3 p.m. Pensacola Library, 239 N. Spring St. mywfpl.com LATIN DANCE CLASSES 6:30-9 p.m. $10. Salsa, Bachata, Cha Cha and more. Professional dance instruction for all skill levels. No partner required. DanceCraft, 8618 Pensacola Blvd. dancecraftstudios.com AWM WINE TASTING 5-7 p.m. Free. Aragon Wine Market, 27 S. 9th Ave. facebook.com/ aragonwine GARDEN AND GRAIN CRAFT CLUB 5 p.m.

Perfect Plain Brewing Co., 50 E. Garden St. facebook.com/perfectplainbrewingco MEDITATION AND ENERGY HEALING 6 p.m.

Free. Ever'man Educational Center, 327 W. Garden St. everman.org END OF THE LINE THURSDAY DINNER 6-9 p.m.

End of the Line Café, 610 E. Wright St. Sign up for the newsletter for menu. eotlcafe.com MATT AND KIM 7 p.m. $25. Vinyl Music Hall, 2 S. Palafox. vinylmusichall.com

FRIDAY 2.15

ONE-ON-ONE TECH HELP 10 a.m. Pensacola

Library, 239 N. Spring St. mywfpl.com

EVER'MAN COOKS: SHOPPING THE CO-OP

11 a.m. Ever'man Educational Center, 327 W. Garden St. everman.org PARTY GRAS 11 a.m.-12:15 p.m. Mardi Gras party for seniors age 50 and up. Brownsville Community Center, 3200 W. DeSoto St. playpensacola.com 818 1

SAVING PENSACOLA'S BLACK HISTORY: JULEE PATON HOUSE 11:30 a.m. Pensacola

Historic Preservation Society luncheon meeting at O'Charley's, 6233 N. Davis Highway. Reservations required. Call Judy DeBolt at 477-3294.

HAPPY HOUR COOKOUTS 5 p.m. Drink specials, free cookout. Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. sevillequarter.com GARDEN AND GRAIN CRAFT CLUB 5 p.m.

Perfect Plain Brewing Co., 50 E. Garden St. facebook.com/perfectplainbrewingco POET JEFF SANTOSUOSSO AND AUTHOR ANDREA WALKER 6 p.m. Free. Open Books,

1040 N. Guillemard St. facebook.com/ openbooksbookstore DATE NIGHT DANCE CLASSES 6:30-8 p.m. $8.

Learn several romantic ballroom dance styles in unique group classes. DanceCraft, 8618 Pensacola Blvd. dancecraftstudios.com UR VOICE, UR NIGHT OPEN MIC 7 p.m.

Henny Penny's Patisserie, 4412 W. Jackson. facebook.com/hennypennyspatisserie PAPADOSIO 7 p.m. $15-$20. Vinyl Music Hall, 2 S. Palafox. vinylmusichall.com OPEN MIC 7-11 p.m. Café Single Fin, 380 N. 9th Ave. facebook.com/cafesinglefin MASTER CLASS 7:30 p.m. $25. Collaboration between Pensacola Little Theatre and Pensacola Opera. 400 S. Jefferson St. pensacolalittletheatre.com THE LITTLE MERMAID 7:30 p.m. $6-$18.

Free for UWF students. University of West Florida Center for Fine and Performing Arts, 11000 University Parkway. uwf.edu ICE FLYERS VS. FAYETTEVILLE MARKSMEN

7:35 p.m. $15 and up. Pensacola Bay Center, 201 E. Gregory St. pensacolabaycenter.com PUBLIC ICE SKATE 10 p.m. $9-$12. Pensacola Bay Center, 201 E. Gregory St. pensacolabaycenter.com

SATURDAY 2.16

PARKRUN MEETUP 7:30 a.m. University of West Florida, Rec Plex North Field, 11000 University Parkway. parkrun.us/recplexnorth COUPLES CLASH 8 a.m.-4 p.m. $95 per couple.

Hosted by Bare Hand Collective and Revolt Fitness. Revolt Fitness, 1102 N. 9th Ave. facebook.com/barehandco/ PALAFOX MARKET 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Fresh produce, live plants, baked goods, fine art and antiques.

Items originate directly from participating vendors, including dozens of local farmers, home gardeners and area artists. Martin Luther King Jr. Plaza, N. Palafox. palafoxmarket.com SANTA ROSA FARMERS MARKET 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Fresh local produce, honey, baked goods and live music. Pace Presbyterian Church, Woodbine Road.

ADOPT A PET AT ALYSSA'S 9 a.m.- 6p.m.

Alyssa's Antiques, 4586 Chumuckla Highway. shopalyssas.com OCEAN HOUR CLEAN-UPS 9-10 a.m. Wayside Park & Graffiti Bridge. Meet at Pensacola Visitor Center, 1401 E. Gregory St., and Bartram Memorial Park, 211 Bayfront Parkway. oceanhourfl.com LEAPS 10 a.m. Free. Ever'man Educational Center, 327 W. Garden St. everman.org COMPUTER BASICS Noon. Pensacola Library, 239 N. Spring St. mywfpl.com EVER'MAN COOKS 2 p.m. With Chef Margaret Edwards, champagne tasting. Ever'man Educational Center, 327 W. Garden St. everman.org WALKING CEMETERY TOURS 5:30 p.m. $12 plus tax. St. John's Historic Cemetery, 301 N. G St. goretro.us J RODDY WALSTON & THE BUSINESS, MURDER

BY DEATH 7 p.m. $22-$25. Vinyl Music Hall, 2 S.

Palafox. vinylmusichall.com

Educational Center, 327 W. Garden St. everman.org VEGAN BRUNCH 11 a.m.-2 p.m. End of the Line Café, 610 E. Wright St. Sign up for the newsletter for menu. eotlcafe.com SUNDAY BRUNCH AT H20 11 a.m. $28.95 for adults. Free valet parking and 15 percent off with local ID. H20 Hilton, 12 Via de Luna Drive. facebook.com/hiltonpensacolabeach THE LITTLE MERMAID 2:30 p.m. $6-$18.

Free for UWF students. University of West Florida Center for Fine and Performing Arts, 11000 University Parkway. uwf.edu PENSACOLA CHILDREN'S CHORUS: ONE WORLD, MANY VOICES 2:30 p.m. $26-$36.

Saenger Theatre, 118 N. Palafox. pensacolasaenger.com MASTER CLASS 3 p.m. $25. Collaboration between Pensacola Little Theatre and Pensacola Opera. 400 S. Jefferson St. pensacolalittletheatre.com TRANSGENDER ALLIANCE 4 p.m. Ever'man Educational Center, 327 W. Garden St. everman.org VEGAN AND VINO SUNDAYS 4-7 p.m. Skopelos at New World, 600 S. Palafox.

SWING DANCE CLASSES 4-7 p.m. $10. Professional West Coast swing instruction for all levels. No partner required. DanceCraft, 8618 Pensacola Blvd. dancecraftstudios.com ICE FLYERS VS. FAYETTEVILLE MARKSMEN

4:05 p.m. $15 and up. Pensacola Bay Center, 201 E. Gregory St. pensacolabaycenter.com CONVERSATION WITH CREATIVES: BIG JERK SODA 5-6 p.m. $5. Bare Hand Collective,

2370 N. Palafox. facebook.com/barehandco MORE THAN JUST MOSAICS: THE ANCIENT SYNAGOGUE AT HUQOQ IN ISRAEL'S GALILEE

5:30 reception. 6:30 lecture. Discussion with Dr. Jodi Magness. Voices of Pensacola Multicultural Center, 117 E. Government St. historicpensacola.org LETTUCE 7 p.m. $21. Vinyl Music Hall, 2 S. Palafox. vinylmusichall.com

ICE FLYERS VS. FAYETTEVILLE MARKSMEN 7:05 inweekly.net

calendar

Valentine's Day Calendar

MONDAY 2.18

RESUME HELP 11 a.m. Molino Branch Library,

6450-A Highway 95A. mywfpl.com

'WHAT MAKES JERUSALEM SPECIAL' LUNCH AND LECTURE 11:30 a.m. $10 (for lunch).

Improvable Cause / Courtesy Photo Whether you want to eat a special meal or see a special show (or both, really, if we're talking a proper date night), here's a round-up of events happening on V-Day around town.

THURSDAY 2.14

VALENTINE'S DAY AT FIVE SISTERS BLUES CAFÉ 11 a.m. to close. Special Valentine's Day menu. Five Sisters Blues Café, 421 W. Belmont St. fivesistersbluescafe.com VALENTINE'S DAY AT SKOPELOS 4-10 p.m. Skopelos at New World, 600 S. Palafox St. skopelosatnewworld.com VALENTINE'S DAY AT THE FISH HOUSE 11 a.m. to close. Special Valentine's Day menu. Fish House, 600 S. Barracks St. fishhousepensacola.com VALENTINE'S DAY AT JACKSON'S STEAKHOUSE 11 a.m. to close. Special Valentine's Day menu. Jackson's Steakhouse, 400 S. Palafox. jacksonsrestaurant.com VALENTINE'S DAY AT V. PAUL'S $49 per person. V. Paul's Italian Ristorante, 29 S. Palafox. vpauls.com VALENTINE'S SWEETHEART DINNER AT POT ROAST & PINO 4-10 p.m. $65 per person. Pot Roast & Pino, 11-B S. Palafox. potroastpinot.com VALENTINE'S DAY CHICAGO-1929 5-10 p.m. $60 per person. South Market, 232 E. Main St. facebook.com/eatsouthmarket VALENTINE'S DAY AND TIKI CRAFT LAB 5 p.m. Perfect Plain Brewing Co., 50 E. Garden St. Also on Feb. 15. facebook.com/ perfectplainbrewingco VALENTINE'S DINNER AT SEVILLE

February 14, 2019

QUARTER 5-9 p.m. $55 per person. Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. For reservations, call 434-6211. sevillequarter.com HOOKED ON LOVE: VALENTINE'S DINNER 6-10 p.m. $50 per person. Red Fish Blue Fish, 5 Via de Luna Drive, Unit B. facebook. com/redfishbluefishpensacolabeach VALENTINE'S DINNER AT HILTON PENSACOLA BEACH 6-9 p.m. $55 per person. Hilton Pensacola Beach, 12 Via de Luna Drive. facebook.com/hiltonpensacolabeach COUPLES COOK: CUPID IN THE KITCHEN 6 p.m. $60 per couple. Also at 7 p.m. on Feb. 16. Pensacola Cooks Kitchen, 3670 Barrancas Ave. pensacolacooks.rezclick.com VALENTINE'S DAY DINNER AT SO GOURMET 6 p.m. $175. So Gourmet, 407D S. Palafox. sogourmetpensacola.com VALENTINE'S DAY MASQUERADE BALL 6-11 p.m. $30 per person. Masquerade mask required. De Luna Winery, 116 E. Gonzalez St. IMPROVABLE CAUSE VALENTINE'S DAY SHOW 7 p.m. $11. Pensacola Little Theatre, 400 S. Jefferson St. pensacolalittletheatre.com PENSACOLA OPERA PRESENTS: SOME ENCHANTED VALENTINE 7:30 p.m. $40 and up. Saenger Theatre, 118 S. Palafox. pensacolaopera.com VALENTINE'S DAY TRAFFIC LIGHT PARTY 8 p.m. Wear red if you're taken, yellow if you're taking a risk and green if you're single. Phineas Phogg's, Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. sevillequarter.com

Temple Beth-El, 800 N. Palafox. historicpensacola.org PILATES MAT 1:30 p.m. Free. Ever'man Educational Center, 327 W. Garden St. everman.org BREAD MAKING 5-8 p.m. $40. Pensacola Cooks, 3670 Barrancas Ave. pensacolacooks.rezclick.com SEVILLE QUARTER MILERS 5:30 p.m. Runners meet in front of Seville Quarter for a run around downtown Pensacola. Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. sevillequarter.com HANDS-ON COOKING CLASS: SEAFOOD GUMBO 6 p.m. $64.50. So Gourmet, 407-D S.

Palafox. sogourmetpensacola.com

CROHN'S AND COLITIS SUPPORT GROUP 6:30

p.m. Ever'man Educational Center, 327 W. Garden St. everman.org

HIP-HOP & CONTEMPORARY DANCE CLASSES

8-9 p.m. $5. Learn amazing moves from professional instructors. DanceCraft, 8618 Pensacola Blvd. dancecraftstudios.com

TUESDAY 2.19

BREAKFAST AND A MOVIE 9 a.m. $10 per person. Chick-Fil-A breakfast and movie. National Naval Aviation Museum, 1750 Radford Blvd., Ste. B. navalaviationmuseum.org YOGA WITHIN REACH 9-10 a.m. Free. Community Health Northwest Florida, 2315 W. Jackson St., Room A. healthcarewithinreach.org TRYON FAMILY MOVIE NIGHT 4 p.m. Tryon Branch Library, 1200 Langley Ave. mywfpl.com COMPLIMENTARY WINE TASTING 4-6 p.m.

So Gourmet, 407-D S. Palafox. sogourmetpensacola.com WALKING CEMETERY TOURS 5:30 p.m. $12 plus tax. St. John's Historic Cemetery, 301 N. G St. goretro.us HOME BUTCHER COOKS: BASICS OF BEEF, PORK AND CHICKEN 6 p.m. $39. Pensacola

Cooks Kitchen, 3670 Barrancas Ave. pensacolacooks.rezclick.com FUNKY YOGA 6 p.m. Free. Ever'man Educational Center, 327 W. Garden St. everman.org MOLINO MELODIES 6 p.m. Learn to play mountain dulcimer. Molino Branch Library, 6450-A Highway 95A

FULL MOON MEDITATION & RITUAL 6:30-9:30

p.m. Asher & Bee Apothecary and Tea House, 7 E. Gregory St. facebook.com/asherandbee COUNTRY DANCE CLASSES 6:30 p.m. $10.

Country two-step, East Coast swing, competition choreography and more. No partner required. World championship dance instruction for all skill levels. DanceCraft, 8618 Pensacola Blvd. dancecraftstudios.com COMEDY NIGHT 7 p.m. Swan Neck Meadery, 2115 W. Nine Mile Road. swanneckwinery.com "REBEL WITHOUT A CAUSE" 7 p.m. $5 (cash only). The REX Theatre, 18 N. Palafox. pensacolacinemaart.com JD MCPHERSON 7 p.m. $20-$25. Vinyl Music Hall, 2 S. Palafox. vinylmusichall.com

WEDNESDAY 2.20

POPULAR LITERARY BOOK CLUB 10:30 a.m. Pensacola Library, 239 N. Spring St. mywfpl.com ONE-ON-ONE TECH HELP Noon. Molino Branch Library, 6450-A Highway 95A. mywfpl.com ONE-ON-ONE TECH HELP 3 p.m. Pensacola Library, 239 N. Spring St. mywfpl.com PENSACON 2019: MIDDLE EARTH AT PERFECT PLAIN 4 p.m. Perfect Plain Brewing

Co., 50 E. Garden St. facebook.com/perfectplainbrewingco COOKING WITH CHEF IRV MILLER: COOKING LIGHT 5 and 7 p.m. $45 per person.

Jackson's Steakhouse, 400 S. Palafox. greatsouthernrestaurants.com

HANDS-ON COOKING CLASS: CAST IRON PIZZA 6 p.m. $64.50. So Gourmet, 407-D S.

Palafox. sogourmetpensacola.com

VINTUS PORTFOLIO WINE TASTING 6-8

p.m. $25-$30. Pot Roast and Pino, 11-B S. Palafox. potroastpinot.com/winetasting YOGA FLOW 6-7 p.m. Free. Ever'man Educational Center, 327 W. Garden St. everman.org SWING DANCE CLASSES AND PARTY 6:3010 p.m. $10 lesson, $5 party. Professional West Coast swing instruction for all levels followed by fun and friendly social dancing on the best wood dance floor in the area.

No partner required. DanceCraft, 8618 Pensacola Blvd. dancecraftstudios.com FREE DANCE LESSONS 8-8:30 p.m. Free. Beginner West Coast swing dance lesson. DanceCraft, 8618 Pensacola S. Blvd. dancecraftfl.com

19

calendar Arts & Culture

≥Events

PMA GALLERY TOURS

2:30 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Free with museum admission. Pensacola Museum of Art, 407 S. Jefferson St. pensacolamuseum.org

≥Current Exhibits INSIDE OUT: THE PEOPLE'S ART PROJECT At Jefferson St.

and Main St. pensacolamuseum.org

65TH ANNUAL YOUTH ART FOCUS

On view through Feb. 17. Pensacola Museum of Art, 407 S. Jefferson St. pensacolamuseum.org A WORLD OF STRANGE, CREEPY AND ODD On view

through Feb. 28.

First City Art, 1060 N. Guillemard St. firstcityart.org

ARCHITECTURE FOR TRAVELERS On view

through March.

Pensacola Museum of Art, 407 S. Jefferson St. pensacolamuseum.org CASITA On view through March.

Pensacola Museum of Art, 407 S. Jefferson St. pensacolamuseum.org AUBREY BEARDSLEY: ART OF THE LINE BLOCK PRINT OPENING RECEPTION

On view through March 9. TAG, Bldg.

82, University of West Florida, 11000 University Parkway. uwf.edu GESCHE WÜRFEL: WHAT REMAINS OF THE DAY- MEMORIES OF WORLD WAR II

On view through March 17. Pensacola Museum of Art, 407 S. Jefferson St. pensacolamuseum.org ADORN On view through March 23.

Blue Morning Gallery, 21 S. Palafox. bluemorninggallery. com ART BY DIANE BRIM AND KATHY BREAZEALE On view

through May 12. Luna Fine Art Gallery, Hilton Pensacola Beach, 12 Via de Luna Drive. lunafineartgallery.com DOCUFLORIDA II On view through May 17. T.T. Wentworth, Jr. Florida State Museum, 330 S. Jefferson St. historicpensacola.org BEAUTY IN USE: CELEBRATING JAPANESE CULTURAL TRADITIONS On

view through June 27. Lamar Studio Switzer Center, Pensacola State College, 1000 College Blvd. pensacolastate.edu

PUNKSACOLA: REFLECTIONS OF A SUBCULTURE On

view through July 2019. T.T. Wentworth, Jr. Florida State Museum, 330 S. Jefferson St. historicpensacola.org COTTON FIELDS TO CONGRESS: THE LIFE AND CAREER OF EARL HUTTO On

view at the T.T. Wentworth, Jr. Florida State Museum, 330 S. Jefferson St. historicpensacola.org GALLERY DAYS

Noon-4 p.m. Saturdays. Featuring local artists. To be featured, contact Angel at 941-7354586 or call the restaurant at 4770035. TGI Fridays, 1240 Airport Blvd.

≥Workshops & Classes

POTTERY ON THE WHEEL Six-week

workshops are held Tuesdays from 6-9 p.m., Wednesdays from 9 a.m.-noon,

Thursdays from 6-9 p.m. and Saturdays from 9 a.m.-noon at First City Art Center, 1060 N. Guillemard St. Cost is $157.25 for members and $185 for non-members. For more information, visit firstcityart.org.

INTRODUCTION TO POTTERY ON THE WHEEL Every Mon-

day from 6-8:30 p.m. at First City Art Center. Classes are $40. For more information, visit firstcityart.org.

CLAY HAND BUILDING Six-week

workshops are held Tuesdays from 6-9 p.m. and Thursday from 9 a.m.-noon at First City Art Center. Cost is $157.25 for members and $185 for non-members. For more information, visit firstcityart.org.

CLAY SCULPTURE

Six-week workshops held Saturdays from 9 a.m.-noon at First City Art Center. Cost is $157.25 for members and $185 for non-members. For more information, visit firstcityart.org.

≥Call for Artists 65TH ANNUAL MEMBERS OF PMA JURIED EXHIBITION

The UWF Pensacola Museum of Art invites artists, makers, designers and creative thinkers from our member community to submit artworks to MoPMA 2019 for the 65th Annual Members of PMA Juried Exhibition.

This exhibition seeks to generate community dialogue, foster creative expression and thought and recognize the support of our member community. MoPMA 2019 is the 65th Annual

Members of PMA Exhibition and is open to PMA members working in all media and subject matter.

You may become a member when you enter. Submissions due by March 7 at midnight. Selected artists will be notified via email indicating which artwork by March 11. Selected artwork drop-off daytime March 19, 20, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Opening reception and awards ceremony will be April 5. For more information, visit pensacolamuseum.org.

Bars & Nightlife

≥Bar Games Thursdays

LADIES NIGHT 5 p.m.

V. Paul's Italian Ris-

torante, 29 S. Palafox. vpauls.com BREW IQ TRIVIA NIGHT WITH JERRELL HENDRIX 7-9 p.m.

Perfect Plain Brewing Co., 50 E. Garden St. facebook.com/perfectplainbrewingco POKER 8 p.m.

The Ticket 1, 7250 Plantation Road. ticketsportsbar.com POOL TOURNAMENT

8 p.m. The Ticket 2, 2115 W. Nine Mile Road. ticketsportsbar.com COLLEGE NIGHT 10 p.m. Drink specials, beer pong tournament starts at 10 p.m.

Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. sevillequarter.com.

Fridays POOL TOURNAMENT

8 p.m. The Ticket 1, 7250 Plantation Road. ticketsportsbar.com

for more listings visit inweekly.net

The World, Wide Open When you broaden her horizon, you open more than her mind— you open doors.

At The Global Corner, we’re on a mission to bring the world to the classroom. Through our immersive Passport Program, we transport kids in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties across borders and around the globe—without ever leaving the classroom.

Learn more at TheGlobalCorner.org.

*Actual Global Corner Student

020 2

inweekly.net

DIFFERENCE MAKERS

COX EMPLOYEES AWARD $20,000 TO GULF COAST NON-PROFITS Cox Communications employees in the Gulf Coast Market have awarded $20,000 to local nonprofits through the Cox Charities Community Investment grant program. Over 30 applications were received from local organizations seeking funding for various programs. After much deliberation, Cox employees who serve on the Cox Charities Selection Committee awarded the grants to the following five organizations: •AMI Kids of the Emerald Coast received $2,500 to provide services at the alternative school that emphasizes hands-on learning and interactive education, counseling and treatment services.

AMI Kids of the Emerald Coast is located in Fort Walton Beach.

•AMI Kids of Pensacola also received $2,500 to assist their program serving Escambia County students.

•A Bed for Me Foundation was granted $5,000 to purchase forty beds for needy children in Okaloosa County.

•Fresh Start for Children and Families in Fort Walton Beach received $5,000 for its comprehensive educational program built on a housing component that includes nine months of life skills classes for working adults with children.

•Covenant Care in Pensacola received $5,000 for their My Wish project. My Wish grants a patient's final wish that allows families to experience memories with loved ones at the end of their lives.

"Every year we receive so many great applications for funding, and it's a very difficult decision for our committee to select the strongest ones," said David Deliman, market vice president for Cox Gulf Coast. "When we see all the applications for funding, it reminds us how much we can all help each other in the Gulf Coast."

Cox Charities is an internal giving campaign where employees can set aside a portion of their paychecks to fund the local grants. Money donated by employees in the Gulf Coast Market stays in the Gulf Coast Market. A committee of 11 employees reviewed over 30 applications and selected the recipients.

In addition to the Community Investment Grant, the Cox Charities Innovation in Education Program provides grants of up to $2,500 each to schools to fund classroom programs and curriculum that encourage and promote students' ingenuity and imagination through the innovative use of technology. Last spring, Cox employees awarded over $14,000 to nine local schools.

Cox Charities was created to strengthen Cox markets through the support of programs that positively impact communities in the areas of education, technology, social issues, conservation and the arts. Cox Charities does not replace, but rather increases Cox's philanthropic giving in the community. In 2018, Cox gave over one million dollars in cash and in-kind services to nonprofits in the Gulf Coast Market.

The Cox Gulf Coast market includes parts of Escambia, Okaloosa and South Walton counties.

For more information about Cox Charities, visit www.CoxCharitiesSER.org.

Sponsored by The Studer Family February 14, 2019

21

free will astrology Week of February 14

Pensacola's finest for…

Vacations & Staycations Weddings & Receptions Corporate Travel, Meetings & Retreats Private Parties & Culinary Events 400 Bayfront Parkway leehousepensacola.com 850.912.8770

For Your Specialty

Eye Care Needs!

• Color and Bifocal Contact Lenses • True Tear Dry Eye Treatments & Lipiflow Dry Eye Treatments • Eyelash Lengthening • Luxury & Exclusive Eyeglasses & Sunglasses

113 Palafox Place (Across from Saenger Theatre)

Pensacola

(850) 434-2060 222 2

ARIES (MARCH 21-APRIL 19): When directors of movies say, "It's a wrap," they mean that the shooting of a scene has been finished. They may use the same expression when the shooting of the entire film is completed. That's not the end of the creative process, of course. All the editing must still be done. Once that's accomplished, the producer may declare that the final product is "in the can" and ready to be released or broadcast. From what I can determine, Aries, you're on the verge of being able to say, "It's a wrap," for one of your own projects. There'll be more work before you're ready to assert, "It's in the can."

TAURUS (APRIL 20-MAY 20): In accordance with astrological omens, I invite you to create your own royal throne and sit on it whenever you need to think deep thoughts and formulate important decisions. Make sure your power chair is comfortable as well as beautiful and elegant. To enhance your ability to wield your waxing authority with grace and courage, I also encourage you to fashion your own crown, scepter and ceremonial footwear. They, too, should be comfortable, beautiful and elegant.

GEMINI (MAY 21-JUNE 20): In 1995, astronomer Bob Williams got a strong urge to investigate a small scrap of the night sky that most other astronomers regarded as boring. It was near the handle of the constellation known as the Big Dipper. Luckily for him, he could ignore his colleagues' discouraging pressure. That's because he had been authorized to use the high-powered Hubble Space Telescope for a 10-day period. To the surprise of everyone but Williams, his project soon discovered that this seemingly unremarkable part of the heavens is teeming with over 3,000 galaxies. I suspect you may have a challenge akin to Williams', Gemini. A pet project or crazy notion of yours may not get much support, but I hope you'll pursue it anyway. I bet your findings will be different from what anyone expects.

CANCER (JUNE 21-JULY 22): A study by the Humane Research Council found that more than 80 percent of those who commit to being vegetarians eventually give up and return to eating meat. A study by the National Institute of Health showed that only about 36 percent of alcoholics are able to achieve full recovery; the remainder relapse. And we all know how many people make New Year's resolutions to exercise more often but then stop going to the gym

by February. That's the bad news. The good news, Cancerian, is that during the coming weeks, you will possess an enhanced power to stick with any commitment you know is right and good for you. Take advantage!

LEO (JULY 23-AUG. 22): Are there two

places on earth more different from each

By Rob Brezsny

other than Europe and Africa? Yet there is a place, the Strait of Gibraltar, where Europe and Africa are just 8.7 miles apart. Russia and the United States are also profoundly unlike each other but only 2.5 miles apart where the Bering Strait separates them. I foresee a metaphorically-comparable phenomenon in your life.

Two situations or influences or perspectives that may seem to have little in common will turn out to be closer to each other than you imagined possible.

VIRGO (AUG. 23-SEPT. 22): Virgo

basketball star Latrell Sprewell played professionally for 13 years. He could have extended his career at least three more seasons, but he turned down an offer for $21 million from the Minnesota team, complaining that it wouldn't be sufficient to feed his four children. I will ask you not to imitate his behavior, Virgo. If you're offered a deal or opportunity that doesn't perfectly meet all your requirements, don't dismiss it out of hand. A bit of compromise is sensible right now.

LIBRA (SEPT. 23-OCT. 22): In 1992, an

Ethiopian man named Belachew Girma became an alcoholic after he saw his wife die from AIDS. And yet today, he is renowned as a Laughter Master, having dedicated himself to explore the healing powers of ebullience and amusement. He presides over a school that teaches people the fine points of laughter, and he holds the world's record for longest continuous laughter at three hours and six minutes. I nominate him to be your role model in the next two weeks. According to my analysis of the astrological omens, you will be especially primed to benefit from the healing power of laughter. You're likely to encounter more droll and whimsical and hilarious events than usual, and your sense of humor should be especially hearty and finely-tuned.

SCORPIO (OCT. 23-NOV. 21): A study

published in the journal Social Psychological and Personality Science suggests that people who use curse words tend to be more candid. "Swearing is often inappropriate, but it can also be evidence that someone is telling you their honest opinion," said the lead researcher. "Just as they aren't filtering their language to be more palatable, they're also not filtering their views." If that's true, Scorpio, I'm going to encourage you to curse more than usual in the coming weeks. According to my analysis of the astrological omens, it's crucial that you tell as much of the whole truth as is humanly possible. (P.S. Your cursing outbursts don't necessarily have to be delivered with total abandon everywhere you go. You could accomplish a lot just by going into rooms by yourself and exuberantly allowing the expletives to roll out of your mouth.)

SAGITTARIUS (NOV. 22-DEC. 21): In

the mid-1980s, a California carrot farmer grew frustrated with the fact that grocery stores didn't want to buy his broken and oddly-

shaped carrots. A lot of his crop was going to waste. Then he got the bright idea to cut and shave the imperfect carrots so as to make smooth little baby carrots. They became a big success. Can you think of a metaphorically comparable adjustment you could undertake, Sagittarius? Is it possible to transform a resource that's partially going to waste? Might you be able to enhance your possibilities by making some simple modifications?

CAPRICORN (DEC. 22-JAN. 19): Mongo-

lia is a huge landlocked country. It borders no oceans or seas. Nevertheless, it has a navy of seven sailors. Its lone ship is a tugboat moored on Lake Khovsgol, which is 3 percent the size of North America's Lake Superior. I'm offering up the Mongolian Navy as an apt metaphor for you to draw inspiration from in the coming weeks. I believe it makes good astrological sense for you to launch a seemingly quixotic quest to assert your power, however modestly, in a situation that may seem out of your league.

AQUARIUS (JAN. 20-FEB. 18): "A freshness lives deep in me which no one can take from me," wrote Swedish poet Gunnar Ekelöf.

"Something unstilled, unstillable is within me; it wants to be voiced," wrote philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche. In accordance with your astrological omens, I propose we make those two quotes your mottos for the next four weeks. In my opinion, you have a mandate to tap into what's freshest and most unstillable about you and then cultivate it, celebrate it and express it with the full power of your grateful, brilliant joy.

PISCES (FEB. 19-MARCH 20): According to the Encyclopedia of Occultism and Parapsychology, the word obsession used to refer to the agitated state of a person who was besieged by rowdy or unruly spirits arriving from outside the person. Possession, on the other hand, once meant the agitated state of a person struggling against rowdy or unruly spirits arising from within. In the Western Christian perspective, both modes have been considered primarily negative and problematic. In many other cultures, however, spirits from both the inside and outside have sometimes been regarded as relatively benevolent and their effect quite positive. As long as you don't buy into the Western Christian view, I suspect that the coming weeks will be a favorable time for you to consort with spirits like those. {in} THIS WEEK'S HOMEWORK: Read free excerpts from my most recent book: https://bit.ly/JoyLuckLove

Rob Brezsny/Free Will Astrology © Copyright 2019 freewillastrology@freewillastrology.com freewillastrology.com

inweekly.net

news of the weird HAIR OF THE DOG In a whole new twist on stomach pumping, doctors in Quang Tri, Vietnam, saved 48-year-old Nguyen Van Nhat's life in January by transfusing 15 cans of beer INTO his stomach. As Dr. Le Van Lam explained to the Daily Mail, alcohol contains both methanol and ethanol, and the liver breaks down ethanol first. But after a person stops drinking, the stomach and intestines continue to release alcohol into the bloodstream—even if the drinker has lost consciousness—and alcohol levels continue to rise. In Nhat's case, upon arrival at the hospital, his blood methanol level was 1,119 times higher than the appropriate limit. Doctors administered one can of beer every hour to slow down his metabolizing of methanol, which gave them time to perform dialysis. Nhat spent three weeks in the hospital before returning home.

NAMES IN THE NEWS Your giggle for the week: During a Jan. 17 special program on ITV Westcountry in the United Kingdom about how police forces are suffering under budget cuts, a certain officer interviewed for the show got more attention for his name than for his opinions about the budget. PC Rob Banks has undoubtedly heard clever remarks about his name all his life, reported Plymouth Live, but Twitter users from as far away as Australia found it newly hilarious.

TRY THE DECAF Officers in Madison, Wisconsin, were called to a home on Jan. 20 by an unnamed 34-year-old male resident who went on a spree of destruction when he thought his wife had destroyed his prized collection of action figures.

Madison Police Chief Mike Koval wrote in his blog that officers arrived to find an ax buried in the windshield of a car. The man explained to them he had overreacted and used the log-splitting ax to chop up a TV, TV stand, laptop computer and other items in the house before going outside to attack his car, chopping off both side mirrors and breaking out the windshield, reported WMTV. He admitted to officers that he had also been drinking too much, and he was charged with disorderly conduct and felony damage to property.

THE ENTREPRENEURIAL SPIRIT A 19-yearold man from Nice, France, has received a four-month (suspended) sentence for a clever plot he hatched in September. The man, known only as Adel, removed a PlayStation 4 from a supermarket shelf on Sept. 17 and took it to the produce aisle, where he weighed it and printed out a price sticker for fruit. Then he used the self-checkout line to pay and left the store with a $389 piece of electronics for about $10. Adel sold the PlayStation for $114 to buy a train ticket. The next day, he tried the same scheme, but police caught him in the act. He will only have to serve his sentence if he re-offends, reported Kotaku.com.

By the Editors at Andrews McMeel

LEAST COMPETENT CRIMINALS Oh, those pesky surveillance cameras. Alexander Goldinsky, 57, had a bright idea for collecting some cash, but it was just so 1990s. While working as an independent contractor at a Woodbridge, New Jersey, business, Goldinsky scattered some ice on the floor in the company's kitchen area, then carefully arranged himself on the floor as if he had slipped and fallen, according to United Press International. Then, as the security cameras rolled, he waited to be discovered. He was arrested in January on charges of insurance fraud and theft by deception, after the Middlesex County Prosecutor's Office said Goldinsky filed a false insurance claim for an ambulance ride and treatment at a local hospital.

•For David Rodriguez, 28, it was his disguise of choice that tripped him up as he robbed a 7-Eleven store in Fort Myers, Florida, on Feb. 2, according to the Lee County Sheriff's Office. Rodriguez donned a gray hoodie and a wig before approaching the counter at the store, showing a gun and demanding cash, reported the Miami Herald. When officers arrived, they got a detailed description, including the wig, and "additional witness information" led them to a nearby apartment. Inside they found Rodriguez, and "in plain view, a gray hooded sweater, several wigs and a large amount of wadded up cash." Bingo! Rodriguez was charged with robbery with a firearm.

www.radio freepensacola .com

THE WAY THE WORLD WORKS Residents of the small town of Hilgermissen in northwestern Germany voted decisively on Feb. 3 against naming the community's streets.

Currently, addresses are a house number and the name of one of the former villages that combined to create Hilgermissen in the 1970s, reported the Associated Press. Officials had hoped that street names would ease the jobs of emergency services and delivery drivers, but 60 percent of the 2,200 citizens rejected the council's plan. The recent result will be binding for two years.

THIEVING WITH STYLE A BP gas station in Swansea, South Carolina, was the setting for a reprise of at least one iconic moment from 1984's "The Karate Kid," according to Fox News. On Jan. 26, as surveillance cameras looked on, an unidentified man struck Mr. Miyagi's signature Crane Technique pose—twice—before stealing a purse from a parked car nearby. The Swansea Police Department posted the video to its Facebook page, and with the public's help, officers were able to identify the man and issue warrants for his arrest. {in}

From Andrews McMeel Syndication News Of The Weird © 2019 Andrews McMeel

Send your weird news items to WeirdNewsTips@amuniversal.com February 14, 2019

23

Independent News | February 14, 2019 | inweekly.net