Inweekly feb 8 2018 issue

Independent News | February 8, 2018 | Volume 18 | Number 57 | inweekly.net

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winners & losers

outtakes

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news

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6, 7

What's cool about Mardi Gras is that you never really grow out of it.

cover 11

publisher Rick Outzen

graphic designer Michael Daw

editor & creative director Joani Delezen

contributing writers Duwayne Escobedo, Jennie McKeon, Jeremy Morrison, Shelby Nalepa, C.S. Satterwhite, Stephanie Sharp

a&e

calendar

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contact us info@inweekly.net

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. © 2015 Inweekly Media, Inc. All rights reserved.

If you’ve been injured, hire an expert.

JOE ZARZAUR

Board Certified Civil Trial Specialist

zarzaurlaw.com Pensacola, FL

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winners & losers

Mick Mulvaney / Courtesy Photo

va l e n t i n e ’s day d i n n e r Enjoy a special Valentine’s Day evening with dinner at the Hilton Pensacola Beach.

Celebrity Chef Dan Dunn has prepared a menu complete with wine pairings for a truly unforgettable evening.

$85 per person and $150 per couple.

If you really want to go all out, book a room with a view.

2 . 1 4 . 1 8 • D I N N E R S E AT I N G S B E G I N AT 5 : 3 0 P M r e s e rvat i o n s s t r o n g ly r e c o m m e n d e d • 8 5 0 - 9 1 6 - 2 9 9 9

winners

PENSACOLA STATE COLLEGE The

college's Century Mobile Welding Program has been recognized as one of the Top Ten Finalists for a 2018 National Bellwether Award.

The National Bellwether Awards annually recognizes outstanding and innovative programs and practices that are successfully leading community colleges into the future. This is the second consecutive year Pensacola State College has been selected for this prestigious award, which has been described as the Heisman Trophy for colleges.

PETE MOORE CHEVROLET The Pensacola dealership has been awarded the 2018 DealerRater Dealer of the Year Award, which recognizes auto dealerships across the U.S. and Canada who deliver outstanding customer service. The award is based on reviews by newand used-car shoppers and those who took their vehicles to dealerships for service. Both Pete Moore Chevrolet and Pete Moore Volkswagen were honored with the 2018 Consumer Satisfaction Award. Pete Moore Chevrolet is the only area Chevrolet dealership to be recognized with this honor, and Pete Moore Volkswagen is the only VW dealership on the Gulf Coast to be recognized.

RODNEY JONES The president of the

NAACP Pensacola Branch 5124 was voted an area director for the NAACP Florida State Conference at its conference meeting in Orlando. In his new role, Jones will coordinate the efforts of multiple chapters from Escambia County to Liberty County.

losers

MICK MULVANEY The former South

Carolina congressman serves as the White House Budget Director and has taken temporary control of the bureau that oversees the payday lending industry. Over the past two weeks, Mulvaney has withdrawn a rule that was set to impose tight restrictions on short-term payday loans. He ended a Consumer Financial Protection Bureau case against a group of payday lenders in Kansas accused of charging interest rates of nearly 1,000 percent. He also halted an investigation into the marketing and lending practices of World Acceptance Corporation, a lender based in South Carolina that donated $4,500 to Mulvaney's congressional campaigns through its political action committee.

FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH

The Florida House last week sent a message to DOH that it wasn't happy with how the department was making medical marijuana available when it froze $2.1 million in salary and expenses in the DOH budget. House leadership said that the department has not followed the Legislature's direction.

DOH has been slow to roll out regulations required to implement both the use of lowTHC, or non-euphoric, medical marijuana as well as traditional marijuana for medical purposes. This isn't the legislature's first fight with the department. The Florida Senate in 2016 refused to reconfirm former DOH Secretary John Armstrong, due in part to the delays in making low-THC marijuana available for use.

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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outtakes

by Rick Outzen

THE NUMBERS ROLLERCOASTER One axiom in politics is beware of statistics. As soon as a politician brags and takes credit for an improvement in a statistic, it will most assuredly go in the opposite direction.

During his State of the Union address, President Donald Trump said, "The stock market has smashed one record after another, gaining $8 trillion dollars and more in value in just this short period of time."

Taking credit for the stock market has been common for our president. When he announced the tariffs on imported solar products and washing machines two weeks ago, President Trump added, "You're seeing what's happening with the stock market. People are appreciating what we're doing."

In a tweet on Jan. 20, he wrote, "Unprecedented success for our country, in so many ways, since the Election. Record Stock Market, Strong on Military, Crime, Borders, and ISIS, Judicial Strength and Numbers, Lowest Unemployment for Women and ALL, Massive Tax Cuts, end of Individual Mandate—and so much more. Big 2018!"

His cabinet fell into the same trap. Two days after the State of the Union, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin echoed the president's taking credit for the stock market rally. He said on CNBC, "You can see the stock market's up, you can see the dollar's up. There's a lot of confidence in the Trump administration."

The next day, Friday, Feb. 2, S&P Dow Jones Indices plummeted wiping out nearly $1 trillion in value. The fall continued on Monday, Feb. 5. The Dow Jones Industrial Average plunged approximately 1,600 points at one point in afternoon trading.

The Dow eventually ended down 1,175 points at 24,346—the largest ever singleday point drop for the Dow. The stock market's January gains were utterly wiped out.

The White House responded to ease fears and avoid a further run on the market.

White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders issued a statement in hopes of changing the narrative.

"The President's focus is on our long-term economic fundamentals, which remain exceptionally strong, with strengthening U.S. economic growth, historically low unemployment, and increasing wages for American workers," said Sanders. "The President's tax cuts and regulatory reforms will further enhance the U.S. economy and continue to increase prosperity for the American people."

As I'm writing this column, the market has remained volatile, swinging in both directions.

The stock market is no longer being mentioned on the president's Twitter account.

Moral: Be careful what you take credit for, or it just might come back to bite you in the butt. {in} rick@inweekly.net

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PUTNAM STUMPS IN PENSACOLA

Adam Putnam / Courtesy Photo

By Jeremy Morrison If you've ever heard of Adam Putnam, it may be because, as Florida's Commissioner of Agriculture, his name is on every gas pump in the state. Or maybe you've heard that Putnam is running for governor. If not, he'd be happy to shake your hand, flash a boyish grin beneath a shock of red hair and tell you all about it.

That's what Putnam did during his visit to Pensacola, where he addressed the Panhandle Tiger Bay Club at New World Landing. The Republican gubernatorial candidate started out over by the entrance, working the door as people walked into the hall. After pausing to pose for some photos, he methodically made his way around the room, stopping along his route to shake hands, slap backs and crack jokes.

When it came time for Putnam to address Tiger Bay Club members over lunch, he opened by lobbing a softball-grenade at the media in attendance-"Our reporters are back there guarding the bread pudding"-then shot straight into overdrive with a riff sure to conjure up kickass campaign trail imagery.

"I was Python hunting with some wounded veterans," Putnam smiled, before plowing into a story about a day out with Operation Outdoor Freedom.

Operation Outdoor Freedom is a Department of Agriculture program launched under Putnam's watch through 66

which wounded veterans are afforded the opportunity to enjoy outdoor pursuits such as python hunts "or gator hunts and quail hunts and turkey shoots." Putnam chuckled as he recalled how the hunters had to "practice on a 14-footer" before heading out to look for more sizable pythons.

"I hate snakes," the candidate laughed.

GUNS, MONEY AND VOCATIONAL TRAINING

Putnam's python hunting tale was a nice opening. It warmed up the crowd and also managed to touch on two of the candidate's main campaign issues: veterans and guns, with the third plank of his platform being "the economy." These are the topics the candidate hammered during his visit to Pensacola, as well as issues such as infrastructure, immigration and education.

Putnam spoke particularly passionately about education. He stressed the importance of increasing vocational and tradeoriented educational opportunities while questioning the value of a more traditional college education.

"The system today is forcing students into student loan debt for a degree they may not want and may not even be able to use in this economy," Putnam said, later adding a conservative jab at higher education: "[Students are] coming home more broke and more liberal than when they started."

The candidate said students should be

introduced to vocational fields, where jobs are more plentiful and salaries sometimes higher. He stressed the need for people to enter technical fields.

"This is not 1950s shop," he said. "This is coding, this is robotics."

Putnam also said community colleges and state colleges should be able to offer a broader selection of degrees to correspond with the needs of the job market, such as a bachelors degree in the nursing field, where positions await qualified graduates.

"That's crazy," Putnam said of community college's inability to offer such degrees. "It's the number one job vacancy in the state."

In addition to ticking off his list of campaign topics - gun rights, veterans issues, infrastructure, economic issues and education - the candidate also fielded questions during his engagement with the local Tiger Bay Club.

When asked about Visit Florida and Enterprise Florida, Putnam said that the government should be involved with marketing efforts for the state and luring businesses to Florida: "If we're not telling our story after people spent all summer seeing Jim Cantore leaning into the wind, who's going to tell the story that Key West is open for business?"

When asked how he differed from current Gov. Rick Scott, the candidate shrugged off the question - "I dunno" - and gave the governor a grade of A+. He credited the governor with bringing the state back from "the darkest days of the great recession. The next governor has inherited a very strong foundation."

When a club member asked about marijuana legalization, Putnam said that "marijuana is a terrible idea" and that it "strips out the ambition of young people.

The legalization of recreational marijuana is the last thing that Florida needs. I don't want Florida to be any more like California."

"The legalization of recreational marijuana is the last thing that Florida needs. I don't want Florida to be any more like California." Adam Putnam And Putnam said that he felt the state's waters should be off-limits to oil and gas exploration. He said that he was in favor of leaving the current arrangement in place, where most of Florida's waters remain off limits, as opposed to a potential revision that opens up those areas, "Because the simple fact of the matter is Florida beaches are better than any other on the Gulf and need to be protected."

MAP TO THE GOVERNOR'S MANSION

It seems Putnam, a Florida native, has been on his winding path to this gubernatorial bid for quite a while. The 43-year-old hails from a citrus-growing, cattle-raising family and his resume reads like a roadmap to the next rung in the ever-ascending ladder of state politics. This year he's reaching for that top rung in Tallahassee.

Putnam got into politics early on. After graduating from the University of Florida, he was elected to the Florida House of Representatives in 1996. Only 22-yearsold at the time, he was the youngest state legislator ever elected in Florida. He served as chair of the Agriculture Committee and was reelected a couple of years later.

In 2001, Putnam headed to Washington D.C. as a U.S. representative. The 26-yearold Central Florida representative was the youngest legislator in Congress at the time; he was sworn in as soon as he was constitutionally eligible.

Because he was elected to office so young, Putnam has a considerable record for a person his age. Shortly after entering Congress, he cast a vote in favor or the invasion of Iraq. Just before exiting the house, he voted for the so-called "bailouts" of Wall Street banks and institutions like Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. In 2009, Putnam left Washington D.C.-"I managed to escape with my soul and my sanity intact"-and declared his candidacy for Florida's commissioner of agriculture. He won the seat in 2010. Among his proudest and oft-touted accomplishments in this office is increasing the number of individuals in the state with concealed-carry gun permits by expediting the permitting process.

Last spring, Putnam filed to run for governor of Florida. He faces a field of primary contenders as well as a selection of general election potentials, or what Panhandle Tiger Bay Club President Ted Howard had earlier called a "very contested race." This field of opponents includes fellow Republican Ron DeSantis, a hard-right leaning Iraq-war veteran who has been endorsed by President Donald Trump, as well as big-deal Republican donors Rebekah Mercer and Sheldon Adelson.

During his time as agriculture commissioner, Putnam has traveled the state extensively. As he's fond of saying, and as he said at least twice during his swing through Pensacola, he has "seen every pig trail and highway and byway and great barbecue restaurants in Florida."

Now on the campaign trail, he's traversing the state again. And from now until Election Day, the candidate will be getting even better acquainted with Florida's landscape, it's highways, byways and barbecue joints, trying to convince voters that he's the best person to lead the state into the future. {in} inweekly.net

HARASSMENT IN THE FIREHOUSE

By Rick Outzen On Monday, Jan. 29, Rick's Blog broke the news that the Escambia Board of County Commissioners may have to settle a harassment claim regarding a female professional firefighter. Later that afternoon, Escambia Rescue Chief Pat Grace was relieved of duty. County officials told the media that the county had been investigating a series of complaints involving the fire rescue department over the past several months and the investigation was still active.

In a press release, the county said the allegations brought forth were broad in scope. County Administrator Jack Brown tasked Assistant County Administrator Matt Coughlin with oversight of the investigation, which is being conducted by Sgt. Jerry Champion of Escambia Department of Corrections.

Three disciplinary actions have taken place to date: •Dec. 14, 2017: Joseph Martin, Fire Lieutenant—Letter of reprimand •Dec. 27, 2017: Christopher Watson, Fire Fighter—Dismissal •Jan. 29, 2018: Patrick Grace, Chief—Relief of duties The press release stated, "While Chief Grace was not the focus of the investigation, it was concluded that a change in leadership, department direction and culture is needed."

Inweekly obtained the Internal Affairs Report regarding the complaints. The name of the complainant had been redacted. The newspaper also received a 24-page journal kept by the complainant.

The female firefighter's journal reflected incidents of workplace harassment, sexual harassment, a hostile work environment and miscellaneous policy violations. The female firefighter was hired in October 2015.

She has a degree from Auburn University, is a Registered Nurse and certified Fire

EMT, worked four years in the Auburn Fire Division before moving to Pensacola. According to the documents, Chief Grace told her father, a retired Pensacola firefighter, that his daughter was the top recruit of the prospects under consideration in the summer of 2015.

In her interview with Sgt. Champion, the firefighter said that she reported several incidents to her lieutenant that she believed "were a little over the line." She said, "Things were not being handled. Eventually, it got to my battalion chief-I would just be moved to other stations."

According to her journal, she was assigned to 10 fire stations in less than two years.

She said when it got so that she couldn't handle the harassment anymore she tried to meet with Chief Grace, but he would not meet with her. What triggered the female firefighter going to county leadership was a complaint filed against her for exposing herself to the other firefighters. The complaint came after her father had met with Chief Grace and other fire leadership and was told things were going to change. After putting up with abuse and harassment for nearly two years, she felt the "bogus" complaint signaled her mistreatment would never stop.

"I came into work one morning. My lieutenant, Lt. Bush, sat me down in the front office," she told the investigator. "And he told me that he was sorry he even had to bring this to me, but there had been a formal complaint that I had offended someone of the guys by the way I sat and that my shorts are exposing myself to the guys."

How did she know the complaint was bogus? She said, "Because all of my shorts have sliding shorts built into them."

She was so upset that she took sick leave. "At the time when I told my officer I was going home on sick leave, he just kept apologizing 'I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry, I really thought they would leave you alone out here.'"

She added, "I knew that was bogus, and I then decided to take it further and made

an appointment with the County Administrator (Jack Brown) to let them know what was going on, and they put me on administrative leave and started the investigation."

HARASSED FROM DAY ONE

On Oct. 24, 2015, her first day of work, the firefighter wrote in her journal that her lieutenant told her, "None of the battalion chiefs want you. Chief Hollingsworth got stuck with you because he's the newest battalion chief. You were sent to Station 19, so no one has to deal with you or train you."

While at Station 19, she alleged that a firefighter used "bitch" as a nickname when he referred to her. He later gave her a City of Pensacola job application and told her to go work there. She wrote another application was also placed on her bed at Station 12 when she was out on a call.

She wrote about the station conditions: "On too many occasions to count, I'd find toilets not flushed with feces and/or urine on the floor where it was obvious it was an intentional mess. The female bathroom was normally designated the lieutenant's bathroom."

The firefighter's problems with Firefighter Christopher Watson, who was dismissed in December, began while she was on her initial six-month probation. Watson, who is vice president of the union, made a motion at a union meeting to change the service required to test for lieutenant from two years with Escambia County and three years with another career fire department to five years with Escambia. She alleged that Watson said he specifically did so that she could not test for higher rank in two years.

She told the investigator about Watson, "He was singling me out, and he had strong opinions from day one about how I-how females should not be in the fire service, in the military…"

In her journal, she wrote how during HAZMAT training Watson grabbed a male firefighter and asked him, "You want to play the rape game?" while staring her down. She walked away and got into the ambulance.

Adding to the harassment complaint was a battery incident against Watson while he was off-duty in August 2016. The incident report was given to Inweekly. Watson broke the jaw of Lt. Joseph Martin in a fight at the Tin Cow in Pace.

In his findings, Sgt. Champion determined Watson had violated county policies regarding verbal, physical and sexual harassment.

He wrote, "The preponderance of evidence reflected a pattern of harassment and abusive behavior. The severity of the harassment/behavior is beyond the level of a "First Offense"; being conduct that is a very serious infraction and prohibited by law."

Firefighter Watson responded to the allegations in a letter to the County Administrator.

He wrote, "I have never knowingly created an atmosphere in which to discriminate against anyone based on their gender or sex…There have been times that I have expressed an opinion that no person, male or female, be allowed to perform this job if they are not physically capable of performing at the highest tier. If that was construed to be taken as an affront to any female employees, then I am sincerely apologetic."

He apologized for the "Rape Game" comment.

"I admittedly made an inappropriate comment to a fellow co-worker," he said.

"This comment in no way shape or form was intended to intimidate or harass any individual, nor do I believe it represents my beliefs or character."

Watson concluded in his letter, "I take all the accusations very seriously and just want the opportunity to show Escambia County that I can and will be better in the future."

The female firefighter has since moved away. She wrote in her journal why she wanted to be an Escambia firefighter.

"I love my job because I get to help people…But this is not the fire service that I signed up for," she wrote. "I've worked for a fire department before, and it was not anything like this. I was never given a chance to succeed here." {in}

TALCUM POWDER ALERT Did you or a loved one regularly use talcum powder and later develop ovarian cancer?

OVARIAN CANCER FROM TALC Medical studies show that women who use talcum powder in the genital area face an increased risk of ovarian cancer. Talcum powder lawsuits allege manufacturers knew of the risk and chose not to warn women about the danger. We are reviewing these cases now at no cost to you. Call us today to find out if you have a claim.

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Rick Scott / Courtesy Photo

A BREAK FOR EX-FELONS The biggest story with a statewide impact last week was a federal judge's ruling that Florida's process for restoring voting rights for ex-felons was arbitrary and unconstitutional.

"Florida strips the right to vote from every man and woman who commits a felony," U.S. District Judge Mark Walker wrote in a 43-page ruling. "To vote again, disenfranchised citizens must kowtow before a panel of high-level government officials over which Florida's governor has absolute veto authority. No standards guide the panel. Its members alone must be satisfied that these citizens deserve restoration.

Until that moment (if it ever comes), these citizens cannot legally vote for presidents, governors, senators, representatives, mayors, or school-board members."

The state's clemency board, which is made up of the Florida Cabinet, determines whether rights should be restored. Exfelons must wait five or seven years after finishing their sentences and any probation or parole before they can apply to have their rights restored. However, restoration is not automatic.

In his ruling, Walker focused heavily on what he saw as the arbitrariness of the system, which he ruled violated First Amendment rights and equal-protection rights under the U.S. Constitution's 14th Amendment. The judge did not decide how the rights-restoration process should change and gave the plaintiffs and the state until Monday, Feb. 12 to file briefs on the issue.

Gov. Rick Scott's office disagreed with 88

the ruling, citing the long history of the clemency board.

"The discretion of the clemency board over the restoration of felons' rights in Florida has been in place for decades and overseen by multiple governors," John Tupps, a Scott spokesman, said in the statement.

"The process is outlined in Florida's Constitution, and today's ruling departs from the precedent set by the United States Supreme Court.

"The governor believes that convicted felons should show that they can lead a life free of crime and be accountable to their victims and our communities. While we are reviewing today's ruling, we will continue to defend this process in the court."

Regardless of Walker's ruling, voters will decide in November whether to approve a proposed constitutional amendment on the restoration issue.

The proposal, backed by a political committee known as Floridians for a Fair Democracy, seeks to automatically restore the voting rights of most felons who have served their sentences, completed parole or probation and paid restitution. Automatic restoration would not apply to murderers and sex offenders.

NO BRUCE BEACH PLANS Two weeks

ago, Inweekly dispelled the rumor that an African-American heritage museum was going to be built at Bruce Beach as part of the fish hatchery project (Inweekly, "Bruce Beach's Place in History, " Jan. 25). We confirmed that four historical markers are to be erected at the cost of $2,000 each, but the site does not have the room for both a museum and hatchery.

Only one of the markers will be specifically dedicated to the African-American history. The remaining three will cover environmental changes on the site, such as the covering over of Washerwoman's Creek, the history of the Tanyard neighborhood and the site's use as a dry dock.

Another rumor that has been circulated is the Studers, who own the former ECUA site across the street, want to buy the land to build condos. Inweekly contacted Quint Studer.

He said, "We've never built a condo project."

Studer went further. He said he isn't interested in the waterfront property for any project and has made that known to Mayor Ashton Hayward.

He shared the email below that he sent to Mayor Hayward last week. Studer made it clear he has no plans for Bruce Beach if

it were to become available in the Request for Proposal process: From: Quint Studer <quint@quintstuder.com> Date: January 29, 2018 at 12:09:29 PM CST To: Ashton Hayward <mayorhayward@cityofpensacola.com> Subject: Bruce Beach Hope all is well with you and your effort to look for an alternative spot for the hatchery. When someone with Jerry Pates knowledge and experience feels that Bruce Beach is not the right spot for the hatchery it speaks volumes. I have great respect for his knowledge and love for the community.

I want to share I have no plans for any of the land that should be made available in the RFP process at this time regarding Bruce Beach. I feel if I did someone could spin that I am against current hatchery location so I could get the land. Not true.

However, when we do move forward on projects, I feel we do a good job with quality and local participation. So some may even be disappointed we have no plans.

My best.

Quint Studer

NEW PORT CUSTOMER Ocean carrier World Direct Shipping docked M/V Queen B at the Port of Pensacola on Thursday, Feb. 1 as part of its new service between Pensacola and Veracruz, Mexico.

The service will be supported by two vessels, which include the Queen B and a chartered vessel of similar size until World Direct Shipping takes delivery of its second owned vessel in the fourth quarter of 2018. A second port in the northern region of Mexico's Gulf Coast will be added to the rotation shortly, according to World Direct Shipping.

Previously that carrier had used only Port Manatee in the Tampa area. Carlos Diaz, director of World Direct Shipping, said, "With Pensacola and Port Manatee, World Direct Shipping enhances its service network between Mexico and the Southeast United States."

"It's exciting to have this opportunity to open another ocean route between Florida and Mexico." Carlos Diaz Diaz sees the Port of Pensacola as a complement to his company's Port Manatee operations.

"Most importantly, we will be providing shippers between the U.S. and Mexico additional flexibility in meeting their shipping needs with our proven track record of speed, reliability and personalized care to customers," he said. "It's exciting to have this opportunity to open another ocean route between Florida and Mexico."

VALENTINE'S DAY FACTS Wallethub.com has gathered facts on Valentine's Day spending. The average amount a person spends celebrating the romantic holiday is $143.56.

Roughly 45 percent of people expect their Valentine to spend at least $50 on a gift, according to WalletHub's 2018 Valentine's Day Survey. And four in ten people would break up with their significant other if he or she spent irresponsibly.

Men plan to spend nearly twice as much as women, on average, for Valentine's Day 2018- $191 vs. $99. Americans will spend on jewelry ($4.7B), flowers ($2B) and candy ($1.8B). An estimated nine million marriage proposals are made each Valentine's Day. ARGOS SUIT UP The University of West Florida Career Services and Student Government Association will partner with JCPenney to host the Argos Suit Up event, part of a national initiative that allows students to purchase discounted professional wear. The event will take place on Feb. 25 from 6:30-9:30 p.m. at the JCPenney located at 7171 N. Davis Highway. In Oct. 2017, President Martha D. Saunders pledged $10,000 of personal funds to support the initiative.

"When I learned about the program from one of our student government leaders, it just seemed to be a natural fit for UWF." Martha D. Saunders "When I learned about the program from one of our student government leaders, it just seemed to be a natural fit for UWF," said UWF President Martha D. Saunders. "We already provide students with help creating a polished resume, write cover letters, develop a portfolio and practice for a job interview. This takes it to the next level by helping them build a professional wardrobe that's budget friendly."

Students who attend the shopping event will receive a 40 percent off coupon inweekly.net

See the film. Join the conversation. for any purchase of eligible professional clothing. The coupon applies an additional discount to clothing, including items already marked down.

"The collaboration between UWF and JCPenney's program will allow students the opportunity to purchase affordable and professional clothing for internship and job interviews, as well as for future employment opportunities," said Jamie Calvert, assistant director of communications for SGA. "We are eager to see how beneficial this will be for our students."

Through fundraising efforts and generous donations, including Saunders' pledge, Career Services will purchase JCPenney gift cards that will be awarded to students who demonstrate a need that aligns with the mission of the program. Students can apply for financial assistance by submitting a résumé and a short video discussing how they will be impacted by this program. The deadline to apply is Friday, Feb. 9.

"The collaboration between UWF and JCPenney's program will allow students the opportunity to purchase affordable and professional clothing for internship and job interviews, as well as for future employment opportunities." Jamie Calvert "Regardless of the industry a student enters, they will be expected to dress professionally at some point, whether that is an interview or professional function where they represent their company," said Lindsey Walk, Director of Career Services. "Our goal in this program is to assist students so they can make a great first impression when they meet potential employers."

The initiative was brought forward to Saunders by Abigail Megginson, a senior journalism and political science major who serves as the SGA director of communications. Megginson saw the potential impact this program could have on students as they prepare to enter the job market after graduation.

"We are extremely proud of our students who began this program and thank them for being proactive within our Argonaut community," said Kishane Patel, UWF Student Body President. "Nothing speaks to the level of students we have than those who are working diligently for our peers within the institution."

Students and alumni must present their Nautilus card at the event to receive February 8, 2018

their discount. For more details, visit uwf. edu/suitup.

MARITIME MURALS If the City of Pensacola's Architectural Review Board approves the design, the University of West Florida Historic Trust will install a threepanel vinyl mural to the west side of its building on 110 E. Church Street.

The UWF Historic Trust has collaborated with Lamar Advertising and the Florida Division of Historical Resources to create a design that meets the needs of the project and conform to the design standards for the National Park Service grant. An earlier design had failed to garner ARB approval in December.

The mural panels are 25 feet tall and 20 feet wide. The panels will be changed every six to twelve months with the content alternating between artwork and images. The focus of the content will be the maritime history of Pensacola.

The Architectural Review Board meets at 2 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 15, in the Mason Conference Room in Pensacola City Hall, 222 W. Main St.

In a fractured nation, what ideals do we share in common?

Condoleezza Rice and David M. Kennedy have teamed up to investigate the idea of a unifying American creed through stories from around the country. See the film, meet cast members Tegan Griffith and Terrence Davenport, and share your own American Creed story!

FREE FILM SCREENING

With Tegan Griffith & Terrence Davenport

Tuesday, Feb 20 • 7pm WSRE Amos Studio Please register: wsre.org/AmericanCreed

WATCH ON WSRE Tuesday, Feb 27 • 8pm #AmericanCreed

BLACK HISTORY MONTH EVENT

Escambia County will host a Black History Month program and celebration Thursday, Feb. 22, at 6 p.m. at the Brownsville Community Resource Center, 3200 W. De Soto St. This free community event will include music, dancing and exhibits celebrating Black History Month. This year's theme is "Looking Back on the Past, Living in the Present, Looking Forward to the Future." Refreshments will be served. One or more Escambia County commissioners may be present. For more information, contact Leroy Williams at lewilliams@myescambia.com.

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MARK YOUR CALENDARS UF/IFAS Santa Rosa County Extension hosts a class, "Spring Vegetable Gardening," which will be taught

by Norene Gideon, Florida Master Gardener.

The program is free to attend without preregistration and is available at two locations: 10 a.m., Friday, Feb. 9, Santa Rosa County Extension Office, 6263 Dogwood Dr., Milton and 1 p.m., Friday, Feb. 16, Gulf Breeze Library, 1060 Shoreline Dr., Gulf Breeze. For questions about the class or locations, contact the Santa Rosa County Extension office at 623-3868.

Bike Pensacola's February Slow Ride will be Saturday, Feb. 17, starting at First City Art Center, 1060 N. Guillemard St. Riders will tour neighborhoods that include Long Hollow, Eastside, East Hill, and Old East Hill. Following the ride, there will be a party hosted by First City Art Center and Open Books. {in} 9

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Celebrate early! From Friday, February 9, through Tuesday, February 13, we’ll be offering Valentine’s Day specials throughout each day as well as serving from our standard menus. On Valentine’s Day, Wednesday, February 14, Chef Billy Ballou will offer a special feature with lunch service from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m., and two dinner features with dinner service beginning at 3 p.m. In addition, our current lunch and dinner menus will be available.

For details, visit fishhousepensacola.com.

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inweekly.net

By Stephanie Sharp & Joani Delezen

February 8, 2018

11

founder of Perfect Plain, knows that Mardi Gras memories are ubiquitous to life in Pensacola.

"As a child, it's about catching beads. In your twenties, it's about a little revelry. In my thirties, it's about seeing my daughter's smile while she gets to experience it all," said Reeves.

"What's cool about Mardi Gras is that you never really grow out of it."

As a part of their mission to be as community-driven as possible, Perfect Plain looks for opportunities to enrich local events with a custom craft beer element.

For instance, on Thursday, Feb. 1, they released the Perfect Pensacon Belgian Dubbel in partnership with Pensacon.

"We try to be hyper local, because we know at the end of the day, it'll be the community that supports us."

For their other event themed brew, Perfect Plain partnered with Pensacola Mardi Gras, Inc., the clearinghouse for Mardi Gras events in Pensacola and the organizers of the annual Pensacola Grand Mardi Gras Parade.

Danny Zimmern, president of Pensacola Mardi Gras, Inc., is a realtor for Scoggins III, Inc. and represented Perfect Plain during their search for their taproom and brewing facilities.

"We take a lot of pride in Perfect Plain, having helped bring them downtown," said Zimmern.

As development downtown has flourished, so has the economic impact of Mardi Gras. Perfect Plain's location on Garden Street and off of the official Grand Parade route signals a seasonal sprawl that Zimmern hopes will continue.

"As downtown Pensacola matures, we want to be bigger than a one street celebration."

Photo by John Starrett The idea of Mardi Gras is to get your vices out of your system before Ash Wednesday and there are plenty of ways to do just that and stay local this season. For example, if craft beer is your thing the new kid on the block has just the brew for you.

Perfect Plain Brewing Co. has hit the ground running since opening Thanksgiving weekend and hasn't slowed down. On Friday, Feb. 2, they introduced the first custom craft

FRIDAY 2.9

KREWE OF LAFITTE ILLUMINATED PARADE

7:30 p.m. Downtown. kreweoflafitte.com

SATURDAY 2.10

O’RILEY’S MARDI GRAS CELEBRATION 10

a.m. O’Riley’s Irish Pub, 321 S. Palafox. orileyspub.com PRE AND POST-PARADE PARTY 11 a.m.

Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. sevillequarter.com MARDI GRAS PARTY 1:30-6 p.m. $37.63.

212 1

beer created for Mardi Gras. In collaboration with Pensacola Mardi Gras Inc., Perfect Plain hosted a naming contest at their Garden Street taproom where krewes had the chance to name the new brew.

LOCAL TRADITIONS

The team at Perfect Plain is stacked with Pensacola locals eager to promote and celebrate local culture. D.C. Reeves, CEO and co-

SoGourmet, 407-D S. Palafox. sogourmetpensacola.com PENSACOLA MARDI GRAS PARADE 2-6 p.m. Downtown. pensacolamardigras.com

SUNDAY 2.11

NEW ORLEANS BRUNCH WITH CHEF LEON GALATOIRE 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. $45 per per-

son. Jackson’s Steakhouse, 400 S. Palafox. greatsouthernrestaurants.com KREWE OF WRECKS PARADE 2 p.m. Via de Luna and Avenida 10 to Gulfside Pavilion. pensacolabeachmardigras.com

FLAVOR OF THE SEASON

When the team at Perfect Plain gets an idea for a new beer, the process usually starts at their Monday morning "family meeting." Reeves, along with co-founder and director of brewing operations Reed Odeneal, general manager Bryant Liggett and head brewer Brett Schweigert.

Once they decide on an idea, they figure out what it should taste like and what features

POST-PARADE PARTY 4 p.m. Sandshaker

Lounge, 731 Pensacola Beach Blvd. sandshaker.com

TUESDAY 2.13

ABITA BREWING COMPANY TAP TAKEOVER 4-10 p.m. In the spirit of Mardi

Gras Day, WOB is letting Louisiana's very own Abita Brewing Company run a tap takeover. They will be featuring 10 different drafts, plus multiple bottle features.

World of Beer, 200 S. Palafox. facebook. com/wobpensacola

it should have. If the flavor combination is ambitious, they will do a pilot run and decide if they need to change course. When the beer is finalized and ready to tap, the bartenders are trained on the new beer to help better serve customers in the taproom.

According to Reeves, it takes about a month from that first meeting to tapping the new beer for the public. Anytime they make a commitment to custom craft beer for a local event, it's a commitment from their whole team.

"You can't just decide the day before," Reeves said. "It's not something you can just throw together."

This particular custom beer will be a "hat tip" to a traditional Mardi Gras cocktail, the Pimm's Cup, and will have ingredients based around that flavor profile.

KREWE LOVE

If you've ever seen a Mardi Gras parade, you've probably noticed the different floats and the various krewes that populate them.

These social organizations form around mutual interests or lifestyles and adopt the theme of their choice. In Pensacola, krewes range from flappers in the roaring '20s to local historic characters.

According to Zimmern, PMGI can identify at least 80 Mardi Gras krewes but estimates the true number to be around 90 krewes, representing different walks of life and even charitable causes.

"If you can live by the rules, you're welcome. We're a big tent celebration," said Zimmern.

Interest in local craft beer is another defining factor for some of the krewes.

"All 90 krewes are not going to be into it," said Zimmern. "But there will be some that really find a lot of energy behind coming together at a place like Perfect Plain and enjoying craft beer together."

PERFECT PLAIN BREWING CO. 50 E. Garden St. perfectplain.com

VALENTINE’S AND MARDI GRAS VINO MAGNIFICO 5:30 p.m. $12 per person. V.

Paul’s Italian Ristorante, 29 S. Palafox. vpauls.com 2018 PRISCUS BALL 6 p.m. Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. sevillequarter.com MARDI GRAS DAY AT PARADISE 6-10 p.m.

Annual shoebox float competition, live music. Paradise Bar & Grill, 21 Via de Luna Dr. paradisebar-grill.com KREWE OF COMA, CORONATION & LIGHTED HAT CONTEST 6 p.m. Sandshaker Lounge,

731 Pensacola Beach Blvd. sandshaker.com

inweekly.net

Everyone knows Mardi Gras is a party. So we decided to turn that party into a game.

And because we know you guys are up for the challenge, we're encouraging everyone who plays to go for a full card blackout instead of just standard bingo.

February 8, 2018

13

INWEEKLY: Can you describe the different Mardi Gras specials you've been making this season?

ECKISS: We have the King Cake Donut, full King Cakes, Fleur de Lis Cream Pie Sammies, and my personal favorite is our Moonpie Donut.

Mardi Gras isn't complete until you have a King Cake and a Moonpie, so I decided to put my own spin on it and make them into signature donut creations. I hope that Le Dough's creations become a part of peoples' Mardi Gras (and all holiday) traditions.

Le Dough King Cake / Courtesy Photo Local bakery and donut delivery service Le Dough is getting the Mardi Gras spirit and whipping up festive treats to feast on until Fat Tuesday. Inweekly asked owner and baker Sam Eckiss about her local roots, creative process and Mardi Gras memories.

INWEEKLY: Can you tell me a little bit about your background?

ECKISS: I'm a born and raised local girl.

I grew up in a home where baking was a regular occurrence, whether it be cakes, cookies, biscuits... the mixer was always going. I have a science background from studying at UWF and baking is definitely that, so I think I come by it naturally. The idea of Le Dough came to me after traveling around the country and being fascinated by other boutique/artisan donut shops. I really wanted to have something like that in Pensacola, so I decided to go for it. Having the idea of a business and working to make it come to life has been and continues to be an exciting journey.

INWEEKLY: What does the creative process look like for you—from theme to the finished product?

ECKISS: I live for a good theme menu. I literally dream about theme ideas, recipes, products and flavor combinations. I wake up and type out notes of what I want to do and possible flavor combinations, then narrow it down and start testing out recipes. After I'm satisfied with the test run, I have a few taste testers who give me their thoughts on it. After that, it goes on the menu.

INWEEKLY: What is your favorite thing about Mardi Gras in Pensacola? Do you have any memories you'd like to share?

ECKISS: I feel like Mardi Gras really is one of the best times of the year. The entire community really gets into it and there is something going on every weekend. There's a fun, positive and creative energy that I like most about it. Aside from the surge in New Orleans style cuisine, my favorite part about Mardi Gras in Pensacola is when the season kicks off and the parades, the weekend before Fat Tuesday. I love seeing all of the parade floats,

what themes everyone comes up with and the designs. They get bigger and better every year.

INWEEKLY: What do you consider to be the flavors of Mardi Gras season?

ECKISS: Mardi Gras is such a colorful and exciting time of year, and I think the flavors of food reflect that. There is nothing bland when it comes to Mardi Gras. I always think lots of spice, lots of cinnamon, marshmallow and all the sprinkles. Whether it be some spicy jambalaya, beignets covered in powdered sugar, or a banana Moonpie donut, it should feel like a party in your mouth.

INWEEKLY: What's a normal day at LeDough like? Is Mardi Gras season busier than usual or no?

ECKISS: A normal day is a lot of planning for the next. Planning out possible menus, and always brainstorming new products, specials, and events. Making a point to stay connected on social media is a must. Most important, is being in the kitchen making quality treats for our clients. I really enjoy that we are a delivery-based bakery. It adds a personal touch and I like getting to meet each person who orders from us and have that connection. Mardi Gras has turned out to be a busy season for us. I think our inventive take on traditional recipes have been well received.

We will, of course, always be doing our weekly donut deliveries too. We change up the menu all the time and post everything on our Instagram and Facebook page.

LE DOUGH helloledough.com

After reading this issue we have a feeling you’re going to be dying to try a Mardi Gras beer and King Cake Donut. If you’re heading downtown Saturday for the parade, that’s going to be super easy to do.

Le Dough is going to be set up and selling donuts and taking King Cake orders at Perfect Plain. So you can cross two things off your must try list (and if you decide to play Mardi Gras bingo with us you’ll be off to a great start).

INWEEKLY: What's next for LeDough after Mardi Gras season ends?

ECKISS: The day after Fat Tuesday is Valentine's Day and we have some really cute and tasty gifts for you in store. We'll be doing donut bouquets and custom letter donut grams that you can have delivered to your Valentine or Galentine. I'm really excited about these. We have also been doing beer and donut pairings with Perfect Plain Brewery most Sundays and will continue that. I've really enjoyed getting more creative with flavor combinations to pair with their beers. We will also be at the Market Basket on Sunday, Feb. 18 hosted by the Junior League of Pensacola, as well as the Spring Market at Wild Lemon in March.

EATS, DRINKS & SMILES BIG ASS SMILES @THEMAGNOLIAEPH NOW OPEN ON SUNDAYS 414 1

inweekly.net

WEEK OF FEBRUARY 8-14

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

Due North

By Shelby Nalepa

North by North / Courtesy Photo Chicago-based garage rock duo North by North is spending some much-needed time in the South, with a stop in Pensacola slated for Friday night. They'll be playing at chizuko with locals Precubed, Morn Mongata and Lights by Fire.

Drummer Kendra Blank and Nate Girard, vocals and guitar, just kicked off their aptly named Never-Ending Tour earlier this year. This will be the duo's first-ever show in Pensacola.

"This will be our first trip to play anywhere in Florida, bringing the total number of states we've played in to above 40," Blank said. "Our goal is to play in all 50 states at some point, so we are looking forward to swinging through Florida for the first time."

Blank and Girard initially met in high school after their families moved to the Chicago area and have played in several

Let’s Wine!

Free Wine Tasting Every Thursday AWM 5pm - 7pm

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different bands together over the past 10 years, but Blank said that North by North has been their longest project by far.

"Having fewer members definitely forces us to be more creative in terms of songwriting," Blank said. "For example, Nate's guitar work must fill both the lead and rhythm guitar space, as well as the rhythmic elements of a bass guitar. Each piece of the drum set also becomes a unique and crucial part of the song, forcing me to focus not only on what is being played but also on tone and technique."

The beginnings of the band started in 2011 similar to its current state, with Girard and Blank as a guitar and drum duo. After a few line-up changes which moved Blank to keyboard, they found that their original embodiment worked best for the type of sound and raw energy they most connected to.

"We downsized back to a two-piece in

late 2016 after a threemonth tour showed us that full-time touring was achievable and sustainable," she said.

Having just two members, Blank said, allows them more opportunity to tour more often and freely travel the country.

"We love being on the road," Blank said. "It's great getting to travel around and meet new people, see old friends and fans, and see the country. We always have a great time in Texas, and some of our other favorite spots are Asheville and Charlotte, N.C., Brooklyn, Los Angeles, Portland and Seattle."

Blank said that their main influences include artists like Queens of the Stone Age, Jack White, Arctic Monkeys, King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard and The Strokes.

"But we've also been likened to acts as varied as The Pixies, Danzig, and Foxy Shazam, so it seems that our sound and our music appeals to fans of many different genres," she said.

Both Blank and Girard got into music at a young age, with Blank playing keys in other bands before picking up drums again.

"My dad was a drummer, and so when I joined band in middle school it made sense that I would choose percussion as well," Blank said. "Meanwhile, Nate picked

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up the guitar at 13 and basically never put it down. I played keyboard for many years in North by North and other projects, and the switch to drum set was basically a no brainer."

Blank said that finding their niche in Chicago's varied community of musicians at first took some time.

"The Chicago music scene is huge," Blank said. "It can tend to be neighborhood-specific in terms of venues and bands, but there are so many pockets of great music that it's not an issue."

Blank said that she and Girard have been working on new material since the completion of their last record "Last Days of Magic," and are in the middle of recording their third album. They plan to release the album sometime this fall.

"We started with a more raw, punkier sound on our first album ‘Something Wicked,' and then we really focused on polishing the recordings and the recorded performances on ‘Last Days of Magic,'" Blank said. "We're hoping to find a happy medium between the two on our new album as far as vibe and solid performances." {in}

NORTH BY NORTH

WHAT: North by North with Precubed, Morn Mongata and Lights with Fire WHEN: 9 p.m. Friday, Feb. 9 WHERE: chizuko, 506 W. Belmont St. COST: $5-$8 DETAILS: northbynorth.bandcamp.com

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calendar SATURDAY 2.10

BIRDING FIELD TRIP 7 a.m. Blakeley and

Meaher State Parks with the FMW Audubon Society. Meet in the Publix parking lot at corner of Nine Mile and Pine Forest Road. fmwaudubon.org SANTA ROSA FARMERS MARKET 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Fresh local produce, honey, baked goods and live music. Pace Presbyterian Church, Woodbine Road.

PALAFOX MARKET 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Fresh produce, live plants, baked goods, fine art and antiques. Items originate directly from participating vendors, including dozens of local farmers, home gardeners and area artists. Martin Luther King Jr. Plaza, N. Palafox. palafoxmarket.com COOKING DEMONSTRATIONS 9 a.m.-2 p.m.

Martin Luther King Jr. Plaza, N. Palafox. palafoxmarket.com DEBBY'S KITCHEN 10 a.m. Free. Ever'man Educational Center, 327 W. Garden St. everman.org NAMASTAY FOR THE BEER 10 a.m.-12 p.m.

Perfect Plain Brewing Co., 50 E. Garden St. facebook.com/perfectplainbrewingco MEET YOUR MATCH ADOPTION EVENT 11 a.m. Doggie kissing booth, Sherry the Dog Mama, dog expert. Woerner Landscape, 1332 Creighton Road. facebook.com/woernerlandscape JUNIOR HUMANE SOCIETY ADOPTION 12-4 p.m. PetSmart, 6251 N. Davis Highway. pensacolahumane.org NATURAL HEALING 1:30 p.m. Free.

Ever'man Educational Center, 327 W. Garden St. everman.org SOUTHWEST BRANCH LIBRARY BOOK CLUB

Puddles Pity Party / Courtesy Photo

THURSDAY 2.8

'I, TONYA' SCREENING 1 p.m. $5. Voices of

Pensacola, 117 E. Government St. pensacolacinemaart.com AWM WINE TASTING 5-7 p.m. Aragon Wine Market, 27 S. 9th Ave. aragonwinemarket.com 'FREAKS AND ERRORS' SCREENING 5:30 p.m.

Free. Documentary about stamp collecting.

Guest speaker from The Smithsonian. Voices of Pensacola, 117 E. Government St. MEDITATION FOR PLANETARY PEACE 6 p.m.

Free. Ever'man Educational Center, 327 W. Garden St. everman.org ISLAND FIGHTS 46 6 p.m. $24-$76.

Pensacola Bay Center, 201 E. Gregory St. pensacolabaycenter.com VEGAN DINNER 6:30 p.m. $75 per person.

Skopelos at New World Landing, 600 S. Palafox. skopelosatnewworld.com SELECT LATIN DANCE LESSONS AND PARTY

6:30-9 p.m. $10. Salsa, Cha Cha, Bachata and more. DanceCraft, 8618 Pensacola Blvd. $10. dancecraftfl.com DAVID ALLAN COE 7 p.m. $25-$30. Vinyl Music Hall, 2 S. Palafox. vinylmusichall.com JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT 7:30 p.m. $17. Pensacola Little

Theatre, 400 S. Jefferson St. pensacolalittletheatre.com

FRIDAY 2.9

2018 OSCAR NOMINATED SHORT FILMS 12 February 8, 2018

p.m. $5. Voices of Pensacola, 117 E. Government St. pensacolacinemaart.com PILATES MAT 1:30 p.m. Free. Ever'man Educational Center, 327 W. Garden St. everman.org WINE TASTING 5-7 p.m. Free. City Grocery, 2050 N. 12th Ave. HAPPY HOUR COOK OUTS 5 p.m. Drink specials, free cookout. Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. sevillequarter.com GAY GRASSROOTS 6 p.m. Free. Ever'man Educational Center, 327 W. Garden St. everman.org DATE NIGHT DANCING 6:30-8 p.m. $15. Learn the basics of several romantic ballroom and country dance styles in group classes that keep partners together. DanceCraft, 8618 Pensacola Blvd. dancecraftfl.com WINTER OLYMPIC GAMES WATCH PARTY 7 p.m. Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. sevillequarter.com LESS THAN JAKE 7 p.m. $18-$20. Vinyl Music Hall, 2 S. Palafox. vinylmusichall.com OPEN MIC 7-11 p.m. Single Fin Cafe, 380 N. 9th Ave. facebook.com/singlefincafe JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT 7:30 p.m. $33. Pensacola Little

Theatre, 400 S. Jefferson St. pensacolalittletheatre.com

PRECUBED, MORN MONGATA, NORTH BY NORTH, LIGHTS WITH FIRE 9 p.m. chizuko,

506 W. Belmont St. facebook.com/chizukopensacola

2 p.m. "Almost Sisters" by Joshilyn Jackson. Southwest Branch Library, 12248 Gulf Beach Highway. mywfpl.com

$5 SHOW WITH PAW PAWS MEDICINE CABINET & SOUTHERN HEARTBURN 7 p.m. Vinyl

Music Hall, 2 S. Palafox. vinylmusichall.com ALL YOU NEED IS LOVE: PENSACOLA SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA BEATLES TRIBUTE

FemFest 2018

By Shelby Nalepa

FemFest, everyone's favorite annual feminist event, is happening again this month and it's even bigger and better than last year.

The week long celebration of intersectional feminism will feature everything from a curated film festival spotlighting female directors to educational panels and a night dedicated to women of color.

This year's FemFest also welcomes two new additions, including a body positive event and play directed by a new local production company.

Pensacola transgender advocacy group STRIVE (Social Trans Initiative) will kick off FemFest Wednesday, Feb. 14 with a panel on love and relationships within the transgender community where panel members will discuss the complexities trans people can face when dating. {in}

FEMFEST 2018 SCHEDULE:

WEDNESDAY, FEB. 14: STRIVE Discussion Panel THURSDAY, FEB. 15: Women in Focus: A Film Night FRIDAY, FEB. 16: Womanhood in Lavender SATURDAY, FEB. 17: The Will of Women SUNDAY, FEB. 18: All Bodies Are Good Bodies All proceeds from FemFest will go to Rape Crisis Center and Trauma Recovery Program at Lakeview Center, Black Women Empower Collective, STRIVE and The Body Positive organization. Donations can also be made at gofundme.com/femfest-2018.

For our full feature on FemFest 2018, make sure to pick up next week's issue.

7:30 p.m. $20-$96. Saenger Theatre, 118 S. Palafox. pensacolasaenger.com

JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT 7:30 p.m. $33. Pensacola Little

Theatre, 400 S. Jefferson St. pensacolalittletheatre.com DANCE PARTY 8-midnight. Partner dancing on the best wood dance floor in the area.

DanceCraft, 8618 Pensacola Blvd. $10. dancecraftfl.com TAMING OF THE SHREW 9 p.m. $15. Swan Neck Meadery & Winery, 2115 W. Nine Mile Road. No. 9. setsco.org.

SUNDAY 2.11

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.

GROUP MEDITATION 9-10:30 a.m. Free.

Ever'man Educational Center, 327 W. Garden St. everman.org PUBLIC ICE SKATE 1:30-4:30 p.m. $9-$12.

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

WHY WE SHOULD LOVE TRANS PEOPLE

WHAT: A discussion panel led by STRIVE WHEN: 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 14 WHERE: West Florida Public Libraries, 239 N. Spring St. COST: Free, donations accepted at door DETAILS: facebook.com/femfestpcola

PENSACOLA ICE FLYERS BOWLING TOUR17

calendar NAMENT 2-6 p.m. $60 per lane. Cordova

Lanes, 2111 Airport Blvd.

JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT 3 p.m. $33. Pensacola Little

Theatre, 400 S. Jefferson St. pensacolalittletheatre.com

SOUTHEASTERN TEEN SHAKESPEARE COMPANY: SHENANIGANS 4-5 p.m. Free. 1010 N.

12th Ave. setsco.org/first-city-shakespeare

G LOVE PRE SHOW POP OFF 4:45 p.m. $99. Vinyl

Music Hall, 2 S. Palafox. vinylmusichall.com

TAMING OF THE SHREW 7 p.m. $15. Swan

Neck Meadery & Winery, 2115 W. Nine Mile Road. No. 9. setsco.org.

G LOVE & SPECIAL SAUCE 7 p.m. $22.50-$25. Vinyl Music Hall, 2 S. Palafox. vinylmusichall.com JIM GAFFIGAN 7:30 p.m. $37.25-$62.25.

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

MONDAY 2.12

PILATES MAT 1:30-2:30 p.m. Free. Ever'man

Educational Center, 327 W. Garden St. everman.org SEVILLE QUARTER MILERS 5:30 p.m. Run-

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

MICHEAL J. DEAS AND GREGORY B. SAUNDERS RECEPTION 5:30 p.m.

Thursday, Feb. 8.

TAG, 11000 University Parkway. Bldg.

82. uwf.edu OPEN STUDIO: DRAWING MEDIA

11:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.

Saturday, Feb. 10.

(No admission after 3 p.m.) $6, free for PMA members.

Pensacola Museum of Art, 407 S. Jefferson St. pensacolamuseum.org

≥Current Exhibits CONTAINED PLAY

On view through Feb. Artists from the University of West Florida Advanced Sculpture: Public Art course— Katie Carff, John Davis and Michael Stewart—created 818 1

this accumulation of orbs and light as part of their coursework. Main Street Façade Sculpture Garden at Pensacola Museum of Art, 407 S. Jefferson St. pensacolamuseum.org BLACK AND WHITE

On view through Feb. 16. Artel Gallery, 223 S. Palafox. artelgallery.com SELF EXPRESSIONS

On view through Feb. 16. Artel Gallery, 223 S. Palafox. artelgallery.com MARKS IN PAINT

On view through Feb. 16. Artel Gallery, 223 S. Palafox. artelgallery.com THE TYPEWRITER PROJECT: SUBCONSCIOUS OF THE CITY

On view through Feb. 16. Month-long experiment from the UWF Department of English, in partnership with the Experience UWF Downtown Lecture Series.

Public participation encouraged.

University of West Florida John C. Pace Library, 11000 University Parkway. uwf.edu 64TH ANNUAL

ners meet in front of Seville Quarter for a run around downtown Pensacola. Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. sevillequarter.com GRAPHIC NOVEL GROUP 5:30 p.m. Pensacola Library, 239 N. Spring St. mywfpl.com OPERA DINNER 'MAN OF LA MANCHA' 5:30 p.m. $64.50. SoGourmet, 407-D S. Palafox. sogourmetpensacola.com BALLROOM DANCE LESSONS 6:30-8 p.m. $10. Waltz, Foxtrot, Tango, and more.

Professional dance instruction for all skill levels. DanceCraft, 8618 Pensacola Blvd. dancecraftfl.com TAMING OF THE SHREW 7 p.m. $15. Swan Neck Meadery & Winery, 2115 W. Nine Mile Road. No. 9. setsco.org.

SONGWRITERS AND POETS OPEN MIC 7-9 p.m.

Goat Lips, 2811 Copter Road. goatlips.com BREW I.Q. TRIVIA NIGHT WITH JARRELL HENDRIX 7-9 p.m. Perfect Plain Brewing

Co., 50 E. Garden St. facebook.com/perfectplainbrewingco HIP-HOP DANCE LESSONS 8-9 p.m. $10.

Learn hip-hop moves from professional instructor. DanceCraft, 8618 Pensacola Blvd. dancecraftfl.com

YOUTH ART FOCUS

On view through Feb. 18. Pensacola Museum of Art, 407 S. Jefferson St. pensacolamuseum.org ADORN On view through Feb. 24. Blue Morning Gallery, 21 S. Palafox. bluemorninggallery.com THE ROADS WE'VE TAKEN On view

through Feb. 25. First City Art Center, 1060 Guillemard St. firstcityart.org

PHILATELY & FRIENDSHIP: THE ART OF ACE On

view through Feb. 27. Exhibition of 50 illustrated envelopes created by members of Art Cover Exchange.

T.T. Wentworth, Jr. Museum, 330 S. Jefferson St. historicpensacola.org

MICHEAL J. DEAS AND GREGORY B. SAUNDERS On view

through March 10.

TAG, 11000 University Parkway. Bldg.

82. uwf.edu

DEPOSE AND DISPOSE (OF) On view

through March 18.

Pensacola Museum of Art, 407 S. Jefferson St. pensacolamuseum.org

≥Workshops & Classes

POTTERY ON THE WHEEL Six-week

workshops are held Tuesdays from 6-9 p.m., Wednesdays from 9 a.m.-12 p.m., Thursdays from 6-9 p.m. and Saturdays from 9 a.m.-12 p.m. 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.-12 p.m. 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 Satur-

Beach Hotel, 16 Fort Pickens Road.

TUESDAY 2.13

POP UP OPERA 1:30 p.m. Visit Pensacola, 1401 E. Gregory St. COMPLIMENTARY WINE TASTING 5-7 p.m.

SoGourmet, 407-D S. Palafox. sogourmetpensacola.com O'RILEY'S PINT RUNNERS 6-7 p.m. Tuesdays through Jan. 30. O'Riley's Irish Pub, 321 S. Palafox. orileyspub.com COUNTRY DANCE LESSONS 6:30 p.m. $10.

Country Two Step, East Coast Swing, Competition Choreography and more.

DanceCraft, 8618 Pensacola Blvd. dancecraftfl.com MOVIES AT THE REX 7 p.m. $5. The REX, 18 N. Palafox. pensacolacinemaart.com UWF LAMBDA COALITION MEETING 7 p.m.

Bldg. 36, room 191. University of West Florida, 11000 University Parkway.

COMEDY NIGHT 7 p.m. Swan Neck Meadery, 2115 W. Nine Mile Road. swanneckwinery.com

WEDNESDAY 2.14

WINE TASTING 5-7 p.m. Free. Margaritaville

days from 9 a.m.-12 p.m. at First City Art Center. Cost is $157.25 for members and $185 for non-members. For more information, visit firstcityart.org.

tive wine tasting in Seville Quarter Wine and Gift Shop. No charge for the tasting.

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

Bars & Nightlife

Ticket 1, 7250 Plantation Road. ticketsportsbar.com Saturdays

≥Bar Games Thursdays

LADIES NIGHT 5

p.m. V. Paul's Italian Ristorante, 29 S. Palafox. vpauls.com BREW IQ WITH JERRELL HENDRIX 7-9

p.m. Perfect Plain Brewing Co., 50 E. Garden St. 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 WINE TASTING

5-7 p.m. Informa-

POOL TOURNAMENT 8 p.m. The

MEMBERSHIP APPRECIATION NIGHT 8 p.m. Seville

Quarter Membership Card Holder Appreciation Night at Phineas Phogg's. 130 E. Government St. sevillequarter.com Sundays

BAR AND RESTAURANT EMPLOYEE (B.A.R.E. NIGHT) 7

p.m. Special prices for B.A.R.E. Card membership holders.

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

TEXAS HOLD 'EM FOR FUN AND TRIVIA 7 p.m. The

Sandshaker Lounge, 731 Pensacola Beach Blvd. sandshaker.com TRIVIA NIGHT 7-9 p.m. World of Beer, 200 S. Palafox. wobusa.com/loca-

PILATES & PINOT 6-7 p.m. $12. Pure Pilates,

426 S. Palafox. purepilatespensacola.com WATERBOYZ SLOW SKATE 6-7 p.m. Every Wednesday. Skate starts and ends at Waterboyz, 380 N. 9th Ave. waterboyz.com YOGA FLOW 6-7 p.m. Free. Ever'man Educational Center, 327 W. Garden St. everman.org SWING DANCE LESSONS AND PARTY 6:3010 p.m. $5-$10. Professional west coast swing instruction for all levels. DanceCraft, 8618 Pensacola Blvd. dancecraftfl.com LATIN NIGHT 7 p.m.-midnight. Phineas Phogg's, Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. sevillequarter.com PUDDLES PITY PARTY 7 p.m. $25-$70. Vinyl Music Hall, 2 S. Palafox. vinylmusichall.com MEDITATION 7:15-8:30 p.m. Free. Ever'man Educational Center, 327 W. Garden St. everman.org FREE DANCE LESSONS 8-8:30 p.m. Free beginner west coast swing dance lesson.

DanceCraft, 8618 Pensacola Blvd. dancecraftfl.com

Apple Annie's at Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. sevillequarter.com

bottles of wine every Wednesday. Jackson's Steakhouse, 226 S. Palafox. jacksonsrestaurant.com

MONDAY NIGHT TRIVIA 9:30-10:30

WAY BACK WEDNESDAYS 4

tions/palafox

BAR BINGO 8 p.m.

p.m. Mugs and Jugs, 12080 Scenic Highway. facebook.com/ mugsjugs Tuesdays TUESDAY TRIVIA 8 p.m. The Bridge Bar and Sunset Lounge, 33 Gulf Breeze Parkway. facebook.com/ thebridgebargb BAR BINGO 8 p.m.

Ticket Sports Bar, 7333 N. Davis Highway. Play to win up to $100 in gift cards.

TICKET TEAM TRIVIA 8 p.m. The Ticket

1, 7250 Plantation Road. ticketsportsbar.com POKER 8 p.m. The Ticket 2, 2115 W. Nine Mile Road. ticketsportsbar.com TEAM TRIVIA 9 p.m.

Hopjacks. 10 S. Palafox. hopjacks. com Wednesdays WINE DOWN WEDNESDAYS 11

a.m. Half- priced

p.m. Free admission for ladies, $1 beers, $5 pizza.

Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. sevillequarter.com LADIES NIGHT ON THE DECK 5 p.m. $2

drinks and music.

The Deck Bar, 600 S. Barracks St. fishhousepensacola.com

PUB TRIVIA NIGHT

7-9:30 p.m. Goat Lips Beer Garden, 2811 Copter Road. facebook.com/ goatlipsdeli WEDNESDAY QUIZ TRIVIA 8 p.m. The Cabaret, 101 S. Jefferson St. cabaretpensacola.com PUB TRIVIA WEDNESDAYS 8-10

p.m. O'Riley's Irish Pub, 321 S. Palafox. orileyspub.com

TICKET BAR BINGO

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

for more listings visit inweekly.net inweekly.net

calendar

VALENTINE'S DAY HAPPENINGS

BURGER

CRAVE

Grizfolk / Photo by Nicole Poulos

THROUGH FEB. 10

TYPEWRITER VALENTINES Citizens can drop by Pensacola Library during open hours to type an old-fashioned Valentine's Day note for their sweetheart or crush. The library will provide typewriters, paper and envelopes. Pensacola Library, 239 N. Spring St.

FRIDAY 2.9

PRE-VALENTINE'S DAY COMEDY SHOW & DINNER 7-11 p.m. $20-$50.

Featuring Marvin Hunter. Pensacola Improv, 375 N. Pace Blvd. pensacolaimprov.com

SATURDAY 2.10

COUPLES COOK: CUPID IN THE KITCHEN 7 p.m. $60. Pensacola Cooks Kitchen, 3670 Barrancas Ave. pensacolacooks.rezclick.com

SUNDAY 2.11

OLD SCHOOL VALENTINE CRAFT NIGHT 5-9 p.m. Perfect Plain Brewing Co., 50 E. Garden St. facebook.com/perfectplainbrewingco

TUESDAY 2.13

WEDNESDAY 2.14

VALENTINE'S DAY AT 5 SISTERS BLUES CAFÃ&#x2030; 11 a.m.-10 p.m. 421 W. Belmont St. greatsouthernrestaurants.com VALENTINE'S DAY DINNER AT SEVILLE QUARTER 5-9 p.m. $50 per person.

Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. sevillequarter.com VALENTINE'S DAY DINNER AT UPH Seatings between 5 and 6 p.m. and 8 and 9 p.m. $65 per person, $30 wine pairing available. Union Public House, 309 S. Reus St. unionpensacola.com VALENTINE'S DAY AT SOGOURMET 5-10 p.m. $188.13. SoGourmet, 407-D S. Palafox. sogourmetpensacola.com FRANK AND LOLA'S FIVE COURSE VALENTINE'S DINNER 5, 6:30 and 8:30 p.m. $150 per couple. Frank and Lola Love, 165 Fort Pickens Rd. margaritavillehotel.com VALENTINE'S DAY AT JACKSON'S STEAKHOUSE Jackson's Steakhouse, 400 S. Palafox. greatsouthernrestaurants.com

DEAD TECH LOVE LETTERS 4 and 5 p.m. Type a letter to the one you love and then decorate it. Tryon Branch Library, 1200 Langley Ave. mywfpl.com

COUPLES COOK: CUPID IN THE KITCHEN 6 p.m. $60. Pensacola Cooks Kitchen, 3670 Barrancas Ave. pensacolacooks.rezclick.com

VALENTINE'S MENU AT V. PAULS Available through Feb. 15. $59 per person. V. Paul's Italian Ristorante, 29 S. Palafox. vpauls.com

VALENTINE'S DAY TRIVIA 8-11 p.m.

O'Riley's Irish Pub, 321 S. Palafox. orileyspub.com

VALENTINE'S AND MARDI GRAS VINO MAGNIFICO 5:30 p.m. $12 per person. V. Paul's Italian Ristorante, 29 S. Palafox. vpauls.com

February 8, 2018

30 south Palafox

GRIZFOLK AT PERFECT PLAIN 8:30 p.m. $10 suggested donation (benefiting Studer Community Institute). Enjoy craft beer and live music from Grizfolk and Paul Vinson.

Perfect Plain Brewing Co., 50 E. Garden St. facebook.com/perfectplainbrewingco 19

a&e

By C.S. Satterwhite

The Poet Muse States of America. The shape of our government. The condition of our government. It's kind of unbelievable.

The sexism of our government. The complete money driven nature of our government at this point in time. It's as bad as it could possibly be. I mean, it was written into the Constitution.

People talk about the Constitution as if it's some glorious document that has some real answers, and I think that's not true. It was written to be unequal, and now the chickens have come home to roost. That's the way it looks to me.

Eileen Myles is one of the most prolific and respected poets of our era. Myles is also one of the few poets to make a name for themselves in the world of pop culture.

Slate Magazine described Myles as a "Gender Warrior," and they've also called her the "poet muse" for Amazon's hit TV show "Transparent."

Myles, however, is hesitant to take on the mantle of the historic roles of poets, whether ancient or modern. Known as a fixture in the New York poetry world, Myles splits her time between New York and the artist colony of Marfa, Texas. I spoke with Myles on the phone at her home in Marfa in late January, the day before the Women's March anniversary. We talked about politics, poetry and what she thinks of the poet's role in our society.

INWEEKLY: Tomorrow is the first anniversary of Trump taking office. The government is set to shut down over immigration.

Trump still wants to build the wall. It's also the anniversary of the Women's March.

There's a big one taking place here in Pensacola, and across the country. I know you do political work, so I'm curious—one year into Trump's reign, how do you think it's going?

MYLES: It's an insane question. Not your question, but it's all just so crazy. I was looking on Twitter today, and a friend posted that Republicans control all parts of the government at this moment in time, and the whole country is in complete chaos.

It's horrendous. It comes down to every single thing that's wrong with the United 020 2

INWEEKLY: That's always the back and forth between the rhetoric and the history and the practice. Which, of course, is troubling. So in times like these, I often think of Paul Robeson or Anne Waldman when I think of what the role of the artist is in times like today. What do you think is the artist's role?

MYLES: The role of the artist is the same as the role of any person. What you need to do is to take care of yourself and not have a sense of not being silenced or backed into a corner or filled with despair. So whatever a person does, I need to work. I need to write. I need to talk to people. We used to call it "preaching to the choir." I think everyone has a new understanding. We need each other.

We need to recharge our battery. We need a new conversation. And no matter how bad it is, I don't think complaint without solution is incorrect. You know? I just think that you have to look at how dark it is, and I think that's what's happening now. I think to have an accurate take on the badness of it, a community to share that with, and to do what you need to do to take care of yourself in your life in some way, whether that's making art or fixing plumbing or having kids or doing an office job. People learn to take of themselves. Then I think about ideas around action, and I think that's part.

Like the people marching today is significant and great.

INWEEKLY: Do you think your poetry has changed over the past year? I know a lot of people talk about the stress on their lives, the stress that they've gone through, just watching the news and paying attention to everything, especially if you're gay or otherwise marginalized. Do you feel that's affected your poetry at all?

MYLES: Everything that's around me affects my poetry. My work has always been political in different ways, so sure, but I've written a few things that are utterly and completely about politics. But my way of

writing has been like I'm feeling in and out of things, but it's always in the world of what I do and say. In a way, I'd say that it's not changed, but to say that I'm open to acknowledging these conditions. It might have a different effect on people when I read my work. I think that I'm somebody's who's always been writing about the political reality of our times.

INWEEKLY: When did you start considering yourself a poet?

MYLES: I was kind of bumping against it in college when I started taking writing workshops and realized I was kind of good at it.

But it wasn't until I came to New York when I was 24, and if I met you at a party, when someone would ask, 'So what do you do?'

I'd say, 'I'm a poet.' It was kind of a professional choice to move to New York. In New York, I knew that's where the poets were.

That's where an art life was.

INWEEKLY: What was New York like back then?

MYLES: I've written a lot about it, but I'll just say that it was wild, it was spacious, it was cheap and it was fun. It was pretty ideal for my purposes.

MYLES: And yet with everybody else at the same time, which is a very weird kind of contradiction.

INWEEKLY: What do you think is the poet's role in this modern condition, or do you think the poet has a role in trying to bring the community together?

MYLES: You know, I'm always a little nervous about the 'poet's role.' It seems prescriptive. I've been interested in what a director does, and I started to talk to some people, and it started to become clear that the director was really an extension of the personality. Like, if you were a small blocky person, and you liked to tell people what to do and always felt you were right, that's a certain approach to being a director. Also, if you were the son or daughter of a contractor and your summer jobs throughout college were working for your dad and organizing small teams of men and women to do physical labor, and you got comfortable working in a way of delegating this or delegating that, you'd be a different kind of director. I'm a different kind of director, working in notebooks, writing poems, reading poems publicly, teaching workshops, writing about art. There are a whole bunch of skills that come with writing about that. That would order the type of director that I am. Big epics of culture, like big epics of poetry, like Beowulf. Who's Beowulf? Beowulf might also be a poet. Maybe being a poet means just being this guy, and I don't mean being a guy, as in varying gender.

In a way, a poet is just a way of saying person.

I guess I always resist… once I heard a poet say that poets are really truth tellers. And I just thought, 'I just don't want to take on that mask.' Poets are as full of shit as anyone else.

The only difference is that some of us are lucky enough to make a living. {in}

INWEEKLY: Do you get nostalgic for it?

MYLES: Nah. You know, I already got to live there. It's like being young, but I've already got to do it… Part of the reason that I love where I am now, here in Texas, is that the scale here is smaller. The town of Marfa has a permanent population of 2,000, but a fluctuating population of much larger depending on what art event is going on. It's very local, it's very communal, and it's very art moving. It reminds me of the East Village when I was in my early twenties. When I go to an artist colony, I feel the same way too. You go to a place where local is the scale you live on. And it was always about WHAT: A public reading the time. Even technology and WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 8 economics alone have radically WHERE: Ashmore Fine Arts Center, 1000 Colchanged. As soon as we had the lege Blvd., Bldg. 8 answering machine in the '80s, COST: $7-11, free for PSC students it was different. As soon as we had the internet in the 90s, it WHAT: A writing workshop was different. As soon as we WHEN: 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Friday, Feb. 9 had cell phones, it was differWHERE: Chadbourne Library, 1000 College ent. It's like everybody feels like Blvd., Bldg. 20, Room 2051 they're on their own road. It's COST: Free almost like the nature of reality now is turning on a machine and WHAT: A book talk seeing what everybody wants, WHEN: 7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 9 or does anyone want anything.

WHERE: Anna Lamar Switzer Gallery, 1000 College Blvd.

INWEEKLY: I've heard you COST: Free describe Western Civilization like this. Everybody's for DETAILS FOR ALL EVENTS: pensacolastate.edu herself. Everybody is alone.

EILEEN MYLES AT PSC

inweekly.net

@VOLUMEONESALON February 8, 2018

21

DIFFERENCE MAKERS NAIOP RECOGNIZES 2018 BEST OF THE BEST NAIOP of NWFL gathered on January 25, 2018 to celebrate the biggest deals in commercial real estate and construction along with the industry’s local top performers at the NAIOP Annual Awards Banquet.

Developing Leader of the Year—Honoring up-and-coming commercial real estate professionals, 35 years of age and under, for their valued contribution and commitment to the industry, awarded to Megan Fry Member of the Year—Recognizes a member who has promoted the association and worked to further NAIOP’s activities and influence, awarded to Will Dunaway Distinguished Member—Honors a NAIOP Member who has demonstrated outstanding commitment, passion for the commercial real estate industry, and unparallel dedication to NAIOP, awarded to Bo Johnson Deal of the Year —These deals require creativity, flexibility and perseverance to structure and meet client goals. They have an impact on our community and marketplace and stand out among the best. Awarded to Billy Lovelace and Bobby Switzer for the Trustmark / Fisher Brown Bottrell Building Lease New Development Office Class—Presented to a development that is both creative and innovative, one that has had significant impact on the community either by creating new jobs or generating other development in the area, awarded to Baptist Medical Park-Airport Location New Development Industrial Class —Presented to a development that has proved to bring in new industry and create new local jobs, a development that has impacted the community by raising the standard for industrial construction, awarded to Cape Horn Marine Re-Development of the Year—Recognizes a facility that has been transformed and renovated into something entirely different, a facility that now has a greater positive impact on the surrounding community and displays an original and resourceful design, Awarded to Bodacious Brew/ Bodacious Olive and Re- Development- First Runner Up – awarded to Interstate Office Plaza 1 & 2

Sponsored by The Studer Family 222 2

inweekly.net

news of the weird SOMETHING TO SING ABOUT The Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts in Switzerland has a new course of study for scholars to pursue: a bachelor's or master's in yodeling. Beginning in the 2018-19 academic year, students will be able to major in the traditional form of singing, which was used by Swiss herdsmen to communicate with each other in the mountains. The BBC reported that prize-winning yodeler Nadja Rass will lead the courses, which will also include musical theory and history. "We have long dreamed of offering yodeling at the university," gushed Michael Kaufmann, head of the school's music department.

NAMES IN THE NEWS Police in Logansport, Indiana, finally caught up with the thief who had been targeting churches in the area since Jan. 16: Christian J. Alter, 22, of Kewanna, was charged with breaking into five houses of worship and stealing cash, according to the Logansport PharosTribune. Alter was apprehended Jan. 23 just moments before the fifth burglary, at Rehoboth Christian Church, was discovered by police. He was being held in the Cass County Jail.

THE CONTINUING CRISIS Birds nesting near natural gas compressors have been found to suffer symptoms similar to PTSD in humans, according to researchers at the Florida Museum of Natural History, and noise pollution has been named the culprit.

The Washington Post reported the team studied birds in the Rattlesnake Canyon Habitat Management Area in New Mexico, which is uninhabited by humans but does contain natural gas wells and compression stations that constantly emit a low-frequency hum. The steady noise was linked to abnormal levels of stress hormones, and the usually hardy western bluebirds in the area were found to be smaller and displayed bedraggled feathers. "The body is just starting to break down," explained stress physiologist Christopher Lowry.

ARMED AND NAKED In Texas, game wardens came across an arresting sight in Gregg County last November: an unnamed Upshur County man hunting in the nude along a state highway. The Houston Chronicle reported that the hunter, who is a well-known nudist and activist in the area, contested his arrest on charges including hunting without a license, but one look in court at the warden's body cam footage undermined his case. The man then dropped his appeals and settled the citations.

YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO REMAIN SILENT Vincente Rodrigues-Ortiz, 22, was arrested on Jan. 24 in Grand Rapids, Michigan, for the assault and murder of Andre Hawkins, 17, the day before. But when Rodrigues-Ortiz appeared in court

by the Editors at Andrews McMeel

on Jan. 25 for arraignment, he questioned the judge about his "other murder case."

WWMT TV reported that his query led prosecutors to interview and then swiftly charge him with the March 2017 homicide of Laurie Kay Lundeburg, and RodriguesOrtiz now awaits arraignment in that case as well.

BRUTALLY HONEST Kane Blake of Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada, has great things to say about his Springvalley home: "It's a gorgeous neighborhood," and his family loves most things about it.

Nevertheless, the Blakes have listed their home for sale, with a sign out front reading: "Home for Sale by owner because neighbor is an â&#x20AC;&#x201D;-hole." Blake said a neighbor has been harassing his family for five years, including sending police and bylaws officers to the house for frivolous reasons and taking photos of Blake's house. "My kids won't even walk to school, they're terrified," he told the Kelowna Capital News, adding that he's received several offers on his house.

TOILET GHOST Homeowners in Noosa, Queensland, Australia, were perplexed about why their toilet kept randomly flushing, so on Jan. 28, they looked into the flush mechanism embedded in the wall behind the toilet. Then they summoned Luke Huntley, a local snake catcher. Huntley found a 13-foot brown tree snake in the niche, according to the Daily Mail, resting on the flush mechanism. "Hopefully, he's going to be able to come straight out," Huntley said on a video of the capture, "but he's a little grumpy."

BRIGHT IDEA A landlord in Cardiff, Wales, was caught in a compromising position when he offered a special rent deal to an ITV Wales reporter with a hidden camera. The unnamed man posted an ad on Craigslist offering a 650-pound-permonth home with the option of a "reduced deposit/rent arrangement" for "alternative payments." When he met reporter Sian Thomas at a restaurant to discuss the property, he said, "I don't know if you have heard of a sort of 'friends with benefits' sort of arrangement," reported Metro News on Jan. 30. He went on to say that if a once-a-week sex arrangement could be struck, "then I wouldn't be interested in any rent from you at all." The ITV Wales report was part of an investigation into "sex for rent" arrangements, which apparently are not uncommon in Wales, judging from other advertisements. {in}

From Andrews McMeel Syndication News Of The Weird Š 2018 Andrews McMeel

Send your weird news items to WeirdNewsTips@amuniversal.com February 8, 2018

23

Independent News | February 8, 2018 | inweekly.net