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Independent News | February 10, 2022 | Volume 23 | Number 6
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winners & losers
Gene Franklin / Courtesy of Habitat for Humanity
Matt Gaetz / Courtesy Photo (gaetz.house.gov)
winners
losers
GENE FRANKLIN Pensacola Habitat for Humanity recently announced Dr. Rev. Gene Franklin as the newly elected chairman of its board of directors. He has been a member of the board since 2018 and has been active on several committees, including finance, land and governance, and been involved with many events organized by Pensacola Habitat. He will serve as chairman of the board for the next two years. DOUG BROXSON The state senator was
named the 2022 recipient of the God in Government Award at the 45th Annual Governmental Prayer Breakfast. The breakfast transcends denominational and political affiliation. Started by the Greater Cantonment-Ensley Ministerial Alliance, the event today is put together by a diverse committee that believes in preserving the original mission of encouraging moral and spiritual values in government.
JAMILIYA MCBRIDE The Pine Forest High School educator was named the Escambia County Teacher of the Year Friday night. At the event, Superintendent Dr. Tim Smith said of McBride, "She is a servant leader. She is one that embodies the goodness, great dedication, the great heart that all of our teachers share." JOHN CLARENCE SMITH Jay High School
renamed its gym the "John Clarence Smith Gymnasium." Smith, 96, coached the Jay Royals for 36 seasons, from 1951 to 1989, with 613 career wins. He graduated from Jay High School as salutatorian in 1944. The World War II veteran was an educator in Santa Rosa County for 38 years. Smith is a charter member of the Florida High School Athletic Association Hall of Fame.
PENSACOLA CHILDREN'S CHORUS The
Pensacola Children's Chorus is expanding its musical programs into Century. In March, PCC will host rehearsals for its new Tri-City Children's Choir, serving children in grades two through six in Century, Jay, Flomaton and the surrounding areas. The Tri-City Children's Choir reflects PCC's mission of transforming young lives through music as well as a goal to foster community pride and support in the arts.
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MATT GAETZ All of our congressman's
television appearances didn't translate to campaign contributions in the fourth quarter of 2021. In his latest campaign finance disclosure, his campaign raised $534,000 in the final three months of last year, a significant drop from the $1.8 million he raised in the first three months of 2021. Gaetz's fundraising has slowed down, dropping to $1.4 million in the second quarter and then to $527,000 in the third quarter. A joint fundraising operation with Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene only brought $19,000 in the final quarter of 2021.
FLORIDA EDUCATION CHAMPIONS The political committee had to admit it failed to have the required signatures to put on the 2022 ballot a proposed constitutional amendment authorizing sports betting at professional sports venues, pari-mutuel facilities and statewide via online platforms. Florida Education Champions had until Feb. 1 to submit nearly 900,000 valid signatures to place the proposal on the November ballot and submitted less than 500,000, according to the state Division of Elections website. 3M COMPANY A federal jury has awarded
$110 million to two U.S. Army veterans, Ronald Sloan and William Wayman, who alleged that 3M's Combat Arms Earplugs Version 2's design was defective. Each was awarded $15 million in compensatory damages and $40 million in punitive damages—more than the previously largest verdict in the litigation of $22.5 million.
ILYA SHAPIRO The newly hired Georgetown University Law Center lecturer took to Twitter to protest President Biden's decision to appoint a woman of color to the seat vacated by Justice Stephen Breyer, saying it would result in selecting a "lesser black woman" rather than the "objectively best pick." The law center put Shapiro on paid administrative leave but has received demands from its alumni and others to fire the lecturer. The National Bar Association condemned Shapiro's racist statements and urged Georgetown University Law Center to "swiftly relieve him of his duties at the law center permanently." Georgetown law students staged a sit-in. inweekly.net
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outtakes
By Rick Outzen
BANNING DISCOMFORT Like many bills in the Florida House, HB 7 has a title that belies its actual purpose— the "Individual Freedom Act." We all support individual freedom, right? But the legislation isn't about freedom of religion, speech or the press. HB 7 isn't about the right to assemble peaceably or petition our government for a redress of grievances. No, the Individual Freedom Act is about a new right that House Republicans have conceived—the right not to feel discomfort, guilt, anguish or distress. However, the right doesn't apply to COVID-19 vaccinations, face masks or other safety precautions. It's OK to experience distress or discomfort if the people around us are spreading the daily coronavirus, but not in a second-grade classroom. It's fine if the kids haven't eaten or Florida Power & Light has cut off their electricity, but you can't teach them that their great-grandpa's social club, the Ku Klux Klan, terrorized Black people. The Individual Freedom Act declares a class lesson is discriminatory if the concepts taught make the children feel icky. The students cannot feel "discomfort, guilt, anguish or any other form of psychological distress on account of his or her race, color, sex or national origin." State lawmakers are trying to appease Gov. Ron DeSantis, who has gotten traction in certain Republican camps for declaring war on critical race theory, which is based on the premise that racism is embedded in American society. While HB 7 and its Senate companion measure (SB 148) avoid specifically mentioning critical race theory, they are designed to codify a prohibition on teaching concepts related to the theory. But whose discomfort prevails if these bills become law? One mother might become upset that her son had to listen to how Escambia County arrested, convicted and sentenced Rev. H.K. Matthews for "felony extortion" because white deputies claimed he led protestors to use a chant that allegedly had the word "assassinate" in it. It didn't matter that the sheriff and his force were armed, and the protestors had no weapons. It didn't matter that Rev. Matthews
wasn't leading the chants. The system wanted the "troublemaker" removed from Pensacola, and a part of the Black community and the Southern Christian Leadership Conference shunned him. Mothers of both races might feel icky about the pastor's treatment. Learning about Rev. Matthews' discomfort, pain and suffering might make the mother's son feel bad about his race—whichever it is. Therefore, the teacher shouldn't talk about Rev. Matthews in the classroom or mention it in the teachers' lounge or at a seminar. Better the teacher didn't talk about him anywhere. But then, there may be another parent who becomes upset that the teacher whitewashed Escambia County's history and didn't talk about Rev. Matthews. The mother might feel "discomfort, guilt or anguish" because not telling the pastor's story makes her child believe his suffering wasn't important because of his race, color, national origin or sex. Which parent prevails in this battle of discomfort? When our community debated the Confederate flag in 2015, those who wanted to keep the flag flying at the Pensacola Bay Center scoffed at the Black community's statement that seeing it made them uncomfortable. The memories and history it surfaced caused them anguish. The proponents said the Confederate flag was history and needed to remain. The argument was used again when the Pensacola City Council discussed removing the Confederate statue and renaming Lee Square. No one proposed a bill about the Black community's discomfort then, but now, our state lawmakers have to act because some white snowflakes might experience it. I agree with Dr. Michael Butler, the Flager College professor who wrote about Escambia County during the civil rights era: "History is supposed to help us think critically, write clearly, make evidence-based arguments and, more importantly, understand how the past informs the present on issues that still matter, like race relations." We need more discomfort in the classroom, not less. {in} rick@inweekly.net
It didn't matter that the sheriff and his force were armed and the protestors had no weapons. It didn't matter that Rev. Matthews wasn't leading the chants.
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ENERGY EXPLORATION right now, it is designed to bring bills down every single year for our customers in Northwest Florida," Rauch said, explaining that customers should see their bills fall below what they were last used to with Gulf Power by 2025. "We can't do it overnight."
"For them to tell us, 'In four or five years, we'll be back down'—be back down to what? What we were before? That doesn't even make sense to the residents here." Jennifer Brahier Four years of rising utility bills before the pressure eases? Brahier understands her constituents' frustration. "For them to tell us, 'In four or five years, we'll be back down'—be back down to what? What we were before? That doesn't even make sense to the residents here," she said. "You can imagine how disturbed they are."
THE RUB Photo by Jillian Cain Photography / Shutterstock.com
By Jeremy Morrison Temperatures around Pensacola have been dipping lately while Florida Power & Light (FP&L) bills have climbed higher. That's pretty normal for winter, but what seems a little off is the amount of the increase. "We're not using any more power, but we're getting charged double!" one local utility customer yelled at Pam Rauch, FP&L vice president of external affairs and economic development, as she spoke to the Pensacola City Council last month. Rauch assured the vocal public gallery full of customers that her employer recognized their "difficult situation" and would do everything it could "to mitigate that kind of pain." Rauch said, "We understand that high bills are no fun." The spike in electricity bills had people come to Pensacola City Hall to express their discontent and encourage the council to explore the possibility of establishing a municipal utility at its Jan. 26 workshop. Councilwoman Jennifer Brahier wasn't too impressed with FP&L's invitation to continue undistracted in long-running franchise agreement negotiations. At the time, she dismissed it as "disingenuous." Upon reflecting a couple of days later, she described Rauch's presentation as "a long commercial" and "not really factual," a sort of soft-focus yet strong-arm approach to convince the city to remain with the known— "They've been good stewards in the past ... they're our friends ... we should stick with them because they're big and powerful." 66
"I know that sounds really rude of me to say it that way," Brahier reflected, "but that's honestly how I feel." When Brahier mentioned last November conducting a feasibility study to assess whether the city should take over electricity production, rising utility rates weren't part of the discussion. Back then, it was trees and taking power lines underground. The proposal existed along the fringes of municipal business—amusing, but academic, almost theoretical and boutique. But with utility rates increasing as FP&L completes its takeover of Gulf Power, exploring a municipal utility option has gained steam.
"HOW DISTURBED THEY ARE"
Brahier began to consider how the local power company served the city when she saw how FP&L was cutting the tree canopy surrounding its infrastructure and its lack of progress on relocating miles of power lines underground to better the area's chances of weathering storms without suffering outages. "This was all before the rates kind of created this room," the councilwoman noted with a nod to the FP&L customers filling council chambers for the workshop. Rauch tried to explain at the council workshop that the reason for the higher utility bills was a combination of rising fuel costs and a recent rate structure plan approved by the Florida Public Service Commission. "We have just received state approval for a rate settlement agreement, which is a fouryear agreement that, while there is an increase
While the prospect of conducting a feasibility study for a municipal utility has piqued the interest of those dissatisfied with FP&L's service, the utility does have local supporters. State Rep. Alex Andrade has implored city officials to stick with FP&L, as has Todd Thompson, the Greater Pensacola Chamber of Commerce CEO. Proponents lean into the power company's established credentials and track record. Pensacola State College President Ed Meadows reminded the council how challenging it can be for an experienced utility company to restore power following outages due to disasters such as hurricanes and cautioned against getting into such a game—"I'm not against the feasibility study, but I am against the city being a utility company." The council also heard from FP&L critics whose concerns were based on environmental, or even ethical, considerations. Christian Wagley of Healthy Gulf pointed to the lengths the company goes to influence state lawmakers—"If you just go online and look, it's just unbelievable"—and what he sees as anti-environment efforts, such as a bill currently being pushed by the company that critics contend will slow the installation of solar power arrays on Florida's rooftops. "FP&L absolutely does not want you to have solar on your home or business," Wagley said a few days after the workshop. The environmentalist is hopeful that this furor surrounding higher power bills "gets channeled into the proper place," such as raising awareness about the monopoly's political influence, and that while customers may be struggling to keep the lights on, FP&L's CEO
Eric Silagy pulls in north of $8 million—"That really rubs people the wrong way."
TO PURSUE BOTH PATHS
Pensacola Mayor Grover Robinson seems to be skeptical of any talk about looking beyond FP&L. He has expressed a reluctance to entertain the feasibility study, contending that the city has enough challenges on its plate. After the workshop, he said, "Although the decision about the feasibility study ultimately rests with the city council, I believe that losing focus to build an enterprise entity from nothing will adversely impact our efforts to address those current problems." However, he understands the concerns about rising rates. "I am incredibly sympathetic to citizens dealing with the challenges of rising energy prices," Robinson said. "However, in a market dominated by material and labor shortages, I am not convinced the city can provide electricity any cheaper." While city council has not yet decided if it will move forward with a feasibility study on establishing a municipal utility, members did receive a good bit of information on the topic during its recent workshop. Tom Cloud, an attorney with the Gray Robinson law firm who has extensive experience with franchise litigation cases, works as city attorney for multiple jurisdictions in the state and was voted the state's top attorney by the Florida Municipal Attorneys Association last year. Cloud outlined the landscape and pointed council toward other municipalities in the state who had asked similar questions as Pensacola is now asking. He encouraged council members to arm themselves with all the information they could get, even if it means ponying up around $25,000 for a feasibility study.
"One thing I can tell you, ignorance is not a sound position to negotiate such an important issue." Tom Cloud "The question is, can you really know any of this without doing a study? The answer is, no, you can't," Cloud said. If nothing else, the study could prove useful in continuing franchise negotiations with FP&L. "One thing I can tell you," Cloud told city council, "ignorance is not a sound position to negotiate such an important issue." The attorney stressed that the city should pursue the feasibility study but also stick with franchise negotiations—"To not go on both paths, you might miss an opportunity." "I think Tom was real good at pointing out that knowledge is power," Councilwoman Brahier said, "and that doesn't mean we're not going to do another franchise agreement with them. But we absolutely need to do a franchise agreement that's reasonable." {in} inweekly.net
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UNCOMFORTABLE HISTORY
Michael Butler / Photo Courtesy of Flagler College
By Rick Outzen Last month, Osceola County School District canceled a professor's civil rights movement history seminar for teachers citing in part concerns over the critical race theory, even though it wasn't even part of his lecture. The cancellation came days after a Florida Senate committee passed a bill that would label a teacher's lesson discriminatory if it "compels" a student to "feel discomfort, guilt, anguish or any other form of psychological distress on account of his or her race, color, national origin or sex." The bill is part of Gov. Ron DeSantis' "Stop Wrongs Against Our Kids and Employees," or Stop WOKE, agenda aimed to prevent the teaching of critical race theory (CRT) in Florida public schools, even though no school district in the state teaches the theory. When Inweekly dug a little deeper into the Osceola County incident, the newspaper found out that the professor whose presentation was canceled was Dr. Michael Butler, a Flagler College history professor and Inweekly's go-to resource on the civil rights movement in Escambia County. He is the author of "Beyond Integration: The Black Freedom Struggle in Escambia County, Florida, 1960-1980" and "Victory After the Fall: The Memories of the Civil Rights Activist, H.K. Matthews." Inweekly caught up with Dr. Butler to discuss what happened in Osceola and the impact the GOP lawmakers' latest foray into the classroom may have on teaching 88
the history of the civil rights movement in Florida public schools. "I've had a few unbelievable moments as a professional, and being able to meet and document the story of Rev. Matthews is one," said Butler. "Being able to instruct our public school teachers is another. I take that as a great honor and responsibility." The National Council for History Education (NCHE) had reached out to Butler to present the civil rights movement to Osceola's kindergarten through eighthgrade teachers to help them prepare lessons for Black History Month. His presentation had three sections. The first set of lecture slides started with 1896 and Plessy v. Ferguson and went through World War II. The second set had the master narrative—"I call it the greatest hits of the civil rights movement"—which contains the Montgomery to Selma timeline. The final section had the Voting Rights and how the nation is still dealing with the ramifications of practices and actions resulting from legalized discrimination. "Basically, what I stress is that the movement did not start or end with Dr. King," said Butler. "He's a seminal figure. He's an important person. He is a lens through which we can talk about these things, but as long as there has been discrimination and racism, there has been resistance to discrimination and racism."
"He is a lens through which we can talk about these things, but as long as there has been discrimination and racism, there has been resistance to discrimination and racism." Michael Butler Butler had been working with the school district on the seminar since November, but then on the Wednesday before his Saturday presentation, NCHE received word that the lecture had been postponed due to conversations at the state level about CRT. The history professor was shocked. He told Inweekly, "My lecture had no mention of CRT. It was fact-based, evidence-driven, historical content." Calling CRT "the modern-day boogieman," Butler said, "It's a problem that does not exist. I don't know of any teachers, particularly in Keight, who are teaching critical race theory."
He continued, "The fact that this attack on CRT is so vague and hard to define means that anything related to teaching African American history, anything regarding race relations, anything that makes some parents of some students "uncomfortable" is avoided in the public arena—when the point of history is not to make us feel comfortable." Learning some of history's darkest moments—such as slavery, the Holocaust, and McCarthyism—should make people feel discomfort. Otherwise, we might repeat the same mistakes. "I'm sure that the discomfort that someone like Rev. Matthews felt exceeds the discomfort in us hearing about it all these years later," Butler said. "Yeah, it makes me uncomfortable to learn about racism. It makes me uncomfortable to learn about segregation. It makes me uncomfortable to learn that people were deprived of their liberty, vote and sometimes even their freedom for fighting systemic injustice."
"Part of the House Bill gives the parents the freedom to sue. Well, sue the teachers? Sue the school board? Sue both? Nobody really knows." Butler He believes the CRT bills being considered by the Florida Legislature serve as a scare tactic to warn teachers away from even broaching certain subjects. "Part of the House Bill gives the parents the freedom to sue. Well, sue the teachers? Sue the school board? Sue both? Nobody really knows," said Butler. "I don't know what the intended impact is, but it has had a chilling effect." He continued, "Not because I say so, but because teachers have reached out to me to tell me how they have no idea how they are going to teach the civil rights movement, given the fact that a teacher training seminar on this historical subject was canceled. This is McCarthy-esque levels of whitewashing and blackballing." His students have begun to have doubts about teaching history in Florida public schools. "I'll tell you something else—in Florida, we face a teacher shortage. Some of my best majors see what's going on, and they're asking me, 'Why should we go into education when this is what we're up against? We just want to teach. We don't want to be put in a situation where we could potentially lose our jobs over something we can't control," said Butler. "Not only are we hurting the teachers that we have now, but we are also limiting who will enter our classrooms in the future. I mean, the other side of that coin is if good history students don't want to go into the classroom, then that means that the bad ones are still going to be there."
Butler said that he has yet to hear directly from Osceola County School District officials about the cancellation and when it will be rescheduled. He said, "The Senate bill came out of committee two days before the cancellation, so maybe that's a coincidence. I don't know. I have yet to talk to anyone at the county level. They didn't request to see any of my materials. They just made the decision based on the topic title—'The Long Civil Rights Movement.'"
"Some of my best majors see what's going on, and they're asking me, 'Why should we go into education when this is what we're up against? We just want to teach.'" Butler Why is it important to learn about civil rights leaders like Rev. Matthews? For Butler, Rev. Matthews is the embodiment of whom we need to be as Americans—"someone who, because of his constitutional rights, is encouraged to speak out for the racial equality of all people." "For me, Rev. Matthews is an incredible example of what real sacrifice is when it comes to walking the walk and talking the talk, as we say," said Butler. "But he's also someone that I greatly admire on a personal level because the easy thing for him to do was to remain silent and be complicit in his own freedom being secured. And he didn't do that. And we're still talking about it today." He added, "The civil rights movement is history. It's not supposed to make us comfortable. History is supposed to help us think critically, write clearly, make evidence-based arguments and, more importantly, understand how the past informs the present on issues that still matter, like race relations." {in}
CALL TO ACTION
House Bill 7 and Senate Bill 148 both have been named the "Individual Freedom Act" by their sponsors. For the latest on the bills, visit: •HB 7: bit.ly/3LixaXC •SB 148: flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2022/148 Contact Our State Lawmakers: •Sen. Doug Broxson broxson.doug.web@flsenate.gov (850) 595-1036 •Rep. Michelle Salzman michelle.salzman@myflorida.gov (850) 941-6091 •Rep. Alex Andrade alex.andrade@myflorida.gov (850) 595-0467 •Rep. Jayer Williamson jayer.williamson@myfloridahouse.gov (850) 889-4974 inweekly.net
“Honoring Our Military Veterans” Join Dr. Rameca Vincent Leary and her guests for a focus on the veterans of our community and the legacy of Gen. Daniel “Chappie” James, Jr.
NEW LOCAL SHOW Premieres 7pm Thurs, Feb 10
Watch on demand at video.wsre.org or via the PBS Video App. A PRESENTATION OF
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Papantonio wants Gov. DeSantis to have PSC hold another hearing on the rate increases. He said, "They frontend loaded all of this. They could have spread it out over six years. There's nothing magical about four years." He said, "(The rate increase) is being driven by people who are completely disconnected with the reality of how people have to live."
Research into improving human performance to get a new home / Photo Courtesy of IHMC
IHMC EXPANSION A $20 million research hub into human healthspan, resilience and performance is moving closer to coming out of the ground. The Florida Institute for Human and Machine Cognition (IHMC) has issued a Request for Qualifications for architectural, engineering and construction administration services. Proposals are due Friday, Feb. 11. Once finalists are culled from the applications, presentations will be scheduled. A decision is expected by Feb. 28, and construction is expected to begin later this year. The goal is for the team to occupy the new building in January 2024. IHMC spokesperson Shannon Nickinson shared the new IHMC Healthspan, Resilience and Performance Research Complex will house many of the researchers who work on maximizing human performance. "They'll focus a lot on how to help what Dr. Ford calls our 'elite humans'—our special warfighters and jet pilots to maximize their recovery from exertion and physical tasks and keep their mental cognitive ability sharp in the process of having to do all that work," she told Inweekly publisher Rick Outzen. "Then, hopefully, some of the applications of that will filter down to you and me, regular, not elite humans. The projected four-story facility will be built on the corner of South Alcaniz and East Garden streets. It will have space for administrative support, outreach and training, in addition to state-of-the-art laboratories for the scientific team. Since its founding in 1990, IHMC has built an international reputation for excellence and innovation in robotics and artificial intelligence. The HRP Center will extend that reputation for excellence in a new direction and reflects a strategic expansion of the vision of IHMC founder and CEO Ken Ford. 010 1
Dr. Marcas Bamman, the senior research scientist who leads the HRP team, sees the center's work as something that covers "molecules to the whole human." He said, "It's more than applied science. It's seeing who performs a task well, unraveling the how and why, and taking what we learn to optimize ways of improving each person's abilities."
PAP TAKES A SWING With customers upset
with Florida Power & Light over rising electricity rates, attorney Mike Papantonio last week fired off a letter to the Florida Public Service Commission, which oversees the utility's rates. Papantonio told the PSC officials that he realized the limitations in his firm's ability to bring a lawsuit against FP&L and PSC. He wrote, "My end goal is to engage in discovery where that discovery is made public about how the Public Service Commission and the Governor allowed these energy corporation bandits to pillage North Florida." Claiming the PSC had created "the perfect storm for a potential political disaster" for Gov. DeSantis, the trial attorney wrote that Levin Papantonio Rafferty was "more than willing to launch a massive TV and radio effort to tell the story about how he has allowed energy industry robber barons to descend on all of us." Inweekly caught up with Papantonio. He shared, "There is a total disconnect between the Grey Poupon crowd and the man on the street in Pensacola, Fla. The Grey Poupon crowd has no kinship with people who are living paycheck to paycheck." He continued, "We're paying these people on this commission, $135,000 a year. And yeah, their power's not going to be turned off. They're not going to have to tell their kids that, 'Gee whiz, we don't have enough grocery money this week because we've got to pay the power bill.'"
HIGH FIVES The Mental Health Task Force of Northwest Florida has released free, shareable materials to raise awareness about mental health and encourage community support for each other in the new year. The first quarter of 2022 begins with the Task Force's "Ask 5" campaign, which reminds people to take a moment to ask five people if they're OK. "This is a simple question, but it can make a big difference in helping someone feel seen and heard," said State Rep. Michelle Salzman, who has spearheaded the Mental Health Task Force along with Quint Studer. "We encourage everyone to share these materials on social media and help us spread the message to encourage everyday conversations about mental health. Together, we can begin to erase the stigma and make our mental and emotional wellbeing a priority for everyone in our community." The social media materials are available on the Mental Health Task Force of Northwest Florida's website, mentalhealthtaskforce.org. The materials are available to anyone, but organizations and individuals are also encouraged to take the mental health pledge to action to commit to making a positive impact on the mental health and wellness of their workplaces. Members of the network who sign the pledge are asked to actively promote mental health and wellness in addition to encouraging their coworkers and employees to Pledge 5, Ask 5, Take 5 and Give 5 to increase awareness of mental health resources and highlight the need for mental wellbeing. The Mental Health Task Force of Northwest Florida will be releasing additional materials for each quarter of 2022, each with a different theme related to mental health awareness and advocacy. Its goal is to act as a positive catalyst influencing the working and communal culture by promoting wellness to include optimal mental wellbeing for the workforce in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties.
CHAMBER'S 90-DAY GOALS Last month, more than 100 community leaders convened to analyze the 2022 goals for the broader Pensacola 2030 Initiative. That engagement led the Chamber Foundation in prioritizing the first small steps that the Pensacola business community will take this year. "We were thrilled with the level of engagement and enthusiasm that we experienced from those who participated in the process to outline first steps. Now we will strive to meet the deadlines and continue to give live updates on progress and roadblocks regarding Pensacola's 2030 goals," said Executive Director Sara Lefevers. Under the areas of Economic Wellbeing and Workforce, the 90-day goals call for the utilization of Plan Rooms with facilitators. According to the chamber, the Plan Room concept provides a centralized, consistent location within the underserved pockets of the community where skill training, literacy classes, resources, education and other opportunities to meet immediate needs can be provided. The Chamber Foundation and partners plan to have one Plan Room location in each zip code. Under Economic Growth & Sustainability, the goals call for members to outline a Community Asset Map. The chamber explained that asset mapping is "a capacity-focused way of reimaging the placemaking practice around the strengths and gifts that already exist in our communities." "By fixating on a community's problems, the solutions proposed by a traditional deficit approach rely on outside resources and experts rather than the deep knowledge and expertise of community leaders and residents," explained chamber officials. "Although an asset-based approach may not fully remove the need for outside resources, it certainly makes their use more effective," they continued. "By gathering the collective knowledge, skills and resources of the community into one shared document, asset maps are designed to build connection and spark collaboration between individuals, organizations and local government as your team works together to imagine new ways to shape the spaces and places you love." The Pensacola Chamber Foundation is dedicated to transparency and will be hosting the action plans and updates on the foundation's website, pensacolachamber.com/pensacola-2030. HELP FOR RENTERS Renters in Escambia
County struggling to pay rent or utilities due to COVID-19 may be eligible for emergency rental assistance through the Escambia County Emergency Rental Assistance (ERAP) Program. The application portal is available in English and Spanish. Appointments for in-person assistance can be made by calling (850) 403-6044. Emergency rental assistance may be provided to eligible low-income Escambia inweekly.net
County residents and families who have been financially impacted by COVID-19. Their total household income must be at or below 80% area median Income. They also must be at risk of experiencing homelessness or housing instability and have not received any other rental assistance for the requested months. Both the renter and the landlord must submit an application through the portal. Reimbursement will be paid directly to the landlord or utility provider. The program can cover up to 12 months of overdue or late rent and utility bills for households in Escambia County. Additional details for rental assistance for landlords and renters can be found at myescambia.com/erap. Escambia County has received $9,611,771 from the Consolidated Appropriations Act and $7,605,344 from the American Rescue Plan. Escambia County ERAP Policies and Procedures align with the U.S Treasury Department's guidelines. Please email erap@ myescambia.zendesk.com or call (850) 4036044 with any questions.
CEO RETIRING After more than 20 years in
health care and close to three years as CEO of West Florida Healthcare, Gay Nord has decided to retire later this spring to spend more time with her family. "West Florida Healthcare has proudly served residents and visitors to Pensacola and the surrounding communities for more than 40 years," said Nord. "I have every confidence in the strong foundation our colleagues have built as it centers on delivering high-quality care to patients and serving our communities with compassion and unwavering commitment. I am certain West Florida Healthcare will continue to positively impact Escambia County, and I will be forever grateful for the honor of serving this hospital and HCA Healthcare throughout a career that has been amazing and incredibly rewarding." Under Nord's leadership, West Florida Healthcare launched residency programs in partnership with the University of Central
Florida, opened a Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, established a Maternal Fetal Medicine Program, an Intensivist Program, a Comprehensive Stroke program, a GYN Oncology program and opened a new freestanding emergency room on Nine Mile Road. "Since starting her career in health care at HCA Healthcare, Gay has served in multiple leadership roles over her 18 years with the company. Her mission-driven approach to leadership has proven immensely impactful," said Richard Hammett, HCA Healthcare North Florida Division president. "We are grateful for Gay's leadership and wish her the very best in her retirement. A national search is underway for her successor."
SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATIONS Pen Air
Federal Credit Union is now accepting applications for the 2022 Pen Air Scholarship Program. Scholarships will be awarded based on academic performance and passion for helping others. "As a not-for-profit credit union, Pen Air is committed to being a socially responsible advocate for our community's youth," says Casey Brueske, Community Education Development Specialist for Pen Air Federal Credit Union. Since its inception in 2010, Pen Air's Scholarship Program has awarded over $113,500 to student members on their path toward postsecondary education. Applicants for the 2022 program must be a local graduating high school senior, be a primary member of Pen Air and must submit the following—an official high school transcript; a copy of an acceptance letter from the college, university, community college or technical school; along with a completed and signed Pen Air Scholarship Application. Recipients are eligible to receive up to $10,000 over four years depending on the degree pursued. Funding will be applied toward the fall and spring semesters only. Applications must be received by email to collegescholarship@penair.org or mail to Pen Air no later than March 25 to be considered.
To apply or learn more about the scholarship program, visit penair.org/scholarships.
ALZHEIMER'S HELP The Alzheimer's Foundation of America is holding a free virtual educational conference at 9 a.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 16, as part of its Educating America Tour to provide Florida residents with information about brain health, caregiving and more. Each tour stop provides a free educational conference to the community where participants can learn from and ask questions of experts in topics such as health care, caregiving, elder law, advance planning and Alzheimer's research. "In the last five years, we did all 50 states, and now we're just kicking it off in 2022 starting off in Florida," AFA president Chuck Fuschillo told Inweekly. "This is about educating individuals about Alzheimer's Disease, letting them know that there are places to turn to like the Alzheimer's Foundation of America, and you don't need to go on this journey alone." AFA has a 24/7 helpline, (866) 232-8484, that is staffed by licensed social workers who are dementia specifically trained. Fuschillo said, "They guide individuals every step of the way. They educate them on the services and the programs that are available to individuals." Caregivers, individuals living with a dementia-related illness, professionals and anyone wishing to learn more about Alzheimer's disease are invited to participate in the virtual conference. Individuals can just register by going to alzfdn.org/tour. LEAP APPLICATIONS The Pensacola Chamber Foundation has opened the nomination process for the Leadership Pensacola (LeaP) Class of 2023. Nominations will be accepted through Feb. 28. Started in 1983, LeaP continues to provide the programming that develops the future leaders of Pensacola. A program of the Pensacola Chamber Foundation, LeaP is intended to help participants understand the issues facing our local community and gain the leadership
skills necessary to resolve them. Applicants are sought from a variety of business sectors as well as different political, career, educational, social and cultural backgrounds. "Leadership Pensacola provides the leaders of today and tomorrow the opportunity to learn about all aspects of our community and the key issues that will shape our future," said Todd Thomson, President & CEO of the Greater Pensacola Chamber of Commerce. Individuals accepted into LeaP will participate in day-long retreats, educational seminars and a community project in which the class uses its resources and talents to enhance the Greater Pensacola region. To nominate yourself or someone else from the Pensacola community, visit pensacolachamber.com. The deadline to submit a nomination is Monday, Feb. 28. Following the close of nominations, all nominees will receive an electronic application via email.
WOMEN'S EMPOWERMENT The Junior League of Pensacola is hosting its annual Women's Empowerment Luncheon from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. on March 8 at the Pensacola Country Club. The luncheon will honor six women who will receive a Women's Empowerment Award. The purpose of these awards is to build up local women in leadership who display the traits of what it truly means to be a woman leader in the Pensacola area community. Awardees will be recognized in the following categories— Woman in Business-Nonprofit, Woman in Business-For-Profit, Woman in Philanthropy, Hometown Hero, Youth Woman in Leadership (15-22) and Mary Raine Hill Award. The Junior League of Pensacola invites our local businesses and organizations to be a part of its annual celebration of women in our community by either attending or sponsoring this event. Regular price tickets sales are $60 each. Tickets can be purchased at bit. ly/3IVBJVx. Potential sponsors should contact Elizabeth Gray at empowerment@juniorleagueofpensacola.org. {in}
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THINGS WE
LOVE RIGHT NOW
In honor of Valentine's Day, we decided to declare our love in big, bold print for some of our current favorite people, places and things. We know this isn't a "traditional" way to celebrate this holiday, but anyone who doesn't agree that love comes in a variety of shapes and forms obviously hasn't eaten the right donut yet. But fear not if you came here looking for some date night ideas—we included a Valentine's Day section in our calendar of events on page 16.
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Thao / Photo by Eric Einwiller
Abbott Elementary
Airing Tuesdays on ABC; Streaming Wednesdays on Hulu The only thing we love more than Quinta Brunson and her feel-good sitcom is the way it lets our forever 'Dreamgirl' Sheryl Lee Ralph shine.
The New Mag
magnoliapensacola.com You probably already know that this Scenic Heights staple moved to East Hill earlier this year. But if you haven't visited The Magnolia at their new location yet, you might not know that it boasts a larger capacity, expanded hours and an even more creative menu than before. Don't panic, though—your mac and cheese addiction will still be quenched.
Jitterbug Coffee
drinkjitterbug.com We've fallen hard and fast for this up-andcoming coffee shop that's conveniently located inside the new Magnolia location. We can't stop ordering their campfire latte (iced with oak milk, always). But really, you can't go wrong with anything on the menu—which features espresso, lattes and cold brew, all made using local Alla Prima coffee beans. 414 1
Marry Me
In theaters and on Peacock Feb. 11 We aren't sure if J.Lo and Owen Wilson can fill the LJ and PK (iykyk) shaped hole in our romcom loving hearts, but we're going to let them try.
The Nineties: A Book
chuckklostermanauthor.com Chuck Klosterman and his very particular brand of cultural criticism isn't for everyone. But if it is in fact for you, you're going to love his deep dive into the "long ago, but not as long as it seems" decade that is the 90s.
King Cake Donuts
helloledough.com Honestly, we love all king cakes, so we really could just leave it at that. But we have to give a special shout out to the cutest little Mardi Gras-themed treats in town—Le Dough's king cake donuts.
Shamir
shamir.bandcamp.com The genre-bending singer-songwriter is releasing his next studio album, "Heterosexuality," on Feb. 11. Based on the three tracks we've heard so far, we're already in love.
Keep Pensacola Beautiful
keeppensacolabeautiful.org This local nonprofit is always doing good work and hosting cool events—how can you not love that? If you want to learn more, check out their upcoming Valentine's-themed planting workshops "Sweethearts and Succulents." Visit KPB's website for dates, locations and ticket information.
Tiny Reparations Books
tinyreparations.com The first release from Phoebe Robinson's imprint, Tiny Reparations, is finally here. "What the Fireflies Knew" is a coming-of-age novel by first-time author Kai Harris.
Take Out with Lisa Ling
Streaming on HBO Max This docuseries is about Asian American cuisine, but it's the hearty servings of history and family stories that made us binge all six episodes way too fast. You might cry during
King Cake Donuts / Photo Courtesy of Le Dough
the trip to H Mart with Michelle Zauner (we did), so just be ready for that.
Bandcamp Fridays
isitbandcampfriday.com Good news for people who love good news and good music—Bandcamp Fridays are going to continue in 2022. The February one was last week, but make sure you save the date for March 4, April 1 and May 6.
Eclectic Eatz
@eclecticeatz_foodtruck This new food truck, permanently stationed outside of the newly reopened Emerald Republic, is creating a buzz in the vegan community for serving up quality junk food without animal products. Local chefs Amy Potmesil and Amber Halverson's menu is a hybrid of meaty and meatfree choices, but we recommend stopping by on a fully vegan night to snag a Philly cheesesteak, fried cauliflower or tom yum boiled peanuts.
Thao
thaothaothao.com Our love for Thao runs deep—which is why we couldn't be more excited that her upcoming tour is bringing her to Vinyl Music Hall on April 4. {in} inweekly.net
A CRAFTY SOUTHERN PUB WHERE IT ALL COMES TOGETHER MON-THUR 4-9 AND FRI-SAT 11-10 TUESDAY NIGHT: BURGERS AND BORDEAUX
UNIONPENSACOLA.COM
309 SOUTH REUS ST. | 850.607.6320
February 10, 2022
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a&e happenings VALENTINE'S DAY AT SCENIC HILLS Join Scenic Hills Country Club, located at 8891 Burning Tree Road, for a romantic evening with dinner featuring jazz music from The Bob Strickland Jazz Couriers Saturday, Feb. 12, from 5:30-8:30 p.m. Tickets are $60 per couple. Reservations are required. Visit scenichills. com to make your reservation. COASTAL COUNTY BREWING NOT SO NEWLYWED GAME How well do you know
your partner? It's time to find out at the first-ever Valentine's Not So Newlywed Game at Coastal County Brewing Company, located at 3041 E. Olive Road. The event is 6 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 12. Ten married couples will compete. Visit coastalcounty.com/events for more information.
VALENTINE'S DAY SUNSET CRUISE Take
a special sunset cruise Saturday, Feb. 12, from 5-6:30 p.m. The cruise leaves from 750 S. Commendencia St. Cocktails will be available for purchase. Visit pensacolabaycityferry.com/ cruises/sunset-cruise for more information.
VALENTINE'S DAY EVENTS
850 ECO VALENTINE'S MARKET 850 Eco
is hosting a pop-up Valentine's market at Artel Gallery on Friday, Feb. 11 from 5-8 p.m. The event will feature sustainable creations from six local makers. For details visit instagram.com/850eco.
OPEN BOOKS VALENTINE'S DAY SALE
From Feb. 12-14, romance novels are four for $1 at Open Books Bookstore & Prison Project, located at 1040 N. Guillemard St. For more information, visit facebook.com/openbooksbookstore.
SEND YOUR LOVE, TYPE A LETTER AT PENSACOLA LIBRARY Through Monday,
Feb. 14, visit the Pensacola Library, located at 239 N. Spring St., to use the library's typewriter and type a Valentine's Day letter. Stationary is available for free at the computer lab desk (limit two pages per day). Limited to 30 minutes per session.
PENSACOLA LITTLE THEATRE VALENTINE'S DAY DISCOUNT See "The Lieutenant of Inishmore" at Pensacola Little Theatre on
Valentine's Day weekend, Feb. 11-13, and get one ticket free when you purchase a full-priced ticket. No discount code necessary. Just purchase two tickets online at pensacolalittletheatre.com or call the box office at (850) 432-2042.
LOVE LOCAL VALENTINE'S MARKET AT ALYSSA'S ANTIQUES Shop small this Valen-
tine's Day at Alyssa'a Antiques' market Saturday, Feb. 12, from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Email lizatalyssas@ gmail.com for vendor information. Alyssa's is located at 4586 Chumuckla Highway.
SWEETHEARTS & SUCCULENTS Join Keep Pensacola Beautiful for a Succulent Planting Workshop at Odd Colony, 260 N. Palafox, on Saturday, Feb. 12, from 4-5 p.m. Cost is $25. To purchase tickets, visit linktr.ee/keeppensacolabeautiful.
CHERIE AMOUR WINE DINNER Enjoy a romantic evening at Bodacious featuring a delicious wine-paired dinner featuring French cuisine on Saturday, Feb. 12, at 6 p.m. Cost is $99 per person. Dinner located at Bodacious, 407-D S. Palafox. For more information, visit bodaciousshops.com.
GALENTINE'S DAY AT BODACIOUS Bring your girl gang to Bodacious, located at 407-D S. Palafox, for a fun Galentine's Day on Sunday, Feb. 13, at noon. Sing your karaoke and enjoy a mimosa bar as well as a brunch buffet. Tickets are $50. Visit bodaciousshops.com for more information. SHOOT YOUR SHOT FOR VALENTINE'S DAY Shoot Your Shot for Valentine's Day
48-Hour Film Scramble is for both filmmakers and non-filmmakers, giving them the opportunity to create a short film in a time span of 48 hours. The screening event for the scramble will be held Feb. 14 at 7:30 p.m. at the Pensacola Blue Wahoos Home Clubhouse, located at 351 W. Cedar Ave. Tickets to the screening are $7-$10 and are available on Eventbrite.
A BODACIOUS VALENTINE DINNER Take your special someone to a candlelit dinner at Bodacious, located at 407-D S. Palafox, for a land and sea meal for two Monday, Feb. 14, at 6 p.m. Tickets are $175. Visit bodaciousshops.com. SELFIE MUSEUM VALENTINE EDITION
Bring your sweetheart to the Selfie Museum for fun and romantic photo ops. The Selfie Museum is located at 1095 E. Nine Mile Road.
VALENTINE'S DAY AT GREAT SOUTHERN RESTAURANTS Visit Great
Southern Restaurants this Valentine's Day for special lunch and dinner features. •THE FISH HOUSE Located at 600 S. Barracks St., Fish House is open for lunch service from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. and dinner service beginning at 3 p.m. In addition to the current menus, Chef John Huggins will offer a special Valentine's feature for lunch and dinner service including pistachio-crusted snapper over roasted root vegetables, warm apple and pear chutney, finished with beurre blanc sauce. For more information, call (850) 470-0003 or visit us online at fishhousepensacola.com. •JACKSON'S STEAKHOUSE Visit Jackson's Steakhouse, located at 400 S. Palafox, for lunch service from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. with dinner service beginning at 5 p.m. Chef Irv Miller will offer a special Valentine's feature for lunch and dinner service. Lunch will feature smoked dill pickle tartar sauce, fried green tomato, roasted Poblano relish, crispy prosciutto and paprika oil. Dinner will feature sea and pasture—buttered hickory-fired half Maine lobster tail, petite filet mignon, white truffle oil, spinach with Bill-E's bacon and fresh herb vinaigrette, and Ooomami-seasoned pommes frites. Reservations are available by calling (850) 469-9898. For more information, visit jacksonsrestaurant.com. •FIVE SISTERS BLUES CAFÉ Visit Five Sisters Blues Cafe at 421 W. Belmont St. for lunch service from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. with dinner service following. Chef Billy Ballou will offer a special Valentine's feature that will be available for both lunch and dinner—Grilled grouper served over roasted trio of potatoes finished with prosciutto-wrapped asparagus and a lemon caper sauce. For more information, visit fivesistersbluescafe.com. •ANGELENA'S RISTORANTE ITALIANO Angelena's, located at 101 E. Intendencia St., will be open for lunch service from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. and dinner service beginning at 5 p.m. Chef James Briscione will offer two special Valentine's features, which will be available at both lunch and dinner service—slow-roasted lamb rack, red wine, parsnips, bacon, and local greens, and a lobster and truffle mac and cheese. The special dishes will also be available on Friday, Feb. 11, and Saturday, Feb. 12. For reservations, call (850) 542-8398. For more information, visit angelenaspensacola.com.
Adoption • Paternity • Dependency/DCF Hearings Prenuptial Agreements • Postnuptial Agreements Divorce • Child Custody and Timesharing Child Support • Child Support Modifications Alimony • Collaborative Divorce • Divorce Mediation • Pre-Suit Family Law Mediation
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a&e happenings MARDI GRAS EVENTS
MILTON MARDI GRAS PARADE The Milton
Mardi Gras Parade will be Saturday, Feb. 12, at 4 p.m. starting at Milton High School and then heading south on Stewart Street, left on Berryhill, right on Willing St., across Highway 90 and right on Pine Street before ending at Pine Street and Elmira Street. Visit kreweofairshippirates.com/ milton-mardi-gras-2020 for more information.
NAVARRE MARDI GRAS PARADE The
Navarre Mardi Gras Parade will be Saturday, Feb. 19, on Navarre Beach. This year's theme is "Welcome Back." No vendors will be allowed this year. For more parade info, visit nkoj.org.
PIRATES OF LOST TREASURE MARDI GRAS FLOTILLA On Saturday, Feb. 19,
Pirates of Lost Treasure (PLT) will host their annual Mardi Gras Flotilla starting from the Holiday Harbor Marina at 10:45 a.m. Registration will be $50 per boat. For more information regarding future PLT Mardi Gras events, go to piratesoflosttreasure.org. For additional information or questions, please contact CoChairman Gregg Slawson at (850) 748-3222.
KIDS AND KRITTERS PARADE The 12th annual Kids and Kritters Parade is set for Saturday, Feb. 19, at 2 p.m. in the Casino Beach parking lot across from Sidelines on Pensacola Beach. There is no charge to attend. Visit pensacolabeachmardigras.com for more information.
NONPROFITS & FUNDRAISERS CAT ADOPTIONS Animal Allies will be
at Pet Supermarket, 6857 N. Ninth Ave., on Saturday, Feb. 12, from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Everett Animal Welfare Group will be at PetSmart on Davis Highway noon-4 p.m. All cats are up to date on shots, and adoption fee includes spay or neuter with microchip. Visit aaflorida.org for more information.
MOON OVER MIAMI The Pensacola Beach Woman's Club is hosting a night of dining, dancing and prizes with the chance to win a seven-night stay and five tours for two at Villa Tre Angeli Bed and Breakfast in Bedonia, Italy. The event is 5:30 p.m. Monday, Feb. 14, at Gulf Breeze Community Center, 800 Shoreline Drive. Proceeds of the evening will benefit Pensacola Beach Elementary School, Pensacola Beach Community Church, Feeding the Gulf Coast and Big Brothers Big Sisters. Visit facebook.com/ pbwc54 or call (661) 496-4573 for tickets. JOIN THE PAW-RADE AND SUPPORT PENSACOLA HUMANE SOCIETY Join
Pensacola's Pawdi Gras event and support the Pensacola Humane Society. The pet parade is 2 p.m. on Feb. 13 located at Garden Street between Tarragona and Palafox. Floats can be created using wagons, carts, strollers, decorated leashes—anything with wheels that does not have a motor. Only the first 150 dogs to register for the parade will receive a goodie bag, so pre-registering is recommended. There will be a $10 donation cost for each pup and up to four total human escorts. All proceeds will be donated to Pensacola Humane Society. February 10, 2022
The donation also gets your pup(s) into the pet costume contest to win some fun prizes. Visit pensacolahumane.org to learn more and pre-register.
SUNDAY'S CHILD SET TO AWARD $120,000 IN GRANTS IN 2022 For 2022,
Sunday's Child organization raised $120,000 among 178 members, allowing the organization to offer four grants of $30,000 each to Pensacola Bay Area 501(c)(3) nonprofits that place value on diversity, inclusion and equality. Grant applications are vetted by members, and winners are determined by the votes of members at an annual meeting in June of each year. The Sunday's Child mission is to promote equality and inspire inclusion across the community by awarding grants for significant charitable and economic initiatives with a vision of a fully accepting and inclusive Pensacola Bay area that embraces the LGBTQ+ citizens and their contributions to the community. Sunday's Child is now accepting letters of intent through Wednesday, Feb. 23. A nonprofit workshop will be held on Feb. 3 for all local nonprofits wishing to learn more about the grants process. Visit sundayschild.org for more information.
Winner Best Late Night Eats & Runner Up Best Bar–West Pensacola/Perdido Key, Best Bar Ambiance, Best Bar Food & Best Bar for Games
WUWF HOSTS STORYCORPS FOR LOCAL STORYTELLING OPPORTUNITIES Sto-
ryCorps, the national nonprofit organization dedicated to recording, preserving and sharing the stories of people from all backgrounds and beliefs, comes to Pensacola Feb. 17-March 11 to record interviews, in-person and virtually, as part of its Mobile Tour. Participants have the option of recording in-person or via StoryCorps' Virtual Recording Booth, a video-conferencing platform that can be accessed remotely using an internetconnected device. Participants can learn more about safety precautions for in-person recording at storycorps.org. Reservations to record will be available at 10 a.m. on Feb. 3 and can be made by calling StoryCorps' 24-hour toll-free reservation line at (800) 850-4406 or visiting storycorps. org or wuwf.org/storycorps.
CALL TO ARTISTS
ARTS & CRAFTS EXHIBITORS FOR JAZZFEST Jazz Pensacola is calling arts and
crafts exhibitors to submit applications for the 2022 Pensacola JazzFest, taking place 10 a.m.7 p.m. Saturday, April 2, and 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday, April 3, at Seville Square. Application form can be found at jazzpensacola.com. Only original art and handmade crafts will be accepted. No commercial/mass-produced products will be accepted. Please read the complete contract, particularly concerning refunds. All entries are $200 for a 10-by-10 canopy or smaller. All fees go to support Pensacola JazzFest, a free event for the community.
ARTS & CULTURE
WHAT'S SHOWING AT PENSACOLA CINEMA ART Oscar-nominated short films
will be showing starting Feb. 25 on Fridays and Saturdays. All showtimes are at 1 p.m. PCA is 17
a&e happenings located at 220 W. Garden St. Tickets are $10 cash only. Now streaming, "Hive," based on the true story of a wife whose husband goes missing during the war in Kosovo. Visit pensacolacinemaart.com for more information.
THE LIEUTENANT OF INISHMORE This
dark comedy will be brought to the Pensacola Little Theatre, 400 S. Jefferson St., with showtimes Friday and Saturday, Feb. 11 and 12, at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, Feb. 13, at 2:30 p.m. A Thursday performance will be Thursday, Feb. 10, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $27-$33 and $9 for students in select seats. For more information, visit pensacolalittletheatre.com.
REPRESENT! BLACK HISTORY MONTH MOVIE SHOWCASE Celebrate the impor-
tance of African American representation with a showing of Marvel's Black Panther at the Pensacola Library, located at 239 N. Spring St., from 3:30-6 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 11.
NEWCOMERS CLUB OF PENSACOLA: WINE DINNER Mingle and meet with the
Newcomers Club of Pensacola on Saturday, Feb. 12, from 6-9 p.m. at Bodacious Shops, located at 407-D S. Palafox. For more information on Newcomers Club, visit newcomersclubofpensacola.org.
BROWN BAG OPERA Join Pensacola
Opera Artists in Residence for a free mid-day performance at noon on Tuesday, Feb. 15, at
the Opera Center, 75 S. Tarragona St. Visit pensacolaopera.com for more information.
AN EVENING IN ISRAEL The Global Corner will celebrate this year's Passport Program with a fundraiser at The Pensacola Opera Center, at 75 S. Tarragona St., from 6-7:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 17. The event's theme is "An Evening in Israel" featuring authentic Israeli food and wine. Visit theglobalcorner.org for more information.
NEWSBOYS: STAND TOGETHER TOUR
Newsboys featuring Danny Gokey, Mac Powell and Adam Agee will be at Saenger Theatre, 118 S. Palafox, Friday, Feb. 18, at 7 p.m. Tickets are $24.25-$83.75. Visit pensacolasaenger.com for tickets and information.
FEBRUARY GALLERY NIGHT On Friday, Feb. 18, from 5-9 p.m., Gallery Night Pensacola will celebrate all things comic book, sci-fi and pop culture with its Pensacon-themed event. February's Gallery Night event will "POP" with a night of art, music and food, and maybe you'll see some of your favorite comic book and sci-fi characters who are a part of the 2022 Pensacon convention weekend. Performances on the Garden Street stage from 6-9 p.m. include music from nationally touring artists Vision Video featuring music legend Tom Ashton as well as Tyler Livingston and the Absolutes, a performance by nerdy dance troupe Noise Complaint and strolling performances from Hob the Troll. The featured artist
is Brian Tan of BTanArt. Visit the Featured Artist booth located at the intersection of Palafox and Romana to meet the artist. More information can be found at gallerynightpensacola.org.
A DIFFERENT SWAG FASHION SHOW
Upcycle clothing brand Lemonbright will be hosting a fashion show at 6 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 19, at Sanders Beach, located at 913 S. I St. Tickets are $25-$40. Visit instagram.com/lemonbright for more information.
PENSACOLA ARTS MARKET Enjoy shop-
ping for a variety of handcrafted wares at Pensacola Arts Saturdays from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. at 1401 W. Intendencia St. Enjoy art, espresso, vintage goods, baked treats, handcrafted unique gifts and more. Admission is free. For more information, visit facebook.com/pensacolaartsmarket.
EASY GOING GALLERY ART MARKET
Every Sunday, Easy Going Gallery and Carter J Studios present a weekly art market Sundays from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. at Easy Going Gallery, located at 701 N. V St. Enjoy art, espresso, vintage goods, baked treats, handcrafted unique gifts and more. Vendors can participate for a $20 fee. For more information, contact easygoinggalleryart@gmail.com.
MAPPING NORTHWEST FLORIDA EXHIBIT AT THE PENSACOLA MUSEUM OF HISTORY Visualized Landscapes: A Selection
of Northwest Florida Maps is now on view at Pensacola Museum of History. The exhibit explores the shifting topography of Northwest Florida through a series of maps selected from the Trust Archive. Visualized Landscapes: A Selection of Northwest Florida Maps is on view on the second floor of the Pensacola Museum of History until August. For more information about the UWF Historic Trust or to purchase tickets, visit historicpensacola.org.
YOUTH ART FOCUS AT PENSACOLA MUSEUM OF ART The Pensacola Museum of
Art, in partnership with the Escambia County School District, is proud to present the 68th Annual Youth Art Focus exhibition highlighting the best work from art students and educators from Escambia County Schools. On view through Feb. 27. Pensacola Museum of Art is located at 407 S. Jefferson St and open Tuesday-Saturday from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. and Sunday from noon-4 p.m. For more information, visit pensacolamuseum.org.
VISIONARY APONTE: ART AND BLACK FREEDOM Visionary Aponte: Art and Black
Freedom is from creator José Antonio Aponte, a free black carpenter, artist and former soldier who was also the leader of an ambitious antislavery conspiracy in Cuba in 1812. The exhibit is on view at Pensacola Museum of Art through March 27. Visit pensacolamuseum.org for more information.
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a&e happenings 2000 MEN: BLACK POLITICIANS DURING RECONSTRUCTION A new exhibit at the Pensacola Museum of History shares the stories and histories of Black politicians during the Reconstruction period. The Pensacola Museum of History is located at 330 S. Jefferson St. For more information, visit historicpensacola.org.
UWF HISTORIC TRUST 9/11 EXHIBIT An exhibit honoring victims lost and others impacted by the tragedy on Sept. 11, 2001, is now on display on the second floor of the Pensacola Museum of History. The University of West Florida Historic Trust curated the exhibit, 9/11 Remembered, which runs through January, with items on loan from the 9/11 Memorial & Museum in New York and the History Museum of Mobile. The gallery includes a section of the I-beam from one of the World Trade Center towers and a helmet and other items worn by first responders who responded to the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Visitors can also view a video of newsreels from 20 years ago on projectors and a video from NAS Pensacola that features military members who responded to the 9/11 attacks. For more information on UWF's Historic Trust, visit historicpensacola.org. FINDING 1821 Finding 1821 is part of the
UWF Historic Trust's Suddenly American exhibit. Using historic newspapers, maps and documents, it is possible to locate where businesses stood in the 1820s. From taverns to parasol shops, each site on the Finding 1821 trail reflects a local establishment that was near that location 200 years ago. Outside each business is a QR code that links to a corresponding advert from an early 1820s newspaper. Over a dozen sites have been identified so far. Take a stroll around town, visit local shops and explore the history of Pensacola through today's technology. Visit historicpensacola.org for more information.
SCRIPTEASERS WITH PENSACOLA LITTLE THEATRE Scripteasers, Studio 400's
and Pensacola Little Theatre's Script Reading Club invites you to monthly script readings at PLT, 400 S. Jefferson St. Want to bring your scripts for the group to read and discuss? Contact Pensacola Little Theatre to get in queue. The group reads prospective scripts for future seasons as well as new scripts that need a table read before the next edit. Not a playwright but love to read out loud? This is your easy, fun theatre night. Fascinated by the play selection process? Sit in for a listen and usually a lot of laughs. Visit facebook.com/pensacolalittletheatre for more information and the latest dates.
OPEN MIC AT THE GORDON Show off
your talents on the second Thursday of every month at The Gordon's Open Mic showcase from 7-10 p.m. Admission is free. The Gordon is located at 306 N. DeVilliers St. Visit thegordon.org for more information.
OPEN MIC COMEDY AT BIG TOP BREWERY Try out some new jokes or enjoy some homegrown talent every Monday at 7 p.m. for Open Mic Comedy at Big Top Brewery, located at 21 W. Romano St. Everyone gets five minutes deFebruary 10, 2022
pending on the number of sign-ups. Registration begins at 6:30 p.m.
NEW CLASSES AT MIXON MAGIC PERFORMING ARTS Mixon Magic Performing
Arts (MMPA), a boutique performing arts studio located at 1010 N. 12th Ave., Ste. 238, will be offering a limited class schedule this fall. MMPA offers professional dance, fitness and "Mommy and Me" instruction for all ages and skill levels with weekly classes including, but not limited to, Creative Movement, Ballet/ Jazz Combo, Broadway, Tap, Showstoppers, Acting and Voice. Classes will be provided for children as young as 2 years old (with a parent or guardian) through adult. MMPA is dedicated to the safety and wellbeing of all students and families and has implemented protocols based on guidance from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Masks are required for entry into the building and studio. More information about Mixon Magic Performing Arts can be found at mixonmagic.com, by contacting hello@mixonmagic.com or emily@mixonmagic.com or by calling (850) 221-7438.
GENDER PORTRAITS Gender Portraits is
a project from artist Drew Riley of the Austin Creative Alliance. The nonprofit organization supports sex and gender minorities using art as a foundation for education, activism and advocacy. The exhibit is on view at Voices of Pensacola, located at 117 E. Government St., through January. For more information, visit historicpensacola.org.
BLACK CITIZENSHIP IN THE AGE OF JIM CROW "Black Citizenship in the Age of
Jim Crow," a traveling exhibition from the New York Historical Society Museum & Library with additions from the African American Heritage Society of Pensacola, is now on view at Artel Gallery. To learn more about it, visit africanamericanheritagesociety.org. Artel Gallery is located at 223 S. Palafox.
CRAFT CLASSES AT STUDIO SOUTH ON NINE MILE Learn a new craft or meet up with other makers at Studio South. Tuesday is Knit Night 4-7 p.m., and Sit & Stitch is Saturdays 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Both classes are free. For a full calendar of events, visit studiosouthon9mileroad.com. Studio South is located at 955 E. Nine Mile Road.
CLASSES AND WORKSHOPS AT FIRST CITY ART First City Art Center offers a wide
range of classes and workshops for artists of all levels. Classes include glass blowing, ceramics, painting and drawing, kiln-forming, stained glass and more. For a complete list of classes and times, visit firstcityart.org.
LIVE MUSIC
BANDS ON THE BLACKWATER ANNOUNCES 2022 SCHEDULE The City
of Milton has announced the 2022 Spring Bands on the Blackwater Concert Series. The selected nonprofit for the season is the Santa Rosa Kids' House. Held at Jernigan's Landing, located at 5158 S. Willing St. in Milton on the 19
a&e happenings west bank of Blackwater River, the Bands on the Blackwater Concert Series is held from 7-9 p.m. on Friday nights starting in April. THE SCHEDULE IS AS FOLLOWS: •April 1 – The Six Piece Suits •April 8 – Ryan Dyer •April 15 – The HooDoos •April 22 – Stormfolk •April 29 – Rhonda Hart & the Hartstrings •May 6 – Nobius •May 13 – Erick Baker •May 20 – Kacy Moon •May 27 – 12Eleven •June 3 – Sons of Bocephus •June 10 – Horseshoe Kitty
FLOW TRIBE NOLA-based funk bank Flow
Tribe will be performing at Vinyl Music Hall, 2 S. Palafox, on Saturday, Feb. 12. Show starts at 8 p.m. Tickets are $15 and can be purchased at vinylmusichall.com.
PENSACOLA SYMPHONY PRESENTS: COME FLY WITH ME Multi-instrumentalist
Gunhild Carling joins vocalist Michael Andrew, former headliner at the Rainbow Room, for an evening featuring favorites from Frank Sinatra and more with Pensacola Symphony Orchestra, 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 12, at the Saenger Theatre, 118 S. Palafox. Tickets are $20-$83. Visit pensacolasaenger.com for more information.
JOE BONAMASSA Grammy-nominated
blues musician Joe Bonamassa will perform
020 2
at the Saenger Theatre, 118 S. Palafox, 8 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 16. Tickets are $85-$255. Visit pensacolasaenger.com for more information.
FLOYD NATION: EXPERIENCE PINK FLOYD Floyd Nation will perform at the
Saenger Theatre, 118 S. Palafox, Thursday, Feb. 17. Tickets are $33-$53. Visit pensacolasaenger. com for tickets and information.
RED JUMPSUIT APPARATUS Red Jump-
suit Apparatus will be at Vinyl Music Hall, 2 S. Palafox, on Thursday, Feb. 17, at 8 p.m. Tickets are $15. Purchase yours at vinylmusichall.com.
FREE GALLERY NIGHT SHOW AT VINYL MUSIC HALL Travelin Light Yoga with sound
healing by Brooke begins at 7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 18, followed by The New Cahoots at 8:30 p.m. and John Hart Project at 9:30 p.m. All shows are free. Vinyl Music Hall is located at 2 S. Palafox.
DONAVON FRANKENREITER Donavon
Frankenreiter with special guest Christina Holmes will perform at Vinyl Music Hall, 2 S. Palafox. Show starts at 8 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 19. Tickets are $20. Proof of negative COVID-19 test or proof of full vaccination is required for this show. For more information, visit vinylmusichall.com.
MONDAY NIGHT BLUES AT SEVILLE QUARTER Blues Society of Northwest Florida and Seville Quarter present Monday Night Blues, the longest running weekly Blues Jam
in Florida, starting at 7 p.m. with an opening and followed by the Blues Jam at 9 p.m. Seville Quarter is located at 130 E. Government St. For more information, visit sevillequarter.com.
days from 6-9 p.m. and a jazz set on Sundays from 12-3 p.m. on the patio at Cazadores Mexican restaurant, located at 8183 W. Fairfield Dr. Weather permitting.
LIVE MUSIC AT RED FISH BLUE FISH PENSACOLA BEACH Head to Red Fish Blue
CURT BOL JAZZ QUARTET Visit Five Sis-
Fish for live performances from local bands all day on Fridays and Saturdays. For musician lineups, visit facebook.com/redfishbluefishpensacolabeach.
JOE OCCHIPINTI JAZZABOUTS Catch Joe
Occhipinti and guests at Alice's Restaurant & Wine Bar, 1504 W. Intendencia St., Wednesdays from 6:30-9:30 p.m. and at Calvert's Restaurant & Bar, 670 Scenic Highway, Sundays from noon-3 p.m.
SAXOPHONIST JIM ANDREWS AT ALICE'S RESTAURANT Saxophonist Jim An-
drews will be performing at Alice's Restaurant, located at 1504 W. Intendencia St., on the first Friday of every month from 6-9:30 p.m.
JAZZ BY THE BOOK Join Joe Occhipinti and the Jazzabouts at the Pensacola Library, 239 N. Spring St., every Tuesday from 1-3 p.m. for classic jazz favorites.
RAY COLEY AT CAZADORES MEXICAN RESTAURANT Ray Coley performs oldies mix with jazz and blues every weekend with keyboard, horn and flute. Fridays and Satur-
ters Blues Café, located at 421 W. Belmont St., Sundays from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. and listen to Curt Bol Jazz Quartet. Visit curtbolband.com for more information.
OPEN JAM AT ARTEL GALLERY Artel Gal-
lery is open from 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesdays and Saturdays for open jam with Pensacola Folk Music Society. Feel free to visit and listen to music. Artel Gallery is located at 223 S. Palafox.
KARAOKE AT MUGS AND JUGS Sing your heart out Sundays at Mugs & Jugs, 12080 Scenic Highway, or just enjoy drinks friends with $4 Smirnoff and $6.50 domestic pitcher drink deals from 7 p.m.-3 a.m. For more information, visit facebook.com/mugsjugs. LIVE MUSIC AT HUB STACEY'S Sit back with good food and live music at Hub Stacey's, located at 312 E. Government St. For a full calendar of bands, check hubstaceys.com. MONDAY NIGHT BLUES AT SEVILLE QUARTER Seville Quarter and the Blues Soci-
ety of Northwest Florida bring the "Blues" back to the Seville Quarter Entertainment District, located at 130 E. Government St. every Monday
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a&e happenings night in End O' the Alley starting at 7 p.m. For more information, visit sevillequarter.com.
TUESDAY NIGHT JAZZ AT SEVILLE QUARTER Enjoy smooth jazz with Melodious
Allen and The Funk Heads every Tuesday night at Lili Marlene's in Seville Quarter, located at 130 E. Government St. Show starts at 6:30 p.m. Visit sevillequarter.com for more information.
FITNESS + RECREATION
"HEROES WITH A HEART" FUN RUN Sher-
wood Elementary School, located at 201 E. Gregory St., is supporting the American Heart Association by participating in the Kids Heart Challenge event. On Friday, Feb. 11, the school invites police, Sheriff's Department personnel, firefighters, EMTs or any military personnel to spend 30-40 minutes with the grade level of their choosing. The run will be held on the dirt track behind the school buildings. Participants will need athletic attire and proper identification and should check in at the front office. Light refreshments will be served. Contact Bridget Wakeman, P.E. teacher, at (407) 948-8198 or bwakeman@ecsdfl.us for questions and/or to confirm your attendance.
PENSACOLA ICE FLYERS GAMES The Pensacola Ice Flyers home games are at Pensacola Bay Center, located at 201 E. Gregory St. Tickets start at $15. Purchase yours at pensacolabaycenter.com. UPCOMING HOME GAMES: •7:05 p.m. Friday, Feb. 11 •7:05 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 12 THE WIZ GUIDED MEDITATION Join Marni for a guided meditation for February's Snow Moon Sunday, Feb. 13, at 7 p.m. at URU Yoga and Beyond, located at 2400 Executive Plaza Road. Tickets are $12 and can be purchased at asherandbee.com. BIKE PENSACOLA FEBRUARY SLOW RIDE Bike Pensacola's February Slow Ride is
10 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 19, starting at Alabama Square, 401 W. Gonzalez St. The ride will be about one hour and 10 minutes long, at a casual pace. Nobody will be "dropped" or left behind. Children must be at least 10 years of age to ride their own bicycle, and ages 10-16 must be accompanied by an adult. Visit facebook. com/bikepensacola for more information.
FREE YOGA IN THE PARK SCHEDULE RELEASED FOR 2022 Breathe Yoga and
Wellness Center in partnership with the City of Pensacola will offer free one-hour yoga classes to citizens on the first Sunday of every month at 9:30 a.m. in Bayview Park, located at 2001 E. Lloyd St., and Community Maritime Park, located at 301 W. Main St. All ages and levels of experience are welcome. Participants must bring their own mat and other accessories they would like to use. Participants are asked to bring a bottle of water to stay hydrated, as water will not be provided. DATES: •March 6: Bayview Park •April 3: Bayview Park •May 1: Bayview Park February 10, 2022
•June 5: Community Maritime Park •July 3: Community Maritime Park •Aug. 7: Community Maritime Park •Sept. 4: Bayview Park •Oct. 2: Bayview Park •Nov. 6: Community Maritime Park •Dec. 4: Community Maritime Park
BEACH HIKE WITH HEALTHY GULF Join
Healthy Gulf for a beach ecology walk along the shifting sands and waters of Santa Rosa Island at Pensacola Beach on Saturday, Feb. 12, at 9 a.m. The hike is a total length of about 4 miles and will take about two hours to complete. Space is limited in order to ensure a quality experience, so to reserve a spot or for more information, please email christian@healthygulf.org or call (850) 687-9968.
CHESS CLUB Learn how to play one of the
oldest games in the world with West Florida Public Libraries. Whether you are a beginner or a master chess player, this is a chance to learn new skills, practice your moves and improve your game in a friendly environment. The library will provide all the chessboards and pieces. UPCOMING DATES: •Saturday, Feb. 12, 1-3 p.m., Pensacola Library, 239 N. Spring St. •Saturday, Feb. 12, 1-3:30 p.m., Southwest Library, 12248 Gulf Beach Highway •Saturday, Feb. 26, 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m., Genealogy Library, 5740 N. Ninth Ave. •Saturday, Feb. 26, 1-3:30 p.m., Southwest Library, 12248 Gulf Beach Highway
F3 NATION FREE WORKOUTS FOR MEN
F3, a national network of free, peer-led workouts for all men, has expanded its outdoor workouts to Pensacola. The three Fs stand for Fitness, Fellowship and Faith. Classes are free of charge to all men 18 and older or 16 with an adult guardian. Each class ends with a circle of trust. Class times are 7-8 a.m. Saturdays and 5:30-6:15 a.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays at Maritime Park, located at 351 W. Cedar St. Visit f3pensacola.com.
OVER 50 DANCE CLUB Take part in the Over 50 Dance Club at Sanders Beach Resource Center, located at 913 S. I St., Tuesdays from 6:30-9 p.m. The dress code is dressy; cover is $5-$10. This club is tobacco- and alcohol-free. For more information, call (850) 623-5013.
PENSACOLA PEGGERS CRIBBAGE CLUB LOOKING FOR MEMBERS Pensacola Peg-
gers Cribbage Club 396, the local Grass Roots Club affiliated with American Congress of Cribbage, is seeking new cribbage players for the group. The club meets weekly on Wednesdays at 6:30 p.m. at Sonny's BBQ, located at 6702 N. Ninth Ave., to play six games of cribbage.
WEEKLY FRIDAY DANCE Get moving every
Friday night with a dance sponsored by the Fraternal Order of Eagles. Enjoy food from 6-7 p.m. Dancing is from 7-10 p.m. A variety of bands and music provide the tunes. Cost of admission is $6. Dances are located at 105 Kenmore Ave. in Pensacola. For more information, call (850) 476-5696.
for more listings visit inweekly.net 21
free will astrology WEEK OF FEBRUARY 10 ARIES (MARCH 21-APRIL 19): "Real love is a pilgrimage," declared author Anita Brookner. "It happens when there is no strategy, but it is very rare because most people are strategists." That's the bad news, Aries. The good news is that you have more potential than ever before to free your love of strategic maneuvering and manipulation. For the foreseeable future, I invite you to drop all romantic agendas and simply make yourself extra receptive to love's teachings. Are you ready to learn what you don't even realize you need to know? TAURUS (APRIL 20-MAY 20): In the near
future, I'll be pleased if you dole out lavish praise to allies who enchant you. I will celebrate if you deliver loving inspirations and lush invitations to those who help you fulfill your reasons for being here on the planet. To get you in the mood, here are some suggested provocations. 1. "Your body makes mine into a shrine; holy, divine, godtouched."—Ramona Meisel. 2. "Your luster opens glories on my glowing face."—Federico García Lorca. 3. "All night long if you want. We'll tell our secrets to the dark."—Gayle Forman. 4. "I'll let you be in my dreams if I can be in yours."—Bob Dylan. 5. "We are each other's harvest. We are each other's business. We are each other's magnitude and bond."—Gwendolyn Brooks.
By Rob Brezsny
you trust. To spur your imagination, immerse yourself in the spirit of this poem by Nizar Qabbani—"I abandon my dictionaries to the flames, / And ordain you my language. / I fling my passport beneath the waves, / And christen you my country." Your homework: Dream up and carry out a playful and audacious venture that will energize one of your close relationships.
LEO (JULY 23-AUG. 22): I've created a list
of splashy titles for stories or poems or songs or artworks or dances that you could compose for beloved allies or people you want to be beloved allies. I hope my list inspires you to get gushy and lyrical. I hope you'll be creative and marvelous as you express your passionate appreciation. Here are the titles: 1. Glistening Passion. 2. Incandescent Rapture. 3. Succulent Dazzle. 4. Molten Luminosity. 5. Splashy Fire Bliss. 6. Shimmering Joy Beams. 7. Opulent Delirium. 8. Wild Soul Synergy. 9. Sublime Friction. 10. Fluidic Gleam Blessings. 11. Throbbing Reverence. 12. Sacred Heart Salvation.
I foresee an influx of restorative karma flowing in your direction. I predict the fixing of at least some of your broken parts.
GEMINI (MAY 21-JUNE 20): In Gemini
author Orhan Pamuk's novel "Snow," the main character Ka asks a woman named Ipek, "What is the thing you want most from me? What can I do to make you love me?" Ipek's answer: "Be yourself." In the coming days, Gemini, I would love you to engage in similar exchanges with those you care for. According to my understanding of the astrological omens, now is a favorable time for you and your best allies to shed all fakery and pretense so that you may be soulfully authentic with each other—and encourage each other to express what's most raw and genuine.
CANCER (JUNE 21-JULY 22): Are you in the mood to make extravagant gestures in behalf of love? Are you feeling an urge to move beyond your habitual approaches to intimate togetherness as you dare to engage in fun experiments? Now is a good time for such behavior with allies
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VIRGO (AUG. 23-SEPT. 22): Author Eve
Ensler tells us, "You have to give to the world the thing that you want the most, in order to fix the broken parts inside you." This is perfect counsel for you to carry out in the coming weeks, Virgo. Life will conspire to help you heal yourself, in dramatic and even semi-miraculous ways, as you offer the people and animals you care for the same blessings that you crave to receive. I foresee an influx of restorative karma flowing in your direction. I predict the fixing of at least some of your broken parts.
LIBRA (SEPT. 23-OCT. 22): In Michael Cha-
bon's novel "The Mysteries of Pittsburgh," the character named Arthur says to the character named Cleveland, "Love is like falconry. Don't you think that's true?" Cleveland replies, "Never
say love is like anything. It isn't." I propose we make that your meditation during this Valentine season, Libra. In accordance with astrological omens, you will be wise to purge all your preconceptions about love. Use your ingenuity to revive your innocence about the subject. Cultivate a sense of wonder as you let your imagination run wild and free in its fantasies about love and sex and intimacy.
SCORPIO (OCT. 23-NOV. 21): I'll love it if
sometime soon you create a situation in which you tell an ally words similar to what author Jamaica Kincaid spoke to her lover—"To behold the startling truths of your naked body frees me to remember the song I was born from." Do you think you can make that happen, Scorpio? The astrological indicators at play in your life suggest that it would be right and sacred for you to do so. And if there is no such ally, then I hope you will deliver the same message to your naked self. And by the way, what is the song you were born from? (P.S. There has never been a better time than now to learn treasured truths about yourself through your connections with others.)
SAGITTARIUS (NOV. 22-DEC. 21):
I'm afraid I must be downright practical and mundane in my oracle for you. Don't hate me! I'm only reporting what the planetary omens are telling me. They say that now is a favorable time for you to practice, practice and practice some more the fine arts hinted at by author Ivan Goncharov—"A close, daily intimacy between two people has to be paid for: It requires a great deal of experience of life, logic and warmth of heart on both sides to enjoy each other's good qualities without being irritated by each other's shortcomings and blaming each other for them." Be diligently positive, Sagittarius, as you work through the demanding daily trials of togetherness.
CAPRICORN (DEC. 22-JAN. 19): I'll offer you a radical idea about love from author Hélène Cixous. Although it's not always true for everyone, it will have special meaning for you in the coming months. She wrote, "It is easy to love and sing one's love. That is something I am extremely good at doing. But to be loved, that is true greatness. Being loved, letting oneself be loved, entering the magic and dreadful
circle of generosity, receiving gifts, finding the right thank-you's, that is love's real work." How about it, Capricorn? Are you up for the challenge? Are you willing to expand your capacity to welcome the care and benevolence and inspiration coming your way from others?
AQUARIUS (JAN. 20-FEB. 18): Actor
Leelee Sobieski was mourning her romantic adventures—or rather the lack of romantic adventures. She said, "If only I could find a guy who wasn't in his 70s to talk to me about white cranes, I'd be madly in love." The good news is that Sobieski knows precisely what she wants, and it's not all that complicated. The bad news is that there are few men near her own age (38) who enjoy discussing the fine points of the endangered bird species known as the white crane. I bring her predicament to your attention, Aquarius, in the hope that you'll be inspired to be as exact and lucid as she is in identifying what you want—even as you cheat just a bit in the direction of wanting what is actually available.
PISCES (FEB. 19-MARCH 20): I've never
offered you the wisdom of actor Natalie Portman, but her idealistic attitude about relationships is exactly what I think you should aspire to in the coming months. She said, "I always ask myself, would I want someone to do something that wasn't comfortable for them to do just to please me? And the answer is no." What do you think, Pisces? Do you suspect it might be interesting to apply that principle to your closest alliances? I hope so. If you do, the planetary energies will conspire to deepen your intimate bonds. THIS WEEK'S HOMEWORK: What love goal would you like to accomplish between now and February 2023? Write it down, stating it as an intention and vow. Share? frewillstrology.com
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freewillastrology@freewillastrology.com Rob Brezsny © Copyright 2022
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news of the weird MY KINGDOM FOR AN EDITOR Queen Elizabeth II's platinum jubilee is celebrated this year, and the souvenir producers are hard at work creating tchotchkes to commemorate it—but apparently not hard enough at work to proofread their copy. People magazine reported that because of a translating error, Karl Baxter, CEO of Wholesale Clearance U.K., is trying to sell more than 10,000 pieces that trumpet the queen's "platinum jubbly"—mugs, tea sets and plates featuring an illustration of Elizabeth and her coat of arms. Baxter hopes to salvage $44,000 from the lot and says the buyer could make a "potential profit" of $400,000. The website suggests using the items for a plate-smashing contest or a "dangerous game of Frisbee." LEAST COMPETENT CRIMINALS First rule of being a criminal? Keep up with car maintenance. On Jan. 27, police in New Kensington, Pennsylvania, pulled over a Chevy Trax because its license plate light was burned out, TribLive reported. The driver, Ise Lamont Woods, 31, had an outstanding warrant from Jan. 5 for criminal mischief and disorderly conduct, among other charges. One of the passengers, Raphael Angel Geiger, 30, was wanted for a parole violation. And Don Lamont Carter, 26, allegedly tossed a bag with 29 grams of crack cocaine in it to a female passenger, asking her to "tuck it"; he was already wanted on a previous warrant. When police searched the vehicle, the bag of cocaine fell out of the woman's sweatshirt; she also had a crack pipe hidden in her bra. Geiger and Woods were taken into custody; Carter was released on his own recognizance. REEFER MADNESS A 23-year-old Thai man's harrowing ordeal was documented in late January in the Journal of Medical Case Reports, Gizmodo reported. Doctors at Chiang Mai University wrote that the young man, who had been a regular user of cannabis but had stopped for three months, had resumed his habit, with devastating effects. Two hours after hitting the bong, the man suffered a bout of psychosis and an "unwanted" erection, which prompted him to use scissors to "trim the penile skin several times." However, he went too far, eventually ending up with just an inch-long stump. At the hospital, doctors stopped his bleeding and created a new opening for his urethra, but his penis was too damaged to be reattached. He was diagnosed with substance-induced psychotic disorder; after two weeks of hospitalization and anti-psychotic drugs, he reported no more symptoms. THE PASSING PARADE Maybe it was just the prospect of one more day of notoriety followed by 364 of boredom, but for Milltown Mel, it was curtains on Jan. 30, the New York Daily News reported. Mel, no relation to the better-known Punxsutawney Phil, was New Jersey's prognosticator of spring, and his untimely passing just three days before Groundhog Day left the Milltown Wranglers without a replacement for their event, which was strangely scheduled for Feb. 1 rather than Feb. 2. The Wranglers did not report a cause of death for Mel.
By the Editors at Andrews McMeel
SUSPICIOUS On Jan. 31, a Rhode Island Red hen was found wandering around a security checkpoint at the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia, the Associated Press reported. The Animal Welfare League of Arlington was summoned, and one of their employees took the bird into custody. Chelsea Jones, a spokesperson for the group, said the hen was "sweet" and "nervous." She has been adopted by a staff person who has a small farm in western Virginia. ARMED AND COURTEOUS When a couple returned to their home in Santa Fe, New Mexico, on Jan. 30 after a few days away, they were shocked to find a messy kitchen and a young man with an assault weapon inside, The Washington Post reported. But even more stunning was the intruder's behavior: He explained that his family in east Texas had been killed and he was on the run from someone. He told the husband that his car had broken down about 100 miles away. "He was extremely embarrassed and apologetic about the situation," the husband told sheriff's officers. As he left, he dropped $200 on a table to help pay for the window he had broken to get in. None of the couple's items had been stolen, including jewelry that was left on a counter, but he had cooked some of their food, slept in a bed and bathed in the master bathroom. Investigators figured he owed the couple $15 for beers and shrimp he consumed. PEOPLE WITH ISSUES Georgetown University's William Treanor, dean of the law school, met with a Black student group on Feb. 1 to hear their complaints about an incoming lecturer, Ilya Shapiro, after he made comments about President Joe Biden's plans to replace Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer. National Review reported that the students wanted to discuss a "reparations" package with Treanor, which included a designated place on campus to cry. "Is there an office they can go to?" one student asked. "I don't know what it would look like, but if they want to cry, if they need to break down, where can they go? Because we're at the point where students are coming out of class to go to the bathroom to cry." •"All I wanted was some steak," one customer was heard to say in a video of a brawl that broke out at a Golden Corral in Bensalem, Pennsylvania, on Jan. 28, CBS Philly reported. Reports were unclear about what started the brawl, but employee Gaven Lauletta gave his account of the incident: "There was a shortage of steak and two parties were involved and one family cut in front of another family, they were taking their time and they ran out of steak and it got into a heated exchange at the tables," he said. Police said more than 40 people may have been involved in the melee, although no serious injuries were reported. {in}
From Andrews McMeel Syndication News Of The Weird © 2022 Andrews McMeel
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Independent News | February 10, 2022 | inweekly.net