Inweekly Feb 9 2023

Feeling the Love

A Shout Out to Some Things We're Currently Loving

Living The Dream

is Pensacola’s signature event for celebrating Dr. King’s legacy and a commitment to diversity and progressive leadership that promotes a more cohesive community. Following a hiatus in 2022, the 2023 awards ceremony was hosted on January 14 at the Brownsville Community Center and recognized honorees for their contributions to supporting diversity and equality.

John

Albritton

Founder, A&G Rattlers

Youth Sports Program

When John Allbritton opened his law office, he was one of just three black lawyers in private practice in Escambia County. Fred Gant joined John in private practice in 1984 and formed Allbritton & Gant law firm, creating another first for Pensacola.

When the City of Pensacola decided to end sponsoring neighborhood youth sports teams in 1988, Allbritton & Gant became the financial sponsors of the East Pensacola’s Baby Rattlers at Magee Field and John became the field’s long-time manager.

John Chandler

Coach and Mentor, Southern Youth Sports Association

John R Chandler retired from Westinghouse Electric Corporation after 22 years and is currently is a teacher at Montclair Elementary School

John is well-known for his work with youth. Before helping launch the Southern Youth Sports Association, he served 18 years with the Salvation Army Advisory Board.

Fannie Finkley

Founder, Pensacola Caring Hearts

Fannie Finkley is the founder of Pensacola Caring Hearts, a nonprofit organization whose vision is to nourish and empower individuals, families, and communities in need. They own and operate food pantries in Pensacola, Brewton, and Evergreen, Alabama.

Fannie has received several awards for her community service: NAACP 2017 Pensacola Chapter’s Community Service Organization Award.

Celestine Lewis

Executive Director

Jacqueline Harris Preparatory Academy

Celestine is the Executive Director of the Jacqueline Harris Preparatory Academy, a charter elementary school serving predominantly black students and providing a holistic education including arts, mentoring and enrichment curriculum for students in pre-k through fifth grade.

The Jacqueline Harris Preparatory Academy student body is predominantly lowincome and the school provides several extracurricular activities including mentoring for boys, water safety training, speech therapy and counseling.

H.K. Matthews Legacy Award

Lonnie

Davis Wesley, III

Pastor, Greater Little Rock Baptist Church

Since 2006, Pensacola native and Escambia High School alumnus, Rev. Lonnie Davis Wesley, III, has been the pastor of Greater Little Rock Baptist Church, where he is known as a powerful preacher of the gospel message, a strong communicator, and a committed Christian educator. He has held several leadership roles in the community. Most recently, Dr. Wesley served on Mayor D.C. Reeves’ transition team, focusing on citizen engagement. In world of partisan politics, Dr. Wesley has been a powerful, humble voice of reason.

Shirley Cronley

Shirley Cronley was recognized with the Living the Dream Service Award for her long and dedicated commitment to improving Pensacola.

Shirley has served and continues to serve on numerous boards for groups around Pensacola including the Southern Youth Sports Association, Boys and Girls Club of Escambia County, Pace Center for

Bruce Partington

Attorney and Firm

Shareholder, Clark-Partington

A shareholder with the Clark Partington law firm, Bruce Partington has repeatedly advocated for equal justice. He has fought for the removal of the Confederate Battle Flag and the Confederate Monument in Lee Square in Pensacola

Bruce is currently defending the city of Pensacola in the lawsuit brought in opposition to the removal of the Confederate Monument. He also represents the firm in the Law Firm AntiRacism Alliance.

Grace Resendez McCaffery

Founder, Latino Media Gulf Coast

Grace played a vital role when Hurricane Ivan ravaged the area, recruiting nearly 100 volunteers for the Pensacola chapter of the Red Cross to assist with translation and match the needs of the influx of Spanish-speaking workers with existing Gulf Coast resources.

She is the founder of Latino Media Gulf Coast Inc., the Hispanic Resource Center of Northwest Florida and South Alabama and the Language Bank of Pensacola, a volunteer organization that matches translators with businesses.

PRESENTED BY Proceeds Support the Southern Youth Sports Association

Brought to you by the Studers

Kevin Robinson Content Coach, Northwest Florida Daily News

For the past decade as a reporter and editor for the daily newspapers in Pensacola and Fort Walton Beach, Kevin Robinson has been motivated by his mission of making his native Northwest Florida the best place possible for all people to live, regardless of their race, class, wealth or background. He helped create and launch CivicCon, a partnership between the Pensacola News Journal and Studer Community Institute.

Chandra Smiley CEO, Community Health Northwest Florida

As the CEO of Community Health Northwest, Chandra Smiley has helped grow the old Escambia Community Clinics into a healthcare system that annually serves over 55,000 patients with 17 locations throughout Escambia and Santa Rosa counties. Her organization’s economic impact on this community has increased from $22 million in 2015 to over $70 million in 2021.

Girls, the Pensacola Cultural Center and the Escambia County Tourist Development Council.

winners & losers

winners losers

DARRYL SINGLETON Mayor D.C. Reeves has selected Singleton as the director of Pensacola Energy, responsible for overseeing and leading the City of Pensacola's natural gas utility company. Having worked for the city for 27 years, he has received numerous promotions. Most recently, Singleton was promoted to Pensacola Energy's deputy director in April 2022 and to interim director in October 2022. As the Pensacola Energy director, Singleton will coordinate and oversee all operations of Pensacola Energy and act as a liaison with federal, state and local agencies as needed.

STAN HAYS Global Connections to Employment (GCE) has selected Hays as the 2022 Veteran of the Year. Hays works for GCE in the Official Mail Center at Hurlburt Field Air Force Base in Fort Walton Beach. Before joining GCE, Hays served in the U.S. Army for 10 years. He was medically retired due to injuries and multiple fractures sustained during his last tour of duty. Hays underwent surgery and spent many months in physical therapy learning how to walk again. At GCE, he leads by example daily.

SUSAN AMBURG United Way of West Florida has named Amburg its new director of Development. She brings a wealth of fundraising experience and more than eight years of United Way experience to her new role. Most recently, she served as the director of the Whole Village Family Resource Center at Granite United Way in Plymouth, N.H. United Way of West Florida President and CEO Laura Gilliam said, "Susan's passion for her work and deep experience are incredible assets for us. Her knowledge will help us diversify and strengthen our fundraising efforts."

TRUIST FOUNDATION The foundation gave a $350,000 grant to Community Enterprise Investments, Inc. (CEII) to fund an impact fund for Black and Brown Entrepreneurs. The CEII Impact Fund targets business owners of color within lowand moderate-income communities in the panhandle. CEII created the fund in response to the great demand for capital from Black and Brown entrepreneurs in our area.

FLORIDA CHAMBER

The Orlando Sentinel reported last week that an affiliate of the Florida Chamber of Commerce indirectly provided the funding for a secretive political committee that didn't disclose its donors and spent more than $160,000 on mail ads in a competitive Central Florida state Senate race in 2020, according to Florida Department of Law Enforcement records. The revelation is the latest in the newspaper's investigation into who funded two independent candidates who filed to run in competitive state Senate races in 2020 but did not campaign for the seats. FDLE sent its findings to 18th Circuit State Attorney Phil Archer's office, which declined to file charges against anyone involved in running Floridians for Equality and Justice, the political committee that funded the ghost candidates to take votes away from the Democrats in the races. Archer cited "legal impediments" in a press release about his decision not to pursue charges but urged state lawmakers to "mandate complete transparency and accountability."

RICK SCOTT

The U.S. senator from Florida learned the price of taking on Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell. Scott unsuccessfully tried to take over the GOP leadership in the Senate, losing 37-10. McConnell removed him and his top supporter, Sen. Mike Lee, from the powerful Commerce Committee. The lesson here is if you take on the king, you better chop off his head, or yours may roll. Republicans love revenge.

NEW COLLEGE OF FLORIDA

Gov. Ron DeSantis is hell-bent on changing the direction of the small liberal arts college and making it a taxpayerfunded version of Hillsdale College, a private conservative Christian liberal arts college in Hillsdale, Mich. U.S. News & World Reports ranked New College No. 5 among national liberal arts colleges, while Hillsdale College was No. 48. DeSantis appointed six new trustees who fired New College's president and hired former Education Commissioner Richard Corcoran to serve as interim president. He has asked state lawmakers to allocate $15 million for the institutional overhaul and restructuring of New College.

Darryl Singleton / Photo Courtesy of City of Pensacola

outtakes

By Rick Outzen

Last month, the Florida Commission on Mental Health and Substance Abuse issued an interim report on the state of Florida's mental health system. The Florida Legislature created the commission in 2021 in reaction to the Parkland grand jury that examined the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School and found the state's mental health system was a mess.

Locally, in August 2021, State Rep. Michelle Salzman formed a mental health task force to create a blueprint for mental health care system changes in the greater Pensacola area. According to its website, the task force has 80 members, which includes me, to my surprise. Other than an awareness campaign, Salzman has little to show for her efforts 18 months later. Fortunately, the state commission didn't drag its feet.

As we reported (Inweekly, "Mental Health Care Failures," 1/26/23), the mental health care problems here are not peculiar to Pensacola and Escambia County. This is a statewide problem, with 14% of Florida's population having a mental illness. We've got 225,000 youth that had at least one major episode of depression in the past year.

The state commission found Florida's mental health system disjointed and unfocused, and the meager funding is spread over too many different agencies and entities. The reporting isn't done well, so we fail to track patients properly in the system. The system isn't preventative and fails to help people before they reach a crisis level. All of this is in the interim report.

We need a change in perspective and to begin to view mental health crisis services as essential as police, fire, emergency medical services and emergency medical care. The failure to deal with mental health issues early comes with a high personal, community and economic cost, resulting in incarceration, homelessness and death.

Around the state and here, individuals cannot access care due to financial limitations, travel time and distance to available services or no available space. We have a shortage of mental health pro -

fessionals, and the paperwork for providers to get paid is too cumbersome.

Last October, Stephanie Shepard lost her son, Isaiah, age 18, to a drug overdose. Multiple times, she reached out to rehab facilities across the United States, and very few were available for teens. Those that were available had limited beds.

She told me, "I continued to wait, with the hope that when he turned 18, there would be more access to treatment. Unfortunately, he died three months after he turned 18. In my heart and my soul and everything inside of me, I believe that if I would've successfully been able to get him help before him being 18, that my son would still be here today."

Stephanie's story isn't unique. While commissions and task forces meet and access, people are hurting in this community. There are children and adults who are battling mental illness. They don't know where to go for help. They don't know how to do it.

The local task force has hired Ernst & Young to help with strategic planning and develop an action plan to close gaps within the mental wellness and behavioral health system. The consultants are going to find we have a shortage of mental health professionals. They also will discover that most people battling mental issues are accessing health care at the most inefficient and expensive points of entry— emergency rooms, acute crisis services or often in the juvenile and criminal justice systems.

The task force should hold a meeting to review the Commission on Mental Health and Substance Abuse report because the problems in the system are too complex for Escambia County to fix on its own. Some of the solutions will involve the state legislature.

One recommendation from the state commission they should incorporate in whatever solutions the task force develops is to focus on the patients' needs, not the hospitals, agencies and others looking for more funds. Please be sure the needs of the individuals seeking help are met. They are hurting. {in} rick@inweekly.net

isn't done well, so we fail to track patients properly in the system.

INCORPORATING PARADISE

derhill. Bergosh said he is neutral on the possible incorporation of Bergosh said. "Where the rubber transition into a city is arduous.

right fit for Perdido will be determined during the feasibility study. Brendtro said the group hired BJM Consulting, which conducted a feasibility study for Indiantown, a village in Martin County. The study will cost up to $50,000, but other expenses, including an engineer survey, legal counsel and advocate fees, will raise the price to somewhere in the $125,000-150,000 ballpark. The group will soon begin fundraising to cover the cost.

By Tom St. Myer

Steven Brendtro refers to Perdido as a "hidden slice of paradise," but he questions if the slice is too hidden from those who control its services. The Perdido resident said the area is too inconvenient for most Escambia County services, which he described as "stretched to the limit."

Frustrated with living in an area without the power to make decisions and directly address local issues, Brendtro began researching how to incorporate Perdido as a municipality last fall. He found fellow residents with the same desire, and in January, they established We Are Perdido, a nonprofit organization chaired by Brendtro, to explore municipal incorporation.

The movement is gaining momentum after over 300 residents attended an inaugural meeting on Monday, Jan. 23, at Liberty Church. More meetings will be scheduled as the plan begins to take shape, according to Brendtro

PERDIDO FACTS

The population of the Perdido area fell just short of 20,000 during the 2020 U.S. Census. Perdido represents 6% of the county population but holds 16% of its taxable real estate value at $3.5 billion.

In 2022, Perdido generated $47.2 million in ad valorem property taxes and about $60 million overall in annual revenue. If Perdido achieves 3%

annual growth, its county tax revenue contributions over the next 10 years will top $760 million.

Perdido residents question their return on investment for generating that amount of revenue since the Escambia County Commission determines the disbursement of the money. Perdido residents raised the same questions when efforts to incorporate fell short in 2007.

"They've taken a ton of money from our area, and it's funneled elsewhere in the county," said Perdido resident Steven Baughman. "We're like the forgotten children out here."

He continued, "When you go into town, you see areas that are beautified that you know aren't bringing in the kind of money we are, and then they can't even mow the grass on the shoulders of the roads out here. This is a great opportunity for us to take control, and Perdido has so much more potential than it is given the funding for."

Buford Lipscomb, a retired pastor and longtime member of the Perdido community, voiced his support for the municipality movement. "I'm not a fan of taxation without representation."

The proposed municipality includes Perdido Key, Innerarity Point, the lower Perdido Bay coastal areas and an eastern boundary of Dog Track Road and Blue Angel Parkway. The county redrew district lines in 2021, and Perdido Key moved from District 2 to 1, where Jeff Bergosh is the commissioner.

Bergosh and fellow County Commissioner Mike Kohler (District 2) attended the information meeting. Bergosh acknowledged residents

to a municipality in 1984 and remains the newest municipality in the Panhandle. The Perdido population is about three times that of the average Florida city, which is 6,485.

The Florida Constitution grants county and municipal governments Home Rule authority to self-govern by adopting and enforcing unique laws. The feasibility study is the first key component, followed by drafting a five-year projected budget and proposed city charter.

Brendtro said, ideally, the group would complete all those steps, present the results to the local legislative delegation and then submit the proposal to a House subcommittee by Sept. 1.

The local delegation includes Sen. Doug Broxson and State Reps. Alex Andrade and Michelle Salzman. The nonprofit already met with the lawmakers, and each official indicated they would support submitting the proposal.

"The legislator's role, from my perspective, is not to weigh in one way or another unless they feel compelled to do so," Andrade said. "It's really just my job to see if they've checked all the boxes and done everything they need to do for consideration. As long as they meet the statutory requirements, then it's worthy of consideration to be put on the ballot."

If the Florida House and Senate approve the bill and the governor signs off, Perdido residents within the proposed boundaries will vote on whether to transition into a municipality in 2024.

Whether the government lite model is the

A government lite model limits government size and taxing capacity by outsourcing a significant percentage of services to the county or other providers. Outsourced services potentially include police, fire and road maintenance. The city government would manage the service contracts to preserve the quality of life at an affordable price theoretically but, in turn, limit revenue streams.

Bergosh questioned why residents would agree to tax increases to support a municipality that does not own the roads or parks.

'If you don't control any of that, what are you able to do?" he said. "Why do I need you? Just to raise taxes and start a city?"

Successful examples of the government lite model include Weston, DeBary and Fort Myers Beach. Tipton said the Florida League of Cities assisted the incorporation of 26 municipalities, and each chose to be governed by councils and operate without a mayor.

"If you picked a five-member city council, you, the voters, would vote on who those five would be," Tipton said. "In your charter would be the length of their terms."

She continued, "Once they're elected, the other question for the charter is are you going to stagger the terms. You can draw it up for election at one time, but the ultimate decision is in the hands of the voters."

Brendtro envisions a government lite model that can improve traffic flow and street conditions for local neighborhoods, provide a fire station in the northern part of the area, increase law enforcement patrols where needed, establish uniform code enforcement, and create and implement a comprehensive stormwater management plan.

We Are Perdido board member Craig Dalton serves as president of the Perdido Bay Youth Sports Association and has long been entrenched in the community. He said incorporation is long overdue.

"The common reaction I hear from all folks is, 'I'm not surprised by this. Why did it take us so long to come to this point?'" Dalton said. "Everyone truly believes that. There are things we have to figure out along the way. We need to make smart, informed decisions, but that reaction is pretty much universal across the region." {in}

"Where the rubber meets the road is, where is the money coming from?" Jeff Bergosh

CAN PENSACOLA CATCH THE TRAIN

rail service in their area. The city of Pensacola will be applying for one of those grants.

"Just to figure out if rail makes sense. It's kind of that first step," Mayor Reeves said.

Applying for the FRA grant, which has to be done by mid-March, is the first of what Reeves refers to as "two baby steps" in the early stage of the process. The next step involves assembling a coalition of local communities and leaders interested in restoring rail service to Northwest Florida.

"We've reached out to every mayor or decision maker who had a stop on the former Sunset Limited line, which is Crestview, Chipley, Marianna," the mayor said, explaining efforts are already afoot to ignite regional interest. "My goal is to build a coalition and have Pensacola take the baton in the Panhandle, and let's keep investigating; let's keep looking into it and see if it makes sense for us."

DOES IT MAKE SENSE?

Interest in restoring passenger rail service is spreading nationally, as the form of travel is viewed as environmentally advantageous and potentially more efficient than traveling via private vehicle. In Florida, officials throughout the state are keen on the concept.

By Jeremy Morrison

There was a time, not all that long ago, when passenger trains hummed through Pensacola. Travelers could catch the train at the local stop, travel west to New Orleans or east to Jacksonville, and feasibly travel the country by rail.

That all ended with Hurricane Katrina in 2005. But this year, the route from New Orleans to Mobile will reopen, with Amtrak providing service between the hubs, and there's talk of continuing eastward into Florida.

"When I'm walking around town," said Pensacola Mayor D.C. Reeves, "this is the top topic of conversation when people stop me on the street right now. People are kind of fascinated with this idea of bringing it back."

Recently, Reeves attended the United States Mayors Conference in Washington, D.C., where he spoke with Amtrak officials about the potential for restoring passenger rail to Northwest Florida. It's a ripe topic for discussion, as a whopping $66 million has recently been laid on the table via a congressional infrastructure bill primarily dedicated to improving and increasing passenger rail service.

"If there was ever going to be a time that the city of Pensacola should look at its opportunity to have passenger rail come here, it is now," Mayor Reeves stressed. "Not five years ago and not five years from now. It is now because of the support and priority for not only modernizing existing rail [is receiving] but finding new pas -

senger rail, or, in our case, restoring passenger rail. The interest is there at the federal level, so we don't want a missed opportunity."

BABY STEPS

Travel by train has a romantic ring to it. Even the train that used to service Pensacola—the Sunset Limited—sounds like something from a distant, sepia-toned age.

But travel on Pensacola's previous passenger train service wasn't exactly the most romantic form of travel.

"Certainly, when the Sunset Limited was running through Pensacola, which was basically in the dead of night, on a train that began its day in Los Angeles, with thousands and thousands of miles of possible delay, that wasn't, for a lot of people, very relevant transportation service back when we were running, what, almost 17 years ago," said Marc Magliari, senior spokesman with Amtrak Government Affairs and Corporate Communications.

If service were to return to Pensacola and eastward, presumably provided by Amtrak, it would have to make sense.

"There are all sorts of considerations. Just because there's tracks doesn't mean it makes sense to run an Amtrak train there," Magliari said.

According to the Amtrak spokesman, a few basic ingredients are necessary for successful passenger rail service, all of which were missing during the Sunset Limited days.

"It needs to be reliable; that means on time," Magliari said. "It needs to be drivingtime competitive; not necessarily faster than

driving but certainly within the ballpark of driving. And the fares need to be reasonable, and the schedule needs to be attractive. The Sunset Limited, when it was there, did not have an attractive schedule, was not terribly reliable in either direction."

But passenger train service obviously can work, offering people an alternative to driving personal vehicles and navigating traffic. Just look around the country.

"That works in California; that works in the Midwest; it certainly works in the Northeast," Magliari points out. "And it can work in places around the country."

And Amtrak is looking to expand into any region that makes sense. With rail service expansion lagging far behind population trends, it may make sense to expand into a lot of areas not previously serviced.

"Generally speaking, we want to have more places on the map; we want to connect more of America than we do now," Magliari said. "We certainly have not seen huge changes in the original 1970-71 map of where Amtrak trains go, which were drawn up by the U.S. DOT, that reflect the current population spread around the country. I mean, the spread across the Southern tier states, from Florida all the way across to California, has seen huge population growth.

In addition to the substantial funds being made available to address rail infrastructure improvements and expansions, the Federal Rail Administration (FRA) is also offering half-million-dollar grants for communities of other governmental agencies to study the potential for

"From an environmental standpoint, from a traffic-congestion standpoint, from a cost standpoint—there's a lot of reasons we're starting to see a resurgence in the use of passenger rail across the country," Mayor Reeves said.

If passenger service was restored eastward from Mobile to Pensacola, then through Tallahassee and to Jacksonville, riders could connect to routes that would carry them throughout Florida and up the eastern seaboard.

"You'd be part of the network," Magliari said. "Sure, you can get around the country."

Mayor Reeves said that Pensacola's bid to have passenger rail service restored to the area will be a lengthy process but that if the service is eventually restored, the route would not only offer passengers coming in and out of the city a new option of travel, but also the city would become a destination for travelers on the line.

"We're a different place than we were in 2005," Mayor Reeves said, explaining that he could see such service upping the region's tourism prospects. "Does that equate to it becoming more convenient or us becoming a more attractive destination compared to somewhere else because we make it easier to get here? Certainly, that's the hope. And that's what we need to be investigating."

Reeves said that, ultimately, he feels that the city—with a revitalized downtown and coastal offerings—is an attractive destination and may make sense for the restoration of passenger rail service. "Thinking that we were able to get passenger rail at a time when where our downtown wasn't nearly as vibrant, and we weren't nearly on the map like we are, one could assume that all those things trending in the right direction for us would also be a positive trend for potential service." {in}

Photo by John M. Chase / shutterstock.com

IHMC BREAKS GROUND The Florida Institute for Human and Machine Cognition ceremonially broke ground on Friday, Feb. 3, on a new $30 million facility on Garden and Alcaniz streets. The IHMC Healthspan, Resilience and Performance complex will be a leading-edge lab and office building that will create a research hub for advancing human potential.

"This facility, and the people housed in it, really will be one-of-a-kind, and it will be a reputational jewel for our community and region," IHMC's founder and CEO Dr. Ken Ford said.

IHMC is funding the cost of the building. Triumph Gulf Coast is funding a substantial portion of the specialized research equipment in the new facility, while Space Florida is collaborating with IHMC on research and technology.

"What IHMC represents in its research activities, grand vision and direction is precisely what Triumph Gulf Coast seeks to support and encourage," said David Bear, chairman of the Triumph Gulf Coast Board of Directors. "It is so cool that this amazing, next-generation research is happening from our beautiful city and our wider region in Northwest Florida."

When complete, it will expand IHMC's downtown Pensacola campus to three primary buildings and will be consistent with, and complementary to, the Levin Center for IHMC Research, which primarily houses research in robotics, human-machine teaming and intelligent networked systems.

"We will be collaborating closely with regional institutions and organizations that share an interest in human health span and performance, and these collaborations will lead to innovative spinoff opportunities and technology transfer," Ford said. "Certainly, the addition of this complex will bolster the regional economy through new jobs and new funding in federal and industry-sponsored research."

He added, "This facility, and the scientists and engineers that it will host, will permit IHMC to be one of the few research institutions able to work effectively at all levels, from a single molecule of

interest to a whole human, and even teams of humans and machines."

Pensacola City Council President Delarian Wiggins said it is encouraging to see IHMC's continued dedication to and investment in the city.

"As a city leader, it's exciting to know that IHMC's success has sustained the employment of over 100 individuals from across the world, certainly contributing to our economy but, more so, adding to the cultural diversity and international understanding within our community."

DAG Architects, partnered with Atlanta-headquartered Cooper Carry, designed the building. Brasfield & Gorrie was chosen to lead the construction of the facility. The project should be completed in early 2024.

PORT BREAKS RECORDS The Port of Pensacola had record-breaking cargo activity for fiscal year 2022, reporting the highest level of cargo activity the port has experienced in more than 15 years.

The Port of Pensacola handled 425,277 tons of cargo in the 12 months ending Sept. 30, 2022— a 55% increase from the previous fiscal year. Additionally, the port saw a significant increase in deep draft vessel calls, with 47 calls reported, an 80% increase from the preceding fiscal year. These numbers continue to rise, with a 16% increase in vessel calls and a 17% increase in tonnage for the most recent quarter compared to the previous quarter.

This level of cargo activity is not only a significant increase from the previous year but also 73% above the 10-year moving average and the highest it has been since 2007, when the port handled just over 500,000 tons.

"The big uptick in cargo we've had over the past 18 months is coming from our 20-year tenant and partner Cemex, which imports bulk cement from Mexico," Port Director Clark Merritt told Inweekly. "They now are bringing it in by ship every other week, sometimes closer than that. And they'll come in and offload the entire vessel."

He added, "Cement, which turns into concrete, is not light. Ports track themselves on the metric tonnage of the shipments. Over the past

10 years, Pensacola's tonnages have been down or kind of flat because Cemex wasn't importing the bulk cement, but construction across the entire United States has been red hot."

Merritt said Cemex plans to use the Port of Pensacola as a focal point for their imports to feed into southern Alabama. "This is different than the way it used to work, and they used to ship it down from northern Alabama into storage facilities here to go to the concrete patch plants. That has flipped over the past 18 months."

MORE BROADBAND COMING At a press conference in Milton last week, Gov. Ron DeSantis announced the first set of awards through the Broadband Opportunity Grant Program to expand access to broadband internet for Florida's underserved communities. More than $144 million was awarded for 58 projects in 41 Florida counties for broadband internet expansion that will impact nearly 160,000 unserved residential, educational, business and community locations.

"I am proud to be in Santa Rosa County to announce the first awards through Florida's Broadband Opportunity Program," said Gov DeSantis. "Broadband internet access creates jobs and enhances educational opportunities for Floridians. I look forward to continued investments through this program to ensure Florida families have access to important resources no matter where they live."

The Town of Jay and unincorporated areas in Santa Rosa County, including Fidelis, Berrydale and Cobbtown, received $2,363,937 to deploy 103.7 miles of new fiber optic cable and provide FTTH services to 791 unserved locations within Santa Rosa County with download speeds of 300 Mbps and upload speeds of 10 Mbps.

Escambia County got $802,489 to deploy 24.8 miles on new fiber optic cable and provide FTTH services to 206 unserved locations within Escambia County with minimum download speeds of 300 Mbps and upload speeds of 10 Mbps.

Cable service provider Spectrum applied for the Escambia County grant with the Board of County Commissioners' approval, according to District 5 Commissioner Steven Barry.

"It specifically targets underserved and unserved homes in the Cantonment area where Spectrum does have a footprint," Commissioner Barry told Inweekly. "It's not within the Escambia River Electric Co-op footprint that is the county's phase one broadband project. Additional 206 folks are going to be moving at the speed of light pretty soon."

HUMANE SOCIETY LAWSUIT Following a mass walkout amidst allegations of financial mismanagement, the Pensacola Humane Society's Board of Directors has filed a lawsuit against several former employees.

The lawsuit essentially charges that accusations made and actions taken by former employees caused reputational and financial damage to the organization. In mid-December, a group of staff and volunteers—under the banner We The Organization—released an open letter accusing

the board of financial mismanagement and making a number of requests, including the removal of board president Gerald Adcox.

"The board agreed to move forward with the filing of a complaint due to the numerous wrongful attacks in the press and social media postings by the named defendants as well as a plethora of other reasons that are detailed in the Complaint," Adcox told Inweekly via email Thursday, Feb. 2.

The Pensacola Humane Society (PHS) is currently shut down. However, the PNJ reported that board member Blake White would assume an executive position in mid-February and reopen the facility. PHS also plans to retain the services of a national expert in animal sheltering to help the nonprofit, according to a statement sent to the newspaper.

Named in the PHS board's lawsuit are six former employees. Among them is Manda MooreJoseph, who served as the development director and interim executive director and is the person spearheading the effort to bring issues regarding financial mismanagement forward.

In October 2022, the board asked Moore-Joseph to serve as interim executive director after the departure of Jan Castillo, who had been the executive director since May 2022. Moore-Joseph agreed to serve as the interim.

Adcox sent Moore-Joseph's compensation proposal to the PHS volunteer coordinator, Raina Townson, during a heated meeting between board members, staff and volunteers on Monday, Dec. 12.

He wrote, "Just thought you might like to see this doc your leader submitted to the board for approval, six times the salary increase of all employees combined. No further comment is necessary; send out as you see fit."

When Townson objected to Adcox sending her confidential information, the board president warned, "Please be careful what you call illegal as you might indict yourself."

Townson was terminated three weeks later.

In regards to the board's lawsuit, Moore-Joseph told Inweekly in an email that she felt comfortable with her position. "In regards to the lawsuit against former staff members and myself, the burden of proof rests on the plaintiff."

In addition to Moore-Joseph, the board's suit names Townson; Jessica Gehres, former bookkeeper; Jessica Fischer, former communication and marketing director; Melissa Garret, former director of animal care; and Alysia Martinez, former director of shelter operations and foster coordinator.

Following the release of We The Organization's open letter, the board engaged Saltmarsh, Cleaveland & Gund to conduct a financial audit to assess claims of financial mismanagement. That audit is ongoing.

The board also brought aboard Tallahassee attorney Linda Edwards to speak with staff and investigate concerns outlined by We The Organization. While the lawsuit states that no employee responded to the attorney's request to meet, Moore-Joseph told Inweekly, "I was never contacted by Linda Edwards."

The IHMC Healthspan, Resilience and Performance complex / Photo Courtesy of IHMC

In addition to financial damages, the PHS board's suit seeks a temporary injunction that would require a public apology and a retraction of false statements.

NEXT STEPS FOR MIRAFLORES PARK

Soon, a community advisory group will begin to explore a recently discovered burial ground in Pensacola's Miraflores Park. The group's work will involve not only determining the best options for reinterring two individuals unearthed on the property but also will seek to gather more information and community input about the former African American burial ground.

Setting the stage for the advisory group's work, a collective of experts leading the effort to learn more recently gathered on Wednesday, Jan. 25, for an informational session on the topic and laid out what information is known thus far about the former burial near downtown.

"So this is not the end of the road; in a sense, this is how far we've gotten," Adrianne Walker, Pensacola's cultural resources coordinator.

In June 2021, a group of Boy Scouts discovered a collection of bones under the city's Boy Scout building at the park. State and local officials, including archaeologists from the University of West Florida, determined that the remains belonged to two individuals and that the park was likely previously used as a burial ground for African American and Creole residents of the city in the late 1800s.

During the informational session, experts involved with studying the site's history of Miraflores presented what they have learned so far and outlined the plans moving forward.

Pointing out a 1906 newspaper article regarding municipal efforts to prevent the space from being used as a burial ground, Walker said that the mention is the last such reference to the park's use. "This is very vague, obviously, telling the street superintendent to clean up the park."

An August 1887 newspaper publication of a report from City Engineer Wm. Galt Chipley lists Miraflores Park, then known as Havana Square, as "being used as a negro graveyard."

"If Pensacola grows as we expect, this square will be the most beautiful in the city," Chipley's report continued. "It is situated on rising ground and at such an elevation that a fine view of both bayou and bay can be had. I would suggest that further internments should be stopped, and those already buried should be removed."

The two individuals discovered by the Boy Scouts were likely disturbed during the 1934 construction of the BSA building. Dr. Katie Miller Wolf of UWF's Department of Anthropology stressed that the remains were "all mixed together" but that testing and study had confirmed the probability they belonged to a female in her 30s or 40s and a male, probably the same age or slightly older. In the female's case, at least, there were enough remains to suggest cranial traits associated with historic populations of Pensacola, such as African, Creole and European.

The information learned from studying the

remains and digging into the historical record will form the foundation on which Pensacola's community advisory group will begin their discussions regarding the Miraflores site.

Walker explained that the advisory group's study would inform the city's steps moving forward. "We are doing this study because we want to make sure that we have explored all the avenues, understand all the bioarcheological side of it, find all the historical records and do our due diligence before doing anything further."

Eventually, the city plans to, in some way, reinter the remains of the discovered individuals and also recognize the former burial ground. First, though, said Mayor D.C. Reeves, more fieldwork must be conducted—such as employing ground penetrating radar to search for additional burials—and the advisory group must also gather community input on the matter prior to making any decisions about the site's future.

"I think it would be difficult to speculate at this point," said Mayor D.C. Reeves. "Let's see truly what we have in front of us here and what we're dealing with here."

2023 CLOVER PICK A BOWL FILL A BOWL

This unique fundraiser with an artsy twist features the work of local artists and the fare of local vendors. Participants can choose a one-of-a-kind clay bowl thrown by a local potter to keep and sample some of the best soups in town. The event will be 6-8 p.m. on Friday, March 17, at Pensacola State College's Lou Ross Center.

Manna Executive Director DeDe Flounlacker told Inweekly that people are still struggling with food insecurity. "In fact, for a number of folks in our community, it's getting worse.

A recent poll commissioned by No Kid Hungry Florida found that many Floridians experienced hunger in the past 12 months due to a lack of money or other resources. Two in five adults (41%) reported one or more symptoms of food insecurity in the last year. Two-thirds (66%) of respondents said they would be worried about their ability to buy groceries if they had an unexpected $1,500 expense. Among parents and rural Floridians, this number is even higher at 71% and 74%, respectively.

The pre-sale price for tickets Clover Pick A Bowl Fill A Bowl is $50 and will provide 30 healthy meals for neighbors in need. Every ticket purchase includes a handcrafted bowl thrown by a local potter, as well as fare from 12-16 local restaurants and vendors. The tickets will cost $60 on the day of the event. Sponsorship opportunities are available now. Email kerri@mannahelps.org or call (850) 432-2053 for sponsorship information.

The Clover Pick A Bowl Fill A Bowl is made possible by the faculty, students and friends of the Pensacola State College Visual Arts Department, First City Arts Center, local artists, businesses and vendors providing sponsorships and donations of art, food, beverages and other inkind goods and services. The event has raised more than $433,000 since its start to address food insecurity in our region. {in}

Feeling the Love

We decided to once again use Valentine's Day as an excuse to declare our love for some of our current favorite people, places and things. From local eats to books to Oscar nominees, this list proves that love comes in many shapes and forms.

Vibe Check

stitcher.com/show/vibe-check-719746

If you're looking for a new podcast to fall in love with, try Vibe Check with Sam Sanders, Saeed Jones and Zach Stafford. It's the perfect mix of news, culture and vibes (sorry, we had to).

Bluejay's Collective

bluejayscollective.com, @bluejayscollective What's better than a bakery? A collective bakery, with multiple bakers selling their goods, of course. For more on this fresh collaborative concept serving up sweet treats downtown, turn to page 13.

The Nest 2.0

thenestgeneralstore.com, @thenestgeneralstore

When you visit Bluejay's Collective, make sure you stop in the new and improved The Nest, too. They've still got coffee, but they also offer a wide selection of natural wines (or "natty" wines, if you want to be cool), which boast sustainable practices and fewer additives than that box wine you usually sip.

Paul Mescal

a24films.com/films/aftersun

We're so damn happy the Academy recognized his heartbreakingly perfect performance in "Aftersun" with a nomination.

And Stephanie Hsu, too

a24films.com/films/everything-everywhereall-at-once

If they didn't honor her powerhouse acting in "Everything Everywhere All at Once," we were prepared to boycott the entire show. Thankfully, they did the right thing and we can watch the Oscars next month and root for Hsu and her costars Ke Huy Quan and Michelle Yeoh to make some history by winning.

Tacos Mexicanos

tacospensacola.com, @tacosmexicanoss

Our love for this local eatery isn't new by any means, but they recently expanded and opened an indoor sit-down location next to PSC. In addition to regular happy hour specials, this location also serves brunch on Sundays, which just gives us more to love.

Big Swiss

jenbeagin.com

Jen Beagin's new novel about a sex therapist's transcriptionist is already being turned into an

A Shout Out to Some Things We're Currently Loving

HBO series. So reading it now ensures you can be one of those "the book was better" people whenever it comes out.

The Bugghouse

@diypensacola

If you love seeing bands at this all-ages DIY venue, you can show it by donating to their current fundraiser for a new roof, which Hurricane Sally damaged.

Chloë

@chloebailey

Chloë finally confirmed that her debut solo album, "In Pieces," will be released in March. Based on the single she recently dropped, "Pray It Away," we're already in love.

Dissonance

dissonanceplay.com, pensacolalittletheatre.com

We're thrilled that local audiences are getting another chance to see Marci Duncan and Kerry Sandell's two-woman play about race and friendship, on Monday, Feb. 13, at Pensacola Little Theatre.

Maxwell

Alejandro Frost

@maxwellfrostfl

The first Gen Zer elected to Congress is already proving himself to be an important and muchneeded voice in Washington. We highly recom-

mend following him on Twitter for real-time commentary on House sessions, plus random music recommendations if you're into that kind of thing.

12Eleven

12elevenband.com, @12elevenband

If you love music that's a solid blend of R&B and pop, you'll love Destin-based band 12Eleven. You'll also love that you can see them live locally this Friday night, Feb. 10, at The Handlebar, with support from Jordan Chase and About to Sweat.

Return of the Vintage (Market)

@pensacolavintagecollective

Make sure you save the date for the next Pensacola Vintage Collective market happening at Doc's Hop Shop on Sunday, Feb. 26. This time around, they're expanding and setting up in Doc's warehouse, which means more vendors and more vintage fashion treasures for you to discover.

The Renaissance World Tour

tour.beyonce.com

We know wanting to see Beyoncé in concert and getting tickets to see Beyoncé in concert are two very different things. But we're trying to stay optimistic and make sure our bank account is prepared in case we get lucky. {in}

Photo by Sarah Coleman Photography Models: Tasha Bronson, Nick Fury & Willow

Arts & Entertainment

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

Making Room for Everyone

The concept stemmed from bakers already working in Bluejay's Bakery. Gudmundson-McCain opened Bluejay's as a traditional bakery but ultimately decided to pivot and focus exclusively on being a wedding cake provider.

"My staff members, as they've established their own styles and creative outlets, decided they also wanted to create their own things," Gudmundson-McCain said. "So they have established their own brands that focus on the things they really want to make. In utilizing the same space, they use the retail side of it to produce their own sweets and treats."

Kaitlyn Carroll was one of the bakers who inspired the idea.

After stints as a baker at a coffee shop, hairstylist and working at a desk job, Carroll was sure baking was her life path. But as lead cake decorator, she didn't have as much time for her own baking.

The more cookies, the better.

And sometimes the oven in your kitchen just doesn't cut it. That's how Bluejay's Collective came to be—sort of.

Justine Gudmundson-McCain, the chef and owner of Bluejay's Bakery, remembers what it was like when her passion for baking outgrew her own kitchen, the Palafox farmer's market and operating under the cottage food law. It's why she opened Bluejay's Bakery in 2017. And now it's one of many reasons she opened up her Bakery's kitchen to other bakers in the area for a collective of the same name.

"One girl, I just asked questions like, 'How frequently do you sell your product? Where do you sell your product? How long does it take you to bake things now?'" Gudmundson-McCain said. "The big thing that we're really trying to help with is that her answer to one of those questions was, 'Well, it takes me about two or three eight-

hour days to bake everything, but I can only bake eight to 10 cookies at a time in my oven. I was like, 'Well, you're going to be able to quadruple your production because you can make 100 cookies at a time in our oven.'"

Now, select local bakers have access to double ovens, speed racks and all the sheet pans and cupcake tins a baker can dream of through Bluejay's Collective, she said.

"With this process, I also get to guide them, like, 'OK, these are the business tax receipts that you need. This is the kind of food liability insurance you need. This is how you get your sales,'" Gudmundson-McCain said. "I get to teach them how to go from essentially cottage food law to being a commercial establishment. We have quite a few people who are somewhere in that process currently. We're really excited when they are going to be ready to actually move in and start utilizing the space."

When she approached Gudmundson-McCain about her desire to bake again, the conversation birthed the collective.

"Now, I am baking a lot," Carroll said. "I still love cakes, but I like specific styles of cakes and some fun, funky stuff that I don't really see here that I see in other larger cities—same with pastries. I want to bring those flavors and ideas here … I am finding out it's a lot more work than I even realized. But I think that's all part of it, and perfecting your craft is getting to try to do all these things and then just seeing what works best and what will end up being your specialty."

Carroll's funky 1970s style of baked goods was a byproduct of being deprived of color in her wardrobe as a hairstylist, she said.

"I had to wear all black," Carroll said. "Now that I'm out of that realm, I'm like, 'I want colorful everything.' I just want it in muted, fun

'70s colors. My logo is an ugly chartreuse green and coral and a purple."

Ana Sicilia, another member of the collective, has a signature baking style, too.

"I come from a Hispanic background, so I get to do different combinations of things," Sicilia said. "There's guava and cream cheese pastries, things I don't typically see here and I do miss from home. It's fun getting to do that stuff here."

Sicilia has baked since high school student government bake sales, when she'd volunteer to bake the whole sale. During the pandemic, though, was when she discovered macarons.

"I don't know what it was in me, but I just got really consumed with learning how to make them and perfecting them," Sicilia said. "I think from then on, I was just like, 'Wow, this is something I really enjoy doing.' I'm passionate about doing the research, going all in to find the best recipe and taste test everything that's out there. That's how it all started."

Baking is a far cry from Sicilia's degree in civil engineering. Working at a firm with little passion was how she decided to pursue baking as a career.

"I enjoyed the work, but it wasn't what I saw myself doing for the rest of my life," Sicilia said. "I came upon the bakery through a friend, and I just started here working as a staff member, baking what we usually had at the bakery and at the coffee shop, and it was fun; I enjoyed it. I think now it's even better because I get to try on my recipes I've had from the past."

Sicilia is Venezuelan, and her latest experiment was a Venezuelan brioche bun with ham.

"It tasted really good, so I'm excited to get people to try that," Sicilia said. "I've been making some really big chunky chocolate chip cookies. That's always something I love to do—since I was in high school—making cookies, so I think showing that to the community and (for) people to try is pretty awesome … making people happy keeps me going, too."

Gudmundson-McCain looks forward to growing the collective.

"We're really excited to have them making their own stuff and focusing on the things they're actually passionate about," Gudmundson-McCain said, "and then being able to open up to other people in the community who are ready to do the same thing." {in}

BLUEJAY'S COLLECTIVE

WHEN: Open Tuesday-Saturday, 8 a.m.-3 p.m. WHERE: 11 S. Palafox, Ste. E DETAILS: bluejayscollective.com, @bluejayscollective

Kaitlyn Carroll, Justine Gudmundson-McCain and Ana Sicilia / Courtesy Photo

a&e happenings

MARDI GRAS EVENTS

MARDI GAYS, SAY! DRAG SHOW This Mardi Gras Drag show is a charity event, Thursday, Feb. 9, 6-8 p.m., at the Museum of Commerce, 201 Zaragoza St. Cash donations will go to Pensacola Abortion Rights Task Force. Door fee is a $5 cash donations or canned food item.

KIDS AND KRITTERS MARDI GRAS PARADE The thirteenth annual Kids and Kritters Parade is Saturday, Feb. 11 in the Casino Beach parking lot next to the Pensacola Beach Visitor Information Center. The pre-parade show begins at 1:30 p.m. and the parade starts at 2 p.m. For more information, visit parade@pensacolabeachmardigras.com.

A CELEBRATION OF VENETIAN CARNIVAL

Food and wine event featuring guest chef Laura Piovesana at Angelena's Ristorante Italiano, 101 E. Intendencia St. 6 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 16. $175 per person. Reservations required. Make yours by calling 542-8398 or visit angelenaspensacola.com.

MARDI GRAS AT ODD COLONY Enjoy a Mardi Gras party at Odd Colony, 260 N. Palafox on Saturday, Feb. 18 with a special beer release MI SU street food from 11 a.m. until and complimentary king cake from Craft Bakery. A post-parade live show with The New Cahoots is 6-9 p.m. Visit facebook.com/oddcolony for details.

MARDI GRAS AFTERPARTY AT THE HANDLEBAR Music with Blackwater Brass, 319 N. Tarragona St. Show starts 5 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 18. Admission is $10. Tickets availablea at thehandlebar850.com.

BEAD CLEAN UP The Pensacola and Perdido

Bays Estuary Program is hosting a Mardi Gras Bead Tree Cleanup on Sunday, Feb. 19 from 9 a.m.-12 p.m. Volunteers will help remove Mardi Gras beads from the trees along Palafox and Garden Streets after the downtown parade. The collected beads will be brought to Arc Gateway to be cleaned and repackaged for future use. Volunteers should meet at the fountain at Plaza Ferdinand VII, East Government St. and Palafox St. Please RSVP to mtross@ppbep.org.

NONPROFITS & FUNDRAISERS

FIFTH ANNUAL COMMUNI-TEE CUP Our Corner (formerly Keep Pensacola Beautiful)

will be hosting a putt-putt golf tournament on Thursday, Feb. 9, to raise funds for annual beautification programs and cleanup initiatives across Escambia County.

The tournament will be held at Goofy Golf, 3924 W. Navy Blvd. This event will feature two game times, with a family tee-off at 4:30 p.m. and an adults-only and Krewe tee-off at 6:30 pm. Ticket prices are $30 per adult and $15 per child 12 and under. Members of Our Corner get a discounted ticket price of $25 per person as well as special benefits at the event. These tickets include tournament entry, drink and drawing tickets, and more. Visit ourcornerescambia.org/ communi-tee-cup-event for details.

INTERFAITH MINISTRIES BUNCO FUNDRAISER Join Interfaith Ministries for a fundraiser Saturday, Feb. 18 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Tickets are $30-$35 at St. Sylvester Catholic Church, 6464 Gulf Breeze Pkwy. Money raised helps the under-resourced in the community.

THE ESCAMBIA-SANTA ROSA BAR FOUNDATION ACCEPTING GRANT APPLICATIONS FOR 2023 The Escambia-Santa Rosa Bar Foundation, the philanthropic arm of the Escambia-Santa Rosa Bar Association, is currently accepting grant applications for 2023. Grants are awarded to organizations that successfully demonstrate how a proposed program aligns with one or more of the tenets of the mission of the Foundation, which are to foster greater accessibility to the judicial system, improvements to the overall quality of the administration of justice, lawrelated education and increased public awareness of the judicial system, and improved management and operation of the court system.

Grants awards are typically in the $500$1,500 range. For more information on the Foundation and to download an application form, visit esrba.com/bar-foundation/about-esrbf/.

CALL TO ARTISTS

2023 PENSACOLA JAZZFEST POSTER Jazz Pensacola, a nonprofit organization, invites fine artists/graphic designers to submit renderings for the official 2023 Pensacola JazzFest poster. The commission is $500.

The Jazz Pensacola Board of Directors will consider all renderings and make a selection. Initial drafts are due by Jan. 31. If selected, the completed submission deadline is Feb. 28.

Pensacola JazzFest is celebrating its 40th Anniversary. The 2023 Pensacola JazzFest is slated for April 1-2. The poster design should reflect the deep, rich, diverse jazz music heritage of Pensacola and communicate a sense of place.

Submissions should conform to a vertical orientation using a ratio that will fit, with margin, on a final poster size of 18 inches wide by 24 inches high. All content must be the submitter's original creation and must be unpublished. The submitter must have all rights to images and graphics used in the final artwork and during the design process. The poster must include the name of the festival—2023 Pensacola JazzFest—and especially its 40th Anniversary in some fashion.

The festival event information, including date, location, sponsors and any additional information, will be added to the poster in the graphic production process. There is no need to include this information within the artwork.

Any mixed media suitable for two-dimensional mechanical reproduction is allowed, including both hand-drawn and computer-generated graphics.

Rough drafts or sketches can be submitted, but, if selected, the final art must conform to the submitted draft or sketch. Substantial deviation from the submitted sketch or draft will result in forfeiture by the artist of the cash prize and the selection of a new winner by Jazz Pensacola.

Submissions must be in low-res (72 PPI) JPEG format and emailed to info@jazzpensacola.com. There is no limit to the number of entries by a single artist. Each entry must include the artist's name, address, email and telephone number.

The selected artist is responsible for the preparation of the art for high-resolution reproduction. The artist will be contacted following the selection process and receive technical specifications for the production file.

DIY SHORT FILM FEST Filmmakers of any level are invited to submit short films to be screened at 309 Punk House on March 24. Priority will be given to local and regional submissions and those with relationships to the community. Suggested length is 3-10 minutes, but submissions up to 20 minutes will be considered. Submissions are due by March 17. Send your films to diyfilmfestpensacola@ gmail.com.

ARTS & CULTURE

WHAT'S SHOWING AT PENSACOLA CINEMA ART PCA is located at the Studer Community Institute, 220 W. Garden St. Watch the 2023 Oscar nominated short films 1 p.m. Friday, Feb. 17 and Saturday, Feb. 18. Classic films are available for free through the PCA website. Visit pensacolacinemaart.com for more information and the latest showtimes.

CINDY CRABB AND DEB MURPHY: MATINEE OF WORDS AND IMAGES Join 309

Punk Project for a reading with Cindy Crabb and Dev Murphy, with an exhibition of art following the reading. Cindy and Dev's reading begins at 3 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 11 at 309 N. 6th Ave. An Open Exhibit begins after the reading and ends at 6 p.m. Visit facebook.com/309punkproject for details.

BALLET PENSACOLA: A MILITARY AP -

PRECIATION PERFORMANCE Ballet Pensacola will recognize the United States Military with a special ballet production, 7 p.m., Friday, Feb. 10, and Saturday, Feb. 11, and 2:30 p.m., Sunday, Feb. 12. The performances will feature Artistic Director Darren McIntyre's original choreography "Lights Will Guide You Home" and "Odyssey," along with other creations such as "Fleet Week," "Spartacus" and more to celebrate our men and women in uniform. Tickets are $35-$45. For more information, visit pensacolalittletheatre.com.

DISSONANCE Artists at Play, in collaboration with The Clark Family Cultural Center, present "Dissonance", a poignant look at relationships and race set in Pensacola's Historic Belmont-DeVilliers community, affectionately known as "The Blocks." "Dissonance" is a new work written by Florida-born Alabama-based playwright/actress Marci J. Duncan in collaboration with Pensacolabased playwright/actress Kerry Sandell. The play will have a one-night-only show at Pensacola Little Theatre, 400 S. Jefferson St. 7:30 p.m. Monday, Feb. 13. Tickets are $20-$30 and available at pensacolalittletheatre.com.

HOMELESSNESS AND IT'S ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT Join Ever'man Education Center at 6 p.m., Monday, Feb.13, with guest speaker Michael Kimberl, director of Alfred-Washburn

a&e happenings

Outpost and Satoshi Forest, as he discusses the homelessness issue and concerns within our community, environmental impacts and real solutions. Located at 327 W. Garden St.

PENSACOLA OPERA: BROWN BAG OP -

Saturday, Feb. 18 for two shows 2:30 and 6:30 p.m. Admission is $20 in advance and $24 at the door. Tickets can be purchased online at pcaraonline. com or Michele's Ladies Apparel, 2013 N. Palafox, or call 293-5345.

Stock Market Losses?

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ERA

Take a lunch break with the opera. Brown Bag Opera is a free monthly performance featuring the Jan Miller Studio Artists at the Opera Center, 75 S. Tarragona St. Musical performances include a variety of beloved arias, timeless showtunes and stunning duets and trios. Dates are noon on Tuesdays Feb. 21 and March 21. Seating is first-come, first-served. Visit facebook. com/pensacolaopera for details.

EASY GOING GALLERY EXHIBIT Easy Going Gallery, 701 N. V St., is a showcase of local artists. A reception is Thursday, Feb. 9, from 5-9 p.m. Visit facebook.com/easygoinggallery for details.

TAYLOR SWIFT INSPIRED DANCE PARTY

Long Live- Celebrating Taylor Swift Throughout her Eras is Friday, Feb. 10. Doors open at 9 p.m. at Vinyl Music Hall, 2 S. Palafox. Tickets are $20. Visit vinylmusichall.com for details.

SAVAGE MOVIE SCREENING Movie screening for locally-produced horror film "Savage." A portion of proceeds benefit Guardian Ad Litem. Screening is 7 p.m. Monday, Feb. 13 at Saenager Theatre, 118 S. Palafox. Tickets are $29. Visit pensacolasanger.com to purchase.

RUPAUL'S DRAG RACE TRIVIA Enjoy trivia, lip sync battles and a drag show 7-10 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 14 at Perfect Plain Brewing Co., 50 E. Garden St. Visit facebook.com/perfectplainbrewingco for details.

"TALKING INSURRECTION," PRESENTED BY THE SELIGMAN FIRST AMENDMENT

IHMC'S SCIENCE SATURDAY 2023 SESSIONS ON HUMAN HEALTH PERFORMANCE, SMART CITIES AND ROBOTICS

Science Saturdays is a series of 90-minute educational enrichment sessions geared to families and children in grades three-six. Topics in 2023 will include robotics, roller coasters, animal adaptations, human performance and more. The sessions are free to the families who attend.

For more information, visit ihmc.us/life/science_saturdays.

•Feb. 25: Meredith Yeager, IHMC, Reaction Time

•March 25: Dr. Lakshmi Prayaga, University of West Florida, Smart Cities

•April 22: Dr. Gwen Bryan, IHMC, Robot Hands

PENSACOLA ARTS MARKET Pensacola Arts

Market is set up at Gary's Brewery & Biergarten, 208 Newman Ave., from 4-9 p.m. every first Friday of the month. A Sunday market will be from 2-6 p.m. on Feb. 19. Enjoy a local artisan market, handcrafted brews and ciders, live music, as well as food by the Hip Pocket Deli. Free admission.

EMPOWERED EXPRESSION: GIVING DIMENSION TO DISABLED VOICES OPENING RECEPTION

The latest PMA exhibit is a collection of artworks created by the agency's program participants, all of whom are adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. It will be on display at the museum through Thursday, Feb. 23, at PMA, 407 S. Jefferson St. Visit pensacolamuseum.org for details.

11 East Romana Street | Pensacola, Fl 32502 genemitchell.org

LECTURE SERIES

The University of West Florida Reubin O'D. Askew Department of Government presents the Seligman First Amendment Lecture Series. On Wednesday, Feb. 15 Dr. Mark Graber presents, "Talking Insurrection." The reception is 5:30 p.m. and the lecture begins at 6 p.m. at Voices of Pensacola, 117 E. Government St. For more information, visit uwf.edu/seligman.

TABLE TALKS AT THE TRUST Join the Historic Trust for a monthly lunch and learn series on the third Wednesday of the month at the Voices of Pensacola Multicultural Center, located at 117 E. Government St., from noon1 p.m. The program is free—just bring your lunch and enjoy a casual opportunity to learn about a variety of topics. For more information, please email hparchives@uwf.edu or call (850) 595-5985, ext. 125. The next date is Feb. 15 with Carter Quina about architecture and historic preservation in Pensacola.

INFERNO BURLESQUE AT VINYL MUSIC

HALL Burlesque show is 7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 17 at Vinyl Music Hall, 2 S. Palafox. Tickets are $25. Visit vinylmusichall.com for details.

HOLD ME UP HOLY GHOST FLIGHT 747 The comedy gospel play from Leroy Williams comes to Pensacola High Auditorium, 500 W. Maxwell St.

ALL THAT WAS BRIGHT The latest exhibit at UWF TAG features work from Basqo Bim, Jacob Reptile and Jane Tardo. Exhibit will be up through March 2. TAG is located in the UWF Center for Fine and Performing Arts, 11000 University Parkway, Bldg. 82.

STEAM On view at Pensacola Museum of Art through April 9, the STEAM Exhibition is a community-centered, educational experience engaging contemporary art with science and new technologies. Artwork on display investigates concepts related to the environment, biology, digital interfaces and speculative fictions/imagined futures. Exhibiting artists challenge narratives of human and non-human ecologies, more-than-human relations and entangled response-abilities, as well as offer exciting insights into transdisciplinary processes. The main focus of the exhibition centers around the idea of ecosystems as a metaphor for critical thought. Visit the exhibit at PMA, 407 S. Jefferson St. Visit pensacolamuseum.org for details.

69TH ANNUAL YOUTH ART FOCUS The Pensacola Museum of Art, in partnership with the PMA Guild and Escambia County Public Schools, is proud to present the 69th Annual Youth Art Focus exhibition, showcasing artwork from across the Escambia County School District. The exhibition serves as a celebration of the strong artistic achievements of K-12 students and thei r teachers. The exhibit is on view Jan. 20-Feb. 26.

Tired of suffering from droopy eyelids?  Uplift your eyelids with the once daily eye drop, Upneeq. Call now to schedule your appointment with the eye care specialists at Terrezza Optical: 850-434-2060

a lawyer who is a former Merril Lynch stock broker.

a&e happenings

Visit the exhibit at PMA, 407 S. Jefferson St. Visit pensacolamuseum.org for details.

LOST PENSACOLA EXHIBIT "Lost Pensacola" is a poster exhibit that examines lost icons from Pensacola's past by Joe Vinson. Voices of Pensacola, 117 E. Government St.

SUDDENLY AMERICAN: A MEETING OF HERITAGE AND COUNTRY This exhibit looks at the transition of Florida from a Spanish territory to an American region, which formally occurred in 1821. Florida's embattled history dates back much farther than 1821. From refusing independence during the American Revolution to wanting their own freedom in 1810, Florida loved to cause problems. The United States eyed the region early on, using the Seminole Wars as an excuse to seize territory before turning to diplomatic means to acquire Florida. The Adams-Onis Treaty, debated and initially agreed upon in 1819, resulted in Spain ceding control of East Florida to the United States. At the same time, Spain also agreed to give up all claims on West Florida, in essence giving the entire Florida territory over to the United States. Ratified in 1821, the treaty was cause for celebration in Pensacola, the capital of West Florida, as it officially became part of America. On view at Pensacola Museum of History through Dec. 2023. Visit historicpensacola.org for details.

TEXTILES OF THE TIMES: REGENCY

ERA

exhibit at the Pensacola Museum of History looks at a day in the life of a Regency-era Pensacolian through fashion and garment use. Drawing on historical documentation of stores known to have operated on Palafox, inside this recreation of a seamstress shop visitors will be able to explore the dress of yesteryear. On view at the Pensacola Museum of History through June 2023. Visit historicpensacola.org for details.

FOOD + DRINKS

FIVE SISTERS CELEBRATES BLACK

HISTORY MONTH Visit Five Sisters Blues

Café, 421 W. Belmont St. during the month of February to celebrate Black History Month. Each week will feature a Black culinary innovator who, through their contributions to the food industry, changed the landscape of the culinary world. All features will be available at both lunch and dinner service.

Through Sunday, Feb. 12

•Innovator: Thomas Downing: Oyster King of New York

Featured Dish: Oyster Pan Roast

Monday, Feb. 13–Sunday, Feb. 19

•Innovator: Leah Chase: Queen of Creole Cuisine

Featured Dish: Crawfish Étouffée

Monday, Feb. 20–Sunday, Feb. 26

•Innovator: Edna Lewis: Grande Dame of Southern Cooking

Featured Dish: Hoppin' John

Through the Month of February

Featured Dish: Boiled Peanuts

•Innovator: Nathan "Nearest" Green: The Original Jack Daniels

Featured Drinks: Nearest's Old Fashioned and Uncle's Kentucky Mule

DINNER AND AN ARIA Enjoy dinner at Jackson's Steakhouse, 400 S. Palafox, an get serenaded by Pensacola Opera with special seatings at 5 and 7:30 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 9. Call 469-9898 for reservations.

CHARCUTERIE NIGHT AT BODACIOUS

Learn to prepare a charcuterie tray with Bodacious chefs 6 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 9, at Bodacious, 407-D S. Palafox. Tickets are $65. Visit bodaciousshops.com to reserve your spot.

BAKING FUN-DE-MENTALS: DECORATING

Class is 6-8 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 9, at Pensacola Cooks, located at 4051 Barrancas Ave. Cost is $50 per student. Visit facebook.com/pensacolacooks for details and a signup link.

DINNER TO DIE FOR VALENTINE'S MUR -

DER MYSTERY A dinner murder mystery at Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. 6 p.m. Friday, Feb. 10, Saturday, Feb. 12, and Tuesday, Feb. 14. Tickets are $65 and include a choice of two entrees. Visit sevillequarter.com for details.

brews, live music and sut-shi food truck. Sign up for the battle at coastalcounty.com.

COUPLES COOK: EVERYTHING CHOCOLATE Class is 7-9 p.m. Friday, Feb. 10 at Pensacola Cooks, 4051 Barrancas Ave. Cost is $85 per couple. Visit facebook.com/pensacolacooks for details.

CRAVIN ASIAN: SUSHI SKILLS Class is 7-9 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 11 at Pensacola Cooks, 4051 Barrancas Ave. Cost is $50 per students. Visit facebook.com/pensacolacooks

CCB NOT SO NEWLYWED GAME Just how well do you know your partner? Find out at Coastal County Brewing, 3041 E. Olive Rd. 4-6 p.m. Feb. 11. Details at coastalcounty.com.

SUPER BOWL WATCH PARTY AT PERFECT PLAIN Watch party is 5:30-9:30 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 12 at Perfect Plain Brewing Co., 50 E. Garden St. Visit facebook.com/perfectplainbrewingco for details.

SUPER BOWL PIZZA PARTY At Odd Colony, 260 N. Palafox starting at 4 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 12. Visit facebook.com/oddcolony for details.

CCB SUPER BOWL WATCH PARTY Watch the big game 5-10 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 12 at Coastal County Brewing, 3041 E. Olive Rd.

The period between 1811-1820 is historically defined as the Regency Period. This

DRESS MAKING

•Innovator: George Washington Carver: Prince of Peanuts

CCB PICKUP LINE BATTLE Test your pickup lines at Coastal County Brewing, 3041 E. Olive Rd. 7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 10 with specialty

for more listings visit inweekly.net

free will astrology

WEEK OF FEBRUARY 9

ARIES (MARCH 21-APRIL 19): During my quest for advice that might be helpful to your love life, I plucked these words of wisdom from author Sam Kean—"Books about relationship talk about how to 'get' the love you need, how to 'keep' love, and so on. But the right question to ask is, 'How do I become a more loving human being?'" In other words, Aries, here's a prime way to enhance your love life—be less focused on what others can give you and more focused on what you can give to others. Amazingly, that's likely to bring you all the love you want.

TAURUS (APRIL 20-MAY 20): You have the potential to become even more skilled at the arts of kissing and cuddling and boinking than you already are. How? Here are some possibilities. 1. Explore fun experiments that will transcend your reliable old approaches to kissing and cuddling and boinking. 2. Read books to open your mind. I like Margot Anand's "The New Art of Sexual Ecstasy." 3. Ask your partner(s) to teach you everything about what turns them on. 4. Invite your subconscious mind to give you dreams at night that involve kissing and cuddling and boinking. 5. Ask your lover(s) to laugh and play and joke as you kiss and cuddle and boink.

GEMINI (MAY 21-JUNE 20): You are an Italian wolf searching for food in the Apennine Mountains. You're a red-crowned crane nesting in a wetland in the Eastern Hokkaido region of Japan. You're an olive tree thriving in a salt marsh in southern France, and you're a painted turtle basking in a pool of sunlight on a beach adjoining Lake Michigan. And much, much more. What I'm trying to tell you, Gemini, is that your capacity to empathize is extra strong right now. Your smart heart should be so curious and open that you will naturally feel an instinctual bond with many life forms, including a wide array of interesting humans. If you're brave, you will allow your mind to expand to experience telepathic powers. You will have an unprecedented knack for connecting with simpatico souls.

CANCER (JUNE 21-JULY 22): My Cancerian friend Juma says, "We have two choices at all times—creation or destruction. Love creates

By Rob Brezsny

and everything else destroys." Do you agree? She's not just talking about romantic love, but rather love in all forms, from the urge to help a friend, to the longing to seek justice for the dispossessed, to the compassion we feel for our descendants. During the next three weeks, your assignment is to explore every nuance of love as you experiment with the following hypothesis—'To create the most interesting and creative life for yourself, put love at the heart of everything you do.'

LEO (JULY 23-AUG. 22): I hope you get ample chances to enjoy deep soul kisses in the coming weeks. Not just perfunctory lip-to-lip smooches and pecks on the cheeks, but full-on intimate sensual exchanges. Why do I recommend this? How could the planetary positions be interpreted to encourage a specific expression of romantic feeling? I'll tell you, Leo—The heavenly omens suggest you will benefit from exploring the frontiers of wild affection. You need the extra sweet, intensely personal communion that comes best from the uninhibited mouth-to-mouth form of tender sharing. Here's what Leo poet Diane di Prima said—"There are as many kinds of kisses as there are people on earth, as there are permutations and combinations of those people. No two people kiss alike—no two people fuck alike—but somehow the kiss is more personal, more individualized than the fuck."

VIRGO (AUG. 23-SEPT. 22): Borrowing the words of poet Oriah from her book "The Dance: Moving to the Deep Rhythms of Your Life," I've prepared a love note for you to use as your own this Valentine season. Feel free to give these words to the person whose destiny needs to be woven more closely together with yours. Oriah writes, "Don't tell me how wonderful things will be someday. Show me you can risk being at peace with the way things are right now. Show me how you follow your deepest desires, spiraling down into the ache within the ache. Take me to the places on the earth that teach you how to dance, the places where you can risk letting the world break your heart."

LIBRA (SEPT. 23-OCT. 22): Libran author Walter Lippman wrote, "The emotion of love is not self-sustaining; it endures only when lov -

ers love many things together, and not merely each other." That's great advice for you during the coming months. I suggest that you and your allies—not just your romantic partners, but also your close companions—come up with collaborative projects that inspire you to love many things together. Have fun exploring and researching subjects that excite and awaken and enrich both of you.

SCORPIO (OCT. 23-NOV. 21): Scorpio writer Paul Valéry wrote, "It would be impossible to love anyone or anything one knew completely. Love is directed towards what lies hidden in its object." My challenge to you, Scorpio, is to test this hypothesis. Do what you can to gain more in-depth knowledge of the people and animals and things you love. Uncover at least some of what's hidden. All the while, monitor yourself to determine how your research affects your affection and care. Contrary to what Valéry said, I'm guessing this will enhance and exalt your love.

that are most important for you to hear right now. They are from poet Rainer Maria Rilke (translated by Stephen Mitchell)—"For one human being to love another human being—that is perhaps the most difficult task that has been entrusted to us, the ultimate task, the final test and proof, the work for which all other work is merely preparation."

AQUARIUS (JAN. 20-FEB. 18): To get the most out of upcoming opportunities for intimacy, intensify your attunement to and reverence for your emotions. Why? As quick and clever as your mind can be, sometimes it neglects to thoroughly check in with your heart. And I want your heart to be wildly available when you get ripe chances to open up and deepen your alliances. Study these words from psychologist Carl Jung—"we should not pretend to understand the world only by the intellect; we apprehend it just as much by feeling. Therefore, the judgment of the intellect is, at best, only the half of truth, and must, if it be honest, also come to an understanding of its inadequacy."

SAGITTARIUS (NOV. 22-DEC. 21): In his book "Unapologetically You," motivational speaker Steve Maraboli writes, "I find the best way to love someone is not to change them, but instead, help them reveal the greatest version of themselves." That's always good advice, but I believe it should be your inspirational axiom in the coming weeks. More than ever, you now have the potential to forever transform your approach to relationships. You can shift away from wanting your allies to be different from what they are and make a strong push to love them just as they are.

CAPRICORN (DEC. 22-JAN. 19): I analyzed the astrological omens. Then I scoured the internet, browsed through 22 books of love poetry, and summoned memories of my best experiences of intimacy. These exhaustive efforts inspired me to find the words of wisdom

PISCES (FEB. 19-MARCH 20): "In love there are no vacations. Love has to be lived fully with its boredom and all that." Author and filmmaker Marguerite Duras made that observation, and now I convey it to you—just in time for a phase of your astrological cycle when boredom and apathy could and should evolve into renewed interest and revitalized passion. But there is a caveat—if you want the interest and passion to rise and surge, you will have to face the boredom and apathy; you must accept them as genuine aspects of your relationship; you will have to cultivate an amused tolerance of them. Only then will they burst in full glory into renewed interest and revitalized passion.

THIS WEEK'S HOMEWORK: Name one thing you could do to express your love more practically. newsletter.freewillastrology.com {in}

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freewillastrology@freewillastrology.com

Rob Brezsny © Copyright 2023

The heavenly omens suggest you will benefit from exploring the frontiers of wild affection.

news of the weird

AWESOME! Jean Merritt of Philadelphia has a special knack for spreading goodwill. She writes letters. According to Philadelphia magazine, Merritt solicits mailing addresses and then responds with a handwritten ("in meticulous cursive") letter on captivating stationery. Her missive to reporter Victor Fiorillo mentioned that she has an overabundance of writing papers and postcards. "I've been writing letters since I was a little girl, and never stopped," Merritt said. Along with requested letters, she writes to people in nursing homes through Letters Against Isolation and to people in prisons. "My mother collected stationery, and I'm still using the stationery I found in her house when she died in 2011. ... I see stationery on clearance, and I can't resist it." Sadly, she said most people don't write her back. But, she noted, "Doing this is also just really good for my brain."

INEXPLICABLE During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, when students in Harvey (Illinois) School District 152 were learning remotely, the district provided meals that families could pick up. According to WGN-TV, food service worker Vera Liddell, 66, allegedly helped herself to some of that food—to be specific, 11,000 cases of chicken wings. Liddell worked for the district for more than a decade. A business manager uncovered the plot during a routine audit, finding "individual invoices signed by Liddell for massive quantities of chicken wings, an item that was never served to students because they contain bones," prosecutors said. Liddell would place the orders, then pick up the food in a district van. They didn't reveal what Liddell did with the $1.5 million worth of wings. She was charged with theft.

•An unnamed 27-year-old man was arrested on Jan. 27 in Seattle after a homeowner returned to her house to find him in her bathroom, filling the tub with water. KOMO-TV reported that when police arrived, they discovered a smashed window and the burglar inside, "clothed but very wet, and the bathtub was full of water," reports said. The intruder would not provide a motive for his strange break-in and was charged with residential burglary.

SUSPICIONS CONFIRMED Varsity basketball coach Jahmal Street and assistant coach Arlisha Boykins were fired from their positions at Churchland High School in Portsmouth, Virginia, after Boykins, 22, came off the bench as a sub in a Jan. 21 girls' JV game, The Washington Post reported. The girl who was unavailable for the game was 13 years old. As a result of the incident, the team's remaining games were canceled. Churchland investigated and held meetings with players and parents. "Coaches always preach to kids about integrity ... so I was just shocked," the father of the absent player said. He said his daughter will not attend Churchland next year.

UNCLEAR ON THE CONCEPT Musa Hasahya

Kasera, 68, has a problem, but he admits it stems from his own irresponsibility, Yahoo! News reported. The eastern Ugandan man has 12 wives,

By the Editors at Andrews McMeel

102 children and 578 grandchildren. "At first it was a joke," he said, "but now this has its problems. ... Two of my wives left because I could not afford the basics like food, education, clothing." Most of the family live in a house with a rusting corrugated iron roof on a mere 2 acres of land. "I can only remember the name of my first and the last born, but some of the children, I can't recall their names," Kasera lamented. Now his wives are using contraception; "I have learnt from my irresponsible act of producing so many children that I can't look after," he said. Horse, meet barn door.

AMERICANS ABROAD American animal rights activist Alicia Day, 34, was arrested in Moscow, Russia, on Feb. 1, according to Reuters, after she paraded a calf through Red Square, shouting "Animals are not food!" In a Russian court, she was fined 20,000 rubles ($285) and sentenced to 13 days of "administrative arrest." Although Day is in Russia on a tourist visa, she explained in court that she had a driver bring the calf to Red Square so she could "show it a beautiful place in our beautiful country."

•A 34-year-old California man was arrested in Florence, Italy, on Jan. 26 after he drove his rented Fiat onto the Ponte Vecchio, a stone bridge dating from 1345 that spans the Arno River and is now a pedestrian walkway and shopping destination. SF Gate reported that the unnamed driver told police he couldn't find parking and didn't realize he was on the historic bridge. He was fined about 500 euros.

AWWWWWW The Rhode Island Department of Health played along with the Cumberland, Rhode Island, police department after it received a request from a little girl for DNA testing on a partially eaten cookie and some gnawedon carrot sticks, the Associated Press reported. She was hoping for a conclusive match for Santa Claus, but alas, the department said it was unable to "definitively confirm or refute the presence of Santa" in her home. However, it did find DNA closely matching Rangifer tarandus, or reindeer, on the carrots.

POLICE REPORT Murphy the ape statue was an "icon" at Design Emporium Antiques in Kensington, Maryland—until he was stolen in the wee hours of Jan. 4, the New York Post reported. Murphy, made of cast iron and weighing 200 pounds, was hurriedly loaded into the bed of an "older model Chevrolet Colorado Z71," authorities said, as seen on a surveillance video. The suspect "pulled right up and had the bolt cutters ready" to cut the cable securing the sculpture. Shop owner Kristina Jamgochian said people would take selfies with Murphy. "It's my business and I feel violated," she said. A $10,000 reward awaits anyone who helps recover the gorilla. {in}

LOST PENSACOLA