Inweekly Jan. 11, 2024

SA VE DATHE TE S

A YEAR IN PREVIEW CALENDAR

Independent News | January 11, 2024 | Volume 25 | Number 1

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winners & losers

outtakes

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news 6, 7

It has been a great ride for me.

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feature

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publisher Rick Outzen

graphic designer Tim Bednarczyk

editor & creative director Joani Delezen

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

contact us info@inweekly.net

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Independent News is published by Inweekly Media, Inc., P.O. Box 12082, Pensacola, FL 32591. (850)438-8115. All materials published in Independent News are copyrighted. © 2024 Inweekly Media, Inc. All rights reserved.

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winners & losers

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Aaron Watson / Courtesy Photo

Joseph Ladapo / Photo Courtesy of FDOH

winners

losers

AARON WATSON The Pensacola attorney has

JOSEPH LADAPO The Florida Surgeon General has called for a halt to the use of mRNA Covid-19 vaccines, citing "their failure to test for DNA integration with the human genome."

His assertion the shots could contaminate a patient's DNA has been debunked by public health experts, federal officials and the vaccine companies. Ashish Jha, the dean of Brown University's School of Public Health, told The Washington Post, "This idea of DNA fragments — it's scientific nonsense. People who understand how these vaccines are made and administered understand that there is no risk here." Florida lags behind most states in the percentage of its population that have received the booster dose, while Covid hospitalizations have been on the rise. The state had more than 8,000 Covid deaths last year.

been named the Grand Marshal for Pensacola's 35th annual Martin Luther King Jr. Parade on Monday, Jan. 15. Watson was named one of the Top 100 Black Lawyers in the U.S. by The National Trial Lawyers Association, a Florida Super Lawyer and Best of the Coast's Best Attorney and Rising Star (2013) by Inweekly.

© Ascension 2023. All rights reserved.

FLORIDIANS PROTECTING FREEDOM

The political committee that sponsored a state constitutional amendment to protect abortion rights has submitted enough valid petition signatures to get on the November ballot. The Florida Division of Elections website last Friday showed 910,946 valid signatures were tallied for the proposal. The next step is for the Florida Supreme Court to sign off on the ballot initiative's wording.

Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody is fighting to keep the measure off the ballot. She has raised concerns about the measure's use of the term "viability," arguing the term can have multiple meanings. The court has scheduled a Feb. 7 hearing on the abortion initiative.

HONG POTOMSKI Florida Blue has promoted the Inweekly Rising Star (2013) to market leader for the Pensacola region. Potomski will have responsibility for nine counties—Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa, Walton, Bay, Holmes, Washington, Jackson and Calhoun. In her new role, she will leverage her extensive background in health care strategy and operations to lead the development and execution of market strategies, establish and nurture key partnerships, and drive results to improve the overall health and well-being of the Panhandle.

SHANNON ENDERSON The Florida Crime

Prevention Association named Enderson, a member of the Escambia County Sheriff's Office Mounted Unit, its Volunteer of the Year. The annual awards recognize and honor law enforcement and community partners for their exceptional efforts toward preventing crime while educating and involving their communities in effective, long-lasting prevention strategies. Besides her many hours engaging with our community with the mounted unit, Enderson also takes part in the ECSO's Citizen's Law Enforcement Academy.

ESCAMBIA CHILD WELL-BEING The Florida Policy Institute published its annual Child Well-Being Index in late December. Out of Florida's 67 counties, Escambia ranked 56 overall, and Santa Rosa came in second. Escambia ranked 57 in education, with 69% of its eighth graders not proficient in math and 43% of its third graders not proficient in English language arts. The county ranked 58 in Family and Community, with 40.69% of children living in singleparent homes and 15.63 out of every 1,000 children with verified maltreatment. The Escambia Children's Trust has received $31.8 million in property taxes since the referendum passed in 2020. The voters are getting restless and want measurable outcomes. Unfortunately, children's needs have become secondary to egos, powerplays, and backroom maneuvers.

WAYNE LAPIERRE The National Rifle Association's CEO resigned Friday, citing health reasons. LaPierre, who has led the NRA since 1991, faces, along with three other NRA officials, a corruption trial in New York City. NRA membership has fallen to 4.2 million from nearly six million five years ago. Revenue is down 44% since 2016. The organization tried to file bankruptcy in Texas, but the judge dismissed the case. In Florida, the NRA has been one of the state's most influential lobbyists. inweekly.net

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outtakes

By Rick Outzen

MISSING FROM CLASS We all know Escambia County needs to improve its public school system. Escambia Children's Trust, area nonprofits and community leaders struggle with how to improve test scores and help our children graduate with the knowledge and skills to live productive lives.

We rush to implement new programs without thoroughly diagnosing the problems in our lowestperforming schools. We throw money at the problem, switch teachers, tweak the programming and throw up our hands when nothing works. We need more transparency and data to understand what's happening in our schools.

Last week, I found out more than 15,000 students in Escambia County missed 10% of their classroom time last school year, according to data provided by the Florida Department of Education.

The report revealed 15,376 students were chronic absentees as defined by the U.S. Department of Education, with Escambia County Acceleration Academy (92.1%), Pace Program (88.8%) and Achieve Academy at McMillan (83.7%) with the highest rates.

Among the county's five charter schools, Jackie Harris Preparatory Academy had 49.8% of its students missing 10% or more of their classes. Byrneville Elementary had 45.5% chronically absent.

What about the regular public schools?

Warrington (49.3%), Navy Point (50.4%) and O.J. Semmes (60.7%) were the three elementary schools with more than 49% of their students missing 10% or more days. Four of Escambia's eight middle schools had more than 40%: Ferry Pass (40.9%), Workman (46.1%), Beulah (46.5%) and Warrington (56.7%). The high schools did better, with only one, Pine Forest (45.7%) above 40%.

Overall, the middle schools have the most significant problem with attendance, with an average of 39% chronically absent. The elementary and high schools both average at 34%.

The Florida Department of Education tried to tackle chronic absence in 2017. It found that absentee rates typically dropped after kindergarten and through fifth grade. The rates significantly increase in middle and high school grades. However, our elementary and high schools have the same average rate.

According to FDOE's 2017 report, the more years students are chronically absent in the early years, the more at-risk they are for needing reading interventions by the end of the second grade.

Last year, only 44% of Escambia third graders scored on their grade level or higher in English Language Arts.

Chronic absence is also a proven warning signal for failing middle and high school courses and the likelihood to drop out. It's common sense that students only benefit from classroom instruction if they are in class. The majority of Escambia's middle schools are Cs and Ds. The county only has one A and one B high school.

These high absence rates have more than one cause. They may indicate deeper problems at home and in the community, such as financial hardships, food and housing insecurity, lack of health care access, transportation issues, domestic violence and abuse, and bullying.

The Escambia Children's Trust has received $30 million from taxpayers and is slated to get another $70 million over the next seven years. Its Needs Assessment Report lists chronic absences as one of its indicators to improve, but only four of its Out-of-School Time contracts have listed an improvement in school attendance among their goals.

In February, these providers will report their metrics. If they each hit these goals and served the number of students their proposals stated, 224 students would've improved their attendance, reducing the district's chronic absenteeism rate by only 1.45%. More needs to be done.

We need the school district to be more open with its data, so community leaders and others better understand why our children are struggling. I suspect chronic absenteeism is an indicator of deeper problems, but we need more information and analysis.

We also may need to bring in experts from outside the community to help us do the research and see if solutions that worked elsewhere fit our needs. Maybe we can get the Trust fund pilot programs to test the solutions.

Let's get started now. {in} rick@inweekly.net

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We need more transparency and data to understand what's happening in our schools.

January 11, 2024

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TOBACCO USE DECLINING

By Tom St. Myer The 2022 Community Health Needs Assessment Report identified overweight and obesity, mental health issues and substance abuse as the most important health issues in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties. Notably absent from that list was tobacco use.

Tobacco use ranked as a primary concern in every assessment through 2019 as local health care providers put plans in place to reduce its use. Its absence from the 2022 assessment signaled positive steps for a health community searching for similar results with other significant health concerns.

So, just how effective have the efforts been to reduce tobacco use in the two counties?

In 2022, the percentage of adults who are current smokers was 19.6% in Escambia and 19.4% in Santa Rosa, according to the Florida Department of Health. Those are marked reductions from 2014, when nearly 24% of Santa Rosa adults and 22% of Escambia adults smoked.

Both counties still top the state average by significant margins. The state average dropped under 15% by 2020 and has remained there. Florida ranks in the middle of the pack nationally but tops its three neighboring states in lowest average.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Georgia follows close behind, while Alabama and Mississippi hover around 20%.

Myriad factors contribute to the declining percentages in Florida, starting with increased costs for cigarettes. The average cost of a pack of cigarettes is $7.63—double what a pack of cigarettes cost 20 years ago and more than triple the cost in the 1990s. Factor in that the average daily smoker smokes 15 cigarettes a day, according to the American Lung Association, and the yearly cost for smoking tops $2,000 for Floridians.

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Another contributing factor to the decline in smoking is making Quit Now programs readily available both in person and virtually. Smokers have the traditional option to participate in small groups or learn how to quit from their homes through Tobacco Free Florida programs.

TOBACCO FREE FLORIDA

Established in 2007 and administered through the Florida Department of Health, Tobacco Free Florida was formed after voters overwhelmingly approved a state constitutional amendment that called for establishing a comprehensive tobacco education and use prevention program using a percentage of the state's tobacco settlement fund.

Tobacco Free Florida offers Quit Your Way tools and services, including 24/7 access to a coach and online resources to build personalized quit plans.

In January, the Tobacco Free Florida Area Health Education Center Cessation program launched Quit Smoking Now sessions in person and virtually across the state. Nicole Larson, tobacco program manager for West Florida Area Health Education Center, said the program consists of four weekly sessions, and each session lasts an hour. The sessions cover a variety of topics, including coping with withdrawal symptoms, managing addiction by anticipating triggers, overcoming cravings and preventing relapse.

The sessions cover all forms of tobacco.

Escambia County holds sessions 4-5 p.m.

Thursdays at the Fairfield Service Center, 1295 W. Fairfield Drive. Larson said the program includes four weeks of combination nicotine replacement therapy such as gum, patches or lozenges. The program entices smokers to participate in the sessions by offering Walmart gift cards ranging from $25 to $125. Participants

receive $25 gift cards for each of the first three sessions and a $50 gift card if they complete the fourth.

For tobacco users unwilling to commit to four sessions, the Area Health Education Center Network offers Tools to Quit, a one-time two-hour class where participants learn how to develop a successful quit program. Like the weekly groups, the one-time sessions address all forms of tobacco and offer free nicotine replacement therapy, educational materials, supplemental materials for quit day and followup support. Participants receive a $50 Walmart gift card.

"As a public health community, we are constantly looking for new and effective ways to help people make their quit journey a successful one."

Dr. Joseph A. Ladapo "No one should use tobacco or nicotine products. As a public health community, we are constantly looking for new and effective ways to help people make their quit journey a successful one," said Dr. Joseph A. Ladapo, state surgeon general and head of the Florida Department of Health. "Incentive programs like this can prove an effective way to reach more people ready for this kind of help, saving lives and improving health across our state."

Local efforts to curb tobacco use include the City of Pensacola adopting a tobacco-free park ordinance last year. Tobacco Free Florida commended the city for protecting public health by implementing the ordinance.

"This ordinance will protect our children's health, support tobacco users who want to quit,

and keep our community clean," Tobacco Free Florida stated.

The days of generations growing up with clouds of smoke hovering in public spaces are long gone. It is the same for the days of cigarette companies luring youths to smoke with magazine ads that depict smokers as cool. Antitobacco-use campaigns market just as aggressively as their counterparts, using traditional media and social media to warn of the dangers of tobacco use.

The CDC reports that tobacco use causes cancer, heart disease, stroke, lung diseases, diabetes, emphysema, and chronic bronchitis, among others, and increases the risk for tuberculosis, certain eye diseases, and immune system problems, including rheumatoid arthritis. Tobacco Free Florida reports cigarette smoking is responsible for 32,300 deaths every year in Florida alone and that for every person who dies, at least 30 people live with a serious smoking-related illness. If no one smoked, one out of three cancer deaths would be prevented.

The dangers of electronic cigarettes, or vaping, are not as defined, but their appeal undoubtedly contributes to the decline in tobacco use. On a positive note, Florida ties for fifth-lowest among states in e-cigarette use at 6.1%, according to United Health Foundation.

Still, studies show youths are turning to electronic vaping instead of traditional cigarettes for their nicotine fix. The percentage of youth in Escambia County that identify as current users of electronic vaping sits just above state levels at 15.8%, according to Tobacco Free Florida.

Juul, an e-cigarette company, was accused in a class action lawsuit of marketing their products to youth. In September 2022, the company agreed to distribute $438.5 million to 34 states and territories in the United States. Florida is among those states, and Escambia County Public Schools will receive $1.2 million.

Dr. Michael Blaha, director of clinical research at the Johns Hopkins Ciccarone Center for the Prevention of Heart Disease, cited three reasons that e-cigarettes appeal to teens. He said they believe vaping is less harmful than smoking. There is some validity to the belief that vaping exposes users to fewer chemicals than smoking cigarettes. Second, e-cigarettes cost less than traditional cigarettes, and third, with no smell, e-cigarettes are not as frowned upon by non-smokers.

So, what are the dangers of electronic vaping? The answer is a bit murky, but in February 2020, the CDC confirmed over 2,800 cases of e-cigarette or vaping use-associated lung injury and attributed 68 deaths to that condition.

"These cases appear to predominantly affect people who modify their vaping devices or use black market modified e-liquids," Blaha said. "This is especially true for vaping products containing THC." Blaha cautioned against using e-cigarettes.

He said, "You're exposing yourself to all kinds of chemicals that we don't yet understand and that are probably not safe." {in} inweekly.net

HERE WE GO AGAIN: 2024 FLORIDA LEGISLATIVE GUIDE The 2024 Florida legislative session opened Tuesday, Jan. 9. People wonder if Gov. Ron DeSantis, whose presidential campaign has been floundering, will have as much power over state lawmakers as in previous sessions.

Has the desire to please DeSantis finally waned?

While he believes DeSantis is a "very strong" governor, State Rep. Alex Andrade thinks lawmakers will have more conflicts with the governor about the budget.

"It's too early to predict, but I think there's a misconception that we're just rubber-stamping everything the governor does," Andrade said a week before the session convened. "And I think this year, you'll see examples where the legislature is absolutely a separate branch of government, separate, independent, and we're going to probably have some situations where that gets exhibited."

He added, "It'll be a good, healthy year in the legislature, and the budget will hopefully come out with something for everybody."

In Tallahassee, four Republican lawmakers represent Escambia and Santa Rosa counties and part of Okaloosa County—Sen. Doug Broxson and state Reps Andrade, Joel Rudman and Michelle Salzman.

Broxson represents Senate District 1, which covers Escambia and Santa Rosa counties and the northern part of Okaloosa County. As chairman of the Appropriations Committee, he is one of the most powerful lawmakers in Tallahassee.

Last year, he delivered significant funding to his district. Because he terms out of office this year, locals expect a repeat performance from Broxson this session. The heaviest lift might be getting approval for state funds to help demolish the old Baptist Hospital.

Salzman's House District 1 covers north Escambia County, dipping as far south as West Fairfield Drive. She chairs the Healthcare Regulation Subcommittee and serves on the Appropriations Committee, Health Care Appropriations Subcommittee, Health & Human Services Committee and Rules Committee.

Her most controversial legislation is HB 57, which would limit county commissioners' terms to eight years. HB 21 would set up how victims of the Dozier School for Boys could be compensated for the abuse they suffered at the state reform school. HB 891 would require more transparency from nursing home facilities, including reporting common ownerships they or their parent companies share. HB 1129 requires filters on tablets and smartphones to prevent the device from accessing or displaying material harmful to minors.

House District 2 Rep. Andrade represents south Escambia County, including Perdido Key and Pensacola, and south Santa Rosa County from Gulf Breeze to just west of Navarre. He serves as the chairman of the Infrastructure & Tourism Appropriations Subcommittee, which gives him a seat at the table when the final state budget is hammered out between the Senate and House.

Andrade has three bills that have caught our attention. HB 109 would allow municipalities to apply for the conversion of public schools within January 11, 2024

their boundaries to charter schools, which sets the stage for cities to assume control of public schools. HB 757 aims to make it easier for public figures to sue for defamation if an anonymous source is used and the statement is proven false.

Critics fear it may have a negative impact on investigative reporting. HB 759 places statewide restrictions on panhandling on roadways and near businesses under certain circumstances.

Dr. Joel Rudman represents District 3, which covers the rest of Santa Rosa County and the northern portion of Okaloosa County. He serves on the Commerce Committee and the subcommittees for Insurance & Banking, Joint Administrative Procedures, Healthcare Regulation, Higher Education Appropriations and Postsecondary Education & Workforce Subcommittee.

His HB 15 prevents an entertainment venue from canceling a contract because of the performer's use of social media or political affiliation.

HB 35 would make it illegal for businesses to refuse cash payments. HB 385 requires all court-approved plans for shared parental custody to include a list of "designated authorized locations" to hand off their children. The bill, known as Cassie Carli Law, is named for the Navarre woman who vanished two years ago following a scheduled custody exchange of her daughter at a restaurant parking lot.

BILLS TO WATCH

Jim Saunders put together The News Service of Florida's "10 Big Issues in the 2024 Session"* for its readers. When possible, we added the bill numbers so you can follow their progress through the various legislative committees on myfloridahouse.gov and flsenate.gov.

ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE As access to artificial intelligence continues to expand, lawmakers are expected to consider issues such as the use of the technology in political advertising. Bills (HB 919 and SB 850) would require disclaimers on political ads that include AI-generated content depicting people taking actions that did not really occur.

BUDGET Gov. Ron DeSantis has proposed a $114.4 billion budget for the 2024-2025 fiscal year, which will start July 1. DeSantis' proposal is a starting point as lawmakers negotiate a final spending plan. Among other things, DeSantis' proposal includes money to increase teacher salaries, continue Everglades restoration efforts and upgrade correctional facilities.

HEALTH CARE Senate President Kathleen Passidomo, R-Naples, has made a priority of passing two bills aimed at improving access to health care (SPB 7016) and spurring more health care innovation (SPB 701). The wide-ranging proposals include expanding residency programs to try to keep doctors in the state and taking steps to divert patients from emergency rooms.

HURRICANES During a November special session after Hurricane Idalia hit North Florida, lawmakers took several steps to help communities that sustained damage. But lawmakers likely

will continue to look at issues related to Idalia and 2022's Hurricane Ian, including effects on local governments and the agriculture industry.

INSURANCE During the past two years, lawmakers have passed major legislation to try to shore up the troubled property insurance industry. But they face pressure from homeowners who continue to see large rate increases or can't find coverage.

A series of bills (HB 565, HB 889, SB 604 and SB 1106) could effectively allow more people to get coverage through the state's Citizens Property Insurance Corp.

LABOR Following the lead of other states, the House has started moving forward with a proposal (HB 49) that would loosen regulations about the numbers of hours 16-year-old and 17-year-old youths can work. The proposal would roll back parts of a decades-old child labor law and prevent local governments from imposing restrictions.

PUBLIC SCHOOLS In another priority of Passidomo, the Senate could move quickly during the session to pass proposals about "deregulation" of public schools. SB 7000, SB 7002 and SB 7004 deal with what Passidomo described as cutting "red tape" on issues such as testing and accountability, financial requirements and personnel decisions.

SOCIAL MEDIA Saying recently that social media is having a "devastating effect on kids," House Speaker Paul Renner, R-Palm Coast, is expected to seek to place limits on children's access to social media sites (HB 207). Renner indicated one possibility could be to require age verification in areas such as pornography. A Senate bill (SB 454) includes age-verification requirements.

TAXES Tied to his budget proposal, DeSantis has called for $1.1 billion in tax breaks, including holding six sales-tax "holidays" on such things as back-to-school items. The plan also would provide $409 million to give a one-year exemption on certain taxes, fees and assessments on property insurance policies.

UNIVERSITY AND COLLEGE STUDENTS House and Senate Republicans have filed bills that could financially penalize state university and college students who back "foreign terrorist" organizations, such as Hamas. For example, the bills (HB 465 and SB 470) call for such students to be required to pay out-of-state tuition rates, which are higher than in-state rates. *The News Service of Florida published the article on Tuesday, Jan. 2.

LATE ADDITION

TRANSGENDER RIGHTS Transgender rights are under attack again. On Thursday, Jan. 4, Rep. Dean Black, R-Jacksonville, filed HB 1233. The bill seeks to change the legal definition of sex and gender to exclude trans identities. All vital statistics collected by the state must match a person's

sex assigned at birth. Among its other provisions, driver's licenses and other IDs must show the sex assigned at birth, and insurers must include "conversion therapy" in all Florida policies.

WAYS TO KEEP UP

If you want to stay engaged during the 2024 session, we recommend these resources.

KIMBERLY LEONARD'S FLORIDA PLAYBOOK FOR POLITICO A digital newsletter that is a must-read briefing on what's hot, crazy or shady about Florida politics. politico.com/newsletters/floridaplaybook FLORIDA POLITICS A statewide media platform covering campaigns, elections, government, policy and lobbying. floridapolitics.com PROGRESS FLORIDA A nonprofit organization promoting progressive values through digital organizing, media outreach and collaborating with Florida's leading progressive organizations. progressflorida.org LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF FLORIDA A nonpartisan political organization that publishes regular "Capitol Reports." lwvfl.org/capitol-reports/ EQUALITY FLORIDA The most prominent civil rights organization dedicated to securing full equality for Florida's LGBTQ community. Equality Florida tracks bills targeting LGBTQ Floridians. eqfl.org

HOW TO CONTACT YOUR REPRESENTATIVES SEN. DOUG BROXSON facebook.com/dougbroxsonfl •broxson.doug.web@flsenate.gov •(850) 595-1036 •418 W. Garden St., Pensacola, FL 32502 REP. ALEX ANDRADE facebook.com/votealexandrade •alex.andrade@myfloridahouse.gov •(850) 595-0467 •226 S. Palafox, Ste. 401B, Pensacola, FL 32502 REP. JOEL RUDMAN facebook.com/docrudmanforhouse •joel.rudman@myfloridahouse.gov •(850) 936-6012 •2045 Fountain Professional Court, Ste. D, Navarre, FL 32566 REP. MICHELLE SALZMAN facebook.com/thepeoplesconservative •michelle.salzman@myfloridahouse.gov •(850) 471-0624 •3212 S. Highway 95-A, Cantonment, FL 32533 {in} 7

David Stafford / Photo Courtesy of escambiavotes.com

STAFFORD'S ADVICE Last month, Escambia County residents were surprised to read that Supervisor of Elections David Stafford would step down Jan. 15 to become a regional election security advisor with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA). Since World War II, Escambia County has had only three election supervisors—Joe Oldmixon, Bonnie Jones and Stafford.

When Stafford ran in 2004, he was 34, married with two young boys and had worked for U.S. Senator Connie Mack, Congressman Joe Scarborough and MSNBC. "When I worked for Senator Mack and then Congressman Scarborough, I got a taste of working for an elected official, but always knew that I saw public service, particularly elected office, as something that I likely would try to do at some point," Stafford said in an interview after making the announcement.

The 2004 race was crowded with four Republican candidates and two Democrats. Two candidates, David Stevens and Lynn Kowalchyk, worked for Jones.

"I actually walked into the elections office

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on the final day of qualifying and filed my paperwork," Stafford said. "It was a real sprint because the time between qualifying ending and the primary was only a couple of months."

He won the GOP primary with 29% of the votes cast and defeated Democrat Bill Farinas in the general election by more than 20,000 votes. He was never seriously challenged after that election.

"Before I took office, I immediately went to both David and Lynn and asked if they would stay," Stafford said.

"To their credit, or maybe they regret it, I convinced them to stay, and they were both central members, particularly early on."

He also credited Jones with making the transition smooth. "She welcomed me in after I won the election. She invited me to go to our state association meeting, and I got to first meet a lot of my future colleagues and get a taste of the subject matter and whatnot. She couldn't have been more gracious. I think we even had a small municipal election that happened during that period, and she welcomed me in and gave me access to staff. She was great."

His mentors were other supervisors of elections—Okaloosa's Pat Hollarn, Orange's Bill Cowles and Pasco's Kurt Browning. They encouraged him to get involved in the state association, of which he later served as president.

He also served as legislative co-chair of the National Association of Election Officials and was named to the Election Center's "Hall of Fame" in 2022.

"We are blessed in Florida with having probably one of the best state associations for election officials in the country," Stafford said. "We have our own certification program for supervisors."

Since 2017, Stafford has served on the sector's Government Coordinating Council as one of nine local election officials nationally.

He was a member of its executive committee for four years and received the 2021 "National Risk Management Center Partnership Award" from CISA for his work on election security and

resilience. His expertise and experience helped him land the new job.

Gov. DeSantis will appoint someone to the post who will manage the 2024 election cycle.

While Stafford recommended his deputy Sonya Daniel get the appointment, the governor doesn't have to accept that recommendation.

Other names being circulated in the community are former State Rep. Dave Murzin, former Pensacola Mayor Grover Robinson and Escambia County Commissioner Robert Bender. Whoever is appointed will face an election this year.

What's his advice for the next election supervisor?

"We tried to take a voter-centric approach," Stafford said. "Put yourself in the role of the voter to try to improve customer service. We're in the customer service business; our customers are the voters. Try to make things better and easier, more efficient for the voter. At the same time, maintaining that security is important because it's always the balance. We have to be secure. We also have to be accessible."

He added, "And then hire good people and let 'em do their jobs."

ABSENTEEISM PLAGUE The News Service

of Florida reported that Florida lawmakers may address chronic absenteeism among public school students during the 2024 session. Data collected by the Florida Department of Education (FDOE) showed that 20.9% of students in public schools, including students in adult education courses, missed 21 or more school days during the 2021-2022 academic year.

In measuring student attendance, the department looks at students who miss 21 or more days and students who are absent for 10% or more of the academic year. The 2021-2022 data showed that 32.3%, or more than 1 million students, were absent for 10% or more of the year.

Inweekly requested from FDOE the 2022-23 attendance records for Escambia County Public Schools. The report revealed that 21.1%, or more than 9,600 students, missed 21 or more days, and 35.9% missed 10% or more of the year.

The FDOE figures showed that Escambia's highest-performing elementary schools had the

least problem with students missing 21 or more school days: Pensacola Beach 3%, N.B. Cook 5%, Cordova Park 8% and A.K. Suter 11%.

Navy Point Elementary had 30% of its students miss 21 or more days, O.J. Semmes 33% and Jackie Harris Preparatory Academy 35.3%.

The Escambia Children's Trust awarded the Boys & Girls Club of the Emerald Coast $2.1 million over three years to improve the school attendance of 75% of its participants as part of its four goals, according to its contract. The club's Montclair program will need to show improvement in the school's 29% rate of students missing 21 or more days and its 48.5% of students missing 10% or more of the school year.

Three other Out-of-School programs funded by the Trust have school attendance among their measured outcomes. The Dixon School's summer program will increase fall school attendance by 5%. Epps Christian Center will decrease absentee rates by 50%. James B. Washington Education & Sports will improve attendance by 80%.

The providers will issue their final reports for their first year in February.

Last month at the House Education Quality Subcommittee, Hedy Chang, the founder and executive director of Attendance Works, said, "If you are chronically absent, it actually predicts higher suspension rates, lower achievement in middle school and a greater likelihood to drop out of high school."

After hearing from experts, House Education Quality Chairwoman Dana Trabulsy, R-Fort Pierce, said, "If we are not helping children to realize that school is important, then how are they going to realize that work is important?

How are they going to show up to work? These are our future leaders, and we need to invest more in this important topic."

SHERIFF LOOKS AHEAD Escambia County

Sheriff Chip Simmons is looking to fully implement the Real-Time Crime Center in 2024.

The renovations have been completed, and the equipment is being installed.

"We've moved our entire intelligence unit down to the Real-Time Crime Center," Sheriff

inweekly.net

Simmons said. "We're looking at getting some of the video wall up and running, and even then, it's just going to be the beginning of it.

Then we're going to start incorporating more and more camera feeds into this specific system so that we'll be more proactive in regards to law enforcement."

He added, "We want people to know that, 'Hey, if you commit a crime, there's a good chance you're going to get caught.'"

The sheriff said his agency has been concentrating on fentanyl and working with other agencies on large investigations. In August, Attorney General Ashley Moody held a press conference in Pensacola to highlight that our area had been hit hardest by the opioid and fentanyl crisis.

The state average per capita opioid-related death rate is 21 deaths per 100,000 residents. In Northwest Florida, the per capita opioid-related death rate is 42 deaths per 100,000. Of the 349 opioid-related deaths in the district, 60% involved fentanyl.

"We're all in. I told our guys, 'Stop at nothing to get this fentanyl off the street.' It takes opioids to another level, and it's so deadly," Simmons said. "Fentanyl's still on the top of our minds. It's still a priority for us."

Sheriff Simmons has been impressed with ShotSpotter technology, which was funded by state dollars secured by State Rep. Alex Andrade and has been operational since November.

"We've got dozens and dozens of shot indications, only one of which has been someone shot in anger or someone actually was shot. We ended up making arrests in that case," he said.

"Cops are, by nature, skeptical. You've been in business in government long enough that the salesman always tries to sell you something, and it's supposed to work so great, and you're like, ah, does it work that well?" Simmons said.

"Our guys are telling me it works very well.

It'll tell you how many shots have been fired. It'll tell us the area," he said. "It is a very expensive program, and we have to determine whether this program is worth the expense of having this or is the Real-Time Crime Center enough."

Sheriff Simmons added he will have three

January 11, 2024

training academies that will come out this year alone. "We'll end up putting about 70 deputies on the street in 2024. That's going to give us probably the largest number we've ever had at the sheriff's office."

SENSE OF URGENCY Pensacola Mayor D.C.

Reeves shared that his State of the City talks aren't only for the audience in the room. He is sending a signal to city employees.

"Sometimes Nick Saban at a press conference isn't talking to the media; he's talking to the team," the former sports reporter said. "I think it's the same concept here. We've certainly increased the urgency around here. We've had a lot of projects going."

The mayor isn't looking for more new projects.

"We found a lot of stuff to do, a lot of important things. And I don't want those things to go unexecuted because we are looking for more things."

If new opportunities arise, he will explore them, but he knows execution is critical during his second year in office, such as the demolition of the old Baptist Hospital, construction of American Magic's facility at the port, leadership training and securing funding for airport terminal expansion.

"It doesn't mean we're going to just refuse to look at anything, but I think if we just took the list of those things that we've talked about between Baptist, American Magic, all the training and development inside the building, we have so many different things that we have going," the mayor said.

"It was great in year one of four to start all of those things, get 'em going," Reeves added. "We should be judged now this year on how many of these things did we move forward and how many things did we bring to completion?"

2024 DISTRICT 1 PROJECTS Escambia

County District 1 Commissioner Jeff Bergosh discussed with Inweekly the various projects in his district, which stretches from Beulah to Perdido Key. The projects include the Beulah Master Plan, Longleaf Drive, Lillian Highway boat ramp project and purchasing additional beach access on Perdido Key.

Beulah Master Plan: "We've already had one of our charrettes that was very well attended.

We're going to have several more of those, and we're going to bring that one in for a landing in the August-September timeframe."

Longleaf Drive: "We're going to have sidewalks on both sides and totally redo that road with a new light at Pine Forest."

Lillian Highway Boat Ramp: "It's a $6.5 million project, which we've already broken ground on. The 39 acres are going to be a fantastic amenity with kayak launches, traditional boat launches, 60 parking spots and a camping area."

Perdido Key: "The board has approved $3.6 million for us to purchase additional beach access at Perdido Key in District 1. We're aggressively looking at a couple parcels there. We're looking for more parking out there, and we're in the process of completing the multi-use path, which goes from the Alabama border all the way to the Theo Baars Bridge."

BAIT & SWITCH The Escambia Children's

Trust personnel committee voted Wednesday, Jan. 3, to give Lindsey Cannon, its new executive director, an annual salary of $125,000– $5,000 more than the job posting.

The agenda posted online did not include the proposed contract change or any backup documentation. It only stated: "Executive Director Agreement Review," giving the public no notice of the possible salary increase. The minutes, which were posted soon after the committee meeting adjourned, stated that Stephanie White made the motion to increase the salary to $125K, and Tori Woods seconded the motion: "All were in favor to accept the requested changes."

The minutes do not list any other attendees except Dr. Rex Northup, White and Woods. The trio were part of the majority that voted to hire Cannon at the Dec. 20 special board meeting.

Last month's public meeting did not mention increasing the salary offered, although Inweekly has been told Cannon was privately assured she would get the increase.

Dr. Northrup justified the pay increase to WEAR-TV, saying the Trust had budgeted to

pay moving expenses for the new executive director. However, the other finalist was also an Escambia County resident who would not have required moving expenses.

A late December email from board attorney Meredith Bush to Tammy Abrams, the interim executive director, stated that the pay increase demand came from Cannon. Bush wrote, "…the salary is a dealbreaker for her, so the sooner we can have a meeting, the better."

Bush also attached a draft employment agreement "to include as backup to the personnel committee agenda." However, the draft was not posted online with the agenda or minutes.

The Trust board met at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 10, after this issue was sent to the printer.

To find out how the board voted on Cannon's employment contract, check out ricksblog.biz.

DAVIS LEAVING Santa Rosa Island Authority

executive director Leigh Davis will not seek a renewal of her employment contract, according to county sources. Her contract ends in April.

In April 2021, Davis took over for longtime SRIA Executive Director Paolo Ghio after he retired. She had spent the previous three decades working for the Florida Legislature, the Florida Association of Counties, and as Leon County's Department of Parks and Recreation director.

STARTING A BUSINESS You have an idea for a business. Develop your business idea with the Florida Small Business Development Center's (SBDC) "Starting a Business" workshop 9 a.m.-noon Friday, Jan. 19 n the fourth floor of the CO:LAB building at Greater Pensacola Chamber of Commerce, 418 W. Garden St. In this workshop, discuss the details of launching your new venture, including how to determine feasibility and legal structures, licensing and permitting, funding options for your business and basic marketing strategies to help you get started. The Registration fee is $50. To register, visit sbdc.uwf.edu and open "Training & Events." This event is resented by Christa Wilson the associate director of Florida SBDC at University of Wet Florida. Sponsored by Cadence Bank and Wells Fargo. {in}

9

010 1

inweekly.net

SA VE T DA HE TE S

A YEAR IN PREVIEW CALENDAR

Out with the old; in with the new. That's how we are starting off the year, and we hope you are, too. Because let's face it, 2023 was kind of a mess.

Sure, there were some bright moments, but for the most part, the past 12 months were a blur of doomscrolling, disappointments and dreary headlines. And even though we know 2024 is going to be exhausting, too—it's an election year, after all—we're still welcoming it with open arms and minds.

Around the Inweekly offices, we can't think of a better way to start planning a fresh year than by having a well-curated calendar as a guide. That's exactly why we put together this handy year in preview issue every January. From popular annual events to concerts and cultural performances, here's a snapshot of some upcoming local happenings you won't want to miss in 2024. {in}

January 11, 2024

11

Photo Courtesy of Pensacla Mardi Gras

Annual Festivals and Major Community Events MLK Day Parade

Jan. 15 facebook.com/mlkparadepensacola

Pensacola Ice Flyers 15th Anniversary Celebration Feb. 2-3 iceflyers.com

Pensacon: Pensacola Comic Con Feb. 23-25 pensacon.com

Pensacola VegFest March 23 pensacolavegfest.com

Blue Wahoos Home Opener April 5 bluewahoos.com

Pensacola Crawfish Festival April 26-28 fiestapensacola.org/crawfish-festival

Hangout Fest

May 17-19 hangoutmusicfest.com

P3 Comedy Fest

May 24-26 facebook.com/p3comedyfest

Grand Fiesta Parade May 31 fiestapensacola.org

PensaPride

June 15 facebook.com/pensapride

Pensacola Beach Air Show July 13 newsairshow.com 212 1

Photo Courtesy of Hangout Music Fest

Pensacola Seafood Festival Sept.27-29 fiestapensacola.org/seafood-festival

Stamped Film Festival Oct. 3-6 stampedfilmfest.com

Pensacola Interstate Fair Oct. 17-27 pensacolafair.com

Foo Foo Festival Oct. 31-Nov. 11 foofoofest.com

Great Gulfcoast Arts Festival Nov. 1-3 ggaf.org

Frank Brown Songwriters' Festival Nov. 7-17 fbisf.com

EntreCon

Nov. 13-14 entreconpensacola.com

MARDI GRAS PARADES AND EVENTS pensacolamardigras.com

Jan. 20 Kids and Kritter's Parade Jan. 20 Mall Ball Jan. 26 Mardi Gras Mambo featuring Flo Rida Jan. 27 Milton Parade Jan. 28 Paw-di Gras Feb. 3 Navarre Parade Feb. 9 Krewe of Lafitte Illuminated Parade Feb. 10 Pensacola Grand Mardi Gras Parade Feb. 11 Krewe of Wrecks Parade Feb. 13 Fat Tuesday Celebration

GALLERY NIGHT DATES AND THEMES gallerynightpensacola.org

Jan. 19 Lunar New Year Feb. 16 Art and Soul March 15 Dancin' in the Streets April 19 Earth Day/Vintage Market May 17 Navy Days June 21 Prismatic July 19 Palafox Chalk Walk Aug. 16 Car Show Sept. 20 Viva Pensacola Oct. 18 Fright Night Nov. 15 Festival of Living Art Dec. 20 Ugly Sweater Weather

SELECT CULTURAL PERFORMANCES

BALLET PENSACOLA balletpensacola.org

The Sleeping Beauty May 3-5

PENSACOLA OPERA pensacolaopera.com

Lucia di Lammermoor

Photo Courtesy of Pensacola Blue Wahoos

Rent

June 7-23

PENSACOLA SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA pensacolasymphony.com

Beethoven & Blue Jeans Jan. 13

Queens of Soul Feb. 17

Season Finale April 20

SELECT CONCERTS

Flo Rida at Mardi Gras Mambo Jan. 26 pensacolabaycenter.com

Matisyahu

Jan. 31 vinylmusichall.com

Evan Dando

Feb. 16 thehandlebar850.com

Yvie Oddly

Feb. 17 vinylmusichall.com

Keith Sweat and Tyrese

Jan. 26 and 28

Feb. 29 pensacolabaycenter.com

Die Fledermaus

Bikini Trill

March 15 and 17

PENSACOLA LITTLE THEATRE pensacolalittletheatre.com

Cabaret: Express Yourself April 6

5 Lesbians Eating a Quiche May 3-11

March 8 thehandlebar850.com

Melissa Etheridge April 16 pensacolasaenger.com

Reverend Horton Heat May 15 thehandlebar850.com

inweekly.net

WEEK OF JANUARY 11-17

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

The Evolution of RadioLive

By Savannah Evanoff

ford for a good chunk of its 35 years. And Crawford couldn't agree more.

"It has been a great ride for me," Crawford said. "It has brought me so much pleasure personally … but this is not about me. I came up with the idea, I've been the face, but it would be nothing without the staff that makes that thing happen."

Crawford singles out Dale Riegle, his first new hire.

"He is our technical wizard," Crawford said. "He's the one that, all I had to do was go to him, 'Hey, I got this idea for the show. This is what I want to do.' And he ran with it. He still is running with it."

WELCOMING A NEW HOST

Tanya Gallagher / Courtesy Photo

When Tanya Gallagher first performed on WUWF's RadioLive, everything was already set up for her; all she had to do was show up.

She didn't have to think about "what made it go."

Now, as the new host of RadioLive, it's just about all she thinks about.

Gallagher has performed on RadioLive five or so times—sometimes as a last-minute substitute—which not only showed her behind the scenes, revealing how much prep work is involved in making the concert series happen, but also just how special the whole thing is.

"It's an amazing venue to get to play," Gallagher said. "It's really unique to be able to play live in front of an audience, but then also have it broadcast on the internet and on the radio. The audience is just so lovely, and it's really rare to get that listening room environment. I've played a lot of beach bars and in restaurants, and no one's there to listen to the music; they're there to eat dinner and chat with friends—it's kind of background noise at that point. (RadioLive is) a different experience altogether.

"It's the community and the donations from folks who support the station and make it happen, so it really truly is a community grassroots effort that makes this thing go every month."

Gallagher credits RadioLive's uniqueness to the WUWF crew, many of whom have been running the show alongside former host Pat CrawJanuary 11, 2024

Crawford started making programming changes when he joined WUWF in 1982. He quickly became inspired by other variety type shows, he said, rattling off one the station picked up, "Prairie Home Companion," and one in West Virginia called "Mountain Stage."

He pitched the idea for RadioLive to the staff in 1988, the year Morris Marx was inaugurated as University of West Florida president.

"The folks who were putting together the inauguration wanted to know if we could put something together as a part of the celebration," Crawford said. "And so I decided, 'Hey, this would be a great way to go ahead and kick the show off.'

That was the first show, sort of in celebration of his inauguration, and that's how it grew."

RadioLive has changed a bit over the years, Crawford said. The show started with a satire component—frequently poking fun at local politicians or national news—until around 2000, when they decided to focus exclusively on music and artistry, he said.

It originally showcased local musicians, because Pensacola has always had a rich history of local musicians, Crawford said.

"But then we decided to finally make a big shift and say, 'What we really need to do is we need to put Pensacola on the map in the minds of major artists,'" Crawford said. "We said, 'Basically, what we really want to do with the show now is we want to bring artists to Pensacola, let them realize how great a place Pensacola is to play and they'll tell their friends, and then it

will grow.' And I think that really has happened.

In the early years, I had to look for artists; now they look for us."

In a lot of ways, RadioLive is Crawford's baby. But he's ready to move forward—and on to equally important ventures, such as fundraising in a time when grants aren't guaranteed.

"I'm not getting any younger, and also, I wanted to make sure that it wasn't going to always continue being my musical tastes," Crawford said. "I wanted it to be relevant, particularly to a younger audience. So I said, 'You know what, it's time for me to kind of step away and bring somebody else in who can do some great things and take it in even another direction.'"

The job description goes far beyond hosting—including but not limited to staying apprised of the music scene, determining which artists will perform, working with artists and/or their agents to book the acts months in advance and negotiating contracts. Partnering with Innisfree Hotels, Crawford considers RadioLive lucky to use rooms at the Pensacola Beach Hilton as a bargaining chip with potential performers in negotiations.

Crawford has been mulling over the idea of who would fill his shoes for about a year, knowing he wanted someone local. After seeing a teenage Gallagher busking on Palafox Street with her brother-in-law under the band name Baylen— long before Gallery Night existed and busking was a regular thing downtown—and witnessing her stellar last performance on RadioLive, he had a feeling she'd fit the bill.

"I just kind of had an epiphany at that point, so I went up to her right after the show," Crawford said. "I said, 'How would you like to host this?'

And she didn't even pause for a second. She said, 'Yeah, I'd love to.' So really just was meant to be."

CARRYING IT FORWARD

Gallagher, a fourth-generation Pensacolian, has listened to RadioLive since she was a kid. She remembers her friend's dad performing on the show and wishing the same for herself. Of course, it took her moving to Vancouver to finally book the gig in 2018—after all, it's a show for outside artists, she said.

Music has been a big part of Gallagher's life.

She's released several solo albums since her days of opening her guitar case to downtown Pensacola and has another in the works—her first since 2019.

"I always think I build the frame of a house whenever I build a song, and then I invite all these musicians to come and play with me, and they kind of decorate it, make it a home," Gallagher said. "So it'll be slightly different because the instrumentation is a lot more than what I've had in the past. It's still that indie folk pop kind of sound,

but I think there's a lot more decoration—if you will—to the songs than I've had in the past."

Gallagher's musical experience is likely the inspiration behind her subtle changes to RadioLive. One was bringing back the concept of a house band.

The Coveralls—the name of the new house band—is led by William Howell.

"It's going to consist of a rotating cast of members from the Pensacola music community," Gallagher said. "This is our way of getting that connection to the Pensacola musicians.

So the house band will play a little bit before the show, they'll play the interludes during the show, so there's never any dead air on the radio.

There's always going to be music going on, as I'm talking over it and between the artists as they get introduced. I think that'll be a really fun component because we haven't had that for several years."

The first iteration of the house band featuring Ashley Pennewell (mandolin), Adam Cooper (piano) and Sean Peterson (bass), collaborated to create a new theme song based on a guitar riff Howell came up with.

Crawford is excited about Gallagher's original ideas, he said.

"She's putting a lot of thought into it," Crawford said. "I like her energy, and I'm just ready to sit back. I'm going to be able to sit in the audience and enjoy the show as a part of the audience without having to worry about 'OK, I gotta get up there and announce.' I just think she's going to be great. She's such a great songwriter, such a great performer, a great personality. I already know the audience is gonna love her."

Like most RadioLive performances, Gallagher's first as host and artistic director in early January sold out in advance. So we suggest buying your tickets for next show—happening Thursday, Feb. 1—soon.

"I hope just to carry it forward, not to change it up," Gallagher said. "Because it's obviously a well-oiled machine and something that's been really successful, so we just hope we can continue forward with that success." {in}

FEBRUARY RADIOLIVE

WHAT: Logan Vath, Alexa Rose and The Rough & Tumble perform on WUWF's RadioLive WHEN: 6 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 1 WHERE: Museum of Commerce, 201 Zaragoza St. COST: $10 DETAILS: wuwf.org/radiolive 13

a&e happenings 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: 2024 Pensacola JazzFest.

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 phone 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.

ARTS & CULTURE MARDI GRAS EVENTS

KREWE OF BLUES 13TH ANNUAL PIN AND BEAD FESTIVAL The 13th annual Pin

and Bead Festival is 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 14 at Seville Square. Proceeds from the event benefit Gulf Coast Kid's House and Santa Rosa Kids House. Event is free to attend. A diaper drive will also be held to benefit both charities.

Visit pensacolamardigras.com for details.

CORDOVA MALL BALL The Cordova Mall Ball is 8 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 20 at Cordova Mall, 5100 N. Ninth Ave. Tickets are $80-675. A portion of proceeds benefits the Children's Hospital at Ascension Sacred Heart. Purchase tickets at eventbrite.com.

KIDS AND KRITTER'S PARADE The Pen-

sacola Beach Kids and Kritter's Parade is 1:30-5 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 20 starting from Casino Beach, 41 Fort Pickens Road. Enter your kritters in the parade for $10 each pet. Kids' entry is free. Prizes are for best costumed pet and best

mini float made from wagon or stroller. Visit pensacolamardigras.com for details.

NONPROFITS & FUNDRAISERS

ANIMAL ALLIES FLORIDA BINGO Animal

Allies Florida hosts bingo twice monthly at Scenic Hills Country Club, 8891 Burning Tree Road. The cost is 10 rounds of bingo for $10, with cash prizes for winners. Food and drinks are also available for purchase. The full bar and restaurant offer special adult beverages just for bingo nights. You must be 18 to play. For more information, visit facebook.com/animalalliesflorida.

ANIMAL ALLIES CAT AND KITTEN ADOPTION Visit Pet Supermarket 11 a.m.-3

p.m. every first and third Saturday of the month at 6857 N. Ninth Ave. to meet your furever friend. Visit aaflorida.org for details.

CARING & SHARING MINISTRY FOOD DRIVE The Gloria Green Caring & Sharing

Ministry is attached to the Historic St. Joseph

Catholic Church, 140 W. Government St. The ministry feeds the homeless at 10:30 a.m. Tuesdays. The ministry's food pantry opens at 10 a.m. and has clothing. Food donations needed are pop-top canned goods, Beanie Weenies, Vienna sausage, potted meat, cans of tuna and chicken and soups. Clothing donations needed include tennis shoes for men and women as well as sweatshirts and new underwear for men in sizes small, medium and large. Call DeeDee Green at (850) 723-3390 for details.

CALL TO ARTISTS

JAZZ PENSACOLA'S JAZZFEST POSTER

Jazz Pensacola invites fine artists and graphic designers to submit renderings for the official 2024 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, 2024. If selected, the completed submission deadline is Feb. 28, 2024.

The poster design should reflect the deep, rich and diverse jazz music heritage of Pensacola

AHREN BELISLE, MICHAEL GLATZMAIER Comedy show is 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 13 at The Handlebar, 319 N. Tarragona St. Tickets are $45 and available at thehandlebar850.com.

CANVAS AND CLAY RECEPTION Visit the open reception for the new member show, "Canvas and Clay" at Quayside Gallery, 17 E. Zaragoza St. Reception is 2-4 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 14. Visit quaysidegallery.com/publicevents.

Exhibit on view through Feb. 12.

MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. DAY PARADE The Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Parade

will begin 11 a.m. Monday, Jan. 15 in downtown Pensacola. This year's theme is "Live the Dream – Achieve Excellence." The parade is broadcast live on Blab TV and WEAR-TV.

BODACIOUS ROMANCE BOOK CLUB

The Bodacious Romance Book Club meets 5 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 16 at Bodacious Bookstore and Café, 110 E. Intendencia St. The group will discuss "The Fake Mate" by Lana Ferguson. Visit facebook.com/bodaciousbookstore for details.

voted

BEST SPORTS BAR

(that’s not really a sports bar, only a bar that shows sports) AGAIN!

23 PAL AFOX PL . | 850-43-BRUCE 414 1

inweekly.net

a&e happenings LOST KEY LIGHTED NIGHT MARKET The

Perdido Key Area Chamber brings a first-of-itskind Lighted Night Market to the Lost Key 5-9 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 18 at Villagio in Perdido Key, 13700 Perdido Key Drive. Visit business.visitperdido.com/events for details.

p.m. weekdays and 2-4 p.m. Sundays. Make an appointment by calling (850) 941-4321.

podcaster Heather McMahan will perform at Saenger Theatre, 118 S. Palafox St. Tickets start at $39. Visit pensacolasaenger.com for details.

JAPANESE NEW YEAR CELEBRATION

PENSACOLA ARTS MARKET Shop small and

5-9 p.m. Friday, Jan. 19 with the theme Lunar New Year. Enjoy live performances, art vendors and more throughout downtown South Palafox Street. Visit gallerynightpensacola.org for details.

HEATHER MCMAHAN: THE COMEBACK TOUR Actress, stand-up comedian and

The Japan-America Society of Northwest Florida (JAS) will usher in the "Year of the Dragon" with its 30th annual Japanese New Year Celebration noon-4 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 20 at the Wright Place, 80 E. Wright St. JAS members and children younger than 3 are admitted for free. Admission for non-members is $10. For more information, visit jasnwfl.org or facebook.com/jasnwfl.

SCRIPTEASERS Join writers at Pensacola Little

Theatre, 400 S. Jefferson St., for Scripteasers the second Saturday of every month. The next date is 11 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 13. Visit pensacolalittletheatre.com for details.

GROWN-UP BOOK FAIR Enjoy sifting through stacks of books from local bookstores and make your own bookmark with artist Poppy Garcia at Odd Colony, 260 N. Palafox St. The book fair is noon-4 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 21. Details are available at facebook.com/oddcolony.

BODACIOUS BOOKSTORE FANTASY BOOK CLUB Join the book club as they discuss

"Divine Rivals" by Rebecca Ross. The group meeting is 5 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 23 at Bodacious Bookstore and Café, 110 E. Intendencia St. Visit facebook.com/bodaciousbookstore for details.

PALAFOX MARKET Enjoy Palafox Market 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturdays. The event features local farmers, artists and crafters on North and South Palafox Street at Martin Luther King, Jr. Plaza and Plaza Ferdinand. For updates, visit facebook. com/downtownpensacola.

CABARET DRAG SHOWCASE AT AMERICAN LEGION POST #193 Don't miss Cabaret

Drag Showcase every second and fourth Saturday at the American Legion Post #193, 2708 N. 12th Ave. Doors open at 8 p.m. Showtime is 10 p.m. For more information, contact show director Taize Sinclair-Santi at taizesinclairsanti@gmail.com.

SPIRITS OF SEVILLE QUARTER GHOST TOUR AND LUNCHEON Dine inside Pen-

sacola's oldest and most haunted restaurant and investigate the spirits with actual paranormal equipment at Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. Tickets are $12 and include a voucher toward Seville Quarter's menu. Tours are held 11 a.m.-2 January 11, 2024

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

AFTER DARK: SEVILLE QUARTER GHOSTS, MURDER, MAYHEM AND MYSTERY TOUR AND DINNER After Dark

Paranormal Investigation and Dinner happens inside one of Pensacola's most haunted restaurants with actual ghost-hunting equipment 6-8 p.m. Sundays. Listen as your guide weaves tales of ghosts, debauchery, murder, mayhem, paranormal activities, history and more related to Seville Quarter and downtown Historic Pensacola. Following your ghost tour, enjoy dinner at Seville Quarter Palace Café, 130 E. Government St. Reservations are required. Call (850) 941-4321. Tickets are available at pensacolaghostevents.com.

GALLERY NIGHT The next Gallery Night is

Stock Market Losses?

11 East Romana Street | Pensacola, Fl 32502

genemitchell.org

buy art at Pensacola Arts Market 11 a.m.-4 p.m. every fourth Saturday of the month at Cordova Square, 1101 N. 12th Ave. Enjoy a local artisan and farmers market with more than 50 vendors, food trucks, plants, vintage clothing and décor, live musical performances, kids' crafts and games.

This is a free event. Pensacola Arts Market is set up 4-9 p.m. every first Friday of the month and 2-6 p.m. every third Sunday at Gary's Brewery & Biergarten, 208 Newman Ave.

BODY, MIND, SPIRIT MARKET AT EVER'MAN Local vendors, artisans, holistic

practitioners, speakers and more come together 10 a.m.-4 p.m. the first Saturday of the month at Ever'man Downtown, 315 W. Garden St. This is a free indoor and outdoor event with door prizes, entertainment and children's activities. For a vendor table, call (850) 941-4321 or go to empowermentschoolhouse.com.

PERDIDO Through photographs, lo-fi projec-

tions, found-objects and paintings, Perdido explores the artist's changing relationship with Florida's Gulf Coast. Artist is Richard McCabe.

Exhibit is on view through Jan. 20 at Pensacola Museum of Art, 407 S. Jefferson St. Visit pensacolamuseum.org for details.

FOOD + DRINKS

ROWE VS. FIX WINE PAIRING DINNER

Head to Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St., 7 p.m. Friday, Jan. 12 for a matchup of Breakthru's Max Rowe and Winebow's Michael Fix. They pair wines with dinner and you choose the winner.

There will be five courses and five wines. Cost is $85 per person. Visit sevillequarter.com for details.

A CRAFTY SOUTHERN PUB WHERE IT ALL COMES TOGETHER

MON-THUR 2-10 | FRI-SAT 11-11 HAPPY HOUR MON-THUR 2-4 UNIONPENSACOLA.COM

36 E. GARDEN ST. | 850.607.6320

GLUTEN-FREE BAKING CLASS Learn to make gluten-free goodies with Pensacola Cooks 6-8 p.m. Friday, Jan. 12 at Pensacola Cooks Classroom, 3644 Barrancas Ave. Visit facebook.com/pensacolacooks for details.

COOKING WITH CHEF IRV MILLER: COASTAL CULINARY TREASURES Recipes

will focus on the Gulf Coast favorites. Cooking classes are 5 and 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 17 at Jackson's Steakhouse, 400 S. Palafox St. Cost is $55 per person. Reservations are required. Make yours by emailing jessica@goodgrits.com or calling (850) 686-3149.

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

127 Palafox Place Suite 100 (850)466-3115 autumnbeckblackledge.com 15

a&e happenings BOURBON, BACON & BREWS O'Riley's Irish

BINGO NIGHT AT CALVERT'S IN THE HEIGHTS Play a game (or two) of Bingo 6-8

Pub is bringing back Bourbon, Bacon & Brews event 2-4 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 20 at 321 S. Palafox St. Price is $30 for general admission and $60 for VIP admission. For details, visit orileyspub.com.

p.m. Mondays at Calvert's in the Heights, 670 Scenic Highway. For more information, visit calvertsintheheights.com.

GREEN THUMB WINE TASTINGS Join Green

BAR BINGO AT O'RILEY'S Visit O'Riley's Irish

Thumb Wines for a free wine tasting 6-8 p.m. every first Friday of the month at 9 E. Gregory St. For more information, visit greenthumbwines.com.

Pub for Bar Bingo 8-10 p.m. Tuesdays at 321 S. Palafox St. Visit orileyspub.com for details.

SATURDAY SIPS ON THE SIDEWALK Stop

by Green Thumb Wines, 9 E. Gregory St., every Saturday for wine selections. Visit greenthumbwines.com for details.

Perfect Plain Brewing Co. for themed trivia nights 7-9 p.m. the second Tuesday of the month at 50 E. Garden St. Visit facebook.com/perfectplainbrewingco for details.

SUNDAY BRUNCH AT CAFÉ SINGLE FIN

TRIVIA AT O'RILEY'S Test your trivia knowl-

Partake in brunch specials, full café menu, espressos and bottomless mimosas until 1 p.m.

Sundays at Café Single Fin, 380 N. Ninth Ave. Live music begins at 10 a.m. Visit cafesinglefin. com for details.

SIPPIN' IN SUNDRESSES LADIES' NIGHT AT FELIX'S Pop-up shops, pink drink specials

and live music is 5-8 p.m. Thursdays at Felix's Restaurant and Oyster Bar, 400 Quietwater Beach Drive.

GAMER/JACKBOX NIGHT AT O'RILEY'S

Gamers unite 5 p.m.-2 a.m. Mondays at O'Riley's Irish Pub, 321 S. Palafox St. Visit orileyspub.com for details.

616 1

SECOND TUESDAY THEMED TRIVIA Visit

edge 8-10 p.m. Wednesdays at O'Riley's Irish Pub, 321 S. Palafox St. Visit orileyspub.com for details.

TRIVIA AT CALVERT'S IN THE HEIGHTS

Take part in trivia nights 6-8 p.m. Wednesdays at Calvert's in the Heights, 670 Scenic Highway. For more information, visit calvertsintheheights.com.

PITCHERS AND TAVERN TRIVIA O'Riley's Tavern hosts trivia 8 p.m.-midnight Thursdays at 3728 Creighton Road. Visit orileystavern.com for details.

TRIVIA AT WISTERIA Trivia is 6 p.m. Thursdays at Wisteria Tavern, 3808 N. 12th Ave. Visit wisteriatavern.com for details.

THURSDAY BIERGARTEN TRIVIA NIGHT Gary's Brewery Trivia Night is back by popular demand 7-9 p.m. Thursdays. Test your trivia skills with a glass of beer or wine. Arrive early to grab a spot. Gary's Brewery is located at 208 Newman Ave. For more information, visit facebook.com/garysbrew.

TRIVIA AT SIR RICHARD'S Flex your trivia knowledge 8-10 p.m. Fridays at Sir Richard's Public House, 2719 E. Cervantes St. Visit sirrichardslounge.com for details.

FREE POOL AND BAR BINGO AT O'RILEY'S TAVERN Enjoy free pool and play bar bingo 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Sundays at O'Riley's Tavern, 3728 Creighton Road. Details at orileystavern.com.

LIVE MUSIC

PRETTY BAKED FUNDRAISER WITH ACADEMY ORDER, PAUPERS GRAVE, COOKIES AND CAKE AND MORE Show is

7 p.m. Friday, Jan. 12 at The Handlebar, 319 N. Tarragona St. Tickets are $10 and available at thehandlebar850.com.

RUMOURS ATL: A FLEETWOOD MAC TRIBUTE Performance is 7 p.m. Friday, Jan. 12 at Vinyl Music Hall, 2 S. Palafox St. Tickets are $22 and available at vinylmusichall.com.

BEETHOVEN AND BLUE JEANS Pensacola Symphony Orchestra's Beethoven & Blue Jeans is 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 13 at Saenger Theatre,

118 S. Palafox St. Tickets are available (virtual and in-person) at pensacolasymphony.com.

BITTER BLOOD, BACKSLIDE, WILTWITHER, VITAL SIGNS, BRAINBURN Show is 7 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 14 at The Handlebar, 319 N. Tarragona St. Tickets are $12 and available at thehandlebar850.com.

MUSTARD PLUG, VOODOO GLOW SKULLS, BITE ME BAMBI Show is 7 p.m. Monday, Jan. 15

at The Handlebar, 319 N. Tarragona St. Tickets are $20 and available at thehandlebar850.com

JAZZ IN THE QUARTER Join Jazz Pensacola

Mondays 6:30-9 p.m. at Phineas Phogg's in Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. Next date is Monday, Jan. 15. Cost is $10 for Jazz Pensacola members and $12 for non-members. Visit jazzpensacola.com for details.

ERIC LINDELL Show is 7 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 18

at The Handlebar, 319 N. Tarragona St. Tickets are $20-$25 and available at thehandlebar850.com.

RODNEY UEBEROTH BENEFIT SHOW This show will feature The Glorious Flaws, Deadly Fists of Kung Fu and more. Show is 7 p.m. Friday, Jan. 19 at The Handlebar, 319 N. Tarragona St. Suggested donation is $10. for more listings visit inweekly.net

inweekly.net

January 11, 2024

17

free will astrology WEEK OF JANUARY 11 ARIES (MARCH 21-APRIL 19): Why do birds

sing? They must be expressing their joy at being alive, right? And in some cases, they're trying to impress and attract potential mates. Ornithologists tell us birds are also staking out their turf by chirping their melodies. Flaunting their vigor is a sign to other birds of how strong and commanding they are. In accordance with astrological omens, I invite you Aries humans to sing more than ever before in 2024. Like birds, you have a mandate to boost your joie de vivre and wield more authority. Here's 10 reasons why singing is good for your health: tinyurl.com/healthysinging.

TAURUS (APRIL 20-MAY 20): Which zodiac sign is most likely to have a green thumb? Who would most astrologers regard as the best gardener? Who would I call on if I wanted advice on when to harvest peaches, how to love and care for roses as they grow, or how to discern which weeds might be helpful and useful? The answer, according to my survey, is Taurus. And I believe you Bulls will be even more fecund than usual around plants in 2024. Even further, I expect you to be extra fertile and creative in every area of your life. I hereby dub you maestro of the magic of germination and growth.

By Rob Brezsny

modes as you brighten and nurture the people in your sphere—even if you have no Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Leo or Pisces influences in your astrological chart.

LEO (JULY 23-AUG. 22): Here are my wishes for you in 2024. 1. I hope you will rigorously study historical patterns in your life story. I hope you will gather robust insights into the rhythms and themes of your amazing journey. 2.

You will see clearly what parts of your past are worth keeping and which are better outgrown and left behind. 3. You will come to a new appreciation of the heroic quest you have been on.

You will feel excited about how much further your quest can go. 4. You will feel gratitude for the deep inner sources that have been guiding you all these years. 5. You will be pleased to realize how much you have grown and ripened.

You will feel excited about how much further your quest can go.

GEMINI (MAY 21-JUNE 20): Research I've found suggests that 70% of us have experienced at least one traumatic event in our lives. But I suspect the percentage is higher. For starters, everyone has experienced the dicey expulsion from the warm, nurturing womb. That's usually not a low-stress event. The good news, Gemini, is that now and then there come phases when we have more power than usual to heal from our traumas. According to my analysis of the astrological omens, the coming months will be one of those curative times for you.

VIRGO (AUG. 23-SEPT. 22): Virgo author Eduardo Galeano mourned how our institutions condition us to divorce our minds from our hearts and our bodies from our souls. Even sadder, many of us deal with these daunting schisms by becoming numb to them. The good news, Virgo, is I expect 2024 to be one of the best times ever for you to foster reconciliation between the split-off parts of yourself. Let's call this the Year of Unification. May you be inspired to create both subtle and spectacular fusions of your fragmented parts. Visualize your thoughts and feelings weaving together in elegant harmony. Imagine your material and spiritual needs finding common sources of nourishment.

CANCER (JUNE 21-JULY 22): At their best,

LIBRA (SEPT. 23-OCT. 22): According to an-

Libras foster vibrant harmony that energizes social situations. At their best, Scorpios stimulate the talents and beauty of those they engage with. Generous Leos and Sagittarians inspire enthusiasm in others by expressing their innate radiance. Many of us may get contact highs from visionary, deep-feeling Pisceans. In 2024, Cancerian, I believe you can call on all these

cient Greek myth, the half-divine hero Heracles consulted the Oracle of Delphi for guidance. He was assigned to perform 12 daunting feats, most of which modern people would regard as unethical, such as killing and stealing. There was one labor that encouraged integrity, though.

Heracles had to clean the stables where more than 1,000 divine cattle lived. The place hadn't

been scrubbed in 30 years. As I meditated on your hero's journey in the coming months, Libra, I concluded you'd be wise to begin with a less grandiose version of Heracles' work in the stables. Have fun as you cheerfully tidy up everything in your life. By doing so, you will earn the power to experience many deep and colorful adventures in the coming months.

SCORPIO (OCT. 23-NOV. 21): I will name two taboos I think you should break in 2024.

The first is the theory you must hurt or suppress yourself to help others. The second is that you must hurt or suppress others to benefit yourself. Please scour away any delusion you might have that those two strategies could genuinely serve you. In their place, substitute these hypotheses: 1. Being good to yourself is the best way to prepare for helping others. 2. Being good to others is the best way to benefit yourself.

SAGITTARIUS (NOV. 22-DEC. 21): "Doubt

has killed more dreams than failure ever will," says Sagittarian author Suzy Kassem. Many of us have had the experience of avoiding a quest for success because we are too afraid of being defeated or demoralized. "Loss aversion" is a wellknown psychological concept that applies when we are so anxious about potential loss that we don't pursue the possible gain. In my astrological estimation, you Centaurs should be especially on guard against this inhibiting factor in 2024. I am confident you can rise above it, but to do so, you must be alert for its temptation—and eager to summon new reserves of courage.

CAPRICORN (DEC. 22-JAN. 19): In 2024,

I predict you will be blessed with elegant and educational expansion—but also challenged by the possibility of excessive, messy expansion.

Soulful magnificence could vie for your attention with exorbitant extravagance. Even as you are offered valuable novelties that enhance your sacred and practical quests, you may be tempted with lesser inducements you don't really need. For optimal results, Capricorn, I urge you to avoid getting distracted by irrelevant goodies. Usher your fate away from pretty baubles and toward felicitous beauty.

a lot of money, luxurious possessions and lavish opportunities to travel. But wealth can also be measured in other ways. Do you have an abundance of love in your life? Have you enjoyed many soulful adventures? Does your emotional intelligence provide rich support for your heady intelligence? I bring this up, Aquarius, because I believe 2024 will be a time when your wealth will increase. The question for you to ruminate on: How do you define wealth?

Usher your fate away from pretty baubles and toward felicitous beauty.

PISCES (FEB. 19-MARCH 20): "No one can build you the bridge on which you, and only you, must cross the river of life," said philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche. Here's my response to that bold declaration: It's utterly wrong. No one in the history of the world has ever built anything solely by their own efforts, let alone a bridge to cross the river of life. Even if you are holed up in your studio working on a novel, painting or invention, you are absolutely dependent on the efforts of many people to provide you with food, water, electricity, clothes, furniture and all the other goodies that keep you functioning. It's also unlikely that anyone could create anything of value without having received a whole lot of love and support from other humans. Sorry for the rant, Pisces. It's a preface for my very positive prediction: In 2024, you will have substantial help in building your bridge across the river of life.

HERE'S THE HOMEWORK: I invite you to redefine what it would look and feel like to be your best self. {in}

AQUARIUS (JAN. 20-FEB. 18): Some people feel that "wealth" refers primarily to financial resources. If you're wealthy, it means you have

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newsletter.freewillastrology.com freewillastrology@freewillastrology.com © 2024 Rob Brezsny

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444-0000

Pensacola, FL BringItLawyers.com 818 1

inweekly.net

news of the weird CREME DE LA WEIRD Stick with me here. In 1899 in Peshawar, Pakistan, James Squid, a drunken British officer, arrested a ... tree because he thought it was a fugitive trying to get away from him. He ordered the tree chained to the ground, Oddity Central reported, and the chains have remained for 125 years, along with a plaque explaining them. While tourists are tickled by the strange restraints, locals see the chains as a symbol of British oppression.

"Through this act, the British basically implied to the tribesmen that if they dared act against the Raj, they too would be punished in a similar fashion," one local man said. Others call it a living history.

OUR LITIGIOUS SOCIETY Cynthia Kelly, 18, of Hillsborough County, Florida, has sued The Hershey Co. for $5 million because the Reese's Peanut Butter Pumpkins she bought in October didn't have a jack-o'-lantern face on them as shown on the packaging. ClickOrlando reported on Dec. 29 that Kelly accused the company of "false and deceptive advertising," and she "would not have purchased the Reese's Peanut Butter Pumpkins product if she knew that it did not have the detailed carvings of the mouth and/or eyes as pictured on the product label," the suit reads. She also pointed out that the White Ghost and Football candies were missing their own key details. One reviewer called the pumpkin a "monstrosity."

•Two years ago, Paul Kerouac stopped at a Dunkin' Donuts in Winter Park, Florida, where he used the restroom, the New York Post reported. While he was indisposed, the toilet he was occupying exploded, leaving him "covered with debris, including human feces and urine," according to a lawsuit filed on Jan. 3 in Florida's 9th Judicial District. Kerouac claims the Dunkin' workers knew there was a "problem with the toilet" and says he now "requires mental health care and counseling as a direct result of the trauma he experienced in the restroom."

RECURRING THEME Authorities are still fishing for a man who entered a Bass Pro Shops store in Fort Myers, Florida, on Dec. 20 and dipped a net into the indoor fishpond, capturing a 50-pound tarpon. USA Today reported that the suspect left the store with the dripping catch, and despite a cash reward and social media posts, the Lee County Sheriff's Office has not been able to identify or find him.

•Authorities were called to the Leeds, Alabama, Bass Pro Shops on Jan. 4 after 42-year-old George Owens of Sterrett drove a car into a pole in the parking lot, then exited the car, stripped off all his clothes and ran inside, where he did a cannonball into the aquarium. AL.com reported that Owens yelled at two police officers, then climbed over the edge of the aquarium, where he fell to the concrete floor and knocked himself out. He was charged with public lewdness among other offenses.

SUPER FREAK On Dec. 13, as a family in Arlington, Virginia, sat down to dinner, a Ring doorbell notification alerted them to someone at the door, WUSA-TV reported. The woman told her hus-

By the Editors at Andrews McMeel

band, "There's this guy, he didn't ring the doorbell.

He's just standing there and he's in a gingerbread man costume." The husband called the police non-emergency line to report the creepy visit, and about an hour later, another neighbor, Lindsey Churchill, spotted the gingerbread man. "All of a sudden my dogs were going crazy ... and there was a giant blow-up gingerbread man costume out on the sidewalk," she said. "We kind of locked eyes and the gingerbread man went on his way. It was not holly jolly." Police never actually caught up with the subject, who was not identified.

GETTING AWAY FROM IT ALL Three armed suspects were busy robbing a check-cashing business in Commerce City, Colorado, on Dec. 16 when another thief mucked up their getaway plans, 9News-TV reported. The robbers' vehicle, which was probably stolen, was outside when a woman jumped in and took off with it, leaving the teenage suspects to try to escape on foot. Police were able to capture two of them, along with loaded firearms, and arrest them. The car thief is still at large.

•In Wheat Ridge, Colorado, police caught up with a burglar on Dec. 28 who had hired an Uber for use as a getaway car, 14News-TV reported. Jose Guadalupe Perez-Gallardo was taken into custody as he approached his hired ride, carrying a backpack with $8,600 worth of stolen Milwaukee-brand tools inside. "Ordering an Uber as your getaway driver makes it that much easier for us to find you," the Wheat Ridge Police Department posted online.

QUESTIONABLE JUDGMENT Dr. Kevin Molldrem of Eden Prairie, Minnesota, is the subject of a malpractice lawsuit filed in late December by his patient Kathleen Wilson, USA Today reported.

Wilson alleges in the suit that Molldrem, during a single visit in July 2020, performed more than 30 procedures on Wilson's mouth—eight crowns, four root canals and 20 fillings—and that the work was done "improperly," resulting in her disfiguration.

The lawsuit also alleges that Molldrem used twice the amount of anesthesia allowed and then falsified records to cover that dosage. Wilson is seeking more than $50,000 in damages.

NOT ON MY WATCH Vancouver, British Columbia, police revealed that on Dec. 19, a 72-year-old woman successfully chased an intruder from her home with a shovel, Vancouver City News reported. A naked man broke into the victim's home with a pointed metal rod, which he swung toward her throughout the encounter. She fought back with a shovel, and "chased him out of the house and cornered him until officers arrived," police said. "Kudos to her, it was pretty badass of her, I would say," said Constable Tania Visintin. No one was injured during the incident. {in}

From Andrews McMeel Syndication News Of The Weird © 2024 Andrews McMeel

Send your weird news items to WeirdNewsTips@amuniversal.com January 11, 2024

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Independent News | January 11, 2024 | inweekly.net