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Independent News | January 16, 2020 | Volume 21 | Number 3

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winners & losers 4

outtakes

news

6, 8

People ask me, 'Why tell these old stories?' and I keep saying, 'Because we haven't learned the lessons from them yet.'

buzz

a&e 13

publisher Rick Outzen

graphic designer Michael Daw

editor & creative director Joani Delezen

contributing writers Savannah Evanoff, Jennifer Leigh, Jeremy Morrison, C.S. Satterwhite

calendar 15

Independent News is published by Inweekly Media, Inc., P.O. Box 12082, Pensacola, FL 32591. (850)438-8115. All materials published in Independent News are copyrighted. © 2018 Inweekly Media, Inc. All rights reserved.

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inweekly.net

January 16, 2020

Eat well. Feel good. Live better.

winners & losers

winners

WIND CREEK HOSPITALITY The au-

1000 E. Nine Mile Road 315 W. Garden Street everman.org

thority of the Poarch Band of Creek Indians presented $10,000 to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwest Florida in support of the 30th Anniversary Bold Steps Campaign. This gift included support and expansion of the Bigs with Badges program. Wind Creek Hospitality manages the Tribe's gaming facilities, including Wind Creek Atmore, Wind Creek Wetumpka, Wind Creek Montgomery, Wa She Shu Casino in Nevada, Renaissance Aruba Resort & Casino, Renaissance Curacao Resort & Casino and Wind Creek Bethlehem as well as racetracks in Alabama and Florida.

PENSACOLA BREAST CANCER ASSOCIATION The charity has donated $30,000 to Baptist Hospital and $30,000 to Ascension Sacred Heart Hospital. The donations came from money raised throughout the past year from all the volunteers that make up the Pensacola Breast Cancer Association (PBCA) and will be used for education, screening and diagnosis of breast cancer at the two Pensacola hospitals. The mission of the PBCA is to help provide mammograms for the indigent and underinsured patient population in our area.

NEMOURS CHILDREN'S SPECIALTY CARE PENSACOLA The Santa Rosa

County Chamber of Commerce honored Nemours with its 2019 Business of the Year award. Nemours providers have seen over 14,000 children and performed over 900 surgeries. Nemours is equipped with accredited pediatric cystic fibrosis center, pediatric sleep center and pediatric transthoracic and fetal echocardiography lab.

Corrine Brown

losers

CORRINE BROWN The majority of a three-

judge panel of the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals last week upheld the conviction of former U.S. Rep. Corrine Brown in a charity scam, rejecting her arguments that a juror had been improperly dismissed because he said the Holy Spirit told him Brown was not guilty. The former 12-term Democratic congresswoman from Jacksonville was ultimately convicted on 18 felony counts and sentenced to five years in prison.

CITIZENS FOR ENERGY CHOICES The Florida Supreme Court last week unanimously rejected the political committee's proposed constitutional amendment that would have deregulated the state's electric-utility industry, saying part of the proposal's wording would mislead voters. The Supreme Court must sign off on proposed constitutional amendments. In its 11-page ruling, the justices said the full proposal did not back up the summary's claim that it would give customers the right to "sell electricity." PENSACOLA MSA A recent report pub-

lished by innerbody.com ranked the Pensacola Metropolitan Statistical Area No. 61 among the top 100 U.S. cities with the highest rate of sexually transmitted diseases. The list included city metro areas with an estimated population of 150,000 or more and took into account CDC data on HIV, syphilis, gonorrhea and chlamydia. Pensacola has 950 STD cases per 100,000 population, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Tallahassee ranked No. 40, Jacksonville No. 4, Gainesville No. 51, Orlando No. 64 and Fort Lauderdale No. 99.

inweekly.net

outtakes

By Rick Outzen

FEWER GUNS Last Friday afternoon, two cars had a gunfight that ended near the McDonald's at the intersection of Cervantes Street and Ninth Avenue. The McDonald's and nearby Walgreens closed after the shooting as four men fired shots at each other before fleeing the area. The gunfire started near A Street and ended when a Nissan SUV ran into a light pole in the McDonald's parking lot just after 3 p.m. Two men jumped out of the car and continued firing shots at a black Lexus with two other men inside, according to media reports. The two men ran on foot into the Old East Hill neighborhood, and the Lexus left the area. At his Monday press conference, Pensacola Mayor Grover Robinson implored individuals involved in criminal activity to pursue job training opportunities instead. "I don't understand why we're continuing to have this," Robinson said of this latest incident involving guns, before linking such activity to illegal drugs and gangs. "Economics is not a reason for it. There are opportunities that are available for you to take advantage of if you are serious about doing something else [other] than a life of crime that basically leads to incarceration or your death by shooting." After the shooting at a high school in Parkland that killed 17 people, Second Amendment advocates argued that teachers should be armed. The standard response to mass shootings has been more guns are the answer. Fortunately, no inno-

cent bystanders were killed in the shootout in Old East Hill, but it wasn't because of a lack of bullets being fired. I expect to see our gun-loving state representative, Mike Hill, propose ways to get more guns on Cervantes. Maybe he will push to deputize and put guns in the hands of the halfdozen panhandlers that regularly populate the corners of the intersection of Cervantes Street and Ninth Avenue. With everybody packing, criminals might take the mayor's advice and find employment. Yeah, right. More guns have never worked. Keeping guns out of the hands of the wrong people has. Over the objections of the National Rifle Association, the Florida Senate is considering a bill (SB 7028) that would close the gun show "loophole," create a record-keeping system for private gun sales and set aside $5 million to establish a "statewide strategy for violence prevention." Marion Hammer, the NRA's Florida lobbyist, characterized the bill as "nothing less than gun control on steroids." Senate Infrastructure and Security Committee chair Tom Lee told the media after his committee unanimously approved the measure, "We can't just sit by idly while our children are killing children and pretend this isn't happening." Let's hope Lee's rational response prevails, and the Florida Legislature passes the measure. {in} rick@inweekly.net

I expect to see our gunloving state representative, Mike Hill, propose ways to get more guns on Cervantes.

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ESCAMBIA HOLDS OFF ON BEACH ROUNDABOUT is hopeful that the traffic issue on Pensacola Beach can be addressed in other ways. He points to the recently implemented measures of a cashless toll and automated traffic management system as having a positive impact thus far. "We saw a huge difference with how long it was taking people to get out to the beach," Bender said. "I mean, to think that we didn't back it up onto Highway 98 after we made these changes during some of our busiest days of the summer, I think, speaks volumes." Via the automated traffic management system, the county can visually monitor traffic as it makes its way through Gulf Breeze and to Pensacola Beach. An individual driver, in fact, can be viewed to ascertain how long it's taking a driver to make the trek. "We know what it looks like," Bender said. He pointed out that a trip from Gulf Beach to the beach once wasn't fast.

Rendering Courtesy of myescambia.com

By Jeremy Morrison A roundabout may not be the answer to traffic congestion issues on Pensacola Beach. At least, not yet. Escambia County Commissioner Robert Bender, who represents the beach, says he has several concerns, ranging from cost to capacity, with the possibility of putting a roundabout at the beach's busiest intersection. "We just have questions that just give me pause when I hear the answers or give me more questions, and that's probably why we're not forging ahead with the plan right now," Commissioner Bender told Inweekly recently. Instead of moving ahead with the roundabout and associated pedestrian underpasses—a plan pushed by players in the beach's hospitality sector—Bender would like to see if other less intensive measures make a dent in beach traffic issues. Escambia County has already implemented a couple of these traffic improvement components, such as offering a cashless toll option and using an electronic management system to control traffic signals according to need, and the results have been promising. "I think we have two months of data this summer that showed that it was effective," Bender said, questioning the prudence of moving ahead with the roundabout plan. "Is it worth spending $10 million?" 66

ROAD TO THE ROUNDABOUT

Traffic has long been an issue of concern on Pensacola Beach. On peak summer weekends, like the Fourth of July or during a Blue Angels airshow, it's been known to snarl drivers in a bumper-to-bumper jam. In 2016, Escambia County contracted with Volkert Engineering to come up with a plan to address the traffic on Pensacola Beach. The firm conducted a traffic congestion study, gathered public input and held public meetings, ultimately pinning the beach's traffic problem on three key issues—the inefficiency of the traffic signal at Via De Luna and Fort Pickens Drive as well as vehicle-pedestrian conflict points and a lack of parking during the peak of the summer season. In addition to shorter-term fixes, such as work that improved access to parking areas and upgraded crosswalks, Volkert's work resulted in a plan for a roundabout at the intersection of Pensacola Beach Boulevard, Via De Luna and Fort Pickens Road, as well as a series of pedestrian underpasses to facilitate passage from the gulf and bay sides of the island. The traffic congestion plan, with designs for the improvements, cost Escambia more than a million dollars. Commissioners considered abandoning the effort twothirds of the way through after questions arose concerning the project's overall cost but then decided to move ahead. Delivered in November, Volkert's final plans outline a project that will run an es-

timated $10 million—"and, of course, that's on paper. We don't know the true cost; we haven't bid it out"—though the funding has always been up in the air. Lobbying for the roundabout plan are Pensacola Beach hoteliers, contending that congested traffic on the beach will deter visitors. Last September, the hospitality camp donned matching green shirts to attend a county commission meeting and implored officials to use Local Option Sales Tax funds to pay for the project. Commissioner Bender, however, isn't too hip on the plan. He has concerns about the roundabout's capacity and room for an increase in traffic on the beach, and about traffic coming from Fort Pickens Road being about to enter the roundabout against a heavy flow of right-of-way traffic, and also about maintenance issues related to pedestrian underpasses built so low to the water table.

"It's not necessarily one thing that gives me pause, but when you add all these things up…" Robert Bender "It's not necessarily one thing that gives me pause," Bender said, "but when you add all these things up…"

CIRCUMVENTING A ROUNDABOUT

Instead of moving ahead with the roundabout project, Commissioner Bender

"It would take over 20 or 30 minutes for some people to get through that stretch on our busier days. That's probably when we had traffic backed up on the three-mile bridge and stuff like that." Bender "It would take over 20 or 30 minutes for some people to get through that stretch on our busier days. That's probably when we had traffic backed up on the three-mile bridge and stuff like that," Bender said. "Again, we haven't had any of that once we made these two changes this summer." Both the SunPass-based cashless tolling—which will soon become the only option for drivers crossing over the Pensacola Beach bridge—and the automated traffic management system, Bender said, have helped ease traffic congestion on the beach. The commissioner hopes these measures, in addition to an eventual dedicated right turn lane heading onto Fort Pickens Road, will help continue to ease beach traffic so that the more intensive and expensive plan for a roundabout can be shelved. Already, the commissioner said, drivers can expect to encounter less foreboding beach traffic than in years past, even during peak times. The question is, will drivers feel like traffic has improved enough to forgo remedies like the roundabout? "I think if you told somebody, 'Hey, on Fourth of July, you can go out at almost any point during the day, and it's only going to take you an extra 10 minutes to get to the beach. Do you consider that to be an issue?' most people would probably say not," Bender reckons. {in} inweekly.net

January 16, 2020

EXPERIENCE TO DO THE JOB to the felony division, and, after a year, he was made county court supervisor for Escambia County, replacing an attorney who held the position for more than 25 years.

"County Court is all your misdemeanor cases and all your criminal traffic cases, such as DUI. The majority of them would be DUIs and then domestic violence cases." Greg Marcille

By Rick Outzen Last week, State Attorney Bill Eddins called to say that he had decided not to run for a fifth term in 2020. "It's been the high honor of my life to serve as a state attorney for the people of the First Judicial Circuit," Eddins told Inweekly. The state of Florida has 20 Judicial Circuits. The First Judicial Circuit covers Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa and Walton counties and has 70-plus attorneys spread over offices in Pensacola, Milton, Crestview, Shalimar and DeFuniak Springs. The state attorney for the First Judicial Circuit is an elected position. Since 1969, the district has only had two attorneys hold the office—Eddins and Curtis Golden, who served 36 years. During the phone call, Eddins made it clear he wanted his successor to be Greg Marcille. He added that Marcille's willingness to run for the post made his decision easier. "I contacted my chief assistant, Greg Marcille, who's been my chief assistant since day one," Eddins said. "I asked him if he would consider running. He indicated that he would, and after careful consideration, I decided that I would not seek re-election."

Inweekly sat down with Marcille last Friday, the day after he had filed to run state attorney. Marcille grew up in Pensacola, attending parochial schools and graduating from Pensacola Catholic High. He graduated from Pensacola Junior College and the University of West Florida, where he majored in political science. Marcille earned his law degree at Florida State University. After working for a sole practitioner in Tallahassee for a couple of years, he and his wife decided to return to Pensacola. He explained, "My wife was also from here. All our family was here, and my parents were getting older. The first job I was offered was at the state attorney's office."

"It's been the high honor of my life to serve as a state attorney for the people of the First Judicial Circuit." Bill Eddins

COUNTY COURT

Marcille went to work for Curtis Golden in 1986. Like all new assistant state attorneys, he started in county court. He said, "Back then, we had five county court divisions, and we had about six attorneys plus the supervisor who'd been in the office for many years. I spent about three years in county court." Golden began to assign Marcille special prosecution cases, including a substantial economic crime case involving a disbarred attorney who allegedly had stolen a considerable amount of money from Pensacola Christian College. He was then promoted

"I supervised everything that had to do with Escambia County Court on a day-today basis," said Marcille. "County Court is all your misdemeanor cases and all your criminal traffic cases, such as DUI. The majority of them would be DUIs and then domestic violence cases." Marcille became involved with the Education Committee of the Florida Prosecuting Attorneys Association, where he taught and assisted with seminars throughout the state, primarily in the areas of domestic violence and DUI. He added, "I also would handle executive assignments that are cases that our office is assigned by the governor to prosecute in other judicial circuits because those state attorneys had a conflict. So I did prosecute a number of executive assignments throughout Panama City, Tallahassee, Apalachicola, a few other locations throughout the state, during that period of time." Marcille also began to work closely with State Attorney Golden, taking on the additional job of administrative assistant to the state attorney. He said, "During that time, I worked closely with Curtis on a day-to-day basis on any issue dealing with the administration and management of the office and the building."

hadn't even been invented at that time, but now it's not uncommon to see that." He continued, "I think there's been a growth recently in white-collar crime. But the gun violence, I think, is the area that there's been the most increase." He believes the office is in good shape. Marcille shared, "Over the last few years, one of the big changes that Mr. Eddins has done is we have a lot more special prosecutors than we've had in the past. We have a homicide division, violent crime division. We have a white-collar crime division, which we have had for a number of years. We also have Gulf Coast Kids' houses with dedicated prosecutors in all four counties." Marcille plans to continue the emphasize the prosecution of the most serious cases. He said, "I want to try to develop a staff that is as experienced as we can have, encourage people to be able to make this a career as much as possible, and basically build on the position that we're in right now." He has handled several grand jury investigations regarding public record laws, as well as the operations of several local governments across the Florida Panhandle. "Our office has emphasized public records and Sunshine laws more so than a lot of state attorney's offices," said Marcille. "We've been very proactive, not just in Escambia County but in all four counties. We've done reviews, we've issued opinions, we've made recommendations to governmental agencies, and we have charged people." Marcille said that running for state attorney has always been in the back of his mind. When Eddins came to him, Marcille said he would run if Eddins chose not to do so. He agreed to run because he believed the state attorney's office is essential to the community.

"I think it's important that whoever becomes the next state CHIEF ASSISTANT STATE ATTORNEY attorney have the experience When Eddins came into office in January 2005, Marcille was named chief assistant state to run the office—it's a very attorney and became involved in the cases in difficult job." Marcille the other counties of the First Judicial Circuit. Later, he also took on the role of executive director of the state attorney's office. "The executive director supervises the administrative part of the office," he said. "So as part of my duties, I also supervise human resources and the budget. So not only do I have the experience in the legal side of the office, but I'm also very experienced with the human resources and the budget." When asked about how much crime has changed since the mid-'80s, Marcille cited the increase in gun violence and drug activity. "You have a lot of cases now dealing with heroin, fentanyl, those types of drugs, that you did not have before," he shared. "When I started, you almost never saw a case involving heroin. Fentanyl probably

"I think it's important that whoever becomes the next state attorney have the experience to run the office—it's a very difficult job," said Marcille. "People don't realize this is virtually a 24/7 job. Things happen at all times of the day, all times of the night. And not only does it involve the prosecution of every defendant in state court in four counties; also, it's a very large office, and it's a very complicated office, and there's a lot of work involved." He continued, "Somebody that has the experience and the knowledge to do that, I believe, is the person that should be there. You should not come in and learn the job on the job. I don't believe there's anybody else in the First Judicial Circuit that has more experience in all areas of our office than I do." {in} inweekly.net

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January 16, 2020

Florida's upward progress, we cannot allow ourselves to become complacent. We must continue striving for educational excellence and making Florida the number one state in the nation for education."

"I applaud Florida's students, parents and educators for their hard work and dedication that led to these increased graduation rates." Ron DeSantis

FROM BUILDING TO ENTREPRENEURSHIP Community leader Quint Studer last

Friday shared that he and his wife Rishy are done with building. He said, "We are taking the money from Southtowne and putting it in early childhood development and building an entrepreneurial ecosystem."

"We are taking the money from Southtowne and putting it in early childhood development and building an entrepreneurial ecosystem." Quint Studer Studer made the announcement at the meeting to launch The Spring, an entrepreneurship hub to be located in the SCI building. The Studers recently sold the Southtowne apartment complex in downtown Pensacola for $60.63 million. D.C. Reeves has transitioned from serving as Studer's chief of staff to heading the entrepreneurial initiative. Gracie Woodfin has been hired as the entrepreneurial coordinator, and Sena Maddison of FloridaWest has been helping build an entrepreneurial asset map. Studer has had Reeves visit several cities and benchmark their entrepreneur efforts. He said, "We've found entrepreneurs are looking for affordability, opportunity and vibrancy." Reeves explained that The Spring has four primary objectives—1) ensure entrepreneurs in the community are aware of all resources provided to them within the ecosystem, 2) give entrepreneurs the space to build their business, 3) provide prestigious mentoring 010 1

service to entrepreneurs and their ventures and 4) ultimately help businesses grow and stay in the Pensacola area. He said, "We will be offering entrepreneurs a space with triage and shared desk area in the SCI building, mentorship with the MIT Venture Mentor Service (VMS) and an accelerator with Gener8tor." The Spring VMS is based on the successful model used by the VMS program at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, which is tailored specifically to communities looking to bolster entrepreneurship. Studer Community Institute, UWF Center for Entrepreneurship, Pensacola State College, Greater Pensacola Chamber of Commerce, Gulf Coast Minority Chamber and FloridaWest have agreed to co-sponsor the effort. The program will offer confidential team mentoring services to entrepreneurs across the community by pairing entrepreneurs with three to four highly experienced mentors. The mentors will be trained in March and April. The Spring will begin seeking applications for the first 10 companies wanting to be mentored this spring.

GRADUATION RATES Governor Ron DeSantis last week announced that Florida's 2018-19 graduation rate increased to 86.9%, an increase of 0.8 percentage points over last year and a jump of 27.7 percentage points since 2003-04. "I applaud Florida's students, parents and educators for their hard work and dedication that led to these increased graduation rates," said Governor DeSantis. "While these results are a positive mark of

Escambia County's graduation rate improved to 84.8%, a 4.1-point jump. The gap between ECSD and the state has been closed to a 2.1% difference. "Credit for this accomplishment goes to a long list of people beginning with our parents, every teacher the student has encountered, school administrators, subject area specialists, academy teachers, coaches, guidance counselors, graduation coaches and, finally, the students themselves who have worked so hard to fulfill all of the requirements for this major milestone," said ECSD Superintendent Malcolm Thomas. However, Escambia County still trails the surrounding counties—Santa Rosa County 88.9% and Okaloosa County 87.9%. The graduation rates show Escambia County still has difficulty graduating its minority students. Black, Hispanic and two or more race students trail the state graduation rates by 2.8-3.8 percentage points. Further analysis of the data provided by the Florida Department of Education revealed that the Escambia County School District lost 680 students from its 2015-16 freshman class when it came time to calculate the Class of 2019 graduation cohort—a 20.2% decline. This happened despite the county adding an estimated 6,007 people over the same period of time. The district lost 20% of its white and black students and 30% of its students that are two or more races from 2015-16 freshman class. In contrast, Santa Rosa County picked up 74 students. How much of the loss made it possible for the Escambia County School District to report a higher graduation rate? Our colleges and universities are measured on retention. Florida public high schools are not. The Escambia County School District earned 606 points to get a B grade for the 2018-19 school year. The district was tied with Okeechobee County for 51st place out of 67 districts. Of the 25 Florida school districts with more than 30,000 students, only Polk County earned fewer total points than Escambia County.

FREE THE PEOPLE Move to Amend

stands together with a coalition of Northwest Florida organizations united against "corporate personhood" on the 10-year

anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court decision in the Citizens United case. At Free the People, representatives of human rights, environmental and faith-based organizations will gather from noon-1 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 21, in Martin Luther King Plaza for a silent vigil to recognize the damage to democracy from a decade in which corporations and unions can spend unlimited sums on political messages. The Citizens United decision granted free speech rights to corporations, allowing unlimited monies from undisclosed sources to influence the political process. "One person—one vote" has been replaced with "one dollar—one vote." Examples of what has resulted include healthcare inaccessible to millions, drastically underfunded public education, a college education out of reach for more Americans every year, weakened environmental safety enforcement that allows tragedies like the BP oil spill, stifled development of clean energy, a healthy place to live guaranteed to only some of us and the inability to pass sensible gun safety laws. Join with Move to Amend in the campaign for a constitutional amendment to abolish the two main issues that are at the root of big money corruption in government. The "We the People Amendment" establishes into law two basic truths—1) A corporation or other artificial entity is not a person with inalienable human rights and 2) Unregulated campaign financing from undisclosed sources is not free speech. Speakers from Move to Amend and various organizations will be in attendance and able to speak to local media and interested people about Citizens United and the "We the People Amendment." Organizations in attendance include Move to Amend, NAACP, 350 Pensacola, Movement for Change, Unitarian Universalist Church and others.

LEE STREET PROJECT Construction of

the Lee Street Stormwater Improvement Project began Monday, Jan. 13, providing stormwater drainage improvements to mitigate flooding issues in the area. The project is funded by FEMA through the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program, which provided funding due to repetitive flood issues adjacent to the intersection of North F Street and West Lee Street. Construction is expected to take approximately 140 days, weather permitting. Pensacola City Council awarded a contract to Site and Utility Inc. of Pensacola to complete the project. The project will include demolition of three residences at 925, 927 and 975 W. Lee St., which were acquired by the city through the HMGP funding. After the residences are demolished, a new stormwater retention pond will be constructed in the vacated area. Underground drainage infrainweekly.net

structure will also be installed to connect the new pond to the existing pond, which will reduce roadway and private property flooding in the local area as a result of high intensity rainfall events. A city construction inspector will be monitoring the contractor and project progress daily. Every effort will be made to minimize the impact during construction, and the contractor will be required to implement all necessary safety precautions onsite. Residents will be provided access to their property during construction.

MEMBERSHIP DRIVE IMPACT 100 Pensacola Bay Area had an amazing year in 2019, with 1,166 members awarding a record number of transformative grants in the amount of $106,000 each to 11 nonprofit organizations in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties. The 2020 Membership Season for IMPACT 100 Pensacola Bay Area is underway. In January, the organization has multiple IMPACT 100 Membership Events: •Meet & Greet, 4:30-6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 21, Pensacola Country Club, 1500 Bayshore Drive •IMPACT Luncheon, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m., Monday, Jan. 27, 201 E. Zaragosa St. All ladies 18 years and older are welcome to attend; no invitation necessary. For more information, please visit impact100pensacola.org. FAT CAT SOCIAL The Pensacola Humane Society's Mardi Paws Fat Cat Social is scheduled for 5:30-9 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 23, at Skopelos New World Landing, 600 S. Palafox. Grab a cocktail and party like a Fat Cat as you dance to the tunes of the Six Piece Suits. A live auction will feature a chance to win an evening at a downtown apartment for the Grand Mardi Gras Parade. In addition, the winner of a 1971 vintage Volkswagen Beetle will be announced. Tickets for the VW drawing are available online at pensacolahumane.org. Tickets are $50 per person and attire is cocktail casual. Sponsorships are also

available. Visit pensacolahumane.org to purchase tickets or sponsorships. For more information, email furball@pensacolahumane.org. All proceeds benefit the work of the Pensacola Humane Society.

LIBRARY BOARD The Escambia County Board of County Commissioners is seeking county residents interested in volunteering to be considered for an appointment to the West Florida Public Library Board of Governance. The duties of the board include establishing policy and overseeing the management of Escambia County library services and making recommendations to the BCC regarding the annual budget according to the purposes and authority set forth in resolutions, interlocal agreements and other agreements, as well as state and federal laws. These duties also include establishing an annual plan of service and the long-range strategic planning of library services. West Florida Public Libraries provides service to all of Escambia County, with the board typically meeting on the fourth Monday of the month from 4-6:30 p.m. Residents interested in serving on the board are asked to submit a resume and letter indicating their desire to serve by close of business on Wednesday, Feb. 5. Resumes should be submitted to Todd J. Humble, Director, West Florida Public Libraries, 239 N. Spring St., Pensacola, FL, 32502, or by email to tjhumble@mywfpl.com. VETERAN MENTOR Escambia County

Veterans Treatment Court Judge Gary Bergosh is hosting a kick-off event for the Veteran Mentor program 5:30-7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 29, Artel Gallery, 223 S. Palafox. Veterans Treatment Court was initiated in 2015 in Escambia County as a proactive response to justice-involved veterans with non-violent criminal conduct related to mental health and substance abuse issues stemming from military service. The program allows honorably discharged veterans the opportunity to engage in the closely monitored program that requires regular court appearances (a weekly

minimum in the early phase of the program), as well as mandatory attendance at treatment sessions and frequent and random testing for substance use. "Since establishing Escambia's Veterans Treatment Court, we have seen decreased incarceration for military veteran non-violent offenders and an increase in the number of veterans receiving substance and mental health assistance," said Judge Bergosh, a retired Marine Corps officer.

"Since establishing Escambia's Veterans Treatment Court, we have seen decreased incarceration for military veteran non-violent offenders and an increase in the number of veterans receiving substance and mental health assistance." Gary Bergosh For more information, contact Carol Henry at carol.henry@flcourts1.gov or visit justiceforvets.org.

NEIGHBORHOOD CLEAN-UP The 2020 Mayor's Neighborhood Cleanup Schedule is now available, with the first cleanup of the year scheduled for Saturday, Jan. 25, in the downtown area. Through the Mayor's Neighborhood Cleanup program, all city neighborhoods have a cleanup once a year during the months of January through October. In addition to Sanitation Services collecting items left at the curb, Code Enforcement conducts a sweep of the cleanup area and addresses any code violations. The Mayor's Neighborhood Cleanup allows residents in the cleanup areas to leave eligible items at the curb on cleanup day to be picked up by City of Pensacola Sanitation Services. The cleanup includes bulk items such as household appliances, furniture and mattresses, bicycles and toys, tires and old paint.

More information about each cleanup will be sent out and published on the City of Pensacola website prior to the cleanup date. Residents will also receive a postcard in the mail with their cleanup date.

PET ADOPTIONS The Escambia County Animal Shelter is offering a special reduced adoption fee of $50 for all dogs and puppies and $20 for all cats and kittens through Friday, Jan 31. Adoption fees include spay and neutering services, microchip, heartworm test and the initial vaccinations, including rabies vaccinations. Escambia County residents will be required to purchase a license at the time of adoption. This is an additional $11 over the adoption fees and is paid separately. The Escambia County Animal Shelter is located at 200 W. Fairfield Drive and is open Monday-Friday from noon-5 p.m. and Saturday 10 a.m.- 4 p.m. MARK YOUR CALENDAR Architectural Review Board will meet 2 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 16, Pensacola City Hall, 222 W. Main St., Hagler-Mason Conference Room, Second Floor. City Council will meet at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 16, Pensacola City Hall, 222 W. Main St., Council Chambers, First Floor. The Florida-Alabama Transportation Planning Organization is hosting a Long Range Transportation Plan (LRTP) Steering Committee meeting 9 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2nd Floor Conference Room, Pensacola City Hall, 222 W. Main St. Commissioner Jeff Bergosh will host his 30th Coffee with the Commissioner from 6:30-7:30 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 22, Hardee's, 2500 Wilde Lake Blvd. Escambia Board of County Commissioners meets 9 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 23, Ernie Lee Magaha Government Building, 221 S. Palafox. Escambia County Democratic Women's Club will meet 11:45 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 23, Tryon Branch Library, 1200 Langley Ave. The guest speaker is Michael Gilbert, professor of Government and History at Pensacola State College. {in}

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inweekly.net

12/30/19 2:08 PM

WEEK OF JANUARY 16-23

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

A Timely Yet Timeless Tale By Savannah Evanoff

Paper costume sketch and photo of the design in production / Courtesy of Pensacola Opera

The #MeToo Movement wasn't around when Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart created the opera "Don Giovanni," but uniting against sexual harassment and assault was. Jerome Shannon, the artistic director of the Pensacola Opera, said the opera opens with the character Don Giovanni trying to force himself on a young woman. As the show continues, several characters unite, finding him their common enemy. "These three or four different characters have all been wronged by Giovanni that would not normally be allies and all join together as an alliance to work on bringing him down," Shannon said. "What I always say is we're meeting this guy Don Giovanni on what is going to be the worst day of his life. Everything he tries to do fails … I think the moral to the story is you see him dragged out to hell. That's what happens." He and Fenlon Lamb, the stage director, agree Pensacola Opera's performance of "Don Giovanni" is especially relevant in light of Harvey Weinstein's trial beginning. January 16, 2020

"It's pretty timely I think, and it is a timeless story," Lamb said. "People ask me, 'Why tell these old stories?' and I keep saying, 'Because we haven't learned the lessons from them yet.'" In an equally timely turn of events, Lamb, a freelance director, is Pensacola Opera's first female stage director. Lamb grew up thinking she could do anything—her parents raised her that way, she said. "I was an opera singer first for about 15 years, and when I switched over to being a director, it didn't even dawn on me that I would be in power or would be an example," Lamb said. "It just made so much sense for me. Now I look at it, and I have to mind my Ps and Qs and do a great job and create opportunities for the younger generation." Lamb thinks it's important to engage different voices in opera. Like conductors, female directors are uncommon, Lamb said. Classical music is largely male based, she said. "It's only in the past five or 10 years that women have been climbing up and saying,

cally turns them into paper. It tells a story very strongly about what his feelings about women are. They're disposable." The music is as timeless as its storyline. Shannon calls the opera a masterpiece, explaining it came from one of Mozart's most productive periods of life. "There's a few people who I always wonder what music would be like had they lived longer, and he is definitely one of them," Shannon said. "He died when he was 33 years old, and you wonder, where would classical music be today had he lived a full life?" Mozart excelled in chamber, symphonic, piano and choral music, Shannon said. He had a gift for melody. "Mozart has this ability to create ensemble work by starting with one or two characters and it grows to three or four and more and you have this incredible ensemble going on," Shannon said. "People can be standing on the stage together and all be expressing a different thought from the person next to them. However, it all makes sense because they're singing together." While the opera is traditional, Pensacola Opera's performance won't be. The elegant music inspired Shannon to change the time period of the show to the 1920s. "The music feels like it's elegance from the art-deco period—long, slim-lined, gentlemen in tails and formal wear and this façade of civilized society, and underneath is this undercurrent of evil," Shannon said. "It makes it a little more accessible," Lamb said. "Sometimes when it's way back in a period style, it's a little far from our psyche." Pensacola Opera hasn't performed "Don Giovanni" since 2002, which motivated Shannon even further to switch things up. "There was a guy that used to run the Metropolitan Opera in New York, Rudolf Bin, that used to say, 'I have to find new frames for great masterpieces,'" Shannon said. "We found a new frame." {in}

'Hey, we're just as good at this,'" Lamb said. "I direct around the United States now, and there are some companies that just haven't had the opportunity (to have a woman direct). It's always great to know I'm getting the opportunity to be in a place a woman has never been. We tell the story in a slightly different way. We have a different perspective." Lamb is also the director of Papermoon Opera Productions, which creates set pieces and costumes out of paper. Maureen Thomas, the costume designer, created three paper looks for the women in Pensacola Opera's "Don Giovanni." "Often we create these paper sets and paper costumes, and people don't recognize that's true, WHAT: Pensacola Opera performs Mozart's 'Oh, that couldn't be paper; that's "Don Giovanni" fabric or wood,'" Lamb said. "What's WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 24, and 2 p.m. particularly special about it this time Sunday, Jan. 26 is it has a real dramaturgical edge. It WHERE: Saenger Theatre, 118 S. Palafox actually tells the story. We're creating looks for these women so that after COST: Starting at $25 Don Giovanni has his way with them DETAILS: pensacolaopera.com or has interacted with them, he basi-

DON GIOVANNI

3 COURSES, $33 PER RESTAURANT G RE AT S OUT H E RN RE STAU RA NT S PRE SE N T S

m January 20–26 n The Fish House, Jackson’s Steakhouse, Atlas Oyster House, Five Sisters Blues Café and Angelena’s Ristorante Italiano present a seven-day culinary celebration offering chef-selected three course dinner menus at $33 per person, per restaurant. Menus available each day at 5 p.m., Monday, January 20, through Sunday, January 26.

View complete menus at greatsouthernrestaurants.com 414 1

inweekly.net

calendar p.m. End of the Line Café, 610 E. Wright St. Sign up for the newsletter for menu. eotlcafe.com THIRD THURSDAY MEDITATION 7 p.m. Ever'man Educational Center, 327 W. Garden St. everman.org TODD SNIDER 7 p.m. $20-$65. Vinyl Music Hall, 2 S. Palafox. vinylmusichall.com WAITRESS THE MUSICAL 7:30 p.m. $58 and up. Saenger Theatre, 118 S. Palafox. pensacolasaenger.com

FRIDAY 1.17

EVER'MAN COOKS: 30 MINUTE MEALS WITH BACKYARD BOHEMIAN 11 a.m. Ever'man Educa-

tional Center, 327 W. Garden St. everman.org

MEXICAN STREET FOOD LUNCH AND LEARN

Noon. $25. So Gourmet, 407-D S. Palafox. sogourmetpensacola.com HARMONY PARK GRAND OPENING 3:30-4:30 p.m. Englewood Park, 2751 N. H St. GALLERY NIGHT: LUNAR NEW YEAR 5-9 p.m. Live performances, Chinese lanterns, food trucks and live music. South Palafox. gallerynightpensacola.org HAPPY HOUR COOKOUT 5 p.m. Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. sevillequarter.com THE BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS OF NORTHWEST FLORIDA: THE BIG GALA 6 p.m. $175.

Rising Appalachia / Photo Courtesy of Mason Jar Media

THURSDAY 1.16

WORK ON THE FLORIDA TRAIL 8 a.m.-12:30

p.m. Every Thursday. Three miles north of Deaton Bridge Road. meetup.com/ftawesterngate YOGA WITHIN REACH 9-10 a.m. Free. Community Health Northwest Florida, 2315 W. Jackson St., Room A. healthcarewithinreach.org COMMUNITY PILATES 9 a.m. Ever'man Educational Center, 327 W. Garden St. everman.org SOUTHWEST BRANCH BOOKCLUB 10:30 a.m. Southwest Branch Library, 2248 Gulf Beach Highway. mywfpl.com BAPTIST HEALTHCARE: COOKING WITH CRUZ

Noon. Ever'man Educational Center, 327 W. Garden St. everman.org NEW YEAR NEW YOU: LUNCH AND LEARN WITH CHRISTIAN HEALTH EXPERT SUSAN NEAL Noon-1:30 p.m. $20. Bodacious

Bookstore and Café, 110 E. Intendencia St. facebook.com/bodaciousbookstore PARASITE 1 p.m. $7 (cash only). Studer Community Institute, 220 W. Garden St. pensacolacinemaart.com

BOOKS WITH BALLPLAYERS 3-4 p.m. Boda-

cious Bookstore and Café, 110 E. Intendencia St. facebook.com/bodaciousbookstore UNCUT GEMS 4 p.m. $7 (cash only). Studer Community Institute, 220 W. Garden St. pensacolacinemaart.com VETERANS' MEETING 4 p.m. Ever'man Educational Center, 327 W. Garden St. everman.org WUWF BOOK CLUB SALON: WHERE THE CRAWDADS SING 5-7 p.m. Kingfisher, 1500

Barrancas Ave. pbc.guru/wuwf AWM WINE TASTING 5-7 p.m. Free. Aragon Wine Market, 27 S. Ninth Ave. facebook. com/aragonwine YAPPY HOUR 5-10 p.m. Through Feb. 27. 5% of proceeds benefit Escambia County Animal Shelter. Red Fish Blue Fish, 5B Via De Luna Drive. redfishbluefishpensacolabeach.com JAZZ IT UP WITH JEWELRY 6 p.m. Pensacola Library 239 N. Spring St. mywfpl.com ZUMBA WITH SHANNON AND FRIENDS 6-7 p.m. $4. Homestead Community Center, 7830 Pine Forest Road. END OF THE LINE THURSDAY DINNER 6-9

Skopelos at New World, 600 S. Palafox. bbbsnwfl.org ACOUSTIC SONGWRITERS NIGHT 6 p.m. Every Friday through March 27. Frazier's Country Wines, 3130 Barrancas Ave. fromthegroundupgardenpensacola.com CAPITOL STEPS 7:30 p.m. $40. WUWF MemberCard holders receive 10% off. Saenger Theatre, 118 S. Palafox. pensacolasaenger.com GLOW BOWL 9 p.m.-1 a.m. Every Friday and Saturday. $12 per person. Strikerz Entertainment Center, 3200 N. Palafox St.

SATURDAY 1.18

PARKRUN/WALK MEETUP 7:30 a.m. University

of West Florida, Rec Plex North Field, 11000 University Parkway. parkrun.us/recplexnorth VOTER REGISTRATION AT T&W FLEA MARKET 8 a.m.-noon. Volunteers with Elizabeth

Warren's campaign will be registering people to vote and providing information on issues. T&W Flea Market, 1717 N. T St.

MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. PRAYER BREAKFAST

8 a.m. Wright Place, 80 W. Wright St. gcmcc.info

OCEAN HOUR CLEAN-UP 9-10 a.m. Two sites,

both on Scenic Highway—Bay Bluffs Park at Summit Boulevard and Chimney Park at Langley Avenue. oceanhourfl.com SANTA ROSA FARMERS MARKET 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Fresh local produce, honey, baked goods and live music. Pace Presbyterian Church, Woodbine Road. PALAFOX MARKET 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Fresh produce, live plants, baked goods, fine art and antiques. Items originate directly from participating vendors, including dozens of local farmers, home gardeners and area artists. Martin Luther King Jr. Plaza, N. Palafox. palafoxmarket.com YOU SELL IT HERE FARMER'S MARKET 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Free admission. Every Saturday. 8600 Pensacola Blvd. facebook.com/yousellithere LEAPS 10 a.m. Ever'man Educational Center, 327 W. Garden St. everman.org KITTEN & CAT ADOPTIONS Noon-5 p.m. Every Saturday and Sunday in January. PetSmart, 6251 N. Davis Highway. aaflorida.org ANTI-INFLAMMATORY LIFESTYLE 12:30 p.m. Ever'man Educational Center, 327 W. Garden St. everman.org BIKE PENSACOLA CRAZY SOCKS RIDE 1:30-5 p.m. Cordova Square, 1101 N. 12th Ave. facebook.com/bikepensacola NATURAL HEALING 2 p.m. Ever'man Educational Center, 327 W. Garden St. everman.org GREAT AMERICAN CHILI COOK-OFF 4-6 p.m. $10. Proceeds go to Five Flags Sertoma Club. Phineas Phogg's at Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. sevillequarter.com PUBLIC ICE SKATE 4:30 p.m. $9-$12. Pensacola Bay Center, 201 E. Gregory St. pensacolabaycenter.com PIRATES OF LOST TREASURE OIL BARON'S BALL 6:30-11 p.m. $50 per person, $85 per

couple. Grand Hotel, 200 E. Gregory St. To purchase tickets, contact vickie.jean.powers@gmail.com SATURDAY SWING OUTS 8 p.m. $5. Saturdays. Breathe Yoga Studio, 505 S. Adams St. BIGWIG 8 p.m. $18. Vinyl Music Hall, 2 S. Palafox. vinylmusichall.com JEREMY'S TEN: A PEARL JAM TRIBUTE 8 p.m. $12-$30. Vinyl Music Hall, 2 S. Palafox. vinylmusichall.com GLOW BOWL 9 p.m.-1 a.m. Every Friday and Saturday. $12 per person. Strikerz Entertainment Center, 3200 N. Palafox.

Stock Market Losses? Hire a lawyer who is a former Merril Lynch stock broker. Adoption • Paternity • Dependency/DCF Hearings Prenuptial Agreements • Postnuptial Agreements Divorce • Child Custody and Timesharing Child Support • Child Support Modifications Alimony • Collaborative Divorce • Divorce Mediation • Pre-Suit Family Law Mediation

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calendar SUNDAY 1.19

THEMED BRUNCH AT PERFECT PLAIN 10 a.m.

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

TRANSMISSION MEDITATION WORLD SERVICE

10:30 a.m. Ever'man Educational Center, 327 W. Garden St. everman.org ASHTANGA YOGA WITH GARY JR. 10:30 a.m. $12. Gary's Brewery and Biergarten, 208 Newman Ave. facebook.com/garysbrew BRUNCH WITH LIVE MUSIC 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Café Single Fin, 380 N. Ninth Ave. facebook.com/cafesinglefin VEGAN BRUNCH 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Sign up for the newsletter for menu. End of the Line Café, 610 E. Wright St. eotlcafe.com SUNDAY BRUNCH AT H20 11 a.m. $28.95 for adults. Free valet parking and 15% off with local ID. H20 Hilton, 12 Via De Luna Drive. facebook.com/hiltonpensacolabeach KITTEN & CAT ADOPTIONS Noon-5 p.m. Every Saturday & Sunday in January. PetSmart, 6251 N. Davis Highway. aaflorida.org USUI REIKI 1 WITH TONYA MORRIS 1-4 p.m. $100. Asher & Bee Apothecary and Tea House, 7 E. Gregory St. facebook.com/ asherandbee PUBLIC ICE SKATE 1:30 p.m. $9-$12. Pensacola Bay Center, 201 E. Gregory St. pensacolabaycenter.com MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. GOSPEL PROGRAM

3 p.m. Greater Union Baptist Church, 1300 N. Guillemard St. gcmcc.info BIG JIM BROWN AND THE SPEEDKINGS 3-5

p.m. Dolce and Gelato, 2050 N. 12th Ave. facebook.com/dolcegelatopensacola TRANSGENDER ALLIANCE 4 p.m. Ever'man Educational Center, 327 W. Garden St. everman.org RISING APPALACHIA 8 p.m. $20-$25. Vinyl Music Hall, 2 S. Palafox. vinylmusichall.com

SEVILLE QUARTER MILERS 6 p.m. Runners

meet in front of Seville Quarter for a run around downtown Pensacola. Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. sevillequarter.com

CROHN'S AND COLITIS SUPPORT GROUP

MONDAY 1.20

6:30 p.m. Ever'man Educational Center, 327 W. Garden St. everman.org BRITISH LION 8 p.m. $28.50-$33.50. Vinyl Music Hall, 2 S. Palafox. vinylmusichall.com

gcmcc.info

TUESDAY 1.21

MLK PARADE 11 a.m. Downtown Pensacola. MAKE HEALTH HAPPEN 11 a.m. Ever'man

Educational Center, 327 W. Garden St. everman.org

GREAT SOUTHERN RESTAURANTS WINTER RESTAURANT WEEK 5 p.m. Through Jan. 26. All

Great Southern Restaurants—The Fish House, Atlas Oyster House, Jackson's Steakhouse, Five Sisters Blues Café, Angelena's. Three courses for $33. greatsouthernrestaurants.com RESTORATIVE PILATES 5:15 p.m. Ever'man Educational Center, 327 W. Garden St. everman.org VEGAN COOKING CLASS 6 p.m. $25. Red beans and rice with tofu, muffuletta stuffed mushrooms, bananas foster cake with caramel sauce. End of the Line Café, 610 E. Wright St. eotlcafe.com CAST IRON RIBEYE & CRAB CAKE COOKING CLASS 6 p.m. $65. So Gourmet, 407-D S.

Palafox. sogourmetpensacola.com

THE ODDLING TROT 6 p.m. Mondays. Join Odd

Colony running club for a three-mile run and enjoy $2 off after the run. Odd Colony Brewing Co., 260 N. Palafox. facebook.com/oddcolony

COUNTRY TWO-STEP DANCING 6:30 p.m. $12. Whiskey Runners Saloon, 610 E. Nine Mile Road. dancecraftstudios.com PENSACOLA BAY BALLROOM DANCE CLUB 7 p.m. $5 for members, $10 for guests. Sanders Beach, 913 S. I St. HAWTHORNE HEIGHTS 7 p.m. $20-$25. Vinyl Music Hall, 2 S. Palafox. vinylmusichall.com

WEDNESDAY 1.22

JOHN APPLEYARD TALK: STREET CARS AND TROLLIES 9 a.m. Pensacola Visitor Informa-

COMMUNITY PILATES 10:30 a.m. Ever'man Educational Center, 327 W. Garden St. everman.org

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

SEWING AND QUILTING WITH STEAM FOR GROWNUPS 11:30 a.m. Tryon Branch Li-

tion Center, 1401 E. Gregory St.

munity Health Northwest Florida, 2315 W. Jackson St., Room A. healthcarewithinreach.org SNOWBIRD FLY-IN 10 a.m.-noon. National Naval Aviation Museum, 1750 Radford Blvd., Ste. B. ASTARA STUDY GROUP 1:30 p.m. Ever'man Educational Center, 327 W. Garden St. everman.org COMPLIMENTARY WINE TASTING 4-6 p.m. Bodacious, 407-D S. Palafox. sogourmetpensacola.com SIGN MAKING 6 p.m. Molino Branch Library: 6450-A Highway 95A. mywfpl.com FUNKY YOGA 6 p.m. Free. Ever'man Educational Center, 327 W. Garden St. everman.org ZUMBA WITH SHANNON AND FRIENDS 6-7 p.m. $4. Homestead Community Center, 7830 Pine Forest Road.

brary: 1200 Langley Ave. mywfpl.com

YOGA HOUR Noon. Southwest Branch Library,

12248 Gulf Beach Highway. mywfpl.com

FRESH GULF SEAFOOD COOKING CLASS 6

p.m. $60. So Gourmet, 407-D. S. Palafox. sogourmetpensacola.com VINYASA YOGA 6 p.m. Ever'man Educational Center, 327 W. Garden St. everman.org WEST COAST SWING DANCING 6:30 p.m. $12. Whiskey Runners Saloon, 610 E. Nine Mile Road. dancecraftstudios.com XARIS WALTMAN 7-8:30 p.m. Odd Colony Brewing Co., 260 N. Palafox. facebook. com/oddcolony TRANSMISSION GROUP WORLD SERVICE MEDITATION 7:15 p.m. Ever'man Education-

al Center, 327 W. Garden St. everman.org SPAFFORD 8 p.m. $20-$79. Vinyl Music Hall, 2 S. Palafox. vinylmusichall.com

BURGERS AND BORDEAUX EVERY TUESDAY NIGHT AT UPH

Chappie James Museum Presents:

SPECIALTY BURGER AND A GLASS OF BORDEAUX FOR $18

General Daniel “Chappie” James Fundraiser event in celebration of his 100th birthday

When: February 9, 2020

Where: Sanders Beach-Corinne Jones Resource Center 913 South “I” Street

Time: 2:00-7:00 p.m. | Semi-Formal Attire | $65 per person Purchase tickets at the museum:

1606 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr Dr. | 850-542-4721 616 1

309 SOUTH REUS ST. | 850.607.6320 inweekly.net

www.radiofreepensacola.com January 16, 2020

calendar Arts & Culture

≥Events

ARTIST TALK: MATT MITCHELL 5:30

p.m. reception, artist talk at 6 p.m. Free. Friday, Jan. 17. Pensacola Museum of Art, 407 S. Jefferson St. pensacolamuseum.org

FAMILY SUNDAY: RAINBOW WEAVING 1-4 p.m.

Sunday, Jan. 19. Pensacola Museum of Art, 407 S. Jefferson St. pensacolamuseum.org

PMA GALLERY TOURS 2:30 p.m.

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

≥Current Exhibits PIGMENT OF OUR IMAGINATION On

view through Jan.

818 1

10. Artel Gallery, 223 S. Palafox. artelgallery.org BEIRUT: PHOTOGRAPHS BY JOHN BECHTOLD On view

through Jan. 19. Pensacola Museum of Art, 407 S. Jefferson St. pensacolamuseum.org 100 FACES OF WAR EXPERIENCE On view

through Jan. 19 at Pensacola Museum of Art. Traveling exhibit from Smithsonian. Pensacola Museum of Art, 407 S. Jefferson St. pensacolamuseum.org

POINTS OF DEPARTURE On view

through Jan. 23. TAG, 11000 University Parkway, Bldg. 82. NEW BLUES On view through Jan. 31. Blue Morning Gallery, 21 S. Palafox. bluemorninggallery.com JOHN MARKOWITZ: RECENT WORKS On

view through Feb. 2.

Pensacola Museum of Art, 407 S. Jefferson St. pensacolamuseum.org GALLERY 1060'S GREATEST HITS On

view Jan. 15 through Feb. 28. First City Art Center, 1060 N. Guillemard St. firstcityart.org

COTTON FIELDS TO CONGRESS: THE LIFE AND CAREER OF EARL HUTTO On

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

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

Workshops & Classes

FIBER 101: NEEDLE-

FELTING 5-7 p.m. Jan.

16. Studio South, 955 E. Nine Mile Road. studiosouthon9mileroad.com

INTERCHANGEABLE CUSTOM SIGN CLASS

1-3 p.m. Jan. 18. $45 per person. Alyssa's Antiques, 4586 Chumuckla Highway. shopalyssas.com

CRAFTING 101: THE PAINTED SIGN 12-

2 p.m. Jan. 18. Studio South, 955 E. Nine Mile Road. studiosouthon9mileroad.com

MARDI GRAS WREATH CLASS 3-5

p.m. Jan. 19 or 6-8 p.m. Jan. 23. $45.99 per person. Alyssa's Antiques, 4586 Chumuckla Highway. shopalyssas.com

CRAFTING 101: THE HERB GARDEN 5:30-

7:30 p.m. Jan. 20. Studio South, 955 E. Nine Mile Road. studiosouthon9mileroad.com

CROCHET 201: THE HAT 5-7:30 p.m. Jan.

22. Studio South, 955 E. Nine Mile Road. studiosouthon9mileroad.com

FIBER FREESTYLIN' AT STUDIO SOUTH

5:30-7:30 p.m. Tuesdays. Open to all knitters, crocheters, weavers and more. Studio South, 955 E. Nine Mile Road. studiosouthon9mileroad.com POTTERY ON THE WHEEL Six-week

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

POTTERY ON THE WHEEL Every Mon-

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

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

CLAY SCULPTURE

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

Call for Artists Jazz Pensacola

invites fine artists/ graphic designers to submit renderings for the official 2020 Pensacola JazzFest poster. The commission is $300. 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—2020 Pensacola JazzFest. The submission deadline is Jan. 6, 2020. If selected, the completed art deadline is Feb. 28, 2020. For more information, call Jazz Pensacola administrator Alice Crann Good at 433-8382, Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., or visit jazzpensacola.com.

Bars & Nightlife

≥Live Music

THURSDAY 1.16

BOBBY VAN DEUSEN

5:30 p.m. The District, 123 E. Government St. districtsteaks.com LIVE MUSIC 6 p.m. Five Sisters Blues Café, 421 W. Belmont St. fivesistersbluescafe.com LIVE MUSIC 6 p.m.

inweekly.net

January 16, 2020

calendar Peg Leg Pete's, 1010 Fort Pickens Road. peglegpetes.com BLOO GAROO 7 p.m. Hub Stacey's 312 E. Government St. hubstaceys.com OPEN COLLEGE JAM WITH MIKE BOCCIA

7:30 p.m. Goat Lips Chew and Brewhouse, 2811 Copter Road. DUELING PIANOS

8 p.m. Rosie O' Grady's Dueling Piano Show. Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. sevillequarter.com OPEN MIC/JAM 8-11 p.m. Goat Lips Brewhouse, 2811 Copter Road. Use our instruments or bring your own. RAISING KARMA 8 p.m. Sandshaker Lounge, 731 Pensacola Beach Blvd. sandshaker.com SAUCY FUZZ 9 p.m. End O' the Alley Courtyard, Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. sevillequarter.com LIVE DJ: MR. LAO

10 p.m. Phineas Phogg's, Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. sevillequarter.com

FRIDAY 1.17

LIVE JAZZ WITH JOE OCCHIPINTI Noon.

The Drowsy Poet Coffee Co., 655 Pensacola Beach Blvd. LIVE MUSIC 6 p.m. Five Sisters Blues Café, 421 W. Belmont St. fivesistersbluescafe.com LIVE MUSIC 6 p.m. Peg Leg Pete's, 1010 Fort Pickens Road. peglegpetes.com RAY 'BIG DOG' COLEY

@VOLUMEONESALON 020 2

6-9 p.m. Cazadores Mexican Restaurant 8183 W. Fairfield. NICK SCHNEBELEN 6 p.m. Paradise Bar & Grill, 21 Via de Luna. paradisebar-grill.com JOHN RIPLEY 6:30 p.m. The District, 123 E. Government St. districtsteaks.com MIKE BOCCIA 7:45

p.m. Goat Lips Chew and Brewhouse, 2811 Copter Road. DUELING PIANOS

8 p.m. Rosie O' Grady's Dueling Piano Show. Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. sevillequarter.com

MIKE & FRIENDS

8 p.m.-midnight. Goat Lips Brewhouse, 2811 Copter Road. CROSSTOWN 8 p.m. Hub Stacey's 312 E. Government St. hubstaceys.com JAY WILLIAMS BAND

9 p.m. Sandshaker Lounge, 731 Pensacola Beach Blvd. sandshaker.com CHRIS 9 p.m. End O' the Alley, Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. sevillequarter.com THE RED FIELD 9 p.m. Lili Marlene's, Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. sevillequarter.com LIVE DJ: MR. LAO

10 p.m. Phineas Phogg's, Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. sevillequarter.com HIGH DEMAND 10 p.m. Apple Annie's, Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. sevillequarter.com

SATURDAY 1.18

LIVE JAZZ WITH JOE OCCHIPINTI 10 a.m.

The Drowsy Poet Coffee Co., 655 Pensacola Beach Blvd. LIVE MUSIC Noon4 p.m. Peg Leg Pete's, 1010 Fort Pickens Road. peglegpetes.com LIVE MUSIC 6 p.m. Five Sisters Blues Café, 421 W. Belmont St. fivesistersbluescafe.com AL MARTIN 6-11 p.m. The Piano Bar, Quality Inn, 7601 Scenic Highway. SALLY & GEORGE 6 p.m. Paradise Bar & Grill, 21 Via de Luna. paradisebar-grill.com LIVE MUSIC 6 p.m. Peg Leg Pete's, 1010

Fort Pickens Road. peglegpetes.com AL MARTIN 6:30 p.m. The District Steakhouse, 123 E. Government St. sevillequarter.com DUELING PIANO SHOW 8 p.m. Rosie

O'Grady's, Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. sevillequarter.com OPEN MIC/JAM 8 p.m.-midnight. Goat Lips Brewhouse, 2811 Copter Road. Use provided instruments or bring your own. JAY WILLIAMS BAND

9 p.m. Sandshaker Lounge, 731 Pensacola Beach Blvd. sandshaker.com COLM KELLY 9 p.m. McGuire's Irish Pub, 600 E. Gregory St. mcguiresirishpub.com THE RED FIELD 9 p.m. Lili Marlene's, Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. sevillequarter.com CHRIS 9 p.m. End O' the Alley, Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. sevillequarter.com LIVE DJ: MR. LAO

10 p.m. Phineas Phogg's, Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. sevillequarter.com HIGH DEMAND 10 p.m. Apple Annie's, Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. sevillequarter.com

SUNDAY 1.19

CYNTHIA NEVES DOMULOT 11 a.m.

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

LIVE MUSIC Noon-

4 p.m. Peg Leg Pete's, 1010 Fort Pickens Road. peglegpetes.com

GOSPEL AT GOAT LIPS WITH HOST CLINT DAVIS 12:45-

3:15 p.m. Goat Lips Chew and Brewhouse, 11 Copter Road. SALLY & GEORGE 3 p.m. Paradise Bar & Grill, 21 Via de Luna. paradisebar-grill.com LEKTRIC MULLET 4-8 p.m. Sandshaker Lounge, 731 Pensacola Beach Blvd. sandshaker.com OPEN MIC/JAM 4-10 p.m. Goat Lips Brewhouse, 2811 Copter Road. Use our instruments or bring your own. LIVE MUSIC 6 p.m. Peg Leg Pete's, 1010 Fort Pickens Road. peglegpetes.com DOUG AND JIMMY'S MUSCIAL CHAIRS 9

p.m. End O' the Alley, Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. sevillequarter.com

MONDAY 1.20

JOE OCCHIPINTI'S JAZZABOUTS 11 a.m.-1

p.m. The Drowsy Poet Coffee Company, 86 Brent Lane. LIVE MUSIC 6 p.m. Peg Leg Pete's, 1010 Fort Pickens Road. peglegpetes.com JAZZ GUMBO 6:30 p.m. $10-$12, free for students with ID or military in uniform. Phineas Phogg's at Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. sevillequarter.com MONDAY NIGHT BLUES 7 p.m. Ghost

CURT BOL JAZZ QUARTET 11 a.m. Five

Sisters Blues Café, 421 W. Belmont St.

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

JAZZ BRUNCH WITH AL ALVARADO 11

HIGH DEMAND DUO 9 p.m. End O'

a.m.-2 p.m. McGuire's Irish Pub, 600 E. Gregory St. jazzpensacola.com

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

for more listings visit inweekly.net inweekly.net

66 Positive things to say

You can make a difference in a child’s life 1. I’m grateful for you. 2. You make me proud. 3. Your words are meaningful. 4. You have great ideas. 5. I love being your parent. 6. You don’t have to be perfect to be great. 7. Your opinions matter. 8. You are important. 9. You are loved. 10. I believe you. 11. I believe in you. 12. This family wouldn’t be the same without you. 13. You are valuable. 14. You can say no. 15. You can say yes. 16. I know you did your best. 17. You were right. 18. I accept who you are. 19. We can try your way. 20. You are helpful. 21. You are worth it.

22. You make me happy. 23. I love your creativity. 24. Being around you is fun. 25. I can’t wait to hear about it. 26. Don’t be afraid to be you. 27. You’re making a difference. 28. I’m excited to spend time with you. 29. You are interesting. 30. I love seeing the world your way. 31. It’s good to be curious. 32. I love the way you tell stories. 33. What you did was awesome. 34. I admire you. 35. That’s a great question. 36. Your friends are lucky to have you. 37. I trust you. 38. That was a really good choice. 39. Seeing you happy makes me happy. 40. Being your parent is my favorite job. 41. I forgive you. 42. You make me better. 43. You are a good boy/girl. 44. Thank you for being you.

45. I’m so glad you’re here. 46. You look great. 47. I understand you. 48. Watching you grow up is the best. 49. That was really brave. 50. I appreciate you. 51. Everyone makes mistakes. 52. Yes, me too. 53. You are very good at that! 54. You can try again tomorrow. 55. No one is perfect. 56. I love how you said that. 57. Not everyone will like you, but that’s OK. 58. You did that so well. 59. I’m listening. 60. That’s a fair point. 61. You are beautiful inside and out. 62. I love you. 63. I will never stop loving you. 64. You are enough. 65. You make my heart full. 66. You are kind. SOURCE: ALESSIA SANTORA, POPSUGAR MOMS

studeri.org The Studer Community Institute is a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Its mission is to improve the quality of life for people in the Pensacola metro area.

Build a Brain • Build a Life • Build a Community January 16, 2020

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free will astrology WEEK OF JANUARY 16 ARIES (MARCH 21-APRIL 19): Comedian

John Cleese has an insight I hope you'll consider. He says, "It's easier to do trivial things that are urgent than it is to do important things that are not urgent. It's also easier to do little things we know we can do than to start on big things that we're not so sure about." I hope you'll make this advice a priority in the coming weeks. You'll be wise to prioritize important tasks, even those that aren't urgent, as you de-emphasize trivial matters that tempt you to think they're crucial. Focus on big things that are challenging rather than on little things that are a snap.

TAURUS (APRIL 20-MAY 20): Author Honoré Balzac (1799–1850) was born with sun and Mercury in Taurus and in the 10th house. Astrologers might hypothesize from these placements that he was ambitious, productive, tenacious, diligent, realistic and willful. The evidence supporting this theory is strong. Balzac wrote over 80 novels that displayed a profound and nuanced understanding of the human comedy. I predict that 2020 will be a year when you could make dramatic progress in cultivating a Balzac-like approach in your own sphere. But here's a caveat—Balzac didn't take good care of his body. He drank far too much coffee and had a careless approach to eating and sleeping. My hope is that as you hone your drive for success, you'll be impeccable in tending to your health. GEMINI (MAY 21-JUNE 20): Before he

was 21 years old, William Shakespeare and his wife had birthed three kids. When he was 25, while the brood was still young, he started churning out literary masterpieces. By the time Will became a grandfather at age 43, he had written many of the works that ultimately made him one of history's most illustrious authors. From this evidence, we might speculate that being a parent and husband heightened his creative flow. I bring this to your attention because I want to ask you—What role will commitment and duty and devotion play in your life during the coming months? (I suspect it'll be a good one.)

CANCER (JUNE 21-JULY 22): Cancerian-born painter Stanley Spencer (1891– 1959) didn't align himself with any artistic movement. Early on, his work was an odd blend of French Post-Impressionism and 14th-century Italian painting. I appreciate his stylistic independence and suggest you draw inspiration from it in 2020. Another unique aspect of Spencer's art was its mix of eroticism and religiosity. I think you'll enjoy exploring that blend yourself in the coming months. Your spiritual and sexual longings could be quite synergistic. There's one part of Spencer's quirky nature I don't recommend you imitate, however. He often wore pajamas beneath his clothes, even to formal occasions. Doing that wouldn't serve your interests. (But it will be healthy

By Rob Brezsny

for you to be *somewhat* indifferent to people's opinions.)

LEO (JULY 23-AUG. 22): Johannes Gutenberg invented the printing press in the 1440s. In subsequent decades, millions of mass-produced books became available for the first time, making their contents available to a far wider audience than ever before. The printing press caused other changes, too—some not as positive. For instance, people who worked as scribes found it harder to get work. In our era, big culturewide shifts are impacting our personal lives. Climate change, the internet, smart phones, automation and human-like robots are just a few examples. What are doing to adjust to the many innovations? And what will you do in the future? Now is an excellent time to meditate on these issues. VIRGO (AUG. 23-SEPT. 22): You're skilled at the art of self-editing. When bright new ideas well up in you, you understand they are not yet ready for prime time but will need to be honed and finessed. When your creativity overflows, tantalizing you with fresh perspectives and novel approaches, you know that you'll have to harness the raw surge. However, it's also true that sometimes you go too far in your efforts to refine your imagination's breakthroughs; you over-think and over-polish. But I have a good feeling about the coming weeks, Virgo. I suspect you'll find the sweet spot, self-editing with just the right touch. LIBRA (SEPT. 23-OCT. 22): Thomas

Love Peacock was a Libran author whose specialty was writing satirical novels that featured people sitting around tables arguing about opinions and ideas. He was not renowned for cheerful optimism. And yet he did appreciate sheer beauty. "There is nothing perfect in this world," he said, "except Mozart." So much did Peacock love Mozart's music that during one severalmonth stretch he attended six performances of the genius's opera "Don Giovanni." In this spirit, Libra, and in accordance with astrological indicators, I encourage you to make a list of your own perfect things—and spend extra time communing with them in the coming weeks.

SCORPIO (OCT. 23-NOV. 21): Jean-

Michel Basquiat started his career as a graffiti artist. When he evolved into being a full-time painter, he incorporated words amidst his images. On many occasions, he'd draw lines through the words. Why? "I cross out words so you will see them more," he said. "The fact that they are obscured makes you want to read them." In the coming weeks, you might benefit from discreetly using this strategy in your own life. In other words, draw attention to the things you want to emphasize by downplaying them or being mysterious about them or suggesting they are secret. Reverse psychology can be an asset for you.

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

cause of the onslaught of the internet and social media, lots of people no longer read books. But in 2020, I highly recommend that you not be one of that crowd. In my astrological opinion, you need more of the slow, deep wisdom that comes from reading books. You will also benefit from other acts of rebellion against the Short Attention Span Era. Crucial blessings will flow in your direction as you honor the gradual, incremental approach to everything.

CAPRICORN (DEC. 22-JAN. 19): "I love to be surprised by something I have never thought of," declares Capricorn actor Ralph Fiennes. According to my analysis of the astrological aspects, you'll be wise to make that one of your top mottoes in 2020. Why? First, life is likely to bring to your attention a steady stream of things you've never imagined. And second, your ability to make good use of surprises will be at an all-time high. Here's further advice to help ensure that the vast majority of your surprises will be welcome, even fun. Set aside as many of your dogmas and expectations as possible, so that you can be abundantly receptive to things you've never thought of. AQUARIUS (JAN. 20-FEB. 18): "I love

fools' experiments. I am always making them." So said one of the most famous and influential scientists who ever lived, Aquarian-born naturalist Charles Darwin. In accordance with upcoming astrological factors, I invite you to draw inspiration from his approach. Allow yourself to explore playfully as you conduct fun research. Just assume that you have a mandate to drum up educational experiences, and that a good way to do that is to amuse yourself with improvisational adventures.

PISCES (FEB. 19-MARCH 20): "How do you get your main pleasure in life?" That question was posed to Scorpio author Evelyn Waugh and Piscean social reformer William Beveridge. Waugh said, "I get mine spreading alarm and despondency." Beveridge said, "I get mine trying to leave the world a better place than I found it." I hope you will favor Beveridge's approach over Waugh's in 2020, Pisces—for two reasons. First, the world already has plenty of alarm and despondency; it doesn't need even a tiny bit more. Second, aspiring to be like Beveridge will be the best possible strategy for fostering your mental and physical health. THIS WEEK'S HOMEWORK: How will you create the story of your life in 2020?

freewillastrology.com

inweekly.net

news of the weird PEOPLE WITH ISSUES Police in Wichita Falls, Texas, say they responded to a report on Jan. 5 that Christopher Ragsdale choked and headbutted his unnamed girlfriend after she complained about his odorous gas. "She told Christopher that his fart smelled horrible and he got mad and grabbed her by the hair and pulled her to the ground," the Associated Press quoted the arrest affidavit. The altercation took place at a friend's house, and that friend called police. Ragsdale was held on $10,000. QUESTIONABLE JUDGMENT Four Amish men pleaded guilty in Gladwin County (Michigan) District Court on Jan. 8 to charges stemming from an earlier incident in Beaverton Township. According to the Midland Daily News, deputies from the Gladwin County Sheriff's office responded on Dec. 29 to a call from a concerned motorist who observed the four men tossing empty beer cans from the horse and buggy they were riding in. When deputies pulled them over, they gave bogus ages and would not confirm their names, authorities said, yet the men appeared to be inebriated, and a search of the buggy turned up empty alcohol containers along with unopened ones. Levei Mast, 20; Andrew Zook, 19; Joseph Miller, 20; and Joseph Troyer, 19, each paid a $700 fine and $150 in court costs. They have yet to face the bishop. NEXT, ON 'DATELINE' Colleagues of 35-year-old paramedic Joshua Lee Hunsucker told investigators in Mount Holly, North Carolina, they were surprised at how quickly he had another girlfriend following the death of his wife in September 2018. And when Stacy Robinson Hunsucker's mother shared her suspicions, pointing to the $200,000 in life insurance Joshua had collected, agents of the North Carolina Department of Insurance began an investigation that led to Joshua Hunsucker's arrest on Dec. 19, charged with first-degree murder for poisoning his wife with Visine, according to prosecutors. Stacy Hunsucker, 32 at her death, had suffered from heart problems, the Gaston Gazette reported, and a test of her blood revealed tetrahydrozoline, a chemical found in eye drops and nasal sprays, at levels 30 to 40 times the recommended dose, an amount insurance fraud attorney Jordan Green told the court would have had "a dramatic effect on her heart, which would cause heart stoppage in a short amount of time." The Gazette also noted the wide news coverage given two weeks before Stacy's death to a woman arrested in York, South Carolina, for putting eye drops in her husband's water, causing a seizure and cardiac arrest. A Gaston County grand jury on Jan. 6 additionally indicted Hunsucker on charges of insurance fraud.

By the Editors at Andrews McMeel

PRECOCIOUS The father of a 3-year-old girl in Guilin, China, is paying the price for his toddler's creative expression. On Nov. 24, the man, identified only as Mr. Zhao, his wife and daughter visited an Audi dealership, Oddity Central reported. As the adults looked around, the bored girl scratched "artwork" into 10 automobiles, including one valued at more than $140,000. The dealership sued the father for $28, 400 over the damage caused. Eventually, Mr. Zhao and the dealership settled on a payment of $10,000. ACT OF DESPERATION After Dona Maria Schiave failed her driver's license test three times in the Novo Mutum Parana district of Brazil, her son, Heitor Marcio Schiave, 43, decided to take matters into his own hands. On Dec. 10, he donned a stuffed bra, long skirt and makeup and showed up at the State Department of Traffic, claiming to be his mother, ready to take the test again. Aline Mendoca, the examiner, became suspicious and summoned the military police. "I thought she was drunk at first," she told globo.com. "When I realized that the student was actually a man, I decided to proceed normally" and wait for officers. "I think he pitied his mother for failing three times." Schiave was arrested for fraudulent misrepresentation and released; he may face a fine. YOU CAN'T MAKE THIS UP Odis Latham, 47, and Russell Sparks, 48, of Columbus, Mississippi, were arrested on Jan. 6 after they allegedly hatched a cockamamie scheme to "win" the lottery, WLBT reported. The two arrived at the Mississippi Lottery Corp. in Flowood and presented a losing $100,000 ticket upon which they had glued the winning numbers, according to authorities. Flowood police arrested the pair, who were charged with conspiracy to commit a felony and uttering a counterfeit instrument over $1,000. They were held without bond. ENTREPRENEURIAL SPIRIT Mike Parrish of Woodfin, North Carolina, is making fantasy a reality with a "Lord of the Rings" hobbit home he's building to offer on Airbnb. "I'm not just a casual fan. I'm a huge fan," Parrish said as he guided WLOS through the 800-square-foot "Unexpected Journey," built 90% underground with one bedroom, one bathroom, a kitchen and round doorways crafted by local woodworker John Fenwick. "What we want is to just have an area where people can come and bring their kids and just leave with an unforgettable experience," Parrish said. The home should be ready to rent in February or March; Parrish and his wife have not set a per-night rate yet. {in}

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

Send your weird news items to WeirdNewsTips@amuniversal.com January 16, 2020

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