Inweekly July 10 2025

New Book by Rick Outzen Explores The Fight for Pensacola's Maritime Park

winners & losers winners losers

LESLIE PERINO EW Bullock Associates has named Perino as president and chief executive officer, succeeding founder Ellis Bullock III, who established the Gulf Coast marketing agency in 1982. Bullock will transition to chairman in an advisory role after leading the company for more than 40 years. Perino, a 23-year veteran who previously served as chief operating officer, has been instrumental in the agency's creative output and operational success. She joined EW Bullock in 2002 as a University of West Florida communication arts graduate and managed major accounts, including Visit Pensacola and Pensacola Energy. The agency specializes in award-winning marketing, advertising and public relations services across the Gulf Coast region. Bullock said, "Leslie has been a driving force behind some of our most successful campaigns and client relationships."

DAVE HOXENG Pensacola radio pioneer was honored with the William J. Brooks Award at the Florida Association of Broadcasters (FAB) Annual Convention. The award recognizes exceptional service, dedication and commitment to broadcasting excellence. Hoxeng's journey began in 1986 when he and wife Mary filed Federal Communications Commission applications for construction permits in three communities. After a 15-year licensing process, they launched their first station in 2003. Their stations have achieved remarkable success, recently earning a Marconi Award, NAB Service to America Award, CMA Radio Station of the Year and ACM Radio Station of the Year. FAB Chairman Lara Kunkler praised Hoxeng as "a broadcasting pioneer, entrepreneur, visionary and someone who is the embodiment of perseverance," highlighting his commitment to serving the local community.

SCI VMS The Studer Community Institute Venture Mentoring Service (SCI VMS) has selected five Pensacola-area businesses for its Spring 2025 mentoring program. The cohort includes Alla Prima Coffee Roaster (specialty coffee roasting), J.G. Electric (electrical contracting), Reservoir (dining and beverages), Portside Sailing Co. (nautical apparel), and Shredder Cheddar by Hullsome Foods (cheese snacks). Selected ventures will receive strategic guidance from experienced business mentors in areas including strategy, marketing, operations and finance through regular sessions, networking events and workshops designed to support sustainable growth and longterm success.

GALVEZ LANDING BOAT LAUNCH Less

than a year after the county commission approved $2.8 million for RESTORE funding to provide additional public beach access on Perdido Key, the project was dropped and replaced with a boat launch expansion at beloved Galvez Landing. At his June 30 town hall, District 2 Commissioner Steve Stroberger said, "I haven't canceled anything." He said county staff had identified the Galvez Landing project. He liked it, claiming the project would improve access to the water and improve safety. Stroberger admitted the county should have communicated the decision better. After several constituents challenged the project, Stroberger said, "Clearly, we're going to have to reevaluate this."

PULITZER PRIZE BOARD

Board members have petitioned the Florida Supreme Court to halt a defamation lawsuit filed by President Donald Trump, following a state appeals court's refusal to stay the proceedings. The dispute stems from Trump's 2022 lawsuit in Okeechobee County, targeting a board statement that defended its decision not to rescind the 2018 Pulitzer Prize awarded jointly to The New York Times and The Washington Post for their reporting on Russian interference in the 2016 election. After Trump requested the award's rescission, two independent reviews of the winning stories found nothing to discredit. When the board issued an online statement, Trump claimed it defamed him. The Pulitzer board seeks help from the Florida Supreme Court, five of whose justices Gov. Ron DeSantis appointed. We wouldn't place a bet on the board's chances of a favorable ruling.

HOPE FLORIDA FOUNDATION The board of the nonprofit that serves as the fundraising arm of First Lady Casey DeSantis' Hope Florida held a meeting on June 30. While its president announced the charity would get his finances in order, the board had no discussion of the $10 million Medicaid settlement, much of which ended up with a political committee fighting a recreational marijuana ballot initiative. An outside attorney hired in April to investigate the matter gave no report at the meeting. Meanwhile, the State Attorney's Office in Leon County is conducting an open criminal investigation into the transactions, which some consider money laundering.

Leslie Perino / Photo Courtesy of EW Bullock Associates Photo Courtesy of Escambia County

outtakes

By Rick Outzen

THE RECYCLING ROLLER COASTER

This month, Pensacola residents can once again roll their recycling bins to the curb, marking the latest chapter in what has become a 16-year saga of environmental ambition colliding with economic reality.

While curbside recycling began spreading across America in the 1980s—with Woodbury, N.J., pioneering the first program in 1981—Pensacola and Escambia County remained holdouts well into the 2000s.

The delay stemmed from a complex web of competing agencies. Three separate entities— Escambia County, the City of Pensacola and the Emerald Coast Utility Authority (ECUA)— shared waste management responsibilities. Each had different priorities, revenue streams and ideas about control.

Escambia County owned the Perdido Landfill and charged a $31-per-ton "tipping fee" for garbage disposal. The county sold its collection services to ECUA in 1992 but retained control of the landfill and recycling operations. Meanwhile, private companies competed for collection contracts, sometimes hauling garbage elsewhere to avoid county fees.

"You really can't do recycling without tying it to garbage," said John Tonkin, director of Santa Rosa Clean Community System, in 2008. However, the agencies responsible for garbage and recycling were locked in constant struggle over territory and revenue.

ECUA officials claimed they had wanted to offer recycling programs for years, but Escambia County had prevented them by filing a lawsuit around 1995. The County, which made money selling recyclables from its drop-off sites, saw ECUA's recycling ambitions as a threat to its revenue stream.

This legal battle left residents with only 17 scattered drop-off locations across the county. The busiest site, at the Summit Boulevard Fire Station, had nine containers and drew steady traffic, but recycling remained out of reach for many families without reliable transportation.

In 2008, the deadlock began breaking. Escambia County Commissioner Grover Robinson, who said constituents asked him "almost daily" about curbside recycling, pushed for consolidating solid waste services. Behind-the-scenes meetings between agencies led to tentative agreements that consolidation might be the best solution.

"The long-term goal should be for one entity to do it," Robinson argued. "It would be a lot simpler."

That year, the Pensacola Young Professionals

and Leadership Pensacola asked ECUA's board to implement curbside recycling. The three board members voted it down but agreed to allow staff to set up a voluntary program. After Fink lost his reelection bid, ECUA passed curbside recycling in October of 2008. The Pensacola City Council, with four new members elected in November, followed suit in March of 2009. The program launched June 15, 2009.

For several years, recycling thrived. ECUA expanded acceptable materials, adding glass in 2010 and embracing single-stream recycling. It built partnerships with processing facilities and eventually constructed its own Material Recycling Facility. Participation rates remained strong at roughly 75%.

But warning signs emerged by the mid-2010s. Global recycling markets shifted as China—the world's longtime recycling destination—tightened quality standards. The 2018 implementation of China's "National Sword" policy, which banned 24 categories of recyclable materials and imposed a 0.5% contamination standard, sent shockwaves through the American recycling industry.

Locally, contamination became a growing problem. Residents increasingly used recycling bins as overflow garbage containers, especially because additional trash service cost extra. Processing costs in Florida rose from about $50 per ton to $100 per ton as markets collapsed.

By 2023, ECUA had moved to an optional curbside program. After cycling through multiple private processors and dealing with facility closures, Pensacola Mayor D.C. Reeves faced whether to dramatically raise rates because of higher processing costs and contamination issues that saw 50% of collected materials classified as unusable garbage. In October 2023, he suspended curbside recycling.

Now, 16 years after those 2008 election promises, Pensacola is attempting a comeback with a more realistic understanding of the challenges. The new program, supported by a $263,250 grant from the American Beverage Association, incorporates AI-enabled cameras to monitor contamination and requires residents to opt in and pay extra.

As residents decide whether to join these new programs, they're determining whether our community learned from 16 years of recycling experiments—and whether we can finally have a system that is both environmentally responsi -

and financially viable.

The recycling bins are back, but the questions remain as complex as ever. {in} rick@inweekly.net

THE NEXT BIG STORIES

By Rick Outzen

Last week, we shared what we considered the top news stories of the first half of 2025. This week, we've dusted off our crystal ball and listed what we think will make headlines for the rest of the year.

REIMAGINING PALAFOX

More than a year ago, Pensacola Mayor D.C. Reeves announced his team had started exploring options to reimagine South Palafox Street. Florida Power & Light had completed its work on the city's main downtown street and agreed to redirect the money it would've spent on repaving toward the "reimagining." The last major project involving Palafox was the establishment of Palafox Place, in which the city collaborated with banks to offer low-interest loans for storefront renovations.

At his Aug. 13 press conference, Mayor Reeves unveiled what he called "the largest investment in the city's most iconic street, the New Palafox." The design phase would be completed by the end of 2024. The bid process and awarding of the construction contract were anticipated in early 2025, and the work would start this summer. The city created thenewpalafox.com, a webpage dedicated to informing the public about the project.

The webpage remains unchanged, and the city continues to meet with stakeholders regarding design and construction schedules.

MEDICAID CUTS

On July 4, President Donald Trump signed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimates the OBBBA will cut federal spending on Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) by $1.02 trillion over the next decade. The spending cuts will result in 11.8 million people losing health coverage under Medicaid during that time period.

The White House has disputed claims that the bill cuts Medicaid, stating it "protects and strengthens Medicaid for those who rely on it" while eliminating "waste, fraud and abuse".

As of 2023, approximately 27.7% of Escambia County's population was enrolled in Medicaid— about 90,000 people, according to data compiled by the Georgetown University Center for Children and Families. Our enrollment rate is higher than the statewide Florida average of 21.4%.

Time will tell how the OBBBA impacts our local health care system and economy.

CHILDREN'S TRUST AND INTERLOCALS

The Escambia Children's Trust holds over $3.5 million of the Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) funds that Mayor D.C. Reeves and the Escambia County Commission want spent on programs designated in interlocal agreements. Reeves has stated he wants the city's $2.4 million to be spent on addressing the area's childcare crisis. The commissioners are split between funding youth employment programs and simply returning the funds to the county's CRAs.

The Trust's board has been upset with how the commissioners have treated them but did agree on an interlocal agreement that will be presented to the county July 10. The mayor has yet to flesh out the details of his childcare plan. The disposition of CRA funds held by the Trust is another issue that has been discussed for more than a year.

THE RISE OF SLYTHERIN

Two senior fellows from the Heritage Foundation, Adam Kissel and Zack Smith, chair the Academic Affairs committees at the University of West Florida (UWF) and Pensacola State College (PSC). The Heritage Foundation claims it wants to reclaim higher education from leftist influence,

they would not compete in the next America's Cup set for Naples, Italy. The withdrawals were primarily due to frustrations with the lack of agreement on the event's future and issues with the draft protocol and transparency from the Defender, Team New Zealand. Mayor Reeves told us he wasn't surprised by American Magic's announcement. He hoped that the statements issued by the three national teams would prompt Team New Zealand to return to the negotiation table. However, nothing has changed publicly since May.

SETTING RULES

The tourism industry and many other County vendors wait for Escambia County Clerk Pam Childers and her staff to publish her documentation requirements for invoices. Since we broke the story about her withholding more than $2 million in tourism marketing invoices, some of which had been outstanding over six months, other vendors have told us they have similar frustrations with the county clerk.

restore academic rigor and foster open academic inquiry. However, their reclamation focuses on overhaul accreditation, removing all DEI (diversity, equity and inclusion) policies and deleting references to sexual orientation and gender identity.

We have already seen DEI-related attacks on tenure at UWF and sabbatical leaves at PSC. If the new trustees follow the New College of Florida playbook, we may see several liberal arts programs eliminated or suspended. Accreditations for other programs may be jeopardized.

What we don't know is where Interim UWF President Manny Diaz Jr. stands on academic "reform." We suspect he will ally with Kissel and Smith and overhaul Florida's third-best university.

GEN. CHAPPIE JAMES LIMBO

Another six months have passed without any movement on the monument to honor the nation's first Black four-star general. The city's stewardship agreement with the Gen. Daniel "Chappie" James, Jr. Memorial Foundation expired June 30.

After County Clerk Pam Childers declared the monument and plaza an outdoor museum, the Board of County Commissioners voted to award Tourist Development Funds toward the project, provided the foundation rework its agreement to ensure the city's ownership of the project. That didn't happen.

Two other issues are that the Foundation failed to submit its most recent year-ending financial statements to the city in February, and it had to prove it had the funds June 30 to complete the project and maintain it for three years.

Will the City or County have to take over this project?

AMERICAN MAGIC AND THE CUP

In May, we broke the news that American Magic, INEOS Britannia (United Kingdom) and Alinghi Red Bull Racing (Switzerland) announced

If she doesn't have the expertise in their agency to create the checklist, Childers needs to seek outside help from local accounting firms and other county comptrollers around the state.

HATE CRIMES

As politicians and media pundits increase their fiery rhetoric to promote mass deportations, we have begun to see more discrimination and hate crimes directed toward Latinos.

In recent weeks, two local restaurants have used incidents at their businesses as teaching moments on their Facebook pages to reaffirm their commitment to treating people with dignity and respect.

One business shared how a guest asked not to be served by a Mexican staff member. The management stated the business is founded on "respect, kindness and community," and complies with all federal and state employment laws.

"Our team represents diverse backgrounds, but more importantly, they are hardworking professionals who show up every day to serve this community with care," the owners added. "The server in question was born right here in the United States, but even if that weren't the case, no one deserves to be treated that way. Ever."

Another business had a new security guard who asked a customer who used a valid passport as identification to also present his visa. Management reached out to the customer and had a "meaningful and necessary conversation."

In a joint statement with the customer, they said, "We sat down, face to face, and heard one another out. That's what our community should be about: holding space for each other to be accountable and communicative with grace and patience."

Both businesses deserve kudos for their transparency and for addressing the issues promptly. Inweekly will closely monitor reports of discrimination and civil rights violations. {in}

Rendering by Jerry Pate Design / Courtesy of cityofpensacola.com

f o r j u s t i c e o n b e h a l f o f o u r c l i e n t s .

A C C I D E N T S • W O R K E R S C O M P • L E V I N L A W . C

JUSTICE SERVED

and suffering, 926 survivors of Florida's noto rious reform schools are finally receiving ac knowledgment and compensation from the state. Last month, men who endured horrific abuse as children at the Arthur G. Dozier School for Boys in Marianna and the Okeechobee School began receiving checks of more than $21,000 each as part of a historic $20 million reparations program.

For attorney Troy Rafferty, who championed their cause, the journey to justice began with a life-changing visit to the abandoned Dozier School grounds in 2022.

"Standing in front of that white house changed my life," Rafferty recalled during a recent podcast interview. "When you stand there with the victims and you're looking at it, the evil and the hatred and the violence are also palpable. You can feel it."

The emotional weight of that visit was perhaps best captured by one survivor's testimony. "I remember one of the victims that was with us did not want to get out of the van," Rafferty said. The man, Cecil, had served three tours in Vietnam.

"He looked at me and he said, 'I've done three tours in Vietnam, Troy on the front lines, crawling through the mud and the blood and the muck with bullets flying, not knowing if I was going to live or die from one moment to the next. And I can promise you one thing, I would rather be there right now than in front of this white house.'"

The Dozier School operated for more than 100 years as what Rafferty describes as a "forced labor camp." Children were sent there not just for serious crimes, but often for truancy or when single mothers couldn't manage difficult sons. The facility was a moneymaker for the state, producing bricks and raising livestock using child labor. "They would work together when they needed more labor," Rafferty explained. "They would work together and say, 'We need more labor. We need more kids in this facility to make sure that we make the quotas.'"

The scope of the tragedy extends beyond the

marked graves."

The path to justice was neither quick nor easy. Survivors, known as the "White House Boys" after the building where much abuse occurred, spent 15 years being turned away from the state capitol.

"I want to commend all of those survivors," Rafferty said. "Their courage and their persistence and their perseverance of going up and literally having the Capitol slam the door in their face for over a decade for almost 15 years, telling them, 'No, no, no, no.' And they kept coming back."

The breakthrough came with crucial support. "This wouldn't have happened if it wasn't for Pensacola's Michelle Salzman."

For Rafferty, this case represents something profound about the practice of law. "This whole project, this whole process, everything that got us to this moment literally changed my life," he said. The settlement provides "the only form of justice we could get these folks."

Yet the work continues. Rafferty noted, "Similar abuses are happening right now to a child somewhere in this country, and we have to stop it."

The Florida settlement serves as a model for addressing institutional child abuse nationwide, proving that even decades later, justice can still be served.

FOOD AS MEDICINE In Northwest

Florida, attorney Peter Mougey and his firm Levin Papantonio have quietly built one of the region's most successful Food as Medicine programs. In four years, they have raised more than $1 million to feed approximately 600 children weekly at 16 schools in Escambia County—where nearly 80% of students qualify for free or reduced lunches— and provide fresh produce boxes to about 250 adults per week through four local health clinics.

"We started really small, and the thought was, we can make mistakes quietly," Mougey explained.

"So we started with 10 boxes and we thought, 'You know what? Let's fail quietly and build.'"

Working with Ascension Sacred Heart, Baptist Hospital, Community Health Northwest Florida and Manna Food Pantries, Mougey's program has been collecting data demonstrating reduced emergency room visits and improved management of diabetes and hypertension through nutrition interventions. The initiative started small with just 10 boxes and scaled up gradually while building community partnerships.

Most significantly, Tufts University selected Pensacola's program to represent Northern Florida in a national coalition of cities and counties advancing Food is Medicine initiatives, positioning the local effort as a model for broader implementation.

Mougey's success reflects a broader trend as Food as Medicine programs experience unprecedented growth nationwide. The food as medicine market, currently worth $25 billion, is projected to grow at a compounded annual growth rate of 4.3%, reaching $36.6 billion by 2034, as healthcare stakeholders recognize nutrition's critical role in preventing and treating chronic diseases.

Significant funding is driving expansion. Feeding America announced a $14.1 million investment from the Elevance Health Foundation to continue its 'Food as Medicine' program through 2025, supporting more than 20 member food banks and healthcare partners. The initiative will enable health care providers to screen approximately 900,000 patients for food insecurity.

The American Heart Association awarded $7.8 million in grants to 19 research projects nationwide as part of its Health Care by Food initiative, focusing on medically tailored meals and produce prescription programs.

ECPS COMPETES Escambia County Public Schools (ECPS) will implement significant programmatic changes for the 2025-2026 school year, building on successful academic improvements that saw some grade levels achieve 8-9% gains in recent assessments.

The district's most notable change involves expanding its K-8 model to Longleaf Elementary School, which will add sixth grade beginning Aug. 11. This follows successful pilot programs at Cordova Park and West Pensacola elementary schools, where sixth-grade additions showed promising academic results.

A new collaboration between Hellen Caro Elementary and Bailey Middle School will create cross-school opportunities reminiscent of traditional community education models. Students will participate in joint activities, competitions and mentoring programs, fostering stronger connections between grade levels.

Additionally, high school students from Escambia High will mentor and tutor elementary students at Myrtle Grove Elementary, creating vertical learning partnerships across the district.

Superintendent Keith Leonard announced plans to present a specialized middle school pro-

gram proposal to the school board this fall. The program would serve academically talented students and create a direct pathway to Pensacola High School's prestigious International Baccalaureate program.

Leonard acknowledged that Florida's educational environment requires districts to compete actively for students, calling this competition "healthy."

"We're not afraid to compete. We're ready to compete, and we're going to show people we can compete," he said. "I believe those 35,652 students that will enroll on Aug. 11 are going to get an education second to none right here at home."

TAKE BACK AMERICA

Rayvaughn L. Andrews, 41, of Pensacola, pled guilty in federal court to conspiracy charges for distributing cocaine and money laundering, according to John P. Heekin, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.

From 2021 until his arrest in late 2024, Andrews conspired with others to distribute kilogram quantities of cocaine throughout Escambia County. What set this case apart was Andrews' sophisticated money laundering operation, which involved funneling approximately $10 million in drug sale proceeds through casinos in Mississippi and Nevada to conceal his illicit profits.

According to state business records, Andrews served as the registered agent for Bigg Play Entertainment, LLC. His Instagram profiles portrayed him as a Gulf Coast concert and club promoter, as well as a professional sports handicapper, with a second account showcasing his winning sports bets.

The investigation represented a collaborative effort between multiple agencies, including the Drug Enforcement Administration, Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation, Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Escambia County Sheriff's Office, Pensacola Police Department and Santa Rosa County Sheriff's Office.

Andrews faces up to life imprisonment and forfeiture of approximately $40,000 in cash and a Chevrolet Corvette seized during his arrest. His sentencing is scheduled 9 a.m. Sept. 23 before U.S. District Judge M. Casey Rodgers at the Pensacola federal courthouse.

This prosecution falls under Operation Take Back America, a nationwide Department of Justice initiative targeting illegal immigration, cartels and transnational criminal organizations. The operation coordinates resources from Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces and Project Safe Neighborhood programs.

"Those who think they can profit and live lavish lifestyles off drug trafficking in the Northern District of Florida are sorely mistaken, and will soon find themselves in federal prison," stated Heekin.

The case demonstrates law enforcement's commitment to dismantling sophisticated drug trafficking networks that harm local communities. When dealers distribute kilogram quantities of cocaine, the impact extends far beyond immediate transactions, contributing to addiction, violence and community deterioration throughout the region.

Dozier Memorial / Photo Courtesy of dms.myflorida.com

The successful prosecution sends a clear message that complex criminal enterprises employing multi-state money laundering schemes will face the full force of federal law enforcement, regardless of how sophisticated their operations appear.

BRING BACK AOCS

A U.S. Navy ensign is advocating for reestablishing Aviation Officer Candidate School (AOCS) at Naval Air Station Pensacola, arguing the move would address critical training gaps and strengthen naval aviation's future readiness.

Writing in the U.S. Naval Institute's "Proceedings," Ensign Davis J. Threlkeld proposes returning AOCS to its original home after a 32-year absence. The program operated independently at Pensacola until 1993, when budget cuts forced its merger with Officer Candidate School and eventual relocation to Newport, R.I., in 2007.

Threlkeld's proposal addresses mounting concerns within naval aviation training. The pre-training student pool ballooned to a 14-month wait time by 2022, forcing the Chief of Naval Air Training to implement aggressive 105% production targets to clear backlogs. A dedicated AOCS would give aviation leadership direct control over student accessions and training schedules.

"Managing the flight training pipeline is a

24/7/365 endeavor," noted Rear Adm. Richard Brophy, highlighting the complexity of current operations. The Commission on the National Defense Strategy has warned that future conflicts could overwhelm active-duty capacity, making expanded training capabilities essential.

ROBOBOAT KITS

Four University of West Florida (UWF) engineering students have successfully collaborated with the Naval Surface Warfare Center Panama City Division to create an affordable RoboBoat kit to engage high school students in marine robotics and STEM education.

The project, led by senior computer engineering student Ashley Schnaible alongside teammates Heather Sasser, David Laird, and Xavier Frank, was initiated by Dr. Damion Dunlap, STEM Outreach Manager at the Naval Surface Warfare Center. Under the guidance of Dr. Jeff McGuirk, a senior lecturer and former U.S. Air Force developmental engineer, the UWF team spent the fall 2024 semester developing a cost-effective robotics platform that high schools could easily implement.

"We decided that this project would be an amazing way to help high school students become more excited about STEM in an inexpensive and cost-effective way," Schnaible explained. The team approached the challenge by designing the

kit like a sophisticated construction set, making marine robotics accessible to younger students.

After extensive testing and design iterations, the students settled on a 3D-printed solution using PLA filament with multiple layers of Flex Seal for waterproofing. The final kit includes thrusters, a waterproof electronics case housing the battery and microcontroller, and communicates via RC remote control, functioning as a complete RoboBoat system.

While UWF students focused on the physical platform, Florida Polytechnic University students handled the computer components, demonstrating effective inter-university collaboration.

The project's impact extends beyond the initial build. This summer, Dr. Dunlap is working with paid high school interns at the Naval Surface Warfare Center, applying lessons learned from the UWF project to construct additional boats and expand STEM outreach efforts.

ESTUARY GRANTS

The Pensacola and Perdido Bays Estuary Program (PPBEP) has launched its 2025-2026 Community Grant Program, offering $250,000 in funding for environmental restoration and education projects across Northwest Florida.

The competitive grant program will award between $10,000 and $75,000 to qualified projects that restore, preserve and educate communities

about local waterways. Eligible applicants include local governments, educational institutions and 501(c)(3) organizations working within the Perdido and Pensacola watersheds in Escambia, Santa Rosa and Okaloosa counties.

Seven project categories align with PPBEP's Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan: Water Quality, Sedimentation, Habitat Restoration, Fish and Wildlife Conservation, Watershed Awareness and Education, Resilience, and Participatory Science. Priority consideration will be given to "shovel ready" action projects and initiatives that engage and educate the community. Projects leveraging matching funds, including volunteer efforts, will also receive preferential review.

This year's program features an extended 15-month implementation period, running from Oct. 1 through Dec. 31, 2026. Due to the longer timeframe, PPBEP will transition to biennial funding cycles, with the next application period scheduled for 2027-2028.

Over the past five years, PPBEP has invested more than $1 million across 41 community projects, demonstrating significant local impact in environmental conservation and education efforts. The application deadline is 11:59 p.m. July 31. Complete program details and application materials are available at ppbep.org/what-wedo/communitygrants. {in}

Right Idea,

Right Time

By Rick Outzen

In the aftermath of Hurricane Ivan's devastat ing blow to our area in 2004, Pensacola faced a crossroads.

stagnation and population decline, or would it em brace a bold vision for transformation? The answer came through one of the most contentious politi cal battles in the city's history: the fight for what would become the Community Maritime Park.

Fight for Pensacola's Maritime Park," chronicles how a small group of visionaries overcame entrenched opposition to create lasting change. The book reveals not just the mechanics of a successful referendum campaign, but the deeper story of how communities can break free from cycles of negativity and decline.

The Perfect Storm of Decline

By 2006, Pensacola was a city in crisis. Hurricane Ivan had left indelible scars—both physical and psychological—on the community. But the storm only amplified existing problems that had been festering for decades.

Escambia County ranked as the 17th poorest county in the U.S., with one in five residents living below the poverty line. While unemployment remained low, wages lagged far behind state averages. Most telling of all, young people were fleeing in droves—11% of residents younger than 35 had left since 2000.

The city's waterfront, which should've been its crown jewel, instead symbolized everything wrong with Pensacola. The 27-acre Trillium site, prime waterfront property purchased by the city for $3.45 million, sat vacant and underutilized—a monument to missed opportunities.

Downtown residents suffered through unbearable outdoor conditions many days due to the noxious fumes from the Main Street Sewage Treatment Plant, nicknamed "Old Stinky." At Inweekly, we created the "Poot Index," a tonguein-cheek warning system that worked on a scale to measure the severity of the stench:

•Less than four: Limiting exposure to five-minute intervals was recommended.

•Five-eight: The air was considered unsafe for small dogs and children.

• Above eight: Could lead to "possible death."

Into this environment stepped an unusual coalition: Quint Studer, a healthcare consultant who had transformed Baptist Hospital; retired Vice Admiral Jack Fetterman, the charismatic leader of the Naval Aviation Museum Foundation; and Dr. John Cavanaugh, president of the University

with Fetterman's maritime museum vision. When the three principals finally met, the chemistry was immediate. As Fetterman dramatically declared while pushing his papers into the center of the table: "Ladies and gentlemen, I'm all in."

Sides Chosen

The proposal immediately faced fierce resistance from Save Our City, a political action committee led by CPA Charlie Fairchild and City Councilman Marty Donovan. These opponents had successfully defeated a previous waterfront development plan in 2003 and were confident they could do so again.

Save Our City's strategy relied on familiar tactics: questioning the economics, raising fears about tax increases and portraying the proposal as a "giveaway" to wealthy developers. They particularly targeted Studer as an outsider seeking to profit at taxpayers' expense. Their website declared the project "stinks" and warned of "wasteful and irresponsible spending."

The opposition had significant advantages. Donovan possessed credibility as an environmental advocate who had championed causes like cleaning up Bayou Texar. Fairchild commanded respect as a successful businessman. They also enjoyed support from influential media personalities, including News Journal columnist Mark O'Brien and WCOA radio host Luke McCoy.

What Save Our City didn't anticipate was the emergence of a new political force: the Pensacola Young Professionals. This group, co-founded by Inweekly and the Pensacola Chamber of Commerce, represented a generation tired of being told to "wait their turn." They saw the maritime park as essential to their future—a way to create the kind of community where they could build careers and raise families.

The young professionals brought energy and innovation to the campaign. They organized door-to-door canvassing efforts, packed city council meetings and used emerging digital tools like blogs to counter opposition messag -

Our strategy was simple but effective: challenge every false statement, no matter how small.

This information warfare proved crucial as Save Our City's claims became increasingly desperate. They alleged conspiracies, questioned the legality of meetings and even launched a last-minute ethics complaint. When their traditional tactics failed to gain traction, they resorted to closing their "public" meetings to exclude park supporters.

The turning point came when the park's supporters went on offense with animated television ads featuring cartoon characters "Chuckie" and "Donno"—thinly veiled parodies of Fairchild and Donovan. These humorous spots effectively countered the opposition's fearmongering while highlighting their lack of alternatives.

Victory and Vindication

On Sept. 5, 2006, Pensacola voters delivered a decisive verdict: 10,297 votes for the maritime park vs. 8,140 against. The margin was larger than anyone expected, with the park winning 22 of 29 precincts. Notably, Save Our City received nearly 4,000 fewer votes than in their successful 2003 campaign, suggesting their message of perpetual opposition had lost its appeal.

The victory celebration at Seville Quarter reflected the diverse coalition that made success possible. Business leaders mingled with young professionals, Black community advocates stood alongside white civic boosters and residents from across the city's districts came together in celebration.

Nearly two decades later, the Community Maritime Park stands as one of the most successful urban development projects in Florida. Blue Wahoos Stadium has won multiple awards as one of the premier minor league ballparks in America. More importantly, the park catalyzed more than $250 million in private investment that has transformed downtown Pensacola.

Property values in the Community Redevelopment Area have tripled, young professionals now choose to stay rather than leave and Palafox

molished, replaced by an award-winning facility in munication strategies that countered misinformation with facts. Most importantly, it demonstrated that communities can overcome ingrained negativity when presented with a compelling vision of the future.

The Community Maritime Park referendum wasn't just about building a ballpark or museum— it was about whether Pensacola would remain trapped by its past or embrace the possibility of transformation. Twenty years later, the answer echoes across the waterfront every time families gather for games, festivals and sunsets at what is now officially known as the Vince J. Whibbs Sr. Community Maritime Park.

As Quint Studer reflected after the vote: "Tell your children and grandchildren it's time to come back home." For Pensacola, they finally have. {in}

"Right Idea, Right Time" is available for Kindle, plus paperback and hardback versions on Amazon.

Photo by Sean Mullins

Arts & Entertainment

Emily Vogel is painter, and her canvas of choice is a board—skate or surf.

Coming from an artistic family—three siblings and parents all with their own artist skillsets—she grew up drawing. But her interest in it had faded over the years until the Waterboyz Skateboard Art Show in 2022, when she painted her first deck.

"At that time in my life, I had no passion to do that kind of stuff; so then when Waterboyz announced the Skateboard Art Show, I was like, 'You know what? I haven't done any art in a while. Let's do this,'" Vogel said. "Whenever I painted it and I realized how much fun I had—I was at peace painting it—I was like, 'I need to keep doing this. I can't stop.'"

And she hasn't since. From jellyfish to flowers, Vogel has boards of different colors and designs on her Instagram @boardsbychi. Her family thinks the vibrant styles are true to her personality.

"My parents would say growing up, just very bold colors, bright colors—that's how I was; I loved color," Vogel said. "I didn't care what colors it already had, I added more always. So they really like seeing it. I just think they're fans, and think it'd be a really cool new market that they haven't seen around Pensacola or really anywhere."

The name "Chi" in Boards by Chi originated from Vogel's childhood, when she thought her name Emily was spelled "Omchi." It has since been shortened into the nickname Chi.

"With my art, I try to keep it bright and bold like how I was as a kid, and I feel like having my name related to me as a kid reminds me I'm doing this for that version of me," Vogel said. "I'm not doing it to make money; I'm doing it to express my little kid self. Same with surfing. Surfing really brings out the kid in me. That's part of why I love it so much. It's a way to move your body that's fun."

Vogel doesn't do skateboard tricks—she prefers a longboard cruise—but she was born to be a surfer girl. Her parents often said she looked like one even before she'd ever put her head under water; Vogel didn't learn to swim until she was 17.

"Since I was a little kid, I had anxiety; swimming gave me that same feeling in my chest that anxiety did," Vogel said. "So as a kid, I didn't know how to differentiate that, so I would freak out … I still was in the water all the time. I was boogie boarding 24/7, I just would go where I could still touch. I wasn't scared of the water; I just had no desire to learn how to put my head under and deal with that pressure in my chest."

A patient friend taught her how to swim, and she's now learning lap swimming with the help of a beach lifeguard. She got into surfing consistently

through friends and co-workers in 2024—and that

"I didn't pick up on it as fast as some of my friends did," Vogel said. "There were sessions after sessions where I would catch zero waves. I'd be out there for four hours just frustrated, or I'd be out there laughing because I had some bad wipeouts. This definitely teaches you a lot of patience and just learning that confidence really is a big, big part of it—just being like, 'OK, I can do this. It doesn't matter if I wipe out.' Reminding yourself that one failure doesn't mean you're bad

"It still requires a lot of patience," Vogel said. Vogel is now an instructor for Waterboyz

"It's something I do that clears my head," Vogel said. "I think the words you chose are perfect: cathartic and not always relaxing. Like, bigger days aren't, but it's just really exciting to be out there. I just get so excited when it's big and more to do on the wave. It's present in the moment, which I think is so important, especially, with people now, it's so hard to be present. It gets your mind off of other

Even after a scary encounter with reefs while attempting to surf in Puerto Rico, she couldn't wait to get back on the water in Pensacola. "It actually made me come back and get my first—for surfers, it's B wave, which means you suddenly get the itch to surf all the time because you got that feeling of catching a wave," Vogel said. "It's like the way that you get the speed on it, you catch it, and it just makes you want to keep surfing. It's just a thing that surfers have, and I got that the day I came back and surfed."

Vogel surfs on boards she's painted; they're made to function, she said. With the help of a surfboard shaper at Waterboyz, she will accept custom orders—painting boards after they've been shaped and before glassing and finishing. She can be found at local markets selling custom skateboards, too.

Vogel's goal is to one day do surfboard shaping herself and run her own shop. Her other career goal only further affirms her surfer girl destiny: Vogel hopes to research and work closely with sharks.

"I went swimming with them back in September in Jupiter, Florida, and that was the most at peace I've ever felt was when I was in the water with them," Vogel said. "It sounds crazy, but I felt like I wasn't thinking about anything else. I was sitting there looking at them, and they're so beautiful in the water. I was like, 'I need to be out here for my job.'" {in}

Emily Vogel / Courtesy Photo

ly to spaying and neutering animals in Escambia County. There are a variety of baskets available for people and pups available to view 7 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday-Friday and 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday. For more information, contact Save Our Shelters at sossaveourshelters@gmail.com.

SAVE OUR SHELTERS PROGRAM SOCIAL

Join SOS 2-4 p.m. Wednesday, July 16 for a Sipping for Snipping social at the Angels Garden, 1208 N. 12th Ave. Meet some of the Sipping Sisters and see what their mission is all about and how they are accomplishing it. Cost is $20 (cash or check) per attendee. Learn more at sossaveourshelters@gmail.com.

FESTIVAL OF TREES DESIGNER ORIENTA-

TION Online registration is now open at wsre. org/events for designer signup and a Christmas in July-themed information meeting 5:30 p.m. Thursday, July 10 in the WSRE Jean & Paul Amos Performance Studio at Pensacola State College, l000 College Blvd. More information is available at wsre.org/events.

REGISTRATION OPEN FOR YMCA'S ANNUAL CORPORATE CUP GAMES The YMCA invites companies to enter this year's Corporate Cup Games, to be held Saturday, Oct. 25, at Pensacola State College. Teams must consist of 20-28 members who are at least 18 years old and regular employees of the company. Employee spouses may participate. For a $1,000 entry fee, your team receives event entry, food and drink, a participant gift for each team member and a chance to win awards and bragging rights. Silver Sponsorships are also available. Proceeds benefit YMCA mission programs. Registration deadline is Aug. 15. Learn more and register at ymcanwfl.org.

ANIMAL ALLIES FLORIDA BINGO Animal

Allies Florida hosts bingo twice monthly at Beef 'O' Brady's, 1 New Market St., Cantonment (on Nine Mile Road near Pine Forest Road). The cost is 10 rounds of bingo for $10, with cash prizes for winners. Food and drinks are also available for purchase. For more information, visit facebook.com/animalalliesflorida.

ANIMAL ALLIES CAT AND KITTEN

ADOPTION Visit Pet Supermarket 11 a.m.-3

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 10:30 a.m. Tuesdays. The ministry's food pantry opens 10 a.m. and also 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

EMERALD COAST WRITERS The Emerald Coast Writers is looking for writers to submit their work and be a part of the annual Emerald Coast Review publication. Whether you're an established writer or artist or just starting, all backgrounds and experiences. To learn more about how to submit your work, visit emeraldcoastwritersinc.org. Submissions close July 15. All accepted submissions will be announced in August, with the final publication set for release in October.

COMMUNITY EVENTS

PENSACOLA BEACH AIR SHOW The Pensacola Beach Air Show runs through July 12, featuring the U.S. Navy Blue Angels and a long weekend of events. For more details, visit visitpensacolabeach.com/whats-happeningblue-angels.

•Wednesday: Breakfast with the Blues "Breakfast with the Blues," kicks off the events Wednesday at approximately 7:30 a.m., when the Blue Angels arrive and circle overhead to mark the show's coordinates and center points along Pensacola Beach.

•T hursday: Full Practice Show The Blue Angels hold a full practice show over Pensacola Beach at 2 p.m. (no civilian acts).

•Friday: Pensacola Beach Airshow Dress Rehearsal Flight demonstrations and civilian aerobatic performances begin at approximately 10:30 a.m., with the Blue Angels overhead at 2 p.m.

•Saturday: Official Pensacola Beach Airshow Saturday marks the official Pensacola Beach Air Show, following Friday's dress rehearsal schedule.

SANTA ROSA ISLAND AUTHORITY EXTENDS TROLLEY SERVICE FOR PENSACO

LA BEACH AIR SHOW The Santa Rosa Island Authority (SRIA) will extend public transportation hours along the island Friday, July 11, and will add extra buses to the schedule Saturday, July 12, for the Pensacola Beach Air Show.

On Friday, July 11, the SRIA's three, free open-air trolleys will begin transporting customers at 7:30 a.m. and extend their service to Park East, located a mile east of Portofino Resort, until 6 p.m. Following that, the regular route will resume until midnight.

On Saturday, July 12, starting at 6:30 a.m., the SRIA will have four buses in addition to the three open-air trolleys running and will extend their service area to Park East until 6 p.m. Following that, the three open-air trolleys will resume normal operations until midnight.

On Friday and Saturday, buses and trolleys will service passengers from Park East and Park West to show center at Casino Beach throughout the day. Passengers will only be picked up and dropped off at designated trolley stops. All trolley stops will be designated with a bright Escambia County Area Transit (ECAT) – branded feather flag so passengers can spot each stop.

Post air show, trolleys servicing Portofino Resort/Park East will be staged on Via de Luna in front of Sideline's Sports Bar and the Hampton Inn (facing east). Trolleys servicing Park West will be staged on Fort Pickens Road in front of the Surf & Sand Hotel and The Sandshaker (facing west).

VERTICAL OYSTER GARDEN BUILDING VOLUNTEER EVENT Volunteer to help construct Vertical Oyster Gardens (VOGs) out of recycled oyster shell from Pensacola Beach restaurants. Learn more at this volunteer event 9-10:15 a.m. Friday, July 18 at the Pensacola Visitor Center, 1401 E. Gregory St. Registration is required. Email info@ppbep.org.

FREE Z TUESDAY SUMMER EVENT SERIES

From 2-4 p.m. Tuesdays through Aug. 5, the public is invited to visit Zarzaur Law's downtown office, 100 S. Palafox St., to cool off with free frozen treats provided by Sneaky Tiki Shave Ice in a custom Free Z Tuesday collector cup and take part in activities and giveaways.

ARTS & CULTURE

LEON PETER BLANDA AT OPEN BOOKS

Author and comedian Leon Peter Blanda will be at Open Books at 5 p.m. Friday, July 11 at 1040 N. Guillemard St., for a book signing and standup comedy. A 7 p.m. show will be a Don't Tell Comedy, a secret pop-up show. For details, visit facebook.com/leonblanda.

RACHEL PONGETTI: UNEXPECTED ANALOG DREAM Rachel Pongetti, author of the Pensacola Graffiti Project, will have an exhibit on view through Aug. 31 at Open Books, 1040 N. Guillemard St. An opening reception is 5:30-7:30 p.m. Saturday, July 12, with an artist talk facilitated by Jamey Jones at 6 p.m.

CRYSTAL AWARDS Pensacola Little Theatre will host this event to honor volunteers with stories and performances. Cocktails are at 6 p.m., and ceremony begins at 6:45 p.m. Saturday, July

12 at Pensacola Little Theatre, 400 S. Jefferson St. RSVP at pensacolalittletheatre.com.

ROARING '20S MURDER MYSTERY DINNER THEATRE The Saenger Theatre and Going Noir Mysteries present an exclusive experience hosted on the Lady Saenger Stage 7 p.m. Saturday, July 12 at 118 S. Palafox St. Tickets are available at ticketmaster.com.

PENSACOLA VINTAGE FEST The Gulf Coast's largest vintage clothing event is 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday, July 13 at Pensacola Interstate Fairgrounds, 6655 Mobile Hwy. Details are at facebook.com/pensacolavintagecollective.

KARLOUS MILLER & FRIENDS Show is 8 p.m. Friday, July 18 at Saenger Theatre, 118 S. Palafox St. Tickets and info are at pensacolasaenger.com.

BRICK PAINTING AT PERFECT DAY BOOKS Paint garden bricks to look like books noon-2 p.m. Sunday, July 20 at The Loft at the Mercantile, 2 E. Intendencia St. For details, find Perfect Day Books on Facebook.

BLUE MORNING GALLERY: BLUE ANGELS THEME SHOW The latest Blue Morning Gallery exhibit celebrates the Blue Angels, with featured artists David Schulz, Allen Jones, A.G. Tapscott, MaryAnne Sweida, Shawn Riley and more. The exhibition is on view through July 26 at Blue Morning Gallery, 21 S. Palafox St. Visit bluemorninggallery.com for details.

JULIA MORRISROE: ICONS AND MONUMENTS Julia Morrisroe, a professor in painting and drawing at the University of Florida, will exhibit her show "Icons and Monuments" in the Switzer Gallery at Pensacola State College, 1000 College Blvd. The exhibit is on view through Aug. 7. For more details, visit visualarts.pensacolastate.edu.

IN YOUR FACE: PORTRAITS BY GILA RAYBERG Mosaic portraiture by Gila Rayberg is on view through Sept. 7 at Pensacola Museum of Art, 407 S. Jefferson St. Details are at pensacolamuseum.org.

GESTALT OF THE BERTH The latest exhibit at Pensacola Museum of Art is Gestalt of the Berth, a culmination of the inaugural Artist-in-Residence program at Gulf Islands National Seashore. Selected artist, designer and educator John Dougherty was tasked with forging a stronger connection between the local arts community and the park, and he saw collaboration as the most effective approach. The show features the work of John Dougherty and includes participating artists Nicholas Croghan, Poppy Garcia, Stoycho Hadziev, Joe Hobbs, Richard Humphries, Steve Matechik, Mia McCann, Keeley Morgan, Paul Myers, Nick Phoenix, Richard Rodriguez and Eniko Ujj. More details are at pensacolamuseum.org.

DUALITIES: NATIONAL SCULPTURE

EXHIBITION This national exhibition will feature works from various artists at Pensacola Museum of Art, 407 S. Jefferson St. The exhibition is on view through Jan. 11. Details are at pensacolamuseum.org.

Photo by Marissa Daeger / Unsplash

a&e happenings

PENSACOLA ROSE SOCIETY Monthly meetings are normally 6 p.m. the second Monday of the month at the Pensacola Garden Center, 1850 N. Ninth Ave. Visit pensacolarosesociety.org for more information.

BTB COMEDY Watch live standup comedy in open mic style 7 p.m. Mondays at Odd Colony, 260 N. Palafox St. Follow BTB Comedy on Facebook for updates.

COMEDY SHOWCASE AT SUBCULTURE

BTB Comedy presents a comedy showcase the first Thursday monthly at Subculture Art Gallery, 701 N. V St. Follow facebook.com/pensacolasubculture for updates.

SCRIPTEASERS Join writers at Pensacola Little Theatre, 400 S. Jefferson St., for Scripteasers every month. Visit pensacolalittletheatre.com 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 streets 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 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 Pensacola'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 11 a.m.-2 p.m. weekdays and 2-4 p.m. Sundays. Make an appointment by calling (850) 941-4321.

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 real 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. After 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.

FOOD + DRINKS

VEGAN BREWFEST AT PERFECT PLAIN

Enjoy vegan cuisine at a vegan market featuring more than 20 vendors 2-8 p.m. Sunday, July 12 at Perfect Plain, 50 E. Garden St. Details are at facebook.com/perfectplainbrewingco.

VIVA LA FRANCE Enjoy wine and food event presented by Jackson's Steakhouse, 400 S. Palafox St. Dinner is 5:30 p.m. Monday, July 14.

Cost is $75 a person and includes four wines and five courses. Seating is limited, and reservations are required. Make yours by calling (850) 4699898 or visit jacksonsrestaurant.com.

COOKING WITH CHEF IRV MILLER: SMOKY GOODNESS Join Chef Irv Miller for cooking demonstration with classes at 5 and 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, July 16 at Jackson's Steakhouse, 400 S. Palafox St. Cost is $55 per person which covers the class, tastings, wine pairings, and a take home recipe booklet. Reservations are required. Make yours by contacting Martha Anne Merrill at marthanne@goodgrits.com or by calling (850) 777-0412.

STELLIC JARAFFE ENTERTAINMENT ANNIVERSARY AT GARY'S BREWERY Celebrate one year with Bingo host Stellic Jaraffe 7-9 p.m. Wednesday, July 16 at Gary's Brewery, 208 Newman Ave. Details are at facebook.com/garysbrew.

LUNCH SERVICE NOW AT RESTAURANT

IRON Restaurant Iron, 22 N. Palafox St., will now offer a refined midday experience starting 11 a.m. Monday-Friday. Dinner service will continue to be available Saturday and Sunday. Reservations are recommended and can be made by calling (850) 476-7776 or visiting restaurantiron.com/reservations. Walk-ins will also be welcome based on availability.

MEN'S NIGHT AT WISTERIA From 3 p.m. to close Mondays, guys can play free darts and enjoy $6 craft tallboys. There are more than 150 craft beers to choose from at Wisteria, 3803 N. 12th Ave. Visit wisteriatavern.com for details.

FIGHTER GAME NIGHT AT O'RILEY'S Gamers unite 5 p.m.-close Mondays at O'Riley's Irish Pub, 321 S. Palafox St. Visit orileyspub.com for details.

BINGO NIGHT AT CALVERT'S IN THE HEIGHTS Play a game (or two) of bingo 6-8 p.m. Mondays at Calvert's in the Heights, 670 Scenic Hwy. For more information, visit calvertsintheheights.com.

DOUBLE MONDAYS AND SIN NIGHT Enjoy Double Mondays 8 p.m.-midnight and SIN Night 11 p.m. to close at O'Riley's Tavern, 3728 Creighton Road. Details are at orileystavern.com.

MARTINI NIGHT AT THE KENNEDY Every Tuesday, The Kennedy, 1 S. Palafox St., hosts Martini Nights, featuring all martinis from the menu for $10 from open to close (4-11 p.m.).

75-CENT OYSTERS AT ATLAS Enjoy 75-cent oysters 5-9 p.m. Tuesdays at Atlas Oyster House, 600 S. Barracks St. For more information, visit greatsouthernrestaurants.com.

MUSIC BINGO Test your music knowledge 7-9 p.m. Tuesdays at Wisteria, 3808 N. 12th Ave. Take part in half-price bottles of wine and $5 canned cocktails. Visit wisteriatavern.com for details.

POKER NIGHT AND BINGO AT O'RILEY'S Visit O'Riley's Irish Pub for poker at 6:30 p.m. and bar bingo 8-10 p.m. Tacos are on special Tues-

NATIONAL NAVAL AVIATION Visit Your Museum

• More than 150 beautifully resorted aircraft

• Hangar Bay One with an expanded Apollo Space exhibit, Marine One helicopter and F/A-18 Hornet

• Giant 4K Screen Digital Theater, cafe’, simulators, museum store and more!

KNOW BEFORE YOU GO:

• Access to the museum is though the West Gate on Blue Angel Pkwy.

• A REAL ID or valid passport is required for base access

• A clear bag policy is in effect.

See free Blue Angels practices most Tuesday and Wednesdays. Scan the QR code for all the details and premium seating options.

a&e happenings

days at 321 S. Palafox St. Visit orileyspub.com for details.

LUNCH AT THE DISTRICT The District Steakhouse, 130 E. Government St., is open for special lunch seatings the third Friday of the month. Enjoy a $5 martini or house wine. Seatings are 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Reservations are accepted but not necessary. Details are available at districtsteaks.com.

DOLLAR NIGHT Enjoy Dollar Night 8 p.m.midnight Tuesdays at Mugs & Jugs, 12080 Scenic Hwy. Visit mugsjugsbar.com for details.

TUESDAY TRIVIA AT PERFECT PLAIN Visit Perfect Plain Brewing Co. for trivia nights 7-9 p.m. Tuesdays at 50 E. Garden St. Visit perfectplain.com/upcoming-events for details.

DOLLAR NIGHT AT O'RILEY'S Dollar Night is 8 p.m.-midnight Wednesdays at O'Riley's Tavern, 3728 Creighton Road. Food trucks are on site. Details are at orileystavern.com.

TRIVIA AT O'RILEY'S Test your trivia knowledge 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 Hwy. For more information, visit calvertsintheheights.com.

SIPPIN' IN SUNDRESSES LADIES' NIGHT

AT FELIX'S Pop-up shops, pink drink specials and live music are 5-8 p.m. Thursdays at Felix's Restaurant and Oyster Bar, 400 Quietwater Beach Drive.

PITCHERS AND TAVERN TRIVIA Get deals on pitchers 8 p.m.-midnight at O'Riley's Tavern. Trivia is 8 p.m.; SIN Night starts 1 a.m. Thursdays at 3728 Creighton Road. Visit orileystavern.com for details.

WEEKLY SINGO AT PERFECT PLAIN BREW-

ING CO. Music Bingo Thursdays is 7-9 p.m. at Perfect Plain Brewing Co., 50 E. Garden St. Details are at facebook.com/perfectplainbrewingco.

POOL TOURNAMENT Pool tournaments begin 8 p.m., and Tequila Night is 8 p.m. to midnight Thursdays at Mugs & Jugs, 12080 Scenic Hwy. Visit mugsjugsbar.com for details.

DOLLAR NIGHT AT O'RILEY'S Dollar Night with a DJ starts 8 p.m. Thursdays at O'Riley's Irish Pub, 321 S. Palafox St. Visit orileyspub.com for details.

TRIVIA UNDER THE TREES 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 at 208 Newman Ave.

Test your trivia skills with a glass of beer or wine. Arrive early to grab a spot. For more information, visit facebook.com/garysbrew.

BIG BEER NIGHT Drink specials are 8 p.m.-midnight, and SIN Night is 1 a.m. to close Fridays at Mugs & Jugs, 12080 Scenic Hwy. Visit mugsjugsbar.com for details.

FEISTY FRIDAY NIGHTS Enjoy a DJ 9 p.m. Fridays at Sir Richard's Public House, 2719 E. Cervantes St. Visit sirrichardslounge.com for details.

TGI FIREBALL FRIDAY Drink specials are all day Fridays at O'Riley's Irish Pub, 321 S. Palafox St. SIN Night starts at 11 p.m. Visit orileyspub.com for details.

FISH FRY FRIDAY Half off fish n' chips is 11 a.m.4 p.m., and live DJ is 9 p.m. Fridays at Sir Richard's Public House, 2719 E. Cervantes St. Visit sirrichardslounge.com for details.

WEEKLY SATURDAY BRUNCH Brunch is 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturdays at O'Riley's Irish Pub, 321 S. Palafox St. Visit orileyspub.com for details.

SHAMROCK SATURDAY Shamrock Saturday is 9 p.m., and SIN Night starts 11 p.m. Saturdays at O'Riley's Irish Pub, 321 S. Palafox St. Visit orileyspub.com for details.

FREE POOL AND BAR BINGO AT O'RILEY'S TAVERN Enjoy free pool all day and play bar

bingo 8 p.m. Sundays at O'Riley's Tavern, 3728 Creighton Road. Details are at orileystavern.com.

SUNDAY BRUNCH AT CAFÉ SINGLE FIN

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.

SUNDAY BRUNCH AND KARAOKE O'Riley's Irish Pub, 321 S. Palafox St., hosts brunch 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Sundays. Karaoke begins at 8 p.m. Visit orileyspub.com for details.

SUNDAY BRUNCH AT ATLAS OYSTER HOUSE Sunday Brunch is 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Sundays at Atlas Oyster House, 600 S. Barracks St. View menus at atlasoysterhouse.com.

SIN NIGHT AT O'RILEY'S SIN Night is midnight to close Sundays at O'Riley's Irish Pub, 321 S. Palafox St. Visit orileyspub.com for details.

KARAOKE AND SIN NIGHTS AT SIR RICHARD'S Karaoke is 9 p.m.-1 a.m. SIN Night is 1 a.m. to close Mondays and Thursdays at Sir Richard's Public House, 2719 E. Cervantes St. Visit sirrichardslounge.com for details.

KARAOKE AT O'RILEY'S UPTOWN Karaoke is 8 p.m.-midnight Tuesdays at O'Riley's Uptown, 3728 Creighton Road. Visit orileystavern.com for details.

a&e happenings

KARAOKE AT THE HANDLEBAR Karaoke starts 9 p.m. Wednesdays at The Handlebar, 319 N. Tarragona St. Visit thehandlebar850.com for details.

KARAOKE AT WISTERIA Karaoke starts 7 p.m. Wednesdays at Wisteria Tavern, 3808 N. 12th Ave. Details are at wisteriatavern.com.

WHISKEY WEDNESDAY KARAOKE Karaoke starts 9 p.m. Wednesdays at Mugs & Jugs, 12080 Scenic Hwy. Visit mugsjugsbar.com for details.

KARAOKE AT O'RILEY'S DOWNTOWN

Karaoke is 8 p.m.-midnight Sundays at O'Riley's Irish Pub, 321 S. Palafox St. Details are at orileyspub.com.

KARAOKE AT MUGS & JUGS Karaoke is 9 p.m.-1 a.m. Sundays at Mugs & Jugs, 12080 Scenic Hwy. Visit mugsjugsbar.com for details.

LIVE MUSIC

MUSIC AT FIVE SISTERS BLUES CAFE Visit Five Sisters Blues Café, 421 W. Belmont St., for live music:

•Michael McCartan 6-8 p.m. Thursday, July 10

•Charlie and the Hammerheads 6-10 p.m. Friday, July 11

•Glen Parker 6-10 p.m. Saturday, July 12

•Curt Bol 11 a.m.-3p.m. Sunday, July 13

•John Wheeler 6-8 p.m. Tuesday, July 15

•D. Scott Riggs 6-8 p.m. Thursday, July 17

BANDS ON THE BEACH Weekly concert series is 7-9 p.m. Tuesdays at Gulfside Pavilion on Pensacola Beach. Cadillac Willy is July 15, and 12Eleven is July 22. Details are at visitpensacolabeach.com.

SNACKS, TIRRA LIRRA AND OTHER Show starts 7 p.m. Thursday, July 10 at The Handlebar, 319 N. Tarragona St. More info is available at thehandlebar850.com.

SETH DAVID FEATURING SPECIAL GUEST

CHOZEN Show starts 9 p.m. Friday, July 11 at The Handlebar, 319 N. Tarragona St. This is an 18-plus event. More info is available at thehandlebar850.com.

FIVE EIGHT DOCUMENTARY SCREENING AND LIVE PERFORMANCE FEATURING DJ

POSEIDON Show starts 7 p.m. Saturday, July 12 at The Handlebar, 319 N. Tarragona St. More info is available at thehandlebar850.com.

OUIJA MACC AND SINIZTER Show starts

6 p.m. Sunday, July 13 at The Handlebar, 319 N. More info is available at thehandlebar850.com.

MOBTOWN Gulf Breeze Presbyterian Church invites the public to the first in its series of free concerts featuring MOBtown, a night of percussion music, at 6:30 p.m. Sunday, July 13 at 100 Andrew Jackson Trail in Gulf Breeze. A reception will follow.

GUNSHINE AND POWER BOMB Show starts

6 p.m. Monday, July 14 at The Handlebar, 319 N. Tarragona St. More info is available at thehandlebar850.com.

CANNIBALS KIDS, PRETRORIA, MORNING TRIPS AND MARIGOLD'S APPREN-

TICE Show starts 7 p.m. Thursday, July 17 at The Handlebar, 319 N. Tarragona St. More info is available at thehandlebar850.com.

NO TRUTH, EXIT LIFE, TRASH WORLD, STRIKEFORCE, SERRATED FL AND HANG -

NAIL RIPOFF Show starts 6:30 p.m. Friday, July 18 at The Handlebar, 319 N. Tarragona St. More info is available at thehandlebar850.com.

TANTOK, SPENCE B, DJ DAD, BIRDZ AND BRODY Show starts 7 p.m. Saturday, July 19 at The Handlebar, 319 N. Tarragona St. More info is available at thehandlebar850.com.

CAVING IN, RISE UP LIGHTS, DEAD ETIQUETTE, GHOSTLINGS AND WIDOW AN-

CHOR Show starts 5 p.m. Sunday, July 20 at The Handlebar, 319 N. Tarragona St. More info is available at thehandlebar850.com.

PENSACOLA PICK NIGHT AT ODD COLONY

Music pickers of all levels are invited to play 7-9 p.m. every last Monday of the month at Odd Colony, 260 N. Palafox St. Bring your acoustic instrument and jam. Visit facebook.com/oddcolony for details.

TUESDAY NIGHT JAZZ AT SEVILLE

QUARTER Enjoy smooth jazz with Melodious Allen and The Funk Heads on Tuesday nights at Lili Marlene's in Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. Show starts at 6:30 p.m. Visit sevillequarter.com for more information.

OPEN MIC NIGHT AT GARY'S BREWERY

Open mic night is hosted by Renee Amelia 6 p.m. every other Wednesday at Gary's Brewery, 208 Newman Ave. Visit facebook.com/garysbrew for details.

LIVE MUSIC AT CALVERT'S Listen to live music 5-8 p.m. Sundays at Calvert's in the Heights, 670 Scenic Hwy. Visit facebook.com/calvertsintheheights for details.

FITNESS + RECREATION

OCEAN HOUR CLEAN UPS Ocean Hour clean ups are 8:45 a.m. Saturdays. On Saturday, July 12, the sites are Bayou Chico, Bob Sikes Bridge–south end and Naval Live Oaks. Ocean Hour provides bags, gloves, grabbers and buckets. For more information, visit oceanhourfl.com.

BLUE WAHOOS HOME GAMES The Blue Wahoos home games are held at Blue Wahoos Stadium, 315 W. Cedar St. Upcoming dates include 6:05 p.m. Friday, July 18, 6:05 p.m. Saturday, July 19 and 4:05 p.m. Sunday, July 20. Tickets and info are at bluewahoos.com.

BIKE PENSACOLA SLOW RIDE The next Bike Pensacola Slow Ride is 6 p.m. Friday, July 11 at End of the Line Café, 612 E. Wright St. Details at facebook.com/bikepensacola.

for more listings visit inweekly.net

free will astrology

WEEK OF JULY 10

ARIES (MARCH 21-APRIL 19): In the days before lighthouses, some coastal communities used "fire beacons"—elevated structures where people tended open flames to guide sailors. In the coming weeks, Aries, I invite you to be like both the keeper and the flame. People will be drawn to your brightness, warmth and persistence as they navigate through their haze and fog. And surprise! You may find your own way more clearly as you tend to others' wayfinding. Don't underestimate the value of your steady, luminous signal. For some travelers, your presence could be the difference between drifting and docking. So burn with purpose, please. Keep your gleam strong and visible.

TAURUS (APRIL 20-MAY 20): The ancestors of my American friend Arisa lived in Ukraine, Indonesia, the Choctaw nation and the Great Lakes region. Her new husband Anselme is of Japanese, Italian and French descent. Their wedding was a celebration of multicultural influences. Guests delivered toasts in five languages. Their marriage vows borrowed texts from three religious traditions. The music included a gamelan ensemble, band that played Ukrainian folk music and DJ spinning Choctaw and Navajo prayers set to Indian ragas. I bring this to your attention in the hope you will seek comparable cross-fertilization in the coming weeks. It's an excellent time to weave richly diverse textures into your life.

GEMINI (MAY 21-JUNE 20): I predict a future when women will hold half of the leadership roles, their income and time devoted to childcare will match men's, their orgasms are as common as men's and most guys know misogyny is perilous to their health. Until the bloom of that wonderful era, I invite Geminis of all genders to invoke your tender ingenuity as you strengthen female opportunities and power. In my view, this work is always crucial to your maximum spiritual and psychological health—but even more so than usual in the coming weeks. Boost the feminine in every way you can imagine.

CANCER (JUNE 21-JULY 22): In Yoruba cosmology, ase is the sacred life force that animates the universe. It's divine energy that can

By Rob Brezsny

be harnessed by humans to make things happen, to speak and act with ardent intention so that words and deeds shape reality. I am pleased to report that you Cancerians are extra aligned with ase these days. Your words are not casual. Your actions are not mild or minor. You have the power to speak what you mean so robustly that it has an enhanced possibility to come into being. What you command with love and clarity will carry enduring potency.

LEO (JULY 23-AUG. 22): In medieval bestiaries, unicorns were said to be fierce, wild creatures. They were real but also hidden. Only people with pure hearts could see or commune with them. I suspect you now have the chance to glide into a potent "pure heart" phase, Leo. My fervent hope is you will take this opportunity to cleanse yourself of irrelevancies and rededicate yourself to your deepest yearnings and most authentic self-expressions. If you do, you just may encounter the equivalent of a unicorn.

they push too soon, it collapses into a misshapen blob. In this spirit, Libra, I urge you to recognize which parts of your life are now just the right temperature to be reshaped. Your timing must be impeccable. Where and when will you direct the flame of your willpower? Don't wait until the opportunity cools. Art and magic will happen with just the right amount of heat applied at just the right moment.

SCORPIO (OCT. 23-NOV. 21): "I have often been racked by obsessive urges that plague me until I act them out." So says my Scorpio friend Fatima, a conceptual artist. "Fortunately," she continues, "I have finally retrained myself to focus on creative obsessions that fuel my art rather than on anxious, trivial obsessions that disorder my life. I'd be an offensive maniac if I couldn't use my work as an outlet for my vehement fantasy life." I recommend Fatima's strategy to Scorpios most of the time, but especially so in the coming days. Your imagination is even more cornucopian than usual. To harness its beautiful but unruly power, you must channel it into noble goals.

AQUARIUS (JAN. 20-FEB. 18): In the ancient practice of astronomy, the stars were considered "incorruptible." Unlike the planets, their movements were unchanging, lights stationary and destinies steady and stable. We human beings are the opposite of all those descriptors, of course. There's no use in hoping otherwise, because constancy just isn't an option for us. The good news, Aquarius, is that you are now poised to thrive on these truths. The inevitability of change can and should be a treasured gift for you. You're being offered chances to revise plans that do indeed need to be revised. You are being invited to let go of roles that don't serve you. But what initially feels like a loss or sacrifice may actually be permission. Evolution is a tremendous privilege.

VIRGO (AUG. 23-SEPT. 22): Some Buddhist monks create mandalas on floors from colored sand. They work meticulously for days or weeks to build intricate, symmetrical masterpieces. Once their beautiful work is done, however, it typically doesn't last long. The creators sweep it away either immediately or soon. The sand may be disposed of, perhaps poured into a river or stream. What's the purpose of this strange practice? Most importantly, it displays a reverence for the impermanence of all things—an appreciation for beauty but not an attachment to it. I recommend you consider taking a cue from the sand mandalas in the coming weeks. Is there anything you love that you should let go of? A creation you can allow to transform into a new shape? An act of sacred relinquishing?

LIBRA (SEPT. 23-OCT. 22): Glassblowers shape molten sand with breath and fire, knowing the material can only be formed while it's hot and glowing. If they wait too long, the stuff stiffens, turns brittle and resists change. But if

SAGITTARIUS (NOV. 22-DEC. 21): The Igbo people of Nigeria have a term: ogwugwu na-ad ị n'ulo. It means "the medicine is in the house." It's the belief that healing doesn't necessarily come from afar. It may already be here, hidden among the familiar, waiting to be acknowledged or discovered. Dear Sagittarius, your natural instinct is to look outward and afar for answers and help. But in the coming weeks, you should look close to home. What unnoticed or underestimated thing might be a cure or inspiration you've been overlooking? How can you find new uses for what you already have?

CAPRICORN (DEC. 22-JAN. 19): I invite you to celebrate the holiday known as Be Your Own Best Helper. How should you observe this potentially pivotal transformation in your relationship with yourself? Divest yourself of yearnings to have someone clean up after you and service your baseline necessities. Renounce any wishes you harbor for some special person to telepathically guess and attend to your every need. Vow that from now on, you will be an expert at taking excellent care of yourself. Do you dare to imagine what it might feel like to be your own best helper?

PISCES

(FEB. 19-MARCH 20): The axolotl is an amphibian that never outgrows its larval form. Unlike most creatures, it retains its youthful traits into adulthood. Amazingly, it can regenerate its limbs, spinal cord and parts of its brain. Let's make the axolotl your inspirational animal, Pisces. What part of your "youth" is worth keeping—not as immaturity, but as righteous design? Where are you being asked not to evolve past a stage, but to deepen within it? And what might be regenerated in you that seemed to have been lost? Your magic will come from being like an axolotl. Be strange. Be playful. Be ageless and original and irrepressible.

HERE'S THE HOMEWORK: Can you figure out a way to have more fun while you do your work? {in}

freewillastrology.com newsletter.freewillastrology.com freewillastrology@freewillastrology.com BrezsnyAstrology@gmail.com © 2025 Rob Brezsny

news of the weird

A CAUTIONARY TALE A couple in Thailand went to the hospital three times after the woman swallowed a fish bone while eating fish soup, Oddity Central reported on June 27. She tried various home remedies, but couldn't dislodge it from her throat, and at the hospital, doctors couldn't see anything on an X-ray. The wife, Sang Lan, still felt pain, but assumed the bone had moved on. When her neck became swollen, she returned to the hospital, but again Xrays were negative. At home, the woman was applying a pain relief patch to her neck when she saw a pointy object poking her skin from within. She applied pressure, and the fish bone poked through her skin. Back at the hospital, doctors removed the 2-centimeter bone; they said they had never seen anything like it before.

WELL, THAT'S CURIOUS A 77-year-old woman in Michigan won $4 million in the state's instant lottery recently, the Detroit Free Press reported on July 1. The woman, who is choosing to remain anonymous, said she plays the game "all the time" and was "frozen in her seat" for a while after scratching the winning ticket. Curiously (in light of her age), the winner chose to receive annual payments of about $133,000 for the next 30 years instead of taking the lump sum of about $2.7 million. She's planning to donate some, do home repairs and share the winnings with her family.

THAT RULE DOESN'T APPLY TO ME

On July 1, real estate agent Jon Beaulieu of Manayunk, Pennsylvania, was sentenced to one year of probation, a $200 fine and reimbursing American Airlines the $59,143 it cost to cancel a flight on June 26, 2024. Philadelphia magazine reported that on that night, Beaulieu went to great lengths to skip the security line at Philadelphia International Airport, trying to enter Terminal C through an exit line. When he was stopped, he threw a $50 bill at the security guard and asked her if that would get him in. Eventually, Beaulieu got away from her and disappeared into the terminal—and onto his flight, which was still at the gate. When officials informed the pilot that a passenger hadn't gone through security, they canceled the flight.

FAIL At Cedar Point amusement park in Sandusky, Ohio, riders of the newly opened Siren's Curse roller coaster got a break in their experience when the coaster "experienced a delay," the Akron Beacon Journal reported. The stop, on June 28, left riders suspended in midair for about 10 minutes; park spokesman Tony Clark said the "coaster's safety system performed as designed, the ride was restarted, and guests continued their ride."

EWWWWWWW Rona Davies of Sittingbourne, England, ordered a baby rattle from Shein for her stepdaughter's 5-month-old, Kent Online reported on July 2, but what she saw inside turned her off of online shopping for good. Among the rattling beads inside the toy was a human finger-

By the Editors at Andrews McMeel

nail. Davies said she was "disgusted" and added, "My concern is, if things like this are getting into a baby's toy, then what are their standards for health and safety?" Oh, Rona. Shein offered her a refund and 100 Shein points, which Davies called "a joke really, because that's not the point of it." Shein had no comment.

THE TECH REVOLUTION We here at Weird World Headquarters are ardent belittlers of AI, so it's with great glee that we bring you this item: MSN reported on July 2 that a Tesla in "self-driving mode" tried to mix it up with a train in midJune in Sinking Spring, Pennsylvania. Western Berks Fire Commissioner Jared Renshaw said the vehicle turned left onto some train tracks; the three people inside the car were able to get out and gather their belongings before a train came along an adjacent track a few minutes later. The Tesla suffered only a damaged mirror, but it had to be lifted with a crane off the tracks so as not to disturb its highly flammable battery. "We've had accidents involving Teslas," Renshaw said, "but nobody has expressed to us that the vehicle was in self-drive mode when it happened."

AWESOME! Jason Singer of Portland, Maine, became a "Jeopardy!" champion on July 1, ABC News reported. Four years earlier, Singer's wife, Susan McMillan, won the title on the show. "Jeopardy!" officials say the brainiacs are believed to be the first already-married couple to both win. McMillan said she coached her husband: "I told him he really needs to be on point with the buzzer timing," she said. "Everyone there knows pretty much all the information."

POLICE REPORT Raleigh, North Carolina, police were called to the scene of a robbery on July 1, WRAL-TV reported. Victims told officers that a naked man with a wooden post approached them and demanded access to their car. The man also assaulted a woman sitting in her car, hitting her on the arm with the post. He then tried to drive away but couldn't shift the car out of park. He fled and hid in a storage room before being captured and taken into custody. Police didn't release the names of the victims or the suspect.

IT'S A MYSTERY In Wirral, England, residents are unsettled by someone in a black cat costume who's been prowling around secluded beach areas, the BBC reported on July 3. One witness wrote on Facebook that she "heard a man making cat noises, shone a torch he was waving his arms at me before crawling up the hill. Never been so scared." A man who was walking his dog along the beach was more amused than frightened: "I don't know his name, I think it's just a windup. He's definitely not out to frighten people, he does it for fun," he said. "He just likes being a giant cat." Well, yeah, who doesn't? {in}

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