Inweekly July 13 2023 Issue

Cooking Across America

Send your future chef on a trip across America at Bodacious!

Each day of camp will explore the unique flavors of a different region in the United States. From coast to coast, your young chef will master the art of preparing popular regional meals that have become timeless favorites.

During the five-day camp, our instructors will empower campers with essential skills to foster their success, safety, and creativity in the kitchen. From mastering basic prep techniques to honing knife skills (when applicable), our campers will develop the fundamental tools of a confident chef.

AGES 10-12

July 24 – 28

SCHEDULE

Monday – Friday 9AM – 1PM

Drop-off at 8:45 AM daily

Graduation ceremony at 12:15 PM on Friday

Every camper gets a chef apron!

winners &

winners losers

CANTONMENT ROTARY Sixteen Pensacola State College students received a share of $22,000 in Cantonment Rotary Club scholarships last month. In its 75th year serving the community, the club also has six endowed scholarships with the PSC Foundation: Cantonment Rotary Club Culinary Endowed Scholarship, Cantonment Rotary Club Ike and Carolyn Hicks Terry Music Endowed Scholarship, Cantonment Rotary Club Ted Ciano Vocational Endowed Scholarship, Cantonment Rotary Club Vocational I Endowed Scholarship, Cantonment Rotary Club Vocational II Endowed Scholarship and the Cantonment Rotary Club Legal Assistant Endowed Scholarship. The six endowments total more than $164,200 and will support Pensacola State students into perpetuity.

INTERNATIONAL PAPER Employee volunteers at International Paper Pensacola gathered to assemble more than 500 feminine care kits to end period poverty. This is the second year International Paper has packed feminine hygiene kits for the community. The kits include feminine products and a personalized note in a discreet bag. The kits were distributed to the Health & Hope Clinic, Pace Center for Girls and United Way of West Florida. Period poverty is happening here in our community, and we can help. This is just one way International Paper is dedicated to addressing critical needs in the communities where employees live and work by mobilizing its people, products and resources.

ESA SOUTH The Florida Department of the American Legion awarded its annual Employer of Veterans award to ESA South (ESA), a service-disabled veteran-owned small business headquartered in Cantonment. The award requires a company to show a demonstrated commitment to employing veterans. ESA has met this requirement, with nearly a third of all current ESA employees having previously served in the armed forces and almost 40% of new hires this year alone being veterans. This company embodies service and support for those who have served our nation. Founded in 1999, ESA has a nationwide workforce and offices in California, Washington, Missouri, Texas and Florida, focusing primarily on vertical construction, disaster response and recovery, and demolition and abatement of hazardous materials.

CENTURY TOWN COUNCIL Escambia County's other municipality continues to refuse to comply with the state's opening meeting laws. A notice for the entire year was posted on a bulletin board outside the town hall and at other locations in Century. However, the notice only lists the meeting dates without giving the times. The Florida Attorney General's 2023 Government in the Sunshine Manual states, "The notice should contain the time and place of the meeting and, if available, an agenda, or if no agenda is available, a statement of the general subject matter to be considered." Sadly, this isn't the first Sunshine violation for the council.

MATTHEW BANKS

An Escambia County grand jury issued a superseding indictment June 27 to add new fraud allegations to charges against the Pensacola contractor. The latest allegations assert Banks fraudulently made statements on paperwork involving two other companies to his Banks Construction LLC. The indictment states he "knowingly and willfully (made) a false, fictitious or fraudulent statement or representation concerning the managing member of limited liability companies, in documents submitted to the Florida Department of State, the Articles of Organization for 3T Construction LLC, and Fourtee Construction LLC." Banks is charged with racketeering, aggravated white collar crime, fraud and destroying or tampering with evidence. The contractor owes his customers millions of dollars in restitution bills for jobs he never completed. His attempt to file bankruptcy last fall was dismissed by the Northern District of Florida bankruptcy court. Banks is sitting in the Escambia County Jail without bond.

ORANGE COUNTY TOURISM

The Orlando Sentinel reported that Orange County tourist tax collections fell again for the second consecutive month in May. The back-to-back decreases, the first since January and February 2021, followed a historic run of 14 straight record months. Hotel demand from convention business declined, leading to speculation that Gov. Ron DeSantis' anti-woke agenda, his battle with Disney World and the travel warnings issued by LBGTQ+ and civil rights may be the reasons for the decline.

outtakes

By Rick Outzen

A WILD RIDE

As we celebrate our newspaper's 24th anniversary, I find myself spending time reviewing the cover stories and columns we've published over the years and appreciating the many contributions our editors, graphic artists and reporters have made to making Inweekly and this community better.

In the early days of this publication, I rarely wrote and focused on the business side. However, that changed after Hurricane Ivan, when we had to make huge cuts in staff as our revenue dropped because most of our customers lost nearly everything and had to rebuild their lives.

The hurricane was a turning point for us. I decided if I had to eventually shut down the newspaper, I would go down swinging. We challenged everything and everybody, angering the leaders behind Rebuild, politicians and those who hated to have their motivations questioned.

We put spotlights on jail deaths, taser abuse, deputized code enforcement officers, sex trafficking in Northwest Florida and the lack of economic development. We fought for the Community Maritime Park, a new city charter and a changing of the guard on the Pensacola City Council and Escambia County Commission. We helped create the Pensacola Young Professionals and launched the Rising Stars and Power List issues.

We developed "Ballsy Plans" that reimagined downtown Pensacola with a baseball park, entertainment district, outdoor market on Saturdays, new public library and more residential areas. We also dreamed how much better downtown would be if the Emerald Coast Utilities Authority would relocate its stinky Main Street Sewage Treatment plant.

And while our readers still understood parody and satire, we published an April Fool's issue that reported the UWF Board of Trustees had approved football and that the Argonauts would field a team in 2010. The first game would be at the University of Alabama, and the first home game would be at the Community Maritime Park versus Notre Dame. The joke became a reality when UWF played its first football game in Blue Wahoos Stadium in 2016 and would win the national Division II championship three years later.

We burst on the national scene with the Billings murder case and the BP oil spill, gaining international attention for reporting and insights. We covered the first presidential debate between John McCain and Barack Obama at the University of Mississippi in 2008 and the 2016 debate between Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton in Las Vegas.

Dozens of local and statewide candidates have made stops at our office, including Ron DeSantis, Adam Putnam, Ashley Moody, Alex Sink, Jimmy Patronis, Jeff Miller, Marco Rubio, Andrew Gillum, Kendrick Meek and Gwen Graham.

We won awards for our investigative reporting on Superintendent Malcolm Thomas' failure to turn around Warrington Middle School. We covered the death of Victor Steen, who was run over by a police officer and found parallels to the 1974 death of Wendel Sylvester Blackwell, which led to Rev. H.K. Mathews being jailed for protesting it. We reported how Scott Davison, the frontman for Maritime Park Development Partners, misrepresented his development team and financial capabilities that cost the city hundreds of thousands of dollars and delayed the stadium's construction.

We tackled the racial disparities in Escambia in income, employment, education and health, which led to the first of three windows being broken at our office. We reported on the rise of HIV and sexually transmitted diseases in our community, PTSD and the suicide rate among our soldiers returning from Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom in Iraq and Afghanistan, and sexual assault in the U.S. military.

We advocated for LBGTQ+ rights, food trucks and public safety during the COVID pandemic. Our reporting on the musical history of BelmontDeVilliers helped earn the historic neighborhood the 203rd Mississippi Blues Trail Marker.

We have enhanced our reach with my blog, my radio show on WCOA 1370AM/104.FM and memorable and laughable events, such as the Hawkshaw Music Fest and the Independent Music Awards.

It has been a wild ride with many crazy, unpredictable turns, and we are grateful for your support. {in} rick@inweekly.net

I decided if I had to eventually shut down the newspaper, I would go down swinging.

LEONARD TAKES CONTROL

ers. Recruitment and retainment of students are just as challenging, with only nine A schools among the 52 graded. Leonard identified middle school as the time when students tend to leave the district. Only two of the nine middle schools earned better than a C grade.

"In today's world, especially after the voucher bill passed, we have to compete," Leonard said. "We have to be the option that people choose … You'll see pockets in our community that, at the middle school level, they decide to go outside the public school system. We've been working very hard, and we'll continue to work very hard to retain those students, specifically at that level."

By Tom St. Myer

How Escambia County Public Schools interim superintendent Keith Leonard reacted to two jarring incidents exemplifies why Kelly Krostag describes him as a man of integrity.

The first example occurred 20-plus years ago when Leonard taught and coached football at Tate High School, and Krostag served as a school adviser. Leonard stopped by to speak to her after learning that the mother of one of his players died.

"He said, 'I really need you to help this young man,'" said Krostag, who replaced Leonard as assistant superintendent of human resources. "He cared about this one child enough to make sure the child had someone else in his life that could help him."

The next example occurred in 2020, after the school board passed on Leonard as superintendent in favor of fellow finalist Tim Smith. Leonard returned to his position in the human resources department the next day and told Krostag, "We're going to lead from where we are."

Leonard backed up his word. He held no grudges, supported Smith and acted as a sounding board for him throughout his three tumultuous years as superintendent.

"His integrity is what makes him a great leader," Krostag said. "I've always felt that about him. I've known him as a teacher and a coach and an administrator, and that's the thing that makes him successful."

Three years overdue in some minds, Leonard finally holds the title of superintendent—albeit with the word "interim" in front. He was thrust into the position in June, after Smith was unceremoniously terminated.

Leonard inherits a school district that ranks in the bottom third of the state in just about every conceivable measure. He is ago,ndated with

the same challenges that plagued the school three years ago when he sought to be superintendent.

The No. 1 challenge is closing the achievement gap. Eleven schools scattered across six zip codes earned D or F grades in 2021-22. The 32505 and 32526 zip codes top the dubious list with three schools each, followed by 32506 with two.

"Those six zip codes, in order to close the achievement gap, we've got to attack that headon with the support of the entire community," said Leonard, who comes from a family of educators in Escambia County, including his parents, wife, oldest daughter, sister and nephew.

A significant number of students at each of those schools live in poverty. Leonard said some parents in those zip codes juggle multiple jobs that prevent them from being involved at the school. What he is asking parents for instead is to encourage their children to embrace school and support the staff educating them.

"That's a fix you can make with just one switch right here," Leonard said as he tapped his head. "That's one of the items we will address head-on from the very beginning, whether it be open houses, phone calls through school messenger to families talking about being supportive of the teacher, the principal, the school staff."

RECRUIT AND RETAIN

Support from parents is crucial for Leonard to accomplish his three goals for the 2023-24 school year—positive student behavior, improved attendance and stability. He said stability includes recruitment of students, teachers and staff, retainment of each and improved morale.

Recruitment and retainment of employees is extremely challenging for a school district that operates in a county where the cost of living puts a financial strain on teachers—let alone bus drivers, custodians and food service work-

Competing comes naturally for Leonard. His competitive juices flowed throughout his playing and coaching career. Leonard quarterbacked Tate to the 1980 4A football state championship. He then coached the Aggie baseball and football programs to successful campaigns before he departed his alma mater for a district administrative position in 2004.

His integrity and competitive spirit benefited Leonard as a contract negotiator for the school district from 2004-08. School Board Chair Paul Fetsko recalls how Leonard managed to bring the two sides together and strike amicable deals.

"He was very honest, very calm, listened intently to what everybody said and then would always look for ways to say, 'OK, these are the things we are in alignment on, let's work from this point,'" Fetsko said. "Keith commanded the respect of everyone."

Leonard's years as a contract negotiator prepared him for how to communicate effectively with the school board, he said. He promised to make sure lines of communication between his office and the school board stay open.

"Communication helps build relationships, and the more open communication you have, the more positive relationships you will have," Leonard said. "I believe that will help foster a good, positive relationship with all of our school board members."

His predecessor failed in that regard, according to Fetsko, who caught fellow school board members by surprise during the May meeting when he motioned for Smith to be terminated and Leonard appointed as interim superintendent. Board members Kevin Adams and David Williams sided with Fetsko, and the trio ousted Smith by a 3-2 vote.

Fetsko took Smith to task for not communicating with the school board about issues, including a question about the exchange of nude photos in the "Rights and Responsibilities" handbook and books in school libraries that parents felt contained inappropriate sexual content. Fetsko commended Leonard for communicating effectively

with the school board members in his first month at the helm.

"It has been a phenomenal night-and-day difference," Fetsko said. "He let us know about students being evacuated from a school due to a gas leak. Those are the kind of things I wasn't getting information on, and that's what I was distressed about."

Smith dealt with his share of public backlash, too, primarily from parents complaining about the school district being slow to remove books with perceived sexual content from library bookshelves. Outcry over the books dominated public forums at virtually every school board meeting during the past year.

BETTER EACH DAY

Leonard scored a major victory in the eyes of those critics last month when he called for an emergency rule adoption to remove all books flagged for sexual content within five days of being reported. The school board approved the rule adoption unanimously and ensured the school district was in compliance with House Bill 1069. Leonard downplayed his role in the rule adoption. He said the process to be in compliance began with Smith as superintendent.

"It's important to listen to the public, because ultimately, their children are our customers," Leonard said. "Who we serve is the 38,000 students who attend our schools. It's important to let people have a voice, but ultimately you have to make a decision. As a superintendent, the decision I'm going to make is those items that be recommended to our school board to one, comply with the law, and two, to protect our people and/ or best serve our students."

Leonard agreed to be interim superintendent until June 30, 2024, but he signed a contract that makes removing the interim from the title relatively easy. School board members plan to conduct a search for a new superintendent, but if they opt for Leonard, a simple majority vote will renew his contract. His annual salary is $160,000 and includes performance-based incentives, $500 a month for automobile-related expenses and $200 a month for business expenses.

Some in the public voice concern that Leonard is too entrenched in the district. The fear is that he will emulate his predecessors, refuse to push boundaries and the district will stay grounded in mediocrity. Leonard dismissed those concerns and promised to serve with the same integrity that positioned him to be superintendent.

"Some people might say I march to the beat of a different drummer, but I'm going to be me," he said. "I'm going to lead the way I lead." Leonard continued, "I truly believe we have a good team in place and just pushing forward every day, earning credibility, earning trust, showing people how much we care and love them will take us a long way."

He added, "What we're going to do is work each day to be a little better than we were the day before. Today's the reason God made tomorrow. That's the way I look at everything." {in}

THE "MONEYBALL" MASTERS

through business management fundamentals and

Graduates of the program can expect to enter the workforce with skills to analyze effective leadership and management strategies to run sports organizations, demonstrate how data impacts most sport business decisions, apply theory learned in the program to a real-life setting, analyze how technology is changing the nature of the sport industry, effectively communicate in sport management practice and apply ethical judgment and analysis to managerial decisions made in the sports industry.

The program will also include several electives, Fried said.

want

to go the sports side—whether it's working

do—you name it," Fried said. "We also expect to

"One of them is esport management, and I actually wrote a textbook on that," Fried said. "The esport area is such a huge field, but we're going beyond that. We're also going to offer a course in sports sustainability. Every venue right now, every event, every team is trying to figure out how they can increase the amount of recycling at an event, just as an example, or how to use solar or wind-based energy, whatever it might be."

That's not all. The graduate program will also offer an elective on sports betting. "We're going to be the first program in the United States to offer a course in sports betting because that's where the money is right now," Fried said.

"We've taken the Masters of Science and Administration and utilized three different colleges on campus to put together a unique degree in sport analytics," Fried said. "Everyone knows about 'Moneyball' and how the Oakland A's have succeeded. We have leveraged that to create a degree that really focuses on data analysis, data fluency, data visualization—all around the context of sports and looking at all the data that's available in sports to make more effective sportbased decisions."

In 2002, the Oakland Athletics general manager, Billy Beane, traded away his three most prominent and expensive players. He rebuilt his team based on analytics such as on-base percentage and hitting with runners on base. Beane not

with a lot of business classes, but it's business and the analytics," Fried said. "And so combined, we thought it would be a phenomenal degree opportunity. We've only been live basically for about maybe two weeks with a website and everything else. We already have seven applicants in the program."

The interest level isn't surprising. Graduate sport administration programs are in high demand nationally. "We have had a strong sport management program for a number of years, and we've had a lot of requests from the athletic department as well as others to develop a master's base degree," Fried said.

Dr. Gary Liguori, the UWF provost and senior vice president, agrees. "UWF is well positioned

based. Ole Miss Head Football Coach Lane Kiffin looks at his analytics when he decides to go for it on a fourth down. Baseball managers use analytics to fill out their lineup to minimize opponent scoring while accruing as many runs as possible. College and NBA basketball teams use wearable technology to track their players' health and fatigue levels.

"Our degree is going to train people how to get the numbers, how to analyze the numbers and then how to make decisions based upon those numbers," Fried said. "And that covers a whole gambit of everything from sports marketing, sports finance, facility management, event management—you name it. It's all numbersbased right now."

He continued, "We have 38 states right now that have legalized sports betting. While we're still having some issues here in Florida, all over the United States, you see DraftKings, FanDuel, and MGM and all these entities are going crazy in the sports space. We have to understand that and appreciate that and do it ethically to ensure there's no corruption in the games."

Fried expects the graduate program to adjust because the sports management landscape changes continually. "Every day, there are new stories in the sports field, and it's just constantly changing and evolving. And that makes it so exciting."

He added, "People that might not even be as interested in sports will want to get involved in this program because it's a fun and exciting area." {in}

For more information about UWF's sport administration graduate program, visit uwf.edu/ sportadministration.

UWF Women’s Volleyball / Photo Courtesy of UWF

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WARRINGTON PREP PRINCIPAL HIRED

Charter Schools USA hired Dr. Erica Foster as the founding principal of Warrington Preparatory Academy. In early June, the charter school operator took control of Warrington Middle School when the State Board of Education forced the Escambia County School Board to make the change after repeatedly failing to improve the school's academic performance.

Foster has accumulated a diverse range of roles and experiences over the past 15 years. She started her career as a special education teacher and transitioned into the role of school counselor. She earned her Bachelor of Social Work from the University of Southern Mississippi. She continued her educational journey to earn a Master of Education in school counseling and a Specialist in Counseling from Mississippi College. She also earned her Specialist in Educational Leadership and Doctor of Education from Delta State University.

Eddie Ruiz, Charter School USA's state superintendent, discussed with Inweekly why Foster was chosen to lead the school.

"She is somebody who's a go-getter, who believes in this community, who believes in the students that are going to be walking into the school on its first day of school, and that's what mattered," Ruiz said. "Plus, her knowledge. She knows good instruction. She knows what it takes to move students, and those are all the qualities that we were looking for—a proven leader that knows the community, knows the students and can get the job done."

Foster moved to Pensacola a year ago and served as the assistant principal at Brown Barge Middle School this past school year.

"When I first got here last year, I was told about the school, and my heart just went out to them," Foster said. "The first thing I said is, 'What can I do to help?' and when the opportunity came to take on this adventure, I wanted to do it."

She continued, "My passion is ensuring that all students have a nurturing learning environment and are ready for the future. When I interviewed for it and heard about Charter Schools USA and its mission, purpose and values, it hit close to home with me. And so I jumped on and was like, of course, I want to be a part of this movement to help change the perception of the community and this school."

HELPING DEVELOPERS Cities and counties are studying the impact Senate Bill 102 will have on housing developments in their communities. DeSantis signed the bill, known as the "Live Local Act," which invests $711 million in multiple programs to expand the availability of housing, downpayment assistance and focused support for military communities.

Pensacola Mayor D.C. Reeves said the City has received several developer inquiries about possible housing projects.

"People are wanting to meet with us and talk about it on what seems like almost a weekly ba-

sis, including existing projects, things that are already owned, have started moving on or have control of the property, and they want to see what's going happen," Reeves said.

"I really think that we need to be out in front of that and have someone who knows how to manage it—someone who will hold the brochure for the City of Pensacola to say, 'Hey, thank you for considering investing in City of Pensacola; Here's what you can do. Here's what you cannot do."

The mayor wants this person to do all types of projects, "from market rate all the way down to homeless transitional housing."

He added, "Someone's got to be the frontfacing part of that housing. We have an amazing housing department that's blocking and tackling and does many of the nuts and bolts things, but we need someone focused on these new housing projects."

Reeves believes the City of Pensacola will be competing with other Florida cities with the same incentive packages covered by the Live Local Act, but what will separate Pensacola from the competition is how well the City works with developers.

"We're all on the same equal footing of competition," he said. "So I would rather someone have an experience in Pensacola and saying, 'Hey, well that was easy. I can get someone on the phone. They seem to value our investment.' That's really how market rate investing is right now, too, as well."

He continued, "I think we have to anticipate and put our best foot forward, knowing these projects are coming."

CLEAN WATER SETTLEMENT Last month, Levin Papantonio Rafferty announced that 3M Co., a defendant in the national litigation Aqueous Film-Forming Foams (AFFF) Products Liability Litigation MDL No. 2873, resulted in a $12.5 billion settlement agreement. 3M will pay a minimum of $10.5 billion and a maximum of $12.5 billion to settle lawsuits over contamination of drinking water systems across the country with harmful per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).

Water providers, including the Emerald Coast Utilities Authority (ECUA), will receive compensation to help fund water testing and infrastructure to immediately clean up drinking water supplies and fund ongoing maintenance to ensure drinking water safety. The settlement will be paid out over 13 years.

LPR shareholder Wes Bowden served on the Plaintiffs' Executive Committee in the national AFFF litigation. He told Inweekly, "There are probably 30 some odd wells that ECUA operates throughout Pensacola that are impacted by these hazardous chemicals. And unfortunately, the companies that made these chemicals never told the folks who used them, like the Pensacola Fire Department or NAS Pensacola, that using their fire-fighting foam would contaminate drinking water."

He continued, "ECUA had to spend millions and millions of dollars and then pass those costs onto the ratepayers to fix the problem."

Bowden believes the settlement will impact the lives of every American.

"We're going to get clean drinking water and the funding for clean drinking water that otherwise would not exist," he said. "It's something we take immense pride in doing, and it actually makes a difference. While the stakes are high and the pressure's very high, it's that sense of pride knowing that you're doing something that makes a difference that keeps us doing it daily."

before the 2022 season after winning the 2021 World Series MVP with the Atlanta Braves.

FREEDOM TAX HOLIDAY Last year, Gov. Ron DeSantis proposed and signed a "Freedom Week" sales tax holiday on summer recreation items. This year, he proposed and signed an expansion of the sales tax holiday, which will now last through Labor Day weekend and covers children's toys.

Items included in the Freedom Summer Sales Tax Holiday are:

•Outdoor recreation purchases, such as supplies for camping, fishing and general outdoor activities including kayaks and canoes.

•Boating and water activity supplies such as life jackets, coolers and pool floats.

•Tickets for museums and events, such as concerts, fairs, sporting events and theater productions.

•Entry to state parks, including annual passes.

•Children's toys and athletic equipment.

EMPTY THE SHELTER The Escambia County Department of Animal Welfare recently announced participation in the BISSELL Pet Foundation "Empty the Shelters" event July 6-31. Adoptions for all cats and dogs 1 or older is free during this time. Puppies will be available for $50, and kittens will be available for $25. An $11 licensing fee will apply to all adoptions for Escambia County residents. View all adoptable pets at the Animal Welfare and Adoption Center on 24petconnect.com.

"We are proud to participate with Bissell for the first time for their 'Empty the Shelters' event," said John Robinson, Director for the Escambia County Department of Animal Welfare. "This will provide opportunities for all of our great dogs and cats to find their new families this summer. Adopting a pet not only gives our homeless animals a second chance, but also creates space that will allow our organization to help many other animals in need of temporary housing."

WAHOO MLB ALL-STARS Four former Pensacola Blue Wahoos players will suit up for the 93rd MLB All-Star Game on Tuesday, July 11 at Seattle Mariners' T-Mobile Park. Fans voted in Miami Marlins' Luis Arráez as a starter; he leads the major leagues with a .389 batting average. He was a Minnesota Twins rising prospect in 2019 when he played in Pensacola.

Mariners pitcher Luis Castillo made his third All-Star roster. He played for the Blue Wahoos in 2017 when the team was affiliated with the Cincinnati Reds. Another former Reds prospect, Michael Lorenzen, joined him; he currently pitches for the Detroit Tigers Mariners. Lorenzen pitched in Pensacola in 2013 and 2014.

Marlins outfielder Jorge Soler made his first All-Star roster. He played two games for the Blue Wahoos last season on an injury rehab assignment with the Marlins, blasting two home runs in seven at-bats. Soler joined the Marlins

You may want to consider doing your Christmas shopping for your kids and grandkids early this year.

STUDENT LOAN REPAYMENT 2.0 After the U.S. Supreme Court struck down President Biden's student loan forgiveness plan, his Administration took two steps to relieve the debt relief for as many borrowers as possible.

The Secretary of Education initiated a rulemaking process to open an alternative path to debt relief for as many working and middle-class borrowers as possible, using the Secretary's authority under the Higher Education Act.

The Department of Education (DOE) instituted a 12-month "on-ramp" to repayment, running from Oct. 1 to Sept. 30, 2024, so financially vulnerable borrowers who miss monthly payments during this period are not considered delinquent, reported to credit bureaus, placed in default or referred to debt collection agencies.

Official notice has been issued to start the process of issuing new regulations under this socalled "negotiated rulemaking" process. A virtual public hearing is set for July 18, and written comments from stakeholders have been solicited. Following the public hearing, DOE will finalize the issues to be addressed through rulemaking and begin the negotiated rulemaking sessions this fall. The goal is to complete rulemaking as quickly as possible.

The White House also finalized an affordable repayment plan called the "Saving on a Valuable Education (SAVE)" plan. This income-driven repayment plan will cut borrowers' monthly payments in half, allow many borrowers to make $0 monthly payments, save all other borrowers at least $1,000 a year and ensure borrowers don't see their balances grow from unpaid interest.

For undergraduate loans, the plan cuts in half the amount borrowers pay each month from 10% to 5% of discretionary income. No borrower earning less than 225% of the federal poverty

"This will provide opportunities for all of our great dogs and cats to find their new families this summer." John Robinson

level—about the annual equivalent of a $15 minimum wage for a single borrower—will have to make a monthly payment.

The plan forgives loan balances after 10 years of payments, instead of 20 years, for borrowers with original loan balances of $12,000 or less. DOE estimates this reform will allow nearly all community college borrowers to be debt-free within 10 years.

Lenders cannot charge borrowers with unpaid monthly interest, so no borrower's loan balance will grow as long as they make their monthly payments—even when that monthly payment is $0 because of their low income.

All student borrowers in repayment will be eligible to enroll in the SAVE plan. They can enroll later this summer before any monthly payments are due. Borrowers who sign up or are already signed up for the current Revised Pay as You Earn (REPAYE) plan will be automatically enrolled in SAVE once the new plan is implemented.

To learn more, visit rb.gy/payo8.

MENTAL HEALTH GRANTS The Escambia Children's Trust intends to invest more than $3.3 million in Escambia County children's mental health and wellbeing. Its Request for Proposals (RFP), entitled "Community-Led and Community-Operated Mental Health Supports for Children and Families," is open for applications through July 26. Local providers within the target zip codes of 32501, 32505 and 32535 are encouraged to apply.

This initiative is designed to help optimize the continuum of care identified in the Strategic Plan and Roadmap Report of the Mental Health Task Force of Northwest Florida. The Trust specifically seeks community-based preventions and 'safety net' projects to support mental health instead of clinical programs to address mental illness.

"We hope to receive proposals for projects that bridge the gap in target communities between mental health needs and formal mental health care," said Tammy Greer, the ECT executive director. "We are particularly interested in programs that foster a culture of positive mental health through peer support models, informal settings and de-stigmatization of mental health topics."

For more information, email info@EscambiaChildrensTrust.org.

requirement for which you are applying. The terms begin at the start of Visit Pensacola's fiscal year Oct. 1.

Duties of the board include:

31. For questions, email dschaefer@visitpensacola.com. For more information, go to visitpensacola.com.

dia, Mayor Hayward said, "The wellbeing of the City's hardworking employees is one of my top priorities. Mr. Reynolds' actions violated this sacred responsibility. This is unacceptable to me."

VISIT BOARD

APPLICATIONS

Applications for the Visit Pensacola Board of Directors are open. Open positions include someone employed in the retail/attractions/events sector of the hospitality and tourism industry.

Visit Pensacola is governed by an 11-member board. The board positions are diverse in region and employment, so the organization's mission, to support tourism growth in Escambia County, remains balanced and inclusive.

To be eligible for Visit Pensacola's board of directors, you must be a partner of the organization in good standing and fulfill the position

•Have a vested interest in growing hospitality and tourism as an economic engine for Escambia County.

•Attending board and committee meetings regularly. Meetings are held monthly.

•Help create and implement the vision for Visit Pensacola.

•Define and implement the objectives of Visit Pensacola's strategic plan.

•Represent the corporation's interests and serve as an advocate for tourism.

If you would like to contribute to the successes of Visit Pensacola and our local tourism industry, please fill out an application by July

BUZZ HISTORY Five years ago: Emerald Coast Utility Authority Board members scrambled to get legal representation as they were called to appear before a county grand jury. In May, the News Journal reported that the state attorney's office was investigating whether ECUA made legal payments without board approval. We heard the investigation may expand into whether the board exercised the proper oversight of the utility.

Ten years ago: Mayor Ashton Hayward terminated City Administrator Bill Reynolds, days after State Attorney Bill Eddins released a report that Reynolds had leaked a confidential employee complaint. In his statement to the me

Fifteen years ago: The family of Jerry Preyer filed a wrongful death and medical negligence lawsuit against Escambia County Sheriff Ron McNesby and others. Preyer, 45, was among three mentally ill inmates who died in the Escambia County Jail from August 2005 to June 2006. Under McNesby's reign, about a dozen inmates died while in custody, the Movement For Change reported.

Twenty years ago: Former county commissioner Steve Del Gallo and others fought a plan to widen Via de Luna to four lanes. Opponents of the road project argued the $20 million would be better spent on a beach parking garage. {in}

"We hope to receive proposals for projects that bridge the gap in target communities between mental health needs and formal mental health care." Tammy Greer

Summer Reading Roundup

The actress Sharon Stone once said to always carry a book on a date "so that when you get bored you can slip into the ladies (room) for a read."

It's not bad advice.

With the number of great reads that have recently been released—and even more coming out later this summer—finding a good book will likely be easier than finding a good date. Here's a few picks to carry around no matter your destination this season.

OUT NOW

QUIETLY HOSTILE: ESSAYS

By Samantha Irby

Now on her fourth collection of essays, Irby has nothing to prove. You automatically know you're in for a good read about the weird and intricate quirks humans have, including those of the author.

PAGEBOY: A MEMOIR

By Elliot Page

You might've already heard the highlights from Page's memoir about finding his authentic self and coming out as trans in 2020, but you need to read it fully for the details multiple book reviewers called "brutally honest."

LUCKY GIRL

By Irene Muchemi-Ndiritu

"Lucky Girl" follows Solia, a Kenyan immigrant finding her way in '90s New York City. When she leaves the protection of her mother and aunts in Nairobi for an unfamiliar city thousands of miles away, Solia discovers the joy of living life on her own terms.

A QUITTER'S PARADISE

By Elysha Chang

The first book to come from Sarah Jessica Parker's imprint, SJP Lit—under the independent publisher Zando—is a debut novel from Chang about a young woman struggling to come to terms with her mother's death while juggling her career, relationships with her estranged family and a new marriage.

LITTLE MONSTERS

By Adrienne Brodeur

This is a modern retelling of the biblical story of Cain and Abel. This time, the sibling rivalry takes place during the summer of 2016 in the wild edges of Cape Cod.

DAYS AT THE MORISAKI BOOKSHOP

By Satoshi Yagisawa

Translated from the 2010 Japanese novel, this is a story about a young woman who starts working at her uncle's used bookstore after her fiancé leaves her and she loses her job. She finds redemption and a newfound love for Japanese literature.

RIPE: A NOVEL

By Sarah Rose Etter

This surreal novel follows a young woman working at a Silicon Valley start-up. With a demanding boss and unethical projects, Cassie also has a problematic companion: a miniature black hole. When she ends up unexpectedly pregnant, she has to decide if the fruits of her labor are worth it.

MRS. S

By K. Patrick

This debut novel about queer love is all over #booktok—and for good reason. It's about an affair and is full of suspense and seduction.

ALL-NIGHT PHARMACY

By Ruth Madievsky

Madievsky is a poet, so it's no surprise that powerful prose is the main character in her debut novel. The story showcases a toxic sibling relationship.

COMING SOON CROOK MANIFESTO

By Colson Whitehead

July 18

The two-time Pulitzer Prize winner is continuing his Harlem saga with this novel, which is set in 1970s New York.

THE STOLEN COAST: A NOVEL

By Dwyer Murphy

July 18

It's not summer without a mystery thriller. Set in the village of Onset, Massachusetts, you follow Jack, a man who ferries fugitives by day. He gets twisted up in a plot to pilfer diamonds in this Casablanca-infused heist novel.

FAMILY LORE

By Elizabeth Acevedo

Aug. 1

This is the first novel for adults from young adult author Elizabeth Acevedo. The story is a Dominican American drama about four supernaturally gifted sisters, inspired in part by the

author's eight inimitable aunts and her fascination with how culture and traditions are made.

THE HEAVEN & EARTH GROCERY STORE

By James McBride

Aug. 8

Set in 1972, workers discover a skeleton at the bottom of a well, which starts to unravel the history of a dilapidated neighborhood where immigrant Jews and African Americans lived side by side. Deeper into the story reveals how the two communities came together to keep a boy safe.

CONGRATULATIONS, THE BEST IS OVER!

By R. Eric Thomas

Aug. 8

This book of essays, from the hilarious writer who gave us "Here for It," is all about going home.

LET'S GO LET'S GO LET'S GO

By Cleo Qian

Aug. 15

This collection of short stories centers Asian and Asian-American women and examines the influence of technology in our relationships and daily lives.

I'M A FAN

By Sheena Patel

Sept. 5

"I stalk a woman on the internet who is sleeping with the same man as I am." That's how this novel begins and it's pretty much all we needed to see to hit "pre-order." Seriously, is it September yet? {in}

Arts & Entertainment

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

13RAVO and The King of the Cul-de-sac

By Savannah Evanoff

complished mix engineer Mike Butler—who's worked with the likes of Ray LaMontagne, Phoebe Bridgers, LeAnn Rimes, Death Cab for Cutie and Norah Jones.

"I just want to reach a few more people and want people to hear it," Nayman said. "I'm really proud of the collaborators on this one. Even some of my music peers in the industry are like, 'You got Nnamdi to drum for you?'

I'm like, 'Yeah, we're old friends.' Some people are surprised by it. They're like, 'Whoa, Pinegrove.' I'm equally excited."

All he had to do was ask.

Nayman, an advertising sound designer and music supervisor by trade, stumbled into selfreleasing music after he moved from Chicago to Pensacola in 2020. The guitarist's musical moniker 13RAVO is an amalgam of his favorite number 13 and bravo as an alternative for his first name Bradley.

"That was about adjusting to Pensacola, or the South, and just some things I'd observed, different ways of living," Nayman said. "It was a little bit more politically charged because of the election."

The lyrics to his second single "Skydiver" are a parallel between skydiving and falling in love. Nayman appropriately celebrated his July birthday by skydiving for the first time in Alabama.

The subject matter of "King" was inspired by Nayman's "not very nice" neighbor in the Beulah community. He placed the lyrics to a chord progression he's been sitting on for a while.

"It was this interaction that kept sticking with me," he said. "It was during Hurricane Sally, and my neighbor was trying to pick up his fence. It was raining; it was dark; it was super windy. We tried to help him, and he was like, 'Get inside, kids.' … I'm like, 'OK, this is pretty funny to me that he's just that neighbor.'"

The king of the cul-de-sac, as Nayman refers to him in the song, complained about the way other cars were parked, being rather particular about the driveway arrangement of his own three cars. It reminded the songwriter of a previous trip to London.

"I remember touring (it) a few years ago and being wowed—the interior of the building, how they fixed it up and rehabbed the whole place and just were really welcoming there," Nayman said. "I'm glad I was finally able to bring a project to them, because I just love the space so much. Even when I first visited back in 2021 for their soft opening, I remember calling Drake like, 'Hey, man, there's this really cool space here. It'd be sweet to film something together.'"

In the video, Nayman rides around on his 1971 Triumph Bonneville motorcycle, which is fittingly "really British," he said.

"Even the gearshift is on the right foot," he said. "It's old. It's clunky; it's wonderful."

The video follows suit with the neighbor theme of the song.

namely because he's put together a quasi "supergroup" of collaborators.

The track features many of his Chicagobased musical heroes: up-and-coming indie musician Nnamdi Ogbonnaya (drums), former Pinegrove member who now goes by Jodi as an alter ego Nick Levine (pedal steel), ATLYS string quartet member Sabrina Tabby (violin) and ac-

What brought the spontaneous-natured musician to Pensacola was a culmination of childhood spring breaks, a Wilco song called "Monday" and a large enough pickup truck to fit all his things—plus, the weather is perfect for riding motorcycles.

"I think curiosity just leads the way," Nayman said. "I like trying new things, and I'm pretty good with adapting."

Nayman dropped his first single as 13RAVO "Red Flags" in 2020.

"I visited Buckingham Palace and saw the rotation of the guards and all that stuff, so I was like, 'Hey, this is pretty funny—a little parallel between the king of the cul-de-sac and the royal family of England," Nayman said. "So in the hook, I just reflected that a bit, the rotation of the cars, and just some cheeky, silly, quirky lyrics over a sort of emotional downtempo arrangement. There were feelings hurt. I think it's more or less just allowing my Cancer sensitivities to come through."

"King" also marks Nayman's first time directing a music video. He created it with his frequent film collaborator Drake Woodall at Hellcat Hangar on Navy Boulevard.

"Basically, the music video is me riding around Pensacola and has that contrast of like, 'The king's cars that he can't keep in control, and just the neighbor that's looking out the window, wondering what's going on, staring at me a bit and I'm just riding around my motorcycle and being silly," Nayman said. "We put up a green screen in the Hangar and did some funny stuff that's simulating Hurricane Sally—something as silly as playing my guitar while I'm riding my motorcycle."

Nayman plans to record a cover song next— maybe a track from New Order, who he loves— or drop one of his other half-baked ideas, he said. He hopes the "King" music video will help him connect and collaborate with the film community in Pensacola.

And as for his pesky neighbor, Nayman happily lives in East Hill now. {in}

13RAVO's music is available on streaming platforms and you can watch the "King" music video on YouTube. To learn more, follow @13ravo_.

Brad Nayman / Photo by Mari Trancoso

per dog any size. Bring your own towel. Anyone who wants to volunteer can contact tiffany@ pensacolahumane.org.

ARC GATEWAY CRAB CAKE COOK-OFF

The area's top chefs will prepare their Crab Cake recipes while a team of judges select the best of the best. Take part for $75 per person. Proceeds benefit Arc Gateway. Event is 6 p.m. Wednesday, July 19 at Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. Visit arc-gateway.org/event/crab-cake-cook-off-2 for details.

BREWS FOR THE BAYS Visit any of the participating breweries and purchase their signature Brew for the Bays during the month of July, and a portion of the proceeds will be donated to support restoration, education and monitoring efforts in the Pensacola & Perdido Bay watersheds. Beer trail passports will be available at each of the participating breweries. Make sure to ask your bartender to stamp your passport when you purchase their Brew for the Bay. Visit facebook.com/ppbepflal for details.

Participating breweries include:

•Gary's Brewery & Biergarten

•Perfect Plain Brewing Co.

•Doc's Hop Shop

•Coastal County Brewing Co.

•A Little Madness Brewing Co.

•Beardless Brewhaus

•St. Michael's Brewing Co.

•J&J's Pizza Shack

ANIMAL ALLIES FLORIDA

BINGO

Animal

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

CARING & SHARING MINISTRY FOOD

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

CALL TO WRITERS

EMERALD COAST REVIEW SEEKING

now through Monday, July 24. Applications are available on our website at gallerynightpensacola.org/youth.Please note: This zone is open to those 18 and younger. Youth entrepreneurs who are 18 years of age must be a Senior for the 2023-2024 School Year.

COMMUNITY NOTES

FREE PALAFOX MARKET TROLLEY A free trolley service to carry shoppers between Palafox Market's two locations each Saturday is available until Labor Day.

The trolley will run 10:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. between Palafox Market "North" at Martin Luther King, Jr. Plaza, and Palafox Market "South" at Plaza Ferdinand. The trolley will stop at the corner of Gregory and Palafox streets, adjacent to the North Palafox parking lot, and on the corner of Jefferson and Government streets, running on a continual cycle and giving shoppers the opportunity to shop at both markets with ease.

You can track the trolley on your phone or desktop at palafoxtrolley.com.

FREE PENSACOLA BEACH TROLLEY SER -

VICE THROUGH SEPT. 4 The Santa Rosa Island Authority (SRIA) launched its free, openair trolley service along Pensacola Beach. The 2023 Pensacola Beach Island Trolley, operated by Escambia County Area Transit (ECAT), will run daily 4 p.m.-midnight through Labor Day on Monday, Sept. 4.

Three trolleys will operate concurrently, running three routes. The eastern route runs from Casino Beach to Portofino, the western route runs from Casino Beach to Park West near the entrance gate to Gulf Islands National Seashore and the commercial core route runs from Casino Beach to Grand Marlin with stops occurring along the new access road and at Pensacola Beach Boardwalk.

Visitors can access the real-time trolley schedule four ways: at visitpensacolabeach.com/ trolleytracker, call (850) 602-9384 and enter the trolley stop number, text SRIA (space) and the trolley stop number to 41411 or scan the QR code posted at each trolley stop with a smartphone.

ers speak on a variety of subjects including wildlife and landscapes of the area. This is an all-day pass, so you can board the cruise at any of the landings at their specified departure time.

BLUE ANGELS PRACTICE DEMONSTRATION CRUISES See the Blue Angels practice their aerial maneuvers during regular practice sessions throughout the year. This one-and-ahalf-hour cruise sails on a variety of mornings throughout the year.

For details, visit pensacolabaycityferry.com/ cruises/blue-angels-practice-cruise

FORT PICKENS HISTORY TOUR Enjoy a family-friendly tour exploring the historic Fort Pickens. Depart from the Downtown Ferry Landing and cruise over to Ft. Pickens while a National Park Service Ranger gives an overview of Pensacola Bay's history. Upon arrival at Ft. Pickens, guests will be taken on a guided tour of the fort, later returning to the Downtown Ferry Landing.

DOWNTOWN AND FORT PICKENS SUN -

SET CRUISES Enjoy a Gulf Coast sunset cruise with panoramic views of Pensacola Bay and Fort Pickens National Park. These one-and-a-halfhour cruises offer covered interior and exterior seating, a climate-controlled cabin and onboard restrooms. Sit back, relax and enjoy a cold beverage aboard our clean and spacious catamaran-style vessels. Beer, wine, liquor, soft drinks and water are available for purchase.

For more information on all offerings and to book an upcoming experience aboard Pensacola Bay City Ferry, visit pensacolabaycityferry.com.

For more information regarding private charter and special events cruise packages, please visit pensacolabaycityferry.com/private-events.

ARTS & CULTURE

CINEMAS IN THE SAND: 'THE SANDLOT'

SUBMISSIONS

Emerald Coast Writers (formerly West Florida Literary Federation) is looking for submissions from regional writers and artists to publish in its upcoming 22nd anthology. They are looking to collect poetry, quality fiction, nonfiction, contemporary, emerging and experimental works, along with the best of art, graphic design and photography. Residents from the following counties are encouraged to submit: Escambia, Santa Rosa, Walton, Okaloosa and Bay (Florida); Mobile, Escambia and Baldwin (Alabama).

To view guidelines and submit work, visit wflf.org/ecr. Submissions close July 15. Accepted submissions will be announced and writers will be notified that their piece(s) will be published in the ECR in Fall 2023.

CALL TO ARTISTS

CALL FOR YOUTH MAKERS AND ENTREPRENEURS Gallery Night's "Wonder Years" event Friday, August 18 features a Youth Entrepreneur Zone. The organization is looking for approximately 20 youth entrepreneurs. Gallery Night will cover the participation fee for the accepted applicants. Submissions are open

To see a map of all trolley stop locations, or for more information, go to visitpensacolabeach.com/trolley-information.

PENSACOLA BAY CITY FERRY EXPANDING SERVICE The Pensacola Bay City Ferry Service is expanding offerings for the summer season. Ferry service operates Friday-Sunday with downtown sunset cruises Thursday-Sunday evenings and New Mine Storeroom hours from 11 a.m.– 4 p.m. Wednesday-Sunday.

Pensacola Bay City Ferry's yearlong offerings and seasonal highlights include: Downtown Pensacola – Fort Pickens – Pensacola Beach Ferry

Take the ferry between downtown Pensacola to Fort Pickens to Pensacola Beach. Pensacola Bay City Ferry operates two 149-passenger, catamaran-style vessels, the "Turtle Runner" and "Pelican Perch," each with airconditioned interior seating, covered exterior seating and restrooms. Imported and domestic beer, wines, soft drinks and water are available for purchase. Bicycle racks and storage areas are also available.

On select trips, National Park Service Rang -

The next Cinemas in the Sand is sunset Friday, July 14. Bring your own blankets and enjoy the show from the Gulfside Pavilion on Casino Beach. All movies are free to the public and will start at sunset, weather permitting.

TAYLOR SWIFT DANCE PARTY Celebrate the release of "Speak Now-Taylor's Version" 9 p.m. Friday, July 14 at Vinyl Music Hall, 2 S. Palafox. Tickets are $15 and available at vinylmusichall.com.

PLAYOUT! PSO WORKSHOP FOR MUSIC

EDUCATORS The Pensacola Symphony Orchestra invites music educators from middle and high schools to a half-day clinic designed to share tools for fostering community-mindedness in music students and for building skills in improvisation. This half-day workshop is 8 a.m.noon Friday, July 14 at First Baptist Church of Pensacola, 500 N. Palafox. Registration is $25. Get your tickets at Eventbrite.

SOUTHERN STORYTELLERS To celebrate the new three-episode series, "Southern Storytellers" from PBS, WSRE will feature a writers' round with local storytellers and a free preview

a&e happenings

of the screening at 5:30 p.m. Friday July 14 at Voices of Pensacola, 117 E. Government St. Reservations made at wsre.org/events are requested as seating is limited.

PLAYOUT: PSO WORKSHOP FOR STUDENTS The Pensacola Symphony Orchestra invites incoming ninth- through 12th-grade students to a one-day orchestra workshop to understand and deepen their connection to music and learn improvisation skills with instruction and coaching from PSO musicians. Open to string, woodwind, brass and percussion students, this workshop takes place 8:30 a.m. –4:30 p.m. July 15 at First Baptist Church of Pensacola, 500 N. Palafox. Registration is $25. Get your tickets at Eventbrite.

SIZZLING SUMMER MARKET AT FIRST CITY ART CENTER Rescheduled from previous date, the Sizzling Summer Market is 10 a.m.2 p.m. Saturday, July 15 at First City Art Center, 1060 Guillemard St. Visit facebook.com/firstcityartcenter for details.

PENSACOLA RECORD FAIR Local vendors will fill Odd Colony, 260 N. Palafox, with crates of vinyl noon-5 p.m. Saturday, July 15. Flour-ish Comfort food truck will be on site as well as live DJs. Visit facebook.com/oddcolony for details.

SAENGER THEATRE SUMMER MOVIE SERIES: 'THE JERK' The Saenger Summer Movie Series is exploring comedy classics. "The

Jerk" plays 7 p.m. Saturday, July 15. Tickets are $5. Seats are first-come-first-served. Visit pensacolasaenger.com for details.

POKÉMON RAVE Get ready for a night of electrifying beats and Pikachu-powered fun at our highly-anticipated Pokémon-themed rave 8 p.m.-1 a.m. Saturday, July 15 at Vinyl Music Hall, 2 S. Palafox. Tickets are $25 and available at ticketsilver.com/kulturekreated.

NATIONAL NAVAL AVIATION MUSEUM

VISITOR APPRECIATION DAY The second Visitor Appreciation Day takes place 9 a.m.4 p.m. Saturday, July 15, and will focus on kids' activities and entertainment. Visit the museum, located at 1750 Radford Boulevard, to enjoy the event.

PENSACOLA R&B PICNIC Gather for live music and more at Pensacola Interstate Fairgrounds at 7 p.m. Sunday, July 16 at 6655 Mobile Highway. Tickets are $30-$40 and available at Eventbrite.

CRAFT & VINTAGE SUMMER MARKET

Visit Odd Colony for a summer market with local vendors and artisans noon-5 p.m. Sunday, July 16 at Odd Colony, 260 N. Palafox. Visit facebook.com/oddcolony for details.

GULF COAST LOVE STORY "Gulf Coast Love Story" brings to the screen the hopes and struggles of Gulf Coast communities on the

front lines of fossil fuels and climate change. Healthy Gulf will host a screening of the film 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, July 19 at Pensacola Library, 239 N. Spring St.

'LEGALLY BLONDE THE MUSICAL' PLT presents the musical based on the hit movie starring Reese Witherspoon. Showtimes are 7:30 p.m. Fridays July 21, 28 and Aug, 4; 7:30 p.m. Saturdays July 22, 29 and Aug. 5; 2:30 p.m. Sundays, July 23, 30,and Aug. 3. A Thursday show is 7:30 p.m. Aug. 3. Tickets are $21$38 with discounts for seniors, military and students. Thursday shows are half-off. PLT is located at 400 S. Jefferson St. Visit pensacolalittletheatre.com for details.

HOW THE LIGHT GETS IN PenArts presents this play from E.M. Lewis about four lonely people who happen to meet at a Japanese Garden. Showtimes are 7:30 p.m. Thursday, July 20 through Saturday, July 22 and 2:30 pm. Sunday, July 23. Tickets start at $17 and are available on Eventbrite.

GALLERY NIGHT'S SUSTAINABLE SUM -

MER On Friday, July 21 from 5-9 pm, Gallery Night Pensacola is celebrating "Sustainable Summer." Share in the summer festivities as we are hosting the largest number of white tents ever and bring to the streets extra themed event features. This month, Gallery Night brings Pensacola Vintage Collective, Keep Pensacola Beautiful (KPB), and #Bike Life Pensacola, FL.

Shop from local artists as well as special event feature "Pensacola Vintage Collective'' whose vendors will line Intendencia with their vintage vibes. Then learn about the other organizations and local support initiatives. Don't forget to bring your water bottles, as ECUA joins the fun. Bring your own reusable drink containers to fill up from their Quench Buggy, and you will receive a prize- while supplies last. Visit gallerynightpensacola.org for details.

PALAFOX MARKET SOUTH AT PLAZA

FERDINAND Palafox Market South will include a blend of familiar Palafox Market vendors, along with a new mix of local farmers, artists and craftsmen and women, who will fill up Plaza Ferdinand on the corner of Palafox and Government streets. Shoppers can navigate between the new market and the alwayshumming original located on north Palafox at Martin Luther King, Jr. Plaza, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. every Saturday.

For more information about Palafox Market, visit palafoxmarket.com. For information concerning other downtown events, please visit downtownpensacola.com

TICKETS ON SALE FOR BEYOND VAN GOGH Tickets are on sale now for Beyond Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience. In the interactive experience, guests witness more than 300 iconic masterpieces, including such instantly recognizable classics as "The Starry Night," "Sunflowers" and "Café Terrace at Night," as well

a&e happenings

as many revealing self-portraits. Beyond Van Gogh is Aug. 5-Sept. 9 at Pensacola Interstate Fair, Building. 6, 6655 Mobile Highway. Prices start at $39.99 for adults and $23.99 for children (ages 5-15), plus ticketing fees. Tickets are on sale at vangoghpensacola.com.

CABARET DRAG SHOWCASE AT AMERICAN LEGION POST #193

Don't miss Cabaret Drag Showcase every second and fourth Saturday at the American Legion Post #193, 2708 N. 12th Ave. Doors open at 8 p.m. Showtime is 10 p.m. For more information, contact show director Taize Sinclair-Santi at taizesinclairsanti@gmail.com.

SPIRITS OF SEVILLE QUARTER GHOST

TOUR AND LUNCHEON Dine inside 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 held 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 inside one of Pensacola's most haunted restaurants with actual ghost-hunting equipment 6-8 p.m. Sundays. Listen as your guide weaves tales of ghosts, debauchery, murder, mayhem, paranormal activities, history and more of Seville Quarter and downtown Historic Pensaco -

la. Following your ghost tour, enjoy dinner at Seville Quarter Palace Café, 130 E. Government St. Reservations required. Call (850) 941-4321. Tickets are available at pensacolaghostevents.com.

PENSACOLA ARTS MARKET Shop small and buy art at Pensacola Arts Market 11 a.m.-4 p.m. every fourth Saturday of the month at Cordova Square, 1101 N. 12th Ave. Enjoy a local artisan and farmers market with more than 50 vendors, food trucks, plants, vintage clothing and décor, live musical performances, kids crafts and games. This is a free event. Pensacola Arts Market is set up 4-9 p.m. every first Friday of the month and 2-6 p.m. every third Sunday at Gary's Brewery & Biergarten, 208 Newman Ave.

BODY, MIND, SPIRIT MARKET AT EVER'MAN Local vendors, artisans, holistic practitioners, speakers and more join 10 a.m.-4 p.m. the first Saturday of the month at Ever'man Downtown, 315 W. Garden St. This is a free indoor and outdoor event with door prizes, entertainment and children's activities. For a vendor table, call (850) 941-4321 or go to empowermentschoolhouse.com.

THE LAST SURREALIST Featuring Art by davmo, The Last Surrealist, is on view Tuesday, July 18-Friday, Aug. 25 inside the Suzanne Robert Vault at Artel Gallery, 223 S. Palafox.

CHLOE BAILY ART Easy Going Gallery celebrates a new exhibit from artist Chloe Baily—Ka-

leidoscopic Topic at 701 N. V St. Visit facebook. com/easygoinggallery.

"MY ANCESTORS' WILDEST DREAMS"

ART SHOW RECEPTION

Enjoy art from local Black artists under the theme of "My Ancestors' Wildest Dreams" at Artel Gallery, 223 S. Palafox. Artists exhibiting include Keith Shaw, Devin Bonner, Ashley Gibson, Tiffany Richardson and STOKESWORKZ. Artwork ranges from ceramics to paintings to mixed media and digital designs. The show will be on view through Friday, July 14. Artel Gallery is open 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday. Visit artelgallery.org for details.

HOTSY-TOTSY-VROOOM-O-RAMA House

Pencil Green is the interdisciplinary studio of Joseph Herring and Amy Ruddick. Their exhibition at the PMA, Hotsy-Totsy-Vrooom-O-Rama, is part of a body of work in which the pair explore connections between the "art of the carny" and the "carnivalesque tendencies of the artist." The exhibit is on view through Sept. 17 at PMA, 407 S. Jefferson St. Visit pensacolamuseum.org for details.

DEPTH OF FIELD Depth of Field showcases photography from the Pensacola Museum of Art's permanent collection, alongside objects from the UWF Historic Trust Archives. Artworks on display explore the history, science and alchemical nature of the medium. On view are works by pioneers in the field such as Alfred Stieglitz, Elliott Erwitt, Edward J. Steichen, Walk-

er Evans and Vivian Maier, as well as notable contemporary artists including Valerie George, Richard McCabe, Sheila Pinkel and Gesche Würfel. Exhibit is located at 407 S. Jefferson St., and on view through Oct. 22. Visit pensacolamusuem.org for details.

SUDDENLY AMERICAN: A MEETING OF HERITAGE AND COUNTRY

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

free will astrology

WEEK OF JULY 13

ARIES (MARCH 21-APRIL 19): Many astrologers enjoy meditating on the heavenly body Chiron. With an orbit between Saturn and Uranus, it is an anomalous object that has qualities of both a comet and a minor planet. Its name is derived from a character in ancient Greek mythology: the wisest teacher and healer of all the centaurs. Chiron is now in the sign of Aries and will be there for a while. Let's invoke its symbolic power to inspire two quests in the coming months:

1. Seek a teacher who excites your love of life. 2. Seek a healer who alleviates any hurts that interfere with your love of life.

TAURUS (APRIL 20-MAY 20): It's high time for some high culture. You are in a phase to get rich benefits from reading Shakespeare, listening to Beethoven, and enjoying paintings by Matisse and Picasso. You'd also benefit lavishly from communing with the work of virtuosos like Mozart, Michelangelo and novelist Haruki Murakami. However, I think you would garner even greater emotional treasures from reading Virginia Woolf, listening to Janelle Monáe's music and enjoying Georgia O'Keeffe's paintings. For extra credit, get cozy with the books of Simone Weil, listen to Patti Smith's music, and see Frida Kahlo's art. If you read between the lines here, you understand I'm telling you that the most excellent thing to do for your mental and spiritual health is to commune with brilliant female artists, writers and musicians.

GEMINI (MAY 21-JUNE 20): The French phrase "j'ajoute" (translated as "I adjust") is a chess term used when a player is about to adjust their pieces but does not yet intend to make a move. "J'ajoute" might be an apt motto for you to invoke in the coming days. You are not ready to make major shifts in the way you play the games you're involved in. But it's an excellent time to meditate on that prospect. You will gain clarity and refine your perspective if you tinker with and rearrange the overall look and feel of things.

CANCER (JUNE 21-JULY 22): "The Simpsons" animated show has been on TV for 34 seasons. Ten-year-old Bart Simpson is one of the stars. He is a mischievous rascal who's ingenious

By Rob Brezsny

in defying authority. Sometimes teachers catch him in his rebellious acts and punish him by making him write apologetic affirmations on the classroom blackboard. For example: "I will not strut around like I own the place. I will not obey the voices in my head. I will not express my feelings through chaos. I will not trade pants with others. I will not instigate revolution. I am not deliciously saucy. I cannot absolve sins. Hot dogs are not bookmarks." In accordance with your unruly astrological omens, Cancerian, I authorize you to do things Bart said he wouldn't do. You have a license to be deliciously saucy.

LIBRA (SEPT. 23-OCT. 22): In reviewing the life work of neurologist and author Oliver Sacks, critic Patricia Holt said he marveled at how "average people not only adapt to injury and disease but also create something transcendent out of a condition others call disability." Sacks specialized in collaborating with neurological patients who used their seeming debilitations "to uncover otherwise unknown resources and create lives of originality and innovation." I bring this up, Libra, because I suspect that in the coming months, you will have extra power to turn your apparent weaknesses or liabilities into assets.

the novel and sometimes surprising opportunities. Life will offer you fresh perspectives.

LEO (JULY 23-AUG. 22): Early in her career, Leo actor Lisa Kudrow endured disappointments. She auditioned for the TV show "Saturday Night Live" but wasn't chosen. She was cast as a main character in the TV show "Frasier" but was replaced during the filming of the pilot episode. A few months later, though, she landed a key role in the new TV show "Friends." In retrospect, she was glad she got fired from "Frasier" so she could be available for "Friends." "Frasier" was popular, but Friends was a super hit. Kudrow won numerous awards for her work on the show and rode her fame to a successful film career. Will there be a "Frasier" moment for you in the coming months, dear Leo? That's what I suspect. So keep the faith.

VIRGO (AUG. 23-SEPT. 22): The coming weeks will be a good time to seek helpful clues and guidance from your nightly dreams. Take steps to remember them—maybe keep a pen and notebook next to your bed. Here are a few possible dream scenes and their meanings. 1. A dream of planting a tree means you're primed to begin a project that will grow for years. 2. A dream of riding in a spaceship suggests you yearn to make your future come more alive in your life.

3. A dream of taking a long trip or standing on a mountaintop may signify you're ready to come to new conclusions about your life story. P.S. Even if you don't have these specific dreams, the interpretations I offered are still apt.

SCORPIO (OCT. 23-NOV. 21): It's a mistake to believe we must ration our love as if we only have so much to offer. The fact is, the more love we give, the more we have available to give. As we tap into our deepest source of generosity, we discover we have greater reserves of it than we imagined. What I've just said is always true, but it's especially apropos for you right now. You are in a phase when you can dramatically expand your understanding of how many blessings you have to dole out.

SAGITTARIUS (NOV. 22-DEC. 21): Home computers didn't become common until the 1980s. During the previous decade, small startup companies with adventurous experimenters did the grunt work that made the digital revolution possible. Many early adapters worked out of garages in the Silicon Valley area of Northern California. They preferred to devote their modest resources to the actual work rather than to fancy labs. I suspect the coming months will invite you to do something similar, Sagittarius: to be discerning about how you allocate your resources as you plan and implement your vigorous transformations.

CAPRICORN (DEC. 22-JAN. 19): I'm tempted to call this upcoming chapter of your life story "The Partial Conquest of Loneliness." Other good titles might be "Restoration of Degraded Treasure," "Turning a Confusing Triumph into a Gratifying One" or "Replacing a Mediocre Kind of Strength with the Right Kind." Can you guess that I foresee an exciting and productive time for you in the coming weeks? To best prepare, drop as many expectations and assumptions as you can so you will be fully available for

AQUARIUS (JAN. 20-FEB. 18): By 1582, the inexact old Julian calendar used by the Western world for 13 centuries was out of whack because it had no leap years. The spring equinox was occurring too early, on March 10. Pope Gregory commissioned scientists who devised a more accurate way to account for the passage of time. The problem was that the new calendar needed a modification that required the day after Oct. 4 to be Oct. 15. Eleven days went missing—permanently. People were resentful and resistant, though eventually all of Europe made the conversion. In that spirit, Aquarius, I ask you to consider an adjustment that requires a shift in habits. It may be inconvenient at first, but will ultimately be good for you.

PISCES (FEB. 19-MARCH 20): Piscean novelist Peter De Vries wrote, "Sometimes I write drunk and revise sober and sometimes I write sober and revise drunk. But you have to have both elements in creation—the Apollonian and the Dionysian, or spontaneity and restraint, emotion and discipline." In the coming weeks, you Pisces folks will be skilled at weaving these modes as you practice what you love to do. You'll be a master of cultivating dynamic balance; a wizard of blending creativity and organization; a productive change-maker who fosters both structure and morale.

HERE'S THE HOMEWORK: What's the best gift you could give yourself right now? {in}

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It's a mistake to believe we must ration our love as if we only have so much to offer.

IT'S A DIRTY JOB ... But it wasn't his job. Still, Beirut Report journalist Habib Battah got his hands dirty on a recent flight from Paris to Toronto, Canoe reported. "An hour into the transatlantic flight ... I kept smelling something gross and couldn't figure it out," Battah wrote on Twitter. While investigating, he discovered a large, "wet to touch" stain on the floor around his seat. The strap of his backpack, which was under the seat, was soaked in it, and a flight attendant only gave him some wipes to clean it up before "casually (noting) a passenger had hemorrhaged on a flight before ours," Battah said. He said the Air France staff were shocked because a crew had removed the seats after the previous flight's incident, but apparently hadn't cleaned the bloody carpet. "This is not a customer service issue— it's a BIOHAZARD," Battah wrote. "There is fresh human blood on your aircraft."

OOPS The Presbyterian Ladies' College in Croydon, Australia, a private girls' school, recently had egg on its face after drone footage captured the suggestive shape of a new garden bed on the campus, The Sydney Morning Herald reported on July 5. The garden was designed by an architectural firm; a school staff member said that as they considered chairs for the garden, they "sent a drone up to take pictures. At a certain angle from up high, the garden ... took on a phallic shape which was unintended and unexpected. As a result, the architects made some alterations which were completed within 72 hours of the drone pictures." One unidentified former student said, "The immediate response was laughter ... Photos have been circulating among the school as memes, saying 'oh good morning' and various kinds of jokes."

WHAT COULD GO WRONG? Alef Aeronautics has announced that the Federal Aviation Administration has cleared the startup's flying car, the Model A, to fly for purposes including research, development and exhibition, United Press International reported. The California company calls its invention a vehicle takeoff and landing aircraft, or VTOL, which can drive and park like a normal car. While it is not certified (yet) for public road travel, the company says the FAA's OK will place it closer to "bringing people an environmentally friendly and faster commute ... This is one small step for planes, one giant step for cars," said CEO Jim Dukhovny.

THE ENTREPRENEURIAL SPIRIT Chandler, Arizona, taxidermist Rachel Lewis, 38, has found her niche in the world of preserving dead animals: She makes piggy banks out of stillborn piglets. Metro News reported that Lewis, a former hairdresser, took a taxidermy class four years ago and just came up with the piggy bank idea in May. "Most of my specimens I get from local farms around me," Lewis said. "I feel like they get to live a second life ... it's kinda cool." She called her process "labor-intensive," involving hollowing out the insides and adding a pork ... er, cork plug. "I have a larger pig that I plan on doing as a piggy bank, too," she said.

By the Editors at Andrews McMeel

She also hopes to make objects with jewelry boxes and "secret stash" compartments.

INEXPLICABLE Michael Banks, 36, told Brevard County (Florida) sheriff's deputies that he decided to go "car surfing" after he left a Home Depot store on July 5 in Merritt Island, Click Orlando reported. Banks allegedly climbed on top of a van, then jumped from it onto a Nissan truck, an SUV, a Jeep, another SUV and a sedan, causing damage to each vehicle in the neighborhood of $1,000. He faces two counts of criminal mischief and was held at the county jail.

QUESTIONABLE JUDGMENT

The Greater Muscatine (Iowa) Chamber of Commerce and Industry is apologizing after a controversial Fourth of July parade entry drew heated responses, KCRG-TV reported. The entry consisted of a man on horseback, leading a woman on foot dressed in Native American attire. The woman had a rope tied around her hands. "The group (submitting the entry) stated that their intention was to pay homage to the Cherokee Nation on how unjustly they were treated," read a statement from the GMCCI, but "the entry does not represent our community."

RECENT ALARMING HEADLINE Carol Dillin of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, is trying to get to the bottom of a nighttime visitor that keeps banging on her back door, waking up her family. KFORTV reported on July 6 that Dillin's security cameras have captured a flying object that may be a bat or a large moth; all of her attempts to block or scare the animal away, including plastic owls and a scarecrow, have failed. "I thought somebody was hitting baseballs against the house. Then it started sounding like basketballs," Dillin said. Micah Holmes of the state wildlife department said his money is on a moth. "This is a good year for moths because it's been pretty wet," he said. "This is the time of year they're out and trying to mate." Meanwhile, Dillin has decided to take the ultimate step: "We have a guy coming Friday morning to give us an estimate" to close off the porch, she said.

BRIGHT IDEA

The long lines at Wimbledon are legendary, but Jesse Besse, 28, from South London and her flatmates came up with a plan to make the wait ultra-comfy. The Mirror reported that the friends brought their living room sofa with them and set it up in the queue, enjoying Pimms and strawberries. "The queue is part of the tournament, so you have to sort of expect you're in for the long haul," Besse said. "We arranged for our other friends to pick it up when we got near the front and it's back safe and sound in the lounge now." Even better, Snug, the company that makes the sofa, got in touch and paid for the group's tickets. Score! {in}