Inweekly July 1 2021 Issue by Inweekly

Independent News | July 1, 2021 | Volume 22 | Number 26

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winners & losers

outtakes

news

Who really makes the best tacos in town?

best of the coast ballot

buzz

publisher Rick Outzen

graphic designer Tim Bednarczyk

editor & creative director Joani Delezen

contributing writers Gina Castro, Savannah Evanoff, Jennifer Leigh, Jeremy Morrison, Sydney Robinson, C.S. Satterwhite

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4/7/21

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

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Stock Market Losses? Hire a lawyer who is a former Merril Lynch stock broker.

A S RE AL A S IT TA S TE S 22

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July 4th 7-9pm Community Maritime Park Join Levin Papantonio Rafferty this Independence Day! Enjoy Music, Fireworks & Free Family Fun on the Fourth of July! Proudly Celebrating our Armed Forces with a Concert by the Pensacola Symphony Orchestra! Fantastic Military Jet Flyover and a Patriotic Performance on Pensacola Bay!

July 1, 2021

winners & losers

Clark Merritt / City of Pensacola

winners

losers

CLARK MERRITT The Pensacola City

MATT GAETZ Once again, Northwest

PAUL HSU DeSantis has appointed Dr. Hsu to another term on the UWF Board of Trustees. Hsu, of Shalimar, Fla., is a managing member of PSH of Okaloosa and the owner and chairman of Cyntech and Total Parts Plus. He is also the chairman of the Crestview Technology Air Park. He has been involved with the Okaloosa County Economic Development Council, Emerald Coast Military Affairs Council and the HSU Educational Foundation.

JIM BAKKER The televangelist settled for

Council approved Mayor Grover Robinson's selection of Merritt as the new Port of Pensacola director, responsible for overseeing operations at the port, including budgeting, tenant management and port development. Merritt has served as the deputy Port director since October 2019 after starting with the Port of Pensacola in 2013 as the Port Business Development manager. A native of Pensacola with deep family ties to local maritime commerce, Merritt graduated from the University of Florida and was commissioned an ensign in the U.S. Navy. He served on active duty with tours in tactical aviation squadrons and as the maintenance officer for Blue Angels.

EMALEE BUSH The UWF graduate has

joined The Arc Gateway as marketing communications manager. With nine years of experience in marketing and communications in academic, agency and hospitality settings, Bush was tapped to fill this role because of her successful track record in social media and public engagement campaigns.

UNIVERSITY OF WEST FLORIDA The

University of West Florida is No. 1 in the Florida State University System for Metric 1 of the Florida Board of Governors' 2020-21 performance-based funding model. More than 79% of UWF bachelor's graduates are employed or furthering their education one year after graduation, up nearly six percentage points from last year. UWF also excelled in Metric 2, median wages of bachelor's graduates employed full-time one year after graduation, with a median salary of $45,200, an increase of more than $4,000 from last year's metrics.

Matt Gaetz / gaetz.house.gov

Florida's congressman disrespected the military. Last week, Gaetz grilled the Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. Mark Milley about the military services examining critical race theory. He shook his head while Gen. Milley replied, "I've read Mao Zedong. I've read Karl Marx. I've read Lenin. That doesn't make me a communist. So what is wrong with … having some situational understanding about the country for which we are here to defend?" He went on to blast the congressman for accusing officers of "being, quote, 'woke' or something else, because we're studying some theories that are out there."

$156,000 in a lawsuit brought by Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt (R) over his "Silver Solution" marketing as a potential cure for the coronavirus. According to court documents, Bakker's Morningside Church Productions offered the product in exchange for a contribution of $80-$125. As part of the settlement, Bakker also agreed not to sell or advertise the solution as "to diagnose, prevent, mitigate, treat or cure any disease or illness." In addition, New York Attorney General Letitia James has sent a cease-and-desist letter to Bakker regarding the produce.

DAVID KEENE The former NRA president delivered the commencement speech to more than 3,000 empty chairs for what he thought was a rehearsal for graduation at James Madison Academy in Las Vegas. He advocated for gun rights and the Second Amendment in his speech. After filming, speakers were told the graduation was canceled because of a threat of violence. The entire set-up was a hoax created Change the Ref, a gun control organization founded by Manuel and Patricia Oliver—whose son Joaquin Oliver, 17, was killed in a mass shooting at his high school in Parkland, Fla., in 2018. There is no James Madison Academy, and the white chairs represented high school students who should have graduated this year but were killed in gun violence. inweekly.net

outtakes By Rick Outzen

HOME RULE NOW With the 2020 census completed, Escambia County and the City of Pensacola need to review the boundaries of their districts and adjust them before the end of this year. Downtown Pensacola businessman John Peacock has assembled a group of community leaders who either live in or own businesses in Escambia County and want the Board of County Commissioners to form a Citizen Advisory to make recommendations on how to redraw the county's five districts. "The public wants assurance that the interests of the community are being protected and that minority communities have not been diluted," wrote Peacock in a letter to the Board of County Commissioners that was widely distributed. "The best way to provide that assurance is to include the general citizenry in the redistricting process." Peacock suggested the committee have five to 15 members, and the final authority would remain with the commissioners. He also pointed out that only a "handful" of Florida's 67 counties have charters that establish a process for citizen input in redistricting. And that's the real issue. Escambia County doesn't have a charter. So its elected offices and the power and responsibilities of the commissioners, clerk of courts, sheriff, property appraiser, tax collector and supervisor are determined by the state constitution, not the citizens of Escambia County. That's why Clerk of Courts Pam Childers said in a recent BCC meeting that she answered not only to the voters but Gov. Ron DeSantis. The city of Pensacola's charter sets forth a process. The council appoints a member from each of the seven districts to a districting commission. No member of the commission shall be employed by the City or hold any other elected or appointed position in the City. The charter also establishes the criteria that must be met in drawing the district boundaries. The districting commission holds public meetings and recommends district boundaries that the council can accept or reject and come up with another plan. But the charter does more than set the

requirements for redistricting. It establishes term limits and the requirements for mayor, city council, city clerk, city administrator and city attorney, sets forth the powers and duties of each branch of government, lays out council procedures, elections, recall, initiative and referendum processes, and sets up a charter review commission every 10 years. Any changes to the charter have to be approved by referendum, which keeps the ultimate power in the hands of the voters, not the governor or Florida Legislature. People have been talking about restructuring county government for years. When I interviewed Quint Studer earlier this year, he suggested increasing the number of county commissioners (Inweekly, "The Studer Impact," 1/7/21). "With only five members, votes can be influenced by one or two members whom others may not challenge because they feel they may need that person for another vote," Studer suggested. "Going from five to as many as 10 creates less leverage for each person and provides increased intellectual capital with the additional members." District 1 Commissioner Jeff Bergosh has suggested adding at-large commissioners to the board who would be elected county-wide. Behind the scenes, Peacock and his friends have already begun meeting privately on how to restructure county government. They're looking at creating a county mayor who would be elected. All three are ideas worth exploring, but I'm sure others in the community would like to weigh in and offer their suggestions. With all the debate about voters' rights and protections, it's paramount that any discussion of restructuring county government should be in the open. It can't be rushed with only a handful of people deciding what will go on the ballot. And the process needs to review all aspects of county government, not just the county commission. Escambia County needs a county charter commission to give the Escambia County citizens, not Tallahassee, the power of how we're governed. {in} rick@inweekly.net

With all the debate about voters' rights and protections, it's paramount that any discussion of restructuring county government should be in the open.

July 1, 2021

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22 YEARS STIRRING THE POT "HOODWINKED?" 12/9/10: After a month-long investigation and a review of hundreds of pages of documents, the newspaper discovered that Scott Davison, the frontman for Maritime Park Development Partners, misrepresented his development team and financial capabilities to win the contract to build the maritime park. "TARNISHED TURNAROUND," 4/7/11: The newspaper won the Sunshine State award on its investigation of School Superintendent Malcolm Thomas' failed efforts to make Warrington Middle School the highest-achieving middle school in the district.

By Rick Outzen This newspaper published its first issue on July 1, 1999. The cover story examined whether the county commissioners should outlaw beer on the beach on Santa Rosa Island. Since then, we have created 1,077 editions under various mastheads—Pensacola Independent, Independent Florida Sun, Independent Sun, Pensacola Inweekly and, now simply, Inweekly. The publication has gone from a jumbled mess of columns and features to an awardwinning staple of the community with a national reputation for its investigative reporting. And we've been blessed with fantastic editors, brilliant writers and creative graphic designers. With their help, we have created annual issues that have become part of this historic city's culture—Best of the Coast, Rest of the Best, Rising Stars and Power List. But it's our news coverage that I believe has set us apart. Here are a few of the stories that helped build our reputation and attracted loyal readers. "CRAZY LIKE A FOX, OR JUST CRAZY," 8/31/01: Many marveled at how Escambia County Commission Chairman W.D. Childers had revolutionized county government. The daily newspaper praised his leadership style. We heard stories of backroom deals. Eight months later, Childers and three of his fellow commissioners were indicted and removed from office. "HATE AND MURDER IN DIXIE," 8/20/04: Inweekly interviewed the older brother of Scotty Weaver, a gay teenager who had been beaten, strangled and stabbed numerous times, partially decapitated, and his body set on fire a month earlier. During the daylong interview, our reporter and the brother were mocked and followed by the hate-mongering locals. July 1, 2021

"GOTCHA! CRIMEFIGHTERS' NEW TOY," 2/3/05: We obtained a videotape that showed a Pensacola Police Department officer pointing a taser gun at the forehead of a detainee when he refused to take a breathalyzer. The police officers then took the man to an adjacent cell where he begged for mercy while he was shocked with 50,000 volts from the stun gun. "THE DEATH OF ROBERT BOGGON," 10/13/05: We told the story of Boggon's horrific death in the Escambia County Jail. Our reporting put our newspaper at odds with the powerful Sheriff Ron McNesby, who had to change his tune after jail deaths began to pile up. "OLE MISS WINS DEBATE," 10/1/08: The Inweekly staff took a road trip to the University of Mississippi for the first presidential debate between John McCain and Barack Obama. We even broadcasted our radio show from the Ole Miss Student Union in a room next to Sean Hannity. "HUMDINGER," 8/20/09: The murders of Bud and Melanie Billings put Inweekly, Sheriff David Morgan and Escambia County in the national spotlight. Our reporting was covered by The Daily Beast, NBC's Dateline and The New York Times and will be featured in an upcoming series on Discovery Plus. "A CYCLE OF INJUSTICE?" 3/25/10: A 1974 incident involving the death of Wendel Sylvester Blackwell brought to mind the frustrations felt by those calling for further investigation into the death of Victor Steen. The protests associated with Blackwell's death led to the unjust arrest and incarceration of Rev. H.K. Matthews, who was later freed and pardoned by Gov. Reubin Askew.

"WHEN YELLOW RIBBONS AREN'T ENOUGH," 9/22/11: Soldiers shared their efforts to combat the high rate of suicide among troops that had returned home from Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom in Iraq and Afghanistan. Sadly, suicides among military veterans have continued to rise. "BLACK & WHITE," 2/23/12: We made a commitment in 2012 to covering racial disparities in Escambia County. Using statistics from various independent sources, the issue showed the challenges of growing up Black in the greater Pensacola area. The charts were a precursor to the Studer Community Institute's community dashboard. "GENERATIONS OF SOUND," 2/28/13: Our reporter spent weeks researching the musical history of the neighborhood. Her research helped Belmont-DeVilliers get the 203rd Mississippi Blues Trail Marker that stands next to Five Sisters Blues Café. "NOT INVISIBLE ANYMORE," 4/4/13: Showings of the documentary "The Invisible War" led to us tackling sexual assault in the U.S. military. We spoke with local veterans who had been raped while serving. Their stories echoed those of service members in the film. "QUEER AND HERE: THE LONG HISTORY OF GAY TOURISTS ON PENSACOLA BEACH," 5/23/13: Inweekly shared how Pensacola Beach became a destination for LGBTQ visitors on Memorial Day weekend, thanks to the pioneering efforts of the Emma Jones Society. "EAT STREET," 8/22/13: Because we had an office full of food truck enthusiasts, Inweekly decided to take a look at the state of affairs for food trucks in Pensacola and how we could build a food truck culture here. Today, they are very much a part of our food scene.

"INSIDE THE CHAOS," 5/8/14: On April 30, 2014, about a half-hour before midnight, the Central Booking and Detention Facility, which housed an estimated 595 inmates, exploded. The newspaper interviewed inmates to find out what happened. "A SHAME BEFORE GOD," 6/26/14: The residents of Wedgewood were tired of being sick. They were tired of seeing their loved ones die of cancer, renal failure and other illnesses. They were tired of living under the shadow of a 130-foot mound of debris. "MALCOLM THOMAS' LATEST HEADACHE," 5/7/15: The Escambia County School District's award-winning charter high school wasn't as it seemed. A whistleblower stepped forward with allegations of altered grades, cheating on tests, harassment and mismanagement. Newpoint founder Marcus May was later found guilty of misusing $5.2 million from five school districts. "25 YEARS LATER," 7/26/18: Inweekly looked back at the anti-abortion terrorism that shook Pensacola to its core and interviewed survivors of the murders of abortion providers David Gunn and John Britton. "TAKE THEM DOWN/BUILD THEM UP," 9/27/18: The "Our Confederate Dead" monument on city land overlooking downtown Pensacola was an issue in the 2018 mayoral race. Inweekly talked to those for and against removing the statue. The monument was removed last October. "HILL'S ANTI-LGBTQ HILL," 6/6/19: Inweekly caught Rep. Mike Hill (R-District 1) joking about passing legislation that would make homosexuality a crime punishable by death. The comment generated controversy statewide when reporters began to check out his social media. As a result, Hill lost reelection the following year. "HE WAS A GOOD-HEARTED PERSON," 7/2/20: A year after a Pensacola Police officer killed an unarmed Tymar Crawford, his partner, Kimberly Henderson, sat down with Inweekly to talk about Crawford, their relationship and the events surrounding the shooting. "WHO GETS TO TELL THE STORY," 7/23/20: Papers of the T.T. Wentworth Museum's namesake revealed the man, known as Pensacola's "Mister History," was also the Exalted Cyclops of Escambia Klan No. 57, Invisible Empire, Knights of the Ku Klux Klan. The state has approved renaming the museum. "MEET THE COUNCILWOMEN," 3/4/21: For the first time in Pensacola history, the majority of the Pensacola City Council is female. We shared their views and expectations with our readers. {in} 7

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Gay Nord and resident physicians / Photo Courtesy of West Florida Healthcare

NEW MEDICAL RESIDENCIES West Florida Healthcare has launched its firstever Graduate Medical Education Residency Programs in partnership with the University of Central Florida College of Medicine. Accredited by the Council for Graduate Medical Education, the new programs will train residents in physical medicine and rehabilitation and obstetrics and gynecology. “Our vibrant hospital services and expertly trained medical staff make West Florida Healthcare an ideal partner for the hospital-based portion of the clinical training necessary for the residents,” said Gay Nord, West Florida Healthcare CEO. “As these residents complete their training, our community and our region will see both economic and health benefits. We are fortunate to have the strong infrastructure necessary to create this program as well as our existing team of highly skilled physicians who can train the next generation of caregivers.” West Florida Healthcare is currently building applications for residency programs in emergency medicine, general surgery, internal medicine and psychiatric medicine for July 2022. The programs last between three and seven years, depending on the specialty, and follow graduation from medical school to prepare physicians for independent practice in a medical specialty. In total, 183 residents will call Northwest Florida home during their training. In Florida, HCA Healthcare is home to the largest teaching hospital system, with over 1,900 residents and fellows at 25 hospitals. With the level of experience that HCA Healthcare has in developing Graduate Medical Education Programs and the expert training provided by the University of Central Florida College of Medicine, West Florida Healthcare is well-positioned for immediate success. The first residents began their training the week of June 21. Additional residency 010 1

programs will begin over the next 12 months, and more residents will be moving to the area to start their training.

DEPUTIES STAY HERE On Friday, June 25, Gov. Ron DeSantis announced at the weigh station near Pensacola that state law enforcement officers have deployed to Texas to provide additional support in response to the security crisis at the southern border. However, the over 20 county sheriff departments that last week pledged to also go to the border will remain in the state to manage some of the duties handled by the deployed state officers. “When the governors of Texas and Arizona reached out for help, Florida answered the call,” said Gov. DeSantis. “We are witnessing a catastrophe at the southern border under the Biden Administration. In recent months, we have seen people from the terrorist watch list, known sex offenders and a flood of fentanyl cross over the border. This is a national security crisis, and we must get it under control.” Resources from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Florida Highway Patrol and Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission deployed on June 25, including more than 50 state law enforcement officers and mission-critical equipment. It is anticipated that personnel will be deployed for 16-day shifts. PACE BOULEVARD SAFETY Pace Boulevard is one of the highest injury crash corridors in the Pensacola area, with over 1,253 crashes resulting in 679 injuries and 13 fatalities over the past five years. The area also has some of the lowest rates of automobile ownership in the area, resulting in heavy bicycle and pedestrian traffic. After formal letters from the City of Pensacola, Escambia County and Bike Pensacola requesting safety improve-

ments to North Pace Boulevard, the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) has announced that traffic lanes on the corridor will be narrowed as part of an upcoming resurfacing project from Barrancas Avenue to Massachusetts Avenue. This lane narrowing will help to slow the high vehicle speeds in the area, which are a tremendous threat to the safety of the many nearby residents who walk, bicycle and utilize wheelchairs to move along and across the roadway. In a letter from FDOT District Secretary Phillip Gainer to Escambia County Commission Chairman Robert Bender, FDOT pledged to reduce the width of the center two-way left turn lanes and inside travel lanes to 10 feet and the outside lanes to 11 feet. The current travel lane widths are 12 feet. Sec. Gainer also pledged to commission an engineering study to see if the request to reduce speed limit from 40 mph to 35 mph is supported. Bike Pensacola supports the reduction in speed limit as well as additional physical improvements such as elevated pedestrian crosswalks and center islands—proven ways of slowing vehicle speeds and saving lives.

THIRD GRADE ENGLISH The Florida Department of Education on Tuesday released a report showing that 54% of third-grade students this year scored “satisfactory” or above on the state English-language arts exam. Santa Rosa (65%) and Okaloosa (63%) were in the top 10 counties. Escambia (53%) tied for 36th out of 67 counties. Escambia County scores dropped by three points from 2019, which is less than Santa Rosa County, which saw a six-point drop. From 2015-2021, Escambia scores have improved five points; Santa Rosa declined two points. Escambia County had 16 of its 35 thirdgrade classes finish above the state percentage for Level 3 or higher. Pensacola Beach Elementary, a charter school, had all 20 of its third graders finish at Level 3 or higher—14 points higher than 2019. The district has two other charter schools—Byrneville Elementary, 76%, up two points from 2019, and Jackie Harris Preparatory, 18%, down 13 points from two years ago. Four other schools improved from 2019—Pleasant Grove, 70%, up 12 points; A.K. Suter 85%, up nine points; West Pensacola, 46%, up eight points; and Myrtle Grove 39%, up six points. UNDERHILL LEGAL FEES Escambia

County has filed a response to Commissioner Doug Underhill’s demand that the taxpayers pay for his legal fees incurred to defend a defamation lawsuit and for which he received a summary judgment in his favor. The county provided several reasons for

denying reimbursement in its June 18 filing. Two focused on Underhill failing to follow the county’s Legal Representation (LR) and Technology policies. On June 7, 2019, an Escambia County citizen, Scott Miller, filed a lawsuit alleging Underhill made defamatory comments about him on a public forum Facebook page. On Oct. 4, 2019, the circuit court granted summary judgment in Underhill’s favor, concluding that his actions were within the scope of his official duties, and, therefore, he was entitled to absolute immunity irrespective of whether the statements were defamatory. In July 2020, the circuit court’s order was affirmed per curiam by a panel of the First District Court of Appeal and the mandate issued on Sep. 14, 2020. After the board refused to pay his legal fees, Underhill has sought mandamus relief to compel the board to pay his legal fees incurred defending the Defamation Action by invoking the board’s LR Policy. According to the county’s response, the LR Policy requires a person seeking reimbursement of legal fees to “notify the county attorney in writing within 10 days of their knowledge of the relevant action or within 10 days of retaining a private attorney, whichever is applicable.” The county attorney reviews the request and prepares a recommendation for the board’s consideration. Underhill didn’t follow the policy, according to the filing. Instead, he presented his request as a discussion item without any written information to the board at its July 18, 2019, meeting—41 days after the suit was filed, 31 days after he was served with the complaint and at least 10 days after he retained private counsel. When Underhill made in his comments about Miller on Facebook on April 25, 2019, he violated the county’s Technology Policy, which “prohibited a commissioner from discussing County business on social media sites such as Facebook.” The county response stated, “Because Petitioner violated the County’s Technology Policy, he is subject to the sanctions set forth in the policy for its violation including denial of payment of costs and attorney’s fees, unless specifically allowed by State law.” In summary: •The County may exercise its discretion to insist that the Technology Policy be followed before a commissioner invokes the benefits of the LR Policy. •The LR Policy enables the Board to determine a commissioner’s request on a case-by-case basis. •The Board has the discretion to spend public monies to reimburse a commissioner’s attorney’s fees and costs, or it may deny the request when that commissioner has violated other adopted policies. inweekly.net

•This discretionary authority is fatal to the extraordinary remedy of mandamus relief. Inweekly expects Underhill and his attorneys to respond to this filing.

capacity of those providers. The administrative costs of the trust— salaries, rent and legal and audit services—will be less than 6% of the budget, $515,000.

MUSICAL CHAIRS Inweekly has heard

2020 CRIME REPORTS The COVID pandemic may have resulted in fewer nonviolent crimes, which pulled Escambia County’s overall crime rate down 6.2% in comparison to 2019. Statewide, the drop was much steeper. According to the 2020 Annual Uniform Crime Report released, Florida’s total crime volume dropped 14.1%. Unfortunately, the violent crimes were up Escambia County. Murders, rapes, robberies, aggravated assaults and car thefts increased. The murders jumped from 27 to 32, rapes from 186 to 225, robberies from 337 to 376, aggravated assaults from 1,227 to 1,306 and motor vehicle thefts from 650 to 732. Five of the murders were inside the city limits. Ten years ago, Escambia County reported 29 murders and 215 rapes. In 2000, the county had 16 murders and only 100 rapes.

several rumors of job changes floating around Tallahassee, Pensacola City Hall and Escambia County Administrative Complex. Kevin Brown, legislative assistant to State Sen. Doug Broxson (R-Gulf Breeze), is expected to pre-file for Escambia County Commission District 2 seat as a Republican in July. The current commissioner, Doug Underhill, has announced he won’t seek a third term. Sen. Broxson is rumored to be the new chairman of the powerful Senate Appropriations Committee. And former County Administrator Janice Gilley is slotted to replace Brown on Broxson’s staff. Former City Council President Jewel Cannada-Wynn is expected to jump into the Pensacola mayor’s race. Mayor Grover Robinson has announced he won’t run in 2022. Longtime Assistant County Attorney Charles Peppler may move to the city of Pensacola and replace City Attorney Susan Woolf, who will become legal counsel for UWF in August.

TRUST UPDATE In February, the support-

ers of the Escambia Children’s Trust fretted that the newly formed agency wouldn’t be able to put together a budget and set a property tax rate by July 1 (Inweekly, “The Buzz,” 3/4/21). They wanted the five standing board members to hire an interim director and borrow money before Gov. Ron DeSantis appointed his members. The move failed, and the trust’s board approved a $9.2 million budget and set 0.5 millage rate at its Tuesday, June 22, meeting. The rate is the maximum allowable by law. The majority of the budget, $8.2 million, will go to service providers that help children in the area, with another $491,000 million budgeted in program cost to expand the

July 1, 2021

VISIT GRANTS Visit Pensacola has an-

nounced its 2022 grant recipients for events taking place during the 2022 fiscal year. Annually, Visit Pensacola allocates funds to its event grant program for local groups and organizations that coordinate events or visitor experiences with a demonstrated history of visitor impact or significant potential to draw visitors to the area. “Following a year off due to budget restraints and the pandemic, we’re very excited to see the return of the program,” President and CEO Darien Schaefer said. “These dollars will provide valuable support to events in our community and allow them the opportunity to market people they otherwise might not be able to.” Event grant recipients include Taste of the Beach (Oct. 8-9), Gulf Coast Blues Festival (Nov. 26-28), Pensacola Dragon Boat Festival (Oct. 9), Winterfest (Nov. 26-Dec. 24), (Pensacola Interstate Fair (Oct. 21-31), Pensacola

Mardi Gras (Jan. 7-March 1), Frank Brown International Songwriters’ Festival (Nov. 4-14), Pensacon (Feb. 18-20), Mahabhuta Vegan Yoga Festival (Nov. 12-14) and Pensacola Habitat Food Truck Festival (March 11-13).

Only residents within City of Pensacola limits may complete the survey. Responses will be used to help the city balance priorities and improve services to maintain a high quality of life for Pensacola residents.

CITY SURVEY The City of Pensacola is

IP GRANT APPLICATIONS The International Paper Pensacola Mill will award $80,000 in foundation grants to nonprofit organizations in 2021 in honor of the mill’s 80th anniversary. Applications will be accepted at ipgiving.com through Monday, July 26. The International Paper Foundation makes sustainable investments to address critical needs in the communities where its employees live and work. Signature Causes include: •Education – Programs focused on helping children succeed via a comprehensive approach to education. Priority is given to literacy programs from birth-third grade. •Hunger – Programs dedicated to improving food security throughout our communities. •Health & Wellness – Programs that promote healthy living habits. •Disaster Relief – Programs that help communities prepare for and recover from natural disasters. Funding is also available to address environmental initiatives (forests, water and air), employee involvement grants and other critical community needs. Applicants must be a registered 501(c) (3) nonprofit organization or qualifying federal entity to apply for a grant. To be considered, organizations must have a program that addresses critical community needs and have measurable objectives to demonstrate impact. Details on grant eligibility, guidelines and restrictions are available at ipgiving.com. An eligible nonprofit organization with a program in an area that the foundation supports must apply online. Applications are routed to the local IP facility and must be completed in its entirety to be considered. {in}

conducting its annual resident satisfaction survey and is encouraging all city residents to participate and let their voices be heard. City residents are asked to complete the survey online by Friday, July 23, at uwf.edu/haasresidentsurvey or by phone at (850) 495-2666, Monday-Friday, between 8 a.m.-5 p.m. "Feedback from our residents is incredibly important to us, and I encourage all of you to take the time to complete this survey as we continue to work toward improving our city,” Mayor Grover Robinson said. The survey asks residents about their satisfaction with a variety of city services and facilities, including street lights, sidewalks, neighborhood safety and more, also prompting participants to rank their top priorities for the City of Pensacola. The survey also asks residents whether they would recommend living in the City of Pensacola to family and friends, which is designed to measure customer experience and loyalty. “We conduct this survey every year as part of the City of Pensacola's continued commitment to listening to our residents,” said Mayor Robinson. “Your input will help us determine what's most important to the people we serve every day and ensure we are providing the highest quality services as your local government.” The city's annual survey is being conducted by the University of West Florida Haas Center. All data obtained from participants will be kept confidential and will only be reported in an aggregate format. Some questions in the survey were updated last year to align with the city's strategic plan and gather resident feedback related to preserving historic culture, coordinating with neighborhood associations and more.

▶rules

Just like we have every summer for the last 21 years, we’re asking all of you to play favorites and vote in our Best of the Coast poll. That means all of your most important opinions—like who really makes the best tacos in town—are finally going to be heard.

And don’t worry if you can’t get through the full ballot in one try. Voting is open through July 21, so you can take it one section at a time. You can also vote online if that’s more your style—at inweekly.net. {in}

•No photocopies or faxes will be accepted. •Vote in at least 15 categories. Ballots with fewer than 15 will not be counted. •Ballots must be postmarked by July 21, 2021.

▶mail your ballot to

Best of the Coast c/o Inweekly, PO Box 12082, Pensacola, FL 32591

▶required info Name

Or vote online at inweekly.net now-July 21

community, media & culture

services

health & wellness

Best Nonprofit

Best Gym

Best Music Venue Best Band Best Concert/Concert Series Best Theatre Production

Best Hair Salon Best Hair Stylist Best Hair Colorist Best Barber Shop Best Men's Hair Stylist Best Day Spa Best Massage Best Massage Therapist Best Pedicure Best Manicure Best Hair Removal Best Facial Best Esthetician Best Skin Care Overall Best Bank Best Credit Union Best Financial Advisor Best Accounting Firm Best Residential Real Estate Agency Best Commercial Real Estate Agency Best Real Estate Agent Best Boutique Hotel/Inn Best Hotel–Pensacola Beach Best Hotel–Pensacola Best Apartment Complex Best Architecture Firm Best Law Firm Best Attorney Best Insurance Agency Best Vet Best Dog Groomer Best Doggie Day Care/Boarding Best Dog Training Best Construction Company Best Landscaping Best Interior Designer Best Framery Best Tattoo & Piercing Studio Best Tattoo Artist Best Special Event Space Best Caterer Best Florist Best Portrait/Family Photography Best Car Wash/Detailer Best Oil Change Best Auto Service Shop Best Window Tinting Best Green Business

Best Comedian

Best New Business

Best Comic Book Store

Best Charity Event Best Place to Work Best Boss Best Community Leader Best Rising Leader Best Politician Best Advocacy/Activist Group Best Place to Take Out-of-Town Guests Best Day Trip Best Annual Event Best Food Event Best Parade Best Regular/Reoccurring Event To Best Free Thing To Do Best Neighborhood Best Pensacola Landmark Best Public Park Best Pet-Friendly Park Best Playground Best Palafox Market Vendor Best Makers/Craft Market Best Reason to Attend a Blue Wahoos Game Best Reason to Attend an Ice Flyers Game Best Youth Sports/Rec Program Best Dance Studio Best After-School Activity Best Summer Camp Best Place for a Birthday Party Best Local Celebrity Best TV Station Best Radio Station Best Radio Personality Best Morning Radio Show Best Podcast Best Website/Blog Best Scandal Best Person or Business to Follow on Instagram Best Business to "Like" on Facebook Best Way To Get Cultured Best Art Gallery/Museum Best Artist Best Photographer

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Best Personal Trainer Best Boutique Fitness Studio Best Yoga Best Yoga Instructor Best Pilates Best Fitness Classes Best Fitness Instructor Best Bootcamp Best Weight Loss Program Best Running Club Best 5K Best Place to Walk/Run Best Place to Ride Your Bike Best Hospital Best General Care Physician Best Chiropractor Best Dentist Best Orthodontist Best Pediatrician Best Mental Health Professional Best OB/GYN Best Optometrist Best Dermatologist Best Plastic Surgery Best Physical Therapy Best Pharmacy Best Walk-In Clinic

retail Best Car Dealership Best Bicycle Shop Best Boutique Best Men's Apparel Best Women's Apparel Best Children's Apparel & Gifts Best Accessories Best Consignment Store Best Thrift Store Best Athletic/Outdoor Store Best Furniture Store Best Home Décor & Accessories Best Antiques Best Vintage Shop/Seller Best Maker/Artisan Best Gift Shop Best Place to Buy Greeting Cards/Stationery inweekly.net

Best New Store

Best Chinese Cuisine

Best French Fries

Best Jeweler

Best Japanese Cuisine

Best Fried Chicken

Best Surf/Skate Shop

Best Thai Cuisine

Best Wings

Best Nursery/Plants

Best Indian Cuisine

Best Oysters

Best Hardware Store

Best Vietnamese Cuisine

Best Salads

Best Computer/Tech Store

Best Vegetarian/Vegan Cuisine

Best Place to Buy Local Produce

Best Music Gear/Instruments

Best Sushi

Best Vegetarian/Vegan Dish

Best Record Store

Best Gluten Free Options

Best Desserts

Best Liquor Store

Best Seafood

Best Ice Cream/Frozen Yogurt

Best Wine Shop

Best Steakhouse

Best Cakes/Cupcakes

Best Wine Tastings

Best BBQ

Best Cookies

Best Grocery Store

Best Soul Food

Best King Cake

Best International Food Market

Best Wine Menu

Best Original Menu Item

Best Gourmet/Specialty Food Shop

Best Original Menu

Best Lunch Specials

Best Chef

Best Weekly Special

weddings

Best Up-and-Coming Chef

Best Cooking Classes

Best Place to Propose

Best Wait Staff

Best Local Food Manufacturer

Best Place to Buy an Engagement Ring

Best Waiter

Best Local Beverage Manufacturer

Best Ceremony Venue

Best Waitress

Best Reception Venue

Best Coffee Shop

bars, drinks & nightlife

Best Officiant

Best Barista

Best Bar Overall

Best Bridal Store

Best Outdoor Dining

Best Night Club

Best Place to Rent a Tux

Best Place to Splurge

Best Bar–Downtown

Best Bridal Make-up Artist

Best Place to Eat Healthy

Best Bar–Cordova Area

Best Wedding Hair Salon

Best Place to Satisfy Your Sweet Tooth

Best Bar–North Pensacola/Nine Mile Road

Best Wedding Hair Stylist

Best Romantic Dining

Best Bar–West Pensacola/Perdido Key

Best Wedding Planner/Coordinator

Best Place for a First Date

Best Bar–Pensacola Beach

Best Wedding Photography

Best Kid-Friendly Restaurant

Best Bar–Milton/Pace

Best Photobooth

Best Pet-Friendly Restaurant

Best New Bar

Best Wedding Videography

Best Salad Bar

Best Happy Hour

Best Wedding Band

Best Take Out/To Go

Best Drink Specials

Best Wedding DJ

Best Food Delivery

Best Cover Charge Worth Paying

Best Wedding Caterer

Best Restaurant for a Birthday Dinner

Best Day Drinking

Best Wedding Cake

Best Restaurant for Sports Fans

Best Drink Menu

Best Wedding Florist

Best Late Night Eats

Best Specialty Cocktails

Best Wedding Rentals

Best Restaurant to Take Out-of-Town Guests

Best Daiquiris/Frozen Drinks

Best Wedding Party Transportation

Best Gone-But-Not-Forgotten Restaurant

Best Bushwacker

Best Place to Buy a Wedding Gift

Best Bloody Mary

Best Place to Buy Bridesmaid Gifts

food

Best Mimosa

Best Place for a Rehearsal Dinner

*List the specific menu item if applicable

Best Martini

Best Place for Out-of-Town Guests to Stay

Best Uniquely Pensacola Dish

Best Selection of Wine

Best Cup of Coffee

Best Margarita

restaurants

Best Iced Coffee

Best Signature Drink

Best Restaurant Overall

Best Latte

Best Selection of Beer on Tap

Best Restaurant–Downtown

Best Iced Tea

Best Selection of Bottled/Canned Beer

Best Restaurant–Cordova Area

Best Juices/Smoothies

Best Brewery

Best Restaurant–East Hill

Best Pizza

Best Local Beer

Best Restaurant–North Pensacola/

Best Steak

Best Bartender

Nine Mile Road

Best Burrito

Best DJ

Best Restaurant–West Pensacola/Perdido Key

Best Taco

Best Drag Queen

Best Restaurant–East Pensacola Heights

Best Soup

Best Sports Bar

Best Restaurant–Gulf Breeze

Best Deli

Best Sports Team Club Headquarters

Best Restaurant–Pensacola Beach

Best Bread

Best Neighborhood Bar

Best Restaurant–Milton/Pace

Best Sandwich

Best Pet-Friendly Bar

Best New Restaurant

Best Chicken Salad

Best Hotel Bar

Best Bakery

Best Cheeseburger

Best Bar With a View

Best Breakfast

Best Hot Dog

Best Bar Ambiance

Best Brunch

Best Cheese Plate

Best Bar for Games

Best Lunch

Best Appetizers

Best Trivia Night

Best Food Truck

Best Mac-n-Cheese

Best Karaoke Night

Best Greek Cuisine

Best Pastries

Best Bar for Live Music

Best Mexican Cuisine

Best Breakfast Dish/Menu Item

Best Bar Food

Best Italian Cuisine

Best Grits

Best Cajun Cuisine

Best Donuts

July 1, 2021

Or vote online at inweekly.net {in} 13

a&e happenings watch the firework show over the bay at 9 p.m. Listen to special accompanying Fourth of July music on Cat Country 98.7.

ESCAMBIA COUNTY 200TH ANNIVERSARY

VOLUNTEERS WANTED FOR THE 1821 SAMPLER The website for the mosaic

FOURTH OF JULY EVENTS

to either dinner experience for the fireworks and symphony show, visit bluewahoos.com.

Anderson Subaru, located at 7050 Pensacola Blvd., is hosting a Fourth of July celebration from 3-7 p.m. Saturday, July 3, with bounce houses, a petting zoo, food, games and a live DJ with all proceeds benefiting Gulf Coast Kid's House. Admission is free.

LAGUNA'S SUMMER CONCERT SERIES

FOURTH OF JULY CELEBRATION BASH

2021 FIRECRACKER 5K The 2021

Firecracker 5K is a race through downtown Pensacola with proceeds benefiting Ronald McDonald House Charities of Northwest Florida. The race starts at 7 a.m. at Seville Quarter on Saturday, July 3. Following the 5K is the Kids Fun Run. For more information, visit rmhc-nwfl.org/firecracker-5k.

INDEPENDENCE DAY AT BLUE WAHOOS STADIUM Fourth of July festivities

begin with a Blue Wahoos game at 4:05 p.m. on Sunday, July 4. Following the game, fans are welcome to stay for a firework show with the Pensacola Symphony Orchestra performing in the amphitheater at Community Maritime Park. Admission to the fireworks and symphony performance is free. However, fans may purchase admission to VIP dinner events at the Hancock Whitney Club for $50, which includes a gourmet buffet dinner, or the Coors Light Party Deck with an AllAmerican buffet dinner for $35. To get tickets

Ring in the Fourth of July Laguna's style with musicians Noah Desimone from noon-3 p.m. and Michael Miller Band at 6 p.m. There will be food and drink specials, giveaways and fireworks. Rent a private cabana (cocktail server included) with the best view of fireworks on the beach. Laguna's Beach Bar + Grill is located at 460 Pensacola Beach Blvd. For more information, visit lagunaspensacolabeach.com.

FOURTH OF JULY 5K Enjoy a flat and scenic 5K on Pensacola Beach on Sunday, July 4, at 7 a.m. The race starts at 69 Via de Luna Drive. A post-race party and awards ceremony will be at the Tiki Bar. Registration is $17.76-$45. For more information, visit facebook.com/runpensacola. PENSACOLA BEACH FIREWORKS A

firework show along the Pensacola Beach Boardwalk and Santa Rosa Sound is set to begin 8:30 p.m. on the Fourth of July. Arrive early to reserve your spot.

SERATOMA'S FOURTH OF JULY FIREWORKS Enjoy a full day of events starting at 4 p.m. on July 4 with live music and food trucks. Be ready with your blankets and

is now live at 1821sampler.com. From the sampler homepage, click on a photo to get a quick view and then "Visit Full Entry" to see more information. There are still plenty of people from 1821 who haven't been represented yet. To participate in the 1821 Sampler, simply fill out the form at 1821: A Pensacola Sampler under "Submit Your Photo" on the website and upload your photo to represent a member of the 1821 Pensacola community (use an uncluttered background, clearly showing face and shoulders. No hats please. Names are optional). Researchers with the West Florida Genealogical Society have identified more than 2,000 individuals who were here when Florida passed from Spain to the United States. By honoring a member of the 1821 community, you are participating in this celebration of our rich and diverse Florida heritage.

INTERACTIVE TOUR OF ST. MICHAEL'S CEMETERY To commemorate Florida's Territorial Bicentennial and Escambia County's 200th Anniversary, the UWF Archaeology Institute and St. Michael's Cemetery Foundation have partnered to create an interactive tour of the cemetery. The project is titled They're Still Here: The People of 1821. The story map includes a "walking tour" that can be taken from the comfort of home or on a mobile device on site at the cemetery. The tour features more than 60 surviving gravesites of the people who were in Pensacola in 1821. The story map can be found at bit.ly/1821TourSMC.

SEAFOOD PREPARATIONS COOKING CLASS Join Chef James Briscione for a cook-

ing class that melds local Gulf Coast and Italian flavors from 5:30-7 p.m. Thursday, July 8, at Angelena's Ristorante Italiano, located at 101 E. Intendencia St. The class features a range of dishes from chilled pastas to whole-baked fish.

This course is a wonderful celebration of Pensacola's history. Tickets for this course are $65.

PENSACOLA ARCHAEOLOGY SOCIETY LECTURE SERIES Dr. Brian Rucker, profes-

sor of History at Pensacola State College, will present the Historical Context for Pensacola 1821 for a virtual lecture on Tuesday, July 13, from 7-8 p.m. To sign up, visit pasfl.org.

WSRE COMMEMORATES FLORIDA'S TERRITORIAL BICENTENNIAL In part-

nership with the 200th Anniversary Commission Commemorating Florida's Territorial Bicentennial, the City of Pensacola and Escambia County, WSRE will broadcast an "inStudio" series commemorating this historical event at 7 p.m. on Thursday, July 15. Hosted by Sherri Hemminghaus Weeks, the four one-hour episodes will reflect on the region's role in establishing Florida's statehood and provide information about bicentennial celebrations and opportunities for community involvement "1821 Sampler Project Linking Past to Present" airs July 1; "St. Michael's Cemetery: At the Crossroads of Pensacola's Past" airs July 8; and "The Dinner Tables of 1821 and 2021: The Diversity of Our Culinary Heritage" airs July 15. All four episodes will be available for streaming on their premiere dates at wsre. org/instudio.

WAYS TO GET TO PENSACOLA BEACH

The Pensacola Bay Bridge is now open, which is perfect timing for beach season. Escambia County reminds eager beachgoers of the various ways to get to the beach. Live Pensacola Beach traffic video and beach conditions are available at myescambia.com.

ECAT BUS Escambia County Area Transit discontinued service for the Route 61 detour across the Garcon Point Bridge with the Pensacola Bay Bridge opening. Normal schedules for Route 61 and Route 64 Beach Jumper will restart. Note the following schedules: REGULAR SERVICE: •Routes: 1, 2, 32, 44, 47, 48, 50, 51, 52, 55, 57, 58, 59X, 60, 61 and 64 Beach Jumper

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inweekly.net

a&e happenings MODIFIED ROUTES: •Route 31, 43, and 63: Runs Monday-Saturday, every two hours (Saturday Schedule) •Route 45: Runs Monday-Saturday, only every hour, 6 a.m.-5 p.m. UWF TROLLEY: •(Summer Schedule) UWF Express Service runs Monday–Saturday Schedules are located on goecat.com and the ECAT Ride guide.

FREE TROLLEY SERVICE The Santa Rosa

Island Authority (SRIA) will have free openair trolley service along Pensacola Beach. The service runs Monday-Sunday, 4 p.m.midnight, through Labor Day weekend.

FERRY Pensacola Bay Cruises Ferry Service offers daily service, seven days a week, between Downtown Pensacola and Pensacola Beach. Ferry trips last approximately 50 minutes, and all-day free parking is available at each of the departure sites. DRIVE, BIKE OR WALK OVER THE BOB SIKES BRIDGE When you drive over

the Bob Sikes Bridge to Pensacola Beach, there is an electronic toll in place. Cash and coins are no longer collected in person. The county encourages motorists to plan ahead and use electronic toll collection devices (i.e. SunPass, E-Pass, Annual Pass, NC Quick Pass, Peach Pass, E-ZPass), tolling apps (i.e. PayTollo) or TOLL-BY-PLATE from SunPass.

PENSACOLA BEACH TRAFFIC HOTLINE Residents and visitors can report

beach traffic issues via the Pensacola Beach Traffic Hotline at (850) 595-0862 or by emailing traffic@myescambia.com, offered by the Escambia County Transportation and Traffic Operations Division.

NONPROFITS + FUNDRAISERS

"FRIEND OF FOO" APPLICATIONS NOW OPEN The Foo Foo Festival Com-

mittee is now accepting applications from nonprofit and for-profit entities who are interested in playing a part in this year's events as a "Friend of Foo." Nonprofits in the Pensacola area who recently applied and did not receive a grant for this year's

festival but would still like to participate, or local for-profit businesses such as hoteliers, restaurants and bars who are interested in participating and benefitting, are encouraged to apply. To review the application process, visit foofoofest.com. "Friend of Foo'' participants will receive local, regional and national visibility during the 12-day event via the festival's regional marketing campaign. When applying, entrants should be prepared to provide the name and title of their prospective event; the date, time and location for the event; its respective category; and details and imagery to support the concept. The deadline to submit to be a "Friend of Foo" is Friday, Oct. 1, by noon. The Pensacola Foo Foo Festival will take place Nov. 4-15, 2021.

ARTS & CULTURE

HILL-KELLY MOVIES IN THE PARK

The Hill-Kelly Drive-In Movie Series returns to Community Maritime Park Friday, July 9, with Disney's "Soul." Bring your blankets and chairs to watch a family-friendly movie underneath the stars. Movies begin at sunset and free event parking is available at Community Maritime Park and City Hall. Concessions are available from local food trucks.

DRAG SHOWS AT DOLCE AND GELATO Head to Dolce and Gelato, located at 2050 N. 12th Ave., for regular drag shows. For more information, visit facebook.com/ dolcegelatopensacola.

PENSACOLA LITTLE THEATRE CRYSTAL AWARDS The Pensacola Little

Theatre annual Crystal Awards is a night of reminiscing, laughing, sharing and celebrating as they recognize each of the shows from the past two seasons. The evening will be jam-packed with stories, performances, hugs and good times. The night begins at 6 p.m. with cocktails, and the ceremony begins at 6:45 p.m. All performers, designers, techies, board members, sponsors, ushers, subscribers and fans are welcome to attend. There is no cost for this event. Visit pensacolalittletheatre.com for more information.

BOOK SIGNING WITH BEN BEARD

Pensacola writer Ben Beard will be signing copies if his latest book "The South Never Plays Itself" at Dolce and Gelato, located at 2050 N. 12th Ave., from 3-6 p.m. Saturday, July 10. Visit facebook.com/dolcegelatopensacola for more information.

SCRIPTEASERS WITH PENSACOLA LITTLE THEATRE Scripteasers, Studio

400's and Pensacola Little Theatre's Script Reading Club, invites you to monthly script readings at PLT, 400 S. Jefferson St. Want to bring your scripts for the group to read and discuss? Contact Pensacola Little Theatre to get in queue. The group reads prospective scripts for future seasons as well as new scripts that need a table read before the next edit.Not a playwright but love to read out loud? This is your easy, fun theatre night. Fascinated by the play selection process? Sit in for a listen and usually a lot of laughs. Visit facebook.com/pensacolalittletheatre for more information and the latest dates.

COMING SOON TO PENSACOLA CINEMA ART "Supernova" will be playing on

Friday and Saturday, July 9 and 10, at 1 p.m. On Friday and Saturday, July 23 and 24, at 1 p.m. is the film "Dream Horse." More information, including links to virtual screenings, is available at pensacolacinemaart.com. All tickets are $8. Reserve your seats by emailing jpncinema@gmail.com or texting (863) 4467300. PCA is located at 220 W. Garden St.

GALLERY NIGHT EVENTS TO RETURN IN JULY The Gallery Night Pensacola Board

of Directors has announced the return of its monthly Gallery Night events in Downtown Pensacola beginning July 16. Gallery Night will once again host its monthly art-centric event on the third Friday of the month from 5-10 p.m. The July event will coincide with the city's upcoming bicentennial celebration. Based on the most recent CDC reports and vaccine numbers, the board has decided that this outdoor event can once again take place at 100% capacity. While CDC guidelines do not require a mask for any outdoor events for those that are fully vaccinated, the Pensacola Gallery

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Night Board does encourage mask usage for those who are not vaccinated or are at high health risk. For more information, visit gallerynightpensacola.org.

CHORAL SOCIETY OF PENSACOLA AUDITIONS FOR 86TH SEASON All

singers 18 and older are invited to audition for The Choral Society of Pensacola, a community of volunteer singers, as they prepare for their 86th season, their first with Artistic Director Peter Steenblik. Auditions are set for Aug. 2-4 from 5-9 p.m. in the Ashmore Fine Arts Center at Pensacola State College, 1000 College Blvd. In-person auditions are by appointment only. Singers may also submit recorded auditions. The deadline is Aug. 4, and the instructions for recording and submitting auditions will be posted soon on the Choral Society website. In either case, in-person or recorded, the audition process is brief and informal, and no preparation is necessary. However, singers must register online at choralsocietyofpensacola.org/auditions. Dr. Steenblik has planned four major concerts for 2021-2022. The season will open in October with a program of American music performed with chamber orchestra. The major work is "Frostiana," Randall Thompson's classic setting of seven poems by Robert Frost, including "The Road Not Taken" and "Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening." In December, the Choral Society will present "Her Christmas," seasonal music by women composers, and in February, "Stage and Screen," songs from musical theatre and film. The season will conclude in May with a concert showcasing "Triptych," a contemporary work by Tarik O'Regan in an arrangement for chorus and eight percussionists. In addition to the four concerts, the season offers opportunities to participate in a Veterans Day concert with Pensacola Opera Chorus, in a performance of Craig Hella Johnson's oratorio "Considering Matthew Shepard" with the University of West Florida Singers and in the Society's annual holiday sing-along. Rehearsals will take place Monday evenings at 7 p.m. on the PSC campus and will begin on Aug. 16 with a season kick-off event.

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a&e happenings PENSACOLA CHILDREN'S CHORUS AUDITIONS Pensacola Children's Chorus

auditions will be held Saturday, Aug. 7, and are open to students entering grades one-12. PCC's season runs September-May with the aim of producing three fully staged, costumed and choreographed mainstage concerts—"Christmas on the Coast," "One World Many Voices" and "Showtime." However, these larger-than-life performances reinforce more than vocal ability. Throughout the season, students are immersed in personal and social growth designed to equip singers with the tools to succeed beyond the rehearsal hall and stage. Interested families need to register for an audition time by visiting pensacolasings. org. Middle and high school singers should be prepared to learn a brief choreographed section to assess movement and learning style. All ability levels welcome. No prior experience or training is required. PCC is located in the Margaret Moore Nickelsen Center, 46 E. Chase St., on the campus of First Presbyterian Church in beautiful downtown Pensacola. For more information about the Pensacola Children's Chorus, please call (850) 434-7760 or visit pensacolachildrenschorus.com.

"A DEAD RECKONING: NAVIGATING CONTEMPORARY CERAMICS" EXHIBIT AT PENSACOLA MUSEUM OF ART "A

Dead Reckoning: Navigating Contemporary Ceramics" is now on view at Pensacola

Museum of Art, which asks viewers, "Where is the field of American ceramic art going?" For more information, visit pensacolamuseum.org.

"END OF CENTURY" EXHIBIT AT PENSACOLA MUSEUM OF ART End of

Century, an art exhibit featuring Art Nouveau glassware and works on paper, is a new exhibit at the Pensacola Museum of Art. This special exhibit includes items from the museum collection as well as the collection of local art supporter and educator Dr. Patrick M. Rowe. Dr. Rowe received his Ph.D. in Art History at Florida State University in 1989 and taught art history at the University of West Florida and Pensacola State College until his retirement in 2010. He has served on the Pensacola Museum of Art Board and on the PMA Collections Committee and has acted as a dedicated supporter and resource for museum staff throughout the years. In 1988, Rowe began taking an interest in 18th and early 20th century printmaking, which led to his impressive collection of works from the time period, many of which are showcased in End of Century. End of Century will be on view at the Pensacola Museum of Art until Oct. 10. Visitors can learn more about the exhibition, sign up for additional programming opportunities and purchase tickets through pensacolamuseum.org.

CITIZENS SPEAK AT PENSACOLA MUSEUM OF ART The "Citizens Speak" exhibi-

tion represents a collection of student work across disciplines based on their engagement with Claudia Rankine's "Citizen." The exhibit is on display through July 3 at Pensacola Museum of Art. For more information, visit pensacolamuseum.org.

KEEP IT 100 AT ARTEL GALLERY Artel Gallery's latest exhibit is "Keep it 100," where all works are priced at $100. Exhibit is on view through July 15. The gallery is located at 223 S. Palafox. Other exhibits include Tessa Fremgen's "On Foreign Paths" and works from Christine Rojas. Visit artelgallery.org for more info. THREE FATES TATTOO PORTRAIT SCULPTURE COURSE Over the course

of four weeks, students will learn to construct a proper armature, model individual facial features, and realistically sculpt a ¾ portrait from life, using a live model. Sessions will include detailed instructions on how to sculpt the portrait from the model, use measurements, use different sculpting tools and sculpt specific features using an observational approach. Each class will take place on Monday evening from 5-8 p.m. at Three Fates Studio, located at 7 E. Gregory St. The instructor will sculpt from the model while describing a step-by-step process, answering questions and pointing out key areas in the sculpt to take note of. Students will work alongside the instructor

while gaining advice and personal critiques as they progress through the portrait. Anatomical structure as well as how to achieve a strong likeness will be discussed. The course is $375 per student and will take place on July 5, 12, 19 and 26. Visit threefatestattoo.com/register to sign up now.

STAND-UP COMEDY AT THE REX THEATRE Visit The REX Theatre every

Friday at 8 p.m. for national stand-up acts. Tickets are $26-$35 at the door. For more information, visit rexpensacola.com.

COMEDY MAGIC SHOW AT THE REX THEATRE Comedy magician Tom Coverly,

known as "The Illusionist," performs Saturday nights at The Rex Theatre, located at 18 N. Palafox. Shows start at 7 p.m. Tickets are $10-$35. For more information, visit rexpensacola.com.

OPEN MIC COMEDY AT BIG TOP BREWERY Try out some new jokes or

enjoy some homegrown talent every Monday at 7 p.m. for Open Mic Comedy at Big Top Brewery, located at 21 W. Romano St. Everyone gets five minutes depending the number of sign-ups. Registration begins at 6:30 p.m.

NEW CLASSES AT MIXON MAGIC PERFORMING ARTS Mixon Magic Per-

forming Arts (MMPA), a boutique perform-

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a&e happenings ing arts studio located at 1010 N. 12th Ave., Ste. 238, will be offering a limited class schedule this fall. MMPA offers professional dance, fitness and "Mommy and Me" instruction for all ages and skill levels with weekly classes including, but not limited to, Creative Movement, Ballet/Jazz Combo, Broadway, Tap, Showstoppers, Acting and Voice. Classes will be provided for children as young as 2 years old (with a parent or guardian) through adult. MMPA is dedicated to the safety and well-being of all students and families and has implemented protocols based on guidance from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Masks are required for entry into the building and studio. More information about Mixon Magic Performing Arts can be found at mixonmagic.com, by contacting hello@mixonmagic.com or emily@mixonmagic.com or by calling (850) 221-7438.

BLACK CITIZENSHIP IN THE AGE OF JIM CROW "Black Citizenship in the Age

of Jim Crow," a traveling exhibition from the New York Historical Society Museum & Library with additions from the African American Heritage Society of Pensacola, is now on view at Artel Gallery. To learn more about it, visit africanamericanheritagesociety.org. Artel Gallery is located at 223 S. Palafox.

CRAFT CLASSES AT STUDIO SOUTH ON NINE MILE Learn a new craft or meet

up with other makers at Studio South. Tuesday is Knit Night 4-7 p.m., and Sit & Stitch is Saturdays 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Both classes are free. For a full calendar of events, visit studiosouthon9mileroad.com. Studio South is located at 955 E. Nine Mile Road.

CLASSES AND WORKSHOPS AT FIRST CITY ART First City Art Center of-

fers a wide range of classes and workshops for artists of all levels. Classes include glass blowing, ceramics, painting and drawing, kiln-forming, stained glass and more. For a complete list of classes and times, visit firstcityart.org.

LIVE MUSIC

BANDS ON THE BEACH Bands on the

Beach is back. The free concert series features shows each Tuesday night, from 7-9 p.m., from April to October at the Gulfside Pavilion at Casino Beach. UPCOMING DATES: •July 6: Johnny Earthquake & The Moondogs •July 13: Reunion Band

BLUES ON THE BAY The Blues on the

Bay free concert series continues at Community Maritime Park, located at 351 W. Cedar St. Concerts are 6 p.m. on select Sunday evenings. Bring your coolers and lawn chairs and take a spot in front of the Hunter Amphitheater. •July 11: Memory Lane

BASS ON THE BLOCK: BANDLEZ

200 South's Bass on the Block features bass music from around the region and July 1, 2021

Southeast. Next date is Saturday, June 26, starting at 8:30 p.m. Event is 21 and up. For tickets, visit facebook.com/200southpcola.

MOLLY RINGWALDS IN CONCERT

The World's Greatest '80s Experience, The Molly Ringwalds, will be performing at Phineas Phogg's at Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St., on Friday, July 2, at 8:30 p.m. Tickets are $25-$30. Purchase in advance at eventbrite.com or at the door.

LUKE COMBS AT THE WHARF AMPHITHEATER Luke Combs will play two shows

July 3 and 4 at The Wharf Amphitheater, located at 23101 Canal Road in Orange Beach, Ala. For tickets and more information, visit alwharf.com/amphitheater.php.

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PAT MEUSEL AT DOLCE & GELATO Pat Meusel is back at Dolce & Gelato, located at 2050 N. 12th Ave., at 4 p.m. Friday, July 2. Visit facebook.com/dolcegelatopensacola for more information. DELTA BLUES Delta Blues will be performing at Dolce & Gelato, located at 2050 N. 12th Ave., at 5 p.m. Saturday, July 3. Visit facebook.com/dolcegelatopensacola for more information. TOWN AND COUNTRY BEN BELL Ben Bell will be playing tunes at Dolce & Gelato, located at 2050 N. 12th Ave., at 5 p.m. Friday, July 9. Visit facebook.com/dolcegelatopensacola for more information. JASON TREUMAN AT GARY'S BREWERY & BIERGARTEN Jason Treuman will be performing at Gary's Brewery & Biergarten, located at 208 Newman Ave., at 6 p.m. Friday, July 9. For more information, visit facebook.com/garysbrew.

LIVE MUSIC AT RED FISH BLUE FISH PENSACOLA BEACH Head to Red Fish

Blue Fish for live performances from local bands Fridays and Saturdays all day. For musician lineups, visit facebook.com/redfishbluefishpensacolabeach.

CURT BOL JAZZ QUARTET Visit Five

Sisters Blues Café, located at 421 W. Belmont St., Sundays from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. and listen to Curt Bol Jazz Quartet. Visit curtbolband.com for more information.

OPEN JAM AT ARTEL GALLERY Artel

Gallery is open from 5-7 p.m. Wednesdays and Saturdays for open jam with Pensacola Folk Music Society. Feel free to visit and listen to music. Artel Gallery is located at 223 S. Palafox.

KARAOKE AT MUGS AND JUGS Sing your heart out Sundays at Mugs & Jugs, 12080 Scenic Highway, or just enjoy drinks friends with $4 Smirnoff and $6.50 domestic pitcher drink deals from 7 p.m.-3 a.m. For more information, visit facebook.com/mugsjugs. for more listings visit inweekly.net 17

free will astrology WEEK OF JULY 1 ARIES (MARCH 21-APRIL 19): Colum-

nist Linda Weltner says that there's a dual purpose to cleaning your home, rearranging the furniture, adding new art to the walls and doting on your potted plants. Taking good care of your environment is a primary way of taking good care of yourself. She writes, "The home upon which we have lavished so much attention is the embodiment of our own selflove." I invite you to make that your inspirational meditation for the next two weeks.

TAURUS (APRIL 20-MAY 20): "For peace of mind, I will lie about anything at any time," said author Amy Hempel. Hmm. I'm the opposite. To cultivate peace of mind, I try to speak and live the truth as much as I can. Lying makes me nervous. It also seems to make me dumber. It forces me to keep close track of my fibs so I can be sure to stick to my same deceitful story when the subject comes up later. What about you, Taurus? For your peace of mind, do you prefer to rely on dishonesty or honesty? I'm hoping that for the next four weeks, you will favor the latter. Cultivating judicious candor will heal you and boost your intelligence. GEMINI (MAY 21-JUNE 20): In her essay

about education, "Don't Overthink It," philosopher Agnes Callard reminds us, "No matter how much we increase our investment at the front end—perfecting our minds with thinking classes, long ruminations, novelreading, and moral algebra—we cannot spare ourselves the agony of learning by doing." That will be a key theme for you in the next four weeks, dear Gemini. You will need to make abundant use of empiricism—pursuing knowledge through direct experience, using your powers of observation and a willingness to experiment.

CANCER (JUNE 21-JULY 22): Philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche said that when our rational minds are working at their best, they inspire us to cultivate our most interesting and enlivening passions. They also deemphasize and suppress any energy-draining passions that might have a hold on us. I'm

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hoping you will take full advantage of this in the coming weeks, Cancerian. You will generate good fortune and sweet breakthroughs as you highlight desires that uplift you and downgrade desires that diminish you.

LEO (JULY 23-AUG. 22): Leo author Wendell Berry suggests, "It may be that when we no longer know what to do, we have come to our real work, and when we no longer know which way to go, we have begun our real journey." Although there's wisdom in that formulation, I don't think it's true a majority of the time. Far more often we are fed by the strong, clear intuitions that emerge from our secret depths—from the sacred gut feelings that give us accurate guidance about what to do and where to go. But I do suspect that right now may be one of those phases when Berry's notion is true for you, Leo. What do you think? VIRGO (AUG. 23-SEPT. 22): In 1750,

more than 250 years after Columbus first visited the New World, Native Americans were still a majority of the continent's population. But between 1776 and now, the United States government stole 1.5 billion acres of land from its original owners—25 times the size of the United Kingdom. Here's another sad fact—Between 1778 and 1871, America's federal administrations signed over 500 treaties with indigenous tribes—and broke every one of them. The possibility that these sins will eventually be remedied is very small. I bring them up only to serve as possible metaphors for your personal life. Is there anything you have unfairly gained from others? Is there anything others have unfairly gained from you? The next six months will be prime time to seek atonement and correction.

LIBRA (SEPT. 23-OCT. 22): Libran Zen teacher Thich Nhat Hanh advises you and me and everyone else to "seek the spiritual in every ordinary thing that you do every day." You have to work at it a bit, he says; you must have it as your firm intention. But it's not really hard to do. "Sweeping the floor, watering the vegetables and washing the dishes become holy and sacred if mindfulness is there," he adds. I think you Libras will have

a special knack for this fun activity in the coming weeks. (Thich Nhat Hanh wrote a series of "Mindfulness Essentials" books that includes "How to Eat," "How to Walk," "How to Relax" and "How to Connect." I invite you to come up with your own such instructions.)

SCORPIO (OCT. 23-NOV. 21): My unex-

pected interpretation of the current astrological omens suggests that you will be wise to go naked as much as possible in the coming weeks. Being skyclad, as the pagans say, will be healing for you. You will awaken dormant feelings that will help you see the world with enhanced understanding. The love that you experience for yourself will soften one of your hard edges and increase your appreciation for all the magic that your life is blessed with. One important caveat—Of course, don't impose your nakedness on anyone who doesn't want to witness it.

SAGITTARIUS (NOV. 22-DEC. 21):

If you analyzed the best-selling songs as measured by Billboard magazine, you'd think we were in the midst of a dangerous decline in population. The vast majority of those popular tunes feature lyrics with reproductive themes. It's as if there's some abject fear that humans aren't going to make enough babies and need to be constantly cajoled and incited to engage in lovemaking. But I don't think you Sagittarians, whatever your sexual preference, will need any of that nagging in the coming days. Your Eros Quotient should be higher than it has been in a while.

CAPRICORN (DEC. 22-JAN. 19): Pulitzer Prize-winning author Donna Tartt, born under the sign of Capricorn, writes, "Beauty is rarely soft or consolatory. Quite the contrary. Genuine beauty is always quite alarming." In my view, that's an unwarranted generalization. It may sometimes be true but is often not. Genuine beauty may also be elegant, lyrical, inspiring, healing and ennobling. Having said that, I will speculate that the beauty you encounter in the near future may indeed be disruptive or jolting but mostly because it has the potential to remind you of what you're missing—and motivate you to go after what you've been missing.

AQUARIUS (JAN. 20-FEB. 18): On July

21, 1969, Aquarian astronaut Buzz Aldrin was the second human to walk on the moon. It happened during a spectacular astrological aspect, when transiting Jupiter and Uranus in Libra were trine to Aldrin's natal Sun in Aquarius. But after this heroic event, following his return to earth, he found it hard to get his bearings again. He took a job as a car salesman but had no talent for it. In six months, he didn't sell a single car. Later, however, he found satisfaction as an advocate for space exploration, and he developed technology to make future trips to Mars more efficient. I hope that if you are now involved in any activity that resembles Aldrin's stint as a car salesman—that is, a task you're not skilled at and don't like—you will spend the coming weeks making plans to escape to more engaging pursuits.

PISCES (FEB. 19-MARCH 20): Astronomers say the Big Bang birthed the universe 13.8 billion years ago. But a star 190 lightyears away from Earth contradicts that theory. Its age seems to be 14.5 billion years, older than the universe itself. Its scientific name is HD 140283, but it's informally referred to as Methuselah, named after the Biblical character who lived till age 969. Sometimes, like now, you remind me of that star. You seem to be an impossibly old soul—like you've been around so many thousands of lifetimes that, you, too, predate the Big Bang. But guess what? It's time to take a break from that aspect of your destiny. In the next two weeks, you have cosmic permission to explore the mysteries of playful innocence. Be young and blithe and curious. Treasure your inner child. THIS WEEK'S HOMEWORK: Send your suggestions about how I might be able to serve you better. Newsletter@freewillastrology.com

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news of the weird CREEPY A TikTok user in New Jersey shared the unsettling scene that unfolded on June 10 as she pulled up carpet in her new home, the New York Post reported. "Ashley" showed followers the floorboards underneath the carpet, which appeared to show a bloodstained imprint of a human being and a chalk outline of a body, along with a 2018 date and a case number. "I wasn't bothered knowing someone died in my new house," Ashley said. Responding to comments on her video, Ashley tested the bloodstain by spraying hydrogen peroxide on it, which caused bubbling—a sure sign that the substance was blood, some said. Still, Ashley isn't fazed: It "seems chill here. It's all good." INEXPLICABLE The latest trend in plastic surgery in China, according to Gulf Today, is the pointy ear. The modified ears resemble those of animated characters or fairy tale creatures, and they give the face "a slender shape," the site reported on June 17. Doctors first insert cartilage or an implant in the back of the ear, then fill it in with hyaluronic acid. Plastic surgery clinics in China are experiencing such great demand that patients have to get on waiting lists. FINE POINTS OF THE LAW In December 2016, Cletus Snay hit a patch of black ice while driving in Bellevue, Ohio, and slammed into Matthew Burr's mailbox. Doesn't seem all that dramatic, but postal service guidelines specify that mailbox poles be able to break away, which Burr's clearly did not do. Burr had installed an 8-inch metal pole, buried 3 feet in the ground and fortified with rocks and dry cement poured on top, News5Cleveland reported. This immoveable fixture caused Snay's truck to roll and left him a quadriplegic. Attorney Kathleen St. John argued on June 16 to the Ohio Supreme Court that a property owner "is not justified in inflicting, without warning, bodily harm upon the person of a trespasser," but Burr's attorney, Doug Leak, calls the USPS recommendations "just guidelines" and said Burr was justified in reinforcing his mailbox after years of accidents and vandalism. The court is expected to rule soon. AWESOME! Julia Yonkowski of Largo, Florida, only needed a $20 bill when she visited the ATM at Chase Bank on June 19, but she decided to check her balance while she was there. What she saw on the paper slip surprised her: a balance of $995,985,856. "I was horrified," she told WFLA-TV. "I know most people would think they won the lottery, but I was horrified." She's tried several times to contact Chase, but she can't get through to anyone. "I get tied up with their automated system and I can't get a person," she said. "I don't know what to think." CRIME REPORT As 34-year-old Paul Kiyan let himself into the home of Mat and Monica Sabz in Bel Air, California, on June 20, Monica watched on Ring video and alerted

By the Editors at Andrews McMeel

her husband, who was at home. Kiyan was naked, KTLA-TV reported, and as he wandered around the house, he helped himself to a shower and a pair of shorts. When Mat Sabz confronted him, Kiyan said the house was his. While he was there, Kiyan killed the couple's two pet birds with his hands; police arrested him on several felony charges. UNCLEAR ON THE CONCEPT Richard Turpin apparently just needed to borrow a truck, but he ended up with charges filed against him in Bratenhal, Ohio, on June 18. WJW-TV reported that a mail carrier parked his USPS van at the end of a driveway and walked up to the house to deliver the mail, giving Turpin a chance to jump in and take off. A witness saw the theft and called police, who caught up with Turpin a few miles away. When they asked him why he took the truck, he cryptically answered: "A U-Haul." The police officer responded, "I don't think that's a U-Haul"—but surprise! Inside, they found a big-screen TV that hadn't been in the truck earlier, according to the mailman. And no mail was missing. The mail carrier admitted he'd left the keys in the ignition. •A 35-year-old man from Emmaus, Pennsylvania, was presumably having a good time on June 20, sitting in his Dodge Ram truck and lighting fireworks, then throwing them out the window ... until he was critically injured by one that didn't make it outside the cab. The exploding firework also did significant damage to the interior of the truck, lehighvalleylive. com reported, but didn't cause a fire, Emmaus Police Chief Troy Schantz said. EWWWWW The Wellington Correctional Center in New South Wales, Australia, is being evacuated so that crews can clear the prison of dead and decaying mice and repair chewed electrical wiring, the Associated Press reported. Australia has been overrun with mice for months, which scientists say happens when rain follows several years of drought. Corrective Services Commissioner Peter Severin explained that "the mice have got into wall cavities, into roof spaces. They're dead, but then they start obviously decaying and then the next problem is mites." WHAT'S IN A NAME? The Smoking Gun reported that on June 18, a woman in St. Petersburg, Florida, was arrested after allegedly drunkenly slamming her car into a tree, a Taco Bell sign and the store's water meter, and then leaving the scene. The appropriately named Kanisha Booze, 34, is an employee at the Taco Bell. Police said Booze had "bloodshot, watery eyes, a dazed and blank expression on her face and an odor of an alcoholic beverage on her breath." {in} From Andrews McMeel Syndication News Of The Weird © 2021 Andrews McMeel

Send your weird news items to WeirdNewsTips@amuniversal.com July 1, 2021

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