Inweekly July 21 2022 Issue

CRUEL SUMMER WAYS TO BEAT THE HEAT & HIDEOUT FROM THE RAIN Independent News | July 21, 2022 | Volume 23 | Number 29

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winners & losers

outtakes

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5

news 6, 7

She just had that vibe...

buzz

feature story

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11

publisher Rick Outzen

graphic designer Bethany Stewart

editor & creative director Joani Delezen

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

contact us info@inweekly.net

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13, 16 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. © 2022 Inweekly Media, Inc. All rights reserved.

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winners & losers

Sydney Robinson / Photo Courtesy of City of Pensacola

Matt Gaetz / Photo Courtesy of gaetz.house.gov

winners

losers

SYDNEY ROBINSON The city of Pensacola has

MATT GAETZ The U.S. House approved, by a vote of 260-169, a bill to help state and local governments create a nationwide active shooter alert system that would be similar to the Amber Alert system deployed when a child is abducted. Our congressman voted against the legislation, saying the bill's supporters "want you to be afraid of the Second Amendment."

selected Sydney Robinson for the newly created position of Cultural Affairs Coordinator. In this role, Robinson will assess community needs for cultural programs and coordinate with community leaders to organize and develop events. She recently served as the executive director of Gallery Night Pensacola, where she worked closely with the city, vendors and sponsors to coordinate monthly events.

BOBBY POTOMSKI Baptist Health Care has

Rodgers and Hammersteins

Music By

Richard Rodgers Book and Lyrics By

Oscar Hammerstein II adapted for the stage by

Tom Briggs From the Teleplay By

Robert L. Freedman

named Potomski the new administrator of Gulf Breeze Hospital. In his new role, Potomski will provide leadership in service excellence, operations improvement, productivity management and expense management. He has been with Baptist Health Care for 12 years, holding various positions including director of primary care services, senior manager of physician practice development and operations, and, most recently, executive director of hospital medicine. Potomski, an Inweekly Rising Star in 2013, serves as the president of the board of trustees for the Pensacola Cultural Center and Pensacola Little Theatre.

BILL HALFACRE On July 6, Escambia County

Fire Rescue honored firefighter and paramedic Willis "Bill" Halfacre with a retirement ceremony after 41 years of faithful and dedicated service as a first responder. Halfacre began his fire service career as a volunteer firefighter with Ensley Volunteer Fire Department in January 1981. In 1989, he began part-time employment with Escambia County EMS as an emergency medical technician, eventually becoming a paramedic in May 1994. Halfacre joined Escambia County Fire Rescue full-time in January 2000.

PARENT UNIVERSITY The community-based

July 29-August 14

pensacolalittletheatre.com

CINDERELLA is produced by special arrangement with Concord Theatrical for Rodger’s and Hammerstein

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nonprofit recently graduated its first Pensacola class of 147 parents. Julian and Kim MacQueen helped bring Parent University founder Michael O'Neal from Savannah, Ga., to the area to help parents develop the confidence to help their children learn and better connect them with the schools. The parents pick the topics, and classes are built around them.

FLORIDA POWER & LIGHT The mega-utili-

ty Florida Power & Light (FPL) backed away from a controversial proposal that would have used a severe Texas winter storm in 1989 as a basis for future power-plant projects. FPL notified the Public Service Commission that it was withdrawing the proposal from a normally routine process of utilities updating what are known as "10-year site plans" for projects. During a hearing last month, state Deputy Public Counsel Charles Rehwinkel said the proposal would deviate from a planning process that electric utilities have long used. He and other opponents also disputed a connection to the Texas outages, pointing to issues such as a different regulatory structure in Texas.

SARASOTA HERALD-TRIBUNE The Gannett-owned newspaper was blasted for publishing a viewpoint that defended the Proud Boys as simply "caring fathers" without disclosing that the author was married to a group member. The article received such backlash that it deleted the online article on Monday morning. The newspaper, like the Pensacola News Journal, did away with its daily editorial page and cut back its editorials from its editorial board for its Sunday edition, replacing them with guest viewpoints. Something needs to surround the ads.

DAVE YOST The Ohio Attorney General tried to debunk the national story of a 10-year-old girl who had been raped and had to seek an abortion out of state. Yost did not believe the case was real because he had not heard of a report filed in the case. On Tuesday, July 12, Gerson Fuentes was arrested after confessing to raping the child.

Yost then issued a statement he was glad a child rapist had been arrested but didn't retract his earlier comments. inweekly.net

Practicing Since 1974 INJURED? outtakes

By Rick Outzen

(ALL TYPES OF ACCIDENTS)

ARRESTED? (ALL FEDERAL & STATE COURTS)

CAMPAIGNING WHILE PACKING When I interviewed Stan McDaniels after his arrest for openly carrying a Beretta, I was surprised when he shared that he has carried the gun tucked under his shirt while campaigning. He has a concealed carry permit and can have a loaded weapon out of sight in the waistband of his jeans, but why do it?

McDaniels is running in the GOP primary for the District 4 seat on the Escambia County Commission. The district covers much of Pensacola's east side and Pensacola Beach. He might have to watch out for kids in golf carts, but the District 4 neighborhoods aren't known for gun violence.

Elections aren't won with guns. Campaign contributions do help, but retail politics give a candidate the best chance to win. It's knocking on doors, meeting voters and asking for their votes.

When I knocked on doors in Gulf Breeze 30 years ago asking for residents to consider me for the city council, I carried a clipboard, not a pistol. I made notes of what voters shared about their concerns and tracked whom to revisit if they weren't home. I saw Mayor Lane Gilchrist and other candidates making similar visits.

In six weeks, I knocked on every door in the city twice and won with over 60% of the vote. I don't think a gun would have increased my margin of victory.

Maren DeWeese won the Pensacola City Council's District 3 seat in 2008, defeating incumbent Mike DeSorbo even though he had outraised her $11,858-$2,897. DeWeese's strategy was simple—knock on every door. She walked neighborhoods with her children, not guns. She won her race with 54% of the vote.

In 2010, newcomer Ashton Hayward challenged Pensacola Mayor Mike Wiggins, who had served on the city council for 15 years. With the help of Lumon May, Hayward campaigned by visiting several of the barbershops on the city's west side. His charisma and affability won votes.

Hayward beat Wiggins by 837 votes, many coming from the Black community.

Two years later, May ran for the County

Commission District 3 seat. He walked neighborhoods and waved on street corners. His campaign team operated phone banks that reached out to those who had voted in past elections.

And the nights before the primary and general elections, I visited his campaign headquarters and watched his sister LaRuby fire up the volunteers and coach them on how to solicit votes at the precincts.

The election days were a day-long party for Team Lumon's enthusiastic campaign workers. May won the three-person Democratic primary with 69% of the vote and the general election also against three opponents, including the veteran politician Hugh King, with 71%. The strategy worked so well that newcomer Gerald Wingate, who campaigned with May, was swept into office, defeating long-time Councilman John Jerralds.

Four years later, May used the same political strategy and won reelection with 76%. In 2020, he soundly defeated his . brother Lutimothy May with 89% of the vote in the primary and a write-incandidate in the general with 96%.

Since my first election in 1992, canvassing has become more sophisticated. The Supervisor of Election's office provides candidates with digital lists of the super-voters, those who have voted regularly in previous elections. Campaigns can concentrate on those homes when they walk through neighborhoods. They don't have to knock on every door anymore.

Candidates know who has requested voteby-mail ballots and send mailers to them. If a voter hasn't mailed a ballot back to the election supervisor, they drop by the home with a postage stamp to encourage them to do so.

But nowhere in this electioneering process is carrying a loaded weapon seen as an advantage.

Even if Florida was an open-carry state, I doubt a person packing would get many voters to answer a knock at the door.

But that may just be me, and I'm a dinosaur. {in} rick@inweekly.net

Even if Florida was an opencarry state, I doubt a person packing would get many voters to answer a knock at the door

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On Monday, July 11, parents, youth, community leaders, elected officials and candidates seeking office packed the Brownsville Community Center on a rainy night for the Summer Youth Summit hosted by Commissioner Lumon May and his board of high school and college students in the Escambia County's summer youth employment program.

The focus was on gun violence and mental health but quickly shifted to a discussion of adding more traditional vocational education in our local public schools when the group began bouncing around possible solutions. Students and parents complained that the school district's touted career academies weren't cutting it. The audience would like to see more hands-on training that would lead to jobs for the graduates not destined for college degrees.

Over the past decade, the Escambia County School District has repeatedly turned down vocational initiatives and grants. The late Randy Ramos, the founder of Global Business Solutions Inc. and one of the leaders of the Cybercoast initiative, wanted to set up cybersecurity training classes at all the middle and high schools in Escambia County but was rejected by then-superintendent Malcolm Thomas.

In 2019, Thomas turned down a $2.3 million vocational grant from Triumph Gulf Coast. The funds would have set up workforce development programs in aerospace, aviation, cybersecurity, information technology and commercial drivers. The superintendent claimed he withdrew the district's application because of last-minute additions to the agreement, but the truth was he didn't want to have to repay the grant if the district failed to meet the performance goals.

Triumph Board Chairman Don Gaetz tried to work out a deal with the school district. He told Inweekly that the Triumph performance standards for Escambia "were set low"—completion certificates over three years for 210 K-5 students for science, technology, engineering and math (STEM); 70 middle school students for information technology; 20 high school students for aircraft assembly; 20 high school students for manufacturing; 100 high school students for cybersecurity; 50 post-secondary students at George Stone Technical College for airframe and

powerplant; 30 post-secondary students for cybersecurity; and 25 post-secondary students for commercial driving.

Thomas told the Pensacola News Journal that he would do the vocational training on his own, stating, "Honestly, I'd prefer to do it myself."

Of course, the vocational training never materialized. Meanwhile, the other school districts in Northwest Florida agreed to the performance goals and started vocational programs with Triumph dollars.

Wakulla County School District received more than $3.9 million for its Career and Technical Education Center. Walton County and Emerald Coast Technical College received more than $2.2 million for tech education and certification programs. Franklin County received about $2.3 million for industry certifications in medical, welding and computer technology.

While Thomas was blocking vocational education, Gov. Ron DeSantis set the goal of making Florida the number one state in the nation for workforce education by 2030. Since 2019, Florida has invested over $3.5 billion to expand workforce education and training programs. Few, if any, of those dollars are going to the Escambia County School District.

But parents and students want vocational training. At the Youth Summit, facilitator Sue Straughn said, "I hear a lot from young people and from some counselors of some of the schools that the young people want to be doing handson things."

Summer Youth board member Calandria Long pointed out that not every student can access career academies. "At my school (Tate High), we have a select few academies. So if you're not interested in those academies, then you pretty much just don't get into one. And I know West Florida (High) has a wider range of academies, but you have to get accepted into West Florida. If you're not accepted, you don't get access to those academies. You just have to take what's at your school."

Youth Board chair Aolani O'Neal asked school board members Patty Hightower and Laura Elder, "Why is there a requirement for some of the academies that are placed into the schools?

Basically, why can't you guys just come down and meet the youth at the level that we are? Some youth may not have a 3.5 GPA to get into the

nursing academy. Why not just allow for it to be open to all of the kids in the school?"

"That's one of the things that I have been looking at when I say traditional policies and procedures," said Dr. Edler. "All of the children are not given the opportunity to engage in those academies. And when I look at the guidelines for that, we're reviewing those to see how we can change those to attract more children in those programs."

Hightower said she likes the academy approach but added she has "for years tried to take away the academic requirement."

"Early in my tenure on the school board, I visited a county in Florida that took students that were Level 1 readers, Level 2 readers and had a 98% graduation rate by the time they left high school because they engaged them in something they wanted to do," she told the audience. "And academies cost and the other piece of academies is finding people to instruct in those areas. And so I understand, we try to provide the choice, but we can't have the same academy everywhere. Although, I think we have culinary and medical academies at most of our high schools."

Hightower continued. "But as I sit here, I wrote it down because maybe it's time for us to do another survey about what interests the students."

State Rep. Alex Andrade said the state has funding for apprenticeship programs, but Northwest Florida has almost zero such programs.

He said, "That's the result of the fact that people already in that profession have not been going back and participating in this stuff and reaching out to school districts and saying, 'What can we do to go help?' Because it is a sacrifice from the folks helping administer those programs and participating, the plumbers, the bricklayers, the framers, the electricians."

Andrade continued, "If you really do want to encourage more students to participate in those programs, reach out to your school board members, reach out to your principals and help participate. Because I will go work and find that money for you in the Department of Education, and they will go work and set up those and open those doors for you."

Noticeably missing from the Youth Summit were School Superintendent Tim Smith and his leadership team, many of whom also worked under Malcolm Thomas. Still, Commissioner May tried to put out a positive of the summit, which he called "a living room discussion" where leaders could hear from youth.

"So often, we give the negative stereotypes that young children are not doing positive things," said Commissioner May when he closed the meeting. "It doesn't matter whether or not the elected officials will agree with all your ideas.

That's why you have dialogue. That's why you have a conversation. It doesn't mean that their idea's right and your idea's wrong. It means that we all have opinions. And then, we have to meet together collaboratively. And so I hope those who are in positions of authority and power have listened." {in} inweekly.net

FAILING TO ACHIEVE

In June, Navy Federal donated $20,000 to Achieve Escambia / Photo Courtesy of Achieve Escambia

By Tom St. Myer Achieve Escambia launched in 2016 with bold and unprecedented goals, including raising kindergarten readiness in the Escambia County School District from the mid-40 percentile to 60% by 2020 and 75% by 2025.

The organization's vision was, "every generation achieves success—cradle to career." In numerous viewpoints in the daily newspaper, Achieve Escambia touted its collective impact model as "a proven model to align efforts" that would accelerate the pace of Escambia County's success and improve long-term outcomes.

And businesses responded with hefty checks.

However, the goals went from unprecedented to unrealistic as the promised accelerated pace never occurred. The district fell drastically short of 60% in 2020 and, barring extraordinary improvements, will fall even shorter of the 75% threshold in 2025, leaving the once-touted initiative of the county's top employers to improve public education and the lives of Escambia County children struggling to determine its future and the community wondering what happened and whether Achieve Escambia still exists.

Kindergarten readiness in Escambia County is essentially the same as when the organization launched, ranking 54 out of 67 school districts both in 2017 and 2021. Kindergarten readiness is determined by an assessment test students take early in the school year to gauge their understanding of the alphabet, phonics and vocabulary, among other skills.

Why did Achieve Escambia fail? Statistics from the Florida Department of Education and interviews with Achieve Escambia members indicate that setting unrealistic goals, leadership turnJuly 21, 2022

over, the COVID-19 global pandemic and the low pass rates of kindergarteners in impoverished school zones share some of the blame.

Achieve Escambia is left at a crossroads as its leaders reassess its priorities and possible partnerships to achieve more realistic goals.

"We are currently exploring the future of Achieve Escambia through stakeholder interviews and assessment of the changing landscape of education support services in our community," said Mark Faulkner, Baptist Health Care CEO and Achieve Escambia leadership council chairman.

"Baptist remains committed to ensuring this organization and others we partner with are evolving to serve the changing needs of the community."

Faulkner and three former executives—Debbie Calder of Navy Federal, Stan Connally of Gulf Power and Susan Davis of Ascension Sacred Heart—spearheaded Achieve Escambia, but only Faulkner remains on the leadership council.

"We are proud that Baptist has been actively engaged in Achieve Escambia since its inception," Faulkner said. "Though the bold goals set forth have not yet been achieved, Achieve Escambia has been instrumental in many education-focused efforts over the years."

Representatives from Florida Power & Light (formerly Gulf Power), Navy Federal and Sacred Heart still serve on the leadership council.

Navy Federal declined an Inweekly interview request for this story and instead issued the following statement from Kara Cardona, executive vice president of its Greater Pensacola and Contact Center Operations: "Achieve Escambia, and the many leaders and organizations it brings together, have never wavered in championing educational outcomes in our community. We look forward to continuing to support Achieve Escambia's im-

pactful work and doing our part to help pave pathways to opportunities."

Achieve Escambia has undergone significant leadership changes beyond losing three of its four founders. The most recent full-time executive director, Kimberly Krupa, left the organization after successfully campaigning for a referendum that created the Escambia Children's Trust. This summer, Krupa was hired by the trust. Myra Van Hoose has taken over as interim director.

Achieve Escambia is also collaborating with a new superintendent, as the school district transitioned from Malcolm Thomas to Dr. Tim Smith in November 2020. All the leadership changes have created an uncertain future for the organization.

Despite the leadership turnover, the organization did have a few accomplishments. While Achieve Escambia fell drastically short of its goal to improve the school district's kindergarten readiness by 4% each year, the district's percentage rose from nearly 46% in 2017 to 47% in 2019 and 48% in 2020.

Faulkner cited bringing community partners together for a common cause, successfully campaigning for voters to approve the establishment of the Escambia Children's Trust and launching an Achieve dashboard, a collaborative effort with Achieve Healthy EscaRosa and the University of West Florida Haas Center, as the organization's other achievements.

After three years of small improvements, Escambia County felt the negative impact of COVID on its kindergarten readiness scores in fall 2021. The kindergarten readiness rate for ECSD plummeted to 42%. Fewer students enrolling in pre-K classes contributed significantly to the sharp decline.

"It dropped 6% this year, and part of that I'm sure is COVID related, but it's hard to pinpoint

what else exactly drove a six-point drop," Superintendent Smith said. "We knew in our pre-K programs that our enrollment was lower, and part of that was because it is a voluntary program. Families opted out because of COVID." He continued, "We're hopeful that coming into this school year, enrollment will be back up.

We're adding pre-K teachers at Brentwood and Ferry Pass."

Limited interactions with Achieve Escambia and other early-learning organizations put incoming kindergarteners further behind the proverbial eight ball. Professional obligations caused by the global pandemic demanded the leadership council divert their attention from Achieve Escambia.

"COVID happened, and it impacted us tremendously," said Brian Wyer, Gulf Coast Minority Chamber of Commerce CEO who serves as the leadership council's secretary. "Hospitals and government agencies focused on COVID and couldn't dedicate the same energy and time to Achieve Escambia. A lot of events had to stop with the schools as well."

An absence of events in low-income school zones also negatively impacted kindergarten preparation. How to connect with students in those school zones remains a longstanding problem for the county.

Eight elementary schools, two middle schools and one high school graded out as a D or F for 2021-22 school year. Among the eight elementary schools that earned a D or F, the kindergarten readiness percentages ranged from 15.9%-44.7%.

Four of the elementary schools hovered below the 30-percentile threshold, and as usual, those schools are located in low-income areas.

"The goal is to reach every student in our schools so that students are learning and being prepared for post-secondary schools, military and careers," Smith said. "Our job is to reach all our kids. What kids are we not reaching? We have to figure that out."

Smith is focusing on a three-prong attack that begins with improving the number of kindergarteners who enter prepared for school. He said addressing deficiencies among pre-K students in reading and math is a crucial first step. The second prong is providing extra study time for older students who fall behind state standards.

Smith noted that advanced students spend an extra two hours a day on homework, and that only widens the gap between them and the general student population. His final focus is on providing growth opportunities to administrators, teachers and staff through workshops, conferences and the sort.

Any contributions from Achieve Escambia to that three-prong attack will be a bonus for the school district. Smith is anxiously waiting to see what the organization prioritizes moving forward and how its partnership with the district evolves.

"I'd say the organization now is at a bit of a crossroads in dealing with what is the next chapter," Smith said. "I'm hopeful and excited about the future of Achieve Escambia. Early learning is a long-time project. It takes a lot of people and systems coming together to work." {in} 7

CAMPAIGNING WITH A GUN Pensacola

Police last week arrested Stan McDaniels, who is running for the District 4 Escambia County Commission seat, for illegally carrying a firearm openly after citizens called police about him campaigning with a pistol in his waistband while waving at cars from the corner of Main and Baylen streets near the M.C. Blanchard Judicial Building on July 4.

Florida is not an open-carry state. In Florida, it is unlawful for any person to carry on or about their person any firearm openly. It's typically a misdemeanor of the second degree.

According to the arrest report, McDaniel's Beretta had nine rounds in the magazine and one in the chamber. He streamed his encounter with police on his Facebook page, telling the officers that he would take his case to the U.S. Supreme Court.

On June 4, McDaniels had sent an email to the county commissioners soliciting donations for a Second Amendment rally he planned for July 4. The candidate said he would contribute $1,500 toward catering for the event.

"As our current phony of a president speaks on taking these rights away, our governor is recruiting for the Florida State Guard," he wrote.

"We could implore him to make events like this a recruiting tool for the Florida State Guard ... If commissioners all over the state take this same stand and county courthouses all over the State are lined with Americans with guns, it will show the true nature of what July 4th is all about."

On WCOA 1370AM/104.9FM, McDaniels told Inweekly publisher Rick Outzen that the Fourth of July is the day we celebrate our independence.

"Everybody decides to celebrate their independence in different ways. I've got lots of friends that were on boats; they go out to watch the fireworks in the evening," he said. "Well, I decided to celebrate it by showing my freedom to anyone that passed by."

McDaniels continued, "I think I was very cordial about it. I didn't go to a very well-populated area; I didn't have some kind of big black gun strapped to my chest. " While campaigning, the District 4 commission candidate said he had shaken a lot of hands and solicited several signatures for his petition to run. He added, "The only thing different I did on Fourth of July was tuck my shirt in."

Outzen asked if he was carrying his gun when campaigning elsewhere.

"Absolutely. I have a concealed weapons permit, and with the outing of the California concealed weapons holders being leaked, I'm just a concealed weapons permit holder,' said McDaniels. "I've been shaking hands. I've been going to meetings. I've been present at all these different places."

He added, "I've shaken hands with some very important people all through this whole process.

It's been a very enlightening process to get involved at this level, and I've really enjoyed it. We got some good people in government, and we got some bad people in government."

88

STATUS QUO PREVAILS Wrestling with a city

charter and assessing potential revisions can be exhausting, and it wore out the Pensacola City Council. After more than five hours late into the evening of Monday, July 11, the council decided to call a recess and reconvene the following week to finish the task of determining which recommendations from the Charter Review Commission (CRC) would be put before voters on the November ballot.

The council did cover a little over half of the proposed revisions and showed little appetite for making major changes that the CRC thought would balance the power between the city's executive and legislative branches.

By a 4-3 vote, the council shied away from a recommendation that would have given city department heads fired by the mayor the option of appealing their termination to the city council.

"We're not in the operations," Councilman Jared Moore said. "This sort of appeal, to me, falls outside the purview of a council."

Councilwoman Jennifer Brahier said she considered the appeal process an important safeguard for department heads that have been less than forthcoming in answering council questions. During the CRC's process over the past half year, there have been assertions that department heads—specifically, former Pensacola Police Chief David Alexander, who served on the commission—that department heads risk mayoral ire if they spoke candidly on city issues.

"What they are trying to do is make sure we have balance, a strong mayor and a strong council," Brahier said.

The council also rejected recommendations limiting the mayor to two consecutive terms. Mayor Grover Robinson had supported reducing the term limits for his office from three to two consecutive terms. They also voted down a proposal that would have let the council set limits on the dollar amounts the mayor can move around in the budget without its approval.

"Everybody decides to celebrate their independence in different ways ... I decided to celebrate it by showing my freedom to anyone that passed by." Stan McDaniels The council must decide which potential charter revisions will make the cut for the fall ballot by August. For updates on the council deliberations, visit ricksblog.biz.

SCHOOL GRADES When the school grades

were released earlier this month, the Florida Department of Education (FDOE) sent out a press release bragging that school grades were higher than anticipated.

"The number of schools receiving an F was significantly lower than expected," wrote FDOE

officials. "Assuming grades had been issued to all schools in 2019-2020, Florida saw a significant reduction in F schools (from 244 projected schools to 30 schools). The number of "D" or "F" schools has declined 65% since 2015, and the number of "F" schools has declined 85% (30 schools) since 2015 (205 schools)."

Sadly, two of those 30 F schools were in Escambia County—Oakcrest Elementary and O.J. Semmes Elementary. They were C schools in 2019. While the number of D schools decreased around the state, Escambia County saw its number of D schools jump from six in 2015 to eight in 2022.

The district had nine A schools—with Molino Park Elementary, West Florida High and Pensacola Beach Elementary (charter school) scoring the highest, closely followed by A.K. Suter Elementary, Cordova Park, Brown-Barge Middle (magnet school), N.B. Cook Elementary (magnet school), the Escambia Virtual School and Hellen Caro Elementary. All these schools were A schools in 2019.

The district had 14 B schools, led by Pine Meadow Elementary. Lipscomb Elementary and Byrneville Elementary (charter school) slipped from A's in 2019 to B's. Pensacola High and Lincoln Park Elementary improved from C's to B's.

The district had 18 C schools. Blue Angel Elementary dropped from an A to a C. Ernest Ward Middle dropped from a B to a C. Warrington Elementary, Workman Middle and Holm Elementary improved from D's to C's.

And Warrington Middle School, which the state may close if it doesn't earn a C, was first given an "Incomplete" because the school did not meet the requirement of at least 95% of its students completing each school test. In a press release, district officials said the school had met the requirement, but "the final box of reading and math test booklets was not shipped in time to be included in the initial score release or their percent-tested calculation."

On Tuesday, July 12, Warrington Middle was notified that it had earned a D. The school will continue operating as a traditional middle school for the 2022-2023 school year. The Florida State Board of Education approved a plan for the school to be converted to a charter school in the 20232024 school year.

"It would be a huge understatement to say we are disappointed," said Superintendent Tim Smith in a written statement to the media. "Regardless of the grade issued to Warrington Middle School, it is not an accurate reflection of the effort put forth by students, teachers, administrators, parents and community members."

RADIO MILESTONE Earlier this month, WCOA 1370AM/104.9FM celebrated Dr. Martha Saunders, the University of West Florida president, as the 1,000th interviewee on "Real News with Rick Outzen." The show hit the milestone in less than 11 months since its debut on Aug. 9, 2021.

"The work we're doing here at UWF for me is a labor of love," said Dr. Saunders. "I believe

in this university; I love this community; I love what the university does for the community and what the community does for the university. It's a great partnership."

She added, "And I love your show because it really does a lot to bring focus on what we need to be thinking about every day."

SIGN KERFUFFLE As local political candi-

dates look toward the fall elections, residents have increasingly looked at their campaign signs proliferating around the area. Within the city, a bit of a disagreement has arisen concerning their placement.

At his weekly presser on Monday, June 11, Mayor Robinson addressed this issue. He said, "Certainly, there is a sign ordinance, but within that sign ordinance, we have discretion."

Margaret Hostetter, who raised issues about the sign placement, was in the room. She was armed with a printed stack of emails for members of the press in which she charged the mayor with being "abusive" and "bullying."

"I object to being abused, bullied and having my First Amendment rights trampled by an elected official that calls me a subversive because I question non-enforcements of a city ordinance," Hostetter wrote in an email given to the media.

In her complaints, Hostetter cited signs placed in the right of way. Robinson addressed this issue, saying that "most residential properties don't understand what the right of way is," and the city didn't typically follow that rule.

"Case in point, I talked at length to mayoral candidate Jewel Cannada-Wynn, who reminded me that she mows the right of way and doesn't understand why you can't use it for signs. We tend to agree," the mayor said.

"Mrs. Hostetter and certain other council members are only pushing forward in certain places that they actually have somebody they know is running and are targeting those individuals," the mayor said, seeming to nod toward Councilwoman Sherri Myers, who is also running for mayor.

PITCHING ESTUARY PROGRAM Once teth-

ered to Escambia County, the Pensacola & Perdido Bay Estuary Program is going independent, becoming a pure nonprofit. Mayor Robinson said at the same press conference that he would soon accompany Matt Posner, the organization's director, to Washington, D.C., to secure needed funding for the group's efforts to improve conditions around the local watershed.

"We're planning to meet with EPA there; we're planning to meet with both congressional representatives from Florida and Alabama because that estuary program does go into two states," Robinson said.

The mayor also spoke about how local governments around the region contributed to support the estuary program and that the city would be upping its contribution.

"We'd been $5,000; we've gone up to $35,000," the mayor said, explaining that the proinweekly.net

gram requires about $200,000 a year in operating costs.

DEP BUYS 3,600 ACRES The Florida Depart-

ment of Environmental Protection (DEP) has finalized the purchase of over 3,600 acres within the Wolfe Creek Forest Florida Forever project in Santa Rosa County. Located within the Florida Wildlife Corridor, this property provides a critical connection between the Blackwater River State Forest and other state-owned conservation lands buffering Whiting Field Naval Air Station.

The project forms a corridor for wildlife to access nearly 35 miles of streams that feed into Big Coldwater Creek and Big Juniper Creek, two major tributaries of the Blackwater River.

"A true partnership project with federal, state, local, nonprofit and private partners, this acquisition with the Trust for Public Land allowed us to leverage funding and resources to protect these critical ecosystems," said DEP Secretary Shawn Hamilton. "This acquisition will help create connectivity among conservation lands in the area, enhance wildlife habitat and provide additional outdoor recreational opportunities for the public."

Restoration of the native longleaf pine forest will help provide additional habitat for sever-

al threatened and endangered species, including the red-cockaded woodpecker, Eastern indigo snake, Florida black bear and gopher tortoise.

The acquisition will also expand recreational opportunities for the public, including hiking, fishing and camping.

The Wolfe Creek Forest Florida Forever project covers the area near Milton between Blackwater River State Forest and Naval Air Station Whiting Field. Since 2010, the state has acquired nearly 10,000 acres within the project to protect natural resources, expand public recreational opportunities and buffer naval air station operations.

This purchase was approved by Governor Ron DeSantis and the Board of Trustees of the Internal Improvement Trust Fund on March 29, 2022.

Funding support was also provided by the Forest Legacy Program, Knobloch Family Foundation and EJK (Emily J. Knobloch) Foundation. The property will be managed by the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Florida Forest Service, as an addition to Blackwater River State Forest.

2022 ELECTION INFO As the Aug. 23 primary election nears, here are some deadlines and events to keep in mind.

•Registration: The voter registration deadline for the Aug. 23 primary election is Monday, July 25. Citizens can register in person at the Supervisor of Elections on the second floor of 213 S. Palafox, by mail or online at escambiavotes.com.

The same deadline holds for voters wanting to change parties for the primary election.

•Vote By Mail: All qualified voters can vote by mail using a vote-by-mail ballot under Florida law.

A voter, or someone designated by the voter, may request a vote-by-mail ballot from the Supervisor of Elections in person, by mail, by email or by telephone. One request can cover all elections through the next General Election. For the information required to request a ballot and other laws regarding voting, visit escambiavotes.com.

The deadline to request a vote-by-mail ballot is 5 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 13. All ballots must be received in the Supervisor of Elections' office no later than 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 23.

•Candidate Surveys: The Greater Pensacola Chamber of Commerce has released the responses to its 2022 Candidate Questionnaires from the candidates for Pensacola Mayor, Pensacola City Council and Escambia County Commission. Responses can be found at bit.ly/3O8VknK. •Political Forums: Women for Responsible Leg-

islation is hosting a forum for Congressional and Florida House candidates, starting at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, July 28, in the Hagler/Mason Conference Room at Pensacola City Hall, 222 W. Main St. Bike Pensacola will host a Pensacola Mayoral Forum at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, July 30, at the West Florida Public Library, 239 N. Spring St. Candidates Jewel Cannada-Wynn, Sherri Myers, D.C. Reeves and Steve Sharp are all committed to attend.

The Greater Pensacola Chamber and Pensacola Young Professionals have partnered to host a mayoral forum on Tuesday, July 26. The time and place have yet to be announced. They also will host forums on the Escambia County Commission races on Thursday, July 28, and the Pensacola City Council races on Tuesday, Aug. 2. For more details, visit pensacolachamber.com.

If any other groups are hosting political forums that are open to the public, please email the details to info@inweekly.net.

•Podcasts Inweekly publisher Rick Outzen is interviewing all candidates on the primary ballot weekday mornings from 7-8:30 a.m. on WCOA 1370AM/104.9FM. Podcasts are available at bit. ly/3yZyp9R. {in}

Monday-Thursday 7 AM – 6 PM Friday-Saturday 7 AM – 7 PM

Your local independent bookstore.

Sunday 12 PM – 6 PM

Best-sellers, children’s books & local authors!

• Hand-crafted lattés and snacks from the café!

• Children’s Story Time, Saturdays at 11 am 110 E. Intendencia St. • (850) 433-6505 • BodaciousBookstore.com

July 21, 2022

BOD0697 INW Bookstore Evergreen half pg.indd 1

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5/11/22 9:05 AM

Find your voice.

The Center serves as downtown Pensacola’s cultural and artistic hub.

It is home to local theatre, ballet, education, events, community organizations and more. As we look to the future, we plan to reimagine our space, and we invite you to join us on the journey. learn more at findyour center pensacola.com

AD DESIGN COURTESY OF BRAND ON US ™, AN IDGROUP INITIATIVE.

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CRUEL SUMMER WAYS TO BEAT THE HEAT & HIDEOUT FROM THE RAIN Are the record high temperatures and almost daily rainstorms messing with your summer plans? Yeah, us, too.

To help you map out a little fun that doesn't require SPF 100 or an umbrella, here's a roundup of some cool treats and indoor actives.

•Or to Mobile, Ala.

•Sip on a Matcha Squeeze

•Grab lunch at Front Yard Tacos

From Makers Coffee Co. @makerscoffeeco

•Watch "Rap Sh!t"

To see a movie at The Crescent Theatre And explore the permanent collection at the Mobile Museum of Art crescenttheater.com, @crescenttheater mobilemuseumofart.com, @mobmuseumofart

And an iced latte at Nova Espresso while you're in town @frontyardtacos, @nova_espresso

•Prepare for the "Renaissance"

•Read "Girls That Never Die"

•Order the overnight oats

•Or "Diary of a Misfit"

"Act i" is coming Friday, July 29 beyonce.com, @beyonce

On your next trip to Le Petit Pécan @lepetitpecan

•Stream "Never Have I Ever" Season 3 premiers Aug. 12 On Netflix @neverhaveiever

Premiering Thursday, July 21 On HBO Max hbomax.com

•Get slimy

•See a classic on the big screen

•See "Nope"

In theaters Friday, July 22 nope.movie

At "The Glorious Gala of Gaga" and "Monster Ball Drag Show" hosted by Monica Heart On Friday, July 22 at Vinyl Music Hall vinylmusichall.com, @vinylmusichall

•Plan a day trip

•Spice it up

•Chill out with a Mangonada

At the Saenger Theatre's Summer Movie Series pensacolasaenger.com/classic-movies

To Tropic Falls—the new indoor waterpark at OWA visitowa.com, @visitowa July 21, 2022

Any Friday this summer at Pensacola MESS Hall pensacolamesshall.org, @pensacolamesshall

With Big Jerk Soda Co.'s seasonal Thai Hot Pineapple flavor @bigjerksoda

•Just j-j-just dance

At La Michoacana P-Cola facebook.com/lamichoacanapcola, @lamichoacanapcola

By Safia Elhillo safia-mafia.com, @safiamafia

By Casey Parks If nonfiction is more your thing Out Tuesday, Aug. 23 caseyparks.com, @caseyparkswrites

•Order one of everything

At Chef Amber Halverson's vegan pop up On Monday, July 25 at The Truck Stop Diner @thetruckstopdiner

•Try the cold brew

At the recently opened Rex Cafe therexcafe.com, @therexcafe

•And make sure you get a donut Or cinnamon roll from Le Dough while you're there, too helloledough.com, @helloledough {in}

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WEEK OF JULY 21-27

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

The Artist and His Crayons

By Savannah Evanoff

Kenneth H. Jordan II / "Barron" / Both Photos Courtesy of the Artist

Most of the time, Kenneth H. Jordan II feels like a big kid.

And it's no surprise because the Pensacola artist's weapon of choice is a box of crayons—and has been since he started creating masterpieces as a child at his grandmother's house.

"It kept me out of trouble, and it was something to do if I didn't want to do my homework or read; I was able to just do art," Jordan said. "That's where I fell in love with it. Art took me to different spaces to think about and enjoy."

Jordan—whose works are currently displayed in the Pensacola Museum of Art—has dabbled in other mediums, too. In grade school, as a member of PATS (Program for Academically Talented Students) in East Hill, he drew, painted and made sculptures.

He veered into sports in middle school and high school.

"But I always kept the same mindset," Jordan said. "I treat sports and arts the same."

Jordan got serious about art post-high school, he said, studying architecture and design at West Florida Tech and later meeting University of West Florida painting instructor Marzia Ransom, who encouraged him to take a class. He obliged, then July 21, 2022

landing in a bachelor's program at UWF, where he really honed his craft, he said.

Jordan found his second family in Bldg. 82 on the UWF campus.

Drawing instructor, Gregory B. Saunders, had a "really big influence" on Jordan's art but not exactly his style, Jordan said.

"More so on not letting me be caged in and also helping me break the barriers of the molds I would assume art to be," Jordan said. "He helped me pay attention to the essence of what I was doing and helped groom that."

Josh Green, Jordan's studio mate and unofficial brother who went to Florence Academy of Art in Italy, helped, too.

"We would spar in class," Jordan said. "He would paint; I would paint. We both loved to draw."

One pivotal moment there brought Jordan full circle.

"One day, (Saunders) gave us crayons, and he was like, 'I need you to work with three colors,'" Jordan said. "Since growing up I would always use crayons. I was familiar with it but not in the sense other people were. They colored in the lines, and I wasn't good at coloring in the lines. I was always like, 'I'm just going to do the best I can—not to

stay in the lines but to make the image look well while it's looking impressionistic or off the wall.'"

It came naturally to him.

"When they thought about colors, a lot of students would try to mix the colors or think of it like paint, and it was just instinctive for me to layer," Jordan said. "Since I noticed that difference, I took that and decided I would push it as far as I can."

He has.

And while crayons might seem like child's play, they have nuances, too.

"It's wax, so it heats up the more you use it," Jordan said. "If you have a two- or three-hour session, if you're using the same crayons over and over, it starts to slide on top of each layer. It can almost subtract and take away things you already put down, so you have to be very delicate, but you also have to be very abrasive to get some of these colors on the paper.

The density levels are so different. It's great."

Jordan's experience with crayons comes in handy when he teaches art to children in the evenings.

"One of the things I like to incorporate in teaching and one of the things I like to live by with my art is, 'It's OK to forget,'" Jordan said. "There are times where I'll just forget all my processes and I have to remember just by making marks all over again."

And crayons aren't their only common ground.

"I love to see when someone's going through maybe the same thing I'm going through; they're kinda fighting with their hands," Jordan said. "They see something very uniquely and they may want to draw like another person they aspire to do art like. I love showing them, 'Hey, you're doing something unique.' Working with kids is pretty cool because they go after it. If you can tell them, 'Never lose it,' I think that's the best part of teaching."

Right now, Jordan said he is working on pieces that illustrate principles and virtues of his family and the people he surrounds himself with. He has two portraits at the PMA—one depicting a friend and his friend's father.

"I just wanted to show a father with his kids growing up," Jordan said. "The image shows that they didn't have much. It's like a plyboard type of house, but they're all there together.

That was something I remember really strong growing up."

Another portrait depicts a friend's mother.

"I met this lady twice, and the first time I met her, within five minutes, she called me her son," Jordan said. "She just had that vibe, and that was something I always wanted to portray. In closeknit families growing up—I had eight uncles and aunts on both sides of my family, so 16 in total— I'm used to that homey feel. I'm really in tune with pushing those feelings and the stories behind these things."

Jordan has two more pieces in the museum, featuring a living uncle and late uncle as well as fish (his family loves fishing) and birds.

"I put the birds there because my family's very spiritual—some religious, some not," Jordan said.

"I notice that a lot of older people look for birds and bird watch, and it's a calming vibe. The fish is what we live off of. I'm just putting a lot of these morals in my drawings right now."

Still under construction are drawings of his wife's grandmother, instructor Saunders and MaPo, an artist in New Orleans who inspires Jordan.

The portraits often mean a lot to his subjects, he said.

"I think every last one of them cried," Jordan said. "That was kind of crazy for them to feel like that. Some are amazed the images look just like them, so that's pretty cool. I feel good my skill is at that level to actually portray someone and they feel it looks like them. The other part is, a lot of them say they feel a lot more than what's going on in the image. They feel the layers in another way. I think they feel what I usually put into pieces."

It takes Jordan roughly 30 hours to finish a piece, he said.

"But I tell everyone I've spent 100 hours on your piece," Jordan said. "I've talked to you. I've had a relationship with you." {in}

KENNETH H. JORDAN II kennethhjordanii.com @crayolasense

Jordan’s pieces at Pensacola Museum of Art are part of an exhibition titled “Taking a Line for a Walk: 100 Years of Drawing and Printmaking” that will be on view through Sept. 4. Visit pensacolamuseum.org for more information.

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a&e happenings on Sunday, July 31, starting at 11 a.m. at Perfect Plain Brewing Co., 50 E. Garden St. Visit facebook. com/perfectplainbrewingco for more information.

FOOD + DRINKS

CHARCUTERIE NIGHT AT BODACIOUS

Learn to put together the best charcuterie board with Bodacious, 407-D S. Palafox, on Thursday, July 21, at 6 p.m. Tickets are $65. Purchase yours at bodaciousshops.com.

FINE WINE FRIDAY Visit The Nest General

ARAGON WINE MARKET PAINT AND SIP EVENT Enjoy wine and charcuterie while paint-

ing your own colorful work of art with artist Tiffany Alys on Friday, July 22, from 5:30-7:30 p.m., at Aragon Wine Market, 27 S. Ninth Ave. Admission is $75 per person. For registration, call (850) 433-9463.

RIBS & REDS Join Seville Quarter for a complimentary wine tasting with Aspect Fine Wine's Max Rowe who has chosen six wines that go with loin ribs. All wines tasted will be on sale in Seville Quarter's Wine Shop. Enjoy Chef Jason's Rib Plate with Fries for $10. Event is 5-7 p.m. Friday, July 22.

Visit sevillequater.com for more information.

1980S MURDER MYSTERY DINNER SHOW

Improbable Cause Mystery Theatre and Seville Quarter present a series of murder mystery dinner shows at 7 p.m. Saturday, July 23, and Sunday, July 24, at Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. Tickets are $65. Purchase yours at sevillequarter.com.

SHARK WEEK WATCH PARTIES Join Perfect Plain Brewing Co., 50 E. Garden St., from July 2430 for Shark Week watch parties, themed cocktails and more. Come dressed as a shark and get 15% off your bar tab. Visit facebook.com/perfectplainbrewingco for more information.

MIDSUMMER FISH FRY WITH MI SU AT ODD COLONY Join Odd Colony, 260 N. Palafox,

on Saturday, July 30, from noon-4 p.m. (or when sold out) to enjoy a classic summertime fish fry with MI SU Street Food. Visit facebook.com/oddcolony for details.

Join The 5 Barrel for a special Tabletop Tuesday event at 6 p.m. every Tuesday in March. A wide variety of games ranging from the classic chess to the crowd favorite Catan will be available. Players are welcome to bring their own games.

MONTHLY WINE TASTING IN AGAPI GARDEN Visit Agapi Garden, at 555 Scenic Highway,

Aragon Wine Market are back every Thursday from 5-7 p.m. in store at 27 S. Ninth Ave. For more information, visit aragonwinemarket.com.

from 5-7 p.m., to sample five wines for $10. For more information, call (850) 813-5683.

SUNDAY FUNDAY BRUNCH AT THE WELL

ARAGON WINE TASTINGS Wine tastings at

THURSDAY TRIVIA NIGHT AT THE 5 BARREL Gather a group for a weekly Thursday Triv-

The Well, located at 42 E. Garden St., has expanded its offerings with a Sunday Funday Brunch cocktail menu including items such as Spicy Paloma made with Mezcal, a cold brew cocktail with Irish whiskey, a cucumber-infused spritz and a Bloody Mary spiced with house-made hot sauce and garnished with fresh pickled vegetables. Price range is $9-$12. Brunch hours are Sundays from noon-4 p.m. Other small plate offerings are available Thursday-Saturday from 4 p.m.-one hour before closing. For more information, visit facebook. com/thewellpensacola.

ia Night Thursdays from 7-9 p.m. at The 5 Barrel. There will be prizes for every round and select drafts for $3. Find out more at facebook.com/the5barrel.

BAYOU BUZZ COFFEE TASTING TOUR Seville Savories Food Tour will host a coffee tour of downtown Pensacola Tuesdays-Fridays from 8:30-11:30 a.m. Tickets are available online at sevillesavoriesfoodtour.com.

FINE WINE FRIDAY Visit The Nest General

BURGERS AND BORDEAUX AT UNION PUBLIC HOUSE Every Tuesday night, enjoy a

specialty burger and a glass of Bordeaux at Union Public House, located at 309 S. Reus St. For more information, visit facebook.com/unionpensacola.

your craft beer with Crumbl cookies at Gary's Brewery, 208 Newman Ave., Sunday, July 30, from 4-7 p.m. Cost is $20. Visit facebook.com/ garysbrew.

POTTERFEST 2022 Harry Potter fans unite for

WEEKNIGHT HAPPY HOUR Every weeknight

trivia, a costume contest, live music and vendors

TABLETOP TUESDAYS AT THE 5 BARREL

Store at 11 S. Palafox, Ste. C, on the first Friday of every month for a wine tasting from 6-8 p.m. It's $35 a person and includes charcuterie and the opportunity to try their monthly wine club offerings in house. Visit thenestgeneralstore.com/events for more information.

WINE WEDNESDAY Visit The Nest General Store at 11 S. Palafox, Ste. C, every Wednesday from 4-7 p.m. for a wine happy hour. Deals include $1 off listed by-the-glass wines, a waived corking fee, charcuterie plates and a $15 'wine flight' option. Visit thenestgeneralstore.com/events for more information.

CRUMBL COOKIES AND CRAFT BEER Pair

Barrel pints, $2 wine by the glass and half off hummus plates when you buy a pint of beer. Visit the5barrel.com for more information.

before 6 p.m. at The 5 Barrel, get $1 off all The 5

THURSDAY BIERGARTEN TRIVIA NIGHT

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

Store the first Friday of every month for a wine tasting from 6-8 p.m. Tickets are $35 per person and includes charcuterie and the opportunity to try our monthly Wine Club offerings in house. Visit thenestgeneralstore.com/events for more information.

PALAFOX MARKET Palafox Market is back at

its regular location in MLK Jr. Plaza. In a carefully planned, phased reopening, Palafox Market has launched with about half its regular vendors, showcasing food, farm produce and products geared toward safety and sanitation such as handmade soaps and face masks. For more information, visit facebook.com/downtownpensacola.

EVER'MARKET AT NINE MILE ROAD Visit Ever'Man at 1000 E. Nine Mile Road on the fourth Saturday of each month for the Ever'Market with food, music, giveaways, activities and more. Visit everman.org for more information.

200 SOUTH SMALL BUSINESS SATURDAY

Every first Saturday of the month, the businesses at 200 South will host Small Business Saturday to show support for local businesses. Bring a receipt from a purchase from any other downtown business and receive 10% off your bill at Graffiti Pizza, World of Beer, Taco Agave and Blend Lounge.

PENSACOLA POSITIVITY'S SUNDAY MARKETS Sunday Markets on Palafox Street happen each Sunday from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. in MLK Plaza on Palafox. Local makers, growers and creators gather each under the oak trees to sell their goods to the community. Interested vendors can request an application by emailing requeaskmikellah@ gmail.com. For more information, visit facebook. com/palafoxmarkets.

SATURDAYS AT THE MARKET OUTDOOR VENDOR EVENT Located at 5300 Berryhill

Road, the outdoor market features artisans and crafters alike from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. on Saturdays.

Social distancing guidelines will be in effect. For more information, email saturdaysatthemarket@ gmail.com.

PENSACOLA POP-UP FARMERS MARKET Check out fresh and organic produce, milk, eggs, meat, fresh-baked bread, mushrooms, lumber, grits, cornmeal, pies and plants Saturdays from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. at East Hill Market, located at 1216 N. Ninth Ave. For a list of vendors, visit facebook. com/easthillmarket.

UPTOWN PENSACOLA MARKET Check out local vendors of art, produce and other local treasures every Saturday at 7201 N. Ninth Ave. from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. For more information, visit facebook. com/uptownmarketpensacola.

TWILIGHT THREE-COURSE SPECIAL The

District's Twilight Three-Course special is back Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 4:306 p.m. Guests enjoy three courses for $35 per person. Diners must be seated by 6 p.m. for offer to be valid. To make a reservation, call (850) 3325224, or go to districtstreaks.com. The District is located at 123 E. Government St.

LIVE MUSIC

BLUES ANGEL MUSIC'S BLUES ON THE BAY The City of Pensacola and Blues Angel Mu-

sic have partnered for the return of their annual

CALLING ALL CREATIVES Inweekly is accepting submissions for our third annual “By You” issue.

Short stories, essays, poems, op-eds, interviews with your favorite uncle—whatever you’ve got, we want to read it. (Maximum word count—700 words) We are also accepting photography and digital art submissions. For consideration, those images need to be high resolution. (At least 250 dpi) The deadline for submissions is Wednesday, July 27. All pieces must be in electronic format and emailed to joani@inweekly.net.

All submissions will be reviewed by Inweekly staff, and our favorites will make it to print. (Some additional pieces may be published online only depending on length and space.) Chosen submissions will be published in one of our August issues.

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a&e happenings free concert series every other Sunday at 6 p.m. at Community Maritime Park, located at 301 W. Main St. Goldmine will be playing July 24.

BANDS ON THE BEACH Join Santa Rosa Island Authority for free weekly concerts every Tuesday night from 7-9 p.m. at the Gulfside Pavilion on Pensacola Beach. On Tuesday, July 26, will be Hi Tide Band.

EASY GOING GALLERY SHOW Nervous Pulp, Broke Yokels and Morning Trips will be playing at Easy Going Gallery, 701 N. V St., Saturday, July 22, at 8 p.m. $10. BYOB. For details, visit facebook. com/diypensacola.

Wine Bar, 1504 W. Intendencia St., Wednesdays from 6:30-9:30 p.m. and at Calvert's Restaurant & Bar, 670 Scenic Highway, Sundays from noon-3 p.m.

SAXOPHONIST JIM ANDREWS AT ALICE'S RESTAURANT Saxophonist Jim Andrews will be

performing at Alice's Restaurant, located at 1504 W. Intendencia St., on the first Friday of every month from 6-9:30 p.m.

JAZZ BY THE BOOK Join Joe Occhipinti and the Jazzabouts at the Pensacola Library, 239 N. Spring St., every Tuesday from 1-3 p.m. for classic jazz favorites.

THE DOOBIE BROTHERS AT THE WHARF AMPHITHEATER The Doobie Brothers will be

RAY COLEY AT CAZADORES MEXICAN RESTAURANT Ray Coley performs oldies

NOT MILK, CANDY CIGARETTES AND MORE AT EASY GOING GALLERY Little Dip-

CURT BOL JAZZ QUARTET Visit Five Sisters

performing at The Wharf Amphitheater, 23101 Canal Road, for their 50th Anniversary tour with Michael McDonald, Pat Simmons, Tom Johnston and John McFee at 6 p.m. on Saturday, July 23. Tickets start at $26. Visit ticketmaster.com to purchase.

per Booking has a lineup including Lovelight and Lily Strickland Saturday, July 23, at 7:30 p.m. Admission is $10. At Easy Going Gallery, 701 N. V St. Visit facebook.com/diypensacola for details.

BANDS ON THE BAYOU The Abby Kasch

Band will be playing Bands on the Bayou at Bayview Park 6:30 p.m. Saturday, July 30. The event is free, but donations will be taken for various charities. Visit bandsonthebayou.com for details.

MEMPHIS MAY FIRE Memphis May Fire will

be playing at Vinyl Music Hall, 2 S. Palafox, 6 p.m.

Saturday, July 30. Tickets are $22. Visit vinylmusichall.com to purchase.

MONDAY NIGHT BLUES AT SEVILLE QUARTER Blues Society of Northwest Florida and Seville Quarter present Monday Night Blues, the longest running weekly Blues Jam in Florida, starting at 7 p.m. with an opening and followed by the Blues Jam at 9 p.m. Seville Quarter is located at 130 E. Government St. For more information, visit sevillequarter.com.

PENSACOLA PICK NIGHT AT ODD COLONY Music pickers of all levels are invited to play at Odd Colony, 260 N. Palafox, from 7-9 p.m. every last Monday of the night. Bring your acoustic instrument and jam. Visit facebook.com/oddcolony for details.

SUMMER CONCERT SERIES AT PERFECT PLAIN Head to Perfect Plain Brewing Co., 50 E.

Garden St., on Thursdays from 7-10 p.m. through September. Visit facebook.com/perfectplainbrewingco for more information.

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

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

JOE OCCHIPINTI JAZZABOUTS Catch Joe Occhipinti and guests at Alice's Restaurant & July 21, 2022

mix with jazz and blues every weekend with keyboard, horn and flute. Fridays and Saturdays from 6-9 p.m. and a jazz set on Sundays from 12-3 p.m. on the patio at Cazadores Mexican restaurant, located at 8183 W. Fairfield Dr. Weather permitting.

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 to 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.

LIVE MUSIC SATURDAYS AT THE WELL

Visit The Well, 42 E. Garden St., on Saturdays from 4-7 p.m. for live music. Visit facebook. com/thewellpensacola for more information.

LIVE MUSIC AT HUB STACEY'S Sit back with

good food and live music at Hub Stacey's, located at 312 E. Government St. For a full calendar of bands, check hubstaceys.com.

MONDAY NIGHT BLUES AT SEVILLE QUARTER Seville Quarter and the Blues So-

ciety of Northwest Florida bring the “Blues" back to the Seville Quarter Entertainment District, located at 130 E. Government St. every Monday night in End O' the Alley starting at 7 p.m. For more information, visit sevillequarter.com.

TUESDAY NIGHT JAZZ AT SEVILLE QUARTER Enjoy smooth jazz with Melodious Allen and

The Funk Heads every Tuesday night at Lili Marlene's in Seville Quarter, located at 130 E. Government St. Show starts at 6:30 p.m. Visit sevillequarter.com for more information.

for more listings visit inweekly.net 15

history

By Hunter Morrison

Textiles of the Times

Photo Courtesy of UWF Historic Trust

Pensacola Museum of History is currently displaying the exhibition "Textiles of the Times: Regency Era Dress Making." It highlights a wide range of items that were produced during the Regency era, from 1811-1820, with an emphasis on how textiles were manufactured before the invention of the sewing machine.

The Regency era is associated with a specific period of time in which social and cultural changes were rapidly occurring in England under the reign of George, Prince of Wales. Areas outside of England, including the United States, experienced similar societal shifts.

"For the Gulf Coast, and Pensacola specifically, the Regency Period was a tumultuous time," said Jessie Cragg, Curator of Exhibits at the UWF Historic Trust. "It corresponded with the final days of Spanish rule in Florida, and the preparation of becoming an American territory was already underway. Thus, a mixing of cultures happened simultaneously with newer social and cultural trends."

The exhibit showcases over 30 items, many of which represent everyday pieces necessary for constructing clothing during this era. Some of these items include sewing boxes, needles and fabrics.

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Items such as men's hats, parasols and hand fans used by women in the early 19th century are also on display.

"The exhibit is a vignette of an 1820s goods store, designed to look like a shop selling readymade pieces as well as fine fabrics," Cragg said.

"When entering the gallery, it appears to be the front area of a store with items displayed for sale.

Rounding the corner, it transitions into a working area for a seamstress, where she would have displayed fabric options, completed clothing items, as well as where all of the tools of the trade would be housed."

One of the most prominent items featured is an 1833 hand-sewn gown that was worn to the second inaugural ball of Andrew Jackson. Made of silk and lace with elaborate detailing, the vibrant pink gown is in remarkable condition.

"It does have some alterations, and so the silhouette is slightly different than one would expect from the time period, but nevertheless, it is a lovely example of early-19th-century textiles," Cragg said.

Donated to the Historic Trust in 1980, the gown was pulled out of collections storage last November. Damage from the storage container, along

"For the dress to survive since 1833 is a miracle with areas of torn lace and faded silk, it required nearly six months—about 200 hours—of hands-on in and of itself, given the delicate nature of silk and lace," Cragg said. "Overall, it's a wonderful examrepair work before being mounted and displayed. ple of craftsmanship and represents almost 200 "The silk of the gown has hit a point in its age years of American history. It also helps people vithat it has begun to shatter, which is like an incursualize the past, and connect to it, in a very real able disease, especially for silk of this age," said sense. With the way it is displayed, one can easily Lori McDuffie, Collections Manager at the UWF picture Mrs. Mattingley getting dressed up to atHistoric Trust. "All you can really do is try to stop tend what would have been a momentous party, the shattering from increasing." as Jackson was well known for hosting soirees that To decrease shatter and deterioration of the quickly got out of hand." silk, the gown needed to be placed in a dark, enviThis exhibit highlights an aspect of the early ronmentally sound, spacious area. It was laid on a American period in Pensacola that is often overlinen-covered table in a windowless storage unit looked. Most exhibits that highlight this era focus for over a month. on how people lived, where they lived or the polit"When lights had to be on, I covered the gown ical changes that were happening. with a thin, lightweight linen," McDuffie said. "Al"I really wanted to explore a different side of lowing the gown to rest in an open space would althe time period and look at something everyone low for unnatural wrinkles to fall out and the natucan relate to," Cragg said. "We all get dressed in ral folds and creases to fall in the proper place." the morning, just like the Regency-era citizens Once the wrinkles and natural flow of the of Pensacola." gown were in order, McDuffie, along with the help "Textiles of the Times: Regency Era Dress of interns and volunteers, created form padding Making" is only a brief look into the fashion and that fashioned the gown into the body shape and lifestyle of the Regency era in Pensacola. The size of the women who wore it. Several students Pensacola Museum of History will continue to exfrom the UWF Public History program helped in hibit its multi-era textile collection in the future. preparing the item, a hands-on learning experi"I hope visitors walk away with an appreence for future public historians. ciation of the craftsmanship required to cre"We created a torso, bust, shoulders, waist, ate these textiles," Cragg said. "Before sewing half-hips and half-legs to fill the gown out in a machines, before factory and mass-produced way that still allowed for the needed space and items, everything was hand done and took such shape that is best when in rest after the exhibit," a long time. I also want our visitors to be able McDuffie said. "The padding was hand sewn lightly into the gown at the original lining and added lin- to connect with the past in a real way, through something that's universal among all of us— ing. Once the padding was placed, giving the gown clothes." {in} a natural look, we attached the gown to a padded linen backing by lightly hand sewing."

Due to the size and age of the gown, a special shadowbox was created to display the artifact. The shadowbox will transition from a display case to permanent storage once the WHAT: An exhibition featuring a wide range of exhibit closes. items produced during the Regency era Before being donated, the gown was WHEN: On view throughout the rest of the year owned by the family of Frances M. MattingWHERE: Pensacola Museum of History, 330 S. ley, a Gulf Coast native who was the original Jefferson St. owner and wearer of the dress. It would latDETAILS: historicpensacola.org er be worn by future generations of the Mattingley family.

“TEXTILES OF THE TIMES: REGENCY ERA DRESS MAKING”

inweekly.net

July 21, 2022

17

free will astrology WEEK OF JULY 21 ARIES (MARCH 21-APRIL 19): You are enter-

ing the Season of Love's Renewal. To celebrate, I offer you a poem by eighth-century Tamil poet Andal. Whatever gender you may be, I invite you to visualize yourself as the "Snakewaist woman" she addresses. Here's Andal, bringing a fiery splash of exclamation points: "Arouse, Snakewaist woman! Strut your enchantment! Swoop your mirth and leap your spiral reverence! As wild peacocks shimmer and ramble and entice the lightning-nerved air! Summon thunderheads of your love! Command the sentient wind! Resurrect the flavor of eternal birth!"

Keep building and building and building: your joy, your security, your love, your beauty, your stamina, your sense of wonder.

TAURUS (APRIL 20-MAY 20): Tips to get the most out of the next three weeks: 1. Work harder, last longer and finish with more grace than everyone else. 2. Be in love with beauty. Crave it, surround yourself with it, and create it. Be especially enamored of beautiful things that are also useful.

3. Taste the mist, smell the clouds, kiss the music, praise the earth, and listen to the moon in the daytime sky. 4. Never stop building! Keep building and building and building: your joy, your security, your love, your beauty, your stamina, your sense of wonder.

GEMINI (MAY 21-JUNE 20): Gemini astrol-

oger Astrolocherry says that while Geminis "can appear naive and air-headed to onlookers, their minds usually operate at light speed. They naturally absorb every surrounding particle of intellectual stimuli. They constantly observe their interactions for opportunities to grow their knowledge." I believe these qualities will function at peak intensity during the next four weeks, Gemini—maybe even beyond peak intensity. Please try to enjoy the hell out of this phase without be-

By Rob Brezsny

coming manic or overwrought. If all goes well, you could learn more in the next four weeks than most people learn in four months.

CANCER (JUNE 21-JULY 22): Naeem Calla-

way founded Get Out The Box, an organization that mentors at-risk youth in low-income and rural communities. Here's one of his central teachings: “Sometimes the smallest step in the right direction ends up being the biggest step of your life.

Tiptoe if you must, but take the step." Even if you don't fit the profile of the people Callaway serves, his advice is perfect for you right now. For the time being, I urge you to shelve any plans you might have for grandiose actions. Focus on just one of the many possible tasks you could pursue and carry it out with determined focus.

LEO (JULY 23-AUG. 22): A Leo astrologer I've known for years told me, "Here's a secret about us Lions. No matter what happens, despite any pitfalls and pratfalls, my ego will stay intact. It ain't gonna crack. You can hurl five lightning bolts' worth of insults at my skull, and I will walk away without even a hint of a concussion. I believe in myself and worship myself, but even more importantly: I trust my own self-coherence like I trust the sun to shine." Wow! That's quite a testimony.

I'm not sure I fully buy it, though. I have known a few Leos whose confidence wavered in the wake of a minor misstep. But here's the point of my horoscope: I encourage you to allow a slight ego deflation in the coming days. If you do, I believe it will generate a major blossoming of your ego by August. And that would be a very good thing.

authentic urge to bestow blessings. On the other hand, being kind is a sincere expression of care and concern for another. It fosters genuine intimacy. I bring these thoughts to your attention because I think that one of Libra's life-long tasks is to master the art of being kind rather than merely nice. And right now is an especially favorable phase for you to refine your practice.

SCORPIO (OCT. 23-NOV. 21): You sometimes feel you have to tone down your smoldering intensity, avert your dark-star gazes, conceal your sultry charisma, dumb down your persuasive speech, pretend you don't have so much stamina, disguise your awareness of supernatural connections, act less like a saint and martyr in your zealous devotions, and refrain from revealing your skill at reading between the lines. But none of that avoidance stuff usually works very well. The Real You leaks out into view. In the coming weeks, I hope you won't engage in any of the hiding behavior I described. It's a favorable time to freely pour forth your Scorpionic blessings.

But here's the point of my horoscope: I encourage you to allow a slight ego deflation in the coming days.

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

VIRGO (AUG. 23-SEPT. 22): Virgo poet Claude de Burine described how one night when she was three years old, she sneaked out of the house with her parents' champagne bucket so she could fill it up with moonlight. I think activities like this will be a worthy pursuit for you in the coming days. You're entering a favorable phase to go in quest of lyrical, fanciful experiences. I hope you will make yourself available for marvels and curiosities and fun surprises.

could be interesting and important events happening while you sleep in the coming nights. If a butterfly lands on you in a dream, it may mean you're prepping for a spiritual transformation in waking life. It could be a sign you're receptive to a breakthrough insight you weren't previously open to. If you dream of a baby animal, it might signify you're ready to welcome a rebirth of a part of you that has been dormant or sluggish or unavailable. Dreams in which you're flying suggest you may soon escape a sense of heaviness or inertia.

LIBRA (SEPT. 23-OCT. 22): There is a distinc-

CAPRICORN (DEC. 22-JAN. 19): How to

tion between being nice and being kind. Being nice is often motivated by mechanical politeness, by a habit-bound drive to appear pleasant. It may be rooted more in a desire to be liked than in an

be the best Capricorn you can be in the coming weeks and months—1. Develop a disciplined, well-planned strategy to achieve more freedom.

2. Keep clambering upwards even if you have no

competitors and there's no one else at the top.

3. Loosen your firm grasp and steely resolve just enough so you can allow the world to enjoy you.

4. Don't let the people you love ever think you take them for granted. 5. Be younger today than you were yesterday.

AQUARIUS (JAN. 20-FEB. 18): In the next seven to eight weeks, I'd love for you to embody an attitude about intimacy articulated by author Hélène Cixous. Here's her aspiration—"I want to love a person freely, including all her secrets. I want to love in this person someone she doesn't know. I want to love without judgment, without fault. Without false, without true. I want to meet her between the words, beneath language." And yes, dear Aquarius, I know this is a monumental undertaking. If it appeals to you at all, just do the best you can to incorporate it.

Perfection isn't required.

PISCES (FEB. 19-MARCH 20): I periodically consult a doctor of Chinese Medicine who tells me that one of the best things I can do for my health is to walk barefoot—EVERYWHERE! On the sidewalk, through buildings, and especially in the woods and natural areas. He says that being in direct contact with our beloved earth can provide me with energetic nourishment not possible any other way. I have resisted the doc's advice so far. It would take the soles of my feet a while to get accustomed to the wear and tear of barefoot walking. I bring this up, Pisces, because the coming weeks will be an excellent time for you to try what I haven't yet. In fact, anything you do to deepen your connection with the earth will be extra healing. I invite you to lie in the sand, hug trees, converse with birds, shout prayers to mountains, and bathe in rivers or lakes.

THIS WEEK'S HOMEWORK: To heal yourself, bestow two blessings, one on a human and one on an animal. newsletter.freewillastrology.com {in}

freewillastrology.com

freewillastrology@freewillastrology.com Rob Brezsny ©Copyright 2022

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news of the weird GOALS The trail to the top of Pike's Peak in Colorado is some 13 miles long, and the peak itself tops out at more than 14,000 feet—making it a challenging hike for anyone. But for Bob Salem, 53, the journey is nuttily complicated: He's pushing a peanut up the mountain using his "nose": customized headgear made of a CPAP mask with a black plastic serving spoon attached to it, NPR reported. "Basically, I'm just going to ... low crawl my way up there," he said. "I mean, there's not really much to it but just to keep flicking."

It's all part of the Manitou Springs 150-Year Celebration, and Salem is raising money for a local charity that works to house people experiencing homelessness. Oddly, he's not the first to achieve the feat, but he'll be the first in the 21st century. Salem is wearing kneepads and elbow pads, and a spotter carries his backpack with a snowsuit inside for the higher elevations. He's expected to reach the summit the weekend of July 16-17.

RECURRING THEME Well, it's happened again: An American tourist at Mount Vesuvius near Naples, Italy, dropped his cellphone into the volcano's crater on July 9, the Associated Press reported, and then slid into the crater trying to retrieve it. Four volcano guides lowered a rope 50 feet into the crater, where Philip Carroll, 23, of Baltimore, was in "serious difficulty," and pulled him out. After officials administered first aid, Carroll and two family members were cited by police for going off the authorized trail to snap a selfie. He suffered only abrasions—and the humiliation of a trip to the police station. No word how the phone fared.

AWESOME! On July 10, as Rich Gilson used a mini-excavator to remove part of the foundation under the porch of his 1920s-era New Jersey home, he came across an unusual windfall: Among the weeds and dirt were two bundles of paper, secured with rubber bands, United Press International reported. "I got to look at the edge and it had a green tint to it, and I said, 'This is money,'" Gilson said. The cash, printed in 1934, amounted to $1,000 in $10 and $20 bills. Gilson said the area where he found the money was previously accessible only through a crawlspace: "Somebody had to crawl under there and dig a hole. My sense is that something fishy happened," he added. He plans to keep the money.

PICKY, PICKY Penguins at the Hakone-en Aquarium near Tokyo are turning their beaks up at a new variety of fish after officials switched because of an increase in price, United Press International reported. The cost of their standard fare, aji, increased more than 30% over last year, so the aquarium tried a cheaper variety of mackerel. But the penguins aren't biting: "Even if they'll take it in their beaks, they'll just spit it out," head zookeeper Hiroki Shimamoto said. If the keepers mix in a bit of aji, they'll eat it, but without enthusiasm. The zoo's otters have the same impression of the new menu item. Shimamoto said they could raise admission prices, but

By the Editors at Andrews McMeel

"we would like to do our best to keep our facility a comfortable place for our guests to visit."

MORE LIKE 'STUPIDER THINGS' Thanks to the quick reaction of a semitruck operator, a teenage driver sustained only minor injuries after she allowed her car to drift into the oncoming lane of a suburban Minneapolis street and crash into the trailer, The Smoking Gun reported. During questioning after the mid-July incident, the girl denied being on her phone at the time of the crash, but Anoka County Sheriff's deputies noticed that her car's Bluetooth system was "still streaming the audio to 'Stranger Things' on Netflix." She then admitted to watching the popular series while driving.

COMPELLING EXPLANATION Laurie Rosser, 42, of Gorseinon, Wales, was stopped while driving on the M4 on June 26 because his van was missing two tires, the BBC reported. Police estimated he had driven more than 10 miles without the tires. Rosser was Breathalyzed at the scene, where he tested at more than twice the legal limit. But he had a different explanation for his oversight: His solicitor said he had tested positive for COVID and "his mind was cloudy. That influenced his decision to drive with two defective tires on the vehicle," Rhys Davies said.

Rosser was banned from driving for 17 months and fined.

THAT SUCKS Former vicar John Jeffs, 74, was found guilty on July 13 in Northampton Magistrates' Court in England in an incident that happened in September 2020, Metro News reported. A churchgoer at the Baptist Centre in Middleton Cheney came upon Jeffs as he stood between two chairs, wearing only ladies' stockings and being intimate with a Henry Hoover vacuum hose. Although Jeffs saw the onlooker, he reportedly continued thrusting toward the Henry, which is known for its powerful suction.

Jeffs was fined about $1,000 and added to the sex offender registry; he also was ordered to pay about $240 to the person who witnessed the act.

CRIME REPORT In Ann Arbor, Michigan, a serial pharmacy robber identified as Kristopher Kukola, 37, allegedly hit five CVS stores between May and July, demanding narcotics and displaying a gun, MLive.com reported. In the latest incident, on July 7, a fast-thinking pharmacist dropped a decoy pill bottle containing a GPS tracker into the bag. Police found Kukola escaping in a Jeep and followed the car to an apartment complex, where the thief jumped out and tried to flee on foot. When officers caught up to him, Kukola told them, "The guy you are looking for ran that way." Investigators found a BB gun, the drugs and the decoy bottle in his Jeep; he was indicted on federal charges. {in}

From Andrews McMeel Syndication News Of The Weird © 2022 Andrews McMeel

Send your weird news items to WeirdNewsTips@amuniversal.com July 21, 2022

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