TRANSIT CHANGES BOTCHED How Escambia County Failed its Disabled Citizens Independent News | July 23, 2026 | Volume 27 | Number 29
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winners & losers
Dr. Judy Bense / Photo Courtesy of UWF
winners DR. JUDY BENSE President Allison Hill passed
the reins of the Rotary Club of Pensacola, Florida's second-oldest Rotary Club, to Judy Bense recently at the Change of Command event. Dr. Judith "Judy" Bense is an archaeologist and academic leader who joined the University of West Florida in 1980, building its Anthropology/Archaeology program into a nationally recognized center for Florida archaeology and shipwreck research. She served as UWF's first female president from 2010 to 2016 and was inducted into the Florida Women's Hall of Fame in 2019. She will lead the service club that strives to improve our community and help with Rotary's number one priority: ending Polio worldwide.
DR. STEVEN KRONLAGE The orthopaedic
hand surgeon with North Florida Bone & Joint Specialists and co-president of Hands of Hope Medical Mission (HHMM), performed a second surgery on 6-year-old Nassir Andrew of Grenada on June 22 at Andrews Institute Surgery Center in Gulf Breeze. Nassir was born with brachial plexus palsy, a birth-related nerve injury affecting his shoulder, arm and hand. Kronlage first operated on him in January 2023, restoring his ability to raise his arm overhead. The recent procedure focused on tendon transfers to stabilize his wrist and improve hand function. Kronlage said the goal is helping Nassir perform everyday tasks like writing, feeding himself and playing with other children. Both surgeries were funded through HHMM donors and community partners.
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2026 DONUT STRIKE Local first responders
skipped donuts for three days during Manna Food Bank's ninth annual Donut Strike, stationing themselves outside grocery stores across Escambia and Santa Rosa counties to collect food and monetary donations for residents facing hunger. The community effort generated the equivalent of 47,895 meals. Escambia County Fire Rescue was named 2026 Donut Strike Champion for collecting the most pounds of food and highest dollar amount. Participating agencies included Escambia County Sheriff's Office, Gulf Breeze Fire Rescue and Police Department, Midway Fire District, Pace Fire Rescue District, Pensacola Fire and Police Departments and Santa Rosa County Sheriff's Office.
losers AMENDMENT 3 New University of North
Florida polling shows that support for Florida's Amendment 3 property tax measure has a narrow path to passage in November, with support hinging almost entirely on voter ignorance of its local budget effects. Framed without any information about its impact on services, the measure cleared 60% approval. But when told it would strip local governments of $11.86 billion in revenue by raising homestead exemptions to $150,000 in 2027 and $250,000 in 2028, support collapsed to 45%, with 47% opposed. The poll was conducted July 8–17 with a 3.8-point margin of error.
TOWN OF CENTURY The town's charter contains a scrivener's error: 2024 amendment paperwork extending terms to four years accidentally reused 1979 language putting mayor and council seats one and two elections back in odd years, contradicting the 2014 amendment that moved all local elections to even years to align with state/ federal races. The Town Council wants even-year elections confirmed but needs to know whether correcting the mistake requires a simple ordinance or a costly voter referendum, so it has asked Attorney General James Uthmeier for an informal opinion. Complicating things further: the 2014 amendment that created this conflict was itself never put to voters, despite the charter requiring voter approval for amendments. Yikes. STOP WOKE ACT A federal appeals court up-
held a preliminary injunction blocking enforcement of part of Florida's "Stop WOKE Act," which barred public university professors from endorsing certain tenets of critical race theory. In a 2-1 ruling, the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals found the state's attempt to control professors' classroom speech amounted to "a breathtaking assertion of power to ban unpopular ideas" from higher education. Judge Britt Grant, a Trump appointee, wrote the majority opinion, joined by Judge Charles Wilson. Judge Barbara Lagoa dissented, arguing Florida has authority over what its professors endorse in state classrooms. The case, brought by professors backed by the ACLU of Florida, challenges the 2022 law signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis targeting alleged "indoctrination." inweekly.net
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outtakes
By Rick Outzen
DEBATING OURSELVES On July 16, seven City Council members spent over an hour talking themselves into and out of unintended consequences. Not one voice from the Pensacola Chamber, FloridaWest, Florida Power & Light (FPL) or the broader business community showed up to help them sort it out. Watch the video of the data center moratorium hearing. You will notice something odd: the most substantive debate wasn't between the council and the public, or even between the council and Mayor D.C. Reeves' administration. The council debated with itself. Jared Moore worried aloud about slamming the door on "some dream thing"—a hypothetical company that cures cancer and creates a thousand jobs. Allison Patton worried the ordinance's broad "large load customer" language might scare off a Tesla-style employer who has nothing to do with AI. Charles Bare, the sponsor, admitted he didn't know what the hospitals or Navy Federal draw in power. Jennifer Brahier worried about the drain on the aquifer. Seven elected officials did their best to reason through groundwater science, grid capacity and economic development strategy, with no one in the room who was a subject matter expert.
SILENCE ISN'T NEUTRAL If these organizations appear now, after the fact, to complain about the moratorium or to push for a higher threshold, what standing do they have to object to a process they declined to participate in? Maybe their silence was strategic rather than accidental. Staying out of public hearings where they may have to answer tough questions lets them complain behind closed doors. They can let elected officials absorb the political heat, then show up later in a private meeting or a quiet phone call to a council member, once the moratorium is already on the books and the conversation has cooled. That approach may be tactically comfortable. It is not good for Pensacola. Council members were explicit, more than once, that they were flying without data: what would FPL need to build out to serve a 50-megawatt customer? What does "large load" mean for the advanced manufacturing, defense contractors, cybersecurity and other industries that FloridaWest has courted? These are exactly the questions a chamber, an economic development alliance and a utility exist to answer, in public, before a vote. The council voted unanimously, 7-0, to approve Ordinance No. 13-26, imposing a temporary one-year moratorium on the acceptance, review or approval of development permits, rezonings, site plans and other city approvals for large-scale data centers. Bare's ordinance still needs a second reading before it takes effect, and city staff will have a year to study grid capacity, water impacts and land-use rules. The business community can show up with numbers to help. If the Pensacola Chamber, FloridaWest and FPL want a seat at the table when this moratorium is refined or before it's upgraded to a permanent ban, that seat is empty right now. Nobody is stopping them from taking it. The only question is whether they would rather help write the rules or grumble about the ones the council wrote without them. {in} rick@inweekly.net
Maybe their silence was strategic rather than accidental.
WHERE WAS EVERYBODY? The Pensacola
Chamber didn't send a representative to the microphone. Neither did the FloridaWest Economic Development Alliance, the region's official economic development arm, which has spent years recruiting businesses to Escambia County. Florida Power & Light, whose infrastructure and rate base this ordinance directly affects, offered no baseline numbers, no capacity data and nothing on the record to help the council understand what a 50-megawatt customer would mean for the grid. Pepper Wimer, a private citizen with no staff and no budget, told the council she had reached out to Sacred Heart, Baptist Hospital, Pensacola State College and FPL trying to get comparative power-usage numbers. That's backwards. A resident shouldn't be doing the data-gathering legwork that a chamber or an economic development authority exists to do. July 23, 2026
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PROGRESS ON THE HORIZON AT VETERANS MEMORIAL PARK
By Tom St. Myer Veterans Memorial Park has long been known as "Pensacola's Jewel on the Bay," drawing about 120,000 visitors each year to honor America's fallen service members. Yet despite its prominence and frequent use for ceremonies, school field trips and public events, the park has never had permanent public restrooms. What appears on the surface to be a relatively simple public works project has evolved into one of Pensacola's longest-running sagas, spanning three mayoral administrations, multiple City Councils, countless meetings and years of increasingly bitter disagreement over who was responsible for getting a restroom built—and who prevented it from happening. Now, after roughly 12 years, the project may finally move forward. The Pensacola City Council is expected to consider a proposal in August to purchase and install a two-stall prefabricated permanent restroom facility. If approved, it would replace years of temporary solutions. Although everyone involved agrees permanent restrooms are needed, there remains sharp disagreement over why the project has taken so long. Mayor D.C. Reeves argues that nearly all meaningful progress has occurred during his administration, which began in late 2022. Leaders of the Veterans Memorial Park Foundation insist they had already completed the architectural design and approval process before Reeves took office, only to see years of work stall under the new administration. Former Mayor Grover Robinson says there was broad support for the project during his tenure but acknowledges no formal agreement existed before he left office.
TEMPORARY SUCCESS, PERMANENT CONTROVERSY
Few people have spent more time working on the issue than Pete McKanna, who served for roughly a decade on the Veterans Memorial Park Foundation board while overseeing park operations and maintenance. McKanna said the foundation tried to solve the problem by purchasing a high-end portable restroom trailer using an IMPACT 100 grant, pri66
vate donations and about $50,000 appropriated by the Pensacola City Council. The trailer sat on a permanent concrete pad connected to water and sewer service. It included climate control, ADA accessibility, hot and cold running water, modern fixtures and hand dryers. "The community loved it," McKanna said. While visitors appreciated the upgraded facilities, some nearby residents objected. McKanna said former City Council member Brian Spencer and residents associated with Citizens for Preservation of Admiral Mason Park argued the trailer detracted from the waterfront park's appearance and encroached on Admiral Mason Park. Eventually, the city required the foundation to remove the restroom trailer and prohibited its use during special events. The foundation later sold the trailer for far less than the approximately $120,000 invested. The search for a permanent solution accelerated during Robinson's administration. McKanna said he toured the park with Robinson, Spencer and then-foundation president Paul Entrekin to select a location. According to McKanna, everyone agreed on a site along the park's main walkway where the building would blend into the landscape. The foundation provided Inweekly a copy of the original architectural designs. The plans extended beyond simple restroom facilities. The proposed building included men's and women's restrooms, ADA accessibility, an educational center where students could learn military history and storage space for park maintenance equipment. McKanna said widespread community support kept projected costs to about $700,000 through donated labor and materials. According to McKanna, the proposal then underwent extensive review by city departments. He said every department approved the plans, followed by City Council approval and Robinson's support. To keep the project moving, McKanna said the foundation agreed to pay roughly $25,000 for architectural and engineering work after Robinson promised reimbursement through discretionary mayoral funds once administrative paperwork was completed. The foundation paid the invoices expecting construction to begin soon. Instead, city leadership changed. The transition between Robinson and Reeves created the central disagreement that continues today. McKanna maintains the restroom project had already cleared every significant hurdle and only required authorization from the new administration before construction could begin. He said he repeatedly contacted Robinson after Reeves took office, hoping the former mayor would explain the project's status to his successor. According to McKanna, Robinson said Reeves responded: "This ain't my deal. I'm not signing off on anything. It's your deal, and I'm mayor. You're not in the conversation." Reeves firmly disputes both the alleged conversation and the broader characterization of the project.
"I've never said those words in my life," Reeves said. "There's zero truth to the fact that a readymade plan for a $700,000 restroom existed that was ready to build, bid or presented to us. If that was the case, it would have already been done." Robinson confirmed he never discussed the project with Reeves during the mayoral transition. "I wouldn't say we had anything formal that said necessarily anything was going to happen," Robinson added. "We had an agreement in a meeting of the minds but nothing else. We were definitely headed in that direction, and everybody was pointing in that direction. But did everybody sign off and everything else? No."
A NEW APPROACH
Rather than continuing with the earlier concept, Reeves' administration pursued state funding. In 2023, Pensacola secured a $750,000 appropriation from the Florida Legislature specifically for a restroom and educational center at Veterans Memorial Park. Reeves notes that the city voluntarily selected the project among numerous competing legislative funding priorities. "We chose that because we want to solve this problem—a 12-year problem," he said. The legislative appropriation marked the first major public funding specifically dedicated to permanent restroom construction. City records show approximately $165,500 has since been spent on engineering, architectural and geotechnical work, leaving roughly $584,500 available for construction. The city's first attempt to build the project encountered an obstacle. "No contractors came to the pre-bid meeting," Reeves said. Only one contractor submitted a responsive proposal, and the bid totaled nearly $887,000— well above the available budget. The city abandoned that procurement effort. Retired Marine Major Rob Doss served as foundation president from 2022 to 2024. He said that after the city's redesign proved financially impractical, the project entered a series of self-imposed starts and stops, then moved through a succession of alternative concepts that failed to produce the permanent facility originally envisioned. Meanwhile, time continued to run on the legislative appropriation. Originally carrying a twoyear deadline, the funding has already required extensions while city officials searched for a more affordable solution. Doss questioned why the city only requested $750,000 for a 1,750-square-foot facility. He said that comes out to $429 per square foot without factoring in additional costs associated with reinforced foundations and site conditions. Doss said by comparison, the Roger Scott restroom project cost $1,000 per square foot. Another issue for Doss is that the city decided, more than a year into the project, to conduct soil boring to determine whether the structure could be built on the site. He said that analysis should have been completed before selecting the
site and proceeding with the design, so that costs for geotechnical work and any special requirements could have been factored into the original funding request. City officials now believe they have found a solution: a prefabricated restroom building. Instead of constructing a custom-designed facility on-site, the city plans to purchase a factory-built structure that can be delivered largely complete, ready for installation. The preferred option is a two-stall Romtec facility, estimated at $561,800, including installation and related site work. Larger three- and four-stall models exceeded the available budget. Although foundation members preferred a traditional building, Reeves said practical considerations made the prefabricated option more feasible. One of the biggest challenges is the park's location along Pensacola Bay within a flood-prone area. Constructing a conventional building would require significant elevation to comply with federal floodplain regulations. Rather than building what Reeves described as "a bathroom on stilts," the prefabricated design allows the city to satisfy flood requirements while maintaining accessible, ground-level entrances for visitors with disabilities. "The installation is as expensive or a little more expensive than the facility itself because of floodplain issues," Reeves said. Doss voiced frustration with how the city excluded the foundation from the process. The foundation submitted public record requests to learn the details.
SHARED GOAL DESPITE DISAGREEMENTS
Despite years of disputes over responsibility, both sides say they remain focused on the same objective: finally providing permanent restroom facilities that serve visitors while preserving the dignity of the memorial park. Foundation President John Maddox said the organization has advocated for permanent restrooms for years and now wants to move forward with a practical solution. Reeves said he appreciates the park's significance. His grandfather earned two Purple Hearts during World War II, and the mayor recalls attending ceremonies at Veterans Memorial Park as a child. "I have nothing but good memories about the park," he said. "I have appreciation for the board's care for that park and what it means in the veterans community." He also recognizes that more than a decade of delays has transformed what should have been a relatively modest construction project into a 12-year saga. He said, "When something has been discussed in some form for 12 years, it becomes an emotional issue." If the City Council approves the proposal in August, the debate that has consumed countless meetings, generated competing narratives and spanned three mayoral administrations may finally give way to construction. {in} inweekly.net
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INNISFREE BREAKS GROUND Innisfree Ho-
tels has recently broken ground on two projects: a new Hampton Inn by Hilton on Pensacola Beach and the permanent home of the Hive Arts Academy on Pensacola's Eastside. "Julian and Kim have always believed that successful hospitality begins with investing in people," Innisfree President and CEO Ted Ent said in a statement, referring to founder and chairman Julian MacQueen and Dr. Kim MacQueen. "The new Hampton Inn will generate lasting economic benefits, while the Hive Arts Academy will help young people discover their talents and prepare for bright futures." The 215-room Hampton Inn, at 20 Via De Luna Drive, will be Innisfree's sixth hotel on Pensacola Beach and seventh in Escambia County, pushing the company's beachfront portfolio to 1,194 guestrooms and suites. It's slated to open in 2028 and will be the beach's first hotel with waterslides, along with a zero-entry lazy river, a two-level poolside bar and restaurant, more than 4,000 square feet of meeting space, an expanded breakfast area, a private event patio and direct beach access. The hotel is expected to employ about 150 people, bringing Innisfree's local workforce past 825 teammates. The company projects its Pensacola-area properties will generate more than $16.6 million in annual tax revenue. The Hive Arts Academy, set to open next summer in the 1200 block of North Davis Highway at Lloyd Street, will give the Hive Foundation's youth arts programming a permanent campus for the first time. The more-than6,000-square-foot facility will include studios, gallery space, a makerspace, a demonstration kitchen and specialized classrooms for instruction in visual arts, sculpture, culinary arts, sewing, fiber arts, engineering and fabrication. 88
The program will include field trips, workshops and a visiting artist series with the Luna Fine Art Gallery, and students will have the chance to exhibit and sell work at the Hilton Pensacola Beach through Brilliant Star, a Luna Fine Art Gallery outpost. The site sits near an Escambia County Area Transit stop and is intended to help anchor continued investment in the Eastside Urban Infill and Redevelopment Area. Innisfree funds the Academy and other youth programming through its philanthropic arm, the Hive Foundation. More information is available at innisfreehotels.com.
REVERB UPDATE The development team behind Lot 5 at the Maritime Park announced on July 15 that the project is moving toward a targeted year-end groundbreaking, a milestone that follows confirmation from Mayor D.C. Reeves earlier the same day that the $310 million mixed-use development is proceeding. The project, led by The Dawson Company and Corporate Contractors Inc., includes Reverb by Hard Rock, Rhythm Lofts residences, destination dining anchored by Michelin-starred chef Akira Back, wellness uses, parking and a public plaza. Reeves, speaking at his regular press conference, called the development the largest single private investment project inside city limits, excluding institutions such as Baptist Hospital, and said it may be the largest in the city's history. The developers have withdrawn their application for an ARA tax abatement in light of shifting property tax conditions at the state and local level, Reeves said. He noted the project carries significant financial risk given its size and complexity, calling it "a barometer of a city in demand and a city on the rise." Under the lease, construction must begin 45 days after all permits are finalized. Reeves said
residents should expect to see visible activity beginning in the mid-September to early October window, once the Pensacola Wahoos baseball season concludes. According to the developers' press release, an economic benefits report estimates the hospitality component will generate approximately $38 million in annual ongoing economic impact once operational, or about $563 million over 15 years. The project is also projected to produce approximately $12 million in stabilized residential economic output annually and $14 million in resident economic impact tied to an estimated 450 to 500 residents. Construction is expected to generate approximately $171 million in GDP contribution and $287 million in total construction economic output and employment impact. The development includes a roughly $24 million public plaza and portal, described in the release as a gift to the city intended to support farmers markets, concerts, movie nights and other public programming. On the affordable housing front, Reeves said developers still intend to pursue a Live Local Act tax abatement, a state-level decision estimated at around $10 million, with roughly half of the project's approximately 190 to 198 apartment units proposed as affordable under that designation. He said there have been no substantive requests to amend the city's lease with the developers. "This project is about more than a hotel, residences or a beautiful building," said Tamara Bowens, President and Chief Operating Officer of The Dawson Company, in the release. "It's about creating a place that belongs to Pensacola." The Dawson Company, based in Pensacola since 2011, and CCI, a Wisconsin-based general contractor, both have local offices supporting the project.
PRESSER NOTES Mayor D.C. Reeves outlined updates on several city issues during his July 15 press conference, including a construction timeline for Bay Bluffs Park, a pending e-bike ordinance and the November ballot renewal of the Local Option Sales Tax (LOST). Reeves said the city was legally barred from spending any of a $2.2 million state grant for Bay Bluffs Park until receiving approval from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection on April 21. The city has since moved to contract with engineering firm HDR for site surveying and structural and geotechnical assessments, expected to begin around Aug. 1. A survey should be complete within five weeks, with the structural review finishing by late October. Substantive design work is projected for early 2027, with construction bidding to follow that spring. A draft ordinance regulating Class 3 e-bikes, capable of speeds up to 28 mph, is moving forward after a delay caused by the city waiting on state action. Gov. Ron DeSantis vetoed a statewide e-bike bill, clearing the way for the local ordinance to undergo final internal review next week. It could go before city council as early as the August meeting, or September if not. On the LOST renewal, which appears on the November ballot, Reeves said he is legally limited to educating rather than advocating for the measure. He said LOST funds a substantial share of city police, fire, parks and infrastructure spending, including roughly 36% of parks and community center funding, and noted this marks the fifth renewal of the tax rather than a new levy. He said a failure to renew would represent a severe hit to city revenue, though he did not specify a dollar figure. Reeves also defended the city's practice of promoting individual small businesses along the Palafox Street reconstruction corridor on social media, saying the effort was offered equally to all businesses affected by the project and funded through marketing dollars approved by city council. NEW WORLD BELIEVERS SETTLE Nearly six months after canceling the youth mental health provider's contract, Escambia Children's Trust has agreed to pay for services rendered and swap vehicle titles to close out the dispute. On June 9, Rodney Jones, founder of New World Believers and its H.O.O.P.S. youth mental health program, stood before the Trust's board and asked to be paid. He said his team had worked through Jan. 15, 2026, but had gone uncompensated for services provided in November and December 2025, and into January, before the Trust canceled the contract on Jan. 30. "I think it's a travesty when you talk about helping children when you move on your emotions and rumor and conjecture rather than evidence and proof," Jones told the board. At the time, board attorney Megan Fry of Clark Partington confirmed New World Believers was represented by counsel and that a settlement offer had already been sent to the nonprofit's attorney. Commissioner Lumon May urged staff to inweekly.net
move quickly, telling the board not to "spend more money litigating depositions, mediations, than we're going to spend in giving the money." On July 14, attorney Sallie Neese, who subbed for Fry, told the board the two sides had reached terms. Under the agreement, the Trust will pay New World Believers $76,437.72, the exact amount staff could verify through invoices and documentation. New World Believers will return a 2010 Dodge Caravan and a 2015 Ford Transit to the Trust, and the Trust will deed a 1998 Honda Odyssey to New World Believers, formally severing any ECT connection to that vehicle. Both sides will sign a mutual settlement release and cover their own attorney's fees. Chair Dr. Rex Northup pressed Neese to ensure the vehicle transfer wouldn't allow New World Believers to later claim an ongoing tie to the Trust, citing earlier media coverage of an ECTmarked vehicle turning up in unrelated circumstances. Neese said the disclaimer language addresses that directly. The board voted unanimously to authorize Northup to sign the settlement, which still requires approval from New World Believers' own board. Neese said its attorney is working to schedule an emergency board meeting to finalize approval on their end.
Board of Trustees and review the Aug. 13 agenda when it's posted online.
NPR AFFILIATION SAFE FOR NOW The University of West Florida Board of Trustees will not discuss ending public radio station WUWF's affiliation with National Public Radio at its Aug. 13 meeting, according to information relayed to members of SAVE UWF by former UWF President Judy Bense. Bense told SAVE UWF members that current UWF President Manny Diaz Jr. assured her that canceling the NPR affiliation was never under consideration and is not on the board's agenda for its Aug. 13 meeting, set for 9 a.m. at the Museum of Commerce in downtown Pensacola. Bense also relayed that Trustee Zack Smith told her he has never discussed ending the NPR affiliation. Smith's history with public broadcasting decisions has drawn scrutiny. Besides serving as a UWF trustee, Smith sits on the Pensacola State College board, where he voted last fall to end WSRE's affiliation with PBS. The UWF-NPR affiliation agreement is set to expire in October. The trustees would need to take action to renew it before the deadline regardless of whether the topic appears on the August agenda. Inweekly first reported that trustees were considering dropping NPR programming from WUWF. Publisher Rick Outzen said he stands by his original sources and awaits the release of the Aug. 13 meeting agenda. He said that if the reporting prompts trustees to preserve the NPR affiliation, he will accept the criticism that may follow. Until the NPR issue is officially resolved, Inweekly encourages readers who want to preserve the NPR affiliation to contact Diaz at presidentsoffice@uwf.edu. Visit uwf.edu/offices/board-of-trustees to learn more about the
LEAP CLASS PROJECT The Leadership Pen-
July 23, 2026
NOMINATIONS SOUGHT The Studer Community Institute (SCI) invites the public to nominate businesses, entrepreneurs and leaders for the 2026 EntreCon® Awards. The nomination window for 10 different categories runs Monday, July 27 through Monday, Aug. 17, at studeri.org/ jobs/entrecon. Winners will be announced during an in-person ceremony on Wednesday, Nov. 11, at the Saenger Theatre, featuring keynote speaker Capt. Chandra Newman, USN, commanding officer of Naval Air Station Pensacola. The ceremony kicks off the two-day EntreCon® Business + Leadership Conference, set for Nov. 12-13 in downtown Pensacola under the theme "INvest." "The EntreCon® Awards are one of our favorite ways to shine a light on the people and organizations who are truly investing in this community," said Chris Heaney, SCI's director of building jobs. "We know there are incredible businesses and leaders doing this work every day, and we want the public's help in finding them." EntreCon® draws more than 400 attendees annually. More information is available at studeri.org/jobs/entrecon. sacola (LeaP) Class of 2027 is accepting proposals from local nonprofit organizations for its class project, a signature component of the 10-month leadership development program run by the Greater Pensacola Chamber Foundation. LeaP cultivates community-minded leaders by helping participants understand the issues facing the Pensacola area and build the skills needed to address them. Each class draws members from a broad cross-section of the community's political, professional, educational, social and cultural backgrounds. The class project serves as a hands-on capstone to the curriculum. To ensure the greatest possible community impact, the class reviews ideas and needs submitted by area nonprofits before selecting a project to implement. Organizations interested in proposing a project must submit an application to the Chamber by 5 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 7, 2026, at 5 p.m. Applications are available at pensacolachamber.com. Applicants are also encouraged to review the Community Give-Back Project Purpose and Guidelines document before applying to determine how LeaP can best serve their organization. To qualify, applicants must hold active 501(c) (3) nonprofit status, be a member of the Greater Pensacola Chamber of Commerce and maintain Chamber membership in good standing for the entire duration of the project. Organizations selected as finalists will be notified and invited to present their proposed projects directly to the LeaP Class of 2027. Class members will then vote to choose which project or projects the class will carry out. Questions about the application process can be directed to Trevor Rodabaugh at leap@pensacolachamber.com. {in} 9
TRANSIT CHANGES BOTCHED How Escambia County Failed its Disabled Citizens By Rick Outzen
Earlier this month, Patrick Reed finished his workday at Corry Station and discovered that he had no ride home. Escambia County Area Transit (ECAT) had taken him to work, but hadn't passed his information to RideITL Cares, the county's new service for transportation disadvantaged riders. The miscommunication left Reed stranded in the dark at 8:30 p.m. without an accessible backup plan. Ten months earlier, Reed warned the Board of County Commissioners (BCC) about this exact scenario. In early September 2025, Escambia County Administrator Wes Moreno recommended the commissioners cancel the county's eightyear agreement with ITL Solutions, the parent of RideITL Cares—a company offering paratransit services for situations like Reed's. Paratransit provides transportation for people who can't use bus line service, most commonly because of a disability. Under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), any public transit agency operating fixed-route bus service, such as ECAT, must also offer paratransit as a complementary service within 3/4 miles of its routes. At the Sept. 4, 2025 meeting, Reed begged the commissioners to keep ITL Solutions. He was guided to the podium by Lori Kaim, the senior director of Global Connections to Employment (GCE), Northwest Florida's largest employer of people with disabilities. "I have with me Patrick Reed, who is a wonderful team member at GCE," she said. "He's here to speak on behalf of a lot of the individuals that work at GCE that are directly impacted by this change with the transit situation." Reed said, "I'm here on behalf of people that's vision impaired and hearing impaired; we actually need [ITL Solutions] back because like I said, we have special needs and the drivers give us what we need." He relied on ITL Solutions, which he referred to as "community transit." "I'm up at five o'clock in the morning, cannot see because I was trying to get to work, and they didn't have community transit when I was starting. Now, we deserve … this community transit. It helps us with stability, our well-being and getting around. And without community transit, I don't know, some of them [may] commit suicide be010 1
cause there's a lot of stress. We can't afford Ztrip or Uber." Reed praised ITL Solutions' service for providing "door-to-door" service with no problems. "They come with their hearts, with open minds, and see our needs." Commissioner Mike Kohler lauded the work Reed and his fellow GCE workers do at Corry Station. "Thank you for what you do. I worked with a lot of GCE employees. You guys are very valued. The bases would not be able to do their mission without you … I know how important your jobs are to maintain just the daily functions of operations on the base." County officials argued the county could provide the same services for less cost, but the commissioners pushed back against the recommendation. Commissioner Steven Barry said, "Since we made the change to ITL, I can't remember three phone calls or emails in eight years of complaints about the service itself." The BCC directed Moreno to negotiate for lower trip costs while maintaining a relationship with ITL Solutions. But a plan to get rid of the paratransit provider had been in the works for months.
THE TRIFECTA
On April 1, 2025, ECAT launched FlexTransit, a microtransit pilot program that would use smaller vehicles to provide bus service to people not on the regular bus routes. However, ECAT didn't offer the service to all residents, instead initially offering it to paratransit customers served by ITL Solutions (with the promise of fully opening FlexTransit to the general public in fall 2025). The county claimed this program was not intended to replace paratransit services provided by ITL Solutions, but ultimately, FlexTransit did just that. On Dec. 2, 2025, Interim Mass Transit Director Thaddeus Davenport reported to the Escambia County Transportation Disadvantaged Coordinating Board that FlexTransit took 19,000 trips that should have been dispatched to ITL Solutions. Meanwhile, Moreno never seriously negotiated with ITL Solutions, according to its business development director, Harold Griffin Jr. Frustrated with the county administrator's
stonewalling, ITL Solutions surrendered paratransit services to ECAT on Dec. 22. Before the 2025 Christmas holidays, ECAT had the transportation trifecta. It had the general bus service that ran regular routes throughout the county. Its FlexTransit controlled the paratransit services, which helped disabled and disadvantaged people who couldn't use larger buses. ECAT also ran the Transportation Disadvantaged (TD) service, which provides before- or after-hours gap rides for people with disabilities, ensuring they are picked up and not left behind outside ECAT's service hours for its regular buses and FlexTransit. In other words, the TD service gets people like Patrick Reed home when they get out of work.
FLEXTRANSIT ISSUES
At the BCC meeting on Feb. 5, Moreno wanted the county to keep control over the whole trifecta. He recommended the board approve a Memorandum of Agreement between Escambia County and the Florida Commission for the Transportation Disadvantaged, allowing the county to continue serving as Community Transportation Coordinator (CTC) through June 30, 2030. Fourteen citizens spoke on the agenda item. Most voiced their support for ITL Solutions returning; none spoke in favor of FlexTransit, despite county officials claiming the service has a "90% on-time" record (according to ECAT's software application). "They're late, they leave them, don't come back to pick them up, and it's just ridiculous," said former ITL Solutions employee Angelo Callins, referring to FlexTransit. "Those years that I worked with ITL were some of the most rewarding years that I've ever worked. I had some rewarding years with the school district working with kids, but to transport the elderly and the disabled and wheelchair clients, it was rewarding. And whatever could be done to restore ITL's professionalism in this matter will be greatly appreciated, because it's a travesty what has happened." Carolyn Grawi, executive director of the Center for Independent Living of Northwest Florida, outlined the major issues with FlexTransit. "We have problems with rides not getting picked up on time, not getting to where they need to be on
time all the time. We also have issues with getting things scheduled, getting to places where you need to be. We have issues with how drivers are trained or not trained." She pointed out issues with ECAT's rider app and its new phone system, too. "We get calls about the [people] who cannot use the system. We didn't have that problem before. We continue to have that now. You have this new phone system in place; we still can't get through. We still have wait times on calls. Yesterday, I canceled my ride, and still they went to the place to pick up anyway. So they're not being efficient with the taxpayer dollars either. And that wasn't just yesterday; this has happened more than once." GCE's Lori Kaim, who brought Patrick Reed to the BCC meeting last September, reminded commissioners how critical reliable transportation is to her disabled team members: "These are our family members. We want to make sure that they stay and have their independence. They're not getting to work on time." She continued, "So they're stressing out other team members because they have to pick up the slack when they can't get to work on time. So I please beg you all to understand the importance of these jobs for people." Kaim said team members have reported being late for work since FlexTransit took over paratransit. "It started within the last 40 days, where they're not getting picked up, or they're late … because of an app issue or something."
ITL SOLUTIONS RETURNS
When the commissioners pressed ITL Solutions' Harold Griffith Jr. on why negotiations with the county failed to reach an agreement on a lower paratransit trip rate, Griffith said Moreno did not bring any suggestions to the table. Griffith pointed out several requirements in the paratransit agreement that made the trip rate high, and he said ITL Solutions had hoped to look at possible contract modifications with Moreno. "What I was working with the administrator on is that if we could remove some of those requirements, we could for sure get the rate down. But I never got anything on getting rid of the requirements that were really bumping it up," he said. "We've been partners for eight inweekly.net
years, and we've had an excellent relationship with the board and their previous administrations. And so, the rate can always be reduced, but you have to be able to come to the table and work with us." After a lengthy discussion, the commissioners rejected Moreno's recommendation and unanimously voted to relinquish the county's role as the transit coordinator. They agreed to continue operations through June 30 to ensure no lapse in service. Through a Request for Proposal, the state chose ITL Solutions' RideITL Cares as the transit coordinator for the Transportation Disadvantaged (TD) program, effective July 1.
NO SMOOTH TRANSITION
In the months after the commissioners' vote, ECAT repeatedly promised a smooth transition of the coordination role to RideITL Cares. Yet it has been anything but easy for the disabled riders, ITL Solutions, GCE and the Center for Independent Living. "ECAT stated at multiple meetings that there was to be a smooth transition," Grawi said. "In fact, they are refusing to provide the state or the state-contracted agency [RideITL Solutions] the necessary records to have a smooth transition." The records in question are the TD rider applications for the service. According to Grawi, the county has refused to deliver them to the state or to RideITL Cares, claiming it would violate the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act. Because ECAT didn't transfer Patrick Reed's information to RideITL Cares, Reed was left without a ride home earlier this month. After talking with him, Grawi has since put together what happened. "ECAT took him there and didn't have a ride to pick him up at 8:30 p.m. because its service ends at 8 p.m. The information that ITL had wasn't enough to pick him up, because it didn't have a time. It didn't have the right address. They didn't know who he was. They didn't have a current application. It was a mess. I was confused because of so many missteps … I couldn't get [Reed] on the phone because he was at work on the base," Grawi explained. "I finally get it all worked out. I get the new application filled out. I get him the ride. ITL goes out there to pick him up. He's then not there. I'm like, 'Oh my God, where is he?' I finally get him on the phone. He's on an ECAT bus. ECAT did send somebody after hours when they told us that after July 1, they're not picking anybody up," she continued. "Nobody at ECAT is communicating, not even with the passenger such as, 'Oh, well, we know you don't have a ride yet. We're going to come get you anyway.'" In June, ECAT sent a letter to all transportation disadvantaged riders notifying them that RideITL Cares would be the new provider, effective July 1. The notice stated, "ECAT will work collaboratively with RideITL Cares under a structured transition plan that provides for an orderly transfer of CTC responsibilities." It also said: "All TD eligibility records, trip reservations and active service records will be transferred and validated before the official service transition." Inweekly requested the transition plan from the county and asked for an interview with "whoever is responsible for the transition and ensuring all records were sent to RideITL Cares." July 23, 2026
The county replied that it would "politely decline an interview request on this topic," adding, "Escambia County has provided RideITL Cares with the necessary information to transition the Transportation Disadvantaged service, including rider qualifications and trip information." In its June notice, ECAT stated it wanted to ensure the TD riders experience no interruption in service. ECAT did not mention TD riders needed new applications. However, the county told Inweekly that TD riders needed to complete new applications to "minimize any disruption in service." Applications could be picked up and dropped off in person at ITL Solutions' office. GCE's Senior Director of Transition and Support Services, Linda Bloodworth, said she had only learned TD services were being transferred to RideITL Cares on July 10. "We ended up with 10 to 12 team members impacted," she said. "We've had to reach out to the new provider [RideITL Cares], trying to figure out how to get their information transferred to the new provider so that there's continuation of services." Bloodworth added, "One of my team members did speak directly with someone at ECAT, and I do believe that they were working with them to help make the transition, and I believe they extended our deadline." GCE helped one team member complete a new application and then delivered it to RideITL Cares because the individual needed the ride to and from work. Bloodworth said, "It's been rocky and not very smooth. Asking [our team members] to do a new application the day of or the day before they have to get to work is next to impossible." Grawi has pledged to help riders complete the new applications, even if she has to work after hours to ensure they have transportation. For her, the miscommunication regarding applications and the lip service paid to a smooth transition leaves people with disabilities and other disadvantaged riders feeling like ping-pong balls, bounced from one place to the next. Under federal law, Escambia County must provide transportation for disabled individuals as part of its mass transit program. It's mandatory, not optional. Grawi's message to county officials is simple: "Don't play games with people with disabilities."
TRANSPORTATION CONTACTS FLEXTRANSIT-ADA PARATRANSIT Hours: 8 a.m.-5 p.m., Monday-Saturday (850) 471-6657 flextransit@myescambia.com RIDEITL-TRANSPORTATION DISADVANTAGED (TD) Hours: 24 hours, Monday-Saturday (850) 332-2209 FLORIDA RELAY/HEARING IMPAIRED 7-1-1 or (800) 955-8770 TD OMBUDSMAN (800) 983-2435 Additional Help CENTER FOR INDEPENDENT LIVING OF NORTHWEST FLORIDA (850) 595-5566 cilnwf.org info@cilnwf.org {in} 11
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inweekly.net
WEEK OF JULY 23-29
Arts & Entertainment art, film, music, stage, books and other signs of civilization...
More Than Nostalgia By Joshua Encinias
Filmmaker Steven Spielberg and composer John Williams have worked together for fifty years. This summer, the Saenger Theatre is celebrating that partnership over five weeks with "The Sound & The Story"—a summer screening series featuring one film from each decade the pair has made movies together.
Every week, a local organist will play selections from Williams' scores an hour before the screenings. Attendees can hear the ominous E-F notes from "Jaws," the soaring "Jurassic Park" theme and the propulsive "Indiana Jones" fanfare, all before a single frame plays. The series opens Sunday, July 26 with "Jaws"
and closes with "Lincoln." In between, you can see "E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial," "Jurassic Park" and "Catch Me If You Can." The Saenger's ability to stage all this comes down to the organ itself: a Robert Morton pipe organ built in 1925 and affectionately nicknamed Lola. When the theater closed in a state of disrepair in 1975, its owners donated the building to the City of Pensacola. With no money to fix it, the city nearly tore the Saenger down. But a citizens' campaign to save Lola, along with the theater, kept it off the demolition list and, a year later, earned it a spot on the National Register of Historic Places. Lola belongs to a small group of individually named theater organs, and is among the few Robert Mortons still installed in their original theaters. Beyond conventional pipes, she's equipped to mimic a small orchestra, with a piano attachment and a full percussion "toy counter" of drums, cymbals and bells. That's standard for theater organs of the era, but rare to actually hear working today. Her pipes and mechanics sit above the balcony boxes flanking the stage arch, and her console, ordinarily on display in the Saenger's Green Room Lounge, will be visible on stage during each screening. To keep Lola working, the Friends of the Saenger, a nonprofit that formed to restore the theater, has raised roughly $330,000. Part of the funds went toward rebuilding her console, work made more urgent by hurricane damage the organ has sustained over time. The organ's right-side pipes, used for sound effects rather than musical notes, are not yet fully restored. A new fundraising campaign to complete the work will launch in conjunction with the Spielberg series. And as the Saenger's history is still being written, so is the series' lineup. The screening of "Jurassic Park" carries different weight than it did when the schedule was an-
nounced. Actor Sam Neill, who played Dr. Alan Grant in the film, died on July 13. The screening now doubles as an informal tribute. That reaches people who already follow movies closely, but most of the Saenger's potential audience isn't that crowd. It's locals who have never walked through its doors. Reaching them is the real challenge for Kristen Carter, the Saenger's senior marketing and sales manager, and it's why she deliberately set the price low. Over the years, Carter's heard a version of the same sentence too often from lifelong residents: "I've never been to the Saenger before, and I've lived in Pensacola for 35 years." That's why tickets for each film are just $7 at the box office, contrasting with what she's seen families pay elsewhere. "Your cheapest ticket is $65," Carter says of touring shows that come through town. Add up four tickets, plus things like parking and concessions, and the total isn't feasible for many families. At $7 a seat, the Saenger is betting their price can get families through the door this summer. {in}
THE SOUND & THE STORY
WHAT: A five-week summer film series celebrating filmmaker Steven Spielberg and composer John Williams WHEN: Organ performances begin at 2 p.m.; screenings start at 3 p.m. FILM SCHEDULE: "Jaws" Sunday, July 26; "E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial" Saturday, Aug. 1; "Jurassic Park" Sunday, Aug. 9; "Catch Me If You Can" Sunday, Aug. 16; and "Lincoln" Sunday, Aug. 23 WHERE: Saenger Theatre, 118 S. Palafox COST: $7 DETAILS: pensacolasaenger.com
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a&e happenings BLIND DATE WITH A BOOK (AND CATS!)
Perfect Day Bookstore and Coastal Cat Café present this surprise book pop-up. For $50 you get a hot drink of choice, 75 minutes in the cat lounge and a "blind date" book of your choice. Event is 7 p.m. Thursday, July 23. Details and more available at coastalcatpcola.com/event-details/ blind-date-with-a-bookand-cats.
WHEN TWO OF US MEET Play by Emily Si-
monian will make its debut on the PenArts stage 7:30 p.m. Thursday, July 23; Friday, July 24; Saturday, July 25; and 2:30 p.m. Sunday, July 26 located at 306 N. DeVilliers St. Tickets are $20 and available at penarts.org.
DISNEY'S THE LITTLE MERMAID Pensacola
NONPROFITS & FUNDRAISERS
ANIMAL ALLIES FLORIDA BINGO Animal
Allies Florida hosts bingo twice monthly at Beef 'O' Brady's, 1 New Market St., Cantonment (on Nine Mile Road near Pine Forest Road). The cost is 10 rounds of bingo for $10, with cash prizes for winners. For more information, visit facebook.com/animalalliesflorida.
ANIMAL ALLIES CAT AND KITTEN ADOPTION Visit Pet Supermarket 11 a.m.-3 p.m. every first and third Saturday of the month at 6857 N. Ninth Ave. to meet your furever friend. Visit aaflorida.org for details.
CARING & SHARING MINISTRY FOOD DRIVE The Gloria Green Caring & Sharing Min-
istry is attached to the Historic St. Joseph Catholic Church, 140 W. Government St. The ministry feeds the homeless 10:30 a.m. Tuesdays. The ministry's food pantry opens 10 a.m. and also has clothing. Food donations needed are pop-top canned goods, Beanie Weenies, Vienna sausage, potted meat, cans of tuna and chicken and soups. Clothing donations needed include tennis shoes for men and women, as well as sweatshirts and new underwear for men in sizes small, medium and large. Call DeeDee Green at (850) 723-3390 for details.
ARTS & CULTURE
BROADWAY IN PENSACOLA 2026-2027
Season subscriptions to Broadway in Pensacola are available now at broadwayinpensacola.com. Performances will take place at Saenger Theatre, 118 S. Palafox St. The 2026-2027 season includes "Waitress" Oct. 26-27; "The Wiz," Jan. 12-13; "Mystic Pizza," March 18-19 and "Legally Blonde—The Musical," April 29-30. 414 1
Little Theatre presents the classic fairytale. Performances are 7 p.m. Friday, July 24; Saturday, July 25; Thursday, July 30; Friday, July 31; Thursday, Aug. 6 and Friday, Aug. 7; and 2:30 p.m. Sunday, July 26; Saturday, Aug. 1; Sunday, Aug. 2; Saturday, Aug. 8 and Sunday, Aug. 9. Tickets are $15 and up. Thursday performances are half-price for adult tickets. Details available at pensacolalittletheatre.com.
OUR HOUSE: IN PROGRESS A DIY pop-up
exhibition 4-9 p.m. Friday, July 24, celebrating art-making and reciprocity in community. Experience features live art-making, unfinished pieces, glances into the process, performance art and unreleased music. Cost is $10 at the door; proceeds go to Strive and Pyramid Pensacola, a program that supports artists with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Direct message @the.undergrowth for address.
BABY HAPPY TOAST: COMIC LAUNCH AND SIGNING Celebrate the launch of a new
comic book July 24-25 at Rest and Relax Inn, 7200 Plantation Road.
FRIENDS OF THE WEST FLORIDA PUBLIC LIBRARY'S TWO-DAY SUMMER MULTIMEDIA SALE Shop books and more 9 a.m.-5
p.m. Saturday, July 25 and 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Sunday, July 26 at the Downtown Library, 239 N. Spring St. Free admission.
COASTAL COLLECTORS EXPO Buy, sell or
trade with hundreds of vendors at this collectors' trade show 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday, July 25 at Pensacola Fairgrounds, 6655 Mobile Highway. Free admission. Visit flcoastalcollectors.com for details.
HOW TO MAKE BANANA POT ROAST—309 CLOSING EXHIBITION AND FILM SCREENING Join 309 Artist in
Residence Rainn Forrest and Bea Hurd for a closing exhibition 6 p.m. Saturday, July 25 at 309 N. Sixth Ave. Details available at facebook.com/309punkproject.
BLACK AND WHITE SHOW AT ARTEL GALLERY Currently on view at the Artel Gallery until
CHRISTMAS IN JULY MARKETPLACE Get a
July 31. Exhibit also features works by Man Stanly at the Vault, Stephanie Nowlin at the Pandora Room, Kris Billhorn at the Backroom and Bruce Men Ne at the Award Alcove. Location is 223 S. Palafox St. Hours are 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. For more information, visit facebook.com/artelpensacola.
SAENGER THEATRE SUMMER MOVIE SERIES The historic Saenger Theatre has an-
THE POETICS OF PAINTING: A CELEBRATION OF THE LINEAGE AND LEGACY OF JOHN MARKOWITZ Pensacola Museum of Art
head start on holiday shopping 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, July 25 at 1551 E. Heinberg St. Details available at facebook.com/thewomansclubofpensacola.
nounced the lineup for the summer movie series. Its theme is "The Sound and the Story: Five Decades of Steven Spielberg and John Williams." Screenings are 3 p.m. at Saenger Theatre, 118 S. Palafox St. Tickets are $7 per person. Full concessions are available at each screening. Dates are: "Jaws" on Sunday, July 26; "E.T.: The ExtraTerrestrial" on Saturday, Aug. 1; "Jurassic Park" on Sunday, Aug. 9; "Catch Me If You Can" on Sunday, Aug. 16; and "Lincoln" on Sunday, Aug. 23. Details available at pensacolasaenger.com.
READ PENSACOLA BOOK CLUB Join the Read Pensacola Book Club for upcoming book discussions. On Tuesday, July 28, the club will discuss "When the Moon Hatched" by Sarah A. Parker and Tuesday, Aug. 4 the discussion will be "I Who Have Never Known Men" by Jacqueline Harpman. Book club takes place 5-6 p.m. at Café Single Fin, 380 N. Ninth Ave. Details available at instagram.com/readpensacola. IMPROVABLE CAUSE PRESENTS CHEESE AT THE TABLE Improv show is 7 p.m.
Wednesday, July 29 at The Handlebar, 319 N. Tarragona St. Details and tickets available at thehandlebar850.com.
exhibit features more than 50 works of art created by Markowitz's mentors and students on view through Aug. 4. The Pensacola Museum of Art, 407 S. Jefferson St. For more information, visit pensacolamuseum.org.
THE ART OF ANIMATION Pensacola Museum of Art exhibit featuring illustrations from the Gerald and Vicki Adcox collection. On view through Sept. 6. Visit the museum at 407 S. Jefferson St. Find more details and museum hours at pensacolamuseum.org. HUMANISTS OF WEST FLORIDA MONTHLY MEETING The Humanists of West Florida
meet at the Ever'man Education Center, 351 W. Garden St. 10:15 a.m. every second Sunday of the month. For more information, visit facebook.com/ humanistsofwestflorida.
WEST GARDEN DISTRICT ARTISAN MARKET Shop local vendors and artisans 1-6
p.m. Fridays starting May 1 at Del Mar Plaza, 1617 W. Garden St. For more information, contact info@ub-pensacola.com.
FIRST FRIDAY AT BLUE MORNING GALLERY Visit Blue Morning Gallery, 21 S.
SPEED FRIENDING AT ODD COLONY Head
to Odd Colony, 260 N. Palafox St. for a laid-back evening making new friends 6-8 p.m. Thursday, July 30. Details available at facebook.com/oddcolony.
Palafox St., 5:30 p.m. every first Friday of the month for a reception with wine, live music and occasional artist demonstrations. Visit bluemorninggallery.com for details.
TAROT CLUB Game night at Golden Hour Tea
MOVIE NIGHTS AT MUGS & JUGS Mugs
House, 2950 N. 12th Ave. 5:30-7 p.m. Friday, July 31. Details available at goldenhourpensacola.org.
WATERCOLOR PAINT + SIP Painting class
& Jugs, 12080 Scenic Highway, hosts monthly movie nights. Watch their website for dates and movie announcements at mugsjugsbar.com. All movies are screened 9 p.m. on select Saturdays.
HOT WAX VINYL FAIR Shop for vinyl trea-
CLUB 27 COMEDY SHOW Visit Lili Marlene's at Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. on the first and third Sundays of the month for a night of comedy. Doors open at 6 p.m. show starts at 7 p.m. Visit sevillequarter.com for details.
with The Traveling Painter is 2 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 2 at Gary's Brewery, 208 Newman Ave. Details and ticket information available at facebook.com/garysbrew.
sures 12-4 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 4 at Odd Colony, 260 N. Palafox St. There will be live DJs. Details available at facebook.com/oddcolony.
ROAD TO REVOLUTION EXHIBIT AT PENSACOLA MUSEUM OF HISTORY "Road
to Revolution: Commemorating the 250th Anniversary of the American War for Independence" highlights how Pensacola helped shape the outcome of the American Revolution. Developed in partnership with America250, the exhibit explores how a Gulf Coast port played a pivotal role in a global conflict. The exhibit is on display through May 2027. The museum is located at 330 S. Jefferson St. For more information about the UWF Historic Trust, visit historicpensacola.org.
PENSACOLA HERITAGE FOUNDATION LECTURES Learn Pensacola and Northwest
Florida history through interesting, informal lectures every other Tuesday at The Wright Place, 80 E. Wright St. Doors open at 11 a.m., and lunch is served at 11:30 a.m. The lecture starts at noon and lasts one hour. Lecture cost is $5 for non-members and is free to members. Lunches are $12. For reservations, call (850) 380-7759.
PENSACOLA CINEMA ART FILM SCREENINGS Pensacola Cinema Art will screen films
select weekends during the summer season at 220 W. Garden St. Tickets are $10, and payment is cash only. Visit pensacolacinemaart.com for their complete schedule. inweekly.net
a&e happenings PENSACOLA ROSE SOCIETY Monthly meetings are normally 6 p.m. the second Monday of the month at the Pensacola Garden Center, 1850 N. Ninth Ave. Visit pensacolarosesociety.org for more information. BTB COMEDY Watch live stand-up comedy in
open mic style 7 p.m. Mondays at Odd Colony, 260 N. Palafox St. Follow BTB Comedy on Facebook for updates.
SCRIPTEASERS Join writers at Pensacola Little
Theatre, 400 S. Jefferson St., for Scripteasers every second Saturday of the month. Visit pensacolalittletheatre.com for details.
PALAFOX MARKET Palafox Market is 9 a.m.-2
p.m. Saturdays. The event features local farmers, artists and crafters on North and South Palafox Streets at Martin Luther King Jr. Plaza and Plaza Ferdinand. For updates, visit facebook.com/ downtownpensacola.
SUNDAY MARKET ON PALAFOX Rain-orshine market is Sundays from 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Located in downtown Pensacola, between Chase and Gregory Streets in the MLK Plaza. Market features handmade crafts, art, baked goods, international cuisine and fresh produce. Visit smopalafox.com for details. CABARET DRAG SHOWCASE AT AMERICAN LEGION POST #193 Don't miss Cabaret
Drag Showcase every second and fourth Saturday
July 23, 2026
at the American Legion Post #193, 2708 N. 12th Ave. Doors open 8 p.m. Showtime is 10 p.m. For more information, contact show director Taize Sinclair-Santi at taizesinclairsanti@gmail.com.
SPIRITS OF SEVILLE QUARTER GHOST TOUR AND LUNCHEON Dine inside Pen-
sacola's oldest and most haunted restaurant and investigate the spirits with actual paranormal equipment at Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. Tickets are $12 and include a voucher toward Seville Quarter's menu. Tours are 11 a.m.-2 p.m. weekdays and 2-4 p.m. Sundays. Make an appointment by calling (850) 941-4321.
AFTER DARK: SEVILLE QUARTER GHOSTS, MURDER, MAYHEM AND MYSTERY TOUR AND DINNER After Dark Para-
normal Investigation and Dinner happens inside one of Pensacola's most haunted restaurants with real ghost-hunting equipment 6-8 p.m. Sundays. Listen as your guide weaves tales of ghosts, debauchery, murder, mayhem, paranormal activities, history and more related to Seville Quarter and downtown Historic Pensacola. After your ghost tour, enjoy dinner at Seville Quarter Palace Café, 130 E. Government St. Reservations are required. Call (850) 941-4321. Tickets are available at pensacolaghostevents.com.
LIVE MUSIC
BANDS ON THE BEACH The weekly concert
series takes place 7-9 p.m. every Tuesday through Oct. 27 at the Gulfside Pavilion on Pensacola
Beach. Free to attend. Upcoming dates: Vinyl Revival on July 28 and The New Cahoots on Aug. 4. For more information, call the SRIA at (850) 932-2257 or go to visitpensacolabeach.com for the latest updates.
LIVE MUSIC AT FIVE SISTERS BLUES CAFÉ
Enjoy live music Thursdays through Sundays at Five Sisters, 421 W. Belmont St. Upcoming dates: The Glenn Parker Band 6-10 p.m. Saturdays; Curt Bol Quintet 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Sundays; and John Wheeler 6-8 p.m. Tuesdays.
DESTIN CONRAD Show is 6 p.m. Thursday, July
23 at The Handlebar, 319 Tarragona St. Details and tickets available at thehandlebar850.com.
OBITUARY Show is 7 p.m. Friday, July 24 at The Handlebar, 319 Tarragona St. Details and tickets available at thehandlebar850.com. JUVENILE & THE 400 DEGREEZ BAND
Show is 6 p.m. Friday, July 24 at Vinyl Music Hall, 2 S. Palafox St. Details and tickets available at vinylmusichall.com.
SAFETY TRAINING Show is 7 p.m. Saturday,
July 25 at The Handlebar, 319 Tarragona St. Details and tickets available at thehandlebar850.com.
KEYLA RICHARDSON & FRIENDS Show is 7
p.m. Saturday, July 25 at Saenger Theatre, 118 S. Palafox St. Details and tickets available at pensacolasaenger.com.
REGGAETON RAVE Show is 9 p.m. Saturday,
July 25 at Vinyl Music Hall, 2 S. Palafox St. Tickets and details at vinylmusichall.com.
INTERNAL SUFFERING Show is 7 p.m.
Tuesday, July 28 at The Handlebar, 319 N. Tarragona St. Details and tickets available at thehandlebar850.com.
PENSACOLA SONGWRITER ROUNDS SERIES Show is 6 p.m. Thursday, July 30 at The
Handlebar, 319 N. Tarragona St. Details and tickets available at thehandlebar850.com.
BANDS ON THE BAYOU Bay Kings Bang will perform at Bands on the Bayou 6:30-8:30 p.m. Friday, July 31 at Bayview Park, 2001 E. Lloyd St. Details available at bandsonthebayou.com.
LIVERPOOL LEGENDS: THE COMPLETE BEATLES EXPERIENCE! Show is 7:30
p.m. Friday, July 31 at Saenger Theatre, 118 S. Palafox St. Details and tickets available at pensacolasaenger.com.
BLACKSMITH Show is 7 p.m. Friday, July 31 at
The Handlebar, 319 N. Tarragona St. Details and tickets available at thehandlebar850.com.
TWIN FIN Show is 8 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 1 at The Handlebar, 319 N. Tarragona St. Details and tickets available at thehandlebar850.com. PENSACOLA UNPLUGGED: JERRY SALLEY The next Pensacola Unplugged will be 7 p.m. Sat-
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a&e happenings urday, Aug. 1 at the Studer Community Institute, 220 W. Garden St. featuring Jerry Salley.
instrument and jam. Visit facebook.com/oddcolony for details.
COWBOY MOUTH Show is 7 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 1 at Vinyl Music Hall, 2 S. Palafox St. Details and tickets available at vinylmusichall.com.
LIVE MUSIC NIGHTLY AT THE DISTRICT
THE WALLFLOWERS: BRINGING DOWN THE HORSE TOUR Show is 8 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 2 at Saenger Theatre, 118 S. Palafox St. Details and tickets available at pensacolasaenger.com.
TRHÄ Show is 6 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 4 at The Handlebar, 319 N. Tarragona St. Details and tickets available at thehandlebar850.com.
OPEN MIC AT ALGA BEER CO. Country Club
is hosted by Brett Patterson of Snake and the Rabbit every Monday night. Sign-ups start at 6 p.m. and music starts at 6:30 p.m. All ages welcome. Visit facebook.com/algabeerco for more details.
MONDAY NIGHT BLUES AT SEVILLE QUARTER The Blues Society of Northwest Florida brings blues to Florida 7 p.m. Mondays at Lili Marlene's in Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. Food and drink specials start at 8 p.m. Details are at sevillequarter.com.
PENSACOLA PICK NIGHT AT ODD COLONY Music pickers of all levels are invited to play
7-9 p.m. every last Monday of the month at Odd Colony, 260 N. Palafox St. Bring your acoustic
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Enjoy music and fine dining at The District: Seville Steak & Seafood, 123 E. Government St., every Tuesday through Thursday starting at 6 p.m. Their regular weekly schedule is Tuesday Night Jazz with Love Brynnevere, Wednesdays with Platinum Bones and Thursdays Dan Lovelock on the piano. They also have live music on Fridays and Saturdays during happy hour starting at 4 p.m. Visit facebook.com/districtsteaks for details and updates.
MUSIC RX: JUST WHAT THE DOCTOR ORDERED Jazz Pensacola and Escambia County
Medical Society present free concerts on the first Wednesday of the month in the cafeteria of Ascension Sacred Heart Pensacola, 5151 N. Ninth Ave. from 1:30-3:30 p.m. For more information, visit jazzpensacola.com.
ROSIE O'GRADY'S DUELING PIANO SHOW Watch the famous dueling piano show 8
p.m. Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights at Rosie O' Grady's at Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. Doors open at 7 p.m.
NOCHE TROPICAL: LATIN NIGHT AT SEVILLE QUARTER Presented by Latin Fla-
vor Entertainment every Wednesday at 7 p.m. at Phineas Phogg's in Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. Visit sevillequarter.com for more information.
OPEN MIC NIGHT AT GARY'S BREWERY
Open mic night is hosted by Renee Amelia 6 p.m. every other Wednesday at Gary's Brewery, 208 Newman Ave. Visit facebook.com/garysbrew for details.
CCB SUMMER LUAU PARTY Enjoy roast pork, tropical brews, play zones and bounce houses starting 1 p.m. Saturday, July 25 at Coastal County Brewing, 3041 E. Olive Road. Details available at coastalcountybrewing.com/events.
VIBE IRIE REGGAE: LIVE IN THE COURTYARD Enjoy Vibe Irie Reggae band 4-10 p.m.
HALFWAY TO PAW-DI GRAS KARAOKE NIGHT Wolfgang presents this karaoke night
Sundays at the End O' the Alley Courtyard at Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St.
LIVE MUSIC AT CALVERT'S Listen to live music 5-8 p.m. Sundays at Calvert's in the Heights, 670 Scenic Highway. Visit facebook.com/calvertsintheheights for details.
where you can also learn how to get involved with Paw-di Gras. Event is 8-11 p.m. Friday, July 24 at Perfect Plain Brewing Co., 50 E. Garden St. Details available at wolfgangparkandbrews.com.
FAMILY CAMP: CRAVIN' ASIAN Cooking
FOOD + DRINKS
class is 5-8 p.m. Wednesday, July 29, Thursday, July 30 and Friday, July 31 at Pensacola Cooks, 4051 Barrancas Ave., Ste. C. Cost is $210 per person and includes all three days. Details and tickets available at pensacolacooks.com.
PLANT BINGO AT ODD COLONY Event
BOUQUETS AND BELLINIS Join Wendy from Aliff Farms for a hands-on bouquetbuilding class 6-9 p.m. Thursday, July 30 at Bodacious, 407-D S. Palafox St. Tickets are $99.49 and available at eventbrite.com.
HANDS ON SUSHI CLASS Join the cooking class 6-8 p.m. Thursday, July 23 at Bodacious, 407-D S. Palafox St. Tickets and information at eventbrite.com. with Jade Tree Succulents & Evie's Eclectics 6-8 p.m. Thursday, July 23 at Odd Colony, 260 N. Palafox St. Details and tickets available at facebook.com/oddcolony.
ROARING 20S MURDER MYSTERY DINNER THEATRE Shows are 7 p.m. Friday, July 24 and
Saturday, July 25 at Heritage Hall in Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. Tickets are $69 and can be purchased on eventbrite.com.
BACK TO SCHOOL: LUNCH BOX LAB Get
ready to pack a tasty school lunch with Bodacious. Class is 6-8 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 4 at Bodacious, 407-D S. Palafox St. Details and tickets available at eventbrite.com. for more listings visit inweekly.net
inweekly.net
a&e
By Dakota Parks
Clowning Around with Rainn Forrest and Bea Hurd
Rainn Forrest and Bea Hurd / Courtesy Photo
What happens when two queer clowns, a pile of bananas and the crushing weight of fascism collide? You get "How to Make a Banana Pot Roast," a hilarious, unsettling fever dream of a film by artists Rainn Forrest and Bea Hurd. Through gender clowning and a feast of unruly food imagery, the project explores queer and trans identity, intimate friendship, sexual liberation and the absurdity of living through an increasingly authoritarian political moment. Forrest and Hurd first met during an artist residency in 2021 and have been collaborating ever since. Now both MFA candidates at Louisiana State University, the pair are serving as July Artists-in-Residence at 309 Punk Project, where they will debut the film they spent the past year creating.
"Clowning for me is a way to get in touch with weird, primal, childish or silly desires." Bea Hurd "Clowning for me is a way to get in touch with weird, primal, childish or silly desires," Hurd said. "My main clown persona is a little girl, because when I put on the costume it allows me to be silly and childish and absurd and mocking and frolic and run around and cause havoc." Hurd's introduction to clowning came through Forrest, who first encountered the art form while participating in Experience Cult Research Group, July 23, 2026
a paratheatrical collective. Together, they began exploring the space between drag and clowning— what they affectionately call "gender clowning." "One thing that really draws me to clowning is the historical way in which it has been used to subvert social norms and hierarchies," Forrest said. "I'm really connected to the jester figure because jesters didn't just tell jokes to the king; a lot of the time their jokes would hold truths in them that would cause the king to change things in society." At its core, "How to Make a Banana Pot Roast" follows the artists' clown personas on a journey through imagined futures. "Drag and clowning have a lot of overlaps like bodily humor and the politics of it all," Hurd said. "For us, gender clowning is like trying on other people's sexual or gender scripts and kind of playing around within those taboo stereotypes to better understand your own gender." The film centers on a married couple stumbling into their queerness, with Hurd (who identifies as a nonbinary lesbian) playing a bumbling husband, and Forrest (a transmasculine person) taking on the role of a doting wife. "By taking on this theatrical role as a doting wife, which is something I have never wanted to be or related to in any way, I'm exploring gender as if I'm playing into what queer people imagine straight people to be—but in an absurdist way," Forrest said. Throughout the film, food also becomes an unexpected language of its own. Via slapstick ba-
nana comedy, hot dog cigarettes, sensual cooking scenes and sapphic-coded feasts, food functions as both a visual joke and a way to explore desire, consumption and the body. For Hurd, food has long been intertwined with artistic practice. In turn, that's influenced Forrest's exploration of food as creative medium. "I grew up with eating disorders, with cycles of bulimia and anorexia, and I came to using food in my art when I started studying sexology and exploring carnal desires," Hurd said. "I became interested in ideas of power, including dom/sub relationships and taking back control through weird experiments with food. In 'Banana Pot Roast,' food has become a symbol of reconnecting with natural impulses and desires. Right now, I'm editing a scene where I'm completely naked, eating a whole rotisserie chicken while dressed as a clown." One major influence was the 1966 Czech absurdist feminist film "Daisies," which shaped both Hurd and Forrest's understanding of food as a tool for rebellion and expression. "That film also had a big influence on my art practice, because there's a scene with a giant feast. Suddenly they're eating all of the food, breaking plates, going crazy, and I've always interpreted that as a lesbian sex scene, but they couldn't show that on film. A lot of things were censored in early queer media, and they had to find other ways to show desire and consumption," Forrest noted. Like the filmmakers who came before them,
Hurd and Forrest use absurd imagery to explore queer desire in ways that resist traditional portrayals. In "How to Make a Banana Pot Roast," nudity is not spectacle or a reinforcement of cinema's often male gaze; instead, the body becomes a way to challenge whose bodies and desires are considered worthy of representation. "As a more plus-sized individual, I like showing my queer, chunky body on screen, and I like showing Rainn's clearly trans body on film, which I think are bodies not often represented. And when they are, the sexuality feels very inauthentic," Hurd said. Beyond sexuality, the film examines another form of intimacy: friendship. The artists, who once dated, draw from their own history together. "While we're now completely platonic, so much of this weird, ravenous sexual energy never left," Hurd said. "I'm really interested in playing with this highly sexualized platonic friendship realm that I think a lot of queer people exist within, because we have the unique ability to be friends with our exes and maintain these lingering sexual currents that are almost unheard of in many straight relationships." "Coming into your queerhood," Hurd added, often follows a "nonlinear, absurd path." That nonlinear approach shaped the filmmaking process itself. The artists rarely rehearse, instead allowing performances to unfold organically in front of the camera. "I consider our filmmaking to be private performances, and then the concept and art piece comes from the editing," Hurd said. "It's kind of just letting it unravel how it will in front of the camera and then taking what the art gods have given us and making sense of it in post-production." That willingness to embrace unpredictability makes the film an evolving piece. While the screening at 309 Punk Project will showcase the film in a two-channel format, Forrest and Hurd view the project as something that can continue growing, with plans to add new scenes and explore future iterations. "The overarching theme of the film is absurdity; fascism is an absurdity in itself, because nothing makes sense," Forrest said. "So, this film, in a lot of ways, does have a loose narrative, but there are a lot of things that just kind of don't make sense. Like, you never learn what a banana pot roast is—and that is part of the intent. The experience is trying to understand things that may not even make sense." {in}
"HOW TO MAKE A BANANA POT ROAST" SCREENING
WHAT: An absurdist, experimental gender clowning film by Rainn Forrest and Bea Hurd WHEN: 6 p.m. Saturday, July 25 WHERE: 309 Punk Project, 309 N. Sixth Ave. DETAILS: @309punkproject, @appalachian_goth_clown, @bea__hurd VIEWER NOTICE: This event is 18+ recommended; minors must be accompanied by a parent or guardian 17
free will astrology WEEK OF JULY 23 ARIES (MARCH 21-APRIL 19): Authentic love songs are rare. Much of contemporary music leans toward infatuation, sex, heartbreak and fury, while few artists seem interested in singing unabashedly about unique expressions of tenderness and enduring devotion. In the months ahead, Aries, your inner life will be gloriously out of step with that trend. Your heart is poised to wake up in sometimes surprising ways. Even if you're not a trained vocalist, you may feel regular urges to express your passion and adoration in song. If I could give you a gift, it might be a curated playlist packed with the most radiant love songs of the last 60 years, so you'd have a soundtrack worthy of the lush emotions that I suspect will bloom in you. TAURUS (APRIL 20-MAY 20): Nobel Prize-
winning Taurus physicist Richard Feynman kept a notebook titled "Things I Don't Know About." When he came across a question he couldn't answer, he added it to the collection. I recommend a similar discipline for you now, Taurus, but with a twist. Keep a log of "Beautiful Mysteries I Don't Really Need to Solve." Rejoice that not every paradox and puzzle needs resolution. Savor the fun fact that some riddles enrich your life precisely because they remain open-ended. Hooray for not knowing! My theory is that some of your finest qualities will flourish in the presence of productive uncertainty.
Savor the fun fact that some riddles enrich your life precisely because they remain open-ended. GEMINI (MAY 21-JUNE 20): In the early days of radio broadcasting, engineers sometimes spoke of "tuning the receiver." Even when a station was transmitting clearly, a listener might hear static until their radio dial was adjusted to exactly the right frequency. The message was present and clear; the challenge was homing in on it. There's a similar phenomenon going on in your life, Gemini. Useful information, fun inspi-
By Rob Brezsny
ration and interesting possibilities may be circulating in your vicinity. But you will need to adjust your attention so you can actually receive it. To bring the signals into focus, listen differently. Or pose alternate questions. Or pay attention to sources you don't usually notice.
CANCER (JUNE 21-JULY 22): Neurosci-
entists have found that remembering the past and imagining the future rely on many of the same brain networks. That overlap helps explain why vivid visualization may influence our emotions and behavior. When we repeatedly simulate alarming scenarios about what could conceivably happen, our brains treat them much like memories. This makes us prone to spotting "threats" in places that may be relatively safe. The good news is that the coming months will be an excellent time to retrain this habit, Cancerian. More than ever, your imagination can be a precision instrument you use to recalibrate yourself away from fear and toward possibility. Fantasize about wonderful possibilities with the same intensity that in the past you have dwelled on scary speculations.
LEO (JULY 23-AUG. 22): Oak trees produce
far more acorns than could ever grow into trees. Squirrels bury thousands and forget many of them, preparing the way for the next generation of forest. The trees succeed through strategic overproduction. I invite you to adopt their method, Leo. In the coming weeks, overproduce. Make more than you can track. Release more than you can manage. You don't need to be perfect, just abundant. PS: This expansive capacity is yours to explore with delight and confidence, I guarantee it.
VIRGO (AUG. 23-SEPT. 22): In the 19th cen-
tury, Virgo naturalist Alexander von Humboldt helped launch the modern science of ecology. While exploring South America, he came to a revolutionary conclusion that's obvious to us now: nature isn't a collection of separate objects but an intricate web of relationships. Mountains shape the weather. The plants and pollinators rely on each other. Underground mycelial networks perform many services for the trees. I propose that you channel your inner Humboldt, Virgo. Shift your focus away from isolated problems and instead observe the larger systems. Solutions may be elusive when you're bound to a nar-
row view but strikingly clear when you perceive the wider pattern. If you'd like to take bold action, rely on the spacious perspective.
LIBRA (SEPT. 23-OCT. 22): The coming months will be a favorable time to triple your devotion to the art of rowdy fun. I urge you to attend more revels and celebrations than usual, and always be ready to energize social functions with infusions of festive wit and gleeful conviviality. You will also have extra power to inject buoyant amusements into your intimate liaisons. Therefore, dear Libra, I designate you to be the Party Maestro of the Zodiac. I hope you will carry out your role with maximum exuberance, ingenuity and joy.
I hope you will carry out your role with maximum exuberance, ingenuity and joy. SCORPIO (OCT. 23-NOV. 21): What if I told you that your most personal and potent dream can come true—but only through months of persistence, disciplined sacrifice and stretches of bewildering but fascinating uncertainty? Would you reorder your priorities to chase it with every ounce of creativity you have? Or would you set it aside in favor of a safer and easier possibility? Between now and the end of October, I predict the moment will arrive to choose one path or the other. SAGITTARIUS (NOV. 22-DEC. 21): On
some occasions, you just don't have the power to act with impeccable integrity and do the totally right thing. Doing the partially right thing may, however, be a useful and compassionate option. I bet this will soon be helpful advice for you. Blunt truth: there are moments when the "perfect" ethical, emotional or practical choice simply isn't available—the timing is off, resources are thin or someone else's limits block the ideal outcome. In those situations, waiting around for the flawless solution is a kind of paralysis that keeps you stuck in guilt or indecision. Instead, you can aim for the best available good.
CAPRICORN (DEC. 22-JAN. 19): In botany
and gardening, there is a practice called "compan-
ion planting." Certain plants thrive when grown near each other because they share nutrients, repel or distract pests, or improve soil and microclimate. Here's an example: Indigenous peoples of the Americas planted the "Three Sisters" together: corn gave beans a living trellis, beans added nitrogen to the soil, and squash shaded the ground to hold moisture and deter weeds. This principle may be useful for you to contemplate now, Capricorn. The people, tools and influences you place near one another will influence your productivity and well-being. By blending complementary energies, your efforts will flourish without strain.
AQUARIUS (JAN. 20-FEB. 18): Author Alain de Botton observed that "the person we marry is always far more remarkable, frightening and complex than we quite realized when we first declared our love." Rather than feeling alarmed by this revelation, I invite you to find it thrilling as you apply it to your best allies. The fact that they contain mysteries you haven't yet plumbed means the relationships aren't likely to grow stale. There are undiscovered depths in those you may think you know completely. My advice: approach even your most familiar intimacies as ongoing discoveries. PISCES (FEB. 19-MARCH 20): Do you ever
fear or distrust your own desires? Are you suspicious of achieving "too much" success? Do you ever feel starved for hope, but belittle yourself for wanting it? Do you go emotionally blank in the face of possibilities that should thrill you? If so, the coming weeks could bring healing and a breakthrough. You will have a chance to perform a rare kind of exorcism—not of garish demons or foolish ghosts, but of the quiet defeatism and lack of faith that dull your brilliance. Seize this moment, dear Pisces! Purge the automatic doubts that the world has trained you to mistake for wisdom. HERE'S THE HOMEWORK: Name an unnecessary taboo and how you would violate it if it didn't hurt anyone. {in}
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news of the weird I'VE FALLEN AND I CAN'T GET UP An 82-yearold widow is regaining her strength after surviving nine days stuck in her bathtub. On June 1, Joan Rivet of North Carolina was getting ready for bed in the bathroom of her home, where she lives by herself, when she "tripped over [her] own two feet" and fell backward into the bathtub, People reported. The fall rendered her mostly immobile, though she was eventually able to use her toes to manipulate the faucet and her hand to bring water to her mouth. The shower rod had come down during the fall, and she used it to drag her robe to herself for warmth. Eventually, her brother, Bill Lesko, 79, of Georgia, called police for a wellness check when he hadn't heard from her for a few days. "I was unconscious and barely had a pulse when the rescuers arrived," Rivet said. "I don't remember being rescued by them at all, to be honest with you." She was brought to Haywood Regional Medical Center before being transferred to a nearby rehabilitation center. "I think several more hours or another day, she would have died," Lesko said. Rivet is undergoing physical therapy and preparing to move to Georgia to be closer to her family. [People, 7/14/26] BUDDY FOR HIRE In some parts of Russia, men are running personal ads, not to look for love, but to offer themselves for a different kind of connection: as a barbecue companion. Oddity Central reported on July 13 that the service is exactly what it sounds like—someone to come over and enjoy some barbecue, beer and conversation. The cost ranges from $13 to $65, and can include services such as preparing the grill, cooking the meat, setting up the tent and acting as a friendly companion. "I'll help you organize barbecues and camping, keep you company, and grill some meat. Jokes and anecdotes are also included," one person wrote in his ad. The ads are exclusively marketed to other men, and clearly state that the services aren't meant to spark a friendship. If someone wants to engage the barbecue buddy's services again, they will have to pay for it. "From a business perspective, this is absolutely natural: If there's an unmet need, a service will emerge," Russian restaurateur Evgeny Demchenko said. [Oddity Central, 7/13/26] JUST WHAT THE DOCTOR ORDERED At the advice of her doctor, an elderly woman consumed one and a half liters of Diet Coke to dissolve a mass in her stomach ... and it worked! Oddity Central said on July 9 that a team of doctors reported the case in the New England Journal of Medicine. An elderly woman presented with a bezoar, or a large mass, that resulted as a side effect of taking a GLP-1. She lost 40 pounds over the course of a year, but reported continued stomach pain. After an endoscopy revealed the bezoar, she discontinued her medication, and, in an effort to avoid surgery, doctors suggested drinking carbonated beverages to help dissolve the mass. "Existing evidence, largely from case series and anecdotal experiences, supports the administration of 3 liters of cola, either orally or through a nasogastric tube, within a 12-hour window," the doctors said in the report. "It is not well understood whether acidity, carbonation, or another mechanism accounts for
By the Editors at Andrews McMeel
dissolution of the bezoar." As the woman was diabetic, her "prescription" was adjusted to one and a half liters of diet cola. After just a couple of days on the cola regimen, the woman reported relief from her symptoms, and another endoscopy revealed the mass had dissolved. See, soda can be healthy! [Oddity Central, 7/9/26] SOMETHING OLD, SOMETHING NEW ... After Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce's July 3 wedding at Madison Square Garden, one New York man made bank by collecting the trash outside the venue and selling the treasure to Swifties. "There's garbage on the floor after the party. Collected from the edge of a love story outside Madison Square Garden, as close to Taylor & Travis' big day as you could've gotten without an invite," collector Justin Gignac wrote on his website. Items he found include cigarette butts, paper cups, plastic straws, scraps of fabric, an ovulation test kit, plastic bags, candy wrappers and a single AirPod. Gignac wrapped each item in an airtight plastic cube—labeled "JUST&T MARRIED"—and marketed his wares as "Pocket Garbage." He says he is sold out after Swifties bought up all 50 of his trash cubes. Each cube sold for $25. [UPI, 7/10/26] •Robert, an office worker, recently married Matilda, a dancer, in Moscow's Pushkin Library. The ceremony was the first of its kind in Russia, because Robert and Matilda are robots. The humanoid machines, made by the Russian company IT-Imperial, exchanged vows written by AI, MSN reported on July 13. While their "marriage" has no legal standing, organizers say the goal of the event was to showcase the robots' capabilities and foster more interaction between humans and humanoids. Videos and photos on social media show the "couple" dancing and visiting with human guests. [MSN, 7/13/26] WHAT IS THIS, A CENTER FOR PLANTS? Lacking a green thumb? Take your plant(s) to Hilda Houseplant Hospital, run by Rosanna Costello of Edinburgh, Scotland. According to a July 11 report from the Good News Network, the hospital is run by horticulturalist Rosanna Costello, who remembers going into plant shops and wishing she had more guidance to help her care for her own plants. Costello works up a "patient history" when customers bring in their plants, and chats with them about possible diagnoses and treatments. Like their human counterparts, "patients" in the plant hospital can be "put on drips," quarantined or even undergo "surgery"—which usually just means something like repotting or removing pests. "Once they've been repotted and trimmed, we feed them, give them a really good cleaning, and let the customer know they're ready to collect," Costello said. "There's an awful lot of feelings and emotions attached to the houseplants that we see, and when they come to collect and get care information, there's so much relief and joy." [Good News Network, 7/11/26] {in} From Andrews McMeel Syndication News Of The Weird © 2026 Andrews McMeel
Send your weird news items to WeirdNewsTips@amuniversal.com July 23, 2026
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Every day, 50 new people reach out for help Mental health challenges affect adults, children and families across Northwest Florida, but help is available. Lakeview Center provides counseling, psychiatry and crisis care when it matters most. No one should have to navigate mental health challenges alone. Our team connects individuals and families to compassionate, evidence-based care every step of the way.
Help a neighbor get mental health care today. Donate now at GiveLakeview.org. Independent News | July 23, 2026 | inweekly.net