Inweekly July 6 2023 Issue

John V. Myslak

June 17, 1965 — June 30, 2019

It’s been four years since we lost our dear friend and colleague, John Myslak, to cancer.

John’s passing left us with a profound sense of loss and reminded us that life can be unpredictable. The opportunity to tell someone how much they mean to us should never be taken for granted.

Reflecting on John’s life, we feel inspired by his impact as a business leader, a volunteer, and a mentor. His dedication to civic projects in Pensacola and his commitment to uplifting underserved communities will forever be part of his legacy.

As we look back on the past four years, we are reminded that time is precious and tomorrow is never promised. Let’s take this moment to reach out to those we cherish, to tell them we love them, and express gratitude for their impact in our lives.

This message is brought to you by friends of John.

TOURISM WORKS ESCAMBIA

FOR

COUNTY

winners losers

EVERYONE HERE BENEFITS!

SUNDAY'S CHILD

The Pensacola Bay Area member-based philanthropic group that promotes LGBTQ+ inclusion and equality awarded $120,000 in grants to six charities at its ninth annual Membership Meeting on Sunday, June 25. The 182 members funded and selected the projects of Stamped LGBTQ Film Festival, Community Health Northwest Florida, Re-Entry Alliance Pensacola, Dixon School of Arts & Sciences, Pensacola Little Theatre and Bright Bridge Ministries. Each of the six organizations received $20,000 to fund its projects. Since its inception, Sunday's Child has awarded $884,250 to local charities in the Pensacola Bay Area.

PENSACOLA HABITAT FOR HUMANI-

TY Thanks to the help of Sen. Doug Broxson, Rep. Alex Andrade and Rep. Michelle Salzman, the state's budget for Fiscal Year 2023-24 includes $2.55 million for new affordable homes and a Community Land Trust supporting workforce families and active-duty military men, women and their families in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties. The funds will be used to develop a 30-parcel subdivision for workforce families, of which 20% of the new homes will be designated as rentals for active-duty military members and their families. Funds will also help launch the Northwest Florida Community Land Trust (CLT), a shared equity homeownership model designed to make homeownership attainable for low-income households. This is the first CLT in Florida history to be funded by the state legislature.

UNIVERSITY OF WEST FLORIDA UWF excelled in many critical areas in the Florida Board of Governors' 2022-23 performance-based funding model, including median wages upon graduation, high-impact practices and retention. The median wage for UWF graduates increased by more than $3,000 to $48,800 in 2020-21. The median salary is higher than almost all public universities in the state, trailing only the University of Florida and Florida Polytechnic University. The percentage of baccalaureate graduates completing two or more types of high-impact practices increased by more than 11 percentage points last year, jumping from 47.5% to 58.6%. The second-year retention rate with a GPA above 2.0 improved by 2.7 points, totaling 83.5%.

SKANSKA USA

The U.S. Department of Justice has filed a lawsuit against the Pensacola Bay Bridge contractor for more than $1.4 million for the damages caused by barges crashing into two Navy-owned bridges when Hurricane Sally hit the Pensacola area in September 2020. Two years ago, a federal judge ruled that Skanska failed to take "reasonable measures to protect its barges" as the hurricane approached Northwest Florida, which led to 27 of the company's 55 construction barges breaking free of their moorings and damaged bridges and property around Pensacola and Escambia Bay. The Navy's Sam Lovelace Bridge, which connects Naval Air Station Pensacola to the Warrington area, and a golf cart bridge that serves the A.C. Reed golf course complex on NAS Pensacola were damaged. The Justice Department is seeking $1,431,051 for damages, plus legal costs and attorney's fees, and the seizure of two Skanska barges.

FLORIDA CRIME STATS Gov. Ron DeSantis likes to brag that crime in Florida is at a 50year low in Florida. However, he doesn't mention that not all counties and municipalities are reporting their crime stats to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the FBI. In 2021, only 59% of the local agencies reported their summary-level crime data to FDLE. Last year, just 49 out of 500 agencies gave data to the FBI.

GERRYMANDERING Last week, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in favor of North Carolina voters in the case Moore v. Harper, an appeal filed by North Carolina Republicans that sought to give state legislatures control over federal election laws, including but not limited to congressional redistricting. Moore v. Harper was a federal appeal of Harper v. Hall, a state court case in which the North Carolina Supreme Court initially determined the congressional map enacted by GOP-controlled state legislature was an unconstitutional partisan gerrymander. As a result of that ruling, a state court ultimately adopted a fair congressional map leading up to the 2022 election and upheld that map in December 2022.

Bright Bridge Ministries / Photo Courtesy of Sunday's Child

outtakes

By Rick Outzen

OUR TIPPING POINT

Pensacola has changed over the past two decades. The physical and political transformations are obvious, so much so that many forget what the town looked like in 2003. And while those improvements are noteworthy, the changes in Pensacola residents' attitudes may be the most significant.

There was a time when Visit Pensacola and the Greater Pensacola Chamber had to run marketing campaigns to encourage locals to talk positively about their hometown. Does anyone remember the magnets with the words "Beautiful," "Innovative," "Heroic," "Glorious," "Genuine" and "Spirited?" We still have a few on our office filing cabinets.

When Quint Studer began working on the Community Maritime Park referendum, pollster Bruce Barcelo told him most communities have about 20% that oppose any idea. The majority might not completely go along with something new, but they wouldn't oppose the project. However, Pensacola was an outlier. More than a third vocally would fight anything new and would use any means possible to derail it.

While doing research for my radio, I came across a column that the News Journal's opinion editor, Carl Wernicke, wrote about the late Jack Fetterman's proposal to build a maritime museum (PNJ, "Will people back maritime museum?" 6/29/2003).

Adm. Fetterman believed a maritime museum in downtown Pensacola would be the perfect complement to the National Museum of Naval Aviation, where he served as the CEO and president of its foundation. He created a 49-member advisory committee to work on various aspects of the project. Fetterman hired the UWF Haas Center for an economic impact study showing how much tourism it would draw to Pensacola.

The project seemed to be a natural endeavor of a town steeped in maritime history. Still, the retired admiral faced pushback. Wernicke quoted Fetterman, "What kills projects is the attitude many have that 'I agree with it, but I don't want to pay for it.'"

Wernicke wrote that once Fetterman's committee decided on the site for the proposed museum, "It would be time for the museum idea to

grab the wave of public opinion—or get sucked under the relentless rip tide of negativism that keeps this community so divided."

The maritime museum didn't get built. The project was included in the Community Maritime Park plans, along with a multi-use stadium and conference center, but a recession and tight state budget made it difficult for UWF to deliver on the museum and center.

However, the passage of the 2006 referendum became the tipping point that gave locals the confidence to embrace progress. The naysayers tried several times to stop the park and delayed the stadium's construction for six years, but when it opened in 2012, the city celebrated and took pride in its completion.

More projects have followed, including the expansion of Navy Federal Credit Union in Beulah, the maintenance, repair and overhaul campus for ST Engineering at Pensacola International Airport and the creation of the Center of Maritime Excellence that will be the headquarters for American Magic at the Port of Pensacola. All were done with local, state and federal dollars with a boost from Triumph Gulf Coast.

The naysayers' heads would have been spinning, or possibly they would have exploded, if those projects were proposed in 2003.

But it took more than building a stadium to create this metamorphosis. Our community leaders have gotten better at communication. Our county and city governments are more transparent and open. Plus, the expectations of our residents are much higher. We aren't holding on to a past that only worked well for a small group of families.

And I think this newspaper has been a critical player in this area's growth. We have challenged the status quo and fought for change. When governments wouldn't release public records, we took them to court to get our readers the facts.

Could we have done a better job? Yes. Did we always act maturely? No, but we have improved, and Pensacola is better for it.

We are no longer a city that thrives on turning down ideas. Today, we figure out how to get them done. {in} rick@inweekly.net

We have challenged

status quo and fought for change.

NEW CITY SWEEPERS The City of Pensacola recently announced the street sweeper naming contest winners and also unveiled the new designs that reflect the winning names. The top three names were determined through a public voting process, with the following winners: Sweepy McSweepface, Obi-Wan Cleanobi and Lightning McClean.

In addition to the three street sweeper names selected through the voting process, Mayor D.C. Reeves selected a bonus "Mayor's Choice" name from the list of finalists.

"I've taken some executive privilege here in these first six months, and we have a fourth street sweeper that we went ahead and named as well with 'Dirt Reynolds,'" Reeves said at his June 28 presser. "I'm an FSU alumnus, and it was too good to pass up."

City staff and Mayor D.C. Reeves reviewed more than 1,500 street sweeper name submissions from the public to select 12 finalists for the public vote, which drew more than 6,000 votes for the three street sweepers.

"I was blown away by the level of participation and incredible creativity our citizens showed through this contest," Mayor Reeves said. "We definitely had a lot of fun with it, and I hope the public did too. Keep an eye out for Sweepy McSweepface, Obi-Wan Cleanobi, Lightning McClean and Dirt Reynolds out on our roadways, working hard to keep our city streets clean."

The City of Pensacola has a fleet of eight street sweepers that remove an average of more than 4,700 tons of leaves, debris and trash from city streets each year. The sweepers run 16 routes every month, sweeping approximately 326 miles of city roadways in addition to 65 miles of State of Florida roadways within city limits.

HIGH-SPEED BY SEPTEMBER District 5

County Commissioner Steven Barry pre-filed to run for a fourth term in 2024 last week. Barry was first elected to the Escambia County Commission with 70% of the vote in 2012. He won reelection in

2016 with 68% and again four years later with 55% in a three-candidate race.

"I'm truly proud of the unprecedented county financial resources that have been invested in District 5 in recent years," Commissioner Barry told Inweekly. "I will continue to work hard to keep the positive momentum we currently have, and I vow to keep projects moving in the right direction for the betterment of the community."

He also shared that work on the high-speed internet project for his district is progressing ahead of schedule.

"I had a brief conversation with the Escambia River Electric Cooperative CEO, Ryan Campbell, yesterday," Barry said. "Ryan just gave me a little snippet that they may be able to expedite the timeline by a few weeks. Worst case scenario, now we're looking at September for having folks on a high-speed internet system that's going to dwarf anywhere else in the county currently."

AIRPORT RECORD Pensacola International Airport set a new record for travelers Saturday, June 25.

"It was the busiest day of the year for Pensacola," said Airport Director Matt Coughlin. "We put through close to 12,000 people. If you do the math, that would equate to the population of City of Pensacola through here every five days."

Coughlin gave Inweekly a status report on the runway that was taken offline in May due to a lightning strike.

"It was a pretty catastrophic failure since we already had one runway down for maintenance," he said. "The runway is fixed now, but there are some design things we're going to do in the future to make it more robust, where it might be able to sustain some of these issues. And it has to do with the way the circuits are laid out in the airfield."

CASEY JOINS TEAM BERGOSH Contractor and former county commission candidate Jesse Casey is joining Escambia County Commissioner Jeff Bergosh's staff, replacing his longtime

aide Debbie King Kenney, who is retiring. Casey ran against Bergosh in the GOP primary in 2016 and 2020, finishing second each time.

Bergosh said Casey approached him after the 2020 primary. The commissioner recalled, "Jesse said to me at that time that we got 70% of the vote between the two of us. He suggested we work together at some point to put that 70% to work for the people."

When Kenney announced her retirement, the two had lunch, and Bergosh asked Casey to be his man in the field.

"We're partners in this deal, and between the folks that I know and the people that he knows, I think we've got the district covered," Bergosh said. "I think you're going to see an incredible new level of constituent service."

To contact Jesse Casey, email him at jecasey@myescambia.com or district1@ myescambia.com.

GETTING OUR PRODUCT IN ORDER

May-

or D.C. Reeves has yet to decide how he will roll out his first city budget, but he told the media at his weekly presser that it will focus internally on city operations.

"The spirit for me within this budget is to help build this organization from the inside out and help maintain correctly the things that make this a great place," he said. "I've said since the beginning that I feel that success for the first year of this administration is continuing to build the value of living in the city."

Mayor Reeves added, "I think every mayor's talked about annexation so far, but before we can even have a conversation about wanting to grow the city in any way, whether it's annexation or anything else, the first thing to do is we got to get our product in order."

He doesn't anticipate giving a "State of the City" address. He is talking with his finance director, Amy Lovoy, about how to best present the budget to the Pensacola City Council.

"There's a lot of different ways to do it," Reeves said. "As you can imagine, you could go department by department alphabetically, or you could look at certain items in priority of the size of their budget. We haven't ironed all that out yet."

SUNDAY'S CHILD GRANTS Sunday's Child awarded $120,000 in grants to six local charities at its ninth annual Membership Meeting on Sunday, June 25. Each organization will receive $20,000 to fund its project.

The mission of Sunday's Child is to promote equality and inspire inclusion across the community by awarding grants for significant charitable and economic initiatives. Its members fund projects that enrich the quality of life and well-being of others—regardless of age, race, creed, color, sex, national origin, religion, sexual orientation,

gender identity and/or expression, disability, marital status and socioeconomic status.

Sunday's Child has no paid staff and is organized, maintained and managed by volunteers. Membership dues are used exclusively for awarding grants, never for administrative or operational costs.

The programs funded this year are:

Stamped LGBTQ Film Festival's grant, "Growing Up: Expanding LGBTQIA+ Programs for Children and Families at Stamped Film Festival," will allow the festival to expand its programming and community reach to youth and families by expanding the festival beyond a singular theater space.

Community Health Northwest Florida will use its "Closing the Treatment Loop for the LGBTQIA+" grant to expand its Unhoused Health Navigation program to pay for medication copays for financially needy members of the LGBTQIA+ community. This will include covering the full cost of medically necessary medications for the LGBTQIA+ community.

Re-Entry Alliance Pensacola, Inc., which helps individuals returning from incarceration, will use its funds for "Modernizing an Outdated System" to modernize its technology and computer system to enhance data collection and facilitate better communication between departments.

Dixon School of Arts & Sciences' "Dixon Cultural Immersion Lab" grant will allow the school to curate and expand its library to create a safe space for kids to explore and learn through culturally diverse books and digital tools.

Pensacola Little Theatre will use the funds for its grant "On the Same Page: Race and Censorship at The Clark Family Cultural Center" to provide an educational opportunity for the community to understand better racial injustice and the relevant topic of censorship through live performance and professional engagement.

Bright Bridge Ministries will use the funds for its grant "A Comfortable Space is a Welcoming Place" to purchase a new HVAC unit for its dining hall and adjacent caseworkers' offices and life skills and recovery classrooms, allowing them to provide a comfortable space for the community served.

Sunday's Child membership for 2024 is now open. For more information, visit sundayschild.org.

UWF CYBERSECURITY WIN

The University of West Florida received the National Centers of Academic Excellence in Cybersecurity Community Outreach first-place award last month at the 2023 NCAE-C Symposium.

"The UWF Center for Cybersecurity's talented faculty and staff have created an exceptional array of community outreach programs tailored to the distinct needs of our various community partners," said UWF President Martha D. Saunders. "We are grateful that the NCAE-C has taken notice of our work and recognized us with this top honor. This award is a testament to the University's commitment to meeting the needs of students, the region and the state."

Street sweepers / Photo Courtesy of City of Pensacola

The UWF Center for Cybersecurity received the award for its outstanding community outreach activities that promote cybersecurity awareness, education and research.

The NCAE-C Community Outreach Award was established to showcase the Center of Academic Excellence in Cybersecurity designated institutions and recognize their outstanding community outreach initiatives. Institutions' outreach activities are evaluated for their impact, diversity and effort. Award winners are determined by a committee of peers representing the CAE-Cyber Defense Community of Practice nationwide. More than 400 universities and colleges designated as CAE-C institutions across the U.S. were eligible for the award.

"We're always about doing great things and impacting the fi eld, but, most importantly, we always want to give back to our local community, state and nation," said Dr. Eman El-Sheikh, the director of the UWF Center for Cybersecurity. "And just make sure that everybody, especially kids in school, are aware of the opportunities for them to grow up and be cyber warriors and cyber leaders."

For more information on the UWF Center for Cybersecurity, visit uwf.edu/cybersecurity.

RENTER ASSISTANCE Renters in the City of Pensacola with overdue rent and/or utility payments may be eligible for assistance through the city's Community Development Block Grant-Coronavirus Funds.

Applications are now available on the City of Pensacola website until all funds have been committed. Approximately $100,000 will be available to assist eligible renters within the city limits impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic with overdue or back rent and/or utility payments.

Eligible expenses must occur between March 1, 2020, to date. Maximum assistance will be up to $7,500 per household and will be paid directly to the property owner or landlord and/or utility company.

To be eligible, you must be a renter within the City of Pensacola limits and have income adversely impacted by COVID-19. Total household income cannot exceed 80% of Area Median Income. The program is for rent and/or utility assistance only.

COMMUNITY GRANTS The Pensacola & Perdido Bays Estuary Program (PPBEP) opened its 2023-24 Community Grant Program on Wednesday, July 5. This program will fund action projects that serve to restore, preserve, connect, inform and educate.

The PPBEP Community Grant Program will award $250,000 in total funding to help restore and protect our waters. Award amounts will range from $10,000-$50,000. Local governments or nonstate entities (educational institutions and 501(c)3s) are eligible to submit a proposal for projects located within the Perdido and/or Pensacola watershed within Escambia, Santa Rosa, and/or Okaloosa counties.

The Community Grant Program is made possible through the support of the Florida Legislature. The Pensacola and Perdido Bays Estuary Program was awarded $250,000 in legislative appropriations to support the Community Grant Program.

The funding opportunity includes seven eligible project categories that align with the Estuary Program's CCMP: Water Quality, Sedimentation, Habitat Restoration, Fish and Wildlife Conservation, Watershed Awareness and Education, Resilience and Community Science. Over the past

three years, PPBEP has awarded $700,000 to 26 projects in the community.

The application deadline is 11:59 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 3, and projects must be completed by May 31, 2024. Priority consideration will be given to "shovel-ready" action projects and projects that inform, engage and educate the community. Projects that leverage match, including volunteer efforts, will also receive priority consideration.

The grant recipients will be recognized at the Estuary Program's Community Grant Symposium at the Bayview Community Center during National Estuaries Week in September. The symposium will highlight the work completed by grant recipients that were funded by the 2022-23 grant cycle. The public is invited to attend to learn more about the projects that were funded in our local communities.

For additional details and to apply, please visit t.ly/wqBh.

BUZZ HISTORY Five years ago: Hall of Fame boxer Evander "Real Deal" Holyfield led a series of training camps for both children and adults at the Rumble Training Center. The Law Office of J.J. Talbott hosted the event. Roy Jones Jr.'s longtime assistant trainer, Alfy Smith, and MMA coach and owner of Rumble Training Center, Brandon Bolton, joined Holyfield during the camp.

Ten years ago: Pollsters called Pensacola residents and asked to speak to the youngest registered voter. The caller asked the voter to rate Mayor Ashton Hayward's job performance and the favorability of Hayward, Brian Spencer, Charles Bare, Donna Clark and Mark Taylor.

She also asked for ratings on Gov. Rick Scott and Charlie Crist.

Fifteen years ago: Florida TaxWatch reported Escambia County's doubling of taxes during a five-year period was hurting the local economy. At a press conference at New World Landing, Florida TaxWatch CEO Dominic Calabro said, "The county cannot expect to tax its way to prosperity. Escambia's sluggish economy is absolutely related directly and indirectly to the cost of government."

Twenty years ago: Santa Rosa business leaders considered taking up liquor sales again. Only a handful of Florida counties still outlawed booze sales, and Santa Rosa County was the only one with a population of more than 100,000 that still did. Seven countywide votes during the previous 66 years had failed to change that. In 1992, a referendum failed 57%-43%. {in}

DRAG ON

Drag performers are known for being flexible—sometimes downright acrobatic—but even they have struggled with the legal limbo that is SB 1438. The so-called "Protection of Children" bill was one of a package of anti-LGBTQ+ laws signed in May by Gov. Ron DeSantis.

The law targets drag performances by enabling the suspension of business licenses to those who allow all ages drag shows. In response, businesses all over Florida have altered, and even discontinued, their previously scheduled drag shows, fearing their business could be shuttered for a harmless performance of "Lady Marmalade."

On June 23, Orlando restaurant Hamburger Mary's won a temporary victory against the law when U.S. District Judge Gregory Presnell issued a preliminary injunction in response to a lawsuit filed by the restaurant under First Amendment grounds. In his statement, the Judge said the statute is "specifically designed to suppress the speech of drag queen performers." It remains to be seen what will happen to the law, but for now, it seems that the all ages drag brunch may be back on the menu at Hamburger Mary's.

Here in Pensacola, drag performers have been resilient through the ever-increasing debate about the morality of their creative outlet. Once all ages events like brunch at Alga Beer Co. and Shrekthemed parties at Perfect Plain Brewing Co. have pivoted to advertising their drag events as "18 and up." PensaPride, the city's annual LGBTQ+ Pride festival, was forced to remove drag from its lineup, instead hosting an afterparty featuring drag performances for the over 18 crowd.

To see how the local drag scene is holding up, Inweekly hosted an open-call photoshoot a few weeks back. Twenty-one performers showed up and showed out for the camera, proving what we already knew—Pensacola drag isn't letting any one bill or politician keep it down.

We are beyond excited to showcase some of the photos from that shoot this week because they are straight-up stunning, visually. But also because they showcase a wide range of drag styles and experience levels, which really speaks to the overall vibrancy and diversity within the Gulf Coast drag community.

Celebrating Resilience in the Local Drag Scene

In addition to the photos, which really are the star of this issue, we asked everyone a few questions and are featuring some of their responses here. We also spoke with two of the performers at length, just to give you a little more insight on their personal stories, styles and their take on the ongoing controversy. Oh, and we're publishing it in July, because celebrating the LGBTQ+ community should never be relegated to just one month out of the year.

Beyond the Binary

For seasoned performer Andy Rodginous, drag has never been about existing within the binary.

"My drag persona and my performance is pretty much exactly as my name dictates, androgynous. I like to blend what people would generally think is separated queen and king looks and numbers and performances together, and I make something that's sort of like a really nice amalgamation of the two."

Andy's shows feature a wide range of costuming and makeup, a neon pink beard paired with matching eyeshadow, a strong brow and sequined sleeves. For Andy, drag is about more than glamor and lip syncing; it's an honest exploration of gender and queerness.

"I love to be at anything and everything I can be at, because the more I'm out and about and the more I show my face and my type of drag means the more people I'm able to reach."

When Andy first began doing drag almost 10 years ago, they didn't see many performers outside of the traditional pageant-style, hyperfemme queens.

"It wasn't very well received when I first started," Andy said. "A lot of venues didn't get it or they didn't really like it. It took me kind of sort of forcing them to deal with me being in their face all the time before they were like, 'Oh, actually, I really like that. I want that at my show.'"

Now, Andy fears the progress they made will be lost with the recent legislation.

"Now we're seeing a lot of those shows get canceled or, you know, stop happening altogether," Andy said. "A lot of parents like to bring their kids out and about, and then we're also seeing

a lot of businesses who are just terrified to have the shows because they're scared of protesters. And even though it may not be a public venue, they're scared that people are going to show up and cause trouble."

And what about the initial argument of the drag bill, that performers like Andy pose a threat to children's innocence?

"There's not a single performer I've ever worked with who has been told, 'Hey, this is a family-friendly show,' and [then] shows up in the most risqué outfit ever. They've all been very respectful of the fact that if there's going to be kids present, to tone it back, you know, pick a more PG outfit or PG song."

For Andy, the pause on the drag bill is a glimmer of relief for a creative outlet that has become instrumental in their self-expression and identity.

"When I first saw drag, before I even started doing it, it opened a door for me in terms of figuring out my own gender identity and then also realizing that there are people out there who were gay or, you know, alternatively gendered and not afraid of being that. They were very big and very loud and very proud about who they were. It made me realize that that's the kind of person I wanted to be."

It's About Respect

Drag performer Chocolat D. DuBois may be new to the drag scene, but the Mobile-based queen hasn't wasted any time enmeshing herself in the inherent politics of drag.

"It's such a political movement. Just being a man or a non-gender-conforming person or even a woman and dressing up any way that you like is a political movement," Chocolat said. "We're sticking out like sore thumbs because we're going against the grain. We're showing the world that we can be who we want to be, dress how we want to dress, act how we want to act, because that's how we feel on the inside."

Loud, energetic, fun, authentically entertaining—those are the words Chocolat uses to describe her drag-sona, a character who often wears a comically large chocolate bar as a headpiece.

"It's a bit on the nose. I think that's something my whole family is kind of known for—

we're kind of humorous, a little bit campy, but also very glamorous."

Chocolat's family influence is important to her, a nod to her upbringing and the issues faced by many LGBTQ+ children of immigrants.

"I was originally born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to Haitian immigrant parents. So growing up was kind of difficult because at a young age, I always knew that I had an attraction to men, and I knew that was something that was shunned and looked down upon in my family. Growing up in a family knowing that I could never be accepted due to religious and cultural reasons was very hard."

Despite these differences, Chocolat is thankful for her family's hard work.

"They are very successful, hardworking people, so they are honestly people I look up to, and I carry that over to my drag," Chocolat said.

In the drag world, Chocolat has found other maternal support in her drag mother, Zamareyah Dawn.

"She looked at me and she said 'Is drag something that you want to take seriously, or is this something that you're just doing for fun?' And I said 'No, I want to take this seriously.'"

From there, the relationship blossomed, with Zamareyah sewing Chocolat costumes, providing advice about performances and eventually accepting Chocolat into her drag house.

"She's just very nurturing, very kind, very patient, very uplifting," Chocolat said. "She has so much going on in her life, but she's never been unable to make time for you. That's what I love so much about her. If I could just measure up to half of what she is, I know that I've made it because she is just amazing."

Living in Mobile, Chocolat has been able to avoid some of the worst of the Florida drag ban, but she has strong words for those who continue to attack her way of life.

"There's really no way to justify what they're trying to do. It just feels like our community is being used as a scapegoat to collect votes," Chocolat said.

"At the end of the day, it's about equality. It's about respect. Before I was Black, before I was gay, I'm human first. So whether or not you accept, you will respect." {in}

Photos By Geoff Peck (@tinyobservations)

"When I’m on stage I can be whoever I want to be, not who they want me to be."

Andy Rodginous @andy_rodginous

"Drag has really helped me with my gender identity and allowed me to feel part of something that is bigger than myself."

Aniyah Jade Oshanns @ioshanns

"Drag has literally saved my life. While I was dealing with stage three head and neck cancer, drag kept me going."

Becky Belle Bottoms

@beckybellebottoms

"Come see the shows and feel the love and support of this community."

Braxton Hicks

"I love to poke fun at toxic masculinity."

@kingbraxtonhicks

Chocolat D. DuBois

@chocolat.dubois

"Drag has given me such happiness and strength, and I consider it my gay suit of armor; it gives me such confidence."

"The art of drag is exactly that, an art."

Edie Yacht @edieyacht

"Being h8male feels correct. I'm as broke as ever, but I'm also the freest I've ever been."

"The confidence I pretended to have while performing in drag has transferred to my daily life, and I am more confident in myself because of my drag persona."

Jay Jay DuVay

@jayjay_duvay_king

K.C. Michaels

"The Boulet Brothers really opened my eyes to the idea of horror and drag being a thing."

@minxthetank

"There are so many other issues in this world to worry about."

"Live your life and let us live ours."

Ozmodeus

@be.afraid.be.very.afraid

"Drag has brought me closer to my local queer community, and I’ve met so many wonderful, talented people at shows and backstage when performing."

Sugilite Maraj @imsugilite

"Drag has allowed me to express myself, and I get paid to do what I love."

"Drag has brought motivation into my life. I feel like I now have something that I'm good at doing, and it makes me happy."

Vantasia Divine

@vantasia_divine

"I grew up with 'RuPaul's Drag Race,' and I was heavily influenced while watching with my mom."

Wyntier Kandiey

"We all deserve to be happy and enjoy the life we're given because we only get one to play with and make a difference."

"My biggest inspiration for my art comes from vintage clowns with a dash of dominatrix."

Xexyr Salade @xexyr_salade

"In this world where just me existing makes people feel threatened and uneasy, it's good to know there’s people out there who love us."

a&e happenings

PENSACOLA BEACH AIR SHOW

The Pensacola Beach Air Show, hosted by the Santa Rosa Island Authority (SRIA) is July 5-8. The U.S. Navy Blue Angels will headline all events, which culminate Saturday, July 8, with the official Air Show.

Calendar of events:

The Blue Angels will hold a practice show over Pensacola Beach at 2 p.m. Thursday, July 6. Friday, July 7, is the Pensacola Beach Air Show dress rehearsal, where flight demonstrations and civilian aerobatic performances begin at approximately noon, with the Blue Angels overhead at 2 p.m.

Saturday, July 8, marks the official Pensacola Beach Air Show and follows exactly Friday's dress rehearsal schedule.

Starting about 11 a.m., prior to the official waivered air space closure signaling the start of the show on Friday and Saturday, expect to see Pilot Julian MacQueen flying his vintage 1943 Grumman Widgeon seaplane, Pilot Gene Valentino flying his ICON A5 Amphibious light sport plane, U.S. Coast Guard pilot Lt. Cmdr. Mark Currier, from the Aviation Training Center in Mobile, flying his HC-144 Ocean Sentry large turbopop aircraft, Training Squadron Ten (VT-10) from NAS Whiting Field in a formation fly-by in their T-6 Texans aircraft, VeriJet, a private airline, will fly by in a three-ship formation of Cirrus SF-50 Vision Jets, Navy pilot Tanner Matheny will be flying over in his 1946 North American Navion airplane named Olivia, and U.S. Coast Guard Search and Rescue (SAR) demonstration from the back of a HH-60J Blackhawk helicopter piloted by Lt. Travis Rhea.

At approximately noon, singer Kara Kimmer will perform The National Anthem. Following that is a skydiving formation from Red Bull Air Force, Veteran's Flights, MiG-17F pilot Bill Culberson with Fighterjets Inc, pilots Ken Rieder and Adam Baker with Redline Aerobatic Team, pilot Skip Stewart. Following Skip Stewart, at approximately 1:05 p.m., there will be a brief 15-minute window for spectators to cool off and take a dip in the Gulf before lifeguards clear the water again.

Air show resumes at approximately 1:30 p.m. with the Red Bull Air Force Team, and at about 2 p.m. the famous C-130J aircraft, also known as Fat Albert, followed by six-signature blue and gold F-18 Super Hornets, make their way over Pensacola Beach.

Closing the show is the U.S. Navy Blue Angels performing aeronautic maneuvers like the Diamond Dirty Loop, the Double Farvel, the Vertical Pitch, the Fleur-de-Lis, the Opposing Knife-Edge pass and Sneak Pass.

2023 BLUE BEACHSIDE BAZAAR In conjunction with the Red, White & Blues Pensacola Beach Airshow, 10 vendors will be set up at show center Friday, July 7 and Saturday, July 8. Vendors include A.H.E.R.O., Dippin' Dots, Cafe Nola, T-Mobile, Kona Ice, Rhea Kessler Designs, Cutco and more. Visit visitpensacolabeach.com/whatshappening-blue-angels for details.

VIP BLUE ANGELS VIEWING EVENT

Watch the Pensacola Beach air show from the pool deck at the Hilton, 12 Via De Luna Drive,

with the purchase of a VIP package. Ticket purchase includes access to a covered seating area with a view of the air show and private buffet with bar. One drink ticket for house liquor, wine, import or domestic beer is provided per adult ticket. Complimentary sodas and bottled water will be provided and guests have access to the pool and beach during the show. Tickets are $125 and available at Eventbrite.

BLUE ANGELS AIR SHOW WATCH PARTY

Visit Bonsai at 12 Via De Luna Drive to watch the air show noon-5 p.m. Saturday, July 8. Tickets are $240 a person and include a tasting menu of assorted nigiri, crab ravioli, Berkshire pork belly and signature maki including favorites, such as the Florida Citrus roll, Smoked Tun, and A5 Wagyu. Accompanied with bottomless premium wine and sake selections. Visit bit.ly/bonsaiblueangelswatchparty to make your reservation.

NONPROFITS & FUNDRAISERS

PENSACOLA HUMANE SOCIETY DOGGIE

BATHE-IN The next Pensacola Humane Society Doggie Bath-in is 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday, July 15 at the shelter, 5 North Q St. Cost is $10 per dog any size. Bring your own towel. Anyone who wants to volunteer can contact tiffany@pensacolahumane.org.

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

Participating breweries include:

• Gary's Brewery & Biergarten

• Perfect Plain Brewing Co.

• Doc's Hop Shop

• Coastal County Brewing Co.

• A Little Madness Brewing Co.

• Beardless Brewhaus

• St. Michael's Brewing Co.

• J&J's Pizza Shack

ANIMAL ALLIES FLORIDA BINGO Animal

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

KITTEN AND CAT ADOPTION EVENT Visit Pet Supermarket 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, July 1 at 6857 N. Ninth Ave. to meet adorable cats and kittens available for adoption. Visit aaflorida.org for more information.

CARING & SHARING MINISTRY FOOD

DRIVE The Gloria Green Caring & Sharing Ministry is attached to the Historic St. Joseph Catholic Church, 140 W. Government St. The ministry feeds the homeless at 10:30 a.m. Tuesdays.

The ministry's food pantry opens at 10 a.m. and has clothing. Food donations needed are poptop canned goods, Beanie Weenies, Vienna sausage, potted meat, cans of tuna and chicken and soups. Clothing donations needed include tennis shoes for men and women and sweatshirts and new underwear for men in sizes small, medium and large. Call DeeDee Green at (850) 7233390 for details.

CALL TO WRITERS

EMERALD COAST REVIEW

SEEKING

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

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

CALL TO ARTISTS

PENSACOLA MURAL FEST 2023 The Pensacola Mural Fest has released its Request for Qualifications for 2023's pilot mural celebration. The pilot mural celebration is Saturday, Nov. 4 and Sunday, Nov. 5 during Foo Foo Fest along the Barrancas Avenue corridor between Garden Street and Main Street. The organization is looking for local muralists. Painting will begin Oct. 28, concluding with the celebration on Nov. 4-5.

Artist applications are due July 10. If you have any questions, reach out to Holly Benson, hb@hollybenson.com or call (850) 393-3884.

COMMUNITY NOTES

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

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

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

FREE PENSACOLA BEACH TROLLEY SER-

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

Three trolleys will operate concurrently, running three routes. The eastern route runs from Casino Beach to Portofino, the western route runs from Casino Beach to Park West near the

a&e happenings

entrance gate to Gulf Islands National Seashore and the commercial core route runs from Casino Beach to Grand Marlin with stops occurring along the new access road and at Pensacola Beach Boardwalk.

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

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

PENSACOLA BAY CITY FERRY EXPANDING SERVICE

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

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

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

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

BLUE ANGELS PRACTICE DEMONSTRA-

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

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

FORT PICKENS HISTORY TOUR Enjoy a family-friendly tour exploring the historic Fort Pickens. Depart from the Downtown Ferry Landing

and cruise over to Ft. Pickens while a National Park Service Ranger gives an overview of Pensacola Bay's history. Upon arrival at Ft. Pickens, guests will be taken on a guided tour of the fort, later returning to the Downtown Ferry Landing.

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

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

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

ARTS & CULTURE

CHLOE BAILY ART RECEPTION Easy Going

Gallery celebrates a new exhibit from artists Chloe Baily—Kaleidoscopic Topic at 6 p.m. Thursday, July 6 at the gallery, 701 N. V St., with music from Hiedi. Visit facebook.com/easygoinggallery.

PENSACOLA CINEMA ART SHOWTIMES

The next PCA showtime is "The Quiet Girl" at 1 p.m. Friday, July 7 and Saturday, July 8 at Pensacola Cinema Art Theatre, located in the Studer Community Institute building, 220 W. Garden St. Tickets are $10 cash. Visit pensacolacinemaart. com for details.

BIG DEAL BURLESQUE Show is 7 p.m. Saturday, July 8 at Vinyl Music Hall, 200 S. Palafox. Tickets are $25-$500. Visit vinylmusichall.com for details.

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

TAYLOR SWIFT DANCE PARTY Celebrate the release of "Speak Now-Taylor's Version" 9 p.m. Friday, July 14 at Vinyl Music Hall, 2

S. Palafox. Tickets are $15 and available at vinylmusichall.com.

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

SOUTHERN STORYTELLERS To celebrate the new three-episode series, "Southern Storytellers" from PBS, WSRE will feature a writers' round with local storytellers and a free preview of the screening at 5:30 p.m. Friday July 14 at Voices of Pensacola, 117 E. Government St. Reservations made at wsre.org/events are requested as seating is limited.

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

SAENGER THEATRE SUMMER MOVIE SERIES: 'THE JERK' The Saenger Summer Movie Series is exploring comedy classics. "The Jerk" plays 7 p.m. Saturday, July 15. Tickets are $5. Seats are first-come-first-served. Visit pensacolasaenger.com for details.

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

NATIONAL NAVAL AVIATION MUSEUM VISITOR APPRECIATION DAY The second Visitor Appreciation Day takes place 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, July 15, and will focus on kids' activities

and entertainment. Visit the museum, located at 1750 Radford Boulevard, to enjoy the event.

PALAFOX MARKET SOUTH AT PLAZA

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

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

TICKETS ON SALE FOR BEYOND VAN

GOGH Tickets are on sale now for Beyond Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience. In the interactive experience, guests witness more than 300 iconic masterpieces, including such instantly recognizable classics as "The Starry Night," "Sunflowers" and "Café Terrace at Night," as well as many revealing self-portraits. Beyond Van Gogh is Aug. 5-Sept. 9 at Pensacola Interstate Fair, Building. 6, 6655 Mobile Highway. Prices start at $39.99 for adults and $23.99 for children (ages 5-15), plus ticketing fees. Tickets are on sale at vangoghpensacola.com.

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

SPIRITS OF SEVILLE QUARTER GHOST TOUR AND LUNCHEON Dine inside Pensacola's oldest and most haunted restaurant and investigate the spirits with actual paranormal equipment at Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. Tickets are $12 and include a voucher toward Seville Quarter's menu. Tours are held 11 a.m.-2 p.m. weekdays and 2-4 p.m. Sundays. Make an appointment by calling (850) 941-4321. for

free will astrology

ARIES (MARCH 21-APRIL 19): Genius physicist Albert Einstein said, "The formulation of a problem is often more essential than its solution, which may be merely a matter of mathematical or experimental skill. To raise new questions, new possibilities, to regard old questions from new angles, requires creative imagination and makes real advances." What he said here applies to our personal dilemmas, too. When we figure out the right questions to ask, we are more than halfway toward a clear resolution. This is always true, of course, but it will be an especially crucial principle for you in the coming weeks.

TAURUS (APRIL 20-MAY 20): "Every great advance in natural knowledge has involved the absolute rejection of authority." So said Taurus biologist and anthropologist Thomas Huxley (18251895). I don't think you will have to be quite so forceful as that in the coming weeks. But I hope you're willing to further your education by rebelling against what you already know. And I hope you will be boisterously skeptical about conventional wisdom and trendy ideas. Have fun cultivating a feisty approach to learning. The more time you spend exploring beyond the borders of your familiar world, the better.

GEMINI (MAY 21-JUNE 20): Hooray and hallelujah! You've been experimenting with the perks of being pragmatic and well-grounded. You have been extra intent on translating your ideals into effective actions. I'm not sure I've ever seen you so dedicated to enjoying the simple pleasures. I love that you're investigating the wonders of being as down-to-earth as you dare. Congratulations. Keep doing this honorable work.

CANCER (JUNE 21-JULY 22): I wrote my horoscope column for more than 10 years before it began to get widely syndicated. What changed? I became a better writer and oracle, for one thing. My tenacity was inexhaustible. I was always striving to improve my craft, even when the rewards were meager. Another important factor in my eventual success was my persistence in marketing. I did a lot of hard work to ensure the right publications knew about me. I suspect, fellow Cancerian, that 2024 is likely to bring you a comparable breakthrough in a labor of love you have

By Rob Brezsny

been cultivating for a long time. And the coming months of 2023 will be key in setting the stage for that breakthrough.

LEO (JULY 23-AUG. 22): Maybe you wished you cared more deeply about a certain situation. Your lack of empathy and passion may feel like a hole in your soul. If so, I have good news. The coming weeks will be a favorable time to find the missing power; to tap into the warm, wet feelings that could motivate your quest for greater connection. Here's a good way to begin the process: Forget everything you think you know about the situation with which you want more engagement. Arrive at an empty, still point that enables you to observe the situation as if you were seeing it for the first time.

er and Jessica Shepherd are a few of many regular horoscope writers whose work I find interesting. My own astrological oracles are useful, too. And by the way, how can anyone have the hubris to decide which horoscopes are helpful and which are not? This thing we do is a highly subjective art, not an objective science. In the spirit of my comments here, Libra, and in accordance with astrological omens, I urge you to declare your independence from so-called experts and authorities who tell you they know what's valid and worthwhile for you. Here's your motto: "I'm the authoritative boss of my own truth."

or worry into the full light of your consciousness, it will ultimately lead you to unexpected treasure. Be brave!

VIRGO (AUG. 23-SEPT. 22): You are in an astrological phase when you'll be wise to wrangle with puzzles and enigmas. Whether you come up with crisp solutions isn't as crucial as your earnest efforts to limber up your mind. For best results, don't worry and sweat about it; have fun! Now I'll provide a sample riddle to get you in the mood. It's adapted from a text by David Wallechinsky and Irving Wallace. You are standing before two identical closed doors, one leading to grime and confusion, the other to revelation and joy. Before the doors stand two figures: an angel who always tells the truth and a demon who always lies. But they look alike, and you may ask only one question to help you choose what door to take. What do you do? (Possible answer: Ask either character what the other would say if you asked which door to take, then open the opposite door.)

LIBRA (SEPT. 23-OCT. 22): I found a study that concluded just 6.1% of online horoscopes provide legitimate predictions about the future. Furthermore, the research indicated 62.3% of them consist of bland, generic pabulum of no value to the recipient. I disagree with these assessments. Chani Nicholas, Michael Lutin, Susan Mill-

SCORPIO (OCT. 23-NOV. 21): Is it a fact that our bodies are made of stardust? Absolutely true, says planetary scientist Dr. Ashley King. Nearly all the elements comprising our flesh, nerves, bones and blood were originally forged in at least one star, maybe more. Some of the stuff we are made of lived a very long time in a star that eventually exploded: a supernova. Here's another amazing revelation about you: You are composed of atoms that have existed for almost 14 billion years. I bring these startling realities to your attention, Scorpio, in honor of the most expansive phase of your astrological cycle. You have a mandate to deepen and broaden and enlarge your understanding of who you are and where you came from.

SAGITTARIUS (NOV. 22-DEC. 21): I foresee that August will be a time of experiments and explorations. Life will be in a generous mood toward you, tempting and teasing you with opportunities from beyond your circle of expectations. But let's not get carried away until it makes cosmic sense to get carried away. I don't want to urge you to embrace wild hope prematurely. Between now and the end of July, I advise you to enjoy sensible gambles and measured adventures. It's OK to go deep and be rigorous, but save the full intensity for later.

CAPRICORN (DEC. 22-JAN. 19): Is there a crucial half-conscious question lurking in the underside of your mind? A smoldering doubt or muffled perplexity that's important for you to address? I suspect there is. Now it's time to coax it up to the surface of your awareness so you may deal with it forthrightly. You must not let it smolder there in its hiding place. Here's the good news, Capricorn: If you bring the dilemma or confusion

AQUARIUS (JAN. 20-FEB. 18): In Larry McMurtry's novel "Duane's Depressed," the life of the main character has come to a standstill. He no longer enjoys his job. The fates of his kids are too complicated for him to know how to respond. He has a lot of feelings but has little skill in expressing them. At a loss about how to change his circumstances, he takes a small and basic step: He stops driving his pickup truck and instead walks everywhere he needs to go. Your current stasis is nowhere near as dire as Duane's, Aquarius. But I do recommend you consider his approach to initiating transformation: Start small and basic.

PISCES (FEB. 19-MARCH 20): Author K. V. Patel writes, "As children, we laugh fully with the whole body. We laugh with everything we have." In the coming weeks, Pisces, I would love for you to regularly indulge in just that: total delight and release. Furthermore, I predict you will be more able than usual to summon uproarious life-affirming amusement from the depths of your enchanted soul. Further furthermore, I believe you will have more reasons than ever to throw your head back and unleash your entire self in rippling bursts of healing hysterical hilarity. To get started, practice chuckling, giggling and chortling for one minute right now.

HERE'S THE HOMEWORK: What's the smartest, safest gamble you could take? {in}

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© 2023 Rob Brezsny

It's OK to go deep and be rigorous, but save the full intensity for later.

more time you spend exploring beyond

world, the better.

AWESOME! Emerald Downs racetrack in Auburn, Washington, switched things up on June 25 with a Grandparents Race, WMTV reported. It was part of Grandparents Weekend, where nanas and pop-pops received free admittance and could participate in prize drawings. About 25 grandparents competed in the race, charging out of the horse gates toward a finish line about 40 yards away. Two of the racers stumbled and fell during the sprint, but no one was hurt. Steve Butler of Everett, Washington, was declared the winner.

FOR THE BIRDS The Cotehele medieval house in Cornwall, England, was all set to be the site of a five-day cherry-picking festival starting on June 28, the BBC reported, but blackbirds foiled the plan. Laura Jarman of the National Trust said that 80 trees were full of the fruits on June 19, but two days later "the gardener came to tell me they'd all gone ... feasted on by the very cheeky blackbirds. They're so cute, we don't mind too much," she added. The site still plans to host an apple-picking event later in the year.

GOVERNMENT IN ACTION Paavo Arhinmaki, 46, the deputy mayor of Helsinki, Finland, was caught in the act on June 23 as he and a friend spray-painted graffiti in a railway tunnel in the capital city, the Associated Press reported. The Finnish Transport Infrastructure Agency said the cost to clean up the graffiti would be about $3,830, but it's not clear if the deputy mayor will face charges. "I have committed a crime and bear full responsibility for it," Arhinmaki said, calling his actions "stupid fooling around." However, he is refusing to resign his position.

UNCONVENTIONAL WEAPONRY Tristan

Stetina, 19, was charged with fifth-degree assault (who knew degrees went to 5!) after an incident at a Mankato, Minnesota, restaurant on June 23, KSTP-TV reported. Police officers were called to the business after Stetina allegedly arrived there and "began yelling and throwing Skittles at employees and customers." One victim said she experienced stinging on her back after being hit with one of the candies. Officers, who were familiar with Stetina, found him nearby and placed him under arrest; because he resisted, he was also charged with obstruction of the legal process and disorderly conduct.

INEXPLICABLE Public restrooms are a gamble on the best day, but in Columbus, Indiana, a discovery in the bathroom at Mill Race Park raised the bar: David Lancaster, part of the cleaning crew, found a dead octopus in a toilet there on June 22, with its long tentacles hanging out of the bowl. Fox59-TV reported that Mark Jones, director of the park department, said he didn't know how the octopus had come to be in the toilet, but it had been removed.

IRONY Harvard Business School professor Francesca Gino, who researches dishonesty and unethical behavior, is in the hot seat with her

By the Editors at Andrews McMeel

administration for ... submitting work that falsified results. NPR reported on June 26 that several people have alleged that Gino changed data in at least four papers about her studies. She is currently on administrative leave; for her part, Gino did not confirm or deny the claims, but said she is "limited into what I can say publicly. I want to assure you that I take (the allegations) seriously and they will be addressed." Investigators said they found incidents of fraud spanning more than a decade.

RECENT ALARMING HEADLINE At Bangkok's Don Mueang Airport on June 29, a 57-yearold Thai woman was preparing to board a flight when she became caught in the moving walkway in Terminal 2, The Guardian reported. The lower part of the woman's leg was trapped beneath the belt at the end of the walkway; a medical team had to amputate her leg above the knee, and she then was transferred to a hospital to assess the chances of reattaching her leg. Airport director Karun Thanakuljeerapat offered "my deepest condolences regarding the accident" and said the airport would be fully responsible for the victim's medical costs.

IT'S GOOD TO HAVE GOALS "Highpointing" enthusiasts seek to find tallest points in a geographic region. The hobby intrigues former Colorado resident Andrew Karr, so it's only natural that in his new home state of Florida, he'd continue the quest. According to The Messenger, Karr has pledged to summit the highest point of every county in Florida—the flattest state in the country. He studies maps, rents kayaks and asks landowners for permission to cross their property to achieve his goal, and he's almost there: He's summitted 61 out of 67 counties.

THE ARISTOCRATS A Brooklyn-based art collective called MSCHF created a teeny tiny handbag that sold for $63,000 at auction on June 28, CNN reported. The neon green bag, measuring less than 0.03 inches wide, is fashioned after an iconic Louis Vuitton bag called the OntheGo tote, but it was not sanctioned by the designer. It was made using technology that prints 3D micro-scale plastic parts and was sold with a microscope so the owner can see it.

NEWS YOU CAN USE The Bridge of Flowers between Shelburne and Buckland, Massachusetts, draws walkers from both cities to view the flora alongside the footbridge, Mass Live reported. But now the Bridge of Flowers Committee is asking residents not to scatter loved ones' ashes there. "It's not healthy," said Carol Angus, cochair of the committee. "The gardeners and volunteers are then exposed to the human remains," and the leaves and roots of the plants are damaged. "It's very upsetting," Angus added. {in}

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