Inweekly June 22 2023

The Art of Pride

PensaPride Highlights

LGBTQ+ Creativity and Resistance

winners losers

ROD ALDOFF The Pensacola Ice Flyers announced head coach Rod Aldoff has retired after nine seasons with the team. Aldoff took over as head coach in 2013 and led the team to an overall regular season record of 237-154-54 (.593) and an overall post-season record of 2211 (.667). He won three SPHL championships, the first in 2014, after the Ice Flyers won its first championship in 2013. Aldoff followed that up with another title in 2016 ,and then assembled a remarkable team during the SPHL's COVID season in 2020-21 that brought Pensacola its fourth SPHL championship. In 2014, Aldoff was named Coach of the Year. Ice Flyers Owner Greg Harris said, "We wish nothing but the best for Rod and his family and can't thank him enough for what he's done here."

JOHN MERTING In partnership with the Satori Foundation, the Pensacola attorney made a $35,000 gift in support of the University of West Florida College of Business. This gift supports the Argo Investment Fund. Students who choose to be in the program manage a bond fund and stock fund in their business courses to gain realworld experience managing money. They select stocks to invest in and present how their chosen stocks did over a period of time.

HOGFEST 2023 The Northeast Pensacola Sertoma Club announced a record-setting HogFest event benefiting Pathways for Change and ReadyKids. The 21st Annual HogFest at Pensacola Harley-Davidson drew a crowd of 1,000 attendees and raised more than $105,000 through ticket sales and live and silent auctions. Michael Bradley won the reverse raffle for a Harley Davidson motorcycle. HogFest was made possible by presenting sponsor Stevenson-Klotz Injury Lawyers, Pensacola Harley-Davidson and every Northeast Pensacola Sertoma Club member.

ARC GATEWAY Its Pearl Nelson Child Development Center will lead the development of the Escambia County Help Me Grow Collaborative thanks to a winning proposal approved by the Escambia Children's Trust board. Escambia County will be the newest affiliate of Help Me Grow Florida and part of the national center.

PUBLIC BROADCASTING Gov. Ron DeSantis again showed no love for Big Bird and his pals, vetoing $6.4 million earmarked to remedy safety issues at Florida's public broadcasting stations. Many of the items cut were also rejected last year. Pensacola State College's WSRE lost $100,000 to replace its studio transmitter link, and the University of West Florida's WUWF had $593,000 for backup generator replacement nixed from the budget.

WILTON SIMPSON Florida's Agriculture

Commissioner saw Gov. Ron DeSantis veto $100 million for "Conservation And Rural Land Protection easements," a program that involves purchasing conservation easements that allow landowners to continue farming and cattle operations in exchange for not developing the property. Initially created in 2001, the program has acquired easements on nearly 69,000 acres of working agricultural land. Simpson, a Republican who served two years as Senate president before his election to the Cabinet post in November, criticized the governor's veto as harmful to the state's $180 billion agriculture industry. Simpson said in a statement, "There is no conceivable reason to target agriculture in a year when we have billions of dollars in reserves. Agriculture was harmed today, and so was the state of Florida."

JOE GRUTERS Florida Politics reports that no community was named as frequently in Gov. Ron DeSantis' veto list as Sarasota. The most notable local veto was $20 million for a STEM nursing facility for the University of South Florida's Sarasota-Manatee campus, one of the biggest single projects felled by the governor. Sarasota County's longest-serving state lawmaker is a close ally of Trump, and Gruters believes DeSantis punished his district for not backing the governor's presidential bid. The state senator told Florida Politics, "The Governor is clearly upset I endorsed Donald Trump for President, and so he took it out on the people of Sarasota County. Trump and I understand that people come first, and it's our job to deliver clean water, jobs and a better America for the next generation. The governor clearly sees politics differently."

Rod Aldof / Photo Courtesy of Pensacola Ice Flyers

Photo by catwalker / shutterstock.com

Art • Music • Vendors • Food Trucks Performances • Community Joy! Open to all ages.

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outtakes

By Rick Outzen

IN HISTORY PART 1

Inweekly celebrates its 24th anniversary July 1. The first and second dozen years couldn't be more different for this alt-weekly newspaper and Pensacola. From July 2019 to July 2011, nearly every day was a battle as we tried to gain a foothold in the local media landscape and be seen as a respected news source.

I had read Richard McCord's "The Chain Gang" and understood the challenge of taking on the Gannett empire, the nation's largest mass media holding company and owner of the Pensacola News Journal —which had a reputation for crushing weekly newspapers. Three months after we published our first issue, Congressman Joe Scarborough, the darling of Panhandle Republicans, launched his weekly The Florida Sun. He used his political influence to force a merger that became The Independent Florida Sun.

Scarborough lasted less than six months as the publisher, dropped out of Congress and took a job with the Levin Papantonio law firm. I took over the newspaper's operations, and Scarborough and I fought every day for the next two years about the editorial content. Finally, he left town to pursue a TV career, leaving me to make sense of the pieces.

The paper's name went from the Independent Sun to Independent News to IN by 2008. Pensacola politics began to change. W.D. Childers returned to Pensacola to chair the Escambia County Commission after serving as one of the most powerful men in the Florida Senate for 30 years. Two years later, he was indicted and removed from office along with three other county commissioners after Inweekly and others began questioning their multi-million-dollar land deals.

George Touart became county administrator and filled the leadership void. He, Sheriff Ron McNesby and County Commissioner Mike Whitehead became a mighty triumvirate that ran the county. Inweekly challenged their tactics and questioned jail deaths, deputizing code enforcement officers, raids on strip clubs and county contracts. We barely survived the backlash, but we did begin to build a loyal following.

We also took on the powerbrokers after Hurricane Ivan with investigations of rebuild,

insurance claims, human trafficking and charter schools. We lost advertisers each time, but we refused to back down. For us, there were no sacred cows.

A turning point for the newspaper and Pensacola was the referendum for the Community Maritime Park. Before Hurricane Ivan, we published our Ballsy Plan, which called for a baseball park to be built in downtown Pensacola. Our research found that several cities, such as Montgomery and El Paso, had revitalized their downtowns with minor league baseball parks as the catalysts.

When Quint Studer, Vice Adm. Jack Fetterman and University of West Florida President John Cavanaugh announced plans for the Community Maritime Park, Inweekly was all in. We launched ricksblog.biz to give us a daily news presence and worked with the Greater Pensacola Chamber to create the Pensacola Young Professionals. Both played critical roles in the passage of the park referendum.

By 2008, Inweekly had created three successful commercial issues: Best of the Coast, Rising Stars and the Power List. Our Best of the Coast issue, a brainchild of Spring Hericks, started in 2000. It really took off when Joani Delezen took over as editor and creative director.

Rising Stars complemented the Pensacola Young Professionals by honoring upcoming leaders younger than 35. The Power List started on a cocktail napkin and quickly became one of our most anticipated issues.

Our newspaper moved on to the national stage with the Billings' murders in July 2009. Because of our relationships in the community, we had news tips no other media had. CNN and others followed the blog, and The Daily Beast contacted me to cover the investigation for them. Six months later, the BP Deepwater Horizon explosion occurred, and once again, we garnered national attention and had nightly appearances on the national news networks.

Pensacola continued to change. City voters passed a new charter and elected its first strong mayor. Navy Federal Credit Union was expanding in Beulah, and more deals were rumored.

Pensacola and Inweekly had been discovered. {in} rick@inweekly.net

A RESOURCE FOR CHILDREN

"They've got to be very specific about what their anticipated outcomes are going to be," she said. "And we know these programs aren't always going to be a hundred percent successful, but what we're looking at is we need to try some things that there's evidence that it should work or could work. We want to track whether or not it does work, and then we want to engage in continuous quality improvement, which means if we find that something's not working, let's catch it early and fix it and try something else."

When asked about metrics at his presser, Mayor Reeves felt his team would be able to put those together.

"In terms of metrics, I took a little bit more of an overarching approach to this—what can we put together that we know is of an immediate need to our community?" Reeves told the media. "I'm pretty data-driven. We're always going to measure our success, how many children are we interacting with, how many children are coming to Community Health, LifeView and other providers."

He continued. "That's the beauty of this is, this is not limited to just the people that are here at the beginning. If there's value we can provide to the children of this community, and that's the amazing thing about having this synergistic space, we'll be able to provide that."

of the Pensacola Motor Lodge to provide temporary housing for the homeless.

At his weekly presser on June 12, he unveiled one he had been working on for months, a children's resource center.

"We have been looking for opportunities on how we can make this a better community for our children," Reeves said, flanked by leaders from LifeView Group and Community Health Northwest Florida.

"We started to figure out this project—a children's resource center—would take an all-hands effort from the City of Pensacola, LifeView and Community Health and support from Escambia County to create this first-of-its-kind center in our community. It would not be unprecedented within the state, but certainly is unprecedented within the region."

Mayor Reeves has identified the site for the center. He plans to ask the Escambia Children's Trust for $3.495 million to acquire and renovate the Morris L. Eaddy Activity Center, 1110 W. Lakeview Ave.

The proposed project would renovate the existing facility to create a children's resource center dedicated to providing integrated healthcare services and resources for local youth. Once renovated, the center would include a pediatric clinic operated by Community Health Northwest Florida and on-site behavioral health services offered by Lakeview Center, an affiliate of the Lifeview Group. The City of Pensacola Parks and Recreation Department would also provide community programming at the center, with an emphasis on child and family development.

Earlier that morning on WCOA, the mayor said he wouldn't have taken on this challenge

sion of the importance of the children in our community. And I feel like, fingers crossed, we've got a really strong chance of success."

He continued, "We can do something unprecedented here by putting wraparound services— recreation, classrooms, computer labs, pediatrics and mental services in one place. The children are our greatest asset, and it's the thing that's most important for the future viability of the city."

IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD

This spring, the University of West Florida Haas Center and Inweekly published an interactive map showing the census tracts with the most significant percentages of children living in poverty, using the latest census data. The 2022 Community Needs Assessment found Black children have a two times higher mortality rate than white children.

Several pockets surround the Morris L. Eaddy Activity Center. It sits in a neighborhood with a poverty rate of 15.6%. To the south are two tracts with 48% and 39% poverty rates; to the north, a tract with 41%. More than 1,700 children living in poverty are within walking distance of the center. The majority are Black.

"This project has the potential to be a gamechanger for this community," said Allison Hill, the CEO of LifeView Group. "One of the things that we often see when people try to access our service is that there are other things in their life that are creating challenges, and having those resources be all in one place under one roof could really make a difference for children and families who come to this resource center."

Dr. Joseph Klawitter, the director of Pediat-

ter care program is located here on campus, and many times we have those children who come to see their caseworker. So, in addition to children in the surrounding neighborhood, a lot of individuals and families that we could touch will utilize the center. I think the reach is going to be even greater than just the neighborhood."

Hill has seen such centers work well elsewhere. She said, "I believe in this concept, and it wouldn't be the first in the state. We see these kinds of resource centers in other communities, and when done right with the right people in partnership, they're very successful."

MEASURABLE OUTCOMES

Tammy Greer, the executive director of Escambia Children's Trust, told Inweekly her board would focus on the outcomes when it considers the mayor's proposal.

"I cannot stress this (enough)—we need outcomes, and outcomes are not the same as output," Greer said. "It's not just that we provided services to X number of children. If those services aren't working, if they're not somehow impacting for the better those children's lives, if they're not moving the needle on those indicators that we identified in that needs assessment as our baseline, then we're not going to be able to answer to the voters of Escambia County and tell them what the return on the investment of their dollars is."

Greer believes her board needs to see how the proposed children's resource center would improve children's lives in terms of academic outcomes, juvenile justice outcomes, involvement in the dependency system with abuse, neglect, healthcare or the other indicators in the Trust's needs assessment report.

Both Klawitter and Reeves pointed to the success of the community partnership school at C.A. Weiss Elementary School, where Community Health, the Children's Home Society and UWF provide wraparound services to the students and neighborhood.

"C.A. Weiss has been an excellent pilot program that many other counties in Florida are looking to emulate," Klawitter said. "The idea of putting healthcare in a place that is more accessible to kids in that community, that's really what we strive for."

Mayor Reeves sees the proposed center as a pilot that may be duplicated in other neighborhoods in the city and county.

"We'll learn about a lot about the partnership, but at the end of the day, the City's invested in this, and if our grant request goes through, we're in it for the long haul," he said. "We feel like with good partners and four or five years of runway to start to learn what we need."

The mayor stressed the value of acquiring the Morris L. Eaddy Activity Center. He said, "God willing, if this is able to pass the Escambia Children's Trust Board of Directors and be funded, this is something that could be put online relatively quickly, given the facility is nearly ready to open."

"We're putting our best foot forward of something that we know is of immense need in this community," Reeves said. "I think we'll probably sit here in a couple of years, and there'll be some amenities and things that we can provide to the children of Pensacola and Escambia County that we may not even be thinking of right now, but we need this home base."

He continued, "We need this synergy. We need to be in the areas and neighborhoods where the folks need it the most." {in}

Photo Courtesy of Community Health Northwest Florida

UNITED WAY'S IMPACT

By Tom St. Myer

Health & Hope Clinic mirrors other nonprofit agencies in that every dollar is a treasured commodity. The clinic is expanding rapidly and operates on a tight budget to provide accessible primary and preventive health care to the uninsured and medically underserved populations.

That tight budget prevented Executive Director Sally Bergosh from hiring a doctor to consistently be at the clinic. But that is no longer an issue after Hope & Health Clinic secured a $40,000 grant award from United Way of West Florida.

Bergosh describes applying for the United Way grant as an arduous process. She and her team devoted countless hours to the application process.

"It's not a walk in the park," Bergosh said. "I like those bragging rights when we get that United Way money. There's a lot of meat to it when you say, 'I got United Way funding.' It'll be nice that I can hire someone with oversight and is a consistent doctor at the clinic. It'll be very impactful for our patients."

United Way will allocate almost $470,000 in grant funding to partner programs for fiscal year 2023-24 to ensure the nonprofit agencies continue addressing the most pressing needs in the region. The grant funding awarded to the partners will support essential services and initiatives including education and early childhood development, health and wellness programs, financial stability and empowerment and basic needs assistance.

FUNDING IMPACTFUL PROGRAMS

"We were really looking for agencies and specific programs that are impacting health education and financial stability issues, critical issues that our community is facing and ways that they are bringing folks up to sustainable places in their life for their family and for their community," said Mary Zaledonis, the director of community impact for United Way. Health & Hope Clinic, Bright Bridge Minis

tries' hot meals program and Re-entry Alliance Pensacola's re-entry portal topped the recipients with awards in the amount of $40,000 each. Arc Gateway and Santa Rosa Kids House each received more than $30,000 for their respective therapy programs. Boys and Girls Clubs of the Emerald Coast topped the education division with an award of $28,000 for its academic success program.

Bright Bridge Ministries serves free lunch to the public from 10 a.m.-noon Monday-Friday and a free dinner after its Sunday evening service. The program is designed to address issues facing those with chronic homelessness and low income in the community and promote dignity and nutritional wellbeing by setting a healthy physical environment.

"We average around 100 people per day," said Stanley Donaway, the food services coordinator. "A lot of them are homeless and some are just really poor people who live in the community trying to make ends meet. We promote community fellowship. As we get to know them, we try to find out what their struggles are and how we can help them in other areas."

Every cent of the $40,000 will be used to purchase food, Donaway said. The average cost per plate is $2.50, and he spends around $4,000-5,000 a month on food and essential items, such as drinks, forks, napkins and paper towels.

A THOROUGH PROCESS

United Way selected the agencies with the premise of tackling challenges weighing down the community and promoting holistic solutions for individuals and families. Community volunteers with diverse areas of expertise researched and scored applications and interviewed local nonprofits. The group then recommended its funding decisions to the board of directors for final approval.

"These are amazing individuals in the community, who have their full-time jobs, that carve out this time to not only read the applications, but then we bring in our agencies to provide a 20-minute presentation to each of our volun -

teers," Zaledonis said. "And the volunteers then are able to ask questions, kind of clarify, check on some things that were in the written application, and then the volunteers move forward to pretty intense deliberation processes."

The 24 recipients include 10 in health, nine in education and five in financial stability. The recipients stood out based on their proven track records of exceptional dedication, innovation and effectiveness in their respective fields. Their visions align closely with that of United Way.

"We're just really looking for agencies that are boots on the ground and getting into those hard-to-reach communities, neighborhoods that could bring in the funds and the means that's going to make the impact," Zaledonis said. "And the community investment committee created the grant process, the grant application, to really make sure the grant is looking at the agency holistically."

Recipients will complete two reports showing they properly utilized the funds, and United Way will visit each agency this fall for an in-person observation. This is the first year United Way will visit the agencies. The visits will provide the agencies an opportunity to showcase how the money is serving the community, Zaledonis said.

"These programs are ones that are working hard and need funding to make a difference," she said. "We were looking for agencies that were able to go through our vetting process and are really impacting communities' most needed areas." {in}

FY 2023-24

FUNDED PARTNERS

EDUCATION

•Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwest Florida, Beyond School Walls: $10,000

•Boys and Girls Clubs of the Emerald Coast, Academic Success: $28,000

•Central Gulf Coast CDF Freedom Schools, Harambee: Let's all pull together: $15,000

•Children's Home Society, Teenspace: $15,000

•Council on Aging of West Florida, Foster Grandparent Program: $24,000

•Every Child a Reader in Escambia, Reading Pals: $11,000

•James B. Washington Education & Sports, Inc., Tutoring Toward Tomorrow's Dreams Academic Tutorial Program: $9,000

•PACE Center for Girls, Girls Earning Diplomas (GED) Program: $8,000

•YMCA, Yreads: $10,000

FINANCIAL STABILITY

•Catholic Charities of Northwest FL, Emergency Assistance Program: $20,000

•Favorhouse of Northwest Florida, Financial Stability Program for Domestic Violence Victims: $16,065

•Feeding the Gulf Coast, Mobile Pantry Program: $8,000

•Legal Services of North Florida, Creating Independence and Connection for Disconnected Youth: $28,000

•Re-Entry Alliance Pensacola, Re-Entry Portal: $40,000

HEALTH

•Bright Bridge Ministries, Hot Meals Program: $40,000

•Center for Independent Living of Northwest FL, Equipment for Independence Program: $10,000

•Embrace Florida Kids, Family Preservation: $7,500

•Epilepsy Alliance Florida, Epilepsy Services and Resource Center: $10,000

•Health & Hope Clinic, Access to Care: $40,000

•Manna Food Bank, Healthy Seniors Food Program: $9,000

•Pensacola Habitat for Humanity, Housing Plus Aging in Place: $19,000

•Santa Rosa Kids House, Trauma Focused Therapy: $32,000

•The Arc Gateway, Pearl Nelson Center Pediatric Therapy: $32,400

•Valerie’s House, No Child Grieves Alone: $22,500

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HONORING LARRY BUTLER

The University of West Florida celebrated a $170,000 donation to UWF's Dr. Grier Williams School of Music in support of the Larry Butler Memorial Music Scholarship Fund on Monday, June 12 at Flora-Bama in Perdido Key. The new funds are a result of a Music City Hit-Makers fundraising concert at the Saenger Theatre Pensacola in November.

Members of the Hit-Makers and representatives from the Frank Brown International Foundation for Music, Inc. and UWF's Larry Butler Memorial Music Scholarship Fund joined forces to present the concert. Backed by a Foo Foo Festival grant and generous local individual and business sponsors, more than $170,000 was raised for the scholarship fund.

The Larry Butler Memorial Music Scholarship was created in 2015 by Peggy Butler in memory of her husband, a Grammy Award-winning songwriter and producer and Pensacola native. The scholarship provides financial assistance to UWF music students as they complete their degree programs and provides them the opportunity to travel to work with world-class artists and attend competitions, conventions and performances.

"The generous gift that Peggy Butler has provided the Dr. Grier Williams School of Music has been transformative for our students," said Corey McKern, interim director of the Dr. Grier Williams School of Music. "Like Larry Butler, whose dreams started in Pensacola, our students are able to launch themselves into the greater world of music because of Peggy's vision, dedication and hard work. Our students, who might not have been able to seek certain opportunities due to financial limitations, are able to bolster their careers and musicianship. I speak for our entire faculty when I say thank you!"

The Butler family and friends has raised more than $250,000 to support the Dr. Grier Williams School of Music. Nearly $113,000 in scholarships have been awarded from the fund.

"Larry was passionate about music and its power to bring people together," Peggy Butler said. "He would be so proud of our community's continued commitment to showcasing the arts and supporting the next generation of music artists through the Larry Butler Memorial Music Scholarship at UWF."

Larry Butler worked with renowned recording artists Johnny Cash and Kenny Rogers, among others, during his career in Nashville and displayed his generosity by holding various benefit concerts for his hometown and Northwest Florida.

The Frank Brown International Foundation for Music produces the 39-year-old Frank Brown International Songwriters Festival annually. The event hosts Grammy Award-winning and rising stars who perform original songs in multiple locations in the greater Pensacola area. It attracts more than 200 songwriters and thousands of attendees from all around the world.

For more information about giving to UWF, visit uwf.edu/give.

TRUST UPDATE Armed with $10.7 million to spend on new projects, the Escambia Children's Trust Board approved two significant proposals Tuesday, June 13. The board approved allotting $1.35 million to implement the Escambia County Help Me Grow Collaborative. The collaborative is an affiliate of Help Me Grow Florida and engages Arc Gateway to serve the needs of young children at risk of developmental delays.

Help Me Grow Florida currently serves 38 counties and about 33,000 children. The organization promotes early identification of developmental, behavioral and educational concerns, then links children and families to communitybased services and support at no cost.

The board also approved requesting proposals for "Community-Led and Community-Operated Mental Health Supports for Children and Families." The Trust will request the proposals beginning Wednesday and award up to $3.34 million in total to successful proposers.

The Trust seeks proposals to create or expand informal mental health supports offered by community-led and community-operated organizations, including trusted peers, friends and family, religious leaders, support groups or other nonhealth professionals.

The review committee will weigh whether the submitted proposals increase the availability of preventive and proactive supports for mental health and wellbeing, increase the capacity of child-serving service systems on trauma-informed practices and improve equity in mental health and reduce health disparities through equitable access to services.

The approved measures ensure the Trust will increase its 25 active contracts and its service of 5,000-plus children across Escambia County. Executive Director Tammy Greer referenced other requests she expects to bring before board committees soon.

"Of the $10.7 million that we may be awarding this year, I've already received a very large request from (Pensacola State College) that will come before the program committee," she said. "For anyone who heard the mayor's press conference yesterday, they're going to be submitting a $3.9 million ask any day now. And I've had conversations and have a meeting coming up with Sen. (Doug) Broxson and several folks around Charter Schools USA, and they're going to be coming to us with a significant ask. Every dollar of that $10 million could very well be spent by Sept. 30."

Greer referenced Mayor D.C. Reeves announcing the City of Pensacola plans to partner with Community Health Northwest Florida and ask the Trust for a grant to buy the Morris L. Eaddy Activity Center to create a children's resource center.

"To ultimately put in a children's services center wraparound services – be it recreation, classrooms, computer labs and of course, the Community Health piece and potentially mental health through a partnership with Lakeview, I think that's a much-needed asset in our community because we know that the children are our greatest asset,

and it's the thing that's most important for the future viability of the city," Reeves said.

Charter Schools USA recently took over operations of Warrington Middle School after contentious negotiations with Escambia County Public Schools.

One other notable approval by the board on Tuesday concerned the millage rate. The board approved the maximum rate of .05 to fund Trust operations.

MORE FILTHY SCHOOLS After he toured Warrington Middle School (WMS) with Charter Schools USA official, Inweekly publisher Rick Outzen reported on the filthy condition of the school. Apparently, WMS isn't the only dirty Escambia County public school.

One teacher wrote, "It's not just Warrington that's filthy. My west side school is in exactly the same condition. There is literal dried shit on the floors and baseboards in the girl's restroom from a flood that happened two years ago."

She continued, "Air filters are thick with grime, and dust bunnies are all over the edges and corners of floors. My classroom was never cleaned beyond having trash pulled most days."

The teacher believes the "disgusting" condition shows the students and staff exactly what the district thinks of them.

"We got the regular excuse of custodial shortages, but never did they hire a cleaning contractor to make up for the loss of staff," she wrote. "And of course, our admin hall is always clean, so go figure."

VOTE-BY-MAIL 2024 Florida law regarding vote-by-mail ballots has changed. Registered voters must request vote-by-ballots for each election cycle. In early May, the Escambia Supervisor of Elections office sent out a mailer to voters who requested the vote by mail letting know them they would need to make a request again for the 2024 election cycle. Nearly 13,000 people responded in the first 30 days.

"I suspect that number's going to increase as we get closer to the election cycle," said Supervisor of Elections David Stafford. "When there are changes in the election laws, there tends to be some confusion, and so we tried to push some information out and try to make it as straightforward as possible."

He continued, "We've always said we have three ways to vote. We don't care which method you choose, but we just ask that you choose one of them to go out and exercise your constitutional right."

QUICK FIX Mayor D.C. Reeves shared with Inweekly why he felt buying the Pensacola Motor Lodge was a solution to provide temporary housing experiencing homelessness.

"I've been meeting with mayors all over the country through these fellowships and the U.S. Conference of Mayors, and this is a practice that's happening all over the country right now," he said. "It's very, very difficult to take a vacant piece of property and get units at scale quickly.

What I see here is that we're able to get 30 units that could meet some affordability need and do it quickly."

The mayor added, "I hope this will be the first in several steps of being able to attack what we all know as a housing crisis."

IP GRANTS The International Paper Pensacola Mill announced it will award $63,000 in foundation grants to nonprofit organizations in 2023.

International Paper Pensacola Mill recognizes the vital role nonprofit organizations play in addressing critical needs within our communities. Through these grants, organizations will be able to fund new projects and programs that align with its signature causes and have a positive impact on the lives of individuals.

To apply for these grants, nonprofits are invited to submit their applications by Tuesday, July 11. Interested parties can access the application form at ipgiving.com.

"International Paper grants are a powerful way for us to make a meaningful difference in our community," said Whitney Fike, Regional Communications Manager. "We are committed to supporting organizations that share our vision of creating positive change and improving the lives of individuals."

The International Paper Foundation focuses on making sustainable investments that address critical needs in the communities where its employees live and work. Grants are awarded based on signature causes.

Signature Causes include:

•Education—Programs focused on helping children succeed via a comprehensive approach to education. Priority is given to literacy programs from birth through third grade.

•Hunger—Programs dedicated to improving food security throughout our communities.

•Health and Wellness—Programs that promote healthy living habits.

•Disaster Relief —Programs that help communities prepare for and recover from natural disasters.

Funding is also available to address environmental initiatives (forests, water and air), employee involvement grants and other critical community needs.

Applicants must be a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization or qualifying federal entity to apply for a grant. To be considered, organizations must have a program that addresses critical community needs and have measurable objectives to demonstrate impact.

If you have questions about the grant guidelines, contact Whitney Fike, regional communications manager, at whitney.fike@ipaper.com.

MORE STOP SIGNS

The City of Pensacola will install two new stop signs Thursday, June 22, at the intersection of Reus Street and Government Street near Union Public House. The signs will convert the intersection from a two-way stop to an all-way stop.

The intent of the conversion is to enhance motorist and pedestrian safety at the intersection due to driver visibility concerns. Drivers should

use caution in the area and remember to approach the Reus and Government intersection as an all-way stop once the installation is complete.

CENTURY ONE-STOP DENTAL On Monday, June 12, Community Health Northwest Florida in Century consolidated all pediatric and adult dental services and began seeing both adults and children under one roof. The CHNWF Pediatric Dental move from 501 Church Street to the remodeled Adult & Family Care location at 6021 Industrial Boulevard will improve efficiency and better serve patients at both locations.

The space vacated at Church Street will allow for additional exam rooms to care for more pediatric primary care patients. In addition, CHNWF at Industrial Boulevard boasts several state-ofthe-art dental operatories with newer equipment in the bright, modern facility, which both patients and staff appreciate. And although children and adults will be seen on separate days, it will be a one-stop dental shop for families in Century and surrounding areas.

To schedule a dental appointment at the Community Health Northwest Florida Adult & Family location, call (850) 724.4064, option 2, and for more information about all CHNWF services, visit healthcarewithinreach.org.

POP-UP MEETING

The City of Pensacola invites the public to attend Pop-Up in the Street, an event kicking off the final stage of public engagement for the city's Active Transportation Plan, 5:30-7:30 p.m. Monday, June 26.

This free community event will take place on East La Rua Street between North Tarragona and Hayne streets. This event is open for the public to view draft components of the Active Transportation Plan, along with pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure demonstrations. The event will also feature local organizations, giveaways and an interactive forum to learn about the proposed future transportation network and actionable steps to achieve the goals of the plan.

The Active Transportation Plan aims to identify critical infrastructure that improves access, comfort and safety for people walking, bicycling and using other self-propelled modes of transportation. For more information, visit cityofpensacola.com/activetransportationplan.

NEIGHBORHOOD CLEANUP The next Mayor's Neighborhood Cleanup is Saturday, June 24, in the Sanders Beach, Bayou Grove and West Garden District neighborhoods. This event allows the City of Pensacola Sanitation customers in the

cleanup area to leave eligible items at the curb for pickup, free of charge.

Sanitation customers in the cleanup area must place items curbside by 7 a.m. the day of the cleanup. Please do not place items at the curb before Wednesday, June 21. Items left curbside outside of the cleanup area will not be collected. The cleanup includes bulk items only. Yard waste or garbage will not be collected.

Items eligible for removal include household appliances and electronics, household junk and debris, furniture and mattresses, carpeting, barbecue grills (no propane tanks), bicycles and toys, tires, old paint and paint cans.

Items not eligible for removal include building materials (concrete, bricks, blocks, roofing, drywall or more than one cubic yard of lumber), household or pool chemicals, herbicides or pesticides, explosives or ammunition, auto parts, dirt or sod, propane tanks and garbage or yard trash.

Please keep tires and paint cans separate from all other debris. Do not place piles under lowhanging lines or near poles, fences or mailboxes.

FIRECRACKER 5K Ronald McDonald House Charities of Northwest Florida (RMHC) will hold its annual Firecracker 5k, presented by Hill-Kel-

ly Dodge Chrysler Jeep Ram, on Saturday, July 1. The race begins at 7 a.m. at Seville Quarter and offers participants the option to run or walk the 5k course. The Firecracker 5k is a family-friendly race offering a free Kids Fun Run presented by WEAR Cares.

The registration fee is $35. Late registration will be available during packet pick-up for $40 from 4-7 p.m. Friday, June 30 at Seville Quarter. All participants will receive their T-shirts and race bib during packet pick-up. Packet pick-up will also be held from 6-6:45 a.m. Saturday, July 1 inside Seville Quarter.

Group pricing is available for groups of 10 or more. Please contact Kathryn at (850) 477-2273 or kathryn@rmhc-nwfl.org. For those looking to support RMHC from afar, a virtual race option is available. Virtual runners will receive a T-shirt and finisher's medal in the mail, along with a virtual race bib.

Wear your red, white and blue and kick off the Fourth of July weekend by running for the House. Prizes will be awarded to the top finishers in their age group. Enjoy the post-race party, including free drinks for those 21 and older, music and an awards ceremony inside Seville Quarter. {in}

The Art of Pride: PensaPride Highlights LGBTQ+ Creativity and Resistance

Pride is more than just a celebration. For many, it is a place of refuge, a time to honor the rich history of the LGBTQ+ community, celebrate the victories paved and wage defiance against the injustices still plaguing the community at large. As the catchphrase now emblazoned on Pride month merch reminds us: Pride started as a riot.

Despite the significant strides made since the historic Stonewall riots in 1969, the LGBTQ+ community continues to face relentless attacks from the Republican-controlled Florida Legislature. In the face of recent legislation signed into law by Governor Ron DeSantis restricting gender-affirming healthcare, drag shows, genderneutral bathrooms and pronoun usage in K-12 schools—as well as the six-week abortion ban and widespread book censorship—there is a lot to protest this Pride.

This Pride season, PensaPride has returned for its third consecutive year, bringing together more than 100 local LGBTQ+ and allied vendors, artists and organizations as a powerful force that unifies the community and offers a platform for simultaneous celebration and protest. PensaPride is a sober, family-friendly space working to strengthen the Pensacola LGBTQ+ community and the families, creatives and small businesses that are part of it.

"Originally, Pensacola Arts Market was going to host its own Pride event since so many of our vendors are queer, and the arts market is an inclusive space," said Marri Salt, the founder of Pensacola Arts Market. "Then, we quickly partnered with Strive and continued to grow organically as a grassroots organization. Now, PensaPride has its

By Dakota Parks

own board of directors, and we're really trying to uplift our community and be an inclusive space for all ages."

PensaPride was co-created by Pensacola Arts Market and Strive in 2021 and has grown to include an artist and vendor lineup curated by Pensacola Arts Market, a main performance stage featuring local bands and performers organized by LIBERATION, up to a dozen food vendors, a nonprofit zone, a kid's zone and a sensory-friendly acoustic stage from 309 Punk Project.

CREATIVITY AT PRIDE

Grace Thompson (@lauragrace.arts) is a fineline ink and graphite artist, interweaving nature and the human figure in her work. As a recent B.F.A. graduate of the University of West Florida and a regular art vendor, she looks forward to selling her artwork at PensaPride every year.

"After coming out as queer within the past couple years, I have learned to offer myself more grace," Thompson said. "Every day is a chance to learn more, and art works as an outlet to channel these emotions. In nature we see strength, love and community, and to me, that is what it means to be a queer artist. PensaPride is a safe space where shame has no home."

Like Grace, artist Miranda Monaé (@faemonae) finds inspiration in nature, and they meld natural phenomena together with the fantasy genre to create diverse representation in their paintings, drawings and sculptures.

"The near infinite inspiration that I can draw from queer artistry throughout history allows

me to create Black and brown characters that aren't usually represented. Through my illustrations, I see my family, my friends, my community and myself in a fantastical and whimsical way," Monaé explained.

This will be their first year vending at PensaPride, but Monaé is excited for the safe haven of Pride amid political turmoil.

"In the current political climate, where public sentiment and legislation are becoming more and more hostile toward queer folks, an event as accepting and loving as PensaPride is an absolute necessity," they said. "We deserve spaces to build community and be ourselves, and we deserve safety when doing so."

This year, to increase event safety, PensaPride will charge a one-penny admission fee and monitor event entrances and exits. Admitted guests will be given a wristband and permitted re-entry throughout the day.

RESISTANCE AND RESILIENCE

In response to the current wave of restrictive legislation, many Pride celebrations were canceled across the state of Florida. Drag has always been a staple of Pride, but the recent anti-drag law has changed that. This law prohibits minors from drag shows, imposing fines and potential suspension or revocation of liquor licenses for business owners who fail to comply.

Despite the majority of drag shows occurring in bars where the entry is already 18 and older, this law denies parents the right to decide what is appropriate for their children. LGBTQ+ advocates

claim the vague language of this law will discourage LGBTQ-friendly businesses and further strip the rights of the transgender community.

"Pride is critical, because it is a political act of resistance against anti-LGBTQ attitudes and right-wing reactionary thought," said Devin Cole, the Strive president and PensaPride board member. "I think it is cowardly to cancel Pride, because it's just as dangerous and as unsafe now as it was 10 years ago. Safety and security [at PensaPride] is top of mind, and we will always continue to be all ages. We never once considered canceling, and I'm ashamed of the organizations canceling Pride."

While PensaPride won't feature drag shows this year, the organizers are committed to ensuring the drag community feels fully embraced and included as an integral part of the LGBTQ+ community.

Attendees can anticipate a variety show with performances by Mid Evil Times, Cookies and Cake, Bread Box Theatre and more. Among the highlights will be a unique rendition of the classic puppet show "Punch and Judy," reimagined as "Punch and Ronny," featuring a drag queen puppet chastising and reprimanding a Ron DeSantis puppet. Furthermore, the event will provide an open mic opportunity on the main stage, allowing the public an open forum to express its views on various issues, including the drag ban.

"The drag ban was written to be intentionally vague, so that it could encompass transgender people and gender non-conforming people," Cole said. "It's a smokescreen for anti-trans attitude sharpening in the state of Florida. Drag is often a hobby for people, and while many transgender

Photo Courtesy of PensaPride

people also love and do drag, it's not a hobby or passionate project for us. It's something we have to do every day as a transgender person."

Within the expanded PensaPride festivities this year, an essential component entails a nonprofit and organization vendor fair. This space serves as a platform where LGBTQ+ and ally organizations converge, fostering community connections, offering valuable resources and collectively protesting legislation such as the drag ban. Vendors include Sunday's Child, Stamped Film Festival, Strive, First City Art Center, Pensacola Opera, Equality Florida, Emerald Coast Equality, Pensacola Abortion Rights Taskforce and PEN America.

In the wake of Florida's most anti-LGBTQ legislative session in history, Equality Florida will travel to Pride celebrations across the state to collect petitions to resist DeSantis' censorship agenda. Dedicated to securing full equality for Florida's LGBTQ+ community, Equality Florida employs a multifaceted approach that includes lobbying efforts, grassroots organizing, education initiatives and coalition building. Through these concerted efforts, Equality Florida is steadfastly reshaping the social fabric of Florida, working toward a future in which every member of the LGBTQ+ community can enjoy equal rights and protections.

"Our main focus is freedom in Florida, and we have been seeing a lot of wars against freedom," said Yordanos Molla, the Equality Florida deputy field director. "We see it on the academic side with the banning of books and on the collegiate level trying to limit diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) efforts. We're seeing it in healthcare with the six-week abortion ban and SB 254, which severely restricts gender-affirming care for transgender adults and youth. All of this is an attempt to limit the freedoms of particularly marginalized communities in Florida."

Part of Equality Florida's work includes virtual town halls that break down the implications of proposed legislation and bills signed into law. As Molla explained, SB 254 is causing transgender people across the state to lose access to care, as it stipulates only physicians can provide care and requires a new consent form—which the Board of Medicine and Board of Osteopathic Medicine are in the process of creating. Until this form is completed, many physicians are apprehensive about offering care.

As a result of SB 254, programs such as Pensacola's gender-affirming clinic at Community Health Northwest Florida—which predominantly relies on the expertise of nurse practitioners—is adapting its practice to ensure continued access to care for transgender patients.

Equality Florida is not alone in its protest against healthcare restrictions. Several groups will be present at PensaPride to collect signatures for the ballot initiative "Amendment to Limit Government Interference with Abortion" to place the issue on the 2024 ballot for Floridians to vote to secure abortion access. The citizen-led ballot initiative also seeks to further codify that right into Florida law by creating a constitutional amendment that explicitly blocks the implementation of laws that prohibit, delay or restrict abortion access.

"PART will be out at PensaPride collecting signatures to put abortion rights on the ballot in 2024 and drawing those crucial connections between the attacks on LGBTQ+ rights and abor-

tion rights," said Robin Blyn, the co-founder of the Pensacola Abortion Rights Taskforce (PART).

"The governor and the legislature should not be making medical decisions for any of us. Bodily autonomy is on the line, but we are strong, we are powerful and together we will make Florida a safe place for all of us to thrive."

Emerald Coast Equality and the Democratic Women's Club of Santa Rosa will also collect signatures at PensaPride on behalf of the Floridians Protecting Freedom coalition and PART, a member of the coalition spearheading the ballot initiative.

In addition to the slew of anti-LGBTQ legislation and the six-week abortion ban, widespread book banning across the state has made headlines. Locally, a lawsuit was filed against the Escambia County School District and Escambia County School Board for their sweeping school library censorship—attempting to silence diverse narratives, including people of color and LGBTQ+ authors and stories. The plaintiffs include local parents, PEN America, Penguin Random House and a group of authors of children's and young adult books. Together, they are fighting to declare Escambia's book restrictions unconstitutional, which unfairly target specific viewpoints and infringe upon students' fundamental right to receive information.

In response to the recent book banning, PEN America will be at PensaPride this year, as well as the collaborative duo of Open Books Prison Project and Bookstore and Inweekly. Together, the partners successfully raised funds to purchase and distribute banned books, ensuring children attending PensaPride have access to literature that celebrates diversity.

"We both agreed that PensaPride would be an ideal location, because so many of the banned books are by LGBTQ+ authors or focus on LGBTQ+ topics," said Joani Delezen, the editor of Inweekly. "Additionally, PensaPride is incredibly family and kid friendly, so it's a perfect place to do a book giveaway that is focused on kids."

The collective resistance and protesting endeavors at PensaPride underscore the importance of community engagement, activism and advocacy in safeguarding fundamental rights. By standing together, supporting one another and raising our voices, we create a better future where all individuals, regardless of their identity, can live with dignity, equality and respect. The protests and celebrations at PensaPride serve as a powerful reminder that our fight for equality is far from over.

"None of this will take away from the fact that PensaPride is going to be a very fun day like usual, where everyone can let their hair down and celebrate with a thousand queer and trans people," Cole said. "The most important thing about PensaPride is that it's a testament to the fact that the LGBTQ+ community in Northwest Florida is not going anywhere. Pride is our self-defense and our time to rally the community." {in}

PENSAPRIDE

WHAT: Pensacola's annual, family-friendly Pride fest with an arts market featuring more than 100 vendors, plus live performances from diverse entertainers, musicians and DJs

WHEN: 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Saturday, June 24

WHERE: Cordova Square, 1101 N 12th Ave.

COST: One penny

DETAILS: @pensapride, facebook.com/pensapride

Arts & Entertainment

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

Playing Host with Asia O'Hara

By Joshua Encinias

think drag is wrong and wants to prove it with legitimate evidence. Her favorite conversations are those with people who come hoping to learn

"But for someone to take time out of their day to protest a completely made-up scenario, I can't even put myself in a mental place to even

The queen said her parents taught her, "Everything is not meant for everyone to understand." If someone is at the point of protesting a drag show, that person is not interested in learn-

"So it's not worth my energy to respond,"

At the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, O'Hara toured with Drive 'N Drag, an outdoor drag show that brought entertainment and community to people across the country when we

The experience transformed drag for O'Hara. She calls it a "key moment" in her career, in which she readjusted how she viewed what she did for a living. It was then she realized how many people need the drag community to thrive

"Some good friends were having severe anxiety and depression from not having any type of fellowship or camaraderie with other people," O'Hara said. "That was the moment when I decided to get off my butt and go on that tour. You never know who really might need that to

Drag isn't always that serious, but it is always

O'Hara promises this year's "Werq the World" tour is theatrical, and you'll see the queens perform with each other more than

"We have worked very hard to push the show to drive the art form of drag into a forward-thinking space, and so this show's gonna be a lot more theatrical, a lot more elevated," O'Hara said. "It's not your grandma's drag

A live performance featuring "RuPaul's Drag Race" contestants Asia O'Hara, Bosco, DeJa Skye, Jujubee, Lady Camden, Laganja Estranja, Vanessa Vanjie Mateo, Mistress Isabelle

Asia O'Hara / Photo By Marco Ovando

a&e happenings

PRIDE EVENTS

"CHEERS" TO SUNDAY'S CHILD Support Sunday's Child while you enjoy drinks at these local spots. The Kennedy, 1 S. Palafox, will offer The Cosmopolitan with Absolut Vodka, where a portion of each drink is donated to Sunday's Child. At Odd Colony, 260 N. Palafox, enjoy a can of Pridelands, which also supports the charity.

GAYS AND GAMAYS WINE TASTING Say "cheers" to Pride at a social hour and wine tasting Friday, June 23 at The Nest General Store, 11 S. Palafox, Ste. C. The wine sampling event starts at 5 p.m. and is free to the public with glasses and bottles available to purchase. Visit thenestgeneralstore.com for details.

PRIDE BALL Join Terrah Card and a lineup of entertainers 8:30 p.m. Friday, June 23 at Alga Beer, 2435 N. 12th Ave. Cover is $10. This is an 18 and older show. Follow @terrahcard for updates.

PENSAPRIDE Support local queer and trans artists at Pensacola's annual, family-friendly Pride fest with an arts market featuring more than 100 vendors and live performances from diverse entertainers, musicians and DJs. The alcohol-free event is 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, June 24 in Cordova Square, 1101 N. 12th Ave. Visit facebook.com/ pensapride for details.

LIBERATION! PRIDE AFTERPARTY Dance the night away at Pensacola's premier 18 and older monthly pop-up drag and dancing event for the LGBTQ+ community, hosted by Liberation! starting at 10 p.m. Saturday, June 24 at Easy Going Gallery, 701 N. V St. for a $10 cover.

DRAG RACE LIVE RuPaul's Drag Race Werq the World 2023 tour is coming to the Saenger Theatre at 8 p.m. Wednesday, June 28. Attendees can expect to see performances from Asia O'Hara, Bosco, DeJa Skye, Jujubee, Lady Camden, Laganja Estranja, Vanessa Vanjie Mateo, and select finalists from season 15 of the show. For details and tickets, visit pensacolasaenger.com.

JUNETEENTH EVENTS

"MY ANCESTORS' WILDEST DREAMS" ART SHOW RECEPTION Enjoy art from local Black artists under the theme of "My Ancestors' Wildest Dreams" at Artel Gallery, 223 S. Palafox. Art-

ists exhibiting include Keith Shaw, Devin Bonner, Ashley Gibson, Tiffany Richardson and STOKESWORKZ. Artwork ranges from ceramics to paintings to mixed media and digital designs. A reception will take place 4-7 p.m. Thursday, June 22. The show will be on view through Friday, July 14. Artel Gallery is open 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday. Visit artelgallery.org for details.

MOVEMENT FOR CHANGE "FREEDOM IS NOT FREE" BANQUET Join Movement for Change at its 26th "Freedom is Not Free" banquet 5-9 p.m. Friday, June 23 at Pensacola Improv Event Center, 375 N. Pace Boulevard. Wine and cheese social begins at 5 p.m. Banquet begins at 6 p.m. Keynote speaker will be Pastor Brandon Mason of Zion Hope Primitive Baptist Church, speaking about the history of African-American voting rights. Tickets are $50. Call Movement for Change at (850) 432-4411.

MOVIES IN THE PARK: "BLACK PANTHER: WAKANDA FOREVER" Bring your blankets and lawn chairs to Community Maritime Park to watch the family-friendly movie "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever" (Rated PG-13) at 6 p.m. Friday, June 23 at Community Maritime Park Amphitheater, 301 W. Main St. Free event parking is available at Community Maritime Park and City Hall. Concessions from local food trucks may be available for purchase. Picnic baskets are welcome, but no pets or glass containers. Movies are shown at Hunter Amphitheater with grass seating only. Pre-show activities begin at 6 p.m. Movie begins at sunset.

NONPROFITS & FUNDRAISERS

STRIVE CLOTHING DRIVE Strive, a local advocacy group for transgender individuals, will host a clothing drive for transgender people (and cisgender friends) at 5 p.m. Tuesday, June 27 at The Handlebar, 319 N. Tarragona St. Clothes are free, but Strive asks cisgender friends to consider a $5-$10 donation if they shop. You can drop off clothes at Strive meetings at 6 p.m. Wednesdays at End of the Line Café, 610 E. Wright St., The Bugghouse Library, 238 Cherokee Trail and 309 Punk House, 309 N. 6th Ave. Needed clothes include masculine clothing, shoes and socks, binders and underwear.

ANIMAL ALLIES FLORIDA BINGO Animal

Allies Florida hosts bingo twice monthly at Scenic Hills Country Club, 8891 Burning Tree Road. The

cost is 10 rounds of bingo for $10, with cash prizes for winners. Food and drinks are also available for purchase. A full bar and restaurant offer special adult beverages just for bingo nights. You must be 18 to play. For more information, visit facebook. com/animalalliesflorida.

CARING & SHARING MINISTRY FOOD

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

CALL TO WRITERS

EMERALD COAST REVIEW SEEKING 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, 2023. 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

GREAT GULFCOAST ARTS FESTIVAL 2023

of rules and requirements, plus a gallery of past posters, at ggaf.org/poster.

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

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

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

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

POSTER DESIGN CONTEST

The Great Gulfcoast Arts Festival is accepting submissions to its 2023 poster design competition through June 30. The winning artist receives a $1,500 cash award. The winning design will be featured on posters, Tshirts and other GGAF promotional items for the festival. Posters have become a regional collector's item.

This year's event is Nov. 3, 4 and 5 in Seville Square and Bartram Park in downtown Pensacola. Competing artists can find the complete list

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 bev-

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a&e happenings

erage 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

LAZER INVAZION Enjoy a multi-media experience with high-tech lasers, video and classic rock tunes at 7 p.m. Thursday, June 22 inside Saenger Theatre, 118 S. Palafox. Tickets are $34-$44. Details at pensacolasaenger.com.

CINEMAS IN THE SAND The Santa Rosa Island Authority (SRIA) hosts Cinemas in the Sands events on select Friday evenings at the Gulfside Pavilion. Movies start at sunset. On Friday, June 23, the movie selection is "Finding Nemo." Admission is free. For more information, visit facebook. com/visitpensacolabeach.

PENSACOLA LIBERATION CENTER

GRAND OPENING Join for free food, music, raffles and more at 2110 W. Yonge St. Follow @ psl_cgc for updates.

CRYSTAL AWARDS Pensacola Little Theatre's Crystal Awards is 6 p.m. Saturday, June 24 at PLT, 400 S. Jefferson St. Volunteers will be recognized for their work in the 2022-23 season. Ceremony begins at 6:45 p.m. More information is available at pensacolalittletheatre.com.

KAZA'S BAZAAR COMMUNITY MARKET

Check out music, art and local vendors 2-8 p.m. Tuesday, June 27 at Woodcliff Park, 4701 Balmoral Drive.

WELL PAIRED: AN EVENING OF BOOK + WINE PAIRINGS Join Bodacious Bookstore and Café and Terroir Wines for an evening of book and wine pairings 5:30-8 p.m. Friday, June 30 at Bodacious Bookstore and Café, 101 E. Intendencia St. Tickets are $55 at eventbrite.com.

NEW PALAFOX MARKET SOUTH AT PLA-

ZA 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.

AFTER DARK: SEVILLE QUARTER GHOSTS, MURDER, MAYHEM AND MYSTERY TOUR

AND DINNER After Dark Paranormal Investigation and Dinner inside one of Pensacola's most haunted restaurants with actual ghost-hunting equipment 6-8 p.m. Sundays. Listen as your guide weaves tales of ghosts, debauchery, murder, mayhem, paranormal activities, history and more of Seville Quarter and downtown Historic Pensacola. Following your ghost tour, enjoy dinner at Seville Quarter Palace Café, 130 E. Government St. Reservations required. Call (850) 941-4321. Tickets are available at pensacolaghostevents.com.

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

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

X BY HALLE CASTILLE Easy Going Gallery is showcasing the art of Halle Castille in the new exhibit "X" running through the month of June. Visit the gallery, 701 N. V St. For more information, visit facebook.com/easygoinggallery.

FPAN EXHIBIT: FASHION WEEK 1559 This exhibit (based on UWF graduate student Abby Stone's thesis research) showcases popular 16thcentury Spanish clothing, along with the clothing fasteners and adornment items found ar-

chaeologically at the 1559 Luna Settlement and Shipwreck site. Join FPAN for a reception of the exhibit 5-8 p.m. Friday, June 16 at Destination Archaeology Resource Center - FPAN Coordinating Center, 207 E. Main St. Visit fpan.us/ events for details.

HOTSY-TOTSY-VROOOM-O-RAMA House

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

DEPTH OF FIELD Depth of Field showcases photography from the Pensacola Museum of Art's permanent collection, alongside objects from the UWF Historic Trust Archives. Artworks on display explore the history, science and alchemical nature of the medium. On view are works by pioneers in the field such as Alfred Stieglitz, Elliott Erwitt, Edward J. Steichen, Walker Evans and Vivian Maier, as well as notable contemporary artists including Valerie George, Richard McCabe, Sheila Pinkel and Gesche Würfel. Exhibit is located at 407 S. Jefferson St., and on view through Oct. 22. Visit pensacolamusuem.org for details.

SUDDENLY AMERICAN: A MEETING OF HERITAGE AND COUNTRY

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

TEXTILES OF THE TIMES: REGENCY ERA

DRESS MAKING

The period between 18111820 is historically defined as the Regency Period. This exhibit at the Pensacola Museum of History looks at a day in the life of a Regency-era Pensacolian through fashion and garment use. Drawing on historical documentation of stores known to have operated on Palafox, inside this recreation of a seamstress shop, visitors will be able to explore the dress of yesteryear. This exhibit is on view at the Pensacola Museum of History through June 2023. Visit historicpensacola. org for details.

FOOD + DRINKS

DINNER WITH STRINGS ATTACHED Visit Jackson's Steakhouse, 400 S. Palafox, for dinner and music from Pensacola Symphony Orches-

a&e happenings

tra on Thursday, June 22 with seatings at 5 and 7 p.m. with a special menu from Chef Irv Miller. This event is limited seating. Reserve your spot by calling (850) 469-9898.

COOKING FUN-DA-MENTALS: THE PERFECT STEAK Learn to make the perfect steak with the help of Pensacola Cooks' chefs 7-9 p.m. Saturday, June 24 at Pensacola Cooks, 4051 Barrancas Ave. Tickets are $50 a person. Reserve your spot through the link available at facebook. com/pensacolacooks.

1920S MURDER MYSTERY SHOW AT GARDEN & GRAIN Event is 7 p.m. Sunday, June 25, featuring an interactive murder mystery show with cash bar service available from Garden & Grain, 50 E. Garden St. Tacos Mexicanos food truck will be on site. Tickets are $29 and available at icmt. eventbrite.com.

BEER AND DONUT PAIRING Gary's Brewery & Biergarten's annual beer and donut pairing is 4 p.m. Sunday, June 25 at 208 Newman Ave. Tickets are $16 at facebook.com/garysbrew.

GAMER/JACKBOX NIGHT AT O'RILEY'S Gamers unite at 5 p.m.-2 a.m. Monday nights at O'Riley's Irish Pub, 321 S. Palafox. Visit orileyspub. com for details.

BINGO NIGHT AT CALVERT'S IN THE HEIGHTS Play a game (or two) of Bingo, 6-8 p.m. Mondays at Calvert's in the Heights, 670 Scenic

Highway. For more information, visit calvertsintheheights.com.

BAR BINGO AT O'RILEY'S Visit O'Riley's Irish Pub for Bar Bingo 8-10 p.m. Tuesdays at 321 S. Palafox. Visit orileyspub.com for details.

SECOND TUESDAY THEMED TRIVIA Visit Perfect Plain Brewing Co. for themed trivia nights 7-9 p.m. the second Tuesday of the month at 50 E. Garden St. Visit facebook.com/perfectplainbrewingco for details.

TRIVIA AT O'RILEY'S Test your trivia knowledge 8-10 p.m. Wednesdays at O'Riley's Irish Pub, 321 S. Palafox, p.m. Visit orileyspub.com for details.

TRIVIA AT CALVERT'S IN THE HEIGHTS

Take part in trivia nights 6-8 p.m. Wednesdays at Calvert's in the Heights, 670 Scenic Highway. For more information, visit calvertsintheheights.com.

PITCHERS AND TAVERN TRIVIA O'Riley's Tavern hosts trivia 8 p.m.-midnight Thursdays at 3728 Creighton Road. Visit orileystavern.com for details.

TRIVIA AT WISTERIA Trivia is 6 p.m. Thursdays at Wisteria Tavern, 3808 N. 12th Ave. Visit wisteriatavern.com for details.

THURSDAY BIERGARTEN TRIVIA NIGHT

Gary's Brewery Trivia Night is back by popular demand 7-9 p.m. Thursdays. Test your trivia skills

with a glass of beer or wine. Arrive early to grab a spot. Gary's Brewery is located at 208 Newman Ave. For more information, visit facebook.com/ garysbrew.

TRIVIA AT SIR RICHARD'S Flex your trivia knowledge 8-10 p.m. Fridays at Sir Richard's Public House, 2719 E. Cervantes St. Visit sirrichardslounge.com for details.

FREE POOL AND BAR BINGO AT O'RILEY'S TAVERN Enjoy free pool and play bar bingo 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Sundays at O'Riley's Tavern, 3728 Creighton Road. Details at orileystavern.com.

LIVE MUSIC

SAVAGE MASTER, CROSSED HEARTS, PAPER MATCHES Show is 7 p.m. Thursday, June 22 at The Handlebar, 319 N. Tarragona St. Tickets are $10-$15 at thehandlebar850.com.

GLSNER, SATAN AND THE SUNBEAMS, PAGU, PAID TO PRETEND, INSERT.BNH Show is 7 p.m. Friday, June 23 at The Handlebar, 319 N. Tarragona St. Tickets are $10 at thehandlebar850.com.

ELECTRIC AVENUE: THE ULTIMATE 80S EXPERIENCE Show is 8 p.m. Friday, June 23 at Vinyl Music Hall, 2 S. Palafox. Tickets are $22 and available at vinylmusichall.com.

SALVO, NIK FLAGSTAR, EARL'S KILLER SQUIRREL, KARATE LITERATURE Show is

7 p.m. Saturday, June 24 at The Handlebar, 319 N. Tarragona St. Tickets are $15-$18 at thehandlebar850.com.

RUMOURS: A FLEETWOOD MAC TRIBUTE Show is 8 p.m. Saturday, June 24 at Vinyl Music Hall, 2 S. Palafox. Tickets are $22 at vinylmusichall.com.

BLUES ON THE BAY Robert Wayne Band plays Blues on the Bay 6 p.m. Sunday, June 25 at Community Maritime Park, 351 W. Cedar St. Admission is free.

BANDS ON THE BEACH Concerts are held 7-9 p.m. Tuesdays at the Gulfside Pavilion on Pensacola Beach. On Tuesday, June 27, Mass Kunfuzion performs. For details, visit visitpensacolabeach. com/whats-happening-bands-on-beach.

BILLY BATTS & THE MADE MEN, THE CHODES & BRICKBATS Show is 6 p.m. Wednesday, June 28 at The Handlebar, 319 N. Tarragona St. Tickets are $10 at thehandlebar850.com.

PALOMINO BLOND, MOLD, MARIGOLDS APPRENTICE, CAPSULE HOTEL, CANDY CIGARETTE Show is 7 p.m. Thursday, June 29 at The Handlebar, 319 N. Tarragona St. Tickets are $10-$13 at thehandlebar850.com.

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free will astrology

WEEK OF JUNE 22

ARIES (MARCH 21-APRIL 19): When I was still an up-and-coming horoscope columnist, before I got widely syndicated, I supplemented my income with many other jobs. During one stretch, I wrote fortunes for a line of designer fortune cookies covered in gourmet chocolate and sold at the luxury department store Bloomingdale's. The salary was meager. Part of my compensation came in the form of hundreds of delicious but non-nutritious cookies. If you are offered a comparable deal in the coming weeks and months, Aries, my advice is to do what I didn't do but should have done: Ask for what's truly valuable to you instead of accepting a substitute of marginal worth.

TAURUS (APRIL 20-MAY 20): My mentor

Ann Davies said that of all the signs of the zodiac, you Tauruses are most likely to develop finely honed intuition. At least potentially, you can tune in to the inner teacher better than the rest of us. The still, small voice rises out of the silence and speaks to you clearly and crisply. Here's even better news: I believe you are entering a phase when your relationship with this stellar faculty may ripen dramatically. Please take advantage of this subtly fabulous opportunity. Each day for the next 14 days, do a relaxing ritual in which you eagerly invite and welcome the guidance of your deepest inner source.

GEMINI (MAY 21-JUNE 20): New College in Oxford, UK has educated students since 1379. Among its old buildings is a dining hall that features beams made of thick oak trees. Unfortunately, most oak wood eventually attracts beetles that eat and weaken it. Fortunately, the 14th-century founders of New College foresaw that problem. They planted oak grove trees specifically meant to be used to replace the oak beams at New College, which they are to this day. I would love you to derive inspiration from this story, Gemini. What practical long-term plans might you be wise to formulate in the coming months?

CANCER (JUNE 21-JULY 22): In the Northern Hemisphere, the astrological month of Cancer begins with the sun in its greatest glory. Our home star is at its highest altitude, shining with maximum brightness. So then why is the sign of the Crab ruled by the moon? Why do the longest

By Rob Brezsny

days of the year coincide with the ascendancy of the mistress of the night? Ahhh, these are esoteric mysteries beyond the scope of this horoscope. But here's a hint about what they signify for you personally. One of your assets can also be a liability: your innocent openness to the wonders of life. This quality is at the heart of your beauty but can also, on occasion, make you vulnerable to being overwhelmed. That's why it's so important that you master the art of setting boundaries, honing your focus, quaffing deeply from a few cups instead of sipping from many cups.

LEO (JULY 23-AUG. 22): The coming weeks will be a delicate time for your spiritual unfoldment. You are primed to recover lost powers, rediscover key truths you have forgotten and reunite with parts of your soul you got cut off from. Will these good possibilities come to pass in their fullness? Maybe, maybe not. It depends on how brave you are in seeking your healing. You must ask for what's hard to ask for. You've got to find a way to feel deserving of the beauty and blessings that are available. P.S. You are deserving. I will be cheering you on, dear Leo.

ed diplomat with great skill in court politics and an effective leader during the many times her husband, King Charles VI, was incapacitated by illness? I bring these facts to your attention, Libra, hoping they will inspire you to refine, adjust and firm up your own reputation. You can't totally control how people perceive you, but you do have some power to shape their perceptions—especially these days.

SCORPIO (OCT. 23-NOV. 21): The next four weeks are an excellent time to create and celebrate your own holidays. I recommend you dream up at least four new festivals, jubilees, anniversaries and other excuses to party. Eight or more would be even better. They could be quirky and modest, like Do No Housework Day, Take Your House Plants for a Walk Day or Write Bad Poetry Day. They could be more profound and impactful, like Forgive Your Parents for Everything Day, Walk on the Wild Side Day or Stay Home from Work Because You're Feeling So Good Day. In my astrological opinion, Scorpio, you should regard playful fun as a top priority. For more ideas, visit the following websites: tinyurl. com/createholidays, tinyurl.com/nouveauholidays or tinyurl.com/inventholidays.

doorway. Another is when you discover an aspect of yourself, a corner of your being you didn't know was there. I bring these thoughts to your attention, Capricorn, because I suspect the coming weeks will present an extra inviting array of magical doorways.

VIRGO (AUG. 23-SEPT. 22): Whether you have been enrolled in a learning institution during the past 12 months, I suspect you've been getting a rigorous education. Among the courses you have almost completed are lessons in intimacy, cooperation, collaboration, symbiosis and togetherness. Have you mastered all the teachings? Probably not. There were too many of them, and they were too voluminous to grasp perfectly and completely. But that's OK. You have done well. Now you're ready to graduate, collect your diploma and apply what you have learned.

LIBRA (SEPT. 23-OCT. 22): History has provided contradictory reports about Isabeau of Bavaria, who served as queen of France 1385-1422. Was she a corrupt, greedy and indecisive fool who harmed France's fortunes? Or was she a talent-

SAGITTARIUS (NOV. 22-DEC. 21): In Greek mythology, Prometheus was a god who stole fire from his fellow gods and gave it to humans to help them build civilization. His divine colleagues were not pleased. Why? Maybe they feared that with the power of fire, people would become like gods themselves and have no further need for gods. Anyway, Sagittarius, I hope you're in a fire-stealing mood. It's a good time to raise your whole world up to a higher level— to track down and acquire prizes that will lead to major enhancements. And unlike what happened to Prometheus (the other gods punished him), I think you will get away with your gambits.

CAPRICORN (DEC. 22-JAN. 19): Let's discuss magical doorways. Each time you sleep, you slip through magical doorways called dreams. Whether or not you recall those adventures, they offer you interesting mysteries utterly unlike the events of your daily life. Here's another example: A magical doorway opens when an ally or loved one shares intimate knowledge of their inner realms. Becoming absorbed in books, movies or songs is also a way to glide through a magical

AQUARIUS (JAN. 20-FEB. 18): Psychiatrist

Myron Hofer specializes in the mother-infant relationship. Among his findings: The first emotion a newborn experiences is anxiety. Struggling to get out of the womb can be taxing, and it's shocking to be separated from the warm, nourishing realm that has been home for months. The bad news is that most of us still carry the imprint of this original unease. The good news, Aquarius, is that the coming months will be one of the best times ever for you to heal. For optimal results, place a high priority on getting an abundance of love, support, comfort and physical touch.

PISCES (FEB. 19-MARCH 20): Curious blends and intriguing juxtapositions are in the works—or at least they should be. Improbable alliances might be desirable because they're curative. Formulas with seemingly mismatched ingredients might fix a glitch, even if they never succeeded before and won't again. I encourage you to synergize work and play. Negotiate serious business in casual settings and make yourself at home in a wild frontier.

HERE'S THE HOMEWORK : Is there any area of your life where you are not giving your best? How could you improve? {in}

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© 2023 Rob Brezsny

For optimal results, place a high priority on getting an abundance of love, support, comfort and physical touch.

THONG AND CHEEK Protesters at the Massachusetts Statehouse bared more than their souls as they demonstrated against climate change on June 15, according to an NBC-10 Boston report. Shouts began to rain down from the public gallery just after 1 p.m. from eight members of Extinction Rebellion, an international environmental movement, followed by a warning: "We are going to be mooning you ... You can look away if you wish." At that point, the octet turned their backs on the senators and dropped trou, revealing pink thongs and bare buttocks emblazoned with the words "stop passing gas." The protesters continued with chants of "You're a senator, not an ass, why are you still passing gas," and "Butts out for climate" for about an hour before they were arrested and escorted out of the chamber.

REUNITED AND IT FEELS SO GOOD A first edition of George Orwell's "1984" has been returned to the library ... 65 years late. UPI reported that the Multnomah County Public Library in Portland recently received the return from an 86-year-old patron. The patron attached a note to the book, explaining that they meant to return it in 1958 after checking it out as a Portland State University student, they just "never got around to it." But talk about excellent timing: The library just went fine-free.

•Sheriff's detectives in Kanawha County, North Carolina, made an odd discovery while executing a search warrant on an impounded vehicle in February: a 1965 class ring from Needham Broughton High School in Raleigh, bearing the initials "M.P." Their investigation determined the owner was one Michael Pedneau, who told the Charleston Gazette-Mail that he only vaguely recalls losing the bling some 50 years ago, perhaps on a trip to Princeton, West Virginia. "There's probably 40 or 50 of us

By the Editors at Andrews McMeel

lier that day, but that evening, "my mom was wrapped in sheets and hitting the coffin, and when we approached we could see that she was breathing heavily," Barbera said. Montoya was rushed back to the hospital, but the Associated Press reported that she was intubated and is not expected to recover. Ecuador's Health Ministry has launched an investigation into the incident.

A BEAR'S GOTTA EAT Workers for American Plate Glass in Sunapee, New Hampshire, learned an important lesson about locking up their valuables on June 14, but it wasn't at the hands of the typical thief, and the valuables weren't the usual tools or construction materials. Curtis Fidler was working onsite when he noticed movement in his peripheral vision: "I turn and it was a bear nonchalantly just having lunch in the front seat of the truck." The bear enjoyed all of the snacks it could find, left the truck and disappeared into the woods. Fidler FaceTimed his mother-in-law, Melinda Scott, who watched the encounter live and later told WHDH-7 News that "There is not a single scratch on the box truck. He did no damage. He just had lunch and took a nap."

THE AGONY OF THE HEAT The hopes of Bangkok residents were slightly deflated on June 9, as a long-awaited art installation in Victoria Harbor lost steam. Dutch artist Forentijn Hofman's giant rubber ducky installation, which tours cities around the world and captured the affections of Bangkok residents when it visited there back in 2013, returned to the city earlier this month, this time with two giant rubber duckies, which the artist said would bring "double luck." Unfortunately, Yahoo News reported that rising temperatures put one ducky—and residents—at risk. The "rubber duck skin had become strained because the hot weather has caused air pressure to rise," organizers said in a statement. They deflated the duck as a precaution.

UP IN SMOKE

A dispensary in Baltimore faces fines for blowing smoke ... literally. WMAR-2 in Baltimore reported that the Cookies dispensary opened May 27, only to be shut down less than a week later after a surprise inspection revealed a laundry list of violations, including "large plumes of medical cannabis smoke being blown from a large gun apparatus into the mouths of persons outside the dispensary," according to the suspension notice. Cookies is part of a franchise, and Cookies San Francisco was the first to utilize a "Flame Thrower" smoke blower, created by Jeff Dick of Colorado. The blower has since become part of the Cookies brand.

SOME THINGS BEG CERTAINTY Relatives

were mourning Bella Montoya, 76, at her wake in Ecuador on June 9 when they heard strange sounds coming from the coffin. "There were about 20 of us there," the woman's son, Gilberto Barbera, said. "After about five hours of the wake, the coffin started to make sounds." The supposedly deceased had been declared dead the Martin Icaza Hospital in Babahoyo ear-

TWO PAWS UP, WAY UP Theatergoers in Thailand have a new pet-friendly place to bring their furry friends. Yahoo News reported that the country's largest movie theater chain, Major Cineplex Group, started offering weekend showtimes for patrons who want to bring Fluffy or Fido with them. Of course, there's a catch: Pets must weigh under 11 pounds and either wear a diaper or be kept in a carrier. Visitors turned out in droves for a pets-welcome showing of "The Little Mermaid," cosplaying their creature companions as Sebastian the crab and Ariel the mermaid. Not everyone's a fan, however; as one former resident said, "It's so ridiculous dogs are not allowed in (most Bangkok) parks but they can go to a movie or cafe. What comes next, you bring your dog or cat to a massage parlor?" {in}