Inweekly june 29 2017 issue by Inweekly

Independent News | June 29, 2017 | Volume 18 | Number 25 | inweekly.net

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winners & losers

outtakes

news

6, 8

Our bench isn't deep enough.

buzz

feature story

publisher Rick Outzen

graphic designer Michael Daw

intern Sammi Sontag

editor & creative director Joani Delezen

contributing writers Duwayne Escobedo, Jennifer Leigh, Chuck Shepherd, C.S. Satterwhite, Shelby Smithey

a&e

15, 18

Independent News is published by Inweekly Media, Inc., P.O. Box 12082, Pensacola, FL 32591. (850)438-8115. All materials published in Independent News are copyrighted. © 2015 Inweekly Media, Inc. All rights reserved.

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LIGHT UP

Learning Thank you for helping Studer Community Institute Light Up Learning A fundraiser to support early brain development BUILDERS

PHOTOS BY PHILLIP SALZMAN (SALZ STUDIO) GREG RIEGLER (GREG RIEGLER PHOTOGRAPHY)

BRAIN BAGS

Fredric G. Levin of Levin, Papantonio

FRAMERS

Bobby Switzer One Palafox Place

Julian MacQueen

Cindy & Marcus Michles

Escambia County Sheriff’s Office

INSURANCE

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LIGHT UP LEARNING COMMITTEE • Madrina Ciano • Nicole Webb Bodie • D.C. Reeves • Danny Zimmern • Michelle Salzman June 29, 2017

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MISSION To improve the quality of life for people in the Northwest Florida community.

• Levin and Rinke Realty • Lincoln Property Company • Outerspaces Landscapes

• SmartBank • SMP Architects • Vince Whibbs

VISION To make the Northwest Florida community the greatest place to live in the world.

The Studer Community Institute is a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. 3

winners & losers

DeVilliers Flooding

winners

UNIVERSITY OF WEST FLORIDA Three

years after the university was ranked near the bottom, the Florida Board of Governors announced that the University of West Florida ranked in the top three of the top-performing public universities in the state and would receive more than $20 million in new funding for the 2017-18 academic year. UWF earned 82 points out of 100 on the Board's performance-based funding model results from the 2015-16 academic year, earning a top spot in the rankings alongside the University of Florida and the University of South Florida. In 2014, UWF was ranked No. 11, receiving 21 points out of the then-50-point scale.

IRIS CO:LAB business Intelligent Retinal

Imaging Systems, Inc. (IRIS) successfully closed a round of Series B financing. The round was led by Ballast Point Ventures, a later-stage venture capital firm that invests in healthcare and technology industries. Funds raised will support the IRIS's development the next generation of products that detect eye disease and improve the monitoring and care of patients in diabetic populations. CO:LAB, a program of FloridaWest EDA, supported by Pensacola State College, is Pensacola's business incubator and growth accelerator.

COUNCIL ON AGING OF WEST FLORIDA Meals on Wheels America gave the

non-profit a $2,500 grant to provide food, supplies and care for area clients with pets. An estimated 70 clients and 130 pets will be served through this grant, for a total of 4,060 pounds of distributed pet food.

losers

TANYARD For nearly four years, Pensacola

Mayor Ashton Hayward has told the citizens who live west of Pensacola City Hall that he was going to fix their stormwater problems. Unfortunately, the long trek to dry land has been filled with delays, contaminated ground water, dump trucks and diesel pumps running 24/7, flooded yards, collapsed sections of sidewalk, and, most recently, raw human waste flowing in the streetsâ€”most of it within blocks of city hall. The mayor promises they will love the project once it's completed in July, maybe August or September. But has the suffering been worth it?

VISIT FLORIDA'S RACING TEAM The state's tourism marketing agency is pulling the plug on its appeal to racing fans. The agency gave 30-day cancellation notice on June 2 to the team racing the "Visit Florida car." The $2.875 million contract is tied to the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship season that concludes in October with the 10-hour Motul Petit Le Mans in Braselton, Ga. Other Visit Florida marketing contracts, such as $11.6 million sponsorship of a cooking show hosted by celebrity chef Emeril Lagasse and a $1 million contract with rapper Pitbull, also drew criticism from state lawmakers, who voted to cut Visit Florida's budget by two-thirds. PORT OF PENSACOLA Port of Pensacola needed the price of gasoline to rebound this summer to revive its revenue forecasts and attract more offshore maintenance business. Unfortunately, gas prices opened the summer travel season averaging the lowest price in 12 years.

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outtakes

by Rick Outzen

FIGHTING FOR YOU Inweekly published its first issue on July 1, 1999. We wanted to be a newspaper that cared about its community and to be an advocate for positive change. The paper has stretched its meager resources to be a medium upon which our readers could rely on. Along the way, we have also earned a national reputation for our investigative reporting. Over the past 18 years, we have seen our reporting profiled in the New York Times and mentioned by The Daily Best, Time, Newsweek and several television networks. Our investigations have been featured in documentaries on Investigation Discovery, OWN, and MSNBC. In November 2001, we reported on the need to relocate ECUA's aging downtown treatment plant. The facility made downtown Pensacola smell like a Pea Ridge outhouse. It took Hurricane Ivan hitting the Main Street plant and our reports that untreated sludge spilled into homes and waterways to motivate ECUA to build its $316-million Central Water Reclamation Facility and demolish the old plant. In May 2004, we proposed our "ballsy plan" for downtown Pensacola. Our research had found that minor league baseball, particularly teams with downtown stadiums, were thriving across the country. After Hurricane Ivan, Quint Studer and city leaders partnered to propose a community maritime park. The naysayers went ballistic, but Inweekly fought for the passage of the

2006 referendum for it. The park has been a catalyst for downtown's revival. In the early days, the paper lost almost as many advertisers each week as it added. Elected officials didn't care for our watchdog approach to journalism. Some still don't. The paper's investigations into the Taser abuses in 2004 and the jail deaths in 2005 and 2006 led to a Department of Justice investigation. The 2007 story of a local teen being abducted, raped and nearly sold into sex slavery became a national story on human trafficking. We drew national recognition again two years later with our coverage of the murders of Bud and Melanie Billings. A year later, Inweekly garnered international attention for its stories on the BP Oil Spill and the company's marketing machine that overstated the BP's few environmental successes and downplayed the risks. We haven't let up. Our reports on the jail deaths in 2015-16 led to the dismissal of the corrections director and better health care for prisoners. Our 2015 investigation reporting on possible mismanagement of local charter schools triggered a statewide investigation of Newpoint Education Partners. Last week, NEP founder Marcus May was charged with allegedly stealing over a $1 million in education funds. Though far from perfect, we have fought for nearly two decades to make this community a better place to live. Thank you for support. {in} rick@inweekly.net

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NEWPOINT: CHARGES AND POSSIBLE COVER UP successfully running schools in Ohio using its "state of the art technology and innovative, proven education methods." May created charter boards for each school and filled them with people with little experience in running a school. He received a management contract to manage the schools for 18 percent of FEFP revenue and reimbursement for expenses incurred on behalf of the schools. The schools opened bank accounts, leased facilities, hired staff and contracted with vendors selected by May for bookkeeping, auditing, and legal services. May had side relationships with many of the vendors. As required by law, the charter school boards had member authorized as signers on the bank accounts, but they did not have access to withdraw funds. The bookkeeping company hired by May swept all bank accounts weekly to NEP's accounts, leaving only about $1,000 in the each school account. The funds were commingled and spent on items outside the school districts that provided the charter schools the funds.

COLLUSION WITH VENDORS Photo by Rick Outzen

By Rick Outzen Marcus May, the founder and owner of the Newpoint Education Partners charter schools in Escambia and six other Florida counties, and Steven Kunkemoeller, owner of School Warehouse, Inc. and Red Ignition, Inc., were charged on June 19 with racketeering and organized fraud in connection with fraudulent schemes involving public charter schools. Inweekly first broke this story in March 2015 when it reported on possible gradetampering and missing funds at Escambia County's Newpoint Academy and Newpoint High School. School Board member Jeff Bergosh, currently the county commissioner for District 1, brought the allegations to the newspaper A local whistleblower, Letha Morris, who worked at NEP's Five Flags Academy and had children enrolled the NEP charter schools, provided information supporting the allegations. Once Inweekly published its articles, other current and former NEP employees from around the state contacted the newspaper. The Escambia County School Board later canceled the schools' contracts for NEP's middle and high schools. In June 2015, NEP closed all three charter schools in Escambia County, leaving the teachers without their final paychecks. 66

STATEWIDE SCHEMES

The alleged fraudulent schemes involved Newpoint-managed charter schools in Escambia, Bay, Broward, Duval, Hillsborough, Holmes and Pinellas counties. According to court documents, May obtained more than a $1 million of public funds from a pattern of thefts from the Florida Department of Education, six school districts, and 15 Newpoint charter schools. The documents also allege that May used the proceeds to establish or operate multiple Florida and Ohio LLCs, which he used to acquire residential and business properties in Florida and Ohio. In May 2016, an Escambia County grand jury indicted three entities—Newpoint Education Partners LLC, School Warehouse, Inc. and Red Ignition, Inc. The indictments were for committing aggravated white collar crime, grand theft, and money laundering, related to the theft of public education funds and charter school grant funds received by Newpoint's Escambia County charter schools for furniture, computers, equipment, and services. Further investigation uncovered, according to the affidavit, a similar pattern of schemes at other charter schools run by Newpoint around the state. The schemes were allegedly instigated by May in concert with Kunkemoeller. May solicited Florida charter school agreements with school districts by falsely representing that Newpoint had been

May also allegedly had undisclosed ownership or financial interest, or an agreement to kick back part of the sales proceeds with the schools' vendors. Many of the vendors selected by May appeared to have been created solely to do business with the Newpointmanaged charter schools. The price of products, such as computers, were allegedly marked up when they passed through May's companies to the schools. For example, Apex Learning, a Washington company selected to provide an online curriculum, was paid an "elevated" price negotiated by May, who, in turn, was paid a rebate of $229,756 on services provided in Bay, Duval, Escambia, and Pinellas counties. Many of the items purchased for specific schools were re-directed to other Newpointmanaged schools. The Newpoint schools in Escambia County paid School Warehouse $152,000 for 160 refurbished iPads (a markup of 115%). The district audit only found 51 of the 160 iPads (32%) at the schools. Investigators later found 47 of the missing iPads at Newpoint schools in Bay County. The investigation also found that May overestimated the enrollments of his charter schools to receive more funds from the Charter School Program. In 2011, he estimated that Newpoint would have 225 students and received $325,000.00 Its actual enrollment was 72 students. Overpayments are required to be reimbursed upon reconciliation of the enrollment. However, no reconciliation was ever made, and no funds were reimbursed to the district. According to the court documents, May even took the collections for student lunches and the school's "store" for his personal use. The funds were deposit into a non-school

account owned by Newpoint but was not on the corporation's books. The funds paid for a jet ski, country club dues and a down payment on a Toyota.

TIP OF ICEBERG?

County Commissioner Jeff Bergosh said News Talk 1370's "Pensacola Speaks" that the charges against May and Kunkemoeller were the "tip of the iceberg," He has called for a federal investigation of School Superintendent Malcolm Thomas and his administration regarding whether they covered up the scandal. "The whistleblower was sending emails and calling the school district office and saying, ‘Look they're cheating, they're cheating.' And they got money from the state, the governor comes and gives them a check," Bergosh said. The former school board member said that at least three district employees told him that Thomas ordered them not to inform the school board of the complaints. "They were told, ‘Do not tell the school board.' They were admonished when they tried to put it in the report," Bergosh said. "Why was student safety jeopardized for a year? Why were these financial irregularities allowed to continue for a year? Meanwhile every quarter, the board was receiving reports that frankly were not accurate," he told Inweekly. "The place was falling apart, student safety was jeopardized, financial irregularities were taking place and all the while we were left in the dark on purpose." Bergosh said that when he told Thomas that he was taking the whistleblower's complaints to the state attorney, Thomas got "mad as a snake." He said, "He came out from behind his desk, he wanted to come after me. He was so upset; I could see the veins popping out of his neck. He told me, ‘Don't do it, you're making a mistake. We haven't done anything; this is all Newpoint.'" Bergosh replied, "You know what? No, I'm going. I'm going on Monday; I'm going to testify. You want to come, you go ahead, but I'm going.' He did not want me talking about it, didn't want me doing anything." Bergosh is concerned that Thomas and the district administration have misled the state attorney's office as to their lack of oversight of the Newpoint charter schools. "When you deconstruct a massive train wreck, you've got to go back and look at all the things that caused it," said Bergosh. "I think the feds need to come in, they need to bust this wide open and get to the bottom of everything." Inweekly tried to contact Superintendent Thomas about Bergosh's comments and was told the superintendent was on vacation and would not be able to return the paper's call until July 5. {in} inweekly.net

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June 29, 2017

UNDERHILL'S 'BRUTAL' HONESTY PEOPLE, NOT LAND

Doug Underhill / Courtesy Photo

By Duwayne Escobedo Doug Underhill said one thing he learned as a counter-terrorism officer and in 25 years of service in the U.S. Navy was how to be brutally honest. "People say, ‘Can I be brutally honest with you?' What other kind of truth is there? I don't think it's blunt at all," Underhill said. That kind of honesty, though, has earned him criticism as the District 2 Escambia County commissioner and this year's board chairman. He was brutally honest about the county needing to build a temporary facility or "Tent City" at the Road Prison in Cantonment to house its inmates. He said the county could no longer afford to spend money to place its inmates in other county jails. Escambia spent all of its insurance and federal grant money paying out $5.68 million in 2016 to place its inmates elsewhere. Law enforcement officers, defense attorneys, other commissioners and the ACLU lambasted the idea. Underhill said the day the new $134 million jail opens in three or four years, Escambia County will need another "temporary" space for 500 inmates. He said in the Navy they used "rapid deployment structures" 88

that could withstand sandstorms and 140mph winds. Underhill said he just wants to see a variety of ideas on how to incarcerate the inmates. "We don't want criminals living like kings, but we're not looking to dehumanize them either," he said. The new jail—"the most complex project ever done in Escambia County" — and public safety, in general, are among Underhill's top priorities. He said the county would have to pay for a second wing on the new jail and demolish and rebuild "Castle Gray Skull," as he calls the current jail that was built in two phases in the early 1980s. Underhill also wants to tear down the Central Booking and Detention Center that exploded in April 2014 and killed two inmates and injured hundreds of others after rains flooded it. He would convert the spot into a stormwater pond that he said could help take care of all the flooding in the area. "That's a monument to our failure standing there every day," Underhill said. "It's holding us back. We need to move as quickly as possible to get things done." Another priority of Underhill's is economic development. He's brutally honest when it comes to FloridaWest, the county's economic development arm.

"FloridaWest has not produced a single job, and they are my economic development guru?" Underhill asked. "All FloridaWest knows how to do is produce shovel-ready spaces." For four years, the Emerald Coast Utilities Authority, Ascend Performance Materials, Gulf Power and the University of West Florida, Pensacola-Escambia County Development Commission, FloridaWest Economic Alliance and the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity have partnered to create The Bluffs, a privatelyowned corridor for manufacturers to locate. Developers project that as many as 60 manufacturing and industrial tenants could create as many as 15,000 jobs for the Northwest Florida community. The full development of the project could result in $1.1 billion in additional Gross State Product for Florida's economy, Florida TaxWatch reported. Earlier this month Gov. Rick Scott signed a budget appropriation for $3.1 million to build the proposed Industrial Boulevard to cross a flood plain and connect the north and south sections of The Bluffs campus. The funding and the support of Gov. Scott, ECUA, Ascend, Gulf Power, and UWF have not deterred Underhill's criticism of the "shovel-ready" project. Recently the county commissioners approved moving forward with a land swap with the U.S. Navy, trading land known as Navy Outlying Field Eight (OLF-8) in Escambia County owned by the federal government for property in Santa Rosa County. OLF-8 is located in Beulah near the sprawling Navy Federal campus and will be converted to an industrial park for light manufacturing.

"That's a monument to our failure standing there every day. It's holding us back. We need to move as quickly as possible to get things done." Doug Underhill Underhill complained that in 2014 officials estimated the cost at around $6 million but, according to his calculations, the price has now skyrocketed to nearly $14 million. Commissioner Steven Barry has disputed Underhill's figures. At the commission's June 23 agenda review, Barry presented a report that listed expenditures and encumbrances as of June 20 that totaled only $8.9 million. Underhill told Inweekly, "We need to

stop investing in real estate and start investing in people. Growing our workforce is what (FloridaWest) should be doing. Our bench isn't deep enough."

MORE OPENNESS

He also said he is deeply committed to improving District 2. Underhill's goals include: •Increasing Sorrento Road to four lanes, which was at one time on the Florida Department of Transportation priorities list. •Building a new high school in the area, which he said was promised 25 years ago to the fast-growing southwest area. •Spending $8 million to pave the red clay roads in Beach Haven, which will solve stormwater issues in the area. •Developing a Perdido Key master plan for development. Underhill unrolled plans for Perdido Key that sat on his county commission office desk. They have been developed after hours of town hall meetings with the public, he said, debating among other things, whether to plant banana trees or palm trees. He's committed to open government, saying his inbox should be searchable online. He opposes government corruption, recalling during his service in Yemen "baksheesh" was just a way of life. "I can say this is not mine, but this is ours," he said of the plans for Perdido Key. "What can we, as a community, do?" Underhill said for years too much government business has been done in backrooms out of the public's eye. "Our citizens have built cynicism over a lifetime believing the government is done in the backroom of the IPC (Irish Politicians' Club)," he said. "They believe the good ol' boys are going to do whatever they want anyway. That's the single biggest impediment to the county being all that it can be." Underhill admitted after serving his country he returned to Perdido Key "not 100 percent healthy," suffering PTSD or posttraumatic stress disorder. "Life here is more complex and muddied compared to life over there," said Underhill, who has recovered. "In combat, that world has a clarity of purpose." Underhill called his waterfront home a "sanctuary." It's where he and his wife, Wendy, a commercial real estate appraiser, and two sons, Brett, 16, and Avery, 14, spend much of their time on jet skis, kayaking, fishing and doing "anything we can do on the water." Being a county commissioner since 2016 has taught him, he said, that "you've really got to be able to take a punch. I have no ambitions or illusions about higher office. I'm not dependent on anybody. I'm focused only on doing this job well." {in} inweekly.net

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WHAT'S THAT SMELL The heavy rains brought to the area by Tropical Storm Cindy overwhelmed the stormwater system one block from Pensacola City Hall. Dr. Gloria Horning reported to the city's 3-1-1 service that raw sewage was flowing from a manhole cover on South Devilliers Street. City officials were unresponsive, according to Horning. The Escambia County Utilities Authority's Tim Haag reported that the cause of raw sewage overflowing in the Tanyard neighborhood west of City Hall was the result of a deluge of stormwater into its wastewater treatment system. Emerald CoastKeeper Director Laurie Murphy reported feces, vomit, toilet paper and other untreated sludge flooding DeVilliers Street from Main to Government streets. The contaminated water was so high Wednesday, June 22, that Horning used her own car to block the roadway and rescued an old lady trapped in her vehicle in the flood waters. Murphy questioned the city's commitment to cleaning up the Tanyard neighborhood, pointing out four stormwater outfalls exist for the area bordered by Main and Garden streets. She also cited low roadways and other issues. "Engineers need to do a study on ways to solve this problem," Murphy said. "It's like the city paid all their money on entertainment and forgot to pay the bills. If I was mayor, my first priority would be the health and welfare of the citizens and resolving the infrastructure problems we have." Inweekly obtained an email exchange between ECUA board member Lois Benson and ECUA Executive Director Steve Sorrell regarding the health hazard. Sorrell told Benson, "The City of Pensacola stormwater system failed and overflowed into and overwhelmed our sanitary sewer system. Our pump station did not fail, and neither did any our downtown systems â€ŚThe City system failed and drained stormwater into our system." He further explained, "The downtown 010 1

streets were flooded because of a failed stormwater system. This surplus stormwater drained via manholes and other openings into the ECUA sanitary system causing our sanitary sewer system to surcharge. Our pumps and pipes worked perfectly, but will never be able to control that amount of drained stormwater." The city officials did not return Inweekly's calls but did post the following on the city's Facebook page: "You may or may not have seen reports of breached manhole covers, raw sewage flooding the Tanyard area, and inaccurate reports of the City of Pensacola stormwater system failing. "These claims are incorrect. In fact, properly securing manhole covers is an ECUA function. The stormwater system did not fail. The system reached capacity and was overwhelmed due to the nine inches of rain in the last 48 hours. No stormwater system is expected to properly function under those extreme conditions. "Again, the downtown streets were flooded not because of a failed stormwater system. It was because we received nearly nine inches of rain in 48 hours." By Friday afternoon, ECUA workers had cleaned and applied a biocide to the area. Haig told Murphy that Tanyard overflow was the only one experienced inside city limits.

NAVY WANTS OLF-8 SWAP In a special

county commission meeting June 19, the board voted 5-0 to move forward with the multimillion-dollar land exchange between Escambia County and the U.S. Navy involving OLF-8 in the Beulah area. Congressman Matt Gaetz and Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Installations and Facilities Jim Balocki asked the commissioners for final documentation of the exchange that has been in the works for decades. "The ask of the county is to contemplate the cost of the project given the reduction and new requirements and for the board to memorialize any changes made to put us on a better path to continue forward," Balocki said. "I also think it's hopeful that we started to move in the right direction to reduce cost for the taxpayers by $1 million to $2 million." The Navy was authorized to make the swap thanks to the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2016. But Gaetz, Balocki and county commissioners finally confirmed the details despite the swapâ€™s $5.5 million gap the county must cover to complete the project. "When we speak of the remaining gap,

some of that is the consequence of inflation," Gaetz said. "We're building in a lot of different places in Escambia so the cost of labor has gone up. And the gap isn't the county's fault or the Navy's fault." He added, "So with our legal teams working on making final changes, my hope is we can move forward." The OLF-8 will be used to promote growth in the private sector, while OLF-X in Santa Rosa County will be used as a helicopter pilot training for the Navy. "I've supported the project since it started," Commissioner Lumon May said. "I am a big advocate for manufacturing jobs, and although this is not in my district, these jobs will help all of Escambia County." OLF-8 is in Commissioner Jeff Bergosh's district. Bergosh campaigned to complete the land swap and won the three-candidate GOP primary by 11 percentage points. He asked the Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Navy, "Is this something the Navy wants?" "Let me say, unequivocally, yes," Balocki replied. "This would help training at Whiting Field; it helps our aviators, it helps our national security. It helps provide strength for our nation. What more do you need?" Commission chair Doug Underhill, who has criticized the project and its supporters, expressed concern that while the project is mutually beneficial for both Escambia County and the U.S Navy, Escambia County is the only partner investing dollars in the deal. "This is a unique arrangement, it's a one-off if you will," Balocki said. "But it's a mutual advantage. Yes, it's a one-sided equation in terms of the cost, but I'm anticipating the county expects a lot out of this development, and it will result in revenue that will enhance employment and economic development." Commissioner Underhill has told county staff that he voted for the project so that he bring the issue back up later.

"This would help training at Whiting Field; it helps our aviators, it helps our national security. It helps provide strength for our nation. What more do you need?" Jim Balocki MORE TROLLEYS FOR AIR SHOW

Santa Rosa Island Authority (SRIA) hopes to decongest traffic during the Pensacola

Beach Air Show by increasing public transportation along the island that weekend. On Friday, July 7, the SRIA's three, free open-air trolleys will begin transporting patrons starting at 9 a.m. The trip circles Casino Beach from Park East, located at lot 29.5 along CR 399 approximately 1.5 miles east of the Portofino Resort towers, and Park West, located at lot 21N on Fort Pickens Road just before the entrance to the National Seashore. On Saturday, July 8, the SRIA will have buses in addition to the open-air trolleys running along the island. Service will begin Saturday at 6 a.m. Eight buses will depart from Park West, and five buses will depart from Park East. Both routes will travel back and forth to Casino Beach throughout the day. Busing service ends at 6 p.m. Passengers will only be picked up and dropped off at the SRIA's designated trolley stops. The three open-air trolleys will resume normal operations again at 5 p.m. until midnight Friday and Saturday. And the busing services will end at 6 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. Santa Rosa Island Authority provides the free trolleys and Escambia County Area Transit does the expert driving. More information can be found at visitpensacolabeach.com/trolley-information.

COUGHLIN SELECTED Mayor Ashton

Hayward will have to replace another key employee. His assistant airport director, Matthew Coughlin, has been selected to fill the vacant Escambia County Assistant County Administrator position. Coughlin's duties will include oversight of departments and their strategic plans, along with development of clear performance benchmarks to meet the commission's objectives. Coughlin joins current Assistant County Administrator Amy Lovoy, as the two most senior positions under County Administrator Jack Brown. His first day with the county is Monday, July 24. He replaces former Pensacola Police Chief Chip Simmons who left the county for a similar position at the Escambia County Sheriff's Office late last year. "It is an honor to be selected," Coughlin said in a county press release. "I hope that my experience and enthusiasm to serve can help advance the county's mission to enhance the quality of life for all its citizenry." At the Pensacola International Airport, Coughlin was responsible for the daily management of the Small Hub FAA part 139 certified airport, with a $26 million budget. Prior to his time with the city, he had a inweekly.net

successful 24-year career as a Naval officer and aviator. His final tour was as Naval Air Station Whiting Field's base commanding officer from 2011 to 2014. While at Whiting, he oversaw a workforce of more than 3,000 personnel and managed an infrastructure that encompasses over 13,000 acres of property and 4,500 nautical square miles of airspace and airfields that equated to 14 percent of all Naval flight hours flown worldwide. A native of Greenfield, Massachusetts, Coughlin holds a Bachelor of Science in mechanical engineering from Western New England University, a Master of Science in management from the Naval Post Graduate School and a Master of Science in national resource strategy from the National Defense University. Over 250 applications for the assistant county administrator position were received, and 10 people were interviewed.

NOT A GOOD SIGN The Dead Zone in the

Gulf of Mexico is projected to be about the size of Vermont, according to researchers. Each year a hypoxic water mass forms in the bottom water layers of the northern Gulf of Mexico continental shelf. The low oxygen conditions threaten the ecosystem and inherently all who consume fish, shrimp, and crabs. Nutrients from the Mississippi River watershed, particularly nitrogen and phosphorus, fertilize the Gulf's surface waters, which creates excessive amounts of algal biomass. That biomass decomposes and becomes the bottom layer, which leads to oxygen distress and even organism death in the Gulf's richest waters. Various models use the May nitrogen load of the Mississippi River to predict the size of this July's hypoxic zone. This prediction is based on one of these models. The predicted hypoxic area is about the size of Vermont and 93 percent larger than the average of all years, including years with storms. Efforts to reduce the nitrate loading have been unsuccessful. And if the area of hypoxia becomes as large as predicted, it will equal about five times the size of the goal of the Hypoxia Action Plan. The Gulf Restoration Network called the prediction "disheartening, to say the least, especially in the light of the Trump Administration's attempts to dismantle our environmental laws." In the press release, GRN spokespersons said, "A Dead Zone that is predicted to be five times the goal of the Hypoxia Taskforce is a wake-up call. If we are going to fix the Dead Zone, we need a combination June 29, 2017

of strong pollution protections, dedicated funding, and corporate accountability."

DEATH PENALTY SOUGHT State Attorney William Eddins said in a press conference June 20, his office would seek the death penalty for 38-year-old Robert Letroy Howard who was arrested earlier this month for the murder of Naomi Jones. On June 5, Jones' body was found in Eight Mile Creek in Pensacola after she had been reported missing for almost a week. "This is a very serious decision," Eddins said. "But we don't commonly see 12-yearolds kidnapped and killed. That was a real factor in our decision." Howard is being charged with firstdegree murder as well as kidnapping. He is also a repeated sex offender, which added to the request for the death penalty. "The defendant in this case was previously charged in Alabama with other offences," Chief Assistant State Attorney Greg Marcille said. "They both involve sexual, violent offences by the use of force to individual that were under the age of 18." The Escambia County Grand Jury indictment stated the official cause of death was suffocation and/or other homicidal violence. Eddins would not confirm whether Jones was sexually abused before or after her death. Assistant State Attorney Bridgette Jensen has been assigned to prosecute the case having previous experience trying death penalty cases. The trial will take place between 18 and 24 months from now. Eddins added that the final jury vote must be unanimous to ensue the death penalty. "This is probably the most emotional type of case we receive," Eddins said. "It is my understanding that the Jones family is pleased we have obtained the indictment and are proceeding with the death penalty, so we feel like this is the appropriate decision." SHORT FILMS SOUGHT The organizers of the Kite Film Fest are seeking short film submissions for their second annual festival set for Nov. 11 at Club LA in Destin. Short films of all genres are welcome, however, they must be either in or subtitled in English. To submit, email KiteFilmFest@ gmail.com with a downloadable link, a brief description, running time, and the submitter's contact information. There is no charge for submissions. The deadline for submission is Sept. 1. Shorts will be reviewed by a committee, and then the selections will be notified and screened as part of Kite Film Fest. {in} 11

An idea is the one gift that you can

Photo: Marla Aufmuth/TED

hang onto even after you’ve given it away. TED Radio Hour, hosted by Guy Raz, is a co-production of NPR and TED. It’s a journey through fascinating ideas, astonishing inventions, fresh approaches to old problems, and new ways to think and create. Broadcast

Repeated

Saturdays 2 PM

Tuesdays NOON

Listen on WUWF 88.1 FM or wuwf.org. Learn more and find the full list of WUWF programs at wuwf.org/ programs.

FABULOUS 5-COURSE DINNER AND THE BEST SEAT IN THE HOUSE WITH A FRONT ROW VIEW OF THE FIREWORKS!

4th of July wine dinner!

(Tax and gratuity not included.)

TUESDAY, JULY 4 · RESERVED BALCONY TABLE (WITH 7 P.M. 5-COURSE WINE DINNER), $100 PER PERSON

Celebrate at our house! The Atlas, Fish House and Deck Bar will be open for walk-in dining, serving from our standard dinner menu with music before and after the fireworks. Or call 433-9450 to reserve early for our 5-course wine dinner. For details, visit fishhousepensacola.com. FISH HOUSE: OPEN DAILY AT 11 A.M. · ATLAS OYSTER HOUSE: OPEN MON.–SAT. 5 P.M., SUN. 11 A.M. · (850) 470-0003 · 600 S. BARRACKS STREET

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Historian Ian Hamilton wanted to find a way to preserve the punk scene he grew up in and learn more about the under-documented community that came before him. What resulted is "Pensacola Punks," a documentary that acts as an oral history with interviews from some of the scene's biggest frontrunners. "This project has many parts to it," Hamilton said. "First, it is a way to collect pictures, show flyers, music, oral histories, fanzines and other materials to document Pensacola's punk scene through the decades. I was then going to turn some of my gathered material into a film to act as a promotional tool for the project, Pensacola, the punk scene and ultimately the 309 Museum Project." Hamilton recently graduated from UWF with a Master's in Public History with a Film June 29, 2017

and Media Specialization. He is planning to move to Massachusetts mid-July or August and plans to have the film online by then. "It is important for people to share their own histories and experiences," he said. "I had so many directions that I could go with the film that I did not know what the film was going to focus on until a week or so before my first premiere. I am currently working on what the future of the project is going to be." Hamilton grew up in and around the punk scene from high school through his twenties to the present, with varying degrees of involvement throughout. "I always found the community to be interesting and unique," he said. "The people are welcoming. The music is innovative. The art is always eye-catching. Punk is more than fast-paced music. It is a, for lack of a bet-

ter word, a lifestyle. It helped to shape every aspect of my life." Hamilton said that each interview he conducted for the film also acts as an oral history that future researchers can use as primary sources. "Typically, with subcultures like punk, the history is passed down orally," Hamilton said. "Also, major areas like Los Angeles, New York or D.C., receive most of the attention when it comes to documentaries and books. I knew how interesting Pensacola's punk history is, so it was just a matter of recording and sharing it." Hamilton said that he had mentally worked on this idea for more than a year before actually starting. "It started as a broader documentary of punks in the south and gradually narrowed to punks in Pensacola," he said. "I found a way

to finally do this project for class credit, giving me a focus and a deadline to actually film it. I already had a list of people of who I wanted to interview and as I started pre-production that list grew even bigger. Through my undergraduate and graduate research, I focused most of my attention on subcultures and minority groups. This project allowed me to use that practice on my own city and culture." Hamilton said that the biggest surprise from this project came from the realization that no matter how well he thought he knew his own scene and city, he actually knew very little. "Admittedly, I have never been in the center of the scene or worked on a project before this film," he said. "However, I thought that I understood Pensacola's punk scene and history. This is something that happens to me 13

Kent Stanton / Photo by Ian Hamilton regularly while studying history because you can zoom in almost infinitely on a region, culture, time period, etc. With this realization, I have a much deeper appreciation for the overall community. I feel much closer to the people that I already knew and made so many new friends because of this film." As far as the interviews, Hamilton knew he wanted to talk with some of the people he grew up with, but he also thought it was important to interview people from the beginning of the scene to the kids creating bands now. "I interviewed David McGuigan, owner of the first ‘punk' bar in Pensacola," he said. "Clay Reed from the Beach Monkees, an early punk band. I did a dual interview with PNJ reporter Troy Moon and local vinyl pusher Eric Jones, as well as the famous Earl Lyon of Earl's Killer Squirrels and Hall of Fame delivery driver. Promoters from various eras including John Fivgas, Chris Wilkes, Colten Wright and Eliza Espy. The legendary Kent Stanton. I also conducted band interviews with current bands Rezolve, Sour, DFM and Cookies & Cake." Hamilton conducted 24 interviews with a total of 35 people, ranging from 25

minutes to three hours. "From about the mid-80s to the mid-90s, there were shows happening in Pensacola regularly at various venues like Sluggo's many locations, the Handlebar, Section 8, house shows, and the Nite Owl," he said. Hamilton said that some of the mostmentioned shows in Pensacola punk history include R.E.M. in 1980, Green Day after their first or second album, and Black Flag at the Handlebar. "The scene has ebbed and flowed through the decades, but has always been there," he said. "One of the questions I asked almost everyone was, 'Was there a golden age of punk in Pensacola?' Some had a definitive answer; other people had a more philosophical answer. However, through my many interviews, it is apparent that from 1985 to 1995 Pensacola saw the most concentration of touring punk bands." Hamilton said that even though Sluggo's changed locations many times, it and the Handlebar were regular safe havens for the outsiders. "They were some of the few venues who catered to the bands that did not fit the mainstream," he said. "Each of those establishments deserves its own documentary."

"If it seems like nothing is happening, it is because you stopped paying attention. The scene is more active and vibrant now than ever before." Ian Hamilton

The most notable local bands in the Pensacola punk scene were The Beach Monkees, The Names, Maggot Sandwich, The Headless Marines, Wooden Horse, This Bike is a Pipe Bomb, Blount, The I Hate Yous, Sour and DFM. "The only difference between the different eras in Pensacola is the names of the bands and venues," Hamilton said. "I found that people (myself included) complained that the scene is not what it used to be. This is untrue. If it seems like nothing is happening, it is because you stopped paying attention. The scene is more active and vibrant now than ever before." Hamilton worked with Voices of Pensacola as a final destination for the material he gathered and the film. "When I approached them with my project idea, they jumped at the opportunity to host the archive collection and screen my film," he said. "They were great to work with, and I hope that my project brings more attention to the work they are doing there. " With Hamilton's film and plans for a Pensacola punk museum nearing fruition, there's no doubt that Pensacola's punk history will be told and preserved for decades to come. "There is no excuse, in this world of information and technology that we live in, that anyone's history should go unrecorded," Hamilton said. "Many people have recorded segments of Pensacola's punk history, and many more projects were started but never completed. The goal for this project was never to record the entire history of Pensacola punk. I want this overall project to be a starting point to inspire other people to record their stories and experiences." {in}

PENSACOLA PUNKS SCREENING

WHAT: A screening of the documentary “Pensacola Punks” by Ian Hamilton WHEN: 6 p.m. Thursday, June 29 WHERE: Open Books, 1040 N. Guillemard St. COST: Free DETAILS: ianrhamilton.com

If you’re looking for more proof that Pensacola’s current punk scene is alive and well, look no further than the upcoming Punk Rock Flea Market. Applications are currently being accepted for vendors and artists for Pensacola’s first Punk Rock Flea Market, which is happening this fall. The concept behind Punk Rock Flea Markets is about giving artists and other creatives an avenue to sell their unique wares and merchandise that would not normally do as well in a traditional flea market setting. The original idea for these markets started years ago on the West Coast and has grown from there. The largest and most successful branch takes place in Trenton, NJ and was once named by The Huffington Post as one of the best flea markets in America. Complete with live artists, punk bands and a planned acro yoga display, Pensacola’s market is scheduled for Oct. 8 at Chizuko with plans to become an annual event. If you’re interested in being a vendor, stop by Nearly Dead Threads at 4006 N. 9th Ave. or contact the market organizer Bari Kyle at 748-5400. The fee for early registration is $25. DETAILS: facebook.com/punkrockfleamarketpensacola

We Want Your Pets! Inweekly is working on our 6th annual Pet Issue and we want to include your pets. Please send pictures of your furry, scaly &/or feathered friends to Joani@inweekly.net by Monday, July 17 for a chance to be featured in the issue. Make sure you include pet and owner(s) names. 414 1

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WEEK OF JUNE 29-JULY 5

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

A Hometown Show For "Leaving Home" by Sammi Sontag

Paul Vinson / Photo by Dalton Young If you want to get to know 18-year-old singer-songwriter Paul Vinson, you can listen to his songs. Or watch his video blogs. We suggest you do both. Vinson released his first EP "Leaving Home" on Apple Music and Spotify June 2, which includes five original songs. His sound is an eclectic mix of blues and folk fusion, soulful vocals, with a bit of pop rock peppered in.

All of that diversity makes sense when you do some digging into his history. Vinson has a strong musical background, and the support of his family and friends played an integral role in shaping him as a musician. "My granddad, uncle and cousin all travel in a gospel quartet," he said. "But my granddad is the guy I look up to most." He added, "When I was younger I had a drum set, and my granddad would play

of pre-sale tickets in a week to secure a guitar and I would play drums. That kind spot at the venue. of sparked my interest in music. Then I "A lot of the ticket sales came in within started playing guitar at church when I the last two nights," Vinson said. "We had was in fifth grade and in seventh grade I sold about 15 of the 75 tickets we needed stepped up to the mic and sang." to sell in four days. And I was like 'Man, Vinson also has several longtime we're not going to sell the show.'" friends who helped him throughout his He continued, "I called up my grandmusical career. Andrew Fisk is one of dad and I told him, 'If I sell this show them. The pair took to the road this past you're coming. You have to be there.' He spring and pioneered the "Dorm Tour." said 'Okay, but you're not going to sell the "The tour started as a joke, actually," show.' Then I called him up on the phone Vinson told Inweekly. "About a year ago two days later and said 'Hey, July 6—mark I was talking to one of my buddies about it down you're going to be at Vinyl.'" it, wanting to just go play shows in my Vinson's show will be a 15-to 16-song friends' college dorms and we all laughed set, complete with original music and a about the idea. Then one day I thought, few covers. Almost everyone who worked 'how hard would it actually be to do this?' " on the "Leaving Home" EP with Vinson will The "Dorm Tour" ended up being a be performing with him. three-and-half week trek across seven "It was all just so crazy," Vinson said. states. Vinson and Fisk traveled over 3,500 "Playing at Vinyl was something I have miles, from Orlando to New York, visitalways wanted to check off my list. Not ing friends, drinking coffee and, of course, because of the venue, but just to say that playing music. Vinson recorded video blogs I played a real show there was an underregularly along the way, and the highlights taking I wanted to conquer before I left can be watched on his YouTube channel. Pensacola." {in} He added, "I knew the "Dorm Tour" would be a really good way to promote the "Leaving Home" EP and the idea of saying no one has done this type of tour before was really cool." As soon that adventure came WHAT: Paul Vinson with Ben Loftin Band to an end, Vinson started another. WHEN: 7 p.m. Thursday, July 6 He wanted to play a hometown gig WHERE: Vinyl Music Hall, 2 S. Palafox at Vinyl Music Hall. But booking a COST: $15 show there was no easy feat being DETAILS: paulvinson.net, youtube.com/paula performer without a record label. vinsonmedia Vinson had to sell a certain amount

PAUL VINSON EP RELEASE SHOW

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䴀䤀䌀䠀䰀䔀匀䈀伀伀吀䠀

䄀挀挀椀搀攀渀琀 ☀ 䤀渀樀甀爀礀䰀愀眀礀攀爀猀

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June 29, 2017

Let’s Wine!

calendar Ever'man Educational Center, 327 W. Garden St. everman.org DATE NIGHT DANCING 6:30-8 p.m. $15. Learn the basics of several romantic ballroom and country dance styles in group classes that keep partners together. DanceCraft, 8618 Pensacola Blvd. dancecraftfl.com

Free Wine Tasting Every Thursday AWM 5pm - 7pm

BLUE WAHOOS VS. MONTGOMERY BISCUITS

27 S. 9th Ave. | 850•433•9463 AragonWineMarket.com

3Teeth / Courtesy Photo

THURSDAY 6.29

WORK ON FLORIDA TRAIL 8 a.m. Regular meet up of Western Gate Florida Trail Association to work on National Scenic Trail and side trail. Meet at Blackwater River Forestry Center, 11650 Munson Highway. meetup.com/ftawesterngate PENSACOLA INTERNATIONAL BILLFISH TOURNAMENT All day. Pensacola Yacht Club, 1897

Cypress St. pensacolayachtclub.org

NATURE WALK: LIFE IN A MARITIME FOREST 10

a.m. Meet at Fort Barrancas Visitors Center, 3182 Taylor Road. nps.gov/guis/index.htm

NATURE WALK: LIFE ON A BARRIER ISLAND

10 a.m. Meet at Fort Pickens Bookstore, Fort Pickens Road, Pensacola Beach. nps. gov/guis/index.htm

ADVANCED REDOUBT: LEGACY IN BRICK & MORTAR 12:30 p.m. Fort Barrancas, 3182 Tay-

lor Road. nps.gov/guis/index.htm

FORT PICKENS: GARRISON FOR FREEDOM

2 p.m. Meet at Fort Pickens entrance, Fort Pickens Road, Pensacola Beach. nps.gov/ guis/index.htm FORT BARRANCAS: BASTIONS ON THE BLUFF

FOREVER DIETING? TIME TO CHANGE THE WAY YOU THINK ABOUT FOOD. A LUMINOUS LIFE HYPNOTHERAPY

SUSAN DUNLOP, MA, CHT

INTERNATIONALLY CERTIFIED HYPNOTHERAPIST

850-346-7865 EAST HILL

www.luminouslifehypnotherapy.com 616 1

2 p.m. Meet at Fort Barrancas Visitors Center 3182 Taylor Road. nps.gov/guis/index.htm VICTORIAN TEA PROGRAM 2:30 p.m. $4-$8, free for UWF students and EBT cardholders with photo ID. Sample 19th century tea customs. Clara Barkley Dorr House, 311 S. Adams St. historicpensacola.org CREATURE FEATURE 3:30 p.m. Fort Pickens Bookstore, Fort Pickens Road, Pensacola Beach. nps.gov/guis/index.htm DINNER WITH STRINGS ATTACHED 5 and 7:30 p.m. seatings. Music from Pensacola Symphony Orchestra. Jackson's Steakhouse, 400 S. Palafox. Limited seating available. Call 4699898. greatsouthernrestaurants.com WINE TASTING AT AWM 5-7 p.m. Aragon Wine Market, 27 S. 9th Ave. aragonwinemarket.com HEROES AMONG US: VETERANS SPEAKERS SERIES 6 p.m. Veterans Memorial Park, 200

S. 10th Ave. veteransmemorialparkpensacola.com

TASTE OF THE BORDER: TEQUILA & CALMEX TASTING EXPERIENCE 6 p.m. Skopelos at New

World, 600 S. Palafox. Reservations required. skopelosatnewworld.com ARCHAEOCAFE 6 p.m. Free. Another Brick in

the Wall: Archaeology Education at the Scott Site. Goat Lips Chew and Brewhouse, 2811 Copter Road. destinationarchaeology.org HOW TO BE A HEALTHY VEGAN 6-7 p.m. Free. Ever'man Educational Center, 327 W. Garden St. everman.org 90's AERIAL YOGA 6-7 p.m. $15. Pure Pilates Downtown, 426 S. Palafox St. purepilatespensacola.com PENSACOLA PUNKS SCREENING 6-7 p.m. Free. Film by Ian Hamilton. Open Books, 1040 N. Guillemard St. facebook.com/ openbooksbookstore SELECT LATIN DANCE LESSONS AND PARTY

6:30-9 p.m. $10. Salsa, Cha Cha, Bachata and more. DanceCraft, 8618 Pensacola Blvd. $10. dancecraftfl.com pensacolalittletheatre.com

BLUE WAHOOS VS. MONTGOMERY BISCUITS

6:35 p.m. $5-$48. Blue Wahoos Stadium, 351 Cedar St. bluewahoos.com

FRIDAY 6.30

NATURE WALK: LIFE IN A MARITIME FOREST 10

a.m. Meet at Fort Barrancas Visitors Center, 3182 Taylor Road. nps.gov/guis/index.htm

PENSACOLA INTERNATIONAL BILLFISH TOURNAMENT All day. Pensacola Yacht Club, 1897

Cypress St. pensacolayachtclub.org

ADVANCED REDOUBT: LEGACY IN BRICK & MORTAR 12:30 p.m. Fort Barrancas, 3182 Tay-

lor Road. nps.gov/guis/index.htm

PILATES MAT 1:30-2:30 p.m. Free. Ever’man

Educational Center, 327 W. Garden St. everman.org

FORT BARRANCAS: BASTIONS ON THE BLUFF

2 p.m. Meet at Fort Barrancas Visitors Center 3182 Taylor Road. nps.gov/guis/index.htm VICTORIAN TEA PROGRAM 2:30 p.m. $4-$8, free for UWF students and EBT cardholders with photo ID. Sample 19th century tea customs. Clara Barkley Dorr House, 311 S. Adams St. historicpensacola.org CREATURE FEATURE 3:30 p.m. Fort Pickens Bookstore, Fort Pickens Road, Pensacola Beach. nps.gov/guis/index.htm WINE TASTING 5-7 p.m. Free. City Grocery, 2050 N. 12th Ave. HAPPY HOUR COOK OUTS 5 p.m. Drink specials, free cookout. Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. sevillequarter.com RESTORATIVE YOGA 6-7 p.m. Free.

6:35 p.m. $5-$48. Blue Wahoos Stadium, 351 Cedar St. bluewahoos.com SMART BROTHERS 7 p.m. $10. 701 N. Palafox. OPEN MIC 7-11 p.m. Single Fin Cafe, 380 N. 9th Ave. facebook.com/singlefincafe ALEJANDRO ESCOVEDO BAND 7 p.m. $20$45. Vinyl Music Hall, 2 S. Palafox. vinylmusichall.com STARGAZING 7:30 p.m. Free. Gulfside Pavilion Fort Pickens Battery Park. visitpensacolabeach.com AUTO RACING 8 p.m. Five Flags Speedway, 7451 Pine Forest Road. skopelosatnewworld.com LOCAL MUSIC SHOWCASE 8:30 p.m. $5, $8 for under 21. Featuring Youth Creatures, Surrounder, Marona and If/then. The Handlebar, 319 N. Tarragona St.

SATURDAY 7.1

SANTA ROSA FARMERS MARKET 8 a.m.-1 p.m. Fresh local produce, honey, baked goods and live music. Pace Presbyterian Church, Woodbine Road, Pace. OCEAN HOUR CLEAN-UP 9-10 a.m. National Seashore, Naval Live Oaks Visitor Center main parking lot. 1801 Gulf Breeze Parkway. Buckets, grabbers, gloves and trash bags are supplied. oceanhourfl.com COOKING DEMONSTRATIONS 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Martin Luther King Jr. Plaza, N. Palafox. palafoxmarket.com PENSACOLA INTERNATIONAL BILLFISH TOURNAMENT All day. Pensacola Yacht Club, 1897

Cypress St. pensacolayachtclub.org

FAMILY MOVIE CLUB: DISNEY'S 101 DALMATIANS (1961) 10 a.m. $5. Saenger Theatre, 118 S.

Palafox. pensacolasaenger.com DEBBY'S KITCHEN 10 a.m.-12 p.m. $10-$15. Ever'man Educational Center, 327 W. Garden St. everman.org NATURE WALK: LIFE IN A MARITIME FOREST 10 a.m. Meet at Fort Barrancas Visitors Center, 3182 Taylor Road. nps.gov/guis/index.htm PUPPY AND ME PIE EATING CONTEST 10 a.m. $5 entry fee. All proceeds donated to Pensacola Humane Society. They are also hosting a rock painting part after, which kicks off at 11 a.m.Woerner Landscape and Pet Supply, 1332 Creighton Road. facebook. com/woernerlandscape ADVANCED REDOUBT: LEGACY IN BRICK & MORTAR 12:30 p.m. Fort Barrancas, 3182 Tay-

lor Road. nps.gov/guis/index.htm

FORT BARRANCAS: BASTIONS ON THE BLUFF

calendar SUMMER CONCERT SERIES AT BIG LAGOON

6-9 p.m. $15-$25. Sugarcane Jane. Big Lagoon State Park, 12301 Gulf Beach Highway. biglagoonstatepark.com DUSK ON THE GULF 6:30 p.m. Meet in Battery Worth Amphitheater. Fort Pickens Road, Pensacola Beach. nps.gov/guis/index.htm BLUE WAHOOS VS. MONTGOMERY BISCUITS

6:35 p.m. $5-$48. Blue Wahoos Stadium, 351 Cedar St. bluewahoos.com

CLASSIC MOVIE SERIES: SEVEN BRIDES FOR SEVEN BROTHERS 7 p.m. $5. Saenger Theatre,

118 S. Palafox. pensacolasaenger.com STARGAZING 7:30 p.m. Free. Gulfside Pavilion Ft. Pickens Battery Park. visitpensacolabeach.com 3TEETH 7:30 p.m. $15. Vinyl Music Hall, 2 S. Palafox. vinylmusichall.com DANCE PARTY 8-midnight. Partner dancing on the best wood dance floor in the area. DanceCraft, 8618 Pensacola Blvd. $10. dancecraftfl.com SOCIAL TRANS INITIATIVE BENEFIT SHOW

9 p.m.-12 a.m. $5. Proceeds benefit STRIVE. Chizuko, 506 W. Belmont St. facebook.com/ chizukopensacola IMPROVABLE CAUSE 10:30 p.m. $10. Pensacola Little Theatre, 400 S. Jefferson St. pensacolalittletheatre.com

SUNDAY 7.2

WAKE UP HIKE 7 a.m. Meet at Bay Bluffs

Park, Scenic Highway at Summit Ave., for a brisk one to two-hour walk with brunch to follow at an area restaurant. NATURE WALK: LIFE IN A MARITIME FOREST 10 a.m. Meet at Fort Barrancas Visitors Center, 3182 Taylor Road. nps.gov/guis/index.htm SCHOOL OF THE SOLDIER 11 a.m. Meet at entrance of Fort Pickens. Fort Pickens Road, Pensacola Beach. nps.gov/guis/index.htm ADVANCED REDOUBT: LEGACY IN BRICK & MORTAR 12:30 p.m. Fort Barrancas, 3182

Taylor Road. nps.gov/guis/index.htm

FORT BARRANCAS: BASTIONS ON THE BLUFF

2 p.m. Meet at Fort Barrancas Visitors Center 3182 Taylor Road. nps.gov/guis/index.htm CREATURE FEATURE 3:30 p.m. Fort Pickens Bookstore, Fort Pickens Road, Pensacola Beach. nps.gov/guis/index.htm SOUTHEASTERN TEEN SHAKESPEARE COMPANY: SHENANIGANS 4-5 p.m. Free. 1010 N.

12th Ave. setsco.org/first-city-shakespeare

BLUE WAHOOS VS. MONTGOMERY BISCUITS

4:35 p.m. $5-$48. Blue Wahoos Stadium, 351 Cedar St. bluewahoos.com

MONDAY 7.3

NATURE WALK: LIFE IN A MARITIME FOREST

10 a.m. Meet at Fort Barrancas Visitors Center, 3182 Taylor Road. nps.gov/guis/ index.htm CAT'S SEED TO TABLE COOKING 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Free. Ever'man Educational Center, 327 W. Garden St. everman.org ADVANCED REDOUBT: LEGACY IN BRICK & MORTAR 12:30 p.m. Fort Barrancas, 3182

Taylor Road. nps.gov/guis/index.htm

FORT BARRANCAS: BASTIONS ON THE BLUFF 2 p.m. Meet at Fort Barrancas Visi-

tors Center 3182 Taylor Road. nps.gov/guis/ index.htm CREATURE FEATURE 3:30 p.m. Fort Pickens June 29, 2017

Bookstore, Fort Pickens Road, Pensacola Beach. nps.gov/guis/index.htm SEVILLE QUARTER MILERS 5:30 p.m. Runners meet in front of Seville Quarter for a run around downtown Pensacola. Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. sevillequarter.com OTHERWISE, THROUGH FIRE, RIGHTEOUS VENDETTA 6 p.m. $10-$15. Vinyl Music Hall, 2

S. Palafox. vinylmusichall.com CCFA 6:30-7:30 p.m. Free. Ever'man Educational Center, 327 W. Garden St. everman.org BALLROOM DANCE LESSONS 6:30-8 p.m. $10. Waltz, Foxtrot, Tango, and more. Professional dance instruction for all skill levels. DanceCraft, 8618 Pensacola Blvd. dancecraftfl.com BLUE WAHOOS VS. MONTGOMERY BISCUITS

6:35 p.m. $5-$48. Blue Wahoos Stadium, 351 Cedar St. bluewahoos.com

MOLLY RINGWALDS: CELEBRATE FREEDOM CONCERT 7 p.m. show starts at 8:30 p.m. $15-

$20. Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. sevillequarter.com SONGWRITERS AND POETS OPEN MIC 7-9 p.m. Goat Lips, 2811 Copter Road. goatlips.com HIP-HOP DANCE LESSONS 8-9 p.m. $10. Learn hip-hop moves from a professional instructor. DanceCraft, 8618 Pensacola Blvd. dancecraftfl.com

TUESDAY 7.4

SERTOMA'S INDEPENDENCE DAY CELEBRATION 11 a.m. Fireworks begin at 9 p.m. Free.

Seville Square Park. pensacolafireworks.com VICTORIAN TEA PROGRAM 2:30 p.m. $4-$8, free for UWF students and EBT cardholders with photo ID. Sample 19th century tea customs. Clara Barkley Dorr House, 311 S. Adams St. historicpensacola.org CREATURE FEATURE 3:30 p.m. Fort Pickens Bookstore, Fort Pickens Road, Pensacola Beach. nps.gov/guis/index.htm COMPLEMENTARY WINE TASTING 5-7 p.m. SoGourmet, 407-D S. Palafox. sogourmetpensacola.com FUNKY YOGA FLOW 6-7 p.m. Free. Everâ€™man Educational Center, 327 W. Garden St. everman.org COUNTRY DANCE LESSONS 6:30 p.m. $10. Country Two Step, East Coast Swing, Competition Choreography and more. DanceCraft, 8618 Pensacola Blvd. dancecraftfl.com FOURTH OF JULY AT FISH HOUSE 7 p.m. Special menu. Fireworks begin at 9 p.m. Fish House, 600 Barracks St. greatsouthernrestaurants.com BANDS ON THE BEACH 7 p.m. Johnny Earthquake and the Moondogs. Gulfside Pavilion, Pensacola Beach. visitpensacolabeach.com. SYMPHONY SPARKS AND STARS 7:30 p.m. Community Maritime Park, 351 Cedar St. pensacolasymphony.com TUNESDAY SOUND CAFE 7:30 p.m. Enjoy a cup of coffee or tea and tunes from the baby grand piano. Pensacola Library lobby, 239 N. Spring St. mywfpl.com INDEPENDENCE DAY FIREWORKS 8:30 p.m. Casino Beach, 7 Casino Beach Blvd. visitpensacola.com for more listings visit inweekly.net 17

music

by Jennifer Leigh

Music for Social Change

Since 2014, Strive (Social Trans Initiative) has been advocating for the transgender community in the Pensacola area. Its mission is to promote intersectionality, serve and protect the transgender community, and ultimately build the community up to be self-sustaining enough to be actively involved, according to the nonprofit's President, Devin Cole. But one organization cannot do all of that alone. That's why this weekend, Chizuko will be hosting a benefit show for Strive with all proceeds benefiting the ongoing work and future projects of the organization. Bands such as Cookies & Cake, Homebody, Sour and more will be performing under the blue lights. Chizuko has been a venue for several cause-related events since it opened earlier this year such as FemFest in February and a homeless benefit show in May. Owners Daisy Doyle and Jessica Laws say it was a "no-brainer" to host an event for Strive. "Our vision for Chizuko is to be a comfortable, safe place for everyone, including Pensacola's LGBTQ community," said Doyle. "Strive is a very sweet group of people and we completely support their vision and want to help in any way." "We make every effort to make Chizuko a no judgment zone," added Laws. "We don't tolerate disrespect in any form. All are welcome, and we hope we can be that safe space for the LGBTQ community." The idea for the benefit show came from local musician Ryan Post, who was interested in doing a benefit show for Strive. "We had been looking for fundraising ideas and had entertained the idea of a show in the past, but nothing had formulated yet," Cole said. Some of the biggest needs in the trans community are also some of the most basic human needs. Strive is currently developing 818 1

"I had to quit because even though they an Emergency Housing Program, which will be were in the wrong, there were several of the first of it's kind, Cole said. them versus just me and I had no defense," "There are currently no shelters in Escamthey said. bia County that will take transgender people Even as gay rights have progressed drastientirely as we are, meaning that the ones who cally over the years, the trans community has do accept us will only take us on the condition been "left behind," Cole said. The highest that we agree to go by our 'assigned at birth' rates of violence and discrimination are gender, which can lead to increased amounts among black trans women. of violence and harassment," they* explained. "Sure some trans people have made it, "So housing is a top priority for us." but for every trans person who makes it in the Medical attention is another big need. world (i.e. has a successful title, job, income, Many trans individuals can find it difficult, life, etc.), there are dozens of trans people to say the least, when it comes to obtaining who don't know where they're going to be livhealthcare or a job, Cole said. The nonprofit ing at next week," they said. is currently working on hosting a job fair that The price of admission to Saturday's would be open to everyone but would include show will help support the cause of Strive, businesses that are LGBTQ-affirming. and all of its future goals. The best way Helping transgender individuals pay for to support the nonprofit is to donate and hormone replacement therapy is another participate, Cole said. initiative of Strive. So far, they've already been "Showing up is a big part of activism able to help a few trans people obtain medicaand organizing," they added. "We're about tions to keep their transition from halting. direct action and disrupting the status quo. "With our already dilapidated healthcare Transgender people (and really the entire system on the brink of complete annihilaqueer community at large) have been pushed tion, trans people are often left to fend for around and left behind too many times to try ourselves in terms of receiving care and treatand appeal to those at the table any longer. ment," they said. "Because of the job market We have to rise up and to rise up means to which is largely transphobic due to hate show up." {in} speech and bigoted propaganda, it is much harder for trans people to find work where we *Cole identifies as gender non-binary and prefers can be ourselves on the job. This then makes they/them pronouns. it harder to qualify for healthcare or to receive any benefits at all, so many trans people are unable to receive healthcare and have to pay for medical attention out of pocket, but with WHAT: Benefit show featuring music by Homemany being unable to find workâ€Śyou body, Sour, Cookies & Cake and more see where I'm going with this." WHEN: 9 p.m. Saturday, July 1 Cole has had first-hand expeWHERE: Chizuko, 506 W. Belmont St. rience of workplace discriminaCOST: $5 tion when a manager, followed by DETAILS: facebook.com/chizukopensacola or fellow employees, taunted Cole facebook.com/socialtransinitiative for being queer.

STRIVE BENEFIT SHOW

inweekly.net

news of the weird PLAYING THE HITS Weird News is forever, but this is my last "News of the Weird" column, as I am now exhausted after almost 30 years in the racket. In this final edition, I remember a few of my favorites. My deep thanks to Andrews McMeel Syndication and to readers, who started me up and kept me going. Y'all take care of yourselves. —Chuck Shepherd •Chesapeake, Virginia, inmate Robert Lee Brock filed a $5 million lawsuit against Robert Lee Brock—accusing himself of violating his religious beliefs and his civil rights by getting himself drunk enough that he could not avoid various criminal behaviors. He wrote: "I want to pay myself five million dollars (for this breach of rights), but ask the state to pay it in my behalf since I can't work and am a ward of the state." In April, the lawsuit was dismissed. (1995)

•The Philadelphia Inquirer reported in June on the local "Silent Meeting Club," consisting of several people who gather at various spots around town and make it a point not to speak to each other. Founder John Hudak said his inspiration was his observation that people often feel obligated to talk when they really have nothing to say, such as at parties, and wondered how nice it would be "to have a group of people where you wouldn't have to talk." (1992) •And, from the very first "News of the Weird" column came good ol' Hal Warden, the Tennessee 16-year-old who was married at 15 and granted a divorce from his wife, 13. Hal had previously been married at age 12 to a 14-year-old (and fathered children with both), but the first wife divorced Hal because, as she told the judge, "He was acting like a 10-year-old." (1988) {in} PO:

Job/Order #: 294936 Operator: cs

PM:

Closing Date: 5/19/17

AE:

Publication: In Weekly

AD: CD: QC:

Live: 4.54" x 11.31"

CW:

Trim: 4.790" x 11.560" Bleed: None"

•In May, Elk River, Minnesota, landlord Todd Plaisted reported that his tenant Kenneth Lane had fled the area, abandoning his rented farmhouse and leaving behind at least 400 tons of used carpeting, at least 10,000 plastic windows from Northwest Airlines planes, and rooms full of sofas, mattresses and washing machines, among other things. Lane told townspeople he ran a "recycling" company, but there was no

•An FBI investigation into interstate trafficking by diaper fetishists resulted in the arrests of five men belonging to an organization called the Diaper Pail Foundation, which has a letterhead and publishes a newsletter and information exchange for members. A Madison, Wisconsin, man, arrested in April for possession of child pornography, was found inside a van taking pictures of a child relieving himself. The man had offered service to the child's parents as a toilet trainer. (1990)

Brand: Bud Light Item #: PCA2017010

• A child pornography investigation in Minneapolis turned up 1,000 suspect images on the office computer of a 58-year-old University of Minnesota classics professor— named Richard Pervo. (2001)

MAKE THE RIGHT CALL. DRINK RESPONSIBLY.

evidence of sales. A deputy sheriff driving by the farmhouse the year before saw Lane burying carpeting with a tractor and said Lane merely muttered, "I don't know what to say. You got me. I can't even make up an excuse." (1993)

MUST INITIAL FOR APPROVAL

•On the day before Good Friday, reported the Los Angeles Times, Dr. Ernesto A. Moshe Montgomery consecrated the Shrine of the Weeping Shirley MacLaine in a room in the Beta Israel Temple in Los Angeles. Inspired by an image he said he had while riding in the actress's private jet, Montgomery said a subsequent large photograph of him with MacLaine was "observed shedding tears," which had inspired prayers and testimony of miraculous healings. (1998)

by Chuck Shepherd

Send your weird news to Chuck Shepherd, P.O. Box 18737, Tampa, Fla., 33679 or weirdnews@earthlink.net, or go to newsoftheweird.com

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PRESENTS A Special Screening of