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Independent News | March 21, 2019 | Volume 20 | Number 12

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winners & losers

outtakes

news

6&8

It's hard to put my finger on it.

buzz

cover feature

a&e

publisher Rick Outzen

graphic designer Michael Daw

editor & creative director Joani Delezen

contributing writers Savannah Evanoff, Jennifer Leigh, Sarah Mc Wilson, Jeremy Morrison, C.S. Satterwhite, Stephanie Sharp, Sydney Robinson

Struggling with

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. ÂŠ 2018 Inweekly Media, Inc. All rights reserved.

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Better Jobs • Better Lives • Better Community

Thank you to those who attended our workshop

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Mona’s new book is available at amazon.com and local bookstores.

A special thank you to the following businesses for investing in their employees to attend this workshop and grow their skills: • 3SIXTY Marketing Studio • Ascension Sacred Heart Medical Group • Ash Simmons Photography • Baptist Health Care Inc. • Beulah Coalition • Caldwell Associates Architects, Inc.

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The Studer Community Institute is a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. March 21, 2019

winners & losers

Adam Putnam / Courtesy Photo

winners

ADAM PUTNAM The former Florida Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam has been named the chief executive officer of the national group Ducks Unlimited. Putnam finished his second term as agriculture commissioner in January after losing a Republican primary for governor. Ducks Unlimited President Rogers Hoyt said the organization wanted the new CEO to have backgrounds in conservation, policy and agriculture. He said, "In Adam, we feel we have hit on all three. Not to mention he's an approachable, passionate and visionary person, so Adam was the perfect fit." Putnam starts work on April 1. AUTUMN BECK BLACKLEDGE, PLLC

The law firm was recognized during Florida State University's 2nd Annual Seminole 100 Celebration. The 2019 Seminole 100, hosted by the Jim Moran Institute for Global Entrepreneurship at the FSU College of Business in partnership with the FSU Alumni Association and EY, recognized the 100 fastest-growing businesses owned by Florida State alumni. Autumn Beck Blackledge, PLLC was ranked No. 58 with a compound annual growth rate of 25.08 percent.

SH PEDIATRIC EMERGENCY The Pediatric Emergency Department of the Studer Family Children's Hospital at Sacred Heart has been named a winner of the Excellence in Healthcare Award by Professional Research Consultants, Inc. (PRC). The Excellence in Healthcare Awards recognize organizations which achieve excellence throughout the year by improving patient experiences based on surveys of their patients.

Linda Hanford / Courtesy Photo

losers

LINDA HANFORD Judge Jennie Kinsey

sentenced Hanford to 10 years in state prison for the crime of organized fraud and a violation of probation for a previous conviction for theft. From 2015-2017, she managed the online sales division of Lender Services, Inc. and embezzled over $60,000 by diverting sales proceeds to an off-the-books account and then redirecting the funds to a personal account. During this time, she was on probation for embezzling funds from a previous employer.

MIKE HILL The District 1 state representative

last month withdrew his proposed legislation that would have repealed parts of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Act that was passed last year after the Parkland shooting. In January, Hill told the PNJ that he had made a campaign promise to file a bill repealing the gun control portions of the law. The promise apparently didn't mean he would actually have the House discuss it.

HOUSE HIGHER EDUCATION & CAREER READINESS The panel last week approved a bill, HB 839, that would require Florida public universities to survey faculty members and students about their personal viewpoints. Committee Chair Cord Byrd, R-Neptune Beach, said the survey is necessary because of concerns about indoctrination in the university system. If the proposal ultimately passes during this year's legislative session, the Board of Governors, which oversees 12 universities and more than 341,000 students, would compile and publish the results each year. It remains unclear, however, what the Legislature would do once the data is gathered.

inweekly.net

417 E ZARRAGOSSA ST. outtakes

By Rick Outzen

THE DONUT HOLE

Escambia County is earning a national reputation for its commitment to vocational training. We have had two big announcements this month. First, ST Engineering announced the establishment of the Pensacola Mayor's Scholarship to support outstanding individuals accepted into an aviation-related post-secondary educational program. Scholarships will be awarded to four applicants annually from the Escambia County School District based on criteria including academic performance and financial needs. On Monday, March 18, we learned that Escambia County had been named one of five communities joining the Inclusive Development Network, a new initiative designed to advance inclusive workforce development through a focus on reaching underserved populations. Pensacola joined Cleveland, Ohio; Corpus Christi, Texas; Coweta, Okla., and Spokane, Wash. They were selected from more than 35 applications for the Network's first cohort of communities. The Inclusive Development Network will work to identify and implement strategies that reduce equity gaps in local workforce development. Local leadership teams will hone workforce development strategies to create education, job and career opportunities for residents of all demographics. Both are great news. However, we have a hole in the workforce development donut—Escambia County School Superintendent Malcolm Thomas. Superintendent Thomas has a $3 million

grant agreement from Triumph Gulf Coast sitting on his desk that he has refused to sign since last summer. The funds would provide training for public school students that would lead to high-paying jobs in the aviation repair, cybersecurity and logistic supply industries. Thomas has refused to accept the money because he doesn't want to refund any funds if he fails to produce qualified graduates. For someone who has touted the district's improvements in graduation rates, it seems odd that the superintendent wouldn't think he could meet the required standards. Triumph chairman Don Gaetz told Inweekly the Triumph performance standards for Escambia "were set low." Triumph demands certificates over a three-year period for 210 K-5 students for science, technology, engineering and math (STEM); 70 middle school students for information technology; 20 high school students for aircraft assembly; 20 high school students for manufacturing; 100 high school students for cybersecurity; 50 post-secondary students at George Stone Technical College for airframe and powerplant; 30 post-secondary students for cybersecurity; and 25 post-secondary students for commercial driving. Thomas is an even bigger outlier on workforce training because the school districts of Walton, Franklin and Gulf counties have had no problems with agreeing to meet Triumph's performance standards. It seems everyone is committed to vocational training but the head of the Escambia County School District. {in} rick@inweekly.net

It seems everyone is committed to vocational training but the head of the Escambia County School District.

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COW NOTES By Rick Outzen At its Thursday, March 14, Committee of the Whole (COW) meeting, the Escambia Board of County Commissioners scheduled a special meeting for April 29 to interview finalists for the replacement of County Administrator Jack Brown, who announced his retirement last fall. The current interim administrator, Amy Lovoy, told the commissioners, "I have just north of 120 unique applicants." Escambia County Human Resources Director Eric Kleinert added that at least 75 names would be passed on for review by the Florida Association of County Managers, which would then present a list of finalists to the county. The application period was set to end on Monday, March 18, but Commission Chairman Lumon May asked for a 10-day extension. "Commissioner Bender and I were in Washington at NACO (National Association of Counties), and some people weren't necessarily aware (of the job opening) but got excited after talking to them," said Commissioner May. "Would y'all be open to extending it for 10 days for a couple of guys that I know that were going to try to get their applications in?" Commissioner Steven Barry asked whether there were any risks in extending the application period. "No sir, I believe it's a regular practice we engage in when we're seeking to have a larger applicant pool," replied Kleinert. Commissioner Doug Underhill said, "Then it would seem there being no risk in that and the possibility of a reward of having more or better applicants, then, by all means, Lumon, I support your action there." Kleinert explained the screening of 120plus applicants didn't have to wait for the extended application period to end and that the screening process had already begun.

"Last check, we had about 75 that we would pass on to the county managers," he said. "They just simply didn't make the minimum qualifications."

"Last check, we had about 75 that we would pass on to the county managers." Eric Kleinert The selection committee that will review the qualified applicants is comprised of Leon County Administrator Vince Long, Walton County Administrator Larry Jones and Don Butler, the former administrator for Gulf County. Commissioner Barry expressed a sense of urgency in keeping the hiring process advancing. "In my opinion, we do need to get the process going," said Barry. "It's difficult for an interim administrator to lead. It's difficult for a board to work with an interim administrator. That's not ideal. I would be uncomfortable adding 10 more days. All I would ask, especially since we're making good time, can we firm up the days of when they're coming back to us and when we're going do interviews?" "We shouldn't gum anything up," reassured Commissioner May. "They can start evaluating them, like yesterday. The 10 days is just allowing people to apply. It's not holding up or impeding the process at all. I wouldn't do that." After more discussion, the commissioners agreed to extend the application deadline to Thursday, March 28 and set April 29 for a special meeting to interview the finalists. "At least we're setting these dates in the future," said Commissioner Barry. "I think by doing this, you're leaving that window open for some of the folks that y'all may have interacted with at NACO, but we're also giving some firm deadlines and time-

lines to people so that they can plan. I think that'd be great."

GHOST FROM THE PAST

In Escambia County, choosing a county administrator historically has been a monumental effort. Before Jack Brown was selected administrator in April 2014, the Board of County Commissioners for two years had debated and fought over whether Interim County Administrator George Touart should be made the administrator. Touart was hired as temporary administrator after County Administrator Randy Oliver was fired in October 2012 by commissioners Gene Valentino, Wilson Robertson and Kevin White. The public was told Touart would fill the spot for about six months. He would thereby become vested in the state retirement system. Six months turned into 15 months with Valentino and Robertson constantly pressuring May, Barry and then-Commissioner Grover Robinson to give the job to Touart. When Touart died in January 2014, Robertson made a last-minute push for Assistant Administrator Larry Newsom, who had not applied for the permanent job, to get the position. He offered a substitute motion to drop all five candidates and start over. That was defeated on a 3-2 vote, with Robertson and Valentino voting in favor. The interim job was Touart's second time to be at the helm of Escambia County government. In 2002, he was hired by the commission that included W.D. Childers, Willie Junior, Mike Bass, Terry Smith and Tom Banjanin under equally bizarre circumstances. The commissioners had first offered the job to Norfolk, Va., City Executive Sterling Cheatham, but Cheatham rejected the offer after the board called him on speakerphone during a meeting to give him a take-it-or-leave-it proposition. Touart was in the audience and was offered the job. Childers, Bass, Smith and Junior were soon indicted by a grand jury.

Touart would hold the position until September 2007, when he abruptly resigned after a News Journal investigation into his financial dealings.

BYE, MS. JUDY

The Committee of the Whole was the last meeting for Judy Witterstaeter, the agenda program coordinator for the Board of County Commissioners, who is retiring. "I just want to say it's been an honor and just an amazing experience," she told the commissioners. "You all don't really get enough praise for the hard decisions you have to make. I've learned so much being here, and now I see really what is involved with Escambia County."

"You all don't really get enough praise for the hard decisions you have to make." Judy Witterstaeter Witterstaeter added, "You're all doing your best to make that happen. So thank you so much for allowing me to do that. It's been a real honor." Chairman May said, "Judy, thank you. When I first became chairman, I was nervous, didn't know what I was doing. You're like a mother sitting here always making us feel right." Commissioners Underhill and Bergosh echoed those sentiments. Underhill said, "Judy, long after the negatives of these jobs have faded from our memories, we will remember, I know personally I will absolutely remember, the impact that you had on my life. You've made me a better person. Thanks." "Thank you very much for everything you've done and for helping to keep me straight last year as chairman," said Bergosh. "I really appreciate it and wish you the best in your retirement." The BCC will honor Witterstaeter with a reception on Friday, March 29, in the Artel Gallery. Tentative start time is 11 a.m. {in}

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inweekly.net

March 21, 2019

WASTEWATER SOUND

Lane Lynchard / Courtesy Photo

By Jeremy Morrison Local beaches serve as Northwest Florida's economic and cultural lifeblood. Postcard scenes of white sand and sunshine inspire people to soak in the salt while watching sparkles of light splinter diamonds into shards atop the water's surface. But visitors to Navarre have another element in this postcard-perfect scene. They can't see it, or likely even smell it, but it's out there in Santa Rosa Sound—sewage. Santa Rosa County has long used the Navarre Beach Wastewater Treatment Facility to release treated wastewater effluent into the sound. And county officials have often discussed the need to change this. That discussion will likely continue for at least another five years, as Santa Rosa County Board of County Commissioners currently seeks to renew its current wastewater permit. Before the Florida Department of Environmental Protection grants the Navarre facility's wastewater permit, the public will have a chance to weigh in on the matter. During a meeting scheduled for Tuesday, March 26, folks will be able to discuss with DEP representatives the specifics of releasing wastewater into the sound, as well as potential alternatives to such a practice.

LONG-TERM GOAL

Imagine a world where we didn't release treated sewage into our surface waters. It's a beautiful place, where your thoughts aren't consumed with ickiness when you want to go for a swim. This imaginary realm is the United States in 1985 as envisioned by the Clean Water Act of 1972. In 2019, this world remains an environmental dreamscape. "We've been working towards that goal for years, if not decades," said Santa Rosa County Commissioner Lane Lynchard.

But reworking Navarre's current wastewater infrastructure is an expensive target. It requires routing wastewater north through underwater piping and disposing of it through a land-based application. "This is an issue that we've been trying to get our hands around for many years," Lynchard said. But, the commissioner stressed, it's not as if the county is taking the equivalent of a municipal dump in the sound. "It's not sewage or anything close to that that is being put into the sound," Lynchard said. "This is treated effluent." That's true. The wastewater released into Santa Rosa Sound, more than a half million gallons a day, is treated to federal and state standards. According to FDEP spokesperson Brandy Smith, wastewater facilities that discharge into surface waters are subject to the National Pollution Discharge Elimination System program requirements outlined in the Clean Water Act. "These regulations establish water quality standards that are protective of public health and the environment," Smith explained. But such regulations don't appease people like Frances Dunham. The longtime south Santa Rosa County resident and environmental advocate is concerned that releasing wastewater into the sound, treated or not, is harming the environment. Dunham—who co-founded Santa Rosa Sound Coalition as well as Citizens Against Toxic Exposure—is concerned about things like nutrients in wastewater impacting water quality and triggering outbreaks of red tide or blue-green algae. "You've probably seen that both—especially the blue-green algae—can cause serious human health impacts," Dunham said. "Santa Rosa County can't assume that our area is magically immune to what happened last year in other parts of Florida. There were severe economic declines where red tide and blue-green algae appeared. Surely, we don't want residents and tourists to face smelly, slimy and dangerous conditions when they're near the water." And then there's all the stuff that wastewater treatment processes do not address and that environmental regulations don't address. "No one even tests, much less regulates, sewage effluent for many contaminants—medications like estrogen or Viagra, oven cleaners, pesticides, furniture-stripping products, finishes, flame retardants," Dunham noted. "Most people would be shocked to know what they may be swimming or fishing in." And then there's the risk to the area's seagrass beds, which are necessary for a thriving marine ecosystem. "Like killing the goose that laid the golden eggs, Santa Rosa County can't have seagrass benefits if we continue to damage them," Dunham said.

But Smith maintained that Santa Rosa's release into the sound was safe. Routine water-quality reviews are conducted, she said, to ensure that the discharge is not damaging animal or plant life. Based on tests conducted in 2017, the FDEP found nothing worrisome about the wastewater released from the Navarre facility. "The nutrient and algal growth potential values indicate no detectable nutrient enrichment in the receiving water due to the effluent, and there is no evidence of an impact on the macroinvertebrate community," Smith explained, noting that the agency is inclined to issue the county a permit renewal based on the data.

PUBLIC INPUT

Last summer, local environmental advocate Christian Wagley of the Gulf Restoration Network started pushing for people to contact FDEP regarding the permit renewal for the wastewater facility in Navarre. He encouraged them to request that county officials specify a date certain for ceasing releases into the sound as a condition of the renewal. "We just really wanted to force the conversation," Wagley said. The FDEP has scheduled a public meeting for 4 p.m. Tuesday, March 26, at the Tiger Point Community Center in Gulf Breeze, where people can speak with agency representatives about the wastewater release issue. The agency will take any public comments gathered during the event into account when considering Santa Rosa's renewal request. But Lynchard doesn't see the county staking out any date certain for stopping the practice of releasing wastewater into the sound. "I think we'll get there, but I don't think the county is in a position to commit to a date certain," the commissioner said. "We will stop the discharge of effluent into the sound. It's just not something that's going to happen overnight." Lynchard pointed to $5.5 million of RESTORE funding—money stemming from environmental penalties related to the 2010 oil spill—the county will eventually see, which will cover the design portion of a more massive project to relocate Navarre's wastewater release. The plan calls for rerouting the wastewater to land on Eglin Air Force Base, but it's got a hefty price tag attached. "Our best estimate to date is it's about $18-$20 million. That's the reason it hasn't been done already," Lynchard said. Until Santa Rosa County tackles this issue, the commissioner points out, it's not alone in its release of wastewater into surface water. "It's not unique to Navarre Beach," he said. "Pensacola Beach, they're in the same shape we are." {in} inweekly.net

March 21, 2019

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ENVIRONMENTAL HOT SPOTS Environmental scientist and watchdog Wilma Subra is familiar with Escambia County. More specifically, she's familiar with some of the area's scarier ecological ghosts and statistics. Take the former wood-treating-siteturned-Superfund-site in Pensacola. Subra worked as an advisor in the early 2000s for the locally-based Citizens Against Toxic Exposure on what turned out to be the Environmental Protection Agency's third largest residential relocation from a Superfund site. "If you remember, the soil out there was called Mount Dioxin," Subra said during a visit to Pensacola March 12, referencing the Superfund site's nickname. Subra was in the area as part of Earth Ethics' environmental speaker series. Her discussion at the Ever'man Educational Center highlighted various environmental health concerns in the region. Since the early 1980s, Subra has headed up her own environmental consulting firm, The Subra Company. The firm focuses on helping individuals facing health issues due to environmental factors. Based out of Louisiana, Subra spent 14 years at the Gulf South Research Institute and has also served on various EPA boards. Subra began her Pensacola presentation by mapping the area's environmental hotspots. And there are many. Escambia County is home to four separate Superfund sites. So-called Superfund sites are locales that have been contaminated and which the EPA has deemed eligible for government-funded cleanup. Escambia's include Agrico Creosote Inc., American Creosote Works, the Escambia Treating Company and one on Pensacola Naval Air Station. There's also a list of sites—like an industrial park, a former dry cleaner and an old tar and turpentine operation—that are contaminated but didn't make the cut. Providing a copy of the EPA's Toxic Release Inventory (TRI) report detailing the local region, Subra explained that the area currently has 17 industrial facilities listed in the inventory.

010 1

Atop Escambia's TRI is Ascend Performance Materials in Cantonment. The site manufactures chemicals, fibers and plastic and releases around 30 million pounds of toxins annually (about 100,000 pounds into the air; the rest is land-based). International Paper holds the region's number two spot on the toxic release list, but the numbers are far below Ascend. International Paper released more than 1.3 million pounds in 2017, most of it into the air. The paper mill facility's releases include chemicals, such as acetaldehyde, as well as formaldehyde and hydrogen sulfide. Third on the list is Gulf Power Company's Plant Crist. It releases about a half million pounds of toxins, including chromium compound. Subra also spoke about lead levels in the local drinking water, consumption advisories for mercury-laden fish and the contamination associated with Plant Crist's two coal ash landfills. The scientist also detailed area sources of mercury contamination. On a bright note, Plant Crist decreased its mercury releases from a 1,340-pound high in 2008 to just under 20 pounds during the latest reporting year due to the installation of scrubbers to clean the facility's output. Firefighting foam is another source of toxins that Subra detailed. The substance contains perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and was commonly used on military bases with aviation and training activities. Though not a required or enforceable drinking water standard, the EPA has determined that these chemicals are harmful to people at 70 parts per trillion. Locally, wells have been tested for PFOA and PFOS at three Navy sites. All three sites contained wells with levels well above the 70 ppt level. Near OLF Saufley Field, the Navy also tested 20 nearby private wells, eight of which were beyond safe levels. The Navy is currently providing bottled water to the individuals with these wells. Testing is continuing in this area.

As a word of warning, Subra encouraged people to research areas before purchasing property or moving into an area to ensure that there are no environmental ghosts still haunting the grounds. "You may have this wonderful apartment complex that's built on top of a landfill or waste site," Subra cautioned, urging attendees to take to the internet to find out information on given areas. "All of this is online. You Google EPA, you Google your state agency, it's all there."

STRATEGY PLAN COMING A discussion among Pensacola city officials Monday, March 11, offered a view of the municipality's path and priorities moving forward into Mayor Grover Robinson's term. The administration appears ready to use the recent release of a mayoral transition team report as a springboard, with actions already afoot on several fronts outlined in the document. "We will be working on developing a strategic plan working with that," Assistant City Administrator Keith Wilkins informed the Pensacola City Council during an agenda conference. So far, Wilkins said, the mayor is focusing on developing succession plans within city staff, trying to ensure that qualified employees are waiting in the wings as numerous members of staff age into retirement. "We have a very good start on that," Wilkins said. The assistant administrator also said the mayor's reshuffling of positions and the city's organizational chart should be read as reflective of Robinson's priorities. For example, the city is currently searching for someone to handle Complete Streets efforts because the mayor intends to make pedestrian safety and walkability priorities. "It's pretty much soup to nuts in regard to transportation," Wilkins described the Complete Streets position's purview. Another position the city is currently trying to fill is that of public information officer. Wilkins told the council that the

city had 60 applicants—36 or which are "qualified"—for the job. Councilwoman Sherri Myers expressed a desire to have a position within the administration to oversee community development issues. She pointed out that areas of the city falling within Community Redevelopment Areas do have someone to oversee development, but areas outside the boundaries of CRAs, like Myers' District 2, do not. "I would like to see a community developer for the entire city," the councilwoman said. "The rest of us outside of a CRA, we don't have that." Wilkins said that the mayor did intend to have such a community development position—"that's exactly the concept the mayor would like to follow"—and that, for the moment, he served in such a capacity. He also encouraged council members to consult with any member of city staff that could help them with issues. Councilwoman Jewell Cannada-Wynn also wanted to know about the possibility of the city hiring someone to oversee neighborhood planning. She noted that the city previously had such a position some years ago. Wilkins said a neighborhoods position was in the lineup, but with looser expectations. "That's unfilled, unfunded at this time," he said, "but it's certainly in the mayor's plan."

HATCHERY'S SUCCESS CHALLENGED

Local environmentalist Christian Wagley has challenged Hubbs-SeaWorld Research Institute CEO Don Kent's claim that the institute's hatchery replenishment program in California has been successful. In 2014, Wagley had opposed the Florida Fish & Wildlife Commission's fish hatchery project at Bruce Beach. (Inweekly, "Go Fish," Feb. 6, 2014). "This white sea bass program by Hubbs was put up by Hubbs and by Guy Harvey in letters of support (in 2014) for the Pensacola hatchery, claiming that the program was "a successful partnership" and "helping to bring back the white sea bass

inweekly.net

population," Wagley wrote Inweekly. "Yet when I searched online, I found State of CA reports and quotes from a researcher reporting that the program was having little if any positive impact." Wagley shared a 2018 NPR report on a state of California report that showed the program has failed and has not enhanced fish populations. (NPR, "$40 Million Later, A Pioneering Plan to Boost Wild Fish Stocks Shows Little Success," Feb. 15, 2018). "The first formal scientific evaluation has concluded that the program had increased white seabass populations by less than 1 percent â€” a stunningly low success rate," reported NPR journalist Clare Leschin-Hoar. Wagley also shared "a much more damning story on the same program." The Voice of San Diego reported that the report, following a two-year-old Voice of San Diego investigation, found few of those fish were surviving in the wild, and many were deformed. (Voice of San Diego, "Carlsbad Fish-Breeding Program Is a Mess, Report Confirms," Feb. 28, 2018.) Voice of San Diego reporter Ry Rivard wrote, "â€Śthe program has potentially threatened the health of the wild white seabass population. The state has spent $22 million on the program over the past 15 years. In recent years, that's amounted to about $12 per fish released into the ocean."

HELP VOCAL HARMONY The Booker

T. Washington High School choral group, Vocal Harmony, is in the last weeks of its fundraiser for its trip to perform at Carnegie Hall in New York on Easter Sunday. The tour will cost $10,000, and they are only about $6,000 short of their goal. The deadline is April 1. Donations may be made to the Escambia County Public Schools Foundation, ecpsfoundation.org, but be sure to specify your contribution is for the Booker T. Washington choral group.

SCHOOL DISTRICT'S WATER QUALITY The Escambia County School Board

discussed water quality issues during its Friday morning meeting, with members urging the district to take steps to ensure drinking water in its facilities is safe. District officials are looking to meet with the Emerald Coast Utilities Authority to discuss the matter further. "We do have periodic testing of water in our schools, right?" asked school board member Kevin Adams. Assistant Superintendent Shawn Dennis explained that the district conducts "reactive" testing, only testing water in the schools when alerted to an issue via discoloration or odor. Several board members suggested the district take a more proactive approach on water testing. "Do we not feel that we need to make sure that at least the water coming into March 21, 2019

our facilities is safe for the children?" said Board member Dr. Laura Edler. This water quality discussion comes as concerns have been revived about groundwater contamination near the Rolling Hills landfill in the Wedgewood community, as well as recent testing on and near regional military bases that revealed high levels of toxins associated with firefighting foam. Dennis clarified that the water supply for schools in proximity to the landfill did not come from the area groundwater but was supplied from elsewhere and also explained that the district had conducted tests at multiple facilities some years ago to ensure that interfacility infrastructure was not contaminating the water supply. Superintendent Malcolm Thomas said the district should engage the ECUA about both concerns associated with Rolling Hills contamination as well as water testing in the schools. "See what they do in the way of water testing," Thomas said. Adams suggested the district also reach out to the Navy, which has recently conducted testing of wells on area bases as well as a number of neighboring private wells and found high levels of the harmful toxins PFOA (perfluorooctanoic acid) and PFOS (perfluorooctane sulfonate), which are associated with firefighting foam used in training. Schools near the bases, he said, should be tested. "Just to reassure everybody," Adams said. "Just to calm everybody's fears." Environmental advocate Dr. Gloria Horning, who has long raised concerns about area water quality issues, said she was encouraged by the school board's discussion. "Several of the board members were right on," she said. But, Horning added, the district should also be looking into possible soil and air contamination at schools near the Wedgewood community, citing not only Rolling Hills but also a nearby concrete crushing operation.

"We're very concerned about the children's air, soil and water." Gloria Horning "We're very concerned about the children's air, soil and water," she said.

MARK YOUR CALENDAR Join District

1 Commissioner Jeff Bergosh for the next Coffee with the Commissioner 6:30-7:30 a.m. Wednesday, March 27, at Hardee's, 2500 Wilde Lake Blvd. It is an informal setting with no agenda or appointments needed. St. John's Episcopal Church hosts astronomer Dr. Wayne Wooten 6 p.m. Thursday, March 28, for its latest St. John's Talks series at the church located at 401 Live Oak Ave. The title of the talk is "Things that Matter: The Making of the Material Universe." {in} 11

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By Sydney Robinson In many ways, Pensacola in 2019 is a place that someone in the year 2009 wouldn't recognize. Where there used to be closed-down shops and dingy window displays, there are now successful restaurants, busy bars, cozy boutiques and a thriving entrepreneurial scene that many didn't see coming. But even in the face of such progress, one question March 21, 2019

we continue to ask is have we managed to turn around the long-standing trend of Pensacola's best and brightest hightailing it for bigger and better cities as soon as they can? Are we, as a city, retaining or even re-attracting hardworking, young people to the area? And if so, how have their impacts improved this special little city? When we really started to ask around, we found out the an-

swer to that question to be yes, time and time again, especially in the case of talented locals returning home. From entrepreneurs introducing new trends and flavors to coaches building teams and families, we talked to some native sons and daughters who've made their way back to town in recent years. These are just a few of their stories and, in them, lessons for how Pensacola can continue to grow, invest and keep bringing people home. 13

Belford said that one blind spot the city still has though is in the area of diversity. "[Outside of Pensacola,] I got to meet people from different nationalities. Here in Pensacola, we don't have as much diversity as other places. I would hope that would change as we continue to grow. I think that's important," Belford said.

Clenita Belford

SHARING THE PASSION Clenita Belford has a passion for Pensacola, a passion she is eager to share with potential recruits to the women's basketball team at Pensacola State College (PSC), where she has served as the head coach since 2014. "When I recruit [potential team members], it's not a sales pitch. It's the truth of what we have here," Belford told Inweekly. Belford didn't always feel as gung-ho about Pensacola, and it took several years in less water-adjacent areas to begin to appreciate what the city had to offer. "I think it was just a lot of things about the city I kind of took for granted because I've always lived here," said Belford. "I never really went to the beach growing up. It took me having to move away to understand, 'Wow, we have this in our backyard.' Fresh seafood is great. When I moved to the Midwest, I was like, 'Wait a minute. This isn't like seafood back home.' You don't miss it until you don't have it."

"You don't miss it until you don't have it." Clenita Belford Belford left Pensacola in 2005 after completing college at the University of West Florida. Searching for a passion, Belford relocated to Nebraska, then South Alabama, then Kansas, coaching women's basketball. It wasn't until her time in South Alabama that Belford began to keep tabs on what Pensacola had going on. "When I started coming back home, I started seeing a change—the nightlife was better; people were doing different things for the community, different events," recalled Belford. "From there, I just started to see a change and started to realize that we have everything we need right here in Pensacola." Planning to have a family and drawn to her hometown, Belford scooped up the head coach position at PSC and hasn't looked back. Now, newly married with a 6-month-old at home, Belford says she is more hopeful than ever about Pensacola's future and feels confident about raising a child here. "One of the reasons I left is I didn't think there were many opportunities for me here once I graduated, but I don't feel it's that way now for kids. I feel like when my daughter graduates from high school, if she decides to go to UWF, I don't think I would be concerned about her having a career and raising a family here." 414 1

Brooke Parkhurst

James Briscione

A TASTE OF SOMETHING NEW Power couple and restaurateurs Brooke Parkhurst and James Briscione are an ambitious pair of Pensacola natives—though Parkhurst likes to eagerly remind Briscione that he is, in fact, a "Jersey boy." He moved to Pensacola from New Jersey when he was 5. The two are currently in the process of opening restaurant downtown—Angelena's Ristorante Italiano—which will be the latest addition to the Great Southern Restaurant Group of Pensacola family along with The Fish House, Jackson's and Five Sisters Blues Cafe. Like many others, both Parkhurst and Briscione had to move away from Pensacola to learn what they were missing. Both recall their adolescence in Pensacola as beach-focused, paying no attention to the inert downtown area where Briscione remembers celebrating a couple of New Year's events and not much else. "Everything I did was out at the beach," said Briscione. "There's nothing that drew me back to downtown as a high schooler. There was no maritime park, no Wahoos." "We had very good childhoods here; we had very good memories. [Leaving Pensacola] was about opportunity. It was a great place to grow up, but we didn't feel that we could grow here," Parkhurst expanded. Because the couple was making a name and home for themselves New York City and raising their two children, ages 3 and 11, they had no real intentions of returning to the place they came from. "It never crossed my mind to come back to Pensacola," Briscione told Inweekly. That is until an amazing opportunity arose. "Last year, when Quint [Studer], Rishy [Studer] and Jean Pierre [N'Dione] approached us, we realized that we are able to grow in ways in Pensacola that we weren't able to in New York," said Parkhurst. "Here, there is more stability. That plus the warm welcome we've received, the excitement, the interest from chefs … New York was and still is amazing, but you are definitely a number and there's a shelf life. Here, those don't so much exist." At Angelena's, Briscione will serve as executive chef, while Parkhurst will serve as marketing and wine director.

Parkhurst and Briscione feel they are going to bring a worldliness to the Pensacola culinary scene, complementing the established array of restaurants with their sophisticated but approachable Italian take on cuisine. "Through living in New York and being in Italy at least once a year, we have a lot of experiences from our travels and from our work that we are excited to bring here," Parkhurst told Inweekly. Returning home to open the restaurant, Briscione and Parkhurst have noticed quite a few positive changes to the city. "Growing up, I would drive past the sewage holding tanks that are now the Maritime Park," noted Parkhurst. "[Now there are more ways for] people to sit outside and enjoy the natural beauty of Pensacola."

"There's actually a place to go now that's not the mall or a movie theater." James Briscione "There's actually a place to go now that's not the mall or a movie theater. You can go spend an afternoon between the waterfront and the parks and downtown and restaurants, and it's a beautiful and nice place to be," Briscione added. The couple says there are even some comparisons to be made with their beloved NYC. "We live in Southtowne, and our morning routine is we walk our daughter to school, jog down to Maritime Park with our son, work out while he plays, jog him up to school and then we go to work," Parkhurst explained. "Coming from New York where we didn't have a car, most everything we did, we walked." "[In the past,] I don't think anyone would have considered Pensacola a walkable city," Briscione added. "We're glad to be back."

corrections, that he began to notice things that Pensacola lacked. "I left the area to pursue the big city life, just for more experience. At the time, Pensacola didn't really offer a nightlife for young adults and was very limited for an urban crowd wanting urban attractions." Among his peers at university, Maxwell said he felt his small-town upbringing put him at a disadvantage. "I felt my peers had a lot more exposure and experience with different cultures and things like that because they came from a big city. Pensacola, due to the size, you don't really have that," he told Inweekly. Today, Maxwell serves as the Director of Education at Camelot Academy, an alternative education school where he feels he is "[giving] kids a second chance to give a first impression." Having moved back, in part, to raise his 4-year-old son, Maxwell says he values Pensacola for its proximity to his family and his roots. "There's nothing like being able to see your son going to the school you went to," Maxwell said.

"There's nothing like being able to see your son going to the school you went to." Andrew Maxwell "Looking from the scope—from an 18-yearold to a 35-year-old—I know what's important to me has changed," reflected Maxwell. "I do think Pensacola has its issues and sometimes has a small-town mentality. At the same time, there are some special things about Pensacola. We know the importance of trying to raise a village."

Emily Ley Andrew Maxwell

MAXIMUM IMPACT Andrew Maxwell's memories of Pensacola growing up in the 1990s and early 2000s are primarily of his experiences at Booker T. Washington high school, playing football, lifting weights and running track. Outside of his academic and athletic pursuits, Maxwell said he didn't pay much attention to the city around him. "It was kind of hard to have an impression [of Pensacola] because I didn't know anything else," Maxwell told Inweekly. It wasn't until he moved away, first for college at FAMU and then to pursue a career in

PLANNING FOR SUCCESS Emily Ley is a Pensacola native who always "planned" to come home—a plan that she no doubt wrote down in one of her Simplified® planners. Ley and her successful brand of day planners and paper goods marketed toward women can be found just about anywhere, including Target during a recent collaboration. Ley was born and raised in Pensacola. She served as the executive director of Ballet Pensacola and worked for Covenant Hospice before moving to be with her husband in Tampa. Now, with three young children in tow, Ley inweekly.net

and her husband were eager to move back to be surrounded by family and build their dream home a decade after they left.

"We have three small children and lots of family here, so we were thrilled to get back to the area." Emily Ley "We watched [Pensacola's] growth from afar for 10 years and finally got the chance to get back home," Said Ley. "We have three small children and lots of family here, so we were thrilled to get back to the area." Ley says one of her favorite aspects of the growing Pensacola is the support of entrepreneurs. "Entrepreneurs are being supported so well. I have been excited to be part of EntreCon twice now. We love watching what's popping up in the area and stopping in to support our local friends doing big things. Pensacola is a city with so much heart. We really wanted to be part of that." In the future, Ley says she hopes to see more investments in children and the arts. "I hope to continue to see Pensacola dig into what makes our area unique and special. I am especially excited about the early childhood initiatives happening as well as the blossoming arts community," Ley told Inweekly. According to Ley, another generation of Pensacola lifers are already in the making in the

form of her children, who might not have been born here but seem content to remain. "Our daughter is convinced she's going to build a house in our backyard and live here forever," joked Ley. "We have no problem with that!"

going to drinks or dinner for business or a catch-up, we would work out together," said Campbell. "Working out is the new going out. The boutique fitness culture became my entertainment. We would spend our money on high-end boutique experiences that made me feel amazing. I was able to build community at these places." It was this interest in fitness and indoor rhythmic cycling that eventually led Campbell, a Pensacola native, home. But when she left Pensacola in 2004, she had no plans to return.

"I can't wait to see what it looks like in 10 years." Claire Campbell Claire Campbell

A NEW RHYTHM Claire Campbell had it all—living in New York City and devoting her life to a passion for filmmaking, working on sets and producing projects. After film school, Campbell embraced the hustle and bustle of city life and felt her most accomplished when she was able to see a project through from beginning to end. In her rare moments of leisure, Campbell was drawn to indoor rhythmic cycling, which pairs music and nightclub-like lighting for an intense, fast-paced workout. "A joke we had in New York, rather than

"By the end of high school, I was angsty for a change. I had done some traveling, and I was eager to move away because obviously Pensacola then wasn't what it is now. Downtown wasn't thriving like it is today. Aside from the beaches, there just wasn't much going on." But over the decade Campbell spent in NYC, a changing Pensacola was calling her home. On visits during holidays, Claire would passively observe the changes to the city—the new restaurants, the music venues, the cultural events popping up on the weekends. "While I loved my job and my life, I was looking for a major change. I wanted to be fulfilled in other ways." Campbell reflected.

"It wasn't until I was on Palafox somewhere and I thought to myself, 'Pensacola needs an indoor cycling studio like I have in New York,'" recalled Campbell. "Over the next few months, I let it marinate. Finally, I took a weekend in New York and put together a business plan. When I was investigating it with my parents, that's when it felt real to me. We happened upon a couple of realistic options, and one day I just committed. I was like, 'I have to quit my job and pack up my apartment.' [It was] one of the scariest things I had done, leaving the life I knew and had spent so much time building. But I put a plan to action, and here we are." That plan turned into Ride Society. Since opening late last year, Campbell and her team have introduced Pensacola to something new and become a staple in many people's fitness routines. One thing is very clear when talking to Campbell—she doesn't take Ride Society's success or the positive changes around town for granted. "[The change] is a very real thing. I have so many friends who have returned home because of the breath of fresh air that's been brought to the city. It's hard to put my finger on it," she told Inweekly. Whatever it is, Campbell says she is eager to see more of it. "We have a special niche here on the Gulf. Without losing that special sauce we have, it would be awesome to see it grow. I'd love to see a bit more skyline. I can't wait to see what it looks like in 10 years," she said optimistically. {in}

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March 21, 2019

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WEEK OF MARCH 21-27

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

A Musical Made for You and Me By Sydney Robinson

Woody Guthrie / Photo by Robin Carson

"This land was made for you and me." For many, this simple lyric from 20th-century songwriter Woody Guthrie conjures up images of childhood and a kumbaya spirit that in 2019 seems far from sight. Really, what place does a song like this—and a man like Guthrie—have in today's America? According to Christine Kellogg, artistic director of PenArts, the exploration of ownership over this land is as prevalent today as it ever was. Beginning March 21 and running through March 24, Kellogg and PenArts will present "Woody Guthrie's American Song"—a musical presentation of the life and compositions of Guthrie. The show has been performed across America since its premiere in 1988. "Woody Guthrie's message is resounding so many years later that we're

all basically walking the same path," said Kellogg. "[Guthrie is saying,] 'If you need a hand, I've got one.' Today, we focus on our differences, but unless somebody knows something I don't, we're all walking the same path." It's no surprise that a discussion about something as simple as the right to exist inside of our borders feels as important in 2019, considering the migrant crisis and ongoing border wall debate. The musical is being presented by PenArts, a nonprofit organization which seeks to promote the arts to communities and individuals who may not have access. In addition to bringing first-run plays like this one to Pensacola, Kellogg says PenArts is working to bring musical art to all. "We offer classes to an elementary school right now, are working to get in with the federal prison to teach acting classes and are working in senior residences." Kellogg snagged musical director Tom Baroco for the project, whom she said came "highly recommended." Baroco has worked on many projects with the University of West Florida, the Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee and the Pensacola Little Theater. Baroca says he has been uniquely inspired by the play and by the mission of PenArts. "I call PenArts my sabbatical, where I get to do art for the reasons that I love art. I believe this is art with a purpose and for a purpose. Shows that make people think differently, view community differently and view each other differently," Baroco told Inweekly. "Sometimes art exists for art's sake or is

"I think everyone will enjoy it, particularly simply fun, and there's value in all of that. But at Live!" said Kellogg. "[It's a] small, intimate sometimes you view art that changes your venue. You'll feel like you're inside the message. heart and mind. I think PenArts is interested in It's thoughtful, thought-provoking, inspiring that kind of theater," Baroco continued. and not judgmental." "Woody Guthrie's American Song" will Live! will be serving their usual dinfeature performances from both seasoned ner fare of raw vegan meals, juices and and premiering actors, ranging from childsmoothies before the play and will be hood to adulthood. The part of Guthrie will serving popcorn and sweets at intermisbe played by four male actors, all ranging in sion. PenArts will also be serving wine at experience and all portraying Guthrie at difintermission on a donation basis. ferent stages in his life. Kellogg is eager to share Guthrie's Baroco told Inweekly he feels that the message with a 2019 audience, as she sees show, while modest in production quality and that there is still so much to learn from this size, will be "one of the better vocal perforall-American musical. mances Pensacola sees in 2019." "I think that 'this land is your land'—not The play is entirely composed of songs the song but the phrase—means a lot to a by Guthrie, and the overarching message, lot of different people," explained Kellogg. according to Kellogg and Baroco, is one from "Some feel it's not their land; others feel which all can benefit. it's their land and no one else's. The lyric, 'I "When Guthrie was living and writing, this saw a sign that said private property, but on is the depression, the dust bowl, and a lot of the other side it didn't say nothin,' I think the rally cries we hear today were there then," that's the gist of it. If we all work together, it said Baroco. "Is it America first; is it community doesn't matter what era you put this in. It's first? What do we do with migrants? What do a message worth hearing." {in} we do with people who have lost everything? What do we do for them?" "These songs were written decades ago, but it is unbelievable how much we are still struggling with these very same philosophies and chalWHAT: A musical based on the words and music lenges," Baroco said. of influential folk singer Woody Guthrie, preThis will be the first time that the sented by PenArts play has come to Pensacola since its WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Thursday, March 21-Saturday, 1988 premiere, and the shows will hapMarch 23; 2:30 p.m. Sunday, March 24 pen at Live! Juice Bar & More. WHERE: Live! Juice Bar & More, 532 W. Garden St. It will be the first play that the COST: $18 (available on eventbrite.com) venue has hosted since opening in DETAILS: penarts.org 2018.

WOODY GUTHRIE'S AMERICAN SONG

Adoption • Paternity • Dependency/DCF Hearings Prenuptial Agreements • Postnuptial Agreements Divorce • Child Custody and Timesharing Child Support • Child Support Modifications Alimony • Collaborative Divorce • Divorce Mediation • Pre-Suit Family Law Mediation

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127 Palafox Place Suite 100 (850)466-3115 autumnbeckblackledge.com 17

calendar

Billy Strings / Courtesy Photo

THURSDAY 3.21

YOGA WITHIN REACH 9-10 a.m. Free. Commu-

nity Health Northwest Florida, 2315 W. Jackson St., Room A. healthcarewithinreach.org DAILY LIFE IN ANCIENT ROME 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Commons auditorium, University of West Florida, 11000 University Parkway. uwf.edu THE DIRT ON HISTORIC ARCADIA TOUR 10 a.m.3 p.m. Free. Arcadia Mill Archaeological Site, 5709 Mill Pond Lane. historicpensacola.org PILATES MAT 12:30 p.m. Free. Ever'man Educational Center, 327 W. Garden St. everman.org VETERAN'S MEETING 4 p.m. Free. Ever'man Educational Center, 327 W. Garden St. everman.org AWM WINE TASTING 5-7 p.m. Free. Meet Kelly Kidneigh and Stirling Fox with Mad Violets Wine Co. Aragon Wine Market, 27 S. 9th Ave. facebook.com/aragonwine OPERA ON TAP 5:30-7:30 p.m. Apple Annie's at Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. sevillequarter.com CULTURES COOK: THE POLISH PIEROGI 6 p.m. $39. Pensacola Cooks Kitchen, 3670 Barrancas Ave. pensacolacooks.rezclick.com HANDS-ON COOKING: CAST IRON FILET MIGNON & BLACKENED SHRIMP 6-8 p.m.

$64.50 p.m. So Gourmet, 407-D S. Palafox. sogourmet.com LATIN DANCE CLASSES 6:30-9 p.m. $10. Salsa, Bachata, Cha Cha and more. Professional dance instruction for all skill levels. No partner required. DanceCraft, 8618 Pensacola Blvd. dancecraftstudios.com MEDITATION AND RITUAL 6:30 p.m. Free. Asher and Bee Apothecary and Tea House, 7 E. Gregory St. facebook.com/asherandbee END OF THE LINE THURSDAY DINNER 6-9 p.m. End of the Line Café, 610 E. Wright St. Sign up for the newsletter for menu. eotlcafe.com BILLY STRINGS 7 p.m. $15-$18. Vinyl Music Hall, 2 S. Palafox. vinylmusichall.com THIRD THURSDAY INSPIRATIONS 7:15 p.m. Free. Ever'man Educational Center, 327 W. Garden St. everman.org WOODIE GUTHRIE'S AMERICAN SONG 7:3010 p.m. $18. Live Juice Bar, 532 Garden St. penarts.org 818 1

THE PRICE IS RIGHT LIVE 7:30 p.m. $39-$99.

Saenger Theatre, 118 S. Palafox. pensacolasaenger.com

FRIDAY 3.22

ONE-ON-ONE TECH HELP 10 a.m. Pensacola

Library, 239 N. Spring St. mywfpl.com COOKING WITH CRUZ 12 p.m. Free. Ever'man Educational Center, 327 W. Garden St. everman.org GARDEN AND GRAIN CRAFT CLUB 5 p.m. Perfect Plain Brewing Co., 50 E. Garden St. facebook.com/perfectplainbrewingco HAPPY HOUR COOKOUTS 5 p.m. Drink specials, free cookout. Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. sevillequarter.com EVER'MAN COOKS: HEALTHY FRENCH COOKING WITH CHRISTINE SALOME 6 p.m.

Free. Ever'man Educational Center, 327 W. Garden St. everman.org DATE NIGHT DANCE CLASSES 6:30-8 p.m. $8. Learn several romantic ballroom dance styles in unique group classes. DanceCraft, 8618 Pensacola Blvd. dancecraftstudios.com OPEN MIC 7-11 p.m. Café Single Fin, 380 N. 9th Ave. facebook.com/cafesinglefin WOODIE GUTHRIE'S AMERICAN SONG 7:3010 p.m. $18. Live Juice Bar, 532 Garden St. penarts.org ICE FLYERS VS. MACON MAYHEM 7:35 p.m. $15 and up. Pensacola Bay Center, 201 E. Gregory St. pensacolabaycenter.com TEXAR 8-11 p.m. Perfect Plain Brewing Co., 50 E. Garden St. facebook.com/perfectplainbrewingco BIG DEAL BURLESQUE 8 p.m. $12-$45. Vinyl Music Hall, 2 S. Palafox. vinylmusichall.com PUBLIC ICE SKATE 10 p.m. $9-$12. Pensacola Bay Center, 201 E. Gregory St. pensacolabaycenter.com

SATURDAY 3.23

PARKRUN/WALK MEETUP 7:30 a.m. University

of West Florida, Rec Plex North Field, 11000 University Parkway. parkrun.us/recplexnorth CICLOVIA 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Downtown Pensacola. Streets closed to vehicle traffic along South Palafox. pensacolaopenstreets.com PALAFOX MARKET 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Fresh

produce, live plants, baked goods, fine art and antiques. Items originate directly from participating vendors, including dozens of local farmers, home gardeners and area artists. Martin Luther King Jr. Plaza, N. Palafox. palafoxmarket.com SANTA ROSA FARMERS MARKET 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Fresh local produce, honey, baked goods and live music. Pace Presbyterian Church, Woodbine Road. OCEAN HOUR CLEAN-UPS 9-10 a.m. Fort Pickens, 1400 Fort Pickens Road. Meet at Langdon Beach or Parking lot 19A. oceanhourfl.com GULF BREEZE HIGH SCHOOL ARTS FESTIVAL 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Free. Gulf Breeze High School, 675 Gulf Breeze Parkway. gulfbreezearts.com SPRING VIBES MARKET 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Wild Lemon, 3000 N. 12th Ave. beawildlemon.com $1 OR LESS BOOK SALE 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Open Books, 1040 N. Guillemard St. facebook.com/ openbooksbookstore REFLEXOLOGY AND ESSENTIAL OILS 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Free. Ever'man Educational Center, 327 W. Garden St. everman.org SPRING BREAK FEST 11 a.m.-until. $20-$35. Sanders Beach Resource Center, 913 S. I Street. springbreak2k.com PENSACOLA HUMANE SOCIETY CELEBRATES NATIONAL PUPPY DAY 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Reduced

adoption fees, merchandise sale. Pensacola Humane Society, 5 N. Q St. pensacolahumane.org ANIMAL ALLIES CATS AND KITTENS ADOPTION 11 a.m.-3 p.m. $65-$75. Pet Supermar-

ket, 6857 N. 9th Ave.

WRITER'S BRUNCH 11:30 a.m. Hosted by

author Trish Taylor. Book Pedlar 2475 E. 9 Mile Rd. Ste C. THE HEALING POWER OF PLANTS: THE SPIRIT OF LAVENDULA Noon-1:30 p.m. $15. Asher

and Bee Apothecary and Tea House, 7 E. Gregory St. facebook.com/asherandbee NATURAL HEALING/CANCER STUDY 2 p.m. Free. Ever'man Educational Center, 327 W. Garden St. everman.org WALKING CEMETERY TOURS 5:30 p.m. $12 plus tax. St. John's Historic Cemetery, 301 N. G St. goretro.us

SVADHISTHANA: SOUND THERAPY AND MEDITATION 6:30-7:30 p.m. $15. Asher and Bee

Apothecary and Tea House, 7 E. Gregory St. facebook.com/asherandbee

IMPROBABLE CAUSE PRESENTS: MYSTERY DINNER THEATRE 7 p.m. $45. Vinyl Music Hall, 2 S.

Palafox. vinylmusichall.com

DANCE PARTY 7 p.m.-midnight. $10-$20.

One-hour workshop followed by a mix of swing, country and ballroom music. No partner required. DanceCraft, 8618 Pensacola Blvd. dancecraftstudios.com ICE FLYERS VS. MACON MAYHEM 7:05 p.m. $15 and up. Pensacola Bay Center, 201 E. Gregory St. pensacolabaycenter.com 24-HOUR THEATRE 7:30 p.m. $10. Pensacola Little Theatre, 400 S. Jefferson St. pensacolalittletheatre.com THE SPOUSE WHISPERER 7:30 p.m. $29.95$49.95. Saenger Theatre, 118 S. Palafox. pensacolasaenger.com CHORAL SOCIETY OF PENSACOLA PRESENTS: SORROW AND JOY: AN EVENING OF MOZART & ROSSINI 7:30 p.m. $10-$25. Cokesbury Church,

5725 N. 9th Ave. choralsocietyofpensacola.org

WOODIE GUTHRIE'S AMERICAN SONG 7:30-

10 p.m. $18. Live Juice Bar, 532 Garden St. penarts.org PUBLIC ICE SKATE 9:30 p.m. $9-$12. Pensacola Bay Center, 201 E. Gregory St. pensacolabaycenter.com

SUNDAY 3.24

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. BRUNCH WITH LIVE MUSIC 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Café Single Fin, 380 N. 9th Ave. facebook. com/cafesinglefin $1 OR LESS BOOK SALE 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Open Books, 1040 N. Guillemard St. facebook.com/ openbooksbookstore GULF BREEZE HIGH SCHOOL ARTS FESTIVAL 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Free. Gulf Breeze High School, 675 Gulf Breeze Parkway. gulfbreezearts.com TRANSMISSION GROUP WORLD SERVICE MEDITATION 10:30 a.m. Free. Ever'man Educational

Center, 327 W. Garden St. everman.org VEGAN BRUNCH 11 a.m.-2 p.m. End of the Line Café, 610 E. Wright St. Sign up for the newsletter for menu. eotlcafe.com SUNDAY BRUNCH AT H20 11 a.m. $28.95 for adults. Free valet parking and 15 percent off with local ID. H20 Hilton, 12 Via de Luna Drive. facebook.com/hiltonpensacolabeach PUBLIC ICE SKATE 1:30, 3 and 4:30 p.m. $9-$12. Pensacola Bay Center, 201 E. Gregory St. pensacolabaycenter.com WOODIE GUTHRIE'S AMERICAN SONG 2:30 p.m. $18. Live Juice Bar, 532 Garden St. penarts.org SWING DANCE CLASSES 4-7 p.m. $10. Professional West Coast swing instruction for all levels. No partner required. DanceCraft, 8618 Pensacola Blvd. dancecraftstudios.com

MONDAY 3.25

RESUME HELP 11 a.m. Molino Branch Library,

6450-A Highway 95A. mywfpl.com

PILATES MAT 1:30 p.m. Free. Ever'man Educa-

tional Center, 327 W. Garden St. everman.org KYLE CEASE: EVOLVING OUT LOUD 6 p.m. $29-$99. Saenger Theatre, 118 S. Palafox. pensacolasaenger.com CULTURES COOK: SUSHI 6 p.m. $39. Pensacola Cooks Kitchen, 3670 Barrancas Ave. pensacolacooks.rezclick.com SEVILLE QUARTER MILERS 6 p.m. Runners meet in front of Seville Quarter for a run around downtown Pensacola. Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. sevillequarter.com CROHN'S AND COLITIS SUPPORT GROUP 6 p.m. Free. Ever'man Educational Center, 327 W. Garden St. everman.org HIP-HOP & CONTEMPORARY DANCE CLASSES

8-9 p.m. $5. Learn amazing moves from professional instructors. DanceCraft, 8618 Pensacola Blvd. dancecraftstudios.com

TUESDAY 3.26

YOGA WITHIN REACH 9-10 a.m. Free. Community Health Northwest Florida, 2315 W. Jackson St., Room A. healthcarewithinreach.org JOHN APPLEYARD TALK: PENSACOLA'S CONFEDERATE HISTORY 9 a.m. Free. Pensacola

Visitor Information Center, 1401 E. Gregory St.

TRYON FAMILY MOVIE NIGHT 4 p.m. Tryon

Branch Library, 1200 Langley Ave. mywfpl.com inweekly.net

calendar BURGERS AND BORDEAUX Burger, side and a glass of Bordeaux for $18. Union Public House, 309 S. Reus St. unionpensacola.com WALKING CEMETERY TOURS 5:30 p.m. $12 plus tax. St. John's Historic Cemetery, 301 N. G St. goretro.us BASICS OF BIRDING 6-7 p.m. Pensacola Library, 239 N. Spring St. Contact Mary Jones for more information at brumarclyde@cox.net. HANDS-ON COOKING: 101 SUSHI 6 p.m. $64.50. So Gourmet, 407-D S. Palafox. sogourmetpensacola.com FUNKY YOGA 6 p.m. Free. Ever'man Educational Center, 327 W. Garden St. everman.org EAT Y'ALL CONNECT DINNER SERIES 6:30 p.m. $95. Union Public House, 309 S. Reus St. eatyall.com COUNTRY DANCE CLASSES 6:30 p.m. $10. Country two-step, East Coast swing, competition choreography and more. No partner required. World championship dance instruction for all skill levels. DanceCraft, 8618 Pensacola Blvd. dancecraftstudios.com JAZZ ENSEMBLE CONCERT 7-9 p.m. Free. Museum of Commerce, 201 Zaragoza St. uwf.edu/cfpa COMEDY NIGHT 7 p.m. Swan Neck Meadery, 2115 W. Nine Mile Road. swanneckwinery.com IRON REAGAN, REZOLVE, THE SPILLERS 8 p.m. $8. chizuko, 506 W. Belmont St. facebook. com/chizukopensacola

Arts & Culture

≥Events

PMA GALLERY TOURS 2:30 p.m.

Tuesdays and Thursdays. Free with museum admission. Pensacola Museum of Art, 407 S. Jefferson St. pensacolamuseum.org CYBERPUNK RECEPTION 6-8 p.m. Thurs-

day, March 21. Artel Gallery, 223 S. Palafox. artelgallery.org

OPEN STUDIO: DREAM CATCHERS

11:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Saturday, March 23. $6, free for PMA members. Pensacola Museum of Art, 407 S. Jefferson St. pensacolamuseum.org

'THIS LUMINOUS' BY ALLAN PETERSON BOOK LAUNCH AND READING 6 p.m.

Tuesday, March 26. Pensacola Museum of Art, 407 S. Jefferson St. uwf.edu

March 21, 2019

≥Current Exhibits INSIDE OUT: THE PEOPLE'S ART PROJECT At Jefferson St.

and Main St. pensacolamuseum.org

ARCHITECTURE FOR TRAVELERS On view

through March. Pensacola Museum of Art, 407 S. Jefferson St. pensacolamuseum.org CASITA On view through March. Pensacola Museum of Art, 407 S. Jefferson St. pensacolamuseum.org CITIFIED On view through March 23. Blue Morning Gallery, 21 S. Palafox. bluemorninggallery. com PENSACOLA ART STUDY CLUB 2019 MEMBERS SPRING SHOW On view

through April 7. Free. First United Methodist Church, 80 E. Wright St. ABOUT FACE RECEPTION On

view through April 14. First City Art Center, 1060 N.

WEDNESDAY 3.27

TOUR OF TABLES PREVIEW NIGHT 11 a.m. $10.

Pensacola Garden Center, 1850 N. 9th Ave. pensacolagardencenter.com BLUE ANGELS ORIENTATION FLIGHT 11:30 a.m. Free. National Naval Aviation Museum, 1878 S. Blue Angel Parkway. navalaviationmuseum.org ONE-ON-ONE TECH HELP 3 p.m. Pensacola Library, 239 N. Spring St. mywfpl.com VEGAN AND VINO SUNDAYS 4-7 p.m. Skopelos at New World, 600 S. Palafox YOGA FLOW 6-7 p.m. Free. Ever’man Educational Center, 327 W. Garden St. everman.org SWING DANCE CLASSES AND PARTY 6:30-10 p.m. $10 lesson, $5 party. Professional West Coast swing instruction for all levels followed by fun and friendly social dancing on the best wood dance floor in the area. No partner required. DanceCraft, 8618 Pensacola Blvd. dancecraftstudios.com YONDER MOUNTAIN STRING BAND 7 p.m. $25$30. Vinyl Music Hall, 2 S. Palafox. vinylmusichall.com JEFF DUNHAM 7 p.m. $53.50 and up. Pensacola Bay Center, 201 E. Gregory St. pensacolabaycenter.com FINDING NEVERLAND 8 p.m. $58 and up. Saenger Theatre, 118 S. Palafox. pensacolasaenger.com FREE DANCE LESSONS 8-8:30 p.m. Free. Beginner West Coast swing dance lesson. DanceCraft, 8618 Pensacola S. Blvd. dancecraftfl.com Guillemard St. firstcityart.com CYBERPUNK On view through April 25. Artel Gallery, 223 S. Palafox. artelgallery.org AUBREY BEARDSLEY:

On view through May 5. Pensacola Museum of Art, 407 S. Jefferson St. pensacolamuseum.org ART BY DIANE BRIM AND KATHY BREAZEALE On view

through May 12. Luna Fine Art Gallery, Hilton Pensacola Beach, 12 Via de Luna Drive. lunafineartgallery.com DOCUFLORIDA II

On view through May 17. T.T. Wentworth, Jr. Florida State Museum, 330 S. Jefferson St. historicpensacola.org BEAUTY IN USE: CELEBRATING JAPANESE CULTURAL TRADITIONS On

view through June 27. Lamar Studio Switzer Center, Pensacola State College, 1000 Col-

lege Blvd. pensacolastate.edu PUNKSACOLA: REFLECTIONS OF A SUBCULTURE On

view through July. T.T. Wentworth, Jr. Florida State Museum, 330 S. Jefferson St. historicpensacola.org

COTTON FIELDS TO CONGRESS: THE LIFE AND CAREER OF EARL HUTTO On

view at the T.T. Wentworth, Jr. Florida State Museum, 330 S. Jefferson St. historicpensacola.org GALLERY DAYS

Noon-4 p.m. Saturdays. Featuring local artists. To be featured, contact Angel at 941-7354586 or call the restaurant at 4770035. TGI Fridays, 1240 Airport Blvd.

≥Workshops & Classes

POTTERY ON THE WHEEL Six-week

workshops are held Tuesdays from 6-9 p.m., Wednesdays 19

calendar from 9 a.m.-noon, Thursdays from 6-9 p.m. and Saturdays from 9 a.m.-noon at First City Art Center, 1060 N. Guillemard St. Cost is $157.25 for members and $185 for non-members. For more information, visit firstcityart.org. INTRODUCTION TO POTTERY ON THE WHEEL Every Mon-

day from 6-8:30 p.m. at First City Art Center. Classes are $40. For more information, visit firstcityart.org. CLAY HAND BUILDING Six-week

workshops are held Tuesdays from 6-9 p.m. and Thursday from 9 a.m.-noon at First City Art Center. Cost is $157.25 for members and $185 for nonmembers. For more information, visit firstcityart.org.

CLAY SCULPTURE

Six-week workshops held Saturdays from 9 a.m.-noon at First City Art Center. Cost is $157.25 for members and $185 for non-members. For more information, visit firstcityart.org.

≥Call for Artists

GREAT GULFCOAST ARTS FESTIVAL LOOKING FOR EMERGING ARTISTS

Applications are open for the GGAF Emerging Artists program. This program, developed in partnership with Artel Gallery, gives new artists a chance to be a part of the Great Gulfcoast Arts Festival and offers them guidance in what is involved in being in an arts festival. Applications are open to artists who have limited experience participating

in arts festivals and are residents of Escambia or Santa Rosa Counties. Two artists will be chosen to participate in this year’s festival. GGAF will waive fees for the two artists and will provide a booth and mentor to help guide them through the process. For more information and an application, visit ggaf.org. The GGAF is Nov. 1, 2 and 3, 2019, in Seville Square.

Bars & Nightlife

Fort Pickens Road. peglegpetes.com JOHN RIPLEY 6-9 p.m. Skopelos at New World, 600 S. Palafox. BILLY HOWELL 6:30 p.m. The District Steakhouse, 123 E. Government St. sevillequarter.com JAMES ADKINS 7 p.m. Hub Stacey's 312 E. Government St. hubstaceys.com OPEN COLLEGE JAM WITH MIKE BOCCIA

7:30 p.m. Goat Lips Chew and Brewhouse, 2811 Copter Road. DUELING PIANOS

≥Live Music

THURSDAY 3.21 CHAUNCY CRANDALL 6 p.m. Paradise

Bar and Grill, 21 Via de Luna Drive. paradisebar-grill.com CODY COLLINS 6 p.m. Peg Leg Pete’s, 1010

8 p.m. Rosie O' Grady's Dueling Piano Show. Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. sevillequarter.com

OPEN MIC/JAM

8-11 p.m. Goat Lips Brewhouse, 2811 Copter Road. Use our instruments or bring your own.

THE FLAVORS 8 p.m.

Sandshaker Lounge, 731 Pensacola Beach Blvd. sandshaker.com

TYLER LIVINGSTON AND THE ABSOLUTES 9 p.m.

End O’ the Alley Courtyard, Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. sevillequarter.com

FRIDAY 3.22

LIVE JAZZ WITH JOE OCCHIPINTI Noon.

The Drowsy Poet Coffee Co., 655 Pensacola Beach Blvd. DAD PARTY 5 p.m. End O’ The Alley, Seville Courtyard, 130 E. Government St, sevillequarter.com PAXTON NORRIS BAND 6 p.m. Para-

dise Bar and Grill, 21 Via de Luna Drive. paradisebar-grill.com BEN PARSONS 6 p.m. Peg Leg Pete’s, 1010 Fort Pickens Road. peglegpetes.com

LIVE MUSIC 6 p.m.

The Deck Bar, 600 S. Barracks St.

ADMIRAL’S CLUB PIANO PLAYER 6

p.m. The District Steakhouse, 123 E. Government St. sevillequarter.com LIVE MUSIC 6-9 p.m. V. Paul’s Italian Ristorante, 29 S. Palafox. vpauls.com JIM ANDREWS 6:30 p.m. The District, 123 E. Government St. districtsteaks.com AL MARTIN 6:30 p.m. Doc’s Courtyard and Cafe, 5198 Willing St., Milton. JOHN RIPLEY 7-10 p.m. Skopelos at New World, 600 S. Palafox. LIVE MUSIC 7:30 p.m. Swan Neck Meadery, 2115 W. Nine Mile Road. swanneckwinery.com MIKE BOCCIA 7:45 p.m. Goat Lips Chew and Brewhouse, 2811 Copter Road.

DUELING PIANOS

8 p.m. Rosie O' Grady's Dueling Piano Show. Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. sevillequarter.com MIKE & FRIENDS 8 p.m.-midnight. Goat Lips Brewhouse, 2811 Copter Road. CROSSTOWN 8 p.m. Hub Stacey's 312 E. Government St. hubstaceys.com JAY WILLIAMS BAND

9 p.m. Sandshaker Lounge, 731 Pensacola Beach Blvd. sandshaker.com THE RED FIELD 9 p.m. Lili Marlene’s, Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. sevillequarter.com TYLER LIVINGSTON AND THE ABSOLUTES 9 p.m. End

O’ the Alley, Seville Quarter, 130 E.

Government St. sevillequarter.com LIVE DJ: MR. LAO

10 p.m. Phineas Phogg's, Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. sevillequarter.com HORSESHOE KITTY

10 p.m. Apple Annie’s, Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. sevillequarter.com

SATURDAY 3.23 LIVE JAZZ WITH JOE OCCHIPINTI 10 a.m.

The Drowsy Poet Coffee Co., 655 Pensacola Beach Blvd.

TALLAHASSEE SMITH 12-4 p.m.

Peg Leg Pete’s, 1010 Fort Pickens Road. peglegpetes.com DAD PARTY 5 p.m. End O’ The Alley, Seville Courtyard, 130 E. Government St, sevillequarter.com

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DIFFERENCE MAKERS

VISIT PENSACOLA ANNOUNCES 2019 GRANT RECIPIENTS Visit Pensacola is pleased to announce its 2018-19 grant recipients for events taking place between April 1 – Sept. 30, 2019. Twice a year, Visit Pensacola allocates funds from its annual budget to a grant program for local groups and organizations that coordinate events or visitor experiences with a demonstrated history of visitor impact or significant potential to draw visitors to the area. “The Visit Pensacola grant program offers an incredible opportunity for our community,” Visit Pensacola President Steve Hayes said. “The funding allocated supports local events and organizations, providing them with the tools to reach out-of-market audiences that they typically couldn’t. This allows travelers to experience Pensacola like a local at one of our many signature events.” Grant recipients include: Gallery Night 2019 Gallery Night Pensacola is all about taking art to the streets. Every third Friday of the month, downtown Pensacola comes to life with artists, music, and food to showcase the true culture of the community. Gulf Coast Blues Festival Set to take place in May at the Pensacola Interstate Fairgrounds, the Gulf Coast Blues Festival will be a family-friendly music festival complete with food and outdoor seating. Stamped: LGBTQ Film Festival The Stamped LGBTQ Film Festival highlights the artistic contributions both nationally and internationally of LGBTQ films and filmmakers. Set to take place in August of 2019, the festival aims to transcend stereotypes and open the door to a dialogue about the LGBTQ experience. Don’t Stop the Musical Festival Set to take place in May at the Maritime Park Amphitheater, Don’t Stop the Musical Festival is a family-friendly event featuring live music in an outdoor setting. Vettes at the Beach Set to take place in September on Pensacola Beach. The 17th Annual Vettes at the Beach which is sponsored by the Miracle Strip Corvette Club has become one of the largest Corvette Car Shows in the state of Florida. In late spring, Visit Pensacola will again accept applications for events taking place from Oct. 1, 2019 – March 30, 2020. For anyone seeking funds less than $4,999.99, you can apply for a minigrant year-round. For those interested in applying, visit visitpensacola.org. For more information on upcoming events in the Pensacola Bay Area, visit www.visitpensacola.com/events.

Sponsored by The Studer Family March 21, 2019

free will astrology Week of March 21 ARIES (MARCH 21-APRIL 19): During the coming weeks, everything that needs to happen will indeed happen only if you surprise yourself on a regular basis. So I hope you will place yourself in unpredictable situations where you won't be able to rely on well-rehearsed responses. I trust that you will regard innocence and curiosity and spontaneity as your superpowers. Your willingness to change your mind won't be a mark of weakness but rather a sign of strength. TAURUS (APRIL 20-MAY 20): In the animated kids' film "Over the Hedge," 10 talking animals come upon a massive, towering hedge they've never seen. The friendly group consists of a skunk, red squirrel, box turtle, two opossums and five porcupines. The hedge perplexes and mystifies them. It makes them nervous. There's nothing comparable to it in their previous experience. One of the porcupines says she would be less afraid of it if she just knew what it was called, whereupon the red squirrel suggests that from now on they refer to it as Steve. After that, they all feel better. I recommend that you borrow their strategy in the coming weeks. If a Big Unknown arrives in your vicinity, dub it Steve or Betty. GEMINI (MAY 21-JUNE 20): I urge you

to locate a metaphorical or very literal door that will give you access to a place that affords you more freedom and healing and support. Maybe you already know about the existence of this door—or maybe it's not yet on your radar. Here's advice from Clarissa Pinkola Éstes that might help. "If you have a deep scar, that is a door," she writes. "If you have an old, old story, that is a door. If you love the sky and the water so much that you almost cannot bear it, that is a door. If you yearn for a deeper life, a full life, a sane life, that is a door."

CANCER (JUNE 21-JULY 22): Musi-

cian Carole Kaye is the most famous bass guitarist you've never heard of. Over the course of five decades, she has plied her soulful talents on more than 10,000

By Rob Brezsny

recordings, including gems by Frank Zappa, Stevie Wonder, Frank Sinatra, Simon and Garfunkel, and the Beach Boys. Twentyseven-time Grammy winner Quincy Jones has testified that Kaye has written "some of the most beautiful themes I've ever heard in my life" and that she "could do anything and leave men in the dust." I trust this horoscope will expand the number of people who appreciate her. I also hope you'll be inspired to become more active in spreading the word about the gifts that you have to offer the world. It's high time to make sure that people know more of the beautiful truth about you.

LEO (JULY 23-AUG. 22): "When you want happiness, what are you wanting?" asks aphorist Olivia Dresher. The repeat of an event that made you feel good in the past? A sweet adventure you've thought about but never actually experienced? Here's a third possibility. Maybe happiness is a state you could feel no matter what your circumstances are; maybe you could learn how to relax into life exactly as it is and feel glad about your destiny wherever it takes you. In my opinion, Leo, that third approach to happiness will be especially natural for you to foster in the coming weeks. VIRGO (AUG. 23-SEPT. 22): There

are old traditions in many cultures that pay special attention to the first brick or stone that is laid in the earth to initiate the construction of a future building. It's called a cornerstone or foundation stone. All further work to create the new structure refers back to this original building block and depends on it. I'm pleased to inform you that now is a favorable phase to put your own metaphorical cornerstone in place, Virgo. You're ready to begin erecting a structure or system that will serve you for years to come. Be sure you select the right place for it as well as the best building materials.

LIBRA (SEPT. 23-OCT. 22): Born under the

sign of Libra, Ivan Kharchenko (1918–1989) was a military officer and engineer for the Soviet army. His specialty was disarming explosive devices before they detonated. Over the course of his career, he defused an estimated

50,000 bombs and mines. Let's make him your patron saint for the coming weeks. Why? Because I suspect you will be able to summon a metaphorical version of his power: an extraordinary capacity to keep volatile situations from blowing up. You'll be a virtuoso at waging peace and preventing strife.

SCORPIO (OCT. 23-NOV. 21): There was a time, less than a century ago, when pink was considered a masculine color and blue a feminine hue. In previous eras, many European men sported long hair, wore high heels and favored clothes with floral patterns. Franklin D. Roosevelt, one of America's most prominent 20th century presidents, sometimes wore skirts and feather-bedecked hats as a child. With these facts as your keystone, and in accordance with astrological omens, I encourage you to experiment with your own gender expressions in the coming weeks. It's prime time to have fun with the way you interpret what it means to be a man or woman—or any other gender you might consider yourself to be. SAGITTARIUS (NOV. 22-DEC. 21): Ac-

cording to estimates by population experts, about 109 billion humans have been born on planet Earth over the millennia. And yet I'm quite sure that not a single one of those other individuals has been anything like you. You are absolutely unique, an unmatched treasure, a one-of-a-kind creation with your own special blend of qualities. And in my prophetic view, you're ready to fully acknowledge and celebrate these facts on a higher octave than ever before. It's high time for you to own your deepest authenticity, to work with extra devotion to express your soul's code, to unabashedly claim your idiosyncratic genius.

CAPRICORN (DEC. 22-JAN. 19): We

don't know as much about European history between the sixth and ninth centuries as we do about other eras. Compared to the times that preceded and followed it, cultural and literary energies were low. Fewer records were kept. Governments were weaker and commerce was less vigorous. But historians don't like to use the term "Dark Ages" to name that period because it brought many important developments and activities, such as improvements in farming techniques. So in some

ways, "Lost Ages" might be a more apropos descriptor. Now, let's turn our attention to a metaphorically comparable phase of your own past, Capricorn, an era that's a bit fuzzy in your memory; a phase about which your understanding is incomplete. I suspect that the coming weeks will be an excellent time to revisit that part of your life and see what new evidence and insights you can mine.

AQUARIUS (JAN. 20-FEB. 18): Why do

some American libraries ban certain books, ensuring they're unavailable to local readers? The reasons may be because they feature profanity or include references to sex, drug use, the occult, atheism and unusual political viewpoints. Marjane Satrapi's "Persepolis" is one of the most frequently censored books. Others are Maya Angelou's "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings," "Beloved" by Toni Morrison and "The Kite Runner" by Khaled Hosseini. In my astrological opinion, these are exactly the kinds of books you should especially seek out in the coming weeks. In fact, I suggest you commune with a variety of art and ideas and influences that are controversial, provocative and intriguing.

PISCES (FEB. 19-MARCH 20): At the age of 97, Piscean cartoonist Al Jaffee is still creating new material for the satirical Mad magazine, where he has worked since 1964. There was one 63-year stretch when his comic stylings appeared in all but one of Mad's monthly issues. I nominate him to be your role model during the next four weeks. It's a favorable time for you to access and express a high degree of tenacity, stamina and consistency. THIS WEEK'S HOMEWORK: What's the thing you lost that should stay lost? What's the thing you lost that you should find?

www.radiofreepensacola.com 222 2

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news of the weird RELIGIOUS INTERPRETATION Brewery worker Del Hall of Newtown, Ohio, is taking an unusual approach to fasting for Lent this year. Hall, who works at the Fifty West brewery in Dayton, is going on an all-beer-only-beer diet until Easter. He told WKRC-TV that monks from the 1600s inspired him. "(T)hey would take a popular style of beer in Germany, bock beer, make it extra hearty and that would be their liquid bread, and that's what they call it," Hall said. He is, however, including all types of beer in his Lenten fast. "(T)his seems very daunting," Hall noted. "I'm just curious if I'm up to the challenge." He is planning to check in with his doctor during the fast. CRIME REPORT Elysia Johnson, 21, apparently needed some alone time on March 9, so she took a full cart and a six-pack of Stella Artois beer into a dressing room at Target in Lathrop, California, where she hunkered down for more than an hour, according to police. Johnson finished all the beer and left the storeâ€”with about $200 worth of unpurchased merchandise. A loss prevention officer stopped her and she was taken to the San Joaquin County Jail, where she was held on $60,000 bail. Johnson also had three outstanding warrants, reported KTXL News. SCROOGE REPORT As Clayton Lucas, 25, was being transported through East Deer Township, Pennsylvania, from a halfway house to a treatment class on the morning of March 4 (69 days after Christmas), the van driver regaled him with Christmas songs. Turns out Lucas isn't a fan of holiday tunes, so he reached into the front seat and began choking the unnamed driver, who was strangled almost to the point of losing consciousness, according to police. KDKA reported that another driver flagged down a state trooper and alerted him about an altercation happening on the shoulder of the highway. After a struggle to get handcuffs on Lucas, the officer deposited him in the Allegheny County Jail, where he will face multiple charges. GOING OUT IN STYLE Drivers along southbound Interstate 880 in Hayward, California, were pleasantly surprised on March 4 when they saw $20 bills flying through the air. Some motorists stopped to collect as many as they could, but the mystery lay in where they came from. The next day, members of a family, who wished to remain anonymous, admitted to KTVU that they tossed $500 worth of bills into the air as they drove back from a funeral; the unexpected windfall was intended to honor their deceased family member. It's an "Oakland thing," one person explained. IDIOM IN ACTION In Ljubljana, Slovenia, an unnamed 21-year-old woman and a 29-yearold relative were arrested for insurance fraud, police announced on March 11, after the young

By the Editors at Andrews McMeel

woman cut off her hand in order to collect almost 400,000 euros in insurance payments. Two other relatives were released in the case. The four had recently signed up with five different insurance companies for life and injury coverage. "With one of her accomplices, she intentionally amputated the hand at the wrist with a circular saw, hoping to stage it as an accident," said police spokesman Valter Zrinski, according to the Daily Mail. The group left the hand behind when they went to the hospital, intending to ensure a permanent disability, said police, but doctors at the Ljubljana University Medical Center were able to retrieve and reattach it. The woman and her accomplice face up to eight years in prison. ANGER MANAGEMENT: WEDDING EDITION As a wedding party of 30 guests gathered on the beach at Oceanfront Park in Ocean Ridge, Florida, on March 3, Jeffery E. Alvord, 27, and his bride posed for photos before the ceremony. Trouble erupted instead when a 24-year-old man would not move from his spot on the beach to make way for the photos, the Palm Beach Post reported. In fact, Alvord told police, the man wouldn't relocate even after being offered $50 and became "very belligerent," so Alvord punched him in the nose. The victim told Ocean Ridge police a groomsman held him while Alvord punched him three times, and the police report noted that the victim's "nose appears to be out of place sitting more to the right of his face," and his glasses were broken. Alvord spent what would have been his wedding night in the Palm Beach County Jail and faces charges of aggravated battery and criminal mischief. He and his fiancee married the next day, shortly after his release from jail. BRIGHT IDEA Looking for a way to banish evil spirits? Check in to The Lighthouse, near Frome, Somerset, England, where a group called Universal Medicine will help you burp your troubles away. The Mirror reports that the group, founded by Serge Benhayon in 1999, ran up against the law last year in Sydney, Australia, where a civil court declared it a "socially harmful cult" and found that it makes false claims about healing. Members are told what to eat and who to associate with. A girl named Kasha told the BBC her mum joined the cult when the girl was 12. "She started burping ridiculously and she said, 'I'm just burping out bad spirits,'" Kasha said. "She's still my mum and I love her. But she's never going to be the person that she was." Benhayon, a failed tennis coach who claims to be the reincarnation of Leonardo da Vinci, still lives in Australia but visits The Lighthouse twice a year. {in}

From Andrews McMeel Syndication News Of The Weird ÂŠ 2019 Andrews McMeel

Send your weird news items to WeirdNewsTips@amuniversal.com March 21, 2019

Independent News | March 21, 2019 | inweekly.net