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Independent News | March 5, 2020 | Volume 21 | Number 10

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winners & losers

outtakes

news

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At the end of the day, you're going to get caught.

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a&e 13

publisher Rick Outzen

graphic designer Tim Bednarczyk

editor & creative director Joani Delezen

contributing writers Savannah Evanoff, Jennifer Leigh, Jeremy Morrison, C.S. Satterwhite

calendar 14

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

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winners & losers

winners ST ENGINEERING The aviation maintenance

and repair operation at Pensacola International Airport recently announced the entire class of aviation maintenance students at George Stone Technical College would receive job offers from ST Engineering when they complete their certifications this May. ST Engineering is projected to bring 1,700 new jobs to the area as it expands its operations at the airport.

ASHLEY "DICK" PACE, JR. Pace has been inducted into the Order of Daedalians and as a member of the Shangri-La Flight in Pensacola. The Order of Daedalians is an organization of aviators dedicated to advocating for air and space power and honoring those who flew and still fly in defense of our nation. The Pensacola native flew F6F Hellcats during World War II, finishing his service on Saipan just as the war came to an end. Last year, Pace turned 100 years old and continues to go to his office daily. KAREN JOHNSON The owner of Karen's CafĂŠ & Catering last month hosted lunch for 300 needy or homeless people, which was called "Karen's 1st Outreach." She provided additional services in the parking lot, including haircuts, socks, backpacks, personal hygiene products and items for children. HALEY J. VANFLETEREN The law firm of

Moore, Hill & Westmoreland, P.A. has chosen VanFleteren to be a member of the 2020 class of Pathfinders, participating in a program designed by the Leadership Council on Legal Diversity (LCLD) to train high-performing, early-career attorneys in critical career development strategies.

losers ESCAMBIA COUNTY FIRE SAFETY Es-

cambia County Interim Fire Chief Paul Williams has reduced the staffing levels at the fire stations in Bellview, Cantonment, Ferry Pass, Innerarity Point and West Pensacola. Due to budget constraints, the number of certified firefighters per shift has been cut from four to three. In its first five months of the current fiscal year, the county fire department has used more than half of its overtime budget of $784,018. Regulations require two firefighters to remain outside a building while two firefighters enter a building to fight the fire. A single threeman crew will have to wait for a second unit to arrive before entering a building unless a life is in danger.

GARCON POINT BRIDGE Last week,

Leon County Circuit Judge John Cooper blasted the Florida Department of Transportation for not raising the toll per vehicle from $3.75 to $5 on the bridge as he had ordered. The judge had ruled FDOT was obligated to raise the tolls to pay the bonds on the bridge. The Garcon Point Bridge opened in 1999, after the bridge authority issued $75.5 million of fixed-rate, currentinterest bonds and $19.5 million of capital appreciation bonds to finance its construction. Toll collections never met consultants' projections, and the debt went into default after the reserves were exhausted. The trustee accelerated the debt in 2013, declaring all principal immediately payable as a result of the default. The debt of approximately $128 million grows at a rate of about $6.8 million a year.

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outtakes

By Rick Outzen

COLLABORATIVE FEBRUARY February was a busy month, one in which we saw several collaborative initiatives announced that could set the stage for Escambia County's next big leap forward— with collaboration being the key. The Studer Community Institute launched its entrepreneurial ecosystem that pulls together the talents and resources of Gulf Power, Greater Pensacola Chamber, FloridaWest, Gulf Coast Minority Chamber, Pensacola State College and the University of West Florida. Last week, they announced 24 mentors who will guide a group of entrepreneurs as part of the MIT Venture Mentoring Service. Later this year, the Gener8tor Accelerator Program will select five companies to help scale their businesses and prepare them for investment. The city of Pensacola's Affordable Housing Task Force held its first meeting to begin the process of determining how to best accomplish its mission of creating 500 units of affordable housing in five years. Mayor Grover Robinson has hired consultants with the Florida Housing Coalition to help with the process. The task force will wrap up its work by June. Governor Ron DeSantis announced a $4.8 million grant to the city for the Pensacola International Airport to assist with the construction of necessary taxiways, ramps and flatwork. The new infrastructure allows the airport to support ST Engineering's plan to build one of the biggest MRO operations in North America. ST Engineering's plan, known as Project Titan, will bring three additional MRO hangars to the

airport and create over 1,300 new jobs. Project Titan has been a collaborative effort between the city, county, FloridaWest, UWF, Triumph Gulf Coast and the governor's office that has taken nearly a decade to pull together. Escambia County held a public forum to develop the Carpenter Creek and Bayou Texar Watershed Management Plan. The plan will evaluate the health of the watershed, one of our community's most valuable natural resources, and map out how best to improve that health. It's a restoration effort funded through RESTORE money. Achieve Healthy EscaRosa held a kickoff community health forum, led by Dr. Denise Seabert, dean of the Usha Kundu, MD College of Health at the University of West Florida. The group hopes to pull together community resources to improve the area's health-scape, which has lagged behind the rest of Florida in several key indicators. And maybe the most important collaborative effort that was announced in February was Sheriff David Morgan, State Attorney Bill Eddins and Commissioner Lumon May joining forces to tackle the rise of gun violence, especially among teenagers. As Commissioner May said, there is "no magic pill," but bringing back Operation Clean Sweep will have a positive impact. Together we will make Escambia County better. All these collaborative efforts need your support. {in} rick@inweekly.net

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"MY HEART BLEEDS"

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By Rick Outzen On Wednesday, Feb. 26, the Escambia County Sheriff's Office reported a man had been shot on Baylen Street near Scott Street at about 4:15 p.m. As deputies were on the way to the shooting scene, the gunshot victim showed up at a local hospital, where he died. A witness to the shooting refused to cooperate, according to the sheriff's office. The shooting victim was the ninth since the first of the year. The incident captured the difficulties law enforcement has faced in dealing with the rise of gun violence that Sheriff David Morgan, State Attorney Bill Eddins and County Commissioner Lumon May had discussed the prior morning in a joint press conference. They were joined by Chief Deputy Chip Simmons, Commissioner Robert Bender, Greater Little Rock Pastor Lonnie Wesley and community leader Willie Kirkland, who each talked about the need for community involvement in dealing with the new deadly criminal activity involving teenagers. Sheriff Morgan confirmed to a room packed with ministers, families, law enforcement officers and the media what Inweekly had reported last week: "We're dealing with street-level activity—we're 66

confirming it as we go along—where bounties are actually being taken out on other individuals in our community, meaning that they're contract killers." "We're seeing this particular deevolution of criminal activity in Escambia County that we find not only particularly threatening, but we're praying that it's not what will become the new norm in Escambia County with our young people," said the sheriff. "Most of the individuals that have been involved in this criminal activity recently are age 15 to 19." Hampering investigations has been the lack of cooperation from victims, their families, friends and neighborhoods. "We can't place a deputy in every home. And so, therefore without the community support, we will fail," said Morgan. Victims have refused to provide information. The same thing happens when investigators knock on doors in the neighborhoods where shootings have occurred. "We have people in our community refusing to turn over videotapes of security systems that they have, that will assist us," said the sheriff. "It's just unbelievable, what we're dealing with here. We have more than enough people and more than enough experience to respond to this crime, solve them and suppress them, if we get the support of the community."

RETURN OF CLEAN SWEEPS Commissioner Lumon May said, "My heart bleeds. Unfortunately, too many times, the lives lost are people that I know." He talked about how the county has invested more money in human capital— aggressive summer youth and after-school programs, internships and buying land in crime-ridden areas. Commissioner May announced that the Escambia County Sheriff's Office and Board of County Commissioners were re-initiating the clean sweep program. Operation Clean Sweep was halted three years ago due to budget concerns. Here is how ECSO described the initiative in 2011—"The focus of 'Operation Clean Sweep' is to work with Neighborhood Watch groups, residents, churches and business owners to control and prevent the damaging effects of criminal activity through eradication, enforcement and education. The Operation Task Force works closely with Escambia County Animal Control, Environmental Law Enforcement, the United States Military volunteers, Escambia County Roads and Bridges and Neighborhood Watch groups to clean up neighborhoods and educate citizens on preventative measures that can be implemented to minimize possible crimes."

The program was very successful. From a 2011 press release regarding a clean sweep in the Navy Point area, "Ten tons of debris was collected in The Escambia County Sheriff's Office's Operation Clean Sweep today in the Navy Point community. Traffic checkpoints issued 13 citations. Three arrests were made, three warrants served and Code Enforcement recorded 12 violations." NorthEscambia.com reported on a clean sweep in Cottage Hill in May 2017, "Six warrants were served, eight arrests were made, 20 code violations were issued by Escambia County Code Enforcement and 13 traffic citations were issued." After the press conference, Commissioner May said he didn't believe funding for Operation Clean Sweep would be an issue. He said, "We will find the money." Pastor Wesley had a message for those doing the shooting. "If I could get the message to those young men who are responsible for the blood on the streets of our community, I would say to them stop and evaluate whether it's really, really worth it," said Wesley. "I beg you to stop. Think about what you're doing. Ask yourself the question, is that heroin? Is that weed? Is whatever you're doing really worth seeing the hurt on your mother's face, your grandmother's face, your father's face. Is it worth all of the pain you're inflicting?" He continued, "At the end of the day, you're going to get caught. You're in a battle you cannot win." Pastor Wesley said that some of those caught up in crime might feel that they have no one to talk to about their lives. He said the community's ministers are willing to listen and walk with them when they turn themselves in. He said, "Stop hurting everybody." Kirkland's message was for the community was to get involved. "What our community has experienced in the last few weeks is unacceptable, very unacceptable," said Kirkland. "We have experienced someone's son or daughter take the lives of someone else's kids. I am here today to ask our community to come together in unity." He thanked the audience for coming—"I appreciate you guys for coming out. I want to thank the sheriff's department, the county, I want to thank you all for having me today. But we need your help. We need your help."

"WASHED IN DRUGS"

At the press conference, State Attorney Eddins said the rise in gun violence, particularly among young people, is not isolated to Escambia County and the city of Pensacola. "Violent crime is being committed by younger and younger people," said Eddins. "The violence is escalating, and one of the primary reasons is that America is washed in drugs. And that is really what a lot of the crime is about." inweekly.net

He complimented both Commissioner May and Mayor Grover Robinson for what they're doing for at-risk children and with community outreach. He also talked about the high level of cooperation among the local, state and federal law enforcement agencies. "Yesterday, I was in a meeting where we had over 30 people from many agencies, including the sheriff's office, the police department," said the state attorney. "We shared intelligence; we shared leads. All the agencies did, as well as my office." He said that he has assigned investigators and special prosecutors to work closely with law enforcement. Eddins added, "We saw yesterday there was no turf wars. It is unusual to see the extent of cooperation that we have here between the different law enforcement agencies in my office." To booster his and Sheriff Morgan's statements that "violent crimes are being committed by ever younger and younger people," the state attorney discussed the recent arrest of young juveniles that were "organized and routinely and constantly burglarized cars to obtain guns." "In my office, as a result of the excellent work of the Sheriff's Office and his cooperation with other agents, we're currently prosecuting 17 of individuals, most of them between the ages of 15 and 19," he said. "We have 168 cases pending, primarily car burglaries but also burglaries of homes looking for guns. And we found one, and we're able to connect that gun to an armed carjacking, and that case is pending as well." The state attorney defended his policy of transferring juveniles who commit violent crimes to adult courtâ€”"And I received criticism from various people throughout the community for that, and I'm here to tell you that that's my policy, it's been my policy and it's going to continue to be my policy for two reasons." "The juvenile system is not equipped to properly deal with those kinds of people," said Eddins. "They are equipped to deal with children that commit minor crimes and do not recommit." He continued, "In fact, I'm very proud of the fact that my office has interacted with community leaders, like Commissioner May, to establish a civil citation program that's resulted in 48% of the juveniles that commit minor crimes are treated as a civil citation. I believe that civil citation program has been remarkable in keeping young juveniles out of major crimes." Eddins said that to combat the new level of violence effectively, he must continue to transfer juveniles that commit violent crimes to adult court. He pointed out the justice system does have a safeguard. "If a judge disagrees with me, at the end of the case after everything's been deliberated, he can still consider him as a juvenile," said the state attorney. "I'll report to you that in less than 5% of occasions, where I prosecuted juveniles as adults, have the judges gone back and sentenced them as juveniles." He added, "We do not simply transfer them. We ask for very harsh sentences because by that time, that's the only way that we can protect you. Most of the time, I assign special prosecutors to them. Many times, I do not plea bargain those cases, March 5, 2020

and I report back to you to let you know that, along with the other agencies, our office is doing everything we can to combat this problem. Unfortunately, we're close to Interstate 10, with drugs coming into this community and throughout America â€Ś just incredible and unbelievable."

BREAK THE SILENCE At the presser, Chief Deputy Chip Simmons, who handles the operational side of the sheriff's office, talked about how his agency has addressed the problem. "We've had, over the last couple of months, a reorganization," said Simmons. "We're using our persons' investigators, our property investigators, our warrants section, our narcotics section, high-intensity patrol unit. All they're doing is saturating our communities, the communities that we think are at risk for this type of behavior. Then we're doing it in an aggressive and relentless way." The chief deputy said that in a typical homicide or major investigation, investigators infiltrate an area. They talk to the victim's, if they can, family and friends. "We'll talk to neighbors; we'll canvas neighborhoods like you see on TV all the time," he shared. "Now when we do this sort of canvas, we get zero assistance. We get zero assistance from neighbors who we know have cameras. We get nothing. We get a door slammed in our face, and they say, 'Go investigate it on your own.'" The chief deputy said that there's this perception that law enforcement is not trying to investigate these cases. "Nothing could be farther from the truth," he told the audience. "We have a dedicated group of men and women at Escambia County Sheriff's Office, and all they want to do is make Escambia County a better place because we live here. What we want is for the days for our children to be better than our days and be better than the days of our grandfathers and fathers." Simmons said the sheriff's office takes its obligation to protect the public very seriously. He said, "We're doing it day in and day out, quite honestly wearing ourselves out, because we care about this community. We want this community to get better." He added, "I was talking to Commissioner May just the other day, and he said, 'There's no magic pill here that we can do. If that's the case, New York would have it. Everyone would have it. The closest thing you can come to it is community involvement as a bargaining chip,' and getting here and staying together and having a common voice to say, 'Stop doing what you're doing and help law enforcement so that no one else has to die in the streets of Escambia County.'" Sheriff Morgan said he realized that he was speaking to the choir at the press conference because many of the attendees are active in the community. "What we need to do when we leave this press conference today is to go back to our community," said the sheriff, "and start shaking the tree and knocking on doors, telling people, 'You've got to break this silence,' because we can take our community back, but we cannot take our community back without your assistance." {in}

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ADDRESSING HEALTH By Jeremy Morrison An individual's health, or even a community's health, hinges on a variety of variables. There are the physical factors, obviously, like genetics, and the lifestyle choices, such as diet and exercise. But there's also a lot of other things at play that contribute to a level of health. Economics can impact health, as can environmental factors. And so can a myriad of other dynamics described as "social detriments." Such social detriments—ranging from access to healthy food and affordable housing to education levels to suicide rates—were laid out during a recent community forum organized by the group Achieve Healthy EscaRosa. The forum, held in February at the University of West Florida, focused on bringing together individuals and organizations in the community with a mission of assessing how best to improve the region's outlook where these healthimpacting social detriments are concerned. "We have to look at this holistically; this is not just a health issue," explained Dr. Denise Seabert, dean of the Usha Kundu, MD College of Health at the University of West Florida. Speaking during the community forum, Seabert laid out a local landscape where the "needs are great" but also a region that is "resource-rich." In order to improve the area's social-detriment metrics, she said, the bounty of resources needed to translate into the fulfillment of the area's needs. Later, standing outside the UWF Conference Center, Dr. Seabert said that she was encouraged by the couple-of-hundred-people turnout and explained that this week's forum wasn't meant to provide answers. "We are not leaving here with answers today," she had told the group earlier. "This is, 'Are you passionate and are you committed to working together?'" The forum, a kickoff event of sorts, was

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meant to provide data points of interest and establish community buy-in. "Saying, 'OK, we're ready to move on this,'" Seabert said.

WALKING THROUGH THE DATA

Pie graphs provide useful visual representations. Shawn Salamida, vice president of Baptist Health Care and president of behavioral health services at Lakeview Center, employed one to demonstrate how much a person's health depended on various factors. The slice of pie representing factors directly related to healthcare was a slim 10%. The rest of the pie was representative of various social detriments. "The social determinants of health can impact between 40 and 90 percent of patient outcomes," Salamida explained.

"The social determinants of health can impact between 40 and 90 percent of patient outcomes." Shawn Salamida Spread across the meeting hall, posted around the room, were additional graphs— mostly bar graphs. And they revealed a sketch of the region and its population according to various societal factors. Attendees to the forum were given the opportunity to stroll the path of charts and graphs and wrap their heads around the data. Information presented fell into a few key categories—health outcomes, mental health, infant and child health, drug and alcohol use, food environment, education, economics, healthcare access, neighborhoods and exposure to violence. A good data point to start off with is life expectancy. As demonstrated on a colorcoded map of Escambia and Santa Rosa counties, people living in certain areas can expect to live beyond the age of 80, while

those living other areas are looking at a lifespan of less than 69 years of age. The shorter lifespans look to be in pockets of economically disadvantaged areas and farther out into more rural areas in both counties. When looking at the area's mental health, data points included suicide rates as well as the number of reported mental health days, which can speak to untreated mental illness and also issues like depression and substance abuse. Over the past few years, Escambia has tended to have a higher number of mental health days than Santa Rosa, with a notable exception in 2016, and both typically hover near the state level. Suicide rates, meanwhile, are above the state level in both counties, with Santa Rosa typically leading. When looking at infant care, the data laid out the teen birth rate, the infant mortality rate and also birth weights, which indicate health at birth. In each of these categories, Escambia fared worse than the state as a whole, while Santa Rosa fared better. When looking at childhood obesity rates, however, Escambia showed less than 30% of children were overweight, compared to Santa Rosa and the state, which each posted a few points higher. But when it came to the child wellbeing index, Santa Rosa ranked among the top 10 of Florida's 67 counties—even snagging the number two spot in 2019—while kids in Escambia consistently fall somewhere in the 40s. When it comes to substance abuse, such as binge drinking among adults or drinking and drug use amongst high schoolers, both Santa Rosa and Escambia are in about the same shape. In Escambia, a slightly higher percentage of high schoolers use cigarettes and marijuana, but more tend to vape in Santa Rosa. Access to healthy food is a bigger issue in Santa Rosa than Escambia, but it's not great in either county and only slightly better statewide. In Escambia, around 20% of the population lives near a source of

healthy food, like a grocery store. In Santa Rosa, it's less than 10% of the population, and statewide it's about 30%. Education levels are comparable in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties and across Florida. Just under 30% of people stop their educational track upon graduating high school, while more than 40% continue to some level of college education. When looking at third-grade reading attainment levels, though, Escambia doesn't compare well, falling nearly 20 points lower than Santa Rosa, with just more than 50% of students on level, hovering just below state levels. Earlier in the educational chain, pre-k enrollment levels are around 60% in both counties.

MISSION MASLOW

Observing attendees make the rounds on the data walk, Dr. Seabert looked like she was watching the genesis of a cohesive community effort. At least, she hopes that what it is. "I'm encouraged," Seabert said optimistically, "that we have people agreeing that we need to do something more." Moving forward, Achieve Healthy EscaRosa will be assessing input provided at this initial forum to determine how best to proceed. Three initial areas of focus were identified thus far—mental health needs, connecting people with existing resources and prenatal care. Some of these areas of discussion during the forum fell into what could be described as basic needs—stuff like food, shelter and mental wellbeing. UWF President Martha Saunders said as much, with a nod towards Maslow's Hierarchy, an ordering of basic needs like "love" and "safety" and "esteem." "It has to do with your overall wellbeing and happiness," Saunders explained, before listing off some basic human needs. "If you haven't handled things on the low end … then you're not likely to thrive and make it to the high end." {in}

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vous about foul balls going into the seats at Blue Wahoos Stadium,'" Studer said. "The Twins then wrote a letter to me and to the City of Pensacola requesting the netting be extended. It was based on the players' concerns for our fans."

TRAILBLAZERS In honor of Black His-

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BIDEN LEADS FLORIDA Joe Biden still leads the Democratic Party field in the Florida Presidential Primary, but his lead has narrowed over the past 10 months. Late entry Mike Bloomberg is within striking distance of edging out Bernie Sanders for second place. The Inweekly/Political Matrix poll of 843 likely Florida Democrat voters found Biden with 32.6% of the vote, Sanders with 23.6% and Bloomberg with 16.3%. About 14% were undecided with the Florida primary less than three weeks away. Biden's share of likely Democratic voters has shrunk by 9.8 points since the April 16, 2019, poll. Sanders' percentage has steadily grown—jumping 10.9 points. Bloomberg has swept in and garnered 16.3 percentage points, appearing to pick up many of the undecided voters. The persons sampled were likely Florida Democrat Party voters with a voting score of 100% for the general election cycles. The voters were called using an Interactive Voice Response system during the hours of 3- 8 p.m. between Feb. 26 and Feb. 27. The margin of error for the study was +/- 5.5% with a confidence level of 95%. NO PAC MONEY Congressman Matt Gaetz announced at last week's 2020 Conservative Political Action Conference that he no longer would take campaign contributions from federal political action committees. "As of this very moment, I will not pick 010 1

up their money in the nightstand anymore," said the Republican congressman from Northwest Florida. "I will never again accept a donation from a federal political action committee, not one red cent." Gaetz said the nation is in a fight of capitalism versus socialism that will decide the future of the next generation. "But if socialism is the bribing of voters with taxpayer money, then an oligarchy is the bribing of politicians with special interest money," said the congressman. "Just as we vow to never let the United States of America become a socialist country, so must we resolve to not let her slip into an oligarchy. Our patriotic movement rejects both Venezuela and Davos." Gaetz challenged the audience, "Let's send the message that your home, my home, our home is not for sale to any special interest for any costs ever."

WAHOO SAFETY Last year, the Pensaco-

la Blue Wahoos asked the City of Pensacola to provide safety netting to protect fans along the right and left field lines, but CFO Dick Barker balked and refused, citing no contractual obligation to do so. This year, with Major League Baseball scrutinizing which minor league teams to keep and the safety of their stadiums, the City of Pensacola is paying for the nets. It may have also helped that Barker is no longer the CFO. Last Thursday, the city announced it

would pay for the cost of the netting, and the Blue Wahoos would install the nets by opening day for the 2020 season, which is Thursday, April 9. This season, all 30 Major League Baseball teams are extending netting at their respective stadiums. The Blue Wahoos join 18 Minor League teams who have announced they will extend their netting prior to Opening Day 2020. "We really commend Mayor Robinson for stepping up and putting fan safety first," Blue Wahoos owner Quint Studer said. "I know the Minnesota Twins are thrilled with the City of Pensacola's decision, and we are certainly thrilled with the city's decision to extend the netting."

"I know the Minnesota Twins are thrilled with the City of Pensacola's decision, and we are certainly thrilled with the city's decision to extend the netting." Quint Studer On May 29, 2019, a 2-year-old girl was struck by a foul ball at a Houston Astros game and suffered serious injury. This incident further ramped up calls throughout baseball to extend the netting. "Our players last season went to the Twins (management) and said, 'We're ner-

tory Month, the University of West Florida Office of Equity and Diversity and Epps Christian Center partnered to award eight community members who have blazed trails and made a lasting impact on the community at their fourth annual Trailblazer Awards luncheon. "The Trailblazer Awards is my favorite event every year because I get to see the great work so many individuals are doing to make their community thrive," said Dr. Kim LeDuff, UWF chief diversity officer and vice president for the Division of Academic Engagement and Student Affairs. After four successful years, the committee has recognized numerous members of the community and awarded 35 recipients to date. Rev. Sylvia Tisdale, founder of the Epps Christian Centers, said, "Being able to recognize these amazing community leaders for their daily service is an honor and a privilege that I enjoy being part of." The following people were named recipients of the Trailblazer Awards: •Laverne Baker, Helping Hand Award •J.O. Gatson, Faith and Service Award •Sonya Culliver, Community Service Award •Norm Ross, Educational Leadership Award •Jewel Cannada-Wynn, Servant Leader Award •Jerry McIntosh, Community Voice Award •Bobby Livingston, UWF Alumni Trailblazer Award •Sue Straughn, Trailblazer Award

CROSS VICTORY After Inweekly broke the news on its blog that the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals had ruled the 34foot cross at Bayview Park could remain on public land, the city issued a press release declaring victory. "Pensacola is a city with a rich and diverse history," Mayor Grover Robinson said. "The Bayview Cross is an important part of that history as a symbol of our community's coming together during a national crisis." The cross was built in Bayview Park in 1941, as the U.S. prepared to enter WWII, as a place for the community to unite, according to the city's lawyers. Since then, Pensacola citizens have held community events such as Easter sunrise services, Veteran's Day and Memorial Day remembrances, and other voluntary gatherings at the monument. In 2016, four individuals represented by the American Humanist Association sued the city, demanding the cross be torn down because it violated the Establishinweekly.net

ment Clause of the U.S. Constitution's First Amendment. The trial court and an earlier decision of the 11th Circuit agreed that the cross was unconstitutional. The city took the case to the U.S. Supreme Court, which also was considering a similar dispute involving a cross on public land in Maryland. The Supreme Court last year found that the Maryland cross did not violate the Establishment Clause. It subsequently vacated the appeals court ruling in the Pensacola case and sent it back for reconsideration. A three-judge panel of the appeals court last week issued a 34-page main opinion that cited the Supreme Court decision in the Maryland case and said the Bayview Park cross does not need to be removed. In part, it said purposes "associated with the cross have multiplied over time" and are not limited to religious uses.

NEW VISIT PENSACOLA CEO Last week,

the Visit Pensacola Board of Directors accepted its search committee's recommendation to make a formal offer to Pamela Johnson as its new CEO and president. In a press release, Visit Pensacola Search Committee chairman DC Reeves said, "We know the role the tourism industry plays in Escambia County, and we believe upon many recommendations that Pamela will provide great leadership and service in this industry." Johnson has worked at the Lee County Convention and Visitor Bureau in Fort Myers for 25 years, most recently serving as the deputy director beginning in 2014. Johnson also served as the interim director and deputy director of Lee County Economic Development. "On behalf of the Visit Pensacola board of directors, we're looking forward to getting to know Ms. Johnson. We feel confident in the due process done by the search committee and look forward to her leadership and vision," Board Chairman Sterling Gilliam said. Former County Administrator Jack Brown has served as interim CEO since

March 5, 2020

Visit Pensacola's CEO Steve Hayes resigned for a similar job in South Florida.

AFFORDABLE HOUSING With a mission of creating 500 units of affordable housing in five years, the city of Pensacola's Affordable Housing Task Force met for the first time on Feb. 20 to begin the process of determining how best to accomplish such a goal. "I think it's doable," said Pensacola City Councilwoman Jewel Cannada-Wynn, stressing the city's "need to be creative" on this issue. City officials began discussing the need to ramp up its affordable-housing efforts last year. The establishment of the task force was the first step. The city also brought in consultants with the Florida Housing Coalition. "We know a little bit about what we know, but we also know we don't know everything, and that's where you come in," said Mayor Grover Robinson in his welcome to both the task force and consultant to the conversation.

"We know a little bit about what we know, but we also know we don't know everything, and that's where you come in." Mayor Grover Robinson Much of the initial Feb. 20 meeting of the task force was devoted to formalities, such as a review of the state's Sunshine Law regulations and establishing a meeting schedule. The group also selected a chairperson and vice-chair—Percy Goldman, executive director for Community Enterprise Investment, Inc., and Patricia Lott, executive director of Escambia County Housing Finance Authority. The remaining members of the task force include Douglas Brown, George Ed Brown, Jr., Rick Byars, Timothy Evans,

Frederick Gant, Laura Gilmore, Carolyn Grawi, Shirley Henderson, John Rickmon, Paul Ritz and Renee' Wilhoit. Going forward, Pensacola's Affordable Housing Talk Force will meet monthly, with the next meeting scheduled for March 26. The task force will wrap up its work by June.

must live 50%+ of your time during a year at a primary residence on Pensacola Beach. Please note, the beach resident passes are available for two-axle, non-commercial vehicles only. For information on the passes, visit myescambia.com/pensacolabeachpass.

CASHLESS BEACH TOLLS The new all-

MARK YOUR CALENDAR The Memorial Service for Officer Stephen Grogan will be at 12:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 5, at Olive Baptist Church, 1836 E. Olive Road. The Escambia County Commission will meet at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 5, in the Ernie Lee Magaha Government Building, 221 S. Palafox. The public forum begins at 4:30 p.m. The Pensacola City Council will hold its agenda review at 3:30 p.m. on Monday, March 9, at Pensacola City Hall, Hagler/ Mason Conference Room, 222 W. Main St. Escambia DEC invites all Democratic veterans, active duty military and any Democrat interested in veterans' issues to a meeting at 6 p.m., on Monday, March 9, at IHOP, 6707 Pensacola Blvd. Phil Giorno, president of the Democratic Veterans Caucus of Florida, will be speaking. The City of Pensacola Planning Board will meet at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, March 10, at Pensacola City Hall, 222 W. Main St. DIB Finance Committee will meet at 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday, March 10, at the Bowden Building, 120 Church St. The Escambia County Committee of the Whole will meet at 9 a.m. on Thursday, March 12, in the Ernie Lee Magaha Government Building, 221 S. Palafox. CareerSource Escarosa will partner with Pensacola State College to host the 2020 job fair from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. on Thursday, March 12, at the Paul and Amos Studio, Bldg. 31, Pensacola State College, 1000 College Blvd. Job seekers are urged to dress professionally and bring plenty of resumes. For more information, visit careersourceescarosa.com. The Pensacola City Council will meet at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 12, at Pensacola City Hall, 222 W. Main St. {in}

electronic tolling system on Bob Sikes Bridge to Pensacola Beach will begin in the spring of 2020. The toll will remain $1, and cash and change will no longer be accepted. "All-electronic tolling is going statewide, and the goal is to get everyone to Pensacola Beach quicker," said District 4 County Commissioner Robert Bender. "We want to make it easy to go to the beach in a safe, comfortable amount of time." All tolls will be collected electronically. Motorists will use either SunPass®, another interoperable transponder or be billed utilizing the TOLL-BY-PLATE system. TOLLBY-PLATE customers will be charged a $1 toll, plus a monthly $2.50 administrative fee, and will receive a bill by mail. Transponders are available at the Santa Rosa Island Authority and any retailer where SunPass and E-Pass are available. The community can still walk, bike, ferry or ride ECAT bus routes 61 and 64 to Pensacola Beach. Pensacola Beach Annual Passes are also available for $20 per year for public annual passes and $70 per year for commercial annual passes. Pensacola Beach homestead residents are allowed up to two $5 Pensacola Beach Annual Passes and must visit the Santa Rosa Island Authority Office, located at 1 Via De Luna Drive on Pensacola Beach. To be a homestead resident, obtain the designation of your primary residence on Pensacola Beach from the Escambia County Property Appraiser's Office. Beach residents need to bring proof of homestead exemption from the property tax office when going to purchase an annual pass. To be a homestead resident, you

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inweekly.net

WEEK OF MARCH 5-11

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

Female Empowerment on Tap By Savannah Evanoff

The beer industry isn't just for men. Every day, women enter and excel in male-dominated fields. And Eniko Ujj, the taproom manager at Odd Colony Brewing Co., has been waiting for the opportunity to highlight the women doing just that in the local craft beer industry. "I've been involved in the beer scene in different ways for a number of years now and have experienced firsthand the frustrations of being part of that minority and wanted to subvert the idea that beer and brewing is just for boys," Ujj said. Ujj decided to combine her desire to spotlight women in the beer industry with a performance of "The Vagina Monologues" for International Women's Day. Her reasons for wanting to observe the holiday are best said by Dr. Shola Mos-Shogbamimu, a co-organizer of Women's March London, who put it eloquently and succinctly, as quoted by Ujj, "International Women's Day is a day of recognition and celebration of women globally. It's one day of the year that recognizes the value that women bring to individual communities and collectively to the world and showcases the incredible struggles of women who have paved the way for others." For an added unity factor, Ujj contacted many women involved with local breweries—brewers, bartenders, managers and owners—to concoct a woman-made beer to release in conjunction with the event. They met in February for a mashing and brewed a dry-hopped wheat ale with chamomile and local tangerine peel. March 5, 2020

"During the brew day, we had plenty of time to talk about beer, brewing, our experiences in the industry and everything in between," Ujj said. "We all peeled the tangerines together, did the grain out, measured the acidity and gravity, added the hops and learned how to use tri-clamps— which are surprisingly tricky." The brew day was also a great opportunity for all of the women involved in local breweries to bond and network. Ujj hopes they will collaborate on future projects together.

"This is a great opportunity to meet like-minded people, connect with women in the beer industry, drink inspired beer and laugh and cry during 'The Vagina Monologues,' all while supporting an important cause." Eniko Ujj "After having met Rachel Breite (brewer at 3rd Planet Brewing), we made plans to study together for her Beer Judge Certification and my Level 2 Cicerone, the beer version of sommelier," Ujj said. The female beer enthusiasts named their specialty beer "Laugh of the Medusa," after the seminal feminist essay by Hélène Cixous. The brew will be available all day on International Women's Day.

"It's real and raw and gives women the The beer is semi-inspired opportunity to connect over shared experiby the Pink Boots Society, a ences," Ujj said. "It sends the message that nonprofit with international we shouldn't be ashamed of ourselves or membership that supports our bodies, which is an important message women working in the brewing for us all to hear." profession, especially in creatPerformers are Ujj, Erin Cuneo, Toscca ing craft beer. They organize a Pink Boots women's brew every Madison, Alyssa Wallace, Haley Morrissette, Alex O'Neill, Ashley Vosmera-Mitchyear and select a specific hop ell, McKenzie Lovelace, Sara Beth Vaughn, blend to be used called the Jasmin Miller and Megan Hartman. Pink Boots Blend. "This is a great opportunity to meet likeAlthough this year's colminded people, connect with women in the laboration is not an official beer industry, drink inspired beer and laugh Pink Boots Society brew, and cry during 'The Vagina Monologues,' all Odd Colony has purchased the Pink Boots Blend of hops while supporting an important cause." And, for the record, men are invited. from Yakima Chief Hops, "Men are absolutely welcome," Ujj said. who donate $3 per pound "We encourage anyone and everyone to to the Pink Boots Society come check it out. The event at its core is an Scholarship Fund. embodiment and call for inclusivity." {in} While the International Women's Day Celebration is a multitude of blended components, at the end of the day, it is a fundraiser for The Lakeview Victims Services and Trauma Recovery Program, Ujj said. All proceeds from the beer release will go to the program. Rachel Breite (3rd Planet Brewing), The event will also offer a raffle and a Katie DeSantis (Idyll Hounds Brewing women's makers table set up before the perCompany), Dayna Beddick (A Little formance, featuring art and handmade goods Madness Brewery), Holly Whittemore various women have donated to be sold in an (The 5 Barrel), BB Liggett (Perfect effort to raise as much money as possible. Plain Brewing Co.), Kayla Reid (Alga "The Vagina Monologues" performance Beer Co.), Susan Ledbetter (Emerald in Pensacola is typically hosted around ValRepublic Brewing), Maggie Banks and entine's Day, but FemFest founder Kristin Emily Walker (Big Top Brewing), Eniko Norris helped Ujj infuse it into her event. "The Vagina Monologues" is a play Ujj, Erin Cuneo, Beth Schweigert and about the multi-faceted and various expeBrandi Rodriguez (Odd Colony Brewriences of being a woman, Ujj said. ing Company) "Eve Ensler, the author of the play, interviewed over 200 women of different races, ages and backgrounds to talk about how they experienced the world and anything to do with their bodies, WHAT: A special beer release plus events celebrating Internaincluding hair, sex, tional Women's Day looking at their own WHEN: 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Sunday, March 8; "Vagina Monologues" is vulvas, giving birth, scheduled for 7 p.m. periods and everyWHERE: Odd Colony Brewing Co., 260 N. Palafox thing in between," COST: $5 admission for "Vagina Monologues;" all donations Ujj said. and proceeds from the beer release and performance will go to Ujj thinks it provides a voice or an Lakeview Victim Services & Trauma Recovery outlet for something DETAILS: facebook.com/oddcolony that has been seen as taboo for so long.

WOMEN WHO COLLABORATED ON THE SPECIAL BREW RELEASE:

ODD COLONY BREWING CO.'S INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY CELEBRATION

calendar MUSIC UNDER THE STARS: CARY MORIN

7-9 p.m. $15-$18. Ground Up Community Garden, 501 N. Hayes St. fromthegroundupgardenpensacola.com ICE FLYERS VS. FAYETTEVILLE MARKSMEN 7:35 p.m. $15 and up. Pensacola Bay Center, 201E. Gregory St. pensacolabaycenter.com GLOW BOWL 9 p.m.-1 a.m. Every Friday and Saturday. $12 per person. Strikerz Entertainment Center, 3200 N. Palafox.

SATURDAY 3.7

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

Brooks Williams / Courtesy Photo

THURSDAY 3.5

WORK ON THE FLORIDA TRAIL 8 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Every Thursday. Three miles north of Deaton Bridge Road. meetup.com/ftawesterngate YOGA WITHIN REACH 9-10 a.m. Free. Community Health Northwest Florida, 2315 W. Jackson St., Room A. healthcarewithinreach.org LA LECHE LEAGUE 10 a.m. Ever'man Educational Center, 327 W. Garden St. everman.org BOOK CLUB 10:30 a.m. Southwest Branch Library, 12248 Gulf Beach Hwy. mywfpl.com BREAKERSPACE ELECTRONICS 10:30 a.m. Thursdays. Pensacola Library, 239 N. Spring St. mywfpl.com QUILT, STITCH AND SEW OPEN SESSION 1-3 p.m. Pensacola Library, 239 N. Spring St. mywfpl.com FLIGHTS AND BITES 5-7 p.m. $20 per person. Thursdays. Wine and food pairings. The District, 123 E. Government St. districtsteaks.com ATLAS BEVERAGE TASTING 5-7 p.m. $25 per person. Atlas Oyster House, 600 S. Barracks St. greatsouthernrestaurants.com AWM WINE TASTING 5-7 p.m. Free. Aragon Wine Market, 27 S. Ninth Ave. facebook.com/ aragonwine YAPPY HOUR 5-10 p.m. Through Feb. 27. 5% of proceeds benefit Escambia County Animal Shelter. Red Fish Blue Fish, 5B Via De Luna Drive. redfishbluefishpensacolabeach.com ODD COLONY NETWORKING 5:30-7 p.m. Odd Colony Brewing Co., 260 N. Palafox. facebook.com/oddcolony WUWF'S RADIOLIVE 6 p.m. $10. Brooks Wil-

414 1

liams, Ed Gerhard, Heather Pierson Trio, and Mean Mary. Museum of Commerce, 201 Zaragoza St. radiolive.org MEDITATION AND ENERGY HEALING 6 p.m. Ever'man Educational Center, 327 W. Garden St. everman.org MOLINO MELODIES 6 p.m. Thursdays. Molino Branch Library, 6450-A Highway 95A. mywfpl.com ZUMBA WITH SHANNON AND FRIENDS 6-7 p.m. $4. Homestead Community Center, 7830 Pine Forest Road. 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 JERSEY BOYS 7:30 p.m. $58 and up. Saenger Theatre, 118 S. Palafox. pensacolasaenger.com

FRIDAY 3.6

COX DIAMOND INVITATIONAL Through March

8. Community Maritime Park, 321 W. Cedar St. pensacolasports.org/coxdiamondinvitational

COOKING WITH HONEY WITH BECCA FRITSCHLE 11 a.m. Ever'man Educational Center, 327

W. Garden St. everman.org HAPPY HOUR COOKOUT 5 p.m. Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. sevillequarter.com ACOUSTIC SONGWRITERS NIGHT 6 p.m. Every Friday through March 27. Frazier's Country Wines, 3130 Barrancas Ave. fromthegroundupgardenpensacola.com EVERY BRILLIANT THING 6 p.m. Ever'man Educational Center, 327 W. Garden St. everman.org

of West Florida, Rec Plex North Field, 11000 University Parkway. parkrun.us/recplexnorth OCEAN HOUR CLEAN-UP 9-10 a.m. Naval Live Oaks Headquarters, Highway 98 about two miles east of Gulf Breeze on the right, 1801 Gulf Beach Highway. oceanhourfl.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. 43RD MCGUIRE'S ST. PATRICK'S DAY 5K 9 a.m.-12 p.m. McGuire's Irish Pub, 600 E. Gregory St. mcguiresirishpub.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 YOU SELL IT HERE FARMER'S MARKET 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Free admission. Every Saturday. 8600 Pensacola Blvd. facebook.com/yousellithere SHOP-A-LATTE VENDOR EVENT 9 a.m.-3 pm. Shirley's Café, 1014 Underwood Ave. facebook. com/shirelyscafepensacola EVER'MAN COOKS: DEBBY'S KITCHEN 10 a.m. Ever'man Educational Center, 327 W. Garden St. everman.org NAVIGATING POSTPARTUM 10 a.m.-12 p.m. $20-$25. Asher & Bee Apothecary and Tea House, 3014 N. 9th Ave. facebook.com/ asherandbee GULF COAST RENAISSANCE FAIR AND PIRATE FESTIVAL 10 a.m.-6 p.m. $5-$18. Free for chil-

dren under 4. Santa Rosa County Fairgrounds, 8604 Bobby Brown Rd. gcrf.us

DRAG BRUNCH: DRINK AND DROWN PARTY

11 a.m. and 1 p.m. $10 cover. The Vineyard, 1010 N. 12th Ave. facebook.com/pensacolavineyardbistrowinebar

SPRING VINTAGE CLOTHING MARKET 11 a.m.-6

p.m. Odd Colony Brewing Co., 260 N. Palafox. facebook.com/oddcolony MCGUIRE'S RUN KARAOKE AFTERPARTY 11:30 a.m. Perfect Plain Brewing Co., 50 E. Garden St. facebook.com/perfectplainbrewingco THE PLANT BASED DIVA 12-1:30 p.m. Ever'man Educational Center, 327 W. Garden St. everman.org CHESS CLUB 2 p.m. Saturdays. All levels welcome. Pensacola Library, 239 N. Spring St. mywfpl.com STRESS REDUCTION AND BURNOUT PREVENTION 2-3:30 p.m. Ever'man Educational Center,

327 W. Garden St. everman.org

BIKE PENSACOLA MARCH SLOW RIDE 2:30 p.m.

Adoration for a New Beginning Church, 920 W. Government St. facebook.com/bikepensacola EVERY BRILLIANT THING 6 p.m. Ever'man Educational Center, 327 W. Garden St. everman.org PENSACOLA FOLK MUSIC SOCIETY 6-8 p.m. $5. Fairfield Presbyterian Church, 410 South Fairfield Dr. $5 LOCAL SHOWCASE 7 p.m. Vinyl Music Hall, 2 S. Palafox. vinylmusichall.com ICE FLYERS VS. FAYETTEVILLE MARKSMEN 7:05 p.m. $15 and up. Pensacola Bay Center, 201E. Gregory St. pensacolabaycenter.com JOSH TURNER 7:30 p.m. $42-$92. Saenger Theatre, 118 S. Palafox. pensacolasaenger.com SATURDAY SWING OUTS 8 p.m. $5. Saturdays. Breathe Yoga Studio, 505 S. Adams St. GLOW BOWL 9 p.m.-1 a.m. Every Friday and Saturday. $12 per person. Strikerz Entertainment Center, 3200 N. Palafox. IMPROVABLE CAUSE 10:30 p.m. $11. Pensacola Little Theatre, 400 S. Jefferson St. pensacolalittletheatre.com

SUNDAY 3.8

THEMED BRUNCH AT PERFECT PLAIN 10 a.m. Perfect Plain Brewing Co., 50 E. Garden St. facebook.com/perfectplainbrewingco TRANSMISSION MEDITATION WORLD SERVICE

10:30 a.m. Ever'man Educational Center, 327 W. Garden St. everman.org BIERGARTEN YOGA WITH BRIANA 10:30 a.m. $12. Gary's Brewery and Biergarten, 208 Newman Ave. facebook.com/garysbrew BRUNCH WITH LIVE MUSIC 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Café Single Fin, 380 N. Ninth Ave. facebook.com/cafesinglefin VEGAN BRUNCH 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Sign up for the

inweekly.net

calendar newsletter for menu. End of the Line CafÃ©, 610 E. Wright St. eotlcafe.com INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY 11 a.m. $5. Presentation of "Vagina Monologues" at 7 p.m. and special beer release on tap all day. Proceeds benefit Lakeview Center. Odd Colony Brewing Co., 260 N. Palafox. facebook.com/oddcolony SUNDAY BRUNCH AT H20 11 a.m. $28.95 for adults. Free valet parking and 15% off with local ID. H20 Hilton, 12 Via De Luna Drive. facebook. com/hiltonpensacolabeach CAJUN WINE AND SWINE 12-3 p.m. $65 per person. Union Public House, 309 S. Reus St. facebook.com/unionpensacola CARD PLAYERS CLUB 1 p.m. Sundays. Pensacola Library, 239 N. Spring St. mywfpl.com READ WITH A DOG 1:30-3:30 p.m. Pensacola Library, 239 N. Spring St. mywfpl.com WHAT IS HYPNOSIS/HYPNOTHERAPY 2 p.m. Ever'man Educational Center, 327 W. Garden St. everman.org GALLERY TALK: IL TROVATORE 2-3 p.m. Pensacola Museum of Art, 407 S. Jefferson St. pensacolaopera.com STUDENT GUITAR CONCERT 2-6 p.m. Dolce and Gelato, 2050 N. 12th Ave. facebook.com/ dolcegelatopensacola CHILI AND BEER FOR BOOKS 4 p.m. $2.50-$7. Gary's Brewery and Biergarten, 208 Newman Ave. facebook.com/garysbrew ICE FLYERS VS. FAYETTEVILLE MARKSMEN 4:05 p.m. $15 and up. Pensacola Bay Center, 201E. Gregory St. pensacolabaycenter.com JAZZ IN THE COURTYARD 5:30 p.m. chizuko, 506 W. Belmont St. facebook.com/chizukopensacola THE PHANTOM OWL MEDITATION & RITUAL

6:30 p.m. NiaVana Studio, 904 E. Scott St. For tickets: asherandbee.com LAGUNA'S FULL MOON GLOW PARTY 7-10 p.m. Free. Laguna's Beach Bar + Grill, 460 Pensacola Beach Blvd.

MONDAY 3.9

GARDENING ON THE GULF COAST 9 a.m. Ever'man Educational Center, 327 W. Garden St. everman.org KNITTING FOR BEGINNERS 3-4:30 p.m. $38. Through March 30. Pensacola State College Milton campus, 5988 U.S. 90. pensacolastate.edu ECUA RECYCLING 3 p.m. Ever'man Educational Center, 327 W. Garden St. everman.org LOCAL AUTHOR TALK 4 p.m. "Painful Light" by Siddiq. Pensacola Library, 239 S. Spring St. mywfpl.com RESTORATIVE PILATES 5:15 p.m. Ever'man Educational Center, 327 W. Garden St. everman.org GRAPHIC NOVEL GROUP 5:30 p.m. Pensacola Library, 239 S. Spring St. mywfpl.com EARTH ETHICS 6 p.m. Ever'man Educational Center, 327 W. Garden St. everman.org THE ODDLING TROT 6 p.m. Mondays. Join Odd Colony running club for a three-mile run and enjoy $2 off pints after the run. Odd Colony Brewing Co., 260 N. Palafox. facebook.com/oddcolony CAST IRON PIZZA COOKING CLASS 6 p.m. $45. SoGourmet, 407-D S. Palafox. sogourmetpensacola.com SEVILLE QUARTER MILERS 6 p.m. Runners meet in front of Seville Quarter for a run around downtown Pensacola. Seville Quarter, March 5, 2020

130 E. Government St. sevillequarter.com

AN AMERICAN IN PARIS 7:30 p.m. $58 and up.

Saenger Theatre, 118 S. Palafox. pensacolasaenger.com

TUESDAY 3.10

THE CULINARY HISTORY OF EARLY PENSACOLA

9-10 a.m. Pensacola Visitor Information Center, 1401 E. Gregory St. YOGA WITHIN REACH 9-10 a.m. Free. Community Health Northwest Florida, 2315 W. Jackson St., Room A. healthcarewithinreach.org OPEN STEAM LAB 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Tuesdays. Pensacola Library, 239 N. Spring St. mywfpl.com MEET THE ARTISTS LUNCHEON 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Skopelos at New World, 600 S. Palafox. pensacolaopera.com FOOD INTERPRETER 1 p.m. Ever'man Educational Center, 327 W. Garden St. everman.org TEEN TUESDAY: VIRTUAL REALITY 4-5:30 p.m. Pensacola Library, 239 N. Spring St. mywfpl.com COMPLIMENTARY WINE TASTING 4-6 p.m. Bodacious, 407-D S. Palafox. sogourmetpensacola.com BEGINNER YOGA WITH JOHN 4:30 p.m. Ever'man Educational Center, 327 W. Garden St. everman.org VINO MAGNIFICO 5:30 p.m. $14. V. Paul's 29 S. Palafox. vpauls.com FUNKY YOGA 6 p.m. Free. Ever'man Educational Center, 327 W. Garden St. everman.org ZUMBA WITH SHANNON AND FRIENDS 6-7 p.m. $4. Homestead Community Center, 7830 Pine Forest Road. NINTENDO TOURNAMENT: GOLDENEYE 6:309:30 p.m. Odd Colony Brewing Co., 260 N. Palafox. facebook.com/oddcolony COUNTRY TWO-STEP DANCING 6:30 p.m. $12. Whiskey Runners Saloon, 610 E. Nine Mile Road. dancecraftstudios.com

WEDNESDAY 3.11

SEWING AND QUILTING FOR GROWN-UPS 10 a.m. Tryon Branch Library, 1200 Langley Ave. mywfpl.com COMMUNITY PILATES WITH EMILY 10:30 a.m. Ever'man Educational Center, 327 W. Garden St. everman.org BEGINNER YOGA WITH JOHN 11:15 a.m. Ever'man Educational Center, 327 W. Garden St. everman.org SERVICE INDUSTRY, CONTRACTOR AND SMALL BUSINESS SOFT OPENING NIGHT 4-9 p.m.

Coastal County Brewing, 3041 E. Olive Rd. VINYASA YOGA 6 p.m. Ever'man Educational Center, 327 W. Garden St. everman.org A CELEBRATION OF ITALIAN SPRING: ANGELENA'S FOOD AND WINE EVENT 6 p.m. Four-

course meal and wine pairing. $100 per person. Angelena's, 101 E. Intendencia St. greatsouthernrestaurants.com HANDS ON PASTA COOKING CLASS 6 p.m. $60. SoGourmet, 407-D S. Palafox. sogourmetpensacola.com VINYL NIGHT 6-9 p.m. Odd Colony Brewing Co., 260 N. Palafox. facebook.com/ oddcolony WEST COAST SWING DANCING 6:30 p.m. $12. Whiskey Runners Saloon, 610 E. Nine Mile Road. dancecraftstudios.com TRANSMISSION GROUP WORLD SERVICE MEDITATION 7:15 p.m. Ever'man Educational Center,

327 W. Garden St. everman.org

calendar Arts & Culture

≥Events

LUNCH AND LEARN: COPYRIGHT AND THE ARTIST WITH FULLER BROWN

11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Thursday, March 5. $36 per person. Quayside Art Gallery, 17 E. Zaragoza St. quaysidegallery.com PMA GALLERY TOURS 2:30 p.m.

Tuesdays and Thursdays. Free with museum admission. Pensacola Museum of Art, 407 S. Jefferson St. pensacolamuseum.org

≥Current Exhibits BIRDS AND THE "B's"

On view through March 24. Quayside Gallery, 17 E. Zaragoza. quaysidegallery.com TAG STEAM 2020 EXHIBIT On view

through April 1. TAG, University of

616 1

West Florida Center for Fine and Performing Arts, 11000 University Parkway, Bldg. 82. uwf.edu/ steam2020 THE BLACK LINE On view through April 9. 1060 N. Guillemard St. firstcityart.org CONTEMPORARY EXPRESSIONISM

On view through May 1. Anna Lamar Switzer Center for Visual Arts at Pensacola State College, 1000 College Blvd. pensacolastate.edu DOCUFLORIDA 3 On view through May 3. Pensacola Museum of Art, 407 S. Jefferson St. pensacolamuseum.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 941-735-4586 or call the restaurant at 4770035. TGI Fridays, 1240 Airport Blvd.

≥Workshops & Classes

FIBER FREESTYLIN' AT STUDIO SOUTH

5:30-7:30 p.m. Tuesdays. Open to all knitters, crocheters, weavers and more. Studio South, 955 E. Nine Mile Road. studiosouthon9mileroad.com QUILT, STITCH AND SEW OPEN SESSION

1-3 p.m. Thursdays. Pensacola Library, 239 N. Spring St. mywfpl.com POTTERY ON THE WHEEL Six-week

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

Monday 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 non-members. 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.

Grady' s Dueling Piano Show.Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. sevillequarter.com OPEN MIC/JAM

LIVE MUSIC 5:30 p.m. The District, 123 E. Government St. districtsteaks.com LIVE MUSIC 6 p.m. Five Sisters Blues Café, 421 W. Belmont St. fivesistersbluescafe.com RAZORHAWK 7 p.m. Hub Stacey's 312 E. Government St. hubstaceys.com

8-11 p.m. Goat Lips Brewhouse, 2811 Copter Road. Use our instruments or bring your own. LIVE MUSIC 8 p.m. Sandshaker Lounge, 731 Pensacola Beach Blvd. sandshaker.com LIVE MUSIC 9 p.m. End O' the Alley Courtyard, 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

COLLEGE JAM WITH MIKE BOCCIA 7:30

FRIDAY 3.6

Bars & Nightlife

≥Live Music

THURSDAY 3.5

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

8 p.m. Rosie O'

LIVE JAZZ WITH JOE OCCHIPINTI Noon.

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

LIVE MUSIC 5 p.m. End O'the Alley, 130 E. Government St. sevillequarter.com LIVE MUSIC 6 p.m. Five Sisters Blues Café, 421 W. Belmont St. fivesistersbluescafe.com RAY 'BIG DOG' COLEY

6-9 p.m. Cazadores Mexican Restaurant 8183 W. Fairfield. LIVE MUSIC 6:30 p.m. The District, 123 E. Government St. districtsteaks.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. THE BLENDERS 8 p.m. Hub Stacey's 312 E. Government St. hubstaceys.com LIVE MUSIC 9 p.m. Sandshaker Lounge, 731 Pensacola Beach Blvd. sandshaker.com LIVE MUSIC 9 p.m. End O' the Alley, Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. sevillequarter.com LIVE MUSIC 9 p.m. Lili Marlene's, Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. sevillequarter.com

for more listings visit inweekly.net All of the events listed in this calendar are subject to change or cancellation. We try our best to keep it up to date, but if you see something that's wrong or old, please let us know by emailing calendar@inweekly.net.

inweekly.net

Thank you to those who attended our workshop

“Winning Business on Social Media” Thank you to our expert speaker, Corey Perlman

On Feb. 13, nationally-recognized social media expert, Corey Perlman, shared best practices on how to generate leads build credibility close the sale and turn happy customers into repeat business and referral partners on the web.

Here’s what attendees said about the workshop:

100% 95%

This workshop was graciously brought to our community by Cox Media.

100%

of attendees received practical information of attendees met their objective for attending training

95%

of attendees said their expectations were met or exceeded will recommend SCI trainings to their peers or colleagues

A special thank you to the following businesses for investing in their employees to attend this workshop and grow their skills: • 3SIXTY Marketing Studio • 5 Star Culture Co. • AAAC Wildlife Removal • Allen Turner Hyundai • Alyssa’s • Assist 2 Sell • Avalex Technologies • Beachbody • Bodacious Shops • Bonfire Pizza • Building Materials Outlet • Clark Partington • Clear Title of Northwest Florida • Comfort Systems USA, Southeast • Commercial Door Systems • Community Action Program Committee, Inc. • Complete DKI • Creative School Age Child Care, Inc. • Cycle Joint • Dave Reed Insurance • DBM Creative • Digital Boardwalk

• Dracos Genuine Communications, LLC • ECUA • Elite Mechanical Systems • Escambia County Healthy Start • Escambia County School District • Escambia County Sheriff’s Office • EW Bullock Associates • Family Heating & Air • FitzGerald Financial-TowneBank Mortgage • FloridaWest • Folkers Window Company • Greater Pensacola Chamber • GuidWell Connect • Gulf Coast Plastic Surgery • HEYDAY Advertising • Ideaworks • Joe DeReuil Associates • Kia AutoSport • LandrumHR • Loaves & Fishes Soup Kitchen, Inc. • Mary Kay • My Pensacola Credit Union

• NAI Pensacola • O’Riley’s Irish Pub • Painting with a Twist • Pen Air Federal Credit Union • Pensacola Athletic Center • Pensacola Blue Wahoos • Pensacola Dream Center • Pensacola Habitat for Humanity • Pensacola Memorial Gardens and • Funeral Home • Pensacola MESS Hall • Perfect Plain Brewing Company • ProHealth • Real Time Fitness • REGYMEN Fitness • Renfroe Pecan Co. • Rob Brooks Realty • Salon San Carlos • Sandra J Ward Realty, Inc. • Scenic Hills Country Club • ServisFirst Bank • Shrimp Basket • Saenger Theatre

• SmileLABS of NW Florida • Social ICON • Something Old Salvage, LLC • Stokes Victory Polaris, LLC • Studer Education • Studer Properties • SVN Southland • The Amy Palmer Group • The Appleyard Agency • The Arc Gateway • The Marketing Bar • The McCollough Institute • Thomas Homes Corporation • Torgersen Causey Insurance + Benefits • Trinity Presbyterian Church • Truland Homes • United Bank • United Way of West Florida • University of West Florida • Vivid Bridge Studios • Waterfront Rescue Mission • West Florida Baptist Church & Academy

And thank you to those who joined us via livestream in Fort Walton Beach, Gainesville, Mobile and Macon.

Take control of your time, workload and calendar Join us on-site at First Baptist Church of Pensacola Wednesday, March 11 from 8:30 — 11:30 A.M

ONDEMAND.STUDERI.ORG

Expert speaker Amanda Hindsman

STUDERI.ORG/EVENTS

The Studer Community Institute is a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. March 5, 2020

free will astrology WEEK OF MARCH 5 ARIES (MARCH 21-APRIL 19): Progress rarely unfolds in a glorious, ever-rising upward arc. The more usual pattern is gradual and uneven. Each modest ascent is followed by a phase of retrenchment and integration. In the best-case scenario, the most recent ascent reaches a higher level than the previous ascent. By my estimate, you're in one of those periods of retrenchment and integration right now, Aries. It's understandable if you feel a bit unenthusiastic about it. But I'm here to tell you that it's crucial to your next ascent. Let it work its subtle magic. TAURUS (APRIL 20-MAY 20): You are

most likely to be in sweet alignment with cosmic rhythms if you regard the next three weeks as a time of graduation. I encourage you to take inventory of the lessons you've been studying since your birthday in 2019. How have you done in your efforts to foster interesting, synergistic intimacy? Are you more passionately devoted to what you love? Have you responded brightly as life has pushed you to upgrade the vigor and rigor of your commitments? Just for fun, give yourself a grade for those "classes," as well as any others that have been important. Then—again, just for fun—draw up a homemade diploma for yourself to commemorate and honor your work.

GEMINI (MAY 21-JUNE 20): Are you ready to seize a more proactive role in shaping what happens in the environments you share with cohorts? Do you have any interest in exerting leadership to enhance the well-being of the groups that are important to you? Now is an excellent time to take brave actions that will raise the spirits and boost the fortunes of allies whose fates are intermingled with yours. I hope you'll be a role model for the art of pleasing oneself while being of service to others. CANCER (JUNE 21-JULY 22): Cancerian author Lionel Trilling (1905–1975) was an influential intellectual and literary critic. One of his heroes was another influential intellectual and literary critic, Edmund Wilson. On one occasion, Trilling was using a urinal in a men's room at the New School for Social Research in New York. Imagine how excited he was when Wilson, whom he had never met, arrived to use the urinal right next to his. Now imagine his further buoyancy when Wilson not only spoke to Trilling but also expressed familiarity with his work. I foresee similar luck or serendipity coming your way soon—seemingly unlikely encounters with interesting resources and happy accidents that inspire your self-confidence.

LEO (JULY 23-AUG. 22): Poet Conee Berdera delivered a poignant message to her most valuable possession—the flesh and blood vehicle that serves as sanctuary for all her yearnings, powers and actions. "My beloved body," she writes, "I am so 818 1

By Rob Brezsny

sorry I did not love you enough." Near the poem's end she vows "to love and cherish" her body. I wish she would have been even more forceful, saying something like, "From now on, dear body, I promise to always know exactly what you need and give it to you with all my ingenuity and panache." Would you consider making such a vow to your own most valuable possession, Leo? It's a favorable time to do so.

VIRGO (AUG. 23-SEPT. 22): Luckily, the turning point you have arrived at doesn't present you with 20 different possible futures. You don't have to choose from among a welter of paths headed in disparate directions. There are only a few viable options to study and think about. Still, I'd like to see you further narrow down the alternatives. I hope you'll use the process of elimination as you get even clearer about what you don't want. Let your fine mind gather a wealth of detailed information and objective evidence, then hand over the final decision to your intuition. LIBRA (SEPT. 23-OCT. 22): Certain

artists are beyond my full comprehension. Maybe I'm not smart enough to understand their creations or I'm not deep enough to fathom why their work is considered important. For example, I don't enjoy or admire the operas of Wagner or the art of Mark Rothko. Same with the music of Drake or the novels of Raymond Carter or the art of Andy Warhol. The problem is with me, not them. I don't try to claim they're overrated or mediocre. Now I urge you to do what I just did, Libra, only on a broader scale. Acknowledge that some of the people and ideas and art and situations you can't appreciate are not necessarily faulty or wrong or inadequate. Their value may simply be impossible for you to recognize. It's a perfect time for you to undertake this humble work. I suspect it will be liberating.

SCORPIO (OCT. 23-NOV. 21): Scorpioborn Ralph Bakshi has made animated films and TV shows for over 60 years. His work has been influential. "I'm the biggest rippedoff cartoonist in the history of the world," he says. Milder versions of his experience are not uncommon for many Scorpios. People are prone to copying you and borrowing from you and even stealing from you. They don't always consciously know they're doing it, and they may not offer you proper appreciation. I'm guessing that something like this phenomenon may be happening for you right now. My advice? First, be pleased about how much clout you're wielding. Second, if anyone is borrowing from you without making the proper acknowledgment, speak up about it. SAGITTARIUS (NOV. 22-DEC. 21):

"Vainly, I sought nourishment in shadows and errors," wrote author Jorge Luis Borges. We have all been guilty of miscalculations like those. Each of us has sometimes put our faith in people and ideas that weren't worthy

of us. None of us is so wise that we always choose influences that provide the healthiest fuel. That's the bad news, Sagittarius. The good news is that you now have excellent instincts about where to find the best long-term nourishment.

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

Adrienne Rich wrote, "When a woman tells the truth she is creating the possibility for more truth around her." I believe this same assertion is true about people of all genders. I also suspect that right now you are in a particularly pivotal position to be a candid revealer—to enhance and refine everyone's truth-telling by being a paragon of honesty yourself. To achieve the best results, I encourage you to think creatively about what exactly it means for you to tell the deep and entire truth.

AQUARIUS (JAN. 20-FEB. 18): Through some odd Aquarian-like quirk, astrologers have come to harbor the apparently paradoxical view that your sign is ruled by both Saturn and Uranus. At first glance, that's crazy! Saturn is the planet of discipline, responsibility, conservatism, diligence and order. Uranus is the planet of awakening, surprise, rebellion, barrier-breaking and liberation. How can you Aquarians incorporate the energies of both? Well, that would require a lengthy explanation beyond the scope of this horoscope. But I will tell you this—During the rest of the year 2020, you will have more potential to successfully coordinate your inner Saturn and your inner Uranus than you have had in years. Homework—Meditate on how you will do just that. PISCES (FEB. 19-MARCH 20): In 1637,

renowned English poet John Milton wrote "Lycidas," a poetic elegy in honor of a friend. Reading it today, almost four centuries later, we are struck by how archaic and obscure the language is, with phrases like "O ye laurels" and "Ah! Who hath reft my dearest pledge?" A famous 20th-century Piscean poet named Robert Lowell was well-educated enough to understand Milton's meaning, but also decided to "translate" all of "Lycidas" into plainspoken modern English. I'd love to see you engage in comparable activities during the coming weeks, Pisces—updating the past; reshaping and reinterpreting your old stories; revising the ways you talk about and think about key memories. HERE'S THIS WEEK'S HOMEWORK: Don't tolerate bullying from critical voices in your head or from supposedly "nice" people who are trying to guilt-trip you.

freewillastrology.com

inweekly.net

news of the weird THE CONTINUING CRISIS A rider on the New York City subway employed a novel way of protecting his personal space on Feb. 7, Fox News reported. The seated passenger removed a bottle of ketchup from his bag and squirted a squiggly perimeter on the floor around his seat, apparently hoping to keep fellow straphangers away. Twitter erupted with funny comments after one user posted a photo: "Gotta protect yourself from the mustard demons they can't cross the barrier" and "What brand of ketchup though?" New York City Transit got a taste of the problem and promised to clean it up right away. ANNALS OF ENTITLEMENT Seloni Khetarpal, 36, threw a tantrum worthy of the terrible twos on Feb. 13 when she "repeatedly" called 911 to report that her parents had shut off her cellphone, according to court documents. Khetarpal demanded that officers respond to her home in Jackson Township, Ohio, and was warned that she should only call 911 for a legitimate emergency. Several hours later, News5 Cleveland reported, she called back, became "belligerent" and told the dispatcher she thought it was a legitimate issue. She was arrested and charged with disrupting public services. OLD STORY, NEW TWIST An Oklahoma City homeowner hearing noises in his attic suspected squirrels might have gotten in, but when he went to inspect, he found instead ... a man, lying on a mattress. KOCO News reported on Feb. 28 the unnamed homeowner called 911 and reported a "stranger in my house. ... I have a gun on him right now." Police responding to the call told reporters "there was actually somebody that appeared to have taken up residence in (the) attic," and the home has a staircase "that goes up the side of the house with attic access." The homeowner escorted the squatter at gunpoint to the driveway, where officers were waiting.

By the Editors at Andrews McMeel

OOPS! Dylan Bryant found more adventure than he expected on Feb. 23 as he explored a bayou in southwest Houston. Bryant told KTRK his exploration took him about 100 yards down a sewer line before he became trapped. "I can't go back because of how I had to scooch through," Bryant said. "I'm in the middle of raw, open sewage in this little bitty box." From under the street, Bryant yelled for help and a man heard him, then asked a passerby to call 911. Firefighters arrived and pulled Bryant out of his smelly predicament. THE ENTREPRENEURIAL SPIRIT The Spanish Civil Guard raided an underground cigarette factory on Feb. 13 and 14 in the southern province of Malaga and found a facility with a complete production line capable of producing 3,500 cigarettes an hour as well as beds and living quarters for the workers, the Associated Press reported. Access to the plant, located 13 feet under a horse stable, was disguised by a cargo container. Twenty people, from the U.K., Ukraine and Lithuania, were arrested, said police, and more than 3 million cigarettes, some hashish and marijuana, as well as weapons, were seized. MUST-SEE TV Police in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, arrested Robert Lee Noye, 52, on Feb. 17 and charged him with first-degree harassment and false imprisonment after his victim told them Noye kidnapped her and forced her to watch the 1977 historical miniseries "Roots" "so she could better understand her racism," The Gazette reported. He allegedly told her if she did not sit for the entire nine-hour series about slavery, he would "kill her and spread her body parts across Interstate 380 on the way to Chicago." {in}

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

Send your weird news items to WeirdNewsTips@amuniversal.com

March 5, 2020

Independent News | March 5, 2020 | inweekly.net