Inweekly May 18 2023 Issue

Photo by: Geoff Peck | Model: Maegan Kramer

winners & losers

FILM PREMIERE & PANEL DISCUSSION

FREE FILM SCREENING

6PM TUES MAY 23

WSRE AMOS STUDIO PENSACOLA STATE COLLEGE

An inspiring look at the fragility of Northwest Florida’s threatened coastal ecology and efforts to revive the health of local bays and a once vibrant commercial industry through oyster restoration. Christian Wagley, Florida/Alabama coastal organizer for Healthy Gulf, will lead a panel discussion following the film.

WATCH THURS MAY 25

inStudio: “Hope on the Half Shell” at 7PM “The Humble Oyster” Broadcast Premiere at 8PM

winners losers

KEN MORRIS Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwest Florida has named Morris the Ron Mobayed Military Big of the Year for 2023. The retired Navy pilot was selected to receive this honor because of his commitment to helping his Little Brother Aundray reach his full potential. BBBS established the award to honor Lt. Ronald Joseph Mobayed, an outstanding Big Brother stationed in Pensacola for flight training in the early 1990s. Tragically, he was killed in the line of duty while responding to a distress signal.

EVELYN RANCIFER During its May 4 meeting, the Escambia County Commission celebrated Rancifer's retirement after 49 years of service. Her employment with Escambia County began on Aug. 6, 1973, as a clerk typist in Record Indexing in the Escambia County Comptroller's Office. She was quickly promoted to recording, then to accounts payable and later transferred to the Engineering Department in 1998, where she served for over 20 years with various job duties.

NAVY-MARINE CORPS RELIEF SOCIETY

The Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society (NMCRS) received $50,000 thanks to the 23rd Annual Charity Golf Tournament with the support of the Friends of the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society, Inc., facilitated by Pen Air Credit Union. To date, the local community has helped raise more than $600,000 to further the mission of NMCRS at NAS Pensacola. For 23 years, Pen Air has hosted the annual charity golf tournament to raise funds on behalf of the society that cannot solicit its own funding. NMCRS provides financial, educational and other need-based assistance to active-duty and retired Sailors, Marines and their eligible family members and survivors.

BAPTIST HEALTH CARE FOUNDATION

Its ninth annual Casino Royale gala raised nearly $285,000. The proceeds will benefit the new Baptist Hospital campus at Brent Lane and I-110, which will open in September 2023. This year's event theme was based on the James Bond movie "Quantum of Solace." More than 300 guests enjoyed an elegant gourmet dinner, a six-piece showband, casino games and a silent auction.

PELOTON

The company has recalled about 2.2 million of its exercise bikes because their "seat post assembly can break during use, posing fall and injury hazards to the user." The voluntary recall is for original Peloton model bikes sold from January 2018-May 2023 in the U.S. Peloton said the affected bikes "can be identified by its PL-01 model number on the label on the inside front fork (near the flywheel)." The free replacement seat can be requested at the company's website. In 2021, Peloton recalled its Tread+ and Tread treadmill machines following reports of several injuries and one. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission announced in January that Peloton had agreed to pay a $19 million civil penalty over its failure to report safety hazards with its treadmills immediately.

EDDIE SPEIR

The New College of Florida trustee was the only board member who did not receive Senate confirmation last week. He blames Richard Corcoran, New College's interim president, for blackballing him. Speir, a founder of the Christian school Inspiration Academy in Bradenton, was the only one of the seven new trustees who traveled to Tallahassee to appear before the Senate Ethics and Elections Committee. Of more than 325 people whose appointments were up this year to offices and boards, Speir was among 10 people who were not confirmed. Three of those people were board members of Enterprise Florida, which lawmakers decided to eliminate.

WENDY ROGERS Judge Howard Grodman dismissed Arizona state Sen. Wendy Rogers' restraining order against a journalist who had been investigating where she lived. At the hearing in the Flagstaff Justice Court, the judge ruled Arizona Capitol Times reporter Camryn Sanchez's conduct did not amount to harassment. Goodman told reporters, "I don't think there is a series of events directed at Sen. Rogers that would cause a reasonable person to be seriously alarmed, annoyed or harassed even if she in fact was. The strongest point is investigative reporting is a legitimate purpose. It just is."

Ken Morris / Courtesy Photo

Phot by rarrarorro / shutterstock.com

outtakes

By Rick Outzen

THE PRICE AIN'T RIGHT

I've bragged often about our 2014 "Ballsy Plan," which touted building a ballpark in downtown Pensacola, relocating the Main Street Sewage Treatment Plant and creating a downtown entertainment district . The plan actually became a blueprint for much of the city's redevelopment.

"Ballsy Plan 2" has never received as much publicity. It suggested replacing the downtown surface parking with parking garages that allowed retail on the ground floor, selling city hall to developers for mixed-use, and opening Palafox Place and Baylen streets to two-traffic. Only one of those recommendations has come to fruition.

In the 2005 plan, we also included affordable housing. Condominium projects had begun to pop up, but the price tags were out of reach for the average Northwest Floridian. I talked with Charleston, S.C., Strong Mayor Joe Riley, and he suggested that we push for housing in the $80,000-$175,000 range that the first-time buyer or younger folks and families could attain.

We suggested city leaders set aside some of its vast public property holdings downtown or buy other sites. Then, the city could solicit bids to build townhomes, condos, apartments or houses.

If the almighty city powers would accept our parking garage proposal, we pointed out that the two likely places for affordable housing were the blocks on Intendencia and Reus streets, where those working in the Chappie James government building parked and behind City Hall along Government Street.

No one paid attention to our affordable housing ideas. Rebuild was focused on raising money to replace the blue tarps on area houses and city and county officials doling out huge contracts using FEMA dollars. We were ahead of our time.

Four years later, the heart of downtown remained a renter's haven for attorneys, banks and commercial offices. Few lived within the small business district, and those who did generally paid exuberant rents that far exceeded the budget of most who work and play there.

That was how Inweekly's Sean Boone described downtown Pensacola's housing market for the cover story, "Wanted: Affordable Down-

town Housing," that we published on Nov. 25, 2009. The words could be written again today. Though we've quadrupled the housing choices in downtown Pensacola, the rent is still out of reach for most who work there.

In 2009, the Pensacola City Council and Downtown Improvement Board traveled to St. Louis to entice McCormack Baron Salazar (MBS), a developer specializing in long-term urban projects for mixed-income housing, to build in the downtown area.

DIB Executive Director Kim Kimbrough took 16 local officials and business leaders to see MBS's projects and see if they would be interested in a public-private collaboration that would provide 200 housing units. The entourage included County Commissioner Grover Robinson and five council members—Jewel CannadaWynn, Sam Hall, Ronald Townsend, Diane Mack and Megan Pratt.

Kimbrough believed, and we agreed, that downtown needed a vibrant residential component for retail to thrive. Unfortunately, the idea never got much further than the talking stage.

In 2012, Mayor Ashton Hayward created the Urban Redevelopment Advisory Committee (URAC) to assist the city in creating a guide for the redevelopment of downtown Pensacola. Among its goals was to "create housing with a wide spectrum of affordability."

The URAC report recommended that the city aim to double the number of housing units in the CRA district in the next five years. They were to be a variety of sizes, types and prices scattered throughout the district, including midrise multistory apartments overlooking Admiral Mason Park, loft apartments on upper floors of commercial buildings, and single-family infill development in Belmont-DeVilliers, Old East Hill and Long Hollow.

The first to take the URAC seriously were Quint and Rishy Studer, who built Southtowne and the Savoy. Other developers have followed their lead, but unfortunately, the price ranges aren't affordable for many Pensacolians.

We need to revisit the URAC plan and focus on affordability. We have the demand and supply, but we must get the price right. {in} rick@inweekly.net

Just like we have every year for the last 23 years, we're asking all of you to play favorites and vote in our Best of the Coast poll. That means your most important opinions—like who really has the best karaoke night in town—are finally going to be heard.

Some of you might've noticed we're doing things a little earlier this time around. That's because we just can't wait to see what and who ev -

eryone is loving around town right now. So instead of October, the official results will be announced in August this year.

Don't worry if you can't get through the full ballot in one try. Voting is open through May 21, so you can take it one section at a time. You can also vote online if that's more your style—at inweekly.net. {in}

Or vote online at inweekly.net • Now-May 21

community, media & culture

Best Nonprofit

Best Charity Event

Best Place to Work

Best Boss

Best Community Leader

Best Rising Leader

Best Politician

Best Advocacy/Activist Group

Best Place to Take Out-of-Town Guests

Best Day Trip

Best Annual Event

Best Food Event

Best Parade

Best Regular/Reoccurring Event

Best Free Thing To Do

Best Neighborhood

Best Pensacola Landmark

Best Public Park

Best Pet-Friendly Park

Best Playground

Best Palafox Market Vendor

Best Makers/Craft Market

Best Reason to Attend a Blue Wahoos Game

Best Reason to Attend an Ice Flyers Game

Best Youth Sports/Rec Program

Best Dance Studio

Best After-School Activity

Best Summer Camp

Best Place for a Birthday Party

Best Local Celebrity

Best TV Station

Best Radio Station

Best Radio Personality

Best Morning Radio Show

Best Podcast

Best Website/Blog

Best Business or Person to Follow on Social Media

Best Way To Get Cultured

Best Art Gallery/Museum

Best Artist

Best Photographer

Best Music Venue

Best Band

Best Concert/Concert Series

Best Theatre Production

Best Comedian

▶rules

•No photocopies or faxes will be accepted.

•Vote in at least 15 categories. Ballots with fewer than 15 categories completed will not be counted.

•Ballots must be postmarked by May 21, 2023.

▶mail your ballot to

Best of the Coast c/o Inweekly, PO Box 12082, Pensacola, FL 32591

▶required info

Name

Email

services

Best Hair Salon-Pensacola

Best Hair Salon-Gulf Breeze/Pensacola Beach

Best Hair Salon–Milton/Pace

Best Hair Stylist

Best Hair Colorist

Best Barber Shop

Best Men's Hair Stylist

Best Day Spa

Best Massage

Best Massage Therapist

Best Pedicure

Best Manicure

Best Hair Removal

Best Facial

Best Esthetician

Best Skin Care Overall

Best Bank

Best Credit Union

Best Financial Advisor

Best Accounting Firm

Best Residential Real Estate Agency

Best Commercial Real Estate Agency

Best Real Estate Agent

Best Boutique Hotel/Inn

Best Hotel–Pensacola Beach

Best Hotel–Pensacola

Best Apartment Complex

Best Architecture Firm

Best Law Firm

Best Attorney

Best Insurance Agent

Best Vet

Best Dog Groomer

Best Dog Training

Best Doggie Day Care/Boarding

Best Construction Company

Best AC Company

Best Landscaping

Best Interior Designer

Best Framery

Best Tattoo & Piercing Studio

Best Tattoo Artist

Best Special Event Space

Best Party Decor

Best Caterer

Best Florist

Best Portrait/Family Photography

Best Tailor/Alterations

Best Car Wash/Detailer

Best Auto Service Shop

Best Green Business

Best New Business

health & wellness

Best Gym

Best Personal Trainer

Best Boutique Fitness Studio

Best Yoga

Best Yoga Instructor

Best Pilates

Best Fitness Classes

Best Fitness Instructor

Best Bootcamp

Best Weight Loss Program

Best Running Club

Best 5K

Best Place to Walk/Run

Best Place to Ride Your Bike

Best Hospital

Best General Care Physician

Best Chiropractor

Best Dentist

Best Orthodontist

Best Endodontist

Best Pediatrician

Best Mental Health Professional

Best OB/GYN

Best Optometrist

Best Dermatologist

Best Plastic Surgery

Best Physical Therapy

Best Pharmacy

Best Walk-In Clinic

Best Cannabis Dispensary

retail

Best Car Dealership

Best Bicycle Shop

Best Boutique

Best Men's Apparel

Best Women's Apparel

Best Children's Apparel & Gifts

Best Accessories

Best Thrift Store

Best Athletic/Outdoor Store

Best Furniture/Home Décor Store

Best Antiques

Best Vintage Shop/Seller

Best Maker/Artisan

Best Gift Shop

Best Place to Buy Greeting Cards/Stationery

Best Place to Buy a Book

Best Comic Book Store

Best New Store

Best Jeweler

Best Surf/Skate Shop

Best Nursery/Plants

Best Hardware Store

Best Computer/Tech Store

Best Music Gear/Instruments

Best Record Store

Best Liquor Store

Best Wine Shop

Best Wine Tastings

Best Grocery Store

Best Place to Buy Produce

Best International Food Market

Best Gourmet/Specialty Food Shop

weddings

Best Place to Propose

Best Place to Buy an Engagement Ring

Best Ceremony Venue

Best Reception Venue

Best Officiant

Best Bridal Store

Best Place to Rent a Tux

Best Bridal Make-up Artist

Best Wedding Hair Salon

Best Wedding Hair Stylist

Best Wedding Planner/Coordinator

Best Wedding Photography

Best Photobooth

Best Wedding Videography

Best Wedding Band

Best Wedding DJ

Best Wedding Caterer

Best Wedding Cake

Best Wedding Florist

Best Wedding Rentals

Best Wedding Party Transportation

Best Place to Buy a Wedding Gift

Best Place for a Rehearsal Dinner

Best Place for Out-of-Town Guests to Stay restaurants

Best Restaurant Overall

Best Restaurant–Downtown

Best Restaurant–Cordova Area

Best Restaurant–East Hill

Best Restaurant–North Pensacola/

Nine Mile Road

Best Restaurant–West Pensacola/Perdido Key

Best Restaurant–East Pensacola Heights

Best Restaurant–Gulf Breeze

Best Restaurant–Pensacola Beach

Best Restaurant–Milton/Pace

Best New Restaurant

Best Bakery

Best Breakfast

Best Brunch

Best Lunch

Best Food Truck

Best Greek Cuisine

Best Mexican Cuisine

Best Italian Cuisine

Best Cajun Cuisine

Best Chinese Cuisine

Best Japanese Cuisine

Best Thai Cuisine

Best Indian Cuisine

Best Vietnamese Cuisine

Best Vegetarian/Vegan Cuisine

Best Sushi

Best Gluten Free Options

Best Seafood

Best Steakhouse

Best BBQ

Best Soul Food

Best Wine Menu

Best Original Menu

Best Chef

Best Up-and-Coming Chef

Best Wait Staff

Best Waiter

Best Waitress

Best Coffee Shop

Best Barista

Best Outdoor Dining

Best Place to Eat Healthy

Best Place to Satisfy Your Sweet Tooth

Best Kid-Friendly Restaurant

Best Pet-Friendly Restaurant

Best Take Out/To Go

Best Food Delivery

Best Restaurant for a Date

Best Restaurant for a Birthday Dinner

Best Restaurant for Sports Fans

Best Late Night Eats

Best Restaurant to Take Out-of-Town Guests

Best Gone-But-Not-Forgotten Restaurant

food

*List the specific menu item if applicable

Best Uniquely Pensacola Dish

Best Cup of Coffee

Best Cold Brew

Best Latte

Best Iced Tea

Best Juices/Smoothies

Best Pizza

Best Steak

Best Burrito

Best Taco

Best Soup

Best Deli

Best Bread

Best Sandwich

Best Chicken Salad

Best Burger

Best Hot Dog

Best Cheese Plate

Best Appetizers

Best Mac-n-Cheese

Best Pastries

Best Breakfast Dish/Menu Item

Best Grits

Best Donuts

Best French Fries

Best Fried Chicken

Best Wings

Best Oysters

Best Salads

Best Vegetarian/Vegan Dish

Best Desserts

Best Ice Cream/Frozen Yogurt

Best Cakes/Cupcakes

Best Cookies

Best King Cake

Best Original Menu Item

Best Lunch Specials

Best Weekly Special

Best Cooking Classes

Best Local Food Manufacturer

Best Local Beverage Manufacturer

Best Mobile Beverage Service

bars, drinks & nightlife

Best Bar Overall

Best Night Club

Best Bar–Downtown

Best Bar–Cordova Area

Best Bar–North Pensacola/Nine Mile Road

Best Bar–West Pensacola/Perdido Key

Best Bar–Pensacola Beach

Best Bar–Milton/Pace

Best New Bar

Best Drink Specials

Best Cover Charge Worth Paying

Best Day Drinking

Best Drink Menu

Best Daiquiris/Frozen Drinks

Best Bushwacker

Best Bloody Mary

Best Mimosa

Best Martini

Best Selection of Wine

Best Margarita

Best Signature Drink

Best Brewery

Best Local Beer

Best Selection of Beer on Tap

Best Bartender

Best DJ

Best Drag Queen

Best Sports Bar

Best Sports Team Club Headquarters

Best Neighborhood Bar

Best Pet-Friendly Bar

Best Hotel Bar

Best Bar With a View

Best Bar Ambiance

Best Bar for Games

Best Trivia Night

Best Karaoke Night

Best Bar for Live Music

Best Bar Food

A MAGICAL PORT

On Thursday, May 11, Triumph Gulf Coast unanimously approved the City of Pensacola's request for $8.5 million for the completion of Warehouse 10 at the Port of Pensacola, plus a 50-foot addition and the construction of a dock and boat ramp.

The facility is required to secure the headquarters relocation of Bella Mente Quantum Racing Association (American Magic) to the Port. Warehouse 10 became available when Streamline Boats failed to meet the conditions of its lease agreement. The facility was initially intended for DeepFlex, but that deal also fell apart.

In its application, the city stated that American Magic's relocation of training and boat building facility to Pensacola will create 170 high-wage jobs in the advanced manufacturing, engineering, research and development sector. The job creation would be a mix of American Magic jobs and Port or portrelated jobs.

In addition to the Triumph grant, the rest of the funding for the $45.2 million project is expected to come from Escambia County TDC ($1.5 million), the Governor's Job Growth Grant Fund ($3.9 million) and the Florida Seaport Transportation Economic Development Program ($1.5 million). The city will get credit for the replacement value of the warehouse ($3.2 million), and American Magic will invest $32 million.

Once funding is awarded, design and construction is anticipated to take 24 months. Job creation would begin immediately, with a total ramp-up within two years of the construction's completion.

WMS STANDSTILL On Friday, May 12, the Escambia County School Board unanimously approved a closure plan for Warrington Middle School, pending what the State Board of Education rules during its meeting on Tuesday, May 16.

The State Board of Education will consider the compliance of Escambia County Public Schools and Warrington Middle School. Commissioner Manny Diaz Jr. will report his finding of probable cause for the Escambia County School District under the provisions of section 1008.32, Florida Statutes.

The statute states that if the State Board of Education determines that a district school board "is unwilling or unable to comply with law or state board rule within the specified time," the state board possesses the authority to recommend punitive action to be taken by the Legislature and/ or withhold the transfer of funds including state, discretionary grant, discretionary lottery or any other specified as eligible by the Legislature until the school district complies with the law or state board rule.

"Either the Department of Education and commissioner will have a conversation with Charter USA, and they will come with a signed contract," School Board Chair Paul Fetsko said, "or the commissioner will say Escambia County Public Schools, the school board and superintendent have failed to live up to its plan, and he recommends going to the Legislature for punitive actions."

The closure plan approved by the school board reassigns the students in the Warrington attendance zone to Bailey and Workman middle schools. However, the plan faces obstacles. School district general counsel Ellen Odom told the school board that it "is not worth the piece of paper it's written on" unless the State Board and Department of Education approve it.

Fetsko said Diaz had already told the school district that closing WMS was not an option. The State Board and Department of Education instructed the school district to submit a signed contract with Charter Schools USA on May 1. The school board approved an agreement that day, but negotiations with Charter USA broke down afterward over three sticking points.

Charter USA asked to operate without paying any administrative fees. The school district responded that Charter USA should pay 2% in the first two years, 3% in its third year and 4% beginning in the fourth year. School officials noted that the magnet school Beulah Academy of Science pays 4%. Charter USA insisted on no fees.

The second point of contention concerns discretionary capital funds for building construction renovations. Legislation for charter schools to receive a portion of the millage rate paid by

taxpayers is pending approval from Gov. Ron DeSantis. The school district anticipates the governor signing the legislation into law and proposes increasing the amount by 20% each year until hitting the 100% threshold by the fifth year. Charter USA is countering that 100% be paid by the second year.

The final point of contention is over the attendance zone. The school district requested that Charter USA promise 200 seats per grade level to middle school students who live in the attendance zone. Charter USA added details about K-5 students. The education management organization plans to turn Warrington into a K-12 magnet school eventually.

"I don't want the closure. I want the charter school," School Superintendent Tim Smith said. "But we have to be able to work (together). It's been so unpredictable when you say, here's what we want to do, and something new comes back."

The Florida State Board of Education and DOE ordered that Warrington either close or transition to a charter school by the 2023-24 school year. The order came after Warrington earned yet another D this past school. Warrington last earned a C in the 2010-11 school year. Only Charter USA agreed to partner with the school district.

Superintendent Smith was optimistic a resolution would be reached. "I get the sense of urgency because my sense of urgency is probably greater than anyone's because I need to be able to tell my parents and my kids what's going to happen next year, and it makes me very nervous that we don't have it decided."

For an update on the future of Warrington Middle School, visit ricksblog.biz.

WORKING FAMILIES STRUGGLING Nearly half of Escambia households struggle to afford groceries, housing and other basic needs, according to a new report from United Way of West Florida and its research partner United For ALICE.

The number of households unable to afford the basics grew by more than 3,100 in Escambia County during the first two years of the COVID-19 pandemic. That resulted in more than 58,000

households, 46% of the county's households, struggling to afford the basics by 2021.

At the same time, the number of households unable to afford the basics fell by more than 4,400 in Santa Rosa County. But there are still almost 24,000 hard-working households, 36% of the county, struggling with financial insecurity.

These calculations include households in poverty as well as families defined as ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed). ALICE families earn above the Federal Poverty Level but less than what's needed to survive in the modern economy. ALICE includes childcare workers, home health aides and cashiers heralded during the pandemic—those working low-wage jobs with little or no savings and one emergency from poverty.

According to the report, about 82,000 people in the two counties are in ALICE households or below. United Way of West Florida CEO Laura Gilliam said, "These are people who don't necessarily qualify for benefits and often fall in the cracks because they just don't make enough money to pay for the basics. They're really kind of stuck in the middle."

Why is the ALICE report important? Gilliam said, "Equipped with the ALICE name and data, we can do even better to develop effective policies and track our progress toward reducing financial hardship in our community."

To see snapshots of the ALICE Report for Escambia and Santa Rosa counties, visit uwwf. org/alice.

680 OVERDOSES Escambia County had 680 drug overdoses during the first week of May. The CORE (Coordinated Opioid Recovery) pilot program that Gov. Ron DeSantis expanded to Escambia and 11 other Florida counties last August has yet to disrupt the opioid epidemic locally.

CDAC announced the stunning overdose statistic last week at the Escambia County Opioid Abatement Funding Advisory Board meeting. The board sets priorities and recommends how the county should spend its funds from the opioid settlements.

Escambia County is expected to receive over

$10 million from the opioid settlements. The Lakeview Center and CDAC (Community Drug and Alcohol Council) told the advisory board that the county has several gaps in drug abuse presentation and treatment.

Lakeview talked about DAART (Drug Alcohol Adolescent Residential Treatment), which it shut down four years ago because of the lack of referrals from local judges. The program housed 16-20 teenagers at a time, costing about $1 million to run. Before restarting the program, Lakeview's president, Shawn Salamida, recommended a need assessment to determine the demand for a residential facility for adolescents.

The demand may be bigger than it was in 2019. Lakeview's Edna Williams said, "I do believe for adolescents, there is a pretty robust amount of opiate dependence."

CDAC said the need for treatment and presentation programs for opioid abuse is "across all ages and socio-economic groups."

Later in the week, Lakeview announced its Addiction Receiving Facility (ARF) for adults that will provide specialized detox care to ensure a smooth continuum of care, including crisis support, community-based care, outpatient treatment and residential programs.

The ARF is a 10-bed facility staffed by addiction specialists, nurses and behavioral health staff. The average length of stay in similar facilities is three-seven days. Upon discharge, individuals will be referred to a continuing care program with Lakeview Center or other community resources based on their individual needs.

Detox care is an important first step in treating addiction and beginning a path to recovery, according to Dr. David Josephs, Lakeview's clinical director.

The intent is to medically detox individuals so they can get into the continuum of addiction care, which may involve our 40-bed residential program or outpatient services," Dr. Josephs said. "These programs are particularly lifesaving for those dealing with opiate or alcohol addiction."

JAIL VISITATION Criminal defense attorneys continue to have problems seeing their clients at the Escambia County Jail, in violation of a 1976 court order.

Attorney Gene Mitchell explained, "A jail is by its definition a pretrial detention center. A major focus of a jail is to assist the due process of the criminal justice system."

However, he asserts that the new Escambia County Jail was constructed to be a prison, not a jail. Mitchell said, "But we don't need a prison. We need a jail."

Before the new jail and Rich Powell was hired to run corrections, Mitchell and his fellow attorneys could visit with 10 or 15 clients in an afternoon. That is no longer possible.

"What happens with the new building under Mr. Powell's guidance, you show up, and at best, if you signed a waiver, then you get to walk the halls without a walker," said Mitchell. "But once you get up to one of their designated little rooms,

and there's only one on each floor. You get to that room, and if it's in use, you wait and wait. When it's free, you still wait forever while a walker goes and gets your client and brings 'em to you."

He added, "The days of seeing 10 or 15 or more inmates in the afternoon, those days are long gone. You're doing good if you see three inmates in an afternoon."

According to Mitchell, the video visitation system doesn't work properly, and the vendor has a track record of unsatisfactory performance, horrible reviews and class-action settlements,

He believes the best authority on this issue is a 1976 federal case tried in Pensacola (Mitchell v Untreiner). Pubic Defender Ron Shelley brought a civil action against Escambia County Sheriff Royal Untreiner.

The case resulted in an order that, among many remedies, included attorneys representing inmates in the Escambia County Jail shall have access to said inmates at any time within 12 hours of arrest. Normal visiting hours for attorneys shall be between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m. daily, and the jail shall furnish adequate facilities for attorney-client communications. Attorneys also shall be given priority for the use of those facilities.

Mitchell said inmates are not seeing their attorneys nearly enough under the current visitation policies, which leaves the county open to lawsuits and additional legal expenses because they are being denied their right to due process.

NEXT BIG CRISIS Pensacola will be hit this summer with several childcare and early development programs either being discontinued or cutting back due to a lack of qualified workers. Pensacola State College is shuttering its campus daycare, which Campfire USA operates. Several local churches have announced reductions.

In an email, PSC President Ed Meadows explained the closure of the daycare was due to Campfire USA losing its insurance carrier. He said, "When we discovered they had lost their insurance, we notified them to close by the last day of coverage or provide proof of insurance to continue operation."

Dr. Meadows continued, "Our concern is for the safety of children in childcare centers."

The Early Learning Coalition has $22 million to help parents pay for childcare and early education. It has a waiting list due to the lack of staffing at childcare facilities. Last fall, we reported the waiting list had 568 children and the facilities were running at 76% capacity.

During the pandemic, a third of working mothers and a quarter of working fathers reported that they needed to reduce their work hours. Jobs that allow flexible hours and part-time options pay lower wages, so parents' earnings suffer because they are working fewer hours and earning less for the hours they do work.

Less income puts households at risk of falling below the ALICE threshold. Employers have to deal with childcare-related absences and employee turnover. And children lose vital preschool education that will prepare them for kindergarten. {in}

After being closed to the General Public for over three years, the National Naval Aviation Museum is now open for EVERYONE to enjoy with FREE admission.

Come journey through the evolution of Naval Aviation, from the earliest flying machines to NASA space missions. Watch the Blue Angels soar overhead, ride the MaxFlight360 simulator or experience the Magic of Flight in the Giant Screen Theater. It’s gripping history and rip-roaring, out-of-thisworld fun!

OPEN 9– 4 DAILY ON NAVAL AIR STATION PENSACOLA FREE MUSEUM ADMISSION • (850) 453-2389 (800) 327-5002 • NavalAviationMuseum.org

Raise your hand if you're Gulf Shores bound this weekend for Hangout Fest.

Now put it down and start reading—because we've covered a lot of ground in this issue, and you don't have much time before the party starts.

From what to pack to who to watch*, this issue has it all and then some. And yes, we gave SZA a whole ass page because how could we not? {in}

*All set times printed in this issue are current as of 5 p.m., Monday, May 15, but they are subject to change. Make sure you download the official Hangout Fest app or follow them (@hangoutfest) for updates.

Photo by: Geoff Peck (@tinyobservations) | Model: Maegan Kramer (@iammaeganbeverly) | Image on screen: SZA / Photo Courtesy of RCA Records

If you find yourself at the Mermaid Stage on Friday around 5:30 p.m., you may notice a little green guy sitting on a microphone. He has four arms, red ovular eyes and could nicely fit into the pocket of your jeans.

His name is Gumpy, and his stage presence means that alternative powerhouse Jordana Nye, better known as Jordana, is nearby. She received Gumpy from a fan on her first-ever tour, where she performed in support of TV Girl in 2021. Since then, Gumpy has become an asset to Jordana when she's on the road.

"I'll be like, 'This is my band, this is Gumpy and this is me,' and it's been a thing I do every show," Jordana said. "It just became a charm, like a good luck charm and kind of a distraction."

For the multi-genre artist, small distractions and routines, like Gumpy, help her get out her pre-performance jitters. Before each show, she said she has to "distract myself until the two minutes I have left until I have to go onstage." When the occasional onstage anxiety occurs, she'll use Gumpy or other conversational distractions to center herself and find comfort.

When it comes to pre-show rituals, there is one in particular that Jordana maintains that also coincides with the rules of swimming—no eating at least 30 minutes before getting in, or, in this case, going on.

"It throws me off, and I just get in my head about it," Jordana said. "So I hope that there's

From choosing the right shoes to walk through the sand in to knowing the sunscreen size that won't get confiscated like your last run-in with the TSA, your pre-show preparation can dictate just how smoothly your three-day experience will go. When deciding what to bring to Hangout Fest, we recommend a minimalist approach. We also recommend reading the info page on their website. But just in case you haven't yet, here are a few key takeaways.

JUST SO IT'S CLEAR

PRE-FEST PREP

Prepping for a festival lays the foundation for your experience—trust.

Clear bags only—seriously. Hangout Fest isn't your opportunity to rock a stylish purse or try to sneak in a mysterious backpack. The festival enforces a strict clear-bag policy, and they better be small bags, too—nothing larger than 12-by6-by-12 is allowed. Small clutches (think handsized) with no handle or strap, one-gallon clear

time hours before; that way, we can go to the Hangout buffet or something."

While Gumpy wasn't around in Jordana's early music career, she still found ways to get out of her head and make music. The singersongwriter got her start recording demos on GarageBand in her Maryland bedroom by herself. Since then, she has jumped from genre to genre, releasing music in the indie folk, bedroom pop and rock categories.

"I'm so into every genre that I'm like expansive," Jordana said. "I can't choose a specific genre to stick with because there's just too much music to be made."

Since making bops in her bedroom, she has also upgraded from GarageBand to a band of

plastic freezer bags (zip-top bags or similar) and fanny packs are also allowed.

MONEY MATTERS

Leave your cash at home or in your bank account; it won't do you much good. This year's event is entirely cashless, and this means vendors will only accept tap-to-pay, credit and debit cards. If you forget, there will be a few "cash-tocard" booths inside the festival grounds, where you can exchange cash for a Visa debit card.

THE ESSENTIALS

Thankfully, you don't need much—because your bag is pretty small, remember? But here are our top must-haves.

When it comes to sunscreen, our general rule is the higher the SPF, the better. And in terms of how to carry sunscreen across the threshold of

her own and from producing tracks solo to working with a team, elevations she has had to learn to love. In the beginning of her career, she "had a really big problem with wanting to work alone to prove something of myself." Hangout Fest will be Jordana's third festival performance featuring the support of her band.

Jordana said that just like any other show, she will be "keeping up the traditions."

Jordana @jordananye

5:30-6:15 p.m. Friday Mermaid Stage

the festival gates, think airport vibes. It can't be in an aerosol container or larger than 3 ounces.

Do NOT forget a water bottle—sans water. You're allowed one empty non-glass water container up to 2 liters in size or a CamelBakstyle hydration pack with one pocket for the water bladder and one additional pocket. There are water stations throughout the festival grounds to fill 'em up.

We always say sunglasses and/or a hat, but we definitely think "and" is the right call here. Also, if you're thinking about packing hand sanitizer, do it. We also suggest wet wipes—they really come in handy when you encounter the archnemesis to every festivalgoer ever—port-o-potties.

See a complete list of allowed and prohibited items, as well as frequently asked questions, at hangoutmusicfest.com/info.

Jordana / Photo by Andy Boyle

SZA / Original Photo Courtesy of RCA Records

In her audio interview with Inweekly, Elohim's quotes come from a talking profile image—a graphic composite of her face and a lion face with mouse ears placed atop an image of her body; she's holding a cigarette.

It's all very Pisces of her.

"Actually, that photo means so much to me because that was the first image I ever put out as Elohim," she said. "I put out my first song ever, called 'She Talks Too Much,' and that photo, and the rest is history."

Pisces are often described as being creative and imaginative, and all of Elohim's imagery is fittingly whimsical. Peep her Instagram. It's who she is.

While Elohim grew up playing classical piano, she was always drawn to alternative electronic.

"My parents would sort of force me to practice because playing classical, it takes so much time, so much practice," Elohim said. "I would sit there for hours, but then I would take little parts and just turn them into my own songs. So I would take like a [Sergei] Rachmaninoff piece and turn it into my own thing."

Conveniently sitting next to a piano at her house during the interview, Elohim demonstrated how she'd transform chords into something more uniquely her.

"Everyone at the recitals would be dressed in pink dresses, and then I would show up and not look like that," Elohim said. "I guess I've always just kind of dreamed about butterflies."

Elohim's at home, because she's hard at work recording her upcoming album, "Power of Panic," which relates to her struggles with mental health. She can recall at least two "significant breakdowns" that made her want to quit.

"I wanted to give up a lot of times, and I just never did," Elohm said. "It's really hard because one of the things that can trigger panic, anxiety and dissociation is leaving the house, and that can get really hard. I find that once I'm on the road for a while, it's always those first few days of leaving home that's really hard for me, and then I'm fine. Like, once I'm on the road for a while, I can kind of click into it."

Elohim was in a good mental headspace before COVID. She had worked hard in therapy, and she was taking medication and selling out shows on her headlining tour, "Group Therapy."

"Then COVID hit, and I was home for a year and a half, and it really, really affected me," Elohim said. "I'm still picking up the pieces, as a lot of artists are."

Elohim knows she's not starting over on her mental health journey, but it still feels that way. Recording and performing are a double-edged sword, both of which can bring her peace, but also anxiety.

Elohim wrote her latest single, "Breath," while she was lying in bed after hitting a stalemate with her therapist, calling herself one of the therapist's "most severe clients."

Not registered to vote? No problem, you can do it at Hangout Fest.

While a beachside music festival might seem like an unconventional time to secure your voting ability, HeadCount will give festivalgoers a convenient chance to do so—it's kind of their thing.

Check out its mission statement—"HeadCount is a non-partisan organization that uses the power of music to register voters and promote participation in democracy. We reach young people and music fans where they already are—at concerts and online—to inform and empower."

"HeadCount is partnering with Hangout Fest to engage music fans and encourage them to par-

"We tried so many things over the years, and it felt like nothing was working," Elohim said. "I think she got to the end. She was like, 'I don't know that I can help you anymore.' And she started talking about God and a higher power. And I was like, 'Wow, it's really strange for a therapist to bring up God,' but it doesn't have to be in a religious way. But she was like, 'What if you channel a higher power?'"

Elohim channels things into music, she said. So at 10 or 11 p.m., she channeled it the first rendition of "Breath" into her Voice Memos app.

"It felt so almost spiritual," Elohim said. "I was kind of thinking of a higher power, not necessarily God—which for somebody who struggles, it actually gives you a bit of hope in a way."

Elohim is vocal about her mental health and coping mechanisms. She's worked with different organizations and donated streaming proceeds to The Jed Foundation—a nonprofit that protects emotional health and prevents suicide for teens and young adults in the U.S., she said.

"This next chapter for me is being like, 'You know what, I'm gonna turn all these struggles that I go through into my superpower, and help them give me fuel,'" Elohim said. "It's almost like a thing that I have, that maybe someone else doesn't."

"I'm like, wouldn't it be a dream if I could turn that energy into something good, and into power and strength?" Elohim said. "So that's kind of where I'm at with this project, and I hope that

ticipate in democracy," said Alex Epstein, the HeadCount Chief of Staff. "We're excited to have our volunteers on the ground promoting civic engagement, all while enjoying an epic lineup on the Gulf Shores' beautiful white sand beaches."

HeadCount volunteers stage non-partisan voter registration drives at more than 1,000 live events each year. The organization also collaborates with cultural leaders to promote civic engagement on a national scale, according to its website.

Since 2004, HeadCount has signed up more than 1,000,000 voters through its work with touring musicians, such as Ariana Grande, Dead &

I can, myself, not only make this music but also apply it to myself and to my life."

Elohim is excited to test out some of her new music at Hangout Fest and see how the crowd reacts. About 90% of the music Elohim performs is original, she said.

"A lot of DJs play different music from other artists, and I love doing that," Elohim said. "But I also feel like I'm such an artist at my core, and it feels really good to be able to play pretty much all my own music, and to replace some of it with this new music I've been working on."

Elohim loved performing at Hangout Fest in 2019—only partially because she got to hold another musician's newly adopted puppy.

"It was such a great festival, and then the crowd was insane—like in-sane," Elohim said. "With a festival, you have no idea what to expect, and the crowd was absolutely bonkers. Like, they were so loud. It was amazing. It was such a great show. That's the best feeling when you play a festival and a lot of people show up to your set and are really into it. It's like, obviously, the best feeling ever—and Hangout was that times 100."

6:30-7:30 p.m. Sunday Monster Beach Club

Company and Beyoncé, and at events such as Lollapalooza, Bonnaroo, Pride festivals and RuPaul's DragCon. Not to mention, HeadCount's public service announcements have starred the likes of Jay-Z, Dave Matthews and members of the Grateful Dead.

By showing up at popular music events and collaborating with noteworthy musicians, HeadCount furthers music's ability to create change. If you still haven't gotten around to it, take a quick break from the Hangout lineup this weekend and register to vote.

You can learn more about HeadCount and why voting is important at headcount.org.

Elohim / Photo by Chase O'Black

Event Producer Reeves Price knows the biggest thing that separates Hangout Fest from other music festivals is that you get to see some of the top artists in the world on the beach in Alabama … like, ahem, SZA.

"Who'd have thought?" he said.

But there's a lot more to it than just the beach and the lineup—it's an entire experience. And that doesn't just happen—it's planned and somehow gets better year after year.

Some Hangout favorites will return this year— but with a slight twist or revamp, Price said. The Roller Disco, for example, will be back in action. But this year, the pop-up skating rink will feature themed parties, such as 2000s hip hop, girl power and emo.

A popular photo backdrop, the Psychedelic Bus will also return with a few new details this year. And you can still get hitched (well, not legally) at the Wedding Chapel, with seating for your friends to watch, he said.

Price didn't want to reveal too much, but he said the Malibu Beach House, a popular area featuring a lineup of DJs and beachside dance parties, will be different than in the past. And the Monster Energy Beach Club will feature several upgrades.

"The Camp Hangout experience has been totally kind of reimagined and re-laid out," Price said. "So that's going to have a lot of fun stuff, fun activities and things. We've redesigned the Boom stage, and that will kind of look different than it has in previous years."

The festival will also feature tons of food options and sponsored areas with special treats and activities.

But, of course, you can't talk about Hangout Fest and not talk about music. Price said this year's lineup has something for everyone.

"The [Red Hot] Chili Peppers on the beach is a great fit," Price said. "SZA is one of the hottest acts on the planet right now. Also, getting Calvin Harris back to the festival because he was on the show four or five years ago and didn't get to play. Everybody is excited about Paramore. They're massive right now and doing a big tour. People are excited about Skrillex. He just subbed in for Frank Ocean and headlined Coachella."

Price has worked on Hangout Fest since 2019.

He said planning the event is a 365-days-a-year gig, and he already has notes for 2024.

The part Price likes most is designing the attendees' experience, he said.

"What do they see when they first walk through the gates?" Price said. "How do they feel when the headliner finishes? How do we schedule the artists? How does the energy flow from the early parts of the day into the middle of the day and into the later part, the later hours of the evening? Who's gonna get to play this? Who's the right act to play the sunset slots? That's always a great moment at the festival. And you know, what type of fun little surprises can we dream up that are going to make this an unforgettable weekend for everybody?"

Winner

Best

Late

Night Eats & Best Bar–West Pensacola/Perdido Key Runner Up Best Hot Dog, Best Bar Ambiance & Best Bar for Games

Photo by Natalie Allgyer for Inweekly / From Hangout Fest 2019

It all started 14 years ago, when The Vegabonds enrolled at Auburn University. At the time, they never imagined they'd be playing the South's most beloved beach-side music festival one day.

The alternative rock band, composed of Daniel Allen (lead vocals and songwriter), Richard Forehand (lead guitar and vocals), Paul Bruen (bass), Beau Cooper (keyboard, vocals and songwriter) and Bryan Harris (drums), actually started out as rivals in their college town's music scene.

Before the five properly met, they were going head-to-head against one another in the university's "Battle of The Bands." At the time, Allen was the frontman of a band called Danny and The Tanks. They were regularly playing gigs at local bars, but Allen had a feeling something was missing.

And he found it at a house party, where he and Harris met and exchanged phone numbers. In a matter of days, Allen received a call "with an invitation to come over and jam" with Harris and his band Top House, which consisted of three other current members of The Vegabonds.

"I could already see the writing on the wall," Allen said. "They were exactly what I was looking for musically."

That first jam session changed everything. Allen said he "had no intention of leaving my band," but the first time playing with Top House made him feel musically complete. Thus, The Vegabonds were born.

Drawing from their Southern roots and in -

fluences like Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers, The Allman Brothers Band and The Black Crowes, The Vegabonds found their sound— which is an eclectic mix of blues and rock.

In the years after college, The Vegabonds have toured the globe and played numerous shows in Alabama and even Gulf Shores, but playing Hangout Fest is a bucket-list type of achievement for the band.

The Alabama natives hold a lot of gratitude for their college years, making nostalgia and where they came from a prominent topic in their music. The Vegabonds' 2023 EP and latest release "Tom Petty and The Braves" is all about reflecting on the good ol' days and "being raised in the South." Throughout their adolescence, Allen said, "It was always Tom Petty on the radio and Atlanta Braves baseball on the TV."

Allen hopes that their Hangout set reflects these topics and takes the audience back "to a great time in their life," much like the band's college experience.

"If I could go back and talk to my college self, I'd say don't be so concerned with immediate results and enjoy the journey of chasing long-term goals," Allen said.

12:30-1:30

The Vegabonds / Courtesy Photo

It's 2019 and you're lying in bed, scrolling through TikTok for way longer than you should. A handful of videos on your feed are emotional tearjerkers that use a catchy but gut-wrenching tune as the background song. Your subconscious is screaming, "What is that melody?" More than likely, it was Sam Fischer's breakout-hit "This City," a song that continues to surpass 75 million streams to this day.

The Australian singer-songwriter hid in the backrooms of fame for years, writing songs for big-time artists such as Keith Urban, Jessie J, MAX and Demi Lovato, just to name a few, until his singles started gaining more internet attention. While keeping his seat in the writing world, Fischer's musical career began to accelerate. The world began to know his name, his music and his tendency to sing from the heart and the heartache.

"I didn't set out to be this kind of artist that represents, or rather to be a voice for those struggling with their mental health issues; it kind of chose me," Fischer said.

Throughout his life, Fischer realized that he had a hard time with vulnerability in conversation and journaling, but he was "quite good at putting it into songs." His most popular music discussed relatable topics like mental health issues and loneliness and served as a fishbowl full of his emotions.

While Fischer's deep lyricism and melodies strum the heartstrings of many, he wants fans to know that there is more to him and his music than sad beautiful tragedies.

"I promise I'm not all like doom and gloom," Fischer said.

Earlier this year, he released "High On You," featuring Amy Shark, a tender love song that focuses on loving the one you're with unapologetically, despite having flaws and bumps in the road. Upon the release of his latest love song, Fisher said his mental health has gotten better and "the sadness is sleeping," a refreshing contrast to some of his prior music. He said the single is "the start of a big year of music for me."

Hangout Fest is the first stop on Fischer's upcoming tour-run and will serve as the "first kind of big showcase of what I can do and what kind of set I can put together, where I get to play new songs," Fisher said. {in}

Sam Fischer

Photo by Oscar Ryan

Arts & Entertainment

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

Celebrating Queer Art and Community at Gallery Night

By Dakota Parks

"Being a queer artist directly ties into my identity, so it's one of the main themes I explore in my work," Miller explained. "To me, art is a form of communication, and I use my work to immerse audiences in installations that trigger subconscious conversations. These are the very same conversations that run through my mind daily while living in a world where I don't seem to fit."

In addition to creating conceptual bodies of work exploring queerness and utopian communities, Miller uses atmospheric firing techniques including wood-firing and pit firing, the oldest and original form of firing ceramics in a hole in the ground, to create one-of-a-kind pieces with unpredictable color patterns and textures. By working in this medium, Miller has also built a community of like-minded individuals.

"Most recently, I've begun organizing a national collective of queer ceramicists looking to thrive in the atmospheric-firing community, which is currently reckoning with its reputation for systemically and historically having an unwelcoming, homogeneous, toxically masculine culture," they explained. "The two main goals are to expand firing access to marginalized and underrepresented individuals and to foster a safe firing environment."

With Pride month just around the corner, Pensacola's vibrant art scene is gearing up for a celebration of diversity and creativity. Held on the third Friday of every month, Gallery Night will once again transform the streets into an artistic haven with through-traffic halted and artists, vendors, nonprofits and food trucks from across Pensacola converging on Palafox Street for a oneof-a-kind cultural experience.

This month's Gallery Night, themed "Prismatic," will not only celebrate LGBTQ+ artists but also amplify their voices and highlight the importance of inclusivity and representation in the arts community.

"We have such an incredible art scene in Pensacola, but I think we take for granted how much of that intersects with queer identity," Gallery Night Board Member Sydney Robinson explained. "Many of the best artists in this city are queer and trans, but a lot of LGBTQ+ people don't feel as visible or as appreciated as they should, considering how much we've contributed to the city. With bars and queer spaces vanishing across the country, it's important to hold space and create spaces like this for the community."

Prismatic Gallery Night emerged from Rob inson's aspiration to make queer artists feel seen and celebrated while providing them with a platform to sell their works and connect within the community. Supporting and uplifting marginalized communities and diverse cultures is at the heart of what Robinson does as a community organizer in Pensacola. She also spearheaded the upcoming Juneteenth Gallery Night to highlight the contributions of Black artists and business owners while celebrating the holiday's significance as a day of freedom and independence for African Americans.

"Prismatic Gallery Night is going to be everything you love about our regular Gallery Night, but we're highlighting LGBTQ+ individuals in the community," Robinson said. "You can't truly have an event that is centered around art and pretend like the contributions of queer people aren't a vital part of that. So, this is our way of highlighting the people behind the art you're buying."

Prismatic Gallery Night, which boasts over 60 vendors and live music by Hane Skot, Greg Bond and Faithe Franklin on the Garden Street stage, is also showcasing local nonprofits and LGBTQ+ organizations in Pensacola.

Organizations that will be present include Stamped Film Festival, Pensacola's longstanding, annual LGBTQ film festival scheduled for Sep. 28-Oct. 1; Strive, which provides emergency housing, financial support and transportation for the transgender community; PensaPride, a family-friendly pride festival scheduled for June 24; Liberation Pensacola, a monthly pop-up drag and dancing event; and Sunday's Child, a Pensacola Bay Area memberbased philanthropic group that promotes LGBTQ+ inclusion and equality by awarding grants to eligible local nonprofits. Taste of Pensacola will also be selling a curated pride gift box full of goods from LGBTQ-owned businesses and artists with the proceeds benefiting Sunday's Child.

Each month, Gallery Night selects a featured artist to spotlight and promote alongside the event. The featured artist for May's Prismatic Gallery Night is ceramicist Kyle Miller, who explores intersectionality and identity in their work as a queer, nonbinary, first-generation Asian-American, PTSDsurviving combat veteran.

Like many queer artists, Miller uses art to communicate their struggles and share their stories and visions for a better world, while simultaneously creating a sense of community and belonging. This community-making is front and center at Prismatic Gallery Night, where visitors can support local artists, discover vital organizations making a difference in Pensacola and connect with others within their community.

"The Pensacola art scene is definitely changing and evolving thanks to community organizers like this who are devoted to creating diverse events that support local artists," Miller explained. "In the art world, we are just starting to dismantle and challenge the power structures that limit equality. The more we communicate and normalize equality, the broader our understanding will be of the diverse human experience." {in}

PRISMATIC GALLERY NIGHT

WHAT: Gallery Night's May event, featuring a theme that celebrates LGBTQ+ artists and organizations

WHEN: 5-9 p.m. Friday, May 19

WHERE: Palafox Street, between Garden and Main streets

DETAILS: gallerynightpensacola.org

Lemonbright / Photo Courtesy of Gallery Night

a&e happenings

NONPROFITS & FUNDRAISERS

GULF COAST NONPROFITS ENCOURAGED TO APPLY FOR EVENT SPONSORSHIP FROM COX Local nonprofits that are planning fundraising and awareness events in the Gulf Coast market are encouraged to apply for an event sponsorship from Cox Communications. Cox is currently accepting applications for events occurring between July 1 and December 31, 2023. If your nonprofit is planning an event that will take place during these dates, and looking for support, apply for cash and/or in-kind sponsorships at Cox's Charitable Giving Site. The deadline for applications is Friday, June 2, 2023. Organizations will be notified if their requests are approved in mid-June.

In 2022, Cox gave over $1.6 million in cash and in-kind services to nonprofits in the Gulf Coast Market, which includes portions of Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa and Walton counties. These sponsorships are specifically held for nonprofit fundraising events, not general donations, and the organization must be a registered 501(c)3. More information is available at ccigiving.com.

THE ESCAMBIA-SANTA ROSA BAR FOUNDATION ACCEPTING GRANT APPLICATIONS FOR 2023 The Escambia-Santa Rosa Bar Foundation, the philanthropic arm of the Escambia-Santa Rosa Bar Association, is currently accepting grant applications for 2023. Grants are awarded to organizations that successfully demonstrate how a proposed program aligns with one or more of the tenets of the mission of the Foundation, which are to foster greater accessibility to the judicial system, improvements to the overall quality of the administration of justice, law-related education and increased public awareness of the judicial system, and improved management and operation of the court system.

Grants awards are typically in the $500$1,500 range. For more information on the Foundation and to download an application form, visit esrba.com/bar-foundation/about-esrbf.

ANIMAL ALLIES BINGO Animal Allies hosts bingo twice a month at Scenic Hills Country Club, 8891 Burning Tree Road. 10 rounds of bingo for $10 with cash prizes for winners. Food and drinks are also available for purchase. A full bar and restaurant offer special adult beverages just for Bingo Nights. Must be 18 to play. For more information visit facebook.com/animalalliesflorida.

KITTEN AND CAT ADOPTIONS Animal Allies will be at PetSupermarket, 6857 N. 9th Ave. in Pensacola, 11 a.m.-3 p.m., Saturday, May 20. If you can't adopt, talk to us about opportunities to donate, foster or volunteer. All cats are up-to-date on shots, and adoption fee includes spay or neuter with microchip.

BAPTIST HOSPITAL VOLUNTEER SERVICES $5 JEWELRY SALE Baptist Hospital

Volunteer Services is hosting a $5 Jewelry & Accessories Sale on Monday, May 22 and Tuesday, May 23, from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Medical Meeting Room located at the Baptist Towers, 1717 North E St.

Items such as necklaces, bracelets, scarves, hats, collegiate merchandise, rings, wallets, and more will be for sale for only $5. This fundraiser benefits the volunteer services fund of the Baptist Health Care Foundation. Cash, check, and most major credit cards are accepted. For more information, call Baptist Hospital Volunteer Services at (850) 434-4936.

CARING & SHARING MINISTRY FOOD

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

ARTS & CULTURE

NATIONAL NAVAL AVIATION MUSEUM

OFFICIALLY REOPENS TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC IN MAY

The National Naval Aviation Museum (NNAM) announces public access waiver onto NAS Pensacola has been reestablished and the Museum will officially reopen to all visitors starting May 17.

General public visitors to NNAM will be required to enter NAS Pensacola through the west gate on Blue Angel Parkway. All U.S. citizens or U.S. nationals 18 and older must provide a Real ID or passport. For detailed requirements for base access visit NAS Pensacola's website.

NEW PALAFOX

MARKET SOUTH AT

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

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

TICKETS ON SALE FOR BEYOND VAN

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

GALLERY NIGHT IS GOING 'PRISMATIC'

On Friday, May 19, from 5–9 p.m., Gallery Night Pensacola is celebrating all colors of the spectrum with "Prismatic!" the first LGBTQ+ Community Celebration for Gallery Night. Share in the festivities as downtown highlights a number of local LGTBQ+ organizations and their allies up and down downtown Palafox Street. This month's Featured Artist is ceramist Kyle Miller. Hane Skot, Greg Bond, and Faithe Franklin play the Main Street Stage from 6-8 p.m. For more information and a full list of vendors, visit gallerynightpensacola.org.

EASY GOING GALLERY MAY OPEN CALL

SHOW Easy Going Gallery, 701 N. V St. will present 15 local artists in a new Open Call exhibition running through the month of May. A reception will be held 5-9 p.m. Thursday, May 18.

NEBULA OF GEORGIA A dramedy written by Joe Nierle at Pensacola Little Theatre, 400 S. Jefferson St. Showtimes are 7:30 p.m. Fridays May 19 and 26, Saturdays May 20 and 27, Thursday, May

25, and 2:30 p.m. Sunday, May 21. Tickets are $14$20. Visit pensacolalittletheatre.com.

SPRING FLING BLOCK PARTY Ciao Bella Boutique and Salon, 3014 E. Cervantes St. Ste B. is hosting a spring fling block party with an outdoor market, food vendors and music. The block party is Saturday, May 20 from 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

GULF COAST CULTURE FEST A two-part festival featuring food trucks and live entertainment 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday, May 20 at Seville Square. In the evening, there will be a local film festival at Bartram Park at 8 p.m. Visit gulfcoastculturefest. com for details.

URBAN ART VISITED Art Among Friends, The Paint Out Group's pop-up show "Urban Art Visited" will be on Friday, May 19 from 4-8 p.m. and Saturday May 20 from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. at their working studio space at Framing by Design, 4718 N. W St. This show highlights Street Art and is free to the public.

SECRET GARDENS OF THE EMERALD COAST GARDEN TOUR Take a self-guided walking tour of five featured private residential gardens in the Pensacola/Milton communities Saturday, May 20 from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. or Sunday, May 21 from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Tickets $15 per person, available at The Garden Center office, 1850 N. 9th Ave. Call (850)-432-6095 or visit pensacolagardencenter.com/events for details.

THE HUMBLE OYSTER FILM PREMIERE

The Pensacola & Perdido Bays Estuary Program (PPBEP) is telling the story of local oysters—and more broadly local estuaries—through a new documentary produced by the Mississippi State University Television Center. WSRE PBS will host the premiere of "The Humble Oyster" with a free screening and panel discussion at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, May 23, in the Jean & Paul Amos Performance Studio at Pensacola State College, 1000 College Blvd.

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

a&e happenings

SPIRITS OF SEVILLE QUARTER GHOST

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

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

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

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

BODY, MIND, SPIRIT MARKET AT EVER'MAN

Local vendors, artisans, holistic practitioners, speakers and more. Held on the first Saturday of the month from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. This is an inside and outside event for. Door prizes, entertainment and children's activities. Free admission. Ever'man Downtown, 315 W. Garden St. For vendor table, call (850) 941-4321 or go to empowermentschoolhouse.com.

SYNTHESIS A group BFA exhibit at Pensacola Museum of Art, 407 S. Jefferson St. This exhibition features work by graduating Bachelor of Fine Art students from the University of West Florida Department of Art and Design. Visit pensacolamuseum.org for details.

NONNEY ODDLOKKEN: TINY, LITTLE FABLES Nonney Oddlokken is a contemporary artist who utilizes fiber and collage techniques to create a Louisiana narrative and exhibition entitled "Tiny, Little Fables." The references in this body of work mix elements from her own childhood "fables," Catholic references, Cajun folklore, New Orleans Voodoo, and the indigenous flora and fauna of Louisiana swamps and bayous. Her work employs a unique process that consists of handmade paper substrates and collage elements that are finished with hundreds of yards of handstitched gold thread embellishments. This exhibit is on view through May 28 at Pensacola Museum of Art, 407 S. Jefferson St. Visit pensacolamuseum.org for details.

THE MEMBERS SHOW The Pensacola Museum of Art Members Show is on view through May

28, showcasing over 50 artists in a diverse range of media at 407 S. Jefferson St. Visit pensacolamuseum.org for details.

PANORAMIC PENSACOLA Located at Gallery 1060, 1060 N. Guillemard St., the latest First City Art Center exhibition features landscape photography by Allen Jones. The show is on view through June 2. Visit firstcityart.org for details.

SUDDENLY AMERICAN: A MEETING OF HERITAGE AND COUNTRY This exhibit looks at the transition of Florida from a Spanish territory to an American region, which formally occurred in 1821. Florida's embattled history dates back much farther than 1821. From refusing independence during the American Revolution to wanting their own freedom in 1810, Florida loved to cause problems. The United States eyed the region early on, using the Seminole Wars as an excuse to seize territory before turning to diplomatic means to acquire Florida. The Adams-Onis Treaty, debated and initially agreed upon in 1819, resulted in Spain ceding control of East Florida to the United States. At the same time, Spain also agreed to give up all claims on West Florida, in essence giving the entire Florida territory over to the United States. Ratified in 1821, the treaty was cause for celebration in Pensacola, the capital of West Florida, as it officially became part of America. On view at Pensacola Museum of History through Dec. 2023. Visit historicpensacola.org for details.

TEXTILES OF THE TIMES: REGENCY ERA DRESS MAKING The period between 1811-1820 is historically defined as the Regency Period. This exhibit at the Pensacola Museum of History looks at a day in the life of a Regency-era Pensacolian through fashion and garment use. Drawing on historical documentation of stores known to have operated on Palafox, inside this recreation of a seamstress shop visitors will be able to explore the dress of yesteryear. On view at the Pensacola Museum of History through June 2023. Visit historicpensacola.org for details.

FOOD + DRINKS

EVERYTHING BACON Cooking class with Pensacola Cooks, 4051 Barrancas Ave. 6 p.m. Thursday, May 18. Cost is $50 per student. Visit facebook.com/pensacolacooks for details and registration.

NIGHT IN NEW ORLEANS DEMONSTRATION DINNER Learn to make New Orleans staples 6 p.m. Thursday, May 18 at Bodacious, 407-D S. Palafox. Cost is $70. Visit bodaciousshops.com for your tickets.

DESSERT NIGHT AT THE NEST Dessert from Make Ends Sweet at The Nest, 11 S. Palafox Ste. C. 5-8 p.m. Saturday, May 20. Visit thenestgeneralstore.com for details.

THE WELL TWO-YEAR CELEBRATION The Well, located at 42 E. Garden St., celebrates its two-year anniversary Friday, May 19 with special cocktails and live music from Melodious Allen.

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WEEK OF MAY 18

ARIES (MARCH 21-APRIL 19) : Aries dramatist Samuel Beckett, winner of the prestigious Nobel Prize for Literature, wrote 22 plays. The shortest was "Breath." It has no dialogue or actors and lasts less than a minute. It begins and ends with a recording of the cry of a newborn baby. In between there are the sounds of someone breathing and variations in the lighting. I recommend you draw inspiration from "Breath" in the coming weeks, Aries. Be succinct and pithy. Call on the powers of graceful efficiency and no-nonsense effectiveness. Relish the joys of shrewd simplicity.

TAURUS (APRIL 20-MAY 20): In the coming weeks, you Bulls must brook no bullies or bullying. Likewise, you should tolerate no bullshit from people trying to manipulate or fool you. Be a bulwark of integrity as you refuse to lower your standards. Bulk up the self-protective part of your psyche so you will be invincibly immune to careless and insensitive spoilers. Your word of power is BUILD. You will align yourself with cosmic rhythms as you work to create situations that will keep you strong and stable during the next 12 months.

GEMINI (MAY 21-JUNE 20): How much do you believe in your power to become the person you want to be? Ninety percent? Fifty-five? Twenty? Whatever it is, you can increase it in the coming weeks. Life will conspire with you to raise your confidence as you seek new ways to fulfill your soul's purpose. Surges of grace will come your way as you strive with intense focus to live your most meaningful destiny. To take maximum advantage of this opportunity, I suggest you enjoy extra amounts of quiet, meditative time. Request help from the deepest core of your intelligence.

CANCER (JUNE 21-JULY 22): Early in the 19th century, cultural researchers Jacob Grimm and Wilhelm Grimm gathered an array of old folk stories and published a collection of what we now call fairy tales. Because the two brothers wanted to earn money, they edited out some graphic elements of the original narratives. For example, in the Grimms' revised version, we don't get the juicy details of the princess fornicating with the frog prince once he has reverted to his handsome human form. In the earlier but not published sto -

By Rob Brezsny

ries of Rumpelstiltskin, the imp gets so frustrated when he's tricked by the queen that he rips himself apart. I hope you will do the opposite of the Brothers Grimm in the coming weeks, Cancerian. It's crucial that you reveal and expose and celebrate raw, unvarnished truths.

LEO (JULY 23-AUG. 22): Is there a job you would love to have as your primary passion, but it's different from the job you're doing? Is there a calling you would delight in embracing, but you're too consumed by the daily routine? Do you have a hobby you'd like to turn into a professional pursuit? If you said even a partial yes to my questions, Leo, here's good news: In the coming months, you will have an enhanced ability to make these things happen. And now is an excellent time to get underway.

SCORPIO (OCT. 23-NOV. 21): In the coming weeks, you'll be guided by your deep intelligence as you explore and converse with the darkness. You will derive key revelations and helpful signs as you wander around inside the mysteries. Be poised and lucid, dear Scorpio. Trust your ability to sense what's important and what's not. Be confident that you can thrive amidst uncertainty as you remain loyal to your core truths. No matter how murky this challenge may seem, it will ultimately be a blessing. You will emerge both smarter and wiser.

the civilization I'm embedded in highly values know-it-all experts who are very sure they are in command of life's secrets. One further snag: I'm an ultra-sensitive creator who is nourished by original thinking and original feeling. And yet I constantly encounter formulaic literalists who thrive on clichés. Now here's the good news: I am a successful person! I do what I love and enjoy an interesting life. Here's even more good news, Aquarius: In the next 12 months, you will have a knack for creating rhythms that bring you closer than ever to doing what you love and enjoying an interesting life.

VIRGO (AUG. 23-SEPT. 22): Virgo-born Samuel Johnson (1709–1784) was a versatile virtuoso. He excelled as an essayist, biographer, playwright, editor, poet and lexicographer. How did he get so much done? Here's one clue. He took his own advice, summed up in the following quote: "It is common to overlook what is near by keeping the eye fixed on something remote. Present opportunities are neglected and attainable good is slighted by minds busied in extensive ranges and intent upon future advantages." Johnson's counsel is perfect for you right now, Virgo. Forget about the future and be focused on the present. Dive into the interesting work and play that's right in front of you.

LIBRA (SEPT. 23-OCT. 22): I would love you to go searching for treasure, and I hope you launch your quest soon. As you gather clues, I will be cheering you on. Before you embark, though, I want to make sure you are clear about the nature of the treasure you will be looking for. Please envision it in glorious detail. Write down a description of it and keep it with you for the next seven weeks. I also suggest you carry out a fun ritual to formally mark your entry into the treasure-hunting chapter of your life.

SAGITTARIUS (NOV. 22-DEC. 21): If you take the Bible's teachings seriously, you give generously to the poor and you welcome immigrants. You regard the suffering of others as being worthy of your compassionate attention, and you express love not just for people who agree with you and share your cultural traditions, but for everyone. Numerous Biblical verses, including many attributed to Jesus Christ, make it clear that living according to these principles is essential to being a good human. Even if you are not Jewish or Christian, Sagittarius, I recommend this approach to you. Now is an excellent time to hone your generosity of spirit and expand your urge to care for others.

CAPRICORN (DEC. 22-JAN. 19) : In 1982, Capricorn actor Ben Kingsley won an Oscar for his role in the film "Gandhi." Then his career declined. In an animated movie in 1992, he voiced the role of an immortal frog named F.R.O.7. who worked as a James Bond-like secret agent. It was a critical and financial disaster. But Kingsley's fortunes rebounded, and he was nominated for Academy Awards in 2002 and 2003. Then his trajectory dipped again. He was nominated for the Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Actor for four separate films between 2005 and 2008. Now, at age 79, he's rich and famous and mostly remembered for the great things he has done. I suggest we make him your role model for the coming months. May he inspire you to emphasize your hits and downplay your misses.

AQUARIUS (JAN. 20-FEB. 18): I'm devoted to cultivating the art of relaxation. But I live in a world dominated by stress addicts and frenzied overachievers. Here's another problem: I aspire to be curious, innocent and open-minded, but

PISCES (FEB. 19-MARCH 20): Most of us suffer from at least one absurd, irrational fear. I have a daft fear of heights, even when I'm perfectly safe, and a manic fear of mosquitoes dive-bombing me as I sleep, an event that has only happened four times in my life. My anxiety about running out of money is more rational, though, as is my dread of getting sick. Those worries help motivate me to work hard to earn a living and take superb care of my health. What about you, Pisces? Do you know which of your fears are preposterous and which make at least some sense? The coming weeks will be a favorable time to get a good handle on this question. Ask yourself: "Which of my fears are misdirected or exaggerated, and which are realistic and worthy of my attention?"

HERE'S THE HOMEWORK: Make a pledge to the person you'll be two years from now: a beautiful promise. {in}

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Dive into the interesting work and play that’s right in front of you.

Now is an excellent time to hone your generosity of spirit and expand your urge to care for others.

AWESOME! Even with declining occurrences of tornadic storms, Kansas is famous for its twisters (thanks, Dorothy). Some cause extensive destruction, but on May 9, one tornado took precise aim on an unexpected target: a coconut cream pie. KSNT-TV reported that a baker in Clay Center, Nancy Kimbrough, filed an emergency report with the details: Her son was delivering baked goods to the Clay Center Country Club when the storm boiled up. The wind was so strong that it ripped the meringue right off the pie and splattered it across the parking lot. The club repaired the pie with Cool Whip and served it to guests anyway, and Kimbrough got a good laugh out of the incident. "It'll probably never happen again," she said, therefore inviting another pie-eating storm.

SUSPICIONS CONFIRMED A tourist identified as Mr. Zhang checked into a hotel in Lhasa, Tibet, on April 20, only to discover a foul smell in his room, CNN reported. He stuck it out for half a day, thinking it might be his own feet or the restaurant downstairs, but finally he asked to be moved. Two days later, he was informed about the source of the bad odor: a dead body under the bed. Police officers questioned Mr. Zhang but said he was not a suspect because the body had been there before he checked in. He cooperated with police and then took his leave of Tibet, saying he was suffering from the shock of the incident. "I stay up until 2 a.m. to 3 a.m. every morning, and the slightest movement would wake me up," he said. "It left me in a bad mental state." So yes, Billy, there really IS something scary under the bed.

THE FETISHISTS David Neal, 52, is the night manager at the 4th Avenue South Hilton Hotel in Nashville, Tennessee—or he was, until a bizarre incident on March 30. WKRN-TV reported that around 5 a.m. that day, Neal allegedly made a key card to enter an occupied room and suck on the toes of the sleeping guest. When officers arrived at the hotel, Neal admitted entering the room but said he had done so because he smelled smoke and wanted to check on the occupant. He was arrested on May 5 at his home and charged with aggravated burglary and assault.

• A cyclist and a hunter came to the rescue of a 51-year-old man who had been tied to a tree near the German town of Bueckburg on May 3, KRQETV reported. The situation was the unfortunate outcome of a sex game he had been playing with a woman; he told police that after she tied him up, she got a phone call and suddenly fled. He was fully dressed and had pantyhose over his head when he was found, but the box cutter he had brought "for such situations" was unreachable. The man was unharmed and refused to identify the woman for authorities.

QUESTIONABLE JUDGMENT Chloe Stein, 23, of Jeannette, Pennsylvania, stopped attending classes at Penn State more than a year and a half ago, but her family was expecting her to graduate this month. So she did what any enterprising college student would do: She faked her own kidnap-

By the Editors at Andrews McMeel

ping. The New York Post reported that Stein left her job at Sonic on May 1 and texted her boyfriend that she'd been pulled over by police on a quiet road—then she disappeared. When authorities caught up with her about 20 hours later, she was at the home of an acquaintance a few miles from the Sonic, where she had walked after abandoning her car and phone. She at first told police she had been bound and "semi-assaulted," but then admitted the whole thing was a hoax to cover for the fact that she wouldn't be graduating from college. State trooper Steve Limani said the search for Stein had cost the state "tens of thousands of dollars" in manpower and equipment. She is facing a number of charges in the case.

DON'T HEAR THAT OFTEN Beth Bogar of West Chesterfield, New Hampshire, was just finishing up a trip with her husband to Bali when things took a turn. WMUR-TV reported that the couple ended their tour at Mason Elephant Park & Lodge, where she got to swim with and ride an elephant. But when she posed with the pachyderm for a photo, her arm got "pushed" into the animal's mouth. "I couldn't get my arm out. I could just hear cracking and I just started to panic," she said. Bogar was rushed to a hospital an hour away, where the surgeon was able to reassemble her arm with plates and screws. "It's gonna be a long road," Bogar said. She noted that she knew the risks going in and doesn't blame the elephant.

THE NEIGHBORS Ninety-two-year-old Colette Ferry of Frontenex, France, was surprised to answer her door recently and find two police officers, The Guardian reported. The officers informed Ferry that they would have to remove three large frogs who lived in her garden pond and had been croaking loudly enough to keep Ferry's neighbor awake. Ferry said the frogs didn't belong to her but were squatters. "They're in and out of the water playing with my fish," she explained. "There's always someone ready to complain about someone else." She's looking forward to watching officials try to catch the frogs. "That'll be fun ... They jump."

• In the Burns Beach community of Perth, Australia, a dispute has arisen between a woman named Sarah and her neighbor, Perth Now reported. "Could you please shut your side window when cooking please," Sarah wrote on behalf of her family. "My family are vegan and the smell of the meat you cook makes us feel sick and upset."

On the front of the envelope, she wrote, "PLEASE TAKE SERIOUSLY." But no such luck: The letter was posted to Facebook on May 5, where commenters were merciless: "I'm offended by the smell of the kale she always cooks," one said, while another said they'd be "firing up the bbq and inviting the entire street." {in}