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WORKING THROUGH IT Independent News | May 20, 2021 | Volume 22 | Number 20

How the Pandemic Has Helped Service Industry Workers Find Their Value FREE ▶

winners & losers

outtakes

news

Ain't nothing for free.

feature story

buzz 10

a&e

publisher Rick Outzen

graphic designer Tim Bednarczyk

editor & creative director Joani Delezen

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

15, 20, 21 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

Eric Randall / City of Pensacola

winners ERIC RANDALL The Pensacola City Council last week voted 7-0 to confirm Randall as police chief. Mayor Grover Robinson nominated Randall for chief after a nationwide search to fill the top law enforcement position in the city. Randall is currently the assistant police chief in Newport News, Va. However, he grew up in Pensacola and graduated from Booker T. Washington High School in 1991. CONNIE BOOKMAN The founder and

CEO of Pathways for Change will take office as president of The Florida Bar Foundation on July 1. Bookman will be just the second non-lawyer to hold the position. She is currently the chair of the foundation's grants committee. She is also a Florida Bar Foundation Fellow and a member of the Foundation's Bronze Society for lifetime giving.

BEULAH MIDDLE SCHOOL FFA Florida Future Farmers of America announced the Beulah chapter had completed the National Chapter Award program application and selected one of Florida's Finest FFA Chapters. These chapters have excelled in the areas of growing leaders, building communities and strengthening agriculture and have worked hard to fulfill the mission and vision of the FFA. Beulah Middle School FFA was the only FFA chapter in Escambia or Santa Rosa county that received the award this year. NEMOURS CHILDREN'S HEALTH, PENSACOLA The Nemours Children's

Health System recently celebrated its 25 years of commitment to pediatric care on the Gulf Coast by unveiling a new name and its Loop of Care logo. Nemours also announced a new initiative to redefine children's health through addressing social determinants of health. The health system also will increase investments in enhancing its whole child health model of care, moving to value, creating and advocating for a national strategy for children's health, innovating health delivery system research and leveraging clinical expertise.

GULF POWER FOUNDATION The utility's foundation continues to hand grants to local charities. Gulf Coast Children's Advocacy Center, Gulf Coast Kid's House, Santa Rosa Kids' House and Emerald Coast Children's Advocacy Center will receive $100,000 to support their efforts throughout Northwest Florida. 44

Richard Corcoran / myfloridahouse.gov

losers RICHARD CORCORAN The Florida

Commissioner of Education applied to be the next president of Florida State University (FSU). The last four FSU presidents had political connections, including outgoing President James Thrasher, who served as the Florida House Speaker like Corcoran. However, the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission, the main regional accrediting body in 11 Southern states, wasn't impressed. Association President Belle Wheelan warned the Florida Board of Governors of a potential conflict of interest because Corcoran serves on the board as education commissioner, and the board has the final vote on appointing state university presidents. Corcoran didn't make the final cut. The three finalists are Robert Blouin, the executive vice-chancellor of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; Richard McCullough, the vice provost of research at Harvard University and former vice president of research at Carnegie Mellon University; and Dr. Giovanni Piedimonte, a medical doctor and the vice president for research and institutional official at Tulane University.

PENSACOLA BAY CRUISES The ferry ser-

vice that connects downtown Pensacola to Pensacola Beach had to delay its scheduled opening on Friday, May 13. Management had announced the opening, published its schedule for the week and listed its ticket prices without having the proper approvals from the federal government. The ferries stayed at the dock over the weekend.

BAYOU MARCUS WATER RECLAMATION FACILITY At approximately 10:30

p.m. on Thursday, May 13, a 30-inch diameter ductile iron pipe (DIP) located within the grounds of the facility ruptured, spilling several million gallons of partially treated sewage into Bayou Marcus. The line was below the water table, which complicated the repair process. Friday afternoon, the Florida Department of Health in Escambia County issued a health advisory for Perdido Bay south of the Bayou Marcus Creek that advised against any water-related activities due to the potential for high bacteria levels. Working through the night, ECUA crews removed the damaged section and installed a replacement section by late Friday afternoon. inweekly.net

outtakes By Rick Outzen

HEARING REAL VOICES Two weeks ago, State Rep. Alex Andrade wrote Gov. Ron DeSantis asking him to end federal pandemic unemployment benefits in Florida. The ambitious young Republican wanted the governor to follow the example of other GOP strongholds, such as Alabama, Arkansas, Iowa, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, North Dakota, South Carolina and Tennessee. For the two-term state rep, federal unemployment is only to help workers survive government shutdowns, and now that DeSantis has removed all his executive orders that protected us during the pandemic, workers shouldn’t expect any help and should be happy making minimum wage. Florida’s state-paid maximum unemployment benefit is $275 per week, and when combined with the fed’s $300 weekly check, the unemployed receive the equivalent of $14.38 per hour for a 40-hour workweek. According to Andrade, small businesses in Pensacola and Gulf Breeze were shutting their doors. He wrote, “Businesses in my area are offering over $20 per hour and bonuses for entry level positions just to keep their doors open.” Wait, let’s do the math. In Andrade’s scenario, people who were working for $8.65 an hour—the current minimum wage—stopped working because they could make $5.73 more on unemployment. However, they won’t go to back to work if their employer pays them $5.62 more an hour, plus a bonus, than what they make not working? That doesn’t add up. I’m not an attorney or a Florida lawmaker, but there would seem to be more issues at play here than just paychecks, if Andrade’s example is real. Inweekly is a small business, and we’ve been a strong advocate for local small businesses for more than two decades. Locally, our business community has been rocked over the past year by the pandemic, Hurricane Sally and the Pensacola Bay Bridge being taken out of commission. Owners have had to scramble under the new normal of 2020 and figure out how to operate in 2021. We live in community where 43% of our households are either living paycheck to paycheck or below the poverty level. Parents

are having to string together several $10 per hour or lower paying jobs to provide housing and food for their families. And these same workers were on the front line during the COVID pandemic, risking their health in service, hospitality or tourism industry jobs. A study from the University of California, San Francisco released in February found line cooks had the highest risk of mortality during the COVID pandemic, even more than health care workers. The top five occupations that had higher than a 50% mortality rate increase during the pandemic included cooks, line workers in warehouses, agricultural workers, bakers and construction laborers. It’s understandable that some workers would be reluctant to return to low-paying jobs that may expose them to people who haven’t been vaccinated. It’s also understandable that workers who showed up, day in and day out, during the darkest times of the pandemic are burned out and in need of a break or career change. Recently, we’ve seen plenty of posts and headlines about businesses having staffing issues but few about the workers and their lives. Andrade and his fellow lawmakers have kept them faceless because it’s easier to ignore their struggles if we don’t see them as humans. The COVID deaths and cases are merely sets of numbers, not people whose lives mattered. In her story “Working Through It,” Gina Castro reported that while many workers have returned to their jobs, many have decided to seek employment in different fields. According to the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity’s March report, only about 4.7% of the state’s workforce is unemployed. A year ago, the unemployment rate was 4.9%. Those numbers show that Floridians are working but maybe in different jobs than last year. In this issue, we sought to share stories from workers so that you could understand their lives during the past year. The sample is small, but the voices are real. Their decisions to seek work elsewhere aren’t tied to unemployment benefits. Their lives aren’t just political talking points, and they deserve to be seen as more than numbers. {in} rick@inweekly.net

Recently, we’ve seen plenty of posts and headlines about businesses having staffing issues but few about the workers and their lives.

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PENSACOLA'S FUNNYMAN PASSES

Don Parker / Photo Courtesy of Pensacola Little Theatre

By Rick Outzen Longtime local radio personality, author and playwright Don Parker passed away last week after battling stage-four pancreatic cancer. For nearly four decades, he was considered one of Pensacola's funniest people. Born in New York, Parker moved to Pensacola with his family when he was 14. He graduated from Pensacola High School in 1965 and was regarded as the class clown. After a two-year stint in the Navy, he worked for McGovern Ambulance Service before being hired as a radio dispatcher for the Escambia County Sheriff's Office, making $533 a month. For the next 18 years, Parker worked his way up the ranks to captain. In the '80s, he became the spokesperson for Sheriff Vince Seely, to whose name he often added during his speaking engagements, "God bless him, long may he reign." Lt. Parker was a member of the first Leadership Pensacola class in 1983. The following year, he took over as master of ceremonies for the Pensacola Chamber's Gopher Club. He was a master storyteller and became a much sought-after public speaker, emcee, telethon host, radio guest and BLAB-TV host. He had a regular column in the Gulf Breeze Sentinel. In one month, the daily newspaper wrote that Don made 42 presentations, attended 33 meetings and spoke before more than 2,000 people. 66

The News Journal profiled him several times. For "A funny thing happened on the way to the sheriff's office," published in April 1984, staff writer Lynn Howard described how Parker set up a satirical poem he had written for Hodding Carter III, who served in the Jimmy Carter administration and was addressing the Tiger Bay Club. "With exaggerated dignity, (Parker) produced a flower vase from under the podium; then a rose which he put into the flower vase," Howard wrote. "He then placed a brass candlestick on the podium, produced a candle, set it in the candlestick and lit the candle." The audience was falling out of its seats with laughter before Parker, dressed in a tuxedo, cleared his throat and read his poem that roasted Carter. Parker shared with Howard that he wanted his skits and comedy bits to "show people that deputy sheriffs are human." He achieved that goal throughout his life. Though he often portrayed a Barney Fife persona, he was respected by his fellow deputies. "I worked with Don at Escambia County Sheriff," Gary Montee said on Rick's Blog. "He was a good officer; the Barney Fife moniker was a put on. Don, when confronted, could be a formidable opponent. Many bad guys would take Don on to find themselves on the receiving end of Don's capability. I had no problem going through

a door with him and considered him a friend. I will miss him." Mary Rebber, the former ECSO victim's advocate, said Parker was instrumental in helping her create the state's first crime victim services in law enforcement. "He taught me to do lectures with him regarding crime victims' rights, our victim services program and prevention awareness," said Rebber. "Don assisted me in writing VOCA Grants so that I could have assistance to serve crime victims. I'll always cherish memories we shared throughout our careers; his humor was always uplifting." In 1988, he published his first book, "You're Under Arrest … I'm Not Kidding," a humorous collection of his experiences in law enforcement. In two years, Parker sold 5,000 hardcover copies and 3,000 paperbacks, primarily through word of mouth. Commenter Paul Harvey read one of his chapters on-air. He made appearances on ABC's "Good Morning America" and CNN's "Larry King Live." He published two other books— "Officer Needs Assistance…Again" and "You Have the Right to Remain Silent"— that also were well received. His humor was self-deprecating. He wrote how he helped a man with a flat tire during a rainstorm, only to learn the car had been stolen. He told about the drug raid when his foot got stuck in the front door when he tried to kick it open. Readers loved his tales. During an interview with Jeff Weeks on WSRE-TV, Parker tried to explain his passion for writing. "I think if you write or if you speak, you just do that," he said. "I think singers sing and dancers dance and painters paint, and I think writers write. I think we're driven to do that. I don't think we can help ourselves."

"I think singers sing and dancers dance and painters paint, and I think writers write. I think we're driven to do that. I don't think we can help ourselves." Don Parker After he retired in 1989 after 18 years in law enforcement, Parker created "Star Points," a television series for Law Enforcement Television Network. He wrote plays, including a two-act comedy, "The Elevator," about five strangers trapped in an elevator on Christmas Eve. He also acted. His first role was lecherous Victor Velasco in "Barefoot in the Park." Don remained a mainstay of the Pensacola Little Theatre for several years, often co-hosting its Crystal Award ceremonies with Sheryl Vandenberg. In the early '90s, he joined WCOA, co-hosting with Luke McCoy both in the morning and late afternoon hours. He greeted area listeners for 28 years as

they drove into work on WCOA's "Good Morning Pensacola." Several of his guests and friends shared their experiences with Inweekly upon hearing of his death. Sena Maddison, a former PIO under Sheriff David Morgan and radio host, remembered Parker's pranks. "Radio people love pranks, and Don often deviled Luke McCoy," she shared. "When the IMAX opened at the National Naval Aviation Museum, it was one of the hottest tickets in town, and no one in radio had one. Don created a fake invitation for himself that he left on his desk for Luke to find. Luke blew up thinking Don was more important than him." "He always made me laugh," said John Hutchinson, the former Gulf Power's director of community and economic development for Gulf Power. "I did a one-hour callin show for a number of years with Don on WCOA, "Energy Talk," where we discussed Gulf Power and energy issues and conservation. I will always remember his warm heart, quick wit and true friendship." David Peaden, the Home Builders Association of West Florida's executive director, felt Parker was one of the most genuine and kind people he had ever met. "For countless years, he always reached out to help with the HBA's Parade of Homes and Home and Products Expo," said Peaden. "He took pride in making our events, other community events, successful. His live remotes were funny and memorable; he had a way of making his guest feel at ease." "He always treated me so well when interviewing me on the radio," said Mike Lowery, president of ATU Local 1395. "He always made me laugh and made me feel so comfortable. Such a great guy." "I always looked forward to being interviewed by Don," wrote Escambia County Supervisor of Elections David Stafford. "He had a great sense of humor and quick wit. And he was always very good about sharing pertinent election information with WCOA's listeners." Megan Chapman shared, "Don emceed our fundraiser 'Chocolate Fest' to benefit Gulf Coast Kid's House to allow us to raise much-needed funds to serve victims of child abuse in our community. His connection to our mission through law enforcement was always evident, and he will be truly missed by our organization." In his interview with Weeks, Parker downplayed his job as a radio host. He said, "I find it's enjoyable to get up every day at 2 in the morning when the alarm goes off to be at work. I usually get to work around 3 or so. And then we go on the air at 5, but after all, what is there to radio? You sit on your butt; you talk into a microphone. It's not that difficult." Part of Parker's gift was making it seem so effortless for nearly three decades. He will be missed. {in} inweekly.net

Pensacola Metro

Dashboard The dashboard is a simple way to gauge how well our area stacks up to the rest of Florida in key measures of health, education and economic success.The dashboard metrics can be used to identify what is going well, what needs to be improved and where we can focus our efforts to create the most positive change. The Studer Community Institute has been providing the dashboard since 2014. Thank you to the hundreds or thousands who work each day to make life better for others.

VPK participation

Preterm births Escambia County 2019

14.6% of births

Up 2.1% from 2018

Escambia County 2020-21

36.1%

Down 18.4% from 2019-20

Santa Rosa County 2019

13.4% of births

Up 2.7% from 2018

Santa Rosa County 2020-21

46.34%

Down 13.06% from 2019-20

Florida 2019

10.6% of births

Up 0.4% from 2018

Florida 2020-21

53.53%

Down 17.7% from 2019-20

Escambia County has struggled in this area for years, ranking near the bottom in preterm birth rate among 17 counties of similar population.

Kindergarten readiness

Research suggests that children who complete VPK are more ready for kindergarten than those who don’t.

Free & reduced-price lunch

Escambia County 2020-21

48%

Up 1% from 2019-20

Escambia County 2019-20 school year

75.5%

Up 3.4% from previous school year

Santa Rosa County 2020-21

78%

Up 21% from 2019-20

Santa Rosa County 2019-20 school year

33.2%

Down 8.2% from previous school year

Florida 2020-21

57%

Up 4% from 2019-20

Florida 2019-20 school year

62.8%

Up 1.4% from previous school year

The news on kindergarten readiness is mixed. Escambia’s rate has increased to 48 percent from 47 percent in 2019. Children whose parents did not send them to in-person classrooms were not assessed this school year. Children who are not ready for kindergarten may struggle to catch up. SOURCE: Florida Department of Education, Office of Early Learning

This helps measure poverty in a community. Children living in households at or below 185% of the poverty level are eligible to receive free or reduced-price meals at their schools. SOURCE: Florida Department of Education

The Studer Community Institute is a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. May 20, 2021

Pensacola Metro Dashboard Cost of child care Escambia County 2019

47% of a parent’s monthly income

Single-parent households Up from 2018

Escambia County 2019

43% of families

Up 7.6% from 2017

Santa Rosa County 2019

28.3% of a parent’s monthly income

Down from 2018

Santa Rosa County 2019

20.3% of families

Down 20.3% from 2017

Florida 2019

40.7% of a parent’s monthly income

Down from 2018

Florida 2019

36% of families

Flat from 2017

This tracks average child care costs (for infant and preschoolers) as a percentage of median income for single-parent families. The expense of childcare can impact other financial choices a family is able to make. SOURCE: US Census Bureau / American Community Survey

Crime rate Escambia County 2019 Santa Rosa County 2019

3,418.8 per 100,000 population 1,052.8 per 100,000 population 2,551.1 per 100,000 population

Florida 2019

Children living in single-parent families often face more economic and social hurdles than their peers from two-parent families. In Escambia County, 81.7% of those families are led by women, who also tend to earn less than men, putting stress on those families.

Labor force participation Down 3.4% from 2018

Escambia County 2019

60.8%

Down 0.3% from 2017

Down 10.3% from 2018

Santa Rosa County 2019

59.1%

Up 0.2% from 2017

Down 6.3% from 2018

Florida 2019

58.8%

Flat from 2017

This measures the number of crimes reported per 100,000 citizens, including both violent and property crimes. The crime rate has been declining in Escambia County for the last five years. SOURCE: Florida Department of Law Enforcement

College graduates

The unemployment rate is often reported as a measure of joblessness, but it leaves out people who quit looking for work. Labor force participation shows how many people who are eligible to work are doing so. It has hovered around the same rate in Escambia County since 2010. SOURCE: US Census Bureau

High school graduation rate

Escambia County 2019

27%

Up 1% from 2017

Escambia County 2020

86.5%

Up 1.7% from 2019

Santa Rosa County 2019

28%

Up 0.9% from 2017

Santa Rosa County 2020

90.3%

Up 1.4% from 2019

Florida 2019

30.7%

Up 2.2% from 2017

Florida 2020

90%

Up 3.1% from 2019

Communities with higher percentages of college-educated residents have higher wages overall. Pew Research Center study shows people with a college degree earned about $17,500 more a year than those with just a high school diploma. SOURCE: Pew Research Center, American Community Survey

This tracks the percentage of students who finished high school in four years. SOURCE: Florida Department of Education

The Studer Community Institute is a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. 88

inweekly.net

Pensacola Metro Dashboard Rent-burdened households

Overweight and obesity rate

Escambia County 2019

40.3%

Down 7.3% from 2017

Escambia County 2019

63.2%

Down 1.2% from 2017

Santa Rosa County 2019

44.7%

Up 2.8% from 2017

Santa Rosa County 2019

63.2%

Down 6.8% from 2017

Florida 2019

52.4%

Down 0.4% from 2017

Florida 2019

65.9%

Up 2.7% from 2017

The rule of thumb for affordability is that housing should cost no more than 30% of your monthly income. This point tracks the percentage of people who spend more than that on rent. SOURCE: American Community Survey

Two out of three people in the Pensacola metro area are either overweight or obese, meaning they have a body mass index of 25 or higher. Obesity-related health problems diminish worker productivity and add cost to the health care system. SOURCE: Florida Department of Health

Middle class households

Median income

Escambia County 2019

69.8%

Down 2.1% from 2017

Escambia County 2019

$55,766

Up 1.7% from 2017

Santa Rosa County 2019

70.5%

Down 2.1% from 2017

Santa Rosa County 2019

$77,968

Up 2.8% from 2017

Florida 2019

68.7%

Up 1.3% from 2017

Florida 2019

$65,772

Up 2.9% from 2017

“Middle class households” add to the economic activity, stability and vibrancy of a community — but there is a wide gap between the bottom of that range and the top of it. SOURCE: Woods and Poole Economics

Median income is the very middle of the income scale — half of earners make more than that, half make less than that. It is one measure of the average person’s purchasing power and economic well-being. SOURCE: U.S. Census Bureau

Voter turnout Escambia County 2020

73.9% voters cast ballots

Same as 2016

Santa Rosa County 2020

73.7% voters cast ballots

Up 8.2% from 2016

Florida 2020

77% voters cast ballots

Up 2.6% from 2016

How healthy is democracy in your community? Voter turnout is one way to measure that. The 2020 voter turnout had a good showing compared to the 2016 general election. SOURCE: Florida Department of State Division of Elections

MISSION To improve the quality of life in our community. VISION To make our community the greatest place to live in the world.

Studeri.org/dashboard /StuderInstitute /StuderInstitute

The Studer Community Institute is a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. May 20, 2021

Under HB 1, Upshaus possibly could have been charged with a felony if law enforcement determined he created an unsafe traffic condition by force.

of the Escambia County Sheriff's deputy. The members of the ECSO have served the citizens of Escambia County since 1821.

CHILDREN'S TRUST UPDATE The

sioner Nikki Fried's political committee last week posted a Twitter video that teased that she would make a major announcement on June 1. Many thought the video would announce Fried, the only statewide elected Democrat, would take on GOP Gov. Ron DeSantis in 2022. Instead, the video drove home the point DeSantis needs to be replaced and promoted the hashtag #SomethingNew. In the video, Fried said, "We are getting very close to making a decision because the state of Florida and the people that live here deserve so much better than what they are getting from Ron DeSantis." Before Fried can try to defeat DeSantis, she will have to win a Democratic primary. U.S. Rep. Charlie Crist has entered the gubernatorial race, and U.S. Rep. Val Demings has been rumored to be considering the 2022 race.

board for the Escambia Children's Trust is moving toward its June 30 deadline for submitting a budget for the 2021-2022 fiscal year and has subdivided into subcommittees that will report back to the board at its next meeting on Tuesday, May 25. The budget planning subcommittee will meet at 10:30 a.m. on Monday, May 24, at the Hall Center, 30 E. Texar Drive. The trust can levy up to 0.5 mils in county property taxes, which is estimated to generate $8 million. The board has adopted three buckets for the committee to fund—"ready kids," "ready youth" and "ready families." The executive committee, comprised of the chair, vice-chair and treasurer, will meet with the interim executive director, Carolyn Appleyard, to draft a job description and search process. The public meeting will at 3 p.m. on Wednesday, May 19, at the Hall Center.

Photo by Natalie Allgyer

BLOCKING ROADWAYS There was some

disagreement concerning the impacts of Florida's recently passed and signed HB 1—the so-called "anti-riot law"—touched upon in Inweekly's 'Bills, Bills, Bills" article published on May 13. District 2 Rep. Alex Andrade and American Civil Liberties Union Legislative Director and Senior Policy Counsel Kara Gross were at odds about what impacts the new law might have on protest activities such as blocking a roadway That disagreement essentially centered around whether the protest act would result in a civil citation or a felony with a potential of 15 years in a prison. "Gross never read the bill. Blocking traffic isn't an aggravated riot; it's still a civil infraction," Rep. Andrade texted. "It's section 2 of the bill. They couldn't even read the first few pages." Gross, in a text of her own, laid out the ACLU's read on the new law—"Under the broad and confusingly worded bill, it seems that anyone who is thereby present at a protest that turns violent through no fault of their own and happens to be forcefully, or by threat of force, standing firmly in the road thereby hindering the ability of a car to pass, could be arrested for aggravated battery and charged with up to 15 years in prison." According to the Northwest Florida state legislator, there is an important distinction between blocking a roadway and blocking a roadway "by force" or "by threat of force," as is defined in HB 1. If protesters 010 1

are simply blocking the road, that's a civil infraction, but if they do so by force, essentially physically impeding passage, then that's a felony. But what constitutes force or threats of force? "Threatening to punch out someone's window. Jumping on a car. Damaging someone's side mirror," Rep. Andrade explained. During the event in Pensacola, a driver proceeded through the protest blockade at the foot of the bay bridge, with a protester ending up on his hood. As per HB 1, drivers encountering protesters blocking a roadway are afforded increased protections. "My understanding from the police on scene was that the guy was placed in fear of his life/fear for his vehicle," Andrade said. "I remember an officer saying if his wife or child were in the same situation, he'd have advised them to do the same thing—drive slowly and get out of there if possible." Jason Uphaus, the "guy" on the hood, was arrested and charged with disorderly conduct and criminal mischief. In August 2020, the state attorney's office dismissed the charges, saying the alleged victim refused to cooperate or even communicate with the prosecutors. Uphaus asserted he jumped on the hood out of fear for his life and to protect this fellow protesters, and his attorney intended to argue a Stand Your Ground defense. The Stevenson Klotz law firm was ready to show right-wing social media had been encouraging people to drive into protest crowds.

FRIED'S TEASE Agriculture Commis-

FOO FOO GRANT WINNERS The

CHAMBERS SHOWS WILLIAMSON LOVE The Florida Chamber of Commerce

NEW BADGES To mark the agency's 200th anniversary, Escambia County Sheriff's Office (ECSO) will soon be issuing new badges to its deputies. The new badge will embody the courage, dedication and history

PENSACOLA YOUTH COUNCIL This spring, a collective of local high school students have been getting better acquainted with the inner workings of their municipal government through participation in the inaugural Pensacola Youth Council (PYC). "Our goal is for young people to get an idea of how their government works," explained Neighborhoods Administrator Kelsey Powell, who oversees the program. During this initial run, which began shortly after the students' spring break, the

Pensacola Foo Foo Festival Committee announced the public grant scoring for the seventh annual Foo Foo Festival, naming seven grant recipients and allocating more than $250,000 in grant funding for this November's events. The winners include Pensacola Little Theatre, Pensacola Opera, Pensacola MESS Hall, LGBTQ+ Stamped, Friends of Downtown, Gulf Coast Quilt Trail and Jazz for Justice. The 2021 Foo Foo Festival will take place in Pensacola from November 4-15. "We are looking forward to an incredible Foo Foo Fest for 2021," said Maria Goldberg, Foo Foo Festival chair. "These grantees are an impressive group of organizations who have put together a series of stellar events, which can be enjoyed throughout the festival." The 2021 grant recipients will produce a series of events from the categories of live theatre, music, film, art, interactive gameplay and more at this year's cultural celebration. Those nonprofit organizations who were not selected, and for-profit partners who are interested in participating, are encouraged to do so as "Friends of Foo," receiving local, regional and national visibility during the 12-day event via the festival's regional marketing campaign. To apply as a Friend of Foo, please visit foofoofest.com.

today announced its 2021 Distinguished Advocate Award recipients. The award recognizes lawmakers who ensured consideration of the business community's legislative priorities. "These legislators showcased extraordinary leadership as architects, sponsors, or key supporters of legislation that helped grow Florida's economy and were included in the Florida Chamber's 2021 Jobs and Competitiveness Agenda," said Mark Wilson, president and CEO of the Florida Chamber of Commerce. "Together, with the support of a united business community, these efforts will spur further economic growth, job creation and a more competitive Florida." Included among the 23 lawmakers honored was State Rep. Jayer Williamson (R-Santa Rosa County). The press release stated Williamson had "modernized Florida's Right to Farm Act, which will maintain the continuity of our food supply and protect Florida farmers from frivolous nuisance litigation."

inweekly.net

19-member collective was introduced to the city's various departments and operations, meeting with department heads and getting a rundown on how each functions. They also met with Mayor Grover Robinson and city council members. Powell and a couple of youth council members recently shared their thoughts on the program with Inweekly. Pensacola High School junior Devlin Teague summed up his reason for participating, explaining that the exercise dovetailed with his approach to life in general— "I joined the PYC because I think that the purpose of life is to find a purpose in being a part of something bigger than yourself." "I joined so that I could be a part of something bigger than myself," Teague explained, "not just within my community but within my city." Powell noted that the council's meetings with city officials were not dry, meetand-greet affairs but rather consisted of substantial discussion prompted by inquisitive minds. "You know, the students that are in there, they've come with tough questions for the officials," he said. "The students that we have are extremely intelligent." Teague said one of the takeaways from the council's meetings with city officials is the importance of teamwork. "I think one of the most important things I have learned from PYC is that it takes teamwork and dedication to keep a city of such diversity and attraction together," he said. "From the police, firefighters, and first responders to the trash and clean-up departments of the city, they all play an important role in keeping the city together." Teddy Robinson, a Booker T. Washington High School student, pointed to the concept of 'servant leadership.' "Hearing the different individuals speak has made something very clear to me, and that is they lead us by serving," he said. "Servant leadership is a term I've

May 20, 2021

heard many times, but to see it and hear about it in action gives me a clearer understanding of what it really means." The student continued, explaining that he felt his participation on the council was preparing him also to become a servant leader. Robinson said, "As teenagers, we usually think our opinion doesn't matter until we're adults, but if Pensacola's Youth Council has taught me anything, it's that our voices matter as well. Because we live in the same community and face the same problems, I feel being able to voice how we feel and work towards the betterment of our city is our civic right and our civic duty." As Powell sees it, inspiring young people to plug into and participate in their municipal government is the entire point of this youth council experiment. "It gives them direct access to the people who are in charge," Powell said. "It's just going to allow students to be empowered and get more involved in engaging the city and being community-minded in the future." In addition to learning about city operations and the people who keep those operations humming, members of the youth council have also worked on a community project over the course of this spring. Students decided to devote their project to help out the area's homeless by asking students at their schools to contribute to creating toiletry kits that can be handed out to those in need. Powell said the city intends to continue the youth council program in future years. And, unlike this initial run, in the future, the administrator is hoping for one big difference—that students can participate in person instead of virtually, as has been the case this spring due to COVID safety precautions. "My hope for the fall is to be able to come together," Powell said. "To take them to locations and allow them to see how things work."

REDUCED SPEED The speed limit on West Cervantes Street (U.S. 90) between Dominguez Street and A Street has been permanently reduced from 35 mph to 30 mph, effective Monday, May 17. Drivers will also continue to encounter inside lane closures between Dominguez Street and Kirk Street as crews perform median work. The median work and lane closures will progress eastward through the end of the year. One lane in each direction will be maintained at all times. All activities are weather-dependent and may be delayed or rescheduled in the event of inclement weather. Drivers are reminded to use caution, especially at night, when traveling through a work zone and to watch for construction workers and equipment entering and exiting the roadway. Learn more about the pedestrian safety improvement project at facebook. com/cervantesstreet or Instagram @CervantesStreet. ASK LAWMAKERS WSRE invites the public to submit their questions for state legislators who will appear on "Legislative Review: Dialogue with the Delegation" during a live broadcast at 7 p.m. on Thursday, June 3. Questions are now being accepted by email at questions@wsre.org, and a name and city of residence must accompany each question. The following legislators of the Northwest Florida delegation have been invited to participate—Sens. Doug Broxson (District 1) and George B. Gainer (District 2); and Reps. Michelle Salzman (District 1), Alex Andrade (District 2), Jayer Williamson (District 3) and Patt Maney (District 4). WSRE traditionally presents "Legislative Review" as a community service before and after each legislative session. SUMMER YOUTH JOB FAIR CareerSource Escarosa, Pensacola State College, the Urban Development Center, Flori-

daWest, Children's Home Society and TLC Caregivers will host a Youth Expo and Job Fair from 10 a.m-2 p.m. on Saturday, May 22, at Pensacola State College Jean and Paul Amos Studio and on the Pensacola State College campus in Century. The targeted age group for this event is youth ages 16-24. The event matches employers with high school-age youth in our community who are actively seeking work opportunities for the summer and assisting collegeage youth/graduates find opportunities to jump-start their careers. In addition to employers, representatives from Pensacola State College, George Stone and UWF will be in attendance to discuss the available training programs at their institutions. This is the first time an effort will be going on in the county's north end to assist the youth in finding employment in their local community. For more information, visit careersourceescarosa.com.

BUYING A BUSINESS Building a home

and buying one that someone else built are very different, and the same goes for businesses. The considerations you need to make when purchasing a business are vastly different from what goes into building one from the ground up. In the SBDC webinar "Buying a Business," set for 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. on Wednesday, May 26, tax allocation strategies, acquisition type and valuation are some of the topics that will be discussed. Buying a business can take a long time, so no matter how early you are in the process, this session will help you proceed down the right path. The last thing you want to do is overpay or find skeletons in the closet when you open the doors. This webinar will help you minimize those risks and maximize profitability. No fee. To register, visit sbdc.uwf.edu under "Training & Events." A link for joining this no-cost webinar will be sent to those who register. {in}

WORKING THROUGH IT

How the Pandemic Has Helped Service Industry Workers Find Their Value

By Gina Castro

By now, you've probably heard the claim "No one wants to work anymore" at least once. Dozens of restaurants in the area, as well as nationwide, are pointing the finger at unemployment benefits and stimulus checks as the culprit for being short-staffed. Some employers are offering incentives to lure in new hires. The Shrimp Basket, for example, has become so desperate for employees that they are offering $500 hiring incentives and even a chance to win a 2021 Chevrolet Trailblazer, valued at over $22,000. But are unemployment benefits and stimulus checks really preventing employees from returning to jobs in the service industry? For the most part, the answer is no. It's true, the CARES Act did at one time increase unemployment benefits by $600 weekly— raising wages 100% for many workers. However, a study by the Tobin Center for Economic Policy at Yale University found that despite these highly favorable unemployment benefits, most workers returned to their previous jobs when they reopened. Another study published in the Social Science Research Network found that employers didn't experience an increased difficulty filling vacancies after the CARES Act. And Florida's unemployment rate is declining. It was 4.8% as of January, which is only 1.5% above where it was in January 2020. 212 1

So what's the real reason the service industry is seeing a shortage of employees? According to the workers Inweekly spoke with, it's not that people don't want to work anymore. It's that they want more from their jobs and employers.

SAFETY CONCERNS

For six years, Aurora*, 35, worked at a local hotel for $8.65 an hour, the minimum wage. She chauffeured guests to and from the airport, sometimes earning a $1 tip if the guests were generous. Long before she ever heard about the coronavirus, Aurora dreamed of doing more and getting more from her job. "I've been wanting to quit. It wasn't really the people I worked with. I love them so much. They were amazing, but it was just you're in a situation where you're not making much money, there's no upward mobility and there's this constant feeling of dread coming into work," Aurora said. "I had many therapy sessions about the job—talking about how I felt, how I wanted more." At the start of the pandemic in March 2020, Aurora began to wear a mask to work. She and her parents are immunecompromised, and she couldn't afford her job's insurance. Since she had to share

the small vehicle space with guests fresh from travel, she was worried about being exposed to the virus. But Hampton Inn management ordered her to stop wearing her mask. "They said it was an image thing," Aurora said. Aurora was laid off from the hotel from mid-March to May. "Funnily enough, I was making more money off of the unemployment checks than I was ever making at my job," Aurora said. Despite the higher pay and concern for her safety, Aurora went back to work the moment the Hampton reopened. She didn't know how long unemployment would last and couldn't take the risk of not having a steady job. When she came back, the hotel made masks mandatory, and eventually, the City of Pensacola passed a city-wide mask mandate. But even then, Aurora couldn't enforce the mask mandate among the guests in the shuttle.

"I would ask them to put a mask on, and they'd ignore me. There were a few people who were like, 'I'm not wearing that. I'm not doing that.'" Aurora

"I would ask them to put a mask on, and they'd ignore me," Aurora said. "There were a few people who were like, 'I'm not wearing that. I'm not doing that.'" 2020's summer months were among the highest number of COVID-19 cases. Although the hotel reduced the number of locations the shuttle drove to just the airport and hospital, there were times Aurora had to drive a car of five to six people and they wouldn't wear masks. "I was so worried about coming home. My mom was like when you get home, take off your clothes immediately," Aurora said. "It was worrisome." The moment that made Aurora decide it was time to quit was when one of the hotel's housekeepers died of COVID-19. Aurora remembers the last time she saw the housekeeper, who was in her late 40s to early 50s, that the woman looked sick. When staff found out that the woman had passed from COVID-19, Aurora said they were expecting the hotel to shut down for a week or two, but hotel management had no intention of closing. However, they did begin Lysoling each room and frequently touched items. "The management was basically like, 'No, we're gonna clean up, do the best we can and keep it going.' We were just so shocked by that. I was so shocked by that. inweekly.net

I just felt like it was time to go," Aurora said. "We had a job where someone had died of a spreadable disease, and nothing's done about it except for, like, a really good cleanup of the area. That's not enough. The lives of your workers are way more important than making that extra dollar … So that was the straw that broke the camel's back."

FEELING VALUED

Walter*, 39, has been in the service industry for decades. He's a licensed personal chef. He had been cooking at a downtown restaurant for a year when the restaurant was shut down for COVID-19 the first time. Walter recalls that the restaurant shut down a few times due to regulations and one time because an employee tested positive for COVID-19. Each time it shut down, all staff had to get tested for the virus. He was officially laid off by the restaurant in July 2020. "I guess they would call it business, but I would call it going corporate gangster," Walter said. "So a lot of people just got laid off." Walter suspected he, along with all other hourly employees, would be laid off before salaried employees would. Walter chose to not disclose his wage at the restaurant, but he did say when he moved to the area, he took a pay cut. The most important and essential benefit Walter requires out of his job is health insurance. He has a heart condition. So when the restaurant said his insurance was going to end on Aug. 1, 2020, he felt betrayed. "The weird part to me was, why would you take insurance from employees during a time like that? Right there is what really made it clear for me. I don't think it was by accident. I think it was planned, but, you know, most people would call it the price of doing business," Walter continued. "But you're also dealing with people's livelihood. I specifically told them I have a pre-existing heart condition. So if insurance is number one on my list and then you take away my insurance even after our discussion of how important it is to me, I don't think that's by accident." When his insurance expired, that meant Walter's wife was also out of insurance. Walter felt like he was being forced to choose what is better for the restaurant or what is better for his family. "At the end of the day, I can't go help any-

May 20, 2021

one establish or take care of a business if my family situation isn't right. That's not right, to make people choose either," Walter said.

"At the end of the day, I can't go help anyone establish or take care of a business if my family situation isn't right." Walter Walter spent about five to six months looking for a job. Fortunately, his wife was able to work from home. He received unemployment benefits for a few months, but he didn't want to rely on it. "They might have given me some extra money, but I still got taxed for it on my taxes," Walter said. "Ain't nothing for free. I would rather just work a job."

TEAM BUILDER

For every business you see on social media with a sign on their door that says, "Closed because nobody wants to work," there's a local business that's staffed up, many times with employees they retained throughout the pandemic. We decided to talk to one popular local eatery that isn't experiencing staffing issues about what they did differently and how they navigated the challenges of 2020. By the start of the pandemic, Tacos Mexicanos was practically prepared for the new normal that challenged many restaurants. Tacos Mexicanos' goal for 2019 was to enhance online ordering and to-go services. So transitioning to only to-go services was easy for the food truck based in East Hill and at Perfect Plain. But juggling masks, social distancing and fluctuating COVID-19 cases was a challenge for Tacos Mexicanos, too. Gabriel Hernandez, the owner, decided to send the Tacos Mexicanos staff home for about a week, but he and the managers continued to work. During the time the staff stayed home, he paid them half of their weekly wage. "We didn't want to be the person who put their employees at risk, but we also couldn't afford to stop selling food," Hernandez continued. "It was long hours, but we just pushed through it. And when it felt right, we brought the staff back."

Once the worst of it was over, the staff came back, and Hernandez was able to keep paying employees a guaranteed $15 an hour. Some employees have a set hourly wage between $15-17 an hour, and other employees are paid with an hourly wage plus tips, and if those employees don't make a minimum $15, he pays the difference. "Our workplace is definitely a hard one because of the heat. It's literally a grind to work with us. So the money has to be pretty attractive," Hernandez said. Hernandez explained that his business didn't experience a shortage in staff. He is always available to jump in to work, and he focuses on creating a good, dependable team. Hernandez said that his employees, for the most part, either leave for a better opportunity or start their own business.

"The whole business could go under, and if you're not doing right by your people, how much better is it going to make it?" Gabriel Hernandez "At the end of the day, something could happen," Hernandez continued. "The whole business could go under, and if you're not doing right by your people, how much better is it going to make it?"

EVERYTHING'S POLITICAL

In today's political climate, it's no surprise that most conversations about staffing issues end up being simplified and framed as a "right" versus "left" debate. A lot of conservatives are blaming President Biden and the extended federal unemployment benefits without really examining the complexity of the issue—including Governor DeSantis and state Rep. Alex Andrade. On May 6, Andrade sent a letter to DeSantis expressing "the need to end federal pandemic unemployment benefits in Florida and opt instead for a return-towork bonus program similar to one recently enacted in Montana." While he hasn't committed to ending federal benefits for Florida residents, Gov. DeSantis is bringing back a pre-pandemic unemployment requirement. Beginning

May 29, Floridians claiming unemployment benefits must show proof that they contacted five employers each week. But as Aurora and Walter's stories illustrate, it's about more than money for a lot of workers, and in Florida, it's a conversation that extends beyond to short-term unemployment benefits into our current minimum wage. Florida's minimum wage is increasing to $10, a $1.35 per hour increase, this September. This increase could make low-paying service industry jobs more appealing to workers, although Aurora says $10 an hour still wouldn't have convinced her to stay at the hotel. "Even if they went to $10, I think I would have still quit, but I would have appreciated them going to $10," Aurora said. Florida's minimum wage will increase a dollar every September until it reaches $15 in 2026. The wage will continue to adjust at an annual rate for inflation.

MOVING ON

Ultimately, working in the service industry during the pandemic inspired both Aurora and Walter to follow their own interests and seek employment elsewhere. And they aren't alone. A Florida Atlantic University poll of 4,000 hospitality and tourism workers conducted in March and April found that "more than one-third of respondents indicated they would be seeking employment outside the industry over the next year.” Aurora now works as a receptionist at a medical office for $15 an hour, 32 hours a week. She feels like she is more appreciated, and she has more time to pursue her creative interests. "For me, it's much better working there, not just because of the money I'm making," Aurora said. Walter decided to go back to school after 20 years to earn a degree in culinary management, and he's working at a different local restaurant with insurance in the meantime. He hopes to open his own fine-dining restaurant one day. Walter said he will use the restaurant to build up other Black chefs and give his employees the foundation in business and experience so that they can open their own businesses one day. "If you're working to build somebody else's dream, then nobody else is going to fulfill yours," Walter said. {in} *Some names were changed for privacy

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WEEK OF MAY 20-26

Arts & Encouragement hope, help and other signs of humanity at a time when we really need it...

Wall Space By Gina Castro

both of those murals as well as Ujj's indoor mural in Empathic Practice's waiting room. Empathic Practice is a wellness clinic that combines medical practice and holistic health to improve one's mental health and wellbeing. Ujj wanted to capture Empathic Practice's emphasis on holistic healing in the mural, so Ujj featured plants with medicinal healing throughout the painting. "I wanted to do plants that were considered weeds but actually have medicinal properties. So I did dandelions, milk thistle and clover," Ujj said. "I always see them growing on the side of the road. Many people consider them weeds, but they actually just have a ton of medicinal properties." Ujj's murals contain elements of nature because that's what she's passionate about. "I'm very into plants and plant identification. I got really into foraging as well," Ujj said. Her process for designing murals is to first get an idea of what the business owner wants for the mural, then sketch the design of the mural and finally use a projector to bring the design to life. Pensacola will be seeing more of Ujj's work soon. She is painting another mural for Empathic Practice on their fence. She also does commission work for dog portraits. Eniko Ujj / Courtesy Photo

You may have noticed during a recent trip to the East Hill Publix that there is a splash more color in the neighborhood. A new mural covering the Daily Squeeze's wall at the East Hill Plaza is adorned with enormous camellia flowers. These flowers thrive in Pensacola, especially East Hill. The area's moderate temperatures and frequent rain showers make it ideal for camellias. Even though the flowers are native to China, Pensacola has long since appreciated them. In fact, Pensacola is home to the oldest camellia club in the country. Eniko Ujj, the artist behind the mural, said she was inspired by East Hill's plants and wanted to incorporate them into the mural. "For the East Hill Plaza mural, I wanted to represent some of the plants that I always see in East Hill," Ujj said. "At the time when I was designing it, the camellia flowers were blooming, and I was really inspired by that." The mural also features branches of oak trees behind the flowers. Thick oak trees can be found throughout the East Hill area. Ujj grew up in Pensacola and graduated May 20, 2021

from the University of West Florida with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree. She moved to the area from Hungary. Although she always had a dream to be a full-time artist, she'd been working in the service industry. But the pandemic gave her an unexpected push to pursue her dream. Ujj was laid off from her job with Odd Colony Brewing Company and suddenly found herself with plenty of spare time and, thankfully, plenty of commission work. Ujj had never painted a mural before until the summer of 2020. During her time at UWF, she focused on portraiture and, later, abstract and conceptual sculpture. Ujj grew to love the tedious process of mural painting. "I grew to love mural painting and what they mean. Seeing the joy that these massive paintings bring to people and how they create such vibrancy in neighborhoods and then, also, the fact that it makes people slow down and admire something really beautiful I think is a wonderful aspect of murals as well," Ujj said. It took Ujj a month to finish the mural at East Hill Plaza, mostly due to the many

rainy days in April. Since the mural's completion, the Daily Squeeze, who hired Ujj, has seen an increase in business. "For the Daily Squeeze and the East Hill Plaza, the fact that [the mural] brought in so many new customers to a location that's so often overlooked was something that both the owner and I wanted, especially after the pandemic," Ujj said, "sort of revitalizing the economy through murals." Ujj's first mural was for Emerald Coast Bread Co., on the side of what is now Captain Joey Patti's Seafood Restaurant and Deli. "The timing was great because I had a ton of time," Ujj said. "I just put my Instagram handle on that mural, and through that, people have been contacting me. And that's how I've gotten every other one." Since the pandemic shut down a plethora of art galleries and venues, many artists have turned to social media to showcase their work and draw in more clients. The mural on the side of Emerald Coast Bread Co. has a similar vibrancy in color as the mural at East Hill Plaza. The depiction of flowers and nature is carried throughout

"I would love to stay being a full-time artist, and it's kind of my dream. So as long as that's viable, then I'd love to keep doing that." Eniko Ujj Ujj hopes to continue to paint murals in the area, but her biggest dream is to keep supporting herself off of her own artwork long after the pandemic ends. "I would love to stay being a full-time artist, and it's kind of my dream. So as long as that's viable, then I'd love to keep doing that," Ujj said. Ujj is accepting commissions and asks that anyone who is interested in working with her to contact her on social media. She also sells black and white posters, stickers and magnets of prominent women throughout history, such as Octavia Butler, Emma Goldman and Flannery O'Connor, on Redbubble. {in} For more, follow Eniko Ujj on Instagram @enikoujj. 15

a&e happenings Gateway's efforts to improve the lifestyles of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The annual membership drive pays tribute to the years of support and service Bobby Tronu provided. To learn more about membership options or to join, visit arc-gateway.org/giving/membership or call (850) 434-2638.

PAINT YOUR HEART OUT: JUANITA WILLIAMS PARK For the third year in a

row, Keep Pensacola Beautiful is restoring Pensacola gems with its Paint Your Heart Out program. This year, the nonprofit is helping to restore Juanita Williams Park at 505 Edgewater Drive. On Saturday, May 22, volunteers are needed at the park from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Keep Pensacola Beautiful will provide a painting shirt, reusable water bottle and snacks/lunch. To sign up, visit the link on the KBP Facebook page at facebook.com/keeppensacolabeautiful.

ARTS & CULTURE

ART IN THE BREEZE Gulf Breeze Arts,

THE WELL GRAND OPENING One of Pensacola’s newest lounges has a slated opening date

for Thursday, May 20. The Well is a vintage Florida-style taproom and cocktail lounge located at 42 E. Garden St., next door to Perfect Plain Brewing Co. The modern Florida drink menu offers 10 signature cocktails that feature original names—a few with nods to the region, “Panhandle Pie” and “Via de Luna”—alongside clever flavor notes and served thoughtfully in unique glassware with festive garnishes. The Well is open Monday-Wednesday, 4-11 p.m.; Thursday, 4 p.m.-midnight; Friday, 4 p.m.-2 a.m.; Saturday, 2 p.m.-2 a.m.; and Sunday, 2 a.m.-11 p.m. For more information, visit facebook.com/thewellpensacola. (Photo by Steven Gray)y

GRADUATIONS

ESCAMBIA COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATIONS The Escambia County

High School graduations will take place June 4 and 7 at the Pensacola Bay Center, 201 W. Gregory St. For more information, visit pensacolabaycenter.com. Dates and times as follows: FRIDAY, JUNE 4 •9 a.m. – Booker T. Washington •12:30 p.m. – Pensacola •4 p.m. – Escambia MONDAY, JUNE 7 •9 a.m. – Tate •12:30 p.m. – Northview •3:30 p.m. – West Florida •7 p.m. – Pine Forest

SANTA ROSA COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION The Santa Rosa

County High School graduations will be Saturday, June 5, at the Pensacola Bay Center, 201 W. Gregory St. For more information, visit pensacolabaycenter.com. •11 a.m. – Gulf Breeze •2:30 p.m. – Pace •6 p.m. – Navarre

NONPROFITS + FUNDRAISERS CYCLE TO PREVENT CHILD ABUSE

Gulf Coast Kid's House and CycleBar Pensacola are teaming up for a fundraiser ride. On Saturday, May 22, at noon, you can visit CycleBar Pensacola for a complimentary 45-minute class. GCKH will be collecting donations of gift cards (Walmart, Ama616 1

zon, Target), reusable shopping totes and travel-size hygiene items. Visit members. cyclebar.com to sign up. Class is limited to the first 30 people to sign up.

ANIMAL ALLIES CAT ADOPTION Animal Allies will be at Pet Supermarket on N. Ninth Avenue on Saturday, May 24, 11 a.m.3 p.m., and Everette Animal Welfare Group will be at PetSmart on N. Davis Highway on Saturdays, May 15 and 22, from noon-4 p.m. If you can't adopt, ask about opportunities to donate, foster or volunteer. All cats are up to date on shots and tested negative for leukemia, and adoption fee includes spay or neuter with microchip and flea pill. Visit aaflorida.org for more information. THE ARC GATEWAY KICKS OFF ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP DRIVE The Arc

Gateway has kicked off its annual Bobby Tronu Membership Drive for the month of April and invites the public to join. The nonprofit agency would like to expand its membership by 500 new members. Membership is a very important aspect of The Arc Gateway organization, increasing awareness which ultimately leads to a better-informed community. Membership is a critical step in creating society-wide acceptance of people with disabilities. The Arc Gateway runs membership drives yearly with the availability to join year-round. The drive honors legendary supporter, Bobby Tronu, who for more than 50 years played a special part in The Arc

Inc. and the City of Gulf Breeze present the Art in the Breeze @ The Center art show through Sunday, May 23, at the Community Center in Gulf Breeze, 800 Shoreline Drive. This show will feature local artists' work, including paintings, sculptures, 3D, woodwork and more. Admission is free and the art is available to view during regular Community Center hours, 7:30 a.m.-9 p.m., MondaySaturday, and Sunday from noon-6 p.m. Artwork can be purchased directly from the artist. More information can be found at gulfbreezearts.com.

A SPRING CELEBRATION AT THE GORDON The Gordon Community Art

Center, located at 306 N. DeVilliers St., is hosting a short evening of dancing and music featuring The Gordon Youth dancers and actors. A dessert bar will follow afterwards. Show begins 7 p.m. Admission is $2.

2021 PENSACOLA CARNIVALE KICKOFF Pensacola Florida has designated May

21-June 5 as Carnivale Season. Pensacola will rekindle the Mardi Gras Spirt with a two-week special celebration. The 2021 kick-off will take place May 21 at Roger Scott Athletic Complex and will include the traditional Blessing of the Krewes along with a concert-style dance party featuring beverages and food. Tickets to the 2021 Carnivale Kick-Off Celebration are available at pensacolmardigras.com. All tickets previously purchased will be honored. Socially responsible practices and procedures will remain. Tickets are re-priced at $50 for general admission and $120 for VIP tickets, which will be limited in number. Attendance to the event will be capped at 3,000.

PENSACOLA ARTS MARKET Saturdays

are for shopping small. Stop by Pensacola Arts Market to enjoy local artisans, music and food Saturday, March 22, 10 a.m.-3 p.m.

The market is located at 2725 W. Cervantes St. Attendance is free.

GULF COAST CULTURE FEST Gulf Coast Culture Fest brings together Gulf Coast artists, businesses, vendors and citizens for a rejuvenating and unifying day of music, dance, poetry, theater and visual art on Saturday, May 22, at Seville Square in downtown Pensacola from 8 a.m.-10 p.m. Admission is free to the public. There will be a community-wide film festival in the evening a Bartram Park. For more information, visit gulfcoastculturefest.com. CHAMBERS PROMOTE BEACH TO BREEZE BINGO CARDS The Pensacola

Beach and Gulf Breeze Chambers of Commerce are working in partnership to host "Beach to Breeze Bingo," a promotional gaming event, from May 14-28 at about two dozen participating businesses around both communities. The concept for the game is to boost visitor traffic in Gulf Breeze and Pensacola Beach, which have seen a sharp decline over the past seven months due to the closure of the Pensacola Bay Bridge. Participating businesses include everything from restaurants and bars to attractions and retail shops along Pensacola Beach and Gulf Breeze. Participants must snap a photo of themselves doing the activity specified at each business or location on the bingo card. Download the bingo card online at gulfbreezechamber.com or pensacolabeachchamber.com. Every BINGO completed on the card receives one entry into a raffle prize drawing. An entirely blacked out card gets 10 extra entries into the drawing. Prizes will be given away to randomly selected participants at certain businesses. Multiple grand raffle prizes will be drawn on Thursday, May 28, at noon at the Gulf Breeze Chamber and will be aired on Facebook Live.

VISIT PENSACOLA EVENT GRANT PROGRAM TO RESUME WITH NEW GUIDELINES The Visit Pensacola Board

of Directors voted Wednesday to resume the Visit Pensacola event grant program for events taking place in fiscal year 2022. The grant program was paused in FY 2021 due to budget restraints and uncertainties due to the COVID-19 pandemic. With the resurgence of the program, new guidelines are in place. Major changes include one call for applications per fiscal year, grant workshops are mandatory, grant amounts will not exceed $25,000, the Visit Pensacola grant amount cannot exceed 50% of the applicant's overall event expense budget and 75% of the Visit Pensacola grant funding is to be used on marketing while 25% may be used on operations. Visit Pensacola is now accepting grant applications for events occurring between Oct. 1, 2021–Sept. 30, 2022. The grant deadline is June 8 at noon. All grant apinweekly.net

a&e happenings plicants are required to attend one of the workshops, which run through May 25. The Visit Pensacola Grant Committee will meet to review and score applications June 15-16 at 2:30 p.m. at the UWF Historic Trust Bowden Building, First Floor. Applicants are encouraged to attend to present to the committee. Following, the Visit Pensacola Board of Directors will vote to approve grants on June 23 at the monthly board meeting. For more information on grant guidelines, scoring and the application process, please contact Nicole Stacey at nstacey@visitpensacola.com.

PENSACON 2021

SEVILLE QUARTER 130 E. Government St. Free admission with your Pensacon badge and "Weird Science" themed drink specials THE TIN COW 102 S. Palafox "Rick & Morty" theme

FRIDAY 5.21

THE 5 BARREL BREWERY & TAPROOM 7-10 p.m. Sea Shanties and Folk Music with Bard In-Residence Jay Moody

HAND TO GOD PLT's latest show is the

raunchy and irreverent "Hand to God." Show dates are 7:30 p.m. Fridays, May 28 & June 4, and Saturdays, May 29 & June 5; 3 p.m. Sunday, May 30; and 7:30 p.m. Thursday, June 3, at Pensacola Little Theatre, located at 400 S. Jefferson. Tickets are $14-$20. For more information, visit pensacolalittletheatre.com.

DRAG SHOWS AT DOLCE AND GELATO Head to Dolce and Gelato, located at 2050 N. 12th Ave., for regular drag shows. Next dates are Friday, May 28, from 7-10 p.m. For more information, visit facebook. com/dolcegelatopensacola.

MARGIE SHORTT DANCE STUDIOS PRESENTS: SOARIN' AROUND THE WORLD Enjoy the annual dance recital

from Margie Shortt Dance Studio at 7 p.m. Saturday, May 29, at Saenger Theatre, 118 S. Palafox. Tickets are $18-$38. For more information, visit pensacolasaenger.com.

UPCYCLED ART BAZAAR AT FIRST CITY ART CENTER The First City Art

Center's Upcycled Art Bazaar will be Saturday, May 29, from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. at the center, located at 1060 N. Guillemard St. There will be secondhand art supplies, artwork and antiques for sale, local vendors who make work with upcycled or recycled materials, and some of our favorite local nonprofits who share the desire to encourage sustainability. The event will also include an upcycling-themed kids activity and game area. Admission is a $10 suggested donation or non-perishables for Manna Food Pantries. All proceeds benefit FCAC Youth Art Program Scholarship Fund. For more information, visit firstcityart.org.

PRE-PRIDE COMEDY FEST May 28, 29

and 30, Downtown Pensacola is home to the Pensacola Pre-Pride Comedy Fest, where 25 of the country's best LGBTQ+ comedians will be traveling to Pensacola to perform in this charity standup comedy event. The weekend will also be a fundraiser for TAPS, the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors. TAPS provides mental health and financial services to grieving military families. Nikki Carr, from NBC's Last Comic Standing & BET's ComicView, will be performing as one of the weekend's headliners, as well as Hilliary Begley. Venues May 20, 2021

Photo courtesy of 200 South (Home to World of Beer, Blend Lounge, Graffiti Pizza and Taco Agave)

Pensacon—Pensacola’s weekend of fandom—is officially back and happening this weekend, May 21-23. Panels and events will be held in venues around downtown including Pensacola Bay Center, Pensacola Little Theatre, Rex Theatre, Voices of Pensacola, UWF Historic Trust Bowden Building and Museum Plaza Stage. Daily passes are $35 for Friday, $45 for Saturday and $40 for Sunday. VIP passes are $165, and three-day passes are $80. For a schedule of events and list of celebrity guests, visit pensacon.com.

OFFICIAL AFTER PARTIES

Because there ain't no party like a themed party ... lots of downtown bars and restaurants are welcoming Pensacon weekend back in style.

ALL WEEKEND

THE 5 BARREL BREWERY & TAPROOM 121 S. Palafox Pensacon Dungeon Crawl Scavenger Hunt 200 SOUTH (World of Beer, Blend Lounge, Graffiti Pizza and Taco Agave) 200 S. Palafox "Star Wars" themed specials and entertainment including trivia and a LEGObuilding contest THE CABARET 101 S. Jefferson St. Pensacon vs. Mardi Gras themed drag include The Cabaret, Odd Colony Brewing Company, O'Riley's Irish Pub Downtown, Dolce & Gelato and Perfect Plain. Weekend passes and day passes are currently available on Eventbrite. For more information, visit facebook.com/p3comedyfest.

PENSACOLA CHILDREN'S CHORUS AUDITIONS Pensacola Children's Chorus

auditions will be held Saturday, Aug. 7, and are open to students entering grades one-12. PCC's season runs September-May with the aim of producing three fully staged,

shows with special guest Axel Andrews. Showtimes: 10 p.m. and midnight Friday and Saturday, 5 and 7 p.m. Sunday CASKS & FLIGHTS 121 S. Palafox Place, Ste. B Wild, Wild West/Steampunk theme THE JOINT 10 S. Palafox Place Downtown's newest restaurant will be open exclusively to Pensacon VIP Experience passholders for a special preview of their forthcoming menu. ODD COLONY BREWING COMPANY 260 N. Palafox "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" theme O'RILEY'S IRISH PUB 321 S. Palafox Marvel vs. DC theme

PERFECT PLAIN BREWING CO. 8 p.m. "The Office" karaoke party; 10 p.m. costume contest

SATURDAY 5.22

COURT OF DE LUNA EVENT SPACE 116 E. Gonzalez St. 7 p.m. Official Pensacon Cosplay Contest, followed by the Shermer High School Prom—an '80s dance party with an "Enchantment Under the Sea" theme THE 5 BARREL BREWERY & TAPROOM 1-4 p.m. Sea Shanties and Folk Music with Bard In-Residence Jay Moody; 5 p.m. We Cut The Grilled Cheese Food Truck PERENNIAL PATIO BAR Noon brunch with Pensacola Santa; 8 p.m. dog adoption event and karaoke PERFECT PLAIN BREWING CO. Casino Night at "The Office"

SUNDAY 5.23

PERENNIAL PATIO BAR The Garden at 501 S. Palafox "Elf" theme

THE 5 BARREL BREWERY & TAPROOM 1-4 p.m. Sea Shanties and Folk Music with Bard In-Residence Jay Moody; SaBai Thai Kitchen Takeover

PERFECT PLAIN BREWING CO./ GARDEN & GRAIN 50 E. Garden St. "The Office" theme

PERENNIAL PATIO BAR 2 p.m. Santa bar crawl between Perennial and Perfect Plain/Garden & Grain

PLAY Upstairs at 16 S. Palafox "Back to the Future" theme

PERFECT PLAIN BREWING CO. 2 p.m. Christmas at "The Office," Santa bar crawl between Perennial and Perfect Plain/Garden & Grain

costumed and choreographed mainstage concerts—"Christmas on the Coast," "One World Many Voices" and "Showtime." However, these larger-than-life performances reinforce more than vocal ability. Throughout the season, students are immersed in personal and social growth designed to equip singers with the tools to succeed beyond the rehearsal hall and stage. Interested families need to register for an audition time by visiting pensacolasings. org. Middle and high school singers should be prepared to learn a brief choreographed

section to assess movement and learning style. All ability levels welcome. No prior experience or training is required. PCC is located in the Margaret Moore Nickelsen Center, 46 E. Chase St., on the campus of First Presbyterian Church in beautiful downtown Pensacola. For more information about the Pensacola Children's Chorus, please call (850) 434-7760 or visit pensacolachildrenschorus.com.

COMING SOON TO PENSACOLA CINEMA ART Oscar-nominated film "The 17

a&e happenings Father" will play at PCA at 1 p.m. Friday, May 21, and Saturday, May 22. "Our Friend," based on the true story of a Fairhope family, will play at 1 p.m. Friday, May 28, and Saturday, May 29. "Minari" will come to PCA Friday and Saturday, June 11 and 12, at 1 p.m. All tickets are $8. Reserve your seats by emailing jpncinema@gmail.com or texting (863) 446-7300. PCA is located at 220 W. Garden St. For more information, visit pensacolacinemaart.com.

URBAN REMIX OPENING RECEPTION AT FIRST CITY ART CENTER "Urban Re-

mix" is on view at Gallery 1060 through June 26. The exhibit includes street art design with iconic Pensacola points of interest. Guest artist is Jay Collins. The opening reception will be Saturday, May 22, from 4-6 p.m. at the gallery, located at 1060 N. Guillemard St. For more information, visit firstcityart.org.

NEW EXHIBIT AT PENSACOLA MUSEUM OF ART "A Dead Reckoning:

Navigating Contemporary Ceramics" is now on view at Pensacola Museum of Art, which asks viewers, "Where is the field of American ceramic art going?" For more information, visit pensacolamuseum.org.

CITIZENS SPEAK AT PENSACOLA MUSEUM OF ART The "Citizens Speak"

exhibition represents a collection of student work across disciplines based on their

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engagement with Claudia Rankine's "Citizen." The exhibit is on display through July 3 at Pensacola Museum of Art. For more information, visit pensacolamuseum.org.

OPEN MIC NIGHT AT GORDON COMMUNITY ART CENTER Every second

Thursday, the stage is open to all artists of all art forms to share music, live paintings, dance, poetry and more. Open mic is from 7-10 p.m. Gordon Community Art Center is located at 306 N. DeVilliers St.

STAND-UP COMEDY AT THE REX THEATRE Visit The REX Theatre every

Friday at 8 p.m. for national stand up acts. Tickets are $26-$35 at the door. For more information, visit rexpensacola.com.

COMEDY MAGIC SHOW AT THE REX THEATRE Comedy magician Tom Coverly,

known as "The Illusionist," performs Saturday nights at The Rex Theatre, located at 18 N. Palafox. Shows start at 7 p.m. Tickets are $10-$35. For more information, visit rexpensacola.com.

OPEN MIC COMEDY AT BIG TOP BREWERY Try out some new jokes or enjoy some homegrown talent every Monday at 7 p.m. for Open Mic Comedy at Big Top Brewery, located at 21 W. Romano St. Everyone gets five minutes depending the number of sign-ups. Registration begins at 6:30 p.m.

PENSACOLA OPERA AL FRESCO

Pensacola Opera's outdoor live concerts are Saturdays at 2 p.m. in the UWF Historic Trust Museum Plaza. For more information, visit pensacolaopera.com.

into the building and studio. More information about Mixon Magic Performing Arts can be found at mixonmagic.com, by contacting hello@mixonmagic.com or emily@mixonmagic.com or by calling (850) 221-7438.

OPERALIVE: THROWBACK THURSDAYS Take a walk down memory lane with

QUEERING SPACES: CELEBRATING PENSACOLA'S LGBTQ+ COMMUNITY

friends of the Pensacola Opera. Learn more about the craft and look back on past productions with live discussions on Facebook Live Thursdays at 5:30 p.m. Viewers are encouraged to join in the conversation. Tune in at facebook.com/pensacolaopera.

NEW CLASSES AT MIXON MAGIC PERFORMING ARTS Mixon Magic Per-

forming Arts (MMPA), a boutique performing arts studio located at 1010 N. 12th Ave., Ste. 238, will be offering a limited class schedule this fall. MMPA offers professional dance, fitness and "Mommy and Me" instruction for all ages and skill levels with weekly classes including, but not limited to, Creative Movement, Ballet/Jazz Combo, Broadway, Tap, Showstoppers, Acting and Voice. Classes will be provided for children as young as 2 years old (with a parent or guardian) through adult. MMPA is dedicated to the safety and well-being of all students and families and has implemented protocols based on guidance from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Masks are required for entry

Queering Spaces is a new exhibit exploring the history of the Pensacola Queer Community, going beyond Memorial Day Weekend and Pride to uncover the longlasting impacts of Pensacola's vibrant past. The exhibit is on view at T.T. Wentworth Jr. Museum, located at 330 S. Jefferson St.

BLACK CITIZENSHIP IN THE AGE OF JIM CROW On view at Voices of Pensacola

is "Black Citizenship in the Age of Jim Crow," a traveling exhibition from the New York Historical Society Museum & Library with additions from the African American Heritage Society of Pensacola. To learn more about it, visit africanamericanheritagesociety.org. Voices of Pensacola is located at 117 E. Government St. and open Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

CRAFT CLASSES AT STUDIO SOUTH ON NINE MILE Learn a new craft or meet

up with other makers at Studio South. Tuesday is Knit Night 4-7 p.m., and Sit & Stitch is Saturdays 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Both classes are free. For a full calendar of events, visit

inweekly.net

a&e happenings studiosouthon9mileroad.com. Studio South is located at 955 E. Nine Mile Road.

CLASSES AND WORKSHOPS AT FIRST CITY ART First City Art Center of-

fers a wide range of classes and workshops for artists of all levels. Classes include glass blowing, ceramics, painting and drawing, kiln-forming, stained glass and more. For a complete list of classes and times, visit firstcityart.org.

SUNDAYS ON THE MEZZANINE Enjoy a full-length concert series on select Sundays at 3 p.m. on Facebook. Tickets are $9.99 and can be purchased online at facebook.com/pensacolaopera.

LIVE MUSIC

BANDS ON THE BEACH Bands on the Beach is back. The free concert series features shows each Tuesday night, from 7-9 p.m., from April to October at the Gulfside Pavilion at Casino Beach. UPCOMING DATES: •May 25: Karli Ryan •June 1: Tyler Mac BANDS ON THE BLACKWATER Following the cancellation of the complete 2020 schedule due to COVID-19, the City of Milton is bringing back the popular concert series starting Friday, April 2. All concerts will be held from 7-9 p.m. at Jernigan's Landing, 5158 S. Willing St. UPCOMING DATES: •May 21: Mikey Clams Band •May 28: Shazam HELEN GILLET HOUSE SHOW New

Orleans-based one-woman band Helen Gillet will be performing an intimate house show Thursday, May 20, at 7 p.m. The show is located at 105 E. De Soto St. Tickets are $15 in advance or $20 at the door and can be purchased through Venmo @helengillet-show. Leave the names of those attending and specify it's for the May 20 show. Bring a chair and whatever you'd like to drink to enjoy the evening.

JEFF GLICKMAN AT DOLCE AND GELATO Singer and songwriter Jeff Glickman

will be performing 5-7 p.m. Friday, May 21, at Dolce and Gelato, 2050 N. 12th Ave. For more information, visit facebook.com/dolcegelatopensacola.

BIG JIM BROWN AND THE SPEED KINGS Big Jim Brown and the Speed Kings will be performing at Dolce and Gelato, 2050 N. 12th Ave., from 3-5 p.m. Sunday, May 23. For more information, visit facebook.com/dolcegelatopensacola.

MUSCADINE BLOODLINE AT THE PORT AT THE WHARF Mobile's own Muscadine Bloodline is performing at The Port at The Wharf in Orange Beach 8 p.m. Thursday, May 27. Tickets are available at ticketmaster.com.

RILEY GREEN AT THE WHARF AMPHITHEATER Riley Green will be May 20, 2021

performing at The Wharf Amphitheater at 7 p.m. Friday, May 28. Tickets are available at ticketmaster.com.

THE ALLMAN BETTS BAND The Allman Betts Band will be performing at the Saenger Theatre, located at 118 S. Palafox, 8 p.m. Sunday, May 30. Tickets are $45-$65. For more information, and to purchase tickets, visit pensacolasaenger.com. LIVE MUSIC AT RED FISH BLUE FISH PENSACOLA BEACH Head to Red Fish

Blue Fish for live performances from local bands Fridays and Saturdays all day. For musician lineups, visit facebook.com/redfishbluefishpensacolabeach. CURT BOL JAZZ QUARTET Visit Five Sisters Blues Café, located at 421 W. Belmont St., Sundays from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. and listen to Curt Bol Jazz Quartet. Visit curtbolband.com for more information.

OPEN JAM AT ARTEL GALLERY Artel

Gallery is open from 5-7 p.m. Wednesdays and Saturdays for open jam with Pensacola Folk Music Society. Feel free to visit and listen to music. Artel Gallery is located at 223 S. Palafox.

KARAOKE AT MUGS AND JUGS Sing your heart out Sundays at Mugs & Jugs, 12080 Scenic Highway, or just enjoy drinks friends with $4 Smirnoff and $6.50 domestic pitcher drink deals from 7 p.m.-3 a.m. For more information, visit facebook.com/mugsjugs. LIVE MUSIC AT HUB STACEY'S Sit back

with good food and live music at Hub Stacey's, located at 312 E. Government St. For a full calendar of bands, check hubstaceys.com.

MONDAY NIGHT BLUES AT SEVILLE QUARTER Seville Quarter and the Blues Society of Northwest Florida bring the "Blues" back to the Seville Quarter Entertainment District, located at 130 E. Government St. every Monday night in End O' the Alley starting at 7 p.m. For more information, visit sevillequarter.com.

TUESDAY NIGHT JAZZ AT SEVILLE QUARTER Enjoy smooth jazz with Me-

lodious Allen and The Funk Heads every Tuesday night at Lili Marlene's in Seville Quarter, located at 130 E. Government St. Show starts at 6:30 p.m. Visit sevillequarter.com for more information.

FITNESS + RECREATION

BREATHE AND READ AT BODACIOUS BOOKSTORE AND CAFÉ Recenter

yourself at this monthly event at Bodacious Bookstore and Café, with an instructor-led beginner yoga class and a group book discussion at 9 a.m. on the first Saturday of every month. Bodacious Bookstore and Café is located at 110 Intendencia St. For more information, visit bodaciousbookstore.com. for more listings visit inweekly.net 19

a&e

By Jennifer Leigh

Pensacola's Own "Jazz Hero"

Norman Vickers / Photo Courtesy of Jazz Pensacola

It was nearly 40 years ago when Norman Vickers first founded Jazz Pensacola alongside a handful of musicians to celebrate and support the local jazz scene. If you've ever enjoyed the monthly Jazz Jams or the annual JazzFest, Vickers is one to thank. Last month, the musician/physician was honored as one of the 2021 Jazz Heroes from New York-based newspaper "The Syncopated Times." The accolade is something Vickers kind of shrugs off. "Every year, the paper elects a Jazz Hero, and I guess this was my year," said Vickers.

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

127 Palafox Place Suite 100 (850)466-3115 autumnbeckblackledge.com 020 2

As a longtime fan of jazz music, Vickers said his real joy has been playing and sharing music. But it's also true that the moniker of "jazz hero" is well deserved. Vickers, along with Frank Horne, Ray Parker, Joe Occhipinti, Harvey Etheridge and Roy Russell, tried to establish a local jazz society as far back as the mid-1960s. But it was Vickers who started to lay the groundwork in the early '80s for the organization as we know it today. "It was 1983 and WUWF just came on the air and jazz was a big part of it," Vickers recalled. "I invited (WUWF Executive

Director) Pat Crawford and Diane Magie of the Northwest Florida Arts Council to my house and said, 'We need a jazz festival.'" The Jazz Society of Pensacola, or Jazz Pensacola, was founded shortly after as a support system of the festival. "We incorporated in 1984 and we've been going ever since," said Vickers. In those early days, board members would meet at Vickers' medical office. Vickers joked his was the only office where staff would have to ask, "Is it medical or musical?" when answering calls. But Vickers' contributions to jazz don't begin and end in Pensacola. Around the time he formed the local jazz society, he was elected to serve on the board of the American Federation of Jazz Societies (AFJS), where he served for a handful of years and was even elected president. He also served as editor of the AFJS quarterly newsletter. Although the JazzFest has missed a few years—it was canceled last year due to COVID but made a comeback this month—it's grown into a signature event for Pensacola, bringing together local, regional and national talent. And Jazz Pensacola has done its part to foster young, new talent with the annual student jazz competition. The organization also helped set up the Jazz Room at the Pensacola Library, which houses 1,500 books, CDs and movies about the history and performance of jazz. Vickers proudly notes it's one of only two public library jazz rooms in the country. "The only other one I could find is in the state of Washington," he said. There is no pay, and little glory, in his advocacy work. Vickers does it because he simply loves jazz music. "I love it for the same reason some people love opera or classical music," he said. "Jazz speaks to me." As a kid, Vickers took piano lessons, which he continued through high school. In seventh grade, he picked up the piccolo. In college and medical school, he started

playing guitar. But his instrument of choice today is the chromatic harmonica. "I got to be reasonably good at the piano, but it was too hard to carry around with me, though," he said. "With the harmonica, I can drive down the road with one hand and play harmonica with the other."

"I got to be reasonably good at the piano, but it was too hard to carry around with me, though. With the harmonica, I can drive down the road with one hand and play harmonica with the other." Norman Vickers Although he doesn't really play harmonica from the driver's seat, he did occasionally play for his patients. If a patient was getting a procedure that required light sedation—like an endoscopy—Vickers would sometimes play a tune while waiting for the medicine to kick in. "I'd have them sing along, and when their voice would get slower, I'd know the medicine was working," he said with a laugh. At 90, Vickers said he has been slowing down. When he looks back on the past few decades, he said he's pleased with what he helped build and grateful for the people he met, from musicians to writers and even renowned jazz photographer Bill Gottlieb, who photographed the greats from Billie Holiday to Louis Armstrong and even gifted a few prints to Vickers. "I have absolutely wonderful memories of the things we've done," said Vickers. "Jazz is a unique American art form that broadens the mind, and I'm really proud to help share it." {in} For more information about Jazz Pensacola, visit jazzpensacola.com.

www. radiofree pensacola .com inweekly.net

music

By Sydney Robinson

Crybaby Creativity cian made use of the tools they had at home—namely their voice, bass, electric and acoustic guitar. "I feel really inspired by a lot of local music," said Bostic, "This Bike is A Pipe Bomb, a lot of the Sluggo's projects, people associated with 309 [Punk Project], and my husband has been in a lot of bands, so his bands. And, of course, Bright Eyes is an eternal inspiration." The finish of the tracks is undoubtedly DIY, and the sound is a charming mix of sadness and longing with scratchy, echoey guitar. A longtime fan of live shows, Bostic says in a rare time when live music was nowhere to be found, they found that creating music became a vital part of self-care and directing their emotions in a healthy way rather than a destructive one. "Music gives me a constructive thing to do that is also expressive." said Bostic. "I have a very long history of acting out in harmful ways towards myself. I've hurt others just from going through the kinds of things I've gone through."

Photo Courtesy of Conor Bostic

Crybaby, Hopeful, the first solo project from Pensacola local Conor Bostic, was born like so many things in 2020—out of isolation, inspiration and a bit of cooped-up boredom. "I think the timing was just right with a mixture of being home and having a lot of time to reflect and finding a new confidence and stability within my life," said Bostic. "It sounds weird to say, but it was just in that period of time where my personal relationships and my marriage and the people in my life were really supportive of me artistically. [This music] brewed from this storm of boredom and wanting to express myself."

While the trauma and loss of 2020 are undeniable, in the aftermath of the season, we are learning that some good things came from that time, too. For many artists and musicians, the ability to take a breath and remove the audience from the equation enabled them to create sounds that were unique and sometimes more authentic. Crybaby, Hopeful was released single by single over the course of eight months, spanning from the dog days of summer 2020 into the early vaccinated spring of 2021. When asked to describe their sound, Bostic offers one main word—"Noisy." The tracks feature homemade sounds and vocals all done by Bostic. The musi-

"I don't feel I have to be so embarrassed to express the trauma I've been through in music." Conor Bostic "I don't feel I have to be so embarrassed to express the trauma I've been through in music." The musical themes of the project center around existing at the intersection of patriarchy and capitalism. "I love making art about my body, specifically about feeling isolated or alienated from the body," said Bostic. "I also write my songs about surviving intimate-partner violence." Starting a music career in a pandemic is a daunting task for any musician hoping to reach a wide audience. Luckily, Bostic was able to cut their teeth during a Bugghouse livestream

show on March 20, sharing their new songs for the first time with a virtual audience. "The livestream went really well," said Bostic. "People liked it and I felt really proud." During the live show, Bostic shared the inspiration behind some of the songs they played, including a plea with cisgender men to "unlearn a lot of [their] misogynistic bullshit" as the intro to a song that laments, "I woke up on this earth in my body; you won't listen to me [because of] my body." Bostic, who is both transgender and gender-fluid, draws inspiration from their experiences defying the gender binary and dealing with the misogyny they faced growing up in a body assigned female. The musician has been out as trans for several years now, but they are ready, with the support of friends and family, to get genderaffirming top surgery to combat body dysmorphia, a psychologically painful experience. To this end, Bostic posted a GoFundMe in early April of 2021 with a goal of raising $9,711 for their top surgery and recovery. What's next for the budding musician? Another project they are still gathering resources for is called Crisis Actor, so named as a nod to the domestic violence they faced for several years. "It's about expressing pain and trauma in ways other people don't approve of," said Bostic. The new project is expected to have a different sound than Crybaby, Hopeful, a more aggressive and energetic tone to counter the melancholy of their current solo project. So far, they have released a two-song demo with the hopes of bringing additional band members on board. "I'm hoping that somebody will fill the roles in the guitar and drum and I'll have a more fuller sounding project," said Bostic. "I can't wait for shows to come back; that's where my community is." {in} Visit crybabyhopeful.bandcamp.com to stream and download songs, and for more on Bostic's other projects, visit linktr.ee/conoreb.

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May 20, 2021

free will astrology WEEK OF MAY 20 ARIES (MARCH 21-APRIL 19): Aries playwright Samuel Beckett wrote the play "Waiting for Godot." At one point in the tale, the character named Estragon suggests it might be possible, even desirable, to "dance first and think afterwards." In response, the character named Pozzo says, "By all means, nothing simpler. It's the natural order." With that in mind, and in accordance with astrological omens, I am going to encourage you to dance first and think afterwards as much as possible in the coming weeks. In my opinion, your ability to analyze and reason will thrive to the degree that you encourage your body to engage in enjoyable free-form play. Your power to make good decisions will grow as you take really good care of your physical organism and give it an abundance of pleasure and release. TAURUS (APRIL 20-MAY 20): As you enter a phase when gradual, incremental progress is the best progress possible, I offer you the concluding lines of Taurus poet Adrienne Rich's poem "From a Survivor"—"not as a leap, but a succession of brief, amazing movements, each one making possible the next." I especially want to call your attention to the fact that the small steps can be "brief, amazing movements." Don't underestimate the power of minor, subtle, regular breakthroughs. GEMINI (MAY 21-JUNE 20): Here's a

public service announcement for you Geminis from the planet and god Mercury: You're under no obligation to be the same person you were three years ago, or six months ago, or last week—or even five minutes ago, for that matter. Mercury furthermore wants you to know that you have been authorized to begin a period of improvisation and experimentation, hopefully guided by a single overriding directive: what feels most fun and interesting to you. In the coming weeks it will be more important to create yourself anew than to know precisely who you are.

CANCER (JUNE 21-JULY 22): As a Zen

Buddhist priest for 47 years, Kōshō Uchiyama was knowledgeable about the power that illusions can wield over our imaginations.

By Rob Brezsny

"If we're not careful," he said, "we are apt to grant ultimate value to something we've just made up in our heads." I won't tell you the examples from my own life that prove his point, because they're too embarrassing. And I'm happy to report that I don't think you're anywhere near granting ultimate value to something you've just made up in your head. But I do advise you to be on the lookout for milder versions of that phenomenon.

LEO (JULY 23-AUG. 22): Leo-born professor Sibelan Forrester is an expert on charms, spells and incantations in Russian folklore. She wrote, "An empty place where no one can see or hear what one says is the proper locus for working magic." Spells often start with these words, she added—"I rise up, saying a blessing. I go out, crossing myself, and I go to an open field." Whether or not you have Russian heritage, Leo, I see the immediate future as being a good time for you to perform magic in an open field with no one else around. What might be the intention of your magic? How about something like this— "I ask my guides and ancestors to help me offer my most inspired largesse so as to serve the health and inspiration and liberation of the people whose lives I touch." VIRGO (AUG. 23-SEPT. 22): Spiritual au-

thor Stephen Russell wrote, "Don't mask or deny your vulnerability—It is your greatest asset." That's an exaggeration, in my opinion. Vulnerability is a greater asset than your intelligence, compassion and creativity? Not in my view. But I do recognize the high value of vulnerability, especially for you Virgos during the next three weeks. "Be vulnerable," Russell continues. "Quake and shake in your boots with it. The new bounty and beauty that are coming to you, in the form of people, situations and things, can only come to you when you are vulnerable—open."

LIBRA (SEPT. 23-OCT. 22): My friend Jenny's Swedish grandmother used to say to her on a semi-regular basis, "Åh tänk om vi vore korkade, vi skulle vara så lyckliga," meaning, "If only we were stupid, we would be so happy." In the coming weeks, I am asking you to disprove that folk wisdom. According to my analysis of

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the astrological potentials, now is a favorable time for you to explore ways in which your intelligence might enhance and deepen your enjoyment of life. Your motto should be, "The smarter we are, the happier we will be."

I do hope that you Capricorns will also have an intense focus on mastering the details in the coming weeks—but not as intense or misguided as that nonsensical obsession.

SCORPIO (OCT. 23-NOV. 21): Some-

ian author Charles Dickens (1812–1870) was famous and popular. Audiences packed the halls where he did public lectures and readings. His favorite way to prepare for these evening events was to spend the day drinking a pint of champagne, as well as generous servings of rum, cream and sherry with eggs beaten into the mix. I don't have a problem with that—whatever works, right?—but I suggest a different approach for your upcoming appointments with greater visibility and prominence. Like what? How about sexy meditations on the gratitude you feel for your expanding possibilities? How about fun fantasies focusing on how you'll use your increased clout?

time soon I invite you to speak a message similar to what poet Kenneth Rexroth once delivered to a special person in his life. He wrote, "Your tongue thrums and moves / Into me, and I become / Hollow and blaze with / Whirling light, like the inside / Of a vast expanding pearl." Do you know anyone who might be receptive to hearing such lyrical praise? If not, create a fantasy character in your imagination to whom you can say it. On the other hand, maybe you do know a real person who would appreciate an earthier, less poetical tribute. If so, please convey it; something akin to this—"Your influence on me amplifies my ability to be my best self." Now is a perfect time to honor and extol and reward those who move you and excite you.

SAGITTARIUS (NOV. 22-DEC. 21):

Author Aldous Huxley said, "I can sympathize with people's pains, but not with their pleasures. There is something curiously boring about somebody else's happiness." To that I reply, "Other people's pleasure and happiness bored you? Maybe you were suffering from raging narcissism and an addiction to cynicism." In any case, Sagittarius, I hope you won't be like Huxley in the next few weeks. I believe you could glean useful insights and derive personal benefits from knowing about and appreciating the joys of others.

CAPRICORN (DEC. 22-JAN. 19): Capricorn businessman Howard Hughes (1905–1976) had great success early in his life. Working as a film director and aviation pioneer, he became a wealthy philanthropist. But as he aged, he became increasingly eccentric and reclusive. For the last 10 years of his life, he lived in expensive hotels, where he placed strict and often absurd demands on the hotel staff. For example, if he called on room service to bring him a meal that included peas, he would measure the peas with a ruler and send back any he deemed too big.

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

PISCES (FEB. 19-MARCH 20): In his upcoming book "The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows," John Koenig proposes that we begin using "monachopsis," a word he coined. He defines it as follows: "the feeling of being out of place, as maladapted to your surroundings as a seal on a beach—lumbering, clumsy, easily distracted, huddled in the company of other misfits, unable to recognize the ambient roar of your intended habitat, in which you'd be fluidly, brilliantly, effortlessly at home." Even if you have spent too much time lately experiencing monachopsis, my dear, I predict this malaise will soon dissipate and give way to an extended phase of being fluidly, brilliantly, effortlessly at home. THIS WEEK'S HOMEWORK: Tell me your three most brilliant and useful opinions. Go to freewillastrology.com.

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news of the weird FAMILY VALUES You let your grown son, his girlfriend and their child move into your house, and what thanks do you get in return? For a 43-year-old Lone Rock, Wisconsin, woman, "Happy Mother's Day" was expressed with a shock to the neck from a Taser wielded by her 22-year-old son, Andrew Peterson. According to The Smoking Gun, Peterson became upset on May 9 because he couldn't find his phone, so he stunned his mother, then left her home with 20-year-old Colleen Parker and their child. Peterson was arrested for the shocking assault; Parker also was arrested for allegedly punching Peterson's mom in the face earlier in the week. AWESOME! Four-year-old Noah of Brooklyn, New York, knows nautical nonsense when he sees it, so he went all-in on SpongeBob SquarePants Popsicles, ordering 918 of them from Amazon in April without his mom knowing. When 51 cases arrived at his aunt's home, his mom panicked: Jennifer Bryant is a social work graduate student at NYU and has two other boys, The Washington Post reported. She couldn't pay the $2,618.85 bill, and Amazon wouldn't take the frozen confections back. A family friend set up a GoFundMe page, raising more than $11,000, which Noah's mom said will go toward his education. Noah is on the autism spectrum, and his mom hopes to send him to a special school. Amazon is working with the family to donate to a private charity of their choice, and as for the treats? They've mostly melted. GOVERNMENT IN ACTION Since 1989, Mauro Morandi, now 81, has been the caretaker of Budelli, an otherwise uninhabited island in the Mediterranean Sea off Sardinia. He stumbled into the job when his catamaran broke down near the island and he learned that its caretaker was getting ready to retire, The Guardian reported. Now known as Italy's Robinson Crusoe, Morandi lives in a former World War II shelter and keeps things tidy on the island, clearing paths and keeping beaches clean for daytrippers who visit. But ownership of the island has passed to La Maddalena national park authorities, who are evicting Morandi and turning the small isle into an environmental education destination. "I have given up the fight," Morandi said. "I'll be living in the outskirts of the main town (on neighboring island La Maddalena), so will just go there for shopping and the rest of the time keep myself to myself. ... I'll still see the sea." WEIRD SCIENCE Angie Yen, 27, of Brisbane, Australia, had her tonsils removed on April 19, a simple surgery that went smoothly, News.com reported. But on April 28, as she got ready for work, she started singing in the shower and noticed something unusual

By the Editors at Andrews McMeel

about her voice. "I was singing in a different sound and also talking words in a funny accent," Yen said. She called a friend, who agreed that her accent suddenly sounded Irish and told her about FAS, foreign accent syndrome. Yen went to the hospital, but doctors told her to go home and see if the new accent would disappear in a few days. Nearly two weeks later, the brogue remains, and Yen is scheduled for an MRI and a visit with a neurologist. "I'm very lucky to have very supportive friends and family," she said. "If they find something hopefully there is a cure or treatment for it." LOST AND FOUND Parker Hanson, a pitcher at Augustana College in Illinois,] was born without a left hand, but he adapted over the years so that he could still play his favorite game. On May 3, Hanson realized that the backpack he had left in his car, which contained his prosthetic arm and some of its attachments, had been stolen. Hanson told the Argus Leader that he had lost hope of finding the expensive prosthetic and had started to focus on fundraising for a new one when he received a text on May 11. Nate Riddle and Tim Kachel, who work at Millennium Recycling Inc. in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, found the arm as they sorted recycling materials. "I recognized it instantly," said Kachel, who had heard about the theft on the news. "I was jumping up and down screaming 'Stop!'" While Hanson is happy to have it back, he said the arm is "pretty banged up" and unusable. Shriners Children's Twin Cities has stepped up to provide Hanson with a new arm free of charge, and his fundraising money will be donated to help other amputees get their own prosthetics. "If I can help impact some kid's life for a positive, then that's what I'll take out of this whole experience," Hanson said. SMILE FOR THE CAMERA The Colonial Pipeline shutdown and subsequent gas shortage has produced its fair share of hysteria-fueled incidents in the Southeast, but Jesse Smith, 25, of Griffin, Georgia, may have set the bar. Police there were able to track down and arrest the would-be thief after he attempted to steal gas from a U-Haul truck on May 12 by drilling holes in its tank, resulting in a huge hazardous materials mess ... and no looted gas. WSB-TV reported that Smith was long gone by the time his handiwork was discovered, but security cameras in the U-Haul lot caught Smith walking around the trucks, and a camera trained on the area behind the KFC where Smith parked his own truck caught his hopeful arrival and the walk of shame that followed his failed gas heist. {in} From Andrews McMeel Syndication News Of The Weird © 2021 Andrews McMeel

Send your weird news items to WeirdNewsTips@amuniversal.com May 20, 2021

Independent News | May 20, 2021 | inweekly.net