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Independent News | May 27, 2021 | Volume 22 | Number 21

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winners & losers

outtakes

news 6

I just get this overwhelming sense of hope.

feature story

buzz 8

publisher Rick Outzen

graphic designer Tim Bednarczyk

editor & creative director Joani Delezen

contributing writers Gina Castro, Savannah Evanoff, Jennifer Leigh, Jeremy Morrison, Sydney Robinson, C.S. Satterwhite

a&e

13, 19, 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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*Board Certification by the Florida Bar Association and the National Board Of Trial Advocacy. Statistical information current as of April 2020.

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May 27, 2021

winners & losers

Margaret and Harry Stopp / Baptist Health Care

winners MARGARET AND HARRY STOPP The couple donated $250,000 to support the new Baptist Health Care campus at Brent Lane and I-110. Margaret Stopp has served on Baptist boards since 2009 and currently serves as the board chair for Baptist Health Care Foundation. She and her husband credited the organization's culture, compassion and local engagement as their reasons for donating to Baptist, noting this was their way of giving back to the community. Baptist Health Care CEO Mark Faulkner said, "Generous individuals such as Margaret and Harry are vital to help Baptist transform for the future so we can serve our community for generations to come."

C.A. WEIS ELEMENTARY COMMUNITY SCHOOL The school has been fully af-

firmed as a University of Central Florida Certified Community Partnership School. The UCF Center for Community Schools has a rigorous certification process developed to ensure that Community Partnership Schools consistently provide quality programming and employ strategies that align with the core components of the Community Partnership Schools model. The certification team noted six strengths in their report—foundation of partnership, the right skill sets in the right position, community partnership school integration, a team culture and a school-wide focus on trauma-informed care, and C.A. Weis pediatrics are aligned to the community's needs. C.A. Weis earned the certification the first time on April 23, 2018.

CENTRAL CREDIT UNION OF FLORIDA Last month, employees of Central Credit Union of Florida volunteered their time to support Manna Food Pantries. For three hours, staff members of the credit union worked in the warehouse cleaning and assisting with preparing groceries to be provided directly to those in need in the local community. Central Credit Union of Florida also donated candy bars to local law enforcement officers working with the School Resource Officer food program. These candy bars will be included in food kits given to children to take home, aiming to provide food for a hungry child while also developing trust with the student. 44

Ashley Moody / myfloridalegal.com

losers ASHLEY MOODY Last fall, the Florida Attorney General asked the Florida Department of Law Enforcement to investigate if former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg and the Florida Rights Restoration Coalition (FRRC) tried to illegally buy Democratic votes by paying off former felons' fines. FDLE spent 706 hours contacting more than 100 people over six months and reported, "No evidence was developed to indicate that the FRRC directed any individual to vote for a specific political party as a condition of paying outstanding fees." However, the investigators did find that some former felons were Republicans. ESCAMBIA COUNTY HR Escambia County is having difficulty filling jobs—maybe the first time people didn't want a county job. The Escambia County animal shelter has cut hours due to staffing issues. Beginning Monday, May 24, the animal shelter is only open Monday-Friday from 1-5 p.m. and Saturday 11 a.m.- 4 p.m. County Administrator Janice Gilley said the reduced hours were "due to the nationwide manpower crisis." Wow, the county can't find workers nationwide? PERDIDO BAY The watershed took a

significant hit when a line ruptured at ECUA's Bayou Marcus treatment facility on Thursday, May 13. The accident spilled 5.7 million gallons of sewage into the Perdido Bay watershed before it was repaired late the following afternoon. Fortunately, ECUA acted quickly, reported the spill to the authorities and kept the public and media apprised of the situation. By Wednesday, May 19, the sample results for all sampling locations measured below the maximum allowable thresholds, and the Florida Department of Health Department in Escambia County rescinded its health advisory. JAMES KYLE BELL According to federal court filings, the founder of "Keep America Great Committee," which masqueraded as an official Trump campaign PAC and defrauded Trump supporters into donating at least $500,000, last week pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud. The charge carries a maximum prison sentence of 20 years, but prosecutors will seek between 78-97 months for Bell, along with a fine of $25,000-$250,000. inweekly.net

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HONORING FALLEN HEROES With Memorial Day on Monday, May 31, we should take time to honor those in the military who died while in service to our country. The holiday began as Decoration Day after the Civil War, a war that had claimed more lives than any conflict and sparked the creation of national cemeteries to handle the burials. Wanting to honor their fallen soldiers, towns created memorial services that called for graves to be decorated with flowers. The original date was May 30. At the first Decoration Day, General James Garfield, who would later be elected president, made a speech at Arlington National Cemetery, where participants decorated the graves of the 20,000 Civil War soldiers. Northern states adopted Decoration Day as an official holiday, while Southern states stubbornly refused to join and instead honored their dead on different days until World War I. From that point, the holiday became known as Memorial Day and evolved to honor all men and women who died while serving in the U.S. military. In 1968, Congress established Memorial Day as the last Monday in May and declared it a federal holiday, creating a three-day weekend for federal employees. Southern states and businesses reluctantly followed suit— though I had a cousin that made me work two Memorial Days when I was in high school. Unfortunately, many have begun to associate Memorial Day with backyard barbecues, beach parties and the start of summer. However, the expectation in Pensacola should be higher. Our area's link to the military is special, dating back to when General Andrew Jackson served as the first governor of the Florida territory when he raised the U.S. flag in Ferdinand Plaza in 1821. Four years later, the federal government designated Pensacola Bay home for the Pensacola Navy Yard and named Captain Lewis Warrington its first commandant. The base would become the cradle of naval aviation as the United States entered World War I, training over a thousand naval aviators. Between the world wars, Naval Air

Station Pensacola became known as the "Annapolis of the Air," spinning off naval air stations in Jacksonville and Corpus Christi as the cadet training program expanded. During World War II, NAS Pensacola would train 1,100 cadets a month. Generations of naval and marine aviators would pass through Pensacola, marrying local girls and running up tabs at Trader Jon's. Since 1946, we have been the home of the Blue Angels flight demonstration squadron. Thousands are thrilled to watch their weekly practice sessions and even more flock to their two airshows held here. The Blue Angels are the Navy's and Pensacola's ambassadors. Despite our military connection, the city, county and chamber aren't holding any ceremonies on Memorial Day this year. Yes, we are still dealing with the COVID pandemic, but we've held Carnival, Pensacon and the Fiesta Crawfish Festival. Why not a Memorial Day service? In 1933, Pensacola held its first official Memorial Day service at the National Cemetery on NAS Pensacola, sponsored by the United Spanish American War Veterans. According to the Pensacola Journal's archives, there was a parade from downtown to the cemetery, and "seven former doughboys who received wounds in France in the World War were awarded Purple Heart medals." Thirty years ago, the city had a Memorial Day Services Committee, whose theme was to remember, respect and honor those who died while in the military. They decorated graves with flags and put on a parade. A ceremony was held on the Lexington that included a color guard march, 21-gun salute and a "God Bless America" sing-along with the crowd. For a place with such a military history, it's odd that our leaders have dropped the tradition. If it's too much for the city and county governments to take on because their employees are off, maybe the Pensacola Chamber of Commerce would step up and organize it. Let's not have another Memorial Day Weekend without a Memorial Day service. {in} rick@inweekly.net

Yes, we are still dealing with the COVID pandemic, but we've held Carnival, Pensacon and the Fiesta Crawfish Festival. Why not a Memorial Day service?

May 27, 2021

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FINDING OUR WAY HOME

Tim Arney, currently a resident of the I-110 encampment / Photo by Jeremy Morrison

By Jeremy Morrison As the Sunday morning sun rises, a wide swath of grass beneath I-110 begins to bake. On either side, shadows cast by the overpasses provide shade for the people— still sleeping in tents or already up and into their day—populating Pensacola's temporarily sanctioned homeless camp. Looking around, Tim Arney doesn't see any "homeless" people. "I really like the term 'displaced,'" he said, squinting as the sunlight bounced off his glasses. But there's an even better term—people. "There's people here who have legitimate expectations for their lives," Arney stresses. "This is just temporary." Arney knows. He's living beneath the overpass inside his Toyota Camry. He's also a member of a new task force, along with the city of Pensacola and Escambia County, that aims to address homelessness in the area. As a member of the Homeless Reduction Task Force of Northwest Florida, Arney hopes to give an on-the-ground perspective into the homeless community and their varied backgrounds and needs. He said, "I want to offer to the process a better understanding, to demystify and take away the myths of the people of displacement." Another task force member is Michael Kimberl, executive director of the Alfred Washburn Center, which serves the area's 66

homeless community. A longtime local advocate, he reflects on past city ordinances that targeted acts associated with homelessness, like sleeping in a park. This time, he hopes officials will focus on helping the people experiencing homelessness and not on sweeping that population out of the view of polite society. "I think far too often when we approach homeless issues, we think 'how is it affecting us?' rather than 'how does it affect them?' I want that narrative to change," Kimberl said. Pensacola Mayor Grover Robinson acknowledged the process is still in the early stages and will evolve as time goes on but also stressed the need to begin such work in earnest and not worry about perfection. "I don't believe everything is perfect, but it begins to move us down the line," Mayor Robinson said.

ON THE EDGE OF CRISIS

Early in his term, Mayor Robinson convened a summit that gathered local officials and service providers to collaborate to address homelessness. The task force and plans currently being unveiled grew out of that effort. To help, the city brought in Dr. Robert Marbut, a consultant who served as former President Trump's homeless czar. The consultant laid out the landscape recently during a joint meeting of city and county officials. "The other day, someone said, 'How

would you define where you're at?' And I said, 'You're at the edge of crisis about ready to go over the hill,'" Marbut said. "I mean, you're at 50 miles per hour aiming for the cliff right now." Marbut previously sized up Pensacola's status in 2014 for Mayor Ashton Hayward's administration. The problem has worsened over the past seven years. He told elected officials, "Your numbers are dramatically going up." During the joint-governmental presentation, Kimberl watched from the back of the room—arms crossed, eyes fixed in a critical glare. He was, unsurprisingly, unimpressed. "Monday, to me, was just a bunch of fear-mongering," Kimberl said a few days after the meeting. He's not a big fan of Marbut. "Anybody that's ever done any research of Dr. Marbut knows what he's going to say," Kimberl said. "He's an advocate of criminalizing homelessness. He doesn't call it that. He calls it giving officers the tools they need to get the homeless the help they need." He also has concerns about the task force, which is chaired by John Johnson of Opening Doors and Connie Bookman of Pathways for Change. "The biggest problem I have is transparency," he said, adding that only a "select few cool kids"—meaning Johnson and Bookman—were brought into the loop thus far. "I watched Marbut give John Johnson a shoulder rub—it looked like a coach giving a pep talk at halftime." This schism is not surprising. After all, Marbut plays the slick, ivory-tower consultant and Kimberl that of a salty, front-liner. And while tension is present, the suite-level and street-level homeless advocates will be working together as members of this new task force. Emphasizing that point, both Marbut and local elected officials at the joint meeting made sure to name-check Kimberl and make assurances his brand of advocacy would have seats at the table. "I don't think anybody bleeds into this cause as much as he does," Pensacola City Council President Jared Moore said.

THE PLAN

Marbut's plan involves the development of a central service center, where homeless individuals can access the services they need

in one collective hub, as well as a kitchen to provide meals. And then, eventually, a housing element is to be added. "Ideally, you want to locate the services, the feeding and housing together," Marbut explained. "You want to put all three of those in one place—because you get a higher success rate, a lower negative footprint, and so there's a lot of good that happens when you do that together." In the immediate future, officials are considering using the property at 50 Maxwell St., the former U.S. Census Bureau office, for a service center and an adjacent countyowned property for the kitchen facility. Eventually, officials may be eyeing the property at 1750 N. Palafox for a center containing both elements as well as housing units. "That's sort of the home run," Marbut said. "It'd take longer to develop. There's a lot of challenges with that building, but that's one place you could do all three in one location." One significant component of Marbut's report, an element that may put folks like Kimberl at ease, suggests holding off on any punitive ordinances—"It is much better to fund high-performing agencies than it would be to pay lawyers to defend a murky case."

HOPE AND DREAD

Walter Arrington knows what it's like to be homeless. He knows the pain, fear and hardships of that path. "I know how hard it is and the dark, dark holes you live in when you're homeless," Arrington said. "And I couldn't have made it out unless somebody reached in and grabbed me out." Now Arrington, studying social work at the University of West Florida, works to help others find their way out of homelessness. He oversees the encampment under the interstate, attempting to get a handle on its residents' needs. "A lot of what I do is come out here every day, going person to person, tent to tent, finding out what's going on," he said. Arrington says the camp has already seen a few success stories, with campers securing places to live. He hopes more will find their own path home but realizes that requires more than a logistical lift—it requires a mental shift. "It's not just about doing stuff for people. You've got to get them ready to make the changes necessary to go on," he said. Over the years, Arrington has observed local discussions on how to address homelessness. He's cautiously optimistic about the new effort. "I've been on both sides of it. I just get this overwhelming sense of hope. I feel like we're about to do something amazing," he said. "But there's also that sense of dread. Because if we don't do this right, it's going to blow up in all our faces." {in} inweekly.net

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CORRECTION AND APOLOGY An article we published last week—"Crybaby, Creativity" (May 20, 2021)—contained two significant errors. In the A&E feature, we said that local musician Conor Bostic is non-binary. They are gender-fluid, and we deeply regret this error. We also wrongly stated the goal of their GoFundMe as the amount raised. The fundraising campaign is still active and in need of donations. Here's a link if you'd to help Bostic reach their goal so they can have gender-affirming top surgery—gofund.me/8faaebba. WATERFRONT AMBITIONS Public

working waterfront is growing increasingly rare. One such area in the local region, Pensacola Shipyards, is on the market, and Pensacola and Escambia officials are considering snapping it up. "Right now, it's a working waterfront, and the working waterfronts in the state of Florida are at a critical level of loss," explained Robert Turpin, Escambia's marine resource manager at the joint city-county meeting last week. "They're being converted to other utilizations, and once we lose those working waterfront, we don't get them back." The Pensacola Shipyards property is 76 acres located on Bayou Chico. Besides traditional day-to-day operations, the site has been utilized by outfits such as Skanska, the company still working on the Pensacola Bay Bridge, and BP, during its 2010 oil spill clean-up operations. If purchased by local governments, potential uses for the waterfront would be a hurricane haul-out area for over 100 vessels and a public boat ramp. The site would also come into play during the county's restoration efforts in Bayou Chico. 88

The shipyard property is running about $50 million. Officials from both the city and county agreed that the money needed to purchase the site would need to come from irregular sources, such as from Triumph Gulf Coast, the entity tasked with distributing a portion of oil spill penalty fines. "It would have to be something outside of our normal-everyday," Mayor Grover Robinson said of securing the funds. "I think it's worth talking about and pursuing," said Councilwoman Sherri Myers. Commissioner Doug Underhill voiced some concerns that there would be attempts to flip the working waterfront into something a bit splashier. "I want to put a bow in something as we look at this as a Florida working waterway. The greatest travesty that could happen to this property would be for it to become a resort, condo, shopping center, convention center, anything like that," Underhill said. He continued, "So I would hope that nobody is thinking fantasy thoughts like that, and if they are, just do a little research on what phase one and phase two environmental would look like. This is industrial property, and anybody thinking any other way is really riding a unicorn to work tomorrow."

WITNESS RECANTS In July 2009, a group of men kicked in the doors of the Beulah home of Byrd and Melanie Billings, killing the couple and stealing a small safe. Patrick Gonzalez was convicted for the murders. Gonzalez and his accomplices—Donnie Stallworth, Gary Sumner, Wayne Coldiron, Lenny Gonzalez, Pam Wiggins, Frederick Thornton and Rakeem Florence—were convicted, largely due to the testimony of Thornton and Florence, who were in their teens at the time.

In late April, Florence filed an affidavit with the court recanting his testimony—"I wrote and gave spoken statements about and involving the murder and robbery of Byrd and Melanie Billings in July of 2009. Every statement/testimony I made was false, hearsay and strategic coercion." He continued, "I would like to recant all statement testimony made involving Case #2009 CF 003249H because of lies I told at the age of 16. There is also evidence to prove this to be true. I'm writing this on my own volition." Inweekly has asked Assistant State Attorney John Molchan, who prosecuted Gonzalez and the others, about Florence's affidavit. "In examining what Mr. Florence said, he basically indicated that he had given false testimony, that he was 'strategically coerced,'" said Molchan. "From an investigative standpoint, we categorically deny that anything like that took place." He continued, "Mr. Florence gave multiple statements to law enforcement over the course of the investigation, along with multiple depositions, that all fit within the confines of the other evidence in the case." Molchan pointed out that Florence and Frederick Thornton, the other teen who testified against Gonzalez and others as part of a plea agreement, turned themselves in to the Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office after the photos of the red van were released to the media and "began giving statements at that point in time." "I'm not sure why Mr. Florence filed this particular piece of paper, but his testimony that was previously given was, in fact, the truth of what occurred inside the Billings' residence on that fateful night," said the assistant state attorney. Molchan pointed that neither Florence's nor Gonzalez's attorneys have filed any motions based on the affidavit. "If Florence files and he wants to allege that there's somehow ineffective assistance of counsel, first I'd think that we would fight against that," said Molchan. "But if he wins, we go to trial again, and he would be facing the whole realm of charges, including potential life imprisonment."

HOUSE OF BOOKS In 2013, Escambia County took over operations of the West Florida Public Library System from the city and established a county-wide tax to fund it. "I thought that was one of the better moves for the library system," said Mayor Grover Robinson, who was an Escambia County commissioner at the time of the deal. However, the city held on to the three library facilities within its boundaries. During its joint meeting, city and county officials discussed shuffling the properties, or at least two of them, and their maintenance and upkeep of those facilities to the county.

The mayor would like to shift the main branch on Spring Street and the Tyron Branch to the county. The city's third library facility at the Legion Field Neighborhood Resource Center would remain under municipal control since it houses more than the library. However, District 6 Councilwoman Ann Hill appeared a bit hesitant to offload the downtown facility. She said at the joint city-county meeting, "It's very much considered 'our library,' and I would hesitate giving it to the county." Escambia County District 4 Commissioner Robert Bender pointed out, "We already operate it and handle everything inside; it's just the four walls." But District 2 Commissioner Doug Underhill expressed concerns about impacts such a move would have on the county budget and understood Hill's feelings. He said, "I wouldn't want to step on those toes for the sake of being a little bit more efficient." In the end, city council members decided to discuss the issue in the future, with the county tabling its discussion until after that time.

HELP FOR PAST-DUE RENT Department

of Children and Families (DCF) Secretary Shevaun Harris has announced the launch of OUR Florida, the Emergency Rental Assistance Program funded by the U.S. Department of the Treasury. The "OUR" stands for "Opportunities for Utilities and Rental Assistance." Earlier this year, the Biden Administration issued $1.4 billion to Florida in emergency rental assistance funds, with approximately $529 million distributed directly by local governments with populations over 200,000. The remaining funds, over $800 million, will be disbursed by the state. Instead of thanking the federal government for the help, DCF Secretary Harris praised her boss, Gov. Ron DeSantis, for his leadership—we guess for how he is handing out the money Biden gave the state. DCF hired Tidal Basin to administer the program. The consulting firm contributed to DeSantis' inauguration celebration. Floridians who rent their homes are eligible if they earn an income at or below 80% of the area median income; have qualified for unemployment, experienced a loss of income, incurred significant costs or faced financial hardships due to the recent public health emergency; and are at risk of losing their home or are living in unstable or unhealthy conditions. To learn more about eligibility, required documentation and how to apply, visit ourflorida.com.

LITTON PRE-FILES Former MLB player,

local businessman and motivational speakinweekly.net

er Greg Litton has announced he would be seeking the Republican nomination for Florida House District 2, a seat currently held by attorney Alex Andrade. "As a lifelong conservative, I want to serve because I know I have the character and backbone to do what's right for our community and our state," said Litton in a written statement. "Now, more than ever, District 2 needs a leader that can effectively team with other legislators to focus not just on statewide problems but problems that are unique to our beautiful home." Four years ago, Litton was a late entry in the Escambia County Commission District 4 race, coming in second behind Robert Bender in a race with six candidates. Bender received 2,615 votes; Litton 1,929. In 2004, Litton was the early frontrunner to get the GOP nomination to replace Bonnie Jones as the Escambia County Supervisor of Elections. Again, the field was crowded, with four Republicans. David Stafford, the chief of staff of former Congressman Joe Scarborough, was the victor with 8,950 votes, while Litton came in second with 7,056. Alex Andrade is serving his second term. He won the GOP nomination for House District 2 in 2018 against Greg Merk, 16, 443-11,010. The seat became open when incumbent Frank White decided to run for Florida attorney general. Andrade faced no opposition in the general election. In the 2020 GOP primary, Andrade trounced Cris Dosev, 9,680-6,124. He went on to defeat Democrat Dianne Krumel in the general, 42,742-36,336.

ANOTHER ELECTION LAWSUIT Last

week, a coalition of groups filed a federal lawsuit in Tallahassee challenging the new Florida elections law (SB 90), claiming its restrictions on voting by mail could curtail voting by Black and Latino residents. Gov. Ron DeSantis and GOP lawmakers contended the changes were needed to

May 27, 2021

ensure election security and prevent fraud in future elections, even though the 2020 election in Florida ran smoothly. "While SB 90 imposes unjustified burdens on all voters, it places disproportionate burdens on Black voters, Latino voters, disabled voters and voters who face greater challenges in exercising the right to vote, even in the best of circumstances," the 91page lawsuit said. "SB 90 imposes specific obstacles on voters' ability to cast ballots through in-person voting, mail voting and the use of secure drop-boxes for early voting." The plaintiffs include Florida Rising Together, Faith in Florida, UnidosUS, the Equal Ground Education Fund, the Hispanic Federation and Poder Latinx. They are represented by attorneys from the Advancement Project National Office, Demos, LatinoJustice PRLDEF and the national law firm Arnold and Porter Kaye Scholer LLP. The lawsuit is the third one filed since Gov. DeSantis signed the bill on May 6 on the Fox News show "Fox & Friends." The League of Women Voters of Florida, the Florida State Conference of the NAACP, Disability Rights Florida and Common Cause are plaintiffs in the other two lawsuits.

NEW CHIEF The Pensacola City Council

unanimously approved Eric Randall as the city's new police chief on Thursday, May 13. After the vote, Council President Jared Moore announced, "Welcome back to Pensacola." Randall grew up in Pensacola and graduated from Booker T. Washington High School before pursuing a career in law enforcement. He will assume the helm on June 14. Though the city council's approval of Randall was unanimous, some members expressed reservations. Councilwoman Sherri Myers said she had poured over the selection committee notes to discover why local candidates with experience within PPD—specifically interim Chief Kevin Christman and former PPD Chief David Alexander—were passed over.

"I was hoping to find something in their notes that would enlighten me as to why the mayor chose someone who has not been affiliated with our police department," Myers said. "Just looking at their qualifications against the other people, for the life of me, I cannot understand why one of those was not chosen." But then Myers met personally with Randall and warmed to the candidate. "I had a great conversation with him," she said, adding that it was still a tough call. "I did not come to the decision easily, and it still weighs heavy on my heart." The councilwoman said that she was encouraged about Randall's arrival after digging into his work in Virginia. She said she's hopeful that the new chief will bring the same energy and initiatives to Pensacola. "I'm hoping, and I've said this to him, that he will have the freedom to bring a lot of good things to the city of Pensacola, and based on my conversation with him, I believe that he will," Myers said.

HEALTH NEEDS SURVEY Achieve

Healthy EscaRosa (AHER), in concert with the UWF Haas Center, has developed a survey to identify and understand the health needs of residents in both Escambia and Santa Rosa counties. This survey, found at uwf.edu/residentchna, is open until June 18. "2021 is a critical year for our community," said Jennifer Grove, VP of external relations for Baptist Health Care and AHER chair. "After facing a pandemic that has challenged our entire community and brought awareness to the inequities faced by specific populations in our community, it is our time to move the needle forward with health equity at the center." The survey is anonymous. Its results will be incorporated into the AHER Community Health Needs Assessment, which is used to allocate resources to meet residents' most pressing health and social services needs. The health assessment will be published online in early January 2022.

DISASTER PREP The unprecedented

events of 2020 illustrated how important it is for business owners to have a business continuity plan in place. From 10-11 a.m. on Thursday, June 3, the webinar "Business Continuity and Disaster Preparedness for Small Businesses" will provide some practical steps that business owners can take to ensure that their business can survive a crisis and resume operations as quickly as possible following the emergency. To register, visit sbdc.uwf.edu under "Training & Events." A link for joining this no-cost webinar will be sent to those who register.

FRIENDS OF FOO The Foo Foo Festival Committee is now accepting applications from nonprofit and for-profit entities who are interested in playing a part in this year's events as a "Friend of Foo." The "Friend of Foo" program is a submission and approval-based process that may be completed online. "Friend of Foo" participants will receive local, regional and national visibility during the 12-day event via the festival's regional marketing campaign. When applying, entrants should be prepared to provide the name and title of their prospective event; the date, time and location for the event; its respective category; and details and imagery to support the concept. The deadline to submit to be a "Friend of Foo" is Friday, Oct. 1, by noon. "During the 2019 Foo Foo Festival, Zarzaur Law, P.A. presented a special edition of our well-known 'Legal Graffiti' event," said Michelle Ortiz-Miguez, the firm's marketing manager. "Visitors watched three artists work on large canvases using a variety of paint, including spray paint, and the paintings were then auctioned off as a fundraiser for Gulf Coast Kid's House. We were thrilled to be a part of the Foo Foo Festival and are thankful to be a member of such a thriving downtown community." The Pensacola Foo Foo Festival will take place Nov. 4-15. To review the application process, visit foofoofest.com. {in}

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Summer Movies Episode MMXXI: A New Hope By Daniel Barnes

Hope, as it turns out, looks a lot like Vin Diesel. Mind you, that's not how most people would draw it up, but you work with the hope that you've got. Last summer, the pandemic turned most theaters into ghost towns, while one major release after another moved to 2021 or went straight to streaming. Justin Lin's upcoming "F9" represents not just the first real blockbuster to exclusively hit movie screens since the pandemic but also a ray of hope for a return to normalcy in the movie exhibition industry. ("Tenet" doesn't count because no one cared.) Film critic Daniel Barnes gets the party started by listing his most anticipated movies scheduled to come out this summer. All films listed below are theatrical-only unless otherwise specified, and all release dates are subject to change.

IN THE HEIGHTS (JUNE 11, IN

THEATERS AND ON HBO MAX) While the "Hamilton" cash cow still gushes milk, there is no reason for Lin-Manuel Miranda to risk tarnishing the brand by potentially coughing up a "Cats"-sized hairball on the big screen. Until that well runs dry, though, Miranda fans can experience this splashy film adaptation of his 2008 Tony winner "In the Heights," directed by Jon M. Chu (who also directed "Crazy Rich Asians").

LUCA

(JUNE 18, DISNEY+) A hybrid of "The Shape of Water"-style interspecies affection and sun-kissed selfMay 27, 2021

discovery a la "Call Me By Your Name" may not sound like fodder for a family movie, but that's the magic of Pixar sometimes. I'm mainly curious to see where and when this story of young sea monsters in the Italian Riviera slots into the interconnected universe of The Pixar Theory.

(JUNE 25) Vin Diesel and "fambly" accelerate our return to normalcy by seemingly recycling every familiar character, stunt and story beat from the previous eight "Fast and or Furious" installments. Besides the addition of John Cena to the franchise, "F9" also sees the return of Sung Kang as Han, a character who died like three movies ago, but whatever.

ZOLA

(JUNE 30) No, not another film about the Dreyfus affair, but rather the "American Honey"dipped story of a girls' trip gone wrong. Based on an infamous Twitter thread because that's a thing now, director and co-writer Janicza Bravo's "Zola" stars Taylour Paige and Riley Keough as poledancing frenemies embroiled in prostitution and murder. It originally premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in 2020.

SUMMER OF SOUL (…OR, WHEN THE REVOLUTION COULD NOT BE TELEVISED)

(JULY 2, IN THEATERS AND ON HULU) Ahmir Khalib Thompson (aka Questlove)

directed this award-winning documentary about the 1969 Harlem Cultural Festival. This woefully under-recognized six-week event featured performances from music legends like Stevie Wonder, Gladys Knight & the Pips, Sly and the Family Stone, Nina Simone and B.B. King. "Summer of Soul" combines contemporary interviews with recently unearthed and restored footage from the festival.

BLACK WIDOW

(JULY 9, IN THEATERS AND ON DISNEY+ WITH PREMIER ACCESS) Initially slated for a May 2020 release, "Black Widow" was one of the first blockbusters kept out of theaters by the pandemic. I don't usually promote superhero movies, especially not pointless prequels about pointless backstories. But this pointless prequel stars Scarlett Johansson, Rachel Weisz and Florence Pugh, so resistance is futile.

THE GREEN KNIGHT

(JULY 30) "A Ghost Story" director David Lowery helms this Arthurian adventure based on a 14th-century Middle English poem. Dev Patel stars here as Sir Gawain, a young knight who accepts a challenge from the titular monster that may end with death. The trailer for "The Green Knight" promises a dark and stylish fantasy with equal touches of "Game of Thrones" and "Pan's Labyrinth."

STILLWATER

(JULY 30) In this crime drama from director Tom McCarthy, Matt Damon stars as an Oklahoma oil worker who travels to Marseille to clear his estranged daughter (Abigail Breslin) of accusations that she murdered her girlfriend. "Stillwater" is McCarthy's first theatrical release since 2015, the year he began by releasing the embarrassing and hateful "The Cobbler" and ended by guiding "Spotlight" to a Best Picture Oscar.

THE NIGHT HOUSE

(AUG. 20) This horror mystery stars Rebecca Hall as a woman disturbed by nightmarish visions while grieving the unexpected suicide of her husband. I don't know anything about director David Bruckner ("The Ritual"), but the trailer makes it look like skin-crawling psychological horror in the vein of Ari Aster. "The Night House" originally premiered at Sundance in 2020, where it received positive reviews.

THE BEATLES: GET BACK

(AUG. 27) Another priceless artifact of musical archaeology and restoration from the same era as "Summer of Soul," this time a deep dive into The Beatles' "Let It Be" sessions. Working from over 55 hours of footage and 140 hours of audio, including the entire rooftop concert, director Peter Jackson challenges the perception that the sessions were a thoroughly contentious disaster. {in} 11

It only takes one person to slash the statistics.

Did you know that 1 in 10 children Escambia County are victims of child abuse? It’s time to change that number. Visit KnowChildAbuse.org to learn to recognize, report and reduce child abuse.

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inweekly.net

WEEK OF MAY 27-JUNE 2

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

Celebrating AAPI Heritage Month with Raylene Solis By Sydney Robinson

Raylene Solis / Courtesy Photo

In 1978, the month of May was designated as Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month by President Jimmy Carter. May was so chosen for two reasons—to commemorate the first Japanese immigrants to come to America in May of 1843 and in observance of the first golden spike driven into the transcontinental railroad in May of 1869, the railroad which was completed using the labor of Chinese immigrants. In honor of AAPI Heritage Month, Inweekly spoke with a local Asian American creative about the ways she is working to make the world a more diverse and representative place than the one she grew up in through her work as a visual artist. Filipino American artist Raylene Solis May 27, 2021

grew up in Santa Rosa County and says by the time she reached high school, she could count the number of Asian American classmates in her school on two hands. "I did not grow up with many people that looked like me at all," said Solis. "That really affected not only my worldview but my identity and how I viewed myself subconsciously." Solis says that seeing Asian creators on social media helped her realize that her self-image was skewed. "It was around towards the end of high school that I [became] aware of beauty standards and how they were not geared towards people who look like me, with my Asian features," said Solis. "It wasn't until I saw a Korean makeup artist showing how they do makeup. I was

so frustrated that I couldn't look like these other makeup looks because it doesn't work for my facial features. It was definitely a realization of how deeply ingrained the internal racism [was]." At the University of West Florida, Solis says she found a sense of community that has helped her to establish a stronger identity relating to her background. "I definitely felt a lot more understood in college. I was able to meet more Asian Americans, and I joined the Filipino Student Association on campus," Solis said. "That was a really positive experience for me to restore this—there was very little of it—pride in where I came from and other people who look like me." "I realized how damaging how I viewed myself was and how I could change that and how much more positive I was to myself and other people." Over the last year, as anti-Asian racism and xenophobia have increased around the country, Solis has spent time outside of creating art focusing on social issues relating to police brutality and racism, speaking out on social media and calling for accountability. "I definitely feel that the Asian American experience with racism is very different from Black Americans, Latino Americans and other people of color, for sure," Solis explained. "The stereotypes associated with Asian Americans are what people would call 'positive,' but any stereotype is ultimately detrimental." Through her art, Solis offers up a more well-rounded view of the human experience, providing commentary on social issues she cares about in her developing style. "I'm trying to incorporate my love for the human figure in portraiture with worldly social issues and identity," said Solis. "[I'm] mostly just representing people of color and the LGBTQ+ community," Solis said. "My biggest thing is media representation and showing people the different types of experiences that exist around them to make people feel less isolated and feel seen." Solis says that an issue affecting Asian Americans that she would like more attention drawn to is the way that Asian and Asian American culture is often distilled down into a single experience in people's minds. "We're not all the same," said Solis. "Every individual is different, of course, and

the Asian continent is so diverse that some people forget to recognize the diversity and variety of cultures from Asia and within Asian American culture, so the idea of 'Asian' is boiled down to East Asian countries." Solis will graduate in 2022 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree, double majoring in Studio Art and Art Administration with a minor in Environmental Sustainability. Outside of school, Solis has worked during the summer for the past four years at First City Art Center, where she gained an appreciation for nonprofit art organizations and the value a good art program can bring to children. "I started volunteering in high school, and that was when I started having an interest in what nonprofits can do." said Solis. "I would love to work for a nonprofit arts organization getting art education to underprivileged areas." Solis is primarily a portrait artist but also branches out into sculpture and other mediums. She has shown her work in the Keep Pensacola Beautiful Pieces Adrift art show as well as having two pieces displayed at UWF's TAGGED show this spring. "I'm mostly focusing on oil painting for both personal preference and for environmental reasons," Solis said. Solis draws on her background in environmental sustainability to work toward creating art that is not only inclusive in its subject matter but also does not contribute more plastic waste to the environment. Solis is experimenting with alternative mediums including learning how to make her own paper and using vegan paints when she is able. "That's another thing I want to focus on—transition to making [my art] more environmentally friendly and sustainable," said Solis. "I feel like that conversation isn't really being had—acrylic paint, how it's plastic-based and the waste surrounding creating art. I'm trying to find the balance of the materials that I use and the waste that I create." {in} Solis' art can be viewed on Instagram @raylenesolis. She also occasionally participates in the Pensacola Arts Market hosted each Saturday outside of New Market Antiques. Solis accepts commissions—just email artofraylene@gmail. com for rates and details. 13

a&e happenings 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.

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.

Photo Courtesy of Pensacola Mardi Gras

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

JOB FAIRS

ENVOY ONSITE HIRING EVENT

CareerSource EscaRosa will host a hiring event for Envoy from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. located at 6913 N. Ninth Ave. For more information, visit facebook.com/careersourceescarosa.

NONPROFITS + FUNDRAISERS

SEA TURTLE BABY SHOWER Support the Navarre Beach Sea Turtle Conservation Center during the Sea Turtle Baby Shower with games, art vendors, music, giveaways and more. There is no entry fee, but donations are accepted. The Sea Turtle Baby Shower is Saturday, June 5, from 10 a.m.-noon at the Gulfside Pavilion at Casino Beach. 414 1

DRAG SHOWS AT DOLCE AND GELATO "FRIEND OF FOO" APPLICATIONS NOW OPEN The Foo Foo Festival Com-

mittee is now accepting applications from nonprofit and for-profit entities who are interested in playing a part in this year's events as a "Friend of Foo." Nonprofits in the Pensacola area who recently applied and did not receive a grant for this year's festival but would still like to participate, or local for-profit businesses such as hoteliers, restaurants and bars who are interested in participating and benefitting, are encouraged to apply. To review the application process, visit foofoofest.com. "Friend of Foo'' participants will receive local, regional and national visibility during the 12-day event via the festival's regional marketing campaign. When applying, entrants should be prepared to provide the name and title of their prospective event; the date, time and location for the event; its respective category; and details and imagery to support the concept. The deadline to submit to be a "Friend of Foo" is Friday, Oct. 1, by noon. The Pensacola Foo Foo Festival will take place Nov. 4-15, 2021.

ARTS & CULTURE

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, through May 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

Head to Dolce and Gelato, located at 2050 N. 12th Ave., for regular drag shows. Thee next date is Friday, May 28, from 7-10 p.m. For more information, visit facebook.com/ dolcegelatopensacola

JOHNNY CHISHOLM PRESENTS: MEMORIAL WEEKEND PENSACOLA

Johnny Chisholm presents the largest LGBTQ event on Pensacola Beach all weekend long from Friday, May 28-Sunday, May 31. Tickets are $70-$300. For details, visit facebook.com/memorialweekendpensacola.

MEMORIAL DAY FAMILY AFFAIR SHOWCASE Taize B. Sinclair-Santi

presents a night of entertainment with drag shows and music hosted by Raven and featuring DJ Smoov. Showtimes are 10 and 11 p.m. Friday, May 28, at 2708 N. 12th Ave. Tickets are $15 in advance on Eventbrite and $20 at the door.

ALL-WHITE PARTY MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND SHOWCASE Taize B. SinclairSanti presents the All-White Party with a lineup of drag queens with music from DJ Smoov. Doors open at 9 p.m. Saturday, May 29, at 2708 N. 12th Ave. Tickets are $15 in advance on Eventbrite and $20 at the door.

PENSACOLA GRAND CARNIVALE PARADE The Pensacola Grand Carnivale

Parade is 2-6 p.m. Saturday, May 29, in downtown Pensacola on Palafox and Garden Street featuring Pensacola Krewes and more. For more information, visit pensacolamardigras.com.

PENSACOLA BEACH MERCHANT'S EVENT As Memorial Day Weekend winds

down, visit the merchants at Pensacola Beach Boardwalk for an afternoon of familyfriendly fun with live music and a fireworks show at night. Music starts at noon.

SCRIPTEASERS WITH PENSACOLA LITTLE THEATRE Scripteasers, Studio

400's and Pensacola Little Theatre's Script Reading Club, invites you to monthly script readings. The next date is Tuesday, June 1, from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at PLT, 400 S. Jefferson St. Want to bring your scripts for the group to read and discuss? Contact Pensacola Little Theatre to get in queue. The group reads prospective scripts for future seasons as well as new scripts that need a table read before the next edit. Not a playwright but love to read out loud? This is your easy, fun theatre night. Fascinated by the play selection process? Sit in for a listen and usually a lot of laughs. Visit facebook.com/pensacolalittletheatre for more information and the latest dates.

FIESTA DAYS CELEBRATION Join the

Surrender of the City in Phineas Phogg's, located at 130 E. Government St., at 7:15 p.m., Wednesday, June 2, and watch local dignitaries surrender the city to DeLuna and his queen for Fiesta Season. For more information, visit fiestapensacola.org.

MAYOKI BALL The Mayoki Ball wel-

comes the 2020/2021 Hornet Court 7-11 p.m. Saturday, June 5, at Sanders BeachCorinne Jones Resource Center at 913 S. I St. Must be 21 to attend. Dress is Florida casual. Tickets are $50-$65 and can be purchased at the door or by mailing checks to P.O. Box 167, Pensacola, FL 32591. Call (850) 712-1991 for more information.

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 & 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. inweekly.net

a&e happenings 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 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.

THE CHORAL SOCIETY OF PENSACOLA'S WOMEN'S ENSEMBLE IN CONCERT The Choral Society of Pen-

sacola's Women's Ensemble, under the direction of Isabelle Peterson, will perform a free program of secular and sacred music at 4:40 pm on Sunday, June 6, at Nativity of Our Lord Catholic Church, located at 9945 Hillview Drive. The pianist will be Meredith Stemen. For more information, visit choralsocietyofpensacola.org.

FIVE FLAGS DANCE ACADEMY RECITAL The Five Flags Dance Academy

Recital is 1 and 5:30 p.m. Sunday, June 6, at the Saenger Theatre, 118 S. Palafox. Tickets are $27-$30. For more information, visit pensacolasaenger.com.

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

nari" 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.

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 Oct. 1, 2021–Sept. 30, 2022. The grant deadline is June 8 at noon. All grant applicants 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.

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.

GALLERY NIGHT EVENTS TO RETURN IN JULY The Gallery Night Pensacola

URBAN REMIX OPENING RECEPTION AT FIRST CITY ART CENTER "Urban

Board of Directors has announced the return of its monthly Gallery Night events in Downtown Pensacola beginning July 16. Gallery Night will once again host its monthly art-centric event on the third Friday of the month from 5-10 p.m. The July event will coincide with the city's upcoming bicentennial celebration. Based on the most recent CDC reports and vaccine numbers, the board has decided that this outdoor event can once again take place at 100% capacity. While CDC guidelines do not require a mask for any outdoor events for those that are fully vaccinated, the Pensacola Gallery Night Board does encourage mask usage for those who are not vaccinated or are at high health risk. For more information, visit gallerynightpensacola.org.

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,

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Remix" 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 gallery is 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 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.

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.

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 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.

QUEERING SPACES: CELEBRATING PENSACOLA'S LGBTQ+ COMMUNITY

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.

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a&e happenings BLACK CITIZENSHIP IN THE AGE OF JIM CROW On view at Voices of Pensac-

ola 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 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.

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: •June 1: Tyler Mac •June 8: Modern Eldorados 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 28: Shazam •June 4: Joey Collins TUNES BY THE DUNES SUMMER LB0245 MchUltraOrgSeltzer INW Final CONCERT SERIES Tunes by the Dunes

A S RE AL A S IT TA S TE S 616 1

is a free summer concert series held every Thursday evening from 7-9 p.m. in the summer months on Navarre Beach at 8649 Gulf Blvd. For more information, visit navarrechamber.com/tunes-by-the-dunes. •June 3: The Glenn Parker Band •June 10: Bay Bridge Band •June 17: Platinum Premier Band •June 24: Jay Williams Band

RILEY GREEN AT THE WHARF AMPHITHEATER Riley Green will be

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

WHITE TIE PRESENTS: YACHT ROCK AT THE FAIRGROUNDS White Tie Rock

Ensemble presents a night of soft rock with tunes from Hall and Oates, Steely Dan, TOTO and more at 8 p.m. Friday, May 28, at the Pensacola Fairgrounds, 6655 Mobile Highway. Admission is $25-$400. For tickets, visit bigtickets.com/e/white-tie-rockensemble/yacht-rock-at-the-fairgrounds.

SOUTHERN BLUES SHOW: MEMORIAL WEEKEND CELEBRATION Enjoy live

performances from Lebrado, Will Wasley and Simon De. Showtimes are 8 p.m. Saturday, May 29, and Sunday, May 30, at Sanders Beach-Corinne Jones Resource Center, located at 913 S. I St. A cash bar and food will be available. Tickets are $25-$40. For more information, visit Eventbrite.

SHIP & SHORE AT GARY'S BREWERY

Duo Ship & Shore will perform 6 p.m. Saturday, May 29, at Gary's Brewery & Biergarten, located at 208 Newman Ave. For more information, visit facebook.com/garysbrew.

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. JAZZ JAM AT THE 5 BARREL Jazz

Pensacola's regular jam session will be 6:30-8:30 p.m. Wednesday, June 2, at The 041521.pdf 2 4/7/21 8:48 AM 5 Barrel Brewery & Taproom, located at 121

S. Palafox. Admission is free, but donations are welcomed.

SONGWRITERS LISTENING ROOM AT JUANA'S PAGODAS Songwriters Bernie

Nelson and Andy Velo will entertain with their songs and the stories behind them at Juana's Pagodas, 1451 Navarre Beach Causeway, from 7-9:30 p.m. on Friday, June 4. Seating is limited and food and beverages will be available from the Juana Bites Pizza Kitchen. For more information and ticket prices, visit juanaspagodas.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

PENSACOLA FERRY SERVICE RETURNS The Pensacola Bay Cruises Ferry

Service is now re-open with daily service, seven days a week, between Downtown Pensacola and Pensacola Beach. Ferry trips last approximately 50 minutes, and all-day free parking is available at each of the departure sites. Tickets are $26 roundtrip for adults; $20 roundtrip for military, disabled persons and students; and $15 roundtrip for children 3-15. Children 2 and under ride for free. A locals card may be purchased for additional discounts. The ferry service operation schedule is available on pensacolabaycruise.com.

GRAFFITI BRIDGE 5K The Graffiti

Bridge 5K run/walk is Saturday, May 29, with iconic medals and a chance to participate in painting the bridge before the race begins at 7:30 a.m. For more information and to register, visit runpensacola.com/ event/graffiti-bridge-5k.

BALANCE ON THE BLACKWATER KAYAK TOUR Join FPAN and the UWF

Historic Trust to discover the ecology and history of the Blackwater River with a two-hour kayak tour. Cost is $15 per person and is recommended for ages 12 and up. Anyone under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a legal guardian or adult. The group will meet at Bagdad Mill Site Park Kayak Launch, and the tour will begin at 10 a.m. For more information and to register, visit flpublicarchaeology.org.

PENSACOLA PARKRUN RETURNS

The Pensacola Rec Plex North parkrun will return 7:30 a.m. Saturday, June 5. The weekly timed 5K run or walk takes place at the University of West Florida and is open to everyone, regardless of fitness

ENJOY RESPONSIBLY

inweekly.net

a&e happenings level. For more information, visit facebook. com/rpnparkrun or email recplexnorth@ parkrun.com.

The first Mullets Thursday of the season will be on May 13 as the Mullets take on the Birmingham Barons at Blue Wahoos Stadium.

CLEAR-BOTTOM KAYAK TOURS ON NAVARRE BEACH Explore and discover

RELEASE & RENEW AT FITNESS IMPACT TRAINING At 8:15 a.m. on Mon-

BREATHE AND READ AT BODACIOUS BOOKSTORE AND CAFÉ Recenter

GULF COAST BREWERY RUN Thurs-

the Navarre Beach artificial snorkel reef with a 45-minute clear-bottom kayak tour. Tour times are 8:30 a.m., 9:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. on June 5, 12 and 26. Events are organized by the Navarre Beach Marine Sanctuary, located at 8739 Gulf Blvd. For more information and registration, visit navarrebeachmarinesanctuary.org.

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.

WFPL MOLINO TRACK CHALLENGE

Put on your walking shoes and join the walking challenge at the Molino library. Just visit Molino's track, turn on your favorite fitness tracker app to log your progress, dial up your tunes or an audiobook and start walking. When you finish, come into the library and log your progress with staff on our track challenge board. The top walker in this program will win The Coldest Water Bottle. The Molino Branch Library is located at 6450-A Highway 95A. For more information, visit mywfpl.com.

BLUE WAHOOS GAMES The 2021 season

has begun for the Pensacola Blue Wahoos. Stadium capacity limits are expected to be implemented to ensure fan safety during the 2021 season and will be announced leading up to the season. For tickets and more information, visit bluewahoos.com. UPCOMING HOME GAMES: •6:35 p.m. June 1-4 p.m. vs. Mississippi •6:05 p.m. June 5 vs. Mississippi •4 p.m. June 6 vs. Mississippi

MULLETS THURSDAYS AT BLUE WAHOOS STADIUM The Pensacola Mullets

will take over Blue Wahoos Stadium every Thursday during the 2021 season, offering an exciting twist to the team's popular Thirsty Thursday game nights. Brand-new On-Field New Era Pensacola Mullets hats will be available again soon in the Blue Wahoos team store. An initial pre-order for the hats in November quickly sold out. T-shirts and additional Mullets apparel are also available in the Bait & Tackle Shop. The team also announced a new Mullets Mini Plan for the 2021 season, which features a ticket to all 10 Mullets Thursday games at Blue Wahoos Stadium in 2021 plus a ticket to Opening Day and the Fourth of July as well as an exclusive Mullets tank top. Mullets Mini Plans are available now and can be ordered by calling the team at (850) 934-8444. May 27, 2021

days, Wednesdays and Fridays, release into a yin yoga flow centered around low-stress training for high-stress individuals. The focus will be on the basics of breath and openness in the shoulders, hips and spine. For more info, go to mindandmetta.online. Cost is $12 per class, and the location is 375 N. Ninth Ave., Ste. B. Limited space available. Ask about membership pricing.

days at 6 p.m., join Pensacola Runners Association for a 5K fun run. Enjoy a free beer after the run and complimentary games such as cornhole, ping pong and more. Gulf Coast Brewery is located at 500 E. Heinberg St. For more information, visit facebook.com/gulfcoastbrewery.

BEER GARDEN YOGA Join Coastal County Brewing Company Saturdays at 9 a.m. for the new Yoga in the Garden Series. Classes will be led by Tara Taylor, a highly experienced instructor from Breathe Pensacola. All skill levels are welcome. Cost is $10 and includes a pint of beer after the class. Coastal County Brewing Company is located at 3041 E. Olive Road. For more information, visit facebook.com/coastalcounty.

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

SOUL FLOW YOGA AT BEAUTIFUL YOU STUDIO Every Tuesday at 7 a.m.,

flow and vibe with some soulful music to start the day. This hour-long class will center around engaging the core through smooth yet strong yoga sequences. Cost is $10 per class or $99 for an unlimited 30-day pass. Located at 513 W. Intendencia St. For more info, go to mindandmetta.online.

www. radiofree pensacola .com

YOGA CLASSES AT EVER'MAN Beginner Yoga with John is 10 a.m. Thursdays, 4:30 p.m. Tuesdays and 12:15 p.m. Wednesdays. Funky Yoga Flow is 6 p.m. Tuesdays. And Vinyasa Yoga Flow is 6 p.m. Thursdays. All classes at Ever'man, 327 W. Garden St. For a full calendar of events, visit everman.org. OCEAN HOUR BEACH CLEAN-UPS

Ocean Hour has picked up its weekly beach clean-ups in the Pensacola area Saturdays at 8:45 a.m. On Saturday, Jan. 30, volunteers will be at Philip A. Payne Bridge. Supplies will be provided, but volunteers are welcome to bring their own. For locations, visit oceanhourfl.com.

GRAPHIC NOVELS

KIDS BOOKS

FOOD + DRINKS

MARDI GRAS AT BODACIOUS Celebrate Mardi Gras in style with a private balcony access on the parade route and enjoy New Orleans classics such as jambalaya, Gulf shrimp, crawfish boil, red beans and rice, king cake and beignets. Fun begins 1:30 p.m. Saturday, May 29. Tickets are $65. Visit bodaciousshops.com to purchase.

909 N. 12th Avenue

pensacolapopcomics.com 17

a&e happenings VEGAN TACO TUESDAY LUNCH AND LEARN Join Chef Jernigan as he provides

a vegan take on Taco Tuesday. The class is at noon on Tuesday, June 1, at Bodacious, located at 407-D S. Palafox. Cost is $35. Visit bodaciousshops.com to register.

ATLAS BEVERAGE CLASS: PROOF BREWING CO. The June Atlas Beverage

Class is Thursday, June 3, at 5 and 7 p.m. at Atlas Oyster House, located at 600 S. Barracks St. Cost is $25 per person. Seating is limited and reservations are required. Call (850) 287-0200 or email taylor@goodgrits. com to reserve your spot.

FIESTA PARADE AT BODACIOUS

Watch the Fiesta parade from the Bodacious private balcony while enjoying treats Friday, June 4, from 6-9 p.m. Tickets are $65. Visit bodaciousshops.com for tickets.

MY BIG FAT GREEK TAKE-OUT DAY Get

some of your favorite dishes from Pensacola Greek Festival to-go on Saturday, June 5, from 11 a.m.-7 p.m. at Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church, located at 1720 W. Garden St. Take home pastitsio, Greek-style green beans, tiropita, spanakopita and green salad. Pastries including baklava, kourambiethes, ergolavos and chocolate baklava will also be available.

VINO MAGNIFICO V. Paul's Italian Ristorante's next Vino Magnifico is Tuesday,

818 1

June 8, at 5:30 p.m. at 29 S. Palafox. Tickets are $15 per person and include five wine samples. There is limited seating and RSVP is required. Visit vpauls.com to reserve your spot.

HENNY PENNY SOUL LIVE COOKING SESSIONS Tune into the Henny Penny

Facebook page to meet local chefs to learn more about cooking skills while also discussing food and culture. Dates are TBA. For more information, visit facebook.com/ hennypennyspatisserie.

TABLETOP TUESDAYS AT THE 5 BARREL Join The 5 Barrel for a special Tabletop

Tuesday event at 6 p.m. every Tuesday in March. A wide variety of games ranging from the classic chess to the crowd-favorite Catan will be available. Players are welcome to bring their own games.

WINE DOWN WEDNESDAYS AT THE 5 BARREL Celebrate hump day by treating

yourself to BOGO wine by the glass at The 5 Barrel, 121 S. Palafox, starting at 6 p.m. every Wednesday. You earned it. Find out more at facebook.com/the5barrel.

ARAGON WINE TASTINGS Wine

tastings at Aragon Wine Market are back every Thursday from 5-7 p.m. in store at 27 S. Ninth Ave. For more information, visit aragonwinemarket.com.

THURSDAY TRIVIA NIGHT AT THE 5 BARREL Gather a group for a weekly

Thursday Trivia Night Thursdays from 7-9 p.m. at The 5 Barrel. There will be prizes for every round and select drafts for $3. Find out more at facebook.com/the5barrel.

THURSDAY BIERGARTEN TRIVIA NIGHT Gary's Brewery Trivia Night is back

by popular demand. Thursdays from 7-9 p.m., test your trivia skills with a glass of beer or wine. Arrive early to grab a spot. Gary's Brewery is located at 208 Newman Ave. For more information, visit facebook. com/garysbrew.

PALAFOX MARKET Palafox Market is

back at its regular location in MLK Jr. Plaza. In a carefully planned, phased reopening, Palafox Market has launched with about half its regular vendors, showcasing food, farm produce and products geared toward safety and sanitation such as handmade soaps and face masks. For more information, visit facebook.com/downtownpensacola.

200 SOUTH SMALL BUSINESS SATURDAY Every first Saturday of the month,

the businesses at 200 South will host Small Business Saturday to show support for local businesses. Bring a receipt from a purchase from any other downtown business and receive 10% off your bill at Graffiti Pizza, World of Beer, Taco Agave and Blend Lounge.

PENSACOLA POSITIVITY'S SUNDAY MARKETS Sunday Markets on Palafox

Street happen each Sunday from 10 a.m.- 3 p.m. in MLK Plaza on Palafox. Local makers, growers and creators gather each under the oak trees to sell their goods to the community. Interested vendors can request an application by emailing requeaskmikellah@ gmail.com. For more information, visit facebook.com/palafoxmarkets.

SUNDAY VIBES IN THE GARDEN

Sunday Funday is back at Garden & Grain with DJ Hdycvt and drink specials. Safety guidelines will be in place. Visit facebook. com/perfectplainbrewingco for more information. Garden and Grain is located behind Perfect Plain Brewing Co. at 50 E. Garden St.

TWILIGHT THREE-COURSE SPECIAL

The District's Twilight Three-Course special is back Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 4:30-6 p.m. Guests enjoy three courses for $35 per person. Diners must be seated by 6 p.m. for offer to be vailed. To make a reservation, call 332-5224 or online at districtstreaks.com. The District is located at 123 E. Government St.

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music

By Gina Castro

Serving 'Em On the Rox

On the Rox / Photo by Tru' Soul Life Photography

Just a few months before COVID-19 complicated live music performances, On the Rox performed what its lead vocalist, Roxanne Nicholson, describes as their most high-energy performance in Pensacola. Crowds filled the street around them that Gallery Night in October 2019. It ended up being one of the band's last performances pre-pandemic. "The audience was so in tune with the performance. The energy was so high. It was just such a wonderful night," Nicholson recalled. "We had so many encores that night, and I remember how much fun we had just doing what came naturally to us, doing what we loved." On the Rox has been a staple in Pensacola's music scene for about 10 years. They have played as the main stage act at Gallery Night, been the house band for Casks and Flights Wine Tasting Room, Red Fish Blue Fish on Pensacola Beach, Water Pig and Oasis, and even performed for clubs in Mobile. Nicholson, the band's only founding member, started On the Rox with a keyboard player she met while performing with various local bands. "We had been working on some outside projects, and, one day, we decided to start our own thing," Nicholson continued. "And he was like, 'I have the perfect name—On The Rox, kind of like a play on your name.'" The name perfectly describes the way the band puts a unique twist on R&B hits, classic rock and roll as well as homage to its lead vocalist. The band took off when a May 27, 2021

video of them performing Mariah Carey's "All I Want for Christmas" went viral. A club owner in Mobile asked On the Rox to be the club's house band. Nicholson is originally from New Jersey. The Army eventually stationed her family in Pensacola. Her family retired here, and she started her own family here. Throughout the years, she became an honorary local. Nicholson began a career as a professional singer at 11 years old. She performed everywhere from church to venues with local bands such as Groove Control and Oliver's Twist. "I was born into music. My father was a musician. My grandparents are musicians," Nicholson said. "So music has always been deeply embedded within me. I love anything from classic rock to all old school R&B to Top 40—I love it all." But Nicholson isn't the only talented artist in On the Rox. Each member of the band brings their own original flavor to the group. Cedric Brooks, the band's keyboard player and a vocalist, performs in his own band based in Mobile called the Cedric Brooks Project. Brooks joined shortly after the band's musical director took a position in Atlanta. Lead and background vocalist Jason Purify also comes from a family of musicians. His father is R&B singer James Purify, who recently passed due to COVID-19 complications. James Purify and his brother Bobby Purify sang the popular '60s single "I'm Your Puppet." On the Rox's instruments are played by Fred Hunter, bass player; Matt Riley, lead guitar; and Fred Cornish, drummer.

"We assembled a group of musicians that were within our friend groups. Jason and I actually had been friends and singing with each other since we were 13-14 years old, and the rest of us played with each other in church and, of course, played with each other in other bands," Nicholson said. "We just assembled this group of musicians and started performing locally." On the Rox blends the musical talent of each member. One of the band's most popular requests is their medley of "Kiss" by Prince and "Rock Steady" by Aretha Franklin. Some of their other frequent requests are "Hit Me with Your Best Shot" and "Killing me Softly." A major crowd favorite during the band's sets is "You Pick We Play," where they perform random requests on the spot from memory. "I think what sets us aside and apart from a lot of other musicians is that we have an ear for music," Nicholson said. "We can be engrossed in a song and automatically from that song tie it to another song. We'll just take that song and go straight into another song. So that way, the crowd keeps dancing, and energy still stays up. We definitely like a lot of transitions in our songs." Pre-pandemic, On the Rox had numerous gigs at clubs all over Pensacola, Pensacola Beach and Mobile. Of course, COVID-19 halted live entertainment worldwide. It shut clubs down, put an end to Gallery Night indefinitely and put a wedge between the band and their fans— or, as Nicholson calls them, Rox Stars. One by one, the clubs On the Rox was

the house band for shut their doors. "When COVID-19 hit us, it totally knocked out live entertainment altogether," Nicholson said. However, this break from performing live gave On the Rox the opportunity to try something new. Throughout quarantine, the band continued to rehearse so that when the COVID storm passed, they would be ready for the stage. "COVID absolutely gave us more time to create. We still had regular rehearsal schedules. So we would get the band together and we would do free play," Nicholson said. "In that free play, we would just brainstorm, come up with different ideas, come up with different songs and put those together." It was during these free play sessions that the band decided to write an original song. Each of the members also writes music, so the process came easily to them. On the Rox hopes to release their first EP by winter 2021 or spring 2022. "It's an exciting project, especially when you work with the family of musicians that we have," Nicholson continued. "It's just so amazing because each time, it's like everyone sets the bar higher and higher." When asked to describe the type of sound the original song has, Nicholson described it as bluesy with a modern twist. "If I could compare it to something, it's like a classic '90s R&B with a modern-day spin on that," Nicholson said. Fortunately, since the city is in the process of opening back up, there are an increasing number of venues for On the Rox to perform at. The band has become a frequent performer at Odd Colony Brewing Company and hopes to begin performing there weekly this summer. Nicholson said that the band is working with the City of Pensacola to put together a concert series. The band will also start performing at Casks and Flights and Red Fish Blue Fish again soon.

"Now that the world is opening back up, people are ready. They want to get out and live music is definitely making a comeback." Roxanne Nicholson "We definitely want to become household names here in our city. Even though we got our start in the sister city of Mobile, Pensacola is our home," Nicholson said. "We can't wait to embed our presence here in our city. Now that the world is opening back up, people are ready. They want to get out and live music is definitely making a comeback." {in} To keep up with On the Rox, follow them on Instagram @ontherox or visit facebook.com/ getyousomeontherox. 19

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inweekly.net

a&e

By Savannah Evanoff

Laughing Out Loud

Andrew Ferrara / Photo by Dee Dee Kohl

Memorial Day weekend in Pensacola has always had a lot of pride—LGBTQ pride. Andrew Ferrara, Inweekly's Best of the Coast Best Comedian in 2017 and 2018, knows that Pensacola has been one of the biggest spots in the nation for LGBTQ parties since the 1980s. "As a young gay man living down here, I heard for years and years how disrespectful people felt it was," Ferrara said. "They felt gay people were hijacking Memorial Day weekend and not respecting what it was about. I wanted to address those concerns people had. To me, Memorial Day weekend, we're able to celebrate who we are and our freedom because people died for us to have that pride." With that connection in mind, Ferrara

decided to use Memorial Day weekend as an opportunity to give back, organizing the Pensacola Pre-Pride (P3) Comedy Fest as a fundraiser for the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS). TAPS provides mental health and financial services to grieving military families. "My grandfather was in the military, and I worked for funeral homes here years ago and had to work a lot of military funerals," Ferrara said. "I saw a lot of the heartache that comes with it in the area. I wanted to give back to the military families and set up this charity event to not only bridge that gap and misunderstanding I think people had toward the Memorial Day weekend festivities but really provide some really needed mental health services."

The festival started in 2019 as a one-day event at chizuko. While the plan was always to expand it into a full weekend; COVID-19 postponed it a year. This year, P3 Comedy Fest will span Friday, Saturday and Sunday at five different venues with six different shows, featuring 25 LGBTQ comedians from around the country. After spreading the word for two years, more than 150 comedians submitted five-to-10-minute videos of them doing stand-up comedy. "It was several days of watching submissions," Ferrara said. "It was so much fun because you got to see so much talent that you didn't even know was out there. We saw a wide range of different people, different point of views and different talent levels. I'm just so excited with what we were able to discover." One of the headliners is Hilliary Begley, who was in Netflix's "Dumplin," a movie featuring Jennifer Aniston and produced by Dolly Parton. Other performers are Ian Aber, an Atlanta comedian who hosts shows and performs at the Laughing Skull Lounge; Jeff D, a New Orleans comedian who was featured in "Joe Dirt 2: Beautiful Loser"; and Ferrara himself. He just returned from a national tour. "I would say my comedy style is animated," Ferrara said. "I tell stories. I'm very much physical. I would say that's because of my Italian heritage. We talk with our hands and our bodies … I'm excited to rebuild the comedy community here in Pensacola this weekend since it did take quite a hit during COVID." The festival will feature performers from New Jersey, Texas and Arkansas. Ferrara was excited to see how far it reached. "It's going to bring so many people here who hadn't been to Pensacola for comedy, so we're having people networking from all over the country," Ferrara said. "The comedians that are local in Pensacola will get to meet people from different states that maybe they've never gotten to perform in and make those connections, and it will help all of us get our story out there."

It's important to Ferrara to have a comedy festival for LGBTQ comedians. They have a hard time finding jobs and often get pigeonholed in Hollywood, he said. "You'd be lucky to see more than one gay person on a show each month here," Ferrara said. "In general, the idea of being able to be on mic and truly be heard is so empowering." Some people have been scared for years to speak their truth, Ferrara said—even today, when things are more progressive, he added. "Just being able to have that venue for someone to get on stage, show people who they truly are, rather than just being judged based on who they love," Ferrara said. "Some people I know would expect one thing when someone on goes on stage just because they heard they were gay, but their life could be completely different than what you're expecting." That's what stand-up comedy is about, he said. "We get to make the audience connect with us and see the humor in life and also just show them how we're all a lot more similar than people think," Ferrara said. "I think that's a beautiful thing that comedy does." Ferrara is most excited to finally make people laugh again. Many comedians haven't performed in a year, and it's their livelihood. "I know how healing laughter is," Ferrara said. "Laughter is the most intense and wonderful feeling. When you laugh and you start laughing and you're on a roll and you can't stop, there's nothing like that—to be able to give that to people and really just for a moment, for a weekend, to just sit back, relax and have a laugh, while raising money for a good cause." {in}

P3 COMEDY FEST

WHEN: Friday, May 28-Sunday, May 30 COST: $20-$40 DETAILS: facebook.com/p3comedyfest

CALLING ALL CREATIVES Inweekly is accepting submissions for our second annual “By You” issue. Short stories, essays, poems, op-eds, interviews with your favorite uncle—whatever you’ve got, we want to read it. (Maximum word count—1,000 words) We are also accepting photography submissions. For consideration, those images need to be high resolution. (At least 250 dpi) The deadline for submissions is Friday, June 25. All pieces must be in electronic format and emailed to joani@inweekly.net. All submissions will be reviewed by Inweekly staff, and our favorites will make it to print. (Some additional pieces may be published online only depending on length and space.) Chosen submissions will be published in one of our July issues.. May 27, 2021

free will astrology WEEK OF MAY 27 ARIES (MARCH 21-APRIL 19): "Open

your mouth only if what you are going to say is more beautiful than silence," declares an Arab proverb. That's a high standard to aspire to. Even at our very best, when we're soaring with articulate vitality, it's hard to be more beautiful than silence for more than, say, 50 percent of the time. But here's a nice surprise—You could exceed that benchmark during the next three weeks. You're primed to be extra expressive and interesting. When you speak, you could be more beautiful than silence as much as 80% of the time.

TAURUS (APRIL 20-MAY 20): Here's

the definition of an emotional support animal—"a companion animal that provides therapeutic benefit to a person with a mental or psychiatric disability." I don't mean to be flippant, but I think every one of us has at least one mental or psychiatric disability that would benefit from the company of an emotional support animal. If you were ever going to acquire such an ally, the coming weeks would be the prime time to do so. I encourage you to also seek out other kinds of help and guidance and stimulation that you'd benefit from having. It's the resourcegathering phase of your cycle. (P.S. Cesar Chavez said, "You are never strong enough that you don't need help.")

For Your Specialty

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GEMINI (MAY 21-JUNE 20): A blogger

named Valentine Cassius reports, "A tiny old woman came into the deli where I work and ordered a 'wonderful turkey sandwich.' When asked what she wanted on the sandwich other than turkey, she said 'all of your most wonderful toppings.'" Here's my response to that—The tiny old woman's approach usually isn't very effective. It's almost always preferable to be very specific in knowing what you want and asking for it. But given the current astrological omens, I'll make an exception for you in the next three weeks. I think you should be like the tiny old woman—Ask life, fate, people, spirits and gods to bring you all of their most wonderful toppings.

CANCER (JUNE 21-JULY 22): "I am

Pensacola

tired of trying to hold things together that cannot be held," testifies Cancerian novelist Erin Morgenstern. "Tired of trying to control what cannot be controlled." Here's good news for her and all Cancerians. You have cosmic permission to surrender—to no longer try to hold things together that can't be held or try to control what can't be controlled. Maybe in a few weeks, you will have gained so much relaxed new wisdom that you'll be inspired to make fresh attempts at holding together and controlling. But that's not for you to worry and wonder about right now. Your assignment is to nurture your psychological and spiritual health by letting go.

(850) 434-2060

LEO (JULY 23-AUG. 22): Philosopher

113 Palafox Place (Across from Saenger Theatre)

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Georges Bataille wrote, "The lesson of

By Rob Brezsny

'Wuthering Heights,' of Greek tragedy and, ultimately, of all religions, is that there is an instinctive tendency towards divine intoxication which the rational world of calculation cannot bear. This tendency is the opposite of Good. Good is based on common interest, which entails consideration of the future." I'm going to dissent from Bataille's view. I agree that we all have an instinctive longing for divine intoxication, but I believe that the rational world needs us to periodically fulfill our longing for divine intoxication. In fact, the rational world grows stale and begins to decay without these interludes. So the truth is that divine intoxication is crucial for the common good. I'm telling you this, Leo, because I think the coming weeks will be a favorable time for you to claim a healthy dose of divine intoxication.

VIRGO (AUG. 23-SEPT. 22): Virgo actor Ingrid Bergman (1915–1982) won the most prestigious awards possible for her work in films, TV and theater—Oscars, Emmys and a Tony. She was intelligent, talented, and beautiful. Life was a challenge when she was growing up, though. She testified, "I was the shyest human ever invented, but I had a lion inside me that wouldn't shut up." If you have a sleeping lion inside you, Virgo, I expect it to wake up soon. And if your inner lion is already wide awake and you have a decent relationship with it, I suspect it may soon begin to come into its fuller glory. LIBRA (SEPT. 23-OCT. 22): Libran au-

thor Antonio Tabucchi described the frame of mind I recommend for you in the coming days. I hope you'll be eager to embrace his far-reaching empathy. Like him, I trust you will expand your capacity to regard the whole world as your home. Here's Tabucchi's declaration—"Like a blazing comet, I've traversed infinite nights, interstellar spaces of the imagination, voluptuousness and fear. I've been a man, a woman, an old person, a little girl; I've been the crowds on the grand boulevards of the capital cities of the West; I've been the serene Buddha of the East. I've been the sun and the moon."

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

James Frey writes, "I used to think I was tough, but then I realized I wasn't. I was fragile and I wore thick armor. And I hurt people so they couldn't hurt me. And I thought that was what being tough was, but it isn't." I agree with Frey. The behavior he describes has nothing to do with being tough. So what does? That's important for you to think about because the coming weeks will be an excellent time to be tough in the best senses of the word. Here are my definitions—Being tough means never letting people disrespect you or abuse you, even as you cultivate empathy for how wounded everyone is. Being tough means loving yourself with such unconditional grace that you never act unkind out of a neurotic need to over-defend yourself. Being tough means being a compassionate truth-teller.

SAGITTARIUS (NOV. 22-DEC. 21):

Fragile intensity or intense fragility? Ferocious gentleness or gentle ferocity? Vulnerable strength or strong vulnerability? I suspect these will be some of the paradoxical themes with which you'll be delicately wrestling in the coming days. Other possibilities: sensitive audacity or audacious sensitivity; fluidic fire or fiery fluidity; crazy wisdom or wise craziness; penetrating softness or soft penetration; shaky poise or poised shakiness. My advice is to regard rich complexities like these as blessings, not confusions or inconveniences.

CAPRICORN (DEC. 22-JAN. 19):

Birds that live in cities have come up with an ingenious adaptation. They use humans' abandoned cigarette butts to build their nests. Somehow they discovered that nicotine is an insecticide that dispels pests like fleas, lice and mites. Given your current astrological aspects, I'm guessing you could make metaphorically comparable adjustments in your own life. Are there ways you could use scraps and discards to your benefit?

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

blogger named Raven testifies, "My heart is a toddler throwing a tantrum in a store and my brain is the parent who continues to shop." I'm pleased to inform you, Aquarius, that your heart will NOT act like that toddler in the coming weeks. In fact, I believe your heart will be like a sage elder with growing wisdom in the arts intimacy and tenderness. In my vision of your life, your heart will guide you better than maybe it ever has. Now here's a message to your brain—Listen to your heart!

PISCES (FEB. 19-MARCH 20): The Voyager 1 space probe, launched by NASA in 1977, is now more than 14 billion miles from Earth. In contrast, the farthest humans have ever penetrated into the ground is 7.62 miles. It's the Kola Superdeep Borehole in northwest Russia. Metaphorically speaking, these facts provide an evocative metaphor for the following truth: Most humans feel more confident and expansive about exploring the outer world than their inner realms. But I hope that in the coming weeks you will buck that trend, as you break all previous records for curious and luxurious exploration into your deepest psychic depths. THIS WEEK'S HOMEWORK: What image or symbol represents the fulfillment of your noble desires?

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news of the weird THE ENTREPRENEURIAL SPIRIT When Damien Desrocher, 28, decided to "return to nature" in December, it meant leaving his job as an air force computer technician and moving to the northern French town of Wahagnies, where he started raising snails. But they're not for eating, Reuters reported. Desrocher harvests "slime" from the snails and uses it to make bars of soap. A single snail will yield about 2 grams of slime. Desrocher needs about 80 grams of slime to make 15 100-gram soap bars. "It's all in the dexterity of how you tickle," he said as he demonstrated the harvesting technique. "I only touch it with my finger, you see it's not violent, it's simple." Desrocher said snail mucus contains molecules of collagen and elastin, which have anti-aging and skin-healing properties. SILENT BUT DEADLY In North Carolina, large stands of wetland forests along the coast have died, giving the areas an apocalyptic appearance, CNET reported. Salt water from rising seas and storm surges is causing the destruction of tens of thousands of acres. Researchers at North Carolina State University are studying the "ghost forests" to measure their environmental impact, which includes emitting greenhouse gases—carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide—that they call "tree farts." Graduate student Melinda Martinez acknowledged that the trees don't emit as much as the soils, but, she said, "Even the smallest fart counts." PUT A RING ON IT Avid snorkeler Susan Prior of Norfolk Island, Australia, often sees small mullet fish with rings around their middles— usually plastic rings from juice and milk bottles, she said, according to the New York Post. "Mullet snuffle through the sand looking for food, making it so easy for a ring or a hair tie to flip over their noses and get stuck," she wrote in a blog post. But in early May, Prior, who also takes underwater photos, captured a snap of a mullet fish sporting a gold wedding band. Prior remembered that she had seen a social media post about a lost wedding ring in the bay, but she couldn't catch up to the fish to retrieve the item. She did, however, remind others to snip any plastic rings before putting them in the trash so that the fish aren't "slowly strangled." NO GOOD DEED After Bryan Thayer, 34, finished up at his bar and grill in Metairie, Louisiana, on May 8, he stopped off at the City Bar, where he and a friend bought a drink for another patron, Andrew Nierman, 32. The first drink they bought spilled on Nierman, so they furnished him with a replacement. But Nierman evidently wasn't satisfied with that. "He grabbed my head and (bit) a chunk out of my nose," Thayer told The Times-Picayune, then ran out and jumped in a car. Thayer, who was holding his nose together, and other witnesses ran outside and flagged down a deputy, who stopped Nierman. He admitted to biting Thayer but said he'd been "accosted" by him. Doctors patched up Thayer's nose, but he said

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his injuries will preclude him from working at his own bar for a time. OOPS Three neighbors of Cara Louise, 28, of Bedfordshire, England, became alarmed on May 12 when they noticed what appeared to be a corpse wrapped in trash bags and duct tape lying in Louise's yard. While Louise was picking up her 5-year-old from school, seven police officers descended on her home. When she returned, she provided an explanation: "The prop in the garden was part of our theme" for Halloween, she said, but she had neglected to dispose of the fake corpse after the autumn holiday. "He" was kept behind her trash bins, but she moved him as she worked in the yard and forgot to put him away. "I have a tip for all parents who go all-out at Halloween like myself—dispose of props or put them away safely," Louise told the Daily Mail. Laughing with officers, she wondered who might have such short legs, and an officer responded, "You might have cut them." "I was so embarrassed I couldn't believe people thought I was capable of it," she said. WHAT'S IN A NAME? Sorry, Josh, but you've missed your chance to become the ultimate Josh—that distinction has gone to 4-year-old Josh Vinson Jr., who won a paper Burger King crown, a champion's belt and a tiny trophy at the #JoshFight in Lincoln, Nebraska, on April 24. Josh Swain, 22, a student from Tucson, Arizona, conceived the viral event, which started with an epic Rock Paper Scissors battle and included pool noodles. Swain was apparently unprepared for the turnout: "I did not expect people to be as adamant about this as they are right now," he told KLKN-TV. Participants and spectators brought food items to donate to the Lincoln Food Bank.

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BRIGHT IDEA Ever stepped off a curb unexpectedly or run into a pole while looking down at your phone? Minwook Paeng, an industrial design student at London's Royal College of Art and Imperial College, has invented a device that will alert you to obstacles in your path: the Third Eye. A small translucent case shaped something like an eye affixes to the forehead with a thin gel pad, DeZeen reported, and "the black component that looks like a pupil is an ultrasonic sensor for sensing distance," Paeng explained. When the gyroscope senses the head angled downward, the plastic "eyelid" opens and warns the wearer of obstacles in their path with a buzzer. Paeng believes humans are evolving into "phono sapiens," developing "turtle neck syndrome" and a curved pinky finger from holding our phones. "I hope that the act of ironically pointing out what we are doing with our smartphones can help people take time for self-reflection," Paeng mused. {in} From Andrews McMeel Syndication News Of The Weird © 2021 Andrews McMeel

Send your weird news items to WeirdNewsTips@amuniversal.com May 27, 2021

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