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Mental Matters Exploring Mental Health During Coronavirus

Independent News | May 28, 2020 | Volume 21 | Number 22

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winners & losers

outtakes

news 6, 7 & 8

Really, there's only so much Netflix you can watch.

feature

buzz

publisher Rick Outzen

graphic designer Tim Bednarczyk

editor & creative director Joani Delezen

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

a&e 15

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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The list of people and organizations doing good deeds continued to grow throughout May. We decided to include them in an all-winners version of this column. We’ll hold the losers for June.

MICHELLE HORTON Florida College Access Network has named the director of Complete Florida a 2020 Workforce Education Awards recipient. The Workforce Education Innovator Awards honor school, community and business leaders, and professionals who strive to prepare students of all ages for the education and careers that are right for them, especially in highdemand fields. Horton, also the interim assistant vice president of online innovation at the University of West Florida, is credited for increasing Complete Florida student retention rates to 70% and enrollment by 14% through individualized coaching. PETE MOORE Escambia County honored the contributions made to Pensacola Beach Public Safety by the late Peter R. Moore and his family with a public presentation of the "Moore Safe Shores" Pelican along with a memorial plaque at the Pensacola Beach Public Safety Building. The Moore Safe Shores program began in April 2004 and has donated Chevy Colorado vehicles to the Escambia County Water Safety lifeguard staff for patrolling and rescuing beachgoers in distress. AYLSTOCK, WITKIN, KREIS & OVERHOLTZ JUSTICE FOUNDATION The

foundation donated bags of groceries to children who attended monthly cooking lessons and dinners at the Cobb Center of Pensacola. Due to distancing rules, they held a virtual cooking class taught by founding partner Justin Witkin and his family. The nonprofit holds fundraisers to fund their Escambia and Santa Rosa high school senior scholarships and the cooking classes.

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with Bud Light Seltzer, the Bear Family made a $50,000 contribution to the Manna Cares Campaign in support of Manna's COVID-19 response and recovery efforts. Manna Executive Director DeDe Flounlacker said, "The front of our building reads 'Bear Family Foundation Center for Hope' for good reason. This donation will allow us to provide the equivalent of 30,000 meals to folks who are struggling as a result of the COVID-19 crisis."

GULF WINDS CREDIT UNION The credit union provided $20,000 in scholarships to four graduating high school seniors out of 43 applicants. Kayla McKillion, Tayler Mills, Nicholas Skoufis and Sierra Ziglar each were awarded $5,000 to further their education at a higher learning institution. Applications were reviewed by a committee consisting of senior-level credit union employees and evaluated on academic achievements, community involvement, personal essay, letters of recommendation and financial need.

COX COMMUNICATIONS Cox Communications and Covenant Care are working to help patients connect with their families remotely. All over the U.S., nursing homes, assisted living facilities and skilled nursing facilities have shut the door to visitors. Through the partnership, Cox Communications provided a $10,000 grant to Covenant Care, enough to purchase 71 Amazon shows and 45 PhotoShare Frames to allow families to stay connected. COUNCIL ON AGING The Council on

Aging hit a significant milestone in midMay, having served more than 25,000 meals to vulnerable senior adults since the virus began affecting daily life in Northwest Florida on March 16. Over 10 weeks, the charity served 16,713 meals through Meals on Wheels and 9,134 pre-plated to-go meals at our senior dining sites.

JASON ROGERS The executive direc-

tor of the Delaware County Emergency Medical Services in Muncie, Ind., has been selected as the new director of Public Safety for Escambia County. He also served as Muncie's director of emergency management. Rogers has been recognized for his leadership in emergency management, emergency medical services and government affairs. Some awards include being named the 2017 Delaware County EMS Director of the Year, the 2009 Hero of the Heartland by the American Red Cross for leadership of the District Disaster Response Task Force and a 2004 Medal of Valor by the Fraternal Order of Police #87. inweekly.net

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outtakes By Rick Outzen

CELEBRATE LIVES LOST I don't know whether it's an intentional, callous political strategy. Still, our state government and Florida Department of Health has done an effective job of dehumanizing those killed due to the COVID-19 virus, reducing them to mere numbers. Around 10 a.m. daily, FDOH releases its COVID-19 dashboard that reveals the number of new cases and deaths in each Florida county. A couple hours later, the state posts its state monitoring report, which tells how many deaths are related to long-term care facilities and lists the individuals who have died by county and gives us their age, gender and whether their case was travel-related or connected to contact with another COVID-19 patient. We get a report on the number of deaths at longterm care facilities in our county on late Friday afternoon. The casualties are faceless, which has made it easy for the Escambia County administration to dismiss the deaths as an old folks problem. The not-too-subtle message is those lives don't matter and aren't as important as getting a tan on the beach. They don't want us to think about the lives lost to the novel coronavirus. The New York Times cover this past Sunday pushed back against the effort to dehumanize the deaths. The newspaper listed 1,000 out of 100,000 people killed during this pandemic and gave us names, ages, hometowns and biographical facts from obituaries and articles in their local newspapers. The article forced us to reckon with the vast devastation of the virus. We learned about Donald Raymond Haws, 88, Jacksonville, Fla., who administrated Holy Eucharist to hospital patients; Ronald W. Lewis, 68, New Orleans, a preserver of the city's performance traditions; Maria Linda Villanueva Sun, 61, Newport News, Va., who organized food programs for children in the Philippines; and Lynne Sierra, 68, Roselle, III., a grandmother who was always full of ideas. Also included on the list were Marion Lucille Kujda, 92, Royal Oak, Mich., who

would use chalk and oil paints to capture family portraits; Thomas A. Real, 61, Newtown, Pa., who was at peace on his Harley; Minette Goff Cooper, 79, Louisiana, who loved big and told people she loved them all the time; John Joseph Reed Jr., 74, Edmonds, Wash., who was passionate about retaining his town's small-town atmosphere; and Angelo Piro, 87, New York City, who was known for serenading friends with Tony Bennett songs. I haven't read all the names, but I've been drawn back to the article several times. These deaths were people whose lives were worthwhile and who were loved by their families and friends. Many would still be with us if not for COVID-19. We know little about the over two dozen men and women who have died of the virus in Escambia County except that all but two were over the age of 70, and nearly 70% of them lived in long-term care facilities. But we don't know their names and backgrounds. The victims are merely insignificant numbers who have been barely acknowledged by our elected officials. Those who passed in nursing homes died without their loved ones at their bedside. Their funerals were limited to 10 people. Their families have been expected to mourn in private, and sadly, few have come forward to talk about those who have passed. In the past, we have had candlelight vigils to honor and celebrate the lives of those who have died due to tragedies, but the COVID-19 deaths haven't received such a remembrance. Social distancing makes it difficult, but if our leaders can figure out how to open beaches, restaurants, gyms and hair salons and if breweries and bars can concoct workarounds to serve their patrons, then we can develop ways to use technology to honor these special people. The lives of those who succumbed to COVID-19 deserve to be celebrated by the entire community. Mayor and commissioners, please make it happen. {in} rick@inweekly.net

In the past, we have had candlelight vigils to honor and celebrate the lives of those who have died due to tragedies, but the COVID-19 deaths haven’t received such a remembrance.

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PREPARING FOR A PANDEMIC ELECTION

By Jeremy Morrison When Americans go to the polls to cast their ballots this year, it will be a different election experience. For starters, many people will likely not actually go to the polls at all but rather vote by mail in order to avoid risking contracting the coronavirus. "We recognize we're in kind of uncharted territory here," said Escambia County Supervisor of Elections David Stafford. To navigate the current pandemic, supervisors of elections from throughout the state of Florida, as well as a collective of advocacy organizations, have called on state officials to tap federally available funds to cover the additional costs expected this election season and also for additional flexibility in an effort to better accommodate voters. "Florida voters deserve a safe, efficient and fair election. We expect nothing less," said Patricia Brigham, president of the League of Women Voters of Florida, one of the groups pushing for state-level action. "Floridians plan to vote in a critical election year, even under the most difficult of circumstances."

"With the pandemic ongoing, Florida must take action to ensure all eligible Americans have equal access to the ballot box while minimizing the risk of COVID-19 exposure to keep people safe and healthy," stressed Kirk Bailey, political director of the American Civil Liberties of Florida. "No one should have to choose between their health and their vote."

THE UNKNOWN COSTS OF UNCHARTED TERRITORY

As part of the recently passed Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (CARES Act), the federal government has allocated $400 million for preparation and response for the 2020 election cycle. Florida's share of that is about $20 million, with the state required to kick in $4 million of matching funds. "That certainly is going to go a long way toward helping us conduct the fall election in the most efficient, safest way we possibly can," Stafford said. Until pretty recently, people were sweating it out, wondering when Florida would accept the federal funds. It was among the last states to do so, with officials nitpicking where the $4 million matching funds might be found. Craig Latimer, president of Florida Supervisors of Elections, laid it out pretty well in a May 13 letter to Gov. Ron DeSantis—"I also want to express my concern that Florida is lagging behind nearly every other state in securing CARES Act funding for elections. While we wait, the goods and services we need are becoming scarce." Latimer had already made his case a

month earlier to Secretary of State Laurel Lee, urging the state to make funds available as soon as possible. "We anticipate significant challenges in carrying out the August primary and November general elections," Latimer wrote April 13. "As such, we will be forced to make additional, unbudgeted expenditures for increased costs in mail balloting, personnel, equipment, supplies and much more. The federally appropriated funds are intended to help local election administrators meet these challenges." On May 15, Lee finally secured Florida's CARES Act election funds. "We are already working closely with our local election officials to preliminarily assess their needs in the upcoming elections," Lee wrote to the U.S. Election Assistance Commission. Now that Florida has reached out for the federal funds, elections officials and advocacy groups are hoping the money soon trickles to the local level. That may depend on state legislators—not currently in session—figuring out that $4 million match. "It's probably going to happen before the election. And it's probably going to happen soon," said District 2 Rep. Alex Andrade. "But soon is one week, two weeks, a month." Stafford said that he's not overly concerned with such accounting details— "That's money for the state to deal with"— and hopes local election offices will soon see some additional funds. If the actual CARES money is slow to materialize, if legislators don't iron out the details in time, the supervisor is confident the funds will be found at the local level and later reimbursed—"My understanding is, it can be prospective in nature." "I have every belief that money is going to end up flowing," Stafford said.

FUNDS AND FLEXIBILITY

In addition to funds to pay for expenses such as personal protective gear to ensure a safe polling-place environment in the era of COVID-19, local election offices are also expecting to spend a considerable amount of money accommodating voters who prefer to cast a ballot by mail. "Mail balloting—what we use to call absentee balloting—is going to play a significant role," Stafford said. Back in March, when the realities of

the coronavirus pandemic had yet to fully settle in, Florida held its Democratic presidential primary. In Escambia, 38% of the votes were cast by mail. That's compared to 26% during the 2016 primary.

"We know that mail-in ballots are going to be a larger piece of the voting pie; we just don't know how large of a piece." David Stafford "We know that mail-in ballots are going to be a larger piece of the voting pie; we just don't know how large of a piece," Stafford said, looking forward to November. "We're already up to 40,000. That's going to increase between now and Election Day." All those mail-in ballots will carry an additional postage cost. And there will also be costs associated with letting people know about any changes to the election process. "If there's a change in how people are going to go about casting their ballot, then getting the word out by paid means is something that the county would be looking at," Stafford said. In addition to planning for expenses such as mail-in ballots, or logistics like PPE, election officials have also requested that the state provide more flexibility to the voting process. They have asked that counties be allowed to designate additional early voting sites and keep those sites open through Election Day. "A lot of it's based on the authorities granted to Bay and Gulf counties postHurricane Michael," explained Stafford, "things like being able to have a lot more flexibility on how they did early voting and kind of extend that on to Election Day so it's kind of a voting period." State officials have yet to respond to the request for that additional flexibility. With election season awaiting on the other side of summer, local election officials as well as voter advocacy groups are hoping a reply comes soon. "Implementing these changes will take time, and time is quickly running out," explained Liza McClenaghan, state chair of Common Cause Florida. Regardless of what local election supervisors hear back from the state, they are already preparing for the upcoming elections in the midst of this ever-evolving pandemic. They're just not quite sure what exactly they're preparing for. "Part of it is trying to predict where we're going to be," Stafford said. "Between now and then, all you can do is try to anticipate what things will look like." {in} inweekly.net

PEEKING AT ECUA REPORT By Rick Outzen After two years, the public finally got a peek at an Escambia County Grand Jury report concerning the Emerald Coast Utilities Authority (ECUA) when the 1st District Court of Appeals issued its opinion on an appeal that has kept the report sealed since July 2018. On Tuesday, May 19, the 1st DCA rejected attorney Bradley Odom's appeal to block the release of a 2018 grand jury report concerning his former client, Emerald Coast Utility Authority, and ordered the lower court to reinstate portions that had been repressed. Under Florida law, the appeal and State Attorney Bill Eddins' response weren't public record, so the public didn't know what parts of the report were at issue until the appellate panel's decision. The deliberations of a grand jury are not public hearings. The state attorney's office (SAO) in July 2018 let the media know that the jury had reviewed complaints and allegations involving Emerald Coast Utilities Authority. David Bear, vice president of the Lewis Bear Company, had shared with Inweekly that that review involved how then-ECUA Executive Director Steve Sorrell had handled his lawsuit regarding an eminent domain issue.

MILLION-DOLLAR LEGAL BILL

In 2007, ECUA filed a lawsuit against the Lewis Bear Company to obtain property through eminent domain to bury a sewer line at its Marcus Point property. The beer distributor felt the dollar amount offered by ECUA was too low, and the utility had failed to provide Lewis Bear Company indemnity and hold harmless agreements. ECUA won the lawsuit but was ordered to pay the Lewis Bear Company's legal fees, which eventually totaled $1 million once all the appeals were settled. In May 2018, the News Journal reported that the SAO was investigating whether ECUA made legal payments without board approval. Sources told Inweekly that the investigation had expanded into whether the board had exercised the proper oversight of the utility. By the end of June 2018, ECUA board members were scrambling to get legal representation as they had been called to appear before the grand jury. In February 2019, Odom announced at an ECUA board meeting that he would not be renewing his contract with the utility. The same day, long-time ECUA Executive Director Steve Sorrell announced his retirement.

REPRESSED PORTIONS REVEALED The 1st DCA opinion finally gave the public a few hints to the grand jury's findMay 28, 2020

ings. According to the opinion, Odom raised three issues, all of which were rejected by the appellate panel. He argued the SAO didn't have the authority to respond to motions to repress or expunge grand jury reports, and SAO's role with the grand jury ceased once the report is drafted. Odom also claimed Circuit Judge Gary Bergosh erred in not considering alleged breaches in confidentiality when determining whether to repress or expunge portions of the report and that other parts of the report should be repressed or expunged because they either contained factual inaccuracies or were improper. The SAO filed a cross-appeal and contended Judge Bergosh erred in repressing the five portions of the report. The 1st DCA agreed with the SAO and instructed the lower court to reinstate the repressed portions. The repressed portions tell us the grand jury felt the absence of term limits on ECUA board members created a sense of complacency and fostered an overreliance on the executive director and attorneys. The jury recommended an amendment to the Special Act that created the utility be considered by the Florida Legislature that would establish term limits. At the time the jury was empaneled, the executive director was reviewed every five years. Board member Vicki Campbell shared recently with Inweekly that she went through a review in 2013. She said that Odom asked her about 10 questions about Sorrell, and the answers were listed anonymously in a spreadsheet given to the board. "The five-year review was the craziest thing I had ever seen in my life," said Campbell. "That policy was set before I ever got there."

"The five-year review was the craziest thing I had ever seen in my life. That policy was set before I ever got there." Vicki Campbell The grand jury apparently agreed with Campbell and recommended the employment contract for the executive director be renegotiated every two years with no automatic renewal provision. At the time of the report, the current contract had been in place since 2004—14 years. It appears the grand jury did review the eminent domain lawsuit against Lewis Bear Company because it recommended all easements should have indemnity and hold harmless agreements unless specifically prohibited by law. Odom is an owner/principal/officer at the law offices of Odom & Barlow, which had provided legal representation services to ECUA since 1994. Accord-

ing to the opinion, he was a witness and a subject of the investigation. The grand jury found Odom to be "both unprofessional and unprepared" in his testimony. Judge Bergosh repressed that statement from the report, but the panel reinstated it because "included in the grand jury's broad powers is the power to conclude that a public official is not fit to continue in their position and recommend that actions be taken for their removal." In its counter appeal, the SAO also asked the 1st DCA to reinstate in the grand jury report the recommendation that the SAO provide a copy of this report together with the opinion issued by the 1st District Court of Appeal to the Office of the Governor and the Florida Bar as well as our local legislative delegation. The appellate panel agreed. In its conclusion, the 1st DCA panel wrote, "We affirm as to all issues on appeal. On cross-appeal, we reverse and remand with instruction that the five repressed provisions be included in the report." Odom has legal remedies to continue to block the release of the report. The attorney can ask the appellate court to withdraw its decision and petition the Florida Supreme Court to make a ruling on the matter.

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RELEASE IT

Campbell told Inweekly that she hopes the grand jury report is released. She said, "I think it should just come out. I don't care. It's not bad." The ECUA board member, who has represented District 1 since 2012, said most of the recommendations have been implemented, and she reminded the newspaper that the lawsuit had ended before she was elected. "I wasn't on the board and would not have voted for eminent domain if I had been," she said. "I would have certainly agreed to an indemnity or hold harmless. I do them all the time in my line of work." Campbell had asked the ECUA board to terminate Odom's contract in August 2017, but her motion failed 1-4. "When I read the suit and realized the error the attorney had made, I asked for an immediate suit for malpractice and for the ECUA to cease using this attorney," she said. "I was the only board member saying we have to quit using this attorney." However, she thinks the utility has improved since the grand jury investigation. "I think the grand jury was absolutely right in their assessment and right to slap the hand of the board," said Campbell. "Everything they suggested has now been done. The new attorney and administrator are doing a great job. The ECUA is working better with all government entities." {in}

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'WE ALL NEED A LIGHT'

Pandemic or not, churches are a lifeline for many communities. It's a challenge to meet people's needs as COVID-19 affects a growing number of people who are at-risk, lost loved ones or lost their livelihood. But it's a challenge local churches aren't afraid to tackle. In fact, it's what they're called to do.

tality committee. "Making sure people are fed is our priority." As a relatively smaller church with around 150 congregates, the church has been pooling resources to help spread their reach, partnering with Pensacola Caring Hearts and the city's Housing Authority. McDonald said most of Adoration's church members have been fortunate not to be financially impacted by the pandemic. So they paid it forward. "Our tithes actually went up for the month of April, and that helped our committee do more," said McDonald. Like any of the food sites, there's no questions asked, no requirement to receive help. And you don't have to be a member of the church. McDonald said the mission is to be a blessing to others—to show love, not judgment. After the infamous Easter gathering in Attucks Court gained plenty of negative comments on social media, McDonald and church volunteers visited the public housing community to deliver food door to door. "A lot of residents weren't a part of that madness," said McDonald. "We wanted to do something positive, so we went to the community, brought some food and resources."

FEEDING THE NEED

SERVING THE SPIRIT

Photo courtesy of Adoration for a New Beginning Church

By Jennifer Leigh

Like so many local organizations, Adoration for a New Beginning Church quickly stepped into action to provide assistance. Since the pandemic, volunteers have hosted drive-up food giveaways—sometimes even providing hand soap, sanitizer and bottles of water. And they'll continue as the demand continues. "We've been very, very busy," said Ashley McDonald, head of the church's hospi-

With a majority of its volunteers 65 years and older—and vulnerable to COVID-19—Greater Little Rock Baptist Church (GLRBC) had to suspend its regular food giveaway. But the church rallied together to make sure the community was taken care of. "This gave us an opportunity to do other things, like giving financially," said Pastor Lonnie Wesley, III. Members put funds together to pur-

chase Walmart gift cards for those in need. Like Adoration for a New Beginning Church, GLRBC pooled resources to help make sure kids had a hot meal. Wesley said the pandemic has been a reminder that we all have a responsibility to "help our fellow man." "That's what we're supposed to do." When so many are suffering, Wesley admits he's slipped into worry and depression like many of us. "That's the human side of me," he said. "I think this is true of every pastor—it bothers you when someone else is bothered." Mental health is important to Wesley. GLRBC offers non-fee-based Christian counseling, alongside ministry. On Wednesday May 27, Wesley moderated a virtual Mental Health Symposium as part of the church's medical ministry. Even if you missed it, you can still find the video on the church's Facebook page. The symposium featured a panel of speakers, including Dr. Raina Alexander of ECSD Center for Health and Wellness; Dr. Jonathan Posey, a safety & pharmacovigilance specialist; and Dr. Sarah Y. Vinson, child and adolescent psychiatrist. Times of crisis remind us about the power of prayer, says Wesley. But it's OK to need more. That's a message he wants to share through the symposium. "It's OK to have a pastor and a psychiatrist," he said. "These are easy days to fall to anxiety; it's OK to get some help." Even in times of worry, Wesley said he does find comfort that the church can offer blessings—even from a distance. "In times of darkness, we all need a light," he said. "Every community needs an anchor— a place you know you can run to. It's a blessing that (our) church can set that example."

ANSWERING THE CALL

When church services were suspended in mid-March, Jon Becker, senior minister at Concord Presbyterian Church in Gulf

Breeze, wanted his community to know he was still available. So he posted his personal number on the church's marquee, right by the side of U.S. 98, with the words, "Nervous? Afraid? Just need to talk? Call my cell." "Some have just called to say thank you," said Becker. "Some people just need someone to talk to." Most of the calls have been from strangers. One woman passing by on her way to Fort Walton Beach even reached out. She and Becker are now on a first-name basis. "She moved to this area from New England a year ago and has no one around," Becker said. "We've talked about four times in the past month. I even saved her number in my phone." When Becker lost his father on Easter Sunday (not from COVID-19), he found the few calls he received to be a saving grace. "Nobody is more special or more worse off," he said. "I lost my dad who had a wonderful life, but I know there's people that can't be with their loved ones. I'm reminding people about hope and they've been just as encouraging." Before the sign, Becker and his wife cleaned out the toilet paper inventory at the church to put in care packages for people in need. Becker included the message "When the roll is called up yonder," a reference to an old hymn about eternal salvation—and a funny play on words. It was a creative way to reach out, but Becker credits the calls for making him a better pastor. "I've learned how important it is to really listen," he said. "You don't always know what someone really wants or needs." {in} For information on these churches: •Adoration for a New Beginning Church adorationchurchfamily.com •Greater Little Rock Baptist Church glrockbc.org •Concord Presbyterian Church of Gulf Breez concordpres.com

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May 28, 2020

NO VOTING FRAUD A 17-month investigation of complaints by President Donald Trump and Senator Rick Scott of election fraud in Broward, Palm Beach and other Florida counties during the 2018 election came up empty-handed. The voter fraud complaints against Democrats came at the end of the 2018 elections as counties completed required recounts in the races for governor and U.S. Senate. Both races ultimately went to recounts. Scott charged the counts reeked of Democratic fraud, a conspiracy Trump amplified on Twitter. Last week, Ana Ceballos of the News Service of Florida reported a year-long investigation into the alleged vote-by-mail fraud by the Florida Democratic Party in 2018 found "no evidence of fraudulent intent," according to records released by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement last week. Florida Statewide Prosecutor Nick Cox also confirmed that there was a "lack of sufficient evidence to support prosecution" in the case. HITCH IN BENEFIT CHECKS In April, Gov.

Ron DeSantis ordered the Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO) to waive a rule that jobless benefit recipients must return to the department's unemployment portal every two weeks to "claim their weeks." Many of the applicants lost their jobs due to closures under the governor's safer-at-home order and were unfamiliar with the benefit process. The waiver helped cut the red tape and allowed the checks to flow uninterrupted. However, there was one problem with the waiver. It violated federal law, and the department had to reinstate the requirement on May 10, without any notice sent to the benefit recipients. Checks stopped flowing. The only communication was an update on DEO's website—"To comply with federal law, weeks beginning May 10, 2020, claimants will be required to return to the CONNECT system every two weeks to request their benefits or 'claim their weeks.' In so doing,

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claimants will confirm that they are still unemployed and acknowledge that you are able and available for work." Gov. DeSantis did, however, direct DEO to waive the work search and work registration requirements for claimants through Saturday, May 30.

TINY HOUSES Escambia County Board of

County Commissioners discussed moving forward with construction standards and land use for tiny homes at the Committee of the Whole Meeting earlier this month. "It is exciting that the board is discussing the tiny home option because it would offer an affordable living option for Escambia County residents," said Chairman Steven Barry. The proposal defines a tiny house as one with a floor area not over 400 square feet. Tiny houses cannot be recreational vehicles such as travel/camping trailers, motor homes, private motor coaches, fifth-wheel trailers or park models. All the provisions and regulations of the current Land Development Code (LDC) would apply. In all zoning districts, a tiny home could be a single-family dwelling per lot. A tiny home could be an accessory dwelling unit where a single-family dwelling unit exists. Up to four units would be allowed, without a site plan review, in zoning districts where multi-family dwellings and/or multidevelopments are allowed. The proposal will first be considered by the planning board and then will go through several public hearings with the county commission. If adopted, the proposal would be incorporated in the Appendix Q of the upcoming seventh edition of the Florida Building Code Residential (FBCR) effective December 31, 2020.

AL-QAEDA CONNECTION On Monday, May 18, Attorney General Bob Barr announced the FBI had unlocked the cellphones of Mohammed Saeed Alshamrani, the Saudi airman who killed three sailors and injured

eight others during a terrorist attack on NAS Pensacola on Dec. 6, 2019. The attorney general said the importance of the cellphones became clear early in the investigation. Barr said, "Indeed, Alshamrani attempted to destroy both phones, even going so far as to disengage from the gunfight long enough to fire a bullet into one." "The phones contained information previously unknown to us that definitively establishes Alshamrani's significant ties to Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), not only before the attack, but before he even arrived in the United States," said Barr at a virtual presser with FBI Director Christopher Wray. "We now have a clearer understanding of Alshamrani's associations and activities in the years, month and days leading up to the attack." Barr and Director Wray expressed their disappointment that Apple refused to help law enforcement bypass the security measures on the phone. "While the FBI's hard work has led to an important breakthrough in this case that should be celebrated, I must also express my great disappointment that it took over four months and large sums of taxpayer dollars to obtain evidence that should be easily and quickly accessible with a court order," said Wray. "In cases like this, where the user is a terrorist, or in other cases where the user is a violent criminal, human trafficker or child predator, Apple's decision has dangerous consequences for public safety and national security and is, in my judgment, unacceptable." He later added, "Privacy and public safety are not mutually exclusive. We are confident that technology companies are capable of building secure products that protect user information and, at the same time, allow for law enforcement access when permitted by a judge—as Apple had done willingly for many years and others still do today." The investigation is still ongoing, according to Wray. Later in the day, the embassy of Saudi Arabia in Washington issued a statement—

"The Embassy of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia reiterates its sincerest condolences to the American people on the tragedy that unfolded in December at Pensacola, Fla., and welcomes the announcement by U.S. law authorities of the recovery of critical intelligence from the assailant's telephones." The embassy stressed the importance of the military training the U.S. provides to Saudi military personnel—"Our close intelligence and counterterrorism cooperation has saved lives in the United States, Saudi Arabia and elsewhere and undoubtedly made the world a safer place." Approximately 28,000 Saudis have undergone military training in the U.S. over the course of several decades, the embassy underlined. Secretary of Defense Mark Esper also issued a statement expressing gratitude for the FBI's investigation and outlining his agency's new security procedures. He said, ''Based on the FBI findings, and in addition to already executed protective measures, the Department will take further prudent and effective measures to safeguard our people.''

WIDE OPEN BEACHES The Escambia

County Board of County Commissioners voted on Thursday, May 21, to amend Executive Order 20-6, creating Executive Order 20-8 regarding Escambia County public beaches. Effective noon Thursday, May 21, Escambia County public beaches fully opened to the public. Camping on the beach is not allowed per county ordinance 74-36 and consistent with the "Leave No Trace" protections for nesting sea turtles. Other Escambia County parks, including public access points on Perdido Key, remain closed from sunset to sunrise. Pavilions and beach bathroom facilities have reopened. The area around and under the fishing pier is open. Dog parks have already been reopened and permitted in designated areas. {in}

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Mental Matters Exploring Mental Health During Coronavirus By Savannah Evanoff

Toilet paper is back. The once glaring reminder of our anxiety about the coronavirus seen at every grocery store ever is a thing of the past. But that doesn't mean the battle against poor mental health is over. May is Mental Health Awareness, and given the current climate, it's more relevant than ever. Before the month closes out, we talked to Michele Manassah, the executive director of Counseling and Wellness at the University of West Florida. She helped explain the landscape of this new warfare going on in our mind—where it's being fought and why. "I think it's important to normalize your feelings," Manassah said. "You aren't the only one that's feeling like this. A majority of people are feeling similarly. We're really all in this together."

HOW THE CORONAVIRUS IS STILL IMPACTING MENTAL HEALTH

Fear and anxiety are still the opponents. They just look different now. "As things start to open up and people are wanting to get back to some sense of normalcy, we have fear and anxiety about, 'How contagious really is the virus?'" Manassah said. "Do I want to go back to the store, or I should keep calling Instacart? Should I wear a mask? Should I be concerned if I go out and I'm wearing a mask and other people aren't? There's been a lot of information and there's conflicting information. That's causing anxiety. People are confused and don't know which information should be guiding what they're doing." Anger and frustration are common ones, too. Many of these stem from feeling like we're not in control, she said. "It might've started out, if you were in a grocery store and you went to get toilet paper and the shelves were empty, but you passed someone with a cart full of it," Manassah said, "you're anxious, frustrated and irritable. Now you can't find any. Maybe it's moved past that—the anger May 28, 2020

and frustration focusing on those authorities who are imposing the lockdown or the quarantine rules and not allowing particular businesses to open up, for example." Also on the list are depression and er … boredom. "Most people's daily routines are totally out of whack by now," Manassah said. "Many people are staying home. Kids are doing online learning instead of being at school or being out of the house. It's important to have a routine and a daily rhythm, but it's also then difficult to do that because of so much uncertainty." It doesn't help that many milestones have been missed recently, too, from Easter to Mother's Day to graduation. And people haven't been able to go out and do any "normal" things like see movies or go to concerts. "Really, there's only so much Netflix you can watch," Manassah said. "We know that social media usage is up. There's some speculation that there is a direct correlation with the degree of boredom people are experiencing and the number of posts they make. We also know for many people, overexposure to social media can also cause anxiety and depression." And adults aren't the only ones on the struggle bus. Kids are on it, too—especially because they're not on the school bus. School closures have had the biggest impact on this vulnerable group, she said. "It's a lack of routine, a lack of social contact with peers," Manassah said. "For many students, they're not getting the free school meals, so there's a nutritional impact, too. Learning online is not the most ideal way to learn for every child."

HOW TO COPE

Good news. There are many ways to manage these feelings, Manassah said. The first step is to acknowledge this is a stressful time, she said. "This is an unprecedented time; it's normal to feel stressed," Manassah said. "Denial will not help at all." People should limit their social media—

and news while they're at it. It's easy to get sucked into the constant pandemic updates, Manassah said. "I've talked to some people who obsessively check in on the number of confirmed cases in Florida or in Escambia or Santa Rosa counties," Manassah said. "It's important to limit our news intake, maybe to once a day. And then also make sure you're getting your information from credible sources. That's something that happens on social media all the time. People post all sorts of things with no reference to where they got it. Rumors spread quickly. That can feed into panic and anxiety as well." Technology isn't the enemy though. While many businesses have reopened— albeit at lesser capacities—many are still practicing social distancing. Manassah recommends using technology, such as FaceTime and Zoom, to socialize. "Because we're maybe social distancing doesn't mean we have to live in social isolation," Manassah said. "That's really important we continue to make connections with other people." And Manassah isn't above a simple solution like finding the silver lining—even when you have to dig deep. Sometimes we have to try that, "Tell me something good thing," she said. "When my kids were younger, we used to have at the dinner table, 'Tell me one good thing that happened that was positive for you today,'" Manassah said. "Sometimes they had to really reach for it." We can apply it to every aspect of our lives. "For me, I'm working from home right now, which has a lot of drawbacks," Manassah said. "But if I had to look for something good in it, I'm not really a morning person. So I can sleep in much later if I just have to go to my dining room table than I did if I had to drive to the office. That's some positive I can find in it." Some people find mindful breathing calming, Manassah said. Luckily, she isn't the type to demand an intimidating half an hour of doing it—even three minutes is

useful, she said. Apple watches even have a built-in breathing app that reminds you to breathe, she pointed out. An Apple watch can also help with Manassah's recommendation for movement. "I've been encouraging people to remain as physically active as they can," Manassah said. "That benefits not only your body, but your mind." Another of Manassah's quick fixes is kindness. You can reap the rewards of doing something to benefit someone else. "Doing something nice for someone else really lights up your brain's pleasure and reward center," Manassah said. "Some people might call it the helper's high, but that helps us to feel better while helping someone else." When all else fails, it comes down to changing our expectations, Manassah said. "When we create goals or expectations that are unrealistic, then it doesn't give us the space or the grace to not live up to those expectations," Manassah said. Plus, things aren't normal, so they aren't going to feel that way, she added. "Maybe we aren't going to feel as productive as we have felt in February, but that's OK," Manassah said. "It's important to go easy on ourselves and to give ourselves compassion—the same compassion we would give to a friend. It's kind of a funny thing about our culture, it doesn't really believe in giving people a lot of time to recover and react to things, and we need that more than ever in this pandemic. "

WHEN YOU NEED EXTRA HELP

The University of West Florida provides help to their students and has a bit for the public, too. In addition to providing therapy on a video conferencing platform and phone support for students, the University also provides Therapy Assistance Online (TAO), a selfdirected intervention. The school purchased it last fall to give students an alternative to traditional face-to-face counseling. "We have some students who don't live near the campus, would prefer to do some11

thing other than face-to-face counseling and some who will never access it," Manassah said. "It's self-help in an interactive web-based program. It's based in cognitive behavioral therapy approach. It helps you learn about and change how you think, feel and act. It's really a good approach for addressing things like anxiety and depression, anger management, but we also have modules that address communication patterns, mindfulness, stress and relationships." Students can access TAO 24 hours a day with their UWF email. They will take an assessment and uses the results to prescribe the path of the modules to complete.

TAO offers specific COVID-19 related resources to the public, too, at taoconnect. org/mindfulness-exercise. While there are some limitations for both the therapist and the clients when therapy is not done in person, technology is beneficial. "This pandemic has accelerated change that was coming in terms of mental health service delivery," Manassah said. "It was there. Many of these platforms, applications existed prior to COVID-19, but now there's been a rush to use them because it's all we have. I don't think in the post-COVID world they will be going away." {in}

A Warm Line Sometimes all it takes to make someone feel better is a phone call. It's why the Children's Home Society of Florida (CHS) launched the Family Support Warm Line, a free hotline that connects callers to a counselor with a call or text. Lindsey Cannon, the regional executive director of CHS, said the organization realized that with the coronavirus outbreak, families are going through a massive shift in their routine, and some teens or young adults are facing isolation at home. They needed something like this now more than ever. "We knew it was really important to launch a statewide effort to let people know there are people out there you can reach out to," Cannon said. "You don't have to be at the point of wanting to harm yourself to want to make a phone call. You can call us if you're frustrated and need some help processing and we're there." Diana Born, CHS's clinical program director, said the warm line is manned 24 hours a day and always staffed with at least one clinician and one supervisor. All of the clinicians and most supervisors are licensed. Some of the therapists are multilingual and some are LGBTQ-competent, meaning they are trained to work with callers on related subjects. All calls are confidential and callers can remain anonymous if they choose. "What happens with the 'warm line' is that the families will call into the number,"

Born said. "When they call in, they are directed to either select if they want to speak with someone to put in a counseling referral and they have the option to actually talk with someone. There is a person they can talk to on the other line. They can also text our number and we can communicate with them by text in case they're more comfortable doing that." Since the warm line's launching May 1, Born has experienced many topics from callers. "I've covered a variety of different calls from parents who are just frustrated and at their wits' end because they've now become their child's teacher and their kids are home all day and they're at work full time," Born said. "We've had people who have reached out to us who are in domestic violence situations that we've had to give resources to. We've had people who have reached out wanting information about our adoption services and just general resources." The service can provide people with various resources. If the clinician can't connect a caller with a resource, they will research to find one and follow up. The line can help anyone in Florida because the organization has offices statewide, Cannon said. The local branch is the Ashley Offerdahl Counseling Program. "It doesn't matter if (Born) is here answering the phone and you have someone in Orlando that happens to call," Cannon

Rub elbows with those who take their leisure time seriously.

The ELBOW

ROOM

Photo Courtesy of Children's Home Society of Florida

said. "Guess what, we have an office in Orlando, and that is something we can resource you with quickly. It's not something we have to wait around and try to dig for. We already have those established relationships and connections wherever you are to help you get to the solution that you need." The line has also freed up some of the time clinicians spend driving places, Born said. "With telecounseling, I can serve a child who is in Miami when I am in Pensacola," Born said. "It allows us to reach out to more kids and be able to serve a wider population. We know our services are good services, and we want to be able to help as many families as we can." The beauty in it is it's not just a referral line, Cannon said. It provides on-the-spot counseling, too. "Sometimes you don't even know what you're asking for, and you really need someone to talk you through whatever your struggle is at that point," Cannon said. "Clinicians are trained to look at your life from a variety of ways and ask questions that are important to help determine what your needs really are and point you in the right direction." While it's not a crisis line, the clinicians are trauma-informed. Sometimes it's hard to reach out for help

locally, Cannon said. The name "warm line" implies the warmth they can provide to callers. "Maybe someone would know you or maybe someone would judge you—there's all those thoughts that go through our heads of what people would think of your personal family struggles," Cannon said. "That's what we wanted people to know. It was somewhere for them to call that is safe and warm and you don't have to be at the end of your rope to pick up the phone. It's a comfortable place to call to get whatever help you need—even if it's something that CHS doesn't provide." Cannon is a believer in CHS's mission. She loves the organization, she said. "I feel very fortunate in a time like this to be able to say that we haven't had to furlough one staff member; we haven't had to stop our business," Cannon said. "We have continued to serve people this entire time. I'm very proud of that. I'm proud of our organization for stepping up and creating something like a warm line for families who had no idea they would ever come to struggle like this. You just can't plan for it." {in} For more on CHS, visit chsfl.org. To call or text the "warm line," call 1-888-733-6303. Counselors are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and all calls and texts are free and confidential.

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Virtual Resources Mental Health Awareness Month has been observed in May in the United States since 1949. But due to the COVID-19 outbreak, it looks a little different this year. In response to the current situation, access to e-counseling and virtual resources to help improve mental health is more important than ever. Here are just a few online options that might be useful for you or a loved one. Talkspace talkspace.com Talkspace is one of the most well-known apps to connect with a licensed therapist via text, audio, picture and video messages, as well as make video chat appointments. The subscription service offers plans that range from $65 to $100 a week. There are no contracts and you can cancel your plan anytime. BetterHelp betterhelp.com BetterHelp is another e-counseling program that offers access to licensed, trained, experienced and accredited psychologists (Ph.D./Psy.D.), marriage and family therapists (LMFT), clinical social workers (LCSW/LMSW) and board licensed professional counselors (LPC). The cost of counseling through BetterHelp ranges from $40 to $70 per week (billed monthly). You can cancel your membership at any time. 7 Cups 7cups.com Different than some other mental health apps, 7 Cups is an online emotional support service that focuses on listening. It connects you to caring, trained listeners for free emotional support. Pride Counseling pridecounseling.com Pride Counseling provides online counseling to the LGBTQ community, so they can get the help they need discreetly, affordably and conveniently. Like other online platforms, you can message your counselor whenever an issue arises and schedule sessions that work with your schedule. The cost ranges from $40 to $70 a week, billed monthly, and you can cancel your membership at any time. Therapy for Black Girls therapyforblackgirls.com This online space is dedicated to encouraging the mental wellness of black women and girls and offers a blog, podcast and a resource to find a therapist near you. May 28, 2020

Teen Counseling teencounseling.com Teen Counseling is an app-based resource for parents to connect their teen with a therapist they have approved. Teen Counseling ranges from $40 to $70 per week, billed monthly, and includes messaging, chat, phone and video sessions. ReGain regain.us ReGain is all about couples. The online relationship counseling platform provides convenient, discreet and affordable access to a licensed therapist. Both partners share a joint account in which they can communicate with the counselor together, according to the site, and individual live sessions can also be scheduled. Headspace headspace.com The popular mindfulness and meditation app is now free for people who are unemployed in the U.S. at headspace.com/ unemployed. The offer lasts through June 30 and provides free access for the year. All people have to do is fill out their name, where they previously worked, what they did, where they live and their last date of employment and check a box stating the information provided is true. Coa joincoa.com Coa is short for “coalesce,” which means “growing together,” and that's the goal of the platform, which focuses on mental fitness classes. They are currently offering free classes through COVID-19, guided by therapists. Topics include things like building a mindfulness routine and how to stay energized while working from home. Frame tryframe.com Frame is a mental wellness network that helps users find the form of therapy and therapist that are right for them. They also offer digital workshops run by licensed therapists. Current topics available to stream include things like managing quarantine with young kids and combating loneliness. Crisis Text Line crisistextline.org If you find yourself experiencing a crisis, you can text "HOME" to 741741 to connect with a crisis counselor through this virtual hotline. A live, trained counselor receives the text and responds. {in} 13

PENSACOLA YOUNG PROFESSIONALS

We Need Your Voice COMMUNITY CHECK IN SURVEY As part of our mission to be a catalyst for positive change in the community, we want to know about your experience regarding the recent pandemic and about your outlook on the “new normal”. The results of this survey will be used to educate our community on what young (under 40) people are thinking, feeling, and doing in response to COVID-19. Your responses will also help inform Pensacola Young Professional’s upcoming programs and events so that we can bring the most value to our community. Take the survey at

www.PensacolaYP.com/survey

UPCOMING VIRTUAL EVENTS JUNE 3 9:00 AM

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WEEK OF MAY 28-JUNE 3

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

By Jeremy Morrison

try, bike sales have surged and sales floors have emptied out. Many manufacturers, in fact, have exhausted their inventory of 2020 models already. "Bikes are pretty much sold out from all of our manufacturers. So, yes, bikes have been scarce," Woolson said, adding that the used bike market has also "gone through the roof." This spike in bike sales parallels the country's response to the coronavirus, and it's expected to continue for a while. "They're saying we'll probably ride this wave for about two years," Woolson said.

FOLLOW THE "SHARROWS"

The COVID-19 pandemic has presented many businesses will challenges. This holds true for the business of bicycles, though the challenges are notably different. Rather than a decrease in customers, bike shops are currently experiencing the opposite. As it turns out, this pandemic is a boon for bicycles. Ordered to stay home in an effort to curb the spread of the coronavirus, people are looking for something to do, something that gets them outdoors and allows for social distancing. Bikes fit the bill just right. "There has been a huge demand for bicycles," said Robbie Mott, owner of Trek Bicycle Store in Pensacola. "Your everyday riding has seen a huge, huge increase." Trek, as well as other local bike shops, is mirroring a national trend of increased biking.

"We're seeing a love of cycling come back that people had lost touch with because life got in the way." Mark Woolson "Our business has quadrupled, both repairs and sales," said Mark Woolson, owner of Truly Spokin in Milton. May 28, 2020

At his shop, Woolson has cut the store's hours to allow for extra time to work on repairs. Even with the reduced hours, the store is still selling more bikes than usual. "Once we open the doors, it's just a circus," Woolson laughed. "We're seeing a love of cycling come back that people had lost touch with because life got in the way," said Woolson. "I think during the coronavirus, people are rediscovering bikes—'wait a second, don't I have one of those things in my garage?'" said Silke Johnson, a board member with Bike Pensacola, a collective of the local cycling community.

BIKE SPIKE

When a customer comes in looking for a bike, Woolson has a simple question for them—"I ask them what their goals are; what's the purpose of the bike?" Maybe they're looking for a road bike to log some serious miles. Or perhaps they're searching for something more casual, something they can pedal in a pair of flip flops. There's a bike for every type of rider. "Everything from beach cruisers to thousands-of-dollars bikes," Woolson said. But with this reawakening of biking has come the harsh reality of supply and demand. Not just locally, but across the coun-

The Pensacola area and greater Northwest Florida region offer a lot of terrains for bicyclists to explore. They can take rides through urban neighborhoods with shadetree canopies or head out onto trails maintained by the University of West Florida or in Blackwater River State Forest. Christian Wagley, another cyclist with Bike Pensacola, particularly enjoys rides through the older, historic areas of Pensacola, like North Hill. "These older neighborhoods were really designed and laid out before cars took over everything," Wagley said. "These neighborhoods are in a grid pattern, so it diffuses traffic in all directions." As more cyclists explore these older neighborhoods and other areas of the urban landscape, it's important to keep safety in mind. Mike Ziarnek, the city of Pensacola's Complete Streets planner, stresses this point, urging both bikers and drivers to watch out for each other.

"It's important for both drivers and bicyclists to keep safety in mind as they drive or ride around the city." Mike Ziarnek "We've definitely seen more people exploring Pensacola via bicycle lately as they look for ways to safely exercise and enjoy the outdoors," Ziarnek said. "It's important for both drivers and bicyclists to keep safety in mind as they drive or ride around the city." In addition to observing basic bike etiquette and traffic laws—such as traveling in the same direction as vehicular traffic— Ziarnek also advises some common-sense

measures, such as using headlights and taillights at night and wearing bright colors to increase visibility. "For drivers," he added, "remember to give bicyclists a minimum of three feet of clearance when driving alongside or passing them, as required by Florida law." In an effort to make roads more accommodating to cyclists, the city has painted arrows—or, rather, "sharrows"—along some stretches of roadway, indicating the need for bikes and motor vehicles to share the lane. "Sharrows are communication tools," Ziarnek explained. "They communicate to roadway users to expect people riding bicycles."

TAKING IT SLOW

During pre-COVID days, a cyclist in search of safe and scenic routes in the area could hook up with Bike Pensacola for a guided tour of sorts. The organization conducted regular group rides, dubbed the Slow Ride, through the city. "We had them scheduled this spring, but they've all been canceled," Wagley said. These group rides were not designed for a pandemic. They tended to attract an army of cyclists. "We've had as many as 450 people at rides," Wagley said. "We hardly had to promote them." In an effort to continue to provide the cycling community with the essence of the Slow Ride, Wagley has provided Visit Pensacola with mapped out routes from past events—typically routes winding through downtown—which the tourism organization posts on its website. Bike Pensacola board members met this month to discuss when the organization might be able to resume the group Slow Ride. They decided to take a wait-and-see approach. "We don't know if it's safe right now to meet in large groups of people, even if it's outside on a bike," said Johnson. But the board will continue to monitor the situation and when the time seems right will likely gauge its next step on group consensus. "We'll probably have a survey online and see if our community is up for it," she said. "Right now, we all agree it's just too early." {in} If you're looking for a new bike or need to repair one, check out trulyspokin.com and trekbikes.com. To stay up to date with Bike Pensacola and to see past ride route maps they're sharing, go to facebook.com/bikepensacola. 15

a&e happenings Attending "normal" events might not be happening yet—but that doesn't mean local businesses and nonprofits aren't still planning ahead and keeping the community connected in creative ways.

≥MOVIE AND FIREWORKS NIGHT

The Pensacola Blue Wahoos are hosting a community movie night at Blue Wahoos Stadium on Saturday, May 30, at 7 p.m. followed by a fireworks show. Tickets are $5 per person and include both the movie and fireworks. Children 12 and under, military members and seniors (65+) will receive a ticket discount. The gates at Blue Wahoos Stadium will open at 6 p.m. Tickets are available now at the Blue Wahoos Box Office or at bluewahoos. com, where the title of the movie will be released. Only 1,000 tickets will be sold. No groups larger than 10 people will be permitted to sit together, and all separate groups will be required to sit a minimum of 6 feet apart in accordance with local and state physical distancing guidelines. Grab-and-go style concessions will be available during the event at multiple points throughout the stadium. No chairs or outside food or drink will be permitted. Guests are encouraged to bring a blanket for their group to sit on. Attendees will also have the option to sit in the stadium's stands. All Blue Wahoos staff are required to wear face masks and gloves while on ballpark property, and all staff members have their temperature taken daily before being admitted to the stadium. Staff will be in place throughout the event to ensure guests practice physical distancing while enjoying the movie and fireworks.

≥PENSACOLA CINEMA ART VIRTUAL SHOWINGS The theatre is still closed, but

Pensacola Cinema Art (PCA) is making sure you can stream select independent films and support a local nonprofit from the comfort of your own home. The films they are screening change often and are not available on streaming services like Netflix. Films currently streaming include "Military Wives," which centers on a group of women from different backgrounds whose partners are away serving in Afghanistan.

Customers can view films with a onetime fee through links on the PCA website. Half of the proceeds will go to the theatre. Visit pensacolacinemaart.com to see what's streaming. PCA is also connecting local film fans to We Are One: A Global Film Festival, which is a free online film festival. The festival will help the COVID-19 response fund through donations. The digital festival will run for 10 days from May 29 through June 7. Participation from 20 major film festivals will be included—Cannes, Sundance, Toronto, Tribeca, Venice and many more. For more information, visit pensacolacinemaart.com or youtube.com/weareone.

≥ CALL FOR ARTISTS: KEEP IT 100 The

next Artel exhibition is titled "Keep it 100." There are no size or theme requirements for this show, but all works must be for sale and priced at $100. Dates of the show are June 16 through July 23. Artists may submit up to three pieces. Drop-off dates are June 12 and 13. For more information, visit artelgallery.org

≥VIRTUAL HOT GLASS COLD BREW

First City Art Center (FCA) is adapting their popular event next month. Hot Glass Cold Brew: Home Edition will take place virtually on Facebook Live on Friday, June 19, at 7 p.m. The Facebook Live event will feature a pottery demonstration, Gallery 1060 virtual tour, glassblowing demonstration, raffle and live auction. This online event will be interactive, as viewers will be encouraged to ask questions about the process and will receive real-time answers from an FCAC staff member. Keeping with tradition, unique glass and ceramic cups will be available for $30 starting June 12 in an online store. Cups can be picked up at First City Art Center, 1060 N. Guillemard St., prior to the event. Each cup purchase will include a raffle ticket and a BOGO pint voucher to Pensacola Bay Brewery. For more information, visit firstcityart.org.

≥UWF TO OFFER EXPLORE SUMMER CAMPS VIRTUALLY University of West

Florida Continuing Education is bringing Explore Summer Camps straight to students this year with virtual editions of the most popular programs. Camps are available for students entering first through ninth grade, with a variety of themes for specific age groups, including Jr. Mad Scientists, Broadway Bound, Ozobots, Percy Jackson, Harry Potter and more. Each camp will host 10-12 students for an hour and 15 minutes via Zoom, with icebreakers and daily activities planned. The camps start at $35. To learn more or register, visit uwf.edu/explorecamps.

≥BALLET PENSACOLA VIRTUAL PROGRAMMING The Ballet Pensacola Virtual Programming Series gives ballet fans a look at performances in the comfort of their own homes—or anywhere their devices take them. Utilizing a new soundstage built by the ballet's technicians, the artists will reimagine, repurpose and relaunch two beloved ballets from the Ballet Pensacola repertoire—"Alice in Wonderland" (a 2017 premiere) and "The Matrix " (a 2013 premiere). For more information, visit facebook.com/ balletpensacola.

≥ COLLECTION UNCORKED: AT

HOME The Pensacola Museum of Art has

teamed up with Wine with Hilary Shaffer and Pot Roast & Pinot to bring their popular "Collection Uncorked" wine tasting into your home. Collection Uncorked invites visitors to learn more about our permanent collection through curated wine and art pairings. Chief Curator Anna Wall and Shaffer, a certified specialist of wine, are collaborating to match works of art with wines whose flavor profile or origins complement the art, artist or subject matter. This limited-edition curated box of three wines allows you to recreate the experience at home. Inside, you'll find reproductions of the works of art with narratives to guide you on your journey. Each box is $65. Order by noon on Wednesday of each week and pick up at Pot Roast & Pinot the following Saturday. For more information, visit potroastpinot. com/product/collectionuncorked.

≥

OPERA CAMP AT HOME Pensacola Opera's 15th annual summer camp is coming to you this June. The "Opera Camp at Home" brings the magic of theatre and music to children ages 6 to 14, filled with supplies and activity guides to help you put on a show from the comfort of your living room, backyard, or wherever you'd like. Activities include learning a choreographed dance, writing your own opera scene and learning how to do stage makeup. Once you've received your kit, follow along with the "Opera Camp at Home" activity calendar June 2226, and share your adventures online. Register each child at mailchi.mp/pensacolaopera/operacamp. Once registered, call the Opera Center at 433-6737 to purchase your kit ($50 each). Your kit will be mailed by June 15, or you can pick it up from the Opera Center on June 15 or 16. For more information, visit pensacolaopera.com.

≥BLUE WAHOOS AND BUBBA WATSON OPEN STADIUM DISC GOLF COURSE The Pensacola Blue Wahoos

and team co-owner Bubba Watson have partnered to bring disc golf to Blue Wahoos Stadium. The course covers the entirety of the stadium and is open to the public from noon-8 p.m. on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. Admission is $5 per player per round. Children ages 6-12, seniors, military members and first responders will receive a $1 admission discount. Children 5 and under receive free admission with a paid adult. To ensure the safety of participants and in adherence with COVID-19 guidelines, new groups will be allowed to begin playing the course every 15 minutes. Players are encouraged to bring their own discs or to purchase a three-disk starter pack from the Blue Wahoos for $25. Disc rental is not available in accordance with safety and sanitation recommendations. Players should enter through the main gates at Blue Wahoos Stadium and visit the Bait & Tackle Store behind home plate to register. A scorecard and course map will be provided to each player. For more information, visit bluewahoos.com.

≥

VIRTUAL PRENATAL YOGA For all the moms-to-be who need some comfort, check

CALLING ALL WRITERS Inweekly is working on a special issue, and we need you.

We’re accepting submissions for our first ever “written by you” issue. Short stories, essays, poems, book reviews, interviews with your grandma—whatever you’ve got, we want to read it. The deadline for submissions is Friday, June 5. All pieces must be in electronic format and emailed to joani@inweekly.net. All submissions will be reviewed by the Inweekly staff and the best selections will make it to print. (Some additional pieces may be published online only depending on length and space.) We are also accepting photography submissions with the same deadline. For consideration, those images need to be high resolution (at least 250 dpi). Chosen submissions will be published in our June 18 issue. 616 1

inweekly.net

out the virtual prenatal yoga series from Maggie Doyle Yoga. Sign up for individual classes or a series at maggiedoyleyoga.com.

≥BIKE PENSACOLA SHARES SLOW RIDE

ROUTES If you're missing the monthly slow

rides, here's a chance to enjoy the routes. Bike Pensacola is sharing slow ride maps from popular events. Find the maps on Facebook at facebook.com/bikepensacola. You will still to need to adhere to safety and social distancing guidelines.

≥UWF LOOKING FOR SONGS OF IM-

PACT University of West Florida is calling all artists—songwriters, musicians and change makers—to share their words of wisdom and inspiration in a music and video contest that brings to life the unyielding spirit of #ArgoNation. If you have words of encouragement, put them to a song and share them. One lucky winner will receive free studio recording time at WUWF, the opportunity to perform at UWF Homecoming and a UWF Bookstore gift card. For more information, visit uwf.edu/go/songsof-impact.

≥PENSACOLA SYMPHONY ORCHES-

TRA "VIRTUALLY TOGETHER" Be sure to follow Pensacola Symphony Orchestra on Facebook to see videos of orchestra musicians performing special works from their homes. One of the latest videos is from Violinist Molly Hollingsworth who selected "Berceuse" by

French composer Gabriel Fauré. To watch, visit facebook.com/pensacolasymphony.

≥CALL FOR ARTISTS TO PARTICIPATE IN PIECES ADRIFT ART SHOW Keep

Pensacola Beautiful is recruiting artists to participate in their Pieces Adrift Art Show and Silent Auction. Pieces Adrift is a Keep Pensacola Beautiful programming fundraiser and pollution awareness event. Artists are welcome to participate with any level of experience, whether hobbyist or professional. Each piece submitted should be comprised of at least 50% litter. Due to COVID-19, KPB recommends using your discretion when picking up litter off the ground. Art pieces may also be created using trash from your home. Artists may also pick through sorted bins of trash at the KPB office left over from last year. "Pieces Adrift is a creative and unique way to unite the community in achieving a common goal—making Pensacola a beautiful place to live, work and play. It brings awareness to the perpetuating issue of litter and ocean pollution on our beaches and roadways. By repurposing trash as art, we hope to inspire our community to be mindful of what and how they throw it away," says Madelyn Newton, Marketing and Development, VISTA. For more information, please email marketing@keeppensacolabeautiful.org.

≥PENSACOLA CHILDREN'S MUSEUM PROJECTS Pensacola Children's Museum is

posting weekly downloadable projects on their website. So far, topics have ranged from rockets to jellyfish to computer coding. All past projects are still available online. Visit historicpensacola.org and click on the Children's Museum under the Plan Your Visit tab to find them.

≥EVER'MAN CLASSES ON FACEBOOK LIVE Learn to make healthy drinks with Jordan

Zeman of Honey Wholesome in the Ever'man kitchen every month on Facebook Live. The tutorials are scheduled for the fourth Friday of the month at 11 a.m. Register for free on Eventbrite. You can also give quarantine cooking a boost with an online cooking class with Becca Fritschle at 11 a.m. on the first Friday of the month. The next class is Friday, June 5. And the Backyard Bohemian, Sherry Brubaker, will be doing classes the second Friday of the month. Next class is June 12. Visit facebook.com/evermancoop for more information.

≥STUDER COMMUNITY INSTITUTE WEBINAR SERIES Looking for some professional enrichment while staying at home? SCI webinars are exactly what you need. Tune in June 10 called "Self-Awareness— A Better You, A Better Business with Quint Studer." For more information, visit facebook. com/studerinstitute.

≥POSTER CONTEST Earth Day Pensacola

has rescheduled its annual event for the fall, and organizers are inviting students from grades four-six to enter one of two poster contests: •A 30th anniversary poster contest to celebrate Pensacola's participation in Earth Day for the last 30 years •A 50th anniversary poster contest to celebrate the global anniversary of Earth Day, which was first held in 1970 Posters for 30th anniversary must be Pensacola-themed and include something about it being the 30-year anniversary. Posters for 50th anniversary must be globally-themed and include something about it being the 50year anniversary. Entries for both contests must be ecologically themed/based. Artists can only enter one contest. The deadline to submit posters is 4 p.m. Friday, July 31. Artists must be a student in Escambia or Santa Rosa County to enter. The poster design must be able to print to a size of 11 inches x 17 inches and have a four-color design limit. Entries are accepted via email. For the 30th contest, email Marsha at rivermk37@gmail. com, and for the 50th contest, email Mary at earthethicsaction@gmail.com. The first-place prize for each contest is a framed poster with a $50 gift card. Second and third places received unframed posters with $25 and $15 gift cards, respectively. {in} for more listings visit inweekly.net

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free will astrology WEEK OF MAY 28 ARIES (MARCH 21-APRIL 19): "The

best of my nature reveals itself in play, and play is sacred," wrote the feisty Aries author Karen Blixen, who sometimes used the pen name Isak Dinesen. The attitude described in that statement helps illuminate the meaning of another one of her famous quotations—"I do not think that I could ever really love a woman who had not, at one time or another, been up on a broomstick." In my interpretation of this humorous remark, Blixen referred to the fact that she had a strong preference for witchy women with rascally magical ways. I bring this to your attention, Aries, because I'm inviting you to cultivate a Blixen-like streak of sacred play and sly magic in the coming days.

TAURUS (APRIL 20-MAY 20): Taurus

music legend Willie Nelson has played the same guitar since 1969. He calls it "my horse," and named it after Trigger, a famous horse in Hollywood films. Although Nelson still loves the tones that come from his instrument, it's neither sleek nor elegant. It's bruised with multiple stains and has a jagged gash near its sound hole. Some Tauruses want their useful things to be fine and beautiful, but not Willie. Having said that, I wonder if maybe he will finally change guitars sometime soon. For you Bulls, the coming months will be time to consider trading in an old horse for a new one.

GEMINI (MAY 21-JUNE 20): I've got

a message for you, courtesy of poet Lisel Mueller. I think her wisdom can help you thrive in the coming weeks. She writes, "The past pushed away, the future left unimagined, for the sake of the glorious, difficult, passionate present." Of course, it's always helpful for us to liberate ourselves from the oppressive thoughts of what once was in the past and what might be in the future. But it'll be especially valuable for you to claim that superpower in the coming weeks. To the degree that you do, the present will be more glorious and passionate and not so difficult.

By Rob Brezsny

CANCER (JUNE 21-JULY 22): When

Lewis Carroll's fictional heroine Alice visits the exotic underground realm known as Wonderland, she encounters two odd men named Tweedledee and Tweedledum. The latter tells her, "You know very well you're not real." He's implying that Alice is merely a character in the dream of a man who's sleeping nearby. This upsets her. "I am real!" she protests and breaks into tears. Tweedledum presses on, insisting she's just a phantom. Alice summons her courageous wisdom and thinks to herself, "I know they're talking nonsense, and it's foolish to cry about it." I suspect you Cancerians may have to deal with people and influences that give you messages akin to those of Tweedledum. If that happens, be like Alice.

LEO (JULY 23-AUG. 22): "The less you fear, the more power you will have," says the rapper known as 50 Cent. I agree with him. If you can dissolve even, say, 25% of your fear, your ability to do what you want will rise significantly, as will your influence and clout. But here's the major riddle—How exactly can you dissolve your fear? My answers to that question would require far more room than I have in this horoscope. But here's the really good news, Leo—In the coming weeks, you will naturally have an abundance of good insights about to dissolve your own fear. Trust what your intuition tells you. And be receptive to clues that serendipity brings you. VIRGO (AUG. 23-SEPT. 22): For his film

"Parasite," Virgo filmmaker Bong Joon-ho received Academy Awards for Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Original Screenplay. In his natal horoscope, Joon-ho has Pluto conjunct his sun in Virgo, and during the time "Parasite" began to score major success, Saturn and Pluto were making a favorable transit to that powerful point in his chart. I'm expecting the next six months to be a time when you can make significant progress toward your own version of a Joon-ho style achievement. In what part of your life is that most likely to happen? Focus on it. Feed it. Love it.

LIBRA (SEPT. 23-OCT. 22): According to my analysis of the astrological omens, the

coming weeks will be a favorable time for you to seek out, seduce, and attract luck. To inspire you in this holy task, I'll provide a prayer written by Hoodoo conjurer Stephanie Rose Bird—"O sweet luck, I call your name. Luck with force and power to make change, walk with me and talk through me. With your help, all that can and should be will be!" If there are further invocations you'd like to add to hers, Libra, please do. The best way to ensure that good fortune will stream into your life is to have fun as you draw it to you.

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

comedian John Cleese does solo work, but many of his successful films, albums, stage shows, and TV programs have arisen from joining forces with other comedians. "When you collaborate with someone else on something creative," he testifies, "you get to places that you would never get to on your own." I propose you make this your temporary motto, Scorpio. Whatever line of work or play you're in, the coming weeks will offer opportunities to start getting involved in sterling synergies and symbioses. To overcome the potential limitations of social distancing, make creative use of Zoom and other online video conferencing.

SAGITTARIUS (NOV. 22-DEC. 21):

"Wherever I am, let me never forget to distinguish want from need," vows author Barbara Kingsolver. "Let me be a good animal," she adds. That would be a stirring prayer to keep simmering at the forefront of your awareness in the next six weeks. According to my understanding of the astrological omens, you'll be getting clear signals about the differences between your wants and needs. You will also discover effective strategies about how to satisfy them both in the post-pandemic world, and fine intuitions about which one to prioritize at any particular time.

thought and getting wrapped up in too much complexity about trivial matters. Your focus should instead be on simple, bold approaches that encourage you to be crisp and decisive.

AQUARIUS (JAN. 20-FEB. 18): Singersongwriter Jill Scott is strongly committed to her creative process. She tells us, "I was once making a burger for myself at my boyfriend's house and a lyric started pouring out and I had to catch it, so I ran to another room to write it down, but then the kitchen caught fire. His cabinets were charred, and he was furious. But it was worth it for a song." My perspective—Scott's level of devotion to the muse is too intense for my tastes. Personally, I would have taken the burger off the stove before fleeing the scene to record my good idea. What about you, Aquarius? According to my analysis, you're in a phase when creative ideas should flow even better than usual. Pay close attention. Be prepared to capture as much of that potentially life-altering stuff as possible. PISCES (FEB. 19-MARCH 20): To protect ourselves and others from the pandemic, most of us have been spending more time than usual at home—often engaged in what amounts to enforced relaxation. For some of us, that has been a problem. But I'm going to propose that it will be the opposite of a problem for you in the next three weeks. In my astrological opinion, your words to live by will be this counsel from author and philosopher Mike Dooley—"What if it was your downtime, your lounging-in-bed-too-long time, that made possible your greatest achievements? Would they still make you feel guilty? Or would you allow yourself to enjoy them?" THIS WEEK'S HOMEWORK: What's the story or song that provides you with your greatest consolation?

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

ing some Chinese characters can be quite demanding. To make "biáng," for example, which is used in the name for a certain kind of noodle, you must draw 58 separate strokes. This is a good metaphor for exactly what you should avoid in the coming weeks—spending too much time and devoting too much

freewillastrology.com

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news of the weird

By the Editors at Andrews McMeel

FUN WITH MANNEQUINS Some sports teams eager to return to the field have taken to placing cardboard figures of fans in stadium seats to enhance the experience for viewers, but the FC Seoul soccer club in South Korea was forced to apologize May 18 after propping up sex dolls in the seats for its match against Gwangju FC, The New York Times reported. "We had tried to add some fun in the no-spectator match," the club explained. "But we have not checked all the details, and that is clearly our fault." "Details" included the buxom physiques and obvious logos of sex toy marketers on the dolls' clothing that fans watching quickly noticed. "We had confirmed that although the mannequins were made to look just like real people, they had nothing to do with adult products," the statement said, but the club admitted it had neglected to do a background check of the supplier, which makes sex dolls.

imitates art, the real roadrunner escaped unharmed from the wily coyote.

•Dinner at the renowned three-Michelinstar Inn at Little Washington in Virginia can set diners back a pretty penny—unless they're not eating. When the Inn opens on May 29, some of its patrons will be mannequins, reported the Associated Press, attired in fancy 1940s clothing and placed strategically at tables to help with social distancing. "We're all craving to gather and see other people right now," said Patrick O'Connell, the Inn's proprietor and chef. "They don't all necessarily need to be real people."

HOMESCHOOLING GONE WILD Parents have lodged complaints with the Archbishop Sentamu Academy in Hull, England, after discovering their seventh-, eighthand ninth-graders were sent an exercise asking them to define pornography, soft pornography, hardcore pornography and other sensitive subjects, such as human trafficking and female genital mutilation. Hull Live reported on May 19 that the assignments were made as part of the school's sex education course, but one parent, identified as Mrs. Taylor, said if her daughter had searched these terms on the internet, the results would have "destroyed her mind" and "scarred her for life." The school responded saying, "Students were not directed to research these topics themselves on the internet because all the answers ... were contained in the teacherproduced materials we shared." Principal Chay Bell apologized: "I am genuinely sorry for any upset caused at this difficult time."

REBELLION SERVED COLD An unnamed ice cream shop in Hong Kong is offering tear gas-flavored ice cream in support of the region's pro-democracy movement, reports the Associated Press. The shop's owner explained he wanted "to make a flavor that reminds people that they still have to persist in the protest movement and don't lose their passion." "It tastes like tear gas," said customer Anita Wong. "It feels difficult to breathe at first, and it's really pungent and irritating. It makes me want to drink a lot of water immediately." The owner tried several different combinations to achieve the flavor and found that black pepper came the closest. Before coronavirus restrictions, he said the store was selling 20 to 30 scoops per day. JUST FUNNY University of Arizona wildlife biology professor Michael Bogan caught Saturday morning cartoons as they came to life in a video he recorded of a coyote chasing a roadrunner May 9 in downtown Tucson. Bogan could be heard on his recording saying, "There is literally a coyote chasing a roadrunner. I can't believe it. That is a straight-up cartoon." The reenactment of the classic setup between Wile E. Coyote and the Roadrunner caught Bogan's attention near the Santa Cruz River, Fox News reported. And, as life often

THE PASSING PARADE Police responding to a reported shooting in Poughkeepsie, New York, early on May 17, arrived to find a very drunk 35-year-old man from the Bronx who claimed he'd been shot in the buttocks, which caused him to fall and hit his head. The Hudson Valley Post reported the unnamed victim was taken to a hospital, where he was treated for his head injury, but doctors could find no evidence he'd been shot. There was no bullet hole in his buttocks, X-rays showed no bullet lodged inside his buttocks, and his pants had no holes in them, police said. Witnesses nearby were also intoxicated and unable to provide any clarification. When officers pressed the victim about his story, he became uncooperative and said, "I didn't pull a gun."

GOING THE EXTRA MILE A nurse in the western Russian city of Tula has been disciplined for "noncompliance with the requirements for medical clothing" after photos appeared on social media of her wearing only a bra and panties under transparent PPE on a COVID-19 men-only ward. The unnamed nurse told her superiors at the Tula Regional Clinical Hospital that wearing clothing under the PPE was "too hot" and that she didn't realize the protective gear was see-through. The Scottish Sun reported on May 20 that patients didn't seem to mind, though one admitted there was "some embarrassment." {in}

Send your weird news items to WeirdNewsTips@amuniversal.com May 28, 2020

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