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Independent News | May 2, 2019 | Volume 20 | Number 18

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winners & losers

outtakes

news

You mean people don't walk down the streets looking at flyers like in the '90s anymore?

cover feature

the buzz

a&e

publisher Rick Outzen

graphic designer Michael Daw

editor & creative director Joani Delezen

contributing writers Savannah Evanoff, Jennifer Leigh, Jeremy Morrison, C.S. Satterwhite, Stephanie Sharp, Sydney Robinson

Struggling with

15, 16 & 20

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

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May 2, 2019

winners & losers

Fred Levin / Courtesy Photo

winners

FRED LEVIN The attorney and University of

Florida alumnus was honored at the University of Florida Levin College of Law in recognition of the 20th anniversary of his $10-million donation to the law school—the largest cash gift in the history of the University of Florida and the second largest cash donation ever to any public law school. In March, Levin donated an additional $6 million to the law school to be used for scholarships. The gift was made in honor of his late wife, Marilyn, who also was a philanthropist, having donated funds for Sacred Heart Hospital's Children's Miracle Camp and the Gulf Coast Kid's House.

DURRELL PALMER & CHAKEITA SIMPSON On Saturday, April 20, the

couple held a "Bunny Hop" golden egg Easter egg hunt at the Garden District Cottages. Palmer and Simpson funded the entire event out of their pockets and gave away golden egg scholarships. A few weeks earlier, the couple also hosted another charitable event, Fish Fry 4 Homeless.

JANE CASTOR With her victory in the Tampa mayoral runoff, Castor became the first openly LGBTQ person elected mayor of a top-100 city in the Southeastern United States. Only five out lesbians have ever been elected mayor of top-100 cities—three of them elected just this year. Before this cycle, only two lesbians had been elected big-city mayors—former Houston Mayor Annise Parker and current Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan.

losers

NATIONAL RIFLE ASSOCIATION Oliver

L. North announced last Saturday that he would not serve a second term as the National Rifle Association's president. The organization is under investigation by New York Attorney General Letitia James regarding its tax-exempt status. North and his supporters had tried to oust the gun group's longtime CEO, Wayne LaPierre, over questions regarding the organization's spending. LaPierre countered with a letter to the board in which he accused North of threatening to release damaging information about him and other executives if he refused to step down. Earlier this year, The New York Times reported that the NRA's affiliated charity, the NRA Foundation, had transferred more than $100 million since 2012 to the NRA and had loaned $5 million to the NRA in 2017. The transfers concerned some tax experts, according to The New York Times.

SANTA ROSA GOVERNMENT Charles Edsel of MarketGraphics Research Group told the Santa Rosa County Commission that the county must develop 10,676 new homes by the end of 2024 to meet the demand of its population growth—2,000 residences more than what the county's inspection department is currently approving annually. According to Edsel, the county must approve and develop 154.7 housing lots per month over the next 69 months "starting now." It's a nice problem to have, but the county must gear up its departments and infrastructure to accommodate the unprecedented growth.

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outtakes

By Rick Outzen

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EXPLOSIVE CULTURE On April 30, 2014, about a half hour before midnight, the Central Booking and Detention Center (CBD), which housed 595 inmates, exploded. Two inmates housed in holding cell #T-2 on the first floor died. The blast injured approximately 162 inmates and 11 correctional officers, one of which was left paralyzed. The next afternoon, county officials denied rumors that employees and prisoners had complained of smelling natural gas the day of the blast. Both Inweekly and the News Journal challenged those statements after interviewing dozens of prisoners caught in the explosion. State Fire Marshal Jeff Atwater requested assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). The National Response Team obtained all available surveillance video and records. They inspected the building as best they could, considering the instability of the structure. They interviewed employees at the CBD and in facilities maintenance. Based on the ATF report and direct testimonies, a local grand jury determined the fatal blast was a natural gas explosion sparked in the basement area that had been flooded by unprecedented rainfall. The grand jury returned a No True Bill finding, having determined there was insufficient evidence to establish any criminal charges. The grand jury reported that there was a spike of natural gas flowing into the building throughout the day and night of April 30.

"During this time, both jail staff and inmates reported the smell of gas in the Central Booking and Detention Center," the grand jury said. "These reports were made to jail supervisors as well as maintenance employees." During the summer of 2014, the Escambia County Commission tried to get to the bottom of what caused the explosion. The media and county staff were at odds over the magnitude of the gas leak and whether staff could have prevented the explosion. The commissioners hired attorney Ed Fleming to interview CBD staff and administrators. He determined that county officials, from the top down, took reasonable precautions against all known risks. Fleming found "no evidence that anyone in the chain of command for the CBD at the time of the explosion was aware of an unresolved gas leak." When the ATF report was released, it revealed that the shift commanders who had sworn to Fleming that they had no reason to believe there was a gas leak in the building at any time admitted to ATF investigators that they had smelled gas on April 30. The public had been told lies, and those misstatements were swept under the rug and forgotten. Five years later, those lies still bother me and what they say about the culture in county government. The new county administrator, Janice Gilley, will have her hands full changing that culture. Good luck. {in} rick@inweekly.net

The public had been told lies, and those misstatements were swept under the rug and forgotten.

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SEX & MASSAGE PARLORS

By Rick Outzen Last week, Congressman Matt Gaetz called together top local, state and federal law enforcement officials, including Escambia County David Morgan, Walton County Sheriff Mike Atkinson and U.S. Attorney Larry Keefe, and his Faith Advisory Board to discuss the increase of illicit massage parlors in Northwest Florida and how to shut them down. "Rolling from my house in Fort Walton to my office in Pensacola, I pass more than a dozen places that are offering Asian massage, with hours of operation that exceed well into the p.m. hours and have blacked out storefronts," said Gaetz. "There may be some of those that are operating legitimate massage, but it seems to be a real increase in the amount of that activity that's occurring." He said that while serving as Criminal Justice chairman in the Florida House, he heard testimony and saw data that showed "a nexus between these establishments and the movement of humans against their will."

In the materials handed out, the congressman pointed out there are an estimated 9,000 illicit massage parlors in the U.S.–more than Starbucks' 8,222 locations. In 2018, Florida had 376 cases of human trafficking reported to the national hotline. Only California (760) and Texas (455) had more. Polaris is a nonprofit, nongovernmental organization that works to combat and prevent modern-day slavery and human trafficking. In 2017, Polaris analyzed more than 32,000 cases of human trafficking from the National Human Trafficking Hotline and developed a classification system that identifies 25 distinct types of human trafficking in the United States. Trafficking related to massage parlors accounted for 2,949 cases—second in prevalence only to trafficking in escort services. The key indicators of illegal activity happening at massage parlors are:

"I thought it was pretty noteworthy that the largest group are between the ages 9 and 17. That was really striking to me." Matt Gaetz

•Service prices significantly below marketlevel. •Women asking for a large tip. •Women servicing customers for excessive hours or being "on call." •Serves primarily male customers. •Locked front door; customers only enter if they buzz in or enter through side or back doors. •Windows are covered or blacked out. •Regular rotation of women; new women coming every few weeks. •Advertisements on commercial sex websites.

The latest statistics for 2018 show that 86 percent of the victims of human trafficking are female. Gaetz said, "I thought it was pretty noteworthy that the largest group are between the ages 9 and 17. That was really striking to me."

It's not a coincidence that many of the parlors that have popped up over the past few years advertise Asian massages. According to Polaris, women from China, South Korea, Thailand and Vietnam are vulnerable to exploitation.

They usually arrive in the United States after responding to an employment ad in their home country. They come with debt for travel/ smuggling fees and get entrapped with ongoing debts such as fees for housing, hygiene products, groceries, bail and attorney fee. Their handlers hit them with additional charges for breaking parlor rules. Victims are controlled by shame, threats to their family and fear of deportation and law enforcement. Gaetz handed out a list of 39 reported illicit massage parlors in his congressional district; seven were in Escambia County and six in Santa Rosa County.

He continued, "What helped in Martin County is they continued to see folks taking out garbage that was residential garbage. There was evidence of people living there, and so that's a way you can see people getting them now." Gaetz encouraged religious leaders to take advantage of the law. One of the extraordinary remedies is when any nuisance exists, the Attorney General, state attorney, city attorney, county attorney or any citizen of the county may sue in the name on the state to enjoin the nuisance. The court can issue a permanent injunction and order court costs to be paid by the person establishing or maintaining the nuisance. Liens can be placed on all personal property found in the business. "You can bring nuisance claims in court, which is, I think, a really good project for some of our nonprofits, some of our kind of the armies of passion that we have gathered to say, 'We have skin in the game,'" the congressman said. "I mean, we're always talking in our faith chats about how do you get the broader congregation, in a wider the sense of the word, engaged and active?" said Gaetz. "This is a way to say we're not going to put up with this garbage in our community."

INNOVATIVE APPROACHES

Assistant U.S. Attorney Frank Williams is the human trafficking coordinator for the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Florida. Over the past four years, he has prosecuted 18 human traffickers in Gainesville.

"One thing that I found in almost SUPERCHARGED PROSECUTION all of my cases is they're almost While serving in the Florida House, Gaetz wrote legislation (2013 HB 7005), all gang related, because human which passed, that he said "gave law trafficking is a profit-driven enforcement supercharged abilities to be able to go into a massage establishment business." Frank Williams and demand the presentation of ID. In the absence of that ID, it gives you an ability to declare them a nuisance." The law also states the parlors can't advertise to induce customers into sexual misconduct, operate between hours of midnight and 5 a.m. or use the establishment to live as a principal domicile. In February, the Martin County Sheriff's Office led a multi-agency investigation that led to several massage parlors being shut down and numerous arrests, including New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft. "They caught the folks down in Martin County through the utilization of a massage establishment as a place of domicile," said Gaetz. "What we've seen is that they know about the hours of operation limitation, and so they will try to stay out of that blacked out period. But one thing you can't hide if you're trafficking people is that they live there."

"One thing that I found in almost all of my cases is they're almost all gang related, because human trafficking is a profitdriven business. That's what it's all about," said Williams. "And I want you to know I've found the key to success in prosecuting these cases. If you can help these victims deal with the trauma throughout the course of the prosecution, you're going to win your case. Now, that doesn't matter if it's a child or an adult." He explained, "I had 16 women that were being trafficked by a pimp. And out of those, I figured I had six that I could put on the stand, and when it came time for trial, I had one. OK, that guy got 20 years on that one victim. That case was tough. It was very, very difficult." Williams said that he has learned law inweekly.net

"I'm talking about right now, right here in this community. Women, children being trafficked. What are we going to do about that?" Williams "Take out your phone; dial in an app called Skipthegames. OK, go to that site, go to United States, Florida, and type in Pensacola, and look at it, and you tell me what's going on," he said. "We're talking about blatant human trafficking, spit-inyour-face human trafficking. We're not talking about behind closed doors, with shaded windows, at one o'clock in the morning. I'm talking about right now, right here in this community. Women, children being trafficked. What are we going to do about that?" Escambia County Sheriff David Morgan said that his agency has taken a "robust approach" to prostitution and human trafficking, but the victims' lack of follow-through has made prosecution difficult. "When we show up with our evidence into court, and I've got a victim that doesn't show up, or I have a victim that's decided they're not going to testify, or they wanted to re-enter the life, your case falls apart," said Morgan. Two victim advocates attended the meeting and offered their help—Stephanie McMinn, founder and executive director of BeGenerous, Inc., and her board member Sula Skiles. BeGenerous is a faith-based nonprofit organization that helps in assisting in the rescue, recovery and rehabilitation of those in addiction and trafficking. McMinn also serves on the Circuit One Human Trafficking Task Force. "I'm a survivor of sex trafficking and work here locally with victims of trafficking helping them get away from their pimps and assisting with aftercare and the innerhealing process," said Skiles. "Something very unique that I can offer to our community is the ability to really relate to those that are being trafficked and help them to self-identify, which most of the time is very hard for them to do. We've seen so many girls who are able to start understanding the trauma that they've been through, and we help get them to a place that they can start healing." Sheriff Morgan said, at times, he has felt like he's playing the whack-a-mole game— stopping prostitution in one area, only to see it May 2, 2019

pop up elsewhere. He said, "That's what you're playing. Most of it now is, it's not based on a business but is out-call services. It's spread— you pick up the phone call for a massage, they come to your house." Gaetz responded, "I hear you, but for me, if we do whack-a-mole across my whole district, I'd be pretty happy. I know that there is a fungible nature to this activity because it's gang-related, because they're, at times, transactional crime organizations. But if you can, if you're saying the reason that a lot of our cases fall through is a lack of victim cooperation, this is a tool." He continued, "I think you're right, it's not the only tool, but this is a tool where victim cooperation is not necessary at all. You just have to show people who are living there." The congressman said his massage-establishment law makes it far easier to close illicit parlors. He said, "You don't have to make out a case for the elements of human trafficking to prevail that a massage establishment is violating the terms of this law. If you prove that they are living there, then not only do prosecutors have the right for the injunctive relief, or the court says, 'You have to shut this thing down in 72 hours,' but then groups can go and shut them down yourself."

"Hopefully, this statute provides a different way to achieve that accountability without having to prove the very hard elements of trafficking." Gaetz Gaetz added, "If you have proof of domicile, right, then you don't have to prove the other elements. Hopefully, this statute provides a different way to achieve that accountability without having to prove the very hard elements of trafficking."

GETTING SERIOUS

Assistant U.S. Attorney Williams didn't want to leave the meeting without making one more point. Over the years, he has made several presentations on human trafficking. Most of the discussions are about being reactive to the situation. "Everything we're talking about is pouring resources in the dealing with the aftermath of what happened to these victims," he said. "What resources are we pouring into stopping these from happening, addressing the true evil that's bringing sex trafficking? And what is that? Men buying sex." The demand is driving human trafficking, and it's a profit-driven business operating in a capitalist system. People are going to step in, and they're going to make money, according to Williams "Until we really get serious about that, we are never going to stop this. It's impossible," said Williams. "Whether it's in a massage parlor, a nail salon, an escort service, whatever it is, folks, it's going to keep going on as long as men buy sex. So, let's get serious." {in} For more information on human trafficking, visit polarisproject.org. National Human Trafficking Hotline: 888-373-7888

WILD PONIES

enforcement must "use every means at our disposal if we are serious about stopping human trafficking." He praised Gaetz's approach for going after parlors as nuisances as a "clever, unique approach." "Ladies and gentlemen, if you don't know this already, human trafficking has been with us since the dawn of man," said Williams. "And guess what? We have used the same technique year after year after year to try to stop this. And has it worked? No. So it's time for us to be innovative and to come at this with a new approach, new solutions if we are serious about dealing with this." The federal prosecutor pointed out several websites that promote selling sex.

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for," Robinson said, later saying he'd like her on the city's bench. "If I had the opportunity to get someone of her caliber, I'd be more than happy to bring her along."

Amy Lovoy / Courtesy Photo

CITY RECRUITS LOVOY At his May 22 press conference, Pensacola Mayor Grover Robinson said he had spoken with Escambia County interim administrator Amy Lovoy regarding the prospects of coming to work at the city on April 15, shortly before she turned in a resignation letter later that day amid a flurry of other top-level resignations and a state investigation into the county's Emergency Medical Services. "If she applied," Robinson said Monday during a morning press conference, "she'd be the best applicant we had in that application pool."

"If she applied, she'd be the best applicant we had in that application pool." Grover Robinson Before taking on the interim administrator role, Lovoy was a longtime budget director for the county. Robinson said of Lovoy, "She understands public accounting and public budgeting and does it very well." Mayor Robinson added that City Administrator Chris Holley, unhappy with the city's list of applicants for the assistant budget director position, was already speaking with Lovoy about the job. "All of the sudden last week, I heard the challenges that were going on over at the county and did reach out to Amy and said, 'Is this something you're interested in?' And she said, 'It possibly could be,'" Robinson recalled. The mayor said he was "kind of surprised" that Lovoy would take the assistant position. He said that it would be two to three years before she took over for Budget Director Dick Barker. "I didn't necessarily think it was going to be something that Amy was looking 88

BEDLAM HOURS The Pensacola City Council last Thursday approved an ordinance that would force Bedlam, the city's only bottle club, to close at 3 a.m. rather than at 5 a.m., which it has done for the past 28 years. For the measure to become law, it will have to pass a second council vote in May. Attorney Joe Hammons, who represented Bedlam owner George Overby, told the council, "Bedlam is open two days a week between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. If you close him at 3 [a.m.], you're essentially taking away the operation of the business." He pointed out that Overby has cooperated with local authorities and has hired off-duty police officers to provide security when the bar begins to shut down around 4:30 a.m. The attorney said the statistics show there's no difference in the number of incidences between 4 and 5 a.m. than 2-3 a.m. or 1-2 a.m. He added, "It doesn't make sense just to target the bottle club." The sponsor of the ordinance, Councilwoman Ann Hill, said she felt it was important for Bedlam to "make its hours fit into the safety concerns of the community." Hill said she heard complaints about Bedlam from residents of Southtowne, the apartment complex that opened nearby in early 2018, during a town hall meeting in December. Councilwoman Sherri Myers was the lone vote against the ordinance, citing she felt it wasn't fair to target one business. Councilmen P.C. Wu and Gerald Wingate didn't attend the meeting. UNITED WAY EXPANDS On Thursday,

April 25, United Way of Escambia County's Board of Directors approved a motion to incorporate Santa Rosa County into the organization's service area. This came at the request of United Way Worldwide, who approached United Way of Escambia County about assuming the territory. "We stand ready to serve our neighboring county and to ensure its residents have access to the services and resources they need," said Laura Gilliam, president and CEO of United Way of Escambia County. "There is a natural relationship between Escambia and Santa Rosa counties given their geographic proximity," Gilliam added,

"Sixteen of the 30 agencies currently receiving grant funding from United Way of Escambia County provide services to both counties." United Way of Escambia County currently serves more than 313,000 people. Expanding services to include Santa Rosa County will increase that number to more than 480,000 individuals between the two counties. In 2018, the organization generated financial resources over $2.5 million and coordinated more than 45,000 hours of volunteer service.

COUGHLIN DEPARTS ALSO Assistant County Administrator Matt Coughlin has turned in his 90-day notice of resignation on Monday, April 22. Inweekly had received several reports that Coughlin, the former commanding officer of NAS Whiting, had no interest in serving as acting administrator. The buzz is Mayor Grover Robinson will let Coughlin return to his old job as assistant director of the Pensacola International Airport. Airport Director Dan Flynn is in DROP. City Administrator Chris Holley in February told the media that Flynn would be retiring "in a year or so." ECUA TERMINATES DEAL Effective April 30, ECUA terminated its contract with Santa Rosa County for the transportation and processing of recyclables. According to the county's public information office, Santa Rosa is working with ECUA on a new contract for processing and seeking to replace the transportation services within the next few weeks. Recyclable material degrades if not sorted and stored properly. Therefore, recycling will be diverted to the Central Landfill for disposal until a new transportation vendor is under contract. The county encouraged residents to maintain good recycling habits. And as part of the franchise agreements with the county, all waste haulers will still be required to collect recyclables separately, so residents will see no change in their existing services. SCHOOLS TO HIRE GUARDS Escambia County School District last week announced that it would be hiring campus security officers for public elementary schools beginning in August 2019. "These campus security officers, or CSOs, will serve to protect students in our schools during the school day, 10 months a year," Escambia County School Superintendent Malcolm Thomas said. "The district will be working with the Escambia County Sheriff's Office to ensure high-quality individuals with the appropriate skills, temperament and abilities are selected." Applicants will apply through the Escambia County School District. The campus security officer job description and list of applicant qualifications have been posted on the ECSD website.

The school board approved the job summary for the position in mid-Aprilâ€” "The purpose of this position is to provide security and safety services for the school campus and protecting the life and wellbeing of students, staff and visitors. There shall be no law enforcement authority except to the extent necessary to prevent or abate an active assailant incident." The Sheriff's Office will be responsible for training, to include a background screening, psychological evaluation and polygraph test. Applicants will be required to complete 150 hours (approximately two months) of training. The first class is expected to begin in June 2019, and trainees will be paid during the training. Campus security officers will also be required to complete the fingerprinting and drug screening requirement that ECSD requires of all school district employees before being placed in a school. Those selected will have a starting salary at $30,600, plus benefits, for a 10-month position. Superintendent Thomas added, "We are hoping retired military and retired law enforcement officers, who have maintained their weapons' permits and skills, will see this opportunity as a new way to continue to serve our community and protect our students."

NO FOWL PLAY Escambia County Sheriff David Morgan recently took to Facebook to defend the honor of one of his deputies. Apparently, some Facebook users had accused the deputy of pulling out his service revolver and cold-bloodedly killing a chicken in an alleged drive-by shooting. The sheriff dispelled the rumor and chastised the critics with a video that clearly showed the patrol vehicle striking the fowl as it tried to cross the road. His messageâ€”don't believe everything you see or read on Facebook.

SUMMER JOB FAIR Premier Island Management Group will host its Summer Job Fair 3-6 p.m., Thursday, May 9, at Portofino Island Resort, 10 Portofino Drive. This no-cost event is open to the public. Job seekers will have the opportunity to speak directly to hiring managers seeking individuals to fill open full-time, part-time and seasonal positions. Positions in food service, housekeeping, concierge, sales, adventures, retail, spa, front desk, courtesy patrol, maintenance and recreation are currently open at Portofino Island Resort, Beach Club, Premier Adventure Park, Premier Dolphin Cruise, Lucas', Aqua Spa, Envie Boutique and more. Job seekers are encouraged to bring a list of references, recent job history and education details. They should dress in business casual attire. For more information, contact Miriam Baker, miriamb@ premierisland.com. inweekly.net

"vindication. The results confirm what I've said all along—the facts matter, and I never knowingly violated any ethics laws."

WALK FOR MENTAL ILLNESS AWARENESS

Andrew Gillum / Courtesy Photo

GILLUM SETTLES ETHICS CASE Former Democratic gubernatorial candidate Andrew Gillum agreed last Wednesday to pay a $5,000 fine in a settlement reached with a state ethics-commission attorney, who agreed to drop four of five charges of ethics violations related to trips to Costa Rica and New York, a boat ride around the Statue of Liberty and a ticket to the Broadway hit "Hamilton." Florida Commission on Ethics' advocate Elizabeth A. Miller told Administrative Law Judge E. Gary Early that she and Gillum's lawyer, Barry Richard, had reached an "amicable settlement agreement." In January, the ethics commission unanimously found probable cause that Gillum, as Tallahassee mayor, violated state ethics laws for allegedly accepting gifts from Tallahassee entrepreneur Adam Corey and undercover FBI agents posing as developers. Corey had been a close friend of Gillum and lobbied city officials. Speaking to reporters following the brief court session, Barry Richard stressed that Gillum had entered into negotiations with Miller at the judge's behest. Later Wednesday, Gillum issued a statement describing the end of the case as

May 2, 2019

The Pensacola chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness will hold their 2019 Walk for Mental Illness Awareness 8 a.m., Saturday, May 18, starting at Blue Wahoos Stadium. The walk serves to raise awareness in our community on mental illness as well as raise money to fund much-needed programs. "We seek to raise awareness of the plight of our friends and loved ones living so bravely with mental illness," said Linda Finkelstein, president of NAMI Pensacola. "Underserved, misunderstood and at the bottom of the totem pole in terms of public dollars allocated for research and treatment—our friends and loved ones deserve better."

"We seek to raise awareness of the plight of our friends and loved ones living so bravely with mental illness." Linda Finkelstein The walk is the major annual fundraiser for NAMI Pensacola. Monies raised through sponsorships, team and individual participation provide training, peer support, family support and educational programs to the community free of charge to those that so desperately need them. To be a part of Ending the Silence on mental illness in the Pensacola community by becoming a sponsor, please contact

Linda Finkelstein at namipensacola@gmail. com. To form a walking team or to register to walk, visit namipensacola.com.

MARK YOUR CALENDARS Pensacola Youth will be protesting government inaction on climate change from 10 a.m.-noon, Friday, May 4, in Plaza Ferdinand, at the corner of Palafox and Government streets. Residents in the Barrancas area will have the opportunity to dispose of yard debris and other items free of charge Wednesday, May 8, during the West Barrancas Neighborhood Cleanup. Only residents in the designated cleanup area can participate in the neighborhood cleanup. Items left at the curb outside of the cleanup area will not be collected. The general cleanup area is south of Bayou Chico, north of Barrancas Ave., east of Old Corry Field Rd. and west of Rue Max St. All debris must be at the curb directly in front of your residence by 7 a.m. on the day of the cleanup. Please keep tires and paint cans separate from all other debris. The Florida SBDC at UWF is presenting "Protect Your Small Business Property; Know Your Rights" 9 a.m.-noon, Thursday, May 9, at The Greater Pensacola Chamber, 890 S. Palafox St., Ste. 202. Attorney J. Nevin Shaffer will discuss the "dos" and "don'ts" when it comes to a business venture. Please pre-register at sbdc.uwf.edu. It's free. Michelle Suskauer, president of The Florida Bar, will be the guest speaker at the Escambia-Santa Rosa Bar Association meeting noon-1 p.m. Thursday, May 9, at V. Paul's Italian Ristorante, 29 S. Palafox. The public is invited to attend. The cost, which includes lunch, is $15 for Escambia-Santa Rosa Bar Association members and $18 for nonmembers. For reservations, email esrba@esrba.com. TRAVEL MATTERS National Travel and

Tourism Week 2019 will take place May 5-11. This year's theme is "Travel Matters," a recognition of the innumerable ways in which travel enriches lives and strengthens communities. "The Pensacola Bay Area community has been the foundation of the hospitality and

tourism industry's success. Over two million travelers visited the destination last year thanks to residents that focus on enriching our area's quality of life," Visit Pensacola President Steve Hayes said. "In support of the visitors, the industry employees over 24,000 people, accounting for 18 percent of jobs and $427 million in wages in our local economy. Travel directly connects and affects each one of us in the community, and I'm excited to celebrate our joint successes in the coming weeks." National Travel and Tourism Week 2019 will focus on the positive effects of travel, from health and family benefits to community connection and economic development. Here's a look at the week's events. Hospitality Olympics: 8:30–11 a.m., Monday, May 6, Blue Wahoos Stadium, 351 W. Cedar St. The Hospitality Olympics is a time for industry personnel to come together in a fun environment to celebrate the industry and get to know one another better. Teams will compete in several games for the Hospitality Olympics Cup. Partner Workshop: 8-11:30 a.m., Tuesday, May 7, Skopelos at New World, 600 S. Palafox St. This half-day educational seminar will focus on the ins and outs of hospitality and tourism marketing, including creative messaging, digital ADA compliance, Majority Opinion Research and more. Hospitality Hero Award Ceremony & Luncheon: 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m., Wednesday, May 8, Pensacola Grand Hotel, 200 E. Gregory St. For the fourth year, Visit Pensacola will host its Hospitality Hero awards during the week's annual luncheon. Hospitality Hero awards are dedicated to front-line team members who go above and beyond to create the Pensacola Experience. Categories include attractions/venues, lodging, restaurant/dining and shopping. Tourism Gives Back: 3-5 p.m., Thursday, May 9, Studer Community Institute Building, 220 W. Garden St. For the second year, Visit Pensacola will host Tourism Gives Back, a day for the industry to come together to contribute to the community that we know and love. This year, they will assemble Pensacola Ex-

be dropped off at 1401 E. Gregory St. They are currently seeking donations for the following—sunscreen, books, art supplies, lip balm, toiletries hats, non-perishable snacks, sunglasses and attraction tickets. Rally for Tourism: 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m., Friday, May 10, 500 S. Palafox St. Travel Rally Day will take to the streets this year. Join Visit Pensacola to spotlight the positive impact tourism has on the Pensacola Bay Area. They will be gathering at the corner of South Palafox and Main streets. All events are public. For more information on National Travel and Tourism Week, visit visitpensacola.com.

National Naval Aviation Museum–Opoly game / Courtesy Photo

perience Summer bags that will be donated to underserved middle school children

throughout Escambia County. Supplies and monetary donations are welcomed and may

NAM-OPOLY GAME Board game lovers will enjoy the new National Naval Aviation Museum–Opoly game. The game can be purchased exclusively from the Museum's Flight Deck Store. "We were thrilled about the idea and started designing the board in November 2018," said Donald Watson, Museum Foundation digital media specialist. "Months of planning went into the development, including concept inspiration, testing and graphic design." The concept and rules of the National Naval Aviation Museum–Opoly are the same as the traditional Hasbro Monopoly

game. Instead of properties like Boardwalk and Park Place, this version uses museum exhibits like the Blue Angels Atrium and Battle of Midway and Homefront U.S.A. Other places featured in the new game—Pensacola Beach, Perdido Key, Gulf Shores and Orange Beach. The custom game pieces are inspired by elements of naval aviation, including a model F-18, captain's hat, life preserver and helicopter. Proceeds of the game will benefit the Naval Aviation Museum Foundation. To learn more, visit navalaviation.com.

REDUCED ADOPTION FEES The Escambia County Animal Shelter is offering a special reduced adoption fee of $40 for all dogs and puppies and $20 for all cats and kittens through Friday, May 31. Adoption fees include spay or neutering services, microchip, heartworm test and the initial vaccinations, including rabies vaccinations. Escambia County residents will be required to purchase a license at the time of adoption. This is an additional $11 over the adoption fees and is paid separately. The Escambia County Animal Shelter is located at 200 W. Fairfield Drive and is open noon-5 p.m. Monday-Friday and 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday. For more information, contact the shelter at 595-3075. {in}

MOMS & MIMOSAS

MOTHERS DAY BRUNCH SUNDAY, MAY 12 • 11 AM-2PM FEATURING A BUILD YOUR OWN BLOODY MARY AND MIMOSA BAR

To reserve tickets or for MORE INFORMATION CALL CAREY AT 850-607-6320

309 SOUTH REUS ST. | 850.607.6320 FACEBOOK.COM/UNIONPENSACOLA | INSTAGRAM.COM/UPH_PENSACOLA 010 1

inweekly.net

May 2, 2019

Sunday, May 12, 2019 HILTON CONVENTION CENTER

9:30AM - 2:30PM ADULTS $55 • CHILDREN 6-12 $30 • CHILDREN UNDER 5 EAT FREE

Treat the woman who deserves it the most to a luxurious Sunday brunch. Brunch items will include…

WITH BRUNCH

Breakfast station with eggs benedict, made-to-order omelets, Shirley's famous grits, stuued croissants, pancakes & more • Carved prime rib, braised short ribs & lamb • Seafood favorites including fresh sushi, oysters, crab ﬁngers and calamari salad • Pasta bar • Dessert Action Station Featuring Bananas Foster • Butler’s Pantry Hershey Ice Cream Store

Reservations are strongly recommended. Call (850) 343-6791. 212 1

inweekly.net

15 THINGS TO DO BEFORE SPRING IS OVER In case you haven't noticed, we are currently in the midst of pretty perfect spring on the Gulf Coast, and all of us at Inweekly are trying our best to make the most of it. Of course, our May 2, 2019

desk jobs keep getting the way, but our goal is to keep sneaking in park lunches and patio happy hours every chance we get for at least the next month or so.

To help you get on our level spring fever-wise, we've put together a handy to-do list that encourages you enjoy the great outdoors while it's still enjoyable. July will be here before we know it after all.

Plant some flowers or at least buy a new plant Take the ferry to the beach cruisepb.com

Go on a walk and take your pup if you have one

Take in an early season baseball game bluewahoos.com

Have a mid-week picnic our suggestion—Plaza Ferdinand with snacks from Arepas Latin Street Cuisine arepacuisine.com

Visit a farmers market and buy some seasonal fruits and veggies

For Your Specialty

Ride a bike maybe at the May Slow Ride bikepensacola.org

Eye Care Needs!

Dine outdoors

• Color and Bifocal Contact Lenses • True Tear Dry Eye Treatments & Lipiﬂow Dry Eye Treatments • Eyelash Lengthening • Luxury & Exclusive Eyeglasses & Sunglasses

Try an old fashioned soda at Old City Market facebook.com/oldcitymarketinc

Read a book because you know there's a glare on your phone screen anyway And drink too preferably something frozen and delicious, but with a paper straw, of course

Open the windows in your house and/or the car

113 Palafox Place (Across from Saenger Theatre)

Pensacola

(850) 434-2060 414 1

"LeaP into Fitness" at one of the free, public courts at the Community Maritime Park, Legion Field or Bayview Park cityofpensacola.com

Enjoy Bands on the Beach visitpensacolabeach.com And a Movie Under the Stars fromthegroundupgardenpensacola.com

inweekly.net

WEEK OF MAY 2-8

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

The Fundamental Things Apply By Frances Dean

Coast by a relaxed patron here or there who sidles over to ask, "Is your band Little Wings?" Field will smile and say yes, and the two might exchange another sentiment or two before finishing their grocery shopping or ordering at In-N-Out Burger. Field likens his feelings about fame to something he once heard Ian MacKaye of Fugazi say—"I don't need it to be in every kid's lunchbox."

"Not everyone has to hear what I'm doing—I'm like a cobbler in his shed, just whittling out these new old songs." Field

"I'll watch movies over and over again because if I like them, I know I'll like them again," Field said. "It feels like a creative church—I feel really good about investing my energy into other people's works, you know?" He mentions a new movie "Beach Bum" and manages to condemn and compliment the film in a single pass—"It's atrocious, it's vaudeville, it's villainous—it's potentially, purposely a waste of your time." Another recent film interest of Field's is "Casablanca," not so much for the movie itself but for an infamous song performed by the movie's beloved piano player, Sam (Dooley Wilson). "I've been so into 'As Time Goes By' recently," Field noted. "And I'm trying to cover it. I'm learning it right now—it's just the best." He recites the lyrics in a falsetto lullaby, "You must remember this/ A kiss is just a kiss/A sigh is just a sigh/The fundamental things apply, as time goes by."

"Not everyone has to hear what I'm doing—I'm like a cobbler in his shed, just whittling out these new old songs," Field said. "It's just like OK, I made these chairs, and someday somebody will sit in them. If I feel like it's a good enough chair, move on, make another chair." While he isn't seeking out Beyoncé-esque notoriety, he has stepped into the world of social media—thanks to Merle Haggard. "In an interview, someone asked, 'Now Merle, you're on all the social media platforms?' And he said, 'Yeah, I'm on all those.' But then he was like, 'Well, my son does all that. I don't actually know anything about it.' And I thought OK, if Merle Haggard's son "I really do think it's an amazing commoset up an Instagram account for him and tion—music with words that we understand Merle thought it was OK, then that's good and lyrics that we can sing back along to—it's enough for me." Field said, laughing. so involving, you know? And enveloping," Field uses social media primarily to Field said. "To come back to a song that you've notify people of upcoming shows, collaboknown for so long, I don't know why, but it does rations, new paintings and illustrations or the occasional funny picture of Tom Hanks. bring you back to a romantic human place of just being alive." {in} He explained that prior to Facebook or Instagram, he'd hang a show flyer at a club or coffee shop and would often encounter people weeks later, disappointed they'd missed the tangible notification. "You mean people don't walk WHAT: Little Wings with Austin Leonard down the streets looking at flyers Jones, Kent Stanton and Stijl Calhoun like in the '90s anymore?" he asked WHEN: 8 p.m. Thursday, May 9 with a laugh. WHERE: chizuko, 506 W. Belmont St. When Field isn't spending time COST: Suggested donation of $10 on his own laundry list of creative DETAILS: facebook.com/littlewingsnow endeavors or surfing, he's happy to immerse himself in the creative works of others.

"To come back to a song that you've known for so long, I don't know why, but it does bring you back to a romantic human place of just being alive." Field

Kyle Field / Courtesy Photo

Sometimes you're laying tile and sometimes you're painting a masterpiece. For Kyle Field, both jobs are equally important. Field, the founder and only permanent member of the band Little Wings, is a West Coast musician and visual artist who incorporates a vaudeville variety of talents into whatever project he's working on at the time—an album, a painting exhibition or a musical collaboration with a friend. "I think whatever you're doing at the moment is the most important job to be doing," Field said. "Like with the Sistine Chapel—there was a week or two when they just tiled the place. So sometimes you're a tile person and sometimes you're a structural engineer and sometimes you're a

painter—but you only have to be one thing at once. That's the ease in just giving focus to not overwhelm yourself." Over the last two decades, Field has released over a dozen albums under Walking and K Records and has played with Grandaddy, Lee Baggett, André Herman Dune, Peaches, Devendra Banhart, M. Ward and Calvin Johnson. His most recent record, "Explains," is his first release on Woodsist label. While Field's humorous and heartbreaking lyrics and simple arrangements have amassed loyal fans over the years, he still manages to fly just under the radar, never reaching a level of fame that makes him uncomfortable. He's casually recognized on the West

"I think whatever you're doing at the moment is the most important job to be doing." Kyle Field

May 2, 2019

LITTLE WINGS

a&e

By Sydney Robinson

Off the Cuff with Marc Rebillet that for about 10 years. Then I got this Loop session, and that sort of changed the whole way I thought about music and composing. INWEEKLY: I've spent the last few days watching your live streams and checking out your music, and it's entertaining, man. It's some good stuff. REBILLET: Thank you. It's really fucking stupid.

Marc Rebillet / Courtesy Photo

Marc Rebillet's performance is something you've never seen before, mostly because his 100% improvisational music show changes each time he takes the stage. Wild-eyed behind a pair of oversized glasses, Rebillet gyrates and waves his lanky arms to the beat he creates. A natural performer, he is willing to do anything—really anything—to entertain, confuse and even piss off his audience. But mostly, his goal is to blow their minds. For his second short tour since fall of 2018, Rebillet has big goals, and he's to take the stage in Pensacola for the first time at Vinyl Music Hall next week. Inweekly spoke with Rebillet in advance of that about his music style, his background and where he's going from here. INWEEKLY: You posted your first YouTube video in July of 2016. What pushed you to start your channel and focus on music that way? REBILLET: It was a little bit of boredom and creative dissatisfaction. I was work-

ing at a call center at the time, and it was a good job, but I just wasn't doing much creatively. I was just making music every once in a while. I had spent the last eight or nine years trying to produce music to no avail, and so I just set this camera up. The 10th or 11th time, I filmed myself with this setup I'm still using and hooked up my camcorder to direct audio and kept going and going and never stopped. INWEEKLY: Do you have an educational background in music? REBILLET: Yeah I do. I've played piano since I was 4 or 5. I classically trained until I was about 15 and then stopped and taught myself a bit of blues and jazz. Alongside that, what was really the experience, was acting. I've been acting for the same amount of time. [I] went to college for a year for acting, dropped out, and that was when I decided to try my hand at making music. Before that, I was very passionate about music. But when I was 18, I got together a home studio set-up and pounded away on

INWEEKLY: It is. I was watching the video from last year when you were playing at a brewery where people are sitting down eating their lunch, and you're talking about pooping and having sex. And people are looking at you in disbelief, and then, somehow, you win them over. REBILLET: That is a really beautiful thing that I don't get to experience much anymore. That's something I want to do this summer, get back to that "thing" which is the conflict and the friction between myself and the audience. Of course, now I am playing shows where everyone has bought tickets and they know exactly what they are coming to see to an extent. I really miss getting up and performing in front of people who have absolutely no clue who I am and maybe don't want to see me at all.

"I really miss getting up and performing in front of people who have absolutely no clue who I am and maybe don't want to see me at all." Marc Rebillet INWEEKLY: Do you have the impulse to up the ante, to shock the people who are there because they already like you? REBILLET: Oh yeah. The shows are fully improvised, and they're extremely high energy—with the point being to get people

to sweat, get their funk on and sort of recoil a little bit. INWEEKLY: Your fans call you "Loop Daddy," at least online. What's the deal with that? REBILLET: That actually happened when I had 5k subscribers. I went and did an allday live stream special and did a Q&A. One of the questions was, "Is it cool with you if we call you Loop Daddy?" And that's where it started. And they named my subreddit that, and it just sort of stuck. INWEEKLY: How would you describe your sound to someone who has no idea who you are? REBILLET: That's a good question. If I had to describe it dryly in terms of genre, I would say it goes from funk, soul, blues, a little bit of jazz, dance, electronica, house, that sort of wheelhouse. Basically, the idea is I want to get people bobbing their heads and shaking their asses. There's a few genres of music that do that for me, and that's just what comes out. It's a one-man improvised show that can go any direction within my sound, and sometimes I'll bust out a little improvised opera or whatever I'm feeling. It's just crazy nonsense. INWEEKLY: You have such a unique style because you collaborate so much with your audience and it's all improvised. Do you feel that your writing is entirely solo, or do you feel you work in a collaboration? REBILLET: In a live context, it's 110% collaboration. The audience feeds the direction of the show, dictates what I am going to talk about and inspires me show-by-show to take it whatever direction they make me feel like taking it. INWEEKLY: You sometimes do live streams on YouTube where you improvise songs based off of calls from fans. How did you come up with that style of content?

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 616 1

www.radiofreepensacola.com inweekly.net

REBILLET: I was inspired by Frasier. I had the idea to do a straight call-in show, and I did that for a couple of episodes. For two or three hours, I would just let people call in. I'm not sure how it happened, but I found a way to hook my phone into my looper, and it gave me the idea of talking to people while I was making music. I play; I take a call; I play; I take a call. It's a great way to connect with my audience.

"I'm not sure how it happened, but I found a way to hook my phone into my looper, and it gave me the idea of talking to people while I was making music." Rebillet INWEEKLY: You're originally from Dallas, Texas. Why did you leave? REBILLET: I was born there. I spent part of my childhood in Englewood, N.J., and I moved back to Dallas. I moved when I was 22 to Paris. I'm half French, and I have dual citizenship there. From Paris, I moved to New York for a couple years and had an amazing time. And then because of family, I moved back to Dallas to help take care of my dad, and that's sort of when I started experimenting with this setup and then lost a job and started playing professionally, hustling for gigs, got gigs, [started] growing my audience and at a certain point decided it was the right time to take the leap. Within a couple months, the internet started sharing my videos like crazy, and I signed with a booking agent and started touring. It picked up very aggressively. INWEEKLY: How has touring impacted your creative process? REBILLET: It certainly has impacted the live show a lot because all of a sudden, I'm playing to a room of hundreds of people who are interested in seeing me, so that's very different from what I had been doing for the past eight months. It has forced me to turn the show into less of an experimental, confrontational experience and more into a big piece of entertainment. So from the moment I walk out, there's people clapping, and I have to mirror that energy. It has basically made the music bigger, louder, more dance-centric. Whereas when I was just fucking around in a restaurant for three hours, I could just do whatever the hell I wanted and not really worry if things were working all the time. I could take detours. Now, I have really focused my energy on making this a package, a really intense beginning-to-end high-octane package. INWEEKLY: It seems like you're very much at a transitional point now. Your fans online agree and have said that this tour may be their last chance to see you up close in a more intimate way before you blow up. REBILLET: Well, that may be true. In the fall and winter, I'm going to be playing much larger venues, and in the summer, I'm doing festivals with big stages and crowds. May 2, 2019

INWEEKLY: Is that exciting for you? Do you have concerns about scaling the show if you end up with bigger crowds? REBILLET: I wouldn't say I'm concerned, but I do worry about sacrificing intimacy for spectacle, you know? I know I can do that. It's not a question of whether or not I can pull it off. In Bristol, I played for 1,300 people, which was insane, and I was really worried about it. But it was an absolute blast. The collective energy of the audience gives you a reason to make it that much bigger and louder. I need the audience there. I can say there's something really special about playing to a crowd of 90 to 150 people and really feeding off of that intimate energy. It's something that I really love. I definitely will be making a point to give people that experience every once in a while. But if the market wants me to play bigger rooms and there's people to fill those rooms, I have to do that. There's always time in the future to play really hot, tight little shows.

"The collective energy of the audience gives you a reason to make it that much bigger and louder. I need the audience there." Rebillet INWEEKLY: Whether it's in your videos or at a show, you really seem to have no limit. You're playing your keyboard in your underwear on a YouTube video or ripping your clothes off in front of an audience; you commit completely. That sort of thing takes bravery, How are you able to put yourself out there so completely? REBILLET: Well, bravery is very flattering, I don't know if it's that. It's a sweet thing to say, but I would not say I'm being brave up there. Really, I think it has an enormous amount to do with my long, long history of performing. Since I was 5 years old, I have been on stages entertaining people. Being on stage where I am elevated against a body of people has never felt uncomfortable for me. It has always felt good and natural and somewhat easy, and so I think that has served me hugely in terms of getting this show up and running. It's just something I'm used to. I guess taking it to that place and bringing that big energy is the result of my personality combined with the energetic response from audiences. It also works in the opposite direction. When there's conflict, when audiences don't want to see me or disapprove of something, I have this impulse to stretch it that much further to try to get them to come to my side. {in}

MARC REBILLET

WHAT: Marc Rebillet with Nick Flagster and his Dirty Mangy Dogs WHEN: 7 p.m. Wednesday, May 8 WHERE: Vinyl Music Hall, 2 S. Palafox COST: $12-$15 DETAILS: marcrebillet.com 17

calendar THURSDAY 5.2

WORK ON THE FLORIDA TRAIL 8 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Every Thursday. Three miles north of Deaton Bridge Road. meetup.com/ftawesterngate YOGA WITHIN REACH 9-10 a.m. Free. Community Health Northwest Florida, 2315 W. Jackson St., Room A. healthcarewithinreach.org LA LECHE LEAGUE 10 a.m. Free. Ever'man Educational Center, 327 W. Garden St. everman.org PILATES MAT 12:30 p.m. Free. Ever'man Educational Center, 327 W. Garden St. everman.org ATLAS BEVERAGE CLASS 5 and 7 p.m. $20 per person. Clyde May's Whiskey. Atlas Oyster House, 600 S. Barracks St. greatsouthernrestaurants.com AWM WINE TASTING 5-7 p.m. Free. Aragon Wine Market, 27 S. 9th Ave. facebook.com/ aragonwine RADIOLIVE 6-8 p.m. $10. The Tall Pines, Kevin Danzig and Betsy Phillips. Museum of Commerce, 201 E. Zaragoza St. radiolive.org CHRISTOPHER'S CONCERTS 6-8 p.m. Free. Infusion. St. Christopher's Episcopal Church, 3200 N. 12th Ave. scpen.org MEDITATION AND ENERGY HEALING 6 p.m. Free. Ever'man Educational Center, 327 W. Garden St. everman.org HANDS-ON COOKING: SALT-BAKED SNAPPER 6 p.m. $64.50. So Gourmet, 407-D S. Palafox. sogourmetpensacola.com CLEAN WATER PADDLE SERIES 6 p.m. Aloha Wine and Liquor, 649 Pensacola Beach Blvd. Paddle around Sabine Bay with environmental education to follow. healthygulf.org ZUMBA WITH SHANNON AND FRIENDS 6-7 p.m. $4. Homestead Community Center, 7830 Pine Forest Road. END OF THE LINE THURSDAY DINNER 6-9 p.m. End of the Line Café, 610 E. Wright St. Sign up for the newsletter for menu. eotlcafe.com LATIN DANCE CLASSES 6:30-9 p.m. $10. Salsa, Bachata, Cha Cha and more. Professional dance instruction for all skill levels. No partner required. DanceCraft, 8618 Pensacola Blvd. dancecraftstudios.com THE BIKES OF WRATH FILM SCREENING WITH BIKE PENSACOLA 6:30 p.m. $13.57. AMC

Bayou 15, 5149 Bayou Blvd. facebook.com/ bikepensacola BLUE WAHOOS VS. BILOXI SHUCKERS 6:35 p.m. $5 and up. Blue Wahoos Stadium, 351 W. Cedar St. bluewahoos.com CHIEF KEEF 7 p.m. $25-$30. Vinyl Music Hall, 2 S. Palafox. vinylmusichall.com

FRIDAY 5.3

ONE-ON-ONE TECH HELP 10 a.m. Pensacola

Library, 239 N. Spring St. mywfpl.com

RON JOHN SURF SHOP GRAND OPENING CELEBRATION Noon-8 p.m. Live music, giveaways.

Ron John Surf Shop, 400 Quietwater Beach Road. ronjonsurfshop.com/events GARDEN AND GRAIN CRAFT CLUB 5 p.m. Perfect Plain Brewing Co., 50 E. Garden St. facebook.com/perfectplainbrewingco HAPPY HOUR COOKOUTS 5 p.m. Drink specials, free cookout. Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. sevillequarter.com FIRST FRIDAY AT BARE HAND COLLECTIVE

6 p.m. 2370 N. Palafox. facebook.com/ barehandco DATE NIGHT DANCE CLASSES 6:30-8 p.m. $8. 818 1

Learn several romantic ballroom dance styles in unique group classes. DanceCraft, 8618 Pensacola Blvd. dancecraftstudios.com BLUE WAHOOS VS. BILOXI SHUCKERS 6:35 p.m. $5 and up. Blue Wahoos Stadium, 351 W. Cedar St. bluewahoos.com OPEN MIC 7-11 p.m. Café Single Fin, 380 N. 9th Ave. facebook.com/cafesinglefin SHAKEY GRAVES 7 p.m. $30. Vinyl Music Hall, 2 S. Palafox. vinylmusichall.com THE 39 KINGS 7:30 p.m. $31. Pensacola Little Theatre, 400 S. Jefferson St. pensacolalittletheatre.com PENSACOLA CHILDREN'S CHORUS PRESENTS: SHOWTIME 7:30 p.m. $25-$41. Saenger The-

atre, 118 S. Palafox. pensacolasaenger.com

SATURDAY 5.4

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

of West Florida, Rec Plex North Field, 11000 University Parkway. parkrun.us/recplexnorth 8th ANNUAL SAWMILL DAY & CAR SHOW 8:30 a.m.-3 p.m. Houston Jones Park, 610 4th St., Century. SANTA ROSA FARMERS MARKET 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Fresh local produce, honey, baked goods and live music. Pace Presbyterian Church, Woodbine Road. PALAFOX MARKET 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Fresh produce, live plants, baked goods, fine art and antiques. Items originate directly from participating vendors, including dozens of local farmers, home gardeners and area artists. Martin Luther King Jr. Plaza, N. Palafox. palafoxmarket.com YOU SELL IT HERE FARMER'S MARKET 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Free admission. Every Saturday. 8600 Pensacola Blvd., facebook.com/yousellithere OCEAN HOUR CLEAN-UPS 9-10 a.m. Two locations—Bob Sikes Bridge Cleanup, South End; Naval Live Oaks, 1801 Gulf Breeze Parkway. oceanhourfl.com TIPPIN PARK FUN RIDE WITH BIKE PENSACOLA

9 a.m. 6600 Tippin Ave. facebook.com/ bikepensacola

ANNUAL ROSAMOND JOHNSON COMMEMORATION 10 a.m. Gulf Islands National Sea-

shore, Johnson Beach Johnson Beach Road. UWF SPRING COMMENCEMENT 10 a.m. Pensacola Bay Center, 201 E. Gregory St. pensacolabaycenter.com PAWS AND PILATES 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Free classes with donation to Pensacola Humane Society. Pure Pilates, 426 S. Palafox. (Gulf Breeze location also participating, 221 Gulf Breeze Parkway.) purepilatespensacola.com RON JOHN SURF SHOP GRAND OPENING CELEBRATION 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Live DJ, giveaways.

Ron John Surf Shop, 400 Quietwater Beach Road. ronjonsurfshop.com/events BURGER BATTLE BY THE BAY 11 a.m.-2 p.m. $10-$15. Community Maritime Park, 351 W. Cedar St. burgerbattlebythebay.com CELEBRATE STAR WARS DAY 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Star Wars-themed trivia, cocktails and beer. Perfect Plain Brewing Co., 50 E. Garden St. facebook.com/perfectplainbrewingco DRINKO DE MAYO Noon-midnight. Drinking games, beer pong tournament for $300 cash prize at 3 p.m. Taco Agave, 200 S. Palafox.

AMY MCDOWELL-309 PUNK SYMPOSIUM LECTURE SERIES 5-7 p.m. T.T. Wentworth, Jr.

Museum, 330 S. Jefferson St. historicpensacola.org WALKING CEMETERY TOURS 5:30 p.m. $12 plus tax. St. John's Historic Cemetery, 301 N. G St. goretro.us DRIP PARLOR GRAND OPENING 6-10 p.m. Drip Parlor, 151 W. Main Street No. 102. dripparlor.com BEARTOOTH - THE DISEASE TOUR PART II 6 p.m. $26.50-$30. Vinyl Music Hall, 2 S. Palafox. vinylmusichall.com BLUE WAHOOS VS. BILOXI SHUCKERS 6:05 p.m. $5 and up. Blue Wahoos Stadium, 351 W. Cedar St. bluewahoos.com DINNER UNDER THE STARS 6:45-9:15 p.m. $75 for one ticket, $120 for two tickets. Proceeds raised go to Dixon School of Arts & Sciences. From the Ground Up Community Garden, 501 N. Hayne St. fromthegroundupgardenpensacola.com THE 39 KINGS 7:30 p.m. $31. Pensacola Little Theatre, 400 S. Jefferson St. pensacolalittletheatre.com PENSACOLA CHILDREN'S CHORUS PRESENTS: SHOWTIME 7:30 p.m. $25-$41. Saenger The-

atre, 118 S. Palafox. pensacolasaenger.com

IMPROVABLE CAUSE 10:30 p.m. $11. Pen-

sacola Little Theatre, 400 S. Jefferson St. pensacolalittletheatre.com

SUNDAY 5.5

WAKE UP HIKE 7 a.m. Meet at Bay Bluffs

Park, Scenic Highway at Summit Ave., for a brisk one- to two-hour walk with brunch to follow at an area restaurant THEMED BRUNCH AT PERFECT PLAIN 10 a.m. Perfect Plain Brewing Co., 50 E. Garden St. facebook.com/perfectplainbrewingco BRUNCH WITH LIVE MUSIC 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Café Single Fin, 380 N. 9th Ave. facebook. com/cafesinglefin TRANSMISSION GROUP WORLD SERVICE MEDITATION 10:30 a.m. Free. Ever'man Educational

Center, 327 W. Garden St. everman.org VEGAN BRUNCH 11 a.m.-2 p.m. End of the Line Café, 610 E. Wright St. Sign up for the newsletter for menu. eotlcafe.com SUNDAY BRUNCH AT H20 11 a.m. $28.95 for adults. Free valet parking and 15 percent off with local ID. H20 Hilton, 12 Via de Luna Drive. facebook.com/hiltonpensacolabeach RON JOHN SURF SHOP GRAND OPENING CELEBRATION Noon-4 p.m. Live music. Ron

John Surf Shop, 400 Quietwater Beach Road. ronjonsurfshop.com/events

ALYSSA'S MOTHER AND DAUGHTER TEA PARTY

Noon-1:30 p.m., 2-3:30 p.m. and 4-5:30 p.m. $20 per mother and daughter and $10 for each additional daughter. Crafts, treats and live music. Alyssa's Antiques, 4586 Chumuckla Highway. shopalyssas.com WHISKEY FOR WINGS 1-7:30 p.m. $25-$85. Skopelos at New World Landing, 600 S. Palafox. whiskeyforwings.com BLUE WAHOOS VS. BILOXI SHUCKERS 1:05 p.m. $5 and up. Blue Wahoos Stadium, 351 W. Cedar St. bluewahoos.com PENSACOLA CHILDREN'S CHORUS PRESENTS: SHOWTIME 2:30 p.m. $25-$41. Saenger The-

atre, 118 S. Palafox. pensacolasaenger.com

PENSACOLA STATE COLLEGE GRADUATION CEREMONY 3 p.m. Pensacola Bay Center,

201 E. Gregory St. pensacolabaycenter.com THE 39 KINGS 3 p.m. $31. Pensacola Little Theatre, 400 S. Jefferson St. pensacolalittletheatre.com TEA AND TASTES: MEXICO 4-6 p.m. $34.99. Asher & Bee Apothecary and Tea House, 7 E. Gregory St. facebook.com/asherandbee CHILDREN'S HOME SOCIETY SOUNDSIDE SPLENDOR 4-7 p.m. $125. Fundraiser for

Children's Home Society. Portofino Island Resort and Spa, 10 Portofino Drive. www. chsfl.org/events/soundside-splendor-2 SWING DANCE CLASSES 4-7 p.m. $10. Professional West Coast swing instruction for all levels. No partner required. DanceCraft, 8618 Pensacola Blvd. dancecraftstudios.com

MONDAY 5.6

RESUME HELP 11 a.m. Molino Branch Library,

6450-A Highway 95A. mywfpl.com

PILATES MAT 1:30 p.m. Free. Ever'man

Educational Center, 327 W. Garden St. everman.org SEVILLE QUARTER MILERS 6 p.m. Runners meet in front of Seville Quarter for a run around downtown Pensacola. Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. sevillequarter.com SUM 41 - NO PERSONAL SPACE TOUR 7 p.m. $34.50. Vinyl Music Hall, 2 S. Palafox. vinylmusichall.com HIP-HOP & CONTEMPORARY DANCE CLASSES

8-9 p.m. $5. Learn amazing moves from professional instructors. DanceCraft, 8618 Pensacola Blvd. dancecraftstudios.com

TUESDAY 5.7

YOGA WITHIN REACH 9-10 a.m. Free. Community Health Northwest Florida, 2315 W. Jackson St., Room A. healthcarewithinreach.org BLUE ANGELS PRACTICE 11:30 a.m. Free. National Naval Aviation Museum, 1878 S. Blue Angel Parkway. navalaviationmuseum.org HOMEMADE PASTA TUESDAY 12 p.m. $10. So Gourmet, 407-D S. Palafox. sogourmet.com TRYON FAMILY MOVIE NIGHT 4 p.m. Tryon Branch Library, 1200 Langley Ave. mywfpl.com COMPLIMENTARY WINE TASTING 4-6 p.m. So Gourmet, 407-D S. Palafox. sogourmetpensacola.com VINO MAGNIFICO 5:30 p.m. $12 per person. V. Paul's Italian Ristorante, 29 S. Palafox. vpauls.com WALKING CEMETERY TOURS 5:30 p.m. $12 plus tax. St. John's Historic Cemetery, 301 N. G St. goretro.us FUNKY YOGA 6 p.m. Free. Ever'man Educational Center, 327 W. Garden St. everman.org ZUMBA WITH SHANNON AND FRIENDS 6-7 p.m. $4. Homestead Community Center, 7830 Pine Forest Road. COUNTRY DANCE CLASSES 6:30 p.m. $10. Country two-step, East Coast swing, competition choreography and more. No partner required. World championship dance instruction for all skill levels. DanceCraft, 8618 Pensacola Blvd. dancecraftstudios.com

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By Savannah Evanoff

Punk Helped Me Talk Back Amy McDowell cut her first slice of punk in the summer of 1994 inside a white stucco building in Gulf Breeze called Cramm Records. Her father, Clyde, opened the mini record shop on a $2,000 budget—of which only a small portion was dedicated to actual inventory. At 16, McDowell worked the tiny store every day after high school from 3 to 6 p.m. "I wasn't paid; I just got music back," McDowell said. "I would take records from the inventory. My father was thinking about buying a small boat. He decided to go with an investment in a music store because he liked listening to music and buying old records and trying to find good deals."

"My father was thinking about buying a small boat. He decided to go with an investment in a music store because he liked listening to music and buying old records and trying to find good deals." Amy McDowell Not long after opening, they upgraded to a larger storefront nearby—although the vibe never suited the venue. "We had these very bright purple floors, so it had this very Florida vibe," McDowell said. "We weren't selling Jimmy Buffet; we were selling hardcore, screamcore punk rock, 7-inches for 2 and 3 dollars, then a lot of used R&B and rock 'n' roll LPs from the '60s. It had these two personalities. The old hippie music and the new super-edgy hardcore punk was our specialty." The store grew enough to move to downtown Pensacola, a space that doubled as an independent music venue in the back called Section 8. It was there that McDowell first met Valerie George—a current member of the board of directors for Pensacola's 309 Punk Museum Project.

An angry then-21-year-old George walked into Cramm Records after her exboyfriend made off with half of her records. "I remember (McDowell) looking up at me and saying, 'Wow, it's really amazing to see another woman buying records for herself,'" George said. "I looked at her and I was like, 'What? Women don't buy records for themselves?' She was like, 'You'd be amazed how many guys come in here, and their girlfriends don't buy records.' She just struck me, and we were best friends ever since." George also identified as punk as a teenager. She lived in The Javelin' Joint, a punk house. "I was very much inspired by punk community as a young kid because I really desperately needed a family," George said. "It was the punk kids that really taught me resilience and problem-solving skills and being able to take care of myself." If you identified as punk, you had a family—a large one, George added. "All I had to do was roll up, go to a punk show, and I had something to eat and a place to sleep at night," George said. "It's just because I walked into a room. They were total strangers, but they're not. It's this understanding that we're going to take care of each other. There's something really powerful and important about a community that strong." The music also drew her to the scene. Punk talked about issues that mattered to her, she said. "The songs we were listening to talked about sexual assault and racism and politics—the issues I was literally growing up with," George said. "The popular music wasn't doing that. It was sappy and pacifying and fun to dance to, but it didn't address the issues I was facing." "The punk scene really helped me identify who I was and what my place was in the world but also what I could do about it," she continued. A controversial band, Earth Crisis, unintentionally brought down Section 8

McDowell also looks forward to seeing and the record shop in one swoop in 1998. People rioted against the straight-edge mu- the Punksacola exhibit—currently on display at the Wentworth—that the 309 Punk sical group in the form of spray paint on the Museum Project co-curated, she said. bank's signs next door. The goal of the lecture series is to bring "The bank was our landlords," McDowpeople back to Pensacola who were part ell said. "We had a short notice that we of the punk scene to talk about how punk had to get out of the building, and we just has influenced their personal and professtopped. We didn't try to open it again. sional lives years later, George said. It's That was the end." one of many events the 309 Punk Museum It was the end of the music store but Projects hosts to raise awareness about the only the beginning of McDowell's lifelong importance of punk and DIY culture. punk exploration. Today, she is an assistant professor of sociology in the University of Mississippi's Department of Sociology and Anthropology. Her experiences in the punk community gave her an advantage in her sociological studies. "Punk shaped the pursuit of independent DIY culture, and what I learned "What I'm hoping is that the audience through that helped me question social will recognize that punk philosophy has norms in ways that enhanced my ability to some very powerful roots in social engagerecognize and analyze social inequalities," ments and really does influence the way McDowell said. "That's kind of the core of people live the rest of their lives," she said. what sociology as a discipline does. Punk "To understand the punk culture and DIY primed me." culture is valuable." The dissertation she completed at the "It's a different way to live. It's not the University of Pittsburg was a comparative only way to live, but it's one that works for study looking at how evangelical Christian us. It certainly shifts the way we look at the youth and Muslim and non-Muslim brown rest of the world," George said. {in} youths expressed their religious identities through punk rock. For her master's, she researched the feminist and queer music scenes in Pittsburgh. McDowell hopes to discuss her research in the coming lecture at T.T. Wentworth, Jr. Florida State Museum. WHAT: A lecture and reception with Dr. "I'm not just going to talk about Amy McDowell, part of the Punksacola punk, feminism or religion," McDowell exhibit programming said. "I'm going to be talking about WHEN: 5 p.m. Saturday, May 4 Islamophobia and racism. I think it will WHERE: Trader Johns Gallery at T.T. Wenlikely resonate with audiences in differtworth, Jr. Florida State Museum, 330 S. ent ways because my research is at an Jefferson St. intersection of various issues." COST: Free "I'm hoping a lot of people can DETAILS: facebook.com/309thepunkmuseum connect to it, whether or not they're interested in punk," she said.

"To understand the punk culture and DIY culture is valuable." Valerie George

309 PUNK SYMPOSIUM LECTURE SERIES

夀漀甀爀䴀漀琀漀爀挀礀挀氀攀䰀愀眀礀攀爀⸀

䴀䤀䌀䠀䰀䔀匀䈀伀伀吀䠀

䄀挀挀椀搀攀渀琀 ☀ 䤀渀樀甀爀礀䰀愀眀礀攀爀猀

㄀ⴀ㠀 ⴀ㐀㌀㠀ⴀ㌀㘀㘀簀䘀漀爀吀栀攀嘀椀挀琀椀洀猀⸀挀漀洀倀攀渀猀愀挀漀氀愀 ⴀ 䘀漀爀琀圀愀氀琀漀渀䈀攀愀挀栀 ⴀ 䌀爀攀猀琀瘀椀攀眀

020 2

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May 2, 2019

free will astrology WEEK OF MAY 2 ARIES (MARCH 21-APRIL 19): "How

prompt we are to satisfy the hunger and thirst of our bodies," wrote Henry David Thoreau. "How slow to satisfy the hunger and thirst of our souls!" Your first assignment in the coming days, Aries, is to devote yourself to quenching the hunger and thirst of your soul with the same relentless passion that you normally spend on giving your body the food and drink it craves. This could be challenging. You may be less knowledgeable about what your soul thrives on than what your body loves. So your second assignment is to do extensive research to determine what your soul needs to thrive.

TAURUS (APRIL 20-MAY 20): I invite you

to explore the frontiers of what's possible for you to experience and accomplish. One exercise that might help: visualize specific future adventures that excite you. Examples? Picture yourself parasailing over the Mediterranean Sea near Barcelona, or working to help endangered sea turtles in Costa Rica, or giving a speech to a crowded auditorium on a subject you will someday be an expert in. The more specific your fantasies, the better. Your homework is to generate at least fi ve of these visions.

GEMINI (MAY 21-JUNE 20): "We must

choose between the pain of having to transcend oppressive circumstances or the pain of perpetual unfulfillment within those oppressive circumstances," writes mental health strategist Paul John Moscatello. We must opt for "the pain of growth or the pain of decay," he continues. We must either "embrace the tribulations of realizing our potential or consent to the slow suicide in complacency." That's a bit melodramatic, in my opinion. Most of us do both; we may be successful for a while in transcending oppressive circumstances but then temporarily lapse back into the pain of unfulfillment. However, there are times when it makes sense to think melodramatically. And I believe now is one of those times for you. In the coming weeks, I hope you will set in motion plans to transcend at least 30 percent of your oppressive circumstances.

By Rob Brezsny

CANCER (JUNE 21-JULY 22): You Cancerians can benefit from always having a fertility symbol somewhere in your environment—an icon or image that reminds you to continually refresh your relationship with your own abundant creativity; an inspiring talisman or toy that keeps you alert to the key role your fecund imagination can and should play in nourishing your quest to live a meaningful life; a provocative work of art that spurs you to always ask for more help and guidance from the primal source code that drives you to reinvent yourself. So if you don't have such a fertility symbol, I invite you to get one. If you do, enhance it with a new accessory. LEO (JULY 23-AUG. 22): In my horoscopes,

I often speak to you about your personal struggle for liberation and your efforts to express your soul's code with ever-more ingenuity and completeness. It's less common that I address your sacred obligation to give back to life for all that life has given to you. I only infrequently discuss how you might engage in activities to help your community or work for the benefit of those less fortunate than you. But now is one of those times when I feel moved to speak of these matters. You are in a phase of your astrological cycle when it's crucial to perform specific work on behalf of a greater good. Why crucial? Because your personal well-being in the immediate future depends in part on your efforts to intensify your practical compassion.

VIRGO (AUG. 23-SEPT. 22): "We are whiplashed between an arrogant overestimation of ourselves and a servile underestimation of ourselves," writes educator Parker Palmer. That's the bad news, Virgo. The good news is that you are in prime position to escape from the whiplash. Cosmic forces are conspiring with your eternal soul to coalesce a wellbalanced vision of your true value that's free of both vain misapprehensions and self-deprecating delusions. Congrats. You're empowered to understand yourself with a tender objectivity that could at least partially heal lingering wounds. See yourself truly. LIBRA (SEPT. 23-OCT. 22): The country of Poland awards medals to couples that

have stayed married for 50 years. It also gives out medals to members of the armed forces who have served for at least 30 years. But the marriage medal is of higher rank and is more prestigious. In that spirit, I'd love for you to get a shiny badge or prize to acknowledge your devoted commitment to a sacred task—whether that commitment is to an intimate alliance, a noble quest or a promise to yourself. It's time to reward yourself for how hard you've worked and how much you've given.

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

poet Sylvia Plath wrote, "I admit I desire, / Occasionally, some backtalk / From the mute sky." You'll be wise to borrow the spirit of that mischievous declaration. Now is a good time to solicit input from the sky, as well as from your allies and friends and favorite animals, and from every other source that might provide you with interesting feedback. I invite you to regard the whole world as your mirror, your counselor, your informant.

SAGITTARIUS (NOV. 22-DEC. 21): In

January 1493, the notorious pirate and kidnapper Christopher Columbus was sailing his ship near the land we now call the Dominican Republic. He spotted three creatures he assumed were mermaids. Later, he wrote in his log that they were "not half as beautiful as they are painted [by artists]." We know now that the "mermaids" were actually manatees, aquatic mammals with flippers and paddle-shaped tails. They are, in fact, quite beautiful in their own way and would only be judged as homely by a person comparing them to mythical enchantresses. I trust you won't make a similar mistake, Sagittarius. Evaluate everything and everyone on their own merits, without comparing them to something they're not.

to accomplish it. Your ability to express yourself in ways that are meaningful to you and interesting to other people will be at a peak.

AQUARIUS (JAN. 20-FEB. 18): Using algorithms to analyze 300 million facts, a British scientist concluded that April 11, 1954, was the most boring day in history. A Turkish man who would later become a noteworthy engineer was born that day, and Belgium staged a national election. But that's all. With this non-eventful day as your inspiration, I encourage you to have fun reminiscing about the most boring times in your own past. I think you need a prolonged respite from the stimulating frenzy of your daily rhythm. It's time to rest and relax in the sweet luxury of nothingness and emptiness. PISCES (FEB. 19-MARCH 20): "The Blue Room" is a famous Picasso painting from 1901. Saturated with blue hues, it depicts a naked woman taking a bath. More than a century after its creation, scientists used X-rays to discover that there was an earlier painting beneath "The Blue Room" and obscured by it. It shows a man leaning his head against his right hand. Piscean poet Jane Hirshfield says that there are some people who are "like a painting hidden beneath another painting." More of you Pisceans fit that description than any other sign of the zodiac. You may even be like a painting beneath a painting beneath a painting—to a depth of fi ve or more paintings. Is that a problem? Not necessarily. But it is important to be fully aware of the existence of all the layers. Now is a good time to have a check-in. THIS WEEK'S HOMEWORK: What are the five conditions you'd need in your world in order to feel you were living in utopia?

CAPRICORN (DEC. 22-JAN. 19): "I want

what we all want," writes novelist Jonathan Lethem, "to move certain parts of the interior of myself into the exterior world, to see if they can be embraced." Even if you haven't passionately wanted that lately, Capricorn, I'm guessing you will soon. That's a good thing, because life will be conspiring with you

freewillastrology.com

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news of the weird CREME DE LA WEIRD In St. John's, Newfoundland, Canada, Lucas Dawe, 20, appeared in court on April 11 to face charges of possessing stolen skeletal remains. According to court documents reported by The Chronicle Herald, Dawe is suspected of stealing a skeleton, estimated to be more than 100 years old, from the All Saints Parish cemetery. The skeleton was found along a walking trail on April 6, and police were led to Dawe after an anonymous witness reported seeing him licking the bones. He was also charged with interfering with human remains, after he was accused of boiling the bones and drinking the water. WHAT'S IN A NAME? Residents of a particular neighborhood in the Denver suburb of Cherry Hills Village may not have ever known the name of their subdivision: It didn't appear on signs, but could be found in the fine print of real estate documents. Nonetheless, the Cherry Hills Village City Council voted unanimously on April 16 to change the neighborhood's name from Swastika Acres to Old Cherry Hills. Councilman Dan Sheldon explained that the name came from the Denver Land Swastika Co., which divided the land into plots in the early 20th century, before the Nazis appropriated the symbol: "There was nothing wrong with (the name) at that time," Sheldon told KDVR-TV. Only one resident opposed the name change, Sheldon said. "She thought it was important to preserve that historical value of that symbol ... even though she herself lost family members in the Holocaust." FLORIDA. Some days everything goes right. So it was for the Polk County Sheriff's officers who responded to a call on March 24 from Marta Diaz in Winter Haven, Florida. Diaz's car, a tan Jeep Patriot, had been stolen earlier in the day. As the officers took Diaz's statement, that same tan Jeep pulled up in front of the house, and Ronnie Dillon Willis, 25, emerged, telling deputies he was "looking for his cellular phone, which was pinging back to the residence," reported the Miami Herald. Diaz told the officers she didn't know Willis but had seen him earlier on her street. Willis told the officers he woke up that morning at that location, inside a vehicle, but he wasn't sure if it was the Jeep or a minivan also parked there. He knocked on the door of the house, but when no one answered, he took the Jeep to look for his phone, which was missing. The deputies arrested Willis for grand theft of a motor vehicle; Willis also had a suspended license, for which he received a traffic citation. LATEST RELIGIOUS MESSAGES Over Easter weekend, hundreds of people visited a gum tree in a suburb of Perth, Australia, after the tree appeared to start "weeping" on Good Friday, which the faithful took to be a divine sign. For three days, the tree continued to leak water from a branch stump, provoking people to drink the "holy" water and bathe in it. "What made it exciting yesterday, a man decided to take all

By the Editors at Andrews McMeel

his clothes off and have a shower," remarked neighbor Jacqui Bacich to 9News. The excitement died down after the Water Corporation discovered the tree's roots had wrapped around a cracked iron water pipe about a foot underground, and the leaking water had slowly filled up a hollow part of the trunk. WHAT GOES UP... Two years ago, 39-year-old Dion Callaway was attempting a high-speed landing after skydiving at the Cloverdale Municipal Airport in Sonoma County, California, when he shattered his left heel and eventually having to have his leg amputated below the knee. On April 21, the Santa Rosa resident was back at it, skydiving, when he lost his leg againâ€”his $15,000 prosthetic leg "just flew off," Callaway told the Press Democrat. "I've jumped with the prosthetic before, but a rush of air got inside this time. I tried to watch where it was falling, but ... I could not keep track." Early the next morning, workers at Redwood Empire lumberyard spotted something they first thought was a soda can. Yard production manager Micah Smith said his first reaction was, "Oh, that's not a soda can, that's a leg... where's the rest?" The story ended happily after Smith called the sheriff's office, where Callaway picked up his leg later that day. "Skydiving is my everything," Callaway said. "I always seem to come back to it." NEWS THAT SOUNDS LIKE A JOKE In College Station, Texas, the Peach Creek Vineyard is trying out a new concept for its wine-tasting events: wine with alpacas. Teaming up with the Bluebonnet Hills Alpaca Ranch, the vineyard offers customers the chance to pet and take selfies with alpacas while sipping wine and shopping for yarn, wool or clothing. "In 24 hours, we were sold out," vineyard owner Kenneth Stolpman told KTRK-TV. One event sold out so quickly Stolpman had to turn away more than 1,000 people. FAMILY VALUES Police in Phoenix responding to a suspected child abuse call on April 19 arrived in time to see 27-yearold Rebecca Gonzales slap and punch her 7-year-old son in the parking lot of a Walmart store, reported ABC15-TV. The boy, according to court documents, had been at Walmart with his grandmother and was supposed to be Grandma's lookout while she shoplifted, but Gonzales wasn't happy with his performance. The boy, whose mouth was bleeding, told police his mother hit him because "he didn't watch out for his grandma good enough." Gonzales was arrested for aggravated assault. {in}

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

Send your weird news items to WeirdNewsTips@amuniversal.com May 2, 2019

Independent News | May 2, 2019 | inweekly.net