Independent News | November 12, 2020 | Volume 21 | Number 46
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winners & losers
outtakes
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I like living behind enemy lines.
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Independent News is published by Inweekly Media, Inc., P.O. Box 12082, Pensacola, FL 32591. (850)438-8115. All materials published in Independent News are copyrighted. © 2018 Inweekly Media, Inc. All rights reserved.
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winners & losers
Alex Andrade / myfloridahouse.gov
winners NAVY FEDERAL CREDIT UNION
Pensacola's largest private-sector employer surprised teachers and staff at Holm Elementary School with an $11,000 donation to the Escambia County Public Schools Foundation on Friday, Nov. 6. The gift, gathered by Navy Federal's Contact Center employees and School Partnership Program, will help purchase supplies for 26 Holm Elementary teachers whose classrooms suffered major damage from Hurricane Sally. Navy Federal Credit Union's School Partnership Program serves as the hub for more than 2,000 employees, who volunteer with the Escambia County School District. During the 2019-2020 school year, Navy Federal employees served over 5,500 hours through various programs, including mentoring, virtual book club, pen pals and teaching financial education.
SANDY SANSING FOUNDATION
Children's Home Society of Florida recently received a $100,000 donation from the Sansing Foundation during the CHS board meeting conducted via Zoom. Funds will benefit local youth and families facing hard situations compounded by the impact of the coronavirus pandemic. The Sansing Foundation has a passion for helping children and families in our community and is funded through the Sansing dealerships. When buyers purchase a car from any Sansing dealership, they support gifts like this to help children and their families in the community.
TERRY HARMON The shareholder with Sniffen & Spellman, P.A. in Tallahassee, Fla., has been selected as the new Santa Rosa County School Board attorney. Harmon is board certified by The Florida Bar in Education Law. He has represented clients before the Florida Department of Education, the United States Office for Civil Rights, the Florida Division of Administrative Hearings, Florida State Circuit Courts, the United States District Courts in Florida and the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals. He has served as counsel to several school districts and colleges in Florida in various education law matters and has lectured on federal and state laws impacting public educational institutions. 44
losers ALEX ANDRADE Drinking the Donald
Trump Kool-Aid must be a requirement for good committee assignments in the Florida House. When the recently re-elected state lawmaker sent out an announcement for a digital town hall to answer questions regarding the post-election, Andrade was quoted saying, "While the presidential election is not yet decided‌" The election is just as decided as it was after the 2016 presidential election. History has shown no amount of conspiracy theories, legal challenges or recounts will allow Trump to hold onto the White House. As Thomas Jefferson sings in "Hamilton," "You don't have the votes. You don't have the votes. Aha-ha-ha-ha."
MATT GAETZ Andrade's political big
brother also won re-election and has retweeted unsubstantiated claims of voter fraud. He has promoted the conspiracy that ballots marked with Sharpies were not being counted. He also has demanded that Republican-controlled state legislatures perform audits of voting rolls before certifying electors to the Electoral College. He may even try to block the Electoral College from voting.
MIKE BLOOMBERG The billionaire and former presidential candidate Mike Bloomberg spent $100 million in advertising in Florida to help Joe Biden capture the state's 29 electoral votes. When Bloomberg offered to help pay the fines of felons who have had served their sentences regain their right to vote, Congressman Matt Gaetz accused him of trying to bribe voters. Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody requested that the FBI and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement investigate Bloomberg. In the end, Trump won, 51.2%-47.9%, unless an audit or the courts come up with different totals. Right, Alex and Matt? ANDREW GILLUM After the 2018 elec-
tions, Stacy Abrams in Georgia and Gillum in Florida pledged to deliver their respective states to whoever was the Democratic presidential nominee. Abrams did, while Gillum failed miserably—again, unless an audit or the courts come up with different totals. inweekly.net
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POST-ELECTION THOUGHTS My daily commute from Gulf Breeze to downtown Pensacola gives me an additional two hours a day to ponder what local and state politics would be like after the Nov. 3 general election. Several questions popped up as I watched the vote counts unfold, and the networks declare Joe Biden the winner of the presidential contest.
WHAT WILL GOV. RON DESANTIS DO WITHOUT PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP IN THE WHITE HOUSE? The
first-term governor has taken the president's lead on dealing with the coronavirus. In the weeks leading up to the election, DeSantis closed National Guard-run testing sites and began to undermine his Florida Department of Health's statistics, promoting a conspiracy that the state was overcounting COVID-related deaths. Trump gambled that voters would believe him that the nation had "turned the corner" on the virus, despite evidence to the contrary. DeSantis risks the same result when he runs for re-election in 2022 if he stays on the same path.
HOW WILL THE NEW PENSACOLA CITY COUNCIL INTERACT WITH MAYOR GROVER ROBINSON? The
mayor lost four reliable council votes with Jewel Cannada-Wynn, John Jerralds and Andy Terhaar stepping off the council and P.C. Wu narrowly losing his seat to newcomer Jennifer Brahier. For the first time in recent memory, the majority of the city council will be newcomers, and the majority will be female for the first time in the city's history. The last time the council had four new members elected was in 2008, and the board had 10 members, with the mayor having a vote. New Councilman Casey Jones won the District 3 seat without opposition, and Delarian Wiggins won the August primary for District 7. Neither has said much publicly. District 2's Brahier and Teniadé Broughton of District 5 won hotly contested races and will be looking to make their marks on city government. Robinson will need to build a new coalition to get his initiatives passed in 2021.
November 12, 2020
WHO WILL CHALLENGE ROBINSON IN 2022? Speaking of Mayor Robinson, he
could face two or three candidates in two years. Councilwoman Sherri Myers has gotten increasingly frustrated with the mayor. Sidewalks have yet to be built on Burgess Road in her district, and she has felt Robinson hasn't listened to her. She is pondering a run for mayor. Another possible opponent being discussed in coffee shops, diners and the Irish Politicians Club is Sheriff David Morgan, who made the decision to not seek a fourth term this year. He has been approached by community leaders and will make a decision before next summer. The third potential longshot is County Commissioner Lumon May, who easily won re-election this cycle. He's a longshot only because he will be in the middle of his third term and may not want to give up that post. Of course, incumbents are rarely challenged in Pensacola city politics, so no challengers may surface in 2022.
CAN THE NORTHWEST FLORIDA LEGISLATIVE DELEGATION BRING HOME THE BACON IN 2021? Our Re-
publican state lawmakers don't have to worry about do-nothing Mike Hill. State Sen. Doug Broxson is rumored to be in contention for the powerful Senate Appropriations chairmanship. State Rep. Jayer Williamson is up for several chairmanships. State Rep. Alex Andrade had battles in his GOP primary and the general election and came out on top. He's been a loyal soldier for House leaders. Will his loyalty be rewarded? Michelle Salzman is the wild card. Republicans in the Florida House are pleased that Hill is no longer taking up space. Salzman will be a breath of fresh air for Tallahassee.
WILL THE 2024 GOP CANDIDATE FOR PRESIDENT COME FROM FLORIDA? Gov. Ron DeSantis and U.S. Senators
Marco Rubio and Rick Scott want to be president. Rubio tried and failed in 2016 and must win re-election in 2022. Likewise, DeSantis needs to win a second term to be considered viable. Scott needs to build a national image. All three could end up canceling each other out. {in} rick@inweekly.net
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experiencing COVID-19 symptoms. All interested persons must be screened in advance by first calling 746-2684. Meanwhile, President-elect Joe Biden has announced his coronavirus task force, which will be chaired by former Surgeon General Vivek Murthy. The other members include former Food and Drug Administration Commissioner David Kessler, Yale University's Dr. Marcella Nunez-Smith and Dr. Luciana Borio, a senior fellow for global health at the Council on Foreign Relations.
CONTRACT EXTENSION President
COVID OUTBREAK Over the first week of November, the Florida Department of Health reported 604 new COVID-19 cases for Escambia County—513 local and 91 out of state. In the last week of October, the county only had 321 local cases—a 60% jump from Oct. 25-31 to Nov. 1-7. It took 24 days in October for the new COVID-19 cases in Escambia to top 500. COVID deaths are also up—seven reported from Nov. 1-7 an average of one death per day. Based on the rather lackluster report local FDOH head Marie Mott gave to the Escambia County Commission at its Thursday, Nov. 5, agenda review, the county administration and FDOH don't appear to more than a "little" concerned. "Our percent positivities have been zigzagging a little bit," said Mott. "This is a little concerning. We were consistently below that 5% mark for a long time, and now we're kind of going up and down." The average positivity rate for Nov. 1-7 was 6.9%, up from 3.7% for the month of October. Despite her department's contact tracing, Mott couldn't provide any information on the uptick. Commissioner Lumon May asked her to explain the spike in the November cases. "That would be speculating for me to try to figure out why, but it is noticeable the case report on the second (Nov. 2, 97 cases) and on the third (Nov. 3, 91 cases) were both higher than what we've typically been seeing over the summer," answered Mott. "There has been a lot more congregating in the community, I would say. So 88
that's a potential thing, but really, I would be speculating to try to-" May cut her off, "How's the contact tracing going? Are y'all still able to implement that program?" "Yes, we're continuing the contact tracing," said Mott. "And this is another thing that I really think getting the word out would be helpful. We try to complete our contract tracing within 48 hours. That's kind of a key window for us. And so we will call people at least three times during that 48-hour window. And a lot of times, we're seeing people who don't answer the phone or don't return the call. And so we get a loss to follow up in some of those cases where nobody will reach back out to us, and we can't continue to follow up with them because we're having to move on to new cases. So please, again, if you get a call from the State of Florida, answer the phone. If we leave you a voicemail, please call us back so we can continue that contact tracing." Still Mott wouldn't share with the commissioners what the contract tracing revealed as the sources of the new cases. Pensacola Catholic High School last week switched to virtual lessons after 10 students became infected. Mott offered no information on those cases. Commissioner Robert Bender blamed the increase in positivity on a lower number of test results being reported. "Just looking at our numbers here. Three out of the last five days that were part of that have been three of the lowest testing returns that we've had in the last
two weeks," said Bender. "So although the percentage is up, it looks like we're still averaging between 40 and 60 positives a day. It looks like maybe Tuesday's, the third, was a little bit higher, maybe about 95." He added, "It looks like the percentages are up a little bit on these last five days, but we've also, as I said, had some of the fears, I mean, below half of what had been being returned in the number of tests." The difference in testing for the two weeks ended up being 769—only an 11% decrease. Commissioner Jeff Bergosh expressed concern that rapid testing wasn't available on weekends. He had a constituent's husband who had started to run a fever on a Friday afternoon and she wanted to get him tested. "She called a lot of phone numbers, couldn't get through to anyone," said Bergosh, "and called the emergency room, and they said they would not give him a rapid test unless he was admitted to the hospital." He asked Mott, "On a Saturday, is there someplace citizens can go to get a rapid test?" The health department director said, "Other than an urgent care or emergency department where you would go in and sign in, I don't think there is a weekend opportunity." A day after the meeting, Ascension Sacred Heart announced it would offer rapid COVID-19 testing as well as the more common test that requires nasal swabs at its drive-thru center off Bayou Boulevard 9 a.m.-noon on Saturday. The rapid test would be provided at no cost, but it would be reserved for Escambia County residents
Martha D. Saunders will remain at the helm of the University of West Florida for another year after being awarded a contract extension through the end of the 2021 calendar year. A Board of Governors' regulation limits contract extensions or renewals for presidents of academic institutions to one year after the initial three-year agreement. The Board of Governors unanimously approved the one-year extension on Thursday, Nov. 5, after the UWF Board of Trustees unanimously voted on Saunders' contract renewal in September. During Saunders' presidency, the university has received national recognition and numerous awards. UWF has ranked among the three top-performing public universities in the BOG's performancebased funding metrics for three of the last four years and ranked among the best public regional universities in the South on the U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges list for 2020 and 2021. The university has also earned the Higher Education Excellence in Diversity Award from INSIGHT into Diversity magazine three times during Saunders' presidency and been named a "Great College to Work For" in 2019 and 2020. "This year has challenged us in ways we never imagined, but it has also created opportunities for us to showcase our adaptability, creativity and resiliency," Saunders said. "I am honored to serve as UWF's president for another year and continue leading this great university." In light of budget cuts brought on by the pandemic, Saunders preemptively declined a salary increase for this year and requested that any proposed performance bonus instead go to the University's Employee Emergency Assistance Fund.
CARES ACT SHIFT At the board's Thursday, Nov. 5, meeting, Escambia County Administrator Janice Gilley got the Board of County Commissioners to approve her attestation of how the county has spent or encumbered the first quarter of its share of the CARES Act. Gilley had shifted nearly half of the inweekly.net
$14,321,324 to Public Health & Safety—$7,525,136.00, for which the board had agreed to spend only $1, 432,132 in August. Rapid Testing was supposed to get $2,148,199, but only $94, 403 was spent or encumbered. The allocation for Businesses was shorted $1.5 million—which the board had approved in September to reallocate to families but Gilley shifted elsewhere. Funds for food, rents and the homeless were also moved—going from $1, 432,132 in August to only $21, 485. The August budget had nothing for COVID-19 oversight. However, Gilley has spent or encumbered $100,000. The attestation was approved with little discussion by the board. Gilley is scheduled to give a complete report at a special meeting at 9 a.m. on Thursday, Nov. 11, in the commission chambers.
ONE HEART, ONE HOME November
is National Adoption Awareness Month. FamiliesFirst Network encourages the community to embrace the theme One Heart, One Home, Change a Life Forever so that all children are placed in safe, loving homes. This year, they share some interesting information about sibling groups and teens. Sibling Groups—Did you know that in our local community, 96% of youth who come into foster care have a brother or sister? Fear of familial separation can cause these children to feel lonely, insecure, anxious and depressed. It can affect their schoolwork and confidence. Separation from loved ones can erode their trust in adults. In a sibling group, children feel more comfortable when they can be moved with their brothers and sisters. Those relationships improve their sense of belonging and emotional well-being. Teens—Just as adoptive parents relish seeing a baby take that first step or say that first word, they also enjoy seeing a teen learn to drive, go on a first date, graduate from college or nail a great job interview.
In Florida, when you adopt a youth through FamiliesFirst Network, financial assistance to help with expenses is available until the child turns 21. Youth also have the advantage of medical and mental health benefits. Then, to ensure they are workforce ready and prepared to share their talents with the world, youth also qualify for a college stipend. Let's encourage our community to make adoption part of their family stories. Adoption is an opportunity to build special lifelong bonds that enrich lives. Learn more at familiesfirstnetwork.org.
held at Seville Square from 5-7 p.m. and is free to the community. "We want our 130th Annual Meeting to be a celebration for the entire community," stated Greater Pensacola Chamber President Todd Thomson. "I hope the public will come out and enjoy this free event." The public can bring their own picnic dinner and chairs to set up in Seville Square starting at 4:30 p.m. with the program beginning at 5 p.m. Assigned seating will be provided for sponsors.
FOSTER PETS FOR HOLIDAY Pensacola
Gulf Coast is proud to announce its annual collection of 2020 Christmas on the Coast ornaments for Pensacola. The limitededition brass- and gold-plated ornaments have become collector's items for many Gulf Coast residents. Revenue generated from the sale of Christmas on the Coast ornaments allows Goodwill Gulf Coast to provide services in our community that encourage, educate and employ over 11,000 individuals each year with disabilities and other barriers to success, helping to build stronger families and communities. Programs include early care and education for children of all abilities, family support, adult education and GED services, job search assistance for individuals with disabilities and free income tax preparation services for low-income households. The 22nd annual Christmas on the Coast ornament for the city of Pensacola is J.W. Renfroe Pecan Company. J.W. Renfroe Pecan Company's story began in Troy, Ala., in the 1930s. J.W. Renfroe Sr. began buying and selling pecans in addition to his horse and mule trading business, eventually growing his emerging business to be one of the largest wholesalers of in-shell pecans in the country. J.W. (Jake) Renfroe Jr. moved his young family to Pensacola in the mid-1950s to open a pecan-buying facility because of the excellent growing conditions in North Florida. In 1958, Jake
Humane Society asks if you have some room in your heart and home to bring a shelter pet home for the Thanksgiving Holidays. Shelter life is stressful and confusing for animals, so a few days in a loving home can do wonders for a pet, both emotionally and physically. The adoption center is noisy and busy, and in a home, they can relax and be themselves over the holiday, Nov. 25-29. Their hope is to send every animal home to spend the holiday with a family. The animals can get out all their zoomies, be a couch potato or beg for one more scrap from your dinner table. Your input after fostering will provide valuable information to our staff about how your visitor did in a home environment. For more information and to apply to become a foster, visit pensacolahumane. org/foster. You will be contacted by the foster team for an orientation and to match you with a lucky cat or dog.
ANNUAL MEETING The Greater Pensacola Chamber of Commerce will hold its 130th Annual Meeting and a free public concert on Thursday, Nov. 19. The Chamber's Annual Meeting will feature a brief program, followed by a concert by Ben Loftin and the Family as a tribute to Evenings in Old Seville. The event will be
GOODWILL ORNAMENTS Goodwill
opened what is now the retail, wholesale and shelling plant in its current location on Fairfield Drive. After much success, Renfroe's opened a second retail location on Main Street in 2019. Through four generations, J.W. Renfroe Pecan Company remains true to its family values of integrity, honesty and providing the highest quality products and service to the Pensacola area for over 60 years. Ornaments are now available to order online at goodwillgulfcoast.org and at Goodwill retail stores and select Gulf Coast vendors. The price is $15. In addition to the 2020 ornaments, a limited supply of select ornaments from previous years are available online and are on sale for $8. Local vendors include Bere Jewelers, First United Methodist Church, Member's First Credit Union, Renfroe Pecan Co. and The First Bank.
MARGARITAVILLE REOPENS Margari-
taville Beach Hotel, the Jimmy Buffettinspired beachfront hotel on Pensacola Beach, is set to reopen to hotel guests on Monday, Nov. 23. The hotel has been closed to repairs since Hurricane Sally made landfall on Sept. 16. "We are thrilled to be able to open our doors again, especially in time for Thanksgiving," said Summer Smith, director of marketing for Margaritaville Beach Hotel. "We look forward to welcoming guests back to our beautiful waterfront hotel for some much-needed relaxation, great food and beautiful sunsets." The hotel's commitment to the health and safety of its guests and team members remains its top priority. As such, the hotel will continue to operate under the same COVID-19 protocols as before its temporary closure. Face coverings remain required for guests age 2 years or older in all indoor public spaces. To book a hotel stay, go to margaritavillehotel.com. {in}
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Hale Morrissette / Photo by Jeremy Morrison
What's Next for Local Organizers By Jeremy Morrison It was a long slog to Election Day, with the nation awash in waves of political energy and a pandemic. For folks on the left, the ultimate nail-biter victory of Democrat Joe Biden in the presidential race—and perhaps more particularly, the defeat of Donald Trump—brought both relief and release, with people dancing in the streets in cities across the country and globe. In Pensacola, a rally under the banner of "Count On Us" was held downtown shortly after the race was called for Biden Saturday afternoon. "I'm just a little bit excited. Not just a little bit excited, but big, big excited," Hale Morrissette, a member of Pensacola Dream Defenders, addressed attendees. The event was a celebration of sorts. November 12, 2020
But it was mostly a pep-talk and planning meeting, which makes sense given that it was scheduled prior to the presidential race call. This rally, hosted by local activists groups and not the Democratic Party, was about looking toward the future and how to hold the ground gained in the pursuit toward a progressive agenda. "Today we celebrate because tomorrow we get back to work," Morrissette said. With election season in the rearview, some local activists and advocates took some time to share their thoughts on the road forward for the progressive community, particularly locally, where this community has thrived despite incubating in deep-red Northwest Florida.
KEEP DEFENDING THE DREAM
Morrissette had a good feeling about the presidential election. "I feel like I knew we were gonna win," she said. For the past year or so, Morrissette has been at the center of the local progressive movement as a member of Dream Defenders. The local activist mostly focuses on racial justice issues, like systemic racism within law enforcement. Less than a year before George Floyd, there was—among so many others—Tymar Crawford. Crawford was fatally shot by a former Pensacola Police Department detective during a traffic stop in July 2019. Shortly thereafter, the Pensacola Dream
Defenders took a prominent spot on the community stage. The community organization began making demands of the city government, and of Mayor Grover Robinson particularly, which led to the city taking an internal look at PPD and also establishing a citizen-police task force. Morrissette secured a seat on that task force following a road-blockade tactic during a June protest at the foot of the Pensacola Bay Bridge. "I'm just excited to continue doing the work in Pensacola," Morrissette said, looking to the future, "to make a more progressive Pensacola—more than it already is." As a member of the city's task force, Morrissette said she's staying focused on the issue of community-police relations. But Dream Defenders will also be pushing to move 11
that discussion beyond the municipality and involve the Escambia County Sheriff's Office. "Police accountability—this upcoming year, it's not just going to be in the city but in the county," Morrissette said. In addition to working on issues pertaining to law enforcement, Dream Defenders will also be addressing the issues of food insecurity and homelessness. Morrissette said she's encouraged by the city's evolving landscape—like the election of new city council members—and is hopeful for an ever-more progressive future in the city. "I think we're on the road in a good direction, but we've just got to keep on moving," she said.
HOMELESS BEHIND ENEMY LINES
Fall is a busy time for Mike Kimbrel, director of the Alfred Washburn Center and co-founder of the Satoshi Forest homeless camping area. "Every first cold snap, we do a sleeping bag giveaway," he said the day after the election. "I'm always real popular when that starts." When Kimbrel recently spoke before the Pensacola City Council, he wasn't there to play nice. He was pissed off about the city's lack of efforts to address the issue of homelessness and also what he saw as an attempt to lure the homeless away from the core of downtown by installing benches at city hall. "I think a lot of all that was political," Kimbrel said of the benches, explaining that he feels that election season leads local officials to attempt to shuffle the homeless out of view. "Election season itself, for us, is very trying. It's always pushing them under the rug, trying to hide them." The results of the recent election, Kimbrel said, will likely have little impact on the issue he works to address, other than some new faces on city council. "It stayed pretty red here. There's not a lot of love toward assisting the poor within the Republican community, unfortunately," Kimbrel said, adding that even the area's few left-leaning officials were less responsive toward addressing homelessness than he'd like. "Here, it doesn't matter at all, because even the Democrats don't want to touch us with a 10-foot pole." Going forward, Kimbrel plans to continue pushing local officials to dedicate funding to address homelessness, and he expects some tense conversations. "Skewering the mayor a little bit, that's on my agenda," he said. "I imagine he and I are going to rumble a little bit throughout the coming year." While Kimbrel recognizes he faces a steep hill, addressing homelessness in a conservative bastion, he likes the odds. "I like living behind enemy lines," he said. "I like a good fight. I feel like I'm needed."
"Climate change is absolutely the biggest issue," said Christian Wagley, an organizer for Healthy Gulf. On this front, Biden's win is a big, big deal. The president-elect is primed to reenter the Paris Climate Agreement and also rebuild a host of environmental protections that Trump has dismantled. On the local level, Wagley—who provided an environmental perspective on a previous mayoral advisory committee—plans to continue pushing the city to also work to address the issues wrapped up in climate change. Specifically, he'd like to see the city establish a 100% renewable energy goal like other municipalities around the country are doing. "Most of those commitments are somewhere in the 2040 range," Wagley said. "The city is going to have to really start speeding things up." Efforts toward such a goal might include placing solar systems on new city building projects, like the aviation industrial hangars at the airport. "We can't keep missing these opportunities," Wagley said. Also on the environmental agenda will be addressing the pollution issues in local waterways, as well as working with the state legislature to get lawmakers to allow thirdparty solar providers to operate in Florida.
BACK TO WORK
Soaking in the moment during the "Count On Us" rally, Jamil Davis, regional North Florida organizer for Black Voters Matter, was pretty pleased. "I think everything has panned out very well," he said of Biden's recently announced win. But then again, Davis isn't that pleased. Any progressive win, after all, was razor thin. And Florida went red. "We're in a state—both the state of Florida and the state of this nation—where racism, sexism, homophobia and transphobia reign supreme," Davis noted. "And the current occupier of the White House made it perfectly clear where he stood and gave people ammunition to show their true colors." Plus, the activist was less than impressed by efforts in the state by the Democratic Party. Any gains in the state, he said, were due to groups like Black Voters Matter. "The Florida Democratic Party, as a whole, did little to no fieldwork," he said. "We did this." In the future, he'd like to see the party run more decidedly progressive candidates—"people that have straight down the middle approach, that's got to stop,"—and also plans to work to fight proposals from the governor which would impede on the right of protesters. The celebration, anyway, will be brief and tempered. There's work to do. "We've said Black Voters Matter 365, and we mean that," Davis said. "So it's time for us to get right back on the job." {in}
"We're in a state—both the state of Florida and the state of this nation—where racism, sexism, homophobia and transphobia reign supreme." Jamil Davis
A POLITICAL CHANGE FOR THE CLIMATE
For environmentalists, the issue is clear—addressing climate change. 212 1
PENSACOLA VOTES
STAY ENGAGED Now that we have a projected winner of the 2020 presidential election and the results of our state and local contests, it's time to make a plan for how you'll keep up the momentum of this historic election year and stay engaged in politics, especially locally. If the City Council District 1 seat being decided by three votes—yes, really, three—didn't show you the power your vote holds, we don't know what will. But voting is just step one, after all. If you're committed to building a more sustainable and equitable community locally, regionally and nationally (and we really hope you are), the real work is just getting started.
ACCOUNTABILITY
Perhaps the most important thing we can do post-election is getting into the habit of keeping our elected representatives accountable. Here's a quick recap of the local representatives who were elected or re-elected last week: Representative in Congress District 1 Matt Gaetz State Senator District 1 Doug Broxson State Representative District 1 Michelle Salzman State Representative District 2 Alex Andrade
Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller Pamela Lynn Childers Escambia County Sheriff Chip Simmons Escambia County Tax Collector Scott Lunsford County Commissioner District 3 Lumon May Emerald Coast Utilities Authority District 3 Larry Williams Pensacola City Council District 1 Jennifer Brahier Pensacola City Council District 5 Toni "Teniadé" Broughton Escambia Soil and Water Conservation District Betty A. Wilson While we wait for the newly elected representatives to get their email addresses set up, you can go ahead and check out their campaign websites and socials if you're unfamiliar with any of them (we published those in our Oct. 29 issue). As it becomes available, you'll be able to find a full list of contact information for local representatives at escambiavotes.gov/electedofficials-in-escambia-county. It includes offices that weren't on the ballot this time too, like Senators Rick Scott and Mark Rubio. inweekly.net
MARK YOUR CALENDARS
In addition to keeping up with elected officials, staying up to date on issues of importance is also key. Locally, the Pensacola City Council and Escambia County Commission will continue to meet on their regular schedule. Keep that in mind when you reach out to your reps and plan to submit remarks online or attend a meeting in person to make your voice heard. The council meets twice a month with an agenda review the Monday before the regular meeting held on Thursday. The commission holds two regular meetings a month with an agenda review the morning of the meeting. The board also holds two Committee of the Whole meetings a month where they discuss projects, programs and issues but don't hold a final vote. Where to find the meeting schedules: cityofpensacola.com myescambia.com
MONEY MATTERS
Keeping an eye on proposed municipal budgets is also important. A lot can be learned about what's going on in your area by knowing what's getting funded, what's not and why.
Where to find information and budget documents: City of Pensacola Financial Services Department Finance Director: Amy Lovoy alovoy@cityofpensacola.com cityofpensacola.com/128/financial-services Escambia County Office of Management and Budget Budget Manager: Stephan Hall sdhall@myescambia.com myescambia.com/our-services/budget/ information-and-related-documents
JOIN IN
While the general election dust is still settling and a new crop of elected officials are preparing to take office, it's a great time to connect with your political party of choice or get involved with a nonpartisan advocacy group. We've included information here on local major party chapters, minor state party organizations and some local advocacy groups (including those motioned in the "What's Next for Local Organizers� feature).
Central Gulf Coast People's Council facebook.com/thecgcpc Strive facebook.com/socialisttransinitiative Workers World Party—Central Gulf Coast facebook.com/wwpcgc The KYLE project Inc. facebook.com/thekyleprojectinc League of Women Voters of the Pensacola Bay Area lwvpba.org POLITICAL PARTIES Escambia County Democratic Party facebook.com/escflademocrats Escambia County Republican Party florida.gop/escambia Constitution Party of Florida cpflorida.org Ecology Party of Florida ecologyparty.org Green Party of Florida gpfl.org Libertarian Party of Florida lpf.org Party for Socialism and Liberation-Central Gulf Coast facebook.com/pslcentralgulfcoast Pensacola Democratic Socialists of America facebook.com/pg/pensacolachapterdsa Reform Party of Florida reformpartyfl.org
READY TO RUN?
If this election cycle has inspired you to put your name in the political hat for the next round of races, you can find the hub of candidate information at the Florida Division of Elections website, dos.myflorida.com/ elections/candidates-committees. You can also find local information on the Escambia County Supervisor of Elections website, escambiavotes.gov/running-for-office.
ADVOCACY GROUPS Pensacola Dream Defenders facebook.com/dreamdefenderspensacola Satoshi Forest satoshiforest.com Opening Doors North West Florida openingdoorsnwfl.org Healthy Gulf healthygulf.org Black Voters Matter blackvotersmatterfund.org November 12, 2020
Pensacola Votes is a nonpartisan voter education and civic engagement guide developed by the team at Inweekly to empower local voters to show up and stay focused. This is our last weekly column (at least for now), but if you have questions about anything related to voting or local politics, you can still send them to us at pensacolavotes@gmail. com. We aren't tuning out just because this election is over, and you shouldn't either. 13
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inweekly.net
WEEK OF NOVEMBER 12-18
Arts & Encouragement hope, help and other signs of humanity at a time when we really need it...
Ancestry & Poetry Highlighted in Visit by U.S. Poet Laureate Joy Harjo By C. Scott Satterwhite
Joy Harjo / Photo by Matika Wilbur
In Adrienne Rich's poem "The Burning of Paper Instead of Children," the late poet famously wrote, "This is the oppressor's language, yet I need it to talk to you." Language and oppression have gone together for centuries in this land. Art, however, has a tendency to rise above the pain and create its own language of liberation. Evidence of this transcendence can be found in a series of events curated by the Pensacola Museum of Art (PMA) featuring national and local artists. To celebrate Native American Heritage Month, the PMA and the West Florida Public Library joined forces to host U.S. Poet Laureate Joy Harjo for a virtual visit to Pensacola as she tours with her latest book, "An American Sunrise." As part of the programming, PMA is also hosting Pensacola poet Quincy Hull for a unique workshop connected to Harjo's visit. The events are in coordination with the National Endowment for the Art's (NEA) Big Read, a nationwide event encouraging literacy and building community around literature. This year's selection for the NEA Big Read is Harjo's most recent book. While the programming centers on Harjo's visit, the events are much wider in scope. A member of the Muscogee Nation, also November 12, 2020
known as the Mvskoke Nation, Harjo is the 23rd U.S. Poet Laureate and the first Native American to receive this honor. Born in Tulsa, Okla., Harjo attended the Institute for American Indian Arts and later the famed Iowa Writer's Workshop—the latter from which she earned her Master of Fine Arts degree. A respected author and educator who's taught at several universities across the United States, Harjo's latest work, "American Sunrise," is her ninth book of poetry. Most of this collection focuses on ancestral ties, historical trauma and the Trail of Tears—a series of forced relocations of Native Americans by the U.S. government starting in 1830. The book opens with a map of one of the several trails in which the U.S. Army force-marched Indigenous People from their ancestral lands to unfamiliar land in the Midwest. "American Sunrise" opens with historical trauma. In her first poem, "Break My Heart," Harjo wrote, "The heart is a fist. It pockets prayer or holds rage … Be who you are, even if it kills you. It will. Over and over again, even as you live." Following her poem is a short piece about her ancestral grandfather, forced from his
homeland in Alabama. "Before being exiled to the West," her grandfather gave a portrait of himself to the white man taking his land. According to Harjo, as her grandfather was leaving his home, he left the man with parting thoughts. Quoting her grandfather, Harjo wrote, "I have brought you this picture—I wish you to take it and hang it up in your house, that when your children look at it, you can tell them what I have been … for when I cross the great river, my desire is that I may never see the face of a white man." Her grandfather then marched on the Trail of Tears never to return to his homeland. His final destination was Oklahoma, where Harjo was born. "American Sunrise" opens and closes with the Trail of Tears. In one of her last poems of the book, she tells the story of "two beloved women" who sang a song as they marched on the Trail of Tears. Like several of the poems, Harjo writes in both English and Mvskoke, the traditional language of her people. Translated into English, the women in the poem sang a mantra as they crossed the land—"Do not get tired. Don't be discouraged. Be determined. Come. Together let's go toward the highest place." Through each poem, Harjo carries the voices of her ancestors into a land and time they could never imagine, a "higher place," and translates their experiences, pains and heartache into a language of love and courage under the direst circumstances. Along with Harjo's virtual visit, the PMA is also featuring local artist Quincy Hull as part of its programming. An African American poet with some Native American roots, Hull said that he's honored to take part and celebrate both his Native American and African heritage through poetry. While Harjo will speak virtually to her Pensacola audience, Hull joins his audience in a socially distanced space in the museum. For his event, Hull plans to bring together two forms of art—poetry and pottery. "I'm going over the writing process using visual art and written art," said Hull. "We're going to marry them and fuse them together." Hull takes inspiration for this workshop from an enslaved artist known as Dave the Potter. While the enslaved man, who lived in the early 1800s, was a potter by trade, he became famous for his unique style of poetry. "He inscribed poems inside his pottery," said Hull. "He used his God-given talents and was able to speak about his oppression through his words," he said. "He left these
words inscribed forever in his work," said Hull. "He basically left letters behind in his pottery about what his life was like living in bondage." Hull finds Dave the Potter's story fascinating, and he's looking forward to sharing this story with others as he feels drawn to the enslaved poet. "I tell people all the time that the only way I feel free in this country is through poetry," said Hull. "As a Black man, I don't think I've really appreciated freedom because freedom is the right to be yourself," said Hull. "I don't feel I've ever had that freedom outside of writing." Like Harjo, Hull also uses poetic verse to link his art with his own past. "I am not a slave physically, but being a product of those people, the bloodline I share, I've never felt free here," said Hull. "I connect with my ancestors' pain and suffering." "I'm connected to the sun, moon and stars. I'm connected to the wind and the rain, earth and fire, all through poetry," said Hull. "I feel like that's the only way I'm able to do that." Hull hopes these events, especially Harjo's visit, will bring people together to share poetry and create art in an environment that uses the "oppressor's language," as Rich wrote, for the necessary dialogue to occur between people of all races. "I think these events give Pensacola a chance to finally open up about other cultures," said Hull. "I think Pensacola is aesthetically a beautiful city, but the people are still in this box that thinks we're all supposed to be the same. But we're different. This gives us the opportunity to figure out how to explore the difference," he said. "I want to tap into that energy." {in} As part of the NEA's Big Read event, a limited number of free copies of "An American Sunrise" are available at PMA, the Pensacola Library Main Branch (239 N. Spring St.) and all other West Florida Public Library branches. Thanks to the NEA, admission to the museum is also free on Thursdays the entire month of November. You can reserve your ticket at historicpensacola.doubleknot.com/event/day/ online-admission/23364. The virtual keynote address with Harjo will be at 6 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 19, and Hull's poetry and pottery event at 5:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 21. You can register for both and find out more about the NEA'S Big Read and PMA's companion programming at pensacolamuseum. org/bigread.html. 15
a&e happenings Attending "normal" events might not be happening yet—but that doesn't mean local businesses and nonprofits aren't still keeping the community connected in creative ways.
THANKSGIVING CALENDAR
PILGRIMS FEAST—A HISTORICAL DINNER Take a historical food tour
through the first Thanksgiving celebration with a seven-course meal featuring roasted pumpkin soup, wild game sausage and roasted duck with cranberries. Dinner is 6-8:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 14, at Bodacious, 407-D S. Palafox. Cost is $89. For more information, visit bodaciousshops.com.
CELEBRATE THANKSGIVING WITH GREAT SOUTHERN RESTAURANTS
On Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, Nov. 26, you can enjoy dinner service at Great Southern Restaurants along with a holiday entrée. Reservations are encouraged. Make reservations at opentable.com or by phone.
THE FISH HOUSE Open from 11 a.m.–10 p.m. with dinner service all day along with a Thanksgiving entrée feature. Located at 600 S. Barracks St. Call 470-0003 to make a reservation. JACKSON'S STEAKHOUSE Open from 11a.m.–8 p.m. with dinner service all day along with a Thanksgiving entrée feature. Located at 400 S. Palafox. Call 469-9898 to make a reservation.
FIVE SISTERS BLUES CAFÉ Fixed-price, three-course Thanksgiving Dinner; five seatings at 11 a.m., 1 p.m., 3 p.m., 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. Located at 421 W. Belmont St. Call 912-4856 to make a reservation.
be Wednesday, Nov. 25, from 11 a.m.-7 p.m. For a full list of menu items, visit facebook. com/unionpensacola.
SAVE ME A PLATE FOSTER PROGRAM
The Pensacola Humane Society is hosting the Save Me A Plate Foster Program Nov. 25-29 to send every animal home to spend the holiday with a family. Foster periods like these can be lifesaving to dogs and cats in shelters because it gives them a chance to mentally reset and relax. The adoption center is loud, busy and sometimes stressful on animals. In your home, they get to relax and be themselves. For more information and to sign up for the program, visit pensacolahumane.org.
PENSACOLA TURKEY TROT Get a head start on the holiday with a 5K through downtown Pensacola. The race begins 8 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 6, and starts and finishes at Seville Square, 399 S. Alcaniz St. Registration is $35 for walkers and runners. To sign up, visit runsignup.com/race/info/fl/ pensacola/pensacolaturkeytrot5K. POST-TURKEY DAY DRAG Work off that
Thanksgiving meal with a drag show at Dolce and Gelato, located at 2050 N. 12th Ave. Show is 8-11 p.m. Friday, Nov. 27. For more information, visit facebook.com/dolcegelatopensacola.
NONPROFITS & FUNDRAISERS
DEPARTURE BENEFIT FOR PENSACOLA LITTLE THEATRE Win a trip for two
Open from 11 a.m.–8 p.m. with full dinner menu available along with a fixed-price Thanksgiving entrée feature. Located at 101 E. Intendencia St. Call 542-8398 to make a reservation.
guests to one of five destinations across the country accommodated to your travel preferences or take home $4,000 in cash. Winners will be announced at the benefit at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 12, at Pensacola Little Theatre, 400 S. Jefferson. Tickets are $60. Benefit will have complimentary beer, wine and specialty cocktails and live PLT performances. Winners do not have to be present to accept their prize. For more information, visit pensacolalittletheatre.com.
THANKSGIVING GRAB & GO FROM GREAT SOUTHERN RESTAURANTS
LOCAL RESTAURANTS GO "BEYOND THE MENU" TO SUPPORT WSRE This
ANGELENA'S RISTORANTE ITALIANO
Great Southern Restaurants will offer a Thanksgiving Grab-and-Go dinner package featuring Five Sisters Blues Café. The package is based on six people with additional orders available in increments of six. The Thanksgiving Meal includes a 6-pound split turkey, green bean casserole, garlic mashed potatoes, cornbread dressing, cranberry sauce, brown gravy and dinner rolls. The six-person package is $65 plus tax. Orders are being taken now and can be placed until noon on Monday, Nov. 23. Pickups will be available on Wednesday, Nov. 25, from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. The meal will be fully cooked and will include reheating directions. For more information, visit greatsouthernrestaurants.com.
THANKSGIVING TAKE AND BAKE FROM UNION PUBLIC HOUSE Let
Union Public House do the cooking for you. Make your order between now and Nov. 18 by calling Carey at 607-6320. Pick up will 616 1
year's WSRE Wine & Food Classic fundraiser was cancelled due to the pandemic. However, a new TV show will offer viewers a similar culinary experience with the opportunity to sample local cuisine while supporting public television. Hosted by Sherri Hemminghaus Weeks, "Beyond the Menu" will premiere on WSRE at 8 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 26, featuring four of the station's longtime restaurant partners—The District: Seville Steak & Seafood, McGuire's Irish Pub, Pot Roast & Pinot and Scenic 90 Café. With a $100 donation made to the WSRE-TV Foundation, donors will receive a pack of dining vouchers good for a chef's choice menu item and wine pairing at each restaurant. Dining voucher packs are available to the first 500 donors and will be shipped in time for holiday giving. Donations are being accepted online at wsre.org/beyondthemenu or by calling 484-1054 for details.
NEW LEASH ON LOVE ADOPTION EVENT A HOPE presents the third annual
New Leash on Love pet adoption event from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 14, at the Bagdad Mill Site Park in Milton. There will be food trucks, craft vendors, kids' play area and rescue groups with adoptable dogs and cats. There will also be dachshund races, a red carpet walk for adoptable dogs and a K-9 display. In addition, PAWS (Panhandle Animal Welfare Society) from Ft. Walton will be there to microchip your pets for $10. Masks and hand sanitizer will be available to help keep everyone safe. More information can be found on the A HOPE website, ahope4src.com.
200 SOUTH MANNA FOOD DRIVE
Support Manna Food Pantries by Filling the Mayflower. Businesses at 200 South Palafox will run the food drive through Nov. 23. In addition to all the good feels you'll get, if you bring in six cans and show a bartender, you get a free beer. For more information, visit facebook.com/wobpensacola.
ANIMAL ALLIES FLORIDA IN NEED OF DONATIONS AFTER FIRE Last
month, Animal Allies Florida, a nonprofit animal rescue located in Pensacola, was devastated by a fire at its foster house for cats where they room free until they are adopted. Tragically, 17 cats and kittens died from smoke inhalation. The surviving cats have been moved to other foster homes. Animal Allies needs the community's support as many supplies were also lost in the fire. If you would like to donate cash or supplies, please go to aaflorida.org/info/donate.
JUNIOR LEAGUE OF PENSACOLA HOSTS VIRTUAL MARKET BASKET
The Junior League of Pensacola invites the community to attend Virtual Market Basket: Enchanted Evergreen. Attendees can shop from the comfort of their home for a full weekend of a guided shopping experience Nov. 19-22, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. each day. Vendors will have items available for virtual preview and purchase as well as a vast silent auction full of local items. Proceeds raised from the event will benefit the Junior League of Pensacola, Inc., which is a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting volunteerism, developing the potential of women and making a difference in the lives of others. For vendor information, please visit pensacolamarketbasket.com
ARTS + CULTURE
HANK LOCKLIN DOC RELEASED TO COMMEMORATE HIS GRAND OLE OPRY ANNIVERSARY Following the success of "Please Help Me, I'm Falling," country crooner Hank Locklin became a member of the Grand Ole Opry on Nov. 12, 1960. In celebration of his 60th Grand Ole Opry anniversary, a new documentary about his music and career will air Thursday, Nov. 12, at 8 p.m. on WSRE in
Pensacola and Nashville Public Television. For viewers everywhere, starting at 8 p.m. on Locklin's Grand Ole Opry anniversary date of Nov. 12, WSRE will offer a limited time stream of the film at wsre.org/hanklocklinfilm.
STAY-IN FAMILY MOVIE NIGHT Visit
the Pensacola Library, 239 N Spring St., on Fridays and Saturdays and check out one of the Family Movie Night Bundles. Bundles include a family-friendly movie, a bag of microwave popcorn and a family-friendly activity. Movies can be checked out for seven days, and the rest is yours to keep. For more information, visit mywfpl.com.
PMA OPEN STUDIO Participants of all ages and abilities are invited to step into the PMA Art Studio and create works of art using materials and methods inspired by Native American artists and traditions. Event is 11 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 14, at Pensacola Museum of Art, located at 407 S. Jefferson St. For more information, visit pensacolamuseum.org. PCA PRESENTS HOLIDAY SHOWING OF "PLANES, TRAINS AND AUTOMOBILES" Pensacola Cinema Art and
Generation Church will present a showing of "Planes, Trains and Automobiles" on Tuesday, Nov. 17, at 7 p.m. at The Rex Theatre, 18 N. Palafox, in celebration of the Thanksgiving holiday. Tickets are $5 (cash only). Face masks are required, and seating is limited to 50% capacity. For more information, visit pensacolacinemaart.com.
PENSACOLA CINEMA ART REOPENS
Pensacola Cinema Art will reopen Nov. 13 and 14 showing "Ammonite," starring Kate Winslet and Saoirse Ronan, at 1 p.m. both days and "Dreamland," starring Margot Robbie, at 4 p.m. both days. Admission is $7. Face masks are required, and there will be 50% maximum seating capacity. Tickets can be reserved by calling or texting 863446-7300 or emailing jpncinema@gmail. com. For more information, visit pensacolacinemaart.com.
FRIDAY THE 13TH DRAG Show begins at 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 13, at Dolce and Gelato, 2050 N. 12th Ave. Make sure to bring cash for performers. For more information, visit facebook.com/dolcegelatopensacola. 33ND CINCO BANDERAS COMPETITION OPEN HOUSE Check out artwork in
Artel Gallery's latest exhibit through Dec. 3. Artel Gallery is located at 223 S. Palafox. For more information, visit artelgallery.org.
CRAFT CLASSES AT STUDIO SOUTH ON NINE MILE Learn a new craft or meet
up with other makers at Studio South. Tuesdays is Knit Night 4-7 p.m., and Sit & Stitch is Saturdays 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Both classes are free. For a full calendar of events, visit studiosouthon9mileroad.com. Studio South is located at 955 E. Nine Mile Road. inweekly.net
November 12, 2020
17
a&e happenings PMA NEW EXHIBIT: "BRING ME THE HEAD OF OSCEOLA // THERE IS MORE TO REMEMBER" Pensacola
Museum of Art's latest exhibit is "Bring Me the Head of Osceola // There is More to Remember" from AnArchivist Sean Linezo. The exhibit interrogates the historical narratives of Osceola's death and explores representations of the famous Seminole leader in visual and popular culture. The exhibition is part of a larger initiative by the artist to make space for the representation of Native Americans in Florida history. The exhibition will be on view in the PMA Stairwell Gallery until Dec. 6. For more information, visit pensacolamuseum.org.
GALLERY NIGHT PENSACOLA PRESENTS: ARTIST TALKS Join Gallery Night Director Sydney Robinson as she interviews Pensacola area artists about their creative process. The Artist Talks series is a biweekly virtual event available on Facebook Live. Join in by visiting facebook.com/gallerynightpensacola.
SUNDAYS ON THE MEZZANINE Enjoy a full-length concert series every other Sunday at 3 p.m. on Facebook. Tickets are $9.99 and can be purchased online at facebook.com/pensacolaopera. SINGERS' CINEMA Every Friday after-
noon through August, enjoy a movie pick from the Choral Society of Pensacola. Infor-
mation on each week's movie and where to find it online will be available on their Facebook page, facebook.com/choralsocietyofpensacola. Some can be viewed free; most are available for rent for under $5. Watch the movie over the weekend, and then join the Choral Society Monday evenings for a Zoom session to share your thoughts.
LIVE MUSIC
JAZZ GUMBO CELEBRATES GUITARIST WES MONTGOMERY Visit Phineas
Phogg's at Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government, for Jazz Gumbo with Jazz Pensacola musicians 6:30-8:30 p.m. Monday, Nov. 16. Cost is $10 for members and guests, free to students with ID and military in uniform. Visit jazzpensacola.com for more info.
FRANK BROWN INTERNATIONAL SONGWRITERS FESTIVAL The annual
songwriter festival will be shorter than previous years, through Nov. 15, at various locations in Alabama and Florida. CDC guidelines will be in place at venues. Visit frankbrownsongwriters.com for more information and a lineup.
PENSACOLA OPERA AL FRESCO CONCERT SERIES Enjoy fresh air and
free performances from Pensacola Opera artists on Saturdays (weather permitting). All performances begin at 5:30 p.m. at Seville Square. Visit pensacolaopera.com for more information.
PSO IN THE PARK Grab a lawn chair and blanket and join Pensacola Symphony Orchestra for a series of free outdoor performances on select Sundays at Museum Plaza, located at 120 Church St. Upcoming dates are Nov. 15 and 29. For more information, visit facebook.com/pensacolasymphony. CURT BOL JAZZ QUARTET Visit Five Sisters Blues Café, located at 421 W. Belmont St., Sundays from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. and listen to Curt Bol Jazz Quartet. Visit curtbolband.com for more information.
OPEN JAM AT ARTEL GALLERY Artel
Gallery is open from 5-7 p.m. Wednesdays and Saturdays for open jam with Pensacola Folk Music Society. Feel free to visit and listen to music. Artel Gallery is located at 223 S. Palafox.
KARAOKE AT MUGS AND JUGS Sing
your heart out Sundays at Mugs & Jugs, 12080 Scenic Highway, or just enjoy drinks friends with $4 Smirnoff and $6.50 domestic pitcher drink deals from 7 p.m.-3 a.m. For more information, visit facebook.com/mugsjugs.
LIVE MUSIC AT HUB STACEY'S Sit back with good food and live music at Hub Stacey's, located at 312 E. Government St. For a full calendar of bands, check hubstaceys.com. MONDAY NIGHT BLUES AT SEVILLE QUARTER Seville Quarter and the Blues
Society of Northwest Florida bring the "Blues" back to the Seville Quarter Entertainment District, located at 130 E. Government St. every Monday night in End O' the Alley starting at 7 p.m. For more information, visit sevillequarter.com.
FITNESS + RECREATION
YONI HEALTH: MOON CYCLE Learn how to chart your cycle, steam with yoni herbs and empower yourself with this sacred form of feminine healing at Asher & Bee Apothecary and Tea House, 3014 N. Ninth Ave., Ste. B. Class begins at 2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 15, and includes teatime and a free gift. For more information, visit facebook.com/asherandbee. DESIGNING LIVABLE STREETS ONLINE LECTURE Join Escambia County transportation engineer Christine Fanchi as she shares her experience transforming existing streets into safe corridors for all modes, focusing on reducing fatalities using Vision Zero principles. The Zoom lecture is 7-8 p.m. Monday, Nov. 16. To register for the free event, visit facebook.com/bikepensacola.
KRUL LAKE HALF MARATHON Enjoy
a run through the Krul Lake Recreation area of Blackwater River State Forest. Race begins 7:30 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 21. Registration is $65. For more information, visit runsignup.com/race/info/fl/milton/krullakehalfmarathontrailrun.
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a&e happenings LOVE TO RIDE BENEFITS BIKE PENSACOLA Join Bike Pensacola and riders
across the state for the Love to Ride Florida challenge. The free statewide competition for individuals and organizations is to get more people riding bikes. The Love to Ride Florida challenge continues through the end of November. Individuals, social groups and workplaces can all participate, with a competition for the top spots on statewide leaderboards. When you register, join Bike Pensacola as your group and our organization will receive $1 that Bike Pensacola can put toward future Slow Rides and advocacy work. For more information, visit lovetoride.net/florida.
RELEASE & RENEW AT FITNESS IMPACT TRAINING At 8:15 a.m. on Mon-
days, Wednesdays and Fridays, release into a yin yoga flow centered around low-stress training for high-stress individuals. The focus will be on the basics of breath and openness in the shoulders, hips and spine. For more info, go to mindandmetta.online. Cost is $12 per class, and the location is 375 N. Ninth Ave, Ste. B. Limited space available. Ask about membership pricing.
GULF COAST BREWERY RUN Thurs-
days at 6 p.m., join Pensacola Runners Association for a 5K fun run. Enjoy a free beer after the run and complimentary games such as cornhole, ping pong and more. Gulf Coast Brewery is located at 500 E. Heinberg St. For more information, visit facebook.com/gulfcoastbrewery.
MEDITATIONS IN THE LABYRINTH
Join Empathic Practice and Felipe Muñoz for weekly mediations 5:30 p.m. on Fridays. The meditations are held at Long Hollow Park on Guillemard Street and are an opportunity for people to get together and practice guided meditations, singing bowl meditation and labyrinth walk meditation. All classes are free, although donations are accepted. Social distancing will be practiced. Bring your own mat or pillow. For more information, visit facebook.com/empathicpractice.
BEER GARDEN YOGA Join Coastal County Brewing Company Saturdays at 9 a.m. for the new Yoga in the Garden Series. Classes will be led by Tara Taylor, a highly experienced instructor from Breathe Pensacola. All skill levels are welcome. Cost is $10 and includes a pint of beer after the class. Coastal County Brewing Company is located at 3041 E. Olive Road. For more information, visit facebook.com/coastalcounty. SOUL FLOW YOGA AT BEAUTIFUL YOU STUDIO Every Tuesday at 7 a.m.,
flow and vibe with some soulful music to start the day. This hour-long class will center around engaging the core through smooth yet strong yoga sequences. Cost is $10 per class or $99 for unlimited 30-day pass. Located at 513 W. Intendencia St. For more info, go to mindandmetta.online. November 12, 2020
YOGA CLASSES AT EVER'MAN Beginner Yoga with John is 10 a.m. Thursdays, 4:30 p.m. Tuesdays and 12:15 p.m. Wednesdays. Funky Yoga Flow is 6 p.m. Tuesdays. And Vinyasa Yoga Flow is 6 p.m. Thursdays. All classes at Ever'man, 327 W. Garden St. For a full calendar of events, visit everman.org. SELF-LOVE SUNDAY AT BEAUTIFUL YOU STUDIO Come show yourself some
love through yoga every Sunday morning at 7 a.m. Self-love Sunday Slow Flow is all about giving yourself the love you deserve through loving kindness meditation, mindful breathwork and slow vinyasa. Cost is $10 per class or $99 for unlimited 30-day pass. Located at 513 W. Intendencia St. For more info, go to mindandmetta.online.
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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. Go to 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.
113 Palafox Place (Across from Saenger Theatre)
Pensacola
(850) 434-2060
OCEAN HOUR BEACH CLEAN-UPS
Ocean Hour has picked up its weekly beach clean-ups in the Pensacola area Saturdays at 8:45 a.m. Supplies will be provided, but volunteers are welcome to bring their own. For locations, visit oceanhourfl.com.
FOOD & WINE
HIGH ON THE HOG Back by popular demand, Fish House Sous Chef Chad Gorey will be presenting a Whole Beast Feast—the whole hog—and discussing the slow-roast cooking process, including a discussion of the cuts of the pig, how to best prepare each and how to dress the beast for a full roast along, with the step-by-step instructions for how to roast—including information for your own roaster. Event is 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 12. Cost is $45 per person. Seating is limited. RSVP at 2870200 or email taylor@goodgrits.com. LADIES NIGHT CHARCUTERIE CLASS
Learn the art of a charcuterie tray while enjoying gourmet cheeses and wine. Class is 6-8 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 12, at Bodacious, 19
a&e happenings located at 407-D S. Palafox. Cost is $65 per person. For more information, visit bodaciousshops.com.
THE PECAN: AMERICA'S NATIVE NUT In celebration of Florida's 200th
anniversary, Chef Irv Miller has created a special five-course food and wine event highlighting Renfroe Pecan Company on Thursday, Nov. 12, at 5:30 p.m. at Jackson's Steakhouse, located at 400 S. Palafox. Cost is $75 per person. Make your reservations by calling 469-9898.
TAPS ON THE DIAMOND CRAFT BEER DINNER Come thirsty and come
hungry to the Blue Wahoos Taps on the Diamond Dinner on Friday, Nov. 13, starting at 6:30 p.m. at Blue Wahoos Stadium, located at 351 W. Cedar St. Enjoy a gourmet five-course feast by Executive Chef Travis Wilson and the Blue Wahoos award-winning food service team. Each course of dinner will be accompanied by a matching 12 oz. beer served by Cigar City Brewing, and a brewery representative will be on-hand to explain each pairing. Gates open at 5 p.m. Tickets are $90. For more information and to register, visit milb.com/pensacola/ events/taptotable.
THE WOMAN'S CLUB MARKET PLACE Start holiday shopping with the Women's Club Market Place Nov. 13 and 14 from 8
a.m.-4 p.m. at 1551 E. Heinberg St. Arts, crafts, food and more will be available from local vendors. For more information, visit facebook.com/thewomansclubofpensacola.
FOURTH ANNUAL SZOTSKI'S CHEESECAKE AND CRAFT BEER/ WINE PAIRING Enjoy four half cheese-
cakes and four 5-oz pours of delicious craft beer at Gary's Brewery & Biergarten, located at 208 Newman Ave., from 4-7 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 14. A wine option will be a 2-oz pour. Advanced tickets will be sold for $20. Tickets purchased the day of will be available for $23. For more information, visit facebook.com/garysbrew.
FOOD TRUCK FEST Get your fill of local culinary creativity at the 2020 Food Truck Fest, 11 a.m.-8 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 14, at Community Maritime Park, located at 351 W. Cedar St. Admission is just $2. Visit orangebeachbreeze.com for more info.
O'RILEY'S OYSTER BASH Indulge in fresh raw oysters by the dozen at the Oyster Bash on Saturday, Nov. 14, from 2-4 p.m. at O'Riley's Irish Pub Downtown, located at 321 S. Palafox. An Esprit de Krewe featured cocktail will be available for purchase along with a featured beer to be announced. Visit facebook.com/orileys. dtown for more information.
O'RILEY'S WINTER BREWFEST 2020
THURSDAY BIERGARTEN TRIVIA NIGHT Gary's Brewery Trivia Night is back
Sample delicious appetizers from the kitchen and the latest craft beers available this winter season. Brewfest begins at 5 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 14, at O'Riley's Irish Pub, located at 321 S. Palafox. Tickets are $20-$25. Visit facebook.com/orileys.dtown for more information.
by popular demand. Thursdays from 7-9 p.m., test your trivia skills with a glass of beer or wine. Arrive early to grab a spot. Gary's Brewery is located at 208 Newman Ave. For more information, visit facebook. com/garysbrew.
FALL BAZAAR AT ODD COLONY
PALAFOX MARKET Palafox Market is
TAPAS & TREATS COOKING CLASS
PENSACOLA POSITIVITY'S SUNDAY MARKETS Sunday Markets on Palafox
Check out local vendors selling handmade items, thrifted goods, jewelry and more, with LeDough food truck, live music from Hane Skot, braid bar from Volume One and photobooth by Sarah Coleman. Bazaar is Sunday, Nov. 15, 11 a.m.-6 p.m., at Odd Colony, located at 260 N. Palafox. For more information, visit facebook.com/oddcolony.
Learn to make fall-friendly appetizers and drinks with Bodacious. Class is 6-8 p.m. Monday, Nov. 16, at Bodacious, 407-D S. Palafox. Cost is $65. Visit bodaciousshops. com for more information.
TACO TUESDAYS AT ODD COLONY
Visit Odd Colony Brewing Co. every Tuesday from 5-9 p.m. to grab dinner from The Tamale Truck, one of the newest food trucks from Nomadic Eats. Odd Colony is located at 260 N. Palafox. For more information, visit facebook.com/oddcolony.
back at its regular location in MLK Jr. Plaza. In a carefully planned, phased reopening, Palafox Market has launched with about half its regular vendors, showcasing food, farm produce and products geared toward safety and sanitation such as handmade soaps and face masks. For more information, visit facebook.com/downtownpensacola.
Street happen each Sunday from 10 a.m.- 3 p.m. in MLK Plaza on Palafox. Local makers, growers and creators gather each under the oak trees to sell their goods to the community. Interested vendors can request an application by emailing requeaskmikellah@ gmail.com. For more information, visit facebook.com/palafoxmarkets.
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This face was once masked by pain. Now, it’s a face that sees the light.
We are a non-profit, faith-centered ministry offering food, addiction recovery services, housing, spiritual guidance and more to Escambia County’s most vulnerable and under-resourced residents.
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An Open Letter to Jeff Bezos
Dear Jeff, I want to tell you about the little town of Century, Florida. But before I tell you about the town, let me tell you what we want. The people of Century are asking for 250 of your jobs. After you hear our story, I think you’ll agree that you and your business should be here, too. Century was founded in 1901 as a sawmill company town and named so because 1901 was the first year of the 20th century. The people who settled Century were mostly carpet-baggers from Michigan. During the Civil War, the northerners observed our rich timber. And like many things, Southern pine trees were harder and stronger than the trees from the North. Loggers would use the Escambia River to send cut timber to the deep-water port in Pensacola, Florida, the same port where your Blue Origin ship, the Stena Freighter, is docked for rocket landings today. While a local treasure and the town historian, 81-year-old Jerry Fischer, couldn’t say what the population was around the time that the Town was founded, Mr. Fischer did know that in 1878 the town had four saloons. The town has always been strong spirited. After the United States Secretary of War during the Civil War, Russell A. Alger, and a Florida landowner, Martin Sullivan, brought the Alger-Sullivan Lumber Company and a sawmill to the town, the mill was the main source of life. If you needed groceries, you went to the Alger-Sullivan commissary. If you needed medication, you went to their drugstore. Citizens attended the Alger-Sullivan schools which included one of the first African-American schools. And if you found yourself in trouble and needed help, Alger-Sullivan took care of it. This was the Alger-Sullivan way of doing things. Alger-Sullivan Lumber Company built the homes, the sewer system, and the churches. It was the largest sawmill east of the Mississippi River, and it ran strong up until the 1960s. In the early years, the mill boasted 400-500 employees. When the lumber company dissolved, the financial support and community provisions went with the mill jobs. Even yet, Century did not lose sight of the Alger-Sullivan way. Today, Century is populated by around 1800 residents, a majority of which are African-American. All of our citizens have always had great friendships amongst themselves. Those who have lived here the longest, like Mr. Fischer, will tell you that when it comes to good people, Century lacks nothing. In Century, if you’ve got it, and your neighbor needs it, you give it to him, and you do so gladly. If you go to the Food Giant, Century’s grocery store, you will have to hug a half-a-dozen people, black and white, before you can shop because everybody knows everybody, and everyone wants to say hi. That’s just the way it is. In 2016, the town was hit by an E-3 tornado, demolishing and devastating everything in its path. Our town is still recovering. As you can imagine, insurance companies don’t thrive on policies issued on properties like those in Century, and most of our residents couldn’t afford insurance anyway. Our people are poor; our properties are distressed, and the economy is almost non-existent. However, what we lack in prosperity, we make up for with love and respect. Our relationships are strong, and our people are stronger. Now, about those jobs… When you recently chose a location for Amazon’s headquarters in 2018, you made a decision to invest more than $5 billion (yes, billion with a b for those others who are reading this open letter) and create 50,000 new jobs for Americans in major cities. It’s no wonder that the competition for Amazon’s business was fierce. Few missed the drama between Amazon and Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez in New York City. Virginia was selected for your headquarters along with a new operations center in Nashville, TN. Of course, the announcement of an expansion to Amazon’s presence in Seattle from 3,100 employees to 25,000 employees certainly made the news. In the hunt for the next Amazon home, you said that economic incentives were one factor in the selection process but that finding top-talent was the leading driver. We can give you both. The town’s area consists of 3.4 square miles. Its location is ideal for industry. A CSX railway runs through the town. US Highway 29 is used to reach points north. Alabama State Route 113 leads north from the state line to Interstate 65 and provides a route to Montgomery, Birmingham and Atlanta. From a southbound perspective, Century is en route between these major cities and the beautiful white sand beaches of Pensacola and Perdido Key, Florida. In Century, there is plenty of property available for development. The Town has water, gas and a sewer system. There is a medical facility and an industrial park. And Century is located right in the center of a scattering of quaint Southern towns and unincorporated areas. You will find that talent is not bound by jurisdictional lines or limited to big cities, and Century and the surrounding communities have plenty to provide. Not only can we meet transportation and infrastructure needs, but as a low-income, undercapitalized and economically distressed area, the entire town of Century is an Opportunity Zone and offers tax incentives to encourage those like you with capital gains to invest in our future. We have much to offer. The Town of Century is ripe for development, and this is where you come in. We invite you to stand in the shoes of the AlgerSullivan Lumber Company. Bring us your business and breathe life back into our city. For the longest time, the Town of Century has seemed to be the little town that couldn’t. Our sawmill closed. Our jobs dried up. Then there was the tornado (and now a hurricane), and the problems caused by poverty appear insurmountable. Some may laugh at this request and scoff that Century cannot compete with such profit generators as big cities, that we won’t get your attention and don’t deserve your time. However, we are strong. We are loving. We are hard-working and down-home, salt-of-theearth people who still sit on our front porches watching our kids play in the streets. We need a company with a heart for its community to give us a chance to rise to the occasion. With your help, as when Russell Alger and Martin Sullivan brought their mill to us at the end of the Civil War, we will rise. You can forever change the lives of our sawmill town. With you, we will be the little town that COULD. If you are still not convinced, come see it for yourself. Join us the first Saturday in May 2021 for our annual sawmill day. See our smiles and feel our hospitality. Have sweet tea, homemade ice cream and peach cobbler on our porches. Ride down Highway 29 for a rocket landing on your ship. Then give us your jobs. You won’t be disappointed. We will be grateful. —Ben Boutwell-Mayor Elect Century Florida; Michelle Salzman-Republican for Florida House District 1; Kevin Stephens, ECUA District 5; Steven Barry-Escambia County Commissioner District 5; and Friends of Century, Florida November 12, 2020
21
free will astrology WEEK OF NOVEMBER 12 ARIES (MARCH 21-APRIL 19): "Love can't always do work," wrote novelist Iris Murdoch. "Sometimes it just has to look into the darkness." From what I can tell, you've been doing that recently—looking into the darkness for love's sake. That's a good thing. You have been the beneficiary of the blessings that come through the contemplation of mysteries and enigmas. You've been recalibrating your capacity to feel love and tenderness in the midst of uncertainty. I suspect that it will soon be time to shift course, however. You're almost ready to engage in the intimate work that has been made possible by your time looking into the darkness.
TAURUS (APRIL 20-MAY 20): Author
Barbara Kingsolver says, "Don't try to figure out what other people want to hear from you; figure out what you have to say." That's always valuable advice, but it'll be especially useful to keep in mind during the coming weeks. You're probably going to feel more pressure than usual to tell others what they wish you would tell them; you may experience some guilt or worry about being different from their expectations of you. Here's the good news—I'm pretty certain you can be true to yourself without seeming like a jerk to anyone or damaging your long-term interests. So you might as well say and do exactly what's real and genuine.
GEMINI (MAY 21-JUNE 20): "The violets in the mountains have broken the rocks," wrote playwright Tennessee Williams. I think that's a poetic but accurate description of the feat you've been working on lately, Gemini. You're gently smashing through stony obstructions. You've been calling on your irrepressible will to enjoy life as you have outsmarted the rugged, jagged difficulties. You're relying on beauty and love to power your efforts to escape a seemingly no-win situation. Congratulations! Keep up the good work! CANCER (JUNE 21-JULY 22): Cancerian rapper Vince Staples says, "I feel like it's impossible to be completely yourself." Why?
GRAPHIC NOVELS
By Rob Brezsny
Because ideally we're always outgrowing who we have become; we're moving beyond the successes we have already achieved. There is no final, whole, ideal "self" to inhabit and express—only more and more of our selfness to create. Staples suggests we'd get bored if we reached a mythical point where we had figured out exactly who we are and embodied it with utter purity. We always have a mandate to transform into a new version of our mystery. Sounds like fun! Everything I just said, Cancerian, is an empowering meditation for you right now.
LEO (JULY 23-AUG. 22): "I am my own sanctuary and I can be reborn as many times as I choose throughout my life." Singer-songwriter Lady Gaga said that, and now I offer it to you to use as your motto. According to my analysis of the astrological omens, it's a fabulous time to be your own sanctuary. I invite you to rebirth yourself at least twice between now and the end of November. What's the first step you'll take to get started? VIRGO (AUG. 23-SEPT. 22): The Na-
tional Football League is a giant socialist enterprise. It earns billions of dollars of revenue and shares it equally with each of its 32 teams. So the team in Green Bay, Wis., population 105,000, receives the same payout as the team in Chicago, population 2.7 million. I advocate a comparable approach for you in the coming weeks. Just for now, distribute your blessings and attention and favors as evenly as possible, showing no favoritism toward a particular child or friend or pet or loved one or influence. Be an impartial observer, as well. Try to restrain biases and preferential treatment as you act with even-handed fairmindedness. Don't worry: You can eventually go back to being a subjective partisan if you want. For the foreseeable future, your well-being requires cordial neutrality.
LIBRA (SEPT. 23-OCT. 22): "Who is to decide between 'Let it be' and 'Force it'?" asked Libran author Katherine Mansfield. I mention this because you're now hanging out in the limbo zone between "Let it be" and "Force it." But very soon—I'm sure
you'll have a clear intuition about when— you'll figure out how to make a decisive move that synthesizes the two. You will find a way to include elements of both "Let it be" and "Force it."
SCORPIO (OCT. 23-NOV. 21): "I hold a
beast, an angel, and a madman in me," wrote Scorpio poet Dylan Thomas (1914–1953) in a letter to a friend. That sounds like a lot of energy to manage! And he didn't always do a good job at it—although he did at times tap into his primal wellspring to create some interesting poetry. I'm going to use Thomas's words in your horoscope, because I think that in the coming weeks you can be a subtle, refined and mature blend of a beast, angel and madperson. Be your wisest wild self, dear Scorpio.
SAGITTARIUS (NOV. 22-DEC. 21):
Activist and author Rebecca Solnit writes, "The grounds of my hope have always been that history is wilder than our imagination of it and that the unexpected shows up far more regularly than we ever dream." In my astrological estimation, her grounds for hope should also be yours in the coming weeks. The future is more wide-open than you might think. The apparent limitations of the past are at least temporarily suspended and irrelevant. Your fate is purged of some of your old conditioning and the inertia of tradition. I encourage you to make a break for freedom. Head in the direction of the Beautiful Unknown.
CAPRICORN (DEC. 22-JAN. 19): The
famous Leaning Tower of Pisa doesn't stand straight, but tilts at an angle. Why? The soil it was built on is soft on one side. So the marble-and-limestone structure began to tip even before it was finished. That's the weird news. The good news is that the tower has remained standing for more than eight centuries—and has stayed intact even though four major earthquakes have rolled through the area. Why? A research team of engineers determined it's because of the soft foundation soil, which prevents the tower from resonating violently with the temblors. So the very factor that makes it odd is what keeps it strong. Is
there a comparable phenomenon in your life? I believe there is. Now is a good time to acknowledge this blessing—and enhance your use of it.
AQUARIUS (JAN. 20-FEB. 18): Even
if you tend to pay more attention to what's going wrong than what's going right, I ask you to change your attitude for the next three weeks. Even if you believe that cynicism is an intelligent perspective and a positive attitude is a wasteful indulgence, I encourage you to suspend those beliefs. As an experiment—and in accordance with astrological potentials—I invite you to adopt the words of activist Helen Keller as your keynote—"Every optimist moves along with progress and hastens it, while every pessimist would keep the world at a standstill. The consequence of pessimism in the life of a nation is the same as in the life of the individual. Pessimism kills the instinct that urges people to struggle against poverty, ignorance and crime, and dries up all the fountains of joy in the world."
PISCES (FEB. 19-MARCH 20): Re-
searchers in the UK found that 62 percent of the adult population brags that they've read classic books that they have not in fact read. Why? Mostly to impress others. George Orwell's 1984 is the top-rated book for fake claims, followed by Tolstoy's "War and Peace," James Joyce's "Ulysses" and the Bible. I hope you won't engage in anything like that type of behavior during the weeks ahead. In my opinion, it's even more crucial than usual for you to be honest and authentic about who you are and what you do. Lying about it might seem to be to your advantage in the short run, but I guarantee it won't be. THIS WEEK'S HOMEWORK: What's the one thing you have never said to your best friend that you really should say?
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freewillastrology@freewillastrology.com Rob Brezsny © Copyright 2020
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news of the weird INEXPLICABLE Firefighters with Essex County (England) Fire and Rescue Service were called to a derelict laundromat in Epping on Oct. 30, where three young men had become trapped inside an industrial-sized tumble dryer. Two of them had climbed all the way into the dryer, while the third had managed to get his ankles trapped in the door. Firefighters were joined by Essex Police, a medical helicopter and the ambulance service as they employed "a lot of heavy equipment" to free the men, watch manager Glenn Jackson told Sky News. No word on what they were looking for in there. RISE OF THE MACHINES A thief in Lippstadt, Germany, was foiled by his own booty on Oct. 27 as he tried to make off with a robotic lawnmower. The Associated Press reported that the robot sent a message to the owner's smartphone, alerting the man that it had been flipped upside down. When the owner went to investigate, he saw the thief with the robot under his arm. Police said the thief then dropped the lawnmower and fled. •Craig Hershoff of Miami has invented a robot to help people like himself who may have difficulty using the special contact lenses they wear for vision problems that can't be helped with regular contacts. The Cliara Lens Robot can insert and remove the lenses by voice activation. "It really helps with dexterity," Hershoff told WPLG, especially for elderly or disabled people. The robot is being tested in a clinical trial in Boston, and he hopes to have FDA clearance on it early next year. •Fans of the Caledonian Thistle soccer team in Inverness, Scotland, were frustrated as they watched a broadcast of the club's Oct. 24 game against rival Ayr United when the new robotic cameras programmed to follow the ball around the pitch focused instead on the bald head of one of the game's linesmen. The team had proudly announced a week earlier that it would be replacing human camera operators with a new system "with in-built, AI, ball-tracking technology" to stream live HD footage of home games to season ticket holders and fans who purchased the service. IFLScience reported that while many fans complained, others "saw this as a bonus, given the usual quality of performance." BRIGHT IDEAS Two passengers traveling together on an American Airlines flight from Dallas to Miami on Oct. 30 were removed before taking off after one of the women attempted to sneak from coach into first class and hide in the footwell of her friend's seat, Fox News reported. The flight had already been delayed because of a catering issue, according to a witness, who said, "Apparently the plan was for this woman's friend to remain there the entire flight ... (as a stunt to) drive viewers to their YouTube channel." Flight attendants discovered the plot when
By the Editors at Andrews McMeel
they noticed an empty seat in coach, and the plane returned to the gate so the friends could be removed. The witness reported an unrelated passenger was also removed after he "cussed out" a flight attendant over the delay. •An unnamed man from Idaho Falls, Idaho, pleaded guilty in a Mammoth Hot Springs, Wyoming, court on Sept. 10 to citations including walking in restricted thermal areas of Yellowstone National Park after park rangers found him with a cooking pot and a burlap sack containing two whole chickens near a hot spring. Witnesses tipped off rangers on Aug. 7 that a group of 10 people, including a child, were seen hiking toward Shoshone Geyser Basin carrying cooking pots, EastIdahoNews.com reported. The man was ordered to pay fines and has been banned from Yellowstone for two years. AWESOME! Julie McSorley of San Luis Obispo, California, and her friend Liz Cottriel were enjoying a sunny day of kayaking and whale-watching at Avila Beach on Nov. 2 when they were overturned by a humpback that got too close while feeding. "I saw the big pool of fish, the big bait ball come up out of the water. ... All of a sudden, I lifted up and I was in the water," McSorley told KMPH. "I thought it was gonna land on me," Cottriel said. Other paddleboarders and kayakers came to their rescue, thinking the whale may have bitten the women, but it merely pushed them underwater. "We got back to the car, I was shaking my shirt and a bunch of fish came out of my shirt," Cottriel said. •Loyola University graduate Brianna Hill went into labor within minutes of sitting down to take the Illinois bar exam on Oct. 5, but "I didn't think about it because I was in the test," she told NBC5 in Chicago. Hill continued and finished the first part of the test, then gave birth to a healthy son hours later at West Suburban Hospital in Oak Park, Illinois. She tackled the second part of the exam the next day, from the hospital, breastfeeding during breaks. The whole experience was "definitely a little crazy," she said. She'll find out if she passed in December. I KNEW I FORGOT SOMETHING Deputies of the Anderson (Tennessee) County Sheriff's Office responded to a report of a stolen log splitter in Marlow on Oct. 22, and discovered a severed finger among items left at the scene. Hugh Seeber, 50, later appeared at a local medical center with a missing finger, WATE reported, and was taken to UT Medical Center in Knoxville, where Anderson County Det. Sean Flynn met him with the severed digit. Seeber was charged with felony theft. {in} From Andrews McMeel Syndication News Of The Weird © 2020 Andrews McMeel
Send your weird news items to WeirdNewsTips@amuniversal.com November 12, 2020
23
Little things done in a big way.
Independent News | November 12, 2020 | inweekly.net