Inweekly Nov. 16 2023 Issue by Inweekly

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Independent News | November 16, 2023 | Volume 24 | Number 45

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outtakes

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happenings 14

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. © 2023 Inweekly Media, Inc. All rights reserved.

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winners

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2023 BLUE ANGELS HOMECOMING AIRSHOW The flight team's final airshow at NAS

MICHELLE SALZMAN The state lawmaker created international news when she shouted, "All of Them." When Rep. Angie Nixon was addressing the Florida House about supporting a ceasefire in Gaza and asked how many dead Palestinians would be enough. Salzman's flippant, attentiongetting outburst surprised GOP lawmakers and was seen by many as a call for the genocide of all Palestinians. She tried to spin it, even claiming she didn't say it, but Salzman did. Careless, thoughtless remarks got her predecessor, Mike Hill, booted out of office. Hill laughed about sentencing gay people to death. Salzman will survive this flub, but she needs to realize her words matter.

Pensacola honored the significant contributions women have made to U.S. naval aviation since the enactment of the Women's Armed Services Integration Act, which removed restrictions previously prohibiting women from serving in combat-related roles and ultimately opened the door for women to pursue careers as Naval aviators. Special guests at the airshow included women in the first classes of women aviators admitted to naval aviation flight training at NAS Pensacola in 1973 and other pioneering women in naval aviation. Capt. (ret.) Lee Hansen, Capt. (ret.) Kay Hire, Cmdr. (ret) Chris Giza, Capt. (ret.) Joellen Oslund and Capt. (ret.) Mary Louise Griffin appeared, interacting with community members and posing for photos.

UWF MILITARY & VETERANS RESOURCE CENTER Military Times ranked the University of

West Florida at No. 12 on its "Best for Vets" college list released by Military Times–UWF's ever-highest ranking on the list of 325 schools. For 12 years, the UWF Military & Veterans Resource Center has served as a leading campus advocate for military, dependents and veteran students, working to ensure the needs of these individuals are met through coordinating with multiple university offices and services. The Military Times' Best for Vets survey is sent to colleges and universities nationwide, asking about their programs for veterans. The survey results are then analyzed, along with public data about colleges and universities obtained from the Department of Education and the Department of Veterans Affairs.

PACKY MITCHELL The Cantonment Rotary Club presented the "Service Above Self" award to Cantonment contractor Packy Mitchell for his years supporting the Miracle League of Pensacola, Tate High School and the community. The Miracle League of Pensacola was founded in February 2002 to allow individuals with mental and/or physical challenges to play baseball in an organized league. Every player plays, hits, gets on base, scores and wins. Cantonment Rotary Club was an early supporter of the league. 44

PAUL RENNER Amid overwhelming opposition to consolidation, a committee appointed by the Florida Supreme Court unanimously recommended against shrinking the number of judicial circuits in the state. Chief Justice Carlos Muñiz in July issued an order establishing the committee to explore whether any of the state's 20 judicial circuits should be consolidated, an idea pushed by House Speaker Paul Renner, R-Palm Coast. However, state attorneys, public defenders, judges, sheriffs, other elected officials, attorneys and members of the public from the Florida Keys to the Panhandle vehemently argued against a potential decrease in the number of circuits. VIVEK RAMASWAMY The GOP presiden-

tial hopeful had the three most memorable moments of the third Republican debate. Unfortunately, they weren't good. In the first 15 minutes, he took swipes at three women in the first 15 minutes, attacking RNC chair Ronna McDaniel, "Meet the Press" moderator Kristen Welker, and opponent Nikki Haley—"Dick Cheney in 3-inch heels." He doubled down with an attack on Haley's daughter and drew fire from the former South Carolina governor—"You're just scum." He turned off the female voters that the GOP seeks to win over. Gov. Ron DeSantis later admitted Ramaswamy went too far. The other miscue was Ramaswamy calling Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky a "Nazi." His political future may have imploded in Miami. inweekly.net

outtakes

By Rick Outzen

HERITAGE HOAX Last week, The Heritage Foundation ranked Florida No. 1 in Education Freedom for the second year in a row, putting the DeSantis administration in the top five for education choice (No. 2), transparency (No. 1), teacher freedom (No. 2) and return on investment (No. 5). "By providing universal school choice, parental rights in education and curriculum transparency, we have ensured that parents are able to fully direct the upbringing of their children," said Gov. Ron DeSantis in a press release. Commissioner of Education Manny Diaz, Jr. added, "Under Gov. Ron DeSantis' leadership, Florida continues to prioritize school choice and transparency within our education system, benefitting both our students and parents." The report card announcement shouldn't be a surprise. DeSantis headlined The Heritage Foundation's 50th-anniversary Leadership Summit in April. Last month, he spoke at the foundation's Mandate for Leadership Series. Last year, the governor delivered the keynote speech when The Heritage Foundation unveiled its Education Freedom report card. When you look at the laws passed under DeSantis, you can see The Heritage Foundation's influence on Florida's education system. The Heritage Foundation sees education choice, transparency, teacher freedom and return on investment differently than many of us. The foundation ties its transparency grades to laws banning critical race theory, sniffing out what it considers indoctrination and parents, not teachers, deciding the curricula and learning materials. Parents and taxpayers should review classroom assignments before teachers use them for K–12 instruction. Groups like Moms for Liberty are on witch hunts to fire and even arrest teachers and librarians. We've seen teaching vacancies balloon as the Florida Legislature passed The Heritage Foundation's agenda, but don't worry. The foundation has another category that tells lawmakers how to fill the positions. For the foundation, teacher freedom means teachers don't have to have college degrees to November 16, 2023

instruct students. According to the report card, 47% of Florida teachers are alternatively certified, "making their way to the K–12 classroom without a traditional university-based college of education." The Heritage Foundation would like to see the state eliminate teaching certifications completely. Last month, the State Board of Education approved a Teacher Apprenticeship Program to create a new pathway for individuals to enter the teaching profession and "increase the pipeline of high-quality teachers in Florida classrooms." Chief Diversity Officers are a no-no because they are "political activists who articulate and enforce an ideological orthodoxy within school districts." The chief diversity officers limit academic freedom in the classroom, according to The Heritage Foundation. Will having less qualified teachers lower the quality of public education? Don't worry. The conservative think tank also believes standardized testing lowers standards. Eliminate the testing that was used when the schools had certified teachers, and you won't have to worry about comparisons. Florida has scrapped its standardized testing system and is seeking a new accrediation system to avoid punishment for adopting the foundation's policies. The Heritage Foundation loves Florida's new expanded voucher programs that pay for children's education, whether it's public, private or home-schooled. The state heavily regulates public schools, but private schools have no reporting requirements and very little accountability. Florida's lowest ranking was in the Return on Investment category (No. 5). According to the report card, the state spends the 48th-most per pupil, about a third least per pupil, spending $10,962 in cost-of-living-adjusted terms annually. Florida tied with Colorado and Idaho for ninth place in its combined fourth-grade and eighthgrade math and reading average scores. Does the Education Freedom report card and the laws based on it improve public education? Will our children receive a better education and become more productive citizens? I doubt it. {in} rick@inweekly.net

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NEW PATH INTO CONSTRUCTION TRADE

Photo Courtesy of Escambia County

By Tom St. Myer Escambia County Workforce Development Manager Joseph Glover grew up in an era when adults encouraged youths to seek a college education or enlist in the military after high school. Blue-collar jobs were taboo. Why be an electrician, carpenter or plumber when you could be a doctor, lawyer or highranking military officer? Glover has plenty of reasons why. "The reality is everybody doesn't fit into those categories," he said. "Everybody's not going to be a professional athlete, and not everybody is cut out for the military. And then with college, if someone has the aptitude to go to college, there are other barriers like finance. Look at student loan debt. We don't want another generation to have to deal with that. We have to find other alternatives to allow young people to support themselves and their families."

"Let young people recognize you're not a failure because you go to work and get dirty every day. You’re a success story." Joseph Glover Glover said skilled construction trades offer an alternative path to high-paying jobs for youth with no interest in higher education or military service. Skilled with a hammer, saw or plunger? Then, be prepared to earn a salary that will comfortably support you and your family. 66

County Commissioner Lumon May can attest to the financial security. Like his parents before him, he has carved out a successful career in the construction industry. "Vocational and blue-collar jobs are still valuable," said May, owner of May's Construction. "Let young people recognize you're not a failure because you go to work and get dirty every day. You're a success story." Instilling that lesson in the underserved youth is one of the goals of the Block-by-Block Program, an initiative open to county youth ages 16-24 interested in starting a career in the construction industry. The county is partnering with AMIkids Emerald Coast, CareerSource Escarosa and Pensacola State College to create the career paths. The roots of the Block-by-Block Program date back to 2017. Then, County Administrator Jack Brown worked to launch the Escambia County Outreach Program for Employment Skills Block by Block. The long-named program started with masonry and sought to teach trade skills to the underserved population. Brown resigned less than a year later, and the program floundered until finally gaining traction in March 2022, when May partnered with AMIkids to renovate the county-owned Brownsville House on Gonzalez Street. AMIkids is a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping youth develop into responsible and productive citizens. The youth teamed up with Duggins Services to complete carpentry, fencing, flooring, HVAC installation and painting of the Brownsville House. The success of that partnership spurred

the county to expand to the Block-by-Block Program. Qualified applicants will attend six-week courses in construction with the goals of attaining a basic certification and high-paying jobs. Youth will be paid a stipend while earning their National Center for Construction Education & Research certificate. No experience is necessary, nor is a high school diploma required. Youth with criminal records are eligible. The only requirement is the applicant pass a drug test and remain drug-free throughout the program. "We're targeting atrisk youth and those who live in the underserved communities in Escambia County," said Glover, who leads the recruiting process and handles case management. "If you made a mistake in the past, I'm not interested in the past. I'm interested in their future. We've all made mistakes—some bigger than others. There's re-entry in this community." The first course will be on carpentry and is scheduled to begin in January. Glover said his goal is to attract a minimum of 10 students for the first cohort. The former deputy fire chief spent the past seven years in the classroom as a teacher at the Escambia County Public Schools Fire Fighter Career Academy. Glover said he has already identified a few youths he considers perfect for the program.

"If you made a mistake in the past, I'm not interested in the past. I'm interested in their future." Glover May said he considers a low number of students to be ideal for the first cohort. He prefers quality over quantity and building a sustainable model with a firm foundation. "My dear friend Quint Studer says a short chain with strong links is better than a long chain with weak links," May said. Block-by-Block held a symposium in early November at the Brownsville Community Center. The Escambia County Workforce Development division recruited prospective youth trainees and provided detailed information about the program. Representatives from CareerSource Escarosa, George Stone Technical College and PSC spoke to attendees about on-the-job training opportunities and programs, scholarships and

apprenticeships. Representatives from AMIkids also provided information about the Youth Build Program. In addition, county staff answered questions about current county job openings and assisted with the application process. The group opted to hold the symposium in Brownsville for good reason. Brownsville is in the 32505 zip code, where at-risk youth are prevalent. According to the U.S. Census, the 32505 population is nearly 30,000 and the median household income is a mere $38,863, almost $20,000 below the Escambia County average. Blacks and Hispanics account for slightly more than 50% of the population. A significant percentage of that population lives in rundown houses and apartments located in blighted, crime-infested neighborhoods void of health care facilities, retail stores and restaurants.

"Our community can do a better job, in my opinion, helping young people believe in themselves and having a sense of self-worth." Glover "There are a lot of young people out there who are essentially having to grow up a lot faster than many of us," Glover said. "They're having to go into the workforce a lot sooner, so they need to have some type of guidance and direction. They need to have a sense of worth and belief in themselves. Our community can do a better job, in my opinion, helping young people believe in themselves and having a sense of self-worth." Glover envisions offering courses on virtually all the skilled construction trades, including electrical, plumbing and masonry. He said carpentry is the ideal starting block before transitioning to more challenging courses. "It's the most basic and covers a lot of different things from painting to hanging sheetrock," Glover said. "We'll possibly do more than one class at a time. The main thing is we want to set up the students for success. We don't want anything that's going to hinder them. We'll do everything possible to make them successful." May said the path to a successful career in construction is readily available to anyone devoted enough to dirty their hands. CareerSource Escarosa is offering incentives for construction companies to hire graduates of the program. The employment agency will pay 75% of the salary for the first six months. "We have a robust building program," May said. "We'll build about 15 houses next year and 15 the next year after that. What we're saying to our contractors and subcontractors is hire local. We can't make them do that, but we can encourage them to." {in} Any youth interested in participating in the program should contact Glover at (850) 5721938 or jaglover@myescambia.com. inweekly.net

THE STATE OF D.C.

D.C. Reeves / Photo Courtesy of City of Pensacola

By Rick Outzen Pensacola Mayor D.C. Reeves delivered his first State of the City address at CivicCon, a speakers series hosted by the News Journal and Studer Community Institute on Tuesday, Nov. 14. Because the speech was after our print deadline, the mayor agreed to sit down with Inweekly on his Veterans Day holiday and talk about his first year. "This year, for me personally, has been certainly one of assessment of city operation, its 800 employees and $300-plus million budget. How do we put ourselves in the best position to be successful?" he said. "Year Two, for me, is really focused on the people and execution. We've put a lot of irons in the fire, and we've got to see those things through. "

CITY EMPLOYEES

Mayor Reeves has talked often at his press conferences and town halls about the importance of hiring and retaining talented staff. He worked on Mayor Grover Robinson's transition team that recommended an annual employee engagement, which Reeves wanted to reemphasize in his administration.

November 16, 2023

"We had 72% of the staff in 2022 fill out the survey," the mayor said. "Any department director will tell you how important this was to me to get everyone to fill it out because you don't really have a lay of the land if you don't have everybody—good news, bad news or otherwise. We got it to 89%; basically, nine out of 10 employees filled it out, which is the highest it's ever been at the city." The survey showed him opportunities for improvement, but he wanted to dig deeper and paid for a compensation study that found the City was in the lower 20th percentile for municipalities. "Four out of five pay better than we do," Mayor Reeves said. "And so it's one thing to rationalize and say everyone wants more pay, but how can we expect people to be happy to come to work every day? How can we desire outcomes for our services? How can we recruit and retain people if we're not paying competitively or fairly?" He pointed out that the starting pay for firefighters is $12 an hour, and some longtime employees are making $15 an hour. The mayor will propose next year a comprehensive change to salaries across the board. "It's going to be north of $2 million annually, and it'll be a three-year phase-in approach," Reeves said. "We're still tweaking percentages of credit details. We've had literally dozens of meetings with department directors over the last four months. My expectation is to be able to roll that out to staff in January." He added, "It will be the largest single pay reform that we've had. If we want great outcomes for citizens in the city, we've got to have people showing up, respected for their work and showing up happy to work every day."

APPROACHING PROBLEMS

Mayor Reeves has tackled several thorny issues—such as curbside recycling, downtown parking and red light cameras. Inweekly asked what's his process for dealing with problems. "I always have kind of exploratory meetings, what I call 'what if meetings,' because I want to look at problems as a collaborator," the mayor said, "I like to get every smart person I can in a room and say, 'Let's just walk through this.' It might be the last meeting we have about it, but that's how I approach these complex issues." For curbside recycling, he brought in Dr. Krieger, an associate professor in finance at the University of West Florida, to play out the financial side of various scenarios. "He's the smartest statistician I know, and I wanted an outsider to help us do the math." Reeves added, "I don't make a lot of abrupt decisions on big, complex issues because I want to make sure it's something that we can execute. These big topics that we know could cause some heartache or could be hard to understand, we try to do very meticulously." The decision to suspend curbside recycling came after multiple meetings over several months. The markets for many recycled items had tanked. The curbside pickups were going to the landfill and not being recycled. "Our staff added a second garbage pickup a week and a drop-off site on Saturdays and continues to work on long-term solutions," Mayor Reeves said. "The easy thing to do for us as a city is to just do nothing, but it is really about what we believe is the right thing to do."

VISIONARY PROJECTS

Mayor Reeves has several visionary projects that will take multiple years to complete, but he wants them to start in 2024—a new airport terminal, ST Engineering Hangar 3, American Magic's headquarters, Hollice T. Williams Park and the redevelopment of the old Baptist Hospital campus. "My priority number one, legislatively at the federal and state level, is that new airport terminal," the mayor shared. "Every aspect of

our airport is already past capacity. The seams are gone. It's not bursting at the seams; the seams have left us." Reeves sees the Hollice T. Williams initiative, a city park under Interstate 110, as more than a stormwater project. He wants to reconnect the community that was lost when the highway overpass was built 50 years ago. "I want to make sure that before we get too far down the road, we will do unprecedented community engagement and tactics that have never been done here," he said. "We really want to get stakeholders that will care, not about what's in the park, but about this park for years to come. We want to help build the groundswell of support—not just have a meeting, show you a photo for an hour and get your feedback. I want to make sure that the foundation is built for this entire district around advocacy." The mayor believes American Magic, our country's entry in the 2024 America's Cup, can transform Pensacola and put it on the map as the best sailing destination in the United States of America. "I think this injection of a new and pivoted identity for the port makes a lot of sense," Reeves said. "I really think that American Magic becomes the tipping point of the new identity of the north side of the port, and I fully expect that American Magic will be a huge attractor of those types of things that we don't even know about yet."

EMPOWERMENT

What makes Mayor D.C. Reeves tick? "There's something vindicating about making hard decisions, and at the end of the day, going to bed just really believing this is the right thing to do for the City," Mayor Reeves shared. "There's something vindicating about it. There's no need to think about what are the ulterior factors. I'm not trying to be the president one day. What I want to do is live here the rest of my life, and I want this to be the best City it can be." He continued, "There's this kind of empowering feeling that you get to wake up and make objective decisions of what's best for the City of Pensacola and have a positive impact on people's lives." {in}

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Nominations must be emailed to rick@inweekly.net by midnight Wednesday, Nov. 22. Send us their name, email address and a brief reason why you believe they are a Rising Star. We will contact them to send in more information for the selection committee.

REAL-TIME CRIME CENTER IN ACTION

Lumon May and Steven Barry / Photo Courtesy of Escambia County

PASSING THE GAVEL Commissioner Ste-

ven Barry presented a plaque and gavel to Commissioner Lumon May for his service as chairman during the previous year at the Nov. 2 Board of County Commissioners meeting. Barry will serve as the new chairman and Commissioner Robert Bender as the vice chairman for the coming year. "It is an honor to serve the citizens of Escambia County and represent District 5 as the chairman for a third year," said Commissioner Barry. "I want to thank my colleague and dear friend Lumon May for his outstanding leadership as our previous chairman. We have made some great strides under his direction, and I intend to continue that momentum to move Escambia County forward." Commissioner May said, "I want to thank God and my family for allowing me the opportunity to serve, and my colleagues on the board for their support. I look forward to working with my dear friend Steven Barry as he assumes the chairmanship for the next year.

We've accomplished great things in the last year with new policies, procedure, and efficiencies, and have worked hard to better Escambia County for all our citizens." He added, "I'm excited for another year of great leadership under Commissioner Barry to see what more we can do together for our community."

SEEKING RISING STARS Since 2008, In-

weekly has recognized the under 40-year-olds in our community whom their peers, clients and bosses see as up-and-coming leaders in their professions and the greater Pensacola area. We have celebrated more than 700 men and women being stars. Those honored represent a broad range of professions, including doctors, lawyers, artists, teachers and small business owners. We are seeking nominations for the 2024 Rising Star class. Nominees must be under the age of 40 on Dec. 31, 2023, live, work or go to school in Escambia or Santa Rosa counties and not have been previously selected as an Inweekly Rising Star.

Last week, law enforcement located a 5 year old who was kidnapped when someone stole her mother's car. Sheriff Chip Simmons explained his agency had initially announced the missing child on its Facebook page and was in the process of placing an amber alert in the state system when the car was found. "A Pensacola police officer saw the vehicle parked beside Woodsie's Hilltop Bar on Mobile Highway, and the child was left in the car," said Sheriff Simmons. "I happened to be there pretty close when they said we got the car, so I pulled right in there to the parking lot and with this Pensacola police officer, pulled her out. I don't want to put the 5 year old in the back of a police car with its cage, so I took her to mom, who lived nearby." The sheriff said the Escambia County Sheriff's Office has begun to implement its Real Time Crime Center that links cameras on area roadways to its dispatch system, and the center helped with this investigation. "We do have a little bit of the Real Time Crime Center up and working and have some cameras integrated with our fusion system," Simmons said. "We immediately put that stolen car's tag in there, especially since we thought she may be going to Atlanta. We wanted to know if she was going to hit one of our license plate readers north on Highway 29. When we knew that she hadn't done that as of yet, we thought maybe she was still in the area. That's why we inundated that one area."

NOV. 7 PRESSER Mayor Reeves confirmed the alleged shooter and victim of the early morning shooting on Sunday, Nov. 5, on Palafox Street were transients but had few other details. Police Chief Eric Randall said investigators are looking into where the alleged shooter got his handgun.

Jeremy Andrew Brown, 31, was taken into custody several blocks away from the shooting. Brown is held at the Escambia County Jail on a $110,000 bond for attempted homicide and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. The mayor said at his weekly presser that the new recycling drop-off site accepted more than 1,100 pounds of recyclables on its first Saturday. City Sanitation will continue the service every Saturday. The mayor continues to work on longterm solutions to bring back curbside recycling. Reeves said, "I don't want it to be confused that this is our only solution for how we handle recycling in the City of Pensacola, but that's a great first start: 620 pounds of cardboard, 185 pounds of PET one plastic, 186 of number two plastic, 80 pounds of aluminum cans and 82 pounds steel cans over 11 pounds."

"I don’t want it to be confused that this is our only solution for how we handle recycling in the City of Pensacola, but that’s a great first start." D.C. Reeves The mayor further explained the City's two grant requests, totaling $6.4 million each, to enhance the SUN Trail from the Chappie James Bridge to Bayou Chico. He is encouraged that the Florida Department of Transportation has helped with the design for the Bayfront Parkway portion of the trail. "We've gotten a lot of positive feedback and support from FDOT, and they're helping us with design and some other things like that," Reeves said. "That's usually a good indicator that there's support for the project." The City also has submitted a grant proposal to build a senior center on the Fricker Resource Center property. The mayor said, "The building would be a dedicated senior center with health education and outreach, a career education, cyber lounge and friendly upgrades, like the playground, along with an enhanced resource library."

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The mayor said CareerSource is interested in offering services at the senior center, and he has reached out to Baptist Health Care about housing their faith-based services in the building. Inweekly asked Mayor Reeves about the homeless situation and if the City and County are making any progress. He believes the rise in panhandling in the City isn't good for the community. "I don't care if you're the biggest advocate for the homeless or the biggest adversary to the homeless, what we all agree on is panhandling isn't good for a community," he said, adding panhandling needs to be separated from the homeless issue. "We need to have a conversation as a community about what's the best way to help the people who really need help and the people who want help." He is looking at ordinances similar to what the County is considering to improve public safety at intersections. The mayor is also researching low-barrier shelters, but he wants to ensure such a facility is financially sustainable. Reeves used the name "opportunity center" to signify that the facility would offer services other than just housing. Whatever solution is developed needs to be done in conjunction with the County.

COUNTY PANHANDLING LAW The Es-

cambia County Commission is considering removing a panhandling ordinance from its books because it's unenforceable, but the board is looking at strengthening a public safety ordinance that would make intersections safer. The proposed change would ban people from standing on narrow medians and require them to stand six feet off the road.

"What it means is that we’re starting to take steps to look after the public safety aspect of this." Chip Simmons Sheriff Chip Simmons discussed the changes on WCOA's "Real News with Rick Outzen." He said, "There are some panhandling ordinances that deal with areas near the Interstate that, as I understand it, are under constitutional challenge throughout Florida. If you enforce something that's under constitutional challenge and you end up losing, then the taxpayers are on the hook for the lawsuits."

He thinks the proposal will make interactions safer. "From the public safety standpoint, it is not safe for someone to stand on a two- or three-foot median in the middle of a roadway and try to panhandle. Now, it does not mean you can't stand on the sidewalk. It does not mean you can't hold a sign. It doesn't mean that. What it means is that we're starting to take steps to look after the public safety aspect of this."

GULF BREEZE WILL DO Gulf Breeze Will

Do (GBWD), a women's philanthropic group, awarded $37,000 in grants at its annual meeting Nov. 5. A group of Gulf Breeze women formed the organization to serve as a funding tool to help other organizations and individuals who are trying to make a difference in the Gulf Breeze and Pensacola Beach communities. Grant funding at GBWD is provided by collective annual membership dues, all of which are distributed back to the community. Every member has a vote on which organizations receive grant funding. This year's grant recipients include: The Arc Gateway-Unlimited Potential: $10,000 to establish a needs-based scholarship program, allowing those enrolled only part time to take full ad-

vantage of transformative programming provided by The Arc Gateway's South Santa Rosa program. Gulf Breeze Middle School-Making Science Fun: $2,994 to purchase educational tools to encourage interest in science and prepare students for statewide testing. Gulf Breeze Weekend Food Program-Gulf Breeze Weekend Food Program Support: $10,000 to purchase food items for children in the community facing hunger and poor nutrition. Interfaith Ministries-Building With A Purpose: $5,279.84 to build a concrete pad to provide a more stable base for the organization's recycling trailer and additional parking for the Interfaith Ministries Thrift Store. Midway Fire Department-Ballistic Protection Vests: $5,279.84 to purchase ballistic protection vests, ensuring each on-duty firefighter/paramedic is protected. Oriole Beach Elementary Library-Is That A Book Vending Machine?: $2,007.65 to fill the existing book vending machine with books that motivate children to earn tokens to select their very own book to keep from the machine. The 2024 Membership Drive is currently underway. Annual dues are $250 per person, and membership is open to women 18 or older. To join, visit gulfbreezewilldo.org.

BE THERE IN MINUTES, NOT HOURS Got a big meeting? Catching a cruise? Looking for some adventure? Enjoy Orlando, Tampa, and Fort Lauderdale with time to spare. Fly nonstop from PNS on Silver and Spirit Airways. FLYPENSACOL A .COM | FLY EASY

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inweekly.net

ALREADY REPORTED In early November,

the Pensacola News Journal reported Escambia County has settled with the jail contractor, Whitesell-Green/Caddell, to end its litigation about issues with the construction, as if it was breaking news. On Sept. 8, Inweekly reported the mediation agreement for $4.4 million to settle the dispute about the final payment due to the contractor who built the Escambia County Jail. The settlement released the funds withheld as part of the lawsuit, $3.4 million, and paid the interest on those funds, $995,000. The $3.4 million was budgeted dollars and will go to the project's subcontractors. Whitesell-Green/Caddell also agreed to facilitate a process to correct and repair issues with the jail construction. Commissioner Robert Bender talked with Inweekly about the settlement. "We didn't want this thing to linger on, and we were probably looking at multiple years. The thing is that we wouldn't have any movement on some of the issues that we had with the jail, and that was what we really focused on in settling this case." The County has an upcoming trial with DLR Group, which was hired to oversee the jail's construction. Bender said, "We are proceeding forward with that and trying to recoup some of our costs." Unlike what the PNJ initially reported online, the County is not paying Whitesell-Green/ Caddell's legal fees. The once-daily misreported the settlement as more than $5.5 million. Inweekly spoke with Cole, Scott & Kissane, who represents the County. They have no idea how the newspaper came up with the $5.5 million settlement figure. Many suspect the article was another move by County Clerk Pam Childers to feed the media outlet a story she hopes would damage the Escambia County Commission. Last month, the PNJ reported a consultant hired by Childers said the broadband contract "could be" disallowed if the federal government audited the transaction. The County's auditors differed with the opinion. Childers and the County Commission are locked in a legal battle for her refusal to fund the commissioners' retirement accounts. She has lost every motion regarding the case, which is still awaiting a trial. Maybe she is worried the judge won't rule in her favor.

EXCEPTIONAL The Global Connections to

Employment (GCE) food services team working at Naval Air Station Pensacola and Corry Station was selected by the state of Florida as one of the 2023 Florida Exceptional Employers for hiring individuals with disabilities. The award was presented in Tallahassee. Accepting the award were Dawn Rupert, GCE project manager at NAS Pensacola; Betty Geren, GCE senior director of food services operations; and Patrick Reed, GCE food services team member from Corry Station. More than 1,500 people across the country work for GCE, including approximately 360 team members with disabilities in Escambia, Santa Rosa and Okaloosa counties at sites like Naval Air Station Pensacola and Eglin Air Force Base. In addition to jobs, the nationwide GCE team provides support and training for people with significant disabilities, including war-wounded veterans. GCE matches team members to careers in IT, food services, custodial services, contact centers and facilities maintenance. Learn more and see job openings at gce.org. November 16, 2023

FOOD DISTRIBUTION State Rep. Michelle Salzman and the Beulah Church, in partnership with Farm Share and other community partners, are sponsoring a Food Distribution and Thanksgiving Meal Giveaway at 7:30 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 18, while supplies last. "These food distributions help our families in need in our community," said Escambia County Council PTA president Jennifer Harrison. "Many of our families struggle from paycheck to paycheck, and getting food on the table is challenging, especially during the holidays. Our business partners come together, without hesitation, to help us provide a Thanksgiving meal to our families." The food distribution will help those who may be struggling and going through a hard time to supplement their families. The Beulah Church is located at 7561 Mobile Highway.

D5 TOWN HALL Mayor D.C. Reeves and Dis-

trict 5 Councilwoman Teniadé Broughton will host a District 5 Town Hall at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 16 at E.S. Cobb Resource Center, 601 E. Mallory St. Mayor Reeves and Councilwoman Broughton will provide opening remarks and then turn it over to the citizens to ask questions and provide comments regarding the City of Pensacola and District 5. This will be Mayor Reeves' seventh town hall meeting of the year. All members of the community are encouraged to provide their input and discuss their priorities and goals for the City of Pensacola.

RING THE BELL The Salvation Army's iconic Red Kettle Campaign is back, ushering in the festive spirit of Christmas. The Red Kettle

Campaign is The Salvation Army's primary fundraising initiative, providing life-changing programs and services throughout the year, including food assistance programs, emergency financial assistance, youth programs and disaster response. "The Salvation Army has an unwavering commitment to helping people in times of need, and the Red Kettle campaign is a critical source of funding that helps us meet that commitment," said Captain Stephan Wildish of The Salvation Army of Pensacola. The 2023 Red Kettle campaign goal is $148,000. The Red Kettle campaign ends Saturday, Dec. 23, and kettles are in 19 locations in both Santa Rosa and Escambia counties. To become a volunteer bell ringer, please visit registertoring.com. {in} 11

WHO CARES? OUR HOSPITALS’ CHARIT Y COSTS By Rick Out zen Escambia County has struggled with providing medical care to its uninsured residents for decades. The county's three hospitals, Baptist Hospital, Ascension Sacred Heart and HCA Florida West, have taken leadership roles in improving residents' health outcomes, but the burden of charity care has shifted significantly in recent years. Baptist and Sacred nearly evenly split the charity costs for years, with Sacred slightly ahead and HCA Florida West, a for-profit hospital, handling about $1 million annually, according to state reports. Today, Baptist ranks third behind Sacred and HCA Florida West, carrying only 17% of the hospitals' charity care costs. With Baptist moving out of its E Street campus without keeping any medical services in the pockets of poverty surrounding the old hospital, locals wonder if Baptist's share of charity care cost will fall even lower.

HISTORY LESSON

Escambia County owned University Hospital at 1200 W. Leonard St. until 1992. Over the objections of the NAACP, Southern Christian Leadership and several Black ministers, the Board of County Commissioners closed the hospital that took care of the uninsured to dodge rising expenses. The hospitalization of people with low incomes fell on Baptist and Sacred Heart, which absorbed University Hospital's 130 authorized beds. In 2003, the hospitals formed AccessEscambia, a nonprofit 501(c)4 organization, to study and address the increasing number of Escambia County residents who lacked health insurance. Twice, AccessEscambia tried to get voters to approve adding a half-cent to sales taxes to reimburse the hospitals for charity care and help cover some of the county's Medicaid payments. The county's three hospitals were strong financial supporters of the two referendums. Baptist Health Care and Sacred Heart each contributed $165,000. HCA Florida West (formerly known as West Florida Hospital) gave $40,000 to AccessEscambia's political action committee to persuade voters and pay for the special election in June 2007. The nonprofit hired MGT of America, a national consulting firm based in Tallahassee, to study the county's uninsured problem. MGT reported Baptist, Ascension Sacred Heart and HCA Florida West provided about $31 million in uncompensated care. The report found nearly four out of five residents did not have health insurance. The new tax was estimated to generate $15 million to $17 million annually to help the hospitals cover the care of residents without health insurance. A portion, $3 million a year, was earmarked to offset the county's Medicaid payments. 212 1

David Sjoberg, a Baptist Health Care vice president, assured voters the hospitals' amount of charity care would not change. He told the News Journal, "This is not going to change what hospitals do." Peter Heckathorn, executive vice president of Sacred Heart Health Systems, said the tax was to help the working poor see primary care physicians before their health problems became more serious. "For us, it's about making sure you have a healthy and successful community." The referendums failed both times—by 10 percentage points in 2004 and 30 points in 2007. Five years later, Sjoberg led a new effort to garner support to reduce the visits to local emergency rooms, the most costly entry point into the healthcare system. As the president of the Partnership for a Healthy Community, he released a health assessment that painted a bleak picture of Escambia and Santa Rosa's health, with high rates of diabetes, asthma, sexually transmitted diseases, breast cancer and many other health issues. The partnership hosted a health summit and encouraged businesses and organizations to participate in a community health improvement compact, but little else came of the effort. In 2016, Baptist announced it wanted Pensacola to become a Blue Zone to improve Escambia County's health ranking from 55th out of 67 Florida counties. The hospital brought Tony Buettner of the national Blue Zones Project to address the community at an event held at the First Baptist Church. The Blue Zone initiative also went nowhere. The latest Achieve Healthy EscaRosa's 2022 Community Assessment Report found the county is still dealing with many of the same health problems. The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation ranked Escambia County No. 51 for health outcomes for 2023, up from 2016 but still among the least healthy counties in Florida.

LOW INCOME POOL

Who is taking care of the uninsured in Escambia? Tracking down each hospital's charitable care can be confusing. The hospitals closely guard their financial data, and rarely do they publicly criticize each other's marketing. When hospitals share their community benefit information, the reports usually have three primary sections: community outreach, unreimbursed Medicaid and charity care. All lament the low Medicaid reimbursement rates. Community outreach includes the half million dollars Sacred Heart and Baptist each contribute annually to Community Health Northwest Florida, the cost of health seminars and other outreach programs, and cash and in-kind contributions to area nonprofits. But how much charity care are the hospitals doing? Not their bad debt write-offs but their actual charity costs.

Inweekly found an independent source. The state of Florida tracks hospitals' charity care costs for the Low Income Pool funding. In 2005, President George W. Bush established Low Income Pool (LIP) funding to support hospitals and safety net providers who care for the uninsured. Since 2017, the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration (ACHA) has published a LIP Model Summary annually that shows how the program distributes funds to hospitals based on their charity care cost. Hospitals are ranked from high to low based on their percentage of charity care costs to commercial costs. The hospital charity costs are taken from the Florida Hospital Uniform Reporting System. The first LIP Model Summary covered 201718, and the hospital charity costs were taken from the Florida Hospital Uniform Reporting System. Sacred Heart Hospital provided the majority of the charity care, $15.8 million (53%), followed by Baptist with $12.5 million (43%) and HCA Florida West with $1.1 million (4%). The total charity cost was $29.4 million, down from MGT of America's report more than a decade earlier. However, Sacred Heart and Baptist were only $3.2 million apart. When Baptist Hospital announced in 2019 its plans to relocate and make a $650 million investment in a new campus, Sacred Heart's reported charity care costs had increased by 55%, Baptist and HCA Florida West had dropped slightly. Of the $37.9 million spent by all three hospitals, Sacred Heart took care of nearly two-thirds of charity costs. The charity cost gap between Baptist and Sacred Heart had grown to $12.2 million. Sacred Heart's share of total area charity costs stayed above 60% for the next two years until the 2022-23 LIP Model Summary, when ACHA began calculating hospital charity care costs using 2021 Healthcare Provider Cost Reporting Information System (HPCRIS) data from worksheet S-10 (Hospital Uncompensated and Indigent Care). The new source increased Sacred Heart's and HCA West Florida's reported charity care costs, but Baptist's costs moved very little. The latest report for 2023-24 shows the total charity cost for the three hospitals to be $72.3 million, a 91% jump from 2019-20. Sacred Heart's charity cost is $40.1 million, HCA Florida West $20.2 million and Baptist $12 million. HCA Florida West and Sacred increased, while Baptist decreased since 2019-2020. The charity cost difference between Baptist and Sacred Heart exploded to over $28 million. Ascension Sacred Heart acknowledged the change in sources for computing charity costs impacted their total, but the hospital said its increases have primarily resulted from the hospital handling more uninsured patients and increased labor costs.

"The increase in charity care—people we serve for free—for Sacred represents our commitment to serve the poor and vulnerable," said Jules Kariher, Ascension Florida's chief advocacy officer. "It is simply our mission. It is also important to note these numbers are not charges, but actual costs."

BAPTIST BOOKKEEPING

Baptist published a Community Impact Report At-A-Glance on its website that lists its charity care as $21.95 million for FY 2021. The LIP Model Summary for 2023-24 also used 2021 data, but it shows the charity costs as $12.2 million. We asked Baptist CEO Mark Faulkner and his communications department to explain the $10-million gap and received no replies. Baptist's Charitable Care webpage states: "Our community's health and well-being are Baptist Health Care's top priorities, and we are committed to delivering safe, quality health care, regardless of a patient's ability to pay. Charity care is defined as free care or discounted care given to patients who are unable to pay based on established financial assistance policies. Baptist follows the most recently published federal poverty guidelines when assessing a patient's ability to pay." Over the years, Baptist has given the public a wide range of figures for its charity care in paid editorials and newspaper ads. In a July 1995 ad, the hospital advertised it had provided more than $35.6 million in charity care and unfunded care for medically indigent patients. As reported above, MGT of America reported the total uncompensated care for all three hospitals was $31 million. Yet, in a paid-for article (PNJ, "The Doctors' Orders, 5/4/08), Baptist wrote that it alone provided more than $30 million in charity care in 2006. Baptist's charity care accounting has been challenged before. When Baptist wanted to build a medical park on Nine Mile Road near the University of West Florida, Sacred and HCA Florida West challenged the need for the facility. Sacred Heart CEO Patrick Madden accused Baptist of misleading the public that it was the market's leading provider of uncompensated care. Madden believed Baptist was trying to create a false sense that it was caring for the poor by overstating its charity care costs. Baptist officials countered Madden's argument, saying they used their audited financial statements as their source, not state reports. Inweekly contacted Baptist to understand how its charity care costs have remained relatively flat while Sacred Heart and HCA Florida West have steeply increased. The hospital didn't answer repeated emails. Inweekly has included the supporting reports, spreadsheets and links with the online version of this article. {in} inweekly.net

November 16, 2023

a&e happenings JIM BREUER: SURVIVAL WITH LAUGHTER Performance is 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 16

at Saenger Theatre, 118 S. Palafox St. Tickets are available at pensacolasaenger.com.

GOING TO THE FAIRE LUNCHEON Benefit luncheon with a silent and live auction, homemade baked goods. Proceeds benefit Stonecroft Ministries. Lunch is 10:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Friday, Nov. 17 at Pensacola Country Club, 1500 Bayshore Drive. For reservations, call or text Barbara at (850) 384-6941 or email barbaraudit111@gmail.com. TRANSFEST 2023 Strive is hosting four nights with different events, all celebrating the lives, culture and art of transgender people starting Friday, Nov. 17. For details visit facebook.com/ socialisttransinitiative. GALLERY NIGHT The next Gallery Night is 5-9 p.m. Friday, Nov. 17 on South Palafox. The theme for November is "Fall Shop Small." For a list of artists and vendors, visit gallerynightpensacola.org.

Gallery Night Pensacola / Photo by Dee Dee Kohl Photography

NONPROFITS & FUNDRAISERS

ANIMAL ALLIES FLORIDA BINGO Animal Allies Florida hosts bingo twice monthly at Scenic Hills Country Club, 8891 Burning Tree Road. The cost is 10 rounds of bingo for $10, with cash prizes for winners. Food and drinks are also available for purchase. The full bar and restaurant offer special adult beverages just for bingo nights. You must be 18 to play. For more information, visit facebook.com/animalalliesflorida. WSRE FESTIVAL OF THE TREES WSRE is

bringing its Festival of Trees to the Museum of Commerce, 201 Zaragoza St. on Nov. 24-26. Holiday trees and wreaths, decorated by local designers, will be on display and available for sale and online auction bidding in support of the WSRE-TV Foundation. Hours are noon to 6 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and noon to 3 p.m. Sunday. Admission is free. Auction bidding will take place on an online shop at wsre.org beginning Thanksgiving night. Purchased items can be picked up at the Museum of Commerce 3-6 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 26, and tree delivery will be available for a fee.

ANIMAL ALLIES CAT AND KITTEN ADOPTION Visit Pet Supermarket 11 a.m.-3

p.m. every first and third Saturday of the month at 6857 N. 9th Ave. to meet your furever friend. Visit aaflorida.org for details.

CARING & SHARING MINISTRY FOOD DRIVE The Gloria Green Caring & Sharing

Ministry is attached to the Historic St. Joseph Catholic Church, 140 W. Government St. The ministry feeds the homeless at 10:30 a.m. Tuesdays. The ministry's food pantry opens at 10 a.m. and has clothing. Food donations needed are pop-top canned goods, Beanie Weenies, Vienna sausage, potted meat, cans of tuna and chicken and soups. Clothing donations needed include tennis shoes for men and women as well as sweatshirts and new underwear for men in sizes small, medium and large. Call DeeDee Green at (850) 723-3390 for details. 414 1

CALL TO ARTISTS

JAZZ PENSACOLA'S JAZZFEST POSTER

Jazz Pensacola invites fine artists and graphic designers to submit renderings for the official 2024 Pensacola JazzFest poster. The commission is $500. The Jazz Pensacola Board of Directors will consider all renderings and make a selection. Initial drafts are due by Jan. 31, 2024. If selected, the completed submission deadline is Feb. 28, 2024. The poster design should reflect the deep, rich and diverse jazz music heritage of Pensacola and communicate a sense of place. Submissions should conform to a vertical orientation using a ratio that will fit with margin on a final poster size of 18 inches wide by 24 inches high. All content must be the submitter's original creation, and must be unpublished. The submitter must have all rights to images and graphics used in the final artwork and during the design process. The poster must include the name of the festival: 2024 Pensacola JazzFest. Rough drafts or sketches can be submitted, but, if selected, the final art must conform to the submitted draft or sketch. Substantial deviation from the submitted sketch or draft will result in forfeiture by the artist of the cash prize and the selection of a new winner by Jazz Pensacola. Submissions must be in low-res (72 ppi) JPEG format and emailed to info@jazzpensacola.com. There is no limit to the number of entries by a single artist. Each entry must include the artist's name, address, email and phone number. The selected artist is responsible for the preparation of the art for high-resolution reproduction. The artist will be contacted following the selection process and receive technical specifications for the production file.

ARTS & CULTURE

PULL OUT COMEDY AT ODD COLONY

Enjoy this audience interactive show, where you pick the topics and comedians make the jokes based on selected topics. Show is 8-10 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 16 at Odd Colony, 260 N. Palafox St. Tickets are $10 and available at facebook. com/oddcolony.

BOOK FOLDING CLASS Learn to create art with books 5:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 17 at Bodacious Bookstore & Café, 101 E. Intendencia St. Tickets are $30 and available on Eventbrite. PENSACOLA CINEMA ART FALL SCREEN SERIES Films are screened at Pensacola

Cinema Art located at Studer Community Institute, 220 W. Garden St. Cost is a $10 cash donation. Showtimes are 1 p.m. Friday, Nov. 17 with "Golda," 1 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 18 with "The Stones and Brian Jones" and 1 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 19 with "The Miracle Club." Visit pensacolacinemaart.com for details.

KREWE DU YAYAS 10TH ANNUAL PINK PEDAL PARTY Ride bikes on Pensacola

Beach, enjoy games, door prizes and a barbecue lunch 10 a.m.-6:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 18. Visit kreweduyayas.com/ppp to register.

24-HOUR THEATRE Watch an original

performance put together by a group of writers and actors—seasoned and novice. Auditions are 7:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 17 and the performance is 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 18 at The Center, 400 S. Jefferson St. Tickets to the performance are $10 and available at pensacolalittletheatre.com.

BIG DEAL BURLESQUE Show is 8 p.m. Friday, Nov. 17 at Vinyl Music Hall, 2 S. Palafox St. Tickets are $25-$500 and available at vinylmusichall.com. JAPAN CULTURE DAY AT UWF Learn about Japan and a variety of cultural activities 1-4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 18 at the University of West Florida Japan Cultural Center, 11000 University Pkwy. Building 71.

ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW WITH SHADOW CAST The UWF Department of

Theatre presents the "Rocky Horror Picture Show with Shadow Cast." Performances are 8 p.m. and 11:59 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 18 at the Mainstage Theatre of the Center for Fine and Performing Arts, Building 82, 1100 University Parkway. Visit visualarts.pensacolastate.edu for details.

MIRACLE ON PALAFOX Benefit concert with

Brian Kelley, Kimberly Perry, Tigililly Gold is 7 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 19 at Saenger Theatre, 118 S. Palafox St. Tickets are $9.87. Proceeds support United Way of West Florida. Visit pensacolasaenger.com.

SCRIPTEASERS Join writers at Pensacola Little Theatre, 400 S. Jefferson St., for Scripteasers the second Saturday of every month. The next date is 11 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 9. Visit pensacolalittletheatre.com for details. PALAFOX MARKET SOUTH AT PLAZA FERDINAND Palafox Market South will

include a blend of familiar Palafox Market vendors, along with a new mix of local farmers, artists, and crafts makers who will fill up Plaza Ferdinand on the corner of Palafox and Government streets. Shoppers can navigate between the new market and the alwayshumming original located on North Palafox at Martin Luther King Jr. Plaza, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. every second and fourth Saturday. The next date is Saturday, Nov. 25. For more information about Palafox Market, visit palafoxmarket.com. For information concerning other downtown events, please visit downtownpensacola.com

CABARET DRAG SHOWCASE AT AMERICAN LEGION POST #193 Don't miss Cabaret

Drag Showcase every second and fourth Saturday at the American Legion Post #193, 2708 N. 12th Ave. Doors open at 8 p.m. Showtime is 10 p.m. For more information, contact show director Taize Sinclair-Santi at taizesinclairsanti@gmail.com.

SPIRITS OF SEVILLE QUARTER GHOST TOUR AND LUNCHEON Dine inside Pen-

sacola's oldest and most haunted restaurant and investigate the spirits with actual paranormal equipment at Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. Tickets are $12 and include a voucher toward Seville Quarter's menu. Tours are held 11 a.m.-2 p.m. weekdays and 2-4 p.m. Sundays. Make an appointment by calling (850) 941-4321.

AFTER DARK: SEVILLE QUARTER GHOSTS, MURDER, MAYHEM AND MYSTERY TOUR AND DINNER After Dark Para-

normal Investigation and Dinner happens inside one of Pensacola's most haunted restaurants with actual ghost-hunting equipment 6-8 p.m. Sundays. Listen as your guide weaves tales of ghosts, debauchery, murder, mayhem, paranormal activities, history and more related to Seville Quarter and downtown Historic Pensacola. Following your ghost tour, enjoy dinner at Seville Quarter Palace Café, 130 E. Government St. Reservations required. Call (850) 941-4321. Tickets are available at pensacolaghostevents.com.

PENSACOLA ARTS MARKET Shop small and buy art at Pensacola Arts Market 11 a.m.-4 p.m. every fourth Saturday of the month at Cordova Square, 1101 N. 12th Ave. Enjoy a local artisan and farmers market with more than 50 vendors, food trucks, plants, vintage clothing and décor, live musical performances, kids' crafts and games. This is a free event. Pensacola Arts Market is set up 4-9 p.m. every first Friday of the month and 2-6 p.m. every third Sunday at Gary's Brewery & Biergarten, 208 Newman Ave. inweekly.net

a&e happenings BODY, MIND, SPIRIT MARKET AT EVER'MAN Local vendors, artisans, holistic

practitioners, speakers and more come together 10 a.m.-4 p.m. the first Saturday of the month at Ever'man Downtown, 315 W. Garden St. This is a free indoor and outdoor event with door prizes, entertainment and children's activities. For a vendor table, call (850) 941-4321 or go to empowermentschoolhouse.com.

ROLL-CALL: 2023 ART AND DESIGN FACULTY EXHIBITION The Art Gallery at UWF

presents "Roll-Call: The 2023 Art and Design Faculty Exhibition" on view through Dec. 8. The Art Gallery is located at 11000 University Parkway Building 88. Visit facebook.com/ tag82uwf for details.

INSPIRED BY PLACE EXHIBIT RECEPTION Inspired by Place brings together the

work of four photographers (Todd Bertolaet, Don Clark, Mark Alan Francis and Roland Miller) who have collaborated in their academic and artistic endeavors for more than 30 years. The exhibit is on view through Dec. 15 at the Anna Lamar Switzer Center for Visual Arts, 1000 College Blvd.

SUDDENLY AMERICAN: A MEETING OF HERITAGE AND COUNTRY This exhibit

looks at the transition of Florida from a Spanish territory to an American region, which formally occurred in 1821. Florida's embattled history dates back much farther than 1821. From refusing independence during the American Revolution to wanting its own freedom in 1810, Florida loved to cause problems. The U.S. eyed the region early on, using the Seminole Wars as an excuse to seize territory before turning to diplomatic means to acquire Florida. The Adams-Onis Treaty, debated and initially agreed upon in 1819, resulted in Spain ceding control of East Florida to the United States. At the same time, Spain also agreed to give up all claims on West Florida, in essence giving the entire Florida territory over to the United States. Ratified in 1821, the treaty was cause for celebration in Pensacola, the capital of West Florida, as it officially became part of America. This exhibit is on view at Pensacola Museum of History through December. Visit historicpensacola.org for details.

FOOD + DRINKS

THANKSGIVING GRAB AND GO FROM GREAT SOUTHERN RESTAURANTS Order

your Thanksgiving grab and go package through Nov. 17. Dinner serves four people and cost is $75. To order, call (850) 433-9450 or email events@goodgrits.com.

LAURENT-PERRIER: A CHAMPAGNE DINNER Join Angelena's chef James Briscione and wine director Brooke Parkhurst for a champagne dinner 6 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 16 at Angelena's, 101 E. Intendencia St. Tickets are $225 per person. Reservations can be made at greatsouthernrestaurants.com.

THANKSGIVING TASTING Get ready for the

holiday and come try some perfect dinner pairing wines 6-8 p.m. Friday, Nov. 17 at Green Thumb November 16, 2023

Wines, 9 E. Gregory St. Tickets are $15 and can be purchased online at greenthumbwines.com/ products/tasting-ticket.

PENSACOLA FALL FOOD TRUCK FEST

The Fall Pensacola Food Truck is 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 18 at Community Maritime Park, 351 W. Cedar St. Tickets and information, visit apexshowsandevents.com.

OYSTER BASH Enjoy specialty cocktails and raw oysters by the half-shell or Grilled Rockefeller by the half dozen at Sir Richard's, 2719 E. Cervantes St. from 2-5 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 18. Information is at sirrichardslounge.com. ODD COLONY FOUR YEAR ANNIVERSARY Celebrate four years of Odd Colony 11 a.m.-11

p.m. Saturday, Nov. 18. Located at 260 N. Palafox St. Visit facebook.com/oddcolony for details.

THANKSGIVING EVE BASH Join Perfect

Plain for Blackout Wednesday with live entertainment with Storm Folk, Melodious Allen & The Funkheads, Jordan Chase and DJ Hdycvt at 50 E. Garden St. Visit facebook.com/perfectplainbrewingco for details.

SUNDAY BRUNCH AT CAFÉ SINGLE FIN

Partake in brunch specials, full café menu, espressos and bottomless mimosas until 1 p.m. Sundays at Café Single Fin, 380 N. 9th Ave. Live music begins at 10 a.m. Visit cafesinglefin.com for details.

GREEN THUMB WINE TASTING Join Green Thumb Wines every first Friday of the month for a free wine tasting 6-8 p.m. at 9 E. Gregory St.

SIPPIN' IN SUNDRESSES LADIES' NIGHT AT FELIX'S Pop-up shops, pink drink specials and live music is 5-8 p.m. Thursdays at Felix's Restaurant and Oyster Bar, 400 Quietwater Beach Drive.

JACKSON'S STEAKHOUSE FRIDAY LUNCH SERVICE Jackson's Steakhouse, 400

S. Palafox St., is now open for lunch service 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Fridays. Chef Irv Miller has created a new lunch menu, which includes selections of appetizers, salads, sandwiches, featured plates and hand-selected steaks. Visit jacksonssteakhouse.com to see a full menu.

GAMER/JACKBOX NIGHT AT O'RILEY'S

Gamers unite 5 p.m.-2 a.m. Mondays at O'Riley's Irish Pub, 321 S. Palafox St. Visit orileyspub.com for details.

BAR BINGO AT O'RILEY'S Visit O'Riley's

Irish Pub for Bar Bingo 8-10 p.m. Tuesdays at 321 S. Palafox St. Visit orileyspub.com for details.

SECOND TUESDAY THEMED TRIVIA

Visit Perfect Plain Brewing Co. for themed trivia nights 7-9 p.m. the second Tuesday of the month at 50 E. Garden St. Visit facebook.com/perfectplainbrewingco for details.

TRIVIA AT O'RILEY'S Test your trivia knowledge 8-10 p.m. Wednesdays at O'Riley's Irish Pub, 321 S. Palafox St. Visit orileyspub.com for details. 15

a&e happenings TRIVIA AT CALVERT'S IN THE HEIGHTS

Take part in trivia nights 6-8 p.m. Wednesdays at Calvert's in the Heights, 670 Scenic Highway. For more information, visit calvertsintheheights.com.

PITCHERS AND TAVERN TRIVIA O'Riley's Tavern hosts trivia 8 p.m.-midnight Thursdays at 3728 Creighton Road. Visit orileystavern.com for details. TRIVIA AT WISTERIA Trivia is 6 p.m. Thursdays at Wisteria Tavern, 3808 N. 12th Ave. Visit wisteriatavern.com for details.

THURSDAY BIERGARTEN TRIVIA NIGHT

Gary's Brewery Trivia Night is back by popular demand 7-9 p.m. Thursdays. 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.

TRIVIA AT SIR RICHARD'S Flex your trivia

knowledge 8-10 p.m. Fridays at Sir Richard's Public House, 2719 E. Cervantes St. Visit sirrichardslounge.com for details.

FREE POOL AND BAR BINGO AT O'RILEY'S TAVERN Enjoy free pool and play bar bingo 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Sundays at O'Riley's Tavern, 3728 Creighton Road. Details at orileystavern.com.

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LIVE MUSIC

UWF SINGERS: FILLED WITH JOY The UWF Dr. Grier Williams School of Music will present the UWF Singers in its "Filled with Joy" concert 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 16 at the Rolfs Music Hall at the Center for Fine and Performing Arts, 11000 University Parkway. Visit uwf.edu/ cfpa for details. SOUL ASYLUM AND DRIVIN N CRYIN

Show is 8 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 16 at Vinyl Music Hall, 2 S. Palafox St. Tickets are $30 and available at vinylmusichall.com.

GIMME GIMME DISCO DANCE PARTY

Show is 8 p.m. Friday, Nov. 17 at The Handlebar, 319 N. Tarragona St. Tickets are $17-$20 and available at thehandlebar850.com.

GULF COAST CHORALE HOLIDAY SHOW

Gulf Coast Chorale's "A Swingin' Christmas" is 7:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 17 at First Baptist Church, 555 Fairpoint Drive. Tickets are $12 for adults and $5 for children 12 and younger in advance of the show. Tickets are $15 at the door. For more information, visit gulfcoastchorale.org.

CANDLELIGHT: A TRIBUTE TO TAYLOR SWIFT Enjoy a performance of Taylor Swift

songs by candlelight at First United Methodist Church, 6 E. Wright St. with two performances 6:15 and 8:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 18. Tickets are $32 and up and available at feverup. com/m/136272.

MARIACHI SOL DE MEXICO DE JOSE HERNANDEZ - A MERRY-ACHI CHRISTMAS Performance is 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 18 at Saenger Theatre, 118 S. Palafox St. Tickets are available at pensacolasaenger.com.

UWF JAZZ ENSEMBLE & COMBO Show

is 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 21 at UWF Center for Fine and Performing Arts, 11000 University Pkwy. Bldg. 82. Event is free, but tickets are required. Get yours at uwf.edu/cfpa.

TALKING MEDS, COLOR THE VOID, MILESTONE Show is 7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 21 at The Handlebar, 319 N. Tarragona St. Tickets are $10$12 and available at thehandlebar850.com.

RUMOURS OF FLEETWOOD MAC Fleet-

wood Mac tribute band performance 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 22 at Saenger Theatre, 118 S. Palafox St. Tickets are available at pensacolasaenger.com.

LIVE MUSIC AT FIVE SISTERS BLUES CAFÉ Visit Five Sisters, 421 W. Belmont St., for

live music on select days. •Tuesdays: Greg Bond from 5:30-8:30 p.m. •Thursdays: John Wheeler from 6-8 p.m. •Saturdays: Glenn Parker Band from 6:30-10 p.m. •Sundays: Curt Bol Quintet from 11 a.m.-3 p.m.

PENSACOLA PICK NIGHT AT ODD COLONY Music pickers of all levels are invited

to play 7-9 p.m. every last Monday of the month

at Odd Colony, 260 N. Palafox St. Bring your acoustic instrument and jam. Visit facebook. com/oddcolony for details.

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

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

KARAOKE AT O'RILEY'S UPTOWN Sing your heart out 8 p.m.-midnight Tuesdays at O'Riley's Uptown, 3728 Creighton Road. Visit orileystavern.com for details. OPEN MIC NIGHT AT GARY'S BREWERY

Open mic night is hosted by Renee Amelia at 6 p.m. every other Wednesday at Gary's Brewery & Biergarten, 208 Newman Ave. Visit facebook. com/garysbrew for details.

KARAOKE AT WISTERIA Wisteria Tavern, 3808 N. 12th Ave., hosts karaoke 7 p.m. Wednesdays. Details are at wisteriatavern.com. WHISKEY WEDNESDAY KARAOKE Karaoke starts at 9 p.m. Wednesdays at Mugs and Jugs, 12080 Scenic Highway. Visit mugsjugsbar. com for details. KARAOKE NIGHTS AT SIR RICHARD'S

Bring your singing talents Monday and Thursday nights at Sir Richard's Public House, 2719 E.

inweekly.net

a&e happenings Cervantes St. Festivities are 9 p.m.-1 a.m. Visit sirrichardslounge.com for details.

SUNDAY KARAOKE AT MUGS AND JUGS Karaoke starts at 9 p.m. Sunday at Mugs and Jugs, 12080 Scenic Highway. Visit mugsjugsbar. com for details.

FITNESS + RECREATION

OCEAN HOUR WEEKLY CLEANUPS Ocean Hour Pensacola hosts weekly cleanups 7:45-9 a.m. Saturdays. Follow Ocean Hour at facebook. com/oceanhourfl for more details and locations.

AN EVENING UNDER THE STARS Join the Escambia Amateur Astronomer Association for a stargazing event 3:45-10 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 18 at Big Lagoon State Park, 12301 Gulf Beach Hwy. Enter the park before sunset. Park fees apply.

Schedule: •Mondays 10-11 a.m. Community Chair Yoga at Brownsville Community Center, 3200 W. Desoto St. •Tuesdays 10-11 a.m., Gentle Movement at Palafox Two, 1380 N. Palafox St. •Wednesdays 10-11a.m., Community Chair Yoga at Brownsville Community Center, 3200 W. Desoto St. •Thursdays 10-11 a.m., Gentle Movement at Palafox Two, 1380 N. Palafox St. •Fridays 10-11 a.m., Community Chair Yoga at Brownsville Community Center, 3200 W. Desoto St.

LIVE JAZZ AND SWING DANCING From 6:30-11 p.m. the first Friday of each month, enjoy a live band for dancing Lindy, Foxtrot, East Coast and West Coast Swing. This is a fun, friendly atmosphere with lessons for all levels, no partner required. Location is at The Way You Move Dance Studio, 918 Winton Ave. The cost is $15. More information at thewayyoumove.us.

PENSACOLA ICE FLYERS The Pensacola Ice Flyers 2023-24 season home games are held at Pensacola Bay Center, 201 E. Gregory St. Tickets are available at pensacolabaycenter.com. Upcoming dates: •7:05 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 18 •7:05 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 22

WEST COAST SWING DANCE Join the fun 6:30-10 p.m. Wednesdays for $5 and 6:30-11 p.m. the fourth Saturday of each month for $10. All levels welcomed; no partner required. The Way You Move dance studio is at 918 Winton Ave. More information is at thewayyoumove.us.

PUBLIC SKATE Ice skating sessions are avail-

6:30-11 p.m. the second Saturday of each month, enjoy a mix of music for all dancers. All levels welcomed; no partner required. The Way You Move dance studio is at 918 Winton Ave. The cost is $10. More information is at thewayyoumove.us.

able through April at Pensacola Bay Center, 201 E. Gregory St. Tickets are $12-$15. Season passes and group rates available at the box office or by emailing sjette@pensacolabaycenter.com. Upcoming dates: •9:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 18 •9:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 22 •1:30, 3 and 4:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 25 •1:30, 3 and 4 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 26

BIKE PENSACOLA SLOW RIDE The next Bike

Pensacola Slow Ride is 3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 18 leaving from Admiral Mason Park, 200 S. 9th Ave. This ride will be dedicated to the life of Jessica Bibza and her work to protect manatees and other marine life. More information is at bikepensacola.org.

YOGA WITH MARNI AT HA-YA Visit Ha-Ya Wellness for integrative yoga with Marni 10 a.m. the first and third Saturday of the month at 4301 Spanish Trail Road. Visit facebook.com/asherandbeeapothecary for more information. HOOK, LINE & SINKER MONTHLY FISHING SEMINAR SERIES Hot Spots Charters

hosts a monthly free fishing seminar held at Flounder's Chowder House, 800 Quietwater Beach Road on Pensacola Beach the first Monday of every month. A free fish dinner is served at 6:30 p.m. with the seminar beginning at 7 p.m. and typically lasting about an hour. Visit facebook. com/hlsseminar for details.

FREE YOGA CLASSES AT EVER'MAN Take a free yoga class at Ever'man, 327 W. Garden St. Visit everman.org for full calendar of events.

FREE YOGA CLASSES AT COMMUNITY HEALTH NORTHWEST FLORIDA Commu-

nity Health Northwest Florida offers free yoga classes to people ages 18 and older. No experience is required. The classes are led by Justin Nutt. Visit facebook.com/healthcarewithinreach for more information. November 16, 2023

BALLROOM, LATIN, SWING DANCE From

FREE YOGA IN THE PARK Breathe Yoga and Wellness Center will offer free yoga throughout 2023 as a part of its Wellness in the Park Series. One-hour outdoor yoga classes will be led by Breathe Yoga and Wellness Center at 9:30 a.m. the first Sunday of every month at Bayview Park. The next date is Sunday, Dec. 3. FREE PILATES IN THE PARK The City of Pensacola Parks and Recreation Department and PURE Pilates presents free one-hour outdoor Pilates classes at 10:30 a.m. the third Sunday of every month at Community Maritime Park, 351 W. Cedar St. The next date is Sunday, Nov. 19.

KID-FRIENDLY

GALLERY NIGHT KIDS CAMP Let kids en-

gage in an interactive evening exploring art and cooking food 6-8 p.m. Friday, Nov. 17. Tickets are $50 and available at eventbrite.com.

SCIENCE SATURDAYS AT IHMC IHMC's

popular monthly science enrichment series stts its next season in September. Sessions slated for the fall include science of the mind, game design, healthy wetlands and more. Programs for grades 3-4 are 9-10:30 a.m. and grades 5-6 are 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Each session is led by an IHMC researcher or community scientist. Visit ihmc.us/ life/science_saturdays for details. •Nov. 18: Computer Game Design, Heath Parr, Brown-Barge Middle School •Dec. 17: Illusions, Dr. Toshi Miyatsu

for more listings visit inweekly.net 17

free will astrology WEEK OF NOVEMBER 16 ARIES (MARCH 21-APRIL 19): In accordance

with astrological omens, I would love you to experiment with blending the sacred and mundane. Bring your deep self into the daily routine and imbue ordinary rhythms with tender care. Here are a few fun rituals to get you in the groove: 1. Say prayers or chant ecstatic poems while you're shopping. 2. Build a shrine in a parking lot. 3. Stir up an inspired epiphany while doing housework. 4. If you find yourself in a confusing or awkward situation, dance like a holy person to conjure a blessing. 5. Commune with the Divine Creator during crazy-good sex.

TAURUS (APRIL 20-MAY 20): I've met many people who feel their love lives are jinxed. Often, they believe this nonsense because a creepy fortune teller declared they will forever be denied a satisfying intimate relationship. I hate that. Any astrologer who delivers such crippling bewitchments should be outed as a charlatan. The good news for you, Taurus, is that you are in a grace period for all matters regarding romance, intimacy and togetherness. If you have ever worried there is a curse, obstruction or bad habit inhibiting your love life, the coming weeks will be a favorable time to free yourself from it. GEMINI (MAY 21-JUNE 20): Gemini comedi-

an Drew Carey says, "If I didn't run from my fears, I wouldn't get any exercise at all." Let's discuss his approach in relation to you. After analyzing the astrological omens, I believe that as 2023 draws to a close and 2024 unfolds, you will feel less and less motivated to run from your fears. In part, that's because you will face them with more courage and poise; they won't have the same power over you. In addition, I suspect your fears will become objectively less scary. They will be less likely to come to pass. More and more, your fine mind will see how they trick you into imagining they're more threatening than they truly are. Congratulations in advance, Gemini.

CANCER (JUNE 21-JULY 22): I would love to see you intensify your devotion to your masterpiece—however you understand "masterpiece." It could be a work of art or an innovation in your job or business. It could be a new baby, an adopted pet, a redefinition of what family means or an

By Rob Brezsny

invigorated community. Might even be a beautiful alliance or enhanced connection with the divine or a refinement of the best gift you give the world. Life will conspire to help you in unexpected ways during the coming months if you rededicate yourself to this treasure.

LEO (JULY 23-AUG. 22): Dear Sun, our one

and only star: We love you and appreciate you. It's amazing you consume five million tons of yourself every second to generate the colossal energy you send in our direction. Thank you, beloved Sun. Is it OK with you if we think of you as a god? You are a superpowered genius of nourishment. And by the way, do you know who adores you the best? I'll tell you: the Leo people here on Earth. They comprehend your grandeur and majesty better than anyone else. Would you consider giving them extra rewards in the coming weeks? They need and deserve a massive delivery of your bounty. Please fill them up with even more charisma, personal magnetism, vitality and generosity of spirit than usual. I promise they will use it wisely.

The wish to appear chic or trendy or hip should be so far down on your list of priorities that it drops off the list entirely. VIRGO (AUG. 23-SEPT. 22): Virgo musician

and actor Shirley Manson has a message for you. She testifies, "I say embrace the total geek in yourself and just enjoy it. Life is too short to be cool." This will be especially helpful and inspirational counsel for you in the coming months, dear Virgo. The wish to appear chic or trendy or hip should be so far down on your list of priorities that it drops off the list entirely. Your assignment is to be passionately devoted to your deepest truths, unique desires and imaginative experiments.

LIBRA (SEPT. 23-OCT. 22): If you're giv-

en a choice to advocate for either a dull, mediocre truth or a beautiful, invigorating truth, give your love to the latter. If you wonder whether you should ask a polite question that engenders harmony or a provocative question that pries loose

agendas that have been half hidden, opt for the latter. If you feel nostalgic about an old tradition that stirs up little passion or fresh insight, let it go. Instead, dream up a new tradition that moves you emotionally and excites your mind.

SCORPIO (OCT. 23-NOV. 21): Icelandic singer Bjork is a triple Scorpio, with sun, moon, and ascendant in your sign. Neptune is there, too, giving her even more Scorpionic intensity. It's not surprising she describes her daily practice like this: "I have to re-create the universe every morning when I wake up and kill it in the evening." In another quote, she places greater emphasis on the rebirth: "To wake up in the morning and actually find the day exciting is the biggest victory you can have." In accordance with current astrological omens, I invite you to exalt and celebrate the post-resurrection aspects of your life's work. It's time for you to shine and sparkle and shimmer and bedazzle. SAGITTARIUS (NOV. 22-DEC. 21): At the

risk of sounding melodramatic, I prophesy that what has been lost will be found. What was last may not catapult all the way into the first spot, but it might—and will at least be close to the first. Here are more zingers for you as you move into the climactic stages of the Season of Turnarounds and Switcheroos: A difficult test will boost your intelligence; a rut will be disrupted, freeing you to find a smooth new groove; an unsettling twist will ultimately bring you delightful support. To get the best out of the upcoming challenges, Sagittarius, welcome them as opportunities to expand your understanding of how the world works.

CAPRICORN (DEC. 22-JAN. 19): Many cul-

tures throughout history have staged rites of passage to mark the transformation from childhood to puberty. In ancient Greece, for example, kids formally relinquished their toys, symbolizing the intention to move into a new phase of their destinies. In accordance with astrological omens, I want to tweak this custom for your use, Capricorn. I propose that you embrace your second childhood. Fantasize about how you might refurbish your innocence, curiosity, playfulness and spontaneous joy. Then select an object that embodies a burdensome or unpleasant aspect of adulthood. Discard it. Find an object that signifies the fresh

young spirit you'd like to awaken within you. Kiss it, sing to it, and keep it in a prominent place.

AQUARIUS (JAN. 20-FEB. 18): For advice about money, I talk with a banker who sometimes analyzes financial trends using Tarot cards. To keep abreast of politics on the ground level, I consult with a courtesan who has a Ph.D. in political science and cultivates intimate relations with governmental leaders. For guidance about rowdy ethics and etiquette, I seek input from an activist singer in an all-women punk band. How about you, Aquarius? Now is a favorable time to take an inventory of your posse of teachers, helpers and counselors. Make sure it's serving you well and providing maximum inspiration and support. Hot tip: It may be time to add a new facilitator or two to your entourage.

A boring, inflexible rule will become irrelevant. PISCES (FEB. 19-MARCH 20): Now and then,

you glide through a phase I describe as Freedom from Cosmic Compulsion. During these grace periods, fate has a reduced role in shaping your destiny. Your past doesn't have its typical power to limit you or entrance you. According to my astrological analysis, you are now enjoying such a chapter. That's why I predict that an infertile status quo will soon crumble. A boring, inflexible rule will become irrelevant. These and other breakthrough developments will give you extra leeway to innovate and invent. You will have a big, bright emptiness to work and play around in. HERE'S THE HOMEWORK: My new book "Astrology Is Real" is available: https://bit.ly/AstrologyReal {in}

freewillastrology.com

RISING STAR NOMINATIONS Inweekly is seeking nominations for the 2024 Rising Star class. The requirements are: 1. Must be under the age of 40 on Dec. 31, 2023. 2. Must live, work or go to school in Escambia or Santa Rosa counties. 3. Must not have been previously selected as an Inweekly Rising Star. Nominations must be emailed to rick@inweekly.net by midnight on Wednesday, Nov. 22. Send him their name, email address and a brief reason why you believe they are a Rising Star. We will contact them to send in more information for the selection committee. 818 1

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news of the weird POLICE REPORT Milwaukee Police Chief Jeffrey Norman accompanied the mayor on Nov. 6 at a news conference where they presented a resolution to help curb reckless driving in the city, The Washington Post reported, saying the city needs to "change the daily behavior" of dangerous drivers. But after the event, as soon as Norman hit the road in his SUV, a dump truck rear-ended him, injuring both Norman and another officer. "We did not need this type of reminder that all drivers need to slow down and increase caution on our roadways," Mayor Cavalier Johnson said. SURPRISE, SURPRISE! When antique dealer Beth Meyer bought the contents of a storage unit in September 2022, she was disappointed that there were no rocks inside; rocks are her specialty. However, The Washington Post reported, she did find a human skull among the items. This October, she put a $4,000 price tag on the skull and used it in a Halloween display in the store she helps run in North Fort Myers, Florida— until an anthropologist walked through and saw it. While Meyer already knew the skull was real, the scientist thought it was very old and possibly from a Native American person, making it subject to certain federal laws. So they contacted the Lee County Sheriff's Office. Deputies deposited the skull with the medical examiner's office, and while Florida law prohibits selling human remains, they don't believe Meyer did anything wrong. She said she was "unaware of the skull being a Native American. I put such a high price on it that I figured no one would buy it." THE ENTREPRENEURIAL SPIRIT In the Chinese province of Hunan, the Shiniuzhai Scenic Area offers stunning landscapes of sheer cliffs— perfect for climbers. And who doesn't get a little thirsty on the way up a grueling vertical mountain face? CNN reported that perched at 394 feet above the ground, a 2-square-meter "convenience store" offers free water bottles and other sustenance to hungry and parched climbers. The general manager of Shiniuzhai, Song Huizhou, said staff members are tasked with hauling goods up to the store every day in their backpacks. And you thought your commute was brutal. THE TECH REVOLUTION The BBC reported on Nov. 8 that a man in South Korea lost his life after a robot he was working on in a factory grabbed him and crushed his face and chest onto a conveyor belt. The employee of the robotics company, in his 40s, was working late on the robotic arm when it mistook him for a box of vegetables, which it was supposed to lift and transfer onto a pallet. The man was taken to the hospital but later died of his injuries. RECENT ALARMING HEADLINES On Nov. 7, David Lassiter, 74, of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, left his wallet behind when he voted, PennLive. com reported. Lassiter returned to the polling place and found his wallet, but $100 was missing. Police said he "made a scene inside ... (and) made threats to come back with a firearm." At home, he

By the Editors at Andrews McMeel

called police to report the alleged theft, but then said he would get a gun and handle it on his own. Officers arrived at the polling station before Lassiter arrived; in his car, they found seven firearms with ammunition. "Mr. Lassiter became aggressive and hostile toward the officers on scene," police said. "He was detained for his safety as well as that of everyone on the scene." •Well, this escalated quickly. A man in Malaga, Spain, called a plumber on Nov. 4 to fix a broken pipe in his home, Oddity Central reported. After assessing the project, the plumber gave the homeowner an estimate, which sent the homeowner into a rage. He produced a firearm and threatened to kill the plumber; neighbors heard the disturbance and called police, but when they arrived, the homeowner would not release his hostage. Police got a glimpse of him and the plumber/hostage through a window and began negotiations; they asked the man to slightly open the front door so they could see that the plumber was all right. That's when special forces stormed in and rescued the hostage. The homeowner is in police custody.

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

GREAT ART Washington native Ben Miller is a painter of landscapes, focusing on river scenes to raise awareness about conservation. Oddity Central reported that it's his painting method that makes him stand alone: He applies paint to fishing flies that he makes himself, then flings them at a piece of plexiglass positioned several feet away. Having learned fly fishing from his dad, Miller hits the precise mark he's aiming for every time. He said he sometimes gets approached by police because people assume he's fishing out of season, but they've always been understanding. IT DOESN'T WORK THAT WAY On Nov. 1, at Canberra Airport in Australia, a woman who seemingly missed her flight ran past security and onto the tarmac, trying to attract the attention of the pilot, 9News reported. The QantasLink flight was headed to Adelaide. Witness Dennis Bilic said it was "weird" that no one stopped her: "People were a bit flat-footed ... that was the weird part." Another witness said the pilot was "warned or spotted her and killed the engine." Flights were delayed for about 10 minutes after the incident. WAIT, WHAT? Fashion icon Dior has launched a new scent made for babies, the Mirror reported. Bonne Etoile, priced at 230 British pounds (about $281), will provide a "gentle reminder of sweet memories of early childhood," the brand gushed, with its "light notes of fruit, pillowy cotton and velvety petals." (Do I detect a hint of spit-up?) It contains 98% natural-original ingredients. Parents can also indulge in hydrating body milks and bath cleansing foams. But everybody knows that babies smell amazing without the pricey perfumes! {in}

Send your weird news items to WeirdNewsTips@amuniversal.com November 16, 2023

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

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Independent News | November 16, 2023 | inweekly.net