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Independent News | November 29, 2019 | Volume 20 | Number 47

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winners & losers

outtakes

news 6

Even when life isn't going quite the way you think it should, a little magic goes a long way.

buzz

cover feature 11

publisher Rick Outzen

graphic designer Michael Daw

editor & creative director Joani Delezen

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

a&e 15

Independent News is published by Inweekly Media, Inc., P.O. Box 12082, Pensacola, FL 32591. (850)438-8115. All materials published in Independent News are copyrighted. © 2018 Inweekly Media, Inc. All rights reserved.

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winners & losers

Madrina Ciano / Photo Courtesy of Salz Studio

winners

losers

MADRINA CIANO Junior Achievement of Northwest Florida annually selects an individual who is a prominent community advocate in a variety of capacities and has a history of supporting financial literacy initiatives. This award is the Marshall Blaise Adams, Sr. Give Back Award and is a tribute to the late Blaise Adams, former city president of Centennial Bank. The 2019 recipient of this award was Madrina Ciano.

BENJAMIN NETANYAHU The Israeli prime minister faces charges of bribery, fraud and breach of trust in three separate corruption cases. The most significant allegation claims he gave Israel's leading telecommunications tycoon regulatory benefits in return for favorable news coverage. Netanyahu denounced the charges as an "attempted coup" and a witch hunt. This sounds vaguely familiar.

JA HALL OF FAME Junior Achievement of

cambia County School District's Department of Alternative Education is responsible for overseeing charter schools. Unfortunately, she has done very little oversight. The founders of Newpoint Education Partners and Jacqueline Harris Preparatory Academy have been able to siphon millions out of taxpayer funds for their personal use right under her nose. NEP founder Marcus May was convicted last year of guilty of racketeering and fraud and stealing over $5 million from five school districts. For years, the audited financial statements for JPHA have pointed out related-party transactions that violated the charter agreement and state law. However, Mathis did nothing to correct the problems. Either she willfully disregarded the transactions or was ordered to do so by her boss, School Superintendent Malcolm Thomas.

Northwest Florida also recently announced its Hall of Fame Laureates for 2019—Jerry Maygarden and Robert Rinke. JA Laureates are selected on criteria including support of Junior Achievement's mission, volunteering in the classroom, assistance with fundraising for the organization, dedication to improving the community and distinguished community leadership that directly impacts children.

GERALD W. RUSSO The George Stone Technical College Criminal Justice Training Center's Corrections Class #112 graduated last week. The class is the last graduation group for Criminal justice instructor Gerald W. Russo, who has overseen 110 of those classes, as well as 27 corrections classes at Pensacola State College. Russo taught as an adjunct instructor for Troy State University and Pensacola State College from 1981-2000. From 2005-2012, Russo taught criminal justice, psychology and sociology for West Florida High School, and he served as an adjunct instructor for the George Stone Technical College from 1989 to 2012. In 2012, he was promoted to GSTC's Corrections Coordinator.

Benjamin Netanyahu / Photo by Alexandros Michailidis / Shutterstock.com

VICKY MATHIS The director of the Es-

FLORIDA MAN Citrus County sheriff's deputies are looking for the person who left a bag of treats outside a Family Dollar store in the town of Citrus Springs. Inside the bag—a half-empty container of eggnog, Reese's Peanut Butter cups, $700 cash, 23 grams of methamphetamine, 15 grams of cocaine, 5 grams of fentanyl, 3 grams of marijuana—and a cellphone.

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outtakes

By Rick Outzen

WATCH OUT When the Florida Association of Counties teaches its courses on ethics for county commissioners, Escambia County is its poster child for corruption. The instructors walk the participants through how four commissioners were indicted by a grand jury in 2002 over charges that ranged from bribery to violations of that state's Sunshine laws. Despite this spot on our reputation, locals still have given a wink to such violations and backroom deals are done. When President Donald Trump appointed Larry Keefe to be the U.S. Attorney for the North Florida District, Inweekly was told Keefe planned to tackle public corruption. Keefe didn't take long to act once the Senate approved his appointment. In early August, he announced the formation of an anti-corruption unit after Tallahassee City Commissioner Scott Maddox pled guilty to three fraud charges in a "pay-to-play" bribery probe. "That very small group that serves for their own illegal benefit or profit, and those who illegally seek to influence them, will be the targets of our work in the Public Trust Unit," Keefe told the media in Tallahassee. A nice soundbite, but did he mean it? Two days later, Keefe traveled to Pensacola and held his first press conference with local media. While other reporters wanted to focus on a gun task force Mayor Grover Robinson had announced, I wanted to know more about the anti-corruption unit. The U.S. attorney said the new unit's

mission was to identify, investigate, disrupt and prosecute government corruption. Keefe didn't mince words. He said, "It's my view that this office needs to do more with regard to the issue of public corruption." Keefe has announced two corruption cases this month. On Nov. 15, he announced the indictment of a "criminal network of 29 people who actively worked to defraud the federal government" that was allegedly led by the county executive director of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Farm Service Agency in Holmes County. Current and former federal, state and local officials were among those arrested. On Nov. 20, two former ranking City of Lynn Haven officials, including the city manager, were indicted by a federal grand jury for conspiring with three local business executives to process some $5 million in fraudulent invoices for Hurricane Michael cleanup work that was not performed. In a viewpoint in the daily newspaper this weekend, U.S. Attorney Larry Keefe made it clear that one of his highest priorities is "to prevent, pursue, prosecute and punish public corruption." He wrote, "These are not mere words, but instead reflect a very real, intensive focus on rooting out those who violate the duty associated with holding any position of public trust." His actions are backing up his words. The "Good Old Boys" have been warned. {in} rick@inweekly.net

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SUPER SEARCHING

By Jeremy Morrison Who are we searching for to lead the Escambia County School District? Who do we want stepping into that leadership role this time next year when the school district transitions from an elected to an appointed superintendent? This is the question at the heart of Escambia's search for a new superintendent, and it appears the answers to this question are many.

"In this community, they want somebody who is a visionary and who can inspire educators to meet every child's needs." Andrea Messina "In this community, they want somebody who is a visionary and who can inspire educators to meet every child's needs," summed up Andrea Messina, executive director of the Florida School Board Association, before listing off numerous and varied specific qualities. "People want someone with experience in communities of poverty, and someone who will be engaged in the community, and someone with experience working with state legislators, and someone with local familiarity, or maybe someone from outside the area, and the list goes on." Messina is getting a good feel for what Escambia residents are looking for in a new superintendent through a series of commu66

nity forums the FSBA is facilitating. The final forum for this year was held Nov. 21 at Pensacola High School, with two more scheduled in January further north in the county. During these forums—as well as an online survey open through Dec. 1—people have an opportunity to discuss the needs of the school district, and on the type of superintendent candidate, they feel that the Escambia County School Board should focus. But these discussions, where dreams of a theoretical candidate who is all things to all people take flight, are tempered with a word of caution. "Superman, Superwoman does not exist," Messina told those gathered in the PHS cafeteria. "We are not going to find the person that has every quality we want."

SUPERINTENDENT WISH LIST

Last year, Escambia County voters decided to switch from an elected superintendent of schools to one appointed by the school board. Since that time, the school district has been engaged in determining the specifics of the search process, as well as getting a read on how district staff and members of the community feel about the matter. During the community forums, attendees are divided into small groups and asked to brainstorm about the strengths and needs of the district, as well as what qualities they feel a superintendent prospect should possess. "You'll notice there's no school board member in the room. That's intentional,"

Messina told people in the PHS cafeteria. "I don't want to know your name. I just want to carry the citizens' message back to the school board." In addition to providing the input gleaned in these public forums to the school board, the community input—publicly available on the district's website—will also help inform applicants to the position of just what the community is looking for in a new superintendent. "The candidates that come to the interview, when they even apply, they look at the information," Messina said. "The candidates will be very familiar with the input that's coming from the community." During the forum at PHS, people considered the district's strengths, needs and prospective superintendent qualities—with each topic allotted a 10-minute window for discussion—and Messina scrawled them all on a large pad of paper on an easel. The resulting lists painted a picture of a district facing challenges, while also cultivating bright spots. "These are the things we want to wrap our arms around and protect," Messina explained, which included strong Parent Teacher Associations and athletic programs, adequate funding and good school security, as well as a nod toward the district's magnet schools and International Baccalaureate program. As far as issues within the district that need attention, people were concerned about the teacher-student ratio, as well as teacher pay and available support for teachers. Other concerns spoke to the district's more daunting and pressing challenges—the rate of out-of-school suspensions and the so-called school-to-prison pipeline, the lack of African American teachers and a concerning graduation rate for black males. Attendees also expressed concerns about the district's school choice program being "too broad," its administration "too top-heavy," and not enough focus on trade- or career-oriented tracks. "Not everyone is going to get a four-year degree," pointed out Pensacola City Councilwoman Jewel Cannada-Wynn. The attendees provided a wishlist that likewise offered a glimpse into the community's mind's eye, where that proverbial Superman or Superwoman superintendent resides. Some of the sought-after qualities listed off were rather general—people want someone that's "innovative," "openminded" and has "common sense" and "street smarts"—while others were simple statements of emotions—"empathy," "love." But some of the qualities were more defined. People would like to see a superintendent who has experienced success elsewhere, one who will promote teacher recruitment efforts. They want someone

who possesses "cultural awareness" and embraces diversity. They want someone with experience with special-needs students and at-risk students. They want someone with business experience and open to constructive criticism. They want someone with academic experience with either a master's or doctorate degree. Another thing that the community has expressed interest in over the course of these public forums—perhaps a change from the usual white-male model of leadership.

"There are some superintendents who want urban challenges. They don't want an easy district." Messina "There is an openness for sure to have a nontraditional—they're open to females, open to minorities, open to whatever you've got," Messina said.

WHO'S EYEING ESCAMBIA?

Messina sounded pretty confident that Escambia will have a number of candidates interested in taking a swing at the superintendent position when it opens to applicants in April. "A lot of people want to come to Escambia County," she said, mentioning that she had already spoken with multiple interested candidates. There are candidates that will be attracted to the district's coastal locale. And there are those who will appreciate the area's embrace of the military and proximity to Naval Air Station Pensacola. And there are also superintendent candidates who will not flinch when faced with Escambia's challenges, notably the divide between students residing in the district's varied corners. This variety of candidate will, Messina noted, run toward such challenges. "There are some superintendents who want urban challenges," she said. "They don't want an easy district." The next opportunity to attend a public forum focused on the selection of a new superintendent will come Jan. 7 at Beulah Middle School. Two days later, Jan. 9, a forum will be held at Tate High School. After considering the input gathered during these forums, as well as the online survey and inter-district meetings, the Escambia County School Board will begin casting its net in the spring and has set an application deadline of June 26. Finalists for the superintendent position will be identified and interviewed in August 2020. These candidates will also be asked to attend a community event designed to give the public a chance to meet the prospects. A final superintendent selection will be made by September, with a start date for the position in November. {in} inweekly.net

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KONDRAT'YEV SPEAKS OUT On June 1, Inweekly's Jeremy Morrison taped a red slushie drink inflight as it struck Congressman Matt Gaetz as he left a town hall event at Brew Ha Ha. The drink-slinger, Amanda Kondrat'yev, was sentenced last week to 15 days in prison for assaulting the congressman. The 35-year-old wife and mother of two, who briefly ran against Gaetz as a Democratic challenger in the 2016 election, will begin her sentence Dec. 2. In addition to the 15 days in prison, Kondrat'yev will serve one year of supervised probation and pay a $500 fine. Inweekly writer Scott Satterwhite caught up with Kondrat'yev after the sentencing. She explained why she tossed the cup.

"I saw the alignment of events with the "milkshaking" trend in the UK and the town hall happening down the street. I decided to jump on what seemed like perfect comedic timing." Amanda Kondrat'yev "I saw the alignment of events with the "milkshaking" trend in the UK and the town hall happening down the street," she said. "I decided to jump on what seemed like perfect comedic timing." At the time, "milkshaking" was a growing trend in Europe, where people threw milkshakes at political targets. Kondrat'yev said, "I wanted people to see how ridiculously bad things are here and where we could make an important change by changing our Congressional representative." She added that throwing the cup was an impulsive move that "looking back now, wasn't the smartest choice." "My life is forever changed because of my actions," said Kondrat'yev. "However, I wanted to change the conversation, and the fact that people are talking about me means it's working. Even if it's hateful, let them 88

expose themselves. I already knew the hate was there. Maybe now others see it, too." She admitted she was severely depressed and having disordered thoughts that day. The arrest has been a catalyst for her to seek help. "At the time, I didn't care what happened to me. I barely felt alive at all," said Kondrat'yev. "I shouldn't have let myself get that low. I was being treated for depression, but it wasn't enough. I've since gotten a proper diagnosis and additional new medications." She continued, "I've also been placed in therapy to deal with trauma and PTSD. I should have found a better way to get help and be heard, but I was unable to at the time." When asked if she had anything that she wanted to add, Kondrat'yev said, "I want anyone that is feeling helpless to know that you are not alone. You have worth, and your life can change for the better, even if, or when, you hit rock bottom. I've had some extremely dark days, but I still believe that we will win. I want future generations to survive and thrive. That hope for the future keeps me going."

GILLEY'S FROGS Escambia County

Administrator Janice Gilley delivered her 100-day review of county operations to the county commission on Monday, Nov. 18— actually 141 days after she took office. Consistent with Gilley's early performances, the presentation contained buzz words and folksy jargon, like, "When I came on my first day, I told you that I was here to eat frogs and get bloody in the arena, and I'm still in that position. I'm still willing to eat your frogs, and I'm still willing to get bloody in the arena." Inweekly hasn't seen her "eat frogs" or "get bloody in the arena." We've seen her talk about plans, reorganization and visioning but seen few accomplishments. Last Monday's presentation bought her more time, but if she delivers as promised, next year could be a busy year. Gilley has made eight senior staff changes and has slowly built her management team. Her former boss, Jerry Maygarden, has been brought on as an assistant to

County Administration. Her friend Sharon Pitts left Kelly Services to be her assistant and lists her job on LinkedIn as "Chief of Getting Things Done." Gilley has formed the Office of Compliance and Ethics and hired Keith Morris to head it. By March 2020, Gilley will have reorganized county departments under the two categories community and administrative or public safety and infrastructure. She will hire an assistant county administrator to manage each category. Last Monday, Gilley announced she wants to develop technology governance and real estate teams. She plans to launch a MyGov citizens information portal to make it easier for citizens to obtain information, simplify public records request procedure and rework the current website. In June 2020, she will hold workshops to create her "Strive to Thrive in 2025"—a five-year strategic plan that she hopes will be in place by Oct. 1.

ECUA OFFICERS The ECUA held its

Organizational Board Meeting for 20192020 on Tuesday, Nov. 19. Lois Benson, District 2, was re-elected to serve as ECUA Board chairman, and Dr. Larry N. Walker, District 5, was re-elected vice-chairman. Vicki Campbell, District 1, was re-elected chair of the Citizens' Advisory Committee, and Dale Perkins, District 4, will serve as its vice-chairman. District 3 is still without a representative on the ECUA board, while Gov. Ron DeSantis makes up his mind about a replacement. Deborah Benn, Chuck Kimball, Clorissti Shoemo, Maurice J. Inkel, Jr., Pueschel Schneier, Randy Ponson and Louise Ritz were appointed to the Citizens' Advisory Committee.

DISTRICT 1 POLL The 2020 primaries are nine months away. Inweekly hired the Political Matrix to check the temperature of District 1 Republicans. The polling service surveyed 422 likely Republican Escambia District 1 voters and found the incumbents in the race for County Commissioner and ECUA ahead. However, there are still a large number of undecided voters in these contested races—which isn't unusual since the candidates haven't started campaigning that much. Jeff Bergosh has nearly a 12-point lead over Casey, 37.9%-26.1%, with 36% undecided. In the 2016 GOP primary, Bergosh garnered 41% of the vote in a three-person race. Casey received 29.8% and Karen Sindel 29.4%. For the District 1 ECUA seat, Vicky Campbell has a substantial lead of more than 20 percentage points, 35.5%-13.7%. Half of the voters surveyed were undecided. The Margin of Error for the poll was +/- 4.5%, with a confidence level of 95%.

ANNEXATION Baptist Health Care has

announced its plans to relocate operations to property located near I-110, just outside the boundaries of the city. "It happens to be to a location that is currently outside the city, but it is adjacent to the city," Mayor Robinson said in his weekly press conference last week. "So, we were very glad to hear they wanted to remain in the city and were annexed in." Earlier in the month, the Pensacola City Council took the initial steps towards annexing the hospital's new property into the city. They're expected to make the final step in that direction in December. "I think it's a great opportunity to expand the boundaries of the city of Pensacola and continue our relationship with Baptist Health Care and Baptist Hospital," Robinson said. While the city will not be gaining property tax revenue by annexing Baptist's new property into the city limits, Robinson said that there are other benefits to the move. "I think at the end of the day, having one of your largest employers located in the city of Pensacola is a good thing for us," the mayor noted. Earlier this year, the city worked with Baptist to take advantage of a legal mechanism that allows the hospital to voluntarily pay some tax, which is then used to fund indigent healthcare at the facility. Robinson said that arrangement with the city also played into the hospital's decision to annex. "Them staying in the city limits will allow us to continue to do that work," he noted. "I think that's a big part of them wanting to stay in the city." While the city will not gain any property tax revenue from the annexation, it does stand to gain some when Baptist exits its current campus. It's not sure yet what the exodus will look like or how long it might take; there have been indications that Baptist will retain some healthcare-related presence on the site. "As they move their existing campus out, there's a chance that more of that falls back on the tax rolls," the mayor said. Regardless, Robinson stressed, the hospital's move from the neighborhood will present unique circumstances. "I think we have an awesome opportunity to redevelop and re-envision what that is in West Pensacola," he said. "You don't get many chances to rework a community, to breathe life into a community and help that area, so there's a lot that can be done, and we can see further growth in that section of Pensacola."

GANNETT 2.0 The merger of Gannett, the parent company of USA Today, Pensacola News Journal and more than 100 other dailies, and GateHouse Media was completed on Tuesday, Nov. 19. The new chain will own one in five daily inweekly.net

Voices of Pensacola Mural

newspapers in the United States—more than 260 dailies. Michael E. Reed, the New Media chief executive since 2006, will lead the combined company. He told the New York Times that while he believes the new entity will have an annual savings of $300 million, the bulk of it "is not going to come from editorial." The new entity will control newspapers across North Florida—PNJ, Santa Rosa Press Gazette, Fort Walton Beach Daily News, Destin Log, Crestview News Bulletin, Holmes County Times-Advertiser, Walton Sun, Panama City News Herald, The Times of Apalachicola, Washington County News, Tallahassee Democrat, St. Augustine Record and Jacksonville's Florida Times-Union.

MORE MURALS DOWNTOWN In the fall of 2017, the University of West Florida Historic Trust applied for and received funding from the National Park Service for the creation and installation of two maritime-themed murals in downtown Pensacola. Bobby Switzer, vice president of Lamar Outdoor Advertising, devised a plan of installing the murals through the use of outdoor vinyl, framing devices and lighting. The goal was to have the artwork com-

pleted in time for the Visit Pensacola Tall Ships Festival. As the ships sailed into the Port of Pensacola in April 2018, they were welcomed by these murals—one installed on the south side of the Museum of Commerce, featuring a historical image of the Tall Ships' arrival in 1765, and another mounted on the west side exterior wall of the Voices of Pensacola, highlighting the Port of Pensacola in 1903. With the success of this project, Switzer then applied the same techniques to the Blount and Brent buildings that he and his brothers, Charlie and John, were renovating. The brothers incorporated an outdoor mural on the exterior of their building. With the overwhelmingly positive community response, UWF Historic Trust board chairman Collier Merrill formed a committee through the Historic Trust to create a formalized mural program. The committee of 10, known as Pensacola Outdoor Project (POP): Murals, is led by Historic Trust board member Scott Barrow with the support of the Historic Trust staff and the guidance of the Architectural Review Board. The POP: Mural committee's vision is to work with the community to create large, mounted photographs of significant historic

scenes displayed on strategically-located, prominent buildings and structures throughout downtown Pensacola, enabling residents and tourists alike to learn about Pensacola's history through these displays coupled with signage for each along with the creation of an educational, self-guided trail. POP: Murals will become the centerpieces of Pensacola's unique and dynamic downtown, highlighting our history and providing a focal point for cultural heritage tourism. To date, POP: Murals has approved six murals. Three have been installed on the Blount Building, Voices of Pensacola and Museum of Commerce. The Merrill brothers are installing on Seville Tower a mural-based watercolor painting by Herbert Rudeen, which was commissioned by their grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Burney M. Henderson. The ships in the painting were named after his wife and two daughters, Elizabeth, Katherine and Jane, and "Bagdad" after the donor family's area of business, Bagdad Land & Lumber Co. Regions Bank is installing a mural of the San Carlos Hotel, circa 1910, on 70 N. Baylen St. IRIS: Intelligent Retinal Imaging Systems has plans for a mural on the Isis Theatre Building, 4 N. Palafox St.

NEW UWF TRUSTEES The Florida Board of Governors has appointed Stephanie White, wife of former State Rep. Frank White and daughter of Sandy Sansing, to replace Mort O'Sullivan on the University of West Florida Board of Trustees. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has reappointed Alonzie Scott, and Jill Singer moves from being a governor appointee to one appointed by the Florida Board of Governors. Scott, director of the Enterprise Talent Management Office and a senior executive advisor at the Naval Surface Warfare Center Philadelphia Division, will continue to serve for the remaining three years of his term as a governor appointee, subject to confirmation by the Florida Senate. White, a local attorney, and Singer, vice president of national security for AT&T, will

serve five-year terms beginning in January 2020."These individuals have the proper credentials and Argo spirit needed for guiding UWF," said UWF President Martha D. Saunders. "I welcome their insight and value their commitment as Board of Trustees members."

MARK YOUR CALENDAR The Santa Rosa County Environmental Department is partnering with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection to hold a Waste Tire Amnesty Day from 7 a.m.-5 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 30, at Central Landfill, 6337 Da Lisa Road, Milton. District 1 Commissioner Jeff Bergosh hosts his 29th Coffee with the Commissioner from 6:30-7:30 a.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 3, at Denny's, 4625 Mobile Highway. The Florida SBDC at UWF presents "Marketing Like a Human" from noon-1 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 3, at Synovus, 125 W. Romana St., presented by Briana Snellgrove, CEO of Social ICON. The attendance fee is $30 (required, non-refundable online payment) and includes lunch. To register, visit sbdc.uwf.edu, and click on "Training & Events." The Florida PTAC at UWF offers a workshop entitled "Set-Asides for Small Business" from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 4, at Synovus, 125 W. Romana St. Attendance fee is $25. Pre-registration is required. To register, visit sbdc.uwf.edu, and click on "Training & Events." Registration closes 24 hours before the workshop. Bras for Cause & Drag Night, hosted by I Support the Girls-Gulf Coast, will be 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 7, at Dolce & Gelato, 2050 N. 12th Ave. Bring a new or gently used bra and be entered into a raffle. The Santa Rosa County Writers' Guild seeks poems for Issue IV of the Blackwater Literary Journal. For a limited time, the Guild is looking for poems from residents of Santa Rosa County. To be considered, the poems should be pasted onto the body of an email and sent to SRCWG@mediacombb.net. {in}

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Put down the hot chocolate, and don't Netflix just because it's chill(y). December is arguably the most festive month of the year, and Pensacola has sleigh loads of events to celebrate. So, we put together a guide to help you plan your holiday fun. We highlighted a few things for adults, a few that are perfect for the kiddos and some that appeal to any and everyone. In addition to these Inweekly-approved picks, we also included a holiday calendar, with some reoccurring and ticketed events, so you can start planning ahead. But make sure you check back every week in December because we'll be adding to that list and checking it twice (sorry, we couldn't resist).

—Grown-up Things— From pub crawls to themed pop-up bars, adults definitely have more than enough reasons to get in the spirit this season. One event in particular has us busy binge-watching already in anticipation and preparation (for trivia night obviously). And if you're the type to quote "The Office" or maybe you just work in an office, "The Office" Christmas Pop-Up Bar at Perfect Plain should top your holiday to-do list, too. Events and Marketing Manager Bryant Liggett said Perfect Plain Brewing Co. loves the opportunity to throw a themed party, citing Pensacon, the brewery's annual "Star Wars" Day celebration and Potterfest as proof. Their crew has always wanted to throw a November 29, 2019

party themed after the TV show "The Office." "Collectively, our entire staff are huge fans of 'The Office,' so we thought it'd be the perfect way to add a twist to our Holiday celebrations," Liggett said. "We'll have 'The Office' trivia, Scrantonicity II playing live in the Garden, the TV show on loop, a themed cocktail menu, décor and a few other Easter eggs only the biggest 'Office' fans will understand. Basically, we're bringing every 'Office' Christmas episode to life."

"Basically, we're bringing every 'Office' Christmas episode to life." Bryant Liggett Most fans agree that every quote is legendary, but Liggett shared her personal favorite—"I'm not superstitious, but I am a little stitious." "THE OFFICE" CHRISTMAS POP-UP BAR Thursday Dec. 26-Sunday, Dec. 29 perfectplain.com A multi-day celebration themed after the TV show "The Office." MIRACLE ON PALAFOX All season, starting Black Friday, Nov. 29 facebook.com/oldhickorywhiskeybar What's better than a holiday happy hour? A holiday happy hour in a fully transformed winter wonderland, of course. And fortunately for us, Old Hickory Whiskey Bar is

once again becoming Miracle on Palafox for the season—which means themed drinks and over-the-top décor galore. So get ready to order a round (or two) of Christmapolitans and live your most 'grammable life. SANTA PUB CRAWL 2019 4-10 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 7 facebook.com/orileys.dtown Because nothing says "adult" Christmas quite like a big group of Santas in a bar. Get ready to embrace your inner Kris Kringle and party at one of Pensacola's largest annual pub crawls. The objective is not only to celebrate but also collect toys and donations for the event's charities. The event requires a $15 participation fee, plus a donation for Shriners International or an unwrapped gift for Toys for Tots is appreciated. The fee and donation will secure you a T-shirt (while supplies last), 22-ounce stein and passport for the raffle at the end. Everyone must be 21 and older to participate, so bring your ID. Santa costumes are mandatory, but feel free to get creative because jolly doesn't look the same on every Santa.

—Kid-Approved— No matter how or what you celebrate this time of year, we can all agree that kids definitely win out when it comes to the holidays. From photo-ops with Santa to movies and plays centered around classic stories, there's something to keep them busy just about every day until 2020.

One story we think every modern kid should hear this season is coming to the stage at Pensacola Little Theatre. It's a story from a simpler time, full of that nostalgic brand of timeless holiday magic—"Miracle on 34th Street." Kathy Holsworth, the artistic director, said this is their first time doing this version of the show. The play, set in 1950, closely follows the plot of the 1947 movie. "Our costume designer, Janet Longton, specializes in that era, and we are excited to see all the terrific styles of the time," Holsworth said. "We, of course, can't actually produce the Macy's parade, but we create an atmosphere of imagination that will engage the audience. We've had a terrific time researching toys of the time and working with our children to get them to 'act' like kids of a different time. This is a Mainstage title for us but is perfect theatre for the entire family. Kris Kringle and the kids in the show really set the Christmas Spirit in motion." The cast is composed of 27 people starting as young as age 8 and going up to a mature Kris Kringle. "There are lots of great featured roles, and our ensemble does a fantastic job of playing the entire population of New York City," Holsworth said. "Super proud of our military volunteers and happy to provide a home away from home for them. Delightfully, the mother and daughter in the play are mother and daughter in real life. This has been a terrific shared time for them (Michele Barber and her daughter Mattie), 11

and of course, they are very believable as a family on stage." Holsworth thinks the play will give people a chance to have faith and believe in something good. "Even when life isn't going quite the way you think it should, a little magic goes a long way," Holsworth said. "Be kind. Share. Be patient, as sometimes we have to wait for our Christmas wish because we aren't ready yet. But Santa knows. All you have to do is believe."

More Holiday Events VICTORIAN HOLIDAY TRADITIONS Turn back time … several decades for the Victorian Holiday Traditions and get a taste of how families celebrated the holiday season in the Victorian Era. Tours begin at the Tivoli High House and travel to the Lear/Rocheblave House. The tour is included with admission to Historic Pensacola. Tickets are available at any of our service desk locations, including the Tivoli High House at 205 E. Zaragoza St. Tickets are valid for one week from purchase. Historic Pensacola will also host A Village Carol, an evening of Dickens' Christmas at 5 p.m. Friday, Dec. 20. The evening will feature open-hearth cooking, Victorian holiday celebrations and crafts, holiday home tours, a reading of the holiday classic "A Christmas Carol" and refreshments. Admission is $20 for adults and $10 for children 12 and younger. WHEN: Now until Dec. 21 WHERE: Historic Pensacola, 330 S. Jefferson St. DETAILS: facebook.com/historicpcola or historicpensacola.com

"MIRACLE ON 34TH STREET" 7:30 p.m. Dec. 13-14 & 19-21, and 3 p.m. Dec. 15 & 22 pensacolalittletheatre.com A play based on the 1947 film. BREAKFAST WITH SANTA 9:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 14 facebook.com/asalwaysatduh Eat breakfast at Jo's, sing with carolers and then pose for a photo with Santa Claus. The menu will include pancakes, breakfast casserole, bacon and fruit washed down with hot chocolate, juice or coffee. Reservations are required—466-5136. POLAR EXPRESS PAJAMA PARTY 3:30 p.m. every Saturday and Sunday beginning Nov. 30 and running through Dec. 22 navalaviationmuseum.org Every weekend this season, kids have the opportunity to watch a modern holiday classic— "The Polar Express"—on the big screen at the National Naval Aviation Museum. And it gets better—attendees are encouraged to wear their pajamas and enjoy a cup of hot chocolate and cookie during the movie. See, we told you kids win the holidays.

Something for Everyone Fortunately for all you cool parents out there, not every kid-friendly holiday event is strictly kid-friendly. We even found a few fun ones happening at local breweries, which means beer for nice adults and face-time with Santa (and puppies!) for the nice little ones.

PICS WITH SANTA & MUTT PARADE 1-4 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 7 facebook.com/ecasfriends Children with or without fur can pose for a picture with Santa Claus at this event at Spahr Brewing Company. In addition to photos, there will be holiday music by Rudy Applewhite on the steel drums, food and a parade for the pooches. Prizes will be given for the best costume. The best part? All proceeds will benefit Friends of the Escambia County Animal Shelter. SANTA PAWS 2-5 p.m. Sunday. Dec. 8 facebook.com/pensacolahumane The theme for this "pawty" is simple—pictures and pitchers with Santa for you and your pups. The event will be at Gulf Coast Brewery and is free to attend, but donations are encouraged and will benefit Pensacola Humane Society.

BARE HAND COLLECTIVE'S HOLIDAY MAKERS MARKET 4-9 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 7 facebook.com/barehandco We assume you've got some holiday shopping to do, right? We can't think of a better place to do it than Bare Hand Collective's Holiday Makers Market. Part of their mission is to help give local makers a platform to expand their business, and their monthly markets are one way they do that. In addition to a great line-up of retail vendors, the event will also feature tacos from Chapitos Tacos food truck, live music from Greg Bond and beer from Gary's Brewery & Biergarten (which is where the December market is being held).

WINTERFEST Pensacola Winterfest is what holiday dreams are made of. Grab a hot chocolate and enjoy the flagship Performance Tour, which runs Nov. 29 and 30 and Dec. 6, 7, 13 and 15. The performance features legitimate Reindeer Games, a free plaza show and the chance for children to visit with Santa in his sleigh. The first performances are 5 p.m. Fridays and 4:30 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. A fresh performance starts every 15 minutes until 8 p.m. Christmas week. Mini-tours, the Polar Express Mini-Tour and Grinch MiniTour, run from 5-8 p.m. Dec. 18-24. Mini-tours depart every 15 minutes. Reservations are strongly recommended. WHEN: Now through Dec. 24 WHERE: Winterfest is based at the plazas around the Old County Courthouse at the corner of Palafox and Government streets. COST: Santa visits are free. Prices for tours are available online. DETAILS: pensacolawinterfest.org TIKI CHRISTMAS FUNDRAISER Get ready to celebrate the holidays aloha style. This event will feature a Hawaiian buffet dinner from Papa Nalu Aloha Grill, complete with a full roasted pig, plus live music from The Island Brothers and accompanying hula dancers. Adult beverages will be available for purchase. WHEN: 5-9 p.m. Friday, Dec. 6

Committed. Collaborative. Responsive. Proven. 850-434-9200 | clarkpartington.com

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"The Nutcracker" / Photo Courtesy of Ballet Pensacola

WHERE: Pensacola Lighthouse and Maritime Museum, 2081 Radford Blvd. COST: $35 (tickets must be purchased online in advance) DETAILS: facebook.com/pensacolalighthouse PENSACOLA CHILDREN'S MUSEUM HOLIDAY PROGRAM Children can meet the world-famous Conductor for a reading of his favorite story, "The Polar Express." They will then join Santa's Lead Elf, Veteris Laboriosus, for a short song and dance. Veteris will collect letters to Santa if you bring them and put them in the North Pole's secret mailbox. The grand finale is a visit from Santa. Bring your camera so you can snap a shot with the man himself. WHEN: 10:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. programs on Saturday, Dec. 7 WHERE: Pensacola Children's Museum, 115 E. Zaragoza St. COST: Free DETAILS: facebook.com/historicpcola PENSACOLA LIGHTHOUSE CHRISTMAS GALA Indulge in free cookies and cocoa, holiday music, games and visits with Santa and his elves. WHEN: 3-7:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 7 WHERE: Pensacola Lighthouse and Maritime Museum, 2081 Radford Blvd. COST: Free admission DETAILS: facebook.com/pensacolalighthouse BODACIOUS BELLS JINGLE MINGLE Chef Nick Farkas, owner of Milton's Pork & Spoon restaurant, will host a holiday cooking demonstration and special tasting. Guests can enjoy a curated selection of fine wines, cheeses, charcuterie and holiday hors d'oeuvres; live music from The Groove Family andtrumpeter Abbey Opalenik; complimentary refreshments; a holiday raffle; visits with Santa; and a cash bar with holiday wines and craft beer. The entire Bodacious building will be decked out in holiday décor. WHEN: 6-10 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 11 WHERE: So Gourmet Pensacola, 407 S. Palafox COST: $45 single adults, $15 child ticket and $80 couples DETAILS: facebook.com/bodaciousshops November 29, 2019

2019 COX PENSACOLA CHRISTMAS PARADE This annual event has grown to more than 110 entries, featuring more than 70 floats. It is televised live on WKRG-TV5 (CBS), pays tribute to the Navy's Blue Angels and hosts six local high school bands. WHEN: 5:15 p.m.-8:15 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 14 WHERE: Downtown DETAILS: coxpensacolachristmasparade.org HOLIDAY SING-ALONG Forget singing alone your car, in the shower or anywhere your neighbors might hear and spend an hour singing your favorite carols. The Choral Society of Pensacola's women's ensemble will lead the singing with the lyrics projected on the theatre's big screen. The event will also feature a set performed by men from Pensacola Bay Harmonizers, as well as holiday refreshments and an opportunity for selfies with Santa. All ages are welcome, and admission is free, although the Society encourages you to bring non-perishable food items for Manna Food Pantries. WHEN: 5-6 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 15 WHERE: The Rex Theatre, 18 N. Palafox DETAILS: facebook.com/choralsocietyofpensacola BALLET PENSACOLA'S "THE NUTCRACKER" Watching dancers perform "The Nutcracker" is the quintessential Christmas tradition. Embrace the magical tale of Clara and her Nutcracker Prince at one of Ballet Pensacola's annual performances Friday and Saturday night or Sunday afternoon. WHEN: 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 20, and Saturday, Dec. 21; 1:30 p.m. Sunday Dec. 22 WHERE: The Saenger Theatre, 118 S. Palafox COST: For prices, visit ticketmaster.com. DETAILS: balletpensacola.org A CHIZUKO CHRISTMAS Celebrate Christmas with chizuko, featuring live music from Frank Spinatra and the Basilantros, Yam, DEAdBUGGS and Hibachi Stranglers. WHEN: Doors open 8 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 25 WHERE: chizuko, 506 W. Belmont St. DETAILS: facebook.com/chizukopensacola 13

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WEEK OF NOVEMBER 29-DECEMBER 4

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

Doing Some "Lightwork" By Savannah Evanoff

and have a positive critique that helps them things like school shootings and really high grow," Allen said. "We write together. We are poverty rates," Allen said. "Just this month, best friends. We work together. A lot of our the CDC marked childhood adversity as lives are intertwined, but I wouldn't really have a public health issue. If you experience a it any other way." certain number of really challenging events as a kid, it makes your risk of mortality much higher. It's definitely a public health issue, and I felt like it was time to bring that to the public." "In my book, the poetry pieces have themes that center around this but also around really positive things like healing and growth and joy and empowerment." "It's been a fun, cathartic experience to The title of the collection, "Lightwork," work with one of your best friends on some of reflects spiritual healing and Allen's ability the most important work," Ibrahim added. to be an activator. Allen's poetry does a good job of bringing "My greatest strength and maybe the a story of transformation to you, Ibrahim said. reason why I was able to— and am still— "I think it's highly relatable regardless conquer a lot of challenging things in this of what perspective you have in life or what life is because I have a gift of shining light adversities you might have dealt with," Ibrahim on things in a way that makes people take said. "I think it's a really moving body of work." action," Allen said. "When I share things Allen and Ibrahim will both perform their about the hardest times in life with friends original work at the spoken word performance in conversations, what I find is we all go Thursday, Dec. 5, at From the Ground Up through these similar hard things, but it's Community Garden. Allen looks forward to really about moving forward and activating previewing her collection with five pieces. yourself, looking at yourself and saying, 'I "The first one is a fun take on social media can move forward from this.' That's what and what it does for thoughts and how we 'Lightwork' was for me. I really believe in can be more positive about how we approach shining light on the self, even in places you that," Allen said. "There's another piece about have a hard time looking at. That kind of the water and the tides and how connected light can be very healing." we are with our earth through that. One final The collection features long and short piece I'll be doing is called 'Lightwork.' It's the pieces. Some are meant to be funny, and title poem of the book. It's really about how some are meant to spark ideas or a picture you can learn from your life experiences to in your mind, Allen said. have transformative joy and spiritual growth." Being vulnerable is the hardest part but Allen focuses on imagery and storytelling a necessary one. at performances. "The whole point of healing is to be "My goal is to really bring the audience seen and heard and know that other people into what it felt like for me in a moment," Allen out there are like you," Allen said. "I had a said. "I am a very visual and sensory person really positive experience in the local comand think abstractly but still very in the momunity sharing my poetry, even though it's ment. My poetry really tries to bring people very vulnerable." into that experience as closely as I can." {in} And Allen hasn't done it alone. She and Ibrahim have written together for 10 years. The two poets met on a speech and debate team at the University of West Florida and later co-founded the company Crossland Communications. WHEN: 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 5 "We have really found a rhythm WHERE: From the Ground Up Community Gartogether in bringing out the best of den, 501 N. Hayne St. ourselves in the ways that we see COST: Free are best and not stepping on each DETAILS: facebook.com/fromthegroundupgarden other's toes, always trying to listen

"It's been a fun, cathartic experience to work with one of your best friends on some of the most important work." Lena Ibrahim

Photo by Lena Ibrahim

The first poem Andrya Allen remembers writing was about NASA's Space Shuttle Challenger Explosion in 1986 while she was still in elementary school processing the tragedy with her classmates. Her ability to turn serious subject matter into poetry started early. She recently released her debut poetry collection, "Lightwork: Words from an Activator," and it, too, came from a place of healing, in this case from post-traumatic stress disorder. "What I really discovered is that writing and expressing yourself—even if you're talking about your hardest moments and your greatest joys that come from growing from those moments—that poetry is the best tool I've found to really make me come back to myself, my happiness and my gratitude for life," Allen said. After writing poems every day for a year, Allen sat down with her best friend and editor, Lena Ibrahim, to see the results of her writing therapy. Seeing poets with books at poetry events made Allen wonder if she had enough material for her own.

"We went and looked at the work over the past year as a body, and we found there was this story of self-discovery and healing and joy after childhood adversity," Allen said. "It felt wonderful to put it all together, and I really felt like I should share it with people." Allen explained her childhood adversity was reflected in her ACE score, a study that evaluates different types of abuse, neglect or hard experiences faced during childhood. "Your ACE score is correlated to a lot of school outcomes, life and health outcomes, happiness outcomes," Allen said. "I found out my ACE score is like an eight. If your ACE score is more than a five, you're going to need some extra support." ACE scores can include issues such as violence in the home or in the neighborhood or physical, emotional or sexual abuse or neglect. The subject material seemed relevant. Allen sees the issue of child adversity becoming more common in the news. "Kids are talking more about trauma and the issues they have, especially with

"We went and looked at the work over the past year as a body, and we found there was this story of selfdiscovery and healing and joy after childhood adversity." Andrya Allen

November 29, 2019

ANDRYA ALLEN'S "LIGHTWORK" BOOK RELEASE

calendar Perfect Plain Brewing Co., 50 E. Garden St. facebook.com/perfectplainbrewingco TRANSMISSION MEDITATION WORLD SERVICE 10:30 a.m. Ever'man Educational

Center, 327 W. Garden St. everman.org BRUNCH WITH LIVE MUSIC 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Café Single Fin, 380 N. Ninth Ave. facebook.com/cafesinglefin ASHTANGA YOGA WITH GARY JR. 10:30 a.m. $12. Gary's Brewery & Biergarten, 208 Newman Ave. facebook.com/garysbrew VEGAN BRUNCH 11 a.m.-2 p.m. End of the Line Café, 610 E. Wright St. Sign up for the newsletter for menu. eotlcafe.com SUNDAY BRUNCH AT H20 11 a.m. $28.95 for adults. Free valet parking and 15% off with local ID. H20 Hilton, 12 Via De Luna Drive. facebook.com/hiltonpensacolabeach LITTLE MASTERS: GUIDED MEDITATION FOR CHILDREN 3-4 p.m. $20. For children

7 and older. Asher & Bee Apothecary and Tea House, 7 E. Gregory St. facebook.com/ asherandbee PENSACOLA BEER & CAROLS 4-5:30 p.m. Gary's Brewery & Biergarten, 208 Newman Ave. facebook.com/garysbrew

MONDAY 12.2

Winterfest Elf Parade

RESUME HELP 11 a.m. Molino Branch Li-

FRIDAY 11.29

Saturday. $12 per person. Strikerz Entertainment Center, 3200 N. Palafox St.

Library, 239 N. Spring St. mywfpl.com DJ DAD AND NOYBOYS Noon-10 p.m. Dolce and Gelato, 2050 N. 12th Ave. facebook. com/dolcegelatopensacola WINTERFEST ELF PARADE 4:45-8:30 p.m. 223 S. Palafox. pensacolawinterfest.org HAPPY HOUR COOKOUT 5 p.m. Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. sevillequarter.com DOWNTOWN LIGHTING CEREMONY 5-8 p.m. 223 S. Palafox. downtownpensacola.com

SATURDAY 11.30

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

RELATIONAL COMMUNICATION WITH ESPERE METHOD 5:30 p.m. Ever'man Educational

Center, 327 W. Garden St. everman.org ACOUSTIC SONGWRITERS NIGHT 6 p.m. Every Friday through March 27. Frazier's Country Wines, 3130 Barrancas Ave. fromthegroundupgardenpensacola.com FLOW TRIBE 7 p.m. $12. Vinyl Music Hall, 2 S. Palafox. vinylmusichall.com GLOW BOWL 9 p.m.-1 a.m. Every Friday and

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

of West Florida, Rec Plex North Field, 11000 University Parkway. parkrun.us/recplexnorth OCEAN HOUR CLEAN-UP 9-10 a.m. Payne Bridge/Cervantes Street Bridge; meet at boat ramp parking lot on Strong Street. oceanhourfl.com SANTA ROSA FARMERS MARKET 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Fresh local produce, honey, baked goods and live music. Pace Presbyterian Church, Woodbine Road. PALAFOX MARKET 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Fresh produce, live plants, baked goods, fine art and antiques. Items originate directly from participating vendors, including dozens of local farmers, home gardeners and area artists. Martin Luther King Jr. Plaza, N. Palafox. palafoxmarket.com YOU SELL IT HERE FARMER'S MARKET 9 a.m.-2

p.m. Free admission. Every Saturday. 8600 Pensacola Blvd. facebook.com/yousellithere GRINCH IN THE GARDEN 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Pet pictures with the Grinch; gumbo from Red Fish Blue Fish. From the Ground Up Community Garden, 501 N. Hayne St. fromthegroundupgardenpensacola.com GREG BOND 5-8 p.m. Dolce and Gelato, 2050 N. 12th Ave. facebook.com/dolcegelatopensacola 2019 MOUSTACHE RIDE 6-9 p.m. $20. Perfect Plain Brewing Co., 50 E. Garden St. facebook.com/perfectplainbrewingco BIG DEAL BURLESQUE 8 p.m. $12-$35. Vinyl Music Hall, 2 S. Palafox. vinylmusichall.com SATURDAY SWING OUTS 8 p.m. $5. Saturdays. Breathe Yoga Studio, 505 S. Adams St. GLOW BOWL 9 p.m.-1 a.m. Every Friday and Saturday. $12 per person. Strikerz Entertainment Center, 3200 N. Palafox St.

SUNDAY 12.1

THEMED BRUNCH AT PERFECT PLAIN 10 a.m.

brary, 6450-A Highway 95A. mywfpl.com

SEVILLE QUARTER MILERS 6 p.m. Runners

meet in front of Seville Quarter for a run around downtown Pensacola. Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. sevillequarter.com VEGAN COOKING CLASS 6 p.m. $25. Butternut squash frittata, red fennel hash and apple berry cobbler. End of the Line Café, 610 E. Wright St. eotlcafe.com CHRISTMAS MOVIE TRIVIA NIGHT 7-9 p.m. Perfect Plain Brewing Co., 50 E. Garden St. BEAUTIFUL: THE CAROLE KING MUSICAL

7 p.m. $58 and up. Saenger Theatre, 118 S. Palafox. pensacolasaenger.com

COMMUNITY BANDS OF THE PANHANDLE CHRISTMAS CONCERT 7:30 p.m. Free, bring

a non-perishable food item to be donated to a local food band. Sanders BeachCorinne Jones Resource Center, 913 S. I St. UWF PERCUSSION ENSEMBLE CONCERT

7:30 p.m. Free, tickets required. University of West Florida, Bldg. 82, 11000 University Parkway. uwf.edu/cfpa

Rub elbows with those who take their leisure time seriously.

The ELBOW

ROOM —Pub & Pizza—

celebrating 56 years of business!

Voted Best Bar–West Pensacola again! Open Tuesday-Saturday 4pm-2am

—2213 W. Cervantes St. • 850-434-0300— 616 1

Adoption • Paternity • Dependency/DCF Hearings Prenuptial Agreements • Postnuptial Agreements Divorce • Child Custody and Timesharing Child Support • Child Support Modifications Alimony • Collaborative Divorce • Divorce Mediation • Pre-Suit Family Law Mediation

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

calendar TUESDAY 12.3

YOGA WITHIN REACH 9-10 a.m. Free. Community Health Northwest Florida, 2315 W. Jackson St., Room A. healthcarewithinreach.org BLUE ANGELS PRACTICE 11:30 a.m. National Naval Aviation Museum viewing area, 1878 S. Blue Angel Parkway. Use West Gate Entrance. ASTARAIN STUDIES 1:30 p.m. Ever'man Educational Center, 327 W. Garden St. everman.org PARTY ON THE PLAZA 4 p.m. Live music from The Groove Family, 220 W. Garden St. facebook.com/studerproperties TRYON FAMILY MOVIE NIGHT 4 p.m. Tryon Branch Library, 1200 Langley Ave. mywfpl.com PILATES FUSION 4:30 p.m. Ever'man Educational Center, 327 W. Garden St. everman.org COMPLIMENTARY WINE TASTING 4-6 p.m. Bodacious, 407-D S. Palafox. sogourmetpensacola.com PILATES FUSION 4:30 p.m. Ever'man Educational Center, 327 W. Garden St. everman.org 2019 HOLIDAY EXPERIENCE-MILTON 5 p.m. $75. Pensacola State College, 5988 US-90. foundation.pensacolastate.edu FIBER FREESTYLIN' AT STUDIO SOUTH 5:30-7:30 p.m. Tuesdays. Open to all knitters, crocheters, weavers and more. Studio South, 955 E. Nine Mile Road. studiosouthon9mileroad.com FUNKY YOGA 6 p.m. Free. Ever'man Educational Center, 327 W. Garden St. everman.org ZUMBA WITH SHANNON AND FRIENDS 6-7 p.m. $4. Homestead Community Center, 7830 Pine Forest Road.

November 29, 2019

COUNTRY TWO-STEP DANCING 6:30 p.m. $12. Whiskey Runners Saloon, 610 E. Nine Mile Road. dancecraftstudios.com

Arts & Culture

WEDNESDAY 12.4

≥Events

cational Center, 327 W. Garden St. everman.org

2:30 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays. Free with museum admission. Pensacola Museum of Art, 407 S. Jefferson St. pensacolamuseum.org

PILATES FUSION 10:30 a.m. Free. Ever'man EduBLUE ANGELS PRACTICE CRUISE 10:45 a.m.-

1 p.m. $85 per person; kids 12 and under are $25 off. Condor Sailing Adventures, 997 S. Palafox. condorsailingadventures.com CHAMBER MUSIC RECITAL Noon. Free. Old Christ Church, 405 S. Adams St. ONE-ON-ONE TECH HELP 3 p.m. Pensacola Library, 239 N. Spring St. mywfpl.com AFRICAN DANCE FITNESS 5:30 p.m. Every Wednesday through Dec. 18. Henny Penny's Patisserie, 4412 W. Jackson St. facebook.com/ facebook.com/hennypennyspatisserie VINYASA YOGA 6-7 p.m. Free. Ever'man Educational Center, 327 W. Garden St. everman.org WEST COAST SWING DANCING 6:30 p.m. $12. Whiskey Runners Saloon, 610 E. Nine Mile Road. dancecraftstudios.com PENSACOLA ICE FLYERS VS. MACON MAYHEM 6:35 p.m. $5 and up. Pensacola Bay

Center, 201 E. Gregory St. pensacolabaycenter.com WE THE KINGS 7 p.m. $25. Vinyl Music Hall, 2 S. Palafox. vinylmusichall.com TRANSMISSION GROUP WORLD SERVICE MEDITATION 7:15 p.m. Free. Ever'man Educa-

tional Center, 327 W. Garden St. everman.org

PMA GALLERY TOURS

≥Current Exhibits CINCO BANDERAS

7 p.m. On view through Nov. 30. Artel Gallery, 223 S. Palafox. artelgallery.org BEIRUT: PHOTOGRAPHS BY JOHN BECHTOLD On view

through Jan. 19. Pensacola Museum of Art, 407 S. Jefferson St. pensacolamuseum.org 100 FACES OF WAR EXPERIENCE On

view through Jan. 19 at Pensacola Museum of Art.

Traveling exhibit from Smithsonian. Pensacola Museum of Art, 407 S. Jefferson St. pensacolamuseum.org JOHN MARKOWITZ: RECENT WORKS On

view through Feb. 2. Pensacola Museum of Art, 407 S. Jefferson St. pensacolamuseum.org

COTTON FIELDS TO CONGRESS: THE LIFE AND CAREER OF EARL HUTTO On

view at the T.T. Wentworth, Jr. Florida State Museum, 330 S. Jefferson St. historicpensacola.org GALLERY DAYS

Noon-4 p.m. Saturdays. Featuring local artists. To be featured, contact Angel at 941-7354586 or call the restaurant at 4770035. TGI Fridays, 1240 Airport Blvd.

Workshops & Classes

PINS AND NEEDLES SEWING CLASS

Six-week workshop begins on Nov. 1. Learn basic sewing skills/make your own items. First City Arts Center, 1060 N. Guillemard St. facebook.com/ pinsandneedlessewingdesign

POTTERY ON THE WHEEL Six-week

workshops are held Tuesdays from 6-9 p.m., Wednesdays from 9 a.m.-noon, Thursdays from 6-9 p.m. and Saturdays from 9 a.m.-noon at First City Art Center, 1060 N. Guillemard St. Cost is $157.25 for members and $185 for non-members. For more information, visit firstcityart.org.

INTRODUCTION TO POTTERY ON THE WHEEL Every Mon-

day from 6-8:30 p.m. at First City Art Center. Classes are $40. For more information, visit firstcityart.org. CLAY HAND BUILDING Six-week

workshops are held Tuesdays from 6-9 p.m. and Thursday from 9 a.m.-noon at First City Art Center. Cost is $157.25 for members and $185 for nonmembers. For more information, visit firstcityart.org. CLAY SCULPTURE

Six-week workshops held Saturdays from 9 a.m.-noon at First City Art Center. Cost is $157.25 for members and $185 for non-members. For more information, visit firstcityart.org.

Call for Artists Jazz Pensacola invites fine artists/

calendar graphic designers to submit renderings for the official 2020 Pensacola JazzFest poster. The commission is $300. The poster design should reflect the deep, rich, 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—2020 Pensacola JazzFest.

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The submission deadline is Jan. 6, 2020. If selected, the completed art deadline is Feb. 28, 2020. For more information, call Jazz Pensacola administrator Alice Crann Good at 433-8382, Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., or visit jazzpensacola.com.

Bars & Nightlife

≥Live Music

FRIDAY 11.29

LIVE JAZZ WITH JOE OCCHIPINTI Noon.

The Drowsy Poet Coffee Co., 655 Pensacola Beach Blvd. RICK WILSON 5 p.m. End O' The Alley, Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. sevillequarter.com LIVE MUSIC 6 p.m. Peg Leg Pete's, 1010 Fort Pickens Road. peglegpetes.com

JOHN HART PROJECT

6-10 p.m. Paradise Bar & Grill, 21 Via De Luna Drive. paradisebar-grill.com

RAY 'BIG DOG' COLEY

6-9 p.m. Cazadores Mexican Restaurant 8183 W. Fairfield. JOHN RIPLEY 6:30 p.m. The District, 123 E. Government St. districtsteaks.com MIKE BOCCIA 7:45 p.m. Goat Lips Chew and Brewhouse, 2811 Copter Road. CAT RHODES 6 p.m. Five Sisters Blues Café, 421 W. Belmont St. fivesistersbluescafe.com DUELING PIANOS

8 p.m. Rosie O' Grady's Dueling Piano Show. Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. sevillequarter.com

MIKE & FRIENDS

8 p.m.-midnight. Goat Lips Brewhouse, 2811 Copter Road.

THE BLENDERS 8 p.m.

Hub Stacey's 312 E. Government St. hubstaceys.com

JAY WILLIAMS BAND

9 p.m. Sandshaker Lounge, 731 Pensacola Beach Blvd. sandshaker.com HORSESHOE KITTY 9 p.m. End O' the Alley, Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. sevillequarter.com THE RED FIELD 9 p.m. Lili Marlene's, Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. sevillequarter.com DJ MR LAO 10 p.m. Phineas Phogg's, Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. sevillequarter.com SHAZAM 10 p.m. Apple Annie's, Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. sevillequarter.com

SATURDAY 11.30 LIVE JAZZ WITH JOE OCCHIPINTI 10 a.m.

The Drowsy Poet

Coffee Co., 655 Pensacola Beach Blvd. LIVE MUSIC Noon-4 p.m. Peg Leg Pete's, 1010 Fort Pickens Road. peglegpetes. com ROCKY DENNY BAND

6 p.m. Five Sisters Blues Café, 421 W. Belmont St. fivesistersbluescafe.com AL MARTIN 6-11 p.m. The Piano Bar, Quality Inn, 7601 Scenic Highway. LIVE MUSIC 6 p.m. Peg Leg Pete's, 1010 Fort Pickens Road. peglegpetes.com 18 STRING ARMY 6:30 p.m. The District Steakhouse, 123 E. Government St. sevillequarter.com YARD LIGHTS 7-9 p.m. Big Top Brewing Company, 21 W Romana St. BLUE LEVEE 8 p.m. Five Sisters Blues Café, 421 W. Belmont St. fivesistersbluescafe.com

DUELING PIANO SHOW 8 p.m. Rosie

O'Grady's, Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. sevillequarter.com OPEN MIC/JAM 8 p.m.-midnight. Goat Lips Brewhouse, 2811 Copter Road. Use our instruments or bring your own. JAY WILLIAMS BAND

9 p.m. Sandshaker Lounge, 731 Pensacola Beach Blvd. sandshaker.com COLM KELLY 9 p.m. McGuire's Irish Pub, 600 E. Gregory St. mcguiresirishpub.com THE RED FIELD 9 p.m. Lili Marlene's, Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. sevillequarter.com HORSESHOE KITTY 9 p.m. End O' the Alley, Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. sevillequarter.com LIVE DJ: MR. LAO

10 p.m. Phineas

Phogg's, Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. sevillequarter.com SHAZAM 10 p.m. Apple Annie's, Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. sevillequarter.com

SUNDAY 12.1

JOE OCCHIPINTI JAZZ BAND 10:30

a.m. Apple Annie's Sunday Brunch, Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. sevillequarter.com CURT BOL JAZZ QUARTET 11 a.m.

Five Sisters Blues Café, 421 W. Belmont St. JAZZ BRUNCH WITH AL ALVARADO 11

a.m.-2 p.m. McGuire's Irish Pub, 600 E. Gregory St. jazzpensacola.com LIVE MUSIC Noon4 p.m. Peg Leg Pete's, 1010 Fort Pickens Road. peglegpetes.com

GOSPEL AT GOAT LIPS WITH HOST CLINT DAVIS 12:45-3:15 p.m.

Goat Lips Chew and Brewhouse, 11 Copter Road. LIVE MUSIC 4-8 p.m. Sandshaker Lounge, 731 Pensacola Beach Blvd. sandshaker.com OPEN MIC/JAM 4-10 p.m. Goat Lips Brewhouse, 2811 Copter Road. Use our instruments or bring your own. LIVE MUSIC 6 p.m. Peg Leg Pete's, 1010 Fort Pickens Road. peglegpetes.com JOEY COLLINS 9 p.m. End O' the Alley, Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. sevillequarter.com

MONDAY 12.2

JOE OCCHIPINTI'S JAZZABOUTS 11

a.m.-1 p.m. The Drowsy Poet Coffee Company, 86 Brent Lane.

inweekly.net

November 29, 2019

calendar LIVE MUSIC 6 p.m. Peg Leg Pete's, 1010 Fort Pickens Road. peglegpetes.com MONDAY NIGHT BLUES 7 p.m. Blues

Society of Northwest Florida featuring The Flavors. Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. sevillequarter.com HIGH DEMAND WITH JEREMY & MITCH 9

p.m. End O' the Alley, Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. sevillequarter.com

TUESDAY 12.3

LIVE MUSIC 6 p.m.

Peg Leg Pete's, 1010 Fort Pickens Road. peglegpetes.com GINO ROSARIA'S JAZZ NIGHT 6:30

p.m. Lili Marlene's, Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. sevillequarter.com DJ TONEY 7 p.m. The Deck Bar, 600 S. Barracks St. fishhousepensacola.com

020 2

COLM KELLY 9 p.m.

McGuire's Irish Pub, 600 E. Gregory St. mcguiresirishpub.com

DOUG AND JIMMY'S MUSICAL CHAIRS 9

p.m. End O' the Alley, Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. sevillequarter.com

WEDNESDAY 12.4

GREG LYON 4-8 p.m.

Hemingway's Island Grill, 400 Quietwater Beach Road. MY FAVORITE JAZZ NIGHT 5 p.m. My

Favorite Things, 2813 Cervantes St. jazzpensacola.com JIM ANDREWS 6:30 p.m. The District, 123 E. Government St. districtsteaks.com LIVE MUSIC 6-10 p.m. Peg Leg Pete's, 1010 Fort Pickens Road. peglegpetes.com FALSE IDENTITY 7 p.m. Hub Stacey's 312 E. Government St. hubstaceys.com

LIVE MUSIC 8 p.m. Sandshaker Lounge, 731 Pensacola Beach Blvd. sandshaker.com DUELING PIANO SHOW 8 p.m. Rosie

O' Grady's, Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. sevillequarter.com JORDAN RICHARDS 8 p.m. End O' the Alley, Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. sevillequarter.com COLM KELLY 9 p.m. McGuire's Irish Pub, 600 E. Gregory St. mcguiresirishpub.com

ian Ristorante, 29 S. Palafox. vpauls.com WINE TASTING 5-7 p.m. Informative wine tasting in Seville Quarter Wine and Gift Shop. No charge for the tasting. Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. sevillequarter.com POOL TOURNAMENT 8 p.m. The

Ticket 1, 7250 Plantation Road. ticketsportsbar.com Saturdays

HAPPY HOUR AT CAFÉ SINGLE FIN

Fridays

4-7 p.m. Café Single Fin, 380 N. Ninth Ave. facebook.com/ cafesinglefin

HAPPY HOUR AT CAFÉ SINGLE FIN

MEMBERSHIP APPRECIATION NIGHT 8

≥Bar Games 4-7 p.m. Café Single Fin, 380 N. Ninth Ave. facebook.com/ cafesinglefin HAPPY HOUR 4:306 p.m. Half-off house wine, bar drinks and domestic beer. V. Paul's Ital-

p.m. Seville Quarter Membership Card Holder Appreciation Night at Phineas Phogg's. 130 E. Government St. sevillequarter.com Sundays

BAR AND RESTAU-

RANT EMPLOYEE (B.A.R.E. NIGHT) 7

p.m. Special prices for B.A.R.E. Card membership holders. Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. sevillequarter.com Mondays PINT NIGHT 4-10 p.m. Purchase any 16 oz. brew and take home a limited edition Perfect Plain glass. (limit two per customer). Perfect Plain Brewing Co., 50 E. Garden St. facebook.com/perfectplainbrewingco TEXAS HOLD 'EM FOR FUN AND TRIVIA

7 p.m. Sandshaker Lounge, 731 Pensacola Beach Blvd. sandshaker.com TRIVIA NIGHT 7-9 p.m. World of Beer, 200 S. Palafox. wobusa.com/locations/ palafox B.A.R.E All day. Culverts, 3102 E. Cervantes. calvertsintheheights.com

BAR BINGO 8 p.m.

Apple Annie's at Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. sevillequarter.com

DRAG-O-RAMA TALENT SHOW 9 p.m.-1

a.m. Pelican's Nest, 15 E. Intendencia St. MONDAY NIGHT TRIVIA 9:30-10:30

p.m. Mugs and Jugs, 12080 Scenic Highway. facebook.com/ mugsjugs

DRINK AND DROWN

11:30 p.m.-1 a.m. Pelican's Nest, 15 E. Intendencia St. Tuesdays

CROWLER NIGHT

4-10 p.m. Buy three crowlers, get one free. Perfect Plain Brewing Co., 50 E. Garden St. facebook.com/perfectplainbrewingco HAPPY HOUR 4:30-6 p.m. Half-off house wine, bar drinks and domestic beer. V. Paul's Italian Ristorante, 29 S. Palafox. vpauls.com

CORNHOLE NIGHT WITH ECC 6 p.m.

Gary's Brewery and Biergarten, 208 Newman Ave. facebook. com/garysbrew

GAME ON! DIGITAL TRIVIA NIGHT 8

p.m. Apple Annie's, Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. sevillequarter.com TUESDAY TRIVIA 8 p.m. The Bridge Bar and Sunset Lounge, 33 Gulf Breeze Parkway. facebook.com/ thebridgebargb BAR BINGO 8 p.m. Ticket Sports Bar, 7333 N. Davis Highway. Play to win up to $100 in gift cards. TICKET TEAM TRIVIA

8 p.m. The Ticket 1, 7250 Plantation Road. ticketsportsbar.com POKER 8 p.m. The Ticket 2, 2115 W. Nine Mile Road. ticketsportsbar.com

TEAM TRIVIA 9 p.m. Hopjacks. 10 S. Palafox. hopjacks.com Wednesdays WINE DOWN WEDNESDAYS 11

a.m. Half-priced bottles of wine every Wednesday. Jackson's Steakhouse, 226 S. Palafox. jacksonsrestaurant.com HAPPY HOUR 4:30-6 p.m. Half-off house wine, bar drinks and domestic beer. V. Paul's Italian Ristorante, 29 S. Palafox. vpauls.com LADIES NIGHT ON THE DECK 5 p.m. $2

drinks and music. The Deck Bar, 600 S. Barracks St. fishhousepensacola.com TRIVIA NIGHT 7 p.m. Gary's Brewery and Biergarten, 208 Newman Ave. facebook. com/garysbrew

for more listings visit inweekly.net

inweekly.net

November 29, 2019

free will astrology WEEK OF NOVEMBER 29 ARIES (MARCH 21-APRIL 19): Humans invented the plow in 4,500 BC, the wheel in 4000 BC, and writing in 3400 BC. But long before that, by 6000 BC, they had learned how to brew beer and make psychoactive drugs from plants. Psychopharmacologist Ronald Siegel points to this evidence to support his hypothesis that the yearning to transform our normal waking consciousness is a basic drive akin to our need to eat and drink. Of course, there are many ways to accomplish this shift besides alcohol and drugs. They include dancing, singing, praying, drumming, meditating and having sex. What are your favorite modes? According to my astrological analysis, it'll be extra important for you to alter your habitual perceptions and thinking patterns during the coming weeks. TAURUS (APRIL 20-MAY 20): What's

something you're afraid of but pretty confident you could become unafraid of? The coming weeks will be a favorable time to dismantle or dissolve that fear. Your levels of courage will be higher than usual, and your imagination will be unusually ingenious in devising methods and actions to free you of the unnecessary burden. Step one—Formulate an image or scene that symbolizes the dread and visualize yourself blowing it up with a "bomb" made of a hundred roses.

GEMINI (MAY 21-JUNE 20): The word "enantiodromia" refers to a phenomenon that occurs when a vivid form of expression turns into its opposite, often in dramatic fashion. Yang becomes yin; resistance transforms into welcome; loss morphs into gain. According to my reading of the astrological omens, you Geminis are the sign of the zodiac that's most likely to experience enantiodromia in the coming weeks. Will it be a good thing or a bad thing? You can have a lot of influence over how that question resolves. For best results, don't fear or demonize contradictions and paradoxes. Love and embrace them.

Let’s Wine!

Free Wine Tasting Every Thursday AWM 5pm - 7pm

27 S. 9th Ave. | 850•433•9463 AragonWineMarket.com 222 2

CANCER (JUNE 21-JULY 22): There are Americans who speak only one language, English, and yet imagine they are smarter than bilingual immigrants. That fact amazes me and inspires me to advise myself and all my fellow Cancerians to engage in humble reflection about how we judge our fellow humans. Now is a favorable time for us to take inventory of any inclinations we might have to regard ourselves as superior to others; to question why we might imagine others aren't as worthy of love and respect as we are; or to be skeptical of any tendency we might have dismiss and devalue those who don't act and think as we do. I'm not saying we Cancerians are more guilty of these sins than everyone else; I'm merely letting you know that the coming weeks are our special time to make corrections. LEO (JULY 23-AUG. 22): "Erotic love is one of the highest forms of contem-

By Rob Brezsny

plation," wrote the sensually wise poet Kenneth Rexroth. That's a provocative and profitable inspiration for you to tap into. According to my analysis of the astrological omens, you're in the Season of Lucky Plucky Delight, when brave love can save you from wrong turns and irrelevant ideas, when the grandeur of amour can be your teacher and catalyst. If you have a partner with whom you can conduct these educational experiments, wonderful. If you don't, be extra sweet and intimate with yourself.

VIRGO (AUG. 23-SEPT. 22): In the

follow-up story to "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland," our heroine uses a magic mirror as a portal into a fantastical land. There she encounters the Red Queen, and soon the two of them are holding hands as they run as fast as they can. Alice notices that despite their great effort, they don't seem to be moving forward. What's happening? The Queen clears up the mystery—In her realm, you must run as hard as possible just to remain in the same spot. Sound familiar, Virgo? I'm wondering whether you've had a similar experience lately. If so, here's my advice—Stop running. Sit back, relax and allow the world to zoom by you. Yes, you might temporarily fall behind. But in the meantime, you'll get fully recharged. No more than three weeks from now, you'll be so energized that you'll make up for all the lost time—and more.

LIBRA (SEPT. 23-OCT. 22): Most sane

people wish there could be less animosity between groups that have different beliefs and interests. How much better the world would be if everyone felt a generous acceptance toward those who are unlike them. But the problem goes even deeper—Most of us are at odds with ourselves. Here's how author Rebecca West described it—Even the different parts of the same person do not often converse among themselves, do not succeed in learning from each other. That's the bad news, Libra. The good news is that the coming weeks will be a favorable time for you to promote unity and harmony among all the various parts of yourself. I urge you to entice them to enter into earnest conversations with each other!

SCORPIO (OCT. 23-NOV. 21): Poet Cecilia

Woloch asks, "How to un-want what the body has wanted, explain how the flesh in its wisdom was wrong?" Did the apparent error occur because of some "some ghost in the mind?" she adds. Was it due to "some blue chemical rushing the blood" or "some demon or god?" I'm sure that you, like most of us, have experienced this mystery. But the good news is that in the coming weeks you will have the power to un-want inappropriate or unhealthy experiences that your body has wanted. Step one—Have a talk with yourself about why the thing your body has wanted isn't in alignment with your highest good.

SAGITTARIUS (NOV. 22-DEC. 21): Sagittarian composer Ludwig van Beethoven was inclined to get deeply absorbed in his

work. Even when he took time to attend to the details of daily necessity, he allowed himself to be spontaneously responsive to compelling musical inspirations that suddenly welled up in him. On more than a few occasions, he lathered his face with the 19th-century equivalent of shaving cream, then got waylaid by a burst of brilliance and forgot to actually shave. His servants found that amusing. I suspect that the coming weeks may be Beethoven-like for you, Sagittarius. I bet you'll be surprised by worthy fascinations and subject to impromptu illuminations.

CAPRICORN (DEC. 22-JAN. 19): During the next 11 months, you could initiate fundamental improvements in the way you live from day to day. It's conceivable you'll discover or generate innovations that permanently raise your life's possibilities to a higher octave. At the risk of sounding grandiose, I'm tempted to predict that you'll celebrate at least one improvement that is your personal equivalent of the invention of the wheel or the compass or the calendar. AQUARIUS (JAN. 20-FEB. 18): The only thing we learn from history is that we never learn anything from history. Philosopher Georg Hegel said that. But I think you will have an excellent chance to disprove this theory in the coming months. I suspect you will be inclined and motivated to study your own past in detail; you'll be skilled at drawing useful lessons from it; and you will apply those lessons with wise panache as you re-route your destiny. PISCES (FEB. 19-MARCH 20): In his own time, poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807–1882) was acclaimed and beloved. At the height of his fame, he earned $3,000 per poem. But modern literary critics think that most of what he created is derivative, sentimental and unworthy of serious appreciation. In dramatic contrast is poet Emily Dickinson (1830–1886). Her writing was virtually unknown in her lifetime but is now regarded as among the best ever. In accordance with astrological omens, I invite you to sort through your own past so as to determine which of your work, like Longfellow's, should be archived as unimportant or irrelevant and which, like Dickinson's, deserves to be a continuing inspiration as you glide into the future. THIS WEEK'S HOMEWORK: You have the power to re-genius yourself. Guidance— https://tinyurl.com/regeniusyourself

freewillastrology.com

inweekly.net

news of the weird CURIOUS TRADITION Animal Help Now, a group that assists in "animal emergencies," has gathered almost 160,000 signatures on a petition to repeal legislation allowing "Possum Drops" in North Carolina. In a number of communities in the state, the custom of putting an opossum in a transparent box, suspending it in the air and then slowly lowering it to the ground is a feature of New Year's Eve celebrations. Organizers in Brasstown told the Raleigh News & Observer they ended its Possum Drop after the 2018 event because it's "a hard job to do, and it's time to move on," but they maintained that the tradition does "absolutely nothing to harm" the animal. Animal Help Now, however, is continuing its campaign against the state statute that makes it legal for people to treat opossums however they wish between the dates of Dec. 29 and Jan. 2. BRIGHT IDEAS Maybe they're betting no woman will reveal what she weighs in public, but the Fusion Club in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, is offering women free drink credits based on their weight. For example, a woman who weighs 150 pounds would receive about $18.50 in free cocktails. Anil Kumar, spokesman for the club, told Insider that while they have a scale behind the bar, they will also accept a woman's word about what she weighs. "They can just write the weight on a paper and give it to the bartender discreetly," he said. "Very simple, no strings attached. We wanted the ladies to surprise their partners and friends that it's good to gain weight!" â€˘A 16-year-old boy was detained by U.S. Border Patrol agents on Nov. 17 after an agent saw him hiding in brush about a mile north of the Otay Mesa Point of Entry near San Diego. Authorities said the teenager had a remote-control car with him, along with two large duffel bags stuffed with 50 packages of methamphetamines, weighing more than 55 pounds and worth more than $106,000. Border Patrol spokesman Theron Francisco told The San Diego Union-Tribune that authorities believe the car was used to carry the bundles across the border, making many trips through the bollard-style fence from the south side and driving to the teen on the north side. The boy was charged with drug smuggling and held in Juvenile Hall. YEAH, NO If you're passing through the seaside city of Fukuoka, Japan, here's a tip for a cheap hotel: A night in room No. 8 at the Asahi Ryokan will cost you just $1. And your privacy. In return for the low rate, your entire stay in your room will be livestreamed on YouTube. Hotel manager Tetsuya Inoue told CNN on Nov. 20 that while the world can watch the room's guests, there is no audio, so conversations and phone calls can remain private. Also,

By the Editors at Andrews McMeel

the bathroom is out of camera range. And, of course, guests can turn out the lights. "Our hotel is on the cheaper side," Inoue said, "so we need some added value, something special that everyone will talk about." CRIME REPORT When Martin Skelly, 41, was arrested on Nov. 16 in a Clearwater, Florida, McDonald's for possession of methamphetamines, he told officers he did not have any other contraband. But during his intake at the Pinellas County Jail, a deputy found a "small bag of crystal powder substance wedged deep within. PEOPLE DIFFERENT FROM US Bodybuilder Kirill Tereshin, 23, a former Russian soldier also known as Popeye, underwent surgery in Moscow in mid-November after doctors told him that the petroleum jelly he had been injecting into his biceps to increase their size might result in the amputation of his arms. Surgeon Dmitry Melnikov told Metro News: "The problem is that this is petroleum jelly. AWESOME! Over the past five years, 12 separate bundles of cash, totaling nearly $45,000, have turned up on sidewalks in the quiet, beachside English village of Blackhall Colliery, posing a mystery for local Detective Constable John Forster. "These bundles are always ... discovered by random members of the public who have handed them in," Forster told 9News, although he did admit he suspects some bundles have not been turned over to police. Officials have no evidence of a crime committed related to the bundles, usually containing about 2,000 pounds apiece. After a period of time, if no one claims them, the folks who discovered the bundles will get to keep them. COMPELLING EXPLANATION Police and firefighters in Liberty, Ohio, were called to the Liberty Walmart on the afternoon of Nov. 16 to find a car on fire in the parking lot, reported WFMJ. Owner Stephanie Carlson, 40, told them there was a can of gas in the trunk and she had lighted a candle to get rid of the smell, but she later admitted she had poured gas on the seats and started the fire with a lighter because the car was dirty and there was a problem with the front wheel. The car belonged to her husband, who said he had been looking for her all day, and also told officers she had allegedly been found huffing mothballs and paint thinner recently. Police took her into custody and found a lighter and mothballs in her purse; she was charged with arson, inducing panic and criminal damaging. {in}

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

www. radiofree pensacola .com

Send your weird news items to WeirdNewsTips@amuniversal.com November 29, 2019

Independent News | November 29, 2019 | inweekly.net