Inweekly November 20 Issue

What Did Achieve Escambia

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JAMES M. COX FOUNDATION American Rivers announced the largest grant in its history: a $10 million commitment from the James M. Cox Foundation to advance the organization's Life Depends on Rivers campaign. The gift will fund river restoration efforts nationwide, including removing 400 outdated dams over three years and restoring 100,000 acres of floodplains by 2030. The announcement was made at Milton River Walk on Nov. 12, followed by a river cleanup at Blackwater River State Park involving American Rivers and Cox Communications employees. The campaign aims to raise $100 million total to address pollution, aging dams, and extreme weather threatening the nation's waterways and communities.

LEVIN RINKE REALTY The independent brokerage celebrated its most successful threeyear growth period to date. The firm secured the top position in the Pensacola Association of Realtors Multiple Listing Service rankings with over $1 billion in closed sales volume and 15.86% market share—more than $410 million ahead of the next closest competitor. From 2022 to 2025, the firm expanded throughout Pensacola, Gulf Breeze, Perdido Key and Navarre while investing in agent development, technology, marketing infrastructure and training programs. Levin Rinke Realty president Carlo Siracusa said, "We built a platform where real estate professionals can grow faster, serve more clients, and reach new levels in their business."

EAST HILL NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION

Its 2025 Bands on the Bayou concert series raised $42,000 for local nonprofits, with six organizations receiving equal distributions of $7,000 each. This year's beneficiaries include 309 Punk Project, Wildlife Sanctuary of NWFL, Hope Above Fear, Pensacola Dream Center, Guardian Ad Litem, and 4EVR DEZ. Rather than hosting a single check presentation, the Bands on the Bayou team is personally delivering checks to each organization's office. "We are overwhelmed by the generosity of our sponsors and community partners," said Bands on the Bayou chair Kristin McCarthy. "Raising $42,000 this year speaks volumes about the dedication of our local businesses and residents to making a difference in our community."

PENNIES

The United States officially minted its last pennies on Nov. 12, following President Donald Trump's February directive to the Treasury Department to halt production of the one-cent coin. The move came after the Department of Government Efficiency recommended discontinuing the penny. The U.S. Mint produced approximately 4.5 billion pennies in Fiscal Year 2023 at a cost exceeding $179 million to taxpayers. By 2024, each penny cost 3.69 cents to produce. Businesses nationwide have already experienced penny shortages, with many stores implementing cash-transaction rounding policies. The Treasury Department estimates that discontinuing penny production will save approximately $56 million annually. We have received no word on how this will affect penny slots at casinos.

NEW COLLEGE OF FLORIDA

The crown jewel of Gov. Ron DeSantis' higher education overhaul effort ranked at the bottom of the state university system in a recent financial efficiency audit. New College showed the highest cost to produce a degree at $494,715 per graduate. The Florida Department of Government Efficiency report also found the liberal arts college had per-student operating costs of $83,000, over three times the system average of $22,217. New College also posted the lowest rate of graduates finding employment or pursuing higher degrees at 65%, compared to the statewide average of 74%. The findings come as the Florida Legislature has significantly increased funding for the school, since DeSantis installed new trustees and President Richard Corcoran with the goal of transforming New College into a conservative, classical-style institution.

PAM BONDI

The Justice Department has become a political weapon under Attorney General Bondi. Most recently, she has assigned Manhattan U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton to investigate convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein's connections to President Trump's political opponents, directly acceding to Trump's public demands. Trump posted on Truth Social requesting investigations into Epstein's "involvement and relationship" with former President Bill Clinton, ex-Treasury Secretary Larry Summers, and LinkedIn founder Reid Hoffman. The president did not specify what crimes should be investigated, and none of the named individuals have been accused of sexual misconduct by Epstein's victims.

outtakes

By Rick Outzen

RAISE THE MAYOR'S PAY

The Pensacola City Council made a mistake when it didn't pass an ordinance that would determine the mayor's annual salary by the same formula used for the Superintendent of Schools. The pay change would have gone into effect after the November 2026 election. If the salary formula had been in effect for this year, the mayor's salary would have increased from $134,000 to $168,185.

Councilman Charles Bare explained why he brought the issue before the council. "I feel like it's difficult for the council to work with the current mayor and decide, 'Should we give this person a raise or not?' And I felt like, since [city councilmembers] are currently compensated using a formula, that there is a formula out there … that's based on population."

The 2020 Charter Review Committee recommended basing the city council's annual compensation on the Florida Legislature's Office of Economic and Demographic Research formula for school board members. This method went into effect after the 2024 election. For FY 2025-2026, the council salary is $38,204—a 44% increase for a part-time job.

I have long felt the mayor's salary has been too low for the demands placed on the office. The City of Pensacola controls assets that are critical to the growth of our economy—Pensacola International Airport, Port of Pensacola, Pensacola Bay waterfront and Maritime Park. The mayor, by virtue of being the city's CEO, plays a major role in most Northwest Florida economic development efforts. He needs to be paid more.

After the strong-mayor charter passed, the Pensacola City Council rejected the Charter Review Commission's recommendation to pay the mayor $145,000. Charter Commission Chair Crystal Spencer argued that the commission wanted to attract qualified candidates from the private sector to a position that came with considerably more responsibility than Pensacola's previous form of government (ceremonial mayor).

Instead, the city council set the mayor's salary at $100,000 in 2010. They looked at the salaries of the mayors of Mobile, Ala.

($89,000), Plantation, Fla. ($117,221), Hialeah, Fla. ($155,250) and other cities. They decided that $100,000 was appropriate compensation considering the city's population.

After observing the mayor's new role over the past 15 years, I agree with Spencer that the job deserves a higher salary. Pensacola's mayor has become a significant player not only regionally but also nationally. The mayor represents the city and Northwest Florida on a much larger stage than former ceremonial mayors.

In 2022, the city council approved raising the mayor's salary to $134,000. The 2020 Charter Review Commission had recommended setting his compensation by formula, but the council refused to put it before the voters.

Councilman Casey Jones cited the 2022 raise in comments opposing Bare's proposition. "Right now, it's a good wage for that position," he said. "I mean, the justification for raising it was that it's a position that leads a team of 900-plus people, which I think in the private sector would probably be paid much more than that in most cases."

Jones continued, "But I think that someone that's running for mayor should not be in it just for the money but should also be in it for the community and giving back to the community that they care about."

After several other council members expressed similar positions, Bare withdrew his proposal, seeing that he had little support.

Meanwhile, what have the other baseline cities cited in 2010 done with their mayor's pay? Plantation and Hialeah have increased their mayors' compensation to $127,445 and $150,000, respectively. The Mobile mayor's salary is $195,000 per year, following a $70,000 increase approved by the Mobile City Council last February.

The pay for Pensacola's mayor needs to be more in line with the county's constitutional officers', whose pay is based on a state formula tied to population. Clerk of Courts Pam Childers, Supervisor of Elections Robert Bender and Property Appraiser Bubba Peters make $182,903.

The job of mayor is too important not to be paid an

salary.

DON GAETZ FIRES ON ALL CYLINDERS

By Tom St. Myer

State Sen. Don Gaetz is continuing his longstanding tradition of filing bills that generate statewide headlines. His latest is Senate Bill 86, which targets semitruck owners and their undocumented drivers.

SB 86 requires law enforcement officers to take "unauthorized aliens" operating commercial motor vehicles into custody and facilitate their transfer into the custody of a federal immigration agency. The bill further requires the impoundment of the vehicle, the owner to pay a $50,000 fine and potentially be prohibited from operating in the state.

Gaetz filed the bill after Harjinder Singh allegedly made an illegal U-turn on the Florida Turnpike, causing a deadly crash that killed three people. Singh, a native of India, obtained his commercial driver's license in California after reportedly crossing the Mexican border illegally.

"When I saw that story reported, I began to ask myself, what can we do so things like this don't happen, and when they do happen, who is at fault?" Gaetz said. "I'm troubled by the people who put illegal drivers on the road in our state. I want to find and punish the people who own the trucks, the people who lease the trucks, the people who are providing what amounts to flimsy CDL licenses, and I want them punished."

STEP UP FOR STUDENTS

SB 86 nabbed the media spotlight, but Gaetz filed six other bills and co-sponsored another two by mid-November. The 2026 legislative session kicks off Jan. 13, and the Republican lawmaker will undoubtedly file and co-sponsor more bills. He filed 13 and co-sponsored 15 bills last legislative session.

This will be an extremely busy session for Gaetz, whose committee assignments include Ethics and Elections chair, Finance and Tax vice chair and seven other committees that range from education to health policy.

"I don't have a lot of downtime, but that also allows me to represent the interests of Northwest Florida in a variety of venues, with how money is appropriated and whether laws are written in a way that they are judicial," he said.

Gaetz and his education committee will hear from Florida Auditor General Sherrill Norman on Thursday about issues with nonprofit Step Up For Students. This comes after an investigative Inweekly story about Step Up mismanaging Florida's scholarship program. The investigation uncovered that while Step Up will pocket $173 million in administrative fees this year, families are waiting months for reimbursements, schools aren't getting paid and Florida's Department of Education can't keep track of who owes what to whom.

"I'll roll out a bill [this] week to deal with the issue to make sure money follows the student and doesn't get lost in the shuffle," Gaetz said.

FIRST THREE BILLS

The first three bills Gaetz filed for the 2026 session included legislation to protect churches against violence, assist veterans charged with misdemeanors and promote affordable housing.

SB 52 allows congregations of all faiths to establish security teams comprised of armed volunteers trained to respond to violent threats. The bill exempts the volunteers from professional licensing requirements, but to qualify, they must hold a concealed carry license, pass a background check and have their security plan approved by the sheriff.

With SB 50, Gaetz pushes for the statewide spread of veterans' courts. Thirty veterans' courts currently operate in the state. His bill requires

all judicial courts in Florida to establish veterans' courts that allow alternatives to incarceration for veterans charged with misdemeanors.

"What we've learned is veterans who get themselves entangled with the law often are bringing more than just criminal intent," Gaetz said. "They might also be dealing with drug problems, medical problems, concussions, servicerelated injuries that affect their judgment and ability to interact with society." Gaetz continued, "Having a veteran in the community is a gift and when things go sideways, they need help."

Gaetz filed SB 48 to expand affordable workforce housing. The bill allows homeowners to create accessory dwelling units, otherwise known as granny flats. Gaetz said the units allow workers to live close to their place of employment. The same bill passed in the Senate last year, but the House version failed.

Other bills filed by Gaetz address protections for employees who disclose information to the Commission on Ethics, and post-hurricane land use restrictions.

SB 92 protects employees who submit written complaints to the commission or provide information to an investigator during the investigation. Essentially, the bill safeguards employees from retaliation by employers.

SB 218 clarifies land use provisions established last year. Gaetz said the bill limits the scope of post-hurricane land use restrictions to only those counties and municipalities directly impacted by recent federally-declared disasters.

CHARLIE KIRK

Gaetz co-sponsored two bills by mid-November, including remembrance for assassinated rightwing political activist Charlie Kirk and an increase in transparency, safety and financial responsibility within the solar energy and utility sectors.

Gaetz partnered with state Sen. Jennifer Bradley (R-Fleming Island) and Rep. Nathan Boyles (R-Crestview) to file SB 200. The bill encourages the development of solar energy while preserving farmlands used for solar installations. The farmlands will be restored once solar facilities reach the end of their useful life, which is presumed after 12-plus months of failing to produce power (excluding downtime due to natural

disasters) or if the facility is abandoned with no construction for 24 months or no reconstruction for 12 months after a disaster. The bill allows counties to require financial assurances, such as bonds, from solar facility owners to cover decommissioning costs.

SB 200 further mandates that the Department of Environmental Protection develop and annually update best-management practices for the construction of solar facilities. The bestmanagement practices include guidelines on stormwater runoff management and structural resilience to 100-year storm events. This bill requires the Public Service Commission to verify that storm-protection projects deliver benefits that outweigh the costs for utility customers.

"The need to put guardrails around public utilities and put some kinds of limits on the costs that are passed on to consumers is an issue I've been working on last session as well as this session," Gaetz said.

SB 200 comes on the heels of the 2025 berm failure at a Florida Power & Light solar facility near Wilkinson Creek in Holt. A period of intense rainfall—over seven inches in three hours—overwhelmed the infrastructure at the solar farm, causing failure of the berm designed to contain runoff. The breach released large amounts of red clay and sediment into Wilkinson Creek, clouding the water and drastically changing the creek's appearance and ecosystem. Residents were displaced and wildlife reportedly disappeared from the area soon after the contamination.

SB 194 designates Oct. 14 of each year as "Charlie Kirk Day of Remembrance" and authorizes the governor to issue an annual proclamation. The proposed proclamation refers to Kirk as a "champion of free speech, civil dialogue and faith."

"I never met Charlie Kirk, but my son was a very close friend of Charlie Kirk's and worked with him a lot," Gaetz said of former U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz. "I knew a lot about him indirectly because Matt talked to me a lot about Charlie. What Charlie Kirk means to me is a symbol of free speech. As a member of the Education Committee and Judiciary Committee, I'm deeply disturbed by college campuses or elsewhere where freedom of speech is prohibited or limited." {in}

Photo by FengCheng / shutterstock.com

Changing a life starts with

Foster parents provide loving homes to some of the most vulnerable in our community, including children with complex conditions, as well as adults with intellectual disabilities and other special needs.

When you become a foster parent through Lakeview Center – Northwest Florida’s leader in behavioral health care – you have the support of our specialized team alongside you on this rewarding journey.

COVENANT STEPS UP Covenant Health and Community Services announced a $500,000 funding package for the Council on Aging of West Florida to address an urgent funding shortfall threatening essential services for thousands of seniors across Northwest Florida. The investment includes $420,000 in immediate operational support and $80,000 for kitchen facility expansion to improve longterm sustainability.

The Council on Aging has been hit with consecutive federal allocation reductions under the Older Americans Act, totaling $150,000 over the past year, while food costs have increased approximately 9%. Additional cuts from the Department of Government Efficiency have further strained the organization's budget.

"Council on Aging of West Florida provides essential services that protect the health, dignity and independence of thousands of older adults in our community," said Josh Newby, President and CEO. "These reductions in funding jeopardize the very programs that allow seniors to remain safely in their homes and out of costly institutional care."

The funding deficit has already impacted core programs. The Congregate Meal Program was reduced from five days weekly to three days, with one meal being shelf-stable rather than hot. The $170,000 designated for this program will restore full five-day service.

Meals on Wheels, which provides homedelivered meals and wellness checks, will receive $180,000 to expand capacity and meet documented demand. The program has struggled to keep pace with the growing number of seniors requiring home-delivered meals.

donated $40,000 to local nonprofit organizations that provide critical assistance to military families and the broader community. The USO in Pensacola, Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society, Manna Food Pantries and Feeding the Gulf

"Giving back to the community is at the heart of Navy Federal's mission," said Jackie Biggs, senior vice president of Greater Pensacola and Contact Center Operations. "During times of uncertainty, like a government shutdown, we know that local organizations play a vital role in supporting military families and our community. By partnering with these incredible nonprofits, we're helping ensure that those who serve and the community at large receives the care and resources they deserve."

Most Escambia County Commission meetings run over three hours. However, the opening remarks at their Nov. 6 regular meeting exposed internal tensions about the proper procedures for adding

Commissioner Ashley Hofberger called out County Administrator Wes Moreno about an agenda item she requested on Oct. 23 that never

been fortunate for some number of years to be successful at that. At a different point in time, I was perhaps less successful advocating for that. But the fact that your private conversation wasn't immediately acted on by one of those two employees that worked for the majority of us—I don't know how that warrants a public admonition like this."

Commissioner May clarified the rules, stating that any commissioner can add items to the agenda at the beginning of meetings.

"At the end of the day, any commissioner has the ability to bring forth an item," May said. "You have the ability to add it, and as long as there's a second and a majority vote, it has to be added regardless of administration or the county administrative."

The rollback rate discussion was scheduled for the Nov. 17 meeting. To learn more about the meeting, check out ricksblog.biz.

BRAC WARNING At the Nov. 6 meeting, Commissioner Steve Stroberger used his time to acknowledge the Marine Corps birthday and Veterans Day but also delivered a stark warning about potential base closures.

In-Home Support Services, which enable vulnerable seniors to remain in their residences at approximately one-tenth the cost of nursing home care, will receive $70,000 to sustain operations during reduced state funding.

The additional $80,000 for kitchen expansion will convert the current adult day care kitchen into a full commercial facility, increasing production capacity and reducing long-term operational costs.

"The requested assistance is not only an investment in sustaining services today but also in ensuring efficiency and resilience for years to come," Newby said. "Our seniors have contributed immeasurably to this community. It is our responsibility to ensure they continue to receive the care and support they deserve."

Kent Skolrood, chair of the Board of Covenant Health and Community Services, said, "Our Funding Committee worked with several proven community organizations to identify gaps in healthcare delivery that funding could quickly serve our community. We are excited to be working with Council on Aging."

The investment represents Covenant Health's evolving mission following the sale of Covenant Hospice services, transitioning toward becoming a funding organization that partners with local healthcare providers to improve accessibility in Northwest Florida.

To learn more about the Council on Aging of West Florida, visit coawfla.org.

NAVY FEDERAL, TOO In response to the recent government shutdown, Navy Federal Credit Union's Greater Pensacola Operations

"Wes, on Oct. 23 at 2:13 p.m., two weeks before this meeting, I called and asked for an agenda item to hire an independent third party to evaluate our government and recommend how to hit the rollback budget with minimal community impact," Hofberger said. "You confirmed this was discussed with staff, [but] it never made it to the agenda."

She continued, "I alerted upset constituents because I knew they would want to know we were addressing it. [County Attorney Alison Rogers], you said no one should block a commissioner's item, so I'm just wondering why mine was omitted."

Moreno explained that he wanted to gather more information before bringing the item to the board, and that it would appear on the Nov. 17 agenda.

When Hofberger asked who made the decision not to include her item, Moreno replied: "That would fall with me."

"Does that happen to other people on the board or is that unique to me?" Hofberger asked.

Commissioner Steven Barry responded, suggesting Hofberger's private conversations with staff shouldn't warrant public admonition.

"We only have two employees and neither one of them works for any of us individually. They work for the board as a whole," Barry said. "The fact that your private conversation wasn't immediately acted on by one of those two employees that work for the majority of us, I don't know how that warrants a public admonition like this. I wouldn't expect either one of the only two employees that we have to take my comments as direction."

Barry continued, "If I can't garner the support of my board, my opinion is irrelevant. I can argue up here; I can advocate for my case. I've

He recounted a story from former CIA director and defense secretary Leon Panetta at the Installation Innovation Forum, which ended with a boxing metaphor about being prepared to fight.

"The secretary went on to say, do not rest comfortably. BRAC will be back on the table. BRAC [stands for] base realignment and closure," Stroberger said. "The message was that the community needs to be able to fight and the fight has already started."

Commission Chair Mike Kohler closed the comments section by emphasizing the importance of the Northwest Florida Defense Coalition in protecting the area's military installations.

"I went through two BRACs, a study that basically dismantled the Navy Hospital," Kohler said, recounting how President Bill Clinton promised California bases wouldn't close before BRAC shuttered them all. "We have to have an offensive posture here because it's not just about the base, it's about our colleges … It's about our healthcare system that gets TRICARE dollars that are in the millions."

FIX VOUCHER PROBLEMS Florida House PreK-12 Budget Subcommittee members confronted state officials and Step Up For Students representatives earlier this month over gaps in the scholarship payment tracking system, questioning why basic student identification numbers aren't being used to monitor the system.

The hearing exposed a fundamental problem: scholarship funding organizations do not consistently include Florida Student ID numbers in payment files submitted to the Department of Education because the digital file format doesn't include an ID field.

Committee Chair Jenna Persons-Mulicka reminded officials that Florida statute already

Jim Ramminger / Photo Courtesy of Meals on Wheels

requires every student receiving public education funds to have a Florida ID number, whether they attend public schools or use scholarships.

Rep. Tobin Overdorf expressed his frustrations with complaints about Step Up For Students, which is the state's largest scholarship funding organization. "The single most amount of calls that we now receive in my office is about Step Up funds. I am absolutely amazed that now I'm at a committee hearing, and we're talking about a format on a form that we don't have the number on. Therefore, we can't track the student."

The inability to cross-check scholarship recipients against public school enrollment creates a massive accountability gap. Without consistent use of Florida Student ID numbers, the state cannot verify whether students are double-dipping—receiving both scholarship funds and attending public schools—or whether students even exist.

Chair Persons-Mulicka didn't hide her displeasure over the lack of accountability. "I still have major concerns over those 32,840 students who appeared on the quarter two payment file who weren't on quarter one and yet are on the quarter two payment file to be paid for two quarters… that's $75 million."

Rep. Alex Rizo pushed for immediate action: "We're out millions of dollars, and schools and parents and students are getting frustrated. We're all getting frustrated. So it seems to me like someone knows how to fix the problem. Let's get down to business and fix the problem."

BUSINESS LEADER PASSES Wilmer Hall

Mitchell, a Pensacola attorney and longtime owner of Seville Quarter, died peacefully Nov. 11 at age 92, surrounded by family.

Mitchell graduated from Pensacola High School in 1951, where he played on the state championship basketball team. He earned his undergraduate and law degrees from the University of Florida, completing his legal education in 1958.

He practiced law in Pensacola for over 60 years. In 1967, Mitchell provided legal expertise to entrepreneur Bob Snow to establish Rosie O'Grady's, which became Seville Quarter, home to Pensacola's most iconic entertainment venues. The Mitchell family purchased Seville Quarter in 1988, with Wilmer serving as board chairman of Rosie O'Grady's, Inc. alongside his wife Neddy and children.

An accomplished athlete, Mitchell was a 64year member of Pensacola Country Club, winning the Men's Golf Championship twice (1966, 1968) and Men's Tennis Championship (1975). He chaired the American Amateur Classic Golf Tournament for 25 years.

His community service earned numerous honors, including March of Dimes Man of the Year (1967), Pensacola Sports Association Sportsman of the Year (1971) and inductions into the halls of fame of the Pensacola Sports Association, Pensacola High School, Pensacola

Heritage Foundation and Northwest Florida Gator Club.

Mitchell is survived by his wife Edna Slauson Mitchell, seven children, 19 grandchildren and two nieces. A graveside service will be held at St. John's Cemetery on Friday, Nov. 28 at noon, followed by a celebration of life at Seville Quarter. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Pensacola Historical Society.

SOCCER SUCCESS The No. 8-ranked Vanderbilt downed No. 25 LSU 8-7 in a three-hourlong penalty kick thriller, winning the SEC Tournament championship in Pensacola on Nov. 9. Nine teams that competed in the 2025 SEC Soccer Tournament are among the 64 programs selected for the NCAA Division I Women's Soccer Championship in Kansas City, Missouri.

This year's NCAA tournament bracket includes Vanderbilt, Tennessee, LSU, Arkansas, Mississippi State, Georgia, Alabama, Kentucky and South Carolina.

"The level of talent we saw on the field in Pensacola was off the charts," said Pensacola Sports CEO Ray Palmer. "To have nine of our SEC tournament teams qualify for the College Cup is a huge validation—not just of the teams, but of the quality of competition we're able to host here on the Gulf Coast."

MENTOR PENSACOLA Pensacola Young Professionals has launched its annual search for the next cohort of mentors and mentees. The Mentor Pensacola program, which pairs emerging professionals with established community leaders, officially opened applications Nov. 10 for its 2026 cycle.

"This is about more than career advice," said PYP organizers. "It's about building relationships that strengthen our entire community and ensure Pensacola has the leadership it needs for the future."

The program connects PYP members with mentors from diverse sectors, including business, nonprofit, government and entrepreneurship. Throughout the year, pairs meet monthly to work on goal-setting, network expansion and leadership development. Past participants credit the program with providing clarity on career direction, increased confidence and valuable connections that continue long after the formal mentorship period ends.

Both aspiring mentees and potential mentors are encouraged to apply. For young professionals, the program offers direct access to leaders who can provide guidance at critical career junctures. For established professionals, it's an opportunity to give back while helping cultivate the next generation of community leaders.

Applications close Dec. 31, with interviews scheduled for early January. Matches will be announced mid-January, and the official kick-off event takes place Feb. 12, 2026. Applications and additional information are available at pensacolayp.com/mentorpensacola. Questions can be directed to mentorpensacola@pensacolayp.com. {in}

Quality of Life Dashboard

A look back at how we have changed

The Quality of Life Dashboard tracks the health, education, and economic well-being of Escambia County using the latest publicly reported official data. These indicators are interconnected —an improvement in one often drives progress in others. The first version of this dashboard launched in 2014, and that year now serves as the baseline. Keeping the 2014 data alongside today’s numbers turns statistics into a clear story of growth, setbacks, and real change. Every metric has a purpose. This dashboard doesn’t just present numbers—it shows what they reveal about where Escambia County has been, where the county stands today, and where the community is headed.

Kindergarten Readiness

The number of children ready for kindergarten has dropped significantly in Escambia County and statewide. At the start of the 2023-2024 school year, School Readiness at Kindergarten Entry in Escambia County was 49.5%, however this year that number dropped to 36%. The state average for 2024-2025 school year was 43% and represented an 8 percentage point drop from the 2023-2024’s 51%. Source: Florida Department of Education, Office of Early Learning

Moving in right direction

Biggest opportunity to improve Green

Red

Preterm Births

Escambia County ranks near the bottom of the state in preterm birth rate. The county’s rate is still much higher than the state rate of 10.6. Our infant mortilty rate also exceeds the state average.

A preterm birth occurs when a live baby is born before 37 weeks of gestation.

Reaching 37 weeks of gestation marks a full-term pregnancy— a key measure of a healthy outcome.

Babies born before 37 weeks have lower survival rates and face a greater risk of both short- and long-term health complications compared to those born at full term. Source: FLhealthcharts.gov

The Center for Civic Engagement, Inc. is a 501(c)(4) nonprofit organization.

Population

Escambia

Growth in population often reflects quality of life — people are drawn to communities that are improving and offer opportunity. After years of little change, Escambia County’s population increased steadily between 2014 and 2023, — a 5.2% increase.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau

Single-Parent Households

In 2023, the percentage of Escambia County children in single-parent households was 33.4%, 6 percentage points higher than the state average of 27.4%. The Escambia County rate is lower than 2021 and 2022 rates which were above 34%. Source: FLhealthcharts.gov

High School Graduation rate

This tracks the percentage of students who finished high school in four years. Escambia County’s graduation rate for 2024 was 84.2 percent; the state rate was 89.7 percent. Source: FL Dept of Education

College Graduates

Nearly 29% of Escambia County’s residents, 25 and older, hold a bachelor’s degree or higher compared to the state’s average of 33.2%. The national average is 35%. Escambia County residents, 25 and older, with bachelor’s degrees or higher in science or engineering was slightly higher at 31.1%, just under the state’s average of 32.6%. The national average is 35.8%. Source: Center, 2024 American Community Survey

Median workforce age

A younger workforce can be an indicator that young professionals are staying in their community — or being drawn to it from elsewhere — seeking a good quality of life. As this number rises, it can indicate an aging population that may not be attracting and retaining young talent. Source: American Community Survey

Free & Reduced-Price Lunch

Escambia County students who qualified for free and reduced-price lunches remained at 76.3%. The state average is children living in households at or below 185% of the poverty level are eligible to receive free or reduced-price meals at their schools.

Source: Florida Department of Education

Labor Force Participation

Nearly 63% of Escambia County residents are in the labor force, a number slightly higher than the state’s 60%.

Source: United Way ALICE Report, 2023

Median income

Median income is the very middle of the income scale — half of earners make more than that, half make less than that. It is one measure of the average person’s purchasing power and economic well-being. (Inflation adjusted data) Source: U.S. Census Bureau

The Center for Civic Engagement, Inc. is a 501(c)(4) nonprofit organization.

What Did Achieve Escambia Achieve?

Looking Back at the Community's Effort to Improve Education

A decade ago, leaders of Escambia County's four largest private employers sat down together and discussed their struggles to find qualified job applicants. Too many Escambia high school students graduated without the necessary skills to fill their companies' openings. What emerged from the meeting would become Achieve Escambia—but what did it achieve?

StriveTogether

In July 2015, Navy Federal Credit Union, Gulf Power, Ascension Sacred Heart and Baptist Health Care agreed to work together and improve Escambia County's public education system, which consistently ranked in the bottom third of the state. Having the schools produce better job applicants was good for their companies and would improve the region's economy.

Navy Federal Executive Vice President Debbie Calder, Gulf Power CEO Stan Connally, Sacred Heart CEO Susan Davis and Baptist CEO Mark Faulkner pooled resources and hired the Cincinnati-based civic organization StriveTogether to advise their efforts. The result was Achieve Escambia: a community-wide, education-focused consortium.

Davis has since retired and serves on the board of Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa. She recalled, "At that time, there were so many different nonprofits doing things that were duplicative of each other and competing with each other for the same dollar from big employers and donors, and it just didn't make sense. To me, what made sense was trying to get these organizations aligned so that we were driving improvement in the community together."

The need for alignment drove her to help form Achieve Escambia. Davis said, "If all the organizations were doing the same thing, I believed we

By Rick Outzen

would not have the resources to move the issues in our community forward effectively. And that was my passion."

Gulf Power recommended hiring StriveTogether. Formed in 2006, the company had built a reputation for engaging business leaders and nonprofits to improve student achievement and college readiness across three school districts in Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky.

During its first year, StriveTogether recruited 80 community partners, leveraged $2 million in in-kind resources and created Student Success Networks, which included the Cincy After School Alliance and College Success Alliance. These ensured that every child was prepared for school, succeeded academically, received support outside of school, graduated from high school and embarked upon careers.

The organization saw a steady, measurable progress toward its goals. In 2011, StriveTogether launched its Cradle to Career Network and reported an 81% improvement in 34 of its student achievement measures for the 2010-11 school year, up from 74% in 2009-10 and 68% in 200809. Kindergarten readiness in three urban school districts improved by an average of 8%. Cincinnati Public Schools became the highest-rated urban school district in Ohio.

"When we talked about working together, Gulf Power said they knew of another community where they were trying to improve education," said Davis. "Actually, that's where Achieve Escambia came from. Some of the same things we were talking about—StriveTogether and Cincinnati were ahead of us."

Unveiling Achieve Escambia

The quartet unveiled Achieve Escambia in 2016, first at a small gathering of 50 leaders in

January and then, more publicly, to over 250 people at the Sanders Beach Community Center in April. Achieve Escambia was introduced as a collective community effort focused on improving education and workforce outcomes for our community, with the slogan, "Every child, every step of the way, cradle to career."

An email announcing the April summit stated: "Escambia County has the opportunity to approach education like rowing a boat. If everyone is rowing in different directions, our boat doesn't go anywhere. When everyone agrees on the same direction, our boat begins to make progress. And when we decide to collectively row in union, our boat quickly begins to pick up speed."

The organizers added, "We need coordinated vision and action, a shared strategy and structured process for collective action to improve outcomes. Join us as we chart this course toward greater educational achievement—for our students, for our families, for our future."

Rev. Lonnie Wesley III, the pastor of Greater Little Rock Baptist Church, joined the Leadership Council. "I got involved because I believed, and still do believe, in the premise of sharing and sharing freely. What I mean by that is, I believe that when we are open and honest, good things can happen for everybody."

He continued, "By having open and honest conversations back then, it really helped to open the eyes around the county. It also helped to bring about unity and converge some things together to help get it done."

Four work teams were created: Vision and Mission, led by Thomas Greek of Navy Federal; Outcomes and Indicators, led by Jennifer Grove and Jennifer McFarren of Gulf Power; Accountability and Governance, led by Sacred Heart's Kerry Eaton; and Communications and Commu-

nity Engagement, led by Gulf Power's Jeff Rogers and Navy Federal's Bill Pearson.

Achieve Escambia was initially placed under United Way of West Florida. Andrea Krieger, who served as United Way's CEO at the time, explained why. "Some of the kindergarten readiness issues that we were having then were playing all the way through high school and on into college years. Our students were not ready to be where they needed to be," she said. "[Achieve Escambia] fit with United Way because we had the pillars of health, education and financial stability, and over our history, we'd had collaborative groups that met around those topics. So it was a good fit for us to be involved and be the backbone for it."

Measuring Achieve

Dozens of volunteers stepped up to meet monthly and bimonthly as Achieve Escambia tried to follow the StriveTogether model and develop a framework for two core areas: kindergarten readiness and workforce development.

In August 2017, Achieve Escambia published its baseline report. Calder, who chaired the Leadership Council, shared in her cover letter that a Kindergarten Readiness Collective Action Network (CAN) had been formed and a Career Readiness CAN would be formed in the fall of 2017.

The Leadership Council had 28 members; the Operational Support Team had 23 members; the Communication Team, 11; and the Data Team, 27. The baseline metrics listed in the report were: 66.2% of students kindergarten-ready, 62.3% registered in VPK, 59% of third graders reading on grade level, 44% of seventh graders scoring satisfactory in math, 76.1% high school graduation rate and 27% of graduates earning an industry certificate.

Dr. Kimberly Krupa replaced Executive Director Greg Voss, who had resigned in February 2017. "Achieve Escambia is a community-wide effort to keep children, youth and adults on the path to labor force participation," wrote Krupa in a viewpoint for the News Journal after the report was published. "It is heart and soul work that will involve engaging the most powerful and the least powerful to talk, work together and create solutions that are appropriate, compatible, quantifiable and here to stay."

She added, "The next step is to move from empathy to ownership."

The 2018 report stated bold goals for Achieve Escambia. Within two years, 60% of children entering kindergarten would be ready for school, and the rate would increase to 75% by 2025.

The Career Readiness CAN had set the goal that 60% of working-age adults would have at least a two-year college degree or a high-quality postsecondary credential by 2025.

There were already some warning signs that those goals might have been too lofty. By 2018, the kindergarten readiness rate had dropped 20 points below baseline—66.2% to 46%. VPK enrollment went from 62.3% to 57.7%. Third grade reading scores fell by seven points. Two bright spots were the seventh grade math scores, which improved by a percentage point, and high school graduation, which jumped from 76.1% to 79.5%.

Another bad omen was that three of the founding leaders—Davis, Calder and Connally— had left the area by the end of 2018. Also, Gulf Power was sold to NextEra Energy, the parent company of Florida Power & Light, with the transaction officially completed on Jan. 1, 2019.

Taking a Different Direction

While the kindergarten readiness rate remained flat compared to prior year, the 2019 Annual Report showed improvements in VPK enrollment (up 1.1%), third grade reading (up 6%), seventh grade math (up 5%) and high school graduation (up 1.2%).

In November 2019, Achieve Escambia separated from United Way and formed a nonprofit corporation. According to its tax return, the nonprofit received $624,917 in contributions through June 30, 2024.

In 2020, Krupa helped lead the referendum effort that created the Escambia Children's Trust, which is funded by property taxes. Achieve Escambia had wanted to start the Help Me Grow program—a system of supports designed to help pregnant women, caregivers with new babies, and families with young children, especially those with developmental delays and disabilities—but it couldn't find a way to pay for the program. The Trust was seen as a dedicated funding source to provide stable financial support for local programs and organizations.

Meanwhile, COVID struck. Achieve Escambia published its last annual report in 2020, which focused on creating a "more equitable Escambia." Because the pandemic had closed schools, the nonprofit didn't have test scores to help measure academic progress. However, it was clear that the Kindergarten Readiness CAN would not meet its 60% goal by 2020 because the 2019 rate was only 47%.

In 2022, the Escambia Children's Trust hired Krupa as its director of programs and performance. She developed the Needs Assessment Report, which had many of the indicators identi-

fied by Achieve Escambia in its baseline report. Help Me Grow was part of the Trust's strategic plan. Local family welfare nonprofit ARC Gateway was awarded a three-year grant to start the program in July 2023. Krupa resigned from the Trust in March 2024.

Meanwhile, the academic metrics dropped. In 2024, kindergarten readiness was only 36%, and career readiness was 42%. Other 2025 metrics showed little or no improvement: third grade reading at 53% and seventh grade math at 34%. However, the high school graduation rate rose to 84%.

In July, Achieve Escambia's board voted to dissolve its corporation and handed over its work to United Way of West Florida.

Achieve Reborn

Laura Gilliam succeeded Krieger as the United Way of West Florida's president and CEO. Having Achieve Escambia back under United Way makes sense to her.

"There's value in it coming under our umbrella because it will continue to be a community coalition and a community effort," said Gilliam. "Next steps—I think it's really honing in on especially the data piece, and making sure that we know what data we need."

She plans to review what the Kindergarten Readiness CAN and Career Readiness CAN have done and determine "what that data is telling us that we need to be working on."

"I think it's really trying to make sure that we're focusing on the right things and that we're measuring the right things," said Gilliam. "We have an opportunity to circle back with all of that."

When asked about the value of Achieve Escambia, Gilliam said, "Achieve brings the convening piece, bringing folks together to talk about where things are, what is everybody doing. Are there opportunities? Where do we need to be partnering, and how are we going to move the needle? And what needle needs to be moved? That's important."

Gilliam agreed that Achieve Escambia's "bold goals" set in 2018 may have been too lofty. "My experience with 20 years of United Way work and nearly 30 years in the nonprofit sector has taught me that we have to be careful when identifying the issue and how we're measuring success."

She explained, "If you're looking at kindergarten readiness, the factors are family financial security, the neighborhood, maybe the educational experience the families had, whether they value education, whether it was traumatic—what's the health of the family. So many factors play into it from beginning to graduation and beyond. It's not just the school district; it's all these other community inputs."

Achieve Escambia succeeded in getting the community to stop viewing education as someone else's problem and provided a venue for business leaders, nonprofits and educators to identify challenges. However, its next iteration will need to break kindergarten and career readiness into incremental goals, addressing the myriad factors at play.

The question isn't whether collective effort works in education. It's whether Escambia County will tackle the deep-seated problems holding it back in education and take steps that truly move the needle. {in}

Arts & Entertainment

Fostering Trans Joy

By Dakota Parks

At a time when transgender people face constant attacks on their rights, from passports to healthcare to housing, it can be hard to leave room for joy.

That's why, for the past eight years, Strive has been hosting TransFest: a multi-day celebration of trans joy and trans lives, including Transgender Day of Remembrance, which honors those lost to anti-transgender violence. This year, TransFest will take place Nov. 19-23.

For board member Indigo Lett, Strive's mission has always been about more than survival; it's about connection, representation and being part of something bigger than herself.

"As a Black trans person, I wanted to be someone present to those who may not know

the unique struggles that someone like me faces on a daily basis," she explained.

"The organization means so much to me because of all the work we have done for our local community and connections we have made."

As Lett described, that work grows more urgent every year. Strive remains one of the only organizations in Northwest Florida dedicated specifically to helping trans people thrive.

"As of right now we're still fighting against anti-trans legislation in our state of Florida that comes up every year, book bans that target queer/ trans people—and in our own city of Pensacola, we've lost [hormone replacement therapy coverage at] Community Health Northwest Florida, so access to healthcare is another thing we're facing," Lett said. "And, as always, we have an issue with the queer/ trans community finding housing and jobs."

Amid these challenges, Strive continues to operate as a socialist, grassroots initiative focused on direct mutual aid rather than traditional nonprofit efforts. Through community donations and volunteer labor, the group redistributes resources to trans people who need them most. Programs include an emergency housing program, funds for medications and doctor's appointments and help with food, transportation and other essentials.

Lett says TransFest plays a vital role in that ecosystem not just as a celebration, but as a tool for education and empowerment.

"TransFest as an event helps us explain why now more than ever we need to provide our community with the resources it needs to be able to not only survive and live, but eventually thrive while fighting the forces of capital in all of its terrible forms," Lett explained. "Most of the stories of the trans people that we see who've been killed year after year are [harmed] more than just by an individual who killed them—but by an economic system in capitalism that has failed them every step of the way with lack of housing, working opportunities and education with discrimination at every turn."

Even while confronting these systemic issues, TransFest remains primarily a celebration.

"At TransFest, we try to have fun events that anyone can attend, so that people who are allies and people who may not know too much about the queer/trans community can see us in different aspects," Lett said. "That way, they can feel a familiarity to their own lives and how we have similar struggles and successes."

The festival lineup includes visual art events, a concert and a park gathering. Throughout, TransFest ties together grief and joy, remembrance and renewal.

"Trans Day of Remembrance means so much to us and the community," Lett shared. "It's a time for us to come together and remember those who were killed that year, but also an understanding of the progress we have made that year—with more work still to be done."

That balance between resistance and joy is what keeps Strive's mission alive. Beyond visibility, the organization hopes TransFest will inspire both trans people and allies to take concrete steps toward liberation.

"We hope that new people who come to these events are taking away the fact that while there is grief in the trans community, there is joy

as well," Lett said. "Our hope for TransFest is to provide amazing events for not only the trans community but for everyone who wants to support the queer/trans community, and to inspire them to work outside of the two-party system to address the immediate and long-term needs of a marginalized community."

Lett encourages everyone—trans and allies alike—to get involved, whether by showing up, donating or simply learning.

"First of all, showing up to these events is key," Lett said. "When the older generations used to say 90% of doing something is just showing up, I didn't believe them. But now that I'm over 10 years into doing activism work, it's really important that people show up during TransFest and beyond." {in}

STRIVE'S TRANSFEST 2025

WHAT: A multi-day event celebrating the transgender community

DETAILS: facebook.com/socialisttransinitiative, @strivepensacola

TRANSFEST 2025 SCHEDULE

•Strive Benefit Show 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 21 at Betty's on Belmont, 506 W. Belmont St. Show is $10 and will feature Radio Decay, Anemony, Other and more

•Graffiti Bridge Painting 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 22 at the Graffiti Bridge on 17th Ave. •Trans Park Frolic 12 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 23 at Bayview Park, 2001 E. Lloyd St.

For those looking to connect beyond TransFest, Strive meets every Wednesday at 6 p.m. at Black Café and Bookstore, 3498 Dr. Martin Luther King Drive

a&e happenings

NONPROFITS & FUNDRAISERS

COCKTAILS FOR A CAUSE Childhood grief support nonprofit Valerie's House, 904 E. Gadsden St., will host a fundraiser featuring cocktails, food and seasonal festivities 5-9 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 20. Tickets available at cocktailsforacausepensacola.org.

FILL THE MAYFLOWER The 18th Annual Fill the Mayflower food and fund drive is Friday, Nov. 21 benefitting Manna Food Bank. People are invited to bring non-perishable food items and monetary gifts from 5 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. in the Dillard's parking lot at 5100 N. Ninth Ave. For a list of needed items, visit mannahelps.org.

WE ARE ACTS MILES FOR MENTAL HEALTH VIRTUAL 5K RUN/WALK Register for the virtual/asynchronous 5k to run or walk anytime during the month of November and support access to mental healthcare in the community. Register at runsignup.com/race/fl/pensacola/ weareactsmilesformentalhealth.

SAVE OUR SHELTERS SILENT AUCTION The Save our Shelters silent auction of mini themed trees and gift baskets will be available now through Dec. 13 from 7 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday through Friday and Saturday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. at Happy Dog Resort, 1401 W. Cervantes St. All proceeds help provide low-cost spay and neuter services for dogs in our community. Come shop, bid and make a difference in our community. Also, ask about the Double Dog Dare and take the item home same day.

PENSACOLA ANNUAL CHILI COOK-OFF

Starts at 4 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 23 at The Handlebar, 319 N. Tarragona St. Enjoy a fun evening of chili tastings, competitions, raffles and live music, all in support of epilepsy awareness with Epilepsy Alliance Florida. More info available at thehandlebar850.com.

ANIMAL ALLIES FLORIDA BINGO Animal

Allies Florida hosts bingo twice monthly at Beef 'O' Brady's, 1 New Market St., Cantonment (on Nine Mile Road near Pine Forest Road). The cost is 10 rounds of bingo for $10, with cash prizes for winners. Food and drinks are also available for purchase. For more information, visit facebook.com/animalalliesflorida.

ANIMAL ALLIES CAT AND KITTEN ADOP -

TION Visit Pet Supermarket 11 a.m.-3 p.m. every first and third Saturday of the month at 6857 N. Ninth 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 10:30 a.m. Tuesdays. The ministry's food pantry opens 10 a.m. and also 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.

COMMUNITY EVENTS

ALL I WANT HOLIDAY GIVEAWAY The "All I Want" Holiday Giveaway runs through Dec. 17, presented by the Downtown Improvement Board and local merchants. Shoppers can earn entries for every $10 spent at participating downtown businesses, with daily prizes, weekly $100 gift cards and a $1,000 grand prize in downtown gift cards. Spend local and you could win anything from dinners and spa treatments to original art, clothing and more. On Shop Small Saturday (Nov. 29), shoppers will earn double entries for every $10 spent. For complete rules and details, visit downtownpensacola.com/alliwant.

ARTS & CULTURE

PENSACOLA CINEMA ART SCREENING

Watch "Eleanor the Great" 1 p.m. Friday, Nov. 21 and Saturday, Nov. 22 at Pensacola Cinema Art, 220 W. Garden St. Tickets are $10 (cash only). Details at pensacolacinemaart.com.

UWF THEATRE PRESENTS: JESUS

CHRIST SUPERSTAR UWF Theatre production of the Andrew Lloyd Weber musical is 7:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 21 and Saturday, Nov. 22 and 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Nov. Nov. 23 at University of West Florida Center for Fine and Performing Arts, 11000 University Parkway Bldg. 82. Tickets available at uwf.edu/cfpa.

A CHARLIE BROWN CHRISTMAS: LIVE ON STAGE Show is 6 p.m. Friday, Nov. 21 at Saenger Theatre, 118 S. Palafox St. Tickets and information at pensacolasaenger.com.

PALAFOX MARKET HOLIDAY EDITION

Palafox Market Holiday Edition is 5 p.m. every Wednesday through Dec. 17 in MLK Jr. Plaza, under thousands of twinkling lights.

MEWVIE NIGHT: THE TWILIGHT SAGA Visit

Coastal Cat Café to watch the next installment of the Twilight series 7-9 p.m. Friday, Nov. 21 at 1508 W. Garden St. Tickets at coastalcpcola.com.

GALLERY NIGHT The next Gallery Night is 5-9 p.m. Friday, Nov. 21 on South Palafox Street. This month's theme is "Festival of Living Art." Details at gallerynightpensacola.org.

OPEN HOUSE AND CLOSING RECEPTION FOR 309 ARTIST IN RESIDENCE 309 Artist in Resident Alyssa Osceola will host an open house from 1-5 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 23 at 309 N. Sixth Ave. and a closing reception and exhibition viewing that same day from 5-8 p.m.

UWF OPERA SCENES WORKSHOP UWF

Voice Faculty member Brittany Shaffer will showcase student-directed scenes of classic operatic and musical composers 7:30-9:30 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 23 at The Rolfs Music Hall in the Center for Fine and Performing Arts on the UWF campus, 11000 University Parkway. Event is free. Details at events.uwf.edu.

THE ART GALLERY AT UWF PRESENTS THIS MOMENT TOGETHER: A FACULTY SHOW FOR JOHN MARKOWITZ Honoring the legacy of the late UWF art and design lecturer

John Markowitz, the show features faculty works that speak to his influence on their artistic journeys. The exhibit is on view through Nov. 20. TAG is located at 11000 University Parkway, Bldg. 82. For more information visit uwf.edu/tag.

DUALITIES: NATIONAL SCULPTURE EXHIBITION This national exhibition will feature works from various artists at Pensacola Museum of Art, 407 S. Jefferson St. The exhibition is on view through Jan. 11. Details are at pensacolamuseum.org.

THRIFT STYLE New exhibit at Pensacola Museum of History explores the reuse of feed sacks to make clothing and other household objects. View the exhibit and explore the museum, located at 330 S. Jefferson St. Details at historicpensacola.org.

FIRST FRIDAY AT BLUE MORNING

GALLERY Visit Blue Morning Gallery, 21 S. Palafox St., 5:30 p.m. every first Friday of the month for a reception with wine, live music and occasional artist demonstrations. Visit bluemorninggallery.com for details.

PENSACOLA HERITAGE FOUNDATION

LECTURES Learn Pensacola/Northwest Florida history through interesting, informal lectures every other Tuesday at The Wright Place, 80 E. Wright St. Doors open at 11 a.m. and lunch is served at 11:30 a.m. The lecture starts at noon and lasts one hour. Lecture cost is $5 for non-members and is free to members. Lunches are $12. For reservations, call (850) 380-7759.

PENSACOLA ROSE SOCIETY Monthly meetings are normally 6 p.m. the second Monday of the month at the Pensacola Garden Center, 1850 N. Ninth Ave. Visit pensacolarosesociety.org for more information.

BTB COMEDY Watch live standup comedy in open mic style 7 p.m. Mondays at Odd Colony, 260 N. Palafox St. Follow BTB Comedy on Facebook for updates.

SCRIPTEASERS Join writers at Pensacola Little Theatre, 400 S. Jefferson St., for Scripteasers every month. Visit pensacolalittletheatre.com for details.

PALAFOX MARKET Palafox Market 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturdays. The event features local farmers, artists and crafters on North and South Palafox streets at Martin Luther King Jr. Plaza and Plaza Ferdinand. For updates, visit facebook.com/ downtownpensacola.

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 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 Pensacola'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 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 Paranormal Investigation and Dinner happens inside one of Pensacola's most haunted restaurants with real 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. After your ghost tour, enjoy dinner at Seville Quarter Palace Café, 130 E. Government St. Reservations are required. Call (850) 941-4321. Tickets are available at pensacolaghostevents.com.

FOOD + DRINKS

SAVOR LUNCH AT THE DISTRICT Take part in an elevated lunch with Chef Josh Warner 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Friday, Nov. 21. Includes a complimentary cocktail and $5 martinis and wines. The District is located at 130 E. Government St.

MISS SNOWBALL DERBY PAGEANT See who will be a part of the Victory Lanes celebration 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 21 at Phineas Phogg's in Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. Details at sevillequarter.com.

FRIENDSGIVING AT LAGUNA'S Festive eats and seasonal drinks at Laguna's 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 22. Located at 460 Pensacola Beach Blvd. Details at lagunaspensacolabeach.com.

PERFECT PLAIN'S EIGHTH ANNIVERSARY Enjoy birthday cake, beer specials and food with live music from the Wavy Winstons. Limited edition Drink Pensacola Beer shirts will also be available. Event is 12 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 22. Details at facebook.com/perfectplainbrewingco.

EVERYTHING: BREAD Cooking class is 2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 23 at Pensacola Cooks, 4051 Barrancas Ave. Ste. C. Cost is $60. Tickets available at pensacolacooks.com/cooking-classes.

THANKSGIVING EVE PRE-GAME PARTY Enjoy music bingo, specialty drinks, smoked turkey menu items and more 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Wednesday, Nov 26 at Coastal County Brewing Co., 3041 E. Olive Road.

DOWNTOWN HAPPY HOUR AT SEVILLE QUARTER Drink specials and laid-back vibes are 11 a.m.-7 p.m. every weekday throughout the entire Seville Quarter complex with $2 off all liquor drinks and $1 off all beer and wine. Must be 21 or older. Visit sevillequarter.com for details.

MEN'S NIGHT AT WISTERIA From 3 p.m. to close Mondays, guys can play free darts and enjoy $6 craft tallboys. There are more than 150 craft beers to choose from at Wisteria, 3803 N. 12th Ave. Visit wisteriatavern.com for details.

BAR BINGO AT SEVILLE QUARTER Bar Bingo is 8 p.m. Mondays at Apple Annie's at Se -

a&e happenings

ville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. Drink specials include $2.50 Miller Lite bottles and $3.50 Bomb shots. Bingo is free to play with prizes, giveaways and bar tabs up for grabs for winners. Visit sevillequarter.com for details.

FIGHTER GAME NIGHT AT O'RILEY'S Gamers unite 5 p.m.-close Mondays at O'Riley's Irish Pub, 321 S. Palafox St. Visit orileyspub.com for details.

BINGO NIGHT AT CALVERT'S IN THE HEIGHTS Play a game (or two) of bingo 6-8 p.m. Mondays at Calvert's in the Heights, 670 Scenic Highway. For more information, visit calvertsintheheights.com.

MONDAY NIGHT SPAGHETTI SESSIONS

Visit V. Paul's Italian Ristorante, 29 S. Palafox St. every Monday from 5–9 p.m. for live music and spaghetti and meatballs from the Monday night menu.

DOUBLE MONDAYS AND SIN NIGHT Enjoy Double Mondays 8 p.m.-midnight and SIN Night 11 p.m. to close at O'Riley's Tavern, 3728 Creighton Road. Details are at orileystavern.com.

MARTINI NIGHT AT THE KENNEDY Every Tuesday, The Kennedy, 1 S. Palafox St., hosts Martini Night, featuring all martinis from the menu for $10 from open to close (4-11 p.m.).

75-CENT OYSTERS AT ATLAS Enjoy 75-cent oysters 5-9 p.m. Tuesdays at Atlas Oyster House,

600 S. Barracks St. For more information, visit greatsouthernrestaurants.com.

MUSIC BINGO Test your music knowledge 7-9 p.m. Tuesdays at Wisteria, 3808 N. 12th Ave. Take part in half-price bottles of wine and $5 canned cocktails. Visit wisteriatavern.com for details.

POKER NIGHT AND BINGO AT O'RILEY'S

Visit O'Riley's Irish Pub for poker at 6:30 p.m. and bar bingo 8-10 p.m. Tacos are on special Tuesdays at 321 S. Palafox St. Visit orileyspub.com for details.

LUNCH AT THE DISTRICT The District Steakhouse, 130 E. Government St., is open for special lunch seatings the third Friday of the month. Enjoy a $5 martini or house wine. Seatings are 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Reservations are accepted but not necessary. Details are available at districtsteaks.com.

DOLLAR NIGHT Enjoy Dollar Night 8 p.m.midnight Tuesdays at Mugs & Jugs, 12080 Scenic Highway. Visit mugsjugsbar.com for details.

TUESDAY TRIVIA AT PERFECT PLAIN Visit Perfect Plain Brewing Co. for trivia nights 7-9 p.m. Tuesdays at 50 E. Garden St. Visit perfectplain.com/upcoming-events for details.

LATIN NIGHT AT SEVILLE QUARTER

Get on your feet with a social Latin dance—no partner required—and Latin music 7-9 p.m. every Wednesday at Phineas Phogg's in Seville Quarter,

130 E. Government St. Drink specials and music from DJ DavidC continue after the dancing. Details are at sevillequarter.com.

DOLLAR NIGHT AT O'RILEY'S Dollar Night is 8 p.m.-midnight Wednesdays at O'Riley's Tavern, 3728 Creighton Road. Food trucks are on site. Details are at orileystavern.com.

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.

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.

COLLEGE NIGHT AT SEVILLE QUARTER

College night is 8 p.m. Thursdays at Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. Ages 18 and older are welcome. Free beer pong tournament begins at 10 p.m. Drink specials include $2 bar drinks, $3.50 Fireball shots for ages 21 and older. Cover is $5 for ages 21 and older and $10 for ages 18-20. Details are at sevillequarter.com.

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

PITCHERS AND TAVERN TRIVIA Get deals on pitchers 8 p.m.-midnight at O'Riley's Tavern.

Trivia is 8 p.m.; SIN Night starts 1 a.m. Thursdays at 3728 Creighton Road. Visit orileystavern.com for details.

WEEKLY SINGO AT PERFECT PLAIN BREWING CO. Music Bingo Thursdays is 7-9 p.m. at Perfect Plain Brewing Co., 50 E. Garden St. Details are at facebook.com/perfectplainbrewingco.

POOL TOURNAMENT Pool tournaments begin 8 p.m., and Tequila Night is 8 p.m. to midnight Thursdays at Mugs & Jugs, 12080 Scenic Highway. Visit mugsjugsbar.com for details.

DOLLAR NIGHT AT O'RILEY'S Dollar Night with a DJ starts 8 p.m. Thursdays at O'Riley's Irish Pub, 321 S. Palafox St. Visit orileyspub.com for details.

TRIVIA UNDER THE TREES 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 at 208 Newman Ave. Test your trivia skills with a glass of beer or wine. Arrive early to grab a spot. For more information, visit facebook.com/garysbrew.

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free will astrology

WEEK OF NOVEMBER 20

ARIES (MARCH 21-APRIL 19): In the coming weeks, I invite you to commune intimately with your holy anger. Not petulant tantrums, not the ego's defensive rage, but the fierce love that refuses to tolerate injustice. You will be wise to draw on the righteous "No!" that draws boundaries and defends the vulnerable. I hope you will call on protective fury on behalf of those who need help. Here's a reminder of what I'm sure you know: calmness in the face of cruelty isn't enlightenment but complicity. Your anger, when it safeguards and serves love rather than destroys, is a spiritual practice.

TAURUS (APRIL 20-MAY 20): The Korean concept of jeong is the emotional bond that forms between people, places, or things through shared experiences over time. It's deeper than love and more complex than attachment: the accumulated weight of history together. You can have jeong for a person you don't even like anymore, for a city that broke your heart, for a coffee mug you've used every morning for years. As the scar tissue of togetherness, it can be beautiful and poignant. Now is an especially good time for you to appreciate and honor your jeong. Celebrate and learn from the soulful mysteries your history has bequeathed you.

GEMINI (MAY 21-JUNE 20): Over 100 trillion bacteria live in your intestines. They have a powerful impact. They produce neurotransmitters, influence your mood, train your immune system and communicate with your brain via the vagus nerve. Other life forms are part of the team within you, too, including fungi, viruses and archaea. So in a real sense, you are not merely a human who contains small organisms. You are an ecosystem of species making collective decisions. Your "gut feelings" are collaborations. I bring this all to your attention because the coming weeks will be a highly favorable time to enhance the health of your gut biome. For more info: tinyurl.com/enhancegutbiome.

The creative flourishes we have unveiled recently need to be refined and activated on deeper levels.

CANCER (JUNE 21-JULY 22): Why, yes, I myself am born under the sign of Cancer the Crab, just as you are. So as I offer you my ongoing observations and counsel, I am also giving myself blessings. In the coming weeks, we will benefit from going through a phase of consolidation and integration. The creative flourishes we have unveiled recently need to be refined and activated on deeper levels. This necessary deepening may initially feel more like work than play and not as much fun as the rapid progress we have been enjoying. But with a slight tweak of our attitude, we can thoroughly thrive during this upcoming phase.

By Rob Brezsny

LEO (JULY 23-AUG. 22): I suggest that in the coming weeks you care more about getting things done than pursuing impossible magnificence. The simple labor of love you actually finish is worth more than the masterpiece you never start. The healthy but makeshift meal you throw together feeds you well, whereas the theoretical but abandoned feast does not. Even more than usual, Leo, the perfect will be the enemy of the good. Here are quotes to inspire you. 1. "Perfectionism is self-abuse of the highest order." —Anne Wilson Schaef. 2. "Striving for excellence motivates you; striving for perfection is demoralizing." —Harriet Braiker. 3. "Perfection is not attainable, but if we chase perfection, we can catch excellence." — Vince Lombardi.

VIRGO (AUG. 23-SEPT. 22): Now is an excellent time to practice the art of forgetting. I hope you formulate an intention to release the grievances and grudges that are overdue for dissolution. They not only don't serve you but actually diminish you. Here's a fact about your brain: it remembers everything unless you actively practice forgetting. So here's my plan: meditate on the truth that forgiveness is not a feeling; it's a decision to stop rehearsing the resentment, to quit telling yourself the story that keeps the wound fresh. The lesson you're ready to learn: some memories are worth evicting. Not all the past is worth preserving. Selective amnesia can be a survival skill.

LIBRA (SEPT. 23-OCT. 22): A Navajo blessing says, "May you walk in beauty." Not just see beauty or create it, but walk in it, inhabit it and move through the world as if beauty is your gravity. When you're at the height of your lyrical powers, Libra, you do this naturally. You are especially receptive to the aesthetic soul of things. You can draw out the harmony beneath surface friction and improvise grace in the midst of chaos. I'm happy to tell you that you are currently at the height of these lyrical powers. I hope you'll be bold in expressing them. Even if others aren't consciously aware and appreciative of what you're doing, beautify every situation you're in.

SCORPIO (OCT. 23-NOV. 21): Your theme for the coming weeks is the fertile power of small things: the transformations that happen in the margins and subtle gestures. A kind word that shifts someone's day, for instance. Or a refusal to participate in casual cruelty. Or a choice to see value in what you're supposed to ignore. So I hope you will meditate on this healing theme: change doesn't always announce itself with drama and manifestos. The most heroic act might be to pay tender attention and refuse to be numbed. Find power in understated insurrections.

SAGITTARIUS (NOV. 22-DEC. 21): A day on Venus (one rotation on its axis) lasts about 243 Earth days. However, a year on Venus (one orbit around the sun) takes only about 225 Earth days. So a Venusian day is longer than its year. If you lived on Venus, the sun wouldn't even set before your next Venusian birthday arrived. Here's another weird fact: contrary to what happens on ev-

ery other planet in the solar system, on Venus the sun rises in the west and sets in the east. Moral of the story: even planets refuse to conform and make their own rules. If celestial bodies can be so gloriously contrary to convention, so can you. In accordance with current astrological omens, I encourage you to exuberantly explore this creative freedom in the coming weeks.

Moral of the story: even planets refuse to conform and make their own rules.

CAPRICORN (DEC. 22-JAN. 19): Let's revisit the ancient Greeks' understanding that we are all born with a daimon: a guiding spirit who whispers help and counsel, especially if we stay alert for its assistance. Typically, the messages are subtle, even half-disguised. Our daimons don't usually shout. But I predict that will change for you in the coming weeks, especially if you cultivate listening as a superpower. Your personal daimon will be extra talkative and forthcoming. So be vigilant for unexpected support, Capricorn. Expect epiphanies and breakthrough revelations. Pay attention to the book that falls open to a page that has an oracular hint just for you. Take notice of a song that repeats or a sudden urge to change direction on your walk.

AQUARIUS (JAN. 20-FEB. 18): Awe should be one of your featured emotions in the coming weeks. I hope you will also seek out and cultivate reverence, deep respect, excited wonder and an attraction to sublime surprises. Why do I recommend such seemingly impractical measures? Because you're close to breaking through into a heightened capacity for generosity of spirit and a sweet lust for life. Being alert for amazement and attuned to transcendent experiences could change your life for the better forever. I love your ego—it's a crucial aspect of your make-up—but now is a time to exalt and uplift your soul.

PISCES (FEB. 19-MARCH 20): What if your anxiety is actually misinterpreted excitement? What if the difference between worry and exhilaration is the story you tell yourself about the electricity streaming through you? Maybe your body is revving up for something interesting and important, but your mind mislabels the sensation. Try this experiment: next time your heart races and your mind spins, tell yourself "I'm excited" instead of "I'm anxious." See if your mood shape-shifts.

HERE'S THE HOMEWORK What innovations are you finally done rehearsing and ready to unveil? {in}

freewillastrology.com newsletter.freewillastrology.com freewillastrology@freewillastrology.com BrezsnyAstrology@gmail.com © 2025 Rob Brezsny

news of the weird

FINDERS KEEPERS The town council in Neuville-sur-Saone, France, delivered good news to a homeowner on Nov. 5, CBS News reported: He can keep the $800,000 worth of gold bars and coins he unearthed while digging for a swimming pool in his backyard. The gold was stashed in plastic bags; the man alerted authorities in May, when he found the treasure. Police said they were able to determine that the gold had not been stolen, and the home's previous owner had died, so it belongs to the current resident.

LEAST COMPETENT CRIMINALS Police in Windsor, Connecticut, can't credit their amazing investigative skills after they apprehended two men who stole a huge highway sign on I-91. WFSB-TV reported that Andrew Scott Lampkin, 42, and Jonathan Riopelle, 46, from Vernon, Connecticut, allegedly removed the sign and strapped it to the bed of a pickup truck around 8:30 a.m. on Nov. 5. The thieves were charged with third-degree larceny, reckless use of a highway by a pedestrian and improper parking on a highway.

ODD RESCUE As Colleen Dunn was walking her dogs on the beach in Manzanita, Oregon, one early evening in October, she came upon a beached shark. Rather than steering clear or calling the authorities, Dunn told KGW-TV, "I just made the quick decision to get him back into the deep Pacific Ocean." A veteran viewer of "Shark Week," Dunn knew that if she dragged the shark by its tail, it wouldn't be able to bite her; with some effort, she was able to wrangle the shark first to shallow water, then push it into water deep enough for it to swim away. Shark expert Taylor Chapple of Oregon University identified the shark as a juvenile salmon shark and said it is not uncommon for the creatures to experience shock while swimming in colder waters and end up beached.

RECURRING THEMES It's falling iguana time again in Florida! With this year's first cold blast making it all the way to the Sunshine State, The Guardian reported on Nov. 10, Floridians are being warned about paralyzed reptiles tumbling out of trees and hitting them on the head. While some people are moved to help the stunned iguanas, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission warns against intervening. "Once they recover and warm up, they could act defensively." Also, it's illegal to relocate or release captured iguanas. Just let 'em lie, folks.

QUESTIONABLE JUDGMENT Tucker Kemp, 31, of St. Petersburg, Florida, is rethinking his decisions after an incident in a local Starbucks last month. According to The Smoking Gun, Kemp had stopped for a tea when he noticed a pride flag hanging on the wall inside the store. He told the manager he was "offended by the flag and ... they should put up an American flag." Then he allegedly threw his tea at the flag and tore it off the wall before stuffing it into a trash

By the Editors at Andrews McMeel

can. Kemp was arrested for criminal mischief and spent a few hours in jail—but the long-term consequences may have been more influential. Kemp lost his job at nearby Dignity Memorial and is on the hunt for a new gig. He said his "poor decisions ... led to my rightful arrest and termination from my career." Anyone looking for a recalcitrant funeral director?

NOPE In an underwater cave on the border between Greece and Albania, scientists have discovered a spider web that spans 1,076.4 square feet along a wall, People magazine reported on Nov. 11. The web is home to an estimated 110,000 spiders of two different species. Istvan Urak of the Sapientia Hungarian University of Transylvania in Romania visited the cave to analyze the web. "It is a unique case of two species cohabiting within the same web structure in this huge number," he said. The cave is also home to 512 other species of spiders.

POWERFUL PIPES The Great Melbourne Bagpipe Bash at Federation Square in Victoria, Australia, brought together 374 bagpipers on Nov. 12 to pay tribute to rock legends AC/DC with a performance of "It's a Long Way to the Top (If You Wanna Rock 'n' Roll)," shattering the world record for the most bagpipers in a single performance, as reported by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Among the ragtag assembly were none other than Les Kenfield and Kevin Conlon, who were members of the Rats of Tobruk Memorial Highland Band in the 1970s and performed in the piper trio seen in AC/DC's video for the song, which was filmed just a few blocks from Federation Square in 1976. Kenfield hopes the event, which brought together pipers of all ages, will inspire renewed interest in the instrument. "Piping is really a dying art," Kenfield said. "In my band, if everyone over 70 resigned, there would be no band left."

CALL OF THE WILD Amherst Junior High School in Amherst, Ohio, was the site of an early morning surprise on Nov. 13, FOX 8 reported. According to a press release issued by Principal Andrew Hoffman, a large deer crashed through one of the school cafeteria's windows, startling "a couple of students and staff" who were preparing for breakfast. Video of the incident showed the deer fighting to gain traction on the slick cafeteria floor before lying down in exhaustion. Staff members and the Amherst Police Department were able to keep the deer corralled in the cafeteria before herding it toward a set of doors they had propped open to provide the deer with an escape route. "As shocking as the event was to witness, we are happy to report that no significant injuries took place," Hoffman said, while assuring that "all students were offered the opportunity to receive breakfast during 1st period." {in}