Inweekly Oct. 17 Issue REV

Independent News | October 17, 2019 | Volume 20 | Number 41

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winners & losers

outtakes

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news

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I wrote her a poem and she kissed me on the cheek as a response. Who wouldn't want to keep writing poetry after that?

buzz

cover feature 11

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contact us info@inweekly.net

publisher Rick Outzen

graphic designer Michael Daw

editor & creative director Joani Delezen

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

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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inweekly.net

Where are they now?

Eight Blue Wahoos players made major contributions to the Minnesota Twins in 2019, helping the Twins win the American League Central Division!

Luis Arraez Infielder (Standout)

Devin Smeltzer Pitcher

Jorge Alcala Pitcher

Brusdar Graterol Pitcher

Randy Dobnak Pitcher

Ryan LaMarre Outfielder

Cody Stashak Pitcher Sean Poppen Pitcher

Congrats to the Twins on winning the AL Central crown from all of Hoosville!

Rehab Players

Willians Astudillo Catcher

October 17, 2019

Mitch Garver Catcher

Miguel Sano Infielder

LaMonte Wade Jr. Outfielder

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winners & losers

ART & FORM:

From Moments in Time Jennifer Fleming & Sally T. Miller

Friday, October 25 | 6-8 pm Reception with wine and appetizers at the Luna Fine Art Gallery at the Hilton Pensacola Beach.

Jennifer Fleming lunafineartgallery.com

Sally T. Miller 12 Via De Luna Drive, Pensacola, FL 32561

Eman el-Sheikh / Courtesy Photo

winners EMAN EL-SHEIKH On Sept. 30, Governor

Ron DeSantis announced the appointment of the director of the UWF Center for Cybersecurity to the Florida Cybersecurity Task Force, which will review and assess the state's cybersecurity infrastructure, governance and operations. The task force will analyze and identify potential improvements of state government cybersecurity programs, including individual state agencies. The task force will also prioritize the risks posed by identified threats. Dr. El-Sheikh leads UWF's efforts as the NSA/DHS National Center of Academic Excellence Regional Resource C enter for the Southeast United States.

STEVE HAYES The president of Visit

Pensacola announced last week that he has accepted the position of president & CEO of Visit St. Pete/Clearwater in Pinellas County.

Since taking over the position in early 2013, Hayes has led Visit Pensacola's transformation to a standalone organization with the sole purpose of promoting tourism. He led stakeholders through a five-year strategic planning process, Destination 2020, and saw bed tax collections and visitors increase under his leadership. He will be missed.

BLUE WAHOOS CONCESSIONS Ballpark Digest has selected Blue Wahoos Concessions as the winners of its Best New Concessions Experience and Best New Food Items honors. The annual Ballpark Digest Awards consider nominations from all baseball stadiums in the country at all levels, including Major League, Minor League, collegiate and independent leagues.

Rudy Giuliani / Photo by Mark Reinstein / Shutterstock.com

losers RUDY GIULIANI People wondered why the former mayor of New York City was so interested in Ukraine. Well, we may find out soon.

Federal prosecutors in Manhattan are investigating whether Giuliani broke lobbying laws in his dealings in Ukraine, according to media reports. The investigation is tied to the case against two of his associates who were arrested last week on campaign finance-related charges after allegedly funneling illegal contributions to a congressman whose help they sought in removing the U.S. ambassador to Ukraine.

SANTA ROSA COUNTY COMMISSION

The Santa Rosa County Commissioners' referendum to increase the local option sales tax to help pay for infrastructure needs failed by more than a two-to-one margin after two-thirds of county voters rejected the tax increase—yes 8,581, no 26,110. Ouch! It might have helped if the commissioners got off their butts and held town hall meetings around the county. Griping about critics and social media from commission chambers wasn't an effective political strategy apparently.

BORDER WALL U.S. District Judge David

Briones declared that President Trump's emergency declaration—which ordered other parts of the government to financially supplement the $1.375 billion Congress allocated for his $5.7 billion border wall—was "unlawful." He wrote that the emergency declaration violated the Consolidated Appropriations Act and granted the preliminary injunction requested by El Paso, Texas, and the Border Network for Human Rights. Mexico still hasn't mailed its check to pay for the wall either. Doh!

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outtakes

By Rick Outzen

A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION

In unveiling his budget proposal for next year's legislative session, Gov. Ron DeSantis announced a $603 million teacher-compensation plan that increases the pay for more than 101,000 teachers in Florida by raising the minimum salary to $47,500— nearly $10,000 above what the Escambia County School District has been offering its starting teachers.

According to the National Education Association, Florida ranks 26th in the nation for starting teacher pay, at $37,636. If lawmakers approved DeSantis' plan, the state would jump to second in the country for starting teacher pay.

"With a strong economy and plenty of jobs available in other fields, unfortunately, too many college graduates are unwilling to enter the teaching profession," said DeSantis last week. "My proposal to increase the minimum salary for teachers to $47,500 will help alleviate this shortage and elevate the teaching profession to the level of appreciation it deserves. This is long overdue, and I look forward to working with the legislature to make this a reality."

Commissioner of Education Richard Corcoran had hinted that significant changes in public education were on the horizon when he spoke to the Panhandle Tiger Bay Club in August.

"There's only one way that we move forward and save our republic for the next 100 years and next generations. We've got to get education right," he told the audience.

Corcoran stressed the need to celebrate and elevate the teaching profession, saying, "Nothing is more important to the outcome of a child."

The governor echoed those sentiments last week, "If you look at ways you can make an impact in students' achievement … having a great teacher in front of the students is really the best thing you can do."

He believes the most effective way of ensuring the state has great teachers is by having a higher minimum salary.

Critics questioned why the governor didn't raise the overall average salaries of educators and only focused on the minimum pay. Fedrick Ingram, president of the Florida Education Association, thanked DeSantis for "opening a dialogue on salaries" but said the teachers' union saw raising the minimum as a beginning to the discussion.

"We still hope to hear about what Gov. DeSantis plans to do to retain experienced teachers who have devoted years to their students and about how his administration will provide fair, competitive pay for all the people essential to our schools—bus drivers, paraprofessionals, food-service workers, office staff, custodial personnel and others," said Ingram.

While we agree that compensation for all teachers and school personnel is woefully low, DeSantis's proposal is an critical step in the right direction. Education is what gives our children hope of a better future, and good teachers are critical in providing that education.

Bravo, Governor DeSantis. {in} rick@inweekly.net

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SPORTS COMPLEX PLAN STILL 'FLUID'

Pensacola Bay Center / Courtesy Photo

By Jeremy Morrison Sports tourism is big business. Cities hosting weekend games and tournaments for recreational sports leagues lure visitors to the area, where they stay in hotels, eat in restaurants and contribute to the local economy.

"It's one of the most profitable tourism areas there is," said Ray Palmer, president of Pensacola Sports.

Currently, Foley, Ala., draws in this demographic with its multi-use sports complex.

Soon, Panama City will do the same.

"That's what we're competing with, east and west," said Palmer, who works to attract and market sporting events in the Pensacola area. "Pensacola is the easiest sell in the world. The percentage of people that will come to Pensacola if we have the venue is off the charts."

"Pensacola is the easiest sell in the world. The percentage of people that will come to Pensacola if we have the venue is off the charts." Ray Palmer Currently, Pensacola is popular with the tennis crowd. This is because of the city's Roger Scott Tennis Center.

"We have a great tennis facility," Palmer said. "We've created an entire market of tennis events."

But when it comes to other sports, the venue options are sparse to non-existent.

There is no sizable complex of fields for football, soccer or lacrosse, no indoor courts for basketball and volleyball tournaments, no pools outside of the University of West Florida and Pensacola State College, nowhere for gymnastics or judo competitions, no BMX tracks and so on.

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"The key to this industry is having a place for people to come to play," Palmer said. "You have to compete. You have to be in the game, and you have to compete by having facilities."

Earlier this year, Pensacola Sports attempted to garner support for a complex that would have fulfilled some of the area's facility needs but was unable to secure the funds necessary to construct the venue on land donated by businessman Quint Studer.

Now, another pitch that first surfaced in 2017 is back on the radar, with the group Pensacola Area Development Partners lobbying for a larger project that aims to replace the Pensacola Bay Center with a field house and new event center.

Palmer is cautiously watching how these potential plans unfold.

"Am I a proponent of PADP's plan? In theory and conceptually? Yes, maybe," he said.

"The PowerPoint is fine, but the devil's in the details, and there are no details. I can't get this excited with this much vague information."

That said, Palmer would relish the opportunity to promote competitions held at this theoretical sports complex sprawling across the Bay Center's current footprint.

"I will be marketing it, of course," he said.

"I'm ready to go."

'FLUID' PROJECT UNDEFINED

Last month, Pensacola Area Development Partners presented its proposal to construct a sports complex and event center to the Escambia County Tourist Development Council. The organization, formed by Pensacola hotelier Jay Patel in 2017, also shopped the plan around to county commissioners.

"I don't know if there's something that I'd call a plan," said Commissioner Doug Underhill, who also sits on the TDC. "It's more conceptual, and maybe not even conceptual, but aspirational."

Patel could not be reached for comment for this article but has previously described the PADP concept as "pretty fluid." The approximately $80 million proposal, changed little from its previous form two years ago, calls for an 80,000-square-foot field house and a 6,500-seat event center.

The last time this project was proposed, it fell apart because the Bay Center failed to qualify for federal tax credits key to the project's funding. Escambia County and PADP also previously requested $25 million from Triumph Gulf Coast, the organization overseeing the disbursement of funds related to environmental fines stemming from the 2010 oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, to help fund the project. This time, that ask will be around $35 million.

Commissioner Robert Bender described the Triumph funding aspect as essential to this project.

"We're going to have a hard time making it work without Triumph," he said.

In addition to Triumph funding, the project would be funded using $2.8 million of bed tax revenue annually for 30 years.

But even if, as Commissioner Jeff Bergosh says, "the chips fall the way they need to fall and the stars align" and the funding materializes, there are still questions surrounding this project. For starters, will professional sports—like the Pensacola Ice Flyers—be part of this package?

Views vary.

"Absolutely," Bergosh said. "I'd love to see them play in a new venue."

"I mean, I'm a hockey fan, but it's got to make sense," Bender said.

"I desperately want to replace the Bay Center, but there is no avenue to replace the Bay Center that includes ice," said Underhill.

GOING FISHING?

Home to hockey games, concerts, con-

ventions, graduation ceremonies, political rallies, monster truck shows and just about anything else calling for a facility in the 10,000-seat neighborhood, the Pensacola Bay Center, formerly the Pensacola Civic Center, has served the community since 1985. The open-floor arena typical of its era is seemingly forever nearing the end of its run.

"We need to figure out what we want to do with the Bay Center," Commissioner Bender said. "The question is, do you rebuild it or do you build another one?"

The Bay Center, owned by Escambia County, has long been a favorite punching bag for local officials. While the aging venue is still kicking—Widespread Panic just wrapped up a pair of Labor Day weekend shows, and Cirque du Soleil is about to roll in for a quick residency—conventional wisdom dictates that the facility needs to be updated or replaced entirely.

"That thing is a piece of crap," said Underhill, complaining about how Escambia subsidizes the facility and describing it as "a $1.3-million-a-year loser."

"We can't have embarrassing events like the air conditioning going out when Barry Manilow is in town," said Bergosh.

PADP's conceptual plans call for scrapping the Bay Center once its replacement is finished. The new event center will be a sharp decrease in capacity at 6,500 seats.

"That is the one thing that kind of concerns me, but again, it's not a deal killer," Bergosh said. "How many times in the year have we filled that thing all the way to the rafters?"

The downshift seemed to give Bender more pause.

"Do you really want to go smaller?" he asked, suggesting consideration be given to the venue's target tenants. "Who are we attracting? Who could we be attracting?

If you want to grow your shoulder season, that's a big part."

Whatever PADP's eventual plan concerning a sports complex and event center shapes up to be, it's a sure bet that it will be fleshed out over the coming months during public meetings as the group continues its pitching to county officials. Escambia will also be advertising its request for any other plans for a sports complex project and assessing those along with PADP's proposal.

Commissioner Underhill said he remained "optimistic" about the potential for a sports complex replacing the Bay Center but that he would need certain elements—such as shedding the Ice Flyers from the deal—to pan out. Bergosh noted that there are "high hurdles" to clear but said he was hopeful that PADP's proposal would provide the path needed to replace the Bay Center.

"I think it's time to fish or cut bait, and I think we're going to go fishing," the commissioner said. {in} inweekly.net

October 17, 2019

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The lawsuit also alleges Underhill violated, in his official and personal capacities, Bear's First Amendment and 14th Amendment rights by blocking Bear from his social media accounts.

Bear requested a trial by jury, preliminary/ permanent injunctive relief compelling Underhill to provide Bear access to his Facebook pages, and a judgment stating Underhill's conducting blocking social media access to his Facebook pages is a violation of the 14th Amendment. He also requested punitive and compensatory damages and attorney's fees.

Courtesy Photo

IMPACT WINNERS IMPACT 100 Pen-

sacola Bay Area, a women's philanthropic organization, announced Sunday, Oct. 13 the 11 recipients selected at this year's annual meeting. These nonprofit finalists will each receive a grant of $106,000 from IMPACT 100 Pensacola Bay Area.

The grant recipients selected by IMPACT 100's Focus Area Committees are as follows: ARTS & CULTURE: Escambia High School Band Boosters Association, Inc. and First City Arts Alliance, Inc. EDUCATION: Santa Rosa County 4-H Association, Inc. and The Secret Place Home, Inc. ENVIRONMENT, RECREATION & PRESERVATION: Children's Home Society of Florida, Inc. and Splash Cats, Inc. FAMILY: Pensacola Habitat for Humanity, Inc. and YMCA of Northwest Florida.

HEALTH & WELLNESS: Healing Paws for Warriors, Inc., Health and Hope Clinic, Inc. and Manna Food Bank, Inc. With 1,166 members this year, IMPACT 100 is able to award $106,000 each to eleven nonprofit organizations in our community for a total impact of $1,166,000 in 2019. In the 16 years since its inception, IMPACT 100 has awarded 109 grants totaling $11,664,000.

SUED AGAIN On the day Escambia Circuit Court Judge Stephen Pitre dismissed a defamation lawsuit filed against Escambia County Commissioner Doug Underhill, the District 2 commissioner had a new lawsuit filed against him that alleges he violated the state's public records law. The Escambia County Board of Commissioners were also named in the lawsuit.

David Bear alleges that the county failed to provide Underhill's comments and posts made on social media that were first requested 88

in April 2019. After waiting for five months for the record request, Bear pressed again and was told the records would be given to him by close of business on Monday, Sept. 16. The records weren't produced, according to the lawsuit.

In June, Bear made another public request of Underhill for "every conversation you've had on Facebook since March 1, 2019, where you mentioned by name, referred to and inferred to anyone in the Bear family."

According to the lawsuit, he amended the request the same day to include, "Those conversations are not limited to only original posts you've made on both your Commissioner Doug Underhill account or your Douglas Underhill account, but also all private messages made between either of those two accounts and anyone else you've mentioned, referred to and implied to anyone in the Bear family."

Bear alleges that Underhill failed to fulfill the request and blocked Bear from full access to his Facebook pages.

A third public request was made on August 20 of Underhill for a complete copy of the history and all posts made to the Doug Underhill Facebook account, including "edits to any post, comments to any post, copies of all Facebook messages (including the response) and copies of all pictures from said Facebook account."

Seven days later, the request was amended to include only posts "which are in any way related to your activities, duties or role of a commissioner of Escambia County, Florida."

According to the lawsuit, Underhill again failed to comply with the request.

The fourth count of the lawsuit charges that the Board of County Commissioners failed to "fully disclose any records relevant to Plaintiff's requests" and "refused to permit Plaintiff from inspecting or copying public records, or had failed to maintain a copy of the records, in violation of its obligations under Chapter 119."

UWF INVESTIGATION The University of West Florida President Dr. Martha Saunders has launched an investigation into an allegation of potential mismanagement of funds and accounting issues related to the Complete Florida Plus program, a state-wide program administrated by the UWF Division of Research and Strategic Innovation.

Late last month, Dr. Pam Northrup resigned as vice president of Research and Strategic Innovation and CEO of Academic Innovation.

In a letter to UWF faculty and staff, Dr. Saunders wrote, "Consistent with UWF's standard practice with these types of allegations, UWF administration immediately launched an investigation that will examine and audit the management and accounting of this program."

Dr. Saunders said the result of the audit will be released once it's completed.

ROOM FULL OF ASKS The collective

sentiment of the Escambia County Legislative Delegation meeting last week was summed up nicely by Dr. Ed Meadows, president of Pensacola State College, where the event was held.

"Everybody seems to have their hand out, and we're like everybody else—we need state support," Meadows told the delegation during his remarks.

From around the area, organizations, institutions and individuals took advantage of the opportunity to have a word with the region's state legislators, Rep. Alex Andrade, Rep. Mike Hill and Sen. Doug Broxson. Each offered thanks for previous state efforts they viewed as helpful and also asked for the state's help on various front.

Meadows asked the state legislators for help funding ongoing construction projects at Pensacola State College, as well as money for paving needs. His counterpart over at the University of West Florida, President Martha Saunders, also requested funds for construction as well as $15.5 million for the UWF's cybersecurity program.

Escambia County officials lobbied for state support for traffic projects, like the Beulah

Interchange, and also for estuary programs that fund local water sampling and restoration efforts. Pensacola Mayor Grover Robinson asked for help addressing legacy airfield contamination issues, support of the housing trust fund, which he said was needed in addressing the issue of homelessness, and for a cut of any opioid legal settlements.

From the Emerald Coast Utility Authority, board member Lois Benson requested $6 million for a project aimed at getting customers off of septic tanks and onto sewer in the Brownsville area. She said the move would be beneficial environmentally but also have ripple benefits throughout the community, such as improving the commercial landscape.

"We believe we can restore that community to the vibrant place it once was," Benson said.

Sen. Broxson agreed that septic tanks were a problem statewide, contributing to environmental water quality issues.

"If we're going to keep 120 million people coming in Florida, we've got to have clean, fresh water," he said.

Rep. Hill also told Benson that she could take some encouraging news back to her ECUA board—the delegation will be pushing for the filling of the board's District 3 seat, vacated with the passing of board member Elvin McCorvey in January.

"We will send a letter to the governor and urge him to fill that vacancy," Hill said. "I know you'd be happy."

On the education front, Escambia County School District Superintendent Malcolm Thomas applauded an announcement earlier in the day from the governor concerning increasing pay for beginning teachers.

"I would urge you to participate in the conversation the governor and the secretary of education started today," Thomas said, adding that other district employees, such as bus drivers, also needed an increase in pay.

Carol Cleaver, a local sixth-grade science teacher, implored the delegation to push for not only improving pay for beginning teachers but also for experienced teachers, who she said needed to be retained.

"We need to keep these people that have been here engaged and committed to staying on the team," Cleaver said.

Kevin Adams, who sits in the Escambia District 1 seat on the school board, told the delegation that he felt it unfair that the state place so much emphasis on a student's end-of-year tests—counting for as much as 30% of the total grade—while private schools receiving public education funds were not held to the same standards.

Rep. Hill told local education leaders that he was glad to see increased mental health inweekly.net

services available in schools. He said he hoped it would lead to less incidents where the Baker Act is employed.

"I wouldn't connect mental health counseling and a reduction in Baker Acts," Thomas dialed back expectations.

Other pitches lobbed during the local delegation meeting included one from FloridaWest concerning the development of an industrial cluster dubbed The Bluffs on the lower Escambia River, a request from the African American Heritage Society for museum funding and remarks from the Naval Aviation Museum about the impact on attendance that the base's entrance change has had.

Ellen Roston of the League of Women Voters of Northwest Florida spoke out against the state's open-carry law and against the new law allowing armed personnel on school grounds.

Roston also admonished the delegation for legislative actions pertaining to Amendment 4, a recently passed constitutional amendment restoring voting rights to convicted felons. She said that legislators' requirement after-the-fact that felons pay all fees associated with their sentence, in addition to serving time, was against the spirit of the amendment passed by voters.

Rep. Andrade pushed back on this front, defending the state's move on Amendment 4—"There was nothing designed to inhibit anyone's vote."

PSC STUDENTS VOTE During the 2018 midterm election, 42% of Pensacola State College students voted compared to 39.1% voting rates of students from other U.S. colleges and universities, according to Tufts University's National Study of Learning, Voting and Engagement.

The Tufts University study of more than 1,000 U.S. colleges and universities also revealed that 75.6% of Pensacola State students were registered to vote in 2018, a slight increase over 2014 when 73.9% were registered.

Last year, more PSC students were voting early than ever before. In 2014, 14.3% of them submitted early votes; in 2018, 28% voted early. Female and male students voted at similar rates—42.8% and 41.2%, respectively.

In 2014, both rates were under 30%.

Black Pensacola State students voted at a higher rate than any other race or ethnic group. At PSC, 48.1% of black students cast ballots, 41.3% of white students voted and 39.7% of Hispanic students voted. In 2014, white students voted at a higher rate (30.4%) than black students (28.3%) and Hispanic students (22.3%).

PARK WITH A PURPOSE The Downtown Improvement Board (DIB) is providing a way for the community to donate to a good cause during October through a unique parking partnership with the American Cancer Society. DIB has implemented a new function to DIB-managed pay machines that enables visitors to donate directly to ACS—with or without purchasing a parking session.

To make a donation, visit a DIB-managed pay machine in Downtown Pensacola and tap any button to start. Enter your tag number, and you'll be presented with the option to begin a parking session or make a donation. Once the donation option is selected, you can select from three donation amount options—$1, $3 or $5—which can be paid using cash or card. Finally, press the "Print" button to complete the donation.

"We are excited to support an important cause during October with this new pay machine feature," said Lissa Dees, executive Director of the Downtown Improvement Board.

The American Cancer Society Making Strides Against Breast Cancer has scheduled a series of events in October to help raise awareness for Breast Cancer. Their Making Strides Against Breast Cancer 5K walk will be Saturday, Oct. 26, starting at Maritime Park.

Registration starts at 8 a.m., and the walk starts at 9 a.m. People can sign up at makingstrideswalk.org/pensacolafl.

ART VENDORS NEEDED The Pensacola

Beach Chamber of Commerce is calling for art vendors to submit applications for the 2019 Art & Wine Festival. This year, the festival is moving to November and will be held Sunday, Nov. 10, on the Pensacola Beach Boardwalk. The festival will take place from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. with wine tastings happening from noon-3 p.m.

The selection committee is seeking 25 artists to show/sell original works of art. Application forms can be downloaded from pensacolabeachchamber.com. Photos of art items must be submitted with the application or directions must be included to a website where the artwork items can be viewed. Deadline for applying is October 30. All entries are $75 for a 10-by-10-foot tent space.

Include a check or money order payable to Pensacola Beach Chamber of Commerce with the completed application form and mail to Pensacola Beach Chamber of Commerce, 7 Casino Beach Boardwalk, Pensacola Beach, FL 32561.

TOWN HALLS RETURN After taking a three-month break, Pensacola Mayor Grover Robinson will host his fifth town hall since taking office in late November 2018.

At the town hall will be District 4 Councilman Jared Moore, 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 29, at the Vickrey Resource Center, 2130 Summit Blvd. Mayor Robinson has hosted town halls in District 2 with Councilwoman Sherri Myers, District 5 with the late Councilman Gerald Wingate, District 7 with Councilwoman Jewel Cannada-Wynn and District 1 with Council Vice President P.C. Wu. MARK YOUR CALENDAR Architectural Review Board will meet at 2 p.m. Thursday,

Oct. 17, in the Hagler-Mason Conference Room, 2nd Floor, Pensacola City Hall.

Ascension Sacred Heart is hosting a day of free basic medical care, screenings, social services and more at its Medical Mission at Home 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 19, at Brownsville Community Center, 3200 W. DeSoto St. League of Women Voters will meet 10:15 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 19, Tryon Branch Library, 1200 Langley Ave. Speaker—Dr. Paula Montgomery Downtown Improvement Board will meet at 7:30 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 22, at Bowden Building, Room #1, 120 Church St. The Florida SBDC at UWF presents "Fighting the Algorithm–Facebook and Google" noon-1 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 22, at Synovus, 125 W. Romana St. Attendance fee is $25, which includes lunch. To register, visit sbdc.uwf.edu and click on "Training & Events."

District 1 Commissioner Jeff Bergosh will hold his 28th Coffee with the Commissioner 6:30-7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 23, at McDonald's, 5 S. Blue Angel Parkway.

Baptist Health Care will host a blood drive 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 24, in the Andrews Institute parking lot, 1040 Gulf Breeze Parkway. All donors will receive a Halloween treat bag and Tshirt. Donors must be age 16 or older, weigh at least 110 pounds and be feeling well that day. Photo identification is required.

Florida SBDC's "Starting a Business" workshop is 1-4 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 24, Gulf Breeze Chamber of Commerce, 409 Gulf Breeze Parkway. Pre-registration is required. Fee—$50. To register, visit sbdc. uwf.edu and click on "Training & Events."

Planning Board Workshop for proposed amendments to the City's Tree Ordinance will be held at 4 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 24, in the Hagler-Mason Conference Room, 2nd Floor, Pensacola City Hall. {in}

MOST INVESTMENT LOSSES ARE FROM PRODUCTS WITH CONFLICTS OF INTERESTS PETER J. MOUGEY

Recovered $250 million on Behalf of over 3,000 Investors

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VALUE IN THEIR VOICE

EXPLORING PENSACOLA'S POETRY SCENE WITH SOME OF ITS MAJOR FIGURES

By C. Scott Satterwhite

In her bestselling novel "The Poet X," Elizabeth Acevedo wrote "Every now and then, I dress my thoughts in the clothing of a poem. Try to figure out if my world changes once I set down these words."

The main character in the book is a young poet named Xiomara who described the day her brother gave her a journal. "This was the first time someone gave me a place to collect my thoughts. In some ways, it seemed like he was saying that my thoughts were important. From that day forward, I've written every single day. Sometimes it seems like writing is the only way I keep from hurting."

Xiomara is not alone. On nearly any given night in Pensacola, poets break out their own journals and step up to the microphone. They shake off their anxiety and lay their hearts bare. Whether it be the long-standing open mic scene, numerous curated events, various slams, interesting language poets, punk troubadours, hip hop MCs, traditionalists and the ones who simply have to scream to be heard, they're all here in the city practicing the radical inclusivity of the poet.

A 'CONSTANT' SCENE

For the past three years, Constant Coffee & Tea has hosted the weekly open mic group known as Pensacola Poetry.

Longtime emcee Quincy "Q" Hull moved to Pensacola a decade ago. A native of Gary, Ind., Hull's first local reading was at the Pensacola Poetry open mic. At the time, he wasn't certain he wanted to move here but was invited to read at an event hosted by Movement for Change marking the death of Oscar Grant.

Local poets invited Hull to stay in Pensacola, going so far as to offer him a room in their house. Hull soon became a fixture at the Pensacola Poetry open mic.

"I thought the writers were amazing," said Hull. "I knew then I needed to be around inspiration, and I was truly inspired."

After a year in the poetry scene, Hull took over after the previous hosts left for college.

Dissatisfied with the lack of diversity, Hull quickly made it his mission to grow Pensacola Poetry by actively recruiting people of color to become active in the open mic. Hull courted several African American poets. One of those poets was Charles McCaskill.

McCaskill first found Pensacola Poetry after seeing an events listing, "ironically enough, in Inweekly."

McCaskill first found poetry during an elective class while attending West Florida High School. He read classic poets, such as Langston Hughes and Charles Bukowski, and he watched HBO's Def Poetry Jam. October 17, 2019

Though he read and wrote poetry, he was new to the open mic scene.

Pensacola Poetry's first home was End of the Line Café. Later, to accommodate the larger crowds, they moved to Sluggo's Vegetarian Restaurant. As Pensacola Poetry established itself at Sluggo's, McCaskill went from audience member to reader and eventually to occasional host.

Pensacola Poetry stayed at Sluggo's until the longtime venue shuttered in 2016, leaving the group searching for a new venue.

McCaskill, now taking an active leadership role in the open mic, "called around to some spots, and then I was able to talk to the owners of Constant Coffee. They were gracious enough to let us do it here."

At first, the Constant Coffee readings were twice a month. A year after moving into the new location, the demand was strong enough to encourage the poets and coffee shop to move to weekly readings.

Although Hull was now the public face of Pensacola Poetry, he insisted that the readings were "never a 'my' thing. Whoever we thought could host and keep the crowd up, we shared" the leadership, he told Inweekly.

The Constant Coffee readings are popular. Nearly every Tuesday, the room is packed, sometimes with veteran poet but also often with first-time readers.

NO CENSORSHIP HERE

As the readings begin, the emcee welcomes the crowd, thanks the café and warns the audience that Pensacola Poetry is a free speech zone. Hull and McCaskill both let everyone know that readers may say anything they want, and the audience might hear poems that offend their sensibilities.

"There is no censorship here," said Hull.

"No censorship." The only rule is that "if you have a problem with what somebody says, write a poem about it."

When asked if anyone has taken them up on this challenge, both poets laugh.

"Yes," said Hull, "on a few occasions."

"That's the great thing about free speech," said McCaskill. "Free speech really means free speech. We're not saying who is right and who is wrong. We're not saying, 'This person should be respected, and this person should not.' Everyone, by the inherent value in their voice, has value here. They all get applause. They all get attention. They all get their time. There's a freedom there that, even if you disagree, you can still say what you want to say."

Hull interjects, "If you don't like what you hear, if you can't take it, leave. It's a free venue.

It was free for you to come in, and it's free for you to leave. You don't have to like everything we're saying, but if you're uncomfortable with anything, it's OK to leave."

While he asks that those leaving don't disrupt the readings, Hull is clear who he wants to stay. "We just want the ones who are openminded enough to understand that I don't have to agree, but I appreciate the fact that you said it. That's what we're looking for."

Influenced by the poetic figures from the Black Arts Movement, Hull sees the weekly readings as more than an artistic venture but as a responsibility to his poetic lineage.

"I always tell people, this is my only freedom. As a black man in America, I don't think I've ever been free. My freedom comes from my pen," said Hull. "I write for my freedom, and I know the people who came before me, the ones I looked up to, also did the same thing. I'm always trying to keep that spirit alive."

"I always tell people, this is my only freedom. As a black man in America, I don't think I've ever been free. My freedom comes from my pen." Quincy "Q" Hull When Hull speaks of the writers who've influenced him, he instantly starts smiling.

"The spirit of Gil Scott-Heron, the spirt of The Last Poets, Amiri Baraka, Nikki Giovanni. When I write, I only want to help add and further this movement that they've started before I got here." Through his own recorded works, Hull hopes to inspire future poets to "pick up the pen" and continue the tradition. "That's what I'm here for."

McCaskill sees his work in the tradition of James Baldwin, writing as "the witness," as he states.

"I want to speak my truth but also enjoy the fact that just by being here, just by speaking the way I speak, I get to share the stage with Q," said McCaskill. "I get to share the stage with Asia Samson, with these powerful performers. I can be among them, writing what I want to write, being my true self and still admiring what they have to say."

"Embracing my truth as a black man in this country, expressing what that means to me, while really admiring the fact that I'm surrounded by so many powerful voices," said McCaskill.

Neither Hull nor McCaskill shy away from controversial subjects, especially in their writing. For literary guidance, McCaskill again drew on Baldwin's experience.

"A lot of his words were really critical of the world that he found himself in," said McCaskill. "A lot of his words were really

critical of America and politics, especially the liberal-minded politics that try to dress up how nice they can be, how nice it feels to be to be a liberal-minded person in this country. I feel that it's my purpose to be critical too."

"By being critical of your environment," said McCaskill, "you can embrace your environment in a different way. I feel in a more truthful way."

"By being critical of your environment, you can embrace your environment in a different way. I feel in a more truthful way."

Charles McCaskill "My activism [and] my critique, specifically of my city, comes from an appreciation of my city and a want for my city, and my country, to be better."

Referring to the cases of Victor Steen and Tymar Crawford—both African American men killed by Pensacola police officers—Hull said, "there's too many things going on right now that we can't be ignoring. We have to use our space and time and venues to give honor and homage to these people who once walked the streets where we walk today."

PERSONAL POETRY

While both poets write a great number of political poems, they both also write about the standard fare of most poets— love and loss.

For example, one of Hull's most popular poems, "Catch 22," is a poem about the grief he suffered with the loss of his mother to breast cancer. In McCaskill's most recent book, he has an entire section of love poems devoted to his wife, Marissa.

The chasm between personal and political poetry often looks vast, but both Hull and McCaskill move into this space easily during each and every reading. "We all, as writers, need to find a way to bridge," said McCaskill. "It's necessary that we do it."

This metaphorical bridge is built every Tuesday night, with the passion in the reader's voices as well as their words. For the readers, the space where these words exist is critical.

"If this space didn't exist, it would be really hard for me," said McCaskill. "So much of what I hear and see is being told that I'm wrong. I'm bad for thinking the things that I do, or saying the things that I do, or speaking the way that I do. I'm wrong. I'm the problem. I need to change my outlook. In places like this, I see that 11

large institutional space to the small clubs, but they all connect.

EXPANDING THE SCENE

Pensacola Poetry Open Mic Night at Constant Coffee and Tea

there's value in what I say. There's value in how I speak."

"Whether I agree or disagree with the people around me, there's energy there that allows people to say what's in their heart, to speak their truth. The energy is sustained in a way that I can't describe," McCaskill continued.

"To be able to fall back on [Pensacola Poetry] when things are bad at work, or when things are bad in my personal life, or I'm stressed and afraid, that personal energy that I get from people coming around, despite their personal differences, despite their disagreements," said McCaskil, "it's worth more than I could ever say."

Hull said that if it weren't for Pensacola Poetry and the community he finds in this group, he would've left the city by now. "If this group didn't exist, I would've moved a long time ago. This group is my therapy. I have to come here."

THE GROUP THAT GATHERS

Describing the attendees, McCaskill said they are as diverse as the city.

"Staunch conservative Christians. Middleaged white people. Younger black people.

We have all kinds come under the same roof," he said. "I want to sit back and take pictures and look at this diverse group of people under one roof, all staring at this one person in the middle of the room baring their heart out … that inspires me."

Though Hull and McCaskill plan to continue their roles as emcees, Pensacola Poetry recently brought a young poet into their fold who is starting to take a leadership role on her own—Mia Angeles, age 12.

"She started off reading poems at Sluggo's," said Hull. "Now she's hosting.

She's making fun, she's calling up names, and she's laughing and joking. That's what does it for me," said Hull. "Knowing that we have a 12-year-old girl who knows how to host and can handle a big room … inspires me every week to know that poetry is going to be OK. The inspiration to me is knowing that we're passing the baton on to the next generation."

Some hosts bring their own crowds, but there's always a crowd. Jason Monds, who performs under the name Patriot X, is a constant presence at Pensacola Poetry open mic.

Monds said that he returns weekly for 212 1

"the community, the diversity of the ideas of the people at large. It's refreshing. To me, it's like my church."

Drawn to poetry by the spoken word scene in Atlanta, Monds said he started writing poetry seriously in the late 1990s and never stopped. Monds has a self-published book of poetry and publishes broadsides of his work. Outside of his artistic abilities, Monds is also known within the Pensacola Poetry community for the "Poetry Potlucks" on his land in Cantonment.

"The Poetry Potlucks were developed as a way to have that interaction with the poetic community on the north end of the county," said Monds. "I wanted the opportunity to bring people together outside of a funeral or a wedding," he said, "to be proactive and talk about things going on in the community."

The large outdoor readings are an open forum lasting late into the night. Monds described the space—"Imagine a circle, a diverse circle. We all get together and circle up, and the power that people bring is needed [in this] arena for people to have a voice so that they can express themselves."

"I think that's lost on society," said Monds. "We just wanted to give people that opportunity."

The Poetry Potlucks happen periodically but are usually announced at Pensacola Poetry.

"A lot of times, this world seems kind of bleak. We need to come together for something positive and uplifting." Jason Monds "I enjoy having people come out," said Monds. "It gives me a lot of hope, a lot of positive outlook towards the future. A lot of times, this world seems kind of bleak.

We need to come together for something positive and uplifting."

As with the Poetry Potlucks and Pensacola Poetry, the scenes often come together. If one travels to the various open mic events, familiar faces emerge. One group inspires another group, and a new reading takes off in another venue. Periodic readings happen all over the city, from the

For years, Pensacola State College brought several notable writers to the area.

Prominent figures in the famed New York School of poets—including Bernadette Mayer, Anne Waldman and Alice Notley, as well as Eileen Myles—have graced the college campus.

PSC also has its own in-house talent, including English professor Sara Smith, who recently released her first collection of poetry, "Queen and Stranger." A celebration of her work, published by Uspoco Books, filled every space in Open Books with fans of poetry and the poet.

Over the past few decades, University of West Florida also hosted renowned poets such as Bob Dylan and Nikki Giovanni.

Faculty at UWF also contribute to the poetic atmosphere of Pensacola.

Recently, English professor Jonathan Fink released two critically-acclaimed collections of poetry, including one based on the historic Siege of Leningrad during World War II. A reading last January in Old Christ Church brought hundreds to see Fink—accompanied by music professor Leonid Yanovskiy—read from his work.

As the academy's talent shines at both institutions, including the commendable work bringing national poets to Pensacola, slam poet Asia Samson recently worked in the opposite direction to bring several Pensacola poets into the national spotlight.

Samson, the organizer behind the Burn Beautiful Slam Poetry team, said his first introduction to the power of poetry was as a young kid in school. "In sixth grade, there was a girl I liked," said Samson. "I wrote her a poem, and she kissed me on the cheek as a response. Who wouldn't want to keep writing poetry after that?"

Despite the kiss, several years passed before Samson became serious about the art. For Samson, his discovery of slam poetry changed the course of his life.

Slam poetry rose out of hip-hop culture and came to national prominence in the late 1990s with the indie film "Slam" and HBO's Def Poetry Jam. The attraction for many is that slam tends to break rigid poetic forms with a heavy concentration on storytelling.

Slam poetry events tend to be very diverse and feed upon that diversity often lacking in many traditional poetry settings.

In most instances, slams are competitive, which is very different than the traditional open mic readings. HBO's Def Poetry Jam helped spread a fascination with poetry to thousands, including Samson.

"I watched [Def Poetry] and fell in love with the art form immediately, and I started to seek it out around my city. Three years after performing my first poem in front of people, I was called by HBO and was now filming an episode on that same stage I watched for years on TV," said Samson. "I won't lie … I had to hold back tears just to get the poem out. Standing on that HBO stage was telling me that my life had found its purpose and work."

Attracted to the competitive nature of slam poetry, Samson moved to Pensacola

and wanted to start a team to compete on a national level. Since a team from Pensacola hadn't competed since 2005, Samson thought the time was right.

Within a few months, Samson assembled his crew. Burn Beautiful, a team of several local talents, honed their skills at the now-closed Live Juice Bar during the open mics. The goal was to compete in the 2019 Southern Fried Regional Poetry Slam in North Carolina.

Out of 27 other teams, Pensacola's Burn Beautiful won third place.

"To bring poets from a city that weren't even familiar with slam a few months prior and then to bring back a third-place championship at the Southern Fried Regional Poetry Slam is probably one of my biggest career highlights," said Samson. "Despite all the success I've had making a living at poetry on my own, nothing was more fulfilling than to see 'newbie' Pensacola slam poets bring to the country the talent that we, the locals, already knew we had."

"Southern Fried is a big deal," said Samson. "It represents the best poets of the Southern region. And for Pensacola to now be a huge part of that conversation, it was the fuel we needed to continue growing our slam scene and return to the competition even harder next year."

Though Samson said that he's "extremely sad" to see Live close, "I always tell people that the venue is more than the four walls that holds it. The venue is always the people." For now, the slam poetry scene cultivated by Samson has a few venue options and promises to bounce back.

After performing on a national stage and seeing the ups and downs of several scenes, Samson said that Pensacola's poetry scene is unique.

Recalling a conversation he had with Hull, Samson said that they both agreed how important the actual words were, much more important than the "flashy" performances or becoming "some sort of poetry superstar," said Samson. "That really stuck with me about the vibe of our community."

"Our poets are so pure in their intentions. They write from the heart without trying to be the next big thing in poetry." Asia Samson "Our poets are so pure in their intentions," said Samson. "They write from the heart without trying to be the next big thing in poetry. And it's that kind of humility that makes our scene stand out from so many others," he said. "Then it becomes poetry for poetry sake. Our scene has a clear understanding of exactly why we do what we do."

"MORE IS MORE"

Jamey Jones, professor of English at PSC and the current Poet Laureate of Northwest Florida, is a pioneer of Pensacola's open mic scene and has been writing poetry for decades. He first came to poetry by way of his sister, Llisa Jones, whom he described as "always a poet." Like other poets, he also read the writers of the Beat inweekly.net

said that he first met Baraka, the future Generation, especially Allen Ginsberg and Poet Laureate of New Jersey, at the famed Jack Kerouac.

Naropa Institute in Boulder, Colo. Baraka For Jones, what drew him to poetry was was selling his homemade photocopied "the immediacy of it, the availability of it. chapbooks out of his backpack. At the Poetry is available in a way that prose is not. It time, Jones didn't know who Baraka was can help us get past our language barriers." but was impressed that someone could "Sometimes we may not know how to make a book and sell it. Thinking Baraka say something," said Jones. "If you're reasonably flexible with words and use them in was an interesting person, Jones bought one of his chapbooks on the spot. ways that aren't conventional or necessarLater, he went to a bookstore in Boulily linear, that can really help you learn a der and saw the "Amiri Baraka Reader" and lot about yourself and the world that you realized that the person on the book cover wouldn't know about otherwise." was the same person he just bought a book Jones went to his first readings in the from on the streets. late 1980s, ones that he had to help start so At first, Jones said he was puzzled why he could attend. He said that he'd only read a famous poet would go to such lengths about open mic readings before but didn't to sell cheap handmade books, until he know of any in Pensacola. There was a muunderstood the sic-based open mic reason—"He's sellat a gallery named ing it to get poetry Art on the Tracks to the people. I was every third Friday but so inspired by that." not one for poetry.

Jones said he came After learning of the back and made his music open mic, he own photocopied and his sister talked chapbook and did to the owner and like Baraka. Jones asked if they could organize a poetry open mic on the third Sat- put his little books in his bag and would walk up to everyone he saw and try to sell urday of each month. The owners agreed, his poetry. and that began the longest-running open "Hey, do you want to buy my new mic series in Pensacola, known as the Back poetry book? It's really good. Only $2."

Door Poets.

Jones laughed but returned to his original The Back Door Poets got its name thoughts on why he loved poetry. from the entranceway they used to get "That's what I mean by immediacy, the into the gallery. The poets brought a vegavailability." gie tray, a keg of beer and a lot of poetry.

"I have something to say, and it's of Soon, the group's popularity grew and was value," said Jones. "That's profound. It was taken under the wings of the West Florida profound for me. When I see it in younger Literary Federation in the days before the poets, it's profound, and we all share the Pensacola Cultural Center's reconstruction wealth. Poetry can do that." was complete.

While Jones says he doesn't go to as "We were the first in that building," many open mics as he would like, he still said Jones. Reminiscing about the early thinks they're important. "They're necesdays of the group, Jones described the first sary. All of these things are necessary readings in the Pensacola Cultural Center. because they show possibilities and the "It was a shell of a building," he said. "The different ways you can engage with life. As readings there were incredible. We had the [Pensacola] poet Allan Peterson once drop lights. We had a 50-gallon drum, and told me, 'More is more.' I love the diversity, we had a fire in there. It was a construction and I love that they happen." site. Now, it would be completely illegal, Each week, the initiation ceremony but … we had fires in there!" continues. A new poet steps up to the He described readings on the roof, with microphone, breaks open her journal, looks an "incredible view of the city," but also a out to the audience and pours her heart few dangerous moments. "One night, we out. Each one anxiously awaits the validasnuck up on the roof. We went up there and tion that comes from that moment. People drank some beer," said Jones. "I remember of all races, genders, religions and politics walking back and looking, and there was a carry on the tradition. Writing to keep away hole in the roof." Reflecting on how close he the demons. Writing to keep from hurting. and the other poets came to death, Jones Writing to express the joy in being in love. said the hole was big enough for several Writing to express the joy of being alive. people. "It was a big hole that went down Then, in front of an audience, they read three stories or four stories. The whole roof and read again, because, as Peterson said, could've collapsed." All poets survived.

"More is more." {in} "It was an interesting group."

Jones said that he made fliers with the image of his greatest poetic inspiration at the time, Allen Ginsberg, and plastered the city with these fliers. After Ginsberg and WHEN: 6 p.m. Tuesdays Kerouac, Jones said he drew WHERE: Constant Coffee and Tea, 615 Scenic Highway the most inspiration from COST: Free Amiri Baraka.

DETAILS: facebook.com/pensacolapoetry The future Poet Laure-

"That's profound. It was profound for me. When I see it in younger poets, it's profound, and we all share the wealth. Poetry can do that."

Jamey Jones

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Shakespeare's "Othello" Comes to UWF

By C. Scott Satterwhite

When William Shakespeare first wrote "Othello," Florida was barely on the map— literally. Over 400 years after the play's first performance in Shakespeare's Globe Theatre, the Department of Theatre at the University of West Florida presents a new adaptation of this time-honored tragedy.

Of all of Shakespeare's work, "Othello" is unique as the racial themes continue to make this play troubling for modern audiences. Set in the city-state of Venice, the play's main character is a general named Othello who is tasked early in the story with fighting the hated Turks. Despite his military prowess, Othello is always viewed with suspicion as he is not Venetian himself but is called a "Moor," a term used in Shakespeare's era to describe people of African descent. In the first scenes, Othello secretly marries a prominent Venetian woman named Desdemona, only adding to his troubles. Using European prejudice to his advantage, Othello's trusted lieutenant Iago deceives him and sets up a complicated plot that ultimately brings the play to its tragic conclusion.

"Othello" is a story with many themes— jealousy, deception, betrayal, love and loss, as well as bigotry. Prior to the 20th century, popular American performances of the play often interpreted the work as a cautionary tale against interracial relationships of all kinds.

This began to change, not surprisingly, as African Americans began playing the lead role.

In the mid-20th century, the famed African American actor Paul Robeson popularized "Othello" through his own October 17, 2019

interpretation of the main character. Most modern adaptations, to some extent, follow Robeson's lead.

Cast to play the role of Othello, Azaya Suggs heads up the UWF production. Fairly new to the stage, Suggs dazzled audiences earlier this year in his performance as Sebastian in "The Little Mermaid." While there were high expectations acting in a Disney classic, Suggs steps into a much larger role with Othello.

"Never would I think that a role such as this would feature myself," said Suggs. "No one can tell my 18-year-old self that I'd star in a Shakespearean play."

"Never would I think that a role such as this would feature myself." Azaya Suggs As a relative newcomer the stage, Suggs draws inspiration from those greats who went before him. "I take bits and pieces from each—the pacing in a few monologues by Paul Robeson, the facial hair and bald style and stance from Laurence Fishburne," said Suggs. "But a big inspiration I found for this role is Eamonn Walker."

Walker famously played Othello in 2007 and was the first black actor to play the role in the entire history of Shakespeare's Globe Theatre.

"I love how [Walker] embodies the leadership quality, the stress and frustration Othello has when he loses his mind," said Suggs. "I could watch him work all day."

end of the war" said Suggs. "Even after the As with any production, the director's task war is over, he still doesn't catch a break." is to tell the story as she sees fit. Each adaptaThough this isn't Suggs' first time on tion will be unique. Director Sara Schoch the stage, he still finds the role to be a great describes her adaptation as "a bit untraditionchallenge. al—think Stonehenge meets 'The Tempest.'"

"I'm still a tad new to the swing of One of the major differences in Schoch's things," said Suggs. "Without the more exproduction is the way in which Desdemona, perienced actors I'm co-starring with, and played by Eleni Demos, is portrayed. a die-hard director, I wouldn't know how to "Our Desdemona is not a shrinking violet but a fierce, worthy wife of a warrior." handle the task of a leading role."

Challenging as this role may be, Suggs Also, the character of Iago, played by Sam seems to be taking this responsibility in stride.

Kegley, "is not the maniacal villain we are "I've been working hard, as well as my theatre often plagued with," said Schoch. "He is peers, to bring [Othello] to life," he said. craftier, friendlier, and at times, that makes Suggs may bring the character to life, but him more frightening." of course, this story is a tragedy. Not only In Schoch's adaptation, "Othello" remains does Othello's wife die by his hands—with a play about the "usage of racial and gena new twist, according the Schoch—but der stereotypes to manipulate people into so does Othello himself. After he learns of behaving against their true nature." More Iago's deception, Othello offers a redemptive importantly for her telling of this story is the speech and leaves his final haunting words—"I disturbing role of "Honest Iago," specifically kissed thee ere I killed thee. No way but this, "the brutality and diligence of a sociopath." killing myself, to die upon a kiss." The one who A professor in the theatre department, survives is the one who created the tragic cirSchoch said that her desire was to prescumstances, "Honest Iago," which will forever ent the play with all of its complexities make this story unsettling. but also not let the racist language in the Modern audiences take modern sensioriginal play set the tone for this interprebilities into every Shakespearean production, tation. African American portrayals of the which is understandable and unavoidable. main character, with African American The audience sees "Othello" through its own actors, did not even become popular until historic moment, and this current moment well over 300 years into the play's history. is rife with racism, bigotry, xenophobia and To state that the play, which features an gender violence. These themes are major African man marrying a European womcurrents in play, but so are the traditional an—whom he later kills in their bed—is themes of love, jealousy and deception. problematic is an understatement.

The "green-eyed monster," a term first Historic interpretations and usages of coined in this play, still haunts human"Othello" range, but the racialized aspects ity, and likely will for as long as this story of the story are still difficult for many is told, helping this play transcend any audiences to this day. By removing some moment. Over four centuries since the of the more obvious racialized language in first production of "Othello," the Bard still "Othello," her play brings the focus closer knows us well. {in} to Iago's sinister manipulation of Othello.

For Suggs, the most challenging aspect of the role is getting into Othello's mind, especially at the point WHAT: UWF Theatre Department presets "Othello" where he feels the most out WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Oct. 18-19 and 25-26; 2:30 p.m. of control.

Oct. 20 and 27 "Connecting to his origin WHERE: Mainstage Theatre at the Center for Fine and and bringing that to life Performing Arts, Bldg. 82, 11000 University Parkway. on stage is a handful," said COST: $18 for adults, $14 for senior citizens and Suggs. "I have to … put my active military, $12 for non-UWF students and UWF physical body in the shoes faculty and staff, $6 for high school students, free of a man whose upbringing for UWF students wasn't so pleasant—having DETAILS: uwf.edu/tickets to fight all his life up until the

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WORK ON THE FLORIDA TRAIL 8 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Every Thursday. Three miles north of Deaton Bridge Road. meetup.com/ftawesterngate YOGA WITHIN REACH 9-10 a.m. Free. Community Health Northwest Florida, 2315 W. Jackson St., Room A. healthcarewithinreach.org BAPTIST HEALTH CARE COOKING CLASS

Noon-1:30 p.m. Ever'man Educational Center, 327 W. Garden St. everman.org VETERANS' MEETING 4 p.m. Ever'man Educational Center, 327 W. Garden St. everman.org PENSACOLA INTERSTATE FAIR 4-11 p.m. $1 admission. 6655 W. Mobile Highway. pensacolafair.com YAPPY HOUR 5-10 p.m. Through Feb. 27. 5% of proceeds benefit Escambia County Animal Shelter. Red Fish Blue Fish, 5B Via De Luna Drive. redfishbluefishpensacolabeach.com AWM WINE TASTING 5-7 p.m. Free. Aragon Wine Market, 27 S. Ninth Ave. facebook. com/aragonwine TOAST OF THE COAST: TAILGATE TIME! BEEF, BBQ AND BOURBON 5:30 p.m. $45

per person. Fish House, 600 S. Barracks St. greatsouthernrestaurants.com PENSACOLA OPERA: POURS & ENCORES BEST OF THE 2000s 5:30-7 p.m. Perfect Plain

Brewing Co., 50 E. Garden St. facebook. com/perfectplainbrewingco ADOORABLE DOOR PAINT NIGHT 6-8:30 p.m. $30. Frazier's Country Wines, 3130 Barrancas Ave. MEDITATION AND ENERGY HEALING 6 p.m.

Free. Ever'man Educational Center, 327 W. Garden St. everman.org END OF THE LINE THURSDAY DINNER 6-9 p.m.

End of the Line Café, 610 E. Wright St. Sign up for the newsletter for menu. eotlcafe.com ZUMBA WITH SHANNON AND FRIENDS 6-7 p.m. $4. Homestead Community Center, 7830 Pine Forest Road.

ADRON CHAMBERS YOGA 6:30 p.m. Donation-based yoga with Adron Chambers every Tuesday and Thursday. Asher & Bee Apothecary and Tea House, 7 E. Gregory St. facebook.com/asherandbee THIRD THURSDAY MEDITATION 7 p.m.

Ever'man Educational Center, 327 W. Garden St. everman.org CAROL AND GOOSE: SPOOKY CABOOSE 8 p.m. $5. Dolce and Gelato, 2050 N. 12th Ave. facebook.com/dolcegelatopensacola

FRIDAY 10.18

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

Library, 239 N. Spring St. mywfpl.com

TASTE OF THE BEACH 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Gulf-

side Pavilion at Casino Beach, 20 Casino Beach Blvd. tasteofpensacolabeach.com BUD LIGHT CHARITY CHALLENGE Roger Scott Tennis Center, 2200A Summit Blvd. pensacolasports.org/budlighttennis FIESTA ITALIANA 2019 11 a.m.-6 p.m. St. Joseph's Church 140 W. Government St. soibuonafortuna.org/home/festa-italiana MENTAL ILLNESS AND THE BAKER ACT: HOW IT ALL WORKS 11 a.m. Ever'man Educational

Center, 327 W. Garden St. everman.org

LUNCH AND LEARN: COOKING CHEMISTRY WITH OLIVE OIL Noon. $25. So Gourmet, 407-

D S. Palafox. sogourmetpensacola.com

PENSACOLA INTERSTATE FAIR 4 p.m.-2 a.m.

$12 admission. White Tie Rock Ensemble at 7:30 p.m. 6655 W. Mobile Highway. pensacolafair.com GALLERY NIGHT 5-9 p.m. After-party from 9-11 p.m. South Palafox. Theme is Halloween Spooktacular. Children's (13 and under) and adult's costume contest will be held at our main stage on Palafox and Garden Street at 6:30 p.m. gallerynightpensacola.org HAPPY HOUR COOKOUT 5 p.m. Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. sevillequarter.com POPPY'S PARTY 6 p.m. $15. Vinyl Music Hall, 2 S. Palafox. vinylmusichall.com ACOUSTIC SONGWRITERS NIGHT 6 p.m.

Every Friday through March 27. Frazier's Country Wines, 3130 Barrancas Ave. WINE AND WICKED PAINTING WITH JULIE LYNN 6:30 p.m. Dolce & Gelato, 2050 N. 12th

Ave. facebook.com/dolcegelatopensacola CARNEVIL HAUNTED HOUSE 7-10:30 p.m. $20.

Hadji Shrine Temple, 800 W. Nine Mile Road.

PENSACOLA CHILDREN'S CHORUS PRESENTS: ITALIANO! 7 p.m. $85, table of 10 for $750.

Sanders Beach-Corinne Jones Resource Center, 913 S. I St. pensacolasings.org MUSIC UNDER THE STARS: ROMAN STREET

7-9 p.m. $10. From the Ground Up Community Garden, 501 N. Hayne St. fromthegroundupgardenpensacola.com FLICKS ON THE FIELD 7 p.m. Free. Pensacola Greyhound Track, 951 Dog Track Road.

NEMOURS CHILDREN'S SPECIALTY CARE COSTUME BALL FUNDRAISER 7-11

p.m. Court of De Luna, 16 Gonzalez St.

nemours.org/costumeball BALLET PENSACOLA PRESENTS: A NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS 7:30 p.m. $40.

Pensacola Little Theatre, 400 S. Jefferson St. pensacolalittletheatre.com ARRANT KNAVERY PRESENTS: MACBETH 7:30 p.m. $15. Pensacola Opera Center, 75 S. Tarragona St. facebook.com/arrantknavery OTHELLO 7:30 p.m. $7-$18, free for UWF students. Center for Fine and Performing Arts, University of West Florida, 11000 University Parkway, Bldg. 82. uwf.edu/cfpa ICE FLYERS VS. ROANOKE YARD DAWGS 7:35 p.m. $15-$29. Pensacola Bay Center, 201 E. Gregory St. pensacolabaycenter.com DARK STAR COVEN, HOT GRAVES, DREAD & OCTOBER NOIR 8 p.m. $5. chizuko, 506 W.

Belmont St. facebook.com/chizukopensacola

BLACK JACKET SYMPHONY PRESENTS PRINCE'S PURPLE RAIN 8 p.m. $30-$35. Saenger Theatre,

118 S. Palafox. pensacolasaenger.com

THRILLER DANCE SHOW 9 p.m. Phineas

Phogg's, Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. sevillequarter.com GLOW BOWL 9 p.m.-1 a.m. Every Friday and Saturday. $12 per person. Strikerz Entertainment Center, 3200 N. Palafox St.

SATURDAY 10.19

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

of West Florida, Rec Plex North Field, 11000 University Parkway. parkrun.us/recplexnorth

ST. MARK'S UMC'S ARTS AND CRAFTS SHOW

8 a.m.-4 p.m. Free. St. Mark United Methodist Church, 2203 N. 12th Ave. SANTA ROSA FARMERS MARKET 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Fresh local produce, honey, baked goods and live music. Pace Presbyterian Church, Woodbine Road.

PALAFOX MARKET 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Fresh produce, live plants, baked goods, fine art and antiques. Items originate directly from participating vendors, including dozens of local farmers, home gardeners and area artists. Martin Luther King Jr. Plaza, N. Palafox. palafoxmarket.com YOU SELL IT HERE FARMER'S MARKET 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Free admission. Every Saturday. 8600 Pensacola Blvd., facebook.com/yousellithere OCEAN HOUR CLEAN-UPS 9-10 a.m.

Pensacola Visitor Center, 745 Bayfront Parkway, and Bartram Park, 211 E. Main St. oceanhourfl.com

BIRDWALK TO BIG LAGOON STATE PARK

9-11 a.m. Free. Big Lagoon State Park, 12301 Gulf Beach Highway. fmwaudubon.org/ event/birdwalks-4 PAWS IN THE PARK 9 a.m.-noon. Free with park admission. Big Lagoon State Park, 12301 Gulf Beach Highway. friendsofpensacolastateparks.org LEAPS 10 a.m. Ever'man Educational Center, 327 W. Garden St. everman.org TASTE OF THE BEACH 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Gulfside Pavilion at Casino Beach, 20 Casino Beach Blvd. tasteofpensacolabeach.com FIESTA ITALIANA 2019 11 a.m.-6 p.m. St. Joseph's Church 140 W. Government St. soibuonafortuna.org/home/festa-italiana KITTEN & CAT ADOPTIONS AT PET SUPERMARKET 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Pet Supermarket,

6857 N. Ninth Avenue. Minimum donation fees—$75 for kittens up to one year and $65 for adults.aaflorida.org PENSACOLA INTERSTATE FAIR 11 a.m.-midnight. $12 admission. Jordan Davis at 7:30 p.m.

6655 W. Mobile Highway. pensacolafair.com PENSACOLA HISTORIC PRESERVATION SOCIETY LUNCHEON MEETING 11:30 a.m.

Topic: "The Tail of Miss Baker—Pensacola's First Female Astronaut." Founaris Brothers Greek Restaurant, 6911 Pensacola Blvd. Reservations required, contact Judy DeBolt at 477-3294.

HUMANISTS OF NORTHWEST FLORIDA 11:30 a.m. Ever'man Educational Center, 327 W. Garden St. everman.org PLT CORNHOLE TOURNAMENT Noon. $10 registration. Perdido Key Sports Bar & Restaurant, 13583 Perdido Key Drive.

FIBER FREESTYLIN' AT STUDIO SOUTH 3-5 p.m.

Saturdays. Open to all knitters, crocheters, weavers and more. Studio South, 955 E. Nine Mile Road. studiosouthon9mileroad.com WALKING CEMETERY TOURS 5:30 p.m. $12 plus tax. St. John's Historic Cemetery, 301 N. G St. goretro.us NOTES 'N BOATS 5:30-7 p.m. Pensacola Bay Cruises Downtown. pensacolaopera.com MURDER MYSTERY DINNER THEATRE: MONSTER MASH 7-9:30 p.m. $45. The Vineyard,

1010 N. 12th Ave. facebook.com/icmtheatre

CARNEVIL HAUNTED HOUSE 7-10:30 p.m.

$20. Hadji Shrine Temple, 800 West Nine Mile Road.

MIRANDA SINGS! 7 p.m. $39.50-$89.

EATS, DRINKS & SMILES BIG ASS SMILES @THEMAGNOLIAEPH October 17, 2019

17

calendar Saenger Theatre, 118 S. Palafox. pensacolasaenger.com ZOSO: THE ULTIMATE LED ZEPPELIN EXPERIENCE 7 p.m. $15-$25. Vinyl Music Hall, 2

S. Palafox. vinylmusichall.com

QUEENS OF THE MIC: POETRY EDITION 7 p.m.

Henny Penny's Patisserie, 4412 W. Jackson St. facebook.com/hennypennyspatisserie DRAGBINGO AND DRAGUWEEN 7-10 p.m.

Dolce and Gelato, 2050 N. 12th Ave. facebook.com/dolcegelatopensacola ARRANT KNAVERY PRESENTS: MACBETH 7:30 p.m. $15. Pensacola Opera Center, 75 S. Tarragona St. facebook.com/arrantknavery OTHELLO 7:30 p.m. $7-$18, free for UWF students. Center for Fine and Performing Arts, University of West Florida, 11000 University Parkway, Bldg. 82. uwf.edu/cfpa BALLET PENSACOLA PRESENTS: A NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS 7:30 p.m. $40.

Pensacola Little Theatre, 400 S. Jefferson St. pensacolalittletheatre.com ICE FLYERS VS. ROANOKE YARD DAWGS 7:35 p.m. $15-$29. Pensacola Bay Center, 201 E. Gregory St. pensacolabaycenter.com SATURDAY SWING OUTS 8 p.m. $5. Saturdays.

Breathe Yoga Studio, 505 S. Adams St. THRILLER DANCE SHOW 9 p.m. Phineas Phogg's, Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. sevillequarter.com GLOW BOWL 9 p.m.-1 a.m. Every Friday and Saturday. $12 per person. Strikerz Entertainment Center, 3200 N. Palafox St.

SUNDAY 10.20

THEMED BRUNCH AT PERFECT PLAIN

10 a.m. 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 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 BRUNCH WITH BLUEJAY'S BAKERY AND KVASS BEER RELEASE 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Perfect

Plain Brewing Co., 50 E. Garden St. faceboook.com/perfectplainbrewingco PENSACOLA INTERSTATE FAIR 11 a.m.-11 p.m. $12 admission. Grace Pointe Church Worship Team at 2:30 p.m. 6655 W. Mobile Highway. pensacolafair.com GROVE & BROWN MARKET 1 p.m. Sundays through Nov. 17. Local vendors, artists and farmers. Henny Penny's Patisserie, 4412 W. Jackson St. GHOST INVESTIGATION AND BRUNCH 1-3 p.m. $45. Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. secondsightparanormal.com BALLET PENSACOLA PRESENTS: A NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS 2:30 p.m. $40.

Pensacola Little Theatre, 400 S. Jefferson St. pensacolalittletheatre.com OTHELLO 2:30 p.m. $7-$18, free for UWF students. Center for Fine and Performing Arts, University of West Florida, 11000 University Parkway, Bldg. 82. uwf.edu/cfpa TRANSGENDER ALLIANCE 3 p.m. Ever'man Educational Center, 327 W. Garden St. everman.org ADAM COOPER 3-6 p.m. Dolce and Gelato, 2050 N. 12th Ave. facebook.com/dolcegelatopensacola SUNDAY SUPPER AT CYPRESS 5-9 p.m.

10% of sales benefit Wildlife Sanctuary of Northwest Florida. Cypress Pensacola 1124 W. Garden St. cypresspensacola.com ARRANT KNAVERY PRESENTS: MACBETH

5:30 p.m. $15. From the Ground Up Community Garden, 501 N. Hayne St. facebook. com/arrantknavery HISTORIC PENSACOLA HAUNTED TOURS

6:30 p.m. (trolley tours), walking tours begin at 7 p.m. Voices of Pensacola, 117 E. Government St. historicpensacola.org TRIBAL SEEDS 7 p.m. $20-$25. Vinyl Music Hall, 2 S. Palafox. vinylmusichall.com

MONDAY 10.21

RESUME HELP 11 a.m. Molino Branch Li-

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

MAKE HEALTHY HAPPEN 11 a.m. Ever'man

Educational Center, 327 W. Garden St. everman.org PENSACOLA INTERSTATE FAIR 4-11 p.m. $12

admission. Not Quite Fab at 7:30 p.m. 6655 W. Mobile Highway. pensacolafair.com RESTORATIVE PILATES 5:15 p.m. Ever'man Educational Center, 327 W. Garden St. everman.org SEVILLE QUARTER MILERS 6 p.m. Runners meet in front of Seville Quarter for a run around downtown Pensacola. Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. sevillequarter.com CREATURES OF THE DEEP COOKING CLASS

6 p.m. $60. So Gourmet, 407-D S. Palafox. sogourmentpensacola.com CROHN'S AND COLITIS 6:30 p.m. Ever'man Educational Center, 327 W. Garden St. everman.org

TUESDAY 10.22

YOGA WITHIN REACH 9-10 a.m. Free. Commu-

nity Health Northwest Florida, 2315 W. Jackson St., Room A. healthcarewithinreach.org JOHN APPLEYARD TALK 9 a.m. Pensacola Visitor Information Center, 1401 E. Gregory St. BLUE ANGELS PRACTICE 11:30 a.m. National Naval Aviation Museum viewing area, 1878 S. Blue Angel Parkway. Use West Gate Entrance.

BROWN BAG OPERA Noon. The Opera Center, 75 S. Tarragona St. pensacolaopera.com TRYON FAMILY MOVIE NIGHT 4 p.m. Tryon Branch Library, 1200 Langley Ave. mywfpl.com COMPLIMENTARY WINE TASTING 4-6 p.m.

Bodacious, 407-D S. Palafox. sogourmetpensacola.com PENSACOLA INTERSTATE FAIR 4-11 p.m. $12 admission. 6655 W. Mobile Highway. pensacolafair.com

www. radiofree pensacola .com 818 1

inweekly.net

calendar PILATES FUSION 4:30 p.m. Free. Ever'man Educational Center, 327 W. Garden St. everman.org

off. Condor Sailing Adventures, 997 S. Palafox. condorsailingadventures.com

FIBER FREESTYLIN' AT STUDIO SOUTH

EVER'MAN COOKS: FERMENTING WITH THE FOOD INTERPRETER 1 p.m. Ever'man Edu-

5:30-7:30 p.m. Tuesdays. Open to all knitters, crocheters, weavers and more. Studio South, 955 E. Nine Mile Road. studiosouthon9mileroad.com WALKING CEMETERY TOURS 5:30 p.m. $12 plus tax. St. John's Historic Cemetery, 301 N. G St. goretro.us FUNKY YOGA 6 p.m. Free. Ever'man Educational Center, 327 W. Garden St. everman.org ZUMBA WITH SHANNON AND FRIENDS 6-7 p.m. $4. Homestead Community Center, 7830 Pine Forest Road.

ADRON CHAMBERS YOGA 6:30 p.m. Donation-based yoga with Adron Chambers every Tuesday and Thursday. Asher & Bee Apothecary and Tea House, 7 E. Gregory St. facebook.com/asherandbee COUNTRY TWO-STEP DANCING 6:30 p.m. $12. Whiskey Runners Saloon, 610 E. Nine Mile Road. dancecraftstudios.com BANDS ON THE BEACH 7-9 p.m. Free. Adam Holt. Gulfside Pavilion at Casino Beach. visitpensacolabeach.com JAZZ COMBO & ENSEMBLE 7:30 p.m. Free, tickets required. Center for Fine and Performing Arts, University of West Florida 11000 University Parkway Bldg. 82. uwf.edu/cfpa

WEDNESDAY 10.23

PILATES FUSION 10:30 a.m. Free. Ever'man

Educational Center, 327 W. Garden St. everman.org BLUE ANGELS PRACTICE CRUISE 10:45 a.m.-1 p.m. $85 per person, kids 12 and under are $25

Arts & Culture

≥Events

PMA GALLERY TOURS

2:30 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Free with museum admission. Pensacola Museum of Art, 407 S. Jefferson St. pensacolamuseum. org

COLLEGE PORTFOLIO PREP 4:30-6 p.m.

Thursday, Oct. 17. $90.Pensacola Museum of Art, 407 S. Jefferson St. pensacolamuseum. org FAMILY SUNDAY: HOMEMADE HALLOWEEN DECORATIONS 1-4 p.m.

Sunday, Oct. 20. $6 per participant.

Pensacola Museum of Art, 407 S. Jefferson St. pensacolamuseum.org

≥Current Exhibits PICTURESQUE BITS October 17, 2019

OF PENSACOLA

On view through Oct. 18. Pensacola Museum of Art, 407 S. Jefferson St. pensacolamuseum.org BIJAN BEHAR On view through Oct. 18. Pensacola Museum of Art, 407 S. Jefferson St. pensacolamuseum.org MIKE BRODIE: RELICS FROM THE ROAD

On view through Oct. 20. Pensacola Museum of Art, 407 S. Jefferson St. pensacolamuseum.org TERMINAL: PHOTOGRAPHIC ORIENTATIONS FROM STIEGLITZ TO STASIECZEK

On view through Oct. 18. Pensacola Museum of Art, 407 S. Jefferson St. pensacolamuseum.org RESISTANCE & CHANGE: TABLAS OF SARHUA, CONTEMPORARY PAINTINGS FROM THE PERUVIAN ANDES On view

through Oct. 27.

cational Center, 327 W. Garden St. everman.org ONE-ON-ONE TECH HELP 3 p.m. Pensacola Library, 239 N. Spring St. mywfpl.com VEGAN AND VINO SUNDAYS 4-7 p.m.

Skopelos at New World, 600 S. Palafox PENSACOLA INTERSTATE FAIR 4-11 p.m. $12 admission. 6655 W. Mobile Highway. pensacolafair.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 MOROCCAN WINE DINNER 6 p.m. Union Public House, 309 S. Reus St. facebook. com/unionpensacola VINYASA YOGA 6-7 p.m. Free. Ever'man Educational Center, 327 W. Garden St. everman.org CACAO CHAI & MEDITATION 6:30 p.m. $15.

Asher & Bee Apothecary and Tea House, 7 E. Gregory St. facebook.com/asherandbee TAKING CARE: HEALTHCARE AND WELLNESS WITHIN THE TRANSGENDER COMMUNITY 6:30-8 p.m. Free. The Opera Center,

75 S. Tarragona St. pensacolaopera.com

WEST COAST SWING DANCING 6:30 p.m.

$12. Whiskey Runners Saloon, 610 E. Nine Mile Road. dancecraftstudios.com

TRANSMISSION GROUP WORLD SERVICE MEDITATION 7:15 p.m. Free. Ever'man

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

Pensacola Museum of Art, 407 S. Jefferson St. pensacolamuseum.org RADIO'S GOLDEN AGE: THEN AND NOW

On view through Oct. 31. WUWF, 11000 University Parkway, Bldg. 88. wuwf.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 5:30 p.m. on Sep. 12. 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 19

calendar 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 CUBED LIVE PAINTING The UWF Pen-

sacola Museum of Art invites all artists to submit their mural ideas for a chance to participate in Cubed's Live Painting Event. This iteration of Cubed will serve as a public painting demonstration and a community-driven event. This unique experience gives artists an opportunity to engage with the public and to partake in the good of local art-making.

Submission deadline is Oct. 23. For more information, visit pensacolamuseum. org or email Jaime Diffee at jdiffee@ uwf.edu.

GREAT GULFCOAST ARTS FESTIVAL LOOKING FOR EMERGING ARTISTS Applica-

tions are open for the GGAF Emerging Artists program. This program, developed in partnership with Artel Gallery, gives new artists a chance to be a part of the Great Gulfcoast Arts Festival and offers them guidance in what is involved in being in an arts festival. Applications

020 2

are open to artists who have limited experience participating in arts festivals and are residents of Escambia or Santa Rosa Counties. Two artists will be chosen to participate in this year's festival. GGAF will waive fees for the two artists and will provide a booth and mentor to help guide them through the process. For more information and an application, visit ggaf. org. The GGAF is Nov. 1, 2 and 3, 2019, in Seville Square.

CALL OUT FOR ARTS

Vendors for the 2019 Art & Wine Festival The Pensacola Beach Chamber of Commerce is calling for art vendors to submit applications for the 2019 Art & Wine Festival. The festival will be held Sunday, Nov. 10, on the Pensacola Beach Boardwalk from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The selection committee is seeking 25 artists to show/sell original works of art. Application forms can be downloaded from pensacolabeachchamber.com. Photos of art items must be submitted with the application, or it must include directions to a website where the artwork items can be viewed. Deadline for applying is Oct. 30. All entries are $75 for a 10x10-foot tent space. Include a check or money order payable to Pensacola Beach Chamber of Commerce with the completed application form and mail to Pensacola Beach Chamber of Commerce, 7 Casino Beach Boardwalk, Pensacola Beach, FL 32561. For more information, go to pensacolabeachchamber.com, or contact Alison Westmoreland at 932-1500.

PENSACOLA MINI MAKER FAIRE The

Pensacola Mini Maker Faire wants to encourage all makers to apply for the Faire. This event is Nov. 16 and supports the local community of creators and innovators, and we encourage you to create an engaging exhibit that demonstrates a craft, provides a how-to, showcases a performance or one that is an innovative new idea. Maker spaces for individual makers and students are free. Commercial maker booth fees are based on booth size and start at $125 if you are selling items. For more information, visit pensacola.makerfaire.com.

Bars & Nightlife

≥Bar Games Thursdays

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 5 p.m. V. Paul's Italian Ristorante, 29 S. Palafox. vpauls.com BREW IQ TRIVIA NIGHT WITH JERRELL HENDRIX 7-9

p.m. Perfect Plain Brewing Co., 50 E. Garden St. facebook.com/perfectplainbrewingco POKER 8 p.m. The Ticket 1, 7250 Plantation Road. ticketsportsbar.com POOL TOURNAMENT

8 p.m. The Ticket 2, 2115 W. Nine Mile Road. ticketsportsbar.com COLLEGE NIGHT 10 p.m. Drink specials, beer pong tourna-

ment starts at 10 p.m. Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. sevillequarter.com.

Fridays HAPPY HOUR AT CAFÉ SINGLE FIN 4-7

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

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

MEMBERSHIP APPRECIATION NIGHT 8

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

for more listings visit inweekly.net inweekly.net

21 21 Join us on The Fish House Deck to feast on a whole hog offered up family style and served with a selection of Southern sides. Cost is $45 per person (plus tax and gratuity) and includes food and drink pairings. To make a reservation, call 850-433-9450.

October 17, 2019

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free will astrology WEEK OF OCTOBER 17 ARIES (MARCH 21-APRIL 19): "We can't change anything until we get some fresh ideas, until we begin to see things differently," wrote Aries psychologist James Hillman. I agree. And that's very good news for you Aries people. In my view, you are more attracted to and excited by fresh ideas than any other sign of the zodiac. That's why you have the potential to become master initiators of transformation. One of my favorite types of plot twists in your life story occurs when you seek out fresh ideas and initiate transformations not only in your own behalf but also for those you care about. I bet the coming weeks will bring at least one of those plot twists.

TAURUS (APRIL 20-MAY 20): Metaphorically speaking, Taurus, you are now crossing a bridge. Behind you is the intriguing past; in front of you, the even more intriguing future. You can still decide to return to where you came from. Or else you could pick up your pace and race ahead at twice the speed. You might even make the choice to linger on the bridge for a while, to survey the vast vistas that are visible and contemplate more leisurely the transition you're making. Only you know what's best for you, of course. But if you asked me, I'd be in favor of lingering on the bridge for a while.

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GEMINI (MAY 21-JUNE 20): As I write this, I'm sitting in a café near two women at another table. One sports a gold cashmere headscarf and pentagram necklace. The other wears a dark blue pantsuit and a silver broach that's the glyph for Gemini the Twins. HeadScarf shuffles a deck of Tarot cards and asks PantSuit what she'd like to find out during the divination she is about to receive. "I would very much like you to tell me what I really, really want," PantSuit says with a chuckle. "I'm sure that once I find out that big secret, I'll be able to accomplish wonders." I hope the rest of you Geminis will be on a similar mission in the coming weeks. Do whatever it takes to get very clear about what you want most.

CANCER (JUNE 21-JULY 22): Ancient

Greek philosopher Socrates was meandering through an Athenian marketplace, gazing at the appealing and expensive items for sale. "How many things there are in this world that I do not want," he exclaimed with satisfaction. I recommend you cultivate that liberated attitude. Now is a perfect time to celebrate the fact that there are countless treasures and pleasures you don't need in order to be charmed and cheerful about your life. For extra credit, add this nuance from Henry David Thoreau—People are rich in proportion to the number of things they can afford to let alone.

LEO (JULY 23-AUG. 22): I invite you to try this exercise. Imagine that one springtime you grow a garden filled with flowers that rabbits like to nibble—petunias, marigolds, gazanias

By Rob Brezsny

and pansies. This is a place whose only purpose is to give gifts to a wild, sweet part of nature.

It's blithely impractical. You do it for your own senseless, secret joy. It appeals to the dreamy lover of life in you. Got all that, Leo? Now, in accordance with current astrological omens, I suggest you actually try to fulfill a fantasy comparable to that one in the coming weeks.

You do it for your own senseless, secret joy. It appeals to the dreamy lover of life in you.

VIRGO (AUG. 23-SEPT. 22): My Virgo friend

Lola got a text message from her Scorpio buddy Tanya, "Why don't you come over and chill with me and my demons? It'll be entertaining, I promise! My inner jerks are howlingly funny tonight." Here's what Lola texted back—"Thanks but no thanks, sweetie. I've been making big breakthroughs with my own demons—giving them the attention they crave without caving in to their outrageous demands—and for now, I need to work on stabilizing our new relationship. I can't risk bringing extra demons into the mix." I suspect this is an accurate description of what could be happening for you, Virgo.

LIBRA (SEPT. 23-OCT. 22): In ancient holy texts from India, soma was said to be a drink that enhanced awareness and alertness. According to modern scholars, it may have been a blend of poppy, ephedra and cannabis. In Norse mythology, the beverage called the Mead of Suttungr conferred poetic inspiration and the ability to solve any riddle. One of its ingredients was honey. In Slavic folklore, raskovnik is an herb with the magic power to unlock what's locked and uncover hidden treasures. It's not a four-leaf clover but resembles it. I invite you Libras to fantasize about using these three marvels. To do so will potentize your imagination, thereby boosting the cosmic forces that will be working in your favor to enhance your awareness, confer inspiration, solve riddles, unlock what's locked and find hidden treasures.

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

Buckminster Fuller (1895–1983) was a visionary genius in numerous fields, including architecture, design, engineering and futurism. In the course of earning 40 honorary doctorates, he traveled widely. It was his custom to wear three watches, each set to a different time—one to the zone where he currently was, another to where he had recently departed and a third to where he would journey next. "I know that I am not a category," he wrote. "I am not a thing—a noun. I seem to be a verb." I recommend his approach to you in the coming weeks, Scorpio. Be a verb! Allow your identity to be fluid, your plans adjustable, your ideas subject to constant revision.

SAGITTARIUS (NOV. 22-DEC. 21): "Art is good for my soul precisely because it reminds me that we have souls in the first place," said

actress Tilda Swinton. How about you, Sagittarius? What reminds you that you have a soul in the first place? Beloved animals? Favorite music? A stroll amidst natural wonders?

Unpredictable, fascinating sexual experiences?

The vivid and mysterious dreams you have at night? Whatever stimuli bring you into visceral communion with your soul, I urge you to seek them out in abundance. It's Soul-Cherishing and Soul-Enhancing Time for you.

CAPRICORN (DEC. 22-JAN. 19): The

coming weeks will be a favorable time to arrange a series of high-level meetings between your body, mind and soul. You might even consider staging an extravagant conference-like festival and festival-like conference. The astrological omens suggest that your body, mind and soul are now primed to reveal choice secrets and tips to each other.

They are all more willing and eager than usual to come up with productive new synergies that will enable each to function with more panache and effectiveness.

AQUARIUS (JAN. 20-FEB. 18): "I believe

in inhabiting contradictions," writes Aquarian author and activist Angela Davis. "I believe in making contradictions productive, not in having to choose one side or the other side, as opposed to choosing either or choosing both." I think Davis's approach will work well for you in the coming weeks. It's not just that the contradictions will be tolerable; they will be downright fertile, generous and beneficent. So welcome them; honor them; allow them to bless you with their tricky opportunities and unexpected solutions.

PISCES (FEB. 19-MARCH 20): Piscean pia-

nist Frédéric Chopin (1801–1849) was a poetic genius whose music was full of sweetness and grace, "without equal in his generation," said more than one critic. Today, more than 170 years after his death, his work remains popular. Recently, an Italian sound designer named Remo de Vico created an original new Chopin piece that featured all 21 of the master's piano nocturnes being played simultaneously. (You can hear it here—tinyurl.com/newchopin.) As you might imagine, it's a gorgeous mess, too crammed with notes to truly be enjoyable, but interesting, nevertheless. I'll counsel you to avoid a similar fate in the coming weeks, Pisces. It's fine to be extravagant and expansive and multifaceted; just don't overdo it.

THIS WEEK'S HOMEWORK: "I have thousands of opinions still—but that is down from millions—and, as always, I know nothing." So said Harold Brodkey. And you?

freewillastrology.com

freewillastrology@freewillastrology.com Rob Brezsny © Copyright 2019

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news of the weird UNCLEAR ON THE CONCEPT Jennifer Colyne Hall, 48, of Toney, Alabama, was distraught when she called the Limestone County Sheriff's Office dispatch on Oct. 2, so officers were sent to call on her. Public information officer Steven Young told The News Courier the officers first approached Hall's landlord, who told them she had been "acting strangely" and hinted she might be on drugs. When the officers spoke to Hall, she produced a clear bag from a baby wipes container and told them, "I want this dope tested" because she feared the methamphetamines in the bag had possibly been tainted with another drug.

Asked if she had consumed the drugs, Hall said she had, but couldn't remember when.

She was arrested and charged with possession of a controlled substance and was held at the Limestone County Jail.

INEXPLICABLE A front-door camera in McDowell County, North Carolina, twice captured a bold loiterer on the home's porch: a naked man. Sheriff's officers arrested Denny Lynn Dover, 45, in early October after identifying him by his distinctive tattoos, The McDowell News reported.

Dover had visited the home in April and again on Oct. 3, when he attempted to break in. He was charged with first-degree burglary and held on $50,000 bond. Dover isn't new to a life of crime: He also has convictions for arson, drug possession, larceny, peeping and breaking in.

•The Louisville Courier Journal reported that Knox County (Kentucky) Sheriff's deputies arrested Barrett L. Sizemore, 48, of Heidrick, on Oct. 4 for theft of a "honey wagon"—a septic cleaning truck—in Barbourville. The truck went missing on Oct. 2, and authorities located it in a barn in Laurel County, not far from where Sizemore was arrested. He is being held on a $10,000 bond.

UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES An unidentified 89-year-old woman who has had previous trouble with trespassers on her remote property outside Piru, California, was hospitalized on Oct. 5 after her attempt to shoo away a group of nine people went wrong. After spotting the interlopers, she warned them away and fired two rounds from her rifle into a hillside to "emphasize her point," Ventura County Sheriff's Office Capt. Eric Buschow told the Los Angeles Times. As the group retreated, the woman pursued them in her pickup truck to be sure they were leaving and pointed her gun at them. One man tried to talk with her, but she couldn't hear him, so he opened the door of her truck and grabbed the gun barrel. "In the process," Buschow said, "she fell out of the truck (and) unbeknownst to (the man), the truck was still in gear, so the rear wheel drove

By the Editors at Andrews McMeel

over her leg, continued to roll and went off a cliff." She was airlifted to a hospital with injuries to her ankle, and neither party wanted to press charges, so no arrests were made.

•An unidentified man in Phoenix became angry at his upstairs neighbors for making too much noise on Oct. 6. He first tried banging on their door around 11:20 p.m., but then returned to his apartment and fired several shots into his ceiling—one of which apparently ricocheted and hit him in the face, according to the Arizona Republic. Although no one else was injured, the shooter was taken to the hospital in extremely critical condition.

OVERREACTIONS An apparent dispute over pigeons at Pershing Field in Jersey City, New Jersey, has resulted in Charles Lowy, 69, facing eight years in prison for reckless manslaughter, according to The Jersey Journal. In April 2018, Lowy stabbed former schoolteacher Anthony Bello, 77, to death after they argued about Lowy's habit of feeding pigeons in the park. Lowy's attorney called Bello the "mayor of the block" and said he was the aggressor in the altercation, and that Lowy had stabbed him in self-defense.

Hudson County Superior Court Judge Sheila Venable sentenced Lowy on Oct. 4; he must serve at least 85 percent of his sentence.

BRIGHT IDEA Springfield, Missouri, authorities have come up with a clever campaign to curb pet waste in the downtown area, the Associated Press reported.

Piles of dog poop are being tagged with recycled paper flags sporting messages such as: "Is this your turd? 'Cuz that's absurd," and "This is a nudge to pick up the fudge."

The city noted it spends $7,500 a year to pick up 25 pounds of waste per week from downtown parks and parking lots.

AWESOME! Open your wallet: If you have enough scratch, you can buy a customized pair of Nike Air Max 97s dubbed "Jesus Shoes" from a Brooklyn, New York, company called MSCHF. Introduced online Oct. 8, the shoes have 60ccs of holy water from the Jordan River injected into the soles "so you can literally walk on water," noted Cosmopolitan, a crucifix in the laces, red insoles harkening to Vatican traditions, and a Matthew 14:25 inscription. They are also scented with frankincense and sport a godly white and light blue colorway. The Jesus Shoes originally sold for $1, 425, but are now fetching anywhere from $2,000 to upwards of $11,000. {in}

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

Send your weird news items to WeirdNewsTips@amuniversal.com October 17, 2019

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Independent News | October 17, 2019 | inweekly.net