Soul Bowl 2025 Brings Energy, Unity, and Excitement
Pensacola’s Young Gridiron Stars Ignite Blue Wahoos Stadium in Championship Clash
or 33 years, the SYSA Soul Bowl has been much more than an annual sporting event— it’s been a powerful force for unity and positive change in our community.
This epic yearly football and food showdown brings together inner-city youth sports leagues for a day of friendly competition and celebra tion.
Every year, when the more than 300 young athletes and cheerleaders take to the field, they’re not just playing for a trophy; they’re connecting with a legacy that lifts up our entire community.
Since finding its home at Blue Wahoos Stadium in 2012, the Soul Bowl has grown into one of the country’s biggest youth sports events.
For the roughly 50,000 friends and fans who have cheered from the stands, it’s a living testament to the shared belief that our community spaces, like the Maritime Park, are about more than just a ballpark. They are places where future leaders are inspired and neighborhood bonds are strengthened.
Youthful Tackle in the Trenches: A SYSA Tiger lunges with heart-pounding determination to wrap up a fleet-footed Rattler.
Fair Play in the Sunshine: A dedicated referee raises a steady hand amid the lively fray of SYSA Tigers and Rattlers young athletes.
winners & losers winners losers
BILL CLARK The Pensacola legal community lost one of its most influential figures last week with the passing of William (Bill) H. Clark on Oct. 10. As a founding partner of Clark Partington Attorneys at Law, Bill's legacy extends beyond the courtroom. He was a defender of First Amendment rights and a pillar of integrity in Northwest Florida. His work defending the Pensacola News Journal became legendary in local legal circles. Clark's commitment to freedom of speech and the press went further than his law practice. For 11 years, he drove to the University of West Florida each evening to teach Media Law as an adjunct professor. To honor Clark's memory, consider supporting causes that protect the freedoms that he championed.
WEST FLORIDA HIGH U.S. News & World Report named West Florida High School of Advanced Technology a "Best High Schools" winner for the 2025-26 school year. The school ranks 89th in Florida and No. 1 in the Pensacola Metro Area. The school is one of Escambia County Public Schools' "Schools of Choice" and a wall-to-wall Career Academy offering 12 programs. WFHS students achieved an 80% pass rate on Advanced Placement exams last spring and over 100 AP scholars. Last year, more than $4 million in college scholarships were awarded to the Class of 2025. Principal Esi Shannon said, "In our 25th anniversary year, our administration is truly proud to be recognized as a top high school in the nation."
MERIDETH ROBERSON Escambia County recognized Lead Animal Welfare Officer Sgt. Merideth Roberson as the October 2025 Employee of the Month. Sgt. Roberson, who began her career with Escambia County in 2021, currently works alongside a team of Animal Welfare Officers. Her primary duties include enforcing and investigating state and local animal control laws and ordinances and ensuring the humane handling and treatment of animals. Sgt. Roberson has been recognized by her team for her compassion for animals, forward-thinking initiatives for the department, and knowledge and expertise when responding to calls for service.
ZACK SMITH The little-known Pensacola attorney has misused his position as trustee at Pensacola State College and the University of West Florida to target diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) not only in the classrooms of PSC and UWF but also within the community. In September, he raised concerns that PSC's new executive director of corporate training and continuing education, Ruthie Noel, had worked for Achieve Escambia, which previously used materials that included language referencing DEI. The DEI materials had been part of Achieve Escambia since its inception in 2016, long before Noel became its executive director. Smith has essentially become Pensacola's DEI enforcer, thanks to Gov. DeSantis.
JESSE LACOSTE An Escambia County jury found the former contractor guilty of contractor fraud and grand theft on Oct. 16. LaCoste took over $145,000 from an Escambia homeowner for a major renovation but abandoned the work site after his crew gutted the home and left it unlivable. His attorney tried to get the case dismissed, asserting it was a civil, not criminal matter. However, Judge John Simon ruled that LaCoste had provided false information to get his contractor's license and used the license to solicit business. Simon said, "That is fraud, if the jury so chose to believe." LaCoste faces up to 45 years in prison and has several other contractor-related felonies cases pending in Escambia, Santa Rosa and Okaloosa counties.
ALEX JONES The Supreme Court last week declined to review an appeal from the founder of Infowars, leaving in place a lower court judge's order that Jones pay $1.4 billion in damages to some of the families who lost children in a 2012 shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School that killed 20 first graders and six educators. The judge awarded money to the families for defamation after Jones falsely claimed for years on his Infowars show and website that the shooting was a hoax and that family members of the victims were actors in a plot to enact gun control legislation.
Bill Clark / Photo Courtesy of Clark Partington Zach Smith / Photo Courtesy of uwf.edu
outtakes
By Rick Outzen
LACKING BUSINESS SENSE
Republicans often favor candidates with strong business backgrounds. Rick Scott's business experience was key to his success in winning the Florida governor's office.
When Republicans championed Scott's business experience in 2010, they recognized that running a state requires the same discipline, accountability and attention to detail that successful businesses demand.
Unfortunately, his successor, Ron DeSantis, is a career politician with no business acumen. Florida's experience under DeSantis shows that political savvy alone can't replace real management ability.
Last week, I outlined how Florida's highly praised voucher program is being spectacularly mismanaged (Inweekly, "Florida's $4.3 Billion Nightmare," 10/16/25). When DeSantis signed House Bill 1 in 2023, he gave every K-12 student— regardless of income or prior school enrollment— access to state-funded scholarships for private school tuition, homeschooling expenses or other approved education costs.
However, his administration put little thought into how to track the $4.3 billion system. The Florida Department of Education (DOE) cannot tell state lawmakers if this money is going to the right places in the right amounts.
But the DOE is not unique. State lawmakers, Florida's Auditor General, the Trump administration and the media have uncovered several incidents of mismanagement this past year.
In March, auditors reported the Department of Management Services had lost approximately 2,300 state-owned vehicles valued at $57 million. The vehicles, which were never reported lost or stolen, simply weren't recorded in the state's new tracking system despite being listed in the overall database. Six months later, Director Tom Berger told the Senate Committee on Governmental Oversight and Accountability that all vehicles had been "found."
In 2022, DeSantis reestablished the Florida State Guard, and it has faced accountability issues related to oversight, spending, training standards and leadership transparency ever since. The Florida Senate's fiscal impact statement for 2025 noted unclear staff and salary costs due to unreliable State Guard membership data; this lack of data blocked the Senate from accurately determining the fiscal effects of various benefit
expansions. The House Budget Committee requested detailed documentation after reports of inconsistent expenditures and limited accountability mechanisms.
In August 2025, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General released an audit that found the Florida Department of Children and Families failed to comply with federal reporting and oversight requirements under the State Opioid Response grant. The report identified inaccurate financial statements, poor subrecipient monitoring and unsupported outcomes related to treatment goals, indicating significant management weaknesses.
There's more.
The Florida House Administration Budget Subcommittee recently listened to Florida Deputy Auditor General Matthew Tracy's critique of the Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR). His 53-page operational audit, covering July 2022 through December 2023, found DBPR failed to monitor controlled substances wholesalers and manufacturers.
The report concluded that "department oversight of entities engaged in the wholesale distribution of controlled substances within the state was not sufficient to ensure entity compliance with state law or the adequate protection of the public health, safety and welfare."
The website Florida Bulldog reported that DeSantis' administration has not publicly posted 719 emergency contracts worth over $6 billion combined. The state's Transparency Florida Act requires state agencies to publish contracts on Florida's tracking website within 30 days of signing.
However, analysis found that about threequarters of high-value emergency contracts awarded by the governor's office lack the legally required documentation, making it impossible for the public to scrutinize how billions in taxpayer dollars were spent.
The pattern is clear. DeSantis' administration has shown a basic inability to manage Florida's government effectively.
As voters consider Florida's next governor, they should remember that governing isn't just about winning campaigns. It's about making sure our taxpayer dollars are tracked, managed and spent responsibly. We deserve a leader who can do both. {in} rick@inweekly.net
WILD TIMES FOR WILD GREG'S
Three months after NAS Pensacola declared Wild Greg's Saloon off-limits to military servicemembers, NAS lifted restrictions on access to the downtown establishment. The ban lift comes shortly after the city finally agreed to let Wild Greg's owner, Greg Urban, hire off-duty police officers.
Urban said the servicemember ban dramatically affected business over the past three months and did irreparable harm to the establishment's reputation.
"It took half our business, and that's where your profit is. The bottom half just pays the bills," Urban said. "My employees have really been hurt by this. It's pretty bad from the tip standpoint— some reduced hours, some reduced shifts."
In July, NAS Pensacola Commanding Officer Chandra Newman stated that Wild Greg's failed to comply with various state laws and city ordinances, specifically related to drug usage and by not properly verifying patrons' identification, resulting in underage individuals consuming alcohol. This followed a February letter from Newman, which also mentioned underage drinking.
However, when the commanding officer wrote Mayor D.C. Reeves about the ban in late July, she included: Cocaine and other drug distribution with servicemembers gaining access to drugs at the establishment, and others witnessing bathroom
women in men's bathrooms.
"Things had been relatively smooth, and then the next thing you know, I get a screenshot," Urban said as he held up a copy of a Pensacola News Journal story on the ban. "We'd heard nothing since our meeting in April with the Navy, and then the allegations here have nothing to do with what they originally notified me of."
Urban continued, "Obviously, bars and nightlife, there are some side effects to it which some people don't like, right? But we're more than willing to work with everybody to mitigate that as much as we can. But I think this has been more of a hit job than anything else."
OFF-DUTY POLICE
Urban has been trying to hire off-duty police officers for security since December 2024, but the Pensacola Police Department has denied his requests. He said patrons behave better around police officers than private security. The PPD off-duty program allows officers to be in uniform and provide security for businesses and events for extra pay.
"Every other establishment downtown can hire off-duty police officers," Urban said. "You go by Seville, you might as well call it a precinct. There are so many officers there on the weekends."
Urban said PPD denied his request in retaliation for filing a lawsuit against the city and its police officers. Urban provided Inweekly an email
response from Sgt. Jamie Briarton dated May 9.
"Thank you for your request. In light of your stillpending civil lawsuit against the city, its former police chief and certain of its officers, PPD will not be providing its off-duty officers for private security services to you or your business at this time," Briarton wrote. "We encourage you to engage any of the many reputable and qualified private security firms in the area to provide such private security services to your businesses. Of course, PPD and its officers will continue in their public function to bravely serve and protect all people and businesses within the City of Pensacola."
In 2018, police arrested Urban on charges of obstructing an officer without violence. PPD contended that Urban lied to officers about the existence of a security camera during an investigation into an alleged battery at Wild Greg's. Circuit Court Judge Jennifer Frydrychowicz then ruled that prosecutors failed to present evidence proving Urban knowingly lied to the officers. Urban was acquitted of the charge.
Urban proceeded to file a lawsuit against the city and its police officers, alleging he was falsely arrested. His lawsuit was dismissed last year. The city still has an active motion to recover legal fees from Urban.
"He got slam dunked on in every count, completely housed because it was a frivolous lawsuit, and it's still open because we're going to try and recoup," Reeves said.
THREAT OF LAWSUIT
Urban said the email response from Briarton shocked him and motivated him to hire Stinson, a law firm out of Tampa.
"Anything with litigation, you can't retaliate. Retaliation and litigation is a big thing," Urban said. "I know that had been the internal discussion that they would never admit to, but you know, here they just come out and say, 'Well, you sued us, and the matter is done.'"
In early September, Stinson attorney Marc R. Weintraub wrote Reeves, citing the email. Weintraub wrote, "This is a plain admission of retaliating against Mr. Urban—and against our client—for constitutionally protected speech. The city is blatantly violating our client's First Amendment rights."
Weintraub criticized the city for not providing off-duty officers, saying that contributed to
NAS Pensacola putting the establishment on its off-limits list. He concluded the letter by stating, "If the city continues to deny this request, we will initiate a lawsuit in federal court in 10 days for the violation of our client's First Amendment rights and damages caused by the illegal and unconstitutional denial of off-duty police officers to Wild Greg's."
The city responded within five days of Weintraub's letter, and the PPD reversed course.
"Why would I deny additional security at a place with such safety issues?" Reeves said. "Not only are we not targeting him, but we are circumventing a year-long decision by the police department to do so. He should spend less time on conspiracy theories and more time on making that place safer. It makes our community better."
Reeves said the letter from Weintraub marked the first time his office received a direct request for off-duty police officers at Wild Greg's. Urban contends he requested officers from Reeves through Downtown Improvement Board Executive Director Walker Wilson. Reeves confirmed that Wilson sent him a text on April 11 stating Urban wanted to hire offduty officers. Reeves told Wilson that Urban should speak to the PPD.
The presence of off-duty officers at Wild Greg's perhaps contributed to NAS Pensacola lifting the ban. Another possibility is that Urban wrote to NAS Jacksonville Commander Mathew Cutchen appealing the ban. Cutchen serves as the staff judge advocate for Navy Region Southeast. Urban wrote, "WG has undertaken numerous active measures to address and alleviate any alleged issues posing a threat to members of our military who choose to frequent WG."
IMPACT ON EMPLOYEES
Letters from Wild Greg's employees to board members perhaps further influenced NAS to lift the restriction. Bartender Hallie Speed wrote, "Since the blacklisting, I have experienced a substantial decline in my earnings. On average, my income has decreased by approximately 50% making it increasingly difficult to meet my financial obligations such as rent, utilities, groceries and transportation."
Fellow bartender Corey Morgan wrote, "To cope with this sudden loss of income, I have been relying on my savings. The ongoing stress has affected my mental clarity and daily routine, and I worry that if the ban persists, I may need to find a second job to make ends meet. This would, unfortunately, reduce the time I can spend with my cherished wife and daughter."
Urban is uncertain if or when business will return to normal. He is confident servicemembers will return to his establishment, but will they return at the same rate? And what about customers driven away by the negative publicity?
"This is bigger than the Navy," Urban said. "There might be other people out there we lost. It might take a little bit longer for them to come back." Urban continued, "There is longterm damage by these articles that will never go away." {in}
OUR COMMUNITY'S FUTURE Community leaders, aviation partners and local stakeholders gathered at the Pensacola International Airport on Oct. 15 to break ground on its Terminal Expansion and Modernization Program.
The expansion comes as the facility has experienced explosive growth in recent years. Airport Director Matt Coughlin said, "We had 3.1 million passengers last year, which is pretty incredible."
To put that in perspective, he explained, "If you took the entire population of the City of Pensacola, you would be putting that amount of people through this small facility here every seven days."
The airport's success has been recognized nationally, with USA Today naming Pensacola International Airport among the top 10 small airports in the United States for the second time in three years.
Mayor D.C. Reeves added his perspective. "Today we're certainly not just turning dirt. We break ground on the future of the city's gateway. This is truly a historic moment for Pensacola International Airport."
He acknowledged the challenges facing the facility, noting that the terminal was originally designed to handle about 1 million passengers. "Anyone who has been here during the holiday rush, maybe trying to find a parking spot, knows that we have outgrown this facility."
The expansion project will address these capacity constraints with significant improvements. A new five-gate concourse will be constructed, nearly doubling the security checkpoints and increasing overall airport capacity by almost 50 percent. The expansion will provide the capacity needed to meet forecasted demand through 2044.
Marcos Souza of EXP, the design firm leading the project, said his team made over 35 site visits before beginning design work, discovering "the rich history of the City of Five Flags" and learning
about everything from the Blue Angels to the re gion's ecological treasures.
"I truly believe that a measure of our team's success is providing something that is uniquely Pensacola," Souza explained. "One that blends not only the city's history and legacy but also its future outlook."
Michelle Martucci of Archer Western, the general contractor for the project, spoke about what makes these projects meaningful. She said, "I cannot wait for the day when you guys get to experience that moment, the day where we stand here again and we watch passengers arrive, planes depart and travelers enjoy the beautiful terminal that reflects the spirit and pride of this incredible city, Pensacola."
Visit transformpns.com to follow the expansion.
MENTAL HEALTH ON HOLD A routine
renewal of mental health programs turned into a contentious hour-long debate on Oct. 14 as Escambia Children's Trust board members scrutinized how millions of dollars are being spent on informal mental health supports for children.
The board ultimately voted to extend current contracts for 30 days for three of the five mental health providers while sending them back to the Program Committee for additional review. Board members raised concerns about missing audit reports, spending on sports registrations and boxing lessons and significant changes to approved budgets.
"There are over 40,000-50,000 children who play Little League sports here. Many are poor," said Commissioner Lumon May. "And when you go down this slippery slope of us paying for baseball players, football players and cheerleaders, and everybody's eligible, that's a bad precedent for this organization to be doing."
Twin Oaks Youth & Family Services, which requested approximately $1.13 million for Year 3, came under scrutiny for lacking a 2024 audit.
Executive Director Lindsey Cannon explained that the organization was awaiting its audit. "They had an issue with their audits, so they were able to send us 2023 and a letter from their auditor saying that they are currently processing 2024, but we have not received it."
A recurring theme throughout the meeting was frustration over providers requesting funds for specific purposes and then reallocating money to different line items without board approval.
"My issue is that if you change it to $10,000, then you don't get to just move the money somewhere else," Woods said regarding Twin Oaks' reduction of travel expenses from $60,000 to $10,000. "You just can't make up somewhere else to put the money because you want to keep it."
Commissioner May raised questions about the Trust's approach to mental health services, noting that millions are being spent on what providers call "informal mental health supports" rather than licensed clinical services.
"We're [using] millions of dollars, millions of dollars for informal mental health while children are going crazy every day," May said. "Mental health is serious. We have the ability and resources to provide real mental health."
He added, "I don't want anybody to give me any informal healthcare about my diabetes or my blood pressure. I mean, mental health is just as serious as that."
Cannon acknowledged the programs represent a different approach. "I definitely think that these are different type of programming because they're informal mental health supports," she said. "This is not certified counselors going in and doing billable work. This is prevention and early intervention."
The board voted on the programs provided by Boys & Girls Clubs of the Emerald Coast ($76,045) and Youth Left Behind ($168,655) and gave 30-day extensions to New World Believers (Year 3 budget: $585,685), Twin Oaks Juvenile Development ($1,128,877) and The Lamplighter Academic and Mentor ($249,642).
Finance Director Tammy Abrams warned the board about consistency: "New World Believers has a bunch of new line items that weren't in Year 1 that are on Year 3. And if you're not going to allow it for one provider, we need to make sure you don't allow it for others."
The program committee will meet again on Oct. 28 to review the three delayed mental health programs, with recommendations returning to the full board for a vote.
Commissioner May urged a streamlined process: "Whatever information each board member wants, we should send it to them in writing. Give them ample amount of time to respond. If they don't respond, they just don't respond."
Woods emphasized the need for programs to stick to their original proposals. "If you don't use it under the line item that you wrote the grant for, that money should come back to the grant and allow us to help somebody else."
NO DRAG BAN At the Pensacola City Council meeting on Oct. 9, citizens packed the council chambers to speak against and in favor of a drag show scheduled two days before Christmas at the Saenger Theatre, which is owned by the city.
They expressed their feelings during the open forums held at the beginning and end of the meeting. Neither Mayor D.C. Reeves nor the council members commented.
At his press conference this morning, I asked Mayor Reeves if he foresaw any changes in city policy regarding drag shows at the Saenger Theatre.
"I think, at the end of the day, what we're talking about isn't whether someone's religious beliefs decide that something is good or not good. That's not the position that we're in," said Mayor Reeves at his weekly press conference this morning. "I believe the position we're in is to uphold the law."
The mayor believes the public forum was a healthy discussion. "I think that's why we have public forum—for people to be able to share their ideas. I hold no disdain or concern about any of the pastors we heard from and them sharing their feelings about that … and the folks that showed up and said, 'If you don't want to go, don't buy a ticket.'"
He added, "We follow both the Florida and the U.S. Constitution. And so again, I certainly understand and respect the debate about this. I've talked to many people in the community about it, but at this point, we're going to continue to follow the Constitution and the advice of our city attorney." As of publication time, the Christmas drag show is set to go on as planned.
ICE FLYERS REVAMPED
The Pensacola Ice Flyers have kicked off their 2025-26 season with an enhanced fan experience following a $10 million facility upgrade at the Pensacola Bay Center, marking the 30th year of professional hockey in Pensacola.
Owner Greg Harris said fans will notice immediate improvements including NHL-level boards and glass, a state-of-the-art sound system, new lighting and a completely rebuilt ice plant. The upgrades, approved by the Tourist Development Council and Board of County Commissioners in 2024, bring the facility up to professional hockey's highest standards.
"It is going to be like nothing they've ever seen on the Gulf Coast here," Harris said. "If an NHL arena wanted to put a brand new system in top to bottom, they would put what we got in the Bay Center."
The new speaker arrays positioned throughout the arena eliminate the muffled sound that occasionally plagued the old system, ensuring crisp audio for every seat. The upgraded ice plant not only improves ice quality but also increases energy efficiency, ultimately saving taxpayer money while creating better playing conditions.
Harris has been using the facility improvements as a recruiting tool, noting that players are impressed to learn they'll be competing on the same quality ice and boards used in the NHL.
Beyond the physical upgrades, Harris emphasized the team's commitment to community
Photo Courtesy of myescambia.com
engagement through the Pensacola Ice Flyers Foundation. The organization serves as presenting sponsor for Pensacola Mardi Gras this year and supports numerous local initiatives, including Fiesta Pensacola, Rally Foundation for Childhood Cancer Research and Navy Days.
"You're not just buying a ticket to watch a hockey game," Harris explained. "Every cent also helps contribute to something that's a part of our community."
To follow the Pensacola Ice Flyers, visit iceflyers.com.
SUNDAY'S CHILD GRANTS
Sunday's Child, a Pensacola Bay Area member-based philanthropic group that promotes LGBTQ+ inclusion and equality by awarding grants to significant charitable and economic initiatives, recently awarded grants to six Pensacola Bay Area charities.
The 200 members of Sunday's Child funded and selected the projects and initiatives, which include: Life Horse at Grand Review Farm, Lutheran Services Florida, 309 Punk Project, Stamped LGBTQ Film Festival, First Tee Gulf Coast and Warrington Emergency Aid Center. Each will receive $20,000 to fund their projects.
Life Horse at Grand Review Farm's grant "Bridging the Barn: Inclusive Equine Wellness for LGBTQ+ Youth and Allies" will fund a traumainformed equine-assisted program and adaptive riding equipment designed to support LGBTQ+ youth and their allies.
Lutheran Services Florida's grant "Nurturing Safe Spaces for Youth" will allow the organization to replace worn-out furniture and create a more positive environment in their youth shelter, Currie House.
309 Punk Project's grant "Lifting Up Access to the Arts" will fund the installation of a platform lift at the 309 house to make the space accessible to anyone with mobility issues.
Stamped Film Festival's grant "Emma Jones: Preserving Our Past and Inspiring Our Future" will allow the organization to produce a documentary short showcasing the history of the Emma Jones Society with its deep roots in Pensacola LGBTQ+ history.
First Tee Gulf Coast's grant "Empowering Youth Through Inclusion and Character Development" will fund a van that will be used to eliminate transportation barriers to their program.
Warrington Emergency Aid Center's grant "WEAC Roof Repair" will fund a complete roof replacement at the volunteer-run food pantry.
For more information about Sunday's Child and how to become a member, visit sundayschild.org.
THE STATE OF UWF
The University of West Florida held its annual State of the University address on Oct. 16, with Interim President Manny Diaz Jr. opening his remarks with confidence about UWF's position: "I'm proud to say that the state of our university is strong and our future is even brighter."
This fall, UWF welcomed more than 15,000 students for the first time in its history. "This isn't just a number. It's a reflection of trust," Diaz said.
"Trust from students and families who see the value of a UWF education, who believe in the strength of our faculty, who know that opportunity happens here."
For the fourth consecutive year, UWF ranks among the top 10 public schools in the South by U.S. News and World Report, currently standing at number six. The institution also earned the number six spot for best colleges for veterans in the South.
Diaz said, "We're also ranked third among all state university system institutions in the Board of Governors' performance metrics, a testament to our continued excellence in meeting and exceeding state priorities."
The Carnegie Foundation designated UWF as an R2–High Research Activity institution for the first time in university history. The designation came during a banner year for research funding. Since August alone, UWF has secured nearly $65 million in external funding—a record pace for the university.
Diaz outlined his priorities, including construction of the Darrell Gooden Stadium, expanded wellness initiatives, the creation of the Office of Military Services and a renewed focus on research and economic development through new partnerships and innovation hubs.
"These initiatives represent not a change in direction, but a continuation of the forward momentum that defines this university," Diaz said. "However long I have the opportunity to serve as interim president, my commitment is to continue advancing this momentum, ensuring that every member of our community has the opportunity to thrive."
Dr. Heather Riddell, Faculty Senate President and associate professor of communication, emphasized the senate's commitment to shared governance during this transition period. She stated, "Our mission as a faculty senate remains clear: to advocate for the people who make this institution thrive—our faculty."
The faculty senate is working to ensure that "decisions about curriculum, policy and governance reflect faculty voice and expertise," while strengthening communication between faculty and administration "so that our shared governance is not just a principle but a practice."
Trista Bennett, Student Body President and biology major, outlined SGA's ambitious agenda for the 2025-2026 academic year.
Running on a platform called "Dream A Vision," Bennett and Vice President Alexander Saelzler focused on "increasing SGA's reliability for students, enhancing student engagement, ensuring equitable support for all student populations, advocating for student needs and promoting mental wellness across campus."
Diaz ended his address on an inspiring note. "UWF is more than an institution—it's a community of purpose and possibility. Here, innovation takes shape, learning transforms lives and collaboration strengthens our future. As we move into the year ahead, let us do so with optimism, unity and shared commitment to excellence in all that we do." {in}
Getting properly spooked looks different for everybody, but we can all agree it's a crucial part of the October experience. To get you in the spirit, here's a curated round-up of local events happening between now and Halloween. We included a mix of kid-friendly and adults-only events, plus some seasonal food and beverage picks if that's more your style. And we've got even more Halloween events kicking off the A&E Happenings section on page 14.
Watch the original "Beetlejuice" on the big screen Friday, Oct. 24 pensacolasaenger.com
Or "Friday the 13th" surrounded by adoptable cats Friday, Oct. 24 coastalcatpcola.com
Try a Pumpkin Bee's Knees cocktail at Pearl & Horn pearlandhorn.com
Dance with "Dracula" Oct. 24-26 balletpensacola.org
Practice your callbacks and perfect your (optional) costume for The Undergrowth's backyard screening of "The Rocky Horror Picture Show" Friday, Oct. 24 @the.undergrowth
Get your PSL fix local-style with a Gourd Lord at Jitterbug @drink.jitterbug
Brave the Hadji Haunted House Oct. 24-25 and Oct. 31-Nov. 1 hadjihauntedhouse.com
Shop a little and support little makers at The Burrow's kids market Sunday, Oct. 26 @theburrow.oddcolony
Say yes to Ghoul Dinner Thursday, Oct. 30 @mrs.jones_coffee
Take a pumpkin-themed cooking class Friday, Oct. 31 pensacolacooks.com/cooking-classes
Trick-or-treat on the bayou Friday, Oct. 24 myeasthill.org
Then trunk-or-treat at the beach Sunday, Oct. 26 casinobeachbar.com
Adopt a new pet at Howl-O-Ween Saturday, Oct. 25 myescambia.com/our-services/animal-welfare
Add the pumpkin cold foam next time you're at Maker's Cafe @_makerscafe_
Revisit the "Twilight" saga Oct. 29-Nov. 2 amctheatres.com/events/twilight-saga
downtownpensacola.com
Find your next spooky read at Perfect Day Books @perfectdaybookstore {in}
*For more on GLSNRWEEN, turn to page 13.
Models: Emily, Tobi & Qora Echevarria Costumes/Creative Direction by Emily & Tobi Echevarria Photos by Geoff Peck (@tinyobservations)
Arts & Entertainment
Halloween at Large
By Savannah Evanoff
decided, every year we're having a Halloween bash. The point of it is not to make it just another show, because there's a ton of Halloween shows every year. We are literally throwing a Halloween party with our friends and fun bands, and we just try to get up to crazy antics. The vibe is chaos and mischief and Halloween at large."
And it's worth it just to see what costume [glsnr] steps on stage in. They pick a theme every year—in year one, with giant paper mâché heads as the villain HIM and imposters from an early episode of "The Powerpuff Girls," and in year two as "Adventure Time" characters.
"The one rule is if you're playing GLSNRWEEN, you gotta wear a costume," Kennedy said. "We've seen crazy costumes. We had ShaiHulud from 'Dune' last year; someone came as a sandworm. It's a lot of fun. I love seeing everybody's outfits."
The event will feature a costume contest at the end of the night with merch and other unique prizes, he said. But the main event is obviously the music; everyone's excited to see indie rock band Lunar Vacation.
"We also were lucky enough to be included as part of Foo Foo Fest this year as 309 [Punk Project's] HalloZine Fest Aftershow," Kennedy said. "And so we were able to get a cool non-local band to jump in, so that's really exciting. I'm also stoked to be playing with Blight. Those dudes rule; they've been around a long time. It's good that they're back, and I'm really excited to get to play with them."
we've gotten the conversation rolling and finally started taking steps in that direction. I love it. It sounds great. It's fun. It's one of my favorite things I've been involved with as far as music writing goes. I think it's going to sound really great and hopefully open us up to some more collaborative efforts down the line."
Kennedy is geeking out about Tidus coming in from Baton Rouge.
"I love Tidus a lot, just personally," Kennedy said. "Maybe I annoyed the other guys with it, but I think Tidus rips. We got to play with them in Mobile, and they left an impact on me, for sure."
GLSNRWEEN could mean more [glsnr] music dropping soon, too. They use funds earned from the event to record.
"After GLSNRWEEN, we'll probably be discussing studio time to get a couple new tracks down and released," Kennedy said. "I know we've been kicking around some ideas about getting some done, like 'Contact' is one of our newer ones in the roster that isn't recorded yet."
GLSNRWEEN will also feature Halloween decorations, a magician, emcee Wanda Doomy and, after the performances, dance music to keep the party going.
"I hope that everyone just like, awakens their inner imp and brings a party spirit and a heart of mischief," Kennedy said. "It's a Halloween party more than it's a show." {in}
GLSNRWEEN
bands Lunar Vacation, Tidus, Blight, Grave Chorus, Other and of course, [glsnr].
"Being on Halloween day instead of adjacent to Halloween—in addition to pulling Lunar Vacation—we wanted to really swing for the fences this year and just get wild with it," Kennedy said. "I think next year we're going to do the same. I'm wake of Pensacola band Faux/Fox ending "Beginning of Summer Beach Bummer"—a music event [glsnr] looked forward to every year.
[glsnr] will debut a collab with Grave Chorus at the event.
"We are all lovers of spooky Halloween season type stuff," Kennedy said. "And so we were like, 'Well, I'm not gonna hijack, like bite Summer Bummer, but let's do our own thing. So we
"I had this idea for kind of a goth-y dancey vibe of a song, and we were throwing ideas around as far as collaborating with some other local bands," Kennedy said. "We played with the Grave Chorus multiple times now, and
WHAT: A Halloween concert and party featuring [glsnr], Lunar Vacation, Tidus, Blight, Grave Chorus and Other
WHEN: 6 p.m. Friday, Oct. 31
WHERE: The Handlebar, 319 N. Tarragona St.
COST: $26.55
DETAILS: thehandlebar850.com
[glsnr] / Photo by Robby Tucker
a&e happenings
HALLOWEEN EVENTS
HADJI HAUNTED HOUSE The annual Hadji Haunted House is co-hosted by the Hadji Shriners and Pensacola Breast Cancer Association with proceeds supporting PBCA. The haunted house is located at 800 W. Nine Mile Road. The house is open 7-10:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday nights through Nov. 1. A kid-friendly 3D funhouse runs from 6-10:30 p.m. as well. Tickets available at hadjihauntedhouse.com.
3RD ANNUAL TRUNK-OR-TREAT WITH PENSACOLA JEEPS A family-friendly Halloween event 6-8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 24 at O'Reilly Auto Parts, 1210 Airport Blvd. Details at facebook.com/thepensacolajeeps.
ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW Backyard screening of the cult classic with shadow cast Friday, Oct. 24 at 6:30 p.m. $10 suggested donation; costume contest held at intermission. Props and callbacks are encouraged. BYO chair or blanket. Direct message @the.undergrowth on Instagram for address.
HALLOWEEN MOVIE NIGHTS AT LAGUNA'S Take in a free screening of Halloween films, including some family-friendly picks at Laguna's Beach Bar and Grill, 460 Pensacola Beach Blvd. On Friday, Oct. 24, it's two showings of "Hocus Pocus" at 6 and 8:30 p.m. Snacks and drinks will be available for purchase.
CANDLELIGHT: A HAUNTED EVENING OF HALLOWEEN CLASSICS Halloween-inspired music set to candlelight 4:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 24 at First United Methodist Church, 6 E. Wright St. Tickets available at feverup.com.
HAUNTED HALLOWEEN BEER GARDEN
BASH Participate in a costume contest, DJ and dancing, beer releases, food specials and more at Coastal County Brewing Company, 3041 E. Olive Road, 6 p.m. Friday, Oct. 24. Details at coastalcountybrewing.com/events.
BALLET PENSACOLA PRESENTS: DRACULA Ballet Pensacola opens its latest season with "Dracula" 7 p.m. Friday Oct. 24 and Saturday, Oct. 25; and 1:30 p.m. Sunday Oct. 26. Event at Pensacola Little Theatre, 400 S. Jefferson St. Tickets available at pensacolalittletheatre.com.
OCTOBER MEWVIE NIGHT: FRIDAY THE 13TH Visit Coastal Cat Café, 1508 W. Garden St., and watch "Friday the 13th" with adoptable cats 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 24. Tickets are $32 and available at coastalcatpcola.com
CLASSIC MOVIE SCREENING: BEETLE-
JUICE Watch the 1988 film "Beetlejuice" in the Saenger Theatre, 118 S. Palafox St. 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 24. Tickets are $5 and are available at the box office or online at pensacolasaenger.com.
ROY HYATT ENVIRONMENTAL CENTER: NIGHT OF CREEPY CRAWLIES Roy Hyatt Environmental Center will be hosting its Fall Open House titled "Night of Creepy Crawlies" 5:30-8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 24 located at 1300 Tobias Road. The event will include birds of prey with the Wildlife Sanctuary of Northwest Florida, the center's
resident reptiles, a naturalist-led "Spider Hunt" through the woods, food trucks and more.
BUSINESS 2 COMMUNITY TRICK-ORTREAT & BIG SCREEN ON THE BAYOU MOVIE NIGHT Get ready for a night of spooky fun at Bayview Park, 2001 E. Lloyd St., on Friday, Oct. 24. Bring your ghouls and goblins to trick-ortreat, while adults explore local businesses from 5-7 p.m. Afterwards, spread out on blankets or chairs to enjoy the movie "Adams Family" on the lawn. Admission is free.
TROLLEY OF THE NIGHT Explore the ghosts of North Hill this year on the Trolley of the Night. Tours are 6:30, 7:30 and 8:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 24 and Saturday, Oct. 25. Tickets are $10-$20. Tickets available at historicpensacola.com.
HALLOWEEN MARKET Visit Palafox Market on North Palafox and trick-or-trick with 200-plus vendors and a free haunted trolley running from 10:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 25 A creepy crawly zoo is from 10 a.m.-1 p.m., a Halloween selfie station and festival games will be going on throughout the market.
36TH ANNUAL CHARITY UNDERWATER PUMPKIN CARVING CONTEST Dive Pros
annual charity pumpkin carving contest will be 12-8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 25. Carving takes place at Park West; party takes place at Dive Pros, 7203 Highway 98 West. All proceeds raised will benefit FavorHouse of Northwest Florida.
HOWL-O-WEEN The Escambia County Department of Animal Welfare will host "Howlo-Ween," a free community event featuring free pet adoptions, food trucks, vendors, pet resources and more. The event will take place Saturday, Oct. 25 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Animal Welfare and Adoption Center, 200 W. Fairfield Drive. Adoption fees will be waived for all dogs, cats, puppies and kittens at the shelter during the event. A $15 licensing fee will be applied to all adoptions for Escambia County residents. Visit 24petconnect.com to see a full list of adoptable pets in Escambia County.
HOWL-O-WEEN PET COSTUME CONTEST
Contest sign-up begins at 1 p.m. and contest begins at 2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 26 at Perfect Plain, 50 E. Garden St.
THE 5TH ANNUAL WITCHES & WEREWOLVES HALLOWEEN PADDLE RIDE & BAR CRAWL RETURNS TO PERDIDO KEY
The 5th Annual Witches & Werewolves Halloween Paddle Ride & Bar Crawl is 11:30 a.m. Sunday, Oct. 26 leaving from Galvez Landing in Perdido Key. Registration is $25 and benefits Feeding the Gulf Coast. An afterparty will take place at Hubs featuring the Smokey Otis Band. Tickets are available at keygulls.com.
TRUNK-OR-TREAT AT CASINO BEACH
BAR & GRILLE Trunk-or-Treat beach-style 2-5 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 26 at Casino Beach Bar & Grille, 41 Fort Pickens Road. Come early for brunch. Stay late for live music starting at 4 p.m.
HAUNTCERT Pensacola Children's Chorus presents a Halloween concert 6:30-8:30 p.m. Monday,
Oct. 27 at Tuesday, Oct. 28 at Jane C. Noonan Center, 46 E. Chase St. Tickets are $15-$35 and available at pensacolasings.org.
HALLOZINE FEST Pensacola's first-ever zinefest featuring a spooktacular celebration of zines and indie media with a market, exhibits, workshops, speakers, films and more 11 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 30 at Voices of Pensacola Multicultural Center, 117 E. Government St. Details on Eventbrite.
TRUNK-OR-TREAT Annual trunk-or-treat 5-7 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 29 at St. Luke United Methodist Church, 1394 E. 9 Mile Road.
HARDCORE HALLOWEEN RAVE Rave starts at 8 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 30 at Vinyl Music Hall, 2 S. Palafox St. Details and tickets at vinylmusichall.com.
GASOLINA REGGAETON PARTY: HALLOWEEN Halloween-themed Gasolina party is 9 p.m. Friday, Oct. 31 at Vinyl Music Hall, 2 S. Palafox St. Details and tickets at vinylmusichall.com.
PUMPKIN SPICE AND EVERYTHING NICE SPEED MINGLE Speed mingle social and business networking event with special Halloweenthemed cocktails 5:15-7:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 31 at Gary's Brewery, 208 Newman Ave. Details at facebook.com/garysbrew.
MEOWLOWEEN PARTY Visit Coastal Cat Café, 1508 W. Garden St. for a Halloween Party with festive décor, candy and purrs from adoptable cats. Event is 6-7:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 31. Tickets are $28 and available at coastalcatpcola.com.
EVERYTHING: PUMPKIN COOKING CLASS Cooking class is 6-9 p.m. Friday, Oct. 31at Pensacola Cooks Classroom 4051 Barrancas Avenue, Ste. C. Cost is $60 per student. Sign up at: pensacolacooks.com/cooking-classes.
HALLOWEEN BAR CRAWL Enjoy a two-day bar crawl Oct. 31 and Nov. 1. Check in 4-6 p.m. each day at 86 Forks Bar + Table, 11 S. Palafox St., Ste. B. Crawl map, tickets and list of bars available at crawlwith.us/pensacola/halloween.
POTIONS & PINTS Partake in themed cocktails and beer, a costume contest (begins at 7:30 p.m.), wizard karaoke, live DJs and live music 8 p.m.-midnight Friday, Oct. 31 at Perfect Plain, 50 E. Garden St.
ODD HALLOWS EVE AT ODD COLONY
Odd Colony celebrates Halloween with dark beer releases, tarot card readings, a costume contest and more 6 p.m. Friday, Oct. 31 at 260 N. Palafox St. Details at facebook.com/oddcolony.
O'RILEY'S IRISH PUB AND O'RILEY'S UPTOWN TAVERN HALLOWEEN COSTUME CONTESTS The events will be held on Halloween night at both locations. O'Riley's Irish Pub Downtown, 321 S. Palafox St., is offering $1,000 in cash and prizes during the contest. Judging begins at 11 p.m. There will be a $5 cover for all attendees. DJ Calyx will be playing throughout the night. O'Riley's Uptown Tavern, 3728 Creighton Road, will host its own costume contest the same night. The bar will be award -
COUNTRY & ROCK ‘N ROLL
a&e happenings
ing $500 in cash and prizes among the winners. DJ Henri will be playing throughout the night. Both events are open to people aged 21 and up. More details at orileyspub.com.
FLORA-BAMA HALLOWEEN COSTUME
CONTEST
Get in to Flora-Bama free when you're wearing a costume on Halloween Night. Win up to $600 in cash prizes during the annual costume contest. Located at 17401 Perdido Key Dr.
TALKING TO THE DEAD: A VICTORIAN SÉANCE Learn about the fascination, history and theatrics of spiritualism and the Victorian séance. Our living history department will share the origins of All Hallow's Eve and the rise of spiritualism in the Victorian era into the 1920s and demonstrate the theatrics common in a Victorian séance. This event is for ages 21 and up. Events are 5:30, 6:30, 7:30 and 8:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 31 and Saturday, Nov 1. Tickets are $35 and available at historicpensacola.com.
IT'S A 2000S HALLOWEEN PARTY Listen to your favorite 2000s hits and get one more wear of your Halloween costume 10 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 1 at Vinyl Music Hall, 2 S. Palafox St. Details and tickets at vinylmusichall.com.
NONPROFITS & FUNDRAISERS
SAVE OUR SHELTERS BAKE SALE Save our shelters will be having a bake sale on Saturday, October 25 from 9:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. at 200 W. Fairfield Dr. Shop all kinds of baked goods, crack-
ers, local honey and a table of fun items for $5 and $10. 100% of the proceeds go to support low cost spay/neuter for citizens who without our help could not get this done. For more information, please contact sossaveourshelters@gmail.com.
WE ARE ACTS MILES FOR MENTAL
HEALTH VIRTUAL 5K RUN/WALK Register for the virtual 5k to run or walk anytime during the month of November to support access to mental healthcare in the community. Register at runsignup.com/race/fl/pensacola/weareactsmilesformentalhealth.
ANIMAL ALLIES FLORIDA BINGO Animal
Allies Florida hosts bingo twice monthly at Beef 'O' Brady's, 1 New Market St., Cantonment (on Nine Mile Road near Pine Forest Road). The cost is 10 rounds of bingo for $10, with cash prizes for winners. Food and drinks are also available for purchase. For more information, visit facebook.com/animalalliesflorida.
ANIMAL ALLIES CAT AND KITTEN ADOP -
TION Visit Pet Supermarket 11 a.m.-3 p.m. every first and third Saturday of the month at 6857 N. Ninth Ave. to meet your furever friend. Visit aaflorida.org for details.
CARING & SHARING MINISTRY FOOD
DRIVE The Gloria Green Caring & Sharing Ministry is attached to the Historic St. Joseph Catholic Church, 140 W. Government St. The ministry feeds the homeless 10:30 a.m. Tuesdays.
The ministry's food pantry opens 10 a.m. and also has clothing. Food donations needed are pop-top canned goods, Beanie Weenies, Vienna sausage, potted meat, cans of tuna and chicken and soups. Clothing donations needed include tennis shoes for men and women, as well as sweatshirts and new underwear for men in sizes small, medium and large. Call DeeDee Green at (850) 723-3390 for details.
COMMUNITY EVENTS
RUNNING WILD AND WEST PENSACOLA
ELEMENTARY SCHOOL: SOCKTOBER West Pensacola Elementary School is teaming up with Running Wild and other local businesses for the annual Socktober donation drive. From October 1-31 the community is encouraged to donate new socks to be distributed to individuals in need through Opening Doors Northwest Florida. Dropoff locations include: Running Wild Pensacola, 3012 E. Cervantes St.; Running Wild Fairhope, 72A South Section St.; West Pensacola Elementary School, 801 N. 49th Ave. as well as select local businesses and partner locations across the community. Donate new, unopened socks for all ages and genders. Additionally, you can donate needed items such as: jackets, blankets, water, shoes, hats, rain gear, etc.
FOO FOO FEST KICK OFF The Pensacola Foo Foo Festival Committee and 2025 grant recipients will officially kick off the annual event's twelfth iteration with a public press conference at 5 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 29 at Friends of Downtown's
"Afterburn" installation (located on Intendencia St. between Palafox St. & S. Jefferson St.). The event will feature block print and button-making with 309 Punk Project, a toast to the artist with Tomislav Topic, a performance from saxophonist Jacobi "CoCo" Curr and Pensacola Little Theatre's "Somebody to Love," and bites provided by Graffiti Pizza. For more information on this year's events, visit foofoofest.com.
ARTS & CULTURE
MINIATURE MASTERPIECES
An evening with award-winning jewelry designer Brenda Smith 6 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 23 at Pensacola Museum of Art, 407 S. Jefferson St. Doors open at 5 p.m. A curated collection of Brenda Smith's jewelry will be available for purchase during the event, with a portion of the proceeds directly benefiting the Pensacola Museum of Art. Details at pensacolamuseum.org.
EMERALD COAST REVIEW LAUNCH Join Emerald Coast Writers 5:30-7:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 25, for its Open House Book Launch for Emerald Coast Review at the Cultural Center, 400 S. Jefferson St. Details at emeraldcoastwritersinc.org.
PENSACOLA INTERSTATE FAIR
The Pensacola Interstate Fair runs through Sunday, Oct. 26 located at the Pensacola Fairgrounds, 6655 Mobile Highway. Thursday, Al Joslin Elvis impersonator; 7:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 24 Clay Walker; 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 25 George
a&e happenings
Birge. Rides and attractions including sea lion splash and a family petting zoo also available throughout the fair. Tickets and information available at pensacolafair.com.
DRAG ME TO THE WELL Show is 9-11 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 25 at The Well, 42 E. Garden St. Featuring: Andy Rodginous (headliner), Wynter Kandie, Chocolat DuBois, Aniyah Jade Oshanns and Alastina (Inweekly's Best of the Coast Best Drag Performer awardee).
WORLD BALLET COMPANY: CINDERELLA
Show is 7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 25 at Saenger Theatre, 118 S. Palafox St. Tickets and information at pensacolasaenger.com.
JOSH GATES: AN EVENING OF GHOSTS, MONSTERS AND TALES OF ADVENTURE
Josh Gates of Discovery Channel's "Expedition Unknown" presents at the Saenger Theatre, 118 S. Palafox St. Event is 6 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 26. Tickets available at pensacolasaenger.com.
2025 GRAPHIC DESIGN EXHIBITION View
the portfolios of students from the Senior Studio Graphic Design Course at Pensacola State College. Exhibition is 5-7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 28 at the Switzer Gallery, 1000 College Blvd.
IMPROVABLE CAUSE PRESENTS: CHEESE FOR THE TABLE Show starts at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Oct 29 at The Handlebar, 319 N. Tarragona St. More info available at thehandlebar850.com.
OPEN BOOKS FALL $1 BOOK SALE This year's book sale supports WUWF, WSRE and First City Art Center. Book sale is 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 1 and Sunday, Nov. 2 at Open Books, 1040 N. Guillemard St. Details at facebook.com/openbooksbookstore.
HIZASHICON Anime convention featuring video game voice talents, cosplay, panels, artist vendors, food trucks and more Oct. 31-Nov. 2 at multiple locations in Pensacola. Details at animepensacola.com.
IMPROVABLE CAUSE Monthly improv show is 10:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 1 at Pensacola Little Theatre, 400 S. Jefferson St. Tickets are $10 and available at pensacolalittletheatre.com.
WANDERING WITHOUT PURPOSE Exhibit featuring paintings from artist Relja Penezic and a sound installation performing artist, Victoria Jordanova. On view Oct. 30-Nov. 10 at Pensacola State College in the Anna Lamar Switzer Center for Visual Arts, 1000 College Blvd. An artist lecture and reception is set for 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 4.
THE ART GALLERY AT UWF PRESENTS THIS MOMENT TOGETHER: A FACULTY SHOW FOR JOHN MARKOWITZ The Art Gallery at the University of West Florida presents "This Moment Together: A Faculty Show for John Markowitz." Honoring the legacy of the late UWF art and design lecturer John Markowitz,
the show features faculty works that speak to his influence on their artistic journeys. The exhibit is on view through Nov. 20. TAG is located at 11000 University Parkway, Bldg. 82. For more information visit uwf.edu/tag.
DUALITIES: NATIONAL SCULPTURE
EXHIBITION This national exhibition will feature works from various artists at Pensacola Museum of Art, 407 S. Jefferson St. The exhibition is on view through Jan. 11. Details are at pensacolamuseum.org.
THRIFT STYLE New exhibit at Pensacola Museum of History explores the reuse of feed sacks to make clothing and other household objects. View the exhibit and explore the museum, located at 330 S. Jefferson St. Details at historicpensacola.org.
FIRST FRIDAY AT BLUE MORNING
GALLERY Visit Blue Morning Gallery, 21 S. Palafox St., 5:30 p.m. every first Friday of the month for a reception with wine, live music and occasional artist demonstrations. Visit bluemorninggallery.com for details.
PENSACOLA HERITAGE FOUNDATION
LECTURES Learn Pensacola/Northwest Florida history through interesting, informal lectures every other Tuesday at The Wright Place, 80 E. Wright St. Doors open at 11 a.m. and lunch is served at 11:30 a.m. The lecture starts at noon and lasts one hour. Lecture cost is $5 for non-
members and is free to members. Lunches are $12. For reservations, call (850) 380-7759.
PENSACOLA ROSE SOCIETY Monthly meetings are normally 6 p.m. the second Monday of the month at the Pensacola Garden Center, 1850 N. Ninth Ave. Visit pensacolarosesociety.org for more information.
BTB COMEDY Watch live standup comedy in open mic style 7 p.m. Mondays at Odd Colony, 260 N. Palafox St. Follow BTB Comedy on Facebook for updates.
COMEDY SHOWCASE AT SUBCULTURE
BTB Comedy presents a comedy showcase the first Thursday monthly at Subculture Art Gallery, 701 N. V St. Follow facebook.com/pensacolasubculture for updates.
SCRIPTEASERS Join writers at Pensacola Little Theatre, 400 S. Jefferson St., for Scripteasers every month. Visit pensacolalittletheatre.com for details.
PALAFOX MARKET Enjoy Palafox Market 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturdays. The event features local farmers, artists and crafters on North and South Palafox streets at Martin Luther King Jr. Plaza and Plaza Ferdinand. For updates, visit facebook.com/downtownpensacola.
for more listings visit inweekly.net
free will astrology
WEEK OF OCTOBER 23
ARIES (MARCH 21-APRIL 19): I bet your upcoming night dreams will include marriages, mating dances and sacramental unions. Even if you are not planning deeper mergers with trustworthy allies in your waking life, your subconscious mind is musing on such possibilities. I hope this horoscope inspires you to make such fantasies more conscious. What collaborations and blends would serve you well? Give your imagination permission to ponder new and exciting connections. Visualize yourself thriving amidst new connections.
TAURUS (APRIL 20-MAY 20): In winemaking, malolactic fermentation softens a wine's tart malic acid into gentler lactic acid. This process imparts a creamier and rounder mouthfeel, while preserving the wine's structure. In accordance with astrological omens, I invite you to adopt this as your metaphor of power. See if you can refine your intensity without losing your integrity. Keep things interesting but soften the edges a bit. Introduce warmth and steadiness into provocative situations so they're free of irritation and easier to engage with, but still enriching.
By Rob Brezsny
CANCER (JUNE 21-JULY 22): In Shinto mythology, Ame-no-Uzume is the goddess of mirth and revelry. In one story, she seduces the sun out of its hiding place by performing a humorous and provocative dance. I am sending her over to your sphere right now in the hope that she will coax you out of your comfort zone of retreat, control and self-protection. While I'm glad you have taken this break to recharge your spiritual batteries, I think it's time to come out and play. You have done important work to nurture and process your deep feelings. Now we would love you to express what you've learned with freewheeling panache.
LEO (JULY 23-AUG. 22): Ancient cultures in Sumeria, Egypt and China used willow bark as a pain reliever. Many centuries later, in 1828, European scientists isolated the chemical salicin from the bark and used it to create aspirin. What had been a folk remedy became a widely used medicine all over the planet. Is there a metaphorically comparable development unfolding in your life? I think so. Something you've known or practiced could be evolving into its next form. The world may finally be ready to receive wisdom, a technique, or an insight you've used for a long time. Consider refining and upgrading it. Share it in ways that meet the present moment's specific need.
seeing and liking people as they genuinely are, without imposing my expectations and projections onto them. The coming weeks will be an excellent time to tap into these qualities in yourself, dear Libra.
GEMINI (MAY 21-JUNE 20): The coming weeks will be an excellent time to practice the art of strategic disruption. One way to do it is to interrupt your patterns so they don't calcify and obstruct you. Just for fun, you could eat breakfast for dinner. Take a different route to a familiar place. Talk to a person you would usually avoid. Say no when you'd normally say yes, or vice versa. Part of your brain loves efficiency, habits and well-worn grooves. But grooves can become ruts. As a rousing spiritual experiment, you could do things differently for no reason except to prove to yourself that you can. Playful chaos can be a form of prayer. Messing with your standard approaches will unleash your creativity.
VIRGO (AUG. 23-SEPT. 22): In honor of your special needs right now, Virgo, I am coining a new English word: edge-ucation. It's like "education" but with an extra edge. Though book-learning is included in its purview, it also requires you to seek out raw teaching in all possible ways: on the streets, the bedroom, the natural world, everywhere. To properly pursue your higher edge-education, you must hunt down provocative influences, thought-provoking adventures and unfamiliar stimulation. Make the whole world your laboratory and classroom.
LIBRA (SEPT. 23-OCT. 22): When I began writing horoscopes years ago, I had greater empathy with some of the signs than with others. But I worked hard to overcome this bias, and now I truly love and understand every tribe of the zodiac equally. I attribute this accomplishment to the fact that I have three Libra planets in my natal chart. They have propelled me to develop a warm, affectionate, fair-minded objectivity. I have a deeply honed capacity for
SCORPIO (OCT. 23-NOV. 21): Many cultures regard obsidian as having protective powers against negative energy. This makes it popular for healing talismans. Obsidian mirrors have often been used to scry for visions and prophecies. Because obsidian is so sharp, ancient peoples incorporated it into tools used to hunt for food, like knives and arrowheads. In modern times, obsidian is used for its beauty in tabletops, tiles and architectural components. Do you know how this precious substance is formed? It's born in the shock between elements: molten lava meets water or cool air and hardens so quickly that crystals can't form, trapping a mirror-dark clarity in volcanic glass. I propose we make it your symbolic power object in the coming months, Scorpio.
SAGITTARIUS (NOV. 22-DEC. 21): Medieval alchemists engaged in literal laboratory work as they attempted to create elixirs of immortality, concoct medicines to heal diseases, and metamorphose lead into gold. But the modern practice of alchemy is primarily a psychological effort to achieve awakening and enlightenment. In the early stages of the work, the seeker experiences the metaphorical "black sun." It's a dark radiance, the beginning of creative decay, that fuels the coming transformation. I suspect you now have the potential to call on this potent asset, Sagittarius. It's wild, though. You must proceed with caution and discernment. What wornout aspects of yourself are you ready to let rot, thereby fertilizing future growth?
CAPRICORN (DEC. 22-JAN. 19): In Japan, shakkei refers to the practice of "borrowed scenery." The idea is to create a garden so that surrounding features become part of its expansive context: distant mountains, an expanse of sky, or a nearby body of water. The artistry
lies in allowing the horizon to merge gracefully with what's close at hand. I recommend this approach to you, Capricorn. Frame your current project with a backdrop that enlarges it. Partner with places, influences, or long-view purposes that augment your meaning and enhance your beauty. Align your personal actions with a vast story so they send even more potent ripples out into the world.
AQUARIUS (JAN. 20-FEB. 18): Computer scientist Radia Perlman is the "Mother of the Internet." She invented the Spanning Tree Protocol, a component that's essential for the flow of online data. Despite her work's splashy importance, hardly anyone knows of her. With that in mind, I remind you: some revolutions unfold with little fanfare; positive transformations may be inconspicuous. How does that relate to you? I suspect the next beautiful or useful thing you contribute may also be veiled and underestimated, at least at first. And yet it may ultimately generate a shift more significant than you can now imagine. My advice is to trust the long game. You're doing good work, though its recognition may be late in arriving.
PISCES (FEB. 19-MARCH 20): The mystical Persian poet Hafez wrote, "Fear is the cheapest room in the house. I'd like to see you living in better conditions." Picture that shabby room, Pisces: cramped, dim, damp. Now imagine you have resolved to never again live in such a place. In fact, sometime soon you will move, metaphorically speaking, into a spacious, highceilinged place with wide windows and skylights, fresh air flooding through. I believe life will conspire on your behalf if you initiate this bold move. You now have extra power to exorcize at least some of your angsts and embrace liberating joy.
HERE'S THE HOMEWORK: Is it important to distinguish what you need from what you want? {in}
freewillastrology.com newsletter.freewillastrology.com freewillastrology@freewillastrology.com BrezsnyAstrology@gmail.com © 2025 Rob Brezsny
news of the weird
THAT'S NOT HOLY WATER On Oct. 10, during the 9 a.m. Mass at St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican, an unidentified man climbed the Altar of Confession, dropped his pants to his ankles and urinated on the site, the Mirror reported. Hundreds of tourists looked on as plainclothes officers approached him; the Holy Pee-er was quickly removed from the premises after flashing a full moon at the gathered masses. Pope Leo was reportedly "shocked"; it was unclear whether he or another officiant was leading the service.
THE FOREIGN PRESS France's national postal service, aptly named La Poste, released a croissant-scented stamp on Oct. 8, France24 reported. Nearly 600,000 of the fragrant marks are intended to honor the "emblem of French gastronomy," the postal service gushed. "I had a stock of 1,000 stamps available," said Valence post office director Anthony Richet. "And on the first day, more than 400 stamps were already gone." The stickers can also be used for international mail.
DIDN'T SEE THAT COMING Zimbabwean opposition lawmaker and poet Desire Moyo, 45, lost his life in a bizarre accident in the early morning hours of Oct. 10, the BBC reported. As Moyo and four others drove along the Bulawayo-Gweru highway, they crashed into an elephant. The other occupants of the car were injured; one of them said the elephant was struck on its backside, after which it turned around and started fighting the car. It is believed the elephant's reaction did the most damage and led to Moyo's demise.
QUESTIONABLE JUDGMENT Congregants at Legacy Faith Church in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, on Sept. 28 were confronted by their pastor, Phillip Thornton, wearing and wielding an assaultstyle rifle to illustrate his points during his sermon. WHP-TV reported that Thornton used the firearm to symbolize "clearing the room," or using spiritual violence against unbelief. At times, Thornton pointed the gun at the congregation, with a laser bouncing off church members. The church released a statement after concerns were brought to light, saying the gun was "disabled (firing pin removed), cleared and publicly shown to be ammo free." But Thornton also said, "I could get you, any one of you." The statement closed with gratitude for bringing "great attention" to the church. After all, there's no such thing as bad publicity.
EWWWWW First of all, apparently in the United Kingdom, ladybugs are called ladybirds. Regardless, one woman is fighting an epic battle against the cute spotted beetles in Hertfordshire, the Daily Star reported on Oct. 10. Lois MallettWalker's home has been invaded by "around 300" ladybugs, where they're covering her curtains, windows and walls. And, she said, "One peed on me and it stank." The 35-year-old tried to shoo the bugs outdoors but ended up vacuuming up some of them. "I love ladybugs, but it was far too many in my house for me."
FAKE NEWS Megan Ashlee Davis is a college student in Texas, Chron.com reported on Oct.
By the Editors at Andrews McMeel
10. She is not a server at an Olive Garden in St. Louis, and she didn't get arrested for assault after throwing a basket of breadsticks at a customer. But Davis' life has been turned upside down since a Facebook account called Pure videos posted a (real) mug shot of Davis and claimed she had retaliated for a bad tip by tossing the treats at a diner. "It's probably like my worst nightmare coming to reality," Davis said. She admitted that the mug shot came from a night in August, soon after her mother died, when she was arrested for public intoxication. But this recent post has garnered harassing and creepy comments. "People are disgusting out there—and scary," she said. "I feel small. Like, how do I even fix this?"
BUT WHY? Wannabe magistrate Wilber Mateo, 45, of Kansas City, Missouri, was charged with burglary and stealing from a Jackson County, Missouri, courtroom, KSHB-TV reported. Surveillance cameras spotted Mateo inside the courthouse in Independence on Oct. 2 around 3:30 p.m. After speaking with workers there, he slipped into parts of the courthouse that are not covered by the cameras. Around 7:30 p.m., he was recorded entering a courtroom, where he apparently spent the night. The next morning, a witness saw Mateo and alerted officers; they found him wearing a judge's robes and carrying three bags. Inside the bags were a small brass dog statue, pens and a sticky note with login credentials on it—along with three laptops, data storage, electronic devices and other office supplies. Mateo said he planned to sell the items to the highest bidder.
UNCONVENTIONAL WEAPON
Former strip club employee Jordan Cotto, 26, arrived at Atlantis Gentlemen's Club in Tampa, Florida, on Oct. 10, hoping to "speak with management," The Smoking Gun reported. Instead, he got involved in a verbal argument and grabbed a cheeseburger from his car, which he hurled at a male victim. The victim was unharmed, but police spoke with Cotto, who said he "did throw a cheeseburger from his vehicle" and "would do it again." Cotto was arrested for battery and eventually released on his own recognizance.
SPECIAL
DELIVERY Blake Michael Kuhlman, 26, a contract driver for Amazon, was arrested for first-degree assault after an incident in an Everett, Washington, apartment complex mailroom on Oct. 3. KRCG-TV reported that Kuhlman and a USPS carrier were in the room when an altercation took place, resulting in the mail carrier being shot in the head. Kuhlman admitted shooting the man, who will survive but lost an eye, because he said the man "was trying to charge at him while he was cornered." Kuhlman was allegedly armed with two guns, a large knife and a bulletproof vest; he told police that he had been attacked on numerous occasions and that he is being "cyberstalked" by the mafia. Kuhlman said he believed the postal worker might have been a "mafia assassin." His bond was set at $1 million. {in}
