Inweekly Oct. 21 2021

Independent News | October 21, 2021 | Volume 22 | Number 42 | Photo by Natalie Allgyer

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winners & losers

outtakes

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news 6, 7

We built a legacy on cheese, and we plan to maintain that.

feature story

buzz 8

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publisher Rick Outzen

graphic designer Tim Bednarczyk

editor & creative director Joani Delezen

contributing writers Gina Castro, Savannah Evanoff, Jennifer Leigh, Jeremy Morrison, Sydney Robinson, C.S. Satterwhite

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17, 24 Independent News is published by Inweekly Media, Inc., P.O. Box 12082, Pensacola, FL 32591. (850)438-8115. All materials published in Independent News are copyrighted. © 2018 Inweekly Media, Inc. All rights reserved.

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winners & losers

Martha Saunders / Courtesy Photo

winners MARTHA SAUNDERS The University of

West Florida president was named one of Florida's 500 Most Influential Leaders by Florida Trend. Two UWF trustees, Lewis Bear Jr. and Robert Sires, also made the list.

BEAR FAMILY FOUNDATION Baptist

Health Care Foundation recently received a $4.5 million gift commitment from the Bear Family Foundation—the largest gift ever donated to the foundation. The health center on the new Baptist Health Care campus will be named the "Bear Family Foundation Health Center" in the family's honor. The Bear family and their foundation have a long history of philanthropy in the Northwest Florida community.

ESCAMBIA COUNTY On Thursday, Oct.

14, Escambia County accepted the award for Best Disability Employer in Area 1 from the Florida Division of Vocational Rehabilitation. Area 1 spans from Pensacola to Live Oak, Fla. Escambia County was selected as the recipient out of 21 other counties. The Escambia County Commission and human resources staff have brought "On the Job Training" individuals into positions that allow them to learn valuable skills and show how their talents can be utilized for the benefit of all. Those hired work throughout various departments, including Human Resources, Facilities, Public Safety, and Planning and Building Services.

CENTURY With the assistance of Flori-

daWest, Century was one of eight rural Florida communities awarded a $35,000 Competitive Florida Partnership Grant. The grant will be used to elevate the area's education, training and skilled workforce to meet current industry and business demands. FloridaWest will facilitate the town, Escambia County School District, Pensacola State College, CareerSource Escarosa and other local leaders to develop a plan to connect youth at area schools with business and industry. The Florida Department of Economic Opportunity partners with communities to help them leverage these unique assets and set realistic goals. They will also work to connect the communities like Century with available state and federal resources.

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Pam Childers / Courtesy of escambiaclerk.com

losers PAM CHILDERS The Escambia County Clerk lost her year-long fight to prevent the Tourist Development Commission from having the county's expenditures using bed tax funds audited independently of her office. In April, she sent the TDC an email with documents that she said were "the same documentation we would provide in an audit environment." In July, she tried to create friction between the TDC and Visit Pensacola, warning them an audit might uncover issues with Visit Pensacola's procurement process. It didn't persuade the TDC to drop its request for an independent audit.

GINA PEDDY The executive director of

curriculum and instruction for the Carroll Independent School District in Southlake, Texas, advised teachers that they must have reading materials "opposing" the Holocaust if their classroom libraries had books about the genocide that killed millions of Jews. She based her training on a new Texas law that requires educators to present multiple perspectives when discussing "widely debated and currently controversial" issues. The district's school superintendent later issued an apology on Facebook—"We recognize there are not two sides of the Holocaust."

DESANTIS ADMINISTRATION Florida's

governor didn't want the public to know how many people died in each county due to COVID-19 this past summer. For 105 days starting June 4, pandemic deaths soared after the DeSantis' Florida Department of Health stopped releasing daily pandemic data that gave details about cases and hospitalizations in each county. State officials switched to weekly reports that failed to include county deaths. When pressed by the press and county commissioners, including Escambia County's board, the state directed them to find that information via the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. But the CDC reports relied on Florida's online portal—the one taken down in June. The CDC's tally of deaths for Florida went blank throughout the summer months until Sept.

17. Now we know that 305 locals died from June 4-Oct. 7. inweekly.net

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outtakes

By Rick Outzen

STRONG FOR WHOM Mayor Grover Robinson and the Pensacola City Council have appointed a Charter Review Commission to review the city charter and propose amendments for city voters to consider in the 2022 general election.

I hope the commission will evaluate whether the strong-mayor form of government is better than the city manager system that operated for nearly eight decades before the new charter passed in 2009. The evaluation is essential because we have some wanting to see Escambia County adopt a similar system with an elected county mayor or chief executive officer.

At best, we can say the city's strongmayor experiment has had mixed results. We saw the creation of ST Engineering Aerospace maintenance, repair and overhaul facility at the Pensacola International Airport, the completion of the Blue Wahoos Stadium and Maritime Park, the revitalization of downtown Pensacola, the installation of stormwater ponds in the Tanyards and Hawkshaw neighborhoods and the construction of two community resource centers in Black neighborhoods.

Would those projects have happened without a strong mayor? The Woodland Heights and Theophalis May centers probably wouldn't have been built. Funds were tight in 2011, but the mayor had pledged to do it and had someone like Chief of Staff John Asmar who figured out how to move around funds to make the facilities possible.

ST Aerospace took a mayor who could work with FloridaWest and court the federal and national dollars necessary to make the MRO happen. The mayor needed to be patient and not veer off course, but it didn't hurt to have Gov. Rick Scott, who saw the value of both Navy Federal Credit Union in Beulah and the MRO facility.

This newspaper supported the proposed charter in 2009. We saw value in candidates putting together platforms for their administrations and letting voters decide which vision and plan were best for the city. The platform would be one-way voters held the elected mayor accountable.

Unfortunately, the only detailed platform—the one that included the two new community centers—that won a mayoral election was in 2010. Since then, the platforms have been vague. Why? Because they don't win elections. Money, campaign organizations and a candidate's ground game do.

It gets even more challenging for the public to hold the elected mayor accountable when his staff lies, hides public records and doesn't share information with the council, media and public. The situation worsens when the mayor refuses to hold press conferences or attend council meetings, meets with only favored reporters and shuts down all town halls where voters might ask difficult.

The mayor is a politician, not a trained municipal administrator. He can hire and fire his people with little oversight from the city council or the public.

Weak leaders hire unqualified people and overpay them so they won't object to his ideas and do nearly anything to keep their positions. We've seen confidential documents leaked to hurt opponents and expensive investigations used to provide "evidence" to terminate and embarrass employees, only to have large settlements paid out due to unjust firings. We had an independent employee appeals panel dissolved, and the employee manual was thrown out to avoid harassment complaints being investigated further.

Pensacola once had a reputation for being one of the best-run municipal governments in Northwest Florida. In eight years, that reputation was in tatters. All the safeguards the Inweekly staff and voters thought were in place didn't work. Voters spoke out at council meetings and were ignored by the city administration. The current mayor has spent much of his term rebuilding city government.

The strong mayors can be a weapon for good or bad for whoever has their ear. Elect a good person who listens to the wrong people, and all the progress we've made could vanish.

A council with an appointed city administrator, at least, increases the odds to keep government operating for all city residents. {in} rick@inweekly.net

Weak leaders hire unqualified people and overpay them so they won't object to his ideas and do nearly anything to keep their positions.

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A MYTHICAL LIFE

Leo Thomas / Photo Courtesy of Levin Papantonio Rafferty

By Jeremy Morrison How best to describe a man like Leo Thomas? What can one say about such a life and career to mark the occasion of his passing?

"Gosh, you've got so many emotions and thoughts," said Clay Mitchell, pausing to consider his words before noting Thomas' "remarkable wisdom" and "uncanny ability."

Mitchell was a judge when he first met Thomas—after Hollywood had based 1971's "French Connection" on an international heroin smuggling case the former law enforcement agent worked but before the judge ended up joining the same law firm and getting an up-close view of Thomas' legal prowess.

"He just ended up being a legend, really," Mitchell recalled recently.

Thomas passed away Sept. 17, after working as a partner in Pensacola's Levin, Papantonio, Thomas, Mitchell, Rafferty and Proctor, P.A. law firm for 46 years.

Before that, he managed an accomplished career in law enforcement.

Mitchell was not alone among Thomas' associates in using such grandiose terms as "legend."

"He was kind of our mythical New Yorker," said firm partner Mark Proctor.

Retired Judge Nick Geeker described Thomas as a "good lawyer" and a "great 66

guy." An attorney who was "well prepared" but also "friendly."

"Aggressive," Geeker said, "but not one that hit below the belt. He would push things far enough, but he knew when to let go too."

The judge also found Thomas to be "outgoing" and sociable—"He loved good food, he was a bit of a gourmand and he loved good cigars"—and one that appreciated a quality night's rest.

"He reached a point around 9 o'clock in the evening, and he was like, 'Lights out, I've gotta get some sleep,'" Geeker recalled.

When attorney Mike Papantonio reflects on his former partner, he's struck by what he feels colored the expanse of Thomas' career—empathy.

"His sense of decency and compassion; it was incredible," Papantonio stressed.

Papantonio said this compassion made Thomas such an effective attorney, allowing him to forge such a connection with his clients.

"Their suffering became his suffering," the attorney said of Thomas. "That's who he was, man. That was every part of him."

"WE HAVE TO GROW"

When Papantonio joined the Levin law firm in the mid-1980s, it was Thomas who lured him away from the state attorney's office. Even then, the man's reputation as a

nimble gymnast in the courtroom preceded him.

"Most lawyers fall into one way of doing things, and they're incapable of seeing outside that narrow analysis," Papantonio said, recalling Thomas' knack for working within existing legal frameworks while also wielding those laws to his client's benefit. "He'd figure out a way of either changing that law or making it work for his client."

At the time, Thomas had recently provided his most impressive demonstration on this front. Defending a Pensacola woman who had shot and killed her husband, he became the first attorney in Florida to successfully argue a battered spouse syndrome defense, which involved successive appeals and downgrades of conviction based on the years of abuse his client suffered.

"That's what he's most known for," Papantonio said. "He had a national reputation for handling that case. It was pure innovation."

"It was a very, very bold move," Proctor said of the landmark case. "Very, very important, and Leo was the first to do it."

"That reflected how tenacious he was," said Mitchell. "That case, to me, demonstrated the superb lawyering that was typical of Leo Thomas."

To Papantonio, that battered spouse syndrome case demonstrated another thing as well—a willingness to evolve, a healthy sense of plasticity.

"That's what made him so different," Papantonio said, recounting an axiom exemplified by Thomas—"We have to grow; every day we walk in the office, we have to grow."

LEO THE GREAT

While Leo Thomas spent much of his life in Pensacola, he was born in 1934 in New York City. More specifically, he hailed from an area of the city known as Hell's Kitchen.

"It was just so rough," Papantonio said.

"That's where the man emerged as a man, where he became who he was."

Growing up in Hell's Kitchen, Thomas realized he'd need to scrap his way out to more opportunistic horizons. This path led him to an undergraduate degree from Columbia University and then a stint in the U.S. Army.

"He had a tough childhood, man. And that added to who he was," Papantonio said. "It made him a fighter."

From there, Thomas went on to an early career in law enforcement, working with both the Federal Bureau of Narcotics in New York City and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement as an undercover narcotics investigator.

While in law enforcement, Thomas became interested in the rights of the accused. This concern inspired a mid-stream career change.

"Along the way, he became very sensitive to the rights of criminal defendants,

the rights of the accused, it kind of colored his whole life as a lawyer," recalled Proctor.

"That informed him," Papantonio agreed, explaining that Thomas' years in law enforcement had exposed him to some inequities within the system and provided him with the experience to expose them. "Leo knew what good law enforcement looks like, and he knew what poor law enforcement looks like."

During his years with the Levin firm, Thomas garnered a reputation as a "craftsman of his profession" and a "tactician in the courtroom," but also as a shepherding pillar within the firm.

"He became a mentor to a lot of people, including me," Proctor said. "Leo Thomas was one of the great, great figures that made this place what it is."

"He became a mentor to a lot of people, including me. Leo Thomas was one of the great, great figures that made this place what it is." Mark Proctor Throughout his career as a criminal defense attorney, Thomas racked up an impressive resume. He was listed in "Best Lawyers in America," earned a high ranking for expertise and ethics from the Martindale-Hubbell law directory and served on various committees of the Florida Bar. But professional accolades aside, Thomas' friends and associates recall a man whose friendship they valued and company they will miss.

"He was just a wonderful, wonderful person who was a very loyal friend," Mitchell said.

Geeker recounted how he developed a bond with Thomas over the pair's shared Greek ancestry. That bond sustained even in Thomas' final days, as he suffered from an aggressive form of dementia and a breakthrough case of COVID. "Even in the end, with the dementia, he might not know who I was, but if I spoke to him in little phrases of Greek, he would respond," Geeker said.

The retired judge pointed out that Thomas' parents had plumbed the cultural nomenclature pools and surfaced with something fitting for their son—Leonidas Alexander.

"Those two fellows in Greek history have great significance," Geeker said, noting that Leonidas was the Spartan king who led the Greeks at the Battle of Thermopylae in 480 BC, and Alexander the Great was a Macedonian ruler who established the largest empire known to the ancient world.

"Deservedly," the judge concluded, "Leo got the name of Greek heroes, and it kind of goes hand in hand with his kind legendary status." {in} inweekly.net

ALL FOR ONE, ONE MORE TIME

By Rick Outzen County consolidation efforts may be back. The last effort—"Escambia All for One"—failed after much fanfare in 2010.

Inweekly thought it would be helpful to remember what happened.

The 2010 plan for a county charter that would consolidate the governments of Escambia County, City of Pensacola and the Town of Century under a county mayor died at Pensacola State College when the Northwest Florida Legislative Delegation deadlocked.

Only four lawmakers—State Sen. Don Gaetz and State Reps. Greg Evers, Clay Ford and Dave Murzin—attended the town hall on Monday, Feb. 23, 2010. State Sen. Durell Peaden missed the critical meeting due to an insurance-related meeting in Tallahassee.

About 150 people were in the audience as the pro-consolidation supporters pushed for the delegation to sponsor a bill to get the charter plan on the ballot in November 2010.

The plan, whose final draft wasn't submitted to the media and local officials until late January, had already been rejected by the Century Town Council, Pensacola City Council and the Escambia County Commission.

The charter plan expanded the county to nine members from single-member districts that served four-year terms. Candidates had to reside in their district for at least 365 consecutive days prior to qualify. Pay was the same as Escambia County School Board members, and the retirement benefits were limited to a defined contribution plan.

The voters would elect a county mayor, who would be the chief executive officer of the county and serve a four-year term, limited to three terms. Candidates had to be an Escambia County resident for 365 consecutive days prior to qualifying. The mayor was to be paid 10 percent more than the salary fixed by law for the highest paid county constitutional officer.

The mayor was to appoint the chief administrative officer (CAO), county attorney and county department heads, but all appoint-

ments, except for CAO, required confirmation by council. He could dismiss the CAO or department heads for any reason.

The sheriff, property appraiser, clerk of court, tax collector and supervisor of elections remain separately elected constitutional officers with the same powers, duties and functions as provided by state law. ECUA would be replaced by a Consolidated Utility Authority that would take over all city and county utilities and be run by a nine-member elected board.

Thirteen people spoke to the lawmakers at the February 2010 meeting. According to state law, the meeting could only last one hour. Many of the speakers were rushed off the podium without their points being elaborated upon.

John Peacock, who served on the charter commission, said, "Taxes are going higher; services are going down. Single member districts don't work. If not this, then what? I haven't heard any elected officials offering up any other way to fix our government or our economy."

In 2010, Escambia County, Fla., and the nation were in a recession after the financial markets crashed two years earlier in the last days of the Bush administration. South Alabama and other Florida counties along the panhandle appeared to be moving ahead of Escambia.

Attorney Scott Remington, who cochaired the pro-consolidation group Escambia All for One, reminded Inweekly in a recent interview that removal of four county commissioners in the W.D. Childers-Willie Junior scandal in the early part of the decade still loomed over county politics.

"It just looked like the county was in complete disarray," said Remington. "And what we found out was in looking at efforts of consolidation, most of them, including Jacksonville, which is one of the most prominent in the state of Florida, were born out of some sort of crisis or some sort of civic malfeasance. And we definitely had that here in Pensacola."

He continued, "Our intent was to get a study commission to look at whether or not there was a better way to sort of do government in Escambia County."

Century Mayor Freddie McCall complained at the delegate meeting the people wanted him to endorse consolidation before the draft was presented to him, "I am not for it because it was rushed, and we need more time."

"I urge you to allow the public to decide whether or not consolidation is a good idea," said Janet Lander, former Escambia County Attorney and one of the drafters of the final document. "Nine more months should be plenty of time to debate and weigh the pros and cons."

Escambia County Commissioner Wilson Robertson echoed Inweekly editorials that decried the lack of public input after the final draft was released. He told the lawmakers, "We have never defeated the idea or said we were against a consolidated government. Our recommendation (as commissioners) is to delay it until 2012, not to kill consolidation."

County Commission Chairman Grover Robinson disagreed. "I think it should be the people who decide."

Jason Crawford, the other co-chair of Escambia All for One, asked those in the audience who wanted the plan to go before the voter. The daily newspaper reported "at least 90% of the audience rose."

"I believe this plan is good for the city," said Crawford. "We've got to get a competitive edge.

By having a competitive edge, we could have a better job market."

Sheriff David Morgan wasn't convinced. "I am personally invested in this community—not just because I'm the sheriff but because of my family and all the things and time we have invested here," he told the delegation. "We are for functional consolidation for this county, but the process was flawed from the beginning."

According to Remington, the legislative delegation early in the study process appeared to be amenable to a referendum on the consolidation regardless of local elected officials supported the plan, but that attitude had changed by that cold February night.

Convinced the plan represented would raise taxes and not give residents in the north

end of the county adequate representation, Rep. Evers made a motion to reorganize the Escambia County Consolidation Study Commission to refine the plan and delay a referendum until November 2011. The motion failed with Evers and Ford voting in the affirmative and Gaetz and Murzin voting against it.

Sen. Gaetz said his attitude toward the plan was "to get out of the way and let the people vote it up or down." He made the motion to move the bill forward so voters could decide whether to approve the plan by referendum.

That motion also tied, with Ford and Gaetz voting "yes" and Evers and Murzin voting "no."

Rep. Ford admonished the pro-consolidation supporters for their harsh lobbying and hurling of insults and snide comments during the meeting. They didn't win over any of the lawmakers with such behavior.

The News Journal was furious and published a front-page editorial blaming the plan's failure on a "lethal combination of parliamentary procedure, an absent legislator, a public meeting where the public rarely got to speak and a committee chairman who had his feelings hurt because some people thought the fix was in."

However, the lawmakers suffered few ill effects at the ballot box in the 2010 election cycle. Peaden and Murzin had to step down due to term limits. Evers won Peaden's Senate seat, and Ford easily won re-election.

Gaetz wasn't up for re-election.

Of the new effort to study changing county government, Remington is supportive—"I think it's always good to look at the way you're doing business." However, he did offer some advice.

"What concerns me, and maybe it's just a little bit of PTSD from the last time, is before I put any study commission together, I would want a commitment from the legislature that they're going to put it on the ballot," he said.

"Because you can spend a lot of time and money creating a great product, but if the legislative delegation is not going to put it on the ballot for the citizens to vote on, it's a complete waste of time." {in}

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PIPELINE TO UPS JOBS The message to Pensacola is high-paying jobs are being created; the challenge is getting locals trained to fill the positions.

On Thursday, Oct. 14, Stephen Lim, president of ST Engineering Aerospace America, and Tony Georges, vice president of UPS Human Resources, signed the contract to create the Aircraft Maintenance Pathways Training Program, which will help fill the ever-growing need for aircraft mechanics in this country and worldwide.

The new three-year program will provide employment and advanced training to mechanics in Pensacola. Upon completion, the mechanics will have jobs waiting on them at either ST Engineering Aerospace or UPS. "This is a big deal," said Lim at the signing ceremony held at the city's ST Engineering Aerospace hangar. "It provides a pipeline for individuals to come to ST Engineering but also creates a pipeline for UPS. The mechanics will be trained in this hanger on UPS equipment, learning their manuals and maintenance requirements."

According to Lim, the aircraft maintenance, overall and repair industry is projected to create 14,000 new jobs each year over the next decade.

Mayor Grover Robinson thanked Lim and

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Georges for their companies' investment in Pensacola and Northwest Florida. Behind the podium were UPS aircraft in various stages of overhaul and repair.

"Behind you, you see a good example of teamwork of what's coming together," said the mayor. "I did want to recognize Commissioner Robert Bender from Escambia County and Scott Luth, as well, from FloridaWest.

Teamwork is certainly what it's all about. And when I look at what you're standing in today and what you see happening before you, it wouldn't have happened without teamwork."

POWER TO THE PEOPLE? Although the Pensacola City Council shied away from the topic last week, it looks like a discussion of the merits of a municipally-owned electric utility company is in the city's future.

Pensacola City Councilwoman Jennifer Brahier is pushing for a feasibility study on whether the city should forgo a franchise agreement with Florida Power and Light in favor of producing and providing its own electricity.

"This is simply doing our due diligence to do a feasibility study," Councilwoman Brahier said during the Oct. 11 agenda conference, framing the study as the "responsible thing to do."

Currently, the city of Pensacola is negotiating a franchise agreement with Florida Power and Light, though that process is longrunning and now stalled.

"We've been operating in sort of the month-to-month for a long time," said Pensacola Mayor Grover Robinson.

The city last negotiated a franchise agreement in the late 1970s, and the landscape of electricity generation continues to evolve with the technological improvements in green technology like solar power, pointed out Brahier.

"Remember, we haven't evaluated this in 42 years, and we're looking to go forward with another 30; that's 72 years of an ever-changing technology," the councilwoman said.

To conduct a feasibility study, the councilwoman said, it'll take about $20,000. Other council members seemed intrigued, but some wondered about the timing of the request.

"For me, I think it's an interesting conversation," said Council President Jared Moore, going on to say the issue "doesn't pass the timely-sniff test for me."

The issue Moore, as well as the mayor and other council members, had was that Brahier presented this item as an add-on item to the agenda conference instead of scheduling it for a regularly slated discussion.

Brahier asserted that the city administration was actively pursuing a franchise agreement and that the council needed to have the results of a feasibility study at hand when needed.

"They're pushing right now to sign it now," Brahier said.

Mayor Robinson disagreed, telling the council that while Florida Power and Light was keener on getting a new franchise deal than its predecessor, Gulf Power, there was nothing of note in the hopper.

Brahier insisted this was inaccurate— "Are you honestly saying that within the last two weeks, they did not ask to bring forward an agreement?"

She found support from Councilwomen Ann Hill and Sherri Myers, who asked, "If it's

as important as the mayor says it is, why not start now?"

Mayor Robinson jumped in to clarify— "There's nothing pressing. I'm telling you right now; we will not do anything."

President Moore concluded that it didn't matter what the administration was doing insofar as negotiations go, as the city council will ultimately have to sign off on any franchise deal.

"Whether the administration or Gulf Power has been secretly running around, the buck stops here," Moore said.

The council president went on to say that the feasibility study and overall proposition of a municipal utility is a "pretty significant ask" and contended that "for the sake of process," the issue should be slated as a regular agenda item at a later meeting. Enough city council members agreed with the president on this front, with a 4-3 vote putting this feasibility study on hold for now.

JAIL MEDICAL BLUES Dr. Rayme Edler

has abandoned her job as medical director of the Escambia County Jail and was terminated under county employment policies, according to a letter given to Inweekly.

"As of the date of this letter, you have been absent from work since Sept. 22, 2021.

Because your absence has not been approved, and we have not heard from you, we have determined that you have abandoned your position," wrote Assistant County Administrator Debbie Bowers.

She continued, "In accordance with our policy on job abandonment, we are terminating your employment effective Sept. 27, 2021.

The jail's medical care has been under scrutiny after six inmates filed a federal lawsuit earlier this month regarding the quality of care at the facility and lack of COVID precautions.

Gene Mitchell and his fellow criminal defense attorneys have been in conversations with Escambia County over the conditions at the county jail. The attorney shared with Inweekly what his clients have told him about jail conditions. He spoke about an 81-year-old

inweekly.net

man who "got in trouble for some little nothing thing last week" but wasn't released on bond because the jail didn't have the capacity to outfit him with a GPS on a weekend.

"We throw around words like 'that's unconstitutional' a lot, but the fact is you have a right to reasonable and affordable conditions of release," said Mitchell. "It doesn't say reasonable and affordable conditions of release unless the jail doesn't hire a GPS person to work on the weekends."

What are the conditions at the county jail?

Rats—"I would offer that the largest rat I've seen in my life was on the fourth floor of the jail while I was visiting with an inmate."

Backup sewage—"A friend of mine in the jail told me that last night when I was visiting with him. So it's ongoing. It really appears like the jail is not achieving a very low bar when it comes to these things."

Weak COVID precautions—Mitchell shared that he had one client who contracted the virus while in jail. Two prisoners have died of COVID, according to the attorney.

HAYWARD JOINS PR FIRM Suskey Consulting is merging with Shumaker Advisors Florida, Florida Politics reported last week.

"Shumaker Advisors is one of the fastest-growing public affairs firms in Florida. The firm has added several new hires in recent months, including former Hillsborough County Commissioners Les Miller and Sandra Murman, former Hillsborough County Assistant Attorney Jennie Granahan Tarr, former South Carolina Gov. Michael McKinley and a former congressional chief of staff, Ryan Walker," reported Florida Politics.

The Shumaker Advisors team also includes former U.S. Rep. David Jolly and former Pensacola Mayor Ashton Hayward.

INDIGENOUS PEOPLES' DAY For the second year, the city of Pensacola officially observed Indigenous Peoples' Day. The occasion was marked Monday, Oct. 11, with a display of flags representing five regional tribes and remarks from the Santa Rosa Creek Tribe chief.

"Hesci, Estonko?" Chief Dan Skyhorse asked during an observance ceremony outside Pensacola City Hall.

The chief appeared amused that the words spoken in his native language had flown over the heads of those gathered for the Indig-

enous Peoples' Day observance, or, at least, he was happy for the opportunity to educate.

"You look at me like you don't know what I'm saying," Chief Skyhorse laughed. "I said, 'Hello, how are you?'"

Later, inside city hall during Mayor Grover Robinson's regular weekly press conference, the chief taught another Muscogee phrase, one that perhaps succinctly sums up a central pillar of the celebration of Indigenous Peoples' Day—"Bomongen heyvdos."

"Our ancestors were on these shores watching as the first sails appeared on the horizon. And we are still here. We are watching. Bomongen heyvdos—'We are still here,'" Skyhorse said.

Mayor Robinson angled the city's observance a bit more municipally.

"We are certainly very proud of our history in the city of Pensacola. It is rich and it is deep, with a significant amount of colonial roots. However, history didn't start with the colonization of the United States and the Americas; it was here long before," Robinson said, later clarifying that the city celebrates both Indigenous Peoples' Day and Columbus Day, which occurs—not coincidentally—on the same day.

Skyhorse noted that the concept of Indigenous Peoples' Day, which was first celebrated in Berkeley, Calif., in the late 1970s, was to call attention to the mistreatment of Native American people and was thus slated to coincide with Columbus Day to contrast the two observances.

"I have been asked many times if I would like us to erase and do away with Columbus Day, and my answer is a resounding 'no,'" Skyhorse joked, "because I am guaranteed one day a year when I can come and tell the story of what has happened to our people."

Also present for Monday's observance was Florida District 1 Rep. Michelle Salzman. The state rep nodded toward her Muscogee Creek heritage and said she considered the occasion a time for celebrating both "diversity" and "unity."

"Today is a day we can learn and celebrate together," Salzman said.

The city of Pensacola first recognized Indigenous Peoples' Day in 2020, following an effort by Pensacola City Councilwoman Sherri Myers to put the issue on the city's radar.

Myers was assisted in that effort by local tribal representatives, as well as artist Sean Linezo, who was also in attendance for Monday's observation ceremony. {in}

President Saunders with UWF’s 2021 Top Scholars

BRIGHT MINDS,

Brilliant Futures The University of West Florida attracts high-performing students with potential to become future world changers. This year, UWF welcomed its tenth National Merit Finalist since Fall 2017, alongside other Top Scholars who stand poised and ready to make their mark on campus and beyond. Their futures are bright, and they start now with a one-of-a-kind college experience at UWF. We believe in the power of higher education to push the limits, into a world of possibilities.

NATIONAL MERIT FINALIST Landon Nelson, Psychology Major PACE PRESIDENTIAL SCHOLARS Samantha Kammerer, Mechanical Engineering Major Brayden Tompkins, Legal Studies Major Khuyen Tran, Biomedical Sciences Major Emma Wagner, Biology Major

uwf.edu/topscholars

October 21, 2021

9

OCTOBER 22 ND / 5:30 PM

Sponsored By

@themikepapantonio @americaslawyer

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inweekly.net

Polonza Bistro salad Photo by Natalie Allgyer

It's been a long time since we've done a food issue. Too long, actually.

But this year's Best of the Coast results were so full of new places and dishes that we got inspired to get back in the food writing game. And we are so glad we did because there's a ton of good stuff happening in the local culinary and beverage scene right now.

We started with Chef Edward Lordman, who's a twotime Best of the Coast honoree and recently became the executive chef at Polonza Bistro. We think you'll enjoy getOctober 21, 2021

ting to know him and his modern take on Southern cooking as much as we did. Plus, it turns out our timing was pretty perfect—because he's got something really big happening really soon.

We also talked to some of the fresh food trucks on the scene and a few of the many, many new small coffee businesses that are making all of our latte dreams come true lately. Our devout love of all things sourdough meant that we couldn't possibly do a food feature without talking to Casita Bread—whose brown butter sourdough dark choco-

late chunk cookies have quickly become one of our favorite food obsessions.

We also interviewed the 2021 Best New Restaurant winner—Agapi Bistro + Garden—and the reigning Best Restaurant in East Pensacola Heights—The Magnolia— about their upcoming move to a new neighborhood.

Of course, there's still so much that we couldn't cover (we have limited print space and editorial budgets, after all). But don't worry—we'll be back with another food issue soon, we promise. {in} 11

THE MODERN SOUTHERN CHEF

By Gina Castro

Edward Lordman's path to becoming a chef started in the rural South, or "in the trees," as he says.

In his hometown of Colbert, Ga., every holiday, birthday and the days in between were reason enough for his family to throw down in the kitchen.

While many children would rather play outside until supper time, Lordman craved to cook alongside his mother and grandmother—stirring cornbread batter and cutting corn off the cob. One of his earliest memories is standing on a kitchen chair to wash dishes.

Traditional Southern food is his foundation as a chef.

"The way I like to cook now is what I would call modern Southern cooking,'" Lordman said. "I like to make it taste like home—but with a little extra something.

I always tell my guys when we're cooking, especially something like chicken and dumplings, to make it taste like grandma's."

Lordman has been cooking in Pensacola for nearly nine years. He began working at the Pensacola Country Club with, at the time, executive chef Shane Taylor, who won the 2013 American Culinary Federation's Chef of the Year award. The two met during their time at The Georgia Club outside Atlanta. Lordman later worked his way up to sous chef at Restaurant IRON. Now, he is the executive chef of Polonza Bistro and won Inweekly's Best of the Coast's Best Up and Coming Chef award in 2020 and 2021.

“I like to make it taste like home—but with a little extra something. I always tell my guys when we're cooking, especially something like chicken and dumplings, to make it taste like grandma's.”

Edward Lordman Lordman always knew cooking held a special place in his heart, but he didn't realize he wanted to make this passion a career until his high school culinary arts class.

"I remember when I put on my chef coat and hat for the first time," Lordman said. "It had my high school name and logo on there and, boom, I just fell in love."

At 17, he transitioned from cooking fast food at the Sonic Drive-In to brining meats for hundreds with Center Stage Catering in downtown Athens, Ga. Catering and later cooking at The Georgia Country Club gave Lordman the opportunity to utilize another skill he learned in his family's kitchen—meat processing. He and his uncle were avid hunters. Growing up, they'd hunt deer, squirrels, raccoons, doves, boar and fish.

His uncle taught him how clean and cut the wild game.

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Edward Lordman / Photo by Natalie Allgyer

"I tell everybody what I do—I didn't learn from a chef, especially when it comes to breaking down the meats," Lordman said. "I instantly think about what I learned when I was a teen going hunting and fishing with my uncle."

Since transitioning from Georgia Southern style to cooking for Pensacola's palette, his ability to debone fish has come in handy.

"Back home, it's a lot of barbecue, cornbread, collard greens and stuff, which we do here, but here, there's a little bit more culture and a lot more seafood," Lordman said. "I was able to see more styles of cooking here."

In restaurants here, he's seen kitchens adopt French techniques, a blend of Spanish flavors and dashes of Italian cuisine, too.

Lordman studied Asian flavors and cooking techniques from Chef Pam VanNess while working at SaBai on Jefferson downtown.

Lordman uses the flavors of the different cultures in the area and the fine dining

elements he learned from IRON and Chef Taylor to elevate the Southern foods he grew up with.

At Polonza, he has enhanced some of its staple menu items with his signature Southern flavor. For Toad in the Hole, which features fried eggs in sourdough toast, he added crunchy black-eyed peas, swapped regular bacon for candied bacon and changed the vinaigrette to sweet onion.

"Fried black-eye peas give it that Southern little flair," Lordman said. "We still do avocado, tomatoes and onions. I just changed a few things so they can explore different routes of how this can taste.

We can still have the same base, but it can taste totally different and send you on a whole new ride."

Lordman is also firing up a fresh addition for Polonza this November. Starting next month, Polonza will be serving dinner Friday through Sunday, in addition to their already established breakfast, lunch, brunch and happy hour menus.

Lordman created the new dinner menu of seven small plates, five entrees, two sandwiches, three sides and three desserts made in-house.

"It's super exciting," Lordman said.

"Polonza trusts me to try new things."

In the future, Lordman hopes to open his own restaurant that blends Southern food with food from cultures around the world.

"I want the restaurant to scream, 'This guy is from Southern Georgia,' but also, 'Man, he knows how to cook everything," said Lordman.

Polonza Bistro 286 N. Palafox polonza.com @polonzabistro

Chef Edward Lordman @chef_lordman inweekly.net

COFFEE, COFFEE, COFFEE

By Sydney Robinson

"The first wave of coffee is when Folgers is in everyone's home," Alcala explained.

"Second wave is Starbucks and everyone is drinking dessert drinks, and third wave is people paying attention to single origin— Where did it come from? How is it grown?"

Maker's Coffee Co.

Caleb Pierce / Photo Courtesy of Maker's Coffee Co.

In Pensacola, it seems our appetite for craft beer as the beverage of choice is being rivaled by coffee lately.

While the coffee scene has been slowly growing in the area for years, in 2021, the market has seen an explosion of interest, with small-batch coffee roasters, baristas and crafters striking out on their own, launching mobile set-ups and partnering with other small business owners for events, pop-ups and collaborations. For this feature, we decided to talk to a roaster who placed in the Best Local Beverage Manufacturer category and a pop-up whose owners are familiar with being part of Best of the Coast thanks to their other small business.

Alla Prima Coffee Roaster

Alla Prima Coffee Roaster come by their industry honestly—as longtime working artists, owners Summer Sevi and Ivo Alcala found their artistic fuel in coffee. Being creators at heart, they were not content to simply buy their beans, instead choosing to roast their own small batches at home using a popcorn popper.

"Ivo built me a box to catch all the chaff, the skin from the coffee beans that shoots out, he tailored it," explained Sevi. "We've come a long way since then."

Sevi and Alcala started Alla Prima in the fall of 2020, expanding on Sevi's extensive experience in the industry.

"Years ago, I owned and operated a microroastery and coffee shop in the Washington, D.C. area," said Sevi. "I eventually sold and moved back home. I kept that knowledge and brought it with me and used that to roast for myself and eventually for Alla Prima."

Alcala learned along the way, lending his skills to designing the logo, packaging and managing the equipment.

"I've been a coffee lover since I was a little boy," said Alcala. "Having met Summer and her expertise with coffee, that opened me up to a whole new world that I didn't know existed."

"Roasting at home, tasting different coffees and experimenting, you could get October 21, 2021

into the chemistry of it; it's a craft. You can experiment and taste and it's fun. It's like an art," Alcala said.

For Sevi and Alcala, the worlds of coffee roasting and art are inseparable, with their art style serving as the inspiration for their brand name, Alla Prima.

"Alla prima in Italian is 'at first attempt.'" said Sevi. "It's also a style of oil painting that we participate in, where you don't let the layers dry in between. We chose this name because we were drinking a lot of coffee and staying up late working on our paintings. It was our liquid inspiration you would say."

Alla Prima has long evolved from the popcorn popper to a commercial kitchen where they produce a variety of coffees, changing seasonally based on supply and quality.

"With the amount of customers we have, we can really tailor those beans," explained Alcala. "Before we order a 100-pound bag of beans, we go through a tasting process where we roast it and taste different ones before we decide what to order in bulk."

Currently, the brand has six varieties of coffee plus two blends with plans to expand the range as they grow.

Customers can find Alla Prima coffee at Bailey's Produce & Nursery and The Farm or by ordering directly from their website with free home delivery to customers who live in a 32501, 2 or 3 ZIP code.

In addition to their retail market, Alla Prima provides coffee in bulk to some of the pop-up coffee businesses emerging in 2021.

"In Pensacola, there's few roasters and a lot of small coffee businesses who we have had the pleasure of doing business with or meeting," said Alcala. "We find all of these people are super interesting, very adventurous; most are young and really throwing everything at their business."

Alla Prima feels that the recent increase of coffee-based businesses is a sign that the Pensacola market has reached a new stage in their coffee game, a third wave.

Caleb Pierce of Maker's Coffee Co. says that he was inspired to start a coffeebased business as a way to connect with his community.

Already small business owners with Caleb Pierce Productions (videography) and Pierce Visuals (photography), Pierce and his wife, Haley, made the decision to open Maker's Coffee Co. in early 2021 after delaying the venture since late 2019.

"For us, we know we're supposed to be doing coffee long term, so we kind of kept it in the queue, essentially, and just waited on the right timing."

Pierce said he was inspired to start his business in part because he had watched others do so before him, including a former Drowsy Poet coworker who operated a mobile coffee business called Goodfellas in 2019.

"I started seeing other people who were doing coffee carts, and as soon as I saw it, I was like, I think that's what we need to do.

It just seemed like the best way to get our name and our brand out there."

By opening up a mobile set-up, Maker's Coffee Co. hoped to avoid the expensive overhead usually associated with a brickand-mortar business. Still, there are limitations to a business as small as Maker's.

"On a daily basis, it is pretty tough. People want to go out, especially in Pensacola, and be able to eat something. Even in general in coffee shops, you have to have food in order to survive. All the great coffee shops you go to have food and all that kind of stuff."

To that end, Maker's Coffee Co. typically has baked goods from fellow small business Le Dough for sale, giving customers the coffee and snack combo they are craving during their Saturday pop-ups on Palafox, near Main Street.

"We sell their doughnuts every Saturday, and they're just so good," said Pierce.

Though the increase of mobile coffee units is new, Pierce recognizes that the city's love affair with coffee started long ago.

"It's just been a long time coming.

There've been coffee shops in town, you know, like Drowsy Poet, and Bodacious was the first one to be pretty big downtown, other than The Leisure Club. I feel like they laid a lot of the groundwork."

In the future, Pierce says that Maker's Coffee Co. is looking for a brick-and-mortar location to expand their offerings and serve as a community hub.

"My biggest goal is to serve the community but also to raise up other leaders and help people," said Pierce. "I feel like coffee is a really good transitional job for a lot of people."

"My goal would be to help people figure out what they're good at, what they want to do, and then help point them in the right direction. Other than serving the community and being a place where people can come and feel like they're a part of something, we want to be giving back to the community as much as possible."

Alla Prima Coffee Roaster Available at Bailey's Produce & Nursery, The Farm and via home delivery allaprimacoffee.com @allaprimacoffee

Maker's Coffee Co. Pop-up open Saturdays from 8 a.m.-1 p.m. at 422 S. Palafox @makerscoffeeco As this crop of new coffee businesses continue to find their footing, it's encouraging to see so many entrepreneurs striking out on their own, showing the city that there is more than one way to "make it." Make sure you check out this list of coffee carts, shops and roasters next time you're looking for a caffeine fix.

•Roaster ROB'S RAD ROAST @robs_rad_roast •Delivery PENROAST COFFEE CO. @penroast_Coffee •Mobile Set-Ups and Brick-and-Mortar Shops BUZZED BREW 501 S. Palafox buzzed-brew.com, @buzzedbrewcoffee COFFEE CAT @coffeecat_cart EASY GOING GALLERY 701 N. V St. @easygoinggallery HIGH TIDE COFFEE TRUCK @hightidecoffeetruck JITTERBUG BEVERAGE CO. drinkjitterbug.com, @drink.jitterbug Also coming soon to 2050 N. 12th Ave. (inside The Magnolia) NITRO JONES @nitrojones_coffee •Non-Coffee Options The local beverage scene isn't limited to coffee. Here are some new bottled sips from local makers to be on the lookout for.

POP SINGLES @popsinglespensacola The makers of Big Jerk Soda just launched Pop Singles—which puts a local spin on classic cola flavors. The first two "singles" are Crystal Clear Root Beer and Pensa Cola. Both are caffeine-free. You can try one at Nomadic's Cafe (9 E. Gregory St.) SWEET JACKSON TEA @sweetjacksontea Sweet Jackson Tea is a new locally brewed sweet Southern tea with a tropical twist. It's naturally sweetened, with cane sugar and real fruit juice, and flavors include lemon and pineapple.

You can find it at Palafox Market on Saturdays and at Nomadic's Cafe.

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AGAPI: SOMETHING NEW TO LOVE

Photo Courtesy of Agapi Bistro + Garden

2021 is certainly not the most ideal year to launch a brand-new restaurant concept, but Agapi Bistro + Garden's bravery was rewarded when our readers voted them Best New Restaurant earlier this month.

Facing not just a pandemic but extensive hurricane damage from Hurricane Sally in 2020, owner and Executive Chef Gus Silivos made the difficult decision to close Skopelos after 62 years of business and strike out with a new venture.

"We had to close Skopelos because of not only the building damage, but also COVID, because most of the business there was banquets. Obviously, we had a huge banquet facility there that, you know, with COVID, all those large functions have gone away."

The building Agapi opened in is the former home of another of Silivos' ventures, Nancy's

Haute Affairs. The gourmet to-go part of that business was also recently closed, but Nancy's Catering & Events is still open and thriving and was just voted among the Best Caterers and Best Wedding Caterers in Best of the Coast.

"The concept here that we've had was catering and gourmet to-go. But with COVID, every restaurant became gourmet to-go since people could not dine in. So the opportunity arose to rebrand the gourmet to-go into a seated restaurant, more of a neighborhoodtype place."

Rather than simply relocating Skopelos, Agapi is a new space with a new name.

"In Greek, [Agapi] is 'the ultimate love,' so it's love of food, love of community, love of people, and to somehow create an atmosphere that would be very welcoming and very neighborly," said Silivos. "So that

LET'S BREAK BREAD In the throes of the pandemic, baking was an escape for Kaitlynn Bramer. It was her third year as a nurse in South Florida when the virus began to spread—seeing so much loss was challenging for her.

"It was very difficult on my soul, my brain, my heart," Bramer said. "It was really hard."

The rhythmic flow of baking bread became her refuge. The cyclical push, fold, turn process for kneading the dough or even just flipping through bread baking books relaxed her.

Being a nurse during the pandemic made her realize that she didn't want to be a nurse anymore. When she and her fiancé moved to the Pensacola area, she began posting pictures of her loaves on her personal Instagram page.

Eventually, people began asking her if they could purchase her freshly baked bread. She'd been looking for an opportunity to work from home, so she said yes.

"We were at the height of the pandemic, so I was doing porch drop offs, and then it got my wheels turning," Bramer said. "I could work from home."

Bramer made a business Instagram ac414 1

By Sydney Robinson

was our aim, and I think, based on the comments that we've been getting from our guests, I think we've achieved at least that aspect of it."

Instead of focusing primarily on Greek recipes and flavors, Agapi seeks to capture the entire genre of Mediterranean food from Chef Silivos and Chef de Cuisine Justin Robinson.

On the Agapi menu, you will see items ranging from chargrilled calamari souvlaki on the appetizer list to lamb burgers for lunch, from cornbread dusted duck breast at dinner to crepes of the day for Saturday brunch.

"We change our menus seasonally to take in local products as well as things that are available during different times of the year," said Silivos. "So we always try to do things that are a little different because I feel that this business is all about the excitement and the passion."

Agapi diners can enjoy their meal in a variety of settings as the restaurant offers indoor and outdoor seating in the garden as well as catering and to-go menus.

"We just completed the outside seating area," said Silivos. "For now, we're going to be using it for event space. And then after the holidays, we will be doing seating there as well."

Vegans, vegetarians and open-minded omnivores will find the same attention to dietary detail at Agapi as they have come to expect from Skopelos, with multiple vegan options on each menu, including a new item, watermelon poke.

"I've always believed that you have to have flexibility in our business, including the menu," said Silivos. "We do vegan dishes to seafood to meat items so that hopefully it reaches more than just one demographic. People that, you know, for instance, are vegan, they have an option.

Because a lot of times, and this is the one thing that we started at Skopelo's that was very successful is because vegans, they have to pick and choose vegetables off the menu versus a nice entree or something that's unique."

Like most restaurants in the area, Agapi has experienced some strain related to staffing, but for the most part, they have been able to continue operations without interruption, which Silivos attributes, in part, to his business model.

"We're not a big corporation, you know, but I've always offered benefits," said Silivos. "So I offer health insurance. I even do 401(k). We have vacation pay that we do. So I've always treated it as a two-way street, in the way that our staff is more of a team than it is, you know, employees."

Silivos says there's a chance Skopelos might reopen in the future, but for now, he is focused on Agapi and adapting to fit each moment as it comes.

"For now, this is really working out very well for us," Silivos said.

Agapi Bistro + Garden 555 Scenic Highway myagapi.com @agapipensacola

By Gina Castro

count in June 2020, and Casita Bread was born.

What's unique about Casita Bread is that Bramer makes her own microculture of yeast and bacteria, frequently called "starter." The starter is an equal parts blend of flour and water. The yeast from the air, flour and bacteria on her hands proliferate in the right circumstances, making the sourdough bread rise.

"I put it in the refrigerator overnight and let it rise for like 18-24 hours," Bramer said. "That's what helps develop really complex flavors and enhances the nutritional value as well."

Bramer is also very particular about her bread's ingredients, too. The majority of the stone ground, fresh-milled organic flour used in her breads come from Janie's Mill, a certified organic farm in Illinois.

"That flour is a high extraction, which means that when it's milled, they only sift like 15% out of it," Bramer explained. "So it retains a lot of the whole grain like the bran, the germ and the endosperm—all of which have phytochemicals, fiber, healthy fats, minerals and vitamins. So all of the flour that I use is

very nutrient dense. Fermented foods are great for your gut."

Bramer hopes her business will inspire others to be more mindful of what they eat.

"My goal is to keep sharing bread with my community," Bramer said. "I think it's really important for people to connect with the food that they eat and be mindful of who grew it, who made it, where it came from and what's in it."

If you're interested in purchasing Bramer's bread and other baked goods, make sure you follow Casita Bread on Instagram.

Bramer is currently taking a break, but plans to be back Nov. 15 with a Thanksgiving menu and details about her much-anticipated bread club.

Casita Bread casitabread.com @casitabread Photo Courtesy of Casita Bread inweekly.net

KEEP ON TRUCKING

By Gina Castro

Photo Courtesy of MI SU Street Food

COVID-19 restrictions on restaurants paved an alternative route for business owners to reach customers—food trucks.

Street food offers a unique dining experience for customers, especially in Pensacola.

Locals can enjoy the sunshine, live music, drinks from nearby breweries and fresh food from the area's growing number of food trucks. The number of new trucks has grown so much recently that the City Council is moving to change current ordinances limiting food trucks, loosening the rules on where within the city they can set up and sell. MI SU Street Food and Brown Bagger are among some Pensacola's newest and most popular food trucks—so popular, in fact, they both placed in the Best Food Truck category in Best of the Coast 2021 alongside established staples Nomadic Eats and Le Dough.

MI SU Street Food

Just two months into their marriage, Alden and Hylene Garcia became business partners. Alden has always dreamed of opening a brick-and-mortar restaurant. Hylene wanted more freedom in their work schedules.

Opening the MI SU Street Food truck was a step closer to achieving their goals.

"In the middle of the pandemic—once we ran out of things to do around the house—we started talking about a food truck," Alden said. "I felt like it was just the right place and right time to jump on what I thought Pensacola needed as far as food."

Alden and Hylene had a backyard wedding with close family and friends at Alden's parents' home off Bayou Grande in May 2020. The couple spent the next six months preparing to launch their food truck.

"It's like having a baby together, essentially," Alden said.

When Alden was growing up, cooking was a family affair. His dad, Carlos Garcia, the owner of Salon San Carlos, would teach Alden and his brothers flavorful foods, especially Latin-inspired recipes. One of his brothers is a chef in New Orleans, and Alden worked as a server in several restaurants in the area, including Union Public House.

"I just kind of fell in love with cooking. My October 21, 2021

Photo Courtesy of Brown Bagger

brother, who is a chef in New Orleans right now, inspired me to get out of the front of the house," Alden said. "At restaurants, I always had my head in the kitchen asking way too many questions to be a server. I've always just had a passion for it."

One motivation Alden had for establishing MI SU was to fill the gaps in Pensacola's food scene. Alden felt like no one in the city did carnitas right, so he spent three months honing his crispy pork confit carnitas recipe. He also wanted to introduce Pensacola to his dad's borracho bean recipe, which is one of Alden's most favorite foods in the world.

"I just wanted to be kind of eclectic and just hit on a lot of things that I thought were missing," Alden said, "just kind of purposefully cook a bunch of random items but make sure I'm filling a lot of gaps that I feel Pensacola needed."

If you've stopped by MI SU's truck a couple times before, you may have noticed that their menu is constantly evolving.

They may have some heft-sized Nashville hot chicken sandwiches one week and mole chicken enchilada stacks another. The week school started, MI SU had homemade pop tarts and PB&J smash burgers as part of a special back-to-school-themed menu.

One item you can always count on being on the menu is the MI SU Melt. It's a Latininfused smash burger with chorizo mayonnaise and refreshing chimichurri sauce.

MI SU's menu is primarily influenced by their travels. During the interview with Inweekly, the couple was on the road to Jacksonville. They will be visiting Mexico City in January.

"It's going to be really fun to see what I get inspired by in Mexico City," Alden said.

"But whenever I have an idea for something or I'm craving something, I can usually find out how to do it from like a combination of watching like 10 different chefs do it and then make it my own."

As for the future of MI SU, Alden hopes to create more recipes that blend unique flavors and include seafood.

Another goal is to grow the business

staff. Since MI SU opened, the truck has been a two-person show. They hope to hire a sous chef soon to take some of the heat off Alden in the kitchen.

Brown Bagger

Tim Thompson is a professional skateboarder turned entrepreneur. His skateboarding sponsorships took him far away from his hometown of Pensacola—all over the U.S. and even a year in Barcelona, Spain.

At the beginning of the year, he decided to initiate his first venture in the food industry.

"I just see a shift in the way people want to experience food," Thompson said. "A lot of people want something fast and good and want to do it in an environment that is pleasant, outdoors with some music and nice groups of people."

Thompson and his business partner, Ellis O'Neal, opened the Brown Bagger early this year outside of Wisteria Tavern in East Hill. O'Neal has a background in restaurant equipment. Thompson gained experience cooking in the food industry by working at restaurants like Peg Leg Pete's and Global Grill. He often worked in the kitchen to support himself while skateboarding professionally.

The Brown Bagger serves up Wagyu beef smash burgers with toppings like bacon, fried eggs and roasted garlic. The menu also features chicken tenders and wraps as well as black bean burgers. Thompson says what really sets this burger spot apart from others is its fresh ingredients.

"What differentiates us from everyone else is our focus on super fresh, high-quality ingredients," Thompson said. "We don't use yesterday's buns; the beef is like one of the most premium beefs you can get, and we buy all the expensive cheeses. We want to sell the burger that we want to eat."

Before this business, Thompson owned Funbox Monthly, a subscription box for skaters, and Crystal Creek Organics, a CBD company. He sold both of those companies.

"Brown Bagger was supposed to be a side project, but it spiraled out of control and took over my life," Thompson said with

a laugh. "I'm trying to get a lot off my plate to focus on this truck."

A common element among Thompson's businesses is his steps to decrease waste and benefit the environment. At Brown Bagger, they use brown paper bags as opposed to plastic, their sleeves are made of paper and their cups and forks are compostable.

"I just think the business shares responsibility to reduce its footprint on waste," Thompson said. "I just wanted to build that into the company. One of my companies did 1% of all of our sales went to nonprofits focused on restoring the environment. It's just important to me personally."

Thompson hopes to bring a mobile Brown Bagger food truck to Pensacola soon.

MI SU Street Food misustreetfood.com @misu_streetfood

Brown Bagger brownbaggerfoodtruck.com @brownbaggerfoodtruck

When we said Pensacola's food truck scene is growing, we weren't exaggerating. Here are a few more new trucks worth checking out: WHAT THE CLUCK CHICKEN TRUCK facebook.com/whatthecluckchickentruck @what_thecluck_chickentruck STACKED RIBS BBQ CO. facebook.com/stackedracksbbqco JUMPING COUSINS PERUVIAN FOOD TRUCK jumpingcousins.com @jumpingcousins MOWAFFLES mowaffles.com 15

THE MAG 2.0

By Jennifer Leigh

Brenda Mader with Bill and Kiley Manning / Photo Courtesy of The Magnolia

There is something special about Pensacola in the Fall.

The crisp blue skies, white sandy beaches, coastal breezes, and the cool—yet not cold—evening strolls through our historic downtown area. But maybe, it’s all of that plus the amazing arts, cultural, culinary, historical, and environmental experiences one can enjoy. All you have to do is get here and Discover it All.

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It's the end of an era but the beginning of a new chapter as The Magnolia moves from East Pensacola Heights to East Hill.

This Halloween marks 10 years since The Magnolia opened its doors for the first time. Owners Bill and Kiley Manning were planning to celebrate in typical fashion with a party. But then, they received notice to vacate the beloved spot where so many people have enjoyed beers and bowls of mac and cheese.

"We've definitely shed a ton of tears," said Kiley.

After a rough couple of years, Kiley said she and her husband had considered closing when they got the news from their landlord.

"The last four years have been hard," she continued. "Bill had some health issues and then COVID … we thought 'Is this just the universe telling us to let it go?'"

But then, a call came from Dolce & Gelato owner Brenda Mader.

"She reached out, without knowing we were losing our location, saying she was thinking of retiring," Kiley recalled. "(Brenda) said we were the only business she considered to take her spot. She is our fairy godmother."

As the saying goes, one door closes and another opens.

It's certainly bittersweet to say goodbye to the 650-square-foot space on Cervantes—and not just for Bill and Kiley, but for their loyal customers.

"It's been really emotional," said Kiley.

"So many people have reached out offering to help us move—it's overwhelming. This little bar was such a special place."

There is also plenty of excitement for the new location, which is set to open in late November.

The goal is to bring the same charm (and many of the same menu items) to their new East Hill home, while also offering new items. At their old location, they had just 650 square feet to work with. Now, they

have 2,200. In their new space, which will still be shared with Revolver Records, The Magnolia will be open for lunch and dinner.

"We want to keep The Mag alive but expand on it," said Kiley. "We want people to come in and have a beer and a sandwich and shop for records."

“So many people have reached out offering to help us move—it's overwhelming.

This little bar was such a special place.”

Kiley Bolster Manning Coffee will also be on the menu courtesy of Jitterbug Beverage Co., a Pensacola-based business run by Barrett Colhoun and Ariel Booth. Offering more non-alcoholic options is another way The Mag is expanding its business. But no matter what changes are coming, there remains one menu staple—cheese.

"We built a legacy on cheese, and we plan to maintain that," said Kiley.

Kiley and Bill were 27 and 29, respectively, and had been dating for a year when they opened The Magnolia in 2011. They've achieved many milestones in the past decade and celebrated milestones alongside their regular customers who became family.

"Bill and I celebrated our one-year anniversary Oct. 22, 2011, and then opened up The Magnolia one week later," she said. "We built an entire life from that itty-bitty building. I love that people chose to grow with us."

The Magnolia Coming soon to 2050 N. 12th Ave. magnoliapensacola.com inweekly.net

WEEK OF OCTOBER 21-27

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

Welcome Back, Frank

By Savannah Evanoff

Frank Turner / Photo by Ben Morse

The last time Frank Turner performed in Pensacola should be a distant memory by now.

It was Oct. 3 of 2008 at Sluggo's, and it was his 510th performance ever, which the English punk and folk singer-songwriter has now surpassed by more than 2,000 concerts. He knows; he's counted.

Turner says his memory is shot but he remembers that one, mostly because no one was there. He and his friends did a tour down the entirety of I-10—making it a point to drive every inch, he said.

Including Pensacola.

"Fucking no one came to it; it was an empty show. It was really miserable," Turner said. "I'm looking forward to actually seeing some people in Pensacola."

Turner never intended to start counting shows. The drummer of his former band, Million Dead, started a list. At the time, Turner thought he was out of his mind; now—some 16 years later—he's quite pleased.

October 21, 2021

But in the beginning, people couldn't care less.

"I remember when I got to show 1,000, I threw together a party; I got some friends of mine to put on a show in a parking lot in London, and I said, 'This was my 1,000th show,'" Turner said. "And they said, 'Your 1000th what?' Like they didn't get it at all. They were like, 'No, it isn't,' and 'How would you know?' all that kind of thing."

Since then, the concept has gained momentum, he said.

"To the extent that when I got to 2,000, everybody and their dog wanted to know where the show is gonna be and trying to get tickets," Turner said. "I don't want it to be too bravado. Quantity doesn't necessarily equal quality, but I hope that I've got reasonably good at this."

Someone recently told Turner the only musician he has left to beat (well, who keeps a list anyway) is Bon Jovi.

"Having said that, nobody kept lists of

people like B.B. King and John Lee Hooker," Turner said. "And those guys played harder than anybody, so I don't think that I'm going to win some kind of world record, but it's nice for me to look back on and say, 'I did this with my life.'"

Yeah, touring is kind of Turner's thing, to the point where his catch phrase was "Frank Turner: Always on Tour."

It originated from growing up in the U.K. idolizing American punk and hardcore bands, he said.

"I had a copy of 'Get in the Van' by Henry Rollins that has all the Black Flag tour dates in the back, and I used to read it and cross reference it with a map of America and stuff, because I'm a massive nerd," Turner said. "Right when I started playing in bands, I wanted to be in bands that toured a lot. I love playing shows. An old friend of mine once said the only place he's ever seen me look really comfortable in my own skin was when I was on the stage, which I took as a compliment."

It's also how Turner makes his living, which is not so insignificant, he said. The pandemic only magnified that.

The last year-and-a-half was the longest period of time in which Turner has ever slept in the same bed, he said.

"It wasn't just the financial thing or whatever; it's an identity thing," Turner said. "I've been touring very hard since I was 16 years old. But it's not necessarily all bad. My wife and I have spent more time together in the last 18 months than we ever did before. And it turns out, we get on really well. So this is good news."

Before COVID-19, Turner was 10 songs deep working on a record in L.A., with the intent to write five more. Then, the world went crazy, and he was gifted more time to write.

"It was a strange thing because everyone was like, 'Wow, look at this all this time to write with no distractions,'" Turner said. "I was like, 'Well, there's one distraction, which is the global pandemic. That counts.' It's a funny thing as well, because I think everybody wrote a whole pile of like lockdown songs. I thought to myself, 'I'm not sure how much people are gonna want to listen to lockdown songs when we're not in lockdown anymore,' and I wanted it to be broader than just being a record about a pandemic, or whatever."

Turner had always planned on making a heavier, more "musically aggressive" record, he said, following his last two experimental

records, which were electronic pop and history folk.

"I was like, 'Well, let's do something that's more in my long-term wheelhouse,' so I think it was always gonna be a little bit heavier, but then the pandemic gave me time to percolate that idea and concentrate it, so it ended up being really quite an aggressive piece of work in places," Turner said. "The singles are heavier than things I've done recently, but there's some tracks on the record which are really gonna strip some paint, shall we say?"

"An old friend of mine once said the only place he's ever seen me look really comfortable in my own skin was when I was on the stage, which I took as a compliment."

Frank Turner Turner knows it will be fun to perform live.

"There's an extent to which absence makes the heart grow fonder and so a lot of the material on this record is designed to be played in a crammed, sweaty punk room," Turner said. "That was theoretical while we were making it, or maybe let's say aspirational, but hopefully, we're getting back to a place where we will actually be able to do that."

While the album hasn't dropped yet, the first single, "Haven't Been Doing So Well," says it all. He said the song is his metaphorical "Dancing in the Dark"—hear him out.

"Famously, Springsteen had finished the whole 'Born in the USA,' and then the label asked him to write one more song for the radio, and he wrote 'Dancing in the Dark' in 45 minutes," Turner said. "It wasn't quite like somebody asked me to write a song for the radio, but I just felt that this record was missing one extra track. We were nearly finished, and I just went, 'Fuck it,' and sat down and wrote this song very quickly."

The song is raw because Turner didn't have time to second guess myself. And he needed the song to be a face for his pandemic feelings.

"I was doing all these shows for music venues and trying to be positive for myself, and for my audience, and for my wife and trying to keep a brave face and everything," Turner said. "At a certain point, I think it's 17

Frank Turner / Photo by Ben Morse

okay to admit that actually it's been hard and it hasn't been easy."

Turner headed a campaign in the U.K. to help independent music venues during the shutdowns. While the fundraising helped keep his spirits up, the pandemic still transformed Turner's anxiety from a minor issue to a major one, he said.

"Something I've long had trouble with is admitting to myself, and then to anybody else, that I could do with a hand," Turner said. "I think I'm not unusual in that. I think that's one of the major issues in mental health. In England, we talk about the stiff upper lip, but I'm not sure it's unique to us that idea that, 'I'll just muscle through this. I'll just listen to another bunch of Nick Cave records, and everything will be fine.'

And at a certain point, that isn't true. There are professionals who deal with this in a professional way. It's a record, like a lot of stuff that I've done, talking to myself as much as anybody else. But hopefully other people can take some meaning from it."

Writing records with an underlying layer of optimism isn't a conscious decision, but Turner, too, has noticed the pattern.

"I think part of it is just that I don't think that life is a rosy experience particularly, but at the same time, if I'm going to go out and sing a song night after night, all around the world, I'm not sure that I'm comfortable with just kind of going, 'Everything's terrible. Thank you very much.

Good night,'" Turner said. "Personally, I want to put a spin on it that at least kind of offers me and my audience a suggestion of a way out."

Turner is excited to debut new and old material in the States. While a gentleman never reveals his setlist, fear not, Turner is a crowd pleaser, he said. He remembers once playing a parking lot show for a couple 818 1

of guys who drove eight hours to see him perform.

People in the U.S. go the distance for shows. They don't do that in the U.K., he said.

"People in the U.K. can complain until the ends of the earth if you're not playing within 20 minutes of their front door," Turner said with a laugh. "The headline for me, though, is that I think the way that people react to my live music is pretty similar in different parts of the world. I find some comfort in that hopefully it's a unifying experience rather than one that highlights people's differences."

Minus the accents, he added.

"It always makes me laugh, and I've kind of forgotten about this in the last 18 months because I haven't been in America, is the people over here sing along with my songs in an American accent and you can hear some of the vowel sounds sound different when they sing along over here and it always cracks me up," Turner said. "It's a funny thing, because historically, lots of bands from the U.K., *cough* the Rolling Stones *cough* sing in a kind of faux American accent. Since the start of my career, I've always tried to just sing the way that I speak." {in}

FRANK TURNER AT VINYL MUSIC HALL

WHAT: Frank Turner with special guest Austin Meade WHERE: Vinyl Music Hall, 2 S. Palafox WHEN: Doors 7 p.m., show 8 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 28 COST: $20.00 (plus fees) DETAILS: vinylmusichall.com, frank-turner.com inweekly.net

BUSINESS

+ LEADERSHIP

NOVEMBER 17 - 18

CONFERENCE

DOWNTOWN PENSACOLA

VISIONARY KEYNOTES

+ VIRTUAL

No matter your title or industry, we invite you to reset, reskill, reimagine and re-engage with us at EntreCon® 2021.

BEAT YOUR BIASES

VINCENT BROWN

OVERCOME ANXIETY

CHESTER ELTON

LOVE YOUR WORK (AGAIN) STELLA GRIZONT

STEP UP YOUR GAME

MICHELLE SNOW

REPLENISH YOUR CULTURE QUINT STUDER

STRENGTHEN YOUR TEAM DON YAEGER

VIEW THE FULL 2-DAY SCHEDULE AND SECURE YOUR PASS AT

ENTRECONPENSACOLA.COM

AWARDS BY:

PRESENTED BY:

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STEP ONE AUTOMOTIVE — ANGLIN REICHMANN ARMSTRONG – GULF POWER — LANDRUMHR — WARREN AVERETT MEDIA/IN-KIND SPONSORS:

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Questions? Contact Rachael Gillette, RGillette@studeri.org (850) 748-5656 October 21, 2021

The Studer Community Institute is a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.

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a&e happenings to the public from 6-8 p.m. Visit pensacolamuseum.org for more information.

HADJU SHRINERS ANNUAL HAUNTED HOUSE The annual Hadji Shriners

Haunted House runs Fridays and Saturdays from 7-10:30 p.m. in October, as well as Halloween night, at the Hadji Shrine, located at 800 W. Nine Mile Road. Tickets are $25 with a portion of proceeds benefiting Pensacola Breast Cancer Association. Purchase tickets at pensacolabreastcancerassociation.com and hadjihauntedhouse.com.

BEACH-O-WEEN WITH SANTA ROSA ISLAND AUTHORITY The third annual

Photo by Anna Eerland / Shutterstock.com

NONPROFITS + FUNDRAISERS

ANIMAL ALLIES KITTEN ADOPTION

Animal Allies will be at Pet Supermarket, 6857 N. Ninth Ave., Saturday, Oct. 23, from 11 a.m.-3 p.m., and Everett Animal Welfare Group will be at PetSmart, located on North Davis Highway, every Saturday in October from noon-4 p.m. All cats are up to date on shots, and adoption fee includes spay or neuter with microchip and flea pill.

For more information, visit aaflorida.org.

TRUNK-OR-TREAT AND DOG ADOPTION EVENT Visit Anderson Subaru, located at 7050 Pensacola Blvd., on Saturday, Oct. 23, to meet dogs available for adoption from Phoenix Rising Rescue.

Adoption event is from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Kids can enjoy bounce houses, bagged treats, face painting and more.

ARTS & CULTURE

TAKING STOCK "Taking Stock," a drama

by Paul Logsdon and Milan Smith, is part of Pensacola Little Theatre's Studio 400 season. Showtimes are 7:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 22; Saturday, Oct. 29; and Thursday, Oct. 21, and 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 24. Tickets are $14-$20. Visit pensacolalittletheatre. com for details and tickets.

SPIRITS OF THE SIMPSON HOUSE

Arcadia Mill Archaeological Site and Homestead is the largest antebellum mill in Northwest Florida and full of stories from the past. Enjoy a guided tour of the property at night through the Spirits of the Simpson House event Oct. 15 and 16 from 6:30-7:30 p.m. Tickets are $8-$10. Visit historicpensacola.org for more information.

HAUNTED HOUSE WALKING AND TROLLEY TOURS The UWF Historic Trust will bring back its popular walking and trolley tours this year with four unique tour options in downtown Pensacola and North Hill Preservation District, including the Seville

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Spirits Walking Tour, Redlight Walking Tour (Adults Only), Murder and Mayhem Walking Tour and Trolley of the Doomed Tour. Dates are Oct. 22, 23, 29 and 30 with tours starting from 6:30-8:30. Tickets are $15-$20.Visit historicpensacola.org for more information.

PENSACOLA ARTS MARKET Shop a

variety of handmade wares with Pensacola Arts Market, located outside of Easy Going Gallery, located at 701 N. V St., from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 23. Enjoy art, espresso, vintage goods, baked treats, unique gifts and more. There is no admission charge. Visit facebook.com/pensacolaartsmarket for more information.

PENSACOLA INTERSTATE FAIR Returning for its 87th season Thursday, Oct. 21-Sunday, Oct. 31, Pensacola's biggest and longest-running annual agricultural and entertainment tradition returns, bringing with it the excitement of attractions and screams from exhilarating rides, exhibits, fair food, fun and shows for the whole family. Tickets can be purchased at pensacolafair.com.

This year's Pensacola Interstate Fair entertainment lineup includes: •Thursday, Oct. 21: "Cat Country 98.7 BIG Lip Sync Battle Finals" •Friday, Oct. 22: Eliminator KC (ZZ Top cover band) •Saturday, Oct. 23: White Tie Rock Ensemble tribute to The Eagles.

•Monday, Oct. 25: Jordan Chase •Thursday, Oct. 28: Night Fever (Bee Gees cover band) •Friday, Oct. 29: Resurrection (Journey cover band) •Saturday, Oct. 30: Rodney Atkins FALL EXHIBITION SHOWCASE Celebrate PMA's newest exhibitions with an evening of art and community at the museum's fall opening reception Friday, Oct. 22. Members are invited to a special preview and tour at 5 p.m. The museum will be free and open

Beach-O-Ween takes place from 4-8 p.m.

Friday, Oct. 22, on the Pensacola Beach Boardwalk with trick-or-treating, decorated booths and games for all ages. This family-friendly event is free to the public and costumes are encouraged. The event also includes face painting, arts-and-crafts activities, a Halloween bounce house, tricko-treat candy, hotdogs and special guests.

JAMEY JONES BOOK LAUNCH Open

Books, located at 1040 N. Guillemard St., will host the book launch of "morning coffee from the other side" from Pensacola's former Poet Laureate Jamey Jones'. The event will be outdoors at Longhollow Park across from Open Books Saturday, Oct. 23, at 5 p.m. Visit facebook.com/openbooksbookstore for more information.

PENSACOLA ROSE SOCIETY ROSE SHOW AND SALE The public is invited to

this free event. Judging show will begin at 1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 23. Local experts will be on hand to answer questions, and rose bushes will be available for sale. Event is at Pensacola Garden Center, located at 1850 N. Ninth Ave.

CHORAL SOCIETY OF PENSACOLA PRESENTS: FROSTIANA Frostiana, a

program of American music is The Choral Society's first concert of its 2021-2022 season, under its new artistic director, Peter Steenblik. The performance will be 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 24, at Pensacola High School, located at 500 W. Maxwell St. Tickets are $10-$20. Purchase tickets by visiting choralsocietyofpensacola.org.

FREE MOVIE NIGHTS AT AMERICAN LEGION FRANK R. MARSTON POST 33 Commander Robert Scarbor-

ough invites the community out to enjoy free drive-in movie screenings. Post 33 is located at 1401 W. Intendencia St. The lot opens at 6:30 p.m.; movies start at 7 p.m.

DATES: •Friday, Oct. 22: "Coco" •Saturday, Oct. 30: "It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown" •Saturday, Oct. 30: "Rocky Horror Picture Show" (midnight show, doors open at 11:30 p.m. $10 goody bags at the door)

SPIRIT FIRE FEST Asher & Bee Apothecary invites you to a day of celebration and creat-

inweekly.net

a&e happenings ing sacred spaces for spiritual community and honoring the gifts of ancestors with the Spirit Fire Fest from 2-8 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 24, at Sanders Beach, located at 913 S. I St. This year's theme is Hoodoo. The festival will have meditation and movement workshops, guest speakers, food and cocktails and more. Tickets are $22.22. To purchase, visit asherandbee.com/event-details/spirit-fire-fest.

and paranormal Investigation at Fort Morgan, one of Alabama's most haunted places. Fort Morgan State Historic Site will provide some historical background of the site and conduct a Q&A. Tours are Saturdays, Oct. 30 and Nov. 20, at 7 p.m.

Reservations are required. Visit pensacolaghostevents.com or secondsightparanormal.com to reserve your spots.

HOCUS POCUS AT REX THEATRE

WHAT'S SHOWING AT PENSACOLA CINEMA ART The next film showing at

The REX Theatre and Pensacola Cinema Art will have a special screening of "Hocus Pocus" on Tuesday, Oct. 26, at 7 p.m. Rex Theatre is located at 18 N. Palafox. Tickets are $5 cash only at the door. For more information, visit pensacolacinemaart.com.

SOUTHERN HAUNTS PODCAST LIVE SHOW Join Ashley McGlothren, host of

the paranormal podcast Southern Haunts, as she teams up with local storytellers to beguile you with the spookiest tales from our very own Pensacola. The live podcast taping will be Thursday, Oct. 28, from 7:309 p.m. at Pensacola Little Theatre, located at 400 S. Jefferson St.

SHAKESPEARE IN LOVE The UWF Theatre Department presents "Shakespeare in Love," based on the screenplay from Marc Norman and Tom Stoppard and adapted for the stage by Lee Hall. Performances will be held Friday, Oct. 29-Sunday, Oct. 31, and Friday, Nov. 5-Sunday, Nov. 7, with shows at 7:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and 2:30 p.m. on Sunday. All performances will take place in the Mainstage Theatre of the Center for Fine and Performing Arts, Bldg.

82, on the UWF Pensacola Campus. Tickets are $18 per person for adults, $14 per person for senior citizens and active military, $12 per person for non-UWF students and UWF faculty and staff, and $6 for high school students. UWF students are admitted free with their Nautilus cards. Tickets can be purchased at the CFPA Box Office, Bldg. 82, or online at uwf.edu/tickets.

FORT MORGAN GHOST INVESTIGATION AND HISTORICAL HAUNTED TOUR Join the members of Second Sight

Paranormal TV for a fully equipped ghost

PCA is "Roadrunner: A Film about Anthony Bourdain" at 1 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Nov. 5 and 6; and "Stillwater" at 1 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Nov. 12 and 13. Reserve your seats by emailing jpncinema@gmail. com or texting (863) 446-7300. PCA is located at 220 W. Garden St. Now streaming—"On Broadway" and the SXSW Short Film Festival.

STRONG STREET STUDIO ONLINE PUMPKIN SALE Glass pumpkin season

is upon us, and you can order yours from the safety and comfort of your own home.

Strong Street Studio will be offering a new inventory of glass pumpkins online at 10 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 13. For more information, visit strongstreetstudioglass.com.

VISIONARY APONTE: ART AND BLACK FREEDOM Visionary Aponte: Art and Black Freedom is from creator José Antonio Aponte, a free black carpenter, artist and former soldier who was also the leader of an ambitious antislavery conspiracy in Cuba in 1812. The exhibit is on view at Pensacola Museum of Art from Oct. 22-March 27. Visit pensacolamuseum.org for more information.

2000 MEN: BLACK POLITICIANS DURING RECONSTRUCTION A new

exhibit at the Pensacola Museum of History shares the stories and histories of Black politicians during the Reconstruction period. The Pensacola Museum of History is located at 330 S. Jefferson St. For more information, visit historicpensacola.org.

UWF HISTORIC TRUST 9/11 EXHIBIT

An exhibit honoring victims lost and others

impacted by the tragedy on Sept. 11, 2001, is now on display on the second floor of the Pensacola Museum of History.

The University of West Florida Historic Trust curated the exhibit, 9/11 Remembered, which runs through January 2022, with items on loan from the 9/11 Memorial & Museum in New York and the History Museum of Mobile. The gallery includes a section of the I-beam from one of the World Trade Center towers and a helmet and other items worn by first responders who responded to the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Visitors can also view a video of newsreels from 20 years ago on projectors and a video from NAS Pensacola that features military members who responded to the 9/11 attacks.

For more information on UWF's Historic Trust, visit historicpensacola.org.

FINDING 1821 Finding 1821 is part of the

UWF Historic Trust's Suddenly American exhibit. Using historic newspapers, maps and documents, it is possible to locate where businesses stood in the 1820s. From taverns to parasol shops, each site on the Finding 1821 trail reflects a local establishment that was near that location 200 years ago. Outside each business is a QR code that links to a corresponding advert from an early 1820s newspaper. Over a dozen sites have been identified so far. Take a stroll around town, visit local shops and explore the history of Pensacola through today's technology. Visit historicpensacola. org for more information.

EASY GOING GALLERY ART MARKET

Every Sunday, Easy Going Gallery and Carter J Studios present a weekly art market Sundays from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. at Easy Going Gallery, located at 701 N. V St. Vendors can participate for a $20 fee. For more information, contact easygoinggalleryart@gmail.com.

THE KINGDOM OF THIS WORLD, REIMAGINED The Kingdom of This World,

Reimagined provides a new look at the real and imagined stories told in Alejo Carpentier's 1949 historical novel "The Kingdom of This World," which recounts the Haitian Revolution in his signature literary style—lo real maravilloso, or the marvelous real.

This exhibit will be on view at the Pensacola Museum of Art through Jan. 9, 2022. The PMA is open Tuesday-Saturday from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. and Sundays from noon-4 p.m. For more information about exhibitions, programming or support, visit pensacolamuseum.org.

IN PLACE UWF ART FACULTY EXHIBITION The Art Gallery (TAG) at the

University of West Florida presents In Place, Art Faculty Exhibition. This exhibition features work by Thomas Asmuth & Sara Gevurtz, Dale Castellucci, Yvonne Christine, Nicholas Croghan, John Dougherty, Carrie Fonder, Valerie George, Justin Quaid Grubb, Jim Jipson, Kelly Leitermann, John Markowitz, Marzia Ransom, Gregory B. Saunders and Jenea Wood. The exhibit runs through Nov. 5 at TAG, located on the UWF Pensacola Campus in The Center for Fine and Performing Arts, Bldg. 82.

PENSACOLA BEACH ART WALK ON THE BOARDWALK Stroll the Pensacola

Beach Boardwalk Sundays through October from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. and check out local art vendors, listen to live music and enjoy local restaurants and bars at 400 Quietwater Beach Road.

SCRIPTEASERS WITH PENSACOLA LITTLE THEATRE Scripteasers, Studio

400's and Pensacola Little Theatre's Script Reading Club invites you to monthly script readings at PLT, 400 S. Jefferson St. Want to bring your scripts for the group to read and discuss? Contact Pensacola Little Theatre to get in queue. The group reads prospective scripts for future seasons as well as new scripts that need a table read before the next edit. Not a playwright but love to read out loud? This is your easy, fun theatre night. Fascinated by the play selection process? Sit in for a listen and usually a lot of laughs. Visit facebook.com/pensacolalittletheatre for more information and the latest dates.

SEVILLE HAUNTED TOURS Seville Quarter's haunted tours offer a different look at Pensacola's history as guides weave tales of ghosts, debauchery, murder, may-

GRAPHIC NOVELS

KIDS BOOKS

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

www.radiofreepensacola.com October 21, 2021

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

909 N. 12th Avenue

pensacolapopcomics.com 21

a&e happenings hem, paranormal activities, history and more.

Choose your experience from three ongoing tours—Seville Haunted Luncheon and Ghost Tour, 11 a.m. every third Tuesday of the month; Seville Haunted Gallery Night Tours, 7 p.m. every third Friday of the month; Seville Sunday FunDay Haunted Tours, 4 p.m. last Sunday of each month. Tickets are available at pensacolaghostevents.com.

OPEN MIC AT THE GORDON Show off

your talents on the second Thursday of every month at The Gordon's Open Mic showcase from 7-10 p.m. Admission is free. The Gordon is located at 306 N. DeVilliers St. Visit thegordon.org for more information.

OPEN MIC COMEDY AT BIG TOP BREWERY Try out some new jokes or enjoy

some homegrown talent every Monday at 7 p.m. for Open Mic Comedy at Big Top Brewery, located at 21 W. Romano St. Everyone gets five minutes depending on the number of sign-ups. Registration begins at 6:30 p.m.

NEW CLASSES AT MIXON MAGIC PERFORMING ARTS Mixon Magic Per-

forming Arts (MMPA), a boutique performing arts studio located at 1010 N. 12th Ave., Ste. 238, will be offering a limited class schedule this fall. MMPA offers professional dance, fitness and "Mommy and Me" instruction for all ages and skill levels with weekly classes including, but not limited to,

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Creative Movement, Ballet/Jazz Combo, Broadway, Tap, Showstoppers, Acting and Voice. Classes will be provided for children as young as 2 years old (with a parent or guardian) through adult.

MMPA is dedicated to the safety and well-being of all students and families and has implemented protocols based on guidance from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Masks are required for entry into the building and studio. More information about Mixon Magic Performing Arts can be found at mixonmagic.com, by contacting hello@mixonmagic.com or emily@mixonmagic.com or by calling (850) 221-7438.

GENDER PORTRAITS Gender Portraits is a project from artist Drew Riley of the Austin Creative Alliance. The nonprofit organization supports sex and gender minorities using art as a foundation for education, activism and advocacy. The exhibit is on view at Voices of Pensacola, located at 117 E. Government St., through January 2022. For more information, visit historicpensacola.org.

BLACK CITIZENSHIP IN THE AGE OF JIM CROW "Black Citizenship in the Age

of Jim Crow," a traveling exhibition from the New York Historical Society Museum & Library with additions from the African American Heritage Society of Pensacola, is now on view at Artel Gallery. To learn more about

it, visit africanamericanheritagesociety.org.

Artel Gallery is located at 223 S. Palafox.

CRAFT CLASSES AT STUDIO SOUTH ON NINE MILE Learn a new craft or meet

up with other makers at Studio South. Tuesday is Knit Night 4-7 p.m., and Sit & Stitch is Saturdays 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Both classes are free. For a full calendar of events, visit studiosouthon9mileroad.com. Studio South is located at 955 E. Nine Mile Road.

CLASSES AND WORKSHOPS AT FIRST CITY ART First City Art Center offers a wide

range of classes and workshops for artists of all levels. Classes include glass blowing, ceramics, painting and drawing, kiln-forming, stained glass and more. For a complete list of classes and times, visit firstcityart.org.

LIVE MUSIC

BANDS ON THE BEACH Bands on the Beach is back. The free concert series features shows each Tuesday night, from 7-9 p.m., April-October, at the Gulfside Pavilion at Casino Beach. The last date is Oct. 26 with String Farm.

BANDS ON THE BLACKWATER Free

outdoor concert Friday nights from 7-9 p.m. at Jernigan's Landing, located at 5158 Willing St. in Milton. The last two dates are Oct. 22 with Ben Loftin & The Family and Oct. 29 with Goldmine.

HERE COME THE MUMMIES: THE REAWAKENING TOUR Here Come the

Mummies will play at Vinyl Music Hall, located at 2 S. Palafox, on Thursday, Oct. 21, at 8 p.m. Tickets are $25. For more information, visit vinylmusichall.com.

LEANNE MORGAN Leanne Morgan will

be performing at Saenger Theatre, located at 118 S. Palafox, 7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 23.

This is a rescheduled show from last year's postponement. For more information, visit pensacolasaenger.com.

MERCYME Grammy-nominated band MercyMe will be performing at Pensacola Bay Center, located at 201 E. Gregory St., on Sunday, Oct. 24, at 7 p.m. Tickets are $28.75-$160. For more information, visit pensacolabaycenter.com.

FRANK TURNER Musician Frank Turner will be at Vinyl Music Hall, 2 S. Palafox, on Thursday, Oct. 28. Show is at 8 p.m.; doors open at 7 p.m. Tickets are $20 and available at vinylmusichall.com.

LIVE MUSIC AT RED FISH BLUE FISH PENSACOLA BEACH Head to Red Fish

Blue Fish for live performances from local bands Fridays and Saturdays all day. For musician lineups, visit facebook.com/redfishbluefishpensacolabeach.

inweekly.net

a&e happenings SAXOPHONIST JIM ANDREWS AT ALICE'S RESTAURANT Saxophonist

Jim Andrews will be performing at Alice's Restaurant, located at 1504 W. Intendencia St., on the first Friday of every month from 6-9:30 p.m.

CURT BOL JAZZ QUARTET Visit Five Sisters Blues Café, located at 421 W. Belmont St., Sundays from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. and listen to Curt Bol Jazz Quartet. Visit curtbolband.com for more information.

OPEN JAM AT ARTEL GALLERY Artel

Gallery is open from 5-7 p.m. Wednesdays and Saturdays for open jam with Pensacola Folk Music Society. Feel free to visit and listen to music. Artel Gallery is located at 223 S. Palafox.

KARAOKE AT MUGS AND JUGS Sing

your heart out Sundays at Mugs & Jugs, 12080 Scenic Highway, or just enjoy drinks friends with $4 Smirnoff and $6.50 domestic pitcher drink deals from 7 p.m.-3 a.m. For more information, visit facebook.com/mugsjugs.

LIVE MUSIC AT HUB STACEY'S Sit back

with good food and live music at Hub Stacey's, located at 312 E. Government St. For a full calendar of bands, check hubstaceys.com.

MONDAY NIGHT BLUES AT SEVILLE QUARTER Seville Quarter and the Blues

Society of Northwest Florida bring the "Blues" back to the Seville Quarter Entertainment District, located at 130 E. Government St. every Monday night in End O' the Alley starting at 7 p.m. For more information, visit sevillequarter.com.

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

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

FITNESS + RECREATION

PENSACOLA PEGGERS CRIBBAGE CLUB LOOKING FOR MEMBERS Pen-

sacola Peggers Cribbage Club 396, the local Grass Roots Club affiliated with American Congress of Cribbage, is seeking new players for the group. The club meets weekly on Wednesdays at 6:30 p.m. at Sonny's BBQ, located at 6702 N. Ninth Ave., to play six games of cribbage.

NAVAL AVIATION MUSEUM FOUNDATION VIRTUAL RACE The Naval

Aviation Museum Foundation is hosting their second annual Onward & Upward virtual race experience virtual race through Oct. 31. The race is open to participants of all ages. Participants can register online for the 1-mile, 5K or 10K distance for a $35 registration fee. All participants will receive a 4.5-inch spinning Blue Angels 75th Anniversary race medal spotlighting some of the team's historic aircraft. To register for October 21, 2021

the Onward & Upward Virtual Race, visit navalaviationfoundation.org/virtualrace.

PENSACOLA ICE FLYERS GAMES The Pensacola Ice Flyers home games are at Pensacola Bay Center, located at 201 E. Gregory St. Tickets start at $15. Purchase yours at pensacolabaycenter.com.

UPCOMING HOME GAMES: •7:05 p.m. Friday, Oct. 22 •7:05 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 23 CHESS CLUB Learn how to play one of the oldest games in the world with West Florida Public Libraries. Whether you are a beginner or a master chess player, this is a chance to learn new skills, practice your moves and improve your game in a friendly environment.

The library will provide all the chessboards and pieces. Every skill level welcome.

DATES: •Saturday, Oct. 23, 1-3 p.m. – Pensacola Library, 239 N. Spring St. •Saturday, Oct. 23, 1-3:30 p.m. – Southwest Library, 12248 Gulf Beach Highway OUTDOOR ADVENTURE AND RECREATION FESTIVAL The City of Pensacola

Parks and Recreation Department is scheduled to host its inaugural Pensacola Outdoor Adventure and Recreation Festival, OAR Fest, from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 23, at Bayview Park, located at 2001 E. Lloyd St. in Pensacola. Guests will be invited to participate in free kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding, windsurfing and rowing instructional demonstrations.

WEEKLY FRIDAY DANCE Get moving every Friday night with a dance sponsored by the Fraternal Order of Eagles. Enjoy food from 6-7 p.m. Dancing is from 7-10 p.m.

A variety of bands and music provide the tunes. Cost of admission is $6. Dances are located at 105 Kenmore Ave. in Pensacola.

For more information, call (850) 476-5696.

PENSACOLA FERRY SERVICE The

Pensacola Bay Cruises Ferry Service is open with service on Friday, Saturday and Sunday running between Downtown Pensacola and Pensacola Beach. Ferry trips last approximately 50 minutes, and all-day free parking is available at each of the departure sites.

Tickets are $26 roundtrip for adults; $20 roundtrip for military, disabled persons and students; and $15 roundtrip for children 3-15.

Children 2 and under ride for free. A local's card may be purchased for additional discounts. The ferry service operation schedule is available on pensacolabaycruise.com.

PENSACOLA PARKRUN The Pensacola Rec Plex North parkrun is 7:30 a.m. Saturdays.

The weekly timed 5K run or walk takes place at the University of West Florida and is open to everyone, regardless of fitness level. For more information, visit facebook.com/rpnparkrun or email recplexnorth@parkrun.com. for more listings visit inweekly.net 23

a&e

By C. Scott Satterwhite

Jamey Jones and the Balance Between Life and Poetry INWEEKLY: Besides being a poet, and teaching poetry, you're the editor of the PSC journal "Hurricane Review." In what ways has your work as an editor affected your writing?

JONES: Oh wow—good question. I'm not sure, really. I mean, I would hope it's had a positive effect. That role requires me and my students to go deep into the work of the contributors, occupy it really, which is a pleasure and an education, my gosh. It's not meant to be a class, but I swear we all come away from it with a greater awareness of poetry, humanity and ourselves, which is tough to explain. There's the art of just putting a book together, making a book, selecting and sequencing work, from cover to cover, the tedium of proofreading, dealing with the printers and the deadlines and life getting way, but there's this moment, where you're like holy shit, here it is, a book. Ed Sanders has a poem about this. I've been making books for a while now. I love trusting the process and seeing where it takes me. As editors and writers, we only have so much control. I think our job is to try our best to honor what the selection is trying to tell us, what the book-to-be wants to become, and help it get there—which often means just getting out of the way. Now, does that make my poems better or worse? I have no idea.

Scott Darlington / Courtesy Photo

While the world seems to stop and move forward, poetry stays in motion. One poet who continues the work is our recent Poet Laureate, Jamey Jones.

Jones was nice enough to answer a few questions we had about poetry, teaching and his new book, "morning coffee from the other side."

INWEEKLY: This has been an interesting year, to say the least.

JONES: You can say that again.

INWEEKLY: How are you holding upheld?

JONES: I'm doing all right, thanks. Like most of us, I'm trying to stay sane, and mostly succeeding … I think. It can be easily referred to as the craziest year on record, at least my life.

INWEEKLY: All right, enough small talk, Jones. Tell me about your new book.

JONES: It's a great book. I'm really proud of it. It's called "morning coffee from the other side," and it's a selection of poems written over the course of the last decade. Not so much a suite, but a trail—a trail of poems through the last decade. Which is kind of interesting to me. The oldest poem was written in 2011. Several of the newest [poems] came together literally in the last couple of months before the book was published. I'm 424 2

happy to have them all in one book. Feels like the children are all accounted for.

INWEEKLY: I noticed a lot of reflection, memory and dreams specifically. Is any of this related to our current moment?

JONES: Not directly, no. But indirectly, of course, in the way that everything is always related to the current moment. They're not topical poems per se. There's more solitude in this book than I was initially aware of, which is probably what makes them reflective to you, and you're not wrong. That's there for sure. Falling in love, falling out of love, then back in, ho hum, which is so boring to say, but always so real. And there are several elegies throughout because that's the way it goes as we grow older. And there's hope, hope, hope.

INWEEKLY: While Pensacola comes up often in your poetry, this work seems to be much closer to home. Am I wrong with this impression?

JONES: Do you mean more Pensacola, literally my home, or just more personal?

INWEEKLY: Either.

JONES: I hadn't thought about that, but thinking about it now, yes, there's references to places in Pensacola and there's at least five poems dedicated to Pensacola friends, but Pensacola is throughout in less obvious ways.

INWEEKLY: Fair enough. But teaching is certainly an element in your work.

I'm think of your poem "Global Learning Outcomes," but also in your life as a poet. How does teaching affect you, Jamey Jones, the poet?

JONES: Well, in good and bad ways. Teaching is exhausting, and I still haven't figured out how to do it without putting copious amounts of energy into it. If you're not careful, it will suck you dry—and you'll have nothing left for yourself, which means you have no energy or time for your own writing, family, friends, pets, house and students.

You have to know what I mean.

INWEEKLY: Because I teach, too? Sure.

JONES: It's about trying to strike that balance. 15 years in, and I still haven't found it, but I remain hopeful because I believe in the poem and in the connection between me and my students, which takes the experience of living to a higher plain—one of honesty, dignity, hope and inspiration.

Those are the better days, and they feed my poems abundantly and this is something that will never fit into the contrived realm of politicians and bureaucrats. It can't, because it is too powerful and real, and is beyond political rhetoric, rubrics and standardized testing, which is what [the poem] "Global Learning Outcomes" is all about. I like that poem a lot and the funny thing is, for years it was the end of a long poem that

didn't work. Then one day, tinkering around, I saw it as a separate poem trapped in failed poem, and I rescued it; it rescued me; we rescued each other. That's how it works. Put that in your rubric.

INWEEKLY: I will. Definitely. So are you ever inspired by your students?

JONES: All the time.

INWEEKLY: Knowing poetry is so personal and subjective, how do you teach someone to write poetry?

JONES: I don't think you do. You can master every poetic form in the book and still not be a poet. As a "teacher" of poetry, I do my best to share the experience, joy and sanity I get from poetry, and I'm sure that, for some students, that doesn't translate and that's okay. But I'm also sure that for others it does. By sharing my experience and knowledge, I hope to help them learn to trust themselves and their place in the universe through poetry. But that's not teaching poetry, but just being present as a poet, and helping them to see and believe in the dignity of their own experience.

INWEEKLY: Whether direct references or indirectly in the musicality of your verse, but I often see music in your work.

Is that conscious or subconscious?

JONES: Oh thanks, I'm glad you see music there. It's subconscious, but I'm conscious of that, and know that it's there, like an old friend, which is nice. There's such music in language, all languages, and I'm forever turned on by that.

INWEEKLY: What other poets, local and national, should we be paying attention to these days?

JONES: I'm not as in touch with the local scene as I'd like to be, but a standout for me is Charles McCaskill. Such a voice in his poems—local, national, conscientious, relevant and never cold. {in}

JAMEY JONES BOOK LAUNCH

WHAT: An event celebrating the release of Jones new book "morning coffee from the other side" WHERE: Open Books Bookstore & Prison Book Project,* 1040 N. Guillemard St. WHEN: 5 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 23 COST: Free and open to the public. Books will be for sale at event.

DETAILS: facebook.com/openbooksbookstore *This event will be outside, across the street from Open Books, in Long Hollow Park.

Attendees are strongly encouraged to wear masks and socially distance when possible. inweekly.net

October 21, 2021

25

free will astrology WEEK OF OCTOBER 21 ARIES (MARCH 21-APRIL 19): Even the

wisest among us are susceptible to being fascinated by our emotional pain. Even those of us who do a lot of inner work may be captivated and entranced by frustrations and vexations and irritants. Our knotty problems make us interesting, even attractive! They shape our self-image. No wonder we are sometimes "intensely, even passionately, attached to suffering," in the words of author Fyodor Dostoevsky. That's the bad news.

The good news, Aries, is that in the coming weeks, you will have extra power to divest yourself of sadness and distress and anxiety that you no longer need. I recommend you choose a few outmoded sources of unhappiness and enact a ritual to purge them.

TAURUS (APRIL 20-MAY 20): In Norway, you don't call your romantic partner "boyfriend" or "girlfriend." You say "kjaereste," which is gender neutral and is translated as "dearest." In Sweden, you refer to your lover as "älskling," meaning "my beloved one." How about Finland? One term the Finns use for the person they love is "kulta," which means gold. I hope you'll be inspired by these words to experiment with new nicknames and titles for the allies you care for. It's a favorable time to reinvent the images you project onto each other. I hope you will refine your assumptions about each other and upgrade your hopes for each other. Be playful and have fun as you enhance your empathy.

GEMINI (MAY 21-JUNE 20): The band Creedence Clearwater Revival, led by Gemini musician John Fogerty, achieved tremendous success with their rollicking sound and socially conscious lyrics. They sold 33 million records worldwide. In 1970, they were the best-selling band on the planet, exceeding even the Beatles. And yet, the band endured for just over four years. I foresee the possibility of a comparable phenomenon in your life during the coming months. Something that may not last forever will ultimately generate potent, long-term benefits. What might it be? Meditate on the possibility. Be alert for its coming. Create the conditions necessary for it to thrive.

By Rob Brezsny

CANCER (JUNE 21-JULY 22): Cancerian philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau wrote, "I am unlike anyone I have ever met. I will even venture to say that I am like no one in the whole world. I may be no better, but at least I am different." I urge you to make that your own affirmation in the coming weeks.

It's high time to boldly claim how utterly unique you are—to be full of reasonable pride about the fact that you have special qualities that no one in history has ever had.

Bonus—The cosmos is also granting you permission to brag more than usual about your humility and sensitivity, as well as about your other fine qualities.

LEO (JULY 23-AUG. 22): Nigerian poet

Ijeoma Umebinyuo writes, "I will always want myself. Always. Darling, I wrote myself a love poem two nights ago. I am a woman who grows flowers between her teeth. I dance myself out of pain. This wanting of myself gets stronger with age. I host myself to myself. I am whole." I recommend you adopt Umebinyuo's attitude as you upgrade your relationship with yourself during the coming weeks. It's time for you to pledge to give yourself everything you wish a lover would offer you. You're ready to claim more of your birthright as an ingenious, diligent self-nurturer.

VIRGO (AUG. 23-SEPT. 22): As au-

thor David Brooks reminds us, "Exposure to genius has the power to expand your consciousness. If you spend a lot of time with genius, your mind will end up bigger and broader than if you spend your time only with run-of-the-mill stuff." I hope this strategy will be at the top of your priority list during the next four weeks. You will have abundant opportunities to put a lot of "excellent stuff into your brain," as Brooks suggests. Uncoincidentally, you are also likely to be a rich source of inspiration and illumination yourself. I suspect people will recognize—even more than they usually do—that being around you will make them smarter. I suggest you help them realize that fact.

LIBRA (SEPT. 23-OCT. 22): Self-help author James Clear describes a scenario I urge

author Anne Lamott. I will add that on rare occasions, virtually everyone in your tribe is functioning at high levels of competency and confidence. According to my analysis, now is one of those times. That's why I encourage you to take extraordinary measures to marshal your tribe's creative, constructive efforts.

I believe that together you can collaborate to generate wonders and marvels that aren't normally achievable. Group synergy is potentially at a peak—and will be fully activated if you help lead the way.

you to keep in mind. He speaks of "a stonecutter hammering away at his rock, perhaps a hundred times without as much as a crack showing in it. Yet at the hundred and first blow, it will split in two." Clear adds that "it was not that last blow that did it—but all that had gone before." You'll thrive by cultivating that same patience and determination in the coming weeks, Libra. Proceed with dogged certainty that your sustained small efforts will eventually yield potent results.

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

Prize-winning poet Odysseus Elytis was speaking like a consummate Scorpio when he said, "What I love is always being born.

What I love is beginning always." Like most Scorpios, he knew an essential secret about how to ensure he could enjoy that intense rhythm—He had to be skilled in the art of metaphorical death. How else could he be born again and again? Every time he rose up anew into the world like a beginner, it was because he had shed old ideas, past obsessions and worn-out tricks. I trust you've been attending to this transformative work in the past few weeks, Scorpio.

Ready to be born again? Ready to begin anew? To achieve maximum renaissance, get rid of a few more things.

SAGITTARIUS (NOV. 22-DEC. 21): "I haven't had enough sleep for years," author Franz Kafk a (1883–1924) once confessed to a friend. It showed in his work, which was brilliant but gaunt and haunted. He wrote stories that would be written by a person who was not only sleep-deprived but dream-deprived.

The anxiety he might have purged from his system through sleep instead spilled out into the writing he did in waking life. Anyway, I'm hoping you will make Kafk a your anti-role model as you catch up on the sleep you've missed out on. The coming weeks will be a fantastic time to fall in love with the odd, unpredictable, regenerative stories that well up from your subconscious depths while you're in bed at night. They will refresh your imagination in all the right ways.

CAPRICORN (DEC. 22-JAN. 19): "The reason life works at all is that not everyone in your tribe is nuts on the same day," writes

AQUARIUS (JAN. 20-FEB. 18): I believe your plan for the rest of 2021 should borrow from the mini-manifesto that Aquarian author Virginia Woolf formulated at age 51—"I will go on adventuring, changing, opening my mind and my eyes, refusing to be stamped and stereotyped. The thing is to free oneself—to let it find its dimensions, not be impeded." Does that sound like fun, Aquarius? It should be—although it may require you to overcome temptations to retreat into excess comfort and inertia.

PISCES (FEB. 19-MARCH 20): "Anyone

who isn't embarrassed of who they were last year probably isn't learning enough," writes author and philosopher Alain de Botton.

That's too extreme a statement for my taste.

But I agree with the gist of his comment. If we are not constantly outgrowing who we are, we are not sufficiently alert and alive.

Luckily for you, Pisces, you are now in a phase of rapid ripening. At least you should be. The cosmos is conspiring to help you learn how to become a more vibrant and authentic version of yourself. Please cooperate! Seek all available updates.

THIS WEEK'S HOMEWORK: Tell me why you're such a gorgeous creature—newsletter. freewillastrology.com.

freewillastrology.com

freewillastrology@freewillastrology.com Rob Brezsny © Copyright 2021

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news of the weird SPACE INVASION Forget a "rude" awakening—this one verges closer to "terrifying." Ruth Hamilton of Golden, British Columbia, told CBC News that she woke up on Oct. 4 to her dog barking. "The next thing was just a huge explosion and debris all over my face," she said.

After realizing something had punched a hole in her ceiling, she called 911. While answering the operator's questions, she moved a bed pillow and discovered a "melon-sized space rock" that must have landed inches from her head while she slept. Peter Brown, a physics and astronomy professor at Western University in London, Ontario, confirmed the rock was "certainly a meteorite," but will require further study to determine its exact origins.

OUT ON A LIMB A police standoff that began on Oct. 6 finally came to an end more than 48 hours later, as a man wanted in connection with an assault case climbed down from the tree he had taken refuge in. When police arrived at the Queens, New York, home of Roody Thomas, 44, in response to a call about a domestic dispute during which Thomas threatened his mother, Thomas climbed out of a second-story window and onto his roof.

He then leapt from the roof into a 30-foot spruce tree, where he spent two uncomfortable nights. According to Fox 5 NY, a negotiator was ultimately able to talk Thomas into leaving his perch. Thomas, who had a warrant out for his arrest for allegedly punching his girlfriend on Sept. 30, surrendered to police and was sent to a hospital for evaluation.

SPRINKLEGATE Don't mess with a man's sprinkles. The owner of a U.K. bakery went viral for ranting about regulations that are cutting into his bread and butter—or rather his cake and frosting. Rich Myers, 32, of Leeds, can no longer sell his most popular items because they featured "illegal sprinkles" imported from the United States. The sprinkles contained an additive called E127, which has been linked to "hyperactivity disorders and tumors in rats," reports the Mirror. An anonymous customer tipped off West Yorkshire Trading Standards, the local regulatory agency, about the infraction. Myers swears he won't switch to the approved sprinkles from his home country, claiming they don't hold their colors during the baking process. "If I can't use (the imported sprinkles), I won't use any," he said. "I will be on sprinkle strike and won't budge for no man."

The contraband goodies aren't exactly hard to come by, he added: "We buy them from a shop in London, so it's not like we're getting them from a cocaine haulage in Mexico."

WHERE'S WALLY An Arctic walrus who found fame this summer after touring the coasts of Spain, France and the U.K. was feared dead after he disappeared from West Cork, Ireland, in late August. But fans of Wally the walrus can breathe easy: The Independent reports that the intrepid wanderer was recently spotted off

By the Editors at Andrews McMeel

the coast of Iceland. Wally became famous for launching himself onto the decks of (empty, docked) boats, sinking several, as he stopped in various European harbors to rest during his travels. Wildlife organizations even created special pontoon "couches" for him to nap on. Wally appears to be in good health and is expected to make his way to the Arctic to begin his search for a mate once he's rested and built up some blubber for the trek.

PAIN IN THE NECK For the last two years, Colorado Parks and Wildlife officials have been witness to a bizarre wildlife sighting: a bull elk roaming the wilderness with a tire around its neck. CNN reported that CPW officials had been monitoring the elk since it was first spotted in July 2019, and though the tire did not impede the animal from drinking or feeding, they grew concerned that the tire might get tangled in branches, fencing or the antlers of another elk. CPW officers received a community tip on the elk's whereabouts on Oct. 9 and were finally able to tranquilize it and remove the tire—which had 10 pounds of debris inside it— after removing the elk's antlers. "We would have preferred to cut the tire and leave the antlers for his rutting activity, but the situation was dynamic and we had to just get the tire off in any way possible," CPW officer Scott Murdoch said.

The elk is expected to make a full recovery.

MEANWHILE IN FLORIDA When hopeless romantic Matthew Huber, 43, was questioned by police on Oct. 12 after witnesses reported him breaking into a Nissan truck outside a Walmart in Vero Beach, Florida, he wanted them to know it was a labor of love. According to the police report, Huber claimed that he attempted to get into the vehicle "to see his imaginary girlfriend Emma," whom he only sees when he is "tripping on meth." The Smoking Gun reported that Huber was arrested for burglary and carrying a concealed weapon during the commission of a criminal offense. Emma could not be reached for comment.

ONE PERSON'S JUNK Careful which old plate you're using to microwave your hot dogs, kids. A dish found in the drawer of a Scottish country house fetched a staggering $1.7 million in an online auction held on Oct. 6, The Scotsman reported. A ceramics specialist working for auctioneers Lyon & Turnbull discovered the dish, which features a painting of Samson and Delilah by Nicola di Gabriele Sbraghe — aka Nicola da Urbino, a 16th-century master of maiolica pottery. "As the auctioneer, it was a real joy to bring the hammer down at over 1 million pounds on this incredibly rare dish," said Lyon & Turnbull Managing Director Gavin Strang. {in}

From Andrews McMeel Syndication News Of The Weird © 2021 Andrews McMeel

Send your weird news items to WeirdNewsTips@amuniversal.com October 21, 2021

27

“Books give a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, and flight to the imagination.”

BOOKS & GIFTS Browse our latest collection of new and popular books where you will discover unique titles and topics. From local authors to children’s stories and best sellers, there’s always something new to see!

FROM THE CAFÉ

KIDS’ READING AREA

Indulge in Autumn with a

Kids and families will find

Fall Spice Latte from the

a wide selection of children’s

cafe, available for limited

books, for any age.

time. Stay awhile or get

Enjoy exploring under the

yours to go.

lighthouse or join us for

Story Time on Saturdays at 11.

B o d a ci o u s B o o k s to re & C af e • 1 1 0 E Inte n d e n cia St . ( 1 s t Fl o o r o f S o u thto w n e) • ( 8 5 0 ) 4 4 6 - 6 9 6 6 O PEN M o n . – S at . 7 A M to 5 PM • Sun . 1 2 PM to 5 PM • b o d a ci o u s b o o k s to re . c o m •

Independent News | October 21, 2021 | inweekly.net

b o d a ci o u s b o o k s to re