FALL MUSIC GUIDE
Pensacola, FL
winners & losers winners losers
RAY PALMER The president and CEO of Pensacola Sports has told his board that he will step down on Sept. 30, 2026, giving the sports tourism organization a year to conduct a national search for his replacement. Palmer has led Pensacola Sports for more than two decades. Under his leadership, the organization has evolved into a nationally recognized sports tourism powerhouse, hosting regional and national sports events and securing major contracts with the Sun Belt Conference, Southeastern Conference and the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics. Palmer told Inweekly that he has "loved every minute of this job," but he added, "It's time for us to go find some new young blood that can take the Pensacola sports to the next level."
ILDI HOSMAN The director of public relations at Landrum is the chair of the Greater Pensacola Chamber of Commerce. Hosman is only the third woman to chair Florida's oldest sustaining Chamber of Commerce, following in the footsteps of the late Gwen Appelquist and Carol Carlan. Before joining Landrum, Hosman served as the president of Junior Achievement of Northwest Florida. Hosman has held several other marketing, public affairs and education leadership roles with area organizations, including the Pensacola Chamber (2007-2009). The University of West Florida graduate is a member of the Inweekly Rising Stars Class of 2009.
PENSACOLA AND PERDIDO BAYS ESTUARY PROGRAM
The program awarded grants totaling $250,000 to local educational institutions, nonprofits and local governments supporting action projects to help restore and protect local waters. Seven recipients received awards ranging from $10,000 to nearly $55,000 at the 2025 Community Grant Symposium last month. The Pensacola and Perdido Bays Estuary Program (PPBEP) has surpassed $1.3 million in grants awarded to 48 community projects over the past six years. The Estuary Program thanked the Northwest Florida Legislative Delegation for their support, specifically Rep. Alex Andrade for sponsoring PPBEP's legislative funding request the last six legislative sessions.
FLORIDA DOGE Florida's Chief Financial Officer Blaise Ingoglia blasted the City of Pensacola for its "Welcome to Pensacola" sign at the foot of the Chappie James Bridge, citing it among a list of local government expenditures that he said Florida DOGE (Department of Government Efficiency) audits determined were excessive and wasteful. The press conference aimed to support Gov. Ron DeSantis' effort to eliminate property taxes, but Ingoglia's auditors failed to report that no property taxes were spent on the sign. The City of Pensacola gave the Florida Department of Transportation its Five Flags Plaza with the agreement that FDOT would pay for the design and construction of a welcome sign. FDOT provided $470,000, and the city used American Rescue Plan Act funds to cover the remaining project costs.
"AND TANGO MAKES THREE" Chief U.S. District Judge Allen Winsor rejected a challenge to a 2023 decision by the Escambia County School Board to remove the book from school libraries. The judge concluded that authors have no constitutional right to have their work included in school library collections, and students have no First Amendment right to access specific materials through those libraries, though the book remains available to students through other sources. "And Tango Makes Three" tells the story of two male penguins who raised a penguin chick at New York's Central Park Zoo.
NEW COLLEGE OF FLORIDA
Last week, Gov. DeSantis touted the latest state university rankings by U.S. News & World Report, bragging that Florida has held the No. 1 spot for 10 consecutive years. He failed to mention that New College of Florida dropped to a No. 135 ranking among national liberal arts colleges, down 13 spots from a year ago after a 22 place decline the previous year. New College President Richard Corcoran blamed the criteria because peer assessments make up 20 percent of the overall ranking factors. He blamed a backlash against DeSantis' conservative takeover of state colleges and universities that started at New College.
Ray Palmer / Photo Courtesy of Pensacola Sports
outtakes
By Rick Outzen
BAD POETRY
Gov. Ron DeSantis urged calm and "reasoned debate" following the shooting of Turning Point founder Charlie Kirk. However, DeSantis' recent actions display disdain for his opponents rather than a true commitment to "reasoned debate."
Last week, the governor and Florida's Chief Financial Officer Blaise Ingoglia held a press event at the Jacksonville International Airport mocking city and county leaders.
The event promoted DeSantis' effort to eliminate property taxes on homestead properties and touted the Florida Department of Government Efficiency's audits of county and city governments. Next to the podium stood a lifesize screen displaying a holographic image of Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan.
"There she is, Ms. Donna Deegan," said Ingoglia. "It's kind of funny because Donna Deegan, Mayor Deegan, said that this was not an example of wasteful spending."
He continued, "This is $75,000 that could have gone out to law enforcement raises, could have helped repave roads. There's a lot … that this money could have been used for."
The CFO stated Mayor Deegan was rumored to be creating her own Transportation Security Administration (TSA). They joked that TSA stood for "Taxes Squandered Again."
DeSantis-Ingoglia's stand-up routine wasn't finished with Mayor Deegan. Ingoglia provided another cringe-worthy moment when he proudly read a poem: "Roses are red, violets are blue. Our property taxes are high because of you."
Not content with just one poem, he followed with another called "The Mayor's Purse:"
"Donna waves the ribbon. The budget takes flight. Millions are scattered, gone overnight. A city still waiting for roads to be mended, but checks keep on flowing and quite never ended. The people keep asking, where does it go? The coffers run empty, yet taxes still grow in the halls of the city. One lesson is clear. Wasteful spending echoes year after year. Thank you, Ms. Donna."
After dropping out of college, Ingoglia moved to Florida and became a homebuilder. He leveraged his Florida House seat to become the chair of the Republican Party of Florida. He has no experience in municipal government or audit-
ing, yet DeSantis chose him to be the state's CFO and run his DOGE initiative.
Instead of detailed reports with supporting documents, numbers are batted around with only Ingoglia's word that the spending cited is excessive and wasteful. We are provided pathetic publicity stunts.
Good independent audits are not "gotcha" events where auditors search for data to confirm pre-determined outcomes. DeSantis and Ingoglia want to find waste, and the DOGE auditors do. If not, they make it up, as they did with Pensacola's welcome sign at the foot of the Chappie James bridge. Contrary to DOGE accusations, no property taxes were used on the sign's design and construction. The Florida Department of Transportation, not Pensacola taxpayers, primarily funded the project.
Good independent audits follow a structured approach to ensure accuracy and reliability. During the planning phase, auditors notify the organization of the audit and define its scope, objectives and methodology. Information is gathered to develop an audit plan.
When they arrive onsite, the auditors follow the plan, interview staff and analyze more data. After fieldwork, auditors typically develop a draft report of their findings and allow the organization to reply, which ensures the final report is accurate. The auditors can modify their findings or simply include the management's responses in the final report. The report becomes a document to improve local government, not bash it.
Dialing back political rhetoric and replacing it with more data-driven civil discourse leads to better decisions. That's what we all called for three weeks ago in the wake of Kirk's death, not political theatrics and bad poetry.
Here's the problem: DeSantis' administration has an expiration date. He needs a property tax reform amendment on the 2026 ballot before he leaves office. His "Free Florida" message fades with each passing year. The Trump Administration has taken over his higher education reforms.
Property tax reform could be his lasting legacy, and he will do almost anything to make it happen on a grand scale. {in}
FOUNDATION RALLIES TO SAVE WSRE
By Rick Outzen
Ban diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI). These words have become Gov. Ron DeSantis' battle cry as he fights to overhaul Florida's higher education system. DEI is at the crux of a messy divorce between Pensacola State College and the WSRE Foundation.
In 2023, DeSantis signed a bill into law banning state colleges and universities from spending money on DEI. The following year, the Florida State Board of Education passed a rule permanently prohibiting state and federal funding for DEI programs and policies within the Florida College System.
The state essentially whited out DEI from all higher institution campuses, including PSC. That is a major concern for a foundation that embraces initiatives such as autism education through its "Amazing Kids Day."
"So much of what WSRE does is about diversity, equity and including people," foundation Vice Chair Amy Day said. "People affected by autism fall under the inclusion part of DEI."
Day doubts that will remain the case if the foundation hands over its nearly $5.6 million to PSC as requested by President Ed Meadows. The foundation board of directors scoffed at his recommendation and has hired legal counsel to guide them on next steps.
COSTLY CUTS
In August, the PSC Board of Trustees voted to end the station's affiliation with PBS and decertify the WSRE Foundation. The foundation is no longer permitted to meet at the WSRE studio, and two PSC employees who served as officers on the foundation board, Jill Hubbs and Karen Pope, resigned from their positions.
WSRE's PBS affiliation will remain active through June, leaving viewers eight months to binge-watch Sesame Street, NOVA, Masterpiece, Ken Burns documentaries and other popular PBS programs.
WSRE lost $1.5 million in state and federal funding this year, and the PBS affiliation alone costs about $880,000. WSRE is in the same position as stations across the country after Con -
gress cut $1.1 billion allocated to public broadcasting.
"It's just a matter of a loss of grants that prevents us [from continuing] our affiliation with PBS," Meadows said. "And, of course, WSRE is licensed to the college, so it's up to the trustees and administration to evaluate what's affordable in terms of this community service."
WSRE'S UNIQUE HISTORY
The television station has a special place in Pensacola media history. On Sept. 11, 1967, Pensacola Junior College's "educational station WSRE" went on the air at 3 p.m. The station began as a PTA project at Ferry Pass Junior High School in 1963, serving as a closedcircuit educational television station before relocating to the junior college (which would later become PSC).
Once WSRE began broadcasting, Sears Roebuck sold antennas for $14.99, including installation. This enabled the creation of "Pensacola's newest Ultra-High-Frequency television station—WSRE-UHF-Channel 23." Its ads touted WSRE as "one of the finest TV stations in our community, programming entertainment and education at its best."
WSRE has received multiple awards for excellence in television and documentary production over the years, including regional Emmy nominations and Telly Awards, in recognition of its locally produced programs and documentaries. It was among the PBS stations that shared an Emmy Award in 1990 for participating in a national trial of Descriptive Video Service (DVS) for the visually impaired. The station won a NETA Award for Community Engagement in 2014.
MISSION AND LEGACY
Foundation Chair Brent Videau understands WSRE's beloved place in the community. He also understands the financial constraints placed on PSC, but his board feels duty-bound to continue supporting the community and keeping PBS on the local airwaves.
Day is puzzled as to why PSC acted so quickly, given that the PBS affiliation lasts through June. The foundation board was aware of the $1.5 million lost in state and federal funding but received no indication from Meadows of any problems with WSRE—until the station's 58th anniversary last month when Meadows told Day about his recommendations to end the PBS relationship and decertify the foundation.
Day and others believe that Trustee Zack Smith played a significant role in the development of these recommendations. Smith serves as a trustee for both PSC and the University of West Florida. During board meetings, he has questioned Meadows and former UWF President Martha Saunders about DEI events.
Recently, Smith asked whether Meadows was providing enough oversight to ensure the college was not spending money on DEI initiatives.
"I was in the board of trustees meeting when Zack laid that down," Day said. "I'm of the belief system that when someone shows you who they are, believe them. He's showing the community who he is, and based on that, we as a community need to decide how we'll react and respond."
Taking over the station seems workable for the foundation, but there's a catch. PSC owns the FCC license and the studios. The PSC Board of Trustees decertified the WSRE Foundation, not the station.
"You have to have an FCC license, and they're not easy to get," Videau said. "There's been a lot of communication in the background for that, but it would take our community raising $5 million-plus."
An FCC license is perhaps unattainable, but Videau sees new fundraising opportunities now that the foundation is disassociated from PSC.
"Our market goes to Destin, and there's a lot of money in Destin," Videau said. "We do nothing fundraising elsewhere. It's just here in Pensacola."
"Our core values are accessibility, diversity, quality and trust," Day added. "Lots of people have brought us awesome ideas, and we're exploring all the options for how we can keep PBS in this area."
WHAT'S NEXT?
PSC wiped its hands of the foundation, but what about WSRE without PBS programming? Meadows presented a draft proposal for retaining ECHO (Education Community Health Opportunity), an artificial intelligence-based broadcast service that offers some PBS programming.
"As we understand, it has been developed as an alternative to PBS," he said. "As we learn more about it, we'll know if it can be a consideration for broadcast over WSRE."
Meadows continued, "As far as options to remain on the air, there are other things out there that we have to explore. The college administration has just begun to look at what else is out there that we can recommend to the Board of Trustees."
Day opposes replacing PBS's traditional programming with an AI service. She doubts an AI service will be as emotionally uplifting and stimulating as what she grew up on.
"We're all PBS kids," she said. "It's why we're all on the board, because I care about public broadcasting and the impact it's had on my life and my children's lives. Do I think PBS can be duplicated through AI? No."
Day is optimistic the community will rally around the foundation, supporting its efforts to continue WSRE's mission and 58-year legacy.
"What I'd like the public to know is that we hold a responsibility to our donors, our community and to one another to move forward with wisdom and integrity," she said. "Our intention is to continue to positively impact the community through education, entertainment and engagement." {in}
UNWELCOMED SIGN On Oct. 1, Gov. Ron DeSantis held a press conference at the Jacksonville International Airport. Chief Financial Officer Blaise Ingoglia joined him to promote the elimination of property taxes on homestead properties and tout the ongoing audits from the Florida Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
DeSantis and Ingoglia stood at a podium alongside a "Stop Waste" sign. To their right was a life-size screen displaying a holographic image of Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan in a continuous loop.
At the podium, Gov. DeSantis chastised city and county governments for not following the state's example of reducing its budget over the past several years. "If you look at the state of Florida today, right now, the budget that we are operating under is less than the budget we operated under the year before. And that budget the year before was less than the budget the year before that."
After running through a list of state tax cuts and sales tax holidays, the governor said, "If you talk to folks, nobody that I've talked to is really complaining about taxes at the state level. They appreciate the tax relief. They appreciate no income tax. What they're being squeezed by are taxes at the local level, with the property taxes."
He said that reducing or eliminating property taxes on homesteads would make housing more affordable, calling it "the best way that we can provide relief for people throughout the state of Florida."
CFO Ingoglia said, "Our office has been going around doing these FAFO [Florida Agency for Fiscal Oversight] audits or calculations over the past couple of months, just trying to explain to people how your local government is taxing you to the hilt. We think that they are excessively spending and wastefully spending to the tune of billions of dollars."
He said, "In Orange County alone, $190 million of this year's budget is wasteful and exces -
The governor also announced that he would unveil a detailed plan on how to slash property taxes in Florida.
"I'm not just doing this to just go around and crow about property tax," said DeSantis. "I want to see something big enacted. That's the whole goal. So we're doing that. We've got numbers, we've got language. We're doing that. So that will happen. You guys will see that in due time."
BUSTED
The day after Chief Financial Officer Blaise Ingoglia blasted the City of Pensacola for its "Welcome to Pensacola" sign at the base of the Chappie James Bridge, Inweekly began searching the city's archives to find who paid for the sign that was erected this past April.
Pensacola City Council records for its meeting on April 25, 2024 revealed that only state and federal funds were used to design and construct the sign. No local property taxes were used. Ingoglia's auditors need to recheck their paperwork.
LEWIS BEAR JR. WAY On Sept. 29, state and local officials gathered with the Bear family and community members to dedicate a portion of North Ninth Avenue—from Bayfront Parkway to Cervantes Street—as Lewis Bear Jr. Way, commemorating the businessman and philanthropist who influenced Pensacola's development for decades.
State Sen. Don Gaetz opened the ceremony by recalling his board service with Bear. "On one board I was elected chairman, and he was elected vice chairman, which of course meant that Lewis was the chairman," Gaetz said to audience laughter.
sive way past what it should be with inflation and population, right? And that's assuming that they're not running efficient. You could probably cut way more. In fact, our number for Orange County is probably closer to $230 million."
Ingoglia called out Jacksonville for $199 million worth of wasteful and excessive spending, Hillsborough County for $278 million, Alachua County for $84 million and Broward for $189 million.
"All total, with just those five counties, we are almost $1 billion worth of the citizens of the state of Florida being overtaxed," he said.
Pensacola didn't avoid criticism. Ingoglia said, "The City of Pensacola, they paid almost $600,000 for a large, neat neon 'Welcome to Pensacola' sign."
On social media, the state also called out the City of Pensacola for $450,000 in "wasteful spending," about 1.6% of the city's property tax revenue for FY 2026. The city was dinged for paying $150,000 to a management company for the Saenger Theatre "that brings drag shows," and $300,000 for an equity-focused strategic plan and residential "equity survey."
Mayor D.C. Reeves responded with a written statement: "The City of Pensacola learned of the Florida DOGE task force findings just like everyone else, from social media posts. While we have not received any formal communications from Florida DOGE, we are currently gathering information and will respond accordingly."
During the Q&A portion of the Jacksonville event, Gov. DeSantis said he would call a special session if state lawmakers don't approve placing a property tax amendment on the 2026 ballot during the regular session.
"We really have to get it passed and on the ballot prior to the primary cycle being done in August," DeSantis said. "I'm not saying we're going to wait that long, but, you know, we could potentially have a special session on property tax right in the middle of the Republican primary season in July or August."
In 2022, the Florida Department of Transportation awarded the City of Pensacola $370,000 for a welcome sign to replace the Five Flags Plaza, which FDOT removed during the construction of the Chappie James Bridge. The grant was based on the 2018 agreement, in which the city transferred property to FDOT for the construction of the new bridge. FDOT, in turn, agreed to complete $370,000 worth of design and improvements for a welcome sign.
In 2024, FDOT agreed to provide the city with an additional $100,000 to cover rising construction costs. After receiving bids, the actual budget for the sign was $600,142. The city used American Rescue Plan Act funds to pay for the remainder of the project.
In August, eight auditors from the state's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) conducted a two-day review of municipal operations. The state has yet to give the City an official report on its findings. Typical audits allow those being audited to respond to findings before a final report is issued.
"The vast majority of the questions are the exact same questions being asked in every city, in every county," Reeves said at his weekly press conference on Aug. 19. "I think there's a perception that there was some type of legwork done on all of these issues, uniquely to Pensacola. The Green New Deal, the solar, the DEI, the procurement, the salary type of questions are all very consistent with what's happening around the state."
City officials cooperated with the audit team. The mayor said, "All we can do is answer any questions that they have, be as open as possible about anything; we have not stood in their way or taken issue or been adverse or protested any requests."
The mayor described the interactions as "cordial" and "professional," with city staff meeting every information request.
"We have the utmost security in the fact that we are good stewards of the taxpayer dollar," Reeves stated, noting the city's bond rating and clean annual financial audit history.
The roadway designation became law through the efforts of former Sen. Doug Broxson, who worked with Bear for 16 years. Broxson remembered their 2009 meeting: "He didn't give you a list of things that he wanted for his company. He said, 'What can you do for our region, and can you get in the position to make a difference?'"
David Bear reflected on his father's motivation. "He didn't do anything for the recognition. He loved this community. He loved the people in it, and he loved to see it grow."
Sen. Gaetz gave Belle Bear, Lewis's widow, a smaller version of the commemorative sign, joking the official sign was too large for her living room. She responded, "Every way in my house was Lewis. We have been in that house 30 years, and we did everything together. So every room, every object, everything is Lewis."
The road name carries special significance. "We could have called this Lewis Bear Boulevard or Lewis Bear Road," Sen. Gaetz explained, "but the Bear Family said it's got to be Lewis's Way."
Lewis Bear Jr. led The Lewis Bear Company from 1990 until his death in March 2023 at age 82. His business leadership, charitable contributions and unwavering commitment to regional development left an indelible mark on Northwest Florida.
STRANGE HOPE HAPPENINGS
At its Sept. 29 meeting, the Hope Florida Foundation Board of Directors set up new grant policies to create more transparency and accountability. The move came nearly a year after the nonprofit funneled $10 million received from a Medicaid settlement to two groups, which then channeled the majority of the funds to a political committee opposing a marijuana legalization amendment.
The Department of Children and Families didn't reappoint former chair Joshua Hay; Pensacola attorney Stephanie White and CDR Maguire Executive Vice President Tina Vidal-Duart were also not reappointed.
At the board's April meeting, White advocated for more transparent grant approval processes, insisting on greater board involvement in funding decisions. She recommended, "Maybe we can discuss that and make it a board decision as to who gets grants and how we select those." She also requested a workshop to establish
Ron DeSantis / Photo Courtesy of flgov.com
proper policies. "My recommendation would be to have a workshop where we can really work through these issues, maybe come to Tallahassee together in person and talk about some of these policies."
White challenged the foundation's attorney, Jeff Aaron, about the $10 million settlement. "I guess, everyone, the elephant in the room is a $10 million settlement. I would like counsel's advice [as to] was it public money that was used? And we can be assured that everything that happened is correct and that we did everything legal."
"I guess, everyone, the elephant in the room is a $10 million settlement." Stephanie White
"I'll leave that to the chair as to how the board's going to run," said Aaron. "With regard to those transactions, I know that there are some accusations that I was involved in more than I was involved in. I had nothing to do with the Centene [settlement], and I had nothing to do with the downstream flow."
He recommended that the board bring in another attorney to advise them and "avoid any appearance of impropriety."
Aaron added, "I don't have anything to hide. No one's actually, surprisingly, with all the buzz … asked me for my information or documents or anything. There's been chatter and committee meetings, but nothing's yet been directed to me. Everything that I have is public record. I'll produce it to anyone; it doesn't require a subpoena."
Aaron later refused to testify before the House Health Care Budget Committee that was investigating the Hope Florida Foundation.
Then-board chair Joshua Hay stated he would work with the CPA firm to see "what monitoring procedures we can put in place going forward. He added, "And also from a retrospective standpoint, if there's any illicit use of funds, the potential for a callback, I'll consult with the CPA firm in that regard."
White told Inweekly that she didn't know that she was off the Hope Foundation Board until she received a phone call from a reporter. She also said that until Sept. 29, the board held no meetings after the April workshop (which she asked for).
At the Sept. 29 meeting, Aaron explained that Hay, White and Vidal-Duart had "completed their term and we're obviously grateful for their service, but they're no longer here."
The new grant policy establishes that any grant exceeding $50,000 must be presented to the full board for approval. It also mandates signatures from two Board members and bars approvals involving conflicts of interest.
A SAFER BEACH Escambia County Sheriff Chip Simmons announced the county has reached a final agreement to install 14 additional camera sites at Pensacola Beach as
part of an ongoing expansion of the Real-Time Crime Center.
The new cameras represent the second phase of the Pensacola Beach camera project, with seven sites covering parking lots near the Quietwater Beach Boardwalk and seven more monitoring the Casino Beach parking area. The first phase involved retail areas on the boardwalk.
The new installation follows a recent shooting incident that highlighted gaps in coverage. Simmons explained, "We looked at some of the cameras we had, but we really didn't catch the parking lot itself because it's always been a two-phase project for us. These things are not cheap, certainly when you integrate them into our Real-Time Crime Center."
Simmons added, "We're not trying to keep these cameras secret. We're trying to let everyone know that this is a place where you can come and you can have fun, bring your family, but it's not a place where you can screw around and destroy our beautiful beach."
The Real-Time Crime Center, which has been operational since March 2024, has already shown impressive results. In a recent case, investigators tracked a suspect vehicle to Fort Walton Beach within an hour using the network's license plate readers. The center's residential camera registry has also increased from 600 to over 1,300 registered cameras following a recent social media campaign.
"We've never been as capable as we are today," Simmons said, "and we're not as capable as we're going to be tomorrow."
SEC
SOCCER RETURNS
The 2025 SEC Women's Soccer Tournament kicks off next month, with an expanded format.
Twelve Southeastern Conference women's teams will clash for the 2025 SEC Championship from Sunday, Nov. 2, through Sunday, Nov. 9, at Ashton Brosnaham Soccer Complex. All-tournament passes are on sale for $46. Individual session tickets cost $13.
Fan Fest returns on championship day, Nov. 9 starting at 11:30 a.m., with music, food trucks and interactive activities for all ages before the final match.
In 2022, Pensacola became home to the championship tournament after Orange Beach had hosted it for 18 years. Pensacola Sports CEO Ray Palmer pointed out numerous advantages Pensacola has over the previous location.
He said, "The sheer numbers that we can produce with the community our size versus a small beach community of Orange Beach, and our area's passionate SEC fan base across the conference really makes us attractive."
The quality of play will be exceptional. Tennessee, Arkansas and Mississippi State have been ranked the top 10 for most of the season. Palmer said, "If you want to watch good soccer and you want to be inspired to play, the tournament is a great place to go do that."
Visit pensacolasports.org for full details, to purchase tickets and learn about special promotions. A clear bag policy is in effect. {in}
FALL MUSIC GUIDE
Recently Released
Olivia Dean "The Art of Loving"
Lola Young "I'm Only Fucking Myself"
Doja Cat "Vie"
Cardi B "Am I the Drama?"
Taylor Swift "The Life of a Showgirl"
Oct. 10
Flock of Dimes "The Life You Save"
LANY "Soft"
Madi Diaz "Fatal Optimist"
Madison Cunningham "Ace"
Patti Smith "Horses (50th Anniversary)"
Oct. 17
Bar Italia "Some Like It Hot"
Gucci Mane "Episodes"
Tame Impala "Deadbeat"
Ty Dolla $ign "Tycoon"
Oct. 23
Miguel "Caos"
Oct. 24
Demi Lovato "It's Not That Deep"
Oct. 31
Florence and the Machine "Everybody Scream" hooke's law "keiyaA"
Nov. 14
FKA twigs "Eusexua Afterglow"
SHOW OFFS
Y ou should get out more. Yes, you. And we can't think of a better way to do so than by attending a local concert. The Pensacola fall concert calendar is the perfect combo of nostalgia and anticipation, featuring legendary artists that bring back all the memories plus ones you've definitely heard of but are still dying to see live.
Phantogram Oct. 15
vinylmusichall.com
Saint Motel Oct. 17 vinylmusichall.com
Horace Pinker
Oct. 31 thehandlebar850.com
Ryan Bingham and The Texas Gentlemen Oct. 27 pensacolasaenger.com
French Cassettes Nov. 4
thehandlebar850.com
Night Moves Music Fest with Japanese Breakfast, Dashboard Confessional, Joyce Manor and more Nov. 8 nightmovesfest.com
iDKHOW BUT THEY FOUND ME Nov. 10 vinylmusichall.com
INOHA
Nov. 14 thehandlebar850.com
Better Lovers Nov. 18 vinylmusichall.com
Ariel Pink Nov. 30 thehandlebar850.com
upporting local isn't just about shopping; it's about
range of musical performances presented by local arts organizations that enrich our city's culture.
A Choral Society Mixtape Oct. 11 facebook.com/choralsocietyofpensacola
Opera After Dark Oct. 17 pensacolaopera.com
Opera Al Fresco Oct. 19 pensacolaopera.com
Brown Bag Opera Oct. 21 pensacolaopera.com
Hauntcert: A Family-Friendly Halloween Concert Oct. 27-28 pensacolasings.org
Frank Brown International Songwriters Festival Nov. 6-16 frankbrownsongwriters.com
Classically Connected Nov. 8 pensacolasymphony.com {in}
a&e happenings
NONPROFITS & FUNDRAISERS
SEVILLE ROTARY STEAK COOK-OFF Fundraiser for Autism Pensacola is 6 p.m. Friday, Oct. 10 in front of Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. General admission tickets start at $40 with VIP tickets available for $100. Details at sevillerotary.com/steak.
REGISTRATION NOW OPEN FOR THE 2025 FENNER RIDE Early registration is officially open for the 2025 Fenner Ride which takes place 8 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 25. Registration is $45 for the 18- and 44-mile routes and $50 for the 62and 100-mile routes. Prices increase by $5 after Oct. 10 at 11:59 p.m. Register at runsignup.com/ race/events/fl/milton/fennerride.
ANIMAL ALLIES FLORIDA BINGO Animal
Allies Florida hosts bingo twice monthly at Beef 'O' Brady's, 1 New Market St., Cantonment (on Nine Mile Road near Pine Forest Road). The cost is 10 rounds of bingo for $10, with cash prizes for winners. Food and drinks are also available for purchase. For more information, visit facebook.com/animalalliesflorida.
ANIMAL ALLIES CAT AND KITTEN
ADOPTION Visit Pet Supermarket 11 a.m.-3 p.m. every first and third Saturday of the month at 6857 N. Ninth Ave. to meet your furever friend. Visit aaflorida.org for details.
CARING & SHARING MINISTRY FOOD
DRIVE The Gloria Green Caring & Sharing Ministry is attached to the Historic St. Joseph Catholic Church, 140 W. Government St. The ministry feeds the homeless 10:30 a.m. Tuesdays. The ministry's food pantry opens 10 a.m. and also has clothing. Food donations needed are pop-top canned goods, Beanie Weenies, Vienna sausage, potted meat, cans of tuna and chicken and soups. Clothing donations needed include tennis shoes for men and women, as well as sweatshirts and new underwear for men in sizes small, medium and large. Call DeeDee Green at (850) 723-3390 for details.
COMMUNITY EVENTS
RUNNING WILD AND WEST PENSACOLA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL: SOCKTOBER West Pensacola Elementary School is teaming up with Running Wild and other local businesses for the annual Socktober donation drive. From October 1-31 the community is encouraged to donate new socks to be distributed to individuals in need through Opening Doors Northwest Florida. Drop-off locations include: Running Wild Pensacola, 3012 E. Cervantes St.; Running Wild Fairhope, 72A South Section St.; West Pensacola Elementary School, 801 N. 49th Ave. as well as select local businesses and partner locations across the community. Donate new, unopened socks for all ages and genders. Additionally, you can donate needed items such as: jackets, blankets, water, shoes, hats, rain gear, etc.
DISASTER PREPAREDNESS WORKSHOP
Be Ready Alliance Coordinating for Emergencies (BRACE) invites the public to a free EscaReady Disaster Preparedness Workshop on Saturday, October 11, from 9 a.m. to noon at the Brownsville Community Center, 3200 W. De Soto St.
Early RSVPs are encouraged. To register, visit tinyurl.com/escarready-brownsville or call BRACE at (850) 739-3983.
ARTS & CULTURE
ARTIST TALK WITH KEVIN SHUNN Artist talk with Kevin Shunn, whose work is included in the exhibit "Dualities" at Pensacola Museum of Art. Talk is 6 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 9 at PMA, 407 S. Jefferson St. Details at pensacolamuseum.org.
DEPARTURE: EUROPEAN ESCAPE Pensacola Little Theatre annual benefit for arts education 6-9 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 9 at Pensacola Little Theatre, 400 S. Jefferson St. Details and tickets at pensacolalittletheatre.com.
STEEL MAGNOLIAS University of West Florida Theatre presents "Steel Magnolias" 7:30 p.m. Fridays, Oct. 10 and 17; Saturdays, Oct. 11 and 18; and 2:30 p.m. Sundays Oct. 12 and 19 at the Mainstage Theatre of the Center for Fine and Performing Arts, Building 82, 11000 University Parkway. Tickets are $7-$20 and available at uwf.edu/cfpa.
HAUNTED HISTORY WALKING TOURS
Haunted tours in Historic Pensacola Friday, Oct. 10 and Saturday, Oct. 11. Limited to 15 people per session. Tickets are $25 for adults, $15 for ages 3-14 and free for children under 3. Haunted History Museums: Arbona Building and the Museum of History are 6, 7 and 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 10; and 5:30, 6:30 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 11. Tickets available at historicpensacola.org. Haunted History Village: Dorr, Old Christ Church and Lear/Rocheblave are 5:30, 6:30 and 7:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 10 and 6, 7 and 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 11.
CINEMAS IN THE SAND: BEETLEJUICE
BEETLEJUICE
Catch the movie starting at sunset Friday, Oct. 10 at the Gulf Pavilion Stage on Casino Beach. For weather updates, go to facebook.com/visitpensacolabeach.
PENSACOLA CINEMA ART SCREENINGS
The next PCA film is "Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale" showing 1 p.m. Friday, Oct. 10 and Saturday, Oct. 11 at Pensacola Cinema Art, 220 W. Garden St. Tickets are $10 cash donation. Details at pensacolacinemaart.com.
THE PARTY OF A SHOWGIRL: TS12 CELEBRATION Starts at 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 10 at The Handlebar, 319 N. Tarragona St. Celebrate the release of Taylor's new album, "The Life of a Showgirl," as well as other hits from her discography all night long. More info available at thehandlebar850.com.
PLANT-A-PALOOZA Shop plants at Gary's Brewery, 208 Newman Ave. 11 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 11. Details at facebook.com/garysbrew.
FESTA ITALIANA 2025: CELEBRATE ITALIAN CULTURE IN PENSACOLA The Sons & Daughters of Italy in America Buona Fortuna Lodge presents the 15th Annual Festa Italiana, a celebration of Italian heritage, cuisine and culture 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 11 at Fountain Park, 300 E. Zaragoza St. in downtown Pensacola. Enjoy cuisine, food demonstrations,
Italian wine and beers, silent auctions and raffle drawings. Details at buonafortunalodge.org/ festa-italiana.
VINTAGE BLOCK PARTY Starts at 1 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 12 at The Handlebar, 319 N. Tarragona St. This event features over 50 local and regional vintage clothing vendors, as well as art, jewelry, handmade goods, home decor, records and more. Don't forget live music, cold drinks and food trucks.
PENSACOLA ARCHAEOLOGICAL SOCIETY
LECTURE Dr. Maranda Almy Kles, a bioarchaeologist and forensic anthropologist, will discuss "Anthropology of Zombies: From History to Speculation" 7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 14 at Trinity Presbyterian Church, 3400 Bayou Blvd. The lecture is free to attend.
TABLE TALKS AT THE TRUST Join Dr. Katie Miller Wolf as she shares The Archaeology of Spanish Colonialism in Central America. This free lecture is 12 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 15 at Voices of Pensacola, 117 E. Government St.
MURDER PROHIBITED: A 1920S MURDER MYSTERY ICMT Murder Mystery Company presents this 1920s-theme story 7 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 15 at the Lear House. Tickets are $50 per person and available on Eventbrite.
FALL CANDLE DESIGN Create your own candle with The Be Joyful Boutique 5:30-7 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 15 at Gary's Brewery, 208 Newman Ave. Tickets on eventbrite.com.
BECKY ROBINSON: MEMBERS ONLY TOUR Show is 8 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 16 at Pensacola Saenger, 118 S. Palafox St. Tickets and information at pensacolasaenger.com.
PENSACOLA INTERSTATE FAIR The Pensacola Interstate Fair runs Thursday, Oct. 16 through Sunday, Oct. 26 located at the Pensacola Fairgrounds, 6655 Mobile Highway. Entertainment lineup: 7 p.m. Oct. 16 Cat Country Big Lip Sync Battle Finals; 7:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 17 Tyler Farr; 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 18 Sawyer Brown; 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 19 Petra; 7:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 20 Rodney Atkins; 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 21 The Drifters and The Coasters; 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 22 White Tie Rock Ensemble; 3:30 and 7 p.m. Thursday, Al Joslin Elvis impersonator; 7:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 24 Clay Walker; 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 25 George Birge. Rides and attractions including sea lion splash and a family petting zoo also available throughout the fair. Tickets and information available at pensacolafair.com.
SPIRITS OF THE SIMPSON HOUSE Take in a tour of the historic Simpson House in Milton with some campfire stories, kids' activities and more. Tours are 6:30, 7:30 and 8:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 18. Tickets are $15-$20 and available on historicpensacola.org.
CRAFT & VINTAGE FALL MARKET AT ODD
COLONY Market is 12-4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 19 at Odd Colony, 260 N. Palafox St. Details at facebook.com/oddcolony.
THE ART GALLERY AT UWF PRESENTS THIS MOMENT TOGETHER: A FACULTY SHOW FOR JOHN MARKOWITZ The Art Gallery at the University of West Florida presents "This Moment Together: A Faculty Show for John Markowitz." Honoring the legacy of the late UWF art and design lecturer John Markowitz, the show features faculty works that speak to his influence on their artistic journeys. The exhibit is on view through Nov. 20. TAG is located at 11000 University Parkway, Bldg. 82. For more information visit uwf.edu/tag.
JOE HOBBS: TIME AND PLACE An exhibit by glass artist Joe Hobbs, "Time and Place," is on display through Oct. 10 at the Charles W. Lamar Studio at Pensacola State College, 1000 College Blvd.
DUALITIES: NATIONAL SCULPTURE
EXHIBITION This national exhibition will feature works from various artists at Pensacola Museum of Art, 407 S. Jefferson St. The exhibition is on view through Jan. 11. Details are at pensacolamuseum.org.
THRIFT STYLE New exhibit at Pensacola Museum of History explores the reuse of feed sacks to make clothing and other household objects. View the exhibit and explore the museum, located at 330 S. Jefferson St. Details at historicpensacola.org.
FIRST FRIDAY AT BLUE MORNING GALLERY Visit Blue Morning Gallery, 21 S. Palafox St., 5:30 p.m. every first Friday of the month for a reception with wine, live music and occasional artist demonstrations. Visit bluemorninggallery.com for details.
PENSACOLA HERITAGE FOUNDATION
LECTURES Learn Pensacola/Northwest Florida history through interesting, informal lectures every other Tuesday at The Wright Place, 80 E. Wright St. Doors open at 11 a.m. and lunch is served at 11:30 a.m. The lecture starts at noon and lasts one hour. Lecture cost is $5 for non-members and is free to members. Lunches are $12. For reservations, call (850) 380-7759.
PENSACOLA ROSE SOCIETY Monthly meetings are normally 6 p.m. the second Monday of the month at the Pensacola Garden Center, 1850 N. Ninth Ave. Visit pensacolarosesociety.org for more information.
BTB COMEDY Watch live standup comedy in open mic style 7 p.m. Mondays at Odd Colony, 260 N. Palafox St. Follow BTB Comedy on Facebook for updates.
COMEDY SHOWCASE AT SUBCULTURE
BTB Comedy presents a comedy showcase the first Thursday monthly at Subculture Art Gallery, 701 N. V St. Follow facebook.com/pensacolasubculture for updates.
SCRIPTEASERS Join writers at Pensacola Little Theatre, 400 S. Jefferson St., for Scripteasers every month. Visit pensacolalittletheatre.com for details.
PALAFOX MARKET Enjoy Palafox Market 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturdays. The event features local
a&e happenings
farmers, artists and crafters on North and South Palafox streets at Martin Luther King Jr. Plaza and Plaza Ferdinand. For updates, visit facebook.com/ downtownpensacola.
CABARET DRAG SHOWCASE AT AMERICAN LEGION POST #193 Don't miss Cabaret Drag Showcase every second and fourth Saturday at the American Legion Post #193, 2708 N. 12th Ave. Doors open 8 p.m. Showtime is 10 p.m. For more information, contact show director Taize Sinclair-Santi at taizesinclairsanti@gmail.com.
SPIRITS OF SEVILLE QUARTER GHOST TOUR AND LUNCHEON Dine inside Pensacola's oldest and most haunted restaurant and investigate the spirits with actual paranormal equipment at Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. Tickets are $12 and include a voucher toward Seville Quarter's menu. Tours are 11 a.m.-2 p.m. weekdays and 2-4 p.m. Sundays. Make an appointment by calling (850) 941-4321.
AFTER DARK: SEVILLE QUARTER GHOSTS, MURDER, MAYHEM AND MYSTERY TOUR AND DINNER After Dark Paranormal Investigation and Dinner happens inside one of Pensacola's most haunted restaurants with real ghost-hunting equipment 6-8 p.m. Sundays. Listen as your guide weaves tales of ghosts, debauchery, murder, mayhem, paranormal activities, history and more related to Seville Quarter and downtown Historic Pensacola. After your ghost tour, enjoy dinner at Seville Quarter Palace Café, 130 E. Government St. Reservations are required. Call (850) 941-4321. Tickets are available at pensacolaghostevents.com.
FOOD + DRINKS
2025 TASTE OF THE BEACH Three days of coastal cuisine on Pensacola Beach. The kick-off is Thursday, Oct. 9 with a sunset cruise; on Friday, Oct. 10 is a VIP Party Dinner Trolley Tour and Saturday, Oct. 11 is the main event with signature dishes from 15 Pensacola Beach restaurants available for a maximum of $10 each. The festival is 10 a.m.-4 p.m. at Casino Beach. Details at pensacolabeachchamber.com/events/tasteofthebeach.
LUCKY DOG FALL PHOTOSHOOT Bring your furry friend for a free photoshoot at O'Riley's Irish Pub, 321 S. Palafox St. Event is 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 11.
THE DINNER DETECTIVE True Crime Murder Mystery Dinner Show is 6-9 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 11 at Hilton Garden Inn, 8 S. Ninth Ave. Tickets and info at thedinnerdetective.com.
HALLOWEEN TREATS CLASS Cooking class is 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 11 at Pensacola Cooks, 4051 Barrancas Ave., Ste. C. Tickets available at pensacolacooks.com/cooking-classes.
VINO MAGNIFICO Sample five wines and socialize with fellow wine enthusiasts 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 14 at V. Paul's, 29 S. Palafox St. Reservations required. Tickets are $20. Get yours at vpauls.com.
JACKSON'S COOKING DEMONSTRATIONS: CHEF TAYLOR'S TAPAS Cooking class is available at 5 and 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 15 at Jackson's Steakhouse, 400 S. Palafox St. Cost is $55 per person and includes demon -
stration, tasting and wine pairings and a recipe booklet. Reservations required. Make yours by calling (850)777-0412 or email marthaanne@ goodgrits.com.
ODD COLONY SIX YEAR ANNIVERSARY
Beer release, food specials and more 5-11 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 18 at Odd Colony, 260 N. Palafox St. Details at facebook.com/oddcolony.
LUNCH SERVICE AT RESTAURANT IRON
Restaurant Iron, 22 N. Palafox St., now offers a refined midday experience starting 11 a.m. Monday-Friday. Dinner service will continue to be available Saturday and Sunday. Reservations are recommended and can be made by calling (850) 476-7776 or visiting restaurantiron.com/ reservations. Walk-ins will also be welcome based on availability.
LUNCH & DINNER AT SEVILLE QUARTER
Enjoy a good meal and atmosphere with lunch and dinner at Seville Quarter. At 11 a.m. in Apple Annie's Courtyard, have the soup and salad bar, featuring more than 30 fresh selections, along with a delicious variety of sandwiches, pizzas, burgers, wings and local Gulf seafood favorites. Beginning at 5 p.m., dinner is served in the historic Palace Café, where the culinary team brings creative dishes to the table, blending Southern comfort, local ingredients and Seville Quarter flair. Details are at sevillequarter.com.
DOWNTOWN HAPPY HOUR AT SEVILLE
QUARTER Drink specials and laid-back vibes are 11 a.m.-7 p.m. every weekday throughout the entire Seville Quarter complex with $2 off all liquor drinks and $1 off all beer and wine. Must be 21 or older. Visit sevillequarter.com for details.
MEN'S NIGHT AT WISTERIA From 3 p.m. to close Mondays, guys can play free darts and enjoy $6 craft tallboys. There are more than 150 craft beers to choose from at Wisteria, 3803 N. 12th Ave. Visit wisteriatavern.com for details.
BAR BINGO AT SEVILLE QUARTER Bar
Bingo is 8 p.m. Mondays at Apple Annie's at Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. Drink specials include $2.50 Miller Lite bottles and $3.50 Bomb shots. Bingo is free to play with prizes, giveaways and bar tabs up for grabs for winners. Visit sevillequarter.com for details.
FIGHTER GAME NIGHT AT O'RILEY'S Gamers unite 5 p.m.-close Mondays at O'Riley's Irish Pub, 321 S. Palafox St. Visit orileyspub.com for details.
BINGO NIGHT AT CALVERT'S IN THE HEIGHTS Play a game (or two) of bingo 6-8 p.m. Mondays at Calvert's in the Heights, 670 Scenic Highway. For more information, visit calvertsintheheights.com.
DOUBLE MONDAYS AND SIN NIGHT
Enjoy Double Mondays 8 p.m.-midnight and SIN Night 11 p.m. to close at O'Riley's Tavern, 3728 Creighton Road. Details are at orileystavern.com.
for more listings visit inweekly.net
Building Vibrant Cities Across America
Pensacola was the place to be from September 23-25 for people wanting to learn how to create a great community. The Summit was a joint effort by Strong Towns and Pensacola’s Center for Civic Engagement (CivicCon). Over 300 people from across the country left the summit with practical ways to make their local communities better. From keynote presentations to break out sessions, there was something for everyone interested in community building. For Pensacola it is another step in building its reputation as a city that is worth learning from, visiting or living in.
NORM VAN EEDEN PETERSMAN speaks on the topic of How Elected Leaders and Concerned Citizens Build Stronger Towns Together
ILANA PREUSS speaks on the topic of Recasting Your Downtown: Building Economic Opportunity Through Small-Scale Manufacturing during CivicCon’s Civic Leader Summit at Blue Wahoos Stadium
Key Note Speakers
Mayor D.C. Reeves
Welcome Keynote
Jill Miller
A Community-Driven Approach to Creating Change
Chuck Marohn Strong Towns 101
Ilana Preuss
Recast Your Downtown: Building Economic Opportunity Through Small-Scale Manufacturing
Quint Studer Closing Keynote
Break-Out Session Speakers
Jon Shell & Andy Prince - Building Places that Tell a Bigger Story
Dr. Stephanie Montgomery, Dr. Jason Foland, Katie Ballard, & Dr. Katie Crawford - Healthcare’s Role as a Convener for Early Brain Development
Ko Cha’ Ta “Seth” Young - Reclaiming Space, Community and Identity in Small Town Appalachia
Christian Wagley - Downtown Walking Tour
Horton Hobbs - Springfield’s Journey Through a Migrant Media Storm
Celestino Ruffini - The Beloit, WI Story
Norm Van Eeden Petersman - How Elected Leaders and Concerned Citizens Build Stronger Towns Together
Andre Breaux and Gretchen VanicorCampus, Community, and Civic Conversation: The Lafayette Story
Tim Bolduc & Jessica Leavins - From the Inside Out: Building Community Engagement Through Organizational Culture
Ilana Preuss - When Main Street Is Empty and Talent Is Leaving
Alyssa Lee - How to Active Local Advocates and Keep Them Engaged for the Long Haul
Daniela De Castro - Art as the Heart of Vibrant Communities
Rebekah Kik - Lunch & Learn Webinar
Brandi Thompson - The Completely Unqualified Community Leader’s Survival Guide
Jarah Jacquay, EB Brooks, JP MacFadyen, & Carlee Alm-LaBar - From Grassroots to Grandeur
Chris Heaney & Craig Hrabar - The SCI Venture
Mentoring Service: Team Mentoring to Help Your Venture Grow
Lisa Nellessen Savage, Warwick Sabin & Mayor D.C. Reeves - Building Trust With Local Media
Mark Faulkner, Chandra Smiley, Chloé WileyBeyond the Clinic: What Really Shapes Health
Erick Mead, Ross Pristera, & Chris AllenWant Incremental Development? Look to Your Community’s History.
Jeff Ciabotti - America’s New Main Streets: Trails as Engines of Growth
Will Dunaway, Lisa Nellessen Savage, & Christian Wagley - CivicCon: Raising Pensacola’s Civic IQ
Chuck Marohn – Escaping the Housing Trap
ANDY PRINCE AND JON SHELL speak on the topic of CHRISTIAN WAGLEY, left, leads a walking tour along Palafox Street during CivicCon’s Civic Leader Summit
as a Convener for Early Brain Development.
ALYSSA LEE speaks on the topic of How to Active Local Advocates - and Keep Them Engaged for the Long Haul.
JARAH JACQUAY, JP MACFADYEN, AND EB BROOKS speak on the topic of From Grassroots to Grandeur.
MARK FAULKNER, CHANDRA SMILEY & Chloé Wiley speak on the topic of Beyond the Clinic: What Really Shapes Health.
Photos by Gregg Pachkowski
CELESTINO RUFFINI speaks on the topic of The Beloit, Wisconsin
NEIGHBORHOOD SPONSORS: $2,500
free will astrology
WEEK OF OCTOBER 9
ARIES (MARCH 21-APRIL 19): No relationship is like any other. The way we bond with another has a distinctive identity that embodies the idiosyncratic chemistry between us. So in my view, it's wrong to compare any partnership to a supposedly ideal template. Fortunately, you Aries are in a phase when you can summon extra wisdom about this and other relaxing truths concerning togetherness. I recommend you devote your full creativity and ingenuity to helping your key bonds ripen and deepen.
TAURUS (APRIL 20-MAY 20): Poet Rainer Maria Rilke advised, "Be patient toward all that is unsolved in your heart and try to love the questions themselves." These days, dear Taurus, that's your power move: to stay in conversation with mystery without forcing premature answers. Not everything needs to be fixed or finalized. Your gift is to be a custodian of unfolding processes: to cherish and nourish what's ripening. Trust that your questions are already generating the early blooms of a thorough healing.
GEMINI (MAY 21-JUNE 20): I am a great admirer of Bart Simpson, a fictional fourth-grade student on the animated TV show The Simpsons. He is a constant source of unruly affirmations that we could all benefit from incorporating into our own behavior when life gets comically weird. Since I think you're in such a phase now, Gemini, I am offering a batch of Bart-style gems. For best results, use them to free yourself from the drone of the daily routine and scramble your habitual ways of understanding the world. Now here's Bart: 1. "I will not invent a new religion based on bubble gum." 2. "I will not sell bottled 'invisible water.'" 3. "I will not try to hypnotize my friends, and I will not tell co-workers they are holograms." 4. "I will not claim to be a licensed pyrotechnician." 5. "I will not use the Pythagorean theorem to summon demons." 6. "I will not declare war on Thursdays."
CANCER (JUNE 21-JULY 22): During its entire life, the desert plant Welwitschia mirabilis grows just two leaves. They never wither or fall off but continually grow, twist, split and tatter for hundreds of years. They keep thriving even as their ends are worn or shredded by wind and sand. I love how wild and vigorous they look, and
By Rob Brezsny
I love how their wildness is the result of their unfailing persistence and resilience. Let's make Welwitschia mirabilis your inspirational symbol in the coming weeks, Cancerian. May it motivate you to nurture the quiet, enduring power in your depths that enables you to express yourself with maximum uniqueness and authenticity.
LEO (JULY 23-AUG. 22): Have you been to Morocco? I love that so many houses there are built around spacious courtyards with intricate tilework and lush gardens. Sooner or later, of course, the gorgeous mosaic-like floors need renovations. The artisans who do the work honor the previous artistry. "In rebuilding," one told me, "our goal is to create new magnificence that remembers the old splendor." I hope you pursue an approach like that in the coming weeks, Leo. The mending and healing you undertake should nourish the soulfulness you have cultivated, even as you polish and refine.
VIRGO (AUG. 23-SEPT. 22): Virgo novelist Agatha Christie often planned her elaborate plots while cleaning her house or washing dishes. She said such repetitive, physical tasks unlocked her creativity, allowing ideas to emerge without force. I suggest you draw inspiration from her method in the coming weeks. Seek your own form of productive distraction. Instead of wrestling with a problem in a heroic death match, lose yourself in simple, grounding actions that free your mind to wander. I am pretty sure that your most brilliant and lasting solutions will emerge when you're not trying hard to come up with brilliant and lasting solutions.
and public zones, and individual needs and community functions. The "quality without a name" was the term he used to identify the profound aliveness, wholeness and harmony of spaces where people love to be. In the coming weeks, Libra, I hope you access your own natural gift for curating relationships and cultivating balance. Your solutions should serve multiple needs. Elegant approaches will arise as you focus on connections rather than isolated parts.
SCORPIO (OCT. 23-NOV. 21): Some medieval mystics claimed that angels spoke in paradoxes because the truth was too rich for simple logic. These days, I believe you Scorpios are extra fluent in paradox. You are raw yet powerful, aching and grateful, confounded but utterly clear. You are both dying and being reborn. My advice: don't try to resolve the contradictions. Immerse yourself in them, bask in them and allow them to teach you all they have to teach. This may entail you sitting with your sadness as you laugh and letting your desire and doubt interweave. The contradictions you face with open-heartedness will gift you with sublime potency and authority.
SAGITTARIUS (NOV. 22-DEC. 21): The ancient city of Petra, built in sandstone cliffs in what's now Jordan, was mostly hidden from the outside world for centuries. In 1812, Sagittarian Swiss explorer Johann Ludwig Burckhardt rediscovered it by disguising himself as a pilgrim. He trained extensively in the Arabic language, Islamic culture and local customs so he could travel incognito. You Sagittarians can benefit from a similar strategy in the coming weeks. Life will conspire to bring you wonders if you thoroughly educate yourself about the people and situations you would like to influence. I invite you to hike your empathy up to a higher octave, cultivate respect for what's unfamiliar, and make yourself extra available for exotic and inspiring treasures.
to cracking the code on a metaphorical version of perpetual motion. You are cultivating habits and rhythms that could keep you steady and vital for a long time to come. I predict the energy you're generating will be self-sustaining.
LIBRA (SEPT. 23-OCT. 22): Libra architect
Christopher Alexander developed a sixth sense about why some spaces feel comfortable while others are alienating. What was the source of his genius? He avoided abstract principles and studied how people actually used spaces. His best architecture soulfully coordinated the relationships between indoor and outdoor areas, private
CAPRICORN (DEC. 22-JAN. 19): During the 1800s, countless inventors chased the impossible dream of perpetual-motion machines: contraptions that would run endlessly without any fuel source. Every attempt failed; such devices bucked the fundamental laws of physics. But here's good news, Capricorn: you are close
AQUARIUS (JAN. 20-FEB. 18): Octopuses have three hearts and blue blood. They taste with their skin, solve puzzles and squeeze their entire bodies through coin-sized holes. No wonder they are referred to as the aliens of Earth, just as you Aquarians are the aliens of the zodiac. According to my analysis, now is a perfect time for you to embrace your inner octopus. I authorize you to let your strangeness lead the way. You have the right and duty to fully activate your multidimensional mind. Yes, you may be misunderstood by some. But your suppleness, radical empathy and nonlinear genius will be exactly what's needed. Be the one who sees escape routes and paths to freedom that no one else perceives. Make the impossible look natural.
PISCES (FEB. 19-MARCH 20): Dear Pisces, it's like you're in one of those dreams when you're exploring the attic or basement of your home and discover secret rooms you didn't realize existed. This is good! It means you are finding uncharted frontiers in what you assumed was familiar territory. It suggests you are ready to see truths you weren't ready for before. Congrats! Keep wandering and wondering, and you will discover what you didn't even know you needed to know.
HERE'S THE HOMEWORK: May be time to trade in an old symbol of security for a new one. {in}
freewillastrology.com newsletter.freewillastrology.com freewillastrology@freewillastrology.com BrezsnyAstrology@gmail.com © 2025 Rob Brezsny
news of the weird
THE PASSING PARADE In Russia, doctors at the Kirov Regional Clinical Hospital were astounded when a 65-year-old man presented with a tumor the size of his head growing from the back of his neck, the New York Post reported. The surgeons were able to remove the tumor on Sept. 22 and identified it as a benign lipoma—a fatty lump that grows between the skin and muscle. The patient told doctors he'd been living with the lump for 16 years and had tried treating it with simple ointments, without success. Igor Popyrin, head of surgery at the hospital, said many patients "postpone a visit to a specialist, hoping that the formation will disappear on its own. The only effective treatment is surgical removal."
SAW THAT COMING On Sept. 22, as Lubbock (Texas) mounted police officers Bryson Lewis and William Trotter assisted with a routine patrol, they stopped a man who was walking in the road, rather than on the sidewalk, KCBDTV reported. The officers thought 42-year-old Joseph Ramirez was acting suspiciously, and when they asked to check his pockets, he said no. Then Trotter joked that he had a "narcotics-smelling horse"—and Ramirez took off running. "He took it seriously, and the race was on," Trotter said. But the police horses caught up with him quickly, and Ramirez was charged with evading arrest and tampering with physical evidence with the intent to impair. "Chasing bad guys is part of the fun in it for us," Lewis said. "So when you get to chase down a bad guy and not even get tired, it's a good day."
PEOPLE WITH ISSUES Yaz Chapman, 34, of Portsmouth, Hampshire, England, was diagnosed at age 4 with pica, a disorder that involves eating items that are not typically thought of as food. As a child, she tried talcum powder, chalk and cigarette rolling papers. According to LAD Bible, the mom of four currently eats about 10 sheets of paper each day. "I look forward to the postman," Chapman said. "Certain papers taste different and they have different textures. I'll rip a corner off just to test it." She said she drinks plenty of water to help with constipation. "When someone likes chocolate and they're craving something sweet, they eat it and they feel those happy chemicals being released in their brain. It's like that," Chapman said about living with pica.
LEAST COMPETENT CRIMINALS Keajion L. Jennings of Fairview Heights, Illinois, told the Fairview Heights police officer whose car he had just rear-ended that he did it because he was "bored" and "I hate cops." The Belleville News-Democrat reported that on Sept. 24, as officer Travis Montgomery stopped a different car for an expired license plate sticker, Jennings drove his 2018 Camaro into the back of Montgomery's squad car. Jennings "admitted he had consumed alcohol and weed gummies," a department statement said. He was charged with criminal damage to government-supported
By the Editors at Andrews McMeel
property, two counts of aggravated battery and one count of aggravated assault. Montgomery and the occupants of the other car were unhurt.
•Six people were arrested in Los Angeles, KTLA-TV reported on Sept. 30, after they attempted to raise a banner on the iconic Hollywood sign. The LAPD said the group "trespassed all the way up to the Hollywood sign" with a banner advertising the cryptocurrency business Pump.fun. Jake Hillhouse, one of the six, said the group wanted to be "one of the only" to successfully alter the sign; to that end, they filmed every step along the way, from creation of the banner to raising it with ropes as a police helicopter circled overhead. Their post on X went viral, so ... promotion achieved!
COMPELLING EXPLANATIONS Around
11 a.m. on Sept. 30, Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst near Trenton, New Jersey, went into lockdown, the Associated Press reported. The warning stemmed from a text about a shooter on the base sent by Malika Brittingham, a civilian who works for the Naval Air Warfare Center. She told the person she texted that she had heard five or six shots and was sheltering in a closet with coworkers. The text recipient called 911, prompting the lockdown. But as it turned out, there was no shooter. Prosecutors say Brittingham confessed to committing the hoax because she had been "ostracized by her co-workers and hoped their shared experience in response to an active shooter would allow them to 'trauma bond.'" She faces charges of knowingly conveying false information about an active shooter who didn't exist.
•In Palm Coast, Florida, Flagler County Sheriff's deputies pulled over 57-year-old Michael Stanek of Welaka on Sept. 23 for speeding—or in his case, superspeeding, Fox News reported. Stanek was going 107 mph. When an officer asked him why he was going so fast, bodycam video captured his excuse: "I have an appointment with my barber." Chances are he didn't make it; the officer said he would spend the night in jail after "weaving in and out of traffic" and "putting other people's lives in danger."
NEWS YOU CAN USE Looking for a get-richquick scheme? Start saving those fingernail clippings. In traditional Chinese medicine, Oddity Central reported on Sept. 26, clippings are incorporated into medicinal products to treat abdominal distension and tonsillitis. Companies that make the treatments purchase the clippings and wash them thoroughly before grinding them into powder, and the prices paid for them are relatively high (compared to, say, the value of throwing them in the trash). One woman sold clippings for $21 per kilogram (she'd been saving them since childhood). {in}
