Inweekly Sept. 17 2020

AUTUMN RETURNS Fall Movie Preview 2020

Independent News | September 17, 2020 | Volume 21 | Number 38

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winners & losers 4

outtakes 5

news 6

I think we can always use a story about hope.

cover story

buzz 8

22

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publisher Rick Outzen

graphic designer Tim Bednarczyk

editor & creative director Joani Delezen

contributing writers Savannah Evanoff, Jennifer Leigh, Jeremy Morrison, C.S. Satterwhite

contact us info@inweekly.net

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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. Š 2018 Inweekly Media, Inc. All rights reserved.

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BETH MCCLEAN Forbes Magazine featured the Pensacola digital analytics specialist in an article on how analytics can spot online ad fraud. McClean found strange behavior when she analyzed AdWords campaigns for her client, such as very high bounce rates, very low time on site, virtually no additional page views or other activity detected on the site. She uncovered bots had clicked through on the ad but left the site right away, leaving the client thinking its ads were effective and loved by humans.

JOHN CRYER The actor, who starred in CBS's "Two & Half Men" and played Duckie in "Pretty in Pink," wanted the world to know he had donated to Phil Ehr, the Democrat running against Congressman Matt Gaetz. Gaetz fired back on a tweet stating that Charlie Sheen carried the sitcom. Unfazed, Cryer tweeted back, "Is that why, after he left, it lasted for four more years and I won an Emmy for Best Actor in a Comedy?" #GoTeamDuckie DR. GRIER WILLIAMS SCHOOL OF MUSIC The University of West Florida re-

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cently announced an anonymous gift to rename the Department of Music in memory of the first chair of the music department, Dr. Grier Williams. Williams founded the UWF music department in 1967 and served as chair of the department for 25 years.

For 17 years, he also served as principal conductor of the Pensacola Symphony Orchestra. Williams invited local schoolteacher Susan Pote to assemble a group of children to accompany the orchestra for choral pieces in 1990, which led to the formation of the Pensacola Children's Chorus.

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losers SARAH HUCKABEE SANDERS The former White House press secretary rushed to her old boss's defense after The Atlantic reported President Trump had referred to fallen military members as "suckers" and "losers." Reading from prepared remarks for a video released over Labor Day weekend, Sanders vouched for Trump's respect for those in the armed forces and added, "I've also sat in the room when the president had to make the most difficult calls of his presidency—when he had to let a parent know that their son had been killed in the line of duty." She repeated the story in an ABC interview. Only there was a problem with her "honest account"—family notifications don't come from the Oval Office. Sanders had to walk back her tale, explaining that she'd seen Trump make condolences calls, not notification calls as she'd claimed.

BURTON RITCHIE & BEN GALECKI In

federal court in Nevada, the former owner of Psychedelic Shack, Burton Ritchie, and a Pensacola filmmaker and former Pensacola Chamber board member Ben Galecki were sentenced to 20 years each for crimes committed in connection with the manufacture of synthetic cannabinoid products (also known as "spice") that was packaged in a warehouse in the Pensacola area. In two separate cases transferred from the Southern District of Alabama and Eastern District of Virginia, the defendants were each sentenced to 18 years for money laundering and unlawful monetary transactions. All sentences will run concurrently to each other.

FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH

This summer, parents agonized over whether they should send their children back to school. The state has recommended that COVID-19 cases not be disclosed on a school basis and has ordered some districts to stop releasing school-specific coronavirus information, citing privacy issues. FDOH has reported that 12,000 children under age 18 have tested positive since schools started reopening for in-person teaching but won't say where.

All we have are rumors and word-of-mouth from teachers and parents. inweekly.net

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THE THREE-WEEK TEST At the direction of Gov. Ron DeSantis, Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) Secretary Halsey Beshears has rescinded his June 26 emergency order that banned bars from selling alcoholic beverages for consumption on the premise.

Beginning Monday, Sept. 14, bars were allowed to operate at half of their indoor capacity, allow bar service to seated patrons and permit outdoor seating and service with appropriate social distancing.

"It's time that we take this step, and it's vital that we start moving forward with this sector of our hospitality industry who have endured one of the toughest paths for sustaining a business during this pandemic," said Beshears.

Since Aug. 20, Escambia County's weekly positivity rate has hovered between 5 and 6 percent, which may indicate we can handle the reopening without another COVID-19 outbreak. However, we have crossed this bridge before, and the results weren't good.

On June 5, DeSantis issued Executive Order 20-139 that moved the state into Phase 2 of his Florida Recovery plan and opened bars, gyms, theaters and other facilities. Escambia County's positivity rate was less than 1%, and the county only had 36 reported deaths.

Three weeks later, DBPR had to shut down the bars, stating in the new executive order, "During the month of June, the number of individuals testing positive for COVID-19 increased significantly in the state of Florida, especially among younger people."

Bars were singled out because some of the new cases were suspected to have originated from bars, pubs and similar businesses that had ignored the state guidelines. From Thursday, June 25, through Saturday, June 27, the Florida Department of Health reported 29,957 new cases statewide, with a positivity rate of 13.98%.

For the same period, Escambia County had 258 new cases, with a positivity rate of 14.62%.

"We must forcefully flatten the curve," Secretary Beshears explained when he issued

the order on June 26. "This decision was not a knee jerk reaction, nor was it made lightly, but based on evidence and the correlation in spikes after Phase 2 reopening."

At a press conference held at Ascension Sacred Heart on Sunday, June 28, Gov. DeSantis said, "I know not everyone has been following all the different rules. Some of the folks here may talk about it, but they'll say, 'What did you do? Oh, we got a big graduation party for all. All my friends were over.' Well, and then you ended up having a bunch of them getting infected."

Bars confided with Inweekly that they knew the crowds had gotten out of hand, and their places were packed often, particularly on weekends. The worse offenders completely ignored the guidelines and tried to make as much money as possible, sensing the state would close them down. Many hoped the state would hold off until after July 4 and Blue Angels weekends, but that didn't happen.

Those who followed the guidelines were frustrated and suspended operations temporarily, even though their restaurant operations could have remained open.

200 South had increased the frequency of its sanitizing, installed hand sanitizer stations throughout the complex and expanded outdoor dining to promote social distancing.

"Despite our best efforts, we feel that this is not enough to keep our people safe," posted the owners on Facebook in June.

"The last thing we ever want to do is unnecessarily expose our staff and guests to potential dangers. With that being said, we have made the decision to temporarily shut down all operations at 200 South, which includes Graffiti Pizza, World of Beer, Taco Agave and Blend Lounge, effective July 1."

Will bar owners be more diligent in enforcing the state's guidelines this time? Will the state do a better job of enforcing the halfcapacity requirement than they did in June?

Can we avoid another COVID-19 spike?

I guess we will know the answers in three weeks. {in} rick@inweekly.net

Bars were singled out because some of the new cases were suspected to have originated from bars, pubs and similar businesses that had ignored the state guidelines.

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DIB EVOLVES … AGAIN

Photo by Tim Bednarczyk

By Jeremy Morrison Reflecting for a moment in a patch of Plaza Ferdinand's tree-filtered sunlight, Walker Wilson recalled his initial sparks of recognition that downtown Pensacola was evolving.

"I think, 'Oh, my gosh, Pensacola has made it, you know, and I could see myself living here one day,'" Wilson said, thinking back to early Gallery Nights and Pelican Drops.

When Wilson considers the renaissance of downtown over the past decade or so, he credits in part the Pensacola Downtown Improvement Board. Recently, the DIB selected Wilson as its new executive director, and he's looking to further drive downtown's evolution, looking to create more aha moments like he had years ago.

"How can the DIB facilitate those we'vemade-it moments for this younger generation so that when they go off to college and graduate they have Pensacola on that list of cities that they want to move to and start a family and a career at," Wilson said.

The DIB, a special taxing district established by the state to tend to downtown, has been around for nearly 50 years now, but its function has evolved over that time. In recent years, the organization has managed downtown parking, but it will soon cede that to the City of Pensacola.

Wilson is taking the lead at the DIB at a time when the agency is at another stage of evolution, as it realigns its focus sans parking duties and also adjusts to the realities of a post-coronavirus world.

"I think the mission remains the same," Wilson said, stressing the agency's stated purpose of enhancing "the district's quality-of-life and economic success by creating a cleaner, safer and more enjoyable environment."

"With parking moving back home to the city, the DIB gets to just focus 100% again on DIB's mission," agreed Lissa Dees, the DIB's current executive director, who will be stepping down in order to oversee the city's parking operations come October.

66

But as the DIB sheds parking and reallocates its focus, some downtown business owners are questioning the rationale for its very existence.

"What is the purpose of this? Why do we have it?" asked Dan Lindemann, who owns several downtown properties, including A&J Mugs on North Palafox.

Lindemann feels like the DIB has accomplished its original mission—to rid downtown of blight—and perhaps outlived its usefulness.

He said, "It's time for the DIB to just go away, to just disappear."

AS DOWNTOWN EVOLVES, SO TOO DOES DIB

The DIB's mission is both consistent and elastic. It is, in fact, codified in state statute, but read from different angles depending on the needs of the moment.

"The DIB's mission has been pretty much consistent since 1972," said Dees. "As the environment has changed, our mission has stayed the same, but it's adapted to the world around us."

Initially, the special taxing district, funded via a tax levied on downtown properties, was established to eliminate blight from a ghost town of an urban core. This mission remained much the same for decades.

Pensacola City Councilwoman Ann Hill, who sits on the DIB board as an ex officio member, recalls editing "a very thin and underfunded" Downtown Crowd, a publication put out by the organization during the 1990s when things were "still rather bleak."

"Those were the days when Louis Maygarden wrote a column that featured vacant buildings that were for sale or for lease," Hill said. "There were quite a few of them, and many of the notices ran a long time before someone took the chance on moving their business downtown."

But in more recent years, downtown has heated up, blossoming into the city's celebrated darling of revitalization, attracting both retail and residential developments to the urban core.

As downtown has evolved, so has the function of the DIB. Hill said, "Today's DIB concentrates on enhancing the quality-oflife and economic success of the downtown district by creating a cleaner, safer and more enjoyable environment."

In the modern era, the DIB has been behind such events as Gallery Night and the New Year's Eve Pelican Drop, as well as Palafox Market on Saturdays. They've also installed art projects and bike racks downtown.

"Who hasn't been awed traveling down Palafox when the holiday lights are glowing?"

Hill asked, referring to the DIB's annual holiday decorations.

For the past few years, the DIB has also overseen downtown parking, initially contracting with a third party and more recently bringing operations in-house. City officials recently decided to take over downtown parking because the DIB was only able to operate within its legislatively prescribed 44-block area.

Pensacola Mayor Grover Robinson said that this will allow the city to streamline its downtown parking and give the DIB an opportunity to return to its primary area of focus— "Trying to figure out how to improve downtown and forget about the parking."

"I think there's a need for the DIB," the mayor said. "It's not just about parking."

Dees points out that parking was just a fraction of the DIB's function. The agency, she said, has also remained focused on a core mission of safety and cleanliness.

"We want to make sure that your experience is fabulous," Dees said, "that you feel safe, that our streets are clean. Our community is welcoming, and I don't see that changing because those are the things that drive tourism; those are the things that drive development; those are the things that drive businesses to want to come here."

Wilson agrees, adding that such a safe and clean environment will facilitate an overall successful downtown. He said, "It's safe; it's clean; you're having a good time and want to come back and tell your family and friends about it."

In the immediate future, Wilson said, "With COVID, I think you have to take the correct precautions to make everyone feels like they can come down here and navigate that in a safe manner."

BLOOD, SWEAT, TEARS & A PEE PAD

When Lindemann purchased his properties north of Garden Street, it was in the days the DIB was indeed dealing with downtown blight. He said, "I knew what this place was going to be. My glass is always half full. That's why I bought property down here when they were giving it away."

Over the years, the business and property owner watched the evolution of downtown, but he doesn't give the DIB all that much credit. Lindemann ticked places like Hopjacks, World of Beer and Vinyl Music

Hall as the primary drivers of downtown's growth and success.

"All these places—they have been responsible for the upturn of downtown," he said.

"Not DIB." Further down Palafox, at Badlands, owner Nick Zangari agrees. Thinking back over his two-decade run, he said, "Blood, sweat and tears produced what we've got here."

Zangari feels that the DIB has served a purpose in the past but wonders what the organization is doing now—"It's not that they're doing anything wrong. I don't think that they're doing anything, except for this debacle with the pee pad."

The pee pad, or the so-called Puppy Pit Stop, is a small, DIB-funded dog park near the Jefferson Street parking garage. The project ran about 50 grand, generated a scathing column by the daily paper's cartoonist and drove Lindemann to text Mayor Robinson in a rage.

Lindemann said, "I think the puppy pad speaks volumes about the DIB and where their priorities are."

He also perceives the organization's efforts as particularly targeted toward areas of downtown further south, such as the SOGO—south of Government Street. Referring to his location north of Garden Street, Lindemann laughed, "We call ourselves the 'NoGo.' We're the redheaded stepchildren of Palafox. We don't even get Christmas lights anymore."

Both Lindemann and Zangari said that perhaps the DIB should expend its efforts and tax dollars on something like a public restroom facility to accommodate both downtown visitors as well as homeless individuals who currently have nowhere to else to go.

On this front, DIB board chairman Michael Carro agrees, and efforts are being made on that front, though an affordable plan has yet to be settled upon. However, he also defends DIB efforts like the pee pad.

"I make no apologies about that," Carro said. "I think it's a fantastic park that will get great use."

More importantly, the chair stressed, DIB activities such as keeping the streets clear of debris and graffiti have led to a welcoming environment that should be nurtured rather than neglected. Success stories aren't guaranteed, he said, pointing to other revitalized locales he's watched regress.

"It's because they take their eye off the ball and, in many cases, take the amazing space and place they had for granted," Carro said. "The DIB doesn't take it for granted."

And if downtown property owners are dissatisfied with the DIB's focus, the chairman said, they're welcome to attend the organization's meetings, get involved with the discussion.

"DIB meets at 7:30 in the morning," laughed Zangari.

"Going to a DIB meeting is one of the most painful things you can possibly do," said Lindemann. {in} inweekly.net

Empowering Pensacola Through Civic Conversation Date

CivicCon Guests

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Watch the video

January 27

Grover Robinson, City of Pensacola Mayor Janice Gilley, Escambia County Administrator

City and County Priorities for 2020

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April 15

CivicCon Board Members

CivicCon Town Hall with CivicCon Board Members on Pandemic and Other Topics

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May 4

Victor Dover, Urban Planner

Affordable Housing Strategies

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June 1

Lyssa Hall, City Planner and Arborist

Community Tree Strategies

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June 15

Patty Hightower, President of the Escambia Board of Education Andrea Messina, Director of the Florida Association of School Boards

Town Hall on Superintendent of Schools Selection

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June 22

Butch Hansen, a retired Naval Officer and a Budget Consultant with LMI Consulting Firm

Reviewing the ECUA Budget

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Expert Panel on Local Estuary Water Quality

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Estuary and Bay Water Quality Impact Event

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July 20

July 27

Dr. William S. Fisher, Associate Director, Center for Environmental Measurement and Modeling, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Christian Wagley, CNU-A Sustainable Town Concepts Jane M Caffrey, Professor, Center for Environmental Diagnostics and Bioremediation, University of West Florida Christian Miller, Watershed Management Lead, Mobile Bay National Estuary Program Matt J. Posner, Interim Director, Pensacola & Perdido Bays Estuary Program Whitney A. Scheffel, Senior Scientist, Pensacola and Perdido Bays Estuary Program

August 4

Dr. Cedric Alexander, Law Enforcement Expert and Clinical Professor of Psychology

Police Reform, Social Justice, and Bias

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August 24

Mardia Shands, Chief Diversity Officer at TriHealth

Workplace Diversity, Inclusion and Bias

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CivicCon empowers the Pensacola area through civic conversations by: Attracting national experts to a speaker series that explores what “great” looks like and how others have overcome challenges in their communities.

Offering Civic Engagement Courses that increase the knowledge base and skill set for people who want to be engaged in public affairs and work to make this a stronger place to live, invest, grow and prosper.

Online: pnj.com/civiccon

Mentoring civic-minded individuals and groups to move ahead small and big projects that make life better for others.

Encouraging a Strong Towns approach to our communities to strive for resiliency and an affordable place where “the good stuff” in our community is available to all.

Working to make sure local elected officials understand the importance of transparency with community members and the power of government encouraging and embracing civic engagement by informed citizens.

Sign up for the CivicCon newsletter: studeri.org/newsletter-signup

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CivicCon is a partnership of the News Journal and the Studer Community Institute to make our community a better place to live, grow, work and invest through smart planning and civic conversations.

September 17, 2020

7

Stafford asked both the city of Pensacola and Escambia County to do the same.

In November, Stafford is expecting a healthy turnout at the polling stations, even with the significant number of votes that will be cast via mail-in ballots. Between now and then, he'll be joining his colleagues around the country in working to ensure polling places have enough workers.

"We will aggressively recruit moving forward to the general election," Stafford said, "because when your turnout increases, the number of poll workers that you need also increases as well."

To learn how to become a poll worker, visit escambiavotes.gov/election-workerinformation.

IMPACT 100 Finalists / Photo courtesy of IMPACT 100 Pensacola Bay Area

IMPACT 100 FINALISTS IMPACT 100 Pensacola Bay Area, a women's philanthropic organization, last week announced the 15 grant finalists selected for 2020.

Eleven of these will each receive a grant of $106,000 at the IMPACT 100 Pensacola Bay Area Annual Meeting on Oct. 11.

The 15 finalists selected by IMPACT 100's Focus Area Committees are as follows: ARTS & CULTURE •Ballet Pensacola, Inc. Project: Ballet Pensacola LED Wall •Pensacola Little Theater, Inc. Project: A Stage for all Stages: Restoring the Little Theatre's Big Rigging •Pensacola Opera, Inc. Project: IMPACT Opera: In Perfect Harmony EDUCATION •Emerald Coast Wildlife Refuge, Inc. Project: Education Across the Human Spectrum •Every Child a Reader in Escambia, Inc. dba ECARE Project: Get Our Children and Families Ready for Kindergarten •Gulf Coast Kid's House, Inc. Project: Protecting Our Children During a Time of Uncertainty ENVIRONMENT, RECREATION & PRESERVATION •Keep Santa Rosa Beautiful, Inc. dba Panhandle House & Nature Center Project: Panhandle Butterfly House and Nature Center •Tennis-4-Everyone, Inc. Project: Oakcrest Elementary/Ebonwood Tennis Complex •Veterans Memorial Park Foundation of Pensacola, Inc. Project: Accommodating Veterans Memorial Park Events FAMILY •AMR at Pensacola, Inc. Project: The Phoenix Project – Tiny Home Communities •Feeding the Gulf Coast, Inc. Project: Feeding the Florida Panhandle •FoodRaising Friends, Inc. Project: FoodRaising Friends Foundational Food for Families HEALTH & WELLNESS •Ecomfort, Inc. Project: Food as a Tool: Impacting lives in the Community Mentally, Physically and Spiritually 88

•Equality Florida Institute, Inc. Project: Safe and Healthy Schools Program •Pensacola United Methodist Community Ministries, Inc. dba Bright Bridge Ministries Project: Updated Kitchen, Uplifted Lives With 1,166 members this year, IMPACT 100 can award $106,000 each to 11 nonprofit organizations in our community for a total impact of $1,166,000. Nonprofit recipients will be determined by the vote of the members at the annual meeting. After the 2020 grants are awarded in October, IMPACT 100 will have awarded 120 grants totaling $12,830,000.

FOREGOING PAY INCREASE University of West Florida President Dr. Martha Saunders has notified Board chairman Dave Cleveland that she will forego any consideration of a salary increase for the coming year. The UWF Presidential Performance, Evaluation and Metrics Committee had recently completed its review of Saunders.

"It doesn't feel right for me to accept additional compensation when we simply do not know what the immediate future will bring," wrote Saunders in a letter dated Aug. 31. "In addition, I ask that any performance incentive the Board wishes to grant to me be awarded instead to the Employee Assistance Fund."

She added, "The heroic efforts of our employees in response to the pandemic have made UWF a safer place."

CHAMBER'S NEW OFFICE The Greater

Pensacola Chamber offices have officially moved to Devilliers Square building at 321 N. De Villiers Street, Ste. 228 at least through 2020, according to a recent newsletter.

POLL WORKERS NEEDED Heading toward November's election, election officials are concerned about staffing polling locations with poll workers. Traditionally, many poll workers tend to be older, retired individuals with the time to participate, but this year, the coronavirus pandemic will sideline many in that high-risk demographic.

Around the country, efforts are afoot to

increase the number of available poll workers. In Kentucky, election worker jobs are being advertised on beer cans. In Ohio, attorneys are getting continuing education credits for working at the polls. And More Than a Vote, a collective of athletes including LeBron James, has partnered with the NAACP Legal Defense Fund on a multimillion-dollar initiative to recruit young people to serve at polling places in Black communities.

Locally, Escambia County Supervisor of Elections David Stafford is also hoping to see more participation from younger people.

"I'd certainly encourage particularly younger folks that may have the time and the interest in serving their fellow citizens to give it a try," Stafford told Inweekly. The supervisor described volunteering (technically, workers do receive a small stipend) as a good way to plug into the democratic process.

"It's very rewarding. Our poll workers find it very rewarding; most of them, after they do it once, end up becoming regulars," Stafford said. "It's a great way to help your fellow citizen, by helping them execute one of their most important constitutional rights."

Stafford said he first saw the impact the coronavirus would have on the voting process during the Democratic primary in March.

Escambia fared well enough, but colleagues from around the state relayed a different story.

"I remember talking to my colleague in Palm Beach County after the presidential primary. She told me that she'd lost, I think, a quarter of her polling places and a quarter of her poll workers for that election," Stafford said.

During the August primary, Escambia retained all but a couple of polling stations, which had been located at long-term care facilities, and also was able to staff the stations with enough poll workers.

"We certainly saw some shrinkage of our traditional poll worker core," the supervisor said, "but we were very aggressive in reaching out and securing replacements."

One source of replacement was government employees. A directive at the state level granted administrative leave to state employees who volunteered, and

DRILLING MORATORIUM EXPANDED

Florida's waters, including the eastern Gulf of Mexico, are safe for now from offshore drilling, but skeptically happy environmentalists are expressing some concerns about President Donald Trump's announcement during a campaign season to extend a federal drilling moratorium off the coasts of the politically relevant Sunshine State, as well as Georgia and South Carolina.

"Other East and West Coast states remain vulnerable and deserve the same protections and more," said Diane Hoskins, campaign director for environmental organization Oceana Action. "What Trump deems good enough for Florida should be good enough for North Carolina. Our coasts don't need political ploys."

On Tuesday, Sept. 8, Trump said he planned to extend a moratorium on drilling in the eastern Gulf of Mexico, which is set to expire in 2022, and also prohibit drilling off the southern Atlantic coast. In Florida, government officials, as well as the business, environmental and military camps, have long pleaded for increased protections from off shore drilling, citing the associated risks to the tourism economy, the environment and a military testing zone located in the Gulf.

"It's an order that does so much for the state of Florida," Trump said when announcing the expanded moratorium from Jupiter, Fla. "This protects your beautiful Gulf and your beautiful ocean, and it will for a long time to come."

Among the many state and local officials imploring the president to offer further protections from drilling in the Gulf was Pensacola Mayor Grover Robinson. During his time as an Escambia County commissioner, Robinson was active in restoration efforts following the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill, and just this week as mayor, he wrote a letter to Trump requesting an extension on the drilling moratorium.

"Whether the tourism that services visitors from across the nation or the military bases that protect us all, the people of Pensacola and Northwest Florida are connected to the Gulf of Mexico for our way of inweekly.net

life and the continued exclusion of drilling," Mayor Robinson wrote. "Florida's economy and culture are again dependent, both for the military and tourism, on the extension of the current drilling prohibition."

Christian Wagley, a coastal organizer for Healthy Gulf, agreed that the moratorium expansion was welcome news, but wondered if it might amount to "an election year political tactic that he could easily reverse if reelected."

"While this announcement seems like good news in the short term, this presidential memorandum does not offer the same level of protection as Congressional action, as it could easily be rescinded by President Trump or any future president," Wagley noted. "Based on President Trump's history of weakening or eliminating dozens of rules that give Americans basic protections of air, water and public health, it's difficult to trust him to honor this commitment."

Trump's decision to protect these offshore areas from oil drilling is a reversal of course. In his administration's previously released outline for future drilling, virtually all currently unopened areas were laid upon the table, including Florida's eastern Gulf, which stands out against its neighbors to the west with an absence of oil rigs dotting its waters.

Opposition to drilling in the state has long been a non-partisan issue and is sure to be a crowd-pleaser in the swing state ahead of a potentially tight Nov. 3 presidential election.

Hoskins said that the president's move this week was an environmental win but stressed that it didn't include any protections beyond the limited and politically convenient scope of Florida-GeorgiaSouth Carolina.

"President Trump finally acknowledged the harm associated with dirty and dangerous offshore drilling," she said in a statement. "While we welcome withdrawing Florida, Georgia and South Carolina from offshore drilling for 10 years, it was Trump's plan that threatened these states in the first place."

LEAGUE ZOOM MEETING The League

of Women Voters Pensacola Bay Area will have Dr. Cedric Alexander as the guest speaker at its Virtual Zoom League meeting at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 19. Dr. Alexander grew up in Pensacola, earned a bachelor's degree in Sociology and a master's degree in Family Therapy from St. Thomas University, as well as the Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from Wright State University. He will discuss "Acknowledging the Need for Change in the 21st Century."

With almost 40 years of law enforcement experience at both the local and federal levels, Alexander is a respected authority in law enforcement. As a clinical psychologist, he has worked with police and firefighters dealing with trauma. In "retirement," he now consults with police departments across the country, including the Pensacola Police Department, and serves as an analyst on CNN. To register, visit winterml.wixsite.com/ lwvpba/events-1. Movement for Change is a co-sponsor of the meeting.

ULTIMATE MAKEOVER PLT and Volume One Salon are teaming up for the ultimate makeover giveaway, which includes dinner at Restaurant Iron and two tickets to see Steel Magnolias.

On Saturday, Sept. 26, you and a guest of your choice will be treated to a blowout and a face full of professional makeup.

Before you leave the salon, a professional photographer will snap a few photos of your new look, and you might get a surprise visit from Truvy herself. Then dinner is on PLT at Restaurant Iron before you catch a performance of Steel Magnolias with a complimentary bottle of champagne that night.

To enter the giveaway, donate to the Pensacola Little Theatre at rb.gy/tpmybj between Sept. 8-18. Entries are $30 each, or get more bang(s) for your buck with two entries for $50. No maximum number of entries. The winner will be announced on Saturday, Sept. 19.

ESCAMBIA CARES GRANT As Inweekly

reported last week, the application window for the Escambia CARES Family Emergency Financial Assistance Grant will be open from 8 a.m. on Friday, Sept. 18, through 8 p.m.

Tuesday, Sept. 22. The application will be available online at myescambia.com/cares.

The grants are $2,000 per household, and only about 1,790 households will be awarded grants due to funds allotted the program. As with the housing grants, the process will be a race against time, with grants being dispersed on a first-qualified, first-served basis.

GENERAL ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS •Applicants must be residents of Escambia County •Applicants must be a U.S. citizen or a permanent legal resident •Applicants must be at least 18 years old •Have a household income of $45,000 or less •Have been negatively impacted by COVID-19 APPLICANTS WILL NEED TO PROVIDE: •Certification of COVID-19 impact •Copy of a valid, state-issued ID •Copy of Social Security card or other proof of a Social Security number •Tax-Filers—Copy of the first page of their 2019 federal tax return (IRS form 1040, 1040A or 1040EZ) •Non-Tax Filers—Self-Certification letter stating the reason why you did not file a 2019 Federal Income Tax Return and/or the type of income you received—Social Security Benefits (SSA, SSI/SSD), Railroad Retirement, Veterans Affairs Pension, Disability Benefits, etc.

•A completed W-9 form, which can be download at irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/fw9.pdf Those needing assistance or who do not have access to the internet and wish to apply with paper forms instead of online can seek help Friday, Sept. 18, through Tuesday, Sept. 22, 8 a.m.-8 p.m. weekdays and noon-5 p.m. weekends at the following locations: •Beulah Senior Citizens Center, 7425 Woodside Drive

•Brownsville Community Center, 3200 W. DeSoto St. •Carver Park Resource Center, 208 Webb St. •Century Branch Library, 7991 N. Century Blvd.

•Dorrie Miller Community Center, 2819 N. Miller St. •Escambia County Extension Services, 3740 Stefani Road •Gull Point Community Center, 7000 Spanish Trail •Lexington Terrace Community Center, 700 S. Old Corry Field Road •Marie K. Young Wedgewood Community Center, 6405 Wagner Road •Molino Community Center, 6450 Highway 95-A North •Pensacola Downtown Library, 239 N. Spring St. •Walnut Hill Community Center, 7850 Highway 97 North Funding for the Escambia CARES Business Emergency Financial Assistance Grant will be available in amounts of $7,500 for small businesses with up to 25 employees and $15,000 for small businesses with 26-50 employees.

The application process for the Escambia CARES Business Emergency Financial Assistance Grant will open Friday, Sept. 25, and continue through Tuesday, Sept. 29.

Businesses wishing to apply for this grant will need to supply: •A current W-9 form •Financial documents including a 2019 tax return, IRS form 941 from the first quarter of 2020 or a sole proprietor statement •Documentation of the amount of loans received from the Paycheck Protection Program •An active state business registration, license or other documentation of the businesses' ability to operate in Florida The application will be available online at myescambia.com/cares and will be available at select in-person locations. Those locations will be determined at the next Board of County Commissioners' meeting on Thursday, Sept. 17. {in}

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9

VOTING HOT TOPICS This week, we address some buzzwords and issues around the election process.

Voting is a complex ecosystem of bureaucracy, legislation, litigation and coordination that is constantly evolving. While the goal of these systems is to preserve the integrity of elections and foster confidence in their outcomes, it can be tough to keep up with all of the relevant news about voting. Here are some key updates as we begin the countdown to Election Day on Nov. 3, 2020.

VOTING RIGHTS FOR FELONS

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In 2018, Florida voters approved Amendment 4—the Voting Rights Restoration for Felons Initiative. Over 64% voted in support of a constitutional amendment which would automatically restore the right to vote for returning citizens with prior felony convictions (except for those convicted of murder or felony sexual offense) upon completion of their sentences.

When Florida Senate Bill 7066 was signed into law by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis in June of 2019, the legislation defined completion of a sentence to include not only time served and probation ended but also repayment of all legal financial obligations. This spurred a lawsuit that made it to the Supreme Court, in which the Justices ultimately declined to vacate the 11th Circuit’s stay.

As of Sept. 11, 2020, the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in favor of Governor DeSantis in Jones v. DeSantis. A completed sentence now includes the payment of all legal financial obligations, including unpaid fines and restitution, in addition to completion of prison time and probation.

For information on how the Escambia County Supervisor of Elections is addressing common concerns on this issue, visit escambiavotes.gov/frequentlyasked-questions-faq-for-persons-convicted-of-a-felony.

FAITHLESS ELECTORS

July was a busy month for the Supreme Court and decisions regarding the voting process in our country. Prior to the decision in Jones v. DeSantis, the Supreme Court ruled unanimously that a State may “enforce an elector’s pledge to support his party’s nominee—and the state voters’ choice—for President.”

Justice Elena Kagan delivered the Court’s opinion in Chiafalo Et Al. V. Washington, in which the Court af-

firmed that a state may not only require members of the Electoral College to cast their vote in line with the results of their state’s popular vote but also impose a penalty for any electors that do not vote for their pre-selected candidates.

ELECTION FRAUD

Social media and the campaign news cycle has been busy churning up concerns over the security of election processes. From fears about the state of the United States Postal Service to false claims of illegal voter registration in viral Facebook posts, where can a Pensacola Voter go to get reassurance about the security of their ballot and the accuracy of election results?

The Escambia County Supervisor of Elections Office uses paper ballots marked with pens and tabulated by digital scanners, which you can learn more about on their website: escambiavotes. gov/our-voting-system.

In Escambia County, voters must present an ID with both photo and signature at their early voting location or Election Day precinct polling location. If a voter’s photo identification does not include a signature, they may be asked to provide additional identification.

APPROVED FORMS OF PHOTO ID ARE: •Florida driver’s license •Florida ID card •United States passport •Debit or credit card •Military identification •Student identification •Retirement center identification •Neighborhood association identification •Public assistance identification •Concealed Weapon License •VA Card •Government Employee ID: Federal, State, County or City To read about vote-by-mail efforts in Escambia County, check out last week’s interview with Escambia County Supervisor of Elections David Stafford at inweekly. net/can-usps-deliver-on-the-election. *Pensacola Votes is a nonpartisan voter education and civic engagement guide developed by the team at Inweekly to empower local voters to show up and stay focused. Got questions? Send them to us at pensacolavotes@gmail.com, or send us a direct message on Instagram, @pensacolavotes.

GENERAL ELECTION DATES TO REMEMBER OCT. 5—Voter Registration Deadline OCT. 24—Vote-by-Mail Ballot Request Deadline OCT. 24-31—Early Voting NOV. 3—Election Day

inweekly.net

AUTUMN RETURNS Fall Movie Preview 2020

By Daniel Barnes

It was nearly six months ago that the COVID-19 pandemic decimated the domestic movie exhibition industry. Most theaters around the country remained closed the entire time, while all new releases were either pushed back or relegated to streaming services. The Sept. 3 debut of Christopher Nolan's tentpole "Tenet" restarted the clock, hopefully for good this time, albeit with face mask rules, reduced capacities, contactless payment and other coronavirus-related requirements in place. Here, film critic Daniel Barnes offers his 10 most eagerly anticipated releases slated for release this year. Just keep in mind that no release date remains safe in 2020, so the ones listed here are subject to change.

THE NEST

(SEPT. 18., SELECT THEATERS)

When Sean Durkin made his directorial debut in 2011 with the skin-crawling "Martha Marcy May Marlene," it felt like the beginning of a great cinematic career. Nearly a decade later, we finally get Durkin's follow-up, a Polanski-esque horrible-house movie starring Jude Law and the always underrated Carrie Coon. "The Nest" divided audiences at Sundance, but have you seen the dreck that unites audiences there?

KAJILLIONAIRE (SEPT. 25) Another promising but long-absent director makes a highly anticipated return to the big screen—this time writer-director Miranda July ("The Future"). The acclaimed "Kajillionaire" September 17, 2020

stars Evan Rachel Wood, Richard Jenkins and the criminally underused Debra Winger as a family of bargain-basement criminals trying to pull off their biggest score yet. "Kajillionaire" should determine if July's indie-quirk aesthetic boasts crossover appeal.

THE FRENCH DISPATCH (OCT. 16)

Initially scheduled for a July release, Wes Anderson's star-studded ode to ex-pat journalists will now come out in October.

That would seem to better situate the film for Oscars consideration, and a Best Picture or Best Director nod would be a first for Anderson. However, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences muddied the waters by extending the eligibility date for this year's awards through February 2021. Whatever the case, "The French Dispatch" looks utterly delightful.

MANK (TBD)

release with its October debut on the Apple+ streaming service. Coppola favorite Bill Murray stars as an aging playboy who helps his estranged daughter (Rashida Jones) spy on her husband (Marlon Wayans) during a long day in New York City. It feels like familiar stuff, but I'm still intrigued by the talent involved.

DEEP WATER (NOV. 6)

Summer movie refugees "Black Widow" and "Wonder Woman 1984" both got pushed to fall, and they're both sure to rake in as much money as limited-capacity requirements will allow. I appreciate that superhero movies are popular, but a sweaty Adrian Lyne potboiler about upper-class infidelity is my Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Ben Affleck and Ana de Armas headline this Patricia Highsmith adaptation, Lyne's first movie since 2002.

SOUL (NOV. 20)

It's not known yet whether David Fincher's look at the making of "Citizen Kane" will get a token theatrical release or if it will remain exclusive to Netflix subscribers. Either way, I'm on board with "The Souvenir" sourpuss Tom Burke playing young Orson Welles. However, I'm less enthused about the prospect of Gary Oldman as screenwriter Herman Mankiewicz.

While the trailers are so inscrutable that concrete plot details remain vague, it's enough to know that "Soul" is the latest Pixar film. "Inside Out" helmer Pete Docter and co-director Kemp Powers seem like the right people to shepherd a story that appears to blend the sentimental with the supernatural.

Meanwhile, the voice talent includes Jamie Foxx, Tina Fey and Daveed Diggs.

As with "Mank," this latest Sofia Coppola film may or may not include a limited theatrical

The first James Bond movie since "Spectre" in 2015 and possibly Daniel Craig's last turn

ON THE ROCKS (OCT. 22)

NO TIME TO DIE (NOV. 20)

as the now-stoic superspy. Regulars Jeffrey Wright, Ralph Fiennes and Naomie Harris return, while Rami Malek plays the villainous Safin. Director Cary Joji Fukunaga ("Beasts of No Nation") replaces Sam Mendes at the helm, which did nothing to curb this franchise's recent running-time excesses.

At 163 minutes, "No Time to Die" will be the longest-ever Bond film, besting previous record-holder "Spectre" by 15 minutes.

WEST SIDE STORY (DEC. 18)

For his 31st theatrical feature, director Steven Spielberg delivers not only his first musical but a seemingly risky and patently unnecessary remake of the 1961 Oscarwinning classic. Ansel Elgort and Rachel Zegler lead a low-wattage cast, while the ageless Rita Moreno makes a cameo appearance. I can't imagine what possessed Spielberg to make this movie, and I can't wait to find out.

NEWS OF THE WORLD

(DEC. 25)

After mainlining three seasons and a movie of "Deadwood" while sheltering in place, I could sure go for a pitch-black western epic right about now. Luckily, director Paul Greengrass ("The Bourne Ultimatum") and star Tom Hanks are here to ruin your Christmas spirit. Hanks plays Captain Jefferson Kyle Kidd, a frontier newsman who gets enlisted to rescue a kidnapped girl.

11

HALEY: I think we can always use a story about hope. I don't think the world is exactly in tip-top condition currently. I think things are pretty messy, and they only got messier. I always think a film about hope will resonate. Specifically, this is about a character who has hope, loses hope—and how do you get that back? That's interesting to me because we're often knocked down so much.

Life has a way of beating you down, from time to time, and I wanted to tell a story that was about how you can pick yourself back up—more, actually, about how other people can help you get off the floor, get picked up and start again.

To me, it's a very human part of life. You lose hope; you get hope back.

Brett Haley with Auli'i Cravalho / Photo by Allyson Riggs for Netflix

STREAMING HOPE

By Joshua Encinias

Brett Haley makes movies about the things in life we try to ignore—loneliness and death. But his movies aren't overly dark or sad. They're just real human stories, and Haley tells them beautifully.

He uses his signature approach to explore some of those heavier topics in his newest Netflix feature, "All Together Now." In the film, which is streaming now, Auli'i Cravalho plays Amber Appleton—an overachieving high schooler who works part-time at a donut shop, leads her school's talent show and volunteers at the local retirement home. There, Amber meets Joan, played by Carol Burnett, a prickly resident of the home.

After Amber sees to the needs of her community, she goes home to her alcoholic mother on the school bus where they live, with their tiny, adorable dog. During the film, Amber's stability goes from bad to worse, and to regain her footing, the helper has to learn to let people help her back.

At its heart, "All Together Now" is a story about hope lost and hope found.

And it's exactly the kind of movie most of us need in 2020. So it makes sense when Haley says he finished the movie remotely while in quarantine.

For this fall film preview, we spoke with Haley—who also happens to be a Pensacola native—about "All Together Now," the need for optimism right now and casting the iconic Burnett.

INWEEKLY: How did you release two movies six months apart?

HALEY: I made "All the Bright Places" in 212 1

the fall of 2018, and I made "All Together Now" in the fall of 2019. Netflix, for various reasons, has an ideal time to release a movie. So they held onto "All the Bright Places" until February of this year, and this one was released much quicker. Due to the pandemic, I think they were willing to fast track it and get it out sooner rather than later. So we finished it remotely. So two movies in a very strange year—it's odd.

INWEEKLY: What's it like to open a movie without a premiere and the typical fanfare?

HALEY: It's exactly that. We still do press, but everything's over a computer now; everything's over Zoom. Obviously, it would have been great to be with the cast and crew to celebrate, but everyone is dealing with that right now. I'm just excited that the film is out there. Both films are out there, and people can watch them whenever they want.

INWEEKLY: In the movie, there's definitely a correlation between Amber's pain and her pride. The more pain she experiences, the less help she's willing to accept. Will you talk about how those ideas connect in the story?

HALEY: I think that anyone who's going through stuff doesn't want to feel like a burden. I think that's a pretty human thing. You don't want to feel like you're putting people out or you're somehow weighing on them or you're a burden to them. I think that from the upbringing that Amber comes from, it's very naturalistic that she would avoid making waves or making trouble or being

a burden to people that she cares about.

She wants to be as little trouble as possible to everyone. That's how she's wired. That's how she survived this long. So I think it goes very much into her nurture—the world she grew up in. When you have an alcoholic mother or a parent who struggles with alcoholism in some capacity, you definitely don't want to rock the boat. You're not going to get a lot of help if you ask for help, so you find a way to make it on your own. And that just seems to me a very true character trait of somebody in Amber's situation.

INWEEKLY: When we've talked before, you said you're not an overly optimistic person, but you like to make movies that are. That's interesting because the rule of thumb in film school is to write what you know. What motivates you to make things that are counter to your wiring?

HALEY: I certainly don't write what I know.

I'm more curious than that. And I think my life is a little dull and boring to write what I know. I'm more interested in putting myself in the shoes of other people and other situations and trying to figure that out. And I think I'm looking for a bit of comfort like everybody else, but also, my films don't shy away from harsh realities either. I think there's a balance. It's not like my movies are fluff, like feel-good fluff. They deal with real, emotional, grounded human things, which I really respond to. I think that this one happens to be optimistic because at that time, I needed that. Movies are a form of therapy, making them and watching them.

They can make you see a different side of something or put yourself in the shoes of another person for a little bit. I certainly need to hope now. I think we all do.

INWEEKLY: What was motivating you to find a story about hope?

INWEEKLY: This isn't your first humanistic story. All of your movies are.

Do you have movies that inspire your humanistic edge?

HALEY: I love certain Cameron Crowe movies. I love Peter Hedges. I watched "Good Will Hunting" a lot for this movie.

I think I'm inspired by all kinds of cinema, and it's not just one sort of thing. I'm not really like, "I'll watch this and try to do that." Movies that inspired me for this one were "Good Will Hunting" and "What's Eating Gilbert Grape?" Those were big inspirations and North Stars for me. I'm inspired by a lot of things, and I actually try not to watch too much stuff when I'm making movies. I try to stay in my world, in my lane, but those are definitely North Stars starting the process.

INWEEKLY: Why did you cast Carol Burnett as a pessimist? She's not exactly known for that.

HALEY: That was exactly the idea. It was fun to see Carol play something new and play against type. I always think actors have more fun when they can play against type.

And I mean, it's Carol Burnett. I would ask her to be anything in my movie if I could work with her again. She's the best. {in}

"ALL TOGETHER NOW" Streaming now on Netflix

inweekly.net

SMALL SCREEN GEMS

By Joshua Encinias

Even before COVID-19 closed theaters for months, great movies were getting released exclusively on streaming platforms. So it only makes sense that some of this season's most anticipated flicks are coming out on small screens.

In addition to Haley's "All Together Now," here are few more streaming picks to add to your queues.

MULAN (DISNEY+)

"Mulan" is the biggest movie to skip theaters and find a streaming home on Disney+. It was released Sept. 4, but if the $30 rental fee is too much moola-n (sorry), you can wait until Dec. 4 when it streams without an extra fee on the app.

THE BOYS IN THE BAND (SEPT. 30, NETFLIX)

"The Boys in the Band" is the second film adaptation of Mart Crowley's play. The first was made in 1970. Even then, the biting humor and knock-out verbal fights between gay friends in Pre-Stonewall New York City shocked viewers and is sure to offend a whole new generation when it hits Netflix later this month.

I CARRY YOU WITH ME

(OCT. 2, NEW YORK FILM FESTIVAL)

Only in 2020 do you get four hours to watch the best movie of the year from your living room. "I Carry You with Me" is about two Mexican lovers who risk everything to be together in New York City in one of the most emotionally resonant cinematic love stories in years. It will stream on Oct. 2 in a four-hour window on the New York Film Festival's website (filmlinc.org). Or you wait until the movie hits theaters in January. (But don't wait!)

DICK JOHNSON IS DEAD (OCT. 2, NETFLIX)

This documentary blends truth and fiction to help filmmaker Kirsten Johnson's September 17, 2020

father Dick celebrate and lament his death through humor, heartache and love.

TIME (OCT. 23, AMAZON PRIME)

"Time" is the story of Fox Rich, a Louisiana woman who filmed herself over two decades as she raised her children while also fought for her husband's release from prison. The movie cuts between Rich's life then and now. It is handsdown one of the most emotional movies of 2020.

POSSESSOR (NOV. 6, VIDEOON-DEMAND RENTAL)

"Possessor" is a horror film from Brandon Cronenberg, son of horror-king David, about a corporation that takes over people's bodies to commit assassinations—until the possessed killers wake up to their manipulation. It hits select theaters in October and is available to rent on-demand in early November.

MA RAINEY'S BLACK BOTTOM (NOV. 27, NETFLIX)

Chadwick Boseman was known worldwide for starring in "Black Panther," but he had a strong career in adult dramas before this untimely death this summer.

Boseman's final live-action performance is "Ma Rainey's Black Bottom," where he plays Levee, an ambitious band member who tries to steal Ma's girlfriend, making all hell break loose and changing everyone's lives forever.

SMALL AXE ANTHOLOGY (TBD, AMAZON PRIME)

"Small Axe Anthology" is from British director Steve McQueen, known for the Oscar-winning "12 Years a Slave," and is a mini-series but is really five films. The movies span decades and focus on racism and love experienced by the citizens of London's West Indian community.

Amazon has shared a trailer for the series but not a release date. {in} 13

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WEEK OF SEPTEMBER 17-23

Arts & Encouragement hope, help and other signs of humanity at a time when we really need it...

Portraits with a Purpose

By Alexandria Sellers

expressions. What follows are photos of the tents, hideaways and makeshift shelters that these men and women call home.

The experience of creating "The Forgotten" series has greatly impacted Garcia. He says it's humbling to be treated so warmly and graciously by the very people that are often overlooked by society.

"Many of the individuals I have come across appreciate the company," said Garcia.

"Some say it makes them feel noticed and not as lonely."

Of course, some of the people he has interviewed for this project have been more than willing to share their life experiences with him.

"My favorite person that I've interviewed so far has been 'Tell'em How It Is' Joe," said Garcia. "He was the first person I interviewed, and he gave me the affirmation and empowerment I needed by reinforcing the importance of this series."

Joe, a US Army combat veteran who served in Vietnam, has been homeless since he lost his job following the 9/11 attacks almost 20 years ago.

"Mr. Joe stressed how this project could change the way homeless people are portrayed and viewed," said Garcia, "and that [the project] could help to illuminate the cruel reality of what's taking place in our community."

Garcia said that "The Forgotten" series gave Joe hope that homeless people would be truly heard and seen as they are— as individuals, as humans— rather than just being looked down upon as the distorted caricatures that the media portrays them as.

Thus far, "The Forgotten" series has only covered issues of homelessness, but Garcia plans to make the project inclusive of other marginalized peoples as well. He intends to branch out into issues like drug use, sex work, etc.—anything to which society tends to turn a blind eye.

"My aim is to focus on people of our society that are getting by in life doing unorthodox things," said Garcia of his hopes for the future direction of his series.

From the beginning, Garcia's goal has

been to use his platform to amplify the voices of the forgotten. He plans to remain true to this as he expands the project. It's not about sugar-coating or "cleaning up" people's experiences, but about providing a space for the raw, gritty realities of the human experience.

"Society is quick to judge what these people have had to resort to or what was forced upon them, but we're often ignorant to the fact that we're all just a step away from becoming one of the forgotten."

For Garcia, the most moving part of working on this project is getting to know each of his subjects on a personal level. "The homeless" are often viewed as one entity, when in reality, each person experiencing homelessness has a different background and set of experiences that led them to where they are.

"So far, the most impactful experience of this project has been learning about the many reasons why people end up homeless," said Garcia. "The reasons are so individualized, ranging from divorce and job loss to mental health and drug addictions."

Working with these individuals has illuminated for Garcia the complexity of homelessness in our communities and the many factors that are often at play in these situations.

"There isn't a one-size-fits-all solution that could solve all of the homeless struggles," said Garcia. "We need a better allocation of city funds and specialized services for the homeless individuals in our community."

He hopes that "The Forgotten" will move viewers to humility and to an understanding of our shared humanity.

Regardless of one's station in life, we are all humans deserving of respect.

"My intent for this project is for people to recognize that a person who is homeless is not any less than someone with a roof over their head," said Garcia. "The homeless should not be forgotten. They matter." {in}

"Society is quick to judge what these people have had to resort to or what was forced upon them, but we're often ignorant to the fact that we're all just a step away from becoming one of the forgotten." Jay Garcia

'Tell'em How It Is' Joe / Photo by Jay Garcia / Thirty30 Vision

"Stop. Don't look away. See me." This is the heart of photojournalist Jay Garcia's latest series "The Forgotten."

Documented on Thirty30 Vision's Instagram, the series is comprised of black-andwhite portraits of homeless individuals and the places they live, often coupled with a brief bio of the individual or a story they shared.

Garcia was drawn to this subject matter after spending many nights documenting the marches and protests of Pensacola's Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement. As other issues began attracting more attention, Garcia felt as though the BLM movement was pushed into the margins.

"Once the protests began dying down and there was less of a presence on social media, it seemed that the BLM fight was forgotten," Garcia said. "That's the way it is. When the media starts covering other pressing topics, the George Floyd's of the world are forgotten, and their names are just added to a list."

September 17, 2020

It was this quieting of the BLM movement that inspired Garcia to turn his lens on the other marginalized peoples of our community.

"The forgotten people of society need to be heard," said Garcia, "And I felt called to be the one to broadcast their voice."

Though portraiture is not his preferred style of photography, Garcia said that he feels the art of the portrait is an integral part of his storytelling process.

"It's powerful," said Garcia, explaining how portraiture allows him to capture the way his subject is feeling at an exact moment of their life. "The person's eyes are telling the story. When I'm taking a photograph, I concentrate on illuminating that story through their eyes."

Garcia's snapshots offer just a peek into the everyday reality of the people in our community who are affected by homelessness. Each addition to his series is comprised of two or three photos. The first is the portrait—the arresting eyes, the striking

For more on "The Forgotten" series, follow along with the project on Instagram @thirty30vision.

15

a&e happenings ARTS + CULTURE

VIRTUAL PUMPKIN PARTY For those who never miss a Strong Street Studio's glass pumpkin patch, you don't have to miss out during the pandemic. This year, the pumpkin patch will be online. Shipping will be available as well as curbside pickup for locals. Check out the pumpkin inventory 10 a.m. Sept. 19; Oct. 3, 17 and 31; and Nov. 14. For more information, visit strongstreetstudioglass.com.

NAVIGATING CREATIVITY IN TIMES OF CHANGE: THE ARTIST'S PERSPECTIVE

Glass pumpkin by Strong Street Studio / Courtesy Photo

Attending "normal" events might not be happening yet—but that doesn't mean local businesses and nonprofits aren't still keeping the community connected in creative ways.

NONPROFITS & FUNDRAISERS

FIRST CITY ART CENTER LOOKING FOR VOLUNTEERS First City Art Center is

looking for volunteers for their pumpkin patch at Blue Wahoos Stadium Oct. 12-19. Volunteer positions include helping to transport pumpkins to/from the stadium, pumpkin pricing, tent set-up/break-down, table decorating, line management, pumpkin wrapping and more.

For more information, visit firstcityart.org.

PENSACON PARTNERS WITH WEEKEND BACKPACK FOOD PROGRAM

Pensacon is partnering with Saint Christopher's Episcopal Church to help feed children in need who attend O.J. Semmes Elementary School in the new school year.

Beginning Tuesday, Sept. 8, Pensacon will be giving away passes to its 2021 event, scheduled for Feb. 26-28, to donors to Saint Christopher's Weekend Backpack Food program. The convention will award a pair of VIP Experience passes to one donor in September and a pair of weekend passes to one donor per month starting in October and running through February.

A donation of just $135 can fill a backpack for one child for nine months, which covers the entire school year. All those who donate any amount of food or money each month will be entered into the monthly drawings. A collection table will be set up at the church, 3200 N. 12th Ave, on the Memorial Garden patio (in the front on the right) during regular business hours, 8 a.m.4 p.m., Monday through Thursday. Additionally, a donation box is set up behind the church seven days a week.

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For more information on St. Christopher's Episcopal Church and the Weekend Backpack Food program, visit scpen.org. For more information on Pensacon, visit pensacon.com.

PENSACOLA OSTEOPATHS HOSTS IN-CLINIC FOOD PANTRY Pensacola

Osteopaths' in-clinic food pantry is open and available any time that the clinic is open, which is typically Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m.5 p.m., for both patients and members of the community who are concerned about hunger and income during the COVID-19 crisis.

Anyone is welcome for as long as there is food available—no questions asked.

"As a doctor, I cannot ensure good health outcomes when my patients are hungry or when they're worried about their kids going hungry," said Dr. Alexys Hillman. "I've never been the type to stand by, see a situation and not take action. If there's something I can do to help, I'm going to do it, and in this case, an in-clinic food pantry helps a lot of people."

Pensacola Osteopaths is located 14 W. Jordan St., Ste. C. Donations to the food pantry are accepted. For more information, call 368-7528.

DOGGIE BATHE-INS RESUME The Pen-

sacola Humane Society 2020 Doggie BatheIn season has begun, with proceeds going to fund its foster program and kitten supplies.

Bathe-ins offer low-cost dog bathing and flea dips during the warm weather season. Events are held the third Saturday of the month, April through October, and continue as follows—Sept. 19 and Oct. 17.

Charges are based on the dog's weight and range from $8-$11. Please bring your own towels, or you may rent a towel for a $1 donation. Pensacola Humane Society is located at 5 N. Q St. For more information, visit pensacolahumane.org.

Sign on for this free lecture hosted by Pensacola Museum of Art, 6 p.m. Thursday, Sept.

17. The panel will feature local visual and performing artists who are navigating their careers among the present environment's unfolding changes. Panelists include Lloyd Reshard, Quincy "Q" Hull, Marci Duncan, Yvonne Christine, and Kat Gold with moderator Jerre Brisky, director of UWF Center for Fine and Performing Arts.

The artwork featured in the Pensacola Museum of Art's exhibit "A Question of When" will form the backdrop and springboard for discussion. Link to the Zoom panel is at facebook.com/pensacolamuseum.

MEDITATION AND ART: NURTURING THE MOTHERS OF CREATIVITY Get

the creative juices flowing with a meditation and art class hosted by Felipe Muñoz.

Muñoz is a Brazilian artist, entrepreneur and life coach who works Positive Psychology and Motivational Methods into every part of his life. The next classes are 6-7:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 25, and Friday, Dec. 18. Cost is $35.

For more information, visit firstcityart.org.

ALYSSA'S ANTIQUE'S PUMPKIN DECORATING CONTEST Alyssa's An-

tiques Inaugural Pumpkin Decorating contest is now open to anyone. Your $10 registration fee goes to a good cause, with 100% of profits benefiting your selected charities and winners picking their choice of nonprofit organizations. Voting will be $1 for each ballot.

The pumpkins cannot be carved. The decorations will need to be all done on the exterior of the pumpkin. Any theme is open.

However, any pumpkin deemed inappropriate will not be accepted. Registration is open until Friday, Sept. 25. The deadline for dropping off completed pumpkins at Alyssa's is Friday, Oct. 9.

Public voting both online and in store will be Oct.10-26. The winner will be announced on Oct. 27. For more information, visit shopalyssas.com.

PENSACOLA BEACH ART WALK ON THE BOARDWALK Enjoy a good view

and some art Sundays from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. at the Pensacola Beach Boardwalk, located at 400 Quietwater Beach Road. The weekly art walk will continue through Oct. 18.

FIRST CITY ART CENTER THIRD ANNUAL JURIED SHOW FCAC's latest ex-

hibit is on view through Sept. 27 at Gallery

1060 and online. First City Art Center is located at 1060 N. Guillemard St. For more information, visit firstcityart.org.

PLT PRESENTS: STEEL MAGNOLIAS

The Pensacola Little Theatre presents "Steel Magnolias" Sept. 18-20 and Sept. 25-27.

Live performance dates and streaming options will be available. Watch website for details at pensacolalittletheatre.com. There will be limiting seating in the theatre, and masks will be required at live performances.

Tickets are available online and by calling the Box Office at 432-2042.

EXHIBITIONS AT PMA The T.T. Wen-

tworth and Pensacola Museum of Art (PMA) are now open Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays from 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

Both museums are operating at limited capacity. To ensure social distancing guidelines are kept, visitors must reserve a $5 timed ticket online. The tickets are good for both museums for one day only.

PMA's latest exhibition opens. "…I Forgot to Laugh" demonstrates how artists in recent years have used humor to explore identity, social injustice and the absurdity of modern life. By subverting expectations through surprising materials, challenging the notion of fine art and using humor to create space for taboo subjects, these artists show the power of tackling serious topics with levity.

Other exhibitions on display are "DocuFlorida 3" and "Lessons in Ink" at the T.T. Wentworth Museum.

You can also still enjoy virtual tours of exhibitions and collection highlights. For more information on both, visit pensacolamuseum.org and historicpensacola.org.

COLLECTION UNCORKED: AT HOME

The Pensacola Museum of Art has teamed up with Wine with Hilary Shaffer and Pot Roast & Pinot to bring their popular "Collection Uncorked" wine tasting into your home.

Collection Uncorked invites visitors to learn more about the permanent collection through curated wine and art pairings.

Chief Curator Anna Wall and Shaffer, a certified specialist of wine, are collaborating to match works of art with wines whose flavor profile or origins complement the art, artist or subject matter. This limitededition curated box of three wines allows you to recreate the experience at home.

Inside, you'll find reproductions of the works of art with narratives to guide you on your journey.

Each box is $65. Order by noon on Wednesday of each week and pick up at Pot Roast & Pinot the following Saturday.

For more information, visit potroastpinot. com/product/collectionuncorked.

BALLET PENSACOLA VIRTUAL PROGRAMMING AND NEW SEASON Ballet

Pensacola's 2020-2021 season kicks off in October with the virtual performance of "Unhinge the Wind" premiering Oct. 9. The performance will be live streamed online Oct. 9-11 and Oct. 16-18. For more informainweekly.net

a&e happenings tion, and to see the entire season lineup, visit balletpensacola.org.

•Oct.17 at Bryan Park •Oct. 24 at Magee Field

days. For a calendar of bands, visit facebook.com/redfishbluefishpensacolabeach.

PENSACOLA SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

SUNDAE SERENADE AT DOLCE AND GELATO Big Jim Brown and the Speed Kings

LIVE MUSIC AT WATER PIG BBQ Enjoy

PSO's season has been postponed until February, but be sure to follow Pensacola Symphony Orchestra on Facebook to see videos of orchestra musicians performing special works from their homes. To watch, visit facebook.com/pensacolasymphony.

WORKSHOPS AT STUDIO SOUTH

Face-to-face workshops have resumed at Studio South. Studio South is located at 955 E. Nine Mile Road, Ste. 101. For more information and to see a complete list of July events, visit studiosouthon9mileroad.com.

SINGERS' CINEMA Every Friday after-

noon through August, enjoy a movie pick from the Choral Society of Pensacola. Information on each week's movie and where to find it online will be available on their Facebook page, facebook.com/choralsocietyofpensacola. Some can be viewed free; most are available for rent for under $5. Watch the movie over the weekend, and then join the Choral Society Monday evenings for a Zoom session to share your thoughts.

LIVE MUSIC

DEBRA JERRY AND JAIDYN'S CALL IN CONCERT Southern Gospel Concert

will be performing live at Dolce and Gelato, located at 2050 N. 12th Ave., from 3-5 p.m.

Sunday, Sept. 20. For more information, visit facebook.com/dolcegelatopensacola.

PENSACOLA OPERA SUNDAYS ON THE MEZZANINE Enjoy the opera from

the comfort of your own home with this online concert series. A full-length concert will be available every Sunday, Sept. 20 through Nov. 15. Tickets are $9.99. For more information, visit facebook.com/pensacolaopera.

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.

SIPS AND SERENADES Hang out curbside at the Pensacola Little Theatre for live performances from local and national talent and to-go cocktails. Mask wearing is encouraged. Events are 6-9 p.m. on select weekends. Visit pensacolalittletheatre.com for more information and dates.

featuring Debra Perry and Jaidyn's Call along with Hearts of Praise and Travis Wilson 6-8:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 19, at Family Baptist Church, located at 5454 Mobile Highway. Admission is donation only. For more information, visit heartrightstudiosandproductions.wordpress.com.

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.

PENSACOLA OPERA AL FRESCO CONCERT SERIES Enjoy fresh air and

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.

free performances from Pensacola Opera artists every Saturday (weather permitting). All performances begin at 5:30 p.m. with the first one on Saturday, Sept.19, at Seville Square. Visit pensacolaopera.com for more information.

NEXT DATES ARE: •Sept. 26 at Corinne Jones Park •Oct. 3 at Bayview Park

LIVE MUSIC AT HUB STACEY'S Sit back

LIVE MUSIC AT PARADISE BAR & GRILL Enjoy live music at Paradise, located at 21 Via De Luna Drive. For more information and a full calendar, visit paradisebar-grill.com.

LIVE MUSIC AT RED FISH BLUE FISH

Live music is back at Red Fish Blue Fish from 6-10 p.m. Wednesdays through Sun-

BBQ with a view and live music 6-10 p.m.

Wednesdays through Sundays at Water Pig BBQ. For a calendar of bands, visit facebook.com/facebook.com/waterpigbbq.

FITNESS + RECREATION

THE DREAM CATCHER Learn to make your own dream catcher at Asher & Bee Apothecary and Tea House, 2 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 20. This is a ticketed event. To purchase tickets, visit asherandbee.com.

RELEASE & RENEW AT FITNESS IMPACT TRAINING At 8:15 a.m. on Mondays,

Wednesdays and Fridays, release into a yin yoga flow centered around low-stress training for high-stress individuals. The focus will be on the basics of breath and openness in the shoulders, hips and spine. For more info, go to mindandmetta.online. Cost is $12 per class, and the location is 375 N. Ninth Ave, Ste. B. Limited space available. Ask about membership pricing.

GULF COAST BREWERY RUN Thursdays at 6 p.m., join Pensacola Runners Association for a 5K fun run. Enjoy a free beer after the run and complimentary games such as cornhole, ping pong and more. Gulf Coast Brewery is located at 500 E. Heinberg St. For more information, visit facebook.com/gulfcoastbrewery.

MEDITATIONS IN THE LABYRINTH

Join Empathic Practice and Felipe Muñoz for weekly mediations 5:30 p.m. on Fridays.

The meditations are held at Long Hollow Park on Guillemard Street and are an opportunity for people to get together and practice guided meditations, singing bowl meditation and labyrinth walk meditation.

All classes are free, although donations are accepted. Social distancing will be practiced. Bring your own mat or pillow.

For more information, visit facebook.com/ empathicpractice.

BACKYARD YOGA AT ADONNA'S BAKERY Get your yoga practice in the back-

yard of Adonna's Bakery. Classes are 9 a.m.

Wednesdays and 9:30 a.m. Sundays, weather

permitting. Cost is $10. Class size is limited to 12 to allow for social distancing. Register through the fitDEGREE app. For more information, visit facebook.com/diskolemonade.

BEER GARDEN YOGA Join Coastal County Brewing Company Saturdays at 9 a.m. for the new Yoga in the Garden Series.

Classes will be led by Tara Taylor, a highly experienced instructor from Breathe Pensacola. All skill levels are welcome. Cost is $10 and includes a pint of beer after the class.

Coastal County Brewing Company is located at 3041 E. Olive Road. For more information, visit facebook.com/coastalcounty.

YOGA CLASSES AT EVER'MAN Stretch your muscles with Beginner Yoga at 10 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. (at the Nine Mile store) Thursdays; 4:30 p.m. on Tuesdays; and 11:45 a.m. Wednesdays. Funky yoga is at 6 p.m. (eight-person limit) on Tuesdays. Vinyasa Yoga Flow is 6 p.m. Wednesdays. Vinyasa with Vincent is 6 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 10, and 12:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 11. All classes are at Ever'man, located at 327 W. Garden St., unless otherwise noted. For more information, visit everman.org.

CONTAINER GARDENING WITH PAUL

Class is 2 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 19, at Ever'man, located at 327 W. Garden St. For more information, visit everman.org.

ZUMBA WITH FLO Class is 4:45 p.m.

Wednesday, Sept. 16, at Ever'man, located at 327 W. Garden St. For more information, visit everman.org.

YOGA WITH ADRON CHAMBERS Yoga

with Adron is back on Thursday and Saturdays with Asher & Bee Apothecary and Tea House. Classes are 6 p.m. Thursdays and 9 a.m. Saturdays. Cost is $11. Classes are open to everyone including beginners, novices and masters. Asher & Bee is located at 3014 N. Ninth Ave. To register for classes, email 11adron56@gmail.com.

for more listings visit inweekly.net

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September 17, 2020

17

free will astrology WEEK OF SEPTEMBER 17 ARIES (MARCH 21-APRIL 19): In one of

your past lives, maybe you were a Neanderthal midwife in what's now southern France.

In another incarnation, you may have been a 17th-century Guarani shaman who shared your knowledge about local plants with an Italian Jesuit missionary in what's now Uruguay. All the powers and aptitudes you perfected in those and other previous ages could prove helpful as you cultivate your genius in the coming weeks.

JUST KIDDING! Cancel my previous speculations. For you Aries folks, past achievements are often of secondary importance as you create your future. In fact, your mandate is usually to transcend the old days and old ways. It may be better not to imitate or rely on old stories, no matter how dazzling. This will be especially true in the coming weeks.

TAURUS (APRIL 20-MAY 20): "There are no ordinary feelings," says poet Dean Young.

"Just as there are no ordinary spring days or kicked over cans of paint." That's always true, but it will be especially true for you in the coming weeks. I suspect you will be host to a wealth of interesting, unique and profound feelings. They might be a bit overwhelming at times, but I think they will mostly provide rich opportunities for your soul to grow deeper and stronger and more resilient.

GEMINI (MAY 21-JUNE 20): "There

should be a science of discontent," said novelist Frank Herbert. "People need hard times and oppression to develop psychic muscles." I partially agree with that observation, but I also think it's a gratuitous cliché that's not at all absolute. In fact, our culture is under the spell of a mass delusion that tempts us to believe "no pain, no gain" is the supreme learning principle. I'd like to see the development of a robust science of contentment—how fascination and freedom and generosity can build psychic muscles. You'll be a good candidate to study that subject in the coming weeks.

CANCER (JUNE 21-JULY 22): Cancerian

songwriter Mathangi Arulpragasam is better known by her stage name M.I.A. She has

By Rob Brezsny

accomplished a lot in her 45 years on the planet, having been nominated for three Grammy Awards and an Academy Award.

Esquire magazine named her the 75th most influential person of the 21st century. One key to her success is the fact that she formulated a clear master plan many years ago and has used it to guide her decisions. In her song "Matangi," she refers to it—"If you're gonna be me, you need a manifesto / If you ain't got one, you better get one presto." I bring this to your attention, Cancerian, because the coming weeks will be an excellent time to formulate (or re-formulate) your life manifesto and master plan.

LEO (JULY 23-AUG. 22): "If you're not invited to the party, throw your own," declares singer and actress Diahann Carroll.

In the coming weeks, I urge you Leos to use that advice as a metaphor in every way you can imagine. For example, if you're not getting the love you want from a certain someone, give it to yourself. If no one hands you the opportunity you need, hand it to yourself. If you wish people would tell you what you want to hear, but they're not saying it, tell yourself what you want to hear.

It's a time when you need to go beyond mere self-sufficiency. Be self-gratifying, self-rewarding, self-acknowledging.

VIRGO (AUG. 23-SEPT. 22): "At the

necessary moment, going naked will be your most convincing disguise," writes poet Dobby Gibson. As I apply his witty statement to your life, I'll interpret it metaphorically. My sense is that you could really use the kind of "disguise" he's talking about.

What I mean is that you would benefit by appearing to be different from what people expect of you. You can gain key advantages by shifting the image you present to the world—by expressing a part of your identity that is not usually obvious. And I think the best way to do that is to "go naked"—i.e. be candid and transparent and vulnerable about your core truths.

LIBRA (SEPT. 23-OCT. 22): Libran playwright Wendy Wasserstein wrote, "Every year, I resolve to be a little less the me I know and leave a little room for the me I

Rub elbows with those who take their leisure time seriously.

The ELBOW

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could be. Every year, I make a note not to feel left behind by my friends and family who have managed to change far more than I." I recommend Wasserstein's practice to you, dear Libra. The coming weeks will be an excellent time to launch this ritual as an annual tradition. For best results, write it out as a vow. I mean, take a pen and paper and compose a solemn pledge; then sign it on the bottom to seal your determination.

SCORPIO (OCT. 23-NOV. 21): "I may

not lead the most dramatic life," confesses singer-songwriter Rufus Wainwright, "but in my brain, it's War and Peace every day." He was referencing Leo Tolstoy's sprawling, exuberant 1,200-page novel "War and Peace," which features stories about five families who lived through Napoléon's invasion of Russia in the 19th century. I'm guessing that these days, your fantasy life may also be filled with epic fairy tales and heroic sagas and tear-jerking myths. Is there a problem with that? Not necessarily. It could be quite entertaining and educational. I do recommend that you keep your actual life a little calmer and saner, however.

SAGITTARIUS (NOV. 22-DEC. 21): "I

rejoice to live in such a splendidly disturbing time!" said author Helen Keller (1880– 1968). She was a smart activist who worked hard in behalf of women's equality, labor rights, antimilitarism and socialism. Was she being sarcastic in saying she loved being alive during a time of upheaval? Not at all. She derived excitement and vigor from critiquing injustice. Her lust for life soared as she lent her considerable energy to making life on earth more enjoyable for more people. I invite you to consider adopting her attitude in the coming weeks. It's a good time to experiment with generating the personal power that becomes available by taking practical action in behalf of your high ideals.

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

know what perfectionists are—people who obsessively strive to finesse every last detail, polishing and honing so compulsively that they risk sucking all the soul out of the finished product. In contrast to them,

I propose that we identify a different class of humans known as imperfectionists. They understand that a ferocious drive for utter purity can make things sterile and ugly. They resolve to cultivate excellence while at the same time they understand that irregularities and eccentricities may infuse their work with beauty. I hope you'll act like an imperfectionist in the coming weeks, Capricorn.

AQUARIUS (JAN. 20-FEB. 18): "Every-

thing good I've ever gotten in life, I only got because I gave something else up," writes author Elizabeth Gilbert. To that melodramatic declaration, I say, "Really?

Everything? I don't believe you." And yet I do think she has a point. On some occasions, the most effective strategy for bringing good new influences into our lives is to sacrifice an influence or habit or pattern we're attached to. And often the thing that needs to be sacrificed is comfortable or consoling or mildly pleasurable. I suspect that the coming weeks will offer you one of these opportunities, Aquarius.

PISCES (FEB. 19-MARCH 20): "I and me are always too deeply in conversation," confessed philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche.

I wonder why he said "too deeply" and not just "deeply." Did he mean his dialogs with himself distracted him from important matters in the world outside of his imagination?

Was he implying that he got so consumed while conducting his self-interviews that he lost his bearings and forgot what his goals were? With these cautions in mind, Pisces, I invite you to dive into an intense but spacious communion with yourself. Make this a delightful and illuminating conference, not a raging debate or a debilitating argument.

THIS WEEK'S HOMEWORK: What's your favorite rule to break?

freewillastrology.com

freewillastrology@freewillastrology.com Rob Brezsny © Copyright 2020

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news of the weird WAIT, WHAT? Cynthia Lynn Teeple, 47, of Jacksboro, Tennessee, was charged with public intoxication after Campbell County Sheriff's deputies found her topless in a LaFollette backyard with two miniature horses on Aug. 30, according to authorities.

WLAF reported the homeowner told deputies Teeple had been eating grass and dirt from the horse enclosure, and also chewed on one of the horses' manes. Teeple then volunteered that "the horse's hair is made of Laffy Taffy and Airhead candy," according to the arrest report, and admitted she had taken methamphetamine the day before.

BRIGHT IDEAS In Botswana, cattle are left to graze and roam during the day, but that makes them vulnerable to attacks by lions, leopards and other carnivores, so two conservation biologists from the University of New South Wales in Australia have come up with an idea to allow both cattle and cats to co-exist, NPR reported. Because big cats hunt using the element of surprise, the biologists came up with a way to make the predators believe they'd been seen by their prey and then abandon the hunt. "We tested this by painting one-third of a cattle herd with artificial eye spots (on their backsides)," explained Cameron Radford, and over four years, "none of the cows that we painted with artificial eye spots were killed by ambush predators." Village chiefs and native farmers "look forward to us coming back and painting more eyes on bums," Radford said.

•Conducting choir practice indoors was out of the question for Mark Potvin, instructor of music at Luther College in Decorah, Iowa, given the school's COVID-19 protocols, and finding a space outside posed a challenge until, "I was driving past the city pool," Potvin told KCRG, and "noticed they were draining the pool." Officials at Decorah Park and Rec gave their blessing, and now choir members rehearse while standing in the empty pool, socially distanced and masked. Luther College has five choirs and one of the nation's largest collegiate music programs.

LEAST COMPETENT CRIMINALS John Travis Ross, 33, and Joshua Ray Corban, 18, were charged with conspiracy and attempting to smuggle contraband into the Central Mississippi Correctional Facility in Pearl, Mississippi, after a drone they used as a delivery device became tangled in a net above the prison fence, according to a Department of Corrections statement. The Associated Press reported the drone was caught on Aug. 26 and carried 2 ounces of marijuana, a cellphone, cigarette lighters, phone chargers and headphones, corrections commissioner Burl Cain said.

Investigators were able to trace the drone's flight and discovered security video showing the men launching it. Cain said officials plan to reprogram the drone and use it at the state's maximum-security prison in Parchman.

By the Editors at Andrews McMeel

•Three teenage girls in Clinton, Connecticut, have been arrested and charged with stealing a duck after photos of them surfaced on social media, according to police. WTNH reported the girls took a duck named Quackers out of a pen in mid-August at the Grove Garden Center Nursery, where it was recovering from a raccoon attack, and posted photos of themselves with Quackers at the town beach and a house party. The girls were charged with larceny and trespassing. Quackers is still missing.

IRONY Bounty Cheramy, 22, smelling of alcohol and swaying back and forth, was arrested and charged with drunk driving on Aug. 30 after his Mazda allegedly struck an electronic traffic sign flashing the message, "Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over," according to a police affidavit. Officers in Port Charlotte, Florida, said Cheramy told them he had been on his phone and "suddenly struck something" but was unsure what it was. His car sustained heavy front-end damage, and the nearby sign was wrecked, The Smoking Gun reported. The affidavit also noted Cheramy recorded a blood alcohol content twice the legal limit in two breath tests.

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EWWWWW An unnamed 17-year-old girl in Bokaro, India underwent surgery on Aug. 31 to remove a 15-pound hairball from her stomach following years of obsessive hair-chewing, Metro News reported.

A team of doctors led by Dr. G.N. Sahu initially thought the mass was a tumor, but discovered the hairball during the six-hour surgery. The girl was reported to be in stable condition following the procedure.

•Doctors at a hospital in Dagestan, Russia, were shocked to discover the source of a woman's stomach distress was a 4-foot-long snake that had apparently slithered into her mouth as she slept outside her home in Levashi village. In a video of the procedure, a doctor is heard to say, "Let's see what this is," Yahoo News Australia reported, as a tube is inserted down the anesthetized woman's throat. Local residents say such incidents are not unheard of in the mountainous area.

OBSESSIONS Akiko Obata, who lives in Chiba Prefecture in Japan, holds the Guinness World Record for the largest collection of Sampuru, the fake food restaurants use to promote their offerings. Sampuru is an important part of Japanese food culture, according to Oddity Central, and after 15 years of collecting, Obata now has more than 8,000 individual items filling an entire room in her house. "Replicas are not real food, but I truly respect how each of them are made to look so real," Obata said. {in} From Andrews McMeel Syndication News Of The Weird © 2020 Andrews McMeel

Send your weird news items to WeirdNewsTips@amuniversal.com September 17, 2020

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