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Independent News | September 20, 2018 | Volume 18 | Number 89

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winners & losers

outtakes

news 6, 8

The arts do that. The arts build community.

cover feature

a&e

music

publisher Rick Outzen

graphic designer Michael Daw

editor & creative director Joani Delezen

contributing writers Savannah Evanoff, Jennie McKeon, Jeremy Morrison, Shelby Nalepa, C.S. Satterwhite, Stephanie Sharp

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. © 2015 Inweekly Media, Inc. All rights reserved.

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

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ficer for the Blue Wahoos has been named the 2018 Southern League Woman of the Year. In her sixth season with the team, McClure has ensured that the Wahoos maintain financial success and growth while supervising the financials of several different entities outside of the Blue Wahoos. The team won the Don Mincher Organization of the Year for 2018, the third time in the franchise's seven-year history. The Wahoos also brought home the 2018 Southern League Community Service Award. WEAR's Darren McAllister was the 2018 Sports Media Person of the Year, and Terry Williams was the Southern League's Batboy of the Year.

MICHELLE CORLEY The art director for

Duncan McCall Advertising won the 2018 Great Gulfcoast Art Festival poster competition winner. Her colorful, lively piece will be reproduced on limited edition posters, T-shirts and other GGAF promotional items. Corley has worked for 23 years as a graphic designer and art director in the advertising world. Winner of multiple industry awards, she also serves on the board and handles design work for Choral Society of Pensacola.

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UWF College of Education and Professional Studies recently received a $100,000 gift from Curtis and Lavona Boone to establish the CeCe Boone Memorial Endowment Scholarship. The endowment was created in memory of their daughter, Cornelia "CeCe" Boone, a UWF alumna, to fund scholarships for students from Escambia and Santa Rosa counties that are majoring in elementary education. Four students received scholarships this semester.

Pensacola City Hall / Courtesy Photo

losers

PENSACOLA CITY HALL On May 25, ormer City Administrator Eric Olson inactivated the Human Resource Manual and replaced it with the mayor's policy manual because he was frustrated with his HR department's pace on making changes. Ironically, Olson resigned last month after an independent investigation had found he had mishandled an employee's complaint. Latasha Buchanan, the City's constituent services administrator, filed a complaint with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission against Olson 10 days after he inactivated the manual.

MIKE HILL The GOP nominee for Florida

House District 1 has been criticized for his political tactics during his primary race against Rebekah Bydlak. The Republican Liberty Caucus of Florida issued a statement that the primary would "go down in history as one of the ugliest." Charles J Gravois, the Panhandle RLC chair, accused Hill of engaging in unwarranted and deceptive attacks against Bydlak. Gravois called for Hill to publicly apologize. Hill defeated Bydlak by 542 votes, 9,007-8,465. A third candidate, Lisa Doss, received 1,257 votes.

HURRICANE MARIA DEATH TOLL Last

Thursday, President Trump challenged the official count of the number of people who died in Puerto Rico in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria. He wrote on Twitter that the 3,000 people didn't die and the death count was only 16. George Washington University (GWU) researchers released the findings of an in-depth investigation, and they estimated 2,975 people died as a result of the storm. Gov. Rick Scott challenged Trump's figures and tweeted, "I've been to Puerto Rico seven times and saw the devastation firsthand."

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inweekly.net

outtakes

By Rick Outzen

A WALKABLE CITY Jeff Speck coined the phrase "Pensacola Parking Syndrome," which he used to describe a city that tears down its old buildings to create parking spaces to entice more people downtown until people no longer want to go there because it has become an empty lot. Speck was in Pensacola on Monday, Sept. 17, as part of the News Journal and the Studer Community Institute's CivicCon lecture series. He is a renowned city planner and author of the book "Walkable City: How Downtown Can Save America, One Step at a Time." On Monday, he told the audience that packed the Rex Theatre that for a city to be walkable it must make the walk as good as a driving a car. The walks must be useful, safe, comfortable and interesting. Speck spent much of the 90-minute presentation on how to make walks safer. He said, "Safety is the area a city controls most directly and can have the most impact." Speed limits, the size of the blocks, the number of lanes and the width of the lanes are critical to pedestrian safety. According to Speck, streets that have a 35 mph speed limit are eight times deadlier than those with a 25 mph limit. Bigger city blocks also are more dangerous because they encourage drivers to drive faster. He said the more lanes a street has, the

faster the drivers will travel on it. Adding lanes doesn't reduce congestion; it induces more traffic, according to Speck. He said that a two-lane street can handle 10,000 cars per day. Cities should inventory their streets and not add more lanes unless the traffic count warrants the expansion. Speck lamented the push to increase the width of lanes from 10 to 12 feet. He believes that wider lanes make drivers think they're driving on a highway. He was pleased that the National Association of City Transportation Officials (NACTO) had announced that 10 feet were appropriate for the width of streets in urban areas. He recommended not to rebuild roads to decrease the lane width. Instead, he suggested restriping the streets to create bike lanes that should be placed between the parallel parking for vehicles and sidewalks to provide greater safety for the cyclists. If medians are added, Speck believes they should have trees because the foliage makes the drive more interesting and encourages drivers to slow down. In closing, he said focusing on safety alone wouldn't make a city more walkable. He recommended that all four elements must be worked on at the same time—usefulness, safety, comfort and interest. Let's get started. {in} rick@inweekly.net

He recommended that all four elements must be worked on at the same time—usefulness, safety, comfort and interest.

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MEET IMPACT 100 FINALISTS

Sprout / Courtesy Photo

By Duwayne Escobedo The Sacred Heart Foundation wants to add four more dogs to join golden retriever, Sprout, in its highly successful "Sacred Paws" program. The service dogs reduce stress and uplift the spirits of sick and injured children. The Emerald Coast Wildlife Refuge, which serves five Florida Gulf Coast counties, proposes building a new center that will allow it to provide public education for the first time since forming in 1994. Currently, the organization works out of a run-down fire station scheduled for demolition at the end of the year. Because no public transportation connects Santa Rosa and Escambia counties, Opening Doors in Northwest Florida suggests equipping a van to provide its services to the homeless who live in remote rural areas. IMPACT 100 Pensacola Bay Area plans to grant more than $1.1 million to 11 of the 15 nonprofit finalists that the women's philanthropy group revealed recently at the Palafox House. The awards will be presented Oct. 14. "Pensacola is such a generous community," said Meri Asmar, IMPACT 100 president. "There are many outstanding projects. We wish we could give grants to all 15."

The Pensacola Bay chapter celebrates its record-setting 15th anniversary this year. With more than 1,103 members, the local group is the largest IMPACT 100 chapter in the country. In addition, it has given away the most money total—nearly $10.5 million—of the more than 50 IMPACT 100 organizations that exist. In all, it has handed out 98 grants to 70 non-profits since 2002. Heading into this year, IMPACT 100 chapters across the country have donated more than $55 million since 2002. Last year marked the first time the women's group awarded more than $10 million combined. Stormy Andersen admitted she was "shaking" with excitement with the Emerald Coast Wildlife Refuge being selected as a finalist. It educates 5,000 students and about 2,000 other people a year about local wildlife it rescues. "I'm very honored to be here," said the refuge's executive director. "This will allow us to greatly increase our outreach." Julia Humphries, Sacred Heart child life specialist, praised the women of IMPACT 100 Pensacola Bay Area for making such a big difference in the local community. She has received specialized training to handle Sprout and said the dog brings smiles to children's faces. "This is a life-changing program for our children," Humphries said. "(Sprout) likes to climb up in bed with our patients who have just had surgery and provide them comfort. This dog is unbelievable. She impacts children's lives and families' lives." Opening Doors representatives said an IMPACT 100 grant would allow it to extend its services to homeless who lack transportation and cannot come to its office on Pace Boulevard. This is the third time it has applied for a grant and the second time it has become a finalist. "We're grateful, grateful, grateful for all the ladies and what they do," said Serene Keiek, marketing director. "We know they get dozens of applications every year."

This year, the IMPACT 100 women members will choose 11 non-profits to receive grants in five focus areas. The organizations include:

ARTS & CULTURE

•First City Art Center proposes to renovate an existing building into an additional classroom for its Youth Art Program. •Pensacola High School Band Boosters Association plans to purchase a variety of instruments for band students who cannot afford to buy their own. •Pyramid, Inc. serves people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and would renovate an existing building that would add services to an additional 25 people.

EDUCATION

•Emerald Coast Wildlife Refuge wants to build an Education and Outreach Center that would allow public access for the first time since 1994. It would replace its current dilapidated fire station scheduled for demolition in late 2018. •Escambia County Public Schools Foundation plans three major additions to the Roy Hyatt Environmental Center: a "Beach" classroom, an inflatable portable planetarium for 60 students and turning a greenhouse into a Butterfly House. •Santa Rosa County 4-H Association would construct a 40- by 90-foot outdoor pavilion that allows livestock pens to be set up and taken down easily as well as allowing activities ranging from archery to zoology.

ENVIRONMENT, RECREATION & PRESERVATION

•Miracle League of Santa Rosa County proposes adding specialized dugouts, bleachers, an audio system and other special features to its adaptive baseball field league for physically and mentally challenged players at Tiger Point Park. •Mother Wit Institute expects to complete renovations to the Ella L. Jordan Home

built in 1896, which once served as the City of Pensacola's Federation of Colored Women's Club. In the future, it would provide social and community gatherings for young people. •Veterans Memorial Park Foundation of Pensacola would install state-of-the-art lighting fixtures to enhance safety and improve accessibility for all visitors.

FAMILY

•Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwest Florida plans repairs and improvements to its home on Creighton Road for its Bigs and Littles mentoring program. •Sacred Heart Foundation wants to add four more dogs to join golden retriever, Sprout, in its recently created "Sacred Paws" program. The service dogs reduce stress and uplift the spirits of sick and injured children. •Young Men's Christian Association of Northwest Florida proposes buying three new 11-passenger vans to replace three 18-year-old vehicles it currently owns. The new vans would more safely bring children to its after-school and summer camp programs.

HEALTH & WELLNESS

•KlaasKIDS Foundation would like to end crimes against children by improving equipment in its existing mobile missing child response center and by presenting innovative Say Something Assemblies, where middle and high schoolers receive education from their peers. •Opening Doors Northwest Florida plans to create a mobile office outreach van to reach homeless living in remote rural areas and who lack transportation. •Re-Entry Alliance Pensacola wants to extend its five-year program to women who leave state prisons and local jails and help them with shelter, job readiness, transportation and other basic needs so they can become productive citizens. {in} To learn about IMPACT 100 Pensacola Bay Area, visit impact100pensacola.org.

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PYP RE-ENTERS POLITICS By Duwayne Escobedo and Rick Outzen

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The Pensacola Young Professionals first made its mark in 2006 when the fledgling group supported the development of Vince Whibbs Sr. Community Maritime Park in a special referendum. The group of adults under the age of 40 plans to flex its political muscle once again in November's general election by campaigning for a county-wide referendum to make the Escambia County Superintendent of Schools an appointed position. The announcement was made last week when PYP leaders revealed the results of its 2018 Quality of Life Survey at an event held at Perfect Plain. Those in attendance were excited to hear PYP was stepping up to help improve public education in Escambia County. Ruthie Speight, who has a daughter in the third grade, said it's time to join 99 percent of the country and appoint a professional to lead Escambia County schools. She believes, like many, that it will improve education locally. "PYP is going to take a stand," Speight said. "The next couple of months, we will educate and inform. We deserve that here in Escambia."

"The next couple of months, we will educate and inform. We deserve that here in Escambia." Ruthie Speight Five times in the past half-century, Escambia County voters have rejected appointing a superintendent. However, the county is an outlier on the issue of elected vs. appointed superintendent. Next year, 99.41 percent of the United States will have an appointed superintendent. Of the 13,576 counties in the U.S., only 81 counties have elections for school superintendent. Alabama and Florida are the only states that will allow elections for the position after the end of the year. Mississippi passed a bill in 2016 to end elected superintendents in all counties, effective Jan. 1, 2019. However, the issue for PYP is about more than just moving the Escambia County School District toward being in step with the rest of the nation. In Florida, the school districts with the elected superintendents are among the lowest performing in the state. Of the 15 lowest performing counties in 2018, according to the Florida Department of Education, 14 have elected superintendents, including Escambia County. Escambia ranked 53nd of 67 Florida counties in 2018. Escambia County is the second largest

county in Florida that still implements an elected superintendent. Only Pasco County, just north of Tampa, has a larger population. About half of Escambia's elementary and middle schools are among the lowest performing in the state. Superintendent Malcolm Thomas was elected to his third term in 2016. Only 40 percent of the community rated the quality of public schools excellent or good in the Quality of Life Survey, although 22 percent believed Thomas was doing an excellent job. Additionally, PYP's Quality of Life Survey overwhelmingly called for the formation of a Community Development Corporation (CDC) that will assemble private and public stakeholders to address gaps in our community and to develop and implement a community development strategic plan. The Quality of Life Survey found 78 percent of respondents were very or somewhat familiar with the difference between economic development and community development; 65 percent rated the coordination of economic and community development by government, community and business leaders in Escambia as fair or poor; and 69 percent said they would support the development of a Community Development Corporation in Escambia County. In July, the PYP's board of directors presented a resolution calling for the establishment of a Community Development Corporation to Escambia Board of County Commissioners. This resolution passed unanimously. The group has begun the legwork to establish a CDC and hope to have more on it before the end of the year. For PYP President Meg Burke, her organization's re-entry into local politics is a return to the roots of PYP. PYP was formed in the spring of 2016 with the help of the Pensacola Chamber and Inweekly. The founding members voted to support a referendum in favor of the Community Maritime Park. PYP campaigned door-to-door for the park. The referendum passed with 56 percent of the vote in September 2016. "We started because of the Maritime Park," Meg Burke told Inweekly. "We're ready to use this data and put it into practice."

"We started because of the Maritime Park. We're ready to use this data and put it into practice." Meg Burke Since 2008, PYP has facilitated the Quality of Life Survey to give leaders accurate information on how voters perceive what is happening in the City of Pensacola and Escambia County. By measuring public opinion and gathering data for comparison, the survey provides an annual snapshot

that generates informed debate and inspires necessary action. The Quality of Life survey touches not only on the quality of life for Pensacola area residents but also asks opinions on top issues facing the area, views of our public officials and economic and community development. Since its inception, the survey has been conducted by Mason-Dixon Polling and Research, Inc., located in Washington D.C. Quint and Rishy Studer pay for the polling, but PYP handles the questions and the final report. Eight hundred registered Escambia County voters were interviewed via telephone in June 2018. Those polled were selected randomly from a commercially available Florida state voter registration list. The resulting sample fairly reflects the demographic profile of voters in Escambia County. The margin of error is plus or minus 3.5 percentage points. The PYP survey found 60 percent of the public believed the county is on the right track, and 63 percent felt the city was. Those percentages are vast improvements from the 2008 Quality of Life Survey, which found only 22 percent and 27 percent thought the county and city were headed in the right direction. The survey also revealed residents perceive the economic conditions in the county have improved over the past 10 years. In 2008, 1 percent rated the county's economic conditions excellent, and only 13 percent said they were good. This year, 4 percent believed the conditions are excellent, and 33 percent rated them good. Concerning job growth, only 7 percent felt the job opportunities and growth in Escambia County were good or excellent, and 65 percent rated them as poor 10 years ago. The 2018 Quality of Life Survey found almost a third of the respondents rated the job opportunities and growth as good or excellent, and only 21 percent gave them a poor rating. Respondents were also more confident in the vision, plans and leadership for the revitalization of the city. In 2017, only 9 percent rated their confidence as excellent, while 47 percent called it good. This year, 15 percent gave it an excellent rating and 43 percent a good grade. Confidence in county leadership showed a similar improvement. PYP added one question about a national issue. The group surveyed how the community felt about the current national marijuana policy that makes it illegal to possess or use marijuana, and 14 percent favored keeping the policy the same. Some respondents favored decriminalizing it, 17 percent, while 34 percent only wanted to legalize medical uses of cannabis, and 29 percent wanted to legalize marijuana entirely. Only 7 percent were unsure what to do. The complete Quality of Life Survey can be found at pensacolayp.com. {in} inweekly.net

Making Play Smart Decals are extra-large and colorful.

The Studer Community Institute supports efforts to teach parents, families and caregivers about the importance of early brain development. One way we do that is installing Make Play Smart decals in public spaces and play areas to encourage early learning.

We Need Your Help! To sponsor one of our local parks, contact Shannon Nickinson, snickinson@studeri.org 850.525.2116

The Why: Make Play Smart decals are designed to help prepare children to start kindergarten by using play to teach skills like counting, letter naming, shape and color identification.

There are over 12 different designs. Here are some examples.

Sandcastle

Letters and Shapes

Hopscotch

Number Snake

Octopus

Southeast States

Sponsored Parks Carver Park Sponsored by Cantonment Rotary

Legion Field Theo May Center Sponsored by IHMC

To sponsor a park contact

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

September 20, 2018

Roger Scott Athletic Complex Sponsored by Audi Pensacola

Shannon Nickinson snickinson@studeri.org 850.525.2116

GONZALEZ'S APPEAL REJECTED The

Florida Supreme Court last Thursday unanimously turned down an appeal of Leonard Patrick Gonzalez Jr., who was convicted of first-degree murder in the slayings of Byrd and Melanie Billings in July 2009. The home-invasion robbery drew international attention. Gonzalez and four other men entered the Beulah residence to steal a safe that they thought contained millions, according to court records. Both Billings died after each being shot multiple times. Several adopted children with special needs were in the house at the time. In the appeal, Gonzalez argued that he had received "ineffective assistance" from his attorney before being convicted. In part, Gonzalez contended that his attorney didn't argue adequately for a change of venue because of publicity surrounding the case. Also, Gonzalez claimed that during jury selection, the attorney didn't determine adequately whether jurors could be impartial. The Supreme Court disagreed and upheld the conviction in a nine-page opinion. "The record before this (Supreme) Court demonstrates that trial counsel provided prospective jurors with a questionnaire inquiring, among other things, about their exposure to pretrial publicity," the opinion said. "Members of the (potential jury) who responded that they were familiar with the publicity were asked if they could set it aside and consider only the evidence presented during the trial. Two prospective jurors who indicated they could not set aside what they had heard or read were excused for cause." The opinion added, "Once the jury selections were completed, Gonzalez was asked personally if he was satisfied with the jury as selected, and he replied affirmatively. Accordingly, the record reflects that Gonzalez was able to select a fair and impartial jury, and the trial court would not likely have granted a renewed motion for change of venue at that time." Justices Barbara Pariente, Peggy Quince, Ricky Polston, Jorge Labarga and Alan Lawson concurred in the opinion. Chief Justice Charles Canady and Justice R. Fred Lewis agreed with the outcome but did not fully sign on to the opinion. Gonzalez may be back in an Escambia County courtroom soon. In 2017, Gonzalez was granted a resentencing under Florida's revised death penalty laws. The jury in his 2010 case imposed the death penalty in a 10-2 vote, a move that was later deemed unconstitutional by the U.S. Supreme Court. The date for the resentencing has not been set.

'INCREDIBLE OPPORTUNITY' Last

Thursday, the Pensacola City Council approved 010 1

Mayor Ashton Hayward's recommendation to give Studer Properties an 18-month option agreement to develop a master plan for the remaining seven parcels of the Vince Whibbs Sr. Community Maritime Park. Studer Properties will pay the city $271,659 over the 18 months. The money is non-refundable. Mayor Hayward called the agreement with Studer Properties an "incredible opportunity" because its master plan would include the maritime park and the 19 acres owned by the Studers near the park. He said the plan was essential to improve connectivity, something his administration has worked on since he took office in January 2009 to connect downtown with the rest of the city. "We knew the east side of the City of Pensacola was built out, and we knew we needed to create that energy in our downtown core," the mayor told the city council about the importance of having a master plan. "You're connecting the west side of Pensacola to the downtown core of Palafox." Studer Properties president, Andrew Rothfeder, said the time was right to capitalize on the remaining maritime park parcels. He said, "Despite the best efforts of a lot of people to try to do the right thing and make this project successful, at the end of the day, we have what we have, which is seven vacant parcels on this phenomenal park. These are all opportunities that we have and that we haven't been able to capitalize on. And we think now is the time." Rothfeder already has a Texas-based development group interested in parcels six, seven and eight. They want to build a hotel with 160-180 units. Inweekly has heard it may be a Hard Rock Hotel.

CITY POLLS According to an Inweekly/ Political Matrix poll of 462 likely Pensacola city voters, County Commissioner Grover Robinson has a 10.6-point lead over Pensacola City Council Brian Spencer in the race to be Pensacola's next mayor—46.5 percent to 35.9 percent. However, 18 percent of the voters are still uncertain who will receive their vote in November. The gap between the two candidates has tightened slightly since the Aug. 28 primary when Robinson finished with a 13.5-point lead over Spencer. The margin of error for this study is +/- 4.5 percent. In District 4, Chris Phillips has moved ahead of Jared Moore by 2.8 points—a 10.8-point swing since the Aug. 28 primary. Nearly 29 percent of District 4 voters are uncertain how they would cast their votes in November. Factoring in the margin of error, Phillips and Moore are in a dead heat—37.0 percent to 34.2 percent. In District 6, Ann Hill holds a substantial lead over W.A. (Butch) Hansen. As of Sept.

10, Hill had 32 percent, with Hansen having 18 percent of the vote. Half of the voters needed more information or were undecided.

MEDICAL CANNABIS BILL APPROVED

Congressman Matt Gaetz' Medical Cannabis Research Act last Thursday was reported favorably out of the House Judiciary Committee, sending it to the House floor for a vote. The legislation makes it easier for researchers to study medical cannabis and understand its potential uses, benefits and risks. According to Rep. Gaetz, cannabis research has been hindered by laws that unfairly prevent many of America's great research institutions from studying cannabis, despite its promise as a treatment for nausea, epilepsy, muscular sclerosis and a host of other conditions. Currently, the Drug Enforcement Agency has only issued one license for marijuana cultivation, and the University of Mississippi holds it. "For too long, Congress has faced a dilemma with cannabis-related legislation—we cannot reform cannabis law without researching its safety, its efficacy and its medical uses—but we cannot perform this critical research without first reforming cannabis law," said Gaetz after the committee vote. "The Medical Cannabis Research Act helps break that logjam, allowing researchers to study medical cannabis without fear of legal jeopardy."

BELLS ACROSS AMERICA GOLD STAR

NAS Whiting Field will hold a Bells Across America Gold Star event 10 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 27, to honor fallen service members in a ceremony at the NAS Whiting Field Chapel. NAS Whiting Field Fleet and Family Support Center encourages personnel who have base access, including military retirees, other local resident Gold Star family members and those wishing to support them to attend the ceremony, to the ceremony, which recognizes fallen service members from all branches of the military who lost their lives while serving on active duty. Attendees who would like their loved one's name read during the event may contact Lauren Anzaldo at the NAS Whiting Field Fleet and Family Support Center at 623-7177 or email lauren.anzaldo@navy.mil. Please provide name, rank and date of death of the decedent and the Gold Star family relationship. Bells Across America is a nation-wide event sponsored by the United States Navy Gold Star Program. The program is a comprehensive Navy Survivor assistance program designed for families of service members who died while on active duty.

BRAS ACROSS THE BRIDGE Registration

is open for the Ninth Annual Bras Across the Bridge that is set for Saturday, Oct. 6. The cost is $20 per person plus the donation of a new bra. The first 300 participants will receive a pink T-shirt. Attendees may also choose to honor a loved one on a banner to be displayed at the event. One hundred percent of funds raised will benefit the Baptist Health Care Foundations Mammogram Fund, which funds mammograms to women in our community who qualify, as well as raises awareness and support for early detection. The bras will be donated to local organizations that help women and girls in need. Event check-in begins at 8 a.m. in the parking lot of The Grand Marlin on Pensacola Beach. At 9 a.m., breast cancer survivors, their loved ones and the community are invited to join together and make their way across the Bob Sikes Bridge with bras strung together as a show of awareness and support in the fight against breast cancer. To register, please visit baptisthealthcarefoundation.org.

MARK YOUR CALENDARS Women for

Responsible Legislation will hold their monthly meeting 11:15 a.m.-1:00 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 27 at Pensacola City Hall. Speakers Anna Higgins and Ryan Wiggins will discuss the Constitutional Amendments that will appear on the Florida ballot in November. WRL meetings are open to the public. The City of Pensacola Parks and Recreation Department has teamed up with the Florida Department of Health in Escambia County and their 5-2-1-0 Escambia program to host the 5-2-1-0 Northwest Florida Day of Play, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 29, at the Community Maritime Park. For more details, visit playpensacola.com. Seville Rotary's Eighth Annual Arrogant Steak Cook-off begins at 6 p.m. Friday, Oct.12, at Seville Quarter. Competitive cooking teams will be serving up NY Strip steaks for ticketholders to sample, and then each attendee will get to vote for their favorite steak. Tickets for admission are only $30 before the event and $40 at the gate. That ticket will get you steak, beer, salad bar and potato bar at no additional cost. A full-service bar will also be available. To purchase tickets, visit sevillerotary.com. The 34th Great Pumpkin 5K Race and Little Pumpkin Fun Run is 8 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 3. Participants can register in the run or run/walk, wheelchair or walk-only divisions. Age group and overall awards are given in each division.. Register online at runsignup.com, or pick up registration forms at Sacred Heart Cathedral School, 1603 N. 12th Ave. {in} inweekly.net

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PART 2 ARTS BY SARAH MC WILSON

Whether you are drawn to the charisma and charm of Pensacola Opera, the grace and athleticism of Ballet Pensacola, the resonating sounds of Pensacola Symphony Orchestra or the dramatics and theatrics of Pensacola Little Theatre, each performing arts organization brings a new season of creative inspiration, cultural entertainment and storytelling to the stage for all to enjoy.

These local entities are setting out to not only make this season even more memorable than the last but also to offer a lasting gift to the community in the form of an art experience that holds the power to resonate with the viewer long after the curtain closes. We present to you a taste of what's to come this season to help you get a feel for what might speak to you. By

electing to attend any of these performances—or many, because they're just that good—you are supporting the individuals who pour an enormous amount of heart, time, skill and gift into each production. And on a larger scale, you are supporting the arts and their resounding impact, not just on an individual level or in own community, but on society at large.

PENSACOLA OPERA Pensacola Opera marks its 36th season by presenting a trifecta of firsts—three mainstage productions that are brand new to their repertoire. Beginning in January with "Romeo & Juliet," the lineup offers something for any opera goer. Pensacola Opera has recently launched an initiative designed to help identify different opera "personas," including classic, bold, social, endeavor and rookie. "The idea is that we offer something for every type of audience member, whether you're a regular at our mainstage productions or would rather listen to show tunes in a bar with friends," said Cody Martin, director of Education & the Artists in Residence Program. "'Romeo & Juliet' is for someone who loves the classics. 'Florencia in the Amazon' is for someone who is bold and looking for something new and different. 'Some Enchanted Valentine' is for the rookie, someone who is new to the opera," Artistic Director Jerome (Jerry) Shannon explains. Inspirational takeaways are abundant in this season's productions, beginning with "Romeo & Juliet." "Who doesn't love the story of Verona's star-crossed lovers? The play, the movies, the ballets… But to hear the music—which is the epitome of French romance—and to hear it sung by such wonderful young voices is truly a spiritual experience," said Shannon. The bold "Florencia in the Amazon" is a production that originated in Nashville and then was presented by New York City OpSeptember 20, 2018

era. Pensacola Opera will have the original stage director and design team here locally, along with their leading lady Elizabeth Caballero as Florencia. "'Florencia in the Amazon' is probably one of opera's most sensual stories, drawing its inspiration from the magic realism of Gabriel Garcia Marquez," said Shannon. "To see this brought to life through the music of Daniel Catán is almost beyond description." "This is going to be a stunning production, both musically and visually," added Martin. "The stage will be awash in colorful, animated projections, bringing the magic of the Amazon to life." When it comes to opera, there can be a stigma attached—an air of exclusivity or the feeling that the opera is only for a select few. But Pensacola Opera invites you to rethink opera and put aside any societal depictions or preconceived ideas you may have and allow yourself to experience it openly and inclusively. "Opera is not a four-letter word," said Shannon. "Opera audiences are growing throughout our nation, and especially among the younger demographic who appreciate opera's combination of singing, orchestra, chorus, scenery, costumes, makeup, lighting, etc. It's the ultimate art form. It truly overwhelms the senses." Martin feels there's a personal aspect to each opera performance—an invitation to be part of the experience, part of the story, part of the elements. "Coming to the opera is an opportunity

to really immerse yourself in a story," he said. "You really begin to feel like you're a part of the characters' journeys on stage. And with English subtitles projected above the stage at every performance, you can follow along and know exactly what's being said."

"Coming to the opera is an opportunity to really immerse yourself in a story. You really begin to feel like you're a part of the characters' journeys on stage." Cody Martin Pensacola Opera operates as a professional company with casts assembled by audition, comprised of nationally and internationally renowned artists in the opera community. "For each mainstage production, these artists come from near and far to perform on the Saenger Theatre stage. Past soloists have also appeared at The Metropolitan Opera, Seattle Opera, and Florida Grand Opera, among many other reputable companies," said Martin. Pensacola Opera also directly collaborates locally with fellow arts organizations by employing musicians from Pensacola Symphony Orchestra and dancers from Ballet Pensacola. As part of its Artists in Residence Program, Pensacola Opera also welcomes in young singers, along with pianists and

coaches. In its 16th season, this residency provides a training and performance opportunity for those at the beginning of their professional careers. "They serve as the primary artistic footprint of Pensacola Opera, performing on our mainstage and throughout the community," said Martin. "These artists can be seen in schools, community centers, libraries and restaurants throughout the season. Without them, we wouldn't be able to reach the nearly 40,000 adults and children throughout the area who enjoy our programming each year." This season, you can find these artists featured in Terrence McNally's Tony Award-winning play "Master Class" as a collaboration between Pensacola Opera and Pensacola Little Theatre. Though the Pensacola Opera's three mainstage performances will be held at the Saenger Theatre in the new year, you certainly don't have to wait until 2019 to partake in the opera. This season's special events kick off this fall. Bourbon & Blues returns to the Opera Center, as does the recurring free Brown Bag Opera lunch series, both featuring Artists in Residence. Pensacola Opera is also once again serving up the popular Opera on Tap social events to the community at Seville Quarter and expanding to a new location, Perfect Plain Brewing Co. "These free events are our popular happy hour celebrations filled with favorite opera arias, musical theatre standards and drinking songs," said Martin. 13

PART 2 ARTS PENSACOLA OPERA MAINSTAGE PERFORMANCES

Florencia In the Amazon

Romeo & Juliet

OPERA SPECIAL EVENTS Brown Bag Opera

March 15 & 17 Daniel Catán's transformative opera shines with melodies and orchestrations reminiscent of Puccini and Debussy.

Performed at Saenger Theatre

Jan. 25 & 27 Venture through fair Verona as Shakespeare's tragedy of star-crossed lovers is brought to life by Charles Gounod's score.

Sept. 25, Oct. 30, Jan. 29, Feb. 26, Pensacola Opera Center You bring your lunch; Pensacola Opera brings the music. This free 40-minute program features Artists in Residence performing a variety of operatic arias, musical theatre songs and popular standards.

Some Enchanted Valentine

Feb. 14 Fall in love this Valentine's Day with popular songs from the Broadway musicals of Rodgers & Hammerstein.

Opera on Tap

Oct. 18, Jan. 31, Perfect Plain Nov. 8, March 21, Seville Quarter A popular happy hour event, filled with opera arias, musical theatre standards and drinking songs.

Wright Brothers—Those Daring Young Men & Their Flying Machine!

Nov. 9, Pensacola Cultural Center This musical biography geared toward young audiences follows the story of Wilbur and Orville Wright as they make their dream of flying come true.

Bourbon & Blues

Nov. 15, Pensacola Opera Center An evening of bluesy favorites accompanied by a bourbon tasting hosted by Darren Campbell.

Master Class

Feb. 8-17, Pensacola Cultural Center Directed by Pensacola Opera Artistic Director Jerry Shannon and starring Pensacola Little Theatre's Kathy Holsworth, this show tells the story of Maria Callas.

PENSACOLA OPERA

WHERE: 75 S. Tarragona St. DETAILS: pensacolaopera.com

BALLET PENSACOLA

When it comes to Ballet Pensacola, Artistic Director Richard Steinert always makes something clear, "Ballet Pensacola is not your grandmother's ballet company." "Put away previous conceptions of what ballet is and can be, and come and see us. I'm sure you'll be surprised," he added. Of course, this isn't to say your grandmother wouldn't enjoy the ballet. It is to say, however, that Pensacola Ballet is living out its tagline, or mantra, and is "Moving Beyond Expectations." "Ballet Pensacola has, arguably, one of the best mid-sized dance companies in the United States, attracting professionals from all over the globe who come to Pensacola to share their art, to live and to inspire," said Steinert. "The artists of Ballet Pensacola are the voice of this community, the voice of a generation." Steinert established the professional performing company a decade ago and consistently strives to keep things fresh and inspired each season. "For me as a choreographer, keeping it fresh means being on the front end of innovative thought. You need to be there if you're going to keep the dancers challenged artistically and satisfy the viewing preferences of the Pensacola audience," he said. This season, longtime attendees of Ballet Pensacola can look forward to having seven new company members grace the stage. Three

young dancers from the Ballet Pensacola Academy have been promoted into the professional company. Ballet Pensacola also welcomes the addition of four new professional dancers. Though one might argue every season performance brings with it its own excitement and "must-see" qualities, Steinert is particularly excited about Ballet Pensacola's season opener—a production of the offbeat, familiar classic "A Nightmare Before Christmas."

"For me as a choreographer, keeping it fresh means being on the front end of innovative thought. You need to be there if you're going to keep the dancers challenged artistically and satisfy the viewing preferences of the Pensacola audience." Richard Steinert "I enjoy adapting the story baselines of movies into ballet," he said. "And this brings exciting challenges as well as, I sure hope, a real spectacle for the audience." "A Nightmare Before Christmas" kicks off Ballet Pensacola's season Oct. 19 with back-to-back weekends of performances.

The season continues with holiday classic "The Nutcracker," a production that's been part of Ballet Pensacola's history for nearly 30 years, since 1989. Spring welcomes in performances of "Divas" and the season finale production of "Cinderella." One other special addition to the Ballet Pensacola season this fall is the collaborative performance "See the Music, Hear the Dance" as part of Foo Foo Festival. This is a new production for Ballet Pensacola, in which it will be teaming up with Pensacola Symphony Orchestra for a night of music and dance. "'See the Music, Hear the Dance' is an exciting collaborative effort of the two organizations. It will bring a collection of musical and dance artists together to create yet another 'one time only' opportunity for the Pensacola community," explained Steinert. The event will also include a panel discussion featuring Steinert, alongside Pensacola Symphony Orchestra Music Director Peter Rubardt. This discussion offers a special opportunity to learn firsthand about the motivations of the program's composer, conductor and choreographer.

A Nightmare Before Christmas

BALLET PENSACOLA PERFORMANCES

BALLET PENSACOLA

Performed at Pensacola Cultural Center

Oct. 19-21 & 26-28 Will Christmas be the same with the Pumpkin King in charge? Find out during this seasonopening show.

See the Music, Hear the Dance

Nov. 8 As part of Foo Foo Festival, Pensacola Symphony Orchestra and Ballet Pensacola will join forces for a performance, combining dance with live instrumental music.

The Nutcracker

Dec. 21-23, Saenger Theatre Because the holidays aren't complete without a Sugar Plum Fairy or two.

Divas

Feb. 8-10 "Divas" features the music of famous female singers like Billie Holiday and Beyoncé.

Cinderella

April 5-7 & 12-14 Ballet Pensacola dancers will tell this classic tale their own way, set to the music of Prokofiev.

WHERE: 400 S. Jefferson St. DETAILS: balletpensacola.com

PENSACOLA SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

Under the musical direction of Maestro Peter Rubardt, Pensacola Symphony Orchestra (PSO) welcomes in an exciting new season of masterworks and more, beginning Saturday, Oct. 13. "By the time I get to opening night, I feel like each program is a kid that I've been nurturing and shaping and pondering over," explained Rubardt. While he isn't willing to play favorites, he is willing to single out two programs this 414 1

season he defines as unusual—ones you won't hear every day. "In January, we will welcome Rob Sheena, the English Horn soloist with the Boston Symphony. I've known Rob since we were teenagers, and he is brilliant. This is a rare chance to hear the most expressive of the woodwinds brought into the spotlight," said Rubardt. "Then In March, we will play 'Mahler: Symphony No. 6.' Any performance of Mahler is a cathartic experience, a thrill

ride of emotional extremes, and the sixth is among the most intense of his symphonies. We've never played this symphony before, and it's sure to be a memorable night." The season begins and ends on high notes for Rubardt, from "Pictures at an Exhibition" on opening night to the Grieg Concerto in April. "Stellar soloist, Jennifer Koh is returning in October; and generous doses of Mozart, Beethoven, Tchaikovsky and Brahms

should prove amply satisfying for both long-time members as well as newcomers," he said. Throughout the season, PSO brings to the stage a high level of talent and training of musicianship. Whether natives or those coming from Atlanta, Jacksonville or Tampa, "they come ready to play. Most of them have done graduate level study at the country's top music schools: Juilliard, Curtis, Cincinnati, Indiana, etc.," said Rubardt. "The Saenger Theatre is

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PART 2 ARTS gorgeous, and the audience is large and enthusiastic—we have a wonderful time together." Regardless if you've had zero or countless experiences attending PSO shows or are familiar with classical music, Rubardt encourages an open invitation to any and all of the season's performances. "Just come. Wear what you want. The people are nice. You don't have to worry about when to clap or anything like that. Most importantly, you don't have to know anything about classical music to be touched by it. You just have to open your ears and your hearts— the music will do the rest," he encouraged. For Rubardt, the experience of what PSO is presenting goes deeper than the music itself. It all goes back to community.

"Most importantly, you don't have to know anything about classical music to be touched by it." Peter Rubardt "There is, of course, a profound economic impact from a thriving arts community, and it is easy to see that in an arts town like Pensacola," he said. "But what really interests me is the element of a community coming together around a shared arts experience. Communities need common experiences, events that bring people together to create bonds of appreciation and respect. The arts do that. The arts build community." Rubardt also added, "Additionally, the arts can be a profound way to explore ourselves, to make us more open and aware and compassionate and understanding. In the biggest picture, can anything be more important than that?"

As part of this year's Foo Foo Festival, Pensacola Symphony Orchestra is bringing a special community collaboration to life, alongside Ballet Pensacola, titled "See the Music, Hear the Dance." "We have not done anything like this before, and I'm grateful to the Foo Foo Festival for making it possible," said Rubardt. "Michael Senturia was one of my early teachers and has been a lifelong mentor and inspiration to me. He composed a gorgeous piece, 'Golden Fish Under the Arched Bridge,' for seven instrumentalists and a group of dancers, inspired by experiences he had when he was teaching in China. We'll be joined by the dancers of Ballet Pensacola, who will also provide the costuming and set designs. The music is delicate, evocative, elegant, sensuous. It was inspired by the great French impressionist Maurice Ravel, who wrote a piece for the same seven instruments, and which will also be on the program with the dancers. A very unusual and intriguing night," he explained. Throughout the season, you can join PSO for dress rehearsal afternoon showings if you can't make evening Masterworks performances. They also have two Pop! Series performances this season welcoming in vocalists: "Celebrate the New Year" to ring in 2019 and "The Envelope Please." Plus, "Mozart Madness," offers an intimate symphony concert experience, taking place at First United Methodist Church downtown.

Opening Night

PENSACOLA SYMPHONY PERFORMANCES

The Envelope, Please

Performed at Saenger Theatre

Oct. 13 Violinist Jennifer Koh returns for her third visit with the PSO to perform Barber's "Violin Concerto."

Mozart & Brahms

Nov. 3 This concert features the nostalgic "Emperor Waltzes" by Johann Strauss and Brahms' "Serenade No. 1." Pianist Alon Goldstein will join the orchestra for Mozart's "Piano Concerto No. 21."

See the Music, Hear the Dance Nov. 8 Pensacola Cultural Center As part of Foo Foo Festival, Pensacola Symphony Orchestra and Ballet Pensacola will join forces for a performance, combining dance with live instrumental music.

Celebrate the New Year!

Dec. 31 Ring in the new year with pianist and vocalist Tony DeSare, who will perform a variety of tunes by the likes of Elton John, Ray Charles, John Lennon and more.

Beethoven & Blue Jeans

Jan. 19 This show continues the legacy of Beethoven's "Symphony No. 8" and Tchaikovsky's "1812 Overture." The program will also feature English horn player Robert Sheena of the Boston Symphony Orchestra.

Feb. 2 Tony nominee and film star Susan Egan joins the PSO for this performance featur-

ing favorites from "Hamilton," "My Fair Lady," "The Way We Were" and "Beauty and the Beast" (where Egan had her most highprofile Broadway role as the original Belle).

Mozart Madness

Feb. 16, First United Methodist Church Just an hour long, this performance Features Mozart's "Symphony No. 25" and Sinfonia concertante for Wind Quartet and Orchestra.

Mahler: Symphony No. 6

March 9 This show is PSO's largest orchestral undertaking of the season and explores the work Gustav Mahler with Symphony No. 6, "Tragic."

Russian Spectacular

April 6 This annual celebration of music by Russian composers will include guest violinist Elissa Lee Koljonen performing "Glazunov's Violin Concerto."

Concerto For Orchestra

April 27 PSO's 93rd season will close with this program, which is inspired by folk music from around the world. Guest composer Gabriela Lena Frank will share her own work "Apu: Tone Poem for Orchestra," inspired by Peruvian folk music.

PENSACOLA SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

WHERE: 205 E. Zaragoza St DETAILS: pensacolasymphony.com

PENSACOLA LITTLE THEATRE

When it comes to diversity in performance, perhaps nothing surpasses the scope and quantity of what the community-based Pensacola Little Theatre (PLT) is consistently bringing to the stage. "Our actors and designers and directors are all volunteers, but this is top-notch stuff. We get asked all the time, 'Where are you from?' or 'What tour group is this?' We are right here devoting ourselves to the joy of creating performing art. We are guaranteed to surprise you on your first visit. And don't let the 'community' in community theatre mislead you; we are as professional-quality theatre as you can get—all by local volunteers," said Executive Director Sid Williams-Heath. Having brought community theater to Pensacola since 1936, the PLT is going on more than 80 years of performances, each time revisiting the same process to create new magic on stage for the community. "When we cast a show at PLT, we September 20, 2018

combine people from all over the community into a new tribe or family. Together, we strive to put on a show, but it is the process of rehearsing and learning and building together that creates a home for us on the stage and in the rehearsal hall. And we come back to that process over and over, to tell new stories, old stories, revisit favorites, explore emotions, make magic," said Artistic Director Kathy Holsworth. A wide-variety-filled season of performances is already underway. Whether musical or murder mystery is more your speed, they've got you covered. "We are well-known for our top-notch musicals, like the recent sell-out of 'Mary Poppins,' so you know that 'Into the Woods' and 'Sister Act' are going to be audience favorites," said Holsworth. Kicking off this weekend, Friday, Sept. 21, "Into The Woods" brings back returning performers to the stage. Sheryl VandenBerg reprises her role as the Witch. Michael

Dennis leads the show as the Baker and Robin Lowe plays the Baker's Wife. "These three actors are stars in our community and are part of an ensemble of our strongest performers. A highly requested title with our favorite stars means this show will be a powerhouse," explained Holsworth. On the other end of the spectrum, Holsworth is also looking forward to "The 39 Steps," a murder mystery comedy, which will be on the mainstage next May. "Desire, Desire, Desire" and "For Whom the Southern Belle Tolls," Christopher Durang's Tennessee Williams parodies, are both one-night acts presented as part of Foo Foo Festival in November. "If you enjoy the dramas of Tennessee Williams, then you'll love Christopher Durang's spoofs of his most popular works, 'A Streetcar Named Desire' and 'The Glass Menagerie.' Essentially, Durang runs the streetcar off its tracks. It's southern, steamy silliness at its finest," said Williams-Heath.

PLT is doing things a little bit differently for Foo Foo this year, offering up their mainstage for fellow community cultural organizations to shine. "We are offering a performance in our smaller theatre venue, The Courtroom, while providing our main theatre stage for other arts organizations to utilize simultaneously, such as the ballet, symphony, opera and the LGBTQ film festival," said Williams-Heath. Throughout the season, PLT's Studio 400 series features what Williams-Heath describes as "more mature, thoughtprovoking and sometimes downright weird topics," including the annual one-act night, called Short Attention Span Theatre. "We've done this every year since 2004, and we always sell out," said Holsworth. "The shows are fun, funny, meaningful, but we do six of them in one night. It is often a showcase for locally written works as well as unpublished works, giving us lots 15

PART 2 ARTS of freedom to explore artistically and even help playwrights hone their work." One of Holsworth's all-time favorites is "The Velveteen Rabbit," which will be revisited in March as part of PLT's Treehouse Series. This one holds personal significance for Holsworth. "Back in 1999, my whole family did this together: I was Nana, my son was Alex, my daughter was the Wind-Up Mouse and my husband worked the light board as The Scarlet Fear. That show cemented our whole family as Treehouse enthusiasts," she said. This time, she looks forward to visiting the story again in the hands of Education Director Jay Bixler. "This beautiful story is sure to be great family entertainment. And trust me, your littles will be mesmerized no matter how wiggly they are when watching TV," she said.

"Live performance is ethereal. It is never the same exact thing twice. That's what gives it energy." Kathy Holsworth Regardless of which performances you elect to attend this season, you're guaranteed to get a show. And as part of the

616 1

audience, you yourself become part of the energy of the experience. "Live performance is ethereal. It is never the same exact thing twice. That's what gives it energy," said Holsworth. "All of us are so tuned in to our screens these days, the emotional connection our audiences are having during live shows is really surprising people more and more. It is not passive attendance. The actors feed off the audience's energy and the audience gets a chance to fall into a story that is happening in real time right in front of them."

PLT PERFORMANCES Performed at Pensacola Cultural Center

Into the Woods

Sept. 21-Oct. 7 This Stephen Sondheim favorite explores what happens after "happily ever after" with some of your favorite characters like Cinderella, Rapunzel and Red Riding Hood.

Improvable Cause

Oct. 6 Improvable Cause is Pensacola's only professional improv comedy troupe, and if you haven't seen one of their shows yet, you need to fix that. ASAP.

Desire Desire Desire / For Whom the Southern Belle Tolls

Nov. 1-11 Pensacola Little Theatre's Foo Foo Festival show is a set of Tennessee Williams parodies by Christopher Durang.

24 Hour Theatre

Nov. 17 This show is a PLT favorite and includes six short one-act plays, cast, written, directed and performed within 24 hours.

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever

Dec. 7-16 A Treehouse production and PLT favorite that tells the story of The Herdmansâ€”aka the worst kids in the history of the world.

The Cemetery Club

Jan. 8-27 Directed by Mark Core-Noel, this show is about three Jewish widows who meet once a month for tea before going to visit their husbands' graves.

Short Attention Span Theatre April 12-20 Another returning PLT favorite, this one features a series of one-act plays.

The 39 Steps

May 3-12 Directed by Billy Buff and Barbara Jacobs, this production is a fast-paced "whodunit" perfect for fans of Hitchcock, spy novels and "Monty Python."

Venus in Fur

May 17-25 Written by David Ives and directed by Maureen McNeill, this is a mysterious, funny and erotic drama, complete with a "strong adult language and content" warning.

Sister Act

June 14-30 Yup, it's that "Sister Act." Directed by Kathy Holsworth and featuring musical direction by Ginger Caro, this show is based on the 1992 film.

The Velveteen Rabbit

March 8-17 Just in case you need a refresher, this story is based on the literary classic about a stuffed rabbit who longs to become real.

PENSACOLA LITTLE THEATRE WHERE: 400 S. Jefferson St. DETAILS: pensacolalittletheatre.com

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WEEK OF SEPTEMBER 20-26

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

10 Most Anticipated Films of the Fall By Daniel Barnes

Barnes dug a little deeper to find this season's cinematic gems by compiling his list of the 10 most anticipated films of the fall. WHITE BOY RICK (OUT NOW) Promising young filmmakers releasing a highly anticipated follow-up movie is the running theme of this list. We start with Yann Demange, who follows his electrifying thriller "'71" with this story of the real-life teenage crime lord Richard Wershe, Jr. Matthew McConaughey plays the role of Richard's mullet-sporting father, while the supporting cast is rounded out by Jennifer Jason Leigh, Bruce Dern and Piper Laurie.

Breaking the movie release calendar into seasons is a somewhat archaic and outmoded notion since very little changes over the course of a year. We may believe that summer is the season of lowbrow popcorn fare and fall is the time for high-tone awards bait, but the fact is that brainless, brand-name, movie-like product dominates the multiplexes all year round. The fall 2018 movie release schedule is no different. Rest assured that you've got plenty of remakes ("A Star is Born" and "Suspiria"), superhero schlock ("Venom" and "Aquaman"), desperate reboots (the umpteenth attempts to revive the "Predator' and "Halloween" franchises) and unnecessary sequels ("Johnny English Strikes Again," for the love of god) to kill the lonely hours. However, film critic Daniel

September 20, 2018

THE SISTERS BROTHERS (SEPT. 21) A seasoned writer and director with nearly 50 years of filmmaking experience, Frenchauteur Jacques Audiard is hardly a newbie, but he ambles into new cinematic territory with his English-language western "The Sisters Brothers." This follow-up to Audiard's Palme d'Or-winning "Dheepan" stars Joaquin Phoenix and John C. Reilly as bounty hunter brothers chasing a gold prospector. FIRST MAN (OCT. 12) This biopic about astronaut Neil Armstrong has awards musk sprayed all over it. It is Damien Chazelle's first movie since he won the Best Director Oscar for "La La Land," and that film's Oscar-nominated lead actor Ryan Gosling stars as the taciturn Armstrong. I was not a fan of "La La Land," but Chazelle clearly has talent, so one hopes his tactile intensity will serve this material well.

CAN YOU EVER FORGIVE ME? (OCT. 19) Another biopic, only this time about the decidedly less heroic figure of Lee Israel, a downand-out writer who started forging, stealing and selling letters from dead celebrities in the early 1990s. Melissa McCarthy forgoes her usual slapstick silliness to play Israel, while drunk best friend specialist Richard E. Grant plays her drunk best friend. Marielle Heller directs her first film since her 2015 debut "The Diary of a Teenage Girl," but she is already working on a Fred Rogers biopic starring Tom Hanks. SERENITY (OCT. 19) Sorry, fanboys and fangirls, this has nothing to do with Joss Whedon's space western TV show "Firefly." Instead, it's a moody thriller from Locke writer-director Steven Knight about a fishing boat captain (Matthew McConaughey, finally realizing his full potential as a film noir patsy) roped into a murder scheme by his blonde femme fatale of an ex-wife (Anne Hathaway). PETERLOO (NOV. 9) Once the pitiless chronicler of contemporary working-class England, 75-year-old master Mike Leigh follows up his 2014 triumph "Mr. Turner" with another costume drama. This time, Leigh tells the story of the 1819 Peterloo Massacre that occurred in his hometown of Manchester, an event that saw British soldiers attack a crowd of peaceful protesters. It sounds depressing as hell and I can't wait. WIDOWS (NOV. 16) Five years after delivering his Oscar-winning

"12 Years a Slave," Steve McQueen wades into Michael Mann waters with his follow-up film, a stylized crime thriller based on a 1980s television series. It sure looks and sounds like high-gloss trash, but it's best to trust the talent involved, including McQueen, "Gone Girl" writer Gillian Flynn and star Viola Davis. THE FAVOURITE (NOV. 23) As much as I loved "Dogtooth" and "The Lobster," the singularly airless and sadistic cinema of Yorgos Lanthimos was left exposed when placed in a comparatively conventional idiom in last year's "The Killing of a Sacred Deer." That said, I'm still extremely excited about Lanthimos' first historical drama, starring Olivia Colman as 18th-century British monarch Queen Anne. IF BEALE STREET COULD TALK (NOV. 30) In a possible repeat of two years ago, it seems increasingly likely that this season's Oscar race could come down to the latest from "La La Land" director Damien Chazelle and this James Baldwin adaptation by "Moonlight" director Barry Jenkins. Whatever happens, just keep Faye Dunaway away from the ceremony. UNDER THE SILVER LAKE (DEC. 7) Fingers crossed that the second time's the charm for "It Follows" director David Robert Mitchell's follow-up, which made my list of the 10 most anticipated films of the summer before getting shuttled off to December. Andrew Garfield stars as a sun-dazed stoner trying to solve the disappearance of his neighbor. {in}

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Get Amped Up By Jennifer Leigh

featured bands, StudioAmped can be a Monday, Sept. 24, kicks off the 11th launching pad for their musical career. season of WSRE's free concert series "Over the years, bands have told me StudioAmped. that StudioAmped really helped them get Artists from all over the Gulf Coast new bookings and pushed them to another perform at the annual series, which is taped level," Harrell said. "It's a win-win situation." in front of a live studio audience. The shows Attending a StudioAmped show also will air in January and February. means you get to be a part of the show's "When we first started the musiproduction. Your claps and whistles will be cal concert series, we only had three part of the recording. And while there's no to five bands per season," said execuadmission fee, audience members can bring tive producer Billy Harrell. "This year, nonperishable food items to be donated to we will have eight bands and a group of Manna Food Pantries. {in} songwriters from the Pensacola Beach Songwriters Festival performing." StudioAmped Taping Schedule StudioAmped provides a platform for Sept. 24 Allman Goldflies Band local and regional musicians to perform Sept. 25 Yeah, Probably their original work not only in front of a live Sept. 26 Luke Langford Band audience but thousands of TV viewers, said Sept. 27 The BeachBilly's Harrell. And as executive producer, Harrell Oct. 1 The Krickets seeks out those bands for the show. Oct. 2 The Red Clay Strays "It's a fun but sometimes difficult Oct. 3 Panzacola job," he admits. "I find the bands by Oct. 4 Roadside Glorious word of mouth and by keeping up with Oct. 5 Pensacola Beach Songwriters Festhe local and regional music scene. It's tival Show: Anne Buckle, Tim Buppert important for me to hear the bands play and Jerry Vandiver live, so I go to different bars and musical venues and give them a listen. When putting together a season, I want to make sure there are different musical genres and styles in WHEN: Jean & Paul Amos Performance the lineup." Studio, 1000 College Blvd. Two bands this season, The COST: Free (nonperishable food items are Krickets and Roadside Glorious, are collected for Manna Food Pantries) releasing albums this September, DETAILS: wsre.org/studioamped and their performances will feature their new music. For many of the

STUDIOAMPED

THURSDAY 9.20

YOGA WITHIN REACH 9-10 a.m. Free. Community Health Northwest Florida, 2315 W. Jackson St., Room A. healthcarewithinreach.org ONE-ON-ONE TECH HELP 11 a.m. Molino Branch Library, 6450-A Highway 95A. mywfpl.com PILATES MAT 12:30 p.m. Free. Ever'man Educational Center, 327 W. Garden St. everman.org VETERANS' MEETING 4 p.m. Free. Ever'man Educational Center, 327 W. Garden St. everman.org AWM WINE TASTING 5-7 p.m. Free. Aragon Wine Market, 27 S. 9th Ave. facebook.com/ aragonwine TOAST OF THE COAST: THE WORLD IS YOUR OYSTER 5:30 p.m. $45 per person. Fish

House, 600 S. Barracks St. greatsouthernrestaurants.com END OF THE LINE THURSDAY DINNER 6-9 p.m. End of the Line Café, 610 E. Wright St. Sign up for the newsletter for menu. eotlcafe.com LATIN DANCE CLASSES 6:30-9 p.m. $10. Salsa, Bachata, Cha Cha and more. ProfesSeptember 20, 2018

sional dance instruction for all skill levels. No partner required. DanceCraft, 8618 Pensacola Blvd. dancecraftstudios.com HERE COME THE MUMMIES $25. 7 p.m. Vinyl Music Hall, S. Palafox. vinylmusichall.com TWISTED TRANSFORMATIONS 7-8:30 p.m. $5. Booker T. Washington High School Auditorium, 6000 College Parkway. THIRD THURSDAY INSPIRATIONS 7:15 p.m. Free. Ever'man Educational Center, 327 W. Garden St. everman.org

FRIDAY 9.21

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

Library, 239 N. Spring St. mywfpl.com

GALLERY NIGHT 5 p.m.-until. Pigskin and

Paint. S. Palafox. gallerynightpensacola.org FLIGHT NIGHTS 5-7 p.m. $9 for three 3-ounce pours. Aragon Wine Market, 27 S. 9th Ave. aragonwinemarket.com HAPPY HOUR COOKOUTS 5 p.m. Drink specials, free cookout. Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. sevillequarter.com DATE NIGHT DANCE CLASSES 6:30-8 p.m. $8. Learn several romantic ballroom dance styles in unique group classes. DanceCraft, 8618 Pensacola Blvd. dancecraftstudios.com

OPEN MIC 7-11 p.m. Café Single Fin, 380 N. 9th Ave. facebook.com/cafesinglefin THE MAD VIOLINIST 7 p.m. $15. Night one of two. Vinyl Music Hall, 2 S. Palafox. vinylmusichall.com TWISTED TRANSFORMATIONS 7-8:30 p.m. $5. Booker T. Washington High School Auditorium, 6000 College Parkway. INTO THE WOODS 7:30 p.m. Pensacola Little Theatre, 400 S. Jefferson St. pensacolalittletheatre.com BELLAMY BROTHERS 8 p.m. Imogene Theatre, 6866 Caroline St., Milton. theimogenetheatre.com

SATURDAY 9.22

KING OF THE ISLAND 5 a.m.-4 p.m. $50.

Offshore kayak fishing tournament. Casino Beach Bar and Grille. PALAFOX MARKET 8 a.m.-2 p.m. Fresh produce, live plants, baked goods, fine art and antiques. Items originate directly from participating vendors, including dozens of local farmers, home gardeners and area artists. Martin Luther King Jr. Plaza, N. Palafox. palafoxmarket.com SANTA ROSA FARMERS MARKET 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Fresh local produce, honey, baked goods and live music. Pace Presbyterian Church, Woodbine Road. OCEAN HOUR CLEAN-UPS 9-10 a.m. Gulf Island National Seashore, Ft. Pickens Pier and Quietwater Beach in Pensacola Beach. oceanhourfl.com COOKING DEMONSTRATIONS 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Martin Luther King Jr. Plaza, N. Palafox. palafoxmarket.com STORYTIME SATURDAYS 10 a.m.-2 p.m. $5. Through Nov. 10. Pensacola Children's Museum, 115 Zaragoza St. REPTICON 10 a.m.-5 p.m. $10, $5 for children 5 and under. Navarre Conference Center, 8700 Navarre Parkway. repticon.com THE HUB MUSIC FESTIVAL 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Free. Bartram Park, 211 W. Main St. thehubmusicfestiva.wixsite.com/thehubmusicfest FALL IN LOVE MEGA ADOPTION EVENT 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Hosted by Animal Allies. Pensacola Interstate Fairgrounds, 6655 Mobile Highway. aaflorida.org CELEBRATION OF ST. MICHAEL'S CEMETERY

10 a.m.-2 p.m. Crinum lilies for sale. St. Michael's Cemetery, 6 N. Alcaniz St. historicpensacola.org

PENSACOLA OPERA COMMUNITY PERFORMANCE 11 a.m.-noon. Free. Barnes & Noble,

1200 Airport Blvd.

COMPUTER BASICS Noon. Pensacola Li-

brary, 239 N. Spring St. mywfpl.com

JUNIOR HUMANE SOCIETY ADOPTION

Noon-4 p.m. PetSmart, 6251 N. Davis Highway. juniorhumanesociety.com NATURAL HEALING/CANCER STUDY 2 p.m. Free. Ever'man Educational Center, 327 W. Garden St. everman.org BIKE PENSACOLA SLOW RIDE 4 p.m. Shops of East Hill, 3425 N. 12 Ave. facebook.com/ bikepensacola TWISTED TRANSFORMATIONS 7-8:30 p.m. $5. Booker T. Washington High School Auditorium, 6000 College Parkway. THE MAD VIOLINIST 7 p.m. $15. Vinyl Music Hall, 2 S. Palafox. vinylmusichall.com

DANCE PARTY 7 p.m.-midnight. $10

workshop, $10 party. One-hour workshop followed by a mix of swing, country and ballroom music! No partner required. DanceCraft, 8618 Pensacola Blvd. dancecraftstudios.com INTO THE WOODS 7:30 p.m. Pensacola Little Theatre, 400 S. Jefferson St. pensacolalittletheatre.com BRIAN REGAN 8 p.m. $49.50. Saenger Theatre, 118 S. Palafox. pensacolasaenger.com

SUNDAY 9.23

WAKE UP HIKE 7 a.m. Meet at Bay Bluffs Park, Scenic Highway at Summit Ave., for a brisk one to two-hour walk with brunch to follow at an area restaurant. BRUNCH WITH LIVE MUSIC 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Café Single Fin, 380 N. 9th Ave. facebook. com/cafesinglefin TRANSMISSION GROUP WORLD SERVICE MEDITATION 10:30 a.m. Free. Ever'man Educational

Center, 327 W. Garden St. everman.org VEGAN BRUNCH 11 a.m.-2 p.m. End of the Line Café, 610 E. Wright St. Sign up for the newsletter for menu. eotlcafe.com SUNDAY BRUNCH AT H20 11 a.m. $28.95 for adults. Free valet parking and 15 percent off with local ID. H20 Hilton, 12 Via de Luna Drive. facebook.com/hiltonpensacolabeach YAPPY HOUR AT PERFECT PLAIN 2 p.m. Perfect Plain Brewing Co., 50 E. Garden St. facebook.com/perfectplainbrewingco FAMILY-FRIENDLY IMPROV CLASS 2:30 p.m. Pensacola Library, 239 N. Spring St. mywfpl.com INTO THE WOODS 3 p.m. Pensacola Little Theatre, 400 S. Jefferson St. pensacolalittletheatre.com SWING DANCE CLASSES 4-7 p.m. $10. Professional West Coast swing instruction for all levels. No partner required. DanceCraft, 8618 Pensacola Blvd. dancecraftstudios.com VEGAN AND VINO SUNDAYS 4-7 p.m. Skopelos at New World, 600 S. Palafox. BLUES ON THE BAY 6 p.m. Free. The Modern Eldorados. Community Maritime Park, 351 W. Cedar St. facebook.com/bluesonthebaypensacola CANE HILL 7 p.m. $12-$15. Vinyl Music Hall, 2 S. Palafox. vinylmusichall.com

MONDAY 9.24

RESUME HELP 11 a.m. Molino Branch Li-

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

PILATES MAT 1:30 p.m. Free. Ever'man

Educational Center, 327 W. Garden St. everman.org SEVILLE QUARTER MILERS 5:30 p.m. Runners meet in front of Seville Quarter for a run around downtown Pensacola. Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. sevillequarter.com HEART-HEALTHY VEGETARIAN HANDS-ON COOKING 6-8 p.m. $64.50. So Gourmet,

407-D S. Palafox. sogourmet.com VEGAN COOKING CLASS 6 p.m. $25. Sweet potato samosas with pear chutney, garam masala with roasted Brussels sprouts and lemon aioli and apple tart with fig glaze. End of the Line Café, 610 E. Wright St. eotlcafe.com for more listings visit inweekly.net 19

music

By Savannah Evanoff

Pensacola LVVRS week of August and released it the second. a top-40 station today," Gibson said. "I think that's really absent from modern music. I don't Gibson chose Pensacola because it had want to sound cliché and say I'm bringing back all the backdrops he wanted, including the rock 'n' roll, but that is important to me. beach. "I want to be a band that inspires new "That was my first real music video," Gibmusicians to pick up a guitar and learn the son said. "I was passionate about the song, so songs," he added. I wanted to do something special for it. I think Gibson wants LVVRS to be associated we were able to capture that in Pensacola." with pop acts. If the Gibson's favorband declares itself ite part of the video a rock band, it can is the middle, when pigeonhole it, he he's in the water said. with all his clothes "People automation, he said. cally think you're a "I don't think heavy band, and we're that's something not that," Gibson said. people do very "I'm really not making often," Gibson said. "I laugh every time I see it because it's kind music for rock fans. I'm making music that can be for anybody." of goofy, but it makes sense in the context Gibson listens to new artists on his of the video." Spotify playlist every day to keep up with Gibson admits he was too scared to what's happening in music, he said. get it the water alone in the middle of the The band has released the originals night, so he dragged Lyons in with him. "Over You" and "Wild Heart"— which Because the video was shot so quickly, Gibson calls a dance track—and a cover the group didn't have much time to enjoy version of Fleetwood Mac's "Dreams." Pensacola in its entirety. There was one place, Gibson's parents loved music from the however, the group couldn't get enough of. "We did eat sushi like three times at Nom," 1970s, he said. "I grew up listening to that, and we Gibson said. "We like that place for sure." started playing around with songs like that, "Over You" is one of only three videos and 'Dreams' stood out," Gibson said. "The the band has released to the public so far. LVVRS formed in February, in the wake lyrical content to me is incredible. I wanted to take a song like that and turn it into a of music breaks and collapsed rock bands. pop song. Gibson has wanted to start a pop band "I wanted to honor the original song for a while, he said. but take it to where it sounds like a modern "All of us come from rock 'n' roll roots and track," Gibson said. {in} background, but I took a step back from playing music and started expanding my horizons," Gibson said. "Pop music today is really resonating with me. I like that genres don't matter anymore." The band's goal is to fuse a WHAT: LVVRS with The Mad Violinist modern pop sound with rock 'n' roll, WHEN: 7 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 22 Gibson said. WHERE: Vinyl Music Hall, 2 S. Palafox "I'm still playing drums and guitar, DETAILS: vinylmusichall.com but I make a song you would hear on

"I was passionate about the song, so I wanted to do something special for it. I think we were able to capture that in Pensacola." River Gibson

LVVRS won't throw a parade for your hometown, but they might make a music video. The Louisiana pop band filmed its latest music video for "Over You" in Pensacola, and now no hometown is off limits. Frontman River Gibson said Pensacola inspired his idea to shoot music videos highlighting different cities. "I'm thinking of doing each one in a town like that across the map," Gibson said. "We're featuring people's towns. I think that makes people proud to see an artist sharing their hometown love. To me, that's really cool." The three-piece band loved downtown

Pensacola so much they are returning for a gig at Vinyl Music Hall, Gibson said. The band is composed of Gibson, guitarist Zac Lyons and drummer Brenon Wilson. Gibson has had "Over You" in his arsenal for a while but only recently was able to record it to his liking. It's a simple song, he said. "It's about the end of our relationship and trying to come to terms with it," Gibson said. "It's a reflective song, looking back on the good stuff. It means a lot to me." Everyone can relate to the song… unfortunately, he added. LVVRS shot the music video the first

LVVRS

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September 20, 2018

DIFFERENCE MAKERS CRAM THE VAN IMPACTS ESCAMBIA AND SANTA ROSA STUDENTS

For 20 years, Cram the Van has ensured that area students begin each school year with the tools needed to succeed. Through external collection drives at workplaces and organizations, Cram-A-Thon events at area Walmarts, and contributions from generous individuals, our communities have provided invaluable support to Escambia and Santa Rosa Counties' students. Cram the Van is a collaborative partnership between Cat Country 98.7, the Escambia County School District, Sandy Sansing Automotive, United Way of Escambia County, United Way of Santa Rosa County, and WEAR ABC 3. Each of these partners, supplemented by generous volunteer support, work together to ensure that students in both counties head back to school with the supplies needed to succeed in the upcoming academic year. This year in Escambia County, over 35,000 items were donated to Cram the Van with a total value of $62,189. Coupled with $22,800 in monetary gifts, Cram the Van had an impact of $84,989 on Escambia County students. In addition, 251 volunteers served a total of 657 hours, valued at $16,221, in support of our school systems. The Escambia County School District provided nearly 30 district administrators who supported Cram-A-Thon events and assisted with sorting supplies, in addition to delivering the supplies to schools. United Way of Escambia County coordinated community collection drives, Cram-A-Thons, recruited volunteers, and provided staff support. Sandy Sansing Dealerships contributed over $17,500 in financial and in-kind donations to Cram the Van events and provided vans, drivers, and volunteers, while WEAR and Cat Country 98.7 provided critical support and media coverage. United Way of Santa Rosa County had their most successful campaign to-date. They raised over $12,000 in cash contributions in addition to school supply donations, totaling an estimated $65,000 worth of backpacks and supplies. Over 1,000 backpacks were filled with grade-appropriate school supplies and given to area students.

United Way of Escambia County (UWEC) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that fights for the health, education, and financial stability of every citizen in our community. UWEC has operated locally for 94 years with a vision of a community United to create better opportunities for all. By investing in programs, participating in partnerships, and leveraging resources, UWEC works to meet a mission of Uniting our community to improve lives.