FREE ▶Independent News | September 22, 2022 | Volume 23 | Number 38 Mealtime in the Margins pg. 12.00 Checking in with Pensacola's Culinary Scene Amid Inflation
2 inweekly.net2 winners & losers 4 outtakes 5 news 6, 8 publisher Rick Outzen edi tor creative& director Joani Delezen graphic designer Tim Bednarczyk co ntributing writers Gina Castro, Savannah Evanoff, Jennifer Leigh , Jeremy Morrison, Sydney Robinson, C.S. Satterwhite, Tom St. Myer contact us info@inweekly.net Independent News is published by Inweekly Media, Inc., P.O. Box 12082, Pensacola, FL 32591. (850)438-8115. All materi als published in Independent News are copyrighted. © 2022 Inweekly Media, Inc. All rights reserved. What's next? Take away their vote? buzz 10 feature story 12 happenings 14 i hate joezarzaur.com find out why careless drivers hate me Pensacola, FL
3September 22, 2022 BUSINESS + CONFERENCELEADERSHIP NOV. 16 + PENSACOLA17 RESERVE YOUR 2-DAY PASS AT ENTRECONPENSACOLA.COM For questions, please contact Morgan Tufto at MTufto@studeri.org. Studer Community Institute is a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. People thrive when they come together. Join us for a front-row seat to both local and national speakers, practical knowledge, useful tools and first-class networking! OVERWHELMED? ANXIOUS? UNCERTAIN?
LIZ BUSH The Escambia County Board of County Commissioners recognized the Facilities Management construction manager as the Sep tember 2022 Employee of the Month. Bush be gan her career with Escambia County in April 2004 as an engineering project coordinator in the Engineering department. In September 2013, she was promoted to senior project coordina tor and became construction manager in 2015. In June 2021, she transferred to Facilities Manage ment in her current. Her first assignment was to provide project management duties to a list of approximately 150 projects for Hurricane Sally repairs to county-owned facilities.
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MINIMUM WAGE VIOLATIONS At the end of this month, Florida's minimum wage will jump from $10 per hour to $11, thanks to a bal lot initiative passed by Florida voters two years that gradually raises the minimum hourly rate a dollar each year until it reaches $15 by Sep tember 2026. That's the good news. Howev er, the number of minimum wage violations more than doubled over the past 15 years, af fecting about an average of 250,000 Floridi ans each year, according to a 2021 report from the Florida Policy Institute and Rutgers Uni versity. The state doesn't have an agency that tracks workforce statistics and enforces wage and hour laws. Workers can complain to ei ther the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division or the Florida Attorney General. Other states have a Department of Labor. Gov. Jeb Bush pushed to abolish Florida's Labor De partment in 2002.
PHIL BRYANT Text messages released in a civil lawsuit over a multimillion-dollar welfare scam reveal that the former Mississippi gover nor helped retired NFL player Brett Favre se cure welfare funds for his $5 million volleyball stadium at the University of Southern Mis sissippi, Mississippi Today reported. Bryant has denied any wrongdoing and has not been charged with the fraud, but his wife's friend, Mississippi Community Education Center founder Nancy New, pleaded guilty to 13 felony counts of bribery, fraud and racketeering relat ed to the plot in which an estimated $77 million in welfare funds was stolen or misappropriated. Welfare agency director John Davis awaits trial in connection with the scheme.
CAT COUNTRY 98.7 Cat Country 98.7 and Studer Family Children's Hospital at Ascension Sacred Heart raised more than $132,763 during the station's Cat Country Cares for Kids Radiothon, presented by Wind Creek Atmore. Funds raised during the one-day broadcast completed the campaign to purchase a new Neonatal Transport Vehicle for Studer Family Children's Hospital.
losers Get Tickets Get Tickets THIS FALL AT PENSACOLA LITTLE THEATRE
FLORIDA'S DARK SIDE The Anti-Defama tion League (ADL) reports that the Sunshine State recorded a 50% surge in antisemitic inci dents last year. Florida had the third-most anti semitic incidents of any state, trailing only New York and California. From January 2020-August 2022, there were more than 400 reported in stances of white supremacist propaganda be ing circulated in Florida, according to the ADL's Center on Extremism. In August, Pensacola's Cordova Park residents found racist and antise mitic flyers tossed in their driveways.
winners & losers
ure Skating Club recently announced that Ouel lette, a 13-year Team USA member, will join its lineup of coaches in October. Ouellette, a na tive of East Granby, Conn., is currently training as a Naval Flight Officer at Pensacola Naval Air Station. She began skating at the age of two and first represented the U.S. as a novice 12-yearold Team USA member with the Ice Mates. Lat er skating with both the Lexettes and Skyliners, Ouellette competed in the ISU World Synchro nized Skating Championships on three different occasions, finishing top 10 with her teammates in Stockholm (2018) and Helsinki (2019).
DANIEL SOUERS Gulf Winds Credit Union has announced Souers as its next president and chief executive officer, effective Oct. 1. He succeeds Chris Rutledge, who is retiring after 20 years as the president and CEO of Gulf Winds. Souers brings significant experience to Gulf Winds, most recently as the chief experience officer for First Service Credit Union in Houston, Texas. During his time at First Service, the credit union more than doubled in size due to organic growth and the largest credit union merger in Houston's history.
You can imagine the governor and crew chuckling and patting themselves on the back for this "brilliant" political strategy. Boy, they really showed up Biden. Team DeSantis likely boasted over drinks how they celebrated His panic Heritage Month and regretted they didn't think of it in time for Black History Month.
NPR reported the refugees said they were approached by a woman named "Perla" and were told working papers awaited them in Boston. In stead, DeSantis had them dropped off in Mar tha's Vineyard after a brief stop in Crestview to give the governor another excuse for a press confer ence in nearby Niceville.
Theallocation.governor defended tricking the fam ilies into boarding because most of the mi grants "are intending to come to Florida; they are coming to Florida; we're taking them from Florida to sanctuary jurisdictions. You got to deal with it at the source."
With all these contenders and pretenders vying for the 2024 Republican presidential nom ination, we're being forced to watch a game of one-upmanship where DeSantis, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, Rep. Matt Gaetz and others fight to see who can be the meanest.
Maria Corina Vegas with the American Business Immigration Coali tion didn't appreciate De Santis' stunt. "As a Vene zuelan American myself, I was heartbroken. These are Venezuelan asylum seekers who are escaping the Madu ro regime. This is a new low, even for this governor."
People—male, female, young, old, gay, transgender and people of color—are fodder for their political ambitions. The more outra geous, the better, and the more likely they will get a segment with Tucker Carlson. Alt-right needs red meat, and DeSantis and his buddies love to provide it.
5September 22, 2022
By Rick Outzen
outtakes
In the summer of 1962, Mississippi White Citizens Councils, what Pulitzer Prize-winning publisher Hodding Carter liked to call "the up town version of the Klan," placed want ads in newspapers to recruit Black families with the promise of jobs up north. The ads read, "Presi dent Kennedy's brother assures you a grand re ception to Massachusetts. Good jobs, housing, etc. are promised." The ads ran the same year that James Meredith became the first Black stu dent to enroll at the University of Mississippi, with Attorney General Bobby Kennedy's help.
But this madness needs to stop. Behind the political pawns are real people who deserve compassion. Maybe President Biden is right; we are fighting for the soul of our nation. {in} rick@inweekly.net
COMPASSION LACKING While he missed the opportunity to relive bussing Black families out of state, DeSantis did plan ahead for his Martha's Vineyard scheme. WHITE COLLAR CRIMES Practicing Since 1974 (HEALTH-CARE FRAUD • DRUG OFFENSES & D.U.I.s) FR EE CONSULTATION ON INJURY / DEATH CASES & CR IMINAL CASES NO RECOVERY - NO FEE / COST ON PERSONAL INJURY & WRONGFUL DEATH CASES 24 HOUR SERVICE 304 E. GOVERNMENT STR EET INJURED? (ALL T YPES OF ACCIDENTS) 433-9922 ARRESTED? (ALL FEDERAL & STATE COURTS) Licensed in Florida & Alabama SEVILLE SQUARE REALTY, LLC Cheryl Young Licensed Real Estate Broker 308 E. Government St. • Pensacola, Florida 32502 (850) 712-4742 www.sevillesquare.net • cheryl@sevillesquare.net AVAILABLE NOW 30 ENSENADA MARBELLA • PENSACOLA BEACH Price $1,300,000 | MLS #610975 Your idyllic beach home awaits you on Pensacola Beach! This approx. 2,170 square-foot residence features three bedrooms, each with en suite bathrooms. Call or text Cheryl Young at 850-712-4742 o r Mary Charlene Young at 850-712-3219 to see it today!
"If you have folks that are inclined to think Florida is a good place, our mes sage to them is that we are not a sanctuary state," De Santis told reporters in his best bully voice. "It's bet ter to be able to go to a sanctuary jurisdiction, and yes, we will help facilitate that transport for you, to be able to go to greener pastures."
The Miami Herald delved into state records and found the DeSantis administration paid $615,000 for Vertol Systems Company, an Ore gon-based company with an operation in Des tin. And DeSantis has promised the entire $12 million
The Farmworker Asso ciation of Florida said, "Immigrants come to our country looking for safety for themselves and their families and for an opportunity to make a living … playing politics with people's lives is an unconscionable act that should be repudiated by all the people of Florida."
Meanwhile, Martha's Vineyard, a sanctuary city, rallied to feed and house the 48 migrants, which included a dozen children. The residents treated those lost souls with kindness.
While he missed the opportunity to relive bussing Black families out of state, DeSantis did plan ahead for his Martha's Vineyard scheme. He had state lawmakers put $12 million into the Department of Transportation's budget for the "transport of unauthorized aliens from this state."
To meet his insatiable desire for media at tention, Gov. Ron DeSantis stooped to a new low when he used taxpayers' dollars to fool 48 refugees, most of whom were fleeing the dictatorship of Venezuelan President Nico lás Maduro, into leaving a shelter in San An tonio and boarding two charter planes for promised jobs.
Inweekly sat down and talked with Crist about challenging the GOP's rising star, Gov. Ron DeSan tis, and why he keeps running.
DeSantis has broken all sorts of fundraising records with his re-election campaign. While recent polls have shown him within five per centage points of the incumbent, few believe Crist has a chance to upset DeSantis. Crist dis agrees with the pundits.
"And good luck paying your rent. Good luck trying to buy a house in Florida. It's been rated the most expensive state to live in, more than Califor nia, more than New York," he said. "And it's be cause Ron is AWOL. He's off the job. He's not pay ing attention. He doesn't care. And I care greatly."
when I'm governor again."
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Gov. DeSantis called a special session to focus on insurance. However, rates continue to rise, with huge increases in wind coverage being the next blow to families' pocketbooks. Crist believes the governor can do more.
Charlie Crist
their health, to their own body," said Crist. "It is disrespectful. What's next? Take away their vote? I mean, really, I'm being sarcastic. But in truth, this issue has not been on the table for 50 years now. Roe v. Wade was in place to protect a woman's right to choose until the Supreme Court did what it did back in June."
"It's pretty simple in my business. I'm an old football player. I played quarterback years ago, and all you got to do is score more points than the other fella, and you win. And we're neck and neck
Crist continued, "We should restore the Sa dowski Trust Fund for housing and help people get a home or be able to rent an apartment. We should have a governor who respects women and will fight for their right to choose. I will do that with every fiber of my body. These are the kinds of things that are bothering Floridians, and they should be."
Crist pledged, "When I get elected governor, my first day in the new Crist Administration, I'll sign an executive order protecting a woman's right to choose in Florida in all 67 of our counties. It's that fundamental. It's that important."
"I love helping people and serving them, and that's why I do this," said Crist. "It's like a calling to me, really. And I love it. And I love the people and try to make them happy, lift their spirit and give them some light."
With a smile, he added, "So we need a gov ernor who cares about Floridians. Charlie Crist cares. I hope you vote for me." {in}
Crist was the last elected Education Com missioner before the position become appoint ed by the governor. DeSantis has injected his political views into Florida's public education system and has tapped two state lawmakers to serve as Education Commissioner and Chancel lor of Florida's State University System to carry out hisCristagenda.believes DeSantis is "messing up" our education system. "We have a 5,000-teacher shortage in Florida today, 9,000 total school personnel shortage. We're not paying them enough. We had the largest budget in Florida history this past legislative session, a $110 billion budget, and we are 48 out of 50 states in terms
He continued, "But what Gov. DeSantis did even before that ruling, he signed a bill restrict ing a woman's right to choose to 15 weeks and didn't even include—listen to this—exceptions for a woman who gets raped or is the victim of incest. I mean, that's barbaric to me and uncon
this person? I mean, has he no decency, and it embarrasses me that he's the governor of my state. Well, I'm running against him, so he won't be anymore because Florida deserves better than that. We deserve a governor with a heart who has compassion, who actually cares about people and will look out for their best interest instead of his own political interest of being president and trying to run in 2024 and be the Republican nominee. My God, his job is to help us, not himself."
"We had the largest budget in Florida history this past legislative session, a $110 billion budget, and we are 48 out of 50 states in terms of what we pay our teachers."
PRO-TEACHER, PRO-CHOICE
He also questioned DeSantis placing law makers in education leadership positions. "It's a logical common-sense question. Why don't we have educators involved at the top of our education system? We should. And we should have scientists in charge of the Department of Environmental Protection, especially in a state like TheFlorida."U.S. Supreme Court's reversal of Roe v. Wade has led states with Republican-controlled legislation passing bills limiting abortion access. Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) has proposed a national bill to create a 15-week abortion ban. Crist said he is pro-choice.
Crist continued, "The one that I had as governor before, we dropped rates 10%. And so that's, I think, the kind of governor the people of Florida want. It's the kind of governor they de serve—somebody who's got their back."
tion of being the only candidate to lose state wide races as a Republican (1998 U.S. Senate race), Independent (2010 U.S. Senate race) and Democrat (2020 U.S. Senate).
"I think it is disrespectful, frankly, to women to have some white guy in Tallahassee tell them that they can't exercise their right to
"I faced this issue when I was governor pre viously, and I held a special session on property insurance, just like the governor had one on property insurance about six weeks ago," he said. "Well, his was special—special for the in surance companies. They didn't drop the rates
As Inweekly has done with all its interviews with candidates, the newspaper gave Crist a chance to give his three-minute elevator speech on why Floridians should vote for him.
After defeating Florida Agriculture Com missioner Nikki Fried in the Democrat primary in August, Crist resigned his U.S. House of Representatives seat to devote full time to his campaign. On Thursday, Sept. 15, he stopped in Pensacola to talk about the high utility rates and pick up a few campaign checks.
"I love Florida. I love her with all my heart. And I know that Floridians deserve better in the governor's office. They deserve somebody who, as I said, has their back, who cares about our economy because middle-income Florid ians are getting crushed. You're doing all right if you're a millionaire or billionaire in Florida. Most of us aren't," he said.
Charlie Crist / Photo Courtesy of Charlie Crist Campaign
7September 22, 2022
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City code enforcement officers then visited
REAP CAMP QUESTIONED
By Tom St. Myer
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LOW-BARRIER ENTRY
REAP originally intended the site to be open until the completion of shelters such as MaxWell and Bright Bridge. Whibbs now envisions the camp as a long-term solution, serving as a low-barrier entry for the homeless population.
When Wiggins visited the camp and asked her about the conditions, the woman toed the company line, saying, "Everything's fine here," out of fear she would be kicked out. The woman said after Wiggins left that Johnson appeared "in a huge rage," cursing and screaming at the campers to clean up the campgrounds.
"They were yelled at and screamed at," Al cott said. "If your tent blew down in a storm, you were screamed at. It was your own fault for not building it up. They were all indentured, working for free."
"All the money is being co-mingled," said Johnson, who directs Fearless Communities Inc., another Pensacola-based nonprofit that claims to help the homeless population. "I am on this account. My board has asked for this to be removed, and still to this date, it is not being done, and I believe that is what led all to this."
REAP terminated Johnson earlier this month from her director positions at the camp and Respite Center. Johnson spoke at the coun cil meeting about financial issues concerning the $100,000 approved for the camp. Johnson said REAP used the same account for the camp, center and other programs. She cited purchas ing air mattresses for a REAP program in Santa Rosa County with city funds as an example.
"I was not pleased with manmade show ers, manmade ditch with water that had a foul smell, food was not refrigerated, sitting out in the sun, and a host of other complaints that I've received," he said. "I thought it would only be fair, and the right thing to do was just to freeze funding. Let's go in and do an audit, make sure everything is running the way that it's supposed to be."
abusive" camp supervisor. "One minute, you were doing something wrong, and the next minute, they were acting concerned for you," the woman said. "It was a rollercoaster; you were walking on eggshells."Thewoman said campers received food in frequently and sometimes without water. REAP staff occupied a facility with electricity and air conditioning. Yet, campers were not granted ac cess to a refrigerator and had no way to keep their food from spoiling in the heat.
"She's telling everybody to get off our ass es," the woman said of Johnson. "And I was in my tent at that point. And we needed to clean the whole f'ing campsite up because the state was coming in. And she was sitting there watch ing us. She wasn't doing anything."
The woman described the camp as un sanitary. She recalled cleaning a pantry with green mold growing on the food and bugs ev erywhere. She said campers stayed in ripped and torn tents that mosquitoes infiltrated. Her legs were covered with infected cuts and bug
bites, and her health deteriorated over the La bor Day "Weweekend.didnothave food all those three days. I was found unconscious because I bottomed out, with being diabetic with no food," said the woman, who has since been relocated to a safe spot according to Walter Arrington, a home less health navigator with Community Health Northwest Florida.
Council members approved $100,000 in city funds to be spent at the REAP camp, and Wig gins wondered what happened to that money af ter touring the campgrounds.
MONEY CO-MINGLED
the camp and cited a long list of violations. Pen sacola Mayor Grover Robinson credited REAP for correcting all the deficiencies and success fully convinced the council to let the camp stay open. Council members unanimously approved the audit and for the city to have more oversight at theREAPcamp.Executive Director Vinnie Whibbs ensured the council that the camp could oper ate during the moratorium. He admitted that the charitable organization focused on opera tions at its Max-Well Respite Center and "over looked" the camp for about a month. Whibbs added that the site is only equipped for 10-12 campers, and issues arose from accepting too many people.
REAP officials claim the camp is better than ever and that mistreating campers and subject ing them to unlivable conditions are no longer issues. Kevin Eason, director of housing and job placement for REAP, has spent the past few weeks assisting with the transition at the camp. He told council members that campers have landed jobs, received medical treatment and obtained IDs within two weeks. Eason encour aged all of Pensacola to support the homeless population fully.
"If your tent blew down in a storm, you were screamed at. It was your own fault for not building it up. They were all indentured, working for free." Candy Alcott
Complaints about unlivable conditions, harsh treatment of campers and money spent on the wrong programs persuaded the Pensacola City Council last week to place a moratorium on funding for a homeless camp until an inde pendent audit is completed.
Former camp volunteer Candy Alcott cor roborated what the woman told Inweekly. Al cott was the first to shine a public spotlight on the unsanitary conditions and harsh treatment of the campers when she spoke at an Escambia County Commission meeting. She shared the same disturbing details with the city council.
Councilman Delarian Wiggins recommend ed the moratorium after visiting the Safe Out door Space Camp, operated by Re-Entry Alli ance Pensacola (REAP) and located on Blount Street behind Baptist Hospital. The REAP camp opened earlier this year with about 25 people residing in tents after the closure of the home less camp under Interstate 110.
"When a policeman picks up an individu al and says, "Where do I go right now," there needs to be the first level," he said. "The Re spite Center really isn't that. It's probably the next level up. We see the safe outdoor space as being a starting place. It's getting them off the street and the park benches downtown and
"We have an issue, and the issue is home lessness," Eason said. "It's not a city problem. It's not a county problem. It's a Pensacola problem. We need to come together as one. We all de serve a second chance. Why can't they get one? It's about them trying to get their kids back. It's about them trying to be a family." {in}
9September 22, 2022 F ind your . The Center serves as downtown Pensacola’s cultural and artistic hub. n interior overhaulowntown. Creating the Cultural Center was visionary. The resurgence of The Center is a legacy. legacy THE CENTER IS OWNED AND OPERATED BY P ENSACOLA LITTLE THEATRE, 400 SOUTH JEFFERSO N UNIONPENSACOLA.COM 309 SOUTH REUS ST. | 850.607.6320 A CRAFTY SOUTHERN PUB WHERE IT ALL COMES TOGETHER OPEN FOR LUNCH FRIDAY & SATURDAY MON-THUR 4-9 | FRI-SAT 11-10
The mayor outlined an upcoming request to Triumph Gulf Coast, which oversees the disper sal of funds associated with environmental pen alties stemming from the 2010 Deepwater oil spill. The request, for up to $50 million, would go to help fund additions at the port that would support marine research operations, as well as potentially U.S. Sailing, which has expressed in terest in developing a home port in the city as the team trains for the American Cup.
Those two central activities sit on the foun dations of a strong infrastructure, operational excellence and employee success. Dr. Saun ders said, "Operational success is a new one this year because every dollar counts. We rely heav ily on the state for its support. We certainly take money from students in tuition, and we have set some new intentionality around making sure we spend every dollar efficiently and effective ly. And employee success is very important. We are a labor-intensive industry."
The reference to "hospitable" was likely a nod to the fact that the wooden benches were sans di vision bar, thus allowing a person to stretch out or lay down on the structure. The benches returned to the park by the city feature a separation bar.
"They are the benches that have the bar in the middle," Kimberl said. "So now we're back to hostile architecture, but hostile architecture is better than no architecture."
The strategic plan also has $3,340,305 bud geted for mental health support services for children and youth not diagnosed with a men tal illness.Community Health Northwest Florida received a grant for $72,837 to complete a $646,947 match for Low-Income Pool funds from the Florida Agency of Healthcare Adminis tration to expand its mobile dental unit so that it can serve 124 additional patients. The ECT grant will specifically be used to repair and update a dental van so that it can be used for middle and high school students.
drove by and were like, 'What the heck is that?'" Kimberl
"It's probably more than 12 years old at this point, and the chairs on it are so outdated that we can't even find the parts to repair them," Community Health CEO Chandra Smiley told Inweekly. "And then the equipment on it re ally isn't suitable for us to clean what we call big teeth, so getting into the middle and high schools is really limited, so typically that unit goes out to all our elementary schools."
"Our port is not going to be like everybody else's port, and that's okay," Robinson said. "We can still have a very viable port that generates great economic opportunity for this community and still be a port. But it's going to be different. I don't want to be Miami's port; I don't want to be Savannah's port; I don't even want to be Panama City's port. I want to be Pensacola's port."
The ECT plan budgets the most money for out-of-school programs—$5,845,534. The least amount budgeted is $1,670,153 for a local provid er to provide a comprehensive system for health assessments—wellness visits, mental health, im munizations, screenings for vision, hearing and speech, dental and developmental status.
ric patients who need oral surgeries are sent to Panama City for dental care. Smiley said, "With these funds, we want to try and keep it local and make sure that we can close the loop on some of those referrals for our uninsured kids."
"We believe the port can be a viable engine for job growth and diversification and creating amenities," Mayor Grover Robinson said at his weekly presser on Sept. 12.
HOSTILE BENCHES RETURN Anyone looking to take a load off in MLK, Jr. Plaza on Palafox may have noticed a shifting land scape. For so long, the benches were gone. Now
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"The City of Pensacola returned several cityowned benches to MLK Plaza earlier this week after completing some needed refurbishment/ repairs to the benches," Lagarde explained to In weekly in a Sept. 9 email. She explained that the city removed the FHA benches for safety reasons.
According to Pensacola Public Information Officer Kaycee Lagarde, the city replaced the benches at MLK following maintenance.
The plan aims to strengthen UWF's culture of inclusion and civility and advance its commit ment to research and community engagement while positioning the university as a catalyst for economic growth. To view the entire 2022-2027 Strategic Plan, visit uwf.edu/strategicplan.
"For a year and a half now, we've been say ing, 'Well, we're going to have this money. What are we going to spend it on?' So we had to have a plan," Board Chair Stephanie White told In weekly. "We had met a few weeks before to dis cuss what our plan would be, and we actually ap proved it. So now we know exactly how much we're going to spend to be able to fund organiza tions in our communities to help children."
"I think that would be a tremendous opportu nity for us to be the sailing research center for the United States, and at that point, we'd probably be the Western Hemisphere of sailing capital, that would be huge if we were able to make that hap pen," Mayor Robinson said.
"While we appreciate the gesture, the organi zation placed the benches there without coordi nation with the city, so we had to remove them for safety reasons," she said. "Since the city did not place these benches in MLK Plaza, we are not able to ensure they are safe for public use."
TRUST SETS PLAN On Tuesday, Sept. 13, the Escambia Children's Trust board approved its $18.3 million budget, Needs Assessment and the FY 2022-23 Interim Strategic Plan. The plan allocates $15,031,374 on direct services to chil dren and families, with an additional $1.67 mil lion set aside for special projects that address unanticipated or emergency needs.
The Board of Governors' approval is the cul mination of an extensive process that included outreach to many stakeholder groups, includ ing faculty, students, staff, alumni, and business and community leaders throughout Northwest Florida and the state.
LAGNIAPPE On Friday, Sept. 9, the Joint Leg islative Budget Commission voted to fund $5,495,202 for projects in Escambia and Santa
da State University System Board of Governors unanimously approved the University of West Florida's new five-year strategic plan that maps out UWF's institutional mission, president's vi sion and strategic directions, goals and indica tors of success through 2027.
Community Health will use the grant also to leverage additional funds from the state's LowIncome Pool to help offset the cost of special dental referrals. Currently, uninsured pediat
"Our core activities are student-centered and focused programming and academic pro grams and scholarships," UWF President Mar tha Saunders told Inweekly. "That's what we do. We teach. We research."
Aftersaid.alengthy absence, the plaza's benches returned shortly after a third party provided new benches to the park.
The simple wooden benches featured a plaque—"A GOOD BENCH, DONATED TO MLK PLAZA BY THE FRIENDS OF HOSPITA BLE"RoughlyARCHITECTURE."three-and-a-half weeks they last ed," Kimberl noted.
Under the healthy and ready for success themes, the strategic plan has budgeted $4,175,382 to match funds to increase fami ly and children services in early childhood edu cation, legal services, K-12 wrap-around servic es, child abuse presentation, health care access and family-strengthening programs.
"There are about close to 2,000 kids that are at Pine Forest," said CHS Charitable Giv ing Director Leah Harrison. "But then you have Longleaf Elementary, Bellview Elementary and George Stone all right there. As this grows and the whole community begins to use that clinic, the parent and family resources and commu nity resources will become a hub for the Pine Forest community."
Children's Home Society received $77,658 to fund personnel to replicate their successful Community Partnership School model at Pine Forest High School. The grant complements a $225,000 legislative appropriation to CHS man aged by the University of Central Florida.
The benches are being stored by the City of Pensacola Parks and Recreation. Lagarde said, "The organization is welcome to contact the city to retrieve their benches."
PORT OF CALL City officials have big dreams for the Port of Pensacola, and soon the city will request millions of dollars in oil spill restoration money to fund those dreams.
The mayor stressed that such a "truly trans formational" shift of focus at the port—from a more working-port focus to one leaning into more non-traditional uses—could usher in a new era for the facility, as well as help further define the site's relationship to an evolving downtown landscape. "It will complement, it won't interfere with down town, it will complement downtown and we'll con tinue to see downtown's success."
In a separate agenda item, the board ap proved a matching grant of $238,875 for the Early Learning Coalition of Escambia County "so more low-income families in need of childcare can ob tain and maintain employment or a postsecond ary credential." The funds cover the county's re quired match to receive state and federal funds. The coalition's budget for the next fiscal year is over $36 million.
The lawmaker got $350,000 for the city of Pensacola to construct a permanent American with Disabilities Act-accessible facility to house men's and women's restrooms and an education center at the Veterans Memorial Park. He also got $1,450,202 for Baptist Hospital to build, equip and furnish a geriatric unit. The funds also cov er a Careview patient monitoring system, Demen
HRSA requires Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHC) to report standard core data every calendar year, including patient charac teristics, services provided and patients' use of those services, clinical processes and health outcomes, staffing, costs and revenues. The badges are awarded annually to FQHCs that achieve specific quality measures for that cal endar
"It's $1.5 million almost to help build new beds and rooms at Baptist's new facility for these kind of behavioral health services I was excited to get," said Andrade. "With some of the issues regard ing public restrooms in downtown Pensacola, the Veterans Memorial Park was something that was very exciting to get as well."
(L to R):
In its notice to Pen Air members, officials state the conversion will make expanding its field of membership easier. The field of mem bership limitations under a federal charter have corresponding business limitations that don't exist in a Florida state-chartered cred it union.Theestimated conversion cost is $585,500, with changing the signs costing $472,000. The National Credit Union Share Insurance Fund will continue to insure members' accounts once the conversion is approved.
Salzman got $350,000 to add a mental health wing connected to Health and Hope's primary care clinic. She also got $120,000 for Autism Pensacola to build a playground for chil dren with autism; $160,000 for a UWF study to identify gaps in mental services to reduce crime and increase access to mental health care; and $75,000 to help Pensacola Humane Society care for pets in domestic violence and homeless in transition situations.
Salzman had requested $1 million for an Es cambia County Fire Rescue Training Site and only received $400,000. IHMC wanted $975,000 for HVAC replacement and received $200,000.
CREDIT UNION CONVERSION Pen Air Federal Credit Union is holding a membership meeting to convert the credit union from a fed eral charter to one chartered under the laws of the state of Florida. The meeting is 10 a.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 28, at the Airport Hilton Gar den Inn, 1144 Airport Blvd.
Committed. Collaborative. Responsive. Proven. Serving Northwest Florida and beyond since 1976. (850) 434-9200 | clarkpartington.comPensacola | Destin | Tallahassee | Santa Rosa Beach
Executive Committee Douglas Bates, Bruce Partington, Glenn
11September 22, 2022
Rosa counties. State Rep. Alex Andrade explained the process."Normally, at the end of the session, you'll see some news coverage on special projects, which are grants the individual legislators try and work into the overall budget," he told In weekly. "This is the first year where in addition to those special projects, which our region did pretty well on, the legislature proposed doing a midyear smaller version of this kind of special projectAndradeawards."continued, "The idea being that there are projects midyear that weren't consid ered by the legislature during session that still are worthy of consideration and funding. So the gov ernor signed the budget, and within that budget was this $175 million pot of money to award proj ects mid-year in between sessions because we're a part-time legislature."
Theyear.badges are Access Enhancer, Health Dis parities Reducer, Advancing Health Information Technology for Quality, Addressing Social Risk Factors and Patient-Centered Medical Home.
FIVE BADGES Community Health North west Florida has been awarded five Communi ty Health Quality Recognition (CHQR) badges from the Health Resources and Services Ad ministration (HRSA), whose programs provide health care to geographically isolated or eco nomically and medically vulnerable people.
Lovett, Alan Manning, Will Dunaway, Charles James
tia Capable training and Geriatric Care certifica tion for its staff.
"We're especially proud of these awards be cause they represent the work that is at the very core of our values," said CEO Chandra Smiley. "Our values hold us together at Community Health, and all of us are proud of what these badges reflect. It shows that our mission is not just words but actions." {in}
Outgoing State Rep. Jayer Williamson got $500,000 each for the UWF Historic Trust and District One Medical Examiner's Office Rap id DNA Technology. He got Santa Rosa Coun
ty $640,000 for a Comprehensive Mobile Safety and Emergency Communications Platform. Williamson had requested $1 million for the Whiting Aviation Park's taxiway and apron and got $500,000. He also asked for $552,383 for UWF to develop a cybersecurity training pro gram and got $250,000.
Mobile Mindset
ginning of the year due to the transition from Gulf Power to Florida Power and Light. The re sult of moving into the trailer? A 60% reduction in overhead costs for Busy Bee.
"I don't want to make it seem like it was just so easy for us to move and adjust because I don't want to give off that vibe that it's just that easy," said Woodson. "It's just what you got to do."
Worse, it seems a rising inflation doesn't lift all boats. The New York Times reported last week that income inequality increased last year for the first time in a decade, proving that today's economic issues impact low-income folks more than those at the top.
Refined local seafood spot Kingfisher was in operation for just one year before the pandemic began. With just that small head start, the res taurant, owned by Amanda and Brian Kader avek, was able to hold on through a pandemic and the following economic hurdles while main taining a consistent menu at reasonable prices at a major "We'recost.actually not making any money; we're probably losing money," said Brian. "It's kind of scary right now."
Business owner Marni Woodson respond ed to the rising cost of running a restaurant by downsizing from storefront Busy Bee Mercantile to a mobile food truck of the same name.
Here in Pensacola, we are seeing less vari ety in the grocery stores and restaurants and are paying far more for what's in stock. But what is life like for those in the industry, and how much harder is it today to feed Pensacola?
The fully vegan menu of quick and casual soul food ranging from collard greens and mac and cheese to buffalo chicken wraps and tacos can now be purchased at area events as Wood son and Chef Srianka Chardon connect with the
Woodson says the downsizing was a bless ing in disguise, allowing her and her staff to fo cus on passion projects and diversify their rev enue streams.
MEALTIME in the Pensacola'sMARGINSCheckinginwithCulinarySceneAmidInflation
"I realized with us moving into the food trail er, there's pretty much nothing we can't do, any place we can't go," Woodson said. "So that's our flex right there, realizing that sometimes a cou ple steps backwards is actually great momentum to goBusyforward."Bee's focus on whole food ingredients and avoiding costly items like meat and pro cessed foods through their plant-based focus mean that their supply costs remain as low as possible amid the rising costs.
Back in 2020, we checked in with area res taurants and asked how they were dealing with a masked and unvaxxed customer base. Today, with the COVID culture on decline, it seems those in the restaurant industry are fac ing new economic challenges by way of record inflation affecting rent, supply costs and access to quality ingredients.
else going on at home," said Woodson.
Randy Russell, owner of Nomadic Eats, is used to experiencing a wide range of quality in gredients and meals on both ends of the price scale, but after recent international and domes tic travel, the local chef says he feels the cost of food in Pensacola is wildly out of step.
Staying Positive
Without the luxury to charge fine-dining prices, businesses like Kingfisher feel pressure
In addition to continued staffing issues, the costs of ingredients and basic supplies like the paper boats that house popular hot shrimp ta cos on Fridays have more than doubled over the last two "Everyyears.time I talk to my distributors, it's just like bad news," said Russell.
By S.R. Johnson
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"It's this constant battle of, like, raising my prices or not raising my prices to compete with my costs now, without contributing to high food costs in this town," said Russell.
Even as some of the external factors that originally drove the inflation issue have tapered off (fuel prices, production and shipping delays related to COVID shutdowns, etc.), the sky-high pricing remains unchanged.
"I think it hit us, just not as hard as others," said"IWoodson.sawalot of different businesses say that, you know, they just couldn't do it and different restaurantsWoodsonclosed."credits a loyal crew of employees
"There's barely anything I carry on my in
"It's really expensive comparatively to oth er places," said Russell. "Even New Orleans is way cheaper, for way more quality food. And it's shocking."Likemany others in the area, Nomadic Eats is operating on a thinner margin than before, de spite a consistent customer base and menu.
the amount of sales back then," said Russell.
"We took it as an opportunity to just grow differently," said Woodson.
"I'm always in this dilemma of, like, wow, I really need to raise prices quite a bit more. But I don't want to; I want to try to walk this line where I can stay as cheap as possible because I'm trying to stay true to the model of what we are but still stay in business and still make it worth my while to be in business," said Russell.
With skyrocketing costs and smaller prof it margins, businesses like Nomadic Eats must balance the desire to offer cost within a certain price range and the need to pay their employees and the bills.
Balancing Act
"A case of potatoes was like $23; now it's like $45. And then eggs have gone crazy, like almost double for a while. Flour's up; oil is double what it used to be, and we use a lot of oil because we're frying seafood. So yeah, I mean, it's just digging into everything," said Kaderavek.
Restaurants can probe their suppliers for vague predictions to see if prices are anticipat ed to reduce in the near future. Until then, it's wait-and-see."We'rejust
A benefit to their customer, this reluctance to increase prices means that the business makes less and less profit, just scraping by until and un less the inflation reverts.
13September 22, 2022
"We tried to not, I mean, increase our prices too much. Like we won't charge twice as much for the stuff, so it hurts the business a lot," said
Despite the hurdles, Kaderavek is optimistic about the food scene in Pensacola and is hopeful
Randy Russell / Courtesy Photo Brian
kind of hanging on right now, hoping that it gets better," Kaderavek said.
Amanda and
to maintain lunchtime prices without sacrific ing quality."Morecasual restaurants that just are asso ciated with more value-oriented food I'm guess ing would probably have more difficulty raising their prices and would have to absorb more of the costs going up," said Kaderavek.
Kaderavek / Courtesy Photo
CALL TO ARTISTS
DAVID MORRIS ARTIST RECEPTION Art ist David Morris Artist reception at Easy Going Gallery, 701 N. V St., Thursday, Sept. 29, from 6-8 p.m.
AN EVENING WITH SHANNON TAGGART
Pete Kelly's work is on view at 309 Punk House, 309 N. Sixth Ave. A closing exhibition will be 6-9 happenings
7 p.m., Oct. 4 and 18, Nov. 8 and 22, and Dec. 6 and 20, at Scenic Hills Country Club, located at 8891 Burning Tree Road. $10 for 30 cards. At The 5 Barrel Brewery, 121 S. Palafox, dates are 6 p.m. Sept. 27, Oct. 11 and 25, Nov. 15 and 29, and Dec. 13 and 27. $10 for $10 rounds. Proceeds go to help local animals. You must be 18 years old to play. Visit aaflorida.org for details.
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Colony Brewing Co., 260 N. Palafox, on Thurs day, Sept 29, from 7-9 p.m., to celebrate a spe cial one-time-only release from Big Jerk Soda. All proceeds raised from the release will benefit the Blue's Angel Foundation, which aims to make a positive impact on the Pensacola area through the promotion of music education, instruction and therapy throughout the lifespan of any and every individual it touches. Lensea Film, End of the Line Cafe, Blue Jay's Bakery, MI SU Street Food and Odd Colony will all be join ing in the fun with live music from Panzacola. Visit facebook.com/oddcolony for details.
SIXTH ANNUAL DANETOBERFEST North west Florida Great Dane Rescue's (NWFLGDR) lovable, gentle giants are back to take over Seville Square in downtown Pensacola on Saturday, Oct. 1, from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. at the Sixth Annual Danetoberfest celebration and fundraising event. "Highway to the Dane-Ger Zone" is this year's event theme. NWFLGDR will have more than two dozen adoptable Great Danes onsite to meet and give treats to. In addition, there will be dozens of NWFLGDR alumni Danes in at tendance, too. All two-legged and four-legged friends are invited to join. Visit facebook.com/ nwflgdr for details.
THE CAT'S MEOW Pensacola Little Theatre, 400 S. Jefferson, presents "The Cat's Meow" which follows the story of a mysterious Holly wood death during the Jazz Era. Showtimes are 7:30 p.m. Fridays Sept. 23 and 30, Saturdays Sept. 24 and Oct. 1 and Thursday, Sept. 29; and 2:30 p.m. Sundays, Sept. 25 and Oct. 2. Tickets are $8-31. Thursday shows are half-price. Purchase yours at pensacolalittletheatre.com.
127 Palafox Place Suite 100 autumnbeckblackledge.com(850)466-3115 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
PENSACOLA OPERA AL FRESCO Listen to Pensacola Opera Artists in Residence at a spe cial pop-up concert 5:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 30, at H.K. Matthews Park, 1201 E. Anderson St. No ticket needed.
PENSACOLA SEAFOOD FESTIVAL The annual festival brings music, food and arts and crafts to downtown Pensacola at Seville Square from 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Friday, Sept. 23; 10 a.m.-11 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 24; and 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sun day, Sept. 25. For a lineup of music and vendors, visit pensacolaseafoodfestival.com.
DIPLOMACY BEGINS HERE SUMMIT Join Gulf Coast Diplomacy in partnership with Global Ties U.S. and the Office of International Visitors at the U.S. Department of State on Friday, Sept. 23, at Pensacola City Hall and Wahoos Stadium. The focus will be "Local STEAM to Global Inno vation." The event will use a lyceum structure to present several engaging ideas within a short time. Cost is $55. Details at gulfcoastdiplomacy.org.
LEARN TO MACRAME II: MINI PLANT HANGER Learn how to macramé with a special craft class Friday, Sept. 23, at 1 p.m. at Pensacola Library, 239 N. Spring St. Learn how to tie a square knot while creating a mini plant hanger (pot included) to hang your favorite succulent in. For ages 12 and up. Available while supplies last.
WHAT IS "BANNED BOOKS WEEK"? Books Unite Us; Censorship Divides Us. Stop by Pensac ola Library during Banned Books Week to cele
Join photographer Shannon Taggart for a special book signing and artist talk in celebration of her exhibition, Séance on Friday, Sept. 30, at Pen sacola Museum of Art, 407 S. Jefferson St. This program is free and open to the public, though seating may be limited. A PMA members preview is from 5:30-6 p.m., and reception begins at 6 p.m. Visit pensacolamuseum.org for more information.
Keep Pensacola Beautiful's Pieces Adrift Show, featuring made of found or recycled items, will be on view 6-9 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 24 at Studer Community Institute, 220 W. Garden St. Artwork will be auctioned off at the end of the show. Tick ets for the event are $25-$30. For more informa tion, visit keeppensacolabeautiful.org.
PETE KELLY CLOSING EXHIBITION Artist
TION Calling all makers—Maker Faire is a gathering of fascinating, curious people who enjoy learning and love sharing what they can do. From engineers to artists to scientists to crafters, Maker Faire is a venue for these mak ers to show hobbies, experiments and projects. All makers are invited to apply by the deadline,
Learn the cuff down sock Wednesday, Sept. 28, at Studio South Yarn Co., 955 E. Nine Mile Road, Unit 101. Visit studiosouthyarnco.com for details.
Animal Allies will be at Pet Supermarket, 6857 N. Ninth Ave., from 11 a.m.-3 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 17, and Everett Animal Welfare Group will be at PetSmart, North Davis Highway, noon-4 p.m. If you can't adopt, you can find out about opportunities to donate, foster or volunteer. All cats are up to date on shots, and adoption fee includes spay or neuter with microchip. Visit aaflorida.org for details.
PIECES ADRIFT ART SHOW AND AUCTION
BIG FALL BOOK SALE Thousands of books will be available for purchase, plus a variety of DVDs, CDs, puzzles and other items, at the West Florida Public Library Book Sale, located at 239 N. Spring St. Proceeds are used to fund programs and enhancements at West Florida Public Library (WFPL) branches. Friday, Sept. 23, from 3-7 p.m., is the Friends' Advance Sale. Friends of WFPL members get exclusive early access to the Book Sale. Non-members can pay $5 admission to take part in Preview Day. Mem berships can be purchased at the door. The book sale will be open to the public Saturday, Sept. 24, from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. with free admission and half-off Friday's prices. Sunday, Sept. 25, is the $7 bag sale from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Credit cards, cash and check are all welcome as payment. For more information or to become a Friends mem ber, visit friendsofwfpl.org.
PENSACOLA MAKER FAIRE APPLICA
brate Freedom to Read. Learn about the history of book banning and censorship in the United States and check out a "banned book" through Saturday, Sept. 24, at Pensacola Library, 239 N. Spring St.
KITTEN AND CAT ADOPTION EVENT
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KNITTING 201: THE CUFF DOWN SOCK
Sept. 15. For more information, visit pensacola. makerfaire.com.
ARTS & CULTURE
MOVIE NIGHT AT ALGA BEER CO. Visit Alga Beer Co., 2435 N. 12th Ave., every Monday at 7 p.m. for movie night. Follow @movie_night_ at_alga_ on Instagram to find out which movies will be featured each week.
This exhibit looks at the transition of Florida from a Spanish territory to an American region, which formally occurred in 1821. Florida's embattled history dates back much farther than 1821. From refusing independence during the American Revolution to wanting their own freedom in 1810, Florida loved to cause prob lems. The United States eyed the region early on, using the Seminole Wars as an excuse to seize territory before turning to diplomatic means to acquire Florida. The Adams-Onis Treaty, de bated and initially agreed upon in 1819, resulted in Spain ceding control of East Florida to the United States. At the same time, Spain also agreed to give up all claims on West Florida, in essence giving the entire Florida territory over to the United States. Ratified in 1821, the treaty was cause for celebra tion in Pensacola, the capital of West Florida, as it officially became part of America. On view at Pensacola Museum of History through Dec. 23. Visit historicpensacola.org for details.
CELEBRATE! 50 YEARS OF THE GREAT GULF COAST ARTS FESTIVAL
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CAPTURING SHADOWS: EXPLORING THE MAGIC OF CAMERAS
The period between 18111820 is historically defined as the Regency Pe riod. This exhibit at the Pensacola Museum of History looks at a day in the life of a Regencyera Pensacolian through fashion and garment use. Drawing on historical documentation of stores known to have operated on Palafox, inside this recreation of a seamstress shop visitors will be able to explore the dress of yes teryear. On view at the Pensacola Museum of History through June 2023. Visit historicpen sacola.org for details.
TABLE TALKS AT THE TRUST Join the His toric Trust for a monthly lunch and learn series on the third Wednesday of the month at the Voices of Pensacola Multicultural Center, located at 117 E. Government St., from noon-1 p.m. The program is free—just bring your lunch and enjoy a casual opportunity to learn about a variety of topics. For more information, please email hparchives@uwf. edu or call (850) 595-5985, ext. 125. The next date is Oct. 19 with Monica Tapper, who will give a culi nary tour through Alabama history.
LIFE DRAWING GROUP AT ARTEL Artel's life drawing group meets every Monday, except holi days, from 6-9 p.m. in Artel Gallery, 223 S. Palafox. For more information, contact Melvin at (850) 549-8783 or visit artelgallery.org.
TEXTILES OF THE TIMES: REGENCY ERA DRESS MAKING
This exhibit looks at a brief history of the technology behind photog raphy, from the camera obscura used during the Renaissance to modern digital cameras. In this interactive space, visitors will be able to experi ence capturing the magic of light through differ ent means. The gallery also displays a wide array of camera technology from the UWF Historic Trust collection, including rare images from our archives. On view through Dec. 2022.
PENSACOLA ARTS MARKET Enjoy shopping for a variety of handcrafted wares at Pensacola Arts Market Saturdays from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. at 1401 W. Intendencia St. Enjoy art, espresso, vintage goods, baked treats, handcrafted unique gifts and more. Admission is free. For more information, visit facebook.com/pensacolaartsmarket.
GREETINGS FROM PENSACOLA Postcards were one of the ultimate promoters of person, place and thing during the first half of the 20th century. Journey through the development of the postcard and Pensacola's postcard past while becoming acquainted with Curt Teich, the world's most successful postcard publisher. On view through September 2022 at Pensacola Museum of History. Visit historicpensacola.org for details.
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EASY GOING GALLERY ART MARKET Every Sunday, Easy Going Gallery and Carter J Studios present a weekly art market Sundays from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. at Easy Going Gallery, located at 701 N. V St. Enjoy art, espresso, vintage goods, baked treats, handcrafted unique gifts and more. Ven dors can participate for a $20 fee. For more infor mation, contact easygoinggalleryart@gmail.com.
SUDDENLY AMERICAN: A MEETING OF HERITAGE AND COUNTRY
EMA ART PCA is located at the Studer Commu nity Institute, 220 W. Garden St. The next month's movie is "Elvis" with showings at 1 p.m. on Oct. 14 and 15. Classic films are available for free through the PCA website. Visit pensacolacinemaart.com for more information and the latest showtimes.
S. Jefferson, on view through Dec. 4. Visit pen sacolamuseum.org for details.
This exhibit explores the incredible story of the volunteers who keep the festival alive. Through the past five decades, little has made a larger impact on the city than the Great Gulfcoast Arts Festival and those who dedicate their time to ensuring it remains a vibrant affair in the heart of Pensaco la. On view at the Pensacola Museum of History through February 2023.
SÉANCE: PHOTOGRAPHS BY SHANNON TAGGART A collection of photographs that explore the communities and phenomena associ ated with spiritualism, séance circles, mediumship and the devices used for communication with the spirits. On view at Pensacola Museum of Art, 407
WHAT'S SHOWING AT PENSACOLA CIN
GALLERY 1060 JURIED SHOW View works in all media from local artists Sept. 12-Oct. 21 at First City Art's Gallery 1060, 1060 N. Guillemard St. Show will feature work from members and nonmembers. Visit firstcityart.org for details.
p.m. Friday, Sept. 30, at the punk house. Visit face book.com/309punkproject for more information.
CINEMAS IN THE SAND Pack up your beach chairs and a blanket and enjoy family movies on Pensacola Beach this fall. Movies will start at sunset on a giant inflatable screen at the Gulfside Pavilion. Free to the public. Dates are Fridays, Sept. 30 ("Luca"), Oct. 7 ("Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation") and Oct. 14 ("Hocus Pocus").
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MMPA is dedicated to the safety and wellbeing of all students and families and has im plemented protocols based on guidance from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Masks are required for entry into the building and studio. More information about Mixon Magic Performing Arts can be found at mixonmagic.com, by contacting hello@mixon magic.com or emily@mixonmagic.com or by calling (850) 221-7438.
OPEN MIC AT THE GORDON Show off your talents on the second Thursday of every month at The Gordon's Open Mic showcase from 7-10 p.m. Admission is free. The Gordon is located at 306 N. DeVilliers St. Visit thegordon.org for more information.
OPEN MIC COMEDY AT BIG TOP BREWERY
NEW SUMMER CLASSES AT STUDIO SOUTH Studio South Yarn Co. has new sum mer offerings—crochet and knitting classes for all skill levels as well as openings for the exclu sive membership to "Unwind" on Thursdays and Saturdays, and finally, free "Knit in Public" pop ups at various Pensacola locations. Visit studiosouthyarnco.com and follow SSYC @stu diosouthpensacola on Instagram to find out the next sit and knit spot around town.
CLASSES AT MIXON MAGIC PERFORMING ARTS Mixon Magic Performing Arts (MMPA), a boutique performing arts studio located at 1010 N. 12th Ave., Ste. 238, will be offering a limited class schedule this fall. MMPA offers professional dance, fitness and "Mommy and Me" instruction for all ages and skill levels with weekly classes including, but not limited to, Creative Movement, Ballet/Jazz Combo, Broadway, Tap, Showstop pers, Acting and Voice. Classes will be provided for children as young as 2 years old (with a parent or guardian) through adult.
DINNER WITH CHEF RUSTY On Thursday, Sept 22, support the benefit dinner for A Rustyc Spoon at Kingfisher at 1500 Barrancas Ave. with a four-course meal ending with Specialty Affogato or Dulce de Leche coffees. The price is $80 per seat. There will be two seatings at 5 and 7:30 p.m. Visit facebook.com/rustycspoon for details.
PENSACOLA COOKS: EVERYTHING COFFEE Learn to cook and bake with espres so. Class is 6-8 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 22, at Pensacola Cooks, 4051 Barrancas Ave. Cost is $50 per person. Visit facebook.com/pensaco lacooks for details.
CULTURES COOKS: BASIC SUSHI 101
ODDTOBERFEST Celebrate Oktoberfest at Odd Colony, 260 N. Palafox, from noon-8 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 24, with can and draught release, new merch, homemade Bavarian pretzels and stein hoisting competition. Register for the stein hoisting competition by 3 p.m. Winner receives a free pour, special stein and a $50 gift card. Visit facebook.com/oddcolony for details.
SIT AND SPIN Meet other knitters and spin your yarn on the first Saturday of the month at Studio South Yarn Co., 955 E. Nine Mile Road, Unit 101. Visit studiosouthyarnco.com for details.
CLASSES AND WORKSHOPS AT FIRST CITY ART First City Art Center offers a wide range of classes and workshops for artists of all levels. Classes include glass blowing, ceram ics, painting and drawing, kiln-forming, stained glass and more. For a complete list of classes and times, visit firstcityart.org.
SCRIPTEASERS WITH PENSACOLA LIT TLE THEATRE Scripteasers, Studio 400's and Pensacola Little Theatre's Script Reading Club invites you to monthly script readings at PLT, 400 S. Jefferson St. Want to bring your scripts for the group to read and discuss? Contact Pen sacola Little Theatre to get in queue. The group reads prospective scripts for future seasons as well as new scripts that need a table read before the next edit. Not a playwright but love to read out loud? This is your easy, fun theatre night. Fascinated by the play selection process? Sit in for a listen and usually a lot of laughs. Visit facebook.com/pensacolalittletheatre for more information and the latest dates.
FOOD + DRINKS
Learn to make your own sushi. Class is 7-9 p.m. Friday, Sept. 23, at Pensacola Cooks, 4051 Bar rancas Ave. Cost is $50 per person. Visit face book.com/pensacolacooks for details.
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JAZZ AT JACKSON'S Visit Jackson's Steak house, 400 S. Palafox, on Thursday, Sept. 22, for Jazz at Jackson's with vocalist Ellen Vinson accompanied by noted pianist Bobby van Deu sen and three-time Grammy award winning jazz bassist Steve Gilmore. Together they will present a program featuring highlighting the iconic works of Ella Fitzgerald and Frank Sina tra. There are two seatings at 5 and 7:30 p.m. In addition to the full dinner menu, which will be available for the evening, Chef Miller has pre pared a special-feature entrée—Wagyu short rib with cane-roasted butternut squash, beef debris dirty rice and cognac demi-glace. This is a limited-seating event. To reserve your table, call (850) 469-9898.
Try out some new jokes or enjoy some homegrown talent every Monday at 7 p.m. for Open Mic Come dy at Big Top Brewery, located at 21 W. Romano St. Everyone gets five minutes depending on the num ber of sign-ups. Registration begins at 6:30 p.m.
for more listings visit inweekly.net
BODACIOUS WINE DINNER Enjoy a spe cially prepared dinner from Classic City Cater ing paired with wines from Trione Vineyards and Oysters from Oyster Bay Boutique 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 23, at Bodacious, 407-D S. Palafox. Tickets are $175 per person. Visit bodaciouss hops.com to reserve your seat.
17September 22, 2022
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SCORPIO (OCT. 23-NOV. 21): Poet Mary Oliver wrote, "There is within each of us a self that is neither a child, nor a servant of the hours. It is a third self, occasional in some of us, tyrant in others. This self is out of love with the ordinary; it is out of love with time. It has a hunger for eternity." During the coming weeks, Scorpio, I will be cheering for the ascendancy of that self in you. More than usual, you need to commune with fantastic truths and tran scendent joys. To be in maximum alignment with the good fortune that life has prepared for you, you must give your loving attention to the highest and noblest visions of your personal destiny that you can imagine.
GEMINI (MAY 21-JUNE 20): Here's a scenar io that could be both an invigorating metaphor and a literal event. Put on rollerblades. Get out onto a long flat surface. Build up a comfortable speed. Fill your lungs with the elixir of life. Praise the sun and the wind. Sing your favorite songs. Swing your arms all the way forward and all the way back. Forward—power. Backward—power. Glide and coast and flow with sheer joy. Cruise along with confidence in the instinctive skill of your beautiful body. Evaporate thoughts. Free yourself of every concern and every idea. Keep rambling until you feel spacious and vast.
ARIES (MARCH 21-APRIL 19): Even when your courage has a touch of foolhardiness, even when your quest for adventure makes you a bit reckless, you can be resourceful enough to avoid dicey consequences. Maybe more than any other sign of the zodiac, you periodically outfox karma. But in the coming weeks, I will nevertheless counsel you not to barge into situ ations where rash boldness might lead to wrong moves. Please do not flirt with escapades that could turn into chancy gambles. At least for the foreseeable future, I hope you will be prudent and cagey in your quest for interesting and edu cational fun.
CANCER (JUNE 21-JULY 22): I'm getting a psychic vision of you cuddled up in your warm bed, surrounded by stuffed animals and wrapped in soft, thick blankets with images of bunnies and dolphins on them. Your headphones are on, and
your truths as often and as clearly as possible. And do all you can to avoid exposing yourself to trivial and delusional "truths" that are really just opinions or misinformation.
TAURUS (APRIL 20-MAY 20): In 1946, medical professionals in the UK established the Common Cold Unit. Its goal was to discover practical treatments for the familiar viral infec tion known as the cold. Over the next 43 years, until it was shut down, the agency produced just one useful innovation—zinc gluconate lozenges. This treatment reduces the severity and length of a cold if taken within 24 hours of onset. So the results of all that research were modest, but they were also much better than nothing. During the coming weeks, you may ex perience comparable phenomena, Taurus—less spectacular outcomes than you might wish, but still very worthwhile.
free will astrology
THIS WEEK'S HOMEWORK: Fantasize about an adventure you would love to treat yourself to in the spring of 2023. Testify—newsletter.freewil lastrology.com {in}
LEO (JULY 23-AUG. 22): For 15 years, Leo cartoonist Gary Larson created "The Far Side," a hilarious comic strip featuring intelligent talking animals. It was syndicated in more than 1,900 newspapers. But like all of us, he has had fail ures, too. In one of his books, Larson describes the most disappointing event in his life. He was eating a meal in the same dining area as a fa mous cartoonist he admired, Charles Addams, creator of "The Addams Family." Larson felt a strong urge to go over and introduce himself to Addams. But he was too shy and tongue-tied to do so. Don't be like Larson in the coming weeks, dear Leo. Reach out and connect with recep tive people you'd love to communicate with. Make the first move in contacting someone who could be important to you in the future. Be bold in seeking new links and affiliations. Always be respectful, of course.
proud as you teeter charismatically on the fence. Relish the power that comes from be ing in between. 2. Act as vividly congenial and staunchly beautiful as you dare. 3. Experiment with making artful arrangements of pretty much everything you are part of. 4. Flatter oth ers sincerely. Use praise as one of your secret powers. 5. Cultivate an open-minded skepti cism that blends discernment and curiosity. 6. Plot and scheme in behalf of harmony, but never kiss ass.
freewillastrology.com freewillastrology@freewillastrology.comRobBrezsny©Copyright2022 Be bold in seeking new links and affiliations. Always be respectful, of course. Luckily, imminent events are also likely to bring you soulful lessons that make you wiser and wilder. 11 East Romana Street | Pensacola, Fl 32502 genemitchell.org Stock Market Losses? Hire a lawyer who is a former Merril Lynch stock broker.
PISCES (FEB. 19-MARCH 20): In a poem to a lover, Pablo Neruda wrote, "At night I dream that you and I are two plants that grew together, roots entwined." I suspect you Pisceans could have similar deepening and interweaving experiences sometime soon—not only with a lover but with any treasured person or animal you long to be even closer to than you already are. Now is a time to seek more robust and resilient intimacy.
VIRGO (AUG. 23-SEPT. 22): "Love your mis takes and foibles," Virgo astrologer William Se brans advises his fellow Virgos. "They aren't going away. And it's your calling in life—some would say a superpower—to home in on them and finesse them. Why? Because you may be able to fix them or at least improve them with panache—for your benefit and the welfare of those you love." While this counsel is always relevant for you, dear Virgo, it will be especially so in the coming weeks.
AQUARIUS (JAN. 20-FEB. 18): You are an extra authentic Aquarius if people say that you get yourself into the weirdest, most interesting trouble they've ever seen. You are an ultra-genu ine Aquarius if people follow the twists and piv ots of your life as they would a soap opera. And I suspect you will fulfill these potentials to the max in the coming weeks. The upcoming chapter of your life story might be as entertaining as any you have had in years. Luckily, imminent events are also likely to bring you soulful lessons that make you wiser and wilder. I'm excited to see what happens!
LIBRA (SEPT. 23-OCT. 22): Tips for mak ing the most of the next three weeks—1. Be
By Rob Brezsny
the songs pouring into your cozy awareness are silky smooth tonics that rouse sweet memories of all the times you felt most wanted and most at home in the world. I think I see a cup of hot chocolate on your bedstand, too and your fa vorite dessert. Got all that, fellow Cancerian? In the coming days and nights, I suggest you enjoy an abundance of experiences akin to what I've described here.
SAGITTARIUS (NOV. 22-DEC. 21): Tips to get the most out of the next three weeks: 1. Use your imagination to make everything seem fascinating and wonderful. 2. When you give advice to others, be sure to listen to it yourself. 3. Move away from having a rigid conception of yourself and move toward having a fluid fan tasy about yourself. 4. Be the first to laugh at and correct your own mistakes. (It'll give you the credibility to make even better mistakes in the future.) 5. Inspire other people to love be ing themselves and not want to be like you.
CAPRICORN (DEC. 22-JAN. 19): Cap ricorn poet William Stafford wrote, "Saying things you do not have to say weakens your talk. Hearing things you do not need to hear dulls your hearing." Those ideas are always true, of course, but I think it's especially crucial that you heed them in the coming weeks. In my oracular opinion, you need to build your personal power right now. An important way to do that is by being discriminating about what you take in and put out. For best results, speak
WEEK OF SEPTEMBER 22
Syndication Of The Weird Andrews McMeel
stroy our hop garden," which they claim will cost them tens of thousands of dollars. A spokesper son for the city said the incident was the result of "miscommunication and staff error" and "it appeared the lot was overgrown."
•The Summit County (Colorado) Rescue Group was in a helicopter on Sept. 7 looking for a lost hunter, KCNC-TV reported, when they spotted a man waving slowly and casually. The crew radioed that they "had a subject that partially matched the description ... but his backpack was upside down so it was the wrong color," explained the group's Anna Debattiste. "The pilot said, 'He's saying hi, he doesn't seem to be in distress,' so they left," she added. In fact, it was the missing hunter, and in a classic case of blame-the-victim, Debattiste said he "should have" waved aggressively with both arms overhead, or waved "a brightly colored piece of clothing." Thankfully, the crew went back and retrieved the man, who was cold and dehydrat ed but otherwise unharmed.
WHAT'S IN A NAME? Al Pacino, admittedly, has committed a whole lifetime of crimes on the screen. Now, Alpatchino Jeune, 25, is following in his footsteps in real life, The Smoking Gun reported. Jeune was arrested in early June for beating up his pregnant girlfriend, who was driv ing him to work. She told police she asked him to "think of his unborn child," but he went on hitting her—so she jumped out of the car and ran to an emergency room across the street. When Jeune didn't show up for his Sept. 1 court date, he was arrested again in Orlando, Florida, and his bond was revoked.
OOPS In a "my bad" for the ages, the City of Philadelphia erroneously chopped down 60 pounds of hops that belonged to the Philadel phia Brewing Co., Fox29-TV reported. "Despite our clear signage and fenced-off area," the company wrote on its Instagram page, "the city ... took it upon themselves to completely de
By the Editors at Andrews McMeel
Send your weird news items to WeirdNewsTips@amuniversal.comFromAndrewsMcMeel
GEOGRAPHY IS HARD The recently renamed Washington Commanders are, understand ably, trying to drum up excitement for their new brand, but one effort went disappointingly wrong, Yahoo! Sports reported. In Week 1 of the NFL season, an official gear truck just outside the stadium, which is located in Maryland, fea tured a mug with a big "W" on it and a silhou ette of Washington state in the background. Of course, the Commanders' Washington is the District of Columbia variety. The mugs were quickly removed from the inventory.
CREME DE LA WEIRD Ranjita Kundu of Ko dameta, India, has accused her husband of stealing and selling one of her kidneys four years ago, Oddity Central reported. Kundu recently discovered after visiting the doctor that she has only one kidney; she believes that when she was treated for kidney stones four years ago, her husband secretly arranged for one of her kid neys to be removed and sold on the black mar ket. "I was unaware of the whole incident," she said. She even knows who he sold it to: Asim Haldar, who also lives in her district. Kundu and her husband were married for 12 years before he took off with another woman eight months ago. Kundu said with help from his sister, he sold the organ to make up for dowry money he believed he was owed. Police have taken him into cus tody and are investigating.
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FLORIDA Officials in Miami Beach, Florida, are weighing their options for dealing with the seri ous problem of invasive iguanas, Local 10 News reported. The city has quadrupled its budget for iguana removal and paid a hunter to shoot and collect the pesky and destructive reptiles. On Sept. 14, city commissioner Kristen Rosen Gon zalez suggested a bounty. "I don't know—dead or alive. But if we pay per iguana, we're going to get more iguanas. People are going to go out and hunt them for money," she said. A commit tee has been formed.
WEAPON OF CHOICE Pennsylvania State Police were called to a home in Monroe Township on Aug. 24 where a fight had taken place, WTAJ-TV reported. One of the combatants told officers that 35-year-old Brandon Shoop of Berkeley Springs, West Virginia, had punched him after a disagree ment about food. Next, he said, Shoop picked up a half of a cinder block and swung it at the victim's head; he was able to partially duck, but the hit left a contusion behind his ear. Shoop then tried to strangle the victim but was pulled off by a female witness; he was later charged with, among other crimes, aggravated assault.
NEWS YOU CAN USE Residents of the city of SeaTac, Washington, are on high alert about a "very aggressive" owl at North SeaTac Park, KIROTV reported. The bird, likely a barred or great horned owl, hasn't injured anyone—yet—but of ficials say people visiting the park should "wave (their) arms slowly overhead to keep the birds at a distance. Other protective actions include wearing a hat or helmet, or carrying an umbrella." Chase Gunnell with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife also noted that owls will typi cally hoot repeatedly before attacking. {in}
19September 22, 2022
BRIGHT IDEA An outgoing state representa tive from Pennsylvania who earned a DUI arrest after a crash in June has proposed a bill that would allow residents to register for a self-im posed ban on alcohol purchases, Action 4 News reported. Matthew Dowling said the law would add "another tool to an addict or alcoholic's arsenal to help them live through recovery." He doesn't expect the measure to pass before he leaves office, he said, but hopes his colleagues will move it through in the future.
Independent News | September 22, 2022 | inweekly.net
