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309, A HOUSE WELL-LIVED Independent News | September 30, 2021 | Volume 22 | Number 39
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winners & losers
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winners & losers
Herman Rolfs / Courtesy of UWF
winners DR. HERMAN AND VALERIE ROLFS The University of West Florida received a historic gift from the late Dr. Herman and Valerie Rolfs through their estate. The total value of the donation is over $8.5 million. The gift, which created the Dr. Grier Williams School of Music and included an Imperial Bösendorfer piano, will provide significant scholarships and resources for music students annually. PUBLIX SUPER MARKETS CHARITIES
The charity awarded a $15,000 grant to Manna Food Bank to support its programs and partnerships in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties. The grant will fund the equivalent of 9,000 healthy meals that will be distributed to children, seniors and families in Northwest Florida. Over the past four years, the organization has donated more than $17 million to hungerrelated programs throughout the nation.
HOME BUILDERS OF WEST FLORIDA
There is something special about Pensacola in the Fall. The crisp blue skies, white sandy beaches, coastal breezes, and the cool—yet not cold—evening strolls through our historic downtown area. But maybe, it’s all of that plus the amazing arts, cultural, culinary, historical, and environmental experiences one can enjoy. All you have to do is get here and Discover it All.
The winners of the Home Builders Association of West Florida's Tradesmen Education Council Construction Scholarship for 2021-2022 have been announced—Tylen Sorrells of Jay, Colton Hayes of Milton, Gavin Brandt of Pace, and Ja'Marcus Wilkerson of Pensacola each received $1,500. These young men will continue to develop their skills in the fields of plumbing, electricity, HVAC and general construction while completing a degree at their chosen accredited college, university or vocational/technical school.
PENSACOLA RUNNERS ASSOCIATION
The Northview High School track team has received a $5,548 donation from the Pensacola Runners Association to purchase a new high jump pit that has been needed for years. Coach Douglas Godwin told NorthEscambia.com, "I would like to say thank you, on behalf of our track program and Northview High School, to the Pensacola Runners Association because it is programs like theirs that help out high school athletic teams when there is a need."
GREATER PENSACOLA CHAMBER Gov.
Ron DeSantis announced that the Northwest Florida region would receive more than $800,000 in state grant funding in support of military communities and bases in our area. The Greater Pensacola Chamber was awarded $90,000, which will be used to fund activities under the West Florida Defense Alliance.
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Matt Gaetz / Courtesy Photo (gaetz.house.gov)
losers MATT GAETZ Federal Election Commission unanimously rejected the congressman's complaint that Twitter had blocked him in 2018 from appearing in its interactive news coverage feeds and effectively making an in-kind contribution to his political opponents. Twitter maintained any disturbance in Gaetz's reach was short-lived and caused by an algorithm that closely aligned Gaetz with nationalist and supremacist bodies the platform was trying to limit. In 2018, Gaetz won a Republican primary with almost 65% of the vote and won 67% in a general election. Today, he has 1.1 million Twitter followers. FLORIDA ELECTION AUDIT Florida's 2020 election results may be audited if Naples businessman Alfie Oakes gets an audience with Gov. Ron DeSantis and convinces him that the state had election fraud. Oakes, a state GOP committee member, told conservative outlets that he would donate $100,000 to DeSantis' reelection if the governor meets with him about auditing the 2020 election. He said he wants the audit to prove in the 2020 election, nearly a million votes were stolen in Florida. Former President Donald Trump won by more than 370,000 votes. A state lawmaker, Rep. Anthony Sabatini, has filed a bill for an audit, but House leadership and the governor's office have shown little enthusiasm for the legislation. The governor's spokesperson said she was unaware of any campaign for DeSantis to meet with Oakes about an election audit. REQUIRING MORE VOTES Constitutional amendments have been an avenue for Florida voters to directly impact state laws when the governor and state lawmakers ignore their wishes. Rep. Rick Roth, R-West Palm Beach, wants to make passages of proposed constitutional amendments more difficult by upping the requirement to two-thirds of the voter from the current 60%. The proposal is filed for consideration during the 2022 legislative session, which will start in January. Roth also proposed the change during the 2021 session and got approval from two committees, but the full House did not take it up. If the Legislature passes the measure, it will go on the November 2022 ballot because it would require voter approval. inweekly.net
outtakes By Rick Outzen
Practicing Since 1974 INJURED? (ALL TYPES OF ACCIDENTS)
NO FEAR HERE Last week, Gov. Ron DeSantis introduced Florida's new surgeon general, Dr. Joseph Ladapo, a UCLA heart specialist who proclaimed, "We're done with fear. That's been something that unfortunately has been a centerpiece of health policy in the United States ever since the beginning of the pandemic, and it's over here." Sounds impressive, right? Everybody wants fear to be over, but the question is, what fear? Fear of the COVID-19 vaccination? Unfortunately, that wasn't what Ladapo meant. The heart specialist—who recently joined the University of Florida medical school staff before getting his new gig—insinuated that those who are vaccinated and have supported the CDC guidelines, expanded COVID-19 testing and are getting the Moderna, Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson vaccines did it out of fear. The radical right has always used fear to motivate its followers—just listen to the ads run on their media outlets. We need to buy gold because the dollar is tanking, order boxes of non-perishable food for the pending food shortage and buy more guns and ammunition because the Democrats will take our guns. During President Barrack Obama's two terms, Americans purchased more than $45.7 billion in firearms and ammunition—more than twice the purchases made during the administrations of Bill Clinton and George W. Bush combined. Fear of the COVID vaccination has driven the sales of several alternative—and some fraudulent—"cures," including "Virus Shut Out Protection" pendants that were supposed to ward off the virus. Preacher Jim Bakker sold on his show a colloidal silver solution that he said could be used to treat COVID-19. The Food and Drug Administration sent a warning letter to radio host Alex Jones ordering him to stop falsely claiming that toothpaste, mouthwash and other products sponsored by his show could help prevent COVID-19. MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell touted oleandrin as COVID-19 treatment. CNN reported that oleandrin has been developed to treat cancer but hasn't been approved in our country. Both oleandrin and the plant from
which it is derived are toxic to humans and animals. The consumption of one oleander leaf can kill an adult. The drug ivermectin is an animal medication used to treat parasitic infections. Despite the American Medical Association, American Pharmacists Association and American Society of Health-System Pharmacists strongly opposing the ordering, prescribing or dispensing of ivermectin to prevent or treat COVID-19, we have a national shortage of the drug. Health departments in Florida, Alabama and Mississippi have had to issue warnings after rising calls to poison control centers from individuals with potential ivermectin exposure. The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America recently issued a warning against the use of hydrogen peroxide in a nebulizer as a COVID-19 treatment—"This is dangerous!" A nebulizer is a breathing device used to treat asthma. It turns liquid asthma medicine into a mist. The foundation warned the hydrogen peroxide mixture is harmful to the lungs. Fear has driven the popularity of all these unproven, and some wacky, COVID-19 treatments. Meanwhile, local hospital leaders have told us that the vast majority of people treated for COVID-19 in their facilities recently have been unvaccinated. From July 1-Sept. 7, Baptist Health Care reported 695 COVID-19 patient administrations, and 564 of them were unvaccinated or partially vaccinated, 81%. The unvaccinated and partially vaccinated accounted for 85% of the COVID-19 patients in the ICU and 94% of those on ventilators. I got vaccinated to lessen my chances of getting the coronavirus—not out of fear, but because it was a wise medical decision. I wanted our community to return to normal and prevent the spread of this horrible virus and its variants that have killed over 53,380 Floridians as of Friday, Sept. 24. I did it to save the lives of those who aren't vaccinated, including my newborn grandchild. Ladapo needs to focus his "done with fear" mantra on the unvaccinated. The vaccinated are fine. {in} rick@inweekly.net
Fear has driven the popularity of all these unproven, and some wacky, COVID-19 treatments.
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BYE, BYE FSA served as president of the Escambia County PTA and on the Florida PTA Board, told Inweekly she was very excited to hear of the governor's proposal. "We all know that that testing is so outdated, and it's not a good environment to have our children in—to teach them to be tested," said Salzman. "I would always advocate against that. The biggest part for me was tying the grades to the teacher bonuses and the schools." She continued, "I understand how the Title I funding really should be based off of need and to reach those children that really do need the extra help. But that testing, man, was a nightmare, and my kids would get anxiety over it. It's put into their heads every day you've got to pass this test, and that's just the pressure that the state was putting on the school districts that we're putting on the schools and then, of course, the teacher and the students. So I'm really looking forward to this new testing structure." Dr. Evans agreed with Salzman. He told Inweekly, "There was a tremendous amount of time taken up with the FSA with schools preparing for the FSA and, in some cases, people trying to anticipate questions and train students around that, but that's really just an impossible task given that there are literally thousands of questions that potentially could be on the FSA." He continued, "And so you were forced into a position that if you did that, you were prepared for a test like that you were more likely to be wrong than right."
to the test. FCAT drill sessions were held before, after and during school. A.A. Dixon, Spencer-Bibbs and Century schools were closed. Other closures of low-performing schools followed under Paul's successor, Malcolm Thomas—Hallmark Elementary and Allie Yniestra Elementary. The vouchers were struck down by the Florida Supreme Court in 2006 and were replaced by the Florida Tax Credit Scholarship Program, which allows students to attend private school with the help of publicly funded tax credits. Dee Dee Davis was elected to the Florida House that same year Bush won his election. A Florida Teacher of the Year and executive director of the Santa Rosa Education Foundation, Davis felt Bush's education initiatives were misguided and would hurt public education. "The vouchers, at first, don't sound too bad," Davis told Inweekly. "Your child is in a school. The school doesn't seem to be doing too well. Let's give your child a chance to go to another school. You're implying that something's wrong with the school instead of putting the responsibility maybe where it belongs, and that's on families." She continued, "All kids aren't ready to start school in the same place at the same time. That system wasn't about saving a poor child who needed to get out of a bad school. That system was in place to basically dismantle public education. I've always felt very, very strongly that we're not all created equally. The only chance you've got of leveling the playing field is a public school system and a strong one." Davis said instead of tackling the real issues in public schools, the students in failing schools were given vouchers to leave. She added, "And guess what? The kids didn't have to get tested in the private schools. Public taxpayers' dollars were siphoned off the public school system, put into the private schools, where they didn't have the same standard. It just didn't make sense at all." Davis, who is now the CEO of NAI Pensacola, is optimistic about DeSantis' move away from the year-end tests. "I think this is a real gutsy move by Gov. DeSantis because it's a very bipartisan effort," she said. "The devil will be in the details because, conceptually, we have a new system that is going to go in place. The legislature is going to have to work out the details, and so here we go again." She continued, "You've got to be able to monitor progress, and that's hopefully what this is going to do under Gov. DeSantis. I just am thrilled to see that something in this crazy world right now can be so bipartisan. I am hopeful that this can continue." {in}
"We all know that that testing is so outdated, and it's not a good environment to have our children in—to teach them to be tested." Michelle Salzman
By Rick Outzen In mid-September, Gov. Ron DeSantis shocked the public education world, backing away from a Republican tenet that has been part of every Florida administration since Jeb Bush—standardized testing at the end of the school year to measure student, teacher and school performance. Over the past two decades, states have followed Florida's lead and adopted some testing system to measure student progress and school performance. Gov. DeSantis flipped the Republican script on school measurement and accountability when he announced a legislative proposal to eliminate the Florida Statewide Assessment (FSA) and create the new Florida Assessment of Student Thinking (F.A.S.T.) plan to monitor student progress. If passed by state lawmakers, the move would make Florida the first state to fully implement progress monitoring instead of end-of-year standardized testing. He tied the bold initiative to getting rid of Common Core, a set of education standards that had long been targeted by the most conservative element of the GOP. Political observers have blamed the failure of Jeb Bush's 2016 presidential campaign partially on his support of Common Core. "Florida's education focus should be students' growth and how we restore the conversation between parents and teachers in support of students' growth," said DeSantis at a press conference held at High Point Elementary in Clearwater. "In 66
this final step to eradicate Common Core from our assessments, our administration is implementing the lessons learned from progress monitoring both during the state's recovery and from our districts and schools that were already showing how we can better support students reaching their own unique growth goals." The details will be worked out with the Florida Legislature and the state's Department of Education, but the governor's office said the new plan would minimize the stress of the year-end testing to three much shorter tests in the fall, winter and spring. The progress tests will inform students, teachers and parents about students' growth rather than a single lengthy end-of-year assessment that halts learning and leaves zero improvement opportunities. The testing time will be reduced by an average of 75% through progress monitoring, increasing time for teaching and providing more timely, usable feedback to help students reach their unique goals. Dr. Bill Evans, chair of the University of West Florida's Department of Teacher Education and Leadership, pointed out to Inweekly the flaw in the assessments done at the end of the school year. "You get a one-point-in-time look with the FSA at the student achievement," said Evan. "But it doesn't show you the direction of growth or the amount of growth or something that the teacher can do to change the conditions." State Rep. Michelle Salzman, who once
BUSH BRAINCHILD
The year-end assessment tests began in 1999 when newly elected Gov. Bush pushed through the Florida Legislature his Opportunity Scholarship Program, a voucher program that allowed state funds to pay tuition at private schools. However, he needed a reason to offer the vouchers, so his team came up with the Florida Comprehensive Accountability Test (FCAT) that graded schools and districts. If a school received an "F" grade, its students qualified for vouchers. The first year, Escambia County had the only two failing schools in the state, A.A. Dixon Elementary and Spencer-Bibbs Elementary. The following year, Century Elementary, Oakcrest Elementary and C.A. Weis Elementary failed. The Escambia County School District became known as one of the lowest-performing districts in the state, and Republican Jim Paul handily defeated incumbent School Superintendent Jim May in 2000. With so much riding on the tests, administrators pressured teachers to teach
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Emerging Business of the Year
This award is open to businesses who started in the last two years and have had success introducing their product or service. Businesses recognized in this category are run by great leadership, show a promising vision for the future, and have created a mission statement that aligns with their core values.
Medium/Large Business of the Year
This award is open to businesses who have more than 50 employees that have been adaptable to change over the past year, have displayed economic growth, and provide opportunities for their employees to improve their skills in an ever-changing environment.
Non-Profit of the Year
This award recognizes a nonprofit organization that shows dedication for improving the quality of life in the community through volunteering, partnerships, or fundraising. Winners will be able to share how they have effectively used these skills to further their mission and improve the community.
Veteran-Owned Business of the Year
This award recognizes a veteran-owned small business that has attained outstanding business achievement while showing social responsibility, creativity, and leadership; all to improve and grow the community.
This award is open to businesses who have less than ten employees and operate efficiently with a small team while positively impacting the local economy. Businesses considered for this award can clearly explain what makes their product or service unique, how they measure success and what opportunities they provide their employees.
Employer of the Year
This award is for businesses with an outstanding and supportive work environment with a focus on great training programs, an understanding of work-life balance, and career progression. Employers recognized in this category inspire and motivate their growing, diverse staff with equal opportunity programs.
This award is open to businesses who have less than 50 employees that focus on employee inclusion, community involvement and innovation in their business practices. Businesses considered for this award can clearly explain what makes their product or service unique, how they measure success and what opportunities they provide their employees.
Entrepreneur of the Year
This award recognizes an entrepreneur who has a creative product or service that solves a problem in the marketplace. They are highly ambitious, serve as community leaders, and work to improve the quality of life for others through either employment or serving others.
Minority-Owned Business of the Year Female-Owned Business of the Year This award recognizes a minority-owned small business that has attained outstanding business achievement while showing social responsibility, creativity, and leadership; all to improve and grow the community.
This award recognizes a women-owned small business that has attained outstanding business achievement while showing social responsibility, creativity, and leadership; all to improve and grow the community.
Young Entrepreneur of the Year
This award recognizes a small business owner who has successfully launched and grown their business before the age of 30. This person demonstrates an entrepreneurial spirit by applying business knowledge, growth potential and success in the operation of their business. They also prove to be a great example to other young individuals.
The John Myslak Award for Servant Leadership
This award is given to a leader who enriches the lives of others, builds better organizations, and ultimately helps create a more just and caring world. That is what our friend and colleague John Myslak did in our community, and we honor his memory by recognizing others who live their lives as fully as he did.
BUSINESS
Small Business of the Year
Micro-Business of the Year
Smart Business of the Year
This award recognizes a business that has used advanced or cutting-edge technology to advance their business or make a difference in their industry in response to challenges due to COVID-19.
Community Vibrancy Award
So many of our communities, organizations, small businesses, nonprofits, and individuals are doing amazing things to make our communities better and to help create vibrancy. They have shown us they are resourceful, inventive, and really creative. Do you have a story to tell? If you know of a group or individual who is making life better for others in the community, we want to hear about it. Send in your bright ideas and success stories of what’s working – regardless of the size of the program.
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WATERSHED PROJECTS FUNDED By Jeremy Morrison The raw oysters, laid out in half-shells over ice, were more than delicious—They were symbolic. Symbolism on Saltines smothered in hot sauce. A couple of days into autumn, with the tease of a chill in the air, a gathering of folks enjoyed their raw oysters on the front lawn of the Studer Community Institute in downtown Pensacola. These folks were keenly aware of the oyster's value as an environmental symbol—the bi-valves are renowned as natural filters, able to clean impurities from the water—as they were all there to hear about the Pensacola & Perdido Bays Estuaries Program (PPBEP). More specifically, these people were there to learn what projects and organizations would receive a slice of the estuaries program's next round of grants. Totaling $250,000, the grant awards aim to further efforts to restore or preserve local waterways and inform and connect the community to the Pensacola Bay watershed. The estuary program's Sept. 23 grant symposium was among a string of community events—including paddling trips and a sunset oyster cruise—meant to draw attention to and celebrate watershed restoration. It was, after all, National Estuaries Week. Logan McDonald, the community outreach coordinator for the estuaries program, said that the organization saw a reassuring response that the public was taking an interest in the health of local waterways, as all the week's offerings hit their respective capacity caps. "It brings the Estuary Program great joy to see so many people celebrating National Estuaries Week," McDonald said, "because it is ultimately the people that experience and love our estuaries that are the key to protecting and restoring them." This engagement also excites Donald Killorn, the estuaries program executive director. He knows that engagement and enthusiasm
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are essential to the organization's mission of watershed restoration and awareness. "The more engagement we have from the community," Killorn said, "the faster we can do our work."
AND THE WINNERS ARE
The Pensacola & Perdido Bays Estuaries Program is a relatively new player on the local environmental horizon. It represents a collective of local governments—Pensacola, Escambia, Santa Rosa and Okaloosa counties, Gulf Breeze, Milton and Century, as well as Baldwin County and Orange Beach in Alabama—and is focused on the health of the region's waterways and coastal communities. An incarnation of the former Bay Area Resource Council, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency established the organization in 2018, which receives funding from the penalties stemming from the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. Last year, the estuary program issued its initial round of funding, and now a second class of award recipients has been given the green light to get started on their environmental projects. In total, the estuary program is awarding $250,000 this year, the bulk of which was announced during the grant symposium, but a remaining $50,000 to be awarded at a later date. The eight grants awarded for the 20212022 round of funding ranged from the maximum of $50,000 down to just more than $10,000. The largest grant awards this year went to projects that are continuations of previous or ongoing efforts. All projects must be completed by May 2022. The EscaRosa OysterCorps, a project put forth by the organization Franklin's Promise Coalition, Conservation Corps of the Forgotten and Emerald Coasts, was awarded $49,999. This project continues the work begun by Santa Rosa County to collect oyster shells throughout the region and use them as substrate in implementing shoreline restoration projects. The project is designed
to protect shorelines from erosion, as well as creating a habitat for sensitive species and improving water quality. With an award of $49,830, the Institute for Human and Machine Cognition will continue work on its Citizen Science Water Quality and Habitat Monitoring Network: Community Deployment and Network Sustainability project. The initial efforts on this project were funded by PPBEP last year and are geared toward inviting the public to act as citizen scientists, monitoring the water quality and general health of Bayou Texar and the Pensacola Bay watershed. These new funds will be used to implement the program, which will feature a working software ecosystem to be used by these citizen scientists. The Town of Century received $45,210 for its Fischer Landing Master Plan Study. Focused on the 5-acre park in Century on the Escambia River, the project involves upgrading a master plan and installing educational signage concerning watersheds, floodplains, natural habitats and sedimentation. This project also includes an ecological inventory and sedimentation study aimed at reducing sediment loading in the upper reaches of the Escambia River. The University of West Florida intends to study the relationship between society and the environment, using its $43, 461 grant to fund a project entitled Historical Ecology of Pensacola and Perdido Bays: Using the Past to Protect the Future of Our Bays. This project will strive to assess the historical coverage of wetlands, oyster beds and other key habitats in the watershed and what impact society has had on these ecosystems over time. Rounding out the remaining recipients were a handful of smaller grant awards. The Santa Rosa County Watershed Awareness Signage and Stormwater Drain Marking Project, a project put forth by Santa Rosa County and aimed at replacing signage originally installed in 2008, was awarded $16,573. The Pensacola MESS Hall was awarded
$11,627 for an estuary exhibit project designed to act as a hands-on discovery for visitors to the exploratory center to educate them about issues surrounding the local watershed. And the Perdido Key Coastal Demonstration Garden, also a project from Escambia County Natural Resources, was awarded $10,450 to install a garden area near the Perdido Key Community Center, which will include a bike repair station and educational signage about local threatened and endangered species.
REFLECTIONS ON WATER
In addition to unveiling this year's grant recipients, the PPBEP's symposium served as an opportunity for last year's award winners to summarize their environmental efforts. These previous projects included a training program for local marine contractors interested in learning how to construct living shorelines, fish population assessments and water quality monitoring programs in local bayous, and an inventory of microplastics in local waterways, as well as projects aimed at educating the community about the issue of estuary health, such as one that produced a documentary exploring the local watershed. Reflecting on the work done over the past year, Killorn noted how he was struck by the interconnectedness conveyed through the collective projects. "There were threads that ran through projects that I didn't realize," he said. Looking ahead, the estuary program will be focused on drafting a comprehensive management plan, which will serve as a blueprint for watershed restoration efforts. The plan—developed over the course of meetings and workshops—will be available for public consumption sometime in 2022. For people interested in getting involved with PPBEP efforts, the next opportunity will be during a clean-up and litter-boom installation slated for Oct. 9 at Pond Creek at Mayo Park. To get involved or learn more about the estuary program's past or current efforts, visit ppbep.org. {in}
inweekly.net
September 30, 2021
9
GREENHOUSE GAS REPORT Pensacola's
long-awaited environmental assessment has arrived. Last week, the city unveiled its baseline greenhouse gas emissions results, essentially establishing a municipal carbon footprint and becoming the first city between New Orleans and Tallahassee to do it. The assessment measures carbon output stemming from municipal facilities, public streetlights and traffic signals, as well as the city's various vehicle fleets. It did not measure energy usage associated with employee commutes or travel, solid waste generated from government activities, energy usage by contractors or life-cycle emissions associated with various city activities and supplies. According to the assessment, Pensacola produces an annual total of 18,340.7 MTCO2e, or Metric Ton of Carbon Dioxide equivalent, a standard unit of measurement of greenhouse gas emissions. For some context, in 2016, New York City's municipal carbon footprint was 2.71 million MTCO2e, and in 2020, the city of Bend, Ore., reported a greenhouse gas emissions inventory registering 11,223 MTCO2e. According to Pensacola's greenhouse gas assessment, the city's most significant 010 1
source of energy usage lies in its facilities' operations. Running municipal buildings and other facilities produces a 10,154.06 MTCO2e and accounts for a whopping 54% of the city's total energy usage. Next in line, accounting for 24% of the city's usage, are municipal on-road vehicle fleets. Street and traffic lighting account for 10% of the city's energy usage. From there, the slices of the energy-usage pie become exponentially smaller, with agriculture-related activities accounting for 2%, trailed by water and irrigation and lighting for parks, garages and ballfields, both of which are less than 0.25%. Other unspecified municipal activities collectively account for 8% of the city's usage. To reduce Pensacola's greenhouse gas emissions, the baseline assessment report includes a few recommendations to lower energy consumption and costs while helping the city reach its goal of producing 30% of its energy via renewable means by 2030. The first recommendation involves transitioning city vehicle fleets from gaspowered to electric vehicles where applicable. Increasing energy efficiency within city facilities by retrofitting buildings with environmentally friendly upgrades, such
as LED lighting, is also advised. Finally, employing renewable energy when feasible, such as installing solar power installations on city buildings, is also recommended. Following Sustainability Coordinator Mark Jackson's brief overview of the city's energy assessment report, city council members keyed in on a couple of issues, most notably the absence in the report of municipal contractors' energy usage. Councilwoman Sherri Myers pointed out that much of municipal work, such as landscaping, is performed by outside contractors. She wondered, "What percentage of our public lands are being maintained by private contractors, and what can we put in contracts to ensure this issue is being addressed?" Mayor Grover Robinson noted that switching to greener vehicles wouldn't always be possible due to availability, capability or contract logistics. He said, "I don't know if every vehicle we can get can be an electric vehicle or a natural gas vehicle." Pensacola Police Chief Eric Randall addressed the likelihood of transitioning the Pensacola Police Department vehicle fleet to electric. Like many environmentally friendly investments, the chief also cautioned about an up-front "initial stickershock price." "That presents a challenge, fully electric. So what you see now is a hybrid electric with the Ford Interceptor. That can work and has worked in several police fleets from where I came from had several hybrid electrics," Randall said. "But what you see in the beginning is a substantial increase in initial costs, so your cost-savings are not in the beginning; your cost-savings is five, six, seven years down the road," To view Pensacola's Baseline GHC Inventory report, visit bit.ly/3CE8tQa.
SCIENCE VS. FREEDOM? During the Es-
cambia County School District Board meeting, the on-campus mask debate continued Tuesday, Sept. 21. The public discussion adhered to fairly well-established ground. Proponents of a mask order cited that Escambia has ceased its remote-learning option, and kids under 12 years old can't receive vaccines yet. Meanwhile, opponents leaned into the concept of individual choice and offered up Bible verses and advised those sick with COVID to try ivermectin, a drug used to treat parasites in animals that has been disproven as a coronavirus treatment. Masks are not required in Escambia's schools as a safety measure meant to limit the community spread of COVID-19 this year, and school board members have given no indication they are inclined to begin requiring such. At the state level, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has threatened to cut funding of any school district that requires students,
teachers or staff to wear masks, though some districts have ignored the governor and pushed this issue into the courts. Aaron Schneider thanked school board members for foregoing any mask order— "We've been holding off while the rest of the country has been going bananas." "You've kept this up for two years, and we appreciate you not bowing down to loud voices, to sentimentalism," Schneider said. He framed the issue as a personal choice. He also questioned the coronavirus's impact on schools. "I'm never hearing of any children in Escambia County dying of COVID." "We're adults; we can tell our kids whether to wear a mask or not because we care about them," he said. "And we care about them more than the school does." Several speakers would later reference Victoria Ramirez, a 15-year-old Booker T. Washington High School student who died of COVID. Speaking in favor of a district mask mandate, they told board members that it was their responsibility to protect students and staff, as well as the wider community, from the impacts of COVID. "I implore this board to look at the science, not the politics," said Walter Arrington, a graduate student at the University of West Florida, in favor of requiring masks in schools. Arrington pointed to the U.S. Center for Disease Control guidelines and the bevy of safety measures that Escambia has ditched this school year. He nodded toward the notion of personal choice but said the district needed to protect students and staff based on the available data and science. "While I respect somebody's deeply held belief, and their belief on whether science is real or not, that's on them," said Arrington. "But what they can't do is put someone else's child at risk." Doctors also spoke, urging board members to require masks to limit the spread of the coronavirus, as did Rebekah Jones— the former state COVID-19 data scientist who's currently eyeing Rep. Matt Gaetz's congressional seat—who read out a list of students and teachers who have died from the coronavirus. Several high school students asked for a mask mandate. Among them was Caroline Callahan, who started an online change.org petition pushing for the district to reinstate a mask mandate for its schools following the COVID death of Ramirez. She pointed out that although the pandemic rages, last year's safety measures have been scuttled. "And yet we are now crammed into these packed high school hallways without masks," Callahan said. "I urge you to stop playing politics and do what is right for the safety of the students in this district." After nearly three hours of public cominweekly.net
ments, both opposing and favoring a mask requirement in local schools, the school board moved on to more routine business without further comment on the issue.
MORE COVID CHANGES Two days after
the board meeting, the school district announced it further relaxed its COVID safety protocols to comply with the directive from Dr. Joseph A. Ladapo, the new Florida State Surgeon General, to place decisions regarding quarantining asymptomatic students in the hands of parents. Under the ruling, parents and guardians have expanded choices relative to the quarantine of their children. Students exposed to a COVID-19-positive case and who are asymptomatic will no longer be required to quarantine. If a parent wishes to send their asymptomatic child to school, no other action is necessary for the parent or guardian. Parents, however, still have the right to quarantine their asymptomatic student who has been deemed exposed to a COVID-19-positive case for up to seven days from the date of exposure. To ensure the accuracy of attendance reporting, the parent or guardian must notify the school of the decision to keep the child home upon learning of the exposure to a COVID19-positive case.
"This new directive has altered district, as well as parental, protocols. This ever-evolving situation will continue to be a work in progress." Timothy Smith "This new directive has altered district, as well as parental, protocols," stated Superintendent Timothy A. Smith. "This ever-evolving situation will continue to be a work in progress. We ask that our parents and the community
September 30, 2021
continue to work with district personnel as we navigate these new directives." Symptomatic students or students who have been deemed COVID-19 positive may return to school after: •receiving a negative COVID-19 test result and remaining asymptomatic or •10 days have passed since symptoms began or positive test result and have had no fever for 24 hours or •receiving written permission from a medical doctor licensed under chapter 458, an osteopathic physician licensed under chapter 459 or an advanced registered nurse practitioner licensed under chapter 464. The district will continue to keep records of contact tracing, adhere to enhanced cleaning and sanitizing protocols, and encourage social distancing, where feasible.
NOT UP YOUR NOSE Last week, the
Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America posted a warning on its blog against a coronavirus treatment circulating on social media, leading some people to post videos of themselves breathing in hydrogen peroxide through a nebulizer. The therapy will neither treat nor prevent the virus and is harmful to the lungs. "DO NOT put hydrogen peroxide into your nebulizer and breathe it in," wrote the foundation. "This is dangerous! It is not a way to prevent nor treat COVID-19. Visit aafa.org/covid19 for information about asthma, allergies and COVID-19." The post continued, "A nebulizer is a 'breathing machine' used to treat asthma. It turns liquid asthma medicine into a mist. You then breathe in the medicine through a mask or mouthpiece. Only use asthma medicine prescribed by your doctor in your nebulizer. Other chemicals can be harmful to your lungs."
U.S. ATTORNEY FINALISTS The Federal Judicial Nominating Conference for the Northern District of Florida has released its
list of four finalists to be the U.S. Attorney for our area—Winifred Acosta, Rod Smith, Argatha Gilmore and Silvester Dawson. Acosta is an assistant U.S. attorney in the Northern District of Florida's Tallahassee office. She was the first African American woman appointed assistant state attorney in the Third Circuit, the first African American assistant statewide prosecutor in the Jacksonville Division and the first African American woman appointed assistant U.S. attorney in the Northern District's Tallahassee office. Smith is a former state attorney and state senator. He ran for the Democratic nomination for governor of Florida in the 2006 election but lost to Congressman Jim Davis. In 2010, Smith was the Democratic nominee for lieutenant governor of Florida as the running mate of Alex Sink in her campaign for governor. From November 2010-January 2013, he served as chairman of the Florida Democratic Party. Gilmore has been the Lake City Police Chief since Sept. 28, 2009, after retiring from the Tallahassee Police Department with 25 years of service. Dawson is the Florida Supreme Court Marshal, a position he has held since June 1, 2011. Previously, he worked as a lieutenant colonel in the Florida Highway Patrol, where he also was deputy director and chief of staff. He served in FHP offices around the state and previously was a sergeant in the United States Army.
GOT PEANUT BUTTER? The Peanut
Butter Challenge, UF/IFAS Extension's annual jar collection for local food pantries launched in the Florida Panhandle in 2012, is again spreading statewide this year. Coordinated by UF/IFAS Extension faculty, staff and volunteers, the competition among counties—for bragging rights only— was conceived as a way to feed hungry families ahead of the holidays in addition to promoting a Florida-grown crop. Unopened jars of peanut butter can be donated to the Escambia County Extension
office, located at 3740 Stefani Road, Cantonment, Oct. 1-Nov. 24. Follow along on social media at sfyl.ifas.ufl.edu/escambia. "We are always impressed and touched by the communities' grassroots support for this program," said Libbie Johnson, agricultural agent for UF/IFAS Extension Escambia County and co-organizer of the challenge since its inception. "The peanut industry is a great contributor to our state, but this event also shows how the nutritious food it produces can help our fellow community members who may be struggling." Other Escambia County collection sites include: •Escambia County Public Safety, 6575 N. W St. •Escambia County Farm Bureau, 153 Highway 97 •Holy Spirit Catholic, 10650 Gulf Beach Highway •Gilmore Services, 31 E. Fairfield Drive •Perdido Bay United Methodist Church, 13360 Innerarity Point Road •City Hall, 222 W. Main St. •Escambia County Administration, 221 Palafox Place, Fourth Floor •Pensacola Beach Visitors Information, 7 Casino Beach Boardwalk, Pensacola Beach •Holy Cross Episcopal Church, 7979 N. Ninth Ave. Collection boxes will also be placed at City of Pensacola community centers starting Oct. 1. According to the Florida Agricultural Statistics Service, the peanut, which is produced mainly throughout the northern regions of the state, contributed $119 million to the state economy in 2019. Peanut butter is an ever-popular item in food pantries for its nutrient density and shelf stability. The project took on new meaning last year as demand for food bank assistance had increased as an economic effect of the COVID-19 pandemic. The latest numbers from the United States Department of Agriculture show food insecurity affected roughly one in 10 Floridians in 2020. {in}
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THE KINGDOM OF
THIS WORLD R E I M A G I N E D
EXHIBIT ON VIEW September 24, 2021 - January 9, 2022 FIND EXHIBITION EVENTS AND PROGRAMMING BY VISITING PENSACOLAMUSEUM.ORG
Funding for this program was provided through a grant from Florida Humanities with funds from the National Endowment for the Humanities. Any views, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in this program do not necessarily represent those of Florida Humanities or the National Endowment for the Humanities.
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309, A HOUSE WELL-LIVED By Hana Frenette
Original Polaroid by Mike Brodie
In the late 1990s, a towering two-story wooden house just north of the train tracks in downtown Pensacola became a home for writers, artists, musicians, activists and friends. The sturdy yet somewhat dilapidated house located at 309 Sixth Ave. has been named one of the oldest continuously inhabited punkhouses in the South, with its residents playing a role in the American punk subculture for decades. 309 has housed hundreds of people over the last 30 years, and the flyercovered beadboard walls have served as a crossroads of culture and made space for punk rock, activism, veganism and queer culture in the South. This October, University Press of Florida will release a book, "A Punkhouse in the Deep South: The Oral History of 309," detailing personal conversations and comedic, heartfelt stories about the house. The book is written by two former 309 residents, Aaron Cometbus and Scott Satterwhite. Cometbus has been publishing the zine Cometbus since 1981 and is the author of several books, including "Double Duce" and "I Wish There Was Something That I Could Quit." Satterwhite is a historian, educator and journalist who teaches writing and literature at the University of West Florida. Satterwhite talked with Inweekly over email to provide insight into the new book and his time at 309. INWEEKLY: How would you describe the 309 punkhouse to someone who had never heard of it or seen it before? SATTERWHITE: Well, it's hard to describe what 309 was like without going into a long explanation of what a punkhouse is, but basically, a punkhouse is a house where punks live. The house itself is over 100 years old, with five bedrooms. Lots of fliers on the wall. Wooden beadboard everywhere. Natural wood. It's really pretty, actually. September 30, 2021
INWEEKLY: When did you reside at 309? How did the decision to live there arise? SATTERWHITE: I lived in 309 from 19992007. I moved into the house after I got out of the Navy. Before that, I lived next door for a few months, but I had friends who lived in 309. One of the longtime roommates had moved away, and they were looking for someone to fill the room. I had the opportunity to move in, and it seemed 309 was the center of so many things in the punk scene, so I was really happy to move into the house. I was basically moving in with people I respected, and many became my best friends over time. It was an easy decision to move into 309. Really easy. INWEEKLY: Tell me about your experience living in the house. What was your room like? Memorable residents or roommates? Any challenges/benefits to the living situation? SATTERWHITE: My overall experience living in the house is hard to put into words. It was beautiful in a lot of ways, to live with your best friends, but it was also stressful too. I met my wife in the house, and our daughter grew up in the house, at least for her first two years. But living with a lot of people can be incredibly stressful, too. Things like rats, which you find everywhere downtown, but are still stressful. Dishes, dirty bathrooms, people not taking care of their pets or being too loud, but I find as the years go on, I tend to mostly remember the good times. The bad times just seem funny to me now. Maybe if I had to come back and clean someone's dishes, I'd have a quick reminder, but for now, I just laugh. I lived in every room of the house at one point or another, but my favorite room was the room upstairs. I lived there with my wife, Lauren, and our daughter, Maddy. The walls were lined with books, from top to bottom, and all sorts of art and flyers. That was really what the house itself looked like—Flyers
and art, and the flyers were art, and our room looked like the rest of the house. The walls are wood, old pine beadboard that just doesn't exist anymore. Our landlord used to tell us that the wood was probably worth more than the house itself. That's one thing that people, even now, remark about the house. They love the wooden walls, which makes it kind of dark, but also gives it a unique charm. I had a lot of memorable roommates over the years, probably too many to name. Mike Brodie, the photographer, was probably one of the most memorable in a way that other people know, mostly because he's kind of famous. Otherwise, I'd say Samantha Dorsett and Kent Stanton, both of whom have since died. Sam died by suicide in 2009, and Kent died of natural causes in 2020. I think about them a lot, but there really were so many people. I remember counting once, and I think I had around 75100 roommates during the years that I lived in 309. Not at one time, of course, but over an extended period of time. Some stayed a while, and others were only there for a month or so, but they all had some impact on me. The benefit of living communally is that you have a family in your house—A chosen family, which is different from a traditional family. Potlucks, parties or just people to sit on the front porch with and read books as the trains rode by. It was pretty romantic, really. Nearly everyone was an artist in some way or another, whether they were painters or writers, or musicians or puppeteers; it seemed like everyone was doing something interesting and always entertaining. It's not like traditional families don't also have that element, but generally, the nuclear family consists of two parents and children. Everyone has a role, and there's a general hierarchy. This kind of family is as if your whole life revolves around your friends, which is why you have to choose your room-
mates well. While there are challenges with that, and it's far from perfect, the benefits of that kind of lifestyle are that you live with your friends as equals; at least, ideally that's how it works. The reality can be different, sometimes, as living with a lot of people can be rough because the things that make someone really interesting might not make them an ideal person to be living with in close quarters. All of that said, if I had to break the pros and cons down to two things, it would be this—The main benefit is incredibly cheap rent, which allows someone to focus on the things they love versus work. The downside to communal living is that you're constantly fighting with people about doing their dishes. INWEEKLY: Are there any misconceptions about the 309 punkhouse you'd like to dispel? SATTERWHITE: First, I should say that everyone's experience in the house is different, and I don't know if this opinion is representative of most folks who lived there, but the biggest misconception that I'd like to dispel was that it was a wild house. In a lot of ways, 309 was like a regular house, except it was a regular house that only punks lived in. Most of the people there had jobs. Nearly everyone was from a lower-working-class background. Most of the people that lived there were constantly working, whether it was at jobs or on their art. I really can't think of too many folks that weren't always productive. It's really incredible how much came from that one house. I think it was a misconception, at least when I lived there, that we were a bunch of slackers. Sometimes, sure, but we were pretty busy. INWEEKLY: Were there any rules of the house? SATTERWHITE: I don't remember any rules, except that no one could cook meat. That probably changed after I moved out, 13
Skott Cowgill on 309 porch / Image reprinted with permission of the University Press of Florida
and it was a holdover from other folks that lived there before me, but that's the only rule I can think of. The landlords told us not to paint the wooden walls, but people did it anyway. INWEEKLY: Where did the idea for this book come from, and what was the driving force to create it? Did you always know you wanted it to be an oral history, or did that develop later? SATTERWHITE: The idea for the book came from a Public History class at UWF. A professor in the history department, Jamin Wells, wanted a project for his oral history class to tackle. He was inspired by the "Punksacola" exhibit at the history museum downtown and asked the 309 Punk Project if we could help him get people who lived
ZINE CHALLENGE RETURNS In 2001, a flyer popped up around town using cut out ransom-note-style lettering that challenged everyone who saw it to participate in an eight-week zine challenge. Twenty years later, the challenge returns. On Oct. 1, Sean Linezo's pop-up exhibit at the Pensacola Museum of Art titled "Bring Me A Brief Period Of Time With A 414 1
in 309 together for his students to interview. The original plan was to just have one comb-bound collection of the transcripts, which would've been cool to have. The book was mostly a COVID project. I was interviewed for the class, along with 13 other people, including one of my friends, Aaron. Aaron does the zine Cometbus, and he has a number of books out. We'd been corresponding by USPS mail since the beginning of the pandemic as a way to keep our spirits up during the dark days when everything seemed pretty bleak. As we discussed our interviews, I thought that these might be worth pursuing as something bigger than simply transcripts for an archive. That's when I thought these interviews might be a nice foundation for a book. My original idea was to write up individual articles Challenge To Remember" will celebrate the 20-year anniversary of the 2001 zine challenge with an installation curated from the archives of 309. Linezo is an experimental producer, filmmaker, artist and archivist, and his work has been featured in exhibitions nationally and internationally, including New York City, Tokyo and Los Angeles. "On the opening date of the exhibit, we will also officially announce a new chal-
Suckcesspool gameboard / Image reprinted with permission of the University Press of Florida
about each person, similar to a feature story in the paper, but Aaron thought the interviews might be better. He'd done a few oral histories in the past and knew a good deal about editing. We both have been writing for decades and knew the material well. The hardest part was editing. The students did the original interviews, which were about 90 minutes apiece, along with another few hours transcribing. From that rough material, Aaron and I spent about that long each night cutting out the fluff, getting rid of certain things that would make the interviews unreadable. We cut out approximately 75-80 percent of each interview so we could get to the important parts. That was really hard. As most writers will tell you, writing is hard, but editing is the real challenge. I didn't appreciate it as lenge for a new generation to participate in the eight-week zine challenge exhibition of 2021," Linezo said. Here's the official call for entries: Dear Audience, You are hereby challenged to participate in the scene and make a zine … the only requirements are a 16-page minimum and no reprints. Send or deliver at least one copy of your zine to 309 N. Sixth Ave.,
much until I had to edit these interviews. While I think my original plan would've been easier, I think the book is better because of the route we took. INWEEKLY: What was the process like for tracking down the people who shared their stories? Was there anyone you wanted to find but couldn't? SATTERWHITE: To be honest, the main criteria we had for the interviews was simple—Knowing this was for a class, could we actually get in touch with the person in a short time? That was one of the biggest challenges. Besides that, Jamin and I wanted the interviews to be from a diverse range of people, or as broad as we could make it, and be a genuine representation of the house, which I think we accomplished. Pensacola, FL 32501, before 5 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 26, 2021. "The only losers are the ones who don't participate," Linezo said. The submitted copies of each zine will be donated to the 309 archive. If participants are interested in selling or trading their zines, there will be a weekend zine fair and market announced at a later date. Additional updates will be available at 309punkproject.org. inweekly.net
We got in touch with most people through Facebook, but we called some folks, and others still live in Pensacola, so I had to hunt them down. One of the people who was interviewed was my wife. Since I'm married to her, she was pretty easy to get in touch with. I found everyone I wanted to reach out to, but the problem was narrowing down the number of potential people in the book. Like I said earlier, I had between 75 and 100 former roommates just during the time I lived there, and each resident had their own version of the house. We wanted everyone, on some level or another, to see themselves and their lives reflected in these stories. That said, one person that I hoped to have in the book was Kent Stanton. He was originally supposed to be interviewed, and he had an interview scheduled, but Kent had a number of personal issues that made an interview with him impossible. We tried a few other people who didn't pan out, and eventually, Jamin asked me if I could step in to be interviewed. I reluctantly agreed, but I'm glad I did the interview. If given the choice, though, I would have had Kent in the book instead of me. He died a month after the last interview and two months after his scheduled interview. When I heard he died, one of the first things I thought of was that I really wished we could've recorded a final interview with him. Several interviews of Kent exist, but I still wish he could've been in the book. His picture is in the book, but sadly, his words aren't, and I regret that more than I could say. INWEEKLY: Why do you think it's important to share the history of 309 and the people who spent time there? SATTERWHITE: One of the things that's
always amazed me is that there are really very few academic histories of Pensacola. Several self-published histories, and some small press histories, which are great—I'm a fan of small press—but it's surprising that hardly any books of the later 20th century and early 21st century exist. To me, it's odd for a city so fixated on history that there really is very little of it available. It's interesting that our book is one of a very small handful of academic books centered on Pensacola. As a result, we often get an impression of Pensacola that's skewed in one direction, leaving large parts of the population out of Pensacola's story. I'm not saying our story is "the" story of Pensacola, but I am saying our story is "a" story of Pensacola. And our story matters, too. The stories of countercultures, especially in the deep South, tend to be overlooked, despite there being a constant presence. It's also worth mentioning that the story of punk in the deep South is very different than punk in New York. In the 309 book, the Ku Klux Klan comes up several times, and that's probably not something that comes up often in other punk scenes. This story is also a story of people protesting wars, hunger, prisons and racism as they dream of a better world. To my knowledge, that's not a part of Pensacola history that's been covered much by anyone, but it's a part of our story—our Pensacola history. It's not the only story of Pensacola, but neither are the other histories. This is a history of Pensacola, and we're arguing that this history matters, too. By reading our story, someone may see another side to Pensacola they never knew existed, and maybe that is exactly what they needed to see. They might also find their people, and that's pretty important. {in} COST: Admission is free, but space is limited. The organizers request all attendees to wear a mask. Books will be available for purchase at the event. DETAILS: 309punkproject.org ADDITIONAL BOOK TOUR DATES •Oct. 6, 6 p.m. Alabama Contemporary Art Center (Mobile, Ala.) •Oct. 7, 4 p.m. J.D. Williams Library, University of Mississippi (Oxford, Miss.) •Oct. 8, 5 p.m. Vertical House (Huntsville, Ala.) •Oct. 9, 7 p.m. Sluggo's (Chattanooga, Tenn.) •Oct. 10 7 p.m. Old City Java (Knoxville, Tenn.) •Oct. 11, 7 p.m. The Old Sentient Bean (Savannah, Ga.) •Oct. 12, 7 p.m. Sun-Ray Cinema (Jacksonville, Fla.)
"A PUNKHOUSE IN THE DEEP SOUTH: THE ORAL HISTORY OF 309" LOCAL BOOK RELEASE EVENT
WHEN: 6 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 5 WHERE: 309 Punk Project, 309 N. Sixth Ave. (outside) September 30, 2021
•Oct. 13, 7:30 p.m. Matheson Museum (Gainesville, Fla.) •Oct. 14, 7:30 p.m. Park Ave CDs (Orlando, Fla.) •Oct. 15, 5 p.m. Tonevendor (St. Augustine, Fla.) •Oct. 16, 6 p.m. Augusta Conradi Studio Theatre, Florida State University (Tallahassee, Fla.) 15
It only takes one person to slash the statistics.
Did you know that 1 in 10 children Escambia County are victims of child abuse? It’s time to change that number. Visit KnowChildAbuse.org to learn to recognize, report and reduce child abuse.
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WEEK OF SEPTEMBER 30-OCTOBER 6
Arts & Entertainment art, film, music, stage, books and other signs of civilization...
Artistic Feels with Reema Eqab By Savannah Evanoff
Reema Eqab / Courtesy Photo
Reema Eqab is a renaissance woman in art—lino printing one week and crocheting the next. Since Eqab started with crayons as a child and friendship bracelets in her high school jewelry-making class, there isn't a field she won't dabble in. The 24-yearold University of West Florida student's Instagram @convenientfeels is a gumbo of her work—from embroidered bracelets to statement paintings to upcycled plastic bags—and that's just how she prefers it. "I don't have a specific goal," Eqab said. "I'm just going to keep doing what makes me happy, and that's art for me." Eqab keeps a busy schedule. She works part-time at her father's convenience store in Molino, and she recently swapped her college major from fine arts to environmental management. But art always seeps into her life. And her art and education still intersect, she said. "The more I'm learning about the environment and what's going on, the more I want to try to make my art more sustainable, and so that's why I was working a lot with the fabric scraps," Eqab said. "Because you can really do anything with it. You can create like a twine and then crochet with that or use the fabric scraps as stuffing for pillows." September 30, 2021
Eqab's current creative endeavor of choice is cyanotype. "You will take a fabric and you can dip or coat it in chemicals and then leave that to dry in the dark," Eqab said. "You can take plants, like leaves and flowers and stuff, and then set them on a glass plate and then put the fabric on top of that and then slip it, and so the sun will hit the fabric around whatever arrangements that you've made. It's a lot of fun, and I want to print some other artwork that I create." The most recent piece Eqab worked on between her busy college and work schedule was for the Pieces Adrift Art Show organized by Keep Pensacola Beautiful. She created a hanging decoration out of upcycled fabric scraps and plastic bags.
"I just wanted to make something that I could have multiple uses for; it's not just something that I'll exhibit at an art show." Reema Eqab "I just wanted to make something that I could have multiple uses for; it's not just something that I'll exhibit at an art show," Eqab said. "The inspiration came from a hang-
ing car decal you hang around your rearview mirror. I made a small one of those at first and I was selling them at the Pensacola Arts Markets. And after that, I was like, 'OK, well, what if I made this just even bigger?' It was really fun to make." While Eqab's works sometimes seem to share little in common, one component ties all of them together—and it isn't upcycled fabric. It's emotions. Eqab sometimes makes statement pieces, incorporating politically charged phrases, inspiring quotes or lyrics she emotionally connects with into her artwork. "I was hoping to accomplish for other people, if they're feeling that way, maybe my art will resonate with them, just like how these lyrics resonated with me," Eqab said. "And then maybe the colors would make them feel more happy or try to give them some more inspiration." One of her pieces features the word "freedom" in both Arabic and English. Eqab is Palestinian and made that piece to show how important the genocide happening in Palestine is to her. "It's really hard because you can't really physically do anything," Eqab said. "The most that I can do is share posts on Instagram and tell my friends or people around me what's going on. It's really hard being over here, not being able to do anything, but sometimes I feel like maybe my art will help in some way. But I think it's a social media revolution. People in Palestine, they find comfort knowing that people in the U.S. or in other places care about them." It's hard to put into words how Eqab feels about the turmoil, but she found a way to express it. "I didn't know how to create a work of art with that in mind," Eqab said. "I was using linoleum prints to make hands, so I was like, 'OK, well, I have this one palmish linocut design that I go with, because I think that palm has so much symbology, like trust. Then I had the fist, which was empowering. So I used those two to create a piece."
Eqab hasn't personally faced much discrimination because of her race, she said. "Whenever I was in middle school, elementary school, high school, I would get the occasional 'terrorist,'" Eqab said. "People don't understand Muslims or Arabs, really, and I think the media plays a huge role in that—especially after 2001. Other than that, not so much unless people know that I'm Arab, Palestinian or Muslim." Eqab largely thinks her lack of experience with discrimination is because she doesn't wear a hijab, or head covering. "Walking with my cousins or someone that wears the hijab, like, say in Walmart, someone will come up to them and say, 'Jesus is Lord,' or something like that," Eqab said. "They'll definitely look at you weird." Eqab remembers once wearing a head covering because she was having a bad hair day—Curly hair problems, she said. "I just wrapped my hair up and so my neck was exposed," Eqab said. "But I was going to Walmart with my friend, and I was walking to my car, and then my friend is just watching this lady. I'm like, 'Why is she watching this lady?' Apparently, the lady just stopped and is muttering under her breath and looking at me. It wasn't even for a religious reason; it was literally just because I was having a bad hair day. So people really judge you." "It's like anything that is labeled as 'other' is just something that's so scary that we shouldn't learn about or people don't want to learn about." Whether Eqab is spreading a message about politics or environmental issues, or simply being inspirational—and no matter the medium—it's always feelings that unite her work, which are hardly ever convenient (despite her Instagram handle). "(Art) is for the most part a tool, I feel like, whenever I create art but also definitely therapeutic," Eqab said. "I use it as relief most of the time. It's harder for me to get to have time to be able to create art, so I always try to at least jot some colors or shapes down every once in a while, a couple times a week whenever I can." {in} REEMA EQAB @convenientfeels Eqab will be a vendor at the next Pensacola Arts Market, which is currently scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 9. Make sure you follow the market organizers for updates and location information—facebook.com/ pensacolaartsmarket. 17
a&e happenings Oct. 1 and 2. All tickets are $8. Reserve your seats by emailing jpncinema@gmail. com or texting (863) 446-7300. PCA is located at 220 W. Garden St. Visit pensacolacinemaart.com for information about streaming movies such as "On Broadway" and the SXSW Short Film Festival.
STRONG STREET STUDIO ONLINE PUMPKIN SALE Glass pumpkin season is
upon us, and you can order yours from the safety and comfort of your own home. Strong Street Studio will be offering a new inventory of glass pumpkins online 10 a.m. Saturdays Oct. 2 and Nov. 13. For more information, visit strongstreetstudioglass.com.
FORT MORGAN GHOST INVESTIGATION AND HISTORICAL HAUNTED TOUR Join the members of Second Sight
Photo by Strong Street Studio
NONPROFITS + FUNDRAISERS
tarps to send to Haiti. Donations can be dropped off at WRNE Radio, located at 312 E. Nine Mile Road in Pensacola. Monetary donations can also be made at dalove.org.
cue's (NWFLGDR) lovable gentle giants are back to take over Seville Square in downtown Pensacola on Saturday, Oct. 2, from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. at the Fifth Annual Danetoberfest celebration and fundraising event. This year's event will feature almost two dozen vendors selling all kinds of arts and crafts—everything from drawings and paintings to customized collars and dog beds to baked goodies for people and pets to colorful candles and soaps. Food vendors will also be on site. NWFLGDR will be raffling off several major prizes for $5 a ticket or six tickets for $20. Prizes include a two-night stay at the Holiday Inn Resort Pensacola Beach Gulf Front Hotel, a three-night stay in Perdido Bay, a handcrafted dog frame and giant breed dog bed as well as more than 100 items.
"FRIEND OF FOO" APPLICATIONS NOW OPEN The Foo Foo Festival Com-
FIFTH ANNUAL DANETOBERFEST ADOPTION AND FUNDRAISING EVENT Northwest Florida Great Dane Res-
ANIMAL ALLIES KITTEN ADOPTION
Animal Allies will be at Pet Supermarket, 6857 N. Ninth Ave. Saturdays, Oct. 9 & 23, from 11 a.m.-3 p.m., and Everett Animal Welfare Group will be at PetSmart, on N. Davis Highway, every Saturday in October from noon-4 p.m. All cats are up to date on shots, and adoption fee includes spay or neuter with microchip and flea pill. For more information, visit aaflorida.org.
LOCAL ORGANIZATION RALLIES SUPPORT FOR HAITI Following the
7.2-magnitude earthquake in Haiti last week, local organization Diligent Act of Love for Haiti is spearheading a relief drive for families impacted by the recent disasters in this country. Organization Chairwoman Jessie Elusma is collecting food, toiletries and other items like flashlights, first aid kits and unused 818 1
mittee is now accepting applications from nonprofit and for-profit entities who are interested in playing a part in this year's events as a "Friend of Foo." Nonprofits in the Pensacola area who recently applied and did not receive a grant for this year's festival but would still like to participate, or local for-profit businesses such as hoteliers, restaurants and bars who are interested in participating and benefitting, are encouraged to apply. To review the application process, visit foofoofest.com. "Friend of Foo'' participants will receive local, regional and national visibility during the 12-day event via the festival's regional marketing campaign. When applying, entrants should be prepared to provide the name and title of their prospective event; the date, time and location for the event; its respective category; and details and imagery to support the concept. The deadline to submit to be a "Friend of Foo" is Friday, Oct. 1, by noon. The Pensacola Foo Foo Festival will take place Nov. 4-15, 2021.
ARTS & CULTURE
"WHAT DID WE MISS? IS THE INTERNET CONSCIOUS?" ART SHOW A new
art show from Kind Witch Media explores where digital meets analog and propaganda meets history. The show will be open for viewing by appointment only through Oct. 11. For more information or to make an appointment, visit instagram.com/kindwitchmedia.
WHAT'S SHOWING AT PENSACOLA CINEMA ART The next screening at PCA
is "12 Mighty Orphans" Friday and Saturday,
Paranormal TV for a fully equipped ghost and paranormal Investigation at Fort Morgan, one of Alabama's most haunted places. Fort Morgan State Historic Site will provide some historical background of the site and conduct a Q&A. Tours are at 7 p.m. on Saturdays, Oct. 30 and Nov. 20. Reservations are required. Visit pensacolaghostevents.com or secondsightparanormal.com to reserve your spots.
HANK LOCKLIN DOCUMENTARY SCREENING AND Q&A WSRE's award-
winning production "Hank Locklin: Country Music's Timeless Tenor" will be shown on the big screen in the station's Jean & Paul Amos Performance Studio, located at 1000 College Blvd., on Thursday, Sept. 30, at 7 p.m. Audience Q&A with Hank Adam Locklin and the film's producers will take place after the film. Admission is free.
PENSACOLA OPERA JUKEBOX GALA
Jukebox Gala is Pensacola Opera's signature fall fundraising event. Over a gourmet four-course dinner, world-class opera singers serenade you and your guests tableside. Event is Saturday, Oct. 2, at Hilton Pensacola, located at 12 Via de Luna Drive. Tickets are $150. To purchase tickets, visit pensacolaopera.com.
PENSACOLA CIVIC BAND The Pensac-
ola Civic Band will perform 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 2, at the Saenger Theatre, located at 118 S. Palafox. Tickets are $13 per person. Visit pensacolasaenger.com for tickets.
YIKES! OPEN MIC BIRTHDAY BASH WITH HILLIARY BEGLEY Listen to
comedians at Odd Colony, located at 260 N. Palafox 7-10 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 2 with Hilliary Begley. Visit facebook.com/oddcolony for more information.
"PUNKHOUSE IN THE DEEP SOUTH" BOOK TOUR Co-authors Aaron Comet-
bus and Scott Satterwhite offer a glimpse into the 309 house's origins and the punks that made the house a home, all the while creating everything from music to art, and even a few businesses with their book "A
Punkhouse in the Deep South." A book release event will be at the house, located at 309 N. Sixth Ave., 6 p.m., Oct. 5. Admission is free, but space is limited. Organizers request all attendees wear a mask. For more information on the book, visit upf.com.
2000 MEN: BLACK POLITICIANS DURING RECONSTRUCTION A new exhibit
at the Pensacola Museum of History shares the stories and histories of Black politicians during the Reconstruction period. The exhibit opening will be Thursday, Oct. 7, at 7 p.m. at the Pensacola Museum of History, located at 330 S. Jefferson St. For more information, visit historicpensacola.org.
ROB SCHNEIDER: I HAVE ISSUES TOUR Comedian Rob Schneider will be
performing at Saenger Theatre, located at 118 S. Palafox, 8 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 7. Tickets are $35-$100. Visit pensacolasaenger. com for more information.
REVOLUTIONARY RIPPLES: CARIBBEAN HISTORY, CONTEMPORARY ART This virtual program brings together
an interdisciplinary panel of experts on Caribbean visual art, literature and history to discuss the ways in which historical events and processes in the Caribbean continue to be persistent and relevant to the idea of social justice today, particularly in Afrodiasporic communities. The discussion is Friday, Oct. 8, from 2-3 p.m. This program is free and open to the public. Register for the Zoom event at pensacolamuseum.org.
ACTIVIST RHETORICS SYMPOSIUM
Join the UWF Department of English for an interactive symposium on activist rhetorics, a meta-genre of written and digital rhetorics with visiting scholar Dr. Christal Seahorn. The symposium can be attended virtually or in-person and will be Friday, Oct. 8, from 10:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Registration is free. To register, contact composition@uwf.edu.
PENSACOLA VINTAGE COLLECTION CLOTHES MARKET Shop vintage clothes
from vendors from Mobile to Panama City. The event will be at Odd Colony Brewing Co., 260 N. Palafox, Saturday, Oct. 9, from noon-8 p.m. Visit facebook.com/pensacolavintagecollective for details.
OPERA AL FRESCO Opera Al Fresco is back Saturday, Oct. 9, at 5 p.m. at Rev. H.K. Matthews Park, located at 1201 E. Anderson St. Admission is free. For more information, visit pensacolaopera.com. 15TH ANNUAL GLASS AND CERAMIC PUMPKIN PATCH First City Art Center's
15th Annual Pumpkin Patch will be 2-6 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 9, at Blue Wahoos Stadium, located at 351 W. Cedar St. FCAC members get early access at 11 a.m. for $30. "First Pick" tickets are available for $40 with early access at noon. Manna Food Pantries will take non-perishable donations. For more information, visit firstcityart.org. inweekly.net
a&e happenings PENSACOLA INTERSTATE FAIR ENTERTAINMENT SCHEDULE Re-
turning for its 87th season Thursday, Oct. 21-Sunday, Oct. 31, Pensacola's biggest and longest-running annual agricultural and entertainment tradition returns, bringing with it the excitement of attractions and screams from exhilarating rides, exhibits, fair food, fun and shows for the whole family. This year's Pensacola Interstate Fair entertainment lineup includes: •Thursday, Oct. 21: "Cat Country 98.7 BIG Lip Sync Battle Finals" •Friday, Oct. 22: Eliminator KC (ZZ Top cover band) •Saturday, Oct. 23: White Tie Rock Ensemble tribute to The Eagles. •Monday, Oct. 25: Jordan Chase •Thursday, Oct. 28: Night Fever (Bee Gees cover band) •Friday, Oct. 29: Resurrection (Journey cover band) •Saturday, Oct. 30: Rodney Atkins
BROADWAY SERIES TICKETS ON SALE NOW Season tickets for Broadway
shows at the Saenger Theatre are on sale now. Shows include "Escape to Margaritaville," "Anastasia," "Hairspray," "Fiddler on the Roof" and "An Officer and a Gentleman." Becoming a Broadway in Pensacola subscriber has benefits, including keeping your same seats year after year, exclusive subscription savings, no waiting in line, free ticket insurance, advance show notice for season additions and supporting the arts in the Pensacola area. Visit pensacolasaenger. com for more information.
UWF HISTORIC TRUST 9/11 EXHIBIT
An exhibit honoring victims lost and others impacted by the tragedy on Sept. 11, 2001, is now on display on the second floor of the Pensacola Museum of History. The University of West Florida Historic Trust curated the exhibit, 9/11 Remembered, which runs through January 2022, with items on loan from the 9/11 Memorial & Museum in New York and the History Museum of Mobile. The gallery includes a section of the I-beam from one of the World Trade Center towers and a helmet and other items worn by first responders
who responded to the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Visitors can also view a video of newsreels from 20 years ago on projectors and a video from NAS Pensacola that features military members who responded to the 9/11 attacks. For more information on UWF's Historic Trust, visit historicpensacola.org.
FINDING 1821 Finding 1821 is part of the
UWF Historic Trust's Suddenly American exhibit. Using historic newspapers, maps and documents, it is possible to locate where businesses stood in the 1820s. From taverns to parasol shops, each site on the Finding 1821 trail reflects a local establishment that was near that location 200 years ago. Outside each business is a QR code that links to a corresponding advert from an early 1820s newspaper. Over a dozen sites have been identified so far. Take a stroll around town, visit local shops and explore the history of Pensacola through today's technology. Visit historicpensacola. org for more information.
EASY GOING GALLERY ART MARKET Every Sunday, Easy Going Gallery and
Carter J Studios present a weekly art market from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. at Easy Going Gallery, located at 701 N. V St. Vendors can participate for a $20 fee. For more information, contact easygoinggalleryart@gmail.com.
noon-4 p.m. For more information about exhibitions, programming or support, visit pensacolamuseum.org.
"END OF CENTURY" EXHIBIT AT PENSACOLA MUSEUM OF ART End
of Century, an art exhibit featuring Art Nouveau glassware and works on paper, is a new exhibit at the Pensacola Museum of Art. This special exhibit includes items from the museum collection as well as the collection of local art supporter and educator Dr. Patrick M. Rowe. On view through Oct.10. Learn more about the exhibition at pensacolamuseum.org.
IN PLACE UWF ART FACULTY EXHIBITION The Art Gallery (TAG) at the
University of West Florida presents In Place, Art Faculty Exhibition. This exhibition features work by Thomas Asmuth & Sara Gevurtz, Dale Castellucci, Yvonne Christine, Nicholas Croghan, John Dougherty, Carrie Fonder, Valerie George, Justin Quaid Grubb, Jim Jipson, Kelly Leitermann, John Markowitz, Marzia Ransom, Gregory B. Saunders and Jenea Wood. The exhibit runs through Nov. 5 at TAG, located on the UWF Pensacola Campus in The Center for Fine and Performing Arts, Bldg. 82.
NEW EXHIBITIONS AT ARTEL GALLERY Three new exhibitions will be on
winning portraiture, still-life and landscape photographer Robert Malmberg's. On view through Oct. 3. For more information, visit pensacolamuseum.org.
display at Artel through Oct. 14. In the main gallery is "This Is Not A Pipe" with various artists. Work from artist Frank Myers is in the vault, and in the Alcove is work from John Holden. Gallery hours are Tuesday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Admission is free to the public. Artel Gallery is located at 223 S. Palafox.
THE KINGDOM OF THIS WORLD, REIMAGINED The Kingdom of This World,
NEW EXHIBIT AT BLUE MORNING GALLERY The current Spotlight on Art
DOUBLE EXPOSURE: PHOTOGRAPHY X DESIGN Exhibit from award-
Reimagined provides a new look at the real and imagined stories told in Alejo Carpentier's 1949 historical novel "The Kingdom of This World," which recounts the Haitian Revolution in his signature literary style—lo real maravilloso, or the marvelous real. This exhibit will be on view at the Pensacola Museum of Art through Jan. 9, 2022. The PMA is open Tuesday-Saturday from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. and Sundays from
is "Serendipity," a collective show featuring potter Tammy Caspersen and photographer Suzanne Tuzzeo. The show promises bold color and unique finds and twists with a fun, carefree feel and is on view at Blue Morning Gallery, located at 21 S. Palafox. Visit bluemorninggallery.com for more information.
PENSACOLA BEACH ART WALK ON THE BOARDWALK Stroll the Pensacola Beach
Boardwalk Sundays through October from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. and check out local art vendors, listen to live music and enjoy local restaurants and bars at 400 Quietwater Beach Road.
SCRIPTEASERS WITH PENSACOLA LITTLE THEATRE Scripteasers, Studio 400's
and Pensacola Little Theatre's Script Reading Club invites you to monthly script readings at PLT, 400 S. Jefferson St. Want to bring your scripts for the group to read and discuss? Contact Pensacola Little Theatre to get in queue. The group reads prospective scripts for future seasons as well as new scripts that need a table read before the next edit. Not a playwright but love to read out loud? This is your easy, fun theatre night. Fascinated by the play selection process? Sit in for a listen and usually a lot of laughs. Visit facebook.com/pensacolalittletheatre for more information and the latest dates.
SEVILLE HAUNTED TOURS Seville Quarter's haunted tours offer a different look at Pensacola's history as guides weave tales of ghosts, debauchery, murder, mayhem, paranormal activities, history and more. Choose your experience from three ongoing tours—Seville Haunted Luncheon and Ghost Tour, 11 a.m. every third Tuesday of the month; Seville Haunted Gallery Night Tours, 7 p.m. every third Friday of the month; Seville Sunday FunDay Haunted Tours, 4 p.m. last Sunday of each month. Tickets are available at pensacolaghostevents.com. OPEN MIC AT THE GORDON Show off your talents on the second Thursday of every month at The Gordon's Open Mic showcase from 7-10 p.m. Admission is free. The Gordon is located at 306 N. DeVilliers St. Visit thegordon.org for more information. OPEN MIC COMEDY AT BIG TOP BREWERY Try out some new jokes or enjoy
some homegrown talent every Monday at 7 p.m. for Open Mic Comedy at Big Top Brewery, located at 21 W. Romano St. Everyone gets five minutes depending the number of sign-ups. Registration begins at 6:30 p.m.
NEW CLASSES AT MIXON MAGIC PERFORMING ARTS Mixon Magic Per-
forming Arts (MMPA), a boutique perform-
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September 30, 2021
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a&e happenings ing 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, Showstoppers, Acting and Voice. Classes will be provided for children as young as 2 years old (with a parent or guardian) through adult. MMPA is dedicated to the safety and well-being of all students and families and has implemented protocols based on guidance from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Masks are required for entry into the building and studio. More information about Mixon Magic Performing Arts can be found at mixonmagic.com, by contacting hello@mixonmagic.com or emily@mixonmagic.com or by calling (850) 221-7438.
GENDER PORTRAITS Gender Portraits is
a project from artist Drew Riley of the Austin Creative Alliance. The nonprofit organization supports sex and gender minorities using art as a foundation for education, activism and advocacy. The exhibit is on view at Voices of Pensacola, located at 117 E. Government St., through January 2022. For more information, visit historicpensacola.org.
BLACK CITIZENSHIP IN THE AGE OF JIM CROW "Black Citizenship in the Age
of Jim Crow," a traveling exhibition from the New York Historical Society Museum & Library with additions from the African American Heritage Society of Pensacola, is now on view at Artel Gallery. To learn more about it, visit africanamericanheritagesociety.org. Artel Gallery is located at 223 S. Palafox.
CRAFT CLASSES AT STUDIO SOUTH ON NINE MILE Learn a new craft or meet
up with other makers at Studio South. Tuesday is Knit Night 4-7 p.m., and Sit & Stitch is Saturdays 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Both classes are free. For a full calendar of events, visit studiosouthon9mileroad.com. Studio South is located at 955 E. Nine Mile Road.
CLASSES AND WORKSHOPS AT FIRST CITY ART First City Art Center of-
fers a wide range of classes and workshops for artists of all levels. Classes include glass blowing, ceramics, painting and drawing, kiln-forming, stained glass and more. For a complete list of classes and times, visit firstcityart.org.
LIVE MUSIC
BANDS ON THE BEACH Bands on the Beach is back. The free concert series features shows each Tuesday night, from 7-9 p.m., April-October, at the Gulfside Pavilion at Casino Beach. UPCOMING DATES: •Oct. 5: Jessie Ritter •Oct. 12: Dr. Breeze ST. CHRISTOPHER'S CONCERT SERIES Thursday evenings visit St. Christo-
pher's Episcopal Church, located at 3200 N. 12th Ave., for an outdoor concert. Food and drink concessions are available. Alcoholic beverages are not available for sale. •Sept. 30: CrossTown (last date)
BANDS ON THE BLACKWATER Free outdoor concert Friday nights from 7-9 p.m. at Jernigan's Landing, located at 5158 Willing St. in Milton. •Oct. 1: Jessie Ritter •Oct. 8: Casey Kearney LITTLE RIVER BAND Little River Band
will be performing at the Saenger Theatre, located at 118 S. Palafox, 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 30. For tickets and information, visit pensacolasaenger.com.
FIFTH ANNUAL BLACKWATER CLASSIC MARCHING BAND FESTIVAL The
Fifth Annual Blackwater Classic Marching Band Festival is Sat., Oct. 2, at Milton High School Haywood Hanna Panther Stadium, located at 5445 Stewart St. Gates open at 3 p.m. Tickets are $7 general admission and $5 for seniors 65 and older and active military. Free admission for children ages 5 and under. Visit miltonhighschoolband.com for more information.
JAZZ JAM AT THE 5 BARREL Jazz
Pensacola's Jazz Jam will be 6:30-8:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 6, at The 5 Barrel Brewery
& Taproom, located at 121 S. Palafox. Admission is free, but donations are accepted and go to participating musicians. For more information, visit jazzpensacola.com.
WHITE TIE ROCK ENSEMBLE White Tie Rock Ensemble will be playing hits from Rod Stewart, Elton John, David Bowie and Queen Saturday, Oct. 9, at 8 p.m. at Saenger Theatre, located at 118 S. Palafox. Tickets start at $28. Visit pensacolasaenger.com for more information. LIVE MUSIC AT RED FISH BLUE FISH PENSACOLA BEACH Head to Red Fish
Blue Fish for live performances from local bands Fridays and Saturdays all day. For musician lineups, visit facebook.com/redfishbluefishpensacolabeach.
SAXOPHONIST JIM ANDREWS AT ALICE'S RESTAURANT Saxophonist
Jim Andrews will be performing at Alice's Restaurant, located at 1504 W. Intendencia St., on the first Friday of every month from 6-9:30 p.m.
CURT BOL JAZZ QUARTET Visit Five Sisters Blues Café, located at 421 W. Belmont St., Sundays from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. and listen to Curt Bol Jazz Quartet. Visit curtbolband.com for more information.
OPEN JAM AT ARTEL GALLERY Artel
Gallery is open from 5-7 p.m. Wednesdays and Saturdays for open jam with Pensacola Folk Music Society. Feel free to visit and listen to music. Artel Gallery is located at 223 S. Palafox.
KARAOKE AT MUGS AND JUGS Sing your heart out Sundays at Mugs & Jugs, 12080 Scenic Highway, or just enjoy drinks friends with $4 Smirnoff and $6.50 domestic pitcher drink deals from 7 p.m.-3 a.m. For more information, visit facebook.com/ mugsjugs. LIVE MUSIC AT HUB STACEY'S Sit
back with good food and live music at Hub Stacey's, located at 312 E. Government St. For a full calendar of bands, check hubstaceys.com.
MONDAY NIGHT BLUES AT SEVILLE QUARTER Seville Quarter and the Blues
Society of Northwest Florida bring the "Blues" back to the Seville Quarter Entertainment District, located at 130 E. Government St. every Monday night in End O' the Alley starting at 7 p.m. For more information, visit sevillequarter.com.
TUESDAY NIGHT JAZZ AT SEVILLE QUARTER Enjoy smooth jazz with Me-
lodious Allen and The Funk Heads every Tuesday night at Lili Marlene's in Seville Quarter, located at 130 E. Government St. Show starts at 6:30 p.m. Visit sevillequarter.com for more information.
FITNESS + RECREATION
FINDING BALANCE ON THE BLACKWATER KAYAK TOUR Join the Florida
Public Archaeology Network and Historic Pensacola as they co-host a kayak tour on Blackwater River 9-11 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 30. The tour begins at Bagdad Mill Site Park Kayak Launch at 6952 Cross St. The event is free and open to the public, but cash donations are accepted. Space is limited to 15 participants. To RSVP, email ngrinnan@ uwf.edu. For more information, visit flpublicarchaeology.org/nwrc.
PARK CLEAN-UP AND FREE FAMILY YOGA CLASS Join My Neighborhood
Theatre for a clean-up at its adopted spot— Belvedere Park in Scenic Heights—followed by a free yoga class for children and their families. The first 10 children (18 and under) to sign up and show up will receive a coupon for a free snow cone from Sneak Tiki Shaved Ice. Signing up ahead of time is required in order to provide enough supplies. Saturday, Oct. 2, from 10-11:30 a.m. at Belvedere Park. More information can be found at myneighborhoodtheatre.com, by contacting hello@myneighborhoodtheatre. com or by calling (850) 866-9807.
25TH ANNUAL ZARZAUR LAW SANTA ROSA ISLAND TRIATHLON
The race will begin 7 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 2, at Casino Beach Pavilion 20 on Casino Beach Blvd. For more information visit santarosaislandtriathlon.com.
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
127 Palafox Place Suite 100 (850)466-3115 autumnbeckblackledge.com 020 2
inweekly.net
a&e happenings 29TH ANNUAL SOUL BOWL AT BLUE WAHOOS STADIUM The 29th annual
Soul Bowl will be played at Blue Wahoos Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 2. The full-day youth football festival pits the crosstown rival SYSA Tigers against the East Pensacola-Magee Field Rattlers in five different age-division games starting at 9 a.m. Tickets can be purchased in advance for $8 or $10 on the day of. Purchase tickets at bluewahoos.com.
NAVY FEDERAL VIRTUAL 5K The Navy Federal Virtual 5K event will be held Sunday, Oct. 3, and everyone in the community (even your pups) can register to run/walk/ roll a 3.1-mile course of their choosing. Registration is $15 per participant. For more information visit navyfederal.org/5k.
BINGO AT THE BALLPARK Get ready to play BINGO at the Blue Wahoos Stadium Thursday, Oct. 7, from 6-10 p.m. Entry is free and food and drink specials will be available throughout the night. Visit facebook.com/ bluewahoosbaseball for more information. BIKE PENSACOLA SLOW RIDE Bike
Pensacola's Slow Ride is back Saturday, Oct. 9, from 5-6:30 p.m. The ride will begin at From the Ground Up Community Garden, located at 501 N. Hayne St. For details, visit facebook.com/bikepensacola.
WEEKLY FRIDAY DANCE Get moving
every Friday night with a dance sponsored by the Fraternal Order of Eagles. Enjoy food from 6-7 p.m. Dancing is from 7-10 p.m. A variety of bands and music provide the tunes. Cost of admission is $6. Dances are located at 105 Kenmore Ave. in Pensacola. For more information, call (850) 476-5696.
PENSACOLA FERRY SERVICE The
Pensacola Bay Cruises Ferry Service is open with service on Friday, Saturday and Sunday running between Downtown Pensacola and Pensacola Beach. Ferry trips last approximately 50 minutes, and all-day free parking is available at each of the departure sites. Tickets are $26 roundtrip for adults; $20 roundtrip for military, disabled persons and students; and $15 roundtrip for children 3-15. Children 2 and under ride for free. A local's card may be purchased for additional discounts. The ferry service operation schedule is available on pensacolabaycruise.com.
PENSACOLA PARKRUN The Pen-
sacola Rec Plex North parkrun is 7:30 a.m. Saturdays. The weekly timed 5K run or walk takes place at the University of West Florida and is open to everyone, regardless of fitness level. For more information, visit facebook.com/rpnparkrun or email recplexnorth@parkrun.com.
BREATHE AND READ AT BODACIOUS BOOKSTORE AND CAFÉ Recenter yourself at this monthly event at Bodacious Bookstore and Café, with an instructor-led September 30, 2021
beginner yoga class and a group book discussion at 9 a.m. on the first Saturday of every month. Bodacious Bookstore and Café is located at 110 Intendencia St. For more information, visit bodaciousbookstore.com.
WFPL MOLINO TRACK CHALLENGE
Put on your walking shoes and join the walking challenge at the Molino library. Just visit Molino's track, turn on your favorite fitness tracker app to log your progress, dial up your tunes or an audiobook and start walking. When you finish, come into the library and log your progress with staff on our track challenge board. The top walker in this program will win The Coldest Water Bottle. The Molino Branch Library is located at 6450-A Highway 95A. For more information, visit mywfpl.com.
RELEASE & RENEW AT FITNESS IMPACT TRAINING At 8:15 a.m. on Mon-
days, Wednesdays and Fridays, release into a yin yoga flow centered around low-stress training for high-stress individuals. The focus will be on the basics of breath and openness in the shoulders, hips and spine. For more info, go to mindandmetta.online. Cost is $12 per class, and the location is 375 N. Ninth Ave., Ste. B. Limited space available. Ask about membership pricing.
GULF COAST BREWERY RUN Thurs-
days at 6 p.m., join Pensacola Runners Association for a 5K fun run. Enjoy a free beer after the run and complimentary games such as cornhole, ping pong and more. Gulf Coast Brewery is located at 500 E. Heinberg St. For more information, visit facebook.com/gulfcoastbrewery.
BEER GARDEN YOGA Join Coastal County Brewing Company Saturdays at 9 a.m. for the new Yoga in the Garden Series. Classes will be led by Tara Taylor, a highly experienced instructor from Breathe Pensacola. All skill levels are welcome. Cost is $10 and includes a pint of beer after the class. Coastal County Brewing Company is located at 3041 E. Olive Road. For more information, visit facebook.com/coastalcounty. SOUL FLOW YOGA AT BEAUTIFUL YOU STUDIO Every Tuesday at 7 a.m., flow
and vibe with some soulful music to start the day. This hour-long class will center around engaging the core through smooth yet strong yoga sequences. Cost is $10 per class or $99 for an unlimited 30-day pass. Located at 513 W. Intendencia St. For more info, go to mindandmetta.online.
YOGA CLASSES AT EVER'MAN Beginner Yoga with John is 10 a.m. Thursdays, 4:30 p.m. Tuesdays and 12:15 p.m. Wednesdays. Funky Yoga Flow is 6 p.m. Tuesdays. And Vinyasa Yoga Flow is 6 p.m. Thursdays. All classes at Ever'man, 327 W. Garden St. For a full calendar of events, visit everman.org. OCEAN HOUR BEACH CLEAN-UPS
Ocean Hour has picked up its weekly beach
clean-ups in the Pensacola area Saturdays at 8:45 a.m. On Saturday, Aug. 28, volunteers will be at Philip A. Payne Bridge. Supplies will be provided, but volunteers are welcome to bring their own. For locations, visit oceanhourfl.com.
GRAPHIC NOVELS
KIDS BOOKS
FOOD + DRINKS
CHARCUTERIE NIGHT AT BODACIOUS Enjoy a demonstration that focuses on the art of preparing a Charcuterie tray at Bodacious, located at 407-D S. Palafox, 6 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 30. Tickets are $40. Reserve yours at bodaciousshops.com.
OKTOBERFEST CELEBRATION AT GARY'S BREWERY Visit Gary's Brewery
Saturday, Oct. 2, from 3-10 p.m. for an Oktoberfest celebration including live music from The New Cahoots and German cuisine from Chef Josh Spiess. Limited tickets will be sold for a souvenir glass beer stein for $25. Visit facebook.com/garysbrew for more information.
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COTES DE FEMME WINE DINNER Join owners of Cotes de Femme, Andy and Kristin Bernard, at Bodacious for a wine dinner at Bodacious, located at 407-D S. Palafox, Wednesday, Oct. 6 at 6 p.m. Tickets are $75 per person. Reserve your spots at bodaciousshops.com.
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ATLAS BEVERAGE CLASS: ROLLINS DISTILLERY The next Atlas Beverage
Class is Thursday, Oct. 7, with classes at 5 and 7 p.m. Cost is $25 per person and includes beverage tastings paired with appetizers. Seating is limited and reservations are required. Reserve your spot by calling (850) 287-0200 or emailing taylor@ goodgrits.com.
Jessie Ritter | Oct 5 Country-Pop
GREEK WINE DINNER Join Agapi for
its inaugural Greek Wine Dinner hosted by Executive Chef Gus Silivos. Enjoy a five-course meal paired with Greek wines Sunday, Oct. 10, at Agapi Bistro + Garden located at 555 Scenic Highway. Call (850) 225-5235 to make your reservation.
COUPLES COOK: AN ENCHANTED, MAGICAL, HARRY POTTER INSPIRED CLASS Learn to make a magical three-
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We encourage all concert-goers to take appropriate COVID-19 preventative measures, socially distance themselves and follow the guidelines of our local health authorities.
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course meal with Pensacola Cooks. Class is 7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 9, and 6 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 28, at Pensacola Cooks Kitchen, located at 3624 Barrancas Ave. Tickets are $70 per couple. Bring your own wine or beer to the cooking class. For more information, visit facebook.com/pensacolacooks.
VINO MAGNIFICO V. Paul's monthly
wine tasting event is Tuesday, Oct. 12, at 5:30 p.m. Sample five different wines for $15 per person. V. Paul's is located at 29 S. Palafox. RSVP is required for the wine tasting. Reserve your spot at vpauls.com.
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free will astrology WEEK OF SEPTEMBER 30 ARIES (MARCH 21-APRIL 19): Blog-
ger AnaSophia was asked, "What do you find attractive in a person?" I'll reproduce her reply because it's a good time to think about what your answer would be. I'm not implying you should be looking for a new lover. I'm interested in inspiring you to ruminate about what alliances you should cultivate during the coming months. Here's what AnaSophia finds attractive—"strong desire but not neediness, passionate sensitivity, effortlessness, authenticity, innocence of perception, sense of humor, vulnerability and honesty, embodying one's subtleties and embracing one's paradoxes, acting unconditionally and from the heart."
TAURUS (APRIL 20-MAY 20): Taurus
author Roberto Bolaño confessed, "Sometimes I want greatness, sometimes just its shadow." I appreciate his honesty. I think what he says is true about most of us. Is there anyone who is always ready for the heavy responsibility of pursuing greatness? Doubtful. To be great, we must periodically go through phases when we recharge our energy and take a break from being nobly ambitious. What about you, dear Taurus? If I'm reading the omens correctly, you will benefit from a phase of reinvention and reinvigoration. During the next three weeks, you'll be wise to hang out in the shadows of greatness.
GEMINI (MAY 21-JUNE 20): "Have fun,
even if it's not the same kind of fun everyone else is having," wrote religious writer C. S. Lewis. That advice is 10 times more important right now than it usually is. For the sake of your body's and soul's health, you need to indulge in sprees of playful amusement and blithe delight and tension-relieving merriment. And all that good stuff will work its most potent magic if it stimulates pleasures that are unique to you—and not necessarily in line with others' tastes.
CANCER (JUNE 21-JULY 22): "It is one
thing to learn about the past," wrote Cancerian journalist Kenneth Auchincloss. "It is another to wallow in it." That's stellar advice
By Rob Brezsny
for you to incorporate in the coming weeks. After studying your astrological omens, I'm enthusiastic about you exploring the old days and old ways. I'm hoping that you will discover new clues you've overlooked before and that this further information will inspire you to re-envision your life story. But as you conduct your explorations, it's also crucial to avoid getting bogged down in sludgy emotions like regret or resentment. Be inspired by your history, not demoralized by it.
LEO (JULY 23-AUG. 22): Would you like
to deepen and strengthen your capacity to concentrate? Cosmic rhythms will conspire in your favor if you work on this valuable skill in the coming weeks. You'll be able to make more progress than would normally be possible. Here's pertinent advice from author Harriet Griffey: "Whenever you feel like quitting, just do five more—five more minutes, five more exercises, five more pages—which will extend your focus." Here's another tip: Whenever you feel your concentration flagging, remember what it is you love about the task you're doing. Ruminate about its benefits for you and others.
VIRGO (AUG. 23-SEPT. 22): What's your
favorite feeling? Here's Virgo poet Mary Szybist's answer to that question—hunger. She's not speaking about the longing for food, but rather the longing for everything precious, interesting and meaningful. She adores the mood of "not yet," the experience of moving toward the desired thing. What would be your response to the question, Virgo? I'm guessing you may at times share Szybist's perspective. But given the current astrological omens, your favorite feeling right now may be utter satisfaction—the gratifying sensation of getting what you've hungered for. I say, trust that intuition.
LIBRA (SEPT. 23-OCT. 22): In the English language, the words "naked" and "nude" have different connotations. Art critic Kenneth Clark noted that "naked" people depicted in painting and sculpture are "deprived of clothes," and embarrassed as a result. Being "nude," on the other hand, has "no uncomfortable overtone," but indicates "a balanced, prosperous and confident body." I
bring this to your attention because I believe you would benefit from experiencing extra nudity and no nakedness in the days ahead. If you choose to take on this assignment, please use it to upgrade your respect and reverence for your beauty. P.S. Now is also a favorable time to express your core truths without inhibition or apology. I urge you to be your pure self in all of your glory.
SCORPIO (OCT. 23-NOV. 21): Scorpio
poet Anne Sexton wrote, "One has to get their own animal out of their own cage and not look for either an animal keeper or an unlocker." That's always expert advice, but it will be extra vital for you to heed in the coming weeks. The gorgeous semi-wild creature within you needs more room to run, more sights to see, more adventures to seek. For that to happen, it needs to spend more time outside of its cage. And you're the best person to make sure that happens.
SAGITTARIUS (NOV. 22-DEC. 21): Sagittarian composer Ludwig van Beethoven (1770–1827) could be a marvelous friend. If someone he cared for was depressed or feeling lost, he would invite them to sit in his presence as he improvised music on the piano. There were no words, no advice—only emotionally stirring melodies. "He said everything to me," one friend said about his gift. "And finally gave me consolation." I invite you to draw inspiration from his example, Sagittarius. You're at the peak of your powers to provide solace, comfort and healing to allies who need such nurturing. Do it in whatever way is also a blessing for you. CAPRICORN (DEC. 22-JAN. 19): At
age 23, Capricorn-born Jeanne Antoinette Poisson (1721–1764) became French King Louis XV's favorite mistress. She was not born into aristocracy, but she wielded her Capricornian flair with supreme effectiveness. Ultimately, she achieved a noble title as well as high prestige and status in the French court. As is true for evolved Capricorns, her elevated role was well-deserved, not the result of vulgar social climbing. She was a patron of architecture, porcelain artwork, and France's top intellectuals. She ingratiated herself to the King's wife, the
Queen, and served as an honored assistant. I propose we make her your role model for the next four weeks. May she inspire you to seek a boost in your importance and clout that's accomplished with full integrity.
AQUARIUS (JAN. 20-FEB. 18): The
bad news is that artist Debbie Wagner was diagnosed with two brain tumors in 2002. The good news is that surgery not only enabled her to survive but enhanced her visual acuity. The great news is that on most days since 2005, she has painted a new image of the sunrise. I invite you to dream up a ritual to celebrate your own victory over adversity, Aquarius. Is there a generous gesture or creative act you could do on a semi-regular basis to thank life for providing you with the help and power you needed?
PISCES (FEB. 19-MARCH 20): A self-described "anarchist witch" named Lars writes on his Tumblr blog, "I am a ghost from the 1750s, and my life is currently in the hands of a group of suburban 13-year-olds using a Ouija board to ask me if Josh from homeroom has a crush on them." He's implying that a powerful supernatural character like himself is being summoned to do tasks that are not worthy of him. He wishes his divinatory talents were better used. Are there any resemblances between you and him, Pisces? Do you ever feel as if you're not living up to your promise? That your gifts are not being fully employed? If so, I'm pleased to predict that you could fix this problem in the coming weeks and months. You will have extra energy and savvy to activate your full potential. THIS WEEK'S HOMEWORK: Describe the status quo situation you're tired of, and how you're going to change it—newsletter.freewillastrology.com.
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news of the weird NEWS THAT SOUNDS LIKE A JOKE Remember Bernie Sanders' look at the 2021 inauguration? Cozy parka, heavy knitted gloves? You too can pull off the Bernie look for Halloween, The Boston Globe reported. For just $85, partygoers can don the "Once Again Asking Costume Set" from Dolls Kill. It includes the coat, mittens and surgical mask. Sen. Sanders' office even commented: "If fans of Sen. Sanders' mittens are looking for a real scare this Halloween, they should see how hard the wealthy and world's biggest corporations are fighting to stop Congress from finally addressing the long-neglected needs of the working class," said spokesperson Mike Casca. BRIGHT IDEA File this one under Marketing Ideas Gone Wrong: Speech Academy Asia in Singapore planted clowns outside multiple primary schools in early September in an effort to persuade students to enroll in public-speaking courses, The Straits Times reported. In response, principals and parents urged students to stay away from strangers, including the clowns. Kelvin Tan, the director of the academy, apologized for alarming people. He explained that "road show" employees were told to put on "cute mascot" costumes, but he wasn't aware they'd be wearing clown getups. "Maybe the clowns were too scary. It's wrong and we won't do it again," he said. NEW WORLD ORDER The divorce of Valeria Udalova and Danila Medvedev, former co-owners of cryonics company KrioRus in Moscow, Russia, has turned ugly as they battle over 81 bodies of KrioRus clients, Slate reported. On Sept. 7, Udalova reportedly broke into a cryostorage facility that is under Medvedev's control and loaded containers with dead bodies onto a truck, causing damage and spilling liquid nitrogen in the process. Both parties now own separate cryonics businesses, but police continue to investigate who controls the 81 bodies, which in the meantime rest at Medvedev's facility. COMPELLING EXPLANATION An elderly woman in Okemos, Michigan, moved to a nursing home, and an auction company was hired to clear out her home, MLive. com reported on Sept. 22. One of the items found by Epic Auctions and Estate Sales' Brad Stoecker was a 5-foot-tall granite headstone with the name Peter J. Weller on the front. Apparently, the woman's family didn't know the origin of the stone, saying they used the reverse side of it to make fudge. Stoecker donated the stone to the Friends of Lansing's Historic Cemeteries, but a genealogist was unable to find any surviving family members of Weller, who died in 1849. However, they did track down his grave, which had been moved in 1875.
By the Editors at Andrews McMeel
That's probably when the gravestone was lost, experts believe. Cemetery preservationists restored the stone to Weller's current resting place and repaired and cleaned those of his family members nearby. •Some students at Piedmont High School in Union County, North Carolina, were upset after a sign reading WHITE was placed on a drinking fountain at the school, The Charlotte Observer reported on Sept. 23. A Snapchat video of the sign circulated on social media, and parents became upset, prompting a response from Principal Dylan Stamey, who said he had investigated and the placement of the sign "was not intentional." "During practice, a cheer sign was left just outside the gym on the floor, and it was picked up and placed on a water fountain. We apologize if anyone was offended," he said. FAMILY VALUES As a 48-year-old man pumped gas in St. Louis on the morning of Sept. 21, a woman approached and said she and her son needed a ride to her mother's house. He agreed, KSDK-TV reported, but when they arrived at the home, the woman reportedly grabbed the keys from the ignition, and her 11-year-old started pistolwhipping him in the head. The woman then dragged the victim out of his car and sped away with her son. Police are still looking for the carjacker. INEXPLICABLE On Sept. 17, at a penguin colony near Simonstown, South Africa, 63 endangered African penguins were killed by a swarm of bees, CNN reported. South African National Parks issued a statement saying that the "deaths occurred suddenly sometime between Thursday afternoon and Friday morning." Examinations revealed that "all the penguins had multiple bee stings," many of which were around the birds' eyes, which one expert called a "fluke." LEAST COMPETENT CRIMINAL Timothy Wolfe of Lake City, Florida, arrived at the Lake City Chrysler Dodge Jeep dealership on Sept. 20 to buy a new car, WTLV-TV reported. And, bonus, he had a trade-in. But when employees checked the VIN of the trade, they found it was a car that had been stolen from that dealership just a few days earlier. Police were called, and Wolfe admitted to the theft, which had been captured on a surveillance camera. He was charged with grand theft and dealing in stolen property, among other crimes. {in}
From Andrews McMeel Syndication News Of The Weird © 2021 Andrews McMeel
Send your weird news items to WeirdNewsTips@amuniversal.com September 30, 2021
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