Inweekly Aug. 13 2020 Issue

Talking passion, business plans and the pandemic with local female fitness entrepreneurs Independent News | August 13, 2020 | Volume 21 | Number 33 | Mia Bolden, Claire Campbell, Heather Hill and Stacey Vann / Courtesy Photos

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winners & losers

outtakes

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news 6, 8

Thank goodness for social media.

cover story

buzz

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contact us info@inweekly.net

publisher Rick Outzen

graphic designer Tim Bednarczyk

editor & creative director Joani Delezen

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

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Independent News is published by Inweekly Media, Inc., P.O. Box 12082, Pensacola, FL 32591. (850)438-8115. All materials published in Independent News are copyrighted. © 2018 Inweekly Media, Inc. All rights reserved.

“Holding careless drivers accountable makes Pensacola safer for us all.”

JOE ZARZAUR BOARD CERTIFIED CIVIL TRIAL ATTORNEY

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P E N S A C O L A inweekly.net

CivicCon empowers the Pensacola area through civic conversations

Workplace Diversity and Inclusion Mardia Shands serves as chief diversity officer for TriHealth, a major hospital group in Ohio. Her career has spanned from multi-national global corporations to small not-for-profits.

She has an extensive history of leadership in the discussion of inclusion, diversity, equality, and awareness. At this CivicCon event, she will share how diversity in the workplace has broad benefits for a community. She will show how it impacts neighborhoods, families, and connections within the community.

Mardia Shands

Monday, Aug. 24 6 - 7:30 p.m.

You can RSVP to attend this virtual event:

studeri.org/events

Moving forward into the 21st Century with Police Reforms and Social Justice Dr. Cedric Alexander and Quint Studer

focused on policing, social justice and helping everyone understand “we are all in this together.”

Dr. Alexander has served more than four decades in law enforcement and public service. Throughout his career, he has been pivotal in reforming troubled police departments and restoring trust between police and their local community. Alexander is the author of “In Defense of Public Service: How 22 Million Government Workers Will Save Our Republic.”

Watch now online pnj.com/civiccon Dr. Cedric Alexander

Lisa Nellessen Savage lnelless@gannett.com

Terry Horne thorne@civicconversations.org

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

Sign up for the CivicCon newsletter: studeri.org/newsletter-signup August 13, 2020

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winners & losers

Patty Spradling / Courtesy Photo

winners PATTY SPRADLING The Pensacola Beach Chamber of Commerce announced the hiring of Spradling as its executive director and Visitor Information Center manager. She brings with her over 20 years of experience in business ownership and operations and was previously the Pensacola Beach Chamber's assistant director and membership & events coordinator. Spradling is very active in the local community and has volunteered and helped to raise money for numerous local charities, including March of Dimes/March for Babies, Habitat for Humanity Women's Build, Making Strides Against Breast Cancer and Junior League of Pensacola.

TIKTOK Last week, President Donald Trump invoked his emergency economic powers to outlaw for national security reasons any transactions between TikTok's parent company, ByteDance, and U.S. citizens effective Sept. 20. The videosharing mobile application has reportedly been downloaded over 175 million times in the United States. In the order, Trump alleged TikTok automatically captures vast swaths of information from its users, which he claimed "threatens to allow the Chinese Communist Party access to Americans' personal and proprietary information."

company, which has nearly 400 Burger King restaurants, announced it would award Burger King McLamore Foundation scholarships to 247 students in 13 states this graduation season, including eight in the Pensacola area— Tinley Bailey of Pensacola Catholic, Vendela Balogh and Ciera Rancifer of Pensacola High, Kade Boyd and Melanie Letourneau of Tate Senior High, Ethan Colvin of Escambia High, Carissa Ferguson of Washington Senior High and Savina Walters of Milton High. Scholarships are awarded to graduating high school seniors based on their grade point average and the impact the students have on their schools and communities through volunteerism and work experience. Since 2013, GPS Hospitality has supported 1,119 scholars.

JERRY FALWELL, JR. On Friday, Aug. 7, Liberty University issued a statement about its chancellor and president—"The Executive Committee of Liberty University's Board of Trustees, acting on behalf of the full Board, met today and requested that Jerry Falwell, Jr. take an indefinite leave of absence from his roles as President and Chancellor of Liberty University, to which he has agreed, effective immediately." The announcement came after Falwell posted a "vacation" photo on social media that showed him with a drink—which he described as a photo prop filled with "black water"—in the cabin of a yacht with his pants unzipped, exposing his gut and underwear. Falwell had his arm around an unidentified woman who had her cut-off shorts unbuttoned.

STEWART RAMSEY After leading Pen

FLORIDA PAROLE SYSTEM The Or-

GPS HOSPITALITY The Atlanta-based

Air Federal Credit Union, Ramsey retired as president and chief executive officer, effective Aug. 1. Ramsey's credit union career started in 2001 as chief financial officer at Blackhawk Community Credit Union (Janesville, Wis.), where he was later promoted to president/ CEO. He accepted one additional CEO position in 2007 at Fort Campbell Federal Credit Union (Clarksville, Tenn.) before transitioning to Pen Air in 2012. Throughout the duration of his tenure, Pen Air's assets have increased from $1.2 billion to $1.8 billion. He has served on numerous boards and committees for nonprofit, church, credit union and community organizations. Pen Air's Chief Strategy Officer Carroll Scarborough will succeed Ramsey as interim president/CEO.

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losers

lando Sentinel found that 14 parole-eligible men in the state prison system have died of COVID-19 complications in prison—the youngest 59, the oldest 84. One inmate, Stephen Maxwell, was eligible for parole on robbery, battery and kidnapping charges from the 1970s. The state Commission on Offender Review decided not to grant it in late 2018 but indicated he would likely be released this December. Instead, Maxwell, 68, died in April from complications of COVID-19 at Sumter Correctional Institution in Bushnell. There may be more. The Sentinel wasn't able to confirm before its publication deadline the names of 21 prisoners who have died of the coronavirus, many within the last two weeks. inweekly.net

outtakes

By Rick Outzen

Practicing Since 1974 INJURED? (ALL TYPES OF ACCIDENTS)

LYING AS A TACTIC A friend recently sent me an article by public relations consultant Doug Poretz that he posted on Linkedin, "Do You Agree? The 4 Reasons Lying Is Becoming The #1 PR Tactic."

Poretz writes that while he finds lying abhorrent and ethically wrong, it has become a prevalent PR tactic. One of the reasons that lying often sneaks into public relations is because the liar's definition of "lying" leaves a "lot of wiggle room."

The late Escambia County Administrator George Touart and I clashed often. He was fond of saying that he would never lie to me—to which my standard reply was, "Maybe, George, but I think you have a much broader concept of truth than me."

Like Touart, few people see themselves as liars. Poretz refers to it as "spin"—leaving out a few facts that might hurt an argument, elevating a minor factor to an unwarranted position of importance, or adding some unrelated emotional aspect of a story to divert attention away from the facts.

Some might call them, as former White House communications director Hope Hicks told the House Judiciary Committee, "white lies." Hicks asserted that she had "never been asked to lie about matters of substance or consequence" and that "white lies" she told on behalf of President Trump were about "small matters."

"What worries me is that 'lying' is defined in increasingly vague terms," writes Poretz. "If you allow for a vague definition of 'lying,' you will have to conclude that lying is becoming accepted as a PR tactic.

He also argues politics has adopted lying as standard operating procedure. Trump has taken lying to a new level for American politics. According to the Washington Post's Fact Checker database, the president's false and misleading claims crossed the 20,000 mark on July 9, averaging over 15.8 per day.

He racked up 62 in one interview with Sean Hannity last month.

Other politicians have begun to adopt his SOP. Why? Because few people outside of the media challenge his misstatements, even when they can easily be disproved.

When the facts undermine his claims, Trump continues to repeat the lies—like a "perfect phone call" with the Ukrainian president or how our country has the "best COVID testing in the world."

"He is a clear advocate of the point of view that holds that when a lie is repeated enough times, it can be accepted as fact," wrote Poretz. "I do not mean to say all PR efforts are contaminated with lies—just making the point that there is an evolution towards the acceptance of lies."

Also, the unending news cycle has made lying easier.

Newsrooms have seen their staffs cut, and the media has less time to fact check every quote or announcement. Many reporters have quotas for articles, Facebook posts and tweets.

Poretz points out the challenge for journalists has become to file a report and then move on to the next story.

The last factor that Poretz believes reinforces lying as a PR tactic is the nature of groups on Facebook, LinkedIn or social media and special interest websites. Groups have a common agenda of building their audience. When the groups are political or news-oriented, the articles offered tend to fit a "spin" that will entice more members.

"It may be subtle or obvious, but it cannot be denied—the way the internet rewards heavy traffic is a reason for why things are often exaggerated and why even obvious," wrote Poretz.

Our policy at Inweekly has been the same since we published our first issue on July 1, 1999. Credibility is built on truth.

Once credibility is lost, then we must verify everything statement.

The facts may not always be convenient to those in power. That isn't our problem. {in} rick@inweekly.net

Groups have a common agenda of building their audience.

When the groups are political or news-oriented, the articles offered tend to fit a "spin" that will entice more members.

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WHO CARES?

Rick Outzen Last week, Escambia County Administrator Janice Gilley presented her proposal for how the county could spend its first share of Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act funds— $14,321,324. The Board of County Commissioners approved the "left-side" of the allocation slides but put off any specifics until the board's regular meeting on Aug. 20.

The PowerPoint presentation was given at the board's agenda review on Thursday, Aug. 6, without the details being made available to the public on the county's website in the days leading up to the meeting.

The community and media had no chance to review and analyze her proposal.

The CARES Act funds are to reimburse counties for programs incurred during the period that began on March 1 and ends on Dec. 30. Escambia County must submit its first quarterly report on expenditures incurred and projected spending on Sept. 30.

Escambia County is set to receive another $42,963,972 in the coming months.

Last month, the Santa Rosa County Commission approved to spend $3.2 million of its CARES funds on two rapid testing sites run by Ascension Sacred Heart.

On Wednesday, Aug. 5, Walton County commissioners voted to spend $338,864 on three rapid-testing machines, the staff required to operate the machines and the test strips analyzed by the machines.

Gilley included an initial allocation of $2.15 million (15%) for rapid testing in her plan. The county administrator told the commissioners that she had been in communication with Ascension Sacred Heart and Community Health Northwest.

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"Ascension, as you can see here, they would be able to do up to 30,000 through Dec. 30th," said Gilley showing her slide on rapid testing. "And then, Community Health Northwest, our conversations with them have been about them purchasing up to 20,000 rapid test kits, and the good news about that is there is a shelf life there that would extend potentially past Dec. 30th."

OTHER ALLOCATIONS

Residents and families would receive 25% of the CARES Act funds—$3.58 million initially. Gilley said the funds would be for "family needs" and proposed the grants be from $1,000-$2,000 per households with annual incomes less than $75,000. The size of the grants will be decided by the commission on Aug. 20.

Another $3.58 million would be allocated for small business assistance grants for employers with 50 employees or less that hadn't received more than $10,000 from the federal Payroll Protection Program.

Gilley said she had conferred with FloridaWest CEO Scott Luth and the presidents of the Pensacola Chamber, Todd Thomson, and Gulf Coast Minority Chamber Brian Wyer and recommended the grants be up to $10,000 each.

The next 30% would be divided equally between Escambia Serves, Public Health and General Government—$1.43 million each. Escambia Serves would cover food delivery through local nonprofits and churches, offset childcare for first responders through December, job training, broadband connectivity and homelessness.

Gilley said the total allocation for Escambia Serves would provide over 2.1 million pounds of food, childcare for 500 first re-

sponders and training for medical students who had been impacted by COVID. "We have the community and rural broadband connectivity that's an issue," added the county administrator, "to make sure that our community centers and libraries are up to speed so that we can handle more bandwidth if we have more uses based on folks having to do more remote learning."

According to Gilley, the expenditures on homelessness would be for "hand-washing stations, laundry places and those activities."

Under Public Health, Gilley proposed expenditures for EMS transport, personal protective equipment (PPE) and medical supplies for public health and safety workers, disinfecting of public areas and facilities, first responder personnel expenses and enhanced jail sanitizing, disinfecting and safety protocols. She also wanted funds for future COVID-19 mitigation, which would include an Incident Action Plan, reserve PPE, temporary medical facilities and hospital surge capacity.

General Government covered reimbursing the City of Pensacola and the constitutional officers for their expenses due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The remaining 5% would be set aside as a reserve for the county.

The commission approved the allocations but not any specific expenditures or programs, other than agreeing to hire The Integrity Group for one month to help the administration navigate the complicated CARES Act requirements.

HOUSING RELIEF

In a separate board action, the commission authorized a Coronavirus Relief Fund (CRF) Subrecipient Agreement with Florida Housing Finance Corporation in order to receive $903,834 for assistance with rent, mortgage, utilities and emergency repairs in response to the COVID-19 pandemic as permitted under the funds.

Meredith Reeves, the Neighborhood Enterprise manager, explained the funds would be paid directly to landlords, mortgage companies and utilities once applications are approved. The county already has 66 people on a waiting list.

"If someone's behind, it's hard for me to think that if they made a $3,000 payment that (the lender) would still move forward with the foreclosure." Steven Barry Reeves pointed out that the county needed to advertise the program for 10 days and could set the parameters for the grants at its Aug. 20 meeting. The maxi-

mum income to be eligible for assistance is 120% of the area median income.

The commissioners discussed what would be impactful grants for households.

"I don't know what a number might be," said Chairman Steven Barry. "If someone's behind, it's hard for me to think that if they made a $3,000 payment that (the lender) would still move forward with the foreclosure.

If they were $5,000 behind and they'd caught up 3,000 of it, that would seem like a pretty good chunk towards it, but I don't know what the appetite of the board might be."

Commissioner Robert Bender pointed out that other CARES Act funds are also available for housing assistance. Barry agreed, "We're not going to be able to solve every problem with the one pot of money."

"So the question becomes, do we try to make as many people as whole as possible or give it to as many people as we can?" Jeff Bergosh Commissioner Jeff Bergosh added, "So the question becomes, do we try to make as many people as whole as possible or give it to as many people as we can?"

"This is a bridge to safer waters," said May. He suggested the grant might not make the household completely whole but would make a landlord or lender less likely to evict or foreclose.

The commissioners batted around the idea of setting the cap at $4,000 per grant to help cover about five months of expenses.

"The math there is that the lower the cap, the more people we can help with the same amount of money," said Commissioner Doug Underhill. "A smaller amount spread over a wider part of our population would, to me, seem a more logical use of this money now, with the recognition that we probably have a second bite at the apple later on."

He suggested that anything between $2,000 and $4,000 would be acceptable.

Commissioner May said he would like to see something higher than the $2,000 per household that the county administrator proposed under her CARES Act plan.

"I'd rather not set it at four and then have overwhelming demand and then come back at two," said Barry.

Bender agreed, "Yeah, I'm good with two."

When asked for her input by the chairman, Reeves said, "Well, I've definitely talked to some people that owe more than two."

Barry came back with a counterproposal of a $3,000 cap that would encompass utilities, rent and/or mortgage.

Underhill said, "Three, sold!"

May added, "I'm good with three, if that's the compromise."

The motion was amended to set the cap at $3,000 and approved 5-0. {in} inweekly.net

August 13, 2020

7

A LONE VOTE FOR MASK MANDATE Rick Outzen For the second time, the Escambia Board of County Commissioners kicked around whether to mandate face coverings in the unincorporated areas of the county without voting on the issue.

In July, the Pensacola City Council passed a resolution that encouraged the Escambia County Commission to adopt a mask ordinance similar to one in effect in the city limits that requires face coverings inside businesses. During the month, the county saw its COVID-19 cases more than triple— going from 2,046 to 7,074. Hospitalizations quadrupled—from 94 to 440 by July 31.

Commissioner Lumon May, whose District 3 covers Downtown Pensacola and West Pensacola, made a motion to make face coverings mandatory. Commissioner Robert Bender, whose District 4 contains the east side of the city, seconded the motion for discussion.

Before May made his motion, Bender said he would support a mandate reluctantly.

"I think it's unfortunate that so much time and energy has been spent on the fact that we didn't have a mandate," said Bender. "The fact of the matter is, we recommended that people follow CDC guidelines, including the use of a mask."

Bender believed the county was impacted adversely by COVID-19 because it was not as healthy as other parts of the state.

"If you're looking over the last 14 days, we've been trending probably a little bit higher than the state average, which is worrisome," he said. "But I think there are other things we can do that we are not focusing on, that we are not getting the messaging out … We need to be working on ourselves and trying to be as healthy as we can during this time, among other things."

He continued, "I think it is bad government that we have no plans to enforce (a face mask mandate). The sheriff has said he can't enforce it because he doesn't have

the manpower, that we are putting the onus of enforcement on the businesses."

"I think it's unfortunate that so much time and energy has been spent on the fact that we didn't have a mandate." Robert Bender However, Bender didn't want to go against the advice of the medical community that had recommended a mandate in a letter to the board.

"I would support a mask mandate in Escambia County and hope that it can turn us around and get us back to where we can open our economy," he said. "Again, it's not something I necessarily believe in, but with the medical community urging us to do so, now that's something I can't overlook because we relied on their suggestions when we closed the beach and then reopened it."

"I do concur with Robert," said Commissioner May. "You know, if I'm going to err, I'll err on the side of safety."

Commission Chair Steve Barry said he wouldn't vote for a mandate but, "I would be supportive of even a resolution that outlines the support of all the CDC guidelines and says that everyone should wear a mask."

He continued, "I'm not going to pass something that allows repercussions or citations or tickets … I'd be concerned about enforcement and where it's going to be enforced; how strongly is it going to be enforced in certain areas versus other areas?"

"I cannot possibly support something that I can't very clearly tell people how it will be enforced and what the enforcement consequences are," said Commissioner Doug Underhill, pointing out incidents in Plantation, Fla., and New Jersey where business owners were arrested for violating mask ordinances.

"I still remain very supportive of anything that we can do to help inform the citi-

zens to be safer, healthier citizens," he said.

"I completely agree with Commissioner Barry. We should continue to do whatever we can to make our citizens smarter, better and allow them to make better decisions."

Commissioner Jeff Bergosh said he had seen people inside the city limits of Pensacola and Gulf Breeze not wearing masks.

"I think we need to continue with our ad campaign," he said. "I see evidence that people are complying with it in the county better than Gulf Breeze and better than the city. And I will not mention the names of the places that I've been, but I've been in multiple places in Gulf Breeze where not even the cashier is wearing the mask, and people are coming in and out from the beach and no one's wearing a mask."

While not supportive of a mask mandate, Bergosh said he would support requiring masks in county buildings. He said, "We should set the example in our buildings and our facilities.

And if you guys want to go somewhere and take that on, you would find my support there because we need to set the example."

He, too, would support a "strongly worded" resolution encouraging face masks.

The one who wouldn't budge was Commissioner May. He said, "It's very rare that I will be uncompromising. When you say personal responsibility, I do respect that, but we have relied on our healthcare officials. And our four major healthcare providers simply have said we have a shared responsibility to care for all of us as if we care for ourselves and for our loved ones."

He continued, "We can and must work together to beat COVID-19 by following these measures and listening to the advice of healthcare officials who provide us with proven techniques to help stop this COVID-19 virus from spreading."

May said the stories of people being jailed for not wearing face masks are extreme examples that aren't the norm. He felt a responsibility to speak out for the families that have lost loved ones to the virus.

"These family members are looking for someone to stand for them and putting forth every measure," he said. "And if the masks doesn't help, my God, it doesn't hurt."

"These family members are looking for someone to stand for them and putting forth every measure. And if the masks doesn't help, my God, it doesn't hurt." Lumon May He continued, "I am an elected official as a county commissioner. I'm not a scientist. I'm not a doctor, but I do have to yield to them ... And it's clear in this letter what the healthcare officials are recommending.

They're clear. It's explicit, and they recommend the masks. So with that, I'm going to make a motion that we implement mandatory masking for Escambia County."

Bender seconded the motion for discussion and asked May how long the mandate would stay in effect.

"I would do it until the healthcare officials tell us that it is safe to remove that mandate," replied May, who sensed that he probably didn't have the votes to prevail.

"Let me tell you where I am," he said. "Everybody would have to vote their conscience today. I've gone into too many homes. I have given my commitment to people who were suffering that I would bring this forward."

He added, "If history records Lumon, history will record that I did every single thing. And it may not work. It may not mitigate it, but it will not be written that I didn't do every single thing that I could do…"

When May refused to remove penalties from the mandate, Bender withdrew his second, and the motion died without a vote.

The board later passed a resolution encouraging face masks by 4-1 vote, with Commissioner May being the lone vote against the resolution. {in}

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need to defund our police department.'—Opponent of Mike Hill."

"It is an outright lie and an ethics violation," Salzman told Inweekly. "I was and may still be in the lead in this race, and it was certainly a move to try and push me back."

She added, "I have been endorsed by the Florida Police Benevolent Association, The Florida Firefighters, The Florida Medical Association and have an "A" rating with the NRA. This platform I am running on is the backbone of my conservative beliefs, and it has just been completely slandered."

FALSE NARRATIVE At a virtual

JAIL COVID TESTING At their agenda

review on Thursday, Aug. 6, two Escambia County commissioners spoke out in support of the county allowing inmates and staff at the county jail to be tested for COVID-19 if they request it.

Since early July, Inweekly has called for more testing of prisoners at the Escambia County Jail. The county administration's policy has been to only test those who exhibit symptoms during routine health checks. The day before the commissioners' meeting, the county had only tested 212 inmates, and the positivity rate was over 71%.

"Any inmate that requests to be tested, I think should be tested," said Commissioner Lumon May. "And I know that that's been somewhat of a challenge, but I would love to have support."

He continued, "I know it's difficult, Janice, to do that, but I want to move in that direction, not only for the inmates but for the correction officers that work there … Let's figure out how to get them tested."

County Administrator Janice Gilley said that Community Health Northwest Florida Director Chandra Smiley had provided her information about rapid testing, and she hoped to have the supplies by September.

"I'm supportive of testing people that want to be tested that are incarcerated with us, regardless of how they're tested," said Commissioner May. Commissioner Doug Underhill supported May's request.

"Yeah, Janice, when we take the liberty of a citizen, we take on the obligation and responsibilities because we take away their ability to go and get tested themselves," said Underhill. "I really don't care what the cost or time involved is. No citizen who's incarcerated by Escambia County who asks for a test should be denied a test."

August 13, 2020

May added, "I don't want to kick the ball down to September. If it's more efficient in September, great, but if we can start it immediately, I think that that's something that should happen."

"If it's more efficient in September, great, but if we can start it immediately, I think that that's something that should happen." Lumon May Over the weekend, Gilley informed the commissioners by email that Corrections Chief Rich Powell has requested medical staff to "prepare for administrating of tests not only for those who request them but also those who volunteer to be tested."

Inweekly isn't sure what the difference is between requesting and volunteering.

Gilley continued, "We do not know the number of requests that may be received and will be coordinating with the FDOH (Florida Department of Health) to ensure that we have enough tests and support to conduct them."

ATTACK BY HILL PAC Polls are showing that State Rep. Mike Hill is having trouble holding his District 1 seat as he faces newcomer Michelle Salzman in the GOP primary on Aug. 18.

Desperate candidates go negative, which is what a political action committee—Protect Conservative Values—supporting Hill has done, and Salzman has filed an ethics complaint against the PAC. In a flyer sent to voters, the PAC states, "Mike Hill's opponent and her liberal allies want to defund the police. 'Yes, I do agree we

"State of the County" interview for the Pensacola Chamber, County Administrator Janice Gilley talked about how she and her emergency manager put together a pandemic plan for the county at the first of the year.

"I remember in January when the plague, or the pandemic, started being discussed about in China," said Gilley. "I actually sent an email to our absolutely not even—I don't think—on-the-job emergency manager, Eric Gilmore, and I said, "Hey, what's our pandemic plan?" And he said, "When I get to the office, I'll let you know."

"And that was in January before it had really even hit our shores that we were aware of," she said. "And he and I started working that weekend, that next weekend on a pandemic plan that we had to pull together because the one that we had really wasn't sufficient for our community."

Unfortunately, the facts don't agree with the county administrator's memory.

On March 5, Inweekly requested a digital copy of the Escambia County Pandemic Influenza Emergency Plan that county officials said they would follow when asked about their response to COVID-19. It took the county four days to locate it in HR. The plan was dated 2010.

Former Interim Public Safety Director John Dosh sent the plan to county department heads in an email on March 10, the week before County Commission Chair Steve Barry signed a state of emergency declaration. Dosh pointed out the 2010 plan was valid but needed its titles updated.

"As our communities continue to discuss the potential impacts of the coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19), an effort is underway to educate everyone on the county's 2010 pandemic plan," wrote Dosh. "Please don't disregard this plan due to its age; the information and guidance provided is still valid, and updating of titles within the plan is forthcoming."

When the county commission met on March 20, Commissioner Underhill—aware of Inweekly's attempt to get a copy of the county's pandemic plan—said, "… I do have the pandemic plan for Escambia County.

It was written by Janice last weekend (he waved a document) … This did not exist before last weekend."

The Gilley-Gilmore pandemic plan did not exist in January 2020, and it has yet to be published on the county's website.

WEST MAIN MASTER PLAN DEVELOPERS The City of Pensacola and Studer

Properties have chosen the three development teams that will execute the West Main Master Plan with the help of an independent selection committee that reviewed all the proposals.

Of the six finalists, the committee recommended three teams—The Dawson Company and EJ Smith Enterprises, LLC, Edwards Communities Development Company and Silver Hills, and Valencia Hotel Group.

Emmitt Smith's EJ Smith Enterprises and The Dawson Company are the master developers, who will build a mixed-use development that includes a range of residential units, community amenities, retail and entertainment space, a hotel, daycare facilities and ample parking to sustain those entities.

Edwards Communities Development Company & Silver Hills proposed a four-tofive-story mixed-use project consisting of apartments, retail and a shared-use parking garage. The Valencia Hotel Group will build an "upper upscale" Isabella Court Hotel that will weave elements of Pensacola's architectural and cultural history into its design.

City staff and Studer Properties will work together with the three developers to negotiate formal development agreements. These agreements will contain the business terms under which the developers can perform their due diligence, design their projects and begin to develop their properties.

The eight-person selection committee that made the developer recommendations to the City and the Studers included Tia Robbins, Mort O'Sullivan, Marina Khoury, Pastor Lonnie Wesley, Jeff Carrico, Michelle Snow, former mayor Ashton Hayward, and Andrew Rothfeder.

PREGNANT INMATES The prospects of

COVID can be frightening. All the more so if you're pregnant. And perhaps even more so if you're pregnant and in jail, where a basic safety measure such as social distancing can be logistically difficult.

Currently, eight pregnant women reside at the Escambia County Jail, according to county spokesperson Hana Frenette.

Pensacola City Councilwoman Sherri Myers recently raised concerns with Escambia 9

County officials regarding these pregnant women at the jail.

"I raise this as a concern because pregnant women appear to be more adversely impacted by COVID-19 than women who are not pregnant," the councilwoman wrote in her email to the county. "I would like to know how the health of pregnant women is being address in the Escambia County Jail and what actions are being taken to protect this vulnerable population and the unborn child."

"I raise this as a concern because pregnant women appear to be more adversely impacted

by COVID-19 than women who are not pregnant." Sherri Myers According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), pregnant women are at a greater risk than the general population when it comes to COVID. They are more likely to be hospitalized and more likely to need to enter the intensive care unit and be placed on a ventilator. Fatality rates appear to be about the same as in the general population.

Dr. Bill Schwartz, a specialist in maternalfetal medicine with Ascension Medical Group, knows of two local pregnant women with COVID who went to the ICU. He said, "They both pulled out of there, and their pregnancies did fine, but it was very nerving."

Schwartz cites recent CDC data that suggests pregnant women are 5.4 times more likely to be hospitalized, 1.5 times more likely to be admitted to the ICU and 1.7 times more likely to need a ventilator. It's not particularly surprising that COVID is more dangerous for pregnant women, as any virus poses increased risks.

"Any viral infection that goes to the lungs can make a pregnant woman very sick," said Dr. Schwartz, explaining that during pregnancy, a woman's body experiences immunological

and physiological changes which makes it more susceptible to viral infections.

Both of the pregnant women with COVID locally also had pre-existing health issues—one with diabetes and the other with hypertension.

Schwartz said that pregnant women without other health concerns "do pretty well" when it comes to COVID. The developing fetuses inside the women also appear to be doing all right. Schwartz cited a recent study published in the American Journal of OB/GYN in July that indicated a 3.2% vertical transmission rate. An earlier study in China indicated a 2.7% transmission rate.

However, unless there are other health issues associated with the baby—such as a compromised immune system due to premature birth—the illness seems to be mild and is not believed to cause birth defects.

"But there's not a lot of data," Schwartz said, stressing that much remains unknown when it comes to COVID. Noting the inherent issues with a jail where a large number of people reside in close quarters, he said that pregnant women should probably be separated from other inmates.

"They shouldn't probably be in general population," he said. "They probably should be somewhere isolated."

On Friday, Aug. 8, Councilwoman Myers sent a public record request to the county asking for the number of pregnant women in the jail who been tested for COVID-19 and how many of them had positive test results. She also requested all documents that evidence the Escambia County protocol, policies and procedures for testing, safety and appropriate housing for pregnant women and all documents that evidence the criminal charges the eight pregnant women have pending.

COUNTDOWN FOR THE COUNT Every

10 years, the United States government takes an official count of the country's population. Currently, census workers are trying to wrap up the 2020 count.

"We're moving right along," said Marilyn

Stephens, a regional Census manager for the 2020 Census.

In a normal census cycle, it's an effort to get an accurate count. And this year, with the country in the throes of the coronavirus pandemic, is not a normal cycle.

"We try to prepare for every eventuality," Stephens said. "But we did not prepare for this."

The federal government is aiming to complete the 2020 census by late September. Stephens stressed the importance of participating in the count, explaining how the government's allocation of resources and representations is tethered to the census results.

"We gained two seats in Congress last cycle," she said. "It gives us greater representation; it gives us a voice."

Insofar as funding is concerned, the census count comes into play when the federal government determines how much money a given area receives for things like roads and schools. It's used when calculating funds for services such as unemployment insurance, low-income home energy assistance, food assistance programs, WIC and SNAP programs and Pell grants, as well as for programs such as Meals on Wheels for seniors and free school breakfasts for students.

"For once every 10 years, we can take less than 10 minutes to make sure we get our fair share," said Stephens, in what sounds a little like a mantra but isn't, because this is—"Avoid the knock, respond today. That is our mantra."

That's how serious census workers are about getting a complete count. Stephens said that starting Aug. 11, they will begin visiting the residences of people who have yet to respond. If the person isn't home, they will attempt to conduct a proxy interview with a neighbor.

"The interview must be conducted outside," Stephens said, adding that census workers will also be wearing masks.

To forgo that knock, people have a few

other options when it comes to responding to the census. People can respond via the mail, by phone or online. More information can be found at 2020census.gov.

Currently, Escambia County has about a 61% participation rate.

"Which is excellent," Stephens said.

"It's above the state average, slightly below the national average."

Santa Rosa County, meanwhile, is a few points higher at 67.% participation. By the end of September, Stephens is looking for something close to 100%.

"That lets you know our workload," she said.

"We have to account for every household."

HAZARD PAY ATU Local 1395 president

Michael Lowery has repeated his request that some of the CARES Act funds be used for hazard pay for Escambia County Area Transit drivers. To date, County Administrator Janice Gilley has claimed that hazard pay must be in a local municipal and/or collective bargaining agreement prior to the grant submittal, according to Lowery.

In a letter dated July 3, the union disputed the claim, stating the Federal Transit Administration in its guidelines for FTA grantees regarding COVID-19 has said an agreement regarding a bonus or incentive pay didn't have to be reached prior to the pandemic.

Lowery sent a follow-up letter last week. He wrote, "I asked you to tell if you disagreed with the (July 3) letter and otherwise to return to bargaining, and you directed me to contact your negotiator."

Neither the negotiator nor Tonya Ellis, the county's mass transit director, replied to the request to return to bargaining, leaving the drivers in limbo.

"Every day, our members continue to put themselves and their families at risk to provide this important service," Lowery told Ellis in his follow-up letter. "They deserve to be treated with respect … Will you bargain with us to reach an agreement over hazard pay?" {in}

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HOW TO FACTCHECK YOUR FEED We get it. Media literacy isn't sexy, but it's a necessary skill for anyone who's trying to cast informed votes and be an engaged citizen. If our current media landscape didn't already feel like a minefield, 2020 has managed to make it feel like active trench warfare.

So what's an overwhelmed voter to do? Let's review some basic tips on how to stay focused on the facts during the election season.

READ ALL ABOUT IT

We have more access to news from a multitude of sources now than we ever have before. But the downside of the digital democratization of news has been the equalizing of influences between trustworthy and untrustworthy sources.

Here is a really basic checklist to evaluate news articles and links you see online: •What's the domain extension? Do you know the difference between .com, .org, .gov, and .edu?

•Is this from a credible news organization? Do they have a staff and contact information for the author of each story or their editors?

•Is this original fact reporting? How far removed is this organization from the primary sources of the information? Can you compare the coverage to the source yourself—such as looking up transcripts of a hearing or watching a video online?

•Is it opinion, satire, analysis or other subjective interpretation?

•Are at least two named sources quoted or cited?

Credible journalism can be linked to the source of the information shared. If it's original fact reporting and you still have questions, ethical, professional newsrooms make their staff available to answer questions from the public.

If you want a deeper dive into media bias and credibility, check out the Media Bias Chart from Ad Fontes Media at adfontesmedia.com.

cal area as well as federal databases to follow up on the facts when campaign promises and pitchforks start flying.

A quick tool for state and national level news is PolitiFact. This service from The Poynter Institute rates claims from "True" to "Pants on Fire" and gives political pundits and public figures a rating based on the average trustworthiness of their claims.

Bottom line? It's up to us as citizens to hold the line between misinformation and our democratic processes. Do your part by following and sharing credible sources, and try to avoid fanning the flames of propaganda and hyper-partisan clickbait. More next week on how to stay informed without totally losing your marbles this year.

WHAT DOES IT ALL MEME?

Some basic rhetorical criticism skills can go a long way in helping you discern the truth in what you see online. Sure, sometimes memes are just meant to be funny, and sometimes they can be a way to share information in a more visually appealing way to reach a wider audience.

But often they are, at best, a subjective reinterpretation of a personal belief shared by the creator and the poster.

That's not to say that memes are inherently bad. We just want to be mindful of how we interact with memes and the influence we allow them to have on our views and choices. If you see a meme that claims to be informational or sharing evidence, can you verify the claim with at least a couple of non-meme sources? Are you able to maintain a healthy emotional distance from the effect of too many memes, whether they reflect your values and confirm your biases or vice versa?

If you want to fact check a questionable meme on the fly, you can always check snopes.com for a quick review and see if the meme has been debunked or confirmed.

POLITICAL ACCOUNTABILITY

As the primary and general elections draw near, it's our duty to keep political candidates honest. Thankfully, we have plenty tools now to check on both our elected officials and those running for office to see how well their rhetoric lines up with their records.

From Congress to city council, there are a wealth of resources to see how politicians vote, read minutes of meetings and keep up to date on the shifting sands of the political landscape. Get familiar with the municipal websites in your lo-

Pensacola Votes is a nonpartisan voter education and civic engagement guide developed by the team at Inweekly to empower local voters to show up and stay focused.

Got questions? Send them to us at pensacolavotes@gmail.com, or send us a direct message on Instagram, @pensacolavotes.

DATES TO REMEMBER

NOW-AUG. 15—Primary Election Early Voting AUG. 18—Primary Election OCT. 5—General Election Voter Registration Deadline OCT. 24— General Election Vote-by-Mail Ballot Request Deadline OCT. 24-31—General Election Early Voting NOV. 3—General Election August 13, 2020

11

Mia Bolden

Claire Campbell

Heather Hill

Stacey Vann

WORKING IT OUT

Talking passion, business plans and the pandemic with local female fitness entrepreneurs

By Savannah Evanoff

The coronavirus outbreak seemingly slapped a big question mark over the fitness industry.

It shut down gyms and studios for several months—like the new downtown location of Beautiful You Studio, which was forced to close its doors right after the grand opening.

It forced instructors to find creative ways to adapt—like at Ride Society, which started renting out bikes for virtual classes.

It also put an even heavier reliance on technology and social media. Instagram specifically was the key for many personal trainers and fitness influencers, such as Heather Hill.

And even as many fitness venues reopened, they did so differently than before.

Breathe Yoga and Wellness Center has smaller class sizes and a fuller schedule to accommodate for the reduction. Cleaning procedures have been ramped up basically everywhere. And some exercise spaces, like Wild Lemon, are requiring masks throughout the duration of in-studio classes. Disko Lemonade even designed and installed instudio "yogi dividers" to make their space as safe as possible for clients and staff.

The shutdown and changes that followed have taken a toll on fitness enthusiasts, too. Some are still avoiding attending group classes or gyms. Some are taking advantage of virtual options, which places like Ride Society and Wild Lemon are still offering in addition to their limited-capac212 1

ity in-person classes. Some are signing up for classes and adapting to the new "rules," like temperature checks.

But most fitness entrepreneurs are taking it all in stride.

We talked to some local women in the fitness industry who are dominating the game—and doing so in different ways.

Some have launched popular boutique fitness studios and have expanded to own multiple locations. Some are on the cutting edge, pioneering the trends and giving people a fresh take on fitness. Others are strategically branding themselves and generously sharing their knowledge across social media.

We found out how they discovered fitness as their passion, how it became their career and what it's like to be in the industry, in general and during a pandemic.

We chose to focus on women for this story because many people don't know just how many local boutique studios are actually owned and led by women. We wanted to help change that.

CONFIDENCE IS KEY Mia Bolden's fitness career started with her own weight loss journey.

At 300 pounds, she wasn't feeling good about herself, she said.

"I wasn't feeling confident, so I was ready to start working on myself," Bolden said. "I started going to the gym like most

people do, but when I went to the gym, I wasn't having any fun. I didn't like it. I felt people were looking at me."

Bolden had just returned to Pensacola after living in North Carolina.

"I knew when I stayed in North Carolina, Atlanta, Hawaii, that they had pole studios and burlesque studios, and I was like, 'Let's see if they have one of those here. That would be something that's fun to do,'" Bolden said. "I looked and there wasn't one."

Bolden is a hustler at heart, she said.

Why not create one?

"I figured, I'm not the only woman in Pensacola that wants to build up their confidence, feel good about themselves and have a good workout," Bolden said.

So that's what she did—even before she had a studio.

Bolden rented out a building across from her bartending gig for one hour a day, one day a week for burlesque cardio.

"It just blew up," Bolden said. "Consistently, we had 20 or 30 ladies every week saying they had fun and felt good about themselves and didn't know their body could move like that anymore."

Before long, Bolden was teaching classes at Sanders Beach-Corinne Jones Resource Center, fell in love with yoga and added a yoga instructor certification to her arsenal, and had fitness instructors approaching her.

Then came Beautiful You Studio.

This was before Bolden had even

dabbled in vertical pole fitness—something her students frequently asked about and Beautiful You Studio is now known for.

"I was out getting my nails done and had a shirt on that said, 'Ask me about burlesque cardio,'" Bolden said. "A lady that was in there asked me if I offered vertical pole fitness …

She said, 'Oh, I just moved to the area, and I used to co-own a studio in Colorado.'"

The woman wasn't interested in opening a studio but offered to do an instruction program to certify Bolden's instructors in the practice.

Now, it's one of the only classes Bolden is holding at the studio because of the coronavirus outbreak.

"We've always only had four students per class," Bolden said. "Our poles have always been 6 to 8 feet apart. We've always had their own towel. We've always wiped down the poles with alcohol … When we get back to what I guess would be the new normal, we offer bungee fitness, hip-hop cardio, Zumba, POUND, booty camp—a lot of group fitness classes. We also do ladies night out events, bachelorette parties—things like that."

The biggest COVID-19 impact on her studio was losing the fresh start in their new downtown location. The grand opening was March 8.

"We had to close down a week and a half after that for two months," Bolden said. "It took everything I had to move in and then had to close. Other than that, ladies have been, inweekly.net

'Thank you so much for being open,' especially with all this craziness; they have somewhere to get away. I've had ladies sign up because we do only have four students in class."

From vertical pole fitness to booty camps, Bolden's classes are obviously spicy. But to be clear, they aren't just fun— it's a good workout.

But Bolden said most who attend are there for something more than a workout.

"When people see poles, they think of one of two things—automatically either a stripper or, 'Gosh, these girls are so strong to be able to do that,'" Bolden said. "Some ladies come in just to see if they're able to do that. I have ladies who come in here who have been sexually abused in their past, and they've never been comfortable or felt good about their bodies, and they come in and start feel good about themselves and know they're sexy. Or ladies who just want to boost their confidence. Or have been married 20 or 30 years and have gotten away from themselves. It's definitely a lot of inner work that happens in here."

What Bolden loves most is the transformation women experience. She has students ages 18 to 73.

"I've had ladies cry and say, 'I never thought I'd be able to invert or headstand or power hold,'" Bolden said, "or, 'I've lost weight and I feel so good about myself,' or the ladies who say, 'I haven't had anyone or a boyfriend touch me in seven years because of the sexual abuse, and I come in here and I feel good about myself and I've been able to open up.'"

RIDE ON Claire Campbell is a Pensacola native, but she moved to New York City to study filmmaking in college.

Living there was exactly like you'd expect.

"It's a fast-paced lifestyle," Campbell said. "New Yorkers work crazy hours."

But in between moving at the speed of lightning, Campbell stumbled upon a specific type of spin class that centered her.

"It's called rhythm riding, meaning we ride to the beat of the music, so it's a very immersive experience," Campbell said. "Our studio is really dark. We have candlelight.

It's production lighting. It's really loud. It's an all-encompassing theatrical experience."

For Campbell, it blended her two worlds— filmmaking and fitness—into one. It was the physical and mental outlet she craved.

The fitness industry in New York is different, too. Then, it was on the cusp of something fresh.

"Living in New York, I was exposed to the incredible evolution of boutique fitness and how fitness became more of a promi-

Learn more about the entrepreneurs and studios mentioned in this story and book or stream classes:

August 13, 2020

nent lifestyle activity," Campbell said. "We joke that working out is the new going out, right? With the rise of athleisure brands, these unique specified boutique studios were on the come-up."

When she came home to Pensacola, though, it wasn't.

"I was shocked to see this type of workout didn't exist in the South," Campbell said.

But Campbell was a producer. It's her instinct to create, she said. And because of that, Ride Society was born.

"It was a passion project for me to move home and start my studio," Campbell said. "I saw the growth Pensacola was experiencing, the renaissance that downtown was undergoing. I literally just took a leap of faith and put my heart and soul into building my brand.

And here we are, almost two years later. It's been a wonderful ride—no pun intended."

A part of her success is rooted in the nature of the style of exercise. It can be an emotional experience, she said.

"It's very cinematic in that the music is what drives the class," Campbell said. "Our riders are pushed to be vulnerable."

While Campbell thinks it's more challenging for men to be vulnerable, her classes have plenty of male participants, too.

"Spin is inclusive to everyone—whether you're pregnant, you've been out of your fitness game for a while or you're new to fitness. It's a very easily accessible method because you're in control of your bike," Campbell said. "That's really what we want to be the culture of our studio is to be all-inclusive and encourage everyone to listen to their bodies and give it a try.

We encourage men and women to ride."

Ride Society was affected by the coronavirus outbreak.

"Who wasn't?" Campbell said.

Luckily, her team used it as an opportunity to get creative, she said. They rented out some of their bikes and launched virtual classes. They are also running inperson classes at half capacity to accommodate for social distancing and increasing the class offerings.

"We had messages from our regulars expressing their concern for their mental health because they were going crazy being cooped up and not moving their body like they're used to—especially in a group environment," Campbell said. "For people who are into group fitness, it's so much more motivating with a tribe. That was what was really the inspiration to get our bikes out to the world and our people."

STILL INFLUENCING Heather Hill, a group fitness instructor and personal trainer for eight years, has made it her goal to motivate others to find

their best selves mentally and physically through movement.

"I think everyone needs to know that fitness and health isn't a thing you 'do,'" Hill said.

"Fitness and health is a regimen you abide by to feel good, to be able to mentally and physically succeed at things you desire to do—whether that be walk around the block or climb Mt. Everest. Day in and day out, you take that time to just move your body and fuel your soul."

Her love for fitness started simply.

"I moved to a new place, needed a job and found one in a gym," Hill said. "Just so happened to find my passion within."

Being a woman in the industry isn't a factor to her. She decided not to differentiate gender as a challenge.

"Rather, if you have a challenge within your field, you have growth to go within yourself to find the confidence and individuality in the skills you have to offer, regardless of your gender," Hill said. "Work hard, embrace the setbacks and fight against the norm to find your success."

Luckily, the coronavirus outbreak hasn't been much of a deterrent. The only change she has made is wearing a mask to protect others and going out less. " Thankfully I'm a homebody," Hill said.

And social media is a large part of it. Hill offers health and wellness tips on her catchy Instagram handle @healthydoseofheather.

"Thank goodness for social media," Hill said. "Without it, millions of us wouldn't have a way to connect. Social media had a breakthrough in March when most fitness studios and instructors decided to take to social media to host their classes. How amazing is that?

In such weird times, we have the luxury of hopping on the internet at the snap of a finger and still do our regularly scheduled workout."

When asked if Hill had any misconceptions about health she would like to debunk, Hill said diets.

"Keto, no sugar, low carb— I debunk you," Hill said. "I don't believe in your average diet, and if you want to argue it, I'm all ears. I don't believe in it and I never will. To sacrifice food and mentally make one feel as if it's not OK is not OK. Feed your body and nourish it with the fuel that it needs. Never sacrifice your body's health for a 'diet.'"

'YOGA IS LIFE' Stacey Vann didn't meet yoga the traditional way.

She didn't walk into a studio. She wasn't searching for introductory videos on YouTube.

She stumbled into it through Indian philosophy in college.

"I was studying various spiritual paths," Vann said. "Reading the texts, I was like, 'What is this physical practice?'"

But honestly, she'd already been practicing.

"Even as a young child, I was doing yoga positions," Vann said. "My mom was like, 'Gymnastics,' and I was like, 'It's not gymnastics,' then, 'Ballet,' and, 'It's not ballet.'"

Like any other discipline—karate, taekwondo, jiu-jitsu—teaching yoga is a life path. And Vann knew it was hers.

At 24, she did her first yoga teacher training and opened her first studio. She started the year of 1998 with four classes and ended with 20.

"I was at the boom of yoga when it started," Vann said. "It was that right place, right timing and being intuitive to what was coming."

Vann has always had an "entrepreneurial spirit," she said. The coronavirus outbreak was a game-changer for her and co-owner Christa Sonnier at Breathe Yoga and Wellness Center.

She loves collaborating with another woman, sharing the workload, making decisions and supporting each other in every aspect of their business.

"I'm so glad I didn't have to navigate this alone," Vann said. "That's the most important piece. It gives you that affirmation. You feel more strength and courage and groundedness to move forward. Having to be shut down for three months and being categorized as nonessential—in my 22 years, I've never had to stop for three months.

Adaptability is the key through it all."

To accommodate, they offer online classes and smaller class sizes that allow for social distancing.

Because of the state-mandated shutdown, Vann wonders if she will able to keep all three of her locations. And she knows she isn't alone in that circumstance.

But yoga is Vann's lifestyle. It's responsible for how she approaches every life event, including COVID-19.

"Life is yoga—there is no separation," Vann said. "It's always going to be teaching you something, being flexible on many levels."

The lifestyle isn't just something Vann does on the mat. It's an amazing aspect of it but a small one, too, she said. It's the integration of mind, body and spirit. "(That's) to be able to be in alignment, stay connected to your body, be able to be free of pain, breathe more easily, connect with your breath, know how to really feel your body—feel your feet on the ground," Vann said. "We can say, 'Yes, I've mastered the downward dog' … How are you applying what you learn on the mat into the world?"

And Vann is here to serve the community—always, but especially now. Like after a hurricane, people are rebuilding, she said.

"A lot of what my message is now is, 'Hey, if you need assistance or support in any way, please reach out,'" Vann said. "If someone finds themselves in need, please don't be in silence about it." {in}

BEAUTIFUL YOU STUDIO

DISKO LEMONADE

RIDE SOCIETY

513 W. Intendencia St. facebook.com/pensacoladance

120 S. Jefferson St. (Southtowne) diskolemonade.com

BREATHE YOGA & WELLNESS CENTER

HEATHER HILL

WILD LEMON

505 S. Adams St. (Downtown) 101 E. Cervantes St. (Scenic) breathepcola.com

@healthydoseofheather

3 S. Palafox ridesociety.com

3000 N. 12th Ave. beawildlemon.com

13

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inweekly.net

WEEK OF AUGUST 13-19

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

Black Lives Matter Everywhere, Including Niceville

By Alexandria Sellers

What began as a small group of high school students with homemade posters has grown into a fully mobilized organization dedicated to advocating for racial justice.

The Niceville Black Lives Matter (BLM) group formed earlier this summer in response to the murder of George Floyd.

The students' initial goal was to raise local awareness of the global BLM movement.

They started by marching and affixing posters to Niceville High School's fence, but within a day of decorating the fence, all of their posters were torn down. This effort to silence the group only made them more determined. As they cleaned up, the students decided they needed a more permanent way to display their message. That's where Project I'mpossible, a local nonprofit founded by mother-daughter team Misti and Hannah Schneidewind, stepped in to help.

"This all started when my daughter, Hannah, was in high school," said Misti Schneidewind. "Young people have so much potential. They have big ideas and the drive to make them happen. They have not been hardened by the world, and they are not afraid to speak up and take action when the cause is something they're passionate about. It's an honor that our nonprofit helps them make those things happen."

In less than a month, Project I'mpossible raised more than enough money to launch Niceville BLM's four-part billboard series, the August 13, 2020

first of which went up in mid-July and will be displayed for eight weeks. The organization plans to create three more billboards that will be displayed in other areas around the city.

"People ask me, 'Why a billboard?' My answer is because representation matters," the mother told Inweekly. "When you are a minority and you see the school you attend, the town you live in or the company you work for actively speak out on your behalf, you know you belong. Representation opens up the door to conversations we did not know we needed."

Each letter on the first billboard was designed by a different young local artist.

The Niceville BLM website contains a brief profile on each of these up-and-coming designers, offering a look into the inspirations that inform their work.

"It speaks louder than words," said Hannah Schneidewind. "Art conveys passion, desperation and a hope for better."

BEYOND THE BILLBOARDS

Jaida May, a member of Niceville BLM, hopes that these billboards will spread awareness of the movement while encouraging viewers to embrace the message of equality and further educate themselves on matters of racial justice.

"This movement is a time for the unheard Black people in our country to finally speak out and fight for a change in their communities," said May. "Living in a small city where I am part

of the minority, I believe this movement is a great platform to educate those who are unaware of the racial injustices Black people and other minority groups have dealt with in the past and the issues we continue to deal with in society today. I hope people will take the time to learn and understand that this isn't a political movement; it's a human rights movement."

In addition to peaceful protests and the billboards, Niceville BLM has established itself on social media this summer.

"I hope people will take the time to learn and understand that this isn't a political movement; it's a human rights movement." Jaida May One of Niceville BLM's social media administrators, who has chosen to remain anonymous, is using the platform to amplify Black voices by highlighting local people of color who are willing to share their experiences with racism.

"Niceville is a really small town, and, unfortunately, many people of color hide in the shadows and are afraid to speak out on the racism in our city because it is a predominantly white town," she said. "The goal for this account is simply to open people's minds and hearts to how people of color are oppressed and have been for hundreds of years."

Keeping the spotlight on the individual stories and experiences of people of color allows the social media admin to continue creating authentic content. They are passionate about content that hits home for the people of Niceville and opens people's eyes to the need for the BLM movement within their own town.

"Coming from a mixed family and being a military kid, I have seen many different cultures, races and families. Niceville is unlike any of the other places I've lived. During my freshman year at NHS, I was shocked to hear the N-word and other racial slurs multiple times. No one really reacted or did anything about it," said the administrator. "So this movement is important to me. It's like a jolt for many caring and compassionate people to join together and stand up for peace. Seeing people in my town gather, march and have these difficult conversations about justice fills me with so much joy."

Along with their billboard project and social media activism, Niceville BLM is currently working with NHS and other schools in Okaloosa County to create diversity councils that will work to foster inclusive learning environments and curriculum.

Hannah Schneidewind spoke from her personal experience in regard to the necessity of creating inclusive environments for young people.

"As an openly gay youth, I've faced discrimination," she said. "My old community forced me to live in fear. It is nothing close to what people of color face on a daily basis, but I know that the lack of LGBT representation and the lack of support in my hometown played a huge role in my decision to go away to college to a more accepting place. Likewise, the more representation of people of color that the panhandle sees, the more progress will be made."

The billboards aren't the last you'll hear of Niceville BLM. When the series has run its course, they plan on reusing the vinyl from their signs by sending it to Rareform, a company that makes accessories specifically from recycled billboard vinyl. All proceeds from the sale of these accessories will go towards their next ventures.

"We can make a difference," Misti Schneidewind said. "These youth are our future. And they will not be silenced." {in} For more on Niceville BLM, visit nicevilleblm.org or follow them on social media @Blacklivesmatterniceville.

15

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

NONPROFITS & FUNDRAISERS

THE BIG RED BUS AT A LITTLE MADNESS BREWING COMPANY Saturday,

Aug. 15, from 1-6 p.m., stop by A Little Madness, located at 9838 N. Davis Highway, to donate blood to OneBlood and receive a free tote bag and a $5 voucher to the brewery. All donors also receive a wellness checkup, including a COVID-19 antibody test, blood pressure, temperature, iron count, pulse and cholesterol screening.

For more information, visit facebook.com/ alittlemadnessbrewingcompany.

DRIVE-THRU FOOD PANTRY On Saturday, Aug. 15, First Baptist Church of Pensacola will host a large-scale food distribution from 8 a.m.-noon or until food is gone.

Food will include produce, canned goods and a five-day emergency food box.

There will be enough food for 1,200 cars.

First Baptist is located at 500 N. Palafox.

Vehicles should enter via the Guillemard Street entrance.

For volunteer information, visit fbcp. org/drive-thru-food-pantry.

HOPS THEN ADOPTS Join Saving with

Soul Pet Rescue of Northwest Florida and Infinity Pets & Company at Perfect Plain to meet highly adoptable dogs at 6:30 p.m.

Friday, Aug. 14. Masks are recommended.

Perfect Plain is located at 50 E. Garden St. For more information, visit facebook.com/ perfectplainbrewingco.

KITTEN AND CAT ADOPTION AT PETSMART Come by and find your fluffy

BFF noon-4 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 15, at PetSmart, 6251 N. Davis Highway. All cats are up to date on shots and tested negative for leukemia, and the adoption fee includes spay or neuter with microchip and flea pill.

Minimum donation fees are $90 for kittens up to one year and $55-$75 for adults.

Community cat information is available.

Learn to help cats in your neighborhood.

Bring hand sanitizer, wear a mask and follow distancing guidelines.

CAT/KITTEN SUPPLIES FOR PET PANTRY CRITICALLY LOW AT PENSACOLA HUMANE SOCIETY The Pensacola

Humane Society's Pet Pantry is in need of donations, especially for kittens. Kitten season is in full swing, and the pantry is low on essential kitten supplies, such as cat and kitten food, kitten formula, litter, bedding and other items.

The Pet Pantry provides dog and cat food, litter and treats at no cost to pet owners who come to the shelter and present an acceptable form of identification, such as a driver's license. The Pet Pantry is open 10 a.m.-4 p.m. seven days a week at 5 Q St. For more information, visit pensacolahumane.org.

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DOGGIE BATHE-INS RESUME The Pen-

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

Bathe-ins offer low-cost dog bathing and flea dips during the warm weather season.

Events are held the third Saturday of the month, April through October, and continue as follows—Aug. 15, Sept. 19 and Oct. 17.

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

ARTS + CULTURE

MUSEUMS UPDATES+NEW EXHIBITION

The T.T. Wentworth and Pensacola Museum of Art (PMA) are now open Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m.

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

Starting Aug. 15, PMA's latest exhibition opens. "…I Forgot to Laugh" demonstrates how artists in recent years have used humor to explore identity, social injustice and the absurdity of modern life. By subverting expectations through surprising materials, challenging the notion of fine art and using humor to create space for taboo subjects, these artists show the power of tackling serious topics with levity.

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

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

ARTEL GALLERY'S EXHIBITIONS ON DISPLAY Artel's latest exhibition is titled

"The Good, The Bad & The Ugly." The exhibition is on view now-Sept. 3. Other exhibited shows include "Places I Went To, People I Saw" and "How to Disappear by Summer Sevi." For more information, visit artelgallery.org.

COLLECTION UNCORKED: AT HOME

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

Collection Uncorked invites visitors to learn more about the permanent collection through curated wine and art pairings. Chief Curator Anna Wall and Shaffer, a certified specialist of wine, are collaborating to match works of art with wines whose flavor profile or origins complement the art, artist or subject matter. This limited-edition curated box of three wines allows you to recreate the experience at home. Inside, you'll find reproductions of the works of art with narratives to guide you on your journey.

Each box is $65. Order by noon on Wednesday of each week and pick up at

Pot Roast & Pinot the following Saturday.

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

follow Pensacola Symphony Orchestra on Facebook to see videos of orchestra musicians performing special works from their homes. To watch, visit facebook.com/pensacolasymphony.

Beautiful programming fundraiser and pollution awareness event. Artists are welcome to participate with any level of experience, whether hobbyist or professional. Each piece submitted should be comprised of at least 50% litter. Due to COVID-19, KPB recommends using your discretion when picking up litter off the ground. Art pieces may also be created using trash from your home. Artists may also pick through sorted bins of trash at the KPB office left over from last year.

"Pieces Adrift is a creative and unique way to unite the community in achieving a common goal—making Pensacola a beautiful place to live, work and play. It brings awareness to the perpetuating issue of litter and ocean pollution on our beaches and roadways.

By repurposing trash as art, we hope to inspire our community to be mindful of what and how they throw it away," says Madelyn Newton, Marketing and Development, VISTA. The deadline for submissions is Sept. 1.

For more information, please email marketing@keeppensacolabeautiful.org.

OPERALIVE Pensacola Opera is keep-

LIVE MUSIC

BALLET PENSACOLA VIRTUAL PROGRAMMING The Ballet Pensacola Virtual

Programming Series gives ballet fans a look at performances in the comfort of their own homes—or anywhere their devices take them.

Utilizing a new soundstage built by the ballet's technicians, the artists will reimagine, repurpose and relaunch two beloved ballets from the Ballet Pensacola repertoire—"Alice in Wonderland" (a 2017 premiere) and "The Matrix " (a 2013 premiere). For more information, visit facebook.com/balletpensacola.

PENSACOLA SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA "VIRTUALLY TOGETHER" Be sure to

ing patrons connected through their new online series OperaLIVE. Episodes typically include things like interviews and performances with artists, plus appearances by Pensacola Opera staff.

For updates on new episodes or to watch past ones, visit facebook.com/ pensacolaopera. You can also subscribe to their channel on YouTube.

WORKSHOPS AT STUDIO SOUTH

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

SINGERS' CINEMA Every Friday after-

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

CALL FOR ARTISTS

FCAC JURIED SHOW Calling all local artists to submit their work for Gallery 1060's Third Annual Juried Show at First City Art Center. All media is welcome. Entry Fee is $20 for FCAC members, $25 for non-members. Curbside drop-off dates are Thursday, Aug. 27, 1-4 p.m.; Friday, Aug. 28, 1-4 p.m.; and Saturday, Aug. 29, 11 a.m.-1 p.m.

Full details and requirements can be found on Gallery 1060's website at gallery1060.com/2020-juried-show.

PIECES ADRIFT ART SHOW Keep Pen-

sacola Beautiful is recruiting artists to participate in their Pieces Adrift Art Show and Silent Auction. Pieces Adrift is a Keep Pensacola

OPEN JAM AT ARTEL GALLERY Artel

Gallery is open from 5-7 p.m. Wednesdays and Saturdays for open jam with Pensacola Folk Music Society. Feel free to visit and listen to music. Artel Gallery is located at 223 S. Palafox.

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

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.

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

LIVE MUSIC AT RED FISH BLUE FISH

Live music is back at Red Fish Blue Fish from 6-10 p.m. Wednesdays through Sundays. For a calendar of bands, visit facebook.com/redfishbluefishpensacolabeach.

LIVE MUSIC AT WATER PIG BBQ Enjoy BBQ with a view and live music 6-10 p.m.

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

FITNESS + RECREATION

GULF COAST BREWERY RUN Thursdays at 6 p.m., join Pensacola Runners

inweekly.net

a&e happenings Association for a 5K fun run. Enjoy a free beer after the run and complimentary games such as cornhole, ping pong and more. Gulf Coast Brewery is located at 500 E. Heinberg St. For more information, visit facebook.com/gulfcoastbrewery.

MEDITATIONS IN THE LABYRINTH

Join Empathic Practice and Felipe Muñoz for weekly mediations 5:30 p.m. on Fridays. The meditations are held at Long Hollow Park on Guillemard Street and are an opportunity for people to get together and practice guided meditations, singing bowl meditation and labyrinth walk meditation. All classes are free, although donations are accepted. Social distancing will be practiced. Bring your own mat or pillow. For more information, visit facebook.com/empathicpractice.

BACKYARD YOGA AT ADONNA'S BAKERY Get your yoga practice in the backyard of Adonna's Bakery. Classes are 9 a.m.

Wednesdays and 9:30 a.m. Sundays, weather permitting. Cost is $10. Class size is limited to 12 to allow for social distancing. Register through the fitDEGREE app. For more information, visit facebook.com/diskolemonade.

BEER GARDEN YOGA Join Coastal County Brewing Company Saturday, Aug. 15, at 9 a.m. for the new Yoga in the Garden Series. Classes will be led by Tara Taylor, a highly experienced instructor from Breathe Pensacola. All skill levels are welcome. Cost is $10 and includes a pint of beer after the class.

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

YOGA CLASSES AT EVER'MAN Stretch your muscles with Beginner Yoga at 10 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. (at the Nine Mile store) Thursdays; 4:30 p.m. on Tuesdays; and 11:45 a.m. Wednesdays. Funky yoga is at 6 p.m. (eight-person limit) on Tuesdays.

Vinyasa Yoga Flow is 6 p.m. Wednesdays.

All classes are at Ever'man, located at 327 W. Garden St. unless otherwise noted. For more information, visit everman.org.

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

Wednesday, Aug. 19, at Ever'man, located at 327 W. Garden St. For more information, visit everman.org.

TRANSMISSION MEDITATION WORLD SERVICE Class is 1 p.m., Sunday,

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

TRANSGENDER ALLIANCE The next

meeting is 4 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 16, at Ever'man, located at 327 W. Garden St. For more information, visit everman.org.

YOGA WITH ADRON CHAMBERS Yoga with Adron is back on Thursday and Saturdays with Asher & Bee Apothecary and Tea House. Classes are 6 p.m. Thursdays and 9 a.m. Saturdays. Cost is $11. Classes are August 13, 2020

open to everyone including beginners, novices and masters. Asher & Bee is located at 3014 N. Ninth Ave. To register for classes, email 11adron56@gmail.com.

BLUE WAHOOS AND BUBBA WATSON OPEN STADIUM DISC GOLF COURSE The Pensacola Blue Wahoos

and team co-owner Bubba Watson have partnered to bring disc golf to Blue Wahoos Stadium. The course covers the entirety of the stadium and is open to the public from noon-8 p.m. on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.

Admission is $5 per player per round.

Children ages 6-12, seniors, military members and first responders will receive a $1 admission discount. Children 5 and under receive free admission with a paid adult.

To ensure the safety of participants and in adherence with COVID-19 guidelines, new groups will be allowed to begin playing the course every 15 minutes. Players are encouraged to bring their own discs or to purchase a three-disk starter pack from the Blue Wahoos for $25. Disc rental is not available in accordance with safety. Go to Wahoos Stadium and visit the Bait & Tackle Store behind home plate to register. A scorecard and course map will be provided to each player. For more information, visit bluewahoos.com.

BIKE PENSACOLA SHARES SLOW RIDE ROUTES If you're missing the

BEST DAMN BBQ IN THE SOUTH! WEEKLY LIVE MUSIC WEDNESDAY - SUNDAY 6PM - 10PM A BEACHFRONT BBQ EXPERIENCE ON PENSACOLA BEACH SERVING AUTHENTIC, LOW-AND-SLOW SMOKED BBQ DAILY.

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NEXT TO RED FISH BLUE FISH PENSACOLA BEACH

monthly slow rides, here's a chance to enjoy the routes. Bike Pensacola is sharing slow ride maps from popular events. Find the maps on Facebook at facebook.com/ bikepensacola. You will still need to adhere to safety and social distancing guidelines.

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. Supplies will be provided, but volunteers are welcome to bring their own.

For locations, visit oceanhourfl.com.

FOOD + WINE

CELEBRITY CHEF COOKOUTS AT SEVILLE QUARTER Thursdays, a Celebrity

Guest Chef will be cooking up a delicious culinary experience from 5-7 p.m. in the End O' The Alley Courtyard.

The featured Celebrity Guest Chefs will create their own menu in collaboration with Seville Quarter's executive chef, Cameron Mitchell. Look forward to a different entrée and side dish of entertainment every week.

UPCOMING CELEBRITY CHEFS •Aug. 13 Brian Morris, BBQ Pulled Pork, Baked Beans, Potato Salad with Bread Roll •Aug. 20 Bud Lovoy, Italian Red Sauce with Meatballs •Aug. 27 Theresa Williams, Crawfish Fettuccine •Sept. 3 Kelly Mcgraw, Chicken Hunter Style •Sept. 10 Bill Carlson, Andouille and Chicken Jambalaya For more information, visit sevillequarter.com. for more listings visit inweekly.net 17

free will astrology WEEK OF AUGUST 13 ARIES (MARCH 21-APRIL 19): Motiva-

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tional speaker Les Brown says his mission in life is to help people become uncomfortable with their mediocrity. That same mission is suitable for many of you Rams, as well. And I suspect you'll be able to generate interesting fun and good mischief if you perform it in the coming weeks.

Here's a tip on how to make sure you do it well—Don't use shame or derision as you motivate people to be uncomfortable with their mediocrity. A better approach is to be a shining example that inspires them to be as bright as you are.

TAURUS (APRIL 20-MAY 20): Taurus

musician and visual artist Brian Eno has a practical, down-to-earth attitude about making beautiful things, which he has done in abundance. He says that his goal is not to generate wonderful creations nonstop— that's not possible—but rather to always be primed to do his best when inspiration strikes. In other words, it's crucial to tirelessly hone his craft, to make sure his skills are constantly at peak capacity. I hope you've been approaching your own labors of love with that in mind, Taurus. If you have, you're due for creative breakthroughs in the coming weeks. The diligent efforts you've invested in cultivating your talents are about to pay off. If, on the other hand, you've been a bit lazy about detail-oriented discipline, correct that problem now. There's still time to get yourself in top shape.

GEMINI (MAY 21-JUNE 20): In his 2010

album "My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy," Gemini musician Kanye West confesses the decadent and hedonist visions that fascinate and obsess him. Personally, I'm not entertained by the particular excesses he claims to indulge in; they're generic and unoriginal and boring. But I bet that the beautiful dark twisted fantasies simmering in your imagination, Gemini, are more unique and intriguing. In accordance with astrological omens, I invite you to spend quality time in the coming weeks diving in and exploring those visions in glorious detail. Get to know them better. Embellish them. Meditate on the feelings they invoke and the possibility that they have deeper spiritual meanings. (P.S. But don't act them out, at least not now.)

CANCER (JUNE 21-JULY 22): "Make

113 Palafox Place (Across from Saenger Theatre)

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(850) 434-2060 818 1

all your decisions based on how hilarious it would be if you did it," advises Cancerian actor Aubrey Plaza. I wish it were that simple. How much more fun we might all have if the quest for amusement and laughter were among our main motivating principles. But no, I don't recommend that you always determine your course of action by what moves will generate the most entertainment and mirth. Having said that, though, I do suspect the next few weeks may in fact be a good time to experiment with using Plaza's formula.

By Rob Brezsny

LEO (JULY 23-AUG. 22): In the diction-

ary, the first definition of "magic" is "the art of producing illusions as entertainment by the use of sleight of hand and deceptive devices." A far more interesting definition, which is my slight adjustment of an idea by occultist Aleister Crowley, doesn't appear in most dictionaries. Here it is—"Magic is the science and art of causing practical changes to occur in accordance with your will—under the rigorous guidance of love."

According to my analysis of the astrological omens, the latter definition could and should be your specialty during the next four weeks.

VIRGO (AUG. 23-SEPT. 22): "The soul, like the moon, is new, and always new again," wrote 14th-century mystic poet Lalleswari. I will amend her poetic formulation, however. The fact is that the soul, unlike the moon, is always new in different ways; it doesn't have a predictable pattern of changing as the moon does. That's what makes the soul so mysterious and uncanny. No matter how devotedly we revere the soul, no matter how tenderly we study the soul, it's always beyond our grasp. It's forever leading us into unknown realms that teem with new challenges and delights. I invite you to honor and celebrate these truths in the coming weeks, Virgo.

It's time to exult in the shiny dark riddles of your soul.

LIBRA (SEPT. 23-OCT. 22): "I have one talent, and that is the capacity to be tremendously surprised," writes Libran author Diane Ackerman. I advise you to foster that talent, too, in the weeks ahead. If you're feeling brave, go even further. Make yourself as curious as possible. Deepen your aptitude for amazements and epiphanies.

Cultivate an appreciation for revelations and blessings that arrive from outside your expectations. To the degree that you do these things, the wonderments that come your way will tend to be enlivening and catalytic; unpredictability will be fun and educational.

SCORPIO (OCT. 23-NOV. 21): Author

and theologian Frederick Buechner writes, "If we are to love our neighbors, before doing anything else we must see our neighbors. With our imagination as well as our eyes, we must see not just their faces but also the life behind and within their faces."

The coming weeks will be prime time for you to heed Buechner's advice, Scorpio.

You're in a phase when you'll have extra power to understand and empathize with others. Taking full advantage of that potential will serve your selfish aims in profound ways, some of which you can't imagine yet.

SAGITTARIUS (NOV. 22-DEC. 21):

"Refine your rapture," advised occultist Aleister Crowley. Now is an excellent time to take that advice. How might you go about doing it? Well, you could have a long conversation with your deep psyche—and see if you can plumb hidden secrets about

what gives it sublime pleasure. You could seek out new ways to experience euphoria and enchantment—with an emphasis on ways that also make you smarter and healthier. You might also take inventory of your current repertoire of bliss-inducing strategies—and cultivate an enhanced capacity to get the most out of them.

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

you ready to make the transition from slow, deep, subtle and dark to fast, high, splashy and bright? Are you interested in shifting your focus from behind-the-scenes to right up front and totally out in the open?

Would it be fun and meaningful for you to leave behind the stealthy, smoldering mysteries and turn your attention to the sweet, blazing truths? All these changes can be yours—and more. To get the action started, jump up toward the sky three times, clicking your heels together during each mid-leap.

AQUARIUS (JAN. 20-FEB. 18): Greenland is a mostly autonomous territory within the nation of Denmark. In 2019, US President Donald Trump announced that his government was interested in buying the massive island, describing it as "a large real estate deal" that would add considerable strategic value to his country. A satirical story in The New Yorker subsequently claimed that Denmark responded with a counter-offer, saying it wasn't interested in the deal, but "would be interested in purchasing the United States in its entirety, with the exception of its government." I offer this as an example for you to be inspired by. The coming weeks will be a favorable time for you to flip the script, turn the tables, reverse the roles, transpose the narrative, and switch the rules of the game.

PISCES (FEB. 19-MARCH 20): Author Doris Lessing told us, "It is our stories that will recreate us." Whenever we're hurt or confused or demoralized, she suggested, we need to call on the imagination to conjure up a new tale for ourselves. "It is the storyteller, the dream-maker, the myth-maker, that is our phoenix," she believed. The fresh narratives we choose to reinvent ourselves may emerge from our own dreams, meditations, or fantasies. Or they might flow our way from a beloved movie or song or book.

I suspect you're ready for this quest, Pisces.

Create a new saga for yourself.

THIS WEEK'S HOMEWORK: What is a blessing you can realistically believe life might bestow on you in the coming months? Testify at freewillastrology.com.

freewillastrology.com

freewillastrology@freewillastrology.com Rob Brezsny © Copyright 2020

inweekly.net

news of the weird RECENT ALARMING HEADLINE A July 29 headline in the Ken-Ton Bee in Kenmore, New York, caught the attention of The Buffalo News: "Leprechaun spotted looting cars on Hamilton Boulevard."

Kenmore Police Capt. A.J. Kiefer told The News a white male with orange hair and wearing a green shirt (and "possibly plaid pants") was reported to be looting vehicles on the street July 23. Police arrested the 36-year-old, who measured 5 feet 11 inches and had someone else's debit card, but no pot of gold, according to Kiefer. He was charged with petit larceny.

GOVERNMENT IN ACTION About 176 Rhode Island taxpayers waiting for their refund checks got a surprise when the checks they received in late July arrived bearing the signatures of "Mickey Mouse" and "Walt Disney" instead of state officials.

State Department of Revenue chief of staff Jade Borgeson told WPRI that the division of taxation uses the signatures on dummy checks for internal testing, and the test image files were mistakenly added to real checks. "Corrected checks will be reissued to impacted taxpayers within one week," Borgeson said.

KAREN NOT KAREN Domino's pizza restaurants in New Zealand were forced to end a promotion to give free pizza to women named Karen "that aren't, well, Karens," the promotion announcement read. United Press International reported that customers named Karen were invited to fill out an application for one of 100 free pizzas, but people objected online, suggesting the chain offer food to minorities or people who have been impacted by COVID-19. "We wanted to bring a smile to customers who are doing the right thing— Karen the nurse, Karen the teacher," the company posted on Facebook, but "people interpreted this in a different way."

LEAST COMPETENT CRIMINALS Edward Thomas Schinzing, 32, was charged July 28 with arson for allegedly setting fires inside the Justice Center in Portland, Oregon, on May 29, beginning two months of protest in that city. The Oregonian reported the shirtless Schinzing stood out among about 30 people who broke into the building around 10:59 p.m., vandalizing offices and setting fires, because of the large tattoo of his last name clearly visible across his shoulders on surveillance images, according to court documents. Schinzing, who was on probation at the time for domestic violence assault, is being held at the Justice Center.

•Pueblo, Colorado, police were intrigued to find a young man sleeping in a car parked behind a motel on Aug. 2, "since motels have rooms, with beds, that you can sleep in," said Capt. Tom Rummel in a tweet.

By the Editors at Andrews McMeel

Upon running the car's license plate, he continued, the officers found it had been stolen in an armed carjacking, and "there on the front seat was a sawed-off shotgun, just like the victim said was used yesterday!" KKTV reported the sleepy thief, a juvenile, was taken into custody and the car was returned to its owner.

POLICE REPORT A 26-year-old man in Plymouth, England, was detained on July 9 after officers working nearby heard a commotion and looked up to see the man struggling with a seagull and biting it. "He sunk his teeth into it before throwing it to the floor," a police spokesperson told Plymouth Live. The man told police the seagull had attacked him, trying to get his McDonald's meal, and also "volunteered ... that he was under the influence of drugs ... The seagull was clearly injured by the incident but flew off before we were able to check on its welfare," police said. The man was taken to a hospital for treatment.

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CAN'T TAKE A JOKE After pub owner Steve Cotten jokingly announced in July that the beer garden at the Poltimore Arms in Devon, England, would become the Yarde Down International Airport for the summer, offering sightseeing flights, he was surprised to receive an official letter from Exmoor National Park Authority's planning officer expressing concern about the change: "We have a duty to look into such matters to understand if there is a breach, and if so, whether any action is necessary." Devon Live reported Cotten responded promptly in a social media post, saying, "All long haul flights have been suspended forthwith ... We apologise for any delays, and remind you that the departure lounge facilities are still open." The park authority replied with good humor, and the taps remain open.

REVENGE An unnamed man in Cairns, North Queensland, Australia, posted notices offering a $100 prize to the person able to best impersonate Chewbacca from "Star Wars," but the contest turned out to be a hoax designed to harass the woman who dumped him. The posters listed the woman's phone number and invited contestants to call and deliver their best Chewbacca roar. The woman, identified only as Jessica, told 9News: "I'm getting phone calls at really strange hours of the night. ... I thought it was quite funny, actually, a good joke." However, she drew the line when the ex abandoned his car, without tires, in the driveway of her home, blocking her in. "The police ... are going to do something about it," she said. {in}

From Andrews McMeel Syndication News Of The Weird © 2020 Andrews McMeel

Send your weird news items to WeirdNewsTips@amuniversal.com August 13, 2020

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