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Independent News | June 10, 2021 | Volume 22 | Number 23

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winners & losers

outtakes

news 6

It's not right.

feature story

buzz 10

publisher Rick Outzen

graphic designer Tim Bednarczyk

editor & creative director Joani Delezen

contributing writers Gina Castro, Savannah Evanoff, Jennifer Leigh, Jeremy Morrison, Sydney Robinson, C.S. Satterwhite

calendar 14

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.

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June 10, 2021

winners & losers

Sydney Nowling and Karen Barber / Courtesy Photo

winners SYDNEY NOWLING The Jay Elementary teacher was named the 2021 Santa Rosa Rookie of the Year by the Santa Rosa Education Foundation. Jay Elementary Principal Mary Grace White praised her teacher—"Ms. Nowling has successfully demonstrated an ability to conquer all the obstacles encountered during her first few years in education. Sydney implements deliberate practices to ensure fidelity to core curriculum and enriches her lessons by incorporating technology, rigorous student engagement and small group interventions. Her high expectations are the key to the success of her students." CITY PUBLIC WORKS City of Pensacola

Public Works and Facilities staff recently rebuilt the bases for the U.S. Marine Corps and U.S. Navy pelicans located at the intersection of Palafox and Garden streets in downtown Pensacola. City of Pensacola crews built both bases, which included pouring concrete and assembling the timber posts for the bases. City crews worked quickly to have the bases ready in time for a Memorial Day tribute to Gold Star Marines and their families. City crews included Brandon Burgans, Darrick George, Antonio Ikner, Eric Jacobs, Ryan Metcalf, Marzett Simpkins and Gregory Warren.

MICHAEL DIXON, SAGE HALL AND KYLE YOUNG Better Business Bu-

reau® Serving Northwest Florida Foundation announced the three recipients of the 2021 BBB Student Ethics Scholarships in District I (Escambia and Santa Rosa counties). Dixon is a senior at Tate High School; Hall, a junior at Gulf Breeze High School; and Young, a senior at Gulf Breeze High School. The program recognizes high school junior and senior students who personify personal character and integrity and have made the choice to lead by following a moral compass.

TOM THUMB The convenience store chain is kicking off summer with free coffee Fridays during the month of June. Beginning June 4 and ending June 25, customers will receive any sized coffee—hot or iced—for free, with no purchase necessary. The coffee giveaway is taking place at all Tom Thumb locations with a limit of one coffee per customer. 44

Pam Bondi / Courtesy of State of Florida

losers PAM BONDI The former Florida attorney general went on Fox News and defended DeSantis' "incredible job of handling the pandemic. She said, "Florida is wide open. We are open for business. You wouldn't even know COVID had happened here." However, the families of the nearly 37,000 Florida residents who died due to the virus might disagree.

ROBERT SAMPSON The Department of Veterans Affairs employee pleaded guilty to video recording eight fellow employees in the bathroom at the Veterans Affairs Joint Ambulatory Care Center in Pensacola. Sampson admitted to placing a hidden camera, disguised to look like a cell phone charger power adapter, in a restroom at the Pensacola VA Center approximately 17 times. When VA employees discovered the recording device and notified the VA Police, Sampson attempted to wrestle the employees for control of the device. Sampson later admitted that he had placed the device in the restroom to record individuals in the restroom and would later watch the footage. "FROM THE DESK OF DONALD J. TRUMP" Former President Donald

Trump's blog was permanently shut down on Wednesday, June 2, due to low readership. The website was launched less than a month earlier to serve as his "communications platform" after being blocked by Facebook and Twitter. Trump spokesman Jason Miller downplayed the blog, saying it was designed to be temporary as the organization develops its own social media site.

DAN GELBER The Miami Beach mayor

wrote the U.S. Department of the Interior urging it to reject the recently negotiated Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, calling it a "tortured artifice," alleging it was negotiated with the corrupt intent of violating state and federal law by expanding gambling in Florida. The agreement negotiated by Gov. DeSantis will generate a minimum of $2.5 billion in new revenue for the state over the next five years and an estimated $6 billion through 2030. Gelber fears it will allow casinos to be opened in Miami Beach. Few believe his letter will change anything. inweekly.net

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KICKING THE HORNET'S NEST Commissioner Steven Barry kicked over a hornet's nest when he brought up what he considered unfair treatment in how senior management staff, which includes the county commissioners, had been treated when they were brought on the county payroll and explained the retirement plan options (see "Pension Plan Debated" on page 6). I think the strongest argument against Barry's proposal to offer backpay to those he alleged weren't correctly informed about the advantages of the 401(a) annuity program was the point made by Commissioner Doug Underhill. "It is not the employer's responsibility to give financial advice," he said at the June 3 commission meeting. But were all employees given the same documentation and explanations of the annuity program? Commissioner Robert Bender was the first commissioner, since Marie Young, to select the 401(a) plan, and, except for the Human Resource directors, few senior managers had chosen the plan before 2019. However, since Bender's selection, most senior managers hired by County Administrator Janice Gilley have chosen the 401(a) plan. Commissioner Barry pointed out that "more than half of the total participants that have taken part in it have enrolled in the last two years." An independent investigation should be done of the county's HR department and its policies in handling new hires when informing them of the retirement plan options. Current and past employees should be interviewed about what they were told and given. Were all senior managers treated the same? If the documentation has changed over time, have the older employees been given the updated information? The Florida Ethics Commission's advisory opinion of a possible settlement was based on the assertion that HR "did not inform incoming County Commissioners, SMS level staff or newly-promoted SMS level staff about the opportunity to participate in the 401(a) local government annuity

program." An independent investigation will prove that statement. Some have said the Ethics Commission had no right to render an opinion because no "conflict" existed and the commission can only consider conflicts. Not true. Elected officials routinely have asked for rulings on issues prior to a decision being made. The word "conflict" isn't part of its mission statement. The website states the Florida Commission on Ethics "serves as the guardian of the standards of conduct for officers and employees of Florida and also "renders legally binding advisory opinions interpreting the ethics laws ." Barry had the right to seek an advisory opinion, and, as an elected official, he didn't need a board vote. If a board vote or "conflict" was required, the Ethics Commission wouldn't have placed it on its agenda. However, there is another point that needs to be considered. The 401(a) annuity is so lucrative for employees because the plan doesn't have to pay for the Florida Retirement System overhead, meaning the annuity participants receive four to six times more added to their retirement accounts. A financial planner wrote me that the overhead savings don't have to benefit the employees. Instead, the savings can be used to reduce the county's contribution to the annuity plan. If true, the reduction would eliminate the disparity into the two options, and the savings could be passed along to the taxpayers. With so many of the county's HR directors signed up for the 401(a) plan, it's no surprise they never made that suggestion, but why didn't the county administrators? Until the recent surge in participants, the 401(a) plan probably didn't have enough interest to be on a county administrator's radar. But now, it is a different story, and Gilley has chosen to remain on the sideline. We recommend the disparities in the two plans be narrowed if it can be done legally. We also believe HR should be investigated to determine if all were treated fairly before any settlement proposal is considered. {in} rick@inweekly.net

An independent investigation should be done of the county's HR department and its policies in handling new hires when informing them of the retirement plan options.

June 10, 2021

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PENSION EQUITY DEBATED of the program'… I feel like that's been a responsibility that the county has had that, as a county, we have clearly failed to do, even if it's just the non-attention to it."

"I feel like that's been a responsibility that the county has had that, as a county, we have clearly failed to do, even if it's just the non-attention to it." Steven Barry

Steven Barry / Photo Courtesy of MyEscambia

By Rick Outzen The hot topic at the Escambia Commission meeting on Thursday, June 3, was the pensions for the county's senior management and the commissioners. According to the agenda item, the commissioners' statements during the meeting and Inweekly's conversation with several county employees, many of them weren't told or given the full documentation of the county's 401(a) annuity program, costing them tens of thousands of dollars in their retirement portfolios. Commissioner Steven Barry wanted the board to help rectify the disparity, calling it an issue of "fairness and equity." Most employees and commissioners have opted for the Florida Retirement System, to which the county makes the same contribution as to the more lucrative 401(a) annuity program. However, the employee receives a higher addition to their retirement account under the annuity plan because FRS overhead costs aren't deducted. Since 1997, only two commissioners have signed up for the 401(a) program—Marie Young, who was already vested in FRS because of her time with the school district, and Robert Bender, elected in 2018. However, in reviewing the supporting documents, most of the county's human resource directors took advantage of the program and, interestingly, so did most of the senior management was hired by County Administrator Janice Gilley. 66

The commissioners, senior staff and other constitutional officers only recently learned that a handful of employees with less service time had been receiving higher contributions—six times more—to their retirement accounts. For Commissioner Steven Barry and Commissioner Lumon May, their retirements were over $226,000 less than they would have been had they known how the 401(a) annuity program worked. And while the HR directors obviously knew about the benefits, they didn't share the documents showing the higher contributions for the plan versus the standard FRS program. "The plan's been in place 25 years. More than half of the total participants that have taken part in it have enrolled in the last two years," said Barry. "So it just tells me, for some reason, unknown to me, we've not done even an inadequate job. Why in the world was it not something that was used as a recruiting tool?" What bothered Barry and May was the HR director had yet to explain the disparity to senior management staff hired before Gilley took over county operations. "I'm disappointed that since the issue has come up towards the end of 2019, and we have had nine or 10 of Administrator Gilley's hires get into the program," said Barry, "I'm disappointed that those existing employees that were eligible weren't brought in and notified, 'Hey, look, you were actually eligible five years ago, but you're still eligible now. These are the terms

Commissioner May added, "Quite frankly, in my opinion, this action, it's not about county commissioners. It's about those employees who have served in the dark without knowledge of this program and that they should have the opportunity to exercise any retirement benefits, not for themselves, but the sacrifice that they made for their children and those they may leave upon their death and their retirement." Since 2019, Barry has explored options to remedy the situation. In March of this year, he and County Attorney Rogers appeared before the Florida Ethics Commission to determine whether the board could offer the senior management level staff, including the commissioners and 14 seniorlevel employees, back payments for missing out on the 401(a) plan. The Ethics Commission approved the proposal, which led to Barry placing the item on the agenda for discussion. If every eligible employee took the back payments and opted for the 401(a) plan, the cost to the taxpayers could be as high as $1.9 million, though the final cost is expected to be lower. Commissioner Underhill had little sympathy for his fellow commissioners and long-time senior staff. He said, "It is not the employer's responsibility to give financial advice. Now, it is the employee's responsibility to ask the hard questions, to think through these things." He didn't like having a retirement plan that treated senior management differently than other county employees. Instead of offering a settlement, he wanted to level the playing field for all staff. "How do we have such a lucrative deal only available to the most senior people and certainly only and uniquely available to elected officials as we vest very, very quickly?" Underhill asked. "I think the only appropriate action of this board tonight would be to eliminate this perk." But the commissioner didn't make that motion. Based on the subsequent discussion, he wouldn't have received a second. Commissioner Jeff Bergosh said he wouldn't take the backpay settlement because he is vested in the FRS program due

to his three terms on the Escambia County School Board. However, he echoed what others had said about the lack of information about the 401(a) program. "I have no memory of anyone mentioning that plan to me," he said. "Sitting at 10 years, I had the pension if I wanted it. I could have potentially put it on hold. I don't know what my options would have been because I wasn't told." Commissioner Robert Bender said he took several months to review the options when he was elected three years ago and was given tables showing the difference in contributions to his retirement. Barry said, "I didn't see any tables. There were no tables." Bergosh echoed, "I never did either." He, however, wasn't ready to approve the backpay settlement plan. He wanted more confirmation from the county attorney that the proposal was legal. "If we make this vote and you guys get back payments and other employees who are entitled get back payments and it's challenged in court and it's found to be unlawful or it's found that we've made a mistake," said Bergosh, "then there's ramifications for those of us who voted for it. So I want to be supportive. It's a hell of a lot of money, and I'm angry that folks weren't told about it. It's not right." Commissioner Barry made the motion that the agenda item not be brought back to the board until the county attorney "is able to procure a written statement saying it's legal." May seconded the motion, and the board passed it. "Like I said at the very beginning, the fairness and equity, that's what this is about to me," said Barry. "And it is a few of us, but it's not just us. There's a much larger pool of employees that this pertains to. And I feel like I owe it to my children. I owe it to my family to pursue what a reasonable person would have chosen if given the information." Even if the county attorney finds the proposal legal and the board approves the settlement, Escambia County Clerk and Comptroller Pam Childers may disagree. She reminded the board that she holds the county checkbook. Childers said, "I am really going to have to look at this closely. I am not comfortable at this time to back fund a pension for the commission or for the employees." On Tuesday, June 8, Commissioner May told Inweekly that he would like to hear the legal opinion on the issue, but he wouldn't accept any backpay offer. He said, "As I stated in the meeting, my primary concern is whether our HR department treated all senior managers the same and gave them all the same info. We need an investigation into what's going on in HR." For more on this developing story, visit ricksblog.biz {in} inweekly.net

June 10, 2021

Pensacola Metro Dashboard The dashboard measures health, education and economic success and can be used to identify what is going well, what needs to be improved and where we can focus our efforts to create the most positive change. The Studer Community Institute has been providing the dashboard since 2014. Recently, there was a report comparing 2019 to 2020. We heard feedback that a comparison from 2014 to 2020 would be helpful. Some metrics are improving, but still have a way to go. Some areas show a lack of progress that, ultimately, could hold our community back. All the measures reflect the most recently available data, with a lag time for some based on how the data is collected and reported.

Kindergarten Readiness 2014: 66.2% 2020: 48%

Escambia County

2014: 80.9% 2020: 78%

Santa Rosa County

Down 18.2% Down 2.9%

Children who are not ready for kindergarten may struggle to catch up. After 2014, the state paused readiness testing, chose a new readiness test and issued new rates beginning in 2017. Source: Florida Department of Education.

CRA’s Urban Core tax base has increased by over 80% from $663,058,724 in 2012 to $1,014,258,099 in 2018. 2010.............................................. $674,859,510 2011 .............................................. $664,449,542 Stadium 2012.............................................. $663,058,724 2013.............................................. $716,623,880 2014.............................................. $669,127,240 2015.............................................. $797,693,428 2016.............................................. $849,285,988 2017.............................................. $917,937,273 2018........................................... $1,014,258,099 CRA Urban Core Amounts by year from 2010 – 2018. This money is available for new development and rehab of existing developments. The Pensacola Community Redevelopment Agency utilizes a multi-layered approach to programming and investment within each of its three redevelopment districts. Although varying somewhat by district, annual programming generally includes affordable housing redevelopment, complete streets initiatives, parks and public spaces, crime reduction and community policing, commercial property improvements, residential property improvements and downtown improvements.

SOURCE: City of Pensacola Community Redevelopment Agency Annual Report • FISCAL YEAR 2018

VPK Participation

Crime Rate

Escambia County

2014: 63.8% 2020: 36.1%

Down 27.7%

Escambia County

Santa Rosa County

2014: 63.4% 2020: 46.3%

Down 17.1%

Santa Rosa County

Research suggests that children who complete VPK are more ready for kindergarten than those who don’t. Source: Voluntary Prekindergarten Estimating Conference

Santa Rosa County

2014: 13.1% of births 2019: 14.6% of births

2014: 11.7% of births 2019: 13.4% of births

2015: 36% 2019: 28.3%

Santa Rosa County

Up 1.7%

Santa Rosa County

2014: 50.3% 2019: 40.3%

2014: 45.5% 2019: 44.7%

Down 10% Down .8%

The rule of thumb for affordability is that housing should cost no more than 30% of your monthly income. This point tracks the percentage of people who spend more than that on rent. Source: U.S. Census Bureau

Overweight and obesity rate Down 2%

Escambia County

Down 7.7%

Santa Rosa County

This tracks average child care costs (for one infant and one preschooler) as a percentage of median income for single-parent families. The expense of childcare impacts other financial choices a family is able to make. Source: US Census Bureau / American Community Survey

of Law Enforcement

Escambia County

Cost of Child Care Escambia County

Down 18.8%

This measures the number of crimes reported per 100,000 citizens, including both violent crimes and property crimes.Source: Florida Department

Up 1.5%

Escambia County has struggled in this area for years, ranking near the bottom in preterm birth rate among 17 counties of similar population.

2015: 49% 2019: 47%

2014: 1,296.7 2019: 1,052.8

Down 28.1%

Rent-Burdened Households

Preterm Births Escambia County

2014: 4,760.7 2019: 3,418.8

2013: 59.8% 2019: 63.2%

2013: 60.9% 2019: 63.2%

Up 3.4% Up 2.3%

Two out of three people in the Pensacola metro area are either overweight or obese, meaning they have a body mass index of 25 or higher. Obesity-related health problems diminish worker productivity and add cost to the health care system. Source: Florida Department of Health

Studeri.org/dashboard The Studer Community Institute is a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. 88

inweekly.net

2014 to 2020 Comparison Single-Parent Households Escambia County Santa Rosa County

2014: 39.5% 2019: 43.8%

2014: 26.3% 2019: 20.3%

Middle class households Up 4.3%

Escambia County

Down 6%

Santa Rosa County

Children living in single-parent families face more economic and social hurdles than their peers from two-parent families. Source: U.S. Census Bureau

Escambia County Santa Rosa County

2014: 45.3% 2020: 33.2%

Escambia County

Down 12.1%

Santa Rosa County

2014: 60.7% 2019: 59.1%

Santa Rosa County

2014: 27.2% 2019: 28%

Escambia County

Down 1.6%

Santa Rosa County

2014: 82.8% 2020: 90.3%

2015: 306,327 2019: 318,316

2015: 161,021 2019: 184,313

Up 11,989 Up 23,292

Bureau

Voter turnout Escambia County

Up .8%

Santa Rosa County

High School Graduation rate Escambia County

Up $17,651

After stagnating though the 2000s, the region’s population grew steadily, though Santa Rosa’s growth still outpaces Escambia’s. Source: U.S. Census

Up 2.1%

Communities with higher percentages of college-educated residents have higher wages overall. Pew Research Center study shows people with a college degree earned about $17,500 more a year than those with just a high school diploma.

2014: 66.1% 2020: 86.5%

2014: $60,317 2019: $77,968

Up $9,111

Source: U.S. Census Bureau

Down 1.1%

College Graduates Escambia County

2014: $46,655 2019: $55,766

Population

Labor force participation shows how many people who are eligible to work are doing so. Source: U.S. Census Bureau

2014: 24.9% 2019: 27%

Up 3.1%

Median income is the very middle of the income scale — half of earners make more than that, half make less than that. It is one measure of the average person’s purchasing power and economic well-being.

Labor Force Participation 2014: 61.9% 2019: 60.8%

2015: 67.4% 2019: 70.5%

Median income Up 9.4%

This helps measure poverty in a community. Children living in households at or below 185% of the poverty level are eligible to receive free or reduced-price meals at their schools. Source: Florida Department of Education

Escambia County

Up 5.3%

“Middle class households” add to the economic activity, stability and vibrancy of a community — but there is a wide gap between the bottom of that range and the top of it. Source: U.S. Census Bureau

Free & Reduced-Price Lunch 2014: 66.1% 2020: 75.5%

2015: 64.5% 2019: 69.8%

2016: 73% 2020: 73.9%

2016: 68% 2020: 73.7%

Up .9% Up 5.7%

How healthy is democracy in your community? Voter turnout is one way to measure that. Source: Florida Department of State Division of Elections

Median workforce age Up 20.4%

Escambia County

Up 7.5%

Santa Rosa County

This tracks the percentage of students who finished high school in four years. Source: Florida Department of Education

2014: 37.2 2019: 37.3

2014: 39 2019: 40.6

Up .1 Up .4%

A younger workforce can be an indicator that young professionals are staying in their community — or being drawn to it from elsewhere — seeking a good quality of life. Source: American Community Survey

Studeri.org/dashboard The Studer Community Institute is a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. June 10, 2021

Fried showed no hesitancy in going after the GOP power structure in the video. She said, "Those in power will do whatever harm it takes to stay there. But I've spent my whole life taking on this system. I'm unafraid. I'm tested. I'm ready." Fried, 43, has been an assistant public defender, a foreclosure defense attorney, a lobbyist and a student body president at the University of Florida. DeSantis wants to hang the "lockdown lobbyist" moniker around Fried's name, a tactic often used by his mentor, Donald Trump. At a bill-signing event less than a day after Fried's announcement, DeSantis used the question to attack her. "She … spent millions of dollars to put her face on every gas pump across the state, purely to boost her own image at your expense as a taxpayer," DeSantis said. "She's a lockdown lobbyist … She's opposed us at every turn. All the good stuff we've been able to accomplish for Florida, she opposes it. And I've done more, I think, in my first week as governor than she just got done in her entire time as agriculture commissioner."

Nikki Fried / Photo by Alex Workman

FRIED RUNNING After months of speculation, Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried formally entered the 2022 race for governor on Tuesday, June 1. "We can end two decades of corruption designed to block your will and your ballot on health care, wages, education, justice, the environment, marijuana and equality of opportunity," Fried said in the two-minute video announcing her candidacy. "We can build a state that gives power back to you, an economy that rewards hard work with prosperity, not poverty or stagnation." To face DeSantis in the 2022 general election, Fried must still get through the Democratic primary, which also will include Congressman Charlie Crist. Other Democrats may also enter the primary, including state Sen. Annette Taddeo, D-Miami, who was Crist's running mate seven years ago

010 1

when Republican Gov. Rick Scott narrowly defeated Crist. The Republican Governors Association wasted no time attacking the agriculture commissioner, who has been a frequent critic of DeSantis. "Fried has a long slog ahead of her," the association said in a written statement. "Despite her desperate attempts to stake a claim and clear the field earlier this year, Fried now has to convince Florida Democrats she's worthy of their support, all while dodging questions about her personal and financial ties to industries she regulates. Grab your popcorn because this one is going to be fun to watch." The Republican Party of Florida labeled Fried a "lockdown lobbyist" who "tried to close Florida schools and attempted to overturn Governor DeSantis' executive order to get our kids back in the classroom."

GILLEY'S CONTRACT The Escambia

Board of County Commissioners will discuss County Administrator Janice Gilley's contract at its next regular meeting scheduled for Thursday, June 17. The board then could vote to terminate Gilley's employment, which would take three votes. As Inweekly has reported, frustration with Gilley and her grasp of county operations has festered for months. After two years at the helm and bringing in her own leadership team, the commissioners have been continually blindsided by mismanagement blunders. Gilley's annual salary is $185,000, plus a $6,000-a-year car allowance. If fired, she will walk away with a healthy severance package.

OLF-8 DESIGN APPROVED The year-long master planning process for Outlying Landing Field 8 is closer to reality. The Escambia

County Commission approved the "Adjusted Hybrid Plan" that Chairman Robert Bender had negotiated with DPZ Co-Design, FloridaWest and Navy Federal Credit Union. Despite heavy pressure from the daily newspaper to use the 630-acre parcel owned by the county for primarily residential development, the commissioners stood their ground for the last large tract near Interstate 10 to be used to attract high-paying jobs to the region. The plan allocates 271 acres to commerce and industrial; 61 acres to residential including duplexes, townhomes and multifamily; 47 acres to a mixed-use center such as residential over retail and office over retail; and 45 acres to trails and public amenities such as a post office, school, daycare and community garden. The county had already sold 100 acres of the site to Navy Federal for parking and recreational facilities that would be made available for public use. Next steps, the plan goes to the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity for land use approval and the county's planning board considers master plan code updates. Once completed, the commission will vote on final approval for the OLF-8 Master Plan in early October.

COVID UPDATES HALTED Escambia County discontinued its weekday COVID-19 updates before Memorial Day. The most recent vaccination data on its dashboard is from May 28. The last report on new COVID cases charted on its graph is for June 2. On June 3, the Florida Department of Health ceased the reports that the media and the public have used to track changes in the number of coronavirus cases and deaths. The last report showed Escambia County had a total of 36,650 cases and 706 deaths. Gov. Ron DeSantis' press secretary Christina Pushaw told The News Service of Florida there was no need to keep issuing the daily reports. "COVID-19 cases have significantly

inweekly.net

decreased over the past year as we have a less than 5% positivity rate, and our state is returning to normal, with vaccines widely available throughout Florida," Pushaw said in an email.

COURTS DROP MASKS Florida courts are set to resume some jury trials and drop mask and social-distancing requirements, while most court proceedings will continue to take place remotely, under an order issued last Friday by state Supreme Court Chief Justice Charles Canady. "Trial court proceedings shall continue to be remotely conducted, as appropriate, to facilitate the efficient and expeditious processing of cases," the order said. Most in-person court proceedings were canceled in March 2020 as the pandemic spread through the state. Under Canady's order, chief judges may drop mask and distancing requirements as soon as June 21 but no later than Aug. 2. The order allows courtroom participants to wear masks and enables chief judges to establish policies "addressing the use of face masks with clear plastic panels during in-person court proceedings." The order prioritizes jury trials and directs most other proceedings to be conducted remotely "to maximize the availability of facility space" for in-person trial court proceedings. Speedy trial provisions for adult defendants and juveniles taken into custody before March 14, 2020, will resume on Oct. 4. Speedy trial provisions for adult defendants taken into custody after March 14, 2020, will resume Jan. 3, 2022. VETOES HURT LBGTQ COMMUNITY

The News Service of Florida reported that Gov. Ron DeSantis used his veto power to slash $900,000 in funding for programs that serve LGBTQ people in Central Florida, including a program that provides mental health services to survivors and families of victims of the Pulse nightclub mass shooting. DeSantis's vetoes—part of a long list of hometown projects the governor eliminated before approving a new $100 billion state budget—came a day after the Republican governor signed into law a controversial measure that bans transgender females from participating on girls' and women's high school and college sports teams. The vetoes also came shortly before the fifth anniversary of the June 12, 2016, mass shooting at Pulse, a gay nightclub in Orlando, that left 49 people dead. "Timing matters. What message are LGBT people meant to receive from Gov. DeSantis other than that this is an insult to them?" said state Rep. Carlos Guillermo Smith, an Orlando Democrat who is gay. "The Orlando community right now is bracing for the five-year remembrance, and for Gov. DeSantis to veto funding for Pulse survivors and families is just cruel." June 10, 2021

In 2019, DeSantis visited the Pulse nightclub site. Along with First Lady Casey DeSantis, the governor attended a third-anniversary remembrance ceremony and pledged his support to secure $1 million for a memorial, which he subsequently helped accomplish. Smith told The News Service of Florida that he remembers having "high hopes" that DeSantis would be progressive on LGBTQ issues. But Smith said he's been disappointed in the governor ever since. Christina Pushaw, a spokeswoman for DeSantis, said the budget includes an additional $212,274,073 in community-based mental health funding for the next fiscal year, and services will continue to be provided. "Governor DeSantis has been a champion on mental health since day one, and he absolutely supports every Floridian who has experienced such horrific trauma, which has a lifelong impact on survivors," Pushaw said in an email. "To this end, the new budget ensures that Floridians in need—including LGBTQ Floridians—will continue to have access to vital support and the mental health resources they need to survive and thrive." DeSantis vetoed $150,000 for the Orlando United Assistance Center at LGBT+ Center Orlando and $750,000 targeted to the Zebra Coalition. The Orlando United Assistance Center provides a one-stop shop for Pulse survivors and family members and receives funding from Orange, Osceola and Seminole counties, the city of Orlando and Heart of Florida United Way. The Zebra Coalition is a group of 52 organizations in Central Florida that work to reduce and prevent homelessness among young LGBTQ people. The state funds were to help renovate bridge housing for 35 homeless LGBTQ youths ages 13-24.

SWEARING-IN NEW CHIEF The City of Pensacola, Mayor Grover C. Robinson IV and the Pensacola Police Department invite the community to attend a Swearing-In Ceremony on Monday, June 14, honoring Eric Randall as he is sworn in as police chief. The ceremony will occur at 10:30 a.m. in Council Chambers, located on the first floor of City Hall at 222 W. Main St. It will also be live streamed at cityofpensacola.com/video. There will be limited seating capacity in Council Chambers. Chief Randall was selected as the Chief of Police for the Pensacola Police Department in May after a nationwide search, public participation and thorough review by the selection committee and mayor. "I am looking forward to celebrating Chief Randall's swearing-in and bringing his leadership to the Pensacola Police Department, along with his sincere dedication to serving and connecting with the Pensacola community," Mayor Robinson said. "The Pensacola Police Department has a strong reputation as a professional 11

law enforcement agency, and I am excited to have Chief Randall's passion and expertise join the incredible men and women of PPD."

DIB BOARD OPENINGS You, too, can write viewpoints in the daily newspaper. Mayor Grover Robinson is accepting applications to expand the pool of candidates for appointment to the Downtown Improvement Board. The deadline to apply is Friday, July 2, at 5 p.m. The DIB is a Dependent Special District funded by a special tax levy on properties within its district boundaries, consisting of 44 blocks in downtown Pensacola. To qualify, prospective members must own property within the DIB District, subject to ad valorem taxation, or be a lessee required by lease to pay taxes on the property. City of Pensacola or Escambia County officers or employees are not eligible to serve. Members are appointed by the mayor and approved by the Pensacola City Council. This appointment will be for a term of three years, which expires on June 30, 2024. Those who are interested in serving on the DIB will need to fill out an online application. Forms are available at cityofpensacola.com.

ENVIRONMENTAL ACTION Healthy

Gulf is hosting a Zoom event on how to get environmental projects done in your community at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, June 29. Environmental projects implemented by Florida's cities and counties require funding to get done. Learn the basics of how municipal budgets work in Florida and how you can work to get environmental projects funded in your community, whether it's tree plantings and habitat restoration, stormwater facilities, renewable energy or bicycle and pedestrian improvements. Event presenters are Laura Aguirre, state field coordinator for Audubon Florida, and Christian Wagley, coastal organizer for Healthy Gulf. Aguirre's work is focused on community organizing, energizing environmental advocates across the state around climate solutions. Wagley engages with people and communities along the Florida Gulf Coast on water pollution, offshore drilling, climate change and endangered species. An event page with more information is available on the Healthy Gulf Facebook page.

CIVICCON TACKLES DIVERSITY Vincent Brown is coming to Pensacola on June 14

for a CivicCon speaker event that will be a coaching session available to all Northwest Florida businesses and community members. His company, V. Randolph Brown Consulting, assists companies in leading a diverse workplace. He will discuss the importance of companies understanding diversity, equity and inclusion. The event is from 6 -7:30 p.m. on Monday, June 14, and it is outdoor at Blue Wahoos Stadium. The venue will provide plenty of room for physical distancing. You can RSVP your space at the session at bit.ly/3uQtnHv. Unfortunately, there is no Zoom virtual platform option for this event. Those who can't attend the in-person session at the stadium can watch the event in real-time on the Pensacola News Journal Facebook page and pnj.com.

HURRICANE GUIDE Hurricane season started on June 1 and continues until Nov. 30, and another active Atlantic hurricane season is predicted for 2021. Better Business Bureau (BBB) and the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) encourage Floridians to prepare their homes and businesses for the 2021 hurricane season.

BBB and DBPR joined forces to provide a one-stop resource page to help Floridians prepare for hurricane season. The Florida Hurricane Guide has tips on disaster preparedness, recovery and repair, as well as information about government resources, storm chaser/home improvement scams and charity relief efforts. Business owners and residents are encouraged to create a plan that outlines what to do before, during and after a hurricane. Also, remember to upgrade your hurricane kit to include hand sanitizer and disinfectant wipes. In a natural disaster, Floridians are reminded that any repair work performed on a home or business should be completed by a licensed professional. Unfortunately, unlicensed contractors often travel from out of state to a disaster area, attempting to take advantage of uninformed consumers. The best way to prepare is to be proactive in selecting a properly licensed contractor and to use good judgment with sales calls, doorto-door pitches or low prices that appear too good to be true. Access the Florida Hurricane Guide at bbb.org/floridahurricane. {in}

It only takes one person to slash the statistics.

Did you know that 1 in 10 children Escambia County are victims of child abuse? It’s time to change that number. Visit KnowChildAbuse.org to learn to recognize, report and reduce child abuse.

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LEARNING TO LEARN IN A PANDEMIC Smith, practicing optimism, spun reflexively to the sunny side, describing how such challenging terrain can ultimately serve to strengthen a student's resilience. "What I think happened is that a lot of kids just persevered through that," Smith said. "I think what happens in a situation like this is that you have to adjust, and sometimes there're some great lessons that emerge out of that, where kids might have just to figure out this whole new way of learning and this whole new structure and platform. And I think it can be a confidence builder for students when they overcome some of those challenges and they make those adjustments and come out a little bit stronger as a result of persevering through that."

SMART SUMMER

By Jeremy Morrison This past academic year was anything but typical, with the coronavirus pandemic upending normalcy and forcing educators and students to adapt to an educational landscape fraught with challenges. "When you look back at the year and the challenges with COVID and the adjustments that needed to be made for us to continue instruction, it certainly was a challenging year, but it also was an inspirational year," Escambia County School District Superintendent Tim Smith reflected on the last day of the spring semester. Santa Rosa County School District Superintendent Karen Barber shares this sentiment but says that she feels teachers and students, as well as their families, have met the challenges posed by the pandemic. "I think it's been a challenging year," Barber said, "but within our schools, I have to tell you, our teachers and our staff have been committed and focused on making this year feel as normal as possible and just dedicated to delivering a high-quality instruction, and our students adapted." With the academic year completed, local school district superintendents took some time with Inweekly to consider the past year and look ahead to this summer and August, when current plans forecast a back-to-normal fall semester.

'A LOT THROWN AT THEM'

As the reality of the COVID pandemic set in during the waning weeks of the spring 2020 semester, Florida's students were sent June 10, 2021

home and run through a crash course of flying-by-the-seat-of-your-pants remote learning. Then, over the summer, students and their families were offered a choice—return to campus and navigate COVID protocol in a possibly risky environment or give it a go remotely, receiving instruction on a computer. "They had a lot thrown at them," Superintendent Smith acknowledged, "a lot of tough decisions for family members." Santa Rosa students overwhelmingly chose to stick on campuses, with 85% of students beginning the year on campus and that number climbing to 92% by the end of the school year. On the other hand, Escambia saw nearly half its students opt to go with either a remote classroom schooling or a free-floating virtual option that allowed students to work more independently. Superintendent Barber reports that the students who chose the remote platform in Santa Rosa fared alright compared to their on-campus peers. "They've thrived in that environment," she said, attributing such success to both remote teachers and family members, whom she called "learning coaches." But in Escambia, remote learners experienced issues more in line with a trend being reported in school districts around the country—face-to-face learning provides a more ideal environment for success, with remote students more at risk of falling behind. "I think it was very challenging for our remote students," Superintendent Smith said. "Especially, the younger the age—it's a long time to sit in front of a computer. When you're at a computer all day long and you're a student of a young age, that can be really challenging."

Citing the unprecedented challenges presented by the pandemic, Florida education officials waived several requirements associated with annual assessment tests— most notably, not assigning grades to individual schools or relying on them alone for student promotion. While Barber said the waivers didn't impact Santa Rosa, the relief was welcomed in Escambia. "I think it was very helpful for the state to make the decision," Smith said. "Really saying COVID was so unusual, there were many stress points, many students outside of their normal, functioning environment of a classroom, it just seemed to make a lot of sense, not having the ramifications of testing." But that means that some students may be moving up to the next grade without a firm enough grasp on the material laid upon them over the school year. To better equip these students, both Escambia and Santa Rosa are offering more robust summer school programs. "The key target group of students were those who struggled and those who lagged and those who just need the extra support," Smith explained. Typically, summer school is designed for students requiring the extra class time to progress or graduate; this summer, a wider net is being cast. And so far, the response has been encouraging. "We've been looking at the numbers, and the numbers are much higher, especially at the elementary level, than normal, so we're excited about that," Smith said. To accommodate these higher summer school populations, Escambia is utilizing all of its elementary facilities, unlike a typical year when younger students are clustered together in a limited number of designated schools. "The goal is for all elementary schools to have their doors open for summer school. We just wanted to take the barriers out," Smith said. "We just thought some students might not be comfortable going into a cluster."

And while students will cover the core bases like reading and math, both Escambia and Santa Rosa are making efforts to infuse a more camp-like—dare we say, fun—flavor into summer school. "It's STEAM-based and project-based," Barber said. Smith hopes parents will take advantage of the opportunity. "Especially when their student who has been struggling on the remote platform or maybe just didn't learn the standards as they normally do given all the challenges with COVID," Smith said. "We need those students in our summer school programs."

BACK TO NORMAL

If coronavirus cases continue to fall and vaccinations continue to climb, it looks like this next academic year will be pretty much back to normal. No remote options. No social distancing. Masks are optional. "I think the good thing is we've seen those COVID numbers continue to go down, and hopefully, people by the start of the school year are all feeling at ease and at peace with where we're at," Smith said. Neither Escambia nor Santa Rosa will require staff or older students to receive a COVID vaccine, though the benefits have been pointed out.

"We'll be concentrating on providing high-quality instruction and let the medical professionals work on the vaccination piece." Karen Barber "We'll be concentrating on providing high-quality instruction and let the medical professionals work on the vaccination piece," Barber said. And while most COVID-era practices will be ditched, some may stick around. For instance, Barber pointed toward a recent concert she attended outdoors on a district campus—"I can't tell you how wonderful it was." "People brought their lawn chairs and their blankets and just enjoyed the music that the students made, and it was a great success," the superintendent said. "That was an event outside because of the pandemic. But it went over so well that they'll continue outdoor concerts in the future." Considering the return to normalcy for area students, Superintendent Smith gets excited about jumping back into the annual rituals like dances, games and performances. "When you lose some of the opportunities and some of the activities and some of your customs and traditions and your annual events that weren't able to be held," the superintendent said, "I think what it does is it gives us something to look forward to in the next year when some of those will resume." {in} 13

a&e happenings PRIDE SINGER/SONGWRITERS A cel-

ebration of local LGBT talent at Kingfisher, 1500 Barrancas Ave. Show is from 5:30-7:30 p.m. on Saturday, June 19.

SINGING WITH PRIDE Pensacola Opera hosts an evening of songs, arias and show tunes by LGBTQ+ composers with performers Sheila Dunn, Corey McKern and Cody Martin. Show starts at 7 p.m. Thursday, June 24, at the Pensacola Opera Center, 75 S. Tarragona St. Goodwill offering benefits Stamped Film Festival. PRIDE HOLLYWOOD-STYLE DRAG SHOW Visit Dolce and Gelato, located at

2050 N. 12th Ave., for a family-friendly drag show on Friday, June 25.

Tedeschi Trucks Band / Photo by Shervin Lainez

PRIDE EVENTS

QUEERING SPACES: CELEBRATING PENSACOLA'S LGBTQ+ COMMUNITY

Queering Spaces is a new exhibit exploring the history of the Pensacola Queer Community, going beyond Memorial Day Weekend and Pride to uncover the longlasting impacts of Pensacola's vibrant past. The exhibit is on view at T.T. Wentworth, Jr. Museum, located at 330 S. Jefferson St.

STAMPED MINI PRIDE FILM FESTIVAL A collection of LGBT films showing at

Pensacola Little Theatre, 400 S. Jefferson St. Starts at 2 p.m. on Sunday, June 13.

BLUEGRASS PRIDE VIRTUAL MUSIC FESTIVAL San Francisco-based Bluegrass

Pride will hold its second-annual virtual music festival Saturday, June 12-Sunday, June 27. On Saturday, the public will meet with Bluegrass Pride board of directors. Starting 3 p.m. on Sunday, June 13, musician Luisa Lopez will lead an interactive jam along. On Saturday, June 19, is Juneteenth:

A Rainbow Revival, with musical performances curated by Brandi Pace of nonprofit Decolonizing the Music Room that will highlight the essential contributions of Black queer, trans and non-binary folks to roots music and the Pride movement. On June 26 & 27, the headline festival returns with more than a dozen musicians. For tickets and a full lineup, visit bluegrasspride.net.

KARAOKE Sing your heart out at Cabaret, 101 S. Jefferson St. Starts at 9 p.m. Monday, June 14.

PAINTING WITH PRIDE Show off your artistic talents at Pensacola Little Theatre, 400 S. Jefferson St., Thursday, June 17. PRIDE AUTHORS BOOK READING AND SIGNING On Saturday, June 19,

Julie Still-Rolin, author of "Coming out in the South," will be signing books at noon, followed by Drag Queen Storytime from 2-4 p.m. at Bodacious Bookstore and Café, 110 E. Intendencia St.

PENSAPRIDE This event is being hosted by Strive and Pensacola Arts Market (PAM). On Saturday, June 26, from 10-11 a.m., there will be a car caravan from Open Books to the regular PAM location, 1101 N. 12th Ave. The PensaPride event will feature visual and performing artists from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. For more information, visit facebook. com/socialisttransinitiative. PRIDE SOCIETY Ride Society is having a big day of Pride rides on June 26. For more information and to book a bike, visit ridesociety.com.

JOB FAIRS

ON-SITE HEALTHCARE INDUSTRY SUMMER JOB FAIR Apply for jobs in the

health care industry Wednesday, June 16, from 9 a.m.-noon at Pensacola State College Milton Campus L.I.F.E Center (Bldg. 4000), 5988 Highway 90, Milton. For more information, visit facebook.com/careersourceescarosa.

WAYS TO GET TO PENSACOLA BEACH

The Pensacola Bay Bridge is now open, which is perfect timing for beach season. Escambia County reminds eager beachgoers of the various ways to get to the beach. Live Pensacola Beach traffic video and beach conditions are available at myescambia.com.

ECAT BUS Escambia County Area Transit discontinued service for the Route 61 detour across the Garcon Point Bridge with the Pensacola Bay Bridge opening. Normal schedules for Route 61 and Route 64 Beach Jumper will restart. Note the following schedules: REGULAR SERVICE: •Routes: 1, 2, 32, 44, 47, 48, 50, 51, 52, 55, 57, 58, 59X, 60, 61 and 64 Beach Jumper MODIFIED ROUTES: •Route 31, 43, and 63: Runs Monday-Saturday, every two hours (Saturday Schedule) •Route 45: Runs Monday-Saturday, only every hour, 6 a.m.-5 p.m. UWF TROLLEY: •(Summer Schedule) UWF Express Service runs Monday–Saturday Schedules are located on goecat.com and the ECAT Ride guide. FREE TROLLEY SERVICE The Santa Rosa

Island Authority (SRIA) will have free openair trolley service along Pensacola Beach. The service runs Monday-Sunday, 4 p.m.midnight, through Labor Day weekend.

FERRY Pensacola Bay Cruises Ferry Service restarted Wednesday, May 19, with daily service, seven days a week, between Downtown Pensacola and Pensacola Beach. Ferry trips last approximately 50 minutes, and all-day free parking is available at each of the departure sites. DRIVE, BIKE OR WALK OVER THE BOB SIKES BRIDGE When you drive over the

Bob Sikes Bridge to Pensacola Beach, there is an electronic toll in place. Cash and coins are no longer collected in person. The county encourages motorists to plan ahead and use electronic toll collection devices (i.e. SunPass, E-Pass, Annual Pass, NC Quick Pass, Peach Pass, E-ZPass), tolling apps (i.e. PayTollo) or TOLL-BY-PLATE from SunPass.

PENSACOLA BEACH TRAFFIC HOTLINE Residents and visitors can report beach traffic issues via the Pensacola Beach Traffic Hotline at (850) 595-0862 or by emailing traffic@myescambia.com, offered by the Escambia County Transportation and Traffic Operations Division.

CALLING ALL CREATIVES Inweekly is accepting submissions for our second annual “By You” issue. Short stories, essays, poems, op-eds, interviews with your favorite uncle—whatever you’ve got, we want to read it. (Maximum word count—1,000 words) We are also accepting photography and digital art submissions. For consideration, those images need to be high resolution. (At least 250 dpi) The deadline for submissions is Friday, June 25. All pieces must be in electronic format and emailed to joani@inweekly.net. All submissions will be reviewed by Inweekly staff, and our favorites will make it to print. (Some additional pieces may be published online only depending on length and space.) Chosen submissions will be published in one of our July issues.. 414 1

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a&e happenings NONPROFITS + FUNDRAISERS

BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS OF NORTHWEST FLORIDA DRIVE-THRU ICE CREAM FUNDRAISER Big Brothers

Big Sisters of Northwest Florida will host its first-ever Big Scoop Drive-Thru on Saturday, June 12, from noon-2 p.m. at Maritime Park, located at 351 W. Cedar St. This year's Big Scoop will be transforming into a drive-thru to accommodate COVID-19 health and safety guidelines. The event will still include familiar elements from years past. Guests can expect to receive frozen, sweet treats provided by Damien's Enterprises, Inc; Dippin' Dots supplied by Fishbein Orthodontics; Jones Soda provided by the Lewis Bear Company; pre-packaged ice cream toppings from Frozen Ropes Yogurt Nine Mile Road. Chick-Fil-A will be onsite handing out ice cream coupons. Pensacola Police Department will join in the fun and help greet the drive-thru guests. All guests will receive a goody bag of BBBSNWFL merchandise and activities. The drive-thru entry will be located on South DeVilliers Street. Cars will then follow signage down to Museum Lane where the drive-thru will be located. The entry fee to the public is $10 per car. Bigs and Littles in the program are admitted free with proof of their Magic Card. For more information on The Big Scoop Drive-Thru, please contact Special Event Coordinator Bella Costa at bcosta@ bbbsnwfl.org.

BOW WOW ADOPTION LUAU The

Joy Committee will be hosting an adoption event at Gary's Brewery & Biergarten, located at 208 Newman Ave., from 3-8 p.m. Saturday, June 12. For more information, visit facebook.com/garysbrew.

"FRIEND OF FOO" APPLICATIONS NOW OPEN The Foo Foo Festival Com-

mittee is now accepting applications from nonprofit and for-profit entities who are interested in playing a part in this year's events as a "Friend of Foo." Nonprofits in the Pensacola area who recently applied and did not receive a grant for this year's festival but would still like to participate, or local for-profit businesses such as hoteliers, restaurants and bars who are interested in participating and benefitting, are encouraged to apply. To review the application process, visit foofoofest.com. "Friend of Foo'' participants will receive local, regional and national visibility during the 12-day event via the festival's regional marketing campaign. When applying, entrants should be prepared to provide the name and title of their prospective event; the date, time and location for the event; its respective category; and details and imagery to support the concept. The deadline to submit to be a "Friend of Foo" is Friday, Oct. 1, by noon. The Pensacola Foo Foo Festival will take place Nov. 4-15, 2021. June 10, 2021

ARTS & CULTURE

STAFF-LED EXHIBITION TOURS AT PMA Pensacola Museum of Art will have

two special opportunities for in-person exhibition tours lead by Chief Curator Anna Wall and PMA Director Nick Croghan. The tours are free with museum admission. Tickets should be purchased online prior to the tour at penscolamuseum.org. Dates include Thursday, June 10, End of Century Exhibition Tour with Anna Wall, and Thursday, June 24, A Dead Reckoning Exhibition Tour with Nick Croghan.

SINGEASY AT PENSACOLA LITTLE THEATRE SingEasy is at 7 p.m. Friday, June

11, and Saturday, June 12, at Pensacola Little Theatre, located at 400 S. Jefferson St. Tickets are at pensacolalittletheatre.com.

FLICKS ON THE FIELD: DOLPHIN TALE Head to the Pensacola Greyhound Track, located at 951 Dog Track Road, Friday, June 11, for a free family drive-in movie. Watch the movie from your car or bring lawn chairs and a blanket and watch while safely socially distancing. Movie starts at 8:30 p.m.

PENSACOLA ARTS MARKET Check out local vendors at Pensacola Arts Market in its new location, 1101 N. 12th Ave., Saturday, June 12, from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Attendance is free. NEIL SIMON'S RUMORS Pensacola Little Theatre's latest production is a classic farcical hilarity. Show dates are 7:30 p.m. Fridays, June 18 and 25, and Saturdays, June 19 and 26; 3 p.m. Sundays June 20 and 27; and 7:30 p.m. Thursday, June 24. Tickets are $8-$31 and are half-price on Thursday for all seats. For more information, visit pensacolalittletheatre.com. DRAG SHOWS AT DOLCE AND GELATO Head to Dolce and Gelato, located at 2050 N. 12th Ave., for regular drag shows. For more information, visit facebook.com/dolcegelatopensacola

SCRIPTEASERS WITH PENSACOLA LITTLE THEATRE Scripteasers, Studio

400's and Pensacola Little Theatre's Script Reading Club, invites you to monthly script readings at PLT, 400 S. Jefferson St. Want to bring your scripts for the group to read and discuss? Contact Pensacola Little Theatre to get in queue. The group reads prospective scripts for future seasons as well as new scripts that need a table read before the next edit. Not a playwright but love to read out loud? This is your easy, fun theatre night. Fascinated by the play selection process? Sit in for a listen and usually a lot of laughs. Visit facebook.com/pensacolalittletheatre for more information and the latest dates.

COMING SOON TO PENSACOLA CINEMA ART The Oscar-nominated film "Mi-

nari" will come to PCA Friday and Saturday, June 11 and 12, at 1 p.m. All tickets are $8. Reserve your seats by emailing jpncinema@

FREE CONCERT SERIES TUESDAYS 7  9 PM | GULFSIDE PAVILION gmail.com or texting (863) 446-7300. PCA is located at 220 W. Garden St. For more information, visit pensacolacinemaart.com.

2021

ONCE UPON A DREAM La Belle Performing Arts presents "Once Upon a Dream" 10 a.m. Saturday, June 12, at the Saenger Theatre, 118 S. Palafox. Tickets are $30-$33. For more information, visit pensacolasaenger.com. SLEEPING BEAUTY Le Belle Performing Arts presents their version of "Sleeping Beauty" at 6 p.m. Saturday, June 12, at the Saenger Theatre, 118 S. Palafox. Tickets are $30-$33. For more information, visit pensacolasaenger.com.

SM 2014

Elvis Remembered | June 15 Elvis Tribute

VISIT PENSACOLA EVENT GRANT PROGRAM TO RESUME WITH NEW GUIDELINES The Visit Pensacola Board

of Directors voted Wednesday to resume the Visit Pensacola event grant program for events taking place in fiscal year 2022. The grant program was paused in FY 2021 due to budget restraints and uncertainties due to the COVID-19 pandemic. With the resurgence of the program, new guidelines are in place. Major changes include one call for applications per fiscal year, grant workshops are mandatory, grant amounts will not exceed $25,000, the Visit Pensacola grant amount cannot exceed 50% of the applicant's overall event expense budget and 75% of the Visit Pensacola grant funding is to be used on marketing while 25% may be used on operations. Visit Pensacola is now accepting grant applications for events occurring Oct. 1, 2021–Sept. 30, 2022. The grant deadline is June 8 at noon. All grant applicants are required to attend one of the workshops, which run through May 25. The Visit Pensacola Grant Committee will meet to review and score applications June 15-16 at 2:30 p.m. at the UWF Historic Trust Bowden Building, First Floor. Applicants are encouraged to attend to present to the committee. Following, the Visit Pensacola Board of Directors will vote to approve grants on June 23 at the monthly board meeting. For more information on grant guidelines, scoring and the application process, please contact Nicole Stacey at nstacey@visitpensacola.com.

GALLERY NIGHT EVENTS TO RETURN IN JULY The Gallery Night Pensacola

Board of Directors has announced the return of its monthly Gallery Night events in Downtown Pensacola beginning July 16. Gallery Night will once again host its monthly art-centric event on the third Friday of the month from 5-10 p.m. The July event will coincide with the city's upcoming bicentennial celebration. Based on the most recent CDC reports and vaccine numbers, the board has decided that this outdoor event can once again take place at 100% capacity. While CDC guidelines do not require a mask for any outdoor events for those that

Sandy Roots | June 22 Rock, Reggae, & Funk

We encourage all concert-goers to take appropriate COVID-19 preventative measures, socially distance themselves and follow the guidelines of our local health authorities.

For updates, call SRIA at (850) 932-2257, go to VisitPensacolaBeach.com or tune to Cat Country 98.7. Please, no glass containers or pets.

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a&e happenings are fully vaccinated, the Pensacola Gallery Night Board does encourage mask usage for those who are not vaccinated or are at high health risk. For more information, visit gallerynightpensacola.org.

PENSACOLA CHILDREN'S CHORUS AUDITIONS Pensacola Children's Chorus

auditions will be held Saturday, Aug. 7, and are open to students entering grades one-12. PCC's season runs September-May with the aim of producing three fully staged, costumed and choreographed mainstage concerts—"Christmas on the Coast," "One World Many Voices" and "Showtime." However, these larger-than-life performances reinforce more than vocal ability. Throughout the season, students are immersed in personal and social growth designed to equip singers with the tools to succeed beyond the rehearsal hall and stage. Interested families need to register for an audition time by visiting pensacolasings. org. Middle and high school singers should be prepared to learn a brief choreographed section to assess movement and learning style. All ability levels welcome. No prior experience or training is required. PCC is located in the Margaret Moore Nickelsen Center, 46 E. Chase St., on the campus of First Presbyterian Church in beautiful downtown Pensacola. For more information about the Pensacola Children's Chorus, please call (850) 434-7760 or visit pensacolachildrenschorus.com.

URBAN REMIX OPENING RECEPTION AT FIRST CITY ART CENTER "Urban

Remix" is on view at Gallery 1060 through June 26. The exhibit includes street art design with iconic Pensacola points of interest. Guest artist is Jay Collins. The gallery is located at 1060 N. Guillemard St. For more information, visit firstcityart.org.

"A DEAD RECKONING: NAVIGATING CONTEMPORARY CERAMICS" EXHIBIT AT PENSACOLA MUSEUM OF ART "A Dead Reckoning: Navigating

Contemporary Ceramics" is now on view at Pensacola Museum of Art, which asks LB0245 MchUltraOrgSeltzer INW Final viewers, "Where is the field of American

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ceramic art going?" For more information, visit pensacolamuseum.org.

"END OF CENTURY" EXHIBIT AT PENSACOLA MUSEUM OF ART End

of Century, an art exhibit featuring Art Nouveau glassware and works on paper, is a new exhibit at the Pensacola Museum of Art. This special exhibit includes items from the museum collection as well as the collection of local art supporter and educator Dr. Patrick M. Rowe. Dr. Rowe received his Ph.D. in Art History at Florida State University in 1989 and taught art history at the University of West Florida and Pensacola State College until his retirement in 2010. He has served on the Pensacola Museum of Art Board and on the PMA Collections Committee and has acted as a dedicated supporter and resource for museum staff throughout the years. In 1988, Rowe began taking an interest in 18th and early 20th century printmaking, which led to his impressive collection of works from the time period, many of which are showcased in End of Century. End of Century will be on view at the Pensacola Museum of Art until Oct. 10. Visitors can learn more about the exhibition, sign up for additional programming opportunities and purchase tickets through pensacolamuseum.org.

CITIZENS SPEAK AT PENSACOLA MUSEUM OF ART The "Citizens Speak"

exhibition represents a collection of student work across disciplines based on their engagement with Claudia Rankine's "Citizen." The exhibit is on display through July 3 at Pensacola Museum of Art. For more information, visit pensacolamuseum.org.

THREE FATES TATTOO PORTRAIT SCULPTURE COURSE Over the course

of four weeks, students will learn to construct a proper armature, model individual facial features, and realistically sculpt a ¾ portrait from life, using a live model. Sessions will include detailed instructions on how to sculpt the portrait from the model, use measurements, use different sculpting tools and sculpt specific features using 041521.pdf 2 4/7/21 8:48 AM an observational approach. Each class will

take place on Monday evening from 5-8 p.m. at Three Fates Studio, located at 7 E. Gregory St. The instructor will sculpt from the model while describing a step-by-step process, answering questions and pointing out key areas in the sculpt to take note of. Students will work alongside the instructor while gaining advice and personal critiques as they progress through the portrait. Anatomical structure as well as how to achieve a strong likeness will be discussed. The course is $375 per student and will take place on July 5, 12, 19 and 26. Visit threefatestattoo.com/register to sign up now.

implemented protocols based on guidance from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Masks are required for entry into the building and studio. More information about Mixon Magic Performing Arts can be found at mixonmagic.com, by contacting hello@mixonmagic.com or emily@mixonmagic.com or by calling (850) 221-7438.

BLACK CITIZENSHIP IN THE AGE OF JIM CROW On view at Voices of Pensacola

Friday at 8 p.m. for national stand-up acts. Tickets are $26-$35 at the door. For more information, visit rexpensacola.com.

is "Black Citizenship in the Age of Jim Crow," a traveling exhibition from the New York Historical Society Museum & Library with additions from the African American Heritage Society of Pensacola. To learn more about it, visit africanamericanheritagesociety.org. Voices of Pensacola is located at 117 E. Government St. and open Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

COMEDY MAGIC SHOW AT THE REX THEATRE Comedy magician Tom Coverly,

CRAFT CLASSES AT STUDIO SOUTH ON NINE MILE Learn a new craft or meet

STAND-UP COMEDY AT THE REX THEATRE Visit The REX Theatre every

known as "The Illusionist," performs Saturday nights at The Rex Theatre, located at 18 N. Palafox. Shows start at 7 p.m. Tickets are $10-$35. For more information, visit rexpensacola.com.

OPEN MIC COMEDY AT BIG TOP BREWERY Try out some new jokes or enjoy

some homegrown talent every Monday at 7 p.m. for Open Mic Comedy at Big Top Brewery, located at 21 W. Romano St. Everyone gets five minutes depending the number of sign-ups. Registration begins at 6:30 p.m.

NEW CLASSES AT MIXON MAGIC PERFORMING ARTS Mixon Magic Per-

forming Arts (MMPA), a boutique performing arts studio located at 1010 N. 12th Ave., Ste. 238, will be offering a limited class schedule this fall. MMPA offers professional dance, fitness and "Mommy and Me" instruction for all ages and skill levels with weekly classes including, but not limited to, Creative Movement, Ballet/Jazz Combo, Broadway, Tap, Showstoppers, Acting and Voice. Classes will be provided for children as young as 2 years old (with a parent or guardian) through adult. MMPA is dedicated to the safety and well-being of all students and families and has

up with other makers at Studio South. Tuesday is Knit Night 4-7 p.m., and Sit & Stitch is Saturdays 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Both classes are free. For a full calendar of events, visit studiosouthon9mileroad.com. Studio South is located at 955 E. Nine Mile Road.

CLASSES AND WORKSHOPS AT FIRST CITY ART First City Art Center of-

fers a wide range of classes and workshops for artists of all levels. Classes include glass blowing, ceramics, painting and drawing, kiln-forming, stained glass and more. For a complete list of classes and times, visit firstcityart.org.

LIVE MUSIC

BANDS ON THE BEACH Bands on the Beach is back. The free concert series features shows each Tuesday night, from 7-9 p.m., from April to October at the Gulfside Pavilion at Casino Beach. UPCOMING DATES: •June 15: Elvis Remembered •June 22: Sandy Roots BLUES ON THE BAY The Blues on the Bay

free concert series continues at Community Maritime Park, located at 351 W. Cedar St. Concerts are 6 p.m. on select Sunday evenings.

ENJOY RESPONSIBLY

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a&e happenings Bring your coolers and lawn chairs and take a spot in front of the Hunter Amphitheater. •June 13: Cross Town

BANDS ON THE BLACKWATER Following the cancellation of the complete 2020 schedule due to COVID-19, the City of Milton is bringing back the popular concert series starting Friday, April 2. All concerts will be held from 7-9 p.m. at Jernigan's Landing, 5158 S. Willing St. UPCOMING DATES: •June 11: Christina Christian TUNES BY THE DUNES SUMMER CONCERT SERIES Tunes by the Dunes

is a free summer concert series held every Thursday evening from 7-9 p.m. in the summer months on Navarre Beach at 8649 Gulf Blvd. For more information, visit navarrechamber.com/tunes-by-the-dunes. •June 10: Bay Bridge Band •June 17: Platinum Premier Band •June 24: Jay Williams Band

JAY MOODY LIVE Musician Jay Moody

will be playing at Gary's Brewey & Biergarten, located at 208 Newman Ave., from 6-9 p.m. Saturday, June 5. Visit facebook.com/garysbrew.

PAT MEUSEL AT DOLCE & GELATO

Pat Meusel will be performing at Dolce & Gelato, located at 2050 N. 12th Ave., from 4-7 p.m. Friday, June 11. Visit facebook.com/ dolcegelatopensacola for more information.

NICK ANDREWS LIVE Nick Andrews will

be playing at Gary's Brewey & Biergarten, located at 208 Newman Ave., from 6-9 p.m. Friday, June 11. Visit facebook.com/garysbrew.

TOWN AND COUNTRY BEN BELL Mr.

Town and Country himself will be playing at Dolce & Gelato, located at 2050 N. 12th Ave., from 5-7 p.m. Saturday, June 12. Visit facebook.com/dolcegelatopensacola for more information.

TEDESCHI TRUCKS FIRESIDE LIVE

Tedeschi Trucks Fireside will be performing at The Wharf Amphitheater, located at 23101 Canal Road, Wednesday, June 16, at 7 p.m. Tickets are $50. Purchase yours at ticketmaster.com.

KATIE DINEEN LIVE Katie Dineen will

be playing at Gary's Brewery & Biergarten, located at 208 Newman Ave., from 6-9 p.m. Friday, June 18. Visit facebook.com/ garysbrew.

THE TREES AT DOLCE & GELATO The

Trees will be playing at Dolce & Gelato, located at 2050 N. 12th Ave., at 5:30 p.m. Friday, June 18. Visit facebook.com/dolcegelatopensacola for more information.

JEFF GLICKMAN AT DOLCE & GELATO Jeff Glickman will be playing at Dolce & Gelato, located at 2050 N. 12th Ave., at 6 p.m. Saturday, June 19. Visit facebook.com/ dolcegelatopensacola for more information. June 10, 2021

MONARCH AND THE MILKWEEDS

Musical duo Monarch and the Milkweeds will be playing at Dolce & Gelato, located at 2050 N. 12th Ave., at 4 p.m. Sunday, June 20. Visit facebook.com/dolcegelatopensacola for more information.

LIVE MUSIC AT RED FISH BLUE FISH PENSACOLA BEACH Head to Red Fish

Blue Fish for live performances from local bands Fridays and Saturdays all day. For musician lineups, visit facebook.com/redfishbluefishpensacolabeach.

CURT BOL JAZZ QUARTET Visit Five

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

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Sisters Blues Café, located at 421 W. Belmont St., Sundays from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. and listen to Curt Bol Jazz Quartet. Visit curtbolband.com for more information.

OPEN JAM AT ARTEL GALLERY Artel

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

KARAOKE AT MUGS AND JUGS Sing

your heart out Sundays at Mugs & Jugs, 12080 Scenic Highway, or just enjoy drinks friends with $4 Smirnoff and $6.50 domestic pitcher drink deals from 7 p.m.-3 a.m. For more information, visit facebook.com/mugsjugs.

LIVE MUSIC AT HUB STACEY'S Sit back with good food and live music at Hub Stacey's, located at 312 E. Government St. For a full calendar of bands, check hubstaceys.com. MONDAY NIGHT BLUES AT SEVILLE QUARTER Seville Quarter and the Blues Soci-

ety of Northwest Florida bring the "Blues" back to the Seville Quarter Entertainment District, located at 130 E. Government St. every Monday night in End O' the Alley starting at 7 p.m. For more information, visit sevillequarter.com.

TUESDAY NIGHT JAZZ AT SEVILLE QUARTER Enjoy smooth jazz with Me-

lodious Allen and The Funk Heads every Tuesday night at Lili Marlene's in Seville Quarter, located at 130 E. Government St. Show starts at 6:30 p.m. Visit sevillequarter.com for more information.

FITNESS + RECREATION

PENSACOLA FERRY SERVICE RETURNS The Pensacola Bay Cruises Ferry Service is now re-open with daily service, seven days a week, between Downtown Pensacola and Pensacola Beach. Ferry trips last approximately 50 minutes, and all-day free parking is available at each of the departure sites. Tickets are $26 roundtrip for adults; $20 roundtrip for military, disabled persons and students; and $15 roundtrip for children 3-15. Children 2 and under ride for free. A locals card may be purchased for additional discounts. The ferry service operation schedule is available on pensacolabaycruise.com. for more listings visit inweekly.net 17

free will astrology WEEK OF JUNE 10 ARIES (MARCH 21-APRIL 19): Aries actor Leonard Nimoy became megafamous by playing the role of Spock, an alien from the planet Vulcan, in the "Star Trek" franchise. He always enjoyed the role, but in 1975, he wrote an autobiography called "I Am Not Spock." In it, he clarified how different he was from the character he performed. In 1995, Nimoy published a follow-up autobiography, "I Am Spock," in which he described the ways in which he was similar to the fictional alien. In the spirit of Nimoy's expansive self-definition, Aries, and in accordance with current astrological potentials, I invite you to make it clear to people exactly who you and who you aren't. TAURUS (APRIL 20-MAY 20): The poet Rumi declared, "A lover has four streams inside, of water, wine, honey and milk." With that in mind, Taurus, I will recommend that you seek a boost in the honey department. Your passions and feelings have been flowing along fairly well, but lately, they've lacked some sweetness. As a result, you're not receiving as much of the sweetness you need from the world around you. So your assignment is to intensify the honey stream within you! Remember the principle, "Like attracts like."

GEMINI (MAY 21-JUNE 20): I'm glad

you're not on the planet Saturn right now. The winds there can blow at 1,000 miles per hour. But I would like you to feel a brisk breeze as you wander around in nature here on Earth. Why? Because according to my interpretation of the current astrological omens, winds will have a cleansing effect on you. They will clear your mind of irrelevant worries and trivial concerns. They'll elevate your thoughts as well as your feelings. Do you know the origin of the English word "inspire"? It's from the Latin word "inspirare," meaning "blow into, breathed upon by spirit." Its figurative meaning is "to inspire, excite, inflame." The related Latin word spiritus refers to "a breathing of the wind" and "breath of a god"—hence "inspiration; breath of life."

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By Rob Brezsny

CANCER (JUNE 21-JULY 22): Cancerian author Franz Kafka put his characters into surreal dilemmas. In his novella "The Metamorphosis," for example, the hero wakes up one day to find he has transformed into a giant insect. Despite his feral imagination, however, Kafka had a pragmatic relationship with consumerism. "I do not read advertisements," he said. "I would spend all of my time wanting things." In accordance with astrological omens, I invite you to adopt his earthy attitude for the next two weeks. Take a break from wanting things, period. Experiment with feeling free of all the yearnings that constantly demand your attention. Please note: This break in the action won't be forever. It's just a vacation. When you return to wanting things, your priorities will have been realigned and healed, and you'll feel refreshed. LEO (JULY 23-AUG. 22): Author Umberto

Eco declared that beauty is boring because it "must always follow certain rules." A beautiful nose has to be just the right shape and size, he said, while an "ugly nose" can be ugly in a million different unpredictable ways. I find his definition narrow and boring, and prefer that of philosopher Francis Bacon, who wrote, "There is no excellent beauty that hath not some strangeness in the proportion." Poet Charles Baudelaire agreed, saying, "That which is not slightly distorted lacks sensible appeal: from which it follows that irregularity—that is to say, the unexpected, surprise and astonishment—is an essential part and characteristic of beauty." Then there's the Japanese concept of wabi-sabi, which reveres beauty that's imperfect, transitory and incomplete. Beginning now, and for the rest of 2021, Leo, I encourage you to ignore Eco's dull beauty and cultivate your relationship with the more interesting kind.

VIRGO (AUG. 23-SEPT. 22): One of the more evocative passages in J. R. R. Tolkien's novel "The Return of the King" is about the warrior Éowyn. It says, "Then the heart of Éowyn changed, or else, at last, she understood it. And suddenly her winter passed, and the sun shone on her." I'm predicting a comparable transformation for you in the near future, Virgo. There'll be some fundamental shift in

the way your heart comprehends life. When that happens, you will clearly fathom some secrets about your heart that have previously been vague or inaccessible. And then the sun will shine upon you with extra brilliance.

what makes you feel freer and happier, rather than on how you think an ideal life should look. It's the process of feeling our way toward happiness, not the realization of the Platonic ideal, that creates our best lives."

LIBRA (SEPT. 23-OCT. 22): Libran actor and author Carrie Fisher had more than the average number of inner demons. Yet she accomplished a lot and was nominated for and won many professional awards. Here's the advice she gave—"Stay afraid, but do it anyway. What's important is the action. You don't have to wait to be confident." I hope you'll employ that strategy in the coming weeks, dear Libra. The time is favorable for you to work hard on your number one goal no matter what your emotions might be at any particular moment.

AQUARIUS (JAN. 20-FEB. 18): Aquarian author James Dickey celebrated "the holy secret of flowing." But he added, "You must be made for it." In other words, he implied that the secret of flowing is a luxury only some of us have access to. And because we "must be made for it," he seemed to suggest that being in possession of the secret of flowing is due to luck or genetics or privilege. But I reject that theory. I think anyone can tap into the secret of flowing if they have the desire and intention to do so. Like you! Right now! You're primed to cultivate a robust relationship with the holy flow.

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

author Fyodor Dostoevsky (1821–1881) had a gambling addiction for many years. At one point, he lost so much money betting on roulette that he had to take drastic measures. He wrote a novella in record time—just 16 days— so as to raise money to pay his debt. The story was titled "The Gambler." Its hero was a notvery-successful gambler. Is there a comparable antidote in your future, Scorpio? A gambit that somehow makes use of the problem to generate the cure? I suspect there is.

SAGITTARIUS (NOV. 22-DEC. 21): In

her poem "Escape," Michelle Tudor addresses a lover: "Inside of you: a dream raging to be set free." She implies that she would like to be a collaborator who provides assistance and inspiration in liberating her companion's dream. The coming weeks will be an excellent time for you to make a similar offer to an ally you care for—and to ask that ally to do the same for you. And by the way—What is the dream inside you that's raging to be set free? And what's the dream inside your comrade?

CAPRICORN (DEC. 22-JAN. 19): Author Martha Beck has helpful counsel for you to keep returning to during the coming weeks. "It isn't necessary to know exactly how your ideal life will look," she writes. "You only have to know what feels better and what feels worse. Begin making choices based on

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PISCES (FEB. 19-MARCH 20): Why do humans enjoy much longer life spans than other higher primates? Here's one reason: grandmothers. Anthropologists propose that earlier in our evolution, families with elder females especially thrived. The grandmothers helped care for children, ensuring greater health for everyone as well as a higher rate of reproduction than grandmother-less broods. Their longevity genes got passed on, creating more grandmothers. Lucky! Having older women around while growing up has been key to the success of many of us. In accordance with astrological omens, I invite you to celebrate and honor the role your own grandmothers and female elders have played in your life. And if you're a grandmother, celebrate and honor yourself! THIS WEEK'S HOMEWORK: Send word of your latest victory. Write to newsletter@ freewillastrology.com.

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news of the weird CAN'T POSSIBLY BE TRUE What is art? For Italian artist Salvatore Garau, it's ... nothing. The 67-year-old sculptor recently sold his "immaterial" sculpture, "I am," for $18,300, Newsweek reported on June 1. The buyer got a certificate of ownership. Garau says his work is a "vacuum." "The vacuum is nothing more than a space full of energy, and even if we empty it and there is nothing left, according to the Heisenberg uncertainty principle, that 'nothing' has a weight," Garau explained. The artist demands that the work be displayed in a private home free of any obstruction, in a 5-by-5-foot area, but he has no requirements for lighting or climate control. PEOPLE WITH ISSUES William Amos, 46, a member of the Canadian House of Commons, can't seem to get a handle on the technology he uses for virtual meetings. In April, Amos appeared completely naked on camera during a House of Commons proceeding, explaining later that he was changing in his office after going for a run and was sure that he had disabled his camera. On May 26, Amos had to apologize again—this time for urinating "without realizing I was on camera." "I am deeply embarrassed by my actions and the distress they may have caused anybody who witnessed them," he wrote on Twitter, according to the National Post. His statement also said he would "seek assistance," although it was unclear what type of assistance that would be. COMPELLING EXPLANATIONS In Palm Beach County (Florida) Circuit Court, Judge Jeffrey Dana Gillen on May 28 rejected a "stand your ground" defense in the animal cruelty case of PJ Nilaja Patterson, 43, who killed an iguana in September, and ordered him to stand trial, The Washington Post reported. Patterson's lawyer argued that the iguana had "leaned forward with its mouth wide open and showing its sharp teeth," and that Patterson was bitten on his arm, needing 22 stitches. He believed the iguana could inject poison into him, his lawyers wrote, so he kicked the iguana, and "an altercation between Patterson and the wild beast took place." However, prosecutors say that Patterson's actions, caught on surveillance video, showed that he "savagely beat, tormented, tortured and killed" the 3-foot-long lizard in an attack that lasted for 30 minutes, during which the animal suffered a lacerated liver, broken pelvis and internal bleeding. Patterson's next court date is July 30. •In mid-May, an Indian engineer with the Sardar Sarovar Punarvasvat Agency (SSPA) in Gujarat was asked to explain why he hadn't been coming in to work, the Deccan Chronicle reported. Rameshchandra Fefar, who is in his late 50s, replied that as the

By the Editors at Andrews McMeel

10th incarnation of Lord Vishnu, he is very busy doing "penance" and "I can't do such penance sitting in office. I realized that I am Kalki Avatar when I was in my office in March 2010. Since then, I am having divine powers," Fefar said. He claims that his ongoing penance is the reason that India has had good rainfall for 19 years. THE PASSING PARADE As he gave a campaign speech on June 1, Albuquerque mayoral candidate Manuel Gonzalez found himself distracted by a drone with a sex toy attached to it buzzing near the stage, the Associated Press reported. The owner of the venue grabbed the drone, and its owner, 20-year-old Kaelan Ashby Dreyer, tried to take it back. Dreyer then swung his fist at Gonzalez and called him a "tyrant," punching Gonzalez's hands before being removed by deputies. Gonzalez's campaign said the candidate, currently the Bernalillo County sheriff, was unharmed and "will not be intimidated." INAPPROPRIATE BEHAVIOR Jerry Detrick, 70, was cited by Greenville, Ohio, police on May 30 for "littering," The Smoking Gun reported. What he actually was doing was defecating and urinating on his neighbor's lawn when the homeowner discovered him around 3:15 a.m. Matthew Guyette called 911 after spotting Detrick relieving himself next to a hedge. Detrick, a selfdescribed "Trump man" who lives a couple of blocks away, told police that he targeted Guyette's home because he and his partner "are Democrats and support Joe Biden." Reportedly, Detrick had been leaving his mark on the lawn for about 10 years, along with restaurant napkins he used to wipe. He is scheduled to appear in court on June 8. LOW-TECH SOLUTION During the COVID-19 pandemic, grounded planes were often parked in deserts—ideal conditions for storing them. But aircraft maintenance crews also discovered unwanted guests: snakes. So Australian airline Qantas added one more item to its engineering kit: a "wheel whacker," also known as a broom handle. Before crews begin their landing gear inspections, they circle the plane, stomping their feet and whacking the wheels to scare off sleepy snakes, said engineering manager Tim Heywood. The "feisty rattlers love to curl up around the warm rubber tires and in the aircraft wheels and brakes," he said, according to CNN. "We've encountered a few rattlesnakes and also some scorpions, but the wheel whacker does its job and they scuttle off." {in}

Send your weird news items to WeirdNewsTips@amuniversal.com June 10, 2021

Symphony Sparks & Stars Presented by

July 4th 7-9pm Community Maritime Park Join Levin Papantonio Rafferty this Independence Day! Enjoy Music, Fireworks & Free Family Fun on the Fourth of July! Proudly Celebrating our Armed Forces with a Concert by the Pensacola Symphony Orchestra! Fantastic Military Jet Flyover and a Patriotic Performance on Pensacola Bay!

Independent News | June 10, 2021 | inweekly.net