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MARCH 03, 2011 | VOLUME 12 | NUMBER 09 | WWW.INWEEKLY.NET

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Contents COLUMNS

3 WINNERS & LOSERS 4 OUTTAKES

24 NEWS OF THE WEIRD 27LAST WORD

NEWS/FEATURES/ARTS

6 NEWS: GUIDING AMERICANS TO THEIR BEST HEALTH 9 COVER STORY: BROTHER CAN YOU SPARE A DIME 15 A&E: THROW ME SOMETHING MISTER! 20 MUSIC: BRING ON THE FUNK 21 MUSIC: BETSY BADWATER & THE HILLBILLY CHROME GET ‘AMPED’ 22 CULTURE: PARTY WITH A PURPOSE 23 THE PUBLIC RECORD

2 | INDEPENDENT NEWS |

MARCH 03, 2011 | WWW.INWEEKLY.NET

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Bradley “B.J.” Davis, Jr., Joani Delezen, Hana Frenette, Ashley Hardaway, Rob “Bubbs” Harris, Erica House, Brett Hutchins, Chelsa Jillard, Jennie McKeon, Kate Peterson, Chuck Shepard, Will Strickland, Trevor Webb PRODUCTION MANAGER Joani Delezen ART DIRECTOR Samantha Crooke SALES DIRECTOR Jennifer Passeretti

P.O. Box 12082 • Pensacola, Fla. 32591 850-438-8115 • 1-866-724-9396 Fax: 850-438-0228 • info@inweekly.net

Standard postage paid at Pensacola, Fla. All stories are compiled from press releases, submissions, news wires or assignments. Comments and opinions expressed in this newspaper represent the personal views of the individuals to whom they are attributed and are not necessarily those of INDEPENDENT NEWS or the publisher. Neither the advertiser nor the publisher is responsible or liable for misinformation, misprints, typographical errors, etc., contained in INDEPENDENT NEWS. The publisher reserves the right to edit all manuscripts. No part of this publication may be reproduced without the consent of the publisher.

winners & losers

Choosing a Lawyer One of the biggest

decisions you may ever make

winners GOV. RICK SCOTT Since the BP tar balls

began hitting its shores, Northwest Florida has asked the state government for help.

Millions of BP dollars have been eaten up by the state bureaucracy with very little of the money making it to the counties that have battled this economic and environmental nightmare. Gov. Rick Scott is listening to local officials and maybe we will see a new attitude out of Tallahassee.

The governors of Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama have been very vocal in defending their coastal counties. Scott appears ready to do the same. Let’s hope so.

REP. DOUG BROXSON Though his district

contains less coastline than the other state representatives that represent Escambia and Santa Rosa counties, Broxson has been our biggest advocate against BP and the Gulf Coast Claims Facility. Not in recent memory have we seen a state representative take such a leadership role so early.

CONGRESSMAN JEFF MILLER Our

Congressman from Chumuckla has fired off an angry letter to Ken Feinberg, administrator of the Gulf Coast Claims Facility. “As of yesterday, there have been roughly 107,000 claims in the 1st District of Florida, and less than 43,000 have received funds from these claims,” wrote Miller. “A payment rate of only 40 percent is deplorable.” Miller made it clear that he believed Feinberg is neither independent nor neutral. “For you or others to refer to yourselves as such is an outright falsehood.”

losers CITY OF MOBILE The loss of the $30-billion

Air Force contract for air tankers is another blow to the city that was once considered the economic superstar on the Gulf Coast.

The entire region had joined forces to help Northrop Grumman/EADS win the contract, but it wasn’t enough to keep Boeing from getting the business.

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JOHN WYCHE The Pensacola businessman

was sentenced to more than six years in state prison for defrauding a charter school program. Wyche was the director of the Life Skills Center charter school for underprivileged children, which closed in 2008, and was the political darling of the “old Guard” of African-American leadership. He had been found guilty of misusing more than $750,000 in state education money for his charter school to sustain the failing Maison de Ville apartment complex. In 2007, Wyche ran for the House seat vacated

by Holly Benson, despite the Escambia County Black Caucus voting to support Rev. LuTimothy May. The older AfricanAmerican leadership backed Wyche and went back on their earlier pledge to May.

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in this community. The mega corporations sweep their bank accounts nightly to their out-of-state headquarters.

Pensacola is a line item on a big corporation’s financial report. The corporate beast wants to suck as much out of this place as possible and do it as quickly as possible.

When we don’t feed the beast properly, the beast pulls out of the market.

Local businesses are here for the long haul, despite the ups and downs of the local economy.

The Independent News is keenly aware of this because we are a local business. We feel the pains and gains of the local economy more than the nationallyowned media because we depend on you and the locally-owned shops, restaurants and other businesses. We aren’t a “media solution” like our daily newspaper proudly campaigns in its house ads.

This little paper with its dedicated staff and band of freelancers has been at the heart of all the major issues of the past decade, fighting to make our community better. “Our community”–those are the key words. Our passion and compassion can be summed up in those two words.

March is the month that the IN focuses on and celebrates our locallyowned businesses. On March 24, the paper will publish its annual Stay Local issue, in which we highlight the businesses that make this community unique and offer alternatives to the “Big Box” stores. If you’re a locally-owned business, we hope you will advertise in that issue.

For other readers, we hope it will become a resource for keeping our dollars local.

Like Jerry Mistretta, all of us small business owners have dreams. We can help each other realize them. rick@inweekly.net

Don Parker

“Good Morning Pensacola!”

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Cheryl Young www.cherylyoung.com cayoungrealtor@aol.com

about to lose my dream, my spiritual mission, my passion and my many loyal and dear friends” is how Jerry Mistretta, owner of Jerry’s Cajun Cafe and Market on Ninth Avenue, began his plea to his customers, neighbors and fellow Pensacolians in emails that were passed from friend to friend on Facebook and throughout the Web. His restaurant has been a fixture near Pensacola State College for over 17 years, beginning in a small strip center on the corner of Creighton Road and Ninth Avenue in a space so small that it could only fit a dozen tables or so. Jerry’s Cajun Café moved in 1998 to new digs closer to the community college, and his business soared–then came the hurricanes, a fire that shut him down for several months, recession and the BP oil disaster.

Mistretta could have survived one of these setbacks, but the succession of all four put him on the verge of closing his doors and walking away from his dream.

His call for help appears to have worked, but I’m sure it’s still touch-and-go for the restaurant. Like most businesses, Jerry’s Cajun Café will need a good spring and summer to survive.

Behind the headlines of the slow BP claims process and the weak economic recovery, real people and businesses are on the brink of collapse. There is no credit available. The BP claims process is moving at a snail ’s pace. And the lack of money is rippling through the retail and restaurant industries and leaving many grasping for any lifeline to sur vive.

Dozens of businesses could have written the same email as Mistretta.

We all need each other to survive these tough economic times. Dollars spent with locally-owned businesses stay

Monday-Friday

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rant & rave MISUSE OF SCHOOL FUNDS I am a senior at Washington High School and some recent decisions by our School Board have raised my hand. Our art teachers receive $800 annually, which comes out to be less than $1.50 per student, and with the cost of art materials being relatively high, the teachers are finding themselves coming out of pocket for the students’ benefit.

While these statistics came to my attention, the Board decided to mandate drug tests for all Escambia County middle and high school students participating in extracurriculars and those who park on campus. I was shocked that our teachers cannot receive more funds for learning purposes, but we have the money to make teens put their urine in a cup, a process I find to be a violation of privacy. Not only a privacy issue, these are matters that should be taken care of at home, and have no business being an in-school issue.

The lack of funds for my art teachers (and other teachers) is ridiculous and will only get worse with Rick Scott pushing for education cuts. We have a surplus of administration employees that are making top dollar for doing nothing more than pushing paper for seven hours a day and facilities that are failing to be properly maintained.

Malcolm Thomas needs to sit down and think about what our school system here in Florida, more precisely Escambia, has come to. People are turning to alternative, private, and even boarding institutions so that their children do not have to enroll in this mediocre education system. I have also seen a number of families using business addresses to attend school in Santa Rosa County in the past few years.

I thought I would bring this to your attention as I am a student who has been, and is currently in this system—but as a 17-yearold, there are only so many people who will listen. I feel that if a respected person such as yourself were to bring these problems to

our city’s attention, our teachers may receive what they deserve and changes will be set in motion. I thank you so much for your time and please feel free to contact me for any reason. Have a great day.

– Washington High School student

KUDOS Great Article (Independent News, “Budget Woes Handicap Fire Service,” Feb. 3). In the city’s amended budget, the Fire Budget decreased to $9,560,526. These savings came from the pension plan for this year. Dick Barker did not leave this money in the budget. This has always been a problem in the city.

You save money in your budget and the staff takes it; you are not able to use the money for different needs. The decrease in the budget from 10.5 to 10.08 in the beginning-year budget was also a savings from the pension plan. Barker does not want this to be known because the general and police are not saving any money in the pension plans.

Barker does not want anyone to find the real reasons for the inflated pension cost to the police and general plans. If you call him and ask, he will blame the cost on the stock market. This is a smoke steam.

The Fire Plan has gained back all the money lost in 2008. The Fire Plan through Dec. 31 for the last two years has averaged a 19-20 percent return net of fees. The big question to ask Barker is, “What is the percentage funded of each plan and the reasons behind each?” The Fire Plan as of Sept. 30, 2010 was 87 percent pre-funded.

–Richard Grover, Pensacola

NEW DIET Now that the U.S. Department of Agriculture has released new dietary guidelines urging people to eat more plantbased foods—and indicating that vegetarians are generally leaner and live longer than meat-eaters—many people are looking for resources to help them make the transition to a vegan diet.

PETA is happy to provide free vegan recipes, product suggestions, cooking and shopping tips, information on vegan-friendly restaurants (stadiums, too), nutritional advice, and more.

If eating barbecued veggie burgers, spicy soy sausage, hummus wraps, pasta primavera, coconut-pineapple curry, wild mushroom risotto, faux chicken sandwiches, fresh berries, juicy melons, ripe tomatoes, citrus, sweet corn, and other delicious and nutritious fruits and vegetables doesn’t sound like a chore to you, why not visit PETA.org and take PETA’s 30 Day Veg Pledge?

You’ll not only reduce your risk of lifethreatening diseases by eating healthy, appetizing foods; you’ll help save animals and the environment, too.

–Heather Moore, PETA Foundation, Norfolk, Va.

170 MILLION AMERICANS NEED YOUR HELP You may be thinking this is just a cycle; every few years, someone in Washington has the idea to cut funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), and we write to our representatives in support of public radio and TV. Please know that this time is different.

Bipartisan calls for deficit reduction along with the common dawning that painful budget cuts will be required of all, now place public broadcasting in a very vulnerable position.

There are now four bills in Congress which would eliminate federal funding for the CPB and a fifth that would cut NPR (H.R. 68, H.R. 69, H.R. 235, H.R. 408 and S.178). In addition, as Congress completes FY2011 funding bills and begins considering the FY2012 funding cycle, there will be many more opportunities for cuts to public broadcasting funding.

What can you do if public broadcasting is important to you?

—170 million Americans use public broadcasting each month. That is more than half of the population.

— The aggregate federal contribution to

public broadcasting amounts to only $1.35 per American/year.

—The public radio system is composed of approximately 900 stations, broadcasting, streaming and podcasting local, regional, national and international news and information, deploying more than 1,400 reporters, editors and producers in 21 domestic and 17 foreign bureaus.

—WUWF receives vital grants from CPB, which are used for local news coverage and acquisition of NPR programming.

—Individual donors and local businesses contribute nearly half of the funding for WUWF public radio.

Public broadcasting (public radio and TV) is not government-run; your public broadcasting provides local, regional, statewide, and nationally syndicated programming of a great variety. WUWF determines its own schedule and programming, producing roughly 25 percent of local entertainment and news, responding to community needs.

WUWF has fostered long-standing relationships with local cultural institutions, performers, venues and avid music fans, providing and broadcasting thousands of in-studio and local performances to local audiences and covering local music events.

Contact your representatives. If you have the time, a letter in support of public broadcasting, in your own words, is a powerful thing. Say why public radio and TV are important to you—whether it’s news, education or entertainment—and don’t forget emergency information.

You can now send a letter to Congress in support of public broadcasting directly from the “170 Million Americans” Facebook page. Visit facebook.com/170million and click on the “Take Action” tab.

–Lynne Marshall, Director of Promotions & Outreach, WUWF Public Media, Pensacola

WE WELCOME YOUR RANTS AND RAVES to the Independent News. All letters should be 200 words or less and should include your name, address, telephone number and e-mail address (if you have one).

All viewpoints should be no more than 700 words. The Independent News reserves the right to edit letters and opinions.Send letters and opinions to P.O. Box 12082, Pensacola, Fla. 32591 • FAX 850-438-0228 • E-mail opinions@inweekly.net

www.GeneMitchellAttor ney.com INDEPENDENT NEWS | MARCH 03, 2011 | WWW.INWEEKLY.NET |

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news

GUIDING AMERICANS TO THEIR BEST HEALTH RATING SYSTEM INCREASING QUALITY OF CARE AND PATIENT OUTCOMES AT SACRED HEART

BY ERICA HOUSE

(L-R) Deanie Lancaster, Chief Nursing Officer, Sacred Heart Hospital-Pensacola; Dr. Michael Brown, Chief Medical Officer, Sacred Heart Hospital-Pensacola; and Carol Schmidt, Sacred Heart Health System Chief Operating Officer/President of Sacred Heart Hospital, Pensacola.

M

any people take pride in being an educated consumer. The average American spends 40 hours searching for their dream home and 10 hours looking for their perfect vehicle. When it comes to something much more serious, such as your health, how much time do you spend researching which local hospitals provide the highest quality of care?

For over a decade, Health Grades, the leading independent health care rating organization, has compared performance for nearly all of the 5,000 hospitals across the United States (HealthGrades.com). They analyzed approximately 40 million Medicare patients last year and looked specifically at mortality rates and complication rates among patients. They rate care on a 5-star system, with one star representing “poor” care and five stars as “best.”

“It’s hard sometimes for consumers to analyze for themselves how hospitals compare,” Mike Burke, director of Marketing and Public Relations at Sacred Heart Hospital, told

6

the IN. “This is one area where the ratings are based on outcomes, not reputation or what services you have. It’s an independent organization looking at some pretty hard data.”

Health Grades operates on three principal components. Their first aim is to accurately predict outcomes at hospitals across the country by purchasing hospital data and analyzing it for trends. The second goal is to produce this data for the general public in such a way that it is easy to interpret and understand.

Their last component is to act as a consulting firm that aids hospitals that are operating under the 5-star level and helps guide them in the direction of improving their scores and ultimately quality of care provided.

Dr. Michael Brown, vice president of Medical Affairs at Sacred Heart, explained that Sacred Heart purchases the consulting services of Health Grades and their teams meet on a monthly basis to assess how the hospital is doing and where they can improve.

According to the Health Grades website, you have a more than 72 percent lower risk of dying in the best versus the worst hospitals.

Approximately 55.91 percent of the potential-

| INDEPENDENT NEWS | MARCH 03, 2011 | WWW.INWEEKLY.NET

ly preventable deaths were associated with just four diagnoses: Sepsis, Pneumonia, Respiratory Failure, and Heart Failure. Sacred Heart Hospital scored a “5” in all categories, while West Florida Hospital and Baptist Hospital scored “5” in only Sepsis and Heart Failure, respectively.

If all hospitals in the country performed at the level of a 5-star rated hospital, 232,442 Medicare lives could potentially have been saved from 2007 through 2009. The information provided by Health Grades is also critical to patient survival once the patient leaves hospital care. A typical patient had, on average, a 57.08 percent lower risk of dying 30 days following their hospitalization if they were treated at a facility that was rated “5-stars” for their in-hospital performance.

In February, Health Grades presented its Distinguished Hospital Award for Clinical Excellence to leaders at Sacred Heart Hospital for ranking among the top 5 percent of all hospitals in the United States. The independent study showed that this group of top hospitals had a mortality rate almost 30 percent lower than all other hospitals.

One area of particular focus for Sacred Heart has been improving and maintaining the high quality of care provided in their Stroke Center. “Regarding stroke, we’re given a template of the things you need to achieve to get to the ‘5’ star. Over the course of the past couple of years, we’ve been able to reach those and fortunately maintain it,” explained Dr. Terry Neill, medical director of Sacred Heart’s Stroke Center. “What it comes down to is once you have that template, to continue to keep it up, not just do it for one year and stop.”

Sacred Hearts’ medical teams use the Health Grades to develop workable goals and improve systems. In the Stroke Center, the medical team meets regularly to examine all the cases in which complications developed and the patient died. “They look at every single case, and if things didn’t work out for some reason, they are all looking at the processes, the training that nurses get, how quickly did a CT scan get done in the emergency department, and how quickly did the radiologists report their results back to the doctors in ER,” said Burke. “It’s a big team involved and some of the improvements have been based upon these teams meeting regularly, talking to each other, and focusing on how they can get better, and it has worked over time.”

Burke believes Health Grades ratings adequately represent the care provided at Sacred Heart. “The study and the ratings really mean something; it’s not just about the hospital’s reputation,” said Burke. “It’s about the actual outcomes of people’s survival of procedures and complications that could have resulted.”

Pointing out that Sacred Heart moved from three stars to five stars in eight categories, Burke said, “We’re proud of the scores and think they are meaningful.”

There are medical emergencies that require immediate attention and do not afford one the luxury of stopping to research online which hospital may be best suited for the patient’s condition. However, for the millions of Americans who suffer from a chronic illness or condition that requires routine care, it would be beneficial to educate themselves now as to where their needs may be best served. If you put significant time into researching which bank to take your money to for a home or auto loan, shouldn’t you invest some amount of time into where you bring your health-related issues? info@inweekly.net

buzz DEAD DOLPHIN TALES Rescuers have found

an unusually large number of baby dolphin carcasses washed up on Gulf Coast beaches. So far, scientists have tallied a total of 67 dead dolphins along the coast.

The Institute for Marine Mammal Studies has seen an unusually high number of strandings also. The non-profit institute, which is based in Gulfport, Miss., issued a press release on Friday, Feb. 25 that stated the total count for the year now stands at 34 strandings in Mississippi and Alabama, with 27 of these involving calves. Strandings occur when marine mammals or sea turtles swim or float into shore and become “beached” or stuck in shallow water. This is about ten times the number normally found washed up along those two states during this time of the year.

Capt. Mark Stewart, who owns two oyster boats and two shrimp boats that are based on the Mississippi coast, told the IN, “Dolphins are washing up constantly.

Most are on Horn Island.”

Stewart said that he had heard rumors that BP search teams are being sent out to gather the dead dolphins before they reach shore. He also said, “Tar balls by the ton are washing up on the Gulf islands.”

Stewart’s family has fished the gulf waters for generations. He is concerned that BP and the state and federal governments no longer care about the commercial fishing industry.

“They are sweeping us under the rug,” said Stewart. “They’ve ruined our lives and want us to just go away. The government keeps lying about it. I don’t like Obama, but I don’t like our Governor Haley Barbour even worse. He is the crookest snake of them all. He was in BP’s pocket long before he became governor.

Now he wants to be president.”

He believes that all Barbour and his administration care about is the Mississippi coast casinos, not the commercial fishermen. “They have tried to brand us a small group of disgruntled fishermen, saying we’re just trying to milk BP for more money,” said Stewart. “We didn’t ask for BP’s money. We didn’t ask them to poison our fishing grounds.”

BEHIND TANKER MISFIRE Pensacola stepped

up to help push Mobile, Ala. to get the largest Air Force contract in history, $30 billion to build the next generation of tankers to refuel military planes in midair. Mississippi helped, too, but it was all for naught.

In the Captain’s Room at the Atlas Oyster House, local elected officials and businessmen gathered Thursday, Feb. 24 to hear live the announcement on whether Boeing or Northrop Grumman/EADS North America would be awarded the contract. Two years ago, the Air Force awarded the contract to Northrop Grumman/EADS, which had agreed to establish a plant in Mobile to build the air tankers. Boe-

Photo by Institute for Marine Mammal Studies ing appealed, forcing another solicitation.

The mood at the Atlas was cautiously optimistic. Jim Hizer, president/CEO of the Pensacola Bay Area Chamber of Commerce, said he had heard that there was a 75-percent chance that Mobile would get at least half of the contract. Escambia County Administrator Randy Oliver said that he had heard the Air Force was going to “split the baby” and award half to Boeing.

Collier Merrill, chairman of the Pensacola Chamber, said, “We want this contract. Let’s don’t play with this another year. We need jobs. Yes, other regions need jobs, too, but they have not gone through the hurricanes and oil spill like we have.”

Five minutes before the scheduled announcement, Merrill, Mayor Ashton Hayward and Hizer were called outside

by Collier Craft, a consultant who led a coalition of chambers and business leaders from across the Gulf Coast region who supported the Mobile tanker bid. In a matter of seconds the optimism that filled the Atlas evaporated.

“Boeing won the contract,” said Merrill, when he walked back into the room. “I don’t know what happened. We all worked tirelessly on it, and we know we have the best work force.

“I’m shocked quite frankly that we didn’t get it.”

Mayor Hayward tried to stay positive.

“This will make us work that much harder to make something happen on the Gulf Coast,” said Hayward. “We have shown that we can work together regionally.”

County Commissioners Wilson Robertson, Grover Robinson and Gene Valentino were also at the Atlas. Robertson and Valentino expressed disappointment, but remained optimistic about the future.

Robinson echoed Hayward’s thoughts. “For the first time ever, we are seeing a more regional approach,” said Robinson. “We have learned that we can work together.”

MORGAN BLASTS SCOTT Escambia County

Sheriff David Morgan has written Gov. Rick Scott making it clear that he believes the newly-elected governor has been getting “less than stellar advice” on his first budget.

Morgan told Scott that he can’t approach governance like it’s a hostile corporate takeover. “The public sector is not about making a profit,” wrote Morgan.

He recommended that the governor compile a list of agencies and tasks performed, then delineate “want vs. need.” Morgan, who served on Scott’s transition team, is concerned about the discussions in Tallahassee to eliminate the Florida Highway Patrol, an agency Morgan wrote was “the flagship law enforcement agency for the state.”

Morgan also criticized talk of cutting funds for the Department of Children and Families. While it may draw applause with certain audiences, Morgan questioned whether such a budget decision might be counter-productive in protecting children and would simply push the costs down to the counties.

The Sheriff wrote that while the recom-

mendations to reduce the budgets of FHP, DCF and state hospitals may help balance the state budget, the need for those services cannot be eliminated.

“This current approach is a little akin to making the observation that ‘my house has never caught on fire, so therefore I have no need for fire insurance. Let’s cancel it,’” wrote Morgan. “Our house is on fire, Governor.

Others and I stand ready to lend a semblance of sanity by forming a fire brigade.

“We must seek, identify and implement alternative approaches. I fear that many of the current initiatives will only result in long-term devastating outcomes.”

Sheriff David Morgan

INDEPENDENT NEWS | MARCH 03, 2011 | WWW.INWEEKLY.NET |

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or Bob, homelessness was not a choice. A Vietnam veteran, Bob had his own business, two houses and a brand new Corvette before he had a heart attack and lost it all.

“I came back from the hospital and the bank had taken away everything,” Bob said.

Now 61, Bob has lung cancer and is living in the woods in Pensacola with a black cat named Midnight. He has six more months of chemotherapy at the VA clinic, but he still smokes cigarettes. Bob is originally from Massachusetts, where most of his family lives, including his 28-yearold daughter. Her birthday is coming up.

A pink and white birthday card lies on the floor of his tent.

“Grown men do cry,” Bob said as his eyes welled with tears.

Bob’s income is modest to say the least.

With no mode of transportation, he has to take whatever he can get.

“I panhandle,” Bob said with his head hung low. “I might make about $10 a week.”

Bob also does odd jobs for businesses downtown. It’s a four-hour walk from his camp.

Steve, another homeless vet, lives in the woods by train tracks. An American f lag dances in the wind next to a chain link fence while his dog, Jill, plays in the dirt. Steve was born in Pensacola and even owned a home here about 15 years ago, but once things took a turn for the worst, Steve had lost more than his house.

“I was engaged to be married to a little French girl from Montreal,” Steve said. “It was when I was on a plane to visit her that she had a brain aneurysm and died.”

Two months later, his elderly mother died of natural causes. While Steve was visiting his favorite aunt, she too passed away.

“I lost the three women I love most in this world,” Steve said.

Maybe it’s the strong will he learned from the military, but despite his situation, Steve is still charismatic and optimistic.

“I am what is commonly known as a survivor,” Steve said.

Steve and Bob are only a fraction of the growing homeless population.

“The number of new homeless people is growing exponentially,” said Brunie Emmanuel, executive director of EscaRosa Coalition on the Homeless.

About 20 percent of the homeless population are veterans who need more

than work, but real help. And sometimes, the help isn’t even enough.

“These are people who have experienced hell,” Emmanuel said. “Human beings aren’t made to kill each other. Some of these vets can’t live with themselves after what they have gone through. It’s hard for them to go through the steps and make appointments. These are very, very disturbed people, not just lazy people. They deserve some help.”

Help is exactly what the Coalition on the Homeless tries to do. The major contribution is through their U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) required surveys. ECOH spends 10 minutes with those willing to fill out the form. Once all of the surveys are manually entered into the database, ECOH can estimate the number of homeless in the area and pinpoint their needs.

“The homeless population has stayed around 800 for a number of years,” said Emmanuel. “But that number no where near reflects people who are in motels, doubled-up or tripled-up in households.”

That number does not ref lect those without a home who refused to participate in the survey. For children, ECOH relies on homeless advocates to report when they

think a student may be homeless. These advocates could be a bus driver, teacher or cafeteria worker. Right now, the estimated number of homeless children is 2,500 for both Santa Rosa and Escambia counties, which is a 30 to 40 percent rise from last year.

“That’s huge,” Emmanuel said.

Some of the homeless population have just recently lost their homes due to work lay-offs.

“The really hard part is to watch a family who has just lost their home,” Emmanuel said. “They’re free-falling and terrified.”

But helping the homeless isn’t a hopeless situation. While there may not be enough, there are emergency shelters and developmental programs devoted to anyone who seeks help.

Waterfront Rescue Mission provides a free substance abuse program where men and women can kick the habits that put them on the streets as well as free emergency shelters and transitional housing.

Loaves and Fishes provides hot meals daily alongside their emergency shelter and a transitional housing program which helps families save money to purchase a house on their own. For those who need extra grocery money, Manna Food Pantry can help those who may be eating less due to

INDEPENDENT NEWS | MARCH 03, 2011 | WWW.INWEEKLY.NET |

9

cut hours at work or unexpected medical expenses. Whatever the case may be, there is help to rectify any situation.

WATERFRONT RESCUE MISSION

Many men and women are suffering from addictions that debilitate their lives.

What they may not know is that there is effective help out there and it’s free. When you buy a lamp from one of the Waterfront Mission Bargain Centers, you’re donating to men’s and women’s shelters, recovery and developmental programs. In 2010, the Waterfront Mission served 225,000 meals, provided over 83,000 with nights of shelter and 9,500 hours of individual counseling.

“Our men’s recovery program had a 65 percent completion rate in 2009,” said Natalie Smith, developmental associate for the Waterfront Mission in an e-mail interview. “We also had over 230 graduates in 2010 from our programs.”

For those seeking help, you must be accepted into a recovery or developmental program.

“As in any recovery program, there are always those who do not complete the program or who are asked to leave,” Smith said. “In order to minimize these occurrences we have what we call intake coordinators. These individuals are trained to interview those who would like to enter our programs and do what they can to make sure the men and women accepted into the program are truly ready and willing to change.”

Change is exactly what James, a graduate of the recovery program, was looking for.

“My life before Waterfront Mission was about feeding my addiction,” James said.

“The more dark things that came along the more I drank. Now that I have graduated from the program, it feels so good not to drink my breakfast.”

James was staying with different people every night—people he claimed were far worse than him. He made his decision to change once and for all one night after an argument with a roommate.

“I told him, ‘I’ve had enough of this’ and left,” James said. “I never saw him again, but I could almost thank him for ar-

guing with me. I would never take a chance is his newfound relationship with God. on going back.”

Much of the counseling is non-denominaThe recovery program differs from tional, yet still very spiritual. member to member. Each recovery is “I used to spend all of my time doing done case by case. Because there are a what was wrong,” James said. “My new job higher number of males in the program is to serve God. It’s my number one focus.” than females, males have a seven-month An important step to recovery is program and women have a nine-month building strong relationships, which James program. Sadly, this is because there just found through his chaplain and other isn’t enough room for the males. recovering addicts in the program. James After a male is accepted into the calls them his brothers. recovery “We all rely program, he on each other,” is moved to James said. a dormitory “That’s what set-up where will keep you he must atgoing.” tend chapel Women services, must also be recovery accepted into courses and the recovery individual program. Once and group they commit to counsel the nine-month sessions. program, they Each man are provided is given a with addicjob at one of tion recovery, the bargain relapse prevencenters. Altion and Biblical though they discipleship. do not earn In the women’s a paycheck, Bob / photo By Jennie McKeon CDP, women they are learn to create learning job résumés, conduct skills. After three months in the program, a successful interview and run Microsoft they are moved to New Hope Home in Office programs. Women are also given Gulf Breeze where they continue the rest the chance to enroll in local vocational of the program. After graduation, they schools and colleges. Waterfront Mission have the opportunity to move on to the also helps men and women finish or start Men’s Career Developmental Program or degrees and apply for Pell Grants.

CDP. In this program, they earn job trainAll of the men’s and women’s proing through the George Stone Technical grams are free to those who are accepted.

Center, educational opportunities through However, the money needs to come from Pensacola State College, Christian disciple- somewhere, and since the recession, there ship training, local church mentoring and has been a decrease. job placement.

“About half of what the Mission needs James is currently in the third phase. to run all of our programs comes from our He already has an Associate’s Degree in five bargain centers,” Smith said. “When computer technology and is hoping to go the community donates items to these back to school and find good employment. thrift stores or shops at these thrift stores, The most important change in James’ life they are helping to support our programs

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and shelters. The other half of what the Mission needs comes from cash contributions, which the Mission has heavily relied upon since we opened in 1949. The Waterfront Mission has been blessed with loyal supporters over the years and they have continued to be faithful in their giving.

However, the average gift has declined the last few years and we believe this is because of the recession.”

To feed 225,000 people, Waterfront Mission relies on cash and food donations.

Although there has been a decline in cash, food donations work just as well.

“It costs on average $2.23 for one meal,” Smith said. “We are blessed to receive a large amount of food donations from all over the community. Ever’man Natural Foods, for example, is a huge supporter and donates food on a regular basis.”

If you’re lucky enough to find vacancy, Waterfront Mission does not require much to stay at one of their overnight shelters.

All you need is a license and to pass a breathalyzer test to receive a hot meal and a safe place to sleep. On freezing or extreme weather nights, no one is turned away.

Right now, the Pensacola shelter has 65 beds in an 8,500 square foot building in downtown Pensacola, but Waterfront Mission is in the process of constructing a brand new, 32,000 square foot building at 350 W. Herman St, which will house 124 emergency shelter beds. There is already a 7,200 square foot building on the Herman Street property, which will be renovated into a Day Resource Center.

“In working with EscaRosa Coalition on the Homeless and other service providers, we will provide a safe place for homeless men, women and children to come during the day for assistance,” Smith said. “Whether it’s finding a job, working on their GED, learning to read, getting medical treatment or receiving food and clothing, it will all be under one roof and managed by Waterfront Mission. No other day shelter like this currently exists in Pensacola.”

Although this new shelter calls for some celebration, it will only meet some of the needs of the area.

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“It’s a great addition, really robust,” Emmanuel said. “But it’s not going to meet all of the needs.”

“The large increase in beds will help enable us to allocate beds for a variety of needs in our community including: respite beds, beds for veterans who are awaiting placement by the VA, beds for men in the first phase of our recovery program and homeless guests needing extended care,” Smith said.

LOAVES AND FISHES

Thomas Webber is a single father who had nowhere else to go when he went to Loaves and Fishes for help.

“It was either sleeping in my truck or in the shelter,” Webber said. “When you’re a father, you learn to swallow your pride real quick-like.”

Before Loaves and Fishes, Webber was living with the mother of his son while trying to work it out for the sake of his child, but she left the two of them. Webber claimed full custody of his son and moved in with a friend, which turned out to be an even more unstable environment.

“He was an alcoholic—always drinking and cussing,” Webber said. “One night he kicked us out, and that’s when I turned to Loaves and Fishes.”

Webber and his son lived in the shelter for a month before joining the Transitional Housing Program. Since then, Webber found a job at Goodwill and has provided a safe home for his son.

To meet the requirements of the program, Webber must attend classes on various life skills such as parenting and budgeting.

“I knew a lot of the material already, but every little bit helps,” Webber said.

Soon, Webber and his son will be moving into their very own house through the Habitat for Humanity program. After 200 hours of labor and volunteering, Webber can own a home for his son. The monthly payments will only be $450 a month.

“Loaves and Fishes was a blessing,” Webber said. “Everyone I met in the program has been awesome.”

The Transitional Housing Program

(THP) provides homeless families a furnished home and supportive services for a period of up to two years. Those wishing to join the THP must be a legally married man or woman or a single parent, custodial parent of a minor child, pregnant female or homeless under the HUD standards. In the program, families are given intensive social work including goal and financial planning, employment skills, educational opportunities and counseling. The families are also given help with medical care, transportation and clothing vouchers. A representative chosen by the church visits and ministers the family.

“As the family transitions through the

a good fit for them, or if they do not want to fulfill the program’s design, they are allowed to exit the program.”

Churches contribute $150-$200 a month to help pay for expenses such as food, utilities, staff, maintenance, office expenses, taxes and insurance. HUD also provides grants to Loaves and Fishes such as the HUD Supportive Housing Grant.

Each dollar must be matched by a percentage of cash from the ministry. Donations are essential in meeting this quota.

The THP has had a tremendous success rate.

“Since 2006, approximately 92 percent of all families exiting the program have

Breakfast is served at 7 a.m. Monday through Friday, lunch is served Saturday at 11:30 a.m. and dinner is served at 5 p.m. Sunday, Monday and Wednesday.

This doesn’t include the lunch and dinner that is served in the emergency shelter seven days a week.

The community plays a big part in feeding those in need. Local businesses and individuals donate food, while Loaves and Fishes volunteers pick up donations and help prepare and serve meals.

“Loaves and Fishes spends approximately $2,000 per month in food costs,” Thomas said. “These funds purchase food that is used in conjunction with food donations made by local restaurants, churches, individuals and organizations in the community. Fortunately, we have not experienced a time when there were not enough donations.”

The emergency family shelter offers much more than a bed. Ten families can stay in the shelter for up to three weeks.

During that time, parenting classes, life skills classes, counseling, clothing vouchers, haircuts, diapers, personal hygiene items, transportation for house-hunting, and referrals for supporting agencies including the THP are offered. A full-time case worker is on hand to help families get the support or encouragement they need.

MANNA FOOD PANTRY Steve's camp / Photo By Jennie McKeon THP, they are given criteria, including a two-year contract that spells out certain requirements such as participation in a client’s savings plan, employment or educational requirements and involvement in parenting and life skills,” said Kelli Thomas, who works with Loaves and Fishes, in an e-mail interview. “The families set goals and have individual client service plans that are set up at the initial assessment. During the 24-month period, a three-month evaluation is done to see if the family is making progress. If the family decides that the program is not

moved into permanent housing,” Thomas said. “We have seen families transition from homelessness to home ownership.

We have had many households that were able to complete educational programs and improve their employability skills and income. In addition, many people have been able to eradicate debt and improve credit scores that have made it near impossible to attain housing and transportation.”

Loaves and Fishes also serves hot meals daily. The soup kitchen gives out approximately 4,600 meals a month. Anyone in need is welcome to receive a meal.

For those who have a house and job, but may be running low on funds due to unexpected medical bills or job lay-offs, you can turn to Manna Food Pantr y to help f ill your fridge. Manna ser ves more than 30,000 people in Northwest Florida through its eight distribution sites in Santa Rosa and Escambia counties. Last year, Manna distributed 700,000 pounds of food; 95 percent of that distribution was donated from the community.

“We help working class families, sometimes referred to as the working poor,” said Tim Evans, executive director of Manna Food Pantr y. “We’ve seen a signif icant rise since 2008. Some looking for help have jobs that were cut

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| INDEPENDENT NEWS | MARCH 03, 2011 | WWW.INWEEKLY.NET

from f ive days a week to just two. Some have lost their jobs entirely.”

Manna has an Emergency Food Program and a Monthly Service Program.

About 75 percent of people who receive help from the Emergency Food Program are referred to Manna while they wait to receive food stamps. Even those who do not receive food stamps may be eligible if they are able to prove they need help, whether it is a notice of termination or decrease in income.

Those who have already used up their food stamps, lost their food stamps, have failed to keep their food stamp appointments, are on sanction for failure to participate in family transitions programs or intentionally provide fraudulent information while trying to seek help are not eligible. Manna will even help those who qualify apply for state help.

Participants in the Monthly Service Program are generally referred by the Council on Aging, a home health agency, or Escambia AIDS Services and Education. Those in the program are reviewed semi-annually by Manna to verify their need.

“General provision is about five to seven days of food for everyone in the family based on the USDA nutritional guidelines,” Evans said. “We could just give Ramen noodles. You wouldn’t be hungry, but it’s not nutritional. We try to supply balanced, healthy meals.”

Instead of heading to your local soup kitchen for a meal, Manna provides groceries to those in need so that you can continue your daily routine and sit down with your family for a well-balanced meal.

Luckily, Manna has been able to meet the needs of families even while the demand was rising.

“Everybody needs to eat,” Evans said.

HOW TO HELP

Giving your time and money to charities and organizations devoted to helping the homeless is time and money well spent. Monetary donations are of course in high demand, but whatever is given is greatly appreciated.

“We rely on monetary donations to help us cover the large variety of services we provide,” Smith said of the Waterfront Mission.

“However, gifts-in-kind are always needed. Things like food, clothing and toiletries are items we distribute everyday at all of our locations. Donations of household goods such as furniture, appliances, clothing, books, etc. are items that can be donated to our bargain centers, and this is also a way of helping the Mission pay for out programs.”

“Money is the primary need at this time,” Thomas said of Loaves and Fishes.

“We do need products not covered by food stamps such as garbage bags, dia-

pers (sizes 4 and 5) and toiletries. Prayers for our families, staff and mentors for the families are essential.”

Some may want to give money directly to the homeless, but it’s debatable whether or not the money will actually help that person.

“On a personal level, I don’t like panhandling,” Emmanuel said. “I don’t think it does any good for that person. It’s a survival tactic.”

The panhandling ordinance in Escambia County is a sensitive subject for the homeless. The ordinance doesn’t say that panhandling is illegal; instead, it sets restrictions.

Under the ordinance, one cannot panhandle before sunrise or af ter sunset, at a bus stop or within 20 feet of an ATM or bank entrance. An off icer must catch someone receiving money before they are arrested.

“Hold i ng a sig n is not i l lega l,” sa id Capta i n Da le T ha r p. “ T he ord ina nce is for sa fet y issues a l l a rou nd .

Sher i f fs a ren’t t r y i ng to focus on a speci f ic g roup.”

One agreement between those who oppose and support the ordinance is that helping the homeless should be a priority.

“It costs us hundreds of dollars to arrest, feed and house the homeless,” Emmanuel said. “Instead, we should be paying caseworkers to help the homeless. We’d get a much better return on the dollar. I believe David Morgan is doing what he thinks is best, I just don’t think it will work.”

Captain Tharp’s beliefs aren’t far off.

“The money Pensacola is giving to the panhandlers is money they could contribute to a local charity that helps the homeless,” Tharp said. “It would be wonderful if they all had a place to go.”

For t hos e wa nt i ng to volu nte er t i me to help t he homele s s , t he St re e t s a nd L a ne s M i n i st r y c a n b e go o d s t a r t . Ever y we ek, St re e t s a nd L a ne s M i n i s t r y v i sit s t he homele s s i n t hei r c a mps to br i ng fo o d , bla n ke t s , sle e p i ng ba gs , Bible s a nd w hate ver el s e t he y m ig ht ne e d .

Those who have received help from Streets and Lanes Ministr y have been inspired to help their own cause.

Ad a m, a fa it h f u l volu nteer, is a pr i me exa mple. Grow i ng up i n foster c a re, Ad a m never had much of a home, but he ref uses to back dow n to homelessness. About si x yea rs ago, he made contac t w it h h is biolog ica l mot her a nd has been ta k i ng ca re of her. Even w it h few resou rces, Ada m wa nts to g ive back .

“I’m going to keep tr ying to get a job and get off these streets,” Adam said. “Ever y thing is in my power.”

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info@inweekly.net INDEPENDENT NEWS | MARCH 03, 2011 | WWW.INWEEKLY.NET |

13

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14 | INDEPENDENT NEWS | MARCH 03, 2011

| WWW.INWEEKLY.NET

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THROW ME SOMETHING MISTER! MARDI GRAS SEASON IS IN FULL SWING

BY KATE PETERSON aissez Les Bon Temps Roulez— let the good times roll.

Pensacola knows how to make it roll. Mardi Gras season is in full swing along the Gulf Coast.

There are many parades and events to attend, with some great weather to boot.

L

HISTORY

Ever since Jean Baptiste Bienville, a French-Canadian explorer, landed 60 miles south of New Orleans in 1703 and declared it, “Pointe due Mardi Gras,” there have been Mardi Gras celebrations here along the Gulf Coast. However, we’ve put our own riotous spin on the age-old Catholic celebration.

When the area was founded by French and Spanish settlers, they brought with them their religious celebrations and calendars. Carnival season kicks off with the Epiphany, 12th night, January 6, twelve days after Christmas. King cakes are a customary treat during this period of the carnival celebration. King cakes are round, sweet cakes that represent the circular routes the Three Wise Men took to find Jesus. Inside the king cake there may be a plastic baby, a coin or a bean.

If you get the piece of the cake with the trinket inside, you have to host the king cake party the following year.

The colors of Mardi Gras are: purple, representing justice: green, representing faith; and gold, representing power.

Carnival season ends with Fat Tuesday, which is based on the tradition of feasting on a fattened calf on the last day of carnival. The tradition of having pancakes on Fat Tuesday comes from the need to use up all the fat, eggs and dairy before fasting, as Lent begins on Ash Wednesday. This year, Fat Tuesday falls on March 8.

EVENTS, KREWES AND PARADES

Danny Zimmern, President of Pensacola Mardi Gras Inc., said, “We formed Pensacola Mardi Gras Inc. to showcase the downtown Pensacola area. We want to emphasize how great Pensacola is, and

how much entertainment there is to offer. This year’s Mardi Gras will be bigger than ever; full of excitement and energy.

We are proud to have Johanna Long, NASCAR truck series racer, as our Grand Marshall.” He went on to say, “We want to encourage more krewes to form, and to join, to really make the events bigger and bigger each year, and to really show off Pensacola’s Mardi Gras spirit. As an example of our spirit, during the recent inaugural parade for the Governor, the Escambia County delegation was the only one who threw beads.”

What we have today is months of parties, parades and balls. Each krewe has something special to offer the community.

“Krewe” officially means any of several groups, with hereditary membership, whose members organize and participate as costumed paraders in the annual Mardi Gras carnival. In the Pensacola area alone, there are over twentyfive krewes: LaFitte, Junkanoo, Warriors, Jesters, Voodoo, St. Patrick, Wrecks and Seville, just to name a few. Most hold monthly meetings and have f loats in all the parades. Each krewe requires membership, and they hold elaborate Mardi Gras balls. The balls are highly regarded social events complete with full costume regalia.

One Pensacola krewe, the Krewe of Lafitte, was founded in 1954 as a way to celebrate the Fiesta of Five Flags. They maintain a steady 250-pirate membership. Currently, their parade consists of 13 lighted f loats that show twice a year. The krewe also has two traveling f loats they take from Gulfport, Miss. to Bradenton, Fla. All of the f loats are designed, built and maintained by the krewe. As Karl Nessamar, Vice President of the Krewe of Lafitte, says, “We have a lot of talented folks in our group.” When you hear the cannon sound, Lafitte is on his way.

There is real camaraderie among the krewes. As Jeff Goudy, current Captain (Head Wreck) of the Krewe of Wrecks, says, “It is a close-knit group. We all

reference each other’s krewes on our websites, we participate in each other’s parades and do all we can to make it a successful Mardi Gras season.”

Nessamar, who has been with the Krewe of Lafitte for 12 years, agrees with that sentiment. “We all do work well together to benefit the community. We are a highly organized band of pirates.”

This year, the Krewe of Lafitte is proud to present their Grand Marshall, Josh Sitton, offensive guard for the Super Bowl championship team the Greenbay Packers. The NFL Alumni Association recently named Sitton the 2010 Offensive Lineman of the year.

Beads, moon-pies, doubloons, cups, stuffed animals and krewe-exclusive throws are the order of the day when the parades start. Some of the younger crowd runs along the sidewalks of the parade route, hoping to fill up their shopping bags with all the overthrown throws.

RECYCLE

Whether you’ve been to one parade or a hundred, more than likely you have accumulated bags full of beads and don’t know what to do with them. There is a solution. ARC Gateway provides job opportunities for adults with developmental disabilities. Your donated Mardi Gras beads are sorted and packaged by adults in the ARC Gateway program to be sold to area krewes for future parades. Donated beads may be dropped off at: ARC Gateway, 3932 N. 10th St.; Chamber of Commerce on Garden Street; Whitney Bank on Garden Street; State Farm on Palafox; RBC Bank on Palafox; and all Publix and Winn Dixie locations. For more information, please call 434-2638.

Angie Newman with ARC says, “We are very grateful that the businesses, citizens that donate their beads, and the krewes purchasing the recycled beads, have embraced this program. It helps us fund our operation here and reduces waste.” info@inweekly.net

PENSACOLA MARDI GRAS WEEKEND KICKOFF, JAMBALAYA JINGLE & BEER PONG TOURNAMENT WHEN: 8 p.m. Thursday, March 3 WHERE: Vinyl Music Hall, 2 S. Palafox COST: 5 beans for $5 DETAILS: pensacolamardigras.com

KREWE OF LAFITTE ILLUMINATED PARADE WHEN: 8 p.m. Friday, March 4 WHERE: Downtown Pensacola COST: Free DETAILS: kreweoflafitte.com

NAVARRE KREWE OF JESTERS PARADE WHEN: 1 p.m. Saturday, March 5 WHERE: Navarre Beach COST: Free DETAILS: navarrekreweofjesters.com

PENSACOLA GRAND MARDI GRAS PARADE WHEN: 2 p.m. Saturday, March 5 WHERE: Downtown Pensacola COST: Free DETAILS: pensacolamardigras.com

KREWE OF WRECKS PARADE WHEN: 2 p.m. Sunday, March 6 WHERE: Pensacola Beach COST: Free DETAILS: kreweofwrecks.com

KREWE OF WRECKS RED BEANS & RICE WHEN: 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Monday, March 7 WHERE: Casino Beach parking lot COST: Free DETAILS: kreweofwrecks.com

FAT TUESDAY PRISCUS PROCESSION & PUB CRAWL WHEN: 5 p.m. Tuesday, March 8 WHERE: Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. COST: Free DETAILS: pensacolamardigras.com

MARDI GRAS MADNESS WITH BIG SAM’S FUNKY NATION WHEN: 9 p.m. Friday, March 4 WHERE: Vinyl Music Hall, 2 S. Palafox COST: $10-$15 DETAILS: vinylmusichall.com

MARDI GRAS SATURDAY JAM W/BROOKS, TIMBERHAWK & DJ NICK B WHEN: 1 p.m. Saturday, March 5 WHERE: Vinyl Music Hall, 2 S. Palafox COST: Free for 21 and Up DETAILS: vinylmusichall.com

INDEPENDENT NEWS | MARCH 03, 2011 | WWW.INWEEKLY.NET |

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hot times THURSDAY 3.3 PMA CULTURE CLUB 5-7:30 p.m. Culture Club is open to the public and free of charge. Join the crowd for great music, and great art. Pensacola Museum of Art, 407 S. Jefferson St. 432-6247 or pensacolamuseumofart.org.

SNOWBIRD ROOST 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. The Perdido Key Chamber of Commerce is happy to welcome their returning guests and announce the 3rd and final Snowbird Roost of the season. $2 donations appreciated. Perdido Bay Community Center, 13660 Innerarity Point Road. 492-4660 or perdidochamber.com.

PENSACOLA ICE FLYERS V. FAYETTEVILLE FIREANTZ 7 p.m. The Hanger, Pensacola Civic Center, 201 E. Gregory St. 432-0800 or pensacolaiceflyers.com.

step that you will take home. 16 years and older. Theme: Monet’s Lilies 2. Painting with a Twist, 4771 Bayou Blvd., Suite C-11. $35.

471-1450 or paintingwithatwist.com/pensacola.

original celebration sites, Pensacola hosts the Mardi Gras parade in historic downtown Pensacola. Begins at Spring and Garden streets. pensacolamardigras.com.

MUSIC: JAMES ADKINS 9:30 p.m. Free. Hopjacks Pizza Kitchen & Taproom, 10 S. Palafox. 497-6073 or hopjacks.com.

LUMBERJACK FESTIVAL 8 a.m. Includes bluegrass music, nature and wildlife exhibits, firefighting equipment demonstrations, food and children’s activities. Learn about the environmental degree programs offered by PJC and the University of Florida at the Milton campus. Pensacola State College Milton Campus, 5988 Highway 90. 484-4436.

MUSIC: SAWMILL & GUESTS 7 p.m. Farmer’s Opry, 8897 Byrom Campbell Road. 994-6000 or farmersopry.com.

MUSIC: ULTRAVIOLET 9 p.m. Bamboo Willie’s, 400 Quietwater Beach Road. 916-9888 or bamboowillies.com.

MUSIC: TOMATO DUO 9:30 p.m. Five Sisters’ Blues Café, 421 W. Belmont St. 912-4856 or fivesistersbluescafe.com.

ART CLASS AT PAINTING WITH A TWIST 7-9 p.m. Bring your favorite bottle of wine or beverage, and paint a picture step by step that you will take home. 16 years and older. Theme: Almond Branches. Painting with a Twist, 4771 Bayou Blvd., Suite C-11. $35.

471-1450 or paintingwithatwist.com/pensacola.

MUSIC: MARDI GRAS MADNESS WITH BIG SAM’S FUNKY NATION 8 p.m. $10-$15. Vinyl Music Hall, 2 Palafox. vinylmusichall.com.

MUSIC: HOLLY SHELTON 7 p.m. Five Sisters’ Blues Café, 421 W. Belmont St. 912-4856 or fivesistersbluescafe.com.

MUSIC: 3 AMIGOS DUO 7 p.m. Peg Leg Pete’s, 1010 Fort Pickens Road. 932-4139 or pegletpetes.com.

MUSIC: GRADY CHAMPION 7 p.m. Paradise Bar and Grill, 21 Via de Luna Drive. 916-5087 or paradisebar-grill.com.

MUSIC: TIMBERHAWK 9 p.m. End O’ the Alley, Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. 434-6211 or sevillequarter.com.

MUSIC: RONNIE LEVINE 7 p.m. Peg Leg Pete’s, 1010 Fort Pickens Road. 932-4139 or pegletpetes.com.

MUSIC: KATEGORY 5 9 p.m. Lili Marlene’s, Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. 434-6211 or sevillequarter.com.

MUSIC: TIMBERHAWK 9 p.m. End O’ the Alley, Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. 434-6211 or sevillequarter.com.

MUSIC: DOG SPANKING MONKEYS 9 p.m. Apple Annie’s, Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. 434-6211 or sevillequarter.com.

FRIDAY 3.4

MUSIC: THE SHIZ 9 p.m. The Fish House, 600 S. Barracks St. 4700003 or fishhouse.goodgrits.com.

GRAS NEAUX KREWE BALL 6-10 p.m. Enjoy a gourmet Mardi Gras buffet-style dinner with individual servings of bread pudding for dessert as well as an art exhibit to benefit the University of West Florida chapter of Students for Suicide Awareness. No dress code. $40-$300. 5Eleven, 511 S. Palafox. 469-0445 or culinaryproductions.net.

STUDIOAMPED: RUMOR MILL 6 p.m. Doors open. 7 p.m. Concert.

StudioAmped is an eight-week concert series featuring bands performing original material at the WSRE Jean & Paul Amos Performance Studio on the campus of Pensacola State College.

The concert series will offer a variety of musical genres including rhythm & blues, rock, reggae, indie and country. Free. 1000 College Blvd. 484-1211.

‘LILY’S LOUNGE’ 8 p.m. Lily and Madge are having a hard time keeping things afloat, until two strangers appear and the world is changed. The play takes place in the early 1940s, and the world is realizing that the war is close, even on a hill in the center of a vast country. Loblolly Theatre, 1010 N. 12th Ave., Ste. 211. 439-3010 or loblollytheatre.com.

KREWE OF LAFITTE MARDI GRAS PARADE 8 p.m. The only illuminated nighttime parade in Pensacola. The crowd can expect to be entertained with marching bands, lighted floats and great throws as the Krewe of Lafitte kicks off Pensacola Mardi Gras. Begins at Spring and Garden streets and winds through downtown Pensacola. pensacolamardigras.com.

‘MOON OVER BUFFALO’ AT PLT 7:30 p.m. A pair of fading stars learn they have a last chance at glory, but in comic tradition, everything that can go wrong, does. A madcap comedy by Ken Ludwig. Pensacola Little Theatre, 400 S. Jefferson St. 432-4042 or pensacolalittletheatre.com.

SMOKIN’ IN THE SQUARE BBQ COOKOFF 10 a.m. Professional barbecue teams from around the U.S. will gather to compete at the first barbecue contest locally to be sanctioned by the Kansas City Barbecue Society (KSBS). Seville Square, Government and Alcaniz streets. 516-2622.

ART CLASS AT PAINTING WITH A TWIST 6-8 p.m. Bring your favorite bottle of wine or beverage, and paint a picture step by

MUSIC: THE NOUVEAU HONKIES 7 p.m. Paradise Bar and Grill, 21 Via de Luna Drive. 916-5087 or paradisebar-grill.com.

MUSIC: ZACK DEPUTY, INDA GLO 7 p.m. $10. The Handlebar, 319 N. Tarragona St. 434-9060 or handlebarpensacola.com.

MUSIC: BEACH MICE 7-11 p.m. The Grand Marlin, 400 Pensacola Beach Blvd. 677-9153 or thegrandmarlin.com.

SATURDAY 3.5

‘MOON OVER BUFFALO’ AT PLT 7:30 p.m. A pair of fading stars learn they have a last chance at glory, but in comic tradition, everything that can go wrong, does. A madcap comedy by Ken Ludwig. Pensacola Little Theatre, 400 S. Jefferson St. 432-4042 or pensacolalittletheatre.com.

SMOKIN’ IN THE SQUARE BBQ COOKOFF 10 a.m. Professional barbecue teams from around the U.S. will gather to compete at the first barbecue contest locally to be sanctioned by the Kansas City Barbecue Society (KSBS). Seville Square, Government and Alcaniz streets. 516-2622.

WILD TURKEY BANQUET 7 p.m. Farmer’s Opry, 8897 Byrom Campbell Road. 994-6000 or farmersopry.com.

ART CLASS AT PAINTING WITH A TWIST 6-9 p.m. Bring your favorite bottle of wine or beverage, and paint a picture step by step that you will take home. 16 years and older. Theme: Vangogh’s Cafe. Painting with a Twist, 4771 Bayou Blvd., Suite C-11. $45.

471-1450 or paintingwithatwist.com/pensacola.

MUSIC: KATALYTIC 9:30 p.m. Free. Hopjacks Pizza Kitchen & Taproom, 10 S. Palafox. 497-6073 or hopjacks.com.

MUSIC: SAWMILL & GUESTS 7 p.m. Farmer’s Opry, 8897 Byrom Campbell Road. 994-6000 or farmersopry.com.

MUSIC: ULTRAVIOLET 9 p.m. Bamboo Willie’s, 400 Quietwater Beach Road. 916-9888 or bamboowillies.com.

MUSIC: REDDOG 9:30 p.m. Five Sisters’ Blues Café, 421 W. Belmont St. 912-4856 or fivesistersbluescafe.com.

SANTA ROSA COUNTY DEMOCRATS YARD SALE 8 a.m.-2 p.m. Items will include toys, stuffed animals, books, kitchen items, glassware, tools, technology and more. In addition, there will be furniture and garden equipment for sale. 5746 Stewart St., Milton. 936-8704.

MUSIC: SAUCE BOSS 7 p.m. Paradise Bar and Grill, 21 Via de Luna Drive. 916-5087 or paradisebar-grill.com.

BAYVIEW PARK SPRING FLEA MARKET 7 a.m.-12 p.m. Vendors will be selling items such as art, jewelry, pottery, clothing, baked goods and more. Bayview Park, 2000 E. Lloyd St. 436-5190 or playpensacola.com.

MUSIC: TIMBERHAWK 9 p.m. End O’ the Alley, Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. 434-6211 or sevillequarter.com.

‘LILY’S LOUNGE’ 8 p.m. Lily and Madge are having a hard time keeping things afloat, until two strangers appear and the world is changed. The play takes place in the early 1940s, and the world is realizing that the war is close, even on a hill in the center of a vast country. Loblolly Theatre, 1010 N. 12th Ave., Ste. 211. 439-3010 or loblollytheatre.com.

‘THE PLANETS’ 8 p.m. The fourth Masterworks concert of the season will feature the Pensacola Symphony Orchestra in two of the most famous works in the modern repertoire. Saenger Theatre, 118 S. Palafox. 595-3880 or pensacolasaenger.com.

AKC DOG SHOW AND RALLY 9 a.m. The seven-hour show will include conformation, featuring many of the dogs seen at the Westminster show, and obedience, including the newest obedience trials. Escambia County Equestrian Center, 7750 Mobile Highway. 478-9202.

MUSIC: 3 AMIGOS DUO 7 p.m. Peg Leg Pete’s, 1010 Fort Pickens Road. 932-4139 or peglegpetes.com.

MUSIC: KATEGORY 5 9 p.m. Lili Marlene’s, Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. 434-6211 or sevillequarter.com.

MUSIC: THE REVIVALISTS 9 p.m. Apple Annie’s, Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. 434-6211 or sevillequarter.com.

MUSIC: THE SHIZ 9 p.m. The Fish House, 600 S. Barracks St. 4700003 or fishhouse.goodgrits.com.

MUSIC: PINE HILL HAINTS, COMPANY OF GHOSTS, VANGIE LEE, KAT SKULL, KOLLECTOR 9 p.m. Sluggo’s, 101 S. Jefferson St. 791-6501.

MUSIC: SEVERED SUN, FOREVER’S CALLING, SINISTRAL 7 p.m. $10. The Handlebar, 319 N. Tarragona St. 434-9060 or handlebarpensacola.com.

MUSIC: BEACH MICE 7-11 p.m. The Grand Marlin, 400 Pensacola Beach Blvd. 677-9153 or thegrandmarlin.com.

BALLROOM DANCE 8-11 p.m. Rhythm Lovers Dance Club invites all dancers over 21 from beginners to advanced to dance to the music of Exit 105. Knights of Columbus Hall, 519 N. Palafox St. 455-5579.

SUNDAY 3.6

GRAND MARDI GRAS PARADE 2:30 p.m. One of the country’s

‘LILY’S LOUNGE’ 8 p.m. Lily and Madge are having a hard time

16 | INDEPENDENT NEWS | MARCH 03, 2011 | WWW.INWEEKLY.NET

SAME TIME, SAME PLACE

PENSACOLA BEACH MARDI GRAS PARADE 2 p.m. Pensacola Beach along the strip. pensacolamardigras.com.

▼KARAOKE TUESDAY: Paddy O’Leary’s 9:30 p.m. 49 Via De Luna, Pensacola Beach.

916-9808 or paddyolearysirishpub.com.

Play 9 p.m. Karaoke with Krazy George. $2.50 wells during karaoke.16 S. Palafox, 2nd Floor. iplaypensacola.com.

WEDNESDAY: Sandshaker Lounge 9 p.m. Karaoke with Becky. 731 Pensacola Beach Blvd., Pensacola Beach. 932-2211 or sandshakerlounge.com.

THURSDAY: Seville Quarter-Lili Marlene’s 8 p.m. Karaoke with Krazy George. 130 E. Government St. 434-6211 or sevillequarter.com.

SATURDAY: Hub Stacey’s at The Point 9 p.m. Karaoke with Mark Eskew.

5851 Galvez Road. 497-0071 or hubstaceys.com.

Hub Stacey’s Downtown 9 p.m. Karaoke with Krazy George.

312 E. Government St. 469-1001 or hubstaceys.com.

SUNDAY: Paddy O’ Leary’s 9:30 p.m. 49 Via De Luna, Pensacola Beach. 916-9808 or paddyolearysirishpub.com.

Seville Quarter 8 p.m.-2:30 a.m. Karaoke With Krazy George. Lili Marlene’s, 130 E. Government St. 434-6211 or sevillequarter.com. keeping things afloat, until two strangers appear and the world is changed. The play takes place in the early 1940s, and the world is realizing that the war is close, even on a hill in the center of a vast country. Loblolly Theatre, 1010 N. 12th Ave., Ste. 211. 439-3010 or loblollytheatre.com.

AKC DOG SHOW AND RALLY 9 a.m. The seven-hour show will include conformation, featuring many of the dogs seen at the Westminster show, and obedience, including the newest obedience trials. Escambia County Equestrian Center, 7750 Mobile Highway. 478-9202.

‘MOON OVER BUFFALO’ AT PLT 7:30 p.m. A pair of fading stars learn they have a last chance at glory, but in comic tradition, everything that can go wrong, does. A madcap comedy by Ken Ludwig. Pensacola Little Theatre, 400 S. Jefferson St. 432-4042 or pensacolalittletheatre.com.

MUSIC: SCHOFIELD 3 p.m. Bamboo Willie’s, 400 Quietwater Beach Road. 916-9888 or bamboowillies.com.

hot times MUSIC: THE NOUVEAU HONKIES 3 p.m. Paradise Bar and Grill, 21 Via de Luna Drive. 916-5087 or paradisebar-grill.com.

MUSIC: BROOKS HUBBARD 3 p.m. Peg Leg Pete’s, 1010 Fort Pickens Road. 932-4139 or pegletpetes.com.

MUSIC: MIKE LAWSON 9 p.m. End O’ the Alley, Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. 434-6211 or sevillequarter.com.

MONDAY 3.7 CARIBBEAN BAROQUE CONCERT 7:30 p.m. UWF percussion student Lynsey Boothe, steel drum, will join professor Hedi Salanki, harpsichord, in a unique concert of Baroque music with a modern Caribbean flair. Free. UWF Center for Fine and Performing Arts, Bldg. 82, 11000 University Parkway. 474-2146 or uwf.edu.

MUSIC: SQUID THE WHALE, CAPTIONS, PIONEERS! O PIONEERS! 7 p.m. $5-$7. The Handlebar, 319 N. Tarragona St. 434-9060 or handlebarpensacola.com.

MUSIC: RONNIE LEVINE 10 a.m.-12 p.m. The Grand Marlin, 400 Pensacola Beach Blvd. 677-9153 or thegrandmarlin.com.

TUESDAY 3.8 ART CLASS AT POLKA DOTS GENERAL STORE 6:30 p.m. Suitable beginner project. Learn the basics of the herringbone weave and make your first pendant. Cost includes all materials. Each student will need to bring with them a pair of round nose pliers. $35.

Reservations requested. Polka Dots General Store, 5227 Willing St. 564-4313.

MARDI GRAS PRISCUS PROCESSION & PRISCUS BALL 5:30 p.m.

The Annual Fat Tuesday procession in the streets of downtown Pensacola where participants party in the streets. The festivities begin at the Seville Quarter with the crowning of the 2011 Priscus King and Queen. Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. 434-6211.

‘HISTORY OF THE PENSACOLA PAPER MILL’ 12 p.m. A guest lecturer will continue John Appleyard’s ‘Rediscovery’ lecture series for the Pensacola Heritage Foundation. $10 for lunch provided by New York Deli. The Bowden Building, 120 E. Church St. 438-6505 or pensacolaheritage.org.

‘LILY’S LOUNGE’ 8 p.m. Lily and Madge are having a hard time keeping things afloat, until two strangers appear and the world is changed. The play takes place in the early 1940s, and the world is realizing that the war is close, even on a hill in the center of a vast country. Loblolly Theatre, 1010 N. 12th Ave., Ste. 211. 439-3010 or loblollytheatre.com.

WEDNESDAY: Capt’N Fun Runners 6 p.m. Distance from 3 to 10 miles.

Pace varies. Quietwater Boardwalk, Pensacola Beach. captnfun.net.

‘MOON OVER BUFFALO’ 7:30 p.m. A pair of fading stars learn they have a last chance at glory, but in comic tradition, everything that can go wrong, does. A madcap comedy by Ken Ludwig. Pensacola Little Theatre, 400 S. Jefferson St. 432-4042 or pensacolalittletheatre.com.

▼RUNNING CLUBS

THURSDAY: Running Wild 6 a.m. Women-Only Morning Runs. 3012 E. Cervantes St. 435-9222 or werunwild.com.

Running Wild 5:30 p.m. Steady-pace run for all levels of runners. 3012 E. Cervantes St. 435-9222 or werunwild.com.

MONDAY: Marlin Milers 6 p.m. The Grand Marlin, 400 Pensacola Beach Blvd. 677-9153.

Seville Quarter Milers 5:30 p.m.130 E. Government St. 434-6211 or sevillequarter.com.

FRIDAY: Running Wild 9:30 a.m. Phat Girlz. Women only, all abilities running group. 3012 E. Cervantes St. 435-9222 or werunwild.com.

TUESDAY: McGuire’s Runners 6 p.m. McGuire’s Irish Pub, 600 E. Gregory St. mcguiresrunners.com.

Running Wild 6 a.m. Women-Only Morning Runs. 3012 E.

SATURDAY: Running Wild 6 a.m. Long run. 8-20 miles, supported hydration stops, marked courses, and pace leaders. 3012 E. Cervantes St. 435-9222 or werunwild.com.

ART CLASS AT PAINTING WITH A TWIST 6-8 p.m. Bring your favorite bottle of wine or beverage, and paint a picture step by step that you will take home. 16 years and older. Theme: Sand Dollar.

Painting with a Twist, 4771 Bayou Blvd., Suite C-11. $35. 471-1450 or paintingwithatwist.com/pensacola.

MUSIC: THE BLENDERS 7 p.m. Five Sisters’ Blues Café, 421 W. Belmont St. 912-4856 or fivesistersbluescafe.com.

MUSIC: FISH OUT OF WATER 7 p.m. Paradise Bar and Grill, 21 Via de Luna Drive. 916-5087 or paradisebar-grill.com.

MUSIC: RONNIE LEVINE 7 p.m. Peg Leg Pete’s, 1010 Fort Pickens Road. 932-4139 or peglegpetes.com.

FRIDAY 3.11

ADULT SHOEBOX FLOAT 2 p.m. Paradise Bar and Grill, 21 Via de Luna Drive. 916-5087 or paradisebar-grill.com.

PENSACOLA LIGHTHOUSE GHOST HUNT 6:45 p.m., 8 p.m., 9:15 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. Join Rocky and the Ghost Seekers of Texas for a ghost hunt at the Pensacola Lighthouse. Reservations required.

393-1561 or pensacolalighthouse.org.

KREWE OF COMA 2 p.m. Paradise Bar and Grill, 21 Via de Luna Drive. 916-5087 or paradisebar-grill.com.

MONSTER TRUCK RALLY 7:30 p.m. Pensacola Civic Center, 201 E. Gregory St. 432-0800 or pensacolaciviccenter.com.

CAJUN CUISINE AT DK 6 p.m. Join Pensacola’s favorite Cajun Jerry Mistretta as he prepares some of his favorite recipes for this Fat Tuesday celebration. Distinctive Kitchens, 29 S. Palafox, 438-4688 or dk4u.com.

MUSIC: MOTOR CITY JOSH & THE BIG THREE 7 p.m. Paradise Bar and Grill, 21 Via de Luna Drive. 916-5087 or paradisebar-grill.com.

MUSIC: JEFF GLICKMAN 6 p.m. The Leisure Club, 126 Palafox.

912-4229 or tlcdowntown.com.

WEDNESDAY 3.9 ‘SOUND MINDS’ 10 a.m. The Pensacola State College Jazz Ensemble will present at the Music Study Club. Free. Pleitz Chapel, First Baptist Church, 500 N. Palafox. 458-6080 or pensacolamusic.org.

ART CLASS AT PAINTING WITH A TWIST 6:30-8:30 p.m. Bring your favorite bottle of wine or beverage, and paint a picture step by step that you will take home. 16 years and older. Theme: Blue Floral. Painting with a Twist, 4771 Bayou Blvd., Suite C-11. $35.

471-1450 or paintingwithatwist.com/pensacola.

MUSIC: JACK TOPHT WITH THE VEGETABLES, PERSONCUSSION 7 p.m. $4-$6. The Handlebar, 319 N. Tarragona St. 434-9060 or handlebarpensacola.com.

THURSDAY 3.10 PSC WIND AND JAZZ ENSEMBLES WITH SPECIAL GUEST DOUG ELLIOT 7:30 p.m. Free, but tickets required. Ashmore Fine Arts Auditorium, Pensacola State College, 1000 College Blvd. 484-1000 or pensacolastate.edu.

ART HISTORY LECTURE AT PMA 6 p.m. Classical Civilizations 800 BC-337 AD. Free, reservations appreciated. Pensacola Museum of Art, 407 S. Jefferson St. 432-6247 or pensacolamuseumofart.org.

Cervantes St. 435-9222 or werunwild.com.

Running Wild 6 a.m. Six at Six. Six mile-route for various abilities from a 10 minute per mile pace and faster. 3012 E. Cervantes St. 435-9222 or werunwild.com.

SAME TIME, SAME PLACE

MUSTANG CLUB CAR SHOW 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Pensacola Interstate Fairgrounds, 6655 W. Mobile Highway. 712-4510.

PUCCINI’S ‘TURANDOT’ 7:30 p.m. Pensacola Opera is proud to present Giacomo Puccini’s “Turandot” as the final production of their 28th Season. Saenger Theatre, 118 S. Palafox. 595-3882 or pensacolaopera.com.

GALLERY NIGHT 5-9 p.m. Come downtown and enjoy the sights, sounds and food of downtown Pensacola. Businesses will stay open late for this special event. 434-5371 or downtowpensacola.com.

GALLERY NIGHT TRUNK SHOW AT SUSAN CAMPBELL 5 p.m.

Pensacola jewelry boutique Susan Campbell Jewelry will host a trunk show during Gallery Night to showcase the bridal headpieces and accessories of highly publicized designer Jenny Packham.

Susan Cam pbell Jewelry, 32 S. Palafox. 434-8948 or susancampbelljewelry. com.

GALLERY NIGHT—NORTH PALAFOX 5-9 p.m. Join Digital Now on North Palafox for Gallery Night. The street will be closed from Sole Inn north to Digital Now. Enjoy children’s activities, frozen treats from Beach Pops, art and live jazz music. 282 N. Palafox. Call 434-2525 for details.

‘LILY’S LOUNGE’ 8 p.m. Lily and Madge are having a hard time keeping things afloat, until two strangers appear and the world is changed. The play takes place in the early 1940s, and the world is realizing that the war is close, even on a hill in the center of a vast country. Loblolly Theatre, 1010 N. 12th Ave., Ste. 211. 439-3010 or loblollytheatre.com.

‘MOON OVER BUFFALO’ 7:30 p.m. A pair of fading stars learn they have a last chance at glory, but in comic tradition, everything that

can go wrong, does. A madcap comedy by Ken Ludwig. Pensacola Little Theatre, 400 S. Jefferson St. 432-4042 or pensacolalittletheatre.com.

ART CLASS AT PAINTING WITH A TWIST 6-8 p.m. Bring your favorite bottle of wine or beverage, and paint a picture step by step that you will take home. 16 years and older. Theme: Red Sunset on the Beach. Painting with a Twist, 4771 Bayou Blvd., Suite C-11. $35. 471-1450 or paintingwithatwist.com/pensacola.

MUSIC: THE MODERN ELDORADOS 9 p.m. LiliMarlene’s in Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. 434-6211 or sevillequarter.com.

MUSIC: THE REZ 9 p.m. Apple Annie’s in Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. 434-6211 or sevillequarter.com.

MUSIC: ALLSTAR WEEKEND 6 p.m. $12-$15. Phineas Phogg’s in Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. 434-6211 or sevillequarter.com.

MUSIC: BEACH MICE 7-11 p.m. The Grand Marlin, 400 Pensacola Beach Blvd. 677-9153 or thegrandmarlin.com.

MUSIC: LIVE MUSIC 9 p.m. The Fish House, 600 S. Barracks St. 470-0003 or fishhouse.goodgrits.com.

SATURDAY 3.12

MUSIC: TIM SPENCER 6 p.m. Crabs We Got ‘Em, 6 Casino Beach Boardwalk. 932-0700 or crabswegotem.com.

PENSACOLA GUITAR ENSEMBLE 7:30 p.m. Ashmore Fine Arts Auditorium, Pensacola State College, 1000 College Blvd. 484-1000 or pensacolastate.edu.

MUSIC: LIVE MUSIC 9 p.m. Paddy O’ Leary’s Irish Pub, 49 Via De Luna Drive. 916-9808 or paddyolearysirishpub.com.

MUSIC: FISH OUT OF WATER 6 p.m. Paradise Bar and Grill, 21 Via De Luna Drive. 916-5087 or paradisebar-grill.com.

MUSIC: HEADLINER 9 p.m. Sandshaker Lounge, 731 Pensacola Beach Blvd. 932-2211 or sandshakerlounge.com.

MUSIC: JOHN CONLEE 7 p.m. Farmers’ Opry, 8897 Byrom Campbell Road. 994-6000 or farmersopry.com.

MUSIC: MO JILES 9 p.m. Bamboo Willie’s, 400 Quietwater Beach Road. 916-9888 or bamboowillies.com.

MUSIC: PANHANDLE ALL STARS 7 p.m. Five Sisters’ Blues Café, 421 W. Belmont St. 912-4856 or fivesistersbluescafe.com.

MUSIC: KINGDOM OF GIANTS, WE ARE DANGER, FAMOUS LAST WORDS, OCEAN NOVA 7 p.m. $6-$9. The Handlebar, 319 N. Tarragona St. 434-9060 or handlebarpensacola.com.

PEG LEG PETE’S OYSTER FESTIVAL 11 a.m. Peg Leg Pete’s, 1010 Fort Pickens Road. 932-4139 or peglegpetes.com.

MCGUIRE’S 5K PREDICTION RUN 7 a.m. Largest prediction run in the nation with more than 5,000 participants. McGuire’s Irish Pub, 600 E. Gregory St. 433-6789 or mcguiresirishpub.com.

AUTO RACING 8 a.m. Open practice. Five Flags Speedway, 7451 Pine Forest Road. 944-8400 or 5flagsspeedway.com.

DON’T BE AFRAID OF THE DARK GUINNESS PARTY 9 p.m. Guinness giveaways and Guinness pouring contest. Paddy O’ Leary’s Irish Pub, 49 Via De Luna Drive. 916-9808 or paddyolearysirishpub.com.

ROCK CULTURE CON 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Rock Culture Con is a charity rock festival/rock expo with 20 Bands, tattoos, belly dancing, YouTube celebrities, pinup models and lots of exhibits. $10-$12.

Bayview Park, Mallory Street and 20th Avenue.

MUSIC: SUPERHERO, THE NEW COLLISIONS 5 p.m. Free. Vinyl Music Hall, 2 S. Palafox. vinylmusichall.com.

MULTICULTURAL DAY 12-4 p.m. Spend time exploring cultures from around the world through performances and trunks filled with art and artifacts. Children can participate in craft projects and learn to appreciate the diversity and uniqueness of these cultures. Pensacola Museum of Art, 407 S. Jefferson St. 432-6247 or pensacolamuseumofart.org.

MUSIC: 3 AMIGOS DUO 7 p.m. Peg Leg Pete’s, 1010 Fort Pickens Road. 932-4139 or peglegpetes.com.

‘LILY’S LOUNGE’ 8 p.m. Lily and Madge are having a hard time keeping things afloat, until two strangers appear and the world is

MUSIC: NATALIE KIRK & CO. 9:30 p.m. Free. Hopjacks Pizza Kitchen & Taproom, 10 S. Palafox. 497-6073 or hopjacks.com.

INDEPENDENT NEWS | MARCH 03, 2011 | WWW.INWEEKLY.NET |

17

hot times changed. The play takes place in the early 1940s, and the world is realizing that the war is close, even on a hill in the center of a vast country. Loblolly Theatre, 1010 N. 12th Ave., Ste. 211. 439-3010 or loblollytheatre.com.

favorite bottle of wine or beverage, and paint a picture step by step that you will take home. 16 years and older. Theme: Meet Me at the Beach. Painting with a Twist, 4771 Bayou Blvd., Suite C-11. $45. 471-1450 or paintingwithatwist.com/pensacola.

GULF BREEZE CELEBRATES THE ARTS 2011 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Proceeds from the festival are used to help produce the event, for scholarship awards to area schools and to students attending Pensacola State College who exhibit talents in the arts. Gulf Breeze High School Parking Lot, 675 Gulf Breeze Parkway. 932-1722.

MUSIC: LIVE MUSIC 9 p.m. The Fish House, 600 S. Barracks St. 470-0003 or fishhouse.goodgrits.com.

‘THE GLASS MENAGERIE’ 7:30 p.m. In honor of Tennessee Williams, Theatre West will be performing ‘The Glass Menagerie’. $15 and reservations are strongly recommended. Sanctuary in the Groves, Theatre West, 9732 Sidney Road. 912-4087 or sanctuarytheatrewest.com.

MUSIC: PAXTON NORRIS & TYLER MAC 6 p.m. Paradise Bar and Grill, 21 Via De Luna Drive. 916-5087 or paradisebar-grill.com.

‘MOON OVER BUFFALO’ 2:30 p.m. A pair of fading stars learn they have a last chance at glory, but in comic tradition, everything that can go wrong, does. A madcap comedy by Ken Ludwig. Pensacola Little Theatre, 400 S. Jefferson St. 432-4042 or pensacolalittletheatre.com.

MUSIC: JOHN CONLEE 7 p.m. Farmers’ Opry, 8897 Byrom Campbell Road. 994-6000 or farmersopry.com.

MUSTANG CLUB CAR SHOW 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Pensacola Interstate Fairgrounds, 6655 W. Mobile Highway. 712-4510.

MUSIC: REDDOG AND FRIENDS 9:30 p.m. Free. Hopjacks Pizza Kitchen & Taproom, 10 S. Palafox. 497-6073 or hopjacks.com.

MONSTER TRUCK RALLY 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Pensacola Civic Center, 201 E. Gregory St. 432-0800 or pensacolaciviccenter.com.

MUSIC: ANA SIA WITH DJ CHARLES III & RANDOM ACTS 9 p.m. $12-$15. Vinyl Music Hall, 2 S. Palafox. vinylmusichall.com.

PENSACOLA LIGHTHOUSE GHOST HUNT 6:45 p.m., 8 p.m., 9:15 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. Join Rocky and the Ghost Seekers of Texas for a ghost hunt at the Pensacola Lighthouse. Reservations required.

393-1561 or pensacolalighthouse.org.

MUSIC: JAM SANDWICH 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Peg Leg Pete’s, 1010 Fort Pickens Road. 932-4139 or peglegpetes.com.

MUSIC: TIM SPENCER & REDD NECKLESS 6 p.m. Crabs We Got ‘Em, 6 Casino Beach Boardwalk. 932-0700 or crabswegotem.com.

MUSIC: HEADLINER 9 p.m. Sandshaker Lounge, 731 Pensacola Beach Blvd. 932-2211 or sandshakerlounge.com.

MUSIC: MO JILES 9 p.m. Bamboo Willie’s, 400 Quietwater Beach Road. 916-9888 or bamboowillies.com.

MUSIC: 3 AMIGOS DUO 5-9 p.m. Peg Leg Pete’s, 1010 Fort Pickens Road. 932-4139 or peglegpetes.com.

ART CLASS AT PAINTING WITH A TWIST 5:30-8:30 p.m. Bring your

18 | INDEPENDENT NEWS | MARCH 03, 2011 | WWW.INWEEKLY.NET

MUSIC: THE MODERN ELDORADOS 9 p.m. LiliMarlene’s in Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. 434-6211 or sevillequarter.com.

MUSIC: THE REZ 9 p.m. Apple Annie’s in Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. 434-6211 or sevillequarter.com.

MUSIC: BEACH MICE 7-11 p.m. The Grand Marlin, 400 Pensacola Beach Blvd. 677-9153 or thegrandmarlin.com.

SUNDAY 3.13 PUCCINI’S ‘TURANDOT’ 2 p.m. Pensacola Opera is proud to present Giacomo Puccini’s “Turandot” as the final production of their 28th Season. Saenger Theatre, 118 S. Palafox. 595-3882 or pensacolaopera.com.

POT OF GOLD POKER TOURNAMENT 5 p.m. Paddy O’ Leary’s Irish Pub, 49 Via De Luna Drive. 916-9808 or paddyolearysirishpub.com.

GULF BREEZE CELEBRATES THE ARTS 2011 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

Proceeds from the festival are used to help produce the event, for scholarship awards to area schools and to students attending Pensacola State College who exhibit talents in the arts. Gulf Breeze High School Parking Lot, 675 Gulf Breeze Parkway.

932-1722.

‘THE GLASS MENAGERIE’ 2:30 p.m. In honor of Tennessee Williams, Theatre West will be performing ‘The Glass Menagerie’. $15 and reservations are strongly recommended.

Sanctuary in the Groves, Theatre West, 9732 Sidney Road.

912-4087 or sanctuarytheatrewest.com.

PEG LEG PETE’S OYSTER FESTIVAL 3 p.m. Peg Leg Pete’s, 1010 Fort Pickens Road. 932-4139 or peglegpetes.com.

ART CLASS AT PAINTING WITH A TWIST 1-3 p.m. Bring your

favorite bottle of wine or beverage, and paint a picture step by step that you will take home. 16 years and older.

Theme: Hootsie-Family Day. Painting with a Twist, 4771 Bayou Blvd., Suite C-11. $35. 471-1450 or paintingwithatwist. com/pensacola.

MUSIC: PENSACOLA STEEL & PAUL KILLOUGH 6 p.m. Crabs We Got ‘Em, 6 Casino Beach Boardwalk. 932-0700 or crabswegotem.com.

MUSIC: PAXTON NORRIS & TYLER MAC 3 p.m. Paradise Bar and Grill, 21 Via De Luna Drive. 916-5087 or paradisebar-grill.com.

MUSIC: MIDNIGHT CONFESSIONS 4-8 p.m. Sandshaker Lounge, 731 Pensacola Beach Blvd. 932-2211 or sandshakerlounge.com.

MUSIC: KYLE PARKER BAND 3 p.m. Bamboo Willie’s, 400 Quietwater Beach Road. 916-9888 or bamboowillies.com.

MUSIC: MATT WHITE, BRENDAN JAMES, WILL KNOX 7:30 p.m. $10-$12. Vinyl Music Hall, 2 S. Palafox. vinylmusichall.com.

MUSIC: LECTRIC MULLET 3-7 p.m. Peg Leg Pete’s, 1010 Fort Pickens Road. 932-4139 or peglegpetes.com.

MONDAY 3.14 ST. PATTY’S POKER PARTY 7 p.m. Sandshaker Lounge, 731 Pensacola Beach Blvd. 932-2211 or sandshakerlounge.com.

MUSIC: RONNIE LEVINE 6 p.m. Crabs We Got ‘Em, 6 Casino Beach Boardwalk. 932-0700 or crabswegotem.com.

MUSIC: BLUES JAM 6 p.m. Paradise Bar and Grill, 21 Via De Luna Drive. 916-5087 or paradisebar-grill.com.

S P O N S O R E D B Y

incable

HUNDREDS OF NEW & CLASSIC MOVIES PAUSE, REWIND & FAST FORWARD SAME DAY AS DVD

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PREMIERES MAR. 1

▲BURLESQUE

Available On Demand March 1, Same Day As DVD Release STARRING: Cher, Christina Aguilera, Eric Dane DIRECTOR: Steve Antin GENRE: Drama, Musical, Romance MPAA RATING: Rated PG-13 for sexual content including several suggestive dance routines, partial nudity, language and some thematic material.

A small-town girl ventures to Los Angeles and finds her place in a neo-burlesque club run by a former dancer.

PREMIERES MAR. 1

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Available On Demand March 1, Same Day As DVD Release STARRING: Jake Gyllenhaal, Anne Hathaway DIRECTOR: Edward Zwick GENRE: Comedy, Drama MPAA RATING: Rated R for strong sexual content, nudity, pervasive language, and some drug material.

Maggie is an alluring free spirit who won’t let anyone - or anything - tie her down. But she meets her match in Jamie, whose relentless and nearly infallible charm serve him well with the ladies and in the cutthroat world

of pharmaceutical sales. Maggie and Jamie’s evolving relationship takes them both by surprise, as they find themselves under the influence of the ultimate drug: love.

▲127 HOURS

Available On Demand March 1, Same Day As DVD Release STARRING: James Franco, Kate Mara, Amber Tamblyn DIRECTOR: Danny Boyle GENRE: Adventure, Drama, Thriller MPAA RATING: Rated R for language and some disturbing violent content/bloody images.

PREMIERES MAR. 8

127 Hours is the true story of mountain climber Aron Ralston’s remarkable adventure to save himself after a fallen boulder crashes on his arm and traps him in an isolated canyon in Utah.

GREAT IN THEATERS. EVEN BETTER ON DEMAND. two On DEMAND movies, fill in the Buy 1, Get 1 FREE! Order coupon and mail with your Cox bill.

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Name: _______________________________ Cox Account #: ___________________________ Movie Title: ___________________________ Date Viewed: ____________________________ Movie Title: ___________________________ Date Viewed: ____________________________ Promo Code 282IN03

Order using your Digital remote! Go to Channel 1

www.cox.com

Expires 4/30/11

Pick a category

Pick a movie

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Mail completed coupon to Cox/On DEMAND, 2205 La Vista Avenue, Pensacola, FL 32504. Coupon good for one On DEMAND movie priced at $4.99 or less; not valid for adult programming or special events; cannot be used with other offers. Limit one coupon per household per month. Void if altered or transferred; no photocopies or reproductions accepted. Account holder is responsible for all charges on his/ her account. Available to residential customers in Cox service areas. Cox Advanced TV, remote, receiver required. Digital cable ready TV’s and other devices equipped with a CableCard require a Cox digital receiver to receive On DEMAND programming. Some On DEMAND programming costs extra. On DEMAND cannot be recorded. All programming and rates are subject to change and may not be available in all areas. Names of programming services, features and/or programmers are the property of their respective owners. Other restrictions may apply. ©2011 Cox Florida/Georgia. All rights reserved.

CX2745 OD L-shape IN 030311.indd 1

INDEPENDENT NEWS | MARCH 03, 2011 | WWW.INWEEKLY.NET |

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2/24/11 11:52 AM

music

BRING ON THE FUNK

ONE-MAN BAND ZACH DEPUTY COMES TO PENSACOLA’S HANDLEBAR

BY BRETT HUTCHINS

T

he last time I ran into Zach Deputy, it was four o’clock in the morning in the middle of a huge Tennessee farm field. The typical Bonnaroo day of music, 90-degree heat, and portapotty trauma had me on the edge of exhaustion. I was ready for a $1 garlic grilled cheese sandwich and some serious sleep—until I found myself in the middle of the intense dance party that is a Zach Deputy show.

It turns out I’m not the only one with fond memories of that weekend. It was one of the biggest in Deputy’s career and

helped launch him from relative obscurity to a recognized name on the festival circuit throughout the country.

When those tent-city shows are brought up, Deputy sounds elated and worn out at the same time. “That was intense. We played something like 24 sets that weekend. People would come back to their tent and think, ‘Does he ever stop playing?’ That was a pinnacle for me and the crew.”

One has to wonder about the motivation behind an artist playing so much. It’s not work for Deputy. He’s having a grand

20 | INDEPENDENT NEWS | MARCH 03, 2011 | WWW.INWEEKLY.NET

old time up there. “I wanted to crash a big party and play music nonstop,” he explains, concerning the inspiration behind the undertaking.

The fact that so many people will allow him to keep on playing, without regard to the time of night, is a testament to the infectious spirit of his music. “I only had problems with one guy the entire weekend, and that was as we were setting up our equipment. Once we started playing, he was cool with us.”

Deputy’s sound has influences from around the world. He grew up in South Carolina listening to Motown classics and James Brown. His Caribbean grandmother introduced him to authentic island music and calypso— something he holds dear and incorporates into his shows on a nightly basis.

Once he started going to school and getting into music on his own, alternative rock was his beacon. “I even got into hip-hop for a while, before my brain came together,” he says of his high school years.

From there, jazz, blues, funk and soul really stuck with him.

This combination of sounds and styles would be difficult for a five-piece band to pull off, but Deputy does it all on his own.

His one-man band looping setup was born more out of necessity than anything else.

“The whole thing was entirely unplanned. My bass player was intoxicated

and couldn’t make it to the show. I had a looper, but at the time just used it as a delay pedal, and never in the live format. I didn’t want to cancel the show so I just went in there and did the looping thing. It was completely and utterly by accident,” he says of what became his M.O. Although it seems like it could easily be overwhelming with so much happening onstage, Deputy revels in the responsibility.

“There’s a pace I’m able to put into it and a comfort in knowing that it’s all me.

Whether I do great or awful, it’s all on me. I don’t stress on things, but from my experience, band members do. When a night didn’t go well, it was everybody pointing fingers, but with me, I don’t care. I just laugh it off. It’s all part of the game.”

Deputy’s abilities and good nature have earned him the respect of fellow musicians across the country. During the most recent annual Jam Cruise event, he played with heavy hitters such as George Porter Jr. of the Funky Meters and Grateful Dead drummers Bill Kreutzmann and Mickey Hart.

In the end, Deputy is simply looking for a good time. “I love life. Playing music is always a blast, and I want to share that feeling with as many people as I can.”

Sometimes, it’s hard to wrap your head around how a sound so complex could be coming from one person alone, but that’s all it is—Zach Deputy and his fans in a unique give-and-take that could only happen at one of his shows. info@inweekly.net

ZACH DEPUTY

WHEN: 10 p.m. Friday, March 4 WHERE: The Handlebar, 319 N. Tarragona St. COST: $10 in advance, $12 day of show DETAILS: handlebarpensacola.com, or zachdeputy.com

music

BETSY BADWATER & THE HILLBILLY CHROME GET ‘AMPED’

ROCKABILLY, AMERICANA GROUP TO PERFORM AT WSRE’S ‘STUDIOAMPED’ THIS WEEKEND

BY BRADLEY “BEEJ” DAVIS JR.

S

Photo by Reggie Thomas

he’s not a tall drink of water; she’s Betsy Badwater, and you’ll definitely want to take a sip. Since 2005, Badwater and her musical collective “The Hillbilly Chrome” have been performing their rockabilly, Americana-style music with such a writhing intensity it’s easy to justify packed venues of fans and future fans alike. For those who have missed Betsy & The Hillbilly Chrome at local venues such as Blazzues, Handlebar and several appearances at Vinyl Music Hall, the group will be performing at WSRE’s StudioAmped music series on Friday, March 4. The live taping will feature two bands—Betsy and Rumor Mill.

Betsy shared with Independent News her upcoming performance as well as some insight on how she finds a holy spirit in music.

IN: So, “Hillbilly Chrome” is just a fancy, schmancy name for duct tape. Is there any connection between duct tape and the glue that holds your band together?

BADWATER: I used to joke that I could build a band out of duct tape and chewing gum. For years I would jam with any ole’ body who was willing to make some sounds. When I was in grad school, I got to travel the country a bit and would always take my guitar with me and find somewhere and some bodies to play with in Los Angeles or Chicago or Atlanta or wherever. I feel like Aesop in a boxing ring sometimes.

The contributions made by each individual person that I play with are memorable and special, and that these people are willing to share their love for music, creation and pure celebration with me, on a whim, is evidence that music is all about love and community, and flow.

IN: You just opened for David Allen Coe.

Did he teach you some profanity?

How was that experience?

BADWATER: Profanity? Haha! Yes, I think I may have learned a few zingers over the course of the preparation and culmination of the David Allan Coe show! Opening for big famous acts is always like the first day of junior high: once the show has been opened and the main act is finally onstage, the opener becomes keenly aware of his or her own true level of inexperience. I tell you this: opening for Grammy winners and legendary performers is humbling to say the least. When Lang (Hollowman), Jeff Glickman and I opened for DAC at Vinyl Music Hall, I didn’t even get to make eye contact with Mr. Coe and didn’t expect to. David Allan Coe was the only performer we’ve shared a stage with, ever, who didn’t even say hello. But I will tell you this: his show was so moving. I think for all three of us, that anything he could have said to us would have had the potential to crush our perception of the night. I’ve said it a hundred times, and I’ll say it a hundred more—If we couldn’t play on a stage somewhere, we’d still be doing it on my porch. I will make music until I die.

harmonicas, and sometimes National Steel.

(On Feb. 18) we had the huge honor to open for multi-Grammy winning band Asleep at the Wheel and were joined by bassist Joey Harrison and drummer Devon Coon on hobo percussion. The very nature of The Hillbilly Chrome is that you never know who will be in the show. There could be eight people on stage, or it could be just Lang and me. We try to add players to create the best possible show experience for us and for the audience depending on the venue and the occasion.

IN: Your music partner Lang is no slouch with your duo Hollowman Badwater. What’s his story?

BADWATER: Lang is one of my best friends and a seriously dynamic man of whom I am so proud. He’s a Mississippi/Navarre boy raised on art and travel and hard work. He’s got a family, and a day job, and in a very sunny way, that man has got the blues about as bad as I’ve ever seen. He’s played music in Mississippi church houses and in traveling bands all over the country like I have, and as good as he plays it, I don’t think he’s ever going to stop either. We sat on my back porch tooling on a few songs, and it was like, “Man this is it, right here.” I can’t speak for Lang, but music is, to me, salvation in a damned world.

IN: What inspires you, musically?

BADWATER: I have a really acute sense of hearing, and I’m very aware of the range of frequencies that I can hear and feel. I don’t think I’m special in any way, but I am aware of what I’m experiencing, so the sound water makes dripping in the sink, the difference between the sounds tires make on the road when it’s wet or dry, the difference between the sounds birds make on a dry sunny day and a low-pressure foggy midnight all inspire me. In songwriting, I’m inspired all day long.

IN: You’re actually growing your group.

Will these folks be regular performers with you or more fill-in roles for certain shows?

BADWATER: For about two years now there has always been a core of Lang and me. Jeff Glickman is like family to me, has been one of my major influences, and is a consistent presence in the HBC as a multi-instrumentalist. I play bass drum, tambourine, guitar and sing, and Jeff plays the other half of the drums,

IN: Rumor has it you’re the daughter of a preacher man. Should we just leave it at that?

BADWATER: That rumor is absolutely true, and I am humbled as well as gratified by that truth. I learned how to sing in church.

I took my first steps down the aisle toward the pulpit with a funeral home fan in each hand. I learned how to read following along with the songs in the “Old School Hymnal” and the “Blue Book Hymnal”. I learned music by studying shape-note, and listening to my family sing—and my, what beautiful singers.

Some people might not like to hear me say it, but there is a holy spirit in music, and it’s the one I believe in.

BADWATER: I’ve done a few things for television in the past, but this is the first time I’ve ever been involved in a production of this magnitude. I’m trying to frame it in my mind as “just another show,” but it’s really exciting.

IN: Rumor has it you still get a little nervous at times before you go on stage. What do you do to remedy that? (Besides picturing folks in their underwear…)

BADWATER: Oh my goodness, who told you that? Ha! Like this red head of mine, my stage nerves are no lie. I’ve gotten better over the years, but I still occasionally get a right fine case of stage fright that just doesn’t seem to want to let go. I have learned that the best way to combat pre-show nerves is to refrain from perception-altering substances (including refined sugar and caffeine) and just own the fact that I’m about to get up there and do what I do, how I do it, and that unless I act like a jerk, folks will most likely forgive me for being a little shaky in the beginning. It’s hard to be too scared when you know your posse has got your back, and for better or for worse, only we can do it like we do it.

IN: Anything else you want to get off your chest?

BADWATER: We want our town to know how much we appreciate living here. We try to do our part to make Pensacola better—we pick up trash and help raise money for good causes, we vote, we walk instead of ride when we can, and we buy locally as much as possible. We’re so thankful for the opportunities we’ve been given here, and we hope to inspire gratefulness and community in the people we meet because of it.

For the full interview, please visit inweekly.net info@inweekly.net

IN: You’re also quite an artist. Could you elaborate on your “day job?”

BADWATER: I am Apprentice to Andrew R. Trull at Black Sparrow Tattoo Studio in downtown Pensacola. Last year I illustrated two co-edition books for a publisher in London, and I have been painting and tattooing for two years now. I’m proud of my teacher and my shop. We are all good hardworking people who don’t cut corners, and I’m thankful to know that my life’s work is creativity.

IN: WSRE’s “StudioAmped” is going to be great. I know you’re excited. Is this your first time being tapped for television?

WSRE’S “STUDIO AMPED” FEATURING BETSY BADWATER & THE HILLBILLY CHROME; RUMOR MILL

WHEN: 6 p.m. Doors open. 7 p.m. Concert; Friday, March 4 WHERE: Jean and Paul Amos Performance Studio, Pensacola State College Main Campus, 1000 College Blvd.

COST: Free DETAILS: betsybadwater.net or wsre.org/studioamped

INDEPENDENT NEWS | MARCH 03, 2011 | WWW.INWEEKLY.NET |

21

culture Chicken Fingerz, Wings, Zalads® and more.

PARTY WITH A PURPOSE

COVENANT HOSPICE OFFERS AN ARRAY OF EVENTS IN MARCH

BY JENNIE MCKEON

Kids Night Tuesdays and Thursdays

1451 Tiger Park Lane • Gulf Breeze 850.932.7289 2640 Creighton Rd. • Pensacola 850.477.0025 © 2008 Zaxby’s Franchising, Inc. “Zaxby’s” and “Zalads” are registered trademarks of Zaxby’s Franchising, Inc.

Cool Rayz will provide the music at Denim and Diamonds

I FOREVER DIETING? TIME TO CHANGE THE WAY YOU THINK ABOUT FOOD. A LUMINOUS LIFE HYPNOTHERAPY

SUSAN DUNLOP, MA, CHT

INTERNATIONALLY CERTIFIED HYPNOTHERAPIST

850-346-7865 EAST HILL www.luminouslifehypnotherapy.com

t’s March madness at Covenant Hospice. Whether you’re looking to square dance or waltz, you can have a good time for a good cause.

First up is the glitzy 9th Annual Mask Parade Gala at 6 p.m. on Saturday, March 5. With a Mardi Gras theme and formal dress code, the event is the perfect mix of fancy and fun.

“We expect a large turnout with many supporters that have been there year after year as well as new supporters of Covenant Hospice,” said Brenna Hosey, development specialist for Covenant Hospice, in an email interview. “We have many new artists and sponsors. We are excited about this year’s gala.”

The Mask Parade Gala is the signature event of the Panama City Covenant Hospice branch. Covenant’s own Glenda Carden makes the masks to send out to artists and celebrities to decorate. Some past celebrity artists include Courtney Cox and David Arquette, Marisa Tomei and Coach Bobby Bowden. The masks are exhibited at the gala and then auctioned off to hopeful buyers. Act fast because the masks usually sell out.

“Many people in the community have already told me that they can tell it’s time for the gala now that the masks are out,” Hosey said. “The gala has made such a splash in the community that the masks on display communicate our message of providing palliative care. The artists are excited to see their masks as well as fellow artists’ masks out and about in the community.”

Since the event began, it has raised over $750,000 for Covenant Hospice.

22 | INDEPENDENT NEWS | MARCH 03, 2011 | WWW.INWEEKLY.NET

Money raised goes toward underfunded programs such as bereavement ser vices, chaplain ser vices and care for indigent patients.

“Two specif ic things that the money will fund are the butterf ly bags and Monarch Camp,” Hosey said. “Butterf ly bags are heavy canvas bags filled with many helpful and fun activities for bereaving children. Camp Monarch is a daytime camp that bereaved children can go to with Covenant Hospice staff to enjoy a day exploring with Florida wildlife wolves.”

At the Art of Fashion on Wednesday, March 16 at 11 a.m., you can check out the new spring trends in a Kentucky Derby-style atmosphere. Wear your biggest view-obstructing hat to enter in the Hat Contest.

“The event is very upbeat and bright,” said Angie Schlosser, a development manager at Covenant Hospice.

The event includes a luncheon, and live and silent auctions of all mediums of art.

“We have about 60 pieces in the auction,” Schlosser said. “We have everything from acrylic paintings to jewelry and pottery. Every medium of art is covered.”

The community plays a big part in the event. Local stores such as Dillard’s and first-time sponsor Chico’s provide the fashions as well as some of the models.

Loyal customers and Covenant volunteers will strut down the runway showing off their new looks.

Bling and blue jeans never looked so good. The 4th Annual Denim and Diamonds event is a signature event for the Fairhope, Ala. area. The event

will be held on Friday, March 25 from 7-11 p.m. The evening hosts a Southern-style dinner of pulled pork or fried catf ish for those following the rules of Lent, green beans, roasted potatoes, brownies and peach cobbler with ice cream. All food is catered by the Oak Hollow Farm where the event is held.

“This is a casual event,” said Jackie Crews, development manager for Covenant Hospice. “There are so many formal events this time of year for Mardi Gras. This event is more relaxed, so you don’t have to worry about formal attire.”

The night also includes silent auctions and a diamond drawing sponsored by Estate Jewelers of Fairhope. Live music will be provided by Cool Rayz.

“We tried to do something different and unique,” Crews said.

“We’ve had a great response.”

Last year, Denim and Diamonds raised $15,700 after expenses.

“It is very important to donate to Covenant Hospice,” Crews said. “We rely on funds to continue care for those who are at the end of their lives. People can feel good about their donations because it stays in the community. Donations aren’t sent to national headquarters.”

Stay tuned in April for the Cox Cablethon Auction. The 39th annual event will be on Cox Cable channel 2 from 2 p.m. until midnight. info@inweekly.net

MASK PARADE GALA

WHEN: 6 p.m. Saturday, March 5 WHERE: Bay Point Marriott Golf Resort and Spa, 4200 Marriott Drive, Panama City Beach, Fla. COST: $100 DETAILS: 215-4242 or covenanthospice.org

ART OF FASHION

WHEN: 11 a.m. Wednesday, March 16 WHERE: New World Landing, 600 S. Palafox St. COST: $35 before March 16, $40 at the door DETAILS: 208-7122 or covenanthospice.org

DENIM AND DIAMONDS

WHEN: 7-11 p.m. Friday, March 25 WHERE: Oak Hollow Farm, 14210 Greeno Road, Fairhope, Ala. COST: $40 DETAILS: (251) 626-5255 or covenanthospice.org

the public record

Dear Maxwell, I am a Navy pilot training at NAS Pensacola. The Officers’ Club on base is named after a man called Mustin.

What did he do?

William B.

........................

Henry C. Mustin was also a Navy pilot. In fact, he was the third Navy pilot—ever.

In the early 1900s, shortly after the invention of the airplane, the Navy started taking an interest in flight.

The need for a training facility was recognized and the planning commenced. Originally, Annapolis was slated to be the site for the new flight school, but Pensacola was chosen because of a climate that allowed for year-round flight.

On Jan. 20, 1914, the first ever Naval aviation unit came to town. Nine officers, 24 enlisted men and seven planes were sent to turn the defunct Navy yard into the new Naval Aeronautics Station. Mustin became the first commanding officer.

After his arrival, Mustin wrote to his wife that the facility was in terrible condition. His observations were that it had been abandoned for more than 50 years and since then used as a dump. He noted that a lot of work was needed to get the air school in commission for students.

Mustin projected that it would take two weeks before the flying school could commence, as they needed to build runways and to clear the beach in front of the runways.

Besides flight training, the Navy’s initial focus was on integrating airplanes into its marine defenses. With the recent inventions of aircraft carriers and seaplanes, the connection came naturally.

But it was Mustin who helped solidify the marriage of air and water. He was the first man ever to launch an airplane off a moving carrier with the use of a catapult. On Nov. 5, 1915, Mustin success-

BY MAXWELL CHASE

fully flew an AB-2 flying boat from the deck of the USS North Carolina.

Early versions of the catapult involved a truck on rails that would draw the plane back using ropes, springs and pulleys. The only problem was that when the tension on the line was released, the truck would fall into the ocean.

Eventually a braking system was established, but an even better method came about through the use of air pressure. Mustin used the pressure system to establish the process for launching planes at sea.

Mustin continued his aeronautical legacy in 1920 with another first. He commanded 14 planes in the first ever round-trip flight to Panama.

The total flying time for the 7,000-mile trip was 109 hours.

The formation made the trip flying at an average speed of 60 miles per hour.

In 1921, Mustin was promoted to the position of Assistant Chief of the Bureau of Aeronautics. Not long after, he was admitted to the Naval Hospital in Washington, D.C. while suffering from chest pains. After an illness lasting several months, he died on Aug. 23, 1923. He is remembered as the Father of Naval Aviation.

Experience Our Difference.

The Area’s Only Accredited

Chest Pain Center West Florida Hospital is the only hospital in the region to earn Chest Pain Center accreditation by the prestigious Society of Chest Pain Centers, an international professional organization focused on improving care for patients with acute coronary symptoms and other related conditions. The accreditation followed a stringent and comprehensive review of the expertise of our operating systems and the compassionate care we provide our chest pain patients.

As an Accredited Chest Pain Center, West Florida Hospital ensures that patients who come to our Emergency Room complaining of chest pain or discomfort are given the immediate treatment necessary to avoid as much heart damage as possible.

Protocol-based procedures developed by leading experts in cardiac care to reduce time to treatment in the critical early stages of a heart attack are part of our overall cardiac care service.

And, should you need to be admitted, West Florida Hospital is the only hospital in the area that can guarantee your own private room during your stay.

Do you have a local histor y question for The Public Record?

Email it to thepublicrecord@inweekly.net & we’ll see what we can dig up.

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receive a message displaying the average wait time to see a medical provider. n Go to www.WestFloridaHospital.com to find our average wait time, updated every thirty minutes.

INDEPENDENT NEWS | MARCH 03, 2011 | WWW.INWEEKLY.NET |

23

news of the weird LEADING ECONOMIC INDICATOR The government of Romania, attempting both to make amends for historical persecution of fortune-telling “witches” and to collect more tax revenue, amended its labor law recently to legalize the profession. However, “queen witch” Bratara Buzea, apparently speaking for many in the soothsaying business, told the Associated Press in February that official recognition might make witches legally responsible for future events that are beyond their control. Already, witches are said to be fighting back against the government with curses—hurling poisonous mandrake plants into the Danube River and casting a special spell involving cat dung and a dead dog.

COMPELLING EXPLANATIONS British loyalist Michael Stone still claims it was all a misunderstanding—that he did not intend to assassinate Irish Republican Army political leaders in 2006, despite being arrested at the Northern Ireland legislature carrying knives, an ax, a garotte, and a bag of explosives that included flammable liquids, gas canisters and fuses. He was later convicted, based on his having detonated one explosive in the foyer and then carrying the other devices into the hall to confront the leaders, but he continued to insist that he was merely engaged in “performance art.” (In January 2011, the Northern Ireland court of appeal rejected his claim.)

•Phyllis Stevens, 59, said she had no idea she had embezzled nearly $6 million until her employer, Aviva USA, of Des Moines, Iowa, showed her the evidence. She said it must have been done by the “hundreds” of personalities created by her dissociative identity disorder (including “Robin,” who was caught trying to spend Stevens’ remaining money in Las Vegas just hours after the showdown with Aviva). Stevens and her spouse had been spending lavishly, buying properties, and contributing generously to political causes. As the “core person,” Stevens said she will accept responsibility but asked a federal judge for leniency. (The prosecutor said Stevens is simply a thief.)

•Thomas Walkley, a lawyer from Norton, Ohio, was charged in January with indecent exposure for pulling his pants down in front of two 19-year-old males, but Walkley said he was merely “mentoring” at-risk boys. He said it is a technique he had used with other troubled youths, especially the most difficult cases, by getting them “to think differently.” Said Walkley, “Radical times call for radical measures.”

IRONIES U.S. News & World Report magazine, and the National Council on Teacher Quality, announced plans recently to issue grades (A, B, C, D and F) on how well each of the U.S.’s 1,000-plus teachers’ colleges develop future educators, but the teachers of teachers appear to be sharply opposed to the very idea of being issued “grades.” The

24 | INDEPENDENT NEWS |

MARCH 03, 2011 | WWW.INWEEKLY.NET

BY CHUCK SHEPPARD project’s supporters cited school principals’ complaints about the quality of teachers applying for jobs, but the teachers’ college representatives criticized the project’s measurement criteria as overly simplistic.

•Police were out in force in September as schools opened in Toronto, writing 25 school-zone speeding tickets in the first two hours. One of the 25 was issued to the driver of a school bus, caught speeding through a school zone trying to avoid being late at a pickup point farther down the road.

THE LITIGIOUS SOCIETY Paul Mason, 50, an ex-letter-carrier in Ipswich, England, told reporters in January he would file a lawsuit against Britain’s National Health Service for negligence—because it allowed him to “grow” in recent years to a weight of nearly 900 pounds. Mason said he “begged” for NHS’s help in 1996 when he weighed 420, but was merely told to “ride your bike more.” Last year, he was finally allowed gastric surgery, which reduced him to his current 518. At his heaviest, Mason estimates he was consuming 20,000 calories a day.

UPDATE Life is improving for some Burmese Kayan women who, fleeing regular assaults by soldiers of the military government of Myanmar, become valuable exhibits at tourist attractions in neighboring Thailand—because of their tribal custom of wearing heavy metal rings around their necks from an early age. The metal stacks weigh 11 pounds or more and depress girls’ clavicles, giving them the appearance of elongated necks, which the tribe (and many tourists) regard as exotic. While human rights activists heap scorn on these Thai “human zoos” of ring-necked women, a Nacogdoches, Texas, poultry plant recently began offering some of the women a more attractive choice—lose the rings and come work in Texas, de-boning chickens.

PEOPLE WITH ISSUES Although police in Mount Vernon, Ohio, aren’t sure of the motive, they know (according to records made public in February) that the murdererkidnapper Matthew Hoffman was arrested in November in a living room piled 3 feet high with leaves and a bathroom containing 110 bags of leaves attached to the walls.

Hoffman, an unemployed tree-trimmer, later confessed to the kidnap and rape of a 13-year-old girl (whom he kept in a basement on a pallet of leaves) and had stuffed the bodies of his three murder victims in a hollow tree. An expert on serial killers told ABC News that trees might have given Hoffman comfort, but police haven’t discounted that the leaves were there merely to help him later torch the house.

Send your Weird News to Chuck Shepherd, P.O. Box 18737, Tampa, Fla., 33679 or weirdnews@earthlink.net, or go to www.NewsoftheWeird.com.

FROM UNIVERSAL PRESS SYNDICATE CHUCK SHEPHERD’S NEWS OF THE WEIRD

by Chuck Shepherd COPYRIGHT 2010 CHUCK SHEPHERD

PYP GETTING THINGS DONE!

WORKSHOP FOR EMERGING PROFESSIONALS

Pensacola Young Professionals are committed to making a difference and that means getting things done!

Our teams never stop planning and keep busy putting those plans into action.

From the Annual Dinner to the Workshop for Emerging Professionals, and a big new project coming up, there is always something going on.

PPDI is now accepting reservations for it Emerging Professionals workshop. It is a comprehensive series that consists of four weekly sessions held in the evening at UWF. Course speakers will range from local business leaders to knowledgeable entrepreneurs.

CELEBRATE WITH PYP AT OUR ANNUAL DINNER

Session Two: March 31

Goal Setting Negotiating

PYP’s Annual Dinner will be held on Saturday, March 19th at the Pensacola Yacht Club. It is an opportunity to meet the members and sponsors of PYP and highlights our organizations past accomplishments and goals for the future.

This year’s speaker will be Malcolm Thomas, Superintendent of Schools in Escambia County.

Our event will begin with cocktails at 6:30 and dinner will be served at 7:00. The menu is to include a mixed green salad, entrée choice of Grilled Fillet or Teriyaki Gilled Salmon, and Key Lime Pie. The attire is cocktail/formal and reservations are required. Tickets are $35 until March 14th, thereafter $45. Please RSVP online at http:// pensacolayp.com/EventCalendar. asp or contact Rachael at the PYP office (850) 332-7820.

Session One: March 24

Resume Creation Interviewing

Session Three: April 7

Public Speaking

PowerPoint Presentations Session Four: April 14 Networking

Customer Service The cost of the entire workshop is just $20 and includes food at each session.

Build your future for a successful career! Register online today at www.ppdi.memberlodge.org.

COMING SOON -THE BIG ANNOUNCEMENT

PYP is working on an alliance that would allow us greater opportunity to make effective changes in our community. PYP will have access to direct feedback from individuals

living in our local area. This will provide insight as to which issues are most important and give PYP direction as to how we and other leaders can best address those issues.

Stayed tuned for more details about this exciting news!

CALENDAR OF EVENTS March 7 Board Meeting Office of Rodney Rich & Co 300 N Tarragona St. 5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.

For more information on PYP see our website at Pensacolayp.com or LIKE our Pensacola Young Professionals Facebook page.

Pensacola Young Professionals 41 N Jefferson St. Suite 108 Pensacola FL 32502 (850) 332-7820

March 19 Annual Meeting Pensacola Yacht Club 6:30 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.

March 24 Workshop for Emerging Professionals Session 1 UWF, Building 10, room 103 5:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.

March 26 Networking Team 1st Annual Chili Cook Off Tristan Harper’s House 4:00 p.m. – Until

Jim Hizer, Pensacola Bay Area Chamber of Commerce CEO, addresses PYP and Seville Rotary on Vision 2015.

March 30 Quality Of Life Team Meeting The Oar House, Pace Blvd.

12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.

March 31 Workshop for Emerging Professionals Session 2 UWF, Building 10, room 103 5:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.

Attendees of our “Partnering for a Better Pensacola” sponsor event at Atlas Oyster House

INDEPENDENT NEWS | MARCH 03, 2011 | WWW.INWEEKLY.NET |

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community outreach A NIGHT TO REMEMBER: DRESS DRIVE BENEFIT This annual fundraiser benefits one local area resident who has sustained a brain and/or spinal cord injury. This year the funds raised will go toward the recovery efforts of Gulf Breeze resident Anna Pope, 25, who sustained a brain injury after a car accident in October 2010.

In 2004, Anna graduated from Gulf Breeze High School.

In 2009, she graduated from the University of North Florida with a bachelor of arts in Finance and Real Estate. She enjoys her job at the Hilton on Pensacola Beach and has also been an active member at the Gulf Breeze Recreation Center where she participates in the 4-Shore-Fit boot camp fitness class.

UWF students Kerri Wright and Samantha Rodzwicz are collecting new and gently used formal and semi-formal gowns to be sold at the first annual A Night to Remember: Dress Drive Benefit. The event will feature a raffle, silent auction and refreshments along with the dress sale, and will be held March 20 at the Hilton on Pensacola Beach from 2-6 p.m.

If you have formal or semi-formal gowns that you would like to contribute, contact Kerri Wright at anight2remember.dressbenefit@gmail.com or 346-5158.

Donations will be greatly appreciated by both Anna’s family and friends.

BRIGHT START - RIGHT START ART CLASS Inspire your preschooler’s imagination and self-expression with a world of hands-on art activities. The class will include coloring techniques with crayons, markers and oil pastels. They will also cover some basics of painting using washable and non-toxic paints and proper scissor use too. This class is held on Wednesdays from 4-5 p.m. for children between the ages of 4-6 with a low cost of $5 per class. For more information, please contact 436-5198 or playpensacola.com.

SEE EXPRESS CLYDESDALES Express Employment Professionals and Pensacola Cordova Rotary are teaming up to raise funds for Gulf Coast Kid’s House by offering the community a unique opportunity to see and ride beautiful Clydesdale horses. The Express Clydesdales will be on display for viewing and rides at Gulf Coast Kid’s House, 3401 N. 12th Ave., 3-6 p.m. Friday, March 4.

GIVE KIDS A SMILE DAY About 600 youth are served each year during Give Kids a Smile Day, a community service that provides free dental treatments to underserved children.

The event is March 12 at the dental hygiene clinic on the Warrington campus of Pensacola State College. It’s a big volunteer effort by area dentists, dental hygiene students and faculty. This year, pre-screenings are noon to 5 p.m.

Friday, March 11, and Give Kids a Smile Day is 8 a.m.-4 p.m.

Saturday, March 12, on the ground floor of Building 3100, of the Warrington campus. For more information, contact: Linda Lambert, 206-6733, llambert@pensacolastate.edu.

RUMMAGE SALE One of the biggest Annual Rummage Sales in Pensacola returns to Trinity Presbyterian Church, Saturday, March 19, from 8 a.m.-2 p.m. Eager shoppers wanting first pick can come to Preview Night on Friday, March 18, from 5-8 p.m., with everything sold at 50-percent mark-up.

Everything is well sorted and priced. Proceeds support the youth programs, including Lightshine Choir, with a portion going directly to local charities.

The sale will be held at 3400 Bayou Blvd., between Twelfth Avenue and Cervantes streets. Sale is held in the gymnasium. For more information call 432-3505.

PILOT CLUB PANCAKES The Pilot Club of Pensacola will host the 31st Pancake Festival on Saturday, March 5, from 7 a.m.-noon, at Cokesbury United Methodist Church. The club has served more than 60,000 pancakes over 30 years

26 | INDEPENDENT NEWS |

to raise money for brain-related disorders, with 100 percent of proceeds benefiting Northwest Florida. Cokesbury United Methodist Church in the Asbury Place, 5725 N. Ninth Ave. $6 for adults, $3 for kids. 458-6548.

funding agency requires a minimum number of attendees, they cancel workshops that don’t meet these requirements.

Pre-registration is strongly recommended. Call to register.

595-0063.

PERDIDO SPRINGFEST The 1st Annual Perdido Springfest & Fair will be held on Tuesday, March 22 on Saturday, March 26 from 3-10 p.m. daily on the grounds of Liberty Church, 2221 S. Blue Angel Parkway. Sponsored by Perdido Key Area Chamber of Commerce, Perdido Springfest & Fair will have full-blown carnival rides by James Gang Amusements, games, concessions, live entertainment and vendors. A portion of the event’s proceeds will benefit Perdido’s new football league.

Admission is free. Tickets for the rides and unlimited ride wristbands will be sold at the event. $2 coupons off the price of the unlimited ride wristband will be available at sponsor locations beginning March 1. Check perdidofootball.com for participating sponsor list and for more event information.

NAVIGATING BUSINESS IN CHALLENGING TIMES This is the theme of the annual Gulf Coast Women’s Business Conference, taking place Friday, March 11 from 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m. at the Pensacola Civic Center. The $59 registration fee gives attendees access to the entire conference, luncheon and the exhibitors. Limited exhibitors’ space is available for an additional $50.

Dr. Judith Bense, President of University of West Florida, will motivate the crowd with her presentation, Find the Silver Lining. Other conference topics and speakers include: Borrowing During Challenging Times (Borrego Springs Bank, Navy Federal, SunTrust); Getting Back Up When Life Knocks You Down (Michelle Colon Johnson); Hot Businesses & Trends (Larry Strain); Online Social Media Accounts After Death (Kristen Marks, ESQ); Tips to Generating Endless Referrals (Kolleen Edwards); and Tips & Traps in Social Media (Jay Massey).

The event is sponsored by the Small Business Development Center at the University of West Florida and co-sponsored by Borrego Springs Bank, Navy Federal Credit Union, Santa Rosa County Chamber of Commerce and SunTrust Bank.

For more information, contact the Small Business Development Center at UWF at 595-0063 or visit sbdc.uwf. edu for more details and registration.

FOURTH ANNUAL FATHER DAUGHTER BALL Calling all princesses and distinguished gentlemen! The Fourth Annual Father Daughter Ball is Saturday, April 2, from 6:30- 8:30 p.m. at Pensacola Country Club, located at 1500 Bayshore Drive.

Destined to be a magical night of dancing, memories, food and fun, please join us to celebrate the special relationship between fathers and daughters. Get ready to twirl your princess around the dance floor as a DJ plays her favorite tunes, enjoy a dinner buffet and dessert. You can make her a princess for the night The Father Daughter Ball is a gala fundraiser benefiting Creative Learning Academy and Sacred Heart Children’s Hospital. This event is open to the public and to all women and their father or father-figure. Suggested dress is formal.

Tickets are available now for $75 per father/daughter couple and $20 per additional daughter. A limited number of tickets are available, so call today. Picture packages are also available for purchase. For more information and ticket sales, please contact Sacred Heart Foundation at 416-4661 or Creative Learning Academy at 432-1768.

FUN FEST IN NAVARRE SEEKING ARTISTS, CRAFTERS, VENDORS The Navarre Area Chamber of Commerce presents their 27th Annual Fun Fest on Friday, April 29, and Saturday, April 30, at Navarre Beach. The family two-day event is sponsored in part by Santa Rosa Medical Center. Application forms for Artists & Crafters, Food Vendors and Sponsors are located on the Navarre Chamber website at navarrechamber. com.

During the event, up to 50 artists and crafters can showcase and sell their products. The Chamber is seeking painters, potters, stain glass artists, beach arts and all types of crafts welcomed. Spaces are available for $100 per 10x10 space. Hours for this show are Friday, April 29, from 4-10 p.m. and Saturday, April 30, from 10 a.m.- 8 p.m.

Any artist or crafter seeking application forms or information may contact Connie Jones at 939-7964 or clsjones08@gmail.com. Other vendor forms may be downloaded from the Navarre Chamber website. For general information about Fun Fest, call the Navarre Chamber at 939-3267.

STARTING A BUSINESS The Small Business Development Center at the University of West Florida, 401 E. Chase Street, Suite 100, Pensacola, is presenting “Starting a Business” on Thursday morning, March 10 from 9 a.m.-noon. Attendees will learn about taxation, financing, insurance, and legal forms of business. Attendance fee is $35 for the public and free for students and faculty members of the University of West Florida who present a Nautilus card. Since their

MARCH 03, 2011 | WWW.INWEEKLY.NET

PERDIDO KEY RELAY FOR LIFE The American Cancer Society Relay for Life of Perdido Key is just around the corner. Register your team today by visiting perdidorelay. com or contacting Team Development Chair Sarah Morrell at 529-8642. This “Celebration of Life” brings the community together in a unified effort to fight cancer.

Former and current cancer patients, their families, businesses, civic organizations and the public are invited to take part in this exciting team event. Relay for Life takes place at Escambia High school, April 2-3, beginning at 12 p.m.

Relay for Life is the American Cancer Society’s version of an athletic relay, but with a new twist. Relay for Life is a family-oriented event where participants enjoy the camaraderie of a team and also raise funds to support the activities of the American Cancer Society. Participants camp out at the relay site, and when they are not taking their turn walking, they take part in fun activities and enjoy the local entertainment. This year the Mammogram Unit will also be at the site from 12-4 p.m. to help join the fight against cancer.

Teams from companies, churches, organizations, hospitals and schools collect donations and can win individual and team prizes for their efforts.

Information about how to form a team or become involved in Relay For Life is available from the American Cancer Society at (800) ACS-2345, available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, or visit cancer.org.

ART IN BLOOM 2011 This floral inspired, multi-day fundraising event is where the region’s best floral artists compete to create floral sculptures or arrangements, this year inspired

by Baltimore painter Rob Vander Zee’s Visions of Paradise along with the 2nd Annual Private Walls: Pensacola Collects II, an exhibition drawing from the fine artworks of local collectors’ homes. New this year will be an “Art in Bloom 2011” nature-themed juried and judged photography exhibition open to amateur and professional photographers. Please visit pensacolamuseumofart.org for detailed entry information including the 2011 Photography Entry Form. An entry fee of $25 per photograph must accompany submissions. All entries must be submitted to the PMA by March 14.

BBB FOUNDATION ETHICS AWARDS Less that a month remains until the application deadline for your Better Business Bureau® Foundation of Northwest Florida’s sixth annual Torch Award for Marketplace Ethics, Customer Service Excellence Award and Student Ethics Scholarship.

The Torch Award for Marketplace Ethics recognizes businesses and charities that insist on exceptionally high standards of behavior in dealing with customers, vendors and employees. BBB Accreditation is not required to enter.

However, applicants must be physically located within BBB Northwest Florida’s 14-county service area.

Along with the Torch Award for Marketplace Ethics, BBB is also accepting nominations and entries for the Customer Service Excellence Award and Student Ethics Scholarship.

The Customer Service Excellence Award recognizes individual employees who go above and beyond in their customer service activities. This is an excellent opportunity for employers to recognize outstanding employees and for customers to nominate individuals who demonstrate fantastic customer service.

The Student Ethics Scholarship recognizes nine high school students who will receive a $1,000 scholarship for their commitment to ethical behavior and personal integrity. High school juniors and seniors within BBB Northwest Florida’s service area may apply for the scholarship.

The application deadline for all awards is March 18.

Award recipients will be recognized at a series of luncheons to be held in May. For entry forms and suggestions for completing an entry or nomination for the awards, please visit nwfl.bbb.org/torchaward or call 429-0002 or (800) 729-9226.

THE PRINCESS AND PIRATES BALL Domestic Violence Center presents The Princess and Pirate Ball on March 12 from 5-8 p.m. at Linkside, Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort. Your entire family is invited to wear their best princess and pirate costumes for an evening of dinner, dancing, treasure hunts and character pictures.

A special children’s costume contest will be held and the Grand Prize is a ride on the Billy Bowlegs float this June with Captain Billy. Each Pirate and Princess will be judged on their overall character including the following elements: authenticity of the costume, creativity of the costume design, and originality of the character’s name.

Winners will be announced at the Princess and Pirate Ball.

Ticket prices are $99 for a family of 4, or $20 for children and $50 for adults. Tickets can be purchased online at shelterhousenwfl.org or by calling the Shelter House office at (850) 243-1201.

FLORIDA MAGNET SCHOOL APPLICATIONS N.B. Cook Elementary School of the Arts is accepting applications at the school through April 1. All applicants will be notified by mail at the end of April as to whether or not they were chosen in the lottery.

Brentwood Elementary Magnet School of Technology is accepting applications at the school through April 1. All applicants will be notified by mail at the end of April as to whether or not they were chosen in the lottery.

Brown Barge Middle School is accepting applications electronically at escambia.k12.fl.us/schscnts/ brobm/home.asp through March 1.

At all other middle school career academies, applications are being taken electronically at career.escambia.k12.fl.us/careeracademy/index.asp through April 1. Parents will be notified through mail of acceptance.

At high school career academies, applications are being taken electronically at career.escambia.k12.fl.us/ careeracademy/index.asp through March 1. Parents will be notified through mail of acceptance.

to advertise call 438-8115

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THE UNIVERSAL CROSSWORD EDITED BY TIMOTHY E. PARKER CREATURE COMFORTS by Henry Quarters

LMT AND OWNER OF ESCAPE WELLNESS SPA ACROSS 1 “... the harder ___ fall” 5 Gardener’s purchase 9 Boy with a bow 14 Thinker Descartes 15 “Better ___ than never” 16 Egg holder 17 Locomotive, informally 19 Metamorphosis stages 20 Grapevine produce?

21 Fence-crossing spot 23 Gets ready to drag 26 Emergency notifiers 29 Certify, as a college 3 3 Blew one’s top 3 4 Musical syllables 3 5 Do a ­greenhouse job 3 7 Suffix with “hero” or “rout” 3 8 Eliciting a “So what?”

3 9 Big-time perp 4 0 The Munsters’ pet bat 4 1 “Tarzan” star Ron 4 2 “The Three Billy Goats Gruff” meanie 4 3 City in New York 4 4 Arrange strategically, as troops 4 6 Aloft 4 8 Maryland state bird 4 9 Rakish sort 5 0 Calabash 5 2 Golfer’s porter 5 7 ___ de menthe 5 9 Geologist, e.g.

6 2 Decide at the flip of ___ 6 3 ___ Lackawanna Railway 6 4 Feeling of hunger or regret

What is your chief characteristic?

Empathy. I tend to give people the benefit of the doubt first, almost to a fault.

Who is your favorite fiction character?

Tyler Durden in “Fight Club.”

Who is your favorite non-fiction character?

Nelson Mandela. I am incredibly inspired by his tenacious spirit that could not be crushed even after being imprisoned for 27 years.

What is the best thing you have ever won?

My business, Escape Wellness Spa, won Best of the Bay and Best of the Coast. I’m like a proud mother.

PREVIOUS PUZZLE ANSWER

6 5 Clergyman’s digs 6 6 The ravages of time 6 7 “... or ___!”

DOWN 1 Short math course?

2 Villain’s opposite 3 Third-­g eneration Genesis figure 4 Hankerings 5 Aslant 6 Thing locked in a boat 7 “___ a bird ...”

8 Fermentationvessel sediments 9 Air aide 1 0 Soft palate extensions 1 1 Its bark is worse than its bite?

1 2 The older Gershwin brother 1 3 Work on roots, perhaps 1 8 Fills open slots, in a way 2 2 Prey-­c atching claw 2 4 Olive-green songbird 2 5 Outstanding 2 7 Inhabitant of ancient Crete

2 8 “Tristram Shandy” author 2 9 Reflective power, as of a planet 3 0 Square dance leader 3 1 Skeet ­s hooting target 3 2 “Go, team, go!” accompaniment 3 6 Sabin’s study 3 9 The Colonel’s machine 4 0 Agcy. that won the 1969 Peace Prize 4 2 One “T” of TNT 4 3 African witchcraft 4 5 Armored car company 4 7 Darius of Hootie and the Blowfish 5 1 Sketched 5 3 Slangy drugs 5 4 Having two parts 5 5 Boarding sites 5 6 Advantage 5 7 Engine cylinder 5 8 “His Master’s Voice” record label 6 0 Assayed material 6 1 Org. featured in “The Good Shepherd”

What did your mother always tell you?

Three main things: “It’s all in the tellin’—a positive perspective creates a quality life,” “Only boring people get bored,” and “Leave places better than you found them.”

What is the worst idea you’ve ever had?

When I was in 7th grade, I decided to try to get over stage fright by singing “O Holy Night” a capella for my church. I trembled and cried throughout the performance.

What is your favorite food?

Mediterranean, basically anything with feta cheese.

Which talent would you most like to have?

A photographic memory What movie do you love to watch repeatedly?

“Good Will Hunting.”

What TV show is your guilty pleasure?

MTV’s “The Real World.”

What is the last book you read?

“The Dark Side of the Light Chasers” by Debbie Ford.

What is your theme song?

It’s a toss-up between “Blackbird” by The Beatles and “Some Days You Gotta Dance” by Dixie Chicks.

INDEPENDENT NEWS | MARCH 03, 2011 | WWW.INWEEKLY.NET |

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Coriander & Fennel

Seared Tuna

Creamed Corn & Barley Sweet Potato Hay

INDEPENDENT NEWS | MARCH 03, 2011 | WWW.INWEEKLY.NET |