May8issue

Independent News | May 8, 2014 | Volume 15 | Number 19 | inweekly.net

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Celebrating Brownsville artwork submission images courtesy of Artel Gallery

Celebrating the Westside

page 15

Norm Haines "Brownsville, Florida"

Dave Kessler "Praise the Lord"

Carter J. Gaston "Brownsville

Elizabeth Matthews "Reincarnation"

Jennifer Fleming "Behind the Window" publisher Rick Outzen editor & creative director Joani Delezen art director Samantha Crooke contributing writers

Natalia Bayona, Jessica Forbes, Hana Frenette, Jason Leger, Jennifer Leigh, Sarah McCartan, Chuck Shepherd contact us info@inweekly. net

Independent News is published by Inweekly Media, Inc., P.O. Box 12082, Pensacola, FL 32591. (850)4388115. All materials published in Independent News are copyrighted. Š 2014 Inweekly Media, Inc. All rights reserved.

Shauntia Smith "One Race, One Face"

Libby Castellani "The Obsession"

[855]hirejoe ZARZAUR LAW, P.A. 22

inweekly.net

winners & losers As our community recovers from the flooding of April 29-30, the Independent News wants to recognize those who have worked so hard to help.

They are all winners. This is only a partial list of those who stepped up in a big way:

American Red Cross of Northwest Florida

Hillcrest Baptist Church

Avid Gardeners Club

Home Builders Association of West Florida

Blues Angel Music Brownsville Assembly of God Catholic Charities of Northwest Florida Christian Aid Ministries City of Gulf Breeze City of Pensacola Congressman Jeff Miller Emerald Coast Utility Authority Emergency Operations Center Escambia Board of County Commissioners

Midway Fire Department National Association of Letter Carriers

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Pensacola City Council Pensacola Energy Services Pensacola Fire Department

FEDERAL CREDIT UNION

Pensacola News Journal Pensacola Police Department

Escambia County

Salvation Army

Escambia County Fire & Rescue

Santa Rosa County

Escambia County Sheriff’s Office

Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office

Farm Share

Southern Baptist Disaster Relief Teams

Gadsden Street United Methodist Church

St. Anne's Catholic Church

Good Works Partnership

State Fire Marshall Jeff Atwater

Gov. Rick Scott

State Rep. Mike Hill

Gulf Breeze City Council

United Way of Escambia County

Gulf Breeze Fire Department

United Way 211

Gulf Breeze Natural Gas

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Gulf Breeze Police Department

WCOA

Gulf Breeze United Methodist Church

WEAR TV 3

Gulf Power

WRNE

Gulf Winds Federal Credit Union

WUWF

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outtakes

by Rick Outzen

STORIES OF THE STORM There are dozens of stories that come out of every disaster. Each reporter has to choose the ones on which he wants to focus. I tend to focus on people.

Commissioner Lumon May has run non-stop since April 30. The flooding issues alone would have kept him busy, but the jail explosion compounded the demands on his time. Families showed up at his house at 3 a.m. the morning of the blast asking for help. He has not stopped since helping families find their loved ones.

The city of Gulf Breeze had its stormwater system overwhelmed by the rain. The central core of the city flooded. Residents have slept to sounds of pumps sucking water from streets that rarely ever flood.

Tom Coady, my son-in-law, got a phone call from his college buddies. They had loaded up a flatbed trailer with generators, tools and supplies and were headed to Gulf Breeze to help his mother who had almost lost her home.

I had a quick five-minute interview with Governor Rick Scott outside of Hopjacks Pizza Kitchen & Taproom that also was flooded. Scott was touring downtown Pensacola with Sheriff David Morgan and Mayor Ashton Hayward.

You could sense how deeply what he had seen in the Piedmont and Forest Creek

areas had impacted him. He talked about the families he'd seen and how the state was committed to helping with the recovery. Scott was genuine and sincere. In the following days, he appealed to the White House for federal disaster relief for Escambia and Santa Rosa counties.

The families with loved ones caught in the jail explosion also stand out. For hours, many prayed for any news about if they had survived the blast and where they were being housed.

Through tears and sobs, Sheila Travis told us about her accused Escambia County son, 24-year-old Kelvin Johnson, who had called her before the explosion to say he smelled gas all day and was feeling light headed but jail officials refused to move him and others who complained. County officials have disputed stories about the gas leak, but we have heard the same from dozens of other families.

On Thursday evening, Escambia County released the names of the two inmates that died in the blast. Families gradually began to hear from their sons, daughters, husbands and wives.

As we recover and rebuild, some of these stories will continue to unfold and others will come forth. The Independent News will be there to share them with you. {in} rick@inweekly.net

Residents have slept to sounds of pumps sucking water from streets that rarely ever flood.

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DIFFERENCE MAKERS PSC Presents 122 Student Excellence Awards at Annual Ceremony Pensacola State College presented 122 Student Excellence Awards at a recent Honors Day ceremony.

Recognition included 49 Scholastic Achievement Awards, 25 Program Scholars, 11 Department Scholars, 14 Service Awards, 12 Leadership Awards, five Bachelor of Applied Science Scholastic Awards, two All-Florida Academic Team Awards, two Volunteer Service Awards, and two Sharlene E. Burkhardt Awards.

All-Florida Academic Team Award recipients: Rachel Gibbons and Devin Justice.

Sharlene E. Burkhardt Award recipients: Sarah Everhart and Billyjack Seymore.

Volunteer Service Award recipients: David Darago, Individual Award; and Pensacola campus SGA, Group Award.

Service Award recipients: David Darago, Sarah Everhart, Elizabeth Goff, Lindsey Hyman, Tara Knauff, Austin Main, Ida Prince, Nicole Rodriguez, Dominic Seale, Benjamin Sheffler, Sabrina Tutt, Elizabeth Watson, Christopher Weathers, and Jessica Zulock.

Leadership Award recipients: Marisa Abegg, Jayson Bledsoe, Detriz Bowers, Kasandra Burnett, Hope Hall, Devin Justice, Victoria Leonard, Taylor Moore, John Robson, Eric Schwartz, Taylor Simpson, and Jonathon Thomas.

Bachelor of Applied Science Scholastic Award recipients: Manuela Fiorentino, Ericka Griffin, Sara Kucharnik, Anthony Sullivan, and Lenore Taylor.

Scholastic Achievement Award recipients: Abigail Andrews, Emily Bagby, Stephanie Balster, Michelle Berry, Sharon Blom, Courtney Boone, Gerald Burke, Steven Campbell, Ariel Cantrell, Kevin Constance, Samuel Del Aguila, Danika Diediker, Jill Drake, Matthew Frederick, Donald Hall, Seth Hansen, Paul Hatcher III, Kathy Hough, Daniel Howard, Rose Hudson, Cinzia Ibrahim, Jeremy Ingalls, Stephanie Jarvis, Lauren Lee, Christa Liammayty, Monica Martin, Jenifer Mitchell, Anthony Perez, Brian Peterson, Kristyn Pierce, Melissa Poppy, Anesia Potter, Christie Progen, Joseph Sayers, Niya Schenk, Benjamin Sheffler, Anthony Stevens, Thomas Stombaugh, Emily Sullivan, Paige Taylor, Dylan Thorpe, Shawn Walker, Audrey Ward, Taylor Ward, Teresa Weakley, Christopher Weathers, Emily Weddington, Felicia York, and Jessica Zulock.

Department Scholars: Young Baek, Michelle Berry, Jayson Bledsoe, Katrina Camacho, Corey Carter, Rico Jae De Guzman, Hope Hall, Armand Keyhani, Chelsea Mason, Cody Meadows, and Luis Sepulveda II. Program Scholars: Marisa Abegg, Tyler Bare, Laura Booker, Alden Bourgeois Jr., Rosalina Correa, Delia Csaszar, Donna Dearman, Tammy Dobbs, Michael Echols, Daniel Foradori, Christopher Holcomb, Meke Jenkins-Harris, Tamara Kelso, Sarah Lewis, Qing Lin, Nicholas Morris, Katelyn Nelson, Danette Percle, Giau Pham, Lem Soles, Angela Smith, Trevor Thomas, Tracy Wakeman, James Wallace Jr., and Debra Williams.

PSC President Edward Meadows welcomed everyone to the awards celebration and Dona Usry, former Board of Trustees member, was the guest speaker. Stephen White, director of the Emergency Medical Technician program, chaired the Student Excellence Awards Committee and Sara Wilson, director of Student Affairs on the Milton campus, was master of ceremonies for the event.

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INSIDE THE CHAOS “He told me that (Wednesday, April 30) the gas smell was really bad and everybody was getting sick up there. They had been complaining all day.”

Tracy Rhodes

Rear view of Central Booking and Detention Center / photo special to the Independent News

Inmates Tell What Happened During the Jail Explosion

by Rick Outzen Eric Stevenson has been busy since the early hours of Wednesday, April 30. The criminal defense attorney has been trying to help his clients who were caught in the explosion at the Escambia County Central Booking and Detention Center (CBD).

While Escambia and Santa Rosa counties were rescuing families from the heavy rains and flooding from the previous night, the CBD was rocked by a blast, reportedly caused by a gas leak, around 11 p.m. on Wednesday. Two inmates died, one guard was left paralyzed and nearly 200

other inmates and guards were injured as floors and walls collapsed.

In a press conference the following afternoon, Director of Corrections Gordon Pike said that all 600 inmates had been accounted for. He said that the basement of the jail had only taken in 26 inches of water.

County Public Information Officer Bill Pearson dismissed the rumors that the inmates had complained about a natural gas leak hours and days before the explosion. “From everything that we’ve been told—we’ve actually gone

“We’ve actually gone through our 9-1-1 calls, we did not receive any calls about a gas leak before the explosion took place.” Bill Pearson

66

through our 9-1-1 calls, we did not receive any calls about a gas leak before the explosion took place."

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives has taken over the investigation of the explosion. The agency will determine how the blast occurred and whether any criminal charges should be filed.

GAS LEAK

Several of Stevenson’s clients and their families look forward to the results of the ATF investigation. They have told the attorney a story of the event that differs from what county staff has been saying.

“My clients have told me about smelling gas,” shared Stevenson over coffee at Scenic 90 Diner. “Most of them had headaches. Most of them were feeling sleepy. Five said that they smelled it a week or two in advance."

Rodriguez Smith, a trustee housed on the second floor, told Stevenson that the power went out about 3 a.m. on Wednesday morning.

“Everybody woke up because it was hot,” the attorney said. “The A/C wasn’t running.

And they started smelling gas. He said it wasn’t exhaust fumes from any generator,

but he didn't know if it was propane or natural gas. It was a rotten egg smell.”

According to Smith, the inmates complained of headaches and they were getting tired. Some put wet towels on their faces. The toilets weren't working so they were urinating and defecating into garbage bags. The trustees gathered the bags and threw them out on the play yard. The place reeked of feces and urine. They got two sets of sandwiches in a 24-hour period. The meat was rotten, Smith said.

When the flooding started, Smith was sent with a group of trustees to the kitchen area in the basement. They were ordered to gather bread and other food items. The smell of gas was very strong, according to Smith.

“There was still electricity down there, probably backup generators,” Stevenson said his client told him. “The water was rising. It started about ankle deep but quickly was up to mid-thigh.”

Smith didn't feel comfortable with the gas smell, electricity being on, and the water rising. Stevenson said, “They ‘bucked’ the corrections officer and said they weren't going to stay down there anymore."

The explosion that night threw him from his bed to the floor. Most of the beds were bolted to the floor. The explosion was so hard that the some of the beds turned over.

Stevenson said, “He described seeing 'rocks from out of the floor.' The explosion was so big that the concrete was blowing up into pieces. There was a big hole in the middle of the floor. An inmate fell into it and they pulled him out. A detention officer ran out of there. Another officer was thrown from his work station and dazed. The inmates helped get him out.”

The prisoners all exited through a hole in the wall on the first floor. Smith said that he went back several times to help other inmates, even though correction officers were telling him that he was disobeying orders.

Smith ended up in the main jail in a holding cell with other inmates. “They stayed for eight hours and then they were walked around and put into another holding tank,” said Stevenson, due to a regulation that placed limits on how long an inmate can stay in a holding cell. “He inweekly.net

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SPILL SETTLEMENT? Entrance to Central Booking and Detention Center / photo special to the Independent News

was put on a floor where he slept on a cold steel floor for at least one night. His leg is injured. He is limping badly. I’ve got to get him more medical attention.”

MISINFORMATION

Stevenson put the Independent News in contact with the parents of Taylor Rhodes, another client. Their tale was very disturbing.

The Taylors live in California. In the hours after the blast, they desperately tried to find out what had happened to their 20-year-old son. They called the county hotline for hours.

When they got through, they were told Taylor was fine.

His father Lewis Rhodes was told, "He's not on the list. It's my understanding that he was already evacuated.

He was unharmed and not even in the blast area. We have him in custody in the main jail."

Tracy Rhodes wanted to hear her son’s voice. “We hadn't heard anything. Early, early Friday morning I called down to the main jail and I threatened that if I didn't hear from my son within the hour there was going to be a lawyer at the front desk."

Crying she relayed to the Independent News what her son told her when he finally called back. “He told me that (Wednesday, April 30) the gas smell was really bad and everybody was getting sick up there. They had been complaining all day.”

According to Rhodes, a corrections officer took the ones that were really sick down to a holding cell around 9:30 p.m. They were sitting there, when "the floor blew up."

The mother said, “When he came to, he said, ‘Mama, I thought about just laying there.’ His instinct told him to get up. He looked around, pulled stuff off one guy, and helped another. He looked back and where they were sitting, the wall was gone. “ Rhodes looked for two other inmates, but he couldn't find them. He told his mother, "Mama, there was nothing I could do."

The inmates climbed over beams and rubble and found an opening. A guard told them to stay there, but they didn't listen

and climbed out of the building. He was placed in one of the first ambulances that went to the hospital.

Rhodes has been reluctant to tell his parents how badly he was injured. His fiancée has told them that he has a “big gash in his head, full of stitches up and down his arm and on his palm."

What angered the Rhodes was they received a phone call from the county less than an hour after speaking with their son.

“This woman calls and says that he wasn't in the blast,” she said. “Taylor had already been evacuated from the jail and was being processed.

He was fine and in the main jail.”

Tracy Rhodes said, “ She did not tell me that he was in the infirmary.”

The Rhodes cannot afford to come to Pensacola, but they are worried about the safety of their son. They fear retaliation for talking about the blast and Taylor’s injuries.

“Somebody wants to keep the truth from getting out,” the mother said.

“They have no privacy and are completely dependent on their jailers to provide their sustenance and safe housing.” Eric Stevenson

May 8, 2014

HURTING THE MOST VULNERABLE

There will be lawsuits. Too many people, both guards and inmates, were hurt to avoid litigation. Stevenson will be one of the attorneys filing claims on behalf of his clients.

“What you have to do in these types of cases is take someone who has committed a crime and society deems them undesirable and show that they are vulnerable in this position,” said Stevenson.

He said that the hardened criminals were not held in the CBD, but still some see his clients as thugs carrying guns.

“When they are in jail, they are not,” he said. “They are in a jumpsuit and sandals.

They have no privacy and are completely dependent on their jailers to provide their sustenance and safe housing.”

He added, “These people are about as unprotected as a person gets.” {in}

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buzz

all the political news and gossip fit to print

UWF BUDGET CUT The University of West Florida did not fare well in the 2014 Florida Legislative Session. The new performance measurements approved by the lawmakers will cost the university $3.82 million. The school received low marks for its student retention and six-year graduation rates.

Under the new metrics established by the state Board of Governors and approved by the Florida Legislature, universities scoring at least 26 points keep their base funding, plus a portion of the $200 million in performance money. Three universities scored less than 26 points—Florida Atlantic University, New College and UWF. The schools will have a portion of their base funding withheld while they develop and submit a metric improvement plan during the summer to the board for approval.

Metric progress reports must be submitted in December 2014 and May 2015. If satisfactory progress has been made, half the base funds withheld will be returned following each report.

“Currently, UWF has a score of 21 and $3.82 million will be withheld from our legislative appropriation for 2014/15,” wrote UWF President Judy Bense in a letter to her faculty and staff. “It is unclear at this time if the Board of Governors will require us to prepare a reduction plan for the $3.82 million. However, UWF will submit our improvement plan this summer and make progress reports in December and May. We all must work diligently to improve our metrics, especially our FTIC retention and 6 year graduation rates to get our base funding restored and receive performance funding next year.”

STUDER SUPPORTS HATCHERY Quint Studer sent a letter to the Pensacola City Council on Monday, May 5 in support of the proposed fish hatchery at Bruce Beach.

He wanted to clear up his position on the controversial plan to lease the city-owned property to the state for the facility to be built with BP funds.

“This past week I have heard from multiple sources regarding my position on the Fish Hatchery at Bruce Beach,” wrote Studer. “I have heard that I am 100 percent for the hatchery and heard that I am 100% against it.”

He said that he did approve of the hatchery on the proposed site because part of the funds will be used to remediate Bruce Beach. “Even if the hatchery does not work out, the worstcase scenario is that the city has remediated land which is safe and open to the public for enjoyment and learning,” he said.

“This is far better than what is in place today.”

Studer wrote that he did not believe that any private investors are interested in the property. He believed that a Request for Proposal for the Bruce Beach site would not have generated any interest.

“If they existed, they would have come forward by now,” he said. “This the same approach some on the Council and the

CMPA took with the Maritime YMCA. Those who opposed the project on Site 8 believed a better option would come along.

A year later, that lot is still empty—and it is remediated, site ready property. Lease fees that would have generated $1 million over 10 years and $5 million over the entire lease are gone.”

Studer said that the city needs clear guidelines regarding the process to put vacant government land to more productive use.

“These reforms could range from zoning, to best use, to how the RFP process or selection of firms to advertise and broker such properties should be handled,” he said. “The more transparent and publicly understood the process to dispense excess government property, the greater ability to attract non-government investments in the area, which is important to improve the quality of life for area residents.”

“The worst-case scenario is that the city has remediated land which is safe and open to the public for enjoyment and learning.” Quint Studer

College of Business E xecutive Mentor Progra m presents DR. A.G. GOLLAN

“Terrorism and Cyber Security: Implications for Private and Public Institutions” Monday, May 19, 2014, 6 - 7:30pm University of West Florida, Bldg. 22, UWF Conference Center 11000 University Parkway, Pensacola, FL 32514 This event is free and open to the public. RSVP at 850.474.3239 or executivementor@uwf.edu.

Light refreshments will be served.

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Dr. A.G. Gollan has over twelve years of service in Israel’s Security Services as well as twenty years in the private sector. Gollan served as Director of Security for the Group of 8 (G8) World Summit held in Genoa, Italy in 2001 where he was responsible for successfully coordinating security arrangements for the heads of state of Canada, The European Union, Germany, Japan, Russia, Sweden, Spain, United Kingdom and United States. inweekly.net

buzz GAMBLING GOES BUST

Source: The News Service of Florida A gambling overhaul was a crap shoot from the beginning, and in the end it turned out to be no dice.

Lawmakers spent $400,000 on a gambling analysis by New Jersey-based Spectrum Group, didn't like the first version the industry group provided and, ultimately, shelved any gambling legislation altogether.

Out-of-state gambling operators have pushed the Legislature for several years to approve "destination resorts" --- a term that this spring morphed into "integrated resorts." The issue split the business community, with the Disney-friendly Florida Chamber of Commerce ardently opposed to the idea while Associated Industries of Florida, after buddying up with Las Vegas Sands, arguing that casino resorts would be an economic and jobs boon to the state.

The Senate Gaming Committee took its show on the road, holding six hearings throughout the state to take testimony from folks on both sides of the issue, before floating a proposal that would have allowed two casino resorts --- one each in Broward and Miami-Dade counties --- that would have paired hotels, retail and slots.

May 8, 2014

all the political news and gossip fit to print

But Weatherford effectively put any gambling plans on ice early in the session when he laid out two requirements for any legislation to pass his chamber.

Weatherford wanted a constitutional amendment to go on the November ballot that, if approved by voters, would have required a statewide vote on any future gambling expansions.

What finally killed any gambling proposals this session was Weatherford's almost insurmountable second condition --- that Scott complete a deal with the Seminole Tribe of Florida before the end of the session.

Scott is negotiating the portion of a 2010 compact that gave the Seminoles the "exclusive" rights to banked card games, including blackjack, at five of its seven facilities in exchange for $1 billion over five years. The card deal expires on Aug. 1, 2015.

Just a week before the session ended, Scott's envoys --- Lt. Gov. Carlos LopezCantera, the governor's chief of staff Adam Hollingsworth and general counsel Pete Antonacci --- told House and Senate leaders in private meetings that a deal with the tribe was imminent.

Legislators who were part of the huddles said that Scott's team didn't reveal

any details but were instead "taking the temperature" on the possibility of a special session in mid-May so the Legislature could ratify the compact.

But news leaked out that the Seminoles were willing to pay more than $2.5 billion over seven years to add another casino in Fort Pierce, and that the deal didn't appear to include any sweeteners for casino operators or the state's pari-mutuels.

That put the kibosh, at least for now, on a special session.

Speakers include: Keith Wilkins, Director, Escambia County Community and Environment Department, Jeff C. Helms, Vice President, Sr. Practice Manager, ATKINS, Santa Rosa County Consultant Sal Nodjomian, PE, Executive Vice President, Matrix Design Group, Program Manager, Okaloosa County Consultant Bill Williams, RESTORE Act Consultant, SCG Governmental Affairs, Darryl Boudreau, Director Florida County Government Relations, the Nature Conservancy. {in}

WORKSHOP: RESTORING THE GULF—FOUR YEARS LATER

Mary Gutierrez, Executive Director of Earth Ethics, Inc. is coordinating the upcoming “Restoring the Gulf” workshop, which features presentations from scientists, researchers, environmental advocates, and industry leaders involved in the Gulf of Mexico restoration effort. Originally set to take place on April 30 as part of the Power Up Energy Expo on Pensacola Beach, the event was rescheduled due to the flooding and is open to the public, though pre-registration is required. The registration deadline is Wednesday, May 14. Registration will not be available at the door.

RESTORING THE GULF—FOUR YEARS LATER WHEN: 10 a.m.—5 p.m. Friday, May 16 (Register by Wednesday, May 14) WHERE: Downtown Library, 239 N. Spring St., Meeting Room “B” COST: $15 for lunch and cost of materials DETAILS: earthethics.us or e-mail: mary.earthethics@cox.net

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inweekly.net

5/1/14 9:54 AM

Last week we watched devastation strike our area. Homes and businesses flooded, roads washed away and lives were lost.

Despite the sudden devastation, just as the sun began to shine its way through, the graffiti bridge read, “When Things Get Rough, We Get Pensacola Tough.”

Over the course of the past week, we’ve seen the community come together and show the May 8, 2014

utmost level of resilience. Still, recovery doesn’t happen over night and there is much work to be done.

Beyond assisting your immediate neighbors, there are several opportunities for you to offer your time and services and be part of the caring efforts. On the flipside, if you are someone in need of assistance, these resources will hopefully point you in the right direction.

11

Recovery Benefits

There are also plenty of events coming up with a recovery theme, so you can get in on the helping action that way too. Who doesn't want to enjoy their "Cold Brew" with a side charity after all?

Several businesses and community groups are hosting benefits for Manna Food Pantries, who as a result of the flooding suffered a 100 percent loss to their administrative offices and main pantry.

Manna is a not-for-profit that works to alleviate hunger locally, distributing food 22 days a month. In 2012, Manna helped feed over 44,000 people, 39% of whom were children. Though Manna receives some federal funding, they primarily rely on donations to fund their operations.

Sadly, they are currently unable to accept food donations at their facilities, and are instead requesting monetary donations via their website. But some local groups are accepting food donations to be held until the pantry program is back up and running.

Under normal operating conditions, Manna requests peanut butter, canned fruit, canned tuna and chicken, and individually packaged breakfast items such as cereal, oatmeal, and grits as those items are most in demand. Vegetable and meat soups as well as pasta are also requested items.

Social Connections

Social media has been an active tool since the storm began, to not only keep the community in the know, but also as a channel to connect those in need with those willing and able to help by offering specific donations and services.

Whether you are in need of assistance, or looking for ways to give back, we recommend visiting the following pages.

Graffiti bridge mural created after the storm / photo by Samantha Crooke

United Way of Escambia County

unitedwayescambia.org United Way of Escambia County has established a disaster fund to receive donations specific to remediation of this event.

The funds will go toward assisting those located in Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa and Walton counties. Secure donations can be made at helpNWFLrecover.org.

United Way is also currently working with community non-profit groups that have been affected by the storm. They are currently accepting volunteers and deploying groups assisting with flood relief and recovery efforts. For those interested in volunteering, email lyndi@unitedwayescambia.org.

To receive help from United Way: Call 211 to reach United Way's referral center. Specialists will direct callers to a wide variety of flood-related assistance, and will enter flood victims into a disaster database being shared 212 1

with assistance organizations and the community’s Emergency Operations Center.

American Red Cross Northwest Florida Chapter redcross.org To made a donation for disaster relief, individuals can visit redcross.org, call 1-800-RED CROSS or text the word REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation.

These donations enable the Red Cross to prepare for, respond to and help people recover from disasters big and small.

The Red Cross Northwest Florida Chapter currently has mobile units set up in various neighborhoods throughout the affected area communities. Supplies available from the Red Cross at these centers include items such as tarps, work gloves, flashlights and clean-up kits. Additionally, Red Cross Emergency Response Vehicles will accompany bulk distribution vehicles to provide snacks and water.

Help Flood Victims In Pensacola

facebook.com/helpfloodvictimsinpensacola With nearly 10,000 likes, this page quickly formed after the flood to broadcast individual requests to be filled, in an effort to help get clothing and basic essentials to families in need. Beyond the individual listings, the page continues to be updated daily with volunteering opportunities, donation drop off information, and community updates.

Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive

Manna’s Stamp Out Hunger food drive, scheduled prior to the storm, will go on Saturday, May 10. To donate, simply leave a bag of nonperishable food items next to your mailbox. Mail carriers will pick the bags up and donate them to the food pantry. helpstampouthunger.com

Gallery Night Silent Auction

During May’s Gallery Night, Urban Objects will hold a silent auction with proceeds to benefit Manna. The store has reached out to local artists and friends to assure a range of items are part of the evening’s offerings. In addition to the auction, the store will also offer bottomless wine for a donation of $10. Definitely worth a stop as part of your Gallery Night experience this month.

Urban Objects 5—9 p.m. Friday, May 16 128 S. Palafox St. 912-8683 or facebook.com/urbanobjectspensacola

P-con Cares

Pensacon and Kinematic Entertainment are planning a benefit at Dolce Vita at the end of the month, featuring live music, a local art benefit, and a Pensaconsponsored auction of signed celebrity they are accepting volunteers to assist with delivery of the donations they have gathered, on Friday, May 10, in the afternoon hours.

Gulf Coast Strong

facebook.com/gulfcoaststrong Not only is the page yet another way for the community to connect with and support each other during a time in need, the page features a T-shirt that has been created, to show and offer additional support. Gulf Coast Strong T-shirt has been made possible by local businesses banding together. All proceeds from the shirts will go directly to those in need. For more information, email gulfcoaststrong@gmail.com.

Love Pensacola

facebook.com/welovePensacola Since the storm, the Love Pensacola community has been posting volunteer opportunities, as well as local and state updates on disaster relief, and accepting donations. They have put out requests for those families in need to message with specific details to be able to offer donations or pickup or delivery.

Although packed out on donations, inweekly.net

memorabilia, with all proceeds going to Manna. Nonperishable food items will also be collected at the event. Special guests are also promised to be in attendance. No hints yet as to who those guests might be, but we’re hoping for some clues as the event approaches.

Dolce Vita Friday, May 30 309 Reus St. facebook.com/Pensacon

Palafox Wine Walk

Though it was planned before the April flooding, the Downtown Improvement Board (DIB) and organizers of the Palafox Wine Walk will donate half of the proceeds from the Saturday, May 10 event to Manna Food Pantries—just one more reason to sip and stroll downtown during the self-guided wine tasting tour. Guests will sample newly released wines from boutique vendors while strolling between five participating retail establishments along Palafox Street, with wine aficionados at each stop.

Tickets are $40 per person and can be purchased through the DIB’s website, web address below. There will also be a limited number of tickets available for purchase at any of the participating retailer locations on the day of the event.

Palafox Wine Walk 4—7 p.m. Saturday, May 10 434-5371 or downtownpensacola.com

Blues on the Bay

As co-sponsors of the “Blues on the Bay” series, a free summer concert series presented by the City of Pensacola, Blues Angel Music will collect both funds and nonperishable food items to go to Manna at the May 11 concert. The Dizzy Juke Band will provide entertainment that afternoon.

Should you be unable to make it to the concert, Blues Angel is also accepting donations for Manna at their store on Pace Boulevard.

Blues on the Bay 5—7 p.m. Sunday, May 11 Randall K. and Martha H. Hunter Amphi-

theater at the Community Maritime Park, 301 W. Main St. 436-5670 or pensacolacommunitymaritimepark.com Blues Angel Music 657 N. Pace Blvd.

457-7757 or bluesangelmusic.com

Donate Money Anytime

Those who wish to donate money to Manna can do so through Manna’s website/ PayPal account To double down on the impact of your contribution, donations can be made at Gulf Winds Federal Credit Union branches or through Gulf Wind’s website. All donations to Manna through Gulf Winds will be doubled and 100 percent of the donation will go directly to Manna Food Pantries. Gulf Winds has committed to match every donation to Manna, up to $50,000. mannafoodpantries.org gogulfwinds.com

Hot Glass, Cold Brew

Scheduled prior to the flood, First City Art Center’s (FCAC) final Hot Glass, Cold Brew (HGCB) event of the season will be held this Friday. With “Flower Power” as the theme, FCAC’s staff is happy the show can go on, as the event will now serve to benefit the Long Hollow non-profit community at large, including a book drive for neighboring Open Books. Meredith Doyon, Executive Director of First City Arts Center explained that though much of the facility’s equipment was damaged in the flooding, many of the pieces created—including the glasses—survived the deluge. A small group of art students at the University of South Alabama also stepped in with donations of glasses they produced and donated after the flood in order for HGCB to occur.

It won't be all fun and brew—there will also be a table set up with a law team from the insurance specialists, Taylor, Warren and Weidner, who will be available to give you flood insurance information.

FCAC has also established an Indiegogo page to raise money to replace equip-

ment, including computers and electronics necessary for operating items related to glass production and ovens, and to rebuild components of the center’s furnace. For certain levels of donation, original artwork will be a perk and the supply will be regularly updated, Doyon stated.

First City Art Center 5—9 p.m. Friday, May 9 1060 N. Guillemard St. facebook.com/firstcityartcenter Donate via Indiegogo indiegogo.com/projects/first-city-artcenter-flood-recovery

Open Books

“Connecting the Community”

Representatives from United Way, the American Red Cross, and Escambia and Santa Rosa County emergency management and first responders are scheduled to appear on “Connecting the Community,” a special that will air on WSRE-TV on Thursday, May 8. Jeff Weeks will moderate the program which is intended to provide information about the current flooding situation, where to find assistance, discussion of transportation issues and what the next steps are for recovery in the area. Questions may also be phoned in during the broadcast and one hour prior by calling 484-1223 or toll-free at 1-800-239-WSRE (9773).

In addition to airing live on WSRETV on Thursday night, the program will also stream live on NewsRadio 1620. For those unable to watch or listen live, the program will also be available to watch after the broadcast at wsre.org or facebook.com/wsretv.

Open Books, an all-volunteer run bookstore and prison books program, is accepting donations for repairs through its website. The store had water as high as three feet in places, which damaged the bottom shelves throughout the store and wiped out almost 3,000 books. Like Manna, the store is requesting monetary donations until hardware (including bookshelves) and other equipment can be replaced.

Donations can be made through the store’s website via PayPal or bitcoin. If you have books you’d like to donate and don’t mind holding them for a time, the store stated via Facebook that it will gladly accept them at a later date.

4—8 p.m. Sunday, May 18 801 N. 9th Ave., Suite B facebook.com/VividArtisticHairDesign

1040 N. Guillemard St. openbookspcola.org

Kia and United Way

Flood Victim Relief Cut-a-Thon

Vivid. Artistic Hair Design is hosting a “cut-a-thon” to benefit people displaced by the flooding. A minimum $20 donation gets customers a basic haircut (without blow drying and/or styling) and the feeling of doing good, as all proceeds go to flood victims. During the Cut-a-Thon, the salon will also hold a clothing, bedding, shoe and toy drive to supplement the cash they raise.

Refreshments, music, face painting, and games will also be part of the day, providing fun for all ages.

Vivid. Artistic Hair Design

8—9 p.m. Thursday, May 8 wsre.org

As their contribution to flood recovery, Kia Autosport of Pensacola has pledged to donate $100 for every vehicle sold in the month of May. The local shelter will donate the funds to the United Way for its flood relief efforts.

Kia Autosport of Pensacola 6637 Pensacola Blvd.

457-7772 or kiaautosportpensacola.com *Editors note: These are just the events we were aware of as of press time, but we're sure there will be more in the coming weeks. So if you're planning something to help victims, please email the event details to info@inweekly.net and we'll make sure it gets included in a future issue.

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WEEK OF MAY 8-15

Arts & Entertainment art, film, music, stage, books and other signs of civilization...

Celebrating the Westside

by Jessica Forbes

The art and festivals so common to downtown are spreading west this weekend during the Celebrating Brownsville festival.

The event itself takes place on one day, but the artwork—and, organizers are hoping, the spirit—from the day will remain in the neighborhood for some time to come.

“We are hoping this festival marks the start of change as we move forward in making this community a better and safer place to live, work and play,” said Clara Long, Division Manager of the Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA), a division of the Escambia County Community & Environment Department.

The County CRA, along with Artel Gallery and Lamar Advertising, have partnered in this event celebrating the arts, food and culture of

the historic Brownsville community. Between 30 and 40 local community groups, business owners and residents are participating in the day’s programming, which will take place at the Brownsville Community Square, on Mobile Highway just west of W Street.

“We want to engage with the communities and surrounding businesses to assist in revitalizing this area,” Long explained. “One of our many goals is to use the restorative power of art to break the cycle of crime and violence in our communities and neighborhoods.”

The celebration features local musicians, dancers, a DJ, as well as food vendors including Brownsville’s Arlene William’s BBQ, Six Kids Store Super Deli and The Elbow Room. “There will also be a historian on site presenting 15 to 30 minute segments on the history of Brownsville,” Long said.

Alongside the multiple other facets of the festival, the main attraction will be 30 pieces of artwork chosen from submissions specifically for the event. The pieces will be judged and the winning submissions, to be announced on that day, will be reproduced and displayed as murals in the community.

The seed of Celebrating Brownsville was planted in 2011, when the County CRA and Lamar Advertising began working together to install large-scale murals on buildings along Cervantes Street-Mobile Highway. Artel Gallery came on board this year, the first year a festival will accompany the art, and put out a call to artists for works under the theme “The Face of Brownsville.”

“The [County] CRA, Lamar Advertising and Artel worked together to create an

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local artists and “bring a sense of pride and event and a theme that will encompass all celebration to the Brownsville area.” the facets of Brownsville, like the architecBrownsville is one of six redevelopment arture, the cuisine, the businesses and most eas for which the agency administers plans, and importantly, the people,” stated Suzanne the agency looks forward to continuing their Robbert, president of Artel Gallery. “‘The collaboration with Artel and Lamar Advertising Face of Brownsville’ is a theme that emin the future. braces all those aspects, plus it was used to “We are hoping to continue this partnerencourage artists to show the rich cultural ship as a long-term commitment. County CRA gems of Brownsville. It’s meant to inspire, plans to rotate the art murals on the building and we believe it did.” possibly yearly, or every other year, and display Robbert stated that the show was met with those old art murals in our newly purchased great response from artists, and Artel received Brownsville Community Center,” Long said. submissions in a variety of media and styles.

As for Artel, the project aligns with a priLamar Advertising, which provided billboard mary aspect of their mission, which is focused advertising and graphics ahead of the event, on bringing exhibitions and programs dedicatwill enlarge and reproduce the work on baned to the enrichment of the community. ners, which they will then install on participat“We jumped at this chance to help celing businesses’ exterior walls. ebrate Brownsville and to show off its cultural “We anticipate the number will grow each community. We are very excited to team up year as more and more artists learn of this with the Community Redevelopment Agency event. There is no fee for entries and no limit for this festival and look forward to partnering on the number of works artists can submit. It’s with them again for this and future events,” a very unique call for artists,” Robbert said of Robbert stated. {in} the project.

The public art project aligns with the County’s CRA mission: to provide efficient, responsive services that enhance our quality of life, meet common needs, and promote a safe and healthy community.

WHAT: Community celebration and public art “This art mural concept has been project used in multiple cities around the WHEN: 11 a.m.—4 p.m. Saturday, May 10 world, such as the City of PhiladelWHERE: The Brownsville Community Square, phia, and has been proven to bring 3300 Mobile Hwy. communities together and transform COST: Free neighborhoods,” Long stated, adding DETAILS: facebook.com/CelebratingBrownsville that the initiative is meant to recognize

CELEBRATING BROWNSVILLE: UNITING THE COMMUNITY

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happenings

Ears & Fingers

by Jason Leger

Tune-Yards NIKKI NACK

Somewhere in the vast nothing that lies between absolute valued genres and indefinable avant-garde, sits Merrill Garbus. She is the creative genius or perhaps more appropriately “ringmaster,” of Tune-Yards. On record, Tune-Yards is nearly a one woman show, with Garbus handling the unique vocal layering, looped drum patterns, ukulele and worlds of face paint assumed to be involved. 2011’s “whokill” was a critically acclaimed beauty of an album, which for as ambitious as it was, was very well received across the board. “Nikki Nack,” opens a new chapter

THURSDAY 5.8

RUNNING: SIX AT SIX 6 a.m. The doors of

Running Wild open every Tuesday and Thursday at 5:30 a.m. ahead of group runs that begin at 6 a.m. sharp. The casual group run is free of charge and intended for runners of all abilities. Running Wild, 3012 E. Cervantes St. 435-9222 or werunwild.com.

ARTEL GALLERY 10 a.m.—4 p.m. “Collage” is on display through May 30. Tuesday—Sat-

for Garbus and has more than given her the opportunity to stretch herself.

“Nikki Nack” captures much more pungently the essence of a Tune-Yards live show, including the fierceness of Garbus’ voice, which is one of the most powerful I’ve ever heard. However, the album doesn’t skimp on intricacies and subtle magic buried beneath frenetic flourishes and layers of sound. The album’s first two singles gave an early glimpse of what to expect upon hearing the complete work.

‘Water Fountain’ was released back in March and exudes the charm of little girls playing double-dutch on a street corner, while maintaining an infectious bass groove. The second single, ‘Wait for a Minute,’ caught me a bit off guard because you kind of have to try and hear the nuances that make this a Tune-Yards song. It’s also somewhat moody, but not completely devoid of the Garbus character, as she wraps the normative around the ethereal, making this track my favorite on the album.

Garbus’ concern for her work getting stale after garnering the acclaim she did for “whokill” is quite obvious. She has taken great strides to avoid a dry spell of a third album, and everything she has done has worked remarkably well. “Nikki Nakk” is out now via 4AD.

urday, 10 a.m.—4 p.m. Free admission. 223 Palafox, Old County Courthouse. 432-3080 or artelgallery.org.

BLUE MORNING GALLERY 10 a.m.—5 p.m.

The exhibition “Capturing the Wild” featuring the work of Rik Koressel, Jean Tarnok, and Mara Viksnins is on display through May 31. Monday—Wednesday, 10 a.m.—5 p.m., Thursday—Saturday, 10 a.m.—8:30 p.m., and Sunday, 12:30—4 p.m. 21 S. Palafox.

429-9100 or bluemorninggallery.com.

IF YOU HAVEN’T HEARD:

Courtney Barnett

Australia has been responsible for some amazing music over the past five years (overlooking the whole Gotye thing).

Considering that Cut Copy, Tame Impala, Vancouver Sleep Clinic and Battleships have all come to us via ‘The Land Down Under,’ it’s never surprising when something new surfaces from Australia and catches my ear.

Courtney Barnett has repeatedly impressed me over the past few months. She is a singer-songwriter with a lazy, deadpan singing style and a tongue-in-cheek, rambling approach to lyrics. She has her own style, and once you hear her for the first time, it’s immediately recognizable. Last year, she released her second EP, “How

Courtney Barnett

PENSACOLA MUSEUM OF ART 10 a.m.—5 p.m. The exhibition “Sacred Landscapes: The Photography of Kevin Boldenow” will be on display through May 31. “Art of the Brick” is on display through August 8; tickets for the exhibition will be $12 for adults and $8 for children. Free Tuesdays will be suspended during the exhibition. Tuesday—Friday, 10 a.m.—5 p.m. and Saturday, 12—5 p.m. 407 S. Jefferson St. 432-6247 or pensacolamuseum.org.

to Carve a Carrot into a Rose,” containing ‘Avant-Gardener,’ the single, which along with an acclaimed set at the CMJ Music Marathon, has helped her garner international acclaim. She has since taken her two EP releases and compiled them into one full-length release, “A Sea of Split Peas,” and released the second single ‘History Eraser,’ to comparable acclaim. Since most of this happened last year, we can cross our fingers that some new things are on the horizon for her. Until then, “A Sea of Split Peas” is out now via Mom & Pop Music.

TRACK OF THE WEEK:

Glass Animals-Gooey

Last week, I heard the track ‘Gooey’ from UK band Glass Animals for the first time. Early on, I didn’t really dig it. Then Sirius XMU started playing it every time I got in my car, and that didn’t help things either. I bought the track and actually listened to it a few times, and it really grew on me quite quickly. It’s sexy, hazy and once it makes contact, it’s infectious. Be on the lookout for more from these cats in the near future. {in}

QUAYSIDE ART GALLERY 10 a.m.—5 p.m.

The eighth annual First City Juried Show is on display through June 7. Monday—Saturday, 10 a.m.—5 p.m. and Sunday, 1—5 p.m.

17 E. Zaragoza St. Free admission. 438-2363 or quaysidegallery.com.

“TREAT YOUR MOM TO LUNCH” AT SO GOURMET Noon—1 p.m. Just ahead of Mother’s

Day on Sunday, May 11, So Gourmet is hosting a gluten free cooking class and lunch so you can show that special Mom in your life

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27 S. 9th Ave.

433-WINE or 433-9463

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happenings some love. So Gourmet’s culinary instructors, Betsy LeGallais and Sue Shattuck, host this class. $35 per person. 407 S. Palafox St. 4387857 or sogourmetpensacola.com.

MESS HALL 2—5 p.m. The Pensacola MESS Hall (Math, Engineering, Science & Stuff) offers weekly themes, special activities and workshops that captivate curious minds of all ages and inspire a lifetime of discovery.

School year hours are Tuesday—Friday, 2—5 p.m. and Saturday, 10 a.m.—5 p.m. 116 N. Tarragona St. Admission is free for members and $8 for adults and children ages 3 and over.

877-937-6377 or PensacolaMESShall.org.

WINE TASTING AT AWM 5 p.m. Aragon Wine Market, 27 S. 9th Ave. 433-9463 or aragonwinemarket.com.

WINE & GLIDE SEGWAY TOUR 5:30—7:30 p.m. This one-hour Segway tour includes a stop at Seville Quarter or Aragon Wine Market for a wine tasting. Offered on Thursday and Friday nights. Call ahead for availability and information about other tour offerings including Historic Pensacola, Pensacola Beach, and East Hill glides.

Emerald Coast Tours, 701 S. Palafox. $45.

417-9292 or emeraldcoasttours.net.

VEGAN DINNER AT END OF THE LINE 6—9 p.m. While End of the Line offers vegan dinner options every day (except Mondays, when they’re closed) each Thursday the café also serves a 3-course dinner, the menu for which changes every week. 610 E. Wright St. $15. 429-0336 or eotlcafe.com.

BLUE WAHOOS BASEBALL 6:30 p.m. Pensacola Bayfront Stadium, 351 W. Cedar St. 934-8444 or bluewahoos.com.

live music

THE DAVENPORTS 6 p.m. The Leisure Club,

126 S. Palafox. 912-4229 or tlcdowntown.com.

FISH OUT OF WATER 6 p.m. Paradise Bar

& Grill, 21 Via De Luna Drive. 916-5087 or paradisebar-grill.com.

KARAOKE NIGHT 6 p.m. VFW Post 706, 5000 Lillian Highway, 455-0026.

LUCAS CRUTCHFIELD 6 p.m. The Deck at The Fish House, 600 S. Barracks St. 4700003 or fishhouse.goodgrits.com.

AL MARTIN 7—11 p.m. The Piano Bar, Quality Inn, 7601 Scenic Highway. 477-7155 or facebook.com/QualityInnScenicHwy. SCOTT RICKETT 7 p.m. Hub Stacey's Downtown, 312 E. Government St. 469-1001 or hubstaceys.com.

GYPSY GROOVE 7:30 p.m. Picasso Jazz Club, 19 S. Palafox. 433-4507 or picassojazz.com.

DUELLING PIANOS 8 p.m. Rosie O’ Grady’s at Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. 434-6211 or sevillequarter.com.

KRAZY GEORGE KARAOKE 8 p.m. Lili Marlene’s at Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. 434-6211 or sevillequarter.com.

KARAOKE WITH JEREMY 9 p.m. The Cabaret, 101 S. Jefferson St. 607-2020 or cabaretpensacola.com.

THE MAINSTREAM 9 p.m. End o’ the Alley Courtyard at Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. 434-6211 or sevillequarter.com.

SOUTHERN GENTLEMEN 9 p.m. Southern Gentlemen with Papa Squawk and Brooke Winn. Sluggo’s Vegetarian Restaurant, $5.

May 8, 2014

All ages. 101 S. Jefferson St. DJ MR. LAO 10 p.m. Phineas Phogg’s at Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. 4346211 or sevillequarter.com.

FRIDAY 5.9

LIVING HISTORY IN HISTORIC PENSACOLA VILLAGE 10 a.m.—4 p.m. Learn cooking tech-

niques and trade-skills such as sewing, basket weaving and wood working from costumed Living History interpreters every Friday and Saturday in Historic Pensacola Village.

Demonstrations are included with admission.

Tickets for the Village are available at 205 E. Zaragoza St. $6 adults, $5 AAA, Senior Citizen 65+ and Active Military, $3 children ages 4-16. 595-5993 or historicpensacola.org.

WINE TASTING AT CITY GROCERY 5—7 p.m.

Out and about in East Hill on Friday night?

Stop by City Grocery for their free weekly wine tasting before settling in or heading out for the night. 2050 N. 12th Ave. 469-8100.

WINE TASTING AT SEVILLE QUARTER 5—7 p.m. “Try it for free, buy it for less” during weekly wine tastings at the Gift Shoppe at Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. 4346211 or sevillequarter.com.

“HOT GLASS, COLD BREW” 5 – 9 p.m. First City Art City’s final “Hot Glass, Cold Brew” of the season has a “Flower Power” theme.

Patrons will enjoy complimentary pizza, brew courtesy of Pensacola Bay Brewery and Escambia Bay Homebrewers. Live music

by Michael Lockwood and live art demos, including a Raku firing by Ben Twigley, are on the schedule as well. A suggested donation of $25 for non-members and $20 for members gets patrons a one-of-a-kind hand-blown glass cup or clay mug (while supplies last) that they can fill with complimentary beverages all evening long. 1060 N. Guillemard St. 429-1222 or FirstCityArt.org.

BLUE WAHOOS BASEBALL 6:30 p.m. Pensacola Bayfront Stadium, 351 W. Cedar St. 934-8444 or bluewahoos.com.

PLT PRESENTS “NOISES OFF” 7:30 p.m.

Pensacola Little Theatre presents this play-within-a-play depicting an ambitious director and his troupe of mediocre actors who are putting together a silly sex comedy titled, “Nothing On.” PLT’s Mainstage Theatre in the Pensacola Cultural Center, 400 S. Jefferson St. Tickets are $14—$30.

This production is rated PG-13. 432-2042 or pensacolalittletheatre.com.

ELECTRIK FEST 8 p.m. Two stages and over 10 DJs from across the Gulf Coast will be the center of Electrik Fest at Capt’n Fun. Presented by Nite Brite, proceeds from the event will go to Lakeview Center’s Music Therapy Department, which uses music to help in treating depression, anxiety and other mental health issues. $10 cover for ages 18—20 and $5 cover for ages 21 and over. Capt’n Fun Beach Club, 400 Quietwater Beach Rd., Pensacola Beach. facebook.com/nitebrite2013.

Sacred Landscapes:

facebook.com/ rfpensacola

The Photography of Kevin Boldenow April 10 - May 31 Opening Reception: April 10, 5:30-7pm Gallery Talk: April 10, 4:30

ISLAND FIGHTS 28 ALL-PRO MMA AT THE BAY CENTER 8 p.m. Roy Jones, Jr.'s Square

Ring Promotions and Island Fights Championships present an all-professional MMA

407 S. Jefferson St. Pensacola, FL 32502 pensacolamuseum.org 17

happenings fight card, featuring Pensacola's own undefeated Heavyweight Dillon Cleckler vs. "The Leglock Monster" Johnathan Ivey. Tickets are $34.50—$81.50. 201 E. Gregory St. 800745-3000 or pensacolabaycenter.com.

NIGHT BRUNCH AT POT ROAST AND PINOT

10 p.m.–12 a.m. Pot Roast and Pinot’s regular Saturday and Sunday morning brunch menu is also available late night on Friday and Saturday nights. 321 E. Cervantes St. 607-7336 or potroastandpinot.com.

live music

LUCAS CRUTCHFIELD 5 p.m. The Deck at The Fish House, 600 S. Barracks St. 4700003 or fishhouse.goodgrits.com.

WHISKEY DOWN 6 p.m. Paradise Bar & Grill, 21 Via De Luna Drive. 916-5087 or paradisebar-grill.com.

AL MARTIN 7—11 p.m. The Piano Bar, Quality Inn, 7601 Scenic Highway. 477-7155 or facebook.com/QualityInnScenicHwy.

VINYL MUSIC HALL PRESENTS CHRIS THOMAS KING 8 p.m. 2 S. Palafox. $10. 607-

6758 or vinylmusichall.com.

AMANDA MATTHEWS 7:30 p.m. Picasso Jazz

Club, 19 S. Palafox. 433-4507 or picassojazz.com.

DUELLING PIANOS 8 p.m. Rosie O’ Grady’s

at Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. 434-6211 or sevillequarter.com.

THE BLENDERS 8:30 p.m. Hub Stacey's Downtown, 312 E. Government St. 4691001 or hubstaceys.com.

GREG LYON 8:30 p.m. The Tin Cow, 102 S.

Palafox. 466-2103 or thetincow.com.

DJ ORLANDO RICARDO 9 p.m. Emerald City,

406 E. Wright St. 433-9491 or emeraldcitypensacola.com.

GYPSY RIOT 9 p.m. The Deck at The Fish House, 600 S. Barracks St. 470-0003 or fishhouse.goodgrits.com.

MARIO MENA BAND 9 p.m. Apple Annie’s at Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. 434-6211 or sevillequarter.com.

THE MODERN ELDORADOS 9 p.m. Lili Marlene’s at Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. 434-6211 or sevillequarter.com.

SOMETHING HUGE 9 p.m. End o’ the Alley Courtyard at Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. 434-6211 or sevillequarter.com.

SATURDAY 5.10

WORLD FAIR TRADE DAY 7 a.m.—9 p.m.

Ever’man is celebrating World Fair Trade Day with Alaffia, Alter Eco, Divine Chocolate, Dr. Bronner’s Magic Soaps, Equal Exchange, Guayaki Yerba Mate and Maggie’s Organics, all brands that are committed to fair trade.

Through May 20, the manufactures have agreed to donate 1 percent of purchases made at participating co-ops to Root Capital, a nonprofit social investment fund that grows rural prosperity in poor, environmentally vulnerable places in Africa and Latin America. Ever’man Cooperative Grocery & Café, 315 W. Garden St. everman.org.

CHALK IT UP 3! THE PENSACOLA SIDEWALK

ART FESTIVAL 8 a.m.—5 p.m. During “Chalk It Up!” artists start creating chalk masterpieces on the sidewalk of Commendencia Slip at 8 a.m. and will have 4 hours to complete their work. Visitors to the festival will be able to stroll along behind the artists and watch as they work, participate in a silent auction, and kids can enjoy an area with interactive activities for children. There will be live music between 11 a.m.—3 p.m. and food and drinks on hand all day long. Commendencia Slip (south of Main Street, one block east of Jefferson St) chalkituppensacola.org.

12th AVENUE PATIO SALE 8 a.m.—1 p.m. The 12th Avenue Patio Sale offers original art and crafts, local produce and baked treats, and secondhand items as part of the eclectic mix of goods offered weekly. The Patio Sale will be every Saturday through May 31 outside the historic former Sacred Heart Hospital, now Tower East Office Complex. 1010 N. 12th Ave. 438-3580 or facebook.com/12thAveSale.

PALAFOX MARKET 8 a.m.—2 p.m. Fresh produce, live plants, baked goods, fine art and antiques are just a few of the items offered by vendors at Palafox Market in Downtown Pensacola. Items originate directly from onsite vendors, including dozens of local farmers, home gardeners and area artists. Martin Luther King Jr. Plaza, N. Palafox St. palafoxmarket.com.

BIKE OR HIKE WITH THE FTA 9 a.m. The Western Gate chapter of the Florida Trail

Association will lead a bike ride and/or walk on the bike path through Navarre Beach.

After the hike, FTA will meet for a meal at Sailor’s Grill, where the group will meet.

1451 Navarre Beach Causeway. For more information on this and other local FTA events, visit meetup.com/ftawesterngate.

UKULELE CLASS 9:30 a.m. The Pensacola Ukulele Players Society (PUPS) meets every Saturday morning at Blues Angel Music, offering free ukulele lessons for both beginners and seasoned musicians. Loaner ukuleles are available for the sessions, which usually last an hour. Blues Angel Music, 657 N. Pace Blvd. 457-7757 or bluesangelmusic.com.

DAY BRUNCH AT POT ROAST AND PINOT

10 a.m.–3 p.m. The regular Saturday and Sunday menu includes favorite brunch dishes with exciting twists—like chicken and cashew waffles and French toast with grilled pineapple. 321 E. Cervantes St. 6077336 or potroastandpinot.com.

CELEBRATING BROWNSVILLE 11 a.m.—4 p.m.

This one-day community event includes local food and crafts, musical performances, and the unveiling of the winning art works for “The Face of Brownsville” art show coordinated by Artel Gallery. The Brownsville Community Square, 3300 Mobile Hwy. 595-3217 or facebook.com/CelebratingBrownsville. for more listings visit inweekly.net

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BOTTOMLESS CHAMPAGNE AND MIMOSAS FOR $5 AND BLOODY MARYS FOR $2

Mother’s Day Brunch SUNDAY, MAY 11, FROM 11:00 A.M. UNTIL 3:00 P.M. Chef Billy Ballou’s rosé wine and fresh herb-poached salmon will be our brunch and dinner feature. Additionally, we’ll be serving from our regular menus—brunch from 11 till 3, dinner from 3 till—with all your Fish House favorites. For details, visit fishhousepensacola.com.

FISH HOUSE: (850) 470-0003, OPEN DAILY AT 11 A.M. · ATLAS OYSTER HOUSE: (850) 437-1961, OPEN MON.–SAT. 5 P.M., SUN. 11 A.M. · 600 S. BARRACKS ST.

Treat Your Mom with a special gift from Still Waters!

850.432.6772 • 20 N Tarragona, Pensacola, FL • stillwatersmedspa.com May 8, 2014

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music

by Hana Frenette

No Wrong Notes Sometimes when people are presented with the idea of jazz, they conjure up ideas similar to elevator music. Mellow, easy to listen to without actually listening, a mid-day, post brunch lullaby for adults.

The jazz nights at 5 ½ aim to take jazz out of the mundane level it can sometimes be converted to and play something a little more original and improvisational. Brandon Warren, curator and drummer for the current jazz line up at 5 ½, took some time to talk with the IN about the sounds people can expect to hear on Tuesday nights.

IN: Will you start by telling me a little about this jazz night and what people might expect to see or experience if they attend?

BW: The whole idea was based around having a venue to perform "jazz" or more modern forms of it for people in this area. Not that the jazz musicians in this town aren’t great, it’s just that in all truth, there is really no ground being broken musically with jazz in this town. Same tunes, different night. We would like to change that. Musically the material varies. Take for instance last week. Joey Allred, our pianist,

020 2

played a whole set of classical music and we improvised behind him. Sometimes we just improvise. We will play older tunes but usually put a different twist on them to make it fun for us and different for the crowd.

IN: What is your role in this event? Did you suggest it, help get it started?

BW: I guess I can be called the curator of these nights. I also have participated in all of them so far. We want to have other people come in and play, but for now keeping it simple with booking and establishing something solid is my goal.

IN: Pensacola doesn't really have many jazz nights or much of jazz scene. Why do you think that is, and do you think this night might be something that could get people interested in it?

BW: There is the Pensacola jazz society, which has done a good job of keeping jazz alive here. It’s a small scene of players, but pretty strong in my opinion. So there is a small scene I guess. These nights offer people a different take on a familiar sound. But we love to throw in ideas and tunes that we know this

scene is not familiar with. It’s good to listen to music that challenges you, takes you out of a normal space and puts you somewhere new in your mind.

IN: What would you say the jazz played at 5 1/2 is like? Easy to listen to with a fancy drink in hand? Erratic? Crazed? Smooth?

Miles Davis like? Mingus-ish?

BW: I actually like the quote 5 1/2 uses when they describe it: "this is not your daddy's jazz.”

It kind of cracks me up because it’s true. We do play tunes from recognizable jazz icons like Miles Davis, Monk, John Coltrane, Duke and Bill Frisell, but we also love to improvise from nothing. Joey will bust out these ‘90s tunes that we completely destroy and turn inside out in a way. It’s a lot of fun and unpredictable even for us.

IN: How many people are playing with you typically? Who are they and what are their instruments?

Will this be a thing that varies depending on the week or is something that is probably set in stone pretty good?

BW: The "main" lineup so far has been Joey Allred on organ and synth, Sean Peterson on bass and he uses a sampler too to create loops, and I play drums. David Doelker, my bandmate from Isle, came and played with us one week. He played guitar, and we all brought our laptops with samples and did kind of like an electronic show. I’m so thankful to 5 1/2 for being open to us doing our thing there. Such a great room, staff, etc.

Hopefully people catch wind of what’s happening and come check it out. Still working on the schedule for May. 5 1/2 and I will have more details very soon. {in}

NO WRONG NOTES—JAZZ NIGHTS AT 5 1/2 WHEN: Tuesday May 13* (and most other Tuesdays too—make sure you like 5 1/2 on Facebook for future dates/changes) WHERE: 5 1/2 , 5 E. Garden St. COST: Free INFO: facebook.com/5.5bar

inweekly.net

a&e

by Natalia Bayona

How Does Your Garden Grow?

Ian Bollinger / courtesy photo This spring, local horticulturists from the University of West Florida’s Botanical Society and East Hill Edible Gardening are providing valuable insight into maintaining organic gardens with their focus is underground.

Ian Bollinger, president of the Botanical Society, took new initiatives to increase soil fertility at the community garden on UWF’s campus by introducing biochar, a carbon-rich charcoal, to two of the club’s tomato beds.

The charcoal, consisting of crude biomass, is activated in a process called pyrolysis, in which plant materials are burned at a high temperature with low oxygen in a dual-chambered system.

“The objective is a carbon-based material that is rich in nutrients, but is lacking in what plants normally have in them to protect them from bacteria, what we usually call phytotoxins,” Bollinger explained. Biochar allows microbes and insects to thrive and naturally nourish soils through chemical processes. While biochar is new to Pensacola, it has long been used by indigenous cultures throughout the world to boost yields in croplands with depleted soil.

Bollinger will hold a demonstration of how biochar is produced to better explain the practice in our community. “The end game is to look at the soil not as something to be treated, but as an organism in an environment in and of itself,” Bollinger said.

Like Bollinger, Tom Garner and Renee Perry of East Hill Edible Gardening believe a healthy soil food web is essential in creating the humus needed for a vital garden and preserving ecosystem order.

The couple hoards their supply from a local farm and recommends avoiding any store-bought types.

The straw and cow manure in the mixture fulfills the carbon-nitrogen ratio. “It’s about giving the plants nutrients and organic matter,” Garner explained.

Fertile soil helps prevent pests and diseases.

“Healthy plants fight off disease,” Garner said.

Garner and Perry also keep bees. Though they relish the beeswax and honey their bees produce, Tom Garner and Renee Perry / photo by Natalia Bayona their focus is in restoring our declining population of native pollinators. “Your workhorse pollinators are your native pollinators,” Garner said.

“What we’re trying to do in letting [plants] go to flower in the garden is create food and habitat for those native pollinators.”

Tom and Renee will be teaching “Easy, Weed-Free, No-Till Organic Gardening” classes that will focus on sustainably preparing Garner and Perry maintain a a fall garden. There will be four class series backyard vegetable garden by modelavailable throughout May and June, each ing permaculture methods they studied in comprising of four weekly sessions, including Australia. The couple mulches heavily to indemonstrations of the couple’s techniques. crease soil water retention, prevent erosion “What we’re trying to do in the class and nurture the soil ecosystem. Mushroom is give [people] a foundation to build on,” compost is added to the soil to nourish Garner explained. {in} plants. A timed oscillating watering system douses the entire perimeter and attracts native species to the area.

A border of fruit trees and other perennials surround the garden to invite beneficial insects.

About a year ago, Garner and WHEN: May 10, 2014 Perry started a chicken coop. The TIME: 12–2 p.m. chickens are moved to a new bed WHERE: Greenhouse at Building 58-A, in the 12-plot garden bimonthly to 11000 University Pkwy. prepare the ground for planting—a COST: Free process called chicken tractoring. “We DETAILS: Email Bollinger at imb3@students. don’t have to weed and we don’t have uwf.edu to till,” Garner said, who leaves the job of fertilizing to his chickens; the chickens consume vegetation and pests, meld leaves and compost into the soil, WHO: East Hill Edible Gardening and generate nitrogen-rich waste. The WHEN: Series 1 – May 13, 20, 27, and June 3 synergy of these practices creates a TIME: 9:30–11:30 a.m. rich soil system that promotes a yearWHERE: Bayview Senior Resource Center, round harvest exceeding the couple’s 2000 E. Lloyd St. needs. “All you really [have to] do is COST: $35 create the right habitat for the soil DETAILS: facebook.com/easthillediblegarfood web,” Garner said. “[This type dening of] soil is what plants evolved with.”

Garner and Perry’s mantra is “Compost, Compost, Compost!”

“The end game is to look at the soil not as something to be treated, but as an organism in an environment in and of itself.”

Tom Garner

BIOCHAR DEMONSTRATION

EASY, WEED-FREE, NO-TILL ORGANIC GARDENING CLASS SERIES

May 8, 2014

21 QS0202 SOGO IN Weekly 1/8 pg ad.indd 1

2/28/14 1:57 PM

PYP ANNUAL DINNER IS A HIT!

“On April 26, 2014, Pensacola Young Professionals held its 8th Annual Dinner at Artel Gallery downtown. The event—themed “Portraits of Success”—brought together nearly 100 PYP members, sponsors, and community friends to help celebrate PYP’s recently concluded 2013-14 term, and also to look forward with excitement to the new 2014-15 term.

At the event, outgoing PYP president Justin Spence gave some heartfelt parting remarks and reflected on his growth as a longtime member of PYP; later, incoming president Jonathan Thompson apprised the guests of PYP’s new focus on education in Escambia County, and the many exciting projects on the horizon. The guest speaker for the evening was Carol Carlan, president of the Sacred Heart Foundation and CEO of Carlan Consulting, who shared her uplifting personal story with the audience.

PYP recognized several outstanding individuals during the dinner: Elizabeth Fleischhauer was named PYP’s Member of the Year; Bethany Knight (our outgoing VP of Programs) was named Leader of the Year; former member and tireless PYP advocate Reid Rushing was named Alumnus of the Year; and Baptist Health Care was named Sponsor of the Year in recognition of their continuing contributions to PYP’s growth and success.

Our organization is deeply grateful to all of the members, sponsors, and advisors who make our suc-

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cesses possible. PYP promises to steadfastly continue in its mission to share a passion for and belief in the Pensacola Bay Area, and to act as a catalyst for positive change in our community.

PYP MEMBER OF THE MONTH: DREW HARDGRAVE

May 12 Board of Directors Meeting IMS Expert Services 5:30-7:00 p.m.

May 13 Economic Development and Governmental Affairs Teams Meeting Crowne Plaza Hotel (in Library) 5:30-7:00 p.m.

May 17 PYP Volunteering – Art in the Park Seville Square 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.

PYP LEADER OF THE MONTH: SARAH FOX

Sarah did an amazing job coordinating PYP’s Annual Dinner on April 26. The event, held at Artel Gallery, was an elegant and entertaining affair, and it went off without a hitch thanks to Sarah’s incredible capacity as an organizer and planner. Sarah also pitched in to help PYP complete its Annual Report, ensuring that the document was ready for distribution at the dinner. As PYP’s VP of Member Services, Sarah has greatly enhanced and expanded our Member Benefits program, and is working diligently to re-engage many of our alumni. Sarah is an amazing asset to PYP! Our Annual Dinner theme was “Portraits of Success,” and indeed Sarah is the very picture of courtesy, creativity, and reliability.

Drew is a long-time PYPer who has recently re-engaged with the organization in a big way. Drew generously gave of his time in recent months to serve on PYP’s Selection Committee, helping to ensure that our organization chose the best qualified candidates for our open board and team chair positions.

Drew is active with PYP’s Quality of Life Team and our Pensacola Professional Development Institute. He has also assisted the Membership and Networking Teams by working the sign-in tables at some of our Networking Nights. Drew is a great advocate of PYP and a fantastic representative of young professionals in our community!

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS May 6 TED Talk Tuesday (presented by PPDI) Downtown Public Library 12:00-1:00 p.m.

May 19 PYP’s No Obligation Happy Hour Book Club 5 1/2 Bar 6:00-7:00 p.m.

May 20 PPDI Team Meeting Apple Annie’s (inside Seville Quarter) 12:00 p.m.-1:00 p.m.

May 22 Networking Night TBA 5:30-7:30 p.m.

May 28 Quality of Life Team Meeting Fish House 5:30-6:30 p.m.

May 8 Membership and Networking Teams Meetings Mackey’s Mudhouse 5:30-6:30 p.m.

May 9 Leadercast Pensacola 2014 Hillcrest Baptist Church 7:00 a.m.-3:30 p.m.

WWW.PENSACOLAYP.COM

inweekly.net

news of the weird PRICE OF FRIENDSHIP "Whoever said, 'Money can't buy you friends' clearly hasn't been on the Internet recently," wrote The New York Times in April, pointing to various social media support services that create online superstars by augmenting one's Facebook "friends," Twitter "followers" and Instagram "likes." The reporter described how, by paying a company $5, for example, he immediately acquired 4,000 "friends," and had he splurged for $3,700, could have had a million on his Instagram photo account. Such services have been around for two years, but earlier, cruder versions (sometimes, just unmonitored email addresses) are now sophisticated "bots"—groups of computer code created on algorithm farms in India and elsewhere—that "behave" on social media with original messaging (often "drivel," wrote the Times) as if they were real people.

SCIENCE FAIR Medical Marvels: (1) China's Chengdu Commercial Daily reported in March that Liu Yougang, 23, finally had surgery to remove that whistle he had swallowed when he was 9. He had been experiencing worsened breathing—and had been making "shrill whistle sounds" nightly after falling asleep. (2) London's Daily Star featured Sarah Beal, 43, of Arley, Warwickshire, England, in a March story demonstrating her skin condition in which writing words on her skin makes it puff up for about an hour before it recedes. It is referred to by doctors as the "Etch A Sketch condition" (formally, dermatographia), and despite occasional pain, she described it as "cool" and a "party trick."

• The Job of the Researcher: Cornell University graduate student Michael Smith, disappointed at the paucity of research on the pain of honeybee stings, decided to evaluate the stings himself (but in line with the Helsinki Declaration of 1975 on safe self-experimentation). Smith's protocols required five stings a day on various body locations for 38 days—at least three on each of 25 body areas. The worst, according to his pain index, were the nostril (9.0) and the upper lip (8.7).

• North Carolina's Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine is already well known to News of the Weird readers for creating functional organs in the lab (most notably, perhaps, growing a human bladder and a rabbit's penis). In an April article in the Lancet, the program announced that it had implanted artificial vaginas in four women in the U.S. A functioning vagina, the director told BBC News, "is a very important thing."

LEADING ECONOMIC INDICATORS While Medicare continues to be among the most costly federal services, and U.S. doctors continue to drop out of the program because of paltry fees for some procedures, other specialists are rewarded with such outsized compensation that almost 4,000 physicians were paid $1 million or more for 2012 and about 350

by Chuck Shepherd

of those totaled nearly $1.5 billion, according to Medicare records released in April 2014.

Ophthalmologist Salomon Melgen of West Palm Beach, Fla., took in more than $20 million and treated 645 Medicare patients with a total of 37,000 injectable doses of Lucentis (a much more expensive drug than the popularly regarded equivalent, Avastin), according to Business Insider. (In fact, taxpayers could have saved more than $11 million with Avastin on Melgen's billings alone, according to an April Washington Post analysis.)

• Visitors to the New York City office of Clear Channel radio station group chairman Bob Pittman are greeted exotically as they step off the elevator by a "tunnel" of "fine mist." However, a spokeswoman told a New York Post reporter in March that it "isn't for cooling or humidifying," but to impress advertisers, in that Clear Channel knows how to project the advertiser's logo against the mist. (Clear Channel, the Post reported, is $21 billion in debt and has laid off "thousands" of employees.)

PERSPECTIVE The maximum penalty a drunk driver can serve in Missouri for causing another's death is 15 years in prison—which is the same penalty handed down last year by Circuit Judge Kenneth Pratte to a brother and sister whose crime was getting caught with 20 marijuana plants (12 mature, eight sprouts), which they insisted were for personal needs.

In fact, David and Natalie DePriest had not even taken the case to trial—but had pleaded guilty, expecting, of course, minimum jail time (normally maxing out at about 120 days in prison, according to Missouri Department of Corrections statistics cited by Huffington Post). (David DePriest, though a licensed gunsmith, received seven more years jail time for having a rifle a quarter-inch shorter than permitted in Missouri.)

LEAST COMPETENT CRIMINALS Recurring Theme: An unnamed "gangland" bomber was killed in March in Dublin, Ireland, when the payload exploded prematurely. The detonation occurred on the morning of March 30, which marked the daylight saving time change in Ireland, and police concluded that, most likely, the bomber had forgotten to set the timer ahead that morning, which would have given him up to 60 more minutes to plant the bomb and leave. (In 1999, two Palestinians, operating on West Bank time, but carrying bombs to the Israeli cities Haifa and Tiberius, which had already advanced their clocks that morning, were blown up—along with only one bystander instead of the dozens or hundreds planned for.) {in}

From Universal Press Syndicate Chuck Shepherd’s News Of The Weird © 2014 Chuck Shepherd

Send your weird news to Chuck Shepherd, P.O. Box 18737, Tampa, Fla., 33679 or weirdnews@earthlink.net, or go to newsoftheweird.com May 8, 2014

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