Nov. 4th, 2010 Issue

NOVEMBER 04, 2010 | VOLUME 11 | NUMBER 42 | WWW.INWEEKLY.NET

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JUSTICE SERVED Inside The Gonzalez Murder Trial - page 9 photo by Katie King/Pensacola News Journal

Jim Sanborn

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10/24/10 PUBLISHER & EDITOR Rick Outzen

Contents COLUMNS

3 WINNERS & LOSERS 4 OUTTAKES

24 NEWS OF THE WEIRD 27LAST WORD

NEWS/FEATURES/ARTS

9 COVER STORY:JUSTICE SERVED 15 A&E: ARTFULLY DONE 21 CULTURE: HEART OF GLASS 23 MUSIC: JOHN COMMON CELEBRATES RETURN HOME

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

2 | INDEPENDENT NEWS | NOVEMBER 04, 2010 | WWW.INWEEKLY.NET

2:06 PM

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

winners

Weather forecasters say this year will be an extremely active hurricane season!

Patrick Gonzalez, Jr.

losers

JOSH HENDERSHOTT Sheriff David Morgan

PATRICK GONZALEZ, JR. The man convicted

called Deputy Hendershott “a hero” for entering a home after hearing the gunshots that wounded three Escambia County deputies without knowing where the gunman was located, and pulling the wounded deputy Jeremy Cassidy outside.

of the murders of Byrd and Melanie Billings is now facing the death penalty despite the effort of his attorneys to convince the jury that Hugh Wiggins and Gary Sumner were the masterminds of the crime.

LORI COPPELS Visit Pensacola’s Group Tour Manager was honored recently during the annual Florida Motorcoach Conference for her outstanding tourism efforts. Coppels received the Distinguished Service Award for outstanding support of the Florida Motorcoach Association and for her dedication to the motorcoach industry. Coppels was also recognized for her outstanding service during her two-year term on the Florida Motorcoach Association’s Board of Directors from 2008-2010.

Wiggins found City Attorney Rusty Wells guilty of violating city policies with his e-mails, the majority of the city council gave a vote of confidence to Wells. When the city’s consultant failed to find an issue with firefighters working second jobs while on duty, the council refused to give them a similar confidence vote until more investigations are done.

JOHN MOLCHAN The assistant state attorney successfully prosecuted the murder trial of Patrick Gonzalez, Jr. by taking a complex case and methodically presenting the evidence to the jury of 11 females and one male over the course of four days.

WSRE The Suncoast Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences has nominated WSRE’s original documentary “Gulf Islands National Seashore: The Treasure of the Gulf Coast” for the coveted Emmy award in the documentary category. WSRE is the Gulf Coast region’s local PBS television station covering southern Alabama to Okaloosa County in Florida. The awards will be announced Saturday, Dec. 4 at an awards ceremony in Fort Lauderdale.

PENSACOLA CITY COUNCIL After Mayor

BILL CLINTON Despite everyone denying that the former president asked Congressman Kendrick Meek to drop out of the U.S. Senate race and endorse Independent candidate Charlie Crist, reliable sources have told the IN that Clinton and the White House both were pressuring Meek. Clinton still loves to play word games.

The possibility of toxic oil coming ashore increases the danger and risk of damages.

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BARACK OBAMA These mid-term elections have been a f lashback to 1994 when Republicans, including our very own Joe Scarborough, were swept into office giving control of the House to the GOP. What followed were some of the best years for our economy. The two parties had to work together. Let’s hope the same thing happens this time.

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BAN NEGATIVE ADS I hate negative political ads, especially the ones that involve personal attacks and have nothing to do with the office for which the candidates are running. The ads twist the truth, take statements out of context and rarely hold up when investigated. Oftentimes the attacks are made to cover up similar weaknesses of the candidate paying for the ads.

The professional campaign advisors will tell you that negative ads work, if you have enough money to run them continuously. Rick Scott paid millions to attack Attorney General Bill McCollum for being a government insider who wasn’t a true conservative and Scott won the Republican nomination for governor.

In college, I ran for student body president in what was thought to be a very tight race against four opponents. One of the planks of my platform was to create a student pharmacy on campus. I was blasted for wanting birth control pills on campus.

My campaign team was diverse with blacks, whites, Greeks and independents.

Two of my close friends and campaign advisors were black football player Curtis Weathers, who went on to play linebacker for the Cleveland Browns, and Rose Jackson, who became the first African-American female in the Ole Miss Hall of Fame.

My opponents spread the rumor that I took a black girl to my high school prom, which was considered a real slam in 1978.

None of the negative attacks worked and I won the election without a run-off, but the experience made me an adamant opponent against negative political ads.

In 2008, Lumon May was being pushed by his campaign advisors and the state Democratic Party to run negative ads against State Rep. Clay Ford. May had narrowed the gap against the incumbent

Republican in a district that had been gerrymandered to be controlled by the GOP. The Democratic Party wanted May to publicize some discrimination allegations against Ford that were made over 10 years ago.

For several days, May and I talked about whether he should do it. In the end, he refused because he had committed to running a positive campaign. He wanted to be proud of how he fought the race and not be remembered for meanspirited attack ads. May lost. His advisors still believe that his decision to not “go negative” cost him the race.

I believe that if you put principle above winning that you never really lose, which is why Lumon May is a respected leader in the community today.

In Pensacola, the political tradition is to “go negative” in the last Sunday edition before the election. W.D. Childers was infamous for it, buying full-page ads attacking his hapless opponent who didn’t have the campaign funds or time to respond.

Mike Wiggins followed the Childers’ tradition and personally went after his opponent Ashton Hayward in the Sunday, Oct. 31 edition of the Pensacola News Journal. He was abetted by columnist Mark O’Brien who also ran an anti-Hayward column. I hated to see it.

Last year, Pensacola voters approved a new city charter that created the strong mayor position in the belief that the mayoral race would be about issues, not personalities. Instead, the incumbent chose to attack not on issues, but on personality.

This column will go to press before I will know if Wiggins’ political strategy worked. For the sake of future Pensacola politics, I hope it did not. rick@inweekly.net

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rant & rave COUNCIL FAILURE The City of Pensacola has once again failed to fully govern and protect our historic districts. Pensacola is “America’s First Settlement,” yet the City provides our utility providers no apparent oversight or review in representation of historic district rights of ways. Historic districts that are blighted with excessive utility structures are diminished and tend not to draw as many tourist dollars for our entire community.

I recently sent a report to the City of Pensacola citing two North Hill locations (1008 and 1010 N. Reus St.) that have had the presence of “double light poles” for well over a year. A utility puts in a new light pole, but fails to remove the old one until the situation is brought to their attention.

In this case, the owning utility, Gulf Power, admitted to “messing up” by failing to notify other utilities to move their equipment to the new pole so the old one may be removed.

It is reasonable for this to take a month or two to coordinate before the old pole is removed.

This is reasonable and fair. What is unreasonable and unfair for our historic districts are timelines greater than six months and in some cases over a year. The inescapable message from the utility is: “We don’t care.”

What is also unreasonable and unfair is for the City of Pensacola to demonstrate a laissez-faire attitude on this issue toward the utility companies and thereby relinquish governmental oversight of our historic districts.

The question that has yet to be answered is: When will the City of Pensacola start governing and reviewing utility installations on district rights of ways in accordance with our existing Land Development Code? Architectural Review Boards (ARB) already have oversight of rights of ways in many other Florida historic districts, such as those in Orlando, Ft. Pierce, Miami, and Jacksonville.

The North Hill Preservation District is not large, yet there exists (or existed) a large number of un-reviewed “double utility poles” for an extended time period. Why does Pensacola, “America’s First Settlement,” fail to monitor its historic district’s rights of ways?

The City has declared a “moratorium” on new utility structures until final language is drafted into our new historic element to the Comprehensive Plan. Naturally, the utility companies oppose restrictions and Gulf Power, I have heard, has been a very strong opponent. If Gulf Power is truly opposed to new restrictive language and ARB review, one would think that they would be demonstrating model behavior and perfect oversight, thereby making the point that City permitting and review is superfluous. What may we expect if the City, once again, gives the utilities a pass and lets them self-regulate as has been the case to in the past?

As of this writing, and likely in response to my Oct. 15 letter, Gulf Power and perhaps other utility pole owners have begun removing their more longstanding double poles. I believe all of these sites were “mistakes” akin to the 1008 and 1010 N. Reus St. report and have been neglected for the same amount of time: a little over a year. If Gulf Power and the rest of our utilities had to go through City permitting and ARB review, they would be much quicker to be a good neighbor in our historic districts than is presently the case. Gulf Power’s poor example at 1008 and 1010 N. Reus St. is precisely why they need City oversight.

One would think that Pensacola would be a leader in historic preservation rather than a laggard. Like the AT&T utility cabinets issue, the “double utility poles” stand as ugly monuments to Pensacola’s lack of full and effective governance. These different and increasing incidents are manifestations of the same issue—the City’s failure to

fully govern. Pensacola may be “America’s First Settlement” in name, but the City of Pensacola, by omission, often acts to diminish its historic integrity.

The purpose of local government is to govern locally and represent the interests of all parties, not just those of “big business.”

—Scott O. Davis, Pensacola

RIGHT ROLE FOR INSURANCE EXCHANGES In October, the Department of Health and Human Services closed its “comment period” for the new regional health insurance exchanges—a major component of the Obama health reforms.

As state officials implement their plans, they should strive to ensure that these exchanges don’t crowd out free market insurance mechanisms. While the options available on these exchanges will work well for many people, a substantial slice of the patient population will find them unsuitable.

Preserving a vibrant private insurance market in addition to the exchanges will maximize choice and enable people to find the insurance plan that best fits their particular needs. When the president said that people who are happy with their insurance “can keep it,” we should keep him to his word. Choice is crucial.

The thinking behind the exchanges is sound. Large employers can negotiate good health insurance rates because they have a big workforce to spread risk. Individuals and small businesses don’t have that advantage, and therefore they end up paying significantly higher rates than their larger counterparts.

Exchanges will help level the playing field. Participating insurers will offer a standard set of plans that must conform to specific government standards. Groups of people that typically have difficulty finding affordable insurance, including the self-employed, unemployed, and smaller firms, can buy the standard plans through the exchange.

In this way, these groups can pool their purchasing power and get lower rates. The federal government will also provide subsidies for lower income consumers.

Exchanges go live in 2014. If a state hasn’t started the process of establishing one by 2013, the federal government will take over the responsibility and run the exchange itself.

Healthcare coverage isn’t one-size-fitsall. There needs to be an insurance market outside the government exchanges to ensure people with unique plan preferences can get the coverage they want.

The new insurance exchanges will reduce the number of uninsured, and should decrease the price of coverage for many patients.

But policymakers and private healthcare stakeholders need to work together to ensure that the exchanges don’t become the only way to get health insurance. The more options patients have, the more likely they are to get the coverage that best fits their individual medical needs and financial means.

—Peter J. Pitts, president, Center for Medicine in the Public Interest, New York City

SUING THE FED Over 200 American citizens from 27 states have filed a legal action that will greatly benefit your readers. The defendants are officials of the Federal Reserve System, Wall Street banks and individuals of the six bank regulators.

One basis for the action is that The Fed is not an independent government agency. The complaint, filed in Charlotte, N.C., proves the 12 Fed banks, lending us paper money they illegally create, are owned by Wall Street banks. Citizens have paid $7 trillion to borrow their own money. Its recovery will be distributed to the states. A million seconds equals 13 days, a billion equals 31 years, and a trillion equals 31,688 years.

—Hugh W. Johnston, Gastonia, N.C.

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

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news briefs

Deputy Jeremy Cassady is recovering.

OFFICERS DOWN Sheriff Morgan talked with the IN about the Friday, October 29 shooting of three deputies in neighborhood off of Scenic Highway above Interstate 10.

The sheriff was meeting with Chief Deputy Larry Aiken and Commander Eric Haines when all three received pages.

First that an officer was down, then within seconds three officers were down.

The deputies had responded to a 911 call by Jackie Rosenbloom that her exboyfriend Philip Monier had burst into her home on Baywind Circle. Upon arrival the deputies heard Rosenbloom scream and entered the house. Monier fired the first shots and the officers returned fire.

Rosenbloom was hit as were the three officers. Deputy Jeremy Cassady was critically wounded when the shots hit behind

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his bulletproof vest. Monier then Bank locations in the area. dragged Rosenbloom into the bathroom and turned on the bath water.

MODERN DAY SLAVERY The Coalition of Deputy Josh Hendershott entered Immokalee Workers, a human rights the home after hearing the shots, with- organization based in Immokalee, Fla., out knowing where the gunman was stopped October 17 by the University of located, and pulled Cassidy outside.

West Florida with their mobile Modern “Chief Aiken deployed SWAT,” Day Slavery Museum, an exhibit meant to Morgan said. “We also deployed the raise awareness about 21st century slavery Bearcat which was able to drive right in Florida as well as gain support for the up to the house.”

CIW’s Campaign for Fair Food.

Sgt. Ted Roy was able to carry Their effort has called nationwide for Rosenbloom from the house and large grocery distributors to agree to a within 15 minutes Monier surrencode of conduct in their supply chain of dered.

Florida-grown tomatoes that guarantees Sheriff Morgan said that Monier, workers are being treated humanely, as who has a felony conviction in Tenwell as a one-cent-per-pound pay raise nessee, was covered with blood and that goes directly to the workers who pick claimed to be wounded. the tomatoes. Their current aim? Florida’s “What he didn’t know is when largest corporation, Publix Grocery Stores. you get an ambulance in Escambia So far, the campaign has reached agreeCounty, we’re going to send a couple ments with leading food retailers, includdeputies with you,” Morgan said. ing McDonald’s, Burger King, Subway, and “He wasn’t going to slip out of the Whole Foods. hospital. When he got him to the “Publix is refusing to do these very hospital and they cleaned him up, it simple things we are asking them to do, was all the victim’s blood on him.”

As of publication, Deputy Cassady was still in critical surgery but appeared to be recovering. Sheriff Morgan was touched by the outpouring of support for the wounded officer and his family.

“We have kindness in the face of evil,” Morgan said.

A benefit fund has been established to assist the Cassady Family. The “Benefit Account for Jeremy Cassady” is available through Gulf Coast Community Bank, and individuals interested in donating to the Cassady family can visit any of the five Gulf Coast Community Human rights organization challenges grocery store chain.

DAYS

Get your daily news first at INweekly.net. Find out before anyone else what’s happening in news, arts and entertainment, film, television and music at INDaily on our website. Here's the week in review, in case you missed it.

6 | INDEPENDENT NEWS | NOVEMBER 04, 2010 | WWW.INWEEKLY.NET

despite the fact that they claim to be a good force in the community,” said Oscar Otzoy, member of CIW. “We are calling on them to step up and take responsibility for the conditions that farm workers are facing.”

What conditions are the workers facing? In a 2008 report, the U.S. Department of Agriculture reported that “poverty among farm workers is more than double that of all wage and salary employees.”

Unlike most professions which are covered under labor laws dating back to the New Deal, farm workers also have no right to overtime pay, no right to employment benefits, and no right to collectively bargain with their employers.

Those wanting to help the CIW can sign Publix manager letters or can send pre-made post cards directly to the CEO of Publix. To get this information or for any particular questions call Lee Pryor at (850) 380-9761 or e-mail the Progressive Student Alliance at wsapensacola@gmail.com. For more information about the Coalition of Immokalee Workers, visit ciw-online.org.

M O N DAY O C T 2 4

T U E S DAY O C T 2 5

WEDNESDAY OCT 26

A thousand voters vote at the Supervisor of Elections’ office in the second “Souls to Polls” rally.

Wanda Wallace is charged with DUI manslaughter in the death of a Pensacola construction worker, Darrell Perkins, on U.S. 98 near Woodlawn Beach Road in Midway.

The Florida Supreme Court denies a request for review a decision in the case against the Community Maritime Park Associates board that claimed the board violated Florida’s Sunshine Law by not letting citizens participate in all its meetings.

Judge Frank Bell ruled in favor of the CMPA.

In Hot Pursuit 5K takes off this weekend on Pensacola Beach.

SHERIFF AND JURY POOLS Escambia County Sheriff David Morgan also gave the IN an exclusive interview on the controversy concerning him greeting prospective jurors.

Last week area criminal attorneys along with Public Defender James Owens asked Chief Judge Terry Terrell to keep Morgan away from prospective jurors.

They believe that his appearances may unfairly sway potential jurors to law enforcement’s side in criminal cases. Judge Terrell responded to the request by letter stating that he had spoken with Sheriff Morgan, who agreed to discontinue his greetings to jury assemblies.

David Morgan began greeting prospective jurors in the parking lot across from the Pensacola Civic Center three years ago when he was running for sheriff. He would get up at 5:15 a.m. to be there by 6:30 a.m. so that he got speak to them as they boarded the trolley. Once elected, he continued doing it.

“I say to them is thank you for answering your jury summons and doing your civic duty,” Morgan said. “I tell that I know

this may be disruptive to their business day, but I can’t overemphasize how important they are to the judicial process.”

It has been customary for Judge Terrell and Clerk of the Court Ernie Lee Magaha to address the jury assemblies at the M.C. Blanchard Judicial Building and thank them for their service. According to Morgan, about two months ago he was asked

by Deputy Clerk Lisa Bernau to address a jury assembly when Judge Terrell wasn’t available.

Both Magaha and Bernau confirmed this and said Morgan began addressing the jury pools at Mr. Magaha’s request and continued to do so up to the week before the trial of Patrick Gonzalez. In a telephone interview, Magaha pointed out that the sheriff is the executive officer of the court and there was a time when the sheriff ’s deputies personally delivered the jury summons.

Morgan said that his message was simple. He told them, “That what they do is truly what kings, dictators and tyrants fear which is to place justice in the hands of the people. Next to service in the military and

voting, nothing is more important than service on a jury.”

He added, “I inform them that today they have more power than the sheriff of Escambia County because they serve in judgment of their fellow man. Today they are the law. And that’s all I say.”

Morgan believes for anyone to claim such statements are made to influence a juror is disingenuous.

“Here’s why,” Morgan said. “I understand the convictions may reviewed.

Aren’t we also going to review the acquittals? Shouldn’t we be fair and balanced about this?

“Is there a chance that someone in that jury pool had a son, daughter or someone that they thought had been falsely arrested? Or in their background they had a DUI and don’t like police officers? Couldn’t you equally argue that my being there could have the opposite effect on a prospective juror?”

He said, “I just don’t get it and the feedback that I’m getting from the public is that you’ve got to be kidding me.”

BP MAKES OVER BILLION The oil giant responsible for the worst oil disaster in U.S. history still showed a net profit of $1.79 billion in its third quarter despite an additional pre-tax charge of $7.7 billion over April 20 Deepwater Horizon rig explosion and its clean-up.

In the second quarter, BP reported a $17.2 billion loss due to the environmental disaster. The third quarter of 2009, the company reported a profit of $5.34 billion. According to company officials higher oil prices helped BP

recover since July 1. However, they still cannot estimate the total cost of the disaster, which to date is near $40 billion.

IN HOT PURSUIT This Saturday, Nov. 6, the Escambia County Sheriff ’s Office will hold their third annual In Hot Pursuit 5K on Pensacola Beach to benefit Florida Sheriff ’s Youth Ranches.

Best of the Coast winner Sandshaker Lounge will host the post race party and beach restaurants and bars have special prices and deals throughout the day for runners who present their run numbers.

The run gets underway at 8 a.m. at the Pavillion on Pensacola Beach. Register online at active.com, download a form at escambiaso.com or come by Running Wild Thursday or Friday evening.

BP stills rakes in profits.

N E WS OF T H E W E E K

T H U R S DAY O C T 2 7

F R I DAY O C T 2 8

S AT U R DAY O C T 2 9

S U N DAY O C T 3 0

The Gulf Breeze City Council gives preliminary approval at its executive committee meeting to waive city codes to make it easier and quicker for a national retailer to buy the former Bruno’s grocery store.

The jury finds Patrick Gonzalez, Jr. guilty of the murders of Byrd and Melanie Billings.

Avalex breaks ground on its $10 million headquarters to be built on U.S. 98 in south Santa Rosa County.

Over 10,000 locals participate in the American Cancer Society’s 2010 Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Mall to Mall Walk from University Mall to Cordova Mall.

Three Escambia County deputies are wounded when they responded Friday, Oct. 29 to a domestic violence call off Scenic Highway, north of Interstate 10.

INDEPENDENT NEWS | NOVEMBER 04, 2010 | WWW.INWEEKLY.NET |

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JUSTICE SERVED R

Inside The Gonzalez Murder Trial

- by Rick Outzen

photo by Katie King/Pensacola News Journal

eal murder trials aren’t like “Perry Mason,” where a witness collapses on the stand and admits guilt, or “Matlock,” when investigator Conrad McMasters finds a missing eyewitness at the last minute. They aren’t even like “Law & Order”

that neatly closes the case in 60 minutes.

When news broke of the home invasion and murder of a wealthy couple with nine special needs children, Pensacola was inundated with reporters. Press conferences were held daily as new information was released. The networks would break into regular programming to broadcast the latest

reports. For six weeks, the investigation captivated the nation.

The trial of Leonard Patrick Gonzalez Jr. for the home invasion robbery and murders of Byrd and Melanie Billings was over in five days.

Monday was jury selection. Tuesday through Thursday was the guilt phase of the trial. The penalty phase was deliberated on Friday.

The only national media at the M.C. Blanchard Judicial Building was truTV, which broadcasted the trial live on its “In Session” program. There was no melodrama or surprises, and the trial concluded as many had predicted. Gonzalez was found guilty, and the jury recommended the death penalty.

INDEPENDENT NEWS | NOVEMBER 04, 2010 | WWW.INWEEKLY.NET |

9

ner was the lookout, driving up and down Nine Mile Road and communicating with Gonzalez via a walkie-talkie.

Patrick Gonzalez demanded money from Byrd Billings. When Billings told him there was no money, Gonzalez shot him in the legs twice.

Coldiron ran from house to the cargo van when the shots were fired, according to his statement to investigators. The couple was taken into the master bedroom. Byrd Billings Defense Attorney John Jay Gontarek argues for his client, Leonwas shot in the cheek and ard Patrick Gonzalez, Jr. Photo by Tony Giberson/Pensacola then twice in the back of News Journal the head as he fell.

Gonzalez and Donnie Stallworth were in the State Attorney Bill Eddins and Assistant bedroom. They spotted a small safe in the linen closet in a hallway off the bedroom.

State Attorney John Molchan took a case When Melanie Billings wasn’t able to give with a lot of moving parts and simplified it them the combination to the safe, Melanie for the jury.

Billings was shot in the face and then three Patrick Gonzalez was a broke, despermore times while she was on the floor. ate father of six who assembled a team of All shots fired were from a 9mm pistol. six other men to invade the Beulah home According to Florence and Thornton, the of Byrd Billings and Melanie Billings. only person carrying such a gun was Patrick Gonzalez.

The men took the safe, STATE ATTORNEY BILL EDDINS AND ASSISTANT only staying inside the STATE ATTORNEY JOHN MOLCHAN TOOK A CASE property five minutes. The WITH A LOT OF MOVING PARTS AND SIMPLIFIED IT safe and guns were handed over to Pam Wiggins, the FOR THE JURY. defendant’s boss and landlord. The safe would later Gonzalez thought Mr. Billings, who was be found hidden in her backyard. She would in the used car business and had a finance hide the murder weapon in a Buick owned by company, had $13 million in a vault in the her husband. She and Hugh Wiggins would house, or so Gonzalez told his crew. take some of the guns to a friend in MissisFrederick Thornton and Rakeem Florsippi. ence testified to how the murders and robThe red cargo van, the home invasion bery took place. by the group of masked men, and the initial On July 9, the five men drove onto the shots were all captured on the home surveilproperty and broke into the Billings home lance system and led to the eventual arrest through three doors. Stallworth kicked of all the suspects. in the front door. Thornton and Florence Eddins also blamed Gonzalez for his kicked in the laundry room door and Gonown capture. “The proof will show that the zalez and Wayne Coldiron came through defendant in this case was not the smartest a third door and the master bedroom. The person in the world,” Eddins told the jury in older Gonzalez stayed in an old red cargo his opening statement. van that Terry Poff, Patrick Gonzalez’s

KEEP IT SIMPLE APPROACH

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etc., but Gontarek pointed out, “Patrick went by Patrick.”

John Jay Gontarek and Randy Etheridge Patrick didn’t hide. He wasn’t arrested represented Gonzalez. Gontarek is a Fort in Canada. According to Gontarek, he Walton Beach attorney who defended Rontried to assist his friend Chief Bill Chavers. ald Bell Jr. In 1999, Bell was found guilty of Gontarek said there was a lack of evifirst-degree murder with a deadly weapon dence. He suggested the jurors will be askand armed kidnapping with a weapon. The ing, “Why would Patrick do that? Why was he so open at WalMart?”

He said that there were “IT IS A TRAGEDY WHAT HAPPENED TO MR. AND inconsistent statements: “If MRS. BILLINGS, BUT TO SEND AN INNOCENT MAN he’s guilty, why would PatTO JAIL, OR HIS EXECUTION, IS A WORSE TRAGEDY.” rick say this or that? Can you believe what he said?”

— DEFENSE ATTORNEY JAY GONTAREK Gontarek said that some of the witnesses were case was controversial at the time because self-serving. They made a deal and would Bell and the two others involved in the cover themselves and say whatever it took crime were all teenagers. Bell got the death to save themselves. penalty, and the others cut plea agreements When Eddins and Gontarek gave their and testified against him. opening remarks, several attorneys watched in In his opening remarks to the jury the courtroom. The trial was held in Courin the guilt phase of the trail, Gontarek toom 407, also known as the “Big Courtreminded the jury that the burden of proof room.” To handle any overflow, the proceedbeyond a reasonable doubt is on the prosings were also broadcast into Courtroom 406. ecution. He said that there had been a “rush It was unusual for Eddins, a former to judgment and arrest in this case, fortuprosecutor, to be assisting and give the nately there has not been a rush to verdict.” opening remarks. Both he and Gontarek He said that Gonzalez only has a vague got high marks from the attorneys watchconnection to the red van. It was “such a ing the trial. Few believed that Gontarek piece of junk that he gave it to his dad and had much hope of getting a not guilty didn’t know how he could use it.” All the verdict. The consensus was the real battle other suspects in this crime have nickwould be during the penalty phase, when names and aliases—Leonard, Sr.: “Frank”; the jury would decide whether to recomStallworth: “Stalls”; Gary Sumner: “G”; mend the death penalty.

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Florida Department of Law Enforcement Lab Analyst Jennifer Hatler describes how she collected DNA evidence from a firearm used in the crime. Photo by Tony Giberson/Pensacola News Journal Gary Sumner by testifying to a visit the two made to Sumner’s Fort Walton Beach car Molchan handled the guilt phase. detailing business, 5th Dimensions. GonzaHe methodically built his case. Ashley lez had tried to recruit him, too. Gonzalez Markham, the oldest daughter of Melanie had told him about a robbery of a home Billings, and April Spencer, a registered with a walk-in safe that was “as big as my nurse who lived on the property and helped kitchen” and stored $130 million. care for the nine special needs children who It was Eisa who told investigators that lived in the house, both described the night Gonzalez is extremely addicted to prescripof the murders. tion medications; Pamela Long was a close Gonzalez’s wife, Tabatha, and his friend of Gonzalez mother, Terry and continually Poff, testified “THE PROOF WILL SHOW THAT THE loaned him money; about the red DEFENDANT IN THIS CASE WAS NOT THE and Gary Sumner van and the was also known to family’s finanSMARTEST PERSON IN THE WORLD.” traffic in steroids cial troubles.

—STATE ATTORNEY BILL EDDINS through his busiBoth the wife ness. Eisa admitted and Markham to investigators confirmed that Patrick Gonzalez knew that he was a former member of the Insane Byrd Billings, who had donated $5,000 Popes. “Popes” is an acronym for Protect to Gonzalez’s program to help teach self Our People Eliminate Spics. None of this defense to children. was brought up in Eisa’s testimony during Gonzalez’s friends, Lonnie “Guns” the trial.

Smith and Tony “Duck” Eisa, testified that Carol Brant, the ex-wife and current he had tried to recruit them for the home girlfriend of the father, Leonard Gonzalez invasion, but they had refused the offers.

Sr., testified to overhearing the father and Smith said he had overheard from the balson discuss the robbery of a man who “was cony at Regency Towers on Pensacola Beach messing with little girls, dealing drugs and a conversation between Gonzalez, Gary cleaning money.”

Sumner and Hugh Wiggins about a “secuBrant didn’t mention that she was too rity job” and that on the day of the murders afraid to initially talk with investigators Gonzalez had called him several times. because she had been told the money in the What Smith, the son of an Escambia house was Mexican mafia drug money and County corrections officer, didn’t mention that Patrick had been told to do the robbery. was that he had been a reluctant witness and She didn’t know who had told him to do it. had been warned about not talking with During the break after these testimoinvestigators because of the possible connies, Justin Billings hugged both Spencer nection of Henry “Cab” Tice to the crime. and his step-sister Ashley Markham.

Tice is a former business partner of Byrd Billings is now in the army, married and Billings who is believed to have owed the a father. Both he and his other step-sister victim over a hundred thousand dollars for Kristyn Chauncey have been somewhat cars missing from his car lot. estranged from the Markhams since the Smith also had told investigators that murders. The Markhams didn’t attend the Hugh Wiggins, who Gonzalez called weddings of Justin or Kristyn.

“Brother One,” had told him that he was Over the next two days, Molchan taking over a crime operation headed by brought in a series of crime scene techni“Mr. Mantis” and that Gonzalez had done cians, investigators, ballistics experts and “assignments” for “Mantis.” He also told Medical Examiner Andrea Minyard. Each them Patrick Gonzalez led a double life. told the jurors how their part of the investi“He wants to be the clean-cut, ‘I’ve got gation was done and what they discovered. money,’” Smith said when he was questioned They were able to recreate the shootings and last year, “but yet ‘I’m a thug, too, and I’ll get introduce the physical evidence that supthe job done, whatever it may be.’” ported the case against Gonzalez.

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11

Frederick Thornton, left, and Rakeem Florence, right, both testified for the prosecution. Photo courtesy of Escambia County Sheriff 's Office

STAR WITNESSES

The star witnesses for the prosecution were Frederick Thornton and Rakeem Florence.

Florence, who was 16 when the crime was committed, is the father of the baby of Thornton’s sister. Eddins had described Thornton, who was 19 on July 9, 2009, and Florence as two guys that “hung around” 5th Dimensions.

Thornton spent two hours on the stand testifying about how he and Florence had first attempted with Gonzalez, Sumner, Stallworth and Gonzalez Sr. to rob the Billings home on July 4, but had been frightened off when the motion sensors along the driveway had turned on the outdoor lights.

Thornton mentioned that Patrick Gonzalez was extremely upset about the lights coming on and had called “Brother One” shouting that someone didn’t cut off the alarm system.

During the early days of the investigation, Escambia County Sheriff David Morgan and the media focused on whether someone was supposed to cut off the surveillance cameras.

Once the arrests were made, that part of the investigation faded away. Neither the prosecution nor the defense followed up on this statement by Thornton.

It was Thornton who told the jury that Gonzalez provided the masks, clothing and guns used in the crime. He said that it was Gonzalez that was the ringleader and had

done all the shooting. However, neither series of home invasion robberies in the Fort Thornton nor Florence saw Gonzalez kill Walton Beach area dating back several years.

Byrd and Melanie Billings in the bedroom.

The targets were “narcotic violators who In his cross examination, Gontarek were believed to be holding large amounts pointed out that Thornton and Florence had of cash.” Witnesses described the robbers as “conspired to “two, or more, black male tell a lie.” The wearing dark “YOU WERE UP TO YOUR EYEBALLS subjects pair had first clothing with ski masks.”

IN THIS CRIME.” lied to investiAnother important gators telling witness for the state was —DEFENSE ATTORNEY JAY them that they Chief Deputy Bill GONTAREK TO FREDERICK THORNTON. retired had been in a Chavers, who questioned van that had Patrick Gonzalez in the gone to the house to buy some “weed.” The Santa Rosa County Jail on July 12. Chavers two never got out of the van, but heard described the man he knew as “Pat Poff” as shots being fired. It wasn’t until they were a “little nervous and excited.” He said that presented with evidence that Thornton and Gonzalez told him that his father had the van Florence changed their stories. and anyone had access to its keys.

Gontarek said, “Gary Sumner invited Gonzalez was concerned that law you to join, not Patrick Gonzalez.” He said enforcement might try to connect him to that Thornton and Florence did nothing to the murders and that he had seen his father help Byrd and Melanie Billings. They helped trying to clean out the van the day after the get rid of the vehicles, burned the clothing crime. The defendant rambled, according used in the crime and waited for their cuts. to Chavers. He said that he had been told “You were up to your eyeballs in this

by Cab Tice that a group was not happy crime,” Gontarek told Thornton. “You practiced with Mr. Billings and wanted him killed, lying to the Okaloosa County Sheriff ’s Office, but that Gonzalez had refused. Gonzalez Escambia County Sheriff ’s Office, your mother said this was “very deep” and wouldn’t put and your auntie. Then you cut a sweet deal.” it past them to set him up.

Both have plea agreements, which Molchan When Cab Tice was interviewed by pointed out still could lead to life in prison and investigators, he denied any such meethave no guarantees of lesser sentences. ing ever took place. He admitted a close What didn’t get mentioned in either of friendship with Gonzalez and talked the Fort Walton Beach teenagers’ testimonies about how Patrick and Tabatha Gonzalez was one of the reports by the state attorney’s had called him on Father’s Day. Tice has investigators that stated Sumner and Stallnot been arrested on any charges conworth may have possibly been involved in a nected with the murders.

A SALUTE TO DIFFERENCE MAKERS

The Pensacola Downtown Improvement Board (DIB) awarded the 2010 Golden Brick Award to the Pensacola Saenger Theatre of 118 South Palafox Place. In addition, six businesses received Silver Certificates in recognition of the physical enhancements they provided to Downtown Pensacola during the past year. The DIB also presented Longevity Awards to Reynalds Music House of 36 East Garden Street for 100 years of business and Old City Building, Inc. of 201 East Government Street to celebrate 50 years in downtown Pensacola.

Golden Brick Award:

Hall at 2 Palafox Place

Silver Certificate Recipients:

Alley at 201 South Jefferson Street Sugarland, Inc. for 286 North Palafox Street

for the Courtyard at 600 South Palafox Street Garden Street Firehouse, LLC for 109 East Garden Street Hopjacks Pizza Kitchen & Taproom for 10 Palafox Place Masonic Holdings, LLC for Vinyl Music

Longevity Awards:

Pensacola Saenger Theatre 600 South Palafox of Pensacola, LLC

12 | INDEPENDENT NEWS | NOVEMBER 04, 2010 | WWW.INWEEKLY.NET

Overby Enterprises, Inc. for DeLuna’s

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Street for 100 years of business Old City Building, Inc. of 201 East Government Street to celebrate 50 years in downtown Pensacola

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INDEPENDENT NEWS | NOVEMBER 04, 2010 | WWW.INWEEKLY.NET |

13

NO

because when he was in private practice, “There is a reasonable doubt about PatMcCleary had both Byrd Billings and Patrick Gonzalez being the mastermind.” rick Gonzalez as his clients.

The attorney described his client as During the break after Molchan’s close, “kind of nutty,” “a little goofy, who got into McCleary was clearly bothered. “Three years some crazy circumstances.” ago, Patrick and I were having beers together,” He closed with, “If you have one reasonhe said. “Molchan had a very strong, solid approach. Where “ALTHOUGH OUR WOUNDS WILL HEAL, THERE do you go from here?”

WILL ALWAYS BE A SCAR.” Defense attorney Jay Gontarek did his best to get —ASHLEY MARKHAM the jurors to see a reasonable doubt. “It is a tragedy what happened to Mr. and Mrs. Billings,” Gontarek able doubt, you have a duty to return a not said in his closing statement, “but to send an guilty. Regardless of how pleasant or uninnocent man to jail, or his execution, is a pleasant your decision may be, there are too worse tragedy.” many gaps in the evidence, too many puzzle He said that this case was like a puzzle. pieces missing.”

“You can look at all the blue pieces and say Molchan had the last statement. “The they must be the sky–only to find it’s not the defendant is not goofy,” he said. “He’s a sky, but a lake…a mirror reflection.” murderer, a plain, cold-blooded murderer.”

Patrick Gonzalez points to the media as he exits the courtroom on Friday afternoon. Photo by Gontarek pointed out no DNA was on After four hours of deliberation, the jury Katie King/Pensacola News Journal the 9mm pistol that killed found Patrick Gonzalez guilty. The next the Billingses. The person day, by 10-2 votes, the same jurors recomGontarek asked Chavers why he didn’t on the video holding the mended the death penalty for the murders “THE DEFENDANT IS NOT GOOFY. HE’S A have his interview with Gonzalez taped. Chavgun to Bud Billings’ head and Melanie Billings. ers replied that the jail did not have recording MURDERER, A PLAIN, COLD-BLOODED MURDERER.” was right-handed. Patrick is of Byrd In a brief press conference after the senequipment. The attorney chastised Chavers —ASSISTANT STATE ATTORNEY JOHN MOLCHAN left-handed. tence recommendation, Ashley Markham for not going to WalMart or the Santa Rosa Gontarek asserted that read a short statement in which she thanked County Sheriff ’s Office to get a recorder.

Hugh Wiggins and Gary the community, Escambia County Sheriff’s “proven to the exclusion of every reasonable The State rested its case at 10:34 a.m. on Sumner were the masterminds, not GonzaOffice and the State Attorney’s Office. She doubt that Leonard Patrick Gonzalez Jr. Thursday, Oct. 28. The defense chose to call lez.

Wiggins and Sumner were at the condo said, “Although our wounds will heal, there handled the gun and had his finger on the no witnesses and rested its case when the discussing the robbery; Hugh Wiggins took will always be a scar.” trigger that fired the shots that killed Mr. jury came back from its break. the guns to his friend in Mississippi; and the It is a scar that Pensacola won’t soon and Mrs. Billings.”

Barry McCleary, who works for the Pub- Buick where the murder weapon was hidden forget. was owned by Wiggins. The safe was found lic Defender’s office, sat in the courtroom Assistant State Attorney John Molchan in the backyard of Hugh and Pam Wiggins. rick@inweekly.net for most the trial.

He is in a unique position handled the close. He said that the State had

NUTTY OR COLD-BLOODED?

14 | INDEPENDENT NEWS | NOVEMBER 04, 2010 | WWW.INWEEKLY.NET

arts + entertainment ART, FILM, MUSIC, STAGE, BOOKS AND OTHER SIGNS OF CIVILIZATION...

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THE GREAT GULFCOAST ARTS FE STIVAL RETURNS FOR ITS 38TH YEAR

BY HANA FRENETTE

poster design by Bob McGill t’s November again—time to visit the Great Gulfcoast Arts Festival downtown and look at a lot of art you probably can’t afford—or so you think.

“There are a lot of smaller ticket items at the festival this year,” said Glenda Triemer, official chairperson of the festival. “There literally is something for everyone.”

This three-day-long juried art show and festival is bringing back all its usual aspects. There will be over 200 handselected artists from a variety of mediums, including ceramics, drawing, fiber/wood/ leather work, glass, jewelry, mixed media, oil/acrylics, photography, printmaking, sculpture and watercolor.

“We have two different processes—a first jury and a second judging,” Triemer said.

Two people with art backgrounds judge each artist individually in June and make

I

eliminations and decide who will be showing in the festival. Then, on the first day of the festival, two different people walk around and serve as judges.

“At the end of the day they meet back up and determine the winners,” Triemer continued.

People drive from all over the Panhandle to visit this festival and see the art. Children and high school students stream in by bus on their respective class field trips.

Fellow artists and art lovers alike stroll down the winding paths of Seville Square that bear designated names of artists, such as “Warhol Way” and “Picasso Street.”

“Another part that people always love is the Heritage Arts,” Triemer added.

Heritage art represents art from a simpler time—or perhaps a harder time, if you have ever watched a blacksmith or an engraver.

Artists in the Heritage section don’t just display their art, they demonstrate it for you.

Festival goers can watch a dulcimer being carved from scratch and strung right before their eyes, and maybe played, if they’re lucky.

There is also a main stage for musical entertainment, a performing arts stage for dance, and a children’s stage.

The main stage hosts a variety of acts, ranging from bluegrass, country, folk, and Cajun music.

The performing arts stage will be hosting a melting pot of cultural performances from groups and companies within the tri-county area.

Greek dancers, Irish dancers, tap dancers, cloggers, ballet, Zumba, belly dancing— if you can name it and someone else in the community happens to like it, it’s probably

going to be represented on this stage.

A performing Shakespeare group, as well as the Victory Performing Arts Academy, and LaBelle Performing Arts will be putting on several performance pieces in addition to the various forms of dancing.

Aside from theater and dance, a few other community groups will be showcasing their talents as well, including the McGuire’s Pipe Band.

With more performances than a circus, twice as much food as the Pensacola Interstate Fair and all the artistic talent that the Panhandle has to offer, the Great Gulfcoast Arts Festival is definitely one of the most exciting events of the year.

“It’s the best festival in the area,” Triemer said. “It brings such a variety of fine art and music to the area, and it’s great for the kids, too.”

A separate art tent for children from K-12 is also on site at the festival.

“It gives the kids the opportunity to showcase their art,” Triemer said. “There are some younger artists that have shown in the children’s tent who have gone on to participate in the juried exhibition.”

So whether you go to see the art, hear the music, eat the food, or just to take the kids, the festival makes for a laid-back weekend that can be easily afforded and enjoyed by all.

“It’s just too much fun,” Triemer said.

“It’s good for the community to be able to meet and greet and enjoy some great music and wonderful art.” info@inweekly.net

GREAT GULFCOAST ARTS FESTIVAL

WHEN: Friday-Sunday, Nov. 5-7 WHERE: Seville Square, downtown Pensacola COST: Free DETAILS: ggaf.org

Jennifer Daniels Kim Carson Jennifer Daniels Kim Carson Jennifer Daniels Kim Carson

Saturday, Nov. 6 10 a.m. John Common and Blinding Flashes of Light 11 a.m.

Abbey Parks 12:30 p.m. Sweet Jones Music 2 p.m.

Holly Shelton 3:30 p.m. Feufollet

Sunday, Nov. 7 11:30 a.m. Martha's Trouble 1:30 p.m. The Pensacola Symphony Orchestra 3 p.m.

The Nouveaux Honkies

PARRISH PERFORMING ARTS STAGE

Saturday, Nov. 6

Community Spotlight 10 a.m. McGuire's Pipe Band 10:30 a.m. Senior Strutters 10:40 a.m. UWF Ballroom Dance Club 10:50 a.m. Timesteppers Tap Dancers 11 a.m.

Victory Performing Arts Academy 11:10 a.m. Clickin’ Cloggers 11:20 a.m. FWB Rec. Dance Department Center Stage 11:30 a.m. Dance Academy of Santa Rosa 11:45 a.m. Katherine’s Studio One 12 p.m. A Time to Dance 12:15 p.m. Pensacola State College/UWF Dance Teams 12:30 p.m. The PACE Studio 12:45 p.m. Starrstep Performing Dancers 1 p.m.

SWERVE/Dance Company 1:15 p.m. Five Flags Dance Academy 1:30 p.m. Ballet Pensacola 1:45 p.m. The Dancing Grannies 2 p.m.

LaBelle Performing Arts 2:15 p.m. Southeastern Teen Shakespeare Co.

Sunday, Nov. 7 Center Stage 11 a.m.

Ballet Pensacola 11:15 a.m. SWERVE/Dance Company 11:30 a.m. Todd Longsworth & Dancers 11:45 a.m. A Time to Dance 12 p.m. LaBelle Performing Arts 12:15 p.m. Dance Academy of Santa Rosa 12:30 p.m. Starrstep Performing Dancers 12:45 p.m. The PACE Studio 1 p.m.

Southeastern Teen Shakespeare Co. Community Spotlight 1:20 p.m. Niall O'Leary School of Irish Dance 1:30 p.m. Saraab 1:40 p.m. Wako-Kai 1:50 p.m. Zumba with Janette 2 p.m.

Sidona 2:10 p.m. Drake School of Irish Dance 2:20 p.m. Dorothy’s Dance Plus 2:30 p.m. Glentzethes Greek Dancers

INDEPENDENT NEWS | NOVEMBER 04, 2010 | WWW.INWEEKLY.NET |

15

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hot times Pensacola Beach. 932-2211 or sandshakerlounge.com.

WOMEN-ONLY MORNING RUNS AT RUNNING WILD 6 a.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays, weekly. Meet at Running Wild for a steady-pace run for all levels of runners. 3012 E. Cervantes St. 435-9222 or werunwild.com.

RUNNING WILD SIX AT SIX 6 a.m. Various abilities from a 10 minute per mile pace and faster. Course is six miles, through East Hill, Downtown and North Hill. Stick around for coffee after the run. 435-9222 or werunwild.com.

THURSDAY 11.04

▲TURKEY FRYING COOKING CLASS AT DK Jerry Mistretta from Jerry’s Cajun Café will teach guests how to marinade, prepare and fry a turkey. Learn the safety precautions and ways to make your experience a safe and satisfying event.

Jerry will also share his recipes for some of his other Cajun holiday dishes. $44.95. Distinctive Kitchens, 29 S. Palafox.

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HOLIDAY FASHION SHOW 10 a.m.-2 p.m. The Santa Rosa Women’s Club annual charity fashion show theme for this year is “Breezing thru the Holidays” and will feature fashions from Chico’s, silver jewelry by Silver Magnolia, creative holiday decorating tips from Nancy McMahan of Arts of Entertaining, a silent auction, and a lunch catered by Elaine Maduri. Parish Hall of St. Ann’s Catholic Church, 100 Daniel Drive, Gulf Breeze. 748-9045.

‘PENSACOLA IN THE AIR’ LECTURE BY JOHN APPLEYARD 12 p.m. The Pensacola Heritage Foundation presents the ReDiscovery lecture series with guest speaker John Appleyard. The topic will be ‘Pensacola in the Air’, the story of Pensacolians from the first barnstormers to 2010 jet travel and naval air.

Reservations recommended. $5 for lecture for non-Foundation members. Lunch provided by Cottage Café for $10. The Bowden Building, 120 E. Church St. To make a reservation contact Debbie Adkins 438-6505.

‘DELLA’S DINER’ AT THE PENSACOLA LITTLE THEATRE 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday. 2:30 p.m. Sunday. The latest installment in playwright Tom Edwards’ hilarious sendup of soap opera, love and heartbreak set to the tune of your favorite country songs. $17 café seating, $10 general admission. Pensacola Little Theatre, 400 S. Jefferson St. 432-2042 or pensacolalittletheatre.com.

‘SCHEMA’ EXHIBITION RECEPTION 6 p.m. Through Nov. 12.

The Art Gallery (TAG) at the University of West Florida (UWF) presents “Schema,” an exhibition of work by Chris Deris and Adam Welch. The Center for Fine and Performing Arts, Building 82, 11000 University Parkway. 474-2696.

T-SHIRT NIGHT 7 p.m. Half-price drinks when wearing a Shaker shirt. Sandshaker Lounge, Pensacola Beach Blvd.,

EVENING RUNS AT RUNNING WILD 5:30 p.m. weekly. Meet at Running Wild for a steady-pace run for all levels of runners. 3012 E. Cervantes St. 435-9222 or werunwild.com.

HERB CLASS AT EVER’MAN 5:30 p.m. weekly. Come study different herbs. Enjoy different guest lectures every Thursday night, and learn techniques recommended by the Cambridge Institute. Free for members, $2 for non-members. Ever’man Natural Foods, 315 W. Garden St. 438-0402 or everman.org.

WINE TASTING AT ARAGON WINE MARKET 5-7 p.m. Weekly.

Enjoy a sampling of fine wines. 27 S. Ninth Ave. 433-9463 or aragonwinemarket.com.

THIRSTY THURSDAY AT THE OAR HOUSE 11 a.m. weekly.

Enjoy entrée and drink specials. The Oar House, 1000 S. Pace Boulevard. 549-4444 or the-oar-house.com.

ART CLASS AT PAINTING WITH A TWIST 6:30-9:30 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: Pensacola Lighthouse. Painting with a Twist, 4771 Bayou Blvd., Suite C-11. $45. 471-1450 or paintingwithatwist.com/pensacola.

CARIBBEAN NIGHT AT WILL CALL 10 p.m.-close weekly. $5 entrance fee includes one free drink and all the dancing you can stand. 22 S. Palafox St. 912-8644 or willcallsports.com.

COLLEGE NIGHT COOK-OUT 7-10 p.m. weekly. No cover with college ID. Cookout, drink specials and live music. End O’ the Alley Bar inside Seville Quarter.130 E. Government St. 4346211 or sevillequarter.com.

MUSIC: THE BLENDERS 7 p.m. No cover. Five Sisters Blues Café, 421 W. Belmont St. 912-4856 or fivesistersbluescafe.com.

MUSIC: LIVE MUSIC AT INTERMISSION 9:30 p.m. Intermission, 214 S. Palafox. No cover. 433-6208.

MUSIC: LIVE MUSIC AT THE DECK 6 p.m. Enjoy live music on the Deck. The Fish House, 600 S. Barracks St. 470-0003 or fishhouse.goodgrits.com.

MUSIC: PAXTON NORRIS & TYLER MAC 7 p.m. Paradise Bar and Grill, 21 Via de Luna, Pensacola Beach. 916-5087 or paradisebar-grill.com.

MUSIC: LUCAS CRUTCHFIELD 6 p.m. Enjoy live music on the Deck. The Fish House, 600 S. Barracks St. 470-0003 or fishhouse.goodgrits.com.

MUSIC: STRIKE ANYWHERE, THE FLATLINERS AND DIVERSITY IS A WOODEN SHIP 7 p.m. Vinyl Music Hall, 2 S. Palafox. 6076758 or vinylmusichall.com.

FRIDAY 11.5 GREAT GULF COAST ARTS FESTIVAL 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Through Nov. 7. Hosting more than 200 fine arts and crafts exhibitors from around the country. Also features a children’s arts festival, food and drink. Historic Seville Square, Alcaniz Street and Bayfront Parkway. ggaf.org.

Sisters Blues Café, 421 W. Belmont St. 912-4856 or fivesistersbluescafe.com.

MUSIC: ‘80S RETRO NIGHT 8 p.m. No cover. Bamboo Willie’s, 400 Quietwater Beach Road. 916-9888 or bamboowillies.com.

MUSIC: HOLLY SHELTON AND DAVID SHELANDER 8 p.m. weekly.

Ragtyme Grille, 201 S. Jefferson St. 429-9655 or ragtyme.net.

MUSIC: LIVE MUSIC 9:30 p.m. Intermission, 214 S. Palafox. No cover. 433-6208.

MUSIC: JOHN COMMON & BLINDING FLASHES OF LIGHT 9 p.m. Also Saturday. Pensacola native John Common and his band will perform songs from their new album “Beautiful Empty.” 748-9001 or goodgrits.com.

PENSACOLA ICE FLYERS V. LOUSIANA ICE GATORS 7 p.m.

Pensacola Civic Center, 201 E. Gregory St. 432-0800 or pensacolaiceflyers.com.

MUSIC: THE NOUVEAU HONKIES 6 p.m. Paradise Bar and Grill, 21 Via de Luna, Pensacola Beach. 916-5087 or paradisebar-grill.com.

AFTER GAME ICE SKATING 10-11 p.m. The public is invited to skate on the ice after the scheduled Ice Flyers Home game. Pensacola Civic Center, 201 E. Gregory St. 308-1649 or pensacolafigureskating.com.

SATURDAY 11.6

‘DELLA’S DINER’ AT THE PENSACOLA LITTLE THEATRE 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday. 2:30 p.m. Sunday. The latest installment in playwright Tom Edwards’ hilarious send-up of soap opera, love and heartbreak set to the tune of your favorite country songs. $17 café seating, $10 general admission.

Pensacola Little Theatre, 400 S. Jefferson St. 432-2042 or pensacolalittletheatre.com.

ART CLASS AT PAINTING WITH A TWIST 6:30-9:30 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: Van Gogh’s Coppery Vase. Painting with a Twist, 4771 Bayou Blvd., Suite C-11. $45. 471-1450 or paintingwithatwist.com/pensacola.

PHAT GIRLZ 9:30 a.m. Meet at Running Wild. This is a women’s only, all abilities running group. All abilities 3 to 6 miles through East Pensacola Heights. 3012 E. Cervantes St. 435-9222 or werunwild.com.

WINE TASTING AT CITY GROCERY 5:15-7:30 p.m. weekly. Sample wines and enjoy live entertainment. Free. 2050 N. 12th Ave. WINE TASTING AT SEVILLE QUARTER 5-7 p.m. weekly. All wines available at special pricing. Free. Gift Shoppe at Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. 434-6211 or sevillequarter.com BEER AND WINE TASTING AT DISTINCTIVE KITCHENS 4:30-7 p.m. weekly. Free. Distinctive Kitchens, 29 S. Palafox Place.

438-4688 or dk4u.com.

PENSACOLA SWING 8:30 p.m.-12 a.m. weekly. Lessons from 8:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Open dancing until midnight. American Legion Post 33, 1401 W. Intendencia St. $5. 437-5465 or pensacolaswing.com.

FINALLY FRIDAY AT THE OAR HOUSE 11 a.m. weekly. Enjoy entrée and drink specials. The Oar House, 1000 S. Pace Boulevard. 549-4444 or the-oar-house.com MUSIC: FIRST CITY BLUES BAND 9:30 p.m. No cover. Five

PENSACOLA CELEBRITY CHEFS CAPTURE THE FORT 4:30-7 p.m. Pensacola Celebrity Chefs will treat guests to local, coastal cuisine at historic Fort Pickens. The event will feature a five-course tasting, fine wines by Southern Wines and live entertainment. Fort Pickens tours will be given. Dining and entertainment on the grounds. $75 per person. Fort Pickens (far west end), Pensacola Beach. For more information contact Laura Lee at 434-1234 or llee@visitpensacola.com.

MEET THE WINE MAKER LUNCHEON AT DK 12 p.m. Join Hugh Hamilton, a fifth-generation Australian vintner, at DK for a casual and informal wine tasting of wines from his portfolio.

Light appetizers will be served to complement the wines. $15.

Distinctive Kitchens, 29 S. Palafox. 438-4688 or dk4u.com.

THE MARKET FESTIVAL 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Sponsored by the Gulf Coast African American Chamber of Commerce, The Market Festival gives new businesses the opportunity to showcase their talent. The public is invited. Unity Enterprises, 500 W. Belmont St. 433-0593.

FAMILY GOLF TOURNAMENT 7 a.m. The Subway® Family Golf Tournament benefiting The Northwest Florida Prevention Coalition will include hole-in-one and team prizes, awards ceremony, lunch and silent auction. Lost Key Golf Club, 625 Lost Key Drive. 485-1291 or nwflpc.org.

‘OUR INDIANA HERITAGE IN SANTA ROSA COUNTY’ LECTURE 10 a.m. Major James M. “Mickey” McNair (Retired) will speak on the topic of “Our Indian Heritage in Santa Rosa County,” a recounting of the larger history of Native Americans throughout our country and especially that of Santa Rosa County and Northwest Florida. Accompanying Major McNair will be members of the Santa Rosa Creek Indian Tribe. Free. Bagdad Village Museum, 4512 Church St., Bagdad. 983-7918 or bagdadvillage.org.

PERDIDO KEY MARTINI FESTIVAL 1-5 p.m. Enjoy live music, local artists, and food vendors while you indulge in unlimited samples of the best liquors available from the largest names like Grey Goose, Three Olives, Stoli, 42 Below, Bacardi and many more. $20 in advance or $30 at the gate. Jellyfish Bar, 13700 Perdido Key Drive. 332-6532 or jellyfishbar.com.

Have you been affected by the BP Oil Spill?

The Deepwater Horizon oil spill that occurred on April 20 has caused unprecedented effects on the states bordering the Gulf of Mexico. We are here to represent individuals and businesses that have experienced losses because of the oil spill disaster. These losses may include:

• Coastal Property Value • Profits and Earnings • • Revenue • Access to Natural Resources • Rental Income • We may be able to help you recover your losses.

Contact David Lee Sellers or Eric D. Stevenson of Sellers, Skievaski and Stevenson, LLP at gulfcoastrecovery@davidleesellers.com.

850.434.3111 | davidleesellers.com | 919 N. 12th Avenue Pensacola, Florida INDEPENDENT NEWS | NOVEMBER 04, 2010 | WWW.INWEEKLY.NET |

17

hot times Tom Edwards’ hilarious send-up of soap opera, love and heartbreak set to the tune of your favorite country songs. $17 café seating, $10 general admission. Pensacola Little Theatre, 400 S. Jefferson St. 432-2042 or pensacolalittletheatre.com.

BAYVIEW PARK SPRING FLEA MARKET 9 a.m.-12 p.m. Bayview Park, corner of East Blount Street and 20th Avenue. 436-5190 or aquina@ci.pensacola. fl.us.

ART CLASS AT PAINTING WITH A TWIST 11-1p.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: Family Day: Dancing Palm.

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

▲‘WALK, RATTLE-N-ROLL’ STROLLER-THON/WALK 8 a.m.

Catholic Charities of Northwest Florida Adoption Services will host its first annual walk for charity. Proceeds will help benefit the moms, babies, and families served through the Adoption Services program. $25 per person. $30 on day of the event. Admiral Mason Park on the corner of 9th Avenue and Bayfront Parkway. 436-6411 or walkrattlenroll.com.

PENSACOLA ICE FLYERS V. HUNTSVILLE HAVOC 7 p.m.

Pensacola Civic Center, 201 E. Gregory St. 432-0800 or pensacolaiceflyers.com.

drink. Historic Seville Square, Alcaniz Street and Bayfront Parkway. ggaf.org.

PUBLIC ICE SKATING 1:30-2:30 p.m., 3-4 p.m., 4:30-5:30 p.m.

The public is invited to the Pensacola Civic Center to enjoy skating on the ice. Pensacola Civic Center, 201 E. Gregory St. 308-1649 or pensacolafigureskating.com.

SUNSET SUNDAY AT THE OAR HOUSE 11 a.m. weekly. Enjoy entrée and drink specials. The Oar House, 1000 S. Pace Blvd.

549-4444 or the-oar-house.com.

SUCKER FREE SUNDAYS 11 a.m-2:30 a.m. All draft beers half price. Hopjacks Pizza Kitchen and Taproom, 10 Palafox Place.

497-6073 or hopjacks.com.

TEXAS HOLD’EM 7 p.m. weekly. Paddy O’Leary’s, 49 Via De Luna, Pensacola Beach. 916-9808 or paddyolearysirishpub.com.

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: Hurricane. Painting with a Twist, 4771 Bayou Blvd., Suite C-11. $35. 4711450 or paintingwithatwist.com/pensacola.

MUSIC: LUCAS CRUTCHFIELD 2 p.m. Enjoy live music on the Deck. The Fish House, 600 S. Barracks St. 470-0003 or fishhouse.goodgrits.com.

SALTED RIM SATURDAY AT THE OAR HOUSE 11 a.m. weekly.

Enjoy entrée and drink specials. The Oar House, 1000 S. Pace Boulevard. 549-4444 or the-oar-house.com.

MONDAY 11.8

RUNNING WILD SATURDAY LONG RUN 6 a.m. 8-20 miles, supported hydration stops, marked courses, pace leaders and more. 435-9222 or werunwild.com.

MUSIC: IAN TAYLOR 9 p.m. End ‘O The Alley in Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. 434-6211 or sevillequarter.com.

SEVILLE QUARTER MILERS 5:30 p.m. weekly. Meet in front of Seville Quarter and run the downtown streets of Pensacola.

All levels of runners welcome. Free pasta and drink specials in Fast Eddies after you run. Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. 434-6211 or sevillequarter.com.

AFTER GAME ICE SKATING 10-11 p.m. The public is invited to skate on the ice after the scheduled Ice Flyers Home game. Pensacola Civic Center, 201 E. Gregory St. 308-1649 or pensacolafigureskating.com.

MUSIC: AL MARTIN 7 p.m. weekly. Ragtyme Grille, 201 S. Jefferson St. 429-9655 or ragtyme.net.

MUSIC: LIVE MUSIC AT INTERMISSION 9:30 p.m. Intermission, 214 S. Palafox. No cover. 433-6208.

MONDAY POKER LEAGUE 5:30 p.m. Weekly through Dec. 20.

Players and spectators will win bar tabs, t-shirts, gift cards and more. The overall champion will be awarded a spot at the World Poker Tour Amateur Championship at the Tropicana Las Vegas, with a chance to compete for over $160,000 in cash and prizes. The Oar House, 1000 S. Pace Blvd. 549-4444 or the-oar-house.com.

GREAT GULF COAST ARTS FESTIVAL 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Through Nov. 7. Hosting more than 200 fine art and craft exhibitors from around the country. Also features a children’s arts festival, food and drink. Historic Seville Square, Alcaniz Street and Bayfront Parkway. ggaf.org.

MUSIC: KRAZY GEORGE KARAOKE 8:30 p.m.-1 a.m. No cover.

Hub Stacey’s Downtown, 312 E. Government St. 469-1001 or hubstaceys.com.

MANIC MONDAY AT THE OAR HOUSE 11 a.m. weekly. Enjoy entrée and drink specials. The Oar House, 1000 S. Pace Blvd.

549-4444 or the-oar-house.com.

MUSIC: LIVE MUSIC AT THE FISH HOUSE 9 p.m. The Deck at The Fish House, 600 S. Barracks St. 470-0003 or goodgrits.com.

TEXAS HOLD’EM 4 FUN 7:30 p.m. weekly. Enjoy $2 longnecks.

Sandshaker Lounge, 731 Pensacola Beach Blvd., Pensacola Beach. 932-2211 or sandshakerlounge.com.

BELMONT ARTS CENTER ANNUAL GLASS JAM 6-10 p.m. Silent and live auction and glass blowing demonstrations. Free to members, $15 donation suggested. Belmont Arts Center, 401 N. Reus St. 429-1222 or belmontartscenter.com.

TEXAS HOLD’EM 3 p.m. weekly. Paddy O’Leary’s, 49 Via De Luna, Pensacola Beach. 916-9808 or paddyolearysirishpub.com.

MUSIC: THE NOUVEAU HONKIES 6 p.m. Paradise Bar and Grill, 21 Via de Luna, Pensacola Beach. 916-5087 or paradisebar-grill.com.

SUNDAY 11.7

HEROIC BEETHOVEN AT THE SAENGER THEATRE 8 p.m. The Pensacola Symphony Orchestra opens the evening with the overture from Rossini’s take on the Cinderella fairy tale. International piano sensation Ran Dank performs Shostakovich’s Piano Concerto No. 1, originally premiered by the composer himself. Beethoven’s “tribute to a great man,” Symphony No. 3, will also be performed. Saenger Theatre, 118 S. Palafox.

595-3882 or pensacolasaenger.com.

JAZZ SERVICE AND BRUNCH AT ST. CHRISTOPHER’S 10:30 a.m.

St. Christopher’s Episcopal Church will host a jazz Eucharist followed by a jazz brunch on All Saints Sunday. A jazz quintet led by trumpeter Roger Villines, past president of the Jazz Society, will perform for the service and brunch. Brunch $14 for adults and $6 for children. St. Christopher’s Episcopal Church, 3200 N. 12th Ave. 433-0074 or stchris-pensacola.com.

‘DELLA’S DINER’ AT THE PENSACOLA LITTLE THEATRE 7:30 p.m. 2:30 p.m. Sunday. The latest installment in playwright

GREAT GULF COAST ARTS FESTIVAL 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Hosting more than 200 fine art and craft exhibitors from around the country. Also features a children’s arts festival, food and

DISCOUNT FIRST RUN

MOVIES • CINETAINMENT FOOD & SPIRITS CINETAINMENT

DINNER & A MOVIE ONLY $11

Regular Admission Prices: $4.50 matinees $6.50 after 6pm

$4.50 for seniors, military & students all the time

476-4545 18

•

MEGAMIND (PG) (12:45) (2:45) 4:45, 6:45, 8:45 DUE DATE (R) (1:00) (3:00) 5:00, 7:00, 9:00, 10:40 FOR COLORED GIRLS (R) (12:15) (2:30) 4:50, 7:15, 9:35 PARANORMAL ACTIVITY 2 (R) (1:15) (3:15) 5:15, 7:20, 9:15, 10:55 COMEDY IMPROV 10:45PM SAT $6 ROCKY HORROR (R) 11:30PM SAT $3

SILVERSCREENTHEATRE.COM

| INDEPENDENT NEWS | NOVEMBER 04, 2010 | WWW.INWEEKLY.NET

MUSIC: MUSICIANS ALLIANCE 9 p.m. Great live music and an opportunity to meet and greet with other musicians in the community. Apple Annie’s at Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. 434-6211 or sevillequarter.com.

MUSIC: GABE STEEVES 9 p.m. weekly. End O’ The Alley at Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. 434-6211 or sevillequarter.com.

MUSIC: GAMER NIGHT 8 p.m. Fast Eddie’s and LiliMarlene’s at Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. 434-6211 or sevillequarter.com.

TUESDAY 11.9 ‘SWEET TEA, SOUTHERN COOKING’ SERIES 6 p.m. The Fish House and its sister restaurant, Atlas Oyster House, are hosting a cooking symposium to preserve the art and tradition

of fine Southern cooking. They will demonstrate traditional Southern cooking methods and suggest ways to modernize each recipe without losing its Southern roots. The Deck at The Fish House, 600 S. Barracks St. 748-9001.

TUESDAY POKER LEAGUE 6 p.m. Weekly through Jan. 18.

Players and spectators will win bar tabs, t-shirts, gift cards and more. The overall Champion will be awarded a spot at the World Poker Tour Amateur Championship at the Tropicana Las Vegas, with a chance to compete for over $160,000 in cash and prizes. The Oar House, 1000 S. Pace Blvd. 549-4444 or the-oar-house.com.

TEQUILA TUESDAY AT THE OAR HOUSE 11 a.m. weekly. Enjoy entrée and drink specials. The Oar House, 1000 S. Pace Blvd.

549-4444 or the-oar-house.com.

HAUNTED TOURS 10:30 a.m. weekly. Take a break from the sun at Haunted Seville Quarter. After your tour enjoy a buffet lunch in Apple Annie’s Courtyard. Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. 221-1977 or pensacolahistoryandhauntings@cox.net.

LADIES NIGHT AT ANGUS 5 p.m. to close weekly. First “one sipper” on the house. Half off beer, house wine, well and drink menu. Buy one item on the Lounge Menu and receive the second for half off. 1101 Scenic Highway. 432-0539 or anguspensacola.com.

TUESDAY NIGHT JAM SESSION 7-9:30 p.m. weekly. Local musicians are invited to attend a weekly jam session to show off and share their talents among other local musicians.

Belmont Arts & Cultural Center, 401 N. Reus St. Free. 429-1222 or belmontartscenter.com.

THREE DOLLAR HOLLER 7 p.m.-close. Enjoy $3 drinks on anything at Hopjacks Pizza Kitchen and Taproom. 10 S. Palafox Place. 497-6073 or hopjacks.com.

POETRY AND SPOKEN WORD NIGHT 7 p.m. End of the Line Café, 610 E. Wright St. 429-0336 or eotlcafe.com.

WOMEN-ONLY MORNING RUNS AT RUNNING WILD 6 a.m.

Tuesdays and Thursdays, weekly. Meet at Running Wild for a steady-pace run for all levels of runners. 3012 E. Cervantes St. 435-9222 or werunwild.com.

RUNNING WILD SIX AT SIX 6 a.m. Various abilities from a 10 minute per mile pace and faster. Course is six miles, through East Hill, Downtown and North Hill. Stick around for coffee after the run. 435-9222 or werunwild.com.

MCGUIRE’S RUNNING CLUB 6 p.m. weekly. Meet by the double-decker bus in the parking lot at 5:45 p.m. Start the 5K run/walk at 6 p.m. Wear your McGuire’s t-shirt for free drinks and food specials. mcguiresrunners.com.

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

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

MUSIC: GUITAR SHORTY 7 p.m. Paradise Bar and Grill, 21 Via de Luna, Pensacola Beach. 916-5087 or paradisebar-grill.com.

hot times MUSIC: LUCAS CRUTCHFIELD 6 p.m. Enjoy live music on the Deck. The Fish House, 600 S. Barracks St. 470-0003 or fishhouse.goodgrits.com.

C-11. $35. 471-1450 or paintingwithatwist.com/pensacola.

MUSIC: PEELANDER Z, TSUSHIMAMIRE AND SUPER NICE BROS 7 p.m. Sluggo’s, 101 S. Jefferson St. 791-6501 or sluggospcola.blogspot.com.

CAPT’N FUN RUNNERS 6 p.m. Distances vary from 3 to 10 miles. Pace varies. After the run, enjoy the social meeting at Capt’ N Fun on the Boardwalk. Quietwater Boardwalk, Pensacola Beach. captnfun.net.

WEDNESDAY 11.10 END OF HARVEST WINE DINNER AT JACKSON’S 5:30 p.m.

Artesana Fine Wines has hand selected four stellar wines to complement a selection of fall harvest dishes prepared by Chef Irv Miller. $65 per person plus tax and gratuity. Seating is limited, and reservations are required. Jackson’s Steakhouse, 400 S. Palafox. For reservations call 469-9898. goodgrits.com.

LAUGH FOR LIFE COMEDY NIGHT 6 p.m. Pensacola native Dave Tucker will be headlining the show and will be joined by Tim Statum, Alan Shaw and Kermit Baker. Proceeds benefit American Cancer Society. $12-$15. Phineas Phogg’s in Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. 434-6211 or pensacolacomedynight.com.

‘FROM HIP HOP TO ANCIENT JEWISH MUSIC’ 7 p.m. The Pensacola Jewish Federation presents conductor, composer and violinist Uri Barneau, a native Israeli and Spiritual Leader of B’Nai Israel Synagogue, Hattiesburg, Miss. Through live music, he will present a historical survey of Jewish music from ancient times to contemporary blues and hip-hop. B’Nai Israel Synagogue, 1829 N. Ninth Ave. 434-7992 or jewishpensacola.org.

WINO WEDNESDAY AT THE OAR HOUSE 11 a.m. weekly.

Enjoy entrée and drink specials. The Oar House, 1000 S. Pace Boulevard. 549-4444 or the-oar-house.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: Autumn Still Life. Painting with a Twist, 4771 Bayou Blvd., Suite

OPEN MIC NIGHT 7 p.m. End of the Line Café, 610 E. Wright St. 429-0336 or eotlcafe.com.

LADIES NIGHT AT FISH HOUSE 5 p.m. weekly. Guest performance by Rumor Mill. All drinks $2. 600 S. Barracks St. Free.

470-0003 or goodgrits.com.

WINE DOWN WEDNESDAY AT JACKSON’S 5 p.m. Every Wednesday evening at Jackson’s Steakhouse, every bottle on their award-winning wine list is half off. 400 S. Palafox St. 469-9898 or jacksons.goodgrits.com.

IN MARTINI NIGHT 5-8 p.m. Every Wednesday, join IN Publisher Rick Outzen and get a sneak peak at tomorrow’s issue of the IN. You can pass on any news tips to the publisher himself.

Live music. Drink and food specials. The Global Grill, 27 S. Palafox Place. 469-9966.

BUSINESS ON THE BALCONY 5:30-7:30 p.m. weekly. Enjoy $1 Miller Lite and PBR drafts, $4 Grey Goose drinks, free appetizers and dinner specials while you network. Will Call Sports Grille, 22 S. Palafox Place. 912-8644 or willcallsports.com.

WIND DOWN WEDNESDAY AT ANGUS 5 p.m. to close weekly.

Enjoy $4 select martinis, $4 premium craft beers and half-off appetizers. 1101 Scenic Highway. 432-0539 or anguspensacola.com.

MUSIC: LUCAS CRUTCHFIELD 5-9 p.m. weekly. The Deck at The Fish House, 600 S. Barracks St. 470-0003 or goodgrits.com.

MUSIC: LIVE MUSIC/DJ 9 p.m.-2 a.m. The DJ will play between sets. The Deck at The Fish House, 600 S. Barracks St. 470-0003 or goodgrits.com.

MUSIC: KARAOKE WITH BECKY 9 p.m. weekly. Sandshaker Lounge, Pensacola Beach Blvd., Pensacola Beach. 932-2211 or sandshakerlounge.com.

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

MUSIC: OPEN MIC AND LADIES NIGHT 7 p.m. weekly. Paddy O’Leary’s, 49 Via De Luna, Pensacola Beach. 916-9808 or paddyolearysirishpub.com.

THURSDAY 11.11 VETERANS DAY PARADE 9 a.m. Parade will progress from City Hall proceeding down Main Street to Veteran’s Memorial Park on Bayfront Parkway. 435-1603.

HANDS ON CLASS – BAKING HOLIDAY FOWL 6 p.m. $59.95.

Distinctive Kitchens, 29 S. Palafox. 438-6488 or dk4u.com.

‘SCHEMA’ EXHIBITION RECEPTION 6 p.m. Through Nov. 12.

The Art Gallery (TAG) at the University of West Florida (UWF) presents “Schema,” an exhibition of work by Chris Deris and Adam Welch. The Center for Fine and Performing Arts, Building 82, 11000 University Parkway. 474-2696.

T-SHIRT NIGHT 7 p.m. Half-price drinks when wearing a Shaker shirt. Sandshaker Lounge, Pensacola Beach Blvd., Pensacola Beach. 932-2211 or sandshakerlounge.com.

WOMEN-ONLY MORNING RUNS AT RUNNING WILD 6 a.m.

Tuesdays and Thursdays, weekly. Meet at Running Wild for a steady-pace run for all levels of runners. 3012 E. Cervantes St. 435-9222 or werunwild.com.

RUNNING WILD SIX AT SIX 6 a.m. Various abilities from a 10 minute per mile pace and faster. Course is six miles, through East Hill, Downtown and North Hill. Stick around for coffee after the run. 435-9222 or werunwild.com.

▶staff pick

SALE

FIORE HOLIDAY OPEN HOUSE

Bo.ties

J

oin Fiore for their Holiday Open House, featuring holiday decor by Fiore, wedding cake stands by Cindy Lewis, and fashions by jeni b.

Fiore will have their unique holiday decor on display and for sale. Browse holiday candles, wreaths, garlands, fresh floral arrangements, and more.

Pensacola native and Gulf Coast designer jeni b. will also be on hand debuting her two new lines: posh. militia and bo.ties.

Frames

Posh.militia features custom, one-of-a-kind clothing and accessories for women, men and children, as well as home décor items, derived from her family’s military surplus supply company archives. Wool military blankets have been transformed into both chic belted trench coats and cropped swing jackets. Industrial strainers have morphed into fun home storage containers, while military electrical grounding wires have sparked new life as stylish, metallic belts.

Bo.ties—a line of bowties for men and boys— was created after the birth of Bailey’s son Bo, when she realized that everyone had fun accessories for little girls, but not for boys. You can choose from a variety of fabrics or they can design a custom bowtie with your fabric of choice—A perfect gift to stick under the tree this year.

20-75% off New Value Lens Package Pricing See store for details and certain restrictions do apply.

Posh.militia jacket

FIORE HOLIDAY OPEN HOUSE

WHEN: 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 10 WHERE: Fiore, 824 E. Belmont St. COST: Free DETAILS: 469-1930 or fioreofpensacola.com Posh.militia bracelet

113 Palafox Place, Pensacola 434-2060 800 N Fairfield Dr, Pensacola 456-5059 5593 Stewart St, Milton 623-0319

www.Terrezzaoptical.com INDEPENDENT NEWS | NOVEMBER 04, 2010 | WWW.INWEEKLY.NET |

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hot times EVENING RUNS AT RUNNING WILD 5:30 p.m. weekly. Meet at Running Wild for a steady-pace run for all levels of runners.

3012 E. Cervantes St. 435-9222 or werunwild.com.

MUSIC: THE QUEERS, THE RIPTIDES AND AW SHUX 7:30 p.m. $10-$12. Vinyl Music Hall, 2 S. Palafox. 607-6758 or vinylmusichall.com.

country songs. $17 café seating, $10 general admission.

Pensacola Little Theatre, 400 S. Jefferson St. 432-2042 or pensacolalittletheatre.com.

MUSIC: HOLLY SHELTON AND DAVID SHELANDER 8 p.m. weekly. Ragtyme Grille, 201 S. Jefferson St. 429-9655 or ragtyme.net.

HERB CLASS AT EVER’MAN 5:30 p.m. weekly. Come study different herbs. Enjoy different guest lectures every Thursday night, and learn techniques recommended by the Cambridge Institute. Free for members, $2 for non-members. Ever’man Natural Foods, 315 W. Garden St. 438-0402 or everman.org.

MUSIC: KARAOKE WITH KRAZY GEORGE 8 p.m. LiliMarlene’s in Seville Quarter.130 E. Government St. 434-6211 or sevillequarter.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: Lucy on the Loose. Painting with a Twist, 4771 Bayou Blvd., Suite C-11. $45. 471-1450 or paintingwithatwist.com/pensacola.

MUSIC: LIVE MUSIC AT INTERMISSION 9:30 p.m. Intermission, 214 S. Palafox. No cover. 433-6208.

PHAT GIRLZ 9:30 a.m. Meet at Running Wild. This is a women’s only, all abilities running group. All abilities 3 to 6 miles through East Pensacola Heights. 3012 E. Cervantes St. 435-9222 or werunwild.com.

MUSIC: BUCKY COVINGTON 7 p.m. $15-$20. Vinyl Music Hall, 2 S. Palafox. 607-6758 or vinylmusichall.com.

WINE TASTING AT CITY GROCERY 5:15-7:30 p.m. weekly. Sample wines and enjoy live entertainment. Free. 2050 N. 12th Ave.

‘FIDDLER ON THE ROOF’ AT THE SAENGER 7:30 p.m. Based on the stories of Sholom Aleichem. The score includes “Tradition,” “Matchmaker, Matchmaker,” “If I Were a Rich Man” and “Sunrise, Sunset.” Saenger Theatre, 118 S. Palafox Place.

595-3880 or pensacolasaenger.com.

WINE TASTING AT ARAGON WINE MARKET 5-7 p.m. weekly.

Enjoy a sampling of fine wines. 27 S. Ninth Ave. 433-9463 or aragonwinemarket.com.

THIRSTY THURSDAY AT THE OAR HOUSE 11 a.m. weekly. Enjoy entrée and drink specials. The Oar House, 1000 S. Pace Blvd.

549-4444 or the-oar-house.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: Couples night: Pensacola Blue Angels. Painting with a Twist, 4771 Bayou Blvd., Suite C-11. $45. 471-1450 or paintingwithatwist.com/pensacola.

CARIBBEAN NIGHT AT WILL CALL 10 p.m.-close weekly. $5 entrance fee includes one free drink and all the dancing you can stand. 22 S. Palafox St. 912-8644 or willcallsports.com.

COLLEGE NIGHT COOK-OUT 7-10 p.m. weekly. No cover with college ID. Cookout, drink specials and live music. End O’ the Alley Bar inside Seville Quarter.130 E. Government St. 4346211 or sevillequarter.com.

MUSIC: HOLLY SHELTON 7 p.m. No cover. Five Sisters Blues Café, 421 W. Belmont St. 912-4856 or fivesistersbluescafe.com.

MUSIC: LIVE MUSIC AT INTERMISSION 9:30 p.m. Intermission, 214 S. Palafox. No cover. 433-6208.

MUSIC: LUCAS CRUTCHFIELD 6 p.m. Enjoy live music on the Deck. The Fish House, 600 S. Barracks St. 470-0003 or fishhouse.goodgrits.com.

FRIDAY 11.12 BLUE ANGELS HOMECOMING AIR SHOW 8 a.m.-3 p.m.

Experience the Navy Blue Angels pilots demonstrating the capabilities of their planes over Naval Air Station Pensacola, 1750 Radford Blvd. 453-3955 or blueangels.navy.mil.

BLUES AND BBQ 5 p.m. Seville Quarter will be hosting a weekend of great BBQ and blues music. The festival will feature the sounds of Steve Gunter, Big Jim and Sweet Pea’s Revenge, as well as BBQ from Seville Quarter Executive Chef Brandon Melton. End ‘O The Alley in Seville Quarter. 130 E. Government St. 434-6211 or sevillequarter.com.

PICK A BOWL FOR MANNA 6-9 p.m. Co-hosted by MANNA and Pensacola State College. The public is invited to watch as area artists throw clay at the potter’s wheel. The public is invited for an evening of good fun, good food and great art. Free, but donations welcome. Anna Lamar Switzer Center for Visual Arts, 1000 College Blvd. 432-2053 or mannafoodpantries.org.

PENSACOLA ICE FLYERS V. LOUISIANA ICE GATORS 7 p.m. Pensacola Civic Center, 201 E. Gregory St. 432-0800 or pensacolaiceflyers.com.

AFTER GAME ICE SKATING 10-11 p.m. The public is invited to skate on the ice after the scheduled Ice Flyers Home game. Pensacola Civic Center, 201 E. Gregory St. 308-1649 or pensacolafigureskating.com.

‘DELLA’S DINER’ AT THE PENSACOLA LITTLE THEATRE 7:30 p.m. Friday, Saturday. 2:30 p.m. Sunday. The latest installment in playwright Tom Edwards’ hilarious send-up of soap opera, love and heartbreak set to the tune of your favorite

20 | INDEPENDENT NEWS | NOVEMBER 04, 2010 | WWW.INWEEKLY.NET

WINE TASTING AT SEVILLE QUARTER 5-7 p.m. weekly. All wines available at special pricing. Free. Gift Shoppe at Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. 434-6211 or sevillequarter.com BEER AND WINE TASTING AT DISTINCTIVE KITCHENS 4:30-7 p.m. weekly. Free. Distinctive Kitchens, 29 S. Palafox Place.

438-4688 or dk4u.com.

PENSACOLA SWING 8:30 p.m.-12 a.m. weekly. Lessons from 8:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Open dancing until midnight. American Legion Post 33, 1401 W. Intendencia St. $5. 437-5465 or pensacolaswing.com.

FINALLY FRIDAY AT THE OAR HOUSE 11 a.m. weekly. Enjoy entrée and drink specials. The Oar House, 1000 S. Pace Blvd.

549-4444 or the-oar-house.com MUSIC: REDDOG 9:30 p.m. No cover. Five Sisters Blues Café, 421 W. Belmont St. 912-4856 or fivesistersbluescafe.com.

MUSIC: 80’S RETRO NIGHT 8 p.m. No cover. Bamboo Willie’s, 400 Quietwater Beach Road. 916-9888 or bamboowillies.com.

MUSIC: THE BLENDERS 7 p.m. weekly. Ragtyme Grille, 201 S. Jefferson St. 429-9655 or ragtyme.net.

MUSIC: EDDIE KIRKLAND TRIBUTE 6 p.m. Paradise Bar and Grill, 21 Via de Luna, Pensacola Beach. 916-5087 or paradisebar-grill.com.

SATURDAY 11.13

ARTS AND CRAFTS FESTIVAL 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Features more than 75 arts and crafts vendors, homemade baked goods, and a holiday luncheon. Pine Forest United Methodist Church, 2800 Wilde Lake Blvd. 944-0170 or pineforestumc.org.

PENSACOLA ICE FLYERS V. AUGUSTA RIVERHAWKS 7 p.m.

Pensacola Civic Center, 201 E. Gregory St. 432-0800 or pensacolaiceflyers.com.

PANHANDLE EQUINE RESCUE YARD SALE 8 a.m.-3 p.m. Proceeds go to care for the horses the Panhandle Equine Rescues saves, fosters and finds homes for. 3099 E. Chipper Road, Cantonment. 587-2754 or panhandlerequinerescue.org.

BLUE ANGELS HOMECOMING AIR SHOW 8 a.m.-3 p.m.

Experience the Navy Blue Angels pilots demonstrating the capabilities of their planes over Naval Air Station Pensacola, 1750 Radford Blvd. 453-3955 or blueangels.navy.mil.

culture

HEART OF GLASS

BELMONT ARTS AND CULTURAL CENTER CELEBRATES 4TH ANNUAL GLASS JAM

BY JENNIE MCKEON

Scott Novata vases

T

he art of glass blowing may not be common knowledge for everyone.

Fortunately, the Belmont Arts and Cultural Center provides classes for those of us who are clueless about the process but love the result—beautiful handblown glass plates, vases, and other home décor pieces. Even better, the center throws an

annual party where you can browse and purchase locally hand-blown pieces.

“The Glass Jam has grown every year,” said Scott Novota, a local glass blower who will also be showing his work at the Great Gulf Coast Arts Festival.

“We’re fortunate that the glass blowers at Belmont have connections throughout the country,” said event chairperson Michelle OrtizMiguez. “At the first Glass Jam the artists decided to get together, and they invited friends to watch them make the pieces.

Now, it’s one of our signature events.”

The event is Saturday, Nov. 6 from 6-10 p.m. and will feature hors d’oeuvres and beverages.

The artists will create pieces all evening that will then go up for grabs in a live auction. Additional items from Belmont artists will be featured in a silent auction.

“There will be a few surprise items from kind sponsors,” said Ortiz-Miguez.

“All funds go to Belmont Arts and Cultural

Center. The artists have been very kind to donate their time to this event.”

Artists are just as happy to donate their time and skill.

“Belmont is a great opportunity for Pensacola,” said Novota. “Letting the pieces be auctioned off is helping Belmont pay the bills. We want a place like Belmont to be around.”

Artists outside of Pensacola also appreciate the value of the Belmont. Mark Rosenbaum is a glass-blowing artist from New Orleans who has participated in the Glass Jam for the past four years and has been a glass artist for 30 years. Rosenbaum will also be at the Great Gulf Coast Arts Festival.

“It’s definitely important to support the Belmont Arts and Cultural Center,” Rosenbaum said. “There isn’t really a glass studio open to the public that allows them to see how glass is made.”

The event is meant to teach as much as it is meant to entertain.

“Some people may be surprised at the difficulty of glass blowing,” said Novota.

“It takes a lot of dexterity, but the more you do it the better you get. Hopefully, people come away with a new enlightenment on how things are made.”

“I hope people at the Glass Jam gain a new understanding of glass blowing,” said Ortiz-Miguez. “It’s a unique and fun event.

We hope that people keep coming back to be enthralled.”

At the event, the artists will take turns creating their pieces. This allows artists to see what others are making and learn something new themselves.

“It’s like a jazz jam session,” Rosenbaum said. “You watch and see what other artists do and then respond to that.”

Those involved with the Glass Jam also hope to inspire people to try a glass blowing class.

“Once you see it done it really captures you,” said Ortiz-Miguez. “You say to yourself ‘I want to try that.’ Once you start you can get the glass-blowing bug.”

“I started glass blowing eight years ago when I moved back down here from New York City,” Novota said. “I took a class at Belmont and have been doing it ever since.

It’s very addictive.”

That addiction can turn into something beautiful, like Novota’s colorful vases, which are not only eye-catching, but functional.

“My favorite pieces are the swirl vases with highly saturated colors,” Novota said.

“I like to make vases and bowls. Some things are pretty to look at and then some things are pretty and can also be put to good use.”

If you do get bitten by the “glassblowing bug” you can certainly cure it with classes at Belmont Arts and Cultural Center. Go to belmontartcenter.com for more information about workshops. info@inweekly.net

4TH ANNUAL GLASS JAM WHERE: Belmont Arts and Cultural Center, 401 N. Reus St. WHEN: 6-10 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 6 COST: Free for Belmont members, $15 suggested donation DETAILS: belmontartscenter.com

Geno’s Italian Restaurant Locally Owned & Operated by Linda & Jaxon Schumacher for 38 Years Enjoy The Family Experience Monday - Thursday 11a.m.-9 p.m.

Friday 11 a.m.-10 p.m.

Saturday 5-10 p.m. * Closed Sundays Daily Lunch & Dinner Specials ~Beer & Wine Available~

9276 N. Davis Hwy. • 850-477-2365 1 MILE NORTH OF WEST FLORIDA HOSPITAL

M-F 10a-7p • Sat 10a-5p • Sun 12-4p

3012 E. Cervantes St. 435-9222 • www.werunwild.com INDEPENDENT NEWS | NOVEMBER 04, 2010 | WWW.INWEEKLY.NET |

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family sports complex

22 | INDEPENDENT NEWS | NOVEMBER 04, 2010 | WWW.INWEEKLY.NET

music

EOKFA EOKFA

DON’T LET THE NAME FOOL YOU SINGER-SONGWRITER JOHN COMMON CELEBRATES RETURN HOME

BY BRETT HUTCHINS

John Common and Blinding Flashes of Light / photo by Kelly Kievit

S

ometimes, the name just doesn’t fit. Such is the case with John Common. He and his band, Blinding Flashes of Light, bring their eclectic sound to Pensacola with a series of dates at The Fish House and the Greater Gulf Coast Arts Festival this weekend. The IN was able to catch up with Common to talk about his Pensacola past and his journey to becoming one of Denver’s favorite songwriters.

the political spectrum. There’s a tension in Pensacola that’s extremely unique.

IN: How did growing up in a creative family influence you?

COMMON: First of all, they introduced me to music in general. I grew up watching my brother play his acoustic guitar. A creative family makes it seem okay to be creative.

When I think about what it might be like if I hadn’t grown up in a creative family like that, maybe I wouldn’t have even done it. Maybe I would have thought it was impossible.

IN: You also spent some time working on a wheat farm in central Kansas. How did you get involved with that?

COMMON: I had been couch-surfing in New York City while busking. I got to a point where I asked myself, “What’s the most opposite direction I could go from Manhattan?” A friend’s family had an antique farmhouse that her family homesteaded and still owned in the middle of nowhere in Kansas. It’s literally about 20 miles from the exact geographic center of the U.S. in a tiny town called Denmark. The place is a grain co-op surrounded by 15 or 20 family farms and nothing more. It’s not really a town.

They introduced me to Merril the Farmer, who paid me $5 an hour to do all sorts of manual labor. I went out there and lived alone in a farmhouse, had my little 4-track and wrote songs. It wasn’t lonesome. More like solitary. Looking back, it was one of the happiest times of my life.

IN: You spent your middle school and high school years in Pensacola. How did the town shape you the most?

COMMON: I’m not sure I can put that into words, other than to say that it’s a “Southern” thing. It’s something you don’t realize until you leave the South, but once you do, you know on a personal level what that means. Something that’s interesting about the culture in Pensacola is how many creative people there are. There’s always been this undercurrent of underground, independent, artistic stuff, whether it’s blowing glass at Belmont Arts Center or live bands or visual arts, it’s always existed. And the culture itself is military-based and right on

IN: After your Pensacola years, you went through what you call your “Kerouac” phase. Tell us about that time in your life.

COMMON: I traveled around the country, slept in a sleeping bag or in my truck, wrote bad poetry, played a bunch of busking-type street gigs and grew my hair out. I think every young man needs to do that.

IN: Your past bands are starkly different from Blinding Flashes of Light. Describe the evolution in your sound.

COMMON: Originally, I was in a punk psychedelic roots band called Bunkhouse Jones in Pensacola. Then I came to Denver and started a roots band inspired by early Wilco and Jayhawks stuff. Eventually, I got really tired of doing the roots thing, so I put out a record called “Good to be Born” that was much more experimental and meant to stretch myself as a songwriter and singer. I was much happier as an artist for doing so.

When recording our most recent record, I made it a rule that I wouldn’t play any electric guitar. I had always been that guy with an electric guitar standing in front of a tube amp.

I was curious to see what would happen to the sound of my music without that element. So we replaced all the sound that the electric guitar can do with more orchestral qualities, like layered vocals, keyboards and cello. It ended up being an immensely organic approach to making music. And for me personally, it forced me to rely on my band more. The space makes the music breathe more.

Spread Holiday Cheer

Reserve Your Date with Classic City Catering Today!

214 W. Intendencia St. 433-8064 Classiccitycatering.com

IN: What artists have inspired your current sound the most?

COMMON: Tom Waits has always been a big-time influence of mine. Leonard Cohen.

Sufjan Stevens. The Robert Plant and Alison Krauss record, “Raising Sand.”

IN: You’ve gotten a lot of praise for your songwriting. Where do you get most of your lyrical inspiration?

COMMON: A lot of times the lyrics come from this never-ending inner monologue in my head. The conversations I have with myself throughout the day end up being the basis for most of my music.

• holiday parties • weddings • meetings

IN: Anything else you’d like to add?

COMMON: We really are excited to be playing in Pensacola. I’ve been coming to the arts festival for a while, and it’s an honor to finally be playing there. info@inweekly.net

JOHN COMMON AND BLINDING FLASHES OF LIGHT

WHEN: 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday Nov. 5-6; 10 a.m.

Saturday Nov. 6 WHERE: The Fish House, 600 S. Barracks St.; Great Gulf Coast Arts Festival, Seville Square COST: Free DETAILS: johncommon.com

For info: 850.432.6247 intern@pensacolamuseumofart.org 407 south jefferson street www.pensacolamuseumofart.org

INDEPENDENT NEWS | NOVEMBER 04, 2010 | WWW.INWEEKLY.NET |

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news of the weird BELT-TIGHTENING GREEKS: In October, Greece’s largest health insurance provider announced, in a letter to a diabetes foundation, that it would no longer pay for the special footwear that diabetics need for reducing pain but suggested it would pay instead for amputation, which is less expensive. The decision, which the foundation said is not supported by international scientific literature, was published in the prominent Athens newspaper To Vima (The Tribune) and reported by the U.S. news site DailyCaller.com.

RETAIL BREAKTHROUGHS: (1) A shop in Santa Cruz, Calif., opened in September selling ice cream infused with extract of marijuana. Customers with “medical marijuana” prescriptions can buy Creme De Canna, Bananabis Foster or Straw-Mari Cheesecake, at $15 a half-pint (with one bite supposedly equal to five puffs of “really good” weed, according to the proprietor). (2) Spotted outside subway stations in Nanjing, China, in October: vending machines selling live Shanghai Hairy Crabs, in plastic containers chilled to 5 degrees C (41 degrees F), for the equivalent of $1.50 to $7, depending on size.

GOOD NEWS FOR FRISKY MARRIED MUSLIMS: (1) Abdelaziz Aouragh’s recently

opened Internet site sells Shariah-compliant aids to promote the “sexual health” of married couples, mostly lubricants, lotions and herbal pills, with lingerie coming soon (but no videos or toys). (All products have been cleared by Saudi religious scholars.)

He says he aspires to open actual storefronts soon. (2) Ms. Khadija Ahmed, attending to customers while dressed in flowing robe and head scarf, is already open for business in Manama, Bahrain, offering, since 2008, lingerie, orgasm-delaying creams and even some sex toys. (“Vibrators” are “against Islam,” she said, because they are intended as replications of a body part, but “vibration rings” are permitted.) Bahrain, obviously, is among the most liberal countries in the Persian Gulf region, but Ahmed is considering expanding to Dubai and Lebanon.

SURGERY THAT CAN’T POSSIBLY BE TRUE

Janis Ollson, 31, of Balmoral, Manitoba, is recovering nicely after being almost completely sawed in half in 2007 by Mayo Clinic surgeons, who concluded that they could remove her bone cancer no other way.

In experimental surgery that had been tried only on cadavers, doctors split her pelvis in half, removed the left half, her left leg and her lower spine (and the tumor) in a 20-hour, 12-specialist procedure. The real trick, though, was the eight-hour, 240-staple reconstruction in which her remaining leg was reconnected to her spine with pins and screws, leaving her in an arrangement doctors likened to a “pogo stick.” A September Winnipeg Free Press story noted that, except for the missing leg, she is enjoying a normal life with her husband and two kids and enjoys snowmobiling.

24 | INDEPENDENT NEWS | NOVEMBER 04, 2010 | WWW.INWEEKLY.NET

BY CHUCK SHEPPARD • Kyle Johnson shattered his skull so badly in a high-speed longboard accident in June that ordinary “decompressive craniectomy” (temporarily removing half of the skull to relieve pressure) would be inadequate. Instead, doctors at McKay-Dee Hospital in Ogden, Utah, removed both halves, leaving only a thin strip of bone (after placing Johnson in a drug-induced coma) and kept the skull frozen to prevent brittleness. After the swelling subsided, they reattached the skull to his head and woke him up gradually over a week’s time.

Johnson admits some memory problems and cognitive dysfunction, most notably his inability to focus on more than one concept at a time -- even when they are part of the same scene, such as two crayons on a table. Johnson said he probably won’t go back to the longboard but, curiously like Janis Ollson, looks forward to snowmobiling.

CUTTING-EDGE SCIENCE Obese patients with an array of symptoms known as “prediabetes” have seen their insulin sensitivity improved dramatically via “fecal transplants,” i.e., receiving the stool of a thin, healthy person into the bowel, according to researchers led by a University of North Carolina professor. Researchers said the strangers’ implants were significantly more effective than those of a control group, in which a person’s own feces was implanted. (News of the Weird has previously reported on success in treating certain gastrointestinal infections by stool transplants that contain the bacteria Clostridium difficile.)

• Two University of Sydney researchers reported recently that the food-acquisition “strategy” of the brainless, single-cell slime mold appeared to resemble one of the strategies familiar to us so-called braincontaining humans, specifically, making a selection only after comparing it to readily available alternatives. Furthermore, Japanese researchers who mapped the slime mold’s search for food found that its nuclei are arranged in a pattern that is seemingly just as logically helpful in food procurement as the service arrangements are in Tokyo’s acclaimed railway system. (In October, the Japanese researchers were awarded a satirical “Ig Nobel” prize by the Annals of Improbable Research.)

• In research results announced in June, a team led by a University of Oklahoma professor, studying Mexican molly fish, discovered that females evaluate potential mates on sight, based on the prominence of the moustachelike growths on males’ upper lips. More controversially, the researchers hypothesized that males further enhance their mating prowess by employing the “moustache” to tickle females’ genitals. (Catfish have similar “whiskers” and perhaps use them for similar purposes, said the researchers.)

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

Pensacola Young Professionals Pensacola Young Professionals – We Don’t Want You to Join…

NO…We REALLY want you to join, we NEED you to Join, because we WANT TO MAKE THE DIFFERENCE IN THIS TOWN!!!

So we are giving away memberships!

That’s right…now through Nov. 9, new members who join PYP will receive two months free. That’s right – FREE! Simply sign up today, pay your 2011 membership fee of $100, and enjoy the last two months of 2010 as a PYP member at no additional cost.

Existing members who refer a new member will be given a $25 discount off their membership for every member they refer up to 4 members, or will be entered into a competition to win up to $100, your choice.* For more information or to take advantage of this offer, call Pensacola Young Professionals Director Rachael Gillette at (850) 332-7820. New members can sign up in person at our Quarterly Meeting to be held Nov. 9 at 5:30 p.m. at Will Call Sports Grill.

The benefits to being a PYP member are endless. Members of Pensacola Young Professionals are dynamic differencemakers in our community. We represent industries from banking to real estate, law to medicine, nonprofit and beyond.

There’s something for everyone in PYP. Find where you fit by asking yourself: What drives you?

Are you interested in governmental affairs? Is quality of life your top priority? Are you looking for ways to become more philanthropic? Do you get a kick out of team sports?

No matter your passion, PYP has a place for you. We encourage nonmembers to attend any of our events, from informational “Y2B a PYP” sessions outlining our organization and its mission, to volunteer drives or more social occasions like Pub Club, a bimonthly after-work gathering geared toward connecting young professionals in a relaxed atmosphere.

As a PYP member, you will receive a weekly e-communication called Highlights, informing you of upcoming PYP and partner events, volunteer opportunities, as well as job and internship postings. Inside every edition is a wealth of information exclusive to PYP members.

Once you have signed on as a member, you can become even more involved in the direction of our beautiful city by joining any (or all) of our teams – Member Services, Networking, Economic Development, Governmental Affairs or Quality of Life. Use your unique skills and talents to make the most of your membership.

There are countless reasons to join PYP, and now is your chance to participate for two bonus months at no cost, or re-join and bring your friends and colleagues.

Please consider joining us at our Quarterly Meeting Nov. 9 to learn more about our organization and the many ways membership will help you grow – personally and professionally.

Pensacola Young Professionals ‘Strides Against Breast Cancer’ Team

CALENDAR OF EVENTS Nov. 9th PYP Quarterly Meeting Will Call Sports Grill 5:30 p.m. – 7 p.m.

Nov. 10th Pub Club at Tijuana Flats 5:30 p.m.

Bayou Blvd Nov. 17th Quality of Life Team Meeting Chili’s Bayou Blvd Noon

Nov. 17th Governmental Affairs Team and Economic Development Team Meet and Greet for newly elected officials.

Location TBD 5:30 p.m. – 7 p.m.

Nov. 30th Quality of Life Team Cooking for People in Poverty With “Bridges to Circles” 3:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.

Sacred Heart, 1212 E. Moreno St.

For more information visit: www.pensacolayp.com

What drives YOU? *Gift certificates will be awarded in $25 increments per new member referred up to 4 members.

The winner will be the person who refers the most new members. In the event of a tie awards will be at the discretion of the PYP president. In any event all discounts and awards will be at the sole discretion of the PYP President with no exceptions.

INDEPENDENT NEWS | NOVEMBER 04, 2010 | WWW.INWEEKLY.NET |

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community outreach SENIOR GIFT REQUESTS EXPECTED TO INCREASE THIS HOLIDAY AS ECONOMIC SLUMP CONTINUES Be a Santa to a Senior®, the popular campaign that has delivered 1.2 million gifts to needy seniors throughout North America in the past six years, is gearing up again this holiday season during a time when seniors may need more of the bare necessities to survive.

The Home Instead Senior Care® office serving Escambia and Santa Rosa Counties has joined local health care partners (see below for complete list) and area Walmart stores to provide presents to seniors who otherwise might not receive a gift this holiday season.

Program sponsors expect gift requests to be up this year as the economic downturn continues and Social Security benefits fail to keep pace with daily living expenses.

“Most people aren’t aware that there are literally hundreds, if not thousands, of seniors in every community who have no family and are alone,” said Carlette Howell, owner of the Home Instead Senior Care office serving the Pensacola area. “What’s more, this holiday season finds many older adults struggling to make ends meet.”

Prior to the holiday season, the participating local non-profit organizations will identify needy and isolated seniors in the community and provide those names to Home Instead Senior Care. Christmas trees, which will go upon Nov. 1 at the Walmart stores below, feature ornaments with the first names only of the seniors and their respective gift requests.

Participating Walmart locations: • 8970 Pensacola Blvd. in Pensacola • 4965 Highway 90 in Pace • 3767 Gulf Breeze Parkway in Gulf Breeze • 2951 South Blue Angel Parkway in Pensacola • 2650 Creighton Road in Pensacola Holiday shoppers can pick up an ornament, buy items on the list and return them unwrapped to the store, along with the ornament attached. Volunteers will then collect, wrap and deliver the gifts to area seniors.

“Be a Santa to a Senior is a way to show our gratitude to those older adults who have contributed so much to our community,” Howell said. “We hope to reach out to many with this gesture of holiday cheer and goodwill.”

The program runs from Nov. 1 through Dec. 15.

Important dates of note are as follows: Nov. 1: Trees go up in area stores and businesses Dec. 15: Community gift wrapping party – the general public is invited to come and help!

Dec. 15: Delivery of gifts to seniors in the community For more information about the program, call 850477-1947 or log on to beasantatoasenior.com.

BEACH LOVERS WANTED Volunteers Needed for Biggest Florida Beach Walk and Photo Fest Ever! Beach lovers are

invited to join the Great VISIT FLORIDA Beach Walk, coming Saturday, Nov. 6, when Floridians rally to celebrate the Sunshine State’s sandy shores and show the world – with photos from each of the 825 miles – that Florida’s beaches are as wonderful as ever.

Register now to walk a beach mile and upload a photo at VISITFLORIDA.com/beachwalk Registered individual or group volunteers will walk their official mile between sunrise and 10 a.m. CST and take a photograph along the way to upload to the internet.

There are 43 miles of beaches to be walked in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties. Check-In Stations will be located at the Perdido Key Visitor’s Information Center and Casino Beach.

All beach photos will be displayed in real time at VISITFLORIDA. com/beachwalk – where people can vote on their favorite Florida beach mile and be entered to win $5,000 dollars and a Mazda Miata so they can take their own Sunshine State beach tour. VISIT FLORIDA will promote this grassroots photo gallery nationwide, drawing attention through the lenses of everyday Floridians to the fact that local beaches are as beautiful as ever – just in time for the winter tourism season.

Escambia County Info: Kris Thoma, (850) 444-7114, kris@unitedwayescambia.org Santa Rosa County Info: Brenda Roland, (850) 9835220, brsvpsantarosa@mchsi.com 2010 GULF COAST WOMEN’S BUSINESS CONFERENCE The Small Business Development Center at the University of West Florida is presenting the “Gulf Coast Women’s Business Conference” on Friday, November 5, 2010 from 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. at the Pensacola Civic Center. Learn about the following, important topics for women in business from various area business leaders: Hot Businesses & Trends, Social Media Accounts After Death, Tips to Generating Endless Referrals, Tips & Traps in Social Media, Getting Back Up When Life Knocks You Down, and a Lenders’ Panel will be present. Lunch will be provided. Visit our website for more details at sbdc.uwf. edu. To register, call 850-595-0063.

The fee for attending this conference is $59. Exhibitor fee is $99 and includes one admission (vendor space is limited, so call early). Call to register: (850)-595-0063 TUNNEL TO TOWERS NATIONAL GOLF TOURNAMENT A benefit golf tournament presented nationwide by the Stephen Siller, FDNY, Children’s Foundation will be held at Marcus Pointe Golf Club on Veteran’s Day Thursday, November 11, 2010 to help raise funds for “Building Homes for Heroes”. They are constructing a home for disabled Iraq veteran, U.S. Army Sgt. Joel Tavera, in Florida this year. Registration and box lunch is at 10:30 a.m.,

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26 | INDEPENDENT NEWS | NOVEMBER 04, 2010 | WWW.INWEEKLY.NET

and a noon shotgun start will follow. Funds will also be forwarded to the children of recently deceased American military heroes via the Freedom Alliance Scholarship Program. That evening an auction/dinner will be held at New World Landing to help with the fund raising.

Six New York City firemen will be in town for the event. There will be a reception at Vince Whibbs Automotive on November 10th from 6 to 8 to welcome them to Pensacola. New World Landing is hosting their accommodations for the entire stay and Vince Whibbs if furnishing their transportation.

Kalie Walters, a sophomore at UWF who recently ran in the Tunnels to Towers race in New York where she also received her scholarship from the Stephen Siller (FDNY) Foundation, will be introduced at the dinner.

Cost is $125 for golf, cart, lunch, cocktails and dinner.

For reservations call Bill Stone at 850.484.9770 or email proshop@golfmarcuspointe.com. For more information on Tunnels to Towers, visit tunneltotowersgolf.org SUBWAY FAMILY GOLF TOURNAMENT The Subway® Family Golf Tournament benefiting The Northwest Florida Prevention Coalition will take place on Saturday, November 6th at Lost Key in Perdido. The Subway® Family Golf Tournament will provide a unique opportunity for people to participate in a fun, family-friendly event. The Subway® Family Golf Tournament will include hole-inone and team prizes, awards ceremony lunch and silent auction. To register, visit nwflpc.org.

This is the first annual fundraiser for the Northwest Florida Prevention Coalition, the anti-drug coalition that engages concerned citizens in Escambia and Santa Rosa Counties to reduce substance use. The Coalition works to reach parents and responsible adults with prevention information and provides them with the necessary tools to reduce the areas of risk young people face, thus strengthening the protective factors that help youth stay drug-free. Its mission is “uniting citizens to create a clean, safe, drug and crime-free community.”

The Coalition is a non-profit organization and members include the Community Drug and Alcohol Council, Pensacola Police Department, Escambia and Santa Rosa School Districts, Pillars for Promise, Informed Families, Juvenile Justice, Escambia and Santa Rosa Sheriff’s Departments, Escambia and Santa Rosa Health Departments, local neighborhood watch programs and many others.

“DANCING IN THE DARK” WITH THE PENSACOLA SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA The Board of Directors of the Pensacola Symphony Orchestra invites you to join us for “Dancing in the Dark,” the 15th annual Symphony Ball on Saturday, November 13th at Pensacola Country Club.

As a new twist this year, co-chairs Teri Levin, Robert Turner, and Betty Roberts have crafted an enchanted evening full of mystery and disguise. Make sure to wear your masks! Events begin at 6PM and will feature cocktails and hors d’oeuvres, a fantastic dinner, silent and live auctions, and music and dancing with Brooks Hubbert. Violinist Brooks Wood Smith will also be on hand to serenade you at your table.

As Pensacola Symphony Orchestra’s major annual fundraiser, proceeds from the Ball will benefit all artistic and educational programs.

“All of our education programs benefit from the Ball,” says Executive Director Bret Barrow. “With every ‘Dancing in the Dark’ seat sold, we’re that much closer to bringing all 5th grade students from Escambia and Santa Rosa Counties to the Saenger to hear the orchestra for free, or bringing one of our world-class guest artists to teach area high school students. Of course, it will also be a really fun evening out!”

Seats are $150 and are on sale now. Call the PSO office at (850) 435-2533 or order online at pensacolasymphony.com Dancing in the Dark is sponsored by Avalex Technologies, Centennial Imports, Bank of America, Bud Light Lime, Mark Lee – Resort Realty, Gulf Coast Community Bank, Morgan-Keegan, Wells Fargo, and O’Sullivan Creel Wealth Advisors, and Friends of the Ball include Raisa Overstreet-Merrill Lynch, Brad and Betty Roberts, Robert and Gloria Turner, Teri Levin, and Antonio and Bentina Terry.

GULF ISLANDS NATIONAL SEASHORE HOSTS SPECIAL PROGRAM FOR NATIVE AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH In commemoration of Native American Heritage Month, Gulf Islands National Seashore will host anthropologist Dr. Ramie Gougeon from the University of West Florida for a special one-hour program, “Native Americans Cultures of the Southeast and Pensacola Area.” The talk will be held at the Naval Live Oaks Visitor Center Auditorium in Gulf Breeze on Wednesday, November 18 at 5:30 p.m. Dr. Gougeon will share his interest and research that includes late prehistory of American Indians living in the southeast and spotlights the sources and expressions of social and political power in middle-range, chiefdom societies.

Gulf Islands National Seashore Superintendent Brown invites the public to attend our Native American Heritage Month presentation. The program is free. For additional information about this program or other programs offered at the Seashore, call the Naval Live Oaks Visitor Center at (850) 934-2600 or visit our website at nps.gov/guis.

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We’re looking for freelance writers for our expanded A&E section. Music, dance, theater, visual arts and literature are areas we want to cover with more depth and insight than any publication in the region. If you have style and pizzaz, the IN wants you. Please, e-mail a cover letter, résumé and recent clips to:

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www.NabardFitness.com www.NabardFitness.com THE UNIVERSAL CROSSWORD EDITED BY TIMOTHY E. PARKER EGGCELLENT PUZZLE by Olivia Stamos

ACROSS 1 Stash away 5 Rush job notation 9 Insured’s contribution 14 Of the finest quality 15 Prefix with “phrase” 16 Wax eloquent 17 Annoying buzzer 18 What littering may produce 19 Spanish houses 20 Feelings at a hen party?

23 “Peggy ___” (Buddy Holly hit) 24 Spelling competition 25 Chain found in cells 26 Dickens protagonist 29 ___ cloth (towel fabric) 31 Beats it 33 Hopper load 34 Avail oneself of 36 “___ my brother’s keeper?”

37 Nearly rainless 38 Attempts at making new breakfast menus?

42 Sounds from a meadow, perhaps 43 “Casey at the Bat” finale 4 4 Before, earlier 45 Big dictionary section 46 Like farmland 48 Covered by waves 52 High-school area 53 Christogram component 54 FedEx rival 56 Place to do the samba 57 Memoirs of a breakfast chef?

GENERAL COUNSEL/BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER, SANDY SANSING DEALERSHIPS What is your chief characteristic?

Thorough What do you appreciate most about your friends?

Sense of humor Who is your favorite hero in fiction?

Atticus Finch from “To Kill a Mockingbird” and Gus McCrae from “Lonesome Dove” Who is your favorite heroine in fiction?

Princess Leia from “Star Wars” What is the best thing you have ever won?

President of the student body in college What did your mother always tell you?

My mom taught high school English for over 30 years. She constantly corrected my grammar and usage.

PREVIOUS PUZZLE ANSWER

61 With competence 63 Prepare for publication 64 The wise men came from this direction 65 Angler’s accessory 66 Soprano Moffo 67 Stake to partake 68 Alloy of lead and tin 69 Reminds much too often 70 Not virtual DOWN 1 Best, as advice 2 Natural language 3 Medieval catapult 4 Dampens 5 “An ___ a day ...”

6 Browns 7 Angelo’s instrument 8 Meat on rye, sometimes 9 Winter quaffs 10 Algerian port 11 Stamp collector?

12 ___ snail’s pace 13 Last word of Joyce’s “Ulysses” 21 It’s unfathomable

22 One of these days 27 Bearded blossom 28 Street c­ rosser, on signs 30 Floor coverings 32 Garcon’s handout 35 They last a long time 37 In a different way 38 ___ listening (radio format) 39 Monthly reading material 40 Continental 41 Clear a CD 42 Hold out a paw 46 Sock pattern 47 At the time of 49 Understood by only a few 50 Nap after noon 51 Backpackers’ stopover, perhaps 55 Stuffable breads 58 Campbell of country music 59 Dame played by Barry Humphries 60 Within easy reach 61 The whole song and dance?

62 Beginning for “sent” or “vent”

What is the worst idea you’ve ever had?

Every time I try to assemble something myself What is your favorite food?

As a native Texan, I love the three foods native to Texas: beef BBQ, Tex Mex and chicken fried steak.

Which talent would you most like to have?

Golf ability What movie do you love to watch repeatedly?

Anything with 007 or Jack Ryan. When I need inspiration, I’ll watch “Rudy,” “Chariots of Fire,” or “Braveheart.”

What was your most embarrassing moment?

In college, I ran with our school’s mascot, a Shetland pony, across the field after touchdowns. On my first run–in front of thousands of fans–I tripped and fell at the fifty-yard line. I stood up and jogged off the field amid gasps and laughter from the crowd.

What historical figure do you despise the most?

It’s a tie between Hitler, Stalin and Pol Pot. They each murdered millions of innocent people.

What TV show is your guilty pleasure?

“30 Rock” What is the last book you read?

“The Next 100 Years” by George Friedman What is your theme song?

“Amarillo by Morning” by George Strait and “No More Buffalo” by James McMurtry

INDEPENDENT NEWS | NOVEMBER 04, 2010 | WWW.INWEEKLY.NET |

27

VOTED PENSACOLA’S FAVORITE RESTAURANT 5 YEARS IN A ROW!

THIS HOUSE IS A-ROCKIN’ JOHN COMMON AND BLINDING FLASHES OF LIGHT

Don’t miss Pensacola’s own John Commons and Blinding Flashes of Light this Friday and Saturday night, November 5 and 6, at 9 p.m. on The Deck!

Say you can’t wait? No worries. Stop by for The Big Mix every day from 4 to 6 and buy one drink, then get another one free — at every bar.

Great drink specials. Fantastic food. Original entertainment.

When it’s time to get your party on, get on to our house.

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

THE FISH HOUSE, ATLAS, AND THE DECK BAR ARE LOCATED DOWNTOWN AT 600 S. BARRACKS ST. · CREDIT CARDS OK · WWW.GOODGRITS.COM INDEPENDENT NEWS | NOVEMBER 04, 2010 | WWW.INWEEKLY.NET |