Independent News | November 26, 2021 | Volume 22 | Number 47
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winners & losers
outtakes
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5
news 6, 8
It's almost like a silent protest, you know?
feature story
buzz 9
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publisher Rick Outzen
graphic designer Tim Bednarczyk
editor & creative director Joani Delezen
contributing writers Gina Castro, Savannah Evanoff, Jennifer Leigh, Jeremy Morrison, Sydney Robinson, C.S. Satterwhite
contact us info@inweekly.net
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Independent News is published by Inweekly Media, Inc., P.O. Box 12082, Pensacola, FL 32591. (850)438-8115. All materials published in Independent News are copyrighted. © 2018 Inweekly Media, Inc. All rights reserved.
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winners & losers
Joe Zarzaur / Courtesy of AFP West Florida
The Winners & Losers division of the Inweekly media empire refused to list any losers this week, claiming it's un-American to pick on anyone during the Thanksgiving holidays. Bless their hearts.
JOE ZARZAUR The board-certified civil trial lawyer and founder of Zarzaur Law, P.A., received the Outstanding Business of The Year award from the West Florida Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals. This award is in recognition of Zarzaur Law's commitment to the local community. The most recognized philanthropic activity of the firm is its "Legal Graffiti," an event hosted during each Gallery Night in downtown Pensacola. "Legal Graffiti" is an opportunity for anyone to make a donation and then create artwork on the recycled billboard vinyl-covered wall at the Zarzaur Law office building. The event raises money for area charities. RUDY HUBBARD Escambia County has
named the Amateur Radio Emergency Service room at the Escambia County Public Safety building in honor of the late Rudy Hubbard, who was highly active in the local amateur radio scene for many years, assisting on several occasions during times of emergency operations. Hubbard passed away on May 29 at the age of 97.
PROHEALTH During its annual meeting last month, the Greater Pensacola Chamber of Commerce named ProHealth the "2021 Small Business of the Year." ProHealth's hard work throughout last year and this year regarding COVID-19 and their dedication to making health care available to the community inspired the Pensacola Chamber. ProHealth has provided the community with COVID-19 tests since August 2020. They currently offer COVID RT-PCR, antigen and antibody tests at all eight locations. BRASFIELD & GORRIE The general contractor building Baptist Health Care's new campus on Brent Lane has worked hard to meet BHC's commitment to hiring a local and minority workforce for a 10-story flagship hospital, the six-floor Bear Family Foundation Health Center and a freestanding behavioral health unit. To date, of the 454 workers on-site, 179 (39%) live within 25 miles, and 183 (40%) are minorities. So far, the project has generated $3.9 million in construction wages in the local economy. 44
FLORIDA BLUE FOUNDATION Last
week, the Florida Blue Foundation presented $25,000 to Children's Home Society of Florida in support of the Community Partnership Schools™ model at C.A. Weis Elementary. Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwest Florida also received $25,000 from the foundation for their work to educate and empower children to adopt and maintain healthy habits.
BAPTIST HEALTH CARE FOUNDATION Throughout October, the foundation raised $21,800 to provide mammograms to women who may not afford the life-saving screening. Since the start of the program, screenings have been provided to 2,388 women. As a result of these screenings, 562 women required additional testing, 73 required biopsies and 25 were diagnosed with breast cancer.
WSRE The National Academy of Television
Arts and Sciences has honored local PBS member station WSRE with a Suncoast Regional Emmy® Award nomination for "Hank Locklin: Country Music's Timeless Tenor" in the Documentary Cultural category. Earlier this year, WSRE was awarded a Gold Telly Award in the Television: General - Documentary category for the Hank Locklin project. The film's director James Roy was awarded two Bronze Telly Awards for directing and editing it.
THE WATSON FIRM On Monday, Nov. 22, The Watson Firm hosted the Fourth Annual Community Thanksgiving Grocery Giveaway at Town & Country Plaza. This holiday tradition began in 2017, where 200 families were provided a complete holiday turkey feast. This year, 750 families were given frozen turkeys and a variety of sides.
ASCENSION SACRED HEART PENSACOLA The hospital has been named
again as one of the nation's 50 Top Cardiovascular Hospitals by Fortune and IBM Watson Health™. This is the fifth time that Ascension Sacred Heart's Pensacola hospital has been recognized with this national honor. The recognition is based on IBM Watson Health's annual study that spotlights the top-performing cardiovascular hospitals in the U.S., based on a balanced, objective scorecard. inweekly.net
outtakes By Rick Outzen
BRIGHT FUTURE We've spent most of this year listening to people complain about Pensacola and Escambia government officials, economic development and job creation. Thank goodness, their complaints and whining that we were behind the rest of the world fell on deaf ears. Northwest Florida is "on fire," according to Adrienne Slack, the vice president and regional executive at the New Orleans Branch of the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta. Her job requires her to keep her finger on the pulse of the economies of Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and the Florida Panhandle from Pensacola to Apalachicola. "You've been a drive-to destination for many during this virus, and there are a number of people, my contacts tell me, permanently relocating to Northwest Florida," Slack shared with me in a recent phone interview. She is optimistic about Northwest Florida's economy heading—"The outlook for Northwest Florida is continued strong demand, is what I am hearing. I am not hearing anyone that is saying they don't expect the strong demand for services." FloridaWest's campaign to promote our area as the Cyber Coast has taken off. LinkedIn has ranked Pensacola as one of the top places people are looking to move and work remotely. Networks of Florida CEO Bill Dunn wasn't surprised by the ranking. "It's really simple," he told me. "I'd say look out your window at the beach. Why wouldn't you want to live here? Come on, a dollar goes a long way here compared to places like New York City and Washington D.C." Guided Particle Systems COO Carolyn Fries moved to Pensacola when IHMC recruited her husband. They have fallen in love with the area after living in St. Petersburg for 26 years. "I'm a country girl by heart. I grew up in Northwest Indiana. Being in a little bit more remote environment that still has access to some of the arts and things like we do in downtown Pensacola, it was just really attractive for us," Fries told me.
"It's surprising there's a lot more talent here on the technical side than people even realize, I think," she said. "I see great things for Pensacola going forward, both from a job perspective and the quality of life. I think this area has a great future ahead of it. And this is just kind of one more thing to add to it." ST Engineering and UPS agree Pensacola's future is bright. On Oct. 14, Stephen Lim, president of ST Engineering Aerospace America, and Tony Georges, vice president of UPS Human Resources, signed a contract to create the Aircraft Maintenance Pathways Training Program, which will help fill the ever-growing need for aircraft mechanics in this country and worldwide. Lim said economists have projected the aviation industry will need 6,000 new mechanics over the next eight years. ST Engineering is committed to making Pensacola a hub for their training. "I think it's very crucial for all of us to come together, to work as a group, helping each other to encourage more highschoolers and others to pick up a profession in the aviation industry," Lim said at the press conference. "We appreciate the partnership that we think this is going to be a successful organization, and we look forward to a long and successful program." Mayor Grover Robinson held a press conference at the Port of Pensacola to highlight the record-setting years the port and the Pensacola International Airport have had this past year. Both are expected to exceed those revenue numbers in 2022. This summer, airport passenger numbers were up 25% from 2018-2019. Two new airlines—Spirit and Boutique Air— were added to the line-up, and Pensacola International Airport's number of available destinations hit 30 during the peak season. Also, Delta will soon be offering non-stop daily flights to La Guardia in New York. Yes, Pensacola and Escambia County have challenges, but don't let the naysayers' bellyaching take your eyes off our progress. {in} rick@inweekly.net
Lim said economists have projected the aviation industry will need 6,000 new mechanics over the next eight years.
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BOOM TIMES FOR PORT, AIRPORT
Photo by Rick Outzen
By Jeremy Morrison Beyond what might be considered the typical municipal offerings—fire, police, parks and recreation and the like—the city of Pensacola also oversees two enterprise operations directly tied to the growth of the region's economy—one by air and one by sea, or at least by bay. The public is familiar with the Pensacola International Airport and is using the facility increasingly. The other, the Port of Pensacola, continues to grow more or less quietly out of the public's lens, though it sits in plain sight on the city's downtown waterfront. Amy Miller, the former port director, now oversees all city enterprise operations. She took a moment recently to reflect on the evolution and current state of affairs at both the port and airport. "You know, it wasn't too many years ago when Pensacola International Airport was Pensacola Regional Airport," said Miller during a Nov. 15 press conference at the port. "There were two airlines, and they both flew to Atlanta. You could show up 25 minutes before your flight and not have any problem getting to the gate on time. If you've been to the airport recently, that's just no longer the case," She continued, "Likewise, the Port of Pensacola used to be the sleepy little port, not a whole lot going on. When you came in this morning, you saw something entirely different. If you haven't been down here in a while, it probably surprised you, but a lot is going on at the port." 66
Flanked by cargo containers, parts for GE wind turbines awaiting transport and Blue Origin's future spacecraft-landing vessel, Port Director Clark Merritt and Airport Director Matt Coughlin followed Miller. They highlighted both growth and the accompanying challenges, each one outlining what the latter described as "a good problem." A couple of days later, both Merritt and Coughlin took some additional time with Inweekly to dig a little deeper into these respective operations.
SMOOTH SAILING ON ROUGH SEAS
Blue Origin's ship Jacklyn has been at the port long enough now that it has become part of the downtown skyline, a fixture admired by Blue Wahoo and Argo fans from the Blue Wahoos Stadium. But Merritt's not sure how much longer the ship—belonging to Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and named after his mother—will be at the port getting retrofitted to be used for the company's returning spacecraft. "They're pretty tight-lipped," the port director said, estimating the retrofitting would take about another year. Merritt's got a pretty solid line for as long as the Blue Origin ship has berthed at the Port of Pensacola. He used it at the presser— "When people say the only spaceport in Florida is Cape Canaveral, you can say, 'No, the Port of Pensacola is in the space race.'" "Having them on board, with that exposure, is great," he reflected later. But the Blue Origin ship isn't the port's only big-deal tenant. A considerably less glamorous client is actually responsible for
a bulk of the growth in the port's recent importations. Longtime port tenant CEMEX has upped its importation of cement considerably to meet local demand in the region. This development has also required the company to expand its footprint at the port and construct an additional facility. Across the port, near the entrance, is another considerable development. Streamline Boatworks is renovating the warehouse built initially for Deepflex, a joint venture that was a casualty of the drop in oil prices in the past decade. Streamline will fabricate boats and employ about 60 employees once the construction is completed. "The boat market is insane," Merritt said, explaining that Streamline is currently experiencing a backlog in orders and intends to make Pensacola home to its largest manufacturing facility. In addition to large tenants, the port has also incorporated smaller operations. A mechanical engineering team from the University of West Florida has set up a lab in one of its warehouses. And Pensacola Bay Oysters also makes use of the site to grow its stock—a process that actually uses and filters water from the bay. "I think we have a great balance," Merritt said. "We have a balance of tenants that complement each other." It's probably worth noting that this growth at the port has occurred during a time when the facility is experiencing a reduction in capacity due to ongoing repairs from damage sustained during last year's Hurricane Sally. "It's been a little bit of a logisticsjuggling game," Merritt said, explaining that the damage has sidelined some of the port's berths. But so far, so good. And going into the future, there's additional space at the site if the port should need to expand. That space—about 10 acres of the total 55-acre site—remains up in the air, with Merritt describing it as "a blank slate" and noting that the city is approached about the available acreage "more than occasionally." "It could be anything," Merritt said, "from more light-manufacturing, maybe a research facility, mixed-use retail—anything but housing."
UP, UP AND AWAY
The coronavirus pandemic has been rough across the board for the airline industry. It's been no different in Pensacola. "We had a real tough time of it just like everyone else," Coughlin said. Well, it's been a little different. This "real tough time" at the Pensacola International Airport has not been quite as tough as it has been in other markets. This is true across the region, the airport director explained. "Here in Northwest Florida, all the airports have done fairly well," Coughlin said, pointing to passenger numbers floating consistently above the national average and attributing it to the region's growing popularity. "I think part of it is, we're discovered. The secret's out."
"Here in Northwest Florida, all the airports have done fairly well. I think part of it is, we're discovered. The secret's out." Matt Coughlin In addition to the area's growing popularity, Coughlin continued, this recent growth can also be attributed to the addition of new routes, like direct flights to Denver or Washington D.C. or, more recently, direct flights to New York City's LaGuardia Airport daily. "I think when you have an increase in routes, the word gets out," Coughlin said. Over the summer, the airport's passenger counts were up 25% from its recordsetting year in 2019. Even as the area is now in its shoulder season, numbers are still up on average 10%. Likewise in the summer, there were around 30 routes being offered, whereas there are currently around 20. But this growth at the airport has come challenges. More flights mean more aircraft, more aircraft mean more parking—particularly space to store airplanes overnight, so-called remain-overnight, or RON, space. "There's probably an aircraft at every gate and then some," Coughlin said. Also, vehicular parking for passengers has become tight. There are plans to add another 300 parking spaces at the airport. "It's our largest non-air-nautical revenue," noted Coughlin, explaining that the additional spaces will increase capacity by 10%. Looking ahead, the airport director said, especially considering the expected continued thaw of a pandemic-spooked travel environment, the forecast for the airport is full of sunny days. "The future is bright," Coughlin said. "I'm just really excited about it." {in} inweekly.net
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LOCAL ECONOMY "ON FIRE"
Adrienne Slack / Photo Courtesy of FloridaWest
By Rick Outzen Adrienne Slack believes the Florida Panhandle's economy has been "on fire" since the COVID pandemic. And she should know. Slack is the vice president and regional executive at the New Orleans Branch of the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta. She is part of the Federal Reserve Bank's Regional Economic Information Network group that gathers information from around the district that feeds into monetary policy and national economic outlook. "I cover four different states in my responsibilities for the New Orleans branch, and Northwest Florida is one of them," she told Inweekly. "I cover the Panhandle all the way through Apalachicola, Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana. And beyond that, the Atlanta Fed is responsible for a good chunk of the Southeastern United States." Slack added, "The Panhandle of Florida, in a nutshell, has been on fire since COVID. My contacts there have been very different to talk versus any other state I just named, in that, because you all have beautiful beaches and wonderful hospitality. You've been a drive-to destination for many during this virus, and there are a number of people, my
contacts tell me, permanently relocating to Northwest Florida." She believes the vitality of the local economy won't change soon. The Federal Reserve Bank executive said, "The economy there has been pretty healthy throughout this, and as the rest of the economy recovers, that is not pulling back, according to the contacts I have or the information that I see for Northwest Florida." The Federal Reserve is the central bank of the United States and keeps its finger on the economy's pulse. It supervises and regulates banks and also conducts monetary policy for the country. "Federal Reserve has a role in ensuring that the country is at full employment and has price stability, and we accomplish that through our monetary-policy tools, being interest rates or quantitative easing, meaning that we purchase treasuries and mortgage-backed securities in certain situations to ensure the economy is stable and markets are functioning," explained Slack. Outside of Northwest Florida, the economy has several challenges. Slack said, "There is an incredible amount of pressure on supply chains and a lot of demand as we recover from the pandemic. Those two things combined are putting pressure on prices, so we're seeing higher prices for items we might want to purchase." The labor market is tight but not in the traditional way because the challenge isn't the lack of jobs. Slack said, "The labor market is a space where there are not enough workers—which is what I'm hearing from my contacts—to fill all the job positions that employers have open." Has tightening immigration policies impacted the labor market? Slack says some. "My contacts do tell me that that is a part of what is happening and what they're experiencing," she said. "If you think back just prior to the pandemic, we were at about a 3.7% unemployment rate then, and my contacts told me then that they were struggling to find the workers with the skills that they needed to fill their jobs."
Slack continued, "Where we are today, combined with that, though, is that we still have the workforce that we had prior to the pandemic. Those immigration policies have changed. They tightened even more because of the pandemic and the inability to bring people freely across the border because of COVID. Now, that has recently changed, which may help a bit. It's too soon to tell." The more significant factor could be who isn't participating in the workforce today as we recover from the pandemic. She said, "We don't have as many people participating for a variety of reasons. A number of people have stepped out of the labor force to retire. Others are taking care of children or family members and not participating for that reason, and still others are concerned about the virus and have not stepped back in." Slack said that supply-chain issues and the lack of workers have put pressure on small businesses in Northwest Florida. "It's causing a real struggle for some of them to meet the demand that's there because they can't take advantage of it." Who are the sources that help her analysis of the economy? Slack said, "I meet with CEOs, CFOs of companies and community leaders across my region to hear how they're experiencing the economy. We touch every industry, businesses large and small. We don't reveal who those are to preserve that confidentiality, but those are the types of individuals that I'm speaking with to tell me about their experiences." The Federal Reserve has a dual mandate of full employment and price stability. She doesn't see the latest price increases as "what people think would be "normal behavior" from inflation." "The supply-chain challenges significantly impact the inflation we're seeing now," said Slack. "With workers being out and shutdowns around the globe, supply chains are very complex. My contacts are telling me that's going to take a bit to work itself out, and until that does, those pricing pressures, they expect, are going to continue."
She added, "And so when I say take a bit to work itself out, we're hearing 2022 we're still going to be dealing with this for the bulk of the year. And until those things settle down, we're going to see that pressure on pricing." Should we expect the Fed to raise interest rates? "Eventually, when the time is right, meaning that last week we announced that we were going to begin tapering, and what tapering means is that we were purchasing treasuries and mortgage-backed securities as a way to also support the economy so it could recover from COVID," said Slack. "The economy has strengthened to a place where we felt we could begin purchasing fewer of those instruments to support the economy, so we're removing some support slowly. We'll be in that phase through about the middle of next year, barring something else happening." She is optimistic about Northwest Florida's economy heading into 2022. Slack said, "The outlook for Northwest Florida is continued strong demand, is what I am hearing. I am not hearing anyone that is saying they don't expect the strong demand for services." She continued, "The activity in the construction space will continue for your area. It's a little bit different as you travel across the Gulf South. So think about those areas that also have beaches and service travel destinations. That activity, again, will continue to be strong." However, Louisiana is a different situation for a couple of reasons. She said, "One, the energy industry is undergoing some structural change that is outside of COVID, so there's not a lot of investment happening in that space. And the tourism industry in Louisiana, New Orleans specifically, is very different from Florida's in that it has a heavy business and cruise-ship piece that is not fully recovered, and that is going to take a significant amount of time from where we are today." Slack added, "So you all are in the most positive of places in my region. Alabama and Mississippi are moving along, and then Louisiana, again, a little bit of a different story." {in}
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transparency and efficiency in all of our county operations," said the new chairman, "as we work toward recruiting, training and deploying a dynamic and talented workforce to take our county into the future with competence and confidence."
BRIGHT FUTURE On 1370 WCOA,
2021 UWF Hall of Fame Class / Photo Courtesy of UWF
INAUGURAL HOF INDUCTEES The
University of West Florida College of Business inducted its inaugural Hall of Fame class on Friday, Nov. 12. The college established the Hall of Fame to celebrate individuals who encapsulate the qualities that make the business college an extraordinary place to learn and grow. Inductees are College of Business alumni or supporters who have excelled in their careers and positively impacted society. "Their extraordinary success in business is superseded by the positive impact they have made on their respective communities," said Dean Richard Fountain at the ceremony. "Their generous support of the College of Business has helped us prepare students to follow in their impressive footsteps." The 2021 Hall of Fame class included: •Ronald Jackson '76, Past President of Saltmarsh, Cleaveland & Gund (1990-2015) •Dr. Chula King '77, '78, Professor, UWF Department of Accounting, Educational Technology Faculty Fellow; Former Chair of the Department of Accounting and Finance, Interim Chair of Global Hospitality and Tourism Management, and Provost of UWF •Collier Merrill '85, President/Owner of Merrill Land Company and Great Southern Restaurants Inc.; Stockholder and Director of The Gulfarium •Kim Mustin '90, Managing Director, Bernstein Private Wealth Management •Mort O'Sullivan '73, Retired Managing Member of the Gulf Coast Region of Warren Averett, LLC CPAs and Advisors; Mentor for The Spring, a division of the Studer Community Institute •Dr. Ed Ranelli Dean 2001-2013, Associate Vice President for External Affairs; CEO of UWF Business Enterprise Inc. •Steve Riggs '76, Founding Partner of Carr, Riggs & Ingram LLC •Kathleen Sandstrom '96, Former Senior Partner for Heitman LLC November 26, 2021
•Sandy Sansing '69, Owner of Sandy Sansing dealerships •John Switzer '89, President/Owner of JLSwit, LLC A committee of College of Business faculty and administrators selected the Hall of Fame members based on the following criteria—graduated from the UWF College of Business or supported the college in a meaningful way; exceptional career accomplishments; significant professional recognition; community involvement and recognition; and service to the College of Business and UWF. To learn more, visit uwf.edu/cob.
CHANGE OF BCC CHAIRS At the Escam-
bia County Board of County Commissioners meeting last week, the board reorganized to appoint a new chairman and vice chairman, with District 1 Commissioner Jeff Bergosh serving as the new chairman and District 2 Commissioner Doug Underhill as the vice chairman for the coming year. Bergosh praised Commissioner Robert Bender who served as chairman for the past year. "From hurricane rebuilding to the difficulties of COVID-19 on our community to beach traffic reduction to profound economic development victories at OLF 8 and the Pensacola Airport with ST Engineering, it was a challenging yet still productive year for Escambia County," said the new chairman. He outlined his goals for the upcoming year. Bergosh said, "I want to keep the positive momentum of the last six months moving forward, continue to foster better working relationships with our employees, bargaining groups and community partners, and work toward streamlining our budgeting process for 2022 and beyond." He also spoke about rebuilding county government. "I look forward to working with my peers on the board to provide our constituents, the taxpayers of Escambia County, maximum
Guided Particle Systems COO Carolyn Fries discussed with Inweekly publisher Rick Outzen her company's collaboration with Purdue University on an Innovation in Quantum partnership that will bring interns to Pensacola. "We're thrilled to be able to bring this IQ Park program down here to Northwest Florida," said Fries. "It's a really great opportunity to develop some future scientists and engineers in an area that's really emerging and important to the country as a whole, being quantum, whether it's computing or secure communication for the military or position navigation and timing as an alternative to GPS, which sometimes gets challenging in certain environments." People are trying to figure how to make quantum computers accessible—what Fries called "bring quantum capability out to the edge." Purdue and Guided Particle Systems want to bring the gaming community into the equation. "Purdue had the idea to kind of unleash the gaming community on this, and all these smart young people to come up with new ways to use it, that would hopefully drive the industry going forward," she shared. "And the great thing is we have an opportunity for students and educators here in Northwest Florida to be a part of that. And that's exciting." Fries wants to reach out to high school teachers in the area. "Northwest Florida high school educators could be a part of this if they were interested in helping develop curriculum for quantum education at the high school level," she said. "So if we've got a new teacher at the high school level here in Northwest Florida that might be interested in doing something like that, there will be stipends available for them to do some of that work. There'll also be conferences and workshops. Just going to be a lot going on." Fries and her husband lived in St. Petersburg for 26 years. They moved to Pensacola in 2016 when Ken Ford and IHMC recruited her husband. "I'm a country girl by heart. I grew up in Northwest Indiana," said Fries. "Being in a little bit more remote environment that still has access to some of the arts and things like we do in downtown Pensacola, it was just really attractive for us." She has been surprised at the amount of talent in the area. "I will give some kudos to Patrick Rooney and the Co:Lab folks for trying to promote that
kind of entrepreneurial spirit here in this area," said Fries. "I see great things for Pensacola going forward, both from a job perspective and just kind of an environment, a quality of life." She added, "I think this area is got a great future ahead of it. And this is just kind of one more thing to add to it."
BRUCE BEACH STORIES The City of Pensacola and SCAPE are seeking historical photos or documents related to Bruce Beach as part of the Bruce Beach Revitalization Project, which the project team may use for the interpretive history signage at the site. SCAPE is collecting stories, historical photos and documents related to the following questions: •Did you ever visit Bruce Pool? How do you remember it? •Did you ever visit any other recreational spaces during the time of segregation or have any reflections to share? •Have you ever visited Belmont DeVilliers, or did you grow up in the Tanyard? Do you have any photos of the area that you'd be willing to share? •Do you have any stories about the mills, Bruce Drydock or the worker associations during the early 1900s? Anyone wishing to share a piece of Bruce Beach's history for the historic signage is asked to please submit their documents or photos to Sophie Riedel with SCAPE at sophie@scapestudio.com by Tuesday, Nov. 30. SEWER EXPANSION The Florida Depart-
ment of Environmental Protection recently awarded ECUA $11 million in grant funding to support five "septic-to-sewer" projects within the ECUA service area. Due to the negative impacts of failing or poorly functioning septic tanks on already stressed water bodies, these projects have been prioritized. This grant funding is part of a broader $481 million award by the state that will support 103 wastewater projects throughout Florida. "ECUA is delighted to receive this grant, which together with our matching funds will create a meaningful impact for the area's residents and customers of ECUA," said Executive Director Bruce Woody. The five projects identified in the grant are in the Navy Boulevard and Brownsville areas. Collectively, these projects will provide approximately 1,250 new sewer connections to properties in those areas.
NEW PENSACOLA MONIKER On 1370
WCOA, author Scott Satterwhite discussed with Inweekly publisher Rick Outzen his book, "A Punkhouse in the Deep South," about the local 309 Punk House, the oldest punk house in the South. Satterwhite pointed out that End of the Line Café, Hula Moon Tattoos and Open Books had their origins at the punk house. The 9
house also influenced the zine scene. A zine is a self-published work of original text and images, usually reproduced via a copy machine. "There's this one magazine in the punk scene called Maximumrocknroll, all one word," said Satterwhite. "And they had called Pensacola 'The Zine Churning City by The Sea,' just because so many zines came out of Pensacola." Inweekly has begun designing T-shirts with the moniker, just in time for the holiday shopping season.
WORKING FOR THE CITY Mayor Grover
Robinson made rebuilding the culture inside city government a priority when he was elected in 2018. "Our whole goal was to make Pensacola the place people want to work," Mayor Robinson told Inweekly. "There's 800 men and women. They want to come to work every day and do a good job. And that's what we see." He continued, "As I say all the time, we're not a place of profit. We're a place of purpose, and we work hard to give our employees to understand the purpose. They understand the goals. It comes down to what they're reviewed on. And they can provide through the employee survey and tell us what's going on." The mayor said the typical culture found in municipal government stresses not messing up. He said, "At the city of Pensacola, we pretty much tell you, 'We want you to go out and do good things, and that will translate into good stuff for our citizens.' And it does make us a little different than every other public entity across Northwest Florida." Robinson added, "We're getting the top-ofthe-line people. They want to come work in the city of Pensacola because they see the city of Pensacola lets you focus on doing good things."
PULLING TOGETHER Pensacola City Council President Jared Moore chaired
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his last council meeting on Thursday, Nov. 18. He talked with Inweekly publisher Rick Outzen about the experience. "I've really enjoyed it. It's a challenge when you have six other people who are all equally as passionate about quality life in the city," shared Moore. He believes the council mirrors the diversity of the city. "We've got seven distinct districts, and they're different in their socioeconomic makeup and ethnic makeup," said the council president. "That is reflected on the council, so you have seven different perspectives." Moore continued, "And diversity's a really easy thing to give lip service to. A lot of times, it's a much more cumbersome thing to actually give a fair opportunity to coexist. And so it's been really fun to see seven different eyes looking at it from seven different perspectives." He admitted that the meetings have been challenging at times, and he worked to not let debates get derailed. Moore said, "That's been a lot of volatility, but I think this council's starting to kind of congeal, and there's some mutual respect, and so those conversations are getting easier to have."
GULF BREEZE WILL DO Gulf Breeze Will
Do (GBWD) awarded more than $35,000 in grants at its annual meeting. A group of Gulf Breeze women formed the organization to serve as a funding tool to help other nonprofit organizations and individuals trying to make a difference in the Gulf Breeze and Pensacola Beach communities. Grant funding at GBWD is provided by collective annual membership dues, all of which are distributed back to the community. Every member has a vote on which organizations receive grant funding. This year's grant recipients include: •Gulf Breeze Community Preschool (a division of Santa Rosa County Schools) A $10,000 grant will be used to purchase playground equipment, including shipping
•Magdalene's, Inc. A $5,801 grant will be used to purchase a stage, tool shed, flowers, vegetables and supplies to create an outdoor garden •Gulf Breeze Senior Center A $2,332 grant will be used to purchase 16 resin chairs and a portable bocce ball court •Gulf Breeze Elementary School An $8,566 grant will be used toward the purchase and installation of a 24'-by-24' paver area and landscaping plants •Midway Fire Department An $8,566 grant will be used toward purchasing a fire extinguisher training system "It's just a really nice way to help people that you see every day," shared GBWD board member Bonnie Witkin. "It just warms my heart every year when we give away these grants, and the organizations are so thankful, so appreciative, and I just hope we can just do it for many, many more years to come." The 2022 Membership Drive is currently underway. Annual dues are $250 per person, and membership is open to women 18 or older. To join, visit gulfbreezewilldo.org.
DIB GIVEAWAY RETURNS The Down-
town Improvement Board has announced the return of the "All I Want" $1,000 Giveaway to encourage people to spend money in downtown Pensacola shops, restaurants, bars and businesses during the 2021 holiday season. Every purchase of at least $10 earns contestants an opportunity to win a $1,000 downtown Visa® gift card. The promotion runs through Dec. 24. Check out the contest rules at downtownpensacola.shop. "The 'All I Want' giveaway campaign is to encourage everybody to come downtown and shop local at our small businesses," said DIB Executive Director Walker Wilson. "We want shoppers to come and support these local businesses, people that are out here every day, putting their blood, sweat and tears into their business to keep it going."
WOMEN IN LEADERSHIP The University of West Florida College of Business Executive Mentor Program will host the eighth annual Women in Leadership Conference on March 11, 2022, at the UWF Conference Center on the University's Pensacola Campus, as well as offered virtually. The conference will provide opportunities to hear from and connect with prominent women leaders who have achieved both personal and professional success. The virtual component will include livestream access to all keynote sessions and panels and behind-the-scenes conversations with speakers and panelists. "Planning is in full swing, and the buzz has already started for the event of the year for women," said Dr. Sherry Hartnett, conference chair, author, professor and founder of the UWF College of Business Executive Mentor Program. "Remarkably successful women, including CEOs and senior executives from across the state, will share their stories through inspiring speeches and panels dedicated to personal inspiration and practical application." Speakers from across the state will share their leadership stories. The keynote speaker will be Dr. Deborah German, vice president of health affairs and dean of the University of Central Florida College of Medicine. Her address titled "Building the Life you Want, Achieving Career Success and Personal Happiness" will discuss how professionals can have both career success and a personal life filled with happiness. German will talk about how your dreams and your belief system can support or sabotage your efforts. The conference will be held from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. with check-in from 8-9 a.m. In-person and virtual tickets are available for purchase. The standard rate is $100 for an in-person ticket and $50 for the virtual conference, with discounted early-bird rates available through Dec. 31. For more information, visit uwf.edu/wilc. {in}
inweekly.net
IMPROVING PENSACOLA EntreCon® business, leadership and entrepreneurship conference was a perfect example of how training and development changes businesses and communities for the better. Over 480 people came together on Nov. 17 and 18 to benefit from two days of world-class content delivered by excellent speakers. Studer Community Institute is grateful for those who made the event possible and to those who continue to support our mission to improve the quality of life for all people.
BEAT YOUR BIASES FRED KEETON
November 26, 2021
BE MORE INCLUSIVE
VINCENT BROWN
OVERCOME ANXIETY
CHESTER ELTON
LOVE YOUR WORK (AGAIN) STELLA GRIZONT
STEP UP YOUR GAME
MICHELLE SNOW
REPLENISH YOUR CULTURE QUINT STUDER
STRENGTHEN YOUR TEAM DON YAEGER
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488 ATTENDEES
34 SPEAKERS 6 KE
3 LUNCH & LEARN SESSIONS
8 VENUES
19 SPONSORS & 28 IN-KIND DONORS
EntreCon® helps businesses (including ours) refocus, reset and understand how to succeed now and in the future. It’s an outstanding conference!”
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Entrecon®’s 2-day conference is a time to dream again. To hit the reset button and envision a better you and an improved organization. This local (but quality) conference is much needed in our time as we are provided the tools to reimagine and put that twinkle back in our eyes about our businesses!” — Ashley Rowzee, Edward Jones
—Lewis Garvin, Pensacola International Airport
THANK YOU TO OUR
MONTE ANDERSON Options Real Estate President
JEFF ATWOOD Possibility Place Chairman of the Board
CARESS HUDSON The Business Roundtable Founder and Guide
DR. COLBY JUBENVILLE Middle TN State Univ. Center for Student Coaching & Success
PETER BAZELI Weitzman Associates Principal and Managing Director
ERIN KIRK Girl Catch Fire Professional Certified Life Coach
TOSH BELSINGER President and Founder Gulf Blue Group
DEB BOELKES Business World Rising Founder and Author
ANNIE MEEHAN Inspirational Speaker Award-Winning Author
LISA NELLESSEN SAVAGE Executive Editor, Pensacola News Journal and Panhandle Region
GEO BROOKHART Mind Marketing Group Founder
MITCH NELSON DivvyUp Co-Founder and CEO
KEVIN CLAYTON Rock Entertainment Group Vice President of Diversity, Inclusion & Engagement
D.C. REEVES The Spring CEO
Photos By: Phil Salzman | Salz Studio Phil@salzstudio.com Kate Treick | Kate Treick Photography Kate@katetreickphotography.com 212 1
inweekly.net
LOCK IN THE LOWEST RATES FOR ENTRECON® 2022 WITH JUST $25! We are pleased to share with you an exclusive returning attendee rate of $249 for EntreCon® 2022 THE BEST PART? You pay just $25 right now to unlock this special pricing. Secure your pass today when you use the QR code.
EYNOTE SESSIONS 16 BREAKOUT SESSIONS 3 NETWORKING EVENTS
OFFER ENDS JANUARY 31, 2022 Your $25 down payment will be applied towards your ticket. Your remaining balance will be due by March 31, 2022
55 VOLUNTEERS
ENTRECON AWARD WINNERS & RUNNERS UP
EntreCon® continues to elevate our businesses and community. The wisdom gained from industry experts is critical for businesses growth. Better businesses equal better jobs, and better jobs equal a better community.” —Hong Potomski, Florida Blue
After 18 months of uncertainty, The Big Reset was the perfect theme for this year’s EntreCon®. This year’s offerings helped our small businesses reset their focus on their mission, their employees, and their future.”
—Todd Thomson, Greater Pensacola Chamber of Commerce
R EXPERT SPEAKERS
SARAH COLLEY Baptist Health Care Vice President of Human Resources
PATRICK ROONEY Co:Lab Pensacola Director of Entrepreneurial Dev.
November 26, 2021
BROOKS CONKLE Destroy the Box Founder
OAKLEIGH RYAN Whiton House Founding Principal
CHUCK DIVITA Florida Blue Executive VP of Commercial Markets
KATHY SANDSTROM EastGroup Properties Director
DOUG GONTERMAN NumNum Founder
BERT THORNTON Waffle House Retired, Chief Operating Officer
THOMAS GREEK Navy Federal Credit Union Vice President of Learning and Development
LAUREN USHER gener8tor Managing Director of gBETA Social Impact
MIKE HARBOUR Harbour Resources Founder and President
TROY WAYMAN One Acadiana President and CEO
DR. SHERRY HARTNETT Hartnett Marketing Solutions Co-Founder and Consultant
FELICIA WYNNE Intelligent Retinal Imaging Systems VP of Operations
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PRESENTING SPONSORS
AWARDS SPONSOR
THANK YOU TO OUR VALUED SPONSORS
ANGLIN REICHMANN ARMSTRONG • GULF POWER • HUB | HILES-MCLEOD • LANDRUMHR • TRUIST • WARREN AVERETT MEDIA AND IN-KIND SPONSORS 3SIXTY MARKETING • 850 MAGAZINE • IFOLIO • SALZ STUDIO • VIVID BRIDGE STUDIOS BUFFALO ROCK CO. • CRUMBL COOKIES • DISKO LEMONADE • EMERALD COAST CUSTOM CAKES • FELICIA BY DESIGN • HEROMAN SERVICES PLANT COMPANY • OLIVE TO NOSH PERFECT PLAIN BREWING CO. • POWELL ENTERTAINMENT • RED IRON DESIGN HOUSE • RELEVANT AV SOLUTIONS • RIDE SOCIETY • ROWE’S MOVING LOGISTICS • TAP THE COAST THE MARKETING BAR • VISTA EVENT PRODUCTIONS
BOARD OF DIRECTORS TOSH BELSINGER President and Founder, Gulf Blue Group
JULES KARIHER Chief Advocacy Officer, Ascension Sacred Heart
CINDI BONNER Director, Pensacola Rally
VAN MANSKER Retired, Regional Vice President of Lowe’s
RICK BYARS Regional Manager, Corporate External Affairs, Gulf Power Co.
JEAN-PIERRE N’DIONE Co-Owner, Five Sisters Blues Cafe & Angelina’s Ristorante Italiano
WILL DUNAWAY Shareholder, Clark Partington
LISA NELLESSEN SAVAGE Executive Editor, Pensacola News Journal
THOMAS GREEK Vice President of Learning & Development, Navy Federal Credit Union
MORT O’SULLIVAN III Retired Managing Member of the Gulf Coast Region Warren Averett, LLC CPAs & Advisors
CHAD HENDERSON Founder and CEO, Catalyst HRE
TIA ROBBINS Entrepreneur, Co-founder Mr. Robbins Neighborhood
TEAM MEMBERS KATHY SANDSTROM Retired, Heitman LLC JOY SHARP Director of Community Health Programs, Baptist Healthcare JOSH SITTON Former NFL Super Bowl Champion and Co-Owner, Bear General Contractors MICHELLE SNOW Product Management at Nike, Inc., Entrepreneur and Retired WNBA Player BERT THORNTON Retired, Chief Operating Officer, Waffle House BRUCE WATSON Executive Director, Escambia County Early Learning Coalition
Learn more about what SCI does to make our community better. Watch the “Making an Impact with SCI” video stories at https://www.studeri.org/Videos
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ENTREPRENEURSHIP
DC REEVES Chief Entrepreneur Officer dcreeves@studeri.org (850) 232-2949 RODNEY JACKSON Director of Business Engagement rjackson@studeri.org GRACIE PRICE Entrepreneurial Manager gprice@studeri.org (850) 637-5797 ARJUNA COLES Operations Assistant acoles@studeri.org (305) 619-2767
EARLY BRAIN DEVELOPMENT
LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT
SHANNON NICKINSON Director of Early Brain Development snickinson@studeri.org (850) 525-2116 REGINALD T. DOGAN Project Manager rdogan@studeri.org (850) 529-6485 FRENCY MOORE Community Outreach Coordinator fmoore@studeri.org (850) 525-4386
MORGAN TUFTO Training and Marketing Coordinator mtufto@studeri.org (507) 828-2476 STEPHANA GAUDIN Learning Content Developer sgaudin@studeri.org (904) 923-1463 ERIC CHRISTIANSON Leadership Development Coordinator echristianson@studeri.org (515) 451-5662
RACHAEL GILLETTE President rgillette@studeri.org (850) 748-5656
CIVICCON
TERRY HORNE CivicCon Executive Director thorne@civicconversations.org, (480) 395-7736 HANNA MOORE CivicCon Assistant hmoore@civicconversations.org (850) 324-4964
350 W. Cedar Street, Suite 300
Pensacola, FL 32502
QUINT STUDER Founder Quint@quintstuder.com (850) 232 4648
studeri.org The Studer Community Institute is a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
inweekly.net
Joe Hobbs / Courtesy Photo
Charlotte Mason Print Co. / Courtesy Photo
We all know there are better ways to spend the day after Thanksgiving than shopping for a discounted Vitamix that you probably won't even use after January. But every year, we get sucked in by the bargains and end up hating ourselves (and everyone else driving near the mall) for buying into Black Friday. But not this year. This weekend, we are sleeping in Friday morning, avoiding big box stores (and Amazon, too, just because) and mapping out our plans to shop small this season—starting with Small Business Saturday and saving the date for a few of these upcoming special shopping events. In addition to established events like Palafox Market, there are several holidaythemed markets happening over the next few weeks to help you gift local this season. Some of these markets include a charitable component, some are kid-friendly—one even includes a photo-op with Santa himself—and all of them feature area artisans and retailers showcasing truly unique gift options. We honestly can't think of a better, or more convenient, way to shop.
Center on Saturday, Nov. 27 from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. The sale will feature his holiday collection and one-of-a-kind items. The first 20 shoppers will get a special gift.
Christmas Gift Markets at Alyssa's
400 Bayfront Parkway, stayoysterbay.com Oyster Bay Boutique Hotel is hosting a curated makers and boutique market on Wednesday, Dec. 1, from 4-8 p.m. Featured vendors will include Joe Hobbs, Charlotte Mason Printing Co., Bluetique and more. Follow @stayoysterbay on Instagram for updates and vendor highlights.
4856 Chumuckla Highway, Pace, shopalyssas.com In addition to special events for Black Friday and Small Business Saturday, Alyssa's will be hosting Christmas Gift Markets every Saturday until Christmas—Nov. 27 and Dec. 4, 11 and 18, from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. The markets will feature 16 vendors each week, set up on the porch.
Joe Hobbs Small Business Saturday Holiday Sale
1060 N. Guillemard St., thejoehobbs.com Local glass artist Joe Hobbs is hosting a sale inside his new studio at First City Art November 26, 2021
Open Books $1 Book Sale
1040 N. Guillemard St., openbookspcola.org Calling all bibliophiles (and those buying gifts for them)—this is one holiday shopping event you shouldn't miss. Open Books is hosting their annual $1 Book Sale Friday, Nov. 26-Sunday, Nov. 28, from 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
Pensacola Arts Market
facebook.com/pensacolaartsmarket If you're looking for creative and cool gifts this season, Pensacola Arts Market is a great place to start. Enjoy shopping a variety of handcrafted wares from local creatives on Saturday, Nov. 27, in the courtyard of Easy Going Gallery, 701 N. V St., from 10 a.m.-4 p.m., and Saturday, Dec. 4, at Cordova Square, 1101 N. 12th Ave., from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. The events will feature art, espresso, vintage goods, baked treats and more.
Oyster Bay Boutique Hotel Makers Market
First City Art Center Winter Art Market
1060 N. Guillemard St., firstcityart.org First City Art Center's annual Winter Art Market is happening Saturday, Dec. 4, from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. and will feature more than 20 local artisan and student vendors selling handmade goods. Mad Munchies food truck and Le Petit Pecan coffee will
The Crafted Makerie / Courtesy Photo
be there so you can snack and sip while you shop, plus FCAC neighbors Open Books will be having a sidewalk book sale, and new and gently used coats will be collected for Gulf Coast Kid's House. Shoppers will also have the opportunity to see FCAC glass and pottery artists doing live demonstrations and view the Gallery 1060 Holiday Show.
“Somewhere on Saturday" Art Collective
2005 Escambia Ave. Some local authors and artists are teaming up for this event which is happening Saturday, Dec. 4, from 10:30 a.m.-3 p.m. There will be book signings, poetry readings, live music and, of course, art and books for sale.
Second Annual Pensacola Vibes Holiday Sale at Odd Colony
260 N. Palafox, pensacolavibes.com Add some local flair to your gifts this year with a little help from Pensacola Vibes. They will be set up at Odd Colony on Wednesday, Dec. 8, from 5-8 p.m., selling canvases, prints, apparel and more.
Holidays at the Hangar
1008 N. Navy Blvd., facebook.com/hellcathangar This holiday season, Hellcat Hangar is unveiling a new 4,000-square-foot production house by opening its doors for a holiday market on Thursday, Dec. 9, from 4-9 p.m. The event will feature over 30 local vendors, and all proceeds will benefit FavorHouse of Northwest Florida and Autism Pensacola. Vendors include Tap the Coast, The Crafted Makerie, Mrs. Jones Cold Brew, Urban Botanic Studio and more. Santa Claus will be in attendance, plus there will be music by local artist Hane Skot and food by RJ's Tasty Plates soul food truck. Tickets start at $25 for adults 21+ and come with two drink tickets.
Rally Pensacola Holiday Shopping Soirée
220 W. Garden St., facebook.com/rallypensacola Rally Pensacola is hosting this festive shopping event that supports local businesses while raising crucial funds for childhood cancer research at the SCI Building on Friday, Dec. 10 from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. In addition to shopping, the event will feature light hors d'oeuvres, champagne and more. The first 125 attendees will receive a swag bag and a percentage of all on-site purchases will be donated directly to Rally. After the popup, the event will continue with all day shopping at partner stores and restaurants in downtown Pensacola and Gulf Breeze. The full list of participating businesses will be announced soon. If you're interested in becoming a partner or vendor, please email dana@rallyfoundation.org.
Odd Colony Holiday Market
260 N. Palafox, facebook.com/oddcolony Odd Colony is hosting their biggest market yet on Sunday, Dec. 12, from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. It will feature over 20 local makers and vintage vendors, plus brunch by MI SU Street Food and treats by Casita Bread and Maker's Coffee Co. Odd Colony will also be accepting winter coat donations for Pensacola Dream Center, which is a volunteer-driven organization that finds and fills needs in our community.
Seville Quarter Indoor Market Place
130 E. Government St., sevillequarter.com Who's looking for a good old-fashioned "Sunday Funday" with a side of holiday shopping? Seville Quarter is hosting an indoor market on Sunday, Dec. 12, starting at 1 p.m. The event will feature over 50 vendors under one roof, plus live music and food and drink specials. *If you're hosting a holiday shopping market that isn't include here, just email the details to calendar@inweekly.net and we'll try and include it in an upcoming issue. 15
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inweekly.net
WEEK OF NOVEMBER 26-DECEMBER 1
Arts & Entertainment art, film, music, stage, books and other signs of civilization...
Americana Dream By Sydney Robinson
Drayton Farley / Courtesy Photo
Alabama native Drayton Farley is seeking to embody the blue-collar roots of country music in a political moment that seems especially ready for conversations about workers' rights. "I'm a government slave and I was raised on stolen land," sings Farley in his most popular single, "American Dream," a surprisingly progressive take in a music genre many associate with a very rigid point of view. The song, packed with political statements about the slog of capitalism, workers' rights, the influence of big pharma, drug criminalization and American colonialism, has caught on quickly. "At that time, I was working a really shitty
GRAPHIC NOVELS
song … just kind of talking to the void, saying, you know, 'Hey, I wrote this song about struggling mentally and at work and feeling like I'm not really living. And here it is. So if you like it, go check it out.' And people kind of flocked to it." "This time last year, I had less than like 100 [monthly] listeners on Spotify, and now I have over 100,000."
WHAT'S IN A GENRE
The genre of country music has gotten rather complicated over the last few years as more traditional-sounding country musicians are returning to the roots of the category that has by and large become something a lot closer to pop in the post-9/11 era. Musicians like Jason Isbell, Tyler Childers, the Highway Women, Sturgill Simpson and others are working to reclaim country music in an industry that is reluctant to give them airtime on radio stations. This identity crisis forces country musicians to either claw back the title of "country singer" from pop country or forgo the genre entirely in an attempt to avoid the negative associations. For many, that means fitting under the umbrella term "Americana," a relatively new category. "I hate to harp on it, but, I mean, I'm not like anti what country radio is today; it just sucks because they've kind of given this huge pedestal to all of these artists that, I'm not saying they don't deserve it, but I felt like they could reposition the lane that they're putting these really famous radio artists on and maybe reopen that door for guys like me and others that are doing what I'm doing, to have that voice again," said Farley.
Farley says he is fine with whatever category folks feel he belongs in, but he also quotes his musical influence, Tyler Childers, who famously declined the title of "Americana" while accepting an award for Emerging Artist at the Americana Music Honors & Awards. "It's kind of a famous quote of his. He said, 'Americana ain't no part of nothing.' I was like, well, he's not wrong, you know," said Farley. Embracing his background as a blue-collar worker, Farley's song "American Dream" criticizes capitalism and its abuse of workers like himself. The musician has worked a variety of physical jobs over the years and feels that now is a special time for workers' rights. "Everyone I know is quitting a job because it's just not worth it," said Farley. "It's almost like a silent protest, you know? Corporations can only screw us for so long." To that end, the success of Farley's music over the last year has enabled him to focus on it full time, and he anticipates continued growth in the way of more music, songwriting and some exciting partnerships with other musicians in the coming months. "That's kind of my goal now is just keep writing and keep releasing albums," said Farley. "I am in a kind of a transition. I'm beginning to get better gigs and open for bigger artists." {in}
DRAYTON FARLEY
WHEN: 6 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 28 WHERE: Alga Beer Co., 2435 N. 12th Ave. COST: Free DETAILS: draytonfarley.com, algabeerco.com
KIDS BOOKS
909 N. 12th Avenue
pensacolapopcomics.com November 26, 2021
job and hated it," said Farley. "I was never home with my family. It was a rotating shift, so it was just kind of breaking me down, and I just built up a lot of anger." Farley said he was surprised to see the song was so well received. "I had a lot of very rightwing people commenting like, 'Yeah, I'm so glad that you're spitting the truth,' you know, and I was like, 'Oh, cool, man," Farley explained. "And then like the same amount of left-wing people were like, 'You know, this is a song for the people. You're telling the truth.' Both of these people think that the song was centered around their belief, but as it turns out, we all agree here, and maybe we're not so different." Farley is a solo act in every sense of the word—handling songwriting, recording and the release and promotion of his music. "I'm pretty proud," said Farley. "I mean, I recorded a bunch of music in my bedroom and the audio quality sounds terrible, but it was all I had. I just had to release these songs, so I threw them out and just started promoting them." In addition to his active Instagram, Spotify and website, Farley has found a niche audience by posting on TikTok. "That was the first time that I'd ever had, like, a wave of people discovering my music," said Farley. "I made a TikTok video about the
www.radiofreepensacola.com 17
a&e happenings Ste. B. Tickets are $44 and can be purchased at asherandbee.com/event-details/ holiday-wine-making-w-the-tea-lady.
PENSACOLA SYMPHONY PRESENTS: HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS FEATURING ASHLEY BROWN Join the festivities
with PSO and Gulf Breeze native Ashley Brown for a special holiday concert. Pensacola Children's Chorus will also make a special appearance. The event is 3 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 28, at the Saenger Theatre, located at 118 S. Palafox. Visit pensacolasaenger.com for tickets.
THE PROPHECY SHOW: MUSIC OF TRANS-SIBERIAN ORCHESTRA
HOLIDAY GIVING
WSRE'S FESTIVAL OF TREES WSRE is
bringing its Festival of Trees to the Museum of Commerce in Downtown Pensacola on Thanksgiving weekend, Nov. 26-28. Holiday trees and wreaths, decorated by local designers, will be on display and available for sale and online auction bidding in support of the WSRE-TV Foundation. Hours are 4-8 p.m. Friday and 1-8 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Admission is free. Auction bidding will take place on an online shop at wsre.org beginning Thanksgiving night. The Festival of Trees has been scheduled in conjunction with the kickoff of Pensacola Winterfest and will be located next to the Cajun Christmas performance in Historic Pensacola Village. For more information, visit wsre.org.
WREATHS OF JOY GALA Arc Gateway Foundation's Wreaths of Joy Gala is their largest annual fundraising event, and it's happening this year on Thursday, Dec. 2. Visit arc-gateway.org for details.
CALLING ALL SANTAS! BEACH CLEANUP 'Tis the season to join Keep
Pensacola Beautiful for a holiday beach cleanup on Saturday, Dec. 4. All children in attendance will receive a book and custom-made coloring sheet while supplies last. Close-toed shoes are a must for all volunteers. Santa costumes and holiday outfits, however, aren't mandatory but are strongly encouraged. Email volunteer@ keeppensacolabeautiful.org or call (850) 438-1178 for more information.
CLASS FOR COATS From now until Dec.
9, every Thursday, bring in a coat and receive a free class at Disko Lemonade. Coats can be new or gently worn and will go to the Gulf Coast Kid's House. Visit facebook.com/diskolemonade for details.
CHRISTMAS FOR SENIORS Senior
citizens have had another rough year, especially those who are still living in isolation to avoid the risk of COVID exposure. Organizations such as Council on Aging of West Florida have been helping to make sure se818 1
niors have all their basic needs. During the holidays, they host the annual Christmas for Seniors initiative, asking for donations of gift cards to stores like Walmart, Dollar General, Target, etc. so seniors can purchase something for themselves that they need or want. You can send gift cards by mail to 875 Royce St., Pensacola, FL 32503, or drop it off in person by Friday, Dec. 10. For more information, visit coawfla.org.
FRESH START BASKETS Opening Doors Northwest Florida is collecting items to put together Fresh Start Baskets. Suggested items include household basics like paper towels, toilet paper and lightbulbs. The deadline for donations is Wednesday, Dec. 1. Items can be dropped off at Opening Doors Northwest Florida, located at 1020 N. New Warrington Road, or CareerSource Escarosa, located at 6913 N. Ninth Ave.
HOLIDAY EVENTS
ALL I WANT HOLIDAY GIVEAWAY
The Downtown Improvement Board has announced the return of the "All I Want" $1,000 giveaway. Every time you make a purchase of at least $10 at downtown restaurants, bars and shops, you can earn an opportunity to win a $1,000.00 downtown Visa gift card. The promotion runs through Dec. 24. For more information, visit downtownpensacola.shop.
PENSACOLA WINTERFEST Celebrate Christmas in downtown Pensacola with Santa and a cast of holiday characters at Winterfest Plaza, 223 S. Palafox. Various holiday-themed trolley tours run Nov. 26-Dec. 24. For more information, visit pensacolawinterfest.org/tickets.
HOLIDAY WINE MAKING WITH THE TEA LADY Learn to make herbal coun-
try wine with certified Herbalist Marni Marni Marni. Wines have been used over centuries as a method of administering the medicinal properties of plants to those who are ill and/or in pain and to promote wellness. Class is Saturday, Nov. 27, at 8 a.m. at Asher & Bee Apothecary, Botanica and Teahouse, located at 3014 N. Ninth Ave.,
Launching their 15th touring season of an extravagant Christmas musical production, Trans-Siberian Orchestra will perform 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 4, at the Saenger Theatre, 118 S. Palafox. Tickets are $58-$88. Visit pensacolasaenger.com for tickets.
FIRST CITY ART WINTER ART MARKET First City Art Center's Winter Art Market event takes place on Saturday, Dec. 4, from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. at 1060 N. Guillemard St., where more than 20 local artisan and student vendors will be selling handmade goods. New and gently used coats will also be collected for Gulf Coast Kid's House. Live demonstrations from glass and pottery artists will also take place. For more information, visit firstcityart.org.
LIGHTED BOAT PARADE The Lighted Boat Parade will set sail at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 4, from Sabine Marina and make its way around the Santa Rosa Sound to the Pensacola Beach Boardwalk where it will dock. Leading up to the boat launch, a kid's party will take place from 4-6 p.m. at Shaggy's Pensacola Beach. Directly following the boat parade, Santa will make his way to the Quietwater Shell on the Pensacola Beach Boardwalk to greet the children, and then a dazzling firework display will take place over the Santa Rosa Sound by 8 p.m. HER CHRISTMAS Join Choral Society of Pensacola Saturday, Dec. 4, at 7:30 p.m. for a program of sacred music composed and arranged by women from five centuries. The performance will be at Cathedral of the Sacred Heart, 1212 E. Moreno St. Admission is $10-$20. For tickets, visit choralsocietyofpensacola.org. K-LOVE CHRISTMAS K-LOVE Radio
brings their annual Christmas Tour to Pensacola Bay Center with a lineup including Casting Crowns, Mac Powell, CAIN, Dante Bowe and Jordan St. Cyr. Show is 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 4. Tickets are $22.50$104.50. For more information, visit pensacolabaycenter.com.
DECK THE HALLS In celebration of the
holidays and back by popular demand, Jackson's will present "Deck the Halls," a lunch event featuring Pensacola Opera, on Satur-
days, Dec. 4, 11 and 18, at Jackson's Steakhouse, located at 400 S. Palafox. Seatings are at 10:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. Reservations are required and can be made by calling (850) 469-9898 or visiting jacksonsrestaurant.com.
SURFING SANTA BEACH PARADE The annual Surfing Santa Beach Parade will be Sunday, Dec. 5, at 2 p.m. From Avenida 10, the parade will make its way down Via De Luna toward Casino Beach and end at the Gulfside Pavilion, where kids will be able to meet and greet with Santa until 3 p.m. For those wanting to participate in the parade, the deadline to register is Tuesday, Nov. 30, at noon, and the entry fee is $50. CAROLS ON THE COAST: A HOLIDAY BRUNCH EVENT WITH PENSACOLA CHILDREN'S CHORUS In celebration of
the holidays, Angelena's will present "Carols on the Coast," a special brunch event, on Sundays, Dec. 5, 12, and 19, at Angelena's, located at 101 E. Intendencia St. There are two seatings for each event at 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. with carolers from Pensacola Children's Chorus and special entrees from Chef James Briscione. Reservations can be made at (850) 542-8398 or by visiting angelenaspensacola.com.
FOURTH ANNUAL HOLIDAY HARRY POTTER TRIVIA NIGHT Join Perfect
Plain on Tuesday, Dec. 7, for their Fourth Annual Holiday Harry Potter Trivia Night. Dress as your favorite wizard, warlock or fantastic beast and receive Happy Hour Beers all night long and all the Butterbeer you could ever want. $100 gift cards are up for grabs to the winning team and the best dressed attendee. Visit facebook.com/perfectplainbrewingco for more information.
SANTA PAWS & PINTS Visit Gary's Brewery & Biergarten, located at 208 Newman Ave., for craft beer, cider, seltzer or wine and enjoy the day with Santa, Mrs. Clause and The Elf on Saturday, Dec. 11. Pictures with Santa & Mrs. Clause from 1-4 p.m. Visit facebook.com/garysbrew for more information. HOLIDAY LIGHTS AWARDS AND CAROLING PARTY Join Pensacola Beach for
their caroling event on Dec. 11 at 3 p.m. at the Pensacola Beach Boardwalk. Winners of the holiday lights contest will be announced at 4 p.m. that day and Santa will be present. The Boardwalk shops will be open for holiday shopping, and the public is invited to enjoy the lights on Pensacola Beach. In the event of inclement weather, announcements of winners and caroling will take place at Bamboo Willie's on the Boardwalk.
NONPROFITS & FUNDRAISERS
CAT ADOPTIONS IN NOVEMBER Animal Allies will be at Pet Supermarket, 6857 N. Ninth Ave. in Pensacola, Saturday, Nov. 27, from 11 a.m.-3 p.m., and Everett Animal Welfare Group will be at PetSmart on N. inweekly.net
a&e happenings Davis Highway every Saturday in November, noon-4 p.m. If you can't adopt, talk to someone about opportunities to donate, foster or volunteer. All cats are up to date on shots, and adoption fee includes spay or neuter with microchip. Visit aaflorida.com for more information.
AGAPE LOVE FOR ART: VIRTUAL AUCTION FOR BRIDGING THE GAP
Fleur de Pensacola is hosting a virtual auction event to benefit Bridging the Gap, a ministry that serves those without homes every Thursday evening under the Lee Street bridge. In a collaboration with Pamela Nichols Fine Art, Jade Tree Succulents and Fleur de Pensacola, the highest bidder of the virtual auction will receive an original oil painting, a beautiful succulent creation and a floral arrangement customized to the winner. Bidding starts Nov. 30 and will end Dec. 14. Winner must either be able to pick up items in Pensacola, or shipping will be available for the oil painting, but not the succulent or floral arrangement. Contact Anna Orbik at (850) 417-0312 for more information.
CALL TO ARTISTS
PMA CALL FOR STAIRWELL ART The
Pensacola Museum of Art is now accepting exhibit proposals from artists interested in showing new bodies of work in the stairwell gallery spaces starting in 2022. Selected exhibits typically range from eight-12 weeks in duration and are scheduled in consultation with the chief curator. Successful applicants will thoughtfully consider the space of the stairwell galleries when developing their proposal. Each artist selected to exhibit will receive a $300 exhibition stipend. Applications must be received by midnight on Sunday, Nov. 28, 2021. Visit pensacolamuseum.org/arts/call-for-artists for more information.
309 ZINE CHALLENGE Take part in one
with margin, on a final poster size of 18 inches wide by 24 inches high. All content must be the submitter's original creation and must be unpublished. The submitter must have all rights to images and graphics used in the final artwork and during the design process. The poster must include the name of the festival, 2022 Pensacola JazzFest. The festival event information, including date, location, sponsors and any additional information, will be added to the poster in the graphic production process. There is no need to include this information within the artwork. Any mixed media suitable for twodimensional mechanical reproduction is allowed, including both hand-drawn and computer-generated graphics. Submissions must be in low-res (72 PPI) JPEG format and emailed to info@jazzpensacola.com. There is no limit to the number of entries by a single artist. Each entry must include the artist's name, address, email and telephone number. The selected artist is responsible for the preparation of the art for highresolution reproduction. The artist will be contacted following the selection process and receive technical specifications for the production file.
ARTS & CULTURE
BALLET PENSACOLA'S DRACULA AVAILABLE FOR STREAMING Ballet
Pensacola's take on the haunting and legendary tale is now available to stream. Cost is $25 per view. For more information, visit showtix4u.com/event-details/57601.
Trees and wreaths, decorated by local designers, will be available for purchase or online auction bidding with proceeds supporting the WSRE-TV Foundation. Online auction bidding begins Thanksgiving night at wsre.org!
Scan this code with your cell phone for event details and auction bidding. 60211-1121 Festival of Trees Inweekly ad.indd 1
11/12/21 2:49 PM
and Ice is on exhibit on the second floor of UWF's John C. Pace Library, Room 215, through Dec. 12. For more information on the exhibit and presenting partners, visit uwf.edu/tag.
WHAT'S SHOWING AT PENSACOLA CINEMA ART "The Rescue" will be play-
2022 PENSACOLA JAZZFEST POSTER
OPEN BOOKS $1 BOOK SALE Stock
November 26, 2021
Deck the halls and support public television!
ANTARCTICA: SEASONS OF WATER AND ICE Antarctica: Seasons of Water
of PMA's latest exhibits from AnArchivist by submitting your own zine to be donated to the 309 Archive and exhibited in the 2021 Zine Challenge installation. Zines must have a minimum count of 16 pages and a minimum print run of 15. Send or deliver at least one copy of your zine before 6 p.m. Nov. 26, to 309 N. Sixth Ave., Pensacola, FL 32501. Visit pensacolamuseum. org for more details.
Jazz Pensacola invites fine artists and graphic designers to submit renderings for the 2022 Pensacola JazzFest. The commission is $500. The Jazz Pensacola Board of Directors will consider all renderings and make a selection. Initial drafts are due by Jan. 18, 2022. If selected, the completed submission deadline is Feb. 24, 2022. The poster design should reflect the deep, rich, diverse jazz music heritage of Pensacola and communicate a sense of place. Submissions should conform to a vertical orientation using a ratio that will fit,
Friday–Sunday, Nov 26–28 4pm–8pm Fri | 1pm–8pm Sat & Sun Museum of Commerce Pensacola Historic District Free Admission
ing 1 p.m. Friday, Nov. 26; Saturday, Nov. 27; Tuesday, Nov. 30; and Thursday, Dec. 2. On Sunday, Nov. 28, at 1 p.m, "A Tuba to Cuba" will be screened for a one-timeonly event. A suggested donation of $10 includes movie, beverage and snack. PCA is located at 220 W. Garden St. Now streaming—SXSW Short Film Festival.
up on books with the Open Books $1 Book Sale Friday, Nov. 26-Sunday, Nov. 28. Hours are 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Open Books is located at 1040 N. Guillemard St. Visit openbookspcola.org for more information.
PENSACOLA ARTS MARKET Enjoy
shopping for a variety of handcrafted wares at Pensacola Arts Market on Saturday, Nov. 27, in the courtyard of Easy Going Gallery, 701 N. V St., from 10 a.m.-4 p.m., and Saturday, Dec. 4, at Cordova Square, 1101 N. 12th Ave., from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Enjoy 19
a&e happenings art, espresso, vintage goods, baked treats, handcrafted unique gifts and more. Admission is free. For more information, visit facebook.com/pensacolaartsmarket.
EASY GOING GALLERY ART MARKET
Every Sunday, Easy Going Gallery and Carter J Studios present a weekly art market Sundays from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. at Easy Going Gallery, located at 701 N. V St. Enjoy art, espresso, vintage goods, baked treats, handcrafted unique gifts and more. Vendors can participate for a $20 fee. For more information, contact easygoinggalleryart@gmail.com.
SHOPPING AT ALYSSA'S Visit Alyssa's for Black Friday on Nov. 26 and Small Business Saturday on Nov. 27 starting at 9 a.m. The next 5&Dime shopping event will be 9 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 4, as well as a gift market on the porch. Alyssa's is located at 4856 Chumuckla Highway in Pace. Visit shopalyssas.com for more information. CHAMPIONS OF MAGIC The five worldclass illusionists that make up this mindbending theatrical production are coming to Pensacola Saenger Wednesday, Dec. 1. Show is at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $38-$58. Get yours at pensacolasaenger.com. AN EVENING WITH SEAN OF THE SOUTH Join Big Brothers Big Sisters of
Northwest Florida for an evening of story-
020 2
telling and music with storyteller Sean Dietrich for belly laughs and good ole' Southern hospitality Thursday, Dec. 2, at 7 p.m. at Imogene Theatre, 6866 Caroline St. in Milton. Tickets are $35 and can be purchased at e-activist.com/page/89275/event/1.
HEATHER MCMAHAN Comedian
Heather McMahan will perform at the Saenger Theatre, 118 S. Palafox, 8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 3. Tickets are $32-$72. Visit pensacolasaenger.com.
HIGHLIGHTS IN BLACK Join Councilwoman Teniade Broughton on Saturday, Dec. 4, from 6-8:30 p.m. for a special evening viewing of five museum exhibits highlighting Black culture, including "Faces of Freedom: Free People of Color of the Julee Cottage" at Florida Public Archaeology Network, 207 E. Main St.; "2000 Men: Black Politicians During Reconstruction" at Pensacola Museum of History, 333 S. Jefferson St.; "Black Citizenship in the Age of Jim Crow" at African American Heritage Society, 200 Church St.; and "The Kingdom of this World, Reimagined" and "Visionary Aponte: Art & Black Freedom" at Pensacola Museum of Art, 407 S. Jefferson St. An afterparty will be held at 309 Punk Museum, 309 N. Sixth Ave. Suggested attire is vintage chic and modern dandy. WHEN QUEENS LINK UP When Queens Link Up is a quarterly social gathering
where quality vendors, networking Queendom vibes and good times collide. Join over a dozen Pensacola women business owners to shop, support, educate and unwind from 5-10 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 4, at Onyx Event Space at 4400 Mobile Highway. Cost is $7 per person. Purchase tickets at wqlu6. eventbrite.com.
WE SEE YOU Presented by the HER
Foundation and Kate Treick Photography is an exhibit saluting female veterans in Pensacola and the Florida Panhandle on view through Nov. 28 at Cordova Mall, located at 5100 N. Ninth Ave.
THE ART GALLERY - BFA SYNTHESIS EXIT EXHIBITION The UWF BFA exit
exhibition will be on view at TAG Nov. 18-Dec. 11 in the Center for Fine and Performing Arts, located at 11000 University Parkway, Bldg. 82. For more information, visit facebook.com/tag82uwf.
UWF SINGERS PRESENT: "CONSIDERING MATTHEW SHEPARD" The
University of West Florida's Dr. Grier Williams School of Music is proud to sponsor the UWF Singers as they present the Florida premiere of "Considering Matthew Shepard." Performances will be held on Friday and Saturday, Nov. 19 and 20, at 7:30 p.m. in the Mainstage Theatre at the Center for Fine and Performing Art, located at
11000 University Parkway, Bldg. 82. This 90-minute concert work explores the Matthew Shepard story and its effects on modern culture. Tickets are free but must be reserved at uwf.edu/cfpa.
VISIONARY APONTE: ART AND BLACK FREEDOM Visionary Aponte: Art and Black Freedom is from creator José Antonio Aponte, a free black carpenter, artist and former soldier who was also the leader of an ambitious antislavery conspiracy in Cuba in 1812. The exhibit is on view at Pensacola Museum of Art through March 27, 2022. Visit pensacolamuseum. org for more information.
2000 MEN: BLACK POLITICIANS DURING RECONSTRUCTION A new
exhibit at the Pensacola Museum of History shares the stories and histories of Black politicians during the Reconstruction period. The Pensacola Museum of History is located at 330 S. Jefferson St. For more information, visit historicpensacola.org.
UWF HISTORIC TRUST 9/11 EXHIBIT
An exhibit honoring victims lost and others impacted by the tragedy on Sept. 11, 2001, is now on display on the second floor of the Pensacola Museum of History. The University of West Florida Historic Trust curated the exhibit, 9/11 Remembered, which runs through January 2022,
inweekly.net
a&e happenings with items on loan from the 9/11 Memorial & Museum in New York and the History Museum of Mobile. The gallery includes a section of the I-beam from one of the World Trade Center towers and a helmet and other items worn by first responders who responded to the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Visitors can also view a video of newsreels from 20 years ago on projectors and a video from NAS Pensacola that features military members who responded to the 9/11 attacks. For more information on UWF's Historic Trust, visit historicpensacola.org.
FINDING 1821 Finding 1821 is part of the
UWF Historic Trust's Suddenly American exhibit. Using historic newspapers, maps and documents, it is possible to locate where businesses stood in the 1820s. From taverns to parasol shops, each site on the Finding 1821 trail reflects a local establishment that was near that location 200 years ago. Outside each business is a QR code that links to a corresponding advert from an early 1820s newspaper. Over a dozen sites have been identified so far. Take a stroll around town, visit local shops and explore the history of Pensacola through today's technology. Visit historicpensacola. org for more information.
WE ARE NOT A MOVEMENT. WE ARE MOTION ITSELF. Using source material
from the 309 Archives, AnArchivist transforms linear time into a cyclical dimension with the announcement of a new beginning, while also celebrating the 20th anniversary of the eight-week Zine Challenge of 2001 and the playful/poetic/participatory aesthetic of the Pensacola DIY scene. The exhibit is on view at PMA through Jan. 2. PMA is open Tuesday-Saturday from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. and Sundays from noon-4 p.m. For more information about exhibitions, programming or support, visit pensacolamuseum.org.
THE KINGDOM OF THIS WORLD, REIMAGINED The Kingdom of This World,
Reimagined provides a new look at the real and imagined stories told in Alejo Carpentier's 1949 historical novel "The Kingdom of This World," which recounts the Haitian Revolution in his signature literary style—lo real maravilloso, or the marvelous real. This exhibit will be on view at the Pensacola Museum of Art through Jan. 9, 2022. The PMA is open Tuesday-Saturday from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. and Sundays from noon-4 p.m. For more information about exhibitions, programming or support, visit pensacolamuseum.org.
SCRIPTEASERS WITH PENSACOLA LITTLE THEATRE Scripteasers, Studio
400's and Pensacola Little Theatre's Script Reading Club invites you to monthly script readings at PLT, 400 S. Jefferson St. Want to bring your scripts for the group to read and discuss? Contact Pensacola Little Theatre to get in queue. The group reads prospective scripts for future seasons as well as new November 26, 2021
scripts that need a table read before the next edit. Not a playwright but love to read out loud? This is your easy, fun theatre night. Fascinated by the play selection process? Sit in for a listen and usually a lot of laughs. Visit facebook.com/pensacolalittletheatre for more information and the latest dates.
OPEN MIC AT THE GORDON Show off your talents on the second Thursday of every month at The Gordon's Open Mic showcase from 7-10 p.m. Admission is free. The Gordon is located at 306 N. DeVilliers St. Visit thegordon.org for more information. OPEN MIC COMEDY AT BIG TOP BREWERY Try out some new jokes or enjoy
some homegrown talent every Monday at 7 p.m. for Open Mic Comedy at Big Top Brewery, located at 21 W. Romano St. Everyone gets five minutes depending on the number of sign-ups. Registration begins at 6:30 p.m.
NEW CLASSES AT MIXON MAGIC PERFORMING ARTS Mixon Magic Per-
forming Arts (MMPA), a boutique performing arts studio located at 1010 N. 12th Ave., Ste. 238, will be offering a limited class schedule this fall. MMPA offers professional dance, fitness and "Mommy and Me" instruction for all ages and skill levels with weekly classes including, but not limited to, Creative Movement, Ballet/Jazz Combo, Broadway, Tap, Showstoppers, Acting and Voice. Classes will be provided for children as young as 2 years old (with a parent or guardian) through adult. MMPA is dedicated to the safety and well-being of all students and families and has implemented protocols based on guidance from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Masks are required for entry into the building and studio. More information about Mixon Magic Performing Arts can be found at mixonmagic.com, by contacting hello@mixonmagic.com or emily@mixonmagic.com or by calling (850) 221-7438.
GENDER PORTRAITS Gender Portraits is a project from artist Drew Riley of the Austin Creative Alliance. The nonprofit organization supports sex and gender minorities using art as a foundation for education, activism and advocacy. The exhibit is on view at Voices of Pensacola, located at 117 E. Government St., through January 2022. For more information, visit historicpensacola.org.
BLACK CITIZENSHIP IN THE AGE OF JIM CROW "Black Citizenship in the Age
of Jim Crow," a traveling exhibition from the New York Historical Society Museum & Library with additions from the African American Heritage Society of Pensacola, is now on view at Artel Gallery. To learn more about it, visit africanamericanheritagesociety.org. Artel Gallery is located at 223 S. Palafox.
for more listings visit inweekly.net
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free will astrology WEEK OF NOVEMBER 26 ARIES (MARCH 21-APRIL 19): Aries author Chris Brogan says, "Don't settle. Don't finish crappy books. If you don't like the menu, leave the restaurant. If you're not on the right path, get off it." That's the best possible counsel for you to hear, in my astrological opinion. As an Aries, you're already inclined to live by that philosophy. But now and then, like now, you need a forceful nudge in that direction. So please, Aries, go in pursuit of what you want, not what you partially want. Associate with the very best, most invigorating influences, not the mediocre kind. TAURUS (APRIL 20-MAY 20): Au-
thor Kurt Vonnegut wrote wistfully, "I still catch myself feeling sad about things that don't matter anymore." If similar things are running wild in your head, dear Taurus, the coming weeks will be a favorable time to banish them. You will have extra power to purge outdated emotions and reclaim at least some of the wild innocence that is your birthright. P.S. There's nothing wrong with feeling sad. In fact, feeling sad can be healthy. But it's important to feel sad for the right reasons. Getting clear about that is your second assignment.
GEMINI (MAY 21-JUNE 20): "I'll walk
forever with stories inside me that the people I love the most can never hear." So says the main character in Gemini author Michelle Hodkin's novel "The Evolution of Mara Dyer." If that heart-rending statement has resonance with your own personal experience, I have good news—The coming weeks will be a favorable time to transform the situation. I believe you can figure out how to share key stories and feelings that have been hard to reveal before now. Be alert for unexpected opportunities and notat-all-obvious breakthroughs.
CANCER (JUNE 21-JULY 22): A study of
people in 24 countries concluded that during the pandemic, over 80% of the population have taken action to improve their health. Are you in that group? Whether or not you
By Rob Brezsny maximum advantage of this opportunity! I proclaim this next chapter of your life to be titled "In Quest of the Maximum Cure." Have fun with this project, dear Capricorn. Treat it as a mandate to be imaginative and explore interesting possibilities.
are, the coming weeks will be a favorable time to go further in establishing robust self-care. The astrological omens suggest you'll find it easier than usual to commit to good new habits. Rather than trying to do too much, I suggest you take no more than three steps. Even starting with just one might be wise. Top three—eating excellent food, having fun while exercising right and getting all the deep sleep you need.
you make that your featured advice for the next two weeks. I hope you will be inspired by it to figure out what truths you might be trying hard not to know. In so doing, you will make yourself available to learn those truths. As a result, you'll be led on a healing journey you didn't know you needed to take. The process might sound uncomfortable, but I suspect it will ultimately be pleasurable.
LEO (JULY 23-AUG. 22): Leo-born scholar
author and philosopher Albert Camus was a good thinker. At age 44, he won the Nobel Prize for Literature—the second-youngest recipient ever. And yet he made this curious statement—"Thoughts are never honest. Emotions are." He regarded thoughts as "refined and muddy"—the result of people continually tinkering with their inner dialog so as to come up with partially true statements designed to serve their self-image rather than reflect authentic ideas. Emotions, on the other hand, emerge spontaneously and are hard to hide, according to Camus. They come straight from the depths. In accordance with astrological potentials, Scorpio, I urge you to keep these meditations at the forefront of your awareness in the coming weeks. See if you can be more skeptical about your thoughts and more trusting in your emotions.
Edith Hamilton loved to study ancient Greek civilization. She wrote, "To rejoice in life, to find the world beautiful and delightful to live in, was a mark of the Greek spirit which distinguished it from all that had gone before." One sign of Greece's devotion to joie de vivre was its love of play. "The Greeks were the first people in the world to play," Hamilton exulted, "and they played on a great scale. All over Greece, there were games"— for athletes, dancers, musicians and other performers. Spirited competition was an essential element of their celebration of play, as was the pursuit of fun for its own sake. In resonance with your astrological omens, Leo, I propose you regard ancient Greece as your spiritual home for the next fi ve weeks.
VIRGO (AUG. 23-SEPT. 22): Virgo singer-
songwriter Florence Welch of the band Florence and the Machine told an interviewer why she wrote "Hunger." She said, "I looked for love in things that were not love." What were those things? According to her song, they included taking drugs and performing on stage. Earlier in Florence's life, as a teenager, "love was a kind of emptiness" she experienced through her eating disorder. What about you, Virgo? Have you looked for love in things that weren't love? Are you doing that right now? The coming weeks will be a good time to get straight with yourself about this issue. I suggest you ask for help from your higher self. Formulate a strong intention that in the future, you will look for love in things that can genuinely offer you love.
LIBRA (SEPT. 23-OCT. 22): There's a Grateful Dead song, with lyrics written by John Perry Barlow, that says, "You ain't gonna learn what you don't want to know." I propose
AQUARIUS (JAN. 20-FEB. 18): "It is
SCORPIO (OCT. 23-NOV. 21): Scorpio
SAGITTARIUS (NOV. 22-DEC. 21):
Poet Renée Ashley describes what she's attracted to: "I'm drawn to what flutters nebulously at the edges, at the corner of my eye— just outside my certain sight. I want to share in what I am routinely denied or only suspect exists. I long for a glimpse of what is beginning to occur." Although I don't think that's a suitable perspective for you to cultivate all the time, Sagittarius, I suspect it might be appealing and useful for you in the coming weeks. Fresh possibilities will be coalescing. New storylines will be incubating. Be alert for the oncoming delights of the unknown.
CAPRICORN (DEC. 22-JAN. 19): What could you do to diminish your suffering? Your next assignment is to take two specific steps to begin that process. You're in a phase of your astrological cycle when you're more likely than usual to see what's necessary to salve your wounds and fi x what's broken. Take
a fault to wish to be understood before we have made ourselves clear to ourselves," wrote my favorite Aquarian philosopher, Simone Weil. I agree. It's advice I regularly use myself. If you want to be seen and appreciated for who you really are, you should make it your priority to see and appreciate yourself for who you really are. The coming weeks will be a favorable time to make progress in this noble project. Start this way—Write a list of the five qualities about yourself that you love best.
PISCES (FEB. 19-MARCH 20): Nigerian
author Ben Okri, born under the sign of Pisces, praises our heroic instinct to rise above the forces of chaos. He writes, "The most authentic thing about us is our capacity to create, to overcome, to endure, to transform, to love, and to be greater than our suffering." You've been doing a lot of that excellent work throughout 2021, dear Pisces. And I expect that you'll be climaxing this chapter of your life story sometime soon. Thanks for being such a resourceful and resilient champion. You have bravely faced but also risen above the sometimesmessy challenges of plain old everyday life. You have inspired many of us to stay devoted to our heart's desires. THIS WEEK'S HOMEWORK: Gratitude is the featured emotion. See how amazing you can make yourself feel by stretching it to its limits— newsletter.freewillastrology.com.
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freewillastrology@freewillastrology.com Rob Brezsny © Copyright 2021
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news of the weird
By the Editors at Andrews McMeel
A DOG'S LIFE Gunther VI, a German shepherd, is selling his Biscayne Bay, Florida, Tuscan-style villa that once belonged to Madonna. Yes, you heard that right. Gunther inherited the mansion from Gunther IV, his handlers told The Associated Press, along with a "vast fortune." It all began when Gunther III came into a multimillion-dollar trust from his owner, German countess Karlotta Liebenstein. Since then, the Gunthers and their handlers have lived a lavish lifestyle, jetting around the world and eating out at restaurants. With the home listed for nearly $32 million, Gunther VI hopes to take advantage of the hot real estate market. But he'll surely miss his round red velvet bed overlooking the bay.
Douglas Rudolph, explained, he had died in June from complications of malaria in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where he had family. When Rudolph emailed the assistant state's attorney, Howard Stein, to let him know of the death, the prosecutor asked for a death certificate. The document Stein received, however, was handwritten and showed several changes made with correction fluid. Rudolph said he has tried to reach the doctor who signed the death certificate, to no avail. Stein said he believes Rudolph is clear of any wrongdoing but asked for a rearrest of Masesa in the case. "Obviously, if Mr. Masesa is in fact deceased, it would be difficult for the authorities to execute that warrant," Stein said.
WHEN PIGS FLY Wyverne Flatt of Canajoharie, New York, is willing to go to the mat for his 100-pound emotional support pig, Ellie, News10-TV reported. But the village doesn't believe Ellie should be allowed to live with Flatt, who has been fighting her exile for two years. "I have gotten shot records from the vet, notes from the doctor, and all the paperwork," Flatt said. "I've done everything they've asked me to do, and we just keep going to court." Flatt said after a divorce and losing family members, he is comforted by the pig: Ellie "jumps right up on the couch to watch TV, and she does all this stuff. Her going away from me would be just as detrimental for her as it would be for me."
SCROOGE In Fulford, York, England, pub owners Steve and Rebecca Eccles planned a fun event for families: Santa and two of his reindeer would appear at the pub's beer garden on the Saturday before Christmas. But Freedom for Animals, an animal rights group, had other ideas. On Nov. 2, the Daily Mail reported, the group rallied its supporters to contact the owners and ask for the event to be "animal-free." One post that the Eccleses received threatened to burn down the building, with the owners inside, if the event went ahead. When they contacted police, officers advised them to cancel the event, which they did. "After everything we have done to support the local community in the nearly two years we have been here, we now have to seriously consider ... whether or not we feel safe enough to stay here at the pub," the Eccleses wrote. "I hope you're happy with what you have done."
WRONG PLACE, WRONG TIME Suleman Shaikh, a newly minted physician in England, gifted his parents with a trip to Seville, Spain. Humaira and Farooq Shaikh were scheduled to leave on Oct. 4, and indeed they boarded a Ryanair flight—but when they landed, they were in Greece. It was their taxi driver who informed them of their whereabouts, so they returned to the airport, the Mirror reported. But Ryanair agents laughed at their predicament and offered to cover only one night's hotel stay, even though the next flight back to London wasn't for four days. Suleman said he's out about 1,100 pounds and is "completely outraged and shocked that this has been allowed to happen. It has triggered severe strain and anxiety on my parents." But Ryanair stuck to its position: "It is the responsibility of every passenger to ensure they follow the correct procedures and take note of the information available to them." BRIGHT IDEA Johnny Masesa, 45, was due in court in Connecticut on Nov. 4 to face a first-degree larceny charge, CTPost.com reported. Masesa was charged with scamming an 82-year-old Milford, Connecticut, woman out of $83,000 by telling her that she was "in the running" for a Publisher's Clearing House prize and she needed to send money to claim it. But Masesa didn't turn up for his hearing because, as his lawyer,
AMERICANS BEHAVING BADLY The Colosseum in Rome, always high on the list of sites to see in the Italian capital, closes at 4:30 p.m. But that didn't deter two American tourists, 24 and 25 years old, who were spotted around 5:30 a.m. on Nov. 15, sitting on the second tier of the relic, casually having beers. A passerby alerted police, who fined them 800 euros, the Guardian reported. Fortunately, no damage was reported. HUNGRY? A prison in Perry, Georgia, called in an order at the local McDonald's on Nov. 9 that stunned employee Brittani Curtis, Fox5Atlanta-TV reported. The prison ordered 1,600 McChickens, 1,600 McDoubles and 3,200 cookies—and needed them in four hours. "No lie, ya girl is TIRED," Curtis posted on TikTok after helping to fulfill the order, which cost about $7,400. She said the prison often orders from the fast-food restaurant, but it's "usually never such short notice, though." {in} From Andrews McMeel Syndication News Of The Weird © 2021 Andrews McMeel
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Independent News | November 26, 2021 | inweekly.net