PENSACOLA’S ECONOMIC UPSWING Leaders Get Into High Gear
Independent News | October 19, 2023 | Volume 24 | Number 41 | Photo Courtesy of City of Pensacola
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October 19, 2023
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winners & losers
Samantha & Brandt Hendricks Photo Courtesy of Florida Farm Bureau
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BRANDT AND SAMANTHA HENDRICKS
The Santa Rosa couple has been named finalists for the Florida Farm Bureau Achievement in Agriculture award. The Hendricks produce cotton and peanuts and have a cow-calf operation. They serve on the Florida Farm Bureau state Young Farmers & Ranchers Leadership Group and the Santa Rosa County Farm Bureau board of directors. The Achievement in Agriculture award recognizes members of Florida Farm Bureau's Young Farmers and Ranchers program who excel in their involvement in agriculture, leadership abilities and participation in Farm Bureau and other civic and service organizations.
THERESA BLANTON The Escambia County Board of County Commissioners recognized the Building Services licensing specialist as the October 2023 Employee of the Month. Blanton began her employment with Escambia County on Aug. 27, 2019. She maintains more than 2,500 contactor licenses for Escambia County and trains staff on departmental procedures and county licensing requirements. She also frequently meets with contractors to discuss licensing requirements to ensure compliance with state and local laws. DAT NGUYEN Escambia County Public Schools selected the Pensacola High School International Baccalaureate senior to move forward in the recognition process for the U.S. Presidential Scholars Nomination for Academics competition. The program, hosted by the U.S. Department of Education, recognizes and honors some of our nation's most distinguished graduating high school seniors. LAKEVIEW CENTER AUTISM CARE PROGRAM The Lakeview Center Autism Care pro-
gram received full accreditation from the Behavioral Health Center of Excellence. Accreditation recognizes and supports high standards for Applied Behavior Analysis therapy care for children on the autism spectrum. The Lakeview Center Autism Care program provides specialized care for children ages 2 to 21 on the autism spectrum. The principles of ABA guide clinicians toward improving a child's ability to function at a level appropriate. 44
STEVE SCALISE On Wednesday, Oct. 11, the
House Majority Leader from Louisiana won the nomination in the Republican Caucus to be the next Speaker by a 113-99 vote. However, he was still short of the 217 votes to win the post on the House floor. Would right-wing GOP congressmen put aside their differences with an international crisis in the Middle East? No. The next day, Scalise withdrew his name and announced he would not endorse another speaker candidate. Next up is House Judiciary Chair Jim Jordan (R-Ohio), Rep. Matt Gaetz's choice.
ESCAMBIA COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD Before the end of the 2022-2023 school year, the board fired School Superintendent Tim Smith without forewarning or public forum. They also made it known they wanted Keith Leonard to replace him. Three months into his first semester, the board now wants to make Leonard the permanent superintendent without opening the job for other candidates to apply. Once again, parents and students have been hoodwinked. When Leonard was given the interim position, the board said it would begin a national search in 2024 because Smith's firing came too late to find a replacement other than Leonard. There is little wonder that the Studer Community Institute/PYP Quality of Life Survey found very few people have any confidence in the board's job performance. DESANTIS ADMINISTRATION Florida must
again provide COVID-19 data to the public as part of a settlement between the DeSantis administration and a Democratic former Rep. Carlos Guillermo Smith. Over two years ago as COVID-19 continued in the state, the DeSantis administration stopped posting information on the virus' spread online as the governor was rolling back restrictions and fighting mask bans. The settlement requires the Florida Department of Health to provide COVID-19 data to the public for the next three years, including weekly statistics on cases, deaths and vaccinations by county, age group, gender and race, Smith said in a news release. The state must also pay more than $152,000 to cover his legal costs. inweekly.net
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outtakes
By Rick Outzen
TIME TO SECEDE Public education for City of Pensacola residents is either tremendous or abysmal. Those parents with the financial means can negotiate the system using a combination of public, private and dual enrollment options to get a decent education and possibly an Associate of Arts degree. Those without the cash suffer. And it has been this way for over a decade, regardless of whether Malcolm Thomas, Dr. Tim Smith or Keith Leonard served as the school superintendent. The K-12 paradigm is firmly established for Pensacola families. Get your child into one of the three A elementary schools in the city—N.B. Cook, A.K. Suter or Cordova Park—and hope you can get your child into Brown Barge Middle School or a parochial or private school for grades six through eight. Once out of middle school, they can apply for the Pensacola High School International Baccalaureate if they meet the academic requirements. If not, apply for West Florida High, and hope you can find a seat among the recruited athletes and legacy kids. Or apply to Pensacola Catholic, a private or charter high school. Those without cash are stuck with whatever school a bus will take them to. The Escambia County School Board knows the Pensacola paradigm and chooses to ignore how they have failed our kids. The 2016 referendum that made the superintendent of schools an appointed position was not a fluke. Voters in every city precinct wanted the change because the school district's politics had shifted away from the city families. No matter how many children couldn't read at grade level in the city's lower-performing schools, the school board wouldn't help them. Each year brought a new excuse, but the academic performance didn't improve the following year. How can a school system with half of the county's A elementary schools and several of the best private and parochial schools within the city limits have a middle school, J.H. Workman, that hasn't been graded higher than a C since 2009? The city's two high schools, Pensacola High and Booker T. Washington, have bounced between B and C.
Clearly, the Escambia County School Board's focus is not on the city schools. School Board member Paul Fetsko told our reporter he believes the school district offers parents the best education for their children. Unfortunately, not all parents have the same range of choices, and those living in the city have fewer than those in certain parts of the county. This reality hit me when the school board fired Dr. Smith. City residents won't ever have control over their schools. Some might make the same statement about county government, but having a city government and a strong mayor gives city voters more autonomy. City voters have a say in public safety, building codes and growth management within their boundaries, but when it comes to their children's education, they are overruled and ignored. And the lack of an excellent public education system is holding back the city's next wave of growth. We cannot show corporations a clear path for employees' children from kindergarten to high school inside the city's limits. Though I support public education, I have come to the realization that expecting the school district's politics to change because we have an appointed superintendent was a pipedream. The system revolted and stomped on parents' wishes. The only way to fix this damaged system is for the city to shift its schools into a charter school system, where the parents will have more control and fight for quality education from kindergarten through high school without leaving the city. Yes, many questions need to be answered before we ask parents to vote on the move to a charter system. How many of the elementary schools does the city need to take over? If we are able to recruit and retain elementary school graduates, would one middle school be enough to meet the need? Who would be the charter school operator? However, we can't expect the current Escambia County School Board to improve public education for Pensacola families. It's time to secede. {in} rick@inweekly.net
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Clearly, the Escambia County School Board’s focus is not on the city schools.
October 19, 2023
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PART MARKS ANNIVERSARY
By C. Scott Satterwhite This summer marked the one-year anniversary of ending constitutional protection for abortion. Following the Supreme Court that sent abortion rights to the states came largescale organizing around the issue. In Pensacola, a new organization formed from the street protests marking the anniversary—not with protest but celebration.
PENSACOLA IN THE FRONT LINES
Pensacola is no stranger to the abortion debates. Last September, the longtime director of the Ladies Center died at age 85. Linda Taggart oversaw the clinic's founding in 1974; it was the first in Pensacola that provided abortions shortly after the Supreme Court allowed these medical services under the 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. She not only supervised the clinic's growth, but also dealt with bombings, arson, shootings and the murders of two doctors and one clinic escort. Taggart's death marked the end of one era, but a new wave of reproductive rights activism is rising with the birth of the Pensacola Abortion Rights Taskforce (PART). The Dobbs vs Jackson Women's Health Organization—commonly known as the Dobbs decision—sent abortion laws back to the states. Although still legal in Florida, abortion services are being publicly targeted by several Republican politicians. 66
When the draft of the Dobbs decision was leaked in May 2022, hundreds joined the national outcry and rallied in downtown Pensacola to show their support for reproductive rights. Among the community activists protesting were Robin Blyn and Jasmine Brown.
PENSACOLA ABORTION RIGHTS TASKFORCE
Blyn said when she first heard about the Dobbs decision, she was both angry and sad but not surprised. "There was a reason that advocates for reproductive justice were so intent on keeping [Donald Trump] out of the White House," she said. "He had promised to pack the Supreme Court with anti-abortion rights judges, and he did. Nonetheless, so many people were shocked when the Dobbs decision was leaked and once again when the official decision was announced. It is as if people didn't believe it would really happen." "We can't afford that kind of trust anymore," Blyn said. A longtime community activist, Blyn immediately started reaching out to other locals who felt the same distress she did over this issue. "I needed to play a more active role in the movement," she said. "Those younger than me deserve the same rights that I have enjoyed: the right to bodily autonomy, the right to decide whether to see a pregnancy to term or not. Without those rights, we are something less than human."
After the Dobbs decision leaked, Brown was one of the first in the streets with a megaphone in Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr Plaza, imploring hundreds of people to fight for reproductive rights. After the rallies and marches, Brown said she felt "there was a need to continue the struggle in other ways." Brown said others put her in contact with Blyn, as they shared "a local centralized abortion justice effort." After meeting over coffee, the two activists took the first steps to create the coalition that would become PART. Blyn described PART as a "nonpartisan group" composed of individuals and people representing different organizations focusing on a single issue: reproductive rights. "Basically, we hail from all kinds of backgrounds, which is how it should be," Blyn said. "We also have a lot of young people in our coalition, which is something that I am particularly pleased about," she said. "They are the future, and their perspective is invaluable." Honor Bell III joined PART when they learned of its mission. "I heard there was a new group of people organizing for this direct need for reproductive justice," Bell said. "I knew I had to be a part of it." Bell joined many others and has been active with the group since. The reception to PART in Pensacola has been "mostly" positive, Brown said. "I say 'mostly,' because obviously abortion is a controversial and sensitive topic which can attract opposition," Brown said. "Despite that, we've seen that there were already supportive efforts in Pensacola before the local clinic's closing and the Supreme Court decision." "Even though we're currently without the clinic, people still need abortions and other reproductive care, and unfortunately, it can be out of reach for various reasons," she said. One of the main tasks of PART is working to get the Amendment to Limit Government Interference with Abortion on the 2024 Florida ballot. "Statewide, we have already collected close to 700,000 ballots, and the amendment is polling at approximately 67% approval," Blyn said. "We can win this one as long as people keep stepping up to sign the petition."
"Without those rights, we are something less than human." Robin Blyn Bell helps with PART's petition work and is optimistic about the potential. "Our petition pushes for abortion [to be] on the ballot so that whatever happens with abortion, whether you're for it or against it, we the people decide and not come down from a top-to-bottom push." Outside of the petition drive, PART works to educate Pensacolians that abortion is still legal in Florida up to the 15th week of pregnancy. Although Gov. DeSantis has signed legislation to prevent abortion after six weeks, the Florida
Supreme Court currently decides this law's legality. According to Blyn, if this occurs, "we will have a crisis on our hands, but there will still be organizations that have the resources to help" those who want abortion services. PART hopes the Florida Supreme Court will rule in its favor. Barring that, the ballot initiative will place the decision in the hands of Florida voters, a tactic proven effective in several states with similar ballot measures. In the meantime, PART has created what they call "Repro Bags," which are kits "to hand out which are filled with items people may need to prevent pregnancy," Brown said. They have also planned a party.
MARKING THE ANNIVERSARY
Seeing an opportunity to showcase the work PART has done, the organization will host a birthday celebration to mark the first anniversary of the reproductive rights coalition. The event features a silent auction, bands, poetry and theater. "We've got a performance of 'The Diary of an Abortion Nurse' that actor and UWF professor Marci Duncan has adapted, directed and cast for us," Blyn said. "I know that will be a really powerful performance."
"We want to show that even in these challenging times, there is still room for celebration and community." Robin Blyn "I'm really looking forward to the talent we have lined up," Brown said. "It'll be both a celebration as well as a reminder of the seriousness of our task in supporting access to abortion. Bell agreed. "We want to show that even in these challenging times, there is still room for celebration and community." Brown hopes the event will not only bring together the community, but will also bring donations and involvement. "It's not difficult to become involved with us. We appreciate any level of commitment," Brown said. "Please reach out to us, because we want your help." Besides the celebration's cultural aspects, Blyn said what she is most looking forward to is "celebrating our movement with so many kindred spirits." "When things look dark, these smart, funny, talented justice warriors keep me going." {in}
PART 1-YEAR BIRTHDAY PARTY WHEN: 4-6 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 21. Doors
open at 3 p.m. WHERE: Unitarian Universalist Church of Pensacola, 9888 Pensacola Boulevard COST: $6 suggested donation
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October 19, 2023
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CAN BILL IMPROVE PUBLIC EDUCATION?
By Tom St. Myer An article written by Inweekly Publisher Rick Outzen and subsequent conversations about the historically underperforming Escambia County Public Schools inspired State Rep. Alex Andrade to take action. Andrade filed a bill for the 2024 Legislative Session with the potential to dramatically shake up public education in Florida. House Bill 109 would empower cities to convert public schools in their jurisdiction into charter schools. Current law permits school districts, teachers and parents to apply to convert a public school into a charter school. However, municipalities only possess the power to apply to create a charter school. "If a city can start a charter school, I don't know why a city couldn't also apply to convert one," Andrade said. "A lot of folks always say, 'Follow the money, who's lobbying this?' This really was an idea that (Outzen) and I had." Outzen first broached the idea of Pensacola creating a charter school district in a viewpoint published June 1 after the Escambia County School Board fired Superintendent Tim Smith. He wrote, "Escambia County School District has failed the City of Pensacola, and it's time for city leaders to explore creating its own charter school district."
The publisher took the school district to task for focusing on the wrong issues. "Let a Northview High School teacher tie up the Escambia County School Board in hours of debate over books and allow the Tate High School administration to make silly rules about what shoes students must wear for graduation. The Pensacola school board can focus on educating its students." Conversations with Andrade ensued about the possibility of cities in Florida creating school districts separate from the countywide systems. The lawmaker found roadblocks as he combed through state statutes. The closest example he found occurred in the mid-1990s in Pembroke Pines in Broward County. That decision came with the permission of the school district, though. "The Florida Constitution Article 9 takes up public education, so our school districts are constitutionally created," Andrade said. "So, you can't have, like in some other states, a city creating a school district. But what you can have and what we've seen examples of in South Florida is cities getting permission from their school boards." He continued, "Florida law currently lets a school board set up a mini school district of a system of charter schools within a city, so that the city has more of a say in what happens within its boundaries. The only issue is that cities don't have the permission to start that process in Florida."
If Andrade secures a Florida Senate sponsor, which he expects to announce soon, the first hurdle is cleared, and the proposal will go before committees in both chambers. If the bill is passed in the 2024 Legislative Session and signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis, cities can begin the charter process. The proposed bill permits cities to apply to the local school board or the Charter School Review Commission for approval but puts the power in the hands of the parents. Applications require the support of at least 50% of the parents voting whose children attend the school, provided a majority of the parents eligible to vote participate in the ballot process. Escambia School Board Chair Paul Fetsko considers charter schools to be competition, and he believes the school district offers parents the best education for their children. He just as firmly believes in school choice, though, and takes some comfort in the bill putting parents in the position to determine whether to submit an application. "Parents need to have the right to choose where their children are educated," Fetsko said. "Those are the people who should make the decision because they're directly impacted." Pensacola Mayor D.C. Reeves, an interested bystander, waits to see how this shakes out. The mayor disagreed with the school board firing Smith last May, and he mentioned how low the school district ranks in Florida during a recent press conference. "We've got amazing teachers and administrators in our school district that work so hard to provide for our community, but the facts are the facts," Reeves said. "We've been in the 50s out of 67 counties for, really, going on generations. I think any time—I don't care if it's a city function, city operation, school district function— that we've lacked to have consistent success, we should be looking at everything." He added, "I feel like it's the duty of this job, of this city, the parents and kids here, if there's some action I can take to improve outcomes here, that's what we're going to do. We're going to take a look at it." Eleven public schools scattered across six county zip codes earned D or F grades in 2021-
22, but only two of those schools operate within city limits. City limits include seven elementary schools: J.K. Workman Middle School, Booker T. Washington High and Pensacola High Schools. The elementary schools range from some of the best performing in A.K. Suter, Cordova Park and N.B. Cook to the worst in O.J. Semmes and Global Learning Academy. Fetsko questioned the logic of pulling successful schools out of the district and said he expects improved scores for Semmes and Global Learning when the state releases the 2022-23 accountability reports. The Florida Department of Education has a new grading system and has yet to release the 2022-23 school year grades. Reeves made no indications he favors city schools seceding from the school district, but he promised to be open-minded about the possibility of bettering the educational opportunities for students. The mayor mentioned the possibility of University of West Florida becoming involved by following the Florida Atlantic University and Florida State University models. Each oversees high-performing lab schools that consistently earn A grades. UWF is already involved as a community partner at C.A. Weis Elementary and Pine Forest High School, and the bill filed by Andrade includes universities in the language. It states that a "state university may grant a charter to a lab school" and "shall be considered the school's sponsor." "I approach this in exploratory mode," Reeves said. "I think it's my duty as mayor to improve educational outcomes for the children of this city and any way that we can address that, that's not going to be an opportunity I'm going to let pass us by. We'll take a look at it, and if there's a way we can feasibly and realistically make that happen where it is a positive outcome, we'll continue to entertain it." The mayor continued, "Of course, philosophically, I would want access for all 55,000 residents to equally have the best opportunity to enrich their child's life. That would always be my philosophical goal." {in}
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October 19, 2023
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Paris Hilton, Mike Papantonio and Sara Gelser Blouin/ Photo Courtesy of Levin Papantonio Rafferty
TROUBLED TEEN INDUSTRY Paris Hilton's abduction still haunts her. At the Mass Torts Made Perfect conference in Las Vegas, she said, "One night, 4:30 in the morning, two men came in my room, held up handcuffs, and said, 'Do you want to go the easy way or the hard way?' They forcibly grabbed and pulled me out of my bed. I was screaming. I was so terrified, and I literally thought that I was being kidnapped." The men weren't kidnappers or law enforcement officers. Hilton was a victim of what has become known as the troubled teen industry— residential treatment centers for teenagers that rake in $23 billion annually. The men who took her were transporters her parents hired to take Hilton to the first of four residential treatment centers where she would be held against her will. Why? Hilton said, "My mom's very strict, and then moving from LA to New York, all of a sudden, I was invited to all these events, parties and places. I was ditching school and just being just a normal rebellious teenager." Her parents talked with an education consultant who recommended a residential treatment center they assumed was a "normal boarding school." It wasn't. Hilton shared stories of being beaten, drugged and repeatedly humiliated. Hilton talked about male guards watching her shower and being stripped and thrown into solitary confinement without food. Paris escaped four times. When she was caught, her parents put her in an even stricter facility. The last one, Provo Canyon School, was where she spent 11 months. She said, "I didn't breathe fresh air, see sunlight, or get to go outside. Every single day I prayed to God, just please get me out of this nightmare. I saw children with disabilities being strangled, eight counselors piling on a little nine-year-old, and kids getting beaten all day. All I could hear was screaming all day and night." Oregan State Sen. Sara Geisler Blouin joined Hilton and Pensacola attorney Mike Papantonio on the stage. She said Hilton's treatment was "very routine." "It happens all across the country, and what's been remarkable to me—I've talked to kids and 010 1
adults because it's been going on for so long—is how similar the stories are," Blouin said. "These are kids that don't know each other, but I hear the phrase, 'you can do this the easy way or the hard way,' over and over again." She said, "Parents are kept in the dark in a number of ways. They never see in person the place that their children are going, and by the time they're allowed to come for a visit, they're often not even allowed to see where their child is sleeping." Hilton said, "I didn't speak to my family for three months. The centers get away with it because we can't call for help; there's no way. If you write a letter, they will monitor every single word. If you write one thing they don't like, they'll just rip it up in front of you." Blouin said, "The whole idea behind this is you can tough love, punish or shame the mental health issues, the anxiety, the depression, the trauma out of individuals, which makes no sense. They weaponize kids against each other. And if you don't go at the most vulnerable part of your peer, they'll come after you, and you'll be punished." Papantonio related Hilton's treatment to the behavior young boys experienced in the Dozier School for Boys in Marianna for 111 years. He and partner Troy Rafferty have met with former students who shared how they were brutally beaten and sexually abused by the guards. Dozens died and were buried in unmarked graves. The Levin Papantonio Raffery law firm is lobbying the state legislature for a fund to help the survivors. "These boys were sent to Dozier for smoking and skipping classes," Papantonio said. "The facility made money for every child and the goods they produced." He asked over a thousand trial attorneys in the audience to join the firm in finding similar cases in their states. Papantonio said, "Everybody in this room is within about a hundred miles of a facility like these." Stay tuned.
ECSO MENTAL HEALTH UNIT The Escambia County Sheriff's Office (ESCO), in partnership with Lakeview Center, announced
earlier this month that the first $100,000 of the $549,245 state grant money has arrived, and the second part of the ECSO's Mental Health Co-Responder Unit is set to` begin. In October 2022, the ECSO announced the formation of its Mental Health Co-Responder Unit and the awarding of a mental health grant to fund it. The unit will work alongside mental health professionals for mental health-related calls and will provide immediate care and resources for our community members in their time of need. Not only will the unit provide a coresponse to mental health calls for service, but also provide mental health-related services within the agency. This innovative and cutting-edge program is one of only two in the entire state of Florida to combine sworn law enforcement deputies with mental health clinicians. The ECSO will utilize two career law enforcement officers who hold master's degrees in mental health counseling for this program. In addition to these sworn law enforcement officers, the ECSO plans to field three units, each composed of a sworn deputy and a mental health clinician, to respond to calls involving mental health complaints. This unit will be both proactive and reactive. "We are all aware in law enforcement circles that mental health has become a big part of what we deal with day to day," said Sheriff Chip Simmons. "You can see our Baker Acts are up. The people that we deal with on the street, a lot of the homeless population, have some sort of level of mental health issues, and so it's always better if we can get them people that are trained, people who have the time to deal with those that are suffering from some sort of mental health condition." The sheriff added, "Our co-responder unit allows us to provide services to our employees, as well as free patrol deputies to answer other calls for service. This is a huge step in the right direction, and we are hopeful that we can continue to build on this model." Since August of 2022, the mental health unit has provided internal services to members of the ECSO. The unit has already provided approximately 135 sessions to members of the agency, and they look to stand up the external co-response portion in January.
SOCCER COMPLEX IMPROVEMENTS
Escambia County Parks and Recreation and Pensacola Sports will host a ribbon cutting for a new facility Wednesday, Oct. 18, at the Ashton Brosnaham Soccer Complex. Parks and Recreation recently completed work on a new two-story facility at the soccer complex, which will serve as additional locker room space for the SEC Women's Soccer Tournament and other sporting events. Facility features include restrooms and showers for team sports use, an open space with sliding walls on the first floor and meeting and office spaces on the second floor. The open space on the first floor will be available for rent and can be used for meetings, birthday parties and other events.
On WCOA's morning show, District 5 County Commissioner Steven Barry praised Parks and Recreation director Michael Rhodes, County Administrator Wes Moreno and Pensacola Sports CEO Ray Palmer for "really the big charge" on bringing SEC Soccer to Pensacola. "When they agreed to the deal bringing the tournament here two years ago, we committed to make these improvements, and even though they weren't here last year, we still set records for attendance and the SEC had a great time," Barry said. "These improvements are the icing on the cake. It's a beautiful building, and I'll tell you what, if you want to really produce things for taxpayers and our constituents, you give it to Michael Rhodes and Wes Moreno, and you're going to get something done." The Ashton Brosnaham Soccer Complex will serve as the location for the Southeastern Conference Women's Soccer Tournament for the second consecutive year Oct. 29-Nov. 5. The 2022 event saw record-breaking attendance numbers and generated $2.5 million in local economic impact. To buy tickets, visit secticketoffice.com.
BROADBAND UPDATE Commissioner Barry
also shared that the Escambia River Electric Cooperative (EREC) is rapidly extending high-speed internet in the north Escambia County. In March, the Escambia County Commission approved using $6.3 million from American Rescue Plan funds for approximately 600 miles of fiber, reaching more than 4,000 EREC member locations. "They're lighting up regions of the district every week right now," Barry said. "They had originally given me a timeline of the first quarter next year for completion. It's very likely, if we don't have any storms or anything like that, they may be complete with the entire build-out by the end of this calendar year, which would just be amazing."
PROJECT FORMAL 4EVR DEZ, a 501c3 nonprofit, has released its Prom Trunk Show Dates for the 2024 High School Prom Season. Students wanting free formal wear will have two weekends to choose from: Feb. 24-25, 2024, and March 2324, 2024. Students or parents are encouraged to register for free formal wear at projectformal.com. Registration helps the nonprofit plan for dress sizes and volunteers. 4EVR DEZ promotes projects throughout Northwest Florida to enrich the lives of students by empowering them with opportunities that promote inclusion and equality. It is named after the CEO Taxie Lambert's daughter Desirea Sierra, 11, whose life was taken through an act of domestic violence. Desirea's life ended well before having an opportunity of attending a formal school event, and Lambert's mission is to ensure all students have the opportunity to attend formal events while attending high school. "Project Formal has really helped me put a lot of closure on the fact of losing Desirea in such a tragic way," Lambert told Inweekly. "I'm excited to make sure that students who are not currently getting to formal events at school, that they have this resource in our community." inweekly.net
Project Formal has served more than 180 students with free formal wear. The nonprofit has served high school students from Escambia to Walton County since 2012. The nonprofit receives free formal wear through business partnerships and community dress drives. Its Trunk Shows offer free dresses, accessories and alterations, leaving the students feeling empowered they too can attend a school formal event. "Our trunk shows are an experience," Lambert said. "We use it to empower the girls. A lot of the students that we served this past year never tried on dresses. For my team of volunteers and board members, it was very rewarding to us, because those are just some simple things that we take for granted because it's so easy for us just to go shopping and try on lots of dresses. To see the dress shopping for these girls at the trunk shows unfold before our eyes was so rewarding." Donations received that are not appropriate for high school are moved through the nonprofit's dress cycle going to Night to Shine, the nonprofit's middle school outreach program and a charity sale that provides scholarships to students. Project Formal has partnered with Big Brother's Big Sisters of NWFL, Take Stock in Children, NWF Health Network and the Children's Home Society Navigator's Program to ensure underserved students have a resource for formal wear. The nonprofit also assists with tuxedo rentals when funding is available. To learn more or make a contribution, visit projectformal.com.
PICKLEBALL IN NORTH HILL North Hill will soon have three pickleball courts at Armstrong Park, 300 W. Lakeview Ave. The city will convert one of the two courts at the Ronald Townsend Tennis Court. Work began on Monday, Oct. 9, and is expected to be completed by Friday, Oct. 20, weather permitting. Citizens will be able to enjoy the tennis and pickleball courts free of charge on a first-come, first-serve basis during park hours. COX COMMUNITY GRANTS Cox employees in the Gulf Coast Market are encouraging local nonprofits to apply for a Cox Charities Community Investment grant of up to $5,000 to fund a special program benefiting residents in the area. Applications are being accepted until Friday, Oct. 27, and can be found at coxcharitiesser.org. Cox Charities is an internal giving campaign totally funded by employees who set aside a portion of their paychecks to fund the local grants. Money donated by employees in the Gulf Coast Market stays in the Gulf Coast Market. A committee of 13 local employees will review applications and choose the grant recipients based on the amount of funding available. "We have a lot of need in this area and several great organizations that are helping," said Cam Johnson, Cox's Government and Public Affairs manager for the East Region. "The selection process is very difficult for our committee members. We had one say, 'It's like picking puppies, because you feel bad because you can't pick everybody.' They hate to say no to any organization, but really they're looking for creative and impactful programs." Cox Charities was created to strengthen Cox markets through the support of programs that positively impact communities in the areas of education, technology, social issues, conservation and the arts. Cox Charities does not replace, but rather increases Cox's philanthropic giving in the community. In 2022, Cox gave more than $1.6 million in cash and in-kind services to nonprofits in the Gulf Coast Market. October 19, 2023
The Cox Gulf Coast market includes parts of Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa and Walton counties. For more information, visit coxcharitiesser.org.
SPIRIT OF UWF AWARDS University of West Florida (UWF) hosted the 2023 Spirit of UWF Alumni and Community Awards ceremony earlier this month. "We are proud to celebrate the distinguished achievements of our alumni and community partners," said Howard Reddy, the vice president of University Advancement. "Recognizing those whose passion and purpose positively impacts the communities they serve is important." The Alumni Awards recognize those who excel in representing the UWF Alumni Association, the university, their respective communities and the more than 95,000 UWF alumni worldwide.
Those eligible for nomination included UWF alumni, friends, faculty and staff. The following alumni were named recipients of the Alumni Awards: •Outstanding Young Alumni: Adelin Gasana '08; Kesley "Kali" Richardson '16, '19 •Alumni Inclusion: MiChele Stevenson '87, '89; Dr. Michael F. Summers '80, '13 •Alumni Community Spirit: Hong Potomski '07; Chris Roney '98 •Distinguished Alumni: William "Bill" McGinnis '73; Lindsley Armstrong Smith '86, '89 •Chambered Nautilus Award of Merit: Organization–Aylstock, Witkin, Kreis & Overholtz, PLLC; Individual–Collier Merrill '85. The Spirit of UWF Community Awards celebrate and strengthen collaborations between the University and the communities that UWF
serves. Those eligible for nomination include businesses, organizations, agencies and individuals, along with UWF administrators, staff, faculty and students. The following people or organizations were named recipients of the Spirit of UWF Awards: •Community Engagement Educator: Dr. Patricia Barrington '97, '13 •Community Innovation : Dr. Tiffany Jackman •Community Impact: Monica Woodruff '23 •Research and Scholarship: Bonita Johnson •Workforce and Career Development: Booz Allen Hamilton •Public Service and Education: Sandra Donaldson '01 •Quality of Life: Baptist Health Care For more information, visit uwf.edu/spiritofuwf. {in} 11
PENSACOLA’S ECONOMIC UPSWING Leaders Get Into High Gear By Tom St. Myer Three Pensacola mayors, Ashton Hayward, D.C. Reeves and Grover Robinson, at ST Engineering event. Photo Courtesy of City of Pensacola
Economic development is on the upswing in Pensacola, with grants rolling in at unprecedented rates, activity increasing at the Port of Pensacola and Pensacola International Airport, and an abundance of small businesses opening their doors and expanding the workforce. "We're sort of at a precipice where there's all these resources," said David Bear, who is intricately involved in economic development as Lewis Bear Company CEO and board chair of Triumph Gulf Coast and FloridaWest. "We're seeing all this growth organically with our population, tourism and opportunities with Triumph and the state. There are just a lot of things that are starting to align." The upward trajectory in economic development starts at City Hall. Mayor D.C. Reeves prioritized economic growth from the outset by creating economic development and grants offices. "What I always said is I've got entrepreneur blood in me, which means I like to control my own destiny in a lot of things," Reeves said. "That's not to say FloridaWest doesn't do a good job or that we're not partners, but sometimes symbolically, that's looked upon as if we were taking our ball and going home, but it's really the opposite. The square miles of this city have separate priorities and needs in economic development than the rest of the entire county."
GRANTS AT DIZZYING RATE
Reeves hired an economic development director with a proven track record in Erica Grancagnolo. She previously served as assistant director of development and strategy for the airport 212 1
and as special programs manager for the Santa Rosa County Board of Commissioners. Grancagnolo directs an office that will soon expand by hiring a housing and economic program manager. She works closely with the grants office, which includes senior grant writer Joel Hollon and special projects coordinator Kevin Boyer. The City has been procuring grants at a dizzying rate since Reeves established the offices, landing 10 grants ranging from $1 million to nearly $25 million. The airport is holding its own in procuring grants this year, too. Three top $1 million, including a nearly $5 million Defense Community Infrastructure Pilot Program Grant for the aircraft parking apron. The other two address runway guard lights design and construction and airport terminal expansion and renewal design. The $25 million grant secured in July by the City funds the redevelopment and storm resiliency of Hollice T. Williams Stormwater Park. Reeves got the grant through the Hurricane Sally Infrastructure Repair Program to improve water quality, stormwater attenuation, create recreational opportunities and display public art that honors the neighborhood's cultural heritage. A primarily Black neighborhood displaced as the Florida Department of Transportation constructed Interstate 110 from 1965 to 1978, the Hollice T. Williams area once was bustling with residences, schools, churches, restaurants and other commercial properties. Famous Pensacolians such as Williams, John Sunday, Chappie James Jr. and Cecil T. Hunter once called the neighborhood home. Historically significant structures bearing their names in the neighborhood include the John Sunday House, Chappie James Museum and Dr. John Lee Pickens Medical Office.
Today, the 1.3-mile highway underpass, stretching from Maxwell to Wright streets, battles flooding and consists of dozens of blighted properties. About 20% of the population is without a high school diploma or vehicle, and the median household income of about $35,000 is nearly $25,000 below the median for the City of Pensacola. "This is a longstanding minority neighborhood in which some of the most important people in our community were born and were raised," Reeves said. "This is a neighborhood that deserves attention." Other notable grants include $9.1 million for redevelopment and storm resiliency of Port of Pensacola and $8.5 million from Triumph Gulf Coast for American Magic and the Center of Maritime Excellence. Grancagnolo takes pride in the $8.5 million Triumph grant. The money will be used to complete a warehouse once intended for Streamline Boats and, before that venture, DeepFlex, plus a 50-foot addition and design and construction of a dock and boat ramp. The facility will become the headquarters of the Bella Mente Quantum Racing Association (American Magic). The project seeks to establish the port and Florida as a premier location for cutting-edge watercraftbuilding innovation on a global scale. The project's economic benefits include creating 170 jobs at above-average wages, the attraction of supporting companies and technology, partnerships with university researchers, and potential successful bids for major events, including regattas and youth sailing events. "We moved quickly to make that happen because we realized how important that project
was to Pensacola," Grancagnolo said. "That project stands to have a bigger impact than any other in putting Pensacola on the international map." She continued, "We're focused on innovation, and American Magic is going to be the catalyst for that. When you see the City of Pensacola on their sail, you know that's seen around the world." "American Magic got across the finish line in the time it did because we have this (economic development) office," Reeves said. While the grants ensure its bright future, the Port of Pensacola has thrived over the past few years. Vessel traffic increased almost 9%, and cargo activity surged to its highest total since 2007 during this past fiscal year. Director Clark Merritt said the port handled more than 435,000 tons, a 10,000-ton increase from 2021-22. Merritt credited tenant Cemex importing bulk cement from Mexico for the increased cargo activity. "The building boom has really helped to contribute to our uptick of tonnage," Merritt said. The American Magic project addresses the first strategic area of emphasis Grancagnolo identified. The other strategic areas include innovation and marine tech, connecting the dots with the workforce, and housing at all economic levels. For all the positive momentum, Pensacola is still far from a utopia. Low median household income, low-performing schools and an affordable housing shortage create challenges when recruiting companies to move to Pensacola. Grancagnolo sees the point of economic development is to bring high-paying jobs to the community. The unemployment rate in the inweekly.net
city compares favorably to the rest of the nation at 3.2% vs. 3.6%, according to the Bureau of Labor. But the median household income in Pensacola falls $15,000 short of the national average of $74,580. "The link is making sure the most vulnerable youth are getting these jobs," Grancagnolo said. "We want to connect those kids with companies looking to hire. We want to make sure they're exposed to opportunities in the community, and they understand the steps they need to take to get those kinds of jobs." The housing shortage at all economic levels hinders keeping homegrown talent and attracting employees from outside the region. The cost of living outpaces the income of a significant percentage of the population. In August, the median listing home price in the county neared $350,000, and the median home sold for $300K, according to Realtor.com. Renters feel the economic strain, too. According to the University of Florida Shimberg Center for Housing Studies, 28% of renters pay more than 40% of their income for rent in Escambia County. By comparison, only 13% of renters in Santa Rosa County fall in the same category. The City created the housing and economic program manager position to address these challenges. Grancagnolo has interviewed candidates in search of someone with technical skills, underwriting experience and real estate knowledge. The created position comes on the heels of Gov. Ron DeSantis signing the Live Local Act into law. The Live Local Act invests $711 million in multiple programs to expand the availability of housing and down payment assistance with focused support for military communities. The investment includes $259 million for the State Apartment Incentive Loan, or SAIL, program to provide low-interest loans to developers building workforce housing and $252 million for the State Housing Initiatives Partnership, or SHIP, program to provide local governments with incentives to build partnerships with developers who preserve available housing or produce more housing. Grancagnolo said Reeves opted to create economic development and grants offices and invest in a housing and economic program manager to prioritize areas outside FloridaWest's scope.
FLORIDAWEST 2.0
FloridaWest, Escambia County's economic development authority, has undergone a leadership change, with Brian Hilson replacing Scott Luth as CEO. Luth resigned to accept a position with Space Florida. Hilson stepped into the role in August and brought with him 40-plus years of leading programs focused on economic growth. He previously served as president and CEO of the Huntsville/Madison County Chamber of Commerce, the Birmingham Business Alliance president and CEO and the Japan-America Society of Alabama executive director. Hilson described economic development as both a sprint and a marathon. His job is to identify near-term opportunities with sights on long-term needs. "Always at the top of the list for me is productivity," he said. "Typically, it's measured in number of jobs and not just quantity, but the type of jobs and career opportunities they make October 19, 2023
and what is the capital investment from companies. There should be a significant impact on local and regional economies, certainly on tax revenues locally." Hilson considers Greater Pensacola a midsized metropolitan area with untapped economic potential. He named Miami, Orlando, Tampa, Mobile, Biloxi, New Orleans, Savannah and Norfolk as cities Pensacola should be able to compete with and beat for economic projects and workforce talent. One concern for Hilson is the image of Pensacola at the national level. The city operates in relative obscurity compared to the other cities he considers competitors. "We have so many of the natural ingredients in quality of life that people are looking for, but perhaps our situation is lesser known," Hilson said. "We need to work on image enhancement." Tourism and the military still serve as the backbones of the economy, but Pensacola is beginning to gain traction as a tech hub, particularly biotech. Enticements from FloridaWest spurred ActiGraph, CIRCULOGENE, Intelligent Retinal Imaging Systems and Pegasus Laboratories, among others, to rapidly expand their footprint in the county. Hilson wants to continue technology's momentum but recognizes other avenues exist. He shares Grancagnolo's commitment to finding employment opportunities for homegrown talent. "The key is balanced growth," Hilson said. "We must have diversified growth. If you only focus on technology, you might be missing some opportunities in low-tech or no-tech business sectors that create jobs that are more important for certain portions of our workforce." His point is valid, but the vacant Pensacola Technology Campus in downtown is a reminder there is still room to expand the tech footprint. Since its infrastructure work in 2012 through a $2 million grant from the Economic Development Administration, FloridaWest and PEDC have searched for a developer capable of building facilities to attract technology tenants that meet the grant's requirements. In 2020, PEDC put out a request to developers for proposals for any project and failed to secure a single commitment. Last year, PEDC entered into an agreement with Pensacola City Council for the property to be used for youth soccer practice until a developer is secured. Bear describes the tech park as the bane of his late father's existence. Lewis Bear Jr. invested significant time trying to develop the park, and now his son is taking on the quest. "There are a lot of conversations going on now with several different entities about the park," said David Bear, who envisions a tech cluster downtown with the tech park, IHMC Levin Center and potentially a tech company moving into the Florida Power & Light building. "Just with everything else going on, now's the opportunity to start to see something there." The mayor defers to FloridaWest and PEDC on the tech park, but Reeves said he is readily available to lend a hand and push a deal across the finish line for the betterment of the community. "Why wouldn't we be going out to try and help sell that to bring more jobs and help FloridaWest, PEDC and others?" Reeves said. "If we do this correctly and no one's taking their ball and going home, we're working together for great, positive economic outcomes. I feel very bullish on that." {in}
THOUSANDS OF BOOKS FOR $1
BOOK SALE
SATURDAY & SUNDAY OCTOBER 28 & 29 10AM-5PM
1040 N. GUILLEMARD ST. PENSACOLA, FL 32501 850.453.6774 OPENBOOKSPCOLA.ORG
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inweekly.net
WEEK OF OCTOBER 19-25
Arts & Entertainment art, film, music, stage, books and other signs of civilization...
When Words Are Not Sufficient By Savannah Evanoff
Photo Courtesy of Pensacola Little Theatre
When Pensacola Little Theatre chose its upcoming play, they knew it would be an "Alabama Story." They didn't know it would be an Escambia County story, too. Playwright Kenneth Jones' "Alabama Story" draws from historical events, exploring the challenges Emily Wheelock Reed, the former state librarian of Alabama, faced when confronted with a demand to purge a children's book from library shelves in 1959. Reed primarily faced up against Alabama State Senator E.O. Eddins, fictionalized in the play as E.W. Higgins. PLT read and selected the play before it was even published. "Who knew when we were reading it two years ago that our own local political issues were going to reflect the nonsense in the story?" said Kathy Holsworth, the artistic director of PLT. "We thought we were just telling a good historical story, and as it turns out, we're still pretty stupid as a population and continue to do things like ban books and limit access." The play's subject matter resonates with Holsworth. While she didn't pursue her childOctober 19, 2023
hood dream of becoming a high school teacher — her path wasn't a straight one — she considers herself a nontraditional educator. "I'm an avid book reader, and my parents were great community advocates, and they lifted us in our learning," Holsworth said. "And I'm a public school kid that went to shitty schools, but still got a great education, because that's possible if you are a good reader and you're motivated and your parents are with you." Because of her passion for the story, PLT simultaneously announced the play auditions with the news it wouldn't be auditioning for the lead role. Holsworth, who has worked her way through PLT from a volunteer to box office supervisor to artistic director starting in 1996, claimed the role of Emily. "This is the first time I've been on stage since 2019," Holsworth said. "But in my contract as artistic director, I do one major project that's either directing, designing or acting a year. Basically, that validates my quality, as well as keeps me active. Rather than just managing everybody else's art, I get to practice the art as well."
"He helps the audience stay engaged; he's "Alabama Story" centers on the children's talking straight to them," Holsworth said. "So, book "The Rabbit's Wedding," which tells the we do what theater would call breaking the story of a black rabbit and a white rabbit. fourth wall, which is engaging the audience in "The legislators at the time felt like that was what's happening here." indoctrination to integration, and 'We don't do The play also features a parallel fictional that in Alabama,' which is why it's an Alabama story that reflects the black rabbit and the white story," Holsworth said. "And what Emily did was rabbit. A Black man, Joshua, played by Philip not fight about integration, but she fought about Posey, encounters a white woman, Lily, played books. She did not take the bait. She did not by Michaela Jacobs. argue over the blackness or the whiteness of the "They remember their childhoods together rabbit. She continued to say, 'This is a children's quite differently," Holsworth said. "And as they book. Everyone deserves access to every book.'" share moments with each other and come to "That was the beginning of that technique a true remembrance of their togetherness as where librarians defended books by not removchildren, but their separation as Black and white ing them from the library, but removing them folks, there's some real painful moments there. from all access," Holsworth said. "And just like in It's a small cast of six and just tremendous moveEscambia County and the State of Florida right ment and contrasting storytelling." now, those banned books literally skyrocket in This play will mark longtime PLT volunteer sales because you start talking about them, and Gavin Parmley's directorial debut. the people who care will go and get them." "He was the one who actually chose the play Using a grant from Sunday's Child, a local and said, 'We really must do this,'" Holsworth said. nonprofit that promotes diversity, inclusion Assisting him is outreach director Kimberly and equality, PLT will give away various books Scott. removed from classrooms and library shelves, "That was an important selection for us including the children's book under debate in the as well, because we are telling a difficult story play and "And Tango Makes Three," which was of Black and white relations," Holsworth said. banned by the Escambia County School Board. "Kenneth Jones very wisely advices in the PLT will also fly in playwright Jones the first script when you get the rights, to make sure weekend of performances to host talkbacks that there are people of color on your producafter each night and author Nic Stone, who will tion team, 'Because you don't tell stories about join Jones on Saturday night to talk about the us without us.'" banned book trend. Holsworth hopes the audience will not only "She's a queer Black woman — she writes enjoy the storytelling, but also embark in a disyoung adult fiction — and her books are usucussion. Art often speaks when words are not ally on banned book lists," Holsworth said. "One sufficient, Holsworth said. of the reasons why she wrote her books was "The play itself can allow people to validate because her children could not find stories that their feelings, change their mind," Holsworth reflected their own family with two mommies." said. "And if there are naysayers or protests, one The play will feature a fantastic cast, Holsof the joys of being an independent, artistic comworth said. She looks forward to playing Emily pany is you don't have to buy my tickets if you opposite Jeff Glickman as Senator Higgins. don't want to come see my play. I don't have a "(Glickman) is a veteran actor and very problem with that. Not all art that we make in our strong, and he and I are dangerous adversaries on stage," Holsworth said. "It could be very easy building is going to please all people, but people to play the senator as a terrible caricature of hu- who want to come who want to enter the discussion are welcome to do so." {in} man, and (Glickman) plays him like the southern neighbor you know, or your uncle or your grandpa who has not been able to change his mind. It's the debate scenes and the conWHEN: 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday Oct. 20-21, versations we have on stage that 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday, Oct. 26-28 are very powerful, and (Glickman) and 2:30 p.m. Sundays, Oct. 22 and 29 brings great artistic weight to his WHERE: Pensacola Little Theatre, 400 S. Jefferson St. storytelling." L. Jeffrey Martorell will portray COST: $18 general admission Garth Williams, the author of "The DETAILS: pensacolalittletheatre.com Rabbit's Wedding," along with multiple other characters.
PLT’S ‘ALABAMA STORY’
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a&e happenings cleaning supplies to help the rescue and receive $1 of your pint. The brewery kitchen will serve food noon-9 p.m., and Hip Pocket Deli food truck will be in the biergarten 5-9 p.m. Live music with Three Bean Soup starts at 6 p.m. with a spooky surprise from the Perdido Performing Arts starting promptly at 7 p.m. Visit facebook.com/garysbrew for details.
ODD HALLOWS EVE Odd Colony, 260 N.
Palafox St., celebrates Halloween with dark beer releases, a costume contest, live music and classic Halloween movies starting at 7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 28. Visit facebook.com/oddcolony for details.
DRAG ME TO THE WELL DRAG SHOW
Visit The Well, 42 E. Garden St., for a spooky drag show (ages 21 and older).
ZARZAUR LAW PRESENTS ZALLOWEEN
HALLOWEEN EVENTS
THE PENSACOLA BREAST CANCER ASSOCIATION (PBCA) AND HADJI HAUNTED HOUSE Every Friday and Saturday night
for the last three weeks of October, as well as Halloween Night, Tuesday, Oct. 31, the Hadji Haunted House will open its eerie doors. The Haunted House is located at 800 W. Nine Mile Road. Hours are 7-10:30 p.m. Get tickets at hadjihauntedhouse.com.
GALLERY NIGHT: FRIGHT NIGHT Hal-
loween themed Gallery Night is 5-9 p.m. Friday, Oct. 20 in downtown Pensacola with live performances, art vendors and more. The event is located down South Palafox Street. Visit gallerynightpensacola.org for details.
BEACH-O-WEEN The fifth annual BeachO-Ween is 4-8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 20 with kid-friendly activities, a costume contest, a bounce house and trick or treating. All festivities are free at Pensacola Beach Boardwalk, 1 Via de Luna Drive. 33RD ANNUAL HAUNTED HOUSE WALKING AND TROLLEY TOURS Historic
Pensacola tours run through Oct. 28. Walking tours are $8-$15, and trolley tours are $10-$20. Tours include the Adults Only Redlight Walking Tour 6:30, 7:30 and 8:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 27 and 6:30, 7, 8 and 8:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 28; Murder and Mayhem Walking Tour 6:30, 7, 7:30, 8, and 8:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 27 and Saturday, Oct. 28; Seville Spirits 6:30, 7, 7:30, 8 and 8:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 21, 6:30, 7, 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 27 and 6:30, 7, 8 and 8:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 28; Trolley of the Doomed Trolley Tour 6:30, 7:30 and 8:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 21, Friday, Oct. 27 and Saturday, Oct. 28. Purchase tickets online at historicpensacola.org.
SPIRITS OF THE SIMPSON HOUSE Take
in a spooky evening learning the history and hauntings of the Arcadia Homestead with guided tours 6:30, 7:30 and 8:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 20 at 4755 Anna Simpson Road in Milton. Purchase tickets online at historicpensacola.org. 616 1
SPOOKTACULAR: A LOW SENSORY HALLOWEEN PARTY Everyone is welcome
to attend this fun event designed for kids of all ages and individuals on the Autism Spectrum 5-7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 21 at Pensacola Museum of Art, 407 S. Jefferson St. Tickets are $12 in advance and $13 at the door. Visit pensacolamuseum.org for details.
BOO AT THE ZOO – TRICK OR TREAT TRAIL Trick-or-treat with all your favorite
animals at the Gulf Breeze Zoo, 5701 Gulf Breeze Parkway. Boo at the Zoo offers six days of scarefree, daytime fun for children and their families. This includes trick-or-treat trail with toys, treats, treasures, bounce houses, face painting, animal ambassador headquarters and the entire zoo. Dates are 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Oct. 21-22 and 28-29. Purchase your tickets at gbzoo.com.
SCARY NIGHT MARKET AT PERFECT PLAIN Join Wolfgang Pensacola for a nighttime market 4-6 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 26 at Perfect Plain, 50 E. Garden St. More than 20 vendors will be at the market. Bring your dog in a Halloween bandana or costume and receive an extra treat.
PUMPKIN PICASSO CHALLENGE ICON Modern Art Gallery's Inaugural Pumpkin Picasso Challenge is open Oct. 26-Oct. 29 at at 213 S. Alcaniz. Drop off your pumpkin masterpieces in your own style. The challenge cost is $10. HALLOWEEN WEEKEND AT PERFECT PLAIN Visit Perfect Plain Brewing Co., 50 E. Gar-
den St., for Halloween weekend with trick or taps beer specials. On Friday, Oct. 27, there is Scaryoke 9 p.m.-midnight and tarot readings 8-11 p.m. On Saturday, Oct. 28, more scaryoke is at 9 p.m., and on Sunday, Oct. 29, the Howl O'Ween Pet Costume Party is 1-3 p.m., live DJ and drink specials. Visit facebook.com/perfectplainbrewingco.
BREWTON PUPPIES AND PINTS AND HALLOWEEN COSTUME CONTEST Join
Brewton Dog Rescue and Gary's to get homeless pets a second chance at a forever home 5:30-7:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 27 at Gary's Brewery & Biergarten, 208 Newman Ave. Bring in a bag of dog food or
Take the kids to a free and safe Halloween party complete with a costume contest from 4-6 p.m. Friday, Oct. 27 at the intersection of Palafox and Romana streets. A $100 first prize available for each age group in the costume contest. The first 250 kids in costume will receive a trick-or-treat bag and pumpkin strobe light. Visit zaraurlaw. com/zalloween-2023.
MONSTER'S MASQUERADE MURDER MYSTERY DINNER THEATRE Improbable
Cause murder mystery show with two dates: 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 27 and Saturday, Oct. 28 at Heritage Hall at Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. Tickets are $65 includes a choice of two entrees for ages 18 and older. Visit sevillequarter.com or eventbrite.com for details.
CANDLELIGHT: A HAUNTED EVENING OF HALLOWEEN CLASSICS Listen to spooky
tunes by candlelight. Performances are 6:15 and 8:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 27 at First United Methodist Church, 6 E. Wright St. Tickets start at $32. Visit feverup.com/en/pensacola/candlelight for tickets.
HOLLAND FARMS PUMPKIN PATCH & MAZE Get into the fall season with a farm hayride, corn maze, kids' activities, pumpkin patch and more 8 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays through Nov. 4 at 2055 Holland Road in Milton. Visit hollandfarmsonline.com for details.
NONPROFITS & FUNDRAISERS
DOGGIE BATHE-INS The last Pensacola of
Humane Society Bathe-In is 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 21 at the shelter, 5 North Q St. Cost is $10 per dog no matter the size. Bring your own towel.
ANIMAL ALLIES FLORIDA BINGO Animal
Allies Florida hosts bingo twice monthly at Scenic Hills Country Club, 8891 Burning Tree Road. The cost is 10 rounds of bingo for $10, with cash prizes for winners. Food and drinks are also available for purchase. The full bar and restaurant offer special adult beverages just for bingo nights. You must be 18 to play. For more information, visit facebook. com/animalalliesflorida.
ANIMAL ALLIES CAT AND KITTEN ADOPTION Visit Pet Supermarket 11 a.m.-3
p.m. every first and third Saturday of the month at 6857 N. 9th Ave. to meet your furever friend. Visit aaflorida.org for details.
BE A VENDOR AT BARKTOBER FEST 2023
The Pensacola Humane Society will celebrate 80 years at Barktober Fest on Sunday, Oct. 29 in Seville Square. The event is expected to bring more than 4,000 attendees. If you would like to be a sponsor or vendor, call or text Deborah Dunlap at (850) 232-9063.
CARING & SHARING MINISTRY FOOD DRIVE The Gloria Green Caring & Sharing Min-
istry is attached to the Historic St. Joseph Catholic Church, 140 W. Government St. The ministry feeds the homeless at 10:30 a.m. Tuesdays. The ministry's food pantry opens at 10 a.m. and has clothing. Food donations needed are pop-top canned goods, Beanie Weenies, Vienna sausage, potted meat, cans of tuna and chicken and soups. Clothing donations needed include tennis shoes for men and women as well as sweatshirts and new underwear for men in sizes small, medium and large. Call DeeDee Green at (850) 723-3390 for details.
CALL TO ARTISTS
JAZZ PENSACOLA'S JAZZFEST POSTE
Jazz Pensacola invites fine artists and graphic designers to submit renderings for the official 2024 Pensacola JazzFest poster. The commission is $500. The Jazz Pensacola Board of Directors will consider all renderings and make a selection. Initial drafts are due by Jan. 31, 2024. If selected, the completed submission deadline is Feb. 28, 2024. The poster design should reflect the deep, rich and 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 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: 2024 Pensacola JazzFest. Rough drafts or sketches can be submitted, but, if selected, the final art must conform to the submitted draft or sketch. Substantial deviation from the submitted sketch or draft will result in forfeiture by the artist of the cash prize and the selection of a new winner by Jazz Pensacola. 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 phone number. The selected artist is responsible for the preparation of the art for high-resolution reproduction. The artist will be contacted following the selection process and receive technical specifications for the production file.
ARTS & CULTURE
PENSACOLA INTERSTATE FAIR The 89th Pensacola Interstate Fair opens Thursday, Oct. 19 with $1 admissions for ages 4 and older. The fair runs through Saturday, Oct. 28 with daily events and specials. Live music acts include Tracy Lawrence 7:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 20, Shane Profitt 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 21, Alexandra Kay 7:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 23, Frank Foster 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 24, Rocky and the Rollers inweekly.net
a&e happenings at 3:30 and 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 26, White Tie Rock Ensemble 7:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 27, and Mark Chestnutt 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 28. Visit pensacolafair.com for a full list of events.
MOSAIC NIGHT Enjoy an evening of mosaic
fun 5 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 19 at Gary's Brewery & Biergarten, 208 Newman Ave. These projects are great for ages 8 and up. Projects are $35 - $69 plus sales tax and registration fee. All materials are included. Visit facebook.com/garysbrew for details.
OPERA AFTER DARK Opera After Dark returns 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 20 at UWF Museum Plaza. There will be food trucks and live performances from opera artists. Visit facebook.com/ pensacolaopera for details. FRIENDS OF WEST FLORIDA PUBLIC LIBRARY 50TH ANNIVERSARY GALA
Fundraiser for West Florida Public Libraries with live music from Curt Bol Band and discussion with author Craig Pittman 6-9:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 20 at Sanders Beach-Corinne Jones Resource Center Ballroom, 913 South I St. Tickets are available at friendsofwfpl.org.
ALABAMA STORY Pensacola Little Theatre
production. Showtimes are 7:30 p.m. Fridays Oct. 20 and 27, Saturdays Oct. 21 and 28, and 2:30 p.m. Sundays Oct. 22 and 29. PLT is located at 400 S. Jefferson St. Tickets are $18-$25 at pensacolalittletheatre.com.
ROLLING BY THE BAY CAR & MUSIC FESTIVAL Check out unique cars and enjoy live
music at the Rolling by the Bay Saturday, Oct. 21 and Sunday, Oct. 22 at Community Maritime Park, 351 W. Cedar St. with music starting at 11 a.m. both days. Admission is $40 day passes and $65 weekend passes. Get tickets at rollingbythebay.com.
JOE GATTO Comedian Joe Gatto will perform
at Saenger Theatre 7-9 p.m. Saturday, Oct, 21 at 118 S. Palafox St. Tickets available at pensacolasaenger.com.
ACTING WORKSHOP WITH KENNETH JONES "Alabama Story" playwright Kenneth
Jones hosts this acting workshop noon-3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 21 at PLT, 400 S. Jefferson St. Tickets are $40 and available at pensacolalittletheatre.com.
October 19, 2023
NIC STONE AT PENSACOLA LITTLE THEATRE Join PLT for a thought-provoking evening
6 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 21 with renowned author and activist Nic Stone who will deliver a keynote speech on banned books. This event is open to the public. Visit pensacolalittletheatre.com for details.
WSRE WINE AND FOOD CLASSIC The 33rd
annual WSRE Wine & Food Classic will celebrate the culinary prestige of iconic PBS chefs. The event's marquee Walkabout Tasting will feature top local chefs and music by Nobius 6-9 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 21 at the SCI Building Plaza, 220 W. Garden St. Tickets to the Walkabout Tasting are $65 at wsre.org/events.
LATINO FESTIVAL Pensacola annual Latino
Festival includes live music, food and activities. Admission is free. The festival is noon-8 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 22 at Museum Plaza, 120 Church St.
ESCAPE TO MARGARITAVILLE Pensacola
State College's Theatre Department will present the 2017 jukebox musical, "Escape to Margaritaville," on 7:30 p.m. Oct. 20, 21, 27 and 28 and 2:30 p.m. Oct. 22 and 29. Based on the music of the late Jimmy Buffett, the production will be staged in Ashmore Auditorium, Building 8, on the Pensacola campus at 1000 College Boulevard. Tickets are $7-$16 and available at performingarts.pensacolatstae.edu.
BROWN BAG OPERA Share your lunch break with Pensacola Opera noon-12:45 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 24 at The Opera House, 75 Tarragona St. Visit pensacolaopera.com for details and more events. STARWOUND: "INTERIORS" Presented UWF Downtown Lecture Series, is the rock cabaret StarWound featuring poetic collaborations with UWF faculty and students, along with previous collaborations from previous events 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 24 at The REX Theatre, 18 N. Palafox St. Admission is free, but tickets required. Visit eventbrite.com to secure yours. LET'S GET LIT(ERARY) BOOK CLUB Book
club meets 5 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 24 at Bodacious Bookstore and Café, 110 Intendencia St. The group will discuss "I Feed Her to the Beast and the Beast is Me." Visit facebook.com/bodaciousbookstore for details.
TAYLOR SWIFT DANCE PARTY Enjoy a release party for the re-recorded "1989" album 9 p.m. Friday, Oct. 27 at Vinyl Music Hall, 2 S. Palafox St. Tickets are $20 and available at vinylmusichall.com.
equipment at Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. Tickets are $12 and include a voucher toward Seville Quarter's menu. Tours are held 11 a.m.-2 p.m. weekdays and 2-4 p.m. Sundays. Make an appointment by calling (850) 941-4321.
JOAN BAEZ "I AM A NOISE" Watch a new first run film on the singer Joan Baez 1 p.m. Friday, Oct. 27 and Saturday, Oct. 28 at Pensacola Cinema Art, 220 W. Garden St. Visit pensacolacinemaart.com for details.
AFTER DARK: SEVILLE QUARTER GHOSTS, MURDER, MAYHEM AND MYSTERY TOUR AND DINNER After Dark Para-
OPEN BOOKS FALL BOOK SALE Thousands of books for sale for just $1. Shop the sale 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 28 and Sunday, Oct. 29 at Open Books, 1040 N. Guillemard St. Visit openbookspcola.org.
SCRIPTEASERS Join writers at Pensacola Little Theatre, 400 S. Jefferson St., for Scripteasers the second Saturday of every month. The next date is 11 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 11. Visit pensacolalittletheatre.com for details. PALAFOX MARKET SOUTH AT PLAZA FERDINAND Palafox Market South will
include a blend of familiar Palafox Market vendors, along with a new mix of local farmers, artists, and crafts makers who will fill up Plaza Ferdinand on the corner of Palafox and Government streets. Shoppers can navigate between the new market and the always-humming original located on North Palafox at Martin Luther King Jr. Plaza, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. every Saturday. For more information about Palafox Market, visit palafoxmarket.com. For information concerning other downtown events, please visit downtownpensacola.com
CABARET DRAG SHOWCASE AT AMERICAN LEGION POST #19 3 Don't miss Caba-
ret Drag Showcase every second and fourth Saturday at the American Legion Post #193, 2708 N. 12th Ave. Doors open at 8 p.m. Showtime is 10 p.m. For more information, contact show director Taize Sinclair-Santi at taizesinclairsanti@gmail.com.
normal Investigation and Dinner happens inside one of Pensacola's most haunted restaurants with actual ghost-hunting equipment 6-8 p.m. Sundays. Listen as your guide weaves tales of ghosts, debauchery, murder, mayhem, paranormal activities, history and more related to Seville Quarter and downtown Historic Pensacola. Following your ghost tour, enjoy dinner at Seville Quarter Palace Café, 130 E. Government St. Reservations required. Call (850) 941-4321. Tickets are available at pensacolaghostevents.com.
PENSACOLA ARTS MARKET Shop small
and buy art at Pensacola Arts Market 11 a.m.-4 p.m. every fourth Saturday of the month at Cordova Square, 1101 N. 12th Ave. Enjoy a local artisan and farmers market with more than 50 vendors, food trucks, plants, vintage clothing and décor, live musical performances, kids' crafts and games. This is a free event. Pensacola Arts Market is set up 4-9 p.m. every first Friday of the month and 2-6 p.m. every third Sunday at Gary's Brewery & Biergarten, 208 Newman Ave.
DEPTH OF FIELD Depth of Field showcases photography from the Pensacola Museum of Art's permanent collection, alongside objects from the UWF Historic Trust Archives. Artworks on display explore the history, science and alchemical nature of the medium. On view are works by pioneers in the field such as Alfred Stieglitz, Elliott Erwitt, Edward J. Steichen, Walker Evans and Vivian Maier, as well as notable contemporary artists including Valerie George, Richard McCabe, Sheila Pinkel and Gesche Würfel. Exhibit is located at 407 S. Jefferson St., and is on view through Oct. 22. Visit pensacolamuseum.org for details.
SPIRITS OF SEVILLE QUARTER GHOST TOUR AND LUNCHEON Dine inside Pen-
sacola's oldest and most haunted restaurant and investigate the spirits with actual paranormal
for more listings visit inweekly.net
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free will astrology WEEK OF OCTOBER 19 ARIES (MARCH 21-APRIL 19): JooHee Yoon is an illustrator and designer. She says, "So much of artmaking is getting to know yourself through the creative process, of making mistakes and going down rabbit holes of research and experimentation that sometimes work out—and sometimes don't." She adds, "The failures are just as important as the successes." I would extend this wisdom, applying it to how we create our personalities and lives. I hope you will keep it in mind as you improvise, experiment with and transform yourself in the coming weeks. TAURUS (APRIL 20-MAY 20): Sometimes,
we droop and shrivel in the face of a challenge that dares us to grow stronger and smarter. Sometimes, we try our best to handle a pivotal riddle with aplomb but fall short. Neither of these two scenarios will be in play for you during the coming months. I believe you will tap into reserves of hidden power you didn't realize you had access to. You will summon bold, innovative responses to tantalizing mysteries. I predict you will accomplish creative triumphs that may have once seemed beyond your capacities.
Be extra tender, kind and accommodating. Your golden hour will come. GEMINI (MAY 21-JUNE 20): Gemini novel-
ist Meg Wolitzer suggests "one of the goals of life is to be comfortable in your own skin and in your own bed and on your own land." I suspect you won't achieve that goal in the coming weeks, but you will lay the foundation for achieving that goal. You will figure out precisely what you need in order to feel at home in the world, and you will formulate plans to make that happen. Be patient with yourself, dear Gemini. Be extra tender, kind and accommodating. Your golden hour will come.
CANCER (JUNE 21-JULY 22): Some astrol-
ogers say you Crabs are averse to adventure, preferring to loll in your comfort zones and entertain dreamy fantasies. As evidence this is not always
By Rob Brezsny
true, I direct your attention to a great Cancerian adventurer, the traveling chef Anthony Bourdain. In the coming weeks, I hope you will be inspired by these Bourdain quotes: 1. "If I'm an advocate for anything, it's to move. As far as you can, as much as you can. Across the ocean, or simply across the river. Open your mind, get up off the couch, move." 2. "What a great way to live, if you could always do things that interest you, and do them with people who interest you." 3. "The more I become aware of, the more I realize how relatively little I know, how much more there is to learn. Maybe that's enlightenment enough—to know there is no final resting place of the mind." 4. "Travel is about the gorgeous feeling of teetering in the unknown."
LEO (JULY 23-AUG. 22): Author Iain S. Thomas writes, "The universe is desperately trying to move you into the only spot that truly belongs to you—a space that only you can stand in. It is up to you to decide every day whether you are moving towards or away from that spot." His ideas overlap with principles I expound in my book "Pronoia Is the Antidote for Paranoia: How the Whole World Is Conspiring to Shower You with Blessings." There I propose life often works to help dissolve your ignorance and liberate you from your suffering. I hypothesize you are continually being given opportunities to grow smarter and wilder and kinder. In the coming weeks, everything I've described here will be especially apropos to you. All of creation will be maneuvering you in the direction of feeling intensely at home with your best self. Cooperate, please. VIRGO (AUG. 23-SEPT. 22): "Never do anything that others can do for you," said Virgo novelist Agatha Christie. That's not a very Virgo-like attitude, is it? Many astrologers would say of all the zodiac's signs, your tribe is the most eager to serve others but not aggressively seek the service of others on your behalf. But I suspect this dynamic could change in the coming weeks. Amazingly, cosmic rhythms will conspire to bring you more help and support than you're accustomed to. My advice: Welcome it. Gather it in with gusto. LIBRA (SEPT. 23-OCT. 22): I'm not enamored of Shakespeare's work. Though I enjoy his creative use of language, his worldview isn't appealing or interesting. The people in his stories don't resonate with me, and their problems don't feel realis-
tic. If I want to commune with multi-faceted characters dealing with fascinating dilemmas, I turn to French novelist Honoré de Balzac (1799–1850). I feel a kinship with his complex, nuanced understanding of human nature. Please note I am not asserting Shakespeare is bad and Balzac is good. I'm merely stating the nature of my subjective personal tastes. Now I invite you to do what I have done here: In the coming weeks, stand up unflinchingly for your subjective personal tastes.
You will summon bold, innovative responses to tantalizing mysteries. SCORPIO (OCT. 23-NOV. 21): As much as I love logic and champion rational thinking, I'm granting you an exemption from their irongrip supremacy in the coming weeks. To understand what's transpiring and to respond with intelligence, you must partly transcend logic and reason. They will not be sufficient guides as you wrestle with the Great Riddles that will be visiting. In a few weeks, you will be justified in quoting ancient Roman author Tertullian, who said the following about his religion, Christianity: "It is true because it is impossible." SAGITTARIUS (NOV. 22-DEC. 21): As a Sun-conjunct-Uranus person, I am fond of hyperbole and outrageousness. "Outlandish" is one of my middle names. My Burning Man moniker is "Friendly Shocker," and in my pagan community, I'm known as Irreverent Robbie. So take that into consideration when I suggest you meditate on Oscar Wilde's assertions that "all great ideas are dangerous" and "an idea that is not dangerous is unworthy of being called an idea." Oscar and I don't mean that interesting possibilities must be a risk to one's health or safety. Rather, we suggest they are probably inconvenient for one's dogmas, habits and comfort zones. I hope you will favor such disruptors in the coming days. CAPRICORN (DEC. 22-JAN. 19): Some
people might feel they have achieved the peak of luxury if they find themselves sipping Moët & Chandon Imperial Vintage Champagne while
lounging on a leather and diamond-encrusted PlumeBlanche sofa on a hand-knotted Agra wool rug aboard a 130-foot-long Sunseeker yacht. But I suspect you will be thoroughly pleased with the subtler forms of luxury possible for you these days. Like what? Like surges of appreciation and acknowledgment for your good work. Like growing connections with influences that will interest you and help you in the future. Like the emotional riches that come from acting with integrity and excellence.
AQUARIUS (JAN. 20-FEB. 18): There are more than 20 solutions to the riddle your higher mind is now contemplating. Several of them are smart intellectually but not emotionally intelligent. Others make sense from a selfish perspective but would be less than a blessing for some people in your life. Then there are a few solutions that might technically be effective but wouldn't be much fun. I estimate there may only be two or three answers that would be intellectually and emotionally intelligent, would be of service not only to you but also to others, and would generate productive fun. PISCES (FEB. 19-MARCH 20): Naturalist
John Muir didn't like the word "hiking." He believed people ought to saunter through the wilderness, not hike. "Hiking" implies straightahead, no-nonsense, purposeful movement, whereas "sauntering" is about wandering around, being reverent toward one's surroundings and getting willingly distracted by where one's curiosity leads. I suggest you favor the sauntering approach in the coming weeks— not just in nature but in every area of your life. You're best suited for exploring, gallivanting and meandering. HOMEWORK: My new book is available: "Astrology Is Real: Revelations from My Life as an Oracle." bit. ly/IsAstrologyReal {in}
freewillastrology.com
newsletter.freewillastrology.com freewillastrology@freewillastrology.com © 2023 Rob Brezsny
Stock Market Losses? Hire a lawyer who is a former Merril Lynch stock broker.
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BEST SPORTS BAR
11 East Romana Street | Pensacola, Fl 32502
genemitchell.org
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23 PAL AFOX PL . | 850-43-BRUCE inweekly.net
news of the weird IN SEARCH OF A HERO Some people are just desperate to get behind an underdog. So it seems with the members of a Facebook group called Chair Watch, who have locked in on an unlikely subject: a chair hanging from the top floor of a roofless abandoned home in Dennis Township, New Jersey. "One day it will come down but until then we all must drive by and look at the chair in all its mesmerizing glory," the group's description says, according to United Press International. "How long can it last? Will it blow down before the entire house falls down? ... Things we all want to know and don't want to know at the same time because it will ruin the fun." The group has attracted almost 10,000 followers, one of whom, Donna Marie O'Leary, commented that she hasn't "enjoyed this much fun since Christie was Gov. and closed the beach!" NEWS THAT SOUNDS LIKE A JOKE In 1995, the Seattle Times reported, filmmaker Gerry Fialka of Los Angeles started a book club with an unconventional schedule: Members read the notoriously difficult "Finnegans Wake" by James Joyce— one page at a time. They just finished on Oct. 3. "We do one page at a time and then discuss it for two hours," Fialka said. "That's why it's taken us 28 years." When people ask what his book club is going to read next, he tells them, "We're never going to read another book." He explained that the book ends with a run-on sentence on page 628, which then continues on the first page of text. "So it's a cyclical book. It never ends. We'll read page 3 again next." Since the pandemic, the club has been meeting via Zoom, which Fialka says he likes better than in person. "I don't have to set up chairs," he said. IT'S A DIRTY JOB In this week's edition of "We Don't Pay Teachers Enough," Stephen Taylor, an educator at the Mill Creek Campus alternative school in Olathe, Kansas, lost his job over videos he posted to TikTok, Fox4-TV reported. In the videos, Taylor, who also does stand-up comedy, said he "saved up" his "big milky lactose intolerant" gas and "drop(ped) bombs silently ... and then I just let it stew." He also claimed that he gives students misinformation when they "annoy" him: "I tell them Abraham Lincoln invented the car, that's why it's named after him." When Taylor was called before the school board, he told members, "The reason I'm doing comedy on TikTok is to make money because you only pay me $45,000 a year and I work all the time." Taylor said the students understand his jokes, but he was relieved of his duties nonetheless and has no plans to return to teaching. OOPS Fourth graders at the Academy of Innovative Education charter school in Miami Springs, Florida, got to choose a movie to watch during lunch on Oct. 2, CBS News Miami reported. They unknowingly chose "Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood and Honey," a 2023 horror film about two murderers who prey on university students while wearing Pooh and Piglet costumes. The teacher "didn't stop the movie, even though the kids were saying, 'Hey, stop the movie, we don't want this,'" said parent Michelle Diaz. She said her twins were
By the Editors at Andrews McMeel
traumatized. The school later issued a statement saying they "have already met with those students who have expressed concerns." Oh, bother. POLICE REPORT Lenni Rodriguez Cruz, 28, topped off a busy night of crime with an assault on a police officer on Sept. 20, the Associated Press reported. Cruz was allegedly driving a car with license plates that didn't match in Queens, New York, when an officer tried to pull him over. Cruz instead raced off, driving on a sidewalk and through a park and hitting four other vehicles, including a police car, before crashing. His breath smelled of alcohol and there was a cup with an alcoholic beverage in the car, police said. But it was back at the station where Cruz sealed his fate: He bit off an officer's left ring finger up to the first knuckle. The Queens district attorney said he could be looking at 25 years in prison. ANIMAL ANTICS A family outing to the Fossil Rim Wildlife Center in Glen Rose, Texas, got all awkward when a giraffe lost its footing and crashed into the windshield of Kari Hill's car, Fox7TV reported. The park allows people to drive through in their own cars and feed the animals. As Hill and her family communed with a giraffe, it stuck its head through her sunroof and smiled for a picture. But then the animal slipped and fell, became panicked and started flailing its legs. After it recovered and ran off, Hill realized her windshield was shattered. No one was hurt, but they were covered with glass. Hill said when she filed an insurance claim, "It was hard for them, as anyone, not to laugh, but they were professional." UNCLEAR ON THE CONCEPT Lincoln County (Oklahoma) District Judge Traci Soderstrom, who was sworn in on Jan. 9, may already be out of a job, the Associated Press reported. In July, Soderstrom was captured on a court camera scrolling through social media and texting on her phone for minutes at a time during a trial. Soderstrom's texts to her bailiff included comments on jurors' and prosecutors' appearances and calling a police officer who was testifying "pretty" and saying, "I could look at him all day." She was suspended with pay pending a hearing by the Court on the Judiciary. The chief justice of the Oklahoma Supreme Court recommended her removal: "The pattern of conduct demonstrates (Soderstrom's) gross neglect of duty, gross partiality and oppression," he said. THE NEIGHBORS Daniel Powell, 76, got a rude response on Oct. 8 when talking with his mobile home park neighbor, Kali Robertson, 28, in Pinellas Park, Florida, The Smoking Gun reported. According to police, Robertson took an "unsecured bag of dog feces and pushed it" into Powell's face, "leaving feces smeared on his face." Robertson admitted to the assault but pleaded not guilty to the third-degree felony. She posted $2,500 bond. {in}
From Andrews McMeel Syndication News Of The Weird © 2023 Andrews McMeel
Send your weird news items to WeirdNewsTips@amuniversal.com October 19, 2023
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BOD0714_Cooking Class October IN.pdf
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10/2/23
12:21 PM
— COOKING CLASSES — Fall Comfort Foods: Soups and Stews
Gallery Night Kids Camp Friday, Oct. 20 • 6 p.m.
Tuesday, Oct. 24 • 6 p.m.
Get ready for a super fun (mini) Kids Camp: Gallery Night Edition, where you can explore art, make new friends, and cook food!
Enjoy a cozy evening filled with delicious homemade soups and stews, perfect for the fall season.
Starts at $50 per person
Starts at $45 per person
BOOdacious Brunch!
“Mummy” and Me Charcuterie Night
Sunday, Oct. 29 • 11 a.m.
Monday, Oct. 30 • 6 p.m.
Get ready for a frightfully fun cooking class that will cast a spell on your tastebuds!.
A spooky bonding experience that will have you and your little one wrapped up in culinary creativity!
Starts at $45 per person
Starts at $85 per person
A Taste of Greek
Hands on Sushi with Chef Summer
Tuesday, Nov. 7 • 6 p.m. Join us for a mouthwatering Greek cooking demonstration dinner where you'll savor the flavors of Greece and learn traditional recipes!
Starts at $69 per person
Wednesday, Nov. 8 • 6 p.m. Get ready for a fun-filled sushi extravaganza with the amazing Chef Summer!!
Starts at $75 per person
Sign Up and Let’s Get Cooking! Scan to Register Now on EventBrite! 407 S. Palafox St. • (850) 433-6505 • bodaciousshops.com Hours: Monday – Saturday 7 a.m. – 5 p.m • Sunday 8 a.m. – 2 p.m. Follow us on Social Media @bodaciousshops Reservations requested 24 hours in advance. All reservations include a complimentary glass of wine or beer. Refunds available only with 48-hour notice. Classes that do not meet a minimum of 10 will be rescheduled and registration fees refunded immediately. Independent News | October 19, 2023 | inweekly.net