The #GirlBoss Edition
Independent News | April 13, 2017 | Volume 18 | Number 14 | inweekly.net
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winners & losers
outtakes
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5
news 6
I'm not a ‘flash in the pan’ kind of chef.
cover story
buzz
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publisher Rick Outzen
art director Richard Humphreys
editor & creative director Joani Delezen
contributing writers Duwayne Escobedo, Jennifer Leigh, Chuck Shepherd, Shelby Smithey
contact us info@inweekly.net
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Independent News is published by Inweekly Media, Inc., P.O. Box 12082, Pensacola, FL 32591. (850)438-8115. All materials published in Independent News are copyrighted. © 2015 Inweekly Media, Inc. All rights reserved.
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The Road to America’s First
Early Learning City
The American Dream isn’t what it used to be—especially for our children. Come learn how we can diminish the opportunity gap and improve outcomes for our kids.
WSRE PRESENTS:
ROBERT PUTNAM Our Kids: The American Dream in Crisis Inequality Gap Hits Home in Escambia County
“Exploring Putnam’s work and book is another important step in making sure we increase the school readiness of all of our children, an investment that research shows can lead to less crime, higher wages and a better quality of life for everyone in Pensacola.” – Quint Studer, Studer Community Institute Founder
• 63.3% of the Escambia County 4-year-olds who are eligible for VPK participate in it. That ranks 51st out of 67 counties in the state. Among the 15 counties in the state of comparable population, Escambia is last. Most of the others are in the 70% to low 80% participation rate range.
Saving the American Dream for Our Kids In Our Kids: The American Dream in Crisis, Robert Putnam examines the growing inequality gap and why fewer Americans today have the opportunity for prosperity and success—an upward social mobility for the family and children that is achieved through hard work in a society with few barriers.
• At 25 of Escambia County’s 33 elementary schools, at least 50% of kindergarteners started school significantly behind in early reading skills. Source: Escambia County School District Discovery Education data. • Every year, about 3,000 children start kindergarten in Escambia County. About 1,000 of them are behind, and about 18%–20% of that 1,000 are as much as two years behind academically. • Kids who grow up in and around the Pensacola metro area earn about 8.4% less (and 15% less in Escambia County) than the same kid would if he/she were to grow up in an average place in the U.S.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS • Cindi Bear Bonner • Becca Boles • Patrick Elebash • Randy Hammer • Chad Henderson • Gail Husbands • Stacy Keller Williams • Jerry Maygarden
April 13, 2017
• Jean Pierre N’dione • Lisa Nellessen-Lara • Mort O’Sullivan III • Janet Pilcher • Scott Remington • Martha Saunders • Julie Sheppard • Josh Sitton
WSRE’s early learning initiatives like the Imagination Station at Blue Wahoos Stadium and new WSRE PBS KIDS multimedia programs are helping local families prepare their children for success in school and in life. WSRE now broadcasts PBS KIDS shows 24 hours a day on Channel 23.4 and via cable providers, making it easy for children to watch their favorite series during primetime and after-school hours when viewing among families is high.
Putnam is the Peter and Isabel Malkin Professor of Public Policy at Harvard University and a best-selling author. A leading expert on the topic of inequality and opportunity in America, Putnam shares researchbased solutions for diminishing this achievement gap for today’s youth—our kids.
TUESDAY, APRIL 18 ▪ 7PM (DOORS OPEN AT 6:30 PM) WSRE JEAN & PAUL AMOS PERFORMANCE STUDIO Free book for the first 100 people to register. Register at wsre.org/speakers. Learn more by visiting STUDERi.ORG /StuderInstitute /StuderInstitute EMAIL Quint@QuintStuder.com 3
winners & losers
winners WSRE The local PBS station has been
awarded the bronze Telly Award for production of the "Forts of Pensacola Bay: Advanced Redoubt" episode of "In Your Own Backyard." The program is part of a three-part series and focuses on the Advanced Redoubt of Fort Barrancas, located at present-day Naval Air Station Pensacola. Founded in 1978, the Telly Award honors excellence in video and television production, recognizing distinction in creative work.
FRIENDS OF THE NAVY-MARINE CORPS RELIEF SOCIETY The non-profit
losers ESCAMBIA COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT Superintendent Malcolm Thomas
may have a new headache. Florida House Speaker Richard Corcoran has targeted low-performing public schools that he calls "failure factories" and is pushing for expanded school choice. Thomas had 13 elementary schools on the state's list of 300 low performing schools at the end of 2015-16 school year, which is 40 percent of all his elementary schools. Yikes! Achieve Escambia has a lot of achieving to do.
organization, which is facilitated by Pen Air Federal Credit Union (Pen Air), presented a check to the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society (NMCRS) of Pensacola at the 17th Annual Friends of the NMCRS, Inc. Charity Golf Tournament. Since 2000, Pen Air has given more than $435,000 to further the mission of NMCRS at Naval Air Station Pensacola. The Pensacola society is ranked second in the nation, behind the Washington D. C. society, for receiving the most financial support from its community.
“FLYNN STONES” National Security Agency chief H. R. McMaster is slowly moving out the staffers he inherited from his predecessor, retired Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn. The insiders have started referring to them as the "Flynn Stones." Former Fox News analyst K.T. McFarland has been reportedly asked to step down as the deputy national security adviser. Other remaining "Flynn Stones" include chief of staff Keith Kellogg, Michael Anton, the National Security Council spokesman; and Victoria Coates, the senior director for strategic assessments.
ERIC KLEINERT The former director of
DAN SCAVINO, JR.
human resources for the Indiana Department of Transportation has been hired to head HR for the Escambia County. Kleinert's responsibilities with Escambia County will include supervising the Human Resources Department, mentoring and evaluating staff, advising the county administrator on the needs of the department and representing the department before the board of county commissioners.
A tweet by the White House social media director urging Trump supporters to challenge GOP lawmaker, Rep. Justin Amash of Michigan, may have violated federal law. Last week, Scavino went after Amash in a tweet from his personal account that lists his official job with photos from inside the White House. The Hatch Act prohibits the use of one's office for political purposes. Hmmm.
Feeling Cheated by Volkswagen Diesel? Did you buy a 2009-2015 VW because you wanted an environmentally friendly car that got great mileage? Recently, VW has admitted they programmed cars to cheat emissions tests so their cars appeared more economical and environmentally friendly. You may have a claim for:
•Diminished value of your car, •Unfair and deceptive advertising and trade practices, •Several other violations and misrepresentations.
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We are reviewing these cases now at no cost to you. If you have a 2009-2015 Volkswagen diesel or certain 2014-2015 Porsche or Audi diesels, we would be happy to talk to you about your potential claim. Call us now to discuss how you can seek justice for this misrepresentation to you, the innocent consumer.
127 Palafox Place, Suite 100 Pensacola, FL 32502 | 850-444-0000 www.stevensonklotz.com inweekly.net
outtakes
by Rick Outzen
ANOTHER UNFORCED ERROR When Inweekly endorsed the proposed city charter in 2009, we never envisioned that people would have so much trouble interpreting and implementing the document. After all, attorney Crystal Spencer and the Charter Review Commission spent 18 months holding public hearings, listening to experts and the community, and debating its sections. The new charter was based on the premise that an elected mayor with executive powers would be better than the hired city managers who ran the City of Pensacola since 1931. The mayor would be more accountable to the voters. He would have a vested interest in Pensacola, living in the community that he served. The success of the new strong mayor hinged on the leadership of the person elected, his experienced, competent management team, his negotiation skills with the city council, and his ability to communicate with city residents. In the perfect world, the city council would never need a council executive, attorney or budget analyst. The mayor and his management team would come to council meetings, provide requested documents, and answer questions from council members. Governance would be a partnership with the council. The mayor would hold town hall meetings and hear directly in person from citizens. His staff would be accessible to media to explain decisions and answer questions. He would hold press conferences and field questions.
Unfortunately, accountability is nearly impossible without accessibility. Instead of getting better at governing in his second term, city operations have become even more dysfunctional. Mayor Ashton Hayward communicates primarily through press releases, social media posts that others do for him, and YouTube videos. The town hall meetings stopped in December 2013. The regular press conferences stopped the next month. Department heads make presentations to council, but members have been told they can't ask questions in the public meetings. The mayor even refused to let the council ask Fire Chief David Allen any questions during his confirmation hearing. Can you imagine the same happening with the hearing for Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch? Mayor Hayward's veto of the budget analyst was yet another sign of city hall's dysfunction. He did little to explain his decision. He didn't attend the meeting when the council made its decision to hire its analyst. He didn't show up for the special meeting on the council's override. The council took unprecedented action and unanimously overrode the veto. And what's sad is this little melodrama was another unforced error that could have been avoided if he paid more attention to the city charter, had strong lines of communications with all the council members, and personally engaged the media and his constituents. Did Mayor Hayward and his leadership team learn anything from this? {in} rick@inweekly.net
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HAYWARD’S HIDE AND SEEK ByRick Outzen and Duwayne Escobedo Pensacola Mayor Ashton Hayward has not hesitated to seek the advice and counsel of outside attorneys, and he has blocked any efforts by the Pensacola City Council to curb or regulate his administration’s legal fees that totaled $1,428,814 for the last fiscal year, according to the schedule provided the council by Chief Financial Officer Dick Barker. The FY 2016 legal fees increased 29 percent ($318,622.69) over the prior year, and the upward trend didn’t fade during the first three months of FY 2017. According to Barker, the first quarter's legal fees, $335,719, were nearly double the fees paid for the same period last year. The largest beneficiary of the mayor’s need for legal help has been local law firm Beggs & Lane, whose billing jumped from $220,108 in FY 2016 and $267, 837 in FY 2015 to $540,613 for the fiscal year that ended Sept. 30, 2016. For FY 2017, Beggs & Lane has billed $144,339 through February. The Pensacola City Council has no documentation on what services the taxpayers received for the more than half a million paid last year to Beggs & Lane. On his Schedule of Legal Fees, Barker described the nature of services provided merely as “Contract and Real Estate Law.” Through a public record request, Inweekly received the law firm’s invoices since July 1, 2016, which totaled $402,554. Three lawsuits have accounted for 62 percent of the firm’s fees for the eight-month period: ECUA Wells @ Airport: $108,834 Pitt’s Slip Marina: $69,813 Bayview Park Cross: $69,300 Total: $247,947
Inweekly reporter Duwayne Escobedo called and left messages for Barker, but the chief financial officer did not return the call. Vernon Stewart, Hayward’s public information officer, told Escobedo that Barker declined to provide additional information. He suggested Inweekly visit cityofpensacola.com and read the quarterly unaudited financial reports.
EXPENSIVE CASES
Last year, Mayor Hayward filed for a Declaratory Judgment in Federal Court regarding three production wells that ECUA operates on Pensacola International Airport property. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) communicated to the city that ECUA must pay for the use of the airport property where the three waterproducing wells are located. The utility has argued it owns the land around two of three wells and shouldn’t pay for its use or the water extracted from them. "We haven't been able to come to an agreement with ECUA on what the city's obligations are," the mayor said in a press release, "The FAA tells us that, if ECUA doesn't pay a concession fee, the city could be penalized for revenue diversion. We just want the court to resolve the legal issues and to tell us what our obligations are." According to invoices received by Inweekly, Steinmeyer Fiveash LLP, a Tallahassee law firm, also has worked on this litigation. Beggs & Lane’s share of the litigation has been $108,834. Around the same time, The American Humanist Association’s Appignani Humanist Legal Center and the Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF) filed a lawsuit
on behalf of Pensacola residents Amanda Kondrat’yev, Andreiy Kondrat'yev, Andre Ryland and David Suhor to challenge the 25-foot tall Christian cross in the city’s Bayview Park. “Federal courts have made abundantly clear that the government’s display of a Christian cross on public land violates the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment,” said Monica Miller, senior counsel with the Appignani Humanist Legal Center. “This cross sends a clear and exclusionary message of government preference for Christianity over all other religions.” When the cross issue first came up in 2015, Mayor Hayward posted on the city’s Transparent Pensacola page, “We want to respect all religions without showing preference to any. Personally, I hope there is always a place for religion in the public square. I surely don’t want to remove it; however, this is a question we are going to refer to our attorneys.” That statement has since been removed from the site. Hayward has paid, as of Feb. 28, Beggs & Lane $69,300 to handle the issue. On April 1, 2016, First Judicial Circuit Court Judge Scott Duncan ruled against the city regarding millions in additional rent for Pitt’s Slip that Mayor Hayward said were due to the city. Judge Duncan later denied Hayward’s request for a rehearing, and the mayor has appealed the ruling. From July 2016 through January 2017, Beggs & Lane invoiced Hayward $69,813 to handle the appeal and other aspects of the litigation.
“We haven't been able to come to an agreement with ECUA on what the city's obligations are.” Mayor Ashton Hayward
BLOCKED THREE TIMES
In June 2014, the Pensacola City Council tried to establish guidelines for how and
when Mayor Hayward purchased outside legal services. The News Journal reported that the mayor had spent nearly $2 million with 40 firms from November 2012 through May 2014. Councilwoman Sherri Myers proposed two ordinances that the council passed unanimously. Mayor Hayward vetoed both. He said that the City Attorney and Chief Financial Officer had advised him that the ordinances would “create significant administrative and logistics issues for the Finance and Legal departments as well as for any City department which utilizes legal services.” Hayward committed to providing a schedule of legal fees every quarter that listed firms used, total fees paid to each, and the nature of the services rendered. This past summer, Myers became concerned that the mayor’s spending on outside legal firms had gotten out of hand again after the daily newspaper reported Hayward had spent over $65,000 investigating the city’s fire chiefs. She proposed an ordinance that would have required council approval of legal contracts for more than $10,000. Myers said that her review of the invoices for legal services revealed most firms charged $295 per hour for their attorneys, but some were significantly higher. “We have some contracts where we've agreed to pay, for instance, natural gas attorneys starting at $425 to $625 an hour,” she said at the meeting. “I saw one contract where we've agreed to pay a law firm $900 an hour.” CFO Barker countered with a presentation that showed the city's legal spending had risen only marginally since 2009. He may not have known the city would be billed another $602,684 from July to September. At the time of Barker's representation, the city had only paid $826,130 over the first three-quarters of the fiscal year. Myers, Councilwoman Jewel CannadaWynn, and Council President Charles
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Source: cityofpensacola.com Note: FY 2015 excludes monthly checks to City Attorney Jim Messer Bare were the only ones who voted for the ordinance, and the bill failed. “That's the hardest thing to figure out, who's doing what and what the charge is,” Bare told his fellow council members. “There are lots of people apparently suing the city, or there are lots of things the city's involved in. I really have no idea who's suing us.” Inweekly called and left messages for City Attorney Lysia Bowling. The paper wanted to ask her if the city had bid out legal services, negotiated rates, or got estimates for legal services on specific issues. Bowling did not return the calls. Stewart said that she had refused to provide any answers. In September 2016, the city council tried again to learn what Mayor Hayward was getting from the outside law firms. The board asked to meet privately as a body with City Attorney Lysia Bowling for an update on the status of all pending litigation. Bowling refused. She told the council that state law doesn’t provide a “blanket exemption” to the open meeting requirement for attorney-client discussions. It’s the attorney who must request the “shade” meeting to discuss negotiations and strategy. She advised the council members to meet with her about pending litigation individually. Inweekly asked County Attorney Alison Rogers about “shade” meetings, which are governed by Florida Statute 286.01 subsection 8 (a-e). She said. "You can't use it to cover or talk about something else outside the public." The law does require a court reporter to record the shade meeting on the pending litigation being discussed, and the transcript must be released once the case is settled. The county uses "shade" more than usual because of litigation over the Escambia County Detention Center exploded after the April 2014 floods. Rogers said some legal decisions just couldn't be made without getting all five of the commissioners together. However, the shade law is strict on who can attend. It is usually the attorneys involved in the case, the governing body and the county administrator. Rogers said that could be tricky when litigation involves the need for a public works official or county engineer. She told Inweekly, "You can't take witnesses or other staff or people there." April 13, 2017
NO HELP ALLOWED EITHER
Last month, the City Council took action to begin the hiring process for a budget analyst. City voters approved in 2014 a charter amendment that gave the council the power to hire such a position. In August 2016, the council passed an ordinance establishing the position, its qualifications, duties and pay range. The FY 2017 city budget, which the council approved and the mayor let stand without any line-item vetoes, includes the cost for the position. The budget analyst could track revenue and expenditures for the council and could give a more detailed report on legal costs. However, Mayor Hayward vetoed the actual hiring of the budget analyst, blocking the council from filling the position. “…the City of Pensacola currently has full-time staff that provides analysis of the City’s budget,” wrote the mayor in his veto explanation. “There are more pressing needs with the City of Pensacola that would directly benefit the taxpayers. Therefore, I am vetoing this action.” The salary range for the budget analyst was $26,270 to $43,868. Beggs & Lane billed the city $70, 407 in January alone. Councilwoman Sherri Myers questioned the mayor’s motivation for the veto. She said told Inweekly, “What is he trying to hide? Why is he threatened by having an independent council budget person look at the budget? What would we find? Are his attorney fees to defend himself against the fire chief’s lawsuit hidden in the budget? What is it he doesn’t want us to know?” The Pensacola City Council voted to override the veto at a special meeting held on April 10th. Inweekly tried to discuss the city's legal fees with Mayor Hayward. Our reporter called the mayor's office and his cell phone. He, too, did not return the calls and declined, through PIO Stewart, to answer any questions. {in} Disclaimer: Ray Russenberger owns Marina Management, which leases Pitt’s Slip from the City of Pensacola. Collier Merrill’s Great Southern Restaurant Group subleases from Marina Management. Neither Russenberger nor Merrill owns more than five percent of Inweekly or has any control over its editorial content.
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IMPACT WORKSHOP IMPACT 100 Pensacola Bay Area will host its annual nonprofit workshop at First Baptist Church, 500 North Palafox, on Thursday, April 20, 9 a.m.–12:15 p.m., with check-in beginning at 8:30 a.m. Debbie Ritchie, founding president of IMPACT 100 Pensacola Bay Area and president of the Studer Group, will be the guest speaker. Her topic will be "Dream Big, Serve Better, and Make an IMPACT." All nonprofit organizations in Escambia and Santa Rosa Counties are invited to learn about the grant process, get tips to writing a more successful grant, be inspired to dream big and create a winning proposal. Additionally, construction and permitting as part of a successful grant will be discussed. The workshop will also focus on the IMPACT 100 grant application process for 2017 with a review of all the required forms and instructions for digital grant submissions. Board members, focus area chairs, and cochairs will participate in a panel discussion to address questions. This year, IMPACT 100 Pensacola Bay area will award ten project grants of $107,700 each to nonprofit organizations in Escambia and Santa Rosa Counties. Letters of Intent to Apply for an IMPACT 100 grant are due April 30. Grant Applications for IMPACT 100 must be submitted by June 16. All nonprofit organizations are encouraged to attend. The workshop is free. Registration is required and can be completed online at impact100pensacola.org. This will be the 14th year that IMPACT 100 will award grants to local nonprofit organizations. After awarding the 2017 grants, IMPACT 100 Pensacola Bay Area will have funded 87 grants, totaling $9,395,000. DEFENDING HOME RULE On April 5, the
Florida Association of Counties (FAC) hosted its Legislative Day. Commissioners and staff descended on Tallahassee to assist in the lobbying efforts to protect home rule and prevent unfunded mandates. Two bills, HB 17 and SB 1158, would preempt local governments with regards to regulation of businesses, professions, and occupations unless it is expressly authorized by the state. SB 596 and its companion bill in the House, HB 687, prohibit local communities from prohibiting or even merely regulating the collocation of small wireless facilities in public rights-of-way. Both bills set a maximum fee of $15 that counties could charge communication facility companies to locate on taxpayer-funded infrastructure. Escambia County Commissioner Grover Robinson, a former FAC president, attended and told Inweekly that he ran into House 88
Speaker Richard Corcoran at the Governor's Club. Robinson said when he brought up unfunded mandates, Corcoran referenced problems with counties and their utilities in other parts of Florida. "I was trying to remind him that all 67 of us are different," Robinson told Inweekly. "It's unfortunate that some of these bills that are happening are really beginning to intrude on local government.” He pointed out the state constitution created home rule in 1968. The commissioner said, "It really allowed the different areas of Florida to become different and for us to embrace the diversity of Florida." He added, "It's unfortunate that's being assaulted by the people in Tallahassee, and we're tried to remind them. That's why we go over there to fight and make sure that they remember that we're all different. Northwest Florida is not Miami. It's not Orlando. It's Northwest Florida, and it needs the ability to be itself."
KEEP PLAYGROUNDS The City of Pen-
sacola is looking into closing the children's playground in Morris Court, and Escambia County is having similar discussions about the one in the Brentwood area. Commissioner Lumon May wants local governments to pursue solutions other than closure. "I think that we have to find other remedies," he told Inweekly. Commissioner May suggested increasing patrols by law enforcement, installing cameras and better lighting, and, in the case of Morris Court, allocating staff for those hours in which the problems occur. "When we have one of the highest levels of poverty, one of the highest levels of homelessness, and one of the lowest graduation rates, particularly among minority kids, this is a problem that's deeply rooted. It's not about just closing a park and saying that we're going to make an area safe, without addressing the real issue." He added, "When local governments more aggressively enforce their laws towards panhandling, we should also become just as aggressive in prevention and providing opportunities, jobs, education, mental health counseling and places where these people can go and seek shelter out of the elements." Commissioner May recognizes that homelessness and poverty have plagued Escambia County for years. "It's not just a simple issue that we're going to be able to address overnight," he said. "Together, we're going to have to take baby steps to remedy it."
EASING POT RESTRICTIONS Panhandle Congressman Matt Gaetz (R-FL) and Congressman Darren Soto (D-FL) have joined
forces in a bipartisan effort to make it easier for ill patients and scientific and medical researchers to obtain marijuana. The proposed legislation, which was introduced last week is aimed at rescheduling marijuana from a Schedule I drug, on par with heroin and LSD, to a Schedule III drug, on par with anabolic steroids. Recent polling suggests 93 percent of Americans support legalizing doctorprescribed medical marijuana. Rescheduling makes it easier to conduct research into marijuana's medical uses with lighter regulation. The benefits of rescheduling marijuana would help local economies. Small businesses in the marijuana industry would finally have the legal ability to meet the needs of patients. Legal status would lead to more businesses receiving loans and banking services from financial institutions. "This drug should not be in the same category as heroin and LSD, and we do not need to continue with a policy that turns thousands of young people into felons every year. Nor do we need to punish the millions of people who are sick and seeking medical help – from pain, from muscle wasting, from chemotherapyinduced nausea" said Gaetz.
PITCH HIT RUN RETURNS Former
Pensacola Council President Charles Bare has teamed with Quint Studer, co-owner of the Blue Wahoos, to bring back RBI Pensacola, a youth baseball program affiliated with Major League Baseball. "(Quint) really wanted to have RBI brought back and focused on inner-city youth, and not necessary on duplicating what was already there because we do have baseball on the west side, but doing things in a way that allows people to come in and be mentors," Bare said on "Pensacola Speaks" last week. The program will involve the sheriff's office, police, and the fire department who will not only offer to mentor but also provide educational experiences to bridge the gap between baseball and education. "That's really what RBI was designed to do," he told Inweekly. "It was to help kids graduate from high school. We're starting with some of the younger kids, 5 to 12 years old, working with the Boys and Girls Club and doing some introductory baseball with them. We're not doing a league this year." RBI Pensacola and the Blue Wahoos have partnered to host a free Scotts® Major League Baseball® Pitch Hit & Run™ Competition on Saturday, April 22, at 2 p.m. in Pensacola Blue Wahoos Stadium. Pitch Hit & Run™ is the official skills competition of Major League Baseball®. The competition divides boys and girls into four
age divisions: 7/8, 9/10, 11/12, 13/14, and offers the chance to advance through four levels of competition, including Team Championships at Major League ballparks and the National Finals during the 2017 MLB™ All-Star Week®. The individual Pitching, Hitting and Running Champions, along with the All-Around Champion in each division age group at the Local Competition will be awarded and advance to the Sectional Level of Competition. All participants must bring a copy of their birth certificate and have their parent or guardian fill out a registration/waiver form before the start of the competition. Registration is available online pitchhitrun.com. "The last time it was done, it was done on the grass outside the stadium," said Bare. "This (competition) is going to be a much better venue because we'll actually be in the stadium on the field." For questions concerning the competition, please contact Charles Bare at 610-0411 or Charles@RBIPensacola.com.
MORE GIRLS IN STEM The University of West Florida Hal Marcus College of Science and Engineering now offers Code and Tech Stars, CaTS, a free, semimonthly program on the Pensacola campus to encourage interest among fourth through sixth-grade females in science, technology, engineering, and math. Offered at 10 a.m. on the first and third Saturday of each month, each CaTS session lasts one hour. Dr. Brian Eddy, UWF computer science professor, and his wife, Adrienne Eddy, devise a variety of activities that participants complete from week to week, including creating games, animated stories, and programmed art. She teaches the classes, while he helps facilitate, manages volunteers and works one-on-one with the students. No prior coding experience is necessary. "CaTS is an opportunity to break down the stereotypical perception that computer science and programming are difficult and boring subjects," Dr. Brian Eddy said. "We use games, stories, and art to show that computer science is not a limited subject. It is fun and exciting, open to multiple possibilities and open to all who want to participate." According to the National Science Board Science and Engineering Indicators 2016 Report, women earned 57 percent of bachelor's degrees in all fields in 2013 and 50 percent of science and engineering bachelor's degrees. However, women's participation in science and engineering at the undergraduate level significantly differs by the specific field of study. While women receive more than half of bachelor's degrees awarded in the biological sciences, they receive far fewer in computer sciences (17.9 percent), engineering (19.3 inweekly.net
percent), physical sciences (39 percent) and mathematics (43.1 percent). "STEM outreach is central to the educational mission of the faculty, staff, and students in the Hal Marcus College of Science and Engineering," said Dr. Michael Huggins, dean of HMCSE. "Nationally, there are not enough women pursuing careers in STEM – computer science and engineering in particular. Through programs of this type, we hope to help address this national issue." Valerie Taylor, Youth Education Assistant Director in the UWF Distance and Continuing Education Department, said CaTS began in January, and nearly 40 girls have participated to date. The projects created each week stand alone, enabling students to skip weeks or join at any time during the spring or fall semesters. All computers, robots, and equipment are provided during the class. Registration is required. "The students have really enjoyed it," Taylor said. "Some attend every single week, and others come when they have time. One parent told me that her daughter wanted to code all day after she came to CaTS." For more information about CaTS, visit uwf.edu/cse. To register, contact Valerie Taylor at 474-3221 or vtaylor@uwf.edu.
HELPING FEMALE VETERANS Pathways for Change has taken a large stride towards providing much-needed treatment for female military veterans thanks to a pledge from the Dugas Family Foundation. The Foundation committed to match, dollar for dollar, up to $200,000 in contributions toward the purchase of the Clinton Cox Residential Treatment Facility, a home for up to 12 women veterans suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). The Dugas Family Foundation is a significant commitment, but matching dollars are needed to reach the goal of $525,000 needed for purchasing the home, providing a full-time director and house mother, and paying for the annual cost of operating the facility. The comprehensive, 18-month treatment program will provide a therapeutic community where women veterans receive individual counseling, outpatient substance-abuse treatment, benefits assistance and education and vocational training. Each woman will also be assigned a mentor. All services will be designed so that each veteran is given the greatest opportunity to transition to a sober, stable environment and, in some cases, back to their families. Pathways for Change is committed to providing a secure community and a strong foundation for continued healing where each veteran can focus on putting her life back together. To donate, visit pathwaysforchange.org. April 13, 2017
VETO OVERRIDDEN The Pensacola City
Council voted unanimously, 7-0, to override Mayor Ashton Hayward’s veto of the hiring of a budget analyst at a special meeting Monday at the Hagler Mason Conference Room. Council President Brian Spencer and members Jewel Cannada-Wynn, Sherri Myers and P.C. Wu all spoke in favor of the override. The city voted March 9 to hire a budget analyst. Hayward then issued a veto March 14 saying in part in a letter, “There are more pressing needs within the City of Pensacola that would directly benefit the taxpayers.” District 2 Councilwoman Sherri Myers took issue with the veto because voters passed an amendment to the city charter in 2014 allowing the position independent of the mayor. “I support the override,” she said. “It’s the right thing to do for the citizens of Pensacola.” There was no public comment on the issue. But Cannada-Wynn, who represents District 7, said letting the veto stand would have the effect of giving the mayor power over whom the council hires. “We need a budget analyst for council to exercise our power as the legislative branch,” she said. “I do think (the veto) is interference by the mayor. The charter allows us to have an independent staff.” P.C. Wu added: “It’s the right thing to do.” Spencer said his reaction to the mayor’s veto was “less dramatic” than the other council members stated. He said it was necessary to have informed budget conversations with the mayor’s office. “I see this as moderate turbulence, not being in an aircraft in a tailspin,” he said. “In the long run for Mayor Hayward or future mayors, this will be better for our city in the future.” The council will reaffirm its vote in the consent agenda at Thursday’s regular meeting because Pensacola City Attorney Lysia Bowling disagreed with Spencer and said the vote should be held then, not in a special meeting. “There is ambiguity,” she said. Mayor Hayward, who did not attend the meeting, issued a statement accepting the override: “I completely respect Council’s decision to override my veto of hiring a budget analyst. "The purpose of the veto was to underscore my objection to what I thought was an unnecessary cost to the taxpayers. "Our team has always worked well with city council on all legislative issues, and I expect that to continue.” {in}
CORRECTION In “SYSA ‘Fills the Gap’”
(Inweekly, 4/6/17), it was incorrectly stated that former NBA player Reggie Evans played in the SYSA system. He did not.
Friday, April 28: Noon-11 p.m.
6 6 Sunday, April 30: 11 a.m.-5 p.m.
Chubby Carrier & The Bayou Swamp Band
Saturday, April 29: 10 a.m.-11 p.m.
X
Live Music All Day! Chubby Carrier & The Bayou Swamp Band Voodoo Gumbo Zydefunk featuring Rockin Dopsie
Voodoo Gumbo
Zydefunk featuring Rockin Dopsie
For more information, 850-433-6512 or www.fiestaoffiveflags.org.
9
Enjoy the very best progressive folk music anywhere on the radio with host and producer John Macdonell. Kick back and listen.
Learn more and find the full list of programs at wuwf.org/programs.
Sundays Noon to 4 PM on WUWF 88.1 FM or wuwf.org.
Easter Sunday Brunch BOTTOMLESS CHAMPAGNE AND MIMOSAS FOR $5 AND BLOODY MARYS FOR $2
EASTER SUNDAY, APRIL 16, FROM 11 A.M. UNTIL 3 P.M. Chef de Cuisine Jason Hughes has created a special Easter brunch feature of smothered Lamb Boudin Benedict with griddled, house-made lamb boudin cakes, toasted French bread, Cajun white beans with braised ham, soft poached eggs, stone-ground pepper jack grits, wilted spinach and hollandaise sauce. We will also be serving from our standard brunch menu with all your Fish House favorites. Additionally, we will be open for dinner service. For details, visit fishhousepensacola.com.
FISH HOUSE: OPEN DAILY AT 11 A.M. · ATLAS OYSTER HOUSE: OPEN MON.–SAT. 5 P.M., SUN. 11 A.M. · (850) 470-0003 · 600 S. BARRACKS ST. 010 1
inweekly.net
The #GirlBoss Edition
D
espite dated stereotypes of housewives in aprons, cooking on a professional level is still kind of boys club in a lot of ways. Especially when you start talking about head chefs. According to a Bloomberg study, women occupied less than 10 percent of head chef positions at 15 prominent U.S. restaurant groups in 2014 for example. But statistics like those aren't stopping women from pushing forward and making their way into some of the best kitchens in the world, including more than a few of Pensacola's most celebrated restaurants—like Union Public House and Restaurant IRON.
For our annual Spring Eats issue, we decided to profile some of the women who are using their talents to make our local culinary scene better and more diverse. A lot women featured in this issue actually own the establishments they cook at—including Lee Kaferty of Cactus Flower Café, who along with coowner Joni DeRome, own six locations of their super popular Mexican restaurant, making them straightup small business moguls in our book. We hope you are inspired by these women and their stories of dedication, passion-fueled work ethic and entrepreneurial success. We sure were.
By Shelby Smithey, Stephanie Sharp and Joani Delezen
April 13, 2017
11
with Lee Kafeety of Cactus Flower Café
In April 2001, with zero restaurant experience, Lee Kafeety opened the very first Cactus Flower Café. Sixteen years and six locations later, Kafeety along with co-owner Joni DeRome, are two of the most successful women in the Pensacola restaurant industry. "I had a great passion for food and a burning desire to bring some fresh, California-style Mexican food to my community," Kafeety said.
As luck would have it, she said, she got surrounded by just the right people to help her reach her goal of opening the restaurant. "Everything happened very organically and naturally," she said. "It was really amazing. Friends, professionals and even city officials were on board with making sure Cactus Flower became a reality. It was really a community effort. It took a whole village." Now with six locations in Northwest Florida and Alabama, Kafeety said that she never would have expected the growth her restaurant would soon experience. "I felt pretty confident that my one location would be successful," she said. "I knew what the quality of my food was and I knew my market. But if you would have told me I would have six locations 15 years later, I probably would be afraid and not done it."
Kafeety and DeRome take on different roles in the business, which is a method that works well for the two owners. "I'm the right brain, and she's the left," Kafeety said. "She's the numbers girl, and I'm the foodie. I've always been a foodie." Kafeety said that her job doesn't feel like work because she genuinely loves feeding people. "Food is love," Kafeety said. "It's the way you show people your love for them. You open your home and cook and show people you love them, and that's what I wanted to do for my community. I wanted to feed my community. I can't tell you how much I love what I do." Kafeety said that for anyone who has hopes of opening up their own restaurant, a business plan is a must. "One of the best things I did was making a business plan," Kafeety said. "My bank actually made me make one. I thought, ‘Oh, I don't need to do this.' But it was actually one of the most important things I did. It makes you look at everything as a big picture. It's one of the most important pieces of research for your business."
Kafeety also said that owning a restaurant is 80 percent dealing with employees, so having the ability to be a good leader to your employees is essential. Her advice to women chasing a culinary dream: "It has to be a passion. It can't just be something you enjoy or like. I think that's the main difference. Besides that, having a good business concept and having good people surrounding you in the process is very important."
Cactus Flower Café cactusflowercafe.net
Locations
East Hill: 3425 N. 12th Ave. Pensacola Beach: 400 Quietwater Beach Road (on The Boardwalk) West Pensacola: 6881 W. Highway 98 Pace: 4865 Highway 90 Navarre: 8725 Ortega Park Dr. Dothan: 5412 Montgomery Highway
with Justine Gudmundson-McCain of Bluejay's Bakery
Bluejay's Bakery is a boutique bakery specializing in cakes, cupcakes and other treats, with options available for all dietary restrictions. Baker and owner Justine Gudmundson-McCain combines classic French techniques, diverse culinary experiences and a passion for the Pensacola food scene in her business. After graduating from International Culinary Center in San Jose, California in 212 1
2013, Gudmundson-McCain worked in kitchens and bakeries throughout California. It was during that time that she worked for and was profoundly influenced by the owner of a renowned wedding and specialty cake bakery in the San Francisco Bay Area. "She showed me the hours and dedication that would be required to be successful and how to accomplish some amazing deco-
rating feats," Gudmundson-McCain said. After her education and experience in on the West Coast, Gudmundson-McCain has returned to her hometown with culinary and baking skills, plus a successful business plan. She's encouraged and inspired by the continued growth and development of the Pensacola culinary landscape. "I have loved seeing the steps this town has taken to bring more culture and variety to our food scene. Our community has really rallied around the changes downtown is undergoing and made it clear they are ready to support and expect a higher level of quality from their local restaurants." Currently, a "cottage food operation," Bluejay's Bakery has seen continued success and growth that's necessitated a move to a full retail operation. The journey has come with its own challenges and obstacles, but Gudmundson-McCain has learned to adapt. "I've learned to ‘go with the flow,' and it's given me more freedom from stress and disappointment," she said. "Focusing on the positive, like the opportunity to plan the layout of a kitchen around accommodating
our unique needs has been rewarding." Gudmundson-McCain is using a GoFundMe campaign to allow members of the community to contribute towards her goal of opening a retail storefront in 2017. Until her storefront is a reality, you can find Bluejay's Bakery most Saturdays at Palafox Market. Her advice to women chasing a culinary dream: "There's only one piece of advice I could ever give to another woman chasing her culinary dreams, and that's to hustle. You have to hustle in everything you do by putting yourself out there. Let your community know who you are and what you have to offer. You need to always be in business mode because you never know where, when, or from who a new client or opportunity will come."
Bluejay's Bakery bluejaysbakery.com gofundme.com/bluejaysbakery inweekly.net
with Corey Wall of Restaurant IRON
Sometimes overlooked in the culinary world, dessert can round out a meal and leave a lasting impression. Restaurant IRONS's pastry chef Corey Wall knows this all too well (just try the Nutella Pie). Wall has been with Restaurant IRON for a year and a half and has been cooking professionally for over four years. "One day watching a cooking show I realized it was something I could make my career," Wall said. "After thinking about it for a few weeks, I enrolled into the Athens Technical College Culinary Program. While there, I met my mentor, Executive Chef Shayne Taylor, who was the previous Executive Chef at Pensacola Country Club. I began working with him at the
Georgia Club and have learned so much from him, and continue to use him as a resource for knowledge and guidance." Wall said that she's part old school and part new school, and uses her background as an artist to create a visually appealing plate. "Being an artist, more specifically creating abstract paintings, is a huge influence on my plating," Wall said. "Pastries are a little bit more playful, but you can still use traditional pastry methods for very modern interpretations. Dessert is the last impression given before someone leaves the restaurant, and it means a lot to me to create a moment for someone to be nostalgic, inspired to try and make it themselves, anything that creates a lasting memory for them." Restaurant IRON has seen continued success after relocating to downtown in 2015 from its former location at the Marcus Point Golf Course. "I enjoy the creative freedom and trust that Chef Alex McPhail gives me," Wall said. "He is always available and helpful if I need advice or just to bounce ideas off of."
Wall said that she is fortunate to work with a like-minded team who all have the same goal. "We all want to be the best we can possibly be," she said. "They show an interest in learning about the desserts I've created, and I will take the time to teach them the actual process or little techniques here and there. I also love how enthusiastic our clientele is. It's amazing to get immediate feedback, as well as just interacting with them and getting to know them." Wall said that her inspiration for her dishes can come from just about anything. "I've had it strike in the middle of a conversation that wasn't even about food," she said. "I actively read cookbooks and look for new ideas. It usually starts when I think of a component and then I plan what would go with that, having different textures and temperatures on the plate. I have many notebooks that I'm always writing down ideas and recipes in." Wall said that talking to teammates about their thoughts and opinions can be a great way to get inspired. "Being in an open kitchen, I've gotten plenty of ideas just talking to people about food they like," she said. "Thinking about new dishes is so much fun to me, then creating the recipes and bringing it all together is very fulfilling." However, pastries are a different mind-
set, Wall said, from working on the line or prepping savory food. "The pastry world is such a fun place, I love all the textures, flavors, colors," she said. "It takes extra time and most importantly attention to ensure it comes out correctly. It's a creative outlet that I am happy to say is my job. I don't walk into work dreading anything. I walk into work excited about all the possibilities." As for women who are thinking about entering the restaurant world, Wall said to do your research first. Her advice to women chasing a culinary dream: "Do anything you can to try and get a feel for the industry before jumping right in. It's not easy to work long hours and having a completely different schedule from your family and friends. It can be frustrating at times while you're learning, but one day you'll have an amazing realization of just how far you've come. Being humble, having integrity and thinking positive will get you far, as well as good shoes and a sharp knife."
Restaurant IRON 22 N. Palafox restaurantiron.com
with Jen Knight-Shoemaker of End of the Line Cafe
End of the Line Cafe has been a unique fixture of the Pensacola food scene since its opening in 2002. As head chef April 13, 2017
and owner, Jen Knight-Shoemaker has grown the business from a coffee shop to a thriving spot for organic vegan cuisine,
as well as a hub for art and community gatherings. "We have seen so many new places open and so much talent and art coming out," said Knight-Shoemaker. "It's amazing." While running a successful small business in Pensacola for 15 years, KnightShoemaker hasn't found that gender played a significant role in her experience. "I think the restaurant industry is a struggle no matter what. You work hard and devote all of your time and energy to this one giant, beautiful art project that is your life," she said. "I think the only struggle for any gender is the work/life balance. If you find that, then you can be centered." With mainstream food culture turning towards organic and vegan options in recent years, Knight-Shoemaker recognizes this potential shift in lifestyles towards some of the guiding principles of End of the Line Cafe. "People are becoming more aware of 'I am what I eat,'" she said. "The food and
mindfulness of farm-to-table ideas are becoming more prevalent in the common home. This is such a great movement." She's hopeful that the influence of what she's built will help to shift the paradigm of vegan and organic cuisine from a dietary restriction to an inventive and enticing dining option. Her advice to women chasing a culinary dream: "Go for it. Find your style and carve it from there."
End of the Line Cafe 610 E. Wright St. eotlcafe.com
13
with Amy Potmesil of Union Public House Union Public House has quickly become one of Pensacola's favorite dining spots since opening a little over a year ago. Started by Blake Rushing and Patrick Bolster, the crafty southern pub has a team of talented people putting out unique dishes every night. Union Public House's Chef de Cuisine Amy Potmesil won Best Up-andComing Chef in Inweekly's most recent Best of the Coast and was the only female in the category. "At an early age, I became fascinated with my mother's cookbooks," Potmesil said. "I could always be found in the kitchen, and
after I graduated from Florida State University, I decided to pursue my true passion for food." Potmesil said that she enrolled in the Art Institute of Atlanta culinary program and remained in the city for almost a decade learning as much as she could from the best chefs in the city. She then moved back to Pensacola in 2012 to put her skills to work. "While I was sous chef at Grand Marlin, I was approached by Blake Rushing to join him in opening Union Public House," she said. "Through all the planning stages, recipe testing, etc., to where it is today, it was an exciting experience to watch it become a huge success. Working alongside Blake has taught me new approaches to food, flavors and techniques." Potmesil said that she has a heavy influence of southern farm-to-table cuisine from the years she spent in Atlanta. "I like to mesh those with the flavors of the Gulf Coast," she said. "My love of seafood is a big part of why I became a chef. Potmesil said that she likes to cook what is seasonal and whatever interesting ingredients she can get her hands on. "I love finding the balance between flavors and textures in dishes, finding that last element that can take it to the next level,"
she said. "I also like to follow what's trending in the culinary world. I love the challenge of trying new techniques or working with a new product I've discovered." Potmesil's enthusiasm for crafting a solid dish and dedication to the craft is just one of the many reasons Pensacola is lucky to have her as a chef. Her advice to women chasing a culinary dream: "It's a tough business with a lot of physical demands, but if you have dreams of being a chef, always stay focused on the longterm goals. Find chefs you admire and work for them, learn as much as you can. It's a long road, but if you keep pushing yourself, you will find that it does pay off. Being able to do what I love everyday makes that long road it took to get here 100 percent worth it."
Union Public House 309 S. Reus St. unionpensacola.com
with MariCarmen Josephs of Carmen's Lunch Bar
MariCarmen Josephs with her staff Now in its fifth year, Carmen's Lunch Bar has become a downtown staple. MariCarmen Josephs, chef and owner, has established herself as an accessible and influential personality in the Pensacola culinary scene. 414 1
With her career beginning at age 12, working for her mother's catering business, Josephs saw early on what it took to be a strong, successful woman and business owner.
"She has a Master's degree in English and is a poet, but decided to pursue a career as a caterer. She owned her own catering company for over 30 years, in addition to raising three daughters." Inspired by her mother's example, Josephs has remained true to herself and her style of cooking throughout her career. "I'm not a ‘flash in the pan' kind of chef," said Josephs. "I focus more on flavor, texture and presentation than the thrill of the grill." This deliberate and passionate approach to her craft has continued behind the scenes at Carmen's, as does the strong female leadership she learned from her mother. "My kitchen manager, Gina Adams, and my assistant kitchen manager, Sarah Covington, are both very strong women, both mentally and physically. They have confidence in their work and that shows on a daily basis." Josephs credits their consistency, confidence and communication skills as major assets to the success of Carmen's kitchen dynamic.
When it comes to being a woman in the culinary scene, Josephs sees some advantages. "Women are innately nurturers, and in my mind that goes hand in hand with hospitality. Working in this industry comes very naturally for us." Her advice to women chasing a culinary dream: "I would advise women to trust one of their best assets: their intuition. Be yourself. Express yourself. Let the food speak for itself. If people taste your food and love it, don't try to box yourself into others' expectations. Create your own path."
Carmen's Lunch Bar 407 S. Palafox carmenslunchbar.com
inweekly.net
with Daisy Doyle and Jessica Laws of Chizuko
Belmont-DeVilliers' brand new hangout Chizuko has quickly become a staple in the Pensacola bar scene. The eclectic restaurant, bar and music venue has picked up where Sluggo's left off, serving a nice selection of beer, sake, wine and vegan snacks, plus hosting local bands, drag shows and art exhibitions in its venue space. Co-owners and couple Daisy Doyle and Jessica Laws have been in the restaurant industry since they were teenagers. "I've been in the industry for 17 years," Doyle said. "I've learned a lot from each restaurant and bar I've worked in and I use those lessons each day at Chizuko." Laws said that she tried to branch off and do other things but kept coming back to the industry. "I love the fast-paced environment and getting to meet so many different people," she said. Since they met, Doyle and Laws had been brainstorming ideas to open up their own business. "We both have notebooks upon notebooks of business ideas, most of them bars and restaurants," Laws said. "I knew as soon as I met Daisy that she was going to be my business partner, even before I knew that she would be my wife." After securing the location, Doyle and Laws opened the bar within weeks. "It was a ton of fun and a lot of very, very late nights," Doyle said. "Our goal was to open in one month, so we worked nonstop. We are so thankful for all our friends and family who came to help whenever they could." Laws said that the process of opening the bar was a whirlwind. "There was no time to second-guess anything," she said. "We had so much help and support from the community and I am eternally grateful for that." Chizuko is named after Doyle's Japanese grandmother, Chizuko Carlisle. The Japanese April 13, 2017
influence is evident in the details, from the dĂŠcor to the sake. "I wanted everyone to feel welcome and comfortable when they came to the bar, just like they would feel walking into my grandma's home," Doyle said. "I feel that we definitely have achieved that." When Sluggo's closed, many local musicians and artists lost a place to regularly perform. Chizuko meets that need, offering a safe space for expression. "It feels good to be able to provide a place for people from all walks of life to express themselves," Doyle said. "Each night is different and exciting to me." Laws said that it's important for the community to have a safe place where they can feel comfortable expressing themselves. "So many people have thanked us for opening Chizuko and tell us how comfortable they feel here and that it feels like home," she said. "It melts my heart into a puddle because that is exactly the atmosphere we wanted to create." Their advice to women chasing a culinary dream: "To anyone trying to do their own thing I say go with your gut," Laws said. "Don't second guess yourself and don't let other people affect your vision. Be persistent and get exactly what you want. Success to me isn't about money or status. It's going home at night knowing that I'm being true to myself and being able to do whatever the fuck I want to do."
Chizuko 506 W. Belmont St. chizukopensacola.com 15
with Jordan Hewes of George Artisan Bakery & Bistro "Meeting George and Luba was nothing short of fate," Hewes said. "I was working at Perdido Beach Resort for my first two years here in Pensacola, but never had a chance to do much on the creative side of things. I have always dreamed of having my own place, but the time and opportunity has never presented itself. A friend had been browsing jobs on Craigslist and found a posting for an ‘experienced pastry chef.' She sent it to me, and I thought it was too good to be true." Nonetheless, Hewes went for the job and interviewed in December 2014. "I thought I had bombed," she said. "But they chose me over three other candidates." Hewes spent several weeks that January developing all the pastries and desserts that people have come to know and love George for, including a unique selection of cakes, scones, tortes, cheesecake, cookies and croissants. "What I enjoy most has to be a tie between letting my creative juices flow and being able to interact with the people who eat my creations," Hewes said. "Chef George and Luba always are supporting me and talking through ideas. I love the collaborative environment and creative freedom that they have given me. The most amazing feeling is when I am behind the pastry display and people are ‘ooo-ing, and ah-ing' and are just nothing short of amazed at what they are seeing." Hewes said that she has a very unique style for baking and desserts. "I would say foremost that I have a very European approach, as nothing of mine is too sweet," she said. "I find myself obsessing over balance. I don't know that I could place myself into a distinct category though. I try to create with no rules, no
limits, as long as every bite has balance and so much flavor you can't wait to take the next bite." Hewes said that she loves the freedom and endless opportunities of creating pastries. "A lot of people are so intimidated by the thought of baking because it seems to be such a sensitive ratio and combination of ingredients, and it very much is, but there is always room for interpretation and adjusting," she said. "Some great power gave me a natural knack for it and I will take advantage of that as long as I can, hopefully forever." Hewes said that the other part she loves about creating pastry is seeing the looks on people faces when they take their first bite. "There is nothing more rewarding than a silenced table of diners…" she said. "It's the best feeling ever."
“What I enjoy most has to be a tie between letting my creative juices flow and being able to interact with the people who eat my creations.” Jordan Hewes
Creative liberty is what keeps Jordan Hewes, pastry chef at George Artisan Bakery & Bistro, on her toes when crafting the perfect pastry. "Cooking and baking have always interested me," Hewes said. "I baked a lot with my grandmother, who is known for her pies. It wasn't until I was a senior in high school that I seriously was considering it as my career path." Hewes graduated in only 15 months with a degree in Baking and Pastry Arts from Sullivan University in Louisville, Kentucky.
"I remember begging this great chef in town to give me a job," she said. "I think I annoyed him to the point that he gave me the job so that I would stop coming in asking for one. Proof on Main in Louisville was where I spent my first two years in a real kitchen. I learned so many things, not just about pastry, but food itself. That's the place where I would say that my career turned into an undeniable passion." Hewes then spent the next three years at a couple of different restaurants before moving to Pensacola.
Her advice to women chasing a culinary dream: "Take the knowledge your mistakes can teach you and burn it into your brain so that you don't repeat them. Always think of yourself as a sponge. In this industry you are never done learning. Ask questions, take notes and, above all, be persistent and dedicated to your work and passion."
George Artisan Bakery & Bistro 1124 W. Garden St. georgeartisan.com
Marital and Family Law 127 Palafox Place Suite 100 | Pensacola, Florida | 466-3115
www.autumnobeck.com 616 1
inweekly.net
calendar THURSDAY 4.13
WORK ON FLORIDA TRAIL 8 a.m. Regular meet up of Western Gate Florida Trail Association to work on National Scenic Trail and side trail. Meet at Blackwater River Forestry Center, 11650 Munson Highway. meetup. com/ftawesterngate ‘GMO OMG’ FILM SCREENING 10:30 a.m. Hosted by Ever’man and WhiteWave. Pensacola State College, 1000 College Blvd. Bldg. 2. HANDS ON GADGET CLASS: ITALIAN DESSERT
11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. $45 per person. SoGourmet, 407-D S. Palafox. sogourmetpensacola.com BUBBLES AND OYSTERS 5-7 p.m. Sample six wines, paired with oysters from Pensacola Bay Oyster Co. $15. Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. sevillequarter.com WINE TASTING AT AWM 5 p.m. Aragon Wine Market, 27 S. 9th Ave. aragonwinemarket.com ‘GMO OMG’ FILM SCREENING 6 p.m. University of West Florida, 11000 University Pkwy. Commons Auditorium. Hosted by Ever’man and WhiteWave. CANCER STUDY GROUP: COOKING WITH VEGETABLES 6-8 p.m. Free. Ever’man Educational
Center, 327 W. Garden St. everman.org
SELECT LATIN DANCE LESSONS AND PARTY
6:30-9 p.m. $10. Salsa, Cha Cha, Bachata and more. DanceCraft, 8618 Pensacola Blvd. $10. dancecraftfl.com PAJAMA YOGA AND TED TALKS 7:30 p.m. $15. Breathe Scenic, 3101 E. Cervantes St.
FRIDAY 4.14
EASTER EGG HUNT 12-3 p.m. Ebonwood Com-
munity Center, 3511 W. Scott St. Free food, games, entertainment. PILATES MAT 1:30-2:30 p.m. Free. Ever’man Educational Center, 327 W. Garden St. everman.org IHMC’S ROBOTICS LAB OPEN HOURS 4-7 p.m. Free. IHMC, 40 S. Alcaniz St. ihmc.us WINE TASTING 5-7 p.m. Free. City Grocery, 2050 N. 12th Ave. HAPPY HOUR COOK OUTS 5 p.m. Drink specials, free cookout. Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. sevillequarter.com GAY GRASSROOTS 6-8 p.m. Free. Ever’man Educational Center, 327 W. Garden St. everman.org DATE NIGHT DANCING 6:30-8 p.m. $15. Learn the basics of several romantic ballroom and country dance styles in unique group classes that keeps partners together. DanceCraft, 8618 Pensacola Blvd. dancecraftfl.com OPEN MIC 7-11 p.m. Single Fin Cafe, 380 N. 9th Ave. facebook.com/singlefincafe UWF THEATRE DEPT: ROMEO AND JULIET 7:30 p.m. $20-$30. Free for UWF students with Nautilus card. Saenger Theatre, 118 S. Palafox. ISLAND FIGHTS 7:30 p.m. $20-$70. Pensacola Bay Center, 201 E. Gregory St. pensacolabaycenter.com ARI AND THE ALIBIS 8 p.m. $5. Vinyl Music Hall, 2 S. Palafox. vinylmusichall.com
SATURDAY 4.15
JUSTICE JOG 5K AND STREET PARTY 8 a.m.12 p.m. $25-$15. 5K, one-mile fun run and street party. 17 E. Main St. SANTA ROSA FARMERS MARKET 8 a.m.-1 p.m. Fresh local produce, honey, baked April 13, 2017
goods and live music. Pace Presbyterian Church, Woodbine Road, Pace. CLEAN UP WITH OCEAN HOUR 8:45 a.m. Location one is Project Greenshores is at the Three Mile Bridge on Bayfront Parkway. 745 Bayfront Parkway. Location two is Bartram Park is behind The Fish House. Buckets, grabbers, gloves and trash bags will be supplied. For more information, contact oceanhourfl@gmail.com. PALAFOX MARKET 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Fresh produce, live plants, baked goods, fine art and antiques. Items originate directly from participating vendors, including dozens of local farmers, home gardeners and area artists. Martin Luther King Jr. Plaza, N. Palafox. palafoxmarket.com COOKING DEMONSTRATIONS 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Martin Luther King Jr. Plaza, N. Palafox. palafoxmarket.com FREE BEGINNER AND INTERMEDIATE UKULELE CLASS 9:30 a.m.-11 a.m. Free. Blues Angels
Music, 657 N. Pace Blvd.
LEAPS 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Free. Ever’man Educa-
tional Center, 327 W. Garden St. everman.org
EASTER EGG HUNT AND KIDS FUN DAY 11 a.m.-2
p.m. Free. Flora-Bama Lounge and Package, 17401 Perdido Key Dr. ROBOTICS DAY 12-5 p.m. Free. National Naval Aviation Museum, 1750 Radford Blvd. navalaviationmuseum.org JACKSONIAN GUARD 12 p.m. Colors ceremony. Plaza Ferdinand, S. Palafox.
WILDLIFE SANCTUARY ANNUAL BABY SHOWER AND SUPPLY DRIVE 12-3:30 p.m. Wildlife
Sanctuary of Northwest Florida, 105 N. S St. pensacolawildlife.com
ALKALINE PRODUCTS AND YOUR DIGESTIVE HEALTH 1-3 p.m. Free. Ever’man Educational
Center, 327 W. Garden St. everman.org
YOGA 201 2 p.m. $20. Pure Pilates, 264 S.
Palafox
UWF THEATRE DEPT: ROMEO AND JULIET 2:30
p.m. $20-$30. Free for UWF students with Nautilus card. Saenger Theatre, 118 S. Palafox. STARGAZING AT PENSACOLA BEACH 6 p.m. Gulfside Pavilion. visitpensacolabeach.com THE DIRTY DOORS: TRIBUTE TO THE DOORS
7 p.m. $10-$15. Vinyl Music Hall, 2 S. Palafox. vinylmusichall.com
SUNDAY 4.16
WAKE UP HIKE 7 a.m. Meet at Bay Bluffs Park, Scenic Highway at Summit Ave., for a brisk one to two-hour walk with brunch to follow at an area restaurant. EASTER BRUNCH AT O’RILEY’S 10 a.m.-2 p.m. O’Riley’s Irish Pub, 321 S. Palafox. orileyspub.com EASTER BRUNCH AT SKOPELOS 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Brunch buffet. Skopelos, 600 S. Palafox. skopelosatnewworld.com EASTER SUNDAY AT FIVE SISTERS BLUES CAFE
10 a.m.-5 p.m. Five Sisters Blues Cafe, 421 E. Belmont St. fivesistersbluescafe.com
EASTER BRUNCH AT JACKSON’S STEAKHOUSE
11 a.m.-2 p.m. Jackson’s Steakhouse, 400 S. Palafox. To make reservations, call 469-9898. EASTER BRUNCH AT FISH HOUSE 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Fish House, 600 Barracks St. greatsouthernrestaurants.com EASTER EGG-TRAVAGANZA 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Margaritaville Beach Hotel, 165 Fort Pickens Road. margaritavillehotel.com
SOUTHEASTERN TEEN SHAKESPEARE COMPANY: SHENANIGANS 4-5 p.m. Free. 1010 N. 12th
Ave. setsco.org/first-city-shakespeare TRANSGENDER ALLIANCE 4-6 p.m. Free. Ever’man Educational Center, 327 W. Garden St. everman.org EASTER DINNER AT SKOPELOS 4-7 p.m. Skopelos, 600 S. Palafox. skopelosatnewworld.com STARGAZING AT PENSACOLA BEACH 6 p.m. Gulfside Pavilion. visitpensacolabeach.com
MONDAY 4.17
PILATES MAT 1:30-2:30 p.m. Free. Ever’man Edu-
cational Center, 327 W. Garden St. everman.org SEVILLE QUARTER MILERS 5:30 p.m. Runners meet in front of Seville Quarter for a run around downtown Pensacola. Free pasta and drink specials after the run at Fast Eddie's. Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. sevillequarter.com BALLROOM DANCE LESSONS 6:30-8 p.m. $10. Waltz, Foxtrot, Tango, and more. Professional dance instruction for all skill levels. DanceCraft, 8618 Pensacola Blvd. 503-1123. dancecraftfl.com ONE POT WONDERS 6-8 p.m. $10-$15. Ever’man Educational Center, 327 W. Garden St. everman.org HANDS ON DINNER CLASS 6-8 p.m. $50 per person. SoGourmet, 407-D S. Palafox. sogourmetpensacola.com
Let’s Wine!
Free Wine Tasting Every Thursday AWM 5pm - 7pm
27 S. 9th Ave. | 850•433•9463 AragonWineMarket.com
BLUE WAHOOS VS. JACKSONVILLE JUMBO SHRIMP 6:35 p.m. Blue Wahoos Stadium, 351 W.
Cedar St. bluewahoos.com
HIP-HOP DANCE LESSONS 8-9 p.m. $10. Learn hip-hop moves from a professional instructor. DanceCraft, 8618 Pensacola Blvd. dancecraftfl.com
TUESDAY 4.18
COMPLEMENTARY WINE TASTING 5-7 p.m.
SoGourmet, 407-D S. Palafox. sogourmetpensacola.com VINO MAGNIFICO 5:30 p.m. Remember to RSVP in advance. V. Paul’s Italian Ristorante, 29 S. Palafox. vpauls.com FUNKY YOGA FLOW 6-7 p.m. Free. Ever’man Educational Center, 327 W. Garden St. everman.org COUNTRY DANCE LESSONS 6:30 p.m. $10. Country Two Step, East Coast Swing, Competition Choreography and more. DanceCraft, 8618 Pensacola Blvd. 503-1123 dancecraftfl.com
BLUE WAHOOS VS. JACKSONVILLE JUMBO SHRIMP 6:35 p.m. Blue Wahoos Stadium, 351 W.
Cedar St. bluewahoos.com
BANDS ON THE BEACH 7 p.m. 13th Hourglass.
Gulfside Pavilion, Pensacola Beach. visitpensacolabeach.com. WSRE SPEAKER’S SERIES: ROBERT PUTNAM 7 p.m. Free. Pensacola State College, 1000 College Blvd. Registration required, register online at wsre.org. MEDITATION/PRANIC HEALING 7:15-8:30 p.m. Free. Ever'man Educational Center, 327 W. Garden St. everman.org TUNESDAY SOUND CAFE 7:30 p.m. Enjoy a cup of coffee or tea and tunes from the baby grand piano. Pensacola Library lobby, 239 N. Spring St.
for more listings visit inweekly.net
FOREVER DIETING? TIME TO CHANGE THE WAY YOU THINK ABOUT FOOD. A LUMINOUS LIFE HYPNOTHERAPY
SUSAN DUNLOP, MA, CHT
INTERNATIONALLY CERTIFIED HYPNOTHERAPIST
850-346-7865 EAST HILL
www.luminouslifehypnotherapy.com 17
EE
STUDER COMMUNITY INSTITUTE TRAINING & DEVELOPMENT
FR Three Essentials for Every Successful Organization: Passion, Discipline and Structure
Improve Performance and Get Results by Connecting to Company Values FRIDAY, APRIL 21
HILLCREST BAPTIST CHURCH 800 E. NINE MILE RD.
8:30 A.M. - NOON
Speaker: Quint Studer
Founder, Studer Community Institute
Whether you’re a one-person operation or a larger company, ongoing improvement is the name of the game. Most business owners and leaders have a passion for their product, but being disciplined about processes can be hard. The key is a structured approach to improve performance through connecting every employee to values.
During the session, attendees will learn specific tips and tactics to help the organization improve performance, connect actions to company values and get great results.
What attendees will leave with:
• Quint’s 2017 learnings in connecting actions to values to improve outcomes. • Methodology to help move a person’s action to motivate others to be successful.
Leaders must build performance in others. Often people are moved into leadership due to their own performance in a non-leader role. Making the switch from player to coach is a hard one. You will leave the session with tactics on how to help yourself and others make this transition.
• A simple way to diagnose your organization’s sense of urgency.
According to Harvard Professor John P. Kotter, 70 percent of efforts to improve ultimately fail. Why? Top leaders think there is more urgency than there is. You will leave the session with a simple and free way to gauge the sense of urgency in your organization and discover steps to take if the urgency is not what is needed to achieve the desired outcomes.
The Studer Community Institute is a tax-exempt 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. The Studer Community Institute’s mission is to improve the quality of life for people in the Pensacola Metro area. If you would like to make a donation to help support this workshop, future workshops and the mission of the Studer Community Institute, please visit our website, Studeri.org or bring your donations to the workshop. STUDER COMMUNITY INSTITUTE training and development is beneficial to all leaders, including leaders new to their role and those interested in developing their skills to take on new challenges and responsibilities.
REGISTER ONLINE: studeri.org/training-development/upcoming-events QUESTIONS? Call Rachael Gillette 850.748.5656
Better Jobs Better Lives Better Community 818 1
inweekly.net
news of the weird GOVERNMENT IN ACTION (1) Toronto, Ontario, Superior Court Justice Alex Pazaratz finally ridded his docket of the maddening, freeloading couple that had quibbled incessantly about each other's "harassments." Neither Noora Abdulaali, 32, nor her now-exhusband, Kadhim Salih, 43, had worked a day in the five years since they immigrated from Iraq, having almost immediately gone on disability benefits and begun exploiting Legal Aid Toronto in their many attempts to one-up each other with restraining orders. Approving the couple's settlement in March, Judge Pazaratz added, "The next time anyone at Legal Aid Ontario tells you they're short of money, don't believe it. ...Not if they're funding cases like this." (2) In May, a new restaurant-disclosure regulation mandated by the Affordable Care Act is scheduled to kick in, requiring eateries (except small chains and independents) to post calorie counts for all menu items including "variations"—which a Domino's Pizza executive said meant, for his company, "34 million" calorie listings. The executive called the regulation, for the pizza industry, "a 20th-century approach to a 21st-century question," since for many establishments, orders increasingly arrive online or by phone. REDNECK CHRONICLES (1) Dennis Smith, 65, was arrested in Senoia, Georgia, and charged with stealing dirt from the elderly widow of the man Smith said had given him permission to take it. Smith, a "dirt broker," had taken more than 180 dump-truck loads. (2) New for Valentine's Day from the SayItWithBeef.com company: a bouquet of beef jerky slices, formed to resemble a dozen full-petaled roses ($59). Also available: daisies. Chief selling point: Flowers die quickly, but jerky is forever. NEW WORLD ORDER In March, Harvard Medical School technicians announced a smartphone app to give fertility-conscious men an accurate semen analysis, including sperm concentration, motility and total count— costing probably less than $10. Included is a magnification attachment and a "microfluidic" chip. The insertable app magnifies and photographs the "loaded" chip, instantly reporting the results. (To answer the most frequent question: No, semen never touches your phone. The device still needs Food and Drug Administration approval.) PRETENTIONS: HIPSTERS ON THE RISE (1) The Columbia Room bar in Washington, D.C., recently introduced the "In Search of Time Past" cocktail—splashed with a tincture of old, musty books. Management vacuumsealed pages with grapeseed oil, then "fatwashed" them with a "neutral high-proof" spirit, and added a vintage sherry, mushroom cordial and eucalyptus. (2)The California reggae rock band Slightly Stoopid recently produced a vinyl record that was "smokable," according to Billboard magazine—using a "super resinous variety of hashish" mastered at the Los Angeles
by Chuck Shepherd
studio Capsule Labs. The first two versions' sound quality disappointed and were apparently quickly smoked, but a third is in production. (3) The telephone "area" code in the tony English city of Bath (01225) is different than that of adjacent Radstock (01761) and probably better explained by landline telephone infrastructure than a legal boundary. However, a Bath councilwoman said in April that she is dealing with complaints by 10 new residents who paid high-end prices for their homes only to find that they came with the 01761 code. Admitted one Bath resident, "I do consider my phone number to be part of my identity." WEIRD SCIENCE: MAGNIFICENT EVOLVERS Human populations in Chile's Atacama desert have apparently developed a tolerance for arsenic 100 times as powerful as the World Health Organization's maximum safe level (according to recent research by University of Chile scientists). (2) While 80 percent of Americans age 45 or older have calcium-cluttered blood veins (atherosclerosis), about 80 percent of Bolivian Tsimane hunter-gatherers in the Amazon have clean veins, according to an April report in The Lancet. (Keys for having "the healthiest hearts in the world": walk a lot and eat monkey, wild pig and piranha.) AWESOME (1) University of Basel biologists writing in the journal Science of Nature in March calculated that the global population of spiders consumes at least 400 million tons of prey yearly—about as much, by weight, as the total of meat and fish consumed by all humans. (2) University of Utah researchers trained surveillance cameras on dead animals in a local desert to study scavenger behavior and were apparently astonished to witness the disappearances of two bait cows. Over the course of five days, according to the biologists' recent journal article, two different badgers, working around the clock for days, had dug adjacent holes and completely buried the cows (for storage and/or to keep the carcasses from competitors). NEWS YOU CAN USE A study published in the journal Endocrinology in March suggested that "whole-body" vibration may be just as effective as regular "exercise." (The Fine Print: Vibration was shown only to aid "global bone formation," which is not as useful for some people as "weight loss," which was not studied, and anyway, the study was conducted on mice. Nonetheless, even for a mouse immobile on a vibrating machine, muscles contracted and relaxed multiple times per second. This "Fine Print" will soon be useful when hucksters learn of the study and try to sell gullible humans a "miracle" weight-loss machine.) {in}
From Universal Press Syndicate Chuck Shepherd’s News Of The Weird © 2015 Chuck Shepherd
Send your weird news to Chuck Shepherd, P.O. Box 18737, Tampa, Fla., 33679 or weirdnews@earthlink.net, or go to newsoftheweird.com April 13, 2017
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Independent News | April 13, 2017 | inweekly.net