Independent News | April 27, 2017 | Volume 18 | Number 16 | inweekly.net
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winners & losers 4
outtakes 5
news 6, 7
I just kept running, kind of like Forrest Gump.
buzz
cover story 11
8
publisher Rick Outzen editor & creative director Joani Delezen
22
contributing writers Duwayne Escobedo, Jennifer Leigh, Chuck Shepherd, Shelby Smithey
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April 27, 2017
3
winners & losers
Fred Levin
Since spring break, the Winners & Losers team has been scarce. They claim they are doing research, but all their notes are written on beer coasters. Here is their "Spring 2017 All Winners" version of Inweekly's most popular column.
FRED LEVIN The Pensacola trial lawyer has invested $550,000 in the University of West Florida to establish the Reubin O'D. Askew Institute for Multidisciplinary Studies, in honor of his former law partner. More than 20 years ago, Levin gifted an endowed professorship at UWF in honor of his father, Abe Levin. The endowed professorship, his recent gift of $100,000 to support UWF football and the $550,000 contribution to establish the Askew Institute total more than $1 million in giving. DANA LANGSTON VSA, a Jean Kennedy
Smith Arts and Disability program of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, named the West Florida High senior a winner of the 2017 VSA Playwright Discovery Competition. She has severe depression and anxiety, which inspires much of her work. She is a published author, as well as the founder of Defective Dynamic, an organization that helps those with mental illness.
adapted from the book by
E. B. WHITE
written by
ERIC DOYLE The Texas native is the new leader of the Blue Angels, after serving as the Commanding Officer of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 113. Commander Doyle's previous assignments include six squadron tours, where he flew the F/A-18 Hornet and F-22A Raptor as an Operational Test Pilot. He was deployed in support of Operations Southern Watch, Iraqi Freedom, Enduring Freedom, and Inherent Resolve.
TYLER MAHLE The Pensacola Blue Wahoo player pitched the league’s first perfect game in 47 years on Saturday, May 22 against rival Mobile BayBears. Using 68 of his 88 pitches for strikes, Mahle fanned eight BayBears and was selected as the Pitcher of the Week by the Southern League of Professional Baseball Clubs for April 17-23. The perfect game was also the first in Pensacola Blue Wahoos’ history. SID WILLIAMS The Pensacola Little Theatre and Cultural Center (PLT) announced Williams as its new executive director. The Mississippi native brings his passion for the arts from his most recent work with the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD). As PLT's Executive Director, he will oversee staff and operations, and be responsible for fundraising, marketing, and grant writing. PINK PIRATES OF NAVARRE The non-profit presented a check for $13,300 to the Baptist Health Care Foundation's Mammogram Fund, which helps provide mammograms to qualified women who are not financially able to get one on their own. According to the National Cancer Institute, more than 240,000 new cases of breast cancer were projected to be diagnosed this year alone. Early detection enables early treatment and increases survival chances.
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outtakes
by Rick Outzen
WINS FOR THE HOMELESS It has been said that insanity is repeating the same mistakes and expecting different results. The city of Pensacola is determined to prove that statement. Mayor Ashton Hayward and the city council have tried three times to deal with people begging for money in the city's downtown area. Each time citizens have asked the mayor to improve services for the homeless population before any laws were added. Instead, he pushed ahead promising to look for solutions after the ordinances were passed. And what has happened each time? The city has been embarrassed by some unintended consequence, and the ordinances fell apart. City officials never get around to improving services. They've held summits, hired consultants, and listened to recommendations, but nothing changes, except the panhandling increases and the homeless continue to suffer. Mayor Hayward has become almost fatalistic about homelessness. He told NewsRadio 1620's Andrew McKay last week, "Homelessness is something you're gonna have to manage across every community in America forever." He said at the April council meeting he told the opposition, "There are some good solutions out there, but we have a win-win because the folks that are the business owners, that have invested their money and taken the risks, have a solution for them and also for the citizens coming downtown."
Mayor Hayward didn't explain what the "win" was for the area's homeless in the proposed ordinances. He didn't identify the "good solutions out there." And that's the insanity of his plan. A "win-win" is a solution that covers the needs of all parties. Everyone has a victory in the agreed upon outcome. Unfortunately, the mayor has failed to show those who care about the plight of the homeless what he plans to do for those living on the streets or in their cars. Banning panhandling from a specific section of Pensacola doesn't make it magically disappear. Neither does it solve anything to ignore that many of those panhandling are homeless. Outlawing their behavior does little to change their lives. While working with the Task Force for Improving Human Services, consultant Robert Marbut pointed out the city did not have a 24/7 "Come-As-You-Are" emergency services center. He estimated the area needed between 175-250 units for emergency beds for single adults experiencing homelessness. The need was especially acute for women. As the budget workshops approach, Mayor Hayward should dust off the task force recommendations and show how he plans to implement them. And if not them, he needs to identify what are the "wins" for the homeless that he wants to accomplish before he completes his second term. {in}rick@inweekly.net
Banning panhandling from a specific section of Pensacola doesn't make it magically disappear.
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ANDREWS INSTITUTE LOOKS AHEAD of the public high schools in Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa and Walton counties and has plans to expand to other Northwest Florida counties, including Bay County. It includes performing baseline concussion tests for more than 4,500 youth athletes since 2015. Only 37 percent of public high schools have a full-time athletic trainer, reports the NATA Research and Education Foundation. Andrews led a charge in 2015 in the Florida Legislature to require all Florida High Schools to have at least one athletic trainer. But the legislation never passed. "It's getting to where it will be a medical legal issue," Andrews predicted. "Right now my passion is youth sports." Dr. Roger Ostrander was one of the first orthopaedic surgeons to relocate to Gulf Breeze in July 2004. "When I got here in 2004, I didn't understand the scope and magnitude of this project. It's unique in the country," Ostrander said. "I feel very fortunate to be part of Andrews Institute from the beginning." {in}
Photo by Tim Ludvigsen Photography
By Duwayne Escobedo At a recent press conference in honor of his facility's 10th anniversary, Dr. James Andrews told the story about the moment he knew the Andrews Sports Medicine and Orthopaedic Center partnership with Baptist Health Care would happen. Baptist Health Care brought its top executives to approach him for a second time in December 2003 about teaming up to start a sports medicine medical center in Gulf Breeze. He had just finished surgery at his Birmingham, Ala., center and welcomed the group into a small adjacent office. Baptist Health Care CEO Al Stubblefield envisioned building the Andrews Institute next to Gulf Breeze Hospital and providing its world-class medical care to the community. He was told about Andrews and his celebrity as a top sports orthopaedic surgeon. Stubblefield said, "I don't know what an athletic trainer is, but I want some." However, other Baptist officials weren't convinced, especially Baptist Chief Financial Officer Joe Felkner. During a tour of the Andrews sports medical center in Alabama, Felkner spotted USA Olympic gymnast Blaine Wilson doing rehab on an injured shoulder. Wilson grew up in Columbus, Ohio, and starred on Ohio State's gymnastics team. Felkner was a big Buckeyes fanatic. "It was a damn miracle," Andrews said. "He always played the bad guy. But right away he said, ‘We got to do this.' That's really how we got the financing done." 66
A decade later, Andrews Institute in Gulf Breeze has made a huge impact on the Florida Gulf Coast region. It is estimated to have an economic impact on the region of tens of millions of dollars. The cutting-edge, worldrenowned sports medicine center celebrated its achievements at its 10th anniversary Wednesday in the Andrews Athletic Performance and Research Pavilion. "It's been a magnificent journey for all of us," said Andrews, who thanked local government officials, Baptist executives, his team of more than 50 physicians, and wife, Jenelle. He also singled out longtime friend Jerry Pate and Ed Gray for securing funding from then-Governor Jeb Bush that helped make the Florida center a reality. The funding allowed Andrews Institute to open the doors to its 126,535-square-foot sports medicine center in April 2007 that feels more like an upscale, luxurious hotel than a hospital. It features an ambulatory surgery center, an athletic performance center, and a research and education center. Over its first 10 years, Andrews Institute performed more than 6,000 surgeries, provided athletic trainers freely to 25 public high schools from Escambia to Walton County and three area colleges, trained 57 fellows under its top-notch physicians, and worked to develop the next generation of sports medicine tools at its Regenerative Medicine Center. Not only did it look back at its achievements at the press conference, the sports medicine center looked forward to what the next decade might hold for the institute.
One promising development is the use of stem cells to help speed up the healing process, regenerate tissue, cartilage and organs and lead to other cures for diseases, such as diabetes, arthritis and osteoporosis. Dr. Adam Anz, an Andrews orthopaedic surgeon and sports medicine specialist, is overseeing a stem cell study that starts in May. He said stem cells are five to seven years away from earning FDA approval for medical uses and becoming widely used to treat patients. Stem cells are considered the biggest advance in sports medicine since arthroscopy surgery, which allows physicians to make a small incision on a patient and use a tiny camera to surgically repair knees, rotator cuffs, and other common debilitating sports injuries. Anz talked excitedly about regenerative medicine. Today, bone marrow aspiration typically produces about 17,000 stem cells, while140 million stem cells come from a variety of regenerative sources, such as embryos, gestational and adult tissues, and reprogrammed differentiated cells. "The FDA is a lot like the IRS," Anz explained. "We need to refine and prove to them that they work. There are future products, and they need development." Andrews agreed. He said: "We're still at the tip of the iceberg. It's coming though. Regenerative medicine will revolutionize not only what we do in sports medicine but all surgeries." Another impact that Andrews Institute has had on the region is its sports medicine outreach to youth. The public service ensures sports medicine coverage freely to all
ANDREWS INSTITUTE BY THE NUMBERS: 2007-2017 •650,000+ Visits to Andrews Institute Rehabilitation location since 2008 •61% Increase in patient volume since 2008 •228,000+ X-ray and MRI exams completed since 2007 •50,864 Patients/Cases seen at the Andrews Institute Ambulatory Surgery Center •303% Increase in patient volume since 2007 •20,000 Free pre-participation exams performed •68,500 Injury assessments performed •1,800 Injury assessments performed at Saturday morning Student-Athlete Injury Clinic •4,500 Concussion baseline tests performed since 2015 •400 Community events with Andrews Institute sports medicine coverage •84 Clinical research studies conducted over the last 10 years •19 Open clinical research studies from July 2015 to June 2016 •112 Wounded or injured Special Operations military members treated from July 2015 to June 2016
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SAVING OTHERS WITH A 5K
By Duwayne Escobedo When you face a life or death situation like Greg Schnoor, your whole life can change. In 2010, Schnoor planned to have a routine surgery on his sinuses to help eliminate his bad allergies. Instead, his nose, throat and ear doctor, William Clark, called him. A CT scan uncovered a golf ball-sized mass in his brain. The mass turned out to be a rare brain tumor known as an oligodendroglioma. Only 9.4 percent of adults and 4 percent of children are diagnosed with that type of brain tumor. Schnoor underwent brain surgery at Shands Hospital in Gainesville on Dec. 29, 2010. The diagnoses and surgery came three months after he and his wife had celebrated their first daughter after having three sons. "We were all happy, like, ‘Yeah!'" Schnoor recalled. "Then we were sad, like, ‘Whoa!'" His treatment included six weeks of radiation and four and a half years of chemotherapy. Schnoor received chemo five times every month until 2014. His treatment also included something else—running. Most days after chemo he would just curl up on the couch, lacking the energy to do anything more. One day, he decided to join his two older sons, Justin and Tony, on their run for the A.K. Suter Running Club. He couldn't keep up, but he didn't give up. He started walking, then built himself up to running 5Ks without walking, and finally ran marathons and ultramarathons. "I just kept running, kind of like Forrest Gump," Schnoor said. Soon he was signing up for 100-mile runs. He has his sixth long-distance run coming up in November. Schnoor said the most he has completed is 66 miles. This time, he plans to finish. April 27, 2017
"I can escape dealing with stuff," Schnoor said about why he likes to run. "I jokingly tell people that if my cancer wants to get me, it has to catch me first!" Schnoor has gone beyond becoming a healthy and avid runner. He created the scenic Brain Tumor Run/Walk for Research 5K in 2013. The annual event is held every May, during brain cancer awareness month. The route weaves through the historic district, along Pensacola Bay, past the Palafox Pier and Yacht Harbour Marina and Plaza de Luna at the foot of Palafox Street, and loops around Veterans Memorial Park.
"If it wasn't for (brain cancer), I wouldn't be doing all these crazy runs." Greg Schnoor To date, the event has raised more than $60,000 for brain cancer research. All the funds go to ABC2, which stands for Accelerate Brain Cancer Cure. The fourth annual race starts at 7:30 a.m. Saturday, May 6 at Plaza de Luna Park. Registration is $25 for adults, $20 for youth and children 5 and under run for free. After Tuesday, May 4, registration goes up $5. Participants can choose to honor someone they know who succumbed to brain cancer. Last year, more than 400 people signed up for the 5K fundraiser. He hopes it will eventually become a bigger event like the Making Strides for Breast Cancer walk or Relay for Life. "It has kind of been a blessing to me really," Schnoor said. "If it wasn't for (brain
cancer), I wouldn't be doing all these crazy runs. I set goals, and I make them now. Hey, you have to make the best of life and do the best you can." He's optimistic, even though, he knows oligodendrogliomas are incurable today using current treatments. Median survival times for oligodendrogliomas are 11.6 years for grade II and 3.5 years for grade III. But those figures fail to consider the types of treatment or the genetic signature of the tumors. Long-term survival is possible for both low grade and high-grade oliogodendrogliomas with aggressive treatment and close monitoring. Schnoor goes in for an MRI and CT scan every five to six months so that physicians can keep tabs on his brain cancer. He understands he said that "it is not if it comes back but when it comes back." Still, Schnoor is not scared. "It's funny how you can take a negative and make it so positive," he said. His daughter Ally is now six and finishing kindergarten. His other son, Riley, is an 8-year-old. He makes sure to attend all of their school functions. He knows he could make more money as a graphic designer but is focused on his family. "They are awesome," he said. "They are the main things that keep me going." Schnoor said based on his experience, brain cancer patients must get second or third opinions. He had one oncologist advise him to "wait and see what happens." "Can you believe that?" he asked. "I didn't want to wait and see." It may sound like a bumper sticker, but the brain tumor survivor has another suggestion—one he follows above all else. "Don't take life for granted," Schnoor said. "You never know what's going to happen. Stay positive. We only live once. Make the best of it." {in}
FOURTH ANNUAL BRAIN TUMOR RUN/WALK FOR RESEARCH 5K
WHEN: 7:30 a.m. Saturday, May 6 WHERE: Plaza de Luna Park, at the foot of S. Palafox COST: $25 for adults, $20 for youth, free for children 5 and under. After Tuesday, May 4 registration increases $5. DETAILS: braintumorrun.com
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The inside joke about three of these members is that their roommate in Tallahassee is Grant. One thing is for certain, come July 1, either White or Grant will be a candidate for Speaker, but not both."
VINYL PARKS IT Curt Morse, executive
CHAMPION FOR BEACH OWNERSHIP
Rep. Matt Gaetz plans to file a bill soon that transfers ownership officially of Navarre Beach from Escambia County to Santa Rosa County. The bill will allow Santa Rosa Island leaseholders on Pensacola Beach and Navarre Beach to choose whether they want to own beach property and pay property taxes, also known as fee simple title, and ensures that Pensacola Beach property under Escambia County control that is undeveloped remains preserved forever. Both Escambia County and Santa Rosa County commissioners have given the bill thumbs up, allowing Gaetz to move forward on what has caused a lot of knock-downdrag-out fights between the two counties and residents of the barrier island. Gaetz credited District 4 Escambia County Commissioner Grover Robinson IV and District 4 Santa Rosa County Commissioner Rob Williamson for helping draft the legislation in a spirit of cooperation. In the past, the counties have been at odds over the issue. There is some worry that Florida's senior U.S. Senator Bill Nelson may try, as he has done in the past, to attach an amendment that calls for the Navarre Pass to never reopen, Gaetz said. The pass existed for only a few months in 1965 before Hurricane Betsy filled it in with sand and closed it for good. Gaetz told a group of Navarre community leaders that he and U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio have gotten assurances from the Nelson camp that he will let the bill pass as is. Gaetz also said the bill may receive opposition from pro-environment advocates who believe beach ownership will lead to more 88
development. However, the Republican said the bill could pass in 2017. "We will have our opponents who don't want to see more growth," Gaetz said. Robinson made it clear that none of the leaseholders will be forced to accept fee simple title. He also said the bill is clear in its intent. "The pass isn't involved in this issue," Robinson said. "This is a tax issue." Once a leaseholder sells his lease, which are as low as $100 a year, the property will automatically transfer to fee simple title and appear on the two counties' property tax rolls, Robinson explained.
WHITE IN THE MIX Peter Schorsch, creator of SaintPetersBlog.com and FloridaPolitics. com, keeps an eye on the internal politics of the Florida Legislature. In his most recent analysis of the 2022 House Speaker's race, Pensacola's Frank White is among the names mentioned. According to Schorsch, the contenders are Paul Renner of Palm Coast, Byron Donalds of Naples, Ralph Massull of Lecanto, James "J.W." Grant of Tampa, Erin Grall of Vero Beach, and White. The new rules call for members to not select a speaker until after the 2017 Session. Members are not supposed to solicit support for a leadership bid until after June 30. There are currently 27 freshmen Republicans in the House, so 14 votes are needed to secure the Speakership. Of White's chances, Schorsch wrote: "There is a faction of North Florida members who will likely move and vote as a bloc: White, Mel Ponder, Jayer Williamson, and Cord Byrd.
director of the Downtown Improvement Board, went on "Pensacola Speaks" to clear up confusion over Vinyl Music Hall blocking off parking spaces on Garden Street for bands to load off equipment for their concerts. Originally, the media reported that a citizen had his car towed from one of the spots. When reporters tried to find out whether Vinyl had the power to do it, no one seemed to know. Morse said he was unaware of any agreement with the DIB or its parking management company. City Hall had no records. "Our financial coordinator was out on vacation, and of course we run a very, very lean operation here so not a lot of hands on deck that were able to answer that question for me," said Morse. "So I ran with what I knew which was very little." When the financial coordinator returned, she told Morse that she knew about an agreement. "We went to the archives and found binders of past use agreements for everything from those meters there on Garden Street adjacent to Vinyl Music Hall, as well as other use agreements for things as innocuous as dumpsters that are in a parking place," said Morse. He had found an agreement with Vinyl for the spaces, but that it had expired in January 2016. For some reason, his predecessor, Ron Butlin, failed to renew it. Butlin resigned last September for health reasons, and Morse took over in November. "The unfortunate reality Rick, is the DIB in the past has possibly not run as lean and as efficient as it could," said Morse. "So what we're working on now with our team is trying to refine those processes, make sure they're in place so that things like this don't happen. " Morse had met with the management of Vinyl Music Hall. A new use agreement has been signed, and Vinyl will pay for the use of the spaces in 2016. He said, "They'll be paying a 25 percent premium on those parking spaces to have the privilege of using them the day of the show so that they can provide adequate parking for a tour bus and a trailer to come in and unload and then perform, and then load again, and then leave."
NEW APP FOR VETERANS The Florida Institute for the Commercialization of Public Research announced it has finalized a fund-
ing agreement with VetCV, a Pensacolabased company with technology developed at the Florida Institute for Human Machine and Cognition. VetCV is an app where military veterans and their families can track and manage their healthcare activities, make appointments, request status data, track important life events, and manage their careers. Users will also be able to safely store valuable medical, military, personal records, and store precious memories. VetCV provides a platform for veterans to build personal support networks with other VetCV members. "Ninety-five percent of veteran records are in paper format, and while many Veteran Affairs Medical Centers (VAMC) are transitioning to electronic records and have converted over 500,000 Veteran records. Many Veterans cannot access these records," said Niels K. Andersen, VetCV Chief Executive Officer. "VetCV puts control of information back in the veterans' hands by giving them a secure platform to capture and store vital information." The Florida Institute supports new company creation based on publicly funded research and bridges early funding gaps for companies spinning out of Florida-based universities and research institutions.
BYDLAK 2018? Rebekah Bydlak garnered 7.8 percent of the vote in the hotly contested August 2016 GOP primary to replace Congressman Jeff Miller. Coming in fourth in the seven-person race hasn't driven her away from politics. Bydlak is the Executive Director of the Coalition to Reduce Spending, which recently launched the website SpendingTracker.org to track federal spending in real time. "You can go in and enter your zip code or find a member of Congress by selecting their name, and you can see how much total spending each member has voted for," she explained to Inweekly. "This is something that we sought to do a couple of years ago, just based on the fact that it's so hard to find that information," said Bydlak. "Most people aren't going to go and read CBO (Congressional Budget Office) scores and voting records, and so we think information is powerful and that's why we put it together." While she said that she thinks Rep. Matt Gaetz, Bydlak did not rule out running again for political office. "Once you get involved, and you see how much there is to be done, you find it hard to pull yourself away," said Bydlak. "Who knows what the future holds, but I'm certainly not writing anything off." inweekly.net
BECOME CERTIFIED Emerald Coastkeeper Laurie Murphy, a certified stormwater inspector, is holding a class in the Pensacola area on Monday, May 8, to train what will be Pensacola's first group of Certified Stormwater Volunteers. The class is from 5:50 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the Cokesbury United Methodist Church on 9th Avenue across from Pensacola State College. The training is free and open to the public. Emerald Coastkeeper and NPDESCompliance.org, the largest stormwater non-profit organization in the world, have partnered to help to give participants the tools to help protect their neighborhoods. Interested parties, such as public works directors and employees, homeowners associations, neighborhood associations, environmentalists, and educators, are encouraged to attend. However, anyone with an interest in stormwater issues may come Additional materials will be available for a donation, but not required for the class. Free food and beverages will be served. The initial class is limited to 24 people.
April 27, 2017
To be considered, you must RSVP to coastkeeper@emeraldcoastkeeper.org by May 1.
END BEACH BOTTLENECKS The Escambia Board of County Commissioners has studied the traffic on Pensacola Beach for seven years. Two engineering firms have examined the issues and identified the same two bottlenecks, according to Pensacola Beach developer Robert Rinke. "One bottleneck is the toll," Rinke said on "Pensacola Speaks" earlier this month. He believes the county made the right decision to install the SunPass system that allows cars to come on the Santa Rosa Island without stopping to pay a toll. He said, "They spent $2 million on those electronics to put that SunPass in. Now they don't have to turn them all to SunPass. They can get some people a way to get through with a dollar initially until that ultimately will back up, but there's a whole education process. They'll do that slowly and educate by doing the right things." The second bottleneck is the only traffic light on Pensacola Beach. "Both engineers said the traffic light has to
go or you're backing up traffic every weekend in the spring and the summer,' said Rinke. Five years ago, the engineers proposed building a flyover that traveled east and west and took the vehicles above the pedestrians. "In general, people didn't like it," Rinke told Inweekly. "That was $70 million, and it was too much." He believes the latest proposal is a much better plan and is less expensive and more aesthetically pleasing. The plan has two roundabouts, four pedestrian underpasses, and no traffic lights. "You bring people onto the beach. They go east. If they're going to go east, they get out of the core. They go west. If they're going to go west, they get out of the core. Now you're dealing with just the people that want to be in the core," said Rinke. The plan creates a "pedestrian-centric Pensacola Beach, not a car-centric Pensacola Beach." The price tag is $22 million, which Rinke and others propose would be paid with local option sales tax (LOST) dollars generated on Pensacola. "We've generated $509 million over the last 10 years of LOST, and the beach only got
$4 million," said Rinke. "We're proposing that we just take the share of LOST that we generate on the beach, bond that for 10 years, and pay for the whole infrastructure project with LOST that's meant for infrastructure only." The traffic plan was scheduled to be presented to the BCC on Tuesday, April 25 at its committee of the whole, after our publication deadline. If the commissioners like it, the proposal could come before the board for a vote in May.
CONSTITUTION PANEL HEARING The
Constitution Revision Commission will hold a public hearing in Northwest Florida, as the panel continues taking input from across the state. The commission will hold a hearing at 4 p.m. May 3 at Gulf Coast State College's Amelia Center Auditorium in Panama City. The 37-member panel is holding a series of hearings as it prepares to propose constitutional amendments on the November 2018 ballot. Its other May hearings are scheduled for May 10 in Lee County and May 17 in Hillsborough County. None have been announced for Pensacola yet. {in}
9
PROGRESS
A look at what’s going on in downtown Pensacola.
Build a Brain Build a Life Build a Community Children can practice their balance in the Log Course
To be added: • Log Course • Number Hop • Grass Maze •Tree Cookies • Chalk Station • Musical Chimes
Pathways and play areas are made with soft rubber. Children can touch, smell, and see different plants in the Sensory Garden.
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hey say that play is child’s work. We don’t take that to mean playtime should be turned into an eight- or 10-hour shift. We take it to mean that playtime is as important to a child as a workday is to an adult. But no one said we couldn’t sneak a little learning into that playtime. That’s what the sensory garden at the Bodacious Brew Thru is built to support. In fact many of us — of all ages — learn best by doing, by getting our hands dirty, by using all of our senses to explore and learn. Research shows that being in nature boosts a child’s brain development and ability to focus, to be creative and to solve problems. The Early Learning Garden, designed by Caldwell & Associates Architects, took elements of play and nature and worked to combine them
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into a learning space that is beautiful and fun. Everything in the sensory garden — from the plants in the landscaping to the sand pit and the Tree Cookies kids can build with — is meant to encourage kids to play, learn and develop their minds and their bodies. There are areas for the children to sit and rest or to run and explore. The sensory garden is part of Pensacola’s journey to becoming an Early Learning City, a place that supports parent engagement and early brain development with the help of the whole community. It is a place that turns the whole city into a classroom that is all around us and always open. Where learning is under our feet and at our fingertips. Where even child’s play can help build a brain, build a life and build a community.
16 W. Main St. Pensacola, Florida
inweekly.net
By Rick Outzen The homeless and panhandling have been problems for Pensacola Mayor Ashton Hayward since he took office in 2011. Several times, he has attempted ordinances to deal with them. Each time he and other city officials have walked away with no lasting resolution and political black-eyes. The latest anti-panhandling ordinances have generated discussion of a possible federal lawsuit from the American Civil Liberties Union. The two ordinances are up for second reading and final passage at the Pensacola City Council’s meeting on May 11. Before the final vote, Inweekly wanted to trace the history of Hayward’s nearly April 27, 2017
seven-year struggle with these issues and help readers understand the context of the new ordinances.
CITY HALL CAMPGROUND
Hayward's first ordinances were primarily in response to Occupy Pensacola camping out on the lawn of Pensacola City Hall. The council debate drew national media attention, which made the issue too “hot” for the mayor and council to handle. The ordinances were tabled and allowed to die a quiet death. In October 2011, Hayward battled the Occupy Pensacola movement that first lived in the median of North Palafox Street, near the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial
Plaza. Occupy Pensacola, like multiple such groups around the country, was linked loosely to the Occupy Wall Street protests that began in New York City in mid-September. The group did not have a particular message, but opposed a system they saw as broken. Mayor Hayward wanted to move the protestors off Palafox. City Administrator Bill Reynolds, Neighborhood Services Director David Flaherty and Chief of Police Chip Simmons met with Occupy leaders and negotiated the group’s relocation to Pensacola City Hall. However, there was a kink in the move. Citing an existing city ordinance prohibiting the construction of enclosures on city property (Sec. 8-1-7), the mayor informed
Occupy that upon their relocation to the City Hall courtyard tents or other outdoor structures would not be allowed. The Hayward administration agreed to give support by providing running water, electricity, trash pick-up service and portable toilet services. “I’ve tried, and continue to try, to be respectful of the First Amendment rights of the Occupy Pensacola group, by granting them extended permission to congregate on City property, and by providing sanitation services for the health and public safety of the entire downtown area,” the mayor said in a press release. “However, the current—and growing—number of tents and other structures are unacceptable.” 11
He continued, “I am happy to provide the group with an extended presence here at the City Hall courtyard, which they have agreed to. But at this point, for the safety of everyone and the respect of downtown businesses and residents, we are going to start enforcing this ordinance as of 5 p.m. Friday.” The city council disagreed. On Oct. 27, the night before the relocation, they passed a resolution that allowed Occupy to erect tents and live in them on the lawn of city hall. The vote gave the mayor the power to waive Sec. 8-1-7 for two weeks. He agreed to do nothing until the next council meeting. In November 2011, when Councilwoman Sherri Myers suggested the council extend the waiver, City Administrator Bill Reynolds said Mayor Hayward no longer intended to use Sec. 8-1-7, but Occupy needed a permit to hold an “event” on city property. The tent issue fell into the lap of Neighborhood Services Director Flaherty. When Occupy representatives met with Flaherty and staff, they were told a permit was necessary to remain on the courtyard. The city wanted more information on the event to be able to determine a responsible party for insurance purposes. The permit would also require Occupy to pay associated costs for its stay on the lawn, as well as provide a defined time frame. Flaherty told them, “This increase in population and construction has not only stressed the environment in which they currently reside and greatly increased public health concerns, but has also increased costs and potential liability for the city.” The Occupy contingent at the meeting—Alistar McKenzie, Nicholas Alford, Gary Paull, Jr. and Rev. Nathan Monk—said their protest was a freedom-of-speech issue, and, therefore, did not require a permit. They also argued that the permit would be cost prohibitive. Within two weeks, the tents were removed. City officials accused Occupy of vandalism. The doors to City Hall’s restrooms were chained and locked shut and electricity disconnected. The downsized contingent held its ground in a cluster on the sidewalk on the corner of the north lawn, where they would stay until Hurricane Issac in late August 2012. Meanwhile, Pensacola Police officers began to enforce a new Escambia County panhandling ordinance by issuing warnings to violators. “It would not be prudent for our officers to immediately arrest people on a new ordinance without first educating them,” said Chief Simmons. “We are going to issue one warning to each violator. If they heed the warning, they will not be arrested. If they continue to violate the ordinance, we will arrest them and take them to jail.” Mayor Hayward proposed two ordinances aimed at Occupy and homeless people. He wanted to create Sec 8-1-22 of the city code to prohibit camping on public property or residential property without the owner’s permission. He also wanted to limit how people could use public restrooms at city hall, public library, airport and other city facilities. He wanted to prohibit shaving, sleeping, or consuming food or drink in the restrooms. 212 1
At the agenda review on Dec. 12, 2011, Council President Sam Hall had a woman removed when she began to compare the $5 million loan the mayor sought to fund its natural gas expansion with the proposed ordinances. When Rev. Monk spoke out about Hall’s action three days later at the council meeting, the council president ruled him out of order. Monk refused to budge and stood silently at the podium for three minutes with two police officers ready to escort him out of the chambers. A video of Monk walking out and flanked by the cops went viral, leading to calls for Hall’s resignation. The ordinances were tabled.
BLANKETS OUTLAWED
In 2013, Mayor Hayward and City Administrator Reynolds made another attempt to curb panhandling. In January of that year, Reynolds sent an email to the council relaying the concerns of a woman who said she was frightened when a man approached her vehicle as she prepared to enter Jewelers Trade. The man asked for money and made the woman feel “like I was in New Orleans.” “I was afraid it was an attempted carjacking,” the woman wrote, “and got out and ran across the street, almost getting hit by a car.” Reynolds said he wanted to restart the conversation on panhandling with the council. “I have continued to watch the homeless criminal element in the city commit violations,” he wrote, “and have been personally accosted by an aggressive homeless gentleman coming out of Jackson’s one night.” In May 2013, the mayor presented three ordinances. One prohibited camping, using blankets in city parks, and sleeping outside; another prohibited washing, shaving, and other activities in city-owned public restrooms; and the third targeted public urination and defecation. Councilwoman Myers spoke out against the camping ordinance. She said, “The purpose of this ordinance is clearly to target people who are homeless, and I believe that is how it’ll be enforced. I think it criminalizes homelessness.” Councilman Larry Johnson supported the ordinances. “What happens, as a councilperson, I start getting calls from people who have problems with the homeless affecting their business and their right to earn money,
those types of situations, because I totally understand the rights of the homeless, etc., but what I struggle with is the people who also have businesses and are trying to feed their families, and they tell me that some of their businesses are getting hurt by some of
"Not only does this ordinance hinder free expression, it also puts the City on constitutionally shaky ground..." Sara Latshaw, director of the North Florida chapter of the ACLU these different things that are going on.” Despite public outcry that the ordinances were targeting the homeless, the majority of the council passed them. The next month, the council passed a fourth ordinance that focused on “aggressive solicitation, begging or panhandling.” Critics urged the mayor and council to address the homelessness issue instead of implementing ordinances that would effectively drive the homeless from the city. At a town hall meeting before the vote, Mayor Hayward answered questions about the ordinances. Ian Roof, a member of Food Not Bombs, said the laws criminalized homelessness and offered no solutions for homeless people. He said he would like to see the proposal tabled until more shelters were built. “We want to help the homeless,” Hayward responded. “We encourage—and I’m more than willing to listen to—any kind of other opportunities that you think that we need to help implement concerning homelessness.” Roger Montague asked, “My concern is specifically will this form a ‘catch-22’ for our taxpayers where there’s not enough shelters, homeless people end up in jail and taxpayers end up footing the bill?” “We’re already footing the bill,” Hayward said. “That’s part of paying taxes— helping people who can’t help themselves.” Hayward said he would continue to work on solutions that benefit homeless people as well as taxpayers and businesses. The council passed the panhandling ordinance, 7-1, with Myers voting against it and Councilman Brian Spencer absent. In January 2014, the city of Pensacola was hit with a bitter freeze that covered roads and bridges with ice and forced the closure of schools. Homeless advocate Nathan Monk started a petition for the repeal of the ordinance banning blankets, which eventually garnered 22,571 signatures. The media around the country began to refer to Pensacola as the city that tried
"The purpose of this ordinance is clearly to target people who are homeless, and I believe that is how it’ll be enforced. I think it criminalizes homelessness." Councilwoman Sherri Myers they feel that it hurts that,” he said. “Can you offer us any solutions to help with
to outlaw homelessness. The Huffington Post called Hayward the “Florida mayor who supported a ban on homeless people’s sleeping bags.” Facing re-election and mounting criticism, the mayor issued a statement on Feb. 7, 2014, calling for the city council to repeal the ordinance “after reflecting and praying on the issue.” He avoided mentioning that he proposed the law. “Last year, in an effort to protect the aesthetics, public health, and safety of our community, the City Council adopted an ordinance which prohibits camping on public property,” said Hayward. “Next week, the Council will consider amending that ordinance to remove the prohibition on the use of cover while sleeping outdoors.” Hayward tweeted a picture of himself and his wife supporting a blanket drive for the homeless earlier in the day and posted a photo to Facebook announcing the upcoming council’s vote. He said he and Councilman Johnson were working together to establish “an advisory committee on improving human services…comprised of professionals and advocates, tasked with collecting data and producing a set of fiscally-responsible, realistic, and actionable recommendations.” The “no blanket” ordinance was repealed. The others weren’t. The resolution to form a task force passed unanimously, but it was used to block the council from repealing or modifying the other ordinances until the task force made its recommendations. Later, the city council approved hiring Robert Marbut, whom the mayor brought to town for a summit on homelessness. Malbut was paid $30,000 to facilitate the task force and work with local advocacy groups on recommendations. Marbut and the "Task Force on Improving Human Services" presented their final report to the city council on Oct. 6, 2014, one month before the election. The report made six recommendations. Two involved repealing and modifying the panhandling and homeless ordinances.
The other four targeted how to improve services to the homeless population: 1) Move from a Culture of Enablement to a Culture of Engagement: The goal would be not merely serve the homeless, but to help them “graduate” from the streets. 2) Transform HMIS (Homeless Management Information System) from a “Score Keeper Model” to a “Proactive Case Management Tool.” 3) Increase the number of emergency housing units for families and children. 4) Establish a 24/7 “Come-As-You-Are” Service Center at Waterfront Rescue Mission. The task force even told the mayor and city council what should be their next steps: 1) Develop and implement an awareness campaign to educate and encourage the overall community to move from a Culture of Enablement to a Culture of Engagement. inweekly.net
2) Make funding to service agencies contingent upon being proactive participants in HMIS. 3) Repeal Sections 8-1-22, 8-1-23 and 8-1-24 of the city code. 4) Explore feasibility of increasing the number of emergency housing units. 5) Explore feasibility a 24/7 “Come-AsYou-Are” Service Center at the Waterfront Rescue Mission. 6) Modify code to accommodate emergency housing units for families with children. Unfortunately, neither Hayward nor the council took immediate action on the recommendations. The mayor won re-election. The council finally repealed the ordinances in March 2015 after Councilwoman Myers placed it on the agenda. The other task force recommendations were ignored.
ANTI-PANHANDLING 3.0
Fast forward to October 2016, two years later. The chairman of the Downtown Improvement Board, John Peacock, wrote a letter to Mayor Hayward and the city council asking for help to address "a significant alarming rate of increase in the loitering and panhandling activity occurring in the Downtown District." "We understand this problem is not unique to our community and recognize that this issue is not the same as homelessness which is a significant community issue requiring a long-term community-wide solution," wrote Peacock. He said that loitering and panhandling had become a "legitimate public health and safety concern and merits prompt attention." The DIB board requested action on five recommendations: 1) Immediate implementation of a downtown police presence (on foot or bicycle). 2) Update the License to Use language to allow enforcement by Pensacola Police upon receiving loitering complaints. 3) Identify districts where loitering and panhandling activities are restricted. 4) Author ordinance language defining activities associated with loitering and panhandling that are deemed unlawful. 5) Development with county and other agencies long-term solutions for assisting the "less fortunate population in our community." In March 2017, Mayor Hayward and Council President Brian Spencer proposed two ordinances that were endorsed by the DIB. The proposals created the Downtown Visitors’ District and prohibited the solicitation of donations upon public sidewalks and rights-of-way inside that district. The Downtown Visitor’ District would be a rectangular area beginning on Wright Street, stretching west to Spring Street and east to Tarragona Street, and ending at Pensacola Bay. One of the reasons given for the ordinance was stated in its legislative findings: “Panhandling activities impede public use of the sidewalks and public rights-of-way, and adversely impact tourism in the revitalApril 27, 2017
ized Downtown Visitor’s District. As well, these activities threaten the economic vitality as well as the existence of a pleasant, enjoyable, and safe environment in the Downtown Visitors’ District.” Violations would be civil, not criminal. The first offense costs $50, doubling with each subsequent violation up to $400. The city council delayed the first reading and vote until its April 13 meeting. Mayor Hayward spoke in favor and once again promised to look for ways to help the homeless after the ordinances were passed. “We’re all here to support, obviously whether they’re poor, the homeless, anything that we can do to help, but we’ve got to create a win-win,” Hayward said. The city council approved the ordinances, which were drafted by City Attorney Lysia Bowling, by a 5-2 vote, with Councilwoman Sherri Myers and Councilman P.C. Wu dissenting. The second reading and final vote have been scheduled for May 11. Sara Latshaw, director of the North Florida chapter of the ACLU, told the mayor and council at the meeting that every anti-panhandling ordinance passed since 2015 has been challenged and overturned by the court system. She pointed out the city of Tampa had a similar ordinance creating a special district that banned panhandling, and the courts ruled it was unconstitutional. “I strongly suggest that you read this decision,” said Latshaw, “because you will be in the same situation as Tampa, and the ordinance will be deemed unconstitutional.” After the vote, ACLU of Florida staff attorney Jacqueline Azis issued a statement: “Today, the Pensacola City Council voted to strip the neediest members of the community of their free speech rights by banning individuals from asking for public donations.” She added, “Not only does this ordinance hinder free expression, it also puts the City on constitutionally shaky ground by banning speech simply because some would rather not hear it. It is unconscionable to punish individuals for being poor and for asking for charity.” Last week, Mayor Hayward went on NewsRadio 1620 to defend the ordinances. He did not believe that the anti-panhandling ordinances were a First Amendment issue, and he wanted to separate the issue of panhandling from the homeless problem. “Panhandling is a different subject, and I’m glad we passed the ordinance,” said the mayor. He is prepared to defend the ordinance if a lawsuit is filed. “Leaders make decisions that are not easy,” said Hayward. “It might not be the most popular decision, but there needed to be a solution.” Will the 2017 ordinances fare better than the 2011 and 2013 ones? Will the mayor and council ever tackle providing better programs and services to help the homeless? Will panhandling and homelessness be campaign issues during the 2018 election cycle? Stay tuned. {in}
pens acol ach ild re n sc horus.c om 13
COASTAL CUISINE WITH A MEDITERRANEAN FLAIR in the heart of downtown Pensacola
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600 South Palafox St. | (850) 432-6565 | skopelosatnewworld.com
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inweekly.net
WEEK OF APRIL 27-MAY 3
Arts & Entertainment art, film, music, stage, books and other signs of civilization...
A Beautiful Morning By Jennifer Leigh
Photo by Jennifer Leigh April 29 marks 20 years of creativity and community at Blue Morning Gallery. "Times have changed and we've grown, but the mission from 20 years ago still holds true; that's to provide a place for rising artists to exhibit their work," said James Sweida, President of Blue Morning Gallery. For the past few years, Blue Morning Gallery has been a regular fixture on South Palafox, packed with diverse works of art from more than 50 local artists. But its beginnings were humble. Blue Morning Gallery—originally named Adams Street Artists—was founded by a nurse and part-time potter named Shelia Carroll. The gallery was originally a rented space inside a pink, Victorian house on Adams Street. "Sheila had always wanted to own a gallery, so she started Adams Street Artists," said Bill Brown, one of the original founding members. As a way to keep overhead costs low, Carroll turned the space into a co-op, meaning that all members would pay their dues and also volunteer to work in the space. Since the cooperation papers were signed April 29, 1997, the gallery has existed without any paid staff. April 27, 2017
"With an artist cooperative, you're a part of a bigger deal. You want the whole gallery to be successful." James Sweida But the gallery wasn't an immediate success, Brown said. "There were some grim times," he said. "There were times when we couldn't pay the artists for their sales. We were just existing to pay utilities, but we hung on. It was a gamble. Shelia had the courage to start it." Brown said the space on the Adams Street home was short lived when homeowners decided to sell the house. Members tried to raise money to purchase the house but came up short. They then moved into a spot next to the Saenger Theatre before landing in their current spot. The members couldn't have predicted that their current home would actually fit in perfectly with the revitalized downtown. Thanks to events like Gallery Night, the space started to get a lot of attention.
"It just started booming," he said. "We'd like to have a bigger place, but we couldn't give this up. I feel like we're a part of downtown." In its early days, the gallery had just a handful of artists, one of which was jewelry designer Rock Hard. Today, the gallery has more than 50 members including a 10-member board. Requirements to be a member are $45 monthly dues with a commitment to work 10 and ½ hours a month in the gallery. "It's a working gallery," Sweida said. "With an artist cooperative, you're a part of a bigger deal. You want the whole gallery to be successful." Applications now go through a more rigorous process because there is such a demand to be in the co-op. A secret jury selects new members and aims to keep the bodies of work diverse. Like the founder and like many of the artists at Blue Morning Gallery, Sweida and Brown both had careers outside of art. Brown was a newly-retired engineer working at Artel Gallery when he heard about the artist co-op and immediately wanted to be a part of it. "I don't sell much, but I like having a
place to display my work," he said with a laugh. Sweida joined Blue Morning Gallery in 2009 shortly after moving to the area. With a background in marketing and broadcast, he was quickly pursued to join the board. While he may enjoy his volunteer work at the gallery, his real joy comes from sharing his photography. "I get a big kick when someone buys one of my pieces," he said. "For 22 years, I pretty much never exhibited or sold my work professionally." On a recent Friday afternoon, member Melina Giron was arranging her jewelry in a display case in the middle of the gallery. She says she likes being a part of Blue Morning Gallery because members are supportive of one another. "We're a bunch of crazy cats, I love it," she said. Over the years, the gallery has worked to give back to the community, participating in Gallery Night and hosting family-friendly events. What members may be most proud of, however, is the University of West Florida Scholarship they've created, granting $1,000 to one fine arts student a year, along with displaying their work and hosting a reception. "It's a big deal for them to show their work outside of the academic arena," Sweida said. The gallery is currently going through a construction phase, which has put a damper on an anniversary party. But you can see a display wall of photos celebrating the gallery's past 20 years. As president and as a member, Sweida said he wants to see Blue Morning Gallery continue to grow. "The founders of Blue Morning Gallery believed in themselves and what they were doing," he said. "That made it what it is today. We want to keep it going." {in}
BLUE MORNING GALLERY
WHERE: 21 S. Palafox DETAILS: bluemorninggallery.com
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calendar THURSDAY 4.27
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
SPECIAL LUNCH COOKING CLASS WITH CHEF STEFANO SECCHI 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. $37.63.
SoGourmet, 407-D S. Palafox. sogourmetpensacola.com WINE TASTING AT AWM 5 p.m. Aragon Wine Market, 27 S. 9th Ave. aragonwinemarket.com FAMILIES COOK: RECIPE REFRESH SPRING MEALS 6 p.m. $40. Pensacola Cooks
Kitchen, 3670 Barrancas Ave. pensacolacooks.rezclick.com CHRISTOPHER'S CONCERTS 6-8 p.m. Free. Dr. Breeze. St. Christopher's Episcopal Church, 3200 N. 12th Ave. 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 BLUE WAHOOS VS. BILOXI SHUCKERS 6:35 p.m. Blue Wahoos Stadium, 351 W. Cedar St. bluewahoos.com FM WESTON AUDUBON SOCIETY MONTHY PRESENTATION 7 p.m. Free. Guests welcome.
Pensacola State College, Room 2142, 1000 College Blvd. JJ GREY AND MOFRO 7 p.m. With Southern Avenue.$28-$30. Vinyl Music Hall, 2 S. Palafox. vinylmusichall.com
SETSCO PRESENTS MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING 7:30 p.m. $15 all seats. Pensacola Opera
Center, 75 S. Tarragona St. setsco.org GREATER TUNA 7:30 p.m. $35-$55. Saenger Theatre, 118 S. Palafox. pensacolasaenger.com
FRIDAY 4.28
SETSCO PRESENTS MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING STUDENT PERFORMANCE 10 a.m. $5 per
student. Pensacola Opera Center, 75 S. Tarragona St. setsco.org PENSACOLA CRAWFISH FESTIVAL 12-11 p.m. $5-$10. William Bartram Memorial Park, 211 Bayfront Parkway. fiestaoffiveflags.org/ pensacola-crawfish-festival WILD TURKEY MASTER DISTILLER: JIMMY RUSSELL 12 p.m. Richey's East, 6895 N 9th
Ave C.
PILATES MAT 1:30-2:30 p.m. Free.
Ever’man Educational Center, 327 W. Garden St. everman.org 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 RESTORATIVE YOGA 6-7 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 BLUE WAHOOS VS. BILOXI SHUCKERS
6:35 p.m. Blue Wahoos Stadium, 351 W. Cedar St. bluewahoos.com OPEN MIC 7-11 p.m. Single Fin Cafe, 380 N. 9th Ave. facebook.com/ singlefincafe
Southern Avenue / Photo by David McClister
DEPARTURE: TRIBUTE TO JOURNEY 7 p.m.
$10-$12. Vinyl Music Hall, 2 S. Palafox. vinylmusichall.com
live music. Pace Presbyterian Church, Woodbine Road, Pace. POWER OF E3: EDUCATE, ENLIGHTEN, EMPOWER 8 a.m.-2:30 p.m. $50. Sacred Heart
Chizuko, 506 W. Belmont St. facebook.com/ chizukopensacola
Hospital Greenhut Auditorium, 5151 N. 9th Ave. powerofe3.com CLEAN UP WITH OCEAN HOUR 8:45 a.m. Meet at Cato’s parking lot at the SE corner of Navy Blvd. and Highway 98 across the street from Wal-Mart at the traffic light. 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 FREE GUITAR STRING RECYCLING EVENT 9 a.m. Blues Angels Music, 657 N. Pace Blvd. COOKING DEMONSTRATIONS 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Martin Luther King Jr. Plaza, N. Palafox. palafoxmarket.com
SATURDAY 4.29
Music, 657 N. Pace Blvd.
GAY GRASSROOTS OPEN MIC SPRING SHOWCASE 7 p.m. Free. Artel Gallery, 223 S. Palafox.
ggnwfl.com
GULF COAST CHORALE: 'AT NIGHT AT THE MOVIES' 7:30 p.m. $10. Cokesbury United
Methodist Church, 5725 N. 9th Ave. gulfcoastchorale.org
SETSCO PRESENTS MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING 7:30 p.m. $15 all seats. Pensacola Opera
Center, 75 S. Tarragona St. setsco.org
UWF SYMPHONIC BAND FILM MUSIC CONCERT 7:30 p.m. University of West Florida,
Bldg. 82, 11000 University Parkway. uwf.edu CHARLOTTE'S WEB 7:30 p.m. $7-$30. Pensacola Little Theatre, 400 S. Jefferson St. pensacolalittletheatre.com PLEASURES, DICKS FROM MARS, CHRISTINA CUSACK AND TBA 9 p.m.-12 a.m. $5.
FIESTA 5K & 10K 7:30 a.m. Seville Square. pen-
sacolarunners.com
SANTA ROSA FARMERS MARKET 8 a.m.-1 p.m.
Fresh local produce, honey, baked goods and
FREE BEGINNER AND INTERMEDIATE UKULELE CLASS 9:30 a.m.-11 a.m. Free. Blues Angels FLYBOARD NATIONAL HYDROFLIGHT TOUR
10 a.m.- 5 p.m. & 8 p.m.-10 p.m. Palafox Pier. prowatercross.com PENSACOLA CRAWFISH FESTIVAL 10 a.m.-11
p.m. $5-$10. William Bartram Memorial Park, 211 Bayfront Parkway. fiestaoffiveflags.org/ pensacola-crawfish-festival BLUE WAHOOS VS. BILOXI SHUCKERS 6:35 p.m. Blue Wahoos Stadium, 351 W. Cedar St. bluewahoos.com SETSCO PRESENTS MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING 7:30 p.m. $15 all seats. Pensacola Opera
Center, 75 S. Tarragona St. setsco.org
UWF SYMPHONIC BAND FILM MUSIC CONCERT 7:30 p.m. University of West Florida,
Bldg. 82,11000 University Parkway. uwf.edu
CHARLOTTE'S WEB 7:30 p.m. $7-$30. Pen-
sacola Little Theatre, 400 S. Jefferson St. pensacolalittletheatre.com
PENSACOLA SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA PRESENTS: BERNSTEIN AND BEETHOVEN 7:30 p.m.
$22 and up. Saenger Theatre, 118 S. Palafox. pensacolasaenger.com
SUNDAY 4.30
PENSACOLA TRIATHLON 6:15 a.m.-1 p.m. Community Maritime Park, 301 W. Main St. tripensacola.com SPANISH TRAIL CRAFT FAIR 7 a.m.-3 p.m. Free. Brit Ahm Messianic Synagogue, 6700 Spanish Trail. 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.
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. 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 616 1
inweekly.net
April 27, 2017
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calendar PENSACOLA CRAWFISH FESTIVAL 11 a.m.-5 p.m. $5-$10. William Bartram Memorial Park, 211 Bayfront Parkway. fiestaoffiveflags.org/pensacola-crawfish-festival FLYBOARD NATIONAL HYDROFLIGHT TOUR
12-4 p.m. Palafox Pier. prowatercross.com SUSHI MAKING WITH PAT JOHNSON 2-4 p.m. Free. Ever'man Educational Center, 327 W. Garden St. everman.org SETSCO PRESENTS MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING 2:30 p.m. $15 all seats. Pensacola Opera
Center, 75 S. Tarragona St. setsco.org M.A.G. BLOCK PARTY 2-6 p.m. The Magnolia is hosting a new event the last Sunday of every month, starting this Sunday, called M.A.G. Block Party. It’s basically a big party to benefit a different cause each month. This event will benefit Pensacola Humane Society. There will be dog washes on the back patio for donations, prizes and Le Dough will be selling donuts and tartes. The Magnolia, 2907 E. Cervantes St. magnoliapensacola.com CHARLOTTE'S WEB 3 p.m. $7-$30. Pensacola Little Theatre, 400 S. Jefferson St. pensacolalittletheatre.com 12TH ANNUAL SOUNDSIDE SPLENDOR 4-7 p.m. $125. Benefit for Children's Home Society. Portofino Island Resort, 10 Portofino Dr. chsfl.org/SoundsideSplendor BLUE WAHOOS VS. BILOXI SHUCKERS 4:05 p.m. Blue Wahoos Stadium, 351 W. Cedar St. bluewahoos.com SUICIDE GIRLS: BLACKHEART BURLESQUE 8
p.m. $25-$125. Vinyl Music Hall, 2 S. Palafox. vinylmusichall.com
MONDAY 5.1
SEED TO TABLE TO COOKING 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Free. Ever'man Educational Center, 327 W. Garden St. everman.org PILATES MAT 1:30-2:30 p.m. Free. Ever’man Educational 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 OUR BACKYARD RAPTORS: PRESENTATION FROM FM WESTON AUDUBON SOCIETY 6-7:30
p.m. $25. West Florida Public Library, 239 N. Spring St. CCFA 6:30-7:30 p.m. Free. Ever'man Educational Center, 327 W. Garden St. everman.org 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. dancecraftfl.com BLUE WAHOOS VS. BILOXI SHUCKERS 6:35 p.m. Blue Wahoos Stadium, 351 W. Cedar St. bluewahoos.com AMON AMARTH 7:30 p.m. $22-$25. Vinyl Music Hall, 2 S. Palafox. vinymusichall.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 5.2 LEAPS 10 a.m.-12
p.m. Ever'man Educational Center, 327 W. Garden St. everman.org
COMPLEMENTARY WINE TASTING 5-7
p.m. SoGourmet, 407-D S. Palafox. sogourmetpensacola.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.
WAVVES / Photo by Gilles O’Kane
$10. Country Two Step, East Coast Swing, Competition Choreography and more. DanceCraft, 8618 Pensacola Blvd. dancecraftfl.com BANDS ON THE BEACH 7 p.m. Crosstown. Gulfside Pavilion, Pensacola Beach. visitpensacolabeach.com. MEDITATION/PRANIC HEALING 7:15-8:30 p.m. Free. Ever'man Educational Center, 327 W. Garden St. everman.org BLINK-182 7:30 p.m. With The Naked and
Famous and WAVVES.$26.50-$66.50. Pensacola Bay Center, 201 E. Gregory St. pensacolabaycenter.com 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
$99 SUMMER STUDENT SPECIAL! Must have a valid student ID Expires May 31, 2017 ©2017 Anytime Fitness, LLC 100 S Alcaniz St Pensacola Fl 32502 850-469-1144
3279 Gulf Breeze Parkway Gulf Breeze Fl 32563 850-932-1111
anytimefitness.com
Marital and Family Law 127 Palafox Place Suite 100 | Pensacola, Florida | 466-3115
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Rheumatologist. Baptist Medical Group, LLC seeks Rheumatologist. Provides patient care services, including but not limited to diagnosis, treatment, coordination of care, preventive care and health maintenance. Reqs: MD or equivalent, BE/ BC Rheumatology, FL license or eligible. Job location is Pensacola, FL. To apply mail a CV and credentials to: Heather Suggs, Baptist Medical Group, LLC, 1720 North E Street, Pensacola, FL 32501. Must apply within 30 days of publication date & refer to Job#16604 to be considered.
www.radiofreepensacola.com inweekly.net
news of the weird
by Chuck Shepherd
MOTHER OF INVENTION Robotic models of living organisms are useful to scientists, who can study the effects of stimuli without risk to actual people. Northwestern University researchers announced in March that its laboratory model of the "female reproductive system" has reached a milestone: its first menstrual period. The "ovary," using mouse tissue, had produced hormones that stimulated the system (uterus, cervix, vagina, fallopian tubes, liver) for 28 days, reaching the predictable result. Chief researcher Teresa Woodruff said she imagines eventually growing a model from tissue provided by the patient undergoing treatment.
UPDATES For more than a decade, an "editor" has been roaming the streets at night in Bristol, England, "correcting" violations of standard grammar, lately being described as "The Apostrophiser" since much of his work involves adjusting (or often obliterating) that punctuation mark. On April 3, the BBC at last portrayed the vigilante in action, in a "ride-along" documentary that featured him using the special marking and climbing tools that facilitate his work. His first mission, in 2003, involved a government sign "Monday's to Friday's" ("ridiculous," he said), and he recalled an even more cloying store sign—"Amys Nail's"—as "so loud and in your face.")
CHUTZPAH! Henry Wachtel, 24, continues in legal limbo after being found "not criminally responsible" for the death of his mother in 2014, despite having beaten her in the head and elsewhere up to 100 times—because he was having an epileptic seizure at that moment and has no memory of the attack. A judge must still decide the terms of Wachtel's psychiatric hospitalization, but Wachtel's mind is clear enough now that, in March, he demanded, as sole heir, payoff on his mother's life insurance policy (which, under New York law, is still technically feasible).
UNCLEAR ON THE CONCEPT Rhinoceros herds are dwindling in South Africa despite an international ban on selling rhino horns (whose ivory brings astonishingly high prices, especially in Asian markets whose buyers believe ivory powder miraculously cures illnesses and assures prosperity). In April, South Africa's highest court ruled that the existing ban on domestic sales of rhino horns is unconstitutional—on petition from local ranchers who had complained that they need to sell horn to protect the animal from illegal rhino poachers, since their expenses for security (such as armed patrols, even by helicopter) have risen dramatically.
EPIC SMUGGLERS In February, federal customs agents seized 22 pounds of illegal animal meat (in a wide array) at the Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport. Among the tasty items were raw chicken, pig and cow meat, brains, hearts, heads, tongues and feet—in addition to (wrote a reporter) "other body parts" (if there even are any other edible parts). In a typical day nationwide, U.S. Customs and Border Protection seizes about 4,600 smuggled plant or animal products. EWWWW! Luu Cong Huyen, 58, in Yen Giao, Vietnam, is the most recent to attract reporters' attention with disturbingly long fingernails. A March OddityCentral.com report, with cringeinducing photos, failed to disclose their precise length, but Huyen said he has not clipped them since a 2013 report on VietnamNet revealed that each measured up to 19.7 inches. Huyen explained (inadequately) that his nail obsession started merely as a hobby and that he is not yet over it. (The Guinness Book record is not exactly within fingertip reach: 73.5 inches per nail, by Shridhar Chillal of India.) AND A PARTRIDGE IN A PEAR TREE In February, a pet welfare organization complained of a raid on a home near Lockhart, Texas, that housed more than 400 animals (and, of course, reeked "overpowering(ly)" of urine). The inventory: 86 snakes, 56 guinea pigs, 28 dogs, 26 rabbits, 15 goats, 9 doves, 8 skinks, 7 pigs, 6 pigeons, 4 gerbils, 3 bearded dragons, 2 ducks and 1 tarantula—plus about 150 rats and mice (to feed the menagerie) and 20 other animals whose numbers did not fit the above lyric pattern.
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.
• New York City health officials have convinced most ultra-Orthodox Jewish "mohels" to perform their ritual circumcisions with sterile tools and gauze, but still, according to a March New York Post report, a few holdouts insist on the old-fashioned way of removing the blood from an incision—by sucking it up with their mouths (and thus potentially passing along herpes). Some local temples are so protective of their customs that they refuse to name the "offending" mohels (who are not licensed medical professionals), thus limiting parents' ability to choose safe practitioners. NO LONGER WEIRD? For the 31st consecutive Easter in the Philippines, Ruben Enaje, 57, was among the throngs of devout Christians who slashed their own torsos bloody, then flogged themselves repeatedly as they marched through the streets to demonstrate homage to God, and dozens of men in San Pedro Cutud, Santa Lucia and other villages replicated the crucifixion of Jesus by having sterilized 4-inch nails driven into their own arms and legs. When News of the Weird first encountered the Philippine phenomenon in 1989, the crucifixions had built a 40-year history and still listed, as an official sponsor, the Philippines Department of Tourism (but no longer). (The Catholic Church, as usual, "banned" the extreme acts, to little effect.) {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 27, 2017
19
REAL POWER is shown by HELPING OTHERS POWER LI ST 2017 RECI PI ENTS
Rishy Studer Jim Reeves John Peacock Troy Rafferty Fred Donovan, Jr. Belle Bear
Teri Levin David Bear Sandy Sansing Lumon May Brian Spencer Linda “Sonshine” Moorer
Scott Remington Cindi Bonner Kevin Mair Justin Witkin Sue Straughan Lonnie Wesley
PAST # 1 POWER LI ST RECI PI ENTS
Fred Levin (2007) J. Collier Merrill (2008) Lewis Bear, Jr. (2009)
Quint Studer (2010) Ashton Hayward (2011) David Morgan (2013)
Mike Papantonio (2014) Stan Connally (2015) Bentina Terry (2016)
Thanks to these Inweekly Power List recipients who have demonstrated a commitment to youth development by supporting the Southern Youth Sports Association.
To learn more about supporting Pensacola youth, visit www.sysatigers.org Independent News | April 27, 2017 | inweekly.net