FREE ▶Independent News | August 18, 2022 | Volume 23 | Number 33 | Natalie Allgyer (@nallgyer) / Photos by Geoff Peck (@tinyobservations) exploring ˝ PERSONAL SPACE ˝ w ith photographer NA TALIE ALLGYER
2 inweekly.net2 winners & losers 4 outtakes 5 news 6 publisher Rick Outzen edi tor creative& director Joani Delezen graphic designer Bethany Stewart co ntributing writers Gina Castro, Savannah Evanoff, Jennifer Leigh , Jeremy Morrison, Sydney Robinson, C.S. Satterwhite, Tom St. Myer contact us info@inweekly.net Independent News is published by Inweekly Media, Inc., P.O. Box 12082, Pensacola, FL 32591. (850)438-8115. All materi als published in Independent News are copyrighted. © 2022 Inweekly Media, Inc. All rights reserved. I wanted people to be able to relate. buzz 8 feature story 13 a&e 17 Tired of suffering from droopy eyelids? Uplift your eyelids with the once daily eye drop, Upneeq. Call now to schedule your appointment with the eye care specialists at Terrezza Optical: 850-434-2060 127 Palafox Place Suite 100 autumnbeckblackledge.com(850)466-3115 Adoption • Paternity • Dependency/DCF Hearings Prenuptial Agreements • Postnuptial Agreements Divorce • Child Custody and Timesharing Child Support • Child Support Modifications Alimony • Collaborative Divorce • Divorce Mediation • Pre-Suit Family Law Mediation
3August 18, 2022 Find your stage. The Center serves as downtown Pensacola’s cultural and artistic hub. It is home to local theatre, ballet, education, events, community organizations and more. As we look to the future, we plan to reimagine our space, and we invite you to join us on the journey. learn more at findyourcenterpensacola.com AD DESIGN COURTESY OF BRAND ON US ™ , AN IDGROUP INITIATIVE.
The Rotary Club of Gulf Breeze hosted an event at Seastars Aquatics at The Salvation Army Swimming Pool on Thurs day, Aug. 4, to award a $6,000 grant to Seastars Aquatics along with a recognition of a service proj ect to resurface the parking lot and various do nations. The Rotary Club of Gulf Breeze Grant is funded by Rotary District 6940 and the Rotary Club of Gulf Breeze for small-scale, short-term ac tivities that address needs in our community and communities abroad. Organizations that receive grants are selected by Rotary Club of Gulf Breeze.
THE FISH HOUSE The downtown restau rant presented Big Brothers Big Sisters of North west Florida with a $2,000 check raised during its Eighth Annual Fish House Craft Beer Festival. Big Brothers Big Sisters provides children facing ad versity with strong and enduring, professionally supported one-to-one relationships that change lives for the better, forever.
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PEN AIR FEDERAL CREDIT UNION The credit union presented $10,000 to Manna Food Pantries' Fifth Annual Donut Strike. The drive col lected the equivalent of 32,694 healthy meals over the course of the three-day campaign. Near ly 130,000 healthy meals have been distribut ed throughout Escambia and Santa Rosa coun ties since 2017. The Donut Strike originated as a joint effort of the Pensacola Police Department, Escambia County Sheriff's Office, Pensacola Fire Department and Escambia County Fire Rescue. First responders went on strike gaining commu nity support to help combat local hunger. Man na Food Pantries' Executive Director DeDe Floun lacker said, "The Donut Strike helps us bridge that gap and replenish so many essential pantry items like oatmeal and peanut butter."
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ALEX JONES A jury decided that Jones must pay $45.2 million in punitive damages to the parents of a child killed in the Sandy Hook school shooting. The decision came a day after the same jury rendered a $4 million award to the parents for compensatory damages. Jones and his Infowars made millions peddling on air several conspiracies, including that the Sandy Hook shootings were a hoax.
The Florida Highway Patrol has de termined that the death of a Pensacola driv er was due to a defective Takata airbag. The crash on Mobile Highway on July 7 should have been a minor accident, but FHP determined the airbag killed the 23-year-old man who was driving a Ford Ranger pickup truck. A 2018 re call revealed that more than 30,000 2006 Ford Rangers potentially have defective airbags. Ac cording to media reports, the Pensacola death may be the 20th death in the U.S. caused by the airbag. The last death caused by a Takata airbag occurred in a Honda in South Carolina in January 2021.
MATT BANKS & JESSE LACOSTE
The brothers-in-law did a lot of business after Hur ricane Sally. More accurately, their construc tion companies signed a lot of contracts and collected a bunch of deposits. Unfortunate ly, several customers have complained on so cial media and to Inweekly that work never got done. Last week, both companies had their contractor's licenses revoked.
Photo Courtesy of Pen Air Federal Credit Union Alex Jones / Vic Hinterlang / Shutterstock.com
SALTMARSH, CLEAVELAND & GUND The Pensacola-based accounting firm has been named one of Accounting Today's 2022 Best Firms to Work For. The 17th annual recognition, released jointly by Accounting Today and Best Companies Group, examines an accounting firm's practices, programs and benefits and surveys employees for their perspective. It showcases firms who separate themselves from the norm and provide outstand ing quality workplaces for their employees.
TAKATA
GULF BREEZE ROTARY
CHILD WELL-BEING Florida ranked 35th of the 50 states in child well-being in a report re leased by the Annie E. Casey Foundation last week. The foundation's annual Kids Count Data Book report said Florida ranked 42nd in children's economic well-being. This measure ment considers factors such as children liv ing in poverty and children whose parents lack secure employment. However, its 13th ranking in education helped offset that low score. The report also ranked Florida 35th in health issues for children and 32nd for "family and commu nity." The rankings are based on data collected between Jan. 1, 2016, and Dec. 31, 2020. winners losers
winners losers
Moreno has literally grown up in county gov ernment, starting on a road crew and working up the ladder for more than three decades. He doesn't play politics, and his only agenda is to make the county better for all its residents. Commissioner Steven Barry had advocated for Janice Gilley to be the county administrator in 2019, and he made the painful motion to ter minate her employment in June 2021 after it be came clear her skill set didn't match the job, she wasn't improving and county oper ations were suffering. At the Committee of the Whole on Thursday, Aug. 11, Barry told his fel low commissioners that he was so pleased with More no's performance that he didn't want to interview any of the 13 candidates presented by their search firm. "To be candid, I think I've had a 13- or 14-month interview with the gentleman serving in the position now and have been extremely pleased and extremely happy with the performance."
Moreno walked into a disaster when he took over. The budget director never produced a budget. The HR director couldn't negotiate any labor agreements with the unions. ECAT was struggling, and matters worsened when Mike Lowery, Escambia County Area Transit's union president, was fired. The facilities manager had quit with a long list of Hurricane Sally repairs untouched. Emergency Management Services was down by 20 paramedics. And naysayers were shouting that county gov ernment was so broken that the only way to fix it was to start over—either consolidate with the city or create a county mayor. Moreno approached the litany of prob lems the only way he knew how. At the Commit tee of the Whole last week, he told the board, "I stepped into the role in an extremely tumultuous time. At that time, I did the only thing I knew how to do, and that's just show up and go to work."
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At the county commission meeting on Thurs day, Aug. 18, Commissioner Jeff Bergosh and County Attorney Alison Rogers will present a con tract to make Moreno the county administrator. Bergosh said, "I think everyone will be well served by that decision." I agree, and the county will thrive. {in} rick@inweekly.net
After serving as interim county administra tor for more than a year, the Escambia Coun ty Commission has voted 4-1 to drop "interim" from Wes Moreno's job title. It was a solid de cision and will further stabilize county operations after the dumpster fire left by his predecessor.
5August 18, 2022
outtakes By Rick Outzen
Commission Chairman Jeff Bergosh sec onded Barry's motion to make Moreno the county"Whenadministrator.hetookthe job, Wes did express that he was only interested in doing it on an interim basis. And from that time to now, we've had one issue after another erupt like a volcano, one after another. And I've just watched the guy work, and he's just very impressive," Bergosh told me. "He gets along with folks; I don't see him having any kind of loyalty issues or enemies or anything like that. There's just a real jovial personality," he continued, "And mean while, he gets to work ev ery day. He takes the calls, shows up at the meetings and just has done so much." Like Barry, Bergosh looked over the applicants' resumes and felt none of them could do the job as well as Moreno. He told me, "There are a few good resumes in there, but small towns, small townships, small counties, and nothing that really just wowed me." Bergosh admitted that the board might re ceive criticism for not following through with the search process and not interviewing any of the recommended applicants. Bergosh said, "The proof's in the pudding. He settled these contracts; he got raises for the people. He worked with us closely, each and every one of us, and he works on our initiatives. He's just a hardworking guy. And I think he's valuable and an asset to the citizens."
Innisfree Hotels Chairman and founder Julian MacQueen said Smith's support has been a game changer in Pensacola's Parent University. Founded by Michael O'Neal in Savannah, Ga., Parent Uni versity is a model that brings families together for sessions on topics that include financial literacy, understanding nutrition, and advocating for their child'sSmitheducation.hasattended each session, and he shook the hands of each of the 150 graduates in June when Parent University held a graduation ceremony for its inaugural Pensacola class. "Tim has just been first class," MacQueen said. "He's done everything he can to let the community know Parent University is here for the right reasons." He added, "I think Tim's heart is absolutely in the right place, and his job is daunting. "You can't change a school system in two years. It's a three-to-five-year program before you can start to see the needle move. It has to be a sustained approach." Will the strategic plan be a sustained ap proach that moves the needle? The better question is, will the old guard support change? The plan requires embracing new ideas and concepts, and therein lies the challenge for Smith. Thomas still casts an imposing shadow in a school district that he ruled for three terms with an au thoritative voice. "I believe that Malcolm is still in the building," Edler said in a figurative sense. "They need to let him go. He's gone." Edler said there is room for Smith to grow, namely by not letting others dictate his decisions. Until that happens, the school district will remain what he walked into—a patch of thorns, not a beautiful rose garden.
PANDEMIC'S IMPACT Smith noted that the global pandemic signifi cantly impacted grades last school year and that, in some instances, a drop of just a percentage or two changed the grade. "You get some measure and you say, OK, the airline gets four stars, three stars, two stars, one star; I'm not going in and seeing what a threestar rating really means," Smith said. "I'm just saying the more stars, the better. We do the same with grades." To put the pandemic's impact in perspec tive, Smith said the district operated without over 4% of its staff last January alone. The absence of teachers and staff put a school district already with a shortage of both in a bind, and a significant number of openings remain as the 2022-23 school year begins. The district is recruiting throughout the region to find teachers, teacher assistants, bus drivers, maintenance staff and custodial employ ees, among other positions. The teacher shortage is particularly alarming.
The school district scrambled for full-time and substitute teachers during the past two years. To complicate matters further, teachers altered be tween in-person and remote instruction and spent significant amounts of time on contact tracing. Smith credited students, teachers and staff for their perseverance in overcoming the chal lenges presented by COVID and ranked that as the No. 1 accomplish ment by the district since he took over as superintendent."Whenyoulook at the instruc tional piece, what the teachers were able to do in continuing to provide in struction was absolutely Herculean," Smith said. "I tip my hat to my prede cessor, Malcolm Thomas, for the re mote platform he established in put ting that structure in place." COVID still lingers as school of fice phones ring incessantly with par ents calling to report absences, but Smith considers this the ideal time to close the achievement gap by launching the 2022-27 strategic plan, "We're All In."
DELIBERATE APPROACH
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Smith has developed a threeprong attack to reach every student that begins with improving the num ber of kindergartners who enter pre pared for school. The second prong is providing extra study time for older students who fall behind state stan dards. His final focus is providing growth opportunities to administra tors, teachers and staff through work shops and conferences.
"I want him to make sure he has a backbone and not a bristle," Edler said. "He needs to stand in front of the good old boys and say, 'That's a good idea but not one that right now will help the school district.'" {in}
Dr. Tim Smith reading to Montclair Elementary class / Photo courtesy of Escambia County Public Schools
Escambia County School District opened the 2022-23 school year last week with Dr. Tim Smith nearing his two-year anniversary as its superintendent. Smith has ushered in a new era as an outsider from Orlando appointed by the schoolButboard.withhis early tenure mired by a glob al pandemic and a shortage of employees, the school district has yet to make noticeable gains. The school district ranked 51st out of 67 in to tal points earned on the Florida School Account ability Reports in 2021-22. That ranking nearly mirrors its standing under previous Superinten dent Malcolm Thomas when the district ranked 53rd in 2017-18 and 52nd in 2018-19. The consensus among school board mem bers, fellow administrators, teachers and com munity leaders is that Smith is fully committed to bettering the school district, but implementing change with the old guard still firmly entrenched makes for a daunting challenge. "We must remember the superintendent did not walk into a beautiful rose garden," said Dr. Laura Edler, District 2 school board member. "He walked into a patch of thorns."
Smith has won supporters with his commit ment to bettering the education for every stu dent. Warren said, "The difference might be Dr. Smith is looking at all children having access to all the resources they need. Not that Mr. Thom as didn't, but I think Dr. Smith has come into a dis trict where he has some good ideas that will take time to be in place." School Board member Bill Slayton (District 5) credited Smith for shaking up leadership at some of the lower-performing schools and replac ing them with highly qualified administrators. He believes those changes will positively impact the schools in the near future. "Tim works more directly with the board be cause the board is the hiring agent," Slayton said. "Malcolm understood he worked for the people. They voted for him. Tim uses his staff a little dif ferently than Malcolm did. They report to us more, contact us more in resources and operations." One of the finalists Smith beat out for the po sition was Keith Leonard, the assistant superin tendent for human resources. Leonard remained in that position after the school board voted 3-2 against appointing him as superintendent. Smith buried any potential animosity between the two by seeking input from Leonard and letting his voice be "He'sheard.verydeliberate, and he listens," Leon ard said. "You can tell he's been in education his entire career, yet he has a business mindset. I've been impressed with the way he's taken on some of these very difficult situations. He asks for help. He'll ask for suggestions, and then he'll deliberate on that decision and follow through on decisions."
STRUGGLING TO RIGHT SHIP
By Tom St. Myer
Escambia Education Association President Darzell Warren said concerns include overcrowd ed classrooms resulting from a shortage of fulltime and substitute teachers. Last school year, some schools operated without full-time teachers in core subjects such as science and math. "There's more and more being put on them, and they're not being paid a salary commensurate with what they're doing," Warren said. "We under stand a lot of that is coming down from Tallahas see, but we feel there are some creative ways to pay our veteran teachers to show our appreciation for their dedication to the profession."
SMITH
A GAME CHANGER Engaging community leaders is where Smith has perhaps made the most inroads. Pensacola State College opened the charter academy on the Warrington campus this school year after meetings with NAS Pensacola leader ship. Retired U.S. Navy Capt. Tim Kinsella pushed for the charter academy after military families cit ed the school system in their requests to be sta tioned elsewhere. Plans for the charter academy were formulated before Smith became superin tendent, but Kinsella credited him for embracing the concept."WhatI like about him is he understands the school district needs to provide whatev er solutions the community needs," said Kin sella, director of the University of West Florida College of Business Center for Leadership. "If the community needs a mix of charter schools, magnets, private schools and public schools, then that's what he's going to do. He does the very best to take politics out of it. He tries to be a unifying figure."
This award recognizes a veteran-owned small business that has attained outstanding business achievement while showing social responsibility, creativity, and leadership; all to improve and grow the community.
Join us Nov. 16-17 for a front-row seat to expert speakers, practical knowledge and first-class networking at this year’s EntreCon® Business, Leadership and Entrepreneurship conference!
NEW! This award will recognize an outstanding business that has grown quickly and serve as a prestigious opportunity to celebrate its talent and wisdom.
August 18, 2022
This award is open to businesses who have more than 50 employ ees that have been adaptable to change over the past year, have displayed economic growth, and provide opportunities for their employees to improve their skills in an ever-changing environment. Employer of the Year
Community Vibrancy Award
This award is for businesses with an outstanding and supportive work environment with a focus on great training programs, an understanding of work-life balance, and career progression. Employers recognized in this category inspire and motivate their growing, diverse staff with equal opportunity programs.
Female-Owned Business of the Year
This award recognizes a women-owned small business that has attained outstanding business achievement while showing social responsibility, creativity, and leadership; all to improve and grow the community.
Fastest Growing Business of the Year
This award is open to businesses who started in the last two years and have had success introducing their product or service. Busi nesses recognized in this category are run by great leadership, show a promising vision for the future, and have created a mission state ment that aligns with their core values. Micro-Business of the Year
Presented By:
Studer Community Institute is a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
The Rodney Jackson Award for Minority-Owned Business
This award recognizes a minority-owned small business that has attained outstanding business achievement while showing social responsibility, creativity, and leadership; all to improve and grow the community.
Non-Profit of the Year
This award honors communities, organizations, small businesses, nonprofits, or individuals that are doing amazing things to make their community great and vibrant.
Veteran-Owned Business of the Year
This award recognizes a nonprofit organization that shows dedica tion for improving the quality of life in the community through volunteering, partnerships, or fundraising. Winners will be able to share how they have effectively used these skills to further their mission and improve the community.
Emerging Business of the Year
This award is open to businesses who have less than ten employees and operate efficiently with a small team while positively impact ing the local economy. Businesses considered for this award can clearly explain what makes their product or service unique, how they measure success and what opportunities they provide their employees. Small Business of the Year
This award recognizes a small business owner who has success fully launched and grown their business before the age of 30. This person demonstrates an entrepreneurial spirit by applying business knowledge, growth potential and success in the operation of their business. They also prove to be a great example to other young individuals.
LEARN MORE AT ENTRECONPENSACOLA.COM
This award recognizes an entrepreneur who has a creative product or service that solves a problem in the marketplace. They are highly ambitious, serve as community leaders, and work to improve the quality of life for others through either em ployment or serving others.
Young Entrepreneur of the Year
This award is given to a leader who enriches the lives of others, builds better organizations, and ultimately helps create a more just and caring world. That is what our friend and colleague John Myslak did in our community, and we honor his memory by recognizing others who live their lives as fully as he did.
Medium/Large Business of the Year
AWARDSENTRECONPENSACOLA.COM/AWARDSAPPLYTODAY!
For questions, please contact Morgan Tufto at MTufto@studeri.org.
Entrepreneur of the Year
This award is open to businesses who have less than 50 employees that focus on employee inclusion, community involvement and innovation in their business practices. Businesses considered for this award can clearly explain what makes their product or service unique, how they measure success and what opportunities they provide their employees.
The John Myslak Award for Servant Leadership
Beginning in Alabama, everything washes south to the coast, with rivers running and winding, fragmenting into swamps and wetlands, finger ing into creeks and bayous, until finally empty ing into the bays and then the gulf. Also ambitious is the organization working to improve the ecological prospects of the local wa tershed. The Pensacola and Perdido Bays Estu ary Program (PPBEP) acts as a coordinating hub of sorts for regional environmental efforts as they pertain to the local watershed, and it's heading into a pretty busy season. There's the annual round of grants to award. There's funding to secure, the inaugural State of the Bays report card to release and a 10-year man agement plan to finalize. "There's no shortage of things going on, but it's a lot of fun," said Matt Posner, director of the estuary program. In addition to this already full slate, the local estuary program is also attempting what might be considered a shoot-for-the-moon feat, securing a National Estuary Program designation. There hasn't been a new National Estuary Program in nearly three decades. But if it happens, the PPBEP is set, funded and flush with federal money, no more sweating out budget seasons and hoping for a stable collective of contributors.
WATER'S WAY Escambia River /
The goal is to have the estuary program granted Independent Special District status by early next year. This would be in line with three National Estuary Programs in Florida—Indian River Lagoon, Tampa Bay and Sarasota Bay. The independent special district status is preferable to becoming a nonprofit, as it allows the program to continue seeking some govern mental grants it otherwise could not. Mean while, the estuary program is trying to secure operational funding from local governments.
Posner sat down with Inweekly recently to dis cuss the estuary program during this pivotal time. He is cautiously confident about the chances. "Our goal is to make that happen, to get that congressional designation by the end of the calendar year, if at all possible," he said. "But that is an act of Congress, so it remains to be seen if that will happen."
A WATERSHED'S STORY
The Pensacola and Perdido Bays Estuary Program is relatively young, only being for mally established in 2018, but its headwaters run further back. "The history of the program really dates back to the late 1980s," Posner explained, referring to the program's predecessor, the Bay Area Resource CouncilFormed(BARC).in1987, BARC was a sciencebased organization charged with watershed monitoring and restoration that was funded by local governments in the region. Following the 2010 BP oil spill, local leaders decided to apply for federal restoration funds to establish the estuary"Afterprogram.theoilspill," Posner recalled, "the need that many of the people kept coming back to was the need to establish an estuary program to help coordinate environmental restoration and community resilience aspects for the up coming decades, for generations."
tween several governmental agencies, but Es cambia has handled the administrative services. Now, though, the PPBEP is looking to go solo. Posner explained, "Ultimately, it's always been the goal to become fully independent because we are a regional effort. We repre sent Baldwin County in the west and Okaloosa County in the east."
The local watershed is ambitious in its span.
DREAMING BIG While the PPBEP continues its work, Posner hopes the National Estuary Program designation is in its future. The designation comes with around $700,000 in annual funding. "That would go to our operation and imple menting our comprehensive water quality moni toring program and would actually turn into im plementable water quality, habitat restoration, community resilience projects, as well as educa tion outreach initiatives," Posner said. "And then that just gives us even more opportunities to le verage the resources that we're already bringing in from local, state, federal, private, foundations." In late July, the director accompanied Pensac ola Mayor Grover Robinson to Washington, D.C., to drum up support for the designation. Posner fully understands the odds he's up against. "It's been since the mid-90s that any new national estuary program has been formed, but we have had numerous conversations over the last two years at this point with state leadership and leadership at EPA and everybody in be tween," said the director. "And everybody at all rungs has said, you know, there's never been any other organization or area as well equipped to become the next National Estuary Program as Pensacola-Perdido."Posneradded,"It really is just a matter of timing to get it right. And if it doesn't happen this year, we bring it forward again next year." {in} To view the draft of the Comprehensive Con servation Management Plan, visit ppbep.org/ the-plan/ccmp. Photo by Darryl Boudreau, NWFWMD
By Jeremy Morrison
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In October, the estuary program will release its first State of the Bays report, covering Pen sacola and Perdido bays. Posner said, "That's going to be a real community-facing update, dashboard if you will, in terms of how our water quality is doing, and we hope to update that on an annual or bi-annual frequency. So that way, the public can see how we're doing and can push on where we need to make future investments."
A draft of its Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan was released earlier this month. After a public review and comment pe riod, a final version of the plan will be released by the end of September. The plan covers a 10-year period and will serve as the blueprint for the mon itoring, research and restoration of the watershed.
"Really, over the next month, it will be kind of a roadshow for us, as we go to each of the county commissions and city councils to give an update on the accomplishments that the estuary program has had this far, what the re turn on investment is for each of those local governments have been thus far and what our priorities are for next year," Posner said. So far, only the city of Pensacola has commit ted $30,000. Requests going out to other local governments range from $20,000-$60,000, de pending on how big the entity is. "All in all, things are shaping up pretty well," Posner said. "I expect that to continue. It may not be at the full request, but at least if there's some commitment there, that helps us tremen dously be able to leverage those other competi tive grant opportunities." As Posner and his team are making the rounds to local governments, the estuary program will also be involved in selecting this year's round of grant recipients. As it has for the past two years, PPBEP will disperse $250,000 of state-legislature allocated funding to applicants with projects that align with territory outlined in the forthcoming conservation management plan, such as habitat restoration or watershed awareness.
BARC landed $2 million from the U.S. Environmental Pro tection Agency's Gulf of Mexico Pro gram, and the estuary program was estab lished. For the past few years, the PPBEP has worked toward the release of its con servation and man agement plan while also working with in the community to improve environmen tal conditions and in crease awareness about issues related to the dinatedrepresentsposes.allcambiahousedprogramtion,nerestablished,"zation,dergetting2018,"Really,watershed.sincewe'vebeenourlegsunusasanorganifullygettingPossaid.SinceitsinceptheestuaryhasbeenwithinEsCountyforpracticalpurTheprogramacooreffortbe
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Miller pulled data off his case management software and found Ritchie had been assigned 2,614 cases while Hamlin was assigned 4,381 while working in the Public Defender Office.
Martha Saunders with students / Photo Courtesy of UWF
He added, "In discussions with the con tractor they're using, they mentioned that the building could be finished out in less than three to five months."
"The Journal article makes it seem a little bit more complex than it really is," said Merritt. "The way we look at it is it's basically a restructuring of the company. We had the city attorney's office do an in-depth look at it, as well as myself and the mayor's office. And as far as we can find, not more than 50% of the equity has changed hands." He continued, "There's nothing really earthshattering here. I mean, businesses go through restructuring or issues all the time. So we're optimistic that they will continue to build out their facility and make this their primary location." The port director shared the leased warehouse suffered extensive damage from Hurricane Sally. "We, the city, received some insurance proceeds to get the building back to pre-Hurricane Sally conditions. And those repairs have been ongoing for quite some time. We have an agreement with Streamline Boats of Northwest Florida where, on a reimbursement basis, they perform the work on the building with our oversight, our engineering oversight, and then we reimburse them for work done."
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UWF has been preparing all summer for a full season of home football games on campus. They open the season against Warner at 6 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 3, at Pen Air Field. "The bleacher's going to be installed in the next week or so," said Dr. Saunders. "We tried it out last year to see how it worked, and we had a huge number. And we have more seats avail able. It's going to be a sea of blue and green." She continued, "Students are going to be much more engaged than they were even in the past. We'll have tents and a lot of tailgat ing, a lot of carnival atmosphere. So it's going to be exciting."
FOOD NOT BOMBS PROTESTS
JUDGE RACE HEATS UP Last week, Public Defender Bruce Miller issued a letter objecting to several statements judicial candidate Scott Ritchie made in a YouTube video, "Coffee & Conversation with Paul Hamlin & Scott Ritchie." Miller forwarded the letter with a complaint to The Florida Bar. Miller objected to Ritchie insinuating that he handled 400-500 cases a year over 17 years with the Public Defender Office. "The state ments are not factually correct. The invitation to multiply 400 or 500 by 17 years to arrive at the number of cases handled would produce a grossly inflated number."
EMBATTLED CONTRACTORS Last week, Escambia County revoked the contractor licenses of brothers-in-law Matthew Banks of Banks Construction and Jesse LaCoste of LaCoste Con struction. The Contractor Competency Board ordered Banks to pay $74,000 in restitution to two homeowners. LaCoste must pay $90,000 in restitution to a homeowner.
The local Food Not Bombs chapter has responded to Pensacola Mayor Grover Robinson's statements last week that he has been talking with the or ganization about relocating its downtown food distribution site, with the group disputing the mayor's comments. "It's obvious from today's press conference that Mayor Grover C. Robinson, IV fundamen tally misunderstands what Food Not Bombs is and what we do," began a post on Food Not Bombs Pensacola's Facebook page, following the mayor's weekly presser on Monday, Aug. 8. Mayor Robinson had been commenting on an issue involving the Downtown Improvement Board and a local homeless advocate, Mike Kim berl, who was arrested for breaking the lock off a DIB-controlled portable toilet so that a woman in the park for a Food Not Bombs food distribu tion could use the facility. The mayor noted that he had long tried to convince Food Not Bombs to relocate from its regular site at MLK Jr. Plaza on Palafox to John Sunday Park outside of Pensacola City Hall, having discussed the issue with Kimberl on several occasions. In its response, Food Not Bombs Pensacola stressed that the mayor had never communi cated with the group but rather to Kimberl. "The mayor has NOT reached out to Food Not Bombs. He has only spoken with one of our volunteers, Mike," the group's statement continued. "While we love and support Mi chael Kimberl, he is one individual in a group that organizes horizontally and makes deci sions by consensus. Mike does not represent or speak for Food Not Bombs—no one person does. If the mayor wants to speak with us, he can do so via email or direct message." As alluded to in its opening line, Food Not Bombs' response also questions the rationale underpinning the mayor's request for the group to relocate its activities. Robinson contends that dis tributing food on Palafox, in the urban core's com mercial heart, where downtown business owners are complaining about panhandling and safety concerns, creates "conflict" and that relocating the site a few blocks away, tucked into an enclave of governmental buildings, would create less con flict; as relayed in the group's response, Food Not Bombs instead considers its Palafox food distribu tion a form of protest, or "direct action." "Food Not Bombs is a form of protest against militarism and nuclear weapons, poverty, and homelessness," the statement explained. "We provide free meals as a means of direct action and to enjoy the company of our neighbors. The meals are an act of solidarity with the people we share a community with, not a charity." A separate post clarified the organization's exact response to Mayor Robinson's invitation to relocate its activities from MLK Jr. Plaza to John Sunday Park. "Food Not Bombs Pensacola has been gathering peacefully at MLK Jr. Plaza for over 10 years, enjoying food and conversation with our neighbors, as people do in public parks," the organization posted. "We have no desire to change locations, and there are no legal grounds to force us out."
Banks also had his license revoked in Santa Rosa County and was ordered to pay $34,683 in restitution to Jennifer Anderson of Gulf Breeze for uncompleted work on her home. The revocation came after the PNJ report ed that more than 100 area residents through out Escambia and Santa Rosa counties came forward on social media with allegations against Banks Construction. The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Service is investigat ing theLaCostecompany.had similar complaints about his company taking people's money and not com pleting the work. LaCoste Construction has ties to ECUA board member Kevin Stephens and homebuilder Blaine Flynn. Inweekly spoke with Taylor Hozey. She and her husband went to high school with LaCoste. The home they bought four months before Hurricane Sally was severely damaged by the hurricane in September 2020. LaCoste told them he would do the repairs if they endorsed the insurance claim over to his company. The insurance company paid him $93,409. Lacoste Construction gutted the house and then stopped working on it. The couple and their two children live in a two-bedroom apart ment, waiting for the company to finish the job. At one point, LaCoste told the couple that he had run out of insurance money and was fighting with the insurer to get more money to complete the work. Another time, he told them that he had to special order the trusses for the new roof. The house still doesn't have a roof. LaCoste has stopped all Accordingcommunications.totheFlorida Secretary of State, Genesis Properties & Development was a manager of LaCoste Construction until it was removed in April 2022, when complaints began to mount. The managers of Genesis are ECUA board member Kevin Stephens and homebuild er Blaine Flynn. If you want to share your experiences with Banks and LaCoste, please email our publisher at rick@inweekly.net.
UWF FALL FEVER Students return to the University of West Florida on Thursday, Aug. 18, and President Martha Saunders can't wait to start the fall semester. "I never get over it. I get all excited, and I feel like I need to go get a new notebook and a pencil box and things like that," Dr. Saunders told Inweekly. "But the city better get ready. We're going to have a whole bunch of young folks with backpacks walking around pretty soon." The nervous energy of the incoming students is contagious. "What I say often is that you just can't have a bad day on a university campus," the UWF president shared. "You can have a hard day, but you're surrounded by hope. Everybody there has got plans. They've got plans for their lives, and it's going to be great. They don't know what it is exactly, but it's going to be great. And that's just a spirit that you can't replicate everywhere."
STREAMLINE UPDATE In 2020, the Pensac ola City Council approved a lease with Stream line Boats of Northwest Florida to build a sport fishing boat factory and create at least 45 jobs at the Port of Pensacola. Last week, the PNJ reported its sister com pany, Streamline Boat, was facing eviction in Hialeah and asserted that the Pensacola factory was in doubt after an owner change. Port Director Clark Merritt assured us he isn't concerned, and the work on the factory's warehouse is moving along.
The public defender also objected to Ritchie, claiming he has supervised 60 attorneys and 60 support staff across four counties and six offices. "Most of his time was spent supervising eight attorneys in one office. At one time, he did supervise eight attorneys in our Milton office but never simultaneously with his later Pensacola assignment. He did not supervise any attorneys in the remaining four offices."
The city of Pensacola asks all city residents to participate in its annual resident satisfaction survey. City residents can complete the survey online at uwf.edu/haasresidentsur vey or by phone at (850) 495-2666 by Friday, Sept. 9. The phones are active from 8 a.m.-5 p.m., Monday-Friday.Thesurveyasks residents about their sat isfaction with lights, sidewalks, neighborhood safety and other services. The survey also asks residents whether they would recommend living in Pensacola to family and friends. "We always welcome feedback from the residents of our city, and this survey provides a great opportunity for citizens to give input on how we can continually work toward improving Pensacola," Mayor Grover Robinson said. "We conduct this survey annually to learn how we can provide greater service to the community. I highly encourage all residents to provide input so we can better understand your priorities for the city." Only residents within City of Pensacola limits may complete the survey. Responses will be used to help the city balance priorities and improve services to maintain a high quality of life for Pen sacola residents.
The Pensacola In terstate Fair launched its Super Saver Discount Ticket program. Admission tickets are half price, and ride wristbands are $5 off the regular price. "Typically, we release these around the 1st of October, but this year, we're going to do it about two months in advance just because we want to give people a chance to have extra time to think about it and plan and go ahead and buy a little bit now, buy a little bit later," said Dondi Frenkel, the fair's front operations manager. The Pensacola Interstate Fair runs from Oct. 20-30, and the discounted tickets can be pur chased online at pensacolafair.com. {in}
Miller also took umbrage with Ritchie's assertion that he manages the budget with his duties. "During my administration, candidate Ritchie has had no involvement or participation of any kind with the budget."
CITY SURVEY
One of the biggest issues to come out of the District 5 town hall earlier this month was traffic on Martin Luther King Jr. and Davis streets, both of which are one-lane roads. "We have a lot of complaints about speed ing in those areas at the town hall," Mayor Grove Robinson said at his press conference on Monday, Aug. 8. Robinson has been pushing for the two-laning of both MLK and Davis for a while now, contend ing that the move would make the roads less conducive to speeding and safer for pedestrians and bicyclists. The mayor said that the two-laning of these roads is one of its top FDOT-related priorities, right behind a road diet being consid ered for North Palafox. And while it won't happen anytime soon, the groundwork for such a switch is being laid currently. "I think the quickest way to stop speeding is to quit letting those be one-way streets with two lanes that allow people to speed through the neighborhood," said Mayor Robinson. "We've got it teed up well for the next mayor to be able to make that happen."
Ritchie stated in the Public Defender's Of fice under Jack Behr and worked under James Owens from 2009-2012. Bruce Miller has held the post since then. Ritchie responded to each of the com plaints. Concerning his caseload, he said, "I'm not going to quibble over a few cases, over how many I've handled my career. I frankly don't know—2,000, 3,000, 4,000, it's in the thou sands; really couldn't tell you." Regarding the number of attorneys he su pervised, Ritchie said, "During the same period, I certainly, like I said, supervised the 60 attorneys and the 60 support staff. Now was that 58? I don't know, but it was relatively close to that. Certainly not a Hemisrepresentation."respondedtoMiller's comments about his work with the budget. "I cannot wrap my brain around how he can claim that I don't do budget work. I mean, our most significant expense in the office is by far salary. And I'm involved in salary negotiations—not claiming that I was the decision maker, but I am in volved in the salary negotiations. And if that's not budget, I don't know what is. I also approve and deny expenses for things like our expert witnesses. If that's not budget, I don't know what is. I mean, my background's in finance, and I don't know any way to call those things other than budget items."
The Public Defender stated that he and another Public Defender employee confronted Ritchie about his misrepresentations. He wrote, "Both attempts to encourage candidate Ritchie to correct the misrepresentations have been ignored. A fair election requires a fair process."
TWO-WAY TRAFFIC
Ritchie responded to the letter on WCOA's "Real News with Rick Outzen." Calling his boss's complaints "just a disagreement be tween a boss and employee about what the job scope is," Ritchie said, "The reality is that Bruce's letter seems to have totally forgotten that he hasn't been the public defender the entire time that I've been working at the office. In fact, I've worked at the office longer than he had. But under the previous public defender, I was the felony chief, but what I did was super vise everybody under the public defender and the chief assistant. So I was essentially third in charge of the office, and that was before him. I can't speak to why he doesn't know that or remember it."
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SAVE ON FAIR TICKETS
The Pensacola photographer turns 27 Friday, just days before her first solo exhibition, "Personal Space," opens at Easy Going Gallery. She planned her show to be in August near her date of birth because, well, she's a Leo in that way. And while Allgyer has had the show penciled in for Leo season (her most powerful time) for the past year, the months leading up to it were filled with anticipation—so much so that it sparked the exhibit's vulnerable subject matter.
Allgyer would never take a photo of someone else she wouldn't take of herself. While she isn't exactly sure how to describe her style—a feat while writing the artist state ment for her solo exhibit—a tying thread through her work is a fascination and appreciation for the natural human form, including her own. Allgyer started taking self-portraits in 2016 during a brief stint living in Colorado. She was lonely and didn't have anyone else to photo graph, so she started photographing herself, she "Isaid.saw myself differently after that," Allgyer said. "Photographing yourself is so different than looking at yourself in a mirror or even taking pic tures on your phone. Having this very physical thing to hold on to and to be able to set the cam era up and step away and go through the motions like I do with other people, and then to see the product and be able to look back on myself and different areas of my life, that's become very im portant to me."
Photos by Geoff Peck (@tinyobservations) ˝ with photographer NATALIE ALLGYER
˝Diary of Self-Portraits˝
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The upcoming exhibit will feature a self-por trait quilt, as well as 30 self-portrait collages. All gyer took the same photo of herself daily and collaged it using different mediums—a current passion of hers. "It depended very much on my emotions each day, kind of like a diary, so it is actually called 'Di ary of Self-Portraits,' and they all look complete ly different," Allgyer said. "I wanted to give myself this diary-style prompt, just to get myself back in this active motion of creating every day, but also Natalie Allgyer (@nallgyer)
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Happy (early) birthday, Natalie Allgyer.
exploring ˝ PERSONAL SPACE
"That feeling quickly became compara ble to that feeling of when you're inviting a new friend or a new lover into your bedroom, into your personal space—the first time they come to see your house, which is this universal famil iar feeling of excitement but also mixed with anxiety," Allgyer said. "It's visceral. I wanted it to be universally known. I wanted people to be able to relate."With this in mind, she spent six months taking self-portraits, as well as intimate por traits of friends, loved ones, strangers and those from earlier in her life in their most per sonal pockets of space—their bedroom, living room or near mementos. "I thought that was also very appropriate, thinking about this feeling of sharing myself in this closeness with other people when we're com ing out of this long journey of intense separation that all of us have been going through since COV ID," Allgyer said. "I just wanted to do something to bring people into my personal space and also the space of the subjects I photographed."
˝My Last Bedroom˝
While shooting for "Personal Space," she took a "documentary style" approach. "There was direction reminiscent of my nor mal shoots, but I had to keep taking myself back to this sort of fly-on-the-wall perspective," All gyer said. "Once I found a moment of comfort ability with the subject, I would say something like, 'Well, just hang out there for a second, and pretend that I'm not here. In this moment in your safe space, if I was not here, what would you be prompted to do?' I just wanted to be photographing the subjects as vulnerably and as personably in their space as possible." Because of it, the photos are more relaxed and unintentional than her previous work, she said. "I think it translated really well with the en ergy of the show," Allgyer said. "There's a thread of something different and new there, while also paying homage to what I've always done."
DETAILS: @nallgyer *After the opening reception, "Personal Space" will be on view at Easy Going Gallery until Wednesday, Sept. 14.
13August 18, 2022 to sit with my own emotions every day specifically and let that translate into the work." Fly on the Wall This isn't the first time Allgyer has photo graphed people in their personal spaces. "Personal Space" brought to mind her 2017 se ries, "The Shape Diaries." "It's very similar, but it was so much more fo cused on the vulnerability of the body and photo graphing other people in their safe space," Allgy er said. "Specifically pertaining to feeling at home in your body and using these photographs to help them see themselves the way I needed to see my self in AllgyerColorado."largely credits that series for her style and "softness in her work." "I realized that it was this place of nurtur ing," Allgyer said. Whether shooting for an art exhibit or an en gagement session for a client, Allgyer naturally puts her subjects at ease. She is kind and talkative, and if there is awkward empty space, she fills it with reassurance, she said. And it's usually pretty simple—tell them what to do. "I have a very direct creative mind, in the sense that when I'm taking a photo, I know what I want to photograph," Allgyer said. "I've gotten very good at just being able to put people where I need them to be—and that sounds pretty abra sive. But in the context of a photo shoot, the No. 1 thing people ask me for, they're like, 'Just tell me what to do.' Once I got comfortable with being the boss and being the director, it became natural after that."
The concept behind "Personal Space" has an added layer of vulnerability for Allgyer right now. While photographing other people in their bedrooms, Allgyer became hyperaware she didn't have one. She recently stashed her possessions in storage to live in her mother's guest bedroom. In a month or two—give or take—she plans to buy a trailer and pursue travel photography, returning to Pensacola (her home base) in the winter like a snowbird, she said. er said, "and to allow space for those vulnera ble emotions that may not necessarily be easy to sit with, like the feelings that come with how much our bodies change and how much we grow, but also appreciate the change and love yourself through those changes."
Natalie Allgyer
˝I just wanted to be photographing the subjects as vulnerably and as personably in their space as possible.˝
"PERSONAL SPACE" WHAT: Opening reception for Natalie All gyer's first solo exhibition "Personal Space" WHEN: 6-9 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 25* WHERE: Easy Going Gallery, 701 N V St.
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Hylton Davis and Kodie Croll, the co-hosts of the Some People Suck Podcast, don't claim to be doctors, NASA engineers or really any one expected to know anything about any thing. As Croll puts it, they're just two silly best friends having the time of their life recording conversations with people. "Nothing about it's gonna be perfect; we just want it to be a good hang," Croll said of the podcast. "Even though they're not literally in the conversation, we want it to feel like they could just be sitting in the room with us."
By Savannah Evanoff A Friendly Chat art, film, music, stage, books and other signs of civilization...
"I don't think we thought we'd have prolific conversations. We just thought it was silly enough that our other friends would think it would be funny to listen to." Kodie Croll
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'PRETTY NOT SMART' Another lesson learned is that things run deeper than what's on the surface. "You might think Big Jerk Soda is just a lo cal company, but you don't know the lengths they go to for each flavor or the research they put into it," Croll said. "For me, that's been an eye-opening thing." More time and effort go into their podcast, too, than people realize, Croll said. But, be warned, it isn't your typical hustle mentality podcast. Nothing is pre-written, and every episode holds a new and equally ridic ulous inside joke or bit. If you say "innit" right now, you might send them into a fit of laughter.
SOME PEOPLE (DON'T) SUCK Davis and Croll met in April of 2015 while working at Zumiez in Cordova Mall. They de spised each other at first, until developing a rap port trying to make each other laugh on slow days at the store—namely using references from their favorite comedians, such as Tom Segura. The name of their podcast originates from one of Segura's bits. They even got Segurathemed tattoos together after seeing his show in NewTheirOrleans.shared love of comedy led to them spending more time together and ultimately living together. The podcast was born in 2019. "We thought we had funny interactions," Croll said. "I don't think we thought we'd have prolific conversations. We just thought it was silly enough that our other friends would think it would be funny to listen to." Now they record every week in a third bed room they converted into a studio. The show started with only friends as guests and expanded into interesting people from the Pensacola community. Recent guests have in cluded Sean Mullins, the founder of Pensacola Vibes; Ryan and Jennifer Eaton, the co-owners of Big Jerk Soda Co.; Rusty Strain, the execu tive chef of A Rustyc Spoon; UFC fighter Gillian Robertson; Chef Edward Lordman; and Shaunc ey Fury from Sacred Ground Tattoo. "People that have stories or good vibes or communicate really well or have something they stand for," Croll said. "I think our podcast in gen eral is ever evolving. I don't think we stand for anything but having a good time and learning."
"Most of the time, throughout the podcast, what'll happen is either (Croll) and I will say something pretty not smart, and then the oth er person will catch onto it, and then we just continue to build on that thing," Davis said. "I'll catch him using a big word I know he doesn't know the definition to and just roast him." They've even invited guests to talk about their careers and fail to ever mention the ca reer itself, Davis said—like that time they host ed a friend with an OnlyFans account. "I thought it'd be cool to get an inside view of how the industry worked," Croll said. "We had her on, and we talked about '90s cartoons, Nicolas Cage, Christmas. It just never came up in conversation."Thefeedback they get isn't unexpected either. "We're a bunch of silly geese," Croll said. "We get that we're dumb idiots a lot. Or we have people reaching out like, 'You should have my buddy that owns this company on.'" They sometimes get requests to host events, such as providing commentary for a lo cal MMA promotion. They hope to host more combat events and have no intentions of stop ping the podcast. "It would be cool if it became our life," Croll said. {in} Some People Suck @somepeoplesuckpodPodcast
While they have featured people from At lanta, Miami and Daytona Beach—and have an inexplicable following in Ireland—they primar ily interview locals. "Half the people we've had on the podcast, we would have never been able to sit down and have a conversation with without this," Davis said. "Even though we've lived here forever, we don't know everybody here. But we would like to have the opportunity to get to know people and hear their story." Through it, they have learned everyone has "Evenstruggles.iffrom an outside point of view, it looks like they're confident and nothing can shake them. We'll have a lot of people on that are like, 'Yeah, it was scary doing that. I risked a lot. It wasn't as easy as people think,'" Croll said. "(A) social media presence makes it seem like everyone is invincible. A lot of people are risking years of their life, as far as money or in vestment, and putting it on the line to try to pursue a dream."
Hylton Davis and Kodie Croll / Courtesy Photo
Nothing they say can—or at least should— be used against them in a court of law.
Arts & Entertainment WEEK OF AUGUST 18-24
BALLET PENSACOLA SEASON SUBSCRIP TIONS AVAILABLE Season subscriptions for Ballet Pensacola's 2022-2023 season are on sale now. Don't miss your chance to see the fantastic lineup of performances, includ ing "The Phantom of the Opera," Oct. 7-9 and 14-16; "The Nutcracker," Dec. 16-18; A Military Appreciation Gala, Feb. 10-12; and "A Midsum mer Night's Dream," April 21-23 and 28-30. Visit balletpensacola.com or email officemanager@ balletpensacola.org for more information.
THE FEAST A Pensacola Little Theatre Studio 400 production, "The Feast" is a comedic piece about a couple who discovers the sew ers under their apartment begin to speak. For mature audiences only. Showtimes are 7:30 p.m. Fridays, Aug. 26 and Sept. 2; Saturdays, Aug. 27 and Sept. 3; and Thursday, Sept. 1, and 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 28. Tickets are $14-$20.
ARTS & CULTURE
The Grand Dame of Palafox will once again open her doors to the community with a selection of seven films this summer. Tickets for the Saenger Classic Movie Series will go sale on the night of each movie beginning at 6 p.m. Prices for admission remain at $5 per person for general admission seating. Tickets are only available for purchase at the Saenger Theatre Box Office. The next date is Saturday, Aug. 27, with "Jailhouse Rock."
Pensacola Little Theatre, 400 S. Jefferson St. pensacolalittletheatre.com.
EXHIBITS AT ARTEL GALLERY Currently showing at Artel Gallery, 223 S. Palafox, is local artist Davmo, jewelry made by Christine Rojas and paintings from Mary Jo Rakowski. All exhibits will be shown through Aug. 12. Visit artelgallery.org for details.
This new ex hibition at Pensacola Museum of Art highlights the diverse materials, techniques and subject "Textiles of the Times: Regency Era Dress Making" / Currently on view at Pensacola Museum of History
WHAT'S SHOWING AT PENSACOLA CINEMA ART PCA is located at the Studer Community Institute, 220 W. Garden St. "The Duke" will be showing at 1 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 19, and Saturday, Aug. 20. Classic films are available for free through the PCA website.
GOODS OF DESIRES PMA's exhibition Goods of Desires from artist Cindy Leung is on view through Sept. 4. The exhibit uses Chinese exports to address the complex relationship between consumerism, colonization and cultural hybridity, as they originated in the East and were popularized in the West through trading and British colonization. Visit pensaco lamuseum.org for details.
ANIMAL ALLIES BINGO Animal Allies Florida is hosting Bingo at Scenic Hills Country Club, located at 8891 Burning Tree Road, twice a month. Dates are Aug. 23, Sept. 6 and 20, Oct. 4 and 18, Nov. 8 and 22, and Dec. 6 and 20. Proceeds go to help local animals. The fun starts at 7 p.m. $10 gets you 30 cards. Winners share the pot. Food and drink will be available for purchase. You must be 18 years old to play.
PENSACOLA COMMUNITY MARKET Shop local vendors at Coastal County Brewing Company, 3041 E. Olive Road, Friday, Aug. 19, from 5-9 p.m. JOE HOBBS SEVENTH ANNUAL SEC ONDS SALE Shop for "perfectly imperfect" pieces from Joe Hobbs glass art Saturday, Aug. 20, from 10 a.m.-2 p.m., at First City Art Cen ter, 1060 N. Guillemard St. Visit firstcityart.org for details.
NONPROFITS & FUNDRAISERS
KWM AUGUST SCREENING KWM Studios will screen a film from director Gregg Araki at 6 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 20. BYOB. Visit face book.com/diypensacola for information.
LIFE DRAWING GROUP AT ARTEL Artel's life drawing group meets every Monday, except holidays, from 6-9 p.m. in Artel Gallery, 223 S. Palafox. For more information, contact Melvin at (850) 549-8783 or visit artelgallery.org.
PENSACOLA ARTS MARKET Enjoy shop ping for a variety of handcrafted wares at Pensacola Arts Market Saturdays from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. at 1401 W. Intendencia St. Enjoy art, espresso, vintage goods, baked treats, handcrafted unique gifts and more. Admission is free. For more information, visit facebook. com/pensacolaartsmarket.
a&e happenings
CAT AND KITTEN ADOPTIONS
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PENSACOLA OPERA 40TH SEASON Pen sacola Opera's 40th season will include a onenight-only concert, Forty Forward: Celebrating Four Decades of Opera, Puccini's "La Bohème" and Rodgers and Hammerstein's "Carousel." In addition, this season will mark the 20th anniver sary of the Artists in Residence program. Newly named the Jan Miller Studio Artist program, spe cial events will be reimagined and rebranded, and a new leadership team will be set in place. Single tickets are on sale now and start at $25. Purchase online at pensacolaopera.com, in person at 75 Tarragona St. or by phone at (850) 433-6737.
Animal Allies will be at Pet Supermarket, 6857 N. Ninth Ave., from 11 a.m.-3 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 20. Everett Animal Welfare Group will be at PetSmart on North Davis Highway from noon4 p.m. If you can't adopt, you can talk about opportunities to donate, foster or volunteer. All cats are up to date on shots, and adoption fee includes spay or neuter with microchip.
TABLE TALKS AT THE TRUST Join the Historic Trust for a monthly lunch and learn series on the third Wednesday of the month at the Voices of Pensacola Multicultural Center, located at 117 E. Government St., from noon-1 p.m. The program is free—just bring your lunch and enjoy a casual opportunity to learn about a variety of topics. For more information, please email hparchives@uwf.edu or call (850) 5955985, ext. 125. The next date is Sept. 21 with Krystal Brown, with Keep Pensacola Beautiful.
GALLERY NIGHT
TAKING A LINE FOR A WALK
SAENGER BRINGS SUMMER MOVIES SERIES BACK TO THE BIG SCREEN
FLORIDA DESIGN WORKSHOP Visit Bodacious Bookstore, 110 E. Intendencia St., for a floral workshop, 2 p.m., Sunday, Aug. 28. Tickets are $65. For more information, visit facebook.com/bodaciousbookstore.
ODD•IT•TIES AT GALLERY 1060 The latest exhibit at Gallery 1060 inside First City Art Center, 1060 N. Guillemard St., is on view through Sept. 9. Visit the gallery on Saturday, Aug. 20, for a reception from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Visit firstcityart.org for details.
MOVIE NIGHT AT ALGA BEER CO. Visit Alga Beer Co., 2435 N. 12th Ave., every Monday at 7 p.m. for movie night. Follow @ movie_night_at_alga_ on Instagram to find out which movies will be featured each week.
Every Sunday, Easy Going Gallery and Carter J Studios present a weekly art market Sundays from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. at Easy Going Gallery, located at 701 N. V St. Enjoy art, espresso, vintage goods, baked treats, handcrafted unique gifts and more. Vendors can participate for a $20 fee. For more information, contact easygoinggalleryart@gmail.com.
A new tempo rary exhibit at The Destination Archaeology Resource Center, located at 207 E. Main St., features the story of the largest free black settlement in what is now the United States. During the War of 1812, a fort was built by Black British Colonial Marines and Indigenous people along the Apalachicola River. Called "Negro Fort" by American officials, it eventu ally became the center of the largest free Black settlement in what is now the United States. When the war ended, the U.S. believed the fort threatened the institution of slavery and must be destroyed. To the Maroon people who lived there, however, the fort at Prospect Bluff was a beacon of freedom worth fighting for. For more information, visit fpan.us.
Visit pensacolacinemaart.com for more infor mation and the latest showtimes.
EASY GOING GALLERY ART MARKET
On Friday, Aug. 19, from 5-9 p.m., Gallery Night Pensacola's theme is "Under the Surface." The event will highlight the art of water, salt and coastal living with Featured Artist Sarah Soule Webb. For more information, visit gallerynightpensacola.org. EASY GOING GALLERY ONE YEAR AN NIVERSARY Celebrate Easy Going Gallery's first anniversary with live DJs, a night market and more 6 p.m.-midnight, Friday, Aug. 19, at 701 N. V St. Visit facebook.com/easygoinggal lery for details.
IN BETWEEN: OPEN STUDIO AND RESIDENCY EXHIBITION BY MARZIA RANSOM The Art Gallery at the University of West Florida presents "In Between," an open studio residency and exhibition by Marzia Ransom. The public is also invited to visit her open studio hours on Fridays throughout the summer from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. at TAG, 11000 University Parkway, Bldg. 82. A gallery talk will take place on Thursday, Sept. 15, from 5-8 p.m., with live music and refreshments. All events are free and open to the public. For more information, please contact Cat Gambel, Gallery Director, TAG, at cgambel@ uwf.edu or TAG at artgallery@uwf.edu.
THE MAROON MARINES: ARCHAEOL OGY AT PROSPECT BLUFF
Registration begins at 6:30 p.m. NEW SUMMER CLASSES AT STUDIO SOUTH Studio South Yarn Co. has new sum mer offerings—crochet and knitting classes for all skill levels as well as openings for the exclu sive membership to "Unwind" on Thursdays and Saturdays, and finally, free "Knit in Public" pop ups at various Pensacola locations. Visit studiosouthyarnco.com and follow SSYC @ studiosouthpensacola on Instagram to find out the next sit and knit spot around town.
LOW COUNTRY SHRIMP BOIL Join Coastal County Brewing Company, 3041 E. Olive Road, for their annual Low Country Shrimp Boil, 1-6 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 20. Featuring 400 pounds of fresh shrimp, Cajun sides, specialty brews and live music.
CHARCUTERIE NIGHT AT BODACIOUS Learn the art of charcuterie at Bodacious, 407-
The period between 1811-1820 is historically defined as the Regency Period. For the Gulf Coast, and Pensacola specifically, the Regency Period was a tumul tuous time. It corresponded with the final days of Spanish rule in Florida, and the preparation of becoming an American territory was already underway. Thus, a mixing of cultures happened simultaneously with newer social and cultural trends. This exhibit at the Pensacola Mu seum of History looks at a day in the life of a Regency-era Pensacolian through fashion and garment use. Drawing on historical documen tation of stores known to have operated on Palafox, inside this recreation of a seamstress shop visitors will be able to explore the dress of yesteryear. On view now. Visit historicpen sacola.org for details.
OPEN MIC AT THE GORDON Show off your talents on the second Thursday of every month at The Gordon's Open Mic showcase from 7-10 p.m. Admission is free. The Gordon is located at 306 N. DeVilliers St. Visit thegor don.org for more information.
CLASSES AND WORKSHOPS AT FIRST CITY ART First City Art Center offers a wide range of classes and workshops for artists of all levels. Classes include glass blowing, ceram ics, painting and drawing, kiln-forming, stained glass and more. For a complete list of classes and times, visit firstcityart.org.
GALLERY 1060 JURIED SHOW View works in all media from local artists Sept. 12-Oct. 21 at First City Art's Gallery 1060, 1060 N. Guillemard St. Show will feature work from members and non-members. Visit firstcityart. org for details.
TEXTILES OF THE TIMES: REGENCY ERA DRESS MAKING
OPEN MIC COMEDY AT BIG TOP BREW ERY Try out some new jokes or enjoy some homegrown talent every Monday at 7 p.m. for Open Mic Comedy at Big Top Brewery, located at 21 W. Romano St. Everyone gets five minutes depending on the number of sign-ups.
FOOD + DRINKS ANGELENA'S SUPPER CLUB: CELEBRATE ROSÉ Brooke Parkhurst, Wine Director, and Max Rowe will hand select five stellar rosés from around the world to compare pair with Chef James Briscione's late summer tapas for the next supper club, 6 p.m., Thursday, Aug. 18. The cost is $100 per person (plus tax and gra tuity). For reservations, call (850) 542-8398, or go to greatsouthernrestaurants.com.
CRAFT CLASSES AT STUDIO SOUTH ON NINE MILE Learn a new craft or meet up with other makers at Studio South. Tuesday is Knit Night 4-7 p.m., and Sit & Stitch is Saturdays 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Both classes are free. For a full calendar of events, visit studiosouthon9mi leroad.com. Studio South is located at 955 E. Nine Mile Road.
CHARCUTERIE DESIGN WORKSHOP Brush up on your charcuterie board skills Thursday, Aug. 25, from 6-8 p.m. at Odd Colony, 260 N. Palafox. Tickets are $60, and price includes one board and two pours. Visit facebook.com/odd colony for tickets and information.
AMERICA'S EVERGLADES: THROUGH THE LENS OF CLYDE BUTCHER With his century-old camera, Clyde Butcher has been exploring and documenting the Everglades for more than three decades. The result is a collection of large-format black-and-white photographs that capture untouched parts of the nation's largest subtropical wilderness. The exhibit is on view at Pensacola Museum of Art, 407 S. Jefferson St., through Sept. 18. Visit pensacolamuseum.org for more information.
SCRIPTEASERS WITH PENSACOLA LITTLE THEATRE Scripteasers, Studio 400's and Pensacola Little Theatre's Script Reading Club invites you to monthly script readings at PLT, 400 S. Jefferson St. Want to bring your scripts for the group to read and discuss? Con tact Pensacola Little Theatre to get in queue. The group reads prospective scripts for future seasons as well as new scripts that need a table read before the next edit. Not a playwright but love to read out loud? This is your easy, fun theatre night. Fascinated by the play selection process? Sit in for a listen and usually a lot of laughs. Visit facebook.com/pensacolalittlethe atre for more information and the latest dates.
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August 18, 2022 a&e happenings matter artists have explored through drawing and printmaking over the last century. Art works include selections from the PMA's per manent collection, works on loan from The Art Gallery at the University of West Florida and works borrowed from contemporary Ameri can artists. Featured in the show are pieces by Pablo Picasso, Käthe Kollwitz, Salvador Dali, Alexander Calder, Alex Katz, Sage Lewis and Richard Lindner. The exhibit is on view through Sept. 4 at PMA, 407 S. Jefferson St. Visit pen sacolamuseum.org for more information.
GREETINGS FROM PENSACOLA Postcards were one of the ultimate promoters of person, place and thing during the first half of the 20th century. Journey through the development of the postcard and Pensacola's postcard past while be coming acquainted with Curt Teich, the world's most successful postcard publisher. On view through September 2022 at Pensacola Museum of History. Visit historicpensacola.org for details.
CAPTURING SHADOWS: EXPLORING THE MAGIC OF CAMERAS This exhibit looks at a brief history of the technology behind photography, from the camera obscura used during the Renaissance to modern digital cameras. In this interactive space, visitors will be able to experience capturing the magic of light through different means. The gallery also displays a wide array of camera technol ogy from the UWF Historic Trust collection, including rare images from our archives. On view through Dec. 2022.
CLASSES AT MIXON MAGIC PERFORM ING ARTS Mixon Magic Performing Arts (MMPA), a boutique performing arts studio located at 1010 N. 12th Ave., Ste. 238, will be offering a limited class schedule this fall. MMPA offers professional dance, fitness and "Mommy and Me" instruction for all ages and skill levels with weekly classes including, but not limited to, Creative Movement, Ballet/Jazz Combo, Broadway, Tap, Showstoppers, Acting and Voice. Classes will be provided for children as young as 2 years old (with a parent or guard ian) through adult. MMPA is dedicated to the safety and wellbeing of all students and families and has im plemented protocols based on guidance from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Masks are required for entry into the building and studio. More information about Mixon Magic Performing Arts can be found at mixonmagic.com, by contacting hello@mixon magic.com or emily@mixonmagic.com or by calling (850) 221-7438.
SUDDENLY AMERICAN: A MEETING OF HERITAGE AND COUNTRY This exhibit looks at the transition of Florida from a Spanish territory to an American region, which formally occurred in 1821. Florida's embattled history dates back much farther than 1821. From refusing independence dur ing the American Revolution to wanting their own freedom in 1810, Florida loved to cause problems. The United States eyed the region early on, using the Seminole Wars as an excuse to seize territory before turning to diplomatic means to acquire Florida. The Adams-Onis Treaty, debated and initially agreed upon in 1819, resulted in Spain ceding control of East Florida to the United States. At the same time, Spain also agreed to give up all claims on West Florida, in essence giving the entire Florida territory over to the United States. Ratified in 1821, the treaty was cause for celebration in Pensacola, the capital of West Florida, as it officially became part of America. On view at Pensacola Museum of History through Dec. 23. Visit historicpensacola.org for details.
007 GOLDENEYE TOURNAMENT AT ODD COLONY Break out your gaming gear for a 007 Goldeneye tournament at Odd Colo ny, 260 N. Palafox, 7 p.m., Wednesday, Aug. 24. Visit facebook.com/oddcolony for details.
Every first Saturday of the month, the busi nesses at 200 South will host Small Business Saturday to show support for local businesses. Bring a receipt from a purchase from any other downtown business and receive 10% off your bill at Graffiti Pizza, World of Beer, Taco Agave and Blend Lounge.
D S. Palafox. The class is 6 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 25. Tickets are $65. Visit bodaciousshops.com for more details.
a&e happenings
BUBBLES & PEARLS Send off the summer with oyster and spritz pairings at The Well, 42 E. Garden St., 6-8 p.m., Monday, Aug. 29. Featuring three specialty drink and oyster selections. Tickets are $55. For more informa tion, visit facebook.com/thewellpensacola.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL SATURDAYS Support your favorite college football teams at Perfect Plain Brewing Co., 50 E. Garden St. Wear your game day gear and get 15% off your beer tab. Visit facebook.com/perfectplainbrewingco.
TABLETOP TUESDAYS AT THE 5 BARREL Join The 5 Barrel for a special Tabletop Tuesday event at 6 p.m. every Tuesday in March. A wide variety of games ranging from the classic chess to the crowd favorite Catan will be available. Players are welcome to bring their own games.
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PALAFOX MARKET Palafox Market is back at its regular location in MLK Jr. Plaza. In a carefully planned, phased reopening, Palafox Market has launched with about half its regular vendors, showcasing food, farm produce and products geared toward safety and sanitation such as handmade soaps and face masks. For more information, visit facebook.com/down townpensacola.
MONTHLY WINE TASTING IN AGAPI GARDEN Visit Agapi Garden, at 555 Scenic Highway, from 5-7 p.m., to sample five wines for $10. For more information, call (850) 813-5683.
EVER'MARKET AT NINE MILE ROAD Visit Ever'Man at 1000 E. Nine Mile Road on the fourth Saturday of each month for the Ever'Market with food, music, giveaways, activities and more. Visit everman.org for more information.
Seville Savories Food Tour will host a coffee tour of downtown Pensacola Tuesdays-Fridays from 8:30-11:30 a.m. Tickets are available on line at sevillesavoriesfoodtour.com.
PENSACOLA POSITIVITY'S SUNDAY MARKETS Sunday Markets on Palafox Street happen each Sunday from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. in MLK Plaza on Palafox. Local makers, growers
BAYOU BUZZ COFFEE TASTING TOUR
SAINTS SUNDAYS Deck out in your game day gear and watch your team on the big screen at Perfect Plain Brewing Co., 50 E. Garden St. Get 15% off your tab when dressed in Saint's game day gear. Sundays Aug. 13-Jan. 8. Visit facebook. com/perfectplainbrewingco for details.
The Well, located at 42 E. Garden St., has expanded its offerings with a Sunday Funday Brunch cocktail menu including items such as Spicy Paloma made with Mezcal, a cold brew cocktail with Irish whiskey, a cucumberinfused spritz and a Bloody Mary spiced with house-made hot sauce and garnished with fresh pickled vegetables. Price range is $9$12. Brunch hours are Sundays from noon-4 p.m. Other small plate offerings are available Thursday-Saturday from 4 p.m.-one hour before closing. For more information, visit facebook.com/thewellpensacola.
ARAGON WINE TASTINGS Wine tastings at Aragon Wine Market are back every Thursday from 5-7 p.m. in store at 27 S. Ninth Ave. For more information, visit aragonwinemarket.com.
WINE WEDNESDAY Visit The Nest General Store at 11 S. Palafox, Ste. C, every Wednesday from 4-7 p.m. for a wine happy hour. Deals in clude $1 off listed by-the-glass wines, a waived corking fee, charcuterie plates and a $15 'wine flight' option. Visit thenestgeneralstore.com/ events for more information.
SUNDAY FUNDAY BRUNCH AT THE WELL
WEEKNIGHT HAPPY HOUR Every week night before 6 p.m. at The 5 Barrel, get $1 off all The 5 Barrel pints, $2 wine by the glass and half off hummus plates when you buy a pint of beer. Visit the5barrel.com for more information.
THURSDAY TRIVIA NIGHT AT THE 5 BARREL Gather a group for a weekly Thurs day Trivia Night Thursdays from 7-9 p.m. at The 5 Barrel. There will be prizes for every round and select drafts for $3. Find out more at facebook.com/the5barrel.
Gary's Brewery Trivia Night is back by popular demand. Thursdays from 7-9 p.m., test your trivia skills with a glass of beer or wine. Arrive early to grab a spot. Gary's Brewery is located at 208 Newman Ave. For more information, visit facebook.com/garysbrew.
FINE WINE FRIDAY Visit The Nest General Store at 11 S. Palafox, Ste. C, on the first Friday of every month for a wine tasting from 6-8 p.m. It's $35 a person and includes charcuterie and the opportunity to try their monthly wine club offerings in house. Visit thenestgeneral store.com/events for more information.
FINE WINE FRIDAY Visit The Nest General Store the first Friday of every month for a wine tasting from 6-8 p.m. Tickets are $35 per per son and includes charcuterie and the opportu nity to try our monthly Wine Club offerings in house. Visit thenestgeneralstore.com/events for more information.
200 SOUTH SMALL BUSINESS SATURDAY
THURSDAY BIERGARTEN TRIVIA NIGHT
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UPTOWN PENSACOLA MARKET
LIVE MUSIC BANDS ON THE BEACH Join Santa Rosa Island Authority for free weekly concerts every Tuesday night from 7-9 p.m. at the Gulfside Pavilion on Pensacola Beach. On Tuesday, Aug. 23, Vinyl Revival will be playing.
PENSACOLA POP-UP FARMERS MARKET
Check out local vendors of art, produce and other local treasures every Saturday at 7201 N. Ninth Ave. from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. For more information, visit facebook.com/uptownmarketpensacola.
FREE GALLERY NIGHT SHOW GETTIN' DOWN W/ BIG LO & SPECIAL GUESTS AT VINYL MUSIC HALL Visit Vinyl Music Hall, 2 S. Palafox, on Gallery Night, Friday, Aug. 19, to see Getting' Down with Big Lo & Special Guests. Show starts at 7:30 p.m.
GUNSHINE Pensacola band Gunshine will perform at the Saenger Theatre, 118 S. Palafox, Saturday, Aug. 20. Tickets are $19.99. Visit pen sacolasaenger.com for tickets and information.
JJ GREY & MOFRO JJ Grey & Mofro will be per forming 8 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 18, at the Saenger Theatre, 118 S. Palafox. Tickets are $35.95-$70.95. Visit pensacolasaenger.com for details.
CHAMPAGNE DRIP Champagne Drip will be performing at Vinyl Music Hall, 2 S. Palafox, 8 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 25. Tickets are $20-$45. Visit vinylmusichall.com for tickets.
DEATHCRUISER Deathcruiser will be per forming live at Odd Colony, 260 N. Palafox, 7-9 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 27. Visit facebook. com/oddcolony for details.
MONDAY NIGHT BLUES AT SEVILLE QUARTER Blues Society of Northwest Florida and Seville Quarter present Monday Night Blues, the longest running weekly Blues Jam in Florida, starting at 7 p.m. with an opening and followed by the Blues Jam at 9 p.m. Seville Quarter is located at 130 E. Government St. For more information, visit sevillequarter.com.
PENSACOLA PICK NIGHT AT ODD COLONY Music pickers of all levels are invited to play at Odd Colony, 260 N. Palafox, from 7-9 p.m. every last Monday of the night. Bring your acoustic instrument and jam. Visit facebook. com/oddcolony for details.
TWILIGHT THREE-COURSE SPECIAL
THE WILDFLOWERS: A TRIBUTE TO TOM PETTY & THE HEARTBREAKERS The Wildflowers will perform at Vinyl Music Hall, 2 S. Palafox, 6:30 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 21. Tickets are $18. Visit vinylmusichall.com for tickets.
a&e happenings 110 E. Intendencia St. •
20 inweekly.net20 and creators gather each under the oak trees to sell their goods to the community. Interested vendors can request an application by emailing requeaskmikellah@gmail.com. For more infor mation, visit facebook.com/palafoxmarkets.
BLUES ANGEL MUSIC'S BLUES ON THE BAY The City of Pensacola and Blues Angel Mu sic have partnered for the return of their annual free concert series every other Sunday at 6 p.m. at Community Maritime Park, located at 301 W. Main St. The Modern Eldorados play Aug. 21.
VAGRANTS AT THE HANDLEBAR Va grants, with special guests Moodring, Brave New World and Afterdusk, will play The Han dlebar, 319 N. Tarragona St., Friday, Aug. 19, starting at 7 p.m. Cover is $10. Visit facebook. com/thehandlebar850 for information.
EASY GOING GALLERY AFTERPARTY 002 The unofficial Champagne Drip afterparty with DJ sets from Danquish, Liquid L, Howdy Pouty and Spicy Ashaan, 11:30 p.m.-4 a.m., Thursday, Aug. 25. $15. Easy Going Gallery, 701 N. V St. Visit facebook.com/easygoinggallery for details.
SUMMER CONCERT SERIES AT PERFECT PLAIN Head to Perfect Plain Brewing Co., 50 E. Garden St., on Thursdays from 7-10 p.m. through September. Visit facebook.com/per fectplainbrewingco for more information. for more listings visit inweekly.net (850)
SATURDAYS AT THE MARKET OUT DOOR VENDOR EVENT Located at 5300 Berryhill Road, the outdoor market features artisans and crafters alike from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. on Saturdays. Social distancing guidelines will be in effect. For more information, email satur daysatthemarket@gmail.com.
Check out fresh and organic produce, milk, eggs, meat, fresh-baked bread, mushrooms, lumber, grits, cornmeal, pies and plants Sat urdays from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. at East Hill Market, located at 1216 N. Ninth Ave. For a list of ven dors, visit facebook.com/easthillmarket.
LIVE JAZZ WITH JOE OCCHIPINTI Joe Occhipinti will be performing at East Hill Mar ket, 1216 N. Ninth Ave., from 5-7 p.m. Friday, Aug. 19. Meet with Councilwoman Ann Hill and enjoy complimentary hors d'oevres.
STARLIN RECORD RELEASE Starlin will perform Friday, Aug. 26, at The Handlebar, 319 N. Tarragona St. Special guests are The Juice is Okay, Newscast, Tori Lucia and the Nitty Gritties. Show starts at 8 p.m. $5 cover. Visit facebook.com/thehandlebar850 for details.
The District's Twilight Three-Course special is back Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 4:30-6 p.m. Guests enjoy three courses for $35 per person. Diners must be seated by 6 p.m. for offer to be valid. To make a reservation, call (850) 332-5224, or go to districtstreaks.com. The District is located at 123 E. Government St.
433-6505 • BodaciousBookstore.com Best-sellers, children’s books & local authors! • Hand-crafted lattés and snacks from the café! • Children’s Story Time, Saturdays at 11 am Monday-Thursday 7 AM – 6 PM Friday-Saturday 7 AM – 7 PM Sunday 12 PM – 6 PM Your bookstore.independentlocal BOD0697 INW Bookstore Evergreen half pg.indd 1 5/11/22 9:05 AM
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CANCER (JUNE 21-JULY 22): Be fluid and flexible while still being rooted and sturdy. Be soft and sensitive even as you are also firm and resolute. Be mostly modest and adaptable, but become assertive and outspoken as necessary. Be cautious about inviting and seeking out challenges, but be bold and brash when a gold en challenge arrives. Be your naturally gener ous self most of the time, but avoid giving too much. Got all that, Cancerian? Carrying out the multifaceted assignments I just described might be nearly impossible for most of the other signs of the zodiac, but they are in your wheelhouse. You are a specialist in fertile complexity.
WEEK AUGUST ARIES (MARCH 21-APRIL 19): Aries film maker Andrei Tarkovsky wrote, "All my life, I've been going around waiting for something—as if I were waiting in a railway station. And I've al ways felt as if the living I've done so far hasn't actually been real life but a long wait for it—a long wait for something real." If I could speak with Tarkovsky right now, I would cheerful ly tell him that his wait will soon be over. I'd say that in the coming months, Aries people who have been postponing and postponing, who have been standing by and holding on and bid ing time, will have an excellent chance to begin inhabiting their full, rich destiny. I invite you to imagine what that will feel like.
Now is an excellent time to reconfigure your life story, to develop a revised relationship with its plot twists and evolution.
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SCORPIO (OCT. 23-NOV. 21): Of all the signs in the zodiac, you Scorpios are most like ly to regard that old pop tune by the Animals as your theme song. "I'm just a soul whose inten tions are good," croons lead singer Eric Burdon, "Oh, Lord, please don't let me be misunder stood." But you may have less motivation to ex press that sentiment in the coming weeks, dear Scorpio. I suspect you will experience recordbreaking levels of being seen and appreciated for who you are. For best results, do this—1. In form your deep psyche that you have no attach ment to being misunderstood. 2. Tell your deep psyche that you would very much like to be well understood.
PISCES (FEB. 19-MARCH 20): Sometimes, you may feel you're under the influence of a de bilitating spell or hindered by a murky curse. Pi sceans are prone to such worries. But here's a secret. More than any other zodiac sign, you have the power to escape from spells. Even if you have never studied the occult or read a witch's grimoire, you possess a natural facili ty for the natural magic that disperses curses. From the depths of your psyche, you can sum mon the spiritual force necessary to cleanse the gunk and free yourself. Now is a perfect time to prove to yourself that what I've said here is true.
CAPRICORN (DEC. 22-JAN. 19): In her poem "Valentine," Capricorn poet Carol Ann Duffy tells a lover she won't give her a "red rose or a satin heart." Instead, her token of affection is an onion, a symbol of multi-layered complex ity. "Its fierce kiss will stay on your lips," Duffy writes, "possessive and faithful as we are, for as long as we are." She adds that the onion will "blind you with tears like a lover." OK. I under stand the tough attitude expressed by Duffy. Romance isn't a relentlessly sweet, sentimental romp through paradise. But I don't recommend that you imitate her approach to your love life in the coming weeks and months. Appreciate the sometimes shadowy and labyrinthine convolu tions, yes, but don't make them more important than beauty and joy and love. How about invok ing the symbol of a pomegranate? It represents fertility and rebirth out of the darkness.
free will astrology By
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LIBRA (SEPT. 23-OCT. 22): "One is always at home in one's past," wrote author Vladimir Nabokov. But I encourage you to rebel against that theory, Libra. For now, find a way to NOT feel at home in your past. Question it, be curi ous about it, re-evaluate it. My hope is that you will then be motivated to change how your his tory lives in you. Now is an excellent time to re configure your life story, to develop a revised relationship with its plot twists and evolution. Revisit and update some of your memories. Reevaluate the meanings of key events. Enchant ing healings will materialize if you do.
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VIRGO (AUG. 23-SEPT. 22): In his poem "The Pupil," Virgo-born Donald Justice speaks of how he spent "a whole week practicing for that moment on the threshold." I advise you to do the same, Virgo. The goal is to be as pre pared as you can be for the upcoming rite of transition—without, of course, being neurot ically over-prepared. It's fine and natural to honor the tension of anticipation, using it as motivation to do your best. One other thing— As you get ready, please have as much fun as possible. Visualize the sense of accomplish ment you'll feel when you've reached the other side of the test.
AQUARIUS (JAN. 20-FEB. 18): Be extra expressive with the people and animals you care about. Be even more amusing and generous than usual. Dare to be abundantly entertaining and engaging and empathetic. Make it your goal to draw out your allies' dormant potentials and inspire them to love themselves even more than they already do. I'll tell you about the endear ing terms that author Vladimir Nabokov called his wife. Consider using them with your dear ones—"My sun, my soul, my song, my bird, my pink sky, my sunny rainbow, my little music, my inexpressible delight, my tenderness, my light ness, my dear life, my dear eyes, kittykin, poo chums, goosikins, sparrowling, bird of paradise."
GEMINI (MAY 21-JUNE 20): Tips on how to get the most out of the coming weeks—1. Cre ate a big spacious realization by weaving to gether several small hunches. 2. Keep a little an gel on your right shoulder and a little devil on your left shoulder. Enjoy listening to them ar gue, and don't get attached to anything they say. 3. Do the unexpected until it becomes ex pected. Then abandon it and try a new, unex pected experiment. 4. Meditate expansively on the question, "How many careers can I have in one lifetime?" 5. Enhance your home so it feels even more comfortable.
TAURUS (APRIL 20-MAY 20): Taurus poet Sherko Bekas wrote, "Each joy I wear, its sleeves are either too short or too long, too loose or too tight on me. And each sorrow I wear fits as if it were made for me wherever I am." With this as our starting point, Taurus, I'm pleased to report some good news. In the next three weeks, you will have zero sorrows to try on and wear like a garment. And there will be at least three joys that fit just right. The sleeves will be the correct length, and the form will be neither too loose nor too tight.
LEO (JULY 23-AUG. 22): "I've swung from ancient vines in the caves of Jamaica," exults Hoodoo priestess Luisah Teish. "I've danced with delight around totem poles and pressed foreheads with Maori warriors. I've joked with the pale fox in the crossroads, then wrestled with the jaguar and won. I have embraced great trees between my thighs and spoken words of love to thunder while riding lightning bolts." I offer Teish's celebratory brag to inspire you as you formulate plans for the coming weeks and months. What exhilarating adventures will you give yourself? What expansive encounters will you learn from? What travels outside of your comfort zone will you dare? The time is right for upsurges and upturns and upgrades.
SAGITTARIUS (NOV. 22-DEC. 21): "Un less we are creators, we are not fully alive," wrote Sagittarian author Madeleine L'Engle. She was referring to everyone, not just people in the arts. She believed that to be soulful humans, we must always make new things, generate fresh possibilities, and explore novel approaches. The restless urge to transform what already ex ists can be expressed in how we do our jobs, our parenting, our intimate relationships, and ev ery other activity. You are now entering a phase, Sagittarius, when this initiatory energy will be especially available, needed and valuable.
THIS WEEK'S HOMEWORK: What injustice are you most motivated to correct? newsletter. freewillastrology.com {in} Rob Brezsny freewillastrology.com freewillastrology@freewillastrology.comRobBrezsny©Copyright2022
THIS IS WHY WE CAN'T HAVE NICE THINGS! As of July 1 in Delaware, retail stores were no longer allowed to supply plastic shopping bags for their customers' purchases. No problem, said shoppers at Acme in Christiana—we'll just walk out with your plastic shopping baskets. Delaware Online reported that the store's supply of bas kets has been wiped out, and manager Kaitlyn DiFrancesco is not going to buy more. Customers had the option of buying reusable shopping bags or paying 5 cents for paper bags at checkout, but instead, as soon as the ban went into effect, they started lifting the baskets. Employees were asked to stop customers, but some shoppers just ig nored the warning or slipped out unseen. OH, CRAP! Drivers along I-94 in Pewaukee, Wisconsin, were forced to navigate an alarm ing obstacle course around 4:45 a.m. on Aug. 9, WISN-TV reported. As a flatbed truck hauled port-a-potties, at least seven of them slid off the truck and landed upright in the road, caus ing panic for drivers following behind. "I was like, 'Is that a port-a-potty?'" said driver Alex Hilar io. "Where did it even come from? Did they set it there? Because it was standing but rolling." Hi lario's car collided with one portable john, but he was not hurt. Driver Vern Hicks also hit one of the johns and may have to total his car. Most of the units were hit by cars; one Waukesha Coun ty Sheriff's deputy was heard saying he was "re sponding to that crappy situation."
23August 18, 2022 By the Editors at Andrews McMeelnews of the weird FAMILY VALUES, FUNERAL EDITION At a fu neral on Aug. 6 at Rolling Hills Memorial Park in Richmond, California, a family brawl broke out after the deceased's son and daughter started arguing, SFGate reported. Police were called to the scene around 1:30 p.m., where up to 20 fam ily members abandoned the service to fight with each other. The 36-year-old brother got into a vehicle and "attempted to drive toward his sis ter in an aggressive way, but instead he struck another female and sent her to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries," said Sgt. Aaron Pomeroy of the Richmond Police Department. He also managed to knock over headstones and vases and break a water main, causing the fu neral plot to fill up with water. The coup de grace was knocking over the casket; fortunately, the deceased did not fall out. When the broth er finally emerged from the car, someone hit him with a cane to subdue him. The brother was later charged with felony assault with a deadly weapon and vandalism.
UNCLEAR ON THE CONCEPT Miles Rout ledge, 23, of Birmingham, England, has stirred up controversy by traveling repeatedly to Af ghanistan and cozying up to members of the Taliban, the Daily Star reported. Routledge posted on Twitter on Aug. 9, "I am official ly Afghanistan's largest exporter to England. 150+ flags, patches and rugs," with a photo of his loot. But what's really got people up in arms is a rug he bought depicting the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center in New York City. Routledge believes the rug doesn't glorify the attacks; instead, it was made "by Afghan wom en to tell a story of a historical event. Hun dreds of American soldiers who signed up to the military because of 9/11 have this rug in their homes," he claimed. Routledge called Taliban members "kind blokes" because he had tea with them after stumbling into their com pound during an April trip.
THERE ARE CAMERAS EVERYWHERE Dr. Yue "Emily" Yu, 45, of Mission Viejo, California, was taken into custody on Aug. 4 after her husband alerted police that she was trying to poison him by adding Drano to his hot lemonade, The Mercury News reported. Yu's husband first started noticing a chemical taste in his drink in March and suffered from "two stomach ulcers, gastritis and esophagi tis," according to his petition for divorce, filed on Aug. 5. He installed cameras in the kitchen and collected video evidence showing Yu reaching un der the sink and pouring something from a Drano bottle into his drink. Yu's attorney says she "vehe mently and unequivocally denies ever attempting to poison her husband or anyone else." She was released after posting bail. {in}
PARENT OF THE YEAR
OOOHHH-KAAAAYYYY Angel Domingo of Toronto is a big fan of trading items on resell websites. So when he moved into a new home and found a single cheese stick in the refrig erator, it was a no-brainer for him: Buy a bill board in Yonge-Dundas Square and offer the Black Diamond Cheese String in a trade for the best offer. "This is probably the strangest thing that I've ever had to offer up," Domingo told Global News. "I guess some people really want it." Indeed, he's received several offers for the cheese, the most unusual so far being a trade of two Persian cats. He hasn't made a deal yet, but he's in no hurry: There are months left before the cheese's expiration date.
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The mother of a 6-year-old Butler County, Ohio, boy was ar rested on Aug. 9 and charged with endan gering a child and contributing to the delin quency of a child, WLWT-TV reported. The incident started when Olivia Eversole, a work er at a Marathon gas station in Hanover Town ship, saw the boy emerge from a car holding a Smirnoff Ice. Eversole asked the boy, "Do you know that you're drinking a beer?" He replied, "Yup, this is me and my mommy's favorite beer. We drink it all the time." Eversole called police, but when deputies arrived, the mother, Victo ria Hampton, 26, told them it was an accident and left with the boy. But when officers fol lowed her home, they found the boy riding a scooter, holding another Smirnoff Ice. "You've got to be on your toes because you never know what's going to happen," Eversole said.
Independent News | August 18, 2022 | inweekly.net
