Making a Difference
Since 2003, thousands of readers have improved their skills due to a Quint Studer book. Many of these books are required reading in schools and organizations. Not only do people acquire skills, Quint writes stories about the Pensacola area in most of his books. Congratulations, Quint, on your sixteenth book you have authored or coauthored.
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PLAY, LEARN, GROW SUMMER CAMP Escambia County recently wrapped up another successful year of the Play, Learn, Grow Summer Camp, with more than 200 local youths participating in the recreational program. The County hosted the six-week camp at four community centers, offering recreational games, sports, arts and crafts, and educational instruction. The Play, Learn, Grow Summer Camp also partnered with Feeding the Gulf Coast to provide youths with meals and snacks during camp.
ASCENSION SACRED HEART PENSACOLA
After achieving the standards required by the Florida Department of Health, the hospital is now the only facility in the Panhandle to offer Level I trauma care. Sacred Heart Pensacola offers surgical and medical specialty services to meet the needs of the most complex injuries. The Level I trauma center includes 24-hour board-certified surgeons and anesthesiologists and more than 10 specialty care teams on site and two neurosurgeons on call 24/7.
ROTARY CLUB OF PENSACOLA Each year, the club gives grants to area nonprofit organizations representing Rotary's focus areas: peacebuilding, maternal and child health, basic education and literacy, environment and community education development. A total of $25,000 was disbursed to Bright Bridge Ministries, Children in Crisis, Early Learning Coalition, First City Art Center, Gulf Coast Kid's House, Health and Hope Clinic, Loaves and Fishes, Manna Food Bank, Inc., Pensacola Symphony Orchestra, ReadyKids!, Ronald McDonald House Charities of Northwest Florida, Inc., Rotary Youth Camp of North Florida, Inc., Rotary Youth Leadership Awards, The Salvation Army, Studer Community Institute, Teen Challenge, United Ministries, Valerie's House, Waterfront Rescue Mission and YMCA.
UWF STEM SCHOLARS The program in the University of West Florida's Hal Marcus College of Science and Engineering has been named a recipient of the Insight Into Diversity 2024 Inspiring Programs in STEM Award. The award honors colleges and universities that encourage and assist students from underrepresented groups to enter the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
JIMMY PATRONIS State Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis oversees the insurance industry that charges Florida homeowners $5,533 a year for $300,000 in policy coverage, while the coverage nationally is $2,230 a year. During his two terms, Patronis has yet to come up with a solution for what many say should be his priority. This past week, he sent a letter on office stationery to Donald Trump saying the former president is the "only person who can fix our country when it comes to our current insurance crisis." The Florida Democratic Party (FDP) called out Patronis, who wants to be Florida's next governor, for "passing the blame for the property insurance crisis in Florida." In a written statement, FDP chair Nikki Fried said, "Republicans have had years to propose solutions to this problem and pass policies to deliver relief to Floridians—and repeatedly failed." The letter didn't improve Patronis' chances of getting Trump's endorsement over Rep. Matt Gaetz.
KIMBERLY CHEATLE
The U.S. Secret Service Director resigned last week following the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump earlier this month at a rally in Pennsylvania. She faced blistering criticism and mounting bipartisan calls to step down after the Trump rally shooting. Cheatle admitted the incident was the "most significant operational failure of the Secret Service in decades." The shooting by a lone gunman killed one person and wounded the Republican presidential nominee and two others.
ST ENGINEERING
Our city, county, state and federal governments put up millions to build the maintenance, repair and overhaul campus at the Pensacola International Airport for ST Engineering, and by all accounts, the company has been a very good business partner. However, it botched the communications concerning the termination of dozens of Chilean aviation mechanics in Pensacola and Mobile, Ala. FloridaWest and the City of Pensacola appeared to have been caught off-guard when the workers shared their plight with the Pensacola City Council and the media. The workers, elected officials and the community deserved more transparency.
Jimmy Patronis / Photo Courtesy of myfloridacfo.com
Photo Courtesy of myescambia.com
outtakes
By Rick Outzen
BAD DECISIONS HURT
Everybody likes to celebrate good decisions, but we rarely fully appreciate the consequences of the bad ones. We love the Community Maritime Park and celebrate how it sparked the revitalization of downtown Pensacola.
However, few remember that one councilman, Marty Donovan, almost blocked its construction when he decided not to support the project, even after the referendum was passed. Had he consented to the public-private development, the park and stadium could have been completed in early 2006. The maritime museum and the University of West Florida (UWF) conference center might have been built if the city had moved quicker on the plans. Instead, the stadium did not open until 2012.
Downtown Pensacola would have another Southtowne-type apartment complex on Intendencia Street if the Pensacola City Council had approved building the YMCA at the maritime park, but the mayor decided he wanted something else.
Two years later, Quint Studer and UWF had lease agreements approved by the Community Maritime Park Associates, Inc. (CMPA) board to build the UWF Center for Entrepreneurship, a conference center and childcare facility at the park, but Council President Andy Terhaar refused to put the agreements on the agenda and wanted Studer and UWF to renegotiate the leases.
Today, those lots remain empty. People fight for parking to use the downtown YMCA, the rental market is tight, UWF needs a downtown campus, and everyone complains about needing a conference center.
However, these bad decisions pale compared to former school superintendent Malcolm Thomas' refusal to accept a workforce development grant from Triumph Gulf Coast.
Six years ago, FloridaWest, the City of Pensacola, Escambia County and the state of Florida knew we needed to provide 1,200-1,500 workers for ST Aerospace's MRO campus being developed at the Pensacola International Airport. They needed the public school system to provide a steady stream of trainees.
In April 2018, Triumph Gulf Coast awarded the Escambia County School District a $2.7 million grant for workforce development, but Superintendent Thomas balked at performance goals because he would've had to refund part of the funds if he failed to meet them.
Triumph Gulf Coast wanted to give the school district $2.3 million for the program, which would be matched with at least $425,000 in cash or in-kind from the district. Pensacola State College would contribute at least $2,697,840 in cash or in-kind toward the project and a Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO) Job Growth Grant would provide $1,860,510 in cash. The total budget was $4,983,710.
Triumph chair Don Gaetz was stunned Thomas wouldn't accept the three-year metrics. Wakulla County and Franklin County school districts received grants for $3.9 million and $2.3 million, respectively, with no concerns about the performance goals.
Triumph expected Thomas to have 210 K-5 students in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) earn certificates and 70 middle school students receive information technology certificates. The Escambia high schools needed 100 students trained in cybersecurity and 20 in manufacturing. For aircraft assembly, Thomas needed to have 20 high school students earn certificates, and George Stone Technical College had to certify 50 students for airframe and powerplant (A&P). These weren't annual goals; they needed to be completed over three years.
In April 2009, Thomas made a counteroffer. He wanted three options. The first option was to produce 280 certificates by 2023 in the fields for K-12, and 35 A&P certificates, 21 cybersecurityrelated certificates and Commercial Truck Driver certificates for post-secondary students. The second option had 70% of those enrolled in a certification program and attempted a certifica tion exam to obtain a certificate. The third option had one-half of the students completing the postsecondary programs need to earn at least their occupation's average entry-level wage.
Triumph modified the grant, but Thomas still refused to sign the agreement. He told the PNJ, "Honestly, I'd prefer to do it myself."
$2,800,000 • 7.8 acres New wetland survey April 2023! 3283 Gulf Breeze Pkwy by Publix at Tiger Point and Tiger Point Park Drive. Access from Hwy 98 and Tiger
Of course, Thomas and the Escambia County School District did nothing. ST Aerospace had to go to Chile and other places to find aviation mechanics. Pensacola State College is building an A&P training academy, but we still need the school system to be the feeder system.
Thanks to Thomas, we are years behind in workforce development and good-paying jobs for our kids. {in} rick@inweekly.net
NIL COMING TO FLORIDA HIGH SCHOOLS
ing exploded in eighth grade when he posted a highlight reel that went viral and has only grown since then. Osborn hits virtually every demographic by posting highlight reels, fitness training videos and faith-based messages.
UNCHARTERED TERRITORY
The Osborns took another step to enhance his social media presence by teaming up with Ciano. The brand manager arranged Osborn's photo and video shoots with Step One Automotive and Randall's.
"It's so new and such uncovered territory that none of us know 100% what we're doing, but we're doing it and taking it one step at a time," Ciano said.
Ciano described Osborn as "turnkey ready" with his burgeoning social media following. Since taking on Osborn, Ciano has been inundated with parents asking her to represent their children.
A substantial investment of time and effort comes at a premium. Ciano already spends countless hours each week with clients at no charge. She knows that is not sustainable and has formed an LLC called Revelation Royalties.
use his social media platforms to promote the law firm.
"It's just an opportunity for him to have some of the exposure he needs," Blackledge said. "He's just the total package. He's smart, kind, wellrounded and a great player."
THE DARK SIDE
Raised in stable homes by supportive families, Moseley and Osborn are surrounded by people who have their best interests at heart. Neither of them appears in danger of falling prey to the money-hungry leeches eager to pounce on high school athletes.
"The dark side is you have these large conglomerates that act like an NIL Walmart, a onestop shop," Crawford said. "What they try to tell these high school kids is, 'We already have businesses signed up and we'll connect you to these deals, but what we want is certain things.' They'll have to move to different areas, enroll in certain schools, sign contingency deals where they pay 10-15% of what they make for so many years."
and Randall's Formal Wear provided the tuxedo for the photo op. The return on investment for the companies is obvious. The Pensacola Catholic High School sophomore quarterback is a social media influencer with more than 44,000 followers on TikTok and a reach of 3.2 million viewers.
Welcome to the world of Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) where student-athletes prosper from their athletic prowess or their social media influence or a combination of both.
NIL ushered in a new era for college athletes in 2021 and is now legal for high school athletes in more than 30 states. Florida officially joined the mix July 24 when the Florida Department of Education and Florida High School Athletic Association approved allowing NIL deals.
Restrictions in the NIL legislation include collectives (pools of donor money collected and distributed directly to athletes) being prohibited and transfer students being ineligible for NIL deals for a year. Another caveat bans NIL deals for products such as alcohol or tobacco.
Any student who violates the rules will receive a warning, followed by a one-year suspension. A third offense will result in the student being banned from competing in high school sports. The state covered most of its bases with the restrictions, but problems will inevitably surface.
"Because this is going to be the wild, Wild West, I imagine for the first year or two there's going to be some crazy stories that are going to set the precedent for what you can and can't do," said Chris Crawford, an attorney who has teamed up with influencer Madrina Ciano to represent Osborn.
NIL IMPACT
The "wild, Wild West" accurately describes the current state of college athletics. A significant
is Louisiana State University (LSU) gymnast Livvy Dunne whose social media influence has positioned her for multi-million-dollar endorsements. The Sports Illustrated swimsuit model has more than eight million followers on TikTok and more than five million on Instagram.
Dunne could have been cashing in before LSU if high school athletes were allowed to sign NIL deals when she was in school. That is no longer an issue for marketable high school athletes such as Osborn and Gulf Breeze junior baseball star Presley Moseley.
Neither Osborn nor Moseley are likely to earn large sums of money. The Florida legislation all but ensured that by prohibiting collectives, essentially cutting boosters off at the knees. Local business owners will instead offer small stipends and let the student-athletes keep the products they promote on their social media accounts.
Matt and Linsey Osborn told their son to make a list of his activities from the time he wakes up until he turns in for the night. The parents noted the products he used and have targeted those companies for NIL deals.
Both parents are in the sports profession and have used their expertise to position their son for marketing success.
"We were laying the groundwork of keeping the social media clean, having a following," said Matt Osborn, director of professional scouting for Pro Level Sports Agency. "We have to make sure he understands the seriousness of what's at stake, and make sure he understands he's a brand and a leader."
Caden Osborn has yet to receive scholarship offers, but football programs actively recruiting him include Auburn, Florida State and Georgia Tech. His social media follow -
"For me, I have to figure out what is my time worth to that child and parent," she said. "Maybe if they garnish some kind of lucrative contract, I would certainly want to position myself to get a certain percentage."
Crawford estimates he has spoken to 30 to 40 high school athletes about NIL and has taken on five of them as clients. His clients range from top athletes to athletes with an "amazing social media presence."
A star athlete who generates thousands of followers on social media is a dream client. If only one is an option, Crawford prefers the athlete with the social media presence.
"The old scenario is you got this guy who owns the local car dealership and wants the star quarterback to advertise … But kids with a better social media presence are going to be far more valuable to businesses than a star quarterback," he said.
There is still room for a star athlete with a relatively minor social media presence. Moseley falls in that category. He is one of the best high school baseball players in the nation. Perfect Game named him Preseason AllAmerican for 2024 and Prep Baseball Report ranks him as the third best third baseman, fifth best first baseman and fifth best right-handed pitcher in the state.
His off-the-field endeavors are equally impressive. Moseley volunteers at Miracle League, Tim Tebow's Night to Shine and the Special Olympics. Additionally, he maintains a 3.86 cumulative grade point average, is a member of Fellowship of Christian Athletes and has served on mission trips to the Dominican Republic, where he spreads the gospel and teaches baseball to the underserved.
Autumn Beck Blackledge PLLC signed Moseley to an NIL agreement. Blackledge said the law firm is paying Moseley but declined to reveal the amount. In exchange, Moseley will
University of West Florida Professor Gil Fried teaches sport management courses and serves on the National Council of Youth Sports. Fried predicts that NIL deals will "cause a ripple effect that destroys high school sports."
Fried said unintended consequences include family members and so-called friends asking for handouts, student-athletes playing through injury for the sake of endorsements, studentathletes no longer prioritizing education, an exodus of student-athletes from public schools and a decline in high school coaches and referees who will be mercilessly scrutinized by parents "seeing dollar signs."
"Newfound wealth often leads to disaster," Fried said. "We see it oftentimes with people who win the lottery. Here, you're going to have people who don't have a mature mind because their minds don't mature until they're about 24 or 25 to begin with. They're going to be getting money. What do you think that's going to result in? Everyone trying to manipulate them and abuse them … The scum of the earth start rising when money is involved."
Another concern is how will a student-athlete raking in NIL deals affect team chemistry? It's easy to see a scenario where teammates become jealous. Will fellow Catholic High football players resent Osborn for wearing tuxedos and driving around in Maseratis?
Osborn said he worries about that "to a certain degree," but he is taking steps to alleviate the potential problem. He and his representatives are negotiating that his teammates be included in certain NIL deals.
By being NIL pioneers, Osborn and Moseley are opening doors for other student-athletes.
"We produce these incredible athletes, but I think there are a good number of our local athletes who couldn't make it to the next level because of lack of focus and resources," Crawford said. "Hopefully, now that this NIL is open, they can see the future, that there's a pot of gold on the other side."{in}
Caleb Osborn / Photo by Luckey Shot Photography
ST TERMINATIONS On July 18, Hispanic Resource Center of Northwest Florida founder Grace McCaffery appeared at the Pensacola City Council's Leroy Boyd Forum to inform the leaders that ST Engineering's – Mobile Aerospace Engineering (MAE) had laid off 45 Chilean aviation mechanics at its Pensacola and Mobile, Ala., sites.
She read letters from three engineers who were laid off in late June and early July. McCaffery explained, "They simply want you to know that the company that brought them here could have allowed them a bit more grace. They're all aware that the city council cannot intervene in employee issues of a private company. However, they are also aware of the importance a company like this is to a community like Pensacola, and they feel it is important for you to know about their experience in working with such a valued company."
The workers said ST Engineering MAE has hired approximately 250 Chilean workers for its Pensacola and Mobile, Ala., operations, and company executives have told them the company would not renew any of their visas.
"Though we had no written contract, it was the description of a long-term employment that drew us here," said Ulises Rojas. "If we had known that my employment would be only a year, we would likely not have uprooted our families to come here. Many who attended the same recruiting event I did sold their homes and left their stable jobs in Chile. They bet everything on this opportunity."
Samuel Navarrete had a similar story. He said, "At the end of 2022, I learned that an American company was looking for aviation mechanics. News of this spread through Chilean national media. You have copies of one of the promotions that was published in the national media there. Chilean personnel from the company were also interviewed who said they had been working for them for years and that they had long-term work projects for around eight to 10 years."
Navarrete retired from the Chilean Air Force, where he had served for 22 years and specialized in aviation mechanics. "After a three-month probation, I brought my wife and daughter. They integrated perfectly. My wife attends English classes at a local church, and my daughter completed ninth grade with academic distinctions in English as a second language at Pensacola High School."
His termination was unexpected. "When we decided to apply to this company, we knew that we could be fired at any time, but we did not expect the process to be so poorly managed," Navarrete said. "The way companies handle these situations directly impacts the perceptions and willingness of other professionals to work here. We must ensure fair and transparent processes for all workers protecting their rights and dignity."
Juan Galvez began his employment with ST Engineering MAE in April 2023. The company suspended him May 31 and later terminated him by phone effective immediately June 28.
"I served the Chilean Air Force from Jan. 1, 2001, until the day before I moved to Pensacola. My children and I were excited about a job offering ample and lasting work. Moving to the United States is a great commitment with significant economic and emotional toll on the family," he told the city council.
"I'm a responsible person who follows the law, who pays taxes, and who has never been involved in illegalities," Galvez said. "I was aware that I could be fired without reason. I worked for more than a year with the company being highlighted by my superiors, complying with schedules and holidays in support of the company's objectives. Even so, they made no effort to notify me in advance of any problems with my visa. We deserve to be treated better."
McCaffery spoke with Inweekly after the meeting. "We've got a large group of employees recruited from the country of Chile that were
recruited with the idea that they would be here for a while, but just after a year, a large number of them are getting laid off. They have organized together because they cannot get answers from the company."
She has helped the workers tell their stories to the media and local leaders. "They're very adamant expressing their feelings on the lack of ethics in all of this because they have invested their entire futures and their children's futures to make Pensacola their home because of this career they were sold. And it's all just ending very abruptly with very little notice."
McCaffery said the workers have 60 days from their last day of work with their sponsored employer to find a new employer or leave the country.
She said, "I know there's some talk about that this is something that companies [do], they bring employees from another country or another place as they're getting things set up. The problem with that is that they didn't tell these workers that it was going to be a year. They didn't tell them it was going to be short-term. And had they done that, I would assume they would have a very difficult time recruiting them in the first place."
Hispanic Resource Center of Northwest Florida is accepting donations to help these families. Contact McCaffery at (850) 494-7899 or grace@latinomediainc.com. People can also mail a check to the Hispanic Resource Center of Northwest Florida, P.O. Box 284, Pensacola, FL 32591.
ST ENGINEERING RESPONDS After our interview with McCaffery was posted on ricksblog.biz, Alvin Bass, the senior vice president and general manager of ST Engineering – Mobile Aerospace Engineering's operations in Mobile, Ala., wrote Inweekly.
Bass said his company is proud to create 1,700 jobs at the MRO campus at Pensacola International Airport. However, the company has employed workers on temporary work visas to fill some jobs. Unfortunately, U.S. government renewals are not guaranteed.
The company is "currently exploring other employment-based visa options as means to continue working with these valued colleagues."
Bass wrote, "We are communicating with all impacted employees and providing appropriate documentation to help with visa renewal/application."
REEVES CONCERNED Mayor D.C. Reeves discussed the issue on "Real News with Rick Outzen."
"First of all, look, I don't care what occupation, we don't want people who live in the city to lose their jobs for any circumstance," he said. "I appreciate Grace coming on Thursday and discussing these things and to be an advocate for people ... That said, and as she acknowledged Thursday as well, it's difficult to comment on the circumstances of the HR department of a private company, and certainly the city does not."
The mayor said foreign workers at the airport MRO demonstrate the importance of the
Pensacola State College training program and its A&P (Airframe and Powerplant) academy. "At the end of the day, we're in dire need of finding talent, and it's why you can't go to anything STrelated or airport-related without me saying how vital I believe that school to be."
He added, "The goal here is to improve the quality of life for families in this city. And I know that's ST's goal and certainly ours, but at the end of the day, you have an operation to run."
ST Engineering must find a way to service the UPS planes on the tarmac. "To be fair, wherever those jobs are coming from, I don't know that it helps the community to say, 'Well, we're going to not work. We're going to work on less planes now until we have these jobs filled by Americans.'"
He believes the hiring of aviation mechanics from Chile and possibly other countries was a "necessity based on trying to find talent."
"I think we're all on the same wavelength here," Reeves said. "This project came here and was incentivized to come here to help create opportunity for people in the City of Pensacola. So again, I can't speak to what their HR strategy is or what they're doing in terms of hiring and onboarding and offboarding. But, I think overall, mission-wise, we all want the same thing."
KEEP
STRIVING
According to the Florida Department of Education's metrics, Escambia County Public Schools (ECPS) did well this past school year. Overall, 13 ECPS schools earned an A, 12 schools earned a B, 25 schools earned a C and one school earned a D. No ECPS schools earned an F.
Bellview Elementary, Holm Elementary, and McArthur Elementary each jumped from a C last year to an A this year. Bellview has improved from a D in 2022 to an A in 2024. Montclair Elementary, Warrington Elementary, Lincoln Park Elementary and Global Learning Academy each raised their school grades from F to C.
Individually, an impressive 90% of Molino Park Elementary's students showed learning gains in math. Similarly, 91% of N.B. Cook's third graders were proficient in English Language Arts. The middle school acceleration rate, which measures proficiency on high school level courses taken by middle school students, was the fourth highest in the state of Florida.
"We're really excited for our teachers, students, all of our employees, and most importantly, our community," said Keith Leonard, the ECPS superintendent. "It really does take all of us. And I believe our community is poised to assist in taking this district where we know it can be. There's no reason to be nervous. This is what we've prepared for, and we just keep striving, keeping our eyes forward to see stronger student achievement each and every year."
The superintendent felt the district's performance monitoring made a difference. He said, "It gives you a snapshot in time of each individual student. Our teachers, instructional coaches, school transformation office and our level directors did a great job of disaggregating
Photo Courtesy of City of Pensacola
that data, providing it to our teachers and those teachers working with each individual student for academic improvement."
Leonard sees all students as the school district's students, whether they attend charter schools, alternative centers or traditional public schools. He is optimistic about the district's only D school, Warrington Preparatory Academy.
"I truly believe that you'll see Warrington Prep, not just get a C, but get a higher grade than that in the very near future," he said. "I'm very proud of what they've done. I'm proud of our director of alternative ed for working strongly with them each and every day. We met with Mr. Ruiz (Charter Schools USA Florida Superintendent) and one of the Department of Education representatives every other week to ensure we were keeping our finger on the pulse and doing everything we could to assist them. And that partnership will only grow stronger as time goes by."
His team is disaggregating the test data down to each student so teachers can design unique learning plans for them. Families will know the plans and can follow them on the district's website.
"That's the way we are going to find success," Leonard said. "And just remember, there is no reason for us to be nervous because we have seen success. This is what we've prepared for, and we're just going to keep striving to where we turn those numbers around where instead of 25 C's, maybe there's 11 B's, and we get about 25 A's—that's where we want to be."
To see the school grades, visit bit.ly/3Sjs4Q4.
FOLLOWING JONES
Gary "Bubba" Peters will be Escambia County's next property appraiser when Chris Jones steps away at the end of this term. Peters, Jones' chief deputy, was elected without opposition after Jones made the announcement days before the qualification deadline.
Jones has served the citizens of Escambia County since his appointment in 1995 when his father, John R. Jones, announced his retirement after serving as the county's property appraiser for 34 years.
Peters praised his boss's leadership. "Mr. Jones is always focused on trying to make sure that we're doing the job right, giving us the right tools, the right education training that we need to do the job efficiently, and of course, in the best manner that we can. He's been a steward of those taxpayer funds, and we will continue to do so in my tenure."
He said citizens should not expect many changes when he takes office. "There's going to be some changes, but for the most part, the only thing that's going to change is some signage. The processes and policies are in place, so I don't see much changing.
Peters added, "I'm looking forward to my opportunity, and I do believe that I will make the citizens of Escambia County proud, and we'll continue to serve with integrity and in a courteous manner."
NEW INTERIM CEO The FloridaWest Economic Development Alliance has turned to a familiar face to run its day-to-day operations. Its board appointed Rick Byars as interim CEO. Byars previously served as board president and chaired the executive committee that oversaw operations during the gap between former CEOs Scott Luth and Brian Hilson.
"It was just the right thing to do to help the organization through the transition," said Byars, Florida Power and Light's (FPL) senior external affairs manager. "A lot of it has to do with my past experience. I've been in the business for 36 years, and a large part has been in the economic development space."
Hilson resigned as CEO earlier this month to move back to the Birmingham area to be with elderly family members and his wife, who serves as their caretaker. Because he did not complete a year on the job, the search firm Next Move Group must conduct a new search for the next CEO at no charge.
Meanwhile, Byars will serve as the interim at no cost to FloridaWest. He will remain in his position at FPL, albeit with a lighter workload.
"FPL has been very gracious about what they want me to continue to do, very specific responsibilities," Byars said. "The rest of my job responsibilities have been shifted to the other team members of FPL to free up my time so I can focus on helping FloridaWest."
Byars has served in management roles with FPL for nearly 10 years. He has been responsible for external affairs, community building, community relations and community development in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties.
FloridaWest is a public-private partnership with the mission to build, grow and sustain economic potential and prosperity in Escambia. Its economic development operations include attracting, retaining and expanding businesses by connecting the assets, resources and skilled workforce.
Notable triumphs for FloridaWest include helping secure $250 million in funding for ST Engineering to build an aircraft maintenance hangar. ST Engineering officially opened Hangar 2 at the airport last year.
Enticements from FloridaWest in recent years spurred technological advancements. ActiGraph, CIRCULOGENE, Intelligent Retinal Imaging Systems and Pegasus Laboratories each rapidly expanded their footprint in the county.
FloridaWest is in the middle of a five-year capital campaign. Its campaign goal is to raise $500,000 each year for $2.5 million. Bear said FloridaWest has fallen short of that goal, but he expects to ramp up efforts in the next two years.
Byars promised the board he would aggressively seek campaign donations.
"We cannot fail with this campaign," he said. "Failure is not an option. We have a long way to go, but the good news is that a lot of people have the information; it's just asking people for that information and then converting them to the commitment column."
To learn more, visit floridawesteda.com. {in}
WHEN THE POWER’S OFF, WE KEEP ON.
No power, no problem. Natural gas lets you enjoy hot showers, cook meals and even keep the lights and AC on with a whole house generator.
Visit PensacolaEnergy.com or call 850-436-5050 to learn how to get up to $3,000 in rebates.
Making friends as an adult is challenging. Making friends as an adult who prefers the company of a good book to a night out can feel nearly impossible. But for book lovers in Pensacola, the solution is simple: join one of the city's many vibrant book clubs. From cozy gatherings at local bookstores to intimate meetups in private homes, Pensacola's book clubs offer more than just literary discussions—they provide a welcoming space for community and camaraderie.
BIBLIOPHILES BOOK CLUB
For Melissa Smith, manager of Bodacious Bookstore & Cafe, reading has been a lifelong passion. "My love of reading started when I was in kindergarten," she recalls. "My teacher, Mrs. Reid, curated my love of reading by giving me books and allowing me to read beyond my grade level. I was hooked." This passion now drives her role in managing the bookstore and fostering a community of readers through several book clubs.
Shortly after starting at Bodacious Bookstore, Smith founded the Bibliophiles Book Club to create a space to discuss literary fiction and share her passion with like-minded readers.
"Literary fiction has a broad reach and can appeal to many types of readers," Smith explained. "It runs the gamut of emotions—heartwarming, soul-searching, gut-wrenching, joy-inducing."
JOIN TH E CL UB
A Spotligh t on Local Book Club s
By Dakota Parks
From this initial book club, Bodacious expanded to include three more clubs: one for romance, another for fantasy and even a silent book club, where book lovers can come together to read whatever they want and socialize.
"My favorite part of book club is sharing the books that I read and enjoy in these specific genres that either spark joy or cause me to look at my own thoughts. Books can reflect what we know about the world and allow us to see different lives," Smith said.
Smith likens the Bibliophiles Book Club to catching up with close friends you haven't seen in a while.
"Our group has been together for three years with consistent membership, so the conversation is always engaging and flows easily," she said. "Knowing you'll be discussing a book heightens your awareness as you read, which deepens your engagement with the text. Everyone is welcome to share at book club, but there is no pressure if you just want to listen. All opinions are welcomed and respected."
Occasionally, the club enhances its discussions by connecting with authors online. The Bibliophiles meet every first Tuesday and the pick for their Tuesday Aug. 6 meeting is "All the Colors of the Dark" by Chris Whitaker. Bodacious offers a 15% discount on the monthly book club selections.
"We have had people sit next to each other in a book club as strangers and walk out as friends that come to book club together each month," Smith said. "Gathering to discuss a shared interest binds people together. I have had many of our members comment on how the book clubs have made an impact on their lives, and it makes me feel so good about the community that we have created here."
PENSACOLA SAPPHIC BOOKCLUB
This quest for community is also at the heart of Sapphic Bookclub. Founded in June 2022 by Brooke "Hersh" Hershberger and an anonymous friend, the club was created to foster a sober-friendly queer community centered around books.
"Our club is made up of women and woman-aligned non-binary people who identify as lesbian, bi, pan or otherwise queer. We welcome anyone who identifies as sapphic, including trans women and people on the aromantic and asexual spectrums," member Angelica Tilton shared.
Meeting once a month, the Sapphic Bookclub keeps its locations private for safety reasons, coordinating through a Discord server where members can vote on books, share meeting details and connect over similar interests. Each month
the group reads a book featuring a sapphic main character, exploring genres like historical fiction, sci-fi, graphic novels, adult contemporary, horror, YA, classics and, of course, romance.
"While our club doesn't focus on romance books, it's great that sapphic romance books exist because they allow us to imagine that a happily ever after is possible," Tilton explained. The club's success is rooted in its informal and welcoming atmosphere. New members are greeted with quick introductions and name tags before settling into a discussion on the book of the month.
"Our discussions vary wildly," Tilton said. "Sometimes we don't have much to say about the book. Sometimes we like a book so much that we dissect characters and scenes. Other times, we have a lot to say because the book was so bad. Some of our best discussions come from books that people didn't really like."
Tilton also highlighted the importance of this particular book club as a communitybuilding space.
"Spaces for sapphic people to gather, both in Pensacola and across the U.S., are rare. Personally, I don't drink, and I don't like crowds or loud noises, so meeting new people can be difficult. Joining Sapphic Bookclub has allowed me to make new friends and be part of a community. I barely knew any queer people in
Pensacola before I joined, and now I have lots of sapphic friends," Tilton said.
The club's commitment to fostering community extends beyond their monthly meetings. Alongside their Discord server, which has expanded to include breakout groups like Sapphic Stitchcraft and Outdoor Adventures, the group uses their Instagram platform to share local and national LGBTQ+ news, book recommendations and local events. Tilton helps run the Instagram account and hopes it serves as a resource for queer individuals to connect with neighbors in Pensacola and the surrounding areas.
"Our main goal is to cultivate a supportive community for sapphic people in the Pensacola area," Tilton said. "I try to share relevant news to our community since Florida and Alabama state governments and the federal government are constantly threatening queer and trans rights."
"I also share book recommendations because we are a book club, and books are important. Reading books about people with similar experiences to your own can help you feel less alone, and reading books about people with different experiences from yours can foster understanding and empathy."
For August, the Sapphic Bookclub is diving into "Upright Women Wanted" by Sarah Gailey. The next meeting will take place Sunday, Aug. 18. Prospective members can reach out to the group on Instagram to join their Discord server.
BOOKS & BANTER
Sami Huss, founder and admin of the Facebook group Books & Banter, describes the group as more than just a book club. After joining a Facebook group called "Pensacola Friends in Their 20s and 30s," Huss took over a book club chat, which eventually grew into Books & Banter.
"I love reading, but I didn't know anyone local who shared my passion," Huss said. "Reading a great book is wonderful, but discussing it with others enhances the experience. When you find someone who has read the same book, it feels like speaking a secret language and instantly jumping back into another world. I started this book club so I could make friends and read books with them."
Books & Banter offers a unique blend of monthly genre reads and a Silent Book Club.
"What's great about Silent Book Club is that there's no pressure to read the same book," Huss explained. "You can just show up, enjoy the company of people, and immerse yourself in the book of your choosing." Meetings typically involve 30 minutes of social time, one hour of quiet reading
and another 30 minutes of social time. For the more introverted readers, it's perfectly acceptable to read for the full two hours as well.
In addition to the monthly Silent Book Club meetings, Books & Banter's structure ensures that members explore a wide variety of genres, including fantasy, thriller/mystery, romance, science fiction/dystopian, historical fiction and horror.
"Each month, members submit their recommendations for the specified genre, and then we vote on which book to read," Huss explained. "The book with the most votes is chosen for our monthly read, and we meet at the end of the month to discuss and socialize."
This approach has encouraged members to read genres they might not ordinarily reach for.
"Due to this format, many of us have read books outside our comfort zones and loved them. As all book clubs do, we've also had a few duds that we wouldn't recommend," she said.
Each month, the group rotates between meeting at coffee shops, breweries like Odd Colony, Barnes & Noble and members' houses. From time to time, Books & Banter also hosts non-book club events such as a "Paint & Prose" paint night, a "Pages & Waves" beach meetup and even "Book Bash," which featured book-themed charcuterie boards, book swaps, trivia and other fun games.
"Books & Banter has become more than your average book club. We've created a safe, fun and meaningful space where everyone is welcomed and accepted. Members, who I now call friends, have shared with me how much this book club has helped them. The shared hobby of reading is wonderful, but it's the people that truly make this group a success. Making friends as an adult is hard, and seemingly even harder after the pandemic," Huss said.
Members of Books & Banter have conveyed how much the club means to them through a monthly "Reader Spotlight," which highlights the personal impact of the group. "I can't express how grateful I am to have found this book club," member Genevieve Newman shared. "I was struggling to make friends as an adult who works a solitary job on weekends. Wanting more than just banter at a bar with strangers, this club came at just the right time for me. I felt so welcomed and accepted, even when I hadn't read the book of the month my first meeting. I love feeling like I have a little community to belong to."
In the future, Huss hopes to collaborate more with local authors and bookstores to engage with the local literary community. The next Silent Book Club meeting will be held on Saturday, Aug. 24 from 2-4 p.m. at Odd Colony. {in}
BODACIOUS BOOKSTORE CLUBS
@bodaciousbooksandcafe, bodaciousbookstore.com
Bodacious Bibliophiles Book Club, Romance Book Club and Fantasy Book Club meet monthly. Silent Book Club is weekly. All convene at Bodacious Bookstore & Cafe, 110 E. Intendencia St.
PENSACOLA SAPPHIC BOOKCLUB
@sapphic_bookclub_pensacola
A queer-centered monthly book club reading assorted genres. Location varies; interested readers can reach out to the club's Instagram for details.
BOOKS & BANTER
facebook.com/groups/booksandbanteremeraldcoastbookclub
This group hosts a regular silent book club, plus monthly genre group reads voted on by members. Location rotates between local breweries, coffee shops, members' houses and more. Books & Banter also occasionally hosts non-book club events to enhance attendee connection.
SILENT BOOK CLUB PENSACOLA
@sbcpensacola, facebook.com/groups/sbcpensacola
A silent, bring-your-own book club held bimonthly at different venues around Pensacola.
POSITIVELY PENSACOLA'S BOOKS & BUBBLY
@positivelypensacola, positivelypensacola.org/booksandbubbly
A women's book club that meets monthly to discuss books written by women, focused on women's empowerment or addressing themes relevant to women's lives. All meetings are held at The Idle Reader, 1449 W. Nine Mile Road.
WUWF BOOK CLUB
facebook.com/groups/wuwfpublicmediabookclub
Hosted by WUWF 88.1, this club brings together book lovers and public radio listeners to read and discuss a new book every two months.
ADONNA'S GARDEN ST. CAFE & BAKERY BOOK CLUB
facebook.com/adonnasbakerycafe
A monthly book club that votes online to select books and meets at Adonna's Garden St. Cafe & Bakery, 811 W. Garden St. Join the club's Facebook group by visiting Adonna's Facebook page.
PENSACOLA MOM COLLECTIVE BOOK CLUB
pensacola.momcollective.com/book-club
A bi-monthly book club for mothers in the Pensacola area. Members can discuss their reads in person or online. Join the club's Facebook group by visiting Pensacola Mom Collective's book club web page.
HUSH! & READ lifeishale.com/event
A silent book club hosted by Haley "Hale" Morrissette at Black Cafe & Bookstore, 3498 Dr. Martin Luther King Drive. In September, Hush! & Read will return to meeting monthly.
AFRICAN AMERICAN HERITAGE SOCIETY BOOK CLUB
africanamericanheritagesociety.org/events
A book club exploring African American history. Check the Society's website this fall for more on the next meeting, which is set to occur in October.
WEST FLORIDA PUBLIC LIBRARIES BOOK CLUBS
mywfpl.com/visit/adults/book-clubs WFPL stocks additional copies of all their book club picks for members to check out. Some of the active monthly book club types include popular literary, graphic novel and silent. All clubs meet at a WFPL branch. Visit WFPL's website for a full list of clubs.
Arts & Entertainment
Love, Brynnevere
As kids, many of us are verbally empowered to make the world a better place.
Brynne Heatley took that literally.
The Gulf Breeze graduate has carried on her back the responsibility to make the entire world feel better since childhood—which at first translated to healing people through the pre-med program at Tulane University until she took a hard left to instead heal through storytelling as a Pixar animator via a visual arts degree at University of Central Florida.
But one tough degree, exploratory crosscountry cycling trip, life-altering breakup and world-ending dream later, Heatley settled on the one thing that just might make the whole world feel better: singing.
"I came out of this dream with a new lease on life, because in the dream, the world actually did end … but when I woke up, I got another chance," she said. "I was so happy to be here again, that this song came into my head called 'Soul Shine.' And I was like, 'At the end of all things, the only thing I think that matters is love … forget all the other things I was trying to do, I just want to spread love as fast and as far and wide as possible, and the easiest avenue to do that with would be through music and sound."
Heatley sings under the moniker Love Brynnevere or just Brynnevere, a modern-day
take on King Arthur's wife Guinevere. Heatley's Pensacola made debut album, "Heart Songs for Humanity," is in the works, but listeners can hear the singles "SoulFire" and "Unconditional (A Song for My Son)" on streaming platforms now.
Heatley has been singing as far back as she can remember—specifically in four-part harmonies on road trips with her three older siblings.
"You can't all sing the same thing and be heard," Heatley said.
Growing up, Heatley was obliviously unaware not everyone felt the way she did about healing the world. But she thinks some of that mission comes from being born as an accident—a happy one, though, she explained.
"My parents were so lovely and loving to me; they were like, 'You're the cherry on top on top,'" Heatley said. "But because I was five years behind my three siblings and they were all so close in age, I always felt like I didn't belong … Although it was like the curse and bane of my childhood, it became a strength and a virtue, because I can feel a lot of empathy for people who don't feel like they fit in, and then help to create a space where they feel welcome, because that's what I want. I want to feel welcome in the world, so I know how to make a space feel welcoming. It's funny how that goes, how sometimes your wounding is actually your greatest asset."
Over the years, Heatley has sung healing into existence as a decadelong yoga instructor at the end of her classes and now as a massage therapist to clients during sessions—only upon request, of course.
She knows music can heal, because it has for her since she was a child.
"I just felt like such a princess when my parents would sing me to sleep because it felt like such a healing vibration," Heatley said. "I teach voice now, and I say, 'It doesn't matter if your parents were good at singing or not, it just mattered that they were singing with the loving intention of putting their baby to sleep.'"
Much of the impact of singing lies in the intentions behind it, she explained. Heatley believes all voices are medicinal for our own bodies, and for our loved ones—especially because everyone has an imprint of what they sound like to each other, she said.
"Your voice is unique. My voice is unique. Your mother's voice is unique. Everybody's voice is unique, and you could pick it out from a million other voices," Heatley said. "If you heard a recording, you would know which one is your loved one. I think that's so special that we all have this instrument built into our bodies."
Unlike lullabies with the intention to put people to sleep, her album has quite the opposite intent.
"It's more to wake people up to the realization that this life is precious," Heatley said. "All of my songs are soulful and kind of simple, because I don't have a lot of musical theory going on. It's about the voice and the lyrics, because I want it to be about humanity moreso than the instrumentation, and so some of them are acapella. I want the message to come through that, 'You, whoever you are in this world, are here for a reason. You're beautiful and you deserve to be here,' and some of that is just me trying to prove that to myself. But in proving it to myself, I realized that it's true for all of us, and I start to appreciate every single one of us so deeply because we're all this unique fingerprint of life or soul print."
Heatley plays a little guitar and keyboard, but primarily performs and records with a loop station and accompanying jazz musicians. She describes the album as a combination of neosoul and her self-created genre, forest gospel— because of its many references to nature. It's sexy, dark, happy and sad, she said.
And as much as it's about honoring life, there, too, is a song about death.
Heatley recently said goodbye to her biggest fan, a spectator at 200-something of her shows, they speculated. Her father Harry Heatley—who never missed a show—died 11:11 a.m. June 22.
"It's taking me for such a ride to have the person that was always there, no longer be there," Heatley said. "I guess what it's doing is it's showing me how precious every moment is, because I saw him the day before. I saw him that week. He came to my show at Bamboo Willie's of all places. And I was like, 'Dad, I'm really disappointed in myself. I've been doing this for six years, and I'm only right here at Bamboo Willie's at 11 on a Tuesday.' He was still so proud of me."
It's changed her perspective. Because while she does aspire to be more than just background music to drink alcohol to—she dreams of playing at Red Rocks Park and Amphitheatre in Jefferson County, Colorado—what she really wants is to share love and inspire.
"I want to share my father's love with everybody in the whole wide world, because not everybody gets such an awesome dad—and I'm so lucky I got to have him," Heatley said. "And now his energy pervades into every show that I do, because I feel like he's there with me still … if we could really recognize that we're not here forever, we're just here for a short little blip on the screen of existence."
"When I have a group of people actually lend me their attention—it's not that I want their attention on me, it's that I want the opportunity to take us somewhere together on the train of attention. Like, let me just be your conductor for a second. I'll take you to a beautiful place. Let's go."
Heatley intends to sign off her album and everything she writes as if it were a letter, with "Love, Brynnevere." And she really means it. {in}
LOVE BRYNNEVERE AT THE HANDLEBAR
WHAT: Katie Dineen Album Release Party with Love Brynnevere and Pretty Gritties
WHEN: 7 p.m. Friday, Aug. 2
WHERE: The Handlebar, 319 N. Tarragona St. COST: $10 in advance, $15 at the door
DETAILS: @love_brynnevere, thehandlebar850.com
Love Brynnevere also plays 6-10 p.m. Wednesdays and 7-11 p.m. Saturdays at The District: Seville Steak & Seafood, 123 E. Government St.
Love Brynnevere / Photo by Will Rain Photography
a&e happenings
NONPROFITS & FUNDRAISERS
PUPS
OF PENSACOLA CALENDAR
CONTEST WolfGang Pensacola, LLC, in partnership with Hoff House Pet Photography, returns with the 2025 Pups of Pensacola Calendar Contest. Proceeds, after costs and fees, from the photo contest and calendar sales will assist with continuing their efforts to provide resources for area animals in need. Submit your favorite photo of your pets starting Aug. 3 and ask your family and friends to vote for them (and you can vote for your cutie, too). Each entry is a $15 fee, and each vote is $1 with proceeds, after costs and fees, going to the fourth annual Pawdi-gras benefactor, the Escambia County Department of Animals Welfare. Details are available at gogophotocontest.com/wolfgangpensacola.
ANIMAL ALLIES FLORIDA BINGO Animal
Allies Florida hosts bingo twice monthly at Scenic Hills Country Club, 8891 Burning Tree Road. The cost is 10 rounds of bingo for $10, with cash prizes for winners. Food and drinks are also available for purchase. The full bar and restaurant offer special adult beverages just for bingo nights. You must be 18 to play. For more information, visit facebook.com/animalalliesflorida.
ANIMAL ALLIES CAT AND KITTEN
ADOPTION Visit Pet Supermarket 11 a.m.-3 p.m. every first and third Saturday of the month at 6857 N. Ninth Ave. to meet your furever friend. Visit aaflorida.org for details.
CARING & SHARING MINISTRY FOOD
DRIVE The Gloria Green Caring & Sharing Ministry is attached to the Historic St. Joseph Catholic Church, 140 W. Government St. The ministry feeds the homeless at 10:30 a.m. Tuesdays. The ministry's food pantry opens at 10 a.m. and has clothing. Food donations needed are pop-top canned goods, Beanie Weenies, Vienna sausage, potted meat, cans of tuna and chicken and soups. Clothing donations needed include tennis shoes for men and women as well as sweatshirts and new underwear for men in sizes small, medium and large. Call DeeDee Green at (850) 723-3390 for details.
COMMUNITY EVENTS
O'RILEY'S IRISH PUB SCHOOL SUPPLY
DRIVE O'Riley's Irish Pub, 321 S. Palafox St., will join a school supply drive now through Aug. 5 partnering with Baybridge Chiropractic Clinic. A supply drive box will be near the entrance of the bar during all operating hours. Requested items include pencils, backpacks, notebooks, binders, crayons, glue sticks, scissors and individuallysealed snacks, among others. An extended list of requested items can be found at facebook. com/baybridgechiropractic.
CALL TO ARTISTS
2024 POP SHOW & EXHIBIT The Wide Angle Photo Club has opened registration for the 2024 Power of Photography show in November. All amateur and professional photographers are welcome to participate and compete for cash prizes and sponsor merchandise. Photographers may enter unlimited photos online. Entries will be accepted until 11:59 p.m. Aug. 18. The late entry is through Aug. 18 with a fee of $15. For details, visit wideanglephotoclub.org/contest.
ARTS & CULTURE
DISNEY'S DESCENDANTS MUSICAL Pensacola Little Theatre Treehouse Production is 7:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 2, 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 3, 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 4. A 7:30 p.m. performance is Thursday, Aug. 1—when tickets are half price. A sensory-friendly performance is 1 p.m. PLT is located at 400 S. Jefferson St. Details are at pensacolalittletheatre.com.
SAENGER SUMMER MOVIE SERIES: 'ERIN BROCKOVICH' Watch the 2000 film "Erin Brockovich" 7 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 1 at Saenger Theatre, 118 S. Palafox St. Tickets are $5 and available at the Saenger Box Office. Details are at pensacolasaenger.com.
MEND IN PUBLIC A day of crafting and community building with Backstitch Outreach is 4-7 p.m. Friday, Aug. 2 at Odd Colony, 260 N. Palafox St. Tickets are $35 and available at facebook.com/oddcolony.
WEST FLORIDA GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY MEETING Join the West Florida Genealogical Society for a brief meeting followed by program, "Using Kindle Direct Publishing to Produce a Family History Book," 10:30 a.m.-noon Saturday, Aug. 3 at the Downtown Pensacola Library, 239 Spring St., in meeting room B. Event is free and open to the public. No registration is required. For more information, visit wfgs.org or email info@wfgs.org.
BODACIOUS BIBLIOPHILES BOOK CLUB
The next book club meeting is 5 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 6. The club will discuss "All the Colors of the Dark" by Chris Whitaker. Event is at Bodacious Bookstore, 116 E. Intendencia St. Visit facebook. com/bodaciousbookstore for details.
OPERA AFTER DARK Join Pensacola Opera and Tenor Andrew Morstein for an evening of Italian classics 7 p.m. Friday, Aug. 9 at the Opera Center, 75 Tarragona St. Tickets are $25 and available at pensacolaopera.com.
'WHAT'S HAPPENING' ONE-ACT PLAY
Head to 309 N. Sixth Ave. (309 Punk House) to see the production of a one-act "playpisode" based on the 1970s sitcom "What's Happening." Auditions for the show are 7 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 1. Details are at facebook.com/309punkproject.
THE ART GALLERY AT UWF PRESENTS TAG ARTIST IN RESIDENCE 2024 'TESTBED' "TESTBED" 2024 Faculty Artist in Residence and Exhibition features UWF Department of Art and Design faculty members Marzia Ransom, Jason Pinckard and John Dougherty. Artwork will be displayed at TAG, in the Center for Fine and Performing Arts, 11000 University Parkway, Building 82, on the Pensacola campus. An opening reception is 5-7 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 22 in TAG. Following the open studio hours and reception, visitors can view completed works during the exhibition dates Aug. 22- Sept. 26. A closing reception is 5-7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 26 in TAG. TAG is open 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday-Friday and observes all UWF closures and holidays. All events are free and open to the public. For more information, visit uwf.edu/tag.
CELEBRATING 70: A HISTORY OF COLLECTING A new Pensacola Museum of Art exhibit runs through Sept. 29 featuring highlights of PMA's permanent collection at 407 S. Jefferson St. Details are available at pensacolamuseum.org.
KINGS AND QUEENS OPEN MIC COMEDY
Try your hand at stand-up comedy or watch others perform 8 p.m.-1 a.m. Tuesdays at Sir Richard's Public House, 2719 Cervantes St. Details are at sirrichardslounge.com.
SILENT BOOK CLUB AT BODACIOUS Sundays are for quietly reading at Bodacious Bookstore & Café, 110 E. Intendencia St. Join the Silent Book Club 10-11 a.m. Sundays. Details are at facebook.com/bodaciousbookstore.
PENSACOLA ROSE SOCIETY Monthly meetings are normally 6 p.m. the second Monday of the month at the Pensacola Garden Center, 1850 N. Ninth Ave. Visit pensacolarosesociety.org for more information.
BTB COMEDY Watch live standup comedy in open mic style 7 p.m. Mondays at Odd Colony, 260 N. Palafox. Follow BTB Comedy on Facebook for updates.
COMEDY SHOWCASE AT SUBCULTURE
BTB Comedy presents a comedy showcase the first Thursday monthly at Subculture Art Gallery, 701 N. V St. Follow facebook.com/pensacolasubculture for updates.
SCRIPTEASERS Join writers at Pensacola Little Theatre, 400 S. Jefferson St., for Scripteasers every month. Visit pensacolalittletheatre.com for details.
PALAFOX MARKET Enjoy Palafox Market 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturdays. The event features local farmers, artists and crafters on North and South Palafox Street at Martin Luther King, Jr. Plaza and Plaza Ferdinand. For updates, visit facebook.com/downtownpensacola.
CABARET DRAG SHOWCASE AT AMERICAN LEGION POST #193 Don't miss Cabaret Drag Showcase every second and fourth Saturday at the American Legion Post #193, 2708 N. 12th Ave. Doors open at 8 p.m. Showtime is 10 p.m. For more information, contact show director Taize Sinclair-Santi at taizesinclairsanti@gmail.com.
SPIRITS OF SEVILLE QUARTER GHOST TOUR AND LUNCHEON Dine inside Pensacola's oldest and most haunted restaurant and investigate the spirits with actual paranormal equipment at Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. Tickets are $12 and include a voucher toward Seville Quarter's menu. Tours are held 11 a.m.-2 p.m. weekdays and 2-4 p.m. Sundays. Make an appointment by calling (850) 941-4321.
AFTER DARK: SEVILLE QUARTER GHOSTS, MURDER, MAYHEM AND MYSTERY TOUR AND DINNER After Dark Paranormal Investigation and Dinner happens
a&e happenings
inside one of Pensacola's most haunted restaurants with actual ghost-hunting equipment 6-8 p.m. Sundays. Listen as your guide weaves tales of ghosts, debauchery, murder, mayhem, paranormal activities, history and more related to Seville Quarter and downtown Historic Pensacola. After your ghost tour, enjoy dinner at Seville Quarter Palace Café, 130 E. Government St. Reservations are required. Call (850) 941-4321. Tickets are available at pensacolaghostevents.com.
BODY, MIND, SPIRIT MARKET AT EVER'MAN Local vendors, artisans, holistic practitioners, speakers and more come together 10 a.m.-4 p.m. the first Saturday of the month at Ever'man Downtown, 315 W. Garden St. This is a free indoor and outdoor event with door prizes, entertainment and children's activities. For a vendor table, call (850) 941-4321 or go to empowermentschoolhouse.com.
FOOD + DRINKS
ATLAS BEVERAGE CLASS Ology Brewing will host classes 5 and 7 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 1 at Atlas, 600 Barracks St. Cost is $30 a person and includes beverage tasting paired with appetizers. Reservations are required. Make yours by calling (850) 287-0200 or emailing taylor@ goodgrits.com.
VETERAN'S LUAU Whiskey Joes and Defenders of Freedom Veterans Luau featuring Roasted Pig and Island themed small bites by Chef Kara Mardell. Event is 4-7 p.m. Saturday,
Aug. 3 at Whiskey Joe's, 400 Quietwater Beach Road. Tickets are $25 for adults and $10 for kids, available on Eventbrite.
CAJUN TAILGATING Class is 5 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 3 at Pensacola Cooks, 4051 Barrancas Ave. Ste. C. Details and ticket info are at facebook.com/pensacolacooks.
BAKING FUNDAMENTALS: SWISS ROLL-
Class is 5 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 10 at Pensacola Cooks, 4051 Barrancas Ave. Ste. C. Details and ticket info are at facebook.com/pensacolacooks.
BRUNCH AND BUBBLES Brunch is 11 a.m. Sunday, Aug. 11 at Bodacious, 407-D S. Palafox St. Tickets are $50 and available through the event link at facebook.com/bodaciousshops.
SUMMER BEER OLYMPICS The Summer Beer Olympics continue through Aug. 11. Visit Perfect Plain, 50 E. Garden St., during the Olympics. Get a Beer Olympics Loyalty Card and get a free T-shirt when you purchase all 10 beers during the Olympics. Visit facebook.com/ perfectplainbrewingco for details.
GREEN THUMB WINE TASTINGS Join Green Thumb Wines for a wine tasting 6-8 p.m. every first Friday of the month at 9 E. Gregory St. Cost is $15, which can be applied to a bottle purchase of your choice. For more information and tickets, visit greenthumbwines.com/collections/events.
MEN'S NIGHT AT WISTERIA From 3 p.m. to close Mondays, guys can play free darts and enjoy $6 craft tallboys. There are more than 150 craft beers to choose from. Wisteria is located at 3803 N. 12th Ave. Visit wisteriatavern.com for details.
FIGHTER GAME NIGHT AT O'RILEY'S Gamers unite 5 p.m.-close Mondays at O'Riley's Irish Pub, 321 S. Palafox St. Visit orileyspub.com for details.
SIN NIGHT AT O'RILEY'S SIN Night is 11 p.m. to close Mondays at O'Riley's Irish Pub, 321 S. Palafox St. Visit orileyspub.com for details.
TRIVIA NIGHT AND SIN Trivia is 9-10:30 p.m. Mondays, and SIN is 11 p.m.-3 a.m. at Mugs and Jugs, 12080 Scenic Highway. Visit mugsjugsbar. com for details.
BINGO NIGHT AT CALVERT'S IN THE HEIGHTS Play a game (or two) of Bingo 6-8 p.m. Mondays at Calvert's in the Heights, 670 Scenic Highway. For more information, visit calvertsintheheights.com.
DOUBLE MONDAYS AND SIN NIGHT
Enjoy Double Mondays 8 p.m. to midnight and SIN Night 11 p.m. to close at O'Riley's Tavern, 3728 Creighton Road. Details are at orileystavern.com.
75 CENT OYSTERS AT ATLAS Enjoy 75-cent oysters 5-9 p.m. Tuesdays at Atlas Oyster House,
600 S. Barracks St. For more information, visit greatsouthernrestaurants.com.
MUSIC BINGO Test your music knowledge 7-9 p.m. Tuesdays at Wisteria, 3808 N. 12th Ave. Take part in half-price bottles of wine and $5 canned cocktails. Visit wisteriatavern.com for details.
POKER NIGHT AND BINGO AT O'RILEY'S Visit O'Riley's Irish Pub for poker at 6:30 p.m. and bar bingo 8-10 p.m. Tuesdays at 321 S. Palafox St. Visit orileyspub.com for details.
LUNCH AT THE DISTRICT The District Steakhouse, 130 E. Government St., is open for special lunch seatings on the third Friday of the month. Enjoy a $5 martini or house wine. Seatings are 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Reservations are accepted but not necessary. Details are available at districtsteaks.com.
DOLLAR NIGHT Enjoy Dollar Night 8 p.m.-midnight Tuesdays, at Mugs and Jugs, 12080 Scenic Highway. Visit mugsjugsbar.com for details.
SECOND TUESDAY THEMED TRIVIA
Visit Perfect Plain Brewing Co. for themed trivia nights 7-9 p.m. the second Tuesday of the month at 50 E. Garden St. Visit facebook.com/perfectplainbrewingco for details.
DOLLAR NIGHT AT O'RILEY'S Dollar Night is 8 p.m. to midnight Wednesdays at O'Riley's
Tavern, 3728 Creighton Road. Details are at orileystavern.com.
TRIVIA AT O'RILEY'S Test your trivia knowledge 8-10 p.m. Wednesdays at O'Riley's Irish Pub, 321 S. Palafox St. Visit orileyspub.com for details.
SIN NIGHT AND KARAOKE Karaoke is 9 p.m.-1 a.m. and SIN specials are 11 p.m.-3 a.m. at Mugs & Jugs, 12080 Scenic Highway. Visit mugsjugsbar.com for details.
TRIVIA AT CALVERT'S IN THE HEIGHTS
Take part in trivia nights 6-8 p.m. Wednesdays at Calvert's in the Heights, 670 Scenic Highway. For more information, visit calvertsintheheights.com.
SIPPIN' IN SUNDRESSES LADIES' NIGHT
AT FELIX'S Pop-up shops, pink drink specials and live music is 5-8 p.m. Thursdays at Felix's Restaurant and Oyster Bar, 400 Quietwater Beach Drive.
PITCHERS AND TAVERN TRIVIA Get deals on pitchers 8 p.m. to midnight at O'Riley's Tavern. Trivia is 9 -11 p.m. Thursdays at 3728 Creighton Road. Visit orileystavern.com for details.
DOLLAR NIGHT AT O'RILEY'S Dollar Night with a DJ starts 8 p.m. Thursdays at O'Riley's Irish Pub, 321 S. Palafox St. Visit orileyspub.com for details.
TRIVIA UNDER THE TREES Trivia is 6 p.m. Thursdays at Wisteria Tavern, 3808 N. 12th Ave. Visit wisteriatavern.com for details.
THURSDAY BIERGARTEN TRIVIA NIGHT
Gary's Brewery Trivia Night is back by popular demand 7-9 p.m. Thursdays at 208 Newman Ave. Test your trivia skills with a glass of beer or wine. Arrive early to grab a spot. For more information, visit facebook.com/garysbrew.
TRIVIA AT SIR RICHARD'S Flex your trivia knowledge 8-10 p.m. Fridays at Sir Richard's Public House, 2719 E. Cervantes St. Visit sirrichardslounge.com for details.
POKER NIGHT AT SIR RICHARDS'S Poker Night is 6 p.m. Saturdays at Sir Richard's Public House, 2719 E Cervantes St. Visit sirrichardslounge.com for details.
WEEKLY SATURDAY BRUNCH Brunch is 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturdays at O'Riley's Irish Pub, 321 S. Palafox St. Visit orileyspub.com for details.
SHAMROCK SATURDAY Shamrock Saturday is 9 p.m. Saturdays at O'Riley's Irish Pub, 321 S. Palafox St. Visit orileyspub.com for details.
FREE POOL AND BAR BINGO AT O'RILEY'S TAVERN Enjoy free pool all day and play bar bingo 9-11 p.m. Sundays at O'Riley's Tavern, 3728 Creighton Road. Details are at orileystavern.com.
SUNDAY BRUNCH AT CAFÉ SINGLE FIN Partake in brunch specials, full café menu,
espressos and bottomless mimosas until 1 p.m. Sundays at Café Single Fin, 380 N. Ninth Ave. Live music begins at 10 a.m. Visit cafesinglefin. com for details.
SUNDAY BRUNCH AND KARAOKE O'Riley's Irish Pub, 321 S. Palafox St. hosts Sunday brunch from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Karaoke begins at 8 p.m. Visit orileyspub.com for details.
SUNDAY BRUNCH AT ATLAS OYSTER
HOUSE Sunday Brunch is 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Sundays at Atlas Oyster House, 600 S. Barracks St. View menus at atlasoysterhouse.com.
LIVE MUSIC
BANDS ON THE BEACH Weekly concert series is 7-9 p.m. Tuesdays at Gulfside Pavilion on Pensacola Beach. Aug. 6 is Blackwater Country and Aug. 13 is The Astronauts. For details, visit visitpensacolabeach.com/whats-happeningbands-on-beach.
ZAO, NO/MAS, CELL, BEFORE THERE WAS ROSALYN, BRAINBURN Show is 6 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 1 at The Handlebar, 319 N. Tarragona St. Tickets are $20-$25 and available at thehandlebar850.com.
RADIOLIVE Show is 6 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 1 at Museum of Commerce, 201 E. Zaragoza St. with Dylan LeBlanc, Emily Barnes and the Imaginaries. Tickets are $10 and available at radiolive.com.
YUNG BLEU Show is 8 p.m. Friday, Aug. 2 at Vinyl Music Hall, 2 S. Palafox St. Tickets are $35 and available at vinylmusichall.com.
LIVERPOOL LEGENDS A Beatles experience is 8 p.m. Friday, Aug. 2 at Saenger Theatre, 118 S. Palafox St. Tickets are available at pensacolasaenger.com.
KATIE DINEEN RELEASE PARTY This show is 7 p.m. Friday, Aug. 2 at The Handlebar, 319 N. Tarragona St., for a $15 cover at the door. Details are at thehandlebar850.com
THE MAGIC OF MOTOWN Motown classics will be performed 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 3 at Saenger Theatre, 118 S. Palafox St. Details are at pensacolasaenger.com.
BELMONT, LIL LOTUS, HOURHOUSE
Show is 6 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 4 at The Handlebar, 319 N. Tarragona St. Tickets are at thehandlebar850.com.
HAUNT, SAVAGE MASTER Show is 7 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 6 at The Handlebar, 319 N. Tarragona St. Tickets are $15-$18 and available at thehandlebar850.com.
ALESANA, LIMBS, VAMPIRES EVERYWHERE, HALF HEARD VOICES Show is 6 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 8 at The Handlebar, 319 N. Tarragona St. Tickets are $20-$25 and available at thehandlebar850.com.
for more listings visit inweekly.net
free will astrology
WEEK OF AUGUST 1
ARIES (MARCH 21-APRIL 19): One meaning of the word "palette" is a flat board on which painters place a variety of pigments to apply to their canvas. What would be a metaphorical equivalent to a palette in your life? Maybe it's a diary or journal where you lay out the feelings and ideas you use to craft your fate. Perhaps it's an inner sanctuary where you retreat to organize your thoughts and meditate on upcoming decisions. Or it could be a group of allies with whom you commune and collaborate to enhance each other's destinies. However you define your palette, Aries, I believe the time is right to enlarge its size and increase the range of pigments you can choose from.
TAURUS (APRIL 20-MAY 20): The star that Westerners call Arcturus has a different name for Indigenous Australians: Marpeankurrk. In their part of the world, it begins to rise before dawn in August. For the Boorong people of northwest Victoria, this was once a sign to hunt for the larvae of wood ants, which comprised a staple food for months. I bring this up, Taurus, because heavenly omens are telling me you should be on the lookout for new sources of sustenance and fuel. What's your metaphorical equivalent of wood ant larvae?
GEMINI (MAY 21-JUNE 20): Seventy percent of the world's macadamia nuts have a single ancestor: a particular tree in Queensland, Australia. In 1896, two Hawaiian brothers took seeds from this tree and brought them back to their homestead in Oahu. From that small beginning, Hawaiian macadamia nuts have come to dominate the world's production. I foresee you soon having resemblances to that original tree, Gemini. What you launch in the coming weeks and months could have tremendous staying power and reach far beyond its original inspiration.
CANCER (JUNE 21-JULY 22): Ketchup flows at about 0.03 mph. In 35 hours, it could travel about a mile. I think you should move at a similar speed in the coming days. The slower you go, the better you will feel. The more deeply focused you are on each event, and the more you allow the rich details to unfold in their own sweet time, the more successful you will be at
By Rob Brezsny
the art of living. Your words of power will be incremental, gradual and cumulative.
LEO (JULY 23-AUG. 22): Astrologer Chris Zydel says every sign has superpowers. In honor of your birthday season, I'll tell you about those she attributes to you Leos. When you're at your best, you're a beacon of "joyful magnetism" who naturally exudes "irrepressible charisma." You "shine like a thousand suns" and "strut your stuff with unabashed audacity." All who are lucky enough to be in your sphere benefit from your "radiant spontaneity, bold, dramatic play and whoo-hoo celebration of your creative genius." I will add that of course you can't always be a perfect embodiment of all these superpowers. But I suspect you are cruising through a phase when you are the next best thing to perfect.
spiritual and emotional riches that sustain you? I encourage you to become even more intimately interwoven with them. It's time for you to be epic, mythic, even heroic.
SCORPIO (OCT. 23-NOV. 21): Historically, August has brought many outbreaks of empowerment. In August 1920, American women gained the right to vote. In August 1947, India and Pakistan wrested their independence from the British Empire's long oppression. In August 1789, French revolutionaries issued the Declaration of the Rights of Man, a document that dramatically influenced the development of democracy and liberty in the Western world. In 1994, the United Nations established Aug. 9 as the time to celebrate International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples. In 2024, I am officially naming August to be Scorpio Power Spot Month. It will be an excellent time to claim and/ or boost your command of the niche that will nurture your authority and confidence for years to come.
AQUARIUS
(JAN. 20-FEB. 18): A friend of a friend told me this story: One summer day, a guy he knew woke up at 5 a.m., meditated for a while and made breakfast. As he gazed out his kitchen window, enjoying his coffee, he became alarmed. In the distance, at the top of a hill, a brush fire was burning. He called emergency services to alert firefighters. A few minutes later, though, he realized he had made an error. The brush fire was in fact the rising sun lighting up the horizon with its fiery rays. Use this as a teaching story in the coming days, Aquarius. Double-check your initial impressions to make sure they're true. Most importantly, be aware you may initially respond with worry to events that are actually wonderful or interesting.
VIRGO (AUG. 23-SEPT. 22): Virgo-born Friedrich August Kekulé (1829–1896) transformed organic chemistry with his crucial discovery of the structure of carbon-based compounds. He had studied the problem for years. But his breakthrough realization didn't arrive until he had a key dream while dozing. There's not enough room here to describe it at length, but the image that solved the riddle was a snake biting its own tail. I bring this story to your attention, Virgo, because I suspect you could have practical and revelatory dreams yourself in the coming weeks. Daydream visions, too. Pay attention. What might be your equivalent to a snake biting its own tail?
LIBRA (SEPT. 23-OCT. 22): Please don't succumb to numbness or apathy in the coming weeks. It's crucial that you don't. You should also take extreme measures to avoid boredom and cynicism. At the particular juncture in your amazing life, you need to feel deeply and care profoundly. You must find ways to be excited about as many things as possible, and you must vividly remember why your magnificent goals are so magnificent. Have you ruminated recently about which influences provide you with the
SAGITTARIUS (NOV. 22-DEC. 21): August is Save Our Stereotypes Month for you Sagittarians. I hope you will celebrate by rising strong and bold to defend our precious natural treasures. Remember that without cliches, platitudes, pigeonholes, conventional wisdom and hackneyed ideas, life would be nearly impossible. Just kidding! Everything I just said was a dirty lie. Here's the truth: August is Scour Away Stereotypes Month for you Sagittarians. Please be an agent of original thinking and fertile freshness. Wage a brazen crusade against cliches, platitudes, pigeonholes, conventional wisdom and hackneyed ideas.
CAPRICORN (DEC. 22-JAN. 19): You're never too old or wise or jaded to jump up in the air with glee when offered a free gift. Right? So I hope you won't be so bent on maintaining your dignity and composure that you remain pokerfaced when given the chance to grab the equivalent of a free gift. I confess I am worried you might be unreceptive to the sweet, rich things coming your way. I'm concerned you might be closed to unexpected possibilities. I will ask you, therefore, to pry open your attitude so you will be alert to the looming blessings, even when they are in disguise.
PISCES (FEB. 19-MARCH 20): At least a million ships lie at the bottom of the world's oceans, lakes and rivers. Some crashed because of storms, and others due to battles, collisions or human error. A shipwreck hunter named Sean Fisher estimates those remains hold more than $60 billion worth of treasure. Among the most valuable are the old Spanish vessels that sank while carrying gold, silver and other loot plundered from the Americas. If you have the slightest inkling to launch adventures in search of those riches, I predict the coming months will be an excellent time. Alternately, you are likely to generate good fortune for yourself through any version of diving into the depths in quest of wealth in all of its many forms.
HERE'S THE HOMEWORK: What message would you like to send your 12-year-old self? {in}
freewillastrology.com newsletter.freewillastrology.com freewillastrology@freewillastrology.com © 2024 Rob Brezsny
news of the weird
CREME DE LA WEIRD In China, the highly competitive practice of mukbang—eating large quantities of food for viewers' enjoyment—is a wildly popular streaming subject, Oddity Central reported. Successful mukbang streamers make good money and are showered with gifts from their followers. The trend took a sad turn on July 14, however, when 24-year-old Pan Xiaoting, a former waitress, lost her life during her mukbang livestream. As Pan's following grew, she took her overeating to greater extremes, pushing her weight to around 650 pounds. An autopsy reportedly showed that her stomach was full of undigested food and her abdomen was severely deformed.
GREAT ART The Welsh town of Ruthin, Denbighshire, is struggling to embrace a 43-foot-tall inflatable figure of a laughing man in an odd squatting position, resting on a ball. Wales Online reported that the installation is related to the Ruthin International Arts Festival and was created by Chinese artist Yue Minjun, known for his self-portraits. Locals aren't impressed; some say the "sickly pink color of the piece" is frightening children, and one woman said, "Oh please. He looks constipated. Monstrosity!"
EYEWITNESS NEWS Remarkably, two brothers out fishing off the coast of Rye, New Hampshire, on July 23 caught a once-in-a-lifetime experience on video: A 30-foot-long humpback whale breached nearby, throwing itself onto the back of a boat where Ryland Kenney, 44, and Greg Paquette, 54, were fishing. As the front of the boat rose into the air, Kenney and Paquette were thrown into the water. "As it collapsed onto the boat, the mouth closed and smashed the top of the motor and I heard a big crunch," Kenney told The New York Times. "I had three seconds to act. I wasn't scared, I didn't have time to be scared." Colin Yager, 16, who took the video, and his brother, Wyatt, rushed over to pull the men, who were unhurt, out of the water. Kenney said he'll take some time away from the water to work on his boat, which will include a radar system that can detect nearby whales.
EWWWWWW! Gizmodo reported on July 19 that a few days before in Portoviejo, Ecuador, doctors removed an obstruction from a 24-year-old woman's stomach that had caused her pain, vomiting and difficulty eating. The object was a 16-inch-long hairball that weighed 2 pounds, Verdi Cevallos Balda General Hospital announced. The mass was so large it could be detected "by touch from the outside," said lead surgeon Pedro Lovato. It had started to move into her intestines, but doctors said it had not caused serious injury to her stomach and she would recover. The hairball was likely caused by trichophagia, a form of disordered eating where people swallow their hair. The patient is receiving comprehensive treatment.
THAT ESCALATED QUICKLY On July 16, Talanye Carter, 41, returned to a St. Louis Jack in
By the Editors at Andrews McMeel
the Box restaurant she had visited three days earlier to complain that she'd been shorted one chicken strip, Yahoo! News reported. The store manager replaced the chicken strip, but that didn't satisfy Carter; she spit in the manager's face over the lack of adequate ranch dressing. When Carter went to her vehicle, the manager took photos of her license plate, and Carter noticed. She put the car in reverse and ran into the woman, knocking her to the ground and injuring her foot and ankle, then left the scene. She was charged the next day with second-degree and fourth-degree assault.
FLORIDA The Walton County Sheriff's Office had to remind Floridians on July 18 not to "approach black bears at any time," United Press International reported. The bear in question was hanging out near Highway 98 in Santa Rosa Beach, looking "depressed," and onlookers were getting too close for comfort trying to take a selfie with it. Deputies borrowed a song title, "If Not Friend, Why Friend Shaped?" to discourage residents from cozying up to the sad-looking guy. A Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission biologist visited the scene, but the bear wandered back into the woods.
LEAST COMPETENT CRIMINALS Tara Lyles and James Lyles of Louisville, Kentucky, where weed is not legal, showed their hand a little too publicly, WAVE-TV reported, when they posted videos of their marijuana production processes to TikTok. They were arrested on July 22 after a detective arranged to meet Tara in a Kroger parking lot to buy some devil's lettuce. During the exchange, she told the detective that she "packages the product on a thousands level scale and just completed a 1,000 pack order over the weekend." Police seized 218 pounds of marijuana, worth about $450,000 on the street—again, in a state where weed is not legal.
NEWS YOU CAN USE The Ohio Supreme Court (!) ruled on July 25 that—are you ready?—bones are a natural part of chicken, so consumers of boneless chicken wings should be vigilant about them while eating, and that the presence of bones does not constitute a breach of duty on the part of the restaurant. The Columbus Dispatch reported that the 4-3 decision was derided by Democrats on the court, who contended that the question was one for a jury, not an appeals court. "The result in this case is another nail in the coffin of the American jury system," said Justice Michael Donnelly. The case originated with an April 2016 incident in which Michael Berkheimer felt "something go down the wrong pipe" while enjoying wings; he sued in 2017. {in}
Andrews McMeel Syndication
